After my first day of training under General Limestone, everything that followed was repetitive to the point where I smirked whenever a new exercise or activity was announced, even if it was duller than watching paint dry. The social interactions with Fleetfoot, Pinkie, and Maud in between such drills at least provided some variety, but not much.
Despite this, I knew it was all for the best. Between Limestone's constant howling and my muscles twinging whenever the night had arrived, everypony under her command showed some level of improvement. Fleetfoot and I hadn't changed that much; Pinkie and Maud Pie now chucked boulders a few extra meters. But as for some of the other soldiers keeping us company, Limestone somehow metamorphosed them into a somewhat competent fighting force in a week.
Gone were the days of new recruits bumbling around the barracks and tripping over air. Instead, they kept their hooves planted to the snow and only sprung into the air when instructed. While most of my fellow soldiers often had trouble getting used to the lances, bows, and other weapons, at least they could hit the targets somewhat reliably.
Even with our improvements, whether major or minor, there was always much more to learn.
And this was Limestone Pie we were dealing with. Anything short of perfection earned us a scolding; Fleetfoot and I weren't exempt from such stinging words. In fact, Limestone expected more out of us, only ever praising us in order to force an example down some of the clumsier recruits' ears.
Life went on at a lame, glacial pace.
A week had passed since Fleetfoot and I first trained under General Limestone. While we exercised and practiced combat as usual, this particular day was one I eagerly anticipated. Something different was slated to follow this training session, at least according to Pinkie. And as the sun approached the horizon and my muscles ached lifting the weights, I couldn't help myself from smirking.
"That's enough for today, rookies!" Limestone bellowed. "Now get back in line!"
We all made a beeline around where Limestone stood, all of us positioning ourselves in the same configuration we agreed upon last week. Fleetfoot was to my left and Pinkie was to my right. Standing up straight, we assumed blank visages and kept our gazes locked onto Limestone. She paced back and forth, never blinking or averting her gaze from the group.
"It's about time you've shown just what it takes to be a soldier out here," said Limestone. "But that's not an excuse to slack off now, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" we all orated together.
"I must also report some news." She froze in place, pursing her lips for a moment, and then raised her head. "First, the good news. Princess Celestia will be visiting the barracks shortly and will keep us company for the next few days. That being said, I want you lot to do your absolute best in front of the princess." She took a deep breath. "Show her you're the toughest around! Show her that you're not afraid of some punks! And don't you dare disrespect her, or you'll answer to both of us! Make her proud!"
All of us hollered and cheered together, myself and a few of the more excited ponies thrusting their hooves into the air. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, the hairs on my coats standing up. It was undeniably awesome; my smile was brighter than it had been in ages.
We were all fighting for harmony, after all.
"As for the next batch of news, the Wonderbolts will be eating with us tonight. My—" Limestone chuckled, faintly smiling "—my enthusiastic sister recommended this, mainly so that two of our soldiers could reliably report back to Captain Spitfire. Furthermore, because of this connection, we may be working together in future drills." Limestone gazed into my eyes. I almost flinched, but the possibility of being berated for shivering froze my limbs in place. "Now, be sure to respect them when they arrive. I don't want to clean up your sorry mess, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Limestone nodded, brow ruffled. "And before I reveal the bad news, I have a question for everypony here."
One of the soldiers raised her hoof. "Um, does this question relate to the bad news?" she asked.
Limestone slowly turned to face the mare, the former's muzzle scrunched up into a frown. "What do you think, Buzzsaw McColt? You think I'd just ask a random question just because I'm bored?"
"I'll take that as a yes." Buzzsaw swallowed a lump, cheeks tautened.
"And you wouldn't want me to make a fool out of you for my next lesson, right?"
Buzzsaw bobbed her head, lips pursed.
"Good. Let's cut to the chase." Limestone rolled her eyes and sighed. "How many of you are ready to fight?"
I raised my hoof in a heartbeat. Fleetfoot, Pinkie, Maud, and a few more joined in. Even though I'd have no trouble taking down a few of Sombra's soldiers without breaking a sweat, my throat tightened. Whenever such questions were brought up by somepony like Limestone or Spitfire, they were usually followed with the announcement that we'd all be plumped onto the battlefield. The ashes and rotting flesh from my last outing returned to me, my nostrils flaring up. My breathing quickened, though I still kept my hoof up high.
