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// Ch14 Red Snow 
// Story: A Charred Stone 
// by Priceless911 
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               Commander Bolt stood over the table as he pointed at the map and spoke, “Lieutenant Snow, you will take the front and pierce the center of their front line. I will need the quickest path to Colonel Dust if I want the total casualties to be at a minimum.”
Lieutenant Snow nodded as he replied, “Of course commander, consider the path made.”
Captain Storm spoke next, “visibility in the sky will be suitable for the first part of the battle, but from the looks of things we may have a snow storm meet us in about thirty minutes.”
Commander Bolt looked at Storm, “then we better make it fast.” He looks at me, “Lieutenant, for the start of the battle your focus will be on their front line. Thin them out as best as you can, but once we reach them, turn your focus on the enemy pegasi. Just try to keep your aim over us.”

As I nodded my head, I tried to reply, “Understood sir. I'll do my best to k…”
Before I could finish, one of my soldier entered the tent as he stood in front of me and saluted, “Ma’am! Apologies for the intrusion, but I have news from the enemy front.”
Feeling a little embarrassed that it was my soldier that interrupted us, I sighed as I replied, “it better be Important.”
The soldier started looking nervous as he replied, “It is ma’am. Enemy catapults have been spotted amongst the enemy ranks.”
Everypony in the room became surprised as I replied, “What?... but they weren’t there yesterday…”
Commander Bolt Stood up as he asked, “How many?”
The soldier looked at Commander Bolt as he nervously replied, “Uh… two sir!”

Commander Bolt sat back down as he replied, “They must have been disassembled and mixed amongst their supplies. In pieces a catapult can easily be disguised as lumber, or tent posts.”
Captain Storm spoke next, “Will this change our tactics sir?”
Commander Bolt shook his head, “no, we will continue as planned. However, in addition to archers and air support, I want you to take down the Catapult teams.”
I added, “Sir, I will also help. When your ranks pierce the enemy front I'll focus my fire on the enemy catapults.”
Commander Bolt gave me a concerned look as he replied, “that’s fine… but be careful. As archers, you are their most vulnerable targets.”
I replied, “Don’t worry sir; my troops will be near the rear trenches. If needed we will take cover and fire from inside.”
Commander Bolt nodded his head, “alright… but if you see any fire bottles come your way. Don’t take cover; just do what you can to get out of its impact area. Understand?”
I did understand although I was unsure what a fire bottle was, but I hid my confusion as I replied, “Understood sir.”
Commander Bolt looked into the center of the table as he replied, “remember your objectives, and if needed, change them to ensure your survival. And always watch for the signal to end of the battle. I hope to see you all after this is over, now fall out.”
With our orders, we stood and replied, “SIR!”

We all started to leave the tent as we made our way to our soldiers who were already standing in their battle ready formations. At the front, was Lieutenant Snow and his formation of one hundred twenty pike and sword ponies? Then behind him was Commander Bolt and his formation of eighty earth ponies with pikes. Then standing behind the trench that separated us, was I and my formation of two hundred fifty archers, and holding up the back was Captain Storm and his final force of one hundred pegasi totaling us all at five hundred fifty soldiers. I always felt odd that a majority of our force was under my command, but I always felt that it was Commander Bolt testing me in some way. As our forces stood in formation, Commander Bolt called from his formation so that I could hear, “Lieutenant Stone! Signal the start!”
Nodding my head, I raised my bow and sent the signal up to begin. With the arrow in the sky, a reply was sent by the enemy army as they began their advance. When the enemy started forward, I could hear Commander Bolt call out, “Snow!”
Lieutenant Snow replied by calling to his troops, “Onward to battle!”
With that order, he and his formation of pike ponies began marching forward, as the first row lowered their spears as if to simulate a moving wall of spikes.

Seeing the soldiers move forward, I looked to my soldiers as I called, “Make Ready!”
With that, all of my soldiers drew an arrow from their quiver as they laid it across their bows and waited for my next order. With all my soldiers waiting, I looked to my right at Sergeant Tunder as I asked quietly, “Sergeant… you’ve watched their training like I have… what would be their most accurate, range?”
Sergeant Tunder replied, “I would guess… two fifty.”
I nodded my head as I replied, “I'll try pushing a little more… by the way… what’s a… fire bottle?”
I knew he was a little surprised, but trying not to be insulting, he replied without an expression, “It’s a clay bottle full of flammable liquid and a burning cap... you will know it if you see one.”
I nodded my head as I replied, “Good… then I'll need your help when we come across them. Just remember, if needed we will push to the trenches… agreed?”
Sergeant Tunder nodded his head in reply.

