Du-du-thump, du-du-thump, du-du-thump, du-du-thump...

Emperor Dommick's fingers drummed against the armrest on his chair. The wood creaked as he shifted slightly, but that and his fingers were the only movements in the chilly, darkened room. The chair was nothing fancy, made of oak with iron screws and struts as supports. It was rather utilitarian, considering it had once belonged to the late Lunar Princess. Dommick wondered what had caused her to take such a liking to the simple things in life. Was it the stars? Was it the lonesome nights she spent as her subjects ignored her? Perhaps she just wanted to be different from her sister? Dommick did not know, and it made him curious. Such elegant creatures, those Alicorns. They were powerful, full of splendor and magic. It was a shame they had to die, for how else was he to succeed in his family's greatest ambition? He would never learn the reasoning behind the Moon's choice in design, nor would he witness the greatness of the Sun. No, instead, he had the two combined, along with a dark, magical being, and set it loose upon the world. It entered dreams, terrorized the innocent, and feasted on the young. It was Dommicks crown achievement, that monster... but that would soon change.

Ten days, and history would be forever altered. Ten days, and he would be one with the most powerful being in the multiverse. Ten days, and he would finally be rid of this mortal shell. He would command an army the likes of which has never been seen before, and he would ensure a peace the multiverse will forever be grateful for.

Dommick didn't hate the ponies, nor did he see them in a lustful manner like his kin. In order to ensure victory, he had his Elves convinced that their birthright, magic, was being stolen. One civil war and a nation wide Mindicum-Warpus spell later, resulted in the Elves being thoroughly convinced they needed to take the world for themselves. There were stragglers, of course, but they were seen as conspiracy theorists, frauds to their kin. It was what Dommick needed, and his victory was all but assured as a result. They took the Northern Continents first; the Minotaur's and Hippogryphs. His attention was then turned to an upstart ruler from beyond the Celestial Sea, the Storm King. He was quickly dealt with. Once the North was under his control, he turned South. The Changeling were an interesting species to fight, as they could shapeshift and cause discord in his ranks. He was thankful that Queen Chrysalis decided to ally with him and inform his commanders on how to deal with the rest. It was a smart move on her part, for her hive would have been exterminated like the rest. It was around this time that Dommick came upon his prized goal: Equestria. The peace loving ponies were none the wiser to what was happening outside their borders, mostly due to Dommicks extensive anti-espionage campaign. He came under a flag of truce, and slayed the diarchy on their thrones of gold. Things were going smoothly, until the Griffons decided to unite their country.

He had passed them off as a non-threat. Their war-like nature and greedy tendencies left their territories scattered and corrupt. Nation states fighting amongst themselves like barbarians. Within a few days of him conquering the pony kingdom, he found much to his displeasure that a massive army had crossed the Lunar Sea into the Crystal Empire and was marching South. They were crushed, obviously, and the Crystal Empire was razed to the ground, but it bought the Griffon's enough time to mobilize their territories into a unified Empire to rival his own.

Their technology, while decades behind, still proved to be a major setback as the Elven war machine trudged forward. Each mile taken was paved in the blood of his kin. By the end of the first year, seventeen million Elves were dead, with half as many Griffons in the same position. Any rational tactician would have balked in the face of such horrific numbers, but Dommick was of a different mindset. Slowly, his armies pushed the Griffons back, and slowly, the war moved in their favour. After two years, the Griffon Capitol was his, and the war was all but won.

Then he came.

The Human, a being of war and destruction, unleashed into the fold. Dommick did not know how he arrived, but the consequences have been disastrous. The nobles were in an uproar, morale was depleting, and Elven society was shrouded in fear. All because of one man.

A mental image popped into Dommicks mind just then, and his neutral face donned a scowl. He saw the Human, the usurper, as he stood above the Equestrians. He held a flag, its colours unknown to the Emperor. However, he knew its meaning as it flew over a liberated world, one where the ponies had won.

This was a load of rubbish of course, for the orb had shown him the true future, but he still could not get the nagging feeling in his mind to depart. Every second he continued to sit, the more he saw the face of his rival. First Sergeant Dean Forrester had been a pain in his backside for far too long, and it was time he pulled the thorn free. He had ordered his monster to infiltrate the Sergeant's mind and wreak havoc after the orbs' interference, but progress had been slow even with the newly revealed advantage. He needed something, a new plan, if he is to beat the Human before they attack. He knew they would, just not when or how. The Human wasn't dumb enough to stay behind and try and guard the Princess. It was inevitable that Dommick's armies would come for her and overwhelm their puny resistance. No, he needed to find a way to--

Dommick stopped tapping, an idea forming in his head. A metaphorical light-bulb was hovering above him, and he quickly opened a magical link to his...contact.

"How is the mission?" His voice was like silk as he talked to the seemingly empty room, but if one were to focus, they would notice a second malevolent presence in the shadows. The shadowy figure with many eyes stared out into the gloom, watching and observing as it focused on the Emperor.

