Just another Pony.

Authors note: This is set in a medieval setting, but they talk like modern people. Confusing I know. This is my short story Just another Soldier, hence where the name of the story comes from. I just decided to turn it in into Just another Pony.

Just another soldier.

Just another soldier in this pointless war. It began just as it always does. Someone pisses off someone else, and the nation pays for it with gold and the lives of young men. I checked my armour and weapons before heading out to my regiment. We were the 22nd swordsmen regiment. We were assigned to assist and protect the 15th archer regiment from cavalry and other soldiers. I just wonder how many people think that they will be the lucky ones to "survive this". I know I sure as hell didn't. It was 5:00 in the morning, and the regiment started marching right in front the 25th archer regiment. I approached the Captain, Sadon the third, asking him about the mission.

"Excuse me Captain, but where are we going?"

The Captain was a well respected man, always down to earth with soldiers he had in his regiment. he took every soldier seriously, and when one of his men died, he felt it personally.

"Well son, we are going to the plains of France. we must stop the french on their homeland to prevent them from destroying ours."

"Sir? Permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

"You know that saying, 'It is better to die for your country than to run away'? I believe it is more of a matter of making the other poor dumb bastard die for his, not ours."

"Well said Tybalt, we will see that soon enough. We will be arriving by tomorrow. Please, back to your post."

"Yes sir."

As we finished marching for the day to give the men a rest, I was one of the unlucky ones given guard duty. As our camp made fires in order to cook the meat for dinner, I met my guard mate, who I will have to trust my life with.

"Hello, my name is Boris. the captain already has told me about you, Tybalt. I just want to say you watch my back I watch yours."

"Well said."

The first few hours went uneventfull except for the fires in the backround. At around 11:00 PM, the Generals made the soldiers put the campfires out and prepare for the night. As everyone went to bed, Boris, I, and 5 other groups of watchmen stood guard. I saw Boris in his steel chainmail and bright scimitar and shield start to doze off.

"Boris, You gotta stay awake, what if someone happened to come up behind me and stabbed me in the back while you were sleeping?"

"well Tybalt, I just hope that they did it quietly so that I could keep sleeping."

"Come on Boris, We're all in this together and have to stand by each other."

"well, I guess you're right. Sorry 'bout that."

At around dawn (5:00 by my guess) I saw some movement in the bushes near the front of the camp.

"Boris, Look!"

"Ugh, what is it? Oh shit, are you talking 'bout the movement in those bushes?"

"Yup."

"Hold on, we don't know anything yet, lets just go talk to the guardsmen over there and make sure everything is allright."

Around 5 minutes we arrived at the front of the camp only to find both guards... Dead.

"Shit! Tybalt, warn the other guards!"

"AMBUSH!"

Was the last thing I heard from one of the generals before I heard the unsheathing of steel from leather.

I quickly drew my sword, A 22 inch Longsword, made custom for me. I also took out my shield, an 18 inch diameter steel one.

The french were clad in leather armour and shortswords. A couple also had a dagger and chainmail, but it wasn't well made by the looks of it. I heard a shout come from behind me...

"Tybalt, look out!"

I saw Boris parry a sword strike that went straight for my intestines.

"Thanks Boris! I owe you one."

"I might just have to take you up on that."

I saw a group of three french that thought they had the jump on me.

I whispered to Boris, "I got the two on the middle and left, you got the one on the right, On three."

"Got it."

"One...Two...Three!"

I lunged at one of the french, impaling him through his weak leather armour and spilling his intestines on the grass.

The other french soldier seemed hesitant to attack me, but soon got over it and attemped a stab of his own. I quickly parried it with my sword and returned the favor with a swipe at his arm. He tried striking again, and this one I blocked with my shield and bashed him in the same thrusting motion, catching him off guard. I quickly took this opprotunity to make a surprise swing at his face. The sudden attack ripped his face nearly in half, cutting through one of his eyes and severely damaging the other. His blood quickly spilled into the grass and my armour, quickly making my chainmail red with blood. As he stumbled from blood loss, He tried mumbling something. With the blow I gave him, I'm surprised he could
even talk!

From his mouth, I heard the phrase,"Vous porcine britannique! J'espère que toute votre famille est mangée par les chupacabres!"

I quickly shut him up by thrusting my weapon through his mouth, quickly severing his head from his shoulders. He quickly fell to his knees and landed at my feet. His blood soaking through my shoes as I watched him die in a pool of his own blood and his buddy laying down next to him with his small intestines laying 2 feet away from him. I quickly looked over at Boris to see how he was faring. Even though I barely knew him, my blood still went cold as I saw the French soldier ram his hilt across Boris's helm.

