//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Sudden Attack from the Dire Army and The Prince of the Sky // Story: Clash of Alicorns, Battle of the Brothers // by LightningBlade //------------------------------// Okay, let's have a bit of recap, Luna and Lightning are in the dining hall, hugging each other like fillies getting nightmares, both hiding their feelings for each other, and then Luna said. "Lightning... I have something to tell you..." said Luna, blushing. "Yeah? What's that? You killed someone?" joked Lightning. "No... I... I ..." "What's wrong? This is not you. You always get to the point." Luna started to sob, as if he pushed her too hardly, "Hey... hey... I'm sorry I didn't know you were... *gulp*" Lightning apologized and suddenly Luna leaned to Lightning and kissed him. Suddenly, the door burst open, they both got back to their seats quickly and continued their breakfast. It was Celestia who entered the room, she greeted them and sat down at the end of the table. "Do you guys have a good day sleep?" asked Celestia, working through her dinner. (Just in case you guys get confused, it's late in the evening) "Yes, and I'm ready for some training." said Luna, smiling at her sister. "Same here." Lightning grinned. Suddenly a huge explosion was heard, outside, Canterlot is under attack by armed soldiers, the Dire Army, citizens ran for their lives, the town was simply chaos. Lightning, Luna and Celestia rushed out to the town, but Master Yang wasn't with them. The Lunar and Solar stallions followed their princesses and ready for orders, and it was to protect the citizens and fend of the enemy (basically). The enemy soldiers were ruthless, their eyes glowed red and hunger for blood. "Looks like they've been brainwashed." said Luna. "Guards protect the citizens, don't let anypony harm them!" ordered Celestia. "Yes, your majesty, come on troops move out!" said one of the commanders. Suddenly, the commander of the Dire's Army appeared, he tackled Lightning and got ready to kill him. Lightning fell to the ground hard, but he got up, he summoned his aura and channeled it to the Amulet of Thunder, his blades appeared and electric sparks all over them like spiky snakes. The commander too have a amulet, the Amulet of Steel, which's specialty is toughness, he activated the amulet and charged at Lightning with his scythe. Lightning fend off the attacks easily, but his blade wasn't long enough for him to reach his opponent, he waits for the right moment to strike. The commander was ruthless, his stamina is incredible, and his attacks are getting stronger, Luna and Celestia activated their amulet and tries to help Lightning. "Hold on, we're coming." said Luna. "NO, help the citizens, I need to deal this alone." said Lightning. "Okay, but if you have trouble, I will not hesitate to charge in." said Luna. "Oh Prince of the Sky, don't think because you have that amulet, you can defeat me, maybe you should listen to your friend." said the commander, his eyes glowed red like the others. "I don't need your advice, I could just simply kill you!" said Lightning. He took the chance when the commander was distracted, he charges his right blade with lightning and swung. *Splack* blood splattered all over the ground. "ARGH!!!" screamed the commander in pain, he was over confidenced. His red eyes started fading. "You might as well give up. I've damaged your hoof bad enough, I'll spare your life tell Dire, come for me, but not Canterlot, and I will settle this with him once in for all." "Heheh... you think I would live if I go back as a failure, he would kill me instead, I think, I might as well die here. For the King!" charged the commander with one of his hoof badly hurt, his eyes glowed bright red again. "You leave me no choice Commander Reaper." The commander stopped, and he laid his scythe down, his eyes turned back, stormy-grey eyes and said "Don't call me that name." "Justice Reaper, you were once a good stallion, why obey Dire? He's changed, can't you see ? Stop what you're doing and follow me." "No, he would kill me. The king will kill me." Reaper trembled, as if he was fighting against his memories with Lightning. "He would have to kill me before he could kill you. I swear I'll protect you, stop what you're doing, let's face our true enemy together." Suddenly, a soldier jumped in with his spear, ready for the kill. "HOLY SHIT!" said Lightning. Tries to turn around but he knew he can't fend that attack. Reaper lunged forward and slashed the brainwashed soldier. His scythe dripping blood from the kill. The soldier's internal organs splattered out like noodles. And the soldier suffered to death. "I've always been by your side your majesty. I'm just, terrified on what he did to my family, I don't want to die... urgh..." Reaper fell to the ground, he was alive at least, but he is quickly losing blood. Celestia flew over and treated him. "Take care of him, I'll deal with the others." After 2 hours of brutal fighting, the troops were defeated, some escaped, hundreds of dead soldiers both enemy and allies lying on the ground, Canterlot suffered. Luckily, soldiers of the Canterlot were trained daily and the Lunar Stallions, few, but ruthless, they were enough to hold off the attack, but will they be able to hold of another attack? "We have a lot of casualties and injured your