"So that's most of you," said Limestone. We all placed our hooves back onto the slushy snow, my spine freezing at the touch. "Well, guess what one of our spies reported?" Before anypony uttered a peep, Limestone extended a foreleg toward us. "That's right! Sombra's planning an invasion. And to make matters worse, his target is where we're stationed at right now. The spy specifically noted how he's going to trick us into thinking Ponyville was under siege. He'd wait for most of us to leave the barracks so that he could clean up this place."
A few faint gasps reached my ears. I clenched my teeth.
"However, we won't be fooled by his little game. Some of the forces elsewhere have been stationed in Ponyville for precautionary reasons. But as for us, we're staying put, whether you like it or not. The spy also said that, like all of his invasions, it will be purely ground based and will also involve catapults and large boulders. Structural damage will likely be incurred as a result, though we can minimize the damage if we act accordingly." She paused for a second, exhaling. "Rainbow Dash! Fleetfoot!"
Fleetfoot and I saluted Limestone in a heartbeat.
"Captain Spitfire already knows about what's going on, but since you're both Wonderbolts, I need you to ensure cooperation between our forces when it comes to formulating strategies. If we're going to win this, we'll need all of the help we can get." A moment later, Limestone trudged toward us until we were inches apart. "Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Fleetfoot and I shouted in unison.
Bobbing her head, Limestone then stepped back. "We'll discuss this more specifically during our dinner. As for now, get some rest before arriving at the mess hall later today." Silence filled the air for a few seconds, my heartbeats the loudest noise for what must've been miles. Limestone then took a deep breath. "Dismissed!"
Endless chatter polluted the air. My ears twitched as both eager optimism and bone-chilling fear entered my ear canals. Behind me, smiles and energy coexisted with sulking and sobbing, all of these occurring mere inches apart. For me, however, my heart was racing. The pale, wide-eyed expression Fleetfoot donned informed me of everything regarding her thoughts on the matter.
The botched intrusion on the fortress only felt like a few hours ago, not a week. Yet here we were with another battle staring us down. At least we had Celestia on our side. But if the princess was getting directly involved, the report had to have been serious. It was all coming together for once, though there was one small detail tucked in the back of my mind I had to share.
Sombra's plan to conquer the Changeling Hive may have been still unknown to Celestia. But with the memo incinerated and the idea itself so stupid to where even I'd have rejected it whilst drunk, Celestia probably would've just laughed it away. She'd have her reasons to doubt me; I had no proof.
Instead, I needed somepony to back me up.
I glanced over to Fleetfoot, the latter ruffling her wings.
I also knew that Lightning Dust would back me up.
If we all shared the same story, then perhaps Celestia would be more inclined to believe us. It was worth a shot.
"Hi, Dashie!" Pinkie squeaked, bouncing toward me. Maud followed close behind. "Hi, Fleetfoot! Mind if I ask ya something?"
I nodded. "Sure." Part of me wished I could've responded with the question of why she was still so chipper with the possibility of death marching ever closer, even if she was feigning enthusiasm. But before I moved my lips, Maud's words from a week ago rang in my head. I glanced over to her and meekly waved my hoof. "Hey there, Maud."
"Hello," said Maud, her voice as monotone as ever.
"Anyway, what's Captain Spitfire like off-duty? Is she tough as nails like General Grumpy? Maybe she's the sweetest angel like Marble! I'd like to make a great first impression toward your Wonderbolt friends! And maybe we'll all become friends, too!" Pinkie adopted a beaming grin, Fleetfoot and I taking a step back. "What's the best way of talking with her?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, smirking. "Well, Captain Spitfire is quite calm when off-duty, but can be tough whenever the situation calls for it," I explained. "She's intelligent as well. That being said, you don't want to get on her bad side. She's got quite the sharp tongue." I nervously snickered. "Most of all, I consider her a close friend."
"It's a similar story for me," Fleetfoot added, nodding. "She can get a little strict or emotional at times, but I'm honored to have her as a leader and a friend." She placed a hoof to her chest and smirked. "If you don't mind, can I ask you a few questions about General Limestone Pie?"
Pinkie and Maud nodded, though the former bobbed her head at a much quicker rate.
"Okay, and if you don't want to answer, I totally understand." Fleetfoot took a deep breath. "How come General Limestone never hangs out with anypony else? And why does she always look blankly ahead during breaks? I know those are weird questions, but there's something about her that feels—I don't know if I'm saying this right—something that makes her feel distant."
