//------------------------------//
// Fall of an Empire (IV of VIII) 
// Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero 
// by That_Random_Pony 
//------------------------------//

Ember jogged through the burning fields, along with her battalion of fighters. The carrier dragons overhead were pushing towards Bostogne, which laid atop the rocky hills. She grunted in annoyance as several hundred arrows clinked against her armor and scaled snout. Her generals had gone ahead to start the attack while she hung back with the firebreathers. Now that the crops were ablaze, the hundreds of dragons were climbing up with her. She pulled herself onto the ledge, smacking a griffons bow away and using her tail to toss him behind her. 

The rural city was a mess of spears and arrows flying all over. The archers on the roofs were locked in short skirmishes with flier squads. She jabbed her arm to the side, knocking out a griffon attempting to stab her. The firebreathers were in need of time to gather their internal flame, which meant the city wouldn't burn today. She disliked the idea of fighting in such close quarters, but she had to regroup with Draco and Moon at Windawn. Letting loose an ear splitting roar, Ember took flight over the battlefield, knives between her claws. She flew ahead of the main forces and started to pick off any archers firing at her dragons.

General Ace joined her with a squad of his best, firing arrows at the forces below. "Tell the carriers to knock down the buildings near the northern side!" Ember called over the fighting.

Ace nodded, then flew high above to the massive dragons. General Ash swung his massive axe into a warrior's side, then used the pointed end to stab another and smack him into another pair. He coughed up a few embers, and soon he was breathing a cloud of smoke again. Turning back to the other dragons, they all puffed small clouds of smoke. A smirk came to his face, just before a spearhead pierced his skull. General Charcoal saw his brother fall to the ground, and his rage filled roar frightened the griffon who did it. Beaming his own spear into the warrior's face, Charcoal ripped his head from his neck and set the pieces of meat on fire. 

"Set this city on fire!"

The firebreathers combined their flames into a massive blue fire. With each pass of the blazing hot wall, the griffons were burned to the bone and the buildings were toppled. Ember turned mid air to avoid a spear, and she tackled a warrior charging at her. She tore her dagger through his chest and kicked him to the fires below. 

"Don't burn the city!" Ember roared. "Cease fire!"

The firebreathers halted their flames and instead rushed the remaining griffon forces. Angered by the loss of their general, the battalion did everything in their power to make sure the griffons didn't survive. Ember wasn't as gruesome with her punishments, but she was severe. Any griffons who threw their weapons on the ground were executed, most being set on fire and being left to burn. Ember placed eight knives between her claws and slashed at the forces from above. She landed feet first on one and continually stabbed him until she was forced to dodge a sword lunge. Using her tail to trip him up, she plunged his own sword into him before slashing his throat. 

The buildings to the north were knocked over as the carrier dragons threw themselves into them. Any warriors inside were crushed under rubble and hundreds of pounds of dragon weight. The city was in ruin, and the remaining griffons fled swiftly, forgetting their dying comrades in fear of joining them. 

Or so Ember thought.

The fires died down as the fighters surrouned General Ash's corpse. Charcoal kneeled beside him and growled in frustration and sadness. He took the armors adorning his older brother and placed them beside his body. Ember placed her claw on his shoulder, looking down at the fallen fighter. A carrier dragon buried its claws into the ground, then pulled a mound of dirt out of the ground. Ember gently placed the body inside, flapping her wings twice to land on the edge. The fighters kept silent in a moment of respect, and the generals ordered them to set up camps for the night. 

Ember sat alone on the far side of the city. She had seen many of the younger dragons fall to the warriors talons, but she never thought one of her generals would join them. Was she unfit to lead? Should they have attacked the city first and then set fire to the fields? Could Ash have been saved if she thought differently? 

Ember rubbed her spines anxiously, wishing she could get the thoughts out of her head. "It wasn't your fault."

She turned away as Ace sat down beside her. "He was under my orders. I have full responsibility for his death and thirty-two others," Ember said with a neutral tone. 

Her uncle (thrice removed) chuckled as he draped a wing over her. "Yes, but it wasn't at your claws," Ace reminded her. "Ash was a good dragon, and an even better fighter. But his death was something he was well aware of when he volunteered. Don't let this stop you from leading us. We've never lost this many, especially with a female leader."

Ember growled lightly, but it turned into a bitter chuckle. "Maybe if it were you or my father, they would all be alive," she said. "Ace, I want you to-"

"Ember." She glared at him, but he kept his stern gaze fixed back at her. "You are going to lead us to Windawn, and from there we take Gryphos. Don't do this for me, or for your father. Do this for yourself. And to show Draco you can lead."

Her orange scales tinted slightly as extended her wings in anger. "Uncle!" She roared. Ace hissed as he covered his face from her flames. "I don't think of him as a mate!"

"Oh you don't, do you?" Ace snickered. "I've seen the way you look at him. Even if his skin is easily breachable, I must admit you chose a strong partner."

"UNCLE!"

"Fine! Fine!" Ace laughed. "Do you feel better?"