As my formation and I continued standing in wait, Commander Bolt called his next order, “Troops! Forward!”
With that, he and his formation of soldiers started trotting forward as they began making their way down the field. A few second later, I could see something in the sky as I called, “Captain Storm! Twelve O’clock High!”
Seeing the formation of enemy pegasi, Captain Storm called back, “Good eye lieutenant! Soldiers! Move out!”
With that, he and the rest of his pegasi troops opened their wings and flew over our heads as they went to meet the approaching pegasi formations. As I watched Captain Storm’s troops take off, Sargent Tunder spoke, “Ma’am… Enemy in range.”
I looked back at the field as I saw the enemy’s first rank get into range, then I raised my bow as I drew it and called, “Archers! Fifty three degrees up!”
Hearing the creaks of my formation’s bows, I felt the wind as I adjusted my aim and called again, “Ten degree’s right!...”
Waiting a few seconds for my soldiers to make adjustments, I called, “RELEASE!!!”
With that, I released my arrow, as a split second passed before feeling the wind of over a hundred arrows as they flew over my head and into the sky.

With the arrows moving into the sky like a fast moving cloud, I watched as they eased their way over our soldiers and colligated with the center of the first formation as bit by bit, the soldier began falling to the ground. Watching the successful impact of our arrows, I measured the distance as I called, “Again! Make ready!”
As we all pulled a second arrow from our quiver I started to draw my bow again but before I could, a crossing shadow caught my eye as I looked up and called out, “INCOMING!!!”
Reacting to the command, I and most of my soldiers hit the ground as a massive boulder came crashing down on our general area with a loud and roaring crash of metal and stone. After the sound stopped, I picked myself up as I looked at Sergeant Tunder and called, “everypony okay?”
Hearing the moans and groans of the wounded gave me my answer as I spoke before others could reply, “Final rank! See to the wounded, the rest of you, MOVE FORWARD!”
Sergeant Tunder gave me a surprised look, “F-forward?”
As I looked at Tunder I replied, “That was a gauging shot! The next one will hit us dead on. Everypony move forward! Head for the trenches!”
hearing that Tunder, my formation, and I started sprinting forward as we made our way to the trench and took cover inside.

As soon as we reached the trench, I could hear the collision of swords as Lieutenant Snow and his formation made contact with the front formation of soldiers. Hearing this I looked over the trench wall as I tried to locate the enemy catapults. As I looked, Tunder called, “Ma’am! The Sky!”
When I looked up, I saw a few enemy pegasi who got passed Captain Storm’s troops as I called back, “Tunder! On me!”
“Ma’am!”
With that, Sergeant Tunder and I quickly raised our bow as we fired arrows hitting the incoming pegasi and leaving them to fall to the ground. When that happened I called, “Everypony make ready!”
After that, I looked into the distance and immediately called the trajectory for the first Catapult, “Forty Degrees up, Thirty two degrees left! RELEASE!”

With that, every able-bodied archer in my formation peeked over the wall of the trench as they drew their bows and fired arrows at the target as the cloud of arrows, resembled a thick scattering line as it flew thought the sky. With a faint whistle, the streak of arrows, bundled into a cloud as it colligated with the catapult killing all who operated it while at the same time, activating it and sending its readied boulder into the sky towards us. When I saw the boulder coming at us I called, “Incoming!”
With that, all my archers in the trench ducked down as the boulder, crashed down a few feet in front of the trench as it bounced over us and rolled into our camp as it crushed one of the tents in the camp. When I saw this, I looked back to the battlefield but before I could call the next order, I saw another volley of enemy arrows coming at us as I called, “Soldiers, Incoming arrows!”
With that I and the rest of my soldiers took cover a second time, however the arrows flew over the wall and into the trench causing many of my soldiers to cry out in pain as many were stricken down by the falling projectiles. Hearing the cries I looked around at my wounded and froze. Some were crying in pain over simple arrows in shoulders or sides… but others… were far worse. Arrows in their heads… severed wings… it… it was too horrible for words.

