Ballad of The Righteous Stead
Ch. 8 Battle of The Plains
It was as if a giant game of chess was going on. One side white, one side black. The white side was Celestia's unicorn army, drab in white cloth armor, bearing the insignia of the Solar Republic. The black side was Luna's army of all manner of species, working together as a united force to stop the tyrant princess. The black army had a plethora of armor as well, ranging from heavy iron armor on earth ponies, none at all on the zebras.
The armor adorned by earth ponies were similar to that of the royal guard. It was very heavy, but was worn comfortably by the ponies due to their enhanced strength from their race. The pegasi wore lighter armor but kept a fair amount of protective plating so as to not be so vulnerable while in flight. It was made of banded leather and iron and was considered by most to be a light armor. The unicorns on both sides (mostly Celestia's side) had cloth armor that simply kept them warm in the slightly chilly plains. Though most of the unicorns took the liberty of enchanting their armor with spells such as magical shields and intensifying the density of the cloth to aid in the fight. The griffons being too noble chose not to take armor or weapons from the resistance, they actually wore no armor at all so as to remain an image of courage and bravery. They had claws that easily could match any weapon that the resistance had in it arsenal though. On the subject of weapons the pegasi and earth ponies had weapons that suited their particular attributes.
The pegasi had an assortment of blades that the different nationalities chose, such as scimitars for those of Saddle Arabia and short swords for those of Cloudsdale; though what really packed a punch were the saddle bags filled with explosive potions. The earth ponies on the other hand wielded large axes and broadswords generally though changing depending upon the place in which they traveled from. The entirety of Equestria was under threat and every-pony was pitching in to help the effort, even those of other countries, beyond that of Equestria. Zebras had joined the cause and were a driving force due to their expertise in brews and concoctions of all sorts. They made potions that could heal, potions that were primed to explode on impact once it was shaken properly, and even potions to poison enemies that they coated weapons of iron and steel with. The poison coming into contact with the organs would essentially cause a seizure. The poison was taken from the toxic plants which lined the floor of the jungle in which zebras lived. The plants are fine to touch and even fine to eat, but grind it up into a liquid and you get a highly toxic mixture that causes the muscles to convulse wildly.
The armies had been standing for some time, as if they were made of stone. Stone that would come to life as soon as the signal was given. Both sides were waiting for the other to initiate the battle.
The black army began checking their equipment, making sure that everything was in order before the battle started. The earth ponies were at the front of the pack, they were going to be the force that pushed the battle forward. There were unicorns intertwined in the ranks of the armored ponies, ready to provide a shield when needed and heal what wounds they could. If they were to take a high position they would begin firing upon the white army with energy bolts. The griffons and pegasi were in the back of the line, ready to take off the second the battle started. They would fly as fast as they could toward the white army and provide aerial bombardment and to distract them from the advancing forces. The zebras would be mostly staying where the tents had been set up, with field medics running out to take wounded back to the tents.
James was to lead the pegasi force because he had the most experience of war compared to all of them. With his world having been reduced to nothing but rubble due to the ferocity of the conflict.
He looked out into the field which resembled some of the battlefields from wars long past that it gave him chills. They were in a large dry plain, that resembled a cracked desert but was surprisingly chilly. It was barren of all except the army's, devoid of life. Possibly having been a battleground a thousand years ago for all he knew.
James was waiting for the command that a thousand others would receive at the same time. A telepathic signal from Luna who sat over watching the battle high in the peaks of the snow topped mountains that were around the plains. Just as Luna was about to say the words to initiate the battle, flashes all through the ranks of the army appeared.
Celestia had issued the command to start the battle for the plains, a strategic point that if taken would give the black army a clear line of sight to Canterlot. Though if the white army took it it meant that they had a clear path to the entirety of Equerstria and that they had a buffer zone of sorts.
Unicorns teleported and caught many of the ponies within the black army by surprise as they were teleporting into the middle of platoons, on top of a sergeant or higher ranking officer and cut their throats open. Severing an artery most times and sending a fountain of red haze that clouded their escape to another platoon. Celestia had made many of her unicorns into cold blooded assassins, and this is what they were like in combat. Ruthless soldiers which wanted the blood of their enemy to drench the streets as they went through slaughtering all who crossed them.
