Chapter Twelve

Rainbow Dash was bored, with the army away the Fourth’s HQ was practically abandoned with only two platoons of five hundred pegasi soldieries each to watch over the fortress along with some of serving staff. Luckily the library was extremely well stocked and Dash was somehow managing to stay sane by reading some of the war diaries written by the various chroniclers. The most interesting of which was written by the unicorn chronicler known as Croaker who had led quite an interesting life. She was just finishing an account of the Fourth’s battle against a rebel leader known as the Dominator when Deadeye wandered into the library. Deadeye was in charge of the pegasi left to defend the fortress but she was very relaxed about it, although relaxed didn’t mean lax or careless.

“Hey Dash how’s it going?” Deadeye asked as she flapped over to where the blue pegasus was reading.

“I’m bored, but this history is actually pretty interesting.” Dash said looking up from the book.

“Oh which one is it?” Deadeye asked, Dash held up the cover to show her and Deadeye chuckled. “Oh yeah that’s one of the best, Croaker was involved in a lot of exciting stuff.” Deadeye said with a grin.

“I’ll say whatever happened to the plane of insanity?” Dash asked referencing one of the more interesting places mentioned in the book.

“It’s still there, although its location changes every now and then.” Deadeye replied with a grin.

“Huh, so what brings you down to the library?” Dash asked setting the book aside.

“Well I’m bored; don’t get me wrong I enjoy being in charge, but it gets kind of tedious once you have your schedules down. Anyways I was wondering if you still wanted to get in some weapon’s practice.” Deadeye said with a slight grin as Dash bobbed her head enthusiastically.

“This is going to be awesome!” Dash said as she leapt into the air with a grin plastered across her face.

“Yeah, I haven’t gotten to play drill sergeant in a while.” Deadeye replied with a sly grin. “Although please don’t yell in here, I don’t particularly feel like having the Librarian’s mace slam into my head.” Deadeye said nodding towards the Librarian who was glaring at them.

“Oh right.” Dash whispered before she turned to the Librarian. “I’m sorry ma’am I’ll remember to keep my voice down in the future.” Dash apologized.

“See that you do.” The Librarian replied before turning back to her work.

Deadeye led the way through the halls of the castle until they arrived at the main practice yard. A muscular white earth pony was walking around the yard checking on practice dummies, he was dressed in grey leather armor that covered most of his body and his face was covered in burn marks.

“Hey Vankis, I’m here to give this pegasus some beginner lessons, would you mind getting us two practice swords?” Deadeye asked the white pony.

“Wait.” Vankis replied as he walked towards a door n the wall.

“He’s friendly isn’t he?” Dash asked sarcastically.

“Oh he’s actually very kind; he’s just worried about his friend Torkan.” Deadeye replied. “And he’s been through a lot; his home town almost burned him alive for a stupid reason so he’s always very guarded and stoic.” Deadeye explained before the white pony retuned.

“These will do.” Vankis replied tossing two practice swords to Deadeye who caught them nimbly.

“Thanks Vankis these will be perfect.” Deadeye replied giving the white pony a smile.

“Anytime, it is my duty.” Vankis replied inclining his head before he moved away. Deadeye tossed one of the practice swords to Dash who caught it awkwardly.

“Alright Dash charge me, I want to see what I’ve got to work with.” Deadeye commanded. Dash rushed forward swinging her sword and yelling. Deadeye parried the first three strikes with backhanded ease. On the fourth swing Deadeye sent her sword slicing into Dash’s wrist where it impacted with a loud thump followed by Dash cursing loudly as the sword went flying out of her grip. Deadeye followed it up by slapping Dash in the stomach with the flat of her sword sending the rainbow maned pegasus backwards gasping for breath.

“What was that for?” Dash gasped. Instead of answering Deadeye gestured to the sword on the ground and waited impassively for Dash to pick it up. Dash did so gingerly rubbing her wrist with her other hand.

“Alright try again, but this time be more controlled, you can’t just charge swinging your sword like a club.” Deadeye told Dash severely. “If you do you’ll end up dead the first time you step onto a battlefield.”

