The Legend Of The Crimson Fields
**Chapter 1
First Blood**
Shimmering moonlight broke through the forest´s treetops.
The silver brilliance of the stars illumed the path of hungry owls and foxes searching for well-hidden mice and rabbits. Berries and fruits were yet nonexistent in this very early spring time. Days got longer and warmer again and the snow slowly started to melt. Occasional muffled thuds evidenced of trees getting rid of their heavy white burden. Prints in the mud showed where shy critters had woken from hibernation and welcomed the first warm sunrays of spring the day before.
Even first tenuous new shoots and small snowdrops broke through the layers of snow here and there. Somewhere, a nightingale enchanted every listening creature with its beautiful song. Crows watched the happenings below with interest from their lookouts in the canopies, eventually leaving them to fight over the leftovers of a poor animal that didn´t stand the cold.
Winters could be harsh at this side of the mountain. Two cold northern streams of air met exactly at this point and so it could happen that ice and snow ruled this place while deep down on the valley´s ground the meadows overflowed with luscious green grass and colorful flowers and critters frolicking in the warm sunbeams.
Though, with time spring also found its way into these high regions that separated the big western plain, which was known as the main residence of most earth pony-clans, and the eastern highlands of the unicorn tribe.
The Iron Links were a chain of ample ore containing high mountains that created a nearly inscalable barrier between the two tribes. A serpentine connection of cols and valleys was the only possibility to get through this deathtrap for many brave adventurers.
Circumvent the mountains was nearly as daring as walking right through them. Walking around the northern end would mean to cross the border to the Griffin Kingdom, a place better avoided by every pony, except one wanted to end as the main course at one of their barbaric feasts.
In the south, there was a huge ocean blocking the way. Of course, sailing wasn´t a foreign thing to the inhabitants of this world, but the tide was strong and in the past had cost many bold ponies their life.
And without any tunnel constructions, the Iron Links stayed the most comfortable way to cross the borders.
Suddenly, a sound stopped the nightingale´s soothing song and she listened into the night. Looking up at the moon, she noticed it hovering at its highest point.
Midnight.
What dared to interrupt her beautiful melody at a time like this?
Her time in the spotlight?
There was the sound again, a noise like a stomping herd of buffalos. It knew them. They lived in the place she always flew when winter was knocking on the door, far, far in the southwestern regions.
But for buffalos, let alone the fact that they would never come to this cold region, it sounded too rhythmical, too unitary, too trained.
Spreading her wings, she lifted herself off her branch and flew closer towards the strange sound. Trees and bushes passed by, the strange stomping getting ever louder with each of her wing beats.
What in the end she was greeted with, was a most uncommon sight for her.
Dozens of equine creatures, wrapped in a heavy-looking set of metal pieces, crossed the forest, their faces an iron mien.
Horns of different lengths protruded from their forehead.
Every one of them was trotting in the same stoic rhythm as they formed a large winding row, maneuvering around the forest´s trees like a snake.
They were the elite of their race, the best units one of the tribes ever brought forth:
The Imperial Unicorn Knights.
There were many legends told about these powerful and fell warriors.
Bandits and burglars didn´t even try to run when chased by the intimidating adept fighters.
Dragons and monsters surrendered to the flash of their forbidding lances, always strapped across their backs and ready to be drawn by the slightest flicker of their powerful magic.
The armor was feared by enemies across the land, hard as the scales of a lindworm.
These forged masterpieces, parts of so many tales, were composed of:
A dark blue sallet - a massive open helmet of a light yet resistive metal to not bear down on the knight´s concentration too much during spell-working. Holes at the top gave way for the wearer´s horn and ears.
A dark blue chest protector - with white speckles, fitting for soldiers of the Moon Guard, the unicorns responsible for the important task of moving the moon across the sky. Beneath the chest protector there was a simple chain mail.
A horse rug - laying across the ponies´ midsection where back met loin. Proudly it showed to both sides the banner of the Unicorn Empire: the holy triumvirate, white on purple ground, the sign of deep balance between body, spirit and soul. It was a big equilateral triangle enclosed by a circle around its midpoint. And where the delineated perpendiculars met the three sides of the triangle, three small spheres, symbolized these three sources and formers of magic.
A dark purple back protector, combined with flank protectors.
And, at last, four purple iron horseshoes, designed to not only protect but also give pain to enemies that came too close.
The unicorn at the unit´s front wore a slightly different version of this legendary armor. It had golden ornaments at its edges and he wore a golden medal proudly on his chest.
His snout high in the air he ensured that there was no doubt of his leadership in this unit.
Behind him followed a pair of ancients, carrying the sign of their nation prideful over their heads.
And after them came the regular fighters. Fifty heads they counted, all of them virile strong and young stallions.
They all were knights, free, unforced and very well-paid...
...well, it suffocated for the one or other bottle of good Altér Real, one of the finest wines you could find throughout the Unicorn Empire.
It was a strong red wine, fruity and sweet and absolutely loved by every pony with a horn on its head.
What he wouldn´t give for a jug of this liquid gift of the stars right now!
Sidus Soothsay, or Sid as most of his fellow soldiers called him, usually wasn´t that much of a drinker.
Sure, who would say no to an offered mug of Chestnut Ale?
