Umbra pins Stormchaser on Big Mac’s back, as he grits his teeth. He looks over his shoulder as the massive Garge howls. Big Mac starts dodging between the trees, taking advantage of his adversary’s lack of maneuverability, something we had gone over during training. I just hoped he’d remember the second part where he’d lure it back to friendly forces.

I’m in a full sprint, with Lucretia on my right panting loudly. We’re nowhere close to catching up and they were just going to keep gaining. I catch Big Mac’s eye for a second and point to my right. He gradually makes his way over, but has to stick close to the trees that are his only saving grace. The Garge angrily backhands every tree with his fist, making them creak or even begin to break. The path behind them is littered with bark and leaves. Lucretia’s eyes dart around.

“Form up on me!” she calls out. Our soldiers run over to her with their nervous eyes darting between every bush. There was shrubbery every five feet, and the only light was still the clearing that was now fifty feet away. I had no idea how Big Mac and Umbra could navigate so easily here, but it wouldn’t be as easy for the rest of us. Lucretia points at four soldiers and motions for them to move into the sun.

“Take your shields and reflect some light over here so we can see!” She says eagerly. They nod and start sprinting.

“The rest of you, form two single-file lines! One on my left and one on my right!” They do as instructed. Both lines had ten soldiers in them. The rest stay back in the shield bunker.

“When that thing runs by, you will all stay crouched behind your shields! Swipe at its legs as it runs past! When it’s crippled, well finish it off with arrows!” A cheer of acknowledgement comes from our troops. She stands at the front of the lines and waits.

Bright sections of light start passing overhead. I look over and see all four soldiers angling their shields towards us. The light wasn’t much, but we could at least see nearby. The soldiers shine the light back and forth, sweeping the area. Lucretia watches them nervously then goes back to tracking Big Mac. I tap two soldiers at the end of the rows.

“Go over with the other four and watch their backs, they’re kinda brightly lit targets out there.” They nod and run over. Lucretia looks back at me and nods in approval. We’re both nervous, as we had a small amount of units to work with. Not to mention there was still no sign of Emeris.

Big Mac carefully makes his way right, having to dart the other direction a few times to avoid getting a thrown ax to the face. I narrow my eyes at him and watch something strange. Umbra is whispering in his ear, telling him where to go. How the hell can she see out here? Stormchaser sits huddled down, her forelegs draped over her eyes. I can see her quietly sobbing on his back. She’s never been in the thick of it before.

Big Mac skids to a halt, after gaining a bit of distance from the Garge. He lines himself up to run between our soldiers and guns it. The Garge has to retrieve an ax before it begins pursuit. It roars furiously, but there’s too many vines overhead for it to throw an ax. The ground starts to shake as it pounds across the dirt. I ready myself at the end of the lines, prepared to handle any sudden ambush from the sides or unexpected change.

My soldiers shift around nervously, unable to resist the urge of scanning the environment. Through the trees, we hear the distant sounds of fighting .My instincts tell me to go and round them up, but we had to secure ourselves first. I can’t tell if they’re humans or ponies, but I hear more horrific screams than the clashing of steel. Whatever was going on, they didn’t have long. I grip my sword and pull it out, desperate for anything to do.

My head snaps to a bush on our right. It rustles once more and a small Og Nag jumps out at one of my soldiers. She glances over her shoulder and sees it coming. She stays crouched and dashes at its legs, keeping her shield over her head. The Og Nag doesn’t stop in time and trips over her, landing firmly on its back behind her. Before it moves, she slams the bottom of her shield into its skull and retakes her place after scooting his body over with her foot.

“He’s coming!” Lucretia whispers with urgency. She dashes to her left and stands behind a tree. She leans around it to the right, just enough to see. The pounding of hooves is all we can notice in the thick jungle. Big Mac sails past and heads straight for the shield bunker. The Garge can barely keep his head up and can’t seem to get a good visual. Lucretia clenches and unclenches her hands, shaking slightly in place.

