Menace of Maretonia

Chapters

Prologue
Calm Before the Storm
Occupation of Ponyville
The Hunt For Twilight Sparkle
Campion's Coup D'etat

Prologue

That June, the Army of Northern Maretonia had landed an army of 75,000 troops to begin the invasion of Equestria. They are an army of professionally trained and near fanatical loyalists, and are well paid and equipped. It is an army with an eye with a single purpose, the retribution for a series of perceived abuses against Maretonia due to the negligence of Princess Celestia, leader of Equestria. They are all unicorns, having been raised in a new dictatorial and authoritarian society created by their leader, General Winter Gust, where a rigid caste system had been created to separate unicorns, Pegasi, and earth ponies. Since he was a unicorn himself, General Winter Gust declared that unicorns were the true inheritors of not only Maretonia, but of the world, and that all other ponies were bestial and swinish. They have a unique ability to fly without becoming Alicorns due to a new invention nicknamed the War Dragon. It is a harness which can be assembled and dissembled by a single spell which only its pilots learned and was strictly top secret. In the minds of their users however, it may as well have turned them into Alicorns, albeit their magic was equally less individually compared to Celestia or Princess Twilight. They share a common language, culture, history and have had a string of victories which has given them the idea that their army is invincible. These victories range from beating the Yaks of Yakyakistan in a campaign of retaliatory conquest to the recent victories against Equestria itself. They also have absolute faith in their commander, General Campion Bolt. By the end of the month, they have advanced nearly to Ponyville, having spread discord and panic across all of Equestria.

Later that month, the Army of Equestria, 90,000 strong, Shining Armor commanding, and ever slow to mobilize, moves westward in an advanced which will eventually end at Ponyville. It is a diveres army, made up of all kinds of ponies who lack the sophistication, training, and organization of the Army of Northern Maretonia, but are more motivated with a better cause. They are fighting for their homes, their freedoms, their wives, families, and friends. Not only this, but they have also seen the blessings which all the Princesses have given them over their individual lives. Their loyalty is equally strong to their cause and they are fighting for unity of all pony kind. They may not all speak the same language, but they all have rallied to the call to arms raised by Princess Celestia. Thought they have lost faith in their commanders, they still know that they individually can fight. They are all confident that this will be the final conflict, and they are confident that they will win. It is the second summer of the war.

The Commanders

Campion Bolt - He is in similar age to Shining Armor, but is slightly older. Growing up, he had attended the Canterlot Military Academy and graduated with degrees in both military history and political science. He is handsome, with a coat of hazel brown, brown eyes, and a beige colored mane. An honest pony, who, when he was a little older than a colt, left his younger siblings who had in turn lost their father to disease and their mother to depression, to enlist in the Canterlot Military Academy. Upon returning, he had used his contacts and newly gained position to give a new life for his family and continued to help raise his four younger siblings. He rose through the ranks to eventually become a full Colonel when the coup d'etat of General Winter Gust began. He successfully overthrew the former Duke and Duchess of Maretonia and made the then Colonel Campion to a full General like himself, though slightly lower ranking. He has no bad habits. He doesn't drink, smoke, gamble, fornicate, or steal. He's never picked up a comic book or a contemporary novel in his life. He doesn't own slaves, a common practice in Maretonia, nor does he believe in the practice. He holds all ponies as equal in his own eyes. He's never lost his temper or faith in himself or his cause and has never complained before in his life. While he was still a Major, he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and recovered without having to go to the hospital. Upon General Winter Gust's coup d'etat of Maretonia, Major Campion Bolt was promoted to full General. Over the coming years, first through their campaigns against the Yaks of Yakyakistan, he became Winter Gusts "War Horse". He bears no personal grudge against Equestria but fights for the duty and honor of his home and his family.

