Chapter 6: Last Dusk
On the second day she had returned, Ponyville was still as busy as ever. All of the houses, and major buildings had been fortified. The town hall had been converted into a command center, and its spire-like top had been removed, to reduce structural weaknesses. Most houses without cellars had them built in, and stocked up with food and supplies. The apple family had been busy pickling and preserving apples in jars, and passing them out to the town ponies. Twilight Sparkle had been hard at work keeping everypony organized. Under her management, Ponyville was slowly but surely working up to become much more defensible, should the need ever arrive. They had even begun construction on a wall, something that Ponyville had never needed in its entire history. The yellow Pegasus Fluttershy had even recruited the help of many of her animal friends to help with the construction, as surely they too would be in danger, if Numinex should ever come as far as Ponyville. The five remaining Silverlight dragons were a tremendous help, due to their ability to lift heavy materials, and could do twice as much work as a handful of strong earth ponies.
The constant working and organizing helped Twilight keep her mind off of more dire thoughts. Always she had wondered what had become of her beloved teacher. She wondered how Princess Luna was taking it as well. After initially hearing the news, the princess of the night hadn’t showed much emotion, and was herself consumed with organization and preparation. Twilight had known Princess Celestia all of her short life, but Princess Luna had been with her for over a thousand years. They had been through so much together, been torn apart, and been reunited. She couldn’t even imagine what Luna must be going through. As strong as she knew the great princess was, she knew that she had shared a deep bond of sisterhood with Celestia. She couldn’t think on it for long, for it nearly brought a tear to her eye, just to think of how Luna must be feeling inside.
As Twilight Sparkle looked over progress charts, and maps scattered about the town hall, a little purple dragon came rushing to her side, “Twilight, come outside quick!” he said with an anxious smile on his face. She was curious to know just what had him so excited.
She gingerly trotted outside, and her jaw dropped as she gazed up into the air. The whole sky was filled with what must have been thousands of birds flying overhead, or at least what she thought were birds. As she squinted her eyes to get a closer look, she noticed that they were not birds at all. They were griffons.
“Princess Luna has had be on correspondence between the griffon nation for the past few days. The griffon leaders have come to our support! These one’s are just from Talon Grove, more are coming from other griffon cities, can you believe it Twilight?”
She smiled as she saw the brave griffon soldiers fly overhead, “Wow, it must mean a lot to Luna and to every pony to have the aid of our good friends in our time of need. I’m glad we won’t be in this fight alone,” she said, sighing out happily at the sign of good news. The sight of such a union between nations brought hope to her heart, for the first time in days.
Princess Celestia had always had positive relations with the griffon nation. Once they had heard about the great threat to Equestria, they immediately sent almost the whole griffon army to lend aid. It was not only to protect their good friend and ally, but because they knew that a threat such as Numinex would surely affect all nations and creatures of the world. It was truly in the best interest of all living things, to stand up against the fury of the dark dragon.
Down from the sky flew a few handfuls of griffon. They were all very regal, and sharp looking birds, with ornate uniforms dawned across their busts. One such griffon bore a particularly ornate uniform that had two gold bars displayed on a sash that came across his chest. The griffon landed, and approached Twilight, and saluted her, “Twilight Sparkle I assume? My name is Captain Stormwing, 23rd Support Wing, Griffon Detachment Bravo of the Grande Griffon Air Force. We’ve been sent from our detachment to lend any aid we could to Ponyville,” said the professional sounding griffon soldier.
Twilight Sparkle bowed before the Captain, “It’s good to have you here Captain Stormwing, we’re happy to have any assistance you can give,” she lead the captain into the town hall, and displayed a few charts before him, “Our foremost objective is currently building a defensible wall around Ponyville. However, we are running short on brick and mortar supplies in town from making fortifications to the houses and structures. Do you think your unit could fly to the quarry a few clicks south of us, and bring us some suitable supplies?” asked Twilight.
