"Alright Shadow, you understand your orders?"

"Yes."

"Questions?"

"No."

"Follow me."

Valkardian led her through a portal, he had many, many things to do while she was off waging a small war in Western Equestria and the longer she kept their attention the better off they would be.

Watchful eyes had taken note of a sudden deployment of forces from Canterlot but not much else, they were headed towards the refugee camp but more importantly Cadence had been liberated and was being brought in. This meant it was time to deploy the first forces and make contact with the enemy setting the entire chain of events into motion.

Shadow was very eager to see what kind of forces she would command and had been promised a pleasant surprise as well. A letter to her family in Dodge Junction laid out what was happening in Equestria and to remain there no matter how bad things got.

Of course Valkardian had to drive the point home so a wraith was sent bearing a crystal for them to watch, hopefully they would listen to her and not do anything stupid. So far they were staying put.

On the other side of the portal was another fortress and walking down its halls she started to shake with anticipation, beyond the walls an army awaited her command. Shadow was going to make good on it too with high hopes of sending them reeling from the first blows before making them follow her on a wild goose chase.

Herr Blutlanze be damned, Shadow was going to prove to him that she did indeed deserve this.

"Before I open this door, tell me why Equestria lost the war so quickly."

"Arrogance. They thought no one could or would invade and conquer their nation. The idea that an enemy would show up with such numbers and occupy their lands with an iron fist while playing the princesses against each other is unthinkable in pony logic. Few preparations were made either and those that did are traitors. Celestia refused to see the truth and hampered her sisters attempts-"

"That will be enough, you understand. ARROGANCE. One word is what cost them a nation. Do not become arrogant yourself Shadow, you may win or loose your first battle but fight each one as if it might be your last. Do not hold back. Be vicious. Cruel, caniving, underhanded, make them scream in fear at your approach. That is how a war is won. Kill them all!"

"Yes sir."

"What are you?"

"I... I am your general."

"Are you an Equestrian?"

"No."

"Bat pony?"

"I am a thestral."

"Are those you are to march against friend or foe in your heart?"

Shadow took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"My enemy. Your enemy. I know what I have to do Valkardian, I will not hesitate nor falter."

"What stake do you hold in this fight? Why is it your fight?"

"They are a threat to my family and be damned if I kneel before a bastard like Steelshod!"

Valkardian tapped her shield's crest.

"It was not intended to be this way but by keeping that shield you also fight in memory of another."

"Valkardian... You are worrying. I see it in your face. I never knew her and never will but I will carry this shield and wear her armor despite it. What was done to her and those people was wrong and if I slaughter those above who plan to do the same, then I honor their memory by preventing it from happening again."

He smiled at the sterness in her voice, it had taken on a steel like quality. "Getting rather personal and vocal hm?"

"We became more personal the moment you began to teach me."

"True. Now come along."

With a touch the heavy stone door ground open and moved aside allowing them onto a balcony. Stretched out below their perch a large army stood in formation quietly waiting.

"This is the 3rd division, second army group. Thirteen thousand total. They are now yours to command."

A tap on her shoulder sent a shock through her body, she could feel them, each and every one them was now hers to command.

"You should already know what the force composition looks like but yours has a few additions. Three battalions of archers make up your forces rather than two. A flight of gargoyles will help with any pegasi problems. No artillery, too heavy and slow for your mission. Eight wraiths are in this bag, use them as your eyes and ears. Deploy them like you were taught and then focusing will give you a birds eye view of the battlefield to provide you with better command and control."

Taking a long breath he motioned and they both reappeared below in a flash of magical light.

"Remember, Steelshod's second wave will arrive tomorrow, it will take a day to unload and reorganize while getting new orders. You have one day to strike then begin your retreat while burning everything along the way. Four Noble Armies are in your area of operation and will give chase, destroy one of them before they get wind of your presence. That will leave thirty some thousand against you. Reinforcements will be available at the first way-point."

"Understood." She was ready to start bouncing.

"Remember, this will be a strain but nowhere near as much compared to the crystals. Stay calm and think. If this army were alive you would not be able to command them at all. Remember that."

"Oooooh! Whats that?!"

Shadow was hopping while looking at the monstrous creature that waited farther down the column. It was a hulking monstrosity of a lizard on all fours, its skeletal structure was plated over in armor with a saddle on it. Razor sharp teeth lined its jaws and two glowing red eyes watched her.

