Bells were ringing just across the river. Ringing wildly and panicked, the heartbeat of a wild beast. The terror of a city knowing it was doomed. Personally Ardon couldn't wait to be past the walls, if only just to stop the damned ringing.

Ardon and his scout force had set themselves up a small camp near the edge of woods, and close to the road that lead into the city. The closest gate to them was separated from them by an single bridge just wide enough for a a wagon or two to cross at the same time. What didn't help was more than two dozen gun wielding ponies on the gate house ready to shoot at anyone who came near.

So while they waited for reinforcements had his hand looked after. He knew enough about healing to set the finger bones properly and one of the Clan Hunters knew some small healing magic. The spell cast would slowly mend his fingers within a day or so, but Ardon knew that he would be unable to properly use his left hand during the coming battle, so no longbow.

The rest of his scout force had erected a small command post out of local timber and the remains of some of the pony farms in the area. It wasn't quiet a proper great hall but it would do for the time being. Plus it gave them some protection from the ponies guns. As an added bonus it gave them a place to store all of their loot and food taken from the farms and homesteads.

Just as Ardon was about to tuck into a small snack a hunting horn sounded alerting him to the presence of friendly forces approaching. He hurried out of the command post, belting his bastard sword back into place to see the new High Priest Garren Hauk approaching with a fresh group of troops behind him. There were twenty more Raiders and another twenty Axe Throwers but also two groups of ten menn with bare hair covered chests, wild beards, each one armed with a large mattock or war hammer, and dressed only in animal hides. Dreaded Nor Menn Berserkers. Close behind them were five women with large spears and belts covered in tools around their waists, Spearwives.

Ardon bowed before the high priest as did many of his warriors.

"Please don't do that," Garren Hauk said, surprising Ardon. "I'd rather not get shot on the first day."

Ardon gave a small smile and straightened up.

"My apologies, your holiness." He said. "I trust you bring news?"

"That I do," the High Priest replied. "His majesty is rallying up the assault force on the beach to attack. However the tides are proving uncooperative at the moment and causing some difficulty. As of yet none of our siege weapons have made it a shore."

Ardon cursed. That was a sore blow to the attack plan.

"We can't just sit here," Ardon growled. "If we do one of the ponies might escape and there goes the element of surprise."

"Several Sindarla clans and Raider units have been sent on ahead to lock down the other escape routes," the high priest replied. "But you are right, the attack must begin soon."

"What does the King have in mind for us?" Ardon asked.

"You are to assault that gate," the High Priest said pointing to the gate they had camped near. "These warriors I've brought with me will help, but may not be enough. Set up a base camp and then launch the attack."

"You won't be joining us?" Ardon asked.

"No," the High Priest replied with a shake of his head. "I am needed at the beach, may the gods guide your blades."

"Yours as well," Ardon answered before turning his eyes back to the gate.

It wasn't that high but the ponies guarding it could cause problems. They'd need to suppress the shooters with arrow fire before advancing, but axes could take all day to get through the gate...

"Hey Lethrook," he called to his Lieutenant. "How's your throwing arm?"

MLP:ED

Chaos ruled within the walls of Saint Trottersburg. With the Sheriff dead, a mass of ships holding position just outside the harbor, and army out of mythology at the eastern gate panic had set in on the city. Some ponies were running for the northern gate or the western gate, others had taken to looting the city. The militia meanwhile were mustering up as quickly as they could and Lightning Jumper found himself among their number, not by choice but by necessity.

Of course there wasn't much left of the militia now, most of their forces had been massacred in the woods across the river. There were only a small group of pegasus ponies left around twenty, about sixty trained Militia, about forty Minute Ponies had been able to muster, and the Sheriffs remaining twenty deputies. Supporting this paltry force were a sizable amount of volunteers; former slaves from Moon and Stars, around thirty local Hedge Knights, a few errant mages who had been kicked out of Moon and Stars or Whitegold, a couple of local Brawlers, and last of all some sixty former soldiers of various houses who had turned deserter.

