Fire and Ice

Chapter Ten: The Manticore Attack

Chuckling, Rhem rubbed his nose against Princess Celestia’s and followed with a quick lick. Standing up, he removed himself from the mare, enabling her the freedom to move to get up if she desired.

“Perhaps we should go back. I bet your servants and guards are wondering where you are.”

Princess Celestia smiled, rolling over and getting to her hooves.

“That sounds like a good idea. Though, I’m sure they’re fine. They can last a few hours without me.”

***

“WHERE IS THE PRINCESS?!” The frightened majordomo of Princess Celestia’s court was practically falling apart, his mane disheveled, his starch tuxedo shirt front popping up out of his trousers, his coat wrinkled, and his monocle dangling from his breast pocket. He was shaking the guard captain, doing his best to keep himself together, with his helmet having toppled off and the rest of his armor looking like it would just fall off the rest of his body through the vibration alone. “WE CAN’T LAST FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT HER! Groups have yet to meet with the princess! Bills need to be signed! Today’s schedule has been completely thrown off!”

He finally released the poor guard, turning and wailing off.

“Oh, this is awful! A disaster! A horrible, horrible disaster!”

The sentry captain really never got a chance to explain that Princess Celestia had been frolicking in the garden and spotted flying off towards town a few hours ago. Not envying the majordomo for his position, the stallion snorted and followed, trying to get a word in edgewise.

***

Rhem nodded as the situation concerning King Talonblaze’s so-called need for land popped back into his head again.

“How much land did you give King Talonblaze?”

Princess Celestia bit her lip, her facial features twisting into a frown.

“Approximately four-hundred miles. I gave him the entire range of the Gaitland mountain area. We originally had at least three major towns there, though all of them were abandoned due to the war with the griffons.”

Blinking, the young general rolled his eyes skyward as he began doing some mental calculations. After coming to a realization, his eyes sprang open.

“He will definitely raise a larger army with that amount of land.”

The alicorn arched an eyebrow.

“I understand. I already came to an agreement with him. How can I renegotiate without reneging on my promise? What should I tell him? I don’t want to go back on my word. What sort of compromise would you suggest, Rhem?”

He mulled it over before his eyes lit up with resolve.

“We wager the land on the spar match I am supposed to lose, but make the deal better. Offer more land and he will agree to it for sure.”

A smile dawned upon her face. That sounded… actually quite devious! A classic “double-or-nothing” scheme. Yes, that could potentially work. If she were to offer some of the lands west of Equestria, where they had to explore firsthoof…

“Alright, we’ll try that,” she finalized. This would definitely be worth it. Anything to keep her ponies safe.

The winged reptilian was pleased just at the fact Princess Celestia herself seemed to like his option. He was confident that this would work, though he had learned that nothing can be one-hundred percent foolproof.

“He will lose the land you offered him and see how defenseless his prized general is against one of your unicorn guards.”

The mare turned around and began to trot back towards Canterlot. She was in decidedly no hurry, mainly because she wanted to spend more time outside and away from her duties, and because she didn’t see scores of pegasus guards scouring the skies for her just yet.

She felt fairly confident in the plan. Yet she still possessed a healthy nag in the back of her head to create a backup. Something about this didn’t sit right with her.

The draconic being bounded ahead in a series of playful springs. As he did, he spun back around into her direction again, running around her as she trotted back to their destination.

As the two of them continued on, the alicorn glanced up to spot armed guards flying in formation away from the castle and heading towards town. The princess’ smile widened. She had been wondering when a search party was going to be sent. Spreading her wings, she flapped them, and with a quick glance at Rhem, took off to take to the skies to meet them halfway.

Utilizing his wings to lift his body from the ground, the Draconian general followed. The guards ahead were difficult to make out in the darkness, but the alicorn and dragon’s adjusted eyes--with the assistance of the full moon’s beams--enabled them to distinguish them.

The captain of the royal guard raced up to the princess, appearing positively vexed from the encounter with the majordomo.

