The Mane Six Militia and The Shadow of a Phantom

    "My majesty, it seems our assassins have failed." The Solandian officer, General Iron Ore bowed before his rather displeased Queen. "One of our informants have been snuffed out as well."

     "Who?" She shook her head in disappointment, her red and purple mane resting over her left shoulder.

     "Pure Peak my Majesty. It seems he was discovered around the same time our assassination attempt was thwarted." The officer grew nervous the longer he was in the presence of his Alicorn Queen, Queen Thistle. Her appearance did not betray her as hostile, her pink fur remained well groomed and her wings almost seemed to glow brilliantly on the rare occasions she took flight. She stood slightly taller than her two princess sisters and much taller than the rest of her kingdom. Even when not utilizing magic her horn seemed to give the faintest glow of red aura. However everypony knew that appearances were deceiving, and that their queen had begun to lose her patience with this war on Equestria.

     She sighed and kicked at the ground, relieved it had been nopony of significance. "If my memory serves me right, Pure Peak was with the militia encampment?"

     "Yes my Majesty, however-" Iron Ore's voice trailed off, debating on whether he wished to correct her in her error. "However the militia encampment, according to our recent reports have joined forces with the Equestrian army and have changed their base of operations to a small town named Oakhill. This and the last update we have received on our assassin's failure will be the last of the information we can collect on them due to heightened security and the death of Pure Peak without reconnaissance teams to observe their post. Unfourtanetly sustaining a reconnaissance team will be difficult due to their position behind enemy lines." He kept his head low to the ground, expecting a impulsive act of anger but was relieved when she spoke in a calmed tone.

     "Very well, this is war, and in war there are always downfalls. It seems that I have greatly underestimated the Equestrian resolve. Are we aware of  the Unit's commander in OakHill, and do rise, you've been down there for far to long." She gestured with her hoof for him to stand tall.

     "Yes your majesty." He arose with a sigh of relief as he stretched one of his forhooves before continuing. "The target of our assassination was actually the Oakhill commander. It turns out she is one of Equestria's Princesses, goes by the name of Twilight. That is all we know for now."

     "With such little information, who ordered the hit?" Now a bit of her temper flared, wasting resources on such matters that could have waited to be resolved later when they were better prepared. Now four of her troop was dead because of a hasty decision probably made by some young officer who was trying to make a name for themselves, and to her amusement...

    "Down in Fort Haysfire, our spy had reported to the Fort Defense Commander Tumble Crax. Without sending the report to any of the Fort's generals or the Fort Commander himself he had sent a small team into Oakhill to take out Twilight." The officer had wished she wouldn't have asked him for this information. Tumble Crux and he were very good friends, if only he were not such a fool. He heard exactly what he had expected.

     "Have him relieved of his command and send for him here at the castle. I wish to have a word with him." With this Queen Thistle turned away and began to trot back to her chambers disgruntled that such ignorance resided within the ranks of her army. With so many ponies however one could not expect there not to be a few idiots here and there within the population. She could do nothing but weed them out, one by one whenever their faults become such a problem that she hears of them.

      As she entered through the doors to her chambers her two younger sisters, the Princesses of Solandia awaited her. "What now?" Thistle exasperated.

     "Our apologies sister, you know we would not be here if it were not important." The elder of the two, Venus an orange furred blue maned alicorn spoke. She took a few steps toward Thistle and bowed.

     "Get up Venus, you know better." Thistle sighed, shaking her head.

     "Its just, the news, the Equestrian Royals broke through the southern lines and wiped out Fort Frostmore." The youngest of the three who's name was Jaded Thorn. Her fur was silver with a white shine in the right light, while her mane was a pitch black.

     "No it didn't." Thistle stated flatly, denying the increasingly bad news that had flooded her day.

     "I'm afraid it has, just last night. According to reports the Equestrians used some sort of magic cloud cover to mask their assault. Of course our enchantments neutralized the spell within our fort's immediate perimeter but they were able to get through most of our ranged defenses with their cover and storm the fort before taking any significant losses." Venus stated as she sat in her own pool of disappointment.

     Jade sighed after hearing the news for the fourth or fifth time. Out of the three she was the one that had doubts about this whole campaign to wipe the unicorns out. In truth she was against it, but her loyalty to her sisters was greater than her own belief. She loved them to much to risk a confrontation with them, even if it meant wiping out a whole species of pony. "Sister, if you think it worth while I'll organize a counter attack to re-capture Fort Frostmore."

    "No!" Thistle took a deep breath before continuing, not wanting to take her anger out on her sisters. "No, I will organize the raid myself, and I will lead the charge. I think its time the Equestrians learn the wrath of Solandia."

