“Um… Mr. Traipse? When you fought in you, first battle… were you… uh.. I mean did you feel…”

Traipse look at Sable as they continued trotting down Mane Street towards the city gate, “I was six the first time I fought in a battle… they gave me a sword, put me in a cell with another colt, and told me that only one of us will leave that cell alive… so you know what I did?... I left that cell alive, only there was no blood on my sword… just my hooves. A week later, I was commanding a force of ninety soldiers as we marched into the Xian Empire.”

Sable looked at Traipse in amazement, “Um… wow… I uh… I wasn’t expecting that all… I was um… only asking do you ever f…”

“Yes… I was scared… in fact I have been terrified during every single battle I ever fought in since my first. But It wasn’t dying that terrified me.”

Sable was curious, “Really? What was it then?”

Tri smiled, “What scared me the most, was what would happen if I failed. What I would lose, what the world would gain, and what would happen to those I loved… or those I could love.”

Tri pointed across the street at a lone mare who was standing there watching them, “She has been following us around for about twenty minutes now. My guess is that she has something she wants to say to somepony before the battle begins… and I don’t think it’s me she wants to talk to. I'll leave you to decide, what to do.”

Traipse started trotting away from Sable, leaving the following mare a chance to approach him and talk to him. As soon as Traipse trotted away, Blade approached him and spoke, “That was an unusually sweet thing you did there.”

Traipse smiled, “I'm just giving him a chance to find more reasons to fight… with this, he’ll have a reason to come back alive. The colt will want to be with one that he loves.”

Traipse trotted passed Blade as she replied, “And what about you?... don’t you want to be with the one you love?”

Traipse stopped trotting, looked back for one second, then continued without replying to the comment. Blade could only shake her head, “So that’s why you were so angry when she left… big foal.”

Out in front of Canterlot, Commander Snow stood alone on the center of the battlefield while Commander Mist, Gem, and The Reaper trotted up to him, “It’s good to see you again commander… I figured you would have retired or passed away by now.”

Commander Mist replied, “It’s been a while Snow, I was hoping by now you would have seen the error of your ways and given up this war… you know you have nothing to benefit from fighting it.”

Commander Snow smiled, “When a foal gets caught with his hoof in the cookie jar. The best thing he can do is take a bite, especially if he is going to be scolded anyway. I started this war so I should see it to its end.”

Snow found it very hard to look at both Gem and The Reaper, they both stood there glaring at him as if they were trying to set him on fire with their eyes. Snow cautiously spoke to them, “Mrs. Bolt… Ms. Scy…”

Neither one of them changed their expressions as they both replied, “Commander…”

After that reply there was an awkward silence… finally after about a minute Snow spoke, “I requested that I see you three because… let’s face it! We have seen enough bloodshed for one lifetime, and I hope you will consider the lives of your soldiers when I ask for your surrender. If you lay down your weapons peacefully you won’t be…”

“You pathetic little coward! You come to my home, harass my family, KILL MY HUSBAND, AND EXPECT ME TO JUST GIVE UP!!! Let me tell you something… I don’t care about this war… I don’t care about what you’re fighting for… I don’t care what happens to Canterlot… or the princess… and for all I care the sun can just burn out! Nevertheless, there is one thing that I will promise you… by the time this day ends… so will you. I don’t care if you surrender right now… I'll kill you. Mark these words and take a good look at this black bandanna I wear… because it will be on you corpse when this is all over.”

Snow was terrified at Gems words as she turned around and began trotting back to the city in anger. The Reaper spoke next, “Your name… isn’t it Frances Snow?”

Snow looked at her and replied, “Y-yes… the third actually.”

The Reaper smiled, “Good, now I know what to put on your head stone.”

Then she pulled one of her throwing needles out and tossed it on the ground in front of him, “A little advice, do it now before the battle… it will save us the time… and you the suffering.”

