Prologue: Imprisonment

Equestria 1000 years before the current events

Far up into the Northern Mountains of Equestria, further then anypony would even think about going, There stood Princess Celestia, princess of the sun and now sole ruler of her nation. With her stood fifty guard ponies of the Equestrian Royal Guard, what had brought them here was chained on its knees before them. It was not a pony or even anything native to Equus, it.... He was completely bald save for a full head of black thick hair and a beard and mustache around his chin and mouth for he was not of Equus but of the world of Unilarith. Not much was else was known to Celestia of this human other that in his world he was a well renowned warrior and adept magic weilder to the kingdom of Ailirwen, yet by chance some one Summer eight years ago he had come to Equus, due to a magical accident that not even he was able to explain. In time he would serve Celestia's mother Faust first as a soldier, then knight before achieving the rank of Lord Commander of the Equestrian military.

Yet fate had other plans, in the same time He fell in love with Faust's younger daughter Luna, princess of the moon and night, and they were happy together. Yet pity took hold of Faust's heart, not wanting to Luna to suffer the passing of her first love, she granted the human the same immortality she and her daughters had so that he and Luna, could always be together. Yet the days of happiness grew short, and the nights even shorter, for bad things were written by fate to happen. Now here stood Celestia alone, after having to banish her only sister to the moon, no longer was she able to seek comfort or counsel from her mother, for Faust had used so much of her magic and power to destroy the demon Yngol. To save herself she traveled to a place only she knew and one other, the human or as he had introduced himself as Ulfric Stormwolf.

"Ulfric please I'm ....I'm so sorry I had no choice what could I have done" Celestial said yet Ulfric remained silent and motionless, he did even acknowledge her.

"Please Ulfric I had no choice but to banish Luna" before she could finish Ulfric lunged at her being stopped a few inches in front of her from the chains wrapped around his arms and waist.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY HER NAME, OR EVEN CALL HER YOUR SISTER YOU HEARTLESS WHORE" he yelled his rage boiling over, and the his other worldly magic flaring.

"P-please Ulfric I h-had no choice " Celestia choked over her forming tears, this was not what she had wanted,but she had no choice .
"NO CHOICE NO CHOICE DID I NOT TELL YOU SHE FELT UNAPPRECIATED DID I NOT TELL YOU SHE FELT UNLOVED BY EVERYONE DID I NOT TELL YOU Ulfric yelled, trying to struggle closer to Celestia his hand desperately trying to claw at her face and muzzle that was only a few inches away. Celestia jumped a bit for she was scared, scared that the enchanted chains would break, scared that Ulfric lost in his rage would try to kill her and plunge Equestria into chaos. After a few moments Ulfric ceased his attempts.

"All you ever cared about was how much attention you could get, how much praise and love you could have while shoving your own sibling aside leaving her in to stand in your shadow, if your mother were her, I would hope that she would see that you are unfit to rule even a small village" Ulfric said and he slumped to his knees letting his head hang. Celestia knew he was right, and here she was alone, her sister banished and the one person who may have become her brother in-law now being forced to be locked away in this tomb, the magic spells would keep him here, but for how long she did not know she only hoped it would be long enough for the thousand year banishment of Luna to pass and for her to find a way to free Luna from the Nightmare.

"I'm so sorry Ulfric ...I w-wish there were another way but this is w-were you must stay" She said over more tears, with a solemn nod the door to the tomb slowly closed, but not before Ulfric had one final say.

"Be warned Celestia, you should watch your back, for when I am free I'm coming for you" Ulfric said before the tomb locked with a heavy thud and all was still, Celestia no longer having to keep a stoic face buried her face in her hands and wept for a long time.

"Princess come let us leave this place" A young guard said, they began the long trek down the mountain to the carriages that waited for them, but Celestia would now always have a deep hidden fear, always afraid and waiting for when Ulfric came to fulfill his promise.

A thousand winters later: part 1

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Northern Mountains of Equestria, three days after Luna eclipsed
Ulfric's tomb

A thousand years he had waited, testing the bonds of his chains and of the tomb, weakening it slowly over the millennia until first the chains broke, shattering to dust twenty years ago. Now with a greater amount of movement available to him, Ulfric threw himself into constant practice and training of his combat and magic skills, While was able to do so when chained the heavy metal restraints had somewhat limited his movement to a small part of the tomb. Now, as he prepared to end his imprisonment by his own means his mind raced though the scenarios of how his first meeting with Celestia would play out. He didn't have to guess what she had done in his thousand year absence, for he had been able to see it thanks to the small enchanted mirror that have been given to him by queen Faust , shortly after his arrival to Equis, so many winters ago.

With one final effort Ulfric blasted the seal of the tomb, with a power blast of elemental magic, the combined fire and lighting bolt hit the door of the tomb with enough power and force that the remaining magic that kept the tomb seal broke with a thunderous crack, blowing the door outwards, and for the first time Ulfric could see the night sky whole for the first time. He had to shield his eyes, as his only source of light during his imprisonment had been through a few airshafts that had been cut into the rock of his tomb, he took his first steps out of the tomb, bringing with him the few worldly possessions he had with him, the mirror from Faust enchanted so that he could learn the history of Equis instantly, a replenishing potion that could kept any grown being fed for a whole day, this had come in handy as what ever spell Celestia had used to make sure he had a good source of food ceased to function 400 years ago, and finally a necklace in the shape of a moon encircled by a wolf. There was only one other necklace like this, It had been crafted and forged by Ulfric's own hands and gifted to his love Luna as a sign of his love to her, now it was burnt and blackened, no longer bearing the enchantments he had placed upon it. This left him with two possibilities, the first is that Luna had been freed from the Nightmare and the resulting expulsion had destroyed the connection between their necklaces, and the second was Luna no longer lived, He hoped it was not the latter, but if it was he was prepared to exact vengeance upon Celestia for it. Slowly packing his things into a small knapsack, he started his long arduous descent down the mountain, even despite the bitter cold that chilled him to the bone, it did not bother him, having been raised in the northern reaches of his home land the cold was next to nothing for him. Before setting out he stole a gaze of the moon, and what he saw made his heart sink, and his anger and hate of Celestia biol. Where there had once been an image of a unicorn mares head on the lunar surface now it was just a blank white, Ulfric clenched his fists tightly, before throwing his head back and loosing a earsplitting howl"

"ARRRRROOOOOOUUUU" Stopping after a few seconds to let his Werewolf side sink back within him, he steeled his resolve beginning his slow trek down the mountain towards the ancient Castle of the Two Sisters, For there were a few items he knew he would require to fully carry out the threatening promise he had mad ten centuries ago.

Several weeks latter, The Everfree Forest, Castle of the Two sisters

For several weeks now, Ulfric had trekked from the Northern Mountains stopping now and then to hunt wild game, which was a long awaited welcome, and was a change in menu from having to drink the same potion again after four centuries. As he finally pushed through the last of the dense underbrush, he finally saw, what he sought, the ancient castle he and Luna had shared as their home until that tragic night so long ago. Where once stood a proud castle whose battlements and walls had stood un-breached through many a war, Where the once strong and ornate Cherry wood gate stood now all that remained were it's broken rotting pieces pile now lay around the gate. He looked on with a heavy heart full of sadness and grief. what had once been a proud castle was now no more then a crumbling ruin. No longer did the warmth of fires warm the halls, for they had burned out long ago. Where golden light from chandeliers and lanterns filled the rooms and dining areas, now there was only darkness.

Pushing aside his grief Ulfric, crossed the chasm that separated the castle from him, via the rope bridge that was present, after crossing he passed through the ruined gate, stopping to check the old guard posts that flanked either side of the gate, both of which were ruined and had collapsed. Making his way through the castle he saw many familiar things that once held beauty now ruined by the touch of time. As he came to the Throne, there stood still pristine were the thrones of his love Luna and that of Celestia. Ulfric went and stood before the throne of Luna, the massive tapestry that hung behind it was tattered on the bottom yet was still mostly intact showing the Image Luna as she was thought of then, she was depicted in full armor her sword clasped in her hands pointed down so that it formed a cross. Taking a moment Ulfric kneeled before Luna's ancient throne he head low before standing back to his feet.

He then made his way down the left side corridor, slowly making his way through the winding halls and passage ways before coming to a double iron door that had a shield with twin swords crossed over it. With a grunt and a few words cursed in another language shoving the door open enough to reveal the castle ancient and long abandoned Armory, it just like the rest of the ancient dwelling was in a state of ruin, many of the racks that had held the weapons the castle guard would have used were not either crushed by rubble or had rotted away through the passage of time leaving a few reminders of their contents a sword here a shattered bow there and many more, once this armory shaped and equipped many of Equestria's soldiers, the forges with fire that roared day and night now lay cold and forgotten. As he made his way through the ruined armory, Ulfric recalled many a time he himself had come here to assist in forging weapons and armor, or when he taught many of the forging techniques from his home to the black smiths many of these lessons helped greatly in the improvement of Equstria's ancient armies. But those times had passed, never to be heard of or felt again.

Moving past what had once been the heart of the armory, he can to three eroded yet still ornate panels on one wall, each were unique yet at the same time similar. The one on the left was fashioned with the iconography of Celestia, and lay empty untouched for centuries. The middle one was adorned in the iconography of Ulfric's beloved Luna it remained sealed, Ulfric pressed the small circular panel on it causing it to slide away, inside it was black that is until a fist sized crystal blinked into life shining a ray of moon light onto the obsidian black armor that belonged to Luna. Ulfric took a moment to smile remembering when he had first forged and presented it to Luna announcing it showed the Lunar Alicorn that he loved her. He then closed it, for it was not why he was here, stepping to the alcove on the right he opened it revealing his personal Armory the four ancient torches spark to life illuminating the contents within, there on the mannequin was his armor still shining in the light as is was on the day he has received it from the High Elf smith who became one of his closest friends.

Ulfric stood there for a moment starring at the winged helmet, remembering fighting Along side Luna, Celestia and their Mother Faust during the many wars that plagued Equestria in its earliest days, on his armors back hung the long nine foot long red cape with its furred collar that still bore the crest of the Kingdom of Ailirwen, but that would no longer be the symbol he would wear upon it, No with a quick casting of a few spells the red fabric became dark midnight blue and the crest became a black splotch with a white crescent moon. What Ulfric did next he took great care in, retrieving a medium sized box from a small self behind his armor, opening and cast one final spell the fur the once made up the collar of his cape had now been replaced with equally dark blue feather, each one having be meticulously gather and stored each time he had assisted his love in preening her wings. His symbol of his devotion to the woman he loved completed, he removed the helmet from the mannequin placing it on his head. After strapping on his armor and now redesigned cap and getting reacquainted with it, Ulfric turned his attention to the small weapons rack that was inside his personal armory while most knights of his homeland had many weapons at their disposal Ulfric preferred only two. His two handed long sword which he had personally named Lions Bane.

And his war axe made from the strongest and equally coldest Stalhrim, WolfsFang.

Each had before forged by the very same High Eld blacksmith, who also forged his armor, he knew that thanks the Elven smithing used to make them that they would be as sharp and untarnished and the day they were created, taking both of them Ulfric buckled the belt of the sword to waist placing the sword of his left side and slipping WolfsFang through loops on the back of his armors waist band.

After a few other final preparations, Ulfric left the armory and the castle entirely heading east towards the town of Ponyville, there he would seek transport aboard one of the many trains that frequently traveled to Canterlot. There he would bring about Celestias judgment and avenge his love.

Upon arriving at the station, Ulfric hurriedly, climbed aboard, hiding within the freight carriage, that was attached to the back of a train that thanks to careful spying he had learned was destined for Canterlot. Settling in between a few crates he readied himself for what was to come.

A thousand winters later: part 2

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Equestria 1000 years later after Luna eclipsed
Canterlot West wing corridor

In the fading light of the moon and the last vestiges of night, filled the massive corridor, stood a single princess, unlike Celestia whose fur was white, she had
midnight blue fur, it was Luna returned after her thousand year banishment the nightmare immediately forcing her to try and conquer Equestria again, this time it ended differently for instead of succeeding she and the Nightmare were defeated this time by the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony, to her she was so happy to be able to finally be free of the torment of the Nightmare. things, were difficult at first much of her vocabulary and understanding of Equestria was greatly antiquated, bordering on being ancient as when she returned to her royal duties she spoke with the royal we and was constantly using the royal Canterlot voice. many an ear drum were damaged from her shouting. Yet help came in the form of her sisters personnel student and her friends who helped her to quickly adapt to the newer more modern Equestrian society.

So far life had returned to normal, now Luna was loved just as much as her sister and many ponies came regularly to night court mostly Thestrals and ponies who worked graveyard shifts, but other then that she was rather happy. Yet there was one thing she still missed, the warm embrace of her love wrapping his arms around her, the soft gentle kiss of his lips upon hers, the safe feeling of him snuggled up to her in bed, not to mention the wondrous feelings when they made love to each other.

"Where ever you are my love please come back soon" Luna said in a quiet pleading voice as she gazed out a window looking towards the everfree forest, wrapping her hands around the necklace she wore under her regal necklace. The piece had been made by Ulfric when they both pledged their love for each other so long ago, it was a simple pendant of a wolf encircling the moon, both she and Ulfric had one imbued with a spell that would let each other know that the other was safe or in danger. Yet when she was purified of the Nightmare the power of the Elements had reacted negatively to the spell and burned the pendant to a deep veined black, yet Luna held onto it, hoping that one day she would be re-united with her beloved.

"A bit for your thoughts lulu" A voice asked, shaking Luna out of her thought with a small eep. thank fully it as on Celestia coming to raise the sun for the day,

"Oh, good morning Tia, and thank you, I was just" She paused trying to come up with and answer.

"You were thinking of him again, weren't you?" Celestia asked, with a pang of guilt, knowing that she could not bring her self to tell Luna the truth.

"Yes, I was I miss him so much Tia, I want to be able to embrace him, to hold me in his arms and to hear his voice again" Luna says with a sad sigh, lowering her head. "yet he's still gone, I hope he comes back soon"

Before Celestia could respond she watched as her sister start to cry quietly, burying her face and muzzle into her hands as she wept for the one she loved. Celestia knowing that, if she revealed the truth of Ulfric's absence, could herald a third return of Nightmare moon, her older sibling instincts kicking in, she crossed the short distance, and pulled Luna into a comforting hug wrapping her large white wings around the lunar princess.
"Shhh,shhh it'll be okay Luna" Celestia said softly and she held Luna who buried her face into Celestia's shoulder and soaked it with tears, for a few good minutes.

“Tia-a-a-a I w-want my coltfriend, I w-w-want m-my werewolf back” Luna said through her tears as she cried, while Celestia hugged her tightly and rubbed Luna’s back. Even as Celestia comforted her sister she knew she could never bring herself to tell Luna of what really had happened to a Ulfric, she knew if Luna did learn the truth it could lead to another possession by Nightmare Moon, oh how she wanted to tell her sister what had transpired that night so many winters ago.
Wiping away her tears Luna pulled out of the hug.

“Thanks Tia, I think I shall turn in for the day” Luna said with a yawn, sharing one last hug before waving goodbye, Luna made her way back to her bed room. Opening the large decorated doorLuna quickly slipped inside closing the door behind her. The room looked as if a portion of the night had be placed within it, from the ceiling to the walls even the carpet looked like one was surrounded by a sea of stars and constellations, much of the furnishings were from her and Ulfrics old bedroom that they once shared in the Castle of the Two Sisters. This had helped her greatly as it provided a sense of familiarity to her.
Kicking of her silver shoes and unzipping the back of her dress, the black garment slid of her revealing her bodies beauty, her nicely shaped, rear feminine curves and her bountiful E cup breasts. Removing the last of her regalia setting them on her vanity station, she was able to walk away when she stopped eyeing the bottle on the edge of the vanity and it’s dark red contents. Her eyes locked on it even with the bottle being sealed she could smell it contents, bringing back her memories of a dark summer night long ago. The memory of a strange pony surprising her in the forest a sharp pain in her neck, two small holes that were left behind and the two pointed fangs in her mouth and the hunger for the very same crimson liquid that flowed in the veins of everyone in Equestria.

“No no no fight it Luna you have to fight it” she muttered to herself trying her best to resist the urge to feed, but it was useless the hunger deep within would not be driven away so easy. Her breathing became heavy and fast, until she couldn’t stand it anymore. Faster then a blink of an eye she grabbed the bottle ripping the stopper out of it, bringing it to her lips chugging its contents. The bitter metallic taste refamiliarized her taste buds as she drank until the bottle was empty.

“Sooooo good” Luna said as she slowly licked her lips wiping clean every last trace of the blood, placing it back on the vanity. With a quick flick of her horn and magic her mane and tail changed from an ethereal state of sparkling stars and flowing in a non existent wind to a light teal color much like when she was freed from the nightmare. Slipping under the sheets Luna curled up in the large bed wishing she had her love to embrace her.
“Come back quickly my love please” she said before the sweet embrace of sleep over took her.

Back in the Throne room three hours later

Within the throne room Celestia known for her welcoming smile and motherly nature was in fact at this moment scared, several weeks ago she had felt the seals on Ulfrics tomb shatter, she knew he was free and more recently thanks to a ancient detection spell she’d placed on her old home she knew he had gone to the armory to retrieve his weapons and armor. He was coming to fulfil the promise he’d made on that day so long ago, yet Celestia hoped she could reason with him and for this she had written to her faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle. In her letter she gave on vague details of what was about to happen, tell Twilight to bring her friends and the Elements with them.

“Oh Luna forgive me, for what is about to happen” she said as the throne rooms doors opened, soon Equestria would be shaken to its core, and none would be the same after what is about to transpire.

The Wolf King cometh: part 1

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Canterlot Castle throne room

As the doors to the throne room swung open, in came Twilight Sparkle and her friends the living embodiments of the Elements of harmony. Seeing them gave Celestia a bit of reassurance for what they were about to face, for she did not want to face his return alone.

“Twilight my dear student, thank my mother you’re here” Celestia said as she rose from her thrown meeting Twilight in a friendly hug.

“We came as fast as we could, but if you don’t mind me asking princess what is it that has you so worried, you letter was very....descriptive ehehe” Twilight said as she pulled out of the hug. Celestia did not answer at first instead she summoned a small table and enough chairs for the seven mare and one drake to sit comfortably around.

“Please everyone sit it will help to make this easier to explain” Celestia said taking a seat for her own use.

“Why thanks you princess but surely what ever it is that has you worried we can completely handle it” Rarity said as she got herself comfortable, Spike ever the young goofy dragon was instantly by here side.

“Oh Rarity how I wish it were so easy of a task, though I fear he will simply see you all as an annoyance in his way of his main goal” Celestia said while doing her best to calm her nerves and keep from running, but at the mention of a he and not a name earned of few glances of confusion from the Elements and dragon.

“Princess not to be rude but who are ya talk’n bout exactly” Applejack asked as she chewed on a short piece of hay.

“Yeah is he a big meanie pants whose always grumpy and like to steal everyone’s cake” the ever hyper Pinkie asked getting a look from Rainbow Dash that basically said “seriously”.

“Not quite Pinkie Pie, tell me what do you all know of Equestrian mythology?” Celestia asked, getting mixed replies of not very much to some like Twilight and surprisingly Rarity know nearly all of it.

“Mythology. Boorriiinng well except for this one guy he like super cool and everything” Rainbow Dash said with some enthusiasm.

“Interesting tell me honestly what do you know of The Wolf King?” Celestia said

“Not much”

“Nothing”

“Never heard of em”

“Is he a king of timberwolves”

Celestia had to giggle at that last one, she had to admit that Pinkie pie always had a way of making ponies laugh.

“To start off the myth of The Wolf King is more fact and reality then it is legend” Celestia stated.

“How do ya reckon so Princess ah mean not ya be dude en all but the guys a myth, isn’t” Applejack asked.

"No he was and is very real, dear Applejack, I know this because I once knew his as a friend and as the one and only being in Equestria to hold the rank of Lord Commander of Equestria’s ancient armies, and He blames” Celestia said before mumbling the last part, trying to hide something she was saddened by.

“Oh um could you repeat that please princess” Fluttershy squeaked out.

“I said he blames me for Luna’s banishment” Celestia said with her head hung low in shame and regret. This revelation caused the girls and Spike to gasp collectively, the thoughts that were running through theirs minds were that of shock and more confusion.

“Well what the hay would he blame you for I mean it’s not....like.... he...wait second Princess did he Love your sister?” Rainbow Dash asked now having sat up straight in her seat eagerly waiting an answer.

“He did and stills does because at the time or Luna’s banishment they were marefriend and coltfriend” Celestia explained.

“Hold up ther princess if he done loved sister back then an given a thousand has passed wouldn’t he be ya know ded?” Applejack asked interrupting the Solar regent. Celestia look at the farmer mare and sighed.

“No dear Applejack I’m afraid he did not die that long ago. When our Mother Faust learned of their love for each other she feared that Luna would be heartbroken to watch him grow old and die while she remained young forever, so through the use of an ancient ritual she blessed him with immortality so they could be happy together for all time” Celestia said as a single tear slid down her cheek, before she silently started to cry a bit while she hid behind her ethereal rainbow mane.

“But why? Why does would he hate you princess heck you haven’t done anything to him” Pinkie said her normal overly excited emotional state now gone replaced with a look of concern.

Celestia raises her head to look then in the eye. “How I wish that were true Pinkie Pie, he blames me for Luna’s fall to darkness. He said I pushed Luna aside so that I could constantly bask in the love and admiration of our subjects which is what led me to having to imprison him”

She then pulled back part of her dress to reveal a large scar running down her left side, all of the girls and even spike gasp in horror at what they now saw.

“Ulfric did this shortly after witnessing me seal Luna into the moon, I’d never seen so much anger and hate from someone whom I had come to call part of my family all because of a single thing I did” Celestia said covering herself back up. For the next thirty or so minutes Celestia was bombarded with question after question on who Ulfric was, what he was and how to best deal with him. It was until they had gotten into a full blown shouting match that it was Fluttershy who brought it to an abrupt end.

“EVERYPONY STOP!!!!!!!!” The buttercream mare screamed at the top of her lungs, easily shocking her friends and even princess.

“Just stop and listen” she said, to them, instantly they listen when th ears twitching and swiveling they started to here something that wasn’t previously there when they were shouting. It was the sounds or weapons clashing and the castle alarm klaxon blaring.

“Oh no” Celestia said becoming frightened

“He’s here”

The Wolf King Cometh: part 2

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Canterlot Rail Station

As the Noon Train slowed to a halt, many of the ponies aboard slowly disembarked, while others hurried rushed into the waiting passenger carriages, none of them noticed something or rather someone sneak out of the baggage car and into a nearby alley way. Whoever or whatever it was moved too quickly to even be noticed by many of those coming To Canterlot, this was fortunate, as this individual did not wish to been seen, that is until he had made his way to Canterlot Castle and Celestia. Moving from one alley to the next, Ulfric moved without a sound, so silent was he that the average passerby would have thought something like a ghost has just brushed passed them. Yet he knew he could not run the risk of detection for this could add a number of unforeseen consequences to his plan, even now he thought of how he would bring an end to Celestia's existence, would he burn her alive in a cascade of fire or bury her under the mountain that this city hung from. No he had opted for the most simple way, driving his sword through her heart, yet he still held out hope that Luna still lived and that he would not have to commit this terrible act, no matter how driven he was to commit it. He had to abruptly stop as the alley which he used stopped yet it gave him a clear view of his goal, there standing before him in all its glory, was Canterlot Castle the beating heart of the city, where all the politics and rabble happened keeping together a nation under the rule of a single monarch. Here he thought of a new plan to approach the castle gates, simply walk right up to them, yet to others this would seem like a completely crazed idea. Yet Ulfric knew the risks of doing this and seeing as he didn’t have anything really left to lose, he choose to go forward with this plan, despite the risk and danger and yet he was no stranger to either of these. Muttering a quick prayer to the Gods of his world, he slowly stepped out of the alley and onto the sidewalk, catching a few ponies off guard. Many of those he passed by talked in hushed tones, most of what was said were questions of curiosity, such is who is he what is he and why does his cape have Princess Luna's cutie mark on it.

Making his way down the remaining three and a half blocks, Ulfric now stood before the main gates of Canterlot Castle and one step closer to his goal. Yet for a moment he stopped to gaze upon the immense structure before him, while it contain traces of Old Equestrian architectural design in it the castle had obviously been heavily influenced in its design by Celestia, and for all his hatred of her he secret had to admit he was amazed by it. Stealing his resolve, Ulfric marched through the gates, many of the ponies milling about just beyond them moved out of his way, as if they could tell something off about this stranger that came into their mists. Mothers hurriedly pulled their foals out of his way, while the few guards that were present in the entrance yard, stiffened and ever so slowly began to follow Ulfric. Yet he too also watching the from the corners of his field of view yet he was having to also focus on the three guards ahead of him, their weapons drawn and ready.

“Dammit do not do this, it doesn’t concern you” Ulfric muttered in a growling low whisper, before having to stop as he had now become surrounded. Slowly they circled him unicorn, Pegasus even earth ponies many of whom had ancestors that Ulfric knew he himself had most likely trained, but that was a different time and the needs of Equestria different then.

“Halt by order of the court no pony is allowed to enter when they are armored and have intent to do harm to those with” a Pegasus mare a sergeant to be correct said as she walked forward, carrying a short sword in her hand.

“Stand aside lass, what business I have here does not concern you or you comrades, stand aside and you shall not be harmed” Ulfric responded, he did not want to spill the blood of those who were innocent especially these guards, it was not their fault for trying to stop him, they were doing simply as instructed.

“Yeah I don’t think so, I have orders to take in anyone who I believe is dangerous and unfortunately for you, your fitting that bill” she said while giving a quick nod to an Earth pony stallion. The stallion approached Ulfric pulling a set of handcuffs from a pouch on his belt. Ulfric lowered his head as if he was giving up, but he wasn’t he was already forming a plan, and just before the stallion could even grab one of his hands it was what he did next that through the situation into chaos.

“Then may the gods forgive me for what I am about to do” he said, before faster than anyone could see, he backhanded the stallion with his gauntlet. Hardened steel meet the stallions jaw breaking a few of his teeth and sending him spinning to the ground, acting quickly before the other guards had time to react he balled his same hand into a first as it crackled with energy, slamming it into the ground in a power burst of earth magic creating a large shock wave knocking the remain guards back and off their feet, knocking them out save for the Pegasus mare who had stopped him. Drawing his sword he began his march towards the castle doors but not before the Pegasus through sheer stubbornness caught his attention.

“Why argh you doing this? Ow” she sputtered through the pain that was four broken ribs.

“Vengeance” was all Ulfric said before slipping inside. However the commotion Ulfric had caused outside had not gone unnoticed, as now many more guards came running down the various hallways towards him, yet the veteran Knight remained calm in the same way his father had taught him. The first to try and fight him was a large burly earth pony stallion brandishing a bastard sword, the stallion struck first unleashing several consecutive attacks, yet none found their mark with the skills of a master swordsman Ulfric easily met and parried the blows before unleashing his own attacks which culminated finally in the stallion receiving a large gash to the back of his legs thus dropping him to the ground. Pony after pony, guard after guard threw themselves against and each one was beaten, unfortunately one had an ace up her sleeve. A unicorn mare whom Ulfric had physically picked up and thrown into a wall hard enough to break a few bones and knock the wind out of her, had by sheer luck be thrown right next to an alarm panel. Before Ulfric could even stop her knowing full aware of what she was doing, with a great amount of determination and fighting through her pain she reached up and pulled down hard on the lever to the panic alarm, the noisy klaxon blaring to life
Ice blue eyes met the mare lilac eyes and for the first time in many winters Ulfric felt a small amount of amazement and admiration for the young mare.

“Lass, what you just did, your the first to impress me, be proud of yourself, your family should be equally proud of you, may Faust watch over you” Ulfric said before now heading further down the corridor in a light run leaving behind a very shocked and confused mare. Rounding a corner shoulder checking the guards pony that was waiting for him Ulfric now moved with haste, he wasn’t about to let his prey escape, for Celestia there would be no salvation, no Elements of Harmony to banish him with.

“GET OUT OF MY WAY” Ulfric yelled and he send a frost storm spell towards the group of guards clustered behind a few shield bearing Pegasi the result cold and icy winds froze them in place albeit still very much alive. Jogging past them Ulfric, stole a glance at map display obviously meant for the tourists yet it showed him how close he was to his goal, it was through the atrium and two more corridors away.

“So close, soon Celestia judgement comes for you and your sins” he said his voice full of venom and hate. As he came to the atriums doors Ulfric viciously kicked them in, inside at least thirty to fourth guards had set up a few haphazard defense along with a few airborne Pegasi archers.

“HALT IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA SURRENDER NOW AND WE SHALL GO EASY ON YOU THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE” (1)a Blue manned and white unicorn stallion wearing purple armor shouted, while his horn flared and a purple magical shield formed around him and the other guards.

Ulfric gritted his teeth, now he would have to use every ounce of his skill and training to move past this obstacle, but before he did he uttered a simple yet quiet battle cry.

"for Luna" Ulfric said before taking his sword in both hands and charging the shielded ponies, losing a war cry, that was met with equal ferocity by the ponies, as some vaulted over their makeshift barricades to meet Ulfric. As they drew closer Ulfric dipped low and brought the blade of his sword up in a diagonal slice, severing in half a guards halberd, before spinning around and smashing the pommel of his sword into the face of another pony. Each opponent that was bested, another replaced them yet despite their best efforts the small defensive line the guards had formed was starting to buckle, even the Pegasi archers started to fault as each chance Ulfric was given he would hurl a barrage of either ice, fire or electric bolts at them. A few were hit others were stunned while a few escaped unscathed. But with each minute that passed and each that was beaten or rendered unconscious Ulfric grew more and more frustrated and angry to the point he let loose one massive wave of pure magical energy.

“GET. OUT.OF.MY.WAY” he roared as the pure energy smashed into the remaining guards and obliterating the unicorn captains shield Incapacitating the remaining guards, save for the captain who sluggishly regained his footing and drawing a one handed longsword. Ulfric had to quietly admit he was amazed that despite this stallion obviously having the wind out of him and possibly a few broken bones, that he still found the strength to stand and fight.

“Boy give up, your fellow guards have been bested and you yourself are in no condition to continue. Stand aside so that I may do what I came here to do” Ulfric said hoping the captain would understand, sadly this was not to be the case.

“Never.... I swore an oath.... to protect Equestria and it’s ponies from... any and all threats.... even from the likes of you” the captain said through the pain.

