If you are new to the story please now that the other chapters before Preparation were some of my early works and will be of great need of grammar correction. It'll be rewriting after the story is completed. Thank you and I know...
It was a peaceful day in Ponyville today. The sun was shining ever so bright and everypony was enjoying themselves. I just left my castle to see my friends and even Princess Luna as we thought that as this was a perfect day, we must hang out and catch up with each other. This day couldn't get any better.
I arrived at the sugar cube coner where all of my friends are gathered. We sat at the biggest table that Pinkie Pie could find and where we all discussed about what we did last week. Rainbow dash was going on about one of her stunts when I noticed Fluttershy was not taking part of conversation and got me all curious.
"Fluttershy?" I asked in concerned for my friend. "What's wrong? you're awfully quiet." Everypony then looked at her with the same concerning faces.
"Oh I'm fine." Fluttershy said ever so quietly. "Really I am, it's just well... Do any of you regret what we did to that poor thing five years ago.?" This got everypony remembering that day when that thing came to Ponyville. It's tall thin body, pale white skin, greasy hair and carnivorous teeth in the front row of its mouth.
"Oh Fluttershy." came the voice of Rarity as she placed a hoof on Fluttershy's back. "We all know that you care for animals deeply, but we had to get rid of that hideous creature out of town. Don't you remember everypony was screaming from it?"
"Yes." Fluttershy replied silently. "But it-"
"And don't you remember when it tried to grab a small filly with it wried arms?" Intruded Applejack as she finished her chocolate milkshake.
"Yes." Fluttershy anwered a bit louder. "But it said it was-"
"And didn't you see it's monstrous teeth when it was smiling at what could of been it's lunch?" Rainbow said angrily that it just walked in and tried to eat one of us.
"Okay that enough!" Fluttershy angrily yelled at us with one of her hoof hitting the table, spilling some of the drinks along the table. We all looked at her with surprised faces. "We didn't know that at the beginning. For all we know it could of been lost and was trying to find its family by coming here and wanting to know where they could be." She calmed down from her little outburst and had a little bit of tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so rude."
"Nonsense Fluttershy." Luna said with a smile on her mouth. "I understand why you feel that way. But what you have told me about its attack on Ponyville, I'd went inside of it's dreams and asked why it did that." Luna then leaned towards the table, as did we. "Let me tell all this, when I asked why it went all anger and saying that it you all that did the wrong".
"As if!" Rainbow chuckled "That's what a monster would always say if you asked it."
"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie enter the conversation with a high squeak from her voice. "I bet it would say that with a roar like..."
Pinkie open her mouth and made a perfect deep and booming roar that made everything inside the building shaken for a few seconds. When it died out we burst out laughing. Pinkie's face was just plain shock. I guessed she didn't know she can make a really good impression of a monster.
"Oh Pinkie." I spoke while trying to catch my breath. "I never thought you had that in you"
"Girls." Pinkie replied with a shaking voice. "That wasn't me that made that roar." We then all stopped laughing and all looked at her. What did she mean with she didn't do that?
"Then if it wasn't you?" I broken the silence "Then who... or what did?"
After I said that. A huge bright light like fire flew out side of the building and landed somewhere with a large bang by hitting something. All of us left the table in a hurry and rushed outside. Outside was Chaos.
Everypony was running around in fright as all building was catching on fire by large fireball coming from the sky with a terrible storm that made the fire fly onto other building. The ground was shaking which made items fall from shelves and made some ponies fell to the ground. Everything was in complete chaos and our faces was all shocked by this scene.
"What the hay is going on?!" I yelled in disbelief.
Before anypony could answer. Barks, growls and more roars were heard in the distance. We turned our heads to where the sounds were coming from. Dozens upon dozens of timber wolves and manticores were charging down from Everfree forest towards Ponyville with hatred in their eyes.
"We need to everypony to the Twilight's castle!" Luna commanded. "It holds many halls to contain everypony in Ponyville inside of it!"
"We can write a letter to princess Celestia to get reinforcements when we get in there." I shouted to the other. They all nodded their heads in agreement to the plan "Okay first of all we need to stop the timber wolves and the manticores from getting into the town so I'll create a barrier over the entire town while the rest of you get everypony to my castle."
Once I'd gave my plan to the other. I then cast one of Shining Armour's barrier dome and placed it around the town and in just the right time. The dome stop the rampaging creatures from entering the town and stopped right in the tracks, scratching the dome with their claws. Even better is that the fireball and the stormy air stopped as well. I thought it was over for the magic... But I was terribly wrong. Soon even more fireballs began to fall from the sky like rain and the stormy air bashed onto the dome like a hammer. The barrier wouldn't last long. So I went to help the other get into my castle while the dome can hold for a little longer.
Soon everypony was either in the castle or heading towards it as me, my friends and princess Luna guided them towards sanctuary. Spike was counting everypony to see if everypony was there. I looked at the dome. It was still holding but not any longer. There was many cracks around it thanks to the fireballs and the air bashing onto the dome. I then went to Spike.
"Have you sent a letter to Princess Celestia yet?" I asked him.
"It's already sent and she'll be here soon." Spike answered as he was still counting down everypony down ."Uh oh, we're missing three more ponies."
"Who isn't here?" I question to the other while I was rubbing my chin as I was thinking. The other were thinking as well. Then Applejack's face downed.
"Applebloom and her friends!" Applejack shouted with surprise and horror. "She and her friends were playing in the treehouse before all of this started, they must been still there."
Before any of us could acted. A massive crashed came from the dome. The dome couldn't hold on anymore and broke into thousands of tiny pieces. Soon howls and roars of delight came from the timber wolves and manticores as they charged again into the town as fast as they can.
"We're too late." Fluttershy whispered in fear as the animals were heading right towards them with the same hatred in their eyes.
"We have to go inside, now!" Luna shouted as the creatures were getting closers. Growls and barks fill the air as a giant fireball, bigger then the others was coming down from the sky like a meteor.
"But what about Applebloom and her friends?" Applejack said with worry for her their safety.
"We can't do any if we don't get into the castle." I sadly said to her as I tried to get her into the castle. The creatures were nearly upon us if we don't get in the castle now.
"LOOK OUT!" Spike yelled as he pointed his claw up at the incoming fireball. Before we could look at it, it past above our heads and landed with a blast of heat and flame at the entrance of my castle. The blast knocked us back a few feet from the castle and we landed with a huge crash. We then got back up on our hooves to see all of the timber wolves and manticores were right behind us, but instead of charging they were walking towards us, ever so slowly. We wanted to run back to the castle but only to find something else blocking our path.
Inside the flame was tall, thin biped creature wearing greyish robes that cover it's entire body, it had rocklike shoulder plates and gauntlets on it's arms that looked like it had water covering any cracks on it, it was hovering above the fire with the air surrounding the bottom of the legs and feet. It was hood look like it was made with nothing but water with spikes on the back of the hood that was made of stones. It then turned his head to reviled a mask made of molten rock covering it face and lave covering where its eyes and mouth would be. It then just stared at us and we were getting chills in our backs not by animals behind us. But the way this thing was staring at us. Lifeless and soulless as if it hasn't slept in years. It began to hover towards us and out of the fire. It then landed down and it mask began to move and shape to reviled it's face.
We all gasped in shock to realise what was standing in from of us. The monster that appeared five years ago, The one that we chased away.
"Didn't you miss me?" It's growly and deep voice boomed by the power within it. Completely different the other voice it had those years ago. "if I could dream without having nightmares every night, this would be the one I would dream every night for the last five years."
***
Human POV:
Finally. After long years of suffering by my nightmares and long training with my mentors they were in front of me. Surrounded by the forest friends and I blocking there path to the castle, they were in front of me and they had no way to run. They were all in a circle that watched my friends with fright. But two was looking at me as was I. Those were the ones with a horn and wings. The one that tried to zap me and other that gave me those nightmares.
I looked up at the stormy sky that I created and chuckled to myself.
"So..." I broke the silence that covered us all "...Nice weather we got here eh?" My forest friends somehow chuckled with me at the joke. The ponies was not so sure about it.
"What are you doing here?" The purple one said as if she was in charge. She still doesn't know who she talking to now.
"The bigger question." I boomed my voice to let her know her place. "Is why are you not apologising and begging for forgiveness?"
"Hey!" Came the voice of the rainbow one. Sounds like I hit a nerve system. "That no way to talk to my friend, you beast!" She then flew towards me at top speed. But with the power of the air, everything slowed down. I simply lifted my right arm above my head and soon a large stone came out of the ground. She couldn't stop and in doing so made contacted with it, face first. Then with the same arm. I made a fist in my rock gauntlet that made my hand changed into a stone-like mace and punched through the stone which hit the little rainbow pony, making her flew back to her friends and landed hard on the ground. I held my position as everything went back to normal speed.
"RAINBOW!" The orange pony shouted it disbelief at to what she just seen in normal time. They rushed to see their rainbow friend they rushed to see their rainbow friend. She was alive but unconscious, this filled my lust of revenge to their race. The dark blue pony of nightmares face was all in anger from one of friends being hurt by her narrow way of thinking.
"You'll pay for what you have done to her." She said with hatred and fury drowning her voice at what I've done. The way she said it was somewhat funny for I laughed when she give me her angry face.
"That rich." I laughed out loud from all this as they think that they are the victims of all of this. So I'll make this more interesting. I lifted my left arm as my hand began to fill up with a ball of air. I then strikes her by lifted her from the ground as I used the hand that hold the ball of air to lifted her up. Gasps came from the rest as they tried to help their friend, but with my spare hand I used it to click my fingers and soon my most trusted friend, WoodFang came out of the shadow along with three timber wolves to stopped them in their tracks. The dark blue pony was now near my face as she tried to break my hold on her but fail greatly. "This coming from the one that kept me from sleeping in peace, from having nightmare that made me cry in the night wishing for a better world to live in. The one that did not listen to truth and reason but lies and false words"
"What are you?" She asked with a creep of fear in her voice. I leaded towards her as we were now face to face with each other.
"I am the judged" I spoke with a soulless tone "I'm the being that wasn't given time to talk, I am friend and master to the forest where I and my forest friends live in and I am champion of the elemental. I am Dynol The Damned."
After making my new name known to them. I began to crushed the dark blue pony with the air around her. Squeezing her as she groan in pain from the pressure of the air. The other ponies tried to help but WoodFang and his pack blocked them from getting through. This was going so well until one of the manticores called me and pointed up at the sky with one of his paw. I looked up to see hundred if not thousands of Pegasus flying down as fast as they could. Dammit, this was going so well. I looked backed a suffocating pony in my grip.
"To be continued." I growled at her in fasciation on the incoming army. "I'll leave you with this as a warning." Instead of ending her here and now, I focused all of the air around her left wing and snapped it. She scream in pain from her wing being broken by the air as I threw her on her broken wing to the ground, causing more pain on her wing. Then I used the power of water to created a portal to the ruin castle and told my friends to go through it as I hopped on WoodFang's back. We all charged straight through the portal with haste. Once everyone of my forest friends were through the portal, I then closed the watery portal making it fell to ground freely.
What a great appearance and massage to my enemies that they have messed with the wrong 'monster' five years ago.
Of course a army, OF COURSE A ARMY! How was I so foolish to think it was that easy. Life is not fair and I should have remembered it! But why? Was revenge clouded my mind or the nightmares that kept visiting me every NIGHT!? So I wouldn't be prepared by a army?... Perhaps. Perhaps my mentors could tell me why.
I was walking down my old castle home with my trusted friend, WoodFang following me. I turned to face him and saw his face all worried about my health and lack of sleep.
"It's alright WoodFang" I gently spoken in a soft voice "The sun has not set yet and night will not be here for a while longer" He tilled his head in concern "I'm fine Fang and don't you worry about me, our actions at the town will bring unwanted guests here so I'll want you to get everyone ready till they arrive okay?" WoodFang nodded his head. "Good, I'll be at the throne room. Talking to my mentors and please make sure none interrupts me unless it is very important" WoodFang barked at his order and ran past me to get everyone ready. I smiled at how loyal he was to me. He has been with me since the day I arrived and also stayed with me when I had all of those horrid nightmares five years ago. I couldn't asked for a better friend to be by my side. The smile faded after remembering all of the nightmares that pony scum gave for no reason! She was in my grip. I had her. So why did I let her go?! These thoughts filled my mind and needed answers.
***
Twilight POV:
This is bad. Very very bad. Princess Luna is injured really bad, lots of homes are destroyed and now we have this 'Dynol' creature living right next to us. This is really bad. We may have a entire army here, helping those who are burned from fire and rebuilding the damaged houses. Even princess Celestia was here but I think it is because of Luna's injury. Me, my friends and Princess Celestia was all in the medic's tent looking at Luna's broken wing, it didn't looked promising.
"How is it doctor HealHoof?" Luna asked the doctor, worried about her wing.
"Well I've healed the upper wing easy, just a few broken bones up there" Doctor HealHoof answer her like... that was the good news "The joint however is another story I'm afraid"
"What do you mean?" Celestia's face dropped when she heard what HealHoof just said to her sister.
"Well it seems that something is blocking the joint to her wing that connected with the rest of her body" HealHoof said while looking through to where the joint should connect with Luna's body "I don't know what is blocking it, but whatever it is. It's rock hard" He then used his magic to see what was blocking the joint, it caused a bit of pain on Luna's part as she hissed in pain. HealHoof gasped in shock at to what he found.
"What is it?" I asked in fright from his gasp "What's wrong?"
"You may want to see this" He answered back with shock and horror on his face. We all looked at what HealHoof gasped about. Only to make our own gasp from the result.
Inside, there was a small rock that blocked Luna's wing bone to her shoulder plate. It looked like it was forced in and stuck to the bones. It didn't looked good. Rarity went outside of the tent to throw up from the site.
"What what WHAT!?" Luna panicked from all the gasps. "What's wrong?"
"Luna, there's a rock blocking your joint" Celestia explained to her "It looks like it's stuck to your bones and may not come out if we don't do something" Celestia turned to face doctor HealHoof "Is there something we can do?"
"There is" HealHoof replied back to her "But we'll need to do it now, if not.... Then we will be forced to remove it. Although it will be extremely painful for it must be done with magic... forcefully" Luna gulped by this news that the rock must be removed with magic. But by doing this, it will created a lot of pain.
"Do it" Luna whispered. she didn't want this, we all saw it in her face but we have little choice in the matter "But please make it quick" She turned her head away from us. Not wanted to see the rock removed out of her bones.
"Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight" HealHoof called me and Celestia "I'm going to use my magic to hold the bones and repair them while you two use your to remove the rock. With any luck, this will be done in a few seconds"
We both looked at each other and both nodded in agreement. We lighted our horns and focused it on rock while HealHoof's magic held Luna's bones in place. We then used our magic to see how stuck the rock was. It was well forced into the bones.
"Here we go" I said out loud to let everyone we were ready. "We'll pull it out on three." Me and Celestia was ready to begin countdown. "One...Two...Three!"
We both yanked the rock out of Luna's bones. If HealHoof wasn't holding the bones, who knew what could of happen. Luna screamed in agony and pain from removing the rock. Her scream made Fluttetshy ran outside the tent in fright. Luckily HealHoof managed to put the bones in places and the joint was healed at last. Luna breathed heavily from the whole experience.
"There" Celestia breathed easily now that the rock is removed "It is over, now to bigger problems. Follow me girls" Celestia walked through the tent as we followed her. Rarity and Fluttershy soon catched up after their recovering from the whole rock experience. Soon we reached to the edge of Ponyville and where the Everfree is. Which also contained Dynol within. The edge of the Everfree was guarded by many petrols of Royal Gaurds that kept watch encased another attack was made by Dynol and his 'forest friends'.
"Right now we have no idea what this 'Dynol the Damned' is up to" Celestia told us in a very serious tone. One I haven't heard in a very long time. "But whatever he is doing can not be good for the rest of Equestria and the other lands surrounding" She then turned to face us all "Which is why I must ask, how did he knocked out Rainbow Dash and injured Luna while escaping a whole army in seconds?"
Rainbow Dash was in a tent next to Luna's tent. The hospital was nearly bruned to the ground and so we needed to use tents to help and heal everyone that was injured in the attack. Rainbow Dash was still knocked out, I should guess so from how fast she was and how faster Dynol's reflexs were to propelled her attack.
"We don't really know, princess" I answered honestly "First there was fireballs coming down from the sky, stormy air that made the fire spread to other building and then Dynol appeared from one fireball to block us from entering the castle. Rainbow tried to attack Dynol, but Dynol summon a large stone and Rainbow flew right into it and-"
"That's enough. I don't like need to know what happened to Luna. I can only imagine what he had done to my sister" Celestia interrupted me from continuing on about what happen to Luna. "It seem that not every tomes of The Order disappeared after their fall". She then turned back to face the Everfree, pondering what to do and how to defend Ponyville from Dynol and his minions. "Captain Goldmane" Celestia called out to one of the guards. Soon a earth pony stallion with brown coat and golden mane came towards her. He then saluted.
"Yes your highness?" Goldmane spoken in a firm and steady voice like the other guards. "What do you need of me?"
"I need you to gather the scout force Aura-sworn." Celestia commanded Goldenane while she gave her orders to him "Once they are assembled. I need you to scout the forest borders and anywhere else that maybe important to defend. I don't want anymore surprises from Dynol The Damned" After Goldmane received his orders, he saluted one more time and went to find the scout force.
"Now I need to go back and see how my sister is doing" Celestia smiled back at us as she walked back to Luna's tent. "Go and help any others that got injured from Dynol's attack."
We nodded in this and went our separate ways to help the others. I look back at the forest one more time, it was so peaceful. Only a raven flew away into the deep of the forest and nothing more.
***
Dynol POV:
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to even more minutes! I sat on my throne and waited for my powers to recharged. My throne was made by my mentors and myself. It began with two thrones I found in the castle, blue and yellow thrones that looked like it was fit for two kings. I destroyed them two. Not like I was angry, I just needed some... target practices with new powers. After all I didn't learn them on the spot, practice makes perfect right? So after the destruction of the thrones. My mentors and I made a new throne from the rubbles of the old. It looks like a tree root for me to set on and leafs for me to rest my back. On top of my throne was symbols of my mentors's powers. Earth was symbol of rocky fist, Water was the symbol of open hand, Air was the symbol of helping hand and Fire was the symbol of flaming claw. My mentors said that there was more powers to placed on my throne. But they said that those powers of the elements were gone form a long time ago, lost to what they called 'Purification Of The Old Empire'. Didn't learned much from that time. They just said that when I was ready enough, they'll tell me. Which means that powers are not fully mastered? I managed to make a storm vortex with fireballs shooting out from it and that not fully mastered of air and fire? There much be more I need to learn then.
I was tapping my right hand on my throne while resting my head in the left hand. I waited till my powers were strong enough to contact my mentors. It's surprising long and boring it was while I'd listened to the sound of nothing! I tried to contacted my mentors a few minutes ago, but my powers were not fully restored yet. So only a few whispers were heard in my mind and even spirit. Even if they were whispers I could tell the different between each of them. One was soft, one was secretive and another.... Harsh in the nice way of words. 'He'... Been through a lot' is what the other always say to me when I asked why 'he' like that. Perhaps 'he' will tell me why.
My daydreams were interrupted by the sound of flapping wings from afar. I lifted my head from the sound and waited for it to either die out or till it comes to me. Soon a raven flew through a broken window and I lifted my right arm to let it rested on it. The raven began to speck about important news back at that wrecked town I'd... well wrecked.
"Aura-sworn..." I mattered to myself as the raven carried on about what's going on back there. "Captain Goldmane, scouting my forest for anything important... Did I send out invitations to my enemies that soon?" I then looked at the raven "Send this information to WoodFang at once and tell him..." I parsed to gather the right words to say next... hehe "To roll out the 'red' welcome mat" The raven crowed and flew away to where WoodFang should be. I then got up from my throne and laughed to myself once again.
"After all, I would be a terrible host if I don't"
***
Flower-pit POV:
Can't believe this. Captain Goldmane wanted us, a scout force of one hundred ponies to go out in Eeverfree forest where a monster lives and that monster has his own private army AND have magic that can infected our weathers like it his own playground. To make matters worse, I'm the only mare in the Aura-sowrn. All the stallions are still trying to hit on me. They kept saying stuff like 'the forest is a dangerous place for lady' or 'you know if you stay with me, I'll protect you form the monster'. Yes I would like company into the forest because this is the most dangerous forest in Equestria and there are thing in here that can kill us with ease if we are not careful. But that doesn't mean I'm a weak and defenceless little mane who has no idea of defending herself. In fact I was the first pony to be called by Goldmane to gather the scout force Aura-sworn. So suck on that guys!
We were somewhere in the daps of the forest. Captain Goldmane wanted us to check the old castle of the royal sisters because that holds ancient knowledge from a ago long gone. A perfect place for that monster Dynol to gain more power from. Everyone of us was weary about our surrounding, I'll agree this not a good place to be. But we have numbers and some of the best were scouting ahead of us to make sure the way is clear. After all, the quicker we are the faster we get out right?
"What's wrong Flower-pit?" Came one of stallions, here we go "Are you scared. If you want I can-"
"Come any closer and I'll kick you in the face" I threatened him. I had got more important things to worry about then some stallion trying to flirt with me. He back off, that right know your place. I moved towards Goldmane, he was leading the Aura-sworn. "Captain, do you think that letting some of our scouts ahead of us was a good idea?" I question our captain.
"I understand your concern Flower" Goldmane answered bluntly "But we need to know if where we are going safe or not. I'll risk some scouts then the whole force, so please go back in line" I stopped for a moment from what he had just said to me. He would throw lives away like they are nothing. It must the forest for this isn't the captain I know back in Ponyville.
Suddenly we heard a scream of pain coming from the distance, north from here. We all stopped in our tracks from the scream and ready our weapons at the sound.
"What was that?" One of the stallion was shaking in his armour from the scream. Before any of us could answered his question. A deep, booming roar was heard along with the same scream of pain.
"Move out!" Captain Goldmane bellowed his command to us as he charged to where the scream and the roar was. We followed him as we charged into the deeper part of the forest with courage and I think for some of us... Fear. We charged through leaf, vines and even through poison jokes to reached to where the sounds were heard. Only to see what caused all the noise... and I wished I didn't.
In front of Aura-sworn was the scouts that Goldmane sent to scout ahead all died by flame and rock, all six of them. But we sent seven of them, we found out where the seventh was. In grip of monster, Dynol. He was holding the scout by the neck, looking straight into his eyes. The scout was all beaten and bruised all over his entire body. He coughed for air from the grip of Dynol.
"You know..." The monster began to speak. "You all look like Romans but yellow and blue then red and sliver" He then laughed to himself. What so funny?
"Dynol!" Goldmane yelled at Dynol in anger "Dynol The Dammed! Give me back my scout!" After his shout of rage at Dynol. Dynol laughed even harder at his cry.
"Correction" Dynol luaghed "You ARE Romans and you..." He pointed at Goldmane "must be Publius Quinctillus Varus"
"What does that even mean?" Goldmane question as he draw his sword at Dynol. As we draw our weapons with Goldmane. Dynol broke the neck of the scout with a flick of his hand that made a huge snap sound. He then jagged the lifeless body towards us and spread his arms up like if he was greeting us.
"It means welcome to my version of the Teutoburg forest" Dynol voice turned to the deep and booming voice. After he said those words, growls and snarls came from the shadows of the trees and brushes. Eyes that looked like they were waiting for us to come. This was ambush! The scream from the scout was to send us into the trap. We were surrounded by the timber wolves and their master. "Kill them but leave those who runs and surrenders" Dynol gave HIS orders to the timber wolves. He then roared at the top of his lungs and all of the timber wolves charged straight towards us with fury.
"Battle circle!" I ordered the Aura-sworn because Goldmane was too business staring at Dynol to do nothing. We all made the circle and placed the ones with spears in the front line. Hopefully this will give us a change against the timber wolves. But it was all for nothing as Dynol clicked his fingers and the timber wolves jumped over the spears and landed into the inner circle. I watched in horror as we were being slaughtered by them. Solider after solider were being teared apart by the timber wolves. I tried to help and save some of them, but one of the wolves kicked me and made me flew in the air. I looked down to where I was going to landed on and saw Dynol looking at me with a rock crossbow for one of his hand.
"Night night" He whispered to me as crossbow fired a rock into my face and knocked me out cold.
My visions were cloudy and unclear, but I could still mark out what's going on. One of them was a timber wolf biting on one of the soldiers. Another showed Dynol lifting up five soldiers in the air and burned them with fire, one showed Dynol holding Goldmane by the throat with the same crossbow hand in his mouth. The vision was turning to black but I could guessed what happened next.
I awaken on the flied were the battle token place. Almost ninety of them died from the fight but I could only hope that some made it out alive. I tired to get up but thanks to Dynol and his rock-crossbow-hand my injury to the head made me fell back to the ground. Suddenly I heard a crunch nearby and turned my head slowly from the pain. What I saw was Dynol eating a apple and he looked at the battlefield almost like... He didn't wanted this. But that changed when he looked at me with smile on his face.
"Ah good you're awake" Dynol spoken in a joyful mood. "You know, the Battle of the Teutoburg forest taught me about defensive against invaders. A natural border is the best border to be behind of. Know that border and you have impossible fortress that can not be taken down" He then told another bite out of the apple and walked towards me slowly "A man named Arminius knew that well and so I used his tactics to recreated that historical battle in this forest instead" He was now above me and so he kneed down on one knee to looked straight into my eyes, Why does he all ways do that? "Now you are wondering why I didn't kill you yes? Well you see I'm a gentleman and wish to know what I'm up against and what's in this judgement kingdom I should know. So consider this as a way to get to know one another and your invitation to my castle" He then got up and clicked his fingers. Soon a timber wolf picked me up by it's mouth and Dynol hopped on another timber wolf's back.
"You and I are going to have so many things to talk about when we get to my place"
Dynol roared again and the timber wolves toke us to where his castle is. Sweet Celestia help me.
reacting history. Never thought I would do that. But it was... Interesting to say the least. Now with a new 'friend' I'll be able to know what strength and weakness this kingdom has. Does their people think highly for the six and nightmare scums? Are there anything that can stop my friends and myself from attacking again? But most of all, is there anyone that will fight against them for me part from my forest friends? All will be answered by a newly guest tonight.
We arrived at my castle, where the sun was almost set... Almost. I told the timber wolf with our guest in his mouth to take her to one of the old guest quarters in the western side of the castle and keep her company. For I still had the question in my mind. Why didn't I killed that she-devil bad at that town? So I went back to my throne, hopefully I have enough powers to contact my mentors and get some answers. I walked back to the throne room slower then before as I looked over to the window that the raven flew in to give me the news about Aura-sworn. The sun was nearly gone and soon it will be dark and gloomy. I shouldn't be afraid of it, I faced it for five years! But even then, It chills my soul. I reached to by throne and sat on it. I closed my eyes and focused all my willpower to contact my mentors. Soon my mind shook from passing my body to their realm. I waited until the shaking died out, I didn't want to be surprised by leaving this world and entering another, the last time I saw entering my mentors's realm it looked like the world was being torn apart piece by piece. But that's my mind entering their realm and nothing more. So the shaking died out. I opened my eyes, I've arrived.
My mentors realm is not what you may excepted it looks like. It is a place where nothing but white like snow and that's it. No magical shrine, no sound, no nothing. Just a empty realm of white snow. But that's the way my mentors like it. They are not gods and does not want to be treated like one. They were here for many years before this world was even made and they did helped in its creation. But they did not become gods from doing that. No, they are just powerful beings and nothing more. I started to walk through the realm as I looked doe my mentors. They can come up anywhere at anytime, sometime they surprise me just by coming out of nowhere. That all stopped when I heard the sound of molten lava coming from behind. I turned around to see one of my mentors. The elemental of Fire.
He stood in a pool of lava that connected to he hip as if the lava consumed his legs and replaced it with the lavas below him. He wore armour made of molten rock, it helped keep has body from collapsing. The reason is he almost looked like he was human skeleton made of flame and fire. He wore the same molten mask as I wear over his face. It was the gift from Fire to let the world know who he favours. However he doesn't show it that often.
"It took you a long time" His growly and smokey voice boomed the realm as he spoke. "I was waiting for you for hours"
"It's good to see you too, Fire" I said that like I haven't seen him in years. "And the reason is that the locals sent a scout force to their doom and now I have a 'guest' to talk too."
Fire grunted "Was it worth it at the end? they had it coming" Before I could continue on our LOVELY conversation. I felt a breezed of air on left and turned to see another mentor. The elemental of Air.
She had a mini tornado under instead of legs somewhat like Fire. She wore sky armour of the north that covered all of her body while having hood over her head. It looked like that game of assassins that I'd played five years ago. But I could she her face unlike Fire for he wore the lava mask. Her face was blue as the sky which always brought a smile on my face. Her eyes and eyebrow was as white as the clouds. I don't know if she is blind or not, but dare don't asked for I think that will be rude.
"Welcome back, Dynol" Her voice was more soothing and relaxing that Fire's growly voice. I bowed down to her in respect. Like I said before I don't know if she is blind or not but I do it anywhere.
"Welcome sister" Fire grunted at her as he crossed her flaming arms towards his chest. "What's next, Water gonna show up next" I think Fire is more psychic that he thought for on the right. The elemental of Water arrived on time.
Now she had legs, but it was covered by a watery robes with ancient words of elementals that can not translate. She wore a necklace that hold all of the sea shells and sapphire in the middle of the necklace. She had azure gauntlets that hold two more sapphires on the back of her hands. She had flowing emerald hair that flow with splendour. She had a motherly smile on her cyan face and her navy blue eyes glowed ever so bright.
"It good to see you again, Dynol" Her voice was more gentle and softer then the other for after all, water contains life and life is precious. I once again bowed to her in not for respect but for how she cared for me if I was her own child. To me, this is was my adoptive family. Water was the mother, Air was the sister, Fire was the grumpy uncle and... and... I turned around to where he is.
"Where's Earth?" I said as I looked around the realm to see where he was. I turned to the other elementals.
"Earth is gone to the core of the planet" Air answered my question. "There's something wrong with the planet's core that made him go and see what wrong with it, so he'll not be here for a time"
"That's strange, he doesn't do that very often"
"He's the elemental of Earth" Fire replied with a snot "That whole crisis with that centaur and that pony was mainly the reason for it Dynol and lets not forget that moment of outburst from him" We all nodded at that. When that 'Tirex" and the purple pony beast attacked each other, the earth was torn asunder from the battle. Earth was furious from that fight and had to clear and heal the land after it. Which made him not that kind to the pony race from then-on-now. I looked down to ground of the elemental's realm to gather my thoughts. What should I ask? How is he doing or why I didn't killed that nightmare pony?
"What's wrong Dynol?" Water voice was more concern then soft when I looked at the ground. "Is something troubling you?" I looked up at her with no facial expression on my face. I didn't want her to worry about me now.
"Well..." I began my trouble really well from that word "It just that when I attacked the town, I had the one that made all of those nightmares in my grip... But when a army came towards us, I just injured her and left her to live for another day. But reason I came here is why didn't I ended her life" Water and Fire then looked at Air for answers because she was the brains of the group. How? Words travel through the winds.
"Maybe you had a moment of being above her that you didn't want to become her" Air answered my question as she thought on why that happened.
"Or maybe it was because of the army coming for you that you thought for your forest friends's safety" Fire gave another reason on why that happen.
"Perhaps" Air replied to Fire "But Dynol could used the water portal to send his friends to safety while ending the pony's life"
"Which would made him stuck with an army ready to kill him" Fire talked back at Air. He then turned to face me "Look Dynol it could of been a moment of weakness or trying to save your friends necks but I'm afraid we don't have the answer for you. We have great powers Dynol, but mind reading isn't one of them."
I nodded my head in this knowledge from them. Though it didn't answered my question, at least my mentors gave me some theories on it though. I felt my powers getting weaker and soon I must get back to my 'paradise' world.
"Well thank you all for helping get some ideas in my head" I said as I bowed down before them with a smile "But I must get back to the mortal world" They nodded their heads in agreement as I cast a spell to send me back.
"Remember Dynol" Water quickly spoke before I disappeared. "Defends, Heal, Support and Balance- The cores of our powers to you"
I nodded to this as I returned to my world once again. Goody
***
Flower-Pit POV:
This. Is. Not. Good. I've been stuck in this old, dusty and fill of spider webs room for minutes if not hours. To make matters worse that timber wolf wouldn't stop staring at me. Even since it threw me into this room and Dynol told it to keep an eye on me, he wasn't joking. It just sat there, near the doorway and stared at me throughout the whole time. Not creeping at all right?
My injury on my head was worse then I thought. It was bleeding a lot of blood on the left side of the it where the Dynol's Crossbow hit. But it somehow stopped itself when I was thrown into this room. Must be some kind of magic in this place but I don't know what. But that was my least of problems. I just hope that I can live for another day from all of this... That timber wolf is creeping me out!
Suddenly the door to my room opened to reviled Dynol The Dammed. His face was covered by his molten mask but I had a feeling that he was smiling at me and not the good ones either. The timber wolf stopped staring at me and looked at its master.
"At ease boy" He spoken as if he was a captain. "Why don't you go and take a break, you deserve it" The wolf barked at his release and walked out of the door. Laving only me and him in the room. Not. Good. At. All!
"What do you want?" I talked through my teeth as I tried once again to stand on my four hooves. But only to fall again from the pain in my head as in throbbed painfully.
"Have you forgotten already?" He placed his hands on his knees and talked as if I was a puppy. "Does she forget what she is here for. In lovely castle of ours?" He then stood up in his full height and spoke completely different then before. It was more growly and deeper then the lasted time. "I want to know all the weakness of this kingdom and her people, what foes they faced before, what allies they have and most of all... What does the people think of six demons and their royal tyrants!?"
"Buck you!" I sward at him. "I'm not telling you anything and you can't make me!"
"Really?" He tilled his head in confusion "That's the best insult you could think of?" He then used his air power to lifted me off the ground and thrown me on the nearest wall, banging my already painfully head first on the wall. I was now stuck on the wall like I was glued onto it. Dynol walked up to me slowly but sinisterly "I wanted to do the good and easy way but now it seems I have to do the hard way" He then made his right hand turned into a rocky mace with spikes on it and lifted above his head. I closed by eyes and was ready for his torture. But if in luck, a flap of wings was heard coming into the room and landed on something. I opened one eye to see a raven parched on his mace like hand. It began to crow something to Dynol for he had stopped his attack on me.
"Wait what?" Dynol said in surprise "What's here?...Really?....Well that's new" He looked at the raven "Send this to WoodFang at once" The raven crowed and flew away to where this 'WoodFang' is. Dynol turned his gaze to me once the raven was out of sight. "Well it looks like we have to end this little date for now" He laughed at me as I was thrown to the ground on my back. My legs spread to each ends as they was trapped by stones covering my hooves so that I can not escape. He then brought up some water up from the ground and made a huge ball of it. He levanted it over me and hold it in mid air. He then walked up to me and put one of his wired fingers in the bottom of the water where it was right between my eyes. "So this will be your torture for the day" He then moved his finger and one drop of water hit my forehead. He then started to walked towards the door. I could only laughed at this.
"This is torture?" I questioned while laughing at loud "This is hardly painful"
"I didn't say it was a painful torture" Dynol answered as he placed both of his hand on the door as he was shutting it. "But it is one of the most effective of torture.
After that. He shut the door and walked away to do whatever the raven said to him. I giggled at how this was one of the most 'effective' tortures, he sure is an fool. Through it is a little bit annoying.
***
Celestia POV:
"You Highness" One of my guards spoke from the silence as me, Luna and Twilight was looking a map of the whole Everfree forest. "Aura-sworn has returned... What's left of them"
"What do you mean 'what's left of them' guard?" I asked with my head looking at him.
"Well we send the whole scout force to scout the forest" The guard answered my question. "But only a few of them came back and the rest are dead from an ambush their leader called 'The Teutoburg Forest ambush', only around ten to fifteen scouts has return. They keep on saying that the forest is his dominion and all those who walks in... don't come back"
How could I've been so blind!? I was too focused on trying to get a foot hold in the forest and to find where Dynol's headquarters is that I forgot about his rule over it and his followers. I looked back down to the map and let out a sad sigh, those poor souls.
"Thank you for the massage" I said sadly "You are dismissed" He bowed his head and waled out of the battle tent. Leaving us to silence again, this time however it wasn't a silence of thinking. It was a silence of loss and narrow thinking of my plan that cost so many lives.
"What do we do now?" Twilight silently asked me "What do we do now Celestia?" I remained silent for a few seconds longer before answering her question.
"I don't know Twilight" I sighed "I truly don't know what to do. With the forest and all of dangerous creatures under his rule, he is impossible to reach without more innocents killed. We need to find where Dynol is living and how to get there"
"But where?" Twilight looked back at the map "Where would Dynol make his base of terror in? The Everfree forest is massive that it will take months if not years to know everything inside of the forest and we don't when he'll attack Ponyville or anywhere else in Equestria." After her little talk on how we're going to stop him, she made a good point. We need to know where Dynol hideout is, but where? Where would a creature like him stay and hide from the outside world? Where...?
I looked at the map and looked at all the places that he could hide. Then at the middle of the map was me and my sister's old castle. That's it! Of course the castle. It hold old magical books that could of taught him his magic and where none has visited that place for years. A perfect place for a monster to build his strength and forces.
"The castle!" I lifted my head in hope of ending this crisis today. "That must be where Dynol is hiding. None has been in that place in years and maybe that were he got his powers from."
"The castle is in the middle of the forest though princess" Twilight replied "How are we suppose to get to the castle without running into other ambushes?"
"Who said that we should walk there?" I answered with a hopefully smile "We can fly there ourself, find Dynol and bring him to justice!" Twilight was unsure at first, but soon she nodded her head in this plan. I then turned my head to my sister, however I didn't get the same thing with her. Instead she looked at her injured wing that was wrapped in bandages after removing the rock from her and looked more concerned about the plan.
"What if that what he wants us to think?" Luna looked at us with a alternative look on her face. "What if he is not in there nor does he want us to think that he doesn't live in it. It'll be the perfect trap for more innocents to parish from and remember, he has the air in his control. Which means that if we do go into the air, we could be caught in his grip and could end us there" She then looked back down at the map to where the castle is. "I want him to be brought to justice more then anyone here. But if he can make this 'Teutoburg forest ambush' that killed most of a scout force... Then what other things he could make that will cost more lives then a scout force?"
This made me and Twilight's smiles and plan go down like a ship. She made a reply big point to my plan. Could this be another trap, another ambush that could cost more lives lost then gain? And what if we do try and fly into the air? Will Dynol catch us like a catching butterflies in a net? All of these questions filled my mind and brought my plan to stand still of what to do. Do I ignore my sister's alternative side of my plan or go straight towards the castle to confront Dynol in the castle that he may or may not be living in? What side must I side on?
I sighed once more in defeated. I called one of the guards that was outside of the tent.
"Tell all soldiers to keep a eye on the forest twenty-four seven" I ordered him. He nodded at my orders and walked out of the tent. Lets hope that I made the right choice.
***
Dynol POV:
Well that is... surprising. I mean first the raven gave me the massage that they were here, I gathered some of my best forest friends I got to come with me and now I'm looking at it. The raven said that they were a race from a land far away from here, a race with great combat training from their 'chieftains' and now they wonder the lands because... They lost their homeland. It's sad really. I came from a world like that, losing their homelands to outsiders or other means and to walk the world without home. But they grew stronger because of that. They are called by how they fight and how they look as well as acted. They are Ogres.
Although however, in my point of view they looked nothing like Ogres. Tall thin blue bodes that looked like they haven't ate in years but hold some muscles that looked like they could lifted up a tree with ease. Strange voodoo symbols and armours on some of their warriors, mostly wooden or metals forged from curled flames. Tusks from all different shape and sizes but they all came out of their mouths, some looked like boar tusks while other looked more elephant. Cool hairstyle with interesting colours and styles. Weapons like sears, daggers, swords and even shields was forged with wood, stones and metals that looked curler then the flames they were forged from. The final note about them is. There. Are. THOUSANDS OF THEM! Enough said. Can you see what I mean? I mean not the numbers but how they looked. They looked nothing like Ogres in my knowledge. They looked more like those creatures from that... Online game I used to play. Mm, oh what is it called? World of witchcraft? World of War or was it World of Warhammer- I DON'T KNOW! They looked like them... What's their names? You know what forget it.
I was behind some tree along with some of my forest friends, one of them was WoodFang. We saw that they had made a little fortress of wood and stone to block out anything that could cause harm to them. They had guards on their walls looking out to the forest to keep an eye on everything. Lets hope that my had done something like this or I'll be so angry. I looked to WoodFang and felt some what feel about these Ogres.
"They are not liked I take it?" I asked him as if he was my adviser, I really need one. WoodFang nodded his head to my question. Wow I must me physic and not Fire. "By everyone?" He nodded again "Even the ponies?" Nodded again "And they don't like the ponies?" He nodded agin. Wow forget my powers, I going to be a physic and maybe start a business from it. Hahaha. I hope my mentors like my joke or I'll have a lot to explain.
