"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation."
-George Washington
It had been several hours before dawn when the ragtag group made it to the western quarter of Hollodrum, finding temporary sanctuary behind the lines of the rallying town guard.
The crescent moon hung low on the horizon, casting the main street in a patchwork of pale light and impenetrable darkness. A small distance down the street Morenth was speaking to a lieutenant who'd been unlucky enough to take over command after the untimely death of his captain. He looked uncertain, but shouted out orders to his guards with authority as her companion gave him advice for the coming battle.
"Feelin' a mite nervous, little missy?" Riegar asked as he lumbered to her side, taking a seat on one of the many crates scattered about the street. "Ye ain't said a word since we got here."
Twilight glanced to the ground at her hooves, trying to sort out an answer that made sense to her. She didn't feel nervous, an odd occurrence given the situation. She should be terrified at the prospect of facing more of those things, but the more she thought about it, the clearer her thoughts on the undead became. They were disgusting, unnatural, and devoid of any sembilance of emotion, save for hunger-a mockery of the life that had once been. The memory of Wynn weeping into her shoulder forced its way to the forefront of her mind, and instead of fear, she felt determination well up inside her.
"Not nervous, just a little anxious," the lavender mare replied with a strained, but honest smile, "But thanks for the concern."
The smith whistled, and placed his hand on her head with a broad smile of his own.
"Yer a special type o' girl, ye know that?" Riegar laughed, causing Twilight to blush furiously at the unreserved praise. "A lot o' other folk in yer place would be scared stiff as a board, but that look in yer eye says yer ready to see this through to the end."
"I'm not that special," the lavender mare countered, working hard to cover up her embarrassment, "I just don't want to see anyone else get hurt."
"Aye, and that's why yer special little missy, few folks would risk their lives fer people they don't even know, especially for a reason as pure as that," the smith declared, patting her on the withers as he rose to help move supplies to the wagons being used to evacuate the town. "Yer a right gem by me reckoning, don't ye doubt."
"Oh, an' before Ay forget, Ay got a present fer ye in me pack over there," the smith said, motioning to his pack leaning against the wall of a building across the street. "Well not so much a present seein' as the knight payed fer it, but ye get me meanin'."
With a grunt, Riegar hoisted the large crate he'd been sitting on over his head, giving Twilight a wink before heading off in the direction of the wagons. the lavender mare sat silently, lost in thought as she watched the guards set up in loose formations of pikes and swordsmen. The split beams of moonlight flashed off the steel plate of their helmets, and glittered like shards of glass on their chainmail, giving the whole scene an almost surreal feeling.
"Twilight?"
the lavender mare blinked, torn away from her contemplations by the sound of her name. She glanced over to see Wynn sitting next to her with a hint of a smile on her face.
"What were you thinking about?" the seamstress asked, attempting to hide the small grin yanking at the corners of her mouth. "You were making some funny faces."
Her attempt at lightheartedness rang hollow with red eyes strained from crying and an unsteady voice still unsure of itself.
"Just wondering how long everyone's going to keep staring at me," the lavender mare lied, not wanting to concern the seamstress with her tangled thoughts. A half lie at least. It honestly unnerved Twilight when a refugee got too close to where she sat, and either gawked at her openly or fell to their knees in prayer. "It's making me a little self-conscious."
"They're looking to you for hope," Wynn commented, her expression thoughtful as she glanced around at her fellow villagers. "At least, I am-if that's okay with you of course. If it's making you uncomfortable I can stop."
Twilight giggled at Wynn's shyness, causing the seamstress to flush with embarrassment as she attempted to hide behind her auburn bangs. The act reminded her of Fluttershy, and it brought a pang of sadness as she remembered her friends waiting for her in Ponyville. It had been almost two days since Twilight was dragged into the dark void. They were probably in a panic trying to find her at that very moment.
"Twilight, are you okay?" Wynn asked with a caring look as she peered at the lavender mare from under her bangs.
Twilight realized that her eyes were wet with tears. She wiped them away with a hoof, and turned back to the seamstress with a weary smile.
"I'm fine Wynn, it's just... Everything that's happened is catching up to me," Twilight conceded, watching Morenth part with the guard lieutenant. "It gets overwhelming if I try to think about it all at once."
Wynn nodded in understanding, and wrapped the lavender mare in a warm embrace.
"Don't overdo it, okay?" the seamstress managed through Twilight's coat as she buried her face in the mare's shoulder. "I don't want you to get hurt..."