Winter Gust - He is almost as old as Filthy Rich. He came from a poor background, and grew up an orphan, surviving in the deserts of Saddle Arabia for most of his teenage years. He is bloodthirsty, cunning, ruthless, but above all, a warrior. His cutiemark are three tornadoes with the center one being above the other two, like a stand for first second and third place. He didn't graduate at any military academy, but gathered a band of barbarian followers who respected and admired his strength. He trained them from being a scattered group of mercenaries and cut throats to a well disciplined and highly organized fighting force. It was this same entourage that he used to overthrow the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia and take over the country. Upon his ascension to power, Winter Gust reorganized and structured everything into a rigid caste system. Ponies from Equestria would have viewed Winter Gust's regime as no different than Equestria was before Hearts Warming Eve. However, unlike those ponies, who were dissatisfied with their lot, Winter Gust, through sheer economic brilliance, had brought their country from out of the three decades of economic depression most had experienced in just five years. During that time, the he had the Army swear fealty to him, and they did so gladly. He has had a string of victories thus far against Equestria, no thanks to General Campion Bolt. However, Winter Gust has grown weary and cautious of Campion's growing popularity, and has lately sought to secure his position of power by any means necessary.

Shining Armor - Being Twilight Sparkle's older brother was nothing to shake at. He is tall, broad shouldered, and handsome. He is the father of a foal named Flurry Heart, and is married to Princess Cadence, monarch of the Crystal Empire. He is caring, sensitive, hard working, and head strong. Confident in his own abilities, he was ill at the time the Maretonian Invasion began and was unable to stop the first years defeats. Back at full strength and with an army behind him, Shining Armor seeks to crush the Maretonian forces and restore peace back to Equestria once more. He is fighting for his home, family, and friends.

Calm Before the Storm

"Welcome Colonel Campion," Princess Celestia said "please have a seat."

Campion sat politely and looked at the Princess. She eyed him with warmth and friendliness "How are things between Maretonia and Equestria?"

"I'm afraid that you know all too well Princess," He said "it's not something that brings warmth to my heart, but you've known the facts long before I did."

"Indeed," she said taking a sip of tea before offering him some. He politely declined and she continued "This, General Winter Gust, do you know anything about him?"

"I know that he is a survivor ma'am," he said "I also know that he has led the revolt against the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia. I also know that he is the one responsible for bringing order and prosperity to Maretonia."

"Do you admire him?"

"I don't know ma'am," he said "but may I ask what this meeting is about?"

"Campion," she said courtly "you have lived in Equestria a long time. You have even graduated with honors from our military academy here. You have done well and we appreciate your work and efforts in trying to establish peace between Maretonia and Equestria."

"Thank you my lady," he said bowing his head.

"However," she said "I am here to offer you a promotion."

"A promotion ma'am?"

"I'm offering you the position as Commander in Chief of the Equestrian Royal Guard to fight against General Winter Gust and this new Maretonian military."

Campion paused, he had guessed in the coming week before he was invited to Canterlot to discuss with Princess Celestia about certain matters which were important to the state, but he didn't realize this would be the case. Campion looked at her square in the eyes "I can assume that this army will be used to launch a premptive strike against Maretonia, in a hope to bring an end to the war before it even starts?"

"We were thinking something like that," she said "but we hope it never comes to something so drastic."

"Princess," Campion said after a pause "my home, is in Maretonia. Yes I have lived here for many years, and I have had the gratitude of any who had lived under your benevolence and leadership. But I came to Equestria because my family was starving and I was the eldest of six foals. My father had died of starvation and disease, and my mother died of depression shortly after. I would not have ever joined the military, had there been another way for me to provide food for my family. If you invade the Maretonians to the West, they'll have no other option but to retaliate against you, and if I lead this army, they will be retaliating against me too."

"Well," she said trying to tread lightly over this subject "I'm sure that it won't ever come to war between our two countries. After all we have long been friends and allies. Perhaps, war can be avoided."