"That is your mount. Such is unheard of to ponies and most creatures on this world but you will ride this creature. Not only will its height give you the ability to see over your own ranks should the wraiths be destroyed or fail but it can also fight, scale walls, dig and most of all... Get you from point A to B without having to use your own energy. Also if you are wounded it is your mobile hospital."

"Can I?!"

"Yes, you remember the training correct?"

"Yes but I never thought I would actually get to see one or RIDE one!"

Shadow flapped into the air and landed on the monster, there were no reigns, it did not need them as a simple thought would send it into motion.

"Remember, this works the same way as the training table, think your commands and they will respond."

"So is Herr Blutlanze doing the same elsewhere?"

"No. The others will be joining me in taking care of other matters and making certain the armies are in place when Steelshod gives chase. Do. Not. Be. Taken. Alive!"

"I wont. Trust me!"

"Funny you saying that... Give your forces a few commands to get a feel for it, the gate will open allowing you out when ready."

Nodding she turned her mount around and was surprised by its speed compared to regular soldiers.

"Oh! Remember! Being on that thing makes you a target!"

She waved over her shoulder as the great lizard rapidly moved along till she was at the front of the column.

"Alright... Ready!"

The entire army shifted quickly into a battle stance.

"Forward!"

In perfect sync they marched down the tunnel past her slowly and calling a halt had them shift to ease then forward again at a faster pace. Starting, stopping, drawing, sheathing, one command after another went out and was received.

Testing the response of each battalion went just as well and quickly memorizing their number she began their march again. Ahead the cave wall got closer then began to open allowing sunlight to filter down.

Leaving the tunnel first she sent three wraiths into the air to act as scouts as the army marched out into the light of day for the first time.

"EEEeehehehehe!" Shadow bounced up and down in the saddle delighted as they streamed past.

It was a straight shot to her first victims at a small outpost just a few miles away. About a hundred soldiers guarded it and her first order was to burn it to the ground and collect the bodies into a pile, place a marking crystal on top then leave.

Attacking in broad daylight would give them away but that was the point, raise the alarm and get the ball rolling. The sooner the Noble Armies gave chase the better and the closest army would be Baron Hightower's. Roughly eight thousand strong made up mostly of earth ponies and a handful of unicorns and pegasi.

Turning her mount and moving with the column at a rapid pace she figured they would get there within an hour or two. Skeletons moved slowly but never having to sleep meant they could double their travel distance easily.

As they hurried towards their first target Shadow closed her eyes a moment and remembered what the terrain looked like from above. She had less than a day to figure out how to kill one force, draw a second then plot where to engage them.

Steelshod had only eight soldiers on both airships, stripped of their equipment and tossed over the sides Colonel Fleur's soldiers were now arming the ballista's quickly on the deck while others tore into the cargo collecting weapons and armor.

One had been stabbed despite the element of surprise but they would be fine. Now however they had a train to stop, going by air allowed them to cut the train off far ahead but getting it to stop was going to be a feat in and of itself.

A last minute messenger had tossed a note into the cargo bay detailing the trains change of plans. A platoon now went with Ironshod and they all understood their purpose. Some were loaded into the train car with him others in one behind. They knew which train car to aim for but could do absolutely nothing about Ironshod's predicament in broad daylight.

Once the train slowed to a halt or was forced to brake all at once there would be a massacre on the train-car. Still, the plan was to go forward, there was no backing down now or ever. Fleur and the others hoped the old stallion had another trick up his sleeve.

Landing the airships beside the rail they quickly disembarked the bulk of her forces leaving only the ballista crews and archers behind. A new plan was drawn up, while one would make a "crash landing" on the rail forcing the train to brake hard as planned the other would now fly in from behind and drop teams onto the roofs of the car's containing soldiers.

With any luck they could break the locks Steelshod's soldiers had placed on them allowing those inside to jump free and be ready for a fight. Landing on Ironshod's car would be a horrible risk and only tip them off faster. He knew what was going to happen and hopefully try something. Still, landing one on the top to take a peak could not hurt.

As for the tailing car with the remainder of the platoon in it... Well a few jugs of lamp oil poured through the top vent and thrown through the windows with a torch would take care of that little problem. If nothing else it would flush them out and make them more worried about the flames long enough to catch them unprepared.

Distant smoke alerted them to the trains approach and rising high into the air to avoid being seen the first airship waited while the second moved South to get behind the train and begin its descent.