With that said The Reaper turned around and started trotting back to the city leaving the terrified noble, and his former leader standing alone on the battlefield. Commander Mist shook his head and spoke, “You should have seen that coming. You can’t just kill somepony’s husband and get away without consequence.”

Commander Snow picked up the needle and replied, “I always knew that they would kill me… I just expected them to sneak into my room in the dead of night, rather than wait till we meet on a battlefield. If I weren’t so against it, I’d heed her words and kill myself now, just as she suggested. But I'm going to die with dignity… not cowardice.”

“I would offer my protection if you would surrender now… but I think they would just sneak into your cell and kill you there.”

Snow stuck the needle into the ground and replied, “Better in battle then in a cell. Please consider your surrender though… I don’t want to see anymore die… and I wish to keep what pride I have left.”

Mist replied, “You’re not the only one with pride Snow, this war will end when one of us is defeated… I'm sorry but Nightmare Moon has to be stopped. Good luck commander… that’s all I can say… Good luck.”

As Commander Mist turned back towards Canterlot, Commander Snow Replied, “Luck… there is no such thing anymore… not for me.”

Commander Snow turned and started trotting back to his troops. As he did so, Nightmare Moon watched from the back of her army where the trebuchets stood, she looked at a nearby lookout and asked, “Tell me, what is the expression on commander Snows face? Would you say his attempted at peace was successful?”

The lookout looked through his telescope at the returning commander and replied, “Your majesty, the commander’s expression looks… troubled. I don’t think it went well.”

Nightmare Moon smiled, “I knew he was wasting his time… the fool.”

Nightmare Moon looked at another soldier who stood next to her and spoke, “Release them...”

The soldier replied, “But your majesty, the signal to begin the battle didn’t go up yet. We should follow tradition an…”

“Are you Questioning my orders!?!”

“N-no… bu…”

“Then do as you’re told!”

The soldier nodded his head in disappointment as he turned to the Trebuchet teams, “ALL TREBUCHETS ATTACK!!!”

With that order, the large weapons flung their arms up tossing large boulders into the air and towards Canterlot.

Snow traveled back to his soldiers, thinking about what would happen during this battle. When he noticed the boulders flying overhead, he immediately knew what was going on, “No… not now.”

Commander Snow started sprinting as fast as he could back to his main force. Back at the city gate Commander Mist approached Gem, the Reaper, and Blade as they stood at the gate, “That was a little cold, wasn’t it?”

Gem replied, “He deserves it…”

The Reaper spoke next, “He built his own coffin, I think it’s time he filled it.”

Mist spoke next, “I know you two are angry at what he did… but you can’t let your feelings get ahead of you.”

Blade added, “As much as I support you boss… Mist is right, we… wait… the wind…”

Blade immediately looked at the horizon, then up in the sky, “INCOMING!!!”

Almost immediately, everypony in the area took cover as a few boulders crashed into the city walls while the rest crashed into the city. Further in the city, Sable stood talking to his admirer while one of the boulders came rolling down the street. Luckily, Sable spotted it so he was able to grab the mare and pull her with him as he jumped out of its way. after they picked themselves off the ground, the mare spoke to him, “Um… Major? What was that?”

Sable looked at the damage the boulder made and replied, “That was an invitation from Commander Snow. Go to the castle, find my sister and tell her that the battle has started. Stay there with her, I'll come find you after the battle.”

She looked at Sable and smiled pleasantly, “Really? You’ll actually come looking for me.”

Sable kissed her on the Cheek then replied, “We haven’t had a proper date yet. I still have to take you out to dinner.”

The Mare smile as she started galloping away, “Then I'll patiently wait for you… don’t stand me up.”

Sable smiled as he began galloping towards the city gate, “Never.”

Back at the city gate Commander Mist, Gem, Scy, and Blade gathered after getting up from taking cover. Gem spoke first, “I knew he was a coward, but to attack us without even sending a signal to start the battle… that’s low even for him.”

