//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: Loss 
// Story: Hero of War 
// by Teal 
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The front was silent, and it was unnerving.

Peeking over her small listening post, Rainbow Dash tried to look out into the darkness, trying to find any sign of life in the expanse before her. But with nothing to light up her surroundings and with complete blackness in front of her, she saw nothing but the familiar shroud of the night.

Crawling back down into listening post, she quickly rested herself on the ice cold dirt and concentrated on listening, closing her eyes and allowing her ears to do the searching. There was no point on looking now with the dark night all over the land. The only tool for observation here at this time were her ears.

So she listened.

She knew they were there, she had heard them earlier. Trotting and crawling somewhere in the dark, the enemy was there. She just wished she knew exactly where.

Alone in the listening post, she had opted to stay there and observe for anymore movement, while she sent out the pony assigned with her to crawl back to the main lines and inform their company’ commander about the situation.

If equipment would have worked properly, then there would have been two of them in the listening post instead of one. But as was the case, the equipment she had failed to do its job.

Normally, listening posts were given flare guns in order to signal any enemy activity and alert the main lines about it. Firing up into and sky and sending a bright light, it could easily be seen from afar and help warn the main line about the situation.

The only problem was, the main flare cartridge was infamous for failing, as it was often a victim of moisture buildup, with its powder ending up damp most of the time. It was usually the main complaint of ponies assigned to listening posts and although the complaint was forwarded to the higher ups, the problem was never fixed.

And it probably never will. Rainbow Dash had thought whenever wandering onto the topic. Mass produced and rushed into the fight, the factories will probably never get them right.

A sudden sound from nearby alerted her that the enemy was indeed there and that they were near.

Moving a hoof to her belt and firmly grasping a grenade, Rainbow Dash gently pulled it from her belt and kept it close towards her, keeping the grenade in one hoof while having a mechanical lighter in the other. Then she waited and listened.

The sounds were getting louder now, gently raising in tone, as the sound of movement indicated that the enemy was moving faster. From what she can hear, it was clear that they were heading towards her.

With that thought in mind, she ignited the lighter and immediately lit the fuse of her grenade, the loud hissing sound it made replaced the silence of the night as its light illuminated that small dugout that was her listening post. Without further thought, she immediately threw the grenade into the night, a hissing ball of light that landed at the spot where the thought the enemy was.

For the next few moments there was nothing but the sound of the hissing fuse and frantic hooves. Then a loud explosion disturbed the night, only to be followed by the cries and waling of those injured by the grenade. She didn’t know how many she got, but from the sound she was hearing she knew that she got a lot.

But there was no time to celebrate this victory as the sound of galloping now joined the symphony of battle. With their cover blown and position compromised, the enemy now switched tactics and decided to rush an assault, with their first target being Rainbow Dash’s listening post.

Hearing the sounds and knowing what was about to happen, Rainbow Dash immediately pulled out another grenade and lit it, tossing it towards the sound of enemy hooves, before taking another grenade and repeating the process.

Two explosions reported the successful detonation of her weapons, but she was unable to tell if she had hit anypony with them. All she could hear were the sound of hooves charging and the painful cries of the wounded were gone now, pushed away as she concentrated on more important matters.

Knowing that the enemy would soon be upon her, she quickly set aside her grenades and pulled out her short sword from her scabbard. They would soon be on top of her and when they get here she needed to make the first blow. Dropping down on the cold ground of her dugout, she held her sword tightly in her mouth, as she gaze up and listened.

The first Crystal pony came stumbling down, not immediately seeing the dugout and tripping down into it. It was an easy kill. Falling flat next to her, Rainbow Dash immediately slipped her sword in the gap on the enemy’s armor, just where the helmet connects to the neck plate. Sliding in quick from a powerful thrust, it instantly killed the pony as all the vital blood vessels were sliced through.

Pulling out her now bloodied sword, she glanced up just in time just to see the second enemy arrive.

More careful compared to his comrade, this pony took it slow and cautiously stepped on the edge of the dugout. Unfortunately this pony moved too slow and cautious, as Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed him by the hoof and pulled him down. Tackling him on the ground, she made sure to flip him to expose his vulnerable and unprotected belly, where she jabbed her sword and ripped through skin, spilling out blood and insides.

Crystal ponies may seem deadly and threatening with all their armor, but with all the mind control magic forced into their brains, they were as dumb as a pack of rats. Rainbow Dash knew that and she made sure to use it to her advantage.

Pulling up her sword as the contents of the Crystal pony made a mess on the ground, Rainbow Dash was just about to get ready to meet the next poor enemy who will come her way when suddenly out of nowhere a Crystal pony jumped from the top of the dugout and attacked her.

Coming in with speed and force and catching her by surprise, the Crystal pony managed to land a strong blow of her sword on Rainbow Dash’s back, hitting right where her left wing attached to her body. Pushing it further down and slicing it right through, the Crystal pony bloodily decapitated her wing, while tearing off some flesh and fur off Rainbow Dash’s side.