I looked back at the Ogres's fortress and thought carefully about what to do. Everyone around the world don't like them, the ponies don't like them and the Ogres don't like the ponies. Combine them together and times that by three equal... lightbulb. I clapped my hands together which made my friends jumped from it. I apologised and told them to stay put as I walked out from the shadows. At first nothing happened as I walked towards the fortress, but in a few moments a spear flew in the air and landed right next to me. Woah that was close.
"That was a warning throw!" One of the Ogres shouted in aggressive tone. I looked down at the spear that was thrown at me and then looked at the Ogre that spoken.
"I can see that" I said calmly and not angry, I don't want to get on the wrong foot. "Although if it was, should you had thrown it in front of me and not beside me instead?"
"Don't question my throwing aim!" The Ogre yelled back.
"I'm not question it" I replied back "I'm saying that would make more sense and more of a warning"
"Want me to throw another?"
"I can see this as a step towards a beautiful friendship between you and I"
"What do you want?" The Ogre growled at me.
"Now you are using you brain" I answered back to master bad aim. "I'm here to talk to your leader if I am talking to him right now and wish to discuss something important that can help both of us"
"And why sure let you into the fortress?" The Ogre hissed at me. Now he stopped using his brain.
"If you bring your leader here, I wouldn't have too" After saying those words. The Ogre went silent for a few moment thinking of getting their leader or going to badly throw another spear at me. Lets hope that his returns before his brute strength.
"Wait here" The Ogre answered with the wisest words he has said so far. "I'll get him"
"As you wish" I bowed my head "I'll wait here until you return and maybe I'll stand behind the spear so you can see what waring throw looks like"
The Ogre growled once more and then walked away to find their leader. I laughed after he disappeared from the wall. 'Master bad aim', that's going to be his nickname for now on.
I waited for a few minutes for bad aim's return with his leader and looked at fortress one more time. It must of been here for years if not decades before my arrival to this narrow minded world. Who knows what horror these Ogres had faced and fought all by themselves while the rest of the world sees them as beasts and monsters. You can say that I had the same feeling to them, perhaps but this was to the whole race not by one being like me. Although I guess that there were no humans here before my arrival and that sparked those hooves scum ponies to not think about where I came to them five years ago.
Soon I heard footsteps coming from the walls of the fortress and looked up to where the sound was heard. What I saw was master bad aim, a couple of other Ogres and I guess their leader.
Their leader was tall light blue guy, mush taller then the other Ogres, around a foot higher. He wore armour that looked like it was made of onyx stones, forged from careful fire to created the armour. The armour was placed on the leader's legs, arms and shoulders while the rest of his body was covered in tattoos that was coloured in red and purple. The leader had a shield that looked like it was fixed on his right arm. It was made of onyx like his armour but more brighter then the other. It was round with spikes on the outline of the shield with a strange symbol that looked simply but hard to explain in detail. .
He had long and curved tusks like an elephant would have with some gold rings on them. He had two spears on his back with a banner in the middle of them which had the same symbol like the one on his shield. He had some scars around his face that told me that he must had some fair of battles, one of them came down on his right side of the face and up towards near his left eye. That must of hurt. He wore a steel helm that cover his top part of his head with a spike on the top helm like those generals in the great war back on my world. This must be the Ogre's leader... At least he looked the part. The leader looked down to me from the walls and grunted.
"So you're the one my son was talking about" The leader said in a way a leader should sound like. Strong and tough but fair and more reasonable then his s-WAIT WHAT! I was talking to his son?! Well... awkward but that will explain the warning throw.
"Yes..." I answered through my teeth as I tapped my hands on my legs awkwardly from the fact that I just talked to the leader's son. "I take it your the leader of the Ogres?"
"Correct" He replied "I am Varlock Shard-Oth, chieftain of the Ogres of Red-Oath and you are?"
Varlock Shard-Oth? Hm fitting for me to remember. But now it's my turn. "I am Dynol The Dammed, friend and master of the forest friends, ruler of the Everfree Forest and champion of the elemental. But most of all... Enemy of the race known as Ponies" My words made some of the Ogres mutter to each other after I think when I said 'enemy of Ponies', even the son of Varlock talked to his farther. OK this is going well.
"Enemy of the race of Ponies you say?" Varlock spoken as if it was the biggest surprise of the month to him. "Why is that, my I ask?"
"By my first appearance"
"Nothing else that made you their enemy?"
"Five years later, I attack where I made my appearance and broken one of my nemesis's wing"
Varlock laughed to this "Impressive I must say at least, even though you look like a hornless, deform Minotaur" I laughed at this and it wasn't a little laugh, it was a huge one. One of the best laugh I had since I arrived to this world.
"You know what?" I laughed while trying to catch my breath "That's the best insult I got today" I tried to calm down before I continue "Well that was dandy, but I think you want to know why I'm here?" Varlock nodded "Well I heard your kind are great at combat and have a great hatred to the ponies, so I wonder is how much do you want to take your hatred onto them with weapons in hands and fire in the sky?"
"What do you mean?" Varlock asked while leaning forward in interest.
'An alliance" I answered with valour in my words and anger in my heart "Together we can show those scums what terrible foes they've made and with your people's strength and combat training, my forest friends's loyalty to me and my powers that can cause damage on a costly scale. The world would know our names and know who they messed with. What do you say Varlock Shard-Oth, chieftain of the Ogres of Red-Oath"
Mutters from the other Ogres hold some promises at least, some sound like they really wanted to join me. But it all rested on Varlock's shoulders. His head was down so I couldn't tell what his facial expression is telling me. No hints and no clues, it all in fate's hands.
Soon. Varlock jumped down from the wall and looked like it was nothing at all. He then walked towards me and had the best poker face that ever seen before. Soon Varlock reached towards me and we were straight at each other in the eyes. We were the same height which was the last time I checked my height was 6'7 ft. Although my height could of changed when I got my element powers so who's knows what height we were.
"Fight me" Varlock dull voice spoke to me. "If you win and defeat me, we'll join you in the fight with the ponies. But if you loss and I defeat you, then we will not join your fight"
I thought for a moment. The thought was short but simple.
"Deal" I said that while my molten mask covered my face as said that word. I token a couple of steps away from Varlock as he did the same thing. As I walked away from Varlock. I made the Air come together to form a handle for each hand with the Air continuing to go up until it reached near my elbows. I then flicked the Air and flames came form nowhere, the Air kept the fire from burning me. So the Air was the handle and the flame the blade. I turned to face Varlock from the distance. He had a carved steel sword in his left hand while the onyx shield hold on his right.
"Are you ready Dynol The Dammed?" Varlock shouted as he toke his shield in front of him and the sword above his head. I toke my position with both of my hands across near my chest as the flaming wave swords were ready for battle.
"Bring it!" I yelled at him as we both charged towards each other, not letting any mercy in the fray.
Soon. Varlock jumped into the air with his sword up above his head. I stopped my running and used my wave swords to blocked Varlock's sword from hitting me. The sword made contact with my blades and I used that to my advance. I used my strength to lifted Varlock over me and flew him to the left of the battlefield, but he landed on his feet with speed and charged towards me again. I used my power of the Air and slowed down everything around me. Even through time was slowed down, Varlock was still fast so he looked like he was just running instead lighting fast. I managed again to blocked his attack with my wave swords but left my right side defenceless. Varlock must of known this because he kneed me in the right of my rips and I fell on one knee. He then hit his head on mine but with my molten mask on, it burred him and stopped his attack. He covered his face with his sword-arm, this was my moment. I got up on my two legs and used both of them to kicked him a few metres away from me. This time Varlock landed on his back. He shaken his head from left to right and got up again.
"I see you fight well, Dynol" Varlock chuckled as he went back to his battle stance.
"I learned and try" I chuckled back to him. "After all, I am the enemy of ponies and so I had to learn how to fight" After our little chat, we charged once again.
We been fighting for three whole minutes against each other and I must say. Varlock was not showing any sign of giving up. He fought like a demon with his sword and shield. But this fight must end in my favour or this alliance will die before it's even born. Varlock placed his banner on the ground while I was healing my wounds with the power of water.
"This fight ends tonight" Varlock growled while he was catching his breath. He made his war cry and charged once more towards me. Instead of jumping, Varlock placed his sword in front of him and his shield covered his chest. This is it, his worst mistake. I slowed time down once more and when his sword was near my own chest. I moved out of it's way and used my right wave sword to disarm Varlock's sword and used my left wave sword's handle to go over Varlock's head and bashed it down hard. As Varlock's sword flew out of his hand, so did Varlock as he fell to the ground with a massive thud. The field of battle went dead silent, only the harding breathing of myself and Varlock was only heard.
"Indeed" I spoken heavily "This fight ends tonight Varlock Shard-Oth, chieftain of the Ogres of Red-Oath." Varlock got on his knees and looked down on the ground in defeat.
"You've won" Varlock whispered "You have beaten me in single combat and for that you deal is made, kill me or spare me and my people will honour it. No matter what you chose my people will fight with you against the ponies" I looked down at him at he what he has said to me. Kill him or spare him? Varlock was ready to die for this alliance. I hit him on the shoulder and he looked up to me.
"A warrior like you..." I said while holding out my hand to him "Deserves to die with his men" Varlock toke my hand and pulled him up from the dirt and soil.
"Thank you" Varlock smiled at me "I wouldn't forget it, Dynol The Dammed is a friend to the Ogres of Red-Oath!" He shouted to his people which they cheered in this. I patted him on the shoulder where I hit him and walked towards the fortress. As I did, I looked at Varlock's banner and the Red-Oath's symbol.
I looked back at the Ogres on the fortress's wall. "Listen up!" I shouted at them "In honour of you chieftain's valour and courage, we will name this alliance 'The Horde Of The Forest' and your people's symbol will be the Horde's symbol!" The Ogres cheered once more to this alliance. "So gather up all of your people and come to my castle, you deserve better then this!"
"FOR THE HORDE OF THE FOREST!!" The Ogres yelled and cheered to this as they disappeared behind the wall. I turned to face Varlock and walked back to him.
"Some of my forest friends will come and lead you people to my castle safely" I told him. I whistled to the forest and soon the forest friends that came with me walked out from the trees. 'And you deserve a rest, once your people are gathered I'll you ride on WoodFang to the castle, you deserved it"
Varlock nodded and went to his fortress with my friends to get everyone ready. This day has been just prefect. The kinder day you should drink to this. With the Ogre's warriors, the forest's predators and my element powers. Who said the judged can really build a alliance? I looked up at the sky for one more time. The moon is shining in the night.... THE MOON IS SHINING IN THE NIGHT!?! So I'll have to... Keep it together Dynol. It's just the night...
"Fluttershy please open the door" I said for the four time as I knocked on her door once again. After my meeting with the princesses on what to do with Dynol, I went to find all of my friends to see what they were doing to help the town. Rainbow Dash helped ponies who's homes was destroyed by the fireballs to tents where they'll wait till the repairs of their homes are done, Applejack gave apples from her farm to those who are homeless, Rarity helped stitched broken clothes and made some blankets to keep ponies warm in their tents and Pinkie Pie helped by being herself. That leaves only Fluttershy out of the frame. I asked one of the guards if he had seen her and he told me that she went to her house a few minutes ago. So I went to check on her and see if any of her animal friends needed help. But when I reached her home, she wasn't letting me in her home nor was she talking to me either.
But my hopes came back as the door opened ever so slowly, revealing Fluttershy's face all sad and sorrow.
"Yes Twilight?" Fluttershy whispered so quietly. As if it was the first day that I ever meted her.
"Fluttershy" I sighed in relief for her opening the door. "Why didn't you open the door the first time I knocked? Is something wrong?" I asked her with concern for her sake.
She looked away from and looked to the ground like she was gathering her thoughts and answers. She didn't looked good and to be honest, not in the nicest away nor in the worst way. But something else. Fluttershy then let out a sad sigh and opened the door fully, giving me the massage of entering her home. I walked in her house to see that almost all of her animals were nowhere to be seen, apart from Angel and a few birds. This is something wrong here and yet I cannot put a hoof on it. I heard the door shut behind me and to see Fluttershy's head still looking down at the ground but heading towards the sofa. She sat on it with her head down and sighed one more time.
"Was this our fault?" Fluttershy quietly questioned me. "Was all of this destruction our doing or was it Dynol's doing?"
I stood there in shock and surprise. Was this our fault? That question echoed throughout my mind so much that I almost forgot why I was here. Even though the question still echoed through my mind, I had my answer for this... Shocking question.
"This was not our fault, Fluttershy" I gentle answered with a soft tone in my voice, not to get on the wrong hoof. "Dynol attacked us first and now he wants us dead, I do not know why he is like this. Perhaps it's in his race's nature to harm innocents, or terrorised innocents or worse. There are thing we cannot understand nor answer in this world, not until we find out and Dynol is one of those." I walked up to the sofa and sat next to her while Fluttershy stared at were I just stood, not looking at me. "If this was our fault Fluttershy then we'll know it was our fault. But Dynol attacked us five years ago when we first met him. And now, he has attacked us again with powers we don't understand. To answer you question: No Fluttershy, it'a not our doing. It is Dynol's doing, but we'll find him, and stop his madness from harming anyone else and we'll bring him to justice from his actions. I promise you."
Fluttershy did not answered nor questioned after my little speech. Instead she got up from her sofa and flew up the stairs. Before she disappeared from my sight, she stopped and looked down to me on the sofa.
"Then why did he ran away from us the first time, if he had those powers?"
After saying that. She disappeared up the stairs, leaving me to my thoughts.
Why did he ran away from us the first time?
***
Dynol POV:
The trip from the fortress to my castle was almost like going to a holy land. The Ogres came by the thousands. Almost all of them were strong and fitting warriors with weapons and armours to prove this theory. But it wasn't all that. Some of them were blacksmiths, alchemists and enchanters that makes them the workers of their warriors kins. When we arrived to my castle. I told WoodFang and a few others to show the place around for them, after all they'll need to know where everything is for them to do their normal day life in the castle, and no I will not force them to work for me, if they have a reason then that's okay with me. But we have enemies right outside our doorsteps and I will not be defenceless from a siege by them, so we'll have to make my castle and the forest around it ready for that. Let us hope that ambush keeps them out of the forest for awhile.
Varlock is one tough old chieftain. He's strength will be needed not only for the armies we'll rise. But the strength to lead our forces and hopefully gather more allies in the fight against Equestria. We were chatting about our new alliance and friendship. I have a lot in common with him. Varlock wants his people to have their homeland again and to show the world that they are not savages nor barbarians upon those who sees them as that. His whole life was finding a where to make everyone see them as they see themselves. We were chatting about this though empty halls that needed to be filled. I was thinking of making one of the halls a war room so we'll plan the fight against Equestria and her allies.
"If I may ask, Varlock" I seeking information from him "How did your people lose their homeland? If your people has great combat training, how did they lose their homeland if it is okay with you?"
Varlock did not say a word from my question. But it didn't mean that he wasn't going to answer it, he just need some gathering of words and history.
"We don't know how either, Dynol" He responded with a sad and unsure tone of voice. "I wasn't born when my people lose their homeland. The old legends says that we were forced to leave because of somewhat destruction of another"
"Of another?"
"In our legends, we were allies with unknown race with extreme power that forged a legacy like no other. But we lost the name of their race and their legacy"
"How come?"
"Over the cores of my people's history" Varlock looked down to the ground while we were walking. "We just wanted to forget about it and pretend as if the old empire didn't existed"
I looked at Varlock and stared at him for a few moments. They know the old empire, the empire that my mentors told me about.
"By a chance was there a thing called 'Purification Of The Old Empire' in your legends?" I curiously asked him
Varlock's head lifted up and looked at me with confusion in his eyes. "You know the empire of Gwaed Newydd?"
"I take it that's what the empire was called?"
"Indeed, we don't know what it means but it seem you know a bit about it"
I stopped talking for a short while before replying. "Only what my mentors has told me so far"
We stopped our little conversation for a while and reached to where Varlock will be staying in for the time. Thanks to the spiders that live in the castle, they had cleared up the dusts and webs from the room. Which reminds me, I got to see how they are doing so far.
"This is where you'll be staying in, Varlock" I showed Varlock his room. "It has a large bed for you to sleep on, a weapon stack for your weapons and the room is not so far from a war room I'm building so we can make plans for the fight against Equestria."
Varlock nodded his head in this as he entered the room and began to look around to see how it looked.
"I'll be looking forward for the fight" Varlock happily answered.
"One more thing" I said with interest as he looked back at me "Why does your people hate the ponies?"
"They wouldn't give us a chance" He angrily responded.
"Then you're welcome to Castle Rhyfel"
After that, I left him to his room and headed toward my chambers... To face the cause of this fight and my rage.
After five years of that, why am I so scared to face it? I walked slowly and still why am I so scared to face it? I faced the training of my powers from all of my mentors, but why am I so scared to face it? I had not fear from facing the ones that caused all of this harm and pain yet still why am I so scared to face it!?
As I walked up the stairs. Those words kept coming back in my head and would not leave me alone. Night was always an unknown feeling for me. You do not know what lays inside of it, you do not know what secrets it contains nor what calls it home. Night is unknown and many fears the unknown... like my world. But those be thoughts for another time because I'll be facing it very soon, very soon.
I reached my chambers at the top of my castle. It's not as beauty as you my think. Dusts and broken windows and little bit of spider webs, but it is still called my chambers. There's a large round bed with a sun on it, once it had feathers inside the bed I replaced it with water to create my own water-bed. The rest are not important, there's night stands, old books, symbols and more around the room. So I'll have to make some changes to this.
I sighed softly. I walked towards the bed and closed my eyes. I released my mind and soon my powers quieted down. The rocky gauntlets, shoulders and boots fell off like leafs on a tree. The air around my legs and feet died out, the watery hood vanish as did the molten mask. I left my greyish robes on and hoped into bed. The blanket covered the top of my chest and below my neck, ready to faced it.
But before I did, I hit the top of the water-bed so it'll make the feeling of riding the ocean waves so I'll know that Water is looking after me with her care.
***
Third person POV:
Dark voids covered around Dynol as he opened his eyes, he has made into this... unholy place once again. His fears doubled and grew as he knows this place. Nothing but darkness and voids, nothing more and nothing less. But Dynol kept the fears inside for he has suffered it for five years and will not break. Never.
Dynol knows that his powers here are weaker then its. But he is Dynol, champion of the elementals and will not break.
Dynol began to walked though the dark voids and prepared for what's to come. This place is unpredictable and that's the where it likes it. Dynol what to going to happen and so he made his flaming wave swords to he'll be prepared for the unknown force. He looked left and right, back and fore. Dynol knows it's out there... But when is it going to show itself.
Soon the sound of an reversed voice and the sound of something getting built was from a short distance north from where Dynol was standing. Dynol jumped and ready his weapons from the sound. The dark, shadowy voids however, blocked the view of where those sounds were heard. Dynol closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to prepare himself to enter though the voids. Dynol opened his eyes and walked toward and through the dark voids. But Dynol does not want to go through the voids, but for the chance to escaped this place... He must face them.
Through the voids, Dynol saw what was making all the noise and to his surprise it wasn't anything evil. In fact... It was home.
His homeland. The land he knew so well and never forgot what it looked liked. The large clock tower with a boy's name, the giant eye, the centre of power, the nursery bridge that were sang for the young and his people's humour. But most of all. It's legacy. His world's language and the largest empire his world ever seen. Dynol eyes widen to this. Maybe it's powers are dying or it has finally gone from his mind. But when Dynol took a step further to his homeland and toughed his homeland's green grass. The thought flew and fled from his hopeful mind. His homeland disappeared like smoke and dust. Dynol gasped and was taken further into the dark voids.
Dynol was soon casted into the city of ruins and abandon lives. No not in a destroyed state but to what Dynol once knew the city. A city of glory, now... something else. Dynol stood in line with others of his people but they had no emotions. No smiles, no happy faces nor good emotions. They faces were filled with hatred, anger, rage and more. But for what? Dynol stood there as if he was a solider. Ready for.... War?
His thoughts was held to a stop when he heard his people cheered like a hero has just arrived. Dynol turned his head towards where the cheering was heading. There, in the building fit for a king. Stood a humanoid figure wearing black robes with a hood that blocked the view of the being's face. Standing next to this being was... Her. The creature of nightmares. The one that caused all of this pain and suffering in sleep. The creature was a black pony like her and she wore dark blue armours, in her mouth was a line of sharp teeth like it could deal heavy damage and had reptilian eyes that hold a evil glare within. She smiled at Dynol and the other beings, she looked happy from the crowd of Dynol's kind. Dynol looked back to see what she was smiling at and he saw lines upon lines of his people, looking straight at the building. Dynol looked to where the creature stood and saw the hooded humanoid was just beginning to remove his hood. Dynol stared to see who was behind the hood, only to find out that it was... Himself. The crowd cheered once again, loud and proud at the darker Dynol. Dynol couldn't believe at what he is staring at. The darker Dynol was smiling at his army and lifted both of his hands to the sky. Dynol looked to the sky and saw it.
The monstrous being of all of Dynol's fears, his pain and his lust. The being was not only monstrous by actions but physical. It has four, black crap like legs, a torso that showed nothing but corrupted ribs filled with darkness. It's arms were thin and hardly showing any sign of muscle, but it contains the dark powers inside though. It's hands were large and reptilian with sharp claws that glowed with incredible amount of dark powers within them. Dynol could not see the fullness of it's head because of the hood it wore that contain strange symbols on the outlines of the hood. But it did show the lower part of the face, which is only the mouth that held round after round of demonic teeth. Ready to tare the living flesh from Dynol's body. Soon it's eyes opened to reviled nothing but a white void of emptiness. No feeling lays inside within this monster. The being smiled at Dynol which made him moved a few steps back from fear of the being. Then it spoked.
It's words filled Dynol's mind with dread. It's words tried and make Dynol's mind lost in it's words. Dynol would not have any of this as he removed his flaming wave swords and placed his hands over his ears to cover them from it's venomous words of control. Even as Dynol's hand covered his ears, it's hollow and evil voice somehow still reached into his mind.
"Get out of my head, vile demon!" Dynol shouted out loud in anger, fear and disbelieve from the monstrous being's words of insanity. But it continue to go on with it's evil words, still trying to break Dynol's soul apart. Dynol had no choice but to run and escape the being's controlling voice over Dynol's mind. Dynol ran and ran from the being only to have that dark armoured pony chasing him. The being still wouldn't let Dynol go that easily. Through the shadowy ground, a tentacle came from the ground and grabbed Dynol's left leg and pulled him to the ground. Dynol fell flat on the ground and turned to see what has got him. As he saw the tentacle got a hold on him, Dynol created a fireball and blasted the tentacle into thousands of pieces. Dynol got up from the ground and looked up to the sky. The being smiled as the dark armoured pony was only a few feet from Dynol. Dynol screamed in fear as the dark armoured pony came straight towards him. But fate wouldn't let this happen. In a quick of a flash, a hard silver stone protected Dynol from the pony as the dark armoured pony hit head first into the stone. After that, the stone token Dynol away from this horrid place, away from the monstrous being which still had a smile on it's evil face.
Dynol awaken from his sleep, gasping for air and sweating uncontrollable from the whole event. He looked to a broken window from left side of his room and saw it was early morning. His breathing slowed down and he gave a sigh of relief that it was over for now. Before Dynol could get out of bed, he felt something was resting on his lap. He looked down and saw WoodFang sleeping with him. Dynol smiled and stroked WoodFang's head. He was a loyal friend to Dynol and he couldn't asked for anyone better.
Dynol's smile faded and turned into anger. Now... They wanted a monster... Now Dynol is going to give them one.
And he'll make The Horde of The Forest... Known throughout Equestria and the lands around Her.
These nightmares have gotten more worse by the months. The pony whore will pay greatly for what she has done to my mind, and minds of other unfortunate minds before me. I was walking through the castle with my right hand on my forehead because having one of those nightmare gives me a headache and not the weak ones. It's the one of those headaches that makes you wish it to go away but it just wouldn't leave you alone and keeps on coming back five times more worse then the last. Geez... I need just one dreamless sleep, let me dream of nothing so I can have a moment of REST!
I reached Varlock's door and knocked on it. Let's get this over with and-ARRH! Blasted head. Curse you nightmare, curse your kind and CURSE YOU PONY WITCH!!
The door opened to reviled Varlock still in his armour. Does he sleep while wearing his armour?... Badass.
"Morning Dynol" Varlock yawned while he scratched his left tusk. "Had a good night rest?"
"You could say that, Varlock" I groaned from his words, I'll tell him later for now... "I need you to come with me right now"
Varlock looked at me for a second and closed the door behind him. "Where to?" He asked. I started to walked down the hall and Varlock followed behind me.
"I have another guest for you to... meet and know for we have some questions and she has most of them she can answer"
***
Celestia POV:
"Has the messages been sent, private?" I asked my messenger.
"They have your highness" My messenger answered as he bowed respectfully to me, Luna and Twilight. "We have sent the messages to the Griffin Empire of Griffinstone and their allies of the plain lands of the Minotaur Clans. We've also sent the message to the Dragon holds and finally we've sent your personal message to the Crystal Empire. They'll arrive to them all soon"
I nodded and let the messenger go. Hopefully with all of those messages sent, we can gain more support against Dynol and his 'forest friends'. Let's hope that Dynol doesn't gain any allies and forge an alliance against us. I want to end this crisis without slipping any more innocent's blood to Dynol's power and rage. I looked down at the map again and draw out our old castle off the map as 'second option' to our main cause. 'Where's Dynol's base of terror?'.
"Are you should getting the Crystal Empire and the Griffin Empire's focus here, leaving a small attention to the Changeling Hive Kingdom?" Luna put to the question of sending the messages to them. The war against the Changelings has been hard and with the support of the Crystal Empire and the Griffin Empire, we've managed to push them back to their boarders and hold the lines to the Badlands. Although the Changelings were weak from the siege of Cantorlot and some of the Changelings has separated into small groups like the rival groups of Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag. So the Changelings were not at their best, even with the return of Queen Chrysalis that made the Crystal Empire join the fight against them thanks to Cadence's wise words.
"Ever since we pushed them back to the Badlands Luna" I told her in a friendly tone. "The Changelings haven't been seen in months nor their queen. We have to look at the newest threat to Equestria and look to our defensive against the Everfree itself. We'll leave a garrison force to watch the borders and to know what the Changelings are up too"
"Speaking of knowing who's are up too" Twilight entered our conversation. "Princess Luna, did by chance find a way to enter Dynol's mind to know what we're up against?"
"I'm afraid not" Luna sighed in defeat. "I tried to enter Dynol's mind in the dream realm where I left his mind along. But his mind had some kind of dark void I had never seen before and yet, it looked and felt like I had seen it before. I tried to enter but the void kept me out of his mind while it was seeping out foul magic into the realm."
"What do you mean 'seeping out foul magic'?"
"Some kind of dark magic I've never seen before. It didn't effected the other minds, it just fell out every time I tried to enter Dynol's mind and see what he is planning to do next"
"But the voids?" I looked up to face Luna. "Are they still there?"
"Yes" Luna answered "The voids are still there but the foul magic has stopped when I stopped trying to get into Dynol's mind. It must be some magic that Dynol learned years ago, who knows what other powers he could have and what he is planning on doing with it"
I thought for a moment about what Luna told us about Dynol's mind and the voids surrounding it. What kind of dark magic is protecting Dynol's mind? I can understand the other powers he use, but I never thought that he has dark magic, powerful enough to stop Luna from getting into his mind. I looked back down on the map again and ponder on what to do. If we can get support from the other kingdoms. Then we'll have a larger army to search the Everfree forest and out number Dynol's forces so we can catch him and bring him to court for his crimes against the innocents.
"Lets hope that they'll sign up for this"
***
Dynol POV:
"What do you think about our defensive?" I asked Varlock as we were near our destination.
"Castle Rhyfel's defensive are made very well" Varlock answered "It looks like it was made to protected a king. Which means that their must be hidden passages throughout the castle, very useful to make good ambushes"
"You should of seen my Teutoburg ambush. It was good."
Finally we've arrived to where our 'guest' was being held. I could still hear the sound of a drop of water hitting the guest's head while hearing groans of desperation to be free from her 'torture'. Varlock must of heard these sounds because he looked at the door that contain the room where my guest is in, having a good 'watery' time.
"I take it that this is what you brought me here for, isn't it?" Varlock questioned with his arms crossed.
"Quite" I said with a voice that contains sarcasm and boredom. I then began to open the door to meet our guest again. She was where I left her, holden down by stones on her hooves and the water bubble above her head, hitting her with one drops of water. I can tell that she was breaking because she was grinding her teeth and was moving her head to escape the drops of water. So she think is wasn't painful ah? Well one point for me.
"Meet my guest, Varlock" I introduced Varlock to my guest. Varlock looked at the pony who's trying her best to make her head doesn't make contact to another drop of water.
"Who is she?" Varlock questioned while he was walking around my guest, analysing every bit of my guest. "She wearing the same armour as the royal guards wear" He sniffed for a second "She was raised in the capital, Cantorlot and she's been in the army for eleven years"
I stared at him in awe "How did you know all of that by just looking at her?"
"Orges knows these things if they are train in the art of combat" Varlock informed me. "I can know almost anything from a creature if they are train to fight in the army and before you asked no, we don't know anything else part from the information I just said to you"
"So nobody else apart from soldiers and warriors?"
"Correct"
I nodded to this useful information. "That ability may come in handy to know what we're up against" After my little chat with Varlock. I turned my focus to my pony guest. "So, shall we try this again. If you promise to answer all of our questions, I'll stop the dripping hitting your head okay?"
"Never" She growled though her teeth. "I'll tell you nothing, you monster" She breaking, is only a matter of time and... persuasion.
"Are you sure?" My tone was slowly turning more angry then persuasive. "Because I've got a lot of things to do and if you'll answer our questions, we'll leave you in peace with no dripping on the side of you answers"
She then spat at my feet to my offer "Go to Tartarus where you belong!" She shouted with sure language from a lady. Well she asked for it.
I walked to her and looked down at the helpless mare in front of me. I then put my right foot on her chest while Varlock watched in interest. The mare put on her angry face on as I touch the bubble of water that made the drops double it speed. This made the mare growled a little more from my action. But I haven't even started. With my right foot. I made it gain heat which made the mare's face turned from angry to surprise. Good. As the heat gain more and more. I pushed my foot down slowly on her chest. Soon the heat on my foot was almost as hot as a summer day. The mare closed her eyes hard and began to make painful groans and screams. Varlock lifted an eyebrow from my method in either in shock from my brutal action or just curious on how this will turn out.
"Now will you talk?" I asked in a annoyed and irritated voice as I pushed harder on her chest.
"I will!" She finally broken in submission. "I'll tell you what you want to know, just stop this torture!"
I did as she wished and clicked my fingers that stopped the drips of water while cooling down my foot and moved it off her chest. I walked back a steps and leaned on a wall near the door.
"Then. Talk"
***
Mean while in the Griffin Empire
"Your highness, we received a message from Equestria"
"Show me"
The griffin handed the message to their empress.
"Guard, ready my chariot"
In the Crystal Empire
"Your highness, we received a message from Equestria"
"Show me"
The crystal guard handed the message to princess Cadence
"Ready our chariot"
In the Plain lands
"High Chief Rock-Axes, We received a message from Equestria"
"Bring it to your great Chief"
The minotaur handed the message to High Chief Rock-Axes
"We move at dawn"
In the Dragon Holds
"Elder ones, we received a message from Equestria"
"Show us"
The dragon gave the message to one of the elder dragon.
"Well, what do we do?"
"find and send a message to this 'Dynol The Dammed' once you find him... He seem like the creature we want."
It's been nothing but work. Not that I'm complaining. Everyone did their part in fixing the town and helping those who lost their homes. It's just that we've been giving apples all day and none has noticed that our farm is not so far from the Everfree. Few guards patrols our farm. I'm worried that this Dynol fella will come and pay a visit to us without anything to defend us. It stinks, but we have to make do. I was kicking some apple trees with Fluttershy. She came and see if we needed any help. Honestly, we need all the help we can get. And with a extra pair of hooves on the job. It felt like a blessing.
We had enough apples for those who lost their homes and looked at my apple trees. I hope that the repairs are almost done. Even though this farm is large, it does not hold all the apples in the world. We were almost half done with all of the apples tree's apples being kicked. We'll ran out of apples if this continues on.
"Can I ask you a question, Applejack?" Fluttershy asked as she helped put the last basket of apples on Big Mac's wagon, ready to take to Ponyville centre.
"Of course, Fluttershy" I replied with a smile "What's on your mind?"
"Oh, this must sound silly" Fluttershy muttered "But do you think what we did to Dynol was wrong? I mean five years ago, we charged him away but he didn't hurt anyone and now his back with powers that almost destroyed Ponyville"
I stared at Fluttershy unclear on what she had just said to me. Twilight told me about what Fluttershy said yesterday, she still thinks that what we did was wrong.
"Well, sugarcube" I calmly answered to her "I don't believe that what we did was bad, but I don't believe what we did was good either" I walked up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I don't know if it was good or bad. But right now, Dynol is planning something and when we caught him, maybe we'll find out if what we did was the right thing"
After reinsuring her. Fluttershy looked down to the ground as if she was gathering her thoughts.
"But what about the other leaders?" Fluttershy said in a concern tone of voice. "What do they think about all of this?"
"Well princess Cadence is already here along with the minotaur chief" I said. "But only the Griffin empress and one of the elder dragons hasn't arrived yet, so they are gonna have a long and serious conversion when they arrive."
***
Celestia POV:
"No, we will not go into the forest, High Chief Rock-Axes!" I explained to Rock Axes.
He was a tall minotaur with two sliver horns that carved to the top of his head and down like a ram with two golden rings on the horns. He had two steel axes behind on his back and wore leather armour that may or not of been a manticore. He along with princess Cadence, who was standing next to Luna and Twilight. Arrived first before the griffins or the dragons. Cadence brought with her a platoon of crystal guards under the command of captain Shining Armour and Flash Sentry. While Rock-Axes, being the 'great chief' brought a huge number of minotaur warriors that could hold a fort. But I expected something like that because minotaur chiefs always want to show their strength to the outside world. We've been arguing about what to do. I wanted was to wait for the others to arrive first. But Rock-Axes wanted to go now and face Dynol this instant.
"I faced more worse things then an air bender, fire throwing ape" Rock-Axes said with his arms cross. "We can overpower him with minotaur strength alone"
"Power will not win this crisis" I told him in a firm voice. "Brute strength does not win over careful planning, Dynol controls all of the forest and it's creatures so a open attack will lead many injured or worse killed"
"To a pony maybe" Rock-Axes grunted "But we minotaurs have lived through hundreds of fights, this 'crisis' you call it is nothing more then a pest that needed to be crush." Rock-Axes then started to walk out of the tent and heading towards his warriors. "Minotaurs, lets move out." Rock-Axes commanded his warriors "We got a ape to kill" After giving his orders, the whole minotaur warriors marched towards the Everfree forest, leaving Celestia shocked from how Rock-Axes talked to her and just didn't listen to her reasons about going to face Dynol alone.
Luna looked to her sister "What shall we do?" Luna asked. "Shall we try and stop him?"
"There's no reasoning with minotaur chiefs, Luna" Celestia explained to her as she lowered her head in defeat. "Lets hope that he will spare some in mercy"
As the minotaur warriors entered the forest borders. Two ravens watched them entering. One raven flew into the deeper part of the forest while the other one flew into the town and landed on top of the royal tent.
***
Dynol POV:
I was in my newly built war room. It was in a reasonably size hall that held a round table in the made with six chairs surrounding it. It held a map of all of Equestria and her nearby kingdoms. All of the different kingdoms had a flag that tells us what is what. Like the ponies were their flag of their royal, the griffin a eagle claw, the minotaur two horns and the dragon a scaly wing. There was also the 'Changeling' flag that had a fang with insect wings and finally us with Varlock's symbol as the Horde of the Forest, which as all of the forest as our territories. There was some flaming poles that kept the room lit. It almost like we were a shadowy and evil forces... But we know we're not. Inside the war room was me, Varlock, his son who's name is Llofrudd and WoodFang.
"Shall we recap on what we know to be safe?" I asked my council of the Horde.
"Agree" Varlock sided with me. He leaned down on the table and placed his hands on it as did and Llofrudd, though WoodFang just rested his head. "Equestria is perhaps the most powerful kingdom because of their rulers that controls the celestial bodies. Their allies are the Crystal Empire in the northern part of Equestria. The Griffin Empire is their most loyal ally thanks to some chaos lord. The Griffin are also allies to the minotaurs of the plain lands."
"Who does the Crystal Empire and Griffin Empire rules over?" Llofrudd questioned his father.
"The Crystal Empire is just a name, son. Although the Griffins rules over the Zebras of the desert-lands" Varlock answered his son's question.
"Who are their enemies?" I popped the next question to Varlock.
"That will be the Changelings of the Badlands" He responded as he pointed to where the Changeling hive is, far south to where the Griffin Empire and Equestria is. "Although they have been separated into three groups, one of them is the loyalists to their queen while the other: Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag have been fighting each other for some reason. The location of their where about is unknown."
"Anything else we should know?"
"There is one" Varlock answered "The dragon holds" He then pointed to the northern part of Equestria, where this Crystal Empire is. "They have a trade agreement with Equestria, but they are not so much as friendly has the other"
"Why?"
"Some crisis that happened years ago that made them lose some of their mountain holds and Equestria... Sort of abandon them to their fate. So they were once allies, now they are just unfriendly neutral to each other"
"Damn, these Equestrians can really be a dick sometimes" I growled to myself from the info that I just heard. Soon a raven flew from a window and landed on my shoulder. Then it gave me a heads up. "Gentlemen" I raised my voice to get everyone's attention. "We have some minotaur guests that were not invited to join us" I turned to face Varlock "This is where you can show me your people's fighting style" Varlock nodded with a grin.
"Goodness" Llofrudd spoked up in surprise. "You sure caused those ponies pain, didn't you Dynol?"
I looked at Llofrudd in anger, not to him but to the ponies as my molten mask started to cover my face slowly. I don't know why, but for some reason I got extremely mad.
I spoked "I'm causing these ponies pain?.... I WILL SHOW THEM THE TRUE PAIN FROM ALL THESE YEARS I'VE BEEN THROUGH!"
I slammed my fist on the table as the Horde's flag and the minotaur's flag moved together in combat.
Wait for the others? What was that pony thinking talking to me as if I haven't faced an ape before. These ponies panic about almost anything. From hydras to small bunnies. Cowards, the lot of them.
I along with my one hundred bodyguards was walking through the forest with our weapons at the ready for cutting this 'threat' in pieces. I leaded my guards through vines and trees to reach our prey. Everything was going normally, until we found a battleground of dead ponies.
There was I think around eighty to ninety of them. Although I couldn't tell if there was that many of them because they were everywhere. What I mean is most of them were either torn apart or burnt be on recognisable. I told some of my guards to look around and see what did the burning. Because I know what did the tearing: TimberWovles.
"Anything?" I asked one of my guards. He was looking at one of the burnt ponies, who's eyes held nothing but fear.
"It's recent, chief" The guard answered as he continued to look at the burnt ponies. "Must of been a day ago"
"I meant anything out of the normal, you idiot" I raised my voice.
"Only one" He replied. He then turned to where the trees surrounded us... Almost perfectly. "These trees, there nothing I seen before. It's was almost like they moved their whole branches just to created a circle around us."
I looked around the area where the dead ponies were and my guard was right. All of the branches were connected with each other to create a dome, almost like an arena. This felt wrong, very wrong.
"Chief!" Another of my guard shouted. The guard was pointing in north. "Look!"
I turned to face what the guard was pointing at. There in front of me was four rows of tall, blue creatures with spears and shields of metal and iron. They wore strange and crude armour that looked like it was part of their skins. They wore masks that showed painting of sharp teeth and soulless eyes rather then their own faces. Their shields are round while containing spikes around the outlines of the shields. But what got me and most of my guards, was their... Tucks. They were in the mouth of the strange, tall and blue creatures. Almost like horns.... But in their MOUTHS!.
I made a step closer to them. "Well" I answered while scratching my chin. "Looks like we found some poor sods, who's horns are forced in their mouths, boys" Me and my guards then started to laugh from my joke to them. One of the blue creature didn't seem to like it.
"The reason why we've got tusks fool" The being answered. "Is because we have brain in our heads" Suddenly they began to laugh at us from the being's insult. I got extremely mad as I brought out my two steel axes off my back and pointed one of them to the being that made the little insult.
"Don't you know who I am, you brat!" I yelled at him.
"A guy with two horns in his weird head" The being replied as he put on his helmet that had a spike on it. They laughed again from the being response.
"Good one, Varlock!" One of them shouted back while laughing.
"I am High Chief Rock-Axes! Chief of the mighty Minotaur Clans of the Plain Lands and your death!" I bellowed.
"Very cheesy, mate" The being replied.
"Guards!" I turned to face my minotaur warriors as they brought out their weapons from just my calling to their names. "Bring me their heads!"
