//------------------------------// // 664 - Divided Front // Story: Lateral Movement // by Alzrius //------------------------------// “What do you mean ‘a throng of monsters is heading this way’?!” “How exactly do you know that?” “Did you summon them? Everyone knows the Night Mare is the goddess of monsters!” “Five minutes?! We can’t prepare for a huge fight in only five minutes!” “UNDO WHATEVER IT WAS YOU DID TO LITTLEKNIGHT!!!” Mystaria winced as Woodheart’s angry yell drowned out the rest of them, silently berating herself for letting Lex’s announcement distract her from how much distress her friend was in. Even now, Littleknight was thrashing and struggling in Valor’s grasp, the almiraj still trying to carry out the orders he’d been given to attack Woodheart. Whether or not Lex was right about a horde of monsters descending on them, they couldn’t fight at full effectiveness this way. But judging from how Lex was tensing up – gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes as Woodheart glared at him, the druid looking angrier than Mystaria could ever remember seeing her – ordering him to remove whatever magic he’d used to force Littleknight to attack his mistress was only upsetting him further. That wasn’t surprising; her religious studies had taught Mystaria that the Night Mare’s adherents were often proud to the point of arrogance. More importantly, from Lex’s point of view they were the mares who’d stood by while one of their number attacked his lady friend, and then ganged up on him when he’d moved to defend her. Acting indignant wouldn’t get them anywhere now. Taking a slow breath, Mystaria put a hoof out in front of Woodheart, gently motioning the druid back as she took a step forward, one of Valor’s butchered aphorisms coming to mind. You attract more strays with milk than with vinegar. “Your name is Lex, right?” Making sure to keep her voice even, Mystaria gestured at where Valor was still holding the struggling almiraj. “That creature you’ve ensorcelled is Littleknight, and we consider him to be a member of our party. We can’t fight whatever monsters you’re warning us about if we-” Lex cut her off with an impatient wave of his hoof…his left hoof, the one with the barbed wire wrapped around it, Mystaria noticed. “There,” he announced irritably, and sure enough Littleknight had gone limp in Valor’s grasp, panting. That was enough to convince Woodheart that the little guy was alright, because she scooped him up in an instant, a happy cry escaping her lips as she immediately started nuzzling the horned rabbit, who meeped in reply. The sight earned a relieved sigh from the rest of the group, and Mystaria felt a rush of hope that maybe they could put aside their differences and work together, when Lex opened his mouth again. “If you’re finished wasting time, give me all of your combat-relevant information,” he demanded. “NOW!” And just like that, the tension that had vanished was back, with Shadow Star bristling at the order. “Listen, you self-righteous sack of-” “Shadow!” hissed Mystaria. “No!” shot back the masked mare, giving her an angry look before glaring at Lex. “If time is of the essence, then maybe it’d be faster if the two of you told us what you can do, instead of having the five of us-” “Six,” interjected Woodheart, still cuddling Littleknight. “The six of us explain everything we’re capable of,” finished Shadow Star without missing a beat. “Did that ever occur to you, smart guy?” “That’s actually not a bad idea,” offered Spinner, who thankfully sounded contemplative rather than hostile. “Those of us who can cast spells can start using them to get ready while you tell us what magic you two have. It’d be more efficient that way.” Behind Lex, Mystaria noticed that his pegasus companion – Thermal Draft, he’d called her – seemed to be wavering, her unfriendly expression turning pensive. “Lex, maybe we should…” But the masked unicorn silenced her with an angry look. “Efficiency is not effectiveness,” he retorted, his voice brimming with hostility as he turned back to scowl at the five earth mares. “Given that I was able to subdue your entire group with only a token effort and minimal assistance, it should be obvious that my capabilities far outstrip yours. Since I’m also the one with the most information regarding what we’re about to face, it should be obvious that the best course of action is for you idiots to place yourselves fully at my disposal so that I can use you in the most tactically sound manner! Now do as you’re told and TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!” This time Valor was the one to take offense, stomping a hoof as she took a step forward. “Just who the hell do you-” “Don’t argue!” snarled Lex, his eyes turning green-and-purple again. “Obey!” Valor looked incensed at that, but was saved from responding as Spinner hurriedly pulled her back, signaling with a nod for Mystaria and Woodheart to do the same to Shadow, who was already reaching for a weapon. “Would you mind excusing us?” she called back to Lex, her voice filled with insincere sweetness. “We just need a moment to regroup.” But Lex seemed determined to deny them even that much respite. “I just said-” “Lex, can I talk to you for a moment?” Putting a hoof on his shoulder, Thermal Draft bit her lip at the angry glare that the unicorn gave her then, but didn’t falter. “Please?” If this is going to work at all, decided Mystaria as she glanced back, seeing Lex reluctantly allow himself to be led away by Thermal Draft, it’ll be through her. Of course, there were more pressing problems at the moment, since behind her mask Shadow Star was seething as the two of them ushered her back toward the far side of the room – Woodheart pausing just long enough to grab the cloak she’d discarded earlier and throwing it back over herself – with Valor in a similar state as Spinner managed