Or a small phial of Mare´s Milk, a dry whiskey with just a spoonful of a real mare´s milk - at least if you believed what rumors said...
But in general, Sidus preferred to ignore alcohol and keep his mind clear. In these lands it was essential for one´s survival.
After all, they travelled on adversarial territory!
Every inattention, every false step could lead into a trap and, what inevitably followed, death.
Though, they now marched for entire two weeks and nothing has ever happened yet. No attacks, no traps, nothing. Not even a wild bear´s attack.
It was just boring for the young stallion whose heart and body were ready for some serious fighting, longing to smash some enemy´s skull, to use his sharp long lance and become the hero he had always dreamed of!
But he was still confident that soon, very soon he would get his chance to prove himself in front of the captain. After all, their designation was to conquer!
To set aflame as many villages as possible and build up a strongpoint which should be the base from where they would free the world of the rotten creatures living behind the Iron Links!
While the seemingly endless march through the cold night continued, Sidus lost himself in his thoughts, which reached back to a time when his heart was set aflame to follow the heroic way of the Unicorn Knights...
'...It had been a bright day.
The sun´s warm beams enlightened the hills and the path that led towards the huge enthroned castle ahead.
Moonflower.
Capital and the biggest fortress of the unicorn tribe, a place as bright and beautiful as its name giver. Its white polished castle walls sparkled like stars in the morning sun. High impressive watchtowers reached towards the sky, trying to be as close to the beloved celestial bodies as architectonic possible. Legends said, that only seeing these gleaming masterpieces of hoofcraft could shy away the bravest griffin-captain and even dragons considered twice about attacking the well-protected stronghold.
Long purple-white banners of the empire waved in the wind from the high towers, showing its inhabitant´s pure pride and love for their nation.
Bards from all over the kingdom sang and poetized about its glory.
With heads high in the air the knights marched the long winding path towards the huge twin gates. The glorious fragrance of hundreds of colorful flowers blooming on the meadows around greeted and invigorated them, accompanied by the melodious sound of the palace guards´ trumpets. They welcomed them home and announced of victory, of the success of their mission.
Quickly, mares and stallions all across the city finished their business to gather and watch the brave soldiers pass the gates and flaunt towards the casern. It was a day to remember. Their children and children´s children even would relate the brave knights´ heroic deed and help their names to become immortal.
Soon the streets of Moonflower were filled with bystanders.
There were wives, excited and tensed to get a glimpse of their beloved ones, to finally find out if the stallion of their dreams had survived or if they would retreat to their chambers and experience a night filled with much alcohol and shed tears. Mothers and fathers also expected their sons with pride, whether they came back as heroes or were buried as brave and proud war horses.
And, of course, foals of every age came to awe at the procession, to make up stories and choose their favorite hero, to dream of becoming like them one day.
One of these foals had chosen a place on the round path near the main gate and had seen them coming long before the trumpets had announced them.
Dinner plate-sized shimmering turquoise eyes watched the proud stallions in armor enter the city.
These young innocent eyes belonged to me.
I remember this day very well. Only six summers my life had counted back then.
Oh, how fascinated I was!
Especially the trophy caught my interests:
It was the head of Gavarenth, the 'Taker of Life' as the bards called him, a huge crimson dragon who came to the Unicorn Empire a few months prior to take over the land. Five villages he had turned to ash, hot flames ate away every living being that crossed its way. About three-hundred-and-fifty unicorns fell under his wish to destroy.
Instantly, the young King Bullion had called out the Dragonhunt.
Noble and countrystallions equally all around the empire had answered this call and gathered under his banner, setting forth to search and kill the deadly beast for the promise of glory and honor and the wish to protect their loved nation.
And at this day, two months later, they were finally back, the lifeless pate of the dragon spiked on a lance and held up high in the air. Its carrier, a young stallion who had at most experienced sixteen summers lead the row of warriors, his chest puffed out with endless pride. He even didn´t seem to mind showing off the three deep ugly and roughly healed claw marks at his side, creating a stark contrast to his light green fur.
Ponies everywhere rejoiced and shouted out their approval when they saw the lifeless bilious green orbs of the beast.
So, of course, did I, too.
And seeing these brave pride stallions, the decision for my life´s path was taken. I, too, wanted to be a great hero, slaughtering dragons and demons for my nation´s sake, wearing the glorious banner of the Unicorn Empire high in the air. Images inside my mind painted me in one of the knights´ colorful shining armors, sallet pinned with a front hoof to my chest and my head raised high, the wind playing with my medium-length royal blue mane. Golden medals at my chest showed off the countless amazing adventures I had survived.
The image stayed for a long time in my head.
There was no care inside myself for that I may could face the same fate as the poor stallions that were dragged into the town as well, lying august in state on simple improvised hand-biers. I had no eye for the crying mares which recognized their fallen husbands and sons on the biers.
I didn´t know how the world of a warrior really looked like...
I was so blind...
One year later, my journey on the way to become a real knight begun.
Male ponies who had reached their seventh summer were allowed to enter the army and become a page. That wasn´t half as much fun as many thought.
Being a page meant primary learning etiquette at court and being a servant to royalty. Also basic magic spells were part of our lectures. Of course, getting to know interesting and important persons like King Bullion himself or his wife Lady Emerald and the royal household was exciting as well, but my mind never cared very much for the confusing and nebulous games of diplomacy. I wanted to be a fighter!
