//------------------------------//
// Battle for the Crystal Empire 
// Story: The Final Wars of Equestria 
// by Final fantasy forever 
//------------------------------//

                                         The Final Wars of Equestria CH 10
Battle for the Crystal Empire



Journal Entry Nine
Official Journal of Twilight Sparkle of the United Equestrian Alliance
Return if Found



Not even three weeks have passed and our forces are readying to strike the main bastion of the Union war machine.  Many feel this would bring an end to the war.   I don’t want to bring down their morale, but I know deep in my heart they won’t stop if Peryite is captured; there are more where he came from.  And should we by some unfortunate turn of events slay him the Union activity may slow down for a while; but like a weakened disease written off as not a threat, they will come back in strength we have never dared to dream of.  Peryite is Undying as long as the Union remains un-dissolved.  Should he turn to dust his spirit will be the martyr for the rest of the Union.  Peryite must be captured alive.  After what happened last time I feel that it’s best I stay behind for this.  Shining Armor is going to be leading the forces to reclaim the Empire.  As of late, I’ve been letting the rest of the council handle the war.  I’m in no mental condition to be making these decisions.  Casimir and I have been…discussing…the events that caused the marks on out necks.  What they do, what they mean, their origin.  He seems to care; guess we’re in the same boat.



Twilight wrote the last words in her journal before turning her attention to Spike.  “Twilight, Shining Armor said to tell you that he and the forces are heading out in about three hours.”  
“Thanks Spike.  I’ll be sure to bid him farewell.  I just have something I need to do first.”  
Twilight got up and left the room.  She made her way to the elevator and pressed a button for a lower floor.  The elevator made its way down several floors before opening.  “Two minutes and seventeen seconds late.  Come on now Twilight I tell you I’m willing to give you some of my time yet you keep showing up late.  Tsk tsk Twilight,” Casimir snickered.
“Casimir isn’t this something we both need to take seriously?”
“Yes.  But no real harm in trying to make it lighter for us both.”
“Is that what the whiskey is for?”
“No.  This was purely for me. You don’t seem like the kind of mare who drinks but hey if you want I suppose it’s here for you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Very well then.  I told you how the marks were a symbol of your sins, a way of showing you were a corrupt monster.  They come after committing some kind of merciless slaughter.  I’m not that surprised you had to fight like you did; guess that’s what caused yours.”
“While we’re on that, how did you end up with one?”
Casimir paused.  “I suppose since I made the magitech weapons I’m responsible for the magitech weapons.  At least some of the death falls on me.”
“But you said it had to be a merciless killing.”
“I have no mercy.  No regret, Twilight.  My conscience is far from clear but…well you can always ignore your conscience.  So no…no regret there.”
“Where did the marks come from?”
“The Father of Misery, Cain.”
“Who is?”
“A god.  The son of the Mother of Life and Understanding, he is the harbinger of the end times.  As scripture tells he lived among the pantheon but never accepted this role as his own.  He later learned of the Land of Nod, the Uralian’s equivalent of your Tartarus; a place where all the mistakes of the divines were kept: envy, pride, wrath, greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, fratricide, control.  I suppose, like some life eventually no longer feels content where they are; he didn’t feel content among the gods.  He opened the gates of Nod and allowed all the evils of the world to sweep the fields of Eden.  He became the king of Nod ruling over the plains with an iron hoof.  As the scrolls foretell he is the being that guides souls that stray from the path of the Mother to come to Nod.  I can’t tell which parts are real and which are senseless hogwash but I don’t really want to get the chance to ask the Unholy Father which parts they got right.”
“What do they do, these marks?”
“As far as I’ve seen nothing.  They were meant to show someone’s sin.  Perhaps as a way to let others know the kind of pony they were or maybe to remind them that their sins will never be washed away.  My advice is this.  Look to the field; not the horizon.  Worry about life now and the afterlife when you’re on your deathbed.”
“We’re in war Casimir.  We consider ourselves already standing on our graves.”
“Perhaps so.  Still I’ve got about an hour.  Let me get us some tea and we’ll discus this some more.”  Casimir called a service drone and sent it to bring back some herbal tea.






“My liege.”
“Yes Trotsky,” Peryite said, not turning to face the general.
“Prof. Nicola has some message for you.”
“Really.  On what?”
“I did not ask my liege.”
Peryite sighed.  “Very well.”  
The two walked down the halls of the Crystal palace making their way to the throne room.  As they turned the corner another officer approached them.  “Your eminence, Marshal Trotsky.  We’ve gotten more reinforcements.”  The officer pulled out a small paper on a clipboard.  “Eighteen tanks, seven hummingbirds, thirty TIC’s, an airship filled with soldiers, and one infantry division.”
“It’s something but we can’t wait another three days for decent reinforcements,” Peryite said.
“Yes my liege.”
“Colonel Markov was it?”
“Y-yes your excellency.”
“I’m giving you a position for when the tsarists arrive.  I have no doubt in my heart their forces will at the very least make it to the city.  You will be given control over the market district of the Empire.  Talk to Commissar Petrenko in the living district and tell him I’m trusting you to hold down that part of the city.”
“Y-yes sir!” Markov said saluting Peryite.  With that Markov took his leave.
“As for you Trotsky you’re dismissed.”
“Excuse me.”
“You are relieved of your duties here.”
“But sir.  Why?”
“Because if I perish or get captured then the Circle of Marshals will be left in control of the Global Union.  With Voroshilov dead I can’t risk you dying here.”
“I’m sure the other could handle the responsibility.”
“All too well Trotsky.  Nikita may be invaluable to us but I know his kind.  He is an opportunist.  Without you he will push aside Marshal Kilian and take undisputed control.  I need someone to keep him in check if I am no longer able to lead.”
Trotsky stared at Peryite not breaking his glance.  “Yes my liege.  I will do as I’m told.”  With that Trotsky took his leave.
Peryite walked into the throne room and used a transmitter to secure a frequency.  “Hello.  My liege is that you?”
“Yes Nicola.  What is it that you wanted?”
“I’ve figured a way to open the rift.  Permanently.”
“What!  How?!”
“I’ve been thinking.  The Crystal heart alone has enough power to supply our entire defense system here at the Empire.  I’ve been doing some studying over the magitech weaponry we’ve recovered; and while I can’t replicate it I have been experimenting on the effect of dark magic on the crystals from the Empire.  From what I’ve seen, if done correctly the magic morphs the crystals and makes a fusion that’s somehow the lesser yet greater of both parties.  The process makes the crystal unstable and volatile; but so long as we keep it under the right conditions its power quadruples.  If we can do that with the heart we can keep the rift open and reinforce the Empire with all the forces here at the heart of the U.G.E.R.”
“Nicola.  I know not how many times I’ve said this, but where would we be without you?”
“You flatter me my liege.”
“Nonsense!  You’re the beating heart of the ministry of science.  We may find someone who could do your job but no one could do it like you.”
“Thank you my liege.”
“But now though, I will need to get to the Crystal Heart.”  Peryite turned off the transmitter and made his way to the door.  As he did, through the lightly cracked open door he caught somepony standing behind it.  Peryite threw open the door with his magic and galloped towards the stallion.  “Why do you linger in the shadow?”
“Uh, forgive me my liege.  I-I simply had some things to report but they had already been reported.”
“What reports?”
“That reinforcements have arrived.”
“Hmm.  Very well, you’re dismissed comrade…”
“Sergeant Moskvin sir.”
“Very well sergeant.  You are dismissed.”
“Yes sir,” Moskvin said saluting Peryite before trotting away.  Peryite watched the stallion leave before heading up to the Crystal Heart’s chamber.