Regardless of this the black army went into a charge, earth ponies being slaughtered in the process. James took flight along with the rest of the pagasi and began to ready for their charge which would come soon, they had to let the earth ponies gain ground before took off so that there was less fire on either side. The white army having to fight aerial and ground forces at the same time instead of being able to just focus of one or the other.
As the last of the massive battalion of earth ponies left the encampment, some 1000 unicorns teleported into the area and began firing upon the pegasi and griffon fleet. Though they only got about 3 shots each as the zebras and griffons came down upon them. The zebras wielding simple bamboo poles which they used in their ancient fighting in years past. They went on fighting, swinging their poles bashing in the skulls of the unicorns, while the griffons that had gone down used their claws and tore through the ranks of the ponies. Cleaving their heads clean off, one even picked up the skull of a decapitated unicorn still dripping with blood and ripped off the horn. It then turned around to a unicorn which was teleporting behind it and stabbed it in the eye. The wailing came from the mouth of the unicorn soon to be silenced with a claw into the chest. The force of unicorns was easily handled with the griffons having handled most of it. The griffons were brutal fighters as well, being mercenaries for hire they would kill any and all of their targets no questions asked. Even if that target was an entire empire, as it was in this case.
James now raised the blade which he had mounted to his hoof and directed the fleet to take off, he took the middle of the pack so that he would not be directly in the line of fire. He valued his men greatly but he knew that if he died then the troops would not have a leader. They took off, rocketing at high speeds toward the white army. The ground forces had made it over half way there.
He watched as the forces were mowed down by energy bolts from the ranged forces of the white army and the assassins which were still attempting to take out the troops one by one.
It was around this time that he noticed the surprising size of the unicorn army, it was big enough that nearly every unicorn in Equestria would have had to enlisted. This troubled him though he supposed that it was possible that Celestia had scared them into doing so. He had zoned out and was just now realizing the slaughter that was taking place ahead of the pack. The unicorns had turned their fire onto the pegasi, though only able to use half of their firepower as planned. The soldiers ahead were being cut to pieces, the energy bolts tearing through their flesh and organs, not being slowed what so ever.
They pressed on, ignoring the casualty's and focusing on the mission: Bomb the shit out of them and let the griffons go in for clean up. As they neared the center of the army the troops pulled out their explosive mixtures and shook them well. In doing so some ponies ended up blowing up and taking 5 or so other pagasi with them as an energy bolt hit the bottle and burst.
They dropped the bombs over top of the army, curving around as they did so. They would drop a bomb and curve back towards the advancing troops so that they could regroup for another strike. The hailstorm of bombs came down. Many unicorns making refraining from firing to bring up a shield. They had expected bombings, though twice as many did not pull up shields. They were too slow, and payed for this by being obliterated. Their entrails slamming into the shields, a rain of blood now coming from the sky. Not only those who did not have shields were killed. There were also some that were unlucky enough to have two or three potions drop on them, which created holes in their shields. The holes would then allow for another one to drop and destroy them, leaving only an orb of red.
The griffons now came and spread their arms, claws outstretched. They raced through the remaining ponies, cleaving heads and peppering the surviving unicorns shields with sinew and blood. The unicorn army had been cut in half, and was now a red sea of blood.
James having been back by the advancing earth ponies watched as the assassins were being thwarted. One assassin teleported onto an earth ponies back and was about to slit his throat when the pony stopped cold. Sending the unicorn flying off, then him and five other ponies surrounded him. The one who was the target cut off the horn of the unicorn to prevent further magic. The one of his comrades lifted his axe high and brought it down on the unicorn. Only to be stopped by a newly placed purple shield. Other unicorns were now leaving the platoons to fight for the lone unicorn. The insueing brawl was brutal, both sides not willing to give up and blood being spilled everywhere. The earth ponies ultimately prevailing.
The assassins now were gathering in front of the ranged troops to meet the earth ponies head on.
