The horns of war sounded, reverberating across the frozen battle field. Both sides charged out in preplanned formations to allow their side the best chance for victory.

Shining Armor and his squad of unicorns charged out behind the human. They knew that it was important that hey make it to the predetermined check-point before the catapults launched. The Spartan ran faster than any of the unicorns could hope to achieve, but they still made it to the check-point in record time. Shining Armor took the time to watch a dark shroud slam into a green swarm. The two flying things melded and then dissipated, and at that time Shining had to refocus.

“Captain, I need you to create a bubble under which our forces have a place to enter. We need them protected from Blackwing’s siege weapons,” Anthony ordered to Shining Armor.

“Yes sir!” Shining Armor replied, following orders. He and his unicorns set up a smaller version of the shield Shining had made back when the changeling invaded Canterlot. He chuckled lightly at the irony of the situation.

A small purple bubble soon encompassed the area directly around Shining Armor. Changelings were already arriving to their position. The early morning sky was being lit by a low sun and the magic battle above them. Shining looked to Anthony for orders and found him in a foxhole, his sniper rifle out and it aimed up at the sky. Shining followed the direction and found it pointed at Nightmare Moon.

Shining Armor saw Anthony look down his sight and pull the trigger, the rifle reporting and kicking into the Spartan’s shoulder. Shining armor heard screaming and saw that Nightmare Moon was in pain. Anthony nodded his head and spoke into his mouth piece.

“Good luck, Chrysie,” he said, standing up out of the hole. “Shining Armor, I want you to keep this position. It will be our F.O.B., so don’t let it get captured. Medics will be up soon to prepare for the wave of wounded to come. Good luck, and stay safe.”

“Yes sir, and come back safe,” Shining shouted to him, hoping he would heed his words.

“I’ll try,” was all Anthony said, he then turned and ran off to another location. Shining Armor sighed as he turned to his squad and gave them their orders. They nodded and went to work securing the small area.

As predicted the medics did arrive, and they instantly set up base inside the bubble. They knew it was the safest and the best location to help the wounded. More and more changeling moved to the location and the moved up. Shining was about to find a new location when a bright light grew over head. He tried to look up, but he light was bright as the sun.

The energy going into the light was immense and he could feel the heat it was generating. The snow started to melt around his hoofs, turning the ground to mud. The light then exploded, heat growing to that of the hottest summer day. The snow melted instantly and the shockwave from the blast knocked everypony to the ground. Shining didn’t see the two objects shooting from the blast into the ground.

Blackwing’s forces chose this time to make their push, the changeling not doing well on the muddy ground. Waves of injured flooded into the F.O.B., overwhelming the medics. Luckily Shining’s squad had trained in basic combat medicine. Shining stayed on guard, keeping an eye on the advancing force. The heat was starting to dissipate, but was still strong and allowed sweat to pour into his eyes.

The injuries of the wounded ranged from simple blade injuries to complex head injuries. Shining’s Lt was starting to worry that they would run out of room. Reports from a rifle sounded over the battle field, letting them that Anthony had joined the battle. Half the enemy army broke off and ran towards his location in the north. The Lt didn’t pay that attention, knowing that now the wounded would be less. He went back to patching up a long gash on a changeling’s side.

Shining watched the battle through a pair of binoculars, wishing he was out there. But he had orders, and he was going to follow them. The earlier confused changelings had quickly formed a line, one that was growing stronger with each changeling that left the F.O.B. outside of a body bag. The siege weapons had stopped firing on both sides for fear of hitting their own people. Shining was starting to think the battle was no longer a failure, until the dragons flew over.

Massive rows of dragons flew over, one from Canterlot and the other from Blackwing. Shining started to get worried, for he knew that changelings would not be able to stop them. He watched, fearing the worst. He watched the dragons start to merge, and then the dragons fight each other. The smaller dragons of Blackwing’s army were attacked by the larger dragons from Canterlot. Now he was confused.

“Captain Armor, what are the dragons doing?” one of the injured changelings asked.

“I don’t know, but I know that it isn’t Celestia’s orders. If it was then the dragons would have done a head on attack. I think that the dragons know who the real enemy is. Looks like they’re not blind to the truth,” Shining Armor replied. “Now get out there and show those punks why changelings aren’t to be messed with.”

“Yes sir!” the changeling replied, his morale going up couple of notches knowing the dragons were against Blackwing.

Shining Armor watch the flow of injured shrink along with Blackwing’s army. He had a smile on his face, knowing that if he had no army, Blackwing would be unable to control anypony. He was still smiling when he saw a wave of more enemies in the background. This wave was larger than that which first assaulted the changelings. This was the main force, one far larger than the entire changeling army. The morale of the entire changeling army was almost squashed at the sight of this force. They all started to think that it was a waste of time to continue the fight.

“You shall not halt,” a voice rang out over the field. Anthony stood in front of the changelings, his voice being projected by his suit.

“A force of numbers and weakness is no force at all. We may not have the numbers, but we have something we are fighting for. We are fighting for freedom. We are fighting for the right to do as we please. We fight, because only we have the courage to fight. The fight, not for freedom, but a maniacal tyrant tells them to. There is no honor in this, only a pitiful excuse of a will. Do you wish to be under that same tyrant’s rule?” Anthony asked, waiting for the response.

“No!” the response was more than he could have hoped for.

“Then keep pushing, for nothing is impossible if you believe to be possible. Now let’s show these tyrannical forces why the changelings are not to be trifled with!” Anthony announced, pulling out his sword and charging into the enemy mass. The changeling followed suit, fear leaving their hearts as they went to work taking down Blackwing’s forces. Shining Armor cheered them on, knowing that it was them who would send them to victory.

Shining watched Blackwing move on the edge of the battle, heading in a direction that Shining didn’t know. He knew it wasn’t good though, so called it in.

“General, we have a bogie moving on the edge of the field. It appears to be Target Bravo, over,” Shining said, using the code for Blackwing to keep morale up.

“Understood, I’ll see where the fucker’s going. Over and out,” Anthony replied.

Shining Armor kept watch of the battle. He was still watching as a massive blast of energy came from the direction that Blackwing and Anthony were in.