As soon as I gave my orders to my guards. I pointed my axes forward, letting my guards charge towards my annoying new enemies. The first five lines of my minotaur warriors were my bestest warriors, my personal bodyguards, elite minotaur warriors. They wore only the best armours in the minotaur clans. As my warriors charged towards the blue freaks. The being known as 'Varlock' ordered his freaks to ready themselves. They did this by lowering the front row on their knees while letting the second row place their shields on top of the first row's shields, making a shield wall with their spears pointing out from small gaps of the shield wall. I snorted at their cowardliness. They hided behind their shields like an infant hides behind a chair from the incoming thunder storm. My warriors were getting closer. This would been an easy slaughter... If it wasn't a deep roar that changed everything.
Third person POV:
The signal was sounded as the third and fourth rows of Ogres dropped their spears and shields in favour of dual wielding blades made of ebon steels, craving for the blood of the incoming minotaurs. As the minotaurs were only a few feet from the shield wall leaded by Varlock. Llofrudd jumped with the third and four rows of dual wielding Ogres over the shield wall as if it was nothing, taking the lives of unfortunate minotaurs unlucky of dodging the ebon blades of the Red-Oath. The minotaurs were strong and had heavy armours and huge two handed weapons. But the ebon blade Ogres were fast and found many weak points in the minotaur's armours. They cut through the brutes like butter and to make matters worse... Rock-Axes watched it all happened from his shocked and horrified eyes. These were his personal body guards and they were falling faster like they were nothing but sand.
"Don't just stand there!" Rock-Axes yelled in shock to his warriors. "Get in and kill them! Kill them all!"
The minotaur warriors obeyed their chief and a second wave of minotaurs charged in to aid the dying out first wave. But when the second wave were only half way of reaching the battle, spears began to fall out of the trees above them and some of the spears managed to cracked through the minotaur warriors's helmets with ease. Rock-Axes just stood there as his warriors were being massacred by the Ogres in despair and shock. In all has life, he had never seen his warriors being destroyed with ease and speed and for the first time in his life... He felt fear in his heart.
"Steel-arm!" He called his commander standing next to him. "Flank them on the left with the third wave! I want these blue freaks slaughtered!" As ordered. Commander Steel-arm lead the third wave of warriors around the left to hopefully flank the Ogres and bring this fight to an end. But this fight was more planned out then Rock-Axes thought, for when Steel-arm was just heading left and was about to flank Varlock and Llofrudd's forces. Standing as if he was waiting for the minotaurs to arrive was Dynol himself, eating an apple.
"Not so fast, my unwanted friends" Dynol grinned. "But you have no invitations to come in my home, so I'll leave you... in stones" Dynol then jumped up in the air and roared, letting a line of cockatrices stare into the eyes of the charging minotaur warriors. panicked and surprised, the minotaurs tried to look away but to no avail. Slowly and painfully, Steel-arm and all of the third wave was turned to stone, leaving only sacred faces of the warriors. Dynol then flew down and slammed his feet on on ground that created a shockwave of air that obliterated the stone warriors into small pieces of the once living minotaurs, sending them straight towards their horrified chief and into some of the remaining warriors. Dynol then grinned again as he brought out his flaming wave swords and began to walk slowly towards the minotaurs. "Time to end this little party" Said Dynol as he made his signal to Varlock. Varlock saw the signal and nodded.
"Vanguards of Red-Oath and forest friends!" Varlock shouted as the shield wall was disarmed and the sounds of growls from WoodFang was heard in the right side of the remaining minotaurs. "BLOOD FOR THE HORDE!!!"
As soon as Varlock's bellowed those words. The Ogres that was holding the shield wall charged with their spears pointing in front of them, empaling some of the last remains of the first and second waves of minotaurs warriors. As Varlock's forces was dealing with the remaining minotaurs, Llofrudd whistled the Ogres in the trees to come down and aid with his forces as they charged straight towards Rock-Axes and his last best warriors. On the right side of were Rock-Axes's forces came a howl from WoodFang as he charged from the shadows of the trees with his pack, a dozen of manticores and four chimeras roaring and snarling towards their preys while on the left was Dynol with his flaming wave swords, ready for the blood of his invaders. Rock-Axes swung out his two axes and ready himself for the incoming Horde's forces. But some minotaurs from the back of the remaining warriors began to slowly back off from the incoming enemies. When some made a few feet back, they turned and legged it, however Rock-Axes turned to see some of his warriors fleeing.
"Come back here and fight, fools!" Rock-Axes angrily yelled as he threw his two axes towards his fleeing guards, stabbing two minotaurs on their back and died from the impact of the axes. This made some of the fleeing warriors stopped and forced to head back in line. However, this left Rock-Axes defenceless and disarmed. Lucky he was behind four lines of his guards to be in any danger. However for the guards... they were not so lucky. Llofrudd's forces clashed into the minotaurs with such force that it made some of the guards fall onto the ground with an awful thud. The forest friends charged threw the right side of Rock-Axes's warriors and torn them apart with teeth and claws and fangs and tails. Rock-Axes was now having shaking knees as his best mens were being slaughtered by the dozens, he never lost a fight in his life and now he is seeing his first.
"Oi! Big fella!" Came a voice standing right next to Rock-Axes. Rock-Axes turned to face what called him and saw Dynol standing on his left side with what remains of his left side minotaur warriors all died for bleeding dry. Before Rock-Axes could acted, Dynol used his flaming wave swords to cut off Rock-Axes's horns which made Rock-Axes flew a few feet in the air with incredible strength. As his horns fell to the ground and he in the air, Dynol then used his right wave sword to cut off Rock-Axes's tail making extreme pain to Rock-Axes and cause him to somewhat flip so his back was showing Dynol which Dynol then kicked to make Rock-Axes fly into the nearest tree.
As the sounds of metal clashing and the minotaur warriors's screams were dying out. Dynol disarmed his flaming wave swords with a flick of his hands and walked towards the hornless and tailless minotaur chief of the Minotaur Clans. As Dynol walked closer to the chief, Llofrudd just finished off a warrior and was clearing his two swords off the warrior's armour. Llofrudd saw that Dynol was heading towards the chief and went to see what he would do.
"That's an Oak tree if you're wondering, my unwanted friend" Dynol smirked in triumphs over his council's plan from dealing with the minotaurs as he placed his hands inside his robes's arms, making him look like a monk. "Back where I'm from, they are seen as a symbol of strength and yet, you look as if you were almost knocked out from simply ramming into it" Rock-Axes tried to stand up but only made him lay on his back as Dynol and Llofrudd were only a few feet away from him.
"Damn, Dynol" Llofrudd spoked in amaze from what happened to Rock-Axes. "He now almost looks like you"
"I'll take that as a joke and nothing more, Llofrudd" Dynol answered with a sigh. He then walked up to Rock-Axes and placed his left foot on Rock-Axes's neck while Rock-Axes tried to get the foot off his neck. "Now hornless, you're gonna go back to the pony town and tell those pricks that this is only a warning to those foolish enough to think they can walk in my domain and come out perfect"
After saying that. Dynol lifted his foot off of the minotaur's neck and Rock-Axes obeyed, and ran with only six out of two hundred and four minotaur warriors. As Rock-Axes and his remaining six warriors ran away from the same battlefield that claimed the scout force Aura-sworn. Llofrudd stared at Dynol confused and wondering.
"What's with you sending messengers to your enemies? They'll try and do it again" Llofrudd questioned Dynol.
"He's no messenger" Dynol answered with a wide grin. "He's the message" Dynol then turned and nodded to WoodFang. WoodFang howled as long as he can. After his howl died out, the sounds of growls, snarls and hisses came from behind the battlefield along with the sounds of more weapons being drawn and sounds of marching footsteps. Llofrudd risen an eyebrow as his father rallied the Vanguards and told them to follow Dynol.
Dynol began to walked towards were the minotaurs fled.
"For we are the messengers and we got a lot of invitations to give out"
***
Celestia POV:
"How's Rainbow Dash, Twilight?" I asked Twilight as we examining the patrols of royal and crystal guards around the Everfree forest.
"She awake and OK" Twilight answered with a smile. "Although she can't fly for a week because of the impact against Dynol"
"That's good to hear but a shame she can't fly for a while."
"Pinkie Pie is trying to cheer Rainbow up. But Rainbow wants to go after Dynol" Twilight replied while shaking her head in disappointment, which I only chuckled in her response.
"Your highnesses!" One of the royal guards called us from the entrance of the forest. We rushed towards where the shout was and saw Luna, Cadence and the remaining of the mare six standing with the guard that called for us. Before one of us could say a word, the guard pointed to the forest were a handful of Rock-Axes's warriors running out of the forest in dread and fear. The pushed through the guards and telling us to get out of their way or to run from here as fast as we can. We looked at the running warriors in shock and confusion, where was Chief Rock-Axes himself? He should be with them. As if it was fate, Rock-Axes ran towards us with the same expression as his warriors....Without his horns or tail. In this, he's balance was uncontrolled as he ran from place to place like he was drunk.
"Chief Rock-Axes" Cadence called for the chief. Luckily, he stopped in front of us and the guards surrounding the forest. "What happen to you and your guards?"
"They did it" Rock-Axes answered with fear and despair. "They came from the shadows, they showed no mercy and he leads them" Suddenly as if out of nowhere. It began to slowly rain. This was odd cause the clouds shouldn't be here in the middle of the day. We looked up and saw not a single cloud in the sky, yet it still rain slowly without the need of the clouds. We stared at each others as if they are seeing the same thing. I turned to face Rock-Axes, who's eyes contained nothing but dread.
"Sweet mercy" The chief whispered as he turned to the forest. "He's here" Rock-Axes then began to run to the town along with the remain of his warriors. I turned to face the guards and ordered them to get ready for him. The crystal and the royal guards got into positions and ready themselves in battle formations. I told Cadence to head back to find Shining armour, but it was too late.
Coming out of the shadows of the forest was Dynol himself. His appearance is almost the same from what Luna and Twilight told me. But he came with nothing in his hands nor any of his forest friends. He stopped only a couple of feet away from us. I couldn't see it from his mask, but I had a feeling that he was smiling at me and not in a good way. Why did he attack Ponyville twice?...maybe even for the third time. Dynol looked up to the sky where the rain was slowly poring down.
"Odd weather we got, eh?" Dynol asked us while he held out a hand to let a drop of rain touched his hand. "Normally rain would come with clouds and yet this world right here, is somewhat a remarkable event of nature"
I looked at the others and saw they were ready to fight but Dynol isn't showing them any ill wishes to them. I don't want any more innocents to be hurt or worse. Maybe there can be a peaceful where out of this. I stepped forward in front of everyone and stood tall. Dynol maybe my same height if without my horn.
"I am princess Celestia" I spoked with a level voice so I'll don't sound angry nor aggressive. "Ruler of Equestria and princess of the sun. You must be this Dynol The Dammed I heard about?" Dynol chuckled
"In the flesh" He answered. He then looked at the guards. "Hope these ponies are more trained then that scout force you sent to their dooms, princess" I closed my eyes from the fact that Dynol himself killed those ponies. However I opened my eyes and stared at his.
"Their death will not go in vain, Dynol" I replied. "Those souls will not be forgotten and will be remembered. Yet now you killed not just a scout force, but even Rock-Axes's warriors. Do you not know what you have done?" I taken another step towards him. "Surender and you will be shown mercy for the crimes you have done"
Dynol then clicked his fingers with his opened hand and the sounds or weapons being drawn and sound of animals snarling, growling and hissing was heard from behind him. I widened my eyes in Dynol's action.
"I've declared war upon this judgement kingdom and it's allies! that what I've done!" Dynol yelled to me in anger and for some reason, I could of heard a bit of pain in his yell. He looked back to the forest. "Manticore Riders!" He roared and out in a flash came hundreds of Manticores with blue creatures riding on their backs with spears and bows. I still looked at Dynol in this. Why would he declare war upon us without a reason? Why? I heard Luna ordering some of the pegasi guards to hold these Manticore Riders from attacking Ponyville. Dynol turned to face me again and growled at me. With one hand he swung it up in the air and all of the royal and crystal guards's spear heads snapped off like a leaf being pulled off from the air. Dynol then lifted himself off the ground with his air magic. "Destroy this town and those who fights but leave the royals and the demons to me!" He then roared again and all of his forest friends along with more of those blue creatures came charging towards us with war on their minds. Dynol casted a fire ball at me, Luna, Cadence and the rest of the mane six. I made my horn glow and teleported all of us further into Ponyville. Sadly in doing this, I have to leave the guards to their fates. It pained me in doing that.
"Cadence, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy" I called them. "I need you to gather every ponies to the train station and tell them to head to Canterlot, I want no one to get hurt" After giving them what to do. They went to do it at once. I turned to Luna. "Luna, I want you to get Shining Armour to hold off Dynol's forces"
"What will you do?" Luna asked. I turned to face where the battle was being held. The guards did not stand a chance without their weapons. I looked to see where Dynol went and saw him up in the sky, looking as he was casting another spell, but more powerful and more dangerous.
"Hoping that what I'll gonna do next will end this war quickly"
***
Third POV:
Ponyville was in chaos.
The Horde of the forest has broken though the first line of defences and was heading straight towards the town. The Manticore Riders fighting the pegasus guards with fury and without mercy. WoodFang leaded his pack along with chimeras, hydras and even ten ursa majors that completely devastated the outer buildings of Ponyville. Varlock and Llofrudd leaded the Ogres to the bulk of the royal and crystal guards that was being leaded by Shining Armour, Flash Sentry and Princess Luna as they clashed against each other with ferocity. But some of the Ogres managed to pass the lines of defences and terrified the locals who were being leaded to the train station. Thankful the mane six and Cadence kept the Ogres at bay.
"Come on, y'all!" Applejack yelled to her friends while she kicked an Ogre a mile away from them, knocking a few Ogres down like bowling pins. "We can do this!" Suddenly, Applejack came face to face with a really big Ogre with two ebon blades as he spun his blade around, showing off his skills. Before anyone could attack. A barrel was being pushed out from the building's window above the Ogre.
"CUITE MARK CRUSADERS BARREL THROW!!" Yelled three fillies as the barrel fell out of the window. The Ogre looked up only to get the barrel hitting straight in his face, knocking it out cold. Soon the three fillies came out of building to see if there trap worked. As the crusaders saw their trap worked, they cheered and looked to their flanks but only to see no cutie marks.
"Girls!" Fluttershy rushed towards them. "Quickly get to the station, follow me!" As Fluttershy leaded the fillies to the train station and the rest held off the Horde. In the far distance was two armoured dragons watching the chaos unfolded before their eyes. But yet they didm't came for the ponies. They came for something else.
"Which one is this Dynol The Dammed, Talons?" Asked one of the dragons to another one named Talons.
"Think is that one?" Talons pointed to Varlock that is cutting though dozens of guards with ease.
"I don't think Dynol The Dammed has tusks?"
"Well I don't then, smart scales!" Talons barked back at the other dragon. "Why don't you look then? The Elder dragons wants to meet him and we got no idea what he looks like!" Then, out of the battle came a larger flare of magic from the horn of the captain of the royal guards: Shining Armour. The dragons saw this and noticed that the captain was trying to call them into the battle for aid. Talons grunted. "They want our help? They've forgotten already..."
"Look over there, Talons!" The another dragon pointed west from the battle. Talons looked at where his comrade was pointing and saw princess Celestia flying towards Dynol. "Do you think that's him?"
"That's him" Talons acknowledged his comrade's question. "That's Dynol The Dammed. Lets get the news to the Elders at once" The two dragons then turned around and headed towards The Dragon Holds....While Shining Armour watched from afar.
As for what the dragons saw. Celestia was flying up towards Dynol, who's trying to create another vortex storm he created before. The fire in his hands with extremely power air that almost look like it was swimming around the fire. The rain was still beating down but was gaining more speed. Celestia reached to Dynol but kept a few feet away from him because she could felt the powers of the vortex in Dynol's hand.
"Dynol stop this!" Celestia yelled at Dynol. "You are causing these innocents terrible terror and costing the lives of hundreds in this bloodshed!" Dynol looked at her but was continuing his spell. "You don't need to bring violent between ponies and you! Please, stop this awful war you've created and lets talk about this. There's no need for bloodshed between us." Dynol stared into the eyes of Celestia, even though she couldn't see his eyes. Celestia still hoped that this war could end before it truly begins.
"You have my respect" Dynol answered. Celestia's eyes glowed in hope. "But the crimes of those demons cannot be forgotten and so...My mind is still war!" Suddenly a loud sound of a horn was heard from the north. The battle still raged on, but some of the warriors with Dynol and Celestia looked to where the sound came from. Coming from the north, where Canterlot stood was an large army of Silver guards. These guards...Was the Griffins. They came by the hundreds. They wore silver armours and carried Sky-Iron spears and swords in their claws. In front of the army was a chariot of pure gold, one like Celestia's but a little bit smaller. In the chariot was a female griffin that had a golden-silvery robe on. She wore a golden crown and held a Silver staff in her right claw. Celestia turned her head back to Dynol....Only to see him laughing. "Looks like I'll have to make this into something more useful" Dynol then twisted the vortex storm and snapped it into two balls. With the left hand, Dynol held the vortex storm and in the other hand, he held a small fiery tornado. Before Celestia could do anything. Dynol shot the vortex ball into the air and with a mighty bang, the sky was turing and shaping to make the vortex storm. The rain that fell now turned into the fireballs that came with the storm on the first day when Dynol returned. Dynol also at the same time he threw the vortex storm into the air. He casted the fiery tornado straight towards the incoming Griffin army. The fiery tornado came down faster then the griffins and caught the Silver guards off guarded. The tornado hit the ground and in doing this. Dozen of large rocks and stone was thrown up in the air. The chariot managed to move away from the fiery tornado but not some of the others. They were either burnt alive from the heat of the tornado, caught in the fury of the tornado or crashed into by the flying rocks and stones. Celestia watched in horror from not only from the fiery tornado destroying some of the griffin army, but from the vortex storm and fireballs that was destroying houses and guards with flames and strong flows of airs. She looked at Dynol, who had one of hand behind his back. "Go" Dynol said to her. "You earned my respect and you were not there on that day, so this is your chance to lead the innocents to somewhere safe" Celestia stared at him in disbelief. He was letting her get ponies away from here and letting her live? She looked down to where the battle was still raging. She saw that the guards couldn't hold on for much longer against the Horde of the Forest and were nearly at the train station where all the ponies were hoping into the trains. She had little choices. Stay and let the Horde destroy the people of Ponyville or lead them to safety but knowing that the war will continue. Her choice was clear. She flew down and headed towards the guards, telling them to fall back. The guards did and headed towards the train station. The Horde didn't followed but instead continued to destroy the houses of Ponyville.
Soon. All of the ponies were on trains that were here from Canterlot and The Crystal Empire. There weren't a lot of space but the ponies were lucky to be alive. The trains began to move and headed towards Canterlot where the remaining survivors of Minotaurs, Griffins, royal and crystal guards was heading. Twilight placed her head out from one of the windows and looked back at her home. Her eyes began to watered. From the distance, she could see smokes, fires and destroyed homes of Ponyville and the Horde was taking anything they liked. She saw her castle, no one has touched it but Dynol was flying straight towards it, ready to do who knows what. She placed her head back into train. She looked all of her friends, mainly the mane six who's eyes were all in tears. She too joined the crying as they have lost their homes to the one who they think they have done nothing to. Well all for one. Who still think this was their doing.
However. What didn't they know was that all ponies, some griffins and minotaurs escaped Ponyville. But yet no trains...held a dragon in it.
This was the time of victory. All of the Ogres were dancing around a huge fire in the middle of the now destroyed pony town with some woods, stones and the dead enemies as fuel for the fire. Their music had been playing for what seemed to be hours, I even joined their little dance around the fire before making a large statue to honour those who had fallen in battle.
It was a fifteen foot statue that held me, riding on WoodFang with a replica of the vortex storm in my hand that was in the air. On the right was a statue of Llofrudd holding the flag of the Horde up in the air in victory. On the left was a statue of Varlock, whom was holding a unicorn by its throat and had his sword ready in the other hand to stab the pony. My favour part of the statue was the carvings underneath the statues. It held all the fights that lead to the battle of Ponyville. It showed the fight with the minotaurs, who were all being massacred by the shield wall of the Ogres and slaughtered by the forest friends's teeth and claws. The next carving was the battle for the town. It showed the six demons and that nightmare whore with their army charging straight towards me, Varlock, Llofrudd, WoodFang and the Horde of The Forest's army. And the final carving was us reigning victorious over the defeated pony, griffin and minotaur armies with the Horde's flag being place down by my council. Underneath all the carvings were some symbols of the Ogres's shamans and enchanters with some of my mentors's own symbols. Which reminded me to tell my mentors about our victory, I know Fire will be very happy to hear the great news and hopefully Earth will be there as well. I placed the statue next to the tree-castle as a symbol of our might and to be known throughout this judgement kingdom of our wrath.
I, along with Varlock, Llofrudd and WoodFang stood in front of the newly captured castle of ours. It was surely built for that purple witch that much for sure. The colour and the way it was made. Plus it had her mark on top of the castle.
"Lets go in, shall we?" I said with a wide grin on my face. They all either nodded or hummed in agreement and we all headed inside. As I opened the large two doors. I heard a scatter of small feet running deeper in the castle. I frowned to this. Someone hasn't left the town it seemed. I turned to my council. "We're not alone. Varlock you search west and Llofrudd you search east while me and WoodFang will go ahead" We then spilled and searched around the castle.
WoodFand had his snort down and was sniffing around to see if he could pick up on where the person was. As he was doing that, I headed towards the main hall of the castle to see if the person was in there. I opened the doors to find a round table with seven chairs around it. I moved toward it and saw a map of Equestria on the table, magically hovering above it. I looked up to see what looked like the root of a large tree with some gems on it. Why would they put a root of a tree in the castle? That's weird. I then looked at the chairs. They all apart from the small chair had the marks of all the ponies who have done me wrong. So, this was not only the purple one's home but where they all meet in time of great important. Well... It's mine now.
Suddenly. I heard rumblings from the eastern side of the castle where Llofrudd was. Then came the sound of smashes and things being broken. Me and WoodFang rushed towards where the sounds were coming from. We saw Varlock running past us and so we followed him. We reached to where the sounds were coming from and found the source of the noise.
In what looked like a bedroom, stood Llofrudd with a purple green reptile in his right hand. Llofrudd held the lizard by its tail. The lizard was swinging his arms around, trying to get Llofrudd's hand to release its tail. Llofrudd had his arm away from him so that the reptile wouldn't try and scratch him. I, along with Varlock and WoodFang looked at the reptile, then ourselves and back to the reptile.
"Let go of me!" The reptile shouted at Llofrudd as he once again tried to grab Llofrudd's hand around his tail.
"Look what I got, Dynol. A lizard" Llofrudd said with pride as being the one who found the being. Varlock put a hand on his face from his son pointing out the obvious. I would do the same if not for my mask still on.
"You don't say, master bad aim" I sighed as I walked up to our 'host' while Llofrudd widens his eyebrows from just realising what he had said out loud. I kneed down to get eye to eye with the reptile. "I know you, you're the one that helped the ponies enter this castle when I attacked for the first time"
"Yeah!" The reptile answered. "I'm also the one that'll say you will not get away from this!"
"Lets agree to disagree, alright?" I replied.
"Never!"
"Just like the one back home, eh Varlock?" I got up and looked at Varlock.
"Yeah but with less fur and much more smaller" Varlock said while he placed his hand back down to his side. WoodFang barked me a question saying what to do with him.
"Put him in house arrest" I simple said. Llofrudd downed the reptile and we left the room. As we exited the room, I shut the doors that was leading into the reptile's room and casted molten lava over the lock, making it impossible to open. Shortly we heard the sound of the reptile's fist bashing on the doors.
"let me out!" The reptile shouted.
"First off!" I shouted back. "What's your name?"
"Sp...Spike!"
"Spike!"
"What!?"
"With that attitude, no!" I stated to walk away from the doors with my council while Spike protected. We headed to where I found the round table, so we can discuss on where to go now. "Word is going to spread throughout half of this world about our capture of this town."
"So what do we do now?" Varlock asked as he looked around the room.
"First, we'll need to rebuild castle Rhyfel. That place is where we make our battle plans and we can't have it as a ruin. We'll take all the supplies in the town to rebuild it as well as building some walls covering all Ponyville."
"How are we going to build some walls if we're rebuilding Rhyfel?" Llofrudd questioned me.
"Leave that to me and my powers" I answered as I looked at the map on the table. "Here's the plan: Varlock, you're in charge of castle Rhyfel as it's rebuilding while also training more of your Ogres to replace those who had fallen"
"Alright" Varlock agreed on his part.
"Llofrudd. Once the walls I'll create is built, you're in charge of town's new garrison. No doubt the ponies and their allies will try and reclaim this town. We'll need to be ready when that comes"
"Understood" Llofrudd replied. "But what about that lizard?"
"We'll deal with him later, for now" I said as I walked up to WoodFang and said. "WoodFang. Your job is more different, once I've done with the walls, I'll be making some letters to possible new allies and you'll be in charge of getting them to the ravens and then making them go out to find them" WoodFang barked happily, he's always happy when he gets important orders.
"What will you be doing, Dynol?" Varlock said as he headed towards the table as well.
"Like I said, I'll be making walls to surround this town and write some letters. Once I'm done with that, I'll be looking in this castle's library. There maybe more powers to be discovered and maybe some more info of Equestria. When that's done, I'll talking to my mentors, so no one come to me unless it's important" I then headed back to the table and looked at the map where Ponyville is. I toughed the map with my index finger and the town changed colour and held the symbol of the Horde above it.
Twilight POV:
Everyone's homes has been taken. The refugees from Ponyville and what remains of the pony, griffin and minotaur armies were flooding the streets of Cantorlot, luckily many of the refugees have families in Cantorlot and those who doesn't got help from the local. The Princesses was already in the castle while I was with my friends as we were just heading to the castle as well.
"This is just awful" Rarity said as we were just walking up the stairs to the castle.
"I hear that" Applejack joined in. "Our homes, all stolen by Dynol and those blue creatures"
"What were those freaks anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Orges" I simply answered. "They are a warrior race that have great combat training and discipline, but they never sided with anyone till now" I was about to continue but I looked to my right side to see where Spike should be....Only he was not. "Girls, where's Spike?" I began to panic as I looked around me.
"Where did you last saw him?" Fluttershy said with worry in her voice.
"He was right behind me as we were heading towards the train station just before Dynol casted that vortex spell" I said panicking. Then I realised. "When the vortex was casted, the rain charged into fireballs, which could mean that Spike could of been stopped by fireballs and got separated from me." I looked at my friends. "We need to talk the princesses about this"
We then began to run inside the castle and asked where they went. The guard told us that they were at Celestia's tower to see Ponyville from her telescope. We rushed up the tower and found Celestia looking though her telescope with Luna and Cadence. "Spike is still at Ponyville!" I shouted with tears in my eyes.
"What?!" All the princesses said out loud in disbelief as they faced toward me.
"We must of got separated when the vortex was casted by Dynol" I said as I walked up to them. "Please, we must get him out of there!"
"Sis" Luna turned to Celestia. "We cannot abandon him to the Horde" Before Celestia could say a word. There was a sudden earthquake that lasted only a few seconds then stopped. Before anyone could acted, I rushed towards the telescope and focused it on Ponyville. What I saw was Dynol on one of his knees with both of his arms incrusted by the earth which reached up to his shoulders. Some of the Ogres and the Everfree animals was watching in awe and wondering what he was doing. Next thing, Dynol lifted his head and made a roar that sounded like he was about to flip the whole of Equestria. Then Dynol lifted his arms in the air that made something come out from the ground. I looked out from the telescope and on the horizon. What was coming out of the ground was huge walls, around 40 or 50ft tall that covered around the whole town. It looked like the walls was the same as Cantorlot's. But with more watchtowers and more trebuchets, catapults and ballistas made of rock, stone and earth. There was a large gate made from molten rocks. Dynol now not only captured our hometown but made it into a fortress?!
I turned to face Celestia for answers or anything. Which Celestia turned to Luna and made a nod to her which made Luna nod back.
"Guard!" Luna called out. A guard came out and saluted in ready for his order.
"Reassemble the Lunatics!"
Third POV:
The lines has been drawn. Even though Dynol created the massive walls, it drain almost all of his power and made him pass out. Luckily some of the Ogres managed to caught him before he hit the ground and brought him back to the captured castle. Outside the walls, watching from behind some trees in the Whitetail Woods was two Diamond Dogs with eyes widen from what they just saw.
"Did you see that, Gut?" One of the Dog said to his comrade.
"Eh-huh" Gut replied while shaking in fright.
"Come on, we must tell great alpha"
The two dogs then began to dig their way down and headed deeper underground Whitetail.
The dark voids once again surrounded Dynol as he was on his knees from almost draining his power of earth out. It felt like all of Dynol's strength, physical and mentally was gone. Like there was nothing inside him that could fight back. He was helpless like a new born baby. Dynol slowly got up with shaking arms and legs. He knew where he was and that is why he got up. He knew that he can not be caught by It.
The dark voids began to shape around Dynol. He looked around with fear and tired eyes. The voids moved like snakes and revealed a city. Not the one from his previous dream. But something more new. What it means is that it was a city under siege. A city from this world. The capital city of the ponies. Dynol stood at the entrance of the pony's castle, where everything was burning, crumbling and filled with the dead, ponies and others. Those were minotaurs, griffins, dogs, changelings, dragons and even his forest friends and Ogre allies. Dynol looked at their faces, filled with dread, despair and death. Dynol knew that it was trying something and yet, Dynol thought it was something else. Normally it would bring him home or whispers madness and try to break his spirit, all failed, but it never stopped. Suddenly. Dynol heard the sound of something hitting the ground, voices of wrath and fear. Dynol headed towards the noise. To get out of his nightmares, he needed to face its tortures.
He walked slowly, not wanting to see what's making the noise. But to get out, he must. Though without his powers to get himself ready, he thought this could be the last dream of his life. The sounds were getting louder as Dynol walked though the ruin castle. Soon, Dynol came across a large door, opened like it was kicked to submission. The noises was coming from behind the door. Dynol, carefully as he could walked towards the door and gasped from what was behind it.
There on the ground, right in front of Dynol was the pony known as 'Celestia'. The one that tried to stop Dynol at Ponyville. She looked beaten, bleeding and had cuts that looked like it made by a sword. She was as weak as Dynol was, without anymore strength in her to fight back. But she had enough to cast a teleport spell. The reason was that right after she casted that spell, an ebony blade landed down where she once laid. The looked crude and was shown no mercy from being forged in hell's fires. It looked demonic as sin, as if the most evil being has created it with all the bad deeds it has done.
"You can cast all the spells you want, pony!" Came a voice that Dynol knew all too well: His. "But no one is coming to save you, not even your own sister!" Dynol slowly entered the room to see the full state of the battle.
There was the same him from the other dream, although he was wearing dark armour with spikes all over his back, arms and shoulders. The blade he was holding on his right looked like is was apart of him, like he cut his own hand to replace it with the hellish blade. He was wearing a hood that covered his face apart from the lower part, where rows upon rows of shark like teeth was in his mouth. The opposite side of the room was the beaten princess, heavily breathing from casting her spell near a window that showed a world in chaos, a world in darkness, a world in ruins. The dark Dynol saw hear and started to walk sinisterly towards her. "your people's despair..." He began to speak. "So delicious, your fear... So mouthwatering"
"Even...If you kill me" Celestia said weakly. "Others will... rise to fight back... and revenge those who have fallen to your... monstrous forces!"
The dark Dynol grunted. "They shall fall as well!" He reached Celestia and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her up to the sky. "Beg for mercy from your new emperor!"
"It's no emperor!" Celestia growled though her teeth in defy and pain.
"I'm talking about me, idiot!" He respond with venom in his words as he pulled her closer to his face. "But you're right, it's more of a GOD!" The dark Dynol then threw Celestia away from the window and landed hard on the floor where the other Dynol's feet was just missed. Dynol looked down at Celestia and felt a strange feeling. He didn't know what it was, nor could he tell: Pity, anger or even...Joy? Dynol couldn't put a finger on it. Slowly and painfully, Celestia lifted her head. She didn't looked at Dynol, because he wasn't there. Instead she let out a surprised gasp.
"DYNOL!!" Came an anger voice, right behind the real Dynol. As he turned his head towards where the voice came from, so too did the dark Dynol. When the both of them saw who spoked, they both gasped in shock.
Right there, standing at the door was no other then Varlock. But he was very injured, he wore bandages, most noticeable was his right arm that looked badly burnt. He carried one of his son's spear, the very same one that was used as a warning shot for Dynol. One of his tusks was cut off and he wore a eyepatch that covered his left eye.
"Impossible!" The dark Dynol said in disbelief. "You were..."
"Remember the Horde of The Forest?!" Varlock interrupted aggressively. The dark Dynol's face dropped as if those words were more painful then even the most deadly punishment or grimmest of news. Before anyone could reacted. Him, Celestia or the real Dynol. Varlock threw his spear right at dark Dynol. The spear flew towards him so fast, that he couldn't react on time. Instead, the spear flew right towards him, into his neck and the tip came out from behind his hood. Gurgles came out of his mouth as blood rushed and came out of it. With his left shaking hand, he grabbed the spear but didn't remove it. Celestia, with the last of her magical powers, casted a spell of energy from her horn and blasted the gurgling Dynol right in his chest, that caused him to flew right towards the window and be smashed into thousand of pieces. He then fell to his doom with dark and shadowy powers coming out of his hand, blade, feet and eyes. When he reached to the bottom of the ruin city's floor, he busted nothing shadowy dusts, ending him there forever. Leaving only the spear with it's tip stuck in the ground with his blood still warm on a third of the spear, slowly dripping or rolling to the ground.
With heavy breathing, Varlock lumped toward Celestia, with the real Dynol watching in horror and surprise. This maybe a nightmare, but he saw himself being this evil monster to his most loyal ally killing him with a spear. Varlock helped Celestia get on her hooves and then they walked towards where the other Dynol fell to his death. As they reached to the end on the window and looked down, they both saw the spear on the ground.
"It's over" Celestia said. "His reign over this world is finally over"
"His, yes" Varlock answered with a sad sigh. "But its hasn't" Varlock kneeled down, his eye grew cloudy. "If only I had stopped you back then, How things might of been, if only I had never let you tough that forsaken and forbidden relic!" His voice was breaking from the lost of Dynol but the last thing he said was: "Farewell Dynol, my brother"
As soon as he said that. The sound of something laughing evilly shook the ground. Everyone looked towards where the laughter came from. From the distance, came it.
It was enormous. One of its crab legs was as tall as one mountain. Half of its body was covered by the chaotic storm, but its soulless eyes was still seen and still evil from the last dream. As one of its leg hit the ground, darkness filled the soil, corrupting every living or dead thing that was near it. As it was coming closer to the castle. Hellish screams of fear and war came behind everyone in the room. Dynol turned his head, he saw gaining speed, biped beings with all sort of frighting weapons thirst for blood. Dynol then faced Celestia and Varlock, who were looking at themselves, then they nodded and ready themselves for their last battle.
But before the dark biped beings came close to the door. A fiery portal opened right next to Dynol. Dynol looked to the portal but only saw bright flames of uncontrolled fury. But out of the portal came Fire's arms, grabbing by the right arm of Dynol's. Before Dynol got pulled into the fiery portal, he looked back at Celestia and Varlock. Beaten and badly injured, they were lambs to the slaughter. Dynol got pulled into the portal, escaping his nightmare again.
But for the first time in five years of these nightmares, this one was the only one Dynol asked himself.
What happened next? And what does this all mean?
Celestia POV:
I sat on my throne with Luna standing next to me. Cadence went to find Shining Armour while Twilight and her friends went to their chambers for them to rest, it was a horrible day. The door opened to let Luna's special force in: The Lunatic.
In front of Lunatics was the leader of the Lunatics, Arcana Shift, also known as 'The Shadow Walker' and responsible of espionage. He was a unicorn who is good at using shadow magic, and often use shadows as his main weapons. The title of "The Shadow Walker" is for his ability to turn into a black plume of smoke to move around, this is a self-made spell created by Arcana, akin to a teleportation spell used by other unicorns but instead of just instant relocation he can use it to have the ability to fly, with a few limitations in the form of how much magic he has left. More magic reserve means more time to use the spell. He had a dark gray coat, chestnut mane and tail with golden eyes. His cutie mark is a black book with a crescent moon. As he walked in, so too did the rest of the Lunatics.
Following behind Arcana was the second-in-command and in charge of reconnaissance missions, Shamrock Blossom, also known as 'The Pale Mare'. Once she was one of my Solar Guards, but she transferred to the Lunatics for close combat rather then staying here on patrols in the castle. She was an Earth pony with yellow coat, green with light green streaks in her mane and tail, and olive green eyes. Her cutie mark is some cracked rocks.
Next, reading some notes was the pegasus named Storm Days, also known as 'The Tempest'. He was the tactician of the group, but was good at fighting in the sky. He was the one who usually make the plans for the whole Lunatic. Storm Days had a grayish-lilac coat, pale blue with streaks of white mane and tail with rose-colored eyes. His cutie mark was a rolled parchment map.
Not so far from him was the unicorn 'The Sentinel', who's real name was Snow Charm. She is the interrogation and intelligence of the Lunatic. This mare was very good in getting answers by any means possible. And while her Solar counterparts would be willing to forgive their target, she will do anything to get the truth from her enemies. Her specialty lied with ice magic and illusions. She had a silver white coat, ice blue mane and tail with blue eyes. Her cutie mark was a multicoloured comet.
Finally the last member of The Lunatic. Another pegasus named Firestorm, also known as 'The Maelstrom'. She was an professional in aerial combat. Uses wing blades as her main weapon. My reports said that she was honest and cool headed, but can be quite strong headed when nothing goes her way or the plan. She had a orange coat, cherry red mane and tail with gray eyes. Her cutie mark was a fire tornado.
All put together creates the Lunatic. Soon they'd reached the at the bottom of my throne and bowed down respectfully, although I don't know if they are doing it for both of us or just Luna. Storm Days had to be pulled down by Firestorm because he was too busy in his notes to notice.
"Rise my little ponies" I said with a smile. The Lunatic risen and stood up proud and strong, ready to hear our orders. "I'm pretty sure you all know why we've have brought you here"
"Indeed your highnesses" Arcana Shift answered strongly. "We saw the fall of Ponyville from Canterlot, whatever this thing is, it sure knows how to lead a surprise assault"
"It was more or less of an obvious counterattack" Storm Days said while still looking still looking at his notes with a emotionless tone in his voice. "It's like when a colt pushing a warps nest, the warps would get anger and fight back like the time where Shamrock saw some fillies being mean to one small colt and-" Storm Days would kept on going if not for Shamrock, who stepped on his left hoof to stop talking. This made Firestorm and Snow Charm to giggle, even Arcana cracked a smile with me and Luna.
"That's my brother for ya" Firestorm giggled. "Always going off tracks and into his own world of knowledge" I was enjoying watching them having a bit of a rumble, but Luna stayed on topic.
"Lunatic" Luna answered in a serious tone. The Lunatic stopped and looked at Luna. "We have brought you all here because of this 'Horde' invading Ponyville and captured it. But unfortunately, one of our citizen is trapped inside of it. His name is Spike; assistant of the princess of friendship; Twilight Sparkle
What we want you; The Lunatic, is to find a way to get into now Horde controlled territories and get Spike out of there and back to Cantorlot. But we need you to do this with stealth and time, once Dynol; The leader of the Horde of The Forest, knows that Spike has been rescued. He'll most likely send his best warriors after you or if you're unlucky, he'll come after you himself which leads to the next thing." Luna then walked down and gave Arcana a horn like the ones the royal guards hold. "If Dynol does come after you on his own, blow this horn. It'll not only alarm anyone around you, but it will create a teleport for us; The Alicorns, to get to your location quicker then just getting on chariots. Dismiss"
"As you command, Selena" The Lunatic saluted as they spoke at once. I always found her code name strange, why not keep your own name? I do for my guards. As they walked towards the door. Luna walked back to me and sat on her own throne. I looked down and held a worried face. We're at war. This hasn't happened since the war to free the Crystal Empire from Sombra's tyranny. But also why did Dynol decided war upon us. In all my years, there has been nothing like this, all nations has reason for war. But Dynol The Dammed? He came out of nowhere and openly attack us twice, killed Rock-Axes's best bodyguards and nearly a whole scout force to his Horde. There must be a way to bring peace without more bloodshed. The war against Sombra wasn't much of a war, more of an overthrown then a full scale war....
"Are you alright, Tia?" Luna asked while I was daydreaming.
I turned and faced her. "Right now we need to regroup our forces to fight back at Dynol's Horde. I hope we can stop him"
Dynol POV:
I was on the eastern side of my newly built Earth Walls, facing away from the capital of Equestria, admiring my handy work. The garrison was learning how to use the walls's defensive like the catapults and trebuchets while under the command of Llofrudd. I was also admiring the fact that the Ogres was taking all the building supplies to Rhyfel, where Varlock should be at right now. WoodFang was still at Ponyville cause I haven't written those letters yet and so he's just resting with his pack. As I was walking along the wall. I came to one of the stone trebuchets, where Llofrudd and three Ogres were practising using the siege weapon. They fired a rock from the trebuchet as it flew high in the air. Once it landed, it exploded and a small amount of lava came out of it. If it was for a real battle, those who were unlucky enough to get hit by it, would slowly burn to death. I must say, even I would think twice if that was waiting for me.
