//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14: Dragonflight 
// Story: The Seasons of Equestria 
// by Lucaro 
//------------------------------//


All the leaders had joined them in the war room again. They anxiously waited for Cadance to speak. “My fellow commanders…” she said softly. “The plan has failed,” everyone gasped. “The Keeper of Spring is dead.”
Lightheart looked up at Cadance. “What now, my princess?”
“There is still hope,” she said. Everyone looked up at her. “Princess Luna is still alive.”
“How?” Brightmane asked. 
She nodded. “Luna contacted general Starlight in his dream. She’s being held in the dungeon of Frostcrown Fortress.”
Starlight stepped forward. “We don’t have much time. Not only are our food supplies dangerously low, but Snowhoof was draining Luna of her power. Once she dies, Snowhoof will use her power to permanently alter the orbit of the moon around Equestria. It’ll be a new Ice Age then.”
Everyone began whispering then. Cadance waved her hoof to silence them. “That’s why we must make all haste towards Frostcrown. Starlight, Vaelan, and I have already drawn a plan.” Cadance laid out a map of Frostcrown down on the table. “See, this mountain pass is or only ground advance to the citadel. It is the most heavily fortified, and getting our soldiers through in one piece will be impossible. So, we will be equipping our soldiers with these.” Cadance put the parachute bag on the table. “All soldiers who cannot fly on their own will wear one of these. The dragons transports will arrive from vulnerable back side of the citadel, and our infantry platoons will jump from their backs, beginning the assault on the least fortified part of the citadel.”
King Lightheart raised his hand. “But my princess, the skies above Frostcrown will be full of Tempests. Our paratroopers will never make it to the ground with them around.”
“We’ve already got that covered. King Lightheart, what happens to oxygen when it is superheated?”
King Lightheard shrugged. “It expands, I guess.”
“Precisely, a squad of dragons will clear the skies with a wave of flame. Then another squad will bombard the fortifications with giant boulders, and after that our paratroopers will be deployed.” Princess Cadance nodded at Vaelan. “Our preliminary attack is heavily dependent on your forces, Emperor.”
Vaelan nodded and Princess Cadance continued. “Once the ground infantry is deployed, the dragons will maintain control of the skies overhead, and we will advance to the rear gates. It’s the side facing the mountain, so the gates there are the least fortified against attacks by ground. The infantry will advance on this bridge here, Starlight and Lightheart will lead them. A squad of gryphon engineers will enter once the gates are cleared, and will blow the gates to the citadel wide open. Reinforcements will cover our backs while the main force enters the citadel.” Princess Cadance rolled up the map. “We have no maps depicting the interior of Frostcrown. So once we’re inside, we’ll be blind. Since it’s the rear entrance and there are no anti-infantry traps there, I’m assuming the inside will be same.” Princess Cadance looked around. “Any questions?”
Lightheart nodded. “So, the dragons will clear the skies, bombard fortifications, and deploy the paratroopers. Then the paratroopers will advance to the gates, my engineers will break the gates, and we all rush in.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Brightmane raised his hoof. “But what happens when we reach the top of the citadel? Who will fight Snowhoof?”
Princess Cadance nodded. “You and I, Starlight, Maelstrom and Callista will face Snowhoof at the pinnacle of the citadel. Vaelan will be keeping the skies secure and prevent air reinforcements from arriving, and Lightheart will be covering the gate entrance.”
Starlight waved his hoof. “Are we all clear here?” Everyone nodded. “Then get your troops ready. We leave at dawn.”

***

Starlight had sharpened his hoof-blades, donned a new set of armor which was lightweight as well as durable, had gotten some food and the heat enchantment, and was now trotting to where the dragons were. Maelstrom, Callista, and Starlight had all been assigned a dragon together.
He arrived in the courtyard, and saw Maelstrom latching his bags to Vaelan’s saddle. Callista was already sitting on his back, and Maelstrom joined her. Starlight was surprised that the Emperor himself would be carrying him into battle. “Vaelan, I am glad we will be flying into battle together.”
“It’ll be an honor,” the dragon rumbled.
Starlight climbed on top of Vaelan and all the dragons in the courtyard had been loaded up and now were in line. “Here we go,” Vaelan said.
The first dragon in the line began running, and soon everyone began following. Starlight’s world was bouncing up and down as the massive dragon ran, flapping his wings. Starlight’s stomach lurched as Vaelan took off, the air whistling in his ears. Maelstrom had put his hooves in the air, screaming. “Wooooh! Hell yeah!”
Starlight felt surprisingly warm and realized the heat enchantment was doing its job. The world up here was white with snowfall, and the wind was gusting powerfully, but Vaelan was a strong flier and handles the rapidly changing air currents with ease.
The other dragons had formed a V-formation, and at the edge of the formation, Starlight saw Princess Cadance, Lightheart and Brightmane on another dragon. 
Starlight looked ahead. The flight would last a day, dragons were much faster than pegasi or gryphons. Or anything else for that matter.
As they flew, they had encountered a few Tempests. All the dragons had concentrated their fire on them, and they had screeched and disintegrated from the intense heat. Conventional weapons weren’t that effective on Tempests, but a dragon’s fire was a totally different story. 
They were picking up speed, flying south into the horizon. Don’t worry, Luna. I’m on my way.