The next morning, after many shifts had been changed, LightningBolt aroused every pony from their sleep and as they all got their armor on and their weapons, LightningBolt woke up the ninja from his sleeps.
"Alright. Let's get jumping." Said Steeltrix as he opened the window and stepped onto the windowsill. As he jumped across to the next rooftop, IronBlood took the ninja pony by his collar and jumped after Steeltrix, followed by BloodHoof who was doing this for the first time. He landed perfectly and as LightningBolt followed up, the whole group jumped from roof to roof like pro ninjas. They continued across the rooftops and when they came to the upper segment of the Shoguns keep, they quickly looked around before they slowly began to climb the rock face. At the top, Steeltrix paused as he checked the area before he got over the battlements and onto the keeps field. IronBlood tossed the ninja up, who stayed quiet, as he soon followed up with BloodHoof and. LightningBolt bringing up the rear. They stood for a moment in shadows as they watched what was before them.
The Shogun pony, sitting atop a raised dais before the keep, sitting patiently while his elite bodyguard sat around him at a distance. Behind him was his personal family and before him were his advisors and a single messenger.
The messenger bowed as he said to the Shogun," Shogun, I bring a message from the Northern Fiefdoms leader, Lord IronFace."
"What does it say?" Said the Shogun.
"Shogun of the Eastern Providence, I, Lord IronFace, implore that you reconsider your decision to make war with the Rebellion. Their generals are both of other kingdoms and of their own are devious and have made even the strongest general surrender. I beseech you to reconsider and ally. It's not like SoulStorm spared your kingdom in the past.
"From the lord of the North Fiefdom, IronFace." The messenger finished.
The Shogun sat quietly as he thought about this before he said," By chance do you know of these generals he speaks of?"
"I sadly do not, my lord... I believe one is SteelBlood? I am sorry but I don't remember their names...” The messenger said.
The Shogun pondered this as he thought before he asked a nearby Warrior which Steeltrix thought to be his general," Have we seen any recent movements by the Rebellion?"
"There was a major battle between the Fourth Shadow Warrior Army and one of the armies of the Rebellion... The Rebellion won, Shogun." Said the pony as he bowed.
"Do we know anything about it?"
"My lord, though we do not know the names of the Rebellion generals, we can say with confidence that General BloodHoof of the Fourth Shadow Warrior army was slain in battle. There were many casualties on both sides but BloodHoof lost many more than these Rebellion ponies did." Said the general.
The Shogun bowed to the pony as he said to the messenger," Come forward so that I may give a message to Lord IronFace."
But just as the messenger came forward, the ninja tried to shout something but since he was still gagged, his cry was both muffled and unintelligible. But it still drew the attention of the assembly and Steeltrix quietly winced as the Shogun stood and said," Who's there?"
"Here goes nothing." Said IronBlood as he threw the ninja out of the shadows and into the open view.
As the ninja struggled in his bonds, Steeltrix said from the shadows," By chance, Shogun, do you have a reason to be anxious about the Rebellion and it’s Warriors?"
The Shoguns hoof went to his sheathed katana but he did not draw it as he said," Who are you? Show yourself from the shadows if you are so confident."
Steeltrix accepted the challenge and as he slowly walked into the light, so did IronBlood, BloodHoof, and LightingBolt.
"We are the bodyguards of certain individuals. We were just coming here as what we hoped to be a friendly visit but instead you send an assassin to kill us in our sleep... You know, some Warriors don't sleep for this reason alone." Said Steeltrix.
"And who are your charges?" Asked the Shogun.
"Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of the Central Kingdom, daughters of King SoulStorm, and leaders of the Rebellion." Said Steeltrix, IronBlood, BloodHoof, and LightingBolt in a single chorus.
Every guard jumped up as the Shogun kept his position on his dais. He coldly looked up the four Warriors before him as he finally said," What proof of this ninja being from me?"
"This." Steeltrix pulled the letter out of his armor and he presented it for all to see.
Every sing pony stiffened as the general stood up and drew his katana and he shouted," You will die for your treason!"