"Well, General Grumpy does talk with Maud, Marble, and me whenever we're in our tent," said Pinkie. She rubbed her muzzle. "But other than that, she keeps to herself. You'd think she knows how to talk with ponies based on that, but even when I try making her come out of her shell, it just doesn't work." As if by magic, Pinkie's color became darker. She sported a slight frown. "And I wish I knew what was going on, but she refuses to tell anypony about why she acts like that off-duty."
A bemused expression decorated my visage. As I noticed Limestone leaning against a boulder as usual, shoulders sagged, something prodded my nerves as I wondered about Limestone's nature. Like Spitfire, she couldn't have been a loud, bossy mare all the time. And even the true rookies of those she instructed had at least one pony to mingle with.
Limestone was different. It was as though she'd rather avoid conversing in public.
If her little comment about Pinkie's suggestion about dinner was any indication, however, it was that she still interacted with and cared for her sisters. There was a warm heart underneath all of that concrete. The challenge of breaking through that cold exterior teased me, the awesomeness of cheering up somepony I respected too enticing to pass down. And it'd be more for her benefit than mine.
However, approaching her without being rude or making everything awkward was a much taller mountain to climb.
"Well, do you think we could spend time with her alongside you, Maud, and Marble?" asked Fleetfoot.
Maud sighed. She gently shook her head. "It's not going to be that easy," she said. "Even though we're friends, Limestone has this policy about not inviting anypony over while she's in the tent. Marble tried asking her why she had this rule in place, and Limestone refused to explain. I could try and convince her to allow both of you to come over, but don't expect anything from it."
"Well, I hope things work out for her," I said.
My wings twitched. Come to think of it, Spitfire was also weary of talking with ponies, especially when she wasn't feeling so hot. As for her struggles, I distinctly recalled the moment where we struggled in a mission before the war, and while nopony was harmed and everything ended positively, the sounds of her consistently badmouthing and blaming herself rang in my ears. As it happened a while ago and I haven't heard such words from her since, I wasn't sure if that aspect of hers still existed or not.
"Anyway, let's get all squeaky clean in time for dinner," said Pinkie. Sniffing the air, she quickly recoiled and scrunched her muzzle. She bounced away from us, though she'd never averted her gaze from where we stood. "Dinner is supposed to begin in about an hour, and we can't smell all icky for your pals in the Wonderbolts, right?" Before I even uttered a response, Pinkie blurted out," Right! See ya, Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot!"
"Bye, Pinkie!" Fleetfoot and I shouted as we waved our hooves.
"I'll see you later, too," said Maud. She turned around, following Pinkie. "Let's meet up before dinner begins."
"Sounds like an awesome plan," I said. "See ya!"
I glanced up at the sky, the sunset coloring it a bright orange. The stars twinkled above us. And as I gazed at them, Spitfire's words from just before my training with Limestone invaded my mind. I hoped that enjoying such sights remained possible after the war, though my pale cheeks wondered if hoping was all for naught.
However, I had to continue marching forward, even if the road ahead was filled with danger.
An hour or two passed by in the blink of an eye. The other recruits and my fellow Wonderbolts were scheduled to arrive in a few minutes. Fleetfoot and I already stared down the mess hall. It was less of a hall and more of a long, tan-colored tent with an array of picnic tables inside, all of them sprawled across the ground. Ponies just referred to it as such out of tradition more than anything. Thinking about the tables had made my flank itch, the seating accommodations about as pathetic as they came. I still arched an eyebrow and checked at least twice more whenever I found no splinters. Fleetfoot felt the same.
"Ready?" I asked.
Fleetfoot nodded. "I'm ready," she muttered, the slightest of smirks decorating her face.
With a deep breath, we marched alongside each other into the tent. However, instead of seeing the seats filled by the usual suspects and the arriving Wonderbolts, air occupied all of the seats but one. Maud was the only other pony present at the moment, fiddling with her mane as she sported the same, emotionless gaze.
Fleetfoot and I glanced at each other and shrugged in unison. Awkwardness permeated throughout the room, my muscles twinging a tad. The dinner could've been cancelled due to Sombra's impending invasion, though it wasn't like Limestone to not shout in everypony's ears about a change in plans. The headaches that followed weren't something I'd forget soon. And Limestone once shrieked a storm of commands after a session on archery didn't come to fruition; the equipment kept snapping like twigs or was more useful for lighting fireplaces.
What replaced it, however, was something everypony would rather not revisit.
Maud glanced over to where we stood. She motioned toward us, still sporting the same emotionless expression.
Making a beeline toward where Maud sat, Fleetfoot and I arrived at the table.
"Sit down for a few minutes," said Maud.