A heroic knight - the best of them!
Seven long years this endured.
But when the torture ended, the time had finally come!
Of course, one couldn´t call himself a knight with only fourteen summers on his shoulders.
No, I wasn´t a knight, yet.
I was a squire.
As a squire, you were trusted to a real knight, who would teach and instruct you into the ways of fighting. Also, you were sort of his personal servant, carried his armor and weapons and of course kept them in good condition.
Sir Galvain, that was the name of my personal teacher, the one who should make a real knight out of me. I remember him very well. He was a huge masculine war horse with a long golden mane, muscles rippling beneath his caramel fur at the slightest movement, a true veteran who had faced many dangers in his life. Scars witnessed from battles he had stand his ground even in face of pain and possible death.
I idolized him.
He was what a true hero was to me:
Brave, strong, fearless, determined, resolute, gallant...
The years I spent with him were the best I ever had, though he was a stern and stringent master.
Always he gave me extra chores when he wasn´t satisfied with my achievements, to steel my body and my soul. Disobedience was hardly punished. And I was young and wild, so there had been a good amount of punishments.
But at the same time he was patient with me and very cordial, always waiting for me after a long and hard day with a fresh honey bun he bought at the town´s bakery.
Seasons passed by and my skills strengthened and I was ready for the dragons to come!
Sir Galvain had taught me new spells for protection and attack I was aching to test!
The dragons never came...
...but war did.
Never had I thought that one day I had to raise my blade against my own kind, ponies like me. Though, my mind had no problem with it. They were enemies, filth that had to be removed!
I believed it...
We all believed it...
With twenty-one summers on my back, I finally had reached my destiny:
The knightly accolade was conferred upon me.
It was one of the best days in my life!
The memory is still fresh in my head, the day in that huge throne room of Moonflower, King Bullion´s sword resting on my shoulder whilst I kneel in front of him and hear the heavenly words I longed to hear all my life:
'Hereby I announce you, Sir Sidus Soothsay, a true knight of the Unicorn Empire!'
The same year, I should spill my first blood...'
Lost in thoughts Sidus nearly collided with the stallion in front of him. Ripped out of nostalgic memories he took a quick glance around the group. The entire unit had stopped.
Why did they stop?
His eyes wandered to their General, whose right hoof was raised and who was listening into the darkness around. His ears flicked about, trying to catch every single sound.
Did he hear something?
Alerted, Sidus and every other stallion of them joined his actions.
That was a great disadvantage of being part of the avant-garde.
They were the ones who stepped first into the enemy´s traps to warn the main force. In their case the main force consisted mostly of bearers for food, weapons, tools and resources, a few squires...
...and about two-hundred-and-fifty full-fledged Imperial Unicorn Knights.
Nonetheless the young knight was determined to stand any danger the woods on this mountainside held for them. He wouldn´t die, not on his first mission! There was no honor in dying in your first battle.
But all he heard was the silence of the woods and the rush of his own blood.
A few light-spells alit the bushes around, searching for any sign of an ambush.
Sidus´ gaze followed the cone of his neighbor, tense and ready to face the enemy at every time.
But he didn´t find anything. Only branches and underbrush and trees and snow.
Quiet and peaceful the woods lay in front of them. No animal nor any other creature gave a sound, not even the small nightingale that still observed the scene beneath with casual interest.
But then, Sidus thought he had found something...were these...hoofprints there next to that tree?...
His neighbor leading the spell had noticed them as well and nervously lead his light beam upwards the tree until-
"Hey, you idiots! Put these lights out!" Their leader bellowed.
Wincing about his booming sharp voice the spellcasters instantly turned out their lights.
"Good! The next stallion trying to turn us into a living target earns himself twenty whips from me in person! Understood?"
Gulps and nods answered him. There was no doubt he would make his words true.
The General had the reputation to whip the flesh from one´s bones.
Sidus meanwhile squinted into the darkness. His target was still the tree with the mysterious hoofprints below. But the spare moonlight of the thin crescent didn´t show him very much of its crown.
He could make out a few thick branches, snow still partly covering them. First leaves began to grow, their green hidden in the dark shadows. A small silver shimmer was reflected by the moon´s white beams and-
Wait!
A silver shimmer?
In a tree?
With hoofprints below?
The young knight´s eyes turned to pinpricks when he counted two and two together.
"PROTECTIVE SHIELDS! NOW!"
The next second, the strings began to sing.
Nopony questioned his alerted command.
Horns all around instantly alit, casting gleaming purple shields alive.
Sidus´, the magic inside himself bursting forth, materialized just in time for the first arrow to ricochet.
Dozens of its brothers filled the air with whizzing sounds. Many harmlessly hit the earth or recoiled from the shields.
Others found flesh where one knight was too slow. They pierced hearts and lungs, hooves and skulls. Shocked and surprised cries of the dying and wounded ringed in Sid´s ears, increased his heartbeat and pumped pure adrenalin through his veins.
Something wet landed on his right shoulder, something red.
Gurgling, the knight next to him, the one who afforded light to him only mere moments ago, went to the ground, the long brown shaft of an arrow protruding from his throat, shocked wide eyes pleading for mercy.
Sir Gullstroke, so his name.