"Enjoying our new defensives, eh?" I asked with a smile. Llofrudd and the three Ogres turned around to face me.
"Lord Dynol" Said one of the three Ogres as they kneeled down with the arms folded into X shape on the chest. Lord Dynol? Have I got a new title thanks to the capture of this town or something? Still, it's nice to be called 'lord' as a sign of respect. 'Lord Dynol The Dammed', a worthy title.
"At ease, my friends" I spoke with friendly tone as they risen from their knee. "You may return practising, I came to have a word with Llofrudd" The Ogres saluted and went back to normal while Llofrudd and I walked down the eastern wall. "You maybe guessing why I want to talk with you?"
"Aye" Llofrudd answered.
"Well, as much as I like these walls's defensives, we'll need something else to make this an unbreakable fortress"
"What would that be?"
"Spears. Lots of them. Equestria relies on speed and light infantries to win their battles but also heavily support from their allies for other things like heavy infantries and air support from forces like the Griffins. But we got all of that ,apart from scouts, mages, berserkers and heavy spearmen. The last three we'll sort out later, but the last we need to improve on" I stopped and move in front of Llofrudd. "With heavy spearmen in open combats will be the bane of Equestria's forces and win battles more quickly and easy with-"
"Lord Dynol!" Shouted an Ogre, running out of a watchtower behind me. I turned to face the Ogre. "Lord Dynol, we have company" The Ogre merely pointed outward, to where Whitetail Woods is. What I saw was strange doglike creatures either coming out from the ground or coming out of the Woods's borders. I stared only for a few seconds, but from those seconds, there was a lot of them. Around five hundreds or maybe a thousand of them roughly.
I turned to Llofrudd. "Ready the garrison, we may have our first attack" Llofrudd nodded and went to rally the garrison for battle. I looked back at the possible enemies and examined them more. The were all different shape and sizes but many bulky brutes with black iron armours and clubs. But the one that got my attention was a large dog that just came out from one of the many holes around the Whitetail Woods. He had dark brown fur, like of those from old oak trees. His height dwarfed the others, which makes me think that this one is the leader of this army. He also wore a brown leather jacket with some brown boots. But his armour, his armour was as black as the heart of any evil creature with spiky shoulder plates. But it looked like scales from a large reptile. So whoever this dog is, it must know how to fight. In his left paw was a crude mace. It had spikes almost apart from its handle. It had some symbols on it, looks translatable unlike my mentors words. Looked like old Equestrian by my guess. But he was heading this way with his forces.
Llofrudd got ready the garrison as they marched along the wall with their weapons in their hands while some got ready in the siege weapons. We waited for the dogs to come to us. The dogs were only two miles away from the Earth Walls when they stopped, thanks to the big guy with his mace in the air as a sign to stop, making my theory of him being the leader true. After which, he walked onwards while his army stayed behind. His either brave or wishing a death sentence, but I honoured it as I flew down from the wall and headed towards him. It's only fine if I came down without an army backing me up if he didn't. As I got closer to him, I saw that he had an eyepatch on his right crimson eye.
Soon enough, we were only a few feet away from each other. "You've a lot of nerve to just show up from nowhere with an army behind you to my new captured town" I hissed, I got no idea on what they want, if they are either allies of the ponies or not.
"You're the one who took Ponyville?" The giant dog said with a growly voice. "And the one who built those walls out of nothing but the very ground we walk upon?"
"Indeed"
"Well, in all my years..." He spoke with a smile on his face. Then he just chuckled. "I have never seen anyone manage to kick the asses out of those filthy ponies, not to mention just taking over the Mare six's home!"
I tilted my head to his sudden chuckled. "So you hate ponies as well?"
"Hate?!" The dog laughed even harder. "I hate the colour yellow. But the ponies, especially those crystal ones, I want to gorge out their eyes and throw them into a raging flame!"
Now I'm the one who is surprised by his hatred of the ponies. "As much as I agree on the 'hate for pony' part" I said calmly. "But you haven't given me a reason why you have showed up with an army behind you"
"Where are my manners?" He replied shaking his head. "I am Great Alpha Behemoth, Leader of Clan Bytheiad and Clan Mwngrel. And I come not only in peace, but also to fight against the pony filths that you too fight against"
Now things as got interesting. They've come to fight the ponies and 'Behemoth' has a really large hatred for the ponies that he's come all the way her to see me. "Hmm, so" I spoke with my arms crossed. "You've come to join the Horde?"
"Anyone that fights the Crystal Empire and their allies, is a friend to Clan Bytheiad and Clan Mwngrel"
"Before I decide, tell me, why do you hate the ponies?" I boldly asked Behemoth. He remained silent for a short while. But he answered my question.
"My father's fathers were at war with the Crystal Empire for many years, there forced us off our lands and made us run all the way to Whitetail Woods" He explained. "My people were being slaughtered by their king; King Sombra. And either though he is defeated by the princesses, the crystal ponies will not give our lands back. And that's why I hate them! Cause they robbed our homes and sided with the ones who will not help us!" His rage was so much that I could see the flames of war in his left eye and see smokes coming out of his nose. He wants to fight.... I'll give him, that honour.
"Very well then" I smiled and hovered up in the air. "I, Lord Dynol The Dammed welcomes Great Alpha Behemoth, Leader of Clan Bytheiad and Clan Mwngrel to The Horde of The Forest. You shall join my council with the Ogres of Red-Oath, and be my right hand in war and battle. Your people will be protected if you in turn protect those who protects yours. Your people will still obey you, but as a member of the Horde, you must help the other peoples in times of war as if they were your own children. What do you say, Behemoth?"
He did not give a second to think and replied, with his mace in the air and shouted out loud.
"Clan Bytheiad and Clan Mwngrel will join the Horde and I agree to your terms!"
A new ally. Now we are stronger and Equestria shall fear The Horde of The Forest
The headquarter for The Lunatic were in the eastern side of the castle, where also the bedchamber of princess Luna was. The Lunatic headquarter was similar to that of night guards's barracks, but it has more of the team's personality in each of their bedchambers. Like Storm Days has more study books and many uncompleted theories about almost everything. While Firestorm held more of her traditional wing blades on display, ready incase a surprise attack happens in the castle. Right now, Storm Days and Arcana Shift were discussing a plan to infiltrate occupied Ponyville without getting seen by Dynol's forces, they were at the round table where they have their meetings and ruff ideas on what to do. Snow Charm and Firestorm were having a launch break and were having a friendly chat on what was their hardest mission. Constantly going back and forth on a raid against Griffin bandits or trying to put honey in Luna's sweet tea without her knowing it. Soon enough, the door that enters their headquarter opened to reviled Shamrock Blossom coming back from scouting occupied Ponyville for any weakness. Unfortunately...
"Well, guys" Shamrock Blossom said with a frown on her face. All of her comrades looked at her. "I have searched high in the clouds for any weakness in those walls's defence and found out, it's completely impossible to get in without one of those blue things from seeing you" She reached toward the table and sat on one of the five chairs, resting her back legs on the table and placing her front legs behind her head. "And to make matters worse, now the diamond dogs has join them"
"What do you mean by 'join', Blossom?" Arcana Shift asked with serious tone in his voice.
"What do you think it means, Shifty?" Shamrock replied with an attitude. "The last thing I saw before coming back was hundreds, maybe thousands of them entering Ponyville with that Dynol freak welcoming them with opened arms" With the info that Shamrock said. Snow Charm and Firestorm headed to the table as well.
"well that means we found their weakness now" Snow Charm said with a smile. "Dogs can be easily 'useful' to give information, just give them a bone or a gem and they are your most loyal followers"
"Agreed" Storm Days quickly spoked after Snow Charm. "Dogs live in clans, but still have their chain of command like wolves. Pack leaders to the lowest mutt, they always fight for the chance to lead the pack or clan. Which has been part of their culture for almost around-"
"Yeah" Shamrock interrupted. "But these ones are lead by the big fella"
"Wait, you don't mean...?"
"Yep, I saw his mace from a far"
"Did you give this info to Selene?" Firestorm asked Shamrock.
"Yea, she told me to report it to you lot"
The Lunatic knew what they were up against. They knew these type of Diamond Dogs from a reconnaissance mission a few years ago. These dogs are not like the other clans, they are more bulky, stronger and more equipped for combats. They are also the most aggressive to ponies, attacking travellers, merchants and even small villages and towns. The Lunatic now realised with those dogs on Dynol's side, they can not only boast the numbers of warriors in the Horde. But can also give locations of weakness in local regions and use their tunnels to strike almost anywhere in the dogs's territories. To put it bluntly, Dynol can now send his forces anywhere he please with dogs digging new tunnels. They could strike here at anytime they wish.
"We need to think of a plan ASAP now" Arcana said as he walked back and forth, trying his best to come up with a plan. "So there is no weakness on walls, those Ogres would see us in seconds if we get too close. With those mutts on the Horde's side, regions around Ponyville are in danger and so we need to tell Selene about it. But how are we going to get into Ponyville to rescue Spike if all the main entrances is blocked? and well guarded?"
The Lunatic thought hard and thought long. Arcana was right, there's no way they could enter Ponyville without being spotted or having an army behind them. The thoughts, as well as the silence stopped when Storm Days spoked with a bit of hope in his toneless voice. "You're right, Arcana. There's no way of getting into Ponyville through the walls. But what about the forest itself? It seems that walls protects the town, but it doesn't cover the edges of the forest. We could enter the forest and sneak into Ponyville from the forest"
"Hmm, a good idea" Firestorm said with a smile as she walked up to Storm and placed a over his shoulders. "But there is one, tiny mistake you made there....HELLO!!! I may not be as good at making plans as you are, but I pretty sure that the Everfree is Dynol's dominion and maybe, just maybe all of the animals in the Everfree is his most loyal followers cause I read the reports from what remains of Aura-sworn and found out that the animals obeys Dynol's orders like we obey Selene's"
"Ah yes, but if Dynol cares for his 'subjects', anything that happens to his forest, as well as the animals that live within it, then we can create a little fire to distract his forces and go and put out the fire before in spread further into his 'dominion', which will give us enough time to enter Ponyville and quickly get Spike out of there"
"What about Dynol?" Snow Charm joined the conversation. "Selene did say that if we ran into him alone, we must blow that horn she gave us, so she and the other princesses can quickly deal with him"
"Then we'll do that" Shamrock groaned in boredom. "So, plan is to burn some places in the Everfree, make the Horde focus on trying to put out the fire, we go in and recuse the dragon, come out as heroes and if we run into ape man we just blow the horn and let the princesses deal with him?"
The Lunatic looked at each other and then looked at Arcana.
"Operation 'Burn and Run' is made"
Dynol POV:
"And that's when you came in and join the Horde, Behemoth" I said to my right hand... friend as I finally finished writing my letters down and giving them to WoodFang, his mouth held four letters in total, including the one I just gave him. After giving him those letters, he went off to give them to the ravens, so they can give them to the possible peoples that may join with my cause. Behemoth was sitting on one of the round, hologram map table's chair, the one with a rainbow storm on it. Llofrudd was also sitting on one of the chairs, namely the one with the three apples on it.
"Wait, so you fought the Ogres's leader and then they joined you?" Behemoth said as WoodFang headed to the door.
"It's a tradition of ours" Llofrudd informed the giant dog. "Plus my father made a deal with Dynol if he beats him in single combat"
"I respect those who hold their traditions close"
"What about the ponies's?"
"Screw the ponies's!"
"Can I get a hallelujah?" I chuckled. My council chuckled with me as well. "Anyway, Behemoth? I trust that your people are setting in well?"
"Aye, the Ogres are being very honourable to us as well as your forest friends. We even connected our tunnels to this town"
I turned my head towards him. "You have tunnels? And they are not connected to Castle Rhyfel?"
"I thought this place is your capital?"
"Our capital is Rhyfel, in the middle of the forest"
"May I ask why?"
"If Equestria managed to retake Ponyville, we don't want our main forces trapped here and besides, the forest is my domain, nothing gets done without my saying. Ponyville is more of an foothold in this war. Rhyfel is being rebuilt as we speak, that's why all the buildings here are being destroyed and their pieces are sent to the castle. We don't want our capital and our place for planning just a ruin, it needs to be restore to it former glory and more"
Behemoth nodded in agreement. "I'll tell some of my boys to make some more tunnels to your capital then"
"Tell me more about these tunnels?" I asked as I looked down at map.
"Our tunnels helps us travel quickly and easy without the ponies knowing it. We can strike anywhere we please, once we have the locations of what we're hunting"
"You've attacked them before?" Llofrudd joined in the conversation.
"Yea, we attacked local places around here and Whitetail Woods. It's easy to take things when ambush them, our pups learns to fight by going on these raids"
"So your people are good at Guerrilla warfare?"
"Pretty much, but we're also good at normal combat. When we're facing the local guards, we're not afraid to punch them in mouth"
"How many tunnels do you have and how far do they spread?" I asked.
"Our tunnels spreads all over Whitetail Woods and areas around here, we're now making tunnels to strike the Crystal Empire and we are staying away from the big tunnels"
This got my interest as I once again looked at him. "Big tunnels? Why are you staying away from them?"
"We don't usually dig tunnels larger then ourselves and not making them fancy. But these tunnels, they are big, it has roads, columns and strange beings on them. Only my bravest and strongest dogs goes into those dark places, some of them don't want to return"
"Strange beings? Columns and roads?" I spoke while thinking about what Behemoth meant. "Don't you think that maybe your ancestors built them?"
"I doubt that, the way they're crafted and shaped. I think someone else did that and by the looks of those tunnels, they were here long before my kind or any kind learnt how to use tools"
This is interesting. Ancient tunnels of unknown origins. Maybe they are....?
I shook my head and change topic. "How far is the tunnel you're building to the Crystal Empire?"
"A quarter done" Behemoth informed me. "The earth is tough and wouldn't give up with out a fight, but you control the earth, maybe you could weaken it?"
"I'll need to talk to my mentor about that, but I'll see what I can do" I walked away from the table. "Thanks for the information, everyone. You're all dismissed"
Llofrudd and Behemoth nodded and started to walk to their duties. As of I, I was heading towards the library, I had only a few minutes before Behemoth's forces came and I didn't read a quarter of one book before his arrival. To get to the library, I have to pass of 'host's room'. As I passed, I could still hear him cry in defy and keep on saying I won't get away for this, I admired his spirit, but spirits will not win this war, only blades and fire can win wars, and we have plenty of those in our ranks.
Soon enough. I reached the doors that leads to library and opened them wide with just a flick of my right hand. As I entered the library, I forgotten how large it was. There were several columns of books the size of Hydra's head and one book was vibrating and glowing and-wait what?
With my left hand. I used the air to lift the glowing book towards me. As it was flowing down the fifth row of books, I made the air open to latest part in the book as the pages moved with speed. Finally, it reached close enough for me to read it. Strange, it's a report about how this 'CHS' is doing?
And who is this Sunset?
In The Dragon Holds:
"The reports are true, Ponyville is captured" The dragon scout said as he bowed before the three Elder dragons.
"Well" The far right elder dragon spoked with growly voice. "Seems the ponies are weaker then we thought"
"Don't be silly, E'drak" The far left elder dragon replied. "The reports say that there was four armies of pony, griffin and minotaur stationed there, this Dynol The Dammed must be very bold or very foolish to go up against Equestria and her allies"
"And we're sitting on side line!" E'drak shouted in anger. His claws needed something to kill. "We are dragons, Era'do! Rulers of the skies and mountains and you wouldn't join this beautiful carnage of blood and steel?!"
Era'do's eyes narrowed. "And you think I-"
"Never!" The middle elder dragon yelled as she spread her ancient wings out to stop the two elders from getting into a argument and in doing so, into a fight. The two back down as she risen from her throne of sliver and gold. "High-lord E'drak" She spoked softer and gentle. "Do you want our people to be hated throughout this world and beyond?"
E'drak's head lowered. "No, madam"
"And Inquisitor Era'do? Your father was a good drake, do you think he wanted to see his daughter grow up without ever flying over a battlefield, to understand what it means to be called a dragon?"
Era'do lowered her head as well. "No, he would not, Lady Night-gaze"
"Which is why you are both right" Night-gaze started to walked down the large, onyx stairs with her wings folded to her side. "We shouldn't just go blindly into battle, but cannot simply sit out of it either. So what I think we should do is..." She would of continued if it wasn't for a raven standing next to the dragon scout with scroll in its beak. Lady Night-gaze lifted one of her scaly eyebrow. "Have a raven in my court?"
The raven in question flew up to Night-gaze's right claw. The raven wasn't even bigger then one of her scales let alone her claws. It then placed the scroll down and opened it to revile some kind of symbol on it. Before anyone could act, the raven pecked the symbol and then flew away from it. The symbol began to glow and the air around the dragons began to swift into a wild tornado. As the raw power of the air twisted and turned, the tornado grew and grew till it was at the same height as Night-gaze. High-lord E'drak was about to help Night-gaze when the tornado suddenly took shape and moulded into a biped creature of the air, it took the form of The Leader of the Horde of the Forest; Dynol the Dammed.
The elder dragons was in awe by this chaotic transformation of the very air around them to create this image of the one that's waging war upon the ponies. The air figure of Dynol looked straight into Night-gaze's golden eyes.
"Greetings" The figure spoke with a strong and echoey voice that was loud enough for all to hear. "I am Lord Dynol the Dammed, leader of the Horde of the Forest and if you're willing, ally to your people. I call upon you with respect and honour as would any leader should, and because we have something in common... We both hate the ponies of Equestria. I maybe strong and have great powers, but I lack in allies and support from other lands" The figure twisted again into a map of Equestria "As you may know, the once mighty town of Ponyville is under Horde control with in the merely hours of today. If this town, where the ones that have 'saved' this world from evil and tyranny can be captured by mere assault, what will they do with an alliance of ours against their already weaken state?" The figure returned to its form of its creator as the elder dragons thought to themselves. "If you wish to join me in this glorious crusade against Equestria, come to my new town at dusk tomorrow. If not, don't expect me to reply again, this is your only chance to join my war and in turn, your retribution of fire and rage"
The air figure of Dynol slowly shrink back into the scroll and rapped itself up. Once it done that, the raven picked it up and flew out of the dragon's court with elder dragons surprised at the sudden request of the raven's master. Night-gaze thought for a monument and then turned her head to her fellow elder dragons. The High-lord, as well as the Inquisitor, nodded their heads. Night-gaze grinned and called the dragon scout, who bow down in respect.
"Tell the ambassador that she'll be visiting Ponyville with us tomorrow dusk" Night-gaze said with a toothy smile. The dragon scout nodded and started to head towards where the ambassador should be. But before he could exit the court, Night-gaze once again called the scout.
"Also, gather the Aspect Book and the Orb. It might as well be put into useful hands"
Everything has finally settled down. Ever since that whole thing with the friendship games, everything went back to normal. Right now I was in the hallway with my friends, chatting about the whole friendship games besides the little magic crisis. We laughed at our favourite moments and we were hanging out with a newest friend, who we already knew: This world's Twilight.
As we were chatting, I noticed that my locker was glowing which means someone has wrote something to me, most likely my world's Twilight.
I walked up to my locker, whilst my friends were giving me looks of concern and open my locker's door, to see my book glowing and vibrating. As I picked up my book, I open the latest page to see it was written like some kind of letter. It said:
Sunset
There is a crisis back on Equestria, something that needs everyone's aid for the coming fight. The Princesses themselves requested your aid for they believe you have more knowledge of this creature terrorising our people.
We immediately request you to come to Equestria as soon as possible.
Your friend Twilight Sparkle
My eyes widened in disbelief. The princesses are asking me to return to Equestria, to deal with the creature I may have knowledge on, what creature could that possibly be?
"Something wrong, Darling?" Rarity said as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
I turned around. "Twilight and the princesses needs me to return to Equestria"
"WHAT!?!?" Everyone yelled.
"Why do they need you back?" Human Twilight asked.
"They said that there is a crisis about a creature that's terrorising everyone and I may have knowledge about it"
"And what creature might that be?" Applejack said with one of her eyebrows raised.
"I do not know, could it be some kind of new creature that maybe this world has, or it could something all together"
"When do you have to go?" Rainbow Dash asked.
I sighed. "As soon as possible"
Everyone looked at each other, some looked to the ground disappointed and sad knowing I have to go. I could just easily write back to Twilight to tell her I cannot come to Equestria. But then again, the princesses themselves asked personally requested my aid. I hope I can fix this problem quickly and with ease, so I could return to my friends.
"Well, if they need you then you should go at once" Applejack said with a pitiful smile. Before I could even protest, Rainbow cut me in.
"She's right, if what they said is true, you're needed there more then here"
"But what happens if something bad happens here and I can't help you all"
"Sunset" Rarity smiled. "The threats we faced before were all from Equestria" she looked at Twilight with a smile. "All of them, and if Equestria falls to this foal beast, what hope do we have here? No Sunset, I'm afraid you're needed there for now"
She's right. If Equestria does fall to this creature and focused its attention to here... We may not stand a chance and then both worlds could be under its control. I shivered from the thought.
I sighed once more before nodding my head in agreement. "I guess I'll see what this thing is, take care of it and be back before tea"
My friends giggled. "And once you're done, we'll have the biggest tea party ever!" Pinkie jumped in the air with confetti. We laughed as we headed towards where the portal is, hopefully Twilight has got the portal open for me to cross through.
"Let's hope it won't take long"
Third Person POV:
Sunset and her friends were gathered around the school's stature, which is also the gateway to Equestria and her friends were giving the farewells and lucks like she was going off to war... If only she knew.
"Good luck, darling" Rarity said with a wave of her hand. "Teach the beast a thing or two and do bring back a souvenir"
Sunset chuckled as she waved back at her friends before she entered the portal, where her quest shall begin. She already knew that she'll enter Twilight's castle because surprising enough, Sunset and Twilight still keep in tough, even though it wasn't much, it was still nice to know how things were doing in both world.
Her body twisted and turned as she span around the colourful vortex of the portal. She saw her hands transformed into hooves and her clothes were replaced for her yellowy fur. She'll need to relearn how to walk on all four then just standing on her back legs.
But eventually, she exit the portal and has arrived on Equestria, home of ponies. She adjusted her eyes, for she goes partly blind when going through the portal. Once her eyes were adjusted, she began to look around the room. She was in Twilight's castle... But where is Twilight?
"Uh, hello?" Sunset called out. "Twilight.... Spike... Anyone here?"
Suddenly she heard what could of sound like a building being toppled down by force. Sunset jumped from the sound, what could possible be that?
She saw a window to the outside world and wonder if the cause of the sound could be seen from the window. Sunset slowly walked up to the window and looked outside, to witness a shocking scene.
What she saw was five Ogres pulling apart a building with diamond dogs, Manticores and Timberwolves. They were even laughing and having small talks as they did. She also saw huge, earth walls that covered the whole town under it's shadows. Sunset could only gasp in shock from what she had saw and was now have horrid thought as to what happened.
"Enjoying the view?" Came a voice from behind Sunset, said voice echoed through her ears as she could not only hear, but could feel such raw power from just it very voice. She quickly turned her body to face whatever said those words. What she saw was none other then Lord Dynol The Dammed, wearing his molten mask as he was leaning on the side of the portal with the book that Twilight and herself communicate with. "You really thought it was Twilight, Sunset?" The way Dynol said her name sounded like he had some kind of hatred to her. But she never seen him in her life.
"W...Who are you?" Sunset cautiously as to not provoked him.
Dynol stood up straight and walk a couple of feet away from the portal.
"I am Lord Dynol The Dammed, leader of the Horde of The Forest, champion of the elementals and... Newest mayor of Ponyville"
Dynol POV:
A unicorn? Coming though a mirror? Something to put on the calendar.
Said unicorn was looking at me with shock, fright and...confusion, like meeting someone that looks very familiar yet you don't know the name. She merely stared at me as I floated the book away, back on its shelf. Once the book was on the book was on the shelf did she muttered the word 'impossible'.
"What is?" I said with a cold tone, folding my arms and staring into her light emerald eyes.
"You are" She blindly, yet boldly answered. "How are you even in their forms AND wielding magic?"
"What do you mean 'their forms'?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Any human that cro-"
"How do you know my species' name?" I interrupted her with a surprised tone in my voice. "No creature nor plant knows that name apart from me and now... You" I took another step closer to her. "Who told you about my people, answer me!"
Her eyes narrowed as she analysed me. I clapped my hands to make answer my question.
"There's a whole world fill of-"
"I know where we live! I want to know how you know my race!"
"I ran into the portal a few years ago. Now I've got friends there and decided to stay there with them"
What? I turned my attention to the mirror. That's a portal to my world? I could go home... My real home? I then walked up towards it and stood in front of it.
"Are you, okay?" Sunset said as she slowly walked near me.
"How many knows about this portal to my world?" I asked as I put my left hand through the portal. As I placed my hand inside, I noticed that my hand was no long a hand. Instead, it was a... Hoof. I quickly pulled my hand out and looked at it. Back to normal, thank the elements. I turned my head to look at the unicorn. "Well?"
"Only me, the princesses and Twilight" She said.
"Twilight? That purple witch?" I growled. "She already knew what my race is!?" I then in a flash, picked up Sunset by her throat and held her up in the air. "You better have some good explaining from the words you'd said to me!"
As she was trying to break my grip around her neck. She look straight into my eyes and said the strange thing to me.
"Let me see your face"
Puzzled by her request, I obliged as my mask began to fold away like a jigsaw puzzle. I guess the reason I did it was from my confusion from her request. Once the mask was off my face, Sunset scanned it more in details. Then her eyes widened.
"You're not a human from my friends' world" She boldly said.
My blood boiled. She dare said that to my very face! My grip got tighter as fire sparked from the corners of my eyes. "And how pray tell, am I not a human?"
"Cause my friends has larger eyes, more colours like us ponies and most of all, humans can't control magic" Sunset confidently said, even with my grip closing her windpipe. "So whatever you are, you're not one of them!"
Hang on? 'Larger eyes, more colours like us ponies?' I looked into her larger eyes, true these ponies has larger eyes then mine and...
Larger eyes? More colours? As in the colour furs that are skin in her friends' world?.... A human version of ponies!? There's a world were everyone looks like a human, acts like a human, talk like a human.... But they are ponies at heart?
"You're living in a parallel universe where ponies takes the forms of my race!?" I yelled in anger and frustration. "You toy with their minds with you magic!? You make them slaves so when your princesses mess up their own world, they'll bring their people into that world and they'll welcome them with open arms because you brainwash them into your will!? Well no more! You wouldn't control them anymore!"
I threw Sunset to the nearest wall, making her back crash into the wall with a mighty thud. She quickly got up on her hooves as I casted two fireballs at her. She swiftly dodged them and casted a few bolt of magic at me in retaliation. Unfortunately, most of them missed me. But one managed to hit my face just when my mask covered my face. This cause me to hiss in pain for it was, surprisingly a powerful bolt. This gave her sometime to get some cover behind the columns of books.
Once I was done hissing and finding out Sunset was hiding somewhere. I casted one of my fiery waveswords in my left hand and covered my right hand in stone to deal more pain in my punches.
"Hiding wouldn't save you, little girl" I muttered to myself as I walked through the columns, searching for that blasted pony. As I walked through the columns, I clicked my rocky fingers to block any exits with powerful air for windows and large stones for the doors. "There's no way to run! Come out, and I promise you'll have a fair battle!"
Suddenly, from behind, Sunset jumped out and shot another magical bolt. But this time I was ready. I jumped up in the air as the bolt shot passed my legs and whacked my rocky fist into the ground as a line of sharp rocks came out of the ground and headed towards her. As the rocks reached her, a larger rock-like fist uppercut her which made her fly in the air once more. I always wanted to do the Earth Fist on a live target, now I love it. Once Sunset fell on the ground. I started to walk toward her. She got up again, but not for long. With a swing of my wavesword, I caused a wave of flame to strike at her with speed. But it would seems that she was quicker as she used her horn to retaliate the flames back to me. Clever girl. A disarms my fiery blade and grabbing it with my free hand.
"Not bad, not bad indeed" I said with a chuckle. I then twisted my hand. "But watch how a master of flame does it" I changed the flame into a fiery hand that lunged towards her, grabbing her in it burning fingers that caused her enough amount of burning pain. Once it evaporated, Sunset fell on the ground, breathing heavily. I scoffed as I continued to walked towards her. Even though she was badly injured, she tried to cast another spell. Not today. With my rocky hand, I quickly switched it with my rock crossbow and aim it at her.
"Night night" I chuckled as I shot a round shot a round stone at her head like I did with my previous victim and like that victim, it knocked her out cold. As I finally reached and kneeled down, I admit she was a bit of a good fighter. She lasted much longer then any other foe before her and even managed to get a hit on me as well. But like the others, she failed to defeat me. I got up and walked to the mirror portal.
"Guards!" I called out as I disable the barriers from the doors and windows to stop Sunset from running away. The doors opened to reveal one Ogre with a lot of tattoos and one bulky Diamond Dog. "Take her to Castle Rhyfel unspoiled and unharmed, I have more questions I want to asks her personally"
They both saluted and then drag the unicorn out of my castle. As they were doing that, I focused my attention at the mirror. My hopes of returning to my original home was shattered. But then I realised, if I leave, who'll lead the Horde? Who'll win the war? No, I couldn't leave. I have a war to fight and I wouldn't run away from it.
Soon instead, I placed a hand on the mirror, cursing some water to flow out of my hand and onto the mirror. The water quickly frozen up from the magic inside the portal.
"Now none can get in without my say so"
Third Person POV:
Night has fallen over the lands of Equestria as the Horde had just knocked down another building. Ponyville was almost empty, there's not a lot of buildings left from this once great town, now hiding under the giant walls of Earth as its new inhabitants devastated its beautiful homes.
The guards that took Sunset were halfway through the Everfree and was heading towards their destination: Castle Rhyfel. The bulky dog had the yellow unicorn over his steel shoulder plates while the tattooed Ogre was leading the way.
"So owl long dos it toke two get two castle waifu?" The dog asked his comrade.
Said comrade stopped dead in his tracks and looked at him with a face that read 'what?'.
"What in Tartarus' flame did you just say?" The Ogre said with his arms waving in the air.
"You're how, owl long dos it toke two get two castle waifu?"
"Okay first of all stop talking, your grammar is horrendous. Second of all, it's Castle 'Rhyfel', we're only halfway there and finally, what is a 'Waifu'!?"
"Me gramma is not bady" The dog protested. "In fat, I had got storys that over too hundred of me kins liked to read"
Th Orge shook his head and went back to to walking. "May their ancestors take pity on those poor souls"
The dog growled for a bit before they heard something rushed in the near bushes and trees which made their ears twitched to way the sound came from.
"How ear that?" The bulky dog said as he placed the unicorn down on the soft ground to draw out a crude bronze sword.
"Yea, I 'heard' it" His comrade replied as he too brought out his weapon, a double-edged two-handed axe and began, along with the diamond dog, circled around Sunset for their lord told them to keep her unharmed and unspoiled. As the Ogre turned his body around from a certain tree, he didn't noticed shadowy figure of a pony coming out of the tree's own shadow, along with four more ponies hiding behind some bushes. The shadowy pony revealed himself as the leader of the Lunatic; Arcana Shift.
The dog saw this however. "Orc hind your!" He cried out to the tattooed Ogre.
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!?" The Ogre bellowed before having his whole head blown off from Arcana Shift's magic. As the body of Ogre fell to the ground with a thud. His ally yelped from the blast as Arcana Shift jumped out from the tree and landed on his hooves. The dog growled and was about to charge at him... If his feet wasn't covered in ice from Snow Charm. The dog tried to yell for help, but the ice covered his whole body, leaving him frozen and unable to move. Then in a flash, Firestorm flew in and used her wing blades to cut the dog with two mighty swings of his blades, making the dog fell to the ground in three pieces.
"I love that idea Stormy, that was very quick thinking" Snow charm said as she turned to face where Storm Days was just coming out from some bush and gave him a wink.
"Yeah, sure" Storm Days answered as he tried his hardest to hide his soft blush from his team. Only his sister, Firestorm saw this and gave a little giggle.
"Everyone group up" Arcana called his team. Once everyone was gathered he continued. "Right, it would seems that the Horde has some ponies trapped in this Castle of theirs and they were taking this unicorn to it, which means we have to alter our plan"
Shamrock moaned. "Really? Do we have to-"
"Yes we do, we're not gonna leave a innocent in the hands of Dynol. Which is why we're changing the plan" Arcana turned to Storm. "Any ideas, mate?"
"By what the Ogre said, Castle 'Rhyfel' is halfway from here" Storm Days explained as he walked up and down for a bit. "And by the way they were heading, it must be up north from here"
"I thought the Horde's main area of operation was at Ponyville cause of those walls" Firestorm joined the conversation.
"I thought so too... That's it! Castle Rhyfel must be their capital, how did the Horde planned such a brutal inversion on Ponyville? Careful. Planning. They used the minotaurs' fear to lower morale, make the guards frighten from the Horde's brutality and then they suddenly attack, capturing Ponyville and make those walls as a sign of strength" Storm breathed through his nose. "What we're dealing with is not just some being that knows how to use fire and earth, we're dealing a creature that must of known war for centuries"
"Thanks for bright side of war" Firestorm sighed. "Now can you give us a alter plan for this poor mare?"
"Sorry, it's just Dynol's plan was brilliant, almost perfect, remind me to-"
"Storm Days"
"Again sorry, let me think" He rubbed his head with his right hoof and thought hard. "Alright how about this? Arcana, Shamrock, you two take the mare out of the forest and find a safe place for her until we've done our mission. Me and Firestorm will go north and look for this castle they've mention, see if any other ponies are trapped in it. And Snow, you go on ahead and watch what the Horde are doing in Ponyville, make sure no more Horde forces reach our locations. We'll meet each other here in half an hour and we'll rest here until dawn to get the Horde off guard"
Arcana nodded. "Sounds like a plan, lets move out!"
So the Lunatic began to do their parts. Arcana and Shamrock took Sunset away as Firestorm and Storm Days were heading north and Snow Charm headed towards Ponyville.
Lucky for them, they were not spotted by any ravens. Only the darkness of forest was with the ponies.
Storm Days and Firestorm were brushing through bushes and branches, mud and dirt and other disgusting things, looking for this castle their enemies had spoken of before their sudden deaths. Firestorm was using her wing-blades to cut through the forest while her brother just stood behind her, letting his sister doing all the work to herself.
But, through it all, Firestorm cuted the last branch from a tree, giving the two a wide view of the Castle Rhyfel. Their eyes were wide open from shock.
What they saw was the castle of the Two Sisters beings overwhelmed by Ogres, diamond dogs and the forest's animals. They saw rows of ogres and dogs training themselves with all sorts of weapons as they used them on each other, trying to get the upper hand in combat. Under them and in turn the castle, where once the Tree of Harmony stood, was filled with blacksmiths, forges that was made like the walls, completely made of Earth and Stones. It lighted the path, the bridge that lead to the castle and lower parts of the castle with red and orange colour. Finally, the two saw nearly everywhere on the castle, Horde forces rebuilding it with what looked like buildings from Ponyville. They were mainly fixing the castle's walls, towers and entrance. Ogres were using tools made from wood and steel, the diamond dogs were clearing the rubbles and dirt along with the spiders and even the forest friends were giving a hand like the Timberwolves pulling wagons of building parts and tools whilst hydras were helping the workers get to higher ground like ladders. Now it was clear for Storm Days and Firestorm. The Horde's capital city was none other than the princesses's old home and they were rebuilding it for Dynol's war campaign against Equestia.
"Sweet Celestia..." Firestorm whispered in surprise.
"Indeed" Storm Days replied with a curious tone in his voice. "This... wasn't what I expected to be Dynol's capital, I thought it would be some fort he built by himself"
"You don't think he could, could he?"
"He managed to create those walls back at Ponyville, I don't see why he couldn't" Storm looked at the castle in more detail. He saw Ogres guarding the entrance along with two Timberwolves and one Cockatrice. "I can't see anywhere to get in undetected, can you?"
Firestorm looked around, seeing if there is a chance to get in. She looked where the bridge was and saw a wagon of supplies heading towards the castle. It was being pulled by a Timberwolf and was guarded by three dogs.
"We could hide in that wagon and wait till we're in the castle?" Firestorm said as she pointed to where the wagon was with her wing. Storm Days looked at it and rubbed his chin.
"It's a long shot, but I think that's all we got"
The two ponies then started to move towards the wagon, sneaking though trees and bushes to be unseen by any of the guards. They hided behind a rock, waiting till the wagon was in mere metres from them. But before they could jump in, Firestorm picked up a stone from the ground and threw it into a bush opposite to them and the wagon to distract the guards.
"What was that?" One the dogs said as all three turned their heads to the bush, as the two ponies quickly and quietly into the wagon. Inside of the wagon was more building tools, food and other sorts of goods for the Horde. Storm Days and Firestorm wiggled into a large box that was filled with jars, contain things like jam, peanuts and what looks like chocolate, most likely from Sugar Cube Corner.
"It was nothin', maybe it was just a animal" Another dog said with a growl. "Lets move on"
The wagon began to move again. It was a bumpy ride though, as it had to go over an old bridge that surprisingly could hold the wagon and the three dogs as they cross over it. As they crossed, the Ogres opened the doors for the wagon to go though.
"Where do we take these stuff?" A dog grunted.
"Down the hall and on your right" Said the Ogre on the left. "You'll see the rest of wagons there"
And like that, the wagon moved on. It went as the Ogre said, down hall and on the right where three more wagons was placed. As the dog dismounted the timberwolf from the wagon and walked away, Firestorm and Storm Days took a peck outside to see if the coast is clear. Once they saw that the coast was clear, they hopped out of the wagon and got a better look at what the Horde has done to the place.
In the main hall, there was the Horde of the Forest's flags on nearly all the walls and on the sealing, giving it a sense of imperial power from a bunch of wild beasts and cut-throats. The colours of the hall and what may come to the rest of the castle was crimson on the floor, brown on the walls, blue on the roof and white on the columns. It almost looked like a festival time if it wasn't for the Ogres' symbols and their flags hanging about the place. In the middle, where once the two sisters' thrones were, was Dynol's throne. It looked like a fitting throne for one that rules the forest and controls the elements. All in all, it wasn't the princesses's home anymore.
Firestorm narrowed her eyes. "This place, what they've done is-"
"Pretty cool" Storm Days spoked without a thought. "I mean if I was a evil being, with armies of beasts, I would make my capital look scary and intimating to my enemies"
"Sometimes I wonder what's going on in that brain of yours" His sister said as she tapped her brother's forehead with her wing.
"You wouldn't know the half of it"
"True" She then looked around the hall. "Where is everyone and better yet, where would they keep prisoners here?"
"My guess is that they are to busying in repairing to worry about here, and where they keep their prisoners?" Storm Days looked to the western side of the hall and saw an Ogre with tribal tattoos and a large bag heading up stairs into the second floor. "I say we follow that guy"
"How do you know he'll lead us to the right place?"
"If I'm wrong, I'll buy a round of ciders when we get back to the whole gang"
".....I'll lead"
Firestorm and Storm Days quickly moved to the stairs and slowly walk up there, making sure that no one is following them or any other heading up or down from said stairs.
Once they'd reached up the stairs. They were in a long hall with many doors leading to many rooms, it might of been the living quarters in this once proud castle. The two ponies saw the Ogre with the large bag heading into the fourth door on the left, with a wide yet sinister grin. As the two ponies were moving to the door said Ogre walked though. The Ogre placed the bag on the floor and chuckled to his 'subject'.
"Now, little one" The Ogre's voice was cold and toneless, yet somehow you could hear a bit of pleasure as he looked at the injured mare on the floor: Flower-pit. "My chieftain and in turn, my lord wishes to know more about your armies and your allies, they think you'd just gave them the details about Ponyville and not the rest of the Equestria" He then pulled out a club with blunt spikes all over it.
"I told them..." Came Flower-pit's weaken voice, she's suffered enough from the torture Dynol gave her. "Everything I knew...Everything"
"Everything you knew about Ponyville and its defensive, nothing more" He then grabbed the mare by the throat and was ready to begin his torture. "My lord used his way of making you talk, but I'll be using my way of making you scream"
"Not today, you freak"
"Who dares interru-"
The Ogre didn't finished his sentence when Firestorm slashed his throat, making him let go of Flower-pit and falling on the ground with his hands covering his bleeding neck as he gasped for air. Firestorm put an end to his misery by stabbing him in the chest, killing him instantly. Storm Days rushed inside and headed towards the injured mare, helping her onto her hooves.
"Th...Thank you" Flower-pit said as her breathing settled down. "I thought....I thought I was going to have another beating"
"What's your name, madam?" Storm Days smiled.
"Private Flower-pit, scout from Aura-sworn"
"Aura-sworn?" Firestorm joined in as she peaked outside the door, making sure no one else was there. "You survived the attack?"
