//------------------------------//
// Ch5 The Mare in Red 
// Story: The King's War 
// by Priceless911 
//------------------------------//

                 Commander Mist stood at the bottom of the staircase in his formal uniform while he waited for Major Bolt, "Hurry up Sparky, we don't have time for this!" 
Major Bolt came down the stairs and asked, "So... What do you think?"
Commander Mist sighed, "You're kidding me right? You’re really wearing your night uniform?"
Major Bolt replied, "You said formal uniform, you didn't say anything about whether it was the day or night uniform. Besides I like this one better anyway."
Commander Mist shook his head, "Well at least Princess Luna would be flattered, but remember what I told you earlier. This is a royal ball and your actions will reflect upon our kingdom. I already know that dignitaries from the Ibex Empire, the Hooviet Union, Germaneigh, and even Prance are here to attend this ball. So please, be on your best behavior."
Major Bolt nodded his head and replied, "Don’t worry commander, you know me, I'm always on my best behavior."
Commander Mist turned towards the door as he replied, "That's what I'm afraid of."

As Major Bolt and Commander Mist left the tower and made their way towards the castle, they saw a string of carriages lined up all the way down the street, starting as far as the second gate when entering the city. Each one had a particular shape and size, which represented the architecture of the nation of its origin. Major Bolt was interested in all the different designs, while Commander Mist didn't seem to care. As the two Equestrian Officers entered the castle and went up the stairs into the main ballroom, Sergeant Major Storm approached them, "Major, Commander, what took you two so long?"
Commander Mist replied, "Don't look at me; I was ready a long before the ball even began. It was Sparky's doing this time."
Major Bolt replied, "Yea, sorry... I couldn't find my tie."

Storm smiled, "Well at least you didn't bring your sword. Anyway, I'd like you two to meet General Neghvelskie and his daughter.” 
Major Bolt shook his head, “Well I honestly have no interest in meeting them, so I'll see you later commander, I'm going to take a look around, and I’ve never been to a griffin royal ball before.”
Commander Mist nodded his head, “Just don’t do anything that you’ll regret… in fact, try not to do anything at all.”
Major Bolt sarcastically replied, “Oh, ha, ha, don’t worry I'll behave.”

As Major Bolt trotted off, Sergeant Major Storm led Commander Mist to an older earth pony wearing a gray military dress uniform, and another earth pony wearing a blue dress. Then he turned to Commander Mist and spoke, “Commander Mist, may I introduce General Victor Neghvelskie, and his daughter, Major Roza Neghvelskie of the Hooviet Union.”
Major Neghvelskie smiled, held out her hoof, and spoke, "It’s a pleasure commander, but please, I vould prefer it if you vould call me Roza."
Commander Mist formally took her hoof, kissed it and replied, “The pleasure is all mine, and may I say that is a lovely gown, it matches your bonnet perfectly."
Roza blushed as she replied, “Vell… I uh… thank you…”
General Neghvelskie laughed, "Very smooth commander, vhat they say about you Equestrian ponies is true... But I varn you now. My daughter is strong enough to protect herself, I'd be careful if I vere you."
Commander Mist nodded his head, "I'll keep that in mind. It’s nice to finally meet the iron hoof of the Hooviet Union. It’s also an honor to meet the first female officer in the Hooviet army."

Roza smiled as she replied, "Thank you commander, I heard vord that you vould be assisting King Harpy in fending off his aggressors in this var. Is this true?"
Commander Mist replied, “Yes it is, but this won’t be as simple as it seems.”
“Really? How so?”
Sergeant Majors Storm answered, "Circumstances have changed, and the king is too young to know what he is up against."
Roza replied, "The king is too young to even be king..."
"Hold your tongue Roza! The griffin king is our comrade, so I von't allow you to slander his name."
Roza replied, "You’re vone to talk father, the reason you refused to get involved is because the prime minister agrees vith my comment and refused to send support."
“That doesn’t matter, ve are soldiers and ve vill follow our orders, as ordered. This is the life you chose, so I hope you agree vith it.”

