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// 29 - On The Attack 
// Story: The Everglow of a Twilight Sunset 
// by David Silver 
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The gnoll was quite reluctant to speak, more interested in cursing foully rather than giving any useful information. At least until Iliana stared into his eyes. "We need answers," she spoke quietly but sternly. "You will tell us what we need to know. By the gods above and the blood in my veins, I command you." She lowered her horn and touched it to him.

His scowl melted and he went slack, his resistance fading away. "Yes..."

"Good, tell us of your tribe, and the small ponies they have."

He seemed to try to muster that resistance, but it never rose above a stirring in his eyes. "They are scattered through the mines. There are many entrances. Most are working the new tunnels. T-tough, but unskilled. We teach... them how to mine better, decent workers."

"Why did you take them?" Iliana kept eye to eye as the others watched them. "Was it truly an attack of opportunity?"

"I..." His teeth clenched. "Orders come, we moved far and fast to make the attack. Very precise, very specific."

"Is this normal?" asked Iliana, a brow raising in doubt.

"No." He slumped.

"Do you know why?" Iliana rose upright. "Tell us, and you may yet be spared."

"I am a warrior, not a leader," replied the gnoll honestly. "I follow the orders. I do not make them."

"What entrance is least guarded and leads to the most short-legs?"

"Most small ponies deep in mines. All entrances same for that." He rose to his feet slowly, his bindings making it awkward. "I can show the entrance."

"Do so, then you will be set free," agreed Iliana. "Do gnolls accept members from other tribes?"

"Sometimes."

"Do you wish to join another tribe, or will you rejoin this one as soon as we free you?"

"I would rejoin my kin."

"Even if it resulted in your death?" Iliana raised a brow. "I am offering you a chance of life."

"Would you abandon your kin if it spared your life?"

Iliana recoiled. She had done just that, and having the gnoll of all things speak of it as if it were obvious made her guilt well up in a painful flare. She turned away. "Follow him to the entrance. Lead us."

The gnoll did lead them to a cave. Ixen marched up to him when it came into view. "Do I kill him now? He'll just run back home to tell them we're coming or turn against us the moment you stop using your magic."

Iliana shook her head. Her heart refused to order the gnoll's death. "You will fend for yourself outside these caves. If you see a gnoll, you will avoid them with all your skill and not speak to them."

"As you command." The gnoll left, fading into the underbrush.

Ixen made a soft click of annoyance. "Ah well, plenty of hyena-faces to butcher inside, let's get to work."

Morning shook her head. "It is a pleasure to serve under a lady with principles. How long will the gnoll obey that command?"

"We have plenty of time," assured Iliana. "By the time he breaks free of it, we'll be dead or gone back home. Either way, he will not be part of it. He's answered all of my questions."

Roll gave a nod as she approached the entrance of the cave, drawing her pick into her mouth as she spoke around it. "It is time to begin. There is no doubt this time. True's kin await deep in these mines, and we will rescue them."

True bobbed his head from Morning's back. "Thank you all, for helping us."

Sunset glanced off at the departed gnoll then took a deep breath. "Let's get this going."

And they did. The few guards they found near the entrance were no match for their combined power. Dragon's breath, bolts of ice and singing steel put them to violent rest as the group pushed onward.

"This is not my preferred way," spoke the voice between Twilight's ears. "That my blessing is causing death instead of new life makes my fur itch."

A cruel fit of laughter made them pause as a strange insectoid pony emerged from around the corner. "You should be ashamed."

Ixen moved towards the target, taking it as valid as any of the others. Fire washed over the long figure, but it emerged untouched. "This is for her, not you, dragon." It pointed at Twilight. "Your love has turned to death and violence. The gnolls here defend their homes, just as your little ponies tried to defend theirs. You say they were in the right, are these gnolls not?"

"They attacked first!" argued Lashtada, sounding angry and upset. "I don't hate them, I just want my children back."

The figure laughed at Twilight, who was caught in the middle. "And you'll see every hyena between them and you slain for it? I always knew your true colors, you pretty pink failure. Go on, lay out that bloody road, but none of your children are leaving these caves." She could clearly hear the silent Lashtada. "You're as predictable as you are wretched."

Roll swing her pick true and it caught the strange pony in the side, making them stagger back.

"Kill me, go on. You'll feel better."

Morning advanced alongside her metallic friend. "Your words are as empty as your heart." She brought down her blade, but a pink shield sprang up around the insectoid pony, protecting her.

"This isn't right," spoke Lashtada to Twilight. "She has done nothing but mock us. She wants us to kill her."

