Tears of a Fallen Star

by Priceless911

Ch6 Celestia's Stand and Forgotten Foes

Noon, the eclipse just reached the center of the sky and Celestia stood at the center of the battle field with her fifty troops waiting for Commander Bolt’s next move. Commander Bolt stood at the top of the hill with his officers looking down into the battle field with disappointment. He was hoping that they would have left during the night but now he had no choice but to fight. A phoenix flew from Princess Celestia and landed in front of him, “Ah Philomena It’s been a while, do you have a message from Princess Celestia?”
Philomena nodded her head and dropped a scroll on the ground before flying back to princess Celestia. Commander Bolt looked at the scroll and unrolled it. The massage read,

“Dear Comman... Star Bolt

I know that you don’t want to do this, however orders are orders; also I couldn’t leave over the night because as I said yesterday, the morale of your soldiers is a fragile thing that can change the tide of battle. If I show even the slightest weakness in bowing to a foe, then they may lose their confidence and further risk themselves in future battles. I believe that second part was your words, not mine, but they stand true all the same. Yesterday after sister stormed off I sent a messenger back to Canterlot requesting reinforcements. Their commander will take my place on this battlefield, but until they arrive I will be your opponent. I only hope you make the right choice.
Sincerely, Princess Celestia of Equestria”

Commander Bolt didn’t want to think about that last line so he looked at Princess Celestia then spoke, “Captain Stone, Fire a signal arrow to commence the battle.”
Captain Stone fired a red arrow into the air to signal the start of the battle but neither side reacted. Celestia only stood at the lead of her troops watching Commander Bolt and his army from the center of the battlefield, no change in expression or change in stance. Commander Bolt wanted to give them one more chance for surrender. He turned and spoke to Captain Stone again, “Captain Stone, send them a warning arrow, and be sure to scare them with it.”

Captain Stone nodded her head and took a few steps forward in front of the formation, and then she stood up on her hind hooves, using her wings to keep her balance. She closed her eyes and raised her head up high. She could feel the wind in her mane, so she studied it; both the speed and its direction. She then opened her eyes, raised her bow, and drew it. She measured her distance carefully then released the arrow, sending it into the air with a faint whistling sound. Meanwhile on the other side of the battlefield Princess Celestia stood with confidence in front of her troops. She did notice Captain Stone launch the arrow but she knew that it was a nearly impossible to hit a target from that distance.

Just then an arrow, the same arrow that Captain Stone shot, went right over Princess Celestia’s Shoulder and completely cut the blade off a guards spear. When this happened the guard was startled and dropped the staff in fear. Every guard standing around him also took a step back in anxiety. Even Princess Celestia was tense about that shot, how could an archer make an impossible shot like that, and still have enough force in the arrow to completely cut through the spear staff. Princess Celestia muttered to herself, “That leader, that archer, and their army. They are truly a force to be reckoned with… A force to be feared.”
Celestia raised her head up high and spoke to her troops, “All soldiers at the ready! We will not fall to threats.”
With that said, all of Celestia’s troops pointed there spears forward toward Commander Bolt’s army.

After lowering her bow, Captain Stone turned to Commander Bolt and smiled with pride. Commander Bolt smiled back and spoke, “Beautiful shot as always Stone, I expected no less. But they still hold their ground. I didn’t want it to come to this, but we have no choice. Lieutenant Viscous, move your pike ponies forward, we will begin the assault, now.”
Lieutenant Viscous replied with disappointment, “Yes sir. All pike ponies MOVE OUT!”
Captain Stone galloped to Commander Bolt, “Commander, you can’t be serious, this is mass slaughter, why woul… how can you even think to make an order like this.”

Commander Bolt sighed, “Gem, you know why I'm giving this order, but I have no choice. If I let my pride stop me, then…”
At that moment the lookout interrupted “ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS SPOTTED! We have pegasi, pike ponies, and catapults on the horizon!”
Commander Bolt smiled and muttered to himself, “Thank Celestia.”
Captain Drib Stepped forward, “Permission to lead my force in, to drop enemy pegasi sir?”
Commander Bolt turned to Captain Drib and replied, “Granted, but focused your assault on their pegasi and there catapults and if you spot the replacement commander, notify me immediately!”
Captain Drib smiled, “Can do, sir. Let’s go ponies, time to clip some wings!”

