As morning came, everypony was up, and everypony was doing their part, preparing for the operation later that night. Around mid-afternoon, everypony began to hear horns, bird screeches, and gunfire, and everypony grew tense, thinking the enemy had come for an attack, until Princess Luna said, "Everypony! Settle down! It's alright! Our reinforcements have arrived!"
Everypony relaxed, and went out to greet the reinforcements, and what they saw amazed them: thousands of Griffon, Powdersmith, Pegasi, Unicorn, and Earth pony soldiers, all together, in formation, and as they saw everypony coming out to greet them, they stopped, and saluted, and yelled out warcries. Everypony was cheering: for now, the balance of power had shifted once again, in the allied forces favor. Princess Celestia called out to the reinforcements, and said, "Welcome everypony! We are so glad you could make it! Together, we will drive back these fiends, and take the fight straight to Arrovak!" The reinforcements cheered, and Princess Celestia said to the reinforcements: "Come and make yourselves at home! We still have time before the operation!" The reinforcements, nodded, and began to come towards the camp, and as they got there, everypony exchanged greetings, and everypony spread throughout the camp, as the reinforcements were asked if they needed anything, and those that answered what they needed, were given food, a place to rest, or just needed their weapons sharpened or repaired, as everypony had made the camp big enough to hold them all the previous day, and then were filled in, on what the plan was, and how it was going to work.
As the hours slowly went on by, Twilight, and the others, along with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Violet Winter, and Solar Blaze, were getting final preparations made, a voice behind them, said, "Hello, there everypony, I was just wondering, I you all knew that in that last battle, that I was right alongside my soldiers, fighting alongside them."
Everypony turned around, and saw the Griffon ruler, who was leaning heavily on his staff, as Rainbow Dash said, "You're kidding.......he's kidding right?"
The Griffon ruler only smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I know, I don't look like much, but my physical appearance is rather deceiving. And I shall prove it to you." He then called to one of his soldiers, and said, "This here, is one of the best in my army, and I can still beat him, watch and see as to why, I still stand here today. Well, maybe with a few extra scars, but living to see through another day is worth it." The Griffon ruler, and his soldier, went to the middle of the camp, and told everypony within the vicinity to back away, and that they were practicing, and everypony got out of the way. Everypony sat down, and watched, as the Griffon ruler, pulled a rather decorative, but sturdy rapier, from his staff, as the Griffon soldier drew his broadsword out.
Rainbow Dash said, "There's no way he's going to win this, he's already at a disadvantage."
Twilight said, "Don't be so sure, if he was out there in battlefield with us all, and is still standing, we are about to see why."
Everypony was now silent, as they watched the duel unfold, as the two Griffons began to circle around each other, and then, they dashed at each other, and everypony was shocked, as to how fast the Griffon ruler was moving, and how fast he was reacting to the Griffon solder's attacks, everypony was stunned, as they continue to watch. The Griffon ruler moved so fast, everypony could barely see him, and the next thing they knew, they saw the broadsword fly up into the air, as the Griffon ruler, had the soldier on the ground, with the rapier to his neck. The Griffon ruler withdrew his blade, and helped the soldier back up, and gave him back his sword, thanked him for the duel, and gave him a honorary medal, and some extra rations, and let him, go back to the other Griffons. Everypony's mouth's were agape, and then cheered and whooped, as the Griffon ruler bowed, and then went over to where Twilight and the others were sitting down, and said, "So, do you believe me now? What about you Rainbow Dash?"
Princess Luna said, "That was quite something! What excellent footwork!"
Princess Celestia said, "It just goes to show, that you don't need to let age limit you abilities, and that you can still do what you used to, when you were young, as long as you train hard, and keep your mind sharp, just like the rest of us do."
Rainbow Dash's mouth was still agape, and then she finally closed it, and said, "Holy crap! Remind me not to offend you!"
Everypony laughed, and Princess Luna said, "We all should double check on anything, before the operation starts, because there will be no time, for second guesses. Because once things begin, all hell with break lose. So all of us, should make sure we are ready, and once you are, meet the rest of us here."
Everypony nodded, and went to make sure that all their preparations were complete. By the time everypony finished, there was only ten minutes left, before the operation, and everypony met, right where Princess Luna had asked them to. Princess Celestia called everypony's attention, and said, 'We only have ten minutes left, so I wanted to say this, before things start. First of all, I want to thank all of our reinforcements, our allied rulers, for their help, and for the arrival of the reinforcements, so I wanted to thank you all. Because of you, and our combined efforts, will give us the best chance of success, and there is a good chance, many of us, may meet our end here, myself included, but if that is the case, we do so with honor, and we take as many of those bastards with us!"