"Yes, and I captured here, forced to give info on Ponyville and any weakness she had" Flower lowered her head. "That...That beast broke me, I had no choice... I've failed Equestria"
"No you haven't. If you wasn't captured and Dynol didn't invade Ponyville, we would all live in fear of another attack from him. And thanks to that, we also found his capital and you, we know where his Horde lives now and we can strike back"
Flower smiled from Firestorm's words, it gave her pride back. "Then we better move, once they find this Ogre's body here, they'll sound a alarm and we may not get a chance to get out of here"
"Agreed" Storm nodded his head. "Can you walk on your own or do you need support?"
"Yeah, I can walk. My head hurts though, might need to see a medic before going back to duty"
Storm Days and Firestorm both nodded in agreement and began to move out of the room, staying in the shadows and trying not to get seen by anyone.
Five minutes later...
"And that's where we found Flower-pit and brought her out of that place" Storm Days explained to the rest of the Lunatics on what they'd saw.
"You're not joking with me?" Arcana Shift said with serious look on his face. "They are in the Castle of the two Sisters?"
"Yea" Flower-pit answered. "And they training more warriors to join the Horde's ranks, as well as rebuilding it in their master's image"
Arcana Shift nodded his head. This is more then they expected. "Can you make it to Canterlot without being seen by them, as well as carrying another pony on your back?"
"I think I can, although it might take some time getting there in my weak state"
"Don't worry, we believe in you" Snow Charm smiled as she placed a hoof on Flower's back.
"Right Lunatics, get some rest. We'll be moving into Ponyville first light, Shamrock you take first watch"
From a moan from Shamrock and salutes from the others, the Lunatics took rest in either ground, tree or sleeping behind a bush. As Flower-pit carried Sunset on her back and headed in the area that'll lead her to Canterlot.
"We'll need all the luck we can get to pull this off" Shamrock mumbled as she climbed up a tree to get a good clear view of the forest to keep an eye out for anything that may cause a threat to them.
Dawn had arrived and just as Arcana said, The Lunatics were already in the outskirts of Ponyville. It wasn't a easy mission, they had to hide in the shadows of the remaining buildings that was still standing. They even had to run in open land to get to the over side.
Lucky for them, as it was the earliest of early mornings, not a lot of Ogres, dogs or animals were outside, taking down more buildings. The Lunatics only problems were the warriors on the walls, keeping a watch out over them but sometimes to admirer what they have done to the once proud town.
Right now, the Lunatics were near their destination; Twilight's castle.
Arcana and Shamrock ducked behind some crates that contained weapons, mostly spears whilst Firestorm hided behind what remains of a building's wall. The three had a perfect view of the castle. Only four Ogres stood guard at the main door along with one timberwolf. It looked like another normal timberwolf, despite having a extremely large fang on the right side of its mouth. Right next to it, on the left, stood the stature of the Fall of Ponyville, where the Lunatics looked at it in disgust.
Shamrock, for some reason, looked behind her. "Hey, where is Storm and Snow?"
As if someone answered her prays, the two sneakily appeared from behind her. They then proceeded to hide behind the same wall with Firestorm.
"What have we got?" Storm Days asked as he looked at the main entrance and its guards.
"Four Ogres and a wolf blocking our main entrance, there was two patrols guarding the walls for now and mostly on the western side where the train station was, Diamond dogs are digging for what I can guess more tunnels" Informed Shamrock.
"Anyway of getting in?" Snow Charm said as she analysis the situation.
"Not really, unless we boldly charge in which will only mean our doom or stay here till they spot us that'll again only means our doom"
Firestorm looked at Shamrock. "Can you say anything nice?"
"Quite" Arcana spat. "Someone's coming out of the castle"
Opening the doors, which cause the Ogres to turn around and salute, came out Llofrudd as he sorted out his new shoulder plates that has spikes on the right and the Horde's symbol on the other.
"You two" Llofrudd pointed at the two Ogres on the right. "Dynol wants to know how the building on Rhyfel is doing, he needs a report from my father. While you two" Llofrudd pointed at the two Ogres on the left. "Go in and guard the entrance that leads to our 'guest's' room, Dynol will have a nice chat with him like he did with that pony in Castle Rhyfel" All of Llofrudd's kins nodded their heads and went to do what they were ordered to do. Which just leaves Llofrudd with the timberwolf. "WoodFang, Dynol wants to talk to you, something about those letters he sent and wants to know if any others has accepted his offer cause.... They have accepted"
WoodFang then barked in delight, everything is going so well. He then walked into the castle while Llofrudd headed off to the western side of the walls, checking how things are going over there. Totally unaware of a group of ponies, listening to their conversation.
"Letters?" Snow Charm said with a worry tone in her voice. "What letters and who accepted?"
"Who cares! We've got a chance to get in there, let's go" Shamrock replied as she quickly ran towards the castle's doors.
"Shamrock!" Arcana called for her as he and the others follow her.
'I hope this doesn't end tragically' Arcana thought as he helped open the door with his magic for his team to enter.
Spike POV:
I got to get out of here!
Dynol and his Horde must be stopped!
I've been trapped in here for a day now and I heard almost everything the guards at my door about what they are planning. They're going to wait till either someone coming to meet them or are preparing for an attack by the ponies. From what I could see from my window, everything I once knew was gone. They've taken everything from me and my friends home, one of the guard even taunted me by eating one of the Cake's famous cake and telling how good it was. I couldn't tell if it was an Ogre or a Diamond dog. But whoever it was.....Uncool.
Although in my capture I did hear some interesting things. This 'Llofrudd' is the son of 'Chieftain Varlock Shard-Oth', leader of the Ogres and the one who is leading the Diamond Dogs is named 'Great Alpha Behemoth'. I also heard what sounded like a battle in Twilight's library and I even heard Dynol hiss in pain, whoever it was, good on ya.
For now, I was siting with back against the wall, facing the door while throwing a ball at it again and again. There wasn't really anything to do and sometimes Dynol himself comes in and asked me questions about my friends, I refused to give anything to him but that doesn't stop him coming back and asking the same questions over again.
On the other side of the door, I could hear the sounds of footsteps coming towards the door.
"You are relieved of duty, Llofrudd's orders" Came a voice.
"About time, my feet are killing me" The same guard that said that knocked on my door. "I'm gonna go off and eat the remaining cake from that shop, mmmm chocolate with strawberry and cream, sweet and tasty"
My tummy grumbled, I haven't eaten anything from yesterday.
"Has anyone else noticed that shadow over there?"
'What?' I thought as I stopped throwing the ball at the door and looked up at it. 'What does he mean by-'
Suddenly, from beyond my door, a sound of a magic bolt was heard along with a thud from one of the guards.
"Ponies! Kill them!" Commanded one of the remaining guards as I could hear weapons being drawn and clashes of steel. The next things I could hear was the sound of weapons hitting each other, more magic bolts being shot and the growls and snarls from the guards. But what caught me by surprise was the door being slammed opened by a guard from what I could guess by being bucked by one of the ponies. The door was wide opened and broken from the sheer force and the guard, who was a Ogre, died with one of his arm cut clear off.
"Hope you're happy Shamrock" Said a mare with a white coat, ice blue mane and tail as she rushed in to check if whatever they were looking for was in here. She looked at me and dashed in, picking me up and placing her on her back. "No doubt that-"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!?!" bellowed a very anger and possibly psychopathic Lord of The Horde of The Forest.
"Told ya"
The pony and I rushed out of the room where the four more was facing in a battle stance, looking left down the hallway where the map is.
Swinging the two main doors and slamming them on the walls, causing a large crack on both of the doors and walls, was Dynol the Dammed covered in blue flame. He is definitely not happy, my guess is that he's seeing me outside of my room and seeing these ponies coming to my rescue.
As quick as a flash. Dynol casted one Tartarus of a fireball straight at us.
"Go, I'll cover you" Shouted a gray coat stallion as he casted a magical shield in front of us, making the fireball blasted into it. The smokes gave us a chance to retreat, the four ponies started to run down the opposite side of hallway, they'll need to run down the hallway and go left to the main entrance. I looked back to see what the stallion was about to do. He dispelled his shield and blown away the smoke.... Only to see Dynol come close with a fiery fist aiming at his head. The stallion just managed to dodged the impact as Dynol's fist slammed upon the ground. He then charged his horn again to shot a beam of what looked like shadow magic at him. However, Dynol leaned back, causing the stallion's magic to passed in front of Dynol's molten mask and blasting into through another door. I would of seen more of the fight, but the mare I was riding on turned left that prevented me to see more. Instead all I could see was a blast on air, throwing the stallion onto the far end wall of hallway. He shook his head and opened his eyes. He then quickly got up onto his hooves and jumped out of the way. The reason was that a Timberwolf was about to crash into him if he didn't move in time. Instead, the wolf bashed its head into the wall as the stallion caught up with the rest of his team. The Timberwolf staggered, swaying a little bit before shaking its head and glared daggers at us as it growled. Dynol then flew up and mounted the wolf as he pointed at us for the Timberwolf to start chasing us. This is not good.
Said Timberwolf howled in the air. After it finished howling, I could heard in front of me another howl from a different wolf. As I turned my head to the our exit, I saw a very large Timberwolf blocking our exit, showing its sharp, wooden teeth....Great.
"Firestorm!" Yelled one of the ponies.
"I'm on it!" Shouted 'Firestorm' as she ran ahead of the others, revealing some cool looking wing blades. She charged right at the wolf, as the beast was about the try and take a bit out of her. She then leaned down just as the Timberwolf was about to catch her in its jaw, unfolding her right wing, cutting its four legs clear off. Said wolf yelped in surprise as it looked down at it legs. Then the mare that was carrying me casted an ice spell on it, covering it in ice for a yellow coated Earth pony to charge into it and smashing her head into it, creating fragments of itself. We all cheered as we exited Twilight's castle.
"Yeah!"
"Alright!"
"Way ago, sister!"
My cheering only stopped when I looked up at the walls. Dozen of Ogres with long spears were running along the walls whilst Diamond Dogs, around one or two hundred were charging at us on the ground along with a really massive one with black armour and really crude mace leading them.
"Hold on tight, little one!" Said the mare I was riding on as she and the others ran though an alleyway, out of those Ogres' sights but not out of the dogs'.
"Bring back that dragon! Slaughter the pony scums! SLAUGHTER THEM ALL!!!" Commanded Dynol as dogs rampaged though the alleyway to get us, as well as running along the roofs of the buildings to flank us. We saw some of them jumping down in front of us, but the ponies dealt them with ease, either by magic, speed or just raw strength. When they finished with the last dog in front of them, we exited the alleyway where there should of been houses to give us more cover, but instead, it was opened bare land.
"What is your plan!?" I yelled at my rescuers.
"This is the plan!"
"What!?"
"Blame it on Shamrock!"
"Hey!"
I then heard what sounded like a command and turned my head to the walls. What I saw was a line of Ogres with long spears, ready to throw at us. On the far left, an Ogre with a voodoo mask brought down his steel axe and a volley of spears flew into the sky.
"Look out!" I warned the ponies as I pointed at where the danger was. All of them looked to where I was pointing, some managed to dodged them while over just missed it my a few metes and had to alternated around them. Thanks goodness bad guys have bad aiming otherwise we might of been goners if not.
"We're nearly there!" Shouted the mare named 'Firestorm' as we were near the border to the Everfree, one I was about to questioned before looking back and seeing the massive forces of Diamond Dogs and Ogres chasing us.
So instead, I held on tight as we entered the Everfree Forest, Dynol's dominion.
Third Person POV:
"After them!" Dynol yelled as a large amount of Ponyville's garrison rushed into forest, chasing down the Lunatics. "And somebody please tell me how no one saw five damn ponies entering this town, without being seen!?"
Flying onto Dynol's left shoulder was one of his raven, informing him on where the Lunatics would be heading to.
"Perfect" Dynol grinned as Llofrudd and WoodFang approached him, wary of Dynol's mood. "It seems that Behemoth somehow, in mere seconds after the ponies entered the forest, managed to spit his forces in two, making Spike's savers covered on both east and north thanks to their tunnels"
"East and North?" Llofrudd questioned. "But that'll lead them to the border of the forest and into open Equestrian lands where who knows are waiting for them"
"But unlike the dogs, I do not need to build tunnels to stealthily go though unseen" A little tremor came from underground as a big oval shape rock came out of the ground, in front of Dynol. It had enough space to hold someone in, and that someone was him. He stepped in and turned around to face Llofrudd and WoodFang.
"Gather your ebon bladers and join Behemoth in this little hunt, WoodFang you do the same with your pack"
"Where are you going?"
Dynol grinned as his molten mask folded again onto his face.
"I'm gonna meet Spike at the finish line"
And like that, The oval rock went back down into the ground and headed to the border of forest before the others do.
"They're just coming out of nowhere!" Snow Charm yelled as the Lunatics were in a circle, surrounded by dog warriors.
They were outnumbered three to once the Lunatics. Storm Days and Firestorm were covering the back while Shamrock and Arcana was covering the front. Snow Charm was protecting Spike as well as give the dogs a run for their money by covering the ground in ice to make some of them slip. Firestorm was using her wing blades to quickly destroy the dogs' bronze weapons and themselves. Storm days, although using daggers from his backpack, was doing okay for himself as he rolls and drives at the warriors, dealing pretty good damage on them. Shamrock was at the head of the combat, using nothing by her hind legs to buck the diamond dogs away or headbutting them till they were knocked out. And Arcana was using his remaining magic to make a clear path for Snow Charm and Spike to cross though, going though this many enemies was getting yourself killed.
Coming out of one of the tunnels, Behemoth walked with his mace in his right paw and had wide smile as he saw his warriors doing a good job at halting the Lunatics at bay. Behemoth then raised his mace up, stoping anymore dogs from charging in to fight. The Lunatics, now regrouping and looking at their situation, were unsure why Behemoth ordered his warriors to stop. But all of them agreed that it wasn't a good thing.
"You fought well" Behemoth smiled, showing his canine fangs at the ponies and dragon. "But alas brave, brave warriors, your trespassing will not go unpunished, surrender and I promise that your deaths will come swiftly"
Arcana chuckled. "You don't know much about us, do you mutt?"
The dog leader growled. "I know for the fact that YOU will be the first to die by my hands, equine maggot!"
"Did you also know THIS!"
Suddenly, Snow Charm charged her horn as bright as she could and blinded the dog forces as they cried out in shock and surprise as they covered their eyes with their paws. Behemoth merely turned his head to the side. The Lunatics took this chance by heading north and cutting down any dogs that was in their way. They were nearly out of the border. Firestorm and Storm Days leaded the way while Arcana, Shamrock and Snow Charm covered them from the rear in case of more dogs following them. Their hopes were high, their mission was almost completed.... Almost.
A sudden tremor was felt underneath the ponies and the dragon's feet before a oval rock blasted out of the ground in front of them. Before anyone could acted, two fireballs blasted both Firestorm and Storm Days away from the group and made them land back first on two trees, stunning them from the impact. After the two fell to the ground. Dynol, as if in a flash, uppercutted Shamrock's jaw with his right fist and side kicked Arcana in the face, sending them a few metes away from Snow Charm and Spike.
Snow Charm got closer to Spike to defend him. "Don't worry, I'll-"
Snow didn't finished her sentence before everything around Spike slowed down. As Snow slowly turned her head to look at him, Dynol rushed towards her with his left hand folding into what can only describe as a stone-like hand with curve sword like claws for fingers. Once it was done forming, Dynol then lifted it up with speed and ferocity that not even Spike's slow motion moment could slow it down. But what he saw next made his eyes widen in shock and horror. Dynol's claw cut Snow's right shoulder to her neck to the whole right side of her face, cutting deep into her flesh. Soon, time speeded up and everything went back to normal to show Snow Charm flying into the air, with her blood pouring out of her shoulder, neck and face. She landed on her left side and slide across the floor, ending at a rock where her body rested on from the fearful attack. Spike was shaking uncontrollable as he looked at his rescuers beaten in seconds by the Lord of the Forest himself.
Dynol, while reforming his claw back to his normal hand, focused his attention on the little dragon. "Leaving so soon?" Dynol said as if he was hurt from Spike's escape. "Without saying goodbye to your friends?" Dynol kicked Spike in the belly, making him fall onto his knees. "Face it, your pony slaver is not coming to save you"
"Twilight doesn't treat me as a slave" Spike painfully said in protest to Dynol's words. "Twilight-"
"Then please tell me why she didn't come to save you herself?" Dynol interrupted Spike as he kneeled down on one knee. "If she thought of you anything different than a slave, why does she put her faith into these ponies rather then her own magical skills? We all know she saved the world a couple of times....But why can't she save you, a little dragon?"
"Because this was all part of the plan!" Arcana shouted out as he blown the horn that was given to him by princess Luna. Dynol quickly turned around to see the pony standing on his three hooves while blowing into the horn as long as possible in his right hoof. Dynol formed in his left hand his rocky crossbow and shot a fiery bolt at the horn, knocking it out of Arcana's hoof.
"Oh no, a random horn. Whatever shall I do now?" Dynol pretending to sound scared. "I surrender, O mighty pony. Take me to your leader in victory. Really, this is what the princesses is throwing at me?"
But it turned out, it wasn't. For teleporting in front of Dynol and Arcana. with a multiple of colour of yellow, blue, pink and purple came Princess Celestia and Luna, as well as Princess Cadence and Princess Twilight. The princesses held different weapons in either their wings, hooves or magic. The sun princess held the mighty Halberd; 'Dawn-Breaker' she used in fight against King Sombra whilst her sister held her own mighty sword she too used against King Sombra; 'The Night Blade'. Princess Cadence held on her back 'Platinum Staff', a crystal staff she would normally used for special traditions back at the Crystal Empire, but it was also used for combat as well although it was very rare that it was needed for war. Twilight didn't have one, instead her horn was glowing, ready to rescue Spike from the grip of the Horde.
"Twilight!" Spike cheered in delight. Only for Dynol to stamped one of his foot on the ground, making a stoney hand grab Spike in a tight grip, squeezing him if needs be.
"Well" Dynol began to speak verily. "I thought today would be a lovely day for me, but instead it's turning out to be a worse day then Monday"
Princess Celestia took a brave step towards Dynol. "Dynol the-"
"It's 'Lord' Dynol The Dammed now, given to me by my allies after killing a scout force and bodyguards to a now hornless minotaur, destroying your armies at Ponyville and capturing it, and the biggest of all making those walls"
Luna and Twilight narrowed their eyes whilst Cadence, despite being enemies and not having the full attention by the others, couldn't help but smile slightly at Dynol's little rhyme.
Celestia tried again. "Very well. Lord Dynol The Dammed, I humbly request you to release Spike at once, along with the Lunatics so we can talk peacefully and try to end this war before it truly begins"
"Peacefully? You've come to my home with weapons ready for war than peace"
"Better to be save then sorry"
"I would of gone with sorry if I was you" Dynol turned his head to the side to see Spike and, only his eyes could see, Ogres with their ebon blades carefully surrounding both he and the ponies along with the WoodFang's pack and Behemoth's warriors.
Cadence then walked next to Celestia, giving her some support. "Please Dynol" Dynol turned his attention to the princess. "You don't have to do this, there's no need for war" She took another step closer to him. "There are thousands of innocents in Equestria and the other lands, no one wants to have another war to lose people close to them. Have you thought about them?"
"I have" Dynol answered as he folded his arms across his chest. "I gave them a chance to run, like I did to those in that Scout force as well as the battle in Ponyville, but if they didn't.... They would of been citizens of war" He then grinned as he thought go cleaver plan. "But I am a respectable man and would gladly give back little Spike"
Celestia and Cadence's eyes widened in hope as Dynol clicked his fingers to make the stoney hand throw the dragon at Twilight's hooves. Said pony rushed up to Spike and embraced him in her hooves....That was....
"His corporation with the Council was very useful and so his reward is to be back with his family"
"What?!" The princesses and even Spike yelled in surprise.
"That's not true!" Spike said, trying to prove his innocent.
"That's it, my little comrade" Dynol happily replied. "Just like we acted, whoops didn't mean to say that out loud"
"Spike?" Twilight whispered with tears in her eyes. "Is it..."
"No it's not, I swear!"
"I...I Trust you" Twilight looked at Dynol. "You're lying, Spike would never do that!"
"Lying?!" Dynol shouted in anger. Cadence jumped from his outburst. "You have no rights to say that from what happened five years ago!"
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Five years ago?"
Before Twilight or even Luna could say anything, Dynol spoked first. "It would seem that she and your sister are allergic to truth and opening friendly arms"
"But...Twilight is the Princess of Friendship?"
What Dynol said next, changed everything.
"Then you best find someone else to take that title, for she has failed that"
"You disrespectful beast!" Luna angrily yelled in defence of Twilight's title and pride as she charged at Dynol with her sword drawned, aiming it at his chest. Before the other princesses could react, Dynol ignited his right hand into a uncontrollable flamethrower straight at the princess of the night. Luna's quick thinking caught up as she glowed her horn and teleported away from the flames. In recalibration, Dynol created a ball of air in his other hand and extended it out in front of him, causing the ball of air to strike at the all the princesses, making them fly out of the forest with incredible force. The princesses landed with a thud onto open land, there will be no cover of any trees from the forest if Dynol chases after them... And he did.
"They are mine, deal with those ponies!" Dynol commanded his forces and he floated towards his foes with both hands covered in purple and blue flames from the anger and rage within him. He landed a few feet away from the princesses as they got up from the ground. "Well it would seem that your 'peacefulness' has been backstabbed from your own blood, princess Celestia!"
"Look, we have got on the wron-"
"Too late!" Dynol shouted. "You had your chance, now I'll have your heads!" Dynol then proceed by lifting both his arms up in the air, where the princesses watched carefully. His right hand began to twisted and turned awkwardly, sometime everyone around Dynol could hear his bones creaking from its transformation. The fingers and thumb on his right hand moulded together and grown twice as long, becoming a long fiery sword with a line of lava on the outskirts of its blade. Meanwhile, on Dynol's left hand, A brownish rock was rising from under the ground, about the same size as a hoofball. Dynol's purple blue flames began to transform into flaming chains, rapping around Dynol's arm so it cannot be removed from its master's grip. The chain extended to where the rock laid in the ground and like its master's arm, rapped around the rock, pulling it out of the ground to revealed dozens of large sliver stone spikes attached to it. He then swung his chain, along with the spike covered rock in the air and swung it above his head whilst he pointed his molten fire blade at the princesses.
The princesses took to the air to get the higher ground and to prevent a surprise attack from Dynol or his Horde.
Dynol's molten mask burned bright as he smiled at the princesses.
"Today, the world will see its first Great Clash that'll spark The Great War!" Dynol shouted as he flew up in the air with his weapons thirsting for royal blood.
If there was ever a clash of Gods, this would be one of them.
The sky, although beautifully blue, had clouds torn apart and the air devoured by magic and rage. The magics and the elements of fire, air and earth devastated the lands below the leaders of two factions; Equestria and The Horde of The Forest.
The princesses had their own strengths and weaknesses in their fight against the elemental champion. The princess of the sun was more experienced in combat, she had faced many battles in her time and very rarely loses to them. But despite her experience, she lacked in speed unlike the other princesses, which Dynol The Dammed used to his advantage by swing his rocky flail mace with incredible speed. The princess of the night relied heavily on her enchanted blade than anything else. The blade she used against the shadow king increased her agility and magical defensives. However, she is very impatient and restless when it come to combat. Dynol, mostly focused his attention on her and the princess of friendship, took her weakness and made her come to him so he could quickly use his molten blade to caught her off guard. The princess of love was by far the quickest of all the princesses. She dived down at the champion and used her staff to deal some damage on him. But however she, along with the princess of friendship, haven't had a lot of combat experience so this was still new to her. Dynol relied on his powers of air to slow down the princess so he could deal with her with ease. Finally there was the princess of friendship. She fought the elemental champion through magic, trying to aid her fellow princesses as she casted spells after spells onto the Lord of the Forest. But like the princess of love, she has not got a lot of combat experience beside fighting Tirek with all of the princesses powers combined within her.
Dynol, although outnumbered four to one, had one upper hand in the fight. As the battle took place in the sky, Dynol used the power of the air to make it a battle of his choosing. He could easily catch the princesses in a grip from the air, casts waves of flames from his molten blade or even crash them with his mighty flail mace. To say the least; the princesses may have the numbers, but they don't have the upper hand in battle that Dynol does.
Right now, Cadence and Twilight were just flying above the furious conflict between Luna and Dynol whilst Celestia was catching her breath as well as trying to find an opening. Luna was desperate to go on the offence, but Dynol kept that from happening by either using his molten blade to strike quick and without mercy in close combat or swinging his rocky flail mace with speed and ferocity at far range as well as casting fireballs.
"You are outnumbered, Dynol!" Luna shouted at Dynol as their blades clashed into each other as they looked at each other's eyes.
"But I'm not outgunned!" Dynol chuckled as his mask burnt bright. Dynol's eyes glowed brighter than the rest of the mask, almost like....
Luna knew what was coming and broke away from Dynol, just as two lines of lava spatted out from his mask's eyes. This was all Luna's sister needed as she flapped her wings and dived straight at Dynol's back with her halberd aiming true. Dynol turned his head and saw the incoming princess as he swung his mace around, along with his body facing where the princess was coming from. Said princess gasped as she casted a bubble shield around her as the mace slammed into it with sheer force. The impact caused the princess to span uncontrollably towards the east, far from the battle taking place.
"This is all?!" Dynol yelled, chuckling some more from how things are going. "Is this what the mighty princesses of Equestria can do? This is not a battle this is just a disgrace!" He then turned his attention to where the other princesses was, namely Cadence and Twilight. Dynol grinned as he flow towards them with his molten blade pointing forward whilst swinging his mace above his head. Twilight casted bolts of magic at him, hoping to land a hit on him. Instead, he merely altered his position by either flying above them or around them, but he still held his blade forward and his mace swinging above his head.
But when Dynol was in just a few feet from the princesses, swinging his mace right at them. Twilight teleported away from Dynol, avoiding being crushed by his flail mace whilst Cadence flow just above Dynol's rock flail mace. She then flow around Dynol and strike Dynol's back with her staff, making him grunted in pain and annoy.
"Twilight, go help Celestia!" Cadence said to her sister-in-law as Dynol turned around to look straight at her. His molten blade glowed bright as lava covered the edges of the blade. "I'll hold him off as long as I can!" Twilight nodded as she flew to where Celestia was still spinning uncontrollably. Cadence then flew back at Dynol, spinning her staff to get him thinking where to strike. Dynol chuckled once more, watching the princess of love charging at him with speed and ferocity. Dynol waited for Cadence to come to him, swinging his mace once again above his head. He then swung his mace towards the princess, hoping for his trick would work. Cadence dodged the mace and was about to hit Dynol's chest. However, his molten blade clashed with her staff, holding them in place as sparks flew off the weapons.
"Why, Dynol?" Cadence asked as they both stared into each other's eyes. "Why war? Why kill hundreds? What is to gain from this bloodshed?"
"My words won't change anything, your highness" Dynol replied sinisterly. "But what I want, is not what you want" Dynol swung his blade to the right, only for Cadence to block it with her staff.
"Then tell me!" She yelled at him, angrily and desperately to know the reason. "What is it that I don't want you to have!?"
"Justice, upon those who spark the flames of war!" Dynol bellowed as he headbutted Cadence in the face, his mask burnt her fur as she yelled in pain, causing her aunt; Luna to narrow her eyes in rage while Dynol then proceeded to knee her once again in the face. As Luna's sword glowed dark blue as well as her flying at top speed toward her niece and foe. Dynol swung his mace around the princess's body. The chains rapping around her, burning her skin. Dynol then swung the mace, and in turn the princess, downwards causing Cadence to fall down to the ground, creating a large crater that went down three feet in the soil. This caused Luna's blood to boil, her niece taken down by Dynol without mercy. Her eyes went white and her blade glowed brighter, this however made Dynol turn his gaze towards the princess of the furious night. Dynol went on the defence as he brought his arms up into a X shape and swung them to his side, creating a X shape air strike at Luna. But Luna went though it without stopping. Dynol wasn't fast enough before Luna's sword stabbed into his left side of his chest. Dynol roared in pain as he thumped his mace right on Luna's back, making her fell, like her niece, straight to the ground but a mile away from the crater where Cadence tried to get out but her wounds were great. Dynol flew down away her as he disenchanted his rocky flail mace. Luna tried to get up, but fell down from a extreme stinging pain coming from her upper back and wings along with two hind legs. Once Dynol landed down, he looked down at where the sword was stuck in his chest and used his free hand to grab its handle, pulling out slowly but it was painful to say the least. He grunted and and breathed through his teeth as he pulled it out of his chest as blood poured out his chest. He threw the blade to the side and placed his hand over his wound to prevent anymore blood from pouring out of him.
"What's the matter, Lord Dynol?" Luna said with a weak chuckle. "Losing too much blood to keep on fighting?"
"That's not what you should be worried about" Dynol sinisterly replied back as he walked up to her with his molten blade glowing bright and dripping lava onto the ground. He then kicked on her left side to force her to lay on her already painful back. She hissed in agony as Dynol stomped his right foot onto her chest and left it there. "The scout back home gave a lot of good info about your people's weaknesses because of a certain 'method' I used on her" His foot then grew hotter and hotter as Luna yelled in pain. "But unfortunately for you, all I require from you....is to suffer and die"
"And she won't give that today" Came a motherly voice. Dynol turned his head towards where the voice came from and saw Celestia standing behind him with her halberd pointing at his back.
"Had a nice spin, did you?" Dynol laughed.
"It's over Dynol, surrender and answer for your crimes"
Dynol growled furiously as he flew back into the sky with speed before Celestia could acted. She looked up as Dynol looked down at her. He then lifted his molten blade up into the air and bellowed;
"The only thing I answer to, is the ones who taught me THIS!!"
Suddenly, storms of clouds came out of nowhere and began to fold into one giant ball of raw power. Fires was seen inside of the storm, raging and uncontrollably like a hornets raiding a bee hive. Celestia knew well enough what's going on. Dynol was casting his infamous flaming vortex he used at the battle of Ponyville. She quickly went to her sister and helped her up onto her hooves as Twilight supported her sister-in-law onto hers.
"We need to move now!" Celestia shouted. "Where's the Lunatics?"
As if her words could predict the future, the Lunatics came out of the Everfree forest with a battlefield filled with the bodies of the Horde's warriors in a pool of their own blood. Leading them was Arcana with Shamrock and Firestorm right behind him. Storm Days had a blooded Snow Charm on his back and Spike holding pressure on Snow's wounds, making sure that she doesn't die from blood loss. Even though many warriors were slain, Behemoth, WoodFang and Llofrudd rallied their remaining forces and chased after them. As the Lunatic were getting closer to Celestia, she flowed her horn and opened a portal to Canterlot.
"Hurry everyone!" Celestia called out to her ponies. "Into the portal, let's move move move!" She then helped her sister into the portal as quickly as possible whilst the rest followed suit. As the last pony entered the portal, it then closed behind, making sure that the Horde wouldn't pursuit.
Dynol roared in anger as he dismissed his casting of the vortex and landed back down on the ground, creating his own crater as to how pissed off he was of seeing not only the princesses escaping, but the Lunatics and Spike themselves escaping as well.
While the Behemoth and Llofrudd ordered their warriors to halt, WoodFang rushed up to his master folded his ears back, seeing his master so cross, as well as being injured. He whippered softly from the scene.
Dynol's mask folded off his face, revealing a stern face. "How many was sent to deal with the five intruders, WoodFang?" Dynol asked. Which WoodFang replied with a quite bark. "I see, and how many are left?" WoodFang lowered his head and gave another quite bark, something his master didn't like to hear. Dynol made a silent growl that only WoodFang could hear. He then walked up to to his councillors. "Behemoth, Llofrudd! I sent almost half of Ponyville's garrison, along with your best warriors to taken care of FIVE damn ponies and from what I've been told is that we lost around half of what I'd sent!?" The two didn't gave an answer, there is nothing they can say to say. Dynol grunted and walked away from them, looking at Canterlot in the distance.
"My lord!" A dog coming out of the forest on all four. He then reached Dynol and kneeled down behind him. "My lord, the pony scout at Castle Rhyfel has escaped"
Dynol narrowed his eyes as he turned around and blasted the dog away with air. The yelped in fright as he flew in the air and collided with a tree while the rest watched with wide eyes.
"Could this day can get any worse?" Dynol said to himself as cover his hands in water to heal his stab wound.
Suddenly, WoodFang started to barking at where Ponyville was. Everyone looked at what he was barking and saw something coming over the mountains. Three large reptilian creatures with wings heading straight towards Ponyville.
The dragons.
Dynol started to walk. "Let's hope this will end in my favour rather than having another enemy in this war"
'Half a garrison slain by five ponies!" I thought angrily to himself as I was walking through the Everfree and towards Ponyville while my warriors and councillors were following behind me. My councillors could of easily destroy those ponies and yet they didn't? If it wasn't for WoodFang, they would of had more than a shout from me. I had WoodFang walking next to me only because he was unsure on my injury, but that blade only stabbed me and nothing more, it wasn't much to worry about although I have been coughing a lot as we walked. But I'm sure that normal for being stabbed, her head will do nicely on my wall once this war is over.
We arrived at the town, where our possibly friends awaited us. But if they dare try and cause a trouble... I won't let them escape like the ponies. As we walked, Behemoth and Llofrudd ordered their remaining warriors to go rest while they, along with me and WoodFang, headed off to see the dragons. We headed towards the castle and there we saw them.
There, in front of my newest castle, was three large dragons standing tall and proud, mostly likely to show they're no pushovers. On the right was a bulky looking dragon with silver scales and red stripes. He had craved spikes going from the back of his neck to all the way to his tail which has long spear-like spike at the end. He wore what looked like ancient iron armour, almost like it was made an age ago. His eyes was an amber coloured, looking straight at me and my councillors.
On the left, stood a more slimmer dragon, meaning this was a female. Her wings were folded up in the air, like she's hiding something. Her scales was a purple-blue smooth skin, shining from the sun. Her back, unlike the other fella, was also smooth and with no spike to ruin it. She wore ancient armour like her ally, but not as much for she wore more of blackish leather than mental. She had two curve horns coming out of the back of her head, missing a few feet away from her crimson eyes.
And finally, in the middle of both dragons was another female. However, she was much taller than the others, around a few feet more. Her wings had some holes in them, they looked like she had been shot by both magic and arrows. She was covered in yellow-redish robes, covered in dragon symbols and bits of gold around the neck. On top of her head was somewhat of a crown, containing gems, bones and gold, its design looked very barbaric. Although, she had green emerald-like eyes that showed a motherly side of her and also, a very peaceful one. This could work well for me.
"Welcome, dragons" I spoke firmly as me and my councillors reached the three dragons. "Welcome to what remains of the town known as Ponyville"
The middle dragon nodded her head. "Greetings, Lord Dynol. I am Lady Night-Gaze and these are my Elder councillors; High-lord E'drak and Inquisitor Era'do" The two dragons bowed their heads in respect.
"A pleasure, allow me to introduce my councillors; Great Alpha Behemoth, Leader of Clan Bytheiad and Clan Mwngrel. And this is Llofrudd Shard-Oth, son of Varlock Shard-Oth, Chieftain of the Ogres of Red-Oath"
"I see" Night-Gaze said with a smile. "They look like they can handle a war"
"Looks yes, but I don't give them false hope if they cannot do a simple task" I didn't need to look back to know that the two were rubbing the back of their necks. "But I guess I know why you're here, milady"
Lady Night-Gaze and the other dragons raised their heads up and unfolded their wings.
"We, the elder dragons wishes to ally with your Horde"
I smiled. "By all means, elder dragons, your timely alliance is all but welcomed"
"I must say" High-lord E'drak booming voice said. "When we heard you'd declared war upon Equestria, we thought you were just one of insane fools"
"But when you captured Ponyville" Inquisitor Era'do entered the conversation. "We had a long and somewhat boring chat about what side we should be on; Neutral or yours"
"Well I'm honoured that you didn't side with Equestria" I replied as I placed my hands behind my back. "From what I've heard, you two were once allies for each other"
"Once" E'drak spatted. "But then we took our heads out of the clouds and realised what a stupid thing that was. Too peaceful for the likes of us"
"Huzzah!" Behemoth cheered. Both me, Llofrudd and the dragons looked at him. "Oh sorry, I kinda wanted to say that to myself"
I shook my head and faced the Lady Night-Gaze. "Beside fighting with the Horde, what else can you provide in this war?"
"You may know of our homeland; The Dragon Holds" Night-Gaze informed. "Well after the Chaos Crisis, The Griffin Empire took their chance of expending their territories by taking some of our Holds - in your sense, cities - when we were at our weakest. We can declare war upon them, which will slow down reinforcements from Griffinstone and their Minotaur allies from coming to Equestria's aid, making your campaign a bit more easier for your Horde. Also, some of nobles in the Holds are very into the Everfree Forest, we could trade you resources from our lands if you trade some of your forest's resources like those poison jokes, rare relics from abandon fortresses and for some reason among my people; just fruits from the forest itself"
"Fruits?"
"I think it's to show off to rival families that they have something from the most dangerous forest in all of Equus"
"What are these resources you can send to us?"
"Metal, weapons, wagons, heck even our own scales for your blacksmiths to create unbreakable armours" Era'do explained as she looked at Behemoth. "Like the one your canine ally wears" I looked at Behemoth and saw more detail on his armour. She's right, they were made of scales. I should of known. "But, we offer you something else, Lord Dynol. A token of our friendship and luck to your war against the ponies"
I faced the inquisitor as she lowered her neck and placed her head on the ground. Coming down from her neck was another dragon.... Smaller then the three elder dragons. Once again, slim body with smooth orange-purple scales, meaning another female. But she walked on two legs rather than four and wore red robes. She had no spikes and no horns, almost look like a drake to me. She came down with an orb in one of her claws, coloured in a white-blueish aura. In the another, she held a large book. In looked ancient and perhaps even older. Once she was off the Inquisitor's head, she walked right up to me and bowed her head which I nodded back. She lifted up her head, looking at me with sky blue eyes.
"Lord Dynol The Dammed" She spoke softly. "It's an honour to meet you in person, I'm looking forward working with you"
"The honour is mine, miss...?"
"Ormry, Ambassador Ormry"
"A fine name, Ormry" I said with a smile.
"The ambassador will work as a connection between you and us" Lady Night-Gaze explained. "Instead of sending your ravens to us, you can right your letters to the ambassador and she'll send them to us, making communication a lot easier"
"And I can guess she's also here to make sure your interests are heard in my council?"
"Correct"
I nodded my head as I looked at the orb and book in Ormry's claws. "And what are these gifts you're giving to me?"
"The Aspect Book was written by a powerful battle-mage" E'drak said strongly. "He had similar powers to yours, as the book said something about summoning these things called as the book's named; Aspects. The Orb we have only a small bit of information about what it does. We think it's to tell wisdom to does who wants to learn because of strange whispers. Although, it has remained silent for a long time"
'similar powers like mine?' I thought to myself as Ormry gave the orb and the book to Llofrudd. 'Who could possibly use my mentors' gifts if I was the only one they've called?' Something isn't right, more questions for my mentors.
"Don't we need to sign something?" Behemoth asked as Llofrudd looked at the book. "or shake claws?"
"No need" I spoke as I got out of my thoughts. "If they didn't gave us those relics and wanting to side with us, I'm all for it. The Horde of the Forest is grateful to have the Dragon Holds as their allies"
"And we Elder Dragons" Lady Night-Gaze smiled, showing her sharp teeth. "Are glad that we can go to war again on our hated neighbours"
Far away from Equestria
"If not, don't expect me to reply again, this is your only chance to join my war and in turn, your retribution of fire and rage"
The air figure of Dynol slowly shrink back into the scroll and rapped itself up. Once it done that, the raven picked it up and flew out of the inn's window. Clicking noises were chatting around the inn.
"Equestria is at war?"
"Ponyville has fallen?"
"Who was that Dynol?"
"Why did he ask for us to join in this fight of his?"
"Silence!" The leader of the group yelled. The leader got up from his set and moved into the light. Covered in his once loyal armour to his queen, having a crimson coloured symbol of two insect wings on his right black-iron shoulder plate. His helmet covered his entire face apart of his horn. His wings buzzed a bit, making sure his armour wasn't too tight. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Crimson Wings! Tomorrow, we'll moving out to Ponyville for blood and glory!"
"If not, don't expect me to reply again, this is your only chance to join my war and in turn, your retribution of fire and rage"
The air figure of Dynol slowly shrink back into the scroll and rapped itself up. Once it done that, the raven picked it up and flew out of the cave. Clicking noises were chatting around the cave as they came together into a circle.
"Equestria is at war?"
"Ponyville has fallen?"
"Who was that Dynol?"
"Why did he ask for us to join in this fight of his?"
