Origin of a Hero

Chapter 7

The camp was bustling with activity almost instantly after Heavy Shield and Lilly had returned for their encounter with Sinister. His sudden call to arms sent most of the sleeping occupants into a near frenzy in search of their weapons and armor.

"Form a defensive circle around the perimeter of the camp, and keep an eye on your squad mates." Heavy Shield directed

"What's going on out here, Captain?" inquired Quill

"Councilpony Quill, good to see you up and about. Will you take all of the noncombatants to the center of the camp?"

"What? Why? What's going on?" Quill demanded

"Alpha Sinister is going to launch an attack against us at any moment. We need to ready ourselves for his assault and Captain Heavy Shield needs you to stop fighting him and do what he tells you to do. Now!" exclaimed Lilly who was getting sick of the old ponies gripping

"How dare you take that tone with me, you little abomination."

“Councilpony Quill, I'd expect more from you." Celestia said sternly as she walked up to the group

"My apologies, Princess, but I was inquiring of the captain for his reason for the call to arms when your guest interrupted." Quill explained

"Regardless, Councilpony..."

"Pardon me Princess Celestia, but this is not the time for a lecture, we will soon be under an attack. And I will need you and all the other noncombatants to move to the center of the camp for your safety." interrupted Heavy Shield. "I will explain everything after we get through this ordeal in more detail."

Celestia turned to Quill and said, "Councilpony Quill go and gather everypony together at my tent, that will be the safest place in the camp right now. Lilly I want you to come with me."

With that Heavy Shield watched the tree of them go in different directions. He then heard a set of hoof steps come up next to him and stop. "Where do you want me?"

"Personally, in Canterlot." He turned and looked into Clovers eyes continuing, "But as the captain of the guard, I need you and your other healers close by ready to give aid where it's needed.

"Don't worry, we'll do out our part, Heavy. You can count on us." Clover said with a smirk and then was off to position her subordinates

Heavy Shield was both impressed and proud at the speed and efficiency of his soldier’s ability to form up under pressure. All of them were armed and ready for the impending attack. He suited up as well, donning his brass plate body armor and modified helmet, that had a curved bladed horn mounted on the brow.

He stood a few paces in front of the battle line and whispered to himself, "We need to hold for them for at least four hours."

Before speaking to Councilpony Quill, Heavy Shield sent his two fastest fliers to the closest outpost. He figured that it would take about a hour for them to get there, half a hour to assemble the troops there, and about a hour and a half to two hours for them to be guided to the camp.

He knew how strong his ponies were, but also knew that the camp was just a little too big for it to be properly defended, even with the barricades. Fortunately he met his opponent and knew what kind of tactics Sinister would use against the camp. He figured that Sinister would use a battle pulse to test their defenses, while attacking he'd have observers overlooking the battle to see where there are any weaknesses. It would be there that Sinister will focus his forces.

Fighting off the battle pulse will be the easy part, because they are supposed to test our strengths and not hit at full might. They will most likely use this for a hour at the most then they will hit with everything that they got in order to break through and overwhelm the defenders.

"This is going to be a long four hours." Heavy Shield whispered again

Yes, he would like to make a run for it to the outpost and avoid the battle all together; however there were a number of problems with that idea. The first was that there were too many noncombatants in the caravan, few of them could keep up with his troops, and he wasn’t going to leave anypony behind. Second, he didn't know the area; they could easily get lost and separated from each other. And the fact that they were in a forest in the middle of the night would only make things over all worse. Thirdly, if they did make a run for it they could fall into a worse trap than the one that they already were in.

"No, staying put is the best course of action." he thought

Then came the alert and what Heavy Shield believed to be a long night.

xxXxx

"Captain, the bulk of their forces seem to be massing to the south east." cried one of the guards

"Every fifth trooper move to the south east, the rest of you hold your ground." commanded Heavy Shield and then he thought to himself,” I hate it when I'm right about these things."

His estimation of how long the probing the line was close, it took almost a hour and a half to see the weakness. If they're lucky the south east will hold for the next thirty minutes. But he couldn't be sure and didn't want to take the risk.

"Send an extra healer down that way as well to assist" he added

"Healer Clover is already on her way over there now, Sir." spoke another guard

"Very good." Heavy Shield said. But what he thought was, "Blast that mare, she just can't wait to put herself into danger."

xxXxx

The minutes ticked by as the battle ensued, and most everypony started to think that they might be able to make it through the night. But a few knew better, among them was clover. Both she and Heavy Shield have been through several fights over the years, and experience has taught her to be ready for any changes.

She'd like to say that Heavy Shield's personal comment is wrong, but the fact is that he's right. Not for the reason that some might think, she is by no means a thrill seeker who needs to be placed in harmful situation for fun. In truth she goes into danger because that is where those that are hurt the most are found, and as a healer that is the place to be.

Shortly after reaching the south east area she began to cast a revitalizing spell on the guards in hopes of strengthening their defenses. The spell cast on enough ponies that she lost track of her surroundings and who was around her, including one pegasus hovering above her waiting for his moment to strike. And found it right after Clover casted her spell.

xxXxx

Heavy Shield felt, more than heard, the cry of pain inside of him. It was strange, it was unfamiliar but at the same time he knew immediately who's voice it belong to. A voice that he has known for many years, one that the fire of a whole flight of dragons couldn't stop him from going to see.

"All of you hold this line; I'm going to the south east area." Heavy Shield said as he rushed into that direction

Upon arriving his blood ran cold as he saw Clover lying on the ground and the devil pony called Scissor Wing standing over her. This scene didn't slow Heavy Shields run, if anything it caused him to increase in speed as he rammed full force into his target. Scissor Wing was sent careening through the air and crashed hard onto the ground and rolled in the dirt for a few feet. He looked up from where he landed and saw the armored stallion standing between the mare unicorn and himself.

"I will not allow you or any other pony to harm a hair on her mane without feeling my wrath." Heavy Shield roared as his blood went from ice cold to boiling hot

"I knew you heard my thoughts, Heavy." Clover said faintly

"You are the pony that talked with Alpha Prime Sinister. Oh I'm going to enjoy killing you." he said with a crazed smile and then attacked

The two battled each other for several minutes, Scissor Wing using his wings to strike and defend while Heavy Shield dodged and struck back with all of his rage. Then Scissor Wing took to the sky preparing to do the same to the stallion as he had done to the mare and swooped down.

"Big mistake." growled Heavy Shield

Once Scissor Wing was in range Heavy Shield used the blade is his helmet and sliced his opponent open. The lifeless body crashed into the earth and flew into a pack of dogs, knocking them down.

Heavy Shield then stepped over to Clover and nuzzled her mane and said softly, "I'm sorry Clover."

"That's okay, Heavy, at least now I know what your instincts are saying about me." she said jokingly

Then from the north west came a deep horn blow, and it wasn't one of the guards horns.

xxXxx

Luna starts to cover her new friend in blankets and pillows and said, "I want you to stay hidden till we say it's safe to come out, alright."

"Okay Princess Luna."

"Please, just Luna. We're friend’s now." she said as she finished. She then got up and left the tent to join her sister.

"Luna when we get back to Canterlot we're going to learn some combat magic."

"No argument there." There was silence between them for a moment, and then Luna spoke again, "Did you hear the horn to the north west a moment ago?"

"Yes, we must stand strong, little sister, for everypony."

Then without warning the two princesses and all other ponies nearby suddenly fell to the earth asleep.

End chapter 7