“Then defend yourself" Ulfric said before rushing the captain, unleashing a torrent of attacks in quick succession that surprisingly the stallion matched and managed to parry. Ulfric was surprised by this turn of events, seeing as how many of the guards hadn't been able to last long against him in a sustained fight yet here this stallion was doing exactly that. blow for blow they dueled, yet it was Ulfric who was gaining ground yet the stallion never once let up.Not wanting to further waste anymore time, Ulfric in one solid movement flipped his sword around in midair grabbing it by the blade before swinging it like a hammer and catching the stallion on the back of the head with the pommel, instantly knocking the captain out.(2)

“Stay down lad” Ulfric said before continuing on with his task.

Meanwhile in the throne room

Celestia waited nervously, she and the Elements could hear the fighting drawing close. First it was down left side corridor, the in the hallway. But now it was quite, no painfully quiet. They waited, and listened before there was suddenly a loud cracking bang that emanated from the doors, then another as visible crack started snaking up the wooden double doors. Then it was silent once again for. What felt like hours passing by were actually no more than a few seconds before the doors exploded inward sending splitters and large chunks of wood every. Acting on instinct both Twilight and Rarity casts a shield spell saving them from a death by wooden door. When it was over the shield disappeared with a shimmer of magic from the fashionista’s horn.

“ Goodness gracious is Everypony alright” Rarity asked as she helped a shocked and crying Fluttershy to her feet.

"Oooh ouchies this is not fun or exciting at all” Pinkie said as her mane deflated a little.

“Holy zap apples, what in tarnation was that someone stick some dynamite on the door er somethin” Applejack asked as she recovered her Stetson, however something caught her as as the dust settled from the remains of the ornate doorway. Whatever it was the light reflected off it so she easily knew it had to be metallic.

“What in the world” She said before a loud booming voice broke that caused her to literally jump a good foot into the air.

“Celestia, you stand accused, charged with usurpation of the duel throne of Equestria into a single ruling body, with the intent to remove your own flesh and blood from that which by order of your own mother you swore to uphold, YET NONE OF YOUR CRIMES IS EQUAL TO THE BANISHMENT AND NOW DEATH OF THE WOMAN I LOVE” Ulfric yelled as he entered, many an eye fell upon the blade of his sword, stained crimson by the blood of some unfortunate pony.

“Hey who the buck do you think you are coming in here like you own the place” Rainbow Dash shouted instantly in front of Ulfric and all in his face.

“Just because you were some big shot way back when doesn’t mean you can think that you own the place” she didn’t get to finish as she suddenly felt a gauntlet clad hand wrap around her throat and be hoisted off the ground.

“This does not concern you girl stay out of it” Ulfric said with a growl his ice blue eyes meeting Rainbow Dash’s magenta ones before he dropped her to the ground and trapped her in place with a quick casting of earth magic, this causing the tile flooring to encase the cyan Pegasus in a prison of stone save for her head so that she could still breath. Despite this Rainbow Dash being ever the stubborn mare tried to break free and fight.

“LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU BUCKER I'LL KICK YOUR ASS SO HARD YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SIT IN IF FOR A BUCKING YEAR” she shouted to no avail. Ulfric chose this as moment to make a point and as a warning.

“Join her” he said pointing to the restrained Rainbow Dash. “Or join the alabaster whore in death”

The remaining mares, minus Celestia each wore an expression of determination save for Fluttershy, as the poor girl was more frightened then she was ready to fight.

“Look there ya two timin varmint, if ya think we’re gonna let some bigger threaten our princess then yer in fear a good ol fashion butt whoopin” Applejack said cracking her knuckles to prove her point, yet Ulfric didn’t even show any response, not that he could given his face was totally concealed within his helmet.

“You can try, though I highly doubt you will succeed” Ulfric said as he readied himself to fight again.

“Bring it on” Applejack said before the remaining elements this time Fluttershy included charged Ulfric only for him to cast a powerful Shadow magic spell casting the room in darkness. From within the dark abyss Celestia could her but not see the sounds of a struggle , and as quickly as the shadow magic was cast, it disappeared. What she saw shocked her, all the Elements were trapped in a different form of elemental magic. But Ulfric, he was nowhere to be seen. Panicking Celestia pulsed her magic trying to desperately search out where he had hidden. Yet she had this sinking feeling, and ever so slowly reached for the small dagger she had always kept hidden in her dress, the same one she’d had made for her the day after sealing Ulfric in his tomb. With one quick fluid motion she yanked it from its sheath and spun around dagger raised, to face a waiting Ulfric who quickly swatted the small blade away before he viciously delivered a powerful punch to her abdomen followed by a swift kick to the chest that sent Celestia off her feet and onto her back twenty feet away. The solar princess landed with a dull thud sprawled out completely on the floor winded. Groggily she rolled over and tried to stand, yet Ulfric was upon her instantly shoving her back to the ground with a shove and kicking her hard in the side earning a cry of pain and the cracking sound of bone breaking. But he wasn’t finished, no fueled by his anger he stomped down hard onto the primary joint of her left wing shattering the delicate bones. Celestia cried out in pain once more, she cried through her tears as he mind raced, how could I have prevented this l, what could she done differently. She caught a glimpse of her tiara just a laying a few inches from her, just before Ulfric crushed it beneath his boot.

He rolled her over onto her back and pressed down on her chest with his boot so she struggled to breath. Taking his sword in both his hands he raised it above him as Celestia started up at its tip, pointed squarely into her chest, ready to plunge into her heart.

“Speak your last words Celestia as they will be the last words anyone will ever here you say” Ulfric said but, She could only hope the alarm Klaxon had woken Luna and preyed her sister could reach her in time. For both their sakes.

Reunited, Lunar melody

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Luna's Bedroom 15 minutes prior

Canterlot Castle was in complete chaos. The proud building had been attacked, its guards and defenses brushed aside like they were nothing but paper. And now the situation had gone from bad to worse, for now the very existence on Equestria hung in the balance swaying back and forth upon the edge of a knife. Yet there was one sole pony who could prevent this. But would she be able to get to the throne room in time?

Luna slept quietly, her chest slowly rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern, only ever being interrupted by a sudden twitch or when she would mumble something in her sleep. If one were to pear into her mind, they would see that she dreamt of nothing more then being held in the arms of the one she loved, enjoying the comfort of his embrace. Yet each dream she had like this, it always ended with her love disappearing, and unable to be found. Yet it was not this sadness that brought her crashing back to reality. The Midnight blue Alicorn woke to the sound of the castle panic alarm blasting away, for a moment she didn't react due to being half a sleep still. But once she had time to process what was going on she immediately jump into action. Jumping out of bed Luna quickly grabbed a night gown from her closet so that she would not be clad in only her bra and underwear, she burst out of her bedroom just as she slipped the garment on. Taking off down the right side hallway, she quickly started to search out the cause of the alarm, unsure of who or what she would find. The number of guards that were injured on incapacitated, was growing by the minute many were to concerned to care much that their Lunar regent ran past clad only in a nightgown and underwear, others were too busy to notice as their were receiving first aid from the castle medical staff.

Coming around the corner, Luna gasped and skidded to a halt. There before her were many of the castles royal guard detachment, all of them bruised, blood, and injured. Many had deep cuts and gash over their bodies, others were unconscious, though thankfully none dead to which Luna breathed a sigh of relief, but this did not stop her from continuing on. Picking up a discarded sword from the ground, She resumed her search now following the trail of damaged and bruised guards. Suddenly she stopped, but not because of what she saw, but because of what she felt. Magic, strange, powerful and very, very familiar.

"No, it can't be." She said in a stunned whisper, She slowly started forward again, the residual magical signature left behind growing the slightest bit strong with each step she took, while she pleaded in her mind to let it be who she hoped it was.

Coming before the ruined remains of the Atrium, She saw a littered field of carnage and yet, it was here that the magical signature was strongest. What she saw made her shed a few tears and place a hand over her mouth. Here lay close to forty guards and in various conditions. Many of them wore the alternating gold and purple colored armor of the Castles Elite guard. Moving on, wishing she could helped them but knew she had a potentially new villain to stop she was nearly to the other side of the ruined room when something caught her eye. It was a feather, but not just any old feather, it was one of her feathers. Reaching and picking it up she could easily tell it was old most likely centuries if not over a thousand years old. But who could have possibly ever acquired and of her feathers, there was only.... one pony whoever had her feathers.

“Oh, please mother let it be him, let it be my Werewolf.” Luna said in a pleading prayer like whisper. Quickly gathering her composure, she sped off towards the throne room, if it was him, if it were her Ulfric she had to find him before he did something disastrous something that would affect the whole nation. Forgetting about the sword she had taken she broke out into a full bore sprint racing down the corridors towards when she and her sister conducted court and led Equestria. There was a few times she had to cringe in pain from running over a few sharp bits of debris that cut into the soles of her feet.

“Please be my love, please be my love” she repeated before she heard something she had not heard since that night so long ago and not since her return. She heard Him more specifically she heard his voice. But it was what he said that shook her to her core.

“Speak you last words Celestia as they will be the last words anyone will ever here you say“ she heard her Love say, panicking she pushed her earth pony strength and speed to their limits. Sliding to a stop hers eyes widened and her jaw dropped at what she saw. The Elements, the first new friends she’d had since her banishment were each trapped in a cage of elemental magic, even the young dragon that dear Twilight, Spike was trapped in a cage of pure energy. And there, before all of them wearing a familiar suit of armor a cape as blue as her fur and a collar made up of her feathers, holding an equally familiar sword, was her beloved, yet he stood over Celestia, his sword ready to plunge into her chest and cleave her heart in two. Luna’s mind was in a state of shock, he was the human who had pledged his love for her, the man who treated her as a woman and a normal mare and not like a princess. Here he stood ready to commit an act of murder.

“Luna.” said a panicked voice to her telepathically .

“TIA!!” Luna cried out meeting her sisters pleading eyes, she could see the utter fear the older alicorn had.

“You must stop him, he won’t listen to us, it all up to you do something anything for my sake and yours.”

Luna’s mind raced, what could she do, what was there that she could do to stop Ulfric. Her train of thought ground to a halt, she knew what had to be done. Taking a deep breath and praying to her mother she started to sing a song only Ulfric knew.

“Come Little Children

I'll Take Thee Away, Into A Land

Of Enchantment

Come Little Children

The Time's Come To Play

Here In My Garden

Of Shadows

Follow Sweet Children

I'll Show Thee the Way

Through All The Pain And

The Sorrow

Weep Not Poor Children

For Life Is This Way

Murdering Beauty And

Passions”

She waited and watched for any hint of the song being recognized. Ulfric hesitated, before slowly lower his sword, letting it slip from his hand falling to the floor, where it bounced and clattered before laying still.

“There is only one woman, who knows that song, one woman who had a voice so beautiful.” he said before turning around slowly and removing his helmet. It too slipped out of his grasp falling to the floor,before he finally saw her, his Luna, his vampony, his queen of the night.

“Luna!” Ulfric said with shock, surprise and joy as his eyes started to slowly tear up. Luna unable to hold back her tears or joy rushed at Ulfric

“ULFRIC!” she yelled leaping straight at him with a powerful flap of her wings, tackling the human to the ground, wrapping her arms around his neck. Ulfric having been surprised by the sudden tackle hug from his love, wrapped one arm around Luna’s waist while using the other one to gently rub the back of her head as they both cried tears of overwhelming joy. Neither said a word as they cried on each other’s shoulder, for the two lovers of the night had now, at long last been reunited. They cried what felt to be an eternity, but was only a brief twenty five minutes, eventually Luna's tears stopped flowing and her sobbing became silent, then it was not to long that she was asleep nestled in the arms of the one she loved. Ulfric sat himself up so that he could better hold the one he cared so deeply for, yet at that moment a contingent of royal guard headed by the very same captain rushed into the throne room.

Though they were only a handful, the guards quickly formed around the seated human weapons pointed at him, whilst shouting all manner of warnings and demand to release the princess. A few even prepared to deliver killing blows, yet it was Celestia who stayed their hands.

"Captain Armor stand down, he....he is no threat anymore." She said having managed to get her feet beneath herself once more.

"B-but Princess you can't be serious have you seen what he's done to the castle guard, Half those that tried to stop him are still out cold and the others have filled the medical ward beyond capacity." Shining Armor retorted, trying to justify a reason to imprison Ulfric.

“Captain. stand. Down.” Celestia repeated this time with more authority, as she did not have the patience to make this into an argument.

“But-.“

“Shiny will you just listen and stop being so stubborn.” Twilight said butting into the argument. Seeing that he would not against both his ruler and his younger sister the battered Shining Armor motion for the guards to lower their weapons and to disperse. Seeing this Ulfric removed his left hand from the concealed Wolfsfang as he was ready to fight again should he need to. What he did next surprised them all even Shining Armor, gently laying the sleeping Luna on the floor, Ulfric stood before retrieving his Sword sheathing it as he unhooked his cape from his armor. Gently he lifted Luna into his arm and wrapped the soft fabric of the cape around her as if it were a blanket before hoisting her fully into his arms bridal style.

“Boy,” Ulfric said to Shining “take me to Luna’s quarters,now.”

Shining armor, was torn on what to do. On one hand he wanted to refuse this human and throw him into the darkest cell in the castle dungeons, while on the other he wanted to avoid further violence yet he couldn’t bring himself to a solution. Looking to Celestia, all he received was a glare that said do what he says. Sighing in defeat Shining finally responded.

"Very well, follow me" Shining said with a displeased sigh, turning on his heels and marching out of the throne room, with Ulfric carrying he sleeping love close behind him. leading him down a different path than the one he came by.

Luna’s bedroom

Stepping into the ornate room that Luna called her own, Ulfric was taken back a bit, by how similar the room looked to the one he and Luna shared at the Castle of the two sisters those many winters ago. Moving to the bed Ulfric gently laid Luna on it before pulling the sheets and blankets over her, yet before he could do anything else, the sleeping princess started to whimper in her sleep and her hands started to search on their own, desperately trying to find her human. Ulfric, giving into the longing that dwelled within his heart, and seeing his love wanting him to be close to her, began to remove his armor, first his gauntlet, followed by his breastplate and shoulder armor, leaving only his lower torso covered, so as to not make the guards who remained into thinking he would do something vile to their Luna regent. the last thing Ulfric removed was his sword and war axe, both were placed within arms reach of against the night stand that sat next to the bed.

"Leave us." Ulfric sat sitting down on the bed.

"If you think we're going to leave you alone with Princess Luna think again, buster." An earth Pony stallion replied, getting ready to defend Luna.

"That wasn't a request, it was an order." Ulfric said with a snarl before a quick cast of wind magic, and the three ponies who were present, were thrown out of the room and the door sealed shut with a few quickly cast locking spells. Not that he was finally alone with his Luna Ulfric lay down next to her, letting Luna's hand finally find what it was they were seeking. The instant her fingertips touched her love, Ulfric was quickly pulled into Luna, who wrapped her arms around his middle, nuzzling his toned abs and chest breathing a happy sigh. Eventually for the first time in days, Ulfric felt the pull of sleep, and he welcomed it letting his eyes grow heavy as he held his mare before finally slipping into slumber. At long last human and pony, Werewolf and Vampire were finally reunited.

Yet many things still remain unanswered, and their consequences will change the future of Equestria. For better or for Worse.

The Truth and Forgivness

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Lunas bedroom twenty four hours after being reunited

Within the confines of Luna’s bedroom two individuals peacefully slept together each, of them holding the other in their arms. Both of them barely moved as they slumbered, only doing so to better their grip on each other. Luna slept with a peaceful smile, having both her arms and a leg wrapped around Ulfric who simply held the mare he loved in his arms. Slowly Ulfric stirred, his eyes lazily opening taking in the sight of Luna cuddled up to his side, seeing brought the first smile to his face in a long time. With one hand he gingerly ran it through Luna’s azure mane. Ulfric had to admit, he liked it when her mane was like just as much as head liked her manes ethereal state. Eventually Luna began to wake, first muttering something inaudible, her eyes fluttered open, and there she saw the one she loved dearly his arm around her and running his hand through her mane.

“Ulfric?” She asked timidly “Is...is it really you”

“It is my love” Ulfric said now wrapping both around Luna and hugging her to his chest. “I have waited so many winters to hold you, to gaze upon.”

“Can..can I do something I have waited just as long to do to you?” Luna asked quietly and hesitantly.

“My sweet lady of the Night you don’t need to ask if you want to do what ever it is you wish to do, then please my love do it” Ulfric said reassuringly, hearing his words, Luna didn’t have to ask twice, as she pulled herself up onto Ulfric so that she was laying on his chest. Closing her eyes the lunar alicorn softly pressed her lips against Ulfrics in a long awaited kiss. Both lovers moaned quietly as they kissed, before the need for air drove them apart. With a happy sigh Luna rested her head on Ulfrics chest listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart, knowing it was filled with unquestionable love for her, yet something clawed at the back of her mind, what was bothering her, was the desire to know why the human she loved, had been gone for so long, and why now was he returning. Better yet why did he try to murder Celestia, and why did he harbor such anger and resentment towards her.

“Um, Ulfric I must ask you something, why...why did you well try to kill Tia?”Luna asked, with concern and worry. Ulfric at the mere mention of Celestia gave a short wolffish growl, this made it somewhat clear that something had happened between Ulfric and Celestia in the past, something that he still carried bitter scorn about.

“That is a story that will require both of us to tell as there are always two sides to everything, then you will know why I despise your bitch of a sisters existence” Ulfric said m, his voice dripping with hate and venom.

“Oh, okay but for now can we just.... lay here and hold each other, I’ve been so long with out your touch your scent or your voice and I don’t want to be apart from you ever again, my big puppy” Luna said with a small giggle, to which Ulfric gave a hearty laugh at being called the old nickname Luna had given when she had learned that he was a Werewolf.

“Anything for you my little moon bat” Ulfric said, while still laughing a bit, and nuzzling Luna’s cheek. Luna smile at the remark before snuggling up more to Ulfric and sighing happily.

Two hours later

After two hours of holding each and enjoying the presence of the other Ulfric decided it was finally the right time for Luna to learn of why he was gone for so many winters and why he held so much anger and hate for Celestia. Instead of simply telling Luna right then and there he had elected to tell the story of his disappearance with Celestia present in the same room, at the same table, with the Elements present, and the unicorn guard captain who had colored him impressed. Upon hearing this Luna was shocked and somewhat concerned that Ulfric would even want to sit in the same room with somepony he hated so much, Ulfrics response was a bit comical, he simply stated that despite the fact he hated Celestia with every fiber of his soul and body, that there was no reason they could not discuss this in a civilized manner. After each of the two lovers took a moment to themselves to look presentable, both stood before the magically locked door as Ulfric removes the spells he had casted to make sure they were not disturbed.

“Ulfric, why was the door magically sealed?” Luna asked curiously having adorned herself in her regalia and a sparkling black sleeveless dress, that hugged her body quite nicely.

“I did not wish for us to be disturbed while I was with you my love” Ulfric replied, shifting in his armor somewhat nervously.

“Oh Ulfric even after a thousand years of being apart you still treat me like a normal mare” Luna said with a giggle giving Ulfric a quick kiss on the cheek, this earned a hearty chuckle from the human. Offering his hand, Luna did not have to even think about answering, instead she took hold of it entwining her fingers with Ulfrics. With confidence in each other, Luna opened the door. And what to their bewilderment did they see, but a contingent of both Solar and Lunar guards, all of whom who looked prepared to go to war. Yet upon seeing that Luna was unharmed their stance and body language visibly relaxed but, waryily they still held their weapons at the ready.

“Princess Luna, thank the moon your safe... we, we thought the worst had happened to you while your were trapped in your own room” a Thestral mare said as she stepped forward removing her helmet. “We thought well most of us thought that he, was doing unspeakable things to you”

“Oh lieutenant Star Blossom, your concerns and fears are well appreciated, Ulfric is no threat to me, nor has he ever been” Luna said giving Ulfrics hand a gentle squeeze.

“B-but did you not see what he did in his attack on the castle and the casualties he left, he should be locked in chains and placed in the darkest cell in the castle dungeons” Star Blossom retorted, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.

“Yes, I bore witness to it, but you still have nothing to fear, for the stallion I Love would never bring harm to me, and I know this from the bottom of my heart” Luna said with a happy smile that earned a chuckle from Ulfric.

“Please, lieutenant walk with us and I shall explain why my love is not a threat to me or Equestria” Luna said, while Star Blossom and the other guards followed close behind. As pony and human walked hand in hand, Luna took this time to explain Ulfrics origins to the guards, going into great detail his arrival to their world, His first encounter with pony kind, and the great many deeds he committed all in service to Luna and Celestia’smother Queen Faust. Many of the guards were in a state of bewilderment, to have someone who was considered a legend and perhaps one of the most famed knights of ancient Equestria, yet one question lingered within their minds as it did with Luna’s, why did he leave where did he go and most importantly why did he try to kill Celestia.

However their thought process was interrupted as they had come before the doors of the castle dining room, The tension ran thick through as the guards were nervous as to how Ulfric would take to sitting at the same table with the mare he so heavily despised. Slowly the doors opened, inside at a singular table sat, Celestia, the Elements, Spike and the very same unicorn guard captain who gave he a good fight and a....pink Alicorn? Ulfric was surprised by this, while he had known of princess Cadence thanks to the magic mirror from Faust he never thought he would actually meet the supposed Princess of Love, though the look in her eyes gave away the hint of fear she was trying to so desperately hide.

Entering the large room, both Luna and Ulfric took up seats on the side opposite of Celestia and the others, with Ulfric ever a bit of a gentlemen seating his love before he himself took his seat, and placing his helmet on the lavish table before him.

“Luna” Celestia said breaking the tense silence. “Thank you for joining us and thank you for bringing Ulfric with you”

“No thank you Tia, cause now I get to learn what has driven a wedge between the two ponies I care most about” Luna said with a chipper smile.

“Yes, about that, before we dive into details I thought we could have a light meal to better help set the mood and maybe have Shining Armor and Cadence here get to better know Ulfric” Celestia said with a meek tone of voice, which Luna was quick to pick up on but did not comment on it. Instead Luna simply stole a glance at the menu that sat before her, ordering a simple salad, while Ulfric simply stared at his with a look of disproval.

“Something wrong my love?” Luna asked with concern.

“Where’s the meat?” Was all Ulfric said in reply earning many a gasp from those at the table save for one solar Alicorn.

"Um not ta be rude but did ah hear correctly when ye asked where the meat wer?" Applejack asked, hoping that she like the rest of here friends had heard correctly that the human before them was in fact asking for meat.

"You have heard correct, dame Applejack my Ufric did indeed ask where the meat was, but do not be alarmed many of the races of his world eat meat as it is a necessary part of their diet, since they are what we call omnivorous, which if I remember correctly Tia, this is where they eat both plants and meat yes?" Luna said, looking to her sister who nodded in confirmation, before the solar Alicorn motioned for some meat to brought out for Ulfric. With their food order many a call for various beverages were called out, yes for Celestia lemonades and sodas for Rarity, Twilight and Spike, Fluttershy and Pinkie settled on juice, and predicably for Applejack and Rainbow it was cider. Luna simply ordered what was referred to as the usual. Ulfric, was rather simple in his choice, asking for a tankard of the strongest ale or mead the castle kitchen staff had available. Within a short timespan of twenty minutes, the food was delivered most simply dug in eating in an awkward silence, eventually it was none other the Shining Armor who broke the silence.

“Okay can we address the elephant in the room that is the freaking ape monkey thing that single handedly cut through the royal guard like it was nothing and is now eating with us” He said making air quotes as he said it to make his point.

“I am a human not an ape, boy” Ulfric said taking a sip from his tankard. “Perhaps you should also learn to respect someone whose efforts helped to form this kingdom into what it is now, in a time before any of you were born”

“Ulfric my love, let me handle this I know your still on a short fuse” Luna said reaching over to gently squeeze his hand, which is turn made Ulfric relax a small bit. “Sister I believe you said this was to explain the bitter feelings between you and Ulfric and seeing as how there is already a great deal of tension in the air why don’t you begin this story”

Celestia sighed dipping her head for a moment before looking at Luna with a sad and worried expression, she knew that now, there was no turning back what happened within the next timespan could determine the future of their relationship as siblings and the future of Equestria.

"Alright Luna but, you have to promise me that you'll keep and open mind and try to understand what I am about to divulge to you, promise?" Celestia said looking Luna straight in eye.

"I promise Tia" Luna said with a small smile, siting back in her chair. "please, begin"

“Very well Luna, it began mere moments after you were sealed in the moon” Celestia said as she began to weave her story, explains how Ulfric had rushed into the old throne room just as Luna/Nightmare Moon was imprisoned within the moon. She told how he feel to he knees and howled in grief, before his grief turned to rage and hate. Celestia pulled back her dress to show Luna were WolfsFang had bitten into her fur and flesh, even today she could still the cold of its bite.

“I still remember the things Ulfric said to me as we fought, selfish white bitch love hungry whore, even things I still cannot find the stomach to repeat” Celestia said a tear sliding down her cheek. “I was by pure luck that the moment Ulfric was about to deliver a killing blow a piece of stone work fell from the damaged ceiling and struck him unconscious”

“This is where I take over” Ulfric said as he began to recount how he was imprisoned and then later entombed in the northern mountains, where he focused all of his anger, his hate and his list for revenge for a thousand years a plan that would have come full circle if not for the intervention of Luna, who by the miracle of a simple song had stayed Ulfrics blade.

“And now here we are and now you know why I was not there when you returned my Luna” Ulfric said as he held Luna’s hand in his, the blue Alicorn was silent her head lowered as she appeared to be trying to process everything she had just learned. Everyone was quiet and still, even Twilight the ever inquisitive mare who hand been hurriedly scribbling down on a notepad had stopped, to the point her quill had slipped from her hand and now rested on the dinning table. It was then Luna finally spoke

“Are... you BUCKING SERIOUS, YOU CHOSE TO IMRPISON ULFRIC JUST AS YOU DID ME” Luna yelled in the Royal Canterlot voice. "ALL BECUASE YOU SIMPLY WANTED TO HAVE ALL THE LOVE AND AFFECTION OF OUR SUBJECTS AND WHEN IT CAME FULL CIRCLE YOU'D RESORT TO THE SAME BULLSHIT YOU USED ON YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD"

Celestia recoiled at the sudden terrifying outburst of Luna, in fact she was shacking in her chair, yet Luna her eyes now glowed a bright white while she held an expression of pure hate on her face. With one quick movement Luna was out of her chair and in front of Celestia.

"STAND. UP" Luna said

"W-what?" Celestia stuttered out now truly afraid

"STAND. UP" Luna restated this time her horn flared and the chair Celestia was seated ceased to exist and the solar princess fell on to her butt with a small eep. Deciding that it was best to do as Luna said Celestia shakily stood to her feed, ready to face her sisters judgement.

"L-una please your must und"

SMACK, the room fell silent and the elements gasped in shock and disbelief Luna, the ruler of the night had just slapped her sister across her muzzle in anger.

"y-you just hit me" Celestia said in disbelief
Smack another slap to the face.

"THAT IS FOR LYING TO ME AND FOR IMPRISONING MY ULFRIC" Luna shouted, yet she seemed to calm quickly and the light fading from her eyes as they returned to her normal coloring, before she surprisingly to Celestia in a tight hug. "and that is for telling me the truth Tia, just please be more honest nest kay"

Celestia stifled a giggle as she rubbed her sore cheek returning the hug, and giving her sister a nod of understanding and agreement. How quickly anger and resentment can turn to love and forgiveness, Shaking his head is disbelief Ulfric muttered something in High Elvish, not that anyone knew what he was saying. However it was at this moment that Cadence ever the princess of love chose to drop the question on a subject she was most eager to learn of.

"So auntie Luna, how did you and Ulfric meet" The pink bubblegum princess asked, with an innocent smile. Luna giggled before replying.

"Oh so the love princess wants a story huh? well I suppose I can sate your appetite for romance" Luna said, oh was Cadence ever in for the literal story of the century.

How the Moon met a Wolf: Part 1

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Canterlot Castle Dining Room

Princess Cadence, Alicorn and princess of love sat eagerly in her seat bouncing in it like a filly who just got told they could have as much ice cream as they wanted, only this ice cream was a story of how Auntie Luna and this human fell in love.

“So Auntie, wanna tell us a story of how you came to be marefriend and coltfriend” Cadance asked with a smirk and a giggle, oh how she was prepared to soak up every tiny detail, that Luna revealed to them, even Twilight had summoned a fresh note book and the inkwell so she also could recorded this story. Luna couldn’t help but giggle a little at her niece.

“Yes dear Cadence, now before I begin this story I must ask if any of you are weak of heart?” Luna asked, receiving many no’s from those in attendance, surprisingly even from Fluttershy who was known amongst her friends as the pony most easily frightened amongst them.

"Then I shall begin, Tia you remember how we and Ulfric met yes?" Luna said with a soft smile.

"How could I ever forget? Our first meeting with could have been under...more ideal circumstances" Celestia with a soft laugh

“Indeed sister, it all began over a thousand years ago exactly one month after I had turn twenty" Luna said beginning her tale.

Equestrian 1003 years prior at the great Redwood Forest

In an ancient forest south of what would become the future capital of Equestria, two sisters and a small force of guards fought for their lives, a Caribou raiding party has been looting and pillaging the nearby villages for days. What information the Equestrian spies had brought back had been false, what was believed to be a raiding party of only a few dozen Caribou, was in fact a force of five hundred raiders, each raider was oddly enough better trained and equipped then the guards of the fledgling Equestrian military, putting the force of 225 guards and the two Alicorn princesses at a severe disadvantage. This disadvantage had already cost them thirty guards within the first opening moments of the skirmish.

"Sister we must retreat, and seek aid or we will be defeated or worse." Luna said dodging the blade of a caribou's axe before thrusting her sword into his gullet, disemboweling him.

"Agreed Luna,, we must fall back to Fort Shatterhoof with haste." Celestia said skewering a Caribou on her halberd, before shooting an orb of magic skyward that exploded a few seconds later signaling the retreat. Those guards that were still alive or well enough that they could run turned and began a fighting retreat towards Fort Shatterhoof.

Meanwhile in another part of the forest not far from the embattled Luna and Celestia, a fissure of energy slowly crackled into existence before exploding into a swirling vortex, and something or rather someone was thrown from it. This being had an appearance similar to that of a pony yet at the same time his appearance was different then that of a pony’s mainly in his facial area.

