Night Patrol 2 ch 28
By Foxgear
The time has come to prove himself. Shining Armor observes the work of his troops as they reinforce the decrepit fortress that was their base for the mock battle. The fort was on the northside of Mt. Canterlot, Fort Artax which had once been a city all its own, named after the commander that died defending it. Or so Princess Celestia said, and he had no reason to doubt her knowledge.
Her story was that in ancient times in her youth, so it was really long ago, several clans broke away from the city of Canterlot to start their own city on the northern side. Sometime an invading force besieged the city as it was about to be completed. Artax, the Captain of the city guard, held the walls as messengers were sent to Canterlot for aid. By the time the Canterlot forces arrived, the enemy had been defeated, but the city defenders weren’t much better off. Artax, an earth pony, had held back the horde of barbarians by himself and a small band at the last gate where the mares and foals were locked away. He was found dead by the Canterlot forces and the survivors named the city after him for his bravery.
Now, today Fort Artax would be the scene for their mock battle. The fort was massive, split between four sections built into the base of the mountain. He held the center north sector. Bridge and Scarlet held the sectors to the south, and Cobalt held the north. Each candidate could reinforce their part of the city in any way they saw fit. Naturally, they were not to help each other. They each were given only a hundred troops each. Each one selected by their own hooves.
Such a low number in this big of a fort meant that if any sector were to send troops to aid another, they would be overrun. For the mock battle, each candidate had to hold their part of the city while protecting their VIP hostage. The enemy’s objective was to retake the hostage. To add some incentive and for a better view, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and his own wife Princess Cadence would be the hostages. Scarlet had Luna, Cobalt has Celestia, and Bridge has Cadence. Something that irks him, but it is what it is. That being said who was he supposed to be guarding?
Sweet Dreams.
The bat mare sat awkwardly in one of Luna’s dresses upon the throne humming a little tone as four unicorns encased her in a magic barrier. Originally the role of the fourth Princess was going to be Fleur de Lis, Fancy Pant’s wife, but she and her husband were away on business. Some other names were thrown about, including his sister, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia even sent a letter asking if she would like to fill the role.
Much to the surprise of everypony in earshot, Twilight’s reply was a no, stating she was busy with something. He couldn’t believe it, nor Cadence or Celestia. Twilight saying no Celestia? That was madness! However, the Sun Princess brushed it off good-heartedly, saying she was glad Twilight was becoming more independent. Though, she maybe wasn’t as happy as she let on. Anyway, after that, Luna suggested (Forced) Sweet Dreams to take on the role.
His plan was simple. He’s reinforced the decrepit walls as best they could, but with the team, he picked out he was certain the repairs wouldn’t be necessary. He made sure they had food stores stocked and ready. In the rules outlined by Princess Luna, once the battle started, it would not end till one side won, barring any national emergency of course. The general consciences was the battle probably wouldn’t last greater than three days.
For the invaders to win, Night Patrol had to capture all for Princesses. With a limited number of attempts, they could make. Shining read over the rules to double check. Night Patrol would lose, if all their commanders were defeated, they exceeded their budget of one million bits, or if they failed more then three times to take the fortress.
Shining rubs his chin confidently doing the math in his head. The defenders would have four hundred units, one commander for each one hundred, while Night Patrol only had two hundred units total. They were also not allowed to use their airship. Instead, they were set up in the satellite fortress, two miles away. The satellite fort, was in even worse shape than the Artax, with hardly a wall standing. As he looks through the looking glass he watches as vague pony shapes rebuild the walls as smoke rises from behind them. The very faint sound of clanking metal reaches his hears. He wonders what they're doing over there.
“Hey Spearhead,” Shining calls out to his old platoon buy from the academy. The brown earth pony trots up, giving a salute. “Why don’t you round up some fliers and go do a little recon on the enemy?” Spearhead doesn’t move, in fact, he looks rather nervous. “Is something wrong?”
“Well, Shining… I mean Captain Armor. I know I’m only the fourth rank here, but if you’ll allow me to speak my mind?” Shining nods. “It’s just, our platoon is really out of balance. We have over sixty unicorns, and twenty earth and pegasi each. Naturally, pegasi would be the most ap choice for recon, but the risk may not be worth the units. But if those are your orders, sir.”
He held up a hoof for Spearhead to wait. Weighing the options. He was used to having an uncountable number of units to work with, he needs to think strategically, like back when he played Oubliettes & Ogres and Dragons & Dragons with his friends.
“Take a team of two earth ponies and three pegasi, have one pegasus stay back while the others infiltrate the enemy stronghold. Waiting till evening would probably be best. Do your best not to engage them.”
“Sir, yes sir!” Spearhead replied running off to gather his team.
Scooping out the enemy wasn’t against the rules. In fact, there were very few rules. No killing or crippling was one, obviously, neither side can attack till all sides have finished their prep work, the deadline for that was midnight tonight. There were no rules against scooping out the enemy before then though. However, if enemy units are found in your territory before the official start time, they can be captured or eliminated from the battle. Each side wore special armor with teleports runes installed. Several overseers watched from above ready to magic out anypony if they weren’t about to be killed, so both sides would really cut loose without fear of hurting anypony.
Leaving the fortifications Shining trots to the keep were Sweet Dreams sat, from here he could see what the others were doing. Not in detail, but he could hazard a guess as to what Scarlet and Cobalt were doing. They had once been his commanding officers.
