Ice Fall

by Bluespectre

Chapter Eleven - When all hope has gone

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WHEN ALL HOPE HAS GONE

The Celestian army had been marching in near silence now for days; even the ever present dice games that sprung up whenever a temporary halt was called were played with a heavy sense of despondency which hung like an ever present thunderhead over the weary soldiers. The retreat had been a mixture of crushing disappointment and unspoken relief at being alive that had left more than a few of them lost in a personal world of grief and confusion. The army was noticeably smaller in number than it had been when they had all first enthusiastically set out to remove the invaders. Now, that all seemed like a lifetime ago. Everypony had lost somepony they knew, but there would be time enough for grief when all of this was over.

Word had spread quickly that the ever popular Captain Weald had been injured in the battle. Fortunately, it was nothing too serious and the medics had been at pains to assure his loyal band of female followers that he would make a full recovery in the next week or two. Colonel Spoon too was sporting a few broken ribs and had to have magical healing on a foreleg, but she’d be back to full health soon. Major Wild was the one who was causing the most concern. She hadn’t been injured, but the decision to fall back had not sat well with her and she’d barely spoken to Colonel Dray since.

The veteran stallion took out his pipe and leaned back against a tree, a list of casualties before him. By Celestia’s hairy arse, he didn’t want to read this! But…he sighed, he’d have to. He owed it to them. Taking a deep breath, he began. Name after name assailed him, one after another, the dead, the wounded, the list seemed to be endless. Most of the named had been listed simply as ‘missing’. Dray knew what that meant - Dead, or captured. They hadn’t had a chance to collect their dead from the field, no chance to say goodbye. Horribly, he knew some of the wounded would have been too. And now, now he’d have to write the letters to the families and loved ones of those who’d been lost in fighting yet another pointless battle to save their home. He knew how’d the see it too - another defeat.

He put the list down and closed his eyes; he couldn’t look at any more names. There’d be time enough for that back at the castle, after he’d delivered his report to that blithering imbecile who’d ‘planned’ this whole disastrous cock-up to begin with. Why the hell had Celestia listened to him? Him of all ponies! Why? Just because he was some sodding ‘lord’ who’d been born on the right side of the bed? Dray took a draw on his pipe and looked up just in time to see a familiar red flank disappearing into a tent. It was Wild. He sat quietly for a time, watching, but she didn’t re-emerge. She’d been avoiding him and he couldn’t blame her. The army was in retreat once again, although this time they’d bloodied the enemy and his strategy of attacking their supplies with their dragon allies had proven quite effective. The reptilian things were powerful yet greedy creatures, and the promise of gold in the supply columns had been all the motivation they’d needed. Whether they’d come back and fight head on with the Legion was another matter for another day. Dray looked up. The wind was starting to pick up now, the sun riding high in the sky: a reassuring sign to the ponies who saw it as proof that Celestia still lived and was, in probability, back at the castle planning the next attack. Dray scrubbed his forehead with his hoof. If only that were true, at least now he had a chance to…

There was a sudden blast of wind and the thud of hooves hitting the ground behind him,

“No sign of ‘em, Dray. Looks like they’re licking their wounds from the bucking we gave ‘em.”

The Colonel looked over his shoulder at the smiling pegasus, “Nice work, Harrier. We’ll be back at the castle soon and can see about what we’re going to do about sorting out this mess.”

“You sure we should be falling back to the castle, Dray?” The mare replied, “I mean, I know we took a beating out there at River Valley, but…”

Dray hoofed her the report, “-Read that”

The purple mare was silent for while then ruffled her wings slightly as she let out a long sigh, “That many…”

“Aye.” Dray took back the list, “And mostly the young ones.” He rose to his hooves, brushing off the grass and twigs that had stuck to him, “We need to rethink out strategy, Harrier. I’m going to set up a defensive line to give us time to lick our own wounds, re-supply, bring in reinforcements and hope our allies are true to their word.”

“Hmph!” Harrier snorted, “Dragons! You can’t trust them.”

“The way I look at it,” Dray replied, “if they’re happy to eat Legion supplies, and hopefully a few of the Legion at the same time, then it’s all the better for us.”

