I lie in wait, my muscles tensed and ready to spring. All around me, hiding in similar states, were a throng of Solar Empire soldiers. One of them turned to look at me, a stallion wearing his brilliant golden armour with pride. He had a small half cape draped across his back and a pair of blades on each side. His authority was well displayed, showing himself to be the commanding officer for the gang of soldiers.
“You ready?” He asked, his voice clearly indicating his distrust.
“So long as you have the money.” I replied without turning to face him.
“You’ll have your money, bat, so long as you don’t betray us.” The commander spat.
“You have nothing to worry about, so long as the Lunars offer more.” I told him with a smirk. The comment clearly annoyed him, his eye twitching.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t just kill you right now?” He growled at me, sounding more like a demand than a question. I didn’t respond, instead I turned and stared him in the eye, daring him to do it. His response was to snort and turn away without another word.
I peered back out from where we were hiding. We overlooked a path through the forest between Manehattan and Fillydelphia. I had been hired as an extra body in an ambush on Lunar Republic soldiers, the Empire’s current enemy. I had reliable information that a large band of Lunar soldiers were headed back to Manhattan using this path.
My ears perked up, faintly picking a noise. “Shh!” I said, silencing the soldiers around me. I heard the sound of heavy hooves trampling the ground in the distance. The clanging of armor as it impacted the ground and moved against itself. “They’re coming.” I hissed at the commander, who made a motion to signal the rest of the soldiers. Thier weapons scraped the ground as they got ready to attack. Before long, I saw the Lunar’s approach. They were twenty strong, outnumbered by our ranks of thirty.
The Lunars proceded onward, but before they could get within range, they stopped. My eyes widened as I heard the sound of a thestral’s cry.
“Solars!” The voice hissed within the group. The Lunars quickly drew their weapons, peering into the trees around them.
“They found us out!” I hissed to the Commander.
“Over there!” Hissed from within the Lunars. Then, all hell broke loose. Soldiers rushed at each other, blades at the ready. My wings had spread and I took to the air, the claws upon my shoes unsheathed and ready to slash at Lunars. From within the chaos below ascended a thestral, likely the one that sensed us prior. She brandished the same claws as me, and for a moment, we locked gazes.
She seemed slightly confused. It was quite obvious I wasn’t a part of the Solars, based solely on my armor. I was garbed in black leather, lined with steel plates of a similar color. A hood was pulled over my head, reinforced with flexible steel. She seemed to question why I was there, but that only lasted a brief moment. She rushed at me, her claws ready to tear my throat out.
I was surprised by her speed, appearing before me within moments. A claw was already slashing at me, aimed at my throat. I flaped a single wing, sending me to the side before I swiped at her myself, aiming for her arm. She saw the attack coming and swiftly spun out of the way. Still pulling my claw back, she spun around and connected a hind hoof to my face.
The force of the impact knocked me out of the sky, and I landed on the ground with a thud. Groaning, I opened my eyes only to see the mare dropping down to me, her claws looking to impale me. I rolled out of the way a split second before she struck, a small shower of dirt raining up from the impact. Without missing a beat, she pulled her claws from the ground and jumped me.
I pressed against the ground with my wings, flipping into the air before she could pin me down. As I did so, I sent a swipe at the mare, barely cutting off a few strands of her short, purple mane. Landing on my hooves, I swiftly jumped back, narrowly avoiding a pair of claws. Before she could retract her arm, I grabbed her and slammed her into a tree.
The breath was cleanly knocked out of her, and she was left helpless for a moment. I took advantage of that moment, slashing at her with my right. She recovered just fast enough to avoid the worst of my attack, but I still slashed her arm open. She swiftly kicked me away, and I flapped my wings, hopping back as she did so.
She quickly rushed me, a right slashing at my throat. I moved my head back just a bit, and the attack missed by mere centimeters. She quickly returned with a left, causing me to flap my wings and lift off the ground. Grabbing her arm, even as she slashed, I used the momentum of my flight to flip her over my head, and slam her on her back. Before she could get away, I slammed my body down on top of her, knocking the breath out of her as I pressed a claw to her throat.
I was ready to end her, but I made one mistake. I looked into her eyes. Her golden eyes glared back up at me with fury. It was as if she was daring me to do it. It stood in contrast to the dark grey coat that covered her face, and the deep purple colour of her short and windblown mane. I had seen those eyes before, I’d seen that face before, and for a moment, the image of the mare beneath me changed to that of a small foal.
