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Heart of War- Act XXII

By ThingPaste
Created: 2024-02-28 03:27:52
Expiry: Never
heart of war

  1. >Met with the ringing from the force of the blast, you start to take a few steps forward.
  2. >It couldn’t have been from the enemy, the explosion was clearly gunpowder- one of the caravans had gone up.
  3. >Possibly due to negligence, most likely due to-
  4. >A second explosion shakes the cavern, this one emanating from the base of the spire closest to the entrance.
  5. >Throughout the cavern, stalactites fall to the ground and crush those unlucky enough to be under their path.
  6. >But you can only watch as the spire crumbles in the distance, followed by an utter hail of rock as the ground cascades onto the army below.
  7. >To the center of the cavern, a third fireball erupts.
  8. >While this one was away from any structural support, the flames travel unhindered as they scorch through the camp.
  9. >On your right, you catch a magical shield raise into the air.
  10. >The sphere shimmers between multiple magical auras, indicating that more than one unicorn is supporting it.
  11. >Like the others, the cart at the heart of the shield goes up.
  12. >For a moment, the barrier holds back the blast.
  13. >But, several cracks form.
  14. >Rock, dust, and fire shoot out from a dozen holes in protective shield- sprinkling out.
  15. >Some are aimed into the air, but others looked to be at ground level.
  16. >And all you can do is watch…
  17. >You did this.
  18. >At one point you could feel and see into each and every one of these souls.
  19. >Now in an instant, hundreds- thousands of them have been snuffed out.
  20. >The rest of them are trapped.
  21. >You led them here like animals in some griffon slaughterhouse.
  22.  
  23. >It feels like your head is throbbing.
  24. >Like when you were close to the distressed crystal.
  25. >But there isn’t anything causing pain other than your own faults.
  26. >Everything you touch is destined to fail.
  27. >You’re not sure how much time passed.
  28. >Four of the five wagons carrying the explosives have gone up; surely the fifth is soon to follow.
  29. >”SIR!”
  30. >An earth pony shakes your shoulders.
  31. “Bourbon?”
  32. >The captain comes into focus.
  33. >”I was near one of the carts after the first went up; ripped this out of the side of a barrel.”
  34. >A slow burning fuse is in his hoof, still lit.
  35. >Lt. Whiskey is still with you, and he speaks to his brother:
  36. >”You actually went into it! It could have blown at any min-“
  37. >”It’s part of the job! Remember why we both joined up.”
  38. >Bourbon then looks back to you after patting Whiskey on the shoulder.
  39. >”Sir, we obviously have saboteurs among us.”
  40. >He paces away, looking into the panicking camp.
  41. >While ponies scramble to get their weapons ready and otherwise find out what’s happening, the captain turns back to you and continues:
  42. >”We need to get the troops under control, then find out who-“
  43. >A large chunk of stone lands atop Bourbon.
  44. >in the blink of an eye, he was completely crushed by the rock.
  45. >Not even a single limb is visible.
  46. >As dust is blown up, Whiskey starts coughing as he rushes over to the stone- desperately trying to push it off of his older brother…
  47. >Everything you touch turns to ash.
  48.  
  49. >Amongst the chaos as the scrambling of troops blurs around you, your hoof reaches up to rest on the hilt of your dagger.
  50. >You’ve failed your men.
  51. >You’ve failed your country.
  52. >You’ve failed the world.
  53. >You’ve failed your family…
  54. >Just as you begin to remove the knife, a hoof rests on your shoulder.
  55. >You look over to the pegasus.
  56. >Captain Night.
  57. >He speaks in a hushed tone:
  58. >”Sir, you need to see something.”
  59. “What is it?”
  60. >”Trust me; you’ll want to keep this between us. If the others find out…”
  61.  
  62. >…
  63. >Captain Night led you to one of the smaller tunnels leading out of the cavern.
  64. >This one was fairly high up, almost near the ceiling.
  65. >As you set down, he lands next to you.
  66. >The path leads off to the left, so you start to follow it.
  67. >Taking a few steps forward you-
  68. >You feel… remember something.
  69. “I know you.”
  70. >”What? Just this way Sir.”
  71. >You turn your head slightly to glance at him.
  72. “You told the truth… your family was too large to count, and they did die in the war.”
  73. >His eyes turn a distinct green.
  74. “You were at the MID headquarters…”
  75. >Turning to face him, you place a hoof on your sword.
  76. “And you hid from us.”
  77. >While you draw your sword, a flash of green light dissipates the ‘Night’ persona, revealing a changeling drone.
  78. >Reaching back to strike at him, his curved horn glistens with magic, and you’re thrown against the wall.
  79. >With your back to the stone, he keeps you pinned as he approaches.
  80. >”Very clever.”
  81. “You did this…”
  82. >”Of course I did! Anonymous and your ‘Old Guard’ took everything from me!”
  83. “Thousands of innocent people are trapped down here!”
  84. >”Innocent, maybe. But you don’t understand. All of this was for you. Your leader might be far away, but you and all your precious veterans aren’t. You were second in command of the attack, and I didn’t just want you dead, I wanted you to suffer… unfortunately for me, the beasts already killed your wife.”
  85. >You try to break free of the stasis field holding you in place, but to no avail.
  86.  
  87. >”So, I asked myself how to make a broken pony suffer. I helped give you hope and a shot at revenge… and now I think I’ll leave you down here to rot with your pitiful troops.”
  88. “You’re trapped down here too.”
  89. >A sadistic grin forms on the bug’s face.
  90. >”That’s where you’re wrong. These past couple days I was able to gorge myself on the camaraderie between the soldiers and their love for family members at home. I’ll have no trouble teleporting back into the tunnel- then when the troops on the surface see ‘Captain Stormy Night’ returning alone, I’ll make sure they close the pit on that end as well.”
  91. >Night then steps closer towards you, getting within a few inches of your face.
  92. >”And once I’m back to the surface, I have a long list of the soldiers that attacked my home. Granted, they’re all veterans and most could kill me in a fight… but there are a lot of parents, siblings, and children who aren’t veteran warriors. However, I don’t think anything else will bring me as much satisfaction as this.”
  93. >You see movement behind the changeling, but it’s hard to see over the aura’s light around you.
  94. >”So… enjoy Tartarus, Thunder. Oh, and I think you’ll find that most of your rations were destroyed in the blasts as well. Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll even last long enough for starvation to be an issue.”
  95. >”Oi!”
  96. >Night turns to face the pony approaching from behind him, and just as a hoof was about to connect with his jaw, he disappears in a flash of light.
  97. >Leaving you to fall to the ground, looking up at the pegasi who followed you up here.
  98. “… Call?”
  99.  
  100. >…
  101. >As you continue to walk down the streets, you-
  102. >”No, I refuse to believe it.”
  103. “Every morning, even after weeks without bathing.”
  104. >Lieutenant Morning Sunshine continues:
  105. >”I don’t want to know how you know that, but still. There’s not a single hair out of place.”
  106. “Saves a lot of time in the morning. Unless something needs to be done differently, then it can take hours of excruciating torture.”
  107. >You’re speaking about your mane.
  108. “Then it’ll usually just pop back into the normal curls within a few hours.”
  109. >”I’ll believe that when I see it.”
  110. “Well fortunately for me, there are far more important things to do than ironing my mane for a few hours.”
  111. >”Here we are!”
  112. >Looks like the logistical troops have set up in a school.
  113. >Makes sense, there’s plenty of desks to work at.
  114. >Even if they might be a bit small.
  115. >…
  116. “Welcome to detention, students.”
  117. >The logistical staff was able to spare a dozen ponies.
  118. >They’re currently cramped the child sized chairs.
  119. “While it may be monotonous, I’m going to need a few thousand copies of this.”
  120. >You give the letter over to the nearest pony.
  121. “Because we need the griffons to stabilize their government as quickly as possible, word needs to get sent throughout the country. If something more pressing comes up, by all means see to that first. However, I’d like at least two thousand copies of the letter ready by noon tomorrow.”
  122. >They’d have to average around twenty copies per pony each hour.
  123. >Assuming they don’t sleep tonight.
  124. “I know it’s a heavy work load, so I’ve told your CO that if you finish on time, you’ll each get an extra week of leave. I hope you all got decent sleep last night, but if you didn’t, a crate of coffee rations just happened to get lost and will be turning up here in an hour or so.”
  125. >Some of the troops smile at the sound of what totally isn’t a bribe.
  126. >It’s an incentive.
  127.  
  128. “I’m going to get some pegasi and griffons to collect the letters tomorrow and disperse them, and I’ll send the force here to collect. Now, I’ve always said that I would never order a soldier to do something I wouldn’t myself do. So this isn’t an order, it’s a request… fighting hordes of monsters from Tartarus- easy. Coping paperwork… that’s what gives me nightmares.”
  129. >As some of the soldiers laugh, nopony decides to opt out.
  130. “You ponies are the real heroes.”
  131. >With that you leave the classroom.
  132. >After you get out of earshot, you whisper to Sunshine:
  133. “I really don’t envy their job.”
  134. >”From experience, I think it’s probably better than standing in a hallway all day.”
  135. “Well, you’re certainly welcome to join them.”
  136. >”I’ll pass.”
  137. “Speaking of which, don’t you have a hallway to get back to?”
  138. >”Well… that would leave you without any guards. And I’m sure that would break regulations.”
  139. “As Princess of Equestria, I hereby rescind any and all regulations that require the Princess to be escorted.”
  140. >”You’re sending me back to the hallway…”
  141. “If you’d prefer, I’m sure there’s plenty of room on the front.”
  142. >She lets out an uneasy laugh.
  143. >”Really?”
  144. >You could let up a bit.
  145. >Could.
  146. “I’m sure a lot of ponies would be keen on letting a fresh set of legs get on the frontline.”
  147. >It’s then that you get a look out one of the windows and can see into the backyard of the school.
  148. >The playground.
  149. >Now it’s been filled with tents, specifically it looks like a field hospital has been set up.
  150. >The local hospitals were already pressed for space before the past couple days of fighting.
  151. >What used to be fields for children’s sports is now filled with at least couple hundred wounded soldiers.
  152. >Because it’s in the city, there’s not a ton of space, but they’ve managed to pack almost every inch.
  153. “Come on.”
  154. >You want to see how things are going down there.
  155.  
  156. >…
  157. >The flying creature in the night was a giant owl.
  158. >When you found the crash site, it was still squirming.
  159. >Two rounds to the head, plus one for good measure ended it.
  160. >Might have even been the same owl that ended up sending you down into the changeling hive.
  161. >Either way, the crisis was averted and you eventually apologized to the troops for waking them up with machinegun fire.
  162. >Now, you’re sitting in the passenger seat of the jeep, and-
  163. >You brace yourself.
  164. “Don’t just rip the wheel. Ease into the turn.”
  165. >Geoffrey is at the wheel.
  166. >The minotaurs are a bit too bulky for the driver’s seat, so you decided to pick a griffon to teach.
  167. >You have some of the minotaurs and griffons a crash course in using the MG, and they picked up on its use rather easily.
  168. >But driving…
  169. “Alright, now stop.”
  170. >He slams on the brake.
  171. >If you didn’t fold the windshield down onto the hood, you probably would have just broken it with your skull.
  172. “Damnit! Alright, get out.”
  173.  
  174. >You’ve tried with five griffons so far, none of them have been able to pick up driving that easily.
  175. >”Sorry boss.”
  176. >You pinch the upper part of your nose- you know with your thumb in one tear duct and middle finger on the other.
  177. >It’s not your fault you lack the proper anatomical knowhow to describe it.
  178. >Anon…
  179. >Focus.
  180. >Quit ranting to yourself.
  181. “Its fine, one of you will eventually get the hang of it. Till then, as you were.”
  182. >After nodding, Geoffrey flaps his wings and goes about his business.
  183. >Without placing the jeep in park.
  184. >Sending you drifting forward down the slight decline of the uneven plains.
  185. >While you shift over to the driver’s seat, you scratch at your chest.
  186. >Feels strange to have your breastplate off.
  187. >But you removed the armor because it’s been a bit bulky when behind the wheel.
  188. >As you take control of the jeep, a pegasi lands over in the passenger seat.
  189. >”Sir, the scouts have seen a large river ahead. A big one, maybe fifty or sixty feet wide. Should we get the fliers ready to start ferrying people over?”
  190. >Harv then gets in a word:
  191. >”Go south.”
  192. “No, we’ll be heading south alongside the river for a while. But make sure to remind people not to drink the water.”
  193. >With a nod, the pegasi takes flight.
  194. >And you whisper:
  195. “So what’s next Harv?”
  196.  
  197. >”If I’m remembering right, the river should take us back to the mountains. It’s carved a canyon through them, so you can take it down to the opposite side.”
  198. “Thought we were avoiding the mountains.”
  199. >”That was when you were a decade older, and didn’t have guns.”
  200. “Fair enough.”
  201. >With that, you park the jeep and let the rest of the troops catch up to you.
  202. >Heading back to the mountains could be a bit dangerous though.
  203. >Even if you can avoid caves and tunnels, it’ll be easier for predators to get the drop on any stragglers.
  204. >Also that humanoid creature is still out there, and you still have no way to actually kill it.
  205. >You didn’t even name it yet…
  206. >Either way, if it catches up to the group, it could do serious damage to the others.
  207. >Maybe magic might mutilate the monstrous muscly mass.
  208. >Heh.
  209. >No but really, most unicorns and even changelings aren’t that smart when it comes to using magic offensively.
  210. >When you’ve fought them, they usually rely on using magic to levitate weapons or using pure magic to harm living tissue.
  211. >They’ll use arcane beams to bypass armor entirely and attack the body directly.
  212. >Smart against most targets, but you’re immune to magic.
  213. >If they had just superheated or crushed your armor, they could easily do actual damage to you.
  214. >But back to the enemy, due to the damage you’ve dealt to it, you’re assuming it’s a form of magic that heals it.
  215. >If pure energy can’t kill it, then a dampening field might just suppress its ability to rejuvenate itself.
  216. >If not, you’ll start looking for an active volcano to dip it in.
  217.  
  218. >…
  219. >As you walk through the narrow pathways, you can see the scores of wounded up close.
  220. >Pegasi and griffons with broken wings.
  221. >People with mangled limbs, some fully missing.
  222. >Bandaged lacerations over torsos and necks.
  223. >It’s looking like most of the troops here have already been seen to.
  224. >From one of the closest tents, you hear a call for medic.
  225. >You head into it, finding an earth pony standing next to one on a stretcher.
  226. >There’s a bloody arrow in the standing soldier’s hoof, and the back of the other’s left shoulder is spewing blood.
  227. >You go to apply pressure onto the wound before yelling at the other troop.
  228. “What did you do!”
  229. >”My buddy got hit from friendly fire; I thought you were supposed to take it out.”
  230. >His buddy then yells to him as well:
  231. >”You didn’t have to twist it like that!”
  232. “No, you DON’T take the arrow out!”
  233. >The first soldier then goes on:
  234. >”So what do we do?”
  235. “Do I look like a medic?”
  236. >”You’re…”
  237. >”What?”
  238. >The wounded pony tries to turn his head to see you.
  239. “Stay still! You’ll just make things worse.”
  240. >Soon, an actual medic arrived.
  241. >”What’s wrong?”
  242. >You look over to her and Lieutenant Sunshine sums up the situation:
  243. >“Remember how in boot camp you’re told not to remove arrows on your own? These two didn’t.”
  244. >”Do any of you have any medical training.”
  245. “I once put a bandage on. All by myself.”
  246. >The pegasi medic approaches you.
  247. >Light blue coat, with a puffy white mane.
  248. >”Let me see.”
  249. >You swap places and let her take over.
  250.  
  251. >After inspecting the wound, she makes a call.
  252. >”We’ll need to get him to an actual doctor. Are there any bandages in here?”
  253. >As you look around, you hear the medic speak to the wounded soldier:
  254. >”Just stay calm. It looks a lot worse than it is. Just need to patch you up and get you into surgery.”
  255. >You haven’t found anything usable.
  256. >Looks like supplies are pretty low here.
  257. >Sunshine then steps up to the medic.
  258. >Her horn lights up, and she tears off the sleeve of the shirt she keeps under her armor.
  259. >”Will this be enough?”
  260. >”That should work.”
