This chapter contains graphic violence and gore. You have been warned.

The winters of the Crystal Empire were never kind. And the howling winds and gelid ground only emphasized its austerity.

Bodies seemed to collapse every hour, rimy sculptures caked in frost. Thump, thump, thump. The militia would hastily collect their rations and move on, continuing their trudge through the snow. There was no time to grieve. They could not afford such luxuries.

Maybe we should've packed more winter clothes, Luna thought, shivering under her cape. No. That would've slowed us down. If we want to have a chance, we need to keep moving.

But when she turned to face her soldiers, she discarded that idea. The color seemed to have been sucked out of them by a strange spell she couldn't quite place. Half seemed to be turning into ice blocks.

Strange. The winters are never this cold. Luna furrowed her brow. Maybe the Dusks had something to do with it.

"Everyone keep moving! We can do it!" Luna encouraged everyone.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Princess!" Someone rasped, before bursting into a fit of coughs. "We should collect their-"

"Just keep moving! We're so, so close," Luna argued.

"Sister-" Celestia started, surprisingly calm.

"Godammit all of you! What do you not understand about let's go?" Luna demanded, gritting her teeth.

"Sister," Celestia pressed, grabbing her shoulder. "Look."

When had their legion gotten so small? What was once a group of 500 could barely pass for 225. What remained of the militia were quivering like delicate leaves, teeth chattering and huddling together for warmth. A girl whispered comforting words to a shivering boy. Twins screamed frantically, kneeling over their frosted sister, trying fruitlessly to bring her back. Another body fell.

"What about the heating spells?" Luna asked.

"T-they don't w-work, Princess. It's too c-c-cold," Jet stuttered, his frozen hair sticking up in absurd directions.

"They need rest. We all do," Celestia admitted. "Cook the last of our soup! We'll camp here for a few hours and warm up."

The sweet aromas and spices of the bubbling broth were perhaps the only good thing of the present. Boiled to perfection, it welcomed the color back into their cheeks with open arms.

After everyone had filled their stomachs, they chatted for a while, simply chatted.

"They need the break," Celestia reassured Luna. "Let them recharge."

They all sat around the fire, exchanging stories, and quietly laughing. All the soldiers knew it could very well be the last time they ever laughed again.

"Now," Luna instructed, "We'll rest for 2 hours, try to get some sleep. Thank you so much. We can't do this without you. Remember, we are fighting for justice!"

"For justice!" The army chanted.

"For our loved ones!" Celestia chimed in.

"For our loved ones!" they repeated.

"And for Equestria. Onwards, Equestria!" Luna finished.

"Onwards Equestria!" Everyone finished with a roar.

Only Luna stayed awake, too restless to sleep. Most others had drifted off, while a few stood guard. She had to do this. The Great War had taken her parents and extended family. The vampires were behind it. The brutal horror stories of how they had tortured the Equestrians to death weren't false. She would have no mercy when she wrapped her hands around Specter's throat. That was for sure.

"Tia, Mom, Dad, Astral? I hope I avenge you and make you proud. I love you. Jet, Chrissy? Please stay safe. Sombra?"

The only sound was the gushes of wind sweeping through the camp.

A few slivers of sunrise were starting to appear, staining the sky red.

"I-I don't know what I'd do with you. I c-can't lose a-another friend....."

*********

The Crystal Empire was majestic as always. The glittering buildings never failed to impress. Of different shapes, sizes, and colors, they were enriching to the senses and a beautiful wonder. The castle was a brilliant blue, the crown jewel of the Empire. But around it sat ten spikes, all holding a different head.

The Duskan soldiers were awfully out of place amongst the scenery. Along with the dried blood that caked the buildings. Luna could even make out messages and rather disturbing drawings spread across the walls like graffiti.

"Phase 1," Luna whispered. She and all the other magicians placed an invisibility spell over the militia.

They crept ever so silently into their designated spots. What little noise they made was covered up by the Duskan soldiers yelling profanity, or their blades chopping heads off. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Phase 2," Luna continued, creeping onto the roof of a building with 20 others. They hastily scanned the area for the Dusks, but couldn't find them anywhere.

Their invisibility spell slowly unraveled itself, and the Equestrians could only watch in horror as they were blinked back into existence.

"A little late, don't you think?" A sneering voice asked them.

When Luna turned around, she found the Duskan army standing before them.

"Shit," Luna muttered before the first grenade was thrown.

From there, everything transformed into a chaotic mess.

Violet grenades sailed through the air, engulfing the Equestrians in purple puffs of smoke. Bang! Almost half the army was decimated instantly, leaving the militia hopelessly crippled compared to the Dusks.