Ember snorted, her scales returning to their orange. "Not much," she sighed. "But I appreciate the effort. It's two day's to Windawn from here. We're almost through with this. Please, Uncle, make sure you return home with me."

General Ace nodded, hugging his niece. "I'll be there for you, Ember," he whispered. "Don't you fret. I'll be with you and your father when we come home. And perhaps I'll be best fighter at your reception."

She snarled loudly, but she slapped him in the back of the head and laughed. "If it brings you back alive, keep thinking that way," Ember chuckled. "Get some rest. I'll need everydragon ready to march at dawn."

                                                                                      



Prison of War Criminals, Dubley

Moon pounced on a warrior and stabbed his mounted spears into his neck and chest. Jumping back from a sword, Moon kicked the blade out of the griffon's talons then swiped his claws through his throat. He bounded towards the prisoner cells, dodging multiple arrows from the archers above. Quick Peck zoomed through the towers and dropped bombs into the nests, blowing up the archers and drawing the attention away from Moon. Shadow flew above the wolf-pony and slashed at any bogeys closing in from their flanks. Moon slashed the chains sealing the iron door then shouldered it open. 

Shadow flew in first and smiled at the sight of his griffon comrades. "Boys, who's up for a little payback?"

"WE ARE, SIR!" 

Moon nodded, quickly tearing the locks apart and opening the armory. The griffons suited up, bearing the iron armors and grabbing short swords and crossbows. Shadow charged with Moon into the fray of the city. The rural homes were skewered with arrows and decorated with bodies; griffon, wolf, and dragon alike. 

Shadow took flight with Peck right beside him, and Moon howled to his alphas to join his side as he ran to the streets. Two pounced on a warrior while the other three kept up with him. Moon slashed the legs of the griffons to give his dragons an advantage, while also letting his wolves take them down much easier. He rammed a griffon, then tossed him aside and bit down on the back of a griffons neck. The sound of metal bending against his armor made him yelp in pain and he jumped to the side. A griffon with a bent spear looked at his weapon incredulously, but he was tackle by three of Moon's brethren.

"Commander!" General Tomb was fighting off three griffons with a bleeding arm. "Chuck and Hack have fallen!"

Moon rushed over, ramming one and using his momentum to knock over the other two. "Follow me, now!" 

General Tomb nodded painfully as he ran behind Moon, who lashed out at any in front of him. A squad of fighters joined them, and soon they reached a small shop. 

"Keep low and protect him," Moon ordered. "I'm ending this fight."

Stepping back out into the street, Moon roared into the skies, alerting the rest of the packs. The wolves charged in from the east, catching the griffoms off guard from the rear. Seeing the faltering lines, the fighters redouble their efforts and rushed through the griffon ranks. The archers above were set on fire from below while those on the streets were slashed. Moon tackled a griffon, puncturing his chest in two places, and rolled off to headbutt another. Beside him, General Rook slammed his hammer onto a warrior. 

"They're falling back!" He called as a griffon beneath him had its head smashed by his foot. 

Moon looked up as hundreds of griffons took flight towards Windawn, which lay off in the distance. When they were completely out of sight, Moon galloped to the shop he had left Tomb in. As he got to the street corner, he could see the faces of the fighters. His fears were confirmed when he stepped into the building, and saw the peaceful face of General Tomb. His scent was faint, and the smell of death was settling in. Moon sat down shakily, taking off his helmet and sighing.

"Three of our generals are dead." Moon nodded to the fighter, doing his best to not shed a tear. He had to be strong… like Draco and Ember.

He carried Tomb on his back, while Rook and Scythe carried Chuck and Hack. They were taken to the outskirts of the city, where they were buried side by side. Moon said a small prayer for them, then ordered the others to set up in the city for the night. Shadow sat beside him and looked to the graves. 

"First time losing a lieutenant?" He asked. 

Moon nodded. "I've never lost anypony-dragon-griffon or friend," he sighed. "I never thought leading was this hard."

Shadow nodded, taking off his helmet and pushing his feathers back. "We all do in a war," he said softly. "Don't let this stop you. They'll be pointless deaths if you don't help take Gryphos."

"I'm not stopping, Shadow," Moon growled. "When we reach Gryphos I'm going to watch Draco tear that coward limb from limb."

"What did the Emperor do that got the kid so pissed?" Shadow asked with a chuckle.

"He killed and old friend of his... Dasher," Moon said. "They were very close… and he often played with his daughter who was of the same age. Draco held him as he passed… and he didn't take it too well."

Shadow nodded, looking to the moon above. "I'm gonna get some rest," he said. "Don't stay up too long."

Moon chuckled and closed his eyes. "I'm nocturnal," he grinned. "Why else have we been moving at night?"

Shadow shook his head and laughed before taking flight towards the camps. Left to himself, Moon shifted uncomfortably as he laid on his belly. Looking up to the moon, he felt a chill run down his back. Whether it was an omen or some sort of sign, he was worried. It was… strange. He felt as if something bad was going to happen. It wasn't doubt, as he had once felt. But it did feel like something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.