  261. >As the Lieutenant levitates the cloth over to the medic, she takes it and begins to wrap it around the troop’s wounded shoulder.
  262. >The medic then looks over to Sunshine:
  263. >”Can you levitate that stretcher?”
  264. >”I think.”
  265. >”Then come on, we need to get him over to surgery.”
  266.  
  267. >…
  268. >When you got over to a larger tent, some other medical personnel took over, leaving you there outside.
  269. >While the medic speaks to another, you turn to Sunshine:
  270. “Well, I’m covered in blood. You’ve lost a sleeve. So far it’s been a very productive day.”
  271. >”Where did that other soldier even go?”
  272. >The genius that pulled the arrow out.
  273. “I think he just stayed in the tent.”
  274. >”I’m sure his friend will have more than a few words with him once he gets back on his hooves.”
  275. “I can only imagine.”
  276. >The pegasi medic then approaches you:
  277. >”Well seeing as I’ve been working for over thirty hours straight, I’ve officially been ordered to teak a break.”
  278. >She offers a hoof, and you shake it.
  279. >As she shakes the Lieutenant’s hoof, she speaks:
  280. >”I’m Merry Weather.”
  281. “That’s Lieutenant Morning Sunshine, and you know who I am…”
  282. >”I do?”
  283. >She blinks her eyes quickly a few times.
  284. >”Oh!”
  285. “Yeah, I think your CO made the right call on that break.”
  286. >”I just wanted to help, and with so many wounded coming in there wasn’t a lot of time to sleep.”
  287. “I appreciate the dedication, but you really should get some rest.”
  288. >”Right… where are we camped out?”
  289. >You have no idea where her unit is set up.
  290. >Honestly, the city is petty packed with all the soldiers.
  291. >Even the logistic troops were just sleeping at the school they’re set up in.
  292. “Just…”
  293. >You glance over at Sunshine:
  294. “Did I look that tired?”
  295. >”Worse.”
  296. >Then back to Merry Weather:
  297. “Just come with us, there’s plenty of space.”
  298.  
  299. >…
  300. >The troops found some sort of cave in the side of one of the hills.
  301. >So, you’ve decided to stop the group.
  302. >It was about time for a rest, and you don’t want any creatures that could be inside to get the drop on your men.
  303. >With rifle in hand, bayonet attached of course, you stand at the mouth of the cave.
  304. >Fairly narrow, but plenty of space for you.
  305. >The jeep is parked about fifty feet away, and Rusty is standing on the gun.
  306. “Now if I come running out screaming, you light up whatever follows!”
  307. >”My pleasure!”
  308. >You then look over to the pair of unicorns you brought with.
  309. “Stay behind me and keep up some flares. At the first sign of trouble, get out and sound the alarm. You’ll stay at the entrance, and you’ll follow me.”
  310. >You then enter, and take a short walk down the narrow entrance tunnel.
  311. >An orb of magical light shines over your head, illuminating the rock as you descend.
  312. >You don’t hold the rifle against your shoulder- instead opting to use it more as a spear.
  313. >With it at your hip pointed forward, you soon reach a large chamber.
  314. >At the far end of the chamber, the back wall might be about a hundred feet back.
  315. >Side to side, maybe fifteen feet.
  316. >However the walls aren’t perfectly smooth- at some points it bulges out to twenty or twenty five feet wide.
  317. >Ceiling gives you plenty of headroom, enough for a pegasi to comfortably fly over your head without risk of kicking you by accident.
  318. >Seeing no other tunnels close by, you shoulder the rifle and hustle forward.
  319. >Whenever you reach an outcropping that something could be hiding behind, you prepare to open fire as you round the slight corner.
  320. >However, nothing is lurking and there are no other passageways.
  321.  
  322. >Somewhat at ease, you let your mind focus a bit less on combat readiness.
  323. >The ground is remarkably smooth, like it’s been worn down.
  324. >And crude cave paintings line the walls and ceiling.
  325. >You look over and call to the unicorn at the entrance:
  326. “Coast is clear, go get Professor Fortitude down here! I think he’d want to see this.”
  327. >You then begin to inspect the murals coating the walls.
  328. >There are some basic stick figure people in groups, you don’t know if they were ponies or not, but whatever they were, they had four legs.
  329. >Humans might have made cave drawings of hunting giant animals.
  330. >But the quadrupeds here drew the monsters that hunted them.
  331. >On the ceiling you can see a large painting of an eagle, swooping down onto whoever stands below it.
  332. >The wingspan reaches from one side of the cave to the other.
  333. >And even though faded, the detail is remarkable for a cave drawing.
  334. >It might not be an ancient minotaur ruin that the Professor would be looking for, but you think he’ll enjoy studying it either way.
  335.  
  336. >…
  337. >You continue to walk through the streets of Griffonstone, accompanied by your hanger-on and stray puppy.
  338. >And by that you mean Morning Sunshine and Merry Weather.
  339. >That’s not to speak badly about either; it’s just a change of pace.
  340. >Should get back into the field soon.
  341. >You want to oversee the destruction of the remaining pits and major cleanup.
  342. >Playing political stabilization during this crisis isn’t exactly how you’d like to spend your time.
  343. >In fact, if the trend continues then there will be another incursion soon.
  344. >But right now, you just need to rest your wings and revolutionize a country’s entire political system.
  345. >Things would have been much simpler under a junta, but no…
  346. >It’s like Uncle Anon always said.
  347. >With great power comes great clichés…
  348. >But really kiddo- it’s easy, even for the best of us, to get lost in the details.
  349. >The quickest or easiest choice is rarely the right choice.
  350. >And a simple junta would be easy.
  351. >Still though, getting sidetracked at the field hospital was worth the experience.
  352. >You shouldn’t let yourself forget the repercussions beyond immediate loss of life.
  353. >The way the beasts mutilate their victims is the stuff of nightmares.
  354. >But it’s good to see ponies like Merry Weather giving every ounce of energy doing what they can to help the survivors…
  355. >And those who are accident prone.
  356. >Anyway, you continue down the street, taking the next right.
  357. >While the three of you round the corner, you spot another trio of mares in the distance.
  358. >All soldiers, based on the armor.
  359.  
  360. >A yellow eyed earth pony with a light brown coat and a long wavy mane of bark gold and burnt orange.
  361. >Another earth pony, this one green eyed, and with a baby blue coat and short indigo mane.
  362. >And a pegasi, dark red eyes, a pale red coat, and a medium length dark red mane to match her eyes.
  363. >They’re arguing with a larger group of griffons that are standing between them and a building.
  364. >You glance at the sign and notice it’s a bar they’re trying to get into.
  365. >Stopping, Sunshine gets the message, but you have to put your front leg out to the side to catch Merry Weather as she continues to stumble forward in her exhausted state.
  366. >You’re able to pick up on how the argument is going.
  367. >The blue pony continues a sentence:
  368. >“… And everypony here is on the same side.”
  369. >To which the lead griffon responds:
  370. >”Well none of us asked for any of your kind to be here.”
  371. >The red mare then yells:
  372. >”Hey, we lost most of our squad out there actually fighting, instead of hiding behind some wall!”
  373. >”A shame it was only ‘most’ of the squad.”
  374. >Why you-“
  375. >The brown pony holds back the pegasi and you hear her speak:
  376. >”That’s enough private, she’s just trying to provoke you.”
  377. >The griffon continues to antagonize:
  378. >”Go on and try it, I count ten of us to your three.”
  379. >You yell over to the group:
  380. “Sounds like a fair fight to me!”
  381.  
  382. >Though…
  383. “Hold on, I take it back. They’re all in armor and that just isn’t fair.”
  384. >As you approach the scene, the ponies begin to stand to, and the brown mare starts to speak.
  385. “Hush.”
  386. >Moving up to the lead griffon, you begin the stare down.
  387. >She’s got height, but you’ve faced bigger.
  388. “If you have a problem with these soldiers, you can take it directly to their commanding officer. Me.”
  389. >You see her gaze break for a moment, and the slight pause before she speaks is evidence enough that you’ve got the upper hoof.
  390. >”Well look who decided to come down from her stolen palace.”
  391. “Actually I’ve spent the past week or so in the mud defending this city. Don’t remember seeing any of you guys and gals on the front line. Let’s see how much fight is really in you.”
  392. >You press further.
  393. “One on ten, sounds fair. No magic and no armor- how do ya like the sound of that? Hoof to claw, if you’re itching for a fight I’ll give you one.”
  394. >With the last word, you push your head forward a bit, prompting the griffon to jump back.
  395. “Now why don’t you go back inside before you get hurt…”
  396. >Once the last of the griffons backs off into the bar, you allow yourself to blink.
  397. “Well girls.”
  398. >You turn to face the three ponies.
  399. “You might want to find a friendlier place to unwind.”
  400.  
  401. >While the blue earth pony rushes over to you, she begins:
  402. >”It’s really you! Could I get your autograph?”
  403. >You hear the red pegasi then mutter:
  404. >”Was looking forward to a fight…”
  405. >The other earth pony then speaks to them:
  406. >”That’s enough, both of you! Your highness, thank you for… diffusing the situation.”
  407. “I heard something about losing the rest of the squad, that right?”
  408. >”The other seven didn’t make it through the battle.”
  409. “I’m sorry to hear that…”
  410. >”Oh, I’m Sergeant Autumn Leaf, this is Corporal Blueberry Blossom, and that’s Private Ruby Flare.”
  411. >You look over to the blue earth pony.
  412. “I take it you’re Ruby.”
  413. >Glancing over to the actual Ruby, you then comment:
  414. “Sorry to rob the fight, blame them for backing off.”
  415. >You nod over to the ponies following you:
  416. “That’s Lieutenant Morning Sunshine and… Merry Weather, what’s your rank even?”
  417. >”Wha- Private First Class.”
  418. >Autumn then speaks to you:
  419. >”Is she okay?”
  420. “She’s a medic, been working nonstop for quite some time.”
  421. >”Ah…”
  422. “Is there a problem?”
  423. >”It’s just that I’d have expected that you would have more guards with you.”
  424. “They’re not guards. Just a couple strays I picked up.”
  425. >Sunshine objects:
  426. >”Hey!”
  427. “Am I that wrong?”
  428. >”Well…”
  429. >You look over to the trio.
  430. “Why don’t you girls come with us? I’m sure the palace has a bar somewhere.”
  431. >Blueberry then responds jokingly:
  432. >”Are you ordering us to be your friends?”
  433. “I’m not…”
  434. >You don’t actually have any friends…
  435. >You have subordinates that you’re friendly to varying extents.
  436. >Even as a kid none of your friendships lasted longer than a year or two due to moving around regularly.
  437. >Ruby then speaks:
  438. >”Real confident in that…”
  439. “I’m not!”
  440. >Merry Weather then puts in two bits:
  441. >”You’re sounding rather defensive now.”
  442. “Know what? I’m just gonna head back to the palace and leave it at that.”
  443.  
  444. >…
  445. >”Fascinating…”
  446. >You let Professor Fortitude take in the view.
  447. “I think you’ll like this.”
  448. >You point out the only minotaur you’ve seen.
  449. >It’s surrounded by a few of the stick quadrupeds.
  450. >But it’s drawn with more detail, almost like one of the animals seen.
  451. >There’s a club or spear in its hand, but it doesn’t look like they’re in combat.
  452. >”Hmm.”
  453. “What do you make of it?”
  454. >”Not hostile, but not necessarily friendly to one another.”
  455. “Due to the basic stick drawings, I’m assuming the quadrupeds drew these.”
  456. >”What makes you say that?”
  457. “My ancient ancestors drew animals in much greater detail than the animals around them, so I’m assuming these… wild horses did similarly.”
  458. >”Though not my specialty, I’d agree with that. If they had the ability to make more intricate drawings, then it would be a choice to make more simplistic ones.”
  459. “Also whoever drew these left no tools behind. Take what you want from that.”
  460. >He remains silent as you each go your own way to inspect the paintings.
  461. >You can recognize some of the creatures depicted, but others are alien to you.
  462. >For example, one seems to be a small black sphere standing on long legs, towering over the equine stick figures- even skewering one on a leg raised higher.
  463. >Continuing to pass down the cave, you-
  464. >What’s that on the back wall?
  465. >Stepping towards it, you start to get the full picture.
  466. >That son of a bitch…
  467. >Why is there a painting of Discord down here?
  468.  
  469. “Harv…”
  470. >You whisper.
  471. >”I know, I know.”
  472. >-
  473. >You inspect your new surroundings.
  474. >The empty void seems to be boring Harvey.
  475. >You’re standing at the end of a pier, overlooking an ocean.
  476. >Some gulls are flying in the air, but there’s a complete overcast.
  477. >”Hello Anon.”
  478. >You turn to face Harvey, who is leaning with an elbow resting on one of those binocular sets you would toss a quarter in to view.
  479. “Don’t ‘hello Anon’ me. What are you doing in there?”
  480. >”I don’t know.”
  481. “You don’t know!”
  482. >”That’s Discord crayoned all over the wall, I’m Harvey. There’s only roughly half of Discord in here.”
  483. “Well ever since you got split in half, your selective answering just got worse.”
  484. >”I’m an eons old spirit of chaos that’s been mentally fractured and stuffed into your brain. Give me a break.”
  485. >Sticking your finger up to his head, you respond.
  486. “Don’t act like you’re some senile old man.”
  487. >”What?”
  488. >He stands up straight.
  489. >”I still have thousands of years of memories floating around, and in the confides of your mind, I’m barely keeping my own psyche coherent.”
  490. “Always with this-“
  491. >”Oh don’t you start-“
  492. “Don’t ‘oh don’t you start’ me! This is my head, I make the rules.”
  493. “Anon, you’re really starting to get emotionally unstable.”
  494. >”Did you just say that to yourself?”
  495. “Yes Harvey, yes I did.”
  496. >”Though I’ve noticed it mainly seems to be with me.”
  497. “Just your charming personality at play.”
  498. >”I miss our nice banter.”
  499. “I know where I’m going to shove your banter when you get your body back.”
  500.  
  501. >”What did I ever do to deserve this treatment!”
  502. “You ripped me away from my life and into an alternate dimension, gave me no help adapting to it, then set me to deal with another trans-dimensional being you brought here millennia ago because you’re too lazy to stop it from destabilizing the world on your own. I can keep going if you’d like.”
  503. >”Oh you’ve had fun here. Equestria as a whole I mean, Earth was so boring. Life here is at least a dozen times better than it would have been.”
  504. “You can see my memories. First Coast War, Battle of Ghudat Aldami. Tell me how great my life is again.”
  505. >”Oh what do you want me to say? That you’re a shambling husk of a man always on the very edge of complete mental breakdown from your predicament and the horrors of war only kept sane by decades of being desensitized and the attachment to your pseudo-daughter?”
  506. >You grab Harvey by the collar, pull him towards you, and then throw him over the guard rail.
  507. >As you see him fall into the rough waters below the pier, you hear his voice from behind.
  508. >”This isn’t real… but to answer your original question, I don’t know why Discord- I’m drawn in here. He slash I got around a lot back in the good old days, so if there were primitives here, they would have gotten interfered with.”
  509.  
  510. >…
  511. >Of course the freeloaders followed you.
  512. >So after arranging for a couple hundred fliers to arrive here tomorrow, you set about finding a recreation room.
  513. >You found what could only be described as a den on the top level.
  514. >Carpeted floor, a bar, a sectional couch in the corner, pool table, dart board, a round table with a set of cards and chips atop it, a fireplace, plenty of windows and a large skylight.
  515. “Alright ponies, go crazy.”
  516. >All of them except Merry Weather rush ahead.
  517. >Instead she trots over to the couch and falls into it without a word spoken.
  518. >Hope she doesn’t snore.
  519. >In the moment you spent watching her collapse, the others got to work quickly.
  520. >With Blueberry behind the bar, she’s already got drinks out and ready for the others.
  521. >Autumn has a tall glass of bubbly light brown beer or cider.
  522. >Sunshine has a bright pink iced drink with a little umbrella in it.
  523. >And Ruby has a small shot glass of clear liquid that’s been lit on fire.
  524. >The new bartender then looks over to you:
  525. >”And what’ll you have?”
  526. “I don’t drink.”
  527. >”Oh… well what does a Princess even do in their free time?”
  528. “Free time? Never heard of it.”
  529. >Missing the point, she continues:
  530. >”You don’t know what free time is!”
