//------------------------------//
// Battle for The Golden Highway 
// Story: The Appearance of The New 
// by Castok the Shadow 
//------------------------------//

Third Person POV:

The Golden Highway was made around thirty years after the founding of Equestria. It was named after the builder Golden-Owen, an Earth Pony well known for his buildings, roads and legacy. Its landscape had rocky cliffs in the west that gives a view of the land, flat lands for people and traders to travel and to the east laid the pathway to the capital of Equestria. It was used at first a easy way of traveling from city to city, but slowly it was being used as a trading route for the ponies' cities. It became the largest trading route in all of Equestria, connecting from Canterlot to Manehatten, the Crystal Empire to Appleoosa.

But now.... It was being used as a battlefield of Lord Dynol's choosing.

From the west laid The 12th Arkron Army of the Horde of The Forest, eleven thousand strong armed warriors at their finest and readied for combat. In the front lines were the infamous Vanguards of Red-Oath, the same vanguards that was used against the minotaurs as they tried to foolishly invade the Everfree. They were in a straight line, blocking the army from passing them and were wielding long spears of steel and metal round shields. Behind them were six legions of Ogres, two hundred in each legion. They were wearing ebony armour, crude in their design and hard as their discipline. Each legion held a battle flag of the Horde, ready to use them as signals for the rest of the 12th Arkron Army. They wielded long swords, battle axes and throwing spears that were thirsting for blood. Growling behind the six legions were packs Diamond Dogs, unorganised and being restless. Thanks to Behemoth, more clans joined the Horde after their alphas were slain by him. However, just because they now follow him, that doesn't mean that they like their new comrades and some infighting happened in the Horde between clans.... That was put down by none other than Behemoth himself. Their weapons and armours were new and better thanks to the Ogres' blacksmiths and the Dragons' supplies of weapons and armours, no longer using bronze weapons that break so easily before their joining in the Horde. There were around eight hundred dog warriors in the second line, waiting for their chance for a good fight. Another six legions of Ogres stood behind them with the same weapons and armours as the six legions after them. But behind them stood a more fearful platoons. Behind them were Timberwolves with fangs ready to tear flesh, Manticore Riders ready to take flight and behind them....lays the Horde's first siege weapons. Like those on Earth's Walls back in Ponyville, five trebuchets were being loaded up by two dogs and readied to be fired by an Ogre. These trebuchets had four stone wheels underneath them and needed ammo that was being carried in a wagon, being pulled by a chimera, who was having a argument with its three heads. The rest of the army were waiting behind the siege weapons, although they wanted to be in front lines with the rest of their brothers-in-arms.

Over in the east laid another large army, an international army of different species and kingdoms. There were more soldiers in this army than the Horde's, however most of them are recruits. Normally, recruits wouldn't see combat till they're fully trained....But these aren't normal times. In the front lines lays mostly Yak warriors, heavily armoured and their horns sharpened. Along side them were Saddle Arabia infantries from the far east and Zebra hunters with their long spears. Behind them were ranks of ponies and minotaurs, but mostly ponies. Six hundred earth ponies were standing proud with heavy golden armour and long steel spears whilst three hundred minotaurs wore leather armour and wielding double handed axes, swords and maces. Readying their wings were four hundred pegasus and one hundred Griffin warriors, ready to take flew when ordered to. Behind the flyers were three hundred unicorn mages and dozens of crystal ponies with crystal crossbows that contained ice arrows used in the Equestrian Games. The rest of the army was in the capital, waiting till they're called for incase the incoming battle goes south. But what this army have in advantage is their high morale thanks to their leaders being in with the army or watching them from the entrance of the pathway to Canterlot.

Watching the 12th Arkron Army from top of a rocky hill was the Horde's Council, admiring the army from a distance. A tent was built on the hill for not only to create a battle plan, but to also to see what the ULE's army is doing. Standing just outside of the tent was Varlock, fully armoured and looking at the enemy, walking around as he thought carefully. He then walked into the tent.

Inside the tent was a round table like that in Castle Rhyfel with tactical map of the battlefield. Ambassador Ormry was sitting next to Dynol, whose resting his head in his right hand, watching Llofrudd and Behemoth going back and forth on what'll be the perfect plan. WoodFang was also sitting next to Dynol, but his paws was over his ears from argument from said beings.