Bang! Shards of glass and debris swarmed around Luna, who leaped off her building just in time. Whirling around in midair, she saw the building and her legion erupt into a purple puff of smoke, leaving behind charred bodies and skeletons of metal.

She managed to execute an immaculate shoulder roll, getting to her feet with a cloud of smoke and dirt.

Bang! Glass-shattering screams signalized the downfall of Legion 3, who were to her left. But she blinked in confusion, for were those 8 pairs of eyes peering at her from the castle's balcony, out of the Duskan's view? The decoy. That was it.

The acrid stench of smoke and burning flesh was heavy in the air, a haze of something Luna never wanted to experience again.

She drew her sword, custom made from the diamonds of the Empire. It glinted in the light, reflecting a terrified, disheveled young girl in no position to lead an army, let alone rule a kingdom.

Napoleon and Specter both stood before her. The morningstar was a heavy ball covered in spikes, attached to a long chain. In the hands of Napoleon, it was perfect for bludgeoning people to death. Specter brandished a katana, simple yet deadly. 

In between them was a girl Luna had never seen before. With her cruel beauty and sharp features, she was a true daughter of the Duskan empire, that was for sure. Electric blue hair blending into lavender, tan skin, and emerald eyes that glinted with malice.

All three wore merciless smiles, somewhat resembling one of a feral cat's.

Luna changed her face into a mask of stone, staring the 3 Duskan youths dead in the eye. They'll only take advantage of your fear.

At last, the grenades had stopped flying.

"H-how are you all here?" Luna demanded.

Impossible. This shouldn't have been happening. She had planned everything. Their journey would take 3 days from Canterlot to the Empire. The journey from Tenebrisia, the Duskan capital to the Crystal Empire would take 6 days. There was no way the Dusks could've made it in time.

Napoleon let out a little laugh at that, licking his bloodstained morning star.

"Godammit, can we start the fighting already? I didn't travel for 6 days to put heads on spikes. It gets too repetitive," the girl groaned, fingering a few throwing stars. "I can't wait to slice some limbs off."

"Shut up, Nereza," Specter nudged her.

Shk! Shk! Shk! Shk! Shk!

Five throwing stars whizzed through the air at inhumane speed and blood danced through the air as the weapons hit their targets.

Nereza was nowhere to be seen.

The morning star's chain wrapped around Luna's throat, pulling tightly. It constricted her, digging into her throat and drawing hot blood that ran clear red lines down her armor-

An orange spell released Luna from the chain's grasp, hurling her back with such force that made stars explode before her eyes.

A magician boy gave her a quick nod before a throwing star sliced clean through his head, and his corpse fell to the ground in a pool of blood.

Luna dove behind a crumbling building to avoid the spiked ball that threatened to decimate her.

"Come out and play, little girl," Napoleon's voice taunted from her right. She resteadied herself, quieting her breaths.

If she did, indeed, "come out and play", he would surely win. He was bred for war. Though she did not know his ability, she was well-versed in the art of magic.

An invisibility spell wove over her. Spying a few footholds in the building, she hoisted herself up and climbed.

"Scared, aren't you?" Napoleon's footsteps grew closer. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him standing below her. He couldn't see her.

I'll need to climb quick enough to get to the top of the building, then fly off and launch an aerial attack.

An incapacitated body fell from the sky, ankles twisting, blood flying and coating Luna in sticky red. It landed next to her for a microsecond, before it continued its descent. Bones contorted in absurd directions, the corpse so hopelessly mangled beyond repair.

She resisted a scream and sprint-climbed up the wall, clambering to the top.

Below, Napoleon was somehow dueling Celestia, who had made her way over there. The radiant, golden halberd threatened to graze Napoleon, but his morningstar had done damage to Tia. Her armor was stained red, and gashes adorned her face.

Tia swerved to avoid the morningstar's wild swing, which cut through a few of her long locks.

Now.

Luna backed up against one end of the building, she sprinted towards the edge, extended her wings and jumped 20 feet.

The air rushed by, speed demons that came and went with the seconds she flew. She extended her arms, reached out and pulled Napoleon in, pressing her sword to his throat.

"Sister, help me!" Luna commanded. She stunned him hastily, while Tia entrapped him in magical binds.

Both sisters released an exhale. Luna gingerly touched her neck, wincing as her hands came away in a rainbow of reds.

"Who else is left?" Tia inquired, readjusting her grip on her halberd, lifting a shaking finger to stun a few soldiers.

"Did you get Specter and that other Duskan girl?" Luna asked.

"I hurt Specter, but Nereza, she's so elusive," Tia sighed, getting to her feet. "We need to find them! I'll find the girl, you can get Specter."

"There's no need," a voice sounded.

Luna attempted to whirl around, finger lit and sword ready. But she couldn't move. It was as if she was one of the frozen corpses, devoid of life.