"The mission is progressing, but the Human is proving to be a troublesome adversary. His mind is strong, but I am slowly working through the cracks now that the Guardian is no longer interfering." The beast's voice was similar to a taste of copper. It was unpleasant and would have caused any lesser being to flinch. Dommick was no such Elf as he crossed his arms over his chest. His calculating eyes staring directly ahead.

"I believe I have insight that might help you. The Human yearns to return to his world, one wrought with a war orders of magnitude bigger than we have seen. Instead of infiltration, we should insist on negotiation. Continue to wreak havoc on his mind, but give him an ultimatum. If my guess is correct, he will come, and then we will strike. Are my daughter and commander Kioti in position?"

"Yesss, they are. Once the Demon has gone, they will enact your plan. Do remember our deal, Elf."

Dommick waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes, yes. When the ritual is complete, you may become one with the Princess of Magic. I will not stop you. Now go, and bring me results."

The darkness did not recede, but the beast did. The presence of malevolence and hate persisted, and the air seemed stuffy. All was silent within the room, and the Emperor sat still as a statue as he once more became lost in thought. Such interesting things were going through his mind, and many twisted visions on how the following days would play out. The Demon was trying to play hero and lead an army, but Dommick knew the Human was far out of his league. He was a mere Sergeant, a foot soldier! Even still, the Human had experience, and so he would need to tread carefully. Too much, and Dommick's plan would be wasted. Too little, and the Demon would triumph. No, that could not be allowed. He had faith that the beast would succeed, and in turn deliver the Demon on a silver platter. It was foretold.

He saw it. His armies gathered before him before a great shimmering portal. Their armour was the colour of obsidian, and their weapons crackled with energy. Their hardened gazes looked to him in determination and loyalty, and as he raised his hand, a mighty shout echoed across the land. The army saluted him, their left hands coming across to their right breasts, and the Emperor felt a twisted smile upon his face. Turning, he focused on a single figure leaning against a metal pole, his arms wrapped in chains. The Demon was stripped of his armour, and his body was battered and bloody. Fear was dominant in his posture and eyes, and as the Emperor approached, he saw the Demon cringe away.

His gnarled fingers reached up and caressed the Demon's cheek, a sneer appearing for a split second. He then turned to his army as a grand portal winked into existence. A massive city of glass, metal, and pavement lay sprawled before them, and the Emperor could see human civilians running from their coming doom.

Without saying a word, the Emperor pointed, and his army began its march through the portal, ready to conquer the cosmos.

And so Dommick sat, his gaze unflinching as he stared at the covered balcony window. His fingers began to slowly resume their drumming against the chair, and he allowed a small smile to appear. His face was shrouded in shadow as he began to giggle, then laugh. The laugh turned maniacal, and the sounds bounced around the room. The very air seemed charged as the laughter grew louder and louder, and the drumming grew stronger and stronger.

Then it stopped.

Dommick sat, his face a stony mask. Not a muscle in his body dared move. His plan would succeed, the Demon would fall, and the last Alicorn would be his.

Without a sound, Dommick stood and walked out of the room. The sudden movement was left unnoticed, and within seconds, the door closed with a soft click. Everything was silent; the dust across the bed and appliances left undisturbed. There was no hint of another's presence, and the room was left abandoned for the final time.

No Alicorn, no Elf, and no creature.

Just silence, and a memory of a happier time.

*****

Thwack, Thwack, THWACK!!

Three arrows, three marks. All within the space of a second. Dean watched as three ponies in gray urban camouflage cleared the last room of the house before turning and nodding to a Sergeant near the boundary. The Sergeant blew his whistle, signaling the end of the session. Three tired ponies, two Pegasi and a Unicorn, collected their spent arrows and trudged out of the house.

Lifting his arm, Dean noticed the time on the Tac-Pad read 2:30pm, and a frown appeared on his face. He had a meeting with General Blight in twenty minutes, and he needed to leave now if he was to make it on time. He climbed down from his perch and began following a path to the command center.

The last day had been eventful. The training was going well, but tensions were high. The man had to break up more than a few fights as disagreements and heated tempers arose within the ranks, which did little to sooth the growing unease.

The deadline was close; too close. Every member of the guard knew it was coming, yet they didn't feel ready. They were a small force, barely even an army, and they were about to launch what was by all rights a suicide mission right into the heart of the Elven Empire. Human or no Human, fear became the dominant factor throughout the city. Many figured that if they left, the Elves would attack and kill their loved ones. Others figured it was better to wait out the storm, and pray the enemy didn't find them.

Both were unacceptable, especially with what the Emperor was trying to accomplish.

To say Dean himself was spooked was an understatement. A magical ritual, capable of erasing everyone's inner self was a terrifying prospect. To be alive, but nothing more than a husk as you shambled around like a zombie, or even became catatonic and limp, fated to die a slow, painful death.

