Flesh and Silicon

One week passed, but it felt like a year. As every day progressed, time felt slower. Every minute felt like a day and every hour felt like a month. The same thing happened over and over. More swarms, more shells. Rumours of the Changelings actually retreating spread around the trenches like a plague. Cold winds thrashed the wooden posts holding up miles of barbed wire and echoed in the eerie wastes above. Steelwing was doing his daily patrols, checking on the mortar cannons and defences until he was intercepted by a courier.

"Excuse me sir, telegram for you," The courier stammered nervously. It was either Steelwing's high rank or the blistering winds. Steelwing grabbed the letter off the courier and headed into his small office. He proceeded to open the letter, hoping that it was from Luna. It has been weeks since he last heard from her. He unfolded it and a disappointed look came across on his face. It was from HQ.

Dear Captain Steelwing

You are aware that we have monitoring Trench #54 for a week now and have found minimal activity. Therefore, Master General Crimson Blade has decided to order your outfit to...

Steelwing stopped in shock as he read the last part of the letter. He stood motionless for a moment, but then managed to regain his bearings. He dropped the letter and sat down, feeling faint, he poured a glass of water. Platinum walked in the room, and had noticed him slouching over his desk with the letter on the floor.

"Steelwing? Is everything OK?" Platinum asked with serious concern. Steelwing didn't reply, but instead sighed heavily and then put his front legs on the table and buried his head in them. Platinum ran up to Steelwing and put his hoof on his shoulder.

"What's the matter?" He asked. "Tell me please, you are worrying me now!" Steelwing lifted his head, his eyes were red and swelled with tears. He then managed to muster some strength to utter,

"We...we are going over the top,"

Platinum froze in place, not being able to take the news. He picked up the letter on the floor and read...

...to order your outfit to proceed to evacuate the trench and advance towards the enemy encampment. We hope that you are successful in your advancement and hope to see you soon. You advance in one week at 06:00.

Good Luck

Expert Major Ferrus

"What do we tell the men?" Platinum trembled.

"Well, lets be honest with them. We might as well tell them so that they don't get forced over the trench," Steelwing sighed, still in minor shock. Steelwing and Platinum walked outside into the blizzard and assembled the entire outfit.

"My loyal comrades. We have fought off the very face of evil together. We have almost destroyed every Changeling in the sector," Steelwing addressed. Every soldier cheered with with him as they think it is a morale speech.

"But apparently, this is not enough. For the general has decided that we, one week later," Every soldier looked at each other in confusion, unable to predict what was going to happen next.

"We shall evacuate this trench, and advance to the Changeling encampment, 1 Mile away from here". Every soldier froze in fear, the thought of going over the top and trekking the dangerous wasteland, was like a death sentence. For every outfit that had advanced, never came back.

"But we are not like other outfits, we are the best of the best. We shall advance towards the enemy. And we shall use tactics that not even the Master General would think of. Most of you would call that misconduct, but I don't fancy walking towards 50 Changelings and being slaughtered!"

Every soldier snapped out of their statue like position and began to cheer. They respected Steelwing, they knew he was a good leader as the outfit was the lowest performing before he came into command.

"Sir is right!" A soldier shouted

"We can do it, who says that they can hit us" Another one shouted. The troops then began cheering in high spirits again.

"We advance, one week later. At 06:00," Steelwing announced.

"No sir, we win one week later. At 06:01," A soldier corrected in the way to raise morale. Steelwing smiled at the soldier ordered everyone back to their posts. He then walked back to his small, cramped office and sat down.

"We are going to get slaughtered aren't we?" Platinum asked, pessimistically.

"Definitely, we might as well get everyone in high spirits before they get sentenced to their death," Steelwing sighed. Another courier then knocked on the door and said,

"Package for Captain Steelwing sirs,"

"Thank you, who from?" Steelwing asked happily. He never got a package from anypony after he left to the trenches.

"Equestria, Sir. We checked it and there isn't nothing dangerous in there. I assure you," The courier said, deep in thought.

"Thank you anyway". Steelwing picked up the letter attached to it.

It was from Luna.

He observed the large, thin parcel as he picked it up. He then noticed a piece of paper taped to the side.

To my dear Steelwing,

My deepest apologies for not replying to any of your letters. The Changeling war has affected Equestria's borders and I had to pull some strings to get this parcel past the borders. I am fine but I miss you dearly. I now have to put up with my big sister more than ever as the population seem to worship her as a Goddess and ignore me. If only everypony else shared your love of the night. I do hope that you are safe and that you receive this package intact, it is a blade that my father carried with him all the time and It has to be passed on.

Love always,

Luna

As Steelwing finished the letter, he opened the package very carefully and pulled out a deep purple sheath. He looked at the décor of the sheath.

"This is peculiar blade indeed, the craftsmanship is indeed divine," Steelwing complimented. He then pulled the broadsword out of its sheath and a purple blaze ignited the blade. The blade seemed to be black but not shiny, but had stars in it, similar to the night sky. He then looked at the bottom of the package to see a parchment at the bottom.

To the new owner, I hereby bestow you with the rift blade, a blade forged from the night sky, burning with the fire of darkness.

"I read that in legends and myths once, apparently it has the ability to surge the user once it kills something," Platinum said, observing with curiosity of the sword's blade, but staying clear of the purple inferno.

"Well now, I guess the Changelings are going to be surprised," Steelwing muttered, but soon jumped at the sound of a mortar going off.

Steelwing stormed down the wooden plank path to the cannons where he saw all of the soldiers had mobilised to fire.

"What in the world is going on!" Steelwing demanded,

"Sir, you might want to check your spotter," A private said. He then went to his periscope and scanned the surface.

"What the..."

Suddenly a deafening chitter had echoed across the wastes. Everypony fell to the floor and covered their ears from the high pitched scream.

"Fire you fools, blast that thing to Heretics Valley!"

A booming could be heard, going louder with every sound. A darkness shrouded the trench as everypony looked up in total shock. A green.

"Sir...what is that," Platinum stuttered quietly.

"Whatever it is, I don't think it's too happy to see us," Steelwing replied.

A large pair of cyan wings extended out, causing a tempest on the ground. A massive black leg struck the ground and caused rocks to fly in the air and strike the ground. Its cyan eyes stared down at the Metaquines, looking like ants. It was a Changeling but much larger than the rest.