Author's Notes:

Filler chapter, enjoy the look at war from the opposite end of the spectrum.

On a non-story related word: I'm going to be out almost all week at a military simulation/shooting competition, so next chapter is going to take a while.

In Yakyakistan, the deal took off without words. Nopony spoke when Torn Banner made his appearance in the Yazquaital mountain, just on the border of an old military base, which had since had reinforcements put in place. Everypony knew their job, it had been rehearsed time and time again. In the eyes of God, or in this case somepony who thinks he's God, Alicorns are an abomination. In his eyes ponies are meant to have one power, or none at all, and to have both is a disgrace against all of ponykind.

The forces lined up were primarily Yaks, it was the first time in history that a Yak bowed to a pony. Torn Banner could make it happen. He knew just what to say to make them work on his side. The same couldn't be said about the harsh winter wind, however the draped tarp gave them some shelter. They had marched days to get here, and they weren't about to back down.

Torn Banner spoke to the youngest of the group first, a custom that was first taken into account about a hundred years ago. The young Yak was roughly 20 years of age, and had barely started his military career as a gun-for-hire when he learned of Torn Banner. He was persuaded by his talk of the return of God, and how all who don't fight for him are against him. It convinced him as soon as he heard it.

His name was Jafeer Bin Hadavi, or Jafeer the son of Hadavi.

"Hadavi, this is your first time facing death, how do you fair?"

Jafeer didn't quite know how to respond, in all honesty he did have serious questions for this stallion, but he knew better than to ask.

"Fighting for God, a noble cause to die for."

"Indeed it is, may I bless you in your hour of death!"

He went on to the next pony, with their names memorized he asked the same question, and responded the same way. It wasn't until he reached the third Yak that things changed. Mohammed Al Aidid was the youngest of them all, the limit for recruitment was that you at least had to be 18 years of age, but Mohammed lied to get his way into God's kindgom.

Mohammed was 16 years old, a schoolboy who ran from home despite his parents warnings. He wanted to fight for God and he possibly got his wish. Now, however, he knew that he wasn't built for fighting. He had suffered harsh injuries and disease on the march to the mountain and was ready to turn back or, better yet, kneel over and die.

"Mohammed, this is your first time fighting as well, how do you fair."

"My Lord... I'm scared."

Torn Banner kept his smile, his calm complexion, and his cold stare. It was as if all time stopped, Jafeer wanted to look at the kid but he knew otherwise.

'Does this child know the price for blasphemy!'

Mohammed bursted into tears and feel to his knees.

"I just want to go home!" He shouted to nopony in particular.

"You will my son, your true home is my kingdom, close your eyes and you'll see it."

Jafeer, as well as the others, knew exactly where this was going.

Mohammed, ignorant to the brutal reality of what he'd said, obliged.

"Now give it a second, you'll see it soon."

The knife seemed to have come from nowhere, but upon further investigation Torn Banner had it in his hooves all along. He was waiting for somepony to slip up as a way to weed out the faint of heart. Mohammed gurgled as his eyes shot open, the knife had gone into his lungs and he couldn't speak through the shock of it all.

"Oh what little faith you had." Jafeer mumbled aloud.

But it was then for the first time, Jafeer saw Torn Banner for who he really was. It didn't shock him, but it answered the one question he had.

'I knew it from the beginning, there's no God if he cannot forgive his own kind.'

He kept watching forward as he heard Mohammed's dying muffled noises, the blood had filled his lungs and now it looked like an old silent movie. He couldn't make a noise as blood seeped from his mouth. He finally gave up.

Mohammed's body would be dragged off the mountain, as a way of sending him to hell. Everypony loved Torn Banner for it, but Jafeer saw him for who he was. It wasn't just disgusting, it was down right despicable. Jafeer said a silent prayer, hoping for the death of all who loved Torn Banner, and they went to war.