Everypony cheered, and Princess Celestia said, "Everypony ready! Let's move out! Begin the operation!"
Everypony gave out warcries, and began to move out, and leave the camp, and began marching towards the first checkpoint, as everypony was told to spread out. Everypony stuck to the shadows, as it now was also raining, and they saw the watchers in the watchtower, and the stone buildings, blow out candles, and all went inside the buildings. Everypony began to quietly move towards the buildings, and then somepony saw the bell in the tower, and went up to it, took out the guard, and remained there to make sure the alarm, was not sounded, as everypony else, got closer and closer to the buildings. One by one, as many of the allied forces could get in, crept into the buildings, quietly killed the guards, and gave the signal, that the coast was clear. The Powdersmith Ponies, then began packing the buildings, and watchtower, full of rather large explosive barrels, and then everypony saw the next checkpoint, and waited for them to blow out the candles, before they moved on.
Twilight said to herself, "So far so good, one down, two to go."
A couple minutes later, the candles went out, and one guard stayed in the watchtower this time, and went inside his sleeping bag, as some other guards stayed outside one the buildings, and were talking to one another. The queen of the Powdersmith Ponies , starting giving signals and orders, to start taking out the ones outside the building, while everypony else, began their way inside the buildings, and to the watchtower. There were guards outside, and they saw some of the allied forces. But before they could react, they were taken out, and everypony went inside the buildings, and the guards inside were quietly taken care of, as well as the guard in the watchtower. The Powdersmith Ponies, then did the same thing with this checkpoint, as they did with the other one, and once the explosives were set, everypony waited for the last checkpoint to take out its candles.
Rainbow Dash said to herself, "That's two, one more to go."
Moments later, the candles went out, and the guard in the watchtower stayed up, but blew out his lights, and all the guards stayed outside the buildings, as some were patrolling, while others were talking amongst one another. Some of the allied forces, began to make their way up towards the watchtower, and everypony else stayed out of sight. A few moments later, the guard had been taken care out, but not without making a bunch of noise, which attracted the other guards to the watchtower, and Violet Winter said to everypony else, "We need to take them out! And quickly! Everypony hurry, and intercept them!" The rest of the allied forces came from hiding, and surprised the guards, and took them out quickly, and then the Powdersmith Ponies, did the same thing as they did with the other two checkpoints, and once everything was set, two ponies were sent to the two other checkpoints, ring the bells, and light the fuses. As for everypony else at the third checkpoint, they did the same, one pony went up into the watchtower, and one went into the main stone building, and was ready to light the fuse.
Solar Blaze said, "Wait for the other's signal, and then we sound the bell, light the fuse, and get out of sight."
Moments passed, and no signal came from the other two checkpoints, and then Violet Winter said, "Wait for it...."
Solar Blaze saw the candles flickering, and said, "Do it now! That's our signal! Everypony else! Get out of sight! And find some cover!"
The watchtowers from all three checkpoints were rung, and the fuses were lit, as everypony got out of sight, and far enough away to not be caught in the explosion, and watched from the cover of trees or the brush. Sure enough: here came all the outside patrols, as they came running to all three checkpoints, and began searching around, and went inside all the buildings, and the watchtowers, as a Powdersmith Pony said, "Three, two, one..."
Just then, a massive explosion erupted, and blew all three checkpoints apart, as the bodies of Arrovak's outside patrols, went flying everywhere, and screams of terror, resounded throughout the air. Flames danced about the smoldering ruins of the checkpoints, and large clouds of smoke, erupted from the ruins, and Violet Winter said, "Everypony, put on the enemy's uniforms, that you got made for you back as camp, and move forward, and remember what we all practiced. Do not speak, unless one of the enemy speas to you, and keep the chat simple. We don't want to raise suspicion, at least not until we get past the front gate, after that, push forward to the sea, and kill and destroy any enemy, or fortification, that gets in your way."
Solar Blaze said, "That was cool! That was one heck of an explosion!"
Princess Luna said, "I agree, but the enemy is clearly going to see the smoke, and might get suspicious, if the outside patrols don't come back, or an army, of their 'reinforcements', to come with an explanation."
Everypony then put on the uniforms, and began moving forward, imitating the enemy's march, and sounds. It wasn't long, until they came right in front of the front gate, and the gatekeeper, looked over the barricade and asked, "Hey! You there, the big white one! I'm going to assume you're the leader! Who are you? I haven't seen you in these parts before....go on! Speak! I got better things to do, than to be talking to some stranger!"
