“We have movement from the forest!” A spotter yells.

“Which way are they headed?” Sky calls.

“To the right hill!” The observer calls.

“Signal them and signal the mercenaries to pull back.” Sky orders before multiple flags were started to be waved and a gong was sounded and kept being hit till Gilda got the message and starts leading her mercenary band back.

“Now what Sky? We just gave them a taste.” Spitfire says raising an eyebrow.

“They are committing forces to the fight. Wait till they are in range, then we send the signal to V.” Sky says.

“Of course you want.” Spitfire mutters as she goes back to watching.

“Don’t be like that.” Sky says smiling at her as many pegasi started to emerge from the trees.

Spitfire huffs as she kept watching

“Wait for it…” Sky says as they near the hill where Rainbow was commanding, obviously intent on taking it. “Now!” Sky orders before several large horns were blown hard and repeatedly.

“What the…?” Spitfire stops as she looks behind them and sees large hawks and rocs flying toward the battlefield as ponies were on their backs. “How did…?!”

“Fluttershy trained them and V and her subjects provided them for us.” Sky says as they head straight for the fifty thousand enemy pegasi who were shocked by seeing the incoming giant birds of prey with ponies riding them, allowing many of the ponies using repeating crossbows to hit those in range, starting to drop them from the sky, sending them plummeting to the ground where when they hit, their bodies burst open in places from the trauma, sending blood and sometimes guts everywhere onto the ground.

“Wha…how…?” Alexander tries to question as she stares shocked.

“General, shouldn’t we send reinforcements to help them or make them retreat?” The officer asks as the air cavalry moves closer.

“Get all air forces to land! Now! Give them covering fire with the archers!” Alexander orders.

“Yes, general.” The officer calls before heading out to see it was done.

‘I completely underestimated you, Overlord. You might be a challenge after all.’ Alexander thinks as she watches as the air cavalry unit finally met the infantry in the air and crossbow bolts were starting to fly from them and the birds and pegasus passengers started to engage.

From there, the battle started to turn into an aerial battle. The type of battle both Alexander and Sky had very little experience in commanding as those engaged in combat were attempting maneuvers or shooting to try and fight their enemies. In the end, despite superior numbers, the Belgica pegasi were forced to withdraw with heavy losses and only inflicting about half as many casualties onto the cavalry and with very few of the birds being amongst them at the end of the day. Alexander, seeing this, had her army pull back to reassess the situation as night started to draw near. For both Alexander and Sky, today was far from the decisive victory or action they both were looking for.

“That almost turned badly for us.” Spitfire says in Sky’s tent.

“Yes. The cavalry helped greatly, but the differences in experience really showed despite such advantages.” Sky says.

“Yes…did you really have them ready for such a long time?” Spitfire asks.

“I had them hidden, hoping for a good surprise attack, hoping they would destroy many of her forces, but I both overestimated our troop’s skills and underestimated the enemy’s when it came to aerial combat proficiency. And what is worse, we lost around a tenth of the air cavalry while the enemy barely lost more than one twenty-fifth of their air troops. We can’t have this turn into a battle of attrition.” Sky says thinking.

“So what is our next move?” Rainbow asks flying in and landing in the tent.

“Hey Rainbow. What did you think of our new cavalry units?” Sky asks thinking.

“Their air combat skills can use some work.” Rainbow says tapping her hoof.

“I know.” Sky says sighing as a breeze blew into the tent.

Rainbow hums. “You want them to get some training now?”

“It’s too late for that with the enemy not far away.” Sky says as somepony covered his eyes.

“I’m going to suck your blood.” Somepony calls out in a ridiculous accent.

“Hey V.” Sky says without as much enthusiasm as usual.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Vinyl asks uncovering his eyes and looking at him worried like.

“The battle didn’t go as well as we had hoped.” Sky says.

“Oh. Well, at least this night may help you with the numbers.” Vinyl says trying to cheer him up.

“Aren’t they feeding just on the enemy’s dead?” Sky asks.

“And a little fresh one.” Vinyl says grinning. “Don’t worry. We’ll get them from the easy pickings.”

“No, get the stronger ones first. That will help us the most.” Sky instructs.

“You try getting the ones in the middle of the camp versus the ones going to take a leak.” Vinyl says almost dryly.

