//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: Of War and Shadows // Story: A Princedom Divided - Book 1 of The Princess and Her Guard Duology // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Chapter Nine: Of War and Shadows I know I should tell you of the blow by blow of the first battle between Luna's NLR and the Solar Empire, but suffice it to say, it was a blood bath, and they did throw the first volley, we had sent in a parley, but they didn't return to us, alive. So with our new flag raised and a grim battle ahead our forces marched forwards. “Swords and Shields at the ready ponies! These traitors have no respect for the rules of war! Archers towards the back!” shouted Golden Sword as he drew his sword, a hard glint in his eyes, apparently the Solar Empire forces had committed a horrible taboo in his eyes. “Pegasus! To the air! To the air! Protect Luna's ground forces from the enemy fliers!” shouted Regal Star as she and her pegasus took off and soon met a Solar Empire Pegasus in midair and the battle was joined. “FORWARDS! These dishonorable cretins have sullied the name in which they fight!” said Luna her gaze as hard as diamonds, but at the moment nowhere near as beautiful. Oh don't get me wrong they were still beautiful, but I have never seen fury to ever be beautiful, even righteous fury. “Unicorns at the ready! Healers do your duty! Spellswords watch their backs! Let none get to the healers!” I said a sword in my hand, and sad look in my eyes. The once peaceful princedom of Equestria was now torn in two... 300 dead, 222 critically wounded, 15 walking wounded, and 463 strong. Our enemy? 700 dead, 200 critically wounded and 100 walking wounded, all survivors now prisoners of the NLR... Statistically speaking it was a clear victory, but for the lives lost it did not matter, not anymore. Luna had been attacked quite often, and according to my fellow officers gave me a title, one I would have wished never to have, “Moonlit Massacre” Any pony that rose their blade to Luna, if she didn't get to them first, was cut down relentlessly, and from what one of them said, the look in my eyes was one of methodical precision. And looking at the bodies of the ones I had killed, I swallowed hard knowing that I was a killer. Oh I knew that I was doing my duty, that I was protecting the pony I love, that if I hadn't there was a chance that Luna would have died in this the first battle of the NLR... Soon we were receiving reports from the other NLR loyal cities and towns, they had been attacked as well, but all had managed to scrape through with minimal losses, the exception was Fillydelphia which had only declared itself loyal to the NLR not a scant 2 hours before the attack and had no opportunity to build up a defense. They did however win the day but they needed aid, aid that several of the other towns were more than willing to send, in the form of food, medical, and soldiers. All of this news, while grim in the fact that we were attacked on all fronts, was uplifting, the NLR had won the day, and had secured it's place in history, the first successful secession movement to actually work, if one were to look at a map of Equestria one would see that the line between NLR and what was now the Solar Empire, was a clear 50/50 split down the middle. “Seriously dude, you need to stop looking at those bodies, you're giving me the creeps” said Rainbow Dash causing me to look up harshly “I killed these ponies! All I wanted to do was protect Luna, and it cost these ponies their lives, and yet, I don't care! Tell me, is that right? That I should place the life of one pony over the life of another?” I exclaimed and Rainbow Dash went wide eyed and took a look at the bodies for herself before whistling “Short quick deliberate strokes, not one wasted, not bad” she said and I cringed, she noticed, “Oh come on, Luna said you are supposed to be her main strategist, and you haven't even looked at the wounds? Not very analytical of you. Look, each stroke killed them fast and without much pain. Man, if you were able to do this in the heat of battle, I shudder to think what you could do one on one” “We aren't trying to make killers out of our ponies though...” I said halfheartedly, knowing that that was exactly what we were trying to do, not because we wanted to, but because we needed to. This was not going to be the last battle we fight. “Come to think of it, how would you know how to judge these?” I asked her looking a little skeptic and she chuckled. “I am the Wonderbolt's biggest fan, well I guess I can give up my dream of joining them, but still I always knew that they were a part of the Equestrian Pegasus Fighting Force, So it would make sense for me to study a bit on the combat aspect of my idols” said Rainbow Dash surprising me with her in depth thought and a smile bloomed onto my face. “Maybe, but you probably could still be a `bolt, excuse me, I need to go talk with Luna” I said as I walked away from the battlefield, this time with higher spirits than when I walked onto it. This would be a long war, and many ponies