Campion sighed, he knew that this day would come. He stood up and said "Princess, you may not know but I have received word from the Maretonian government that they have met today to discuss this very issue. Now, you may know and understand more than all of them put together, but I regret to say that your decision to hastily call to arms and raise an army has not helped matters much. It has only made things worse."

"I hope you have had the time to think things over Campion," Princess Celestia said "this is a perfect opportunity for you to give back everything that was given to you."

"What was given to me my lady?" Campion asked "I'd never thought I'd live to see the day when those who gave me so much, would seek to take away something which didn't rightfully belong to them. That a leader who I thought was the greatest in the world, would stoop so low as to raise an army to oppress another country with whom she had no right in doing so. No Princess Celestia, I can not lead it. My heart will not allow me to do it."

"I hope you know what you are doing."

"Ma'am," he said "I have never taken my career lightly, nor have made any decision lightly. But I have no greater duty, than to my family, my friends, and to Maretonia."

With that, he saluted her, she nodded, and he abruptly left the room.

It was early afternoon, just after one o’clock, the uniform was pressed and Colonel Campion stepped out of the vehicle and into the bright sunshine. It had been ten years since he’d been in Maretonia last, ten long, and hard years. He had left his family to provide for them by joining the Maretonian military, during which time, he had risen from the rank of a lowly lieutenant to a captain. By this time, he was appointed by the Duke of Maretonia, to act as a liaison officer to the Royal Guard of Equestria. While there, he graduated from the Canterlot Military Academy, and was away from home, when the Duke of Maretonia was overthrown in a military coup. Now, he harkened the call which General Winter Gust, the leader of the new Maretonian government, had urged when he pleaded for all true Maretonians to return to their home. He had to admit, that what the general had done to the place was a stark contrast to what he remembered. The capitol city of Maretropolis bustled in fervent activity, as Pegasi darted two and fro at reckless speeds but in orderly lines in the sky, forming a neat but somewhat chaotic cityscape.

One of the many things the general had done, was also reorient the entire social structure of Maretonia. Whereas before it used to be a hodgepodge of ponies, struggling to model themselves after Equestria, by being egalitarian and individualistic but drastically failing to do so, this new Maretonia represented the very essence of order and stability. Pegasi, regardless of their cutie mark, were forced into more of a logistical role, their cutie marks helping identify the perfect position they would fit in within that role. Earth ponies, were more employed as workers in industry, using their natural strength as an asset for the whole. The unicorns on the other hoof, were the new upper and noble classes. Campion didn’t necessarily agree with this new status quo, but he had to admit, that compared to the decrepit and derelict buildings he had left all those years ago, this new Maretropolis, was a staggering reminder of what could be accomplished when one set their mind to it. Huge buildings of neoclassical and baroque style architecture represented the monuments of all those who had gone before. The housing, which before was, haphazard and misshapen, was reorganized according to pre-approved templates and full of color. They were no higher than six stories high and had large windows, they were also made from what Campion deduced as local stone, and though they were densely built, it was rather refreshing. The streets were packed with people and very lively, with mothers ushering children into and out of shops and teenagers lounging with their friends and lovers on the wide marble steps.

He approached a rather large building, which had four solid marble statues of unicorns in various poses, they were named as King Bullion, Starswirl the Bearded, oddly enough Nightmare Moon and King Sombra. Campion eyed the statue of King Sombra with interest, he wasn’t portrayed as the green eyed evil denizen he is made out to be in Equestria, but rather, a young noble, possibly how he would have looked before he became evil. Nightmare Moon on the other hand, was regal to the point of arrogance with her eyes seeming to follow him wherever he went with obvious disdain. The doors he then came to were solid oak with silver studs, on either side were two unicorns in silver armor who stood at attention, saluted him, and opened the door as he walked passed. Campion nodded as he saluted back out of respect, and he came to a wide pillared atrium. In the center was a fountain of pure silver, the water trickling and bubbling out of the mouth of three ponies, the Earth pony lowest down, then a Pegasi in the middle, with a unicorn at the top. He eyed it, and snorted, he had always been critical the over use of symbolism, particularly with a group which already used too much symbolism in their propaganda.