Grunting out in pain through the sword in her mouth and feeling the numbness on her back, Rainbow Dash swore in a loud screaming voice as she felt a part of her ripped off from her very body. At that moment, she couldn’t tell what hurt the most, the physical pain of having her wing sliced off of her, or the emotional pain of knowing that not only was her wing was lost but also probably her ability to fly.

How could she? The rage filled thought circled her mind, as a growling sound seemed to emit from her throat. How could that little bastard do this to me? This wasn’t just any other injury, no, no injury can compare to this. This wasn’t just a part of a body, it was a way of life. And now it was taken from her. The pain of losing it and the dreadful thoughts of its implications were flashing before her eyes, only making her angrier and angrier.

She wanted to cry out in despair, fall down as if she were defeated. She had lost a wing, and with it her identity. She can’t be a pegasus now, what kind of pegasus has one wing? Sadness and grief moved inside her as if she had lost a family member or a close friend. It felt like that all was lost now, so why go on.

But the second feeling inside of her didn’t allow that to happen.

Filled and fueled by anger, Rainbow Dash bit hard on the sword which she miraculously still had locked in her jaws and swung it towards her attacker. This was immediately met and blocked by the Crystal pony by her own sword, but Rainbow Dash pulled back and swung again.

Over and over she kept swinging the sword, only to be met again and again by her enemy as she moved back from the angry ponies blows. So hard were the strikes that the sound of metal slashing filled the night, as the constant attacks kept coming and coming.

They were hard and rage filled, and Rainbow Dash was determined to get this pony.

Backing away from the pony slowly, the Crystal pony failed to notice the blood and entrails of the previous Crystal pony on the ground and because of that she soon lost her balance and slipped on top of the open carcass of the dead Crystal pony. Covered in blood and insides, the Crystal pony was dazed and confused when Rainbow Dash stabbed her sword right on her chest, directly to her hearth.

Killing her with the rage filled stab, Rainbow Dash kept her sword there and even pushed it deeper, letting out her anger on this Crystal pony that took away her wing. She cursed her and spat on her as she now used her hooves to push the sword deeper into the now dead enemy so that the hilt of the sword was already pressing against the stab wound.

Tear dripping her eyes, she gave a quick mourning to her situation, as the pain on her wing still stung both the wound and her heart. It hurt her so much and she could barely understand what she felt during that moment.

But the battle raging gave her little time to ponder and figure out this feeling, as suddenly a bright light and a hissing noise made its way towards her and landed inside her dugout.

Momentarily forgetting her emotions and reacting quickly, Rainbow Dash dove for the enemy grenade and tossed it out of the dugout. She did this not a moment too soon, for the grenade immediately exploded once it was out of her dugout.

But that wasn’t the only grenade coming her way, as another one landed, before being tossed away by her. Then another landed, and was once again tossed away. Grenades kept on falling around her, and Rainbow Dash had lost count on how many were thrown at her, yet somehow luck was with her and she miraculously grabbed them and tossed them just in time.

However, this action was becoming a tiring act, and deciding to crawl on the edge of her dugout, Rainbow Dash managed to see a shadowy figure throw a freshly lit grenade towards her direction. Taking a risk and watching the bright light of the fuse, Rainbow Dash followed the grenade before, in a risky attempt, catching it successfully with her hoof.

Knowing that she had little time left and that she needed to do this quickly, she made a quick glance towards the enemy who threw the grenade and tossed it back towards the figure.

The explosion came quickly and the reaction from the shadowy figure came loud and ear-piercing.

Letting out a cry louder than any Crystal pony she had heard make before, the figure screamed in a high-pitched wail as the night air seemed to be filled with it. Loud and seemingly engulfing, Rainbow Dash was forced to cover up her ears with her hooves as she stared at the shadowy figure who was now swirling around in place as it let out its deafening cry.

She watched as the figure cried out louder and louder, before glancing at her with piercing eyes. The eyes seemed to stare at her very sole and for a moment Rainbow Dash was left frozen. She couldn’t move, she just couldn’t.

All of her was frozen as she stared at the sight before her…

At the spot where she had landed the grenade, fragments of broken glass lay. And as she gave a longer glance at the shadowy figure, color started to come and the dark black abyss that represented the figure was now replaced by orange and purple.

Eyes widening, yet body still frozen, she watched as Scootaloo continued her pained cries, as the fragments of the tossed bear bottle left her face and front riddled by broken shards. Staring at Rainbow Dash with one last hurt look, she soon turned around and race off on Ponyville’s streets, her screams slowly fading away as she got farther and farther away.

Slowly regaining control of herself and suddenly being able to move once more after the shock, Rainbow Dash got off the sofa she fell asleep on and shoved away the bottles of hard cider that she had pilled around her.

Moving to where Scootaloo just was, Rainbow Dash skirted the dangerous mess of broken glass and stood at a card that she assumed the little filly had brought her.

To my greatest hero, Rainbow Dash, you are the best sister any filly can have. – Love Scootaloo