may lose their way, but so long as I kept my eyes locked on my goal, I will never be swayed from my duty to protect Luna, and maybe I will someday be in a real relationship with her. However right now, I had to talk to Regal Star and Luna about forming an elite fighting force, one directly under the command of Princess Luna, one that played off the fear of her time as Nightmare Moon, The Shadowbolts, and if I had my way, Rainbow Dash was going to be the officer in command... “Why?” asked Regal Star looking at me sternly, “Why should I give up command of some of my best Pegasus, just to please some celebrity” I frowned, this wasn't about her celebrity status, and she knew it. “Are you serious, Regal Star? I mean really? Rainbow Dash has always been called one of the best fliers long before she became a celebrity, She also was one of the Wonderbolt's biggest fans, which means that she would know at least a little about their flying style” I said and Regal Star frowned back at me either not buying it, or didn't like it. “What is wrong Regal Star? Already drunk on command?” asked Luna harshly and Regal Star went wide-eyed as she shook her head surprised at the accusation “Luna, I am sure that is not reason” I said a frown on my face. “Then she can explain to me why, when you did, from a logical standpoint, gave a reasonable suggestion” “Because it isn't reasonable, all she has done is say she supports us, that doesn't mean that she will fight the Wonderbolts” said Regal Star Luna frowned “You doubt my loyalty?” asked Rainbow Dash as she stalked up hanging her head, but if the rush of fear I got from looking at her was right, she was far from ashamed, no... She was pissed. “If Luna asks me too, I will fight, I don't want to, but damn it, I will!” she said surprising me and Luna with her choice of words. “You say that now, but what about when you are faced with fighting your idols in open combat? Would you be able to meet them blow for blow?” asked Regal Star snidely and Rainbow snorted “I will do better, I will make them pay for every inch they lose, and double for whatever they gain” said Rainbow fiercely and I swallowed, knowing that she may very well have to prove that soon enough. “It is decided, Regal Star, between you and Rainbow Dash you will choose the best of your pegasus and have them begin training with her in command, or I will have you stripped of command. During war there is no diplomacy in the military, there is a dictatorship, and failure to obey will cost you dearly” said Luna her gaze hard and unforgiving, like the blackness of space. I swallowed hard at her declaration towards my fellow general but said nothing. Even as she and Rainbow Dash headed off towards the Pegasus encampment... Soon after night fall, which I got to watch Luna preform once more, much to my delight, I watched our quickly replenishing troops... Yes troops... No longer were they just simple guards that were mostly ceremonial, but battle hardened soldiers. I noticed a shock of white fur in the middle of the encampment, it was Rarity, she was taking measurements of several of the officers. Frowning, I walked up to her only for her to put her hoof up and tell me to wait my turn, I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me, Ms. Rarity, but what exactly are you doing?” I asked her and she looked up, not really seeing me at first “Are you blind I am taking measurements for the new formal uniforms for the... Oh my! I'm sorry General Novel. I did not see you there! Princess Luna asked me to make some formal wear for her forces, and I figured that while I did have just the thing for the common soldier, not that there is any lack in quality between the two, I did not think that an officer should be wearing the same dress uniform as say an enlisted pony” said Rarity I nodded slowly, not really understanding the thought process going on in the fashionista's head, but never-the-less, if Luna already approved it, I could say nothing against it. “Just please be a little more forgiving, Ms. Rarity, a lot of these soldiers, both enlisted and officer alike have seen war today, and it is not a pretty site, as I am sure you have not been to the battlefield, I would suggest not going there, leave that for the families of the fallen and for the combat engineers” I said, as I looked towards the said battlefield, even from here you could still see the red stained ground, though that was thankfully quickly disappearing. The bodies however, remained and missives were sent to Canterlot granting safe passage to all family members of the fallen, they would be allowed to collect the bodies, unmolested, provided they went directly from the train station to the battlefield... Weeks had passed since The March of The Dark Flags, Rainbow Dash had actually improved the fliers whom flew with her, even if they were not a part of her Shadowbolts and Regal Star had also warmed up to her, though it had come to blows before that. Surprisingly a letter show up on Luna's door, there was no addresser on it, nor was it signed, but it held information that we soon