//------------------------------//
// 7 - Follow My Lead 
// Story: Not Always Hugs 
// by David Silver 
//------------------------------//

"Class." Cheerilee was looking out over her students and standing next to her newest one. "We have a new student joining us." She gestured towards Little Hop. "She's a tsuki from the far north, near the Crystal Empire. Does anyone remember that?"

She pointed to Twist, who hopped upright in place. "The crthtal empire is where Princeth Cadanth is the printheth!" she got out quickly, if also with a heavy lisp. "I always wanted to vithit," she added a bit more slowly and quietly.

"Very good, Twist." Cheerilee looked back to Little Hop. "Go on and have a seat... there." She pointed to an empty desk.

Little bounded for it, the eyes of others following her up and down motions. Her cheeks warmed at the intense attention as she began wriggling into place, sitting as the ponies did. It meant she had to sit up more than she usually did, but she did it and her attention suddenly slid, spotting a pencil there on the desk. She grabbed it up and began twirling and fiddling with it as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Cheerilee slid a piece of paper in front of Little. "You can keep notes here. Now, last time we left off..."





Celene made subtle gestures with her right hand, her battle sisters nodding at the silent commands. They were at the forefront. They didn't fear the magic the griffons wielded.

Inside the cave, several guards stood in stiff watch, waiting for something, them perhaps. 

"Attack," screeched a griffon from further in the cave. "We are being attacked!" They pointed directly at where Celene had been hiding, detecting her somehow.

Celene shouted, joined by the others in a great echoing din as they bounded inside. Being spotted was only a signal to advance. She threw herself up in a bound up over the snowy patch she had been hiding behind. A pulse of energy was racing at her, but she barely paid it here, her fur going as lustrous as metal as the power was caught, held between her horns.

The doe that had accompanied Toby crashed into the front of one of the guards, her feet lashing out as she came in to deliver a kick with the momentum of her body added to it. The griffon rolled with it, almost becoming an uncontrolled twirl with the force of the blow, but his sharp spear flew with it, bringing him to a stop as it bit into her arm. She hissed in pain as she threw her head forward, slamming her horns against the forehead of the griffon, causing him to stagger backwards, neither untouched in the exchange.

Another doe landed on the guard, throwing him down and sinking her teeth into the back of his neck as if trying to rip his throat out from the wrong end, red spilling on the ground in the attempt. She was forced to leap away an instant later, a spear thrust violently into the space she had occupied a moment before. More griffons were arriving, not all holding spears. Some had daggers, other longer blades. One had knuckles around his fingers, crashing them together with a ring of metal as he charged into the frey.





"The ambush has been... ambushed," reported a griffon towards the throne. "Tsuki have engaged with the soldiers there."

"Tsuki?" He scowled at that. "When did they have fighting spirit? There was only one strong one. Are they being mauled by her alone?"

"They seem resistant to magical attacks," added the same reporting griffon, implying multiple even as they paused as if listening to something. "They are not especially armored."

"Cut them to pieces then. Bash them bloody!" screeched their leader, slamming a balled fist against the armrest of his throne. His commands were being relayed as he turned to glare at a dragon leaning against his throne. "You, why do I pay you to do nothing?"

She flashed a wicked smile, teeth on display, her dark green scales rippling with her sinuous adjustment of her stance. "Because I charge more when I get to work. You need me?"





A bright bolt of power sailed over the tsuki, crashing against an equally brilliant shield that hadn't been there before. "Take prisoners," shouted Shining Armor, at the front of the equine forces, about a dozen of them in total charging into the cave.

Celene threw her head, the magic held between her horns coming loose, hurled at a griffon clashing blade to blade with a pony. The angry ball of magic exploded on contact, sending both combatants skidding backwards, tumbling over themselves. That hadn't been her plan, but there was no time to consider it, already she was closing with another griffon. "Die."