That wasn't the worst of it though, and as Dean walked along the path, he thought about what that monster had said to him during the night. It came to him offering a parlay, he didn't believe it and had tried to run, but the monster gave no chase. Every time the man turned a corner it was there, waiting. When he stopped running, it told him that It would stop torturing his mind if he agreed to meet the Emperor on neutral grounds. Dean had obviously told it to piss off, to which it did, and he was left to his own devices in a lucid dream. He tried desperately to convince himself it was a ruse. He told himself the Emperor would only try and kill him. But the lingering doubt still remained. Why would the Emperor want a parlay? He was dead set on his goals, and obviously wasn't going to change his plans. Was he trying to get Dean to switch sides? Dean would never betray his friend, no matter how she might trick him into staying in Equestria. He wouldn't do that, even if she was willing to kill his family in order to keep him. He wouldn't do it.

It was then that an idea began to form in the man's head. One of trickery and deceit. He pushed it to the back of his mind, as he reasoned it was a foolish thought, but it remained ever present.

'Can I accept the Parlay, then kill the Emperor?'

The man huffed as he retreated from his inner thoughts and passed two Griffons. Both looked up at him in reservation, but said nothing as the towering Human walked past. After his demonstration at the tavern, he figured they wouldn't try anything anyway. The Griffon soldier's were an odd bunch and mostly kept to themselves. Dean wouldn't have taken much notice of them, if it wasn't for the old rifle-esque weapons they toted around. Each one carried what appeared to be a cross between a musket and a German Mauser, along with a flintlock-like pistol. From what Dean had observed from afar, the Griffon rifles were actually breech loaded, while the pistols were muzzle loaded. It was strange, and Dean was unused to the odd designs of those rifles. His hand subconsciously traveled to his back and touched the muzzle of his SCAR. Now that was a gun. He briefly wondered how much ammo he had left. It would be best to check tonight before--

"Hey Dean!"

Twilight's voice rang like a bell in Dean's head, causing him to almost physically cringe while his face brought upon a warm smile. The thing was, it wasn't forced. His mind was at war, and it was tearing the man apart. He saw Twilight almost every night inside his dreams for the last week. It was the same. He would tumble through that doorway, and she would be there, his wife and kid dead at her hooves. She always held that warm smile that he was so used to in the waking world, which made it that much worse when he saw it now. The smile gave him butterflies, and at the same time, caused him to feel sick and terrified.

"Hey Twi." He cringed at the sound of his voice. It was raspy, tired, and not his own. Glancing to his right, where she was hovering beside him, he saw her frown in concern. He quickly focused away from her as certain thoughts threatened to consume him.

"Is everything alright Dean?" Her head tilted to the side adorably, and the man resisted the urge to reach out, grab her, and hold her against his chest. This was coupled with the urge to verbally explode. He wanted to scream, to tell her in no uncertain terms that he was not alright; that he was being tortured from within, and it hurt him to be near her. Oh how he wanted to be near her.

His boots crunched on the gravel below, and a chilly breeze struck his face. His eyes roamed the ground, refusing to look at his friend... if he could still call her that with the conflict within. Dean felt like he was splitting in two, but instead of losing his head, he quietly exhaled and slowly shook his head. He heard Twilight sigh, and saw out of the corner of his eye as she gave him a sad look. Dean's face took on a stony, neutral mask as he continued to look down.

"I'm stressed, Twi. I'm so damn stressed." He began. "I am trying to command an army here, and bring them on what is likely to be a one way trip. I don't know if I'm ready, but I know for a fact they aren't. I can't lead these people to their deaths; they've suffered enough as it is. I don't know how competent the Emperor is, or how many troops he has. I'm not invincible, even with all my fancy gear."

Twilight slowly pulled ahead and stopped in front of the man, causing him to stop. She quickly dropped to the ground before slowly walking up to Dean. He was looking down at the gravel, his eyes holding a far away look as he gazed down. Seeing this, Twilight gently laid a hoof on his leg, causing him to blink and focus on her. She gave him a smile, and she saw his face twitch, but otherwise he did not reciprocate the gesture.

"Dean, you are doing the best you can. It is okay to feel doubt about this. Your planning, tactics and technology has brought hope to thousands who had lost it. Myself included." A look of longing came over her, but it was gone quick enough that Dean didn't notice. Or so she thought. "I know you can do this. You're a super awesome soldier from another world!"

Dean crouched down as she finished speaking and stared at the Princess with a look she could not place. She could see unease, anger, sadness... but something else as well.

Dean for his part was conflicted. He looked at the little pony before him and saw his beautiful wife. He married that woman because she was supportive, kind, and wickedly smart. She was everything the man needed in his life, and he loved her more than anything. Twilight reminded him of her, of what he was trying to return to. His loving son and Wife. Dean had told himself the letter was a means to fight harder, to win. Twilight was the same thing: a reason to keep moving forward. It probably wasn't very nice of him to see her as a means to the mission, for she was his friend, but she was the mission, his wife anyway.

