Puffs of smoke emerge in the air, its source, Private Hoofson. Smoking a cigarette, he trots alongside his buddy, Corporal Snakefang. Both Hoofson and Snakefang are on a patrol mission in the mines that span the depths of Canterlot Caverns, a spirally maze that is easy to get lost in.
"I wish you wouldn't smoke those shitty things. It will kill you." Snakefang opens up.
"If anything is gonna kill me, its gonna be these damnable spider and their cursed webs, I cant take three steps without getting one on my eye." Hoofson snaps back.
"Hahahaha, right right." Snakefang laughs.
They continue on, Hoofson coughing, and Snakefang keeping his hoof on his trusty sword. Minutes pass before Snakefang begins to converse.
"So, what are you gonna do after your tour of duty?" Snakefang asks.
"Don't know, maybe buy a casino. What do you think im gonna do? Im heading over to Zebrica to live with my sister." Hoofson aggressively answers.
"Oh right. Sorry I---"
"Don't explain."
"OK then, whats your opinion on-" Snakefang is interrupted by the sound of scraping on the wall next to him.
"What was that?" Snakefang asks, holding his lantern to the wall.
"Probably a rat. Got big ones down here." Hoofson replies with a snort.
"No..... Rats don't scrape like that.... Somethings wrong... Stay frosty." Snakefang orders.
"Cant, im smoking, ill melt if I stay frosty."
"Don't make jokes."
The scratching continues, and a sound of trampling noises is heard ahead, getting closer and closer. Snakefang holds his lantern up towards the darkness and he catches a glimpse of an eye glare. A big one. Growling noises start echoing around. Snakefang whimpers as glare returns, he sees two eyes, then 8, then 20, then 80 eyes in the darkness heading towards him and Hoofson. Snakefang lets out a shriek of terror, smashes his lantern on the ground, lighting a temporary fire barrier between him, Hoofson, and the hostiles. He turns to Hoofson.
"RUN!" He screams. Hoofson gives a quick nod, drop his cigarette, illuminates his current surrounding with unicorn magic so he and Snakefang can see, and starts running.
"We gunna git you!" Is heard from somewhere behind him.
He turns to look at Snakefang, who is running faster than he has ever seen him run before. He looks back in front of him just in time to jump over an abandon cart. 'Just gotta....Almost there.....Pick up your hooves.... Checkpoint around the corner...... You can do it!' Hoofson echoes these unsaid words in his head. The noise of trampling and stomping is heard. The fire burnt out.
<><><>
The captain sits in his chair, reading by candelight. He and his squad of 15 soldiers guard the exit to the cavern. Its crucial he defends this. As Diamond Dog activity has reported to be increasing every day, and so--- the thoughts of the captain and his reading is interrupted by screaming. He rushes outside to see his two scouts jumping over the barricades.
"SIR! SIR! *pant pant* WE.... WE ARE ABOUT TO BE ATTACKED!" The Corporal yelled at the top of his lungs, no salute, just pure panic. Snakefang never was a fighter.
"Calm down soldier! Calm down. By who?" The Captain asks.
"I don't know sir, I don't know. But there is a lot of them." Hoofson reports calmly. The sounds of battle cries and stomping is heard.
"Shit! Ponies to battlestations! Repel the attack!" The captain, knowing who he is talking about, orders just as the Hostiles break through the barricades.
"Snakefang, get a message to the Crown! As of this day you carry the Declaration of War from the Diamond Dogs! GET MOVING! HOOFSON! STAY HERE AND DEFEND THE AREA!" The Captain orders.
Simultaneous "Yes Sirs" are said and they disperse. The Princess was right. War was around the corner. The Captain unsheathes his axe and looks to his left, only to take in a punch to the face. Blood splatters against the nearby wall as battle cries and screams of wounded and dying die out.
