//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Facing Southern Thunder // by The Prancing Red Pony //------------------------------// Celestia slowly fluttered her way down into the Whitetail Woods. While Twilight was dealing with the CSE at Ghastly Gorge, Celestia went around and inspected the other generals under her command. The second stop after Twilight's Army of Ponyville, was Fluttershy and her Army of the Whitetail Woods. Celestia saw Fluttershy's Army Camp in the middle of the woods. Her eyes darted quickly looking for Fluttershy, who was talking to one of her subordinates. Celestia looked at the many troops in the Army of the Whitetail Woods who were busy drilling, building, eating, or just relaxing. The Army of the Whitetail Woods wore distinctive uniforms from their Ponyville counterparts. While the Army of Ponyville dressed in white armor, the Army of the Whitetail Woods was dressed in camouflage. Celestia slowly approached Fluttershy from behind. "General Fluttershy it is great to see you again" Celestia said. Fluttershy flipped out and hid behind the subordinate. "Yeep. IS IT A CSE SOLDIER, WELL IS IT?!?" Fluttershy yelled at the subordinate. The subordinate simply rolled his eyes and shook his head with a grin at Celestia. Celestia grinned at Fluttershy's ever so slight skittishness. "Fluttershy it is I Princess Celestia" Celestia said to Fluttershy hoping that she would realize that it wasn't some bloody-thirsty, screaming, gun-toting Confederate soldier. Fluttershy slowly began to come from behind the subordinate. "Oh sorry Princess. I don't like to be snuck up on. It freaks me out silly!" Fluttershy said in her soft voice. She bowed before Celestia and she bowed back. "So how is the Army of Whitetail Woods I trust all is in good order and the troops are ready for any sort of attack?" Celestia asked. "Oh yes indeed my troops have been preparing for days now and they are ready for anything. If you look just over there" Fluttershy said with an outstretched hoof pointing just a little way off in the trees where ponies were busily moving cannons into place and shoveling dirt and felling trees for fortifications and breastworks "the troops are making breastworks and are ready for the enemy. How is Twilight at the gorge?" Fluttershy asked. "I don't know I left there because she did not want me to get hurt. I trust they prepared well for the enemy attack though" Celestia said. "General Fluttershy look up there in the sky do you see something approaching in the distance" yelled a scout a stone's throw away. Something was indeed approaching it was one of Rainbow Dash's courier he was flying at top speed in search of Princess Celestia to deliver a message to her. He soon fluttered down in front of the Princess. "P-P-Princess *breathing* C-C-Celestia" the courier stuttered through his heavy breathing. "Captain Lucky reporting grave news very grave" the Captain said. Celestia and Fluttershy were horrified at the Captain's appearance. He looked as though he had gone through hell. One of his wings was heavily bandaged and his head was dripping with a mixture of sweat and drops of blood. "Bring me some medics immediately!" Fluttershy yelled out. The Captain almost fell to his knees he was so exhausted. Celestia knelt down to him and helped him up. "What happened at the Gorge?" she asked. "W-W-We w-w-were..." the Captain tried to catch his breath. Celestia and Fluttershy waited anxiously wanting to know what happened. The medics quickly began to wrap fresh bandages at the areas where the Captain was hit worse. "What happened?" Celestia and Fluttershy said in unison waiting patiently for the news. "Routed! We were routed with our tails between our legs! The CSE have the bridge and the gorge" the Captain said with tears streaming down his face. Fluttershy and Celestia were stricken back slightly. They couldn't believe it a mighty army of Equestria destroyed and routed by HUMANS!! It just didn't seem logical even on paper. "How did it happen?" Celestia asked comforting the Captain. "May I first have some water. I flew many miles to get here and also to run away from the enemy. His cannon does not cease until the enemy is gone or dead" the Captain said shuddering slightly thinking of the CSE Cannon's nearly bringing him down twice. "Of course" said Fluttershy. She grabbed a canteen from the kitchen and handed it to the Captain. The Captain gulped down the entire canteen in one swift minute. "Thank You I was quite parched" he said. The Captain then explained how Twilight's command crumbled after the massive cannon barrage, then the onslaught of gruesome attacks on her flanks, and then the great route across the bridge. Celestia and Fluttershy's mouths were agape. The battle was over the course of 3 measly blood filled hours. Celestia's eyes filled with tears. "I can't believe it*sniff* I thought we could *whimper* beat them. I guess not" Celestia said choking back tears thinking of all those that suffered. The Captain took out a piece of paper from his satchel. "I have the figures from Twilight's Command. Only if you wish to here them, princess?" the Captain asked. "Yes" the princess said back. The Captain opened the paper and began to read. Twilight's Army of Ponyville: 275,000 Confederate States of Equestria Army: Unknown KIA: 23,000 WIA:45,000 MIA: 12,500 Total: 80,500 Celestia shuddered at the large losses. Those soldiers could never be replaced no matter what they did. She pondered a while. "What are you thinking Princess?" Fluttershy piped up. "What we did wrong? We had very good numbers of ponies. I don't know what we could've done wrong" Celestia said. "Captain" she said. "Yes your highness?" the Captain said with a salute. "Record a message. Tell Twilight to rush with all haste to Canterlot with her army so she at least is safe. I would like to speak with her more in depth there" the Princess finished. "Yes m'am" the Captain said with a salute before flying off in the direction of Twilight's Army slowly and with some winces of pain. "Fluttershy" Princess Celestia said as she turned towards her. "Yes Princess?" Fluttershy asked. "If you come into contact with the enemy and I have not returned hold to the last. Do whatever you can to repel those humans. No matter the....cost" the Princess said. "Yes m'am. I will give them hell to wits end even if I go down" Fluttershy said with a mighty salute. "I must be off. Not an inch Fluttershy not an INCH" the Princess said before flying off in the direction of Canterlot to meet with Twilight. Fluttershy turned to one of her aides. "Prepare the defenses. A mighty storm is at our door step."