"Shit! Boris!"

I rushed over as quick as I could and tackled the French to the ground. It wasn't easy, considering I was wearing full chainmail, But I still managed it. I struggled with him as I got my sword, ready to plunge it through my enemy.

The soldier must have saw the murder in my eyes for he got desperate and trying to low blow me. He succedded because I was not prepared for it, and I found the odds turned when he got on top of me and got his dagger out, ready to end my life.

As he reared back to plunge the dagger into me, I closed my eyes waiting for the inevitable. The sensation never came. I opened my eyes to see the the french soldier... But with a sword plunged though his back. I quickly shoved him off of me to find Boris rubbing his read, He seemed to have a concussion, but it wasn't too serious, thank god.

"God damn it, Boris, That's two I owe you!"

"Actually, only one. I would have died if you hadn't tackled him."

"well come on, who knows how many more are out there? We gotta check on the camp!"

As we walked into the camp, I noticed most of the soldiers at alert, especially the snobby nobles in their shining full plate armour. Now THERE's something you don't see everyday. They're treated like fuckin' kings. We saw the Captain, Sadon heading our way.

"Tybalt! Boris! Did you see that shit? French got that damn close to us."

"Sir! We just killed three of the bastards, They only have leather armour, not even shields."

Boris spoke up,"Yes, It even looked as if they knew they weren't supposed to come back. It looks like this was a scuicide mission to kill at least some of us."

Then there was a messenger. "Sir! There...is a problem... General Ulfric's tent... Now!" The messenger was clearly out of breath.

"Tybalt! Follow me, Boris, you stay here and accompany the party in preparations of the last leg of out march."

"Yes SIR!"

Sadon and I walked to general Ulfric's tent. It was pretty fancy... Well, for a tent anyways. As we went in, we saw what we would last expect. Ulfric, A good friend of many of the soldiers and Captains, Especially Sadon's, had his head on a pike and his body in a pool of blood with his intestines ripped out and 5 French dead within 3 feet of him.

Sadon spoke up, even though he wouldn't look away from the ground. "Damn it Ulfric, even though you knew you were going to die, you still chose to fight back, and even managed to take 5 of the bastards with you."

"Captain, permission to speak freely?"

"Granted Tybalt." I got scared at this point. He always called me son, or Private, Never Tybalt.

"Something here just doesn't add up. Where are the guards? why was he alone? It all seems just too... Convienent."

"what do you mean Tybalt?"

"Someone knew he would be alone at this time, and took some of his buddies to kill Ulfric. They must have had... Someone on the inside."

"You're not suggesting that..."

"Yes. Somone in camp is a traitor."

"Well fuck me sideways. I thought I knew everyone here."

"All it takes to corrupt a man is money, power, or love."

We immediately hailed a messenger and Sadon was the first to speak.

"You there! Gather up the regiment, I must have a speech with them."

"U-uh, Y-yes sir! R-right away sir!"

"Huh, He must be new." I replied.

"Y-yes sir, Transferred f-from the 52nd regiment to this one. P-Please forgive me."

"52nd? Shit son, they're downright famous here."

As the messenger jogged away to warn the soldiers, Sadon turned to me with a sad expression.

"Shit Tybalt. I never thought Ulfric would die. He was always the strongest of us. Now the strongest of us has his head on a pike. I don't know If I will survive the battle today."

Later, around noon, Sadon had gathered the soldiers and was preparing his speech.

"Attention everyone! There was a great tragedy this morning, yes, but we musn't grieve to it!"

The soldiers all had their eyes on him for they did not know of Ulfric's death yet.

"This morning, after the ambush, We found Ulfric dead in his tent, his head on a pike and his entrails spread on the floor.

he paused to let it all sink in with the soldiers. There were mixed feelings about it all, but Boris took it harder than most of the men because he wasn't told yet.

"Yes, A sad day in this Regiment. We must press on though and attack France in their homeland! Their land, their blood!"

The soldiers let out simultanious cheers, "Hoo Rah! Their land! Their blood! Ul-Fric! Ul-Fric!"

This went on for a good 10 minutes. As the soldiers disbanded waiting for the march to start.

Sadon came up to me and said, "Well Tybalt, I was Ulfric's second in command. So that means I'm the new general and YOU'RE the new Captain.
Congratulations, CAPTAIN Tybalt!"

"Heh, Thanks a lot Sadon."

"Well? Your squad is over here. Since you're newly promoted, you start off with command of 50 Men. 20 Spearmen and 30 Swordsmen. We are putting their lives in your hands.

