//------------------------------// // Luna`s Army // Story: The Third Sister // by Honeypelt945 //------------------------------// “CHARGE!” A wave of soldiers rushed to meet the onslaught of changelings. The head changeling was cut down with a spear, while another was trampled. Noise filled the room as the two groups clashed. Furious after hearing what had happened to her sister, Luna had immediately launched an attack on the changelings. Her goal was to run them out of the castle, rescue her sister, and most importantly, deal with Nadine. They were currently being delayed in a small hallway, not at all big enough for a battle. Even know, soldiers and changelings were tripping over one another. It made the whole ordeal even more tiring on both sides. Luna paced along the hallway, waiting impatiently for her scout to return. She had sent her to gather information about their route to the throne room. If it wasn`t for the scout, she would`ve been fighting right alongside her loyal soldiers. She was covered in shiny blue-black armor, which covered everything from the tip of her nose to her hindquarters. Luna wondered if she looked at all like Nightmare Moon. Suddenly, a changeling flung itself at her, teeth bared. Luna`s horn illuminated, and a black spear appeared in front of her. The changeling`s eyes, still filled with malice and hatred, glazed over as the spear went through its middle. Luna flung the body across the room, not caring where it lay to rest. Just as she was wiping her sword on a banner, (Celly wouldn`t like that!) a dark grey pegasus came zooming over the battlefield. She skidded to a stop in front of the princess. Luna looked up instantly, putting away her spear. “Scout, how`s our route look?” she asked, hoping the answer was a positive one. The mare was clearly exhausted, and was bleeding below her left wing where a dagger had stabbed her. Taking a big gulp of air, the mare began, “Not good, Princess. A few hallways down there`s a big group of changelings just waiting for you to give them a visit, and the entrance to the throne room is heavily guarded with changelings patrolling the perimeter. There`s also a small group coming that way-she gestured toward the corridor behind Luna- with plenty of weapons.” Luna frowned, already forming a new plan in her mind. She looked up sharply when the pegasus mare let out a pain-filled shriek. The pegasus stumbled to the ground, holding her left wing to her side. Blood was visibly leaking down her side. “Somebody get this mare to the sickbay!” Luna ordered, and four soldiers trotted over to help the pegasus. The princess turned around and was surprised to find the battle over: The soldiers were helping each other get organized, patch wounds, and take care of dead bodies. There was no sign of any changelings. The Captain of the Royal Guard came over to give his report. “Sixteen casualties, and nine seriously wounded, Princess.” “Thank you, Shining Armor,” Luna said, nodding her head in a business-like manner. “Get all the seriously wounded to the sickbay, deposit all of the dead bodies in a room until we can sort them, pick a soldier to lead a small group to head off the group of changelings that are coming from behind us, and get everypony else up on their hooves and ready to go!” As Shining Armor carried out her orders, Luna began to think more about her plan. Would it work? Would the changelings attack them before they had a chance to carry out her plan? Or would all of her army be brutally slaughtered by the enemy? Too soon, the Captain was waiting for her orders. “How many soldiers do we have?” she asked. “Sixty, Princess,” Shining Armor replied. Luna sighed. “Good enough, let`s go!” She led her small troop through a door on the right, up a flight of stairs, and to a small locked trapdoor that blended in with the wall. Luna unlocked the door with a golden key that was hanging on a hook next to the door, and ducked in. She actually had to climb in, and crawl uncomfortably through the vent until they got to the other side. After a bit, Luna opened a hatch in front of her, and watched it swing open with a small creak. She winced, and looked down to see if anypony had heard the small sound. The other soldiers strained to see over her shoulder. There were a ridiculously large number of changelings below. There were a large group standing directly in front of the entrance to the throne room, and two large groups to the sides. They all looked bored, and none of them seemed to notice the sound. Luna barely contained a big sigh of relief. She craned her head slightly to face her soldiers. “On my count, we go. Okay?” They all nodded silently. “One……” A changeling yawned. “Two….” The changeling`s ears twitched. “Three…..” The changeling looked up towards the vent opening. His eyes widened. “GO!” Luna swooped down upon the same changeling. She reared up on her forelegs, and bashed his head in instantly killing him. Shining Armor and two other soldiers jumped down to join her. The room exploded. Luna kicked out with her hindlegs, catching many changelings from behind. She head-butted a changeling that had charged at her, knocking him out. Several soldiers had already jumped out of the passageway and were fighting ferociously, but many were still joining the battle. Luna got out her spear, and began to slowly make her way to the entrance. She whirled her spear in all directions, watching as changelings were sent flying from its blows. The Captain and eight other soldiers rushed to cover her flanks, and for a brief moment, the changelings turned their attention to them. Luna used this moment to make a sprint for the entrance. She bust the double doors open with her forelegs, and ran inside, spear at the ready. Countless numbers of changelings lined the walls, and main area. Nadine sat on the throne with a triumphant look on her face. “Horseapples!” Luna swore, dropping her spear.