Twenty-two summers old, chestnut coat, white mane and tail.
This was his first mission as well.
He died before he could draw his first blood.
There was no glory in that.
Sidus had always thought of him as a weakling.
And as such he now died.
The stallion could be glad to have died in battle. He would get an honorable funeral anyhow, giving his life for the glory of the Empire. But he definitely wasn´t much of a loss to the empire, so he thought.
Sid drew his attention from the lich-to-be to his front.
The deadly rain of arrows had abated, and finally stopped.
It had left a good third of the unicorn knights dead or wounded, both unable to fight anymore.
Pained moans and grunts from the wounded permeated the air, until they were interrupted by another, louder voice.
All around them, stallions jumped from the surrounding trees or burst from snowbanks, drawing swords and axes and daggers. With feral roars they rapidly closed in, bloodthirst twinkling in their eyes.
Prudent, Sidus dropped his shield and levitated out his lance from its holster, as his brothers-in-arms did, too. A deep breath and his muscles relaxed as far as they were able to.
This finally was it, his first battle, his first blood.
He could only hardly restrain himself from finally lashing out, jumping at his opponents and avange himself for his fallen comrades. To face a battle with contemplation and serenity, however the situation may be, that was one of the rules Sir Galvain had been intent on teaching him. Concentration and aplomb, tough fighting with heart and soul, this was a real knight´s style!
Not uncivilized and chaotic, so crude and haphazard like...them...
Earth ponies!
He still questioned himself why the holy moon still allowed them to live on this world. It was a mystery to him, but there was one thing he knew for sure:
Whatever quirk of the glorious orb above it had been, Sidus would drown their soul´s light in their own spilled lifeblood!
His war cry was raw and vehement, answered by his knightly fellows. The two sides´ roars mingled into one loud scream that sounded throughout the forest.
And then, the knights charged.
All around, steely lances met iron swords and axes with aggressive clashes. Screams witnessed of the first victims to the sharp weapons, blades breaking skin´s boundaries and luring the crimson claret out of its prison, spilling to the ground and painting the half-melted late-winter snow red.
Sid for his part was confronted with three stallions, all older and taller than him, but he didn´t even dare thinking to step back. Being surrounded from all sides, there already was little space for the knights to move.
So he had to make room for himself on his own.
Magical power surging through him, he hurled his lance directly at the ugly grey enemy in the middle, aiming for his throat. It went so fast, there wasn´t even half of a chance for his victim to avoid the deadly weapon. Cold metal sank deep into his throat, a spray of fresh blood wrapping the death-bringing tool´s blade in a wet glistening dark red. Shocked pin-prick eyes looked at him and gurgling the stallion fell.
It was done.
Sidus´ innocence was broken, his first blood shed.
Innerly, he rejoiced while the sparkle in the pierced enemy´s eyes dimmed.
Externally, he dropped the levitation-spell around his lance. That was magic´s disadvantage. There was only one spell he could concentrate on at the same time. He after all was not an academic wizard like the court magician. The two comrades of the stallion he had just killed now were in his reach and swung their axes, wanting to crush his skull between them.
Quickly Sidus reformed his inner energies and created a small force field around him. Purple sparks emitted when the deadly weapons hit solid air. Ugly screeches ringed in his ear, like chalk on a board. While recovering from their failed attack, Sid broke through and lunged for his lance.
He turned the blade around just in time to spike one of the prior stallions, axe raised high to aim a head-splitting strike against him, right through his heart. His death scream dropped the weapon and send him to the ground. Wresting free his blade with a levitation-spell it quickly described a wide hemicycle and beheaded the assailing second earth pony in the nick of time.
He would have breathed a sigh of relief and calmed his fast pumping blood, if not a forceful buck at his side had sent him through the air and forced to a hard landing on a melted snowless patch in the white blanket. He grunted, but rapidly Sidus collected himself and jumped to his hooves. When he was up again, something powerful hit his breastplate. A broken arrow landed in front of him. Mere inches it had missed his throat. Instantly his horn alit anew and his shield protected him from the second arrow by only a blink.
That was a very close one and he was more than grateful their armors were made of such an exquisite and solid metal..
Sid focused his gaze on his new enemy, but first quickly checked the scene of the battlefield with a sideglance.
The snow was speckled and drenched with red blood from both parties. The knights were definitely commanding in this fray. Dead bodies adorned the small clearing and it were too much iron-clad knights for his liking. It was hard to count with just a mere flash, but he assumed there had to be about fourty earth ponies. An easy job for fifty well-trained Imperial Unicorn Knights. Though, the ambuscade and the casualties because of it had left them shorthanded. One-on-one battles were in full spate all around him. In the back, he noticed a pale green earth pony stallion fleeing into the bushes while nopony was looking.
Coward!
If there was one thing Sidus hated more than weaklings and earth ponies, it were cowards and deserters. Alas, he was in no position to chase after him.
Sid´s newest challenger was a tall stallion in the middle of his thirties. His bright beige coat stood in stark contrast to his dark green mane. Contrary to his fellows, he wore a light leather armor, dyed the same green as his mane. Regarding him as the only one wearing an armor, Sidus assumed him to be the leader of this pathetic small contingent.
