//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: Letters from North Everfree 
// by FriscoPony 
//------------------------------//

The train ride through the mountains was a long one with many unanswered questions: What was on the other side of the range; would this be the last time that we would see our fellow soldiers; would this be the last time we would do something in the name of Equestria. There were many unanswered questions that simply were roaring through everyponies mind somewhere. Spitfire and I sat next to each other on the train as we waited until we reached our destination. Spitfire and I were both scared for the future, as we had no idea what was going to happen once this was all over. Soarin and Asteroid Run sat in the seats across the aisle from us, as they were sharing some light hearted memories almost as if they knew they were going to die. 
“So then he walks up to me and says ‘can you spare a bit?’ and I say to him I can spare a bit of time!” laughed Soarin.
“Ah that’s a good one,” said Asteroid Run wiping his eyes from laughing so hard. “Whew, some ponies can be so gullible.”
“I’ll say,” I called from across the row, “You both talk like you’re both going to die. If you feel like you’re going to die all you have to do is just stand there and smile waving your hooves. I’m sure the stealth alicorns will grant your wish.”
“Ha!” laughed Asteroid Run. “We’re not going to die; we’re just recalling memories is all, in case something was to happen to us.”
I smiled and looked over at Spitfire who was looking out the window at the falling snow. “Hey,” I said. “You ok?”
“Yea, I’m fine,” she said turning around and giving me a soft smile.
“Whatever you say,” I said as I began to open my war journal and write. When we got closer to Gaia, the weather began to violently take a change. It was the middle of summer, and it was snowing outside. It was obvious once again that King Inferno knew we were close. “Well,” I said looking at Spitfire and giving her a light nudge, “This is it, we’re the ones going in again; you, me, Soarin, Asteroid Run, we’re going in there to stop King Inferno and end this war once the train stops.”
“I know,” she said with a nod. She then turned around and looked at me. “Hey,” she said, “In case we don’t make it, I just want you to know that you’re the best stallion I’ve ever met.” She then leaned in and kissed me tenderly. Soarin and Asteroid Run began laughing from across the row.
“Oh, not afraid of dying are we?” laughed Soarin.
“Oh shut up.” 
~~~
The Marina army had already taken an earlier train, and had taken the artillery equipment with them to the front lines where the battle was taking place. All that had to be done was final plans re-organized, and the official green light to begin the attack on Gaia castle. According to scouting reports from earlier, they were expecting anything, and everything. The army numbered 25,000+, among them 100 stealth alicorns. It was a number that we had never expected see in terms of strength. King Inferno was pulling out all of the stops. We were outnumbered, but we were not ready to stand down, not today. 
At last, the train stopped at the front lines. The sight stepping off of the train were battle groups in perfect formation, standing ready and determined. We were going to shut down King Inferno’s tyranny, and pay him back for the dead that we lost in his evil, and also pay him back for the innocent ponies that have been put under his spell because of the dark gems. 
I was standing alone in my corner of the room that had set up for us. It was designed as a small chapel of sorts, instead of a map room where we could pick up blueprints of where to go inside of Gaia castle. Spitfire, Soarin, Asteroid Run, and I finally gathered together in a small huddle around each other, hoof in hoof, as I lead us in a small prayer in a way to gather keep our moral high. 
“We ask you to be with us in any way you can, give us the speed, power, and vision to continue through the mission despite whatever circumstances we come across. But most of all, we pray that we can all come back home to Equestria in one piece so that we can tell the story of this short war, and just how bloody one month can be. All of this we pray, Amen.”
“Amen to that,” said Soarin as he began eating another pie.
“Really,” said Spitfire rolling her eyes, “Of all times to be eating a pie, you choose to start eating one now?”
“What?” said Soarin. “I’m hungry, and plus it could be my last pie.”
“Ugh, well one thing is for sure,” said Spitfire walking over to Soarin. “It was fun being your classmate, and I’m grateful to have had you as a friend, and even for your stupid pies that you bake.”
Soarin smiled. “Thanks Spitfire,” he said. “I’m grateful for that, I really am.”
“Do you have a moment Charlie 9?” said a familiar voice walking into the tent. I turned around, and was shocked at the sight that I was seeing. It was Shining Armor, in a cast but nonetheless, still walking around.
“Commander Shining Armor,” I said turning and saluting him. “Might I ask what brings you up to the battlefield? I thought you were being sent back to Equestria so that you could heal.”
Shining Armor smiled. “I was,” he said, “but I changed my mind. I couldn’t stay behind the wall of protection while the Royal Guard stayed out on the front lines without me. So I got my strength up and lo and behold, here I am.”
“It is good to see you sir,” I said smiling. I could then see that he had a serious look in his eyes. 
