//------------------------------//
// Chapter 20: The North Fiefdom 
// Story: Sisters Of Light And Dark 
// by KommandoStalker 
//------------------------------//

WolfSlayer watched from atop the walls of Shilvan as the Shadow Warrior army slowly advanced towards the city, unknowing or uncaring that it wasn't friendly anymore to his army. With WolfSlayer, several companies of Rebellion Warriors, a mixture from those of the other armies and a few made from here in Shilvan. As they all stood stop the walls of Shilvan, they watched with anxious eyes as the Shadow Warrior army advanced closer and closer to the city.

Suddenly, the Shadow Warrior army halted as a Shadow Warrior came forward and shouted up to the gatehouse," Open the gates for the Fourth Shadow Warrior Army!"

But instead of opening the gates, WolfSlayer shouted back," Have you not noticed? Shilvan is no longer under the rule and protection of SoulStorm and his armies."

That seemed to send a wave of confusion as WolfSlayer watched a Warrior pony with hoofs of blood-red come forward.

"I, General BloodHoof, demand that you answer me these questions!" Shouted the Warrior.

"And here's our answer! Warriors! Open fire!!" Shouted WolfSlayer and several crossbows began to rain down crossbow bolts upon the Shadow Warriors.

Shields were raised and return fire from the Shadow Warrior crossbows clattered off the walls but it was apparent that if General BloodHoof wanted anything left of his army, he was going to have to retreat.

And so, with reluctance, he shouted out, “Retreat!" as he began to flee the kill zone before he was a pincushion for the crossbows. And slowly, the Shadow Warrior army fled the area, leaving a few of their own behind them.

And so, the Rebellion had finally shown its face for all to see.

Celestia looked over the report about how many had been hurt and killed during the surprisingly small skirmish between the defenders of Shilvan and the Fourth Shadow Warrior Army and though the Rebellion had lost no one yet again, she knew that when BloodHoof returned, many would fall trying to defend the city.

She put down the report as she walked over to the map of Equestria and she began thinking of a plan to keep the Shadow Warrior armies rocking on their heels but as she looked over it, she couldn't see how she could do so. Then, she remembered about how she had wanted to ally the other kingdoms with her and so, with that thought fresh in her mind, she began to look towards the other kingdoms and trying to come up with a plan to find a way to ally them with her.

Then, Luna entered the room and soon followed by General WolfSlayer.

"So, I assume you are planning our next move?" Asked WolfSlayer.

"Yes... But it will require much... Finesse in order to work..." Answered Celestia.

Luna and WolfSlayer looked at each other in surprise as Celestia said, “By chance do you have any sort of secret network still operating within your capital?"

WolfSlayer answered," Well, we have kept tabs and we were preparing to reclaim the city but how is finesse needed in such a battle?"
"Because we won't be using weapons to make them our allies."

"And how do you suggest we have them do that?" Asked Luna.

"I think of we sent some of our own to slowly work the ruler to us, we can potentially gain not only them as an ally but perhaps we will have gain their trust. Such an action would not only get us another ally but also make the other kingdoms hopefully see a chance to take up arms against SoulStorm." Said Celestia.

"Who should we send then?" Asked WolfSlayer

Celestia paused in her planning to think for a moment of who could possibly do this and then, for whatever reason, she said," I think Steeltrix, IronBlood, and LightningBolt will suffice. They have proven themselves to be useful."

"Aye. Besides, LightningBolt came from the capital. He will help those two brothers with getting around unnoticed." Agreed WolfSlayer.

"And even though they are the commanders to our guard, I do believe that we have sufficient Warriors to protect us." Said Celestia.

"So it's settled then. Steeltrix, IronBlood, and LightningBolt will lead a mission to hopefully turn the rulers of my kingdom to aid us in these troubling times." Said WhiteWolf as he bowed.

"In the meantime, I would like to send scouts out to maybe keep track of BloodHoof and his army. Give us some warning next time he comes around." Said Celestia.

WolfSlayer bowed and left as Luna said," You know... That though I have my doubts, you know it's not without good reason..."
"I know. Let us hope such doubts and fears, however, don't come true." Said Celestia.