Commander Bolt smiled as the Captain Drib and his formation took to the skies, “Be careful hot shot, I wouldn’t want all that enthusiasm to fall out there.”
The lookout yelled, “Red signal arrow fired from Celestial reinforcements, they have commenced their assault, sir.”
Commander Bolt looked toward the front lines and replied, “Very well, All Troops move forward! It’s time to hit them hard and fast. Captain Stone! Move your archers into the trench and provide cover fire! Lieutenant Snow, you will move your troops in with mine. We will focus on defending our archers while Lieutenant Viscous focuses on the front, and Captain Drib takes the skies. When the commander is spotted then we will move forward and rush him.”

When Celestia saw a signal arrow from the reinforcement she also felt relief, “All troops fall back and regroup with the reinforcement. I turn all command to the replacement commander!”
With that said all the ponies in her formation turned and galloped back to the reinforcement’s front, and then the reinforcements began their charge. First the Pegasus fronts met in the skies in a collision of feathers and flesh sending many pegasi falling to the ground. Then Lieutenant Viscous and her troops met the front line using her massive axe to cut down any and everypony in her way.

Commander Bolt continued his charge armed with only his shield and his determination. Then Lieutenant Snow cried out, “Celestial arrows! Everypony take cover!”
Commander Bolt looked up and saw the cloud of arrows approaching, thinking fast he ran to a nearby crater and covered himself with his shield. The sound of arrowheads piercing the earth around him, and battering into his shield reminded I'm of hail storms. Only there was the sound of screams from nearby ponies that didn’t get to cover in time. After the arrows stopped Commander Bolt looked around his shield and called, “CLEAR! Keep moving!”

All the ponies that were still able to get up and started moving forward. Meanwhile at the rear trench Captain Stone was standing up high feeling the wind, and then she called to her archers, “Two degrees west!”
She drew her bow and took aim at her target in the middle of the field then she called again, “Forty degrees up!”
She waited a few seconds for her archers to draw their bows then she called, “RELEASE!!!”
With that order every archer in her formation launched a barrage of arrows so massive it looked like a brown cloud just jumped into the sky from the trench.

Back at the front Commander Bolt could hear the arrows flying overhead so he slowed his charge so that he wouldn’t end up in the impact area. Up ahead of him he saw a horrifying sight of pegasus falling from the sky and the rain of arrows dropping every pony under them. He has seen this numerous times but he could never get us to such a sight. Then when he looked upward he noticed a number of enemy pegasus charging him and his troops. Commander Bolt stopped quickly and called out loud, “FLASH!!!”
His troops quickly shielded their eyes as Commander Bolt produced a Lightning Orb specifically used to create a blinding light. After the flash took place Commander Bolt opened his eyes in time to see a number of pegasus collide into the ground with no hesitation what so ever. One even hit the ground just a few feet in front of him.

With no time to check Commander Bolt just stabbed the pegasus with the blade portion of his shield and continued his assault. While moving forward he could see over the next hill, he had a perfect sight of the catapults, and Captain Viscous who was already hacking them away, cutting through them like a warm knife through butter. Then without notice a pike pony charged Commander Bolt from his left side, luckily Commander Bolt caught him in time to block the pike with his shield. Before the pike pony could swing again a spear cam flying out of the sky and landed into his back. When Commander Bolt looked up all he could see was Captain Drib diving out of the sky, pull his spear out of the pony’s back, and fly back into the cloud of smoke with a cocky smile on his face.

Celestia stood on the top of the hill watching the battle with nothing more than horror on her face, “Dear sister, why? Why all this violence? Why all this horror? Why all this death? Why drag a noble leader and friend like Star Bolt into this madness? Never in my life have I ever witnessed such revulsions even Discord couldn’t bring this much chaos.”
A tear rolled down her face, as her commander approached from behind, “Princess Celestia, I suggest you leave this to me and my troops. It isn’t safe here, please your majesty fall back and leave the battle ground.”
Princess Celestia closed her eyes with grate disappointment and replied, “Very well, I leave this in your capable hooves, be careful commander.”
With that said Princess Celestia turned around and flew away from the battlefield followed by a small number of troops for escort.