Ixen didn't hear, and likely wouldn't care as she fell on the insect, tearing through the pink barrier to start ripping her asunder. As life fled the one that barred their way, she faded with rolling laughter and her blood formed a rune on the ground that glowed with divine magic.

Iliana hissed as she frowned. "Sacrificial magic."

"The presence of the other god has faded, but their magic remains. I'm afraid their threat may yet be true," spoke Lashtada with increasing worry.

Iliana gestured forward with a hoof. "We have nowhere to go but forward. We will not be turned away."

They pressed deeper, slaughtering those that came to oppose them. Even spellcasters tried to slow them, but did little more than that. Their blood spilled to join the rest as they marched deeper and deeper, marked with cuts and blue lines from Twilight's healing, but ready to continue.

They faced more gnolls, but these had shaking arms and were armed with knives and brooms rather than actual weapons.

Ixen moved to charge them, but Morning put out a hoof. "Wait. Gnolls, who are you?"

Iliana nodded. "You do not appear to be warriors. Why are you here?"

"We're protecting our homes," said one female, her voice trembling as badly as she was. "And our children. You will not pass... while we are alive."

"I can't stand it!" spoke Lashtada. "Ask them for another way around. Don't kill mothers and children, please!"

Twilight shook her head quickly. "We want to get deeper, how do we get there? We're not after you, or your children."

The gnolls shared nervous looks as the 'leader' by dint of bravery stepped forward. "You're not here to kill us as you have our husbands?"

Iliana shook her head firmly. "Battle is an ugly thing. If we can go past without it, we would rather that. We have come to rescue others."

One barked out something in gnollish and charged at them, face twisted in fury.

"Stop," ordered Iliana, and the gnoll did, tears of rage and sorrow flowing from her eyes as she tried to step forward vainly and swung her cooking knife at them to no avail. "We will pass you without harm, which way do we go?"

"You killed her husband and sons," spat another. "She deserves to be angry." She pointed down a tunnel. "Go and don't come back."

True looked over Morning's back at the gnoll wives as they passed from sight. "I will be glad when this is over."

Sunset shook her head. "This whole thing is crazy, but they won't trade for them, not like the other tribe we met."

Illiana nodded towards Sunset. "And so violence wins this day... Sometimes I fear we live in a terrible world, but we do what we must to make it better." She quirked a smile. "Come, let us not forget that we are liberators, not raiders."

"The difference is narrow in this case," spoke Lashtada. "Please, fetch my children and we will leave."

They penetrated to where the mines were extending outwards and found the first short-leg, a pony dirty from all the mining. He blinked at the force come for him. "You're... here for me?"

True pointed at himself. "We're here for everyone. Come on!"

The short leg fell in behind the party, shell shocked but obedient.

Soon they had gathered up about twenty small souls, but for each they gathered together, the more the caves seem to close in around them. The way back became fogged and hopelessness descended on the party.

"What she said, it is coming true... If we gather all of my children, we will never leave. I fear even getting one out... Who is this god that hates me so?" Lashtada sighed out gently to Twilight. "We cannot continue as we are."

"We can't continue," agreed Iliana without hearing or knowing she was agreeing. "The sense of magic is only growing stronger, and my attempts to dispel it have been fruitless. We've been cursed powerfully."

Roll raised a hoof. "There is a way free."

Morning raised her ears. "What way is that, my clever mechanical partner?"

Roll pointed at Twilight and Sunset. "We send them with those two. That will bypass the caves." She turned to Twilight directly. "If you can do that, goddess."

"But... Then my children would not be here."

Twilight frowned a little. "Would you rather they be dead or captured?"

"No... I... I can send some of them, but not my entire tribe. I will use you two to set the harmony, then... I can send perhaps twelve with each of you."

Twilight looked to Iliana. "Lashtada says she can send about twelve with me and twelve with Sunset."

Several hooves went up among those they had rescued. They did not hurt for volunteers to stay behind, if it would protect their friends.

"No, me..." A short mare advanced. "It was me that told on my friends, I deserve to be left behind."

True blinked and hopped down, quickly closing with the mare that shrank back. Despite her flinch, he hugged her, tightly and fiercely. "I'm so glad you're alright."

She smiled a little. "You were right, from the start. You found allies when we wouldn't be them, and here you are." She pushed him back. "Go. I don't deserve you. I ho--"

He kissed her, mashing muzzles together. Both of their eyes closed. Despite any emotions or complexities, the kiss said more than their words could manage. He loved her, as a kin, and a living being, and he forgave her entirely.

With a few drops of moisture, she backed away. "Good luck." She fled away from the others. She would stay in those mines.