The mighty city of Pegasoplis drifted above. Its mighty ramparts of almost solid cloud made it appear less of a city, and more like a fortress. It was dense and compact, like a ship of truly gigantic size. Swarms of Pegasi buzzed over its towers, carrying out last minute preparations for the logistics of the oncoming battle. They would not give up without a fight.

We had moved on from Casúrdomhain. Ebony had given us most of her supplies, now unneeded since she no longer had to feed a whole Order of Knights. Of the march itself, there wasn't too much to say. Spent tracking, checking, and double checking the route of the cloud city. We had found it with little difficulty. During the Winter, the city was out to sea. Traveling over the waves as the Pegasi fished for food. But with the onset of Spring, they came back inland. True to previous years, Pegasopolis had set itself in a central location, a spot primed for raiding both the Clans, and Unicornia for their crops.

So we had caught them pinned in place, surrounding them on all sides.

I didn't take their preparedness as a sign that we had another spy, although I didn't discount the possibility. The cloud city above probably had known about our approach for hours, maybe even days.

The War council stood on the bank of the lake underneath the branches of a tree, watching the swirling Legion Pegasi above. Our own Pegasi kept on the ground, too wary of being out numbered in the air.

"Come here." I gestured, picking up a stick and beginning to draw in the dirt. "We all know the plan, but I want to go over it now that we're actually here."

My War Council joined me.

“We can’t directly attack them, so we’re going to have to win by attrition. If we ration carefully, we can last for a long time.” I drew a circle inside an obolid shape. “Have the Earth Ponies dig in, They can provide adequate shelter from whatever weather Pegasoplis conjures.” I drew another shape, outlining the shape I thought the lake was. “Groundworks to shield from the lightning, and a series of irrigation ditches feeding back into the lake. We can’t let them drown us out. Intersperse the powerful Unicorns and Earth Pony siege engines evenly throughout the formation, Keep the City from drifting away.

“Why drain back into the lake? If we drain enough away they run out of water.”

“You can try, but the lake is the low point in the valley.” I chewed my lip. “Besides, if they’re spending that much mana they have to eat more of whatever supplies they have.”

“What can our Pegasi do?” asked Captain Comet.

While I could trust him at Casúrdomhain, he was one of those I trusted the least here.

“Keep sheltered with the Earth Ponies and Unicorns. Provide an ability to counter attack if the city raids. But you otherwise are to wait. Don't get surrounded and swarmed in the air.”

“Understood.” he nodded.

“It shouldn’t go without saying to keep an eye out for spies and defectors. Here more than ever. I want whatever supplies we have to be hidden randomly throughout our fortifications, never in one single place.” I poked dots into the dirt along the outer shape. “We can’t let them steal what we have. Not only does it shorten the time we can spend here, but it lengthens theirs.”

“How much for every location?” a portly Earth Pony stallion asked. Short List. He had once been a mayor if I remembered correctly.

“Small amounts, decentralize it as much as possible. If we lose any amount, we must lose as little as possible.”

“We’ll be able to keep everything better hidden too.” Clover chirped.

“How big or deep do you want these Earth works?” A large stallion who held a shovel asked. His ginger beard bouncing with his jaw. He had been one of the Ponies who had worked under Puddinghead, so I wasn't sure what his name was quite yet.

“Thick enough overhangs to protect against lightning, Sturdy enough to take a falling boulder, and deep enough to have irrigation ditches below us so we don't drown.”

“Aye General…” He grunted, examining his shovel in thought.

“Anything else?” I asked, looking around.

Nopony raised any further points.

“Excellent, now while the army digs in, I want a flag of parlay and a cart with a decent dinner for two.” I inwardly clapped my hooves in happiness as every face I saw looked at me as if I had grown a second head.

“Pardon?” Quartermaster Gold Note asked.

“I’m going to ask for their surrender. To distract them while the army can freely work. Buy as much time as I can. Even if they don’t accept, I don’t want to cause any more death than we have to. That means I have to tempt them over, perhaps with breakfast every day.” I replied.

“You’re going to waft food in front of their noses?” a mare who had also been under Puddinghead asked incredulously.

“Never thought I’d see eating good food being turned into a weapon…” The ginger stallion commented.

“Eventually, they’ll come to the table and be more open to terms.” I nodded.

“Is that everything?” the former mayor asked, his rather round face, short beard and balding head looking very out of place in the leather armor he wore.

“If nopony else has any suggestions or better ideas?” I asked, calling out in invitation.

Nopony spoke.

“Then we all have jobs to do.” I dismissed.

The meeting dispersed, I followed behind them as they left the tree cover, looking for somepony to give me the cart of food or the flag.

A Pegasi messenger mare flew by and gave me a stick with a white rag attached.

“Thank you.” I said, taking the offered item.

She smiled, but was too busy with her saddlebag of messages to reply.

I tucked the small flag into my cragodile vest and watched for the cart.

I decided to forego a breastplate again. I had no doubt that the Pegasi would be using lightning, and I didn't want anymore metal on me than I had to.

