Chapter 22.

“War and peace.”

Two weeks later…

Princess Celestia and Luna were in the throne room yelling at each other.

Princess Celestia shouts, “I know you want to go! I want to as well!”

Princess Luna then said, “So we sit back as we allow the riot to continue! They’re going to slaughter fillies and mares we just can’t sit here!”

Princess Celestia then said, “Why do you think we’ve been escorting refugees from the west for?”

Princess Luna then stares at her sister then said, “That’s not what I meant I don’t mind escorting refuges but we should be out there actually fighting these rouge earth ponies.”

Princess Celestia then said, “That’s not our call.”

Princess Luna steps back then said, “You don’t trust me?”

Princess Celestia then said, “I never said that.”

Princess Luna then said, “You don’t have too, you think I’ll use Omega’s power?”

Princess Celestia then said, “What I’m saying is Core should be there by now with chocolate Butter and Core knows these earth ponies and has experience with them if he can talk to them and stop the violence before it escalates then peace can be restored in the west without our intervention. You forget sister we are their rulers but were not gods. We cannot intervene when it comes down to matters like this the pony race need to come to peace on their own terms.”

Princess  Luna looks back with a stern look and leaves the throne room.

As Princess Luna leaves the palace’s front doors she sees Pine with his crossbow ready and loaded with his quivers full of arrows at his side wearing black cloak.

He then said, “You’re going to help stop the riots anyways.”

She smiled and said “Celestia can try to stop me if she thinks I’m too reckless.”

Pine then get’s up and said, “Well she’ll have to stop me too.”

She then flies into the sky with Pine tailing right behind her.

Core and Chocolate Butter came upon the settlement known as Bleak hollow. Here the town sat on a hill with an orchard of apple trees that spanned the land for miles. However, the entire place is covered in thick snow and it fell constantly with the temperature dropping. Core wore a thick fur coat, as did Chocolate butter who also had on his steel plated armor and a lance as did Core but he had on his great battle-axe. Not far, in the town square, they saw earth ponies taking pegasi and unicorn fillies and mares into the center were going to burn them on a pyre. Core smashed the torch form the teeth of one of the ponies then goes up to the pyre and raises his axe.

He then shouts “Any of you dare try to kill these ponies will answer to me.”

Then chocolate butter appeared and said “Me as well.”

Then Crimson came forth and said “How dare you intervene in this crucial moment we are here to end our slavery to the pegasi and unicorns!”

Core the then said, “How exactly can you say that when you’re discriminating against others look around you? This land is freezing because of this madness and it will continue the same thing happen to Equestria almost 200 hundred years ago and we were almost all killed until we learned how to cooperate with each other. Each of you has a right to live free lives but, butchering fillies and mares will not help your cause.”

Crimson Red the leader came forth in large plate armor he had an orange coat with a long thick mane of red and his eyes were bright orange he was broader and larger then Core.

He then said, “Yet how do we know those fillies won’t turn on us in the future and those mares of pegasi and unicorn to make more?”

Core then said, “You’re so ready to judge ponies before they even have time to grow and you call yourself freedom fighters. You are nothing more than a bunch of cowards who kills for his own political gain. So don’t you dare threaten the innocent before you take one good look at yourself.”

Crimson Red starred at him then said “ponies disperse go back to the main camp we’ll march on the pegasi’s fort as planned.”

Some of the ponies were about to argue but Crimson red shouted “Enough! I said go!”

As the ponies left Core places his axe back on his back then said “Chocolate butter untie these ponies and get them to safety I’ll talk with my father.”

He nods then as he unties the mares and leads the group you’re my son?”

Core starred at him then said, “I’m not here to bond with you.”

Crimson then said, “The only reason I stopped from massacring all those ponies was just to talk with you.”

Core then said “This doesn’t change anything I heard you killed many peagasi and unicorn in this village you are not my father you’re an abomination.”

Crimson Red turns his head then said “You have one day if you’re not gone by tomorrow I’ll kill you and all those pegasi and unicorns.” As Crimson red left, Core went back to Chocolate butter

Core and Chocolate butter were both alone now in the center of the village.

Then Core said, “Did you find out why all the pegasi are gone?”

Chocolate butter then said, “They tried to defend the village from the attackers but were all slaughtered. They were able to flee with most of the civilians but these were the unlucky ones who were left behind.”

Core then said, “I don’t know what to do? Crimson is sure to attack us by dawn we should get far away from here then call on Celestia for reinforcements. We need to tell her how bad the situation is.”