"We should strike first!" Behemoth said with a bit of a growl at the end of his sentence. "Get their army in a panic and we'll use those siege weapons to destroy those mages and crossbowers"

"And risk friendly fire?" Llofrudd replied back. "No offence, but your dogs can do that whilst the rest of the 12th Arkron Army wait for ponies to come to us! Then we'll have the battlefield in our advantage!"

"How will that be in our advantage, general?"

"The Vanguard line will block anything from reaching the rest of the army whilst our siege weapons destroys the incoming enemies along with heavy fire from our archers, making the army weak and less powerful when we charge in to finish the job!"

Varlock walked past his son and the alpha and headed to Dynol. "The international army seems to be in an offence style, I think they'll be hitting us with steel and strength rather than range and magic"

"Then why bring them if they wouldn't use them?" Ormry asked the chieftain.

"Maybe to look more dangerous, fear can dismiss soldiers and they're trying to make our army scared. Stupid I know, from the looks of them, they're the once that are scared of us right now, meaning most of them must be recruits"

"Easy prey then" Behemoth chuckled. "That's why I think we should attack first, most of them will run than fight"

"Ponies maybe" Varlock said as he too chuckled as he walked to the battle table. "But the Yaks, Griffins and Minotaurs wouldn't back down"

As the two Ogres and dog chatted on about what'll be the best plan. Dynol thought carefully from what Varlock mentioned. The ULE's army is in an offence style attack rather than defence, this could aid him well if they have a good battle plan.

"Lord Dynol?" Ormry whispered softly. "You've been awfully quiet ever since we'd arrived, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just thinking" Dynol got up and headed towards the battle table. "They have numbers, we have experiences. They have their leaders, we have our warlords. They have Canterlot.... We'll have Equestria"

"You have a plan then?"

"Yep!" Dynol grinned. "This will be called 'Operation Bring and Ringed'. Llofrudd you'll be in charge of Vanguard and front lines" Dynol said as he pointed on the map. "You'll make sure no enemies gets pass that line before going in for the kill later on"

Llofrudd nodded his head in agreement.

"This is phase one, friends. We'll bring their army straight towards us, whilst our siege weapons destroys anyone that crosses the field of battle, along with our archers. Varlock, you'll make sure that the rest of the Legions are ready to move once I give the signal for phase two in the plan whilst also making sure the siege weapons fires one by one, if my calculation are correct, once the last one fires, the first would already be loaded and'll fire again, making a endless rain from molten rocks hitting our enemies"

"Sound simple"

"What about me and my boys?" Behemoth asked with a toothy grin.

"Yours is going to the fear in our enemies' hearts. You'll take your packs, along with many timberwolves, chimaeras and cockatrices to digs tunnels underneath the battlefield. You'll spilt them into two forces, one going to the west and the other going to the east. Once I signal phase two, you'll bust out of the ground and charge into the army while the rest of the Arkron army charges in with you. This will make a dome around our enemies, the only way out is by heading back to their capital, giving the Golden Highway to The Horde of the Forest"

"I love it!" shouted Behemoth as he picked up his mace and was about to head outside when he stopped midway. "Umm, what's the signal for phase two?"

Dynol place his hands flat on the table, spreading his fingers apart from each other. Suddenly the table began to shake furiously before coming to a halt.

"A little tremor should do the trick"

With that noticed, Behemoth and the two Ogres leaders went out of the tent to begin the attack, leaving only Dynol, WoodFang and Ormry to themselves. WoodFang, although relived that argument between Llofrudd and Behemoth was over, barked at his master, wanting to know what he'll be doing.

"Fang, you'll be station here with me, watching the battle from afar, we'll be needing to see what our enemies are up to when the battle is raging below us" Dynol explained as everyone in the tent began as well to head out of the tent. "I know you what to go with Behemoth, but who knows what'll happen once the battle is join"

"What will I be doing?" Ormry asked Dynol as they stood out in the open land with their warriors waited for their orders.

"You'll be heading back to Ponyville and be escorted to Castle Rhyfel"

"W-what?" The ambassador said in shock.

"Ormry, if this battle goes south and we're being slaughtered, they'll find you standing next to me which is all the evidences they'll need to know that the dragons has allied with the Horde" Dynol explained to Ormry as he placed a hand on her right shoulder. "You don't want the full might of this ULE crashing into your people's homeland, do you?"

Ormry wanted to say something, but Dynol had a point. If the Horde losses this battle and she was still with them, Equestria and her allies will attack The Dragon Holds and won't stop till either her people or the ULE surrender. She won't risk their safety.

