5. Before the Slope

The remains of the Grand Coalition Army's right flank, newly renamed as the Army of Canterlot, was dismissed from the digging parties just before dawn while the rest of the garrison tried to keep pace though now over half of the ponies that were able to work were now lined on the crest of the two hills before the plateau.  When they arrived on the position, exhaustion began to spread as several ponies stood while sleeping, with their muddied coats hardening in the rising sun.  For many of them, it appeared as if they either did not notice or even care that there was an enemy army in the valley below, constructing large wooden siege equipment and shields to push up the slopes in their prepared assault.

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"RainyHaze!  Do you hear that?"

"No."

"Somepony is crying for help, I think just up ahead."

"I really don't care."

"It's a pony!  I can't just let him die out there!"

"You'll break formation.  You know what that mule would do if he saw you... be thankful that you are not back in the mud..."

"You lazy ass.  I'm going to rescue him."

"See if I care... even if he lives he is just going to be another mouth to feed..."  A hoof then struck him near the side of his head.

"I bloody care."

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The griffin clung onto his perch.  He had been there for hours, watching the enemy sluggishly muster up and occupy the ridge.  He was not out here on orders, but the griffins really didn't give much of a care about orders anyway.  He had watched the wounded pony paw his way up the rough stretch of the slope, literally dragging his body over the ground.  The griffin would of killed him much sooner if he was not so enjoyed at watching the frail body try to get himself to safety.  He had a plan that he thought would be more tasty--using him as bait.

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He stepped out in front of his unit and felt for his canteen from his saddle bag that also partly served as armor.  He shook it a little to tell that is was still reasonably full.  He could then tell that his fellow ponies where then also watching him.

"What do ya' bloody think you're doin'?" barked his commander.

He then kept on moving forwards.  As he advanced starting to go downhill, his visibility of the steepening slope increased until he noticed the pony calling for help earlier, laying on his belly with his forelegs stretched out before him in the middle of an attempt to drag himself up another foot.  He raised his head at the sight of the pony standing there looking down upon him. The wounded pony's eyes had pain and terror layered on top of each other, both begging and forbidding at the same time.

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The griffin held a beaky grin on his face.  It was all too perfect, as he saw the single pony step out of the unit towards the victim.  It was the perfect plan of demoralizing the idiotic enemy--slay the brave and let the cowards grow and fear.  He just had to wait a few more moments.  His fiendish delight kept escalating--this was just too delicious.

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"Here, everything is fine."  He all the sudden felt like he was speaking to a lost pet or animal.  "I have some water here," he said as he removed his canteen, "Do you want some?"

The crippled pony opened his mouth and nodded, yet just those motions must of exhausted him, and his body seemed to crumple right then and there as his head bumped back onto the ground.

He approached with his canteen in his mouth, then gingerly kneeled down beside his injured companion.  The pony then opened his eyes again, this time with a fragile tear in the corner of his eye.  He then opened his mouth again.  "No, there is no need.  Here, drink this."  He would try again to speak, yet he surrendered as his rescuer began to pour the water slightly into his mouth, though half of his first pour was absorbed by the grass and dirt.  He knew that this pony probably wouldn't of made it an hour longer out here in this condition, yet somehow this pony made it here through the rough few miles from the battlefield wounded in the condition like this.

After is third sip that he gave him, he asked, "Can you stand?"

"I-If you... would a-assist me," his voice torn and jagged as he gasped from his pains.

Laying down next to the wounded pony, he lifted the soldier's left front leg and put it around his neck.

"On three we are going to stand.  You got that?"  He felt the other's body shudder, he assumed that was his agreement.  "Here we go.  One.  Two.  Three!"  He then stood up with most of the weight of the injured pony resting on his back.  His own knees nearly buckled which could of sent both of them back down onto the ground.  They stood like so for a moment, trying to figure out their balance and movement on the steep slope.  "Going to step forward now.  You got that?"  He did not receive a response, but he assumed that he understood.  Tenderly taking a step forward with his left front leg, he could feel the other push off ever so slightly with his hind legs, shifting his weight forward thus focusing both of their weights mostly all onto his own right front hoof.  Responding quickly, he planted his front left and lifted his hind right forward to pick up the excess burden.  The wounded pony's left hind also rose and moved forward as it rubbed against his right flank.  The pressure eased on his right front when the other put his leg down, finally allowing him to move his front right and hind rear.  They staggered forward, painfully grinding each step and every inch of elevation.

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His claws itched as they grasped onto the rocky surface.  He was getting annoyed at how long it was taking them to leisurely plod up the hill.  They were not quite visible to the idiots above, but it would have to be soon.  He opened his wings to their full length, and he could sense every black and gray feather eagerly catch into the breeze.  Patience was growing thin.

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Though the blades of grass, he could just scantly see the helmets of the ponies in his division on the top of the steep hill.  He felt the other pony's legs shiver causing his own to waver.  "Come on, just a bit more.  There we will be safe."  He did not know how many times he had said that to himself already.  He then began questioning if he actually said it out loud or not.  He took another shaky step forward, feeling a small cracked pebble wobble under his hoof, messing up his already tarnished balance, yet perseverance kept him pushing forward.  The grass was then cast aside and he could fully see his unit.  A few hooves were pointed in his direction.  He knew that this little battle was almost over as he called out for assistance.

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The griffin unlatched his talons from the crevice.  He felt the split-second of free-fall, yet his time honored reflexes twisted his center of gravity to make his stomach level to the ground.  His wings opened and flexed to the air as he dove down upon his objective.  His focus was directly on his target.  There was no way that he could miss.

Except for the sudden blur in the corner of his eye.

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A piercing screech then shattered the air, ricocheting off the mountains.   Following there was an sickening crash of a body colliding with the ground a scant few yards behind the two ponies.  ThunderWhip knew what he did was really just another stroke of luck as he hung in the air with his dirtied sword being held low.  Due to fright and shock, the pony carrying the wounded one was on the ground, though staring wide-eyed at his rescuer from above.  ThunderWhip looked back at the crumpled body that he sword just moments ago plunged through.  It had curled up just slightly, but it was now still and frozen.  He felt no emotion for it.  Turning back around he faced the lines of the regiment and pointed a hoof below at the two ponies below him.  "Soldiers!  Assist these two!"  Yet they remained stunned at what just occurred.  ThunderWhip remained staring at the formation of earth ponies.  He had to inspire them.  For a pegasi, it was difficult to imagine how to inspire such a group.  All pegasi were already inspired by their own abilities, strengths and beliefs, yet these earth ponies came from different backgrounds.  Some here were volunteers, a few were ruffians, yet most were originally ponies just protecting their homes that escalation of war was the only reason they were here today.  He needed to say something, anything.

"Soldiers...  Ponies of Canterlot!  I cannot always save you.  Already those that are standing here today owe me a debt.  I saved you all from the hooves and swords of the enemy yesterday!  Today, I've saved these two before you.   However it must be you that take them to your ranks.  I cannot be the entire soul of the army.  That responsibility rests on you all.  You have to be the ones that have to decide for victory or defeat.  It does not rest on the hooves of the commanders.  We are not united for no reason.  We must save ourselves together.  We must embrace our unity here!"

ThunderWhip was then inturupted by the sounds of flugeltrumpets from the base of the slope.  The Crystal Coalition was ready to advance.