Luckily, as I stared at the wounded in horror, Sergeant Tunder snapped me out of it before the others could see as he yelled at me, “MA’AM! Your orders!!!”
Seeing the scared expression on his face quickly brought me back to reality as I called, “Some of you gather the wounded! Set them behind cover here! The rest of you Make ready!”
As I looked down the battlefield, I could see that by this time, Commander Bolt and Lieutenant Snow’s forces were mixed amongst the enemy soldiers as the clashing of metal swords and shields echoed into the distance. Above I could see the same with Captain Storm’s pegasi and the enemy forces as occasional soldiers fell from the battling formations in in the sky. Looking back down the battlefield, I could see a few soldier make their way passed the allied front as single soldiers began charging towards us. So I had no choice but to make a call, “All Squads! Fire at will by target! One, Two, Three, Fire on all enemy melee troops, both ground and air! Four five and six, on enemy archer formations! Seven, and eight, locate and take down the catapults from here! Nine see to wounded and keep your eyes up. Call all incoming!”
All the squad leaders who were still active replied, “Ma’am!”
With that, I started hearing orders being called to each squad of archers as they each started focusing on the targets directed and fired their bows by their squad leader’s orders. Seeing this made me feel a little pride, but with no time to enjoy it, I quickly drew my bow and began firing at the charging soldiers who never made it close enough to us to strike us with their swords or pikes.

After a few minutes of taking down more and more soldiers, Tunder called “Fire bottle!... Ma’am!”
Looking into the distance I could finally see the second catapult as it fired a burning jug of fuel at a close enemy formation leaving the round bottle to shatter as flames engulfed the burning soldiers in a horrifying roar of screams that could be heard from across the battlefield. Seeing the horrifying result of just one fire bottle, I looked at Sergeant Tunder, “We can’t let them fire a second bottle! All archers on my command make rea…”
Before I could take command, a soldier in the ninth squad called, “INCOMING ARROWS!”
Reacting to the warning, I and the rest of my soldiers took cover again from the falling threat. After the arrows fished falling around us, I stood back up as I looked over the wall of the trench and called, “Alright everypony! Make Rea…”
Before I could finish, I was quickly silenced when I realized that the incoming snow that was expected for later, had already begun while we were taking cover. But that’s not why I stopped calling my order, what really stopped me was that the haze that followed the expected weather had already concealed all long distance targets, so the enemy catapult that I was going to have them fire at… was hidden somewhere inside the distant haze. Trying all I could to remember the exact area that the catapult was in, Sergeant Tunder spoke, “Ma’am?...”
Trying to remember exactly where the catapult was, I looked into the distance as I replied, “I… I can’t…”

All of a sudden, I saw a light from a flame in the distance as I called, “THERE! Thirty Degrees! Thirty-four Right! RELEASE NOW!!!”
As I and most of my remaining archers fired our bows, I already knew it was too late, because by the time the final arrow vanished into the haze, the burning light was thrown into the air and began getting brighter as I knew it was headed our way. Since I knew what it was capable, I turned to look down the trench as I called, “EVERYPONY!!! MOVE FORWARD!!! NOW!!! OUT OF THE TRENCH!!! GO!”
With that frantic order, all of my soldiers that could still run, climbed over the trench wall and started charging forward. However, after taking my third step away from the trench, the bottle appeared from above as it hit the ground just one foot beside me before shattering and sending the igniting fuel pouring into the trench with the momentum of its incoming angle.

After the impact, the fuel poured into the trench igniting all who were still there… including the wounded. At that moment, the sound of the horrifying screams of those still in the trench completely over shadowed the sound of the battle outside. With the screams completely filling my mind, I could only stare in horror as those who survived the attack, climbed out of the trench, and tried all they could to put the flames out by rolling in the snow… that is… until the flames proved too much, and their rolling bodies… stopped moving. This sight, proved to horrifying to comprehend. Seeing this, only made everything around me go silent, as all I could hear, was the popping of the fire, the screams of those ponies… and… my own breathing. Trying to snap me out of it, Sergeant Tunder grabbed my shoulder and yelled at me from only a few inches away.

At first… I couldn’t even hear his words, but then, like a wave on the sea, the sounds of everything around me returned as he repeated himself, “Lieutenant!!! We are exposed here! What do we do!!!”
With that truth known, I looked through my remaining force, which seemed to be less than a quarter of my original force.as they all looked at me in concern for our next actions. Looking around, the snowfall has gotten thicker as the haze, which concealed everything at one hundred meters, move to twenty. Now, we couldn’t see shadows of soldiers in the distance, nor could we see the ponies fighting close by. Now, all we had to rely on was the sound of enemy fighting and the flicker of fire through the haze. So I looked around and replied, “Everypony! Fall in! Keep your eyes about and fire at will to any charging soldiers!”
Confused to the instruction, Tunder tried to speak, “Ma’am? What abou…”
“Shhhh…”