"Sure thing," I replied. "By the way, where is everypony? There was supposed to be this awesome dinner between Limestone's unit and the Wonderbolts. Was it cancelled at the last minute or something?"
"No."
Cocking her head, Fleetfoot then sat at one of the empty seats next to Maud. "But if it's supposed to start in a few minutes, shouldn't there be more ponies here? It's just us."
I nodded, taking the seat beside Fleetfoot. "Well, you nagged me to arrive early."
Blushing, Fleetfoot shot a quick glare at me, though she snickered a second later.
Laughs escaped from my mouth in return. "I'm not one for arriving early, but are you sure it wasn't cancelled?"
Maud nodded. "I'm sure. There's a good reason for this."
"What do you mean?"
"Some of the others are planning to arrive at the last minute ever since the news about Sombra's plan broke." She placed her hooves on the table; a soft clack rang into my ears. "Furthermore, there's still about ten minutes until dinner begins. More ponies will arrive shortly." Maud arched an eyebrow. "Do the Wonderbolts arrive late for dinner?"
"Nope," said Fleetfoot, shaking her head. "We've always stressed the importance of arriving on time." She rolled her shoulders. "Well, at least Captain Spitfire and I have made it a priority."
"Limestone is less picky when it comes to things such as this. If it's important or relates to the cause, she'd probably accuse soldiers of treason if they didn't report on time. For dinners, however, she's much less strict." Maud pursed her lips for a moment. "It's always been like this with her. Months before you both joined us, Limestone kicked one soldier out for being late for training three times."
"Well, ya gotta uphold a standard," I said.
"That's true." Maud nodded. "And as for what happened to him, he was picked up by the Royal Guard and currently follows Shining Armor's orders. From what Limestone told me once, he's usually stuck with the least desirable jobs. He still arrives a bit late to this day." She brought her focus to Fleetfoot, then to me, and finally back at the world before her. "So when your friend urges you to be on time, that's why. Otherwise, you'll enrage Fleetfoot, Captain Spitfire, or General Limestone."
"I gotcha."
"If the Wonderbolts are often on time, then they should be arriving right about—"
"We've made it!" Spitfire's voice hollered. I swiveled my head to face her, immediately giving a salute. Alongside her were other Wonderbolts, all of them unique in their own regard. Lightning was among them as well, her face beaming upon noticing me. "Hey there, Rainbow Dash. Hello, Fleetfoot." She peeked behind me to get a better look at Fleetfoot and then waved. "I'm guessing the others will arrive shortly."
"That's correct," said Maud. "Come have a seat over here."
"Who's your new friend?" asked Lightning. A bemused expression was painted across her visage. "And why does she sound so—monotone?"
"That's Maud Pie," another voice replied. "She's one of Equestria's best soldiers!"
It belonged to Soarin, Spitfire's closest friend and a stallion who devoured pies in an instant. However, nopony received even a slice in the barracks ever since the war began, all of us dreaming for even the slimmest of slices. He also always knew how to liven up the situation, whether through kindness or goofiness. If there was somepony in the barracks I counted on in painting a smile across my face, it was Soarin.
"And how do you know her?" Lightning questioned. My chest warmed up once I noticed her behind Spitfire. "I've never seen you with her before."
"We met at the barracks one day." Soarin shrugged, donning a sheepish smirk. "We don't know each other too well, though I had learned a lot about her from her sister, Pinkie." He playfully nudged Lightning's shoulder. "Pinkie makes you look quiet and reserved in comparison." A giggle left his mouth.
Lightning blushed. "I'm the best there is when it comes to being energetic."
"By energetic, you mean being a braggart," another voice added. It belonged to Blaze, Spitfire's cousin. "Isn't that right, Dusty?"
"Don't call me Dusty."
I couldn't help myself from slipping a slight snicker. With how Lightning's use of 'Dashie' prodded my nerves, Blaze's use of 'Dusty' and how much we yearned to dump those cutesy nicknames always tickled me. For all I knew, Blaze must've had a nickname she wished to abandon.
"Anyway, we'd be glad to join you," said Spitfire. "We can get all caught up on how everything is going, and maybe Limestone and I can devise plans for the future once she arrives." She made eye contact with me. A forced smile ran across her face. "How's your new wing treating you, Rainbow Dash?"
"It's fine," I replied, glancing over to my prosthetic wing for a moment. "Haven't had the time to fly around again, however, but it shouldn't be too awful."