"Thank you Wynn, but I'll be fine," Twilight said gently, placing a hoof on the kind girl's back to steady her. "Morenth said he's going to help me, and he doesn't seem like the type to break a promise."
"Yes, the knights of Yuelith have never been known to go against their word," Wynn agreed with calm certainty, pulling away from Twilight to glance at the approaching knight. "One of their order would never see harm come to a unicorn like yourself."
The lavender mare looked at the seamstress questioningly, not comprehending the meaning of her words.
"What does it matter to Morenth if I'm a unicorn?" Twilight asked, hoping to gain a little insight into her terse companion's motives, and remembering the explosive confrontation with the gate guard when they'd entered town.
Wynn was about to answer when she noticed the knight in question, standing in front of them with an arced brow.
"All the preparations for the coming battle have been made," Morenth began, looking between them with an even expression. "Lady Wynn, you'll be with the rest of the refugees getting the wagons loaded for travel."
The seamstress nodded, giving Twilight a final hug before she set off to the lines of villagers passing crates along a disorganized file.
"Twilight," the knight said, drawing her attention back to him, "I need you to guard the refugees during the melee, should any of the undead break through our lines."
Morenth held out a hand as she began to argue, attempting to cut her off. Twilight just brushed his hand out of her way with a telekinetic shove, intent on voicing her dissatisfaction with his plan.
"Look Morenth, I know your suppose to be the expert when it comes to those things," the lavender mare fumed, preparing to poke some gaping holes in his strategy, "But I know the fundamental theory of implementing battle mages, and putting the only one you have on rear guard is a waste. I'd be best suited on the front lines, controlling the flow of battle."
Twilight was rewarded with Morenth's wide-eyed disbelief, rendered speechless by her understanding of military tactics. She silently congratulated herself for sneaking a peek at a few of Shining Armor's tomes on military history, and magical warfare. They had been a great source of perspective on Shining's role in the royal guard, but she never thought she'd have to use the knowledge in actual battle. The prospect was still a little more than daunting.
"No," the knight stated flatly, quickly recovering from her display. His words were laced with a tone of finality, but his expression was almost imploring, as if begging her not to debate his decision. "I'll not put you in that kind of danger."
"Well, too bad! You're not, I am," Twilight countered, unwilling to back down. "Those guards are fighting for their families. I'm not going to cower behind them and do nothing!"
It was only for a moment, but the lavender mare caught a brief flicker of emotion in his features; admiration? As quickly as it came, it was gone, replaced by a plaintive scowl as Morenth's eyes darted to the wagons behind her.
"You're right Twilight, these men fight for their families," the knight admitted, causing Twilight's eyes to light up with the hope that he would give in to her decision. "And that's why I need you to make sure they're safe."
Morenth glanced back to the lavender mare, his face an unreadable mask.
"The men of Hollodrum are a stubborn lot, but even they know they cannot win this battle," the knight intoned quietly. "The undead come in numbers too great to withstand. It is inevitable that the defensive line will break, and when it does, the ghouls will descend on the helpless. I need you to make sure that doesn't happen."
"And where will you be through all of this?" Twilight questioned accusingly, already knowing his answer.
"Twilight, you haven't been in this world long enough to understand, but it's my duty to lead these men into combat. My oath demands no less," Morenth affirmed, his eyes narrowing into a fierce glare. "I'm relying on you to be where I can't, protecting the innocent. Riegar will be with you as well as twenty of the town guard. Please do me this favor."
The lavender mare nodded her assent grudgingly, looking back to a thin figure carrying a large sack of grain with difficulty. Thoughts of Wynn being left alone to fend for herself kept her from arguing any further.
"Thank yo-!" Morenth started, interrupted by a radiant light coming from his scabbard. He froze mid-sentence as he eyed the glow, apprehension quickly turning to simmering rage.
Thundering sounds of metal on stone could be heard in the distance, growing louder with every recurrence. It's rising cacophony echoed through the cobbled main street, becoming more complex as individual noises could be discerned over the din. The mad shrieks of ghouls we're punctuated by timed footfalls, inducing an eerie sense of order to the chaotic monsters.
"Are they...Marching?" Twilight asked as an unexplained terror gripped her heart, sending icy chills down her spine.
"They are...And to drums most black," the knight intoned forebodingly, his face a mix of anxious fury and stony determination. "Yuelith, watch over us."