“Look Ace,” he said, “I know you and Spitfire have been doing really good work for us, but Celestia would like Spitfire to lead the Wonderbolts upon her immediate return from here. You are also being promoted to the rank of Captain all in respected due time once this war is over. I’m just here to tell you two that so that way you’re not surprised by it when you return to Equestria.”
I was a little shocked, but I smiled. It meant that Spitfire and I both had good lives after this war, and that we had something to look forward to back home. “Thank you sir,” I said.
“You’re welcome,” he said smiling. “Now get out there, and tell King Inferno that Celestia says hello too, will ya?”
“Can do sir,” I said with a smirk and a wink.
“Alright everypony,” said Universae walking into the tent. “It’s time.”
Pretty soon, we had all grabbed out uniforms, and whatever necessary gear we needed. The only thing was no guns, we didn’t want to turn the hall into a blood stained capitol. We also decided to do something special. We tied our squadron flag onto our tails as a way of good luck and to keep our spirits up. We walked out of the tent to finally see just what we were up against. Off in the distance stood rows and rows of Inferno’s army, lined up and ready, while behind them stood Gaia Castle.
Gaia castle was a giant tower that was made up of mostly stone. From the looks of it, the castle looked like a mountain with certain areas cut out for ponies to enter and pass through. At the top stood something that looked like a clock, but in reality, it was a season clock. King Inferno tried to take control the seasons, but Terra’s magic was simply too strong to break, and therefore the seasons still run, but until Terra is back in power, her magic continues to weaken, which is why it snowed in the mountains. 
Our wings were stretched, and we had our eyes faced on the balcony, and we were waiting for the go ahead to take off. At last, a bugle sounded as the unicorn artillery began their bombardment of Inferno’s large force that had gathered. The opposing guns immediately opened up as well, as chaos began to consume the battlefield. We watched as one by one, the battle groups began charging at inferno’s army, which wore nothing but a dark orange for their armor. Among all of the chaos were the stealth alicorns, about 95 were in the skies as they began firing magic bursts and diving down into our forces. It wasn’t pretty to see the damage that they were doing, but at last, we got an opening. 
“Wings up everypony,” called Universae as he began the flight towards Gaia castle. We followed quickly in haste, sure not to waste any time. The flight over the battlefield was almost too easy as we flew over the ensuing chaos below. It was horrendous, as one pony after another continued to fall to the merciless attack of the stealth alicorns. I didn’t want to look down into the ensuing hell that was going on below us, but needless to say, it was something awful.
“Can you believe that,” said Soarin looking down into the hell that was being portrayed on the battlefield. “If you killed 15 ponies that have that kind of ability, then you’re a damn god.”
I smiled and just remained on the mission at hand. The balcony greeted us warmly as our hooves finally touched down. It was also convenient enough that we were literally at the same level the throne room was, so we could practically just walk in and do what we had to do. Universae looked back at us and giving us the nod, we began charging towards the throne room. We flung the doors wide open, and there, standing on the throne was another strong stallion, his mane and tail in a style similar to spitfires, and his skin made of a tan. His eyes were crimson, and he looked at us with a smirk, his hooves close together, and chuckling with the crown of Gaia on his head.
“Welcome Equestrians,” he said rising up from his throne. “So now you’ve made it, you think you’re going to walk in here, kill me, restore the crown, destroy the spell, and save the world and then go home right?”
“Something like that,” said Soarin.
“In the name of Princess Terra,” said Universae stepping forward, “You are to surrender the crown of Gaia, and maybe you will be spared death until another day.
King Inferno merely laughed. “I do suppose that is an option, but you do not understand.” Immediately, 15 stealth alicorns fell down into the throne room, and surrounded us. It was an uneven fight, but it was the same number of stealth alicorns that I had managed to take out alone. I was not worried. “So I say to you,” he said, “Beat the stealth alicorns, and then you can face me. Begin.” He then clopped his hooves together, and the 15 stealth alicorns immediately dashed towards us. 
I was quick to watch their movements. “Grab their knifes when you see them,” I said as I reached down into the first one, grabbed the knife, slung it back into his chest, and then took out two more with the other two hidden knifes. The other ponies immediately followed suit and eventually, 15 corpses lay on the ground. We were worn out by dealing with the stealth alicorns, and it was obvious by how hard we were panting.
“Impressive,” said King Inferno, “Very impressive, but I still have one last question.” His eyes then began to shine a bright crimson light and his mane and tail turned into a rising flame, before we knew it, his whole entire being was nothing but fire. “Can you take the heat Equestrians?” Before you knew it, he had the whole throne room surrounded in flames, and one after another fireballs were being flung at us from all sides. We had no idea where he was, all that we knew was that he was in the fire.
“Can anypony see him?” called Universae over the sound of the crackling flames.
“I can’t see anything in this heat,” said Asteroid Run sweating hard.