The worst part however was that there was no one really in charge. The Mayor had sequestered herself in her estate by the Northern gate and the Sheriff was dead. Confusion had set in among the defenders with everyone trying to organize but with only modest progress.

The Hedge Knights wanted to launch and immediate counter attack while the Minute Ponies wanted to hold position. The Mages wanted to start trying out some of their spells on the invaders while the former slaves glared at them. The Deserters meanwhile looked ready to bolt for another of the gates and run.

A quick hope onto the wall gave Lightning Jumper no comfort either. The invaders, or humans if some of the survivors from the Sheriffs party could be believed, had begun construction of a forward base of some sort. They'd set up a wall sharpened tree trunks, driven into the earth to provide cover from the Minute Ponies fire. Behind it the invaders set up what looked like a makeshift workshop and other structures needed to maintain an army in the field. What made it worse was that every now and again a few more of them would arrive to reinforce this first group.

As he hopped back down one of the Sheriffs deputies hopped up onto a picket fence and gave a loud whistle. The assembled fighters turned to face the young unicorn stallion who looked as grim as could be.

"Alright listen up!" He called. "For those of you who don't know my name is Iron Mane. I'm assuming command here."

"On whose authority?" One of the Hedge Knights called causing some mummers of discontent.

"Look," Iron Mane replied clearly irritated. "Does it matter? Some one needs to take command here or we're going to get slaughtered."

"Then what's the plan?" The same Hedge Knight demanded.

"Wait and see what these invaders want?"

There was a chorus of boos at this.

"Oy!"

Everyone quieted down at the sound from the other side of the wall.

"Oy!"

Everypony scrambled up onto the battlements, some flying over the heads of their fellows for a better view. One of the invaders had come half way across the bridge, dressed in a gray green cloak. In one hand he held a staff bearing a multicolored standard which was rather confusing.

"Is anypony in command up there?" He called.

At once everypony pushed Iron Mane forwards. The Unicorn had the grace not to glare at them all for singling him out.

"What do you want?" Iron Mane replied.

"Talk of the commandments of your despair."

Iron Mane blinked in confusion.

"What?" The Unicorn demanded.

"Did I say that wrong?" The invader asked.

"Yeah I think so," Iron Mane replied.

The Invader muttered furiously under his breath for a moment before regaining his composure.

"I am here to discuss..." he continued much slower. "Terms of surrender."

Everypony shared quick looks, a few whispering among themselves.

"Okay," Iron Mane replied. "What are the terms?"

"Open your gates and no pony gets hurt," the invader replied. "Otherwise we will bag the city."

"You'll what?"

"Otherwise we will barrel the city?"

"Still not getting it."

"Otherwise we will crate the city?"

"Sir I think he means he's going to sack the city," Lightning Jumper whispered into Iron Mane's ear.

"I get that," Iron Mane hissed. "Its called I'm stalling."

"Otherwise we will locker the city?"

"Nope still doesn't make sense."

"Otherwise we will sack the city?"

Several ponies gulped and before Iron Mane could reply the Invader noticed.

"You have a half hour to decide," he called. "Or we're carving that gate open."

With that he turned and walked across the bridge back to the invaders camp.

Iron Mane cursed and the whole militia clambered back down from the wall, save for a few Minute Ponies who were staying top side to keep watch.

"What do we do?" Lightning Jumper asked.

"We alert the Mayor," Iron Mane replied. "Its her call. Everyone else stay on high alert."

Lightning Jumper suddenly realized that he had inadvertently just volunteered to play errand boy. That was fine by him, less chance of getting axed.

Quick as could be he sped north. Below he could see the city unraveling, ponies running in the streets with was belongings they could carry, looters forcing their way into homes, and fights breaking out everywhere with no pony able to stop it. In short it was an utter nightmare.

