Holdfast stood in the center of the main street of Gallopilli, clad in light, almost decorative plate mail. Gold filigree lined the edges of the armor, and over it all lay a fine black fur cloak. He adjusted one of the steel cuffs around his foreleg. “I will say,” he said aloud, “despite his questionable tastes in entertainment, Lord Silver Lining had an excellent choice of equipment in his personal armory.” He frowned at a decorative medal pinned to the lapel of the cloak. “Not that he earned this,” he muttered, picking the silver cross from its place and letting it drop to the ground.
The former chancellor looked up at the home of his former life: the castle. “Just think,” he said, “a few short weeks ago, I was trying to lay claim to this land by way of a years-long plan. Work my way up from the very lowest rank of King Bastion’s contingent, gain the royal family’s trust, and eventually claim the throne by virtue of being the last survivor.” He chuckled. “If only I’d known it would be this easy. What do you two think?”
He looked back at two suits of armor standing behind him. They were identical, silent, and, like the scores of other suits of armor marching to surround the castle, completely empty. They said nothing, and did not move even an inch.
“Hmm,” Holdfast shook his head. “A shame that none of you are keen on talking.” He thought for a moment, seeing the last of the suits channel their way out of the surrounding buildings—empty, unfortunately—and turned back to the castle. “I remember tales told of King Bastion’s ancestor, older even that old King Behemoth. They say that the first king was a violent and terrible conqueror, uniting the surrounding city-states under an iron hoof. They called him a tyrant.”
He mused to himself for several seconds, surrounded by the silent suits of armor. “Well, I suppose Tyrant Holdfast has a certain ring to it.”
“So does ‘break the tyrant’s hold,’” Just Duty said, walking over to Holdfast. “Or ‘the worms’ fast will end soon.’ Even ‘orange door hinge’ has a specific ring to it, if you say it right. You truly think we’ll win this battle this time, even though your ‘toys’ have failed every time before?” Just Duty asked as he looked at the hollow suit of armor next to him.
“I haven’t used all of my ‘toys’ yet,” Holdfast responded without looking at the ex-paladin. “I’ve had most of them busy searching the city for the inhabitants. Now, there’s nothing between us and the young queen.” He chuckled. “Well, aside from the castle walls. A minor inconvenience, I’d say.”
“Yes, a minor inconvenience that has held back armies larger, more powerful and more…personally motivated than yours,” Just Duty replied, looking towards the castle walls. “Then again, according to the words of false gods and lies of fake heroes, who’s to say those walls have ever been tested in the first place.” The stallion spat on the ground in frustration before looking back at the armors. “In a way, your army is actually a good representation of their lies: meaningful looking on the outside, but inside,” he carefully plucked the helmet off the armor next to him, revealing its empty nature, “hollow and meaningless. Like fake heros and false gods. Curse them and their lies for trying to plant doubt in my mind.” He sighed and looked at the helmet he still held. “How did you manage to make these lies anyway?” he asked, gazing into the empty helm.
Holdfast was silent for a moment. Slowly, a grin formed over his face. “I believe we found some of Amber Glitter’s citizens earlier. Perhaps I can show both you and her majesty the answer to your question at the same time.” He shrugged. “But, if you really want to know, I can tell-”
“Really want to know what?” a deep voice asked, curiosity clear in its questioning tone. The two stallions blinked and looked up, searching for the question that had come from above their heads. Crouched on a building was Bael, head cocked to one side in confusion. A pair of pegasi flanked the bipedal being, their glowing green eyes the only similarity between them.
“Really want to know what?” Bael repeated, leaping down to stand beside the two besiegers. His bodyguards followed, flapping down to join him. “I just got here with some Legionnaires I poached from the Purple Barbarian’s Emerald Legion. What’d I miss?”
“Holdfast was about to send his army of hollow lies against the walls of long falsity to see which is stronger,” Just Duty replied, putting the helmet back onto the armor carelessly.
“Aha,” Bael hummed, eying the empty armor suits with a skeptical gaze. “In my experience, things without internal support don’t usually win against age old stone and mortar of castle walls. I bid thee good luck in your venture though.”
Holdfast raised an eyebrow at the biped. “Luck? Where do you plan to be while I and the amazing collapsing morality stallion complete our goal?”
Bael jerked a blunt thumb over his shoulder at the outer wall and grinned, replying with flowery, formal words. “Whilst you attempt to break the back of the defenders at the castle, I shall act to defend us from retaliation from without. The Purple Barbarian managed to collect some Legionnaires before I got to them and sent them to augment the forces that have begun marching from a quaint little village called Roads Crossed. Our counterparts are mounting a counter attack against us.”
“Are they now?” Holdfast grinned once again as he turned to Just Duty. “My army can handle the defenders of the castle. Do you plan on finishing your… unfinished business with the grey pegasus?” Just Duty looked at the old stallion questioningly for a few moments.
“I would like to know why you wish to appear so helpful before I answer that question,” he stated.
Holdfast’s grin widened. “As I said before, amazing collapsing morality. I’m fascinated to see how far a paladin is willing to go.” He turned back to the castle. “Besides, I can’t have you ruining the morale of my ‘fake’ army.” Just Duty snorted and turned to walk away.
