//------------------------------// // The taking // Story: Equestrian empires // by Astra sky //------------------------------// After they got to the edge of the forest, they had a good view of Ponyville. To make absolute sure they weren't seen, they kept themselves out of sight by ducking behind trees and getting on the ground. The first thing that Gold Stone ordered was to look for the enemy patrols. Spike and Shankist could see that the patrols were well organized, suspicious of spies, and ready for an attack. "What does everyone see so far?" They all said that they saw swords and shields only. Spike told Gold Stone what he and Shankist saw. The next thing the captain ordered was to wait for the allies. "There's no way we're charging in there by ourselves. Look for the force that the commander was talking about." Then they saw a large, organized, properly trained horde come over a hill and toward Ponyville. Spike and the team crawled to a building of the town and waited in an alley, hidden and ready to go. Then Blood Washer just whispered to Chains, "Chains, in case one of us gets killed, sorry about takin' the joke a little serious." "Yeah, sorry about gettin' in your ear." Captain Gold Stone briefed the group, "Now, here's the plan. When the fighting starts on the other side of town, those guards have two choices. They can get ready here, or run to support the other side. If they stay, we wait for the fight to get here. If they leave, we tail them." "What if we're caught?" Spike asked. "We see how long we can fight," answered Shankist. "We should split up in case the guards do the same. That way, half of us could tail the ones that leave, while the other half wait." So, that's what the team did. Shankist, Spike, Blood Washer, and Strayblade all left and were about to enter an alley, when three civillians came in. The soldiers all hit the dirt and sat still. "Do you think Spike is......... well, dead?" "No. He wrote to us a few days ago. He's totally fine." "Well, it is a war. It only takes a second for something BRUTAL to happen." Spike knew who they were the second he heard their voices. He glanced to Shankist, and it became a long stare. One single tear ran down Shankist's face. Spike knew what he was thinking. He was sad that his OWN family and friends were gone. "It's a dark alley. Go visit 'em while you're still alive," Shankist advised. "I don't know what they'll think if they see me like this." Spike had dry blood on his right hand and wrist, a cut under his left eye, and a scar on his leg. "They're just gonna be happy to see that you're alive. I'll go with you." Straybalde and Blood Washer got up too, but it was just for looking out. "Hey guys, i'm alright. It's been a hard fight, but i'm still here. I'm taking my best friend's advice and seeing you guys one last time before I die." Right then, a loud battle rang out through the town. "AH, HELL!" Strayblade yelled. "What?" Shankist asked, not trying to be stealth. "The other group got caught," said Blood Washer. They ran out, and then a group of allies and enemies came in at once. It was a red deathspot. Out of nowhere, Spike got dragged into a corner, and when he looked up, it was Blood Washer. Five enemies died there, because they couldn't handle two swords and shields in a corner. Blood just dripped off the shields and onto their faces. Then, Spike saw something so terrible, he didn't know what to think. Strayblade was cut in the side, and then stabbed up his chest. "STRAYBLAAAAAADE!" Spike rushed into what looked like hell, and hacked the pony that hurt Strayblade. Blood was flying up into the air and guts were rolling out into the red grass as Spike hacked the pony over and over on the ground. The party moved on, but the criminals stayed behind. Spike kept yelling at Strayblade, "COME ON! DON'T QUIT! LIVE THROUGH IT! WE NEED YOU!" "Spike," Strayblade calmly told him, "this is gonna happen to at least one more soldier here. It's just business for this to happen. It's just the business. Now, one day, you'll look back and remember everything you saw today. This day's with you for life now. Just be glad it wasn't you, or your family. I'm done... there's no way i'm gonna live." He was gone. Spike just looked up at the other soldiers. He could feel the warm blood in his hands. He looked out to the civillians, and there were his six friends. He just slowly looked down, gritted his teeth, and cried very hard. Shankist was enraged. "Uuuuuhh.... it's alright. I..... AAAAAHHHH! I'M SORRY I EVER BECAME A CRIMINAL IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE! I'LL TEAR APART THAT KING AND BURN HIM!" He just hit his sword into the ground for ten minutes with everyone but Spike to make a hole for a burial. He came up with a plan nearly an hour later.