"No" Ormry sighed. "I don't want that to happen, not now not ever"

"Which is why I'm sending you back to Castle Rhyfel with an escort" Dynol smiled. "Don't you worry, you'll get to see another battle soon, I promise"

With that, Ormry nodded her head with a understanding smile and was being escorted by four Ogre elites. After Ormry vanished from Dynol's slight, Dynol conjured up a stone throne facing the incoming battlefield and sat down gracefully as WoodFang did the same thing on the ground. Dynol watched as Llofrudd was chatting to the captains of the twelve legions and Vanguards whilst Behemoth called the Diamond Dog packs to gather up and begin digging behind the army's line. Dynol also saw Varlock telling the trebuchets to fire one by one when the battle begins as well as being sure that the Ogre javelins were reading to fire along with Diamond Dog longbows.

"Any thoughts of failure, my friend?" Dynol asked his loyal companion, not looking away from the trebuchets being loaded up. WoodFang growled unsure of the question. "I don't have doubts, just that we've got a battle plan doesn't mean that the ponies don't have one as well. In this offensive formation, they'll probably send waves after waves of their soldiers to weaken us, by then this will give enough time for Behemoth's troops to be in formation and readied for phase two of the plan... But that doesn't mean that this plan may turn south in mere seconds"

Before WoodFang could answer or even bark, a raven was just flying over the battlefield heading straight towards Dynol. Dynol raised his left arm as the bird landed on said arm, crowing more information about the army.

"So, leading the army is someone named Prince Shining Armour and our hornless friend Rock-Axes, eh?" Dynol listened with wide grin. "And our loveable princesses are watching the battle from afar? Can they spot me by any chance?"

The raven shook his head.

"Perfect, don't want them to know about our alliance with our scaly friends and that fact that ravens are my eyes and ears behind enemy lines and cities" Dynol looked at the raven. "Keep up the good work, everything important that comes out of that army and city report back to me" Dynol gave a boost for the raven as the bird flew back to the army and Canterlot. Dynol then leaned back into his throne and placed his hands together.

"Now we'll wait for their first move"





Minutes past before something came walking across the battlefield. The front lines tried to see what was coming across the highway, some putting their hands over their eyes to get a better vision. Dynol leaned forward to see a lone pony guard holding a scroll in his mouth and a spear in his right hoof. Llofrudd frowned before turning his gaze to Dynol as to what should he do. Dynol looked down at the Ogre and simply gave a nod with a slight wave of his right hand. Llofrudd nodded his head and told one of the Vanguard to see what the pony wants with a wide grin on his face. The Vanguard Ogre grinned back as he walked up to the pony with his spear in his right hand and shield in the other. The Ogre didn't have to walk far, just about half a mile from where he was originally posted.

The two guards met each other, though their were ordered to see one another, their eyes held nothing but hatred towards one another.

"I have a letter from the princesses" The pony guard said seriously and having enough venom in his voice to kill a full grown dragon. "I am ordered to give this to Lord Dynol the Dammed of the Horde of the Forest"

"You will be reading this scroll from your cowardly princesses to me, rat" The Ogre spatted back. "Once you'd read whatever is on that scroll to me, I'll deliver it to my lord"

"This scroll is for your monstrous lord's ears only"

"This is not a request, this is my order and your warning" The two beings stared at each other for what seemed like days, hoping that one back down. The guard, seeing no alternatives, was forced to obliged to the Vanguard's warning. He opened the scroll and read out loud;

"Dear Lord Dynol the Dammed of the Horde of the Forest.

we, the princesses of Equestria and supreme leaders of the United Liberators of Equus, wishes to open up negotiations towards peace and again to try and work towards better relations and understanding between our factions and nations.

If you wish to make peace and to end this war now, we ask for a signal of peace so that negotiations can begin. All of us leaders will gather at Ponyville to discussion and try to come to a agreement for a peace treaty.

Wishing to end this conflict and with open arms,

Princess Celestia."

The pony closed the scroll and looked at the Ogre. "Will you be delivering the scroll now?"

The Ogre gave a sinister smile. "My Lord has already agreed to your princesses wishes" Before the guard could even brought a thought from the words that came from the Vanguard. Said Vanguard stabbed his spear right into the pony's chest, causing the guard to scream in agony. The Ogre strike deep into the pony's chest before pulling it out, making the pony fall to the ground with a heavy thud.

Looking through a telescope, Shining Armour saw the attack and growled furiously.

