Chapter Seven: The Archon

The trio stepped outside after what felt like hours of planning. A quick look up towards the sky would confirm their feelings. The moon was fading towards the western horizon; it would be morning soon. Celestia yawned – she had managed to steal a few hours of sleep – before turning to face Luna. Her sister looked just as tired, with good reason too. She had flown over miles and miles of Equestria to rally a resistance, and she probably felt even worse than Celestia did. It didn't matter now though; for better or for worse, their journey was about to come to an end. Celestia looked down at the young filly beside her. Twilight Sparkle looked fresh faced and ready, she had been told her duties first, and was given the rest of the meeting to rest. She was only young, and was playing the biggest part in their strategy.
"That plan is more than risky my sister." warned an uneasy Luna. "It will most likely end in your destruction."
"There is no need for doubt right now, Luna. It's do or die time; and I intend to do." Celestia responded sharply.
"I'm not so sure I can pull of what you want me to do." Twilight confided.
"It will require perfect synchronisation. But we are ready for it. Even if you fail, Twilight Sparkle, you will fail knowing that you did your best. There is no better way to fail than failing with great effort."
Celestia's words had affected Twilight well, and she perked up instantly. She felt confident, and Celestia could see that completely. The trio basked in what could be their last few hours of moonlight, and resolved to get moving to Canterlot Tower.
The journey there was smooth; The Archon had consolidated his forces and moved to quell the resistances popping up across Equestria. A two pronged move from Celestia. The resistance would both clear the way for Celestia to Canterlot Tower, and prevent reinforcements arriving to help The Archon. He was completely alone, and everyone knew it. Upon reaching the Tower, its true height became apparent. Celestia could see Twilight inhaling nervously, the Tower was an intimidating sight. She put her wing around the filly and smiled, filling the child with confidence. They kept eye contact for a brief moment as they were disturbed by a large imposing shape hurtling towards them. Luna ordered them all to step back, as the corpse of the Dragon King landed nearby with an ear splitting crunch. He carried deep scars and multiple burns. He had clearly coaxed The Archon to invoke much of his power into defeating him. Celestia gritted her teeth. She was completely enraged and wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. She nearly did, until Luna placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.
"This is where I take my leave then, for now." said Luna in a hushed, almost disappointed tone.
"Whatever for!?" spluttered Celestia. "Why do you have to leave!?"
"I'm going to don my armour; as well as check a few things. Besides, my late arrival will come as an unexpected shock to The Archon. He thinks you killed me."
Celestia still had an unimpressed and betrayed look on her face.
"Have no fear, sister." Luna pleaded. "I will be back in time to aid in your strategy; I daresay that you won't have even started by then."
Celestia thought Luna looked confident as she said this, and even felt slightly emboldened by this herself.
"Okay then. Perhaps your late arrival will be an important boost for us."
With that the Princess of the night took off into the moonlit sky, travelling as fast as she could. Celestia sighted and looked back to Twilight; she seemed encouraged by Luna's words too. They both continued up the Tower.
The two hurried along towards the summit. They gathered that The Archon was probably still recovering from his battle with the Dragon King. Celestia slammed open the door, and stepped through. The Archon was already facing them.
"Well, well, well. Still in one piece I see Celestia?" inquired The Archon.
Celestia lowered her head slightly, keeping eye contact with her foe. "It's over, Archon. I've had a little chat with this young filly here."
The Archon's expression dropped upon seeing Twilight. In a flash, he lunged at her, but was soon knocked back by a fast reacting Celestia.
"Whore!" he screamed at Celestia, picking himself up from the floor. "How did you find out about her!?"
"Discord told me. He told me everything."
"That bastard. He has no idea of the enemies he's making." The Archon calmed himself down. "Still, was it fun killing your own sister?" he chuckled.
Celestia didn't react; as long as he believed that was the case, Luna's impending arrival would shock him.
"Although... that isn't really what happened is it Celestia?"
The Sun Goddess sighed. "How did you know?"
"You seem to underestimate just how much I know. Did you also know that I know where Luna is right now? Do you also know that I know how you intend to use that filly behind you?"