To the north Cobalt Blaze was laying out spike traps and the like to narrow the battlefield for ground units and make choke points. He was also setting up anti flyer weapons, catapults, elemental bows, weighted nets. Very little reinforcement was being done, only in key areas. From across the way Celestia waves from her throne, Cobalt beside her. Shining looks away.
He turns south to Scarlet's defenses. She was setting up traps, floor spikes and wall spikes from the looks of it. She had several rune stones, stone carved with enchantments, placed around. They were too far away to tell what she spelled them with. The former Captain of the Guard didn’t bother with the bigger anti flyer weapons, instead to choosing to mount what looks like over fifty elemental bows all around the base. Scarlet stood at the entrance of the keep, with Luna upon her throne, both chatting happily with each other until the red unicorn turns and spots him.
“You worry about ya own place Shiny! Don’t be slacking!” She yelled.
“I’m just making sure everyponies defenses are up to snuff.” He retorts turning away, briefly, he takes a peek at Bridge’s defenses, barely making out the massive amounts of dirt the earth pony was dragging in. He had no idea what the former Sargent had in mind. Scratch that Bridge was a Lieutenant now that he completed his OCS (Officer Candidate school). He had been working on it before being selected as a candidate, either way, the earth pony was going to come out of this with a promotion. Still, it irked him that Bridge was protecting his wife with piles of dirt.
The hours dragged on as the day gave way to evening and evening gave way tonight. Shining checks his pocket watch, the deadline was soon, only thirty minutes away now. Spearhead hasn’t returned from his recon mission. He paces between the second and third tier of the fort. What happened to his friend? Did they get captured? Should he send out another team to check up on them?
No. If they were captured or eliminated he couldn’t risk sending another team and further hampering his unit.
“Open the gates! Help!”
Shining stiffens, that was Spearhead! He runs to the outer wall. His friend galloping like the devil was on his trail. He fires a flare lighting up the area for a better look. What he saw made his blood freeze. Running behind Spearhead was a beast of no other, the giant rinin, Bulwark. A flash of pink clad in black armor appears on the giant’s back. Platinum De Belle.
“Let’s get him sweetie!” the Pinkish/silver mare raises her metal leg and opens fire! A hail of glowing rounds fires out of her hoof hitting Spearhead in the back his body contorting wildly as the stun rounds drop him a like bag of potatoes half a mile from the gate. Barely within range of the elemental bows. A flash of blue light surrounds Spearhead and he disappears. Eliminated from the game. Platinum waves at them as they trot away into the darkness. “Let’s all have fun now!” She says as they disappear into the night.
“So we're down five from the start, huh.” The conceding voice of his second in command said. He turns around coming muzzle to muzzle in the dim crystal light with Fleetfoot. “Thanks for wasting three of my pegasi, Prince.”
“It’s still Captain,” He retorts brushing past the Wonderbolt Vice-captain. Since the Pegasi division took lest causalities commander wise, the top four officers below Spitfire were acting as second in commands under the guise of special training. He had Fleetfoot, Cobalt had Soarin, Scarlet had Misty Fly, and Bridge had High Winds. Originally Fire Streak was supposed to be here in place of High winds, but the rumor was he was talking about retiring soon and said a younger bolt should take the training instead. He didn’t mind having the Wonderbolt officers here, truth be told he wasn’t very well versed in aerial countermeasures, which the Night Patro was bound to employ. He just wished he didn’t have to have Fleetfoot.
“Ten minutes to the deadline! Everypony take your positions and prepare for anything!” He orders, ponies scrambling to their positions by firelight. The other commander's voice could be heard too, hundreds of hooves clop against the worn stone of the fort as they wait for the Night Patrols first attack. Given the ‘night’ in their name, it was obvious this would be their element. Tensions were high as they wait, staring out at the satellite fort. The moon was full, a faint white light revealing pieces of the battlefield.
The moonlight suddenly disappeared.
“Look up,” Fleetfoot advised, so he did, briefly catching the blur of shadows moving clouds to block out the white light of moon heading back towards the enemy camp. The night becoming pitch black.
“Can you…”
“Don’t even think about it.” Fleetfoot interrupts. “We have too few fliers as it is, not counting the three you wasted. We couldn’t clear out those clouds quick enough before a counter-attack is launched, assuming they don’t have units waiting for us.”
Five pegasi from both Cobalt’s and Scarlet's camps fly out, going straight up into the sky above the fort. Two from each group begin clearing out the clouds, well the other three keep watch. Shining checks the roaster for the other camps. It didn’t tell him who was on what team, but it did tell him the numbers. He had 60 unicorns, 18 earth, and 17 pegasi. Cobalt had 40 unicorns, 40 pegasi, and 20 earth. Scarlet had 50 unicorns, 30 pegasi, and 20 earth. Bridge had 20 unicorns, 40 earth, and 40 pegasi.
The numbers on the scroll change, the ten pegasi eliminated from battle. “What happened?” He demands looking up at the sky. No clouds were cleared. The clanging of metal could be heard as the pegasus’ helmets hit the ground in a mangled mess of steel. “Fleetfoot?”