He walked to and waited outside another pair of wide double doors on the second floor. He was soon ushered in by an Earth pony attendee, and there in an office off blue suede, maple wood and velour stood General Winter Gust. He was slightly taller than Campion, white compared to Campion’s dark brown, with piercing bright blue eyes and a platinum blonde mane. He was rather handsome as far as unicorns go, all of the mares oohed and aahed whenever he trotted by, but he paid them no mind. He was a pony of laser sharp focus towards one goal and one goal only, the expansion and glory of Maretonia. Without looking in Campion’s direction, he greeted him “Ah,” he said with a flick of his tail “Campion, come join me by the window here will you?”

Campion did as he was asked, and stood beside the General, Campion noticed the bulging knotted muscles in his legs and chest, his greying mane was also very clearly visible in the afternoon light. Campion turned his head slowly to match the view of the General, before him lay all of Maretropolis, the bustling city even more insect like in its colonial rigidness. Pegasi darting to and fro like hornets delivering packages and couriering messages from one place to another. The Earth ponies, wheeling carts and using hammers and other tools to repair streets and lampposts. General Winter Gust sighed “Campion,” he said looking away from the chaotic cityscape “look at it will you? Take it all in. Soak in it, swim in it, be smothered by it. This is your future, our future. The future of all those who will but bend the knee to Maretonia.”

Campion had to begrudgingly admit, that it was grand in its chaos. The rising marble colonnades gleaming in the warm sun, the smiles on the faces of those below. He didn’t speak, since he wasn’t given permission to, and waited until General Winter Gust continued, he didn’t have to wait very long.

“Alas,” General Winter Gust said turning to face the sun again “war is coming my friend. Do you know why I summoned you here?”

“Not entirely sir,” Colonel Campion said “no. I was under the impression that we are currently at peace with Equestria.”

“For the moment yes,” Winter Gust said his eyes not missing a single detail, the bright glint of a Pegasi’s gold cutie mark, the confident strut of an Earth pony worker. Winter Gust continued “we are about to start a war my friend. The past wrongs of Equestria have gone too unchecked. Remember how they murdered your father, and your mother?”

“With all due respect General, Equestria had nothing to do with that sir,” Campion said stiffly meeting that gaze unblinking “my father died of starvation and my mother of depression. It was circumstantial nothing more.”

“Nothing more?” Winter Gust raised an eyebrow “what if I told you that the Equestrians had recently made an alliance with Yakyakistan? What if I told you that Princess Celestia herself, is now mustering an army to destroy everything that was just rebuilt? What if I told you, that thus far, everything you know about Equestria has been a lie?

“It’s not my place to question sir,” Campion said “I know my duty regardless of the moral stand point.”

Winter Gust sighed and walked over to his desk “Campion,” he said resting a hoof on it “I need you. Maretonia needs you. I know that you have strong ties with Equestria. I know that you may have…a conflict of interest with regards to this war. But no matter what happens I need your assured loyalty in these next coming years…do I have even that?”

Campion stood at attention, clacked his heels together, and saluted “Until my dying breath General!”

`“Maretonia and Equestria view each other in completely different lights,” General Winter Gust said in a different transmission “where Equestria sees freedom, I only see tyranny. We are fighting for a better cause Campion, we are fighting for past wrongs which Equestria has done to us, when we needed their help most. They view us as a dictatorship, but society cannot thrive unless rule of law, order, and stability are created. Look at what we have built Campion. You and I have created a society where all have a purpose, all have a function, all are equal. Equestria allows for freedom of thought as do we, but they way they go about it creates chaos, whereas we create order. Life cannot exist without order and we see this in all things, in plants, in the formation of continents, and the creation of storms. And a storm is coming to Equestria Campion. Operation Winter Fury will be the beginning of a new age on this planet. I hope I can trust you with this next task. Equestrian spies have stolen the plans to one of our most prized weapons, the M422 battle harness, I call it the War Dragon. It will grant our forces more speed and maneuverability than any average Pegasus in Equestria. It will grant us mobility and the means to even counter Princess Celestia. Get it back, recapture the base and destroy all Equestrian forces in the area to make sure that they never steal anything from us ever again.”

