Part 3:
Shadow and North awoke with a start. There was a heavy pounding at the Commander’s Office door. Shadow unlocked and flung open the door with a quick sweep of his horn and two militia ponies barged in, falling over each other. They were form the farthest outpost, and were sent directly here to fetch these two in particular. The O.E. Faction had only regrouped, not surrendered, and were launching a full assault within the hour, with swelled ranks no less. Shadow knew this was going to be a hell of a fight and there was no way out. He immediately barged out of the room, North hot on his hooves. They had an hour to organize the militia ponies and their own army. Shadow immediately began barking orders, startling all soldiers within the barracks. Earth ponies donned armor and weapons, Pegasus ponies were flowing out of the upstairs in waves, and Unicorn Units readied their magical talents. As more and more equines awoke and readied for the fight of their lives, Shadow cocked his head to North. This time they were definitely unsure if they would make it out of this alive. They then vowed if only one of them should make it, they would leave immediately for their homeland and inform the others. North cracked Shadow with a hoof and told him if he ever spoke like that again he would kill Shadow himself. With wry smiles they parted ways, each being needed in a different part of town.
Meanwhile, Silver Platter was busy rousing the rest of his patrol. With grunts and protesting, they each roused and got prepared for the coming battle. They donned their respective accoutrements and made a beeline for town. Shadow ran to Commander Goldmane’s personal office to receive his orders. The Commander was already up to his ears in messages from the various patrols. Apparently, The Oldies numbers had swollen to double what they were a few days ago, and carried even Griffins, Pegasi, and Unicorns. The situation was dire at best, and they knew if they expected to try at victory, they would need reinforcements from the south and east. Hunters and Shamans from the Zebra lands in the south, definitely. Pegasi and Unicorns, also. The Earth ponies were no doubt strong and reliable fighters, but they simply did not have the edge that magic and flight gave other species. Only Pegasus could compete with Griffins for air superiority, and unicorns were the only big weakness of other unicorns. Shadow knew this all too well. He would really have to watch his back in this one.
North, being a Pegasus himself, was fully aware of the situation of dogfights with other Pegasi. It was one of his first real conflicts that North had learned the true talents of Pegasi. At the opposite of town was North, collaborating with another Pegasus unit comprised of 2 other Pegasi. They would serve as Air Recon, notifying ground units of troop movements, numbers, and positioning. This position they would alternate with two other three-pony teams. And there were few other Pegasus as talented as North with strategy. He knew he would not see Shadow again for days, maybe weeks, and he only could hope that his friend would make it through this. Shadow wished the same thing; he felt it in his heart. And he knew he would be reunited with North eventually. But their task at hand was all that mattered right now. After getting a grasp of routes and flight plans, North and his team elected to take the first patrol and give an edge to the ground troops anxiously awaiting the impending flood of enemy troops. North said one last blessing before he took off lightly, and soon was trailed by two other Pegasus. He hadn’t gotten their names down quite yet, but it didn’t matter. They had a job to do. Formalities would come later.
Speaking above the din of the flowing wind around them, North shouted to the others to split up and keep a 10-foot distance between each other. That way, if spotted by another air unit or ground unit, they could easily split off and flank for combat or keep combat to a minimum. North was not ready for what he saw next. Off in the distance, another air unit, only two Pegasus. But these were not normal Pegasus. The all-too familiar colors of Speed Razor and Sky Razor dominated against the brilliant blue. But they were outfitted in war regalia, spikes protruding from certain pieces of the light, flexible plant-weave armor. A strafe or dive from either of the twins was going to be deadly. North had seen this first hand. He swallowed hard, and braced himself for what had to be done, if he was given the chance.
Shadow was met by another team of 3 Earth Ponies and 2 Unicorns. He led his own squad of war unicorns, wielding blade and magic, same as he. Names were lost to the din of ponies running here and there, shouting orders, taking orders, and the general chaos before a fight. Shadow’s mission was much more…involved than North’s. He was to lead this brigade into the front line, blasting and slashing whatever was in his way that was not a friendly pony. There were to be no prisoners and no quarter given. The Old Equestrians were mostly warriors, born and raised for bloodshed and leaving bodies in their wake. Shadow was not a weakling by any measure, but he was certain the battle-hardened warriors of the opposing army would not show any mercy. As Shadow and his platoon followed the rough path ahead of them, all senses were tuned to their highest parameters. Years of meditation and concentration sharpened Shadow’s senses to what he called “The Above”. Every sound, every color, every pool of shadow and stream of light stood out. Nothing, not even some of the most experienced warriors could get close to Shadow when he was in the above. He was not about to see one of his platoon die. Keeping a crimson ball of concentrated magic at his horn’s tip, they proceeded. Each footstep faded into the background. At least the footfalls of his comrades did. Every other sound stood out. Birds quietly breathing, scared in their trees, snakes slithering under rocks, rodents and small mammals disappearing into the brush. All these sounds were unique. Then a twig snapped, twenty yards ahead. Shadow paused, listening again. Footstep, snapped twig.
Shadow barked a warning. “Show yourself, creature of shadow, before I light you up with my friend, Mr. spell-ball!” Just then, a flurry of claw swipes and a screech of rage pierced the air. Rust-colored feathers flew and blew, and Shadow knew this was no ordinary creature. They had crept up on a Griffin detachment’s camp and were clearly unwelcomed. Shadow immediately fired his crimson death cannon, scorching the rust colored creature that had nearly taken his face off. The rest of his squad flew into action, blades cutting the air like razors. Several different colored orbs of magic also made their way into the fray, exploding against trees or unwary victims. The trees were too thick to fly in, but Griffins were no slouches when it came down to tooth-and-nail fighting. Gifted with claws of lion and eagle, and a beak upon their face as deadly as their claws, Griffins were supreme fighters, in the sky our out of it. As the fight wore on, both parties were fighting for their very survival.
North blew past the Pegasus brothers, and they returned the sentiment, until Speed Razor recognized a certain Spirit Mark. The golden Compass Rose that belonged to North. One of the most brilliant strategists he’d ever met, and not someone to be toyed with. Speed Razor banked off and flipped, giving chase to True North. He knew what needed to be done, but would try his damnedest to not let that happen. His years with North and Shadow were some of his best, and he often looked upon them with fondness. He would not have left their party if it were not for an urgent call back home shortly before this whole war. The Razor Brothers were not aware that the dawn of war was upon them, and quickly returned back home upon hearing of some tragedy that had befallen their Chieftain. They found out that the Chieftain was deathly ill with no known cure for what ailed him. The chieftain, also being their father, demanded their presence at his deathbed. The Brothers were sent to war shortly after the Chieftain’s passing. Shaking his head clear of the thoughts from the past, Speed Razor reverted onto the task at hand. He would have to do his best to stop North and his squadron from ratting out their troop movements.