Harrier shrugged, “Whaddaya think happened back at the ridge though? They didn’t have any dragon or wendigo support at all. We were knockin’ ‘em outta the sky like flies! Coulda done more if it hadn’t have been so damned dark.”

Dray scratched his chin thoughtfully. Harrier was right, why hadn’t the Legion’s dragons supported the attack? If they had, then it may well have been a very different outcome. As for those wendigo thing’s, the less they saw of them the better. The creature’s terrified ponies and with good reason.

“Dray?” Harrier stared off towards the road, her ears pricked up.

“Hmm?”

“Somepony’s coming, and it looks like they’ve brought company.”

Four ponies, stallions by looks of them, were trotting up towards Drays tent. All of them were wearing silver armour with red trim and long glistening black plumes on their helmets.

Harrier snorted, “Pretty boys. Shame they weren’t there at the ridge.”

Dray ignored her, but she had a point. These four, as big as they were, didn’t have the look of combat troops about them. These looked like the type that would be more at home at home, probably torturing grannies for kicks. He watched as they were met by Chipper, his aide-de-camp. The short pony was virtually looking up the noses of them by comparison, but even so, Dray knew who he’d rather have on his side in a blade fight.

“Any idea who they are?” Harrier asked curiously.

Dray raised an eyebrow and adjusted his tunic, “We’ll find out any moment, they’re coming this way.”

The four ponies trotted over to the tree, the short chestnut brown Chipper virtually dwarfed by them. He saluted smartly,

“Begging you pardon Colonel, this is Lieutenant Cove from Internal Affairs. He wishes to speak with you.”

A tall white stallion, neat and trim in his polished armour, walked up to Dray and saluted smartly.

Dray raised an eyebrow in reply, “Lieutenant.”

“Colonel” Cove’s twitched at the lack of decorum, “I am here to escort you to the castle, Lord Ochre’s orders.”

“I see” The Colonel passed his paperwork to Harrier, “And this is my guard of honour is it?”

The white coated stallion stood like a statue, “If you wish to see it that way, sir.”

Internal Affairs? He’d heard of them of course, their unsavoury reputation certainly went before them. The name didn’t fool him. They were the lords’ private soldiers, virtually an entire division’s worth of them. If he’d had them at the ridge, they could have been the edge he needed to tip the scales. But no, they were kept at Ochre’s manor or, more likely, the castle now that Celestia had vanished. And it was all for vanity, to protect him and his precious wealth. What was worse though, was that Dray had a feeling he knew why these ponies were here. It didn’t bode well. He nodded,

“Very well, I’ll get my things.”

“Whoa now, just a minute!” Harrier took a step forward, “What the hell’s going on here?”

“Stand down, Flight Captain.” Dray stood between the Lieutenant and the purple pegasus officer, his tone of voice alone making her stop in her tracks, “Just, tell the Major I’m leaving her in command. She’s to work with Colonel Spoon to set up a defensive line as we discussed.” He turned to leave and paused, glancing back over his shoulder, “And Harrier?” he smiled, “Thank you, it’s been an honour serving with you.”

“Dray?” The mare looked worried, her eyes darting between Dray and the Lieutenant.

The Colonel shook his head and gave her a meaningful look before walking up to his tent to collect his belongings. There wasn’t much: a few trinkets he’d collected over the years, some spare tunics, his weapons, an equipment repair kit and so on. It was a sad assortment of nothing much, that amounted to no more than this…

Dray shrugged, took up his tobacco, pipe case and brandy flask, then left the tent. Harrier and Chipper were stood outside.

“Chipper, help yourself to what’s in there old friend, but could you make sure Major Wild has this?” The Colonel passed his aide a small cloth bag. Lieutent Cove stepped forward inquisitively.

“It’s just a memento, Lieutenant.” Dray said opening the bag and showing him the amber stone inside, “Sentimental value, more than anything.”

The Lieutenant nodded.

With a final smile and a wave, the grey coated veteran took station between his armoured escorts. And with that, the ponies walked slowly away from the camp and headed off along the long road towards the heart of Equestria and the castle of the princesses.