Commander Mist replied, “This doesn’t seem right… Snow is all about tradition and pride. He wouldn’t attack unexpectedly like this.”

Sable trotted up as Colonel Silas and Colonel Drib landed next to them, Colonel Silas spoke, “Commander, should we send a signal to start our attack?”

Gem smiled as she replied, “Allow me…”

On the other side of the battlefield Nightmare Moon stood looking at the Dust that was drifting from Canterlot in the impact areas as Commander Snow galloped up to her, “NIGHTMARE MOON! What is the meaning of your actions? Attacking without a proper signal is unaccept…”

Before Commander Snow could finish his sentence, Nightmare Moon wrapped her mane around his neck and held him in the air as she replied, “Calm yourself commander. I only carried out an order I was going to give when you returned anyway.”

Commander Snow tried to speak through his strain, “Th… there isn’t any… honor in this… no signal has be…”

Nightmare Moon replied, “There is no such thing as honor. In war you either fight or die. If you’re not willing to do whatever it takes to win then you might as well be grounded up and used to fertilize the battlefield. I’ll overlook your insolence this time… but if you talk down to me again… then I'll remove your head, and use it as an example to both my enemies, and my allies… My word… is law.”

With that said Nightmare Moon dropped Commander Snow’s body and turned away from the battlefield, “Now… Move your soldiers forward… and kill everypony in your way.”

Commander Snow looked down to hide the shame on his face, “Ye… Yes your majesty… I will do as you as…”

The lookout who was standing next to them called out as he looked through his telescope, “Commander! Your Majesty! a signal arrow ha… LOOK OUT!!!”

the lookout jumped away from his telescope as the signal arrow pierced the lens, stopping with just the arrowhead sticking out of the eyepiece. Nightmare Moon looked at commander Snow, as if she was waiting on him to react. Commander Snow sighed then he called to his soldiers, “MOVE FORWARD AND ATTACK!!! I WANT TO SEE THOSE WALLS IN RUINS!!!”

Back at the Canterlot city gate, Gem was lowering her bow as Colonel Drib spoke, “I… uh… think they got the signal commander.”

Gem turned to him, “Gather your pegasi and begin moving out with Colonel Silas and his troops.”

Commander Mist turned to Sable, “Major, take your forces and begin moving forward, but don’t charge until the pegasi take care of the Trebuchets.”

Sable nodded his head, “Yes commander. ALL GROUND FORCES MOVE OUT!!!”

as Sable started marching at the lead of his soldiers Traipse started trotting next to him, The Bosses orders, I'm with you colt.”

Sable nodded his head, “Thanks Tri.”

Commander Mist called to Colonel Silas, “Gather your pegasi and move out!”

Colonel Silas called to his forces, “THIS IS IT SOLDIERS!!! LET’S SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU THREATEN PRINCESS CELESTIA!!!”

As the pegasi gave a battle cry in reply to Colonel Silas, Gem looked and spoke to Scy and Blade, “What you do is your choice… I only ask that you leave Commander Snow to me.”

The Reaper nodded her head, “I'm going after the trebuchets, he will be easier to reach with those out of commition.”

Blade nodded, “The sky is my home… that’s where I'll be.”

Gem smiled as she looked over at Traipse who was marching out of the gate with the large mass of soldiers from both the Celestial Crusaders and the Royal Militia, “You better not let anything happen to my son Tri… otherwise you’ll find that The Reaper and I have something in common.”

Traipse didn’t reply, he only nodded his head as the last of the formation left through the City Gate. As they made their way onto the battlefield in a slow moving military formation, Traipse could see the anxiety in Sable’s face, so he asked “…What’s her name?…”

Sable looked back, “What?”

“I was asking what her name is… you know that mare I left you to talk with, what was her name?”

