It was a nightmare, with nought but the few remaining crystal pillars Sombra had yet to corrupt to keep out the winter chill that was even then falling upon the land. The thousands of enemy soldiers camped just outside the city walls had formed up, shining rows of armoured ponies, gleaming spear tips shining in the light, pennants and banners flicking back and forth furiously in the stormy chill of the winter. The imperial banner had been nowhere to be found among the gathered ranks however. There was little hope to be found that she'd survive that battle. Or anypony else for that matter; the ponies of the city had been forced into arms by Sombra as well. The final assault had been called, trumpets had sounded, hails of bolts had been loosed, ballistae and catapult had been put to work as columns of wall-breaker earth ponies  advanced under cover of unicorn battlemages and pegasi skirmishers. 