//------------------------------// // Chapter Two - Advancing in another direction // Story: Ice Fall // by Bluespectre //------------------------------// CHAPTER TWO   ADVANCING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION   Above the valley floor the air was clearer, but still carried the faint hint of blood upon the wind along with the ever present din of battle. A dark grey coated stallion armoured in silver plate, shook his mane and hoofed the telescope to his aide de camp, “Damn that bitch…”   The red coated mare beside him sighed, “There goes our centre.” She spat on the ground, angrily folding her own telescope, “Whose arse buckingly stupid idea was it to keep all the bloody foals together, Dray?”   Colonel Dray shook his mane and turned away in silence. He knew who was to blame. He’d also known how this tragedy was going to end long before they’d even drawn up the formations. Damn him! Damn that goddess cursed fop and all his reeking kind! The blood of who knew how many was on his hooves now and somehow, by some miracle, he was supposed to just ‘pick up the pieces’ was he?   “Oh gods…Dray…”   The Colonel span round and snatched the telescope from his fellow officer, following where she was pointing. The breath caught in his throat, “Major Wild” he whispered.   After a moment, his fellow officer licked her lips and gasped back a reply, “Dray?”   “Don’t breathe a word of this to the rest, you understand?” he said calmly, “You saw nothing. If anypony asks, the princess has gone back to Canterlot to rally the guard.”   The red mare was silent, simply nodding her response. The Colonel didn’t need her say anything, he knew his friend would keep his confidence close to her heart. If only others had, if only…   He slammed a hoof down on the map, “Wild, send up the red flares.”   The Major eyes went wide, “But…”   Dray lay a hoof on the mares shoulder, “Heather, I know how you feel, goddesses know I do, but we have to do this or else…” He shook his mane and looked back at the streaming mass of ponies, “or else all will be lost.”   Wild nodded and turned to her commanders, issuing orders. Dray hung his head a moment then held out his hoof for the flask of water being offered by his aide. If there was one saving grace, at least that piece of dung from the capital wasn’t here with his pointless and insipid remarks, his stupid sneering smile…   Dray could feel his grip on his sword tightening. If that damned fool had been there, he’d have liked nothing more than to send that puffed up aristocrat to the eternal herd with a sword in his gullet. But now was not the time for such things; no, not now. He drove the intrusive feelings away and called for his runner, “Take this to Commander Spar, and stay there with him.”   “Sir” the pony clopped a hoof to her heart and immediately charged off down the reverse slope towards the forest road. The Colonel watched her go. She would be safe there, or at least, safer than here. He closed his eyes a moment; may the goddess forgive them all. Behind him a barrage of red flares exploded high in the sky, illuminating the world in their ominous fluorescent glare.   “We’d better go too, Dray”, Wild Heather stated, returning to his side. She stared up at the flares, “They know what to do now.”   The Colonel nodded solemnly, lifting his head to the breeze, “I hope to the goddess you’re right.” He clamped his helmet on his head and trotted back to where his guard was waiting, “Let’s go Major. There’s nothing more we can do here.”   The forest road was quickly becoming a thick muddy morass, churned up by the hooves of fleeing soldiers. Oblivious to the world around them, a steady stream of broken, frightened and thoroughly exhausted warriors passed by their senior officers like they weren’t even there. The Captain of Dray’s personal guard roughly shoved one of the weary soldiers out of their way as they moved onward, up into the foothills, every step that little bit nearer to the capital. Collapsing into the underbrush at the side of the road, the stallion didn’t move. All his energy, all his fight, sucked from him in those terrible moments on the battlefield. Dray looked into those hollow eyes of the defeated soldier, and closed his own. He knew from his own experience that as much as the physical scars could heal, the emotional ones, the damage to a pony’s mind, would take a lot more than simple bandages and magical healing. He’d seen that look before, that stare, it was like looking into the face of…   “Dray?”   He looked round at the red mare who was gazing at him with a concerned expression,   “You alright?”   Dray nodded, “Thinking, Major, just thinking.” He gave his mane a shake and cleared his throat. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, not right now. There were far more important matters to think upon. Not least of which was how to deal with a certain little problem back at the castle. He’d enjoy dealing with that at least, watching the little piece of dung writhe…   “You’re smiling!” Wild said in surprise.    Several of the command glanced round and returned the simple gesture, a sudden spring in their step. Buoyed up by the unexpected expression on their colonel’s face, the mood of the warriors around him changed dramatically, some even beginning to laugh. It was infectious too: spreading out around them in a rippling wave, ponies trudging along the path of retreat stopped to stare, glassy eyed expressions turning to ones of…hope.   Dray raised a hoof to halt his party. Around them, soldiers began to move closer to see what was going on, pressing in, eager to see what was happening. The Colonel abruptly caught one of the mud drenched warriors, pulling him into the middle of the throng, his voice loud and clear, “What’s your name soldier?”   “Gr…Gravel Path, Sir.”   She looked terrified, her eyes darting from him to the heavily armed guards ponies. Dray lay a hoof on her shoulder, “Did you fight for the princess today, Private?”   The tired mare nodded, “I did.”   “Did you try your best?”   Again she nodded, “Yes, Sir.”   He clopped her on the shoulder, “Then that is all anypony could ask of you my daughter.” Suddenly, he pulled her into an embrace, released her and addressed the now massing ponies, “What you have done, all of you, is no more than I would have expected as the sons and daughters of our beloved homeland: to fight hard, to give your all, to protect your loved ones, your country and your princess. I tell you now, every stallion, every mare here this day, that I would willingly, WILLINGLY, fight by your side as a child of Equestria.” Dray neighed loudly, “What happened here today will not be forgotten, not by me, not by anypony. And do NOT think this is the end, no…” He shook his head and smiled, “I promise you all, all of you, that hope remains, and that the princess is with us, each and every pony. She is in the sky, the land, the water, in your very hearts, watching and waiting to see how you will stand with her, and with your brothers and sisters in the coming days, to protect our world.”   One of the ponies pushed forward, a bloodied bandage on his neck. The young stallion looked up at the Colonel through bloodshot eyes, “But…I lost my friends…they’re gone, all of them.”   Colonel Dray nodded solemnly, “I know.” He gave the stallion a brief nuzzle before addressing the rest, “I lost my eldest brother to a Yak raid last year. My younger sister was…lost, in the first days of the war with the forces of Nightmare Moon. There is never a day that goes by that I don’t miss them, and still love them with all my heart.” He bobbed his head and smiled, raising his voice, “But I don’t grieve them! No, no I don’t. And why not?” He addressed the furrowed brows and baffled looks with a grin, “Because they’re with the herd now, under a warm sun and blue skies, where the water is as pure as a mountain spring, the apples as sweet as nectar on the trees and they wait with my mother and father to welcome me home again.” Dray drew his sword, the flashing blade drawing every eye, “But that is for another day, not this one. Today I will fight for Equestria, to make my family proud of me, to protect the lives of the ones we love here in this world. For you, for every one of you, I would lay down my life happily so you can all live as you were meant to, beneath the light of Celestia’s sun.”   Taking a deep breath, the dark grey stallions eyes shone, his voice bellowing out across the land around him, “Never forget was has happened here this day. Remember it in your hearts. Let that feeling fill you, channel it, focus it, and return it with the full vengeance of the children of the sun upon those who would seek to drive us into darkness. Hope is just beyond that hill my children, hope for a new dawn, a new future for Equestria.”   Dray threw his forelegs wide, “FOR EQUESTRIA!”   There was a spontaneous chorus of shouting and neighing from the massed warriors. The sound of hundreds, thousands, of voices filled the air with their power, life and vibrancy, “FOR EQUESTRIA!”   Major Wild smiled to herself. The Colonel had never lost that connection with the ponies around him, regardless of rank. He was still a young farm hoof at heart really, still busy ploughing that broken ground, bringing life where once there was nothing but barren wilderness. She felt her heart soar as she raised her own voice with the rest. ‘Beyond the hill’, eh? She closed her eyes, feeling renewed strength and energy surging through her. The old bugger had pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat, hadn’t he. No wonder he stirred her heart so.   Dray grabbed the tired soldier beside him, “Are you up for a gallop, daughter?”   The mare looked up at him, her youthful eyes confused, “But…where to, Colonel?”   “Where?” he laughed, “Why, beyond the hill of course! Beyond the hill!”   Rearing, the dark grey stallion surged forward, bursting from the crowded ponies like a cork from a bottle. Wild watched him for a moment then shouted aloud herself, “Well, what are you waiting for? LET’S MOVE!”   Cheering broke out as the mass began to surge forward, the land shuddering with the rumbling of thousands of hooves as the broken and defeated army began to move as one towards the hill, and the promise of hope for their homeland. They pressed on. Only darkness and death lay behind them now, but ahead, just cresting the hill, was a shining, glittering mass of white and grey coated armoured warriors, standing like statues from legend. Above them, snapping and rippling in the breeze, flew the banners of red and gold. There was no doubt as to who they were.   Major Wild shouted over to the Colonel as she drew alongside him, “You old fart, you bloody well did it again didn’t you?”   Dray laughed, the wind catching his mane and his thundering hooves kicking up clods of earth as he galloped, “You know me, Heather!”   Wild shook her head, “He’ll gut you for this, Dray, you know that don’t you?”    “Oh, I don’t think so, Major.” Dray called back, raising an eyebrow, “No…I don’t think so.”   Wild snorted. He was up to something, and no doubt sooner or later she’d find out what it was. If he wanted her to of course, and if there was one thing Dray was good at, it was keeping his mouth shut. In fact, for all the years she’d know him, she’d never heard about his brother or sister until now. Maybe later, after a few wheat beers she and he could…   A tall, white coated officer in burnished armour outlined in silver trotted up and saluted smartly, “Colonel Dray.”   