“Never again will I wander through a forest that no one enters.” he said as he rose to his feet brushing the dirt off of his armor and cape. It was at this moment that whilst he cleaned the dust off himself his hearing enhanced by his Werewolf blood heard something, a sound no a great many sounds that was very familiar to him, the sound of battle, and it was the sound of a desperate battle. Taking off in a sprint towards the sounds of battle he didn’t know who or what it was that was fighting but all he knew is one of the two sides that was locked in combat was in need of assistance, and he would lend his sword and axe to them. Drawing closer to the battle, he could start to feel the presence of war mages, yet something was off about them. He could not tell what kind of magic it was, it was neither human nor High Elvish magic, not even wood or dark elf magic, it was foreign to him perhaps he’d ended up on some unexplored part of Unilarith. Many thoughts raced through his mind as he came to break in the trees catching his first glance of those engaged in combat, what he saw surprised him greatly.

Luna wore a vicious snarl, growling quietly as she held her side trying to stop the bleeding from the wound a lucky caribou hand managed to inflict upon her, even as her natural healing ability slowly stitched the wound closed. But now, she, Celestia and their remaining guards where surrounded, even with the power she and Celestia carried, superior numbers could still overwhelm them, yet they had been locked in combat for nearly five hours straight and even she was beginning to tire. It was then she noticed something strange, the Caribou were surrounding them but making no effort to completely annihilate them.

"What are they planning." Luna muttered painfully standing back to feet. The caribou, who had been shouting slurs and threats not even two minutes ago, now stood silent, before some of them parted allowing a single caribou clad in ornate armor to make his presence known.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here, looks like to me boys we’ve caught Queens Faust’s daughters, looks like we get to have a bit of fun with them before their sold to the highest bidder.” He said with a disturbing smirk.

“Bind them, kill the stallions, bring the mares, but bring the princesses to me unspoiled” he with a smile filled with ill intent. Yet before the first Caribou could even walk half a pace forward a line of sharpened ice spikes struck the ground in front of them, making them visibly jump in shock.

“What the? Who dares.” the Commanding Caribou said, looking for the source of the spikes.

“I dare.” came the reply from a voice to his left, out of the trees came what he could had described as being another pony if it were not for the fact that his armor was too well made to have been forged by a pony blacksmith and the faceplate of his helmet was flattened.

“And who the buck are you?” The commanding Caribou asked angrily.

“Just someone who sees a band of slavers about practice their vile trade on a group of innocents.” the stranger said taking a stance between the ponies and the Caribou.

"Oh, yeah and who are you acting all noble like thinking you can stand between us and a quick score." A Caribou soldier shouted.

For a moment, the stranger turned his gaze to the ponies, then back to the Caribou, before finally answering the question that had been asked of him.

"Ulfric Stormwolf, knight to King Orcrist, soldier and warrior to the kingdom of Ailirwen" Ulfric said drawing Lionsbane and WolfsFang. “And I hate slavers.”

The Caribou commander couldn’t stifle his laughter, here was some fool from a kingdom that not even he had heard of thinking he could stand up to his force of five battle hardened soldiers.

“Oh so you think you you can take us all on all by your lonesome HAHAHA, we’ll certainly let you try. “the Commander said, and with a quick wave of his hand, Ulfric now found himself surrounded, yet beneath his helm it was he who was smirking as these creatures had made one mistake which was their overconfidence and he planned to exploit it. As the first Caribou rushed him, Ulfric quickly partied a sword thrust while burying his axe into the skull of an unfortunate Caribou that had gotten to close to him, eventually, it had fallen into complete Chaos for both the Caribou and Ulfric, as many faced against a single warrior, with neither side showing that they would yield. Steel clashed against steel, flesh and sinew were torn and shredded. Ulfric dodged the blade of a battle axe by mere millimeters before cleaving the arm of the axes owner clean off before driving WolfsFang into the caribou’s gullet, before for spinning around and tossing the Stalhrim axe into the chest of another Caribou.

“COME ON IS THAT THE BEST YOU PATHETIC WELPS CAN DO!!” Ulfric shouted, as his free hand became wreathed in flame unleashing a blast of holy fire against three maul wielding Caribou burning them alive, before quickly freeing another’s Caribous head from his neck spraying blood everywhere. Yet as he battled against odds that were heavily against him, Ulfric had unknowingly gained an audience, this audience were Luna, Celestia and the surviving guards. All of them watched in amazement as this stranger, this warrior fought on his own to in short save them. Yet one pony was not about to let this new ally the opportunity to get himself killed by fighting against a literal army, not waiting for her sister to act, Luna broke out into a full sprint, that culminated into a flash of her magic and an audible pop and she appeared behind Ulfric her sword raised as it met with a furious metallic clang as she stopped the strike of an axe aimed at Ulfric's back.

"We do not know where you have come from, but we sincerely appreciate the assistance noble Knight." Luna said parrying multiple sword swings.

"Less talking more fighting lass." Ulfric said in reply, ducking under the swing of a Warhammer before driving the point of LionsBane up through the bottom of a Caribou's jaw and into the poor sops brain cavity. By now Celestia and even the remaining guards had found their spines and courage and had charged the mass of caribou surrounding the human and Lunar princess, where once the caribou had held confidence in numbers they now began to falter. with in a time span of only an hour the caribou were either dead or in retreat, using a piece of cloth torn from a dead caribou's uniform Ulfric clean the blood from his sword and axe, before sheathing both of them.

"Thank you sir knight, my sister and I feared that we would have surely forced into slavery by the Caribou" Celestia said approaching Ulfric with a small limp.

"I only did what duty, and more moral obligations demanded of me which I am certain you can understand" Ulfric said before he felt something smack him on the back of the legs.

"Show some respect to the princesses" A guard stallion said withdrawing his spear

"Star shine, that is quite enough, we are not his princesses” Luna said with slight irritation. “Sir Knight if it is not to much to ask, would you remove your helmet”

Ever so slowly Ulfric removes the black and gold helm from his head, a collective gasp was heard from the ponies that stood around him, never had they seen such someone that look so strange yet so similar to them before.

“So different, sister I suggest we take sir Ulfric StormWolf was it to mother and Starswirl perhaps they can help us to determine where he comes from.” Luna said whilst trying to hide the small blush she had

“Agreed Luna, ponies we make for EverFree castle, sir Knight would you accompany us” Celestia said as the ponies began the long trek back to the EverFree castle.

“And that is how we met my Ulfric not the best first meeting but a meeting that became a blessing to Equestria” Luna said with a small blush holding Ulfric’s hand in hers.

“That was AWESOME” Rainbow Dash shouted jumping out of her seat and into the air “ he was all clash clang boom soooo cool”

“oh I dear say those Caribou certainly sounded like low life scoundrels I would certainly say Equestria was indeed blessed to have Sir Ulfric come to our aid” Rarity said sipping her tea, while Fluttershy was practically hiding under the table.

“So....much.....violence” she squeaked

“So Auntie where’s the juicy part when did you two admit your love for each other” Cadance asked all starry eyed still full of excitement.

“Yeah and when did you two love ponies have your first buck” Pinkie said with a smile and a giggle.

“PINKIE!!!” The rest of the main six shouted

“What, you know your all thinking it” she said with a smile

“That is a... rather personal question to ask miss Pie to which you have no right to ask” Ulfric said taking a drink from his mead, Luna had to take a moment to collect herself as the question had caught her completely by surprise, though her face betrayed her as she had gone very red in the face.

"Dear Cadence to answer your question, we both declared our love for each five months after Ulfric's arrival upon Equis, he gave me the most wondrous gift" Luna said all starry eyed even shedding a tear of joy.

"Oooooh what was it?" Cadence asking leaning forward.

"A suit of armor, a proper suit of armor fitted to Luna's exacted proportions, and was as light as a feather but as strong as dragon scale and as dark as night" Ulfric said with a smile thinking back to the time and effort he had spent forging this gift.

“It is a tradition of my homeland to present the one you love with a gift upon the declaration of love”

“Aaawww” the girls said collectively, Celestia, Luna and Cadence giggled at their display while Shining Armor just smile and rolled his eyes.

"Though one thing did make me curious about Ulfric" Luna said "He would always disappear when ever I made the moon a full moon, so one day I followed him, what I found shocked and scared me a little, yet it was Ulfric who was even more scared, more so for my safety"

"Oh? whys that Auntie" Cadence asked suddenly very interested

"I am a Lycan, or as it is more commonly known as a Werewolf" Ulfric said as his eyes for the briefest moment went yellow before returning back to their icy blue. The Mane six, Spike and the others in attendance, minus Celestia simple just stared at Ulfric for a few mere moments.

"WHAT?!"

How the Moon met a Wolf: Part 2

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Canterlot Castle Dining Room

Twilight Sparkle, student and prodigy to Celestia was let in quite the mental situation. Here was a human claiming to be something of mythology and of the supernatural, something that modern science had proven to not exist and yet Ulfric was claiming with great confidence that he was in fact a Werewolf. The mulberry mares mind was a mess of thoughts and counter arguments, to the point she was close to metaphorically short circuiting.

“Um not to be rude Mr. StormWolf, but you do realize that Werewolves are not real right?” Twilight said nervously trying to not upset the human that sat before her.

“Oh Miss Sparkle, I do give you credit for your insistence, Werewolf’s do exist upon Equis as do they my world as do many other creatures of the supernatural.” Ulfric said with a small chuckle, the smile on his face evidence that what he spoke was true.

“But, but how? scientists and even prominent unicorns have proven this to be false.” Twilight retorted firmly trying to make Ulfric see that he was wrong, yet he wouldn’t, he was set in his views.

“Twilight dear, please it is okay to, have somepony not agree with, though I believe I can shed some light on your argument. Werewolf’s, vamponies and Many creatures of legend do in fact exist.” Celestia interjected sipping her tea.

“The only reason why their stated as being non existent is of my own doing mainly to protect them and to protect Equestria.”

The mane six sat their mouths agape and at a loss for words, here was Celestia saying as if it weren’t a big deal, that Werewolf’s and other creatures of fantasy were real and she was acting as if it were an everyday occurrence.

“Miss Sparkle perhaps a demonstration will present the proof that you require,” Ulfric said “I know you are one of intellectual pursuit, and I can and shall assist you in this moment of confusion.”

“I agree my love a demonstration would be most fitting to shed light of this conflicted topic, and I believe I have a perfect candidate for this,” Luna said "Star Blossom please fetch Dusty Rose, tell.. tell her The Wolf King has returned"

The thestral mare salute quickly saluted quickly, before exiting through the door, the fading footsteps of her running to carry out her miniature mission. It was not more then ten minutes later that the doors to the dining room were thrown open with enough for one would have that they would be torn from their hinges as a dark red furred mare wearing a maids uniform came bursting in sliding to a halt before Princess Luna, panting heavily as she caught her breath.

“Princess *gasp* Luna is it true the Wolf King is back?” Dusty Rose asked as she straightened out her uniform trying to make herself look somewhat decent and presentable before not one but three princesses.

“It is indeed true Miss Rose I have returned, more importantly I have returned to my Luna.” Ulfric said in calm tone, upon hearing his voice Dusty peaked past Luna seeing the man she had only heard stories. She knew not his appearance but only what had been shown to her in pictures passed down by her family but she did not need them to know that this was the Wolf King, the knight and human whose effort helped Equestria in its early beginnings.

“M-m-my King!!!” Dusty said instantly dropping to one knee and bowing to Ulfric before standing. “H-how can I serve you.”

Ulfric how ever was silent, his mind deep within thought, yet at the same time he would inhale ever so slightly, and it was by this that he could smell the werewolf blood the flowed through Dusty's veins, he concluded she would be able to make a prime demonstration to confirming the existence of werewolves.

“Miss Rose if you could please demonstrate the existence of Werewolf for Miss Sparkle here, take on your Wolf form just do not scare the lass” Ulfric said straight to the point. Dusty Rose nodded enthusiastically, bouncing on the soles of her feet and shoes. Moving back so she had enough space to work the transformation. She went still her head hung low before she snapped up her eyes yellow and her muzzle contorted into a vicious snarl, soon the snapping and reshaping of bones could be heard as her body started to grow in size and mass and the ripping of fabric as her uniform was torn to shreds. Soon her entire body had changed, her legs were now elongated and more akin to that of a dog’s hind legs, her tail now a long bushy mass of fur, her arms were now long and strewn with muscles, her hands ended in claws sharp enough to rip and tear flesh and bone, with one final growl the transformation wascomplete, throwing back her head she howled.

“Aaaroooooouuuu”

Reactions varied from pony to pony, Shining Armor acted on his instincts and training jumping from his chair, throwing himself between Cadence and the now Werewolf Dusty drawing his sword ready to fight, Twilight simply stared, her brain in a continuous loop unable act whilst Applejack and Rainbow Dash both each grabbed one of the Golden candlesticks that adorned the table brandishing them as clubs. Rarity shook fear and yet Fluttershy was the only who actually was not afraid, in fact she was the only one who seemed to be amazed and excited about this, which for her was a bit strange.

“Awww look at her, she’s so fluffy.” Fluttershy cooed, much to the surprise of her friends.

“WHAT!!!” The remainder of the Mane 6 and Spike shouted in unison, shocked and concerned the Fluttershy thought this maid who had now become a hulking She Werewolf was fluffy.

“Flutters ya can’t be serious ah mean just look at her how do we know she ain’t gonna try and eat us, and y’all callin her fluffy.” Applejack said whilst keeping her attention focused on Dusty Rose.

"But just look at her I mean yeah she does look a little scary but, look at how calm and docile she is." Fluttershy said as she made her way over to Dusty, and proceeded to scratch behind one of the Werewolf's ears, who in turn leaned into Fluttershy's hand.

"Not only that she's practically naked, does she not have any modesty." Rarity scoffed, only for Dusty Rose to realize that Rarity was in fact correct and tried to cover herself as best she could with the scrap of her uniform

"Miss Applejack, Miss Dash, and Miss Rarity, Dusty Rose will not under any circumstances, attack not harm you, even if I or Luna were not present," Ulfric said with a slight smirk “there is a reason history remembers me as The Wolf King.“

The gathered mares and drake look at each other with confusion, true they knew that Ulfric was known as The Wolf King but they knew not why he was known as this or how he had achieved this title.

“It was long ago exactly one full year after my arrival upon Equis while I strive to improve the state of Equestrias armies another war was being fought with the shadows of the night.” Ulfric said starting his story, with Luna also metaphorically putting on her story telling hat to help explain events that Ulfric did not take part in.

“This war was fought by two armies or factions one which sought to protect those who knew not of their existence and the other to simply feed and increase their numbers.” Ulfric said, taking a sip from his freshly filled tankard of mead. “The ones who sought to protect were the lycans commonly known as Werewolf’s and those who sought on to feed and multiply were the Bloodthirsters or Vampires”

“Many times their battles destroyed or severely damaged villages and towns with many ponies not knowing what was truly happening,” Luna said “even once the Vamponies tried to raid our old castle which for them ended very badly.”

“Okay so I sort of understand this, but where do you and Ulfric come into this princess?” Twilight said as she wrote down a few notes.

“Ah, yes that is a good question,it was a bit of a strenuous moment for Equestria, I had heard rumors and stories about a small Vampony coven that was constantly attacking a township not far from the EverFree castle,” Ulfric said as his story took more form. “Luna was doing an investigation on her own despite my protests she said she would be fine.”

1002 years ago Whitetail Woods

Luna slowly made her way through the forest, clad in the obsidian black plate armor that Ulfric had forged and gifted to her as a sign that he loved her, even now she thought of how much it meant to her but she, quickly pushed theses thoughts aside. She was here because rumors and gossip from a nearby village spoke of a strange pony that lurked within the forest, with a brief flare of her horn a small ball of light blinked into existence, illuminating the darkness even though Luna was able to see better then most ponies at night something felt off, as if she was being watched. She moved slowly with caution and a heightened sense of alertness, watching for movement and listening for even the faintest sound, or any kind of clue about this mysterious pony. That was until the rustling of branches and leaves gave her a good scare as she spun around to face the would be attacker, her sword drawn and in a protective stance, only for the source of the disturbance to be a small family of chipmunks hurrying home where they would be safe. Luna breathed a sigh of relief but, giggled a little due to how funny it was that she would become scared by chipmunks, with that now out of the way the Lunar princesses pressed moving deeper into the Whitetail Woods. Yet unbeknownst to her, something or rather somepony was watching her from the branch of a tree all that could be seen of this individual was a smile filled with teeth as white as snow, and two long fangs.

“Time to feed and for me to have some fun,” A feminine voice said “And once she is one of us the night shall be eternal and we shall be unchallenged.”

This strange mare gracefully made her way from tree to tree quietly stalking Luna waiting for the most opportune time to show herself, for this mare had already planned to fool Luna into thinking she could help her only to turn the Alicorn into a true being of the night and the all of Equestria would bow to the Blood lord. The mare easily kept pace with Luna, making not a single sound no leaves or branches shook or rustled, from her movements. When she was ahead of the Luna monarch she dropped from the tree with the grace of a bird landing on a fence post and waited behind a tree waiting for what she hoped would be her meal to slip right into the clever trap she had made. Luna mean while unaware of the danger that was so close walked past a large tree only to come muzzle to muzzle with a black mare, who was oddly clad in a simple fur loin cloth and fur top sitting on a rock.

"Um, hello?" Luna said to this mare, why was she here and who was she, more questions that needed answering, perhaps this mare could answer them.

"Hello Princess of the night." The mare said bowing and flashing a slightly disturbing smile that made Luna feel uneasy, something about this mare felt a bit off, why did she feel this unease around a single pony, she knew she should feel happy around her subjects but there was just something that just felt wrong about this mare.

"Who are you, more importantly what brings your here my little pony, do you not know of the rumors the villagers speak of about the strange pony seen within the forest?" Luna asked as she sheathed her sword, since even though something about this mare was off she did not seem to be the pony she was searching for.

“ I am Moonstone princess, as for what brings me here, is that I live here, as this has been my home since I was a filly.” The now named Moonstone replied giving another disturbing smile.

“Oh, forgive me I did not think there were any ponies living this deep within the forest, I am here investigating the rumors of a strange pony that lives here do you know of this pony Moonstone.” Luna said and asked

“Hehehe I do princess and I can say they are close by,” Moonstone with an evil laugh “in fact she’s standing right in front of you.”

“Wait what.”

“SLEEP!” Moonstone shouted as her eyes went blood red, using an unknown form of magic, causing Luna to simple fall to the ground asleep while Moonstone stood over her licking her lips and fangs “Now to feed and have a little fun.”

Fifteen minutes later

Luna woke with a startled cry, only to find herself in a darkened cottage her armor still on but her sword was missing, and Moonstone was nowhere to be found.

“Hehe looks like my little snack is awake, oh this is going to be so fun I’m going to make you squeal before we’re done.” Moonstone said as she pounced on Luna from the ceiling devoid of any clothing pinning her to the floor licking her neck in a slow sultry manner. Luna was only able to catch a glimpse of Moonstone as her head was forcibly turned to the side before Moonstone bit down on her exposed neck. She could feel the sharpened fangs pierce through her flesh and warm blood beginning to seep from the wounds. She could hear the vampiric mare moan as she started to suck and lap at the wound, but an idea started to form in her head while her body was restrained her magic was still free. Without fear or hesitation Luna released a brilliant flare of bright light from her horn blinding the vampony who recoiled with a terrible hiss shielding her eyes and baring her fangs.

“I WILL DRAIN THE PRECIOUS BLOOD FROM YOU PRINCESS LUNA AND THEN YOU WILL SERVE THE BLOODLORD” Moonstone yelled as she lunged at Luna, her arms stretched out, with her nails now replaced with razor sharp claws. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Luna reacted using the only weapon she had, her magic, charging the magic that flowed well within her Luna unleashed a massive blue beam that collided with Moonstone burning a hole through her chest and killing her instantly. Luna breathed a heavy sigh of relief, with the threat now vanquished she knew she had to find her way back to the village and more importantly to Ulfric, for he needed to know what had happened to her, yet before she could take even a single step she felt very weak very quickly before her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the mossy floor of the cottage.

“Ulfric help me.” she said weakly wrapping her hand around the necklace she wore around her neck, knowing that as Ulfric wore its twin he would know something was wrong and come to her aid.

“No bucking way,” Twilight said before clamping a hand of her muzzle after realizing what she had just said out loud and in front of the princesses no less. “So what happened?”

“I found my Luna within the cottage hours later, she was very ill and as cold as ice to the touch, I carried her as quickly as I could to the EverFree Castle, the healers did what they could but I had seen the two marks on her neck and I knew at that moment what was wrong with her.” Ulfric said taking Luna’s hand in his.

“So does that mean what ah thing it means?” Applejack asked a hint of fear present in her voice.

“Yes dame Applejack, I became a vampony when I came to a day later I was hungry and terrified after what Ulfric told me I was so scared more for what I would do then for our subjects.” Luna sad with a saddened tone “but that was not the worst thing yet to come.”

“Really what was then.” Rainbow dash asked still on the edge of her seat from Luna’s story

“Word had spread to the Werewolf packs about Luna’s transformation, Rainbow Dash they feared she would turn against Equestria and lead the Vamponies in conquering the nation, Ulfric however would not allow it.” Celestia interjected

“What ever did he do princess, surely he had some sort of plan.” Rarity asked

“I did, the packs saw Luna as a vampony and no longer an Alicorn it was this narrow mindedness that led them to decide that she had to die, but I wouldn’t let them, I would not let them lay a single finger on the mare I love. Alicorn or vampony I still love her.” Ulfric said slightly crushing the tankard in his hand "And when they came I alone stood against them one man against an army, for three days I fought them with no rest, food or water, until finally each of the pack leaders came forward issuing their own challenge each one I fought not as a man, but as a wolf and them the same with them each one I best and spared, until I faced the eldest amongst them, diamond frost the Grey wolf"

"And what happened did you challenge him to a blindfolded water balloon arm wrestling competition?" Pinkie asked with a giggle, earning a small chorus of laughter from the others.

"I fought him just like the others as a wolf, he lasted longer and fought with more skill and experience then the others, but in the end I bested him, but then he did something I did not expect." Ulfric said "He knelt before me and declared me Wolf King, and as soon as he said that the others too also knelt before me."

"After this we waged war against the vamponies bringing death to their leader the BloodLord, even forging peace between them and the Werewolfs." Luna said remembering back to that time, so long ago.

"Well this has certainly been a productive day, thank you Mr. StormWolf. Thank you Princesses, but well we're short on time and we must head back to Ponyville." Twilight said gathering her things. With the remainder of the girls thanking the princesses and saying their goodbyes, with twilight giving Shining Armor and Cadence each a hug goodbye before they left the dining room leaving only Ulfric, the three princesses and Shining Armor remaining.

"And now that it is just us, I can now say something I have been meaning to say to you Celestia." Ulfric said his demeanor turning cold and hate filled.

"And what would that be?" Celestia asked

"Luna may have forgiven you, but I WONT, I will NEVER forgive you for what you did, even if it takes another thousand years I will never hold you in the same regards as I once did." Ulfric said full of hate, as he completely crushed the tankard of mead.

"Ulfric please." Luna begged, trying to defuse the situation.

"I am sorry my love, but I will not take back what I said nor will I speak anymore of it," Ulfric said "in the meantime, I would like to see what has become of the kingdom in my absence, would you care to join me my love?"

"Certainly" Luna said standing from her chair. the two lovers left shortly after leaving a stunned and shocked Celestia, who began to cry shortly after. Not even Cadence could comfort her enough, but she hoped that in time Ulfric would forgive her and in time maybe she could call him friend again. Maybe even brother one day.

Reinstated

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Canterlot Castle eight days later

It had been nine days, nine long days since the attack on Canterlot Castle and Ulfric’s return, and even in that time span the so-called attack had been to main focus of every newspaper, radio station and news channel across Equestria. Reporters from all across the nation flooded the streets of Canterlot all of them trying to gain access to the castle to seek answers from the princesses, yet for each day up until today their requests had been denied, yet today it was different. Today their requests had been granted as the only information they had been given was that today there would be a joint Day and Night court to address the reasons and motives of the attack, such a revelation had the nobility and the entire population of Canterlot turning in circles. Today is would be the day they would finally have the answers the desired, and a perhaps a surprise or two.

Ulfric was not too thrilled about one particular part of what was to happen, it would seem that during the first century of his and Luna's imprisonments that the nobles had taken advantage of Celestia's grief and depression, that they had written into law that only someone of noble birth had the right to court or even pursue the path of marriage. This had made Ulfric bitter as he did not see the point to publicly announcing his declaration of courtship, when both he and Luna had professed their love for each other in the long winters passed. Cadence ever the princess of love explained that this was necessary, as the political atmosphere was vastly different then what Ulfric once knew, so in the end after a few hours arguing back and forth between he and Cadence, Ulfric swallowed his stubborn pride and finally relented agreeing to accept what is and not, what was as it was for the better, for both parties, though he did not wish to tell Luna as he wished to keep it somewhat of a surprise. Now here he stood waiting before the doors of the throne room waiting for his queue to enter, and to appease the so called elites of Equestria, or as Ulfric had now taken to calling most of them, stuck up money crazed weaklings.

Inside the throne room

The air within was tense many of the nobles and news correspondence muttered and talked to each other, while they waited for their princesses to begin this first ever jointed court session.

“Mares and Stallions if you be seated my sister and I shall begin, your questions will be answered soon enough” Celestia said as she sat upon her golden throne with Luna taking her place on her midnight blue throne. A quick nod to Celestia signaled that is was time, time for the nobles to see and meet the one pony who had them in an uproar, and for the rest of the nation to finally learn who it was that could single handedly attack Canterlot castle and live to tell the tale.

“Hmph well it’s certainly about time we’ve been waiting over an entire week for some answers Princess hopefully this will be worth us having to put aside our busy lives for something such as this.” A Pegasus stallion said with a sneer, Celestia recalled the name of Gilded Gleam coming to mind as he took his seat. Celestia silently growled, she never liked Gilded Gleam, then again she never liked most of the nobles as most of them only cared about filling their pockets with as many bits as they could and at the expense of the working class ponies whom she appreciated more and tried to pass laws that favored them and not the nobles.

"Lieutenant, let him in so that we may proceed." Luna said with a commanding tone of voice, while she giggled on the inside for what she and Celestia had in store for Ulfric, something he would find most appreciative and would more then likely find enjoyment. The ornate doors slowly opened and there before the assembled court, nobles and news reporters stood the very being who had dared to attack Canterlot Castle, Who dared to try and Kill Celestia. There before then stood Ulfric StormWolf, some of those present knew him simply from legends or ancient pictures that had been passed down through generations of their families, and they paid their respects with a simple bow of their heads.

With a slow stride Ulfric made his way through, his armor had been cleaned of any filth or grin, the black and gold metal shined in the morning light that flowed through the stained glass windows of the throne room, his cape still bore the color and cutie mark of Luna, flowed behind him, as he made his way slowly towards the twin thrones of Equestria. When he stood before Celestia and Luna, Ulfric did something many did not expect save for a few, he drew his sword causing many of the gathered nobles to gasp in fear, afraid that he would attack again. Yet this was not to be, Instead Ulfric thrust his sword into the marble floor, before taking a knee and bowing his head.

"My princess, I come before you as a servant humble and contrite, I come begging your forgiveness, for my actions and unjustified attack on thee, I ask that your judgement be swift and merciful.” Ulfric said having rehearsed this small speech over the last two days and he had been told it was needed so that the nobility would see it as a legitimate plea for mercy.

“I know my actions went against my ancient oath to Serve this kingdom, and that the ancient laws of that bygone era demanded that those who betrayed you and your mother were at your mercy.”

The crowd was silent save only for a whisper here and there between the nobles and those of media, each stallion and mare present quietly voiced what they believed would happen. Would the princesses forgive this strange creature and allow him to go free or would they sentence him to the darkest cell of the castle dungeons or worse sentence him to death. The nation watched and waited as both Celestia and Luna conversed quietly to themselves, for a tense few minutes, before they chose to speak their verdict on what would be Ulfric's fate, though what they had decided upon has become made the day prior, even though she knew he hated her Celestia thought it to be appropriate to have Ulfric restored to his former rank as Lord Commander of the Equestrian military, she had hoped this would make Ulfric hate her less even if it was a small amount she hoped it would soften his heart.

"We have decided that for your actions, My sister and I shall pardon you of all charges." Celestia said with a small smile. "We also feel that despite this small infraction against the duel thrones, we believe we have an offer you will find most pleasing."

"For my actions my princesses I do not deserve such a thing." Ulfric said as he was mentally screaming at this whole display, he hated the idea of having to do this before a group of what he referred to as spineless milk drinkers whose ancestors would be insulted by what had gone from being a group of individuals who would lay down their lives in battle in defense of Equestria to now being a rotting pool of money hungry children, who would wine and complain about the simplest of things.

“Of that we disagree, Luna dear sister let us make history once more.” Celestia said as her horn flared before a sword appeared before her, the blade at white as snow, while Luna summoned her own sword, both mares held them before the crowd, ready to place upon Ulfric something he had not been called or regarded as since Luna's banishment.

"By the power vested in us by our mother, and the All Maker, we dub thee once, again Sir Ulfric StormWolf, knight and Lord Commander of Equestria, may you serve with distinction." Celestia said as she and Luna both tapped the blades of their sword on Ulfric's shoulders. "Arise sir StormWolf, and may you lead the nation towards peace and prosperity"

It was at this instant that the room exploded into a cacophony, of yelling, numerous inaudible questions and pure anger and disbelief. Many of the nobles were calling for the revocation of Ulfric's new/former title to him being placed before the headsmen block.

“HE’S NOT EVEN A PONY WHY SHOULD HE LEAD OUR SOLDIERS!”

“SEND HIM TO THE DUNGEONS!”

“BANISH HIM TO THE MOON!”

Yet it was Ulfric who was the force to silence them in the midst of their tirade.

"SILENCE! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OUT AGAINST YOUR SOVEREIGNS I LED THIS KINGDOMS ARMIES BACK WHEN THE NOBILITY WERE HONORABLE WARRIORS WHO WOULD LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THE INNOCENT NOT YOU PATHETIC MONEY HUNGRY BRATS!" Ulfric yelled, his voice echoing through the room even though his face was obscured by his helmet, while simultaneously casting a thunderbolt spell towards the ceiling frightening those present save for the princesses into submission, even causing some to faint from fear. "This is the will of your rulers, you will accept without question or argument, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!"

"Sir StormWolf, I believe you have made your point known." Luna said as she tried her best to contain her laughter, having finally seen somepony put the nobility in their place after ten centuries of getting what they wanted. She was glad to see Ulfric standing up to them despite whatever repercussions would come later.

"As you wish princess Luna." Ulfric said sheathing his sword yet he remained standing, as if he had something he wished to say, and yet he waited for the approval of either princess to ask him what more he wished to say.

“You have something more to say?” Luna asked trying to keep up the act they had rehearsed the last few days.

