Nightrise

by ThePrinceOfTheNorth

Chapter 9: Call of Valor

Chapter 9: Call of Valor

Fort Rosethorn, The Badlands...

Fort Rosethorn was a relic of wars long past, and stood as a grim reminder to all of the struggles Equestria has survived. The most significant thing about Fort Rosethorn now was the fact it was still standing.

Mounds of sand reached the tops of the outer walls, but not a grain had landed on the battlements themselves. A path had been tunneled through the sand to the front gate, which showed no signs of decay, and the stones themselves where still as white as the day they were laid. The keep still stood dominant over the landscape, a white tower reaching five hundred meters into the sky, with arched supports running from the side and going into the sand, as the supports ended on the outer side of the wall. Still, the white still gleamed and the golden inlays still shown, standing as a testament to a bygone golden age.

And this was thanks to one stallion.

An elderly alicorn sat in the throne of the fort's keep, though because of the grand decor and tapestries adorning the walls, one might call it a palace or a castle. This stallion called it the latter, Castle Rosethorn. His horn was lit and before him was an image of the battle taking place in The Crystal Empire. It had been years since he'd last fought in the name of Equestria, and as far as they knew, he was dead along with every other guard that had been at Castle Rosethorn nearly two thousand years ago, when the griffons marched on Canterlot, passing the fort and wiping it out. Not him, though, not Captain Valor.

Captain Valor gently rose from the throne as the image faded away, his many medals clanking together as he rose. He turned to one of the hallways and made his way down it, through the maze of adjoining hallways, and to the Castle Armory.

He opened the door to reveal a fully stocked armory, every weapon and piece of armor coated in centuries of dust. These were the armor of his fellow guards, which they had died in. He had decided against laying the armor with the bodies in the crypt, feeling they would not need them in the afterlife, or whatever came after death.

One set of armor was on a mannequin in a glass case. It featured neck plating, a feathered helmet, full body and leg armor, and a flowing gold cape. This was his armor from when he was a Royal Guard back in the day. He carefully turned the knob that opened the case, and stared with determination at his armor.

"I think I'm ready for another adventure."

~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in The Crystal Empire...

The rest of the Solstice Fleet had arrived, and was now hammering the Vampire Changeling Army, but to no avail. It seemed for every batallion that they struck down, two more rose to take it's place. The Solstice Royal Army wasn't fairing much better. Fate and Elegance, clad in his Flash of Gold armor, had also arrived to lend their aid. They were now with Winter and the Princesses at the train.

"On your left," yelled Winter.

"Thanks," said Celestia after deaing with the Vampire Changeling.

"This is madness," yelled Fate, "These Changelings are supposed to be extinct!"

"I guess not," yelled Twilight in response.

"Wait, where's Nightmare Moon," yelled Crystalia.

As if to answer her question, somepony using the Royal Canterlot Voice boomed above them, causing them to look up.

"CHARGE," screamed Nightmare Moon as her Shadowbolts dove behind her, "GIVE THEM ALL YOU'VE GOT!"

Almost immediately, magical projectiles began raining down from the mass of Shadowbolts, but never hitting the Princes or Princesses, but always hitting one of the Vampire Changelings.

"Some aim," said Elegance.

"Eh, I took it upon myself to train them in Nightmare Moon's absence," said Winter with a shrug.

"LOOK OUT," screamed Crystalia as a Vampire Changeling sucessfully knocked Twilight down. The vampire opened it's mouth to reveal it's sharp fangs, and Twilight closed her eyes, knowing what would come next.

But the bite never came.

Instead, a massive bust of heat and magical energy passed above her, through the vampire. When she opened her eyes, all that was left of the vampire was it's rear hooves, which quickly turned to ash. Everypony turned to see an alicorn in the old style Canterlot Royal Guard Armor, complete with gold cape. Crystalia, Celestia, Luna and Winter knew of only one Captain who ever wore a gold cape, but he had been reported to have been killed.

"Act of Valor, proud to serve you one again," he said in a voice that resonated with age, but also with an unfaltering authority over all who listened. "Shall we?"

Celestia nodded, and the battle recommenced, now with the upper hand going to the Equestrian and Solstician forces.

At long last, the Vampire Changelings reign of terror would end.

But they weren't going to go quietly.

Author's Note:

While his designation is Captain Valor, he earned the nickname Act of Valor for his insane but ultimately successful tactics and strategies, and for running right at the enemy to rescue injured Royal Guards on many, many occasions. His motto, no pony left behind, and victory without loss(of my men).

Comments

[Death2205]

*salutes*

[Slip Kid]

4260245

I'm afraid I haven't read the story yet, but one pointer I can give is longer chapters.