“But that’s what you told me to do!” Dash protested angrily.

“Yes I did, now what did you learn?” Deadeye asked with a smirk.

“That you enjoy hurting me.” Dash replied as she approached Deadeye, she was walking slowly trying to be subtle.

“No actually I don’t, but this is the best way to teach someone how to not make stupid mistakes.” Deadeye replied raising her sword in preparation for Dash’s assault. Dash attacked with two fast strikes towards her head, Deadeye simply ducked under the first blow and parried the second. Deadeye retaliated with a stinging blow across Dash’s arm and another across her chest.

“What, did, I, do, wrong, that, time?” Dash panted.

“You left yourself wide open to counter attacks; you’ve got to be more controlled.” Deadeye replied. “Make sure that after every strike you make that you can get your sword back in time to block any retaliation, your enemy isn’t just going to let you hammer away at them.” Deadeye told her as she raised her sword again. This time Deadeye went on the offensive from the beginning slashing her sword in a viscous strike that Dash barely managed to block, her next strike evaded Dash’s defenses completely stabbing the blunted point directly into Dash’s chest.

“Ow!” Dash exclaimed rubbing her chest trying to dull the pain.

“You’re doing better now Dash, Vankis would you mind adding some more instruction?” Deadeye asked turning to the white pony who had been watching their training.

“It is my duty.” Vankis replied coming forward, Dash spent the next two hours doing the hardest work she’d ever done.

Vankis was the Fourth’s weapon’s master which made him one of the best fighters in the army and he knew exactly how to pass on his skills. Unfortunately for Dash that meant lots of time spent swinging at a practice dummy while the stallion yelled brief instructions. Deadeye had just lain on a cloud eating a muffin watching the whole process with thinly veiled amusement. Their session was rudely interrupted by the arrival of a pegasus in blue scouting armor.

“Captain we have an army of zebra approaching the castle!” The scout told Deadeye her voice was serious but not worried.

“Armaments and numbers? Deadeye asked.

“Around thirty thousand, typical siege gear ladders and the like, no witch doctors in attendance according to what one of our minor mages said and no Commanders of any repute.” The scout replied with a minor shrug.

“Rhyming bastards probably hoped to catch us lightly defended thanks to the army being away. Organize the defense and prepare to rain down hell.” Deadeye told the scout who saluted and flew off. “Vankis will you be joining us on the wall?” Deadeye asked the white pony who nodded.

“Yes, it has been a while I killed a zebra.” Vankis replied with a small grin. Deadeye nodded and smiled before turning
back to Dash.

“Dash follow me we’re going to be getting you some armor and a real weapon.” Deadeye told Dash before she flew over to the door that Vankis had gone through to get the swords. Dash followed her through the door and was greeted by the sight of hundreds of suits of armor and thousands of weapons of every type imaginable. The room stretched out in the distance with no visible end in sight, sound seemed diluted and mysterious.

“What is this place?” Dash asked as she looked around the room her eyes full of wonder.

“This is the armory; it’s in its own pocket dimension that Cosmosmia gave to us as a gift.” Deadeye told her motioning for Dash to follow as she started to fly down the corridor.

“This place is awesome!” Dash exclaimed as they passed a large collection of gem encrusted gear.

“Yeah it really is, don’t touch anything unless I tell you to though, you technically haven’t been singed into the army yet so you could accidentally set off some of the anti theft spells.” Deadeye told Dash with a shrug. They kept walking for a few more minutes until they came to the pegasi section. Red and blue armor hung from the walls along side nimble looking swords, daggers, and bows.

“Cool what do I get?” Dash asked looking at the armor and weapons with excitement.

“Standard blue armor and a sword enchanted that’ll make you fight like you’ve had two years of sword training. Do not challenge a zebra to a one on one battle! The sword will keep you safe from idiot mistakes but it will not turn you into a master swordsmare only time and practice will do that. Unfortunately you don’t have either and the castle needs as many ponies manning the wall as possible.” Deadeye replied as she tossed Dash a surprisingly light suit of armor.