“True, that is a point. We need to tip the scales in our favor more.” Sky says leaning back into his seat.

“You have a plan.” Vinyl says smiling.

“More like an idea. Tell me, what is the thing she kept trying to get us to do all day?” Sky asks.

“Get us out into the open fields. It’s obvious she prepared for that part.” Spitfire says.

“Right, it’s what she knows best…why don’t we obliged her with one to draw her attention?” Sky asks.

“Are you kidding? You are going to send out forces into the fields?” Rainbow asks shocked.

“Yes. After today, she will know we have no more hidden troops, but something we do have is hidden allies.” Sky says smirking.

“Oh boy.” Vinyl just says as she wraps her hooves around him. “Our husband is going into a war state.”

“V, tomorrow will you be a dear and while we engage her like she wants, burn her baggage train and all their supplies you can find with your men?” Sky asks.

Vinyl licks her lips. “Sure.”

“Good. As a reward, any who see you when doing this that isn’t their general or an ally is free game for you.” Sky says before petting her.

Vinyl purrs. “Good.”

“Also V, tell me if I take you to meet my mother in the island federation, will your subjects behave and not try to take over while you are gone?” Sky asks.

Vinyl hums teasingly. “Maybe.”

“Serious question. So I know if I have to execute one of them before that.” Sky says.

“Oh. Don’t worry. They’ll behave. They have to answer to me anyway.” Vinyl says chuckling deviously.

“Ok, good.” Sky says before she pulled him into a kiss.

Vinyl sighs happily as she pulls her head back. “So good and tasty.”

“I think you made two jellies.” Sky says smirking.

Vinyl just licks her lips.

“We are not.” Both Rainbow and Spitfire say together, fuming a bit.

Sky chuckles. “Yes, you are and don’t deny it.”

“Oh, since I am doing this, does that mean tonight we can…?” Vinyl asks.

Sky hums. “I don’t know…” He plays coyly.

“Come on. You know you want me.” Vinyl says.

“Maybe shake that sexy flank of yours for me and I may reconsider.” Sky says chuckling.

“Oh?” Vinyl asks shaking it at him.

Sky grins. “That’ll do it. Get into bed my sexy bat.”

“Oh, yeah.” Vinyl says trotting to his bed.

“Really?” Rainbow asks tapping her hoof.

“Room for more.” Sky offers.

Both Rainbow and Spitfire look to each other before shrugging and following Vinyl. “Better make it worth it.” Spitfire mutters passing him.

“Be prepared to be mothers.” Sky teases.

Spitfire rolls her eyes at that as Rainbow sighs.

“Oh and for this, Rainbow, tell your people real quick to only take the corpses of our enemies from the battlefield and not pick off from the army itself. I want to lure them into a false sense of security.” Sky says.

“Feel good?” Sky asks petting Rainbow and Spitfire’s mane.

They both groan and rolls over in their sleep. Sky, seeing this, smirks before messing with their teets. “Come on you two. Time to go to work.” Sky says.

They both knock his hooves away and scoot away from him.

“Girls. do I have to punish you for disobeying the overlord?” Sky asks.

“You don’t command us that much.” They both said.

“Oh, but I do. Now get up. We have a war to fight.” Sky instructs.

They both groan and start to get up and dress up.

“There we go and V already left to prepare. Let’s go get the enemy’s attention.” Sky says.

They both him as they slowly dress in their armor.

“How about whoever performs the best between you two in this battle gets this fief for their families?” Sky asks making them sharply turn to him wide awake.

They both quickly start to dress and grab their weapons before running out as Sky chuckles at their enthusiasm.

“Captain, round up a few cavalry and infantry units from both hills and tell them to meet me in the space between the hills.” Sky instructs.

“Sir.” The captain nearby calls before running off.

“General, we have movement from the enemy’s camp.” An officer calls running in.

“And where are they headed?” Alexander asks tightening her armor straps.

“Between the hills.” He informs getting her attention.

Alexander hums as she looks out toward the battlefield. “Are the fences put up?”

“Ma’am…is he?” The officer asks.

“He is challenging us to a battle on the plains.” She says watching them taking notice that all the fallen had been removed from the field and they were setting up stockade fences obviously to defend against cavalry.

“Ma’am, what do you want us to do?” The officer asks.