“This is war Twilight.  Unless you butcher somepony who begs mercy the sins are…well, depending on whom you ask, justified.  To be fair they’re trying to kill you as well.”
“Casimir have you ever taken life…personally?”
“When you work in experimental science you know quite possibly everyday you could kill someone with an experiment.  When something goes wrong you just have to get used to the fact they’re dead.”
“Does it bother you at all?  Hurt your conscience?”
“You learn to ignore your conscience.  When you know you could kill someone everyday you learn to or you wind up embracing death.”
“How do you accept it?”
“You don’t really.  You just learn live with it and try and not to let it get to you.  It’s gonna linger but you just brush it off.  Ponies like us Twilight…we don’t get much choice in what we do.”
“No one orders me around Casimir; and even though you do take orders from the Alliance you still are pretty outspoken about how you’ll do what you please.”
Casimir chuckled, though Twilight could tell he was troubled.  “No one has much say in the grand scheme of things.  Not common folk.  Not us with power.  Perhaps not even the gods themselves.”  Casimir laughed.  “What a joke!  That’s just some pony feathers I say to myself to ease my burden.  The sins are still mine; mine and no one else’s.  Whatever you do Twilight, my only real advice is: don’t forget who you are.  If you have to kill someone it costs you nothing to be polite.”
Twilight drank some of her tea, taking in what Casimir told her before a royal guard barged in.  “Highness!”
“What?”
“We’ve received some news from our spies in the Empire.  Peryite is planning on using the Crystal Heart to open some kind of…rift.  Between the Empire and wherever the U.G.E.R heart is.  According to our source he’s going to use it to reinforce his already massive amount of forces there.  We have enough strength to break through but if we can’t stop the rift then…there’s no way we can wrestle control from him.  He’s walled up in there just waiting.  In three days it will be ready.”
“I need to think about this.  I’ll hold a council meeting and see if any more reinforcements can be brought for this battle.”
“How did Peryite even get the heart to do this?  I knew it was powerful but…this.”
“The spy said it was because he found a way to fuse it with dark magic.”
“A light magic crystal imbued with dark magic.  Fascinating.  I’m going to start some experiments and see if I can find a way to counter the process.  I’ll report to you as soon as have any information.”
“Thank you Casimir.”  With that Twilight left for the council room.







“And so I ask all of you for your aid in this time.  If we don’t stop this rift the casualties will be devastating on both sides.”
“We understand your plight highness; but how are we to even get our forces there in time,” the Gryphon king replied.  
“We are across an ocean.  We can’t possibly get to you in time and things have been hard pushing back the Union forces here,” the Saddle Arabian king added.  “Our continent is still occupied by many of the Union’s forces in the old kingdom of Zozo.  They have been holding onto the land to the very end.”
“Things aren’t very good here either.  The citizens of Stalliongrad haven’t really embraced you or your forces.  It’s been hard just keeping their blood down.  There have been some skirmishes and riots here and there.  We have to keep every troop here to keep both the Union forces in neighboring lands and the citizens in check.”
“This may be our best chance to capture Peryite.”
“’Keep on and fight on’.  Those were his words to his troops in Zozo.  ‘Should death keep me from holding true to my promise do not give up the fight.  Continue the revolution!’  His propaganda is the voice of a visionary to his followers.  Taking him won’t end this.  Remember highness this is all our fight and while we must carry one another we must also carry ourselves.  This is one of the times you must carry yourself.  I’m sorry.”
“I must ask forgiveness as well highness.”
“I shamefully must ask the same.  My heart is out for your struggle from one neighboring kingdom to another.”  
The transmission monitors of the council chambers grew dark and Twilight was once again alone.  She sighed before leaving the chambers.  As she did Spike rushed up to her panting and sweating.  “Twilight.  Twilight!” He huffed out of breath.
“What is it Spike?”
“Casimir h-had something to (huff) tell you.  Something about the heart.”
“I’ll get right to that.  Thanks Spike.”  With that Twilight galloped down the halls of the palace to the elevator to the subterranean levels.







“Casimir.  I came as quick as I could.  What is it?!”
“I believe I’ve found out how to stop the Crystal Heart.”
“How?!”
“The heart is being amplified by dark magic.  If we can purify it then Peryite won’t have the power to open his rift.”
“But how are we supposed to do that?”
“I’ve found a large concentration of normal magic should get the job done.  Your Elements of Harmony should do the job nicely.  I know you’ve been trying to stay away from war and I don’t blame you; but we need you and your friends to be there to stop the heart.”
“I can’t endanger them.  There has to be another way; there has…”
“We don’t have time!  Listen Twilight.  You need to do this.  Your friends don’t need to go into battle they just need to be there to use their elements on the heart.  We can just bring them in on a barge.”
“They won’t have to fight?”
“Not at all.”
“Very well,” Twilight sighed.  I’ll talk to them; but if they don’t want to come…”
“Then they’ll drown in an ocean of tears knowing they could have done something to save lives.”  Twilight shot Casimir an angry look.  “Hey I only say what’s true.”
“Fine.  I’ll get them.”
“Good.  I’ll continue doing research here.  This process of imbuing dark magic is remarkable.  I’ll give you an update if anything relevant comes up.”
“Thank you.”  With that Twilight left to gather her friends.








“Hold on now.  Ya want us to what?!” Applejack asked a bit shaken.
“The Elements of Harmony are the only thing that can stop the Crystal Heart.  If we don’t then there’s no way we can take back the Empire.”
“But darling; we can’t fight!” Rarity added.
“You won’t need to.  Just let the rest of the forces clear a way to the palace and we’ll stop their reinforcements.”
“Twi you REALLY shouldn’t be going onto a battlefield,” Rainbow said.  “You’ve been getting…weird when you fight.”
“I know.  I’m going to try and not fight.  Come on though.  Please, we have to do this.”
“Well girls?”  
All agreed eventually.  “Good,” Twilight sighed.  “Let’s get to the docking bay.  You girls will stay in the ship.”  
The six mares made their way to the aircraft docking bays.  They arrived to see Shining Armor talking with a Gryphon commander.  “Heinrich are you sure you want to be part of this?”
“Of course.  We’ve fought together in Saddle Arabia and Canterlot.  We’ve always had filly luck looking over us.  I know the battle won’t be easy; but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Very well.  One last time we will fight for the Alliance.”
“Don’t lie to yourself.  Chances are Peryite’s death or capture won’t end this nightmare.  Us Gryphon’s have been in war before but this has dragged the morale from our troops.  Never have I seen such solemn looks on their faces.  The generals have called this ‘The Final War’.  The war to end all wars, part of me wished there was merit to their words but I feel it is simply never true.  No amount of death could satisfy a true killer, someone who does not kill for good or evil, but simply because they can.”
“Perhaps there will always be killing but maybe war will be put to rest.”
“There will always be a reason to sound the horn and send the troops.  It’s a sad reality.  It would appear we have company.”
Shining Armor turned his head to the door.  “Twily.  Come to see us off.”
“Not exactly.  I’m coming with you.”
“Twilight I’ve been reluctantly agreeing to you coming to war for the past seven months; well no.  I’m not letting you go onto that battlefield.”
“I have to.  The Elements are the only thing that can stop the Crystal Heart.”
“What?”
“You know Peryite is going to use it to open that rift.  Casimir informed me that the only way to cut the power necessary was to remove the dark magic from the heart.”
“But that means all your friends will have to come.”
“I know.”
“And they’re okay with going?  And you’re okay with them going?”
“We have no choice.”
Shining Armor gritted his teeth.  “Fine.  But you’re staying on the ship until we can get to the palace.”
“Alright.”
Twilight along with her friends, Shining Armor, and Heinrich, boarded the ship.  “Wait!”  Twilight turned to the voice.  “Hold on,” Spike said running onto the ship.
“Spike you can’t come with us you…”
“I know.  But you’ll need these.”
Spike handed Twilight a small lockbox.  She knew its contents but hoped to find something different.  She opened it and found the Alicorn Amulet along with the knife she had found.  “Spike I don’t want either of these things.”
“Twilight you’re going to need everything you can get to survive.”
Twilight sighed.  “I know.  Thank you Spike.”  Twilight bid farewell to her loyal assistant.  
The eight took their place in the cockpit.  “Ready Shining Armor?” Cadence asked.
“Cadence what are you doing here?” Twilight asked.
“I didn’t know you were coming with us.  I’m just overseeing this.  The Crystal Empire is my kingdom and its citizens are my responsibility.  I at least have to oversee the mission to liberate them.”
“We’re here to stop Peryite from using the Crystal Heart to bring in reinforcements.  Casimir said that we were the only ones that could stop this.”
“Casimir.  That bastard.”
“He’s not that bad really.  Sure he can be a bit bitter but he’s not that bad when you get to know him.”
“Maybe so.  I suppose it’s not right to use him as my scapegoat for my pain and my mistakes,” Cadence said glumly
“Are you alright?”
“Not really.  But I can’t dwell on it.  We have something that needs to be done.”  The ship hummed to life before it took flight for the Empire.