'Wait, what am I...'

Dean felt a pounding in his head. Something wasn't adding up. Twilight was his friend and he was trying to protect her. He was trying to get back to his wife and kid, but was stuck here in another world. Twilight didn't want him to go and was going to try to...

'That's not right, I--'

Dean's train of thought went blank as he received a sudden pressure around his shoulders. Blinking back into reality, he found Twilight's legs wrapped around his shoulders as she nuzzled her head into his neck. It was an odd feeling, as she was an equine, but her neck and head were oddly Human. Dean found his arms instinctively wrapping around her as well, and a sense of calm washed over him. Just for a moment, he could forget about his mind and the monster attacking it. He could forget about the looming battle. He could forget--

"Aw, you guys are cute. Though I recommend getting a room or something. There's a nice empty spot two doors down from my cell."

Dean felt Twilight let go of him, causing the Human to turn and stare in annoyance at a certain Dark Elven Prince.

Trignar Blueblade stood there, his arms shackled and a magical seal around his neck. He was escorted by two guards with stoic expressions, and a smirk played across his face. His clothes, more akin to robes, were tattered and dirty. The only clean thing about him was his hair and beard, which were washed courtesy of his one shower per day policy Dean had given.

Glancing to his right, he saw the Princess blushing up a storm as she stared at his chest. Dean merely sighed before rising. The prince's ears wilted slightly as the Human loomed over him, a sarcastic smile on his face. He turned to the guards, and said smile grew.

"Soldier's, I believe the Prince is in need of some fresh air and a quick rinse. Why don't we take him to the cliffs and give him what he needs." Dean's smile never left his face as the Prince's smirk turned into a look of horror. The poor elf began to sputter and frantically shake his head. He subconsciously took a step back, only to find an armored pony blocking his way.

"Great idea Sergeant, I think a good dip in the ocean is a great way to wake anyone up." The soldier on the left stated with a nod. Trignar's face paled.

"Oh, leave him alone." Everyone turned in surprise as the Princess spoke for the first time in their little interaction. However, it was the fact that she was defending him that caught Dean off guard. He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He noticed as Twilight barely shook her head while gazing into his eyes, causing them to soften. He realized then that he was being too hard on the Prince, the one who had helped him rescue Twilight in the first place.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

With a sigh, Dean gave a slight nod, which got an eye roll from the two guards. Trignar gave a sigh of relief.

"Where are they taking you, Trignar?" Dean's voice was neutral as he shuffled in place, his critical eyes analyzing the Elven Prince. He noticed a few passing ponies and a Griffon walk past, the latter of which spat at Trignar's feet.

"These two esteemed chicken-shits are taking me to your little meeting. General what's-his-face wants more information that he thinks I have." Trignar's tone came across as pompous, but Dean ignored it. Instead, he nodded before signaling to the two guards.

"Very well, follow me and Twilight."

The newly formed group of beings began to walk down the path once more, the only noise being the steps they took on their trek. Dean did not look at Twilight, Trignar or anything else. He was once more lost in thought. Plans and ideas circumnavigated his mind, flying by in a blur as he thought of a way to end the war without needless death on his side. He was a First Sergeant, a soldier. He didn't take any classes to become an officer, nor was he the greatest at leading an army. He was an inspiration, sure, and a deadly fighter, but he had no training in how to lead an army. He was a lone wolf, a specter that traversed the shadows. He had General Blight, but he knew the ponies' way of fighting was extremely outdated. The Griffon General, Graybeard, was rallying his troops and couldn't help. He definitely had the best experience in this matter, which made Dean wish all the more that he was present.

"Sergeant, if I may have a word." Trignar's voice almost didn't register to the human, and he had to shake his head before glancing out of the corner of his eye at the Elf. Trignar must have sensed he had Dean's attention, and gently cleared his throat. His voice was hushed so as not to be heard by anyone else.

"What is it?" Dean grumbled.

"I am worried, Sergeant. You are pale and look sickly, there are bags under your eyes, of which are slightly bloodshot. Your posture is not confident and intimidating like I remember. Are you alright?"

Dean stopped, as did everyone following. For once, the voices in his head were silent, as though they were as shocked as he was that the Elf had noticed the very things he was trying to hide. Dean heard Twilight approaching, but his arm flashed up as a signal for her to stop. He noticed her hurt look when he turned his head, but ignored it as he refocused on Trignar.

"Twilight, guards, let me speak to the Prince alone for a moment." He all but growled. Twilights ears wilted, but she obeyed along with the two guards. None of them looked happy about his request, but they listened nonetheless.