Thankfully it did not take him long to reach the mayor's estate which was built on top of a low hill just inside the wall near the northern gate. It was a white two story building built into the hill with a wrought iron fence surrounding it. Few people ever visited the Mayor's estate unless they were called.

Two Earth ponies were on guard at the gate when he landed. Each one had a large heavy flail clenched between their teeth, their faces concealed by the large hoods they wore.

"I need to see the mayor," Lightning Jumper said at once. "Its urgent."

The two Earth Ponies kicked the gates open with their hind legs in answer and allowed him on through. He galloped up to the front doors and pounded on them repeatedly with his fore hooves. The door opened soundlessly of its own accord and Lightning Jumper stepped inside.

"Mayor?"

"Just a moment now," the familiar comforting voice of the Mayor called from above.

Lightning Jumper shifted his weight uncomfortably from hoof to hoof in the foyer. Something about the place made his mane stand on end. He shivered, even though it wasn't actually very cold inside.

A door opened on the second floor landing and the mayor trotted out, wearing a heavy black traveling cloak. She smiled at him with her kindly old eyes.

"What seems to be the trouble?" She asked.

Lightning Jumper blinked.

"Ummm... the invaders who killed the Sheriff are at the gate and are asking for our surrender," he replied. "The acting Sheriff says you have to make the call on whether or not we surrender."

"Oh is that all?" The mayor said cheerfully trotting towards him.

"Yes Mrs. Mayor," Lightning Jumper replied, the Mayor was now inches from him and smiling. He suddenly noticed how sharp her teeth were.

"Well then," the mayor said.

Quick as a flash a dagger slashed open Lightning Jumpers throat and he collapsed to the floor. He gasped for air feebly reaching up to his no profusely bleeding throat as the Mayor stepped over him with a giggle. The dagger she had slashed his throat with was dripping with blood in her hoof.

"I'm afraid we'll have to decline."

Then Lightning Jumpers mind faded into white.

MLP:ED

Ardon frowned, staring up at the walled gates of Saint Trottersburg. The thirty minute ceasefire was almost up and no answer had been given to his demand for a surrender. All the ponies had done it seemed was keep their heads down and try to feeble attempts to reinforce the gate.

Needless to say he was getting impatient.

His own forces had been reinforced by a considerable amount to around three hundred warriors all ready to assault the gate on his signal. A palisade had been constructed to provide them shelter before the attack, complete with platforms for archers to shoot down any attacking pegasus.

Still everyone was getting antsy, waiting for the word to charge the gate en-mass and see if their plan would work. They killed time by drinking, dicing, playing five finger fillet, but keeping things quiet as could be. The forces Berserkers had gathered up around one cluster of fires sitting in silence, building up their rage to be unleashed.

He checked the hour glass that had been set up to mark the time remaining. The sands were just about to run out.
Then a bugle call sounded from the gate and the watchmen started shouting. Warriors scrambled to their feet drawing their weapons, as Ardon ran to the palisade. By the time he'd reached it the watchmen had started shooting.

The Gates were open and a mass of heavily armored and armed ponies were advancing across the bridge while their shooters laid down covering fire.

"Looks like the ceasefires over!" Ardon shouted to the camp. "Let's show them what happens when they try to play hard ball!"

There was a general cheer from the camp as the warriors rushed to positions. The Berserkers however were way ahead of everyone, charging onto the bridge to me the oncoming enemy head on. The Ponies loosed a war cry while the Berserker roared in fury as they clashed...

"AHH!!"

"SWEET CELESTIA!"

"I WANT MY MOMMY! I WANT MY MOMMY!"

Ardon's face blanched slightly as he watched the carnage that was unleashed upon the ponies as the Bersekers tore into them with their mattocks, smashing open their armor with ease and crushing the ponies within. Many others joined him in watching the horrid spectacle of the Berserkers wrath. Even the shooting stopped as every watched with horrid fascination as the Berserkers tore their foes limb from limb (Literally in some cases).

