//------------------------------//
// Assess 
// Story: The Final Push 
// by PropMaster 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia sat stiffly in her seat at the head of the floor map, watching as runners reported in and the battlefield picture updated to reflect the status of her army. Finally, the map began to update, Celestia sitting forward in her seat to watch.

“Casualty reports are coming through from the healers and the tents. The Western front suffered relatively few casualties, though considering the next phase of the push it’s still a sound plan to combine a few of the companies in preparation for assaulting the more fortified bluffs. Overall, the numbers we’re seeing in terms of casualties are favorable.”

Celestia nodded to the voice, her eyes never leaving the map. Numbers began to shift and update to reflect current force strengths, and Celestia quietly watched until the numbers stopped changing. She sat still for a moment before leaning back into her seat heavily.

“Four hundred and thirty seven,” she said, voice small and soft.

The room grew silent for a moment, and a general turned to Celestia. “Princess?”

“Four hundred and thirty seven ponies killed or too seriously wounded to fight,” Celestia stated again.

“That’s… that’s correct, Your Highness,” murmured one of the mages controlling the map’s magics.

“Four hundred and thirty seven ponies is not favorable,” Celestia said, her voice growing more intense, “nor is it acceptable. Do you know what numbers are favorable, commanders?”

“N-no, Your Highness.”

“No, Majesty.”

“Princess, we—”

Princess Celestia’s hoof stomped hard against the throne, her golden horseshoe sending sparks flying from the intensity of the contact. “What numbers are favorable, commanders, are none.”

There was silence in the pavillion. Celestia spoke again, a quiet rage filling her normally soft words. “This war has gone on for six months. Six months of hearing about ‘acceptable losses’ and ‘anticipated casualties’ and every platitude that has been echoed throughout time, but nopony seems to understand that there is no such thing as an acceptable loss. There are no favorable numbers but zero.”

“I have seen war. I know the realities of the situation we face. But never think to marginalize what those ponies there are doing,” Celestia gestured away from the map, to the open flap of the tent where daylight streamed in. “Out there, they are not numbers. They are your friends and family and neighbors.”

“Princess… would you like us to call off the assault?” stammered a sub-commander.

“No. Though I hate myself for saying it, this battle will save lives in the long run. If we succeed today, the war is over,” Celestia said solemnly. "My resolve is steeled, and my forces committed."

She looked down to the map, considering the position of her army and the enemy forces. After a moment, she stood up, stepping into the shimmering expanse of the map, and began indicating points on the terrain. “Deploy reserves here, here, and here. Pull in the Royal Guard unit defending this encampment and deploy them here, and send my honor guard with them to bolster their numbers. Inform all of our soldiers that when the sun falls, we begin the assault on the bluffs.”

The generals reflexively glanced at the sky, noting the position of the sun, but Celestia spoke again. “Night will come in two hours. I will lower the sun and raise the moon, and we will attack with the cover of darkness to aid the assault.”

The tent grew briefly silent, before one of the mages spoke up, “Majesty, you can’t possibly maintain the spell preventing flight and move the celestial bodies simultaneously! You will overtax yourself and—”

Celestia laughed softly, reaching a hoof out and touching the mage’s shoulder. “Your concern is touching, but I assure you that this is not the first time I’ve done something difficult.”

Stepping into the map, Celestia began to outline her strategy, adjusting as her Generals chimed in with pertinent advice and suggestions. After twenty minutes of careful work, she nodded. “It is done. Send the runners. Let us finish what the griffons began.”

Celestia stepped back to her throne, sitting down slowly and closing her eyes, blocking out the noise and the hustle around her until all was quiet, save for the hum between her ears of the Grounding Spell she was holding together. She felt the gentle strain, the tax on her magics, and carefully considered her plan.

The cover of night would help. Fewer ponies would die, and the surprise of the sudden darkness would leave the griffons disorganized and susceptible.

“This will help,” Celestia whispered to herself. “Your time will come, but for now, trust your brave little ponies.”