Trignar and Dean stood facing each other, naught but silence between the two. The Prince had to look up to see into Dean's eyes, and Dean had to look down to see into his. It was as though a silent contest of wills was being waged between the two, and neither seemed to back down.

Dean cracked first.

"You do not bring this up with anyone, do you understand me?" He ordered, his voice a low growl. A hardness had entered his eyes, and Trignar gulped audibly before giving a shallow nod. Dean stared at him for a moment longer before releasing another sigh. He seemed to be doing that a lot today.

"That... monster, the one with the tentacles, has infiltrated my mind. You know this already, but you must understand," a tired look came across the Sergeant, and he seemed to age ten years before the Elf's eyes, "Humans don't have magic. My mind is being toyed with, kicked around like a boxing bag. I wake up every night in a cold sweat," he glanced at Twilight, "I nearly killed Twilight." He finished with a quiver in his voice, one that Trignar would have missed had he not been listening with rapt attention.

"The monster... it is winning." Trignar all but whispered, his ears wilting as Dean slowly nodded.

"It is, and I can't stop it. I need to finish this war and kill the Emperor before I go... crazy." Dean shuffled as he glanced back at Twilight. Trignar followed his gaze and sighed.

"You love her." He stated.

"I do." Dean replied quietly. He watched as she chatted with the guards. The two laughed at a joke she told, and Dean smiled a genuine smile. That is, until an image of her killing his wife and kid flashed before his mind. "But I can't. Something is wrong."

"What is it?" Trignar asked, focusing back on Dean.

"I see her every night now. She is there during the war, standing atop my wife. Every single time, she rips her heart out and throws it at me. Every single time she says I will be hers and hers alone. I must return home and protect my wife and kid when this war is done."

"But in the cave, you told the three of us--"

"I told you, Midnight, and Twilight that the Captain was giving me motivation to fight." Dean snapped, cutting Trignar off. The Elf flinched, but otherwise didn't move. Dean sighed and shook his head.

"That is all I am going to tell you. You speak of this to no one. If anything, forget we even had this conversation." Dean turned then and stalked off, his gait purposeful and rigid. However, Trignar could still see the tiredness, the slouch, and the discomfort. He worried then that the human was going to make a mistake. A big one. He couldn't dwell on it now, however, as there were still things to do.

Shaking his head, Trignar began to walk once more. He heard the ponies following him, but said nothing. Even as they passed guards and civilians, he said nothing. Even as some spat at his feet, or gave him looks of disdain, he said nothing. There was nothing to say, as he contemplated what he could possibly do. Him, a prisoner. He couldn't use his magic, he wasn't any good at talking things through, and he did not understand how the human was still continuing on with such horrible things happening inside his head.

Trignar snapped from his stupor to the sounds of hushed talking. It slowly, gradually died down as he entered what appeared to be an old board room. He recognized General Blight and Dean, but all the other beings present were unknowns. There was a griffon, a lieutenant by the looks of his armour, four other ponies, and... a Minotaur?

The silence lasted for several seconds, causing Trignar to shuffle uncomfortably in place. Finally, General Blight broke the silence, his voice stern but not unkind.

"Prince Trignar, I trust you understand the gravity of the situation?" Blight said, his eyes fixed on the prisoner. Everyone else stared at him along with the General

Trignar nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor as all sense of bravado and confidence seemed to leave him. "Yes."

Dean stepped forward, his presence commanding the room's attention in an instant. "Right, then let's get this over with. We need you to give us every detail about the castle's defenses since the Elven take over. Guard posts, patrol routes, secret passages—everything."

Trignar swallowed hard, glancing around the table. The griffon lieutenant eyed him with suspicion, while the Minotaur's expression was unreadable. The pony officers, though clearly wary, seemed more curious than hostile.

"I'll tell you what I know," Trignar began, his voice low but steady. "The castle itself is heavily guarded at all times, but there's a hidden passage below the western wall, once used for smuggling supplies before and during the occupation. My sister would use it to leave the castle on occasion, but she never told anyone lest our father had it sealed. It is a tight fit, especially for someone of Dean's size, but you ponies should have no problem getting through.

He paused, looking up to see Dean and Blight nodding in acknowledgment. "The guard shifts change every four hours. The night shift is the weakest, with fewer and less experienced guards. I do not know for sure, but when I departed Canterlot to hunt the Princess, it was lightly defended. Most of the military is in the Griffon Empire fighting in the war. Other than that, the armory is located in the northeast tower, and it's always under heavy surveillance."

One of the ponies, a mare with a stern expression, leaned forward. "What about routes to the throne room? Many, if not all of us were guards and soldier's from across Equestria and have never set foot in Canterlot."

"I can draw out a map to the best of my ability, but I cannot guarantee accuracy. I didn't have need to explore all that much, and so I do not know which ways are faster and which are slower," Trignar replied. "What I do know is that there are multiple layers of security, much like how you ponies have your guard detail. There will be soldiers every two pillars, and at least four at the main doors to the throne. You won't find many soldiers in the streets, as the city is no longer under lockdown.

