Kyle stood alone atop the wooden guard tower, staring off towards the east. Ponyville lay silently just across the fields, most of its inhabitants still asleep. And for good reason. The sun had only just begun to rise, filling the eastern horizon with vibrant hues of red and orange. Kyle watched as night was rapidly transformed into dawn
But though he was alone on top of the tower, he was hardly the only one awake. Behind him, the entire camp was abuzz with activity. Squad leaders and commanders were overseeing their troops, packing up vital supplies and loading them up. Food, potions, bandages, water - anything and everything that would be needed for a prolonged battle. Though the battle would hopefully not take more than a few hours, they would be prepared if it did drag on.
The Alliance army in the camp below him now numbered two thousand - a respectable number for such an incursion. Though the Changelings likely still had them outnumbered ten-to-one, the Alliance was far more powerful. Their mages had taken the time to learn the leyline maps in order to cast their magic, and everyone knew what they were up against now. There was no doubt that the army would be able to hold its own.
And they were not alone. Many of the royal guards would be fighting alongside the Alliance, as well as numerous members of the ShadowGuard. Other Ponies from around Equestria had volunteered to come as well, to help beat back the enemy that had sacked the Crystal Empire, but they had all been turned back. This was a battle for only the strongest of creatures.
And finally, there was the strike team. Kyle, Shade, Amber, and Yxia would be among it, as well as Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash - the two counters to the final remaining Sha. Two more ShadowGuard and two elite SI:7 assassins would round out the group, and two of Yxia’s Changelings would join them as well, bringing them to an even dozen - large enough to hold their own in a fight, but small enough to slip through the hidden route undetected.
As for the rest of Yxia’s Changelings, they had demanded to be a part of the battle to reclaim their home as well. The nine who would not be going as part of the strike team had instead adopted Pony disguise. Eight had inserted themselves among the army, while another was remaining behind in Ponyville. They would be using their mental link through Yxia to relay information throughout the battle nearly instantaneously. The rest of the army had been notified of their presence, and while many of them were uneasy about the Changelings’ presence, there was no doubt that their aid would be welcome once the battle actually began.
As the sun broke over the horizon, Kyle sat down and closed his eyes. He relaxed and let his mind wander - not meditation, per say, but reflection on the events of the past day.
One of the first things he had done the day before was go find Scootaloo to apologize. He had, unfortunately, had to put her training on hold due to his new responsibilities. This gave her plenty of time to catch up on the schoolwork she had missed - so much time, in fact, that she was caught up three days after she returned.
But apologies were not the only reason he had gone to find her. She had, of course, heard the news that the Alliance Army would be marching to war. And when she had seen Kyle, the first question that had left her mouth had been “Can I come with you?” Just as Kyle had expected.
But he knew he had to say no. “You’re not ready for this kind of war,” he had said. “I know you fought in the Crystal Empire, but you were already there when the battle began. This is us going to initiate the fight on our own. A filly doesn’t need to be brought into that.”
“And don’t try to say you’re not,” he had cut her off before she could complain. “I know you don’t like to be treated like a foal, and I try not to, but this is one time when it is appropriate. You need to stay here and at least try to be a normal filly while you still can. Go to school. Play. Have some fun while I’m away. We’ll be getting back to your training when I return.”
Kyle let out a sigh. He knew that Scootaloo had been unhappy with Kyle’s choice, but he also knew it was for the best. This fight was going to be far more dangerous than the Crystal Empire, and she would have been a prime target for the enemy if she had arrived on the battlefield.
It was for her own good, and her parents seemed to agree.
Explaining the entire situation to them had been difficult, to be sure. They had obviously noticed Scootaloo’s cutie mark as soon as she returned home. She had tried to explain to them what it meant, but they still had questions. Many, many questions. Questions that seemed to go on endlessly.
And of course, they were concerned. Autumn Wave had even been angry at Kyle for ‘steering her down this road’. He had had to explain, time and time again, that Scootaloo chose this road of her own accord. He also had to assure them that he would try to make sure she had as normal a foalhood as possible.
Hence, another reason she would not be joining him.
A slight breeze blew through Kyle’s hair, sending a chill down his spine. It was late September, and the weather was definitely starting to reflect the change in seasons. Brewfest had just ended in Azeroth - a fact that left Kyle feeling disappointed. Though he had developed a preference for cider in the past few months, there was no arguing that the lower beer prices during the celebration would have been welcome. Alas, he had missed it this year, having been in Equestria for most of it.
