War Torn

"In the begining... I was strong, I was proud, I was resilient, more importantly I was... a soldier."

"Iron Clad!" "Iron Clad they're making another push."

A voice rang clear through the sounds of my snoring comrades I reconized it instantly as a dark blue stallion burst through the barracks door breathing heavily.

"Fort Night have a runner check the emplacements. Then report to the west entrance." The stern order came from our captain Long Sword.

Fort Night snapped into a salute then galloped back through the door. Long sword was a bulky stallion, brown with a white mane. He was already getting into his armor as I noted the many scars and patches where hair would never again grow, no doubt from battles he and I had been cunning and lucky enough to live through. He grasped his silver helm under his left foreleg and turned to me.

"Iron Clad..." He spoke calmly. "We have seen to few victories in this war you and I, but you have not once wavered in the face of death. It has been an honor to stand beside you."

I was not expecting theese words and honestly they scared me, becuase he spoke as if we were already dead.

"As soon as you prepare and make your peace join Fort Night at the west entrance of the camp, and Iron may your blade cut clean."

I stiffened head held high and brought my right foreleg to my chest. Long Sword placed his helm on his head returned the salute then trotted out the door followed by his personal guard. I then proceeded to hastily adorn my own armor. I placed my short sword in its sheath. The blade made a satisfying clink insuring me it was firmly in place as I made my way to the door.

The sun had just broken the horizon as I met Fort Night at the west entrance. Only a few hundered feet from the mouth of a desilate looking cave. His sandy mane  dancing from the crest of his helm in the light breeze.

"Still quiet."

Fort said quickly informing me of the sittuation. Tension building in the air. I heard sizzling as the two torches on either side of the entrance were doused. I watched a light grey unicorn inspect the broad head of one his arrows. I had always thought it a little unfair for unicorns to be archers. I mean after all, sometimes of us have to release arrows by hoof without the use of magic. But however unfair it may seem their accuracy can not be qeustioned. My train of thought was interupted when I felt a nudge from my right.

"Iron are you ready?" Fort asked.

I hesitated reassuring my self by resting a hoof on my blade.

"Of course my friend we can not falter." I responed holding my right hoof  out low.

Fort smiled then brought his left hoof to meet mine. A deathly silence fell over the entire camp. Fort took on a very somber expression.

"This is it then." Fort Night  said with a slight nod of his head.

There was a buzz in the air, but it was not from fall morning conversations. The buzzing was growing louder. Only a foal would not know the sound of approaching changeling fliers. Several changeling burst from the mouth of the cave some at a full speed rush toward Fort and I, while others took to the skies. Fort Night readied his blade and dropped his head low in to a charging stance. I did the same.

"Achers take aim." A field leader yelled.

"Enemy at half distance.... Fire!!!"

The arrows tore through the air faster the than the order which gave them release. The first volley met their marks as they sank deep into the changelings disorderly lines, punching through thick hides and mangeling vital organs. "Chaaaarrrggee!!!" The order finally came. I was the first to set foot on the enemies side of the barricade my blade at the read, Fort Night followed suit instantly I looked up as the air assuallt  began. Changeling and pegasi bodies met mid air hoof and spear connecting with flesh and bone. Casulties mounting on both sides as wounded and dead fell to the earth. An arrow shot past grazing my shoulder plate. Fort Night tucked his head tightly to his chest as rolled under aan angry swipe from a sword, Fort gracefully came up with a rising strike and hit his mark right between the shoulders of his enemy. The blade made a slightly jagged cut up the chest blood pouring from the wound. The black stallion gurgled as it dropped its weapon and slummped to the side.

"Clean." Fort said as he dealt with the owner of the blade he had rolled under.

"Look out!" A tan stallion said as he slammed into an archer taking aim at a group of battling ponies.

But not soon enough the arrow had been released. It tore through the air spinning violently and hit a grey stallion in the neck just below the cover of his helm. Blood oozed from both sides of the stallions neck as he tried in vain to catch his breath instead his lungs fillied with blood. The terror in his eyes knowing death had been sharpening his sickle for the harvest. The stallion fell to his side as his life left him.

"For glory!!" A pegsi yelled from somewhere above no doubt tallying another kill.

I took one more step before getting slammed into from my right. The changeling and I slid a fair distance in the blood soaked soil. I shifted my attackers wait into a roll as we slid, trying to come out on top but the exact opposite happened. The changeling stared down at me meancingly, but before he had a chance to make his move I swung my right hoof hard into his chin. I quickly regained my hooves. The changeling backed away a few steps and shook its head. I then plucked my sword from the ground and swung precisely, my enemy perried the attack the thick shell on his arm was barely scratched. "Remeber your training Iron, go for the joints." I thought to myself. I was more accurate with my next flury. I dodged an attack from the left by ducking under. Then landed two perfect slices to backs of my opponents rear knees. His back half dropped to the ground as I lifted him by his neck from behind. I placed my blade fluch with his neck and pulled to the right. His pained screams of agony fell to muffled gurgeling. As the arterial spray from his gaped throat added a new shade of glistening gore to the battlefield I eased my grip as the violent thrashing turned into slow twitching. Now no longer nervous I rushed to Fort Nights side.