Celestia couldn't either. "I think it's Nereza's ability!"

"So you're Princess Luna," Nereza drawled, walking around to face her, standing between the two sisters.

With a burst of energy, Celestia temporarily broke free, raising a hand to strike-

Nereza's hand whipped out, catching Celestia's wrist. On cue, a cacophony of cracks resounded through her bones.

"And you must be Celestia," Nereza released her contorted wrist. "Wow. Wow. You're the rulers of Equestria. How old are you? Fifteen and twenty?"

"Eighteen," Luna spat. She was struggling to break free of whatever spell Nereza had cast.

Wham! A spell flew towards Nereza, hitting her acute throwing star instead and ricocheting around the three girls like a springy tennis ball.

Time itself seemed to slow, as the green spell itself danced gingerly through the air, not quite sure where to go. The magician girl who had cast it was running towards Nereza-

It took less than a second for a throwing star to skewer the girl straight through the neck, as Nereza grabbed the head by its hair and examined it, before tossing it to the ground.

When Nereza turned back around, she snatched both girls' weapons out of their hands and kicked them away.

But she was straining to keep both girls under control. Up close, her eyes were bloodshot, and purple bruising was prominent.

"Specter, come over and help me! I can't keep them frozen for much longer goddamnit!" Nereza shrieked.

The sisters frantically tried to escape. This was their ultimatum. If Specter got there in time, the entire kingdom was done for.

Crack. First their arms broke free. Crack. Then their legs. Crack.

Nereza unleashed a string of agitated curses, yelping as she jumped back, clutching her head. Celestia used the chance to pull an exhausted Nereza into a choke hold, pointing a glowing finger at her throat.

"GODDAMNIT! Get your ass over here now, Specter Azazel Samel Dusk!" Nereza shrieked.

Specter sprinted over, blood coating him from head to toe. "I'm coming! Those pesky magicians came at me all at once!"

Celestia's eyes reflected hints of uncertainty and doubt. The way she held herself was one of a young girl, not a warrior. Nereza smirked, not bothering to struggle. She practically used Celestia as a crutch.

Luna shot up into the air, but Specter followed. He grabbed her, pressing his katana against her throat. Both Specter and Celestia gripped their hostages tightly, but Celestia's fingers shook with apprehension.

"Nereza, can't you rewind Napoleon back to when he wasn't unconscious?" Specter growled.

"You know how energy-consuming that is!" Nereza argued.

For what felt like eternity, they hovered there: Specter and Luna 15 feet above the ground, Nereza and Celestia below them.

Nereza's eyes seemed to bulge out of her skull as she honed in her focus. The magical binds restraining Napoleon came away, the stun spell shot at him flew in the opposite direction, and he opened his eyes, wincing at the bright light.

"Celestia now!" Luna screamed, even as the sword pressed deep into her throat.

But Celestia shook her head frantically, as if trying to wake herself from the horrors of war. If only Tia wasn't so weak and afraid. Then they might have a chance.

Instead, it was Nereza who struck, stabbing Celestia in the abdomen with two throwing stars, and slicing off a finger with her last.

In retaliation, Celestia struck Nereza with a spell, who clutched her chest, painfully coughing up blood. Though she could've rewound time, she was way too fatigued, and couldn't risk defeat.

Blood gushed from both of their wounds, until they were slipping in a river of blood, staining themselves and the ground a deep crimson.

Napoleon shakily got to his feet, hissing, eyes flitting from duo to duo.

Luna's vision was growing dimmer and dimmer. The metallic tang of blood wafted up her nostrils, overpowering everything else. When she looked down, she saw red. Nothing but red.

We're done for. We're either dead or prisoners of war. But she wouldn't go down without a fight. She'd die as the legendary hero of Equestria, who fought for her kingdom to the very end.

Twisting out of Specter's iron grip for a second, she managed to hit him with a weak spell, which tore through his wing with a rip. He swore aggressively, let go, and they began a fiery descent.

Napoleon caught his brother, while Luna barely managed to use a quick cushioning spell before tucking and rolling.

"It's done, Equestrians, surrender," Nereza commanded, rubbing her left temple.

There's no way out. We've lost. Perhaps if we admit defeat, we could avoid the worst of the torture...no. We can't just give up when we've come so far. But her head was throbbing, and all she could see was red.

"We don't have all day, unless Nereza freezes time, and she's in no shape to do that," Specter added.

In a flurry of magic, 8 magicians burst out from the castle's balcony, propelling themselves over the ledge. They were whirlwinds of color, shooting spells and unleashing battle cries.

A pair of hands grabbed hers, and the last thing she heard was, "Hold on, Princess Luna", before they teleported her away. Away from the Dusks, away from danger, and away from war itself. 

Hey Gems! 

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