“Why’s it so light?” dash asked shaking the light metal which didn’t make a sound.

“Enchantment, you can’t have pegasi flying around with fifty pounds of rattling armor can you?” Deadeye asked her with a wry grin. As she helped Dash strap it on, she chuckled when Dash yelped as one of the straps magically lashed around her chest.

“Hey it’s not funny!” Dash told her in an annoyed voice.

“Says you.” Deadeye replied with a smirk as she strapped the last piece of the armor into place. “Perfect, now let’s get you a sword!” Deadeye said pointing at a wall where wickedly sharp blades were hanging on racks, all of them were sabers or thin fencing blades.

“I want one of those.” Dash said pointing towards the sabers; she liked the way that the curved blade flowed.

“Alright take your pick.” Deadeye told her gesturing towards the wall of sabers. Dash approached it cautiously and picked up one of the curved blade. It had a beautifully engraved handle. The cross-guard was formed by two entwining dragon backs and the curved hilt revealed a ferocious dragon head inset with ruby eyes. The curved blade itself sleek and deadly made from a green metal.

“That shouldn’t be here.” Deadeye said softly.

“What do you mean this sword is awesome?!” Dash asked as she performed a beautiful sword combo.

“I mean that sword should be in the vault and I have no idea what it’s doing out. In fact it should have rejected you outright.” Deadeye replied looking at the saber in confusion.

“It’s because I’m just that awesome.” Dash replied confidently. “Does this thing come with a sheath, because I don’t want to accidentally cut myself?” Dash asked Deadeye who nodded.

“Just ask it to make one, it’s enchanted.” Deadeye replied.

“Really? Awesome!” Dash exclaimed before turning to the sword and saying. “I want a sheath that looks awesome!” A black leather sheath inscribed with shifting rainbow colored flames appeared at her waist and she slid the sword into it easily.

“This is going to give me a headache later, but right now we need to get to the wall.” Deadeye told Dash before she turned and began to fly out of the armory. Dash followed her with a satisfied grin and together the zoomed out of the armory and up onto the wall. They were confronted by an odd sight. Of course it was Pinkie…

“Pinkie what are those?” Dash asked looking at the things Pinkie had constructed on the wall.

“Well there’s a technology ban in this dimension so I couldn’t bring my party cannon, so I improvised.” Pinkie replied with a grin as she patted one of the things.

“But what are they?” Dash asked still as mystified as when she’d first asked.

“Well I saw some of those trebuchet things and wondered what I could do to make the design better, it took me a while but I think I really nailed it!” Pinkie exclaimed as she did a little flip, she landed on her hind legs and bowed.

“But Pinkie what do they do?” Dash asked growing frustrated as the Pink pony dodged the question all the while her gaze was drawn back to the odd combination of machinery, lumber, and rope. The constructions looked like small trebuchets at first glance until you noticed the fact that they were made of steel, and then you noticed the large cooking pans that took up the place where the rock would go. From within the pans Dash could see steam rising and hear the distinctive sound of something boiling.

“Oh that’s easy; they fire boiling cake batter at enemies silly, oh and I borrowed some of Spike’s fire from Blaze and added it to the batter.” Pinkie said with a giggle, Dash facehoofed.

“Pinkie doesn’t dragon fire send things to Princess Celestia?” Dash asked in concern.

“Well I hope not otherwise she’s going to have some very bad indigestion.” Pinkie said tapping her chin with her hoof.

“Is everypony from your dimension like this?” Deadeye asked shaking her head, although whether it was in amazement at the udder genius of Pinkie’s machines or the udder stupidity was up for grabs.

“No, I think she’s like the Angeldust of our dimension.” Dash replied with a shrug. The other pegasi on the wall were giving Pinkie’s machine odd looks and shuffling away silently.

“So Dashie what kind of cool sword thingy did you get?” Pinkie asked jumping over to get closer to Dash.