Sable blushed as he replied, “Cynthia… Cynthia De-Lis.”

one of the Celestial Crusaders called out “ARROWS INCOMING!!!”

all the soldiers put up their shields and blocked the rain of arrows that fell on them. Sable ignored the screams of those around him that got hit by the arrows, then when the arrows stopped falling he stood back up and continued the march acting as if nothing happened.

Also acting as if nothing happened, Traipse continued the conversation, “De-Lis hmm… sounds like you caught the eyes of a noble.”

Sable was surprised to see the arrows didn’t faze him so he shook his head and replied, “She isn’t just a noble, she is kind, very shy, and she was actually worried about me.”

“Do you know her?”

“Well… sort of, I saw her at the hospital a few times but she told me she was too nervous to approach me until now. I think she works with sis… but I'm not sure.”

“Are you in love with her?”

Sable hesitated before replying, “That’s kind of a personal question, isn’t it?”

“ANOTHER WAVE OF ARROWS INCOMING!!!”

like before Sable took cover behind his shield while Traipse hid behind another pony and his shield while the rain of arrows fell on them. One arrow went by and cut Sable on his cheek. But despite how much it hurt he just held in his pain and continued acting like nothing happened when the arrows stopped falling.

Traipse smiled and continued, “It’s a simple question, that requires a yes or no to answer… you either love her or not.”

Sable thought to himself as the approached the top of a hill, “It’s a little too soon to say… but I think I have feelings for her.”

Traipse smiled, “Then let’s be sure to get back to her alive shale we?”

Sable nodded his head as he smiled, “Yes Sir!’

As they looked over the top of the hill, they could see a large mass of Nightmare troops marching towards them. Sable stopped as his formation stopped behind him. Traipse smiled and spoke to Sable, “Your call Major… what are our orders?”

Sable nodded his head and looked far into the battlefield, it felt like an eternity had passed before Sable drew his sword and yelled, “CHARGE!!!”

After the order was made everypony in the Celestial Crusaders charged forward as fast as they could dodging catapult stones and falling arrows, as they charged forward. In the sky Colonel Drib and Colonel Silas colligated with the large mass of Nightmare Pegasi, as the groups fought each other above the ground, Blade flew far above the clash of pegasi watching the ground carefully. When she spotted the trebuchet she dove down as quickly as she could while opening her wings to expose the sharpened blades on her weapon. when she got only ten feet above the ground she immediately pulled up and flew through the post on the trebuchet cutting support ropes as she flew. By the time she had reached the other end of the line, five out of the ten trebuchets had already collapsed under their own tension after firing.

When she tried the swing around for another approach, one of the loading unicorns tossed a large piece of the destroyed Trebuchet at her hitting her wing and knocking her to the ground. As soon as she shuffled to her hooves, she closed her left wing and used the blades on it as a shield to block a sward from an attacking soldier. leaving her other wing open she parried the sword away from her with her closed wing and cut down the attacker by hacking the sharp blade into his neck. Then before she had a chance to block another sword, a Needle came from above and stuck into the attackers head. As the attacker fell to the ground, The Reaper dove in from behind and began cutting down the clueless ponies with her scythe, leaving behind a number of corpses in her wake.

Blade smiled as The Reaper continued her approach and passed by without even touching the ground, “What a show off. The boss hasn’t changed a bit.”

As Blade and The Reaper tried to finish off the last of the Trebuchets, the loaders started loading a strange looking type of ammunition. It looked very similar to a vase only the loader would light a small cloth fuse before they released the projectile. The remaining Trebuchet released their projectile as a moderate speed however one of them aimed specifically for the center of the battlefield where Sable and Traipse where fighting. As the vase came into view Traipse recognized the design so he called to Sable and his soldiers, “Get away from the impact area! If the oil gets on you you’re done!”