Sadon leaded me to a group of 50 men. As he said, 20 spears and 30 swords. When they saw me they quickly stood up and saluted.

"Sir! Captain Tybalt! This is my group. My name is Terrowin. I am your second in command."

"Well met Terrowin. I am happy to see you, Now, where will our group be in the formation?"

"Sir! We will be mainly in the right flank on the army, riiiiight next to the all-important 15th archer regiment. It is your decision on how we position the troops. I suggest a Pincer Formation."

As Terrowin was talking, I noticed my "Friend" Boris in the group. I have to talk to him after I finish planning the formation.

"You see Terrowin, If we do a Pincer, then our right flank will be exposed to cavalry and archer fire Here..." I gesture towards the map.

"Also, We have to PROTECT the archer regiment, not attack the enemy. If we charged with a pincer then we will leave the archers completely unprotected!"

"Yes sir, how could I have been so foolish..."

"Don't worry Terrowin, as long as the archer regiment is safe, then we will have this battle."

Boris came up to the table and started, "so, 'Captain' Tybalt, where will the swordsmen and spearmen be to repel cavalry and other swordsmen?"

"You see Boris, The spearmen will tightly group on the otside of the flank to repel any cavalry."

"And if swordsmen come? Spearmen are ill equipped to handle them."

"Simple, If we see swordsmen, the spearmen will spread out and allow out swordsmen to repel the new attackers."

"Huh, You're smarter than I thought you were Tybalt. One more question? What if archers open fire on us?"

"Then we have our swordsmen hold their shields up to repel their arrows. Their shields are large enough to shield the spearmen as well."

---------------------------Cleaned up camp, 2:00 PM-----------------------------------

My men took their formation on the march out. I was one of the many people walking, But I was leading my men. They offered me a horse, but I refused. I told them that it would be better for me to walk with my men just how I would die by them too.

General Sadon spoke up, "Men! Today we cripple the large part of the France army! When we meet on the plains, You all know what to do! Captain Tybalt will be controlling our right flank and Captain Boris will be protecting our left flank. Move.. out!"

After 4 hours of gueling marching we met up with the 15th archer division who took up there spot in the middle of Captain Boris and My squad.

After we arrived at the plain, we saw the french army peek over the ridge that we dubbed "Dead Man's ridge". We faintly heard it at that moment. The horns of war. The enemy started charging at us and their cavalry tried to charge our right flank. Bad mistake.

"Spearmen! Take up positions on the left and right side! Repel them! Give quarter to none!"

The brunt of the horses hit the spearmen hard. I saw two of the spearmen fall and realized how sad Sadon got when one of us fell.

"Repel! Hold firm! Repel! Don't let them touch the archers! Hold!"

I gotta say, those were damn fine spearmen. They easily repelled the cavalry.

Now in come the swordsmen.

"Spearmen! Fan out and allow the swordsmen through! We must repel these new attackers!"

I went out with the swordsmen to stop these new attackers.

We made our famous "Shield wall" and we held firm when they crashed into us. With the initial strike, we were able to fight back effectively. I noticed something; The french seemed... Unorginized. I parried one thrust with my shield as I jabbed at another of the french, impaling him even through his chainmail.
These soldiers were definetely better trained and armed than the ambush squad, but still weren't the elite forces. We fought back as hard as we could.

A thrust here.

A slash there.

A block here.

I parried yet another jab that I did not see coming as he got his friend to try to get me while I was preoccupied. I blocked one hit with my shield, While I tried to stop his friend from attacking me while I was killing his buddy.

Before I even knew it, His friend slashed my across the waist with his broadsword.

I felt my side. I didn't feel any blood... yet. I may still be alive.

Thankfully my Chainmail was well made and blocked most of the hit.
I DID feel the shockwave wash over me and I fell on my ass. The new attacker wound up for another strike.

A lot happened in the few seconds.

First off, I grabbed my emergency dagger to attempt a last chance thrust.

Second, The French soldier tried to strike with his sword.

Lastly, Another soldier jumped in front of me trying to parry the strike.

Unfortunately, the Broadsword was too much for a longsword and shield, and went straight through the soldiers block, piercing him deeply. I saw his blood splatter over me and the french soldier. It started into his shoulder. The soldier's screams were almost too much to bear. The broadsword kept going deeper. Deeper. Into the Breastplate. Into the waistbelt. I saw one of my men cleaved straight in half by this french soldier.

I lost it.