"Isn't it obvious?" The leader of the group said as he sat on his throne made of bones. His blackish robes with blue highlights blow thanks to the wind coming out of the cave, revealing pure white steel armour underneath That had a thunderbolt symbol on his armour. In his right hoof, he held his steel barbaric trident up with pride. He wore a steel Sallet helmet, only showing his snout that was covered in scars from previous battles. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Obviously, this Lord Dynol has heard of the mighty and powerful Blitzschlag warriors and wants to share his glory with us!"
Every leader was gathered in my throne room. Well, everyone apart from Luna and Cadence, who are getting check up by medics from the fight against Dynol. Some of my most trustworthy nobles and generals were in the throne room as well. Twilight and her friends, along with Spike, who was standing next to me and Twilight was chatting to themselves on something. I sat on my throne and watched the political chaos in front of me.
Already many of the nobles, generals and leaders were arguing on what to do about this war. Some wanted to conscript innocents of all races to fight in the war, others like Shining Armour and Rock-Axes wanted to rebuild our armies and double our defences in major cities. Some of the nobles wanted to try and make peace with The Horde of The Forest and release all control of Ponyville and the Everfree to gain said peace. One noble, sadly named Blueblood, wanted to destroy the Everfree with magical strikes from afar, luckily everyone disagreed with him. Some reason was with us.
"I, along with Prince Shining Armour and the princesses has seen what the Horde's combat tactics and planning did to our combined forces" Rock-Axes said seriously. "If we are gonna win this, we must not underestimate Lord Dynol and his armies!"
"He has gained allies just over a week before the Fall of Ponyville" One crystal pony general said as he walked over the room. "And with these Ogres, diamond dogs and the Everfree itself on Dynol's side, more will join him, mainly because of the Fall of Ponyville!"
"So what shall we do then?" A noble unicorn mare asked. "Call everyone in to the fight? Send thousands to die in this war? I say, we should cut the head of the snake!"
"Yeah, like that's gonna be easy!"
"Um, can I say something?" Came a certain dragon. Everyone looked at Spike as he walked into the middle of the room, where all eyes focused on him. Spike gulped before her went on. "Look, I know everyone here is scared, some won't admit it but we all know. But I was there, I've heard and seen their leaders. I know how the Horde of The Forest works and believe me, if six ponies stopped everlasting night, eternal Chaos and fought off a power-hungry centaur, what can a combined forces of Ponies, Griffins, Minotaurs and others can achieve against Dynol and his council?"
Everyone -pony, griffin, minotaur, noble and general alike- all looked to each other and saw Spike was right. We may have lost Ponyville and was driven out. But we did it together. If there was just one army there, we could of lost a lot more then just a town.
"Spike?" Twilight asked the dragon. "What do you mean you've seen their leaders and how the Horde works?"
"I mean when they locked me in one of the rooms in your castle, I'd seen the leaders of all the races that are with the Horde and how their alliance works" Spike explained as some generals, namely Shining armour and Rock-Axes, listen in carefully. "In charge of the Horde as we all know is Dynol The Dammed, but he also made a council of all the races' leaders as his advisers and generals. The leader of the Ogres is known as Chieftain Varlock Shard-Oth and he has a son named Llofrudd Shard-Oth who I guess is the second in command to the Ogres. The one that is leading the diamond dogs is called Great Alpha Behemoth, who from his forces is also know as 'The Right Hand'. And lastly, Dynol's most loyal follower; A timberwolf named WoodFang, who I guess is in charge of keeping the animals of the Everfree ready for their master's orders"
"He's telling the truth" Came the voice of Flower-pit, who was sitting in a wheelchair next to the Lunatics. "The Horde's Council are extremely organised, every battle the Horde's armies goes to, their council has already has a plan on the attack. They're not randomly going off fighting.... They'll attack because Dynol orders it to win his war"
"But wants to gain in this war?" Another noble asked. "Are they planning on expending their territories? Waiting till we surrender? Or are they after someone?"
Everyone began to chat to the nearest person next to them. I happened to noticed Twilight looking around with worried eyes. But I was too busy on having a solution to this war more than anything else. This war must be stopped, here and now. For Dynol gains more power and more allies to join his armies.... There might not be a 'Equestria' in the near future. I sighed as I continued watching everyone coming up with ideas. I happened to noticed that Shining Armour was getting along quite well with Rock-Axes. They're both experts in battles, Shining creates better battle tactics than the minotaur whilst Rock-Axes is better at getting his warriors ready for combat. If they put their minds together, they could tip this war in our favour. I got up from my throne and started walk down the stairs whilst everyone went silent as they watched me walking up to Spike and stood next him.
"Everyone" I said, gaining everyone's attention focusing on me. "We'd faced wars before. We all know the pain of losing something important, but we've been doing that on our own. But now, in this war, we can not fight this alone. Dynol will not stop at Equestria, he'll send his Horde all over this continent until nothing threatens his rule! We need to stand together, now more then ever before. We'll take the fight to The Horde of The Forest, we'll reclaim Ponyville and we'll bring Dynol and his Council to justice of crimes against not only Equestria, but to the Griffin Empire, the Crystal Empire and the Minotaur Clans! On our own, this would be impossible, but as one, Dynol will not win! Call all of our allies. Call the Yaks from Yakyakistan. Rally the Zebra Tribes in the Griffin Empire, send another letter to the Dragon Holds and enlist all who wants to join the Royal Pony Army. On this day, I call for a union of nations! Ponies, Griffins, Minotaurs, Zebras, Yaks and Dragons will come together as one and bring this war crushing down on Dynol's Horde with the cry of a thousand strong proud warriors. The United Liberators of Equus comes for you, Lord Dynol The Dammed!"
After my speech, the sounds of stomping hooves and claps from claws and hands rang throughout the throne room and I could guess throughout the whole castle. We'll bring this 'Great War' to an end, no matter the cost.
Third Person POV:
In the heart of the Everfree forest. Lord Dynol, his council and Ambassador Ormry were admiring the construction Of Castle Rhyfel from their war room. The castle looked almost like a fortress Dynol used to know from a game he played long ago, thanks to one of the diamond dogs calling it 'Forestcrown'. It had a stone bridge instead of that old rope one with four watch towers, two in the front and two at the end that leads to the castle's entrance. Any holes from within the castle was pasted up and all the crumbling walls were rebuilt from the houses from Ponyville. Where once the Tree of Harmony stood before Twilight's castle was raised, held the Ogres' forges, creating new weapons and armours for the fast growing armies. Where the royal garden was, it was built as a training ground for the new recruits. Training dummies and arching lessons were being used daily. The living quarters was customised for the Horde's council, making each room unique from the another. Dynol placed the Aspect Book and The Orb in his meditation room, where he'll study on the artifacts more closely.
But for now, Dynol was looking at the battle table with the map of Equestria along with his council. Varlock was disappointed with his son's action in Ponyville and losing half a garrison to the Lunatics but looked the other way for the time being, there is bigger concerns to think about. Behemoth was sorting out tunnel reports from his diggers, they've connected their tunnels with Castle Rhyfel that'll have the armies moving quickly throughout Equestria and striking without warning. Ambassador Ormry was fascinated by Dynol's powers, diplomatic skills and how he'd built this alliance of races against Equestria. Whatever Dynol is, she couldn't but help to admire him and what to learn more about his past and also his species. WoodFang walked towards his master with a scroll in his mouth, he sat down next to Dynol as Dynol took the scroll out of his mouth and read it to himself.
"Interesting" Dynol said as he continue to read what was in the scroll. "Already the Dragon Holds has given us a heavy supply of metal and weapons. Ormry, how can your people send these supplies without being seen by Canterlot from afar?"
"We dragons have a way of making sure that trade with kingdoms goes unnoticed, it's a dragon secret" Ormry explained with a smile.
"Care to tell us?"
"It wouldn't be a secret if I tell you, won't it?"
"You dragons have a strange sense of humour"
Ormry giggled to herself whilst Dynol chuckled from her giggle. "But anyway, four Ogres and one Timberwolf is delivering the supply here on wagon" Dynol turned to face Varlock. "Varlock, how goes the training for new recruits?"
"Let's just say the warriors we've lost at Ponyville is not even five present of the armies we have ready at our disposal" Varlock chuckled as Dynol smiled and Ormry widened her eyes from hearing what the Ogre chieftain had just said.
"How is that possible?" Ormry asked Varlock.
"We Ogres reproduce quickly and we are natural born fighters, only need a few lessons and we're on the battlefield before you can say 'Amhosibl'"
"Amhosibl?"
"That's impossible in our tongue"
"Plus my kinsmen are in the dozens" Behemoth joined the conversation as put down his reports. "Our pups learns how to fight when we take them on raids and attack small merchants"
"So your two races just go to war at a young age?"
"Yes" The chieftain and alpha said together.
"Good allies, eh?" Dynol spoken with a witty tone in his voice as he moved away from the battle table with WoodFang following behind him. "Right, why don't we all see this new balcony that has a great view of the castle and few miles of open grounds large enough to fit an army?"
"But, Lord Dynol?" Ormry called to the champion as Varlock and Behemoth agreed with him and followed him as well. The ambassador rushing up next to Dynol. "Surly we'll need more than just one army? It'll take more than a thousand warriors to replenish enough manpower to fight Equestria and her allies"
"Five thousand Ogres and six thousand diamond dogs accompanied by an unnumbered amount of forest friends like WoodFang?"
"At the least, with my people going to war with the Griffin Empire, you'll need the...."
Her voice faded away as four horns blew loud and proud as she, Lord Dynol and the council walked out into the open and stood on of the balcony. Cheers were heard along with the sound of bashing weapons on armours and on the ground, barking, hissing, howling and many more animal sounds overwhelmed any other sound. The army Dynol just talked about was looking straight at them, five thousand Ogres and six thousand diamond dogs accompanied by an unnumbered amount of forest friends. In front of the army was Llofrudd and a few other generals, both Ogres and diamond dog alike. Ormry could not believe at what she was looking at. A grand army built within the forest and Equestria has no knowledge and is unaware this army exists at all. Whilst Dynol and his council on the other hand, was grinning happily at the slight of the army. Dynol lifted up his right hand to get order from the roaring army. Llofrudd and the generals settled down the army as they slowly stopped cheering and the forest went silent again.
"Never before had I seen a proud strong army in my life!" Dynol bellowed, making sure everyone in the army heard what he's saying. "My friends, you have not disappointed me!" The army roared again, all of them pleased that they've their lord's approval. Dynol once again raised his hand up to stop the roaring army.
"For years, the ponies of Equestria have shun us out as nothing more than bloodthirsty monsters and believing themselves as the greater good among everyone else! Those who summits to their way of life are their allies....But those who wants to rule themselves like all of us here....Are seen as threats to their 'peaceful life' and must be exterminated!" The army booed and hissed at what their foes did to them.
"But do you know what I say?! I say enough is enough! We've destroyed their idea of being the best at Ponyville! We've showed them that their armies is nothing compare to ours! And most of all, we've showed them that their beloved princesses and their saviours 'The Mane Six" cannot protect them anymore from the sounds of our battle cries and the sight of the Horde's flag above their fallen soldiers!" The army cheered, stomped and howled. Dynol's speech was giving them high morale and that they could feel like they could conquer the entire world of Equus.
"So march into our tunnels, strike the ponies and their allies everywhere without warning and without mercy. March to Equestria... Leave none alive!" Dynol raised his arms into the air and looked down at his army with a wide grin.
"TO WAR!!!!"
The army cheered and roared louder than the last three time. They cheer even made his council raise their weapons and the ambassador clapping from Dynol's speech. Llofrudd and the generals ordered the army to move out, some of them joining in the ranks of the Horde's legions. Dynol turned to face Varlock and Behemoth.
"Varlock, I want you to lead the bulk of this army along with Llofrudd, make sure they strike at weak points and destroy any fortresses that'll give the ponies an advantage. Behemoth, I want you to lead the raids with your clans and even if you can, rallying more diamond dog clans to join the Horde of The Forest, the more the merrier" The two nodded their heads and went off to do their roles. Leaving only Dynol and Ormry to themselves.
"What would you like me to do?" Ormry asked, still in admires at the army she'd just seen.
"Well, despite you continuing with your jobs as ambassador and I studying on the gifts the Elder Council gave to me with kindness" Dynol said as he and Ormry walked along side one another, heading to the throne room.
"I would like to know more about you, if that's alright with you?"
At Ten Thirty AM. The once peaceful town of Ponyville -homed to the famous Mane Six and newly crowned Princess of Friendship; Princess Twilight Sparkle- was besieged and captured by a terrifying new enemy known as The Horde of The Forest.
It took the combined strength of four armies; the Royal and Crystal guards, Minotaurs and Griffins, to give enough time for the residents of Ponyville to escape from the grips of this new enemy. As we speak, The Horde's armies are destroying everything we knew in Ponyville and Celestia knows what they're planning to do next. But the one that's pulling the strings in the Horde is their master; Lord Dynol The Dammed.
His foul powers have created huge walls, blocking any army from entering Ponyville as well as any hope of reclaiming it. The latest news about this foe is unknown, though his where about it somewhere deep within the Everfree Forest. His allies are the forest itself, along with creatures known as Ogres and Diamond Dogs, any chance of peace are off the table.
But Equestria is not the only one that's facing a war. Her biggest ally; The Griffin Empire, is now at war with The Dragons Holds, who attacked the cities of Fang-Grin, Airga, Werto and Argon's Keep- Once former Holds to the dragons- by surprise and under the cover of the clouds. Rumours says that the dragons have made a pact with The Horde of The Forest, although no clear evidences have been found to prove this theory. For us, this means griffin reinforcements will be least common, as well as minotaur supports. Although High Chief Rock-Axes told us that he'll stay in Equestria to aid us for he said and I quote; 'There is a more dangerous foe than an army of Dragons'. Allies like Yakyakistan and Zebra Tribes have give their support and warriors to aid Equestria in this war, meaning we're not fighting alone.
Enlisting has begun in major cities in Equestria, however Canterlot is gaining more guards by the minutes, any able bodies must join the Equestrian Royal Army and fight together against this danger that's threatening our way of life and is planning of striking at any moment.
For a new alliance known as the ULE- United Liberators of Equus- are ready to take the fight to The Horde of The Forest. It will need everyones help in the war least they come to us.
Journal page 4 (Captain Shining Armour)
Enlisting has never been enforced like this before. Hundreds of ponies gathered at our barracks, most of them were from Ponyville. We had to write their names down and their professions to understand what they'll be good at in the army. I noticed that Applejack's brother, Big Mac had joined just a few moments before I could see the list of those who wished to fight against Dynol's Horde, his strength is needed more than ever. In the list I also saw Lyra Heartstrings, Roseluck, Nurse Redheart, Fancy Pants and many more familiar names. I'll have some of them be put in behind the lines, helping the guards than fight with them, although I can guess that they only joined to fight than to help.
The moment I heard about the Dragon Holds invading the Griffin Empire I knew that they wouldn't help us. The moment those two dragons flew away from the Battle of Ponyville, I knew they were preparing to weaken us even more. Now I hope that they wouldn't make an alliance with the Horde, we don't what dragon fire mixed with Dynol's flames.
I went to see Cadence after she was checked up by the doctors. Just serious burns around her body and some bruises thank goodness. However she said something about Dynol that made no sense. He's angered and hurt before declaring war against us? Something that happened five years ago? These words she was saying almost sounded like she has pity for Dynol and doubts about this war.
Whatever is going on, it must end. I want this war to end quickly and without losing too many lives, I may have fought in combats... But have never fought a war like this before.
Battle Report 207 (Horde of The Forest)
Lord Dynol, we have great news to report!
The 12th Arkron Army has won great battles so far. With Alpha Behemoth sending his scouts to give locations of weak pony towns and villages, your army raided the places and taken anything that'll help us in war as you requested. General Llofrudd has destroyed two forts with little trouble, these ponies and their defensives fell quickly and with ease.
Although on some bad things, we tried to attack a larger town in the northern lands of Equestria. Four legions, ruffly around two hundred Kinsmen and Diamond Dog allies have been slain by a combined force of Royal and Crystals maggots. Though we'd lost the battle, we took out as many as the four legions could. That town is nothing but of a shadow of what it once was.
The tunnels the dogs have are extremely useful, General Llofrudd has ordered his forces to use them as trading posts for the dragons and ourselves. Alpha Behemoth wanted me to tell you that he has got three more dog clans to join us after killing their alphas, they'll be used as scouts and to raid merchants that are close to your army.
Chieftain Varlock wanted to know about attack a heavy fortress in the east, where a city called Manehatten is. He explained that destroying that fortress will give us a opening for a invasion on said city. He awaits your response, my Lord.
Journal page 2 (Lord Dynol The Dammed)
These are not gifts the Elder Council has given to me... They are relics!
The Aspect Book is for people like me to summon Elementals created by my mentors!
After having a long conversation with my mentors, Fire wants me to learn to summon those Aspects for me to use in the war. My mentors explained to me that they were used before in a war long forgotten, around the time of The Old Empire of Gwaed Newydd. I asked what this empire was, but they explained that I'm not ready to know.
For now, I'm reading the book and found interesting Aspects. All of them can be created with my powers, although I'll need to practice before casting the spells require to summon them, but I just can't wait to found out how useful they'll be.
One of them is called an 'Carreg'. A stone giant, bulky and with two heads that looks like cyclops with an ruby eye and two reptilian horns. Their body are made of agate and grey rocks with spikes made of agate on their back, shoulders and legs. They also look like they have crave blades embedded in their wrists as well as holding a mace made of igneous. Said to be around ten feet taller, as large as Ursa Minor's leg. Quite amusing I have to agree.
Another was more simply yet great known as a 'Corwynt'. An Aspect made from the power of a hurricane. It had a long serpent-like body with two talons and two enormous dragon like wings. Its tail was long and slim and its head was that of a iguana with long sharp teeth and with two tongues. What made them interesting was that in the book it said that Corwynts were used as in packs to deal with any threats that fly in the sky and that they were one of the easier Aspects to be summoned.
One page held a great detail of an Aspect simply called 'Hellfires'. A demon like aspect made from molten lava and a fiery aura. Its had two devilish horns, mouth filled with razors teeth and strange symbols around its face. Its lower body had reptilian talons and tail whilst its upper body was wearing black onyx armour. It didn't have any hands, instead on its right was a huge, flaming barbaric cleaver and on its left had a double edged sword, coming out of its wrist and all the way out to its shoulder, making the sword look like it's inside the Aspect's skin and bones. It mention that the Hellfires are the most hardest to control because they have a raging battle lust when they are ordered to kill and wouldn't stop until all foes are slain by its weapons.
The final Aspect I read before one of my raven gave me a report on how the war is going was called a 'Trobwll'. This Aspect's form almost look like my species, a humanoid made of pure, crystal clear water. Its body is shape like that of a female but there's no facial features, just a watery humanoid creature. In the book it said that the Trobwlls were used as medics and healers, clearing and healing injuries from stab wounds to poisons. These ones would aid us greatly, making sure we're back in shape and ready for another battle in seconds. Perhaps I'll summon the Trobwlls first before the others, just to be safe.
Battle Report 096 (The Griffin Empire)
My Empress, I'm writing this report down with sadness and anger in your soldiers' hearts.
After the dragons taken control of Argon's Keep, our eastern territories are constantly being invaded. If it wasn't for our minotaur allies and your brilliant generals tactics, we would of lost twenty-three present of your land, your highness.
But alas, this is not even the bad news.
Most of the Zebra Tribes under the banner of the Glorious Empire of Griffin kind has formed an confederacy, trying to gain their independents from your kindness, savages the lot of them. Some loyal tribes has not joined this Zebrica Confederacy. Although, many chats among the secondary chiefs are beginning to think that joining the Confederacy will be a greater option than being under your empire's protection.
With the eastern and southern parts of your empire either being invaded by the dragons or civil and guerrilla attack from zebra rebels, we'll need more soldiers on the front lines as soon as possible, your highness.
If I be bold, your majesty. I think that garrison of Griffin soldiers keeping a watchful eye over the Changeling homeland should return, there has been no major threats from those bugs and we'll need all the help we can get if we're going to stop the dragon invasion and the zebra rebellion.
We'll await your royal response, your highness.
For Griffinstone! For honour and glory!
Journal Page 9 (Storm Days)
So many plans being created and without my sleep, most of them are just too bad to even read them. Me and the rest of Lunatics have working double the times we usually work because Snow Charm is in Hospital, trying to get better. What Dynol did to her.... It's not good.
Doctors says that she'll live but we a large scar across her face and neck, making her look a lot like a war hero than a agent for Selena. We're all take our time to see her, it gets lonely there without any to see her. Shamrock visit rarely because she's helping foals at the orphanage and any other alone on the streets. I guess she's making sure that they are getting the help they needed, she always had soft spot for kids and we joke around sometimes on how sort she gets over them. Arcana's working closely to Selena, getting any reports from the guards and allies to see if can find a weakness in the Horde's armour, because right now they're looking like they don't have one, but we'll find it mark my words. My sister, Firestorm is the one the mostly visit Snow, they are like sisters, they're always watching each other's backs.
I too visit Snow Charm- with a lot of nagging from my sister- as often as I can, being the one that makes the plans for the whole Lunatic you don't really get out that often. Every time I look at her with that scar, makes my blood boil and my heart break. She didn't deserve this, Dynol wouldn't get away from that crime, mark my words. I can't tell her about what I feel when seeing her like this. In the Lunatic, personal things comes last when you're on duty.... But this I just can't put behind me, no mere war will change that.
I'll have a chat with my sister, maybe she has a idea on what to do when Snow is out of the Hospital.
Battle Report 683 (Equestria)
Your Highnesses, we have important news.
Some of our scouts were flying above Ponyville, hidden in the clouds so none of the Horde's warriors would see us.
What we saw was a large army marching out of Ponyville, much larger than the strike forces attacking and raiding some villages, towns and forts. They're being lead by Lord Dynol The Dammed himself, along with his Council.
They are heading to Golden Highway, our main road for supplies coming from the Crystal Empire, Appleloosa, Trottingham and Fillydelphia. If the Horde of The Forest capture the Highway, our only supplies will have to come from Cloudsdale and from our own city. Captain Shining Armour and High Chief Rock-Axes request the ULE to send a army to defend Golden Highway, they want all races that are able to reach our location. They say that each of us can cripple Lord Dynol's forces, and if we win this fight not only will we have safe our trading routes, but we can then strike at Ponyville and hope we can tear down those walls to bring the Horde down once and for all.
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.
Dynol was furious, nay more than furious. He saw my son and all I felt from him was fire of rage and vengeance. He called upon all those who could still hold a blade and marched to the capital. Just in a few miles, some magical barrier was placed over the city, it had all the same colours that the royal princesses have. Dynol ordered all trebuchets and archers to fire everything at the barrier whilst he did the same with every spells he knew.
Not even a scratch was on that barrier.
Enraged, Dynol pulled all forces back to Ponyville, leaving only a token force from the army to guard the Golden Highway. He let my son ride on WoodFang's back as Behemoth showed us a shortcut through the tunnels to Castle Rhyfel. Llofrudd's state was unbearable to watch, Dynol healed as much as he could from his remaining strength, but alas, he could only heal Llofrudd's deepest wounds but not his spine...For now at least.
Right now, everyone was at Castle Rhyfel. Behemoth went to check with the remains of the 12th Arkron army to count the casualties whilst WoodFang and Dynol went to his meditation room, by the way Dynol looked, peace of mind might help him a bit.
I, along with Llofrudd and a couple of witch doctors were gathered at western side of the castle, in a room with an opening view of where the armies were training and forming into platoons. Llofrudd was laying on a table on his stomach, as witch doctors gathered their medicines and herbs. One doctor was a the end of the table speaking in our old language of the healing as another on the other side spread salt and crashed up flowers over my son's back.
"How is he?" I asked the leader of the which doctors; Iachau Llygad.
Iachau Llygad was the oldest and well experienced witch doctors in the Ogres of Red-Oath's history. He cured many illnesses and even cured my depression after my beloved mate, Harddwch died giving birth to Llofrudd. He was a pale blue ogre with his tusks having a yellowish green colour from his old age of eighty-seven. His hair was white as snow -much like his eyes- and grown all the way to his chest where his necklace of emeralds and pearls rested.
"It seems that Lord Dynol had healed most of the damage from the minotaur's attack" Iachau's old voice spoken in as any old ogre would sound like. "However, Llofrudd's spine remains damage and in a bad, bad state. Something I haven't seen in a long time"
"Can you heal him? Will he..."
"I do not wish to give false hopes chieftain, but we'll try our best"
I wished to ask more questions, but had to stop myself. "Alright, let me know if you need anything"
"Will do chieftain" Iachau nodded his head as he focused his attention to my son. "Will do, for Red-Oath"
I left him to it as I exited the room. Before I shut the door, I looked back and saw my son on the table as the doctors began their healing.
Once I closed the door, I slammed my fist on the opposite side of the wall that faced said door. I was a fool, how was I not prepared for this to happen? Why did I not fight with him? Why did I let him fight that minotaur on his own? WHY HAVE I FAILED YOU, HARDDWCH!!!
As my head rested on the wall, I heard the sound of footsteps coming from the west. I turned my head and saw the source of the footsteps. Behemoth, with his mace resting on his right shoulder, looked at me and then to where Llofrudd was.
He looked at me with pitiful eyes. "That bad?"
"He's in good hands" I sighed. "Witch doctor Iachau Llygad will do his best to save my son from remaining paralysed for the rest of his life"
"How are ya?"
"We've won the battle, taking over Golden Highway. Now with their main trading route blocked, their only point of getting supplies is through Cloudsdale, and even then it won't help them because of our armies just mere marching distances to their capital"
Behemoth took a step forward. "That's not what I mean"
I looked down for a moment before walking away from the dog. "Come on, lets see if Dynol has cooled down"
I heard Behemoth's footsteps catching up to me as we walked side by side. There was a short moment of silence between us before I said anything. "What's the casualties?"
"Around nine hundred of our forces has been killed, two thousands injured"
"They put up of a good fight even when their running into certain doom"
"Hmpf, you could say that" Behemoth looked at me. "It's not healthy for the mind to keep your grieves to oneself"
He's right, it wasn't good. "It's nothing, he'll be fine"
"Yet one must not keep his words trapped when they are needed to spoken out"
"Since when has a diamond dog spoke words that mostly comes from ones that doesn't like the Horde of The Forest's attacks on their 'fare' kingdom?"
Behemoth laughed. "Just because my people fight rather than talk, doesn't mean that their leaders are the same... Well, most of them. When trouble times strikes my people hard, I must keep them calm when all hope seems lost, and the only way I can do that, is by saying words that some may not understand yet takes comfort from them" He placed a paw on my right shoulder. "That goes to ogres as well now"
Red-Oath, I must be a bad state if a dog could give me good advices. I sighed. "I wasn't there for Llofrudd when Rock-Axes broke his back. Though I slaughtered him, it doesn't help the fact that I wasn't there to stop it"
We had a good view of the forest as we passed a balcony. "I promised my beloved Harddwch the moment when she told me she was pregnant that I would not let anything happen to our child like all fathers would say. But when she died from giving birth to my son, did those words stuck with me like Red-Oath's"
"Red-Oath's? You mean that your people was named after someone else?"
"Red-Oath was one of the mighty Gods of our homeland. He fought waves of demons and hellish creatures which made him our first chieftain. But when he was dying on the field of For'groldor, he made a oath in his own blood that he would guide our people, even when he was beheaded by the foul demons known as the 'Hunllef Lleng'. His words stay with us, even when our homeland was lost and our people becoming only a shadow of what it once was. In honour of him, we named ourselves Ogres of Red-Oath, the homeless warriors"
"Hmm, sounds like your people once had an empire"
"We did, although in our legends we were allies to the Old Empire of Gwaed Newydd. Though what that was, was lost in time"
Behemoth nodded his head. "So how did you met Harddwch?"
I chuckled as we were getting closer to Dynol's study room. "In combat"
"What?"
"She tried to overthrown me as chieftain, saying I was more of a fool than a leader. She declared Gor'renn - Battle for Red-Oath - whoever wins the fight becomes the leader of our people. Normally it would only last a few hours, but we fought for what seemed to be days"
"I don't see how this made you fall in love for her"
"Neither did I, it became a draw. I didn't lose my title and she did lose her honour, we were the most trained warriors and thus we got to know who trained us, what skills we hold, and most of all... Why did she called me Varlly Willow-Oth"
Behemoth busted out in laughter as he lean forward, dropping his mace and placing both of his paws on his knees. "Varlly Willow-Oth? Oh that's a good one, she must had a good sense of humour then?"
Whilst he was catching his breath and giggling, I went on. "She only called me that two weeks after the fight. I gave her a place in my home- which was just a large hut- I got to know her then, she didn't show her emotions or feelings, but she was a sucker for poetry"
"Oh don't tell me-"
"No! I didn't went there, I just got her some poetry after a year of fighting together. Soon, like all cliches should, we began having feelings for each other. In a few more years, I asked her to be my mate which she smiled and shouted-"
"Pull!" Came a pissed off Dynol as we were just inches away from his meditation room. We heard something being placed down and shortly away a bright red light came from inside the room, glowing through the door.
Behemoth looked at me. "Really, she shouted pull and blew fire out of her eyes?"
"You get the picture, cutting my story short. Married then giving birth then ending with me putting her to rest in the ground" After our little chat, I opened the door to Dynol's meditation room.
Inside there was a round circle in the middle of the room, where three foot of water rested. On the far right was a large desk made of stone with that orb the Elder Council gave to Dynol on it. On the left, surprisingly was a pile of Royal Guard helmets with WoodFang sitting next to them. In the far end of the room stood a enraged Dynol, holding that book the dragons gave him in his right hand and a ball of water in the other. Just beside him stood Ormry, whose eyes looked concern for Dynol's sanity. She saw me and Behemoth and made her way towards us.
"What am I doing wrong?" Dynol angrily mumbled as he read the page he was on. As he read, the ambassador was able to talk to us.
"How is Llofrudd?" Ormry worriedly asked.
"He might not be able to walk or not, we do not know and that's how bad it is" I explained.
"Varlock, I'm sorry"
"Don't be, he is in good hands now"
As we talked, I noticed that Dynol was raising his left hand as the ball of water began to form into a biped being. As the water biped was formed, the water in the circle began to twist and turn, like as if someone was moulding it to the maker's imagine. That maker being Dynol. All of us, me, Behemoth, Ormry and WoodFang stopped what we were doing and watched the event being played in front of us.
As the water twisted and turned, something was coming out of the water. It looked like a arm, an arm that was coming out of the water whilst growing a hand and four fingers. I couldn't see Dynol's face, but the way he was leaning in to get a better look, he must had a wide smile across his face as he continued with what now I can guess is a summoning. But to summon what?
Things were looking well, until the water biped in Dynol's hand dissolved, which in turn the watery hand coming out fell like a waterfall back into the circle. I looked at Dynol to see him stopped leaning, a few moment of silence played before the ball of water in Dynol's hand turned to steam from his rage as fire engulfed his left hand.
Dynol roared in anger as he turned his gaze at WoodFang. "Pull!"
In a flash, WoodFang picked up one of the helmet in the pile and threw it up into the air. As the helmet flew, Dynol casted a large fireball and threw it right at the flying helmet. When the fireball hit the helmet, a big explosion of fire lighten the room, making me and the rest of the council cover our eyes from the blast. As I was covering my eyes, I did managed to see a piece of the burning helmet making straight towards the desk with the orb resting on it. I could only watch as the flaming piece crash landed onto the desk, causing the orb to roll and fall onto the ground, shattering into many pieces.
Once the light from explosion died out. Everyone's gazes was on the broken orb. Behemoth's eyes were widen, WoodFang yelped in surprise whilst Ormry had her claws over her mouth. Dynol's expressions were unknown because of his mask on his face, but I can only guess he's either in shock or in regret.
"That's, not good" Behemoth broke the silence as Dynol approached the shattered orb. He rested on one knee as he picked up one of the pieces of the once orb, explaining it up close.
Suddenly, a presence came up my spine. It felt quick yet if the presence's pleasing, also felt sharp like a sword yet stings like hundreds of hornets. I must not be the only one as WoodFang growled, Behemoth shivered and Ormry looked around like something toughed her shoulders. Dynol was the only one that didn't look like he felt anything. Instead, he looked more like he was listening to something. But to what? The shatter pieces of the orb began to glow a lightish blue aura like that of lighting. They continued to glow till it was impossible to look directly into them.
"What's going on?" I asked, not knowing what's happening in front of us. Sparks began to ignite from the shatter pieces, small to big. The sparks flew everywhere around the room, it bounced off walls, it blew away the pile of Royal Guard helmets and landed into the water circle. Everyone dodged and jumped out of the way from the sparks, all expect Dynol.
The piece Dynol was holding started to spread its glow onto Dynol's arm. He noticed this, but the glow spread too quickly and before he knew it, the lightish blue aura was all over him.
"Dynol!" Ormry cried in shock to him, before another -more brighter- explosion made all of us again to cover their eyes.
Dynol POV:
What happened? Where am I?
Everything was white like snow, almost like the elementals' realm. There were flowing balls of energies, covered in what looked like lighting.
The place gave a unsettling feeling, like I was being watched and being analysed. But it wasn't like whatever the thing was doing was evil, more curious, trying to understand, gathering up its thoughts. It didn't felt right at all though.
As I turned my head to look at my right, I happened to noticed something at the corner of my eyes. I couldn't get the full picture, so I turned around to see what was behind me. It was the orb that I broken in my blind rage, it was flowing towards me, like it was riding on a soft wave and that wave was heading in my direction. I did not like this one bit, as my hands increased with flames, ready for anything. As if the orb had eyes, it stopped dead in its tracks, just a few feet away from me. An awkward silence played as both me and the orb were just standing there, waiting for one of us to make a move. The silence ended with the orb sparking some light.
The orb unfolded itself, like a jigsaw puzzle, forming into what gladiators wore, a breastplate that looked like a chest. As it was unravelling, the sound of rolling thunderstorms roared in this realm as lightings came out of the orb and was forming into slim yet powerful legs and arms. Behind it grew what looked like black clouds to form a cloak to go around the collarbones and to cover its lighting arms. As soon as the orb completed its transformation of its body, only the head remained to form. Parts of the black cloud cloak raised up to form a hood, as lighting went inside, creating two light-blue eyes and a bread made of the lighting and thunder.
Once the orb had completed, its eyes looked directly at mine, even as I was wearing my mask.
"What are you?" I asked with my hands still covered in flame.
It looked at me and spoke in a booming voice. "I am the Elemental of Lighting, and you have freed me from my slumber"
My eyes widened from what I'd just heard, another Elemental? This one Lighting? "You're another Elemental"
"Indeed. By the mask you're wearing and the fire around your hands, you must of met Fire and in turn Water, Air and Earth"
"That must of a glue?"
"No, it takes one with the blessings of the Elementals to free another" Lighting explained.
"To free another?" I repeated.
"When a Elemental is weak and its powers are gone, to which it cannot return to the home-realm, they turn into a shape -most commonly an orb- to regain one's powers and strength, but also must fall into a deep slumber" Lighting showed a wide grin across its face. "And thanks to you, I'm free once more"
I cannot believe what I was seeing, another Elemental! Which means...
"You control the very storms?" I asked, carefully to get on the topic of gaining this power.
"The sound of thunder and sight of lighting are all under my control, even when I slumber for eons" Lighting raised a hand and as it raised, the sparks of lighting blew out of its palm in a furious rage. "But I can see in your eyes, you were learning how to summon those Aspects of ours"
I was taking back by how quickly Lighting knew what I was doing in my meditation room. "How did you know that?"
Lighting chuckled. "Just because I was slumbering, does not mean I couldn't hear what was happening outside, and when summoning a Trobwll - one of Water's Aspects- I felt that a champion of the Elementals was near and was doing a poor job at summoning"
"What?"
"It was quite funny actually, has neither one of them told you that you need a blessing to summon Aspects?" Silence went by as I realised my stupidity. This just made Lighting to chuckled even harder. "Classic! Well then, what's your name, mortal?"
"Dynol" I introduced myself.
"Well Dynol, for your aid in freeing me I shall grant you my blessing in summoning the Aspects of the Elementals! As well as the powers of Lighting, and my weapon crafted in the First Storm of the North; the Bladed Chains of the Daran"
After that, Lighting raised both its arms into the air as lighting gathered around me and stroked deep into my body and felt as if it was reaching into my very soul, before my vision went white, blinding me. But in that blindness, I felt a new power flowing in my veins, a power that joined me and wrapped around my arms like chains.
I heard the sound of people talking, but it was muffled and I couldn't get what was being said. My vision also returned, quick and sharp, I was staring at the broken pieces of Lightning's orb. I felt someone pulling me onto my back, that someone was WoodFang.
He yelped as he licked my face, was my mask off when I returned? His cold tongue made me raised an arm, to which WoodFang bite on to help me get up.
"Dynol!" Came Varlock's voice as he too helped me up. "Are you alright?"
I didn't say anything, I was still trying to over the fact that I've just freed an Elemental and also feeling a power that needed to be control.
Once I got on my two feet, Behemoth and Ormry rushed up to me. Ormry held my mask in her claws.
"What happened to you?" Behemoth asked as the ambassador gave me my mask, to which I put on my face. "When that bright light died down, we found you laying down on the floor with your mask off and your eyes white as snow"
Once again, I did not say a word. Instead, I felt pins and needles in my arms and hands. I turned my gaze at one of the Royal Guards' helmets that was laying on the ground.
As if I had no choice, I shot my right arm outward, like I was trying to grab the helmet. I then finally knew what was making those pins and needles. Around my arm were chains made of pure lighting, it looked like these chains could reach targets a few miles from where I stand. At the end of the chains, was a blade, crude and intimidating like that of warlords. The blade stabbed into the helmet with ease. I then grabbed the chains and pulled it back, in doing so, bringing the blade and the helmet back as well. As soon as the blade was reachable, I grabbed the handle and just stared in awe as to what I just did and what new power I now wielded.
"What is that?" Ormry asked, eyes widened to the event that was played in front of her. I looked at her and smiled.
"These are the Bladed Chains of the Daran"
Suddenly, bursting from the enterance to my meditation room was an diamond dog, who looked like he just ran a marathon.
"Lord Dynol!" the dog said as he catched his breath. "Hundreds of bugs are seen over the eastern walls, their heading this way!"
Thrid Person POV:
Canterlot was in mourning. The bodies of the soldiers that could be retrieved were being laid to rest in Canterlot's finest burial ground for fallen heroes. Many ponies cried and many held their families close, only the ravens watched in silence. High Chief Rock-Axes' body was sent back to the minotaurs as they don't laid their chiefs in the ground, they burn them with honour. The princesses paid their respects to their fallen soldiers, as shall bravery against the Horde of The Forest must be honoured. Princess Celestia looked at her subjects with a heavy heart, seeing her people like this torn her apart, what must she do to stop this war? Ask for peace, capture Lord Dynol The Dammed or kill him? She does not know what to do, her people is divided between peace or execution. Princess Luna on the other hand, watched with anger in her eyes. Her hatred for Lord Dynol was more than even King Sombra's, she wanted nothing but to have Dynol in chains and sent to Tartarus for the rest of his life as death was too merciful now. But she felt helpless, she tried to invade Dynol's mind, but that blasted void blocked her every time. Every time she tried to break in, foul liquid comes pouring out and spread across the Dream Realm. It even managed to enter another's mind and plagued the dreamer with terrifying nightmares. Luna entered the dream and saw a monster incarnated, a biped monstrosity, blade imbedded in one's arm. The terror fought like a demon, but the princess managed to get the upper hand and banished the being from the dream. That was the last time Luna tried to enter Dynol's mind. While Princess Cadence did felt sad for everyone, she was also still confused at to what Dynol is after. After their battle, Cadence began to ponder on Dynol's words, he wants justice, yet he turned to war to find it? It made no sense... Unless he was trying to draw them out. It would make a bit more sense, massive loss of live and territories, then the guilty passes to the ones Dynol's after, making Equestria weak, to bring his targets forward in confine and wanting peace in exchange for their surrender. But Cadence doesn't know who Dynol's after, not until someone comes forth. But when that day arrives, this war will rage on.
Meanwhile, in the castle, Twilight was watching from the window, seeing everyone like this made her felt helpless. Normally when something threatens Equestria, Twilight and her friends could handle it, but now this is bigger than ever. A full alliance of several races at war with Equestria, along with another war with the Dragon Holds and the Griffin Empire, as well as Zebra Rebellions, this won't end anytime soon.
Twilight sighed as she walked away from the window, heading down the hall to where she could get some fresh air. She looked at how empty the hall was, normally there would of been guards standing on duty, but there was no one there, just an empty hall where brave souls should be.
She walked passed a door to one of the guest rooms and heard a conversation taking place.
"Applejack, I can't take this anymore" Came the element of Kindness, she sounded like she was crying.
"Sugercube, what else can we do?" Applejack said as Twilight leaded onto the door to hear more. "He's not gonna listen to you, I mean look at Spike"
"But I must try"
"You could be capture"
"I'm willing to risk it"
"You could be killed on sight"
"Like those soldiers?!" Yelled Fluttershy, making Twilight jump from her outburst. "Like those minotaurs? Like the Yaks? Like everyone in that dammed army?!"