The Colonel returned the salute, “Colonel Spoon” He clasped forelegs with the older mare,   “Thank you, Golden, really.”   The white coated mare eyed him with a deep turquoise eye, “You owe me for this, Dray. Disobeying orders could mean my head on a block.”   Dray raised an eyebrow, “Perhaps, but I doubt it with your connections.” He shrugged, “Better than a thestral axe through your heart in any case.”   The mare shook her head, “Luna shaft me, Dray, you’d better know what you’re doing.”   Around them, horn began to blare, carried to them on the wind. He smiled, “Oh, I think I do, Golden, I really do.”   A hoof knocked into his helmet.   “Oh, stop being so bloody dramatic!” A pair of jade eyes gazed back at Dray, the red coated Major Wild giving her emerald green mane a rub while she gave him an exasperated look, “You’re more of a drama queen than any pony I’ve ever met!”   The Colonel leaned close, his lips close to her ear, “And you don’t like that?”   Wild coughed suddenly, backing away, “Wha…? I…”   “If you two have quite finished,” Colonel Spoon said levelly, rolling her eyes, “There’s a bloody war to win!”   Dray chuckled, turning to his aide-de-camp, “News?”   “Just coming in now, sir.”   Sure enough, from both sides, lightly armoured runners were approaching at high speed, the steam from their coats clearly visible in the cool air. The first reached him a moment before the other, desperately trying to catch her breath,   “Colonel Dray”, the mare snapped off a smart salute, “Captain Weald reports his division is in position.”   The Colonel nodded, turning to the other messenger.   “Colonel, Lieutenant Sands reports her division is in position.”   Dray raised an eyebrow questioningly, “Lieutenant Sands?”   “Yes sir”, the messenger replied taking a deep breath, “I’m sorry to report that Captain Dew fell during the battle.”   “I see”   Dray sighed. He’d liked Dew, she was an excellent officer, but she’d had that headstrong habit of always being ‘at the point of the spear’ as she called it. Good for morale certainly, but not so good when your division lost their leader. Thank the goddess that Sands knew what she was doing. He had high hopes for that mare.   “Care to share?” Spoon asked.   “Hmm?”   Major Wild sighed, “I wouldn’t bother asking him, Golden, he won’t tell you. He’s the most secretive pony I’ve ever known. Comes as part of the whole ‘drama’ thing.”   “But what if he’s killed?” Spoon sputtered, “What then? What’s the plan?”           “Plan?” Dray furrowed his brow, “Why…to win of course.”   Spoon face hoofed, “Damn it, Dray, you always were bloody infuriating!”   Colonel Dray couldn’t help but laugh, giving Wild a cheeky wink that made her shake her head at him in wonderment. The Major sighed, turning her attention away from the two senior officers to the road. The young warriors, the remnants of the Celestian army centre were rapidly being herded through the lines and formed up as a reserve. The wounded were swiftly whisked away to be tended to and, most importantly, water freely available to everypony. Thank Celestia Colonel Spoon had come through.   The older mare took off her helmet and scrubbed her blue mane, “I’ve never disobeyed an order before in my life, Dray, but by all that’s holy, this time, things have gone too far.”   Dray nodded, “I won’t disagree with you there.”   “It was a doomed plan to begin with” Major Wild added quietly, “They were untrained, poorly equipped…”   “It was bucking suicide is what it was!” Spoon cut in angrily, “That horse’s cock needs bucking well gelding for what he did, and I damned well may do it yet.” She snarled, “The princess will hear of this!”   Flicking his tail, Dray winced. She obviously didn’t know yet, but then, they had no real idea what had happened to her anyway. She’d disappeared, certainly, but what then? He shook the thoughts from his mind and refocused on the matter at hoof, “Golden, what of our other ‘friends’?”   The mare sneered, “Expecting the cavalry to arrive at the last minute and save the day, Colonel Dray?”   Lifting a hoof, he scratched his ear, “Pretty much, Colonel Spoon. Hope springs eternal and all that.”   “Well,” Spoon replied, cocking her head on one side, “If the elder decides to accept our offer and lend a hoof, or ‘claw’ I suppose, then I expect you’ll have your ‘dramatic entrance’.” Spoon nodded towards Wild who grinned in reply.   “I don’t think it was a bad offer, Golden” Dray said, “There’s good land up there and…”   “-Oh, the elder isn’t bothered about land.” Spoon interrupted, “They’re far too proud for that.”   Dray sat on his haunches, looking genuinely puzzled, “So why would they…?”   Golden Spoon readjusted her helmet and tightened the straps, “They just hate other dragons.”   “Ah” The Colonel shook his head, “Nothing like sibling rivalry.”   “Nope”   A blast of horns in the distance echoed eerily through the valley lending speed to the last of the ponies on the road. From high above, a bedraggled pegasus flew down to land beside the officers in a flurry of wings, “Boys are off getting more ammo, Colonel, we’re fresh out.”   Dray passed the pegasus his canteen, “Casualties?”   The purple mare shook her wings out, “Plenty, but we’ll get the bastards back, don’t you worry.”   “You’ll get your chance, Flight Captain.”   “Oh, I will, Dray. You can bet your sweet furry arse on that.” The pegasus drained the last of the canteen before thrusting it back into the colonel’s hooves.   “You know what to do next, Harrier?” he asked knowingly.   “Oh, aye, I know my job, Dray.” The bedraggled purple mare wiped her muzzle on her foreleg, “I just hope your lot know theirs.”   In a blast of wind, Harrier launched herself back up into the sky and rapidly disappeared amidst the cloud.   “Damned insolent creature”, Spoon said angrily, “I don’t know how you put up with that…that winged little bitch!”   “She’s good at what she does, Golden.” the Colonel replied, smiling at the disappearing pegasus, “Very good in fact.” He passed his flask to his aide, “Chipper, fill this for me would you please, apparently the bloody things completely empty again.”   “Yes, Colonel”   Dray took a deep breath and shook his mane, “Major Wild, Colonel Spoon…” The two officers turned to face him, “It would appear our guests have arrived.”    ****************************   The messenger bowed his head, “Colonel, her divine majesty will see you now”.   Taking a deep cleansing breath, the old warrior looked to his aide who nodded in approval before stepping back, holding the tent flap open for his officer.   The tents interior was lush indeed. Thick, heavy drapes and tapestries adorned the walls while a number of burning braziers added a mysterious feel to the already warm, dark atmosphere. The floor beneath his hooves was heavily carpeted in what looked like real fur. Closing his eyes a moment, he tried not to look too closely; here and there were what looked distinctly like what the equestrians called…’cutie marks’.   “You may come closer, Colonel. I don’t bite.”   The sultry voice was heavy with feminine allure, a siren call to his masculinity, drawing on his primeval urges. A smell, a scent, strong and heady, wafted from the large cushioned chaise longue. Its occupant lay ensconced in a long deep blue robe embroidered with moons and stars, casually leaning upon a number of brightly coloured cushions.   “Divine majesty”, the Colonel bowed low, keeping his eyes to the floor, “I have come as you commanded.”   Nightmare Moon gazed back at him, her azure eyes taking in every inch, every fibre of his being. It felt like she was stripping away the layers of who he was, scrutinising his heart, even his very soul. A veteran of more battles than he could remember, the Colonel had never feared death nor facing down a superior foe, but now, in the presence of the goddess herself, he felt his heart begin to race.   A midnight coated leg stretched out, “Colonel. Attend to me.”   He lifted her hoof and kissed it respectfully, “By your divine guidance”   The goddess smiled wanly, “It wasn’t a command, Colonel, but a request.” She motioned towards a pitcher of wine and two silver filigree goblets, “If you would be so kind.”   The Colonel bowed again, walking carefully over to the sturdy wooden table beside his goddess and grasped the pitcher in his teeth, pouring a generous amount in one of the goblets before carefully passing it to her. He could feel her gaze, those timeless, fathomless eyes boring into him. A shiver ran down his spine, but not one of fear, rather one of…expectation.   Nightmare Moon chuckled, “I hope you’re not thinking naughty thoughts of your goddess, Colonel?”   Keeping his eyes averted, the thestral warrior felt his throat dry, “No, your divine majesty, I would never…”   “-Oh come now, Colonel, we’re both adults aren’t we?” the goddess interrupted with an amused tone to her voice, “Why can’t you accept your feelings and embrace them?”   “I…”   Nightmare Moon laughed out loud, “Such an imagination! My goodness, Colonel, you do surprise me!”   The Colonel’s cheeks flushed red and he began to stammer as he tried desperately to think of something else, anything else, anything other than the beautiful, wonderful smelling creature before him. Closing his eyes he sensed her moving closer, warm breath caressing his muzzle, the scent of evening flowers born upon a gentle breeze across the meadow…   “I can see your dreams…” Her voice was a bare whisper, “I have seen your past, I have felt the steel of your soul. I know the strength of your heart.” Her lips brushed across his muzzle as soft as down, “…I know you better than anyone…Fulminata.”   The Colonel jumped back, startled, “How…?”   Nightmare Moon took a draught of her wine and raised an eyebrow, “How do I know your name? I just told you…” She raised a hoof and tapped the side of his head, “It’s all in here my dear Colonel, all of it, every tiny little scrap laid out like the pages of a book.” The goddess returned to her seat and carefully folded herself back into its cushioned embrace. Eyeing him with an appraising look, she smiled, “Do I make you nervous, Fulminata? I may call you that may I?”   “My parents called me Fulmin, your divinity,” the veteran warrior said respectfully, “and yes, to be in your majestic presence would weaken the knees of any warrior.”   “’Your divinity’” the goddess said quietly, “yes…” She leaned back and took a deep breath before stretching out her hind legs, “Tell me, Fulmin, you have such a beautiful name, why hide behind titles?”   The Colonel shook his head slightly, not wishing to offend his majestic host, “I was named in the old language, born as I was during a thunder storm that ravaged the mountains where my family lived before moving to the lands of the Beyond. My mother, my father, my siblings…they were all killed by dragons as we travelled to what we believed would be a safe new home for all of us. Only I escaped, and I vowed then that I would never use my true name again until I had avenged them upon the corpse of one of those…” He stopped abruptly, “Forgive me divine majesty, I should not have burdened you with my tale.”   “No, no it is quite enlightening, Colonel, truly”. The goddess reached out her hoof, gently lifting his chin, “You have fascinating eyes Fulmin. I can see so much through them and yet…so little. Strange…”   The Colonel waited in silence. He’d not seen the goddess in this mood before. She seemed distant, unfocussed somehow. Normally she was more decisive, aggressive, and yet…   Nightmare moon took another mouthful of her wine, passing the goblet back to the Colonel to fill, “What of Celestia?”   