Chapter 7

                                                                                The First of Many

                                        "A predator doesn't care about trivial things like war or peace."  

                                                                                                          Fluttershy

     One month later.

Spike gazed out over the valley from his perch atop a cliff he surveyed his own forces down below waiting for their leader to give the word to charge. On the other side of the valley the Earthborn army sat daring the army of House Brightflame to try to take New Ponyville. Behind his Moondancer and her Shades as well as the wyverns, each armored, stood at attention.

Spike’s gave turned upward toward the sun, positioned high in the sky bearing down on all like a watchful eye. This caused the dragon’s mind to travel to a time in his past where life was simpler, happier.

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“Ugh this is stupid,” a small purple dragon groaned as he pushed the tome of war tactics that sat in front of him away,” Why do I even need to learn this junk anyway.”

Across from him sat a regal alabaster alicorn sipping tea from a glass held in her golden magical grip.

“Because my little one these are things you must learn should you become Equestria’s ruler,” She said her voice as calm and melodious as it always was.

“But your immortal you’ll always be around to rule,” the baby dragon mumbled crossing his tiny arms across his bright green chest.

Celestia set her tea down on its saucer with a soft clink and made her way to Spike’s side of the table. With a soft sigh she pulled the small dragon close to her.

“I am many things but immortal is not one of them. I may have lived a long time but that does not exempt me from deaths grip,” she placed a under his chin gently lifting it to her eyelevel,” There will come a day when I won’t be able to guide you my little one and I must prepare you for that day.”

Spike wraps his arms around the alicorn’s foreleg his tiny claws clutching white fur,” But I don’t want you to go anywhere."

A warm smile graced Celestia’s muzzle,“ Nor do I want to but one day I will have to but know I will always be in your heart. I love you my son.”

“I love you too mamma.”

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Spike brought his mind back to the present as a tear fell from his cheek. He quickly brushed it away with an armored claw and turned his gaze back to his army below.

‘How right you were Mother.’

Moondancer came up to stand beside him,” All is ready my lord. You need only give the word.”

“Good,” Spike said as he extended his wings and took to the sky unencumbered by the sleek black armor he wore. He brought a claw up to the House insignia on his breastplate and began.

“Today will begin the first of many bloody battles. We fight not for honor or glory but for our very survival and the survival of this once beautiful land which has been sullied by the Five Tyrants. After today they will know the fury of those they have betrayed. They will know the fury of House Brightflame and they will burn by dragonfire."

Spike looked to the Earthborn forces as they began to make their way across the valley.

“The prey comes my brothers and sisters let the hunt begin!” Spike roared as he took off toward the Earthborn army. The forces of House Brightflame surged forward as they gave a mighty battlecry and the two armies clashed.    

Spike flew into the center of the Earthborn forces and dive-bombed fire spewed out of his fanged maw as he slammed into the back of a juggernaut in a flash of white fire crushing the massive earth pony under him an stunning the surrounding ponies. The dragon then lashed out with his claws opening a mare’s throat to his left. She fell to the ground clutching at her neck as she bled out. A stallion came forward stepping over the dying mare’s body his head lowered in an attempt to gore the dragon with the blade on his helm. Spike reared back and unleashed a gout of bright green flames at the  fool cooking him in his armor. The blade on his tail found another throat as he etched a rune into the ground with the blood on his claws. He quickly jumped back a buffalo rushed him only to step on the rune activating it. Spike raised a barrier just as the rune flashed and exploded incinerating the unlucky buffalo and several ponies around him. The dragon turned his head to the sky as he heard a screech. The wyverns and shades had joined the battle. His eyes alight with a grim determination the dragon pressed forward leaving behind his a trail of death.

Up in the sky Moondancer and her Shades joined with a group of armored wyverns had engaged a battalion of pegasi auxiliaries. Moondancer angled her shadow wings as a Pegasus tried to run her through with his spear. Grabbing the spear she ripped it fromhis grasp and disemboweled him with her hidden blade in one swift motion. The fuchsia mare then knocked the spear out from another pegasi’s grip that had been foolish enough to come at her head on and ran the mare through. The Pegasus looked down at the spear in her abdomen in surprise as Moondancer ripped it out of her allowing her to fall to the battle raging below. The fuchsia mare sent the spear flying into another pegasi’s back right between his wings.

Below Snails led his Brood matching the Earthborn blow for blow. Snails’ grey armor already stained with the blood of those who tried to oppose him. In his telekinetic glow was his weapon of choice a large warhammer. A juggernaut rushed the massive unicorn but his charge was cut short as Snails Hammer connected with his head crushing his helm and sending into the air. He fell to the ground dead. Seeing this a pair of pony-at-arms galloped toward the unicorn with intent to avenge their fallen comrade. Snails brought his hammer up blocking them both and pushing them away.

One, a mare, side-stepped around the massive stallion’s guard, pivoted on her fore hooves and sent the morning star colliding with the side of Snails’ helm. The unicorn stumbled back, his hammer falling to the ground with a dull thud. The ponies-at-arms then rushed him. Snails grit his teeth as he worked a spell through the dull ache forming in his skull. His horn flashed brightly as the earth ponies found they couldn’t move. Before long they couldn’t hold their own weight as they fell to the ground under the immense pressure. Snails reared up an slammed his fore hooves onto the mare’s back. She screamed as she felt her spine snap despite the armor she wore. The other earth pony, a stallion, raised his head, struggling against the pressure, to curse the unicorn but his voice died in his throat as he caught a glimpse Snails’ crimson eyes. His eyes had shifted into that of a draconic nature. Unbidden the earth pony began to shake.

Snails held his warhammer aloft cloaked in his crimson glow,” Any last words?”

“What are you?” The earth stallion mumbled his voice shaky and his eyes unable to tear themselves from the unicorns crimson orbs.

“A soldier.”

With that the massive unicorn brought his warhammer down on the earth pony’s skull.

Flash Sentry and his group trailed behind the Brood picking off stragglers and waiting for the word to move in. A group of Shades were carving a rune into the ground and it was up to Flash’s Harmony Core to see they weren’t disturbed. The orange pegasus flung himself into the air just as a pony-at-arms rushed at him and landed on the earth ponies back. In an attempt to get the pegasus  off the mare reared up[ and jerked her head back. Flash rose into the air again grabbed the mare’s head and twisted her head roughly snapping her neck. He looked to the sky to see a pegasus that got past the wyverns diving toward the shades working on the circle. Flash rushed him and sent one of the blades on his helm into the other pegasi’s neck. Letting the died stallion’s body fall to the ground the orange pegasus saw another flying toward him spear raised. Flapping his wings harder Flash caused the air between them to thicken slowing him down enough for flash to swoop in a buck the mare in the chest crushing her ribs. Below him A shade yelled out,” Sir we’re ready the rune is complete.”

“Good,” bringing a hoof to his breastplate he activated the comcrystal,” Moondancer the teleportation rune is ready.”

As Moondancer slit another pegasi’s throat she heard Flash’s message and surveyed the battlefield. Her group was able to clear the skies of all hostiles. She activated her own comcrystal,” The sky is ours.

“Begin the siege of New Ponyville,” she heard Spike hiss from the comcrystal.

“Yes my lord.”

With that she let out an earsplitting screech and angled herself towards New Ponyville, Shades and wyverns following in her wake.  

Next Chapter: The Siege of New Ponyville Estimated time remaining: 50 Minutes