Shadow Moon went over the dead generals body and cart for anything useful, several maps were set aside along with logistical sheets but nothing was present on Ponyville or Canterlots force dispositions let alone a single defense plan. The general had not been sloppy and kept all that information carefully stored away where few could reach it: his mind.

It had been a long shot to start with but Valkardian had suggested she dig around anyway just in case. With nothing else left to look for she looked down from the cart's chest and started at the generals body.

Going over his pockets, pouches and anything everything else proved just as fruitless but her eyes settled on his sash and sword. Digging in the chest Shadow had found his red silk sash with gold trim that was lined with medals and tossed it out earlier. His sword was richly decorated with gems and elaborate gold design, unbelting it she examined it before drawing it.

It was a very good sword. Sheathing it Shadow dropped it into one of her pouches then leaning down lifted up the sash and looked over the medals wondering what they meant. Tossing it onto his dead body she remounted and moved away, Minty was going to be fine now but with so little room it meant leaving her behind or stuffing her into a pouch.

Minty had been... "Grateful" for the medical aid but would "travel" with Shadow in a pouch. She was not thrilled at the thought but it was that or be left behind. Riding on and back across the battlefield Shadow marveled at how efficient the undead soldiers were. Without missing a beat they had already drawn back up and were branching off into columns towards the distance pass in the East.

A living army would take two days to make the pass but they could make it in one since there was no need to stop and rest. Not all the columns would be going east towards Ponyville however.

Valkardian had split his force into thirds and one third would be returning to the Underworld while the other two would make the march and wipe out the forces laying siege at Ponyville before marching directly on Canterlot in a mock attack.

Approaching the gathered officers she got her first look at a bone dragon up close and was awed by its size and ethereal wings. Only six had been created to date due to the sheer effort of making them functional but they had been absolutely worth it in her book. Not only had they sent the enemy into full flight but their howling had turned a route into a stampede.

Joining Valkardian, Herr Blutlanze, Graf Nacht and two others Shadow waited as Valkardian addressed her.

"Your prisoner?"

"Alive and sealed up in a pouch. I will drop her off in Ponyville after the battle."

"Very well. Graf you will oversee the collection of bodies and the forces left behind."

"With pleasure."

Spurring their mounts onward they left the lich behind as she directed the collection of bodies. Shadow had already noticed a method to her collection, the ones that were too damaged got left behind but those not shattered to pieces were quickly drug and stacked like cord-wood.

"Nothing useful on the general then I take it?"

"No. Lots of maps but not very good ones by comparison to ours. None had a single marking on them and the logistical information is useless now. Dodge Junction is the site of a supply depot and five hundred "volunteers" that keep it organized. Most of the trains are probably still running far off to our east bringing supplies forward for a non-existent army."

"How many of them?"

"Roughly three thousand that were grabbed in Manehatten, Phillydelphia and elsewhere to act as cargo ponies."

"Will they be arriving here?"

"No. It looked like the plan was to carry as many supplies as possible with them on the way here then double back."

"Starve the troops a day or two but it gave them the speed they wanted... Anything else?"

"Yeah he had a fancy silk sash and sword on him."

"Trophies?"

"I left the sash and his medals on the body but took the sword."

Herr Blutlanze turned slightly.

"The fortunes of war. Is it a decent sword at least?"

Shadow retrieved it and held the sheathed blade up turning it to give him a better view before putting it away.

"Hmph."

"Herr Blutlanze, you at least got to have your own fun even if you were unable to take anything away worth remembering the battle with."

Valkardian watched him a moment longer and no words were exchanged but something piqued Shadow's curiosity.

"Graf Nacht Klinge told me I could have the honors of killing the general since she had already collected enough officers for her "collection." What did she mean by that?"

"She has a seething hatred for useless nobility, especially those that are too "pompous and arrogant" to do it themselves. So she collects them and uses them as her personal servants. Been millennia since she had the chance so she was quite eager."

"Like what you did with Ruby?"

"No, Ruby is sentient her servants are not. I believe she would not like having to put up with them if they were."

"So how many are in your service then? Generals and officers that is."

"You saw plenty of them today. Where is your prisoner anyway?"

"Stuffed in my other pouch."

Herr Blutlanze let out a cough that she thought sounded like a laugh as they moved on as Valkardian watched her before turning away.

"In one day we will reach Ponyville. The attack will be in daylight so we must not allow them to flee in advance towards Canterlot, stick to the plan."