Twilight watched the terrain go by as the zeppelin flew through the sky.  The ground was shrouded in while by the uniforms of division after division of infantry as well as the armor that accompanied them.  “How have you been highness?  A lot has happened since we wound up fighting at the Black Feather Forest.”
“About as good as war can give me.  Things have been rough.  I’ve done things I’m not proud of.  Things I’ll regret for the rest of this life and the one that comes next.”
“This is war.  Even brutality is sometimes a necessary act.”
“Maybe so.  But I could have shown mercy.”
“When I have new recruits who are burdened with regrets I tell them the best way to lose them is with a rifle.”
“It might make going on easier but it won’t work in the long run if you plan on returning to civilization.”  The two conversed a while longer until a crewmember entered the cockpit.
“Excuse me highness.  We will be entering battle soon.  The last forward command base before the Crystal Empire.”
“Alright.  Let’s not get into the skirmish.  We’ll keep our distance and oversee the battle.”
“Yes highness.”  The crewmember took his leave as Twilight turned on the ships PA system.
“Soldiers of the United Equestrian Alliance.  On this day we start the battle to bring the one who started this war to justice.  Behind the walls of the Crystal Empire, King Peryite hides.  This is all that stands between us, and those walls.  Turn their base to rubble; show these Union troops what their defiance has brought them.”  The soldiers cheered as they charged on the base.  The sounds of war filled the air.  Bullets and bursts of magic were exchanged on both sides.  Twilight watched the battle rage on.  The outpost and forward command base was significantly fortified.  Tanks and barricades held strong keeping out the Equestrian infantry and armor.  Mortars fired on large concentrations of troops and tanks.






“Get that MG set up on that tank husk go, go, go!”  The Gryphon set up the machine gun and began firing on the Union troops.  “There’s a squad on your left!”  The Gryphon rotated the gun counterclockwise and fired on the approaching troops.  “Tanks!  We need to move.  Come on, leave the gun and let’s go!”
Three Equestrian troops and two Gryphons darted to the MG.  “Hey!  We’re going to set charges on those tanks.  We need cover fire.  You up for it.”
“Guess I wasn’t very convinced I’d survive this anyway,” the Gryphon on the MG replied.  “I’ll keep an eye out for you.  Crush that enemy Armour!”
The two Gryphons and three Equestrian troops left the cover of the destroyed tank and darted to the Union tanks.  The Gryphon at the MG kept any approaching Union troops at bay and killed the tank guards.  The two Gryphons attached their charges to the tank’s base while the two Equestrian troops attached their charges to the tank next to it.  The five then fled from the tanks as quickly as their legs and wings could allow.  The tanks ignited in a spout of fire turning the war machines into tombs of flaming metal.  “Our troops are advancing!”
“No rest for the weary; we need to move up with them.”  The Alliance troops moved up and began assaulting the forward command base.  The tanks used themselves as battering rams, running themselves into the walls to weaken them.  As they did an airship rose up from the base and bombarded the U.E.A forces.





Twilight watched the airship bombard the troops on the ground.  “We need to stop that ship!”
“Our Flak forces are midway through the lines we didn’t expect to have air force resistance this soon.” 
Shining Armor gritted his teeth.  “Come on get the troops to retreat and we’ll…”
“There’s no time!” Twilight said opening the lockbox.  She put on the Alicorn Amulet and grabbed the knife with her magic.  “I’ll deal with this.”
“Wait Twilight you…” before Shining Armor could finish speaking Twilight leapt off the flagship and took flight to the Union zeppelin.  As she approached the airship surrounding barges began firing on her.  She illuminated her horn and put up a shell.  She channeled the magic to her hooves and slammed into the gunship.  Twilight tore straight through the gunship and continued to the airship.  The crew quickly greeted her by way of gunfire.  She fired a beam of magic and tore through the crewmembers.  The familiar feeling of slaughter filled her.  She was determined not to lose herself in the bloodshed.  Twilight galloped to the engine room.  The guards there charged her.  She stabbed and dispatched the soldiers.  Twilight concentrated her magic and unleashed a beam on the zeppelin engine.  The heart of the ship ignited in flames.  Alarms sounded as the zeppelin caught fire.  Twilight spread her wings and took flight away from the descending airship.  The remaining gunships gave chase to her.  She turned and flew back in the direction of the gunfire.  She grabbed one of the ships and slammed it against another.  The ships were turned to shards, crew and all.  Twilight turned to the last ship and fired a beam of magic at it.  The barge split in half before catching fire and plummeting to the ground.  Twilight flew to the ground.  She charged her magic in her hooves before flying into the gate.  The metal doors that stood strong and defiant to the tanks parted way for the lavender mare.  The Alliance forces cheered as they stormed the forward command base.  Within ten minutes the Union forces had surrendered.  Twilight glided up to the flagship and opened the door to the cockpit.  She was promptly greeted by way of a concerned scolding from her brother.  “Twily!  Are you alright?!”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
“Good.  Now what the hell!  You said you wouldn’t go into battle.”
“I know.  But we couldn’t let our troops get blown apart.  It’s wrong to stand by and do nothing when you can fight plus we need every soldier we can get if we want to get to Peryite in time.”
“But you’ve nearly lost your life so many times on that battlefield.  I can’t bear the thought of you dying.”
“Brother.  I can take care of myself.  Trust me I can hold my own out there.  And I’m determined not to lose myself in the bloodshed.”
“Twilight.”
“I won’t fight more than I need to.  I give you my word.”
“That wasn’t worth much last time.”
“I didn’t give it to you last time.”
Shining Armor shot Twilight a stern look.  “Ahem.  We should probably secure this facility as a medical and reinforcement outpost before continuing on to the Empire,” Heinrich said interrupting the awkward moment.
“Oh, yes.  We’ll get a few platoons and some armor to hold this place,” Shining Armor said easing his tone.
“From what I’ve seen the Union forces are a skeleton crew in the early hours of the morning.  That’s when we should strike.  They’ll quickly get their troops set up but we’ll at least be able to break through the walls before they can react properly.”
“We’ll have the troops staying here work to secure the base while everyone else gets ready and rested for the assault.  If we plan on marching the thirty or so miles from here to there we’ll need to be well rested.”
“Agreed.  Transports will be arriving soon to pick up the POW’s and bring supplies.”
“Twilight you stay here; got it?”  Twilight nodded.  “Good.”  With that Shining Armor and Heinrich took their leave.





Journal Entry Ten
Official Journal of Twilight Sparkle of the United Equestrian Alliance
Return if Found

The sun sets on the horizon, dipping down and seemingly melting away into a puddle of orange and gold light.  I should be sleeping; but I can’t seem to close my eyes for long.  In a few hours our troops will begin marching on the Crystal Empire.  Peryite is waiting for us.  I don’t know if it is anxiety or fear that keeps me awake.  Perhaps I need not worry.  If I don’t fight then I won’t need to sleep this night.


Twilight wrote the last words in her journal before lying in bed and drifting to sleep. 