"I do your highness, with your permission I have of that is most important that I wish to say." Ulfric said bowing his head to show respect, before removing his helmet and finally gracing the nobles and the entirety of Equestria with what their new Lord Commander looked liked.

"Princess Luna, many winters ago I had the privilege of meeting you one fateful summer day since then, as we grew to know each other the bond between us grew into friendship then into something more." Ulfric said choosing is words with care and love while earning a small blush from Luna.

"I saw in you what others could not, I saw not a princess, but a mare who wanted someone to spend her days with as did I, who only wanted to be treated as a normal living being and not as royalty to be flaunted over." Ulfric said as he now stood directly before Luna, as the mare wiped away a few tears of happiness that she was not even remotely trying to hide from him or from everyone else.

"With your permission, and your consent. Would you allow me the honor of being able to court you once more, so that we may have many days and night full of happiness and love." Ulfric said, yet the moment the last word had left his mouth, the majority of the gathered nobles cried out in objection.

"How dare you ask such a thing to the Princess." An elderly stallion shouted

"THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT WOULD NEVER HERSELF BE VIOLATED BY SUCH A HIDEOUS CREATURE!" a Mare yelled as she was restrained by the throne room guards

"PRINCESS LUNA IS TOO PURE TO BE CORRUPTED BY ANYPONY LET ALONE BY YOU FREAK!"

"EVERYPONY SHUT THE BUCK UP!!!!!" Celestia shouted using the Royal Canterlot voice causing many to cower in fear of the wrathful sun princess while those who remained silent secretly were cheering for Luna and Ulfric, hoping that they could bring about great change to Equestria for the betterment of everypony and not just the elite.

"Oh Ulfric, you needn't ask, I promised my heart to you a long time ago, and yours it shall remain." Luna said as she wrapped her arms Ulfric’s neck and pulling him into a passion filled kiss, The now Knighted human surprised at first, gave into the kiss wrapping his arms around Luna’s waist as they embraced each other, earning cries of joy and praise from the nobles who were for this union and words of scorn and disgust from those who sought to run the nation to benefit only themselves. Celestia smiles knowing that with Ulfric now back in command of the military certain political issues that needed a solution would finally be taken care of and maybe he could persuade some of the more stuck up nobles to come back to what the nobility originally stood for, defending the weak and helpless and laying down their lives in defense of those who could not defend themselves. And perhaps just perhaps maybe bear forth a foal for her to spoil. With that thought she smiled knowing that a bright future lay ahead.

Moonlit Evening: Date

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Canterlot Seven days later

For nearly seven days Ulfric has tirelessly thrown himself back into what he knew best, being a warrior and the commander of Equestrias forces. To sum it into only a few words he was very disappointed at the current state of the Royal Guard, Navy and Air arm. Mostly this was so to how laced they were on training new service ponies, this infuriated that all the hard work Ulfric had spent a life time ago to forge Equestrias armies into a true fighting force, only for it to waste away to returning the military to what it had been when he had first arrived upon Equis. Not only that but in terms of equipment and weapons they were found wanting as some of the materials used in their production were subpar at best compared to the ancient guard, with a heavy sigh Ulfric set down the quill he had been using to fill out request and order forms for newer better quality fabrication materials and so that he could start retraining the Guard and all military personnel the way his father and the Legions of Ailirwen but that was in a different time, but he would no less try as he always had.

“Were it so easy, to train an army that was already used to the standards they now held” Ulfric said to no one in particular. He stood from the oak desk that had been given to him and moved to the window that overlooked the guard barracks and training yard, taking a moment to watch a group of first year recruits begin evening drills, many were sloppy at best, some had more finesse and a few even showed potential.

“Were it so easy” Ulfric said once again repeating the same line that the battle master Kor would often say when he still walked the plains of his old world. Yet those days were long past never to been heard from again, yet as Ulfric stop there watching the sun set, an idea struck his mind. Court was not held on the weekends and this was why he and Luna hd decided upon having a date night, just the two of them and no one else. To which Luna was very excited for being able to spend some alone time with the human she loved, and while she was excited for this, she had something else she wanted to do with Ulfric that involved just them, but that was a special surprise for her love. As he put the paper work away, Ulfric gathering his sword and cape, Ulfric left the spacious office that was his, and slowly made his way to his and Luna's bed chambers. Even though they now both lived together once again, being the gentlemen, Ulfric still proceeded to knock at the door, as it was something he had become used to back before Luna's banishment.

“Who is it?” Came the voice of Luna from the other side of the threshold.

“Only the man who loves you” Ulfric said with a slight chuckle, the giggling of the lunar mare drew closer as the door was surrounded by the blue glow of Luna’s magic and swung open. The room appeared to be dimly lit due to the lights being turned down low.

"Luna my dear, are you ready?" Ulfric asked as he stepped inside and began to remove his armor in preparation for their night out, and exchanging it for the custom made suit and tie Luna had ordered made for him by one of the finest tailors in Canterlot for this special occasion.

"almost, but first my love you must be properly dressed for our special date" Luna said her voice coming from the balcony laced with a giggle. While Ulfric simply grumbled under his breath he was not let that going to let that ruin their first outing together in a thousand, a few minutes and a few words cursed in Dwarvish later, Ulfric looked ready to go, albeit looking very handsome as well.

"Now let us see how the beauty of the night looks" Ulfric said with a happy chuckle, eager to see what Luna had chosen to wear for their romantic outing.

"Hehehe, then gaze upon the mare whose heart belongs to you" Luna said as she opened the balcony doors to revel her clad in a stunning dress and accompanying jewelry. that at the same time revealed a generous amount of her cleavage.

"So what do you think my wolf?" Luna asked twirling around once like she was at a formal ball. Ulfric blushed a bit, to him at this very moment in space and time Luna looked like the most beautiful thing in existence, though he had always thought of Luna that way

“You looked absolutely beautiful my love” Ulfric said this caused a light blush to appear on the moon princesses face, as she giggled, oh how she loved this man who treated her like a normal mare and not royalty. "But, to me you have always been beautiful"

"Oh Ulfric you flatterer" Luna said with a giggle before wrapping her arms around Ulfric's neck and capturing him in a kiss, which was lovingly returned as Ulfric held the mare he loved.

"Now my love we must be off, or we shall fail to meet the reservations I have planned for us" Ulfric giving Luna a light boop to her snout, this causing Luna to go cross eyed and scrunching her muzzles, forming the cutest look ever. Ulfric could not help but laugh at this small display from Luna who glared for a short moment before bursting into a fit of giggles as she and Ulfric took each other in hand and promptly left their room. A short walk through the castle brought them before a waiting carriage that had Luna's cutie mark affixed to it. Ulfric waisted no time in opening the door for his beloved and helping her in not that she required, though she did think it was nice how under his fierce and rough outside demeanor that he had a soft core, that right now deserved something for the kindness he was showing her. Said something was a small kiss to his cheek, drawing the faintest blush upon the humans cheeks. With Luna aboard Ulfric joined her in the carriage taking her hand in his as the carriage slowly made its way down the busy street as those who worked at night ventured forth to their places of work and employment. Not twenty five minutes later the carriage came to what would be it’s destination, stopping before one of the fancier restaurants that was frequented by the Canterlot elite, and one that Luna had secretly being wishing to go to. Said restaurant was known as the Lunar Orchid and to many it was thee place to dine on a night such as this as the moons light would shine just at the right angle causing the very same flowers that the eatery was named after to glow a bright magestic blue, which thanks to very much time and effort the establishment had managed to procure a sizable quantity of these rare flowers to adorn the building with both exterior and interior. Luna was surprised and excited she had heard many a good thing about this establishment, so for the lunar mare this was an unexpected and wonderful surprise from her love. Oh how it made her want to quickly do what it was she wanted to do for him, but she would wait the night was still very young, so she more or less had all the time in the world to show Ulfric how much he meant to her. Entering the restaurant Luna was treated to what was not only a upper class eatery, but also a high end dinner theater, this surprised Luna even more, she would definitely be returning this kindness to Ulfric later. A waiter quickly came and showed the couple to their seats on the second lvel of the building giving them both a grand view of the stage.

"Ulfric love this is so wonderous and we have only been here no more then five minutes, I.... thank you " Luna said as she wiped away a tear of joy.

"for you my beauty of the night I shall do anything" Ulfric said, earning a giggle from Luna. The waiter then returned, first a round of the finest white wine was placed before a most amazing appetizer, that was broiled beets with a butter creamed cauliflower soup.

"Mmmm very satisfying" Ulfric said through a spoon full of soup, savoring the rich flavor that it contained

"Hehehe, you have been saying that about everything you've eaten in the past few weeks love" Luna said with a giggle "surely there is something you have found to not be to your liking?”

“As of yet I have not, when you have spent the last four hundred years drinking the same potion over and over again even the most vile tasting food is a welcome relief” Ulfric said reaching across the table to hold Luna’s hand “and so is spending time with the woman I love”

“Flatterer” Luna said with a sly smile, as they ordered their main course, for the lunar princess it was a friendly helping of her favorite Istallaion dish Focaccia di Recco. Yet it was Ulfric request that required the waiter to do a double take, as Ulfric ordered the Leg of goat with some vegetables and a side of grilled leeks, fortunately the restaurant happened to catter to non ponies races as well, to which Ulfric praises them for being mindful of how not all those who live on Equis are herbivorous, yet at this time the planned show that was scheduled began. The show was titled A Midsummers dream, which had coincidently been written by one of the staff, a cream colored mare named, oddly enough sour cream who while working here was learning to be a playwriter. While the show only lasted for half an hour, upon its ending nearly everyone who had watched was standing in applause of the actors and Sour cream who was trying her best to hide the blush upon her cheeks. Yet there was one more surprise to be had here, yet it did not come from Ulfric, instead it was from the owner and manager of the establishment, a rather short stallion by the name of Short Stack, had made his way to the couples table and politely informed them that payment would not be required as he simply out it "It is on the house this evening, for both of you". He also stated that will many may not accept their courtship, he for one did and Luna and Ulfric would have his support no matter what the nobility tossed their way. With a farewell to those who remained, Ulfric and Luna began a slow walk through the city, hand in hand with Luna resting her head on Ulfric's shoulder, not wanting to be anywhere else other with the stallion she loved. They talked about small things, things from when they first met, old memories that still brought them to laughter, or even profound romantic moments they had shared, even old embarrassing stories of moments that made them nearly fall over laughing. By now did they both realize that whilst they had been engaged in their conversation and humorous laughter that they unconsciously wandered back to the castle. Both Luna and Ulfric said another bread bout of laughter and giggles mainly do to the look on the guards faces when they saw the Lunar diarch and the Lord Commander come walking up the sidewalk and not even paying attention to where they were. With their composure recollected both mare and human shared a brief kiss before they made their inside. Quiet as mice the lovers moved through the hallways and corridors before reaching their shared room and slipping inside, yet as the door latched shut behind Luna her horn flickered for the briefest moment as a special spell was cast.

“My love I have something I wish to give you but it’s a surprise” Luna said with a seductive and sexy giggle.

“Oh? And what would that be my mistress of the night” Ulfric said as he sat upon the bed facing Luna.

“Heehee, close your eyes and no peaking” she said, doing what he was told Ulfric closed his eyes even going as far as covering them with his hands. There was a small magical pop and a very excited sigh from before he heard her footsteps upon the tiled floor yet they sounded muffled for some reason.

“Now my love you may see your surprise” Luna said with a seductive tone, his hands removed Ulfric opened his eyes only for them to widen, there stood Luna walking towards him slowly with a seductive sway to her hips and wear some very revealing red lingerie and stockings.

“Tonight we’re going to have some fun” Luna said as she licked her lips closing the curtains with her magic. Ulfric didn’t even argue once, as he was completely on board with this turn of events.

Moonlit Evening: Love at midnight (clop)

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Luna and Ulfric's room

Ulfric watched with anticipation as Luna strutted towards him swaying her hips back and forth in a seductive manner. Her cheeks blushed red and her eyes half lidded as she smiled as she approached the human who she would claim tonight, she had wait so long to feel his touch, she had waited and now she would have her human. With slow deliberate movements Luna straddle Ulfric's lap taking him into a passionate lust filled kiss moaning softly as Ulfric wrapped his arms around Luna and held her tight. They kissed for ages it seemed, then Ulfric felt something scrap against his teeth before Luna pushed her tongue fully into his mouth dancing with his own, as they continued to kiss, moaning and groping each others bodies, driven by their carnal instincts. Finally the need for air separated them, Luna taking immediate control pushed Ulfric gently onto his back and moved to where he was now fully on the bed with his mare straddling his waist, a hungering look glistening in her eyes.

“So my little human, it would seem I have caught you, now your at my mercy.” Luna said with a giggle as her horn flared and Ulfric then found himself clad only in his underwear. For a brief moment the human was surprised by this turn of events that was quickly replaced with excitement and anticipation for while this situation had been most unexpected Ulfric now want more than ever to make Luna his. Luna slowly and teasingly reached behind her and unclasped the red bra she wore letting it fall from her chest as it freed her E cup breasts, with her hands she took hold of the large mounds of flesh, squishing them, groping them and twisting her azure nipples eliciting a series of moans and gasps as she fondled herself as her horn flared with magic flicking the lights of cast the room into darkness save for what flowed through the open curtains coating the room in moon light.

“Like what you see my love?” Luna asked puffing out her causing her breasts to bounce and jiggle.

“No, I love what I see.” Ulfric said as he pulled Luna into another lust filled kiss, their tongues one again entwined together, with their bodies pressed together. Luna wanting her human desperately started to gyrate and grind her hips against Ulfric manhood despite the fact it was concealed beneath his underwear, both mare and human moaned in pleasure through their shared kiss. Pulling back from the kiss, Luna slide her body down Ulfric pressing against his hidden manhood the whole way.

"Ahh, oh you little tease." Ulfric said, his only answer was a wink and giggle from the mare who was now directly in front of his groin. Luna slowly pulled down the garment allowing Ulfric’s cock to spring free and ready for her to claim, licking her lips Luna inhaled deeply refamiliarizing herself with the scent of her love.

"Now we begin." Luna said licking Ulfric's cock slowly from base to tip once, Ulfric groaning from the feeling, was in pure bliss at the workings of Luna, but the lunar mare was far from finished. Moving to the tip Luna began to lightly kiss the end of Ulfric's erection, before quickly taking the whole into her muzzle sucking and licking it, earning a low growl from Ulfric whose head was leaned back from the stimulation, after a few more minutes Luna slowly lowers herself down taking more of Ulfric's cock into her mouth before stopping three quarters of the way down. Within second Luna is bobbing up and down the length of Ulfric's cock. Ulfric placed his hands on her head rubbing and scratching her ears. Luna moans from this causing vibrations to course through Ulfric's member, the human gasps pinching her ears from the pleasure.

For five minutes Luna keeps sucking and bobbing on Ulfric's cock, in vain Ulfric tries to hold about but it is all in vain as he starts to coat Luna's mouth with his seed. Slurping can be heard as Luna hungrily gulps down the cum, before looking at Ulfric with a pleading look in her eyes, with a flash her panties are gone.

"Ulfric I need, I need your cock inside me now." Luna says grinding her wet slit along Ulfric shaft both of them groaning before she lines up her dripping marehood with the tip of Ulfric's cock, before spearing herself with it and lowering down onto it fully.

"AAAHH it’s been so long but it feels sooo good." Luna moaned grinding her hips while staying completely impaled by Ulfric's cock. Luna slowly lifts herself up before slamming back down, the sounds of fleshing slapping together became a rhythmic tune that fills the room.

"AAAHHH yes, YES NNNNGH MORE PLEASE ULFRIC GIVE US MORE!" Luna shouted as she started to viciously pound away on Ulfric cock, then she felt two strong hands take hold of her hips, and with great force shove her back down as Ulfric now began to thrust away into her marehood, while taking a moment to spank her right on her cutie mark. Luna's wings pop out with an audible pomf, as she leans back, the walls of her marehood holding Ulfric cock in a vice grip.

"Yes, Yes, mmmm Oooooh more AAAHHH please Give Me MORE!!!!!" Luna shouts to the heavens as Ulfric picks up his pace thrusting his cock into Luna like a jackhammer. Wet squelching sounds emanate between them as their hips slam together both lovers moaning and crying out in pleasure.

"Luna I’m gah going to cum." Ulfric grits through his clenched teeth as he pounds away at Luna's Marehood, the Blue Alicorn picking up her pace upon hearing this.

"WE ARE NEARLY THERE DON'T THOU DARE STOP, FILL US WITH THOU LOVE AND SEED WE NEED IT!" Luna screams as she slams down hard one last time screaming in bliss as her orgasm hits her like a freight train, With a few more erratic thrusts Ulfric shoves his Cock as far and as deep as he can into Luna as spurts of his essence floods inside of her.

"NNNNNNGHH YYYYYEEEESSSSS!" Luna yells out as it happens, a few seconds later when it is done, she falls forward onto Ulfric's chest her breasts squeezed between them panting heavily, giving his chest a small nuzzle. Luna felt Ulfric wrap his arms around her holding her in a loving embrace, that was until she heard a low growl escape Ulfric’s lips. With one quick movement Ulfric flipped Luna over laying her out on her back, his hands pinning her shoulders and his cock still buried in her marehood. Luna saw a look of animalistic lust in Ulfric’s eyes but she knew he would be kind with her.

“Now it’s my turn my sweet.” Ulfric whispered into Luna’s ear. Slowly he pulled his cock out before pushing it back in gaining a steady pleasant rhythm to his movement.

“Aaaah, m-more please more nnnngh” Luna moaned as she enjoyed the moment wrapping her arms, legs and tail around Ulfric’s neck and waist shoving his face in between her breasts as she moaned. Ulfric didn’t waste a single minute, taking Luna’s left nipple into his mouth. He licked, and sucked on the small bud of skin, listening to Luna gasp and whimper from the feeling sent through her body. It wasn’t long before he tasted a creamy sweet liquid filling his mouth, it was Luna’s milk.

“Ooooh mother YES!!! MILK ME MY LOVE SUCKLE MY TEATS DRY!” Luna screamed as Ulfric switched to Luna’s other nipple repeating his earlier motion, yet as he did this he quickened his pace thrusting harder and faster in Luna. With each thrust of his cock Luna’s marehood clamped down on it constantly never letting go.

“Faster! Harder Buck me harder BUCK ME” Luna says as Ulfric kept up his assault on her already filled slit as Luna latches onto his lips if a sloppy tongue filled kiss.

“Rrrrrg” Ulfric growls as he grabs hold of Luna’s ass squeezing and kneading the soft flesh beneath her fur as he begins to viciously slam his cock into her.

“CUMMINNNG!!!” Luna screams as loud as she can as her marehood clamps down on Ulfric’s cock milking it for all its worth and soaking his groin with her mare juices as she orgasms, making Ulfric cum too filling Luna up some more. Luna threw her head back as she screamed, the waves of pleasure hitting her again and again as her depths were filled with human seed once more. Ceasing his continued abuse of his loves marehood Ulfric stopped and rested against Luna softly kissing the flushed Alicorn just below her horn.

“That’s was wonderful my love.” Luna said nuzzling Ulfric’s cheek, as Ulfric rolled them both over into their sides so that they lay facing each other. Both human and mare lay there, arms and legs entwined, even going as far as having Luna’s wings and tail wrapped around Ulfric as they held each gazing into each other’s eyes.

“Hehehe you are my lady of the night Luna.” Ulfric said as he stroked Luna’s cheek.

“And you are my wolf of the North.” Luna said closing her eyes as she pressed her lips against Ulfric’s in a kiss. For a while they held the kiss with not a care in the world.

“Please, stay with me Ulfric.” Luna said as she broke the kiss nuzzling into Ulfric’s chest.

“I always will Luna.” Ulfric said resting his head on Luna’s as sleep started to over take them.

“I love you Ulfric.” Luna said as she finally fell into slumber held in the arms of the man she would not trade anything to be with.

“I love you too Luna.” Ulfric said closing his eyes before drifting to sleep. Finally at the end of their night together, the first rays of sunrise slowly broke over the horizon bringing a new and a new future for Equestria.

Reforging the Tools of War

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Canterlot Castle, Guard Barracks, Black Smith’s section

It had been a full week since Ulfric and Luna’s date, and an equal amount of time since their love making session, however the human and mare had discovered when they had woke for breakfast the next day their little activity had some unforeseen effects. One Ulfric learned that despite Luna keep a nocturnal sleep schedule she was always up early every Sunday to enjoy the nice breakfast Celestia always prepared for them, to which the resentful human had said was rather enjoyable. And the other thing, and the more embarrassing of the two was that during their love making Luna in her haste had cast a noise amplification spell and not a cancellation spell, meaning that at least no more than half of the castle heard them. Yet this was seven days ago and now here Ulfric stood ready to begin his inspection of the forges to see what he could salvage from the mess that had been that past millennia of peace. This road would be long and wrought with challenges and resistance as many in the guard did not want the man who had attacked their solar princess to lead them.

“L-Lord Commander this I-is an unexpected visit how may we be of service.” A charcoal grey Pegasus stallion stuttered nervously as he bowed, awaiting Ulfric next words with caution and fear.

“I am here master of the forge, to see why the armaments and armor of Equestria have become so pitiful in my absence and to also see if any of the smithing techniques I showed your forebears survived onto this modern age.” Ulfric said as he slowly became to walk down the line of forges and work benches that adorned the room. The forge master waited in silence and fear, here was the highest ranking individual of the military surprising them with an unannounced visit to see if their works were up to his standards, heck the poor stallion didn’t even know what Ulfric’s standards were when it came to forging weapons and armor. Ulfric stopped, before a table where a unicorn mare was hunched over a sword she was busy engraving, and yet she was so engrossed with her work she failed to even notice Ulfric standing in front of her, that was until Ulfric dropped a hammer onto her workplace, scaring the daylights out of the poor mare and earning a few laughs from her co-workers.

"If you are quite finished putting the unnecessary amount of detail into that weapon, I will examine it." Ulfric said crossing his arms and holding a stern look upon his face.

"Y-y-yes o-of course my apologies sir, please take your time on inspecting my most current work." The mare said as she held out the sword and offered it to Ulfric to judge. Taking it between his hands Ulfric did a simple weight test while testing the grip to see how well it fit in his hands, yet while he did this he did not show a single disapproving look nor did he frown. He then went about using a very small hammer gently tapping it along the length of the blade as if he were searching for something, anything that he could judge this blade on, and hopefully teach this mare how to correct her mistakes, yet even as he finished with the hammer Ulfric took out a small flask and poured a brownish oil from it coating the entirety of the blade with it.

“Young mare what do you honestly think of the quality of this blade?” Ulfric said as he held it before her.

“I would wager it is one of the better ones that has been made here.” She replied as a bead of sweat ran down her forehead, for it was clear that she was nervous.

“That is unfortunate, for your are very wrong,” Ulfric said “let me explain why, this blade is no more the four pounds too heavy, the grip is too wide and does not have a comfortable fit in my hands.”
The mare was shocked here was some non pony being who had attacked the castle less than a month ago judging her while no less than quality, but it was not over yet.

“And that is not all, look at the blade itself, I count no more than three spots along its length where it had warped due to being forged improperly and that isn’t the half of it.” Ulfric said with a harsh tone as he held up a glowing purple crystal to the blade, the light doing its work as the combination of the light from the crystal and the oil reveal the worst part of the swords construction, dozens of revealed cracks fractures zigzag down the blade.

“This blade will fail the moment it makes contact with another weapon or piece of armor” Ulfric said before taking a swing with the weapon hitting it against an anvil as a metallic clang rang out and the blade broke in two from its terrible construction and use of subpar metals.

“One thousand years, AND THIS IS WHAT I RETURN TO THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR TO MAKE THE ARMIES OF EQUESTRIA A FORCE TO NOT BE TRIFLED WITH AND THIS IS WHAT HAS BECOME OF IT!” Ulfric roared in anger clenching his first together so tightly one would have heard the cracking of the bones in his hands.

“To think that what I work so hard to create and guide us has returned to the old ways, second rate arms and armor,” Ulfric said with a heavy sigh before his gaze fell to the master of the forge his brow furrowing “but that ends today, for you will all learn how to properly forge the tools of war and you will have the best materials that can be mined.”

"But sir, with all due respect Equestria has experienced peace for so long why should we have to make new arms and armor." A earth pony stallion called out, only to cower back as Ulfric met his gaze with annoyed scowl, have they really forgotten, Ulfric thought, what I told them about peace.

"Let me tell you why boy, if you wish to have peace, prepare for war, for to have peace there will be a time or times that you will have to fight for it." Ulfric said, and with a wave of his hand from outside came thirty guards each hauling in a cart laden with ingots leather and other materials needed to make the guard what it military what it once was. On each cart the laid deep iron hardened Minotaur steel, Khorium and finally a metal so precious and rare that there were few left upon equis who could smith it, Mithril. Many of the smithies there looked on dumbfounded at the sight of such materials many had only dreamed about using to craft their wares and for some this was a dream at long last come true.
“From this point forward only these metals shall be used for the crafting of weapons and armor, all current projects shall be reforged with this new materials combined with them, now let us begin.” Ulfric said as he lit the flames of an unoccupied forge to begin teaching again the ways of old.

“Lesson one is patience above all else, patience is key especially when working metal you must have patience, if you don’t your work will fail and cost some stallion or mare their life, now let us begin.”

Two weeks later

There was resistance at first, as many of the older more experienced blacksmiths were dead set in their ways as they had been working metals since their seventeenth and eighteenth years. Yet there was hope for an improvement, as many of the younger blade smiths listened with curiosity as Ulfric taught them day by day to forge weapons worthy of the military from days long since past. But as of this moment those who had shown interest in learning long forgotten methods of smithing were instructed to forge either a piece of armor or weapon from Mithril, which had been proving difficult to use given that it required specific tools and a very specific temperature to smelt and craft with, so far a few had found success in this task while others were struggling. Once a unicorn stallion in his fifties has nearly thrown his tools in frustration, but not before remembering Ulfric’s first lesson of patience. Yet there was one who had intrigued Ulfric for it was the same mare whose sword he had found many faults in those two weeks ago. The young teen had taken to Ulfric’s teachings like a duck to water listening, asking questions, among many things, yet was intrigued him was she had made a complete copy of the sword he had shattered.

When she was asked why, she said that the original sword was for her grandfather. An old guard who was one of the few to see any fighting in the last fifty years, it was his stories that had inspired her to make something to that him for his service to Equestria. Ulfric let a small smile grace his face, to so respect and honor to those who can before, this mare was one who knew that some ponies risk their lives for those they care about. Yet Ulfric then heard something, a familiar song had begun, first a single soul began to whistle before others joined in humming the tune, before four stallions and mares from the eastern mountains began to sing.

As they sang others joined in with them, the sound of hammers striking at once in unison soon filled the forges.

Cold: the air and water flowing
Hard: The land we call our home
Push to keep the dark from coming
Feel the weight of what we owe
This: the song of sons and daughter
Hide the heart of who we are
Making peace to build a future
Strong united working till we fall
And we all lift, and we’re all a drift together, together.
Through the cold mist, till we’re lifeless together, together
.

These ponies were ready. Ready to make anew the forces of Equestria, to help fight for freedom, the weak the young the sick and old. And the oppressed for freedom was the right of all beings.

A Canterlot Wedding: part 1

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Canterlot Castle two months later.

It had been two months since Ulfric begin his long and arduous task of rebuilding the military to what it once was, the guard had been easy thus far, whilst the Navy and royal Air Arm had given fierce resistance to adopting newly proposed weapons, ships and tactics. Yet for the most part they begrudgingly accepted this seeing as how Ulfric has both the support of Luna and Celestia, the latter of whom his heart was still very hardened against. Yet life had returned very much to what it was before Ulfric’s return save for the occasional noble demanding that he should be thrown into the dungeons and his relationship with Luna be terminated, yet neither Ulfric nor Luna had any plans of separating, as their love and care for each other ran deep. And yet it as the common pony folk that greatly approved of their union and would not have it be anything else.

Ulfric found himself at this particular moment of the evening in a world of bewilderment as he had been summoned to the throne room by Luna for a matter of utmost importance and in quoting the solar princess “to meet a very old and dear friend you once knew.” This had puzzled the human to a point he was in utter confusion, who was this pony or being Celestia spoke of, very few of those he knew in ancient times were immortal beings, but the question still burned in his brain, who was this person he could have known, and what was it they wished to see him about. As the multitude of questions spiral out of control within the confines of Ulfric’s brain, he failed to notice something very peculiar upon setting foot in the throne room. Everything look to be normal, Celestia and Luna were both seated upon their thrones, since Luna was to shortly take over for night court, Shining Armor was also in attendance seated on a regular chair and Both Cadences were on either side of him. Ulfric's train of thought ground as he literally ground to a halt. Two cadences since when has there been two Cadences, more importantly how could there be two. More importantly why, were there two Cadences, something was afoot here to which Ulfric intended to find out. Approaching the duel thrones from which Equestria was ruled Ulfric maintained a stoic visage while a plan formed in his mind, a plan that would reveal the real Princess of love and the imposter.

“Luna my sweet I have come as you requested.” Ulfric said in a gruff but kind voice.

“Thanks my love, though do I detect a hint of suspicion. “ Luna said with a mischievous smile.

“I am afraid I do not know what you speak of,” Ulfric with a barely visible smirk “though I do believe the reasoning and polite interruption of my current battle training of the guard has something to do with Captain Shining and Princess Cadence yes?”

Both the Cadences and Shining Armor smiled and giggled a bit, some how they were content on continuing this small joke of theirs. Little did they know that Ulfric was already beginning a prank of his own, one that would be remembered in the years to come.

“Then I would like to hear what the Captain and the Single Cadence have planned.” Ulfric said setting in motion the first step of his counter prank.

“Um no disrespect Lord Commander but I believe you mean both Cadences” Shining
said

“No I mean the single cadence that is seated before me know.” Ulfric said as he gestured to both of the pink Alicorns, this elicited a giggle from Luna and suppressed laughter from Celestia as she too knew where this was going.

“No there’s two of us” Both Cadences said in unison trying to correct Ulfric who, secretly had no intention of being corrected.

“You must be mistaken miss Cadenza you are the only other Alicorn here, unless your are under the effects of some hallucinogenic, perhaps that is why you are insisting that there is two of you here when there is only one. “Ulfric said with a stoic straight face, while his hands were hidden behind his back glowing with arcane energy as he weaved a spell to reveal the true identity of the second Cadence, for he was certain he knew who it was. But first he wanted to drag this out just a bit longer.