“Your Majesty! There you are! You had us worried… especially your majordomo.”

The solar monarch gave a light giggle.

“I apologize, Captain. I didn’t mean to raise an alarm. I assure you I was in good company.” She flashed a smile to Rhem and followed it with a nod, before returning her attention back to the stallion before her. “Will you escort us back to the castle, Captain? I’m sure everypony will be relieved to see me back safely.”

She would need to have a chat with her majordomo. He was too much of a worrier.

“Of course, Princess!”

With a salute, the captain whipped around and lead the way back to the palace with the royal equine and dragon in tow. Once they made it to the doors that lead to the throne room, he stopped and gestured for the pair to go on. He didn’t want to deal with the majordomo any more than he had to.

Grateful for the guard, Princess Celestia gave him a warm smile and a brief bow to thank him for his duty, before proceeding inside. Upon doing so, the majordomo was practically on top of her.

“Princess! Oh, thank the stars you’re back safely! I was so worried you were--”

“Quite safe with General Rhem, I assure you,” she cut him off, glancing over at the dragon at her side. “I was with a guard the entire time, Chambers. Even if he is not one of our own.”

The majordomo squeaked a bit at the dragon’s presence and backed away a few steps.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I was… sure you were safe, but you see there were ponies who were hoping to meet with you today and--”

“Are they still here?”

“A few,” Chambers said. “Some ever since this morning, waiting for you after your meeting with King Talonblaze.”

“I see. I shall extend a personal apology to those still available. Gather them here, I’ll speak to them all at once to deal with the issues forthwith. Oh, and send a quick message to King Talonblaze to meet me at his earliest convenience.”

Rhem offered a nod to the princess’ majordomo in a peaceful gesture. The young Draconian then looked to Princess Celestia, opening his mouth to speak when she was finished talking.

“Yes. I was her bodyguard for today. If anyone had tried to attack Celestia, I would have torn them apart… Or at least apprehended them.”

Chambers seemed to be quite taken aback when the dragon spoke, his eyes widening. Shaking, obviously frightened at the beast, he blinked, before narrowing his eyes.

“That’s Princess Celestia,” he corrected. “How dare you so callously and so casually address Her Majesty in that way!”

“Chambers, please, don’t mind him. He’s still a guest,” said Princess Celestia with a calm smile.

“But--”

“No buts. It’s quite all right. Rhem here is a friend.”

“… Very well. If Her Majesty insists,” he stated, though he clearly did not look happy about this. “I’ll just… just go get the parties that chose to stay.”

With that, he turned and all but fled out the door, wanting very much to get away from the dragon.

With a small smile, the dragon moved in, touching his shoulder to the large mare’s and nuzzling her cheek right in front of the present ponies.

“I apologize for Chambers.” The mare made her way to her throne to take a seat. “He can be a little jittery at times, yes, but he’s a fine steward. He does good work.”

It didn't take long before several groups of ponies arrived in a single file in the order they came. None of them appeared very happy with having to wait for so long.

“My subjects, I do deeply apologize for the extended delay,” she admitted. “I hope you’ll forgive me for not seeing you at your appointed hours, and I will move on to hearing your issues. Please, calmly, and one at a time, state the issue you have come for me today.”

The first pony inched forward, his terrified eyes were upon the dragon who had settled himself beside Princess Celestia’s throne. Swallowing hard, the middle-aged stallion presented himself.

“G-good e-evening, Y-Your Majesty. I-I’m Sir V-Vladimir from the v-villiage n-near the E-Everfree F-Forest a-and w-we’ve had a s-serious p-problem w-with a p-pack of m-manticores a-attacking our c-cattle, sh-sheep, a-and p-pigs. E-even p-ponies h-have been a-attacked. I a-arrived this m-morning h-hoping y-you would c-come u-up w-with a s-solution before t-tonight since the a-attacks have b-been h-happening a-at night.”