Twilight looked through the door lock to see where Fluttershy and Applejack was. Applejack was standing and looking west where Fluttershy was watching the funeral of the fallen guards. Fluttershy's eyes were overflowing with tears.
"look at them, there are wives, husbands, even foals who've lost someone close to them in that battle! Can you imagine seeing them go off to fight and then seeing them being put to rest, it's unbearable!"
"But that's war, Fluttershy. There will be lives lost, and sacrifices must be made to save everyone and stop this war"
Fluttershy glared daggers at Applejack. "A war that we've created?!"
"Shy, that happened five years ago-"
"And yet, he did nothing to us! Now he's like this, wanting us to answer for what we did to him!" Fluttershy cried. "Oh why didn't I stop us from saying those things and making him flee into the Everfree? He must of been so scared, so confused and...and, AND I DID NOTHING TO STOP IT!!" The yellow pegasus broke down again into another deep cry, Applejack could only watch, she wanted to help her, but how?
Twilight moved away from the door, Fluttershy still believe that this was their doing. Twilight remembered Dynol before his attack on Ponyville, the way ponies ran in fear from his sight, foals cried for their mothers and how Dynol didn't improve by showing his teeth and plan skin.
Twilight walked away from the door and pondered.
Was this still their fault or has Dynol's rage made this bigger than it should?
Dynol POV:
"How many are there before you told me this?"
"I dunno my lord, maybe enough to take a small town"
"And this threatens us because...?"
"They're fighting each other"
We arrived at Ponyville, dozens of warriors were gathering at the eastern walls, armed with spears and bows. Varlock stayed at Castle Rhyfel with Ormry, whilst Behemoth and WoodFang came with me to Ponyville to sort out these bugs that I'm hearing about.
"Come on" Behemoth said as he spun his mace. "Lets go see to them" He headed towards the stairway that leads to the walls, I was about to follow him, when I realised. I looked down at the Bladed Chains and then looked up at the walls, with wide grin on my face. I swung the two blades at the top of the walls, imbedding deeply in. I pushed my body forward, in doing so, a force in the chains lifted me up like I was a feather, flying high enough to land on top of the walls. The blades that was in the walls came off as I flew. Behemoth watched in awe at the sight, but then shook his head. "Show off!"
I chuckled at Behemoth as I looked down over the walls to see these bugs, to which I widened my eyes.
"So they've answered my messages"
On the left stood hundreds of Changelings with white and blue light armours, some of them held flags with the symbol of a thunderbolt. They were all hissing on the right, where another hundreds of Changeling with red and black heavy armours hissed back at them. Their flags held the crimson coloured symbol of two insect wings. Neither of them were fighting each other, rather they were splitting hatred at one another, but why?
However, there was two Changelings that stood out from the rest. Both of them were in front of their respectable group, one was covered in blackish robes and the other in black-iron armour. They looked like they were having an argument between each other, to the point that they looked like they were about to attack one another. I must step in.
"May I help you?" I called down at them as Behemoth was now standing next to me. Every Changeling stopped what they were doing and looked at me, the way their eyes looked, I could only see desperation. But the ones in front of their groups, their eyes held something else, as if they want something, as if they are willing to do what they can for a favour.
The Changeling in robes spoke first. "Greetings, Lord Dynol, I have answered your message" His voice was like a man giving up smoking as well of have a insect clicking noise. The black-iron Changeling looked at the other.
"You mean, I've answered his message!" This one's voice was hash and boosting than the other. "I've traveled far to reach this place, unlike you, Blitzscreamer!"
"Shut your mouth, Crimson Twit!"
"Cowards!"
"Mindless brutes!"
Once again, the two groups of Changelings started to argue again, throwing insults and other words at each other. I shook my head to this, too busy at fighting one another than to look at the bigger picture. I looked to my right to see Ogres and dogs looking at each other at to what they were seeing, unorganised and always at someone's throat. I turned to my left to my Right Hand chuckling.
"These are the Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag? They can't stop pointing fingers at each other"
"Gang warfare" I groaned, seeing the chaos below me. "I thought as much...Should of sent those messages couple of days in front of each other, then I wouldn't have to deal with this nonsense" As the Changelings argued and hissed at each other, something was flying over the distance, something alive. One of the Changelings shrieked in fright, in that shriek, grabbed the attention of the others, including the leaders. All of them were now backing up, some shaking in their armour whilst other were hiding behind their allies. Soon that flying being landed where some of the Changelings stood, now was half a circle as to not get anywhere near this being. I leaned forward, placing one of my hands on the embrasure and the other on the merlon.
It was another Changeling, this one much taller then the others. It wore full suited black armour, an imitating bascinet helmet and a green cape. On its back was a long aqua halberd, the spearhead is crude with spikes coming down half way so whoever is unfortunate enough to stabbed by it, will have a agonising painful death. The Changeling held in its right hoof a black steel buckler, in the centre of the buckler was a symbol of two green insert wings with a crown in the middle of said wings. Who is this?
The Changeling started to walk towards the groups. The Changelings of Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag moved out of the Changeling's way, whoever this is must be someone no one wants to mess with. The path this changeling set made some of my own warriors wary of its arrival.
"Who is that, Dynol?" Behemoth whispered.
"Fury Cake"
"Really?"
"Of course not! I don't know everyone's names off by heart"
When the Changeling arrived at where the groups' leaders were, it lifted up the bascinet's visor, to reveal its dark blue eyes, narrowed and glaring at the two leaders.
It hissed at them. "You two, and all that follows you, WILL come with me! You will answer for disobeying your graceful queen!" The two leaders gulped as they lowered their head in submission.
'Think you could just walk in and take those I summoned here, will you?!' I thought furiously. I decided that this is a good time to jump in, as I flowed down with the air slowly.
"And who might you be?" I called to the Changeling. "What brings you here, in front of my walls?"
Once I landed, the Changeling looked up at me, its eyes examining me carefully. "What the Tartarus are you?"
"I am Lord Dynol the Dammed, and you haven't answered my question"
"Lord Dynol? The one that has declared war and invaded Equestria? I guess, it's a honour to meet the one at war with my queen's arch-nemesis"
"Stop changing topic and answer my question!" I growled at it, I'm in no mood for this.
"My apologise, I am General Whisper Parallel" Parallel introduced as he nodded his head at me. "Superior Commander of the Hive Army and Champion of the beloved Queen Chrysalis, and I'm here to take these traitors back to the kingdom for crimes against our queen"
This now got interesting. "I'd heard about your queen, tried to invade Canterlot, and failed quite terribly in the process"
I think I hit a nerve as Parallel's wings buzzed and growled. "It was a mirror setback"
"That setback was the result of these Changelings here to leave your kingdom and cause a great crisis for your people, a blockade over your homeland and being hated throughout all of Equestria and her allies. Forgive me for saying this, but she isn't quite good at invasions and to keep her people from deserting"
"She's a better ruler then you'll ever be!" The general yelled.
I grinned. "Really? In my time leading, I've managed to have the Everfree forest as my domain, rallied allies like the Ogres of Red-Oath and the Diamond Dogs Clans of Bytheiad and Mwngrel to name a few. So far your queen has done nothing like this and has no allies to call for aid...A pity"
"I don't have to listen to you" Parallel grunted as he looked at the leaders of Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag, who was standing on both left for the Blitzschlag and right for Crimson Wings. "All of you! Come! Now!"
"They're not going anywhere with you"
"What?!"
"I have called them here, I've giving these Changelings a place in the Horde of the Forest, protected and safe from outside harm" I glared at him as my right hand held a ball of air.
"They will come with me! Wherever you like it or not!" Parallel threatened me.
"You're in no position to demand me, cause you are not in the right shape to do so"
"I'm no pushover!"
"Really? And that's not the air around your throat, ready to choke the life out of you"
The general tilted his head as he looked down. Around his neck was a thin yet noticeable line of air like a rope for executions, ready for lever to drop the victim to their death. When Parallel noticed the air rope, I lifted my right hand up to my chest, causing Parallel to be lifted up by the neck. Parallel raised his front hooves up to his throat, gasping for air.
"Now you listen to me, General Whisper Parallel!" I spoke fiercely. "You'll tell your queen that these Changelings are under the protection of the Horde of the Forest, and if she manages to send an army here without Equestria noticing it, she will have another enemy on her list! Tell her that she has no power over these Changelings anymore and if she wants them back, she'll have to deal with me and all of the Ogres of Red-Oath, Diamond Dogs of Clan Bytheiad and Mwngrel and the very Everfree forest itself!" I let the general go, making him fall to the ground and breathing the air once more.
"Do I make myself clear?"
Parallel got back on his hooves and glared daggers at me, I glared daggers back. He stood there for a while before his wings buzzed and he flew up into the air with his visor down.
"This isn't over, Dynol" He warned.
"The Play between Changelings, no. But you, your little scene is done"
With a finally hissed from Parallel, he flew back to where he came, going to where the Changelings' homeland should be. Once he was far enough, a heard a single stomp from a Crimson Changeling, then another from a Blitzschlag, and then more and more stomps can be heard as cheers rang from within the groups. I looked at the leaders of Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag, their eyes were in shock but they also held gratitude.
"No one has ever defended us before" The Crimson leader said as he looked at my mask. "All the works we'd got, the clients just paid us and didn't care what happens to us afterward"
"But you stood for us?" The Blitzschlag leader entered the conversation. "Why? We own you no loyalty or anything, and yet you defend us?"
"I've heard of your people's troublesome past" I explained as the stomps from the Changelings died down slowly. "I know that you all were following orders from a queen that wasn't thinking straight. How your people are hated and thrown out of this world's society and laws, never hearing an single one of your thoughts or ideas. To be judged like that, is unacceptable, and thus I called you here not to just be apart of the Horde of the Forest, joining our war. But to let you all join a new faction, who'll welcome you all with open arms, no matter your people's troublesome past"
The leaders looked at each other, before the Blitzschlag leader stepped forward. "I am Battle-mage Fangro, leader of Blitzschlag and request to join the Horde of the Forest"
The Crimson Wings leader too, stepped forward. "I am General Sourgrin, Ringleader of The Crimson Wings and I too request to join the Horde of the Forest"
I looked at them before looking up at Behemoth, giving him a nod. In doing so, Behemoth ordered the guards to lower the bridge and open the doors for the Changelings to enter into Ponyville.
"Your requests is welcomed, but this means no infighting between your Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag, we have enough problems with other Dog Clans as it is, understand?" Fangro and Sourgrin nodded their heads as I stepped aside to let them and the other Changelings in, where Ogres, dogs and forest friends gathered to welcome their new allies.
As the Changelings entered, I looked over the east, where that General Whisper Parallel went. He'll be a problem, but because of his loyalty to his queen and the fact that Equestria is keeping a eye over their borders with the Loyalists, that problem won't come anytime soon. But that is not why I was looking east. Varlock mentioned about a fortress far east from here and how it is a defendable position for Equestria if they flank their armies, making us fight two fronts.
Time for him to avenge his son, as I'll try to summon the Trobwll, as well as the other Aspects for this war. And once that fortress falls and burns to the ground.
Manehatten shall fall as well, with weapons and fire, Horde and Aspects. The city of business will be a different place once it's nothing but a memory!
Nightfall, The Tide of War and the Return of the Aspects
It was a beautiful night, the time of night you would walk outside, enjoy looking at the stars and forget that there was a war raging on in the background as well as in the throne room and within the boring politics.
But for me, this wasn't a time to walk outside or to enjoy star watching. I was deep in my planning, the moment the princesses summoned a barrier over the city, things were not looking good for us all. Ponies are starting to whisper of defeat, that this war was going to be lost and Dynol's Horde will occupy Equestria. The ULE weren't doing good as well. Princess Celestia called for more aid against Dynol and his armies. The Griffins were the first to answer with a shameful objection, explaining that their war with the Dragon Holds, as well as the Zebra Rebellions, were draining their resources and soldiers, meaning that they couldn't spare any help. The Minotaurs response was worse, with the death of Rock-Axes, infighting between the clans are roaring on, trying to make their chiefs leader of all clans. The Yaks sent another token force, but explained that because of their Treaty of Fel-Horn with the Crystal Empire, they cannot mass a huge army incase it looked like an invasion. Basically, Equestria is not getting any help anytime soon. This enraged Princess Selena, who wanted to lead a surprise attack into the Everfree and in turn their former castle where Dynol and his Council were most likely making any plan of attack. Princess Celestia and even Princess Cadence denied that idea, saying that they need to spare their soldiers and defend other regions of Equestria.
So here I am, in the Lunatic's Headquarters, writing terrible plans of reclaiming our lost territories. The lack of sleep does that, but I must find a way of making a plan that will turn this war in our favour, otherwise The Fall of Ponyville and the Battle for The Golden Highway would be nothing compare to the Fall of Canterlot.
I heard a knock on my door before Firestorm entered. "Hey Storm, how are ya?"
"What do you think?" I sighed. "Losing the Golden Highway has made everyone doubts of winning this war, let alone what Dynol's next strike will take place"
Firestorm walked in and sat on my desk, ever minding the notes and scrolls. "Did you hear, Snow is getting out of the hospital tonight!"
My head shot up from resting on the desk. "Really? How is she? Will she be-" I stopped midway when I noticed my sister's grin.
"I knew it, you have a crush on Snow!" Fire laughed as she fell off my desk, with her front hooves over her belly.
Blushing I went on. "You have no prove, what I could be saying is more of a warrior's concern"
"Oh, oh stop! You're gonna make me sick!"
"It's not funny!"
"You're right, it's comedy gold!"
"Look! Can't you see I'm in a very busy mood and would like to get back to work" I huffed in angry, I have no time for this.
Went my sister finally finished her laughing fit, she wiped a tear with her wings and sat back on the desk again. "Look Storm, I love you, but you really need to stop all of this and ask her out, who knows it meant help you come up with a plan"
"How?"
"Well put it this way" Fire got off the desk and stood next to me, placing a hoof around my shoulders. "Equestria is holding her last stand, Dynol is laughing in victory and the war is won by the Horde of the Forest. And what would you regret if it was the last day of yours or even Snow's life?"
I stayed silent for a couple of seconds before giving in. "I would regret not asking her out"
"Right, now imagine you're at a fancy date-"
"What does this have to do with-"
"Hang on, you're at a fancy date. You looked into Snow's eyes when all of a sudden Dynol's forces blasted in and started attacking everything. What would be your first action?"
Sighing once more in defeat. "I would defend Snow till my dying breath"
Firestorm smiled at me. "We both know what could happen if we fail, don't make you not asking her out as one of those failures"
"As much as you're right" I said as I threw a draft of a plan into a nearby bin, filled with other bad drafts. "Our main concern is the protection of our country and Selena, I cannot abandon what I signed up for, Fire"
The was a moment of silence before my sister punched my shoulder hard. "We all know what we signed up for, but sometimes duty comes second in some cases, and this is one of them" she got off my desk and gave me a disappointed frown. "I thought you were the smartest pony in the Lunatic, but I guess not"
She began to slowly head to my door with her ears down. I watched her with actual guilt, she always thinks for the best for me, rarely does she ever get disappointed with me. But she's right, what if we lose the war? What will be the terms of defeat? How bad will it effect our lives...?
And who'll survive the aftermath of the war?
It was when Firestorm placed a wing on the door knob that I called her. "Wait, Fire!?" She looked at, still having that disappointed frown on her face. I got up from my chair and moved around my desk to stand in front of her.
"You'll help me when Snow returns? I don't know what to say or where to take her out tonight"
Third Person POV:
Painful groans and worried faces was all happening in the where Llofrudd rested.
Things were not looking well, even with the aid of Iachau Llygad and his methods. All he could do is slow down the pain in the Ogre's spine, but not fix it. Iachau's face was focused on the task at hand, whilst getting help from his assistants' and quote healing phrases.
"Iachau, can't we use the Red Flowers?" One of his assistants asked. "They'd work on similar injuries"
"No no" The doctor shook his head. "The chemicals in the flowers would only cause more pain, plus it only works on bones like tibia, ulna and sternum, anything else would just do nothing"
"Well what's good for the vertebrae?"
"The ones that comes to my mind are hard to find, even harder to make a medical aid for the spine"
As Iachau kept his nerves and crashed some herbs, the doors opened to let in the Lord of the Horde of the Forest, along with the Ogre Chieftain. The assistants looked at the leaders whilst Iachau continued what he was doing, never minding the important figures entering the room.
"Tell me" Dynol smiled, looking at the witch doctor as he moved to the injured Ogre. "How's the healing doing? Is he going to walk again?"
"I'm afraid we're doing all that we can, but his spine never recover from the assault, even with all of my experience" Iachau lowered his head in defeat. "I'm...I'm sorry, we can't...."
"You'd done your best, doctor" Dynol nodded his head. "But even though you cannot make him walk, perhaps it is best to let someone else take over" The witch doctors looked at the Lord of the Forest in confusion, what does he mean by someone else?
Dynol, along with Varlock, moved away from the doors, giving spare for something to walk into the room. As they moved, the doctors watched as they saw a bipedal water being, as tall as them and perhaps even taller, gracefully walked into the room. The crystal clear being held no face, but its slim and elegant appearance was all it need for the doctors to know it means no harm. Said doctors slowly moved away from the water being, some muttered words of awe, and other, words of shock. Doctor Iachau also moved, only pointing at the injured Llofrudd and like his assistants, muttered words of awe. It looked at the injured Ogre, seeing the damage of his spine as well as how it was broken. The Ogre's father watched with concern and worry for his son. The water being then raised its arms over Llofrudd, hovering above the broken back. Suddenly, it arms broke apart from one another, like if a being's veins were coming out of said being's skins, gently coming to rest on the broken spine. One by one, the watery veins rested on the injury Llofrudd, making a coat around the wound as it went deep into the body and towards the spine. Llofrudd growled in pain, to which the being calmed him down by gently absorbing the pain, making him feel numb. Soon, sounds of bones being part to place echoed the room, blood was flowing into the being and vanishing, the wound was closing up thanks to the healing water. And before anyone knew it, the watery veins returned to the water being, leaving a fully healed Ogre, getting up off the table and standing on his own two feet.
As watery healer moved away, heading towards Dynol, Varlock rushed up to his son, checking on him. The young warrior was wary, but he was most then ready to get back into the war.
"By Red-Oath's oath, what is that?" Doctor Iachau broke the silence with a voice in awe and shock that something beats his methods of healing.
Dynol nodded his head as the healer left the room. "That? That'll be another healer among your ranks. They will be more of them in time"
"But what are they?"
"They are the Trobwlls, and they are the start, for the return of the Aspects is nigh" Dynol looked at Varlock. "Once you're done here, come to the throne hall, we got more planning to do, and I know a place that might get your attention"
Dynol went out of the room and closed the doors behind him. He turned and headed to the hall room where his throne would be. As he walked, he saw the Changelings with Ogres and Diamond Dogs, giving them tours around Castle Rhyfel so they'll know where is where. Dynol watched as his Horde has gotten more allies and winning battles against the ULE, but when Llofrudd almost lost his ability to walk, Dynol now wants to have that incident replace with another lose of territories owned by Equestria. He has already called for the Ambassador, the Great Alpha and his most loyal companion to meet him in the throne hall.
For tonight, Dynol wants a new plan of attack, as well as inform them about the Aspects' return and their side in the Great War.
"Yes, yes it's good to see you again, Lighting" Fire grumbled. "It's been too long for all of us"
Lighting chuckled warmly. "Indeed brother, the Empire of Gwaed Newydd's Fall was a terrible event for all of us, brothers and sister alike" It turned it gaze at the other elementals. "Still, I thought we could of stopped it, for all powers we have, we could of ended it once and for all"
"I'm afraid we couldn't" Air said. "It was a surprise for all of us, more so than Dynol's arrival"
"Which by the way" Fire frowned. "If he didn't try and make a poor excuse of a campfire for me not to notice, we wouldn't of known of his arrival"
"Regardless, the whole purification was the only hope for this world, it was either the empire or everything"
Lighting sighed sadly. "A lot of good souls were lost in the Fradychwr's War. Souls that should of lived freely and peacefully, with the love of their families and the blessings of their Elementals as they return to the Nefoedd, unharmed and in their own time not by another" Lighting lowered its head with its eyes closed. "Where the Swiftness of time slows down"
Air followed suit with Lighting, lowering her head and closing her eyes. "Where the Support of enteral harmony grows"
Water quickly copied her sister's actions. "Where the Heal of life flows"
Fire looked at his fellow Elementals, his mark brunt bright like the sun, but then dimmed as he repeated the others' prays. "And where the Balance of civilisation never falls"
Silence fell in the Elementals' realm, a silence of remembering, of lose, of the forgotten old empire of Gwaed Newydd. But that silence fell, as tremble sounds of rock and stone bellowed throughout the realm. The Elementals opened their eyes and saw a pile of earthen rhyolites and diamond spires, floating and forming together, into what could only been...
The Horde's war room, now with Battle-mage Fangro and General Sourgrin added to the Horde's Council as equal leaders of the Changelings, buzzed with talks of plans and reports on how the armies are doing outside of the Everfree and the controlled territories. So far, even with the victory at the Battle for the Golden Highway, the Horde is still doing hit and run tactics as well as taking over small villages and even some towns. Varlock believes that attacking populated areas will force the ULE to spread their already weaken coalition armies thin across the kingdom. With Dynol's agreement with the Dragon Holds, Ormry has given him good news about the trading between the factions. High-lord E'drak has led a successful strike at the Griffin Empire's most toughest fortress; Talon-Guardai, leaving many major griffin cities opened for invasion. Inquisitor Era'do has even managed to make a temporary alliance with the Zebrica Confederacy, saying that they are working together to fight the griffins and their minotaur allies, but once they have got their independence, the alliance is over. But Dynol was surprise when Ormry told him about Lady Night-Gaze. She told him that Night-Gaze has given him her respect and considers him as a true ally of the Dragons, as well as good friend to the Elder Council. Behemoth has gotten stronger as a leader, more so then ever. With a dozen Diamond Dog clans under his command, the Great Alpha has began being more a unifier than a random leader of all canine kind. And for this, Behemoth's loyalty to Dynol is more so than before, without the Horde of the Forest, this unifying may never be possible, and for that Behemoth promised that if they win the war and the Horde of the Forest is recognised as a legal nation, his people will be apart of that if they can't regain their lost homeland from the crystal ponies. Varlock's loyalty is the same like his canine ally. With Llofrudd's back healed and is ready for duty again, the chieftain became more than Dynol's first ally, as well as a good councillor, he'd became Dynol's brother at arms, and will die beside him as one brother should. Ormry has grown to be inspired by the champion. For years she as done many diplomatic issues and meetings, but none of them held a moment of history like working with Dynol, a being she'd never seen and yet his powers, his determination, his words that brought races together and ruling over an untamed forest was out of this world. She wishes she could do more than just sending massages back and forth between her kind and Dynol, she'll find a way, but for now she'll continue to be inspired by him. WoodFang, like all companions, was Dynol's most loyal follower, and for services, Dynol jokingly titled him 'Champion's Wrath', little did he knew that would give WoodFang more fame and respect in the Everfree, making him the second in command of the forest friends after Dynol. Which WoodFang would carry that title with pride and joy.
Right now in war room, Dynol looked at the battle table with the map of Equestria with small pieces with the flag of both Horde and ULE, along with the Dragon Holds and Zebrica Confederacy, marked at the certain locations on the map, being moved about as the councillors talked and discussed ideas on what to do with the armies and next assault. The focused location is the Fortress that protects the city of Manehatten from attacks. The fortress was huge, almost mistaken for a small city. From the reports by the ravens and the newly spies thanks to the Changelings, the fortress is armed to the teeth, canons, catapults, watch towers, heavy fortitude walls and even three levels of defence inside the fortress itself. It was no surprising that the fortress was called 'Fort Everstand', from the Pony-Griffin war, the Chaos Crisis and even the Rise of Nightmare Moon, this fortress has never fell to the enemy. Varlock was talking to Sourgrin as Behemoth was talking to Fangro, changing ideas on how to assault this everlasting Everstand.
"No, we cannot simple send in waves a range attacks" Behemoth spoke verily. "Everstand was built to take any attack, sending arrows and spears will just be a waste of ammo"
"What about sneaking in?" Sourgrin asked to the chieftain. "We Changelings can blend in with the garrisons, leave the defences weak and no one on standby"
"I doubt that" Varlock replied hashed as he moved a piece with the Horde's flag forward, towards Everstand. "The whole garrisons is prepared for anything, including Changeling or even traitors among their ranks"
"So why not just send a large army to overwhelm the fortress?"
"Even if we have Everstand surrounded, the defences will just destroy us, and even if we break through the walls and gates, the levels will be filled with archers and mages, shooting us down if we try and get to the next level"
Dynol listened closely, they all have a point. With those defences it will be a slaughter, and if they enter the fortress, the levels will be the death of the Horde's armies.
Then someone had a unusual idea. "Why turn their defences against themselves?"
The entire war room looked at the source of who said that idea.
It was none other then Ambassador Ormry.
"What do you mean?" Dynol asked, interested on the dragon's idea. The ambassador walked up to the war table and picked up the Horde's pieces, surrounding Fort Everstand.
"What if you lot spread your armies out, surrounding Everstand with Ogres, Diamond Dogs, Changelings, Everfree animals and even Aspects, accompanying by large siege towers and heavy trebuchets? As the siege towers moves towards the walls, the trebuchets will knockdown the second level's defences and the watch towers with no doubt mages and archers inside. Along with the trebuchets, air support from the Manticore Riders and whatever Dynol can summons comes down and deals with anyone that tries to use the catapults and canons, which can be used against one another once your legions occupy the walls, turing the defences onto the final level"
The Horde's Council was speechless, Ormry made a idea that was quite brilliant. Not along will that solve the worries of the defences against the armies, but it just made the discovery that Everstand has a weaken! If the attackers could occupy the walls, the defences will be used on the garrisons, and if they can break down the gates, the first level of Everstand will be overwhelmed by the invaders and forced the garrisons to retreat to the second level, where their defences would be destroyed or turned against them.
"Since when has the ambassador made plans of assaults and invasions?" Behemoth raised an eyebrow, as Dynol lowered his head.
"Everstand is built similar to that of a mountain back in the Dragon Holds" Ormry explained. "When the Chaos Crisis arrived at the Holds, one mountain was filled with insane dragons, who were paranoid of the outside. So they built defences to keep them safe, only to find out that their defences were turn against them by the Elder Council's forces. So this is almost an reenactment of something that happened years ago"
"This does sound good" Varlock spoke strongly as he folded his arms. "But need I remind you that reenactments doesn't win real life?"
"But it gives points and guidances to those who faces similar problems"
"Well let's just see what Dynol thinks about your idea" the council turned to face their leader, who still has his head down. "What do you think, Dynol? Does this plan of Ormry have merits or not?"
The council looked at Dynol, no answer. They stood in silence as they thought Dynol was gathering his thoughts to make an answer, only for them to remain stuck in silence.
"Uh, Dynol?" Behemoth broke the silence with a concern tone in his voice, with no answer, he turned to face the others. "Has he fallen asleep?"
The moment Behemoth mouthed the word 'asleep', WoodFang suddenly rose his head and looked straight at his master with worried eyes. He walked up to Dynol, his ears low as well as his head and tail. The others, watching the timberwolf's actions, looked at each other, not sure at to what to do.
"Lord Dynol?" Ormry worryingly said as she raised a claw to tough Dynol's arm. "Are you all right?"
WoodFang saw the dragon ambassador and ferociously barked at her. But it was too late.
Ormry placed her claw onto Dynol's arm, gently as to not spook the Lord of the Horde of the Forest. The moment she made contact with his arm, a ferocious sting surrounded her claw, as well as a unknown source. She lifted her head up high, gasping from the pain, causing her fellow allies to jump in surprise.
Her eyes charged from reptilian... To Elemental Stone.
Ormry POV:
Where am I? What happened?
I do not know what's going on, I'm just in a white plain of nothing. After simply touching Lord Dynol's arm, my body went crazy lie thousands of lighting strike went through my veins. I'm so worried and frighten, where am I?
The sounds of rock and stone falling and raising could be heard behind me, I dare not know what it could be. Maybe it is Dynol or something friendly I do not know. Everything's going to fast for me to catch up, I just want to find my way out. Fearing for my life, I did what I didn't want to do and turned around. What I saw was two beings, a leader and a stony creature.
There stood Dynol, facing a tall hunched creature of rock and stone. It's back was covered in spires that looked like mountains. Its legs were stronger than even Canterlot's Walls, its arms made of silvery stone and had a hood that was made of diamonds. Its ruby eyes glared down at Dynol and gave a warm smile.
"Dynol" the stone creature spoke broadly and proud. "How has your little war been treating you?"
"So far so good, Earth" Dynol happily answered. "There were moments where things could of gone horribly wrong, but so far that did not happen. It would seem that Equestia has made some mistakes over the years and now it has come back twice as worse than before"
This 'Earth' laughed warmly. So this must be one of his mentors. "I'm glad to hear that. So far these ponies has not taken great care of the lands since the time that centaur ran amok"
"Earth, if I be bold, why have you called me instead of waiting for me to arrive to your realm?"
Earth's smile faded. "Because of what I have discovered"
Suddenly, the ground tremored and soon something arisen between the two. I couldn't tell what it was but from what I can guess it looked like a city.
"When I was sorting out the planet's plates and placing them back to where they originally were before that centaur ruined them in his rampage. I began to feel a power lost since the days of the old empire, a familiar presence. Soon I tracked where the source came from and discovered that it was held in this city"
"Wait" Dynol said. "I know that city, one of my councillor mentions about it"
"I'm sure he did, but that's not the point. There I discovered that the power is being used as a relic to force nature to not come near this city. This relic is also the master of an Avatar near the city it's being held at"
"An Avatar?"
"Powerful Aspects that were the symbol of the Elementals' might during the days of the old empire. Sadly it is the last of its kind. But when you released Lighting from his orb did I realised what this city was holding prisoner"
What are they talking about? Avatar? Old empire? Releasing Lighting? It makes no sense.
"So Dynol" Earth continued explaining. "The Elementals requests you to head to this city and obtain that relic and Avatar, once you have the relic you'll need to open it so that what we believe is inside can be free again"
"But I have a fort to capture" Dynol told Earth. "I cannot spilt my armies on two fronts, Everstand needs to fall so that eastern lands of Equestria does not threaten the Horde of the Forest"
"You mean that old fort that has been under supplied since you captured Ponyville and the Golden Highway?"
"Yes the-wait what?"
"Fort Everstand is not as powerful as it was in the past. For years it has become more of a symbol of Equestria's might than Equestia's unconquerable fort. Beside, if you get the relic for us, you will get the Avatar for your war and during the time when it walked through the lands freely, it levelled entire armies with one of its claws"
A super weapon?! That's what an Avatar is?! And all Earth wants is some relic?! That would aid the war effort greatly in our favour.
"I'll see what I can do, Earth" Dynol bowed his head respectfully like a student to his master. Earth nodded his head with a smile.
As I looked at the two, I happened to noticed a warm feeling getting hot behind me. I turned around to see what was behind me, only to regret what was coming towards me.
At high speed, all I saw was a ball of fire so bright and hot that I thought it was the sun charging at me. In the centre was a mask that looked exactly like Dynol's, filled with anger and glaring into my well being. It had bones made of fire that were coming straight towards my neck.
"Who are you?!" the ball of fire roared as I was engulfed in flame. I felt the force impacted my chest and I flew off the ground. My eyes were shut and I landed back first on what I could only guess felt like a wall.
"Red-Oath's dying oath, Ormry!" I heard Varlock shouted in concern as I felt something resting their hand on my shoulder. "Ormry are you alright?!"
My eyes opened slowly as I saw that I was back in the war room with Varlock and Sourgrin helping me up and Behemoth, Fangro and WoodFang helping Dynol as his hand was rubbing his forehead. I gave a nod before coughing, as I coughed I noticed small sparks coming out of my mouth and immediately covered my mouth in shock. How did I do that? It's impossible for Half-Bornes to...
As I pondered this, Dynol raised his head and looked at the map. I couldn't see his face thanks to his mask, but I could tell, no feel that his expressions were serious from his chat with Earth.
"Alright, change of plans" Dynol told his council. We gathered around the map, still unsure as to what happened. Only I knew what just happened and I guess WoodFang too. "We're going to spilt our armies and attack two locations, one to find relics that'll help us in our war and the other to take over Fort Everstand. So Varlock, General Sourgrin and I will headed towards Everstand with the 12th Arkron army along with most of the forest friends. Llofrudd and Ormry, you'll stay here to ensure nothing happens when we're gone, you two will have the Vanguards of Red-Oath at your commands"
"But we need most of our forces to attack Everstand" Varlock questioned Dynol discussion.
"I just got some news that it is undersupplied and the garrisons in there are low. If they want a fighting chance they'll need reinforcements, however with the Golden Highway ours, they'll need to fly over our territories and I don't we'll allow them to reach Everstand"
"What about the rest of us?" Fangro asked Dynol.
Dynol unfolded his mask to show a wide smile and looked at Behemoth. "You, along with Fangro, WoodFang and 34th Ocuira army will help you in your little revenge for your people. You'll need to use your tunnels and I'll help you with that problem with some Aspects"
"What do you mean?" Behemoth questioned.
Dynol's smile grew larger.
"You are going to retrieve some relics and attack the Crystal Empire"
No, I'm trying to end the war, not signing a surrender! Think, Cadence think!
Come on brain, you got to come up with something to stop this war. Everyone are not themselves, both Royal and subject. Aunty Celestia is trying to keep everyone calm, despite the fact that you can see Horde forces right at the pathway towards Canterlot. That dome won't be there forever. Aunty Luna seemed different since her injury from Dynol when he attacked Ponyville a second time. Her ideas are growing wilder than before, like using Alicorn Magic to blast through those earthen walls and not giving a chance for our enemies to ready themselves. If the Horde's Council members didn't break any international laws of war, I would of agreed with Luna. But so far, they allowed our people to retreat from battles, released prisoners of war without their weapons and when towns and villages were captured, they haven't forced anyone to stay if they don't want to. It would seem that Dynol actually keeps by the rules and only use his powers to aid his allies and destroy our attacking armies. Luna's worse idea was to invade the mind of Dynol to place him into a coma til he was captured and sentenced to life in Tartarus. I disagreed with her, I know he's our enemy but what he said to me when we fought still chills me. 'Justice, upon those who spark the flames of war'. My guts are screaming that Dynol may not be entirely in the wrong and I'm starting to believe it. But what's baffling me is who? Who enraged or maybe attacked Dynol to declare war upon Equestria? Every time Dynol appeared, he attacked, from his frist sightings in Ponyville to the Golden Highway. Argh! It's making me wanna rip my mane out!
Still, at least Shining Armour has come up with a new plan. He's right now explaining it to the other generals and princesses. He's proposing that we spilt the armies in two, one remaining here in case the Horde launches a surprise invasion. Whilst the other reinforce the Crystal Garrisons in the Crystal Empire. Ever since the garrison stopped a Horde task force at the borders of the empire, thanks to the ancient tunnels that were built by Diamond Dogs before Sombra fell a thousand years ago, Captain Glass-Sighting stated that if they managed to bring an army in the empire's territories, the garrisons will not be able to defend the city outnumbered.
If it goes well and agrees with his idea, it'll take about three weeks to prepare the soldiers and reach the Crystal Empire, which means I'll have to go back to protecting the empire whilst Shining stays here to prepare a counterattack against the Horde of the Forest.
That is if I cannot end the war anytime soon. Now brain, back to work.
'Greetings, Lord Dynol the Dammed...'
Dynol POV:
Give them power and... Done!
Conjuring the last bit of my power to awaken my newest Aspects to be added in Behemoth's army. The total of eleven stood ready for work, they were magnificent.
Dwarfing myself, these Aspects were made mainly of earth and appearing to look like Nagas, serpents with claws. At the end of their tails were spear-like with spikes running all the way to their shoulders. Their earthen skin were hard as iron and tough as steel. Their claws looked like scorpions, yet they can spin them around like drills with great speed. Their heads had one emerald eye and mouths looked like octopuses with their tentacles moving through the cold breeze. They'll help the dogs build their tunnels quicker as well as in combat.
As I admire my creations, my Right Hand came to see the Aspects.
"Woah! What are they, Dynol?" Behemoth asked amazedly.
"They are called Razorcasts" I answered proudly. "They'll help your diggers dig quickly to the Cystal Empire as well as help you with fighting against the crystal ponies and their allies. They are yours to command"
"Cool!" Behemoth nodded his head as the Razorcasts turned their heads to him. Taking a deep breath, he bellowed his commands. "Alright, head to where my boys are and help them dig their way to the Crystal Empire! If any of them slows down or gets sloppy on the job, give them a bash!"
The Razorcasts stared at the canine for a moment before heading towards their destination without asking any questions or asked where they must go.
"I wish some of my boys were like that" Behemoth chuckled.
"There will be more of them when I have enough strength to summon more without passing out" I replied with a toothy grin on my face.
"Say, how does your powers work? I mean you did some glorious magic without passing out, what's so special with summoning them?"
"How do I put it?" I said as I ponder on how to explain my powers to Behemoth. "For powers like wielding fireballs or creating Votex storms doesn't take much of my strength if I know how to cast them right. But Aspects are a different thing. You have to create creatures that'll think for themselves as well as following your orders with no questions. Think of it as when you create a weapon, you must also be able to be the forge as well as the smith all at the same time"
"So it's like being able to pick up heavy objects but if you don't have the muscles you'll hurt yourself?"
"Yeah. For me to summon simple Aspects is like picking up a large mace. Complex Aspects is like picking up a wagon with one arm. And Aspects that are way out of my powers, it's like trying to hold up a brick wall with two broken arms. If that happens, I'll pass out as my body cannot withstand the pressure and must reset itself"
"Sounds hard"
"It is" I answered truthfully. "Which is why I can only summon those eleven Razorcasts or otherwise I'll pass out"
"Well don't overdo yourself" Behemoth smiled. "We don't want you passing out in the middle of a battlefield"
"I try not, that would be an embarrassing moment"
We both laughed from the thought of me taking a nap while everyone else fights to the deaths. When we finished laughing, I changed the topic.
"How long do you think it will take before your forces reaches the empire?" I asked seriously.
"With those Razorcasts working with my boys, probably four weeks"
"A month" I said as I slowly headed toward the castle "That'll probably be the same with us readying the Arkron army when we march toward Everstand"
"Speaking about that!" Behemoth called. "What's our Ogre friends going to be doing?"
"They'll be readying their own forces and training the siege towers!" I called back.
"Training!? You mean building!?"
"Nope! They're training the hydras how to latch onto walls with their teeth and letting our forces climb onto them to besiege the wall! The Ogres are too busy making their armour than making new siege towers!"
Third person POV:
Dynol walked through the halls of Twilight's castle, plotting and thinking what Equestria's next move will be as if they were playing a game of chess. So far, his armies has defeated an international alliance's army at the Golden Highway, as well as task forces and garrisons all over the kingdom. He's quite impressed who quickly this war has been. Minus the battle between the princesses and the Lunatics, all other battles were victories for the Horde of the Forest and the morale of their armies has doubled from their victories and new allies like the Changelings of Crimson Wings and Blitzschlag. To say the least, thoughts of losing this war was very rarely discussed about and even dismissed them as old worries. Dynol was pleased that he wasn't the only one that had some scoring to do with the ponies of Equestria.
He was heading to see where WoodFang was as he last saw him in the castle, before he saw a small light coming from one of rooms on his right. He then heard a frustrating groan like if someone was trying to say the right words in front of a king. All Dynol knew from that groan was it showed like a female. So he was about to leave it be, that was until he saw another small light and heard the groan again. So Dynol decided to see who it was. Slowly opening the door, quietly as he can.
The room looked like a normal guest room, but inside the room was the ambassador. Ormry was holding an empty sheet of paper in one of her claws, glaring daggers at it as if it said something nasty at her. Her breathing was steady and there was nothing out of the norm, yet Dynol raised an eyebrow to her. She then closed her eyes and opened her mouth, her teeth sharp yet seemed to shine from the dim light in the room. Soon, Dynol spotted that he could see something glowing in Ormry's jaw, like that...Of fire. Soon, he saw some sparks coming out as she breathed out as well. But nothing happened and the sparks did not ignite the paper in her claw. The ambassador opened her sky blue eyes and once again made a frustrating groan of disappointment.
"Can't get your lighter working?" Dynol's voice broke the silent as he entered the room. Ormry nearly jumped out of her scales as she dropped the paper and stood on her toes, sorting out her red robes.
"L-Lord Dy-nol!" Ormry nervously replied from the champion's suddenly appearance. She then blushed, much to Dynol's confusion "I-I didn't know you would see this"
"What's all this about? You can't send any letters to the Elder Council?"
"N-no I already sent my reports" Ormry defended as Dynol's mask unfolded off his face.
"Then what's the paper all about?" Dynol questioned Ormry calmly not trying to frighten her anymore. Ormry looked away from Dynol and gave a defeated sigh.
"I was, I was trying to breathe fire" She answered as she picked up the paper off the floor with her tail.
