Chapter 7: The Soldiers

Authors Note: This chapter and the previous chapter take place at the same time. I thought it would be easier for you, the reader, to follow the story if I wrote it this way. If you don't like it, suck it, this is how I wrote it and it will not change.

After the princesses left the library Dan and Twilight started to plan the recon mission. "Twilight how far is the dragon fortress (Not sure what that location of the dragon leadership would be called) from here?"

"It depends Dan," replied Twilight, "Do you want to take the safe longer road that goes around the Everfree forest or the shorter more dangerous road that goes trough it."

"We'll take the path through the forest, we need to get there as fast as possible, the less time it takes the better. Every second we waste gives him more time to kill innocent people… oh, and innocent ponies."

"Ok, the forest road it is. It will take two days to cut through the forest, I can take you as far as Zecora's house. From there you need to head southeast to the ruins of the Palace of the Two Sisters, I would recommend spending the night there the forest is too dangerous for you to travel at night. Then you need to continue southeast past Dodge City to the badlands, that is where he will be."

"Are you sure he'll be there?"

"Yes Multiple dragons were spotted there recently and if he wants to take over the world he would give up that land. The badlands give him a place to start his attack."

"So it will be about a three day journey to get there. What types of creatures can we expect to be a problem in the forest?"

"The creatures that you should avoid are manticores and timber wolves. But other than that you should be fine."

"Ok, men gather your gear we're leaving."

Ten minutes later…

"This is as far as I go Dan, good luck and have a safe trip.""Thanks Twilight. lets go men."

Later after a very boring at uneventful walk to the ruins…

"Sir, you don't expect us to sleep in these ruins do you. They look like they could collapse at any moment." Said Jack

"No I only said we would sleep here to keep Twilight from worrying, I planed on traveling through the night so we could arrive at the bad lands by midday tomorrow. Come on lets keep moving."

---

The Badlands the next day…

"Ok men that looks like the dragon camp, scratch that I see a dragon, this is defiantly the place."

"Sir look down there on the left those look like ponies. There walking strait into the dragon camp, do you think their working with Alduin?"

"I don't know Sarge, lets get closer we need to find where Alduin is hiding and what these ponies are doing here."

"Look they're going into that cave."

"Jack, you and Tom stay out here and watch the exit we're going to need you guys to create a distraction if we are discovered. Sarge, Geoff, you're with me were going in."

"No you guys go I'll stay here where it's safe."

"Geoff you lazy piece of shit, you are going in there if I have to drag you myself."

"Fine Sarge"

"Let's go you can hate each other later we've got work to do."

---

In the cave…

"Damn I can't see shit. Wait look there are the ponies."

"And their talking with Alduin, we need to know what their talking about."

"… peace, you ponies are bigger fool's than I expected. I will rule this world."

"They're diplomatic group, Celestia must have sent them in order to avoid a conflict. We need to do something fast or they'll all be killed. Ok if the dragons show any sign that they will attack we'll attack that red one to the left."

"You will be the first to suffer my wrath, your deaths will mark the beginning of my conquest of this world. Kill them." said Alduin.

"Ahhhh" yelled the dying dragon Dan and his men attacked.

"Run you fool's. Get out of here and warn the princesses."

The ponies than ran out being attacked along the way. "We need to leave now."

As they were running they saw Jack and Tom being attacked. "Sir I recommend that we all split up and regroup at the ruins."

"I agree Sarge. Everyone split up regroup at the ruins." Then all five soldiers went in different directions.

Later at the ruins…

Dan was the first to arrive. Then Tom and Sarge and finally Geoff arrived. "Where is Jack we need to get going."

"He didn't make it sir I saw him being overwhelmed by the dragons on the edge of the forest, there was nothing I could do."

"It's not your fault Tom, come on we need to get to canter lot and tell the princesses what happened."

---

Canterlot, the next day…

"Come on guys were almost to the castle."

"But Dan all these ponies are staring at us it's creepy."

"You can be creped out later Geoff we need to get to the princesses."

When they arrived at the gates to the palace they were stopped by the guards. "Halt. State your business creature."

"We need to see the princesses tell them Dan is here." Said an out of breath Dan.

"Fine, wait in the courtyard we will see if they want to see you."

As soon as the guards left Dan and his men collapsed on the path and/ or benches in the courtyard. They all were extremely tired from completing a journey that would normally take two days in about a day, maybe less. However they all stood up as the princesses came to meet them.

"What happened, one of my diplomats came back and said that they were attacked." asked Celestia.

Dan then told her what happened in the badlands, including Jacks death. "I'm sorry for the loss of your soldier, but we have decided to help you in your fight. We have about five hundred guards here and another thousand guards coming from Stalliongrad, they should be here in two days."

"I'm afraid we may not have two day princess." Interrupted Shinning Armor "I have just received a report that Dodge City has been attacked by dragons and that they were last seen heading towards Canterlot. The only city that stands between them and us is Ponyville and there are no guards there. In order to save Ponyville the guards we have here must go there immediately."

"Then that's what we'll do. Alduin will be leading the dragons, if we can defeat him in front of his army they will disperse and no longer be a problem. How long until the guards are ready to leave?"

They're ready now. You have to give the order princess and we will be there by sunset."

"Dan, Shinning Armor, take all the guards and defend Ponyville. Only attack Alduin if you can win, if not hold the city until the reinforcements from Stailliongrad arrive."

"Yes princess." "Understood."

Authors Note: If you have found my descriptions of the fighting to be boring and underdeveloped don't worry I will be more detailed in the final battles.