Watching him go, Harrier’s eyes narrowed. She liked the Colonel. He’d been somepony she could rely on; a constant in this hellish war that she could see, hear and talk to whenever she wanted to. He never changed, never, and now he just…walked away.

“Harrier? What’s going on? The camp’s abuzz with something to do with the Colonel.” Major Wild trotted up beside her, tossing her mane, “Harrier?”

The pegasus sank to her haunches, staring up the road, her voice sounding disturbingly empty, “He’s…gone.”

A shock of cold ran down the Major’s spine making her hackles go up,

“Gone? What do you mean?”

Harrier’s eyes were wide. She looked like she was in shock, “I…”

Chipper interrupted, “-Major Wild?” Reaching down he carefully lifted her hoof, “The Colonel asked me to give you this and said you’d understand.”

Wild stared down at the innocuous looking cloth bag with it’s the simple green drawstring. She hadn’t seen it for years but knew without asking what it contained. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the rising tide of emotion.

“One of my ponies said that Lord Ochre’s stallions have taken the Colonel into custody. Is this true?” Colonel Spoon’s question was like a dagger through the Major’s heart. Surely…surely not? They’d saved the army from annihilation and although they hadn’t driven the Legion out, they had inflicted a heavy blow; the first since the outbreak of war. That had to be worth something, hadn’t it?

“Major?”

Wild took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, “Colonel Spoon, we need to discuss the defence of Equestria.” She nodded to the other officers, “Flight Captain, Chipper, if you please…”

Fighting back the anger and fear raging through her heart, Wild steeled herself for what she must do. Whatever became of Dray, they had a job to do and saving Equestria had to take precedence. He’d known that. That was why he’d left her the amber, the Wyvern’s Tear. It was the symbol of defiance left to him by his father; that he would stand until the very end and do his duty as a warrior should. She felt a rogue tear sneak out and roll down her cheek which she surreptitiously wiped away. There was no time for tears, not now. Now was a time for action, but one day…one day, she would pay that overstuffed Ochre a visit, and all debts would be paid…in full.

********************

The long walk to the castle took several equally long days. Why Dray’s new companions hadn’t brought a sky chariot to collect him was peculiar, particularly when considering how notoriously impatient Lord Ochre was. Strange too was how the ponies escorting him did very little in the way of any actual guarding, although they were probably working on the assumption that an officer of his rank wouldn’t even consider an attempt at escape. After all, where could he go? The enemy would most likely kill him if he was captured and his own side would simply hunt him down. And then of course, there was his family. He couldn’t risk harm to them.

Interestingly, Lord Ochre’s stallions barely spoke to each other, let alone their charge, only issuing the occasional instruction: ‘eat’, ‘sleep there’ and so on. The Colonel was never given a chance to wash either; the five of them were on the go from first light until dark. Dray wasn’t under any illusion however, it was probably all intended to humiliate him, to tire him out and present him as a filth covered wreck before the ‘mighty lord’. He snorted, shaking his mane. He didn’t care, he’d done his best and only the eternal herd could decide his true fate, not some little snot of a stallion.

The Colonel took out his travelling cloak. It was going to be a cold night, he noted - the sky was crystal clear and full of stars. For some reason Ochre’s stallions had camped atop a hill with the fire no doubt visible for miles. This far into the heartland it probably didn’t matter so much, but it was another glaring indication that these weren’t regular soldiers. He pulled the thick wool cloak over his head and huddled down for the night, listening to the campfire crackle and the sound of hooves drawing near.

“Colonel? You still awake?”

Pushing his hood back, Dray half opened one eye, “Just about. What is Lieutenant?”

In answer, Cove reached into his pack and took out a small earthenware jar. Deftly, he held the jar with one hoof and undid the clips, removing the lid,

“What do you think?”

The Lieutenant passed the container to Dray. Warm sunshine, fresh grass, golden cornfields, and a hint of rum: the smell’s that eased a troubled heart, caressed his nostrils. The Colonel smiled,

“Wonderful.”

“I thought you’d appreciate it” the Lieutenant replied quietly, producing his own pipe, “Please…” he held out his hoof in invitation.