"So, though I know you probably haven't been there in a while, is there anything there we should be worried about?" IronBlood asked LightningBolt as he, LightningBolt, and Steeltrix packed up their gear, their weapons, their armor, and needed supply's for the task ahead.
"Well, though it’s a city that isn't underground, it's still a place you don't ever want to get lost in... Occasionally, Wolves from the Northern Wastes will manage to sneak inside." Said LightningBolt as he finished up packing.

As soon as they all were finished, they all put on the packs and then they left the room as they walked down the stairs leading from their room’s floor down to the tavern first-floor pub.

Thy walked through the pub as they left the tavern altogether to enter the streets of Alihorn. Steeltrix had already notified their company, being bodyguards, which they were tasked with a mission and would be gone for some time before they came back.

"Let's just hope that once we get there that everything will go smooth, right?" Said Steeltrix.

"It's all we can do... Unfold we complete our mission, we can just hope for the best." Said LightningBolt.

In all, it took them at least four days to complete the trip to the capital of the Northern Fiefdom. They had decided that they would sleep only when they arrived and though it put a toll on their bodies, when they reached the capital, they were very thankful they had done it.
So, as they slowly walked towards the large gates of the walled city, LightningBolt said to the others, "Ok, just look see if I can get us all in without any hassle... But be prepared if it goes south fast."

IronBlood and Steeltrix nodded silently as they all made sure their weapons were strapped to them and that their hoods were on.

And then, they approached the guards who stood at the gate. Steeltrix noticed that though their armor was that of a normal Warrior pony from this region, it was black and it had the symbol like every other Shadow Warrior he had seen. Nonetheless, they continued forward towards the guard and then the guard took notice of them and said, “Halt."

The trio of ponies stopped as the guard looked at them and said," What's your business here?"

"We are Warrior ponies from the Central Kingdom, just journeying from place to place before we decide to do anything." Said LightningBolt.

"By chance have you heard of the tournament being held here?" Asked the guard.

The three Warrior ponies looked at each other as LightningBolt said,"... No... We haven't heard of the tournament being held here."

"Well, you should hurry and maybe you'll make it to the sign ups before it ends. Come, you may pass." Said he Guard as he slowly opened the gates to the city for the trio of Warriors.

Steeltrix, IronBlood, and LightningBolt nodded their heads to the guard as they walked through the gates and into the busy streets of the capital of the Northern Fiefdom. All sorts of sounds echoed from the buildings that seemed to crowd the roads as the trio practically had to hold onto each other's cloaks to keep them from losing each other in the very busy streets.

"It... Surprisingly hasn't changed much... I don't recognize everything but there are many things I do remember... Now, a tavern should be somewhere around here and it hopefully will have room enough to hold us three." Said LightningBolt as he led the group through the crowds and towards an unseen destination.

"Curious, did you ever use the rooftops to get around by chance?" Asked IronBlood to LightningBolt.

"Yes. Eventually, we'll stop going by these roads and use the roofs to our advantage. But for now, we gotta keep a low profile." Answered LightningBolt.

They kept going until LightningBolt dragged the group through a doorway and into a well-lit inn.

As they took of their cloaks hoods, Lightning immediately began to talk to the inn keeper and rent them a room.

"So a tournament is going on..." Said Steeltrix when LightningBolt returned to the group as they began to go to their rooms," that should really help us if we win it."

"No doubt of that but there will be probably a lot of skilled veteran Warrior ponies who will be thinking the same thing..." Reminded IronBlood.

"Well, just a warning, the arena isn't your typical arena. They made it so that at a whim of the ruling Lord, the whole arena can change." Warned LightningBolt.

They reached their room and as LightningBolt opened up the door, they quickly unpacked their gear and stuff and as they did so, LightningBolt said," Also I got us signed up for the tournament. We got lucky since the Warrior that's been taking up the entry's hasn't gotten here yet."

Steeltrix took a moment to open a window and to their surprise the view that came from it was beautiful. The sun was shining off the snow-cap Mountains that sparkle in the light white illuminating the city in a glow of yellow.

"You know, though it may not seem like it, your city is beautiful." Said Steeltrix to LightningBolt.

"I can only imagine what your city is like. I bet it’s the most amazing thing ever." Said LightningBolt.

Finally, they all felt the call of sleep coming to them and they all went to their beds and after closing the shutters, they blew out the candle and took a nice, long sleep.