    "What!? Thistle you can't." Venus rose hack to her hooves. "Let me go in your stead."

     "No, this war has gone on long enough. I shall not sit here in this castle when Equestrian Royals join the battle and turn the tides in their favor. If I wait any longer to take action we will only continue this stalemate or worse, lose more ground." Thistle stomped her hoof and spread her wings wide, establishing her confidence in her own decision.

     "At least take one of us with you, I won't have your safety jeopardized in battle." Jaded Thorn joined Venus's side as they continued to detour their sisters impulsive decisions.

     "Ah, little sister I'm afraid I must refuse, for it is I that is responsible for your safety. There is a reason I have kept you far from the horrors of this war. Your strategic skills have proved invaluable here at the castle. Losing you in any petty dispute would be a tragedy to Solandia, your sister, and myself. You needn't worry about me, either of you. My magic is much greater than any common unicorn they could muster and I will be damned if i will be slain by a common soldier." Thistle was honored to have her sisters so worried about her safety, but her resolve was to strong to be dissolved by emotions or the threat of death alike.

     "But Thistle, you mustn't even chance such a thing. Your loss would-"

     "Sister." Thistle interrupted Venus. "This is settled, I am going. What kind of queen am I to hide behind these walls while our country pony die for my cause?" She looked over to Jaded Thorn before sighing. "Jade, I must speak to Venus in private."

     Jade had a mind to debate her request for a private audience but she held her tongue. This new series of events had disgruntled her. During her sister's speech she had realized she'd never actually seen any of the results of this war. For the past year now they had kept her in the dark, allowing her only the most vague information of her plans. Did they think her weak? Where they just being over protective of their youngest sibling? The reason did not matter to Jade, she was tired of all the secrets but she could do nothing at the moment. "Of course." She replied simply before leaving the room, making sure to close the doors to Thistle's chambers behind her.

     "Venus, in my absence you mustn't allow Jade to come to harm. She mustn't be allowed down in any of the dungeons or our interrogation quarters. Yes she is aware of our grand plan but the reality has not yet hit her and you would do well to prevent it at all cost, at least until the war is over. Her heart is far to kind to understand our ways." Thistle spoke in a hushed whisper, even though she was sure there was nopony else around.

     Venus sighed in a rare display of annoyance. "Thistle she is a Princess, not a foal. If she can not accept the harsh realities of the world then I am sorry to say she is not fit to rule." Venus loved Jade very much, but her innocence and ignorance to the real world had become a bother to protect over the ages. While her intelligence knew no bounds and her strategies had proven useful she treated everything much like a game. Not by her fault however, they had spent most of their lives shielding her from the world and had come to regret it.

     "Venus you know we promised mother, she is not like us. In time we will open her eyes but during this war is not ideal. Please, as a favor for a sister, protect her just a little longer." Thistle did not like to beg, but she would make am exception for her family.

     Venus sighed once more. "You needn't even have asked. I was just letting you know my opinion. However, back to the matter at hoof. I still must disagree with your decision on leading a unit of your own."

    It was Thistle's turn to sigh. "I really hate to have to say this but I am the Queen, and this is my decision to make."

     As much as Venus hated to hear these words she would never deny them. She had accepted her sister's rule long ago. "Understood, when will you be leaving for Frostmore?”

“I will not be leading a charge for Frostmore, The Equestrians may have their victory for now. Tumble may have been a fool but he had the right idea. I shall set off for Fort HaysFire. Unlike some of my generals I will not attack in haste. A few scouting parties will be organized and sent to scout OakHill. However if I am not mistaken they are well behind the lines and an enemy fort stands between our border and Oakhill.”

“Fort GrazeTree, sister they will not be easily bested in such a short time and OakHill is under official command now. They will be made aware of its downfall.” Venus remarked.

“I have no intentions of bringing them down as of now. A smaller force will be sent to distract them, disrupting their scouting parties and focusing their attention on the immediate threat. When the time comes for me to conquer OakHill we will simply use the distraction to slip past the border and straight through to OakHill.” Thistle finished.

“Sister our force attacking GrazeTree will be wiped out, that is a lot of Solandian lives.” Venus was skeptical about using a unit of her troops as bait.

“I know, I am not happy either but sacrifices must be made. If we get our hooves on the Equestrian Princess Twilight then we may be able to organize their surrender in exchange for her safety. They were foolish to allow such a young inexperienced Princess into battle. I shall set off for HaysFire in three days time to begin operations.”

Venus thought it over for a moment. Thistle was right, gaining their Princess as a hostage would give them a crucial advantage. They had been winning the war in the first place but progress was slow and the resolve of Equestrian troop was strong. “Very well sister, I will organize your convoy and rally your personal guard.”