Dray raised an eyebrow. This was different. Why would they start being cordial now? Was it all part of some ploy of the Lord’s? He hesitated.

“It’s not poisoned Colonel, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Cove said quietly as he made himself comfortable.

Dray gave him a half smile, “Could you blame me if I did?”

“All I can tell you” the Lieutenant replied honestly, “is that I’ve been ordered to bring you to see Lord Ochre, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. If I could tell you more, I would. I promise you that upon my honour as an officer.”

Dray harrumphed, “Fine words, Lieutenant, but we needed every able bodied pony at River Valley and your ‘Lord’ kept a whole division, a whole division, safe at home to protect his blue blooded arse.” He lifted his pipe and began packing it, all the while watching the young officers eyes intently, “We lost a lot of ponies that day, Cove, good ponies and for what? It was bloody suicide, and he knew it. You’ll forgive me if I appear a little cynical?”

The younger stallion peered over his shoulder at his three fellow sat around the camp fire playing dice. They weren’t paying the two any attention whatsoever. He returned to face the Colonel once more,

“I can’t pretend to know what you went through Colonel, or your ponies, but know this: If I could have been there, I would have. There are many of us who think that too, but we cannot simply abandon Lord Ochre, especially now that the Princess has…gone.”

He was right of course. Loyalty was considered an important attribute for a pony in Equestria, be it to the Princess or, unfortunately, to a complete cock like Ochre. The Lieutenant could always be talking out of his arse of course, Dray still didn’t trust him, but still, it was damned good tobacco. The Lieutenant leaned back and gave his neck a stretch,

“Colonel…I wanted to ask you something.”

Dray closed his eyes. Ah! Now we were getting to the real reason why this fellow was suddenly feeling talkative.

Cove continued, “Do you happen to know a young stallion called Tenor Flair? He’s a lime green lad with a light purple mane and blue eyes. He’s a slim fellow, a unicorn like his mum.”

Dray shook his head, “I’m sorry Lieutenant. There were thousands of ponies at River Valley. I wish I could have remembered all of their names, but there were more pressing matters to attend to.” He sighed, “I’m sure you understand.”

The Lieutenant looked crestfallen, “I…I see.”

“I don’t know if it’s any consolation, Lieutenant, but I don’t recall seeing his name on the casualty list.” Dray explained honestly, “I know it was a bit ‘confused’ to say the least, but there is still a chance he’s with the army.”

“Of course, Colonel.” The young officer said, taking a drawer on his pipe, “It was a long shot, but worth asking. If I’d had the time I’d have liked to have had a look around the camp for him but…well, duty first.”

Dray nodded, watching the smoke from his pipe curling up into the night sky, “Aye, duty first.”

The Lieutenant went to stand, “Thank you for your time Colonel.”

“Wait…” Dray reached out a hoof, “Lieutenant Cove, is this pony a friend of yours?”

Cove nodded sadly, “My brother.” He gazed up at the stars distantly, “Dad used to work on Lord Ochre’s estate and put a word in for me. He thought it would be a good posting for me, with good pay, good conditions, and a smart uniform too.” He smiled grimly, “Tenor’s a few years younger than me you see, and when the war broke out he went straight into the regular army while I was already in Lord Ochre’s employ.”

So, that explained why the two were separated, Dray thought to himself. If Cove could be believed then, the Lord’s own ponies, or at least some of them, had wanted to fight with the army but were being prevented from doing so by the very quality espoused by their people - Loyalty. He nodded, “I see.” Dray rolled the tobacco smoke around his mouth and blew a smoke ring, “Lieutenant Cove, if I have a chance to return to the army, I promise you I will look for your brother.”

The white coated stallion nodded,

“Thank you Colonel. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have an early start in the morning. With good travelling weather, we’ll be at the castle by midday.”

Dray lifted a hoof in acknowledgement. He lay back and watched the stars twinkling high above, thinking about the Lieutenant’s words, and very interesting they had been, very interesting indeed. Maybe…

He shook his head and tapped out his pipe. Before he started having any further ideas, he’d need to see what tomorrow would bring. Curling up for warmth, he snugged the cloak in around himself and closed his eyes, letting himself drift off into the embrace of sleep.

