//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: The fallen kingdom 
// Story: The swordsman in white, and the red mage 
// by Joseph_Tanner 
//------------------------------//


Altamir immediately took off to the throne room, where he was given not so great news. “Have you called for me?” He asked.

“Indeed, we have a reason to think the Saddle Arabians will return, we must be ready,” Cosmos replied.

“What would you have me do?” Altamir wondered.

“Fortunately, your sister came by, and gave us the information, so she and your kind are preparing a defense. I want you to-” 

“DRAGON!!!” Yelled a guard, and soon the throne room’s windows were shattered by debris of the ceiling, which collapsed after a dragon flew into it.

“Get out of here!” Altamir instructed the royalty. “We will handle them, get Galaxia to safety!” He continued, aware of her state.

“What abou-”

“Cosmos, I know you’re in charge here, but we have no time to argue!” Altamir cut him short.

“You’re right, good luck,” He replied, and with the help of a few guards took Galaxia out of there.

Altamir rushed to the outside, barely meeting up with Itrix on his way. “What happened?” She wondered.

“A Dragon is,” He replied, and soon left the hallways. The sight which welcomed them weren’t the one they anticipated.

“A Dragon? You mean only ONE?” Itrix asked in disbelief, as the swarm of said reptiles nearly blocked out the sky.

*sigh* “Well, here we are again…” Altamir replied, sharing her opinion.

“It’s always such a pleasure…” She continued with sarcasm.

“Where are the other Humans though?” He wondered.

“They are probably a bit late, or getting settled who knows,” Itrix calmed him.

Probably Etarr does… “You take the left, I go right,” He replied, and they parted ways.

They fought like never before, like it was their last fight, but when they realized they barely slew half the Dragons, and even the S.Arabians were back as well, and having Extos, Primer, Tercier, or anybody else than half the Royal Guard around, they just gave up, and lost the battle, causing all of Canterlot, then all of Equestria to fall under Arabian control, those of the guard who survived were killed, Cosmos and Galaxia bound in chains with their horns broken off, and Itrix and Altamir put in the same cell… Life was dull and miserable, citizens were forced to work with no rest and little to barely any food, while Itrix and Altamir were tortured on a daily basis, until two months later, one day the door opened once more. “Rise and shine, pigs,” Their visitor greeted them.

[279 Days left.]

“You again?” Altamir asked.

“Don’t waste your breath, Human, you will die either way,” The colt replied.

“Give up Ishtar, you won’t get away with this,” Itrix threw in.

“Says the one in chains, pity you ended up this way,” Ishtar threw back.

“She’s right, we will hunt you down,” Altamir threatened him.

Ishtar only whacked him across the face with a hoof jab, breaking his nose in the process. “How brave are you NOW?” He asked triumphantly.

“This is nothing compared to what you have coming,” He replied.

“We will see about that,” He muttered. “KYLOTH!” He yelled, and an armored Dragon approached.

“Have you called, your highness?” The Dragon inquired.

“Stay here, and make sure they remain here,”

“By your command,” He replied, and prepared his lance.

“As for the two of you, enjoy his company, I heard he’s got a good sense of humor,” Ishtar assured them, then left.

“So? You two are the Humans I read so much about?” Kyloth asked.

“Apparently,” Itrix replied briefly.

“Listen, I would do anything to be out of here as soon as I can, but if I try, I’d die faster than a blink,” He informed them, then drew closer to them. “If you have a plan out of here, I’m in, I can help,” He assured them.

“Ha! I know that trick, nice try,” Itrix replied.

“Look into my face and eyes, then tell me again I’m lying,” Kyloth replied with some anger.
Itrix did as requested, but Kyloth’s face told her anything but a failed lie… “See?” 

“Right, so you’re on our side?” Altamir wondered.

“So long you consider me an ally, yes,” He assured them.

“Glad to hear, by back is itching and I can’t reach…” Altamir replied while struggling his restrains. Kyloth faceclawed, then proceeded to carefully scratched his back. “Much better, so, you can fly, fight, and breathe fire, correct?” 

“Your words reflect the truth,” Kyloth replied.

“Do us a favor, can you?”

“What would it be?”

“See how Galaxia and Cosmos are,”

“They are well kept, bound in chains, wings and horns broken, but they will regrow… In time,” He informed them.

“Good, good, do you know the way to Griffonstone?” Itrix wondered.

“What do you have in mind, Itrix?” Altamir asked.

“Isn’t Galdir your friend?”