Most of the soldiers were able to get out of the way in time, but when the vase hit the ground it shattered sending oil in all directions, when the oil hit the flame, it immediately lit up making anything doused in oil a burning torch. Sable looked in horror as the ponies who were unable to get away in time, caught fire, and screamed in agony as they burned alive. Sable knew that the forces on the ground where in grave danger, but he was completely clueless on how to get away. Frozen in fear, Sable covered his ears trying to block out the mind damaging screams coming from the burning ponies, until Traipse rushed over to him and started shaking him, “COLT!!! COLT!!! WE HAVE TO FALL BACK!!! SNAP OUT OF IT!!!”

Sable finally caught up with himself and replied in a terrified yet calm way, “Y-yea, g-good idea, ALL SOLDIERS REGROUP AND FALL BACK WE CAN’T CONTINUE LIKE THIS!!! FALL BACK!!!”

Back in the city Gem and Commander Mist stood in a tower watching the carnage outside the city unfold. When Sable’s formation started to fall back Gem Spoke, “Commander! it looks like Sable can’t hold the line!”

Commander Mist replied, “The poor stallion wasn’t expecting a weapon like this… then again none of us were.”

Gem drew her bow and started firing into the crowd to help cover his retreat, but with both their eyes on the battle in front of the city neither one was paying attention to the sky. Without warning a boulder came crashing down at the base of the tower knocking Gem off the balcony but Commander Mist just lost his balance and fell to the floor.

As Gem fell she was able to gain control and glide safely to the ground, but as she turned around she noticed that the tower that Commander Mist was still in was starting to sway back and forth. Then a portion of the center began to crumble as it started to fall, “COMMANDER MIST!!! GET OUT NOW!!!”

As the tower began to fall, Gem tried to fly to the balcony but the tower was too tall she knew she wouldn’t make it in time to save him. As the tower fell Commander Mist galloped to the edge and jumped off with an attempt to land on the roof of a nearby building. Unfortunately the building he landed on had a weak roof so rather than landing safely, he crashed through the roof and into the second floor of the building.

Gem flew to the building compactly ignoring the dust that was barreling up from the fallen tower. As she looked through the ceiling of the building Commander Mist landed on, she spoke, “Commander, are you ok?”

Commander Mist picked himself up and replied in agony, “I'm… I'm fine I just need a little…”

Commander Mist dropped to his knees and continued, “Well… maybe I'm not fine, I have a terrible pain in my side… I think I need to see your daughter… can you take over from here?”

Gem replied, “I'll do what I can… do you need any help getting back.”

Commander Mist replied, “No… I'll be fine, go see to your son. If his soldiers are retreating then the gate needs to be open for them.”

Gem replied as she took off, “Got it Sir, I'll see to it those soldiers are saved.”

As Gem took off into the sky, Commander Mist looked at the side of his body that Gem didn’t see and pulled a long stake from his side, “I didn’t have the heart to tell her… hopefully I'll get to a safe place before I lose consciousness.”

Gem rushed back to the city gate to try and get it opened for Sable and his troops. as she arrived she yelled to the ponies next to the gate, “Our forces are falling back, quickly open the gate for Major Bolt.”

The ponies quickly started cranking the rotary wheel that lifted the gate slowly, as the gate went up almost immediately the Celestial soldiers started pouring into the city as if they opened a floodgate.

When Sable got through the gate, Gem looked at his face in shock, “Sable… your face, you’re bleeding, will you be…”

“I'm ok mom, it’s just a cut, it missed my eye so I'll be fine. Where is Commander Mist?”

Gem replied, “He had to fall back for now, where is Traipse?”

Sable looked around him at all the soldiers who fell back with him and replied, “I… I don’t know… he was right next to me when we fell back. But… he isn’t here.”

Gem flew to the top of the gate and looked onto the battlefield, after looking for a while, she finally found him he was charging through the soldiers to the rear of the Nightmare line, “What is he doing?”

Further on the battlefield Traipse charged forward dodging spears and only subduing enemies as he pushed his way back through the enemy line.

Commander Snow pushed his way forward leading his main force when one of his soldiers called to him, “COMMANDER! enemy soldier spotted!”