  531. >Ruby then yells over to her:
  532. >”It’s a joke you dolt.”
  533. “Look between running the country and the military, that doesn’t leave much time. The few hours I have free are usually spent sparring or keeping in shape.”
  534.  
  535. >Sunshine then speaks up:
  536. >”Well what about before all this?”
  537. “It was actually petty similar. Aside from political or administrative work I’d spend free time training. Spent some time reading I guess. Also I liked taking strolls through the orchards out in Appleoosa.”
  538. >Autumn leans forward and comments:
  539. >”That doesn’t sound like much of a life.”
  540. “Honestly if my wings didn’t need a couple days to heal up, I’d be on the front right now.”
  541. >”I don’t think that’s a healthy mindset to have.”
  542. “I’m the Princess of War! Or at least the minotaurs seem to think so.”
  543. >Ruby then speaks to Autumn:
  544. >“Really, where have you been the past few months Sarge? I’d still be out there if the brass didn’t take us off.”
  545. “And I’d rather be on the front instead of drowning in paperwork. Besides, between settling minotaur succession and killing suitors, I have plenty of fun.”
  546. >The silence that falls over the room is…
  547. “I know that last bit sounds sadistic, but it makes sense in context.”
  548. >Blueberry then presses:
  549. >”Well don’t stop.”
  550. “It starts with the Maretonian Duke. This was a few…”
  551. >…
  552. “… so the fight was all perfectly legal.”
  553. >Ruby is the first to comment, other than Blueberry’s regular interjections in the story.
  554. >”That’s awesome.”
  555. “Best part is that because it was public, I haven’t had a single suitor since.”
  556. >Sunshine then speaks:
  557. >”All the attention doesn’t seem so bad to me.”
  558. “No, trust me, it’s horrible. I ended up beating up more than a few colts when I was a teen.”
  559. >Blueberry then asks:
  560. >”How many is more than a few?”
  561. “Eight… no, nine. Then ponies started to get the message. It takes a while for nobility types to understand.”
  562.  
  563. >Autumn then comments:
  564. >”But did you have to beat them?”
  565. “Appeasement never works. So what about you three, how’d you get in the army?”
  566. >Autumn responds first:
  567. >”I joined up in the last year of the First Coast War, lied about my age to get in. If things had gone as planned, I would have been shipped off and seen the last couple months of fighting. But the griffons attacked when most of our forces were overseas, so my division was rushed out early to defend the northwest. Lost a lot of ground, but when the Arabians were dealt with, I made all the way to Griffonstone when the reinforcements arrived. This is my first time back in the city.”
  568. >You’d guess she’s maybe four or five years older than you.
  569. “That’s a long career, were in the entire time.”
  570. >”Until demilitarization three years ago.”
  571. “What about you?”
  572. >You look to Blueberry, she looks about your age.
  573. >”My first deployment was with the 181st regiment in the Second Coast War. It was in one of the divisions sent to Alsulb.”
  574. “That was one of the worst bloodbaths of the war.”
  575. >”Only a few thousand survived the battle. At the end there were only a couple dozen from the entire regiment left.”
  576. “I’m so sorry.”
  577. >”Oh it’s not your fault. Besides, it was years ago… And I got a shiny medal.”
  578. >You can’t tell if her chipper attitude to it is serious or not.
  579. >Looking to Ruby, the youngest one here, you wait for her to answer.
  580. >”I never officially joined. When the griffons took Cloudsdale, I split off from the evacuation and went to the trenches outside the city. An officer gave me a spear, and that was that. I ended up seeing you at the ceasefire.”
  581. “Are you even old enough to be drinking that?”
  582. >”… Yes.”
  583. >Very convincing.
  584.  
  585. >…
  586. >While interesting, you weren’t able to gather any useful information from the cave.
  587. >So as you sit hanging out the door of the jeep, you sharpen your sword with your whetstone while a song plays.
  588. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=God_PtSw4Lk
  589. >A few people have gathered around, and one of the soldiers from Shining’s expedition is continuing to speak.
  590. >A pegasi, you think his name was Arctic Breeze.
  591. >”Still can’t really imagine it… my son must almost be my age now. My wife, sister, parents… two decades past.”
  592. “I understand what you’re going through. I’ve been gone from my world for twenty-six years. All of my family and friends probably think I’ve died long ago. Difference is we’ll get you home to yours.”
  593. >”Not even sure what I’d say to them…”
  594. “At least it gives you something to think about. Better to think about home and what you’re fighting to get back to instead of wallowing in hell.”
  595. >A light green unicorn then asks you:
  596. >”If you can’t get back home, then what are you focusing on?”
  597. >You remember her… Grassy Fields, you think.
  598. “How with my luck, I’ll just get back to find another war to fight. Or the Everfree will need a new culling.”
  599. >Arctic Breeze then speaks:
  600. >”What about the Everfree?”
  601.  
  602. “Oh, you know how it is. The timber wolf population gets a bit big and encroaches on towns outside the forest, and then Celestia sends you in to thin the herd. Before you know it, you’re sent back to fight manticores, cockatrices, hydras, and everything else regularly.”
  603. >”How regularly?”
  604. “Outside of wars, I’d be sent on a hunt every year or other. Went by my own choice a few times, longest I spent inside at once was ten weeks.”
  605. >”And always on your own?”
  606. “Once or twice I brought a friend, but mainly alone. In a way, you could say I’ve been training for over here my whole career. The scar over my eye was from a dragon, I’ve got a few claw marks on my back from manticores, and right on my side I have a bite marks from a baby hydra.”
  607. >”No offense, but how are you even alive?”
  608. “I once killed an adult hydra by being swallowed whole and cutting myself out.”
  609. >”That’s impossible!”
  610. “Not if you’re stubborn enough. The worst injury I ever had was when I was gored in the stomach by a minotaur. Barely kept my guts in, and spent the next six months recovering.”
  611. >You’re not counting near death from the manticore pack a couple weeks ago.
  612. >They definitely wouldn’t believe that.
  613. >You rub your left forearm, remembering feeling it almost completely detached.
  614. >Or rather not feeling it…
  615.  
  616. >…
  617. >You throw a dart at the board.
  618. >It hits outside the entire circle.
  619. >The others giggle at the miss.
  620. >Anon taught you how to throw knives when you were twelve, how is this any different?
  621. “Yeah, yeah. I’d wipe the floor with any of you in cards.”
  622. >Stepping away, you let Ruby take up the fight against Blueberry.
  623. >Sunshine then looks over:
  624. >”So what do you think is going to happen with the message you’re sending out?”
  625. >Autumn then asks:
  626. >”What letter?”
  627. “I’m sending out word to the griffons to put together ideas for what to do with their government. They’re going to put forward proposals and the most popular will be voted on by the population.”
  628. >Autumn then continues:
  629. >”Even if they want a government that’s hostile to Equestria?”
  630. “I’ve defended Griffonstone against hoards of Tartarus, and they saw me turn half a mountainside to molten slag. If the incoming leadership is hostile, especially given the current circumstances, I’ll make it clear that I have no intention to be as soft as Celestia when it comes to post war peace deals. We’ve been at war for two decades, and we’re done playing nice.”
  631. >You then look over to Sunshine.
  632. “But, it won’t come to that, because personally I think the biggest thing that’ll come from the referendum is a focus on defense against Tartarus and better relations with Equestria given our help in the siege. As to the form of the government, I don’t know. Before the monarchy’s restoration, things were incredibly decentralized almost to the point of anarchy, but with the status of local powers and the necessity of a strong military presence, it’s hard to tell.”
  633.  
  634. >”Right, that makes sense.”
  635. “Also thanks for being the buzz kill and brining that into the room.”
  636. >Blueberry then yells over to you:
  637. >”You’re the only one who isn’t buzzed; you don’t get to use that phrase.”
  638. “Merry Weather isn’t buzzed.”
  639. >”She’s asleep!”
  640. >”I was…”
  641. >You look over to see her sitting up and rubbing her forehead.
  642. >”Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”
  643. >”That’s okay, I feel completely refreshed. Just getting a soft surface to lay on does wonders after marching and a long day of work.”
  644. “Days, not day.”
  645. >”More or less… so what are we doing?”
  646. >Ruby then calls over:
  647. >”Getting our flanks kicked.”
  648. >She sets down her darts, apparently having been beaten.
  649. >Blueberry then speaks to Merry Weather:
  650. >”You want to give it a shot?”
  651. >”I suppose.”
  652. >Trotting over, she gets to the table the free three darts are resting on.
  653. >You then watch as she picks the first one up.
  654. >And hits the bull’s eye.
  655. >Again.
  656. >And again.
  657. >Blueberry can only utter:
  658. >”Wow…”
  659. >”Guess I just have beginners luck.”
  660. >Doubtful…
  661.  
  662. >…
  663. >As a new day dawned, your group soon reached a change of terrain.
  664. >Strange terrain, but definitely interesting.
  665. >Reaching the river Harvey mentioned, it’s almost completely walled off by a dense tree line.
  666. >The griffons and pegasi say that it continues like that as far as they can see in either direction.
  667. >And that the forests are about a hundred yards thick on both sides of the river.
  668. >Harvey didn’t mention anything about it previously.
  669. >You’re unsure if that means he didn’t think it was important, he chose to withhold the information, or if it’s changed since last he knew.
  670. >And honestly, you can’t be bothered to ask.
  671. >The foliage is almost so dense, that it’d be hard for you or a minotaur to even walk between some of the tree trunks.
  672. >You can barely see ten feet into the brush and shrubs covering the ground.
  673. >It’s just a sheer wall.
  674. >The stark contrast between forest and plains is staggering.
  675. >Light night and day, stepping from one extreme into another.
  676.  
  677. >So you’ve decided to give a wide berth.
  678. >Firstly, because the jeep couldn’t make it through.
  679. >And mainly because anything lurking in the woods would be able to pick off members of the group quite easily.
  680. >If anything comes charging out of it, you want a good distance to allow them to be mowed down by the MG.
  681. >So as you drive south with your host, you’ve actually started thinking in the long term.
  682. >Winter will be approaching soon enough, and the people will need protection from the cold.
  683. >Unless Harvey left a box with a few hundred coats, that means you’ll have to get hides from wildlife.
  684. >A lot of wildlife.
  685. >The unicorns you do have would be able to warm areas, but you don’t think any of them are strong enough to maintain enough heat to keep it up.
  686. >Given the nature of this place, there could be no winter or a brutal freeze.
  687. >So you’ll need to prepare for the worst.
  688. >Which also brings food into account.
  689. >You might be able to sustain ponies and minotaurs by grazing, but if you reach terrain without much plant life…
  690. >Basically you’re in the middle of a logistical nightmare with no hope of getting support.
  691. >Can’t even raid the enemy troops for supplies because there are none.
  692. >Well, at least griffons can eat meat.
  693.  
  694. >…
  695. “So, that’s up to you. You have wings so use them. Get the word out across the country: every city hall, every town square, every farmstead deep in the hills. Go through the streets, across the countryside, up to the frontlines. Make sure each and every citizen knows what’s happening and that this is their chance. We’re not going to slap together some half-measure; the ongoing crisis will not impede a stable transition of power backed by the populace.”
  696. >There’s hundreds of griffons and pegasi standing ready to spread word of the referendum.
  697. “Now don’t just stand there, you’ve got a lot of work and a lot of distance to cover.”
  698. >You’re actually amazed that the logistics ponies managed to exceed your request by over a thousand copies.
  699. >Stepping down from the stairs leading up to the school, you let the soldiers start filing in to get the letters.
  700. >You walk over to the five girls you spent time with last night.
  701. “Realistically, I’d imagine they’ll choose to form an autonomous collective.”
  702. >Autumn then asks about the joke:
  703. >”What?”
  704. “An anarcho-syndicalist commune.”
  705. >”I don’t think half of those are real words.”
  706. “It’s a skit from… Nevermind.”
  707. >Too much of your knowledge is about Anon’s world rather than your own.
  708. >Though really, supreme executive power derives from a mandate of the masses not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
  709. >Though here it would be a solar ceremony.
  710. >Heh.
  711. “Anyway, with that settled, I’m headed back to the front.”
  712. >Merry Weather immediately speaks:
  713. >”You really should wait for your wings to properly rest.”
  714. “I’m fine, see.”
  715. >You flex your wings through a full motion.
  716. >It’s mostly painless.
  717. >Still can’t fly right now, but better than you feared.
  718. “Besides, I’m still the pony with the most experience against these things.”
  719. >Autumn then comments on the situation:
  720. >”Are you sure that’s wise?”
  721. “No, but you’re all welcome to come with.”
  722.  
  723. >…
  724. >Another midday rest.
  725. >Unfortunately, a single sentence ruined your hopes of an uneventful day.
  726. >’One of the squads has gone missing.’
  727. >Rifle sling over your shoulder, you set out to their last known location.
  728. >Sir Sterling and some assorted men joined you to inspect
  729. >The missing squad was one of the watches you’ve had on the forest.
  730. “Did no one have eyes on them?”
  731. >You look at the others, who remain speechless.
  732. “Didn’t I explicitly say to give distance between the tree line?”
  733. >The patch of stamped down grass is at least fifty feet away.
  734. >Looking at the terrain, you can see that a path through the grass has been stamped down fairly heavily leading to the forest.
  735. >Again none of them answer.
  736. “It always has to be something…”
  737. >Ten men gone without a trace.
  738. >Weapons are gone too.
  739. >Deciding to approach the trees, you look back at the others:
  740. “Stay back a bit.”
  741. >While you personally head just to the tree line, the others keep back a few yards.
  742. >But, it allows you to take a better look at the forest itself.
  743. >There is a gap in the brush which allows you to see inside a bit.
  744. >Some twigs from the adjacent bushes have a couple of breaks.
  745. >And the wood hasn’t dried on the broken side of the branches.
  746. >Which means it was recent.
  747. >There does appear to be a few paths in the forest, covered in dirt and dead leaves.
  748. >But between vines, bushes, and tree trunks the interior looks more like a corn maze than the woods.
  749. >You don’t know how the local fauna affects the flora, but you think you can track the missing group through the underbrush.
  750. >Someone should at least try to find them.
  751.  
  752. >Turning back to the others, you address Sterling:
  753. “Get back to camp. Bring the other watches closer in, and make sure there are plenty of sightlines between people at all times. I’m going in to find them.”
  754. >”Alone?”
  755. “Things look tight; anyone else would just slow me down. And for the love of God, make sure someone’s on the gun at all times.”
  756. >You offer one last order:
  757. “No I’d try to think of some signal, but it comes down to shooting and I’ll probably be doing that. If I’m not back in two days, there’s an ancient ruined city in a sort of crater harbor on the coast to the west-northwest. You’d have to pass through jungle and forest, and if you find a portion of the woods that looks like every piece of foliage is dead, avoid it. That harbor is where I got dropped off, so if a rescue boat ever does come it’d be there.”
  758. >”And the odds of that?”
  759. “I explicitly said not to, but it’s better than nothing. If you hit the coast, it should be among a huge cliffside somewhere.”
  760. >”Well if there’s truth to any of your stories I’ve been hearing secondhoof, you’ll return triumphant carrying all then of the troops over your shoulder.”
  761.  
  762. >…
  763. >The forest’s canopy almost completely cuts off all light.
  764. >Isolated cracks allow beams to stream down onto the ground, giving decent enough visibility.
  765. >But at night, it should almost pitch black.
  766. >Enough moonlight should come through for Harvey to help you actually see things.
  767. >Now, you’re kneeling down with the rifle in your right hand.
  768. >With your free hand, you touch a small spatter of liquid resting on one of the fallen leaves.
  769. >Rubbing it between your finger and thumb, it’s clear what it is.
  770. >Blood.
  771. >Only a small amount, can’t be from a major wound.
  772. >You’ve noticed two oddities about the forest though.
  773. >First, there’s not a single living animal.
  774. >Not even any insects.
  775. >Without any insects to eat all the leaves which would fall from the plants, you should be up to your neck in foliage.
  776. >Second, the way these paths wind through the forest is unnatural.
  777. >Foliage isn’t cut away, in fact, almost no branches have been snapped off.
  778. >Instead, the plants seem to grow around the paths, forming a sort of tunnel system.
  779. >For example, a tree’s branch was growing straight out from its trunk, roughly at your head’s height.
  780. >Then it arches almost straight towards the sky before winding back down to grow parallel to the ground.