Soon the subject went from the king’s actions, into politics that greatly bored Commander Mist, so as the general and his daughter continued talking, Commander Mist looked around the room. Everywhere he looked were species of all types, earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi, zebra, griffin, minotaur, buffalo, ibex, and even a few cows and mules. However, there was one thing they all had in common, each and every one of them were nobles, royals, military leaders, or part of the highest of societies. Nevertheless, of all these creatures having a good time and enjoying the party, Commander Mist couldn’t help but think about those less fortunate, who were outside in the cold, begging for their next meal.

As he continued observing his surroundings, Roza nudged him and spoke, “Commander?... is something vrong?”
Commander Mist looked back and replied, “No… I'm fine… sorry if I seemed a bit absent minded…”
Just then one of the griffin guards stood at a doorway as he announced, “May I present, his royal majesty, High king of the Griffin Kingdoms, King Arathan Harpy the Fourth!”
As the king slowly entered the room wearing his royal robe and crown, Commander Mist didn’t want to look at him at the moment, so he turned back to Roza and spoke. “It seems to be getting a little crowded in here; I'm just going to step out on the balcony for some fresh air. I hope you and your father will excuse me for a few minutes.”
General Neghvelskie replied, “Of course, take the time you need commander.”
Commander Mist nodded his head as he turned and started trotting towards the balcony doorway. When he exited the building onto the balcony overlooking Gryphus, Commander Mist looked at the cascading lights that stretched down the main street, from the furthest wall to the castle gates. With the moonless sky above, the lights from these carriages lit up almost the entire city. However, other lights could be seen shining from the streets of the slums. Commander Mist shook his head and sighed, “Its times like this, I really hate being born a noble.”
“Better a noble, than a nopony…”

Major Bolt trotted up to Commander Mist and stood beside him looking into the city as Commander Mist turned to him and replied, “I know… you still don’t know anything about yourself… but at least you didn’t grow up watching those less fortunate than you, envy your life.”
Major Bolt smiled, “The nightmare you put me through?… I envied the ponies on death row. But at least your training paid off.”
Commander Mist smiled, “Well I guess it did, didn’t it. I mean look now, you’re in one of the most fortified cities in the world, attending one of the most luxurious events in the kingdom. This actually matches the Grand Galloping Gala back in Equestria.”
Major Bolt sighed, “Yea… and yet here you are sitting on the balcony missing the whole thing. What’s bothering you commander… is it Commander Shriek?”

Commander Mist shook his head, “I don’t think so… it’s this war. Here we are sitting in the lap of luxury while those refugees sit out there starving and suffering. And their so called, king doesn’t seem to care.”
Major Bolt turned back towards the ball and replied, “I don’t like this anymore than you do commander… but the last thing I expected was to hear you agree with me… for once.  Either way we can’t do anything about this now. Let’s just get back to the party and deal with this tomorrow. Besides, I think that generals Naviliskie… or whatever his name is. I think his daughter likes you, so why not just cut back and have a good time.”
Commander Mist replied, “Thanks, but I'm thinking about calling it an early night.”
Major Bolt replied as he started trotting back into the building, “Whatever you do, will you at least make an effort to talk to a mare or something. You’re not going to stay… uh… fifty… uh… three forever.”
“I'M THIRTY NINE!!!”
“My point exactly.”

After Major Bolt disappeared into the crowd inside, Commander Mist looked back into the city and tried to clear his thoughts. First, he looked at the lights in the city, then at the stars above, until finally all his focus went to the sound of the regale music playing inside the ballroom. Commander Mist thought to himself, “The Major is right… I should just enjoy this night while it lasts.”
As the band inside finished their song, something was off. The band wasn’t playing… but he could still hear music. Commander Mist looked around and found that the music was coming from a beautiful mare standing on the other end of the large balcony. As she stood there, she was humming the most beautiful tune that Commander Mist had ever heard, but it wasn’t just the song that captivated him, it was every part of her appearance. She stood looking into the starlit sky with her eyes closed; her wings open, embracing the wind as it blew through her mane, and the feathers on her wings. The dress she wore was a combination of black, silver, and a burning haze of red and orange that reminded Commander Mist of a sunset. This color along with her light gray pelt and her black and pink mane made her beauty shine even more. 