Silencing himself after I shushed him, Sergeant Tunder started looking around as I kept my sights heightened and looked into the direction that the catapult that fired the last shot was from. Looking into the distance I quickly calculated the direction, as opposed to where I was standing, then how far I moved from my last point as I smiled and called, “Everypony! Make ready Flame!”
Nodding their heads, Everypony in my remaining force drew their bows as the unicorn mixed amongst us used spells to ignite the tips of each arrow. Then with everypony ready, I called out, “Everypony! Twenty-seven degrees! Thirty-nine right! Release!”
With that call, I and the rest of my soldier released our arrows at the exact same time that a small light from the next fire bottle appeared through the haze. Less than a second later, the arrows colligated with the light in the distance as the small flame exploded into an array of fire that drenched the distant catapult and crew making them completely visible.

With the burning silhouette easy to see through the thick fog, my team of archers cheered at their accomplishment, as I yelled, “THIS BATTLE ISN’T OVER YET! Everypony make ready! We just gave away our position! They’ll be here soon!”
Realizing what I was talking about, my soldiers stopped cheering as they all readied their bows and waited for the next order. As they all waited, we started seeing shadows of enemy soldiers charging through the haze as I gave my order, “FIRE AT WILL!”
With that, everypony began firing their bows at each shadow that was identified as an enemy, but as we did, more and more enemy soldiers emerged from the haze as they charged towards the source of the burning arrows from before.

One by one, my archers fired at incoming soldiers from both the ground and the air as we all did what we could to hold them back. However, with each passing soldier, I could tell that we were losing more ground then we were gaining. Finally an enemy pike pony managed to get close enough to thrust his pike at me, as I barely dodged the attack leaving the shaft of the spear to pass between the handle and string on my bow. Using this to keep his blade away, I pushed closer as I pulled an arrow from my quiver in an attempt to stab him with it. But before I could do that, the soldier reacted first as he reached up and punched me as hard as he could. Though it only hurt a little, it still caught me off guard as I was pushed back, running the blade of the enemy pike along my string as it cut it, rendering my bow useless. Trying to catch me off guard, the pike pony tried to take a swing at me with his pike. Luckily, I was able to use the handle of my bow to block the attack, but before I could parry him away, an arrow came out of nowhere as it flew over my shoulder and dug into the enemy’s face killing him on impact.

With the enemy falling to the ground, I looked in the direction the arrow came from as I saw Sergeant Tunder lower his bow and spoke, “Ma’am, are you alright?”
I nodded my head, “yea… thanks.”
Sergeant Tunder smiled as he replied, “No problem ma’am I won’t le-“
Before he could finish, time seemed to slow down, as an arrow dropped from the sky, as it came down and hit him in his head, just above his ear… killing him instantly. When I saw this… I froze as I watched his expression slowly dissipate as he leaned with the impact, and fell to the ground. I… I couldn’t believe it… right in front of me, less than a foot away; my best soldier fell just like that. With my focus on Tunder’s body, I didn’t notice the rain of arrows that followed the first as they began falling on my half of the formation leaving one to cut my cheek before burying itself into the ground.

With the sudden realization of my surrounding, I looked through my soldiers who were either fighting or falling to the rain of arrows as I decided to make my decision, “Soldiers Fall back! We need to get back to the rear line!”
Following my instruction, most of my soldiers began retreating as the rest tried to fight off the still advancing enemy. Since I knew it was useless, I decided to place my bow in my quiver as I turned to retreat with the rest of my soldiers, but before I could an enemy unicorn used a spell to grab my mane and pull me back causing me to fall backwards onto the ground in front of him. Then as he approached me, he raised his spear up and spoke, “You won’t get awa…”
Before he could finish, Captain Storm dropped from the sky as he swung around and bashed the Large metal morning start against the enemy’s face as the massive spiked sphere no undoubtedly cracked the unicorn’s skull open with the impact.