Lethrook who was now beside Ardon gave a small grimace.

"Should we proceed with the plan boss?" He asked.

"Certainly," Ardon replied.

Just as they were about to rejoin the troops however a wave of Pegasus ponies came over the wall, their devious explosives in tow.

"Archers!" Ardon shouted but the bombs had already begun to fall. Most exploded among the Bereserkers killing or wounding many but they pressed towards the gate which the ponies were frantically trying to shut. Still the distraction allowed the massed Clan Hunters to line up their shots and in a single volley dropped the entire force of Pegasus Ponies.

Once the Pegasus ponies were down the Nor Menn surged forwards with the Clan Hunters redirecting their fire to the ponies shooters. The Berserkers had begun raining blows on the now closed gates, gouging massive gashes into the wood with their mattocks. Still of all the defenses of the city the gate doors appeared to have been well maintained.
Not that it mattered, Ardon had other plans.

As soon as they reached the gates Lethrook's squad of Raiders tossed grappling hooks up at the gate house, letting them catch on the crenelations. Under covering fire from the Clan Hunter's they climbed up the gate house until at last they came face to face with the terrified and shocked ponies above.

The fight for the gate lasted all of five minutes before Lethrook's squad opened the gates and the Nor Menn, crashed on through like the raging sea. The Militia were ill prepared for the sudden Nor Menn onslaught and were rapidly being routed back to their barracks in a chaotic street to street battle. Some of the Raiders began looting the houses in the midst of this but Ardon didn't care so long as the min force remained strong enough to wipe out the Militia.

At the barracks however the defense became more organized. The ponies had established barricades and were using them to provide cover and block the Nor Menn's access. Indeed it quickly became apparent that some form of organization had taken over within the remaining militia forces and they were now fighting the Nor Menn street by street.

Indeed the closer they got the more intense the resistance became. One barricade in particular was manned by the remaining deputies of the now deceased Sheriff Silverstar. A barrage of Gun fire made any advance on the barricade perilous. One particular pony he could see organizing the barricade defense,running from one barricade to the next, a unicorn who occasionally added his own fire into that of his troops.

Ardon could respect a determined enemy but this was just starting to piss him off.

"Some one put an arrow in that bastard!" He shouted over the hail of gunfire.

The trouble was that do to the sheer volume of fire, none of the Clan Hunters were able to get a clear shot. The shots they did get off either missed, hit the barricade or somepony other than the unicorn leading the defense. To say it was infuriating was putting it mildly.

That was until Neratha scored a lucky shot which sailed right into the throat of the unicorn. With their leader dead the ponies morale began to break and with another push the Nor Menn overwhelmed the barricade, hacking down the defenders as they went.

It was pretty much mop up from there on. They broke into the Militia head quarters killing any pony they encountered with ruthless brutality. They started fires, looted stores of supplies, and smashed up whatever they couldn't take. Eventually the fires got a little out of hand and they had to evacuate the premises.

Ardon felt some small satisfaction as he watched the Militia headquarters burn down. With a moment to collect himself he finally became aware of the distant thump of balista bolts firing from the direction of the harbor. Jarl Furysheart, had gotten into position to off load troops into the city no doubt and was providing covering fire from the ships. Other reports quickly reached him by runner that the King was at last leading the bulk of the army to the city, but several clans had gone on ahead to get a start on the sack.

Ardon smiled as he heard that bit of news before turning to his warriors.

"Alright lads," he shouted. "If it ain't nailed down steal it, if it is nailed down smash it, if you can't smash it burn it, and if you can't burn it use your imagination."

"Come on!" Lethrook roared raising a cheer among the Raiders. "Let's loot this place!"