  781. >This feels more like a system of roads, and less like a forest.
  782. >Despite the wild exterior, there’s a sort of misshapen elegance to its interior.
  783. >Standing back up, you reaffirm your grip on the rifle before continuing to follow the tracks along the path.
  784.  
  785. >…
  786. >You didn’t expect them all to come with.
  787. >Autumn’s squad was slated to get reassigned back to the front.
  788. >The field hospital and local medical staff had dealt with the majority of their backlog of wounded.
  789. >And Sunshine volunteered because everypony else was going.
  790. >But as you left the city, you had to pass through the battlefield.
  791. >The entire country side is no man’s land.
  792. >Bodies still being taken away to bury, and beasts tossed in pits to burn.
  793. >Blood soaked into the dirt, all the grass longs dead.
  794. >Craters from cannon fire.
  795. >Shattered pieces of weapons and armor scattered along the ground.
  796. >You know the location where the pits arose, so you want to head there to catch any that avoided aerial bombardment.
  797. >So you met up with additional forces preparing to head out.
  798. >The way you need to go took you right over the area that you…
  799. >Well some of the rocks and boulders have been melted and turned to glass.
  800. >The sheer force and heat that had to be behind it terrifies you.
  801. >Not necessarily the power, but that you can’t consciously control it.
  802. >If you could bring it to bear, especially down the mouth of one of the pits you might be able to cripple the enemy.
  803. >Or the resulting earthquakes would level the surrounding terrain for miles.
  804. >…
  805. >The trek into the mountains was easy enough between the terrain trampled by the beasts and paths used by the troops at the front.
  806. >Scouts and watches guided the way, informing about orders to units that needed reinforcements.
  807. >While some troops filtered off to the flanks, most stayed with the spearhead.
  808. >Despite the mountain wind through the trees, idle chatter from the troops, and the sound of metal clanging on the march, things were remarkably quiet.
  809. >The low morale is almost palpable.
  810. >No pony wants to be here fighting this enemy.
  811. >But they all are, because they know the alternative.
  812.  
  813. >Just marching an uphill climb in the calm before the storm.
  814. >For some reason, you remember an old lullaby.
  815. “Someone told me long ago… there’s a calm before the storm. I know… it’s been coming for some time. When it’s over so they say, it’ll rain a sunny day. I know… shining down like water… I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? I want to know, have you ever seen the rain… Coming down on a sunny day?”
  816. >Anon always liked this one.
  817. >You think he learned to play a guitar to accompany it for you.
  818. >Even though you’re pretty sure he gave up playing when you were eight or nine.
  819. “Yesterday and days before… the sun is cold, the rain is hard. I know… been that way for all my time. ‘Til forever, on it goes. Through the circles, fast and slow. I know… it can’t stop, I wonder… I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? I want to know, have you ever seen the rain… Coming down on a sunny day?”
  820. >You never realized how much it relates to Anon’s life.
  821. >And now your life…
  822. “I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? I want to know, have you ever seen the rain… Coming down on a sunny day… I want to know… have you ever seen the rain… coming down… on a sunny day.”
  823. >It’s then that you notice the chatter has completely stopped.
  824. >You pause and turn to face the group.
  825. “What?”
  826. >Merry Weather responds:
  827. >”You have a lovely singing voice.”
  828. >You do?
  829. >Everypony is stopped and looking at you, expecting something.
  830. “Why are you all standing there, keep moving.”
  831.  
  832. >…
  833. >Continuing through the forest path, you keep your eyes focused on the upcoming bend.
  834. >There’s another crossroads, so you prepare your weapon as you approach the oncoming path.
  835. >While the drag marks in the dirt lead forward, this path to the right could have any-
  836. >Just before you reach it, a large grey mass steps out of it, turning towards you.
  837. >Both you and it jumps back slightly, and you almost shot the creature as it trumpets.
  838. >It’s an elephant, about eight feet tall.
  839. >No tusks.
  840. “Woah there.”
  841. >As it gets a proper view of you, she calmed down quickly.
  842. >It looks almost perplexed at your form, showing no fear or hostility.
  843. “It’s alright girl.”
  844. >Slowly, you raise your left hand and reach in to pat her trunk.
  845. >Due to the ears, you’d call it an Indian elephant, but this isn’t India.
  846. >While it sniffs and pats you with its trunk, you speak to it.
  847. “What are you doing in here?”
  848. >First living thing you’ve seen.
  849. >And one of the first large animals that you’ve met that hasn’t tried to immediately kill you in quite some time.
  850. >After a moment, the elephant perks its head.
  851.  
  852. >You take a step back, clearly the creature’s spooked…
  853. >Voices off in the distance.
  854. >Clearly, she heard too.
  855. >The animal takes off trampling down the way you came from.
  856. >Taking care not to harm the brush, you work your way back into the forest.
  857. >You step up on a large exposed tree root and get well out of view from the path.
  858. >Then listen and wait.
  859. >Don’t have view of the path, but the voices are getting distinct.
  860. >”Ya tway nah vran.”
  861. >No language you’ve ever heard.
  862. >”To kan yaan.”
  863. >”Pranckha qua.”
  864. >”Entah yod saa.”
  865. >Two or three voices, you can’t tell.
  866. >But after they reach their loudest point, they soon start to die down again.
  867. >You think they went down the path the elephant came from.
  868. >Clearly, whoever they are have made sure the elephants are skittish whenever they’re near.
  869. >Seeing as these people are the only other living things you’ve found trace of, it’s safe to assume they took the missing squad.
  870. >But, you notice something else.
  871. >You’re standing on tree bark.
  872. >The trunk of the one you’re hiding behind leads down onto the ground, leveling off.
  873. >And between the bushes that spring up, you think the bark continues all the way to the next tree over.
  874. >You reach over and follow the stem of a bush down to the ground.
  875. >All of these plants are growing from the same source.
  876. >This isn’t a forest; it’s just one big plant…
  877.  
  878. >You shoot back to your feet as you feel something press against your shoulder.
  879. >As you spin to face it, you see the tip of the vine shoot up to follow your head.
  880. >It’s dipping down from the canopy, then rising back up like a snake about to jab out at you.
  881. >You let your right hand off the rifle, and drag your machete from the sheathe- preparing to strike at it.
  882. >Two more of the vines begin to descend from the canopy, each of them as thick as your wrist.
  883. >As you get ready, Harvey stops you:
  884. >”Wait! It might be sensing for background magical auras. It doesn’t exactly have eyes after all.”
  885. “Last time you said something like that I ended up in a fistfight with a rock.”
  886. >”Well just wait, rather not have the forest try to kill you.”
  887. “Fine… nice tree, it’s okay…”
  888. >The vines all approach, and one starts to rest on your head.
  889. >You’ve just about had enough of-
  890. >They go limp and start to slowly retract into the canopy.
  891. >Sliding the machete back into place, you comment to Harvey:
  892. “Alright, you were right once.”
  893. >You then work your way back onto the main path, checking your corners as you get sightlines.
  894. >No sign of the people from earlier.
  895. >But for some reason, the plant doesn’t mind them or the elephants.
  896. >And for some reason, the people kidnapped your men.
  897. “Harvey… these natives took our boys, right?”
  898. >”Most likely.”
  899. “Do you know what that means?”
  900. >”What?”
  901. >You reaffirm the bayonet on your rifle.
  902. “It’s time to spread some Imperialism.”
  903. >”You’re deranged.”
  904.  
  905. >…
  906. “Unicorns, hit that body and any more we pass by. Just in case they’re playing possum.”
  907. >A couple beams of magic hit the beast’s corpse, confirming its status as a casualty.
  908. >Good.
  909. >Sunshine then speaks over to you:
  910. >”You’ve been pretty quiet recently.”
  911. “Because my voice isn’t lovely! It’s powerful… and commands respect.”
  912. >The girls, and several of the other troops, start to laugh.
  913. “It is!”
  914. >Your voice cracked in that, prompting more laughter.
  915. “Well let’s hope you all fight as hard as you chuckle.”
  916. >Blueberry then yells over you:
  917. >”So does that mean you’re calling off the acapella group the six of us were going to form?”
  918. “That was never on the table.”
  919. >”But Ruby was looking forward to the matching outfits…”
  920. >”What?”
  921. >Autumn then interjects:
  922. >”Stop bullying Ruby and the Princess.”
  923. >”It’s not my fault she got scared of singing.”
  924. “I am not scared!”
  925. >”Then why hasn’t there been a peep from you recently?”
  926. “Is banter the only thing they teach you people in boot camp?”
  927. >Ruby then responds:
  928. >”I wouldn’t be able to say.”
  929. “Yeah, not like we’re going into a life or death situation or anything.”
  930. >At least morale is better…
  931.  
  932. >…
  933. >Daylight’s almost gone.
  934. >And the tracks have been getting harder to follow; the ground looks like multiple groups have treaded over these paths since your soldiers were dragged through.
  935. >Haven’t seen anyone, but you’re getting close.
  936. >Ahead, you can hear a pair of voices yelling in whatever language it is.
  937. >At first, you almost retreated into the woods, but you realized that they’re stationary.
  938. >So you’ve continued on, taking note of your footing to avoid causing as much noise as possible.
  939. >It looks like up on your right, there’s some sort of outcropping.
  940. >Not another path, it’s too large to be one of those.
  941. >You hear another yell, before a loud trumpeting elephant cries out.
  942. >”Al taan wah! Al taan wah!”
  943. >The hell is going on?
  944. >As you approach, you lean over to view the alcove.
  945. >There’s a pair of… ponies.
  946. >Not like the ones you’ve seen.
  947. >They’re about six inches shorter than Equestrians, and their manes are incredibly short and straight.
  948. >It reminds you a bit of that endangered Chinese or Mongolian species of wild horse.
  949. >One wields a crude bow, the other a spear with a stone tip.
  950. >And their attire is comprised of simple cloth, leaves, and bone.
  951. >One wears a pony’s skull over his shoulder.
  952. >They’re both facing a small paddock, a male elephant enclosed within.
  953. >Only about seven and a half feet tall, can’t be an adult.
  954. >He, based on the tusks, has a large harness on his back.
  955. >And an arrow sticking from his shoulder.
  956. >Based on the small log on the ground below his trunk, you think they’re trying to teach it how to accept commands.
  957. >There are several scars over the elephant’s hide, some fresh others long since healed.
  958. >As the spearman repeats a yell, the bowman waits.
  959.  
  960. >The elephant butts against the gate, made of thick logs.
  961. >As another yell is repeated, you’ve managed to get right behind the two.
  962. >You bring the rifle over your left shoulder, then jab the stock down against the spearman’s neck.
  963. >As he falls, and the other starts to turn, you rush over to him and butt the stock across the side of his head.
  964. >You sling your rifle over your shoulder, and then look into the pen.
  965. “Hey there buddy.”
  966. >You speak in a soft tone, and while the animal takes a step back and is still clearly angered, you think it’s realized you just knocked out his ‘friends.’
  967. >There’s a large log serving as a crossbeam to keep the gate closed, so you pick it up and toss it to the side.
  968. >Pulling the gate open, the elephant starts to step forward, but stops himself.
  969. >You hold a hand up as you slowly start to approach.
  970. “I’m not gonna hurt you…”
  971. >You place your hand on his trunk, as you shush.
  972. >He seems to stop fidgeting as much.
  973. >With your free hand you then pat near the arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
  974. “Gotta get this out of you.”
  975. >You step over to that side, mainly trying to get out of the way.
  976. “Okay, this is going to hurt now.”
  977. >Pulling the arrow free, the elephant trumpets out again.
  978.  
  979. >You jumped back to tray and avoid getting attacked, but he didn’t swipe his tusks over at you.
  980. >Instead, he turns around in the small pen to face you.
  981. “Easy buddy…”
  982. >You reach out and pat the animal again.
  983. >You think he understands what’s happening.
  984. >Animals can be incredibly smart, doubly so from your Experience in Equestira.
  985. “Alright.”
  986. >You motion over to the open gate.
  987. “You’re free now. Go find a lady elephant… or trample some villagers if you want.”
  988. >He blinks before skittishly stepping out of the pen, glancing around as his head peeks out.
  989. >Then he starts to run down the way you came from.
  990. >”Are you done saving the land whales?”
  991. “Have a heart, Harv.”
  992. >Try saying that ten times fast.
  993. >”If you’re done, check out five o’clock high.”
  994. >You turn around and look into the trees.
  995. >There’s a slight gap in the leaves, and you think you can make out some sort of structure in one of the further off tree trunks.
  996. >You step around the paddock, and start into the forest.
  997. >Taking careful steps through the brush, you soon get close enough to peer through some bushes on the other side.
  998.  
  999. >There’s a small town built into the trees.
  1000. >No, the trees have built the town.
  1001. >Each trunk has two or three levels, attached by branches which bridge the gap.
  1002. >The tree trunks spouting here are massive in size, each containing openings large enough for ponies to enter.
  1003. >But there still are some constructed buildings, shacks made of log and vines.
  1004. >There are enough standing torches to provide enough light to see.
  1005. >With how dense the canopy looks here, you doubt much light would escape in the night.
  1006. >Dozens of the wild horses are walking around, many clad in bone like the two you saw earlier.
  1007. >Several of them seem to be heading further to your right.
  1008. >And you can hear a good amount of commotion from that direction.
  1009. >Stepping back further into the brush, you begin to circle around.
  1010. >…
  1011. >It as slow going, but you reached where you think all the fuss is coming from.
  1012. >As you crouch down and press forward, you manage to get a glimpse of a large crowd.
  1013. >Several armed guards, and many more civilians have gathered around.
  1014. >Some of the guards are holding weapons taken from your squad.
  1015. >What’s more, you can see ten Equestrians.
  1016.  
  1017. >They have vines tied around their front hooves; the opposite side is tied to a large branch overhead.
  1018. >Their back hooves are barely touching the ground.
  1019. >And it looks like they’re gagged.
  1020. >An old mare is marking one’s chest with paint.
  1021. >The paint is coming from a skull held by another elder.
  1022. >After she finishes, several others begin chanting as the soldier is cut free.
  1023. >Guards then usher him across to another tree.
  1024. >This one is even thicker than the ones used as buildings, but lacks any entrances.
  1025. >There is a slight alcove facing the crowd.
  1026. >The guards lead your man to it, and then back him into the alcove.
  1027. >With their spears, they force the man to get up on his back legs again, placing his back against the bark.
  1028. >Is this some sort of-
  1029. >What in the name of God…
  1030. >Three spike of wood erupt through the pony’s torso, and then wrap around to the sides, covering the alcove.
  1031. >They then start to grow over the opening completely.
  1032. >Within a few seconds, you wouldn’t have been able to tell there was an imperfection in the trunk of the tree.
  1033. >The branches then begin to shake rather violently.
  1034. >Dropping fruits and vines, as well as thick branches that look almost perfectly cut off.
  1035. >The villagers are quick to start gathering the materials as the remaining nine soldiers grunt and struggle against their bindings.
  1036.  
  1037. >You whisper to Harvey:
  1038. “Did those savages just sacrifice that pony to the tree?”
  1039. >”… Yeah.”
  1040. “Just… you know what to do. Go the whole nine yards.”
  1041. >At least these people have never seen anything like you before.
  1042. >Standing up behind the bush, you then draw your sword.
  1043. >Time for an entrance.
  1044. >So, you give it your best.
  1045. “Men of Harlech stop your dreaming; can’t you see their spear points gleaming. See their warrior pennants streaming to this battlefield.”
  1046. >You continue to sing from the brush.
  1047. “Men of Harlech stand ye steady; it cannot be ever said ye. For the battle were not ready, Welshmen never yield.”
  1048. >You’re sure to pique interest.
  1049. “From the hills rebounding; let this war cry sounding. Summon all at Cambria’s call, the might force surrounding.”
  1050. >At that, you decide to step into view.
  1051. >Tall and proud, Anon.
  1052. “Men of Harlech onto glory; this will ever be your story. Keep these fighting words before ye… Welshmen will not yield!”
  1053. >At the sight of an unknown creature, the women and children have backed away, and guards are slowly approaching with caution.
  1054. >Perhaps wondering how anything other than them and the elephants have survived in their tree-god.
  1055. >You see a couple dozen armed men at this point.
  1056.  
  1057. >You stand almost twice as tall as the largest of the tribal ponies.
