Equestria at War

by Krystal Dusk

Chapter 6 - The Frontiers

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Chapter 6

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Over the Celestial Sea, Ember and Spike flew in silence. Ember had not taken the news well of Twilight keeping the Sceptre’s secrets hidden from her. Spike noticed how she clutched the Sceptre tightly on their way, refusing him to use it to teleport them back to the Dragon’s Lair.

Although he would’ve preferred to chase after Fiurion and join Fluttershy and the others back to Equestria, something compelled him to stay by Ember’s side. Perhaps trying to smooth things over with Ember was a better use of his time than hurrying back to Twilight where he could do nothing.

Even before they reached The Dragon’s Lair, they saw dozens of scouts swarming near the coast, looking for their missing Dragon Lord. As they were spotted, horns sounded across the land, telling the others of Ember’s return. It seemed as if almost all the dragons of her swarm had gathered at the amphitheatre anew as they landed admits the crowd. Nervously, Spike stood closely to Ember, expecting an angry mob for kidnapping their ruler. But to his surprise, their eyes shone with wonder and questions rained down on him, about how he was able to use the Sceptre so seamlessly.

Not in the mood to indulge her subjects, Ember bellowed to step aside, creating a path for them to a cave at the base the throne. She walked with her chin raised high and a stern look on her face without checking if Spike were following here, confident that he did. The dragons around them stared and murmured as they walked, the display of power resonating with them.

At the cave entrance, the inside went deeper below the mountain, The Sceptre in Ember’s hands barely lighting their path. In the depths, their surroundings soon light up in an eerily yellow and orange glow emanating under their feet. Spike could hear a hissing, as well, making him feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic so deep below the mountain. As they reach the end of their path, Ember suddenly stopped and faced him. “Show me,” she said while handing him the Sceptre. “Show me more what you can do.”

Hesitantly, Spike accepted the sceptre. He stared at the red gem at the tip, the gem glowing like fire raging inside. He bit his lower lip and said. “Twilight didn’t mean to go behind your back, Ember. She—“

Ember interrupted him with her hand. “This has nothing to do with her. Show me what you’ve learned. Or are you truly just her pet?”

He felt a pang at the blunt retort and he staggered a bit at her words. But he knew it was her intention to drive her point across. Spike took a long breath and smiled weakly. It’s not about Twilight, she says. Everything he’s ever done has been about Twilight, as long as he could remember. The very idea that Twilight had nothing to do with his decisions in life felt preposterous. Maybe he was her pet after all? Yet, somehow, it felt liberating to hear from somebody else that his decisions were his own, that he did things for himself and not anyone else. After a few moments of hesitation, he closed his eyes and murmured a few words at the gem; words that he’d had hard time memorising in Canterlot now sang out smoothly in the presence of another dragon and the land that they were in.

Finishing the incantation, he pressed the tip of the sceptre against the walls; the dark cooled magma heated by its touch, turning into goo and brightening up the room even more in its yellow and orange light. Ember gasped at what she saw, grabbing Spike by his lower arm unconsciously. Feeling her touch against his arm, he wanted this moment to last forever. But, as if the world wanted differently, the walls began to shake, the magma spurting from the wall and hissing as it landed on the cold rock floor. Then, as instantly as it came, it stopped. They looked at each other and bolted out of the cave. Outside, they looked around and saw every dragon staring into the distance, looking at a mushroom cloud rising to the air.

Some of them peered in awe at what they saw, others gritting their teeth in disappointment, and even fewer crying on their knees. There was only one creature that could create such devastation and he couldn’t help but smile proudly at the sight.

Fiurion was no more.

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Surrounded by a magical purple field, Cadence watched as boulders crashed into it, making slight vibrations, like rocks tossed into a puddle of water. The ponies powering the shield grunted from the strain every time a boulder hit the surface, but it wasn’t anything that they couldn’t handle for they were exceptionally powerful Crystal Ponies, picked carefully for the task.

Cadence shook her head at the futility of the Yak’s actions. Their density rivalling even the most thickheaded of golems. They had been at it for hours now and Cadence thought that they would run out of ammunition eventually, or at least their patience would vain soon enough.

Though the Yaks intentions were more than she could understand, Twilight had dealt with them in the past and it was clear they were prone to war. Either they saw their chance for an easy victory as Equestria was weakened after years of conflict, or they had made some sort of deal with the Griffons. Either way, their assumptions were sorely mistaken; Twilight had foreseen this and they had been waiting for them.

Cadence scanned the unicorns who stood in a half circle in front of her, the shield encompassing and protecting her whole army. Cadence could see sweat trickling down their foreheads and their mouths twisted from the effort it took to keep the shield powered. It was time for another swap.

At the frontline Shining Armour trotted along the soldiers, giving words of encouragement at them. Knowing that her words could not reach him at this distance, she sent a spark through her horn that ended up at the tip of her husband’s, making him look at her direction. It was a simple spell, yet effective to grab some pony’s attention. Cadence made a nod at him and he knew what she meant, bellowing at the reserves to switch places. She smiled wryly at her husband, they could, of course, hold the shield themselves, but then there would be nopony left to manage the forces. And it was never a good idea to use one’s triumph card right away.

She sighed loudly as a particularly large rock made the field drum and reverberate loudly around them, the rock shattering into a million pieces on impact. But then, the rocks suddenly stopped flying. Instead, a horn was sounded that echoed throughout the mountains.