“Auntie please, talk some sense into him please, and for the love of Faust maybe make him a bit less, I dunno make him a bit less stubborn.” The Cadences once again said in unison only to receive more suppressed laughter from Celestia who hand to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

“There is nothing that is wrong with me princess, you insist there is an exact copy of you present impersonated by another pony when there is in fact only just you here by yourself.” Ulfric said with a slight smirk, which caused the second Cadence to throw her arms up in defeat.

“For the love of the Hive, Wolfy your no fun.” she said before being engulfed into emerald green fire melting away her disguise to reveal a mare who look much like a pony save for her black Chitinous skin and dark green eyes.

“Hello Chrysalis, it is good to see you again after so many winters my old friend.” Ulfric said with a smile while canceling out the spell he had planned to use. Chrysalis giggles before embracing Ulfric in a friendly hug.

“So does anyone wish to indulge me of why I have been asked to be called here?” Ulfric asked, with morbid curiosity his questioning brought about some light giggles from both Cadence and Chrysalis who simply just each showed him their right hands and upon their ring fingers each sat a golden ring adorned with a white, pink, and green diamond.

“Simply put, you are hereby cordially invited to the wedding of Shining Armor, Mi Amore Cadenza and Chrysalis Emeraldis.
Cocoonis,” Cadence said as she bounced happily in her seat. Ulfric was completely at a loss for words, which was a first for him, sure he knew that Cadence did have strong feelings for Shining Armor, yet he had no idea that one of his oldest friends on all of Equis also shared the same feelings for the Captain of the Royal Guard. And yet within the confines of his mind he just accepted it, as while it was not as common today as it was a thousand years ago, the idea of forming a herd was still a modern day practice for pony society.

“May I offer you three my congratulations, on your future marriage, now if you do not mind my prying, when have you set the date for the wedding?” Ulfric asked having now taken the stone chair Luna had teleported in for him to sit on.

“In exactly three weeks from tomorrow, and we all agreed shortly before you arrived that you would enjoy, because when was the last time you went to something as special as a wedding Wolfy.” Chrysalis said flashing a goofy smile that showed off her long fangs, and stuck her snake like tongue out a bit.

“I would be honored to attend, though since you are queen of the Emerald hive I will gladly manage security if you would allow for it” Ulfric said with a hearty chuckle.

“Sure why not, I mean with all due respect Sir, since this will be a unifying of two nations it does seem to make sense to have our most experienced leader handle this.” Shining said his voice shaking a bit as he still feared the human just a bit.

“You have my thanks, now Chrysalis what has happened with you and your hive over these thousand winters?” Ulfric asked his buggy friend, the bug pony mare giggling as she began a long story of the past ten centuries.

Later that night Luna Quarters

The night had past quickly since Ulfric had received the invitation to the wedding, for now he had been dragged to several high end boutiques so that Chrysalis and Cadence could try on dresses much to his disliking as he had stated that his presence was not required though both the changeling queen and pink Alicorn said that his opinion mattered on what dresses they would wear. Though as the night wore on and the three soon to be newly weds began to tire it was decided unanimously to return to the castle for some needed sleep.
“This was an exciting day wasn’t it my love” Luna said as she snuggled up to Ulfric, and rested her head on his chest listening to the slow beat of his strong heart.
“It was certainly something different, but different is always a welcome sight my Luna.” Ulfric said as he wrapped his arms around the Lunar Alicorn. Luna hummed happily as they both lay enveloped in the large bed they shared.
“Mhmm have you thought of a gift for them love?” Luna asked
“I have a few ideas, I will have to gather a few items before they can become a reality.” Ulfric as a light yawn escaped his lungs.

“Hehe good to know your pre *yawn*pared” Luna said as she closed her eyes, within a few minutes she was happily asleep. Yet even as she had drifted off to sleep Ulfric’s mind still ran with one singular thought. A thought that he had wanted to asked Luna on the night she had been banished, Ulfric would ask her this same question but the time was not right for it nor was the way he intended to ask her ready yet. And when he did ask the world and Equestria would be changed forever.

A Canterlot Wedding: part 2

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Canterlot three weeks later

The days had quickly rolled past, as the day for the historic royal wedding of Pony and Changeling was upon Canterlot, the soon to be newlyweds had been restless as they had planned out each and every tiny detail down even the designs of the tablecloths and napkins. With the food, that was an entirely different story, as multiple types and styles of food had been specifically catered to the needs of the guests, both local and the few foreign friends that had been invited, a few were coming from the Zebra lands, Neighpon and even from as far north as The Highlands.
Yet for Ulfric it had been a rather crazy three weeks, from arrange all the security, and to add to all that a threat had been made against the city three days ago. But that was things to a turn for the weird. About one day after the threat to Canterlot had been received both Chrysalis and Cadence has begun to act very strange one minute they were all happy and laughing , to acting like Ulfric was a complete stranger even going as far as looking in a way the seemed very off. This new situation was starting to cause red warning flags to start popping up one by one within the confines of Ulfric’s mind, something has happened and who or whatever is behind it has now comprised or done worse with two soon to be important individuals in the history of Equestria. Yet his attention was elsewhere as he now stood upon the rampart that overlooked the main gate and primary entry point into city observing a scene that put him into bewilderment. Below stood Twilight Sparkle, Spike and the other Elements of Harmony, who walked with awkward anticipation as the younger Sparkle angrily chastised her older brother.

"How could you go off and ask to mares I've never heard to marry you?" Twilight said with a huff. "When did you even meet this Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or This Chrysalis huh."

"Twily, Mi Amore Cadenza and Chrysalis are Cadence and Chryssi, your old foal sitters and storytellers " Shining Armor said with pride, only to get a look of shock and surprise from his younger sister.

"Wait thee Cadence and Chryssi as in the greatest foal sitters and story tellers in the history of foal sitters and storytellers." Twilight becoming more excited by the second.

"Hehe You tell me they were your foal sitters and storytellers." Shining Armor said with a chuckle.

“Wow, Cadence and Chryssi, their beautiful, smart caring and fun.” Twilight said staring of into the distance with a starry eyed look.

“That they are twily.” Shining said messing up Twilights mane on purpose just enough to annoy her, twas a good sign of a friendly older younger sibling relationship. However, fate had decided to derail that happiness at this exact moment

"How many unicorns or changeling can help others understand and spread," Twilight said "And I only know of one of each."

“I hope we’re not interrupting anything important.” came a voice Twilight was all too familiar with.

“Cadence, Chryssi!” Twilight said with excitement equivalent to that of Pinkie Pie. “Sunshine Sunshine Ladybugs awake, clap your hands and do a little shake.”

“What are you doing?” Cadence asked in disgust raising an eyebrow only to receive a look of confusion from the purple unicorn mare.

“I uh what, don’t you remember the little dance we would always do.” Twilight asked to which to the mares simply walked past with a look that was the equivalent of asking who she was and what was she talking about. For Ulfric this made his suspicions grow even more, and he quickly retreated without anyone noticing his departure. He would get to the bottom of this mystery one way or another and that was a definitive guarantee, no matter what was to happen, he would expose the truth for all to see.
The remainder of the next two days went by and they were very eventful, from the planning of what was to be served for the food, what music was to be played, and even how the dresses were designed and each time Ulfric would catch the end of each one of these moments seeing both Cadence and Chrysalis acting in a way that was very unlike them. And each time it was Twilight who would actively seek out the human, to the point both of them were now trying to find out what had caused the drastic change in personality for both Pony and Changeling. The latest piece of evidence that Twilight has brought to Ulfric was when she had caught both Cadence and Chrysalis casting some sort of spell on Shining Armor that made him look zombified and subservient to the Alicorn and Changeling even going as far as saying he would serve them both for ever, with this new knowledge brought to life, both the human and mare believed they had a reasonable amount of evidence to use against the now confirmed imposters, and bring out the truth. However things would quickly go from strange and confusing to defcon 1 on the day of the wedding rehearsal.
Throne Room day of the dress rehearsal
The throne room was empty save for Cadence, Chrysalis, Celestia and shining armor and the remainder of the Elements of Harmony all of whom were practicing their part for the wedding that was to commence tomorrow. Yet two individuals were hurriedly making their way to the very same room, for a very heated confrontation, while Twilight was wanting to expose the imposters and gain the truth Ulfric knowing that anything could go wrong at any moment was clad in full armor and had Lionsbane and Wolfsfang ready to be drawn and used the moment he felt the need for diplomacy was very much over.

“Ready?” Twilight asked with a hardened expression on her face.

“More than you realize.” Ulfric as he lowered his helmet over his head, acceptance or not he would be damned if he let some imposter try something, even if it had to result in violence. Twilight waited as she heard her brother ask where she was, knowing that now was the time the Lavender mare through the doors open.

“I’m here I’m not going to stand next to them and neither should you.” She said marching with Ulfric close behind, the two guards on either side of the door snapping to attention and saluting their Lord Commander.

“I’m sorry I’m not sure why she’s acting like this” Shining armor said after he saluted Ulfric.

“Maybe we should just ignore her.” Chrysalis said with and irritated glare.

“You have to listen to me.” Twilight shouted stomping her foot against the tiled floor clenching her fists in anger.

“Oh my are you okay?” Fluttershy asked as the timid Pegasus rushed to Twilights side.

“I’m fine.” was Twilights reply.

“Ya sure bout that.” Applejack asked only to hear a grunt from Ulfric who cast a look to the farmer that clearly said to stay out of this. The apple farmer gulped once and simply nodded before quickly moving away.

“I’ve got something to say,” Twilight said taking a few steps forward before pointing at both Cadence and Chrysalis accusingly “they’re evil.”
This sudden accusation caused Shining Armor to quickly move in front of both mares as the remainder of the main six and the two guards began to mutter in shock and disbelief to each other.

“They’ve been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes go all wonky.” Twilight teleporting besides the pink Alicorn and Changeling Queen circling them like a predatory beast.

“Why are you doing this to us?!” Both woman said as they started to cry.

“Because your evil.” Twilight said sternly, this ended up causing both of the mares to run from the throne room in tears, but Twilight still had on last jab to make.

“ Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!” Twilight yelled before slamming the doors shut, only to be face to face with a very angry Shining Armor.

“You want to know why my eyes went all wonky? Huh! Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadance or Chrysalis haven’t been casting spells on me. They’ve been using her magic to heal me!” Shining armor said with aggression. Twilight gasp in shock upon learning this, but Ulfric did not by this, for one neither Cadence or Chrysalis had red magic but instead blue and green, so this was strike one. And this was even more evidence that Ulfric knew that would be able to unravel this mystery.

“And they decided to replace their bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if they haven’t been on their best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, they’ve had to make all the decisions about the wedding!” Shining said stomping hard once. Strike two for what Ulfric remember being told by both Cadence and Chrysalis is all three of them were planning the wedding, so again more proof of something foul was made present.

“I was trying to-“ Twilight tried to say before she was interrupted.

“They both have been completely stressed out because it's really important to them that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my brides. And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all.” Shining Armor said as he stormed off muttering a plethora of curses under his breath.

“C’mon y’all let’s go check on the Princess and queen” Applejack said as she and the remainder of the mane six left the throne room.

“Twilight words cannot describe how very disappointed I am in you right now.” Celestia said with a disapproving look as she walked past, only to lose said look as her eyes meet Ulfric’s who’s own eyes have a look of disappointment to her.

“I was-.“

“You have a lot to think about.” was all Celestia said as she slammed the doors shut.

“Damn that woman, even she is too blind to see the truth.” Ulfric said with a suppressed growl of anger.

“Maybe I was being overprotective. I could've gained two sisters. But instead... I just lost a brother.
He was my big brother, best friend
Forever...
And now, we'll never do anything
Together...” Twilight said with a defeated sigh, her ears folding against her skull as she hung her head in shame.
“It is far from over young Sparkle, is still remain unconvinced of the validity of what your brother has spoken, if I find it to be false then I will have a selection of choice words to speak to him.” Ulfric said as he began to formulate a new plan within his mind, however this train of thought was quickly interrupted as the doors to the throne room suddenly opened with a crash as Cadence and Chrysalis entered the room once more, not even showing a single sign that they had been crying.

“I’m sorry.” Twilight said facing them, but unable to look them both in the eyes.

“You will be.” both mares said, the moment they said this Ulfric’s hand dashed for his sword, yet before he could even draw the weapon from its scabbard, his hands were restrained as a sphere of red flame began to surround him and Twilight. The last thing they both saw were the faces of the now revealed imposters and their blood red eyes before both human and unicorn sank through the floor and out of sight.

A Canterlot Wedding: Part the 3rd

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Darkness, that was all she saw. One moment Twilight saw with horror the thing she had feared and wanted to prove so badly, somepony had replaced both Cadence and Chrysalis, the two beings who had profoundly impacted her life. It was then that reality came crashing back down up Twilight as she immediately woke up in a panic breathing heavily and on the verge of a panic attack, that was until she felt a hand upon her shoulder. She was about to try and attack this unknown individual but, for a moment she didn’t, for that hand was clad in a black and gold steel gauntlet.

“Easy now miss Sparkle, you are quite safe though our troubles have only know begun.” Ulfric said before standing examining the large crystal filled room they were in.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Twilight said with uncertainty as her voice echoed through the cave system. There was a loud thud before laughter echoed throughout the chamber

“Where are we?” Twilight asked though the reply she got was not what she wanted to hear.

“The caves beneath Canterlot, once home to greedy unicorns who wanted to claim the gems that could be found inside. And now, your prison.” A pair of voices echoed

“Help! Help!” Twilight yelled as while Ulfric stood with his sword drawn and golden energy crackling in his left hand searching for this new enemy.

“It’s no use. No one can hear you. And no one will ever think to look for you, either. Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans.” one of the voice cackled wickedly.

“Plan? What plans.“ Twilight said starting to panic a little .

“The plans I have for your brother of course.” the voice said as an image formed on the surface of a large crystal, said image was that of Cadence except instead of her normal blue eyes they were blood red.

“Don't you dare do anything to my brother, you... you monster!” Twilight shouted stomping her foot against the ground as magic began building up on her horn.

“Only way to stop me is to catch me.” the fake Cadence said as she laughed, the crystal her image had appeared on suddenly shattered as twilight shot a concentrated beam of magic at it.

“Over here.” another crystal was shattered

“Nope over here now.” but as the last crystal was broken behind it was revealed to be another Cadence and Chrysalis who both were cut and bruised and their clothes in tatters. However before the two mares or Ulfric could react Twilight in a fit of anger lunged at both of them knocking them to the ground.

“No! Wait! Ugh! Please! Don't hurt us! Twilight, it's us! Please, you have to believe me. I've been imprisoned like you. The Cadence and Chrysalis who brought you down here are imposters. “ The new Cadence said as she shook with fear.

“Likely story” Twilight said as magic once again began to charge up on her horn. Thinking fast the scared bubblegum princess did the first thing that came to her mind.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hands,” she said as she repeat the motions of this little dance she had taught Twilight so long ago

“And do a little shake.” they both said as Twilight became overjoyed to know this was the real Cadence.

“You remember me.” Twilight said as she gave Cadence a hug.

“Of course I do. How could I forget the filly I love to sit for the most?” Cadence said returning the hug.

“But how do I know your the real Chryssi?” Twilight said pointing at the Changeling Queen. Chrysalis shakily stood to her feet standing before Twilight

“Moonshine, Moonshine Crickets all sing, raise your voice,” she said clapping her hands with Twilights.

“And welcome spring, Chrysalis! “ Twilight shouted leaping into the Changelings arms as the two embraced now knowing for sure that these were the real foal sitters she remembered so fondly.

“But how do we get out of here.” Twilight said as she let go of chrysalis scanning the walls for any kind of exit or tunnel.

“Hmm I think I might have a solution, stand back please.” Ulfric said returning his sword to its scabbard, before violet energy began gathering in his armored hands before releasing the balls of energy up and away from him. The walls were then painted with energy as it flowed around them, before abruptly ending a few seconds later.

"This way, hurry." Ulfric said dashing down a tunnel, off to the side, with the two mares and changeling queen doing their best to keep up with Ulfric. Through twists and turns the four made their way through the deep caves, before rounding a corner they came upon a disused mine cart track.

“Good, with any luck these rail should lead us back to the surface.” Ulfric said quickening his pace, the mares close behind him.

“Agreed we have to stop her before she takes our Shining Armor from us.” Cadence said stumbling over a rock and nearly falling face first onto the stone floor.

“Stop who?” Twilight ask as she helped Cadence regain her footing.

“My literally insane sister Chaurus, stupid bitch was always hungry for power even when she and I were nymphs.” chrysalis spat with disgust.

“Wait sister? How come you never said anything or talked about her when I was a little filly?” Twilight ask her interest and attention now fully directed at Chrysalis. The look on the Changelings face showed that it was something she was not pleasantly fond of telling. With a heavy sigh she began her story.

“When we were both nymphs a few years younger then when I first met you Twilight, both me and chaurus were being taught how to collect and store love, the life sustaining food of Changelings.” Chrysalis said remembering back to this happy time.

“But, with each little bit she took she started to realize that with more love came more power.” Chrysalis said her tone of voice becoming sad, and regretful.

“It became so bad that she went insane from her lust for power that she declared open war on the other hives.”
Twilight was stunned she have always thought that Chrysalis was an only child, only to learn that she had a crazed sister who was currently sabotaging their wedding.

“So what happened?” Twilight asked as the group can to a large crevasse where a bridge for the cart track one spanned.

“The war as short and bloody, but in the end the numerical superiority of the other hives, was able to overwhelm Chaurus and she and her hive were trap in a containment spell unable to leave, until now it seems.”

Twilight didn’t respond as Cadence and Chrysalis flew them across the gap, before quickening their pace. What seemed like hours came to an end as the level of light in the tunnels began to increase. It was not long before they rounded a corner that the light of Celestia's sun shines brightly down on them. And before them standing proud was the city of Canterlot below them, not it would not be long now.

“Twilight you must go with Cadence and Chrysalis, I have work to do.” Ulfric said beginning to climb down the mountain towards the vast city.

“B-but what about you, where are you going off to.” Twilight said

“My job and duty.” was all Ulfric said continuing down the mountain side, yet before he could go any further, purple energy flashed before his eyes and suddenly he found himself on the streets of Canterlot. Twilight has just teleported all of them, saving time and energy.

“Quickly go and free Captain Armor, get the Elements if you can, I have a city to defend.” Ulfric said taking off towards one of the many guard house that dotted the city, hoping to gather as many of the royal Guards that he could find, knowing that outside the protective shield spell that surrounded the city was Chaurus’s army waiting for the order of their queen to attack. And if it was a fight they wanted them Ulfric was going to give them one.
He would never make it, by the time he had ran halfway to the guard house a terrible sound similar to the crashing of granite boulders was heard across the majestic city before what sounded like the breaking of glass could be heard as ponies and guards turned their gazes skyward.

“EVERYPONY RUN!” Ulfric yelled at the top of his lungs as thousands of crimson shelled Changeling scream towards the ground, some becoming enveloped in red flame before smashing into the ground each causing a thunderous impact, before they each began to hunt down the nearest pony. Ulfric found himself surrounded by now more then ten of these Changelings each brandishing a sick twisted looking sword, spear or axe.

“Surrender, mutant pony and maybe we’ll let you live.” one of them hissed, yet Ulfric said nothing. Instead he drew his sword as slowly as he could showing them that he would not be surrendering.

“I think not.” was all Ulfric said, he waited, his breathing slow and deliberate, lessons and training that had been practiced since the day he could stand on his own two feet slowly pushed to the front of his thoughts. Time slowed as the first changeling leaped at him, battle axe raised to strike yet it would not succeed. With quick side step Ulfric parried the blow before driving home the blade of Lions bane, through the changeling's chest cavity. The black and red drone gurgled, before going limp, Ulfric freed his blade as the other changelings that surrounded him screeched and hiss before they were upon him. Despite having a numerical advantage, it was Ulfric who would win, as he had many more years of experience. Steel clashed with steel, bursts of arcane magic tore through the air as more changelings joined the fray, yet fore each one that joined, three would die, burned, shocked frozen, of shredded to pieces from axe and sword.

"Quickly find somewhere safe to hide." Ulfric said to the small group of ponies that were still present, as he killed the last changeling.

"Where are you going mister." A frightened filly said as she trembled in her mothers arms.

"To fight a war." Ulfric said charging down the street searching for the next group of crimson Changelings to fight, and whatever ponies he could find to save. Through the streets he raced stopping only to help civilians or fight the Changelings of Chaurus’s hive, even rallying what ever guards he could find into rapid response strike teams to hold the city as long as possible.

Running down a side street that overlooked the lower district of the city where the royal castle also stood, Ulfric was on the move, answering the call of some beleaguered guards and drone that served Chrysalis. Skidding to a halt the human caught sight of them below trapped and restrained by thick resin the red drone has secreted. Many still struggled in vain to fight. Yet for each one that did resist they were further encased in the organic material that held them. Turning to a unicorn stallion that had followed him, a plan began to formulate within Ulfric's mind.

“Do you have experience with teleportation spell, Corporal?” Ulfric asked

“Yes Lord Commander, I was rated best in my class on the subject of teleportation.” the stallion said standing at attention. He was nervous, standing here before the highest ranking officer of the military, having not much combat experience at had left him unprepared for what had come today. And yet, seeing the Lord Commander marching forth into battle sometimes alone strengthened the stallions resolve and courage.

“Good, when I say now I want you to teleport me directly in front of them, understood?” Ulfric said as his left hand began to glow with Snow White energy. Taking a few dozen steps back, he got a running start.

“NOW!” Ulfric yelled the corporals horn glowed with magic and then there was aloud pop and Ulfric was gone.
Sergeant Amber Lilac struggled against her bonds as she tried to free herself from the organic matter that restrained her, cursing, yelling as she sought to break free. What would she tell her vampony colt friend when she was taken away to be drained of love. Yet before she could even try to free herself again, there was the telltale pop of a teleportation spell, followed by a flash of white light, she felt her bonds break and crumble as she was thrown to the ground a few feet away. Lifting herself up and her vision clearing she saw something, no someone standing before them all. Approaching with a slow pace was the Lord Commander, she could see his ice blue eyes scanning over the guards and drone of the emerald hive.

“Take up arms.” Ulfric said in a reassuring tone, Amber lilac was confused as her head still spun from being thrown into the pavement.

“Fight.” Ulfric said as now even the red drones began to regain their sense of balance and direction.

“FIGHT!” Ulfric yelled, some way somehow it invigorated the guards and emerald hive drones, as they all began to yell out and fight their way to their feet grabbing anything and everything to fight with. Ulfric did not sit idle, as his mares, stallion and now drones in arms began to fight so to did he, a crimson drone came at him from the side only to be met with the blade of Wolfsfang to its head, another caught the downward diagonal slash of LionsBane across its chest, with a third stabbed straight through the heart.

“AMBER!” A pegasus called out holding up the two handed sword she often carried, taking the hilt in both her hands she ripped it free of the scabbard just in time to parry the swing of a crimson drones axe, hitting it with enough force to topple the drone onto its back. With the most immediate threat taken care of she turned her attention to the next drone, soon pony and emerald hive drones had turned the area into an all out brawl.

“Strike with fury.” Ulfric yelled as three red drones were reduced to ashes by a stream of flame

“FOR WE ARE EQUESTRIA’S DEFENDERS!” the guards replied in unison

“Strike with honor.”

“FOR WE SHALL DEFEND THE WEAK AND HELPLESS!”

“Strike with courage.”

“FOR WE SHALL FIGHT UNTO OUR DYING BREATH! “

“To The Castle ponies, FORWARD!” Ulfric cried pointing the blade of his sword to the white and gold structured that towered over the city. With a warcry of defiance that shook the heavens those that he had managed to gather, pony and emerald hive drones broke into a fighting spring towards Canterlot castle, the large mob of warriors slowed for nothing save to free any trapped guards or civilians before continuing onwards. Yet as they finally ran the home stretch and were about to reach the castle Gates, things took an interesting turn. Before anyone could even speak a single syllable, there was a massive pulse of magic, before a swirling sphere of blue, pink and green magic erupted outwards from the castle in all directions sending the drones of Chaurus’s hive away from the city toppling head over heels. Yet it was Ulfric who caught site of the crazed queen as she flew by over head screaming at the top of her lungs. For the briefest of moments both she and Ulfric locked eyes, before she was out of sight.

Three days later

The following few days were a blur, the real wedding was planned out the way the brides and groom had wanted it from the start with Cadence and Chrysalis both taking a healthy liking to the sweets applejack had bake, so much that she had to shoo them out of the kitchen after the each ate a full tray of her apple fritters. The dances and decorations were also redone and planned. When the time came, both Cadence and Chrysalis both walked down the aisle in elegant dresses that showed of their figures and curves very nicely, and when the time came to finally take their vows to each other, the entire audiences hearts melted from the love, even Ulfric whose heart was normally hardened to all save for Luna felt his warming up and the breathtaking sight. Those in attendance did get a laugh when it came time to kiss and Shining Armor found himself being pounced by two love hungry women, earning a healthy dose of laughter from everyone.

The reception went smoothly as both the groom and brides began to dance with each other, Shining Armor found himself constantly switching between his new wives, so that they each could have a turn to dance with their husband. Ulfric ever the stubborn man even found himself dancing as Everypony joined in in the fun. Luna giggled as she danced with the human she loved dearly she mentally laughed again when she remembered the look on Ulfric's face when she had told him she had teleported to the everfree castle to retrieve her armor and sword when the fighting broke, but for now she only cared about being with her beloved.

The dancing and merriment went on into the night, many a hangover would be expected but in the end they all agreed on the same thing. It was worth it.

Blood Moon :The Hunt

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Canterlot Castle three weeks since the attack on the city

In the weeks following the failed conquest of Canterlot, the nation had moved clear to defense readiness two. The highest the defense readiness Equestria has been in the last eight hundred years, hundreds of guards were mobilized in the event that Equestria would face total absolute war with the Crimson hive and Queen Chaurus. The Royal Navy, recalled all crews from what ever active shore leave they had, while the Royal Air Arm, readied it’s fleet of combat zeppelins. War looked imminent, and yet as the last few weeks went by, things began to calm down as the defense readiness level was brought down to level four, to the relief of much of the kingdom.

However none of this was of immediate concern to Ulfric, as he had something more pressing to worry about at this moment in space and time. If one were to ask the noble human what it was that was the focus of his attention, one would have to think three dimensionally. First they would have to explain to them why he was hiding in one of the many supply closets the castle had, another question that would have to be asked was why was he sitting in near total darkness with only a glow stone for light. The final question would be to see why the castle was dimly lit and seemingly abandoned. For those who would ask if they were present all they would have to do to find their answers would be to direct their eyes to the night sky outside, their they would see the reason why our hero was literally in the closet. For tonight was a Blood Moon. Now, many may think this would be a rather childish reason to be hiding with in a closet, but they would be forgetting one thing, and that was the affect a Blood Moon has upon vamponies. Typical when a Blood Moon occurs vamponies find themselves the victims of an increased desire for blood, thus driving their ever present hunger for the red liquid driven through the roof. Fortunately for Equestria efforts by Celestia over the centuries during her sisters banishment had allowed to to devise methods that kept the majority of Equestria’s population safe. Such methods included opening the blood banks for the vamponies to feed in albeit in a controlled manner as to not put those who would still need blood transfusions at risk, of not being able to access them.

Another method was to allow them to hunt the savage beasts of the Everfree forest, culling population levels to within an acceptable margin, with the list continuing on extensively. Now for Ulfric this would be no problem whatsoever, if it weren’t for one small detail. Said detail, was his beloved Luna, and that was why he was hiding, unlike normal vamponies who had a desire to feed that was thrown into overdrive, Blood Moons affected Luna in a different way. Do to her shared nature as an Alicorn and Vampony, instead of being hungry for blood nonstop, the Blood Moon would cause her to experience something similar to being in heat. Now some would think this meant that she would also be ready to bear foals, yet this was not entirely true. For when under this affect Luna would experience all the systems of being in season except that she would not be fertile, thus one would be left with a mare who would go to any lengths to be rutted non stop until the Blood Moon had passed. Truth be told Ulfric did not mind this, he just didn’t like to be suddenly pounced upon in the middle of something important, so to make it a challenge for his vampony Queen he would try to remain hidden for as long as he could and give his love a hunt that would be very rewarding in the end.

Seeing that for now it appeared to safe Ulfric ever so slowly opened the door to the closet, and peered through the small opening checking one side of the hallway then the other. Seeing that it was empty for now he slowly and ever so silently stepped out of the closet. Clad is only simple clothing and barefoot,Ulfric with carefully placed footsteps slowly made his way down the hallway, the small ball of light that floated in his was his only source of illumination. Unbeknownst to him however he was already being followed from the ceiling as a pair cyan eyes followed his every movement. Before a smile appeared in the darkness above him. The owner of said eyes and teeth slowly followed their prey, quietly crawling across the ceiling staying with the shadows to remain unseen. Said hunter would have her prey, and he would satisfy her needs that made her body ache, and yearn for his touch against her fur.

As he turned to slowly creep down a narrow side corridor, Ulfric had the ever growing feeling he was being followed, said feeling had begun to grow in his mind to moment he stepped out of the closet he had taken temporary refuge in. He knew she was near and that she was waiting for the right to moment to strike, yet he would not make it easy on her, instead Ulfric would make her work to catch her prey. Slowly he turned down a darkened corner knowing she would follow him. Following the twists and turns Ulfric soon had arrived at the castles east wing, an area normally reserved for visiting dignitaries and ambassadors.

Luna smiled her glistening white teeth and point fangs sparkling in the red light of the moon, with a giggle that echoed through the corridor she leaped from her hiding place in the ceiling towards her human with a powerful flap of her wings. Her arms outstretched and a seductive grin plastered on her muzzle, Luna would have her human, only it didn’t work out as she was planning. Instead of tackling Ulfric to the ground, she passed right through, it was if he wasn’t even there, with a yelp of surprise, the blue Alicorn instead tumbled into a nearby lamp. At this moment the now obvious fake Ulfric disappeared in a brief flash of light leaving behind a small scrap of parchment.

“Very tricky my love, mmhmhmhmhm but you would be able to hide from me forever.” Luna said with a seductive giggle, before seeing the parchment scrap, grabbing it with her magic she floated it in front of her muzzle and read the hastily written message it contained.

Dear Luna, by now you’ve discovered my magical duplicate that has been misleading you through the castle, you have upon discovering this are now coming to get me

Love

Ulfric

“Oh you clever silly wolf, now let’s see.” Luna muttered licking her lips as her horn flared, yet instead of her normal blue colored magic her horn was surrounded by a crimson glow, another effect of the blood moon. Within moments she had located her prey, with a devious smirk she took of in the direction of Ulfric, retreating to the darkened confines of the ceiling, as the shadows would be her ally in capturing what it was that she desired.