"Open fire!" The captain bellowed at one of the crystal pony carrying a crossbow. The pony aimed and fire the ice arrow, speeding across the highway faster than anyone could act. The arrow stroked into the Vanguard's left leg and quickly engulfing said leg. Agonising screams came from the Vanguard as his entire body turned into nothing but ice. This caught the attention of the rest of the 12th Arkron army, who was now roaring in anger and rage. Dynol nodded his head towards WoodFang, who howled as loud as he could.

"Move out!" Llofrudd ordered the Vanguards and the twelve Legions of Ogres, backed up by row of Ogre javelins and Diamond Dog Longbows. The Vanguards lowered their spears and raised their shield as they marched forward, verily and steady, keeping the pace with the battle-drums ringing within the Legions behind them.

Shining Armour saw the incoming forces and turned to see Rock-Axes at his side, swinging his axes steadily.

"Shall we send in the heavy first?" The Captain asked with a grin, to which he got a reply from the minotaur with a agreeable grunt. "First wave! Attack!"

Cheers and battle cries came from the Yaks, Saddle Arabians and Zebras as they charged forward, heading directly at the incoming Ogres. The Yaks lowered their horns as the others lowered their spears as they charged. The ponies and minotaurs soldiers behind them followed at a steady pace, making sure not to get in the way of the heavy troops.

From all the way up in Canterlot. Celestia looked away from her telescope and signed in disappointment and pain.

"So it begins"

Back at the battlefield, the first wave of the ULE's army were getting closer to the Vanguards and Legions of Ogres. Llofrudd halted the Vanguards as they reorganised into a defensible formation like they did during the minotaurs invasion into the Everfree. As they did this and the twelve legions stopped behind them. From a distance, Varlock could see the large wave of enemies gaining closer to the front line. Another howl came from WoodFang, another signal.

Varlock raised his hand. "Remember the firing system!" He bellowed as the trebuchets was loaded and readied to fire when ordered to. "Fire at will!"

As commanded, the first trebuchet fire the molten rock filled with lava within it in the sky, making a fiery trail burning in the sky. Once the rock busted from the heat of lava and said lava was flowing freely in the air. The second trebuchet fired its molten rock as the first began reloading again. The first lava landed right in the middle of the wave, mainly hitting the Yaks, causing extreme burning around the lava and instant killed those in the centre of the lava. Panic erupted around the Saddle Arabians and Zebras, seeing the burning of their Yak allies' fresh melting right before their eyes. But for the Yaks, they didn't even care, instead they just roared louder and increased their speed. As the trebuchets firing and reloading and the wave of ULE forces halfway across the battlefield. Llofrudd raised his spear for the Ogres carrying the battle flags to wave back to the archers.

The leader of the javelins was a Ogre who raised his javelin for the rest to follow. "Like the Yaks' strength is their heads, it's also their weakness! Aim at their necks!" With that said, a volley of javelins flew into the air with more molten rocks and lava following them.

The dog that was leading the longbows growled at his forces. "Alrigh' ya worthless pups! give 'em a taste of arrows!" The dog longbowers released their arrows into the sky along with the Ogres' javelins as they landed into many of the Yaks, Saddle Arabians and Zebras. Much of the arrows was aimed at the Saddle Arabians and Zebras as they were quick and wore light armour whilst the javelins were aimed at the Yaks because they had enough strength to penetrate through their heavy armour. Bodies of the ULE's heavy forces were either falling dead from the archers' wrath, being tripped up by the corpses of their allies or being melted by the trebuchets' hellfire. But the horror for the first wave was that they were only halfway across the battlefield and now their numbers are dropping fast as they.

Shining realised the slaughter taking place and how the rest of his army was slowly catching up to the slaughter. "We need to take out those siege weapons!" Shining told Rock-Axes seriously. The minotaur nodded his head and raised one of his axes in the air.

"Mages!" Rock-Axes bellowed as the unicorns glowed their horns. "Aim at those siege weapons and destroy them!" Once Rock-Axes brought down his axe, a bombardment of magical bolts flew into the air in a alerting rate, heading straight towards the trebuchets. However, as the magics were flying fast in the sky, Lord Dynol noticed this and got up from his throne.