The stallion was standing on his hind legs, left front hoof holding a long bow, the other was wrapped in the for earth ponies and pegasi typical leathery contraption with an iron hook to pull the string. The tip of another arrow pointed directly at Sidus´ heart when the stallion growled:
"You´re not welcome here, bloodthirsty scum! These lands don´t belong you and never will! Turn around, go back to the hills you came from and tell that power-crazed king of yours to never dare set hoof across the Iron Links again!"
Sidus blinked. "How...impudent! There´s no way I´m taking orders from an inferior earth pony! You seem to forget your position, clodhopper!" It was true. Their attackers weren´t professional soldiers. They wore not the usual heavy iron armor the earth pony´s paladins were famous for. Most of them wore simple grey or black woolen robes or ponchos, combined with plain pants that reached till their shorn fetlocks.
"And you seem to forget, whose ground your hooves are standing on, pinhead!" his opponent hit back. "Leave, or you´ll join your comrades!"
"I will go nowhere!" Sid answered with high snout. "These lands may not belong to us yet, but they soon will! What are you going to do against it? How fatuous of you to think you could defeat us, even with your little scheme! We are Imperial Unicorn Knights, trained to be the best of the best units there are in this world. You are just country fools, barely intelligent enough to know how to wield a sword properly." He saw the stallion´s face twitch with anger at the mention of his low intellect. Never tell an uneducated pony it was dumb. But in this situation it was so satisfying for him. With a haughty smirk he added: "And by the way, I can keep up my shield for hours, long enough for my comrades to finish your pathetic little friends and slay you in the end. But I am generous and will give you the chance to flee. Lay down your weapon and run!"
"So you can spear my back with that despicable weapon of yours?" his head inclined towards the lance, still useless and out of reach on the ground. "I know you, devious pack! Poltroons, hiding behind their magic without any sense for honor!" his words ended with his a snort and his spit sailing to the ground.
Sidus eye twitched. "Are...Are you calling me a...a coward?" His blood was boiling. "How dare you! Sir Sidus Soothsay is all but no coward! And I am not going to let a low useless earth pony get away with such an audacious insult! Especially a pony that´s hiding itself behind a bow instead of fighting with me eye-in-eye!"
But the stallion only giggled amused. "Yeah, that´s so typical for you. Knights and their proud. It´s your greatest weakness...next to your talkativeness."
A cold shiver ran down Sidus´ spine at that last remark and a shadow fell over him, cast by the dim moonlight. Damn, he didn´t pay attention to his surrounding for the entire conversation! Shocked he turned around in time to see a broad axe coming down for his head...
...just to be thrust aside by a powerful arrow against its blade. The weapon dug into the ground mere inches next to him. Face-to-face he now was with its bearer, murderous brown eyes staring him down. A second arrow swept the assailant away, digging deep into the stallion´s chest, a bright yellow shaft with brown feathers protruding from it.
His gaze fell on the knightly bow pony that had saved him, sharp golden eyes resting on him for another second before he turned to attend other knights struggling with the enemy. Breathing a sigh of relieve to calm his heavy pumping heart, Sid gave him a quick thankful nod and instantly snapped his attention back to the earth pony-leader. Frustrated about his failed scheme, he took aim for his savior. In just this moment, Sidus turned his magical shield into a raw energetic wave and flung it at his opponent. Before he was able to let go the string, the magical wave hit him and grunting the beige stallion was forced to the ground, his arrow sailing aimlessly into the night.
Using the diversion, Sid´s magic gripped his lance again and he charged forward. With a feral cry, he brought the lance´s blade down on the stallion who was struggling back to his hooves. Metal and metal hit with a loud clang. The earth pony leader had drawn a small parrying dagger. In a swift motion he additionally freed a shortsword from its scabbard, which instantly lunged for Sidus´ throat while the dagger averted his lance. Thinking quick, he reared and the sword met his breastplate. A powerful kick with his left iron-clad horseshoe wrested the sword from the stallion´s grip, the kick with his other front hoof hit his opponent´s head and sent him on his back. A magical flick with the lance loosened his grip around the dagger.
The nameless stallion-leader groaned and panted, looking into Sid´s eyes towering over him. He panted as well and stared down at the defeated enemy with a victorious grin around his lip, all while he achingly slowly levitated his lance at level with his enemy´s exposed throat.
"It is over." he commented cold. "Ambushing the Unicorn Knights, to challenge us...you should have known better..."
The defenseless stallion beneath him chuckled bitter. "Can´t blame a father for trying to protect his family, eh?" A sigh, heavy but sober. "Many of us predicted this outcome, but what should we have done? Hiding and hoping the knights would spare us? Heh, I know your race, we all do. You wouldn´t spare us. And if...death in battle for our home was worth it to avoid slavery, not to imagine the things you´d do to our wives...or children...
But I can´t blame you. You´re just one of Bullion's pawns...Can´t blame a puppet following its master´s lead, eh?"
"Enough!" The lance came closer to the stallion´s throat, digging into it just enough to draw a small drop of blood. He squirmed, but otherwise stayed composed. Sid felt, against his will and with a sour note of disgust, a wave of admiration for his enemy´s calmness welling up. He choked it as quick as it came. "The Codex of the Knights may says I have to respect a dead pony´s last words, but I won´t put up with the nonsense you´re talking! I am nopony´s pawn! It is my will to be here, my choice to serve and fight for our Empire! I am a free pony!" Fervent bright green orbs pierced the pony below, more than his weapon could ever do.