“I’ll show you Pinkie.” Dash said and with one move she unsheathed the brilliant green blade.

“Cool can I touch it?” Pinkie asked bouncing nearer.

“NO!” Deadeye shouted suddenly.

“Why not?” Pinkie asked in confusion.

“Because the last thing I need to worry about during this fight is you hopping around with an enchanted sword.” Deadeye replied much more calmly. “Sorry about the reaction but…” she trailed off.

“Yeah Pinkie now that I think about it I don’t want you to touch it either.” Dash said sheathing the saber.

“Okay dokay lokay.” Pinkie said before turning back to her machines.

“Do are you two together?” Deadeye asked Dash as they flew farther down the wall together causing Dash to fall out of the air in surprise.

“What, me and Pinkie? Ha hell no, I’m not insane enough for that!” Dash exclaimed in surprise as she joined Deadeye in the air again.

“Oh good.” Deadeye replied, before she could continue the subject one of the scouts flew up to them.

“Ma’am we’ve had word that while the army is still several days’ march away if not a week. The good news is that there is a unit of Ursa Riders in the vicinity and they’ll be here in approximately five hours.” The scout told her before saluting and flying away.

“Oh Goddess…” Deadeye said burying her face in her hooves.

“What is it?” Dash asked her in concern.

“Ursa Riders…” Deadeye replied trailing off again.

“And?” Dash asked again this time in annoyance.

“You’ll see, and hear…” Deadeye replied before flying down the wall to inspect the other defenses. Dash followed her because she had nothing better to be doing. Dash wouldn’t have told anyone if they’d asked her but she was scared. She’d never actually killed anything before and they only had one thousand pegasi to fight off thirty five thousand zebras.

You worry too much kid, I’ll keep you safe. A disembodied male voice told her comfortingly in her mind.

“Who said that?” Dash asked looking around in surprise; Deadeye was too busy talking to another pegasus to notice her outburst.

You aren’t too bright are you kid? The voice asked her with a sigh.

“Who the hell are you?” Dash asked spinning around in a circle.

Hmm… what enchanted weapon have you picked up recently, been unnaturally good with, and freaked the hell out of a hot assed pegasus when you picked it up? The voice asked with a chuckle.

“You’re the sword?” Dash asked looking down at the saber.

I see there’s hope for you yet, good because I hate being used by idiots, it’s a waste… the saber told her with a note of disgust entering its voice.

“Umm Deadeye my saber is talking to me!” Dash told Deadeye as she turned back to face Dash. To her surprise Deadeye chuckled.

“Family heirlooms tend to do that Dash; this just confirms my earlier thoughts.” Deadeye replied with a smile.

“What?” Dash asked puzzled.

“That weapon has been passed down for years through the Dashite line, indecently it’s called got a war spirit called Bob inhabitating it.” Deadeye replied with a shrug.

“What are you talking about name’s always been Rainbow Dash not Rainbow Dashite?” Dash asked in confusion.

“Ask Bob, actually go and talk to him near Pinkie I’ve got a few things I need to take care of privately.” Deadeye told her before she winked and flew off.

That is one hot piece of tail. Bob told her inside her head causing Dash to look down at the saber in annoyance. What you were thinking it to? Bob asked her causing Dash to blush. So kid from what I can see you know next to nothing about swordplay other then which end to hold me by right? Bob asked as Dash flew back over to where Pinkie was loading her batteries with the deadly mix of cake and dragon fire.

“Yeah that about sums it up.” Dash replied.

“Who are you talking to Dash?” Pinkie asked suddenly appearing in front of her.

“Umm… well Pinkie apparently my sword has a perverted war spirit living inside it.” Dash replied drawing the saber again.

“Neat, what does it say about me Dashie?” Pinkie asked excitedly.

That mare is crazy enough to drive more intelligent spirits then me insane, I like her! Bob replied with glee. Dash told Pinkie who giggled.

“Anyways Pinkie could you leave me alone for a few minutes I want to talk to ‘Bob’ about some things?” Dash asked her friend who nodded and went back to loading cannons. “So Bob what exactly are you?” Dash asked the saber.