“They were taken out… so quickly too. They didn’t stand a chance.” The Wonderbolt muttered in horror and amazement. “No pegasi is to fly out of arrow range! Don’t fly without anti flyer support!” Fleetfoot looks to him. “No problems with that order Captain?”
“No,” Shining replied bitterly. Climbing the keep he tries to peer out into the darkness. The pitch-black night was impregnable. How was it the Night Patrollers were able to see in this darkness? “Do dragons have good night vision?” He asks the gathered officers. He needs to factor in the enemy’s hybrid nature in this fight.
“Depends on the species. Some dragons are like thestrals and have great night vision, other see no better than ponies. Though from the stories Princess Luna told me and Goodnight. The rinin may have traits of Thestral in them too, their more than just part dragon.” Sweet Dreams states from her throne.
Shining wrinkles his brow, “More than just dragon ponies? What?”
“INCOMING!” The thundering of cannons echoes in the distance as the lower walls is pounded with shells.
Across the battlefield the enemy camp was suddenly overrun with lights, the sudden brightness was harsh on their night adapted eyes. Shining covers his face with his leg, the outline of massive cannons visible against the light. The first volley had probably been sighted in the day, they’d be adjusting for the second volley now. Meaning the next shots would be higher. Horn alight with violet magic he raises his shield. The others follow suit as the second volley pounds the magic shields. Over a hundred cannonballs strike against the shields, each hit feeling like a blow to his brain. How were they firing so many cannonballs?
Night Patrol Camp
“Those cannonball buck shots are working nicely Fancy.” Sixes smirks watching the bombardment through a pair of binoculars. Unicorn teams load the newly made cannons, prototypes hastily made by Fancy’s arms company in Fillydelphia. “Very nice work.”
Fancy wearing earmuffs stands beside the Rinin Commander beaming with pride. “When I heard you would be hosting a mock battle, I pushed for the prototypes to be finished with all haste. Sadly, I was only able to bring seven cannons and fifty shells. But I didn’t want to miss this chance to test them in a more fitting testing ground. Apologies if they give you any trouble.”
The new cannons weren’t anything special, they were just big smoothbore cannons. They were actually less accurate than the regular cannons the castle used, but that smooth bore let them use a diverse range of ammo. For this operation, cannon buckshot. A massive shell holding eight regular cannonballs that fired all at once. Now seven cannons could fire fifty-six cannonballs at once. At a much lower velocity and accuracy, but it was a cheap and effective round.
“We’ll have to add a bigger powder load. Some of the shells are falling short, even after adjusting the aim.” Topaz said landing beside them. “There is potential though.”
“I’ll say,” Fury chimes in landing next to Sixes. “Want to take bets on who’s going to be the weakest link?”
Sixes looks through his binoculars. Observing the four magic shields before them. The far north shield, blue in color, was Cobalts. It was massive, covering his whole area perfectly. It was a unique shape too, sharp triangular angles hover over the fortress, the cannonballs skid against the shield and fly off into the barren plains. The shield was even angled just right so it wouldn’t send ricochets towards Shining Armor’s and Scarlet kiteshield’s positions. A simple, yet effective design that only needed a few extra unicorns to support it.
The red shield of Scarlet’s was really interesting. It was dome in shape, but instead of one layer, it was multilayered with many smaller magical shields overlapping each other, making three layers of protection. The smaller interlocked shield spells would be less draining on the unicorns supporting it. Breaking that shield with require something with a little more oomph.
Next was Bridge’s defenses. The earth pony using little magic to shield his base. Nor did he reinforce his stone walls. Instead, piles of dirt lined the walls. While simple scattered magic shields protected the troops inside, deflecting any cannonballs that came to close for the comfort. Bridge had employed the ‘soft’ shield. Using dirt as a buffer for his walls. The cannonballs hit the piles of earth and the dirt absorbing the impact easily, where stones would have cracked or exploded. It was a good strategy, they’ll have to test the anti-flyer defenses the pony set up. With no dome, the earth ponies base was open to sky bombing.
Finally, was Shining Armor. He was deploying a single layer dome shield with only himself as the power source. The fact one pony could make such a shield by themselves was impressive. Still, it seems the Captain hasn’t learned his lesson from the changeling’s invasion.
“Focus all fire at position A-4, let them have it!” The cannons stop firing. The soft clicking of the adjustment dials the only noise as the cannoneers readjust their sights. “Fire!”
Shining Armor’s Camp
Shining Armor was sweating. He’s never had to hold up a shield against such a bombardment before. Thankfully the gods heard his silent wishes and the cannon fire stopped. The heat of his horn felt like it was boiling his brain! He pants for air, trying to think clearly.
“Second incoming!”
“Everypony take cover!” He shouts redoubling his efforts. Something was amiss though. The bombardment was much heavier than before. His pinkish dome shutters under the attack, and he does too, his head a migraine of pain. Even with that, he still manages to peek out to the Scarlet’s and Cobalt’s bases. Their shields were up, but they weren’t taking any fire. The night Patrollers singled him out. Thinking he was the weakest link! Well, he’d show them!
Rearing back Shining Armor shoots another blast of magic to reinforce the shield, the faint cracks disappear. Momentary. Another barrage splits the crack open again, this time even larger than before. His legs buckle and he’s brought to his belly.
“Support the captain!” A pony yells, more beams of magic shoot up to the shield, reinforcing it once again. Shining stands tall. With this troops behind him, no pony could beat him!