“Neither can I,” said Soarin as he continued panting harder. His breaths immediately began to slow down. “I think…I’m going to…pass…” THUD! Soarin was soon on the ground because of heat exhaustion. Pretty soon, he wasn’t alone. I looked around frantically searching for King Inferno as Asteroid Run collapsed soon after, then Universae, until at last it was just me and Spitfire. Spitfire was tired, I could see the sweat rolling down her face, and her mane, once proudly standing tall and dominant, had drooped down once again. Her eyes slowly began to close. 
“Spitfire,” I said trying to keep her up, sweating like a dog. “Please hang in there; we’re going to make it!” I then softly felt a tear roll down my cheek. “I can’t do this without you.”
Spitfire smiled. “Don’t worry Ace,” she said with a weak smile. “Everything…will be…fine…I promise….” Spitfire’s eyes then closed, as she fell over towards the side.
“Spitfire…”
An evil laughter immediately filled the throne room. “You’re all alone now equestrian! What will you do now?! I am anxious to see what pathetic idea you have in your puny little pathetic head.”
I closed my eyes, and then everything I knew soon came alive from within me. I was filled with a strength that I had never felt before. I felt the power down in my hooves, and it was an unbelievable power. Everything that had told me who I was, and what I was fighting for, suddenly came out in a rapid burst of energy. Waves of energetic wind surrounded the throne room as my wings had turned from simple Pegasus wings to that of mighty angel’s wings. With one swipe, the flames were soon out, and King Inferno was exposed. 
“Impressive equestrian,” he said with a smirk, “But mark my words, you cannot win! You, and your nation will burn before your very eyes, I will even kill the one you love once I defeat you!” He then began a rapid dash towards me but I then grabbed his hooves, stopping him dead in his tracks. 
“Not today.” I said throwing him down into the floor. I then pounded him constantly with this new power I had, over and over and over, until at last, his flames were out. 
“No more,” he said lying close to death in the ground, “no more…”
I then concentrated every ounce of energy that I had left within me, and turned it all into a massive ball of energy. I then aimed the ball of energy directly at that fuckers heart. “This war,” I said holding home by the neck, “Is over.” I thrusted the ball of energy directly into his armor, and the resulting light was brighter then that of the light which illuminated the top of Neptune castle. The battle outside immediately stopped as the light grew brighter and brighter. At last, all that was left of inferno was the Gaia crown, and the dark gem, which shattered after the blast of energy.
~~~
“Ace! Ace!” said Spitfire slapping me over and over again. “Please Ace, wake up. You can’t die, not now, just not now…” I then smelled the soft smell of Soarin’s fresh baked pie. It was apple pie, made from a recipe from Sweet Apple Acres. I opened my eyes to the sight of Cloud Storm, Universae, Soarin, and Spitfire looking down at me. Spitfire then shed tears of nothing but pure joy as she leaned in and kissed me softly. 
“Is it over?” I asked weakly.
“Yes Ace,” said Spitfire embracing me closer, “It’s over.”
~~~
Canterlot hall was filled to the brim. Ponies from all around the world had gathered on the central city for a very special honor from Princess Celestia, Princess Marina, and Princess Terra. Immediately, the trumpets of the Royal Guard sounded as the doors to the hall of the throne of Equestria swung open to the sight of me and Spitfire walking in with our officer’s uniforms tightly pressed. At the front of the row of cheering ponies were Celestia, Terra, and Marina, all smiling brightly.  We had done it; we had restored the balance back to the entire world in a 2 month long war. The fanfare finally stopped, as Spitfire and I finally stood at the front of the grand hall.
“2 months ago,” began Celestia, “The world was faced with a threat that none of us had ever seen before. A pure display of nothing by dark evil filled the countries of Marina and Reigns, and overpowered my sisters Marina and Terra overthrowing them from power, and closing in on our ever so precious nation of Equestria. For a time, we thought that we were going to fail, that is until the bravery of the Royal Guard shined in. Among these Royal Guard soldiers, stand these two squadron leaders: Lieutenant Ace of Manehattan, and Lieutenant Spitfire of Cloudsdale, who have stood in the face of pure danger to defend their homeland, and free both the country of Marina and Reigns. For that, we are eternally grateful, and not only do we promote you both to your new respective ranks, but we also present you and your squadron the Equestrian cross for your service to your country, and Ace, to you we present the Mare of honor Medal for your display of leadership during the war. For that, we salute you. Congratulations.”
The whole hall of Canterlot erupted in a loud roar through the great halls. Spitfire turned and smiled at me. “Well,” she said, “one thing is for sure.”
“Which is,” I said. 
“You’ll always be more than Equestria’s hero,” she said, “You’re my hero.”
“This calls for a pie!” smiled Soarin.
“Oh Soarin,” laughed Spitfire.