"Be still, general." Said the Shogun as he looked at the Warriors and said," What do you want?"
"Well, first off, we would like to ask why you have decided to ally with SoulStorm? Has he not done as much damage to you as he has to the other kingdoms?" Said Steeltrix.
"I have no love for him but neither do I have any love for anyone willing to take my kingdom." Said the Shogun coldly.
"But we do not. All we ask is that you join with us as we try and destroy the corruption that is brewing within our own world. We ask that you provide us Warriors, supplies, and your loyalty as we fight SoulStorm."
"What is this corruption that you speak of?" Asked the Shogun.
"Discord. SoulStorm had used magic to summon the very being we all wished to destroy and keep from this land into this world." Said BloodHoof.
The shogun seems to pause at this but then, to the four Warriors shock, he spat and shouted," You lie! You only wish to make a world your own! SoulStorm would never do such a thing!"
There was silence as Steeltrix sighed and said," I thought that too until his daughters approached me and my brother one day and told us... Then, I knew something like that can't be lied about."
"And why would you believe them?" Asked the shogun.
"Because I, IronBlood, and this pony, Steeltrix, are the sons of General Irontrix! We don't put our loyalty with someone unless we know what they are talking about isn't a lie!" IronBlood said as he stepped forward.
"And as the sons of the late Irontrix, we know that some legends of old are true! Even you know that it was Discord who created the Age of Darkness!" Said Steeltrix as he stood with his brother.
The assembly was stunned into silence and the shogun seemed to be uncomfortable at one moment. But just as he began to speak, the general said," You fillies... You believe mares that could be easily doing what you are speaking of... Your cries for peace fall on deaf ears."
"Aptly noticed, general, but I and IronBlood know the horrors that Discord can make... We have seen such things before our very eyes." Steeltrix said.
The Shogun looked at Steeltrix and then back to the general before he asked," Do you know the general who slay BloodHoof?"
"Steeltrix did. I was BloodHoofs servant for a time before he died in battle." Said BloodHoof.
"What is your name, then?" Asked the Shogun.
"I am BloodHoof... The successor of the original BloodHoof." Said BloodHoof.
The Shogun stroked his chin as he thought when the general said," The only way that happens is by magic and Warriors don't use magic!"
"Correction, general, King SoulStorm is one of the few Warrior ponies who can do a form of magic. Similar things have happened in the past... Do any of you are your own use magic by chance, Steeltrix?" Said the Shogun.
"I can but that's about it." Steeltrix said.
The Shogun thought for a moment before he said," I think I have misjudged you and your faction... Perhaps I was hasty and I am forced to admit that I must relearn of our great Shogun BladeMare..."
But just as everything seemed to be ok, the General screamed out," This is an outrage! You dare allow yourself to be swept into the hoofs of rebel ponies!"
The General drew his katana as Steeltrix drew his scythe and the General screamed out," You are the most feeble-minded Shogun to ever be our leader in the history of Equestria!!"
The Shogun spun at the comment and he said," I know when to trust people, like Steeltrix and his brother. I know when I kill them and when to ally and I will not be made a fool before my family because you do not like the decision!"
Suddenly, Steeltrix calmly said," Shogun.... If I may be allowed, shall I challenge this general to a duel in your honor?"
The Shogun paused as LightingBolt leaned over and whispered," You sure you want to do this?"
Steeltrix nodded as LightingBolt took Steeltrix's scythe and gave him his katana blade. The Shogun finally said," I assume you know that a duel... Is to the death?"
"I am but a Warrior. You are a leader of a nation. Let me die for you so that you may continue to live on... My brother can handle himself just as much as if I was with him." Steeltrix said.
The Shogun bowed his head as he said," Then please, for my family and me, step forward."
The bodyguards created a large ring around Steeltrix and the general and as the two stood with blades in hoof, Steeltrix asked the general," Shall I at least know your name?"
"I am BladeBreaker. You should never have challenged me, whelp!" The general spat.