On an unrelated note, he had seen an unusually high number of Alliance adventurers riding on Kodos in the past few days.
Kyle slowly opened his eyes, looking back towards the town. The sun was almost directly behind the town now, forcing him to shield his eyes. Despite the harsh glare of the sun, he could see a small group of Ponies moving from the town towards the camp. Twilight and her friends, no doubt. Even though only she and Rainbow Dash would be part of the strike group, the other four had insisted on helping out with the main battle in whatever way they could.
“Show time,” he murmured as the group drew close to the camp. He pushed himself to his feet and climbed down the tower. His boots hit the ground, and he walked towards the edge of camp.
As he passed through a gap between the last two tents, Kyle took in the scene in front of him. at least half of the troops in the camp had already made their way out onto the edge of the field, and more were arriving every second. Officers were lining them up into rows, preparing to march. small carts, pulled by Dun Morogh Rams, were being loaded with boxes of supplies.
As he looked around, he spotted Twilight walking towards him. The rest of her group was following right behind her. Among them was Zecora, who was the only one who appeared to be prepared for battle. Like Kyle, she wore a set of leather armor, but there was something different about her boots. A small slot was inset into each of her front two boots, though from what Kyle could see, there was nothing in either slot.
“You ready Kyle?” Twilight asked as she approached
“You bet,’ Kyle replied. “How about you all? You ready?”
“Not… not really,” Fluttershy muttered quietly, hiding her head behind the hair that fell over her face. Her comment could not be heard, however, behind the chorus of affirmations from the others.
“Alright. Zecora, are you ready to lead us through the forest?”
“Worry not, I am prepared,” Zecora began in her usual rhyme, “To lead you though without a scare.”
“Excellent. Then all that’s left to do is wait until it’s time.”
The group fell silent, surrounded by the murmur of the soldiers already gathered. The silence drew on for several seconds, which quickly turned into several minutes. And yet still they stood there, waiting patiently.
Or impatiently, in some cases. Rainbow Dash’s wings kept unfurling and flapping, and Applejack could be heard huffing unhappily from time to time. Even Twilight glanced questioningly at Kyle as time dragged on, but he was content to wait until the time was right.
It was a good thing too. Every passing minute saw more and more soldiers emerging from the camps and taking up formation, with officers inspecting and making sure that everyone was properly prepared. The final crates, along with several portable mortars, were loaded, and the backs of the carts slammed shut. Riders mounted their rams, ready to set off. And still they waited, even after the flow of soldiers from the camp had ceased entirely.
Half an hour passed between the time that Twilight arrived and the time that Kyle moved again. Without warning, he turned and walked away from the Ponies towards a small gathering of men near the main road leading back into the camp. They all turned their heads towards him as he approached and stopped next to them. For a moment, he remained silent, looking them over.
Finally, he smirked slightly.
“It is time.”
“Attention!” One of the commanders barked. Instantly, the murmuring of the troops died down, and his voice echoed across the plains. “You all know why we’re here. Today, we march to our final battle with the foes of our new allies. Now, let’s move out!”
Within minutes, the army was marching across the plains towards Ponyville. Zecora was up front, leading the group. Right behind her was Kyle, followed closely by Twilight and her friends, along with one of Yxia’s Changelings. The rest of the army followed after, walking in even rows of ten.
The group walked down the main street of Ponyville, moving through to the other side. The entire street had been cleared for this march, so the soldiers had no trouble moving through the normally crowded road. Temporary barricades had been erected to halt all pedestrian traffic across the road, though this didn’t stop Ponies from crowding around the roadblocks to stare.
As they marched through the heart of Ponyville, Kyle spotted many familiar faces - Roseluck, Mayor Mare, Dr. Cast, Derpy, Thunderlane, Bon Bon, Lyra. Each one of them smiled as his eyes passed over them, a smile which he was quick to return. Even Applebloom and Sweetie Belle could be seen through a mass of other colts and fillies Cheerilee had apparently allowed her class to come watch the army march off to war. But the one face that Kyle was specifically looking for could not be found.
Scootaloo wasn’t there.