"I thought you dragons always breathed fire?" Dynol said as he closed the door behind him with his power of Air. "I saw you breathe greenish flames when sending your reports to your Inquisitor, Era'do"
"That's not true fire" Ormry answered sadly. "That is what all dragons can do, like you being able to beat your heart, you don't need to learn how to do that. But, you do need to practice walking and we dragons need to practice breathing true fire"
She then walked towards a single bed and sat harshly as she gave another sigh. "But Half-Bornes can't naturally breathe fire like normal dragons"
"Half-Bornes?"
"It's a disorder to my kind. We don't grow properly, we can't breathe fire and we're born without any wings" Ormry looked at Dynol with sad eyes. "We're the outcast in the Dragon Holds, we're picked, beaten, laughed and unseen by the others. If it wasn't for Era'do's father; Inquisitor Kaa'tau, who placed Half-Bornes under the protection of the Elder Dragons, we would still be treated unequally. Now, we're still the outcast, but no longer beaten by the others"
Dynol listened carefully and felt sorry for Ormry. He was about to say something but Ormry continued.
"This is how far I can grow, I can't grow anymore and I'm seen as the smallest compare to other Half-Bornes. I wouldn't mind being small, but I always wanted to breathe fire. It is the symbol of being a dragon, if you can't breathe fire, you're worthless, not worth the time and worse, you're not considered a true dragon"
"I see" Dynol simply replied, gathering his thoughts on Ormry's information. "And so now you're trying to see if you have the fire that other dragons have?"
"After your sudden talk with your mentor, Earth and being thrown out by a fiery being. I felt something warm, like something ignited within me. So when our meeting was over, I went into this room and the rest you already know"
Dynol looked at the ambassador as she lowered her head in defeat. Dynol pondered on Ormry's mention of a fiery being, was she mentioning Fire? That might explain...
To see if Dynol's theory is true, he walked up to the ambassador and placed a hand on her right shoulder. The ambassador looked at Dynol as his eyes closed and remained silent. Ormry, unsure what's happening, also remained silent as well. A few moments passed before opened his eyes again.
"Well, it would seem that Fire did not just throw you out of the realm" Dynol spoke firmly and in wonder.
Ormry looked at Dynol in confusion. "W-what do you mean?"
"Ormry, whoever told you that you cannot breathe fire is a lying asshole" Dynol said with a smile. "Every creature has a spark of fire within them, from animals to sentients. It is the creator of civilisations and their destroyer. And Ormry, between us, so far you're the dragon with the greatest fire, even surpassing your Elder Council"
"How is that possible? I mean, not that I'm questioning your knowledge or anything but-"
"Because it seems that as you were thrown out of the realm by Fire- another mentor of mine- he must of use his powers a bit more than usual, causing some of it to not only kick you out but also found their way through you and awaken your fire that has been slumbering from the day of your brith"
Ormry was amazed by what she was hearing, that she has fire within her and greatest one in Dynol's eyes.
"But then, how can I use it if I can ignite a simple paper?" Ormry asked.
Dynol's friendly smile grew larger. "All you need is some lessons. And with everyone preparing themselves for the next attack, I think I can teach you how to ignite a piece of paper and maybe even more"
The ambassador's joy overwhelmed her thoughts and actions as she jumped at Dynol and gave him a huge hug, never minding that she nearly knocked the champion down nor the fact that he was being squeezed by the ambassador's surprising newfound strength.
"Thank you Dynol!" Ormry squealed with gleefulness and joy. "Thank you! Thank you!"
"There's no need to thank me" Dynol answered, trying to get some air as Ormry's bear hug crushes him. He tried to move but that only made the dragon's hug more tighter. "But I can't teach if I die from unbreakable hugs"
"Oh heh, sorry" Ormry blushed as she let go of Dynol as he gasped for air.
After getting some air through his lungs, Dynol regained his stance. "Alright then, it's decided. We shall begin training frist thing in the morning as our allies prepare themselves for the next assault"
Dynol turned to face the door and walked towards it. As he held the door handle, he heard muttering behind him.
"What's that?" Dynol asked as he looked over his shoulder.
"N-nothing, nothing at all" Ormry said with a bright blush across her face.
Dynol shrugged it off and opened the door. As he shut the door behind him, the ambassador sat back on the bed and sighed softly.
"Why am I blushing? He's not even the same species... But who cares really?"
The sounds of metal clashing with one another echoed the training grounds. Hundreds of royal guards were wielding their blades with skill and quality, not letting down their guard nor losing focus as they either attacked their training dummies or practice with one another.
Near the entrance to the training ground, a platoon of guards watched from afar as two stallions fought one another with their bare hooves. The fight didn't last long before the youngest of said platoon got hit across his chest, making him stumble back and fell on the ground back first.
"If that was a real battle you would of been dead!" Shouted the Captain of the Royal Guard as he regain his stance. Shining looked at the defeated stallion -heavily breathing as he got up from the ground- before he looked at the rest of the guards, who were standing straight and holding firm poker faces.
"Focus!" Shining bellowed as he paced back and forth, eyeing the guards. "We're not fighting thugs and pickpockets! We're fighting Ogres -the Elites of the Horde- and the same Diamond Dogs that attacks our people for decades! And worse, we're fighting against a warmonger with powers that'll rip you to bloody shreds in seconds!"
Shining stopped in the middle of the platoon, seeing that some were conscripted into the Royal Equestrian Army and never seen stuff like this. The captain needed them to be the finest when they move to the Crystal Empire. He would join them, but his orders were here, to protect the capital. No one knew this, but Shining knew that Canterlot, the Crystal City, Cloudsdale and Manehatten are the only strong holds left in Equestria, as it has been since the Equestrian-Griffinstonian War. Equestria didn't want to look like a military nation, so they dropped their army down low after the war. If they knew this 'Great War' would come, Shining no doubt believes that their ancestors wouldn't lower their army. But that's in the past and Shining is focusing on the now. However, there is some aspects of the past that could help Shining's guards.
"Remember how the Royal Guards were formed!' Shining called strongly to this platoon. "Made during the founding of our kingdom, to battle against raiders and foreign invaders that wish to take advantage of our weaken state! But, thanks to Commander Hurricane, who trained all the tribes in defending our families and homes! We driven out the bandits from the northern region of Equestria, we fought against the foul beasts of the Everfree before this Horde of the Forest united them and we destroyed the Sirens when they tried to brainwash us to do their bidding! We were the Royal Guards! We fought in many wars just like this one! The Shadow Wars of the Crystal Realm! The Chaos Crisis! The infamous Equestrian-Griffinstonian War! We had face these wars and won them all, this war will be no different! The skills you have or are learning has be the same skills that saved this kingdom and her rulers, master them as best as you can! We are the descents of Hurricane's first guards! We are the Royal Guards of the Kingdom of Equestria, never forget that honour!"
"Sir yes Sir!!!" The guards responded strong and proud as they saluted as one force.
"Dismiss!" Shining saluted as the platoon's guards went in different areas in the training ground. Shining Armour stood and watched his soldiers training, remembering his time when he was a recruit and was trained along side his friends. How times flew by and how it has changed the way he see the world.
However, he remembered joining the Royal Guard freely, not conscripted and forced to fight against a faction made by monsters and beasts. Those friends he had in training, some of them died in Ponyville and the Highway a week ago, slain by Dynol's warriors and left to rot on the battlefield.
This war must end, now and not a moment soon.
Underground, 287 miles from the Crystal Empire's territories;
The sound of pickaxes hitting rocks and claws digging dirts rang throughout the dog built tunnels. Diamond Dogs from multiple clans, who all had one Alpha as their leader, worked double the normal pace as they had all one goal; to reach the Crystal Empire. The Razorcasts were the spearhead of the operation, with a dozen more being sent by Lord Dynol to speed up their work. They used their claws like drills, breaking through the harden earth like it was made of foam. Compared to that of the canines, who could try and catch up with the Aspects with their tools and strength.
Overseeing the mining operation, Behemoth watched with glee, knowing vengeance is leading the 34th Ocuira army against the backstabbing crystal ponies. He couldn't to see his ancestor's old homeland, before their forceful exodus by the Crystal Empire. Although his orders were to find the location of this Avatar first before leading an invasion into the Crystal City. He wasn't angry or hating this order, but he did want to attack first before anything else. However, if it's important to Dynol to entrust Behemoth to do this, then Behemoth will find this Avatar before sundown.
He watched everything from rocky cliff within the tunnels, made to oversee the work and to see if any workers were lacking or sleeping on the job. Behemoth didn't want any delays nor any deserters as he watched carefully with his officers.
"Gorphuk!" Behemoth called one of his officers. "Go check on the eastern team, last time we check, two of our workers were sleeping and not working!"
"Yes Alpha!" Gorphuk saluted as he ran to check on the eastern team.
"Skever! I want a full report on how much the Razorcasts has done this hour!"
"Right away Alpha!"
"And Beltick!" Behemoth spoken with a growl at the end of his calling as he gave Beltick a scroll. "Head back to Ponyville and give this to Dynol, tell him there has be no delays and if our scouts from the surface be true, we'll reach the border soon!"
"I won't fail ya, Alpha!" Beltick nodded his head as he ran with the scroll in his mouth. Behemoth would continue on watching the mining but right after Beltick left, a canine digger came in.
"Alfa! Ah've got sumfing for ya!" The digger's rusty voice called to Behemoth.
"What is it?!"
"Daga Looky at dis shiny sharpy glowy stony thingy!"
The digger gave Behemoth a small glowing crystal covered in many tiny spikes. Behemoth held it in his massive paw, looking at the crystal with much interest and wonder. The crystal's glow brighten the dim tunnel with a blue aura, as there wasn't many torches that gave the tunnel enough light to shine throughout the tunnel's darkness. Behemoth smiled by this as he turned to oversee the digging and raised the crystal high in the air.
"Take a look boys!" Behemoth bellowed, his voice echoing the tunnel that grabbed many of his canines. "We're almost home!"
With this news ringing through the ears of the Diamond Dogs, they howled loud and strong as they double their work and had a boost of strength to reach the Crystal Empire.
"We're almost home, crystal ponies" Behemoth growled whilst whispering. "So you better give us a warm welcome back to our homeland"
Canterlot, refugee camps;
Camps littered across the gate of Canterlot, filled with ponies from far and wide that fled from the Horde of the Forest's armies. Some ponies lost everything whilst other fled to the capital because they felt they'll be safer than their original homes. Some of the refugees, those who lost everything, went to join the ULE to either avenge or defend those they care from Dynol's onslaught across their homeland.
Helping the refugees were volunteers from within Canterlot, giving them blankets, food and other things to help them as they lived in small tents. One of these volunteers was Firestorm. Although she and her team are on break and should be training, the pegasus couldn't help the fact that innocents with families were just outside their gate and with this war raging, not a lot of ponies are helping them. So when she had sometime, Firestorm would go down and help the refugees in anyway she can.
After helping a lovely elder couple with giving them some soft blankets and warm tea, she had a little walk through one of the camps, seeing if there is anything else she could do to help before heading back to the Lunatic. What she saw was a couple of foals running with smiles on their faces as they headed to a large tent that was used by the volunteers to have meetings and to sort out the supplies to give out to the refugees. Firestorm wondered why they were heading there and so chose to see what they were smiling about. She entered the tent and saw a gathering of foals, sitting in front of a mare who was telling them adventures that Firestorm knew very well.
"Wait?" Firestorm questioned herself from hearing the mare's story as well as her voice. "Is that?"
Firestorm looked at the mare to see if her theory is true. An earth pony with yellow coat, green with light green streaks in her mane and tail, and olive green eyes. Her cutie mark were some cracked rocks. She was telling them about the time when she and her team were dealing with bandits known as the Red Billies and their leader Grey 'One-Eye' Fur, a mission Firestorm was in. The pegasus couldn't believe it.
It was Shamrock Blossom.
"And when we took out Grey 'One-Eye' Fur" Shamrock told her story with a smile on her face, as the foals leaned forward. "His gang all dropped their weapons and ran so fast that you could still see their red masks still in the air as if their wearers hadn't even ran a mile!"
The foals laughed and this made Shamrock's smile grow even larger.
"With their leader behind bars, the Red Billies never threaten or attack ever again! Thanks to the Lunatic and their somewhat successful plan; The Wrapping Plan"
The little foals cheered and stomped their hooves, making Firestorm smile from seeing some happiness in the refugee camps. They foals started to run out of the tent, happily shouting things like 'I'm Grey 'One-Eye' Fur!' and 'Don't pull that flipping lever, Storm Days!' At least they weren't sad or miserable.
Shamrock chuckled to herself as she put the crate she was using as a chair.
"I thought you would be with Arcana?" Firestorm smiled as she raised a friendly eyebrow.
Shamrock suddenly turned around to meet Firestorm, before groaning in embarrassment.
"By Selene's round flank" Shamrock groaned. "I-I thought you would be back at headquarters!"
"You know that I come here when I have spare time"
"Yeah but...Ah, don't tell the others" Shamrock headed towards the exit of the tent, with Firestorm walking beside her. "I just wanted to help the foals, they've lost everything and they shouldn't feel like this at a young age"
"Hey" Firestorm softly spoken with the smile still around her face as she placed a wing over Shamrock. "What you are doing is noble and we know you have a soft spot for foals. But this will be over, that I promise"
Shamrock faintly smile as the two mares headed towards the Gates of Canterlot, hoping for a next plan or anything from the Princesses for the Lunatic to complete or in act upon.
"Oh Fire?" Shamrock called Firestorm, hoping to change the subject. "How was your brother's date? It's about time Storm and Snow start doing this"
Castle Rhyfel, Everfree
The Horde of the Forest was in a busy state. The Castle was filled with Ogres, Changelings, Dogs and Forest animals alike. They were all preparing themselves for the attack of Everstand by the Arkron army, making sure their weapons and armours were at their finest, their wielders well trained and ready for blood. Where once the Tree of Harmony stood, the blacksmiths worked on the double as their flame brighten the lower parts of the castle. From where the army that conquered the Golden Highway once stood, was replaced with dozens of Hydras, wearing iron armour and was being trained to become siege towers for besiege the walls of Everstand. Changelings were learning new combat skills and tactics from the Ogres, learning quicker ways of winning a battle and how to defeat tough opponents. Castle Rhyfel was making ready for war.
However. Far above in one of the towers, a lesson was being taught. One from a master teaching his new apprentice in the art of Fire.
The room was round, being a room to study the stars during before Dynol's arrival. It was a perfect place to teach, not only does it not feel claustrophobic but also gave enough space for setting up tests and rituals with fire.
Right now, Ormry was holding her right claw out towards a blazing fire, keeping it levelled and balanced. Dynol watched his apprentice carefully as she tried her best to keep the flame ablaze and alive.
"That's it, keep it steady" Dynol complimented Ormry, seeing how calm she was. "Remember, you mustn't force the flame but respect it, otherwise you'll get what everyone will get when they play with fire; Burnt"
With this knowledge, Ormry began to think about what'll happen if she failed and what kind of burnt does Dynol mean. Is it the serious kind or just a small one? Will the fire attack her or just fade away? As she pondered these thoughts and focused less on maintaining the flame, said flame began to grow each time the dragon thought of failing her training. This caught the attention of Dynol as he contemplated his apprentice, examining the sudden doubts and the flame's growth.
"Ormry" The champion called the ambassador with stern tone in his voice as moved closer towards the Ormry and the flame. "You're losing control, focus and do not let your rationalism pour through the fire. It hates those who doubt and fear its power, it sees it as mortal weakness so keep it to yourself!"
Ormry, seeing the fire getting larger by the seconds, tried her best to regain control and return it to its former self. But she was forcing it, trying to tame it. The flame suddenly exploded into a uncontrollable whirlwind of fury and anger. Ormry jumped in fright and lost complete control of the fire. The flames glowed bright and with such speed, stretched towards the dragon. The dragon cowered before it and covered her eyes.
Before anything bad could happen, Dynol simply stretched his left arm towards the attacking fire and gripped his fist like he caught a moth midair. The fire stopped its attack and with Dynol's arm slowly lowering down, so too did the fire as it returned to its former state. Balanced and levelled.
Ormry raised her head and looked at the fire, seeing it calmed and relaxed by Dynol. She looked at him with amazement and wonder.
But Dynol looked at her with an emotionless face. "Ormry? When you look among a fire and see its flames dancing wildly, what do you see?"
Ormry looked puzzled from Dynol's question, unsure as to why he would asked this from her. But, she answered with the only thing that would come into a dragon's mind.
"P-power?"
The right eyebrow of Dynol risen from the answer. "Power?"
"Yes, power"
"Dear me, that's what you dragons see in Fire? Power? What kind of Power? The one to dominate others or the one to submit your claim over the power of your flames?"
Ormry wanted to answer Dynol's questions, but felt it would not aid her nor help in her understanding of how to wield fire. So she remained silent.
"Ormry, that will not make you able to command a fire's flame" Dynol spoke with the same stern tone in his voice as he walked towards the balanced fire. He then bent down and picked the fire up in his right hand like he was letting a small woodland creature rest in the palm of his hand.
"Fire is not something one can wield without knowing what fire symbolises for wielders like us" Dynol began to manipulated the fire's flame, letting it grow and change into long, serpent-like waves. Dynol began to sway around, letting his arms move throughout the room freely as well as the fiery waves.
"Fire is not good nor evil and most certainly not power. It is Balance, balance between order and chaos, civilisations and devastations. When do you think culture, art, sovereignty and foolish arguments comes from, Ormry? When language is spoken? When nations are founded? When divines are born? No, it is when the mortal species and fire comes to an agreement; mortals can wield the fire's flames to build their civilisations and form their culture around its light. In return, Fire will be respected as the maker of their civilisations and when the time is right, be its destroyer"
"Its destroyer?" Ormry asked as she watched the fiery serpent-like waves flying around the room.
"Fire was one of the major elements that created our world, by destroying the First Realm of this world"
"First Realm?"
"Best description of what the First Realm was is that of a dead mountain. No life, no colour and no soul. With earth breaking the ground apart, water healing the soil and air supporting those healing waves, fire burnt the dead lands to ensure new life can grow from the ashes of the dead. Fire did not help the mortal races, it just set the stage for their growth. So fire just see us and our civilisations a creation of its creation"
"So...Why does it help us keep us safe and why does it let you command it?"
"Just because fire doesn't care for our survival, doesn't mean it wants us gone. You must respect its part in the making of our world and in return, it doesn't outright destroy you with natural means. Understand your role and if you are worthy, it will allow you to use its power for what you desire. Our lives are not eternal as well as our civilisations, but it will help us if we respect it. Fire is not fair but not cruel, it's Balance. Balance yourself and not be driven in one direction but by all direction and only then will Fire finds you worthy of wielding its power"
Dynol brought both of his hands together, doing this caused the fiery waves to quickly squeeze between the palms of his hands. He stood still and the room fell silent. Ormry watched carefully like a moth to light and wondered what's going through Dynol's mind. Her wonder was answered with Dynol's gaze upon her.
"So Ormry" Dynol smiled as he returned the fire back onto the ground and walked up to her. "Fire is not power nor shall it ever be. It is Balance, balance between order and chaos, civilisations and devastations. Remember that, respect the fire and find your balance and in no time, you'll be able to wield its flame"
Ormry nodded her head and smiled back at Dynol as he stepped out of her way. The dragon looked at the small fire resting on the ground as her master watched from the sides.
"Again"
Canterlot, Royal Quarters
Watching from one of the many quarters that leads into the finest bedrooms one can ever rest in. The princess of Love watched the local guards training in the Training Grounds, seeing their skills with a blade and their loyalty so strong that they'll through their lives in the name of their princesses and their goals. She admired their bravery, but she also pity them, knowing what they'll be facing and the leader their deposing.
Ever since her fight against Dynol the Dammed, Candace has pondered on his words, on his tactics and how he's leading this war. Dynol had multiple times of enslaving the princesses' subjects, yet there are no reports on prisoners or any indications on the topic. He could of executed all the soldiers that surrendered in battles like Ponyville and Golden Highway or skirmishes up north, yet his forces released them, only questioning them before letting them go. So far, Dynol has done nothing that her aunty has said or the propaganda that were spread across Canterlot. Her aunty; Princess Luna has changed since the fall of the Golden Highway. She's not the aunty that Cadence remembered, Luna has began auguring with high ranking officers, generals and even Shining and Celestia. Her eyes were filled with hatred every time someone mentioned Dynol, the Horde of the Forest or any bad reports on how the war is going. Luna's only wishful thinking is how much she's looking forward in having Dynol in chains and either sending him into Tartarus or having a public execution with his head mounted on the gates of Canterlot. Why she's like this is beyond Cadence's understanding and only rational reasons is that this war changes the mind of many and this war is unlike any they have faced, never minding Shining's constant speeches on how it's just like many wars Equestria facd before this.
"There must be a way of ending this" Cadence whispered to herself. "There must be. Come on, Dynol. Send a message of peace, you got to for if you do, I'll try to make the others accept it and we can both walk out as possible friends. Come on, I just....I just don't want my Shining killed"
Suddenly a knock came from the door that leads into Cadence's room. Jumping from the knock, Cadence regained her stance and looked at the door.
"Come in!" She called, placing her full attention onto whoever knocked the door.
The door opened slowly and a small Pegasus head with long pink mane came through. "Um sorry princess Cadence, I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"
"Not at all Fluttershy" Cadence smiled warmly. "Please come in"
With a small smile, Fluttershy opened the door fully, letting herself in and a feathery companion in....
A raven.
"Oh, who's your friend there?" Cadence asked as she approached Fluttershy to get a better look at the bird.
"Oh this little guy? Well I was simply walking towards the castle when this fella decided to come along with me, wanting to be with someone as the others were being mean to him. He's awfully friendly, he won't peck you"
Cadence lifted a wing towards the raven to pet him. The raven tilted his head to wing, crowing softly to the touch of the gentle wing.
Cadence laughed. "He is a friendly raven" After petting the raven, she turned her attention to Fluttershy. "So Fluttershy, what can I do for you?"
Fluttershy's smile faded and was replaced with worried eyes as she looked away from the princess.
"Fluttershy what's wrong?" Cadence asked worriedly from the Pegasus sudden facial changes.
"Um, this might sound strange but... What do you think of Dynol?"
Cadence was taken back from Fluttershy's question, never hearing anyone asking her thought about the enemy's leader let only anything about personal point of views. Then again, Fluttershy cares for everyone, sometime that included villains and foes.
"Why do you ask this sort of question?" Cadence asked with concern and confusion as the raven took much interest in Fluttershy's question.
"Because....Because I want to tell you what I think of him"
Although the lost of the Golden Highway has left many Equestrians scared and frightened. Our beloved ruler and one of the founders of the ULE, Princess Luna, encourages her people to not give in to the foul and evil Horde that brought this blight to our fare kingdom.
As you read this, Princess Cadence and newly formed 2nd Royal Army are heading off to defend our allies of the Crystal Empire from a highly possible surprise invasion of the Brutal Horde of the Forest. Whereas the brave Captain of the Royal Guard stays with the 1st Canterlotian Garrison to defend Canterlot and her rulers and people.
Sadly for the other members of the ULE, the Griffin Empire has lost the grand city of Wingdoma to a combine attack of Dragons and Zebra Separatists, leaving the empire at the edge of the cliff of doom as enemy forces crawls ever closer to the capital. Even worse, the Minotaurs has fallen into disarray as rival chieftains fights for mantel and title as High-Chief after the brave sacrifice of High-Chief Rock-Axes during the Battle for the Golden Highway.
Meanwhile in the political sides of things. Before Cadence left the castle, she tried to ask Princess Celestia to try and reopen peace talks with Horde's founder and warlord; Dynol The Damned. At first discussions seemed to favour this crazy idea before the ever watchful Princess of the Night remembered the royals that talking with Dynol would only mean a stab in the back as well as more lives lost to the war. With some arguments here and there between the Princesses of Love and Night, Princess Celestia stopped it and declared that talks will happen between the ULE and Horde but only when a clear victory or sudden stalemate is possible.
For now, the war looks dark but only because a little raincloud blocks the everlasting sun. And with hard work and unbending spirits, as Princess Twilight stated, will Equestria put an end to Dynol's rampage for peace between factions and ponies.
Journal page 68 (Great Alpha Behemoth)
Today, my eyes has gazed upon my father's fathers' homeland.
Thanks to the workers and Razorcasts, our forces has arrived at the frozen lands of our people before our forceful exodus by the ponies. Although miles from the crystal city, we could see the railway that the trains uses to travel throughout the lands.
When me and my people saw our homeland, I won't deny that it brought tears to our eyes. Even though hundreds of years had passed, we could smell the ancient clans's fires and see the mighty huts that dotted around the lands we mined and hunted. I could remember my father's tales of the Diamond Dogs's first capital of Mut'talva; 'Of mud and stones, all canines can call Mut'talva home'. Even WoodFang and his packs of Everfree's finest predators could feel the emotion running through my people's blood and hearts. We howled with tears of joy and hope, knowing one day, our whole people can return to Mut'talva and name it home again.
But for now, we had a mission and I'm gonna see it through. We must establish a perimeter within a region the ponies' calls the Icy Spire. A region of which has a massive icy spike, large enough to be mistaken for a small mountain or castle. There Lord Dynol spoke of an 'Avatar' of which will aid us for the long run, a weapon we can use against the Crystal Empire and bring justice to our forefathers and their injustice punishment.
This I will not fail, as me and WoodFang will see it complete. I may of not been born during the old days of my people, but I will be DAMNED if I do not reclaim our homeland and spill some Crystal Blood!
Battle Report 399 (Dragon Holds)
Overlord E'drak, I am happy to report that the Talon'Scars has just cooked some roast chickens at the City of Eggphar.
Our forces and our zebra allies have brought down fire and death to the Griffins and their allies under the cover of night. Their wings could not escape our jaws. Their weak armour could not save them from zebra spears and their walls crumbled at the very winds of our wings that we sent crashing into said walls!
But that's not all, I just got word from a little dog from our ally in the Horde of the Forest. He requested form his Alpha reinforcements to aid him in large plan within the Crystal Lands. I must say though, this Dynol has got the Equestrian Rulers' by their tails now if he is so bold to attack the Crystal Empire.
I told the dog I would send this to you, as I know we not 'publicly' allied with the Horde of the Forest. If we even send our forces there, it will take a mouth at least to arrive, since most our forces are dealing with the Griffin Empire.
Although it is not my place to speak on your behalf, Overlord. I do suggest that we at least send in a token force to aid them, seeing that there aren't any problems to worry about. Plus, a handful of dragons aiding the Horde would maybe end this war quicker.
But that's my thoughts, you can cast them aside if you please.
To say the least, Overlord E'drak. We are on the winning side.
Journal page 84 (Stroms Days)
I have never thought in a million years my heart would be faster than light! It feels amazing!
Snow Charm. She's like an angel from above. Her voice, her sense of humour, her laughter-- Everything about her is so prefect. We had dinners, we spent times together and I can't stop thinking about her. It gotten to the point of me just daydreaming about her in the middle of the Lunatic's meetings.
But this is serious now. Arcana is planning a very dangerous meeting for us. He's gonna spilt the group in two to help our forces in Manehatten. He's making me, Snow Charm and my sister go to Everstand by teleportation, entrusting us to help the defences there so that when, not if Dynol attacks us, we'll be ready to deal with him. Though I must admit, I have a strong feeling that we'll be needing more than just three of us to stop his rampage.
He and Shamrock will be put in with the Lunar Guards for a special mission made by Luna herself. I do not even know what it is, saying that it is only for their ears only. What I could gather up is that they'll be sent to attack somewhere that'll hurt the Horde badly. Let's just hope that'll count.
I'm a bit nervous for all of this, seeing how much we're on the backstage of all of this conflicts. I just hope this war will end soon, the fact that the Horde of the Forest is still pushing the offence keeps giving me bad mojo.
But I must think positive, I have faith in Arana and Princess Luna. They haven't failed us lose a war yet and I'll doubt we'll lose this one.
Right now, I need to find a good tie for me and Snow's next date. It's hard to believe how ponies still carry on their daily lives so normally even when they know they're at war with an enemy that's really right outside our gates.
Journal page 93 (Whisper Parallel)
I do not remember the last time I was eager to go to war. But that doesn't matter, I am ready for a fight in the name of my Queen.
Her wise and clever mind never dulls, doesn't it? When I returned to her in failure, I thought she was going to kill me but when I mentioned that it was that fool Dynol that took the traitors, her eyes were alit with hatred. She then focused her rage on a weakling drone she was going to drain his life-force away before I interrupted her.
After two weeks of thinking alone in her throne room, she called for me to ready her army and prepare for war. Although in my hungry state I asked who will be fighting. The Equestrians? Their ULE?
Her answer was a shocker, but wise and truthful as always. Now, with the Horde and the Equestrians now weaken through their fighting. It is time for the Changeling Hive Army to join in the conflict and this time...
We'll do it right and shall not fall!
Everstand's new arrivals. A bitter feel. A worried night.
"Selene's Round Flank, this isn't enough!" My sister growled as she tossed a board piece the shape of a Equestrian Knight down onto the war table.
As much as it is my job to make good plan while stationed in Everstand, I must admit this wasn't my best plan. Everstand was made to defend Manehatten from Gryphon attacks during the Equestrian-Girffinstonian War. Built on a small hill, crafted like a tower with three levels of high walls has seen it become this symbol of a fortress that has ever fallen in a siege. It was built to fight from above and below, the first layer for the soldiers defending the iron gates and the walls from siege weapons. The second to bombard the invaders with arrows and magic and siege weapons, which was originally on the first layer until Snow Charm ordered them to the second. And finally the third wall, used to oversee the entire battlefield and to signal our defenders with horns or flags of incoming reinforcements or enemies. To whoever made Everstand, I say they were a damn genius.
But that's all I can say that's good for us. The rest... Pig muck.
The siege weapons that we moved to the second wall, only half of them are working and that's putting it lightly. The garrisons, once homed to fine Knights of Equestria with numbers up to a thousand at least. Now only a handful of trained knights with the rest of the three hundred being simply conscripts from Manehatten itself, some of which has barely even seen a sword let alone held one.
Now we got report of Dynol's army heading this way, with even sightings of Manticore Riders spotted in the clouds with some Changelings accompanying them. Has the Horde allied with the Changeling Kingdom? If so, Celestia help us all. His foul army will be here in days and if the reports are true.... He has Hydras as Siege-Towers and even newer more horrifying creatures made of stone and lava marching with them. When, not if, they break through our gates and onto our walls... It won't even be a battle that'll engulf us.
I raised my head to look at my sister, who was wearing silver armour and her wing-blades. "I'm sorry, Firestorm. But that's the best I can come up with. If we pull our forces back to the second level and rain down arrows, magic, whatever at them. We might have a chance to just see next morning before we're overrun"
"So that's it?" Firestorm chuckled in disbelief at my words, with Snow Charm and the Captain of Everstand, Grey Hide watching us in silence. "Go down heroically at the claws of their Warlord? Let his army reave and burn Manehatten to the ground? I'm not letting that city fall! If it falls our morale back at Canterlot will fall and the war is over!"
"Well go on then! Make a damn plan! Tell me what I should do!"
"Send words to Canterlot tha-"
"All our spare knights have gone to the Crystal Empire!" I yelled at my sister like we used to do in our childhood. "All the remaining Knights are protecting Canterlot! All the knights we have are the ones in Everstand and the ones from Manehatten, the rest are just stallions and mares that are brought here to die!"
The room fell silent, more so then receiving the news of the Horde's victory over Ponyville. I've always hated the silence after an argument, it leaves bad memories and just us saying in our heads the right words to break it and failing each time. Snow Charm and Grey Hide looked at one another as me and Firestorm just stared into each other's eyes. Even some of the knights and conscripts looked at other as they go on their daily duties, not wanting to be in the middle of this.
Firestorm's eyes were wanting a better plan, wanting an alternative solution. But all she got was my eyes, seeing even my own hatred to the plan of my own creation. She sighed and left the room, I could already tell that she's upset from the news.
I sighed as well as I slumped onto my chair like a sack of potatoes, looking down and not wishing to see anyone's faces. The captain's veteran voice broke the silence this time. "I'll... leave you with him, I must check on the conscripts to see how their morales are doing"
The sounds of his hoof steps echoed the war room as he and some others I hear left the room, leaving me alone with only Snow Charm herself. At first, the silence once again returned to the room, like a plague that just keeps on spreading. But the sounds of her light hoof steps came closer to me, its repeating trots somehow kept my nerves and worries at bay and far away. Then I felt one of her hoof pulling my chin to look at her and I obliged.
Out of many years I worked with the Lunatic and even when I told her how I feel for her, I cannot stop admiring her blue eyes. They were large, hopeful, and still holding her true self even through this war. Even with her scar on her face that'll forever be apart of her, she was still the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria and I'm the luckiest stallion to have her by my side. Even in this horrid time and the plan of certain doom, she gives me hope and somehow, even without saying a word, brought a smile on my face as well as uplifting my soul a bit.
"We had some good times, huh?" I asked Snow, my voice somehow sounded defeat yet with a hint of victory. How I do not know. "We faced off bandits, stopped Diamond Dog raiders and now we even managed to save a dragon within the heart of Horde Territories"
Snow shook her head as she gave a small smile. "You overthinking fool. This isn't the end, I know, I'm not going to die in Everstand and I won't leave it in defeat. This plan may not be the best, but if we could save Spike from the Dynol himself, then we can hold this fortress with only three hundred and sixty brave souls against his army"
I chuckled lightly before Snow smirked wickedly. "Besides, it's good that Dynol's coming here"
"Why's that?"
"Well... He gave me a scar, so I feel it's only fair if I give him one in return"
We both chuckled with each other, forgetting about the outside world and only for ourselves. I looked at the table and looked at our war-pieces. Two Knight Pieces stationed at Everstand, one at Canterlot and another two with a crystal piece in the Crystal Empire. Dynol's forces has spilt our armies in two and his geographic location was straight down the middle, which explains why our armies are facing a war on both front.
But my head once again was turned to face Snow Charm, her smirk still on her face. She then raised an eyebrow before she slowly moved towards my lips, her eyes closing halfway as my heart skipped a beat.
That was until someone bursted through the door, making Snow lowering her head sighing as I looked to see who it was: My Sister, Firestorm. "Well got to be important"
She opened her mouth and before any word could escape from her throat, the sound of something buzzing echoed from the background. It was getting louder and louder by the seconds before being drowned out by the sound of one of the eight horns of Everstand. Me and Snow shot up and our eyes widened in shock.
"You got to be joking..."
Behemoth POV:
The icy winds of the mountains hailed down upon me and my army. Our perimeter is about two mile long and mining the land is difficult thanks to the harden ground. The cold winds cut through my armour and even my own fur cannot stop the me from feeling a bit freezing and reports of some of our forces are getting frostbites.
And I love it!
The feeling of the very air my forefathers once felt is the only thing that's keeping me warm and awake in the snow. I, along with a watchful WoodFang, stood on a small hill that overlooks the perimeter. There were other hills that gave a better view but I liked this one, mainly for one reason.
I get to see a big spike in the ground.
Icy Spire sure got its name for a reason. The mountainous shard was in between two mountains like said mountains were hugging it tightly. Sure when I say mountainous, it's not really the size of a mountain but it sure is bigger than even that the tower in the Crystal Empire. It almost looked like it was bending down to stab the snowy surface, as if to say 'this land belongs to me', so maybe when we reclaim our homeland again, I'll name it Chieftain's Claw and perhaps even rebuilt Mut'talva near it.
As I watched my people and the Razorcasts continue to build our perimeter. I looked over to the Timberwolf, who again kept a watchful eye over everything. "Say, WoodFang? I got a question for you"
WoodFang turned his head to me, tilting his head to the side, allowing me to see his one larger fang. I continued: "Why is your name like that? I mean, in the sense of how you read it? When Dynol sent me a report of them reaching Everstand, he asked how you are and he wrote your name without a space in Wood and Fang. Why is that?"
The timberwolf gave out scoff, as if he was always getting that question. But he growled and huffed his answer and I nodded.
"Oh so it's how you timberwolves call each other? So your kind don't have spaces in your names?" I asked, interested in this. WoodFang nodded his head. "So something like AshTooth and LogClaw are names as well?" He nodded again as I returned my gaze at the building perimeter. "Huh, now that's something.... And how can I understand you just then?"
Before anyone of us could say something. I heard the sound of wings buzzing and something landing behind me. I turned my gaze to the sound and saw Fangro standing there, shivering in the cold. "Hive's Sake, this place is just t-too cold. We Changelings aren't good in the snow, we were made for the h-heat of the Badlands."
I chuckled as I looked at him. "Oh grow some fur, it's not that bad"
"YOU have fur!"
"I know, bhaha! Oh don't worry, once that snowstorm-" I pointed at the dark clouds that was approaching us in the east. "- goes past us, the sun will show up and we'll get some nice heat"
Fangro looked at the clouds and myself in disbelief as he gulped. "S-Snowstorm?"
"Now you see why we mainly dig underground: One for diamonds and two to keep us out of snowstorms"
I chuckled warmly as Fangro walked towards me, standing in the middle of WoodFang and I. "H-how goes the work?"
"It's going alright, those Razorcasts are helping greatly. Although that doesn't me we're going any faster, the land is strong and hard to dig. I say when the snowstorm is over, we'll be completed and we hold position until Dynol comes here or we're called back"
"You think we Changelings will survive until then?" Fangro asked shivering still. WoodFang noticed this and simply got up and laid down next to the Battle-Mage, to which he fell down and landed onto the timberwolf. I don't know what he felt, but the changeling's face changed from concern to a brief moment of relax, must be a timberwolf thing or something.
But I answered Fangro's question regardless. "I can get some of my mutts and some of the animals to help your Blitzschlag people in making some tents for you. I know it won't be much, but it'll do for the snowstorm's sudden attack"
Fangro didn't answer, instead he nodded his head as he smiled to himself. Is WoodFang keeping him warm? But he has no fur NOR even flesh? Damn they're a strange group of wolves.
I looked at the perimeter once more, checking to see if there's anything wrong. Seeing that there's nothing too concerning, I looked over at our lands eastward, seeing the rolling hills of snows and how beautiful it was. I could see some shiny snows on-top of one hill and it looked so awing, like a herd of stars freely running around the land. It made me smile to myself, for when this war is over... We'll have a home again. Not some hidden cave with clans fighting each other over a scrap of food. But a united people under my rule in the homeland of our ancestors.
And I'm not gonna die in some battle in my prime. I will die in my elder state, in the home of my pups. This I swear.
Third Person POV:
The Starry night sky shined down upon Ormry as she looks at the moon and the small dark clouds around it. She has finished sending the letter to Lady Night-Gaze and was simply enjoying the comforting sound of the silent winds and the cold breeze brushing her scales. She stood at the main entrance to the castle, ignoring the Vanguards of Red-Oath going through their duties, guarding and patrol along the earthen walls of Ponyville.
Ormry then looked down at her claw, examining it like examining a painting. She looked to her scales, the soft palm and her talons before clinching it into a fist, feeling warmth from the clinch. She breathed heavily as she remembered the teaching from Dynol, although she seemed to doubt herself in ever achieving the chance of wielding fire, her rational mind betraying her feelings and emotions.
She then heard someone approaching from behind and looked to see Llofrudd, geared up in his onyx armour and looked ready for action as he stood next to her whilst giving her a nod. "Ambassador. A beautiful night, isn't it?"
"Indeed" Ormry answered softly, looking back at the starry sky. "It's on nights like these, I keep on forgetting that I'm not in the Dragon Holds and at peace. I'm in Horde territories and at war with one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world"
Llofrudd chuckled. "Well since they lost this town and the Highway, I have several doubts that they're most powerful kingdom in the world"
Ormry looked at Llofrudd, peering at him like he was supposed to ask a question of impotence to her. "How are your wounds, Llofrudd?"
"The one that Minotaur gave me? It stings, but with that watery aspect's aid, it's tolerable. Why you ask?"
"I got a feeling that we'll need your strength"
Llofrudd looked at the dragon with a risen eyebrow. "Having doubts or something?"
"More like concern about the lack of warriors here. With most of the warriors gone with Dynol, your father, Behemoth and our Changeling allies. I worry about not having enough manpower to fight back a counterattack from the ULE"
Llofrudd smirked as he merely pointed at random Vanguards walking about and guarding the walls. "These are not some runts we picked from the litters. These, Ambassador, are the Vanguards of Red-Oath. They managed to hold the frontline against Equestrians, even mighty yaks and yet here they are: Standing true and ready to serve their people and allies like nothing had happened. Let their enemies try to attack us, their sword-arms always needs a bit of practice"
Ormry looked at Llofrudd's smirk as he merely patted her back and headed back in the castle with two of his Ogre brethren. Ormry looked again to the Vanguards, seeing one patrol having a timberwolf walking with them. She calmed her mind and accepted Llofrudd's words and unshaken belief in his warriors and looked to the starry night one last time. Seeing a cloud in the centre of the moon, moving slowly like it wasn't bothered in this war and seemed to mind its own business. Ormry took mental notes to this and remembered Dynol's teaching to her and thus, headed indoor as well to keep herself warm.
Never knowing that the cloud had some bat eyes hiding behind it, watching the town from afar.
.