As they rode on Shadow looked around at the columns that surrounded them before opening her pouch and looking inside.

"I will be dropping you off in a day or so."

Closing it before her prisoner could respond she followed along with the other two as they moved east leaving the gore streaked battlefield behind.

Everything was on fire. Absolutely everything. At night a courier would occasionally arrive some days bearing a newspaper or information snuck out of Canterlot or from the Crystal Empire. It was their only link to what was happening beyond their walls.

Several attempts had been made to breach the gates but failed thanks to the new stock of munitions but worse, Shining had to drop the shield days ago because of the strain. Arrows now freely tore back and forth across the camp. Wounded were once more beginning to pile up in the already cramped castle.

Sappers had dug under one section but flooding their tunnel with water magically had driven them off to try again elsewhere. Ladders and ramps had been brought forward again and again but met similar fates. The last two however had allowed a small force over the wall before they drove them back in a bloody brawl of a battle.

Runes had been inscribed on it making the ramps immune to magical attack and even fire. Their saving grace was having enough archers now to pound at them as they raced up the ramp in tightly packed formations allowing the new ballistas to tear into their ranks.

A powerful wind spell had taken care of the rest sending the ramp crashing away. One major problem that remained was the number of unicorns trained and capable for any degree of combat were few enough, the number that knew the spells that bypassed their enemies defenses fewer still.

Twilight was in her element teaching them but there was so little time they had to run out immediately and gain "hands on" experience with the spells. Seeker's would zip over the wall whenever a spell went off but everypony was becoming rather "experienced" at ducking behind the wall or shields after firing a shot.

While the soldiers might be immune to magic their tents, barricades and other equipment was not. By the time they figured this out the other side had already realized this new threat and protected their artillery first.

Once more it was a stalemate. They could not get out but the enemy was unwilling to risk any more lives to get in but that did not stop them from pounding away at their defenses. With the shield down they increased the intensity of the barrage but it did little good.

"We were lucky to get that second wall up to contain the last attack."

"Now that they know its here they wont attack the same place twice. Towers are already being erected farther away and observation posts have been spotted in some of the taller buildings in town."

"Burn em out."

"Towers are too far away but the buildings should be within reach of spells."

Twilight listened as they drew up plans, changed their minds, drew up new ones then settled on doing something else entirely after the means of carrying them out was revealed to be less than what was required.

Loosing one of their battalions had made the enemy far more slow and cautious about attacking which was a boon they had needed. Empty crates had been filled with earth and stacked high as new pits were dug forming an inner ring.

Now the enemy was stuck preparing enough ramps to cross the first wall, more pits and then the second before even attempting to breach the castle itself. Firebombs had no effect thankfully and even rocks failed to damage the solid structure but that did not stop them from aiming for windows and balconies.

Trains had long since stopped moving, wherever they had gone was far away and now they were no longer needed in the area save the one which brought supplies to the besieging army whenever the rail line was open.

"How many ramps do they have now?"

"Enough."

Turning back to the conversation Twilight listened as Fleur and Bright Lance continued their discussion on the next attack coming their way.

"So tonight?"

"Maybe, or tomorrow. They usually wait until a train arrives to carry the wounded away before attacking and it has not arrived. Nothing from Canterlot yet either."

One more day then.

Far in the distance a train was coming with several cars attached to haul the wounded. A bridge had been knocked out again so it had been delayed in Canterlot their courier had told them. However it was once again on its way so the attack would begin probably the moment the train arrived.

It was impossible to see where they planned to attack from, the ramps had been moved during the night and the battalions were arranged in such a way that it did not give their intent away.

Everything was silent as they waited for the train to arrive and looking through her telescope at the distant speck of a train Twilight felt ill again. Watching it for an hour she looked at it knowing that within another two hours the battle would begin all over again.

Shining had recovered enough to keep the shield up for a short duration so they would only have to worry about seekers and the firebombs.

The train was rounding a bend far off in the distance following the cliff's on its way before going into the last tunnel. Not long after it reappeared and steamed steadily on towards the last bridge which had been destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed again and then rebuilt so many times they had lost track.

There was no guarding it either, neither side could spare the soldiers to keep it so they kept their cat and mouse game up while the more important, larger and harder to rebuild bridge farther up the mountain was garrisoned. Ironshod had made one attempt on it but its defenders had repulsed them, barely, but the cost had been too high for another attempt.