The griffon she was approaching broke their staff in half, revealing two sharp spikes they held in both hands and began to spin and twirl in readiness. "Ladies first," he almost purred, a wave of light sweeping over his form in a display of magic that wasn't a hurled bolt. 

She reached for him with grasping fingers, to be met with a sharp swipe. She yanked her hand back, blood flying in an arc from the thin line she'd received. Fury welled in her eyes as she stomped the ground, circling him warily.

"Fighting barehanded? How uncouth." He didn't wait for her to consider another way forward, charging in, deadly implements dancing in the air, forcing her back quickly to avoid being sliced open. "Your tricks won't help you."

Magic slammed into his side, knocking him off balance a precious moment. "Friends will," shouted a crystal unicorn, saluting before he resumed his own battle. Celene was already lunging forward to capitalize on that moment.

Sharp pain lanced from her chest, the griffon yanking the bloodied point free of her and bringing in the other spike. She grabbed the hand holding the spike and rolled, lifting the griffon from the ground and sending both crashing to the ground. One of the spikes rolled away from his momentarily numbed hand, her grip forcing it loose.

One of her sisters landed on his prone form, claw coming in for a swipe when she was bowled over and off, a magic blast catching her unawares. Celene howled with fury, brutally yanking the wrist she had a grip on. She felt something pop, a mute pleasure in the agonized cry of her combatant. She ignored him, scrambling to her paws to see who had struck her sister.





Sombra nodded towards the tsuki that approached him. "Do you have news?"

"Yes, sir!" He reached into a bag hanging at his beltline and produced a letter, holding it towards Sombra. "It's from the cub with the crystal ponies!" he gushed excitedly. "What'd he say?"

Sombra accepted the letter in his magic, tearing the seal open and unfolding it. "Do you not have other letters waiting to be delivered?" The postage tsuki had also been an eager absorber of words. Their diction was excellent, and they could read and write among the best of the tsuki. They were also a bit of a nosy annoyance at times.

He was leaning his head, trying to get a peek at the letter even as Sombra was reading it. He turned to put his body between the letter and the tsuki. "Thomas, your presence is no longer required."

"Nope," easily agreed Thomas, nodding his head. He hadn't left. "Oh!" he suddenly gasped. "He found something!"

"What?" He turned back to Thomas, but the mail-tsuki was already bouncing away. Sombra grunted in annoyance, turning his eyes back to the paper he had been too distracted to read properly.

The ponies had a clue and were chasing after it. They were taking Celene.  He frowned before a little smirk pulled at the edges of his lips. "She will give them an interesting time."

"She is ready to fight," spoke his right hand pony, stepping from the shadows. "But this is the first of its kind, for her. She fought me, many against one. She fled when it was many against her. Never before has she faced a group with another group behind her. Such tactics have not been instilled in her."

Sombra considered Quick Stroke. "Then is it not time she learned?" He raised a hoof, flat-side up. "She will be tutored on the crucible of battle. A fitting place for a fiery warrior as her."

"This I cannot argue." Quick stroked his chin with a crystal hoof. "She will make the enemies hurt. She did that even while fleeing them. It seems to be a second nature to her. Curious, for a tsuki. Most are so... gentle." The last word was spoken as if it were a clear negative, snorted with disgust.

"But she is not." He turned to Quick. "And she surrounds herself with other hardened tsuki. What she sees in Toby, I can only guess, perhaps power. As dundering a foo--"

"--Hello!" Toby landed beside them. "Am back! Have news, good."

"The ponies of Equestria are coming?" questioned Quick as if it were barely a question.

"How know!?" He shook his head quickly. "Send friends. Send guards. They are..." He slowed down, trying to get his words out better. "They are going to crystal place, to help." He nodded once firmly, satisfied. "Not abandon their friends." He pointed to himself, them Sombra and Quick. "Us."

Sombra chuckled darkly. "Excellent. They are bound by the ties of our friendship accord. They will risk their lives on our behalf." He sat to rub his hooves together with a malignant joy in how friendship operated. "Did they speak of me?"