But the stallion´s answer to it was a simple smug grin. "Poor little fella. You´ll never understand the true meaning of freedom. The Empire´s claws will always hold you in their iron grip, always form your will as it wants. But I am wasting my time...go forth in your desire. Spill my blood, for your Empire´s sake...I just wish..."
"Just wish what?"
A few mumbled words escaped his mouth, low, but loud enough for Sidus to hear.
He hesitated for just a second...
...and then the lance sank home...
The Legend Of The Crimson Fields
Chapter 2 - Campfire Chatter
With a heavy sigh Sidus´ flanks dropped themselves on a toppled tree´s trunk next to one of the multiple warm camp fires.
After the battle against the earth ponies was won, they quickly buried their fallen comrades and waited for the main force to catch up with them.
General Hoarse Throat - a bulky stallion with light red coat, dark brown mane and a voice that could challenge even the loudest organ the musicians´ guild could provide - insisted to set up the camp a few clearings away from the battlefield to nurse the wounded and reorganize the troops...
...and of course to gather the ones surviving the attack and 'evaluate' their performances.
Sid´s ears still rang from that 'evaluation'. Twenty-three survivors out of fifty fighters of course were far from a satisfactory result. Mathematical facts and statistics, created by the best of their military scientists said - regarding the advance in technology and fighting skills and added with the unicorn´s natural magical advantage - that any battle with a bigger force of Unicorn Knights than earth ponies should be a victory with at most five percent of lost soldiers.
So twenty-seven out of fifty against forty earth ponies was a tad out of these theoretical statistics.
But praxis and theory never went together hoof in hoof.
Though, their general seemed convinced otherwise, as he had made them clear.
But nopony saw this attack coming.
Most expected the earth ponies to cower at the sight of their shining armors, to hide and gather in greater numbers and fight them in a final huge, bloody battle. Alas, it looked like they had forgotten the earth ponies´ stubbornness and their proud for their holy landmarks. How did the unicorns ever dare to assume the enemy would just give in and leave their home to the intruders?
It at least would be the most intelligent way to act for them, regarding the circumstances.
But the biggest surprise was the fact that they assaulted at night. It was very unusual for earth ponies to attack and fight in the dark hours.
Of course, it was the perfect time for ambushes.
The unicorns´ vision had been limited and it was true luck that Sidus saw the hidden pony´s arrow tip reflecting the moon´s light. Without his immediate warning, they all would be dead now. And his General, furious as he may was, made sure to not only give him an approving clap on the shoulder but highlight Sid´s matchless attention for his surroundings and the fact that he also eliminated the enemy´s leader.
He was the hero of the day!
...Or night, whatever.
But Sidus wasn´t really in the mood to celebrate it.
His brain was occupied with other things while he observed intently the surface of the water-thinned wine in his mug reflecting the warm dancing flames. Somewhere in the distance the soft notes of a lute tried to ease everypony´s mind, casting away the troubling thoughts of camping in a dark forest on the enemies territory, ready to be surrounded and attacked from ambush. Again.
The General also had revealed some very disturbing news regarding the enemy´s weapons, more specific the material they were made of:
Lead.
It wasn´t a very special metal. It wasn´t especially hard or resistive, and viewed in this light pretty much useless for weapons and armors.
But for unicorns it was the most loathed thing in the whole wide world, the most cursed gift 'Mother Nature' - as the earth ponies called their patron saint and wretched founder of their existence - had given to them!
That was because it defied any magical power´s grip and blocked the magical streams inside the body of any unicorn. Gashes, normally easy to heal with a quick spell, denied to do so as long as the dreadful metal was still within.
Any magical being feared it. Flesh scorched at its touch. Blood vaporized instantly. And whoever got lucky enough to survive an attack with the cursed metal earned a scar far worse than anyone could imagine.
Sidus saw it only once. He still shuddered at the memory.
That day, his mentor Sir Galvain taught him about the loathed gift of nature. He showed him the scar across his abdomen, normally hidden by his surcoat. Back then he fought not to throw up from the sight, that ugly dark red stria! It looked like somepony tried to deliquesce a part out of his body and did a very lousy job.
Many brave knights in history perished miserably this way, the despised lead eating away their powers bit by bit without any hope for them to ever mend.
Several times in the recent battle Sidus narrowly escaped being stricken by some arrow or sword or axe made of this devilish creation.
His head rose and beheld the breathtaking display of glittering stars and the crescentic moon above, unspoiled and in all their glory. His eyes closed and his lips began to move. Praying to the moon was a rite as old as his tribe´s existence. The moon was what called them into the world. It was the father of the unicorns, giver of their strength and powers.
Everything happened in its will.
And its children knelt before it in awe.
His prayer eventually ended, and Sid promised that he would immolate something to the moon as soon as he found a fitting sacrifice to offer and had some time for himself.
But not now.
There was still another thing on his mind that disturbed him.
Thoughtful his gaze wandered back to the flickering red and yellow flames in front of him, hoping they would set his soul at peace again...
"Well, well, if that isn´t our 'hero of the night'!"
The sudden shout and a quite forceful slap on his back stopped Sid´s mind instantly in its tracks, primary because he just took a sip from his wine and now tried desperately to cough the liquid out of his lungs.