It was a wild guess as to how far the train would go before screaming to a halt but they hoped it would stop just before reaching the waiting battalions.

Time ticked by slowly as the train meandered along, Fleur gave the signal and the airship quickly lost elevation. Ropes were ready and tossing them over the port side as the airship hovered above the caboose's teams began to climb down.

Watching she realized it would take too long so they lowered even more cutting the distance in half and some opted to just jump the short distance landing with heavy bangs on the car roofs. Hanging over the side they began to batter the locks off while others called to the occupants.

Moving down the line another team was quietly dropped onto the car containing Steelshod's platoon while a single soldier was lowered onto the officer car. Things were looking up as jugs of oil were lowered down along with torches but the frantic waving of arms meant something was not going right.

Climbing back up the rope and hearing the bad news Fleur let out an irritated sigh, the windows were blacked out with heavy cloth, they could not see inside. Up ahead the train engineer finally saw them and began shouting.

"Shut him up!"

Two pegasi that had been brought along as couriers shot off down the line and tackled the engineer. Well, it was out of her hands. Even if they put a team down to storm the officer car they could not fit enough on to make a difference without knowing where the enemy was in the car. Signaling to break off and fly higher the other teams were left behind to wait.

Up ahead the other airship began to lower itself rapidly onto the rails as the engineer was held hostage and forced to apply the brakes hard. Sparks flew in long streaks as the whole line ground to a halt.

Hanging on for dear life the teams waited out the forward momentum. As the train finally slowed enough to regain themselves the vent was kicked off the soldier car and oil jugs tossed in while others threw them through the windows. A single lit torch was dropped inside as soldiers bailed and rolled upon hitting the ground.

Flame engulfed the car as screams of pain rang out, doors flew open as matchstick ponies poured out flailing from the inferno. Most eyes however watched the officer car praying Ironshod did something soon.

Seconds later their prayers were partially answered as the car exploded in a ball of fire and smoke, a handful of figures jumped free and began running like hell was on their hooves seconds later.

Angry screams sounded out as enemy soldiers jumped free and gave chase.

"Aim!"

Fleur screamed at the waiting archers and ballista crew's while pointing at Ironshod's pursuers.

"Fire!"

A flurry of arrows and bolts streamed down from above, some missed but the soldiers stopped chasing and huddled together with their shields raised.

From two directions her soldiers rushed forward to surround them but she signaled for them to halt short as the ship lowered itself more. Ironshod was safe having reached friendly lines and the ballista were being cranked quickly.

There was a great deal of confusion for the last eleven soldiers as they went over their possibilities. Their backup was already dead, burning, wounded or already huddled in with them.

"Aim the ballista's for the center!... FIRE!"

Yanking the pins free the two bolts screamed into the densely packed ranks and skewered them with shields firmly pinned to bodies.

"Archers! Fire!"

A hailstorm of arrows tore into the gaps and felled several more before weapons were dropped and hands raised.

Landing and joining the other officers Fleur was happy to see the smoke and dust covered general.

"What happened?"

"Oh I figured you would keep with the plan anyway and these two had a few magical tricks they knew. We knew when the train stopped they would kill us but hearing the screaming behind us we decided what the hell we got nothing to loose, burn it!"

Pounding the dust off his uniform he smiled at the others.

"Worked to. Bastards never expected us to blow up a train car with us on it. Now lets see who we have as prisoner here."

Looking over their four prisoners quietly it was apparent they were not officers and had little value.

"I dont suppose you would be willing to tell us anything of value?"

"We are your prisoners. You will get nothing from us."

"Alright that answers that. Come with me."

Ironshod becked a few of his officers away and out of earshot.

"We do not have time nor means to keep prisoners and I know Steelshod would never ransom them. Nor can we take them with us or release them."

"Shackle them to the train and leave them behind?"

"No. We still need the train, Crystap Ponies need these supplies too. Like I said most will go on the airships and be dropped into Ponyville the remainder goes North. Some will be carried on our backs when we fight our way in. Hopefully we can get enough supplies in to make the siege last a few weeks more."

"So three battalions are going in?"

"Plan has not changed one bit, one will remain with me to liberate the camp then turn south. Hopefully tonight the flight teams can escape and tear up the rail line leaving Canterlot and shatter the three bridges. That should slow them down. With any luck my attacks on their rail lines will keep them occupied for a while to come."

"That still leaves the prisoners general..."

A long pause hung in the air as he looked at the soldiers.