“Alright is the crystal ready?”
“Yes.
“Alright, and the light magic imbuing device?”
“Charged and ready.”
“The fracturing shard?”
“Check.”
“The amplifier?  We need that for the catalyst.”
“Ready.”
“Alright.  Chief scientist Casimir you may begin.”
“Surprised you wanted to oversee an experiment personally.”
“I’m curious about the application.  Now if you’re done questioning my motives let’s begin.”
“Alright.  Turning on the device…now.”
“Good.  Now moving the shard into place.”
“Amplifier is now ready to use.”
“Turn it on and we’ll begin the experiment in earnest.  Imbuing the light magic directly into the crystal.”
“It is flowing naturally into it; well aside from the amplification and the strainers.”
“Power output is extraordinary,” Casimir said marveling.  “This application is beyond what I could have thought possible.  I can’t wait to see what happens with more powerful crystals and…”
“The crystal is unstable!  We can’t control i…” The scientist was cut of as the crystal exploded leaving magical residue on the equipment.  “Shit!  That thing went out with a bang.”
“I’ll say.  It was ten times more powerful than a magical burst from one of our magitech weapons.”
“I don’t understand,” Casimir, said baffled.  “It worked when we infused the dark magic into the crystal; this process was just turning it back to its normal state.”
“A theory if I may sir.”
“You don’t need my permission for that.”
“When we tried infusing the crystal with dark magic it had exploded eight times on us.  The ninth time we had got it perfect and put in just the right amount of dark magic.  Once we do that the crystals become unstable.  Because these crystals become unstable when we infuse them with dark magic any imbalance in the levels of dark and light magic must be what is resulting in the explosion.  In laymen’s terms; if we make a dark and light magic crystal it is impossible to reverse the process without blowing up the crystal.”
“If you’re right I’m sure glad we didn’t use one of the more powerful crystals.  We could have blown up the table.”
“Hell if we had used the biggest one we could have blown ourselves to hell.”
The scientists continued to laugh at how they dodged a bullet while Casimir grew pale.  “If the Crystal Heart has that much power…and it becomes unstable…oh sweet Mother!”
“Chief scientist Casimir.  Are you okay?”
“I need to get to my office!  You two clean the mess up.”
“But sir we have janitor staff why don’t they just do it.”
“Do it or I’ll stuff you in the incinerator!”  Casimir galloped to the elevator and hit the button to his office.  The elevator slowed to a halt and Casimir galloped off.  “I need to tell Twilight.  If she destabilizes the Crystal Heart then the explosion will be one thousand times greater than what I saw.”  
Casimir got into his private communicator and pulled down the monitor; he established a link to the flagship.  “Casimir.  Do you know what time it is?” Shining Armor griped.
Casimir gave Shining Armor a confused look.  “Uh… 10:45, not that late.”
“Well when you’re getting up before three o’clock it is.  Now what did you want?”
“I need to tell you you’re in danger.  Tell Twilight no matter what she does she can’t…” Casmir was cut off as the power fluctuated from the room.  “Hello.  Shining Armor!  What the hell is…”
“Say no evil Casimir.”  Casimir felt the fur on his neck spring up.  “I can’t have you spilling that information.”
The power returned to the room and Casimir was left facing his demons.  “G-Ghast,” Casimir stuttered.  “What the hell?!”
“I can’t let you tell them what will happen if they make the heart unstable.”
“What?  You bastard let me through.”
“Casimir.  You know what will happen if you disobey me.”
Casimir stopped.  “Countless souls will die.  Everyone!  Alliance soldier, Union soldiers, civilians; all will die!”
“And perhaps this slaughter is what I seek.”
“Svoloch!  Let me…”
“The choice is yours,” Ghast laughed.  “We both know what’s more important to you.”
Casimir cringed.  The monitor came back online.  “Casmir?  Hello,” Shining Armor called out.
“Hello Shining Armor.”
“Casimir what was it you wanted to tell me?”
“I…I…”
“The science was incorrect.  I have come to report to him about the update,” Ghast replied.
“Okay.  Who the hell are you?”
“I am Ghast.  A ‘prominent’ member of Lightspeed research.”
“Y-yes.  That’s correct,” Casimir said sheepishly.
“Very well.  See you back in Canterlot.”  With that Shining Armor ended the transmission.
“Stay inside the lines Casimir.  Or else your precious little sister will pay for it.”  With that Ghast left Casimir alone.
“Ghast.  You son of a bitch; one day!”  Casimir grabbed a bottle of whiskey he kept as his private reserve and poured a stiff drink.  He drank some before resting his head on his desk.  After five minutes he grew tired of sulking and pulled out an audio diary from his desk and played it.  “This is a message to myself.  Times have been hard and things will only get worse.  I make this message to remind myself ‘when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.’”  Casimir hit the add-on button on the recorder and began speaking.  “Alright I’ve been thinking.  When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade.  Make life take the lemons back!  GET MAD!!  I don’t want your DAMN lemons what am I supposed to do with these?!  Demand to see life’s manager.  Make it rue the day it thought it could give Casimir Adrian Tazal lemons.  Do you know who I am?!  I’m the guy who’s gonna blow you to Nod!  With lemons; I’m gonna get my lab boys to genetically remake and modify a nuclear lemon THAT BLOWS YOU STRAIGHT TO NOD!!”  Casimir took a deep breath.  “I’m probably gonna say I was crazy.  Maybe I am.  The point is though, I’m not gonna sit by and let life give me these lemons.  I swear Ghast.  One day I’m gonna get my revenge.  When it comes to folk like you I know there are others out there that hate you.  One day the world is gonna want your head on a pike.  And I’ll be there to help tear it off.  As far as I’m concerned, an enemy of yours is a friend of mine.  I may not be the one who lights the spark that sets you ablaze.  But I’m gonna be the one who dowses you with gasoline.  Mark my words: one day, you will pay.  Karma’s gonna come collect your debt.”  Casimir ended the recording and put it back in his desk.




Twilight awoke in the early hours of the morning.  The ship had been flying for about two and a half hours and the troops below had been marching for about the same.  Twilight rubbed sleep from her eyes before heading out of her bedchambers and into the main deck.  She was still wobbly and knew she shouldn’t be wandering around the zeppelin with her sense distorted.  She minded the distance between her and the railing of the ship as she made her way to the cockpit.  She entered and sealed the hatch before taking her seat at the cockpit.  Her friends and brother along with Cadence and Heinrich were seated there.  “Morning Twilight,” Applejack said with a bit of sleep in her eyes.
“Good morning girls.”
“We’re almost at the Empire,” Heinrich said looking out the window in an upright position with his front claws behind his back.
“Are sure you want to see this Cadence?”  Shining Armor asked his wife.  “I have to fight but can you watch our home burn?”
“It won’t be pleasant but I have to at least oversee this battle.”
“When the first shots are fired we must rally our troops and take command,” Heinrich said.
“Right,” Shining Armor replied.  “Twilight.”
“Yeah.  I’ll stay here.”
Shining Armor smiled.  “Heinrich how are we doing this?”
“I will lead my platoon down the living district while you pave your way through the crystal fields.  Once you destroy the barracks and war factory in the guards’ district you will assist my troops and me by attacking the forces in the living district from behind.  If all goes well we will be able to storm Peryite Plaza district and the Day of Liberation district.”
“Bastard’s gonna pay for taking our city.”  The sounds of war filled the air.  “That’s out cue general Amherst.”  Shining Armor galloped out of the cockpit and boarded an air barge.  He watched Heinrich glide down to take command of his forces.  The alarms of the Union forces sounded, piercing the calm early morning air and rousing the sleeping beast.  As the barge neared the ground Shining Armor leapt off and took command of his forces.  “Come on boys.  We’re gonna have to wait before we storm the city.  We’re cutting through the crystal fields and heading straight for the Union’s source of weapons and troops.”  The troops marched on through the fields.  Mortars and attack barges rained hell on the fields outside the Empire trying to stymie the Equestrian forces’ advance on the city.  What few forces they found on the walls of the city paid them no heed as they retreated and regrouped deeper in the city.  The Equestrian troops continued on until they reached their destination.
“Captain.  We haven’t the equipment to scale this wall.  How do we get through?”
One of the three tanks with the platoon rammed into the wall five times and it crumbled.  “Brute force soldier.  Brute force.  Stay behind the tanks and don’t hold back!”  
Shining Armor’s platoon continued down the newly made path killing any opposition along the way.  The Union forces were scattered and unorganized putting up little resistance without proper leadership.  “Almost feel bad about killing them when they barely fire of a single shot.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Shining Armor replied.  “Things won’t be this easy as we progress.”
“I know I just have to savor the moment and…” Through the sounds of war the troops could hear the sound of a million metallic legs on the ground.  The source soon came into sight as a swarm of metal arachnids charged down the street in a frenzy.  “TICS!!!”  The metallic arachnid-like machines leapt onto the Equestrian soldiers and shattered the vertebrae of their victims.  “Get into these buildings; we’ll kill them from there!” Shining Armor yelled rallying his troops into the nearest standing building.  The TIC units leapt on the tanks and fried them with electrical discharges before making their way into the garrisoned building.  
“There’s no way out!”
“Sir there are MGs here.”
“Set them up.  Listen soldier.  While those TICS come I need a group to hold them back with these MGs.  The rest of us will split up and regroup.  I won’t suggest any of you for this task.  You decide.
There was silence.  “I will.”
“As will I.”
“I lay my life down for Alliance.”
“I take this duty with head held high.”
“Thank you boys.  I won’t lie to you and tell you this will be alright; be brave.”
The troops found other exits from the building while the remaining four distracted the TICs.  Shining Armor galloped down the street along with five other soldiers.
“Captain what do we do?”  
“Fight.”
“Captain we’re scattered how can we hope to stand up to the Union?”
“We make our own units.  We find remnants of other squads and form another.  We still have to make our way to the war factory.”  With that Shining Armor and the remnants of his squad made their way deeper into Union lines.