****************************

Morning came all too early, but for an army stallion, it was a normal part of their routine. Still, a few minutes more would have been nice. Dray yawned and packed his cloak, joining the others who took their usual station: two in front, two behind, and together, they began the last leg of their journey to the castle. Lieutenant Cove didn’t speak again, at least, not to him. He was an interesting fellow and one Dray could see as having a promising career, if it hadn’t been for how fate had played her cards. If nothing else, at least the stallion was safe with Ochre’s private force, for now at any rate.

The morning wore on, the road becoming more and more substantial and better maintained until it eventually transitioned from mud, to gravel, and finally to paving. They passed through a small town on the outskirts of the forest, the population there paying them surprisingly little attention. In some ways it was just a normal town scene, with ponies shopping at the market stalls or taking their children to school. It was as if the war were happening on another world. And yet, there were those curiously furtive glances, the ones Dray just happened to catch when the villagers thought he wasn’t looking. He recognised them immediately - fear. Even here, this close to the castle, the war had spread its insidious tendrils. Goddesses, how he hoped that one day this would be nothing more than a memory, and a bad memory at that.

The five of them continued through the town, the well tended road leading inexorably up to the castle’s immense outer wall with its large red and gold banners snapping in the breeze high above. Dray was momentarily surprised by the fact Celestia’s banners still flew. Apparently Ochre hadn’t had a chance to put his own up yet. A problem that he would no doubt rectify as soon as he felt he could get away with it. After all, many ponies still believed she was still alive, and goddesses help them when they found out that she’d ‘disappeared’. Dray snorted. For all he knew, she was sat there in the throne room waiting to berate him herself!

Their hoofsteps echoed as they passed under the heavy iron portcullis and into the castle’s built up area. This was where the wealthier citizens of Equestria, the merchants, the nobles and those who wished to climb the various social ladders, lived their lives of relative safety, sequestered between the protective inner and outer curtain walls. The inner walls themselves were just as impressive at the one’s they’d entered through, the huge castle proper, enigmatically known as ‘the castle of the two sisters’, dominating the slight rise. Dray was the son of a farmer, more used to mud on his hooves from ploughing or stitching wounds from battle, than sipping tea and eating fancy cakes. But even he could understand the beauty of such a place as this. Everywhere the wealth and nature of the Equestrian people showed, from the flowing fountains to the freshly whitewashed walls, elegant statuary and beautifully kept gardens all around them. Well dressed ladies and gentlecolts of the middle and upper classes glided about their gilded cage like so many peacocks in an aviary. Dray doubted any of them had ever seen a sword, let alone hoofed one in battle.

Oddly, like the ponies in the village, these paid little attention to the small procession of soldiers, and the five of them arrived at the stairs to the castle proper with no more fanfare than having to show identification papers at the main gate. That was new!

A burly guard looked at the papers and then up to the Lieutenant,

“You can go now. I’ll take him to see the Lord.”

Cove shook his head, “I was instructed to take him to deliver him to Lord Ochre, private and I shall.”

“Not looking like that you’re not” the guard replied, “You’re all covered in crap. If you make a mess of his carpets he’ll have you cleaning the privy for the next month and I don’t to be dragged into it because…”

Lieutenant Cove stomped a hoof, his ponies shifting their hooves to the hilts of their swords,

“-I don’t give a damn about his bucking carpets private. Now, stand aside and allow me to complete my mission or I will report your obstruction to Lord Ochre myself.”

Cove’s voice brooked no dissent and the guard took a step back hurriedly, letting the officer and his contingent through. Dray was impressed, and didn’t miss the dark look the guard shot at the back of the Lieutenant. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Dray took it all in, it may prove useful later; if there was a later. Ochre had a reputation, a bad one, and it wouldn’t surprise him in the least if his new appointment involved the liberal use of chopping blocks and sharp bladed instruments. Just for the sake of public order of course, nothing else, Dray thought to himself sarcastically. He shook his head and cleared his lungs with a deep breath. It didn’t really matter who was in charge anymore, they were all the same, all feathering their own nests on the bones of those less fortunate. At least Celestia, for all her naivety, wasn’t tyrannical or selfish.