Dean exchanged a glance with Blight before addressing Trignar again. "Is there anything else we should know? Any hidden dangers?"

Trignar hesitated, his mind racing. "The castle is protected by ancient magic, some left by the former Princesses, and some of my fathers design. Flying objects cannot pass within two hundred feet of the outer wall when going a certain speed, and there are likely wards on the doors to the throne room. There are Balistae on each turret around the walls, and a hanger for our Skiffs above the castle itself for rapid deployment.

The room fell silent once more as the resistance members absorbed the information. Dean finally broke the silence, his voice resolute. "Thank you, Trignar. This information will be crucial for our success. You," he pointed at one of the unnamed ponies, "get the Prince a paper and something to write with. He will make us a map while we continue to plan.

Trignar nodded, relief washing over him. For the first time since his capture, he felt a glimmer of hope. If his knowledge could help bring down the oppressive regime of his father, perhaps his betrayal would be worth it.

*****

"Two hundred and thirty able-bodied ponies." Dean stared at the chart before him with a frown. Two hundred and thirty was not enough. He turned to the Griffon Lieutenant that was present. "How many soldiers will your General bring?"

The Griffon looked at the assembled group before sucking in through his teeth... beak? He shook his head and shrugged.

"I 'ave no idea, wachtmeister. Ve did not plan to come back at all." The Griffon's accent was rough, but understandable. "Ma guess iz dat he may field anoder two-fifty, maybe moare."

Dean sighed and shook his head, looking back down at the chart. Ponies names and ranks blurred together, but there was one small detail that he didn't understand. Each name had a mark beside it. They were strange designs full of colour. Dean searched his mind to find the answer, for he knew Twilight had mentioned something like these...

"...cutie marks," he stated in a whisper.

"What was that?" General Blight asked, causing everyone present to lean in. Dean looked up and smirked.

"Cutie Marks. Is there anyone in the ranks with illusion or invisibility magic?" Dean looked at the assembled faces.

Blight shook his head. "Not that I am aware of. There aren't many unicorns compared to everypony else. The only one who may know some illusion magic is the Princess."

Dean thought for a second. Why did it ring a bell when the General mentioned Twilight.

"The invisibility generators, patented by Iron Will, may suffice." The Minotaur spoke for the first time, causing Dean's eyes to shoot up. Twilight was checking on the generators!

"Can we even move the damn things?" Another pony asked.

The room was silent. That is, until a certain blacksmith burst through the door, causing everyone present to jump. Dean watched as Iron Mallet looked around the room with wide eyes before finally focusing on Dean. A happy smile broke across his face as he raced up to the Sergeant.

"Dean! I did it!" He panted as Dean looked down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Sergeant, what is a civilian--" Dean held up his hand, effectively cutting the General off. He nodded to Iron Mallet.

"How many have you made, and how fast can you make them?" His tone was no-nonsense, and the blacksmith gulped as his ears lowered in shame.

"Only one so far. I predict with the amount of Nullstone at my disposal, I can make three more. I decided to make the designs as simplistic and lightweight as possible, but I do not have enough material. I may be able to make five if I cut back on the protectiveness of the others."

The General snapped once more, his voice irate as two guards entered the room.

"Sergeant, what in Celestia's name is he talking about?"

The General's expression was not shared by the rest of the present members, for they were watching Dean and Mallet's conversation with intrigue. The man sighed as he gestured towards the blacksmith.

"I have commissioned the creation of special armour that can withstand Elven weaponry. My fabricator was able to turn the Nullstone into an alloy, and Iron Mallet then turned that alloy into usable material. In theory, whoever wears that armour will be similar to me in terms of protection... minus the obvious enhancements," everyone in the room gasped, and even Trignar looked up from his work in surprise. Dean turned to Mallet, "Good job. Cut back a bit and try to squeeze out four with what you have. We still want maximum protection for our soldiers."

Iron Mallet, with an excited smile, did a clumsy salute before turning and bolting out the door. His voice carried as he called for his son. Dean shook his head as he faced the rest of the assembled group.

"So, shall we get back to business?"

The group once more resumed their planning, but their hopes were high. The announcement of this new armour had brought energy to the table, and Dean intended to capitalize on it.

*****

"So... this is what my brother was doing." Twilight circled the strange machine sitting before her with an inquisitive look. Her eyes traveled over smooth metal, rounded material, conductive wiring, and a magical crystal at the center of it all. A crystal sheet lay atop the machine, expanding the beam far into the air and into a certain radius. The type of magic was key for the device to work; essentially a shield spell that the crystal broke apart and remixed in order to expand its area of effect. It was an incredible machine, one Twilight could spend all night studying up on, but she did not have time at the moment. Her job here was to make sure everything was in order and look for possible weaknesses that could be exploited.