I faltered. I hesitated, and the Lunar mare took her chance. In one swift motion, she kicked the place no stallion should ever be hit. Granted, I had armour, but that mare had some damned legs! My eyes widened in pain and she followed through, instantly flipping me over, reversing our positions. I stared from the claws to her eyes, which she used to deliver an angry glare..
No! No! I can’t die here! I thought. I still have to save her!
I struggled beneath her grip, but it was futile. Her grip was iron, and she wouldn’t let me go. I wondered where this strength had suddenly come from, but I was too busy to deal with the thought fully. I glanced to the side, hoping to see a Solar soldier come to help. Sadly, I saw no such thing.
“Why do you fight for the Solar Empire!?” The thestral mare questioned me, her eyes narrow. I was taken aback. Why was she questioning me?
“Wh-what?” I asked incredulously.
“You know how they treat us thestrals! Why are you working with them!?” Her rage was evident in both her voice, and her eyes.
“...They’re paying me.” I offered, unsure of what she why she wasn’t just killing me.
“They’re… paying you?” It was her turn to be confused, as she stared down at me. The two of us went silent for a few moments, staring at each other in confusion. “What if we paid you more?” She asked.
“Then I would do as you ask.” I told her with a frown. “Are you offering to do that?”
“Yes.” She told me. “If you help us, we’ll pay you more than the Solars would.”
“Deal.” Slowly, the mare lifted her claw from my throat. Letting me up, I quickly dusted myself off, turning back to the ensuing battle. It was quite clear that the Lunars were losing. Corpses of the Lunars littered the ground, fallen beside their Solar brothers. Blood had carpeted the path, gashes in the ground showing where blades had struck earth. The Lunars had dwindled down to a meager number of ten, having lost half of their party. Meanwhile, the Solars still stood stronger with twenty one soldiers standing. My eyes quickly found the Solar I was looking for.
The mare had already jumped into the fight, cutting down two Solars before they even realized she had come. The clutched their throats, blood spilling out, even as she moved on to attack another. Snorting, I flapped my wings, jumping into the throng myself. I landed in front of a familiar half-caped stallion. He was facing off with a Lunar soldier who wielded a pair of axes against his swords. The Commander saw me in his peripherals, a victorious smirk crossing his face.
“Ha, Bat! Cut this Lunar swine down.” The Lunar looked back at me briefly, but realized I wasn’t moving. “Bat? What are you doing? I’m paying you for this!” The comm
“Sorry, Commander. I got a better offer.” I told him with a smirk.
“...Ventu-” His frightened voice was ended by my claws embedding themselves in his throat. I quickly stuck the other into his skull. Lifting him up, I tossed his lifeless corpse, my claws sliding out as I did so. Looking to the side, I saw the thestral mare. She smirked at me before jumping back into action. I shrugged, beginning to cleave down the remaining Solars.
~-~
The fight wore one for a short time longer. With the addition of myself and the thestral mare, the fight quickly turned into the Lunars favor.
The tides changed, the Lunars numbering at seven, while the Solars numbered nine. They quickly realized they were going to die. The Solars dropped their weapons and ran, begging us not to kill them. Once I was sure they were clear, I walked over to a tree and sat down, checking myself for wounds.
Watching the Lunars patch themselves up, I pressed a hoof to my throat. As if on command, the thestral walked up to me, a bandage around the wound on her foreleg.
“Guess I owe you some money now, eh?” She said with a smirk.
“Three hundred.” I told her with a frown. I could have asked for more, I typically would have, but… “That’s my charge.”
“...Fine. You’ll have to come to Manehatten with us to get your money, though.” She said, looking back over her fellow soldiers.
“I won’t be protecting you guys unless you put up more money.” I told her.
“Fine, I doubt we’ll have much more trouble.” Silence fell between us for a moment before I spoke again.
“Why?” I asked.
“Huh?” Was the response I got, her confused gaze turning to meet mine.
“Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”
“Why didn’t you?” She countered. The image of the foal resurfaced. I closed my eyes, letting out a shuddering breath.
“I… I have my reasons.” I told her, avoiding her gaze. I saw her eyebrow raise from the corner of my eyes. She looked like she wanted to pry, but seemed to think better of it. Without a word, she turned and walked away. I sighed as I watched her go. I should have asked for more money.
Don’t worry. I thought to myself, shuddering. Just wait a little longer.