They reached a set of imposingly tall wooden doors. One side had a magnificent carved representation of an alicorn reaching out towards the sun, the other a reverse of the first, with an alicorn reaching down for the moon. They were two halves of the whole, two halves that had split the country into warring factions and now with one of them missing, the carrion had come to pick over the bones of what the other had wrought. Dray gritted his teeth as the doors began to creak open, almost immediately finding himself deluged with the overpowering smell of rose water as it rolled out over him. The heady scent was so strong it stung his eyes and made his stomach heave, making him feel physically sick. Beside him, he could see Lieutenant Cove’s nose and eyes twitching involuntarily. The poor stallion was probably acclimatised to it by now.

The two guards by the door waved them inside and they entered. Dray half expected to see a low lying fog of stench around his hooves. Instead, the invisible assailant simply constrained itself to annihilating his sense of smell. They trudged on. The purple carpet beneath Dray’s hooves seemed to go on for miles, giving him ample time to take in the immensely tall windows of multicoloured stained glass panels which depicted various scenes of ponies and ‘things’ which he wouldn’t want to bump into on a dark night. Doubtless the intension of all of this was to impress upon the supplicant that they were in the presence of absolute power and greatness. It was certainly something that had effect of giving the Colonel goose bumps. Or was that a reaction to the stench of rosewater?

Finally, the Lieutenant and the Colonel stood at the foot of the flight of marble steps that lead to two magnificent thrones. One was carved with the symbol of Celestia, a large sunburst that left the viewer in no doubt as to who and what the occupant of that regal piece of furniture represented. The second was its opposite twin, the zenith to its nadir: an equally beautifully carved throne bearing a depiction of the moon in its crescent form above the vacant seat that had once belonged to Luna, the Princess of the Night. Dray couldn’t help but feel an odd sense of sadness and regret wash over him at the sight. What was worse though, was the slovenly looking creature that had ensconced itself in the throne normally occupied by Celestia.

Lord Ochre, a deep blue unicorn stallion, half sat, half lay across the leader of Equestria’s chair, his long flowing snow white mane drooping over the side as he swirled a golden goblet of wine. His perfectly coifed hair looked strange somehow, as though he were trying to emulate the almost living hair of the two sisters. And then, Dray noticed it, the young pony beside him with the fan half hidden behind the throne trying to make the Lord’s mane ‘ripple’ dramatically. It was all rather…pathetic really.

Ochre’s attention appeared to be focussed more on the wine than his company, and he made a show of draining it before passing the empty goblet to his attendant. Almost immediately, another pony appeared in a black suit, sporting a tape measure and pad of paper held up in his magic. Ochre lazily rolled his hazel eyes and stretched languorously before slowly stepping down from the throne,

“Can you believe how hard it is to find a decent tailor around here?” The Lord stretched out a foreleg, allowing the black suited stallion to measure him, “Of all the places in Equestria, one would have thought that there’d be one, ONE in this place that could make a set of clothes for a pony of one’s station.”

Dray wasn’t sure if he was addressing him or not and glanced over at the Lieutenant for rescue. Cove just waggled his eyebrows conspiratorially. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He decided it was best to reply just in case,

“My Lord, I have returned at your request.”

“Well obviously!” The Lord replied rolling his eyes, “I sent for you!” He stood up on his hind legs as the tailor took more measurements and clucked his tongue, “I hope this isn’t going to take all day, stallion, I have other things to do you know!”

Again, Dray faltered, unsure of whom the Lord was addressing.

“Well?” Ochre snapped irritably, casting a hazel eyed gaze upon Dray, “Well Colonel?”

“My Lord?”

Ochre waved a hoof in exasperation, “Your report, stallion! Do I have to spell it out for you? Great goddesses, are you the best Equestria has to offer? No blasted wonder the country’s going to hell.”

Dray could feel his eye beginning to twitch. That damned overstuffed fool! This was like a bloody game to him wasn’t it? He stood his ground and cleared his throat,

“Lord Ochre, I wish to…”

“-Just a minute, just a minute.” Ochre called down, “Damn it, stallion, what the hell is wrong with you? That too tight!”