Elsewhere on the far side of the castle, Ulfric now alerted that his magical double had been removed from the equation, knew fully well that Luna was now coming for him. Did he try to make any further attempts to avoid the inevitable? No he knew that this game he played would not last forever, so he found a spot in the hallway while grabbing a spare chair, he sat and waited for his love to arrive and claim him. Time passed by agonizingly slow, seconds felt like minutes,minutes felt like hours. What is taking her so long, Ulfric thought as he waited for the arrival of his lunar princess. Yet before, he could even make another conscious thought, her heard something it sounded like something of incredible weight was being dragged on the floor, but it wasn’t the sound was coming from everywhere.

“I know you are here Luna, I know what it is that you want. You know that I do not scare easily, but you can try”. Ulfric said as he stood up from the chair, and began to slowly move away from it while constantly checking to see where he beloved Alicorn may appear from.

“Ehehehe, but that’s no fun my love.” came Luna’s reply echoing through out the vacant passage “Besides, we both know you like to make a game of this situation when it comes knocking.”

“True, but sometimes even this does not always go as you plan especially when a Blood Moon has risen.” Ulfric said as he pressed his back to the wall, an old habit of being a warrior is to never leave you back exposed to an enemy or in this cause a lust and sex hungry Alicorn mare.

“Aw you know me so well my love, hmm maybe we can test your knowledge of me. “ Luna’s reply came full of lust and desire as it echoed throughout the hall. After this all was quiet. Ulfric continued to scan the hallway looking first right, then left, then right again while occasionally looking up just Incase Luna decided to pounce from above. However this was not to be, upside down climbing down the side of the wall Luna slowly stalked her prey, licking her lips in a seductive manner every few seconds, as she creeped closer towards her human. And then she pounced, with a leap and a flap of her wings she grabbed hold of Ulfric’s shoulder and tumbled across the floor pinning the human to the ground.

“Got you my love.” Luna said, it was now is this position one would be able to see the true affect a Blood Moon had on Luna. Her sapphire blue mane and tail were now a deep crimson red, her cyan eyes now a similar shade of red. Yet the most prominent change was to her wings, instead of being full of soft feathery plumage, they were now like those found on bats, bony with a thin leather like plagiopatagium membrane stretching over them with each wing topped with a point thump that flexed now and then. Yet there was one small detail about Luna that stuck out like a sore thumb. Said detail was that she was completely nude, not a single strand of clothing covered her.

“Now my beloved, time for you to serve the will of your princess,” Luna said seductively straddling Ulfric’s waist “rest assured my love we’re both going to enjoy every second of this”.

With that said Luna horn flared, with a pop and a flash both human and Alicorn were spirited away to their bedchambers, and the inevitable night of pleasure that was soon to come.

BloodMoon: Clop

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There was a brief flash of crimson magic, before the once empty room was filled with the giggling of Luna as she straddled Ulfric’s waist, giggling with half lidded eyes for what she had planned for her lover.

“So my love now’s the time to serve your queen, and I guarantee you’ll find it pleasurable. “ Luna said with a seductive smirk, as she gyrated her hips against Ulfric’s groin. “Or will we have to resort to more convincing methods?”

“That depends my dear Luna, on how persuasive you can be.” Ulfric said with a suppressed chuckle. “We will simply have to see.”

With a giggle from Luna, the horny mare planted a quick kiss on his cheek, before releasing a quick burst of magic that found Ulfric clad in only his underwear, which did little to conceal his hardening erection.

“Ooooooh it would seem someone is excited to see me.” Luna said with a seductive smirk. “But he’ll have to wait as your queen requires your services now.”

“I am sworn to serve you my dear.” Ulfric said with a sly smile of his own.

“Hehehe do you now my little wolf, come let us put your skill to the test.” Luna said planting a quick kiss on Ulfric’s lips, before positioning herself on Ulfric’s chest and her already soaking marehood directly in front of his face, as she scooted closer to him.

“Now taste and serve your queen, then maybe I will let you do some more sensual things to me, my love.” Luna said. Ulfric didn’t need to be told twice instead he took hold of Luna’s thighs and dove right in immediately attacking her marehood with his tongue.

“Oooooh buck yes, give me more aahh.” Luna moaned throwing back her head as she started to buck her hips. Not stopping his onslaught Ulfric began to viscously assault Luna’s marehood licking hard and fast. Occasionally he would tease the mares swollen clit, earning more moans and screams of ecstasy from Luna, who in return started thrusting her hips vigorously into Ulfric’s face.

“Buck, buck , buck yes YES more GIVE ME MORE!” Luna screamed as she forcibly shoved Ulfric's head deeper into her crotch and marehood. With no words spoken in reply Ulfric did as his queen commanded renewing his efforts tenfold, earning screams of pleasure from the mare sitting on his face.

“YEEEEEEESSSSSS!” Luna screamed as her orgasm hit her like a metaphorical freight train, soaking Ulfric's face in her feminine juices. “Oh buck my love....that was amazing.”

Yet even with this moment of relief Luna was far from finished, nor did she intend to be satisfied so soon, in fact she had planned to have Ulfric rutted her brains out clear till sunrise or try to come close either way she’d get a good rutting no matter what, and maybe just maybe have a little fun as well. With a quick burst of magic, Ulfric's underwear disappeared with a flash and his hardened manhood fully exposed. Before he could even utter a single syllable, Luna slid down to his waiting organ and impaled herself, shoving as much of Ulfric's cock into as she could. A loud and long moan came from the sex crazed mare, before she started to gyrate and grind against her human not even giving him time to say he was ready or anything.

"Rrrrrnnn, anxious aren't we my sweet. " Ulfric said within a growl as Luna continued her ministrations against his cock and groin.

"What can I say hehehe you just fill me so perfectly." Luna said before lifting herself almost completely off of his cock before slamming back down in a rough and aggressive rhythm, as the lustful mare bounced on Ulfric’s cock. Ulfric moaned from Luna’s actions but he wasn’t going to just sit there letting her ride him without consequence. With a quick flurry of movement Luna found herself being held by Ulfric and pinned against the wall as he assaulted her marehood, each thrust of his cock forcing a moan or scream of pleasure to escape her lips, as she wrapped her arms and legs around Ulfric's waist and neck.

“B-b-b-buck y-y-yessssss “ Luna moaned before she exposed her sharpened fangs, biting down on Ulfric's shoulder, earning a brief grunt from the human as she began to hungrily feed upon his blood. Luna continued on like this for another few minutes before she convulsed and her marehood clamped down on Ulfric's cock soaking it in her marecum. With one final grunt Ulfric shoved his cock in as hard as he could, just in time to start filling Luna with his seed.

“We’re not done yet my dear.” Ulfric said, with a quick casting of shadow magic he was gone leaving a frantic Luna to search for him, yet he was much closer then she knew. Luna suddenly yelped in surprise as a pair of hands smacked her on her ass, before sliding up her beautiful body as Ulfric began to fondle her breasts.

“Ah ah ah oh please take me Ulfric I beg you, r-rut me like a cheap street corner whore, PLEEEEASSEEE.” Luna cried out as her breasts were continuously molested.

“Gladly my dear.” Ulfric said lining up his shaft with Luna’s soaked entrance and shoved it in. Luna gave a husky moan as she felt the length of Ulfric's shaft pierce her deepest depths, before it was quickly removed and shoved back in.

Within moments the wet sounds of flesh slapping together filled the room as the human pistoned into his mare, driving the mare mad with cries and screams of carnal pleasure. As he pounded away into Luna, Ulfric quickly wrapped one arm around her waist and the other over her chest pulling the mare into his chest as he showed his cock in with renewed vigor and with better leverage.

“Buck, YEEEESSSS BUCK ME SO HARD THAT I WONT BE ABLE TO WALK ULFRIC WE DEMAND IT!” Luna screamed as she leaned her head back and her eyes rolled back. Taken the words of Luna into consideration Ulfric did just that, quickening his pace sending wave after wave of pleasure through both of their bodies as they both neared release.

“Going to cum Luna.” Ulfric said as he forcefully thrust his cock into Luna’s marehood.

“DO IT ULFRIC FILL ME WITH YOUR ESSENCE MAKE ME FEEL FULL!” Luna wailed as she screamed in bliss as her walls clamped down on Ulfric's member coating his shaft and groin in her mare juices as spurt after spurt of seed shot from Ulfric's cock into Luna’s deepest depths.

“Buck......ah ....yes.” Luna said, panting heavily from the ravaging her body has just received from her love, only to start to feel weak in her legs. It seemed Ulfric had rutted the lunar mare to the point she wouldn’t be able to walk, just like she had begged him to do. Before she was able to fall three inches, Ulfric has scooped her up and now held her bridal style.

“Hahaha you actually did it Ulfric, you rutted me to the point of not being able to stand.” Luna said with a laugh, nuzzling his cheek.

“Did I not say I would please you Luna?” Ulfric said with a smirk, kissing Luna on her forehead.

“Hehe yes you did, now I hope your still feeling energized, cause we are far from being finished. “ Luna said seductively as her horn glowed crimson. With a pop and flash of magic both human and mare were once again on the bed, this time with Ulfric leaned back against the headboard and Luna sitting in his lap but with her back facing Ulfric. With a throaty growl Luna began to grind her soaked marehood against Ulfric's member, eliciting many a moan from the human. Seeing that she was getting her desired reaction from him, Luna, with a wink, positioned herself lining up the tip of Ulfric's cock before lowering herself onto it.

“Mmmmmm yes so big and deeeeeep.” She moaned as she hilted on Ulfric. Within seconds she began to bounce with earnest gasping and moaning with each movement, while Ulfric taking hold of Luna’s hips began to thrust his cock in tandem with Luna’s movements. Both lovers moan and gasped at the sensations running through their bodies each lost in the bliss they felt as they made love to one another. Each thrust and bounce pushed them closer to release each movement showing how much these two beings cared for each other.

With a free hand Ulfric reached down to Luna's marehood, tweaking, pinching and twisting her swollen clit driving the mare wild as she moaned and screamed for him to not stop what he was doing. Luna was enjoying what was being done to her that she didn't even care when her bat like wings sprung open locking in place, ‘congratulations Luna you have wingboner’ She said to herself as she felt her body creeping close to another orgasm.

"Buck, yes Ulfric my love I-i'm going to-. " Luna said moaning as a wave of pleasure washed over her. Even as she tried to finish she felt Ulfric take hold of her with both of his arms, quickening his pace pistoning away at her marehood, slamming into it forcefully with each thrust.

"Grrrrrnaaah" Ulfric growled as he slammed his cock in one last time hilting it inside Luna as he began to pump his seed into her once again

"YEEEESSSSSSSS SO MUCH SEED YESSSSS!” Luna screamed as she came on Ulfric's cock soaking it in her juices for the third time that night. Luna shook as she came down from the experience as she turned so she could cuddle up against her lover. "Thank you my love."

Ulfric wrapped the shaking mare in his arms pulling her closer to him, planting a soft gentle kiss on her head as he held her.

"Your welcome, my queen of the night." He said sweetly to her, earning a blush from Luna, who simply nuzzled his toned chest.

"I didn't take to much when I fed on you did I?" she asked with a hint of concern.

"You did not my sweet, it itches a little but I'll live." Ulfric said hugging Luna tightly.

"Good.... cause we are far from finished." Luna said with a very seductive smirk.

Ulfric wasn't even able to utter a single word as he found himself suddenly pounced upon by Luna.

Several hours later

Ulfric and Luna continued their night of lust fueled passion through out the night. Thanks to the Blood Moon Luna's need for sex meant she would not be satisfied until the night had passed. They only would stop for a few minutes at a time to catch their breath and get a drink of water or in Luna's case a bit of blood from a few pre-filled bottles of blood she had on hand. As the night slowly began to fade and the Blood Moon began to sink below the horizon, both human and mare finally collapsed onto the bed tired, sore but otherwise very happy. If one were to look into the room, one would think that a bomb had gone off, as it was that big of a mess. But one would also find two lovers embraced in each other’s arms fast asleep after many hours of late night fun, and not a care in the world to bother them. But the next few days would bring about change for Equestria and perhaps even the world, but only time will tell.

Old Alliances, Older Enemies

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Canterlot Castle one week later

In the days following the Blood Moon, many things had come to pass. Thanks to failed attempt by Choraus to try and invade and capture Canterlot, a summit had been declared to gather all the nations either allied with Equestria or who had diplomatic relations. This union appropriately known as the council of Nations was an international diplomatic organization that was form by Celestia some five hundred years ago, shortly after The Caribou- Hooviet war, as a means to maintain peace and to try and find alternative means to settle differences without the need for bloodshed. Truth be told Ulfric didn’t quite know how to feel about this, on one hand he was pleased that so many nations and kingdoms is together to try and create a more peaceful world, while on the other hand he was displeased to learn that in the last three hundred years there had been no less than ten separate wars between half of the members nations. Despite the efforts of the council to maintain the peace between the warring nations diplomacy would often fail. Yet during this time period Equestria itself had not seen war or conflict for eight hundred years, that was until the attack on Canterlot. Many ranking military leaders flat out said this was a declaration of war between Equestria and the Crimson changeling hive, while others still wanted to pursue the route of diplomacy. Suffice to say this lead to many a shouting match during general staff meetings in last month and a half. Yet seeing as it had held the peace for so long Ulfric was not about to counter argue the usefulness of the council. Yet it was the list of visiting rulers that raised some concern with the human, many were coming from lands that had been long standing allies with Equestria, Minos, The Highlanders’, Neighpon, even the king of the Diamond Dogs was arriving from the Lonely Mountain located far to the northwest. The thought of the Highlanders brought a smile to his face as he recalled the battle that saved their lands from the Caribou and solidified a lasting alliance and trust with Equestria. For now he would simply have to keep a stoic expression and calm demeanor as there were some who now lived in the castle who knew what Ulfric’s temper was like not that they ever made him angry any second mind you.

While this was playing out in his mind, Ulfric was busy making sure his armor was presentable and free of filth and grime. Being that most of the nations had long forgotten him, he fully intended to re-educate them on who it was that helped protect their lands or brought about their humbling. And so as the hour of the meeting grew closer Ulfric decided it was time to make ready so that this threat of the crimson hive could hopefully bet dealt with swiftly and efficiently.

Canterlot Castle Diplomatic meeting room

Behind the heavy white oak doors sat Celestia and Luna each sitting upon their respective thrones as they awaited the arrival of the foreign dignitaries.

“Nervous Tia? Luna asked

“A little more of how Ulfric will react upon learning that the Caribou are a member of the council, given that his last meeting with them was shortly before your......banishment “ Celestia said with a hint of sadness after saying the last word. Luna knew that her sister still felt grief and sorrow for the pain she caused so long ago, but she did have a point, seeing as the last meeting Ulfric had with Caribou was shortly after the Caribou’s old empire was finally toppled and the nation rebuilt into a free republic where females would no longer be treated as property or as items of sexual abuse. Though Luna could clearly recall Ulfric saying that if they ever returned to their old ways he would personally finish them off leaving nothing but ruined cities and the dead as a reminder to any who tried to tread down that path again. How could Luna forget such an event when she witnessed it first hand.

“Point taken Tia, but though from what I have read, they have returned to some of their old ways, but I think it will have a positive outcome. “ Luna said with a small smile giving Celestia's hand a soft squeeze.

“So do I Luna, now if I am not mistaken our first visiting dignitaries should be arriving right. About . Now. “ Celestia said stealing a glance at the Ponnex wrist watch she wore. Like clockwork the doors to the conference room opened ushering the many guest, the crown prince of Neighpon, the Chancellor of Germaney, the Prime Minister of Prance, the chieftain of the Minotaurs, and many more. One particular dignitary caught the attention of the others, she was a hulking seven feet six inch tall brute of a mare, arms and legs ripped with muscle shaggy fur and her chest heavily endowed, she was clad in leather armor and a knee length blue and green kilt, and upon her head was a jeweled golden circlet, with a large bear pelt hung over her shoulders This was Valka Strongarm. The current queen of the Highlanders, descendant of the legendary King Thunderstorm Skulltaker. Celestia was good friends with the mare though they only saw each other once every eight months or so given that the Highlands were located far to the northeast of Equestria, yet the Highlanders had remained on of Equestrias strongest allies in the last thousand years.

“Sister is that Thunderstorms heir?” Luna said with a hushed whisper.

“She is sister while she may look brutish she is in fact quite the conversationalist “ Celestia replied, earning a nod of understanding from Luna. A few more minutes past before all of the dignitaries and representatives were finally seated.

“Vith your permission princesses may ve begin zhe meeting.“ The Chancellor of Germaney asked.

“We still await the arrival of one more individual and they we may begin Chancellor, you have our promise “ Luna said with a soft smile.

“ Oh? Und who vould zis pony be.” the Chancellor asked.

“If we are correct in our timing he should be joining us right. About. Now.” Luna and as if on command the doors to the conference room opened allowing the newcomer to enter. With a slow deliberate pace, Ulfric entered the room, carrying his helmet under his left arm. He would steal a glance every few seconds at the reactions from those present save for Celestia and Luna. Many were taken back by what they saw as none had ever seen a human before, some had never even heard of a human and yet Ulfric was present before them.

Ulfric took his place next to Luna,after giving both her and Celestia a quick salute, sitting in a throne of his own, yet while the thrones that Celestia and Luna both used were ornate and comfortable to sit in, Ulfric’s was the exact opposite. His throne was made of solid stone with sharp angles, when asked by the castle stone cutter why he would want something so uncomfortable to sit in, he gave the stallion the same answer his father had given him so long ago. “The duty of a general or any commander will never be easy they will have to make decisions that affect everyone and everything from a single soldier to an entire legion, to the entire kingdom” And so Ulfric has this throne commissioned as a reminder to what his father had told him.

“Good morning. “ was all Ulfric said to those gathered around the large table, giving a nod to both Luna and Celestia.

“If we are ready then, with the power vested to me and my sister we declare this meeting of the Council of Nation open,” Celestia said tapping a small gavel on the table. “The first and only item to be discussed is the attack on Canterlot by the Crimson changeling hive by queen Chaurus. “

Murmurs as whisper filled the air for a few moments before, the ambassador of the Emerald hive rose from her seat.

“The Emerald hive recognizes this issue and shall support Equestria in whatever decision it makes, as the marriage of now Prince Shining Armor to our Queen has also made this an attack our hive as well.” she said her voice full of vigor.

“Prance seconds zhis.”

“Und zo does Germaney.”

“The Highlanders will fight fer Equestria until the end a time, so if any of ye milk drinkin focks think about stopping us ye got another think commin ye hear.” Valka said as she slammed her fist on the table breaking off a small chunk in the process. Many were take back by the massive mares statement but then again most knew better then to try and argue with a highland pony. Many of the remaining delegates also voiced their decisions to support Equestria and now the Emerald hive but at the expense of remaining neutral. However the last two individuals had yet to voice what they had decided. Specially the representative of the Caribou and of the Crimson hive, they were quiet, the tension was so thick you could cut it with an axe and turned it into a desk or dining table. Everyone waited as the world either watched or listened in to this decision that could bring about a swift peace or a drawn out war. The crimson changeling and the Caribou both spoke in hushed whispers many hoped for peace even Ulfric did but a feeling in his gut screamed for him to be ready to draw his sword, axe and to unleash the magic of his homeworld at a moments notice, he would not be proven wrong, as the Caribou ambassador spoke.

“It is the decision of both the Caribou Republic and the Crimson Hive....That war with Equestria will continue against our mutual enemy” The moment the last word left his mouth the room was in an uproar as the other delegates screamed their curses of disappointment and dissatisfaction.

“SILENCE” Ulfric shouted his voice amplified by an amplification spell. “I knew you would do this Caribou from the moment you set foot in this castle I knew never trust the Caribou”

Ulfric snarled as he unsheathed his sword and drew wolfsfang. Yet before he could even issue the order to have both delegates apprehended, they both began to laugh maniacally as if this situation was one big joke to them.

“Did you really think we would forget what you did to our empire and to our race so long ago, Ulfric Stormwolf, because the remnants of the royal family now rule our nation once more, and this time nothing will stand in our way from saving males across the globe, not even you, ape.” the Caribou said laughing once again, before the the shattering of glass broke gained the attention of everyone in the room. There source of the disturbance were no less than forty Special Operations Caribou storming the room, along with fifteen Crimson changelings.

“Sssss it be wise for you to cooperate without resistance we don’t want anypony to get hurt would we now. “the crimson ambassador hissed through her fangs. “Besides with you as a constant source of love our hive will dominate the land.”

Ulfric didn’t say anything, only turning his gaze to Luna and then to Celestia, giving them each the faintest of nods as if he was telling or agreeing to something without using any words at all. Both alicorns knew what it was he was planning, and both were ready to begin anew a past conflict and to start a brand new one. In a fraction of a second a blinding golden and sapphire light filled the room, before it faded revealing Luna and Celestia clad in their full panoply of war

“If it is war you want,” Celestia said

“Thou shalt have it “ Luna finished reading her sword and Celestia her halberd. And with the rest of Equis watching, the war that would many had hoped to resolve without violence had truly begun, and there was no going back, all the pieces have been set upon the board and the game must be played for only one side will win.

Authors note: Valka is based off of the Highlander from For Honor just as a reference

horns of war

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Canterlot Castle Conference Room

It was now official, war had come to Equestria and there was no going back, the dice had been cast and now the game must be played. And play the game Equestria would, for a fury had been awakened within the nations heart, and it called out for vengeance, for this crime that had been committed against it.

“So this is the course of action you have chosen?” Ulfric said to the crimson changeling and Caribou slightly annoyed “A pity, I had come to this meeting hoping for a peaceful resolution yet it would seem I was mistaken, you have made your beds now it is time for you to lie upon them.”

With a discreet nod from Ulfric the remaining delegates who sided with Equestria knew what was coming, as those who were armed ever so slowly reached for their weapons. It was then a special ops Caribou lunged at the ambassador of Germaney, only to be intercepted by Valka who with a single hand grabbed him by the throat and threw him out the very same window he entered from.

“Ye fockin shites, ye pisseh meh off, now, I’m goin teh sending yer little asses beck to ya yeh mummies cryin.” the Highlander said with a growl drawing forth the massive claymore that was strapped to her back. Within moments the room was filled with the sounds of battle as steel clashed with steel and magic filled the air, as spells and hexes were thrown left and right. Yet it was the two alicorns and human who faced the brunt of the attackers strength. They moved with a speed that made the three appear to be nothing more then blurs as they cut through the attackers leaving none alive, for they found no mercy in their hearts to give the Crimson Changelings or the Caribou, or they had now proven themselves worthy of none. But Celestia she was beyond livid so much so that her normally rainbow mane and tail were now pure flame as she was enraged beyond belief.

“COME AT ME YOU SPINELESS WELPS AND FACE THE WRATH OF THE SUN INCARNATE! “ the alabaster mare roared with the royal voice as she skewered a Caribou and crimson drone on the spike of her halberd before she used the axe blade on the head to carve another drone in half. Within another five minutes the remaining attackers were dead and the crimson hive and Caribou ambassadors detained.

“Gets these pieces of filth out of my sight.” Ulfric said once the royal guards managed to arrive taking the two prisoners to the dungeons.

“Sir reports coming from the airship docks of more Caribou troops being unleashed from the Caribou zeppelin the ambassador arrived on.” A unicorn Sergeant said with a quick salute.

“Understood, Celestia and my dear Luna secure the castle, Valka and Baron von Ridder your with me.”

“Jawohl.” the germane stallion said cleaning the rapier he had acquired, he may have been a diplomat these days but forty years in the Germane army says other wise while Valka hefted her claymore ready to fight more against an ancient foe that nearly destroyed the Highlands a thousand years ago. Highland ponies had long memories and they never forget those who have wronged them or done harm to their lands so Valka was more then ready to claim some payback for what happened so long ago.

“Be careful Ulfric. “ Luna said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“When I make a promise Luna I keep them.” Ulfric said before leaving the room followed by Valka and Von Rider. Running out of the castle Ulfric could already see smoke rising from the docks district. Blood had been spilled this day, and the fallen will cry out for retribution and they would have it, for the horns of war had sounded, the armies of Equestria and the emerald hive would now march to war, there was no turning back, the wheel was turning and would only stop once one side claimed victory. As the trio of three raced to the docks they were accompanied by an ever growing number of Canterlot police officers, while they were not trained for war, they too were ready to defend the city they called home. Yet many had a hidden secret many were of the Lycans and vamponies who rallied to the Wolf King.

“Sir, wait,“ a Guard private shouted from up ahead “there’s at least four battalions that have taken the docks we don’t have the numbers to retake them my lord.”

Ulfric was quiet in thought, yet after a few moments he finally spoke and all present felt the weight of his words.
“Long ago I swore to protect Equestria and all that I love of my adopted home and now the Caribou and the crimson hive have come threatening it, I think it is time they learned why I am known as the Wolf King. “
Ulfric threw back his head letting loose a howl that echoed across the city

“ARRRRRRUUUUUUOOOOO!”

Then it was Von Rider who noticed Ulfric’s eyes were now yellow and not ice blue anymore.
“Mein Schöpfer ist er ein Werwolf.” he said in shock slipping back to his native tongue, while shocked, his suspicions were now confirmed yet this did not change his opinion of Equestria as Germaney has had a lasting alliance with Equestria. It was then that Ulfric growled not like a man but like a Wolf. His body mass and bulk began to increase threatening to tear his armor to pieces if it were not for the buckle so being specially designed to release when Ulfric took on his Wolf form. Steel plates peeled away as skin was replaced with alternating black and white fur, bones snapped crunched and reshaped. Until not standing some eight feet tall on digitigrade legs stood a white and black alpha werewolf. And he would now hunt.

“Beast out Caribou prey now hunt.” Ulfric said the best of his current ability, trying to talk while turned into a bipedal Wolf was always difficult for him even after a thousand years of being a werewolf. With a snarl he quickly scaled the wall of the building that was besides them overlooking the docks. Reaching the roof Ulfric surveyed the damage, it was not good the docks were nearly over run with only a few small straggler groups of guards desperately trying to fight for survival instead of trying to repel the Caribou. But now it was time for the children of the night to commit to battle, and they would show no mercy. With a vicious snarl he leaped from the roof top, landing atop a Caribou soldier before he had time to react as Ulfric mauled him to death clawing, biting, and chewing turning the enemy soldier into minced meat.
The Caribou who saw this froze in fear as one of their own was slaughtered by a massive wolf but their fear quickly horror as from the alleyways hundred of wolves and red eyed fanged ponies pour out like a tide of death, and they would now surely die. With the speed of a bullet Ulfric pounced upon the next Caribou biting down and tearing a sizable chunk of flesh from the soldiers neck before attacking another viscously tearing the poor soul to shreds with his claws. As quickly as their panic had set in officers began to bark orders for them to slay the freaks, the fools normal weapons can hurt werewolf's and vamponies, but to truly kill them requires silver weapons. And they had no such weapons, they would die here in this massacre. Soon Valka and Von Rider has joined the fray lending their blades to the hordes that poured into the docks swords, axes, maces, fangs, claws, and sharpened teeth etc, tore through armor and shields, claws eviscerated flesh and bone and fangs found many an artery or vain to feed from. While Ulfric chewed through a Caribou’s arm, Von Rider dispatch several in quick succession using his many years of fencing practice and skills like it was a championship match.

With Valka it was completely different, the highlander was cutting caribou in half left and right even headbutting a few who thought the could sneak up on the brutish mare.

"Yeh Fockin panzy asses ye mothers could fight better then ye can" She roared blocking an axe swing before cutting the offending individuals arms clean off and shoving her claymore through his gullet.

"Iz such profanity really required Frau Valka" Von Rider said as he caught a caribou between the legs.

"Ye can bet yer Fockin life on it" Valka replied, meanwhile Ulfric had singled out the caribou commander, said leader was carelessly throwing his remaining personal guards against Ulfric trying to kill the monster wolf that was coming ever so closer to him.

“YOU IDIOTS CAN'T ANY OF YOU KILL AN OVERGROWN WOLF OR ARE YOU COMPLETE MORONS?” he yelled as Ulfric tore another of his personal guards in half.

“Caribou, lowlife slaver filth, challenge to single combat” Ulfric said with a deep guttural growl. The commander was stunned that this beast would challenge him to single combat when it was only just tearing his men apart not five minutes ago. What could this freak gain from this personal fun, some sick enjoyment or was it something else.

"A-and who are you to challenge m-me to this you bucking freak?" he stuttered

"Ulfric StormWolf, Lord Commander, Equestria" Ulfric said in incomplete sentences. That name had hit the caribou commander like a wall of brick. This wolf this being was the ancient commander from days long past the nearly destroyed the caribou empire. seeing as his remaining troops had ceased their fighting and now were watching his every move he knew he had to accept or he would be torn to shreds as his men had been.

"Very well I shall accept your challenge, and you will die." He said, Ulfric only growled in response taking a low stance with his claws extended, while the caribou drew forth a double bladed battle axe. Again it was not a silver weapon so Ulfric was in no danger of being killed in his wolf form. Both combatants readied themselves for this one fight, this once moment of violence that would shape to war to come. Time seemed to slow to a near standstill, until both charged each other as everyone else watched. The Caribou commander brought his axe up in a diagonal sweep in the hope of cleaving Ulfric in half but he had timed his attack wrong and only left a deep slash across Ulfric's chest before the werewolf with a menacing growl stabbed the Caribou through his armor and chest with his clawed hands. The results were instantaneous the enemy leader gasped for air and then went completely limp, the life having left his body. With their commanding officer dead what Caribou remained alive dropped to their knees, arms behind their heads as they were taken prisoner. The battle of the docks was off, but the war was only beginning and there are so many battles yet to fight. Ulfric heard the familiar magical pop of someone teleporting in behind only to have a pair of arms wrap around his middle
.
“Oh thank my mother your okay.” Luna said as she hugged Ulfric before she noticed the large gash on his chest. “Ulfric Stormwolf, WHAT HAPPENED! “

“Axe Caribou commander” the werewolf said with a shrug seemingly unfazed by this as the wound slowly stitched back together, thank goodness injuries to werewolves heal pretty fast.

“Hmmph well you sir are going to have some explaining to do,” Luna before leaning to whisper in his ear “maybe alone.”

Ulfric only scoffed but did not say no or object.

“You not hurt safe?” He asked, seeing a few new cuts and dents in Luna’s armor no doubt he’d have to fix it.

“A few bumps and bruises my armor needs some fixing and may need to be resized it’s a bit tight on my thighs, waist, and chest, I am guessing this is because I was a bit smaller the last time I wore it.” Luna said with a smile earning a laugh from Ulfric which sounded more like growling.