And so the Nor Menn set about their business smashing open the doors of homes and stealing, breaking, or burning everything inside. It was a welcome reward for all of their hard efforts to take the city. Still something bothered Ardon.
Every home that he entered was deserted. He checked with his warriors and discovered that they had encountered a similar lack of resistance. In Prance, the ponies would barricade themselves inside their homes and cower in fear when the Nor Menn came. This was different, the ponies had up and fled it seemed. Ardon's experience in the wilds told him something was up.

Then as he entered a square with a large group of nearly two hundred warriors he heard something aside from splintering wood and Nor Menn war cries.

He heard giggling.

He raised up a hand bringing the whole force to a halt.

"What's wrong boss?" Lethrook asked with a sack full of coins and silverware slung on his back.

"You hear that?" Ardon hissed.

The giggling was getting louder, breaking into outright hysterical laughter. Ardon raised his sword.

Then a massive mob of Ponies burst into the square from the north, hundreds strong easily. Some were armed with makeshift weapons, there were stallions, mares, colts, and fillies. All had the same horrifying grin plastered across their faces. Mixed in among them were what could only be described as shambling corpses, covered in horrific wounds. All of them were laughing insanely.

"Odin's britches!" Lethrook shouted.

"Cut them down!" Ardon ordered.

The Axe Throwers and Clan Hunters opened the fight with a barrage of projectiles. The arrows had little effect on the corpses but worked fine on those that still lived. The axes however split open skulls and tore off heads, proving amply effective against the laughing dead.

With a savage war cry the Nor Menn warriors charged their new foes meeting them head on in a brutal melee. The Bersekers waded into the thickest of the fighting, wildly swinging their mattocks. Raiders struck out with their axes while Wanderers slashed with their bastard swords. Ardon forced his way to the front cutting down any foe in his path, the streets running red with blood.

But the Nor Menn were not having it all their way. No matter how many or how quickly they killed another foe would step forwards to meet them. It was an endless tide of foes that began to slowly grind down the Nor Menn like waves upon the rocks.

Then the roof of a house close by them exploded showering everyone in debris. Before they could understand what was happening another explosion erupted near the rear of the Nor Menn lines as a small iron ball tore into several Axe Throwers. Ardon broke away from the fighting for a moment to get a better look and quickly saw what was happening.

Whoever these ponies were they had set up some sort of siege machines on the outer wall to the west. With these weapons they were bombarding the whole of the city, firing indiscriminately. The Nor Menn's only protection seemed to be the over enthusiasm of the weapons crews and the buildings around them which provided some cover.

A look up at the sky however revealed an even stranger sight. Above the carnage were massive swarms of spectral pony heads, glowing green and giggling madly like their fellows below. Ardon swore violently when he saw them, there was no way they could get air support with those things in the air.

"More come!" Fealen called.

Ardon turned to where the Clan Hunter was pointing and cursed. Another massive swarm of ponies were coming down another side street, ready to flank the beleaguered Nor Menn.

"Take them down!" Ardon shouted and the Clan Hunters and Axe Throwers redirected their fire to the new force. They could only slow the enemy down however and the horde was rapidly closing in the Nor Menn flank, and Ardon had nothing to deploy to stop them!

"Fire for the North!" A mighty voice roared and was meet by a massive war cry.

A huge force of Nor Menn warriors poured into the square from the east, intercepting the fresh wave of foes. There were Huskrals and Shield Maidens, Raiders and Bersekers, War Priests and Sorcerers. At their head however was the King, the Sword of Flames burning in his hand as he tore into the foe. Ardon's weary warriors let out a cheer as their reinforcements arrived and began pushing the enemy back.

Then the King hurried over to Ardon who bowed low.

"Your Grace," he greeted.

"What is the situation Chief Scout?" The King demanded.

"The enemy has artillery firing down upon us," Ardon replied. "Over on the western wall. And we were hard pressed until you came my lord."

"We are hard pressed all over," the King replied. "It seems as though the whole city marches against us."

"What would you have me do?" Ardon asked.

