The survivors of the Changeling vanguard fled back toward the forest, Firestorm called back the other Pegasi Guard that were pursuing. The fight had been short and one sided, only a couple Guardponies dead and a dozen wounded. Chrysalis and her commanders underestimated us, most of these changelings were pretty green, they won't make the same mistake twice. I'd like to prevent the rest of them from getting back to their lines and reporting on the battlefield, but I can't risk a single one of these ponies, every Pegasus would make a big difference in keeping air superiority. Firestorm issued orders to the Pegasus squad sergeants then flew down to where Captain Shining Armor was doing the same to the Unicorn and Earth Pony sergeants.
"This is hardly even the beginning." The Unicorn Captain mused once Firestorm had landed next to him and the sergeants had gone to gather their ponies. "This is going to be a long day, and there won't be a break once the main force gets here."
"That's true, but the ease and efficiency with which we broke the vanguard will have raised the Guard's moral. For the time being at least." The Smith replied, "and we should have at least another half hour to shore up the defenses before the main force arrives."
"That farmer, do you think he can take it? He may be strong but he's no soldier, he might not have the right kind of endurance for this. And do you really think his resolve will last the day? I heard he resented your service before you came here, can we trust a pony who has so little respect for us to stand and fight?"
"He did question my loyalty to Scootaloo because of it, true. But remember you were questioning my loyalty for the reverse reason before we knew about the changelings." Firestorm answered. after a moment he continued; "I think his loyalty to his family and farm alone will be enough for him to stand his ground, but I'll go talk to him, you have a point, we need to be absolutely certain."
Big Macintosh was staring at the limp changeling body that was lying in front of him. It couldn't have been very old, or well trained; Macintosh had killed it with only a straight forward uppercut. The big farm pony was shocked, and perhaps a little scared, by just how easy it had been to snuff out the creature's life.
"Probably a conscript that one." The Earth Pony stallion turned to see Firestorm landing next to him. "Or was injured during the original invasion and just got back on it's hooves. Best not to linger on it, there's no taking it back and feeding the guilt can let it consume you. It's sad to say, but it gets easier, even in the course of a single battle. You get used to dissociating it, not thinking of it as what it is, just has another enemy. It's not a pleasant job by any means, but it has to be done."
"Eeyup."
"Before the main changeling force gets here, you need to know what we're facing. Changelings don't need as much sleep as we do, once the fighting starts, it won't stop until one side looses. Not at nightfall, not even over two days, provided they have enough to sustain the attack."
"Eeyup."
"I'm telling you this because it's not too late to change your mind, you can still make for the road and likely find our reinforcements. But once the fighting starts, if you turn around you cause a crack in the line, one that the changelings will use to kill a lot of Guard ponies. I need to know if you still want to fight, and it has to be your final answer, any doubts... any desire to stay safe for your family's sake, and we can't afford the risk of letting you in our lines, so if there is, leave, there is no shame in it, many other stallions left on the trains."
"Nope."
Firestorm sighed, "I'm gonna need more of an answer than that."
"I said I would fight to defend the farm and Ponyville, and I meant it. I'll fight and buy as much time as it takes for Applejack and her friends to get back here with help. And I'm not gonna let my sisters go through losing their home"
"As good an answer as I've ever heard."
"Similar to your reason for rejoining?"
Firestorm hesitated, caught off guard by the red stallion's question. "Yah, I guess it is. Ponyville is my home now too, and more importantly, it's Scootaloos' home. I came here for her alone." Big Mac gave him a respectful nod which Firestorm returned before flying off to reassure Shining Armor.
"Captain." Firestorm said as he landed by Shining Armor. "I talked to Macintosh, and he's in this for the long haul. I don't think his resolve is gonna break either."
"Good." the Unicorn replied. Firestorm waited for a moment to see if Shining Armor would say more, when he didn't, the smith turned to go back to his post. "It's strange." the Captain mused, looking out at the battlefield, Firestorm stopped and turned around with a confused expression.
"What is, Shining?" The Pegasus replied.
"In a battle, I always keep the things that are most important to me in my thoughts. What I'm fighting for, you know? Twilight, Cadence, my parents, all of them." Shining Armor took a deep breath. "but this time, all I could think about was Twilight, how this was her home, and..." the Unicorn hesitated before continuing, "How I hoped that she wouldn't come here with the elements, that she wouldn't come here at all, at least not until the fighting was over. I guess I never really thought about how much she's been at the center of, how much danger she's been in. Danger that I was either not there to or unable to protect her from."
Firestorm blinked, not sure if he was right about where he thought this was going. "What are you trying to say Captain?"
The Royal Guard Captain looked up at the smith-pony, "I'm saying I guess I finally understand why you came here, I've always avoided the fact the Twilight's been through so much, and I guess I did the same for Scootaloo and assumed you did too. Now I'm not leaving the Guard, Twilight's old enough and more than capable of taking care of herself, but I understand why you did what you did, and after all this is over, if we're still standing, you can go back to your life here." Shining gave his friend a devious grin, "Just be ready for your house to be 'commandeered' on occasion."
Firestorm smiled back, "I'd be offended if you went anywhere else."