“Fight, my brothers, fight!”  The Gryphon forces held their ground as the Union troops put more pressure on them. 
“General Amherst.  We need more reinforcements.  We can’t possibly hold this position for much longer.”
“I know.  But we have to hold strong.  If we flee now we’ll get shot in the back.”
“General, Union armour!”  
Heinrich watched several Union tanks trample the barricades set up.  “Fallback!  Everyone fallback!”  The Gryphon and Equestrian forces abandoned their position and fled from the advancing Union armor.  The tanks used their mounted machine guns to mow down the retreating forces.  As the soldiers ran haplessly from the tanks a large beam of magic ripped through a building and one of the tanks.  The Union tanks turned to the source of the beam and fired.  Eight white tanks carved their way through the rubble of the city and fired on the Union tanks.  “Magitech tanks.”  Heinrich and the remnants of his forces watched the Union tanks get turned to scrap by the magitech weapons on treads.  “Are any of you wounded?”
“We’re either alive or dead sir.”
“Then we’re moving up again.”
“Stay close to the tanks and protect them from anything that poses a threat and they will do the same for us.”
“Right.”
Heinrich and his troops advanced with the tanks.  The magitech-powered weapons tore clean through the Union’s forces and armor like a hot knife through butter.  The tanks and troops came to a halt at a large skirmish between Union and Equestrian forces.  “Herr Amherst.  This must be the Union’s main stronghold here.”
“Indeed soldier.  This must be where the commander of this district is directing his forces.  We need to storm it and take him or kill him.”
“There are too many soldiers there sir and those flak cannons are keeping our magitech tanks at bay.  We need to find another way around; to flank them.”
“Right.  Shining Armor.  Where are you?  With that Heinrich and his troops went to find another rout to attack the base.








Entry one.  War journal of Captain Shining Armor of the U.E.A; 
My platoon has been segmented and divided amongst the Crystal Empire.  It’s been six hours since the TICs attacked us.  My troops with me have saved eight prisoners of war.  Those soldiers have joined us.  We sneak our way like rats to the war factory; hiding in the ruins of the city avoiding any Union patrols.  I always used to make a checkup with the Crystal guards in this district.  It used to take about ten minutes to go from where the barracks are to the palace; and there was minimal chance of dying when walking that distance.  A lot has changed since those years.



Shining Armor wrote the last words in his journal before storing it in his uniform.  “Captain.  We need to get moving again.  That factory has been producing and repairing tanks for too long.”
“I know boy.  Let’s get to it then!”  Shining Armor and his troops made their way out from the cover of what was left of a wall from a building and cautiously trotted down a back alley.  The sounds of war could be heard in the distance, gunfire and tanks along with mortars and gunships.  The sound of metal tipped hoofware was heard coming their way.  
“Sir do you hear that?”
“Yes.  Come on, up this building!”  They climbed a staircase up three floors in a damaged building before waiting for the troops to pass.  “Check the area with your sniper rifle and see if there’s anything of interest.”  
The Equestrian sniper scanned the streets of the guards’ district.  “It looks like there is a Union supply depot at the end of this block.”
“We could use more supplies.  Alright boys we’re going on a raid.”  Shining Armor gathered his forces and led them to the supply depot.  Aside from the fire and gunshots this area of the district was in good enough condition to be peaceful.  The squad quickly made their way into the depot and examined what they had to work with.  “Hmm.  There’s some medical supplies here, some food, dried instant rations, rockets for the launcher, some Union weaponry, some uniforms and…” The soldier stopped as he heard the sound of an approaching transport.
“Hide!” Shining Armor said.  
The troops hid behind whatever could give them cover.  Four Union soldiers made their way into the depot and began loading supplies into the transport.  “Come on, we’re re supplying the war factory.  Get these supplies in there ASAP.  King Peryite needs us to fight until we can open the rift.”  The Union troops continued loading the transport with supplies.  Shining Armor motioned his forces to dispatch them.  Two Equestrian soldiers quietly crawled across the floor using the crates of supplies as cover.  When the Union troops came near they leapt on them and drove their retractable hoof blades in their necks.  “Equestrian pi…” The Union soldier dropped to the floor riddled with holes from magitech bursts.
“Hide these bodies then find that crate of uniforms we saw earlier,” Shining Armor said.
“Why?”
“We’re getting these supplies to their destination.”
“What?”
“They’ll welcome us like comrades.  We get to the factory, set explosive charges on the support structures and manufacturing devices, then get out before they know what hit them.”  The Equestrian soldiers hid the bodies and donned the Union uniforms.  “How do I look?”
“You make that green look pretty good captain.”
Shining Armor chuckled slightly.  “Come on we need to get going.”  Shining Armor and his troops boarded the transport and headed for the war factory.









“Colonel Markov sir!  The Tsarists are almost here.”
“I know.  Are the remnants of the eighth rifle division and forty-seventh Pegasus division standing on guard?”
“They will hold this place till their last breath.”
Markov sighed.  “Well.  Today’s a good a day as any to be burning in hell.”
“Get ready.  Die with a weapon in your hooves comrade.”
“I know.  Soldier you…” Markov stopped as he saw the butt of a rifle get slammed into the soldier’s head.  “What in Peryite’s name!”  Markov looked into the deep blue eyes of the Pegasus stallion shrouded in robes standing before him.  His face was masked but he could tell his expression was as it naturally was, stern and serious.  “What the hell was that?!  Couldn’t you have just…oh forget it.”
“Get out of here.”
“Excuse me?”
“Get out of here; while you still can.”
“I am bound by my will to Peryite to stay and fight.  I know I also serve you and your ‘Mother’ but I can’t just become a deserter.”
“All here will die; all save Twilight and Peryite.  Your soldiers will die should you stay.  The Alliance forces coming here will die.  Peryite will not succeed.  This battle will end in tears and ashes and nothing more.”
“If we’re all in eminent danger then you need to tell the King.  Or at least Twilight.”
“Peryite will not listen.  The unenlightened never do.  I cannot blame him though.  As for the alicorn I cannot reach her.  I am but a stallion after all.”
“So what.  I abandon my post here and flee?”
“No.  You order a tactical retreat and lead your troops out of this city.”
“I can’t just give that order.  Peryite will kill me.  All of us probably.”
“Believe me.  He won’t put you to the sword.  Believe me he’ll only be happy he still has some forces from this catastrophe.”
“But…”
“NO.  Get your friend here and the sergeant and get your troops out of here.”
“Y…yes.”  Colonel Markov slowly rose from his seat and left to get his troops.