I grabbed my fallen friend's sword and used to to slash the French man's arms off. As I did that he dropped his sword and I struck again.
This time his eyes went. Blood was spilling everywhere. The normally green grass was red. I saw the last pleading face of my (Would be) killer. That was before I stabbed him right through his stomach spilling his intestines and showing me what he had for lunch. His buddy from before saw what I did to his friend. He turned and ran with hit tail in between his legs.

"Coward." Was all I could say before I turned back to the battle.

The pain in my thigh was growing, and I was just hoping I could made it through this battle. I struck clean through another French soldier, His blood helping to avenge my fallen savior.

The french Regiment fled, but not before taking 10 of my swordsmen with them. As I returned one of the men saw I was hurt, and tried to get me to fall back. I wouldn't have any of it.

No sooner that had happened than I got on my horse again.

"Men! We must win this battle. For all of the soldiers that have fallen today! We shall bathe in their blood!

Then the archers started firing from the 15th.

They had amazing accuracy. 60 Bowmen fired, and I saw at least 40 of the enemy swordsmen go down. I shivered as I thought of my men being in their place.

Another volley. At least 30 more casualties. Damn these archers are good. The enemy started bringing out the big guns now. I saw at least 20 swordsmen with full plate armour come from the french battle line and head straight for my flank.

"Men! Plate Armour! Remember to Half-Sword!"

In training, all men were taught to "Half-Sword" you you put your hand on the middle of your swords blade and used the extra precision in order to drive it in the little spot in between the armour in the plate. We had about 20 swordsmen left, so we had absolutely no margin of error here. Even though I was hurt, I still had to help my men. The 15th let of a volley at the Plate Swordsmen. It took out 8 of them. Well, at least it helped. As our forces clashed, I quickly half sworded my Longsword to stab One of the swordsmen in the chest. He fell and didn't get up. But then a smart one faced off against me. He made more sure to protect the weakness in his armor.

I tried to glance him with my sword to daze him, But he quickly parried it with his sword in one expert motion.

Shit, This won't be easy.

One of my men saw I was having trouble and came up behind the warrior and tried to half sword him from there.

No. I am NOT losing another man. I have to distract this guy.

I quickly launched myself at the enemy warrior so that he wouldn't see my swordsmen coming up. He was able to strike a glancing blow at me before My soldier come to my rescue.

"Are you OK Captain Tybalt?"

"Yeah, Thanks soldier."

after we killed 8 more of their men, the soldiers got smart and ran...again.

At this time we only had 13 swordsmen left. God, these casualties.

The french looked like they were about to go on a straight out rush. The 15th were firing on them this entire time, and completely decimated their first AND second line. The french army looked like it got bulldozed by the 15th's arrows. It looked damn fine from here.

The french looked desperate at this point. They began to launch an all out attack on our line. I looked over to the left flank to see how Boris's squad looked... and saw nothing.

"Sadon! Sadon!" I shouted hoping he could hear me.

"Yes, Tybalt?"

"The left flank is gone!"

"What?"

"Look for yourself!"

Indeed, the left flank totally disapeared, leaving the 15th open to attacks from that side.

"God damn it Boris! Fucking traitor!"

The French archers saw their chance, and begun firing on what was left of my regiment. Nearly all of us were struck down. I felt an arrow go right through my shoulder. I felt it then looked at my hand. Blood. I fell down, watching the rest of my regiment go with me. The last thing I saw was my friend Terrowin, with an arrow right through his knee.

------------------------Equestria, 5:00 PM----------------------------------

I woke up in a start, the last thing I remembered was Terrowin taking that arrow in his knee. I then remembered the song I was humming. Die with Honour, a damn good song. I remember taking an arrow in my shoulder, and carefully moved my hand to investigate. It wasn't a hand, it was a... a hoof? The hell is going on here? First I take an arrow in the shoulder, now I have hoofs? I just noticed I was laying in the field, strangely it looked like the same landscape from the battlefield. Just without the bodies, you know. I managed to stand up, only to find that it was natural when I had to use ALL four of my legs.

“God damn it, how am I supposed to hold my sword now?” I quietly stated to no one in particular.

I managed to get a good look of myself in a pond nearby. I noticed I was a horse, just smaller. A pony maybe. I remember the myths of the Pegasus, and saw that I had two wings by my side. I was a sort of brownish color, with moderately spiky hair. My mane had green and turquoise in it, and I personally thought it looked pretty awesome.

“So, let's break this down, I am a damn Pegasus. I thought those were only myths! I am in a forest by the looks of it, and there looks to be a town over there. First order of business, see if my regiment is still alive. Hell, I don't know if I'm still alive yet.”

On the way to town I slipped on a rock, banging my head. Blacking out AGAIN.