Everypony remained still, as Princess Celestia said, "You know what? Piss off! Perhaps I should let Arrovak know of the gatekeeper's poor attitude around here! And if you must know, I am general sword-shatter, and this is my army, we have orders, from Arrovak himself, to head to Arrovak's fort for reinforcement, after losing so many of his soldiers, in the battle that happened, not too long ago!"
The gatekeeper tone changed, as he said, "My apologies, general, I had not expected you all here to be here so soon...that order was sent out a just few days ago. If you want to pass, and get on your duties, present the orders, so I know that you all are who you say you are. Can't be too careful. And by the way....what was with all that smoke at the checkpoints? We saw some smoke from here."
Princess Celestia, threw a piece of parchment up to the gatekeeper, which he took, and began reading and examining, as Princess Celestia said, "The enemy tried a surprise attack, and we intercepted them just in time, and began to burn their bodies!"
The gatekeeper said, "I see....and well done...Arrovak will be pleased to hear that report from you......it's good thing we have you all on our side... And as far your orders...everything seemed authentic, everything checks out, you all may pass." He then threw back down the parchment back to Princess Celestia, and yelled out behind the barricade, and said, "Open the gates! The reinforcements have arrived!"
The front gates began to open, and everypony began to go through, and as everypony went through, and the gates closed behind them, and they all kept the ruse up a little longer, until they were out of range those at the barricades, who had bows and arrows, and then they took off their uniforms and drew their weapons. The gatekeeper saw this, and he yelled out, "You fools! You walked right into your deaths! Sound the alarm! Intruders!"
Bells began to ring, as the entire area of the Macintosh Hills, was now on alert, and Arrovak's soldiers were coming to fight the allied forces. Princess Luna said, "Remember, we are going to push through! Get out to sea, and hope that the Shipbuilder Ponies will be waiting for us! Everypony! Go! Go! Go!
Everypony began to charge forward, as Arrovak's soldiers and the allied forces clashed, screams of agony, pain, and dying could be heard around everypony, as everypony fought as hard and as fast they could, to push forward, and get out to sea. The allies were making good progress until they got into the middle of the Macintosh Hills, and they saw the massive forts ahead of them. As everypony fought, one of the Griffon soldiers said, "Those two forts are blocking our path! We are going to have to take them both on!"
Violet Winter said fiercely, "Then we hit them hard, and we take them out faster, than they can react! We must get to the sea!"
Everypony had heard this, and agreed, and everypony fought harder than ever, as they came up to the forts, the enemy was waiting for them, just a little ways beyond them, and one of the Powdersmith pony soldiers pointed out, "They have fiery catapults! And they're firing!"
Princess Luna said, "Let them use what they want! We must push through!"
Everypony and the enemy clashed once more, as the sound of battle, the sound of catapult fire, and death sounded throughout the air, as some of the allied forces, didn't get out of the way fast enough, and were hit, by the enemy's catapult fire. Everypony, was in heavy battle, and once they broke through Arrovak's forces, the Powdersmith Ponies, began firing explosive gunfire, and throwing small, but very powerful, throwable explosives, at the forts, and once it hit them, it blew them apart, as stone, bodies, and catapult wreckage, went flying high and everywhere.
Snowshy said, "Look out! Don't get hit by the flying wreckage as it comes back down!"
Everypony kept pushing forward, while fighting, dodging wreckage, and bodies, that came crashing down. As they continued to fight, one of the Unicorn soldiers pointed out, and said, "I can see the sea! And wait!!! There's something else!"
Everypony saw what was waiting for them all on the beach, and Twilight said, "It's two generals, and the remaining commanders! But they have no army with them!"
Rainbow Dash said, "What are you talking about? They don't need an army! They are the army!"
The Griffon ruler said, "Prepare yourselves! We grow close to the beach!"
As everypony had pushed through, the Powdersmith Ponies turned around, and began shooting explosive fire in all directions, at supports to forts on the hills, or on low mountains, and shooting at the mountains themselves, as it all came crashing down behind the allied forces, cutting off the rest of Arrovak's soldiers in the Macintosh Hills.
Princess Celestia said, "Don't celebrate just yet! We still have them to take care of!"
Rainbow Dash said, "Well, what are we waiting for? CHAAARRRRGGGEEE!"
Rainbow Dash and the allied forces charged forward, and Twilight said, "Hey, wait!!! Oh, too late now! Let's go!"