Shining Armor slowly drove the transport to the Union checkpoint.  He knew this would either get them into the war factory or land him in front of a firing squad.  “Halt comrade.  What is your purpose in the factory?”
“Just delivering these supplies,” Shining Armor replied.
“What is your cargo?”
“Some weapons, medical supplies, food, shot, and other miscellaneous things.”
“Very well.  You may proceed.”
Shining Armor drove the transport up to the garage and let the technicians take the supplies.  “Alright.  Fan out and set the charges.  I’ll see if I can find anything of use while you all set this place to blow.  We’ll regroup here and find a way out before we blow it up.”
“Right,” all said before spreading out.  
Shining Armor made his way to the conveyor belt and checked around to make sure no patrols were about.  He attached a C4 charge to the base and went on his way.  The next stop was the munitions magazine.  This part had the strongest armor to prevent it from being set ablaze by enemy fire.  Shining Armor approached the two soldiers standing guard at the door.  “Comrade.  You are not authorized back here without specific permission.”
“Whose do I need again…uh comrade.”
“Talk to foreman Malkovich for entry.  Just don’t expect to get it.  You’ll need his badge as proof.” 
“Very well.  I’ll be back.”  Shining Armor left the guards and found a technician.  “Excuse me comrade?  Where is the foreman’s office?”
“Second floor on the right.  Though Malkovich just left so that won’t do you much good.”
“Thanks anyway.”  
Shining Armor made his way to the office and checked the area to make sure no one was around.  He quickly pulled out a lockpick from his supply kit and used his magic to maneuver the pick.  After two minutes the lock clicked open.  Shining Armor slid the door open and entered the office.  The room was dimly lit but he managed to find the foreman’s desk where his badge was left.  He grabbed the badge and slowly opened the door to make sure the coast was clear.  After a few seconds he left the office and made his way back to the munitions magazine.  He showed the guards the badge and they saluted him and let him through.  Shining Armor made his way to the back of the magazine where the tank shells and missiles were kept.  He attached charges on them and some of the other volatile fuel sources kept in the magazine.  Once he had rigged the ammo storage to blow he made his way back to the meeting spot.  The other soldiers in his squad were there, waiting for him.  “Glad you made it here Captain.  Now let’s get the hell out of Dodge before anything goes wrong.”
“Agreed.”
Shining Armor and his squad made their way to the garage to find a transport.  “Halt.  What is your business here?” A technician asked.
“We’re checking out a transport.  Heading out.”
“Alright.  I’ll get you settled and…”
“Facility on lockdown!  Facility on Lockdown!” The PA system repeated.
“Aw hell.  Come on you guys we’re heading to the main production area for the emergency.  Gods I hope this is just something minor”
“Damn,” Shining Armor cursed as he and his squad were forced to head back.  
He thought about just running but the halftracks positioned at the garage made him dismiss the idea.  He and his squad arrived at the main production area and listened to the guard holding the emergency meeting.  “My brothers we have been either infiltrated or betrayed!”  The crowd of technicians and guards yammered in an uproar.  “Several explosive devices have been found around the facility; clear signs of sabotage.  We have not caught anyone yet.  We are keeping this place on lockdown until we have the perpetrator behind bars.”
“Captain.  What do we do?” one of the soldiers whispered to Shining Armor.”
“We’ll think of something.  Just keep your head down for now.”
As the soldier continued, on the roof of the factory doors slowly opened and the wind picked up.  Many of the technicians and soldiers shielded their faces with their forelegs.  A hummingbird slowly landed on the helipad of the factory.  “What is the meaning of this?” A technician yelled.  You’re supposed to radio ahead and tell us you’re coming so we can clear the landing way.  That’s a good way to kill a fellow comrade!”
“Sorry,” the pilot said hoping off the aircraft.  “My radio was destroyed and I was running out of fuel so I had to come here prematurely.”
“Fine.  We’ll get your ship refueled.  The process is quick we’ll have her ready in five minutes.”  
“As I was saying before being so RUDELY interrupted, we will be conducting thorough searches on everyone in the factory.  No one leaves until we get everyone settled.  I have some bomb squads taking care of the C4 explosives as we speak.  Rest assured we will find…”
“Hey what they hell are you doing?!” A technician said as five soldiers leapt from the catwalk to the hummingbird below.  
Shining Armor and his squad quickly made their way into the hummingbird; Shining Armor took the cockpit and the soldiers took the transport section.  The technicians and soldiers in the factory quickly caught on to what was happening and fired at the hummingbird.  The aircraft began to hover and elevate before it took to the skies.  “Now!  Blow that place to hell.”  
One of the soldiers pressed the detonator.  All watched the war factory go up in flames along with any vehicle and trooper inside.  “Sir.  What do we do now?”
“We still need to help take the living district.  Let me get the hang of using one of these things and we’ll head off.”  Shining Armor piloted the hummingbird around the Empire trying to learn the controls.  The start button and maneuvering stick were clearly labeled but that was it.  “Alright, flying this thing is pretty easy.”  He spotted a small battalion of soldiers heading down the road along with three tanks.  Shining Armor flew the hummingbird overhead.  The troops were oblivious to its allegiance due to its insignia.  He fired on the troops below.  The antipersonnel main gun of the hummingbird ripped them apart and painted the tanks with blood.  The Union armor turned to the hummingbird in a state of confusion before firing on the aircraft.  Shining Armor laughed triumphantly.  “I can see why the Union takes such pride in flying these things around.  So powerful, so nimble.”
“Captain.  We should get to the rest of our troops.  General Amherst is expecting us.  Hopefully we won’t get shot down by our own forces.”
“Do you happen to have a can of way finder paint?”
“Yes.  Why?”
“Cover the Union symbol with ours, hopefully that will be enough to save us from fratricide.”
“Sir.”  Shining Armor landed the hummingbird on a small building.  The Alliance soldier got out of the hummingbird and marked it with Equestrian symbol.  “Done and done sir.”
“Good.  Let’s be off.”  With that the humming bird took to the skies once more.




“More are coming!  Herr Amherst get ready.”  Heinrich and his forces stood their ground, firing at any Union forces advancing on their position.  “How many do you think this makes?”
“One hundred.  Maybe two.  I stopped counting after wave eight.”
“Sir.  We’re running out of MG ammunition.”
“Scheisse.  Alright boys we’re going to have to get our claws dirty now.  All of you hold this position.  We’re what are making this a two front skirmish.  If we fall then the Union has no more pressure on its right side.  Fight to the death brothers.”
Another wave of Union troops moved towards Heinrich’s position.  The Gryphon troops held their ground trying not to get pushed back.  “They just keep coming!  Are their forces infinite?!”
“Just stay strong.  If we can just hold out we…” Heinrich grew silent as the air picked up and a hummingbird flew overhead.  
The Gryphon commander slowly lowered his weapon and put his claws behind his head.  The Union forces cheered as they approached the surrendering Gryphon forces.  Before they could reach them the hummingbird fired on the Union troops mangling their bodies.  Heinrich looked up at the aircraft in confusion.  He watched it slowly turn and fly away before he spread his wings and took flight out of curiosity.  The hummingbird fired on the Union forces manning the defenses around the command center.  The Equestrian troops quickly took the opportunity to gain ground and secure the area outside the command center.  The hummingbird slowly landed in front of Heinrich and his troops.  “I told you I wouldn’t let you down,” Shining Armor said hopping out of the hummingbird.
“Herr Armour.  Never doubted you for a moment.  Come on, let’s make this district ours!”
Shining Armor joined Heinrich and his forces in the siege of the command center.  Joint Equestrian and Gryphon troops exchanged fire with Union forces in the main hall of the command center.  “Now where’s the bastard in charge of you?” A Gryphon said holding a Union POW at gunpoint.
“Piss off and die,” the Union soldier retorted spitting in the Gryphon’s face.
“Learn some manners,” the Gryphon replied clawing at the soldiers face.
The Union soldier laughed.  “Petrenko will have your heads.  You fired your shots at us so he fired back.  We had no quarrel with you yet you come into our war!  You act like you’re the victims; but you brought yourself into the fight.  So we brought the fight to you.  May the scars we left in the Gryphon Kingdom blemish your land for dynasties to come.”
Heinrich pushed the Gryphon soldier aside and grabbed the Union soldier’s neck in his right claw.  “Petrenko!  He’s the one leading this district.”
“Aye.  What?  That name ring a bell?”
“Where is he?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Heinrich tightened his grip on the soldier.  “Where is he?”
“Go to hell you winged buck!”  Blood seeped from puncture wounds on the soldier’s neck from Heinrich’s grip.  “You blood thirsty son of a…”
“Finish that sentence and die.”
“Top floor…if not he evacuated…that’s all I swear.”
“And where is the evacuation point?”
“Secure bunker…elevator around this corner will take you there.”
Heinrich dropped the soldier.  “Extract him to the POW camp.  Herr Armour!  You and your forces continue up to the command center control room.  If you find Petrenko kill him or secure him.  For his sake I hope you find him.”
“What are you doing then?”
“I won’t have even a lingering chance of that bastard escaping my claws again.  I’m securing the evacuation point.  You have my forces in your fold now.  Take care of them like you would your own.”
“Heinrich.  Don’t let this be the end of you.  Don’t put your life on the line just to take one out of vengeance.”
“I can decide what to with my life.”
“I just don’t want to see it go to waste.”
“I know.  And thank you.  I’ll see you on the other side of all this.”
The two saluted each other before heading separate ways.  “Captain Armour.  I guess we’re taking orders from you now.”
“Yes.  Come on.  We must secure this area.”  With that Shining Armor led his forces into the siege.