  1058. >Equestrians can reach up to your chest, these ones average out around your stomach.
  1059. >Not a huge difference, but a notable one.
  1060. >This must be how the minotaurs feel around Equestrians.
  1061. >The bark over the ground here is flat and smooth, less like walking over rough terrain, and more like a hardwood floor.
  1062. >Whilst you step forward, the guards back away to match your pace.
  1063. >There are murmurs, but none of them seem to be directly addressing you.
  1064. >If you can take your men and go without any fuss, you’ll let well enough alone.
  1065. >Stepping closer towards the men, you hear one of the elders yell something.
  1066. >Then the guards start to point their spears and ready their clubs.
  1067. >You look up at a guard on a bridge; he’s got an arrow ready in his bow.
  1068. >Won’t be able to hold it at full draw for long.
  1069. >Unable to keep the weapon under control, the arrow is loosed.
  1070. >Harv then comments:
  1071. >”Hold on.”
  1072. >As you see the arrow slowly leave the bow, Harvey appears before you.
  1073. >He appears as a cartoonish caricature of his human form, with an oversized pencil in his hands.
  1074. >He draws out a dotted line of the arrow’s trajectory, and then lets it sit for a moment.
  1075. >You place your sword to line up with it, and then a moment later the arrow dings against its side.
  1076. >Harvey then disappears as the locals step back after seeing your reaction time.
  1077. >With another step forward, and another yell of orders, the guards stand firm.
  1078.  
  1079. >You approach the one directly ahead of you, towering over the wild horse.
  1080. >As his spear points towards your neck, you decide to have fun.
  1081. “Go ahead… make my day.”
  1082. >The crone ordering the tribals around then yells a single word.
  1083. >Harv may or may not be adding in a bit of time dilation.
  1084. >Just a bit.
  1085. >As the guard in front of you begins to lunge the spear towards your throat, you bash it to the left with your sword.
  1086. >You follow up by hacking the blade back into the side of his neck.
  1087. >Yanking the blade free, you swing it to the neck of the horse to your left.
  1088. >Glancing over your right shoulder, you see another closing the distance with a club raised.
  1089. >Reversing the grip on your sword, you jab it back level with your stomach.
  1090. >The blade finds its way through the open mouth of the screeching tribal.
  1091. >With your left hand, you grab his club before it falls from his grip.
  1092. >As you pull your sword free from the horse’s mouth, you bash the club to the right- against the skull of another who moved in behind you.
  1093. >You let the primitive weapon fall to the ground with the enemy as you turn to face the next one to your right.
  1094. >From your starting position, this one would have been to your eight o’clock.
  1095. >With you sword back in its normal grip, you bash aside an incoming spear, and then bring the blade down between another horse’s eyes.
  1096. >You then decide to sheathe your sword as Harvey speaks to you.
  1097. >”Corner of your right eye.”
  1098. >Sliding the blade down, you glance over.
  1099.  
  1100. >Harvey slows time considerably as the blade reaches about halfway down into the case.
  1101. >One of the wild horses has just thrown a spear at you, an actual spear from the soldiers rather than a shambled mess of bone and rock.
  1102. >You don’t think he was able to get a proper throw because the spear was intended to be used by a larger pony.
  1103. >He got the target right though, would have hit your shoulder.
  1104. >Leaning back, Harvey really surprises you with what he can do to your reaction time.
  1105. >You were able to reach up with your left hand, and grab the spear clean from the air.
  1106. >Back into real time, you use the haft of the spear as a club, bashing it against the skull of another horse.
  1107. >Doesn’t do any real damage, but it staggers him long enough.
  1108. >You then grab the spear with your right hand, and line up the shot.
  1109. >You return the spear to sender, impacting the horse in the chest.
  1110. >The locals are definitely spooked, but not backing down quite yet.
  1111. >Time to change that.
  1112.  
  1113. >Grabbing the rifle off your shoulder, you face the three horses ahead of you.
  1114. >The leftmost one is furthest off, and the center man is still staggered after getting slapped by the haft of the spear.
  1115. >So you focus on the horse to your right.
  1116. >Raising the weapon over your left shoulder, you bring the butt of the rifle down against the horse’s skull- specifically, his eye.
  1117. >With the center man approaching, you make use of your size and give a swift kick to his neck.
  1118. >Next, you lunge the bayonet into the left shoulder of the final horse.
  1119. >And then you pull the trigger.
  1120. >The gunshot’s crack stops most of the horses dead in their tracks.
  1121. >Pulling the bayonet free, you aim at the right most horse.
  1122. >You cycle the bolt as he has a hoof raised against the eye you struck.
  1123. >It easily gives you time to line up the sights.
  1124. >You don’t pause before pulling the trigger.
  1125. >Cycling the bolt, you aim at the poor bastard in the center.
  1126. >After kicking him down, you don’t hesitate to fire.
  1127. >The bullet enters his skull, and rips a large exit wound as shrapnel then peppers into his back.
  1128. >You relax the rifle as you work the bolt again.
  1129. >The sight and noise has sent most of the tribals running from you.
  1130. >Aiming at an archer who’s not turned away, you fire again.
  1131. >That sends the remaining people running away, even the elders are shambling away as quickly as they can.
  1132. >Working the bolt open, you begin to reload the rifle as you casually step over the bodies.
  1133. >By the time you reach the tied up ponies, you’ve replaced the bullets and close the bolt.
  1134. >Slinging the rifle, you grab your machete and cut the first man down.
  1135. >As his front hooves hit the ground, he starts to remove the gag from his mouth.
  1136. “Get your weapons, and then keep an eye out for more of them.”
  1137. >You then step over to cut the others free.
  1138.  
  1139. >…
  1140. >With the last soldier free, you look to him:
  1141. “If you thank me too, I swear I’ll leave all of you here… Now, you better have a damned good reason for getting in this situation!”
  1142. >”Sir!”
  1143. >One of them points over to the tree where the locals sacrificed the tenth man to.
  1144. >The alcove is reopening.
  1145. >The bark begins to slowly retract, leaving only a pile of bones.
  1146. >Looks like they’ve been completely been picked dry in only a couple minutes.
  1147. >Hell of a way to go.
  1148. “See that shack over there?”
  1149. >You point over to what looks like a shed made of old branches with a thatch roof of dead leaves.
  1150. “Tear it down and start piling it against the big tree. We’re burning it to the ground.”
  1151. >You then single one of them out as the others begin to do as you say.
  1152. “So how’d you get here?”
  1153. >”There was a child at the edge of the forest, crying out like he got hurt. Some of the others went to investigate, but it was a trap. The lads up front got overpowered or knocked out; those of us that stayed back were hit with some kind of poisoned dart which knocked us out too.”
  1154. “Bloody savages… Now go help the others while I watch out for the wild horses.”
  1155. >The locals are still hanging around, further into the town though, inside of huts and hiding behind the trees.
  1156. >-
  1157. >Harvey brings you into your mind.
  1158. >”Anon, are you sure burning the-“
  1159. “Yes. They’re lucky I’m not burning the entire village down.”
  1160. >”Other than the changelings, you’ve never done anything like this.”
  1161. “Well the minotaurs and Saddle Arabians don’t sacrifice prisoners and probably their own people to trees.”
  1162. >”I’m just saying, they’re obviously intelligent so you could probably negotiate in some way.”
  1163. “Yeah, the deal is we’re leaving and if they follow they’ll get to negotiate with my friends Lee and Enfield.”
  1164.  
  1165. >…
  1166. >With the shack effectively just thrown over to the side of the tree, you grab a nearby torch.
  1167. >As you place the flame to some of the dried leaves, they quickly catch.
  1168. >While the fire soon spreads and starts to touch the tree itself, you hear a loud creaking from…
  1169. >Well, everywhere.
  1170. >Branches that were once flowing in the wind are now completely stiff.
  1171. >You don’t think tree-god likes it.
  1172. “Alright, now stay close behind me. Leave the locals alone and don’t pick a fight unless they start it.”
  1173. >There should be an exit to the village near where you first saw it.
  1174. >Leading the troops to what should be west, you continue to hold the torch in your left hand.
  1175. >Passing out of the area the sacrifices took place in; you immediately meet a large crowd of the horses.
  1176. >With your free right hand, you grab the rifle.
  1177. >You stare them down a moment before nodding back to the direction the fire is.
  1178. “Go on… go save the trees.”
  1179. >You keep the rifle ready in your hand, preparing to drop the torch if need be, but you continue to walk past the tribe.
  1180. >After a few steps, you see some of them rush over to the sacrifice courtyard.
  1181. >They need to put the flames out quickly or else they’ll spread.
  1182. “Stay tight boys.”
  1183. >Passing around more huts and tree houses, you eventually spy what looks like an entrance.
  1184. >The branches seem to arch around a path, so it’s a better exit than running straight through the forest.
  1185. >Especially now that the forest probably isn’t too happy.
  1186. >Only problem is there’s a dozen or so guards blocking the path.
  1187. >Courageous bastards, you’ll give them that.
  1188. >As you step closer to the tightly packed group, they don’t budge.
  1189. “Look kids, this really isn’t going to go well for you.”
  1190. >Nada.
  1191.  
  1192. >You hold the torch back, until another soldier takes it from you.
  1193. >Grabbing the rifle, you point it off and up to the left.
  1194. >Firing off a warning shot, the locals jump a bit, but remain in the way.
  1195. “Alright, this is how it’s gonna be.”
  1196. >Wait…
  1197. >What’s that sound?
  1198. >Some of the tribals start to look around, they hear it too.
  1199. >It’s like a…
  1200. >Stampede.
  1201. “Schnell!”
  1202. >A few moments later, you hear the trumpet as an elephant barrels through the guards.
  1203. >The same one you freed earlier.
  1204. >Guess he did want to trample some villagers.
  1205. >As he charges through the group, some in the back are simply stomped on, while others get rammed by the tusks.
  1206. >You watch one soar in the air until it hits a tree trunk.
  1207. >Half of them were killed or maimed in the initial charge, and you watch as the remaining ones run off.
  1208. >Shouldering the rifle, you approach the elephant.
  1209. “Guter Elefant.”
  1210. >You pat his trunk before he moves it to sniff your face.
  1211. >One of the soldiers then speaks:
  1212. >”What in the name of Celestia just happened?”
  1213. “This is… Hannibal. I guess he’s with us now.”
  1214. >You look back to the elephant.
  1215. “Like that boy?”
  1216. >You point to him.
  1217. “Hannibal.”
  1218. >Then you point to yourself.
  1219. “Anon.”
  1220. >He blinks.
  1221. “Hannibal.”
  1222. >He curls his trunk inwards.
  1223. “Anon.”
  1224. >He starts to pat your head.
  1225. “Guter Junge… I tell you, you’re probably smarter than half this lot.”
  1226. >”Hey!”
  1227. “Enough small talk, let’s go.”
  1228. >You look to the elephant again.
  1229. “Hannibal. Komm.”
  1230.  
  1231. >…
  1232. “Come on you bastards! It’s dark but keep moving!”
  1233. >The locals are after you.
  1234. >You’ve had to turn and fire some shots to disperse the chasers.
  1235. >Harvey makes it so you can see pretty well, but it must be almost pitch black for the ponies.
  1236. >Thankfully, the path out of town led to the cage you sprung Hannibal from.
  1237. >And Harv’s been pointing out the way you came.
  1238. >You finish topping off your rifle before removing the bayonet.
  1239. >Don’t need one of the blind ponies running into the tip of it.
  1240. >Confident the tribals have been spooked off for a moment, you turn and rush back to the group.
  1241. “Keep right!”
  1242. >You sling the rifle and grab the torch from the pony that took it up for a moment.
  1243. >Working to the front of the squad, you continue to run forward.
  1244. >Whatever Harvey’s done to you, you actually have to slow yourself down.
  1245. “Come on, almost there.”
  1246. >Turning to let the others catch up, you-
  1247. >A pair of tendrils wrap around your shoulders.
  1248. >Looking up, you see a third vine shooting down, this one hooks around your neck.
  1249. >You drop the torch and start to pry the vine away from your neck as you start getting lifted off the ground.
  1250. >With your free right hand, you reach for your machete.
  1251. >A fourth and fifth vine then come down.
  1252. >One rips your left arm away from protecting your neck, the other grabs at your right leg.
  1253. >The forest finally realized what you are.
  1254.  
  1255. >As it starts choking in full, you start hacking at the vines.
  1256. >By the time you get through the one wrapped under your right shoulder, another pair get around your torso and other leg.
  1257. >The branches above you begin to move from the path as you’re brought further into the canopy.
  1258. >Losing air quickly, you strike up at the vine around your neck.
  1259. >Despite the bad angle you have on it, you’re through in a couple swings.
  1260. >You manage to break the vines over your left shoulder and arm.
  1261. >As you then start at the thicker one around your torso, another vine grasps your right wrist, and rips your hand as far away from your body as possible.
  1262. >Almost dislocated your arm.
  1263. >You lean over as best you can, reaching your free hand over.
  1264. >Having to toss the machete a bit, you manage to catch it.
  1265. >You hack away the vine over your right wrist, and then don’t bother shifting the weapon back to the right.
  1266. >Instead, you go hard against the main vine.
  1267. >One more hack is all it takes to hack through it.
  1268. >This ends with your body falling back, completely upside down only held by your legs.
  1269. >No time to count to three, you curl up as high as you can, then hack.
  1270. >You get two hits in before you have to release.
  1271. >You think you got the one on your left leg.
  1272. >It’s free now, so yeah.
  1273. >Getting ready to curl up again, you-
  1274. >It dropped you.
  1275. >”Anon.”
  1276. >Harvey slows things down for a moment.
  1277. >”Stabilize yourself, now.”
  1278. >Shit.
  1279. >-
  1280.  
  1281. >Between falling through branches, you managed to not land skull or spine first.
  1282. >Instead you hit the ground knees and elbows first.
  1283. >Again, whatever Harv’s got you pumped up on; you’re not really registering a ton of pain.
  1284. >Despite his best effort, it’s still there.
  1285. >And you just got your knees fixed too…
  1286. “How high up was I?”
  1287. >It’s not Harvey who responds.
  1288. >Instead a pony starts to help you up.
  1289. >”We couldn’t even see you.”
  1290. >So far.
  1291. “I didn’t land on anyone, did I?”
  1292. >Apparently not.
  1293. “Let’s get the hell out of here before it tries again.”
  1294. >Interestingly enough, the tree only targeted you.
  1295. >Back on your feet and dusting yourself out, you realize you’re really going to feel that landing in the morning.
  1296. >Then Harv opens his stupid mouth…
  1297. >He’s a disembodied voice; he has no mouth right now.
  1298. >”At least the others can keep up with you now.”
  1299. >…
  1300. >The vines tried to swing out at you multiple times, but never even looked at the others.
  1301. >They almost wrangled you into the bushes a couple times, but you were able to hack them back.
  1302. >After you noticed they weren’t interested in the others, you even told the others to leave you alone.
  1303. >Didn’t need the tree grabbing everyone.
  1304. >But, you found the way out.
  1305. >The ponies ran out immediately.
  1306. >You stayed to look at Hannibal.
  1307. >Instead, you asked if he was coming too.
  1308. >Sure enough, he trampled through the brush and stepped out into the plain.
  1309. >The way he looked around, you’re unsure if he wasn’t used to the change in scenery, or if he has never seen the stars.
  1310. >Either way, you still got as far away from the tree line as quickly as possible.
  1311.  
  1312. >And as you got back to camp, Sir Sterling was the first to approach the squad.
  1313. >What he said, you doubt you’ll ever forget.
  1314. >”You went after ten men, and returned with nine… did the tenth turn into an elephant?”
  1315. >With a smirk and no response given, you then limped over to the jeep.
  1316. >Harvey tuned down whatever he did, and you’re aching.
  1317. >The fall through the branches tore your clothes and you have more than a few cuts.
  1318. >You pat your left breast’s pocket to reassure that its contents haven’t been lost.
  1319. >Still there.
  1320. >Never should have taken the armor off though.
  1321. >To get some more leg room, you opened up the jeep door and slid into the passenger seat.
  1322. >Despite others approaching and asking what happened, you just typed something into the radio and then lent back.
  1323. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHCkVBJgVk
  1324. >Looking ahead to the forest, you’re thankful that the ordeal is over.
  1325. >People you can deal with, monsters are no problem.