The tailor bowed, “I apologise my lord.”

Ochre clucked his tongue and glanced down at Dray, “What would you do with him eh, Dray? A tailor who can’t…’tailor’, like a cock with no balls, right?”

“Uh…yes, my lord.” Dray stuttered. What the hell was he going on about?

“So what would you do with him, Dray?”

The Colonel looked at the frightened old pony that was holding the tape measure. Horribly, he had the feeling he held the poor stallion’s life in his hooves. He took a breath,

“Remedial training, my lord.”

“Ha! Remedial training is it?” Ochre laughed, “Very well, I shall think upon that for later.” He clopped his hooves together at the stricken tailor, “You! Leave us!”

Bowing, the stallion looked like he’d pissed himself in fright and all but ran past the two officers. The dark blue coated lord yawned and took another goblet of wine from his ever present attendants,

“Well, Dray, I’m waiting. What news of our glorious army?”

Dray took a deep cleansing breath. He’d been dreading this,

“My lord, the army has delivered a great blow against the army of Nightmare Moon. We were able to fight them to a standstill on the forest ridge and with the help of our allies, have attacked their staging area and supplies.”

Ochre stretched his hind legs and gave Dray a half interested look,

“Yes, one has heard about those flying lizards attacking the Legion’s supplies. Hardly an act to be celebrated, Dray. Nor, one note’s, have you made mention of the engagement at River Valley.” He cast a hazel eye upon the Colonel, “Well?”

“Lord Ochre”, Dray said in a clear voice, “I regret the enemy was able to break through our centre lines and we were forced to re-deploy on the southern ridge. We took heavy casualties but were able to…”

Ochre suddenly jumped from the throne and slammed his hoof down, the noise echoing around the great pillared throne room,

“-RE-DEPLOY?” He thundered, “You mean you ran like whipped dogs!” The young lord walked slowly down the steps towards Dray, “You were given everything that Equestria has to offer, including the cream of our youth, and you were asked to deliver one thing Dray, that was all, just one tiny thing…do you remember what that was?”

“Victory my lord” Dray replied.

“That’s right, victory.” Ochre snarled, “One simple request and you couldn’t get that right, could you?”

“My lord, I followed the battle plan as you instructed and…”

Ochre barked out a laugh, interrupting him, “-And what? You can’t mean to imply that I had something to do with your failure, Colonel? I gave you the tools and the instructions on how to carry out the task of eradicating a few vermin from our border and you botched the whole bloody thing!”

Dray’s words were out before he could stop himself,

“Those ponies were inexperienced, ill equipped and ill prepared. I did what I could but you have no idea what we are facing out there. Your ‘few vermin’ are experienced warriors who are trained to fight from birth and…”

“BE QUIET!” Ochre roared interrupting him, “Excuses, excuses, excuses! You come here with half cocked explanations for your unmitigated failure and have the audacity to blame me…ME!” He waved a hoof and two silver armoured guards appeared, “Equestrian’s will fight willingly to defend their homeland, Dray, a fact I had expected you of all ponies to understand. Instead, I see a coward, whipped by an inferior enemy and one who allowed our glorious leader to be ambushed by trickery and deception.”

The Lord walked around Dray in a circle, his voice low,

“Where is she Dray?” Ochre hissed, “Where is Celestia?”

Dray kept his head up and his voice level, “I don’t know, my lord.”

“You don’t know…” Ochre shook his head, “Well I can tell you one thing, Dray, she is not here.” He turned to the throne and waved his hooves in the air, “Can you see her Dray? CAN YOU?”

“No, my lord”

Ochre gave an exaggerated nod, “Of course you can’t!” He turned to the throne, casting his voice out loud and clear, “Celestia? Celestia? Are you there oh great monarch of the sun and morning light?”

Silence.