“A pack of manticore?” the princess questioned. She had heard of the manticore living in the forest, but she had never heard of them attacking in packs. This did not bode well--the village was a fringe settlement; with a small couple of hoof-fulls of residents. If these creatures were attacking at night then…

“Horse apples,” she breathed, looking out the window where the moon was visible over the edges of the Everfree Forest. She would have to work quickly. “Captain!” she called out to the pony at the door. “Gather up a squadron of some of your finest stallions. Have them dispatched to Sir Vladimir’s village immediately. Be on the lookout for a pack of manticore. Subdue them if you can, terminate them if you must!”

She felt guilty. They hadn’t been that far from the forest when she and Rhem were out. If she had only knew, then she would have already done something about it…

“Shall I accompany them?” the young Draconian asked as he rose up off his haunches.

Turning to Rhem as he asked his question, she issued a small smile and a nod, feeling better.

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea,” she stated, glad he was already on top of it. She hadn’t even thought of asking the dragon if he wouldn’t mind providing assistance. She then turned to her captain. “Oh, Captain! You might want to bring along some additional backup, as well! I’m sending General Rhem with you.”

She smiled at the equine.

“Worry not. The problem will be taken care of posthaste.”

With that, she turned to the next pony in line for the next problem to be addressed.

The equine nodded and threw himself at Princess Celestia’s feet with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

“Oh, thank you, Princess! Thank you!” he thanked her graciously, the stammer exiting his voice.

Rhem turned to Princess Celestia with a powerful gaze that made it apparent that he was going to do everything he could to protect the ponies under attack.

“We will not let you down.”

The princess smiled warmly with a nod directed at him. This might be the chance Rhem was waiting for, she realized. If he went out and protected the ponies from an attack, then instead of being seen as a monster, he could probably be seen as a hero! Either that, or the equines would just think of him as an even bigger threat…

… Well, hopefully the royal guard aside him, the citizens would think the former.

“I know you won’t, Rhem. Godspeed.”

The dragon didn’t know what “Godspeed” meant, but that wasn’t relevant at this point. Right now, he had some ponies to protect! With a single nod, he signaled non-verbally to the captain that he was ready to go. Racing out of the castle, he was lead away into the night.

The large mare watched them leave, stretching out her wings and folding them back up again. Turning back to the group at large, she shifted her focus on seeing what was next on the agenda.

The next pony came forth, she, along with the rest of the equines, were settling down now that the dragon was gone. The bright green and regally dressed pegasus cleared her throat before opening her mouth to speak.

“I… didn’t know you had a pet dragon, Your Highness.”

Princess Celestia chuckled, shaking her head.

“Rhem is not a pet, my dear. He’s the general from--” She hesitated to explicitly say Draconia. “--a far off land. He is here with his king as my guests… Though King Talonblaze is currently elsewhere. Now, what can I do for you, my little pony?”

***

The royal guard and dragon swooped down and landed at the borderline between the village and the Everfree Forest. There were a couple of freshly killed bodies of ponies laying with open lacerations. Apparently, they had arrived too late…

Rhem rushed over to one of the corpses, the scent of blood and death wafting in the air. The Draconian also caught the smell of another creature… There was something about the scent that told him the animal wasn’t friendly. It must be what they were looking for…

Suddenly, a faint snarling snagged his attention. There, in the trees, were several sets of eyes piercing the inky blackness. Rhem snarled back, readying himself for a fight.

Screams of horror could be distinguished from some distance off, and a couple of the guards broke off from the main group to investigate and secure the village. In addition to the chaos caused by the feline terrors, several indirect counts of mayhem were occurring at the same time. A sunshine yellow mare with a black mane and tail could be seen galloping through the square, with hundreds of similarly colored, winged insects crawling all over her sticky golden syrupy body.

“I’M COVERED IN BEEEEEEEES!!” she wailed.

Rhem’s full attention was on the scorpion-tailed felines who were now growing bold enough to emerge from the shelter of the trees. Soon, an entire pack the large beasts were present. He didn’t count them all, but there were more than fifteen. The largest one stalked forth, appearing more menacing than the rest. This one was obviously the alpha.