"To take the city street by street in the face of such a foe is futile," the King answered. "We must burn the city down and hope the flames destroy our foes for us. But we cannot bring in Dragonhawks because of the enemies fliers and we cannot risk starting a fire on the ground with the enemies artillery pounding us."

Then the King gave a whistle and three chieftains including Midnar who gave Ardon a small nod by way of greeting.

"Chieftains Soulsplitter, Strgyin, and Strenn will cover you while you take your forces to the western wall and capture the enemies artillery," the King ordered. "Use their weapons against them and scatter their fliers."

"As you will my King," Ardon replied. "Scout force with me!"

With much grumbling the Scout force hurried back onto the streets as the roof tops exploded around them.

MLP:ED

Mayor Mare was grinning from ear to ear as her latest and greatest performance bore fruit at last. Thousands of members of the poor audience had come running up to her mansion begging her to open the gates and let the escape. She gave them an escape alright, the escape of the Laughing Mare's gifts.

In less than an hour she had turned thousands of ponies to the Laughing Mares service and no one had even tried to stop her. It was so funny she burst out laughing again, cackling madly as her hordes poured through the streets of the city they had once called home. She had to give these invaders credit, maybe a nice fruit basket as a thank you gift for killing the pesky Sheriff and destroying his horde of kill joys he called a militia.

The Party Cannons on the wall had taken a bit of time but they were so worth it as they showered the city streets in a confetti rain of shrapnel. The Giggling ghosts had also been tricky to summon but so worth it as they tore apart anypony trying to escape by air. There was no rain checking at this party.

"Give 'em some more," she hollered to her Puppeteers as they raised fresh corpses for the party. "The more the merrier!"

At this her body guard of Revelers broke out laughing, some dropping their flails in sheer delight, unable to control themselves. The laughing became even more raucous as a Party Cannon's ball caused a building to collapse completely. It wasn't a proper party if you didn't break a few things.

She ignored the desire to go and join the fun herself, she was a party planner more than a party pony. She worked best making sure everyone else was having a blast, just like she had back in Ponyville, before it got flooded that is. She giggled at the though of the whole town she had been mayor of completely drowned by its own former weather manager. Flash floods certainly hadn't been on the forecast.

"All we need is some music," she commented. "Shame the stupid Sheriff went and busted up the music factory."
She gave a small sigh.

"Oh well," she said brightening up again, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Screams always sounded better anyways."

MLP:ED

"Keep moving!"

"Incoming!"

"Watch your heads!"

The advance to the western wall was proving to be a grim slog for the Nor Menn. When they weren't dodging incoming iron balls, they were fending off swarms of crazed ponies. Chieftain Soulsplitter and Chieftain Strgyin had broken off their forces to hold them enemy back at a few points leaving Ardon's weary scout force and Chieftain Strenn's forces to press on.

Despite the set backs and delays they were making good time, rapidly closing on the western wall. The battles they passed on the way were grim and bloody, the Nor Menn pouring on the fury as much as they could but barely holding at bay the masses of their foes.

As they rounded another corner they reached what could only be called a slaughter. Nearly sixty Nor Menn lay dead in the street their bodies being tarnished and disgraced by a horde of mad ponies. They were dancing on the corpses, setting them up in strange positions, and in general desecrating the remains.

"We'll handle this," Chieftain Strenn growled, stepping forward with Wernestel at his side. "You lot press on."

"Watch you back my lord," Ardon replied before waving the Scout force on.

Behind them Strenn and his host gave a mighty war cry and charged their distracted foes, Wernestel hurling a fire ball into their midst for good measure.

Now on their own and unsupported the scout force had to move even faster. They were exhausted and battle weary however, slowing them down. They could not afford to rest however, not while their fellows were being bombed and overwhelmed by the abominable laughing dead.

At last they reached on of the towers that lead up to wall only to find it surrounded by a massive horde of ponies all grinning and laughing. Ardon cursed his luck.

"We can't cut through all of them boss," Lethrook said grimly. "The lads can't take much more of this."