This was more like it, he could handle questions like this, “She escaped the lady Etrida and headed towards the forest to the east. We followed her down and I sent my best officer and a detachment of warriors to recover her.”   The goddess’s lip curled, “You have heard from them since?”   “No, your di…”   The Colonel closed his eyes as the goblet of wine flew past him, crashing into the table and upsetting the pitcher.   “-Then they are already dead, Colonel!” Nightmare Moon shrieked, “You sent a…a ‘detachment’? Against my sister?!”   He took a breath before answering, “Divine majesty, I trust Storm Major Thorn completely. If anyone can recover Celestia, it is him.”   Nightmare Moon sneered, “He can do that, can he?” Her eyes flashed menacingly, “I hope for your sake he is as capable as you seem to think…Colonel.”   The veteran warrior could feel his heart hammering in his chest. This was the goddess he knew, this was the aura of fear she inspired commanding total obedience and implicit loyalty. He felt a stirring in his heart, his blood roaring through his veins. The midnight coated mare suddenly rose from her seat and walked over to him, her black smoke like mane blowing in some unseen wind. His eyes followed her, entranced by that terrible otherworldly beauty. The goddess smiled as she stood tall before him,   “Find her, Colonel…” she purred, “And perhaps, if you please me…” In a sudden rush of hooves, the goddess threw her forelegs around his neck, her eyes fixed upon his. Her muzzle was so close now, her warm lips brushing tenderly across his own, “…there could a ‘gift’ from your goddess.” The midnight coated mare stroked a hoof down the Colonel’s chest, sending a shock of sensation through his body, “You’d like that, wouldn’t you…” She whispered into his ear, a sound so soft, so gentle, yet so cold it sent a shiver into his heart, “Fulminata”.   The Colonel licked his lips, trying to get some moisture back, “Yes, your divinity”   “Bring her back to me…unharmed. You understand, Colonel?”   “Yes, your divinity”   She released him, returning to her chaise longue, “You have your orders. Go now”   The Colonel snapped of a smart salute, “By your divine guidance”   Outside, the air was clear, fresh. Compared to the stifling heat inside the tent it was like being doused in ice water, a chill he needed right now. By the goddess, why…how did she have the effect on him? He gave himself a hard shake, calling to his aide who trotted over dutifully,   “Sir?”   The Colonel stared across the battlefield, the billowing smoke from countless camp fires mingling with the noise of an army celebrating victory. But without bringing Celestia to heel, this battle would be little more than a side story before the end finally came. He cleared his throat, “Any news from the Major?”   “Not as yet, Sir.” His aide replied calmly.   The Colonel fidgeted with his sword. It was more of a ceremonial weapon these days, but once it had been used against his enemies, enemies he could see, feel and touch. Magic however was something he knew little about, and in his position, a lack of knowledge could well prove fatal. He nodded to his aide, “Edge, find Thorn. Send out our fastest fliers and trackers.”   “Yes, Sir”    The Colonels aide saluted smartly and hurried off, issuing orders of his own. Watching him go, Fulminata sighed, sinking to his haunches and rubbed his back. The old wounds still ached, even after all these years.   It never quite goes away does it, Colonel?   The loud rumbling voice behind him was accompanied by a large whuff of sulphurous smoke. He didn’t need to see to know who it was, or what she was. Waving to one of the signallers, the Colonel began walking down the hill, the voice calling out once again,   You can’t walk away from your memories, warrior, no matter how far you travel.   “No…” he murmured half to himself, “Nobody can walk away from the ghosts inside their soul.” Flicking his tail, he broke into a trot, “…Nobody at all.”   A group of thestrals landed nearby and trotted over to join their commanding officer on the field. In the overhanging darkness of the goddess’s night sky, the starlight glittered upon both the living and the dead. Fulminata watched as here and there, parties of warriors walked amongst the fallen, no doubt collecting trophies or despatching the wounded. There was little mercy to be found here, but that was the way it should be. It was the way of things.   A large purple coated thestral approached as they walked down towards where the fighting had been at its most intense, and deadly. The newcomer nodded respectfully, “Colonel”   “Wing Leader Bale”   The Colonel halted, taking a mouthful of water from his canteen. He could still taste the wine from Nightmare Moon’s tent and smell her rich scent in his nostrils. In a way it seemed like sacrilege to wash it away, but dehydration was as sure a killer as any blade, especially when wearing heavy armour. Beside him, the younger warrior removed his helmet, shaking out his mane and addressed the Colonel,   “A fine sight to behold, wouldn’t you say? Nothing quite like the field of battle when one stands upon the broken remains of his enemies.”   The Colonel looked at the officer askance, “Victory? Not quite Wing Leader. The enemy have retreated certainly, but we won’t have our victory until every last Celestian in Equestria bows before us and their witch queen prostrates herself before the goddess.”   Bale nodded, “It will happen, Colonel, of that I have no doubt. The Celestians are a lot weaker than we originally thought. Even their magic proved little deterrent against the will of our warriors.”   “I’ll admit the magic of their unicorn mages was of concern to me, Bale”, the Colonel replied levelly, “But I agree, their lack of battle experience was telling.”   “Telling?!” The younger officer looked amazed, “They fled the field like whipped dogs! You should be rejoicing, Colonel! The enemy is broken and in disarray. We have achieved a great victory for the goddess.”   The Colonel waved a hoof, “Look around you Bale, what do you notice about the field, specifically the corpses of the Celestians?”   Bale narrowed his eyes, scanning the terrible remnants from the earlier carnage, “The majority of their casualties were in the centre of their lines”, he held out a hoof, “You can see it quite clearly, but it was all a part of our plan, or rather, yours.”   The Colonel shook his mane, “So…?”   Bale frowned, “I don’t understand…”   “The two divisions, the forces that flanked the centre, they were the ones I was most aware of, Bale” The Colonel swept his gaze along the site of the fiercest fighting and sat down on his haunches, “They left the field in good order, despite their casualties.”   “You think we’re being played?” The younger officer asked in surprise, “You believe they would sacrifice their own young ones just to lure us into a position that favours them?”   Shaking his head, the Colonel gave a half smile, “No. From what we know of Celestians, I don’t believe their commander would do such a thing. Their initial formation speaks of some strategy, not one I would have chosen, true, but there is some mind behind this…or minds.” He scratched his chin, “Whatever it is Bale, whatever game these Celestians are playing, nobody says we have to play by their rules.”   The purple coated warrior smiled, “Your orders, Sir?”   “We wait until our warriors are reformed, watered, and then…”   A griffin landed beside them in a blast of wind and feathers, interrupting him. The odd hybrid creature bobbed its head, “Colonel”   Fulminata returned the gesture, “Report”   “The enemy are massing above a hill to the south.” The griffin explained in its high pitched voice, “It’s as we feared sir, the royal guard have arrived.”   “Pah!” Bale snorted, “The ‘elite’ warriors of this land of weaklings. I don’t think we have too much to fear from them.”   “Maybe…maybe” The Colonel said thoughtfully, “but I don’t intend to throw our troops into a trap.”   “A trap?”   The Colonels’ brow drew down, “It stinks of one.”   Horns blew, sounding their plaintive moan across the valley. Most of the troops were already massed and ready, their banners held proudly above their heads. The Colonel couldn’t help but notice how much smaller their numbers were compared to when they had first started out on this campaign. Irrespective of Bale’s optimistic appraisal of their chances for success, the Celestians had not given ground willingly. The number of dead and wounded were clear testament to that. From high above, a high pitched scream rent the air, immediately drawing the Colonels attention. Following the direction the sound had come from he set off at a trot; Bray and the other officers following close behind. Not far ahead of them, a small throng of minotaurs quickly came into view. They were stood in loose circle, roaring and baying at something, or someone, and whoever it was…   “Colonel…” Bale held out a foreleg, “Sir…don’t interfere, our soldiers deserve…”   The Colonel glowered at him, his yellow eyes flaring angrily; he didn’t need to speak. Bale’s mouth snapped shut and he bowed his head submissively, backing away a step from his superior. Fulminata snorted a blast of smoke, adjusted his sword and axe and walked up to the throng. His eye twitched involuntarily at the loud panting and desperate shrieks emanating from beyond the mass of muscled and armoured creatures as he shoved his way through, barging the huge creatures aside. Gradually, one by one, the monstrous warriors reluctantly moved back, their small round eyes staring out at him from bull like faces. The veteran thestral officer stared at the scene before him and closed his eyes. He’d seen this before, he knew it could happen, but in the Withers, his home, no thestral would do this…   A straw coloured pony lay on the ground, held down by two of the hulking creatures. She was bloodied and bruised, her armour, torn from her, lay in a heap nearby. It was all too clear from the way a third minotaur was holding himself, that she had delivered a particularly accurate kick to her assailants more tender anatomy. She was strong, he could see it in her eyes, but against such odds it was only a matter of time before sheer numbers and brutality won out. Another minotaur was already moving forward, much to the delight of the eager onlookers, and roughly shoved his injured colleague aside to access his prize. The minotaur leaned down and reached for the mare’s hind legs…   She squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating the worst, but…nothing happened. Opening one eye to peer up, the mare’s eyes went wide in shock as the towering minotaur’s grin froze on its face, the creatures’ head slowly, silently, sliding from its neck to drop with a dull wet thud between her legs. She stifled a scream.   Colonel Fulminata kicked the lifeless corpse aside and rounded on the minotaur commander, “Meld, get your bastards back into line, there’s work to do.”   The largest of the minotaurs glared at the Colonel and snorted angrily, “You spoil our fun.”   “You can have all the fun you like, Meld” Fulminata replied levelly, “but not like this. There are plenty of whores back with the baggage train to slake your more ‘primitive’ desires.”   “But, pony…”   The Colonel flicked the blood from his sword, “-Do you wish to speak to the goddess about this? These are still her people, the ones whom she shall be ruling once this war is over. You know her commands as well as I, you know her orders, and yet you allowed your warriors to act like” he gritted his teeth, his eyes flaring, “…like animals.” Fulminata held up a hoof invitingly, his burning yellow gaze never leaving the immense bull like creatures’ eyes, “If you prefer, I can speak to her for you…?”   