“Get ready!” She yells. Our units shift a bit in response. They point their shields at the Garge, almost invisible with their dark armor against the forest ground. The dirt is just barely illuminated between them, making the Garge instinctively line himself up with it. The beast is only sixty feet away but gaining rapidly. Lucretia holds her hand up, preparing to give the order. My head snaps to the right, as another ferocious howl erupts. A second Garge comes barreling out of the woodworks and sends our right line flying with a brutal swing from its ax.

“No!” Lucretia screams. The second Garge backs up enough to let the first Garge run past. The right line who was hit, lay motionless on the ground. One soldier is right in the path or the garge and does her best to roll right as he stomps past. She just barely didn't have enough time and the quick sound of her leg breaking and popping, fills the air. She grabs her crushed leg and lets out a brutal shriek of agony. The second Garge looks down at her. Her head turns towards him , right before he swings. Her face slams against my helmet as it sails past me with her right arm. Her body collapses to the ground with a loud clank. The soldiers at the front of the line start tossing knives at the Garge’s face to piss it off. It roars at them and is hot on their heels as they dart through the forest. They scatter, forcing the Garge to pick a single, unlucky unit to pursue.

I take off after the first Garge, desperate to do anything to save the three ponies. They’re almost to the bunker but it’s not enough. It’s a clear path to our soldiers, meaning Big Mac loses his advantage. The Garge has enough room to stand and cocks his arm back to throw his ax. I do the only thing I can do. With a quick swipe, I lob off his right hand.

He looks at me and growls with an open mouth. Without a single second of hesitation, he boots me in the stomach hurling me far into the bushes. I roll backwards across the ground, too fast to comprehend where I'm going. The impact comes unexpectedly. I hit a tree, almost head first and bounce across the forest floor. I grit my teeth as my back explodes in pain when I come to a stop. An Og Nag jumps down from a tree and runs at me from my side with a sword. I pull out my last boot dagger and nail him in the chest. He squeals and falls to the ground, but he's still alive as he slides to me. I swing my legs to him with a grunt of pain, pin his sword to the ground with one leg and sue my free leg to drive my knee spike into his head.

Big Mac looks over his shoulder and can tell he can’t make it to the bunker. He rounds a tree and skids to a stop, sending Umbra and Stormchaser into a bush. He looks at them for a second, before turning around and taking off to the right. He keeps an eye on the Garge as he gallops, staying just slow enough to be a tempting target. The Garge’s head snaps to the right upon seeing Big Mac. He inhales then lets out a loud roar. The beast cocks his remaining arm and hurls his ax at him. Just before impact, Big Mac closes his eyes and does a complete turnaround, taking the ax’s blow into his lancer housing. It’s still a nasty hit and he rolls across the ground, almost disappearing into the vegetation.

Big Mac skids behind a rock and stops. He’s not moving and his armor doesn’t seem to be rising up and down with his breath like it normally would. I can barely get back to my feet, having to tear weeds away from my armor. A pair of hands grabs my chest plate and yanks me to my feet. I stare into Cy’s helmet.

“Where’s Stormchaser?!” He screams angrily. I point to where they were hiding. Cy stares at them and starts trying to sneak around to the Garge’s left. The beast hasn’t seen Umbra yet and makes its way towards Big Mac. It walks slowly, having to narrow its eyes to see. The Garge picks up one of its axes from the ground and stomps while hunched over to avoid more vies. It doesn't even seem to care that it's missing an arm.

Umbra sits next to Stormchaser in a bush; her jaw drops as she glances to where Big Mac is. She stays low and manages to get behind the rock with Big Mac without being seen. I’d never seen a pony move that fast while staying low. Her legs bend at angles that I know are impossible, given where her joints are.

I can see the two ponies behind the massive rock, but the Garge keeps moving in. He’s only twenty feet from them. Umbra keeps quietly and shaking Big Mac but he doesn’t move. She glances around the rock and peers at the Garge, who’s already checked the only other hiding place Big Mac could have landed. He looks over at their rock and starts walking towards it. Umbra sighs and I see a few tears roll down her cheeks. She looks at Big Mac for a second with a smile of admiration and plants a small kiss on his nose.

