The commanders all sat around a table with a map of Equestia on it. At the head of the table sat Princess Calestia with Luna to her right and Twilight to her
left. All eyes where on her as everyone waited for the princess to give her an order. "So, this small band of changelings is trying to settle out side of
Canterlot?" She leaned back in her throne. "I know it's wrong of me but you know how I feel about changelings, I want them driven out." One of the
commanders spoke up, "Right your highness, I'll dispatch a battalion." Calestia rose from her throne and raised her hand. "No, I'll fight this battle; I'll need
the battalions of Luna, Twilight, and Flash sentry." The commanders all saluted as the three princesses and Gen. Flash sentry left the war room to prepare for
battle. Once out Flash sentry grabbed hold of his wife, "Princess, way a humble general have a word?" Twilight smiled, "Why yes general, that's if what you
have to say is pleasing to my ears." "Is not my voice pleasing enough?" He continued with their banter. "Of course my troubadour you always speak such
music to my ears." Sentry stopped her when she attempted to kiss him. "Very quickly I want to discuss Dark star, I want him with me today." Twilights smile
disappeared. "No and I'm tired of saying this, I don't want him on the battle field, he's just a boy." Flash grabbed ahold of her, "That's were you're wrong,
he's eighteen and should have been knighted two years ago." Twilight pushed him away, "Never tell a mother she's wrong about her child." "Twilight he's no
child, he has proven himself time and time again in the melee, he's a warrior." She refused to hear what he had to say. She was hell bent on not letting her
son in any kind of fray. No matter how many times Dark star or Flash Sentry fought her on it she would die before backing down. "He's not ready for this and
I wont bury him." Flash was not about to give up, not with the faith he had in his son. "His friends were knighted two years ago, he's the oldest cadet in his
class, he'll never ready if you don't let go." Twilight took in a deep breath and turn her back on him. "He's my son not yours and I stand by my decision." She
ended the argument by walking off. She knew that wasn't the end of this; while she prepared herself Dark star came to her in the armory. "Mother did father
talk to you?" She never looked at him or stopped what she was doing as she answered. "Yes, he did and I denied him, I wont allow it." "But why, how is it
that I'm the only one of my friends who hasn't been knighted?" Twilight still refused to look at him or stop what she was doing. "Mother answer me." She
remained silent still tying her grieves. Dark star grabbed her wrist and screamed with his eyes glowing a demonic green. "Answer me!" there was a heavy
silence as he saw the horrified look on her face but something dark inside him welled up. He continued with his tirade, "Why am I the one denied glory, why,
why?" He felt the felling subside as he realized he was squeezing his mothers wrist to hard. "I'm sorry mother I didn't…" "This is why, you have not reached
where you need to be." She took up her sword and pushed past him. She stopped at the door and looked back. "Prove you can control that beast inside you,
the you will be ready." As he too left the armory he was stopped by his father, "Dark star come with me, I have something for you." Dark star followed him
out the main castle, through the narrow streets, and up to a house near the barracks. Flash sentry knocked on the door; which was answered by a tall, dark,
bald man with sharp teeth. "Dark star this is Blitz wing, the archer that always rides with me." Dark star shook hands with the man, who had a strong grip.
"So you're Dark star, I've heard all about you." Blitz wing invited the two into his home. Dark star had only heard of Blitz wing, his fathers best friend that
Twilight didn't like. Just like in the stories he had a mark tattooed on his arm for every ten confirmed kills he had. Dark star counted fifty marks down his
right and twenty down his left. Blitz directed them to the back room where a suite of armor waited. "well, try it on." Flash whispered to his son. First came
the grieves which fit like a glove. Then the long chain mail shirt that came down to his knees. The last component was the dark colored breast plate. It was
adorned with Dark stars crest, the three stars of orions belt piercing through the night. Flash sentry walked back in holding something wrapped up under his
arm, "Look at you, you're almost ready, here." He unwrapped the bundle reveling a sword. "It's for you son take it." Dark star took hold of the sword,
unsheathing it. He gave it a practice swing, loving the way it felt in his hand. "It's long enough to be used on horse back but short enough not to trip over it."
Dark star held the sword aloft, "Go ahead a charge it son." The blade glowed bright blue as Dark star charged it with electricity. "I know lightning spells are
you thing so I had the hilt insulated." Dark star lowered the sword, "What's its name?" "A swords name is for the wielder to decide." Dark star took one look
at the blade and said, "Dealanach." "Hm, the old ponyish word for lightning, so you have been paying attention to your lessons." Flash wrapped a piece of
cloth around Dark stars mouth and nose and placed his helmet on his head. "There you mother will never know." Dark star looked at himself in a mirror.
Finally he was going to have what he had been long denied. "Wont I need a shield?" "No, you'll be driving my chariot this time around." The three made their
way to the front of the palace where the chariots of the four battalions were lined up. The chariots lined both sides of the main road out of Canterlot. The
princesses stepped out of the palace and took up their chariots. "Foreword!" Calestia called out. Her chariot thundered down the main street as Luna,
Twilight, and Flash sentry fell in behind her. One by one a full column formed behind the princess. It didn't take long to reach the changeling camp. The
changelings heard the mighty thundering of equestrian war chariots and stilled themselves for battle. They hunkered down behind their shields with long
pikes ready. Luna saw them first and call out. "Tia, long pikes." She warned. "I see them." Calestia laughed as she waved her sword over her head, signaling
the archers to fire. A rain of arrows flew over head and showered down on the changelings. Their ranks broke as many fell from the volley. Only one line
stood their ground; Flash sentry told Dark star to drive right through them. As they drew closer another volley of arrows rain down. The last rank finally
opened and Dark star drove right through. Once inside the changeling lines Flash jumped off to fight head on. Enemy after enemy fell to his sword. As Dark
star turned to go back to his father Blitz wing took hold of the reigns, "Hop off and give that sword a real test." When they rode through the battle Dark star
jumped off and joined his father. The first to taste his blade was cleaved clean in two. Dark star could feel that dark feeling again; it charged his sword and
turned the blade black. His eyes glowed green and unyielding anger flooded his body. Black lightning flowed from dealanach and engulfed his enemies in
flame. His dark evil laughter reach the ears of Twilight, whose hart dropped at the sound. She had her driver guide the chariot over to him. "Dark star!" She
called as she jumped down. He ignored her as he held his sword aloft, striking his enemies down with his lightning. "Dark star stop!" Twilight called as she
struck the hilt of his sword making him drop it. As his blood lust subsided there was a silence on the battle field. The changeling camp lay in ruins as the
Equestrian army rolled back to the castle. When there returned Calestia praised Dark star for how he dispatched the changelings. "Brilliant Dark star, why in
equestria aren't you a knight?" "Because that wasn't fighting it was him on a rampage." Twilight yelled. Flash put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down,
"You're the only one not proud of our son, he held his own better than most." Twilight gave him a death gaze that could kill. She grabbed a hold of him and
roared, "You don't get to go behind my back and then tell me how to feel, for the last time he is not your son!" She hadn't realized what she had said until
she saw everyone's face. "What?" Dark star said as he backed away towards the door. "Wait Dark star I didn't mean to…." "To what say it out loud, what's
going on here, if he's not my father who is?" None of them wanted to say anything as all eyes fell on Twilight, who struggled for words. Finally she uttered
one name, "King Sombra."