As the enemy fell, Captain Storm Called to me and my soldiers, “Hold the line! We have to keep fighting!”
As I turned back to him I tried to reply, “But… my bow is…”
Captain Storm gave me an intimidating glare as he replied, “Commander Bolt is across enemy lines right now fighting with Colonel Dust! If he is still fighting, then you can hold the line until he returns! Or do you not have faith in your commander!?!”
When I heard those words, I looked at my soldiers as they gave me a look of curiosity. When I saw this, I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement, as I looked at Captain Storm and replied, “Of course! Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Captain Storm smiled as he replied, “Then give your orders Lieutenant. Your soldiers are waiting.”
Nodding my head, I called to my soldiers, “Everypony! Form up and make ready!”
With that, all of my soldiers gathered behind me and formed up in a rectangular formation as they readied their bows. With my soldiers waiting for their next order, I pulled my bow from my quiver as I held it up as if I were to readying myself to fire. Then I called to captain Storm, “Don’t you have soldiers of your own to direct?”
Captain Storm smiled as he looked to the sky and replied, “Got it… I'll leave you to it then.”
With that said, Captain Storm took to the sky and I called my next order, “Soldiers! Five degrees up!”
I could tell that a few of my soldiers looked at me in confusion as I turned back to them and replied to their stares, “You heard me! Five degrees!”

As my soldiers saw the seriousness in my order, they each aimed carefully strait forward as they made sure that their aim wasn’t on me or their fellow soldiers. Then as I looked forward into the haze, I waited for a few more seconds as a few enemy soldiers started to emerge. Then when they were, close enough, I Called, “Zero degrees! Twelve o’clock! Release!”
Feeling the wind of the arrows as they rushed by me, I watched as the charging enemy soldiers fell to what could only be called over kill as I called again, “Good! Again! Five degrees! Zero Forward! Release!”
Still holding the broken bow up as if I actually could fire with them; I held still as I started hearing the second volley of arrows as they whistled by me and into the haze as more enemy soldiers fell. After that, I started to see a shadow in the sky as I moved my bow in a manner as if I was going to fire at it as I called, “Next volley! Make ready! Twenty-five degr… Wait…”
As I aimed the broken bow at the airborne shadow, I started to realize that the shadow I was aiming at wasn’t a shadow at all… it was a light. And not just any light, it was the signal to end the battle. Identifying the blue signal clearly, I called to my soldiers, “Everypony Stand down! The battle is over, Sergeant Tunder! Relay the signal!”
As I looked into the formation, everypony gave me a concerned look as I started to repeat myself, “Sergeant Tunder?...”
Just then, the expressions on the rest of my soldiers faced reminded me of what happened as I sighed unhappily, “Oh… right…”

Knowing that my order could never be followed, I trotted to one of my soldiers as I spoke to him, “Private… your bow please.”
The soldier stood at attention as he gave me his bow and replied, “Yes ma’am.”
Placing my bow back in my quiver and pulling a blue signal arrow, I took the soldier’s bow as I lit the arrow by striking it against the ground. Then with no haste in my movements, I fired the arrow into the sky, as I looked into the distance to see other archers relay the same signal so that everypony on the battlefield would cease fighting. After seeing the signals in the sky, I turned to my soldiers and spoke, “Everypony spread out and search the area for wounded soldiers. Be sure to check the trench for survivors. Get anypony you find that’s still alive to a medic immediately.”
The formation stood at attention as they each replied, “Ma’am!”

Knowing their orders, my soldiers began splitting up as I started making my way into the battlefield through all the falling snow and haze. With each passing step, I passed corpses from both armies, until I reached one that caused me to stop. As I looked down at my second in command I couldn’t help but kneeled down to check him for vital signs, only to prove what I already knew. Sergeant Tunder of the Nightmare Legion… was dead. Feeling bad that he died shortly after saving me, I closed his still open eyes as I spoke, “You did everything you could… and I'm proud to have you under my command. Now rest Sergeant… you’ve earned it.”
As I stood back up, I looked into the distance as I started trotting through the red snow, towards a few shadows that could be seen in the haze. As I trotted towards the shadows, I was disappointed to find that the soldiers I saw were enemies.

Knowing that the blue signal meant that both sides had to stop fighting, I paid them no mind as I started trotting through them with almost each one staring at me as if I were a black sheep amongst a white flock. Minding my own business, I continued trotting as I passed the enemy soldiers without so much as a second glance. As I continued, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat in danger, but that feeling faded, as I started seeing a few allied soldiers mixed amongst the enemy. Still acting as if they weren’t even there, I continued trotting further and further down the battlefield until I finally saw somepony I knew as he sat on a rock with a medic cleaning a cut on his shoulder. Seeing the friendly face, I smiled as I approached, “Lieutenant Snow! It’s good to see you survived the battle… despite all the nicks and gashes in your armor.”