Majesty, but no citizens were harmed, I guess this is a success." said one of the commanders. "Heck no, even our troops' lives should be spared, you call this success? What kind of commander are you?" said Luna angrily. The commander said nothing, he kept his dirty mouth shut and slowly walked away. "Not every battle will be victorious, we have to keep our guard up" said Celestia. "Have I missed anything?" Lightning returned, his body has blood all over him. "Lightning! What happened? Are you hurt?" said Celestia in concern. "I'm fine, it's just... so much had to die and no one of my friends listen to me, they were controlled, mind controlled, how did Dire get this kind of magic?" "Amulet of Hell." said Master Yang. "Where have you been? We could have..." said Lightning. "Could have what? Decrease the numbers that died? No, every battle has it's casualties, they died in honor, stop acting like a kid." Lightning stopped, and Master Yang continues. "One of the abilities of the Amulet of Hell, is manipulate, mind control." "So he can control the entire army even if they deny?" Master Yang gave Lightning a "duh" face. "That's... terrifying." said Luna. "You bet it is, he can easily control everyone without special training in aura control. Justice Reaper apparently, is a hard one to control, when Lightning calls his name, he brings back his memories, and, naturally, causing conflict between minds, the spell will then be unstable, which will he become, I don't know." "Is he going to wake up?" said Lightning worried. "Yes, but he might not remember anything, the chance is high, you're probably thinking why he defended you, it's because he remembers the past, and by that point, he has a high chance of returning to normal." "What a relief. Let's round up our troops and repair what we can, for now." said Celestia. "Is that all we can do?" said Luna. "Apparently, Dire's planning to finish us off while we're weak, I went to Cyberio, it's awful, citizens are forced to work for them, to provide the troops rations, 50 thousand troops are marching towards Canterlot now, we can't stop him, unless that wrenched amulet is destroyed. So I suggest an attack on Cyberio, but we will risk Canterlot being... demolished." said Master Yang. "An assassination? But Canterlot will be destroyed, unless we have a decoy." said Celestia. "That's an good idea, but the troops are not marching in a group, they're coming with different directions, all surrounding Canterlot when arrived, I don't know if we have enough decoys, even if we do, they wouldn't survive, it's your decision to make." "Like you said, sacrifices must be made, this might just save the lives of the innocent." said Celestia. "No, I disagree to attempt an assassination, it's too risky, we don't have enough troops and warriors to defend, we hold our ground, and I think, by chance, Dire will be coming, only by then, I'll deal with the worst." said Lightning. "I guess you're right, we can't attempt an assassination, too much of us are wounded, and we don't have much skilled swordsponies." "That means 2 votes on this. Lets clear up this mess and rest while we can." said Master Yang. After a few hours of cleaning up and repairing some damaged archer towers, they spoke to the troops. The recruits talked and spoke, making a lot of noise, Celestia said. "Attention please, Prince Lightning is going to speak to you all." "Good evening, I know it's a bit late and tiring. but it's announcement I wouldn't repeat so listen up, I know everyone of you probably thinking why are you dragged into this mess, your life suppose to be normal, just guarding the princesses and the citizens, but that would be meaningless." some guards and soldiers already speaking 'stuff'. "SILENCE OF ELSE I WILL CUT YOUR DAMN TONGUE!" said Master Yang. They all immediately quiet down. "Okay, you might be wondering, a prince like me shouldn't know this, but you're wrong, I'm not raised like a prince, I'm raised like a soldier, like you guys I gone through training, far more... painful than these, and troops in my kingdom risk their lives everyday, some dreamed to have a family but died in the field, some elites, even said, 'I regret becoming a soldier, but too, I'm happy to serve the kingdom, and die with honor.' So, don't think that way, as a soldier or guard, you risk your life everyday, not just some, standing and do no shit job, it's an honorable job, you die for the country, and everypony will remember your bravery, I have no intention of stopping you guys from stepping aside, but if you do, everypony will know you, as a coward, This is all I want to say, hope you understand the situation now. For me, I will help this kingdom, until the last drop of my blood." Lightning walked back and cheers from few of the troops. "I will serve this kingdom, until the last drop of my blood!" said one of the soldiers, others then repeated, until all, 20 thousand troops of Solar Stallions and Lunar Stallions cheered. "Wow, I didn't expect..." said Master Yang. "I'm not a filly anymore, I am The Prince of the Sky." Will Lightning be able to defeat the Dire Army and bring peace to Equestria? Will 20 thousand troops win 50 thousand enemy troops of ruthless, zombie minded ponies? Will Canterlot fall? And most importantly, will Lightning and Luna finally say how they feel about each other? To be continued...