Back in the battle Commander Bolt was making his way forward until he herd Lieutenant Snow call out, “INCOMMING!!!”
Commander Bolt looked up in time to see a large bolder flying in his direction. Unlike the arrows this boulder kept flying despite the number of pegasi in the way. Commander Bolt knew his shield was useless against this so he started to run to avoid a direct impact. The boulder crashed into the ground behind him missing him by mere inches. The dust cloud created by the impact covered the area around Commander Bolt.

He couldn’t see anything, his troops, the enemy troop; he couldn’t even see the sky above him. he felt like he was all alone, only hearing the metal on metal of sword, pike, and shield, and the whistle of arrows and boulders flying overhead. Then he heard a completely different sound all together this was an angry shout from a charging sword pony, as he came running at Commander Bolt from the front. Thinking quickly Commander Bolt blocked the swing and stabbed the sword pony in the chest with the blade on his shield. Then he braced himself for another attack.

The dust started to clear up and he could see the front line, just then Captain Drib dropped out of the sky and landed next to Commander Bolt, “Sir I’ve spotted the Celestial Commander, it’s an earth carrying a sword, and don’t worry it isn’t Snow.”
Commander Bolt couldn’t help but smile at the joke but he replied seriously, “Where?”
Captain Drip pointed and replied “Back that way near a catapult.”
Commander Bolt turned in the direction he pointed, “Got it, clear my path I'm going after him.”
Captain Drib replied as he took to the skies “Got it sir.”

Commander Bolt made his way to the top of the hill where one of the catapults sat in ruins. Commander Bolt thought to himself as he galloped by, “Looks like Lieutenant Viscous already mad it here.”
Up ahead the Celestial Commander watched the battle with mixed feelings about its final outcome. All of a sudden he heard a scream of rage from his right. Lieutenant Viscous charged the commander and swung her axe at him, but before her axe made contact, the commander drew his sword and cut the axe blade of its handle. Lieutenant Viscous took a few steps back in distress, the commander smiled, “Looks like your useless without your special toy. Let me end it for you right now.”

The commander tried to take another swing but was blocked by a spear. Captain Drib dive from the sky, landed between the two and blocked the attack before the sword hit Lieutenant Viscous. Captain Drib glared at the commander with his spear still pressed against the sword and Spoke, “If you want to kill her, than you will have to go through me first.”
The commander smiled, “Gladly.”
The two pushed each other a way and started staring each other down, but then they were interrupted, “ENOUGH!”

Commander Bolt trotted toward them from the base of the hill. The Celestial Commander Spoke, “You don’t give me orders Bolt, you’re not that special.”
Commander Bolt rolled his eyes, “I'm not giving you orders. My orders are to my officers, Captain Drib!”
Captain Drib replied, “Yes Sir”
“Escort Lieutenant Viscous to the rear line, then continue the assault, the blue arrow will go up after we finish here.”
Captain Drib replied, “Yes sir!”
Captain Drib flew to Lieutenant Viscous and helped her up from the ground, “Its ok, Ardent we will go back together.”
Lieutenant Viscous gave him a relieved smile as the trotted up and over the hill.

Commander Bolt looked at the Celestial Commander with a little confusion, “You look familiar have we fought before.”
The Commander got irritated, “So the great Commander Bolt doesn’t even remember his very first opponent, exactly how many years after the exam did you get your title, eight, nine, and in that time did you even think once about the ponies that failed the exam? Did you even think that they tried there hardest and didn’t get the success they deserve? Of course not! You only cared about yourself, didn’t you?”

Commander Bolt thought for a second and replied, “You’re the stallion from the guard exam, the one I fought at the end. The same one who left himself open to my attack.”
This comment made the stallion even angrier, “Your little trick costs me my future!”
The commander charged and swung his sword, but Commander Bolt blocked with his shield. The commander swung again and again but every contacting swing was against Commander Bolt’s shield. Commander Bolt couldn’t help but think that this stallion is fast, but he is outmatched by skill. Finally Commander Bolt parried the sword and swung the shields blade toward the Celestial Commander’s throat, but the commander dodged the blade and jumped back to avoid fighting too close.

Commander Bolt smiled, “You’re pretty good but you still don’t have what it takes to beat me. If you surrender now then you will have a chance to face me when you’re more skilled.”
The Commander only got more irritated at the comment and charged again. Like before the commanders swings where fast but his technique was worse, he wasn’t fighting with skill anymore, his anger was controlling his moves. Commander Bolt continued blocking with his shield but he knew that the shield would eventually break. So he waited for an opening to swing back, then it came, when the Celestial Commander tried to stab instead of swinging his blade. Commander Bolt parried the blade outward but instead of bringing the blade of his shield into the Celestial Commander’s chest he only used the battered face of his shield to knock the air from his lungs.