Commander Snow looked down the battlefield to see Traipse charging strait towards him with no signs of slowing down. Commander Snow drew his sword and readied himself, “If Mr. Mercenary wants to end this quickly then he is sure to be after me.”

As Traipse got close to Commander Snow without slowing his speed at all, Commander Snow swung his sword at the charging mercenary. Traipse put up his metal horse shoe, Blocked, and parried the blade with his right hoof, and using his left hoof he punched Commander Snow throwing him to the left of where he was standing while his sword flew to the right.

When Commander Snow shuffled to his hooves he was amazed to find that Traipse didn’t stop at all, he continued his charge right past him and continued to the back of the Nightmare Legions line. A Nightmare soldier grabbed commander Snows sword and rushed to his side, “Commander are you ok?”

Commander Snow took his sword and replied, “I'm fine… Where the devil is he going, there is nopony back there but… Nightmare Moon… He’s going after Nightmare Moon!”

Commander Snow tried to charge after Traipse but as he did Three needles landed in front of him completely stopping his movements. Commander Snow steped back as The Reaper landed in front of him, “That’s far enough Commander… I won’t let you get in his way. this is something he has been waiting to do for years.”

Commander Snow held his sword at the ready and spoke, “I must protect my princess… it’s my job as her commander.”

Scy smiled at the obviously scared commander as she replied, “This is a matter that you shouldn’t get involved in commander… my advice to you is to continue forward. Commander Bolt is still waiting for you.”

“Yea but…”

“Commander, our forces have breached the city wall and are moving in! they need your guidance!”

Commander Snow looked at his soldier and replied, “Tell them to continue to the Castle wall. We need to get to Celestia, that’s the only way to end this war.”

Commander Snow sheathed his sword and looked back at Scy, “I suppose Nightmare Moon can handle him alone then… I'll see you in Canterlot, Ms. Reaper.”

Commander Snow turned back to the battlefield and started charging for the wall with his soldiers as Scy turned towards the direction Traipse galloped to, “Good luck Tri, make your peace.”

with those words The Reaper flew into the sky towards Canterlot.

Further in the sky Colonel Drib and Colonel Silas where fighting the airborne Nightmare pegasi as much as they could before Colonel Silas noticed the battle in the ground had moved inside the city, “DRIB!!! THE WALLS HAVE BEEN BREACHED WE MUST SUPPORT THEM!!!”

Colonel Drib replied, “Stick to our orders! We must subdue the pegasi first!”

Colonel Silas Yelled back as he started flying towards the city, “The Militia can hold the battlefield! I must protect the princess! All Celestial Pegasi fall back to Canterlot and support our ground troops!”

Colonel Drib yelled back, “We can’t hold the sky alone! We need your support! Follow your orders and help us!”

“I said it before and I'll say it again! I don’t follow orders from Militia!”

A large number of soldiers followed Colonel Silas back to Canterlot as Colonel Drib tried all he could to face the Nightmare pegasi with an obvious difference in numbers.

Back at the Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia looked upon her falling city and her scattering forces as she hung her head in disappointment, “At this rate… we will fall soon. I must use the elements… I have no other option.”

before Princess Celestia turned around Pearl trotted up behind her and spoke, “Your majesty… please give them a little more time. I know things seem their darkest but if there is something my daddy always taught me is that you have to look at the bright side of things and never give up hope. I believe that mom, Sable, Commander Mist and The Cutters will pull through this without a hitch. We just need to have faith.”

Princess Celestia shook her head and smiled, “Your father sounds like a wonderful stallion, I wish I could have met him. Ok, if you say things aren’t as bad as they seem, then I'll trust your intuition for now. But if things continue to get worse then I'm afraid I'm going to have to use the elements… it’s the only way, if we want to survive this.”

Next Chapter: Ch13 Closer Estimated time remaining: 27 Minutes