confirmed to be truthful, the Solar Empire was moving on Skyville, the one Pegasus town that had joined us. It was time for Rainbow to prove her worth. “Yes, Princess?” said Rainbow as she entered the newly rebuilt war room of the Castle of the two Pony sisters. “Rainbow, I want you to take your Shadowbolts and fly hard and fast to Skyville, we have just confirmed that the Wonderbolts as well as several wings of Solar Empire pegasus are enroute to attack it.” said Regal Star before continuing, “I will be sending twelve wings of our own to accompany you to aid in the town's defense, with Morning Dew in command of those wings, following your leadership” Rainbow looked confused. “Rainbow Dash, you are in command of the forces we are sending to aid Skyville, but after defending her we want you to try and capture Dewdrop, if you do not think that you will be able to, let us know now and we will just worry about protecting Skyville” said Luna, I kept quiet as I attempted to formulate a plan that may aid the Shadowbolts in taking Dewdrop. There was no question that they would succeed in defending Skyville, the small town had grown with Pegasus that fled the Solar Empire that was beginning to grow tyrannical, as proven by the poster that was laying on my desk in the back of the war room. “Who is in command of the troops there in Skyville?” asked Rainbow, she had gotten a crash course in military practice over the last few weeks, and she learned that she didn't want to step on anypony’s toes. “They do not have an actual military, however they have a militia that is under the command of one Argent Wind, a former Lunar Guardspony before all this began” I replied speaking up for the first time. “How many strong?” “About 20 wings worth, but not trained in combat, even though they already had face it already so they have proven themselves” said Luna and Rainbow nodded before bowing to Luna. “By your leave princess?” she asked and Luna chuckled and waved her off “Go and be save, may the night keep you safe” said Luna “And may the shadows watch over you” replied Rainbow. It was strange but a new dialect was already forming for the NLR different from the Solar Empire which still claimed to be fighting for Harmony... Yeah Harmony, there had been an uneasy harmony for the last several weeks, not one report of an attack, and now this... “Hold Rainbow” I said walking up to her “Yeah, Moonlit?” she asked and I chuckled, before my face grew serious. “If you want I can send a regiment of healers and Spellswords to watch your backs, they may not be able to do much, in a fight over a Pegasus city, but at least they can help keep casualties down to a minimum” I said and Rainbow nodded “I would like that, I think I can keep a wing of my Shadowbolts guarding them too so that there are no surprises from the Wonderbolts” I nodded “Be safe, and try to keep as many of your troops alive as you can” “Well duh!” she said before heading out of the tent, me following after her at least until we were out of the tent than I turned towards the Mage tower of the castle, and rounded up the regiment I just promised... Did I mention I hate being on the sidelines? There was nothing to do in this case, no more news from any source suggested an attack elsewhere except Skyville. I felt as if this was going to be the most stressful wait ever, until that night, Luna and I were having our usual talk when I suddenly felt an oppressive atmosphere and a gut feeling that made me push her out of the way of a crossbow bolt, one that nearly hit me as well. “Stupid move unicorn, now I have to kill you both slowly” said a voice I couldn't identify but there was something sinister about it, I drew my sword. “Ah! Now I recognize you! You are this Moonlit Massacre I've heard about, I love the work you did on those ponies” “Perhaps you'd like a firsthand demonstration!” I said as I kept listening for anything that would give away its position “Come you fiend, have you no honor? Attacking without a formal declaration?” said Luna and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes “Ah yes, Princess Luna, you should have never came back here, this is our forest and our castle, you should have just left well enough alone” “You speak from the shadows, forgetting that I am a Lunar Guard!” I exclaimed before I extended my senses into the shadows via the shadow tendrils I had just then summoned. “Foolish colt, do you really think that you can find us so easily? We have kept ourselves hidden from your own sister, Princess Luna, well, until it was far too late for her to stop us, now I give you this little warning, surrender, if you do I will make the deaths of you and all of your little ponies so much more painless, or don't, either way, you and your sister will fall and we will rule once more” “The New Lunar Republic will never fall, demon!” said Luna angrily and there was a sharp cruel laugh. “Foolish Princess, who do you think started this war?” and with that the oppressive atmosphere was gone. “This does not bode well” said Luna I shook my head in agreement, no it did not...