The Celestial Commander took a few steps back and dropped to a knee, to catch his breath; “I don’t need pity from a traitor! You will regret sparing me.”
The commander tried to attack again but like the last few attempts, they failed Commander Bolt pushed him back and tried calming him down, “Why are you still so determined, I held your life in my hoof and I gave it back to you, do you think this is a wise choice? Fighting me, when I’ve already proved that I'm better than you?”

The Commander replied, “I won’t give up till I'm the best! I waited a year for that old stallion to fall of his high pedestal, and now that you’re the only one I hav…”
Commander Bolt interrupted, “Old Stallion? Do you mean Commander Mist?”
The Commander smiled, “Ha! That old relic? He was the only pony between me and the title of best soldier in the Celestial Crusaders. Now that he is gone I'm the best, and when I beat you I’ll be the best soldier in all Equestria.”
Commander Bolt was confused, “Whoa hold your horses, are you saying that you only want to be the best, and you didn’t follow Commander Mist because he was your leader?”

The Commander smiled, “Why would I follow an out-of-date stallion, when I can just wait for him to step down and give me his title. Besides you became commander for the same reason, you just got lucky enough that the princesses started this war, so you chose the side that he didn’t, automatically becoming the best in the Nightmare Legion.”
Commander Bolt was infuriated to a point that it took all of his concentration to prevent himself from using the Lightning Orb like he did on Commander Mist. Commander Bolt lost his temper, “YOU!!! PATHETIC WAST OF!!! You are not even a TENTH OF THE SOLDIER HE WAS!!!”

Commander Bolt swung the blade on his shied with enough force that the Celestial Commander lost his footing when he blocked it with his sword.
“YOU WILL NEVER BE THE BEST!!!”
Commander Bolt swung his shield in the opposite direction with the same amount of force, also knocking the Celestial Commander to the ground. Then he continued “YOU ARE A PATHETIC WAST OF LIFE!!!”
The Celestial Commander shuffled to his hooves, only to be knocked down again by another blocked attack from Commander Bolt’s Blade. Commander Bolt continued, “YOU WILL NOT BE THE BEST, INFACT YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW!!!”

Commander Bolt made one more swing, shattering the already worn sword that the Celestial Commander held. When the sword broke under the intense force the pieces flew in all directions pushing the Celestial Commander back a little more till he was against a catapult that was behind him. Commander Bolt pressed him against the catapult, and pressed his blade against the Commanders throat. Then he spoke with fury in his voice, “Choose your next words carefully, for they will be your last.”

The Celestial Commander’s eyes, once full of rage, where now fill with horrifying terror and fear. He pleaded for his life, “NO! Please! STOP! I don’t want to die, not now, not today. Please don’t hurt me. I didn’t mean it. I take it all back, just please don’t kill me. PLEASE!!!”
Commander Bolt started to realize what he was doing, and despite all the anger he was feeling. He couldn’t cut the throat of an enemy that pleaded so pathetically. Commander Bolt lowered his blade and spoke, “You will take your army and leave. If I see you again, I’ll kill you. Now how clear am I?”
The Commander with tears rolling down his face replied, “Crystal… Commander Bolt. You’re crystal clear… Sir.”

Commander Bolt took his hoof off of the Celestial Commander’s chest. The Celestial Commander was completely lump from fear; he fell to his knees immediately then looked at the ground around him. Commander Bolt turned around and trotted to pick up the commanders broken lower half of his sword. All of a sudden Commander Bolt heard a shuffle on the ground behind him. The Celestial Commander grabbed a shard of his sword and charged Commander Bolt. Commander Bolt turned around and swung his blade, but he was too far, the blade went by without touching the charging commander. Commander Bolt knew that since he missed he didn’t have the time to recover from the swing, that the commander had the chance to stab him with the shard.

Right before the shard hit Commander Bolt’s chest, an arrow flew right over his shoulder and into the charging commander’s chest. Nailing him to the catapult behind him, and propping him up. Commander Bolt turned to look where the arrow came from, there at the top of the hill less than fifty feet away stood Captain Stone, bow still raise and an expression of anger on her face. “Sorry I'm late sir. I got caught up with a few obstacles on my way here.”
Commander Bolt smiled, “You know I can’t be mad at you when you’re fashionably late.”