A few moments later, Gold Note and one of his underlings came, the underling pushing a small hoof cart, a sheet of cloth covering what looked to be bowls of food and eating utensils.

“Every morning?” The uptight stallion asked.

“I’m not going to eat it all.” I nodded. “If they don’t come, then I’ll come back and give it back to provide meals for Ponies back here.”

“I see.” he hummed. “Am I to expect the same thing with this cart?” he asked, putting his hoof and padding the cart to his side.

“I expect not. They’ll send somepony, even if it’s just because they’re curious.”

“I see.” he said again, sounding much less pleased.

“You don’t approve.” I half asked.

“Of course I don’t! You ask me to be frugal and strict with our rations! But then you offer food to the enemy!”

“Yes, the same way you give arrows and rocks to the enemy when you throw one.” I reposted.

“I don’t like it…” he growled. “But I understand the reasoning.” he relented. “You shall have your two breakfasts per day.” With that, the stallion turned and left without a word.

The underling, an early teenage Unicorn colt, hadn’t been paying attention. He had been watching the army around him as they made busy. He started with a jolt as he realized his Master was no longer nearby. He nervously glanced around, saw the backside of Gold Note, and scurried back to his Master’s side, leaving the cart behind.

I watched them disappear into the crowd.

Ponies were weird.

I reared up onto the hoof cart and began to push.

I had Pegasi to talk to.

The spot I had chosen was the closest bit of land near the front gate of Pegasoplis, it jutted out slightly from the shore, providing a sort of natural halfway point. I stopped pushing the cart and proceeded a few more steps forward, making myself clear to see from the battlements.

A row of Pegasi helmets, could be see over the edge, peering downward.

I took the flag out from my vest and started to wave.

“PARLAY! I ASK FOR PARLAY!” I exclaimed upward.

A Pegasi Commander rose from the battlements. They floated and came down alone.

As they approached, I took the cover off the cart and began setting up plates to eat.

I left their plate empty, but began serving myself as they- she approached.

“You are intruding on Pegasoplian Land!” the mare exclaimed. “Leave now or suffer the consequences!”

“It was my understanding the Pegasoplis doesn’t have any claim to the ground!” I responded.

“Pegasoplis claims anything that it is above!” the mare snorted.

“Then come! Claim this meal that is below your city!” I gestured at the empty plate.

That seemed to surprise the Commander, her eyes flicked to the plate, the food, and then back to me.

“What is your game Unicorn?” she asked bluntly.

“I’m here to ask for your surrender.” I replied.

“‘Our surrender’?” she snorted. “Filly, this is how this is gonna work.” She pointed up at Pegasoplis. “THAT.” she enunciated. “Is Pegasoplis, the city that cannot be defeated.”

I poured myself a mug of water from a clay pitcher. I then sat down and took a sip from the mug as the mare continued.

“I don’t know what rock you’ve been hiding under if you haven't heard any of the stories, but clearly you’ve found a place beyond the rumor mill.”

“Uh huh… Go on.” I deadpanned, taking a fork in my hoof and stabbing a bun.

“Wait… What are you doing?” she asked.

“Uh… Eating?” I replied. “Won’t you sit down? I’d rather discuss things with you rather than whatever you’re expecting.”

The mare glared at me, but she relented and sank to the ground, landing and sitting on the opposite side of the cart.

“What are your terms?” she growled.

“Well;” I started. “You might want to start serving yourself… I have quite a few things I want to say.” I bit on the end of the fork and ate the bun. Instead of talking and eating at the same time, I took a few moments to properly chew and swallow before continuing. “We don’t have to do this. We’re not here because we want to. We’re here because Ponies need to stop fighting, and that means you need to stop raiding.”

“Stop fighting?” the mare snorted again. “You mean to tell me you believe that Windego shit? Filly, I’ve been in this sky longer than your Mother has walked the Earth ok? I’ve seen plenty of shit, but not once have I seen any ghostly horse of ice.”

I took a moment to harpoon a slice of carrot. “So you’ve heard the rumors? Then could you tell me who supposedly killed them? And please, will you not eat?” I ate the carrot.

The mare glared at me, but spitefully took a spoon and began piling food on the provided plate.

“Rumors are never true filly.” she growled. “And I find any who think otherwise to be fools.”

“Humor me.” I took a another sip from my water.

The mare paused, but continued serving herself.

“A blue mare, with a sword and-” she stopped. Her eyes were on my sword.

I took another sip from my cup.

“You… You’re saying…” she gasped.

“And it’s probably old news by now, but do you remember ‘Hydrabane’?”

“You-” she gaped, pointing a hoof.

“I don’t want to kill any more Ponies than I have to.” I stated, now that I had her attention. “Surrender, and I swear I will treat every single one of you with respect and dignity.” I put the mug down and picked up my fork, digging into another carrot. “I’ve already taken Casúrdomhain, another impossible fortress to break. And I’ll take Pegasoplis too if you don’t surrender.”

The mare fell silent as she served herself, and eat mindlessly in thought.

I inwardly cheered, but we finished the meal in silence.

Next!

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