Mountain Rising

Tosh hid in the shadows, safe from the changelings all around him. He was searching for any signs of Chrysalis, as he was ordered to by his leader, Havelock.

"Where are you?" he said poking his head out of the shadows. Nothing in sight.

Tosh unfurled his leathery wings, the wings of a bat pony, and shot himself into the sky, soaring towards the setting sun. There, he found a large, very sophisticated campsite, littered with magical constructs digging for resources, while the edges had trenches built, housing several armed ponies. Tosh searched around the camp, eventually finding a grey stallion in a seemingly dull set of grey armor.

"Tosh, what news do you bring?" asked the stallion, a unicorn.

"We've got a lot of changelings for sure, maybe a five to one ratio," said Tosh as he landed next to the stallion, "as for Chrysalis, we haven't found her, yet,"

"Well, we've got limited resources now, Tosh, ground is goin' dry. Find me Chrysalis, an attack this large needs her presence somewhere. You've never let me down, Tosh, now make it happen."

He hesitated, then said, "Yes, Havelock, I'll make it happen," as he flew off.

"DuskWing!" called Havelock.

Flying to his side was a young pegasus.

"Yes, command?" she said.

"Take your flyers and wait high above the soldiers, give air support when needed at any time, I don't care how badly they need it, just give them support."

"Yes sir, anything else?" DuskWing asked.

"Where's Jaller?" demanded Havel.

"He's by the east trench, oh, and, Havel,"

"What do you need, Dusk?"

"Do you think you and I could take some time alone after this?"

"I can't make that a promise, but I'll try, what'd you have in mind? Lunch?"

"Not quite... you see-"

"Hold that thought," said Havel as he used his magic to teleport to Jaller, who resided on an immense, and heavily armed air ship called Gypsy.

"Commander on deck!" shouted Jaller, a very old earth pony.

"Jaller, get your crew and find Tosh, if he gets in trouble, you're to help him."

Havelock's command was done with a hearty "yessir!"

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Tosh flew high within the clouds, concealing himself from the now advancing mass of changeling minions. He scanned the ground relentlessly for the queen. He made a sharp dive for the ground, pulling up only moments before impact. Tosh looked around, almost impatiently, for Chrysalis. He listened hard to quicken things, trying to block out the buzzing changelings. Tosh's frustration only began to grow.

"Celestia damn this, where are you, Chrysalis!" shouted Tosh, oblivious to the changelings now aware of him. Tosh listened harder, ignoring the sudden silence of the changelings. Finally, Tosh heard the sound of hooves behind him.

"Looking for me?" asked Chrysalis.

Tosh laughed slightly, "For somepony like you to simply vanish for so long is unheard of, an army like yours, why the need to hide?"

"Hmm, yes, once your little group of friends fall to me, I will devour all their love, then I will kill them. But you, I've come to like you, which is why I'm going to kill you last, right after I kill your leader." laughed Chrysalis.

"Ha! I'll grow too old to walk by the time you even figure out how to break him. We call our leader Havelock the Mountain, and make no mistake Chrysalis," began Tosh, "We call him a mountain for good reason,"

"And how is a mountain supposed to fight my whole army, that's gathered around to see you."

Tosh then only just became aware of all the changelings around him. He did a quick head count, finding more than he originally thought, not including those in the air, which writhed with their numbers. Tosh put a calm facade on, eying the few closing the distance between him and them. Then he remembered something.

"Do you like magic tricks, Chrysalis? I've got one for ya," said Tosh pointing at a gem in his chest-plate.

"Well, now ya see me-" Tosh lightly struck the gem in his armor, "Now ya don't..."

Seizing the chance, Tosh rocketed himself into the air, retreating back to the safety of his campsite. Behind him, chaos erupted, as the army flew about in search of him. Tosh flapped hard to fly fast and avoid all the confused changelings in his path, his only interest now, was getting to safety. Amid the swarms of changelings, Gypsy was soaring directly towards Tosh. When Tosh could finally see Gypsy, he nearly injured himself as he pulled up and landed doggedly on deck.

"Tosh is safe! Now! Full attack, all weapons!" shouted Jaller

"Jaller, you've got to turn back, there are..." Tosh panted heavily, "there are far more than I thought could exist, we've got to go back, now!"