Toby inclined his head. "Sun Princess said... impressed." Sombra smiled with smug victory. "Surprised call fast." His expression fell into dourness.

"Is she calling me weak?"

Quick rolled a hoof. "Me thinks she is in awe of your diplomatic mastery, my liege. Perhaps she knew what was happening and was hoping you would not invoke your right as a signer of the accord."

That brought his smile back. "Ah, yes. My mastery of the arcane powers is overwhelming. She hoped to avoid it, but I have invoked them, and she must act. Hmm, there is certainly a power in... friendship." He turned away with a snort. "Celene is fighting," he threw at Toby as an afterthought.

He pricked up, sitting as tall as he could. "Is safe? Where? I can help!"

Quick slid in front of Toby. "You are of the ruling class. It is the duty of the ruled to fight in our stead," he explained calmly. "Besides, you are not--"

Toby suddenly barreled into Quick, even as the unicorn faded into shadow and reformed to Toby's side. "How rude," criticized Quick, frowning at Toby. "Your partner did this, not you." He pointed to his replaced limb, glittering crystal as it was. "You don't have the nerve to do the same."

The ground shook as he thumped away, bouncing back the hallway he had come through. Sombra shook his head at the sight. "You've spurned him into action."

"Do you think much will come of it?" Quick smiled his easy little smile. "I should doubt it. Expect him back within the day, possibly having forgotten the entire thing."

Sombra was not as quick to write off Toby, grumbling softly. "If we had word of Equestria's movement sooner, we may have delayed our attack."

"We can only work with the knowledge we have," noted Quick. "To do more is beyond even one as yourself, my liege."

"That does not make me happier..."





Toby hit the ground, bits of rubble spreading from the point of impact, but the stone ground was firm enough to not show large signs of his arrival. "I need your help," he spoke to the tsuki there, their fur matted with soot and singed with fires. "Can you help me?"

The smithing tsuki raised one of his ears, though it fell back down quickly. "Toby? Hello Toby." He reached to clap Toby on the shoulder. "Use young word. Big? What need?" He sounded old and wise in tone despite his simple language, at least to Toby's ears. 

Toby's edginess ebbed a little. He returned the clap to them and moved in for a full hug, the two sharing an embrace before he stepped back. "Good to see. Need fight." He clapped his hands together. "Need hit. Need not be hit. Help?"

"Hmm." He reached out, grabbing a big slab of metal, still red hot near the edge of it. He swung it at Toby, stopping just short. "Big. Hit."

"Yes!" Toby bobbed his head, but his eyes were on where the older tsuki was holding the bar awkwardly. "Not good hold." He mimed what he saw, trying to share his idea.

The smith watched patiently a moment before it seemed to dawn on him. "Yes! Not club." He set the bar down and grabbed his hammer. "Make good. You. Wait?"

"Not be hit," Toby reminded.

"Not forget," chastised the smith. "Make not hit. You, wait."

Toby hugged him from behind, squeezing the smith. "You good, so good. Thank." He released him, the hammering already started. He didn't bother the professional again. He bounded off with a hopeful smile. He'd fight, just as well as Celene, even if Quick Stroke thought he couldn't.





Three undulating waves of power crashed into Shining Armor's shield and he was forced back, his hooves sliding against the rough ground of the cave and sweat pouring from his brow as he struggled to keep his shield firm.

As if synchronized with words none of them said, three tsuki does jumped in the way of the magic at once, each taking one for themselves, causing them to divert wildly on contact and smash into walls instead of constantly testing Shining Armor. Debris and rubble began to fall, the ceiling giving way under the sudden assault.

"Out," roared Celene, pointing the way just before ducking under a savage spear stab. "Die." She lashed out a foot, twisting in air to hit the ground ready to bounce away. The pained grunt she heard was confirmation enough that she'd struck true.

