//------------------------------// // House of Whitegold: Field Trebuchet // Story: Equestria Divided Tales // by Grenazers //------------------------------// Field Trebuchet Standing outside the Springtime Forest, a large army ponies were setting up defenses. These ponies are from the House of Whitegold. Leading this battalion is a pink mare with silver mane. Lieutenant Colonel White Winter was ordering her troops around, while also simultaneously watching the horizon with her binocular. Three days ago a lone Diamond Dog somehow dug his way into the fortified city of Manehattan. After he was subdued, the dog was brought into questioning. Apparently the dog was part of a wild tribe outside their border. He inform them of how his entire tribe was destroyed by a large horde of walking corpses. The House sent scouts to verify the truth behind dog's words. When they returned the scouts were a bit horrified at what they saw. When they arrive and spotted the horde of undead, they were engaged in battle with a large army of Diamond Dogs. Despite all their strength and ferocity, the dogs were getting slaughtered out there. The undead ripped them apart. Those who survive quickly turned and joined their ranks, making their already large army, even larger. When they heard enough the House sent a battalion of one thousand ponies to stop the horde of the undead. Now this was rather odd since these ponies are seriously outnumbered by a force that is probably ten time their size. However, they were assured that their newest weapon will be a great asset in their battle. These new weapons are just smaller versions of the large trebuchets mounted on the Wall. Apparently these things are portable, because they have wheels which would allow them to easily move it around. Lt. Col. Winter watched as her troops set these crude weapons from her position. The ponies carried the weapon's ammunition and place them next to it, allowing for faster reloads. There was a total of twenty of these Field Trebuchets, all of them placed behind a line of fifty ponies. The Militia makes up the bulk of the forces, with only a couple of Arqueteers filling the remaining spots. The usual weapon the Whitegold Militia used has been replaced by the arquebus, a weapon used by the Arqueteers. The reason for this change of arsenal is because after hearing about the dogs failed attempt to combat the horde, it was best that they keep their distance from these shambling corpses. The pink mare watches as her troops getting accustom to their new weapon. Some were holding it awkwardly, some even look down the barrel of these guns. This earn them a scolding from the few Arqueteers who were giving them a lecture on how to properly use them. White Winter observe them for a minute before returning to her binocular. Suddenly she spot something coming over the horizon. She couldn't make it out what they look like, but she does know what was coming. The pink mare set off the alarm and every pony scramble to their position. Both the Militias and Arqueteers set up their firing lines and all aiming their rifles in the direction of the slowly approaching horde. Some ponies adjusted the aim on their guns, while others tediously reloaded them. This was rather difficult for the none unicorn ponies who had to manually reload it, compare to the unicorn comrades who can use magic to do it. Amidst all this the squad operating the Field Treuchet had already loaded their payloads on the pouches. Winter noticed that the payloads were not the usual large rocks, instead they were strange pony made projectiles. She wished she had time to question what they were, but she was busy organizing the defenses. From what she heard, these payloads will help win the battle for them. Time passes and the horde of undead were getting closer, the mare looked through her binocular again and got a clear view of them now. There are thousands of them, each one these monsters scuttling across the field. She identify some them as ponies from the different factions. There was Earthborn Juggernaut, still wearing his rusted and broken armor. There was a Stormwing Hoplites who has A big nasty cut on her neck, the stain of crimson blood is visibly seen on her rotten corpse. A wingless Seraph with no lower jaw, a wildling missing his left front hoof and a Harl-Equine with his own spear stabbing right through him. She even spotted some griffons, zebras, buffaloes, and minotaurs among their ranks. As the undead horde drew nearer, the scent of their rotting bodies can be smell by the Whitegold soldiers. The ponies held their position despite the horrendous odor surrounding them. By now the army of the undead can seen by everypony. They watch in disgust as they shambled their lifeless bodies towards them. Each steps a small piece of them drops off, black liquid that used to be their blood drips from their various wounds. Their once bright-colored coating has turn gray, losing the vibrant colors they once have. Once the shambling horde was in range, Winter gave the order and all the trebuchets launched their payloads. The object was flung from its pouch and was speeding towards the incoming horde. When it made impact, it did something the Lieutenant Colonel wasn't expecting. The payloads exploded, creating a large fire that engulf the surrounding undead. They were either incinerated by the blast or were set ablaze. White Winter watches in intrigue as the explosive bombs did their work. The once massive gray horde were being obliterated. Large flaming circles sprout out in the gray mass, turning the reanimated corpses into charred corpses. A few stragglers manage to slip by, but they were easily taken down by the line of arquebus wielding ponies. The sound of their rifles blasting off is soon followed by the straggling undead being blown to pieces. This battle went on for an hour, with the Field Trenuchet taking out large chunks of the horde and the ponies shooting down the survivors. When the last group of undead was set a ablaze the battle was finally over. The trotting corpses has finally stopped, leaving nothing but their own burnt remains behind. The Whitegold ponies celebrated their triumph victory, they did not lose a single pony on their side. They all began packing their stuff up and preparing to head back home. Winter ordered the burning the undead they shot down and soon enough a small hill of corpses was light on fire. The pink mare gave one last look through her binocular to see if there was any more of them. So far none, just only the seared bodies of their enemies. After doing a quick scan, she began packing her things and meeting up with her forces. She gave a quick glance to the Field Trebuchet, she cannot imagine how the battle would've turn out if they didn't have these with them. And with that, White Winter join the rest of her army on their trek towards home.