“We can do this, boys! Keep that shield up!” He shouts encouragingly. The cannonballs were bouncing off the shield now. They could do this! “Yeah! That’ll show them!”
This was bliss! He was winning! He was proving his worth! He was…
“AGRHG!” An ear-shattering scream pierced the air, overpowering the noise of the bombardment for a brief moment as one of his unicorns fell to his side, withering in agony, his horn glowing red.
“My brain! Oh, gods my brain! It’s on fire! It’s melting out my ears!” Others shouted falling over in the same manner. One by one the sixty beams of magic that had supported the shield fell like flies to the wind, till only he remained, holding back the bombardment back alone. The dome shield was cracked and crumbling. Shining reduced the zone, bringing the shield closer together, leaving the sides exposed.
“YEEHAA!” From the clouds above three winged figures dived. “Let ’em have it!”
“Anti-flyers fire!” He shouts. His earth ponies man the element bows, firing arrows of ice and fire. The three enemy flyers glide through the barrage easily. “Counter flyers!” Five of his pegasus take flight but are hampered by friendly fire blocking their escape route as they’re stuck between arrows and the shield. He dares not weaken it for friendlies to fly through less it shatters under the bombardment.
The three enemy fliers fly through the hole in the shield and drop their payload, the whistling sound of bombs falling reaches his ears as explosions rock the fort. Bodies are flown up into the air, disappearing in a blue light as the combatants were teleported to safety by the overseers.
More flashes of blue pass by as his unicorns are teleported to safety. The cannon fire stops and Shining takes a deep long breath before hanging his head, his horn lit brighter than a hearth’s warming star. The shield crumbles.
“Captain!”
“I’m fine, I’ll just need a few minutes.”
“We don’t have a few minutes! Look there!”
Charging through the darkness came a hulking figure, its dark armor blending perfectly with the shadows. The Bulldrake had returned. What few ponies in his fort remained fired their bows, nets, and stones at the hulking creature. Every attack bouncing of its shiny black armor. Only the bovine bellows from the Bulldrake gave any sign they were hurting it, or maybe just making him mad.
The massive Night Patroller reached the gate, the wall shielding him from the fire. Shining gallops to a better view, spotting Bulwark doing something strange. The giant rinin shook himself like a dog, loosening the massive hammer from his back. Then Bulwark popped his back, his spine popping inwards, and with a hefty heave, the big dragon pony rose on his hind legs standing nine feet tall nearly as high as the gate! Hammer in claw, the minotaur rinin rears back and swings!
The gate snapping off its hinges.
Suddenly magic bolts began to fall upon the big rinin. Shining whirls around, surprised to see Scarlet with a team of unicorns at the edge of her shield firing down on the rinin. She looks at him, glaring harshly.
“Don’t stand there gawking! Fight!” She sneers. As fire from Cobalt’s side pours on the rinin. Shining rights himself, charging towards the big rinin, rallying his troops.
“Come boys! Push him back!” He declares boldly. Creating a small shield, he rams towards Bulwark, who had already wrecked his way up to the second tier, swinging his hammer with skill. Before the gate busting weapon could even hit its targets they were all pulled out of the battle via teleport. Meaning one swing was enough to kill. The hammer obliterates where the stone where his troops had been standing as if only to drive that point home.
Jumping Shining bares his shield forward, the hammer striking the magic barrier. The shield cracks, but holds true, allowing him to dive at Bulwark’s legs. Being bipedal now meant the big pony wouldn’t be as stable. He forms a shield under the wobbling pony and lift is up, to bring him down!
Only nothing happens.
Shining felt his horn heat up again as Bulwark pressed all his weight on the shield beneath his cloven hoof. He struggles to try to overpower the brute, but his magic falters, too overtaxed from holding up the shield.
“I could use some help!” He shouts, but there was no reply, save for the odd trot of clop, ting, ting, ting. He glances back at the source of the noise, the pinkish mare, Platinum stood behind him. Smirking as she held up her metal hoof.
In her thick Prench accent she said, “You are the last one, goodbye Captain, it was a fun game.” With those words, she fires, hitting him dead center and for several second his world turned blue as he was pulled from the battlefield. He lands on a pile of soft mats, the rest of his troops standing before him in silence. They had been eliminated. Not only that, they’d been the first fort to go down. He walks to the edge of the cliff, looking down as Night Patrol swarms his base, it would be their foothold to take down the others. He checks his watch and curses.
He hadn’t even held out for three hours.
“Dammit…”
Scarlet’s base
“Dammit, and to think he had once been my best student.” Scarlet cursed Shining Armor’s defeat as Night Patrollers swarmed his base, taking Sweet Dreams off the throne and successfully gaining a point for their side. Rinin began to line up outside her shield, daring her to try and retake Shining’s base. She knew it would be a suicide mission and a waste of resources.
Cobalt’s base suddenly began to erupt with magical flack. She took notice of a second wave flying down from the clouds to the north of Cobalt’s base. Pinning her old friend between the force that had taken Shining’s base and the other wing. She could do nothing to help him without great risk to her own forces. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t do anything.
“Fire on those flyers! Keep them at bay the best you can!” She shouts. Her unicorns and bow ponies open up as the rinin’s watching on the other side of the shield spew fire. It wouldn’t be enough to break it, but it kept her from using any more unicorns for attacking. “Come on lads and lassies! Keep it up!”