"You're getting cocky, Archon." spat Celestia. "A rookie's mistake."
"I don't make mistakes, Celestia. That's why I'm stood here with an entire land at my disposal."
"I guess it's time to get started then." said Celestia.
"Indeed. And so begins the last few hours of the series of errors that you call a life!" The Archon's horn began to glow, and five copies of himself emerged from the behind the pillars nearby. They all matched Luna's description. The Archons all assumed their formation, with The Brute standing at the fore, with The Elemental to his left and The Blademaster to his right; behind The Brute stood the main Archon, with The Mender behind him. The sixth simply stood there where he had appeared; his face still expressionless. Celestia took a deep breath. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. The sky was hiding nothing, and neither would she.
"I want to ask you a question first. I'd like you to think about it as we fight."
Celestia glared at The Archon. "What is it then?"
"If your plan succeeds, and you free Equestria from my grasp; do you think you can bring a true peace to the world?"
Celestia was baffled by this, and didn't read The Brute's first move. He charged at her with surprising speed, but he wasn't fast enough for her to leap over him. The Brute collided heavily with the archway behind her. She turned in time to parry a strike from The Blademaster with her horn, he forced her back and attempted a stab; only for her to roll out of the way and kick him in the side. He evaded her counter attack too, and went to strike again, only for her to teleport away. They were piling on the pressure, trying to force her into a mistake. The Elemental joined in, and launched a bombardment of rocks he'd pulled from the cliff side near the Tower in her direction. She teleported away again, and was met with The Brute charging at her. The two collided, and she was slammed into a pillar. She tasted blood, and coughed some up onto the floor. Her enemies gave her some space; they were toying with her.
"Princess!" yelled Twilight as Celestia pulled herself back up. She fired a precise bolt aimed directly at the main Archon's head, and it then became apparent what the sixth Archon's abilities were. A small magical shield was emitted from his horn, and it effortlessly absorbed Celestia's entire projectile. He was a guardian; there to stop her from counter attacking.
She ran around the periphery of the pavilion, firing scattered bolts at the group of Archons. What the sixth didn't absorb, the others avoided. She had to get at The Mender; he was her number one target right now. Celestia wanted to stun them all at once, giving her ample time to defeat The Mender. She leapt into the air and sprouted her wings, soaring up and holding her arms up in the air.
"Look away Twilight!" she yelled, as she erupted in an explosion of light, blinding the six Archons. As she dropped back down, she attempted to behead The Mender, but he was not where she thought he was. The blinding wouldn't last for much longer, she thought as she stabbed the heart of her closest foe and pulled back to Twilight. As the light faded, she made out the one she had killed; The Brute. That specific Archon was the key to building combat pressure, and she would be given a few precious moments to relax during the fight with him removed. The Mender, stood on the opposite side of the pavilion, teleported over to his corpse, and began administering treatment.
"Get ready Twilight." she whispered to the young filly. Celestia teleported into the air once again, this time she was too high up to be targeted by The Elemental, and could begin the first part of their plan. She started soaring in the direction of the ground at a blistering pace, a visible stream of air seen in front of her. She looked like a distant comet as she dived, and soon her work had come to fruition as she exploded into a magnificent Sonic Rainboom.
The shock from the Rainboom knocked Twilight into the air, who had somehow stabilised herself. It became clear how as her eyes were engulfed in white, and a purple aura surrounded her body. She hovered there momentarily as her horn fired an intense beam of purple light at The Mender, who was still struggling to revive his comrade. He was totally overwhelmed by its sensational power; and was left as little more than a pile of ash in a smouldering crater as the beam, and Twilight's aura, subsided. The young filly, exhausted from the event, passed out. Celestia landed on the ground and smiled at the child.
The Blademaster stormed over to her again and kicked her to the floor, pinning her down by forcing a dagger through her leg. The main Archon surged towards the unconscious Twilight and picked her up in a matter of seconds; she was helpless now.
"It's over." stated The Archon, as he held Twilight Sparkle over the edge of the Tower.