"Tell me, what in all the stars´ names are you doing here, all by yourself and making a face as if the fairest mare in the world agreed to a nice roll in the hay with you and then just vanished the moment you turn around to lead her to the empty barn that´s just around the corner!"
Oblivious to his struggles, the knight who had appeared behind him seated himself next to him. With a final cough Sid looked up at the stallion:
"And if that isn´t Eagle Eye, the old bastard!" Sid answered, wiping the remains of wine from his lips with a hoof. "Was that one of your 'true' mare experiences?"
"You bet your flanks! You should have seen her! A coat as white as snow and a mane as black as ebony and lips as red as the blood in our veins...And curves as perfect and alluring as the moon´s roundness!" Eagle answered, flashing Sid his typical broad 'I´m so totally making this up, and know you know, but also know you know it still could have happened'-smile. Sidus prompt countered with his own 'I am absolutely not buying any of this'-smirk, topped off with a raised eyebrow.
Both managed to keep up their expressions for two seconds more, then helplessly burst into giggles.
Eagle Eye was, up to this point, Sidus´ oldest and most loyal friend he ever had. Additionally, he was his only true friend. It wasn´t that he had problems making other friends, no, but he didn´t truly need more. The hazel stallion always gave him a feeling of home and safety. After all, they knew each other since they were naught but little foals.
Eagle´s usually short ivory mane now ran half-way down his neck, thanks to the absence of a barber in their unit. It was no question that the lean stallion didn´t like it. He permanently struggled to keep the long wisps out of his name-giving sharp golden eyes, occasionally trying to clip them behind his ears without success.
"Alright, now, aside from that senseless old mares´ tale-reference...when did you learn to sneak up on ponies like that? Do you secretly take lessons from the dips? And by the way..." he glanced at his empty mug, turning it upside down for emphasis "...you owe me a wine."
"You know as well as me where I learned that..."
"Sure I know..."
He was right. they both practically grew up on the streets of Moonflower.
Neither of them got to know their parents. They only knew what was told them.
Sidus was a crossbreed, a bastard. While his mother was a sophisticated unicorn his father had been a despised brash and barbaric pegasus. And in a time where distrust between the tribes ruled, it was an outright scandal. He could be grateful his mother hoofed him off to the local orphanage than leaving him somewhere in the woods to starve or become food of the wild animals.
Eagle´s story wasn´t very different from his. His parents he never got to know. His mother was a tail-lifter, a simple whore. His father...it wasn´t that hard to figure out. That was all there needed to be said. He was brought to the same orphanage, where they soon became friends - mostly because nopony of the other orphans wanted to have to do anything with 'the crossbreed' and 'the whoreson' as they simply called them.
Trying to repress further thoughts about these old times, Sidus shook his head. Life wasn´t very easy back then. They practically had nothing and stole what they needed, more than once escaping the chasing guards by a mere hair´s breadth.
"And about that wine: If my memory doesn´t lie to me, I´d say you owe me your life, remember? For saving you from that ugly stallion and actually giving you the chance to strike down their leader? I think we are more than quit."
Eagle had a point there. It indeed had been the stallion with an eagle´s pate for a Cutie Mark who saved him from a split head in the recent battle.
"You´re right. And I think I don´t need to tell you how grateful I am. Though, something tells me you didn´t come to me just to rub my nose in that. What´s the true reason you´re here for?"
"Just wanted to talk to my friend, that´s all..."
He earned a lifted eyebrow for that answer. 'Really?' it asked.
"...and...maybe to ask you if you´re up for a visit to the mares´ tent." he added, a roguish grin spreading on his lips.
"Knew it!" Sid exclaimed.
Out of all places in the camp, the mares´ tent was what one could call Eagles´ second home. It was more likely to find him there, cuddled up next to one or between multiple of the slinky mares. Of course Sid wouldn´t blame his friend for that. Why should he? This was, after all, spirit and purpose of a brothel afield. Every stallion had his needs. And the possibility to satisfy them kept the troop´s morale high.
The mares didn´t even charge very much for their services since the Empire paid parts of their fee. Where he knew that? Well, of course he made use of the mares´ services once or twice, too. Not quite that often than Eagle, mind you! No pony - at least no pony he knew - had such a...drive.
Also, contrary to past times, today there wasn´t any risk of getting one of the mares pregnant. A new spell developed by Moonflower´s new court magician - a talented youngster by the name 'Starswirl' - prevented it from happening without any impairments of the...fun part of reproduction.
Primary the spell was created to control the birthrate of the unicorns on behalf of their beloved King. Thanks to the loathed earth ponies who sold their foods at exorbitant prices it was hard to feed an empire twice as big as theirs. King Bullion even issued a new law which forced ponies that produced more than one offspring to pay high dues to hedge the import of new food - which was even more expensive thanks to the war.
The empire now had to buy it from special merchants at insanely high prices.
At this rate the unicorns soon would only have the grass growing on their hills´ meadows if nothing changed.
"Well? What do you say?"
Oh, right. Eagle still waited for his answer...
"I´m sorry. It´s an interesting offer and I´d love to accept it, but the General assigned me to a solo mission. Just some scouting. Trying to find the village those earth ponies came from. Looking for possible traps. Nothing very special."