The heat rose. The shield didn’t repeal the heat, it could, but that would require more magic then she had to spare. Besides what could they hope to accomplish… shit. The arrows and magic bolts of her soldiers were far off their marks. The air distortions from the heat increasing the margin of error.
Scarlet took a step back and breathed. Closing her eyes to focus. Shining Armor’s perspective had narrowed, he got to focused on a minor thing of the bigger picture he didn’t notice the enemies behind him. She would at least not make the same mistake. She looks again with clarity.
The Night Patrollers were swarming Shining’s base and pushing hard on Cobalt’s. Normally diving head first between to enemy forces would by folly, but they knew with only a hundred troops in each base they could take the risk, knowing neither side could help the other without great risk. Cobalt divided his shield into three points, the north, the east, and south. The rinin were hitting his shield from every side, but west. Why would they? There was a mountain… there… it suddenly dawned on her.
“To me! Hurry!” She screams galloping towards the keep. She spots Luna, still enshrined on her throne, but the princess had a small smirk on her lip as they approach the top of the stairs. A claw burst out from the mountain wall, a burly earth rinin fell out of the hole he had dug as several others pour out from the tunnel. The rinin were on them like the dogs of hell! A blue rinin with a gold gauntlet of sorts charged ahead of the pack, throwing a huge blast of gold magic! She raised a shield, the blast knocking out the two ponies she had brought as back up.
Igniting a mana blade on her horn, Scarlet jabbed and swung her horn as the blue rinin used his gold glove to block her strikes. Gold shockwaves blast against her coat, stinging with the heat of magic. What was that thing? Some sort of artifact?
“I need back up!” She shouts as her unicorns turn to fire upon the keep and pegasi dive toward the skirmish. Back trotting, she realized her mistake as the shield above began to crumble. “Belay that! All mages keep up the shield! Pegasi to me! Earth ponies keep firing arrows!”
The haunting cry of a whinny roar of the rinin dashed any hope correcting her mistake. The rattling of chains only further brought the telling of her undoing as she glances to the sky to see the black and gold form of Sixes fall upon her troops. Within his golden chains, he snagged three of her unicorns. Dragging them screaming into the sky as they disappear into blue light. Several more rinin joined him, cutting through her disorganized ranks and within seconds and then she to was surrounded.
“A good effort, Captain.” Said, Luna, as the rinin pounced. Scarlet found herself teleported to the top of the cliff overlooking the battlefield. Along with the rest of her units. Her base overrun.
“Dammit.” She cursed but did not look away. Sharply she watched and she learned.
Cobalt’s base
Scarlet’s shield went down. Here he thought she’d be the last to go down, but then again, if Shining Armor was the weakest link, then Scarlet was the strongest. Or at least the next logical choice. Now there were two bases separating him from reinforcements. Not that he ever planned for any. Bridge was probably having his own problems about now anyway. Not that he was in a position to help either.
“Hold tight boys, they’re coming.” Cobalt was waiting beside the throne where they had Celestia ‘detained’ his best mages and fighters around him. Ten ponies total. Since Scarlet’s shield never went down till the enemy was already inside, he concluded that there was only one place they could have gotten in. The mountain. The once false sense of security they all had misplaced their trust. After all, who would dig through solid granite? Or could in such a short time? A fatal mistake on their part with no doubt.
His eyes were dancing, looking for the point of entry the enemy would take. There were two that stood out, mountain wall behind the throne and floor. Which would it be? A stone fell from above. Out of reflex, they all looked up and then the wall behind Celestia exploded! Rinin rushed out of the pony made cave and charged the throne. He rears back launching a fire spell to try and route them, but the flames seem to do little to slow them down. As he expected from creatures that breathed fire. From out of the pack rushed the orange rinin with crystals on his joints, Topaz Slicer. Cobalt didn’t know if it was his age but the rinin seemed to blip out of existence only to appear again with a wing of plasma fire to his neck.
“Your chance of winning is zero, I’d suggest you give up.” The rinin commander advised.
Cobalt closed his eyes. “I’ll take that into consideration.” Casting a quick teleport Cobalt blinked away, just a few feet down from where he’d been, horn charged and aimed. Several others around him did the same and then… he was on top the cliff next to Scarlet and Shining. He blinks, rubbing an irritating spot on his neck. It was a burn. A burn from an attack he had not seen nor sensed. An attack that without the overseer teleporting him away would have killed him.
“I’m beginning to feel slightly outclassed.” He grumbles looking down at the battlefield as Night Patrol swarms the last holdout, Bridge.
Scarlet snorts, “Join the club.”
Bridge’s base
“Sir! What do we do!” His second in command screamed as fire rains down upon them. The earth walls of his fort were immune to fire. In fact, the dirt made it really easy to put out. However, his flyers were being overwhelmed. Anti-Flyer defenses were being overrun too. There were just too many. They weren’t taking enough patrollers out. From his count maybe only twenty to thirty have been eliminated by his defenses. While his troop strength has been cut in half. “Sir their coming from behind the wall!”
