Commanders and Generals

The Dark Line of String

What is war... Well its like a game... A game of chess. In which one pony tries to out smart the other... Is it a game of intelligence. Strategy and tactics... Or just brute force. Strength and luck... But... What if... In this world of chess. There were only Two Kings and Two Queens, but neither of them moved or attacked from there tile. Instead... They just waited in a cold. Dark. Prolonged stalemate, that could have lasted years or centuries. Until one side struck first and said that she wanted the Queens... Out of the game...

Battle of Ponyville:

Operation Blitz Ridge Day 1: 5:30pm

"HOLD THE LINE!" I yelled as the dark shadowed ponies race towards the trench. My troops who had already clicked and put there rifles in potion, stood in silence waiting for my command. They glared in disgust towards the incoming wave of attacking ponies, as if staring into a soul of a disease.

"HOLD!", "HOLD!", "STEADY!" looking back an fourth as my troops took aim, fixated on the ponies in front. I squinted trying to get a visual conformation on the invading force, suddenly as if by chance, the could curtain above broke, letting out the suns glorious royal glow. My troops cheered as they knew that the pegasi had removed the curtain for us, making spotting targets on the ground much easier and more deadly. I smiled then turned my attention back at the wave of dark shadowed ponies, the suns light had finally allowed me to confirm the targets, so that I could give my troops the go ahead to fire.

I recognised the dark shadowed ponies in front of me, charging towards the trench line at the speed of night. At first I couldn't comprehend the situation, then I couldn't understand it. "Why would princess Luna's troops be attacking us if were in a alli-" I looked up one last time and then froze, realizing the situation me and my troops were in and who was attacking the line. The line that leads straight to Ponyville and then straight to Canterlot. The capital...

I couldn't move or speak as if a magical grip squeezed my throat. I started to shake furiously and continued to tremble in front of my troops, who looked at me confused and terrified. "No. No. No. They cant be. I mean we- the princess- no!" I took in quick heavy breaths of dust filled air as I tired to calm and compose myself. But I couldn't as my body in its current state, refused my commands and instead acted on its own accord.

"READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG. "READY!" clunk "AIM!" clank "FIRE!" BANG.

"Sir we need orders!" Called a soldier who had spotted the first enemy in range of his rifle for the kill. "Commander" Called another voice, this time it was mare. I didn't respond, still frozen in my possession. The images of Nightmare Moon flashed in front of my eyes as I remembered the horrific stories of the past. "No. No. No. Stop it!" I shut my eyes, for what my eyes saw I couldn't believe not in a life time. The ponies, now with identifiable. Visible fangs and armed weapons drew closer, this time with shots of gun fire and the familiar pounding of invaluable artillery guns. My lieutenant. Panicking, shook me with all of her might, trying to get me out of my shocked state.

"Commander! Commander! Snap out of it! We need you!" I responded and reopened my eyes, continuing to just stare out in the distance as the bat ponies with familiar dark blue and purple armour, armed with visible spears and rifles came closer and closer. "Commander! Commander we need your orders NOW!" I then looked back up to the attacking force and saw the emblem of Nightmare Moon's striking eye on the bat ponies dark purple and chromed chest plates. It stared into my soul as I looked back at with the same unblinking devotion as if it were a contest. Finally I whispered. "Fire... everything..."

"What." My lieutenant respond. in a concerned voice, still worried about my previous sate of shock.

"FIRE EVRTHING! FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!" I shouted. Screamed and yelled all in one mixture. My lieutenant who was not prepared, jumped at the combined sound of screaming. Gunfire. Cannons and mortars, which was to much for the poor mare to bear. She shook and galloped to the rotten wood wall and covered her ears as the repeating sounds of war boomed like drums. Then without hesitation. I ran to her yelling up-close. "listen!", "We must warn the princesses-I mean princess Celestia about the attack!", "Send a letter to her we shall have you covered!"

The mare just curled up in a state of shock and horror realising the situation and the mission that she had to carry out. I grabbed her by the hoof and whispered to her as calmly as I could. "listen, you were they for me, I'll be there for you, me and my troops will protect you. I promise you lieutenant-" "Scootaloo." The mare finished off. "My name Scootaloo sir." I nodded and smiled as the screams of gunfire grew louder and louder. "Ok Scootaloo, I will cover you as you fly back to Canterlot, know that princess and the council must be warned about this situation." She nodded firmly and galloped back to Ponyville as I then turned back to the line and levitated my pistol firing three successive rounds, accompanied by suppression, each of them killing or wounding a bat pony in front, who fell to the ground in an instant action of movement.

The pounding of shells lifted the bodies of ponies into the air as if they were paper. The trench line shook and screamed as if in pain. The line which had guarded Ponyville. The line which battled for Equestria. The line which battled for the princess and her followers. A line which as now as fragile and as thin as string, which could easily be cut through and broken. I then looked back to my lieutenant who had ran to Ponyville and towards Canterlot I then thought in confusion why wasn't she flying. but I had no time for thinking for as the battle raged on, I remembered why ponies called me the cold commander, a reputation that would endure for as long as I live.

Author's Note

This was tough, but here is chapter 3.
The story in its state will jump back to and from the future of the battle, with the main six the princess and commander Cold Throne, hopefully it will turn out good. :twilightsmile:
Hope you all enjoyed, please leave a comment if you want and thank you for reading.

Have a good day everypony.

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