"Execute them."

"WHAT!?" It was a chorus as eyes widened.

Ironshod raised his hands to silence them.

"None of us were trained for this. Hell, none of us ever expected to ever fight a real war let alone fight even a single real battle. Luna gave us our orders, they dehorned her! This is war and that means killing which includes executing prisoners if need be!"

"Sir!"

"ENOUGH! I am not going to waste time or supplies on the enemy, kill them and their wounded. We have until nightfall to get into position and have both airship's cargo switched. There is no time for this!"

Looking at each other they slowly nodded and filtered away but Fleur and Major Night Bane remained behind with the general and followed him to the prisoners. They had been stripped of their armor and were wearing nothing but pants and shirts, taking a sword from a nearby soldier Ironshod stabbed the first one then another.

Joining in the other officers quickly dispatched the other two and ordered the surrounding soldiers watching in horror to kill the wounded and get ready to switch the airship's cargo.

Night was falling when the job was complete, a train steamed North once more carrying Ironshod with a single battalion and earlier the telegraph line had been cut. Below the airships three battalions marched south rapidly towards Ponyville. If everything went well they would arrive sometime tomorrow morning.

Outpost #6 was manned by a skeletal crew of five including a single pegasus for the sole purpose of carrying messages. Not that it mattered, they were nearly in the heart of Equestria and the only reason they even existed was because Lord Hightower required one to be built.

Staring out at the forest was utterly boring, its dense canopy hid anything below and other than watching tree's grow they could stare at the open green fields as wind swept across their surface bending the tall stalks of grass. Behind them was their camp roughly a mile away, nothing ever happened there either.

Equestria was now an empire though complete with emperor and empress, it had been a shock reading the paper proclaiming this new dawn in Equestrian history. Some wanted to know if they would try and liberate Canterlot but the officers and Hightower conferred with them. Celestia had accepted this and even taken a husband. Now it was their duty to keep vigilant watch for any enemies that might try and disturb the peace.

Newspapers showed up regularly, everything was fine, relief was being sent to the refugee's in the north, stores were still open, theater's had plays and all in all nothing was different. Payday had come and gone again as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

Only one of them ever kept watch now, two were supposed to stay awake at all times but they had adopted their own little "quiet rules" about that. So long as an officer did not show up they followed the rules but when they left it was back to normal.

Today the pegasus was keeping watch while the other four slept or played checkers. Staring over the grassy plains and letting out a sigh she wondered when they would be rotated out again.

Eyes scanning for movement she spotted a distant cloud rise up from the forest. Turning and watching the birds taking flight in a great cloud before flying away the mare tilted her head and kept watching. Another flock shot up in the air and flew away a few minutes later.

"Hey! Take a look at this."

Rousing from their slumber or tedium they joined her on at a time and watched as the occasional flock of birds took to the air.

"Cool."

"Something has then spooked. Maybe a timber wolf?"

"That's only in the Everfree you idiot!"

"Well else could it be?"

"Don't know but its coming this way..."

"Uhh... Hey Spark's why dont you fly out there and have a look?"

"Cant see a thing through that dense cover."

"Well walk then."

"You first."

Squabling continued until two were sent, the pegasus would fly above while another walked below. Another puff of birds took flight and now it was clear from the squawking they were panicked. Hovering over the trees and looking down Spark could see nothing and glided on hoping Chip's was keeping up below.

Flying directly over where the birds had lifted off from she could see nothing and flying lower she passed through the dense cover and faltered. Below her a swarm of creatures from her nightmares stood in formation without moving.

Beating her wings to lift up something pounded into her from behind sending her hurtling to the ground. Crashing amongst them she jumped up as a few armored skeletal heads turned towards her. Pain screamed through her body as blades sank into her sides and somewhere else a sharp scream spoke of Chip's fate.

Laying on the forest floor bleeding out they began to move forward again in perfect unison and looking around widly she caught sight of a horrific creature coming her way. The rider was dressed in dark armor with leathery wings folded up behind.

"Help... Mercy..."

No response was given as the creature lumbered past but the rider looked down making Spark wish she had remained silent. Peering into the eyeless helmet the figure looked away as the army continued on nodding.

A passing soldier slowed only long enough to drive a blade into her chest before continuing on.

"See them yet?"

"Nope. Wait, look at that!"

A hulking beast emerged from the forest carrying a rider and stopped a short distance from the tree-line.

"Woah, what is that thing?"