The minotaur looked down at the ground for a moment, then grunted at the two holding the mare down, “What about her?”   “She goes with the rest of the prisoners” The Colonel announced, ramming his sword back into its scabbard, “She will have her chance like the rest.”   The mare was quickly back on her hooves, her tear filled scarlet eyes staring abject hatred at her captors. The Colonel watched her for a moment before staring past her shoulder toward the distant forest,   “Gather your warriors, Meld. I have a task for them that will suit their particular talents…perfectly”   Horns sounded across the field as warriors, already tired from battle, moved into formation with a precision born of endless repetition. For some however, there had been little time for training and even less for being fitting out with decent equipment. Wing Leader Bale watched the ragtag formation with a blank expression as they were pushed and prodded into place until they at least resembled something approaching a fighting force. He shook his head, “Ponies…”   The Colonel closed his eyes for a moment, a sardonic smile playing across his face, “Yes, Ponies.”   Bale hefted his axe, and snorted out a blast of smoke before stretching his wings out, “I suppose they have their uses.”   “Oh, they do Wing Leader, you can be assured of that.” Fulminata replied casually.   “What as, sacrificial lambs?” Bale barked out a laugh, “They won’t stand a chance”   “We’ll see” Fulminata said quietly. He gazed back up the hill to where the young mare had been led to be ‘processed’, “There is an expression here in Equestria, Bale: ‘Separating the wheat from the chaff’. That is what I intend to do with these…ponies. Those who stand, those who fight, they will be the wheat. The chaff…” He trailed off. No more needed to be said. The weak died, the strong lived. That was the order of things, the way of life. He shook his wings out and flicked his tail, an old habit he’d picked up and one that his subordinates had come to recognise when their commander was ready to make his move, “Time to move out I think, Bale. We don’t want to keep our guests waiting.”   Bale nodded, summoning the army signallers, “Your orders, Colonel?”   The older warrior’s eyes glowed in the dark of the goddess’s night. War was upon them, the thrill of battle, the song of death thrumming through the air. Despite his age, he still felt it keenly, as all thestrals did, but they were so few now…so, so few. He nodded, lashing his tail from side to side, “Send in Meld’s minotaurs and the Equestrian division,” He tapped on the various illustrated features on the map for the other officers to see, indicating the forest ahead of them, “Dunn’s division are to remain here to protect the artillery. Wing Leader, keep your warriors aloft and alert for any sudden enemy incursions.”   Bale leaned forward, his voice lowered so only the Colonel could hear, “What about the goddess, will she be with us?”   The Colonel grinned, raising an eyebrow, “She’s always with us, Bale. If not in person, she’s within each and every one of us.”   Bale smiled, “If you’ll excuse me then…”   Fulminata returned the salute, hoofing the map back to his aide. Whoever his counterpart was, they thought ahead, made contingency plans; whether they were clever or just lucky, remained to be seen. He closed his eyes and stretched out the muscles in his legs and neck. His armour felt a lot heavier these days, and camping in the field sent aches through his joints that he couldn’t ever recall having there before. If only he were twenty years younger…   “Edge?”   “Yes, Colonel?” The black coated aide trotted over.   Fulminata kept his voice low, “Anything?”   His aide-de-camp shook his head, “Sorry Colonel.”   Damn it all, where was he? He’d fought alongside Thorn from the beginning, and now he was beginning to curse that reckless decision to send him after the Celestian princess. Perhaps…perhaps the goddess was right and Thorn was dead. Fulminata squeezed his eyes shut a moment and rammed the thoughts back into the depths of his mind. Now wasn’t the time for guessing. If Thorn were dead, he would mourn him as he would mourn all their fallen. They would sing the song and send them to the next world as homecoming warriors, but that was for later. Here, now, he had to keep his mind clear and alert. Reaching out for his canteen, the Colonel watched the two divisions disappear into the forest, “Do we know anything about the enemy commander?”   His aide shook his head, “Not really, sir. I understand that the army was being lead by one of the Celestian lords”.   “Not Celestia herself?”   “Apparently not” Edge shrugged, “It would appear she has that in common with her divine majesty.”   The Colonel clucked his tongue, “I’d be careful who you say that to, Edge. Comparing the goddess with…”   “Forgive me, sir. I meant no disrespect.”   “No…no I know you didn’t, Edge.” Fulminata scanned the forest’s edge, “Will our scaled ‘friends’ be joining us, today?”   The young thestral shook his head, “No sign of them since the battle began, sir. I believe they may be wary about further engagement after the elder was wounded in her fight with the Celestian princess.”   “Wary?” Fulminata spat on the ground angrily, “The enemy have no dragons of their own, no ‘magical princess’ to protect them, and when we need air cover the bloody things are too frightened to fight?”   