My eyes bulge as she stands up. Her eyes shine a complete teal for a second and she morphs into an exact copy of Big Mac. She darts around the right side of the rock. The Garge sees her and readies his ax. As soon as he cocks it and hurls it towards her, she morphs into her normal form, ducks and skids across the dirt. The ax sails over her head, barely missing. The Garge screams with rage and looks at his feet. A spear from somepony in Lancercore lies on the ground. He picks it up and is about to charge when he hears rustling to his left. He looks over and sees Cy carrying Stormchaser away. He howls and starts running.

Cy’s eyes bulge and he sets her down.

“Fly! Get out of here!” He yells at her. She shakes her head; her eyes are wide with fear.

“I can’t! My wing's broken!” She sobs. She looks into his eyes then at the ground in defeat. Cy stares at the Garge with both rage and anguish.

“Then just get out of here! Now!” Stormchaser looks at him helplessly, but starts doing her best to trot off, knowing she needs to follow orders. The Garge picks up speed with the spear still in his hand. Cy keeps his eyes locked on the Garge, but lowers his head menacingly. He rips off his helmet; his long, black hair flows down, barely scraping his shoulders. He takes in a few deep, quick breaths before screaming at the Garge and pulling out his narrow claymore from his back. He takes off, firmly grasping his weapon, charging straight at the beast.

The ground shakes as the Garge picks up speed. Cy angles his claymore to his right, ready to get a nasty swipe in at the right moment. He kicks up leaves as he bolts at the Garge, glaring defiantly at the beast. He yells as loud as he can, knowing it might be his last battle cry. I look around for anything to throw, but there’s nothing. I put my hands on the sides of my head and watch in horror.

The space between them closes rapidly. Right before the two collide, Cy lets out his final words.

“You’ll never take her from me!” Cy starts swinging his weapon, but he’s interrupted as the Garge slams his spear into Cy’s midsection. The claymore flys from his grip, planting itself into the ground at the Garge’s feet. Without even looking down at Cy, the Garge swings his spear to the right, sending Cy’s body into the forest. The Garge doesn’t slow down a single step during the entire exchange.

He locks in on Stormchaser, picking up his pace rapidly. He howls as green beams of magic erupt from Umbra’s black horn that she’s never had before. It’s jagged with a hole in the center. A small bracelet is hooked through the hole and has a tiny orange gem in it. She fires repeatedly, trying to draw the Garge over to her. He shields his face with his right arm, but keeps sprinting towards Stormchaser.

I start running into the scene, hoping something will change soon and give me one last chance. Lucretia comes running out of the foliage to Stormchaser’s left and skids in front of her. She glances at Stormchaser then to the Garge, completely powerless to do anything. Lucretia’s helmet is off and a nasty cut on her cheek pours blood down her neck. She clenches her hands and teeth. Her sheath is empty and she doesn’t even have a bow. Stormchaser looks behind her and lets out a scream of terror, then trips and falls into the grass. She covers her face with her forelegs, expecting the end.

Lucretia’s eyes bulge with animosity. She brings her fists up to her face then slams them down to her sides, yelling with such force, the trees above her shake. Her iris’ glow gold and her long golden blonde hair snaps into glowing yellow spikes, points at the ground. She holds up a death grip towards the Garge. The monster takes his last step and pulls back his arm to swing at Lucretia.

“No!” She screams in that inhumanly powerful voice of hers. I hear a deep, faint double of her voice as she yells. A bright light bursts from her hand in all directions. The Garge freezes in place, locking eyes with hers. It holds out its right arm, mimicking her. His cheeks twitch with hers and he just stands there. Lucretia can’t help but stare right back, completely lost in confusion. As she examines her right hand, the Garge does the exact same motion, mirroring her perfectly, even down to her facial expressions.

Lucretia and the monster stare at each other perplexed. Lucretia’s eyes blink and she starts looking around. I narrow my eyes as I hear a familiar voice inside my head.