“Hurry up with warming up that rapid barge soldier.”
“Yes comrade commissar.”
“We’re heading back to the Crystal palace.  We need reinforcements.”
“Yes sir, the barge is ready, let’s head off and…”
“Petrenko!” Heinrich yelled in fury as he shot at his bodyguards.
“Stop him!” Petrenko said hurrying to the barge.
The Union soldier shot at the catwalk where Heinrich was.  The Gryphon leapt unto the soldier, pinning him to the ground before he cut his throat.  Heinrich turned his attention to Petrenko who had just gotten to the barge.  He tried to get to him but Petrenko had started the barge and sped off out of the bunker’s subterranean tunnel.  Heinrich, full of rage and bent on blood gave chase to the commissar.  He felt there was little chance of catching up with the technology but the hum of the engine only seemed to grow louder.  “Come now Petrenko.  Don’t you know you have to give these motors time to warm up before you use them?”
Petrenko answered him by way of gunfire.  “Die you winged banshee!”
Light began to pour into the tunnel as it ended.  “Go towards the light commissar.  Cause it will be the last thing you see before I send you to hell!”  The tunnel ended and the two were found themselves once again in the war torn streets of the Crystal Empire.  Heinrich flew high in the air before diving down onto the barge.  “Face me Petrenko.”
“Sorry kraut.  I’ve got better things to do.”  Petrenko bucked hard at the control panel for the barge sending it out of control.  The rapid barge crashed into a small ruined building.  Heinrich and Petrenko were thrown from the craft.  Heinrich cringed and grasped his should and abdomen in pain.  Petrenko got to his hooves ignoring the agony in his body and running.  Heinrich got to his claws and gave chase.  “I don’t deserve this!” Petrenko yelled as he galloped down a flight of stairs.
“HA.  Did you think the innocent civilians you put to the sword deserved it?!  You’re a hypocrite Petrenko.”
“You attacked us.  We didn’t want to go to war with you but you felt like you wanted to switch things up.”
“We did it because it was right.”
“HA!  You did it because of your greed.  You filthy gold hoarding fiends of the sky; you sided with the Alliance because of your greed.  You might be birds and lions but you’re more PIG than anything!!”
“I’ll end you for all you have done!” Heinrich said leaping onto Petrenko.  He grabbed his neck and began to suffocate him.  The commissar struggled against the Gryphon general trying to push him off.  “You’re not getting away this time.”
“Neither are you.”  Petrenko stabbed Heinrich in the ribs with his hoof blade gauntlet.  The general cried in pain before grabbing the gauntlet and stabbing Petrenko in the neck.  “How sad.  I always pictured myself dying to a fellow equine.  Not one of you Gryphon pigs!”  
Heinrich lay down on the street as his blood mixed with Petrenko’s.  His breathing slowed as he clamed down.  “I’ll see you in hell you son of a bitch.”
“You’re not dying yet.”
Heinrich turned to the voice, straining his half closed eyes looking at the white unicorn stallion.  “I told you to lead my troops,” Heinrich panted.
“I did.  The command center is ours.  It would have been difficult.  The Union had quite some forces and defenses left in the area.  But someone abandoned his troops; didn’t you Petrenko.”  The commissar scoffed at Shining Armor.  “A real leader never leaves his soldiers unattended.  Without a leader they fell quickly.  I saw you chasing that rapid barge and followed you here.  Damn it Heinrich.”
“I’m sorry, Herr Armour.”
“Save your sorry for the medic that’s gonna have to bust his flank patching you up.”  A barge slowly landed by Shining Armor.  “Come on Heinrich.  We’re being extracted.  I suppose I have to offer you quarter Petrenko.”
“Damnation seize my soul if I give you any quarter or take any from you,” Petrenko hissed.  “May Peryite take my soul and your life!”
“Have it your way.  Though I offer to end your pain.  I make this not from soldier to soldier; but from pony to pony.”  Petrenko shut his eyes and limply marked an X on his forehead in blood.  Shining Armor loaded his shot gauntlet before blowing a hole through the commissar’s head.  
Shining Armor lifted Heinrich onto the barge and set it to return to the nearby forward command base.  “We’re sitting the rest of this battle out General Amherst.  The destruction of the war factory allowed our forces to swarm the guards’ district.  Along with the success here and at the market district, our forces have begun storming the palace district.  Our officers should be able to hold their own.”
“In the end it’s up to your sister.”
“Twily will be able to handle the last leg of this.”  With that Shining Armor and Heinrich left the battle.









Journal entry one
Personal journal of King Peryite; 
Give to Prof Nicola or Ivan in the event of my death.



Tomorrow’s the day.  The day the rift will open and allow us to succeed here.  I don’t know why but; I have a sixth sense that’s telling me…I should be terrified.  I don’t know of what though.  I fear neither pain nor darkness, for I have lived through enough of both to call the feelings second nature.  But something inside me tells me I should be afraid, of something.  This fight.  This struggle.  This war.  All are necessary yes; but did it have to be this bloody?  Had I done things different could it have been better?  Is the only rout to victory brutality without morality?  I had told myself that could not be the case; that there was always a better way.  Perhaps I was feeding myself lies.  Perhaps Nikita is the ideal leader of the U.G.E.R.  Perhaps it is kill or be killed.  Perhaps it is best I become a martyr and leave someone better suited to lead my populace.



Peryite wrote the last words into his journal before falling asleep.







Twilight awoke to the sound of the door to her bedchambers opening.  “Highness.  I hope I’m not intruding.”
“I was having a nice sleep before you barged in here.  What is it?”
“We have begun to storm the palace.  Get ready and awake so you can stop the Crystal Heart.”
“Thank you.  Tell my friends if you haven’t.”
“Yes highness.”  With that the crewmember left to wake the other elements.
Twilight got prepared for the storming of the crystal palace.  She got the sleep out of her system and grabbed the Alicorn Amulet along with the knife.  She made her way to the docking bays where her friends along with a soldier waited by a rapid barge.  “Highness.  We will have to land you somewhere in the palace.  The Crystal Heart’s chambers are impenetrable from the outside.  You’ll have to infiltrate it from within.”
“Alright.  Ready girls?”
“As ready as we’re going to be darling,” Rarity replied concerned.
“I don’t know how they can do all this,” Fluttershy whimpered.
“Don’t worry.  I’ll keep us safe,” Twilight, replied.”  With that the barge made its way to the palace.  It stopped by a shattered windowsill and Twilight and friends leapt off.  The five mares followed Twilight through the war torn halls of the palace staying close behind her.  The lavender mare cut down any Union forces that got in their way.  After eight minutes they reached the staircase leading to the Crystal Heart’s chambers.








“What the hell is all the racket?!”
“My liege the Alliance is storming the palace!  Get to the Crystal Heart’ chamber.  We must get our reinforcements here and…” the soldier was cut off as a barge rammed into the window next to him shattering it.  
Three Alliance soldiers leapt off the barge and killed the Union troops.  “Grab him!” The three soldiers grabbed Peryite by his forelegs and pinned him to the wall.  The King of the Global Union struggled against the two soldiers.  “Not so tough now huh you trash,” one of the soldiers mocked.
Peryite chuckled.  “I’ll give you a deal boys.  Let me go and I’ll kill you quick.”
“You’re about as good at negotiating as you are leading an army.”
“You Alliance dogs are such cowards.  The other day I personally executed one of your squads.  They begged and cried you know.  Like little fillies.”
“Shut up.”
“Speaking of fillies I promise you if I get out I’ll burn your families down in their homes.  I mean if they aren’t dead already.”
“Shut up you damn garbage,” another soldier said pulling out his hoof blade and placing it up to Peryite’s neck.
Peryite released a large amount of light from his horn blinding the soldiers.  He grabbed the foreleg of the soldier with the extracted blade and slammed it into the neck of the soldier opposite to him.  He then sunk his fangs into the neck of the soldier he has holding before pinning the last one to the wall.  “You should have taken my offer boy.”  Peryite pulled a small satchel out of one of his fallen comrade’s uniforms.  “This kind of death is usually done only for traitors but I feel you’re undeserving enough for it.”  Peryite removed several dual pronged impaling spikes from the satchel.  “Wait come on I…” the soldier was cut off as Peryite impaled him in the throat with a spike.  He hammered it into the wall with all his strength before leaving the soldier to bleed out.  Peryite continued darting through the halls of the palace until he came to a skirmish between his troops and the Alliance.  He concentrated his magic until two dragons heads formed.  The two heads fired large beams of dark magic incinerating the alliance forces.  The Union soldiers cheered and saluted Peryite.  “Alright.  Almost there,” Peryite said as he climbed a flight of stairs to the Crystal Heart’s chambers.  
He breathed a sigh of relief seeing the heart was safe.  Peryite left the heart’s chambers walking out to the open rotunda outside.  “Come on girls we’re almost there we’re…” Twilight stopped as she saw the white stallion standing in front of the Crystal Heart’s chambers.  
Peryite turned to the lavender mare with both a smile and a look of annoyance.  “My, my.  Look who came to see little old me,” Peryite mocked.  “If I had known we’d be having a royal tea party then I would have spruced up the palace.  Then again you haven’t done much to help keep it clean yourself.”
Twilight’s friends tried not to shudder at Peryite.  Twilight slowly trotted up to the stallion who stood tall and intimidating.  “You won’t stand in our way Peryite.  I’m not that scared filly you took sadistic pleasure in torturing and intimidating.  I’ve been through enough combat to know how to hold my own.”
“Want to put those words to the test?  Show me your mettle.”
Twilight pulled out her knife.  “I’d rather show you this metal.  But I will give you one and only one chance.  Stand aside Peryite.”
Peryite stepped back in intimidation.  “You wield the blade of Nod!?”  Peryite chuckled.  “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised.  From one tyrant to another I guess.  Though I will say I thought better of you.”
“Enough.  Either stand down or I’ll cut you down.”
“I make you the same offer Twilight.  Though I will say; if you don’t and I do beat you I will tear off your hide, sew it into a cloak and wear you for the rest of my life.  As for your friends well; I’ll have to ‘get creative’.” Peryite snickered.
“You won’t lay a hoof on them.”      
“Then you’d better fight to win!”  With that the two began to clash.  Peryite illuminated his horn and thirteen magical spheres formed a circle above Twilight.  The spheres then simultaneously fired at the lavender mare who leapt out of the way.  “I don’t know what it is you hope to accomplish here aside from your own annihilation.”
“Peace.  Does that word mean anything to you?”
“How funny.  I don’t think this is very peaceful.”
“We’re stopping the Crystal Heart.  That artifact was meant to free and liberate the Crystal ponies.”
“I know.  And now I use it to protect them.  Besides.  You don’t know dark magic like I do.  Even if you manage to defeat me if you destabilize the heart you’ll only kill us all.  If that is your goal then for all our sakes I have to kill you.  King VS princess.  You know what they call this Twilight?