“Yeah, but wh- Oh,” He replied.

“I know the way all too well, why you ask?” Klyoth pondered.

“Their new leader is a friend of mine, first we need to make sure Galaxia and Cosmos are safe, right now in their state they are… Sad to say, worthless,” Altamir explained.

“What would you have me do?”

“For now, nothing, we wait…” Altamir assured, and they remained in the cell until the night approached.

During the darker hours of Canterlot, two mares trotted down the hallway of the dungeons, the warden, and a slave, bringing food to our friends. The warden opened the cell and let the other mare in. “Make it quick,” The warden exclaimed, and the mare entered the cell, removing her cloak.

“Moonlight?” Itrix wondered in surprise. Moonlight did a double take on Kyloth, trying to change subject. “Oh, he’s with us,” Itrix explained.

“Good to hear, how are things?” The warden asked, having recognized Altamir.

“Hang on, let me help you,” Moonlight exclaimed, and with her magic released them for the chains for a while.

“I’ll take it from here,” Itrix replied and fixed took a hold of Altamir’s nose. “Take a deep breath,”

“Why?” Itrix shoved a thick piece of her robes into his mouth and with a loud crack, fixed his nose.

“Ow, that must hurt,” Kyloth noted.

“And it did, thanks,” Altamir assured them.

“So, what’s the plan?” Kyloth asked. “Now that your friends are here too, I mean,”

“Moonlight, can you get to where Galaxia and Cosmos are held?” Altamir asked.

“Sure, with a tray of food, I can get to any prisoner,” She replied.

“Tell them, that tomorrow around noon, a Dragon will pay them a visit, a friend it is, and help them prepare for a long way to Griffonstone,” Altamir instructed their friend.

“What are you planning?” Moonlight asked.

“Kyloth, you’re that Dragon, Moonlight, you’ll go with him, and heal their wings with your magic.” 

“Sure.” 

“Itrix and I will stay and free the city. Then Equestria,” Altamir assured her.

“Be careful…” The mare assured them.

“No will to spoil the fun, but a shift is coming this way,” The warden warned them. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

“Get the chains on us again and go!” Itrix exclaimed, and the two were bound once more.

“Tomorrow morning I’ll come back with your breakfast, oh, and Kyloth,” Moonlight replied.

“Yes?” The Dragon wondered.

“Here’s a copy for the cell’s lock,” She gave him the key, which he hid well in his helmet.

“Time to go, we will raise suspicion,” The warden whispered. “Come on already! Get out!” She yelled to assure the guard shift. The two left, and returned in the morning.

[270 Days left.]

“So, what did they say?” Itrix wondered.

“They agreed, they should be ready,” Moonlight replied. “Here’s your breakfast,” 

The two were freed once more, then ate their meals. “Alt?” Itrix muttered.

“Nicknames again? Trixie?” Altamir replied.

“Hide this,” She exclaimed, and with her magic, gave him a longsword and a hatchet, to replace his confiscated weapons.

“Itrix?”

“Yes?”

“Do we have to wait for noon?” Altamir asked.

“Your plan it is,” She reminded him.

“Then let’s go now,” He replied, and readied his sword.

“Give this to me, Moonlight, show the way,” Kyloth threw in, and took Altamir’s sword. “You two pretend your hands are tied behind, it will look like we’re bringing you to Ishtar,” He explained.

“Good idea,” Moonlight replied, and they set out on their way to the monarch’s cell, the two were thankfully kept in the same cell.

“Altamir! Itrix! Isn’t it a little soon?” Cosmos asked.

“No time! You two must get out!” Itrix replied, and blasted a hole into the wall as Moonlight healed the royal wounds.

“What now?” Kyloth wondered.

“Kyloth, take Moonlight, and take her too, Cosmos, Galaxia, follow Kyloth to Griffonstone, Galdir will surely be of help!” Altamir explained.

“But…” Moonlight was cut short by Kyloth, who took hold of her and took off, followed close by the royals.

“They’re on their way! What do we do now?” Itrix asked.

Altamir looked down the blown hole. “Jump!” He replied, and pulled her with himself into the depths, landing in a pond.

“You’re a crazy one,” Itrix informed him.

“Better ideas?”

“What now?” She inquired.

“We hide, then at night, we kill Ishtar and the leaders,” He explained.

“Fine, care to play cards till then?” She wondered.

“Sounds fun…” 

[Hours later… ]

“I won again!” Itrix exclaimed.