The two sides were separating, with the Equestrian/tsuki forces retreating for the entrance of the cave, and the griffons pressing further inside. There was no time to argue the facts of the matter. The fighting ebbed along with the proximity. A great roar of stone sundering filled the air as the roof came down, dust kicked up, making the field as dusty as it was suddenly quiet save for the tinkle of a few slower rocks reaching the ground.

"Is everycreature alright?" called Shining, his shield fading away, allowing a new smaller wave of rocks to pepper them from above. "Role call!"

Names began to be shouted out, at first pony ones, but the tsuki caught on and began adding theirs.

Several names were not called. Shining found Celene and gasped, seeing that she was bleeding from several significant wounds, blood staining her fluffy fur matted and dirty. "Stay calm. Medic!" His horn glowed as a beacon through the dusty mist. "Over here!"

A pony burst into vision, spotting Shining. "I'm here, sir. Where am--" She trailed off, seeing the wretched form of their ally. "On it!" She galloped to Celene's side and cashed to her haunches, hurriedly getting to work on stopping the blood from escaping more than it already had. "These are not clean..."

Shining knew he couldn't help and turned away, leaving the medic to do their job. "Look around. See if you can't find others who are here but unconcious,"  he called out to his soldiers. "I want a full tally of who's here and in what state." He came up short, a tsuki doe suddenly in front of him. "Are you alright?"

"No." She pointed past him, back towards Celene. "Hurt. Help?"

"We're doing what we can," he said in an assuring tone. You all did well. Thank you all..." He shook his head softly. "But, for now, I need a complete check of who's here or missing."

"Hunt." She bounded, lost to sight in the dusty cave immediately.

He went for the back of the cave. It was much smaller than it had been. The cave-in had sealed it off from the midsection on under roughly broken bits of rock and stone that reached all the way to the ceiling easily. He reached with his magic, pulling a few rocks aside to peer behind them, but there were just more rocks. The wall that was created was not a thin one. "We may as well use this as a campsite for now. The injured can't be moved yet."

Sounds of reluctant agreement came from the others. The dust was settling, at least, allowing them to see each other and work more effectively. Soon the injured were gathered in one place for triage.

"Sir." A mare stood, horn glowing, a letter floating in her magic. "A full report."

The color of the glow around the letter shifted as Shining took hold of it and she released it to his grasp.  His eyes skimmed it, skipping the reports of those uninjured, giving the barest of looks even at those who were injured. Two ponies had met their end that day. One was missing. One tsuki was confirmed fallen, one was missing.

The missing could be crushed under the rocks they were camped beside. They could be prisoners. They could be dead further in the caves. It was impossible to know. The ones they knew were dead, at least... had a finality. They were gone, forever. There was nothing more to be done for them than perhaps to arrange a tasteful sending off.

Shining let his head sag a little, crushed under the weight of things for a moment before he sat back up. "Thank you." He passed the note back to her. "See to the comfort and care of those still injured. I need a report of who will not be mobile come the morning. Also, get somecreature to take a tally of the enemy we can. Injured, captured, or otherwise."

"As you command." She sharply saluted, the note slipping away into a pocket as she trotted off to see the commands fulfilled.

He kicked a rock away, sending it bouncing along. "If I had been stronger..."

"Sir?"

He looked over his shoulder to see a stallion, a standard earth pony in armor, standing there. "Yes?" He turned to face them. "New news?"

"No, sir." He dipped his head. "You just looked... You did what you could, sir."

Steel felt a faint smile come. "It is not a soldier's job to comfort their commander."

"What about a friend, sir?" He pointed back towards the entrance. There, a fire crackled softly. "They're about to serve dinner, sir. It will help you feel better. You did what you could, sir."

"You already said that," noted Shining, a brow raised.

"You need to hear it, sir." He turned towards the fire. "We can't do anything else right now, sir."

Shining fell in with his soldier. "You. You're usually stationed with Flash Sentry, aren't you?"