"We have to try," Ardon replied raising his sword once more.

The ponies became aware of them now, laughing at them, waving their hind quarters in the air, and making other rude gestures.

That is until a pack of massive Dire Wolves came tearing into them, each one bearing a warrior in furs and heavy mail armed with a great sword. The Ponies laughter died in their throats and turned to screams as the wolves tore into them, ripping them apart with tooth and claw while their riders dismounted and foot side by side with their beasts. At the head of the Dire Wolf force Ardon could see Jarl Krast and Prince Jonn, the cousins, fighting back to back with their great wolves at their side.

"Go on!" The Prince called. "Take out their artillery!"

"My thanks to clan Krast!" Ardon replied before leading his warriors in a charge towards the tower. They cut through the melee quickly and were thundering up the wide easy steps of the tower heading up onto the wall.

At the top of the stairs Ardon encountered a pony wearing a burlap hood with a flail clenched tightly in its grinning mouth. It swung the weapon at Ardon but missed and hit the walls of the tower. The fool clearly didn't realize that weapons that needed to be swung around to deal damage didn't work to well in confined spaces. Ardon shoved his sword through the idiot as punishment.

At last they were on the walls and the enemy artillery was in sight. But between them and the siege weapons were a mass of more of the flail wielding ponies accompanied by several more on strange single wheeled devices holding spears. Ardon had about had it however by this point with these mad ponies.

"Shoot them down!" He barked.

Sure enough the Clan Hunters took aim and loosed a volley of arrows that decimated the enemy lines even as they charged. The Axe Thrower let loose a volley of their own dragging the enemy down to half strength before the Berserkers charged in and smashed down everything in their way. Ardon had to shout to gain control of them again before they at last made their charge towards the enemies siege weapons.

There were about a dozen of the war machines each one manned by a single, each wearing a jesters hat. The Nor Menn cut them down quickly but as they did a sudden thought occurred to Ardon that made him slap his face in frustration.
He had no idea how these weapons worked.

"Clan Hunters," he ordered. "Starting taking shots at the enemy fliers, we got to figure these things out."

"We're running low on arrows sir," Fealen announced.

"Then aim carefully," Ardon snapped kicking one of the war machines in frustration. As he did so however his boot caught on a string attached the weapon. When he pulled his foot back the weapon gave a mighty blast and sent its shell flying straight into the enemy fliers. It hit several of them but didn't take the entire swarm out.

"Okay," he said taking a step back. "Let's try to be."

BOOM!

With another blast Lethrook fired off another of the weapons hitting even more of the enemy fliers.

"Damnit hold-!"

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

"HOLD YOUR FECKING FIRE!" Ardon shrieked in fury.

"Sorry boss," Lethrook said apologetically.

Ardon took a deep breath to calm himself as the Clan Hunters opened up on the enemy fliers. The artillery had taken out some of them but two shots had been clean misses.

"First off," he started. "We don't know how to reload these damned things so we've got a limited number of shots."

"About seven now boss," Lethrook added.

"I can count damnit," Ardon snapped. "Now we fire these one at a time and we actually aim with them."

MLP:ED

"No."

Another cannon was fired blowing more of the Giggling Ghosts from the air.

"No!

Another cannon blast a more Ghosts vanished.

"No! No!"

Another and another and another fired, dropping the Giggling Ghosts to below half strength.

"NO! NO! NO! NO!" Mayor Mare shrieked with fury, foam and spittle flying from her mouth.

Her greatest joke was ruined! Going up in flames before her eyes as the unknown invaders brought in large serpent like bird creatures which rained fire down upon the dying city of Saint Trottersburg. The riders on the creatures backs were firing missiles at the remaining Giggling Ghosts even as the artillery that should have been pounding the poop out of the city was blasting the cults own air forces out of the sky.

Whoever she had put in charge of guarding the artillery was so going to end up as a Smiling Doll for this! It was probably Lame Hoof, the lazy mule!