Chocolate butter then said “The pegasi and unicorns held themselves up at an old fort not far from here we should lead the fillies and mothers there and help them defend it from this mob we don’t have time, you can feel it can’t you? The snow is growing thicker and the air feels unnaturally cold. We need to end the rebellion now before the wendigoes return for sure.”

Core then said “This is too risky first we will have to reach the fort before crimson does and on top of that were practically  have no way to keep all these ponies safe how in the hell are we supposed to do that?”

Chocolate butter then said “I have been training I can fight any pony that tries to attack you. Your goal is to get those ponies through the snow and to that fort.”

Core then said, “Are you up to do that?”

Chocolate butter then said, “I don’t have much of a choice right now.”

Core was with the group as the went to the fort Chocolate butter followed on the side as he looked for any sign of crimson  then Chocolate butter pointed east. Core nods and herds the group into the opposite direction. Then a group of earth pony came from the back with their spears raised.

Chocolate butter turns then shouted, “Core gets those fillies and mares inside now!”

Core looks back. Then Chocolate butter takes out his spear and then the first earth pony tries to stab him he blocks the attack with his spear then he reverses the strike and smashes his head with the side of the spear knocking him out. Then he jumps back as another tried to slash downward then the earth pony that attacked  jumps back then chocolate butter jumps back then he raises his spear as two more earth pony came down the hill. One tried to stab forward from the back with a spear then Chocolate butter reverses the strike and moves sideways as the other earth pony tried to attack downward. Then he smashes his head with the butt of his spear knocking him out, then takes the other orange earth pony’s attack from his left, and then smashes his face with his head. As he falls unconscious Chocolate butter jumps back from the last red earth pony trying to throw the spear at Chocolate butter. Chocolate butter looks up as the red earth pony came at him and started to choke him in the snow Chocolate butter slotted the spear in the snow next to him and stabbed it forward into the throat of the red earth pony. Then he coughed blood all over Chocolate butter. His eyes pupils dilated then he fell to the side. Chocolate butter got up then he felt sick and puked in the snow.

He got up shaking. He then trots too the old fort Core sees him and then said, “It’s never easy to kill and it shouldn’t be.” Chocolate butter still shaking.

He then said, “I’m sorry Core but the truth is I don’t know what I’m feeling at the moment.”

Core then said, “We need to get moving.”

The group neared the fort of frost fang here the general came swooping down to greet them all. He wore white plated armor. His coat was pure white but his mane was a light blue as were his eyes and it rounded his face in bangs with his perfect blue eyes his impressive wings and an arrogant smile. The mares started whispering amongst themselves as has he landed.

He then said, “So it’s you who I have to thank for rescuing the citizens of the village.”

Core then said “No problem.”

The Pegasus bowed then said “That’s grievous news my soldiers tried to save those we can but Crimson’s hordes have increased and they attack with such ferocity we were overwhelmed so we retreated here to defend what was left we never had time to go back.”

Core then said “Look let’s go inside.”

As they lead, the females and their fillies inside they went to their husbands and friends many hugged and cried others balled as they heard of the deaths of their sons and husbands. Core went through the camp then Chocolate butter puked on the snow again. Core starred then Chocolate butter got up and said, “I’m alright let’s keep going.”

As the two went inside the Pegasus’s house, here they sat together plates of corn and apples was set and Core greedily dug in as Chocolate butter took some and nibbled on an apple.

Then Chocolate butter said, “We never got your name.”

The Pegasus then said “They call me snow storm just call me Snow for short.”

Core then said, “Snow I thank you for the food but right now we have bigger issues we have Crimson coming from the east with a few hundred soldiers. I suggest you evacuate with the civilians from the fort.”

Snow then said “With you as commander? I’ve heard of your exploits in Canterlot but the unicorns and pegasi trust me more then you if you’re going to fight I’m staying with you.”

Chocolate Butter then said “Then who will lead the exodus?”

Core then said, “If not me or Snow then it should be you Chocolate butter.”

Chocolate butter then said “Me? I can’t I have almost no experience in battle or defending an entire race from being destroyed please I need help I need guidance.”

Core then said “Chocolate butter calm down its fine if you don’t want to lead just tell me what you’re thinking?”

Chocolate butter slams the table then said “Isn’t it obvious this was a trap from the beginning all I see is the incoming death when we leave we’ll be slaughtered.”

Chocolate butter fled the house then Core galloped after him he met him near the edge of the fort.