"Seems that squaller´s got some trust in you." Eagle elbowed him. "Don´t ruin it, maybe he´ll promote you. When will you leave?"
"In the morning. After Moonfall-ritual."
Eagle frowned. "That´s in a few hours."
"Exactly. And I wanted to catch some sleep till I have to leave."
With that he rose from his seat, yawned and turned around to head for his tent.
"Sorry I can´t accompany you. Maybe at our next encampment. Good night and have fun..."
"...Stop."
The word froze the leaving stallion in his tracks. Did Eagle just sound...serious? He was never serious unless something important was up.
Eagle continued when he noticed that he got his attention:
"What is it that is troubling you?"
For a moment there was silence safe for the flame´s crackling and the distant chatters from the other camp fires. The lute´s calming song had long since passed away. During the entire conversation Sidus had hoped Eagle wouldn´t notice his inner distress. Alas, his friend got a pair of sharp eyes in more than one way. Since denying probably wouldn´t work on Eagle - or anypony in general thanks to Sid´s miserable skills at lying - he decided to be honest with him. That was, after all, what friends would do anyway.
"I was thinking...We are knights, are we?"
There was no vocal answer, just a nod.
"So...we follow the knights´ code, right?"
One of Eagle´s eyebrows rose.
"Yeah...What is your point?"
Sidus heaved a sigh, contemplating his next words before he continued:
"Well, I thought: Since we are following the knights´ code, it includes that we have to respect everypony´s last wish, right? Well...What if that pony was your enemy and his last wish was to tell his foal one last time that he loves it?"
Some more silence filled the air after these words until finally Eagle decided to break it, a frown adorning his face.
"I guess that pony you mean is that earth pony-leader?"
This time, it was Sid´s turn to nod.
"That´s strange. I thought you´d hate the earth ponies. So why do you even care for this single stallion´s last wish? He wasn´t the only one you killed and you don´t seem to care very much about these others either."
"I do hate the earth ponies! Don´t you even dare question my loyalty to our king! It´s just...I´m loyal to the moon as well. It knows about every single sin of mine. The knights´ code is a result of the rules it gave to us. Breaking it...I fear for my soul! I don´t want it to be thrown into the sun and burn for all eternity."
It was a long pause that followed before Eagle finally answered, looking straight into his eyes.
"You do make a pretty good point there. Though, I think you should reconsider it. Sure, the moon knows about all our sins against its rules. But it also knows about the circumstances coming with them. And there are two facts that speak for you. Fact one: That last wish belonged to an earth pony. The moon´s archenemies. They turned their backs on it and its rules to worship that heathen bitch."
"I know, but the moon punished their betrayal already. It stripped them of their magic and their connection to it. I can´t withhold them the right to their last wish only to punish them further. I would take the moon´s law into my own hooves! It would be an even bigger sin!"
"...So we are coming to fact two: You have no idea who his foal is, what it looks like, you don´t even know its gender. How are you supposed to deliver a message to somepony you know nothing about? Even the moon should know that that´s a pretty impossible task."
"But a task nonetheless. And you know the moon and the stars always guide our ways. If they want me to deliver that message, they´ll sure find a way for me to do so..."
"...You did that stargaze-thing again, huh?"
It wasn´t much of a question. It was a statement. Either way, Sidus had to nod.
"Since we marched off from Moonflower, every night the stars tell me the same story, show me the same pattern: The Maiden gazes upon the Star of Birth."
He pointed out the two respective things at the starry sky.
The first, The Maiden, was a constellation of eleven stars shaped like a mare with a tucked tail - a sign of a shame and abstinence only a virgin possessed. The Star of Birth was the brightest star enlightening the heavens above, always adorning the centrum of the dark night sky.
Legends said the moon once used its power to create the very first ponies. No pony knew if this story was true, but the unicorns believed in it, nothing else mattered.
"...That is all?"
Sid flashed his friend a grin.
"Yes, that´s all. Believe it or not, but even the stars can be very taciturn. It is our fate to read and understand their 'words' - well, mostly mine." He tapped his armor where it hid his Cutie Mark for emphasis.
"And what is it they are telling you this time?"
"I have no idea!" Sidus deadpanned. "It´s pretty hard to truly understand the stories they tell. Sometimes, I get a feeling, a slight hint of what may lies in the future. Another night, I can understand their meaning like the words written in our books. And yet another time, I´ll only truly understand their story the moment it comes true.
This seems to become one of the latter. Or maybe there´s somewhere a mare that´ll give birth while still being a virgin."
"Oh, come on now. This is plain ridiculous!"
"In a world guided by the moon and the stars, nothing is impossible. Remember that my dear friend. Everything happens in their will. There is no escape from our fates. And whoever leaves this destined path will perish at the try..."
Both took one long last look at the glittering display above them, each stallion lost in his own thoughts. Eventually, Sidus spoke one last silent prayer before he addressed his friend again:
"I´ll go to bed now. Thank you for listening to my problems, I really needed that. Maybe I just have to have more trust into the fate the moon chose for me. As long as I let it guide me, it sure will keep me on the right path.
"No need to thank me. It was only my duty as a good friend." Eagle said with a smile. "Sleep tight, Sid!"
"Goodnight, Eagle! I wish you much fun with the mares!"
"Don´t worry, I´ll have it!"