When Lieutenant Snow looked at me, he gave me an embarrassed smile as he replied, “oh… Miss Stone… I mean Lieutenant. Please forgive my appearance. It’s rather silly for a noble like myself to be seen in such filth. But I'm afraid the battlefield in no place for cleanliness. It would appear that you too have met with obstacle in this battle. Though I am nothing if not pleased to see you made it through unscathed.”
Without noticing, I looked down at my armor as I realized he was right. Parts of my armor and coat were singed, scratched, dinged, and even splattered with blood from those who died near me. Seeing this I could only sigh as I replied, “yea… I am fine… sort of… did the commander win? Where is he?”
Replying my comment, Lieutenant Snow replied, “I'm afraid the good commander’s whereabouts is unknown to me. I don’t even know if it was his victory, we are claiming or that of the favored Colonel. But it would appear that we will soon find out.”

Motioning his head passed me; I looked into the distance as a large shadow started to appear heading towards us through the falling snow and haze. As they got closer, I started to make out the shadows; in the front was Commander Bolt carrying Colonel Dust’s reaper, right behind him was Captain Storm. Then the two forces of soldiers that they each lead, which were now smaller than before. As I watched, I started approaching him as I spoke, “Commander, I…”
Paying me no mind, Commander Bolt passed as he spoke, “Get accountability of your soldiers then see that your wounded are cared for… if you’re wounded, see a medic afterwards.”
Without even looking at me, Commander Bolt held his emotionless stare as he trotted passed me and continued back to the camp. As I watched, I tried to reply “but… Sir I…”
With Commander Bolt still ignoring me, I silenced myself when I saw blood dripping from Colonel Dust’s sword, so I could only assume. Colonel Dust in now dead… and probably by her own blade.

Not knowing any of the details, I kept my silence as I turned back to Lieutenant Snow and asked, “is… is he alright?”
Lieutenant Snow looked down at the ground as he replied, “Colonel Dust… was a good friend. I would only feel worried to see him acting normally after killing her. If that is indeed how this battle ended… then I'm afraid it would be wise to give him some room for the time being. Nevertheless, what he says still rings true. Perhaps you should seek medical aid for your soldiers before doing anymore here. In addition, you have a blemish on your face, a laceration from a sword perhaps. It would be wise to have that examined by the surgeon as well.”
I was still concerned with the way Commander Bolt seemed to be acting, but since I knew he wouldn’t talk about it, I just decided to ignore it as I nodded my head and replied, “Sure… I'll do that.”

Knowing that he would be of no help, I turned back to the part of the battlefield I came from as I began trotting back to my soldiers. This time as I passed the allied soldiers, I could see them either treating their own wounds or helping to recover wounded soldiers. As for the enemy, they were mostly doing the same, only they were recovering both their wounded, and their dead. Seeing this was confirmation enough, they were gathering up to retreat not just the battlefield, but the area too. Ignoring this, I continued trotting back until I reached an area that I'd hope to never go near again; the trench. When the trench came into my view, I hesitated. What went on there less than an hour ago… it horrified me to think about what I would find… but, since part of my orders where to look for survivors in there, I knew it was my duty to see this for myself. So gathering up my remaining courage, I swallowed my pride before continuing towards the trench.

As my steps got closer, it wasn’t long before immediately regretting my decision. What I saw… was almost too much to bare… in the trench lied the charred and mangled corpses of most of my best archers. Some… where lying in rest because of earlier sustained wounds… while the rest… burned to death trying to put the liquid fire that covered them out. This… this was too much… even for me. Quick turning and looking away, I trotted a few steps before my mind began breaking down. When this happened, I dropped to the ground as I began throwing up at the images burned into my eyes. The charred and melted flesh, the horrified expressions on their face… and that smell… it wasn’t like anything I could ever prepare myself for. And to make the matter worse, I could still hear them. The screams of the dying as they struggled for dear life. I… I couldn’t… “Lieutenant Stone! Ma’am… are you alright?”

Hearing the voice of my soldier behind me, I was able to stop myself from vomiting as I wiped my mouth and turned to him, “S-sorry… its… it’s just a little more than I expected, how is everypony else? Do we have a count of how many are lost yet?”
The soldier hesitated as he replied, “No ma’am. We are still gathering survivors… although… it’s not looking good…”
Nodding my head, I replied, “I know… I was there too… keep gathering the wounded and return them to the camp for medical treatment.”
The soldier Saluted me as he replied, “Ma’am!”
As he turned to leave, I noticed that the snowfall was starting to let up enough for me to see across the battlefield. As I looked, I could only feel slightly sicker. Because the once white snow… was now as red as the sky above.