"Relax, Tosh," said the aged earth pony, "Gypsy has handled worse than a handful of changelings," Jaller poured himself a cup of tea, "care to join me?"

"Jaller, you don't understand, you-"

"Captain!" called one of the crew members, "you'll want to see this sir,"

Jaller slowly rose and approached the crew member, a young pegasus. The pegasus pointed forward, off the front tip of the air ship. Jaller adjusted his monocle, scanning the horizon. There, he saw a very large, and thick cloud of changeling minions. Jaller's eyes widened when they darted for Gypsy like hornets.

"Turn this ship around!" Jaller demanded, "we're hightailin' it outta here!"

_________________

Many of the soldiers in the trenches had become very bored. The ground soldiers, often called war pigs by the public, were a rude and boisterous set of ruthless, efficient fighters. These soldiers were clad in a dark, heavy set of armor modeled after that of a Canterlot guard. Their weapons consisted of long spears, pikes, and halberds used to mow down opposing infantry; this has won them victory several times in their career.

"Any news on those changelings?" asked a war pig,

"Those fuglies? No, but news better damn well get here, if I don't kill one soon, I'm going home for a drink." said the soldier next to him.

"Hopefully there'll be some nice flanks when we get home," laughed the other pig.

"You swine, thinking those thoughts,"

"It's why they call us war pigs,"

An older pony, also a war pig, shouted at the two youths "Get down! Shut up! Gypsy in sight, an' she 'auls a lotta fuglies be'ind 'er!"

"He's right!" shouted one of the pigs as he squinted at Gypsy, "ere' they coooome!"

"Didn't I just say to shut up?!"

The pigs laid low within the trenches, as DuskWing's flyers lured them down close enough for the pigs to impale them on their spears and pikes.

"Ow many did ya get?" asked one of the young pigs.

"Three bugs, one jab," said the other.

"Ha! Four bugs!" Gloated the young pig.

Gypsy had reached the campsite, where it could now unleash its might.

"Charge crystals! Shoot them out of the air!" commanded Jaller.

Gypsy relied on enchanted crystals to fire magical beams equal to that of a powerful unicorn. The air ship held hundreds of these crystals, all tended to by enchanters themselves. The weapons Gypsy held decimated the flying changelings, thinning them out greatly and giving the other flyers room for acrobatics.

________________

Havelock had been watching the battle with great interest from the center of the camp. He looked at the trenches, which were holding up against the attack well. He examined the flyers, who seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly. He gazed up at Gypsy, which proved a living nightmare to his army's opponents. Havelock could quite literally sit and wait through the fight, his soldiers were far too well armed, skilled, and numbered themselves.

________________

"Anypony see that light way up ahead?"

"That's where we got in, and now, our way out. How many minerals did we dig up?"

Some ponies that looked just like Havelock's soldiers looked back behind them and announced, "Looks like the drones are hauling maybe four-hundred pounds, we'll have some extra to give Celestia,"

"Which means a bonus, damn, I must say, Havel was really thinking when he sent us to dig up these rare mineral deposits,"

"But why doesn't he just sell the excess to the highest bidder? We'll get a lot more cash that way." asked one of the soldiers.

"Are you saying that you would double-cross the princess? Just to get a few extra bits, are you serious?"

All eyes turned to the one foolish soldier.

"Okay, I see your point, Tarkus, but I thought we were mercenaries,"

"We all wanna get rich," said Tarkus, "but we also wanna live long enough to enjoy it, never forget that,"

"Yes sir,"

"Good, now let's hightail it before the natives get restless, or worse, the fuglies up above,"

Tarkus lead the group of soldier-miners to the exit at the end of the cave, checking every so often on the drones, magical constructs Havel uses for gathering resources. Tarkus was an old, and proud soldier, boasting about his early achievements as an infantry unit to young mares when off duty. His armor was bulky, dark, heavy and very defensive, to the point where it was on par of his leader's fabled stone armor. His skill in the front lines has earned him the rank of leading the war pigs while Havelock was not around, and a strike of his sword remakes the killing blows heard in legends.

"Gain way, comin' through!" shouted Tarkus as he arose to the surface. Following closely behind him was the caravan of soldier-miners and the drones with the minerals. Havelock came rushing towards them, as their camp was built on top of their point of entrance.

"Havel, we have the minerals you asked for, now what, pray tell, are we going to do with them?" asked Tarkus.

