//------------------------------//
// To Battle 
// Story: Fables From Equestria 
// by Shingo 
//------------------------------//

A yellow mare wearing an admiral’s hat slowly walked forward. To her right were three fillies: A yellow earth pony, a purple unicorn, and a yellow pegasus. All three of them had deep green combat helmets on their heads.

“If fighting is sure to result in victory,” the mare said. “Then you must fight! Sun Tzu said that, and I’d say he knows a little more about fighting than you pal, because he invented it!” She tapped on the earth pony’s helmet. All three of the fillies saluted.

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!” they said. The mare turned around and began pacing again.

“And then he perfected it, so that no living pony could best him in the ring of honour.” She turned her back to the fillies. Her eyes looked out at a carrot field. A small scowl formed on her face.

“To defeat the enemy, we must think like the enemy,” the pegasus raised her hoof. “Yes, Private Alula?”

“Who’s the enemy Miss Carrot Top?” she asked. Carrot Top turned around and glared at the pegasus. “Umm, I mean, General Carrot Top.”

“Excellent question,” Carrot Top said. “The enemy comes in many colours, but they all share the same basic shape. They’re small, they have fluffy tails, they have whiskers on their faces, and they have long pointy ears.” The unicorn tapped her chin.

“Aren’t those bunnies?” she asked.

“Indeed they are, Private Dinky,” Carrot Top’s eyes narrowed. “Those rabbits have been stealing my crops. They’ve been eating my products, and it’s making my profits dwindle on a regular basis. We must fight the furry menace!” Alula nudged the earth pony.

“Noi, I think your sister has lost it,” she whispered. “She’s declared a war on bunnies; I think she needs to be checked into an asylum.”

“A week ago, I would have agreed with you,” Noi whispered back. “But I’ve seen what they can do, they’re crafty little buggers.”

“They’re bunnies!” Dinky added. “What could bunnies do?” Carrot Top turned around. Her eyes became empty, almost as if she were reliving a horrible memory.

“You have no idea,” she whispered. A faint rumbling could be felt on the ground. Carrot Top looked up. A fire ignited itself in her eyes. “They’re here. Soldiers! Arm yourselves!”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!” they saluted. Noi ran towards a box and opened it. She pulled out three tools: a hoe, a sickle, and a shovel. She took the shovel for herself and handed the other tools to her friends.

“General Carrot Top?” Dinky asked. “Aren’t you going to arm yourself?”

“Oh I’m already armed,” she replied. Carrot Top walked to a wagon big enough to carry four grown ponies. “And this is my weapon.” She reached into the wagon and pulled out a sword in a scabbard. “Ooos” could be heard from the fillies.

“Can you teach us how to sword fight?” Noi asked. Carrot Top jumped in the wagon. She signalled the three fillies to get in.

“After the battle, Private,” she answered. Off in the distance, she could see at least a dozen small creatures. She had to squint to see them clearly. She could see at least eighteen small rabbits, each of them varied in colour. They were standing around a small wooden wagon. Standing atop it was a white rabbit. He was wearing a combat helmet and at his side was a scabbard with a knife in it. The rabbit pulled out the knife. A smug smile was on his face. Carrot Top gritted her teeth. “Admiral Angel, we meet again.” He raised the knife up in the air. A wind blew between the two opposing armies. Both leaders were waiting patiently. Angel’s knife dropped, and all of the rabbits advanced.

“Drive me closer!” Carrot Top cried. She lurched forward and the wagon rolled. The sword was drawn from its scabbard and held in the air. “I want to hit them with my sword!” The wagon advanced towards the approaching rabbits. After a few moments, the wagon’s momentum slowed. Eventually, the wagon stopped. The rabbits however, were still approaching.

“Nuts,” Carrot Top said. The rabbits were nearing the wagon.

“Death by bunnies,” Alula said. “Not how I expected to go down.” The rabbit’s wagon passed by them and Angel jumped aboard. Carrot Top swung her sword at him. He parried the strike and began returning blows. The fillies stared at the pony and rabbit’s sword fight. All of the rabbits stopped their advance to watch the fight. They were just as mesmerized as the fillies.

“Wow,” Dinky said. “There’s something I never expected to see.” Noi nodded.

“Told you they were crafty,” she said. She poked her head out the side of the wagon. “Taking all bets! Carrot Top versus Angel! Taking all bets!” The rabbits swarmed around Noi with bits in their paws. They were frantically waving them around and chattering. Alula tapped her friend’s shoulder.

"Can I get in on that?"