I’m Bob the war spirit, I originally made a deal with your ancestors to protect them and help them fight. Bob told her, Dash got the odd feeling that he’d given this lecture a lot.

“So are you going to make me a master sword’s mare over night?” Dash asked hopefully, Bob began to laugh.

I’ll raise you from the level of trainee to that of common soldier, but that’s all. You have to develop your muscles and skills to get any higher than that. I do not, nor have I ever possessed the ability to make the pony wielding me a master, I can help them along the way, but you’ll be doing all the hard work. Normally I wouldn’t be helping you at all till you’d trained for two years straight, however there’s a battle to fight and I can’t have my only bearer killed so soon after I finally got out of that armory. Bob lectured her.

“So I’ll be about average?” Dash asked the saber.

That sums it up. If you want to be better, which I hope like hell you do, you’ll have to train for years. Bob replied.

“So what do you know about fighting zebras?” Dash asked Bob.

They’re tricky bastards that’s for sure. They prefer crescent blades and their fists and feet to actual swords and shields which gives them extra maneuverability and speed. My suggestion is for you to keep your distance and hope you connect.

“Thank you oh powerful and wise combat spirit.” Dash intoned deadpanly.

Hey if you actually survive this fight it’ll be thanks to me. Bob said with a mental smirk in his voice.

“I’m Rainbow Dash the fastest flyer in all of Equestria; a few zebras don’t scare me-!” Dash replied loudly before bring interrupted by loud war horns. Over the horizon marched thirty thousand zebras. The zebra were dressed in flowing red cloaks that obscured their bodies from view, in their hooves they carried either crescent blades, scimitars, or nothing. Several hundred were carrying large ladders that looked to be long enough to reach the top of the walls of the castle.

“Stupid ponies you have once chance to escape with your lives surrender now or prepare to die.” A zebra in a golden cloak called up to them.

“Shouldn’t he be rhyming?” Dash asked Deadeye who’d come to hover behind her.

“Only tribe zebra rhyme, the city zebra look down on it.” Deadeye replied.

“If you are not going to surrender then your lives are forfeit, attack!” The gold cloaked zebra yelled.

“He’s a meenie face.” Pinkie said before she pulled a lever on one of her machines. The machine whined for a second before it spun and unleashed a stream of cake batter that headed directly at the yelling zebra. The zebra noticed the sudden darkness around him, he looked up but before he could scream the batter impacted against him. Then he started to scream, his body began to melt as the dragon fire infused cake batter ate its way through his cloak and into his skin beneath it liquefying everything it touched. The other zebra stopped their charge long enough to watch, and then with a great cry of rage they rushed towards the walls of the castle.

“Pinkie that is some deadly baking.” Dash said as Pinkie reloaded it.

“Thanks Dashie I always make sure my baking is good enough to kill.” Pinkie replied with a smile before she moved to another of the machines and pulled the lever. All along the wall the thousand pegasi were unleashing a storm of arrows down on the attacking zebras dropping them in the dozens. The zebra responded by dodging and leaping gracefully out of the arrows’ flight path. Eventually after several minutes of long range carnage the zebra managed to get several of the ladders into place, they began to climb up it nimbly taking the rungs three at a time while holding their weapons in their mouths.

A zebra burst over the ladder right in front of Dash who struck out wildly with her saber, the zebra nonchalantly ducked underneath the blade and rushed towards Dash. Bob sighed mentally in her head and said. Shuffle backwards then stab forward. The zebra fell to the ground dead and Dash was left staring down at the body in internal horror. She’d just taken a life; she’d just taken a life! How could she have thought that she had the right to take something’s life what had she been thinking she should never have come up on the wall, she should have left the defense to Deadeye while she read in the library. Hey self loathing later right now you have zebras to kill Dash! Bob yelled in her mind snapping her out of her trance. Look I’ll get you some therapy latter but right now if you don’t wield me then you’ll be dead, now wake the fuck up! Bob shouted in her head just in time for her to notice another zebra charging her.