The griffon Captain nodded to her, and saluted, “Yes ma’am, we will make for Ghastly Gorge immediately, and return with your requested supplies. Celestia be with you Twilight Sparkle!” he said as he saluted her again, and quickly went to work. Twilight looked down with a look of sadness at the reminder of the words, “Celestia”.
That night, Twilight Sparkle’s dreams would be plagued with nightmares. As she tossed and turned in her sleep, images of a Celestia in pain would flash before her. The thought of it was too much to bear. Eventually, as she heard the cries of her teacher in agony, she was jostled awake. There was a storm outside. Deep from within the internal uncertainty of Luna, the clouds had covered the sunrise, and rain and thunder echoed out, from her frustration and sorrow. Twilight Sparkle would not return to sleep again that night.
She would spend the rest of the day helping with the construction of the wall. The griffon soldiers had made a few trips to Ghastly Gorge, and now they had plenty of stone and mortar to work with. The unicorn had a tremendous impact on the construction of the wall. With her magic, she could fill an entire section with stones and mortar, and have it sealed within moments. This greatly increased the speed of construction. Within the day, they had almost completely circumnavigated Ponyville with the wall. With the majority of preparations complete, Twilight decided she would go and check to see if Princess Luna needed any help in Canterlot.
She hopped on the back of the young Silverlight dragon, which she had since learned his name was “Jericho”, a steel colored dragon, which seemed to have wisdom beyond his years. She felt for Jericho’s pain, as he was still in mourning for the loss of his great mentor. Ever since she had first seen the glorious silver dragon, she never once felt darkness, or malcontent from him. She couldn’t imagine what it was like, being inborn with a desire for wickedness in one’s heart. But Aardunkay was the first dragon to overcome evil, not from without, but from within. Aardunkay had shown true virtuousness at his ability to conquer darkness from his heart, and to lead a life of righteousness. She knew now why he was so dear to Princess Celestia. He was truly a noble example for all dragon-kind, and even though she had only known him for a short time, she would miss him dearly.
Twilight found Canterlot to be in an uproar of activity. A good portion of the high society ponies had chosen to leave amidst the chaos. Most of them found refuge in the western city of Baltimare. The streets were now filled with soldiers, and workers, all of them busy trying to prepare Canterlot for what would surely be the worst of the attack. The outer walls of the city had been double fortified with stone, and mortar. Each of the spire towers were now all lined with siege crossbows, and trebuchets. She even noticed a few guards raising their spears to the dragon, simply out of their nerves, before they realized it was a Silverlight dragon, and Twilight Sparkle. She made her way through the great gate, and into the busy city. Guards were everywhere around castle Canterlot, and she had to snake her way around them, to find a clear path inside. In the outer halls, she smiled at the sight of a familiar pony.
“Princess Cadence!” cried out Twilight Sparkle. They each made their way through the guards, and embraced each other in a warm hug.
The pink alicorn had a worried and nervous look on her face, but she brightened up at bit at the sight of her beloved sister-in-law, “Twilight Sparkle! It’s so good to see you… things have been crazy around Canterlot for the past few days. I’m glad to see a familiar face,” she said with a smile.
Twilight Sparkle let go of her, and they found a calmer spot in the outer all to gather around, “How have you been holding up, Cadence?” she asked sympathetically.
The young alicorn dropped her head slightly as she sighed, “I’m a little scared Twilight Sparkle, and I won’t lie. Luna and Shining Armor have been working around the clock to fortify the city, I have hardly had a chance to see him,” she said with disappointment.
Twilight sparkle Set her hoof on her shoulder to comfort her, “We’re all a little scared Cadence, but we have to do everything we can, and work together,” she said trying to uplift her spirits, “I bet you’ve been pretty busy yourself.”
Cadence shook her head, “Oh no, I’ve just been trying to stay out of the way. I don’t have a whole lot of special powers like my aunts…” she said as she looked to the ground.