“Do not push too hard, or you’ll get to experience first hoof how far I’m willing to go,” he called over his shoulder.
Bael arched an eyebrow at the departed Just Duty and shrugged, turning back to Holdfast. “I guess I’ll prepare the defense at the walls,” he decided, rolling his shoulders to work any stiffness out. “Send a messenger or give a signal when you’ve taken the castle or require assistance. I’ll fall back to reinforce your troops. Ideally, I’ll have squashed any upstart invaders by then, though I’m not certain I’ll have achieved that.”
“Uncertainty doesn’t suit you, demon.” Holdfast turned back to the castle. “I have history books to put myself in.” He waved a forehoof toward the castle gates as the suits of armor marched forward in unison. “I shall meet you inside.”
Bael gave a mock salute at the ex-chancellor. “Good luck, comrade,” he bade. “Let us ruin some days.” Making a sharp gesture for the two daemon-pony pegasi to follow him, Bael jumped up to the rooftops and made his way towards the walls to mount his defense.
Holdfast watched the biped disappear. “I suppose I should say something worthy of being remembered by future generations,” he mused. After a minute, he shrugged. “I’ll have something added to the history books later. Attack!”
* * *
Up on the castle walls, Twilight’s horn stopped glowing; the metal horn she had been using as an amplifier slowering to the stone slabs below them. “You all heard that?”
“You mean the certainty of death, small chance of success?” Rainbow Dash deadpanned. “No, I must have missed it somehow, with your spy equipment letting us hear everything they said down there.”
“At least Purple Heart and Discord are coming,” Rarity said. “Maybe Purple Heart can just punch those gaudy suits of armor-”
“Armoroids,” Rainbow Dash corrected. Rarity glared briefly at the blue pegasus.
“No,” she stated before continuing her original thought. “Maybe Purple Heart can just punch the gaudy suits of armor into scrap metal.”
“Even if he can,” Amber Glitter said, “those suits of armor-”
“Armoroids,” Rainbow Dash said again.
The queen shoot a look of heightened irritation at the pegasus. “...those suits of armor are still marching on-” She was interrupted by the sound of swords striking the heavy wooden gate below them. “I take that back. Those suits of armor are attacking the castle and there still might be more hidden paths they can sneak in through. They could get in through anywhere!”
“But we know where they’re going,” Twilight said.
“Where?” Amber asked.
Twilight pointed a forehoof at Amber Glitter. “You’re the only pony still in this castle they care about. Even if they have to search the entire castle, they’ll be looking for you.”
“Great,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Worst case scenario is that we wait for hours and then the entire army of Armoroids comes crashing down on our heads.”
“‘Armoroids’ is not going to catch on, darling,” Rarity muttered back. “Stop trying to make it a thing.”
“It’d totally be a thing if Pinkie or one of the colts was here,” Rainbow muttered quietly before she looked back over the walls. “Anyways, what’s the plan? It’s too late to back out of this fight now, so how do we make sure we hold out long enough for help to show up and get through to us?”
“I’m sure Rarity and I can use our magic to move tables and benches to shore up the main gate,” Twilight offered. “We can also use actual magic to help fortify. And we’re lucky enough that each of us has some proficiency with ranged attacks.”
“Yeah, like that’ll do anything,” Rainbow Dash scoffed. “I shoot arrows and Rarity throws sewing needles. Those usually work great if there was anything living inside the Armoroids.”
“It won’t stick, dear,” Rarity chided once more. “Although, she is right. If I remember correctly, piercing damage doesn’t exactly hurt beings made of armor. Bludgeoning attacks would be more effective.”
“Then we’ll drop rocks!” Twilight snapped, whirling on the two mares. She sighed and rubbed at her forehead when they jerked in surprise at her irritated tone. “Sorry, girls. I haven’t exactly lead the defense of a siege. All the villains we faced went one on one. The only experience I can think of that comes close to this situation is Chrysalis’ attack.”
“And Roads Crossed,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
“Co-led,” the purple alicorn corrected. “That was also against bandits. This is a unified army.”
“It’s all right dear,” Rarity soothed, patting Twilight gently on the shoulder. “We’re all a little tense. Besides, arrows and needles aren’t all we have. Rainbow Dash can use her Elemental Infusion to augment her arrows and I can try to manipulate any armor suits-”
“Armoroids.”
“ARMOR SUITS!” Rarity cried. “I can manipulate any armor suits that get close enough and I can use Summon Greater Ponnequin.”
“Not to interrupt how you plan to fight back,” Amber Glitter most certainly interrupted, “and math might not have been the focus of my studies as a filly, but it’s three of you against… one, two, three, a lot more of those Armoro- suits of armor. And Purple Heart is only one of three of the stallions you said went out for help. How do you plan on holding out long enough for the other two? Assuming they even find any help at all, that is.”
Twilight thought for a moment. “Rainbow Dash? Do you remember what happened in 'Daring Do and the Castle of Terrible Terrors'?”
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at the alicorn. “You mean at the end where she’s holding out against the Naga Hordes of Poliu’Lopkiu? What about it?”
“Do you remember how that ended?”
The rainbow-maned mare frowned. “You mean how it ended on a massive cliffhanger that kept everypony waiting for months until the next book came out? What about it?”