“I accept your challenge.” Alexander says smirking, seeing he was personally there now.

“Ma’am?” The officer asks noticing her expression.

“The overlord himself wishes to meet us in the battle.” Alexander says surprising him.

“So…what is the plan ma’am?” The officer asks.

“Get half the cavalry, infantry and chariots ready.” Alexander says going to her Wildebeest.

“Yes, ma’am.” The officer says going off to relay the orders.

“Hum…if I capture you, what will that mean? Does it mean I win or will the goddess insist the war isn’t over yet?” Alexander thinks.

“Looks like they are taking the bait. Nearly fifty thousand are coming out.” Sky comments.

“So…when are you going to give us the signal to fight?” Rainbow asks tapping her sword.

“Wait for her. We want to lure out as many as we can.” Sky says tapping his against her’s.

Rainbow huffs as she kept watching. “We can’t whittle them down?”

“We will, but we need to lure as many away as we can to ensure the success on Vinyl’s part.” Sky says.

“Great. At least we can fight.” Rainbow mutters.

“So you and Spitfire competing, huh? What should we set for the goal?” Sky asks smirking.

“How about fifty?” Rainbow asks smirking.

“Officers huh…sounds fair if both of your units manage to slay that many then we will go for how many both of you got to determine who gets it.” Sky informs.

“Fair enough.” Rainbow says frowning toward the approaching army.

“Also, watch our youngest officer.” Sky says looking at the young raider with his great axe.

“You sure about that?” Rainbow asks looking over as well.

“Yeah, this is his first huge scaled battle.” Sky says.

“Fine.” Rainbow mutters crossing her forelegs.

“He has potential. He could one day be a good leader for us.” Sky says as Spitfire walked up, having heard everything.

“I doubt a full leader.” Spitfire notes.

“You would be surprised. I mean, when you first met me, did you think I could do all I have?” Sky asks seriously.

Spitfire didn’t say anything and looks away frowning.

“See. With experience, he can make something great out of himself. He already has strength, drive, and has been taught by a few how to lead in battle now.” Sky says.

“Let’s hope he knows how to survive now.” Spitfire mutters.

“The thing we have going for us is these ponies of theirs have only been trained and have little traditions of infantry and cavalry and none in using war chariots, while we have Libya cavalry, salamander cavalry, northern warriors, and Gual pikemen. This may be her best area of being a general, but I will stake my life on our infantry and cavalry are superior in skill and training.” Sky says watching the approaching enemies and saw most of the infantry in a phalanx formation and wielding sarissa with a shield. ‘I know this formation.’ Sky thinks.

Both Rainbow and Spitfire clear their throats now.

“I know their intention.” Sky says immediately.

“Sky?” They both ask.

“It’s a tactic I used as well. Her infantry is the anvil, the cavalry is the hammer. They are going to try and wheel around our forty thousand here and slam our flank, trying to force us more into their infantry’s spears.” Sky says.

“Oh…so how do we counter it?” Rainbow asks.

“The answer is simple. Change in plans. Your cavalries primary targets are their cavalry and the chariots. The one who destroys the most captures the most and slays the most cavalry units will win. The infantry will engage the phalanx formations with our archers and crossbowmen, their primary aim will be to destroy their formation. Doing both will stop this maneuver cold.” Sky informs.

“Let’s get this done then.” Spitfire says looking at her group.

“I will be with the infantry. Stop them my mares.” Sky informs.

“Just make sure you are still there to keep a good count once we are done.” Rainbow says before flying off.

“You both will have to do that yourselves.” Sky says patting Celebrimbor as she walks with Sky to the front.

Spitfire scoffs and flies off as well as the new soldier looks between all of them now with no clue on where to go.

“You think he was serious?” Rainbow asks Spitfire.

“Oh, yeah, he is. He wants to really lure her out.” Spitfire says watching him take his position and many falling in around him.

“So you ready?” Rainbow asks.

“This fief will belong to the kingdom of Trimore.” Spitfire informs.

“Take this as a yes.” Rainbow says before heading to her army group.