"Well, as you know, these minerals are very-" Havel ducked from a blast of changeling magic, "-these minerals are very rare, and for good-" both he and Tarkus dodged a changeling swooping down, "-for good reason, too, they-" the soldier-miners dived down to avoid an AWOL blast of magic "-dammit, everyone just get down and listen!" all the soldiers laid low to avoid the organized chaos about them, "these minerals will be used to strengthen our weapons and armor, then as we sell the excess to Celestia, she will strengthen her army and we earn a permanent contract to stay and guard Equestria," Havel finally spat out.

"Good plan," said Tarkus, both hooves over his head.

"I know, now get in the front lines, Tarkus!" shouted Havel, his belly on the ground.

_________________

Only several minutes after Tarkus was sent off, DuskWing flew down to Havel's side.

"Sir-" she saluted, "I've found hostages, off to the west, the queen is there and she has entrenched many, many changelings there. My take on this is that it's a trap, the hostages are just to bait us in,"

"How many?" demanded Havelock.

"Sir, you're not actually considering-"

"Dusk, how many hostages?"

"Four sir,"

"Hmm, I'm not working through others on this, I'm going there alone, to deal with Chrysalis, and save the hostages, if they're real." Havelock said, almost in a passive manner.

"But-"

"These are my orders, Dusk, I expect you to follow them through, keep watch on your flyers, I'll be back."

Havelock strolled over to his tent, and went inside to grab his helm and hammer. His helm was made of solid rock, just like the rest of his armor, and was deeply enchanted like every plate was. His hammer was also a deeply enchanted tool, carved from both stone and a dragon's bone, and made so long one could use it as a staff. These are what earned Havelock the title mountain, for he hardly flinched in battle and shrugged off even killing blows.

"Heading out, could I get a lift, Dusk?" asked Havelock.

"Sure," she said softly.

Two other pegasi were called to help carry Havelock to the queen. Gypsy cleared a path for Havel's helpers to cross, lessening the hassle for the struggling pegasi.

"Drop me in the center of them," commanded Havel.

"From up here?" asked one of the pegasi.

"Yes, drop me, now!"

The  pegasi hesitated, then dropped Havel down almost on top of Chrysalis. Whirling his hammer with magic, Havel struck the charging changelings solely on the skull, a sickening crack heard on every blow. He turned towards Chrysalis, hammer raised.

"End of the line, army's shattered and here we are, face to face,"

Chrysalis smiled slightly, then began to laugh. "I've made some friends while I was banished, Havelock, maybe you know them."

Havel raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What're you-" a colossal beast burst out of the ground behind him, sending dust and debris everywhere.

"Can't be..." gasped Havel "Daayan!"

He searched about for Chrysalis. She vanished.

"I thought we killed her, she should be dead!" Havel shouted, mostly to himself.

The huge beast towered over Havel, resembling a sort of twisted dragon. On its back was a young, seemingly helpless mare.

"Daayan!" Havel shouted again, "you should be dead, I killed you!"

"And that was very rude of you, Havel," said Daayan in a deceptively sweet voice, "but, let's let bygones be bygones, after all, here I am. In fact, I have an offer for you," said Daayan as she laid down comfortably on the dragon's back.

"Not interested," Havel said firmly.

"Oh, but it could work out so well for you and I, you have fighting skills, advanced magic, and, best of all, the mind of a master war strategist, and I have magic that can preserve your little mercenary family,-" Havel's eyes widened, "For as long as they'd like. So, if I give you this magic, and my army, then you must give me Equestria, deal?"

Havel stepped back a few paces, "What a cliche," he said.

"Oh, don't be mistaken, it's not the land I want, it's the souls, the essence, the great feast laid before me,"

"You're a disgusting monster, Daayan,"

"You've until sunrise to give me your answer. I'll be waiting,"

Havelock took a few more paces back, then made his decision. Holding his horn high, it glowed with bright, golden light. With a great flash he vanished.

"Hmm, so be it, Havelock. but you've only dug your own grave." Daayan muttered.

________________

After flashing back into the camp, Havel's head hurt.

"Well, there you are," said Tarkus, "changelings are scattered, can we go home now?"

"Daayan has returned" Havel said, "make preparations for-" the same dragon-like beast erupted from the ground.

"Take it down! Take it down now!" shouted some war pigs.