And then, after a brief pause, BladeBreaker ran forward and Steeltrix held his stance as their blades met with a clash of sparks. The two were locked for only a moment as Steeltrix pushed BladeBreaker back but BladeBreaker dashed forward and Steeltrix had to move as BladeBreakers katana got a little too close for comfort. He blocked one attack and as Steeltrix batted away the blade, he sidestepped to his right and tried to get an angle on BladeBreaker. BladeBreaker twisted around to face Steeltrix when Steeltrix's borrowed katana's hilt smashed BladeBreaker into his face. BladeBreaker reeled as his nose trailed blood and. Steeltrix stepped forward as BladeBreaker managed to regain his footing. His nose had a small, steady stream of blood coming from it and as BladeBreaker wiped it away, the two kept facing each other.
BloodHoof looked up into the sky when he said to LightningBolt and IronBlood," Hey... Aren't those-?"
A flash of lightning and a peel of thunder hit the air as rain began to fall but no one present moved from their spot. But after a nod from the shogun, the mare's and the remaining advisors left to take shelter inside of the keep. This left only Warriors on the field and as the rain dampened them, the grounds began to become slick as it became mud. BladeBreaker and Steeltrix both paused to look up and let the rain dampen their faces before returning to face each other.
BloodHoof retreated till he was under the shelter of the battlements, the roofs arcing up to provide some shelter, as he took out his painting utensils and colors as he began to quickly paint the scene before him.
BladeBreaker ran forward as the mud both made him faster but also easier to have him fall and as Steeltrix skipped away, BladeBreaker tripped and hit the ground as mud covered his armor. Steeltrix stepped forward but BladeBreaker recovered and Steeltrix swung his blade as BladeBreaker brought up his blade to block the blow. BladeBreaker then pushed the blade away as he slashed the air around Steeltrix, trying to land a blow after getting punched in his face. Steeltrix managed to dodge some blows but two clattered off his armor and one managed to cut a strap that attached the right side of his helmet to his left. Steeltrix paused but BladeBreaker suddenly sliced the right side of his face, cutting the last strap and sending the helmet piece flying away. It clattered to the mud as all could now see what the mask had hidden.
The right side of Steeltrix's face was a mass of pink, red, and purple. The scar was composed of three parallel cuts, the deepest portions a purple and the lightest a pink. It was close to his eye and as he felt that side of his face BladeBreaker came in to try and kill Steeltrix. Steeltrix met the blow and he pushed BladeBreaker back as he began to launch a flurry of slashes, advancing on BladeBreaker as he walked along. BladeBreaker desperately tried to fend the blows but each blow broke through and sliced him and soon, freaks of blood flower across his chest as he slowly slumped to the ground.
"You know... what to do...." Said BladeBreaker as he bowed his head.
Steeltrix paused before he drove the blade between the neck and the body and BladeBreaker shuddered before he soon slumped to the ground.
And then, the storm passed and as Steeltrix withdrew the blade, he broke it and took the blade from BladeBreaker. He took the blade and presented it to the shogun as BloodHoof finished his painting, depicting Steeltrix and. BladeBreaker when they were standing in the rain.
"Shogun... As tradition decrees in your kingdom that the blade of the defeated be taken to the victor... I believe this is yours to keep,
Shogun." Steeltrix said as he bowed.
The shogun bowed as he said," Tis not my blade but your friends for you used his blade. I believe he is the new owner of it."
Steeltrix bowed again as he turned and walked to LightningBolt as he have the blade to him. The blade had a black hilt and its blade had embedded emeralds at intervals of five inches.
"Thank you.... But your mask..." Said LightningBolt.
Steeltrix turned and picked up the mask as he held it up to his face, unable to strap the mask back on.
"I'll fix it with my brother’s help... Besides, he has the same thing but on his left side..." Steeltrix said.
IronBlood took his mask off and it revealed the same thing but on his left, just as Steeltrix had said.
The shogun stood as he said," I thank you, Steeltrix. And for this, I ask that you accept my kingdom into the Rebellion."
Steeltrix, IronBlood, LightningBolt, and BloodHoof bowed to the Shogun as the sun slowly began to dry up the rain.