to pull them into a huddle. “Okay,” began the bard, slinging her lute over her back, “let’s take stock and try to figure-” “Screw that!” growled Shadow. “I say we go all-out and hit that pompous jackass with everything we’ve got!” “Works for me,” nodded Valor. “And when the monsters he warned us about – something he didn’t need to do, I’ll add – come pouring into town?” asked Spinner pointedly. “If he’s right, we’re about to be in very big trouble.” “Are we really going to take that at face value?” snorted Shadow. “I’m from Blevik; throwing an enemy off-balance with a lie is one of the first tricks you learn when you live there. This whole ‘we’re about to be attacked’ thing is a ploy.” Mystaria shook her head. “Why would he bother with that, though? We were sitting ducks in that pit; he could have started throwing fireballs or lightning bolts or even just huge chunks of those black crystals he made down on top of us. Instead, he let the spell run out, freed Littleknight, and warned us that there’s an attack coming.” “And you don’t think that’s suspicious?” huffed Valor. “This village is tiny. If these so-called monsters are five minutes away, that means they’re still out in the wilderness. So how is it that he just now happened to realize that they’re coming here?” She shook her head. “I think he’s trying to pull one around on us.” “Over on us,” corrected Mystaria with a sigh, before looking at the only member of their group who hadn’t spoken yet. “Woodheart, two of us think this is a trick, and two of us think it’s serious. You’re the tie-breaker. What do you say?” Woodheart didn’t reply for a moment, reaching back to gently rub Littleknight – the almiraj riding on her back – between the ears. “I don’t like that stallion,” she answered at last. “He’s the meanest, most awful person I’ve met since leaving the forest. What he did to Littleknight was cruel, and just thinking about it now…” She shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head before speaking again. “It makes me want to yell and scream and hit him over and over until he says he’s sorry.” Mystaria grimaced, exchanging a worried glance with Spinner even as Valor and Shadow looked vindicated. “Then…” “But if he’s right about monsters attacking,” continued Woodheart, “wouldn’t that mean that the people in this village are in danger of being hurt, or even killed?” Valor winced at that, and Mystaria could almost see the anger flow out of her. Shadow was in a similar state, suddenly not able to look anyone in the eye. For her part, Mystaria let out a breath of relief, and Spinner gave the druid a look of admiration. “That forest you came from is worse off for not having you in it, Woodsy.” Woodheart blushed at the praise. “Thanks. But don’t call me Woodsy.” But the banter came to an end as Valor sighed. “If this village really is about to be attacked by monsters, then we have to help protect this place. But working together with him” – she canted her head over where Lex was conversing with Thermal Draft; although they were keeping their voices low, his body language was tense and angry, while hers was conciliatory, clearly trying to soothe him – “is going to be impossible.” “Then we shouldn’t,” concluded Shadow Star. Mystaria’s ears folded back in exasperation, but before she could protest her friend’s decision, Shadow held up a hoof. “Hear me out. If we accept that bastard’s telling the truth, then it was, what…two minutes ago, maybe three, when he said we had less than five minutes to get ready?” She shook her head. “That means there’s no time to try and coordinate our efforts with him and his girlfriend. We’re better off preparing on our own.” Frowning, Mystaria shook her head. “That’s not-” “She’s right, Mysty.” Spinner gave her an apologetic look, but the expression on her face was one of resolve. “Remember how long it took all of us to really come together as a team? There’s no way we could do that with two strangers in only a couple of minutes, especially not with someone as prickly as that guy. If we’re about to fight for our lives, I’d rather put my trust in you girls than him.” Pursing her lips, Mystaria took a deep breath. She knew her friends were right; coordination in battle wasn’t something that could be rushed, and a clash of personalities would only make things worse. But it still felt like a missed opportunity; as unpleasant as he’d been, Lex had still been proposing that they work together. That, after they’d been the ones to start that fight. “We should at least try to trade some basic information.” “Fair enough,” admitted Valor, before lifting her head and turning toward where Lex and Thermal Draft were talking. “Hey jackass!” she called, smirking when both ponies looked at her. “How many monsters, where are they coming from, and what do they look like?” From what little of Lex’s face could be seen beneath his mask, he was ready to unleash a blistering retort. That must have been clear to Thermal Draft as well, because she jumped in before he could get a word out. “They’re something called ‘humanoids,’” she answered. “Big ones! There’s nearly twenty of them, and they’re coming here from the northwest!” “That’s all I needed to know. C’mon girls.” Not giving Lex a chance to respond, Valor strode for the door, clearly intent on taking the fight to the incoming humanoids before they arrived in the town proper. Mystaria could only heave a sigh as she joined the rest of her friends in trotting after her, knowing that the headstrong mare wouldn’t be dissuaded now that she’d made up her mind. But to her mild surprise, Valor stopped when she reached the door. Pausing for just a moment, she took a deep breath before glancing back over her shoulder, catching Thermal Draft’s eye. “I’m sorry about before.” Then she kicked the door open and strode out into the night, Mystaria and the others trailing after her.