“Maybe there is something you can do to help. My friend outside, he’s one of the last Silverlight dragons, and he just lost someone who was very dear to him. Do you think you could try to cheer him up?” she asked with a smile. She knew that not having anything to occupy herself with, Cadence’s mind must have been a fury of what-ifs and terrible thoughts.
She nodded to her, “That poor dragon… I will certainly do what I can Twilight Sparkle,” she said firmly.
“Thank you Cadence. It was good to see you,” they hugged again, “Do you know where Luna is actually?” asked Twilight.
Cadence nodded, and pointed to the inner most room of the castle, “They’re right in there Twilight, good luck. I hope to see you again soon dear sister…” she asked, as she gave her a final hug, and made her way through the maze of guards to get outside.
Inside the innermost room, there were surprisingly few guards, as Luna and Shining Armor were quite busy planning, and looking over charts and maps. Inside, she would find her brother, dawned in his royal uniform, and Princess Luna, in such armor as she had never seen before. The princess was adorned in her battle armor, which nopony had ever seen a princess wear in over a thousand years. The shimmering, dark blue armor covered her bust, and back, and fore hooves. As well as a spectacular blue helmet. It was a stunning piece, and commanded respect among all of the guard ponies. Next to her was another griffon, which had a scar over his eye, and looked like quite a grizzled old fellow. However, his age certainly did not take away from his stature. He was an experienced old griffon, and was perhaps the beefiest one she had ever seen.
Luna first noticed Twilight, and turned to speak to her, “Twilight Sparkle, welcome, this is General Hammer Claw, of the 1st griffon Air Force,” she said, giving the general a little bow.
The general turned to Twilight with a grimace on his face. Or perhaps that’s how is face looked naturally, Twilight couldn’t quite tell, “So this is the most magical unicorn in all Equestria? Doesn’t look so tough to me…” he said with a grunt.
Twilight forgave his rudeness as she bowed before them, “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir, thank you for sending a squadron of your soldiers to help us with defenses in Ponyville,” she said politely. The general simply grunted at her again in response. She looked to Princess Luna now, “Princess, we’ve nearly finished preparing Ponyville as best as we can, so I’ve come here to see if there’s anything I can do to help!” she said confidently.
“Thank you Twilight Sparkle. We could use you’re help carving out escape passages in the edge of the mountain. If the worst should come, we want to make sure that the civilians of Canterlot have an escape route,” said Princess Luna. She had not shown as much as a glimmer of sadness, or despair in her voice, or in her body language. If she was harboring uncertainty, or sorrow, she was hiding it rather well.
Before Twilight had a chance to reply, a great amount of rustling and complaining of guards was heard outside their door, and somepony was shouting something, loudly, but indistinguishably through the room doors. Through the door, a Pegasus scout burst in, crashing into the room, and tumbling through the maps and charts, making papers and scrolls fly everywhere. He quick got up on his feet, but he was quite clearly out of breath. Everypony looked at him rather confused, and Shining Armor tried to help the scout up, “Soldier! What’s the meaning of this, have you news?” he asked impatiently.
The Pegasus tried to catch his breath, before he looked at them with dread on his face, “He’s… coming…” he took another moment, and his voice steadied, “I saw him far off into the east, a colossal black dragon. He will be here within a few hours…” said the Pegasus Scout meekly.
Luna’s eyes went wide, “All soldiers at their posts, be at the ready! I will meet him before he reaches Canterlot,” she said commandingly.
Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath, before she stepped forward, “I’m coming with you Princess Luna.”
“Twilight Sparkle… this is not something…” she was interrupted.
“So am I. You little ponies aren’t going to have all the fun for yourselves!” General Hammer cried out. He was the first one to burst out of the door, “Sergeant Eagle Eye, my weapon!” he cried out to a smaller looking griffon. This was apparently where the general got his name, as his weapon brought to him was a massive, steel hammer. It was a wonder how he was able to fly with it at all.