Winter Gust turned and saluted back. He gave Campion a nod of dismissal and Campion started walking toward the door. Winter Gust added something almost casually “Oh and by the way,” he said nonchalantly “you will be a subordinate under General Firestorm. He’s adamant but beef headed. I want you to be a temperament to his hot headedness. You will follow orders from him from the time being, good luck Colonel.”

With that, Campion strode out the door and back into the bright sunshine.

“Colonel Campion,” General Firestorm said over a secure transmission to General Campion’s computer screen “I order you to command a special forces unit and attack the Crystal Empire. Your target, is to eliminate all border guard outposts in sector seven.”

Then he grimaced in pain as a burst of magic was seen. Colonel Campion winced inwardly, when before him, after casually nudging the body of Firestorm aside, General Winter Gust himself, sat down.

“Good day Colonel,” he said in his deep calm voice “I have been very impressed with you lately.”

Campion stood even straighter, here was General Winter Gust, of whom he had seen so much of. Seldom, in this new Maretonia, did citizens actually get to see their enigmatic leader. Winter Gust smiled “You can relax General, at least in my presence. Our forces have been weakened again on the Yakyakistan border and one of our bases is under attack. I need you to reinforce this base, lead a counterattack, and remove all Yak presence from this region. It will go along way in staging our,” he glanced at General Firestorm’s body “future campaigns against the Crystal Empire and then Equestria.”

Occupation of Ponyville

“Campion,” the familiar voice of his mother came to him, Campion turned and saw that the voice was from a shimmering form amongst the background of the Crystal Mountains.

“Hello mother,” Campion said in greeting, feeling a jolt of happiness quiver through his body it had been many years since he had last seen his mother, and he wondered if this was a hallucination brought on by lack of sleep. His mother gave only a sad smile in return.

“Campion,” she said in an understanding but still noticeable reprimand “what happened to you? You were once so generous and kind, and now I wonder where the colt was who used to leap into my arms when he’d come home from school, or who would read to me as I knitted him a new pair of socks?”

“Things change mother,” Campion said sighing, remembering that he was asleep, asleep in his office in General Winter Gust’s headquarters building.

“No,” she said into his thoughts “this is not a dream. I was given permission to come to see you one last time. To let you know everything is alright with us.”

“But mother,” Campion asked, his voice quivering slightly “why did you have to leave us? We needed you…I needed you.”

“What I did was selfish and wrong Campion,” she said, her expression sending a mixture of sadness, anxiety, and depression his way “I was only thinking of myself, and for that, I truly am sorry. I set in motion a chain of events which can’t be stopped unless you decide to stop it. Remember that we love you my son. No matter what happens in the near future, we will always love you. But now, my time has come, and I must leave…”

A memory stirred, him at his fathers funeral, and then by his mother’s bedside as she slowly faded away from depression, and Campion pleading with her not to go.

“Campion,” she said “my brave Campion, I can’t go on much longer. Look after your brothers and sisters for me, it’s time to grow up.”

From then on Campion had begun a selfless career to provide food for his family, how much would things have changed if his mother was still there?

“I can’t do much for you while I am here,” she said “but always remember that I love you, and that I am sorry for my part in what is to come.”

“What do you mean?”

“And now,” she said “good bye my son. You will yet face many more difficulties and challenges, but you will find new friends to help you, and though you helped start this war, in the end, I know you’ll do what’s right.”