Bridge spun slamming his hoof against the crack in the mountain wall. His hoof coming into contact with a wingless rinin. Others claws at him, cutting his leg as he pulled it back. He barked for his unicorns to seal up the hole as he trots on three legs, trying to think. He peers out the slots in his little dugout, building the earthen walls around the enemy’s objective, Princess Cadence. The outside forces were being torn apart and it was only a matter of time before his little dirt bunker is torn down.
A bright burning light appears in the sky and dives towards them. Bridge moves away from the wall as the flying fireball hits with great impact! The wall crumbling, streams of fire pouring in as his guard plug up the hole with their shields. Behind them, the growls of the rinin in the tunnel grew louder as the wall grew weaker.
“What do we do!” His second screams again.
“Calm down! It’s not over yet!”
“Actually,” A deep raspy voice said. “It is.”
Bridge turns to the destroyed wall as Commander Fierce Fury dug himself out the dirt, the red rinin breaths fire into his claw, creating a sphere.
Fury smirks holding up the flaming orb and crushes it, “Crossfire.”
Bridge throws off his helmet, shaking himself of the embers caught in his mane. He was on the cliff overlooking the battlefield, smoke billows up from below. He runs to the edge where the others stood, his base awash in flames.
“Where’s the princess? Is she safe?” He asks, thinking the rinin had gotten out of hoof with his attack. Whatever it was. Was that a spell?
“I’m fine,” Answers Cadence standing alongside the other princesses and Sweet Dreams. The Rinin Commanders land behind Luna as the royal trio steps towards them.
“A fine display of skill, all of you. You managed to survive five hours total. Impressive for a first try. Much better then I was expecting if you would have lasted another hour it would have been perfect.” Celestia levitates a bag of bits over to Luna. The younger princess looking giddy as she plops the bag into her saddlebag. “Still a very good job. I’m sure after some more training and experience the next bout will be even better. I digress, I’m sure your all eager to know the results and to be truthful I was surprised myself. Luna if would please.”
Luna steps forward, “Of course sister. As you all know this battle was a test for you, four candidates, to determine your positions in the EUP. Before I announce who will be positioned to what, I must clarify some changes to the ranks we have adopted since our meeting three days ago. Traditionally, the captain of the guard would usually be the unicorn Commander, with some exceptions, but we have decided given current events and possible future ones. Celestia, Cadence and I have decided to separate the positions. Each division will have their captains, but one will stand above them, second only to us. The Captain of the Guard no… the leader of the Equestrian army will henceforth be General Cobalt Blaze.”
There was a collective gasp, Cobalt Blaze looks shaken as he flinches at the scope of his new title. There hasn’t been an official Equestrian General in five hundred years!
Luna continues. “With this decree, the royal guard is no more, as well as the EUP. All current military branches will be merged into the new Equestrian army. As such Captain Scarlet Kite shield, Captain Castle Bridge, and Captain Spitfire.” They stepped forth, Spitfire emerging from the shadows and joining them. “As of now all three of you are hereby promoted to the rank of Colonel. Your underlings will be taking your former positions under you for the time being. That will be all for now. We’ll have a more formal meeting later. We are still in the midst of reorganizing everything. I invite you to board the Nightmare to attend a special concert I have organized. That is all.”
As the Princess of the Night trots off joined by the ranks of Night Patrol the three new colonels could only stare at the Princesses of the Sun and Love. In mere seconds two organizations, the EUP, and the royal guard, that have been in place for the last thousand years. Were disbanded. Just like that. It was as if an earthquake had shaken Canterlot from its place on the mountain, yet the Princess of the Sun, who has seen the birth of both long-lived organizations seemed no more heartbroken about the sudden shift then her sister had been. And even though she did not smile or shout for joy. Somehow they could tell the Princess of the Sun was… happy.
Softly Celestia smiles and pats their heads, like a mother comforting her child. “I know this is sudden and perhaps I should have been the one to tell you, but this change… it’s the first step we need to take. The EUP was created because of Luna’s absence. With her return… well obviously their structure is not suited to this new era where there is no two, but three princesses.”
“Yes,” Bridge spoke up. “Why the royal guard too? Surely they are still relevant.”
Celestia chews her cheek. “Right, the royal guard will still be around, but it will not be as relevant. In the past, I only had two guards and at the most twelve before the ranks suddenly exploded under the EUP. We will be returning a much smaller, more elite royal guard. We were going to address this in the meeting later, but since you are the most relevant ponies to this matter. The royal guard will be merged into the Commandos. Now, let us forgo any more of this talk and go enjoy the party Luna has put on for all of you. Believe me when I say she put effort into her concert to help smooth over relations between Night Patrol and the GAE (Grand Army of Equestria). I hope you enjoy it and learn to get along.”
With a swallow dip of her head and a smile, the Sun Princess bid them adieu and heads for the airship. With conflicting, yet exciting feelings the General and three new colonels follow her. Leaving the two ponies that had remained silent for the duration of the talking to stand awkwardly alone.
Shining Armor stood in the wind looking at his wife, his expression neutral, but his eyes clear with the disappointment and shame of his defeat, demotion, and now disregard. The princesses hadn’t bothered to even call his name or tell him anything. It was clear to him now, he was never being considered, only humored.
“Shining…” His wife whispered, nuzzling his neck. “It’s ok. They have a place for you.”