Captain Stone picked up the Celestial Commanders sword grip on her way to meet Commander Bolt. Commander Bolt turned around to the Celestial Commander who was propped up against the catapult gasping for air. The commander looked at Commander Bolt and spoke, “S-so… you won after all. Well then be… D-done with it and k-kill me.”
Commander Bolt shook his head, “It’s not my decision anymore, it’s hers. Weather you live or die is now Captain Stone’s choice.”

Captain Stone trotted up to her wounded foe and spoke softly, “Please make your peace, I don’t want you to die with regret.”
The commander smiled, “Such a beautiful and noble pegasus, but I have nothing to say, so just do what you got to, and finish me.”
Captain Stone replied, “Very well.”
Captain Stone took the pointed end of the broken blade against the dying commander forehead and pressed as hard as she could till she herd the blade hit the wood on the catapult behind him. The commander closed his eyes and died.

Captain Stone pulled the broken blade from the commander’s face then pulled the arrow from his chest. As soon as the arrow was pulled, the corpse of the Celestial Commander fell to the ground. Captain Stone turned to Commander Bolt, “Here sir, you will need this part of the sword to stop this battle.”
Commander Bolt shook his head, “No, you killed the enemy commander, it’s only fair that you be the one to raise it up on the return.”
Captain Stone smiled but it was a bittersweet smile, she raised the broken sword up in the air and began the march back to the front. Just like the last battle, an archer sent up a blue flaming arrow, signaling the end of the fighting, and every pony, Celestial Crusader, Nightmare Legion, Fighting, or not, bowed in respect for the fallen commander.

When they arrived back at the camp Commander Bolt turned to his officers, “Gather you forces and count up the casualties, then report the numbers back to me.”
When Commander Bolt turned back he realized that Nightmare Moon was waiting for him at his hut. Captain Stone and Commander Bolt approached Nightmare Moon than bowed. Nightmare Moon spoke, “Why is this officer carrying the enemy commander’s sword, and not my commander?”

Commander Bolt replied, “Your majesty, she is the pony who killed the enemy commander so she has earned that right.”
Nightmare Moon turned her head to Captain stone, “What is your name filly?”
Captain Stone nervously answered, “C-Captain Stone, your majesty.”
Nightmare Moon replied, “I’ve heard of you in Commander Bolt’s reports, you’re an excellent solider, archer, and friend. I hope you do well in future battles.”
Captain Stone couldn’t help but blush at the this comment.

Nightmare Moon turned back to Commander Bolt, “What do you intend on doing with the prisoners Commander?”
Commander Bolt replied, “I was going to turn them into you, to see what you wanted done your majesty.”
Nightmare Moon replied, “Anypony who can still fight has a choice, either join our side or imprisonment. The wounded I want treated, if they can still fight after the wounds heal then they get the same choices. As for the wounded who will lose limbs or there ability to fight, I want them executed.”

Commander Bolt spoke, “Executed? But your majesty these ponies can no longer fight there is no reason to kill them…”
Nightmare Moon interrupted, “I don’t want them to take up space in my prison camps. I want them executed.”
“But your majesty surly we can find a place for them…”
Nightmare Moon was getting angry, “Are you questioning my orders?”
“No your majesty but…”
“You do now the penalty for disobeying my orders, don’t you Commander?”
“Yes but…”
“Then you WILL follow my orders and execute them!”
Commander Bolt looked at the ground and replied, “Your majesty, please. There has to be another way, those ponies lost a lot today. Please don’t make me take their lives too, please.”

Nightmare Moon’s anger slowly subsided and she sighed, “Fine, do with them as you please, but I still want some new recruits by the end of the day.”
Commander Bolt Replied, “Thank you, your majesty I’ll have numbers for you by morning.”
Nightmare Moon turned around and spoke, “Very good, I’ll take my leave. Oh… and Commander?”
Commander Bolt replied, “Yes your majesty?”
Nightmare Moon spoke with a serious voice, “Question my orders again, and I’ll kill you!”
With that said Nightmare Moon Turned into the cloud of fog and flew away into the distance. Without even giving Commander Bolt a chance to reply.

Comments

[Bronixus]

Damn, that's just cold.