Saeret looked up to the sky and gaped.
A dozen flying vessels had managed to flow towards them, and were now within his view. The glowing aura of the shield and the mist had managed to cloak the vessels up until now, and they were less then a kilometre away from the shield.
Saeret broke out of his gaze when he heard Timber from behind him.
"Everyone! Get your gear together and get ready! Get your selves into position!"
Saeret realised what the captain was planning.
"No, Timber, we need to retreat back to the castle, it's a better defence and we'll have the vantage point."
Timber lowered his head and sighed, obvious pain showing through. He kicked at the ground and silently cursed.
"All right Saeret, your right."
He looked at the wheel of the ship sadly and hesitated before shouting out his new orders.
"Scratch that men, gather your gear and head to the castle, we'll have to leave the Yearchai behind."
Those last words ended with a silent pause, a pause he left to hang in the air.
Saeret walked towards Timber and put a hoof on his shoulder.
"You were right captain, the Salmaic are apart of this mission. I'm sorry for doubting you, but we need to go."
Timber sighed heavily. Saeret looked up to see the unmistakable flags of the war symbol of the Salmaic. The design and materials weren't as good as the Yearchai, but they undoubtedly had cannons and more ammunition equipped with them.
Timber looked towards the cabin door and gave Saeret a weak smile.
"It would be best for me to get myself mah shotgun, you go on ahead towards the castle."
Timber didn't wait for a reply, he walked towards the doors leading to the deck of the ship. Saeret looked at the captain whilst he opened the doors to the lower deck.
Mreco looked towards one of the guards and nodded.
"Escort this colt to safety."
The guard nodded his head and gestured for Chipper to follow. Chipper looked at Mreco with worry in his eyes.
"Have I done something bad?"
Mreco shook his head.
"No no, just follow the guard, he'll bring you to safety."
Chipper nodded uncertainly but nonetheless followed the guard through the pristine doorway.
Mreco looked over at the fleet of ships and sighed heavily.
"Damn you Geretiyak."
Saeret carefully analysed all five of the ships, eventually finding his line of sight stop at a particularly large vessel with — by the looks of it — three lower decks and three beams instead of two. Tulip and three of the Elders walked towards Mreco with mouths agape.
Mreco turned his head around towards the larger ship.
"That will be where the captain, admiral, whoever is in charge of this fleet, will be in."
Tulip's face grew pale and two other elders shortly joined the group of already babbling elders.
"What, who are they?"
Mreco replied instantly.
"The Salmaic."
Tulip's face turned another shade of white.
"Are they here to help us?"
"The Salmaic, they've either come here to shoot bullets through our skulls or give us a large wet kiss on our foreheads."
Mreco leaned in towards Tulip's ear.
"I beg to differ for the first assumption."
He headed to the door and called behind him.
"Anyone joining me?"
The group of elders quickly followed behind him through the double set of doors. He looked towards the guard before giving him his orders.
"If any others come here then tell them that we'll be in the throne room."
The guard nodded.
Somewhere, outside the outskirts of the great aura shield there was a scout, hiding in the shadows and keeping low. She knew that the great vessels must've been spotted by now, causing a distraction for the enemy within the crystal walls.
She had been ordered to surround the outskirts of the mountains laying north to the castle, ready to capture any of the enemy if they decide to turn to the mountains for refuge.
She continued to walk across the hardened stone ground, the mist blocking her view.
She eventually came to a stop when she saw a natural archway leading up to a path upwards, towards the top of the mountain. She decided to hide behind the archway to ambush anyone who decided to walk by.
A loud ear piercing noise erupted from outside.
Hua's smile turned into a confused frown.
"What's that noise?"
Kuati looked out through the window.
"It seems to be coming from outside."
Kuati, followed by Hua, looked out of the window. Their view through the window only showed the northern mountains, not any source of the noise. But Kuati sweared that he could've seen a little black dot dissapear.
Hua turned back around to the door and gestured for Hua to follow. The two ponies walked across the hallway when they heard another round of- cannons?
The confused duo continued through the castle, unaware that the guards weren't patrolling around the castle anymore.
Tulip was starting to worry now. Where was Hua and Kuati?! They must've been somewhere, surely? They must've heard the cannons by now?
Tulip glanced out through the window and watched as the Salmaic warships shot their cannon balls towards the shield, every shot causing a small crack to emerge.
She looked back towards the group of elders discussing plans.
She had enough now. She was going to find them.