“You don’t see it, do you Dray? A low born creature such as yourself will never understand what it is like to be born into power, to hold that responsibility in your hooves, and watch as some…maggot throws it all away!” Ochre climbed back up the steps to the throne, his voice echoing out as he went, “You have thrown away the best chance we had of defeating Nightmare Moon and her mongrels, Dray. You threw away the chance I gave you, the chance to make a name for yourself, and look at you now! A stinking, filth covered wreck of a pony.” Ochre took a mouthful of his wine, “I alone now have the responsibility to protect our beautiful home now, ME! Not Celestia and certainly not you!” He glowered at the Colonel, “I have a good mind to sentence you to be hanged for treason, Dray. If it wasn’t for your extraordinarily bungled handling of our army, our glorious Princess would still be with us now.”

Ochre tapped his chin thoughtfully, “Still…all is not lost.” He gazed down at Dray, “I feel sorry for you really, Dray. I do, I really do. You see, I admit that I have some level of ‘culpability’ in your failure as I was the one who expected good things from you. I believed that you knew what you were doing and that the references I received regarding your ‘talents’, meant you were the right stallion for the job. Clearly, I was wrong.” He tapped his hoof on the arm of the chair, “There, you see? Even I can admit I made a mistake.” Ochre smiled broadly, the look of cold cruelty never leaving his eyes. He waved to the guards who took up station either side of the Colonel. Ochre held his hoof up dramatically, “If I can admit my mistakes, then so can you Colonel Dray. Unfortunately however, as merciful as I am, I do not believe that the ponies of Equestria would be quite so understanding, particularly when they find out that you had a hoof in the loss of our beloved Princess.”

Dray’s teeth were clenched so tightly, his jaw ached. What was this fool talking about? That he was responsible for the loss of Celestia? Goddesses, if this fool was leading their homeland now, they had no chance, no hope at all. His hoof itched. If only he could grab a weapon, he could take that blustering imbecile down before the others were on him. If only he could…

“Colonel Dray” Ochre began, “You are hereby stripped of your command and banished from the heartland. I will allow you to return to your family home and live out your days there. However should you leave there, you and your family will be considered to be enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.”

“Lord Ochre!” Lieutenant Cove stepped forward suddenly, his eyes blazing, “The Colonel’s home is now in enemy territory, if you send him there it will be to his death!”

Ochre raised an eyebrow, “Ah, Lieutenant Cove, wasn’t it?” He grinned, “Tell you what, why don’t you accompany him on his journey? I believe you and he have a special bond do you not?”

Cove lifted a hoof in surprise, “What? No!”

“Don’t lie to me, Lieutenant!” The Lord yelled, “I know all about your secret little chats with Dray, your conspiring, your plotting!” He motioned towards the guards, “Get them out of my sight! I want them out of the castle by sundown!”

Dray bowed and turned to leave, catching the eye of the stricken Lieutenant. There was no mistaking that look in his eyes. He’d seen the same look in the faces of countless ponies before, when they realised all their dreams had shattered like broken glass beneath their hooves, their futures suddenly dark and unknown.

It was the look of a soul that had lost all hope.

Comments

[napalm]

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I WANTED HIM TO JUST RUN UP AND BRAKE THE NECK OF THAT FUCKING, WANNABE RULER OF EQUESTRIA!!!!!

Over all good chapter, I'm about to Reed the next. And I dearly hope a random anvil falls on his head, or better yet, a piano. *evil laughter*

[That One Brony Dude]

You know, since Dray's family is in enemy territory, and since he's being sent there to die anyway, he really has nothing to loose from taking that jerk down once and for all. His own body guards would probably celebrate for generations to come.

If nothing else, Ochre doesn't really have the muscle to stop him from returning to the army. If the army looks up to him, they'd probably demand that he be allowed to stay. Ochre wouldn't be able to get at him without essentially starting a civil war. Even he wouldn't be stupid enough to start a civil war during a civil war.

Personally, I'm finding it hard to believe Celestia would have given him even the smallest amount of authority. I'm guessing his family has a lot of influence over Equestria, but... he really does deserve to be put unarmed on the front lines to die. Of course, if his own crappy logic is to be believed, he is the greatest thing since toilet paper, so he should have no problem eliminating "a few vermin". He seems to think that defeating Legion is easy, after all.