"Even Watch," offered the stallion as he walked along. "That's me. Flash is still back at the empire, with Cadance. He got upset at the idea of leaving her defenseless." He snorted softly. "As if the rest of the guard wasn't there. Whatever. You have me, sir."

"I'm lucky for that." He patted the soldier on the side before advancing to sit and accept the food being offered. "Rest up. We leave with the coming light."





Luna saw one mare barking orders at the others and approached with a confident walk. "Excuse me. You are the captain of the guard, yes?"

"Mm?" She turned to see who was speaking to her. "Ah, Princess Luna, a pleasure. What can I do for you, ma'am?"

"A pleasure," she echoed back. "I am in need of a fighting force."

The captain stiffened. "Of course. What is the mission, ma'am?"

"Rogue griffons, wielding magic. They are capable of hit and run tactics. Motivations unclear outside of banditry." Luna inclined her head. "They will be joining Crystal Empire and tsuki forces."

"We need soldiers that can operate on the field," muttered the captain to herself. "Open to cooperation with other creatures besides ponies. Not averse to dealing with magic. Got it. How many?"

Luna's ears danced atop her head. "I admire your focus. Give me the best fifteen you have for this assignment."

"Right away." She saluted sharply. "Where should they report?"

Luna turned, pointing to the railway out of sight. "I will be waiting at the train. We will ride there at earliest convenience."

The captain raised a brow. "I appreciate your need for speed, ma'am, but gathering the soldiers and reassigning them is not instant. May I suggest meeting in two days time?"

Luna's teeth clenched faintly. "If that is the earliest?"

"That's already cutting corners, ma'am." She turned in place. "Hey, you! Full push ups!" She shook her head softly. "They see you distracted and they slack off. I'll have them there, ma'am. Noon, two days."

"Two days," Luna echoed, turning away. "I will be ready. Thank you." She trotted off, thinking of other things she could do to be prepared."





Twilight set her hooves on the friendship map, looking to her friends arranged at their thrones. "We're being called."

"Ah know that," noted Applejack with a smirk. "We all read the letter."

"It sounds... scary." Fluttershy shook her head softly. "This isn't like the other times."

Rarity rolled her eyes at that. "The last time we went to the Crystal Empire, we were fighting Sombra. This time, we're on his side. Oh, how things change, darling. Still, we musn't keep your brother waiting."

"Nope! That's why I have snacks." Pinkie dumped a heavy-looking bag on the table. "So we can eat on the train," she explained. "Let's go!"

Rainbow snorted with a smile. "Pinkie, you are something else. I talked with the Wonderbolts. They said reporting for military duty's not only alright, but totally in line with what Wonderbolts are for." She cracked a sharp salute. "I'll be showing up for them and me at the same time."

Rarity laughed gently at that. "That does figure, darling. I'll be leaving my business in good hooves, but I'm glad to hear you're not abandoning your own."

"The Cakes will have to make do without me." Pinkie hugged her bag, tucking it away. "But they said they understood."

Applejack sighed, eyes going to Spike. "You alright with this?"

"Huh? Yeah, totally!" He hopped up to his feet. "I'll help Big Mac keep everything in order."

Twilight set a hoof on his back. "You're absolutely sure?"

Spike waved it away. "You don't need Spike the Hero distracting all the crystal ponies. Go on and take care of things. I'll hang out with Big Mac while you're gone, promise."

The heroes of Ponyville shared a nod. They had a mission and they left the table, trotting for the train station that would take them towards the Crystal Empire and those attacking it. Rarity strode up alongside Twilight. "Do you imagine, dear, they have anything to do with that sudden attack we were unfortunate enough to be victim to?"

"What are the odds of that?" questioned Twilight with a shrug. "Bandits are not halfway across the world at the same time, and why would they do that? It wouldn't make sense." She shook her head firmly. "Let's take care of one thing at a time."