“Sure… I guess.” He replied dejectedly. Still, even with his dreams of being a royal guard dashed against the rocks, he took his wife’s leg and lead her to the ship. A concert sounded like a nice idea right now. Even if he was no longer the Captain of the Royal guard or captain of anything. He was still a prince and a husband. He still had duties to fulfill. So, he perked up, kissed his wife, and smiled for her. “My place is right here, next to you.”
She smiled, snorting with laughter as she bounced her hip against his as they climbed the ramp to the ship.
“Come on Vinyl it’s almost time! You have to get ready!” Octavia chides her sister as Vinyl was neck deep in electrical wires, still not in her performance costume! And only thirty minutes till showtime!
Her sister turns, lifts her shades and glares cutting her hoof over her neck for silence. “You get ready. I’ll be finished in a few.” Vinyl’s vocal cords were almost healed. She could finally talk again, but limitedly. Her voice was raspy and hoarse most of the time. For a few hours, after taking her meds, Vinyl could sing for a limited amount of time. They have recorded several songs, but Vinyl insisted on singing tonight as part of big come back and to prove to herself that she could still perform without her mixing table.
“Alright, I need to finish my make up, but be quick. I know you're well versed with this… um… machine, but you still need to be presentable! We’re performing for all three Princesses tonight!”
Vinyl waves her off as if this wasn’t the biggest night of their lives. After their last concert with the Princesses things have been going well, minus the wedding debacle, but their careers have been steadily on the rise. Both she and Vinyl wanted to show the Princesses just how much they’ve improved from last time. Vinyl even wrote a song, specifically at Princess Luna’s request. The Princess of the Night wanted a song that would help mend the strained relations between Night Patrol and the current Equestrian forces. Something to help bring both sides together and show them they were on the same side. How the hell you put that in a song Octavia didn’t know, but Vinyl took the challenge and has been very secretive about the music script she’s been crafting.
Octavia returns to her dressing room. A small little makeshift place made beside the old castle by the frankly terrifying dragon ponies Luna had left to help them. For the past week, she’s been trying to avoid saying anything that could be offensive towards them. Such as she was scared witless by them, their fangs, claws, and overall vicious appearance not really putting her at ease, despite their friendly natures towards her.
Vinyl got along with them fine. Even drank with them. Not surprising for her sister. Vinyl could probably get along with an Ursa Major if she wanted too. Actually, she might have tried once. No matter. Her feelings aside this was a job and she would be professional. Given sometimes she would warm up to them too.
“Your dress, ma’am.”
Octavia nearly jumps out of her skin as a rinin holding her stage costume by its hanger appeared in the room. Had she been so enthralled in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard the door open? Or had the dragon pony snuck in?
“Um, thank you, ah…” Octavia looks the female rinin up and down. She had to admit the way her teal scales sparked in the light against her blue coat was rather dazzling. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t think of your name at the moment.”
“I’m patroller 3236, Azure Beryl. No need to fret over my name, I know you're busy. Would you like me to help with your make up?”
Octavia bit her tongue from outright saying no to the offer. “Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Alright sit down and relax, this shouldn’t take long, relatively speaking.” Much to Octavia’s surprise, Beryl worked with the speed and grace of a unicorn makeup artist. With her brush pinched in her claw she daps just amount of shadow and color to her face. “There, just a little blush here and there and you’re done!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! Where to did you learn to be this good! You put my last make artist to shame!”
Beryl shrugs, as she places a sheet over Octavia’s head and slips the singers dress on for her. Tying the back strings as she talks. “I got a degree from Canterlot School of the Arts a thousand years ago, glad to see what they taught me is still relevant. So at least I didn’t waste my free ride.”
The door to the dressing room slams open, Vinyl standing in the doorway breathing hard. “Everypony is almost seated! Shit, I gotta get ready!” Her sister curses running over to the stool and mirror. “Azzie I’m going to need a quick fix up.”
Azure smiles amused as she moves over to Vinyl’s chair. “Of course, Miss Scratch, same as we discussed before?”
“Yeah, and call me Vinyl, stop being so formal all the time. We’re friends!”
“We only went out drinking twice, the first being by chance,” Azure says beginning to style Vinyl’s hair as the white unicorn waves her leg around.
“Oh, come on! Just admit you had a good time! Good drinks, food, and music, what better way is there to bond?”
“I’d prefer walking up on a bed and not the floor, but yes it was a fun night.” Azure finishes styling Vinyl’s unruly hair and begins applying makeup. “If you want to go and do some final checks Miss Octavia now is the time. It’s ten minutes until the curtains rise. I should have Miss Vinyl done one minute before then if you’d please make sure everything else is ready?”
“Yes, a good idea, I’ll leave you two alone.”
Octavia steps out of the dressing room. Not all that surprised Vinyl was already giving out nicknames. Sometimes she was really envious of how easy it was for her sister to make friends.
“No time for that Octavia, you have a show to do!” Trotting around backstage she goes over her personal checklist. Hopefully, after this gig, they could hire a professional staff manager and hire permeant staff. Getting staff of the royal wedding had been easy. What music pony didn’t want to be in a royal wedding? “Check, check, and check! And only FIVE minutes to showtime! Ugh! Vinyl hurry up!”
Peeking out from the curtain Octavia gulps at the size of the crowd! Ponies stretched from the stage to the canyon!
“Everything ok, sis?”