Commander Mist had never had his breath taken at the sight of such beauty before. He couldn’t help but stand there and admire her beauty from across the balcony. As her song came to its end, she slowly closed her wings and lowered her head, and then she sighed as she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were a burnt yellow color that was similar to her dress, yet beautiful all the same. She took a deep breath then started to turn to go back inside. As she did however, for less than a split second, she made perfect eye contact with Commander Mist from across the balcony then paused. Commander Mist, feeling embarrassed for watching her, quickly turned to look back into the city, and tried to ignore her after the awkward moment they just shared. The mare could only smile at the failed attempt to show his modesty, so she slowly trotted closer, stood next to him, and looked over the balcony with him as she spoke, “It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”
Commander Mist never felt so nervous talking to a mare before, but he was able to hide it through his reply, “Yes it is.”

The mare continued, “I wish the moon was out. I bet the full moon looks absolutely gorgeous from here, don’t you think?”
Commander Mist replied, “Um… yea… I guess it would. It is kind of a shame isn’t it.”
“Are you out here to get away from the crowd too, commander?”
Commander Mist nervously replied, “Um… yea… it felt a little stuffy in there… wait. How did you know I was a commander?”
The mare giggled, “That’s what that insignia on your uniform means right? Or am I mistaken?”
Commander Mist blushed as he replied, “Oh… right… it’s on my uniform.”
The mare smiled, “That’s ok commander… sometimes when I feel the cool breeze of the wind… I seem to loose myself in it too. Sometimes I even forget where I am, it’s just so soothing. It… it reminds me of the first day I ever took flight.”
The mare looked off the balcony and closed her eyes to feel the wind, then she looked back at the nervous stallion and spoke, “So… I know what rank the brave and handsome soldier is… but can I learn where he is from?”

Commander Mist blushed at her complement as he replied, “Oh… right… I'm from Canterlot… erm… Equestria.”
The mare replied, “Canterlot? Wow, it’s been decades since I was there last. So I'm guessing you fight for Princess Celestia then right?”
“Um… yes, I'm the commander of her armies.”
“Really? So are you here for the ball? Or are you here to help his majesty in his war?”
Commander Mist replied, “Well sadly we are here to help the king.”
“Sadly?”
“Yea… it wasn’t my first choice. But an order is an order.”
The mare replied, “I understand, a soldier must do what a soldier must do.”
Commander Mist replied, “And that’s the life I live.”

The mare sighed, “It’s definitely a rough life, isn’t it… may I ask your name commander?”
Commander Mist replied, “Oh.. Uh… of course, my name is Commander Mist of the Eques…”
“Commander Chrome Mist!?!”
Surprised by the mare’s outburst Commander Mist replied, “Um.. Yea… you’ve heard of me?”
The mare replied, “Oh… um… yes. I heard word of you before.”
Commander Mist lost his sense of nervousness, which was replaced by a skeptic curiosity, “So… how do you know of me?”
The mare replied, “Oh… uh maybe I heard somepony mention the name at another ball, or something like that. Anyway, can I ask, do you think this war will end well?”
Commander Mist replied, “Well I admit so far things have happened that I didn’t expect, but I’ll do my best to end this war as peacefully as possible.”

The mare smiled, “Well with an enemy like The Cutters, I can only wish you luck.”
Commander Mist replied, “Well I hope… wait? How did you know?”
The mare’s smile went from social to mischievous, “To be honest, I don’t think that Traipse will be as merciful to you or your soldiers as you hope. But all in all, I should expect a good fight from the commanding officer of the entire Equestrian Royal Guards.”
Commander Mist stepped away from the suspicious mare and spoke, “... Who are you?”
The mare started to pace around Commander Mist as she replied, “Many call me Wing… but you commander…”
The mare got closer to Commander Mist, opened her wing and placed it on his cheek, “You can call me… Blade.”
The mare seductively flicked her wing down Commander Mist’s face as she trotted past him and looked out into the city. Commander Mist glared at her and spoke, “Are you a member of the rebel army?”
Without looking back at him, Blade replied, “Hardly… I'm only here to get paid. I couldn’t care less about that smelly old griffin and his… Cause.”
“Get paid? Wait… you’re a member of The Cutters aren’t you?”