"Now it's a battle" Dynol said as he stood on the edge of the cliff. With his right hand he conjured a ball of restless air, chaotic in its creation. Whilst left hand span above his head as if he was holding a lasso. As his hand span, the ball of air in the other slowly flew towards the spinning hand. On the battlefield, clouds began to twist and turn unnatural. The air around the twisting clouds sucked up the magical bolts, making them join in the twisting and turing of cloud vortex. As the magics were being sucked up, Dynol increased his speed in his left hand, making the vortex grow faster and more powerful. The unicorn mages along with Shining Armour and Rock-Axes, watched in disbelief at what they were staring at. As chaos on the battlefield below raged on and all of the magical bolts were all now spinning uncontrollable. Dynol, with his left hand, threw his hand froward like a lasso. In doing so, caused all the air and magic to shot back at the ULE army like lighting in the sky. The bolts landed everywhere. It landed where the Pegasus and Griffin guards stood, it landed where the mages and crossbowers stood and even landed in some parts of Canterlot itself, causing massive amount of deaths in the army and destruction in the city. The ULE could only watch in horror from the devastation. The ponies and minotaurs that were already marching started to make their pacing more quicker as the first wave was now only a shadow of what it was before the battle.

But finally, the first wave -what remains of it- managed to reach the Vanguard line. The Yaks' rage was unquestionable as they bashed through the line with vengeance for their fellow brothers. The Saddle Arabians and Zebras' temper was at the boiling point as their spears clashes with the Vanguards' shields. The battle was now joined.

"Keep hold of that line!" Llofrudd commanded as he dropped his spear to draw out his dual-wielding blades to stab in the neck of a raging Yak. "Hold the line till phase two!" The Ogres did not fail their leader, nor would they. Their strength and round shields helped keep that line whilst the Legions from behind cheered them on, giving them more morale as the battle rages on.

"Come on brothers!"

"Is that the best they can throw at us!?"

"The fillies of Ponyville fought better than these weaklings!"

"For Red-Oath! For the Horde! For Glory!"

Dynol couldn't help admire the Vanguards' spirits and determination. He watched and waited for the right moment to begin phase two. As he watched, he noticed that large forces of ponies and minotaurs was now halfway through the battlefield when a raven flew over said battlefield, dodging the molten rocks. The raven landed in front of Dynol, who was now sitting on his throne when he released the vortex. The bird dropped a piece of dirt with a worm in it, a clear indication on the whereabout of Behemoth's forces.

"Good timing" The Lord muttered as he got up from his throne and placed his hands on the ground. WoodFang was waggling his wooden tail, knowing the time for him to join the battle was now. Dynol closed his eyes and focused his powers into the ground, causing a large tremor to flow throughout the battlefield and even throughout the pathway to Canterlot.

Beneath the surface, growls and snarls could be heard. Dogs and other animals stood by as they could feel the tremor, some of them grinned from knowing what it means. In front of them stood Behemoth, who was more than ready to spill some ULE blood. He turned to face the large force of Horde warriors.

"Boys! Are you ready for a slaughter?!" He shouted loudly. His response was the sound of battle cheers, barking and howling of delight. "Then let's make this battle a fight to remember!" As the ground was still tremoring, four horns blew loud underground, giving the call for the another group on the opposite side. Then the front row of diamond dogs in both forces dug up and busted out of the ground just as the ULE army was gaining closer to the Vanguard line. Soon hundreds of diamond dog warriors, timberwolves, chimaeras and cockatrices came flooding out of the ground, charging straight the unaware ponies and minotaurs, still marching forward. 

Llofrudd saw Behemoth and his forces charging in and so too did he after he told the Legions to press forward as well. The combined strength of Ogres, Diamond Dogs and Everfree's animals caught the ULE's leaders -Shining Armour, Rock-Axes and even Celestia- completely off by surprise as the charging Horde forces surrounded their own forces.

Dynol, now mounted on WoodFang's back, rode up to Varlock and the siege weapons.

"Ceasefire!" Dynol ordered. "This battle will soon be ours!" He rode off with WoodFang's pack whilst Varlock followed behind with reinforcement.

On the other side of the battlefield, Shining Armour shook his head in disbelief as to how the battle slowly turned against them. He ordered the Pegasus and Griffin guards to take flew and to aid their allies from below, but that only made things worse as the Manticore Riders also to flew to stop any help reaching the army below.

"We got to call in reinforcement!" Shining said to Rock-Axes as he brought out his sword. "I'll get them now!"

"No!" Rock-Axes protested. "This battle is already turing against us, our only hope is to pull back and reinforce Canterlot, only then can we crush them!" He looked at the battlefield, seeing his warriors bravely hold off the tide of Horde marauders and saving some of their allies. 

The old High-Chief sighed. "Me and my warriors will hold them back while the rest of the army fall back to the city"

"What?!"