It was strange how the forces defending her castle had been nearly wiped out at first due to a lack of experience but now were almost an even match for the enemy. The fighting had hardened them greatly and now they were more capable, even the newcomers had learned quickly enough from harsh reality but also from the veterans who filled in the gaps.

Closing her eyes as the train began to cross the shallow bridge Twilight called back that it was well on its way before opening her eyes again. It was gone.

Blinking a few times and looking harder the locomotive was gone but smoke billowed up from the ravine as cars piled forward and dropped in one after another. A distant explosion of smoke and steam spoke of the trains end but made her wonder what had gone wrong.

"Their train crashed! The bridge is gone!"

Major Night Bane ran over and took a long look as the smoke rose into the air and sighed in relief.

"They wont be attacking today then, they will be too busy trying to figure out what happened and rebuilding."

Leaving quickly he yelled out the good news as Twilight went back to watching before looking at the camp below. Angry and confused shouts could be heard, they had also seen the wreck but had no idea what had gone wrong. A regiment was quickly assembled and marched off towards the distant wreck and looking back Twilight furrowed her brow in confusion.

A dark line had stretched across the distant horizon blocking off the wagon bridge.

Valkardian's plan was elementary and it did not need to be complicated to work either. During the night they had arrived a little ahead of schedule and throwing her off into the distance with a division her orders were to seize and hold the wagon bridge.

Her second objective was to destroy the train bridge farther away so she would not have to divide her forces. Beyond that... Just hold them off as they retreated from Ponyville. A defilade allowed her column to stretch itself out and remain unseen as they marched up into the mountainous terrain but the going was slower than it had been.

Two wraiths were all she had as scouts along with a small group of gargoyles just in case. One kept watch on Canterlot and had seen a train leaving far off in the distance, a mere speck even with its enhanced vision.

Shadow had thought of an idea hearing that and sent the gargoyles to the unprotected bridge having them tear away at the supports until they were so weakened that the train passing over would cause the bridge to give way.

Only military trains were allowed out of Canterlot and onto the southern rail line so there was no risk of killing the locals, their train had to turn east and link off towards the coast exiting a long tunnel farther away.

Keeping her forces low in the dip between the two low ridges she waited as the train approached then held her breath as it began to cross the bridge. Supports groaned and bent before breaking away just as the train was about to cross before shattering and dragging the locomotive backwards and into the ravine.

The trail of train cars were quick to join in as they were dragged in after it one at a time before shattering. Shadow had smiled as she watched but ducked behind her shield when the engine exploded.

"Shit!"

Shrapnel blasted into the air but thankfully she was enough away nothing reached her, any falling bits landed quickly enough and looking back towards the town below ordered her forces up and into formation to block passage of the bridge.

Twilight kept staring at the large force arrayed in front of the bridge and wondered, the other officers had appeared to look and now they too wanted to know who it was up there that had destroyed the train and bridge.

"They have a flag?"

"Ehhh... Purple flag. Cant make out anything else."

Arguments broke out over which nation or noble had a purple flag. The only two that did were both traitors so they were out and that left no others that came to mind. Allies however meant foreign, even Chrysalis had come up in the conversation before being just as quickly dismissed.

The regiment that had been sent off was already recalled and the camp was now fully prepared for a fight.

Twilight's castle sat a distance away from the forest and ever since the first attack from there the enemy had thrown up additional defenses facing that way to stave off attacks that had never come. Ears turned towards that direction as yelling broke out and moving to the other side of the castle they looked off at the enemy barricades.

Farther away a column emerged marching down the road from the forest quickly before bending off and moving in a straight line towards the castle. A column broke off and swung out wide moving to engulf Ponyville from one flank and before long another went the other way.

They were horrified with what they saw however. Any thoughts of cheering and celebrating the arrival of a friendly force died in their throats when they finally got a good glimpse of the creatures bearing the flags and banners.

Teeming throngs of skeletons in armor hurried along in total silence as larger, hulking things came in from behind following their columns as they branched off.

"What do we do?"

"Luna said help would be coming, she never specified as to what kind..."

Shining Armor grimaced as he watched them pour out of the forest.

"I think we should inform the soldiers not to fire on them..."

They were all in agreement as they rushed off to spread word that something was going to happen and just wait it out. Twilight however kept watching in fascination as the riders appeared and moved off one after another accompanying their columns.

A few flags were visible and summoning a piece of paper and writing implements began to record and sketch out what she was seeing quickly.