  1326. >Giant tree gods are something else though.
  1327. >In the side view mirror, you see the greater body of the camp.
  1328. >And a green aura illuminating a bit of it.
  1329. >You shoot back to sitting upright and twist to look back for yourself.
  1330. >It’s gone.
  1331. >Probably just a unicorn inspecting one of the squad or stoking a fire.
  1332. >You’re getting paranoid Anon.
  1333. >You relax again in the seat.
  1334. >Between this place and Harvey rubbing off on you…
  1335. >After a quarter century of bloodshed, you’re not going to let this place mentally break you.
  1336. >Mentally, because it’s already physically broken you once.
  1337. >And right now you’re not feeling that great either.
  1338. >You’re then met with a snout as Hannibal starts patting your head and face.
  1339. “Thanks buddy… you can stop now.”
  1340. >Still though, one man didn’t make it out.
  1341. >You don’t think you ever even got his name.
  1342.  
  1343. >…
  1344. “Move up!”
  1345. >Had a couple small encounters last afternoon, but you didn’t face more than a dozen beasts.
  1346. >After a quick night’s rest, you were into the thick of it though.
  1347. >You reached a creek running through the mountains.
  1348. >The area had already been saturated by the long range bombing runs you set up, but Blunt Force is currently leading a decent skirmish in the canyon.
  1349. >A few dozen minoataurs, a couple hundred ponies and griffons, and hundreds of beasts hunting through the crags.
  1350. >As your reinforcements move on in ahead to help the center, Blunt Force notices and hangs back to meet you:
  1351. >”Well look who decided to take a break from statecraft!”
  1352. >His arms are outstretched, his mace in his non-mutilated hand, as he plays up his bombastic voice.
  1353. “I though you would have more people here with you!”
  1354. >”They’re playing smart, the main forces went far on the flanks and are trying to retreat into the countryside. The scouts said the last pit is in that cave.”
  1355. >He points to a small waterfall- it’s actually closer to a trickle down the rocks.
  1356. >Next to it is a large crag where another pair of beasts emerge from.
  1357. “There should be a few thousand more troops incoming with explosives in tow.”
  1358. >”I think we can clean up here in time.”
  1359. >Just as you’ve been talking to the Ambassador, you’ve been witnessing the combined effort.
  1360.  
  1361. >A squadron of griffons drop off some earth pony archers to the top of large outcroppings jutting from the cliff, letting them get into firing positions that can cover most of the battlefield.
  1362. >Then the flyers screen for the beasts skulking around the archers.
  1363. >On the ground ponies form a main wall spearheaded by minotaur warriors flanked by at least two unicorns each.
  1364. >While the unicorns stun the beasts, the minotarus head in for the kill.
  1365. >All while griffons and pegasi harass the enemy from above.
  1366. >They’re just too spread out to put up an effective fight.
  1367. >In tight groups, the creatures aren’t as bothered by getting bogged down by corpses.
  1368. >But spread out, the allied forces don’t have to worry about that.
  1369. “Come on, let’s cut off that cave! Bottle ‘em in before another wave can come out.”
  1370. >With Blunt Force and his immediate guards joining your new friends and some other ponies being held back, you start to lead the charge.
  1371. >Last night, you came up with some ideas with the girls.
  1372. “Clear the way!”
  1373. >You yell to the front line troops, who then start to step aside and allow the charge to keep momentum.
  1374. >Three of the beasts are immediately visible.
  1375. >Glancing at Force, you speak to him:
  1376. “You deal with the one on the left.”
  1377. >Letting you focus on the others.
  1378. >Ruby flies ahead, moving fast and low to the right of the rightmost beast while Blueberry moves to the left of the center beast.
  1379. >As Ruby draws the attention of the right beast, Sunshine hits the exposed gill with a magic bolt, stunning it so autumn can go in for the kill on the same gill.
  1380. >In the center, the beast swings out at Blueberry, and only Merry Weather flying in and knocking her back keeps Blueberry from getting hit.
  1381. >This lets you move in and jab your sword down the exposed gill on this beast’s left shoulder.
  1382. >You see Merry Weather helping Blueberry up as behind them, Blunt Force simply caves in the third beast’s skull with his mace.
  1383.  
  1384. >Looking forward, you see the remaining couple dozen beasts on the ground facing the cave.
  1385. >Looks like they’re retreating in full.
  1386. >You start chasing after, but before the first of them reach the entrance…
  1387. >Dozens of ponies start charging out of it, weapons forward and screaming battle cries.
  1388. >The sight stops you in your tracks, Force stops too.
  1389. >You glance over, but he shrugs, equally as confused as you.
  1390. >The ponies just aren’t stopping.
  1391. >Where are they all coming from?
  1392. >Hundreds are streaming out, even more pegasi are taking to the skies from their ranks.
  1393. >The sheer numbers overwhelm the remaining beasts almost immediately.
  1394. “Move back, give ‘em some space!”
  1395. >The soldiers are battered and covered in dirt and blood.
  1396. >You actually lost track of all of them.
  1397. >Moving over to the side of the cave, you start ushering them past.
  1398. >Eventually the tide of ponies starts to trickle down.
  1399. >And the last few start limping out.
  1400. >The last pair then emerge.
  1401. >One is an earth pony, his front left leg has been ripped or bitten off almost entirely.
  1402. >The others is a pegasi, helping support him.
  1403. >And that pegasi is Major Thunder.
  1404. >Merry Weather moves in to help the wounded soldier.
  1405. >As she takes over from Thunder, he then looks over to you.
  1406. >He’s pretty beaten up too, and he has a thousand yard stare.
  1407. >What happened in Canterlot while you were gone?
  1408. “What are you doing here- down there?”
  1409. >He unhooks his sword from his belt and lets it drop.
  1410. >”I’m…”
  1411. >He winces as the sun comes out from cloud cover.
  1412. >”I’m surrendering to you for dereliction of duty… desertion… and treason… just get them help, nopony else is coming.”
  1413. >There must be two or three thousand ponies that just came from below.
  1414. “What?”
  1415.  
  1416. >…
  1417. >While the people let you rest for the rest of the evening, the squad’s story spread through the camp quickly.
  1418. >And by first light, everyone wanted to know if it was true.
  1419. >Mainly your ability to catch spears thrown at you and block arrows with your sword.
  1420. >You could have explained how Discord is living in your brain and messing with your brain and body chemistry to deadly levels.
  1421. >But you still don’t think that’d go over well with anyone.
  1422. >So you went along with the story.
  1423. >Because apparently they’re fine with infiltrating then slaughtering a changeling hive and killing dragons by getting atop its head, but the line is drawn there.
  1424. >Through the night, it looks like Harvey has been working on fixing your wounds, mainly the cuts and any infections that would have come from them.
  1425. >Because he’s stopped any effort at suppressing how much your joints ache.
  1426. >Sure, the cuts are looking like they’re a week further into healing than they naturally would have been, but you really don’t like having your knees ache again.
  1427. >Anyway, you’re giving the group another half hour or so to graze and prepare for the march.
  1428. >At least you don’t have to walk.
  1429. >While you harness the last strap of your breastplate, you notice a unicorn approaching you.
  1430. >Fields, the medic.
  1431. >She’s probably going to notice how quickly your wounds are healing.
  1432. >”So…”
  1433. “So…”
  1434. >”There were people in there? Actual people, not monsters?”
  1435. “People, yes. Not monsters, maybe.”
  1436.  
  1437. >”I heard they killed one of the scouts.”
  1438. “Well, the forest isn’t an actual forest. It’s just one big plant- every bush and ‘tree’ are all just part of the larger organism. The natives in there fed the soldier to the tree; it killed him in an instant and picked his bones clean. Given how many bones the locals were wearing, I’d imagine they regularly sacrifice either their own or members of any rival tribes there might be.”
  1439. >”That’s horrible.”
  1440. “Presumably the forest protects the locals in return, but that’s no excuse. Killing in battle and defense is one thing, but when it’s a conscious decision… unless you’re very careful, before long you can end up killing a passerby that though they were just helping an innocent. “
  1441. >”Are you okay?”
  1442. “Yeah, you guys just missed a couple… big decades. A lot of war, all ending in me versus seven nations. Griffons, yaks, minotaurs, dogs, Saddle Arabians, zebras, and even ponies. Since I’ve been away from Equestira, sometimes I’ve been wondering about precious actions. I’d like to think I’ve been principled and kept the… soul of Equestria intact. But there’s a lot I could have avoided if I just pushed harder and put my foot down earlier. Now, I’m just doing what I can to help to protect the people back home, and get you lot back in one piece.”
  1443. >”Do you think they can be helped? The people in the forest that is.”
  1444.  
  1445. “Maybe. I’ve had good, honorable allies turn against me, but also the worst scum I’ve ever known get redeemed… somewhat.”
  1446. >”What do you mean?”
  1447. “Well with the first, there was this griffon officer. Stood side by side with him to defend his home, then he went on to lead armies that attacked Equestria. I’d like to think he’s still decent, at least on some level. But betrayal… I think it was the ninth and deepest circle of Hell that’s reserved for treachery.”
  1448. >”What about the other?”
  1449. >You almost called him Harvey.
  1450. “Discord. One of his games ripped me from my world. My life, family, everything I had ever known. But, he’s done a lot to help me, all for the greater good. And without him… well, I’ve spent most of my life here now. And despite everything that’s happened, I don’t think I’d change it. It’s not my world, but it is my home. But to the point, maybe no one is ever really past redemption. Right here with these horses, that’s not our job.”
  1451. >”Maybe… you think they’re past it?”
  1452. “No, maybe means maybe. The way I see it, they’ve chosen to feed the forest for protection from both it, and everything that’s outside it. Viable for survival, but fundamentally driven by fear… It is better to live one day as a lion than for one hundred years as a sheep. And at the end of the day, that’s what they are- livestock, just like what the Changelings did to you all.”
  1453. >”But did the Changelings really have a choice? These people could at least try to survive without the sacrifices.”
  1454.  
  1455. “Well if the Changelings over here were like the ones back home, they could have reformed. Try to embrace positive vibes and all that instead of sapping love from others. Only problem is, said reformation doesn’t always hold. And you were still there to see that it only takes a few dominoes to fall before the hive returns.”
  1456. >She gets a small grimace and then rubs her forehead.
  1457. “Problem?”
  1458. >”No, it’s just… some of the other unicorns have been feeling it too. It’s like this whole place has a heavy magical ambience- wild and uncontrolled. Sometimes it can bring on a bit of a headache, that’s all.”
  1459. “Just another way the East tends to drive people mad. If it starts becoming a problem, we’ll have to get the unicorns together and do what they can… maybe a dampening field could help.”
  1460. >”No, some of the older group’s people have been having them for a longer time. I think on their own, they’re just headaches.”
  1461. “Well, my knees had been aching for years. You’ll get used to it…”
  1462. >”Really?”
  1463. “No, but if it makes you feel a bit better, sure.”
  1464. >”Thanks.”
  1465. “And hey, try to keep spirits high out there. I have a feeling that despair is what drives most people over in the end.”
  1466. >”Well you’d just come to rescue anyone in trouble, so there’s that.”
  1467. “Keep that morale up.”
  1468.  
  1469. >…
  1470. “Thunder… Thunder!”
  1471. >He’s just sitting there, staring into the distance.
  1472. >A pegasi sets down next to you:
  1473. >”Ma’am.”
  1474. >It’s Corporal Call, he must have come with the others.
  1475. “Of course you’d be with him.”
  1476. >”Um, no actually. I was ordered to stop Thunder and bring him back.”
  1477. “Well what the hell happened?”
  1478. >”Speaking broadly…”
  1479. >He nods over to the reinforcements arriving.
  1480. >”The fuse on the other end should be going off right about…”
  1481. >You feel the ground quake slightly.
  1482. >”Then. Best seal this end for good measure.”
  1483. >You look over to Blunt Force:
  1484. “Go get the engineers in place to blow the cave.”
  1485. >Back to Call.
  1486. “Now… What. Happened.”
  1487. >”Well to summarize, Thunder went AWOL alongside some Old Guard members and local troops from Canterlot. He then linked up with other troops and took a force over to Vanhoover. From there, he dug out one of the collapsed pits, and took a small army underground with a fort’s worth of explosives.”
  1488. “He took the fight to Tartarus?”
  1489. >”Affirmative, apparently he got tired of the others focusing solely on defense. Everypony who went with him were all volunteers… aside from me that is. Now, you see there’s maybe thirty-five hundred soldiers that came out?”
  1490. “Roughly.”
  1491. >”I didn’t get an exact count, but he went in with twenty to twenty-five thousand.”
  1492. “Then everypony else is…”
  1493. >”Yeah.”
  1494. “How?”
  1495.  
  1496. >”Things were going incredibly smoothly. The host was able to set up in a cavern large enough to camp the entire force in. Then…”
  1497. “If you pause one more time…”
  1498. >”All but one of the carts carrying explosives was detonated and a large portion of the cavern collapsed. They were sabotaged- one of Thunder’s right-hoof ponies was actually a Changeling survivor of the attack on the MID. He was masquerading as a Captain Stormy Night- not sure if that’s an actual Captain he replaced, or completely fabricated. Anyway, Night took the Old Guard’s involvement in the attack personally, and targeted Thunder specifically. He didn’t want to kill him in the blast, just let him be trapped as everypony else dies alongside him. I found Night delivering a monologue to Thunder about that, and tried to knock him out. But, he teleported away before I could do anything.”
  1499. >He’s been speaking remarkably fast.
  1500. “It’s okay to pause for breath…”
  1501. >”Right… so he had fed off of the camaraderie love present in the volunteer force in order to teleport though the rubble. There was too much for any of our unicorns to dig out or teleport through. When Thunder came to, everything was in chaos. Most of the officers were killed in the blast or resulting collapses. Not sure how many died in that event, but it was a sizeable chunk of the force, as well as most of the explosives, food, and water stockpiles.”
  1502. “So you decided to try and come for the only other pits you knew might be open.”
  1503.  
  1504. >”No. We had figured that they would have already been destroyed. The survivors accepted that it was now a proper suicide mission. Tried to find a breeding ground for the buggers, and only found the way out by chance. But after the collapse, things got even worse. The explosion woke up a lot of… things. Every step of the way we were hounded by monsters… Insects as large as houses, swarms of insects that combined were as large as houses, huge carnivorous bat-like animals, giant worms, and eventually the same beasts we’re fighting against.”
  1505. >That explains why the creatures stopped coming out from the pit in huge numbers, they were focusing on Thunder’s group.
  1506. >”By the time we found this pit, numbers had dwindled to what you see. And Thunder decided to save the rest.”
  1507. >As you’ve been speaking to Call, you see that Merry Weather had approached Thunder and is assessing him for wounds.
  1508. “So what’s wrong with your friend?”
  1509. >”Look, you know he’s been through a lot. But before the collapse, I was following him but staying out of sight… and he was the same old Thunder. Bit more… mature maybe, but he was himself. After things were buggered, he shut down for a while. And…”
  1510. “What?”
  1511. >”I don’t know how he did it.”
  1512. “Did what?”
  1513. >”When he came to- Night had thrown him against a wall, and he went unconscious after I found him. So, he wakes up looking like he is now. He just stares around him, then starts walking over to the collapsed side of the cavern. Without a word, he marches up it, and point out a small area, then starts digging down. Some others started helping, but he found a little pocket where a unicorn put up a shield to protect his squad from the landslide.”
  1514. “What?”
  1515.  
  1516. >”I swear on my mum that I’m telling the truth. Then, after all of the survivors had gotten out, pretty much everypony left was looking up at him. Then the way he addressed us all, I swear it was like you or Anon were there. In a few moments, his words turned a pack of terrified… I don’t know, back into a dedicated fighting force. But as we kept going, as the deaths kept rolling in, it ate away at him. By the end… I actually expected he would have stayed with the explosives we left at the bottom. I expected I’d have to fly back and drag him out.”
  1517. >Thunder just… really can’t get a break.
  1518. >Merry Weather then approaches you:
  1519. >”Flurry?”
  1520. “How is he?”
  1521. >”I think he’s in a deep state of shock. He’s virtually unresponsive.”
  1522. “Great.”
  1523. >You look over to Call.
  1524. “So how do I Know anything you’ve just said is true? Or that you aren’t this Night Changeling?”