“Mother,” Campion called out to her receding form.

“Then that’s it,” he said with a heavy sigh “they’re gone forever.”

“Never completely,” he seemed to hear his mothers faded voice “and we will never be very far away.”

Then he woke up. Biting back sudden tears and a wave of depression which enveloped him like a thick dark cloud, he stood up, and then from behind him, the door slid open. Campion instantly whirled around, horn poised to cast a spell at the intruder, but it was only Lieutenant Candle Bright.

She looked him curiously “Is everything alright sir?” she asked.

He then also turned his back and walked with his aide Major Wild Ace towards the mayors office, they sat down and saw Fluttershy and Applejack walk past. Wild Ace and Campion were too busy in engaged in their conversation to notice that they were being overheard by Fluttershy and Applejack who stopped and listened “We used to have visitors from Equestria all the time before the war,” Campion said as he adjusted his tail and uniform before sitting down comfortably in the shade of a tree “we always avoided the subject of Equestrian and Maretonian relations out of courtesy and politeness. I mean, I don't understand, I don’t now, I mean…they fight so well…”

Then after sighing he looked at Wild Ace and asked “I don’t now Ace,” he said “what do you think of Equestrians?”

“Well,” he said “if you mean the country? Not a bit. You see General, you cannot judge a country. Any pony who judges a group by a few is an idiot. I’ve seen terrible things done by only a few ponies and the rest just want to be left alone. You take ponies, one at a time.”

“For me,” Campion said “there was never any separation between the two. I mean, you look in their eye, and there was a pony. As, if there, was some inner magic inside them deeper than we could ever understand. What is their worth? What is there to value? It’s infinite. Every life is precious.”

“General sir,” Wild Ace said “you’re an amazing leader. But I see a chasm of difference between you and me. Yet I admire you and I would follow you through Hell Gates and back. You’re an idealist. You see sir, there is no deep magic. Many a pony here no better than a dead cow, believe me. Every life is precious? What I’m fighting for is the right to prove I’m a better pony than many of them. Where have you seen this deeper magic General? Where have you charted this beautiful thing? Nothing in this life is equal or has equal chance than the birds of the sky. There is many a pony who is better and worse than me. But I don’t think that ideals or country have anything to do with it. What matter’s General, is justice. Which is why I’m here. I’ll get what my family deserves, and not what others deserve. I’m Wild Ace! And I damn, all royalty. There’s only one nobility, and that, is in the mind. And that’s why we’ve got to win this war.”

PONYVILLE

General Campion trotted over to the headquarters building, which used to be the Mayor’s office in Ponyville when he was surprised to see General Winter Gust there. Without saying a word, General Campion followed behind Winter Gust who asked him “How are you Campion?”

“I’m fine sir,” he said curtly nodding “brigade is pretty shot up though.”

“We’ll get that taken care of. We know what you did this morning,” General Winter Gust said “that was some brilliant tactics you used today. We heard that General Wild Knight was killed, we’re sending his body back home to his folks in Maretonia. I think they’d appreciate some words from you.”

“I’ll send them a note sir,” Campion said nodding.

“He was a soldier,” General Winter Gust said “and a good friend. The three of us, Shining Armor, Wild Knight and myself served together. We’ve stayed close for a long time. Wonder how Shining Armor’s doing.”

“I heard he was in command of the defenses here,” General Campion said “under Celestia.”

General Winter Gust stopped suddenly and eyed him, but said nothing for a while. Then he said “Just across the valley then. I’d like to see him again, but not here not like this.”

Campion merely nodded in agreement. Then Winter Gust said “Anyway, you come with me, I’ll be giving a briefing to the rest of the officers in the Headquarters. We have something pretty big planned which will be happening soon. But you tell your colts to rest up awhile.

Later when they were back at headquarters, surrounded by other officers, Winter Gust addressed his men “Well gentle ponies, I hope to the gods that this