“Let’s go home, war to plan be ready for fight.” he said. As the last prisoners were rounded up and being escorted away, both Luna and the wolf head back to the castle, they both knew the road ahead would be a trail of blood and destruction, yet they would prevail as good always triumphs over the forces of evil and wickedness. And they would face this war together as they always had.

500

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Two weeks later

Word that war now existed had spread like a wildfire across Equestria. In that time there had been several skirmishes across the nations northwestern border. Though these attacks were light each one was slightly stronger than the last, for it would seem the Caribou and crimson hive were actively probing Equestrias defenses many if not all of the higher ranking military officers were calling for an immediate preemptive offensive out and across the marecific towards the Caribou empire and the Crimson hive. Yet there was a wrench that had been thrown into the gears of this plan. Namely that for large troop movements to be allowed it required a fifty percent or more votes from the nobility to allow even a single battalion to move. Suffice to say Ulfric was not pleased by this.

“YOU CAN NOT BE FUCKING SERIOUS YOU WOULD RATHER STANDBY WHILE OUR KINGDOM IS ATTACKED AND INVADED ALL SO YOU FAT FUCKING COWARDS CAN LINE YOUR ASSES WITH COIN!” Ulfric shouted in anger, oh how he was so close to letting the nobles have a very personal beating, and he had every right to be mad as sixty percent had voted to not deploy the bulk of Equestria’s forces to battle. "AND TO THINK SO MANY OF YOUR ANCESTORS WOULD BEING RUSHING TO AID THE KINGDOM AND YET THIS IS WHAT THEIR LEGACIES HAVE BECOME?!!!!!!!
Most of the nobles who had voted in favor of a mass deployment of troops flinched and recoiled at the outburst from the angry human, yet they understood his anger their nation, their way of life and culture were under attack and action had to be taken, or else all would fall to darkness.

"Sir StormWolf we understand you frustration, yet the vote is final there will be no major deployment of Equestria's armies, I am truly sorry." Celestia said while she had to keep up a professional appearance she too was not pleased about this decision either in fact she was rather livid yet she did not show it. Yet in the back of her mind she knew Ulfric would not sit idly by while Equestria was burned and its citizens slaughtered, she knew he would defy the vote and march to war, as he had done so many times in the distant past to protect what he called home and all that he loved. Her train of thought was interrupted by Ulfric storming out of the throne room.

"SPINELESS FUCKING COWARDS!" his voice echoed down the hall as he made his way to the war room. Celestia stole a glance to Luna who also shook her head in disappointment. with the meeting more or less over both monarchs rose from their thrones to follow the angered human and to see what he had planned.

WAR ROOM

With an angry huff Ulfric threw open the doors to the war room not caring for the looks of shock and surprise this earned him before he stopped at the table had a massive detailed map of Equestria on it.

"Sir? Did the meeting go well, will we be mobilizing more of the military?" A junior strategist asked.

"No, we will not, the nobility has failed Equestria, they would rather cower behind their wealth while our people are slaughtered or taken to be sold in the caribou slave markets or taken to the crimson hive to be used as a living source of food." He growled slamming his fist on the map table.

"And what pray tell will you do about it Sir StormWolf ?" A new voice said from behind him, This new voice Ulfric easily identified as that of Celestia who entered with Luna a few paces behind. "I know you too well despite the current status of our....’friendship’ both Luna and I know you will not be content to sit and do nothing."

"You are correct princess, I intend to fight, yet it must be at a place where our defiance will be best remembered and lift the curtains of foolishness from the eyes of the nobility, and I know exactly where that will be." Ulfric said, with a very slight smirk, as he points to a single name on the map near the northwestern border. The pass of Platea.

"You would fight there?" Luna asked with concern as she studied the location on the map. It was a narrow pathway only wide enough that at most only ten ponies would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder in it.

"I intend to without the approval of the nobility, and with a small force, since they seem set on not letting the greater bulk of our forces march to war." Ulfric said

"How many?" Luna asked with a hint of fear

"Five hundred."

"FIVE HUNDRED?!!!!" Both princesses shouted with the royal voice in shock and fear.

"Ulfric please my beloved reconsider this they'll overwhelm you." Luna said as a few tears started to fill her eyes.

"I know they will but I can not stand by and do nothing." Ulfric said stepping around the map table and standing before Luna, The lunar mare raising her muzzle and eyes to look into Ulfric's, who bless his soul simply pulled his love into a caring and gentle hug to reassure her that he would not fail.

"Please don't go. " She said as she buried her muzzle and face into his shoulder, shedding a few tears. "I don't want to lose you again." She stopped when Ulfric step back half a step, lifting her muzzle up with a finger to look her in the eyes. those present were gifted the pleasant display of the human softly kissing Luna on the lips.

"You won’t my dear, that's a promise, and I never make a promise I can't keep." Ulfric said wrapping his arms around the blue mares waist , hugging her. Luna felt some comfort in this wrapping her arms around Ulfric's neck and returning the hug.
"Promise me you'll come back." Luna asked

"I will, we all will." Ulfric said before reaching into a pocket and pulling out a small wrapped package. "Here so that you will know I am safe. With a quizzical look Luna took the package and unwrapped it gasping at what was inside. it was the necklace Ulfric had made for each of them so long ago, now it was no longer a burnt black but a bright silver humming with magic.

"You fixed it?" Luna said with surprise.

"I did because I know you Luna, so I figured a little something to let you know that I am safe while away would be a comfort to you." Ulfric said with a smile. Luna knew this was true she trusted her lover, so she had no need to question him, for now they would spend some time together before Ulfric left for war.

Three days later, The Pass of Platea

They had arrived, all five hundred ponies, earth ponies, pegasi, Unicorns and Thestrals. somewhere werewolves and vamponies among the just ordinary ponies. They had seen little conflict so far, having only encountered a few enemy scouts and they had fallen quickly to the five hundred. For they had waited a whole day as they prepared for the enemies inevitable arrival. Holding the pass from where they were gave them two tactical advantages, it was narrow forming a natural bottle neck and one side was nothing but a steep cliff dropping some even hundred feet down to razor sharp rock and the sea. Ulfric intended to utilize both of these when the time came.

"How much longer do you think we'll have to wait Sir." Asked a Pegasus corporal, the waiting and anticipation was starting to bore some of them and they wanted to fight yet the waiting was starting to get to them.

"With luck hopefully not too much longer." Ulfric said holding his helmet under his arm. "For now we must wa-" He didn't have the chance to finish as the ground began to shake and lose stones and rocks shifted and fell around them.

"Earthquake?" Star Blossom asked with a hint of concern.

"No lieutenant," Ulfric said with a devilish grin "Battle formations!" Many of the five hundred who heard this scrambled for their helmets and other equipment as they made ready to face the approaching enemy. The first thing they heard was the sound of thousands of boots thundering on the stone floor of the path growing louder by the second as the advancing caribou force rounded the corner heading straight for them. facing them was the equestrian force, all arranged in rows of ten guards wide and fifty rows deep blocking the pass, all armed with spears and large round shields that Ulfric called an aspis a three foot wide convex shield that was easy to wield and formed into a row formed a solid wall of wood and metal. Ulfric stood at the front with a spear in his right hand and a shield hanging from his left.

"THIS IS WHERE WE HOLD THEM, THIS IS WHERE WE FIGHT!" He yelled with a snarl turning to face his comrades in arms "THIS IS WHERE THEY DIE!" gesturing to the advancing caribou.

"EARN THESE SHIELDS PONIES!" Star blossom yelled raising her shield high.

"Remember this day my friends for it will yours for all of time!" Ulfric said as they waited. The caribou stopped a hundred yards from the Equestrians. Before they part and what appeared to be a Colonel stepped forward to address them.

"PONIES, LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!" He shouted, waiting for a response. For a few agonizing moments there was silence, it was quickly broken as a spear was hurled from the ponies, and hit the caribou directly in his heart. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"CARIBOU!" Ulfric yelled as he and his warriors formed a phalanx, spears ready to strike. "COME AND TAKE THEM!"
Upon saying these words various caribou war horns rang out as they charged the ponies, Ulfric knew from experience they would try to use their mind control spells on the stallions that accompanied him, but he had expected this as such every single soldier in the guard had their helmets enchanted with multiple spells to protect against this, this was one advantage that would be denied to the caribou from now till whenever the war ended.

“Steady!” Ulfric shouted over the stampede of charging caribou, what he heard next can not from the caribou but from one of his own warriors.

“GIVE THEM NOTHING BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING! “ An orange Pegasus mare yelled, Mango julep he recalled a befitting thing for her to say. They braced themselves as the caribou closed, coming closer by the second each pony readied themselves for the incoming wall of bodies and armor.
With a force like that of stampeding cattle the caribou smashed into the shields of the ponies slowly pushing them back into the pass, but as each row was pushed back it would be braced and strengthened by the one behind it making the ponies formation more and more into an immovable object.

"PUSH!" "Ulfric shouted over the noise, shoving his shield into the mass of caribou the rest of the ponies doing the same as each row of the phalanx was pushed back to the next making it more difficult for them to be dislodged.

“NOW!” Star Blossom shouted as all five hundred braced and locked together, stopping the caribou’s advance . For a brief moment there was total silence, this silence however was broken as Ulfric and front most row of ponies smack the caribou away with their shields forming enough room that they could stab forward with their spears. Advance, shove out of the way, stab, repeat. Each time caused more caribou to die, each time drove them back as the ponies advanced. As they did those who lacked swords would dart out hacking and slashing with swords war axes and maces before retreating behind their shield bearing brethren.

“MOVE FORWARD “ Ulfric shouted as he smashed a caribou’s head in with his aspis. “DRIVE THEM BACK”
The ponies moved forward slowly forcing the caribou back the way they had come, falling more and more as they went, a good start to a new war.

Two days later

For three days the ponies had held the pass beating back each assault that came fighting beast and magic alike. Yet when the caribou king Danin heard of this defiance he chose a new tactic, he would send the best troops he had at his command troops who a thousand ago had served the Caribou for three hundred years and now they were reborn. The Eternals. It was the onset of night a crescent moon hung over head courtesy of Luna back in Canterlot. This was something Ulfric would not waste as there were a few werewolves and vamponies that had accompanied the five hundred. The eerie beat of drums play over the ever so slight breeze as the eternals advanced without a single spoken word. Then it was silent as the eternals had stopped before a wall of stone and corpses that blocked their path.

"PONIES PUSH!" Ulfric yelled as he and the five hundred pushed against the wall toppling it onto the first rank of caribou crushing them under stone and the bodies of their own dead.. for a brief moment the eternals were stunned at what had just happened before drawing their weapons as the ponies charged their ranks joined by those who were vamponie or those who werewolves had taken on their wolf forms. As the two forces met in combat, Ulfric joined them having quickly shifted into his Alpha wolf form charging the eternals. The savagery displayed by the Equestrians this night would forever be burned into the minds of the Caribou forever teaching them to fear Luna's duties as keeper of the night. What came was pure chaos, Caribou elites clashed with pony and the creatures of the night the vamponies and werewolves smashing into the Eternals like a battering ram driving a wedge between them, the cliff to their right and to their left a steep drop and the sea below. Yet as carnage raged on the pass twenty feet below a small group of ponies was fast at work hurrying to complete an assignment that was needed very soon.

"Aegis would you hurry up with that charge." An earth pony said as he connected a series of wires together binding them with tape.

"Hey its not that easy to drill a hole and shove dynamite in it when you hanging from a rope." Aegis said shoving the bundle of high explosives into the hole she had just finished drilling into the rock. "Got it that's the last one.
"
"You heard the mare LETS LEG IT PONIES!" the earth pony shouted as the demolition squad moved like they were on fire quickly returning to safety behind their brethren rejoining the battle that raged above their heads.
While his demolition teams worked furiously to finish their work Ulfric and his remaining guards had managed to push the eternals back up the pass some four hundred yards, for every inch of ground they claimed bought more time for the demo teams to finish so that the Pass would no longer be usable by the Caribou.
As Ulfric torn the arms from a caribou, the sounds of a war horn filled the air. It was the signal the the demolition ponies were finished with their task and was the sound to pull back via mass teleportation. Ulfric let loose a howl to alert those fighting around him as the horns of the unicorns charged with magic before it culminated it a bright flash. The ponies and their brethren of the night now four hundred yards down the pass.

“Sir, we are ready for you. “ Mango Julep said holding a detonator out for Ulfric to make sure the Pass of Platea would not be used again. With a simple nod Ulfric took the device in his large claws. And pressed the button as the Eternals charged at them. Suddenly they stop as a thunderous series of roars echoed around them, more and more the sounds grew closer until those at their rear began to panic as the path and cliff wall began to crack and give way into the sea below. When the dust had settled the ponies saw the fruits of their labors. A full mile and a half section of the pass was now absent leaving a gap and the sea between them and the remaining Caribou. Said aggressors only remained there for a few moments glaring at Ulfric and his guards with hate and disgust before turning and marching away slowly. This battle has been won. There are so many that still remain to be won if Equestria and its allies are to survive.

The Hornburg

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Near VanHoover

Ulfric had done it. His act of defiance at Platea had rallied Equestria to his call to arms in spite of the nobility’s vote to not mobilize the entirety of Equestrias military forces. By hundreds of thousands ponies flocked recruitment centers in every town and city causing a mass increase of fresh troops to train and make ready for battle. Now the war had come to Vanhoover, its defense lay with the ancient fortress located ten miles to the northwest of the city, The Hornburg built into the rock of the gorge the high walls of natural stone guarded it from attacks on the sides and rear thanks to it being built into the mountain. From the keep extended the Deep Wall built of stone measuring forty feet thick, in all its history the wall had never been breached or the fortress taken. Yet now it was called to defend Equestria once more.

Royal quarters

Luna sat before an ancient desk scribbling down orders and other tasks to be issued. With a sigh of frustration she set aside her quill, rubbing her temples to ease the dull but bothersome headache she was experiencing.

“Oh Ulfric how I wish you were here to help me,” she said, stealing a glance at her armor that hung in the corner, having been reforged and resized to fit her perfectly now including an onyx black helmet. She sat there for a few minutes more, before she felt something soft land lightly on her head. With a squeak of surprise, she nearly fell out of her chair before the attacker revealed themselves to be her pet possum, Tiberius.

“Oh tibbers being a little trickster again aren’t you” Luna said with a playful laugh scooping the rodent into her arms nuzzling into his fur as the animal chittered in reply. While this moment brought a smile to her face she was none the less worried. Reports of a combined Caribou and Crimson hive army marching on Vanhoover with the Hornburg and a few smaller forts standing between them and a city of over six hundred thousand ponies. The Hornburg has always halted enemy armies in the past. But times had changed, the weapons of war had changed and the old fortress would have to prove itself to anything and everything the Caribou and Crimson hive threw at it, for Vanhoover depended upon it.

A few hours later found the Lunar Monarch in the armory as ponies mingled about being assigned weapons and armor. Much of what was present in the armory was of an older design yet thanks to Ulfric's effort there was an equal amount of the improved weapons and armor that had been forged under his teachings that had been delivered in the past few days, the main question is would it be enough. As for the emplacement weaponry of the fortress it’s proud trebuchets that had always been able to repulse and the enemy had long since fallen to ruin now replaced with a new weapon. The cannon. These cast weapons of iron hurled iron and steel round shot faster and farther then any throwing weapon. However their numbers were few as they were of a very recent technological development. Yet the fortress still retained a few catapults and ballistas. Luna picked up a sword that showed its age by how rusty it was before gently tossing it back to the shelf it came from.

“Farmers, workers, ranch hands, these are no warriors “ said Gilded Oak a woodland Deer

“Some have seen too many winters” came the reply from Vixus a rather short five foot tall female diamond dog

“Or too few” said Gilded Oak “you can see it their scarred”

These words silenced all those in the armory as they turned their gaze to the woodland mare.

“And they should be” she said in her native tongue of forest speech

“We have a better chance of holding the enemy or delaying them.” Luna said her irritation approaching anger.

“Four thousand against twenty eight thousand, this is a fight they cannot win”

“Princess they are all going to die”

“THEN WE SHALL DIE AS ONE OF THEM

Luna shouted in the royal voice shaking the whole room, before storming off in a fury. Gilded Oak tried to follow the lunar mare but was stopped by Vixus.

“Let her go lass, let er be” Vixus said.

Lunas quarters a while later

Luna stood there watching as Celestia lowered the sun from Canterlot, as the door creek opened and a cherry red Earth pony mare came in with Luna’s armor and sword.

“Who am I Morning Rose?” Luna asked as the mare began to strap Lunas armor on.

“You are our princess, your highness. And my queen of the Vamponies” Morning Rose said as Luna stepped into her armored boots and had her graves strapped to her lower legs.

“And do you trust your queen Morning Rose?” Luna asked.

“We will follow to whatever end my princess” Morning Rose replied as she affixed Luna's breast and back plates.

“To whatever end... where is steed and the rider?... where is the horn of freedom that was blowing? They have passed like rain on a mountain. Those days have gone down in Equestria, behind the hills into the shadow of war. How did it come to this?” Luna said as she took her new helmet from the vampony mare now fully clad in her panoply of war.

“Whatever happens tonight princess we are with you to victory or death” Morning Rose said with a small bow. This made Luna smile a little before a curious sound filled their ears. It was the sound of a battle horn but was not on of Crimson or Caribou origin.

“That is no caribou horn” Morning Rose said, turning to the door.

“Nor is it one of the Crimson Hive” Luna said as she ran to the gates. Already ponies were scrambling to the battlements while some called for the gates to be opened. Coming through them was a sight few had witnessed in this age, a contingent of woodland deer all clad in their ornate and intricate armor each armed with an impressive long bow and two handed curved sword of finely forged steel.

“How is this possible?” Luna asked in surprise and disbelief at the sight before her eyes.

The leader of the deer stepped forward and spoke.

“I am Eomar Greenleaf I bring news from Galadrius of Lorien “ he said “long ago an alliance existed between ponies and deer to fight against an enemy that threatened both our kingdoms. We have come to fight by your side one more Princess Luna.”

Luna could not help but smile proudly at this seeing as now this war was uniting old allies once again.

“You are most welcome here” Luna beamed as the deer turned to attention and saluted her.

A short time later they were all positioned in the wall and the keeps defensive posts, before them in the distance they could see the torches of the approaching enemy army, crimson changelings and caribou soldiers marching towards them the echo of the boots sounding out through darkness, many at the fortress were nervous others were stoic as they new what was about to come. Luna stood there watching as thunder was heard, briefly looking towards the sky as rain began to fall, while a mild annoyance it would not impair their duty that night.

As soon as the enemy was within one hundred yards of the fortress, the commanding general called out for them to stop. An eerie silence falls on the scene, not a single thing makes a sound, the silence is broken as the changelings and caribou begin to stomp and pound the shafts of their spears and pikes into the ground creating a noise many would find horrific. From the keep a single arrow flies its archer an older stallion has lost his grip on his bow string, the projectile striking a drone in the neck, and is dead before he hits the ground. His comrades see this and begin to snarl and screech in anger as the Caribou yell and shout, before the General roars out to attack.

"so it begins" Luna says as the Caribou and changelings charge the wall and keep the causeway. On the wall Gilded Oak is shouting orders to her kinsmen.

" A Eruchîn, ú-dano i faelas a hyn an uben tanatha le faelas! (Show them no mercy! For you shall receive none!)" She says stepping between the deer.

With each second the enemy comes closer as the defenders make ready to give their lives if needed to defend Vanhoover and by as much time as needed to evacuate the city.

" Tangado halad! (Prepare to fire!)" Gilded yells are the deer archers ready their bows knocking their arrows and ready to release them.

"Their armor is weak at the arm and the neck make your shots count" A pony says calmly

" Leithio i philinn! (Release the arrows!) '' Gilded yells as hundreds of arrows hurtled through the air towards the mass of enemy soldiers. Dozens were struck down as the unicorns joined the archers firing bolt after bolt of magic into the incoming mass of flesh chitin and metal. Dozens fell yet more replaced them as the fortress smaller catapults and its few cannons unleashed their deadly projectiles killing more of the enemy yet the tide of death was not slowed.

“Now they shall know why I rule the night” Luna said as magic began to build up in her horn and she floated a few inches off the ground. A blinding orb of light formed on her horn, before she unleashed the massive beam of magic, hurtling it towards the enemy army. The results were as expected, a massive magical explosion ripped through the Changeling and caribou lines killing hundreds and wounding more, yet their advance was not slowed. More took the places of the dead, this fight would last for a time. They came with ladders to climb the wall to break the fire being thrown into their ranks.

"PENDRAID" Oak yelled as the first ladders were raised

"Good send em to me" Vixus said hefting her battle axe

"SWORDS! SWORDS!” Golden called out as the first caribou ascended the ladders, the first to fall met the blade of Vixus’s axe dying quickly as more ladders were raised and more troops climbed them. At the same time Drones took to the air to try and dive bomb the ramparts, only to fail as the battlements were protected by many ancient shield spells that forced attackers to remain grounded. With a brilliant flash of light another massive bolt of magic flew from Luna's horn obliterating hundreds of changelings and caribou.

"Is this it? Is this all they can conjure'' Luna said with the slightest of smiles. Even now it seemed that they could hold back this army of hate, but looks can be deceiving, for now the enemy brought up a great ballista's whose massive bolts could skewer even the strong ponies alive. Each fired with a heavy thunk, as the pony sized bolts flew through the air stabbing into the stone of the walls, hoisting up three large iron ladders loaded with enemies.

“This shall not do” Luna said, a quick casting of her magic and three blue bolts severed the ropes holding the ladders, each falling and killing dozens of drones and caribou bulls. While this kept the keep safe for now, the wall was still heavily contested, by now multiple attempts to destroy the wall with explosives had been stopped but the caribou were becoming bold.

“GOLDEN, WE CANT HOLD THE BUGGERS MUCH LONGER WHAT DO WE DO LASS.” Vixus yelled as she beheaded a drone

“JUST KEEP FIGHTING” the female Deer yelled back stabbing a caribou in the throat with her dagger as she gutted another with her sword. Yet as they fought on the wall another attempt to breach the wall would be enacted this time it would be a success. With a thunderous roar thousands of caribou and drones charged their magic into a single bolt that smashed through the wall creating a breach thirty feet wide, the act surprising even Luna who was shocked for a brief moment, before a scowl formed on her brow.

At the breach Golden Oak stood up groggily, the blast disorienting her and many others who had been near the blast.

"Golden!!!!" Vixus cried jumping into the mass of drones and bulls pouring through the breach, for a moment the female diamond dog holds them back by herself but she is soon overpowered.

"Vixus" Golden yells, pointing her sword to the mass of enemies "Hado I philinn" Those who were behind the wall loosed their arrow and crossbow bolts into the mass killing a few dozen and halting them temporarily.

"HERIO (CHARGE!!!)" Raising her sword, Golden and her fellow deer charged the oncoming hoard slamming into them, cutting down drones and bulls left and right trying to desperately close the breach and drive the enemy back. But would they be able to hold the fortress, the situation seemed grimm dozens poured through the opening in the wall, a battering ram was at the gates more of the iron ladders were being raised just as quickly as the were being felled, it looked as if in time the fortress would be overrun. Yet its defenders would make their enemies bleed before this came to pass.

twelve hours later

the fighting has continued for hours, the wall has been taken and the gates of the keep breached yet the ponies and remaining deer fight on, at the forefront Luna an avatar of grace and death cuts through enemies with ease wading knee deep into them by tens by hundreds she cuts them down with magic and blade, yet the long hours of fighting are taking their toll on the Alicorn and her magic is running low yet she carries on.
"Princess there are too many of them, we are overrun" A Corporal says dodging the blade of an axe

"Nay, we swore to hold them here and we shall to the death" Luna said blasting several drones to atoms.

"Then we are with you princess, to the end" the corporal said, he yearned for a miracle, one that would save them all and route the enemy into defeat, what he knew not is that hope and wish were about to come true. Luna taking a moment turned her gaze to the east side on the draw. what she saw was most odd, there at the top of the ridge stood a pony of the Royal guard.

"Princess Luna stands alone" The general said with a small smile.

"Not alone," Said Valka Strongarm as she walked up beside him. "HIGHLANDERS!!!!!"

drawing forth her claymore as thousands of highland ponies joined her ready to battle their ancient foe once more. To Victory or death.

"TO THE PRINCESS!!!!!" Valka roared as she and her fellow kin charged down the hill fury in the voices and courage in their hearts. The caribou and crimson drones turned to meet this new foe, yet by the grace of Celestia's sun the rays of morning light blinded them, making them unprepared as the highland ponies smashed into their ranks. Anger that had been buried for ten centuries sprang forth from the highlanders as they killed all before them, with renewed courage and strength the Hornburg's remaining defenders charged out the main gate in a dramatic act of defiance.

The enemy could not last, their assault halted and repulsed, they turned and ran for their lives, tripping and trampling over each other as they fled, the Highlanders giving chase.

"VICTORY!!!!!!! WE DECLARE VICTORY!!!!!!!" she yelled in the royal voice hoisting her sword high above her as those who still lived cheered and shouted praises of victory.

this battle has been won, the battle for Equestria has begun.

Fall of Trottingham

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Trottingham three months since the war began

Trottingham burned, the Caribou had attacked in force. The gates and walls had been breached within a week of their arrival. They had brought siege towers, catapults trebuchets and even a few cannons. Valiantly the defenders he fought to hold the wall and gate fighting tooth and nail to drive the invaders back. Yet after a week the walls fell and the gate was breached even then the brave stallions and mare of the guard made the Caribou pay for even inches of ground in lives and blood. For each pony that was killed a hundred caribou were killed in retaliation, yet it was not enough to hold them back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oo_rIjr3TA&feature=youtu.be

(ideal music to listen to when reading this)

Even as the city was falling around them the ponies who defend Trottingham continued to fight, but it was a losing battle and they would hold the city for much longer. The markets were overrun, civilians fled in fear and panic as Pegasi, Unicorns, earth ponies, and Thestrals fought to guide them to the escape route out of the city away from the battle. Now on the eighth night the final push would come, the hammer would fall hardest here as the Caribou sent for all they had at the city. boulders and cannon balls rained down on the city soldiers and civilians alike ducked and dived for cover to escape the bombardment as the few remaining heavy weapons of Trottingham fired back in anger trying to destroy the siege weapons of the Caribou. Melee combat broke out on every street in every alleyway even in the cities underground transit system ponies fought with fanaticism, unseen since times long passed when Equestria's fate hung in the balance. Those who defended the city would die to the last stallion and mare to defend their homes, their lives and their families before they would kneel before the Caribou.

A young Thestral , stallion ran down a blasted out street zig zagging between fleeing ponies and the soldiers guiding them out of the city, a cannon ball impacted behind him exploding knocking him off his feet before he got up just as quickly as he was knocked down ducking through a ruined door way bracing against the wall, and pulled out his radio.

"Message to Canterlot command priority Omicron lieutenant Knuckles reporting Trottingham has fallen repeat Trottingham has fallen" Knuckles said before the line was filled with static, he prayed and hoped his message got through. putting the small radio back into his pocket he pulled out a picture of his fiancé, Dusty Rose. The cute pony/werewolf he had met back in Canterlot, the mare he'd gone on numerous dates with and spent an equal number of nights with. Now he wished to only be able to make it back to her.

"I'm coming home to you Dusty" Knuckles said kissing the photo and putting it away heading back out into the carnage that was all around the city. His Two handed long sword in hand Knuckles ran down the street aid civilians and cutting down drones or bulls that were in his way, a Stone from a catapult brought a three story shop crashing down around him, knocking him aside temporarily putting him into a daze. This left enough time for a crimson drone to get the jump on him as it pounced snapping its fanged jaws at his face it's clawed hands trying to tear his throat out. The drone hissed and snapped its fanged mouth at him as he struggled to keep it off him, he looked around for anything, finally Knuckles day what he could use, a good size chunk of brick just barely within his reach. With all his might that he could summon forth Knuckles took up the brick in his hand and with a roar of defiance on his breast he smashed it into the side of the drones skull, knocking it off of him, yet the thestral was not done, now he went on the attack beating the drone with the brick until it lay lifeless on the street, green blood oozing from the remains of its head. He sat there for a moment to catch his breath ignoring the sounds of war and death still happening around him as he came down from the rush of adrenaline. Shoving his feet beneath him Knuckles found the strength to stand once more, his long sword a tool of battle that had served him well these past few month's was buried under heavy rubble, he alone did not possess the strength to free it.

Yet he could not delay, grabbing a shield from a fallen guard he quickly unsheathed the sword that hung from his hip, for he had one last task. Meet up with the evacuation, and get as many civilians out as possible, the crackling of his radio soon gained his attention.

" This is Overlord to any remaining royal guards still inside the city be advised you are to make your way to evac point echo. Immediate location is the midtown market district, be advised evac window is closing fast."

Knuckles knew what he had to do, get to the extraction point and save as many civilians old, young , strong or weak as he could along the way, no matter the cost. This he swore, to uphold his oath as a guard and to Faust honored by her name, in the name of the freedom he would save all that he could. With sword and shield in hand he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. A family of ponies were spotted hiding in a ruined coffee shop and he could not leave them.

"Quickly you must leave the city is lost" He said to them stepping inside "The last evacuation point will not be held for long"

"But how can we? you're just a single guard and the caribou and crimson drones are everywhere" a Pegasus stallion who was missing a chunk of his ear said as he stood protectively in front of his family.

"I am only a single guard this is true, but I will not and shall not leave you to the mercy of the enemies, because like all of you, I have someone I want to return to" He said looking out the door "Will you follow me?"

The stallion was quiet for no more than a minute, looking back at his wife and children before turning back to knuckles.

"Lead on soldier, and we shall follow, honey help me with the foals, Roxy's too young to run the distance we must go, and striker's leg brace is not staying tight so I shall take him" The stallion said picking up his son as his daughter was scooped up and held close to her mother.

"This way, we must be quick if we encounter the enemy do not stop for me just run and do not turn back and head for the midtown market" Knuckles said stepping back out into the darkening night, even as Luna's night crept over the city the fires of burning buildings kept the city alight with a hellish glow.

"Quickly now, we're almost there" Knuckles said stealing a quick glance at a map that was meant for tourists, there would be none here for who knew how long, but the ponies would return again and again until Trottingham was free from the tyranny that was swallowing it whole.

Unfortunately, their luck has run out. The next intersection they came to was swarming with Caribou and a few drones and there behind them two blocks away was the last evacuation point in the city.

"Dammit, so close hmm" Knuckles didn't finish his sentence as a plan began to form in his mind, it was suicide and would more then likely result in his death, the last thought filling his heart with grief and regret knowing that it would me he would never get to see Dusty Rose again, but sometimes one must give their life so that other may live.