"Where is Spark and Chip?"

"Hey look, its doing something!"

"Raising it arm?"

"Maybe its wav-"

The sergeant was yanked backwards sharply letting out a yelp and spinning around the other two screamed as winged creatures grabbed them and tore into their armor and flesh.

"Forward."

Shadow's army moved forward again emerging from the forest in three columns. Ahead of her was a road leading straight to the enemy camp and now that the gargoyles had silenced the only outpost within sight she was free to advance on Hightowers army with impunity.

Two wraiths were already far ahead and spying on his camp, their siege equipment was limbered and covered in tarps waiting to be moved so there was no threat there. A handful of companies were armed and marching in a circle around the camp in an endless cycle of boredom.

No walls, pits, spikes let alone a ditch blocked her from just marching in and taking them. Lord Hightower however was nowhere to be seen so she assumed he was at his nearby mansion. Killing him was important but also somewhat optional, so long as his forces were wiped out he would no longer matter as much.

"Kill them all" had been the order but it was also a contradiction, Valkardian wanted her to make certain a few did get away to raise the alarm, going in without being noticed was important but after that... Maybe letting Hightower live would serve as a warning to get things in motion.

Mulling over the options Shadow threw two columns out wide to encircle the camp while the last would keep going forward then draw up at the edge of the forest. It was fortuitous that no attempt was made to clear the forest from the edge of the camp nor two of its sides but very unfortunate for them.

As they continued forward more wraiths were sent out but her thoughts slipped back to the over all plan again. Valkardian could just go and TAKE Canterlot at any time, that was true. However, he was aiming to destroy all those who betrayed Celestia thus restoring the balance of power.

Unfortunately for the various Noble Armies that meant they had to die. Indoctrinated into doubting Celestia and now worshiping Steelshod meant they had to go and today it was her solemn duty to ensure his command was carried out.

Fanning out the column into a line backed by two of her three archer battalions Shadow kept advancing while riding at the rear. Although her eyes could see absolutely nothing more than a hundred yards ahead now the wraith's were the true eyes and ears allowing her to see the enemy army perfectly.

Everything was now in place, all she had to do was squeeze. Playing the battle like it was on the table back in the training room her forces all began to move forward at the same time forming a stretched out triangle. The bottom she sat on would drive them through the camp and into the center while the other two column hemmed them in. Move quickly enough and she would have them trapped then it would be a matter of time.

As the first lines marched from the forest and into view of the camp a company of enemy soldiers yelled out in alarm and turned to face her forward ranks. Now that they were free of the tree's they could pick up the pace and sending them forward at a fast pace they closed the distance before suddenly stopping a few yards short.

Arrows flew in from the flanks and peppered the camp's more densely populated area's on the fringes. It worked, the companies soon backed away and fell into the center of the camp as soldiers ran to collect their weapons. Driving forward again now that all the columns were in place they poured into the camp and began carving a bloody swath through them.

The more her enemy clustered together the easier it was for the archers to massacre them in their densely packed camp. Most however ran from the encroaching forces in a terrified stampede to get away only to slam into others fleeing from other directions.

Although time was running out quickly for them they had begun to rally and form up their ranks, unicorns began to fire off spells that mostly had no effect on the undead ranks. Not taking chances the gargoyles flew up and dived down onto the officers she picked out spreading pandemonium among the enemy ranks.

They had not been prepared for this, squeezing them in the six thousand or so survivors were now densely clustered and fully encircled, rotation orders went out every few minutes now that her ranks were packed enough to be worth the bother.

Flying up quickly and looking into their ranks Shadow drew two crystals into her hands and aimed. Fire spat out and ripped through their ranks in one burst after another breaking up any groups that had managed to form ranks.

The smell of burning fur and flesh filled the air as black clouds of smoke billowed into the air after each burst. Unicorns began to bring magical shields up or fire energy bolts at her but they plinked off her armor or missed entirely.

Landing back on her mount and putting the crystals away she surveyed the battle again through her wraiths eye's before turning her attention to the distant mansion. One had been sent to check and sure enough Lord Hightower was inside with other officers screaming and scrambling to try and figure out what to do.

Wraiths could technically pass through walls and materialize enough to attack but she decided against risking one of her precious observers and recalled it. Hightower had settled on sending a telegram to the other forces in the immediate area instead and was now going to flee for his life.