The young Draconian automatically went into his general persona, temporarily forgetting this was someone else’s army, and that they already had a commander. Keeping his cautious eyes on the pack, he addressed the royal guard in a commanding tone.

“Create a single file line and block the path to the village!”

The captain didn’t appreciate his company being ordered, and had turned to Rhem to give him a piece of his mind when he saw exactly how many of the beasts there were. Remembering this dragon’s rank as a general, the sentry was willing to let this particular instance slide--for the time being.

“Well?!” he shouted to the others, who had hesitated. “You heard him! Get your flanks in gear, soldiers! We’ve got a village to defend!”

“Keep your heads low to protect your throats! Aim for the eyes, throat, and open mouths, and do not let your guard down on the jaws, claws, and tail! Attack then jump away to avoid a counterattack!” he added, sprinting forward to meet the alpha--who charged, too.

A number of the guards were surprised to hear this, but with a nod of confirmation from their captain, rushed their enemy. Spears in mouths, they lowered their heads, proceeding to imitate their scaly ally.

However, a single pony couldn’t possibly hope to flip the creatures over--instead, the pegusi guards teamed up to utilize their weapons to attack--a few of them going right for the throats with a couple of them acting as a distraction, others, going in for the assault.

Swift on his feet, the dragon slipped underneath the leader before it could snap its teeth at him. The reptile parted his jaws and slashed at the soft belly, slicing it right open. Blood and entrails dropping on top of him, he applied his strength to flip the beast right over before whirling around and springing at the jugular. The inflicted manticore’s energy quickly depleted as blood sprayed from its torn throat, making it far easier to finish off.

Rhem leaped away to allow the manticore to bleed to death and shook the entrails from his back. He then zipped from manticore to manticore, slashing open throats as he passed--even as ponies were fighting them. He was determined to finish the fight before anyone got hurt.

Thanks to Rhem’s assistance, the battle went much easier. As an almost fully grown dragon, he was more than capable of being a match for a manticore… but it took no less than four pegasi guards to bring down one of them.

One of the sentries, however, had a fairly novel idea. Positioning himself by an unused clothesline tied between two houses, he utilized it to launch his spear to shoot one of the manticores just below one a knee joint. From there, he snagged the clothesline and flew in tight circles around the creature, tying its legs together and causing it to crash to the ground on its side. This merely incapacitated it, and took another couple of ponies to actually slay it.

Rhem was satisfied with the outcome of the bout. Never, had he seen teamwork used in battle. Draconian soldiers were trained to fight for themselves, for their own survival, so this was a change of pace.

The last of the standing manticore fell over, energy drained from blood loss like the rest of its packmates. The dragon panted lightly, his body coated heavily with blood. Taking a look around, he released a relieved sigh. None of the royal guard had sustained any injuries.

“HOO-HA!” the stallions cried, lifting their hooves and spears at a successful aversion of catastrophe. Well, about as successful as could reasonably be expected, at any rate.

The captain hovered up to Rhem, removing his helmet and giving a light bow.

“I must say, General Rhem… Thank you, for your assistance. I… I’m not sure how well we could have done this without you.”

The Draconian offered a nod in return. He was pleased he was receiving gratitude for his work, never having gotten this sort of treatment back at home.

“Hm,” he grunted softly in acknowledgement. “You and the others did not do badly.”

The captain nodded, feeling an odd camaraderie with the dragon. While he was grateful his own forces weren’t harmed… he swallowed hard as he turned into the direction of the village. What of them, he wondered. There were a few that, unfortunately, they couldn’t save in time.

The pony covered in bees ran by again, sobbing in sheer, unadulterated horror.

“We’ll gather the dead civilians here,” he said, more to his own soldiers than to Rhem. “And see to the wounded, if any.” He turned back to the dragon, unsure of what he could do. “We can take things from here, General Rhem.”

“Do keep your eyes pealed for any more of those beasts that might be lurking. If more show up, let me know.”

With another nod, Rhem unfurled his wings and took to the skies en route to the castle.