"That's what Silver Spanner and Moondancer told me." Spitfire and the other Wonderbolts all trotted toward me. "It might feel funny for a brief moment, but you'll get the hang of it soon enough if everything works out. Just keep on trying your best for me, okay? The same goes for you, Fleetfoot."
"Yes, ma'am!" we shouted together.
"And one more thing." Spitfire shifted her focus to Maud. "Do you know when General Limestone Pie will be arriving?"
"Limestone will be arriving shortly," Maud answered. "Maybe another minute or two. I don't know what she's doing right now."
"Gotcha."
Spitfire and most of her fellow Wonderbolts all sat at the same table Fleetfoot, Maud, and I were, a few of the others present opting for different tables. Three empty chairs near where I sat awaited somepony; most of the mess hall had plenty of empty seats, however. But for once, I didn't feel so stranded or isolated. Fleetfoot and Maud were wonderful company, but a larger crowd tended to lighten the mood a little in my experience.
"So when does the food arrive?" asked Soarin. Growls echoed throughout the mess hall. "I hope it's something good!"
"I doubt it," Blaze retorted with a furrowed brow. "Honestly, when was the last time we had a large or delicious meal?"
A sigh escaped Soarin's lips, head hung low. "Good point. But the bread isn't bad or anything."
"Well, we can't exactly live off of a diet consisting of only bread," said Misty Fly. She was always one of the more unique Wonderbolts; something about the gentle smile she wore eased some of the tension in my chest. Despite this, slight patches of dirt covered her tan coat. "And on some rare occasions, we get some fruit. Otherwise, it's the same easily made slush that just qualifies as food." Taking a deep breath, Misty placed her hooves on the table. "But given the commotion surrounding this dinner, maybe they'll turn up with something nice."
"There you go again," Blaze teased. She nudged Misty's shoulder. "Honestly, you're more often than not setting yourself up for disappointment."
"Blaze, let's not escalate things," said Spitfire. She donned a slight scowl, eyes glued to Blaze. "Arguing about something like this is one of the last things any of us need. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am." Blaze bobbed her head.
"Good." Spitfire turned her head away from Blaze. "Now don't go stirring up a storm. I can burst those ear drums of yours if I wanted to."
"She can," Soarin added. "My head is still ringing the last time she did it to me."
"Yeah, I know she can," said Blaze. "Ya don't have to remind me."
"Or me," I concurred.
Scanning the other tables and swiveling my head, I noticed more seats were being filled, the rest of Limestone's soldiers and even ponies from other units were trotting into the mess hall. Captain Shining Armor was among those who entered, my throat tightening in an instant. If he was among those invited, in addition to Spitfire and Limestone, something serious must've been occurring. Something foreboding always loomed overhead whenever they were grouped in the same room. It was a law of sorts, one that hadn't been broken.
And as chills coursed through my veins, something poked my shoulder.
Fleetfoot was tapping me, a concerned expression painted across her face. "I'm guessing this dinner is going to be more than just getting together," she said. "Captain Shining Armor is almost always focusing on just the Royal Guard, and to see him here with a few other notable ponies means we're probably getting a briefing. Most likely, it's dealing with the report about Sombra's forces approaching the barracks."
"You're probably right," I replied. "I hope most of the ponies here have some sort of morale left. Even though Sombra hasn't made any gains in about a year, ponies are still claiming that fighting back is hopeless and some are going so far as to say he has already conquered Equestria. But with us still in the fight and Princess Celestia still on the throne, that can't be true." I shuddered a little, then turned to make eye contact with Fleetfoot. "Right?"
"We're still in this. What happened to the confident Rainbow Dash sitting next to me a few minutes ago?" She crossed her forelegs and forced a slight smirk on her face. "Prove those naysayers wrong, okay?"
I bobbed my head and forcibly furrowed my brow. "I'm not giving up now!" I playfully waved my hoof. "Gosh, I'm here for a reason!"
"That's the spirit."
A few seconds passed. Filling in the rest of the vacant seats at our table were Pinkie, Limestone, and Marble Pie. As usual, Pinkie carried a bright smile with her while Limestone furrowed her brow and wore a slight scowl. As for Marble, her glimmering eyes and downcast expression among what I noticed first, she merely twiddled her mane. If there was ever a mare who acted as the polar opposite of Pinkie, Marble was it. Maud was a barrel of laughs compared to her.
"Hi, everypony!" Pinkie chimed. "How are ya?"