Octavia whirls around, “Oh Vinyl! I was just… what the hell are you wearing?” She eyes her sister up and down. The white unicorn was wearing a fishnet on her legs, a leather jacket, a sailor’s hat, and some weird leather V piece. Overall it was over the top, very suggestive costume that their mother would have pressed their ears to the stove for.
“Like?” Vinyl said with a smirk and raised eyebrows. “To bad if you don’t, it’s showtime!” Vinyl puts on her headset and trots out onto the stage. “Hello everypony! Are your ready to rock!” The crowd cheers. “Good cause I have a very special song for all your awesome ponies tonight!”
Octavia gave the queue to the band; the curtain rises and Vinyl begins to sing for the first time on stage in months.
The song was upbeat, cheery, and heartfelt. The crowd swayed to every word Vinyl sang, whether they were EUP, Night Patrol, or whatever, everypony was having a good time. From her old balcony, Luna hummed with the song, a smile on her lips as the two units that were always historically at odds seemed to enjoy each other’s company for once. Maybe it wouldn’t mend all the wounds, maybe come morning no pony from either side would be friends with the other, but it was a step in the right direction.
“Nice song,” Said Sixes nodding along to the beat. “She’s got Alto’s voice. She’s pretty good.”
“Her sister has Alto’s looks, but she’s no musical slouch either. Both of them are very talented. I’m sure they’ll be the premier duo of Equestria’s music scene soon enough. If nothing else they are at the top of my list for musical entertainment.”
“Drink?” Sixes offers holding out a glass of wine. She accepts. Causally sipping the glass as Sixes pops the cork on a bottle of Hard cider.
Luna swashes the wine around, noticing the strong taste of apples mixed with the other berries. “I wasn’t aware the Apple’s made wine or it was possible to brew wine from apples. The wonders of this new world.”
“We got a crate of it two days ago, from AJ the eighth, she wrote it was new recipe she was trying out. Wanted you to try it.”
She smiles, thinking of the red-eyed Applejack. “I see. I’ll have to visit her and tell her it’s delicious. Have you met her yet? AJ the eighth, I mean?” Sixes shakes his head. “Then you’ll have to come with me.”
“Just me?” Sixes smirks.
A blush adorns her cheeks as she twirls her glass, her gaze looking away from the ashen rinin. “Well, I suppose we could invite more, but I… well… Oh, look Octavia is coming on stage!”
Sixes looked over the balcony. He’s seen Octavia from a distance before during the wedding but the view was much better here if he didn’t know that wasn’t Alto he wouldn’t have known. Those stage lights really made her sparkle like crystal pony. Or maybe it was the crystal looking dress she was wearing. He didn’t know. But she was stunning none the less. The melody sisters gathered around the microphone on stage as an orchestra band assembled behind them. Magic was in the air as they began to sing together.
Luna felt a tear in her eyes as the words touched her heart. “Beautiful, right…??” Luna’s thoughts became jumbled as she felt Sixes' lips against hers for the first time in a thousand years. Her body relaxes as she leans into the kiss. The song ends and they break away, both of them smiling at the other.
“So…” She began, her tongue-tied. Really words didn’t seem necessary, not that she could think of any to say anyway. Sixes wraps his wings around her as they watch the rest of the concert in silence. Enjoying the last night before the old castle was laid to rest.
Song after song was sung, cheerful ones, heartfelt, ones, every song the melody sisters knew was sung and when they were done. Others climbed to the stage and sung. Night Patrollers sang old folk songs from days long past, young privates from the EUP sang the latest pop songs. It was everything Luna had hoped for. But alas the hour of midnight drew and it was time to say goodbye.
“Is everything ready?” She asks Topaz, who had laid out the explosives. He nods. “The memorial wall was removed?”
“Of course, Princess. I dug it out myself. All other valuables worth saving are also accounted for.”
“Good, let us proceed.” The stage was cleared and dissembled. Celestia stood beside her as the detonation lever was set before them. She rests her hoof atop the T shaped handle, while Celestia placed her hoof next to hers. It wasn’t just her home or Night Patrols home, it was also Celestia’s home. Their childhood home. It was where they were raised, where their parents lived. It was only fitting they hit the switch together.
“I should have taken better care of it,” Celestia said with a sob, in a rare act of public emotion. As if to punctuate her words, part of the roof collapsed, toppling the west tower, Celestia’s room. “Seems even the gods mock me this day.”
“Then let’s reply,” Luna said boldly. She pushed the lever, as did Celestia. Several explosions went off, taking out what little support structure was left. The old castle groaned and crumbled, falling into itself. The lower support levels give way and the entire upper structure falls to the earth. In the sky, Sixes flew with every rinin available. Lava and fire fell into the newly made pit. The old stone popped and cracked under the heat as over a thousand years of history was reduced to molten rock. Forever gone. The glow of the fire was bright and could be seen from miles away. And in the morning when the lava had cooled it would become the new foundation of their future.
Military Officer Ranks- A quick general layout of the Command structure. Of course, Princess is above all.
EUP (Disbanded)
Captain of the Guard
Division Captain
Lieutenant
Warrant Officer
Sergeant
GAE (Grand Army of Equestria)
General
Colonel
Captain
Lieutenant (Vice Captain)
Sergeant
Night Patrol (Aerial Navy)
Admiral
Captain
Commander
Vice Commander
Lieutenant