Chapter 29

As captain of the royal guard, Steadfast had faced many threats, most notably the tyrant King Sombra. Each time standing his ground, never once showing fear even in the face of almost certain death. The true embodiment of his name. Steadfast Bulwark. The unmovable force.

All other threats paled in comparison to what lay on his desk, just inches from him.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Steadfast took a fearful look at the clock to his left. His heart rate quickened at what he saw.

Half past nine.

The modicum of peace he found fled as his gaze dropped to the near blank piece of parchment on his desk with the word 'The' written in a beautiful flowing script. The result of several hours of deep soul searching and contemplation.

The desk jerked violently, almost spilling the nearly full ink well, as Steadfast's head landed heavily on its surface. The pain of the impact did little to stir the creativity he so desperately needed, the most it did was exacerbate his steadily growing migraine.

"Punks I can handle." He said to himself, voice muffled by the desk. "Vagrants, no trouble. Evil Dark Lord from a by gone age, cake walk." He allowed his head to roll to one side so he could intently studied a small crack in the wall hoping it would provide enlightenment, it didn’t.

"But I'll be damned if I can’t think up a simple speech." With a groan he sat back up, nearly toppling from his chair in his haste, jumped to his hooves and begun to pace in front of his desk.

If he had been counting (which he hadn’t), this would be the twelve time he had walked the now visible groove in the floor, in the vain hope he would get an idea of what to say.

After a few turns on the floor it became apparent that this time would be no different. With an angry sigh he stomped over to the door and flung it open with a burst of magic, startling the two soldier’s stationed there.

"One of you bring me Lt. Col Dux, ASAP!" He barked loudly, further startling the soldiers who both hurriedly saluted before running off in opposite directions. Slamming the door shut, Steadfast marched over to his chair and sat down with a huff. Several seconds ticked by before his spontaneous anger was replaced with the unnatural fear from earlier.

"Calm yourself, Steadfast." He chided himself mentally. "You've given speeches before and those turned out alright."

"Yes, but those were simple things, explanations of strategies or lectures." The Devil’s Advocate in him responded. "This however is much more. What you say today will be remember for years to come as Eqestria’s first declaration of war. The speech future generations will quote and reference."

"Which is why I set aside several hours to work on it." Replied Steadfast.

The Devil’s Advocate smirked. "How’s that worked out so far, hm? Four hours and what have you come up with?" It glanced over at the parchment. "The? Yes, very motivating. Another eight days and you might have a complete sentence."

"Shut up!" Roared Steadfast, slamming his hoof down unto the desk and sending the ink well flying into the air where it traveled a short distance to the floor.

Breathing heavily, Steadfast became aware of a presence in the room with him. Slowly raising his eyes up he saw an extremely scared Dux sitting on a chair across from him.

"Uh....with respect, sir." Dux began, clearing his throat before continuing. "I didn’t say anything."

"No?" Steadfast said, qwerking an eyebrow at him. "No, of course you didn’t." He leaned back in his chair and forced his breathing to slow. "I apologize. You caught me in the middle of an argument."

Dux looked to his left then to his right. "With who sir?"

Steadfast waved a hoof dismissively. "Never mind that. I wanted to get the latest operations report from you."

Dux straightened in his chair. "Of course, sir. Was there anything specific you wanted to hear, or just a generalized report?"

"Generalized with details." Answered Steadfast, neatly folding his hooves on his desk.

Dux nodded. "Well ever since the riot , enlistment rates have tripled. Training regiments were increased to five times a day with about 300 fully trained soldiers being turned out every two hours."

"Total amount?"

"At last census about 55,000. The majority of which is Earth and Unicorn ground troops, with around four battalions of Pegasus, trained by the Wonderbolts, and lastly three platoons of Unicorn Battle mages."

"Supplies?"

"Several weeks’ worth of provisions, weapons, oils, sharpening stones, tents, armour..." Dux trailed off. "I have a complete list if you’d prefer to read it?"

Steadfast waved him off. "No need. Return to your duties."

"Sir." Dux said with a salute before getting to his hooves and making for the door.

"One more thing." Called out Steadfast just as Dux reached for the handle. "Send Rarity up."

"Yes, sir." Responded Dux as he stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him, leaving Steadfast once more alone with his speech.

"What exactly did that accomplish exactly?" Asked the Devil’s Advocate. It glanced at the clock and chuckled lightly. "Other than wasting twenty minutes I mean."

Steadfast chose to ignore it rather than get drawn into another argument. He waited patiently, hardly moving and doing his best to not look at the time.

Sometime later the door to his office opened and in stepped Rarity. After their talk following her outburst with Grey Skies, Rarity had taken to wearing an old Stetson. He never asked but from what he knew of the Elements of Harmony and from what he gleaned at the funeral, he understood the significance of that hat and allowed her to continue to wear it.

"You wanted to see me, General?" Asked Rarity, stepping cautiously over the groove in the floor and saluting.

"Yes." He motioned to the empty chair. "Please, have a seat."

Rarity complied, taking the seat before him.

"How has your training been going?" Steadfast asked after a time.

Rarity cast a suspicious glance at him. "May I speak freely sir?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." Her gaze changed from suspicion to accusation. "We both know your just using me as an excuse so you don’t have to write your speech."

Steadfast opened his mouth to deny her accusation but the look in her eye made him think twice, instead he slumped in his seat with a tired sigh. "Am I that easy to read?"