She was so furious she hardly cared for the cannon ball that blasted down the iron gate to her mansion. She could see from here the burning as her army was scorched into ashes by a massive wall of advancing flames.

"Talk about burning down the house," one of her guards muttered.

She whirled about at this and slashed the Stallions throat open with her dagger.

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" She shrieked.

Her Reveler guards cowered before her as she raged.

"THAT'S NOT BUCKING FUNNY AT ALL!" She screamed. "And the next one of you confetti brains to see it is gets the same fate as Jingle Hoof here!"

The dying Jingle Hoof made a gurgling sound which sounded like laughter. Mayor Mare stabbed him twice more for his trouble.

"ANYPONY STILL THINK IT'S FUNNY?" She roared.

One of the Revelers coughed.

Mayor Mare slashed his throat as well and stabbed out the stallions eyes with her dagger.

"We're getting the buck out of here," she snarled through her sharpened teeth. "Falling back to Featherfall!"

"Um... Mayor," one of the Revelers started.

She slashed that stallion's throat as well and gutted him with her dagger.

"We are falling back to Featherfall," she continued. "Link up with our fellows there."

"Mayor," another Reveler started only for her dagger to cut open his throat as well.

"LET ME BUCKING FINISH!" She screamed. "NO ONE GETS TO TALK WHILE I'M BUCKING TALKING!"

Then something sharp and hard tore into her hind legs and she collapsed to the ground with a shriek. Turning her head to look over her shoulder she could see a group of the invaders thundering up the path to the mansion. They smashed down her Puppeteers, banishing them back into the Astral plane.

Her Revelers charged into meet the on coming foe but they were outnumbered three to one. Desperately she began crawling across the ground, pulling herself along with her fore legs only. Behind her she could hear her Revelers dying one by one, beaten down and hacked apart by the strange invaders. She however was almost to the front door to the mansion, if she could get inside its traps could buy her the time she needed to escape and then-!

She shrieked in pain and fury as something plunged through her back, piercing her spinal column. The blade in her back was pulled out and she was kicked over. She could no see her foe face to face, but she was helpless, she couldn't move her legs or swing her knife.

The creature was tall, dressed in dark clothing with a heavy cloak hanging from its shoulders. Its round head was partially obscured by the hood it wore but she could see its eyes. They were dark and full of disgust. She shrieked at him, spittle and blood flying from her mouth as it raised up a leg.

Then it brought it down on her face, smashing her teeth in and breaking her nose. It brought up the leg back up again then just as quickly brought it back down again and again and again and again. Her eyes exploded like crushed grapes and her jaw broke apart into jagged fragments but still she was screaming in fury. She was still screaming when the creature gored out her brains across the steps of her mansion.

Ardon stood over the ruined corpse panting heavily before motioning for his warriors to set fire to the mansion. Saint Trottersburgs dead burned in the pyre of their own city. The fire burned for three days until a rain from the sea washed it away. Nothing was left but rubble and ashes.

Nothing but the massive Nor Menn encampment being built right across the river from it. Dragonslanding the new city would be called, the new Capitol of the Nor Menn people. A great hold fast would be built upon the bluffs were Sheriff Silverstar made his last stand. The gate closest to the the crossing of the river would be named the Silver Gate.

The Nor Menn would build their new home, but war would eventually call them back to its bloody fields. A siren song none of them could ignore.

Author's Note

Whoa man this took a while to write. I'll be gone for a week starting Saturday but I plan to get some writing done while I'm away.

Nor Menn vs Cult can end badly. The Nor Menn have great offense and such but the cults numbers can easily bog them down. Not to menton all the Cults other tricks or the Pillar of joy. The Nor Menn however have a few tricks up their sleeves as well. There will also be a time skip here of about a month or so with the Nor Menn resuming operations in early fall. And Moon and Stars is firmly in their sights.