"We're fine," I said. The rest of the ponies present all nodded together. "By the way, what took ya so long? I thought dinner was cancelled for a second, and now I see Shining Armor and a bunch of other ponies here as well. Is there something important that we weren't made aware of?"
Marble nodded. "Mm-hmm."
"I do all the talking for her," Pinkie added. She cleared her throat and stood on her hind legs. "Ya see, General Grumpy told me she got a message from none other than Princess Celestia!"
"A message from Princess Celestia?" Maud repeated, eyebrow arched. "When did you hear about this?"
"About a few minutes after you left."
"I got a message from her as well," said Spitfire. "I should've mentioned that a little earlier. And it's understandable why you'd think dinner was cancelled. In fact, only those in commanding positions got the notice due to a shortage of paper to write messages on. As for why the others were late, things sometimes move at a sluggish pace here." She rubbed the back of her neck and donned a sheepish smile. "Was this the first time you were early?"
I nodded, blushing.
"That's why." Soft giggles left Spitfire's mouth. "Maybe I should have you share a tent with Fleetfoot so that you get your flank moving faster."
"Anyway, Limestone told me that the princess was going to be speaking to everypony stationed here, and that meant getting them all in the same place. The mess hall was the perfect spot for this and while not everypony will have the luxury of sitting in one of these chairs, there's just—"
"These chairs are anything but luxurious," Blaze interrupted. Squirming for a moment, she gritted her teeth. A groan left her lips. "The only reason we put up with them is because sitting on snow and rocks is the worst."
"Okay, so maybe they're not the best chairs out there." Pinkie shrugged. "But as I was going to say, there's enough open space in this mess hall for the princess to let us all know what's going on in one convenient space. As for dinner, it'll be provided to everypony present. There will be more than enough for every tummy here!"
"Wait a minute," said Lightning, raising her hoof. "Does that mean we're getting that disgusting vomit for dinner again?"
Pinkie nodded, yet her smile hadn't vanished. Mine would have at such a revelation, my stomach already churning and roaring in rebellion.
"Drat!" Lightning pounded the table and a harsh clack rang in my ears. "And when am I gonna get some cider to wash it all down."
"Cider shipments probably won't arrive for another month if we're lucky," said Maud.
Lightning rolled her eyes. "Figures."
"Anyway, Princess Celestia should be arriving here any minute now," said Limestone. She glared toward Fleetfoot and me. "Remember what I said when it came to manners, rookies?"
"Yes, ma'am!" we replied together.
"Good. I hope the other ponies here follow the same etiquette." Limestone sighed, muzzle scrunched. "You can only scream into their thick skulls for so long. But at least you two rookies are managing just fine. Don't think that gets you a free pass, however. I'm still treating you like everyone else I have to work with."
I nodded, Fleetfoot following suit. Both of us wore the slightest of smiles. Something about pleasing Limestone tickled my heart, my coat warming up a tad. Yet neither of us said a word; we kept our gazes locked to Limestone.
"Well, they are talented ponies," said Spitfire. "They've learned so much ever since they first became Wonderbolts and are still learning more each day. I've even learned a thing or two from them." Slipping a soft chuckle, Spitfire blushed. "But that does get me thinking about the future, and it's a part of why I wanted to chat with you."
Limestone turned to face Spitfire. "What do you need?"
"It's less of something that I need and more of a suggestion."
"Are we gonna be working together in some drills?" asked Pinkie, her face brighter than the sun. "That would be super-exciting and so cool!"
"Close." Spitfire ruffled her wings. "Anyway, some joint sessions together might be useful, especially since we could all learn from each other. Furthermore, I'm betting Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot are rearing to get back to training with the Wonderbolts, but they're also hoping to have some time interacting with the new friends they've made this past week."
Flinching, I swiveled my head toward Spitfire, eyes widened. "Did you just read my mind?" I murmured. Being lumped into a situation where I had to decide on which group to train with was a question I dreaded; it was an inevitable question as well, especially since I'd have to get back to flying again. I couldn't just abandon the years of awesome skills I've honed. Feigning a laugh, I rolled my shoulders. "Does this mean you have a cool idea?"
Spitfire nodded. "You read my mind, too. I've been around you long enough to know how much you value loyalty. Having you and Fleetfoot train under Limestone was necessary to keep you in shape before flying again, as you've been informed of before. However, while you were snoozing during the night, I've been thinking about ways for both Limestone's unit and the Wonderbolts to closely communicate. Shared drills, closer tents, and other plans are among what I have in mind."
"So I don't have to worry about conflicts of loyalty?"