Snowshy and the others nodded, and charged forward, and as the allied forces came charging forward, Arrovak's commanders and the two generals, prepared themselves, and began the charge forward. A few moments passed, as then the allied forces, and Arrovak's generals and commanders clashed, as a good number of the allied forces went flying, screaming in pain and terror. The biggest general said, "You will all pay, for the death of my elder brother! I don't care what pony was responsible! You all will die for his death!" He then rushed forward, jumped high into the air, and landed onto some unfortunate souls of the allied forces that didn't see it coming, and were crushed, as they only had time, to scream out in agony.
Rainbow Dash said, "Damn it! The one is pissed!"
Princess Celestia, said to Twilight and the others, "Take on the mad general, and the rest us will take on the other general, and the commanders!"
Twilight said, "Okay! Let's go everypony!"
Rainbow Dash said, "Let's go kick some general butt!"
Hours passed by, and everypony was locked in heated battle, as by this time, the two generals had now been killed, and only two commanders remained, and as the allied forces fought Arrovak's commanders, they broke their guard, and the last two commanders were killed. Everypony cheered, as Princess Luna looked around, at the remaining allied forces left, and Princess Celestia came up to her, and said, "How many did we lose?"
Princess Luna said, "Because of the unexpected confrontation out here on the beach, and despite our best efforts to push through the Macintosh Hills, we have lost at the very least 25% of the army, than what we started out with."
Princess Celestia sighed, and said, "Well, it was nopony's fault, we all did the best we could. Those commanders and those two generals must have been a last-minute deployment, because our scouts, said nothing of this."
Princess Luna said, "I have reason to think, that the enemy knew, that we would come here, instead of the badlands, so Arrovak simply moved his commanders and surviving generals, to stop us here, if we managed to make it past the fortifications, and barricades, and whatnot."
Princess Celestia asked, "How could he have known?"
Violet Winter had heard the conversation, and came up to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and said, "He didn't, but he is no fool, he knew where the weak links were, and he simply took action, to strengthen it. If he is doing this, then he is afraid, and he has grown desperate. Plus, I also noticed while we were fighting, more and more of Arrovak's forces, seemed to be mercenaries."
Princess Luna said, "How could you tell?"
Violet Winter responded, "It was simple for me really. Mercanaries always wear such simple roughly poorly-made leather armor, or steel-plated heavy armor, and are very savage and reckless in their attacks."
Princess Luna smiled, and gave her daughter a hug, and said, "You really are like your father in so many ways. He would be proud of you. In fact, you might even exceed him, when it comes to scholarly things."
Violet Winter said, "I am humbled, but I don't think I am better than my father, and I wish not to think so. Rather, I would like to think of myself, his equal."
Princess Celestia smiled and said, "Just like your father, in every way, especially in the scholarly and magic fields, and he had such a noble and just heart as well. It is a great honor, to have you with us."
Violet Winter said, "I'm just glad, I could be of some help to this world."
Princess Luna said, "Are you kidding? You and Solar Blaze, have already helped out the world, in so many ways during this time! And I firmly believe, that this is only the beginning of the accomplishments, you and your brother, will achieve."
Violet Winter said, "You think so?"
Princess Celestia said, "I know so, you and your brother are the living legacy of your father. If anypony can see us through anything, it's you two. But right now, all of us together, will be the ones, that save this world."
Twilight and the others saw Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Violet Winter, were all talking to one another, and went over to them, and Twilight said, "I don't see any ships...."
Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Violet Winter turned around, and Princess Celestia said, "Hmmm...that's odd....I remember reading a response letter, from the Shipbuilder Ponies, saying that they would be waiting for us at Macintosh Hills are cleared of Arrovak's forces'. But yet, they are not here.."
Rainbow Dash said, "Perhaps they are not ready?"
Pinkie Pie said, and she pointed ahead of her, and she said, "I don't think so, because I see a massive fleet!"
The allied forces saw the ships too, and cheered, and Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Violet Winter turned back around, as everypony saw the ships come in.
Rarity said, "Well? Why are we standing here? Let's get going and get on those ships!"
Applejack said, "You said it!"
Twilight said, "Alright then, let's go!"
As everypony got close to some of the ships that docked as close as they could to the beach, as at that point, ropes, and walking platforms, began coming down from the ships, and everypony was helped up into the ships, and as everypony was now on board, on all sorts of ships, the ships began to head back out to sea, and as the ships came back to the rest of the fleet, the whole fleet began to move towards their true target: Arrovak's fort, and his crystal sources of power.