Luna began to trot quickly down the hall of the castle, the guards parting for her, and making for their posts, “Listen, all of you, I really appreciate your support but…” she looked forward, as she saw two dark colored, bat winged Pegasus guards fly in, and kneel before the princess.
“Your majesty, we shall accompany you to your battle,” one of them said dutifully.
Luna shook her head angrily and walked past, “No, that is where I’m putting my hoof down! You are to stay here and guard Canterlot with the rest of the soldiers that is an order!” she said firmly.
The Pegasus night guards slowly followed after her, their constitution not wavering, “I’m sorry your majesty, but that is an order we must disobey. The night guards have been your personal protection since your inception as princess. Even during your dreadful banishment, our order waited for one thousand years for your return, so that we might be at your side once more. We will be by your side Princess Luna, to whatever end,” they said before bowing once more in respect.
The princess looked at them with frustration, but she had to admire their undying loyalty. She wouldn’t be able to keep them away, unless she did so by force. And although she regretted it, she knew that deep down; they were fully devoted to her, and would like nothing more than to stay by her side. The Princess scoffed at them, as she turned around, and continued on her flight. Along with General Hammer, and Twilight Sparkle being carried by her Night Guards, Princess Luna flew low over Canterlot, and to the main gate, taking a look to make sure every pony and griffon was in place. Over one of the watch towers, she noticed a particular Pegasus soldier. He was shaking in his armor, and looked terrified onto the horizon. It is likely that this soldier and most of these soldiers had never seen real combat. He was also quite young for a Pegasus soldier. Luna flew down to him, and gingerly put a hoof on his shoulder, “Be brave my good soldier… be brave for all of Equestria…” she smiled to him, easing his tension. At this, she recalled once more, what her dear sister had said to her, and she too put on her bravest face. She knew that this would be the greatest foe any of them would have ever faced, and it was very likely that they were all flying to their dooms.
On the eastern edge of Equestria, no more than two hours flight from Canterlot, they all waited. They could feel the tension in the air. Everything was eerily silent. What sort of monster was coming over the next hill? What sort of catastrophe would the world be faced with? These questions ran constantly through the minds of the five beings that stood on the high plains. This was the deep breath before the plunge. The sun was slowly going down in the sky, and a red hue began to color the distant clouds. Out from the jungles of the east, they saw it.
His wings dawned over the horizon like fire. Above him, the clouds would burst into flames as he passed below them. The trees would bend away from him, and the animals would flee from the woods, trying to escape the shadow of the dragon. Every beat of his wings taunted life, and spread fear to all things. Even in the hearts of Princess Luna, General Hammer, the Night Guards, and Twilight Sparkle they felt fear welling up inside them. Death had at long last approached the doorstep of Equestria, and it came ever closer to him. The massive beast continued to fly, purposefully slow towards them. The closer he came, the larger he looked, until it looked like the whole of him would be able to crush Equestria with a single of his massive claws. The black monster landed itself on a high hill, only a few hundred feet away from them. If Twilight Sparkle didn’t know better, she would think that his terrible gruesome and frightful maw was upturned into a little grin. The dragon stood there in his abominable magnificence, displaying his full evil splendor to the Equestrian defenders that met him. They looked closer, and saw that his right claw was up, and held something inside it, although they could not tell what.
Although rage and violence seethed out into an aurora around the dragon, his body itself did not look prepared to attack. In fact he stood rather calmly, if not, terrible ominously before them. Eventually he raised his great claw, and spoke, causing waves of fear to shock the bodies of the ponies before him, “Mortals of Equestria, I bid thee a greeting…” he spoke slowly, as to amplify their fear, “I come to offer thee… a tribute. Behold a symbol of the futility of the mortal shell. Behold the first and greatest fall of all pony kind. I leave you now to wallow with this mortals, for in two days time I shall return, and complete the final song of destruction upon your lands,” he raised his arm up, and with hardly any effort, he flung what he carried in his claw. A white blur streaked across the ground, and landed with a hard thud before the ponies.