Bobbing her head again, Spitfire donned a radiant smile. "You've got the right idea."
"When do we get started?" I leaned closer to where Spitfire sat. "You've got the coolest idea in the works, ma'am! If both forces combined their talents, I bet we could be almost unstoppable!" An electric sensation flowed through my veins as I stood on my hind legs, eyes wider than dinner plates. The perfect combination was right there. Maybe such teamwork was the recipe for taking down Sombra.
"Calm down, Rainbow Dash."
I sat back down and assumed a blank expression once more.
"Anyway, Limestone and I have to get approval first, which may take another day or two. If everything works out as planned, we might be able to get started tomorrow."
"That's excellent," said Fleetfoot. "When will you let us know if the plan goes ahead?"
"As soon as possible, obviously."
"Attention, everypony!" Shining's voice bellowed. We all stood upright, our attention glued to the stallion residing by the left corner of the tent. His head was held high and chest puffed out. Even the glowing armor adorning him exuded a palpable power. "Please give your undivided attention to the Princess of the Sun and co-ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia!"
The mess hall became a chamber of clapping and cheering as Celestia trotted atop a makeshift podium in the back of the mess hall. Her colorful and bright mane somehow flowed much like a calm river. Just gawking at her golden regalia for even a second froze my spine. A magical aura filled the room wherever she went, gently rubbing my coat. And as for why Captain Shining Armor referred to her as a co-ruler, I slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you, Captain Shining Armor," said Celestia. She raised a hoof for a brief moment, then slowly lowered it back down. Everypony, myself included, sat back down simultaneously. "I'm sure you are all aware that King Sombra is planning to attack these barracks. We've managed to prevent him from capturing any additional territory for about a year now, and with such a bold move, it looks like he wants to end this stalemate. According to the reports we've received, all of Sombra's troops are focusing their efforts here. Ponyville will still remain guarded as a precaution, but more reinforcements have been sent from around Equestria to help the fight here."
One pony, a soldier of the Royal Guard, raised his hoof.
"What is on your mind? Please speak loud and clear so that everypony can hear it."
"How many ponies is Sombra sending our way?" the guard asked.
"That's a good question." Celestia pursed her lips for a second. "Reports indicate that Sombra is sending a sizable portion of his current army, estimates ranging from three to five thousand soldiers."
"How in Tartarus are we going to stand a chance?" another voice asked.
"Weather and terrain will be a key component of this battle. Even with his advances, Sombra's army has to trot many miles in order to get here. Due to the lack of resources, not all of his army will make it to the battle. Even more may perish if the snowstorms prove troublesome enough." Celestia raised her hoof, gently poking her lips. "And before anypony asks, the helmets Sombra's troops wear require a host. They're parasitic in nature and won't work if the wearer is deceased."
Misty raised her hoof in the air. "But how many of Sombra's subjects are wearing the helmets? If the vast majority of them are fighters, then wouldn't that mean he only has a limited amount of time before he's forced to surrender? And if he's sending so many ponies out to this one spot, his odds of winning the war will be greatly diminished if he loses."
"I wouldn't be surprised if Sombra took that into account. And even without a large fighting force, stopping him will be far from easy."
I raised my hoof high in the air. "But Sombra is nowhere near powerful enough to carry an entire army by himself," I said.
Celestia shook her head. "Not necessarily. Sombra is far from an ordinary unicorn. Some argue he's something else entirely. Exactly what is currently unknown, however. His curved, red horn is nothing like what most unicorns have, not to mention his sharp fangs and glowing eyes strike fear into most who gaze into them. Don't be fooled, my little ponies. Sombra is not your typical foe. I've dealt with him before. He's—frightening."
"So this isn't the first time he's tried attacking Equestria?"
"In a way, yes. The specifics of Sombra's rise to power have been lost, but when Equestria received a warning regarding his power, he was dealt with as swiftly as possible. However, he was also clever enough to have a backup plan in case things went wrong for him, which is why he's here now." Celestia folded her wings, head hung low. "I wish I could've prevented such an action back then." A sigh left her lips. "But we cannot dwell on the past. He needs to be stopped for good this time, and know that I'll be fighting alongside you."
The mess hall erupted in a hurricane of cheers. Some of us stood as tall as we could while others elected to thrust their hooves into the sky. A few of us merely clapped or donned a slight smile, myself being among the latter group. Celestia helping us directly in the fight against Sombra was definitely awesome, though my nerves twanged enough to where I lacked the willpower in chanting as enthusiastically as some of the ponies present. If Celestia wasn't able to finish Sombra back then, my heart raced at the thought of what he was capable of now.