Core then said “Chocolate butter this…”

He sees him crying and then Core remembered how he felt after his first battle.

Core then said, “Look you don’t have to lead if you don’t want to it’s just that right now you’re the only pony I trust.”

Chocolate butter then said, “I’ve fought and killed before with those assassins. It was just that he wasn’t like them he wasn’t cold he was full of anger and pain then when he died I could feel him die. I can’t get the image out of my head.”

Core then said, “I’m sorry you had to do that. It should have been me to handle them not you.”

Then Chocolate butter said, “I heard you deserted you left during the black crystal wars so why come back and endure more hell?”

Core then said, “Because there’s ponies that don’t deserve to go through suffering and pain and we need to protect them. I was once like you young and full of fire I thought with all the training I had after joining the army of Equestria I could do anything. The first battle I was in was the battle of the frozen gate. North Star led us in full scale with an army of us young ponies. We had no idea what we were in for. The thing is we have never seen war. We were ready then the attack came and then reality hit us like a brick wall. The Chaos pony mercenaries attacked and North Star held us together like glue his words echoed shouting over the walls blasting spells trying to keep us together, but hell just took over, the ground was soon covered in gore and bodies and most of us we were retreating from the fear. North Star then did the one thing he planned once all the Chaos ponies young and old were in the mountain pass and the Equestrians were all clear, he crushed them with the mountain. All I could think of was seeing his face his face emotionless no pity no anger no sadness he just had a stern face. Then as we set up camp the next morning, I left. He disgusted me, and I hated him and after five years when we met at my cottage, I still hated him. Then that night after he came back with his meeting with Celestia and Luna I heard him cry in his sleep he cried for all those he killed and he kept asking the questions. how could we find peace with so much death? How can innocence survive in such a horrible world? After that I realized he never asked for this he did not enjoy killing he was just bad at revealing how he feels to others. We never asked King Sombra to take over? We never asked for war? North Star did what he had to do to protect Equestria knowing it would cost him. Think about it If King Sombra won if he killed North Star, and captured Luna and Celestia then you and I would be slaves. I realized if I did not try to help, I would fail every pony in the village I grew up in. So, I left with North star and the rest of his friends and we defeated king Sombra. Now these pegasi and unicorns could die they are innocent they never asked for war all they want is peace and Crimson has fed hate to his mob and they will come  and try to kill them that’s a fact and it will be our job to make sure they don’t die.”

Chocolate butter stood up then said, “Fine I’ll lead the innocent to safety. I will make sure they get to Canterlot. I’m sorry for acting so cowardly.”

Core then said “There’s nothing to be sorry about go with them and protect them.”

Later that afternoon the back gate to the fort was opened Chocolate butter with a regiment of pegasi and unicorn in battle armor and wielding an assortment of weapons started to leave through the back with the mares and fillies.

Chocolate butter looks back at Core then said “Thank you for talking to me earlier.”

Core nods then said, “No problem. I’m going to try to talk to my father and stop this fight from even happening. However Chocolate Butter you have to tell Celestia and Luna what is happening but do not have them interfere we need to do this on our own. Have them send reinforcements though we may need them.”

Chocolate butter nods then said, “Don’t die.”

Core then said, “You don’t either.”

Chocolate Butter sighs and then leaves through the back and into the snow-covered valley.

Crimson red lead his troops to the northern face of fort frost fang  it’s gates barred and barricaded with trees spiked outwards as they were perfectly cut and edged as he walked towards them he saw Core and Snowstorm on top of the wall.

Core turned to Snowstorm then said, “Let me at least try to talk with him to avoid any more bloodshed.”

Snowstorm raised his left hoof then said, “Be my guest.”  

Then Crimson Red said, “So Core you decided to betray your earth pony brethren.”

Core then said, “No Crimson you have decided to abandon reason for madness you allowed your hate and anger cloud your judgment then as you let it fester now it has spread you can end it. Let’s discuss terms killing needlessly will get nowhere.”  

Crimson Red then said, “Then here are my terms I want more land for the earth ponies I want us to be able to own it and work it and sell the crops we grow for higher prices more than those shit wages we’ve been getting. I want our fillies to be able to harvest the land as we do and own the farms not the banks. Most of all we want the pony that started all of this from the very beginning the one who slaughtered earth ponies trying to gain better terms from those in Canterlot.”

Core then said, “Who started all of this?”

Crimson then said “The Pegasus Snowstorm.”

Snowstorm then shoved Core off the wall.

Next Chapter: chapter 23 unite or die! Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 33 Minutes