Shining returned a few minutes later and looked below, their enemy had decided not to fight as the undead continued to pour out one column wave after another. Vastly outnumbered they quickly abandoned their posts and began to draw up by battalion and race off towards Canterlot.

"They are going to take their chances with the force up there rather than get caught between us."

Continuing to watch in total silence as the undead drove their enemy from the town new concerns were raised about the prisoners they had kept. They all knew about the slaves used to take care of menial tasks around the various camps that encircled them. Would they be killed or freed?

Two detachments quickly tore through the camp beyond their walls and kept moving searching for any who had remained behind, none had however. Wounded were kept in the nearby hospital till they could be removed and watching as the undead went inside they listed to the screams for a few minutes before everything was silent again.

"Not taking prisoners are they."

"How could Luna make an alliance with such horrible monsters?"

"Twily, they just saved us. They are monsters but right now we are not in a position to criticize them."

A rider had brought out a long row of pony slaves from the camp and other riders began to bring more of them over, collecting them not far from the gate.

"Guess its time to go down."

Twilight followed her brother as they went below, there was no means of removing the barricade now so they stood on the earthen parapet and looked over for a minute before teleporting to the other side.

Shining had a his spear firmly in hand while Night Bane followed behind, Twilight felt her stomach lurch wildly the closer they got to the beasts and their riders. They rode monsters and wore armor that was quite frankly terrifying from her low angle as they stared down at them.

Goosebumps covered her body as she breathed shakily, all the prisoners had been lined up and stood shaking and crying while looking to them for help.

"I am Prince Shining Armor. Thank you for saving us and these prisoners, but, who are you?"

"Read this."

The middle rider tossed a scroll to him and waited as Shining looked over it confused at first then let out a sigh of relief before throwing it back.

"Its alright, these are the allies Luna spoke of."

A great sigh of relief spread through them but the fear remained as the rider slid off his mount and approached them.

"One of my generals found this one and saved her, she is your problem now."

Pulling out a pouch they watched confused then shocked as a pegasus was pulled free from the tiny container and laid on the ground in front of them. Without another word he mounted and they moved away to continue a slow chase of the fleeing enemy.

"Its alright everypony, we will get you out of those shackles as soon as we can."

Turning and moving away with the prisoners shuffling after them they walked back to the wall where Bright Lance watched.

"Explains why they needed all those soldiers... I dont think any survived the battle either."

Twilight looked up at her.

"One did."

"One survivor out of hundreds of thousands... *whistle* At least the traitors are all dead now."

Hearing that did not sit well with the princess of friendship, it made her feel sick and nauseated.

There were not enough wraiths so gargoyles were now used to scout ahead and keep an eye on the enemy, so far all she had heard from Valkardian was they had quickly abandoned their posts and were now fleeing in her general direction quickly.

Watching their movements something struck her as odd. They were not going for the bridge but moving farther west of her position and picking up the pace the closer they got.

"Valkardian, they are not moving towards the bridge."

"Figure it out."

Sending two more scouts off quickly she watched them fly away before drawing on their sight and watching the terrain pass by rapidly below them. There was nothing she could see from their height so lowering them she watched as they dove lower, searching.

At some point long ago a part of the ravine had shattered and fallen in at a low point leading towards a distant cliff. This pile of dirt softened the terrain just enough that someone might just maybe be able to cross over it without the need of a bridge.

Shadow was in a bind, leaving half her forces here then closing the gap she could make it ahead of them but it would reduce her effective numbers greatly. Move the entire force and she knew they would probably make a run for the other bridge and get around her then keeping a rapid pace slowly outrun her slower forces.

Nor could she destroy the bridge, it was needed to march the column up the mountain side. Eying the terrain quickly she sent the wraiths up and marched her forces forward and into a dip. So long as they could not see what she was doing they could not alter their path and without pegasi to guide them...

Her army quickly moved along closing the gap with them as the enemy sped on towards the other gap. Until they saw her forces they would have no idea which way to run and that suited her just fine.

An hour ticked by and they did not alter their course but had slowed somewhat, no doubt guessing as to which path the enemy blocked. Farther behind them the undead army slowly snaked up and after them giving them no choice but to take a chance.

Driving their ranks hard to the west they aimed for the cliff edge hoping to pass through the clear gap they could see and make the earthen bridge in time.

Shadow watched them quietly and realized they would close the gap and make it just ahead of her unless they were forced to slow.