"Sir do you think you can sneak through the alleys to the market, I'll draw their attention and keep them off of you and your family, whatever happens do not look back just fly or run as fast as you can." He said

"But what about you? you could be killed or worse" The mare said hugging her daughter closer to her chest.

"Sometimes one must give their life so that others may live, go. NOW!!!!" Knuckles said with not a word spoken the small family of four quickly executed this plan as Knuckles readied himself, before he stepped back into the street.

"OI STAG HEADS OVER HERE YOU BRAIN DEAD MORONS" He shouted waving his arms around, the effect was immediate the caribou and drones began shouting orders as they sprinted down the street to the lone guard.

"Here we go" Knuckles said time seemed to slow as the first combatant came within reach, using his shield he blocked the strike from a drones sickle slashing across its exposed stomach and throat green ichor spraying everywhere as they fell upon him. Parry block count strike stab slash never did he stop moving on the ground or in the air, the clashes of steel and sickening sounds of flesh bone and chitin being torn ripped and shattered filled the streets with an eldritch aura, and the sounds of the dying mixed with those of the living.

"Damnit" Knuckles cursed as a bull got a lucky strike in that sliced the flesh and muscle on his left thigh, said wound now forced the Thestral to now have to remain hovering a few inches off the ground as he could no longer properly support his own weight without great pain that would slow him down. But the enemy still came nonetheless, yet from behind them a volley of arrows though few in number cut down a few drones, while this renewed his fighting spirit Knuckles did not relent is his fight praying to Faust that the Family he had found had made it. With a wide swing of his Sword a bull's head was freed from his shoulders, another lost an arm and leg from a vertical power attack that nearly shattered the bones of Knuckles sword arm. But he came up short, blindsided he was as the bite of a war axe was felt on his exposed right side taking his breath from him as he got knocked to the ground, but he did not feel it thanks to the adrenaline being pumped through his veins. Struggling he got back to his feet but now after so long he was beginning to tire and his strength was close to being spent but yet he found the will to fight on, with a fury in his voice and a fire in his heart he charged those that were left in one final effort, while silently he asked his Dusty Rose to forgive him for breaking his promise of coming back to her. And in slow motion they clashed, the scene lit by the explosion of fireballs cannon shot and a gas line igniting as the fire engulfed them all.

A Few Hours Later

In a triage center away from the front rested the battered bruised and bloodied body of Lieutenant Knuckles, most of his ribs were broken, his right leg broken in two places, and many more serious wounds. And Yet he lived, but there was another pony with him, cuddled up to him on the hospital bed lay his marefriend Dusty Rose, the young mare having been then for some time now, staying near the stallion she loved and cared for. At First she cried and sobbed, but then her tears dried up and her sobbing slowed until she fell asleep with her coltfriend held in her arms.

The flap of the tent they were in opened as a Colonel stepped quietly in, he walked slowly out of respect for the wounded here but stopped before the sleeping couple. with reverence he saluted the young lieutenant who risked life limb and love to save a family that would have been left behind. from the small box he held in his hands he removed a medal and gently pinned it to the pillow next to Knuckles head along with a letter, addressed to him written in the hand of the Lord Commander. To many it seemed insignificant, but to one human far away in Canterlot this stallion had shown extraordinary bravery, courage and self sacrifice that he would be given a promotion and be awarded the Equestrian Cross of Valor, Equestrias highest military honor.

Far to the north in ancient frozen north

In a darkened cavern far from even the most adapted life, was an ancient shrine whose purpose had long since been forgotten, upon its altar sat a massive clear quartz crystal frosted over with a layer of ice. There was an alicorn mare inside her mane and tail a deep red and fur as white as cloud, deep in slumber she had waited here, from an age that only one soul alive still knew that she had come to this place, her angelic wings unfurled behind her, and in her outstretched hands she held two small objects, one a jeweled sun. The other a jeweled moon.

Then a small crack appeared on the crystal, and a single phrase could be heard if anyone was there to listen

"Soon my little sun and moon"

The High Seas

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Mare Angeles Harbor Dawn

To say that the Royal Equestrian Navy had not been active in this time of war would be a false statement, since the wars beginning every ship have been put on constant combat alert every stallion and mare that served on a ship or worked at a shipyard was recalled from leave regardless of where they were. Every Sloop, Frigate, Brigantine, Galleon and even the mighty mare o' wars had been deployed to face the coming battles for the Atlantic and the Marecific oceans. Yet at this moment a large fleet of Caribou warships and troop ships was bearing down on the city that dominated Equestria's southwestern coastline, will all the ships present and ordered to defend the city, they were still out numbered, luckily it was Ulfric who came up with a plan and thus recruited another unexpected fleet of sailors to help defend the city. Pirates.

Many did not expect these seafaring rogues to even want to accept the offer Ulfric had proposed to them. In return for their services, they would be granted the chance to loot and plunder any ship that survived the coming battle. Of course many simply laughed at him, that was until Sapphire Sabre the renowned and undisputed pirate queen shook hands with Ulfric accepting his offer. To many ponies of Equestria they were murderers thieves and liars, and while this was true for many to them Equestria was still their home, and so the chance to loot anything they could from the enemy was a once in a life time chance that they would never get again.

Standing upon the bow of her ship the Emerald Serpent, a fifty gun armed frigate she had "Acquired some years before, Sapphire Sabre looked out across the harbor at the numerous pirate and navy vessels, with a harrumph she adjusted the eye patch adorned with its trade marked skull cut Sapphire that covered her useless left eye as her signature blue doublet coat fluttered in the wind.

“Cap’n the lads ave finished load’n the shot n powder what Ye next orders be” her ever trusted first mate, asked coming to stand beside her.

“Tell em to make sur their blades be sharp and the wits sharper, Mister Gristle, this be a fight fer teh world to see, and I’ll be damn if Ah let a bull, think they can best meh on the seas” Sapphire said with a small smile.

“Aye Cap’n” he say quickly leaving to carry out his captains orders. Her gaze returned to the harbor while both groups, pirates and the Royal Navy had agreed to fight together each force kept their ships separated save for a few small vessels that were “testing the waters” and mingling amongst each other.

“Cap’n got a long boat comin alongside lad aboard says da admiral wants a parley with ye” came the call from a deck hand, with a huff of annoyance the dark blue Pegasus pony mare walked back to the main deck past the cap stand and down the starboard ladder boarding the long boat with not a single word spoken.

The ride was short, the meeting would be long, Sapphire knew this but there a small tug at the back of her mind that maybe just maybe he was going to ask her for advice, she hoped he would. With a huff she threw the doors to the Admiral meeting room open, as all indication of discussion fell silent as all eyes turned to her.

"Yeh asked fer meh Admiral?" She said taking a seat leaning forward to rest her arms on the table.

“I have I, no we want your advice. Even with every ship we have, we’re still outnumbered, what...what would you do?” Admiral Sea Squall asked. Said mare sat quiet for a moment before she started to laugh quietly at first then full blown laughing her flank off, to the Admirals no so amused mood.

"I fail to see how you can laugh about this, Captain. If I had known you would have treated this as a joke then I would have left you out in the harbor and seen what fate decided for us. Squall said very unamused.

"Oh Admiral, ah not laughin at that, ah be laughin that ye want advice from meh" She said wiping a tear from her one good eye and readjusting her tricorn hat. "But if yeh do want teh know how ahm thinking ye can win then listen close lads."

"Throw yer pansy ass tactics and rules overboard and do what we pirates always do, fight nasty be clever and don't fight fair doing anything and everything that thy will not expect. Stop fightin like a navy, and fight like a pirate" She said with a wicked grin.

And then the shouting and arguing started as half the room started ranting on about the need for there to be discipline and order while the other side tried to argue the point of listening to Sapphire.

"ENOUGH!" Sea Squall yelled with volume nearly hitting the same volume of the Royal Canterlot voice.

"Saber has given us an alternative to how we fight traditional, as the commander for all naval forces in Mare Angeles we shall be doing what she has suggested to us. To the letter. Am. I. Understood?" Squall said casting a stern and slightly terrifying gaze across the conference room.

"Any questions? No? Then this meeting is dismissed." Squall said, with that he took up his tricorn hat placing it upon his brow and left, the rooms remaining occupants following close behind him leaving only Sapphire, who could only smirk knowing that the admiral was fully taking her advice to heart, plus she was excited at being able to plunder any ships that she could board or run down for treasure and other spoils.

"Me hearty's it be a pirates life for me" She said before stepping out.

8 O'clock dawn the next day

All was still, as the morning fog drifted over the harbor and port, not a single soul utterer a word. Ponies hid in their homes or were busy packing and leaving the city incase the navy and...pirates could not hold back the caribou fleet, ashore tens of thousands of royal guards readied their weapons and defenses. They had learned much from those who fought and survived at Trottingham, whilst they mourned and honored the dead, this time not one step back would be taken, for the Caribou would have to kill them where they stood and would pay for every inch of ground in blood.

Out on his flagship the Golden Lance a mighty four decked and heavily armed Mare o'war Admiral Sea Squall watched the fog waiting for the first sign of the enemy and the beginning of this battle. Not a sound came from the ship nor any other save the occasional squawk from sea gulls or the barking of harbor seals. Then a shape began to come forth from the fog first one then two the ten soon multiple ships were pouring out of the fog.

"So it begins. FULL COVER CAPTAIN THE GUNS ALL HANDS TO STATIONS!" Squall ordered as the stallions and mares that were his crew hurried to their battle stations cannons were loaded, full canvas was let loss as the mighty ship lurched forward as the wind caught her sails, as all around him every ship large and small pirate and navy followed suit. Sabre said to fight like a pirate so that is what he would.

Sapphire Sabre smirked seeing that the admiral was choosing to immediately engage the enemy instead of waiting for them to merely come in range of their guns, this was going to be fun.

"Cap'n yer orders Ma'am" Gristle said with a hint on excitement.

"FULL COVER AND INTO THE ABYSS LADS" she yelled earning a cheer of anticipation and excitement from her crew as all sails were unfurled and the ships cannon made ready. Twenty five cannons on either side of the hull poked out of their gun ports each loaded with 35 pound balls, for broadside of nearly a thousand pounds of shot that could be brought to bear on an enemy and the ship four trip bow cannons were loaded as well. With a hardy lurch the Emerald Serpent started forward gaining speed as the wind caught her canvas as ships sailed into formation to make battle. With practice coordination the ships of the Royal navy’s third fleet turned hard to port forming into a single line battle column thus allowing every ship to unleash a full broadside.

“Admiral sir we await your orders” the master gunner said to sea spray

“Wait for them to get closer. Wait....FIRE ALL” Sea spray yelled as gunnery officers repeat the order. And then with a roar of defiance the Golden Lance unleashed a sixty gun broadside of shot and shell, soon other ships followed blasting hundreds of rounds into the larger Caribou fleet. Many rounds missed, but just as many found their mark smashing planks, cutting through rigging tearing sails and toppling masts. as quickly as they turned to form the battle column the fleet turned their bows back towards the caribou fleet using the momentary confusion to close the distance even more with the enemy.

"Aye Admiral ya be learnin," Sapphire said "MORE SPEED HAUL YER WIND AND HOLD YER WATER"

The mares and stallion rush to unfurl the ships sails even more the Emerald Serpent gaining more speed rapidly closing the distance with Caribou fleet, now a few crimson hive ships can be seen mixed in with the fleet their insect like appearance easily seen.

"Hard ta starboard ready on the guns" The master gunner yells as all hands ready their cannons ready to light them off and hurl shot an shell into the nearest ship. with a groan the ship heaves to starboard lining up a broadside.

"FIRE ALL" Sapphire yelled, as across the ship the order was repeated and the Serpents port cannons roared in anger, hurling their enchanted cannon balls into a caribou mare o war, normally a frigate weight vessel like Saber would do only light to moderate damage to a ship of this size, yet each round that hit the enemy ships hull utterly ripped it apart leaving it a smoldering sinking wreck. another that crossed in front of the Emerald Serpent would meet the same fate but to a lesser degree.

"BOW CANNONS"
The ship shook slightly as the four triple barreled bow cannons unleashed explosive incendiary balls setting the brigantine alight and setting off its powder magazine. Why new orders barked the guns were reloaded with haste as the fire from the starboard guns viciously mauled a galleon setting it a blaze and badly damaging but not sinking the caribou vessel. By now the other pirate ships and the Equestrian fleet were now exchanging broadsides at near suicidal range yet they were managing to retain their ability to maneuver were as their close quarters tactics had left the enemy confused and in disarray. It seemed like they would win but that quickly changed when Sapphire saw four ships of the royal navy go up in a furry of flames and smoke, she followed the vapor trails from the shots to the biggest ship she had ever seen. The caribou flagship. The ship looked like a mare o'war only about one and a half times the size and having six decks of cannons instead of the normal four. With a mighty heave it smashed into a galleon taking not even a scratch to its paint work.

"Bugger all" Sapphire said unsheathing her twin cutlasses "Mr. Gristle, ahm goin fer a walk, the ship be yers"

many aboard the serpent knew from their captain and queen that when she uttered these words that there was something that had caught her attention be it treasure, a weapon ship or even an individual. And right now it was the caribou flagship. So when she said she was going to take what she now wanted, and there was no force on the planet that would stop her. so with a burst of speed rivaling many Pegasi minus a certain rainbow maned Pegasus mare, she shoot towards the massive ship with the speed and velocity of a cannonball a trail of almost black fire trailing behind. Catching a stray rope she swung up and over the deck landing with the grace of a dancer, and the agility of a predator. Her twin Cutlasses unsheathed and held tightly in her hands ready to show these caribou why every pirate around the world called her queen and would bow before her.

"Oi, I claim this ship en crew as me own, those amonst ye who wish te join me lay down yer arm, and strike your colors" She said twirling her blades in her hands. The caribou however and to her enjoyment chose poorly and instead have chosen death. brandishing their weapons all of those on the main deck charge towards her.

"Ah gave ye a chance, oh well, time teh meet yer make. Savvy?" She said thus beginning her dance of death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRh-dzrI4Z4

With a fierce cry she leapt from the ships forecastle driving both her blades into a bulls chest killing him instantly, she then summersaulted bringing the dead bull with her, using the moment to throw him of her blades and tossing him into the converging group of charging caribou, another had his throat cut, another cleave in half diagonally. Sapphire ducked dodging the blade of a boarding axe and then back flipped over another caribou kicking him in the back with enough force he went over the rail and into the cold waters of the harbor, and the sharks that were circling below. Now some would think that with her having no vision in her left eye that she lacked depth perception, but luckily for her she had it for the sapphire the was embedded into her eye patch was heavily enchanted, allowing her to use it as a prosthetic eye granting her clear unobstructed sight, few new of this and few knew about the enchantments it held save for one, a particular individual she loved dearly.

“Scarlet wher the devil ye be lass” Sabre said as she got kicked in the gut but recovered quickly her back towards the railing as the caribou surrounded her.

“Well little breeding bitch what was it you said about taking my ship, Hmm?” Came a new voice as the obvious caribou admiral stepped forward in a black and red and heavily adorned uniform, “I thought the queen of the pirates would have put up a better fight alas looks like you’ll only be good as a breeder for our empire”

“Oi ya leave meh woman alone ya dickless shite”

Every single caribou turned to face the voice being greeting by a very well endowed female Griffoness, Scarlet steel was her name, and she was also Sapphire Sabres secret mate.

“Ye touch a feather on her and I’ll shove ye sword up ya arse so far ye get metal shavings on ye tongue” she said unsheathing a large double bladed battle
axe.

“Come on ye rats ye scared a someone with claws or ye just a bunch of shite brained bitches who need the go home cryin to ye mummies” she said with a smirk “times up Yer DEAD”

With a furious shriek, she tossed several fire bombs at the group that surrounded her mate setting them ablaze as she started to hack and chop any that managed to avoid the blaze. One actually got his hand bitten off when it got too close to her razor sharp beak, only to get stabbed from behind by Sabre.

“Took ye long enough love” Sabre said with mock annoyance, though she was actually happy Scarlet was here now for now it meant that the flagship would fall twice as fast.

"Oi, yeh try flying ere with a wee notice, an no warnin" Scarlet replied with a laugh

However the Caribou Admiral seeing this realized now he had a problem only he didn’t not get time to react, and he saw in slow motion one of Sabres cutlasses tumbling through the air towards him at a speed he would be able to avoid, with a heavy thud and quite a bit of force the blade sank up to the swords hilt embedding its self into the main mast pinning the Caribou to it. Sabre and Scarlet walked slowly towards him in a most menacing way Scarlet spinning her axe in her talons while Sabre simply wiped the blood of the blade of her other cutlass, and unspoken nod was shared between them as Sabre removed a set of iron keys from the admirals belt tossing them to Scarlet. With keys in claw Scarlet went below deck killing or incapacitating any who showed a single sign of resistance, leaving Sapphire Sabre with a now very terrified Caribou admiral.

“What was it ye said ah become, a fockin breeder see for ye depraved empire, well of let meh tell yeah what I think, tell meh admiral do ye fear death?” She said with a wicked evil grin. "Do yeh?"

With a wicked grin she revealed to the admiral two long fangs in her mouth before she grabbed him by the head exposing his neck and bit down stabbing her fangs into her flesh as she fed, the Admiral screaming and writhing in fear and pain. What felt like an eternity lasted only a single minute. Her fill taken the half Vampony Pegasus released him, licking clean her lips as from below Scarlet came scarlet with every creature that was in the ships brig, to Sapphires surprise there were at least half a dozen female caribou amongst the prisoners all of them showing signs of being under fed beaten brusied and scared so very scared.

"Love take em back to me ship make sure they be looked after by Doc, an make sure ye get em new clothes ah'll deal with the ship" Sapphire said with a sad tone upon her voice, Scarlet nodded saddened and angry by what she had found below deck. with a glare of hate Sapphire made her way below deck, so knew what it was she sought out, the ships powder magazine one spark and the whole ship would be ripped apart. Down and down into the ship she went seeing the carnage Scarlet had wrought, shoving an iron door open she found barrel after barrel of gunpowder, each one a bomb just waiting to go off. with a grunt she collected one of the larger ones and began laying a trail of the explosive propellant, up up and up to the third deck laying it extra thick to make it burn bright and to also give her enough time to return to her own ship. With a huff she grabbed a lantern from a nearby hook and unceremoniously tossed it onto the line of gunpowder. With a spark and a sizzle it caught the flame. hurrying back to the main deck she met the gaze of the admiral still tied to and pinned to the mast. with naught a word she removed her cutlasses from him and took to the air waving good, as she flew back to her ship. Beneath her she could see dozens of Equestrian and pirates that were burning or sinking but nearly three times that in Caribou and Crimson hive ships had been destroyed or sunk, and they were retreating.

Her boot hit the deck with a thump as she looked towards the enemy flagship silently whispering a count down of the remaining seconds left until detonation.

"10....9....8....7....6....5....4....3....2....1.... kablamo" she said. With a heave and a thunderous roar a pillar of fire shoot up through the massive ship, a massive explosion was seen by all that were still alive as a fireball engulfed the caribou flagship utterly destroying it and any ship that was too close to it. from the shore and every ship pirate and Equestrian that remained a cheer of victory erupted from both fleets and the city, outnumbered and outgunned they had held back the tide, while on land the Caribou and crimson armies were being driven back. Now was now longer the time to defend now was the time for Equestria and its allies to take the offensive. It would be an offensive, that would last until both the Crimson hive and Caribou capital fell.

The Ancient temple far to the north

back in the temple stood the crystal and the mare it held, one small crack one its surface, that spread a little bit more. The Queen would soon return and Equestria would rejoice, and two sisters would fondly know the love and support of their mother again, and one wolf would welcome the return of a dear old friend.

But that is another story to tell.

Shadow Ops

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Canterlot two and half months after trottinghams Fall

Through the long halls with of Canterlot castle Dusty rose pushed her soon to be future husband the now captain Knuckles, despite having been relieved from the front after trottingham, he still has a ways to go before his injuries had fully healed up, some of his injuries ran deeper then others such as the sword slash in his left thigh that had cut deep to the bone. Not to mention he was having to regain his full eye sight to his right eye. So for a time being he would be held back front the fire of war.

But fate ever changing had brought him and Dusty home to Canterlot, where in a letter from the Lord commander he was to be promoted to Captain for his bravery and outstanding performance in saving the lives of the family he rescued not to mention Equestrias highest military award.

“What do you think he wants from my Rosy?” He asked using Dusty’s nickname, the deep red werewolf mare shrugged as she pushed him towards Ulfrics office.

“I don’t know love, I don’t get to this part of the castle a lot since the war started and becoming a field nurse, hopefully it’s something good and not bad, you’ve already done so much mister and I’m not done helping you yet” Dusty said the last part of her sentence filled with a bit of lust. Knuckles shuddered, knowing what she meant, she was using her nurse uniform for more then medicinal uses since he was brought back home. Granted he enjoyed, and it was nice to be home with the mare he loved the most, but one thing, remained what was it the lord commander wanted from him, the letter he found on his bed when he was in the field hospital had been detailed but was still very vague on what it was that he was being offered.

With a knock on dark red cherry wood door of Ulfrics office, the young captain waited nervously and with a small hint of fear, for who would not be, it was like you were going to be interviewed for a job and not knowing what you were going to be asked.

"Enter" came the voice of Ulfric from with in, grasping the door handle knuckles pushed the door open as Dusty wheeled him into Ulfrics private sanctum.

“Ah captain your here and Miss Rose, I have many good things of your work as a triage nurse, very good things please come in” Ulfric said setting aside his quill. “You have questions I assume to why I requested you in person yes?”

“A little bit sir, I’m....still getting used to the new tank and the responsibilities” Knuckles said nervously

“Relax lad I am not reprimanding your, instead courage and bravery like what you showed at Trottingham is why I called you here” Ulfric said standing and moving to the door

“Come walk with me” Ulfric said opening the door so that Dusty could wheel Knuckles out before following and taking the lead leading them down the twisting and turning hallways of Canterlot castle.

"I know you have many questions captain, and a such i am prepared to answer them, the reason i have promoted you was not due only to your actions in Trottingham, no far from it" Ulfric said "I chose to award you this promotion because I after reading the report and then comparing it to the similar actions of your service record I find someone who despite being a capable soldier and guard has done much for such a short time of service, yet it is my opinion as well as the decision of the princess that I induct you into a special unit of the guard one where your talents will be better suited to ensure that Equestria wins this war"

down three more corridors and through a very worn and ancient looking vault door they descended into the depths of the castle before Ulfric stopped and turned to face Knuckles once more.

"Before i show you what lies beyond, i wish to know of your decisions Captain should you accept or decline, then i shall respect your choice and harbor no ill will or contempt against you" Ulfric said calmly, the choice he had presented to the young thestral captain was for the young stallion a once in a life time opportunity, yet he knew that he could not force someone or somepony to accept what he had offered, no Ulfric believe in freedom for all beings and the right to decide their own future.

"I accept sir" Knuckles said.

“Then by the honor and trust anointed to me by the princesses and the duty to protect all of Equestria unto my dying breath as declared by their mother Queen Faust, I welcome you to the Shadow Corp” Ulfric said opening the final and cleverly hidden door, beyond lay an ancient well preserved training yard and barracks.

“Come captain, there is much to teach you and very little time” Ulfric said ushering the two inside, with a somewhat hesitant pause Knuckles wheeled himself through the dark opening Dusty Rose following quickly behind him. With not but a single sound ulfric closed the passage once more, as numerous torches lining the darkened corridor flared to life, bathing the way forward in a soft golden light.

"What I am about to show you is an order and part of the Royal Guard that few know about and fewer alive are left to remember its creation, when there was a time that our nations survival seemed impossible, so as tasked by Queen faust a now force was created in secret from the best and most noble of ponies to fight in the shadows and wage warfare the lkes the world has never seen. Ulfric said "fear espionage surgical strikes even assassination's and many less then legal ways of achieving results"

"Like what sir?" Knuckles asked, "like kidnappings and abductions?"

"It pains to me to say yes, but the times were different back then Captain and our nations so young and struggling to survive, and to give hope to a nation that many across this world look to for guidance, support and to help defends those who cannot defend themselves."

"B-but sir you aren't going to make Knuckles do any of that right? Right? where does he draw the line on what he can and can't do" dusty said slightly fearing for her colt friend

"Miss Rose, you and knuckles you draw the line when and wherever you need it, if the good captain is having second thoughts, he is free to go, and I will not hold this against him. We are tasked as soldiers to get our hands dirty, and the world stays clean, that is the mission" Ulfric said with a sigh as he faced them. "In the end someone must make the enemy fear the dark"

Knuckles thought long and hard then with every ounce of strength he could find stood shakily on he’s still not fully healed legs he stumbled briefly but caught himself.

“Sir I’ll do it for the Princesses, for equestria and for dusty” he said, Ulfric smiled slightly knowing this stallion would be a proud father to a foal one day and a good husband.

“Then as lord commander of Equestrias forces I well you to the Shadow Corp Captain” the sealed door opening behind Ulfric to reveal an expansive cavern cut deep into the rock of Mount Canter, high vaulted ceilings held massive chandeliers that bathed the cavern in bright golden light as hundreds of ponies from each of the tribes and from all walks of life went about their duties forging weapons and armor practicing and sparring against each other while officers briefed their teams for upcoming missions.

“Your to be assigned to squad theta 6 under Colonel Onyx Bolt report into him when your fully recovered Captain and speak to lieutenant Jade Ace to get kitted out, and make sure you become familiar with your new peers, you’ll be taking on missions deep behind enemy line and even into the heart of the Carribou empire itself so be ready for anything. Understood?” Ulfric asked?

“None sir” came knuckles reply

“Good get some rest and Miss Rose, do be careful with him, he’s a keeper don’t forget that” Ulfric said with a wink turning to head back to his office. And he was right soon Knuckles would be fighting a new kind of war one that had morales and boundaries that were very much unlike those he was accustomed to, and they would test every ounce of his soul and character to the breaking point and war waits for no one.

Spilled Crimson

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South East of occupied Trottingham four months since the Fall

Four months. Four months of ceaseless death and war. Four long months since Trottingham fell, and yet with all their power, magic and strength of arms the crimson hive and Caribou armies could advance no further than four miles beyond the city. That was how fierce and determined the resistance of Equestria was, for every pony that was killed a hundred crimson changelings and caribou apiece were laid low. For every inch of ground taken, a thousand met their end, no matter how outnumbered the warriors of Equestria were they fought with the fury and courage of the heroes of old, undaunted and unwavering against these most terrible foes. But now, the tide was turning, News had reached Ulfric's command post behind the Equestrian lines that while, the enemy held the city they did not fully control it, even now four months after its defeat resistance was ever present, Royals guards that had evaded capture, police, first responders and anyone with the courage and strength to lift a sword and fight back did so housed deep within the ancient catacombs and tunnels that ran beneath Tottingham's streets and metro stations, those few thousand who refused to surrender waited and prepared for the time that they would free their home, and the flag of Equestria would fly from every flag pole and roof top once more.

But now, after several weeks of preparation and with miners from Slate sands and from the small diamond dog settlement of Iron Barrow, tunnels had been hollowed out two miles behind the equestrian lines at a depth of four hundred feet running right under trottingham, right through ancient rock and into the catacombs, thousands of Royal guards poured through the tunnels. For now it was time to reclaim what had been taken and if needed avenge what was lost.

Ulfric cast his gaze out onto the city before him, Caribou and Crimson hive banners fluttering in the wind above a city the did not belong to them, how he loathed those who now dwelled with in, and how his mind was filled with grief and sorrow for what may have been happening to those who had not been able to escape the cities fall.

“Colonel Iron hoof” he said with a tone of that was laced with anger and hate for the enemy. “Commence attack, it is time to reclaim our city and that which was wrongfully take from us, burn their mongrel hides.”

The unicorn colonel that stood only feet away from Ulfric simply nodded her horned flared with amber magic before she fired skyward a blight spark of light climbing towards the clouds before it burst like a firework. From the trenches half a mile ahead catapults trebuchet, ballista and cannon unleashed their fury upon the walls and battlements, and from within the city thousands if resistance fighters and guards and any pony who could wield a weapon poured out of subway tunnels, sewer culverts and even from the basements of skyscrapers attack from within and from three sides the Caribou and crimson changelings would now be extremely hard pressed to hold the city that they had already paid heavily in souls and blood to conquer. Now more would be paid to take it back from them. Through Fire and flame over the next four weeks the city was slowly retaken street by street building by building room by room, even with the aid of the resistance, it was a long and costly campaign, yet the resolve of the stallions and mares fighting to reclaim that which was wrongfully taken never faltered in their resolve or will to continue onward. And onward they would go, as long as it took until they would react the capitol of the Caribou Empire.

three weeks later

Who could have known what was fond within the city once it was reclaimed, who could have even imagined what crimes against pony kind crimes against life itself would be discovered once trottingham was free save for a few pockets of resistance where fanatics continued to hold out despite having lost the battle to hold a city that was never theirs.

Ulfric remembered, he remembered from the last war with the Caribou all those long winters past the depravity and horrific things they did to the prisoners. But this, he was ill prepared for what was discovered. At first it was a single report of a library having been turn into what the Caribou called a re-education center, but then one by one more reports and discoveries flowed into hospitals turned into breeding facilities where mares and fillies were violated continuously until they were forcibly inseminated, mothers forced to watch their daughter be used like cattle, as their sons were forced upon mares they didn’t, and the stallions fathers, uncles, friends, strangers their minds broken thanks to Caribou Mind spells. Many when their senses were restored couldn’t handle learning what they had done, many sought the release of death some, could only look upon their families in shame, others left never to be heard from again.

The worst were the slave markets that had been set up across Trottingham, vile wretched and evil places where Stallions, Mares, colts and even Fillies were publicly displayed even violated as they were sold off to the highest bidders from across the Caribou Empire and crimson Changeling Hive, each one was burned to the ground the moment they were found.

Ulfric watched from a nearby rooftop as another of these disgusting places of commerce was destroyed and the imprisoned were free, it reminded him of everything that was at stake not just for Trottingham but the whole of Equestria and the free world, he would not see this evil be allowed to rise a third time, nor would he see families destroyed and torn apart as a food source or for diabolical pleasure. Never again, as he stood there watching he held in his hand a small black velvet covered box, that sat open upon his palm, within it I was a ring forged long ago made with passion, love and a promise to a princess he cherished and cared for deeply, he would ask her that question he had wanted to ask but was denied due to the banishment of Nightmare moon

“My dearest Luna, my queen of the night, my love. I hope when we see each other next and have time to ourselves I hope this request is received with joy and a promise” he said to himself before he turned walking away, back to the fight, back to the war.