PART 8
When they arrived at Canterlot, they found it under siege. The two sides were at a stalemate so far. But the Guards kept their promise, they provided the refugees and beaten soldiers with a way into the innermost part of the city. When they all arrived, the six ponies were invited to stay in the Canterlot castle, where Celestia and Luna were. As they moved in, Twilight met up with her brother, Shining Armor and his wife Cadence. They both looked at Twilight and realized how much she has been through. They exchanged stories for a while until both siblings were called to duty.
Celestia called for a meeting with the six ponies. An urgent one. When they arrived, Celestia said "Welcome, my little ponies. You have all done very well, by fighting valiantly and supporting the war effort. And I have a plan that may end this war once and for all.". The six ponies leaned coward excitedly, anticipating their leader's idea. "Somehow, we need to get to Valrek, and when we do, you six can use the Elements of Harmony to set things right." said Celestia hopefully. "But how would that work? There has already been so much destruction." Twilight said. Celestia smiled, "Ah, but remember Discord? He caused many things that might have seemed permanent, but the Elements healed it all, along with imprisoning him in stone.". The ponies smiled brilliantly, for all of this suffering could be healed. They never thought about the Elements. "But we don't even know where he is," Fluttershy said "so how can we use them?". "I have reports that Valrek is going to lead an attack on Canterlot himself. So when he does, you six will use the Elements to end this war." Celestia announced proudly. The ponies agreed, and gathered the elements in Celestia's throne room. They were prepared to win this war once and for all.
At Amelioration, Valrek was putting on his armor. He had been in two battles so far, and his soldiers had trusted that he knew what he was doing. "Is everything ready?" he said. "Yes, sir.' Replied Ironhoof. they were preparing for what he hoped to be the final battle of the war. They were going to push through Canterlot and storm the Castle. His Generals had tried to talk him out of it, but he stuck with his decision to fight in this battle alongside his soldiers. "It is fitting for me to be a part of the battle that decides the fate of Equestria." he said earlier to them, when they were planning out the final push to victory. When everything was ready, he gave the order to move out. "We will invade Canterlot Castle, and capture Princess Celestia! No matter what, do not go back! Show no fear, and be confident, for when they see us pushing foward relentlessly, they will break in front of us! We are now on the march to victory!" Valrek said to his army, just as they began marching towards Canterlot.
Four days later, when the sun just set, a Guard on one of the watchtowers of Canterlot castle noticed something odd. The lights in the city were going out. He got out binoculars and looked at this, wondering what was going on. When he looked, he saw Vanguard soldiers silently moving through the streets and alleyways, killing Guards and soldiers as they went. And among them was the biggest surprise of all- a large Grey Alicorn stallion, in dark armor, fighting alongside his soldiers. "They're coming! Sound the alarms!" he shouted, and almost immediately after he said that, the alarm was raised and the Guards and soldiers raced to defend their Capitol. The Vanguard noticed this increase in alert and went from stealthily getting their way in, they openly charged, and they were almost to the castle walls in a matter of minutes. They did not stop charging, they kept moving until they met up with the trenches the Guards and Celestian soldiers had fallen back to. When news of this spread, the six ponies put on their Elements and four of them went to fight. The four were almost to the entry room when they heard a loud *BOOM*, and saw a Guard saying something about Pegasi with rockets. They stopped when Rainbowdash told them to wait. They listened carefully. *BOOM*, *crraack*, *BOOM*.They heard the door in the entry hall get splintered to what sounded like the rockets. "They're in the castle," she said, "lets go back to Celestia.". They turned around and ran through the corridors, toward the main hall, where the rest of them were gathered. As they ran, hey heard the fighting behind them, as their comrades tried desperately to hold back the attackers. When they arrived with the others, they already knew the situation. And not two minutes later, the Vanguard came crashing through the door to the main hall.