Dash shook her head clearing it and met the zebra her saber flashing green in the reflected sunlight as it struck against the zebra’s scimitar with a resounding clang. The zebra disengaged his blade and made a brutal down stroke heading towards Dash’s head. She instinctually brought up her saber to deflect the attack and used the zebra’s surprise as an opening in order to decapitate him. Very nice I almost didn’t need to act. Bob complimented as she completed the blow and turned to the next attacker who parried her strike and punched her in the face.

Dash was thrown backwards by the force of the punch and she landed painfully against the walls floor. The zebra advanced upon her blue cloak swirling as it came slowly closer. Dash scrambled back to her hooves and faced the zebra again saber at the ready. The zebra darted in and aimed a punch at Dash’s ribs; Dash dodged to the left and swung her saber sideways. The zebra calmly ducked under the blade and leapt at Dash again landing another sickeningly strong punch that threw Dash to the ground gasping for breath. Get up Dash I’m not going to spend another two hundred years in a vault because you got killed in your first fight! Bob mentally shouted at her. The zebra grabbed Dash by the throat and held her up so that they were face to face.

“You are pathetic pony, although your blade is very pretty.” The zebra said with a cackle. “I think I want it.”

“Then take it!” Dash shouted as she stabbed the saber into the zebra’s stomach. The zebra toppled over grasping for breath with wild eyes, Dash calmly stomped her hoof into his throat breaking his jugular. To her left Deadeye was sparing with three zebras simultaneously her daggers spinning and slashing in deadly patterns as she deflected blow after blow from the crescent bladed swords.

One of the zebra got to eager and pressed in past where the others could support him, Deadeye blocked his crescent blade with one of her daggers, shoved her other into his eye, and then threw him into his allies before charging forward towards the other two. They floundered as their former companion’s corpse hit them and Deadeye tackled them both to the ground seconds later. With two flashes of bright steel Deadeye brought her daggers crashing into the zebras’ skulls before bringing up one of her daggers to stop a scimitar blade that was approaching from her blind side. The blades met with a resounding clang of steel and Deadeye brought her other dagger stabbing into the zebra’s stomach.

Not bad at all you don’t see skills like that every day, hell I’d almost say that she’s a Doo. Bob said inside her head with a mental whistle. Now if you’ll stop staring we have more important things to do, namely keeping you alive! Bob shouted jolting Dash out of her observations in time for her to see the zebra charging her crescent lade held low to gut her.

Dash flared her wings and took a flap backwards throwing the zebra off balance, Dash slashed her saber at him aiming for his neck but the zebra flicked up his blade to block it. They exchanged a flurry of blows, Bob did most of it with Dash only half understanding what her body was doing while it happened. After several more swings both parties separated breathing heavily, Dash now became aware of the shallow cut that traveled up her right arm which was starring to leak blood down towards her hoof. Which is when Pinkie stepped out of nowhere and shoved a cake into the zebra’s face and pushed him into a cluster of other zebras, they were suddenly engulfed in an explosion of icing that sent them tumbling screaming from the wall.

“You ok Dashie?” Pinkie asked as she wrapped Dash’s arm in a bandage.

“Pinkie, what just happened?” Dash asked looking at the place once occupied by ten zebras which was now covered in frosting.

“I put a pressurized pocket of icing inside of the cake and when I shoved into that zebra’s face it burst.” Pinkie replied with a happy smile.

“Pinkie that doesn’t even begin to ma-” Shut up and don’t question the one who just saved your life! Bob reprimanded her in the middle of her sentence. “On second thought Pinkie keep it up.” Dash said giving her friend a smile.

“Thanks Dashie!” Pinkie said before she cartwheeled into another group of zebra and was soon lost from view, in the background Dash heard her humming Smile, Smile, Smile as she went. That is one crazy pony. “Tell me about it.” Dash replied.