Twilight knew the true reason was the council wanted her out of their hair.

Huffing in exasperation, she let her thoughts wander as she analyzed the manuals and sheets arrayed before her eyes, held aloof by her magic. Her brain was on autopilot as she began to read.

'It doesn't make any sense. Why is Dean having so many nightmares and episodes now? He was fine when we met, and when he was in the hospital... where I watched him sleep...' Her cheeks reddened, but she shook it away to continue concentrating. 'Maybe it's just the stress of the upcoming conflict. He's been quite distant recently.'

Twilight moved on to the next page, a slight movement caught the corner of her eye, but she ignored it. It was probably the officer guarding the area.

'Maybe it's the conflict about wanting to go home after the war? Even I can see he is torn. Surely though with his wife and son dead... he won't see a reason to go back... and instead stay with me?' Twilight's ears wilted as those thoughts entered her mind. They sounded selfish, and unlike her. She loved Dean, with all her heart, but understanding his own feelings for her were becoming troublesome. No book she had ever read could prepare her for a scenario such as this. Why did he seem to push her away, only to then cuddle up beside her and feel like the Princess she once was. 'Did I misread his culture? Maybe this is merely how Human's show friendship, and I am pushing this too far in my own imagination? No, that can't be it. I need to go with my heart on this one. I know he loves me; it has to be the stress. Surely--"

A creak causes her ears to perk and swivel towards the offending sound. It was then that she noticed how oddly quiet the world around her was. So much so that she could barely hear her own breathing!

Slowly putting the papers down, Twilight looked around the sudden darkness with a critical eye. The room she was in was gone, and nothing but black enveloped her vision. Looking down, she could see she was still standing, just not on any conceivable matter.

Before she could so much as blink, she heard a voice. It was familiar, and it sent butterflies into her stomach.

"Twi, are you there?" Sergeant Dean's words carried across the darkness. Twilight became giddy and tried to move towards him, but her legs refused to cooperate. Confused, she looked back to the source of the voice, only to see nothing.

"Hey gorgeous."

Twilight yelped as Dean's voice appeared next to her ear, and her cheeks immediately flushed as she registered his words.

"H-Hey Dean." She said as she saw the man in her peripheral vision. His two heavily muscled legs bulged, and she nearly gasped upon seeing there were no articles of clothing on his person. She tried to turn her head to see him fully, but once again, she was unable to move. She felt his hand on her cheek, and a shiver ran up her spine.

"You know, I haven't quite shown you how much you mean to me." His hand trailed from her cheek to her neck, then from her neck to her back. Twilight felt light headed as her breathing picked up. She could not formulate words, and instead stayed silent.

'Is this really happening?'

"I will be leaving shortly, never to see you again. So why not make this special."

And just like that, Twilight snapped from her daze. She felt the heat in loins, along with the urges her body was telling her, but something was... wrong.

"W-What do you mean 'Leaving shortly?' You are staying here after the war with me, aren't you?" Once more she tried to turn her head, and once more she failed. She felt Dean's hand move lower before his finger brushed against her dock. There he stopped and raised his hand away. She was about to ask what he was doing when a sting erupted from her flank, causing her to yelp. She realized then that he had slapped her on the rear. A groan escaped her as her tail instinctively flagged to the side.

"I have to go home, Twi, back to my wife and son. They don't need to know about this though. It's just a one time thing after all." She did not notice how Dean's words had become slightly garbled, but she did notice what he had said.

"B-But I don't want a one time thing, Dean, I-I love you! This isn't right. Don't you love me?" She tried harder to move her head, and this time slowly succeeded. She could now see an outline behind her, but that was all.

"I do love you Twilight, I mean, it was you who has wanted this for some time, no?" He felt his fingers playing with her, and she moaned as pleasure raced up her body. The feeling itself was great, and only got better as two years of pent up energy began to take hold of her rational mind. Her mind was in a daze, a lustful cloud having overcome her vision and senses. She could smell him, at least, that was what her mind told her. She felt his fingers leave, only to be replaced by something much bigger. She mewled as her entrance was toyed with once more, and screamed in ecstasy when he finally took her.

For minutes, though it seemed like hours, she was in a state of pure bliss. Her legs shook as she regained control of her body, and her front half lowered to the nonexistent ground to get a better angle. Her cheeks were flushed a dark red as she panted, and she hardly noticed when a putrid smell wafted through the air.

"Open wide, Princess..."

Her mouth opened without her knowing, and a slimy, rope-like tentacle pushed itself into her maw. She gagged at first, thinking it would stop, only for it to continue onwards down her throat.

Something within the little Alicorn's mind screamed at her, telling her to snap out of it. The smell was horrible, but intoxicating. Her every pleasure was being satisfied, and she took no notice as the tentacle seemed to leech into her from the inside. She gagged once more as she climaxed, but it was weak... almost fake. Why was everything so hazy and... dreamlike?

