"It has begun." The thought echoed in her mind like a distant voice heard distantly in an ancient cavern. Truthfully, she could not be sure that it was her voice, scornful and mocking, that is speaking to her. Perhaps it's Twilight, her beloved former student, now long since passed on into the world beyond in the continual effort to stem the tide of destruction that had swiftly been making it's way south towards Equestria. Perhaps, even, it was her sister, Luna, who stood now defiantly doing what Celestia could no longer do and lead the Ponies of Equestria in one, final and desperate, defense to defend their homes and their families.



Whoever it is, the voice only drives home the point. Equestria is on it's final days, if not it's final hours, and there is nothing the Celestia can do. For all her immortality, for all her thousands of years of wisdom and knowledge. For all her power she is powerless against this new foe.



Starting forward again, she can hear the distant, thundering crack of the cannons. Behind her, she hears the resounding explosion as one of the large projected fireballs strikes one of the Cloudsdale Airguard firing positions, the cloud turning a deep seething black as he absorbs the flames, the bodies of the gun crews falling limply among the twisting flames and lighting.



Looking straight ahead, Celestia feels tears upon her cheeks, her vision clouding. All around her she hears, and feels, rounds striking and scaring the earth beneath her hooves.



Why? Why is she so powerless? Why can she no longer bring forth the will required to strike down the foes of Equestria?



Stopping, her tears falling to the earth below her like the many fireballs, the voice once more intones.



It has begun."