Suddenly, all manner of twisted, unseen creatures arose from the ground. Many were towering over the pigs, many more as big as them.

Before Havel knew it, his soldiers, his family, were dying all around him, many torn to pieces. Blood soaked the earth on which Havel stood. Havel was lost, confused, and frightened at such a sudden downfall. A single tear escaped his eye, rolling down off his face to mix with the blood of those fallen. DuskWing was at his side, trying to get his attention amid the slaughter.

"Commander!"

Her voice sounded muffled.

"Commander! Havel!"

Her voice was still unheard.

"Havel!"

Havel was jerked out of his state.

"Havel! We're in full retreat! Fall back to Gypsy"

Havel obeyed DuskWing. He ran for the air ship, blocking out the carnage before him. When he was right beneath it did he remember his magic, and used it to teleport onto the ship.

"Charge the Disruptor!" ordered Jaller.

"It won't charge, sir!" said a unicorn.

"Then charge it! It's do or die! You hear me?!"

"I can charge it..." whispered Havel.

Havel ran for the Disruptor, an elegant pillar with a magical crystal on top.

"Havel is going to kill himself charging that!" shouted DuskWing

"We've no other choice, Dusk, we must get that charged or we'll all die," said Jaller.

The air ship jerked.

"We must get that working before we're knocked out of the sky!"

Havel had already begun channeling his magic to the crystal atop the pillar. He struggled hard to charge the powerful weapon, he felt weaker every moment spent focusing his power.

"That's it! It's nearly done!" shouted Tarkus.

Havel's nose began bleeding, his bones felt weak and his focus was failing.

"It's done! Use it! Now!" shouted Jaller.

A wave of energy was sent forth from the crystal, creating a mass genocide of the monsters. Everypony allowed themselves to finally breath.

Jaller inhaled and let out a sigh, "Status," he demanded.

"Medic!" cried DuskWing.

Dusk cradled Havel's head in her hooves. His body was limp and open wounds leaking blood littered his body. Many looked away from the horror, the select few went to help him.

Gypsy jerked again.

"The hell did that?" asked Tarkus.

"What's wrong with the ship?" asked Jaller.

"Sir, we suffered a lot of damage to the ship, the hull is now compromised," the young crew member looked at his captain, "We're going down,"

The ship jerked again, then plummeted downwards, presumed forever lost...

_______________

The doors to Celestia's throne room were thrashed open by a guard.

"News from eastern Equestria, princess," announced the guard

"Yes?" said Celestia, worry evident on her face.

"I am burdened to tell you, that the Raiders have fallen in battle."

"Oh..." replied Celestia. There was dead silence in the room, "Were they successful?"

"Yes, your majesty, they wiped out these... things, just before their air ship fell out of the sky,"

"Were search parties sent?"

"No, many concluded that they couldn't have survived,"

"Yet, they are in fact the Raiders, why didn't you send a search party?"

"Well... your highness, the nobles have refused to pay, and no soldier works for free,"

Celestia went silent for a long, long time, then said, "U-understood, thank you for bringing this to my attention,"

She was left to do her work alone. What have I done? she thought.

~Canterlot, six years later.~

Out in the distance, a guard could see what looked like an air ship. Plenty of air ships were made in Canterlot, yet this one was very different from a general air ship. It looked out of place, with Canterlot craftsmanship mixed with the architecture of an unknown source. As it sailed closer to Canterlot, the guard could see words on the side of the ship.

"Gypsy..." he read.

The guard had heard that name before, and sprinted for Canterlot castle as fast as he could.

"Your majesty!" the guard panted, "the Raiders... they've... returned."

Celestia looked up with interest, "Have they?"

"We have!" shouted a voice, "and we, step aside rookie, we have come to conclude our contract, Celestia,"

Havelock the Mountain stormed into the room, with many of his "Raiders" behind him.

"Reports said you were dead," said Celestia, a grin growing on her muzzle.

"Delayed, not dead," said Havel, "but... not the same can be said for those who aren't here,"

"How did you survive?" asked Celestia.

Tosh stepped forward, his milky white eyes staring aimlessly into nothing.

"We took a little pain," he said, gesturing to his own blindness, "but we got through just fine, after all, like I said six years ago," Tosh turned to Havelock, "We call him a mountain for good reason,"

Havel smiled broadly at Tosh's blinded eyes, feeling that he could see through them a different way than most.