James now flipped his sword from its equivalent of a sheathed position, and signaled the army to charge once again, this time using swords to do the same as the griffons, as they charged the ground forces collided. As the ground forces collided there was a large flash of light and a shock wave that sent both sides flying from its epicenter. A white winged and horned creature stood in the middle of the crater.
Celestia had arrived on the battlefield! She had wiped out all ponies in the direct vicinity, and sent others that were anywhere near her flying back; James included.
James rage and adrenaline made it so that he did not stay down long. He got up razed his sword and rocketed forward, his wings flapping as fast and as hard as they could. He aimed the sword directly at the princesses chest. Celestia now turning her attention to him, attempted to subdue him by firing an energy bolt at him. The bolt missed, though coming close enough to singe his red coat. His sword now entered her chest, cracking ribs and narrowly missing her heart. Her head now slumped.
James attempted to bring the sword free of the corpse but found a lot of resistance. Then a devilish grin broke out onto Celestia's face. She rose her head and put her hoofs on his shoulders. Then a green flame enveloped her as her coat changed to black chitin. Her horn became wider and much more jagged, along with being riddled with holes. Her eyes changed to solid green orbs, she gained two sharp fangs, and her wings became insect like. As this happened many of the unicorns on the edge of the crater went through the same transformation and jumped down into the crater. Holding him down before he could do anything. They had changelings, GODDAMN CHANGELINGS!
He heard a clap of thunder above him, and looked up, what he saw was not promising. The real princess was descending upon the blood soaked earth. She landed next to the pile of vile creatures that were detaining him.
She now spoke to him " You really are an absolute complete imbecile, do you know that. You lead your troops into a battle which clearly does not look quite right, what with an army that suggests an entire species fighting. You didn't even think about how we need citizens in our cities and ponies to make our armaments. You simply thought that I had somehow enlisted every last unicorn in Equestria didn't you? You really ought to know better than that. Then charging a god without the support of anyone else. Then having the insolence to think that you could possibly kill a being such as myself so easily. It makes me sick to see wastes of energy such as your self walking this planet. You are absolute garbage, and think that you are some sort of strategist, or hero because you saved the lives of ponies in Saddle Arabia. Which wasn't even a full scale invasion. Oh but I forgot, your master wouldn't even have you, your just a fallen angel."
Her incessant insults were invigorating James beyond rational thinking. As Celestia turned for a second to annihilate an entire squadron with one energy bolt, he acted, disregarding all she had previously said.
He pulled his sword free of the first imposters chest. He then flapped his wings harder than he had ever done, even as an angel. In doing so he simultaneously sent the changelings flying off of him and broke his wings. The pain would have completely immobilized him if his adrenaline hadn't been as high as it was. He then threw all his weight into a single twist, his blade honed in for her neck. He cleaved the heads off of 3 changelings before he connected with Celestia's neck. It tore through flesh, tendons, and muscle. But suddenly stopped half way through.
The enraged alicorn turned her almost severed head to the Pegasus. She grabbed onto the blade, cutting her foreleg in the process. She removed the blade from her neck, the massive wound healing it self instantaneously. Celestia clung onto the blade with her magic and took flight.
James attempted to pull free but couldn't because the mounted part of the blade had stabbed into his hoof in the last attack. He was now stuck as he was pulled high up into the air. Celestia must have felt that she was at a sufficient height now because she stopped.
She now spoke once again "Congratulations, shit for brains. You just condemned your entire army to death. I would have spared you so that i had leverage for a seize fire from Luna. The fighting could have ended with your army leaving with their tales between their legs, though having the chance to fight another day. But now due to your insolence i will have to kill you" She raised James up higher than herself and spoke one last line " Now say hi to all the unicorns you have slaughtered today, IN HELL!" With that she pulled James into her horn. Stabbing through many vital organs. The only thing that stopped him from screaming in agony was the the cough of blood that he let out. Most of it landing on celestias face. Then the vital organs were suddenly obliterated as she fired a beam of pure energy from her horn. She now pulled it out and let James fall. Black clouded almost all of his vision, except the white alicorn, which was getting farther and father away.
This is what death must feel like...