“Raiden...what’s...what’s going on?! I...I can feel all of you!” It’s her voice, I know it is. All I can do is shake my head in disbelief.

“We don’t have time for this. Everyone group up on me! Wait...Emeris?! Come here!” Her strangely distant voice is almost commanding. I feel compelled to listen. It’s as if her own confidence reflects inside of me. I just knew her ideas would work and I should listen. One by one, every Taraskan soldier nearby walks into the light shining through the trees.

Four exhausted infantry come back, struggling to stay on their feet with the second Garge from earlier on their heels. One of my soldiers slips behind a tree, sits down and starts panting heavily. He lets his arms fall to the ground. The Garge comes charging out, tearing away vines and leaves from his face. He looks around and lets out an angry roar. Lucretia’s voice plays in my head again.

“Do not fear it! Work together and exploit his weakness! His size can be a disadvantage! Surround him on all sides and attack when he’s not looking!” A strange impulse consumes me. I want to gradually maneuver behind him, while four other soldiers take up symmetrical positions.

“Don’t bother with your shields, they will slow you down!” We let our shields fall to the ground and draw our weapons. The Garge raises his two axes. One of my soldiers on his left, picks up a shield and hurls it at the Garge’s face, then quickly dodges behind a tree. The second the Garge looks at him, one of my soldiers darts in and slides across the ground, while simultaneously slashing the back of the Garge’s leg. The beast roars and takes a knee. Once his left arm is at eye-level, I quickly slash it off and jump back. He howls and turns around, swinging his right ax where I just was.

The soldier, who was behind the tree, rushes out and cuts off the monster’s right arm at the elbow. It lets out a blood-curdling shriek. I leap forward and plow my sword straight into his skull. The entire fight is over in seconds. Instead of celebrating, we calmly walk back over to the group in the light. They’ve already unpacked our shield bunker. We all turn and look at Emeris who walks out of the bushes nearby with a perplexed look on his face. He holds his right arm, clearly in pain. He shakes his head as he walks up to me. I feel Lucretia’s presence slip from my mind.

Emeris lets out a defeated sigh.

“I...I tried. I did everything I could but it wasn’t enough.” He looks down at the ground and does his best to muffle his crying.

“Lancercore First Battalion is...gone. So are two of the tactical pony groups. I...we got ambushed heavily. Those Timberwolves...they’re no joke. They slaughtered an entire battalion before we just decided to pin them with so many lancers they couldn’t move. That worked for a bit then the Garge’s came and pulled out the lancers, and then everything went to hell.” His shoulders bounce like mad and he lowers his head so much I can’t see his face. He starts shrieking.

“I tried to do my...teal thing, but it wouldn’t work! I felt everything I did the first time it happened! I wanted to save them! I would have given everything to save them! But my bow is useless against an army of Garge’s and Timberwolves! I...I had to order the second battalion of Lancercore to...we needed distractions! We had to keep them busy! We needed time to form up a plan and maneuver! I...I ordered them to charge...a bunch of novice ponies who trusted me with their lives...and I ordered them to charge the Garge’s and Timberwolves! I mean they were out of spears so…” He looks up at me. His eyes are wide and bloodshot.

“I ordered them to their deaths! I’m not a monster! We had to! It was chaos! We didn’t have any other options! We had to keep them busy while first Lancercore reloaded! I...so many of them called out for help! For orders!” Emeris falls to his knees. His eyes gaze past me in a silent, tearful horror.

“I told them to keep fighting! They...they didn’t kill a single Garge, but I told them to keep fighting! I ordered them to die! It...It worked but...tactical two ran for it! They called me a monster!” He looks down at his injured arm.

“One of the Lancercore ponies rammed me with his spear before ripping off his armor and running back to Canterlot! I...I can’t imagine what he’s told everyone!” Emeris lets himself fall to his side on the ground. His eyes keep that lost stare of disgust.

That was it, we were completely alone. I doubt even the Wonderbolts could help us. Do we turn around and save what remains of our forces, or do we proceed forward and risk oblivion to deal a staggering blow to Zaran?