Two pegasi were fending off a group of ten zebras and Dash decided that they could use some help. She approached from behind the group who had formed a half circle around the two pegasi and plunged her saber into one of the zebra’s back. The others turned on her with their weapons already plunging towards her but Dash brought up the saber in time to deflect most of the blades except for one which sliced deep into her left arm. The newly freed pegasi took the opportunity and laid into the zebras who’s backs were turned with their blades and soon they were all dead.

“Thanks for the assist.” One of them said before they flew off to support others. Dash suddenly started to notice how tired she was. She was bleeding from both arms, had an aching back from being punched, and in the background of it all she had a massive headache.

Welcome to the life of a warrior kid, although I suggest finding a medic to look at those cuts, the last thing I want is for you to bleed out on me. Bob told her. Dash nodded numbly and started off down the wall. A zebra flipped off the top of a ladder right in front of Dash and turned towards her, without a second though Dash brought her blade flashing down towards his neck. The zebra countered by grabbing the blade of the saber between his front hooves and kicking Dash in the stomach sending her flying backwards.

“Why do they all have super strength?” Dash mumbled to nobody in particular as she lay there against the refreshingly cool floor. The zebra stepped closer cautiously its eyes scanning over Dash to see if she was still a threat. Suddenly a sword point erupted from the zebra’s stomach and Dash looked up to see Vankis cleaning his blade on the dead zebra’s cloak.

“To a medic we must get you.” Vankis told her as he hauled her to her hooves. “Stay close.” Another zebra jumped onto the wall and with a bored look Vankis cleanly decapitated it before throwing the body over the edge of the wall right on the next zebra who was halfway up the ladder, Dash heard several loud splats from below. They carried on and were jumped by around ten zebra, Vankis looked at them then shrugged and lowered his weapon as if her were admitting defeat. Dash who was barely able to stand looked at the weapon’s master in shock.

“This pony wishes to surrender, let us show him what we do to cowards!” The lead zebra shouted charging Vankis with his scimitar held high.

Just as the scimitar swung down Vankis raised his sword and blocked the blade, with a fluid movement Vankis disengaged their swords and beheaded the zebra. As the body fell he kicked it out of his way and charged the remaining zebras who stared at him in shock. He hit them like a wave, his sword lashed out catching one zebra in the stomach and disemboweling it. A zebra swung his sickle blade at Vankis’s head but Vankis moved to the side and stabbed him in the chest before withdrawing his sword in time to deflect another blow and cut the legs out from under the attacker. With a casual slice his sword cut through another zebra’s arm before he drove it through the neck of another. The remaining four zebra exchanged a glance and charged Vankis at the same time. The white pony blocked the first sword, cut off the hoof holding the next, kicked the third zebra off of the wall, grabbed the wrist of the fourth and forced the zebra to stab the first zebra in the stomach before he snapped its neck with his other elbow. Dash stood there slack jawed.

“What? They were in our way.” Vankis told her before he trotted on towards the spot on the wall where the medics crouched tending to the injured. They reached the medics without further difficulties.

“What’s wrong with her?” One of the medics asked as he finished sewing up a deep gash in a pegasus’s side.

“She has two deep cuts on either arm along with slight internal bleeding as a result of zebra technique.” Vankis replied “I must return to the fight.” Before he walked away.

“You’re one of those ones who came in with Twilight Sparkle aren’t you?” The medic asked as he quickly began to sew up the two cuts on Dash’s arms with magic.

“Yeah, I’m Rainbow Dash.” Dash told the medic.

“You’ve got some odd hair for a warrior.” Medic said with a chuckle.

“What do you mean by that?!” Dash asked in annoyance.

“Oh I don’t know it kind of makes you a large obvious target that’s all.” The medic told her as he finished the stitches and ran his horn along her arms, Dash watched in amazement as the gashes completely disappeared. “There all better that string will dissolve into your skin and seal the wound further. Now get back out there we’re down to around seven hundred troops and we need every one we can fighting!” The medic barked at her.