And so the battle began with the Belgica forces charging with the cavalry and chariots moving to break through their formation, but as they were charging they were intercepted and slammed into from their sides by the heavy salamander and the cavalry of Spitfire and Rainbow’s kingdoms. The charge quickly lost all its momentum as the cavalry started to fight in a melee as the salamander riders went for the chariots, specifically killing either the wildebeests or burning the drivers alive as they passed sending the chariots out of control. Alexander, who was watching this, was greatly surprised at how furious the salamander riders were and how the rest of the cavalry was preventing hers from charging, losing all of their momentum and shock and having to rely purely on their martial prowess.

“My cavalry isn’t having the desired effect.” Alexander says, knowing full well she couldn’t send more around the engaged groups of cavalry and chariots or they would come under fire from those on the hills and be torn up too badly to effectively flank them.

“Ma’am, orders?” An officer calls out.

“It can’t be helped. Order the infantry to break through their formation I want their overlord taken alive.” She says still watching Sky who, to her surprise, was on the front line of the infantry instead of with a cavalry unit like she was.

“What are you…?” She mutters before seeing many lines up in front of Sky carrying something she had never seen before.

“Take aim!” Sky calls, alerting her he was about to launch a missile attack. Alexander tried to yell at her soldiers to warn them, but before she could even start yelling, Sky called, “Fire!” A wall of bolts came right at her front line and, to her horror, they punched right through the shields and many, if not all of her frontline hit, fell either dead or screaming in pain. “Reload!” Sky calls as the infantry took positions in front of them to defend them while they reloaded.

“Get the chariots ready!” Alexander yells.

“My lady, the chariots have already been engaged.” An officer calls out and she turns back to see the chariots now being pushed back as the wildebeests pulling them were now terrified as they were advanced on as others were being slaughtered when they got in range.

‘How fierce these creatures are. No wonder so many kingdoms have fallen to him and why they were so desperate to get the goddess on their side.’ Alexander thinks as her infantry finally got into melee range. ‘Finally, things will start going my way.’ Alexander thinks before seeing a few of her frontline go flying into the air. “WHAT!?” She calls before seeing Vandrad there using his great strength to cleave and send ponies flying.

“How?!” Alexander yells shocked before seeing more ponies dressed similarly slam into her line, avoiding the spears and attacking with maybe not the same strength but with the same ferocity.

“Ma’am, our line is buckling at the front because of the northern barbarians.” The officer informs.

‘So this is his core troops.’ Alexander thinks as others started to engage in a battle of polearms with hers. ‘I underestimated you too much. I really wish he was here. His advice always helped me form my plans.’ Alexander thought thinking of her friend and general in life while watching it before signaling her messengers to call for the rest of the infantry and cavalry and to signal her air forces to begin assaulting the hills to prevent them from helping those here.

The messenger nods before flying off to the camp where the rest of the army was and relays the orders and all the forces started to mobilize with the air forces taking off first and flying at the hills as the infantry, cavalry, and chariots soon follow, but as they made their way towards the battle in between the hills, around the back of one a cavalry charge came in the lead was Gilda and her mercenaries and Captain Daisen and his raiders, their target, the advancing forces. When they collided, the fifty thousand were in disarray and not in a cohesive formation and were smashed right through the infantry. Gilda’s light cavalry shooting arrows and slicing with mostly scimitars while Daisen’s heavy cavalry trampled the enemy underhoof and cleaved them with their weapons.

“Ma’am, an enemy cavalry has hit our line. They are stopped dead in their tracks and can’t reach us at the moment.” An officer calls.

“What about the air forces?” Alexander inquires looking back and sees there was too few to stop them completely and could only delay them with their numbers.

“Unhampered from the looks of it for now.” The officer calls checking.

“Send them in then.” Alexander orders.

“Yes, ma’am.” The officer calls as they signal the air forces to attack the hills and as they approach, bolts and arrows are shot at them, hampering their advance or shooting them down.

“Damn! What does he have set up that is hidden?!” Alexander demands to nopony, in particular, seeming to be enjoying herself right now.

“General, our cavalry is being overwhelmed.” The officer calls seeing as some of the salamander riders broke off and started attacking the cavalry.

‘Well played.’ Alexander thinks smiling as the melee keeps going and after about ten minutes of pitched fighting, a great deal of the reinforcing ground forces started to near as they had broken off from fighting, the cavalry stalling the rest and were about to join the battle, and the air force had broken through in a few places and were attacking inside areas of the two camps on the hills when one of the officers gasped in horror.