"Let's not get too carried away," Celestia continued. "Even with my help, we'll need every bit of firepower and muscle we can get in order to win the fight. We don't have time on our side, but neither does Sombra. If the weather is on our side and he has trouble with getting his troops past our artillery, we can drive him off."
Spitfire then raised her hoof, Celestia glancing over to her in the blink of an eye. "Princess Celestia, given how Cloudsdale's pegasi are renowned for how well they're able to manipulate the weather, do you think we could have them plant the seeds for a storm that will barrel toward Sombra's forces? I know it won't be simple, but if we have an inkling of where they've been, perhaps we can make their journey even tougher."
"I've already devised a strategy for the forces in Cloudsdale." Celestia nodded, pausing for a moment. "Later today, they'll create what should become a ferocious blizzard. It'll reach its maximum intensity around where Sombra is, and despite being a formidable foe, stopping the blizzard won't be easy. At the very least, the storm will give us more time to prepare for the incoming invasion."
"Furthermore, will we have enough supplies to survive such an invasion?" Spitfire rubbed her muzzle. "The last report came in a few days ago, and everything was running smoothly back then. However, given how anything could change, it'd be wise to make sure we're prepared for the battle."
Celestia bobbed her head again. "We've got more than enough food. As for weapons and ammunition for our catapults, we've got enough to slow Sombra's forces once they're within range."
"Excellent. Thank you, your highness."
"You're welcome. Does anypony else have questions or suggestions?"
I kept my hooves on my lap, others doing the same or resting them atop a table. A slight breeze briefly swirled outside, its howls somewhat muffled and all I heard. Celestia then ruffled her wings and raised her head, trudging off of the podium and glancing about the room. Our eyes stayed glued to her, heads swiveling about if needed.
"Rest up and keep practicing," Celestia continued, her tone somewhat mellow. "Equestria is counting on us. Keep your spirits up and even in the face of imminent danger, never give up. Fight until it's physically impossible to do so, even if your mind is urging you to flee for safety. The officials all stationed here have warned you about the consequences of cowardice and betrayal, right?"
We all nodded together.
"Please come and talk to me if you have any further questions." Just before departing the tent, Celestia froze in place, wings opened. It was as though something was standing before her that she hadn't noticed, but from what I noticed, all that faced Celestia were empty patches of snow-covered soil. "And now that I think about it, there's—" she pursed her lips "—there's one more thing I should mention."
Lightning's cheeks turned pale; Fleetfoot and I followed suit. If Sombra's plan to invade the Changeling Hive was confirmed, any time for preparation and training was cut in half. That was the best case scenario. After all, as anypony who'd researched or discussed the changelings knew, it was that their queen was ruthless. She'd be kind of cool if she wasn't so bloodthirsty and insane. My spine froze just imagining her presence.
"It is about the changelings," said Celestia.
Gulping, Lightning bit her lip.
"Reports came out that Sombra had been planning an invasion of the Changeling Hive. After further investigation after the discovery of a now lost note, those claims are—" Celestia took a quick breath and wiggled her forelegs "—those claims are true. We only have three weeks until said invasion. If we expect to survive this, we'll either need to coerce Queen Chrysalis to fight alongside us or prevent Sombra from invading. The first one is virtually impossible."
My limbs tightened as though a python strangled them.
"If we drive him back, we'll focus our efforts into preventing such an invasion." Celestia closed her wings again and then glanced behind her. She surveyed the array of wide-eyed, pale visages all staring at her. Even Maud expressed some amount of dread in the frown she wore from what I noticed, occasionally biting her lip. "Let's do our best as usual, my little ponies."
Even after Celestia left, nopony uttered another word nor moved a muscle. I wasn't sure if I'd ever move again, the tension in the air crushing my bones. Horrifying was the best way to phrase the news, and even if there were some bright spots scattered about, they were mere specks compared to the rest of the future. In an instant, the morale we'd slowly rebuilt was razed again. Sombra was one thing, but the cackling mad Chrysalis was something else.
Luck wasn't on our side.
Time wasn't on our side.
Only our combined efforts and friendships could help us win, and that wasn't enough.
Lightning stood upright, her chest expanding and contracting rapidly. We all turned to face her as her chair scraped against the ground, banshee-like screeches reaching my ears.
"We're done for," Lightning whispered under her breath. She shivered, teeth clattering.
Much to my dismay, I knew that was the truth.