Words could express the sadness that terror that had filled Twilight Sparkle. She instantly forgot about the presence of Numinex, and she ran forward to the body of Princess Celestia. Her once great and regal teacher now lay broken. Her body was bruised, and burnt in many places. Her majestic crown had been removed, and her beautiful horn had been broken. The lovely, pale, multi-colored mane and tail that Twilight remembered flowing and sparkling stunningly, was now ragged, and unkempt. Her body was once so regal, so beautiful. But now here she lay, torn asunder, beaten, and tossed around like a ragdoll. Twilight Sparkle could not bear the travesty; she could not bear the blasphemy of seeing the royal Celestia in such a state. The tears welled up from her eyes, and began to stream down her face. She couldn’t breathe; she was choking on her own emotions, trying to tell her eyes that they had to be lying to her.
There was a sound of a painful, quiet groaning. The princess was still alive. She tried to move her head, struggling to look out of her bruised, magenta eyes to look at her pupil, “T-twilight Sparkle…” she said, her voice weak and hoarse.
“Princess? Princess Celestia, you’re ok!” she laughed weakly, leaning in closely to her teacher’s side, “Princess… you’re ok… I knew you’d be ok… you’re going to be ok Princess… you’re going to be ok!” The tears were still flowing from her eyes, and she was interrupted by her crying. She knew the state of the princess, but she couldn’t bring herself to face the horrid reality before her.
The beaten princess tried to turn her head to look at her most faithful student. She gave her a loving look, and tried weakly to put a hoof around her, “Twilight Sparkle… I, I have one more lesson to teach you… my most faithful… student…” she said quietly.
Twilight nuzzled up to the broken body of her teacher, pressing herself up against her, and underneath her loving hoof. She sniffled and cried as she held herself against Celestia, “No, no, don’t talk Princess. You’re going to be ok, we’re going to get you help, and you’ll be ok!” she said through her cries.
The princess looked sorrowfully at her student. Through all of the pains that coursed through her body, nothing hurt her more than having to see the unicorn she loved the most, in such despair, “Twilight Sparkle… Sometimes… a pony has to…” she let out a gasp of pain, “…has to leave her teacher…” Princess Celestia shed a tear as she looked into the eyes of her student, “N-nopony can be around forever Twilight Sparkle… but it is what they do, and who they spend, with the time that they are given that matters… I am glad that I spent this time with you… Twilight Sparkle…” She was unable to keep her head up anymore. Her body began to shake underneath Twilight, “I have to go now… Twilight, It’s time for you… to learn your final lesson…” she groaned out in pain.
Twilight Sparkle reached down, and hugged Celestia tightly, refusing to let her go, “No Princess… No… you can’t leave me… I… I need you. Please Princess Celestia… don’t leave me!” she cried out, bawling mournfully, with her head buried underneath the wing of her great teacher, mentor, and protector.
The Princess cradled her favorite student with her wing as best as she could. She would leave the world now, nothing would stop that, “Twilight Sparkle… I will always be here for you…” she looked deep into her eyes, nuzzling her with the last of her strength, as if she was her own daughter, “If you are ever alone Twilight Sparkle… Just look up to the sun… I will always be with you…”
Her body began to shake, and her breathing became erratic. Twilight held onto the princess, looking at her helplessly. With sorrowful tears in her eyes, she took a final look into her mentor’s eyes, “Celestia… I… I love you…”
“I love you too… Twilight… Sparkle…” said the princess. And with her final farewell, Princess Celestia took her last breath, and she died.
The sun in the sky had finally fallen below the horizon. It was the darkest sunset Equestria had ever witnessed.
To be continued with, Chapter 7: An Heir to Hope