  1525. >”… Because of my charming personality.”
  1526. >At least he doesn’t seem any worse for wear.
  1527. >”Also…”
  1528. >He reaches into a pouch on his belt and procures a folded and battered letter.
  1529. >”This should attest that I was at least sent after Thunder.”
  1530.  
  1531. >You look over to Blunt Force, who is walking by with the engineer team.
  1532. “Ambassador!”
  1533. >”What!”
  1534. >He nods to the ponies, and then walks over.
  1535. “Give Call a sharp pinch behind the ear.”
  1536. >Call immediately asks:
  1537. >”Why?”
  1538. “A trick I learned from Anon. It can force a Changeling back into its true form… Sadly, I’m not sure hooves work.”
  1539. >Force does as you request, prompting an incredibly sarcastic ‘ouch’ from Call.
  1540. >Okay… what are you supposed to do now?
  1541. >All of these people at the very least deserted their posts.
  1542. >You take the letter from Call, and give it a quick scan.
  1543. >Well, you have no reason not to believe him.
  1544. “Alright, here’s what’s going to happen. The Equestiran forces here are going to escort Thunder’s troops back to Canterlot once all the medical issues are finished. Call?”
  1545. >”Yes?”
  1546. “We’re heading back to Griffonstone. Once we’re there, you’ll be getting a chariot and some pegasi to escort Thunder back to Canterlot. But make it explicitly clear to the others that they’ll be judging Thunder once I get back. Until then… lock him up, and try to get him some help if he’s still like this.”
  1547. >Well this is just…
  1548. >Twenty thousand dead, and a rogue Changeling in the wild.
  1549. >Things just can never deescalate, can they?
  1550.  
  1551. >…
  1552. >That’s right buddy, just follow the jeep.
  1553. >You’re really going to need a way to store food soon.
  1554. >Between three hundred mouths and Hannibal, things are going to become a logistical nightmare.
  1555. >Still though, you’ve commanded a lot of odd troop combinations before.
  1556. >But three hundred ponies, griffons, and minotuars that were kept in stasis from four different time periods has to take the cake.
  1557. >That’s not even taking your new pet elephant into account.
  1558. >Or Harvey.
  1559. >When you were researching what the East entailed, you never envisioned that in reality it would just become a buddy cop adventure starring yourself and Discord’s fractured psyche piggybacking in your head.
  1560. >”Hey boss!”
  1561. >Geoffrey, one of the griffons, flies up and lands next to the jeep.
  1562. >He then continues to keep pace as you drift forward.
  1563. “Yeah?”
  1564. >”So when are you going to start walking with us lowly peasants again?”
  1565. “As soon as you learn how to drive, Geoffy-boy. At the pace you’ve been learning, I think you might just be competent enough behind the wheel by the time we hit the ocean.”
  1566. >”Personally, I blame the teacher.”
  1567. “Listen here ya little shit, I’ve trained the most efficient armies this world has ever seen. A lot of people washed out, and that means I know a lost cause when I see it.”
  1568. >”Whatever you say, boss.”
  1569. “Besides, what are you complaining about? We’re traveling with the wind, you could just go wrangle up a cloud, kick back, and relax.”
  1570. >”Hello giant birds, please eat me first.”
  1571. “Well hey; it’ll give the rest of us time to react. And if we’re really lucky, it might be full after you.”
  1572.  
  1573. >”Just saying, there are a few more pegasi to use as bait than griffons. Might be a bit more fair for one of them to take the first hit.”
  1574. “That there sounds like communism to me.”
  1575. >”Like what?”
  1576. “Dirty pinko.”
  1577. >”Right…”
  1578. “Now shouldn’t you be in the air scouting, or something?”
  1579. >”Hoping to get a turn riding along.”
  1580. “Get back in line; you had your turn sitting down a couple days ago.”
  1581. >Speaking of which, you should stop to let the next few people on.
  1582. >You can fit one in the passenger seat, and three in the back.
  1583. >One lot before midday break, one lot after.
  1584. >But never only minotaurs, they lower the jeep too much, and you don’t like scraping against bumps.
  1585. “Alright people, pile in!”
  1586. >You turn back to see a few ponies climbing into the back.
  1587. >And glancing over, you see Bronze Fortitude opening the side door.
  1588. “What’s up doc?”
  1589. >”An old man can’t rest his legs?”
  1590. “You’re only what? Sixty? Your legs are probably still stronger than most of the ponies.”
  1591. >As he gets into the passenger seat, you speak again:
  1592. “Just mind the horns. Rather not be wacked by one of them.”
  1593. >”Have you ever known a minotaur to be unaware of their own horns?”
  1594. “Only when I’ve out drank them.”
  1595. >”One of your many talents, I assume?”
  1596. “Not really, I’m just used to drinking higher proof stuff. My people love their alcohol… most of them do a least.”
  1597. >”Hmm.”
  1598. “So let me guess. You have a ton of questions about the natives?”
  1599. >”If you don’t mind.”
  1600. “Might as well pass the time somehow.”
  1601. >You then look to the sound system.
  1602. >Maybe some Vivaldi to start off.
  1603.  
  1604. >…
  1605. >Given recent… developments, you decided to head on back to Griffonstone.
  1606. >That means taking a lot of people off the front lines.
  1607. >Someone needs to watch all those soldiers Thunder had with him…
  1608. >What are you eve-
  1609. >”Hey Flurry?”
  1610. >Blueberry speaks up.
  1611. “Yes, Corporal Blossom?”
  1612. >”So who’s your friend?”
  1613. “Are you referring to the shell-shocked one, or the annoying one?”
  1614. >Call, despite being fairly far away from you, notices:
  1615. >”Hey!”
  1616. >But Blueberry continues:
  1617. >”Both.”
  1618. >You let out a deep exhale.
  1619. “That’s a long story… Well not Mr. Hears everything, he’s just Thunder’s friend.”
  1620. >Call heard again:
  1621. >”Oh, is that all I am?”
  1622. “Pretty much!”
  1623. >You then focus back to Blueberry and the other girls.
  1624. “Anyway, if I told you all the things that happened this year, you wouldn’t believe it all.”
  1625. >Autumn then comments:
  1626. >”She says while in the middle of the minotaur’s apocalypse.”
  1627. “Yes, even then you wouldn’t.”
  1628. >Ruby then gets a word in:
  1629. >“Well now you can’t not tell us.”
  1630. “Sorry, but that’s classified.”
  1631. >The parasites in the Princesses is still only known by a select few ponies.
  1632. >As for Thunder’s… experience with the crystal down in Saddle Arabia, you’re not sure if it actually is classified.
  1633.  
  1634. “Suffice it to say, he’s been through a lot these past few months.”
  1635. >Honestly at this point, there’s no way he stays in the military.
  1636. >Between what’s happened with the crystal, the loss of his family, and now… this.
  1637. >Well, he’s too mentally unstable.
  1638. >The only real question is what to do with him.
  1639. >If he ever comes out of this state.
  1640. >Call’s back there basically having to pull him along.
  1641. >You’re not sure what he’s going through, but from the severity of the experiences with your parasite, you can somewhat imagine.
  1642. >It’s quite sad actually.
  1643. >You’ve seen him go from an enthusiastic soldier, to a protégé of sorts to Anon and High Command, to the leader of the Old Guard and likely candidate for higher responsibilities.
  1644. >And then to scattering through the Crystal Empire while completely out of his mind from the crystal, only to lose his pregnant wife to a Tartarus incursion.
  1645. >Then if what Call said was true, even though he went against explicit orders and went rogue, he managed to center himself in the effort and come back to being a promising officer.
  1646. >Only for his endeavor to be utterly crushed.
  1647. >All within what, five or six months?
  1648. >If Discord wasn’t dead, you’d say that he personally had it out for Thunder.
  1649. >But not even Discord from his reign of chaos would be that sadistic.
  1650. >At this point, the only thing Thunder still has is Call as a friend.
  1651. >”Hello. Equestria to Flurry, please respond.”
  1652. >Blueberry brings you out of your thoughts.
  1653.  
  1654. “Yeah sorry. Major Thunder was… well his wife was expecting. He was with her in the Crystal Empire when the pits there arose and… she didn’t make it. I’m sure that alone would have caused most ponies to quit this life, try to start over maybe, take a lot of time to soul search. But well that’s only one of the tortures he’s been through recently.”
  1655. >”Oh… I was going to make a joke. That makes it in horrible taste…”
  1656. >Autumn then reprimands her:
  1657. >”It’s only now in bad taste? Just look at the poor stallion.”
  1658. >”I know! I just wanted to try and lighten the mood and now I just feel terrible.”
  1659. “Just… keep it to yourself.”
  1660. >You then hear Call yell:
  1661. >”Ma’am, you’d better see this!”
  1662. >You turn and start making your way through the girls and a rank of soldiers.
  1663. >Call has stopped dragging Thunder and is now standing still close by.
  1664. >Thunder’s mouth is moving.
  1665. >Like he’s speaking quickly.
  1666. >Otherwise he still looks completely blank.
  1667. “What’s he saying?”
  1668. >Call responds:
  1669. >”Hold on…”
  1670. >Call watches and listens closely a few moments longer.
  1671. >”Names. He’s muttering names. I think I recognized one or two… he’s going through the casualties.”
  1672. >What’s going through his mind right now?
  1673. >And is he even aware of what’s going on in there?
  1674.  
  1675. >…
  1676. >After a morning of being probed for information, you reached the midday rest.
  1677. >Honestly you enjoyed the talk and speculation about the natives at first.
  1678. >But eventually, the Professor kept getting into more esoteric areas and you weren’t really able to keep up.
  1679. >To be frank, you couldn’t care less what you think their familial lives entail.
  1680. >But, you got your break from the academic.
  1681. >And you’ve begun to lay out plans for the future.
  1682. >So, you’ve gathered around a dozen or so troops.
  1683. >No need to gather everyone around, they’ll be able to spread word quickly enough.
  1684. “Alright people, we’re in decent shape right now, but aside from weapons and the armor on your backs, we barely have any equipment. There is something we’ve got though- magic. These plains won’t go on for much longer, and once we find some trees.”
  1685. >You wave over to the forest around the river.
  1686. “Those don’t count. Once we find some, we’re going to be spending some time rolling up our sleeves and working shop. Well, I’m the only one with sleeves, and this shirt only really has one left- but you get the point. We’re starting from scratch. First priority is getting some basic carts made to store food, got a lot of mouths to feed. After that, focus on getting plenty of plant fibers. Look for anything that might be able to be used similarly to flax. Need a lot of plant fibers to make rope, and ideally some armor from. Griffons also need to start harvesting pelts from animals they kill. Come winter, we’ll need them to keep warm.”
  1687. >What else?
  1688.  
  1689. “Magic should be able to do most of the heavy lifting, but let’s also start working together some basic tools and weapons. Every arrow lost and broken spear is another man out of combat, so we need backups. Let’s also make sure to get a cart or two carrying firewood in case we reach an area like this again. Our fires are currently mainly made of twigs, animal fat, and dead bushes, so I’d like to change that. Additionally, I want lists of everyone with practical skills we can use: carpentry, smithing, fletching, anything we can use to make life a bit easier.”
  1690. >Forging metal is probably out of the question, but if you’ve gotten lucky with one of the unicorns, you might be able to make use of any resources found once you reach the mountains again.
  1691. >Don’t need anything fancy, but you’d take some crude iron arrowheads over stone.
  1692. >Harv mentioned there were volcanic areas over here, so finding some obsidian would work great.
  1693. >The various groups made it as far as the Changeling hive on their own, so hopefully there are some useful people.
  1694. >But, if worst comes to worst, you’ve had to rough it in the Everfree, so you should be able teach the essentials.
  1695. >Right now, you actually have more equipment than your worst times in the Everfree.
  1696. >You think you can make this work.
  1697. >Before long you and your nomadic hoard will make the world tremb-
  1698. >Yeah, you’re just gonna stop that train of thought.
  1699. “Not that hard to understand people, now go spread the word.”
  1700.  
  1701. >…
  1702. >It’s been hours, and last you heard from Call, Thunder still hasn’t stopped muttering to himself.
  1703. >You’re starting to get the feeling that he’s not coming back from this…
  1704. >Worst part is, that all of this is technically your fault.
  1705. >Back when Anon was in his coma, you left Thunder as head of his guards.
  1706. >That’s where he met his wife and where Anon really started to single him out for a fast track in his career.
  1707. >You’ve sent plenty of people into life and death situations, but you don’t think you’ve managed to so utterly ruin somepony’s life so much.
  1708. >Now you’re just waiting to see how horribly things are going in Griffonstone.
  1709. >Or how you’ll hear how a pit opened right in the Palace’s meeting room in Canterlot taking command with it.
  1710. >Or how there’s an important sewage issue somewhere that desperately needs you to personally resolve the issue.
  1711. >Because nothing can ever get better.
  1712. >Ever.
  1713. >Really though, you’re not sure if you should stay in Griffonstone for a while to help oversee the change in government, or head back to Canterlot.
  1714. >Haven’t gotten word of anything back home that desperately needs you attention.
  1715. >Other than what to do with the three thousand survivors of Thunder’s trip.
  1716. >Seeing as there’s about a regiment’s worth of men left, you think it’s best to just organize them as their own unit.
  1717. >If they wanted to fight so much, might as well send them to the front whenever a new pit comes up.
  1718. >Imprisoning them would take resources best spent elsewhere.
  1719. >Mass execution is something that you’d like to avoid.
  1720. >And just discharging them is a waste of trained soldiers.
  1721. >Also they’re currently the only soldiers that can say they survived a trip to Tartarus.
  1722.  
  1723. >That only leaves one question.
  1724. >Was Thunder right?
  1725. >Obviously the mission failed spectacularly, but how would it have fared without the Changeling’s sabotage?
  1726. >Okay, that leaves two questions.
  1727. >Because something has to be done about the Changeling.
  1728. >Is ‘Night’ really the only one out there?
  1729. >How are you supposed to track down one Changeling in an army of…
  1730. >Have we reached a million yet?
  1731. >But, of course, he might not be masquerading as a soldier now.
  1732. >Tracking down a rogue Changeling, sounds like just the kind of small, yet crucial, mission that Thunder and Call would be thrown at.
  1733. >Oh wait…
  1734. “Call!”
  1735. >”What!”
  1736. >You stop and let the soldiers move past you.
  1737. >Letting Call and Thunder get closer, then look over to them.
  1738. “Alright, new orders for you.”
  1739. >Focusing on Call.
  1740. “Once you get Thunder to Canterlot, you’ll be focusing on Night. Dead or alive, that’s up to you.”
  1741. >”Me?”
  1742. “What did it sound like I said?”
  1743. >”How am I supposed to find one bloody Changeling in all of Equestira?”
  1744. “That’s your problem.”
  1745. >”Can I say no?”
  1746. “Just try it?”
  1747. >“I don’t get paid enough for this…”
  1748. “Want a promotion?”
  1749. >”Not really.”
  1750. “Then stop complaining.”
  1751. >”Since when do you hate me so much? Is it because I’m no longer available? I know we always had a connection, but I’m taken now-“
  1752. >You cut him off with a punch.
  1753. >And seeing as you’ve got armor on your hoof, you don’t blame him for getting knocked to the ground.
  1754. >”Okay, I deserved that.”
  1755. “Get up.”
  1756.  
  1757. >As he gets back on his hooves, he makes an inquiry:
  1758. >”’What about Thunder?”
  1759. “Do what you can to help, but you’re not a shrink or a babysitter.”
  1760. >”We can’t just toss him in some padded cell.”
  1761. “And we’re going to do everything we can, but if he’s coming back from this I don’t think anypony other than himself will be able to do anything about it.”
  1762. >”He has come back before…”
  1763. “Further, you’re leaving now. Get some pegasi, drag Thunder up to a cloud, and head for Canterlot… and make sure he doesn’t fall off.”
  1764. >Though if he does fall, it might trigger some survival instincts.
  1765. >Or he’d just hit the ground.
  1766. >You look over to Thunder, who’s still muttering.
  1767. “Major?”
  1768. >No change.
  1769. “Thunder!”
  1770. >Damn.
  1771. “So you know, I’m giving you a direct order to snap out of it.”
  1772. >Nope.
  1773. >You glance over at Call.
  1774. “Have you tried slapping him?”
  1775. >”That was one of the first things I tried.”