Her mind continued to scream, getting louder and louder. As the appendage pushed deeper, her eyes flew open, and her awareness of what was going on around her caused her to scream... or at least attempt one. Instead, an odd gurgle came from her throat, and she twitched in place, unable to move. The long appendage stopped moving, and she was once more locked in place.

"Interesting you are, Alicorn of Magic and Friendship. You were not my target, but the opportunity was too good to pass up." The voice was a mixture of different creatures. She heard what sounded like both Luna and Celestia, along with the hiss of King Sombra and the chuckle of Discord. Her eyes widened as she watched a terrible blob like creature emerge from the darkness. It carried itself on many insect-like legs, and its gelatin-like body warbled and shifted as it moved. She saw something then, something that would forever haunter her. Her mentor's face, molded and melted like wax, stared out at her. She then saw Luna as well, and she wanted to scream.

"Be not afraid, little Alicorn. You will soon be a part of us, and you will not need to scream nor cry. The pleasure you felt, the pleasure we let you feel in your lust for the Human was a taste of what we will give once you join us."

The tentacle retracted from Twilight, and she felt every inch of it as it slithered out of her belly and out of her mouth. Her eyes rolled back as her jaw opened impossibly wide to allow its extraction. As it exited, bile rose in her throat and flew violently outwards, causing her to collapse on to her side. The nasty substance coming from her mouth continued to make her heave, as its blackened, tar like substance made her body revolt. She shivered in disgust and horror, and whimpered as the monster got closer. Her vision shook.

"Soooon Princess, will you join us. Soon will the Demon betray you and help in your capture." Her world shook harder, and she heard a voice. She latched on to it desperately, and the monster began to fade into the darkness as her consciousness began to return.

"Sooooooon..."

*****

Twilight leapt up with a yelp and instantly scrambled away from the shadowy figure before her. Her breaths came in heaves as her terror-filled eyes saw the monster in the corners of her vision. The shadowy figure moved towards her once more, and her horn lit with a threatening glow.

"GET BACK!" She screeched, causing the figure to hesitate. She heard words, but they weren't discernable for some reason. The figure tried to approach her once more, and with a cry, Twilight let out a blast of pure concussive energy.

There was a grunt, and the sound of a body hitting stone. Twilight was up in an instant and searching for an exit. She found it quickly enough, but she soon found her way blocked by two ponies. She immediately recognized them as guards and skidded to a halt. The two guards stopped and stared in surprise at Twilight.

"Princess? What are you doing here? We heard a magical discharge, is everything alright?" The guards got closer, and Twilight was on the verge of hyperventilating. "She was able to get a few words out before collapsing into a quivering mess on the floor.

"M-M-M-Monster! I-It looked like them! It- I-I-It felt like him! I Can... I can't." She began to cry as she lay there. Her feelings were a mess, she felt sweaty, her brain was telling her to run and find Dean, but couldn't make up its mind on whether to kiss the man or have his arms safely wrapped around her. She decided to do both.

"I-I need to find the Sergeant, where is he??"

The two guards looked at one another before the one on the left nodded.

"He is in a meeting at the barracks. You might be able to catch him soon, as it should be wrapping up about now. The briefing is in thirty mikes, so you might--" The guard trailed off, seeing that she was already gone. Turning around, he watched as the Princess galloped in distress away from the town and towards the Human. Looking at his partner, the two shrugged.

"Ugh..."

The two guards, having just lowered their weapons, snapped to attention in an instant. They heard the clop of hooves before a pony wearing a lab coat stumbled out of the darkness. The two guards raised an eyebrow, almost in sync, before the one on the right stepped forward.

"Professor Pants, are you alright?" The guard asked. The professor shook his head and adjusted his glasses before giving a huff.

"I am fine, young stallion. And my name is Smarty. I am no longer a professor of anything." The science pony rubbed his head.

"What happened sir?" The guards lowered their spears and trotted to Smarty's side.

"I don't know. The Princess fell asleep, so I moved to wake her. She woke up screaming bloody murder before blasting me with magic. It seemed she was having a nightmare of sorts, poor girl." Smarty shook his head before his eyes widened considerably. "DRAT! I need to make sure she didn't bust the generator. Good evening, sirs, but I must go!"

The two guards watched as the scientist galloped back into the dark room, leaving them confused. Slowly, they trotted back to their posts and retook their positions. The sun was casting a pink glow across the sky, and a light breeze tickled their fur, but neither moved a muscle.

The silence was tense, and the guard on the left finally broke it with seven simple words.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

The two were left to their devices, hoping that what their instincts were telling them was a lie.

Meanwhile, a certain Human was exiting a meeting. His mood was down and a migraine pounded away at his head. Darkness shrouded the town of Maritime Bay, and everyone in the city seemed to hold their breath in anticipation for what was to come.