She’s probably still upset. He thought to himself as he passed the school group. Not that he was surprised. Even with her training, Scootaloo still sometimes let her emotions get the best of her. It was something that Kyle definitely needed to continue to work with her on, and he made a mental note to pay special attention to the subject when he returned.
Before long, the head of the group had emerged from the town, though most of the army still remained within. The treeline of the Everfree Forest loomed ahead of them, dark and menacing. A small, dirt path ran into the forest, quickly fading from sight as it disappeared into the shadows.
“The path is narrow - we must move in a line,” Zecora began. “But it will take us through just fine.”
“Got it. Single file from here on out!” Kyle called over his shoulder. Zecora entered the forest, and Kyle had to move quickly in order to keep her from fading from sight in the gloom of the Forest.
As he stepped into the treeline, the air grew chilly. The morning had already been brisk, but in here the cold seemed to permeate everything. The chattering of teeth from behind him told him that Twilight felt it as well, and that her fur was doing little to stave off the chill. It was wrong. Unnatural.
Though Zecora had assured him that the path would be safe, Kyle kept his staff drawn and his senses open. He kept reaching out to the Chi around him, sensing it, feeling it, checking it. Yet search as he might, he could find no trace of anything out of place, other than the creeping cold that surrounded him.
Minutes turned into hours as they continued their trek through the forest. Kyle knew that the sun had to be high overhead by this point, but he couldn’t make it out through the thick canopy. Only a faint hint of the sun’s warmth and light filtered through the trees to strike the ground, providing a light that was more eerie than helpful. Most of his light came from Twilight, who had lit her horn up a while ago.
Something flickered through Kyle’s senses, bringing him to a halt. There, at the edge of his perception, he felt something. Something that stood out against the Chi that flooded this place, contrasting against it in every way possible.
“Sha.”
“Sha?” Twilight asked from behind him. “Here? Now?”
“Not here,” Kyle murmured, walking quickly to catch back up to Zecora. “Not yet. But they’re close. I can sense them.”
“I shall warn the others.” The Changeling that had accompanied them said. He continued walking, but closed his eyes. A few moments later, Kyle could hear the distant murmuring of voices speaking, along with the tell-tale sound of weapons being drawn.
“So Zecora,” Kyle began, trying to calm himself as he kept track of the Sha. “Why is this route safer than the others?”
“It takes us through an old hunting ground,” she explained. “But worry not - no predators are around. Their food was hunted till it all was gone. And once that happened, the hunters moved on. Their prey will return, this is true, but until then the threats here are few.”
For a long while after, everything was quiet. The Sha’s presence still lingered at the back of Kyle’s conscience, far enough away to not be an imminent threat but close enough to worry him. Perhaps that was their plan - to unnerve the group before they even got to the battle. Or maybe they were waiting to strike. Whatever their reason for being there, they remained just within Kyle’s mental field of view as the hours dragged on.
Finally, the forest began to lighten. the canopy was no longer so oppressive, and more light filtered through. The trees became less thick, the path less narrow, the air less chilly. Within minutes, the forest abruptly ended. Zecora stepped out, and Kyle followed her.
On the other side of the treeline was a small, sparse plain that quickly faded into a large, desert-like area. Fittingly enough, the Badlands of Equestria reminded Kyle very much of the Badlands of Azeroth. Hard, sun-baked dirt as far as the eye could see, with large, rocky mesas jutting out of the earth seemingly at random. Off to the east, Kyle could see that the Badlands slowly became less hostile and more habitable, but that was not where they were going. Instead, they were moving south, where the terrain looked, if anything, even worse.
The sun was still high in the sky, leaving Kyle slightly puzzled as they moved on. By his rough estimation, he would have thought it would be sundown by now. And yet, it was still clearly daytime - perhaps as early as high-noon. By now, though, Kyle had grown used to the weird way that time worked in Equestria - he had long ago stopped relying on the sun as a surefire measurement of time. For all he knew, sundown could be just minutes away.
Still, it would be a shame to waste what daylight they had. Rather than stopping to set up camp, Kyle elected to push onwards, further south. Zecora seemed to agree, for she continued onwards. By Yxia’s descriptions, it wouldn’t be long before they arrived at Hive Regali. What happened then, he didn’t know. But he did know one thing for certain.
One way or another, the end was almost here.