Edge said nothing, hanging his head in embarrassment. The Colonel despised dragons passionately and with good reason. The years since his family had fled the mountains had meant nothing to him, but he still carried the scars of that time both mentally and physically to this very day. It was Edge’s honour to act as aide to such a warrior, to serve him, and the goddess, even if it meant never being able to engage in battle as his forebears had. To be near the Colonel was like watching history unfolding and as small a part as he could play in this story, it would be a story he would be able to regale his foals with some day.   **************************   Dray scanned the sky, watching, waiting for…   “There!”   A red flare, bright against the darkening sky; the enemy had arrived.   “Signaller!”   A blue coated unicorn snapped to attention beside him, “Sir!”   “Send the signal, boy.”   “Yes, sir.”    The green glow of magic began to gather around the pony’s horn, and with a slight grunt, he sent a pulse of bright green light high into the sky. A moment later, the glowing ball of energy burst like a gargantuan firework. The Celestian Colonel smiled, “Impressive…”   “That opens the ball, Dray.” Wild said watching the light gradually fading away, “Let’s hope our guests appreciate all attention they’ll be receiving.”   Dray smiled, “We’ll know soon enough, Heather. Here they come.”   High above the forest pegasi swooped low, skimming over the tree tops. Dray watched them through his telescope, nodding to himself quietly. He’d been concerned that the enemy didn’t appear to have any fliers, nor, he was secretly relieved to note, any dragons. Had they sensed something? Somehow found out about his plans? And yet, their land forces had been moved up. But how many? Damn it, with the forest it was impossible to tell.   The first of the fire pots began to fall.   “This is your plan then Dray?” Spoon asked, walking up beside the Colonel, “Bomb them whilst they’re in the forest?” She snorted, “I’ll confess I thought you’d conjure up something a little more ‘elaborate’.”   Dray smiled at her, “Disappointed?”   “A little…” Spoon smiled.   Small plumes of smoke soon began to rise from the forest either side of the road, slowly at first, but then the grey clouds quickly changed to a billowing thick black…and they were spreading. From inside the dense ancient forest, chilling cries and shouts began to be heard, together with the dull thump of…explosions?   Major Wild stared in horrified fascination, “My goddesses, Dray. The whole forest is…” She swallowed, “What did you do?”   Dray waved his hoof nonchalantly, “Oh, A little something cooked up by our alchemists back at the castle. It’s a fascinating blend of pitch, pine tar and other ‘secret ingredients’ which I had some of our younger recruits apply to the trees…lots and lots of trees.”   “When the hell did you cook up that plan?” Spoon said, rounding on him, “They were supposed to be your reserve line!”   Dray’s expression soured, “And there’d be a whole lot more corpses on the field by now if I’d thrown them in.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head sadly, “You didn’t see them, Golden. They couldn’t fight, most of them were little more than foals. So, I put them to a more practical, if a little ‘sticky’ use.”    Across the field before them, the forest was beginning to radiate an ever increasing amount of heat. Thick black smoke rising up through the tops of the trees was followed by gouts of flame and glowing embers. The worst of it however, were the shrieks and howls from the forests depths. Those sounds would have unsettled many, the cries of those caught in the already dark interior, now choked with smoke and fire, were enough to unsettle the bravest heart, yet to Dray it was the sound of hope; hope for Equestria, for their people. If they could grind their enemy down, or at least slow them, it would give them the breathing room they needed to come up with a more tangible and effective strategy. Once certain ‘obstacles’ had been removed of course.   Overhead, thunder rumbled across the plain sending shudders through Dray’s legs and chest. Wordlessly he drew his sword, holding it aloft. Without a need for further orders, the rest of the Celestian army readied their own weapons. The creak of harness, of steel being drawn from scabbards and gripped in iron shod hooves, the quiet whisper of arrows being nocked…Dray shuddered. As much as he hated to admit it, there was an excitement in the air, a thrill of expectation despite their earlier ‘embarrassment’. From the unseen fiery depths of the forest, the screams and howls of the creatures burning alive was beyond terrifying, beyond horror, but to the veteran warrior it was…retribution.   Major Wild looked up and down her swords blade, examining it with an intense scrutiny that made Dray smile when he saw her. She clucked her tongue and began to pick at a nick with her hoof. It was an old sword, her fathers, and his fathers before him. Now, as the eldest, it had been passed to her and she’d already managed to damage the blade. Of course it would probably polish out, but it still troubled her that a valuable family heirloom had been damaged whilst in her care. Still, it was a good sword, and by the looks of things, it was likely to be put to the test once again. “What are you smirking at?” She asked Dray irritably.   “Nothing” The Colonel replied, “Nothing at all.”    Pulling at her shoulder plate, Wild shifted her weight onto her hind legs and turned back to watch the forest’s edge. She could feel the tension in the air now, the electrifying anticipation of battle. The army was formed and ready. There was little more to do now than wait for the inevitable feast of killing to begin once again. Beside her, Dray neighed loudly; the first of the forces of the moon, those who would see the end of the reign of their beloved princess, had arrived.