“You must be cheating…” Altamir muttered.

“It’s not my fault you lost 34 games of 35,” She replied.

“Right, right, let’s get it moving,”

“Can’t lose, can you?”

“We have a nation to free…” Altamir explained slightly annoyed.

“Right, right, here we go…” She replied, and teleported themselves to where Ishtar was.

“How did you?” Asked Ishtar and Altamir.

“Where else could he have been?” She asked.

“No matter, well done on escaping your cells, now, die…” Ishtar instructed.

“We’ll see,” Altamir replied, and the two got at one another, until reinforcements arrived, and they were forced to flee. Unfortunately, Itrix was caught, but she had enough time and power to send Altamir away with her magic.

“Wa-” He was cut short, and teleported away. “-it…” He muttered. “Shit!” No! Nononononono! I have to get back and free her too! Etarr, come on, help me… 

As he thought of it, Etarr appeared for him. “Have you asked for my presence?”

“YES!” He replied.

“Easy there, what happened?”

“What do you mean what happened? Itrix is captured again!”

“Oh, shit…”

“How did you not know?”

“Just because she’s my eye, it doesn’t mean I know everything what happens to her. The way it works is simple. I have other things to do, you can’t expect me to sit still and watch what she and you go through without an end…” Etarr explained.

“You must help me!”

“You’re wrong, some things are meant to happen, some are just meant to happen a certain way… This is one of those events…” He assured him. “I’m sorry, you can try to help her, but I can’t, it has to be this way. Go, free her, I won’t help you, but neither will I stand in your way…” Etarr apologized.

“Fine, I’ll remember this though.”

“Be upset not, you have to understand, not remember. Fate has it’s ways, I have mine, and the two are not allowed to cross.” He explained. “However, if you wish, I can give you what you think you’ll need.”

“I’ll do it on my own, you either come and help, or stay out of this…” 

“As you wish, good luck,” Etarr replied, and perished once again.

[Meanwhile, over the ocean…]

“Kyloth?” 

“Yes?”

“How far do we have yet until we see land?” Moonlight asked.

“A few minutes, why?”

“I have some private matters to settle…” She replied.

Kyloth only sighed in response. “Just hold on, okay?”

[Back on track…]

Altamir collected his thoughts, and did his best to find where exactly he was. To his fortune, he was in a smaller town with minor military presence from the invaders, and moderate rebel presence. “Hey, I know you…” A mare said to him.

“Do you?” He wondered.

“Yeah, come this way, we can’t talk here,” He followed her into one of the homes. “Now, you must be The White Swordsman I we all heard so much about… You have no idea how well your presence means to us.” 

“Us?” Altamir asked.

“Yes, the resistance,” She explained, and soon a few well equipped ponies of all race trotted down the stairs.

“I see, good to see I’m not alone here,” Altamir exclaimed in relief.

“We will blindly follow you into battle, be it victory or death,” The mare explained. Those behind her nodded in agreement.

“Your faith is not misplaced,” I hope… At least I hope… I never actually played the role of a leader before.

“What would you have us do to begin liberation?”

“First off, how many invading troops are stationed here?” He asked the group of seemingly loyal and well armed ponies.

“35 soldiers and no dragons.”

“Where are we exactly?”

“Fillydelphia,”

“All right, how many of the citizens are part of the resistance?”

“About… 6?”

“Only 6?”

“I, them, and you,” She explained.

“We have a lot to do,”

“So, what would you begin with?”

“At first, we observe the patrols, their amount, and the shift changes,”

“We shall observe eagerly,” She assured him, and after a week, they had all the information in said regards.

[263 Days Left]

One morning, the guards changed shift at the town hall once again, and as soon as the replaced guards left, they turned down a corner, only to see a few carts flipped upside down. “What is this supposed to be?” One of them asked.

“I’m sorry sirs, a few idiots made this mess, you should take a different way,” The mare exclaimed.

“Fine, but clean this mess up,” The other guard replied, and turned down an alley.

“We will,” She assured them.

They took a few turns, until they came to a dead end. “This wasn’t here before,” One of the exclaimed, and turned around.

“Either were you,” Said a colt from behind, and within seconds, the two were ran through by large wooden stakes, depriving them of any last words.

“Good work,” Altamir noted.

“32 remain,” The colt muttered.

“By now, only 28,” Altamir replied.

“Yes, Crimson Iris was always a fit for a soldier,” The colt assured him.

“Let’s go, hide these and get their supplies…”


[End of Chapter 6]