The mare turned her head back and smiled at Commander Mist, but before she said anything else, a loud scream was heard from inside the ballroom. Commander Mist looked into the building as a large number of party guests gathered around one of the tables, and then he looked back at Blade as she spoke, “Go see for yourself.”
Commander Mist turned back towards the crowd then rushed inside until he reached the table that the guests have surrounded. Looking at the table itself didn’t seem like much but Major Bolt had the tablecloth lifted up to reveal a dead griffin guard lying under it. The griffin had his throat cut in the exact same way that the mayor of Javelin Falls did, also there was another banner of the Cutters covering his face. Seeing this Commander Mist immediately thought about Commander Shriek, so he turned towards the balcony and pointed at Blade as she stood there smiling in a sinister way, “ARREST HER!!! SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE CUTTERS!!!”

The griffin guards started to charge at Blade, as she took one last look at Commander Mist, winked, and did a back flip over the balcony railing and off the edge of the balcony. Commander Mist rushed towards the railing as he yelled, “BOLT, STORM! PURSUE AND ENGAGE HER!”
Commander Mist stopped at the balcony railing and looked down as Major Bolt and Sergeant Major Storm rushed passed him and dove off the balcony after the still falling mercenary. As she fell, Blade continued looking at the ground, but right as she was about to hit the ground she lifted her wings and pulled up to a high speed flight almost one foot above the ground. Then she flew through the streets dodging the carriages that were still lined up outside the castle on the main road. Major Bolt flew into the line of carriages dodging them as Blade was; While Sergeant Major Storm flew above keeping an eye on her so they wouldn’t lose her.

Blade continued her strategic flying through the street dodging carriages by inches as Major Bolt continued flying close behind her. Blade looked back at her pursuing enemy and was impressed at his flying; most ponies couldn’t keep up with her speed let alone, fly through obstacles as she could. Finally, Blade saw an open canopied rickshaw with a very small window on the back, in their flight path. Rather than dodging it like the rest, Blade did a barrel roll as she flew to build speed, then she closed her wings, flew through the small window, quickly opened her wings back up, increased her altitude and flew into the sky as if it were so simple. Major Bolt tried to attempt the same thing, but in the middle of his barrel roll, he lost track of how fast he was going so when he closed his wings to fly through the small window, he clipped his right wing and lost control as he collided with another cart on the road. When Sergeant Major Storm saw this, he called out as he continued following Blade, “I got her Major! We won’t lose her!” 

After hearing what Storm said, Blade smiled then mumbled to herself, “We will see about that.”
Completely turning herself around and diving back down, Blade flew back into the street then vanished into the shadows of a very dark and narrow alley. Storm tried to see her from above but the shadows were too dark in the alley, so he couldn’t see anything. As he flew, a few griffin soldiers approached and spoke, “Where is she pony?”
Storm stopped in front of them and spoke, “Quickly she went into that alley. Fly through that entrance there and chase her through, I'll curve around the end and stop her before she gets out the other side!”
Rather than arguing with the pegasus’s suggestion the two griffins flew around to the start of the alley entered the dark shadows. Meanwhile, Sergeant Major Storm flew around to the end of the narrow alley and waited for her to make her attempt to fly passed him.

As he waited there expecting the surrounded pony to make a run for her freedom, Sergeant Major Storm froze in place, when he heard a bloodcurdling scream followed by sounds of scraping metal, then dead silence. As he looked into the dark and mysterious shadow, Storm started to see something in the darkness, at first it looked like a crescent moon, but then it quickly turned into a glare on a long blade, as he continued to watch he then saw another blade appear in the shadows. Then something rolled out of the alley and hit Sergeant Major Storm on his hooves. When he looked down at the object that was tossed at him, he was horrified to find out it was the head of one of the griffins who entered the alley. As he looked at the severed head, the pegasus heard loud scraping as he looked up at the charging mercenary. Blade had a unique series of blades attached to the outside of her wings as she charged down the alley scraping the weapon against the narrow alley’s walls as she charged. 

As Blade quickly flew towards him, Sergeant Major Storm already knew she was too close to dodge, and that there was no way he could escape her attack. Luckily right as her blade got close to his throat, Major Bolt flew out of nowhere and pushed him out of the way, before falling victim to her attack. Quickly reacting to Major Bolts surprise appearance, Blade turned around and kicked Storm away from them knocking him unconscious as she started making multiple attempts to dig her blades into Major Bolt’s flesh instead. With each passing swing Major Bolt managed to dodge the attacks, however her quick movements and precise swings left absolutely no time for him to return with a counter attack of his own. All he could do was step back with each of her attacks knowing that without his chance to fight back he wouldn’t survive this, and the fact that he was unarmed only made his situation even worse. Finally, Major Bolt lost his footing when he unexpectedly stepped into a hole. Quickly reacting to this opportunity, Blade turned her wing sideways and used the top of her weapon to bash Major Bolt across his head and knock him to the ground.