The next few hours were exhausting; Dash managed to stay out of the main battles and instead spent her time attacking the stragglers or zebra who didn’t seem to pose much of a threat. The odds didn’t look to good for the fortress, the pegasi were giving as good as they got but there were simply too many zebras to defend against. Suddenly the ground began to shake and a loud oddly accented voice boomed over the battlefield, it sounded slightly like a Trottingham accent, but not quite.

“Well crikey blokes it looks like the flyer was right there’s a whole army of bloody zebra here, well then lads let’s show these dongers a good time!” Dash looked up in time to see twenty five Ursa majors charge into the ranks of the enemy. Dash stared, she’d seen an Ursa minor, but the Ursa majors were a whole new type of big. They were huge monstrous bears with incandescent coats covered in stars that were almost as tall as the castle walls.

Extremely large claws carved chasms through the invading zebra army as large earth ponies who could barely be seen from the bears backs pelted them with all manner of projectiles. However the thing that was probably the most intimidating thing about them was the song that they sang while they charged. Their voices must have been magnified because Dash heard every word of the song as the members of the Ursa Riders joined together in triumphant harmony.

That’s great it starts with an earth quake!

Birds and snakes and ursas!

But we aren’t afraid!

Eye of a hurricane listen to yourself churn!

The world serves its own needs!

Dummy serve your own needs!

The Ursas smashed into the zebra army who turned and began to attack the bears’ legs. With spears, it wasn’t very effective…

Feed it off an aux

Speak, grunt, no strength

The ladder starts to clatter with the fear,

fight down Height!

Wire in a fire representing seven games

And a government for hire

In a combat sight!

The star bears roared in blood lust and unleashed their fury upon the zebra troops. The bears moved with deadly grace as they cut a swath through the massed zebra ranks sending zebra crashing into the ground in bloody heaps.

Left of west and coming in a hurry

With the furies breathing down you neck!

Save yourself

Serve yourself; the world serves its own needs

Listen to your heard breath!

The zebra were being decimated by the large bears and their riders who continued to sing their battle song. Dash had no idea what song it was but it was really catchy.

Dummy with the rapture

And the reverend

And the right. Right!

You vitriolic,

slam fight,

bright light,

felling pretty psyched!

The zebras army had closed ranks and were trying desperately to fight off the massive bears. The majority of their army was nothing but cracked and broken blood filled armor but still they fought on against the giant bears, Dash was impressed.

It’s the end of the world as we know it!

It’s the end of the world as we know it!

It’s the end of the world as we know it!

And we feel fine!

As they finished that line the majority of the remaining zebra forces were crushed under the giant paws of the star bears. Dash flew over to where Deadeye was resting.

“What just happened?” Dash asked in a slight daze.

“Ursa Riders.” Deadeye replied simply before looking up, one of the giant bears was moving slowly towards the wall. A large earth pony stallion stood on its back. He was wearing an outfit that reminded Dash of what Daring Doo wore, although his hat was covered with large sharp looking teeth.

“G’Day mates, I’m glad I was able to help you out against those stripped buggers.” The pony said with that odd accent.

“You have our thanks.” Deadeye replied grudgingly.

“Well shit, it’s little Deadeye I haven’t seen you since… when was the last time I saw you? Oh I remember it was at that rage a few years back; that was one helluva night!” The rider said.

“I remember, thank you again for coming to our rescue, we’ll resupply you if you need but after that I think you should leave.” Deadeye replied her voice was cold as ice.

“You’re still made at me aren’t ya?” The Rider asked Deadeye.

“What do you think Brush?” Deadeye asked rolling her good eye.

“Well if that’s the way it is I’ll split in a few minutes, good seeing ya as always Deadeye.” The stallion replied disappointedly before tapping his Ursa on the head and saying. “Come on Sheila.” With that the two bounded away back towards the other giant bears who were busy eating zebra.

“Today was odd.” Dash told Deadeye before she collapsed in an exhausted heap of wings and limbs.

AN

Yes they are Australian accented ponies who ride ursa majors into battle singing it's the end of the world as we know it, all arguments are invalid

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