The sound of wheels rushing through the rocky path echoed across the street, as a crew of Crystal ponies labored to pull their gun limber to the southern outskirts of the village of Frozen Stone. Laden with supplies and shielded by thick metallic helmets and armor plates, these ponies tugged their heavy gun limber through the narrow street, without any thought on why they were doing it or of the pain and weariness they felt from this work.
Behind them lay a column of crystal ponies, marching at double-time and following the gun crew as they led the way. Adding to the noise before them, the column shook the ground beneath as they marched to the beat with great speed. Like the ponies of the gun crew, those of the column wore thick metallic helmets and armored plates, mindlessly moving through the village, following the order given to them without any question or thought. The only difference that distinguished a group of these Crystal ponies from another was the color of the feathers placed on top of their helmets, telling that one group belonged to one regiment or the other.
Reaching the outskirts of the town, where a barren rocky and frozen field lay ahead of them, the gun grew halted, followed by the column that now stood still behind them.
Stepping ahead of the gun crew and gazing at the open field, a single pony moved and studied the ground before them. Unlike the ponies who wore thick metallic helmets that covered the entirety of their head, leaving only a small slit for vision, this pony wore a thinner and more open helmet that revealed a serious and tired face. Wearing dark gray armor plates and donning a purple cape, this pony marked himself as one of King Sombra’s officers, one of the few thousand ponies who were hoof picked by the King and given the luxury of free thinking.
“Cannons, deploy at that rise in the center.” The pony ordered. “Regiments are to be placed ahead of that rise and on its flanks. On the double!”
Without hesitation, the gun crew and the column moved at once. Leading the movement toward rocky rise in the center, the gun crew once struggled to pull their gun limber up the slope. But without complaint or a break of their silence, the worked on their task till reached the flat top of the rocky mound.
Rising from the slopes behind them were other gun crews, now revealed as the army began taking up their positions on the outskirts of the town. Setting up the gun and moving in a precise and synchronized manner, the members of the gun crew began unlimbering their weapon, as other crews began to reach the top and deploy next to them.
Pointing their gun towards the road, the gun crew had a full view of the barren field in front of them, as well as a good view of the pathway that came from the south and headed north towards the village. Standing still once their job was complete, the crew of the gun now waited.
Here, they for their next order and for the Equestrians who were now marching up the road and would soon come out from the horizon and face them.