Rarities glare softened. "No, but I know a creative block when I see one." She nodded at his desk. "May I see what you’ve written so far?"

A halfhearted wave was her answer. Levitating the parchment over to her, she scanned the only word on the parchment before placing back in its place.

"Well you do have a very intricate writing style."

"I’ll be sure to use it next time I pen a report." Steadfast said, angrily. He sighed again and sat up in his chair, placing his hooves on his desk as he did so.

"I apologize. I should not have used that tone with you. Today has been one of the most difficult days I’ve ever dealt with."

"Coming from the stallion who faced down Sombra and put together a full military in three days, that’s saying something." Rarity said, humorously.

When Steadfast didn’t reply, Rarity changed her stance. “Did you consider adlibbing?”

“About two hours ago, yes.”

“Well?”

Steadfast leaned forward and looked Rarity straight in the eye. “Would that be enough? I’m throwing good ponies, actual lives at something that can defeat a god. They need…no they deserve the best I can do because that’s what I expect of them.”

“Do you actually think that a speech will motivate the troops? General, let me tell you something.” She leaned forward, mimicking Steadfast. “You will motivate them, not by giving a grand speech but by leading. If you stand defiant against Sombra Everypony will stand behind you and so long as you believe we can win, they will to!”

A grin fought against the frown that had been present on his face the last few hours, with a final surge it obliterated the frown and claimed its place on Steadfast’s face.

“You’re somewhat of a hypocrite you know. Saying speeches won’t motivate but yours sure did.” He said, pushing himself away from his desk.

“Nonsense.” Replied Rarity, following suit. “Speeches are longer.” She nodded towards the clock. “And I believe its time you gave yours.”

He followed her gaze. “So it is.” He moved around his desk, levitating his helmet from its place by the desk and placed it on his head and headed for the door, stopping to place a hoof on Rarities shoulder. “Thank you.”

“You can thank me later, sir.” She responded with a grin.

“That I will.” He removed his hoof from her shoulder and opened the door with magic, stopping to glance back at her from the threshold. “Well come along then. If I’m going to be giving a speech you’re going to be standing there with me.” He said.

Rarity allowed herself a grin. “As you say.” She said before following him out the door. They quickly made their way through the castle, along the way the pair ran into Dux who joined them.

“Ten minutes, general. Are you ready?” Asked Dux as he fell into step beside them
.
Steadfast nodded. “As I’ll ever be. What’s the situation down below?”

“The last few battalions are moving into the courtyard as we speak.”

“Excellent.”

The trio entered into the hallway leading to the balcony where Steadfast would be giving his speech. Halfway down the hall, Dux excused himself to go see to final preparations, leaving Steadfast and Rarity to finish the journey alone.

Coming to a stop at the balcony doors, Steadfast placed a hoof on the handle and took a deep breath.

“Here we go”

Opening the door with a single fluid motion, Steadfast stepped out onto the balcony, followed closely by Rarity. A cool morning breeze gently blew past them while the suns weak rays danced off their armour, casting them in a soft golden glow.

They stepped to the balcony’s edge and looked down into the courtyard below. A mighty roar accompanied by thunderous stamping rose up at the sight of them. Row upon row of ponies, Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasus stood together in formation, cheering for their General and Regent. Steadfast mentally counted to thirty before raising his right hoof in a quieting motion. Immediately the cheering stopped and a hush fell over those assembled.

Casting the spell to augment his voice, Steadfast spoke.

“Eqestria is a nation of peace!” Steadfast said, his voice being carried on the wind. “But that does not mean we haven’t seen are fair share of strive.” He motioned to Rarity standing at his side. “I stand beside one of the fabled Elements of Harmony. One of six brave mares who for the last two years have kept us all safe from forces that sought to destroy us. They didn’t choose their fate, they were called to it by a higher power, a call they answered gladly. Without fear they proudly marched into the Crystal empire with the goal of saving it from the tyranny of Sombra.”

Steadfast paused and glanced to Rarity who had her head bowed. “One gave her life in answer to that call, while two others their freedom.” He paused again and placed both hooves onto the balcony railing.

“But they did not fail.”

“Fourteen brave ponies went into the empire not knowing what they would find and gave themselves so that we would know the truth about Sombra.”

“But they did not fail.”

“Our beloved Princess Luna attempted to parley for the lives of those held prisoner only to be returned to us broken and on the brink of death.”

“But she did not fail.”

Steadfast brought his hoof up and placed it over his heart. “Overwhelmed by fear our own turned against us in the wake of Celestia's withdrawal, sending the city spiraling into turmoil. Forcing us to fight our own in order to restore peace.”

"But we did not fail!"

All eyes were trained on Steadfast and many of the soldiers held a hoof over their hearts in reverence.

"Today we march on the Crystal Empire, to right an ancient wrong and to ensure that the sacrifices made will not be in vain."

Steadfast thrust his hoof into the air "Today Eqestria goes to war and we will not fail!"

Cheers erupted from the assembled the sound reverberating off the inner walls, reaching a crescendo that shook the foundation of the castle.

Steadfast turned from the balcony ledge and walked back inside, followed by Rarity who closed the doors behind her. Thankfully the doors all but silenced the loud cheers from outside.

"Impressive." Said Rarity once they were a ways down the hall.

Steadfast snorted loudly. "Next time I’ll talk to you before I spend all morning beating my head against the wall."

Rarity simply smiled at his words as they both made their way back through the castle.