In their last game of chess so long ago Valkardian had crushed her strategy by being more than willing to sacrifice lesser pieces in order to win a larger battle. Driving her gargoyles onto the front of the enemy ranks Shadow hoped to slow them just enough to allow her to envelope them.

Diving down on them and tearing away at their upraised shields as they stabbed pointlessly at their tormentors the ranks of soldiers slowed. Archers fired on the few flying terrors as they pecked away here and there but the arrows little to deter them. So low were they flying now the archers had stopped firing or risk shooting their own ranks as the creatures swooped low and snatched or clawed at the soldiers below.

Yelling for them to continue to move forward the general urged his force onward after looking back at the dark lines following them from the town below. So long as they kept their shields up they would be fine for now but making the narrow earth bridge was more important. Somewhere to their right was the other force trying to block their path and they had to beat them to it.

Running forward they increased the pace now that their safety line was well within view. Hopes were quickly dashed however as a line of enemies drew across in front of them blocking the way and ordering them to keep running they now hoped to simply pound their way through the line.

Keeping a close eye on them Shadow watched as they once again picked up their pace but it was too late. Her first three battalions had swung in front of them blocking the path and two golemns waited on them. It would not be enough however but that was just fine, she had no intention of fighting them directly from the front anyway.

The terrain here allowed her forces to hunker down becoming harder to see and with the enemy so busy with the gargoyles they never saw her on their right flank. Rising up and moving forward quickly the rest of her division quickly fanned out while archers fired.

With arrows pounding into them as their shields remained upraised towards the sky had an unexpected but happy outcome: nothing was blocking the arrows. They caught on quickly and the ranks closest to her quickly switched shields from one hand to another and blocked any further harassment, their archers however were not so lucky.

Riding forward with her forces as one force threatened to blast through her lines and another threatened to bowl them over on their flank Shadow sent out the command to her detachment.

"Throw."

A hailstorm of pilum shot out and crashed into the lead battalion in the enemy column scattering them but more importantly stopping them. From behind other battalions continued to rush forward but began to trip on the bodies or crash into the stalled soldiers in front of them.

From her position another order to fire was given but to her soldiers on the right flank. Again the enemy slowed as they tried to form up into a protective ring, now fully stopped she ordered her forces to advance on their ranks for the kill.

Surviving archers aimed at her and fired but it did nothing as their number had been reduced heavily from her own pounding away at them with her own archer battalions.

Smashing into their ranks from two sides as they tried to reform the enemy began to step back quickly. Pushing them harder with the golemns their first ranks fell and the ones behind began to almost run backwards to get away.

Driving them to the cliff's edge Shadow watched as the first soldier turned to run but stopped dead and looked down before turning back. Hearing their shouts of alarm as they realized they were about to be pushed off a cliff and to their deaths she gave no new orders but just waited.

There was some concern however that her soldiers might pursue them over the cliffs edge and watching closely from the wraiths above kept a careful eye on the ranks making certain they stayed in a perfect line less she risk a battalion getting slightly ahead and going over.

Soldiers began to fall off the cliff as they were driven back screaming as they fell to their deaths far below. Watching them fall at first one at a time then in greater numbers she smiled as the plan bore fruit.

Completely encircled with no gaps to flee through they had lost any forward momentum in a charge and were now trying desperately to push back against the advancing ranks as they pushed in between other battalions that faced in holding the enemy in a vice.

Seeing their bodies begin to tumble off the cliff in greater number Shadow watched them fall before splattering on the rocks below sending blood heaving out as their bodies turned to pulp. It was like watching oranges being crushed.

Ordering them to halt the last few hanging on the edge breathed in relief for a moment and dropped their weapons.

Their end came from behind however as gargoyles yanked them off the ledge and threw them backwards into the open air quickly before grabbing another soldier and repeating. When the last had been yanked free from the ledge and thrown she moved them away and reformed quickly in a safer location.

Looking the bodies over she spied the enemy general and looked at her broken form a moment before turning away and joined her forces as they marched back towards the bridge.

"I could have used another division."

"It happens, had I known about that little land bridge another would have been sent, there is only so much you can see from the air after all."

"Look harder next time."

"I very much doubt there will be a "next time" Shadow."

Looking up the mountain side that left Canterlot and Steelshod to be dealt with. Fortified, ready and fully prepared for a siege. It was a very narrow gap at the top and it would be incredibly hard to force it open.