"My days as High-Chief of the Minotaur Clans is well over my prime, as least I'll go down as one in combat"

"You can't! I mean, who'll take your place?"

"Someone else as strong as I was" Rock-Axes swung his axes and smile. "Call them back, there's no dishonour in losing this battle, for the United Liberators of Equus will win this war without me" And with that, the minotaur charged towards the raging battlefield before Shining could stop him. He was set in his way... And he'll die in his way. Shining Armour could only watch as he glowed his horn and shot a bright flare into the sky.

This battle was lost.





Victory for the Horde of the Forest was in sight. The main forces were pulling back to the city of Canterlot, leaving a handful of Yaks and the remaining forces of Minotaur warriors to cover them for the undying slaughter of Horde warriors.

Rock-Axes' present boosted the morale for the remaining army, doing quite well at holding back the tide of death. The High-Chief dealt a fateful blow on one Ogre with the axe in his right hand whilst the left snapped the neck of a diamond brute.

"Well, well" Came a voice from behind Rock-Axes. He turned around to see Llofrudd pulling out his duel ebony blade from one of Rock-Axes' commanders, clearing the blood off his blade with his leg. "The hornless leader comes onto the battlefield, surrounded by his fallen soldiers and allies. Don't you see your end is coming?"

"That's why I'm here, is it not?" The minotaur replied. "I want to meet my end with weapons in my hand and without fear in my heart soul"

"Then allow me to fill it up" After their little chat, the two leaders clashed together with blades and axes, determined to defeat their opponent. Varlock was handling four minotaur berserkers and Dynol was dealing with Yaks whilst still riding on WoodFang. For now, no one will be coming to help Llofrudd or Rock-Axes as the two bravely stood their ground and fought furiously. As they fought for what seemed to be for minutes, it looked like Rock-Axes has got the upper hand as he knocked out one of Llofrudd's blades. Llofrudd backed up to get his balance but stumbled from tripping over the same dead commander he killed before engaging the High-Chief. The Ogre fell onto his back as Rock-Axes went on the offence. Rock-Axes grabbed Llofrudd by his neck and lifted him off the ground.

"So much for a worthy opponent" Rock-Axes insulted Llofrudd. The minotaur then grabbed the Ogre's legs with his right hand and lifted him over his head, letting the Ogre's back facing the High-Chief. With all the strength within the minotaur, Rock-Axes threw the Ogre down on to his left knee, making a horrific snapping sound echo the loud battlefield. However, the only one that heard and saw the action.... was chieftain of the Ogres of Red-Oath; Varlock Shard-Oth.

Varlock called for his son as Rock-Axes threw the motionless body on to the ground. Varlock's eyes narrowed and if glare could kill, then Rock-Axes  would had died from thousands of daggers. The chieftain picked up a spear off the ground and charged at the minotaur, who didn't see the raging Ogre. When the High-Chief turned and faced Varlock, the Ogre already stabbed Rock-Axes through his stomach. Blood spilled out from Rock-Axes' mouth, but Varlock was far from down. With one of Rock-Axes' own axe that fell on the ground from the impact of the spear, Varlock picked it up and stroked Rock-Axes in his right shoulder. Then with Varlock's bare hands, he grabbed the minotaur's neck and with all the strength and rage within him, snapped it till it was in a old angle. Varlock then threw the lifeless body of the High-Chief onto the ground, letting one of the minotaur warriors to see his leader's demise.

"The High-Chief is dead!" Cried the minotaur. "Everyone, retreat!"

The remaining minotaurs tried to fall back, but they were completely surround. One by one, they fell to either blade, claw or teeth of the Horde of the Forest.

Varlock didn't care, his attention was focused on the motionless body of his son. As the Horde cheered in victory, Varlock fell to his knees and looked at Llofrudd.

"L-Llofrudd...?" Varlock whispered as he gently moved his body onto his back. "My s-son? Can you hear me?"

Coughs rang out as a trail of blood came out of his son's mouth. "D *cough cough* Did we win the battle?"

Varlock sighed softly as he nodded his head. Dynol dismounted WoodFang as he slowly walked up to the two Ogres.

"F-Father..."

"Yes my son?"

Llofrudd's eyes welled up as he raised his hand up for his father to grab. Dynol placed a hand on Varlock's shoulder to support his ally.

"I....I can't feel my legs"

Varlock's pupils shruck as Dynol looked away from hearing the grim news.

"Father I... I can't feel my legs"

The battle for the Golden Highway is won by the Horde of the Forest.... But at what price.