Aboard their new air ships, the rebel army sailed towards the border with all due haste.

For the vikings, it was like a dream come true. On each side they could see clear across the horizon as they felt the strong gusts of wind blowing in their faces and watched as the ships sailed through the oceans of clouds like water on the open sea but not everyone was pleased with the ride.

"HMMMMBLAARRRGGGHH!!"

Shining Armor, Prince of The Crystal Empire and commander of the rebel army had been brought low by severe air sickness as the ship creaked and rocked in the air currents.

"So you don't get air sick huh?" Wulfric joked with the rest of his men laughing.

"Uhhh...the sooner we hit solid ground the-MMP!!-B-better..." The prince groaned before Twilight escorted him below deck to rest.

"Helmsman! How far are we?" The chieftain asked one of the crew members after noticing they were passing over Ghastly Gorge.

"Just a few miles north of Appleoosa sir." The helmsman replied as Wulfric stared to the back of the ship.

"Remarkable. It would normally take us weeks to pass through that gorge but with this, it only took less than five minutes. Our world has gotten smaller."

"Indeed it has." Said the voice of Chrysalis who was lounging back in her easy chair while two servants held up bowls of fruit for her to snack on.

"Last time I was on a cruise like this, I disguised myself as a rich stallions mistress." She yawned before dismissing her servants and joined Wulfric on the bow of the ship. Much to the chieftains discomfort.

"You're worried about your friends aren't you?"

"What's it matter to you?" Wulfric retorted while looking away.

"Oh come now Wulfric. We're all good friends here." The queen said while slyly wrapping her arm around Wulfrics to feel his muscle.

"And if you want we can be more than friends.~" She said in a sultry voice with her lips just inches away from his. Her attempts at seduction were cut short when Applejack stepped in and pushed back Chrysalis with a hateful glare.

"Keep your filthy hands off my man..." The farm mare hissed as the queens bodyguards prepared to strike while Wulfric prepared to defend his mare.

"Oh Applejack I'm just teasing." The queen said in a friendly manner while getting her guards to stand down.

Chrysalis retired to the lower quarters of the ship for a nap while Applejack stayed close to Wulfric, fearing she might try to seduce him again.

"The nerve of that bug, tryin' to kiss you!" Applejack pouted.

"Like I'd let her do that. I do keep a dagger hidden for a reason." Wulfric said to her with a kiss to the forehead.

"That bugs got nothing on you. You are the strongest, fiercest and most beautiful woman I've met."

"Fierce?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow as she snuggled up to her stag.

"Yes, fierce. A real she wolf~." Wulfric replied in a flirtatious voice before yanking her in by the tail and wrapping her in his arms.

"You know the others are watching right?" Applejack replied in the same manner while drawing closer to his lips.

"Let em watch.~"

Without a care in the world, the lovers kissed each other with the whole crew cheering them on until Twilight and the others came onto the deck with smug looks on their faces.

"I hope we're not interrupting." Said Rarity who kept a keen eye on her friend as Wulfric released her from his embrace.

"Sorry Applejack but Twilight needs Wulfrics help to help go over our plans." She told her friend feeling slightly guilty for interrupting a touching moment.

"No trouble at all Rarity." The chieftain replied before giving his mare a quick peck to the cheek. After Wulfric went below, the two mares kept each other company while enjoying the view of the world below and listend to the gentle sound of the sails rustling in the wind.

"You really are lucky darling." Rarity sighed while resting her head.

"Whaddya mean?" Asked Applejack.

"You have your family back together and you have such a wonderful gentleman for a lover. Though he can be a bit rough around the edges." Rarity giggled slightly.

"I'm also lucky to have found you all again." Applejack added as she leaned on Rarity with a happy smile.

"I thought I'd never see any of you again. We lost so much in this war, our homes, our families...I almost gave up hope."

Applejack began remembering her days as a slave and how she almost submitted to the Stonehoof regime with only Rainbow Dash to help keep her going. She would have given in long ago if Wulfric and his clan hadn't attacked Ponyville that day and joined them in the fight against Dainn.

Below Deck

Wulfric and Twilight were overlooking their strategy to launch a counterattack against the royal army and hoped that Princess Luna and Marshall could hold out long enough until the arrived. Twilight was the leading tactician while her brother and Princess Ember lead the ground assault.

"Listen carefully everyone." She addressed the others as they went over their plans.

"Once we arrive at the battle, our best shot is to land just outside the rear gate of the fortress with the other ships. That should be just outside of their firing range so this all depends on you and the crew Wulfric."

"My men can do it." The chieftain said with confidence as the continued.

"Ember, you and your dragons will join Shining Armors pegasus unit in securing the fort. Once you've done so, raise up your banner on the highest point you can find. It'll be our signal to launch the second wave."

"Second wave?" Asked the dragon princess when Chrysalis stepped forward, hiding her smile behind a fan.

"I had Crafty Dodger and a thousand of my changelings camp out in the forest just beyond the stronghold, in case your soldiers needed reinforcements. I even had some of them disguise themselves as soldiers to infiltrate the enemy ranks." The changeling queen bragged before clamping her fan shut.

"Once the signal is given, my men will attack the enemies right flank and destroy their siege weapons which will give our comrades in the fortress ample time to regroup and join us in the attack. However..." She paused slightly.

"In the event of us not making it in time, Dodger and his men will attack to help delay the enemy."

"A thousand against the entire royal army?" Said Sergeant Quartz feeling doubtful.

"Do not underestimate my men sergeant. Each of them can take on a hundred of your best soldiers any day." The queen responded in a prideful manner, as if praising her men like they were her children. The sergeant however was not convinced.

"For the sake of our our comrades, I hope you're right Chrysalis."

Forests Edge

Just as the queen anticipated, the royal army was now on the brink of breaching the fortress gates as a massive battering ram was rolled across the field with only a small army of samurai standing in its way.

"My tigers!" Crafty Dodger shouted to his warriors as they stood at attention.

"You stand before me because you are the best. None of us would bow before the false king; Dainn Stonehoof. Make no mistake my tigers, their army outnumbers us greatly but if we are to die then so be it! For we will die legends, we will die warriors, we. Will die. SAMURAI!!"

Roused by their champions speech, the samurai let out a mighty warcry as they charged out of the forests edge with swords gleaming in the sunlight and the faces of their enemies stricken with fear as they stared into the glowing emerald eyes behind their demon masks.

With just a thousand troops, tide of the battle had once again turned.

End.