"Another day then." Shadow mumbled to herself ignoring him entirely now, focusing instead on the slaughter in front. Their numbers had diminished heavily and those few that could fly were cut down the moment they lifted off by the circling gargoyles.

If any officers were still alive they were hiding now too afraid to yell or move their arms for fear of being lifted into the air and torn to shreds only to rain down in pieces on their own soldiers.

Checking the time it had taken her some twenty minutes to drive them in and wipe almost the entire force out but now things were picking up pace. Watching patiently the last were quickly cut down and moving her forces back the last phase began: piling the bodies up.

It did not take as long since most were already packed in tightly but stacking them up into a large heap still took an hour. Flying over the pile with her crystal she moved her forces away and started their march to their next destination before landing in the center and sending out the mental command began the countdown.

Flying away rapidly and landing on her distant mount Shadow looked back and watched eager to see what would happen. A blinding flash obscured her vision for a moment before revealing nothing, the bodies were gone. Knowing other eyes still watched she hurried her mount onward knowing that soon enough Steelshod would be forced to gather the various armies and hopefully Valkardian's trap would work whatever it may be.

Steelshod had spent all day staring at the reports and plotting his next move. First a train had arrived bearing an empty cage and bodies, Cadence had been nicked and the telegraph line cut in several places. It had gone back up but not before the two battalions had departed.

Making matters worse the one train had been delayed all day in Ponyville then got stuck on a side rail waiting for the other train to pass. One thing that was obvious in the whole situation was that Chrysalis was behind Cadence being taken, the bolts buried in his soldiers chest's were proof enough being of changeling design.

Then came the arrival of another telegraph saying Lord Hightower had lost his entire command to the hands of an army of undead. He believed the report, the bodies were all missing, only blood remained. A short eyewitness account of what happened came along with it not that it was needed.

So he was building up his forces by harvesting the scattered Noble Armies... That meant he had time to counter him by bringing them together now and avoid being harvested. Three armies were to come together and give chase to keep the pressure up and deny him a chance to harvest any more bodies so that was covered as well.

If they could catch his retreating force of around ten thousand they could certainly cause some real damage if commanded properly... That was very much in doubt though.

What made him more angry than anything however the failure of the fleet to arrive on time. The siege equipment on board was needed now more than ever to drill down and invade, not only that the time it would take to move it into position...

Ancient maps of Celestia's failed invasion into his domain were on the table in anticipation but now were utterly useless. Leaning back and heaving out a sigh he closed his eyes and mulled over the other thorn in his side: Ponyville.

Any chance of forcing a surrender were not completely out. Without Cadence to use as leverage it would be impossible to contain the Crystal Ponies nor the town if word got out. Word... His word had been given that she would be brought there to force their surrender... Never arriving would only make them resist harder thinking she had escaped dragging the affair out.

"Orderly! Take a message... To General Baros, launch the attack ahead of schedule, end the charade. NOW. No prisoners."

Scribbling away the corporal bowed and sealed the message and ran from the room. Come tomorrow morning Ponyville would be a true ghost town.

Looking back at his map he hummed quietly tracing his finger along trying to guess his enemies next move. If he was harvesting that would mean having to attack another force and that left... Ah. Lady Opulance. She had... Nine thousand... Not enough. If Lord Goldcrest and the other one could move fast enough that would give them thirty thousand. In an open field that would make those ten thousand hard pressed and susceptible to flanking...

"Bah!" Steelshod shook his head, they had already been ordered to give chance immediately and press forward with all haste. Aggression was required to drive the undead back and below. Still, it would be wise to take a few precautions.

Writing out a letter quickly he waited on the orderly to return from delivering the message to a runner. Upon their return they were sent off again bearing orders for the other armies. All would be shifted around and moved from the North East and East to a more central location.

The Unicorn Range would be their gathering point along the rail line, from there they would be driven south rapidly to cut off the undead or force them below then reshuffle the formations into larger blocks to prevent harvest. It would take two weeks to pull it off but the hassle would be worth it.

Letting out a sigh Steelshod leaned back and looked out the window. It was time to lower the sun and raise the moon. Standing he walked from the room and moved deeper into the castle to the most well guarded of all: the treasure room.

The name made him chuckle for there was not one single gold coin inside, instead it housed the horns of Equestria's former rulers. It was not terribly hard to raise and lower the sun and moon on his own but it always brought a smile to his face when looking at the horns before turning day to night.

Author's Notes:

Hope you are still enjoying the story still, remember to comment, suggest, etc.