“So, they’ve finally lost patience,” Cadence said aloud. The two commanding officers by her side glanced at her as she had remained quiet since the battle began. “Move 80% of the unicorns away from the front lines,” she ordered. “Make them think that the shield is at full power… I want them to believe that they have to go full force to break through.”

The commanders nodded sharply and redirected the orders to the frontline. With quickness and discipline, they rearranged their formations and hid behind the bulwarks. When they were in position, only the humming from the few unicorns managing the shield could be heard, until it was drowned by the deafening sound of the Yak’s charging down the mountain. Though Cadence was sure of her strategy, she couldn’t help but be nervous about the outcome. Her, being more accustomed to solving conflicts rather than forcing them. This is it, she thought. The deciding moment of the battle.

As the Yaks was almost upon the shield, and the ponies bracing themselves for the impact, a shock wave made both the Yaks and the ponies tumble to the ground. Chaos ensued on both ranks and neither side knew what to do. But seconds later, a loud explosion following the shockwave, reached them, and they all jerked their head in its direction. Nopony (or Yak) cared then about the war and just peered at the mushroom cloud that rose into the sky. The Yaks losing all the will to fight.

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The sun was high in the sky as they trotted next to the Ghastly Gorge. Apple Bloom glanced to the west, where the now abandoned Rock farm lay. Having been evacuated, along with any other small settlement and town, most of southern Equestria now lay empty. The war and the drought had affected them all and much of the green fields are now dry and brown coloured.

With all available Pegasi at the frontline, there wasn’t much they could do about the weather. Only a small group of workers could be left to maintain favourable weather in the heart of Equestria. The rest of it simply had to wither away without the helpful hands of the pony race. Though, that’s how it always been outside the pony domain. In the southernmost land, much like Everfree, nature did not abide by anypony’s rules but its own. Yet, the south was withering, while Everfree was lush and green… She would never understand how that worked.

Many of the zebra refugees had found sanctuary with Zecora, in that forest, as nopony dare to enter it themselves. But food must have been scarce for they kept raiding the Equestrian supplies that were meant for the frontline. Even so, more refugees arrived every week. It had to stop. No matter how difficult the Zebras had it in their own lands, Applebloom would be damned if they brought their misfortune with them.

She had to get to the refugees before Zecora did.

Applebloom glanced around the gorge and was expecting an ambush at every turn. It was quiet, with not so much as bird squeaking in the distance. A cold sweat ran down her neck and she swallowed dryly from the heat.

At the corner of her vision, a flash of light blinded her, but she knew what it was, and she bellowed a command before the flasks broke by their hooves. Skilfully they put their masks on and formed a circle around Applebloom. A green fog spread around them as they waited for an attack, but none came.

As they waited, Applebloom had an ill-feeling and she removed her mask and smelled the air faintly. It was not harmful, she concluded. She peered her ears and she heard the clatter of hooves echo ahead of them. Applebloom frowned and drew breath. “Very clever, Zecora! But you’ll not fool me twice. I’ll get you for this!”

There came no response. And a few minutes later, the fog receded and they could see clearly again. She hunched down by the ground and saw their hoof marks in the dirt. She estimated about a hundred of them. Nothing they couldn’t handle even if they managed to join forces with the untrained and unequipped refugees. “We continue onward,” she roared and they picked up the pace.

After a few hours, they halted in an open field at the end of the Ghastly Gorge. At the horizon, they could see a line of white and black. They were many, she realised. But it didn’t matter, her orders were to send them the other way, and that’s what she intended to do.

As they approach in a three-row formation, she saw Zecora approach them alone, staring intently at them. “Zecora,” Applebloom bellowed. “I’m only going to say this once. Turn back now and find refuge somewhere else. We have supplies that we last you through the desert if you choose to accept. I find that this is more than a reasonable demand. What do you say?”

“Ah, Apple Bloom. Much have changed with you I can see. Though, the so called, request is not something that we can proceed. We have a right to be in this land, and so do you. Leave us in peace and let us come through.”

Applebloom grit her teeth and said. “If you hadn’t noticed, we are in a war, Zecora. We can barely harbour our own refugees and all the resources goes to the war effort. Why can’t you see that?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the Zebra ranks “And why can’t you see that they could be an asset, rather than a hindrance, Applebloom.” The voice said, and a blond mare revealed herself from the crowd.

“Applejack!?” Applebloom exclaimed. “W-what are you doing here?”

Applejack looked sadly at her sister. “Applebloom… I don’t know what is running through yours or Twilight’s mind, but this has to stop! Can’t you see how wrong this is?” She said pleadingly.

“No! It is you who don’t understand, Applejack.” Applebloom raised her hoof and the soldiers lowered their heads, ready to charge. “This is your last warning, Zecora. Stand down and leave this land.”

The atmosphere tensed all around them and nopony moved or said anything. Suddenly, a roar that echoed around them made them turn their heads towards the source, and soon after, a shock wave made almost every pony topple to the ground.

Every pony and every zebra looked at each other then. Their disagreement put to the side as their hatred for each other was replaced with the fear of the unknown.

Author's Note:

Did some restructuring of the chapter again, so sorry to anyone who follows this story. Rest assured, however, the story is finished and I'll be posting one new chapter a day until then.

Enjoy!