Major Bolt quickly tried to shuffle to his hooves but he was stopped when he felt the curve of her blade across his throat. Major Bolt slowly looked up at her as she smiled, “You’re pretty good colt. In the past ten minutes, you’ve surprised me with both swift flying, and quick reflexes… however, you’re out of your league. So I'll bide you a fond farewell.”
Major Bolt glared at her and replied, “I’d say the same about you… but I’ve heard of the Cutters before so I’d expect no less. Just do what you have to and end this already.”
Blade raised her weapon to drop on Major Bolt’s head but before she could, a number of griffins quickly surrounded them as their leader yelled, “STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!”
The deadly mare smiled as she replied, “Make me!”
The Mare then disregarded her actions and instead of finishing the defeated pony, she jumped into the air charging the griffins that were above her, blocking her escape. Closing one wing and using her weapon as a shield she was able to block the first griffins attack and counter with the other wing’s blade removing the griffins right wing and causing him to fall to the ground, screaming in pain. The next griffin tried to strike her with his spear but she parried the spear and ran both her blades into the griffin’s throat removing his head completely and giving her a perfect opening to escape, without any obstacles in her path.

Major Bolt stood back up and watched the mare escape while a few griffin soldiers quickly surrounded him and the unconscious Sergeant Major Storm. Major Bolt looked at the griffin and spoke, “Well it’s about time you showed u…”
“GET DOWN!!!”
“Wha…”
Before Major Bolt could reply a griffin soldier tacked him and chained his hooves while he was on the ground. “What? What is the meaning of this! I'm on your side you brainless bir…”
“The King has a few questions for you! So until further notice… you and your buddy over there are under arrest for suspicion of mutiny.”
“Mutiny? What are we sailors! This is an outrage! I Demand you let me speak to the king myself!”
The griffin replied, “Until you give me solid proof that you really are on our side in this war… I’m afraid you’re in no place to be making demands, pony. Take him back to the tower and lock him in a cell!”
The griffin soldiers then dragged Major Bolt away as he showed no resistance knowing that it would only make his problem worse.

About two hours later, in a rural area miles away from Gryphus, Blade landed next to a hidden cave, looked around and entered. Inside there was a stallion sitting at a table as he sharpened a Scythe, then Blade approached him, “Tri, why do you continue to fiddle with that old thing if you won’t ever use it?”
Traipse replied, “I just want it to be ready when she returns.”
Blade sighed, “Traipse… the boss isn’t going to come back to us… we need to stop dwelling in the past and just move on already.”
Traipse shook his head, “And attending an enemy ball is your way of moving on?”
Blade smiled, “What can I say… once a noble, always a noble. Besides, I met our competition from Equestria.”
Traipse stopped sharpening the scythe and looked back at Blade, “Really… who.”
She smiled, “Commander Mist.”
“Mist! Chrome Mist!”
“You know him?”
“He was the soldier who helped Princess Luna and Celestia RUIN MY LIFE!!!”
Blade replied, “Wow… touchy… Well he and a small force of ponies are here to try to stop us… and that’s not all he brought. There is a stallion on his side that seems very skilled.”

Traipse replied, “Skilled? How so?”
“He was not only able to keep up with me when we flew through the crowded streets, but he managed to dodge more than twenty of my attacks… at close quarters. Also there is something very familiar about his eyes.”
“His eyes? What do you mean?”
Blade started to think to herself, “I wish I knew… but what I do know is that he is skilled, and I think he might be… Cutter material.”
Traipse stood up, leaned the scythe against the wall of the cave, and replied, “Hmm… well then we will see when we face him in combat won’t we. I'll go and meet with the general and see what he wants us to do next. You can stay here and… get the blood stains out of your dress, or something.”
As Traipse left the cave Blade replied, “Sure… whatever you say Tri.”
Blade trotted to the cave entrance and looked into the night sky, “You haven’t changed a bit Chrome, I wonder, would you remember me if I told you my real name?”