(Peryite)
Now this is regicide
We’re monsters inside.
The voices in my head.

Are telling me to burn away,
All your remains.
And make sure that you’re dead.



Now we’re both just monsters.

(Peryite charged Twilight locking the two between his sword and her blade.  He exerted enough force on her to break her stance and threw her against the wall)


I’ve cut about just every last tie.
The world I knew I had to watch it all die.
Come at me kid I say it’s your move.
You and your friends will fall and fall to my hooves.


I see you pant now I’m fighting harder.
Kill or be killed that is all that matters 
Across the land all the ashes scatter.

We’re both monsters now!



Now this is regicide
We’re monsters inside.
The voices in my head.

Are telling me to burn away. 
All your remains.
And make sure that you’re dead.

No one told me there’s no going back. 
That once I attack.
There’s no way to prevent every single drop of blood I spill.
Born to hate and kill
Now we’re both the same.
We’re both just monsters.



Now we’re both just monsters.

(Twilight gathered crystal shards with her magic and launched them at Peryite.  Peryite blocked the shards with his sword but left himself vulnerable.  Twilight channeled magic to her right front hoof and swung at Peryite sending him sprawling to the floor.)

I see it in your face and in your eyes.
There’s no room left cause of all the pain inside.
But only my pain and blood will satisfy.
Now be a good girl or you’re gonna have a bad time!


I see you pant now I’m fighting harder.
Kill or be killed that is all that matters 
Across the land all the ashes scatter.

We’re both monsters now!



Now this is regicide
We’re monsters inside.
The voices in my head.

Are telling me to burn away. 
All that remains.
And make sure that you’re dead.

No one told me there’s no going back. 
That once I attack.
There’s no way to prevent every single drop of blood I spill.
Born to hate and kill
Now we’re both the same.
We’re both just monsters.

(Peryite concentrated his magic until his two orbiting dragon heads appeared.  The two heads fired their beams of magic at Twilight.  The lavender mare dodged the beams but had little time to even breathe.  While Twilight was distracted Peryite fired a beam in her flight path and intercepted her sending her crashing into a wall.)


Now we’re both just monsters.



Now we’re both just monsters.





Peryite held Twilight with his magic.  “You cocky little shit.  To think we could be sitting on thrones together right now.  Sculpting this world for the better yet YOU insisted on war.  I've grown tired of playing with you though.  So now I say it's bedtime child.  Now go. To slee...” Peryite was cut off as Applejack bucked him in the back of his head.  
He slowly slumped to the ground and released Twilight.  “Sweet Celestia Applejack.  That was...a bit surprising,” Rainbow said a bit stunned.
“What.  The varmint had that coming for when he took the farm from my family.”
“So what do we do with him?”
“Nothing yet.  We still have to stop the Crystal Heart.  Come on girls.”  Twilight and her friends galloped into the Crystal Heart’s chambers.  “Alright girls.  Let’s do this.”  The Elements of Harmony began to glow and link to one another with magic.  Twilight released the magic on the blackened heart.  The Crystal Heart slowly turned back to its blue color.  “Well girls.  We did it we…” Twilight was cut off as a bolt of magic was discharged from the heart and blew a hole in the wall next to her.
“Twi what’s going on?!”
“I don’t know.  Let’s get out of here.”
Twilight and her friends galloped out of the heart’s chambers.  They watched the walls of the rotunda fall apart revealing the unstable Crystal Heart.  “YOU FOOLS!!”  The six mares turned to Peryite who was now back on his hooves.  “You’ve doomed us all!”
“What did you do to the Heart you creep?!” Rainbow demanded.
“Nothing.  YOU destabilized the heart.  It’s out of control now.  Congratulations.  This is it you damn harlots.”  Peryite slowly trotted towards the heart and fell to his knees and closed his eyes.  “Sweet Mother sweet Mother shed your mercy unto me for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in a holy light.  Sweet Mother sweet Mother shed your mercy unto me for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in a holy light.”
Twilight watched the heart release more magical bolts before radiating a pestilent light.  She shut her eyes terrified as it rapidly made its way towards her and her friends.  “Time Miss Sparkle.  Is it really time again you need me to intervene for your survival?” 
Twilight opened her eyes when she heard the voice.  She stared at the white Pegasus stallion standing before her.  All her friends and Peryite didn’t seem to be aware of him or respond to anything happening.  “W-William,” Twilight stuttered.
“Yes child.  How long ago was it?  Almost a year since Stalliongrad.  My how you’ve grown.  Though I must say; helping you any further was conflicting.  You wield the Blade of Nod, which means you are far from pure.  Though I suppose you still carry our hopes.”
“W-what’s wrong with them?”
“Can you not feel it child?  Just stop and you may be able to tell.”  
Twilight stopped and tried to see what was off.  “Something feels…wrong.”
“Time child.  It’s no longer flowing around the palace.”
“How.  How is this possible?”
“It’s an advanced spell.  Quite advanced.”
“If you could do this at any time why did you not do it before?”
“Reason one is that it only surrounds a small area.  Reason two is this.”  William coughed and spit blood on the floor.  “When I said it was an advanced spell I meant it.  Only the gods themselves have the strength to cast this spell.  My body is not meant to handle magic let alone this level of magic.  Using the spell is doing a number on me and I’m starting to decay.  With that in mind we don’t have much time so we need to talk now.  First.  Peryite didn’t lie when he said what you did, caused the heart to become unstable.  As we speak the Crystal Heart is preparing to explode.  There is nothing I can do to stop this now.  All in the Crystal Empire will die.”
“There must be something; anything please.”
“I’m afraid not.  This marks the second time in my life I had to helplessly watch a populace die to a calamity.  Moving on though.  Second.  I have been ordered to…extract you from this place before this happens, you, your friends, and Peryite.  “That brings me to the last thing.  You are not to slay Peryite under any circumstances.  Granted things look as though you couldn’t if you tried but still.  Keep yourself alive at all costs as well but you mustn’t kill him.”
“Why?”
“Just know we have plans for the both of you.  And the fate of more than one world rests on your shoulders.  I mean not to add more weight to the burden you already carry but what I say is the truth.  I also want to make this clear.  I am not on your side.  I’m not on any side but my own, well the Mother’s and mine.  But I am not on the side of your Alliance or the Global Union.  I work to the greater end of all things and so do you, though you don’t know it yet.  With that in mind I want you to know it’s my job to keep you in check.  If you attempt to undermine our plans even unintentionally; well.”  William shut his eyes before opening them to reveal his normally blue eyes were now gold.  “You’ll be dead where you stand.”  With that a veil of gold magic surrounded the nine ponies as they faded away.






“Did you feel that Venn?”
“Yes.  Did a core burst?”
“Yes; or at least something like it.”
“Am I being sent to investigate it?”
“No.  I will have Ghast look into it.  I need someone to make sure its growth is not hindered.  The Ichor has been seeded.  Phase one part two is in progress.”
“Seed the Ichor and prepare the land for divination.”
“Indeed.  Part one has been going swimmingly already.  Now things should unfold from there.”