  1776. “Of course you did. What are friends for?”
  1777. >”Disrespect is the highest form of respect, after all.”
  1778. >Sad that that statement pretty much sums up the Equestrian Military.
  1779. >From your perspective at least.
  1780. “Go get the troops. And no fliers from your little adventure underground.”
  1781. >”Right, just don’t lose him while I’m gone.”
  1782. >Call pats Thunder’s shoulder before taking off.
  1783. >Leaving you with a very motionless Major.
  1784. >Other than his mouth muttering names, he looks almost completely still.
  1785. “Look Thunder. I know you’ve been through a lot, and I really don’t blame you for what you did. Just… actually, yes. I do know where you’re at right now. In one way or another, I’ve lost my family too. And just like you saw a problem with Tartarus, I saw a problem with Celestia. And because of my actions, I got a hundred and twenty-one good and honest ponies sent to a brutal work camp. When that happened, I felt everything I’ve ever worked for turn to dust.”
  1786. >You pause.
  1787.  
  1788. “I guess I only really decided to try and make things better between the people and the throne because I thought it’s what my father and aunt would have wanted. I knew that they were good people: they had helped and saved Equestira so many times, and living up to that standard gave me a purpose in life. Something to work towards instead of retreating into solitude like my mother did. So I worked and worked, then the moment I felt like I was actually accomplishing something worth it, it was ripped away. Everything was gone and I had failed.”
  1789. >Feels like a lifetime ago this had happened.
  1790. “And I… well, you were there to see what happened then. It got better. And even with this whole mess going on, I can’t honestly look back and say we’re in a worse place than last year. Where would we be right now, if I had stayed in Appleoosa, broken by the past? How many more would have died if I didn’t fight through that low?”
  1791. >You don’t think he’s getting any of this.
  1792. “Look, I know it feels like nothing can possibly work out, that anything you touch is cursed to fail. But giving up here, just means that all the fighting you’ve done has been for nothing. If you stop now, then everyone you’ve lost and everyone who’s died because of you- everything is for nothing. All of the struggle and anguish and blood was wasted. You might not be able to fight out of this, but you owe it to yourself and to all the memories of the fallen to try.”
  1793. >You’re not sure if you were talking to Thunder, or yourself.
  1794.  
  1795. >Before you can ramble anymore, Call sets back down.
  1796. >”Ready.”
  1797. “Good. Get back to Canterlot, tell the others I’ll be setting out in four to five days- once the initial steps of stabilization are taken here.”
  1798. >As Call and another pegasi start to try and lift Thunder, you notice something.
  1799. >He stopped muttering.
  1800. >You’re not sure when exactly that happened, but you see him start back up.
  1801. >As Thunder is airlifted away, you look back to the soldiers moving around you.
  1802. >Unsurprisingly, you notice that the five girls had stopped with you and were watching the whole time.
  1803. “What are you looking at?”
  1804. >Merry Weather is the one to respond:
  1805. >”That was very touching.”
  1806. “Well let’s get moving, we’re holding up too much traffic.”
  1807.  
  1808. >…
  1809. >Well, things aren’t that bad.
  1810. >After the break and the afternoon’s time on the road, you think everyone with usable skills got around to mentioning it to you.
  1811. >The unicorns aren’t particularly skilled outside of varying magical abilities.
  1812. >Most of them aren’t anything to write home about, but they’ll be able to fell trees and perform other utilitarian tasks.
  1813. >The other ponies don’t have much to speak about.
  1814. >A few know how to make baskets, which it a plus.
  1815. >And a couple have experience with carpentry and woodworking.
  1816. >One of the griffons worked as a fletcher’s apprentice before becoming a mercenary.
  1817. >But the real stars of group are the minotaurs.
  1818. >Well, other than the Professor.
  1819. >Back in Equestria, you’d have trusted them to survive in the Everfree for weeks.
  1820. >While no individual is a full blown survivalist, as a group they know how to live off the land.
  1821. >Some of them are more skilled at heavier labor, some know how to build tools or shelters, others know how to make the most of dead animals, one of them also knows how to make rope.
  1822. >More importantly, they have the strength and endurance to keep whatever tasks you need from them.
  1823. >For the purposes you need, you’d take the average minotaur over the average unicorn soldier.
  1824. >Especially if the average unicorn in question was from before your time.
  1825. >Sure, the unicorn might be able to cut down a tree quicker with their magic, but the minotaur will still be working long after the unicorn is exhausted.
  1826. >And most of the unicorns here are one trick ponies, the minotaurs have more practical skills.
  1827.  
  1828. >Hell, just look at modern Equestria.
  1829. >You’d be hard pressed to find a minotaur that wouldn’t be able to survive in the wilderness for at least a few days.
  1830. >Unicorns though?
  1831. >Once you started making basic training actually useful, they always had the worst time of it.
  1832. >Honestly, if Shining wasn’t there to help you get used to life in this world, you’d probably have ended up living with the minotaurs.
  1833. >That or the griffons to publicly eat meat.
  1834. >Well, probably not.
  1835. >The first few months here, you weren’t in good enough shape to be able to keep up with the minotaurs.
  1836. >But now?
  1837. >Hell, if you tried, you’d be king within a week.
  1838. >Anyway…
  1839. >When you got contacted by someone with skills, you pointed them in the direction of others that would work well together.
  1840. >After that, you told them to gather up whatever unskilled labor they needed.
  1841. >When you get the opportunity and resources to work, everyone’s doing their part.
  1842. >If you’re not doing the heavy lifting or the intricacies, they’re standing on guard.
  1843. >And you’ve made it damn clear, that ‘on guard’ doesn’t mean just sitting around.
  1844. >Then eventually, you’re going to focus on getting everyone some proper training.
  1845. >Even the ponies from Shining’s group are marginally better than the recruits fresh out of your most recent iteration of boot camp.
  1846. >Says a lot of how radically you’ve changed things.
  1847. >Your basic training is almost more than what elite Royal Guards of yesteryear went through.
  1848. >If you had a couple properly equipped and battle hardened companies or a battalion over here…
  1849. >Should have brought Thunder and some of the Old Guard with you.
  1850. >You’d be tearing through this place.
  1851. >If it was still just you and Harv, you’d be miles further right now.
  1852. >But if you do have to babysit, you’d prefer to hold as few hands as possible.
  1853.  
  1854. >You’re cut out of your rambling thoughts by a sharp pain in your left bicep.
  1855. >Muttering, you get the bastard’s attention.
  1856. “Harv…”
  1857. >-
  1858. >”Yes?”
  1859. >He brought you into the empty white void, but this time you’re sitting in the jeep and he’s in the passenger seat.
  1860. “What’s wrong now?”
  1861. >”Nothing, I’m helping.”
  1862. “Sure feels like it…”
  1863. >”I figured out how to trigger muscle growth. Give me a few weeks, and you’ll be back to how you were before you got old and let yourself go.”
  1864. “Great, first you’re meth, now you’re roids. Hope you’re paying for rehab once this is done.”
  1865. >”I am nothing so crude. The work I’m doing is nothing short of a neural artistic masterpiece. I am an architect.”
  1866. “Well it feels like your preferred architectural style is Brutalism.”
  1867. >”Harvey, heal my wounds. Harvey, slow time. Harvey, iron my suit. Does it kill you to say thank you?”
  1868. “Hey!”
  1869. >You snap your fingers and make a large projector screen appear in front of the jeep.
  1870. >Then you playback a fresh memory.
  1871. >The scene plays out from your vision as you speak:
  1872. >”Discord. One of his games ripped me from my world. My life, family, everything I had ever known. But, he’s done a lot to help me, all for the greater good. And without him… well, I’ve spent most of my life here now. And despite everything that’s happened, I don’t think I’d change it.”
  1873. “That should have at least got me some points!”
  1874. >Harvey then counters:
  1875. >”That doesn’t count, I’m not Discord.”
  1876. “Half of it should.”
  1877. >”It still doesn’t change the fact that I am severely underappreciated.”
  1878. “Well, I’m SO sorry. Thank you Harvey for being my best friend and confidante in these trying times. Without you, I’d by stumbling around like a Neanderthal banging rocks together. But thanks to you, I am-“
  1879. >”You don’t have to be so condescending.”
  1880.  
  1881. “Come on Harv, what would we be without the passive aggression?”
  1882. >”That’s fair enough.”
  1883. “Also, I’m still not sure you’re a net positive. Ever since you’ve started messing around, I’ve been much more impulsive.”
  1884. >”Have you tried thinking for once?”
  1885. “You’re not the one who’s hopped up on God knows what concoction of drugs! Without you I probably wouldn’t have bumbled into half of the situations I’ve been in so far.”
  1886. >”Honestly you’re probably right about that. If I still had a link to my body, the… power trip feelings would have been repressed. I was just meant to watch so Discord could come in and help if things got too out of control. I only started drastically adjusting things once that option was taken away when the siren severed my connection.”
  1887. “Where the hell are you anyway?”
  1888. >”Making pigs fly, probably.”
  1889. “I’m serious.”
  1890. >”Look, I was never omnipresent. My body probably needed to rest after fighting the siren and losing connection with my half of the psyche, and just hasn’t been able to find us yet.”
  1891. “Well when he rears his ugly head…”
  1892. >”Yes, yes. You’ll strike him.”
  1893. >Harv then changes topics:
  1894. >”Oh, and you should start eating regularly for the time being. I’m doing a lot of work, and the energy has to come from somewhere.”
  1895. “Sounds reasonable enough.”
  1896. >”But…”
  1897.  
  1898. “What?”
  1899. >”I’m not saying that I dislike your company or anything.”
  1900. “Harvey. Point. Now.”
  1901. >”Look, I don’t necessarily have to go back into my body. Like I’ve hinted at before, at least I think I did, I should be able to transfer my consciousness on contact with Discord. But that could work with other intelligent beings as well. In one of the unicorns, I could make them rather powerful with magic. Or…”
  1902. “Or what?”
  1903. >”Forget I said anything.”
  1904. “Harv!”
  1905. >”Just don’t hold this against me… It’s rather grim.”
  1906. “I kill people for a living. I think I can handle it.”
  1907. >”Because you innately are immune to magic, I’m fully tapped in your head. But if say one of the unicorns were to have the right neural pathways severed to leave their brain fully cut off from their body, I think I could forge new pathways and fully take over the body. From there, I could conceivably get back up to a fraction of my real power, far beyond any simple empowerment I could offer a unicorn.”
  1908. “… Did you just ask me to lobotomize someone so you can enslave their body?”
  1909. >”I don’t relish in the idea either, but next time a dragon swoops down, don’t you think it would be nice if I could just make it turn into a cloud of bubbles?”
  1910. “Harv, I’m only going to say this once. That is not an option. And don’t you dare bring it up again.”
  1911. >”I don’t blame you. I hope you do believe me when I say the thought isn’t pleasant.”
  1912. “But you did have the thought.”
  1913. >Harvey remains silent a while longer before unceremoniously sending you back into the real world.
  1914.  
  1915. >…
  1916. >After the full day on the march, people were finally winding down.
  1917. >Unfortunately, they’ve been picking up some marching songs.
  1918. >The boys you rescued really took to one in particular.
  1919. >Well at least they’ve got some top tenors, that’s for sure.
  1920. >”From the hills rebounding, let this war cry sounding. Summon all at Cambria’s call, the mighty force surrounding. Men of Harlech onto glory, this will ever be your story. Keep these fighting words before ye, Welshmen will not yield.”
  1921. >As they finish, Geoffrey speaks up:
  1922. >”Hey boss, what are the names in that?”
  1923. >Sitting on the side of the jeep, you think a moment before answering.
  1924. “Harlech is an old castle in Wales, the song came from a siege back in the day. Well, the original lyrics come from that battle. Cambria is a just another name for Wales. And the Welshmen have my world King Arthur sort of, T.E. Lawrence sort of, and… sheep… okay, mainly it’s just the sheep. But historically they some damn good fights.”
  1925. >”Sheep?”
  1926. >Before you can respond, or worse offer a joke, you’re met with a yell from across the camp:
  1927. >”SIR!”
  1928. “What?”
  1929. >”What?”
  1930. >You and Sterling both yell over to the incoming pegasi
  1931. >But as the messenger nearly crashes against the ground, he’s looking at you and not Sir Surehoof.
  1932.  
  1933. “What is it?”
  1934. >”Something’s coming in from the west.”
  1935. >West.
  1936. “Define something.”
  1937. >”Well it’s got two legs and-“
  1938. >Shit.
  1939. “About as big as a minotaur?”
  1940. >”Yes, it’s-“
  1941. “Get back to your squad now, and do NOT engage the target! Fall back to the group.”
  1942. >You then jump off the side of the jeep, and start yelling general orders:
  1943. “Alright people, look alive! Fliers get out and recall all of the scouts! I want each and every unicorn we have reporting to me immediately! Get everyone ready to fall back if necessary and if you know what’s best for you, you’ll all want to keep me between you and this creature!”
  1944. >While they’re clearly startled, you don’t give them another second of disbelief.
  1945. “MOVE!”
  1946. >Still near you, Geoffrey then approaches you as you grab the rifle.
  1947. >”Hey boss, what is this thing?”
  1948. “This is the only ‘thing’ I’ve ever met that I haven’t been able to kill.”
  1949. >”You’re going to add ‘yet’ to the end of that, right?”
  1950. >You just give the griffon a glare.
  1951. >”That bad…”
  1952. “Get some pegasi and other griffons together and start wrangling up as many clouds as possible. Might need some lightning.”
  1953. >With a nod, he flies off.
  1954. >As you reach over to start the jeep, Sir Sterling saunters over to you:
  1955. >”I have to say this is the first time I think I’ve seen you anywhere near afraid.”
  1956. “I’ve hacked this creature into nothing but limbs and chunks of torso, then burned it. Death didn’t stick.”
  1957. >You then step up onto the jeep to ready the machine gun.
  1958. “You’d best hope that overwhelming firepower at least slows it down.”
  1959. >And bullets might just slow it down.
  1960. >Hundreds of rounds per minute on one target…
  1961. >Maybe.
  1962. >But it’s survived everything you’ve thrown at it.
  1963.  
  1964. >Magic, you’re going to need magic to actually kill it.
  1965. >If all the unicorns you have aren’t strong enough to finish the creature, then maybe they could bury it.
  1966. >Though you doubt a bit of dirt will stop it for long.
  1967. >After all, last time you saw it, it was completely impaled and held in place by crystals.
  1968. >Getting the depth of the situation, Harvey takes you into your mind.
  1969. >-
  1970. >”Anon…”
  1971. “I know, I’m going to need everything you’ve…”
  1972. >”Anon?”
  1973. “You were talking about switching bodies, can you infect it?”
  1974. >”I have no idea what Nemesis over there even is, much less if it has a compatible nervous system that I’d be able to survive in. Even if it does, I wouldn’t be able to just take control.”
  1975. “Harvey… if you actually know what this thing is…”
  1976. >”In all of my existence, I have never encountered anything even remotely similar to it. I have no idea why or how it seems to have your scent, and I honestly don’t know why it came out of the same tunnel that the fipplenops attacked you from.”
  1977. “Harv, think. It came from Tartarus, pretty deep if the beasts- which we are NOT calling fipplenops- came from the same tunnel.”
  1978. >”Or it came from deeper.”
  1979. “Harvey, I need intel!”
  1980. >”And I don’t have any!”
  1981. “Okay, we know it heals. That means it’s either magical or biological, right?”
  1982. >”Right, but at the extent it can regenerate, it must be magical.”
  1983. “Which means we have the unicorns erect a magic dampening field around it.”
  1984. >”I’m not sure any of the unicorns here know how to perform such a spell. More common use of such spells were uncommon before you started training unicorns for combat en masse.”
  1985. “But failing that, pure bolts of energy might still disrupt it.”
  1986. >”Or harmlessly bounce off. They might even feed it more power.”
  1987. “How likely is might?”
  1988. >”On a scale of one to ten, it’s purple. I. Don’t. Know.”
  1989. “Well is there anything you do have?”
  1990. >”Maybe, but you won’t like it.”

Heart of War- Prologue

by ThingPaste

Heart of War- Act I

by ThingPaste

Heart of War- Act II

by ThingPaste

Heart of War- Act III

by ThingPaste

Heart of War- Act IV

by ThingPaste