Alexander looks toward the officer before noticing a bright glow behind them and looks back to see the camp on fire now. “What?”

“General…our camp.” The officer says horrified.

“How…?” Alexander breathes out shocked as she tries to understand what just happened before turning to where Sky was and saw him smirking at her as he finished one of her infantry with his axe.

Alexander stared at him for a bit before finally saying. “Signal the retreat.”

“Ma’am?” The officer turns to her shocked.

“Just do it.” Alexander informs.

The officer slowly nods before blowing a horn that made Sky’s army cheer out.

“Don’t give them a moment’s rest! Pursue them!” Sky orders.

Alexander managed to withdraw from the battlefield with most her army intact, but of the original two hundred thousand, she had lost nearly sixty-five thousand while Sky’s force, thanks largely to their defensive fighting, lost a little over thirteen thousand. It was a victory, but to Sky, it was a close victory and he knew his position would have been overrun in between the hills if Vinyl had failed. Instead of pursuing the enemy far though, Sky had opted to remain in the fief and fully take it over. It was obvious to the entire army this wouldn’t be like Libra, a quick campaign, but a more drawn out one.

“Finally.” Rainbow sighs as she lays down on the bed.

“Liking this castle we took?” Sky asks.

“About time.” Rainbow moans raising a hoof before dropping it.

“You feeling well?” Sky asks petting her.

Rainbow groans and throws his hoof off. “Let me sleep.”

“You upset Spitfire and her forces outperformed you?” Sky asks now holding her.

Rainbow scoffs and tries to sleep now.

“Cute little thing.” Sky says

Rainbow sticks her tongue out at him.

“Come on. You aren’t pregnant yet. So what do you think? We have over eight thousand POWs, what should we do with them?” Sky asks rubbing her wings as he sounded a little drunk.

Rainbow groans and stretches her wings out. “I don’t know.”

“Come on.” Sky says offering her more to drink.

Rainbow raises an eyebrow and looks up to him. “Did that griffon get you drunk off your flank?”

“Nope, I may be a little drunk, but come on. It’s time to celebrate. We fought a very hard battle and won and took the fief in a few weeks.” Sky says smiling at her.

“You’re drunk…are you still trying to get me into bed?” Rainbow asks pointing a hoof at him.

“Nope, also we have another reason to celebrate.” Sky informs.

“What? Spitfire getting a foal?” Rainbow asks rolling her eyes.

“Yes, the medical wizard just confirmed it.” Sky says alerting her immediately.

“What?! She beat me in that too?!” Rainbow yells frustrated.

“Beat you? Dear sweet Rainbow, there is no beating another in baring foals.” Sky says petting her.

Rainbow scoffs now.

“It also means going to be relying on you more as because of this Spitfire is being sent back to our territory and can’t command.” Sky informs.

Rainbow slowly turns her eyes to look at him.

“That means you will be my undisputed number two and have more chances to be awarded more fiefs.” Sky says.

“Better. Got it?” Rainbow says gripping his small shirt.

“Don’t you have something to tell Spitfire? Something to do with her foal?” Sky asks.

Rainbow rolls her eyes. “Later.”

“Then come on have a drink and celebrate it.” Sky says smiling. Rainbow groans and grabs a mug before starting to chug away.

“Feel better?” Sky asks.

Rainbow sighs in relief as she stops chugging going now. “Yeah.”

“Feeling like you won now?” Sky asks.

“Get me more, now.” Rainbow says shoving the mug back to him.

“Come and enjoy the celebration.” Sky says smiling.

Rainbow rolls her eyes and gets up and follow him now.

“Enjoy. We will be here for a bit as I have sent for Raven and her mages to come enforce us since Spitfire is going back to Libya and for word from the other armies so we don’t overextend ourselves.” Sky says.

“Yeah…” Rainbow says trying to be ahead.

“And in the meantime, you will be training our air cavalry to improve them.” Sky informs.

“Yeah. They have been lacking in training. Like they just got in.” Rainbow describes.

“They have been trained, but we were unsure how real combat would look for them so now that we know with complete certainty, you will handle it to make up where they are failing.” Sky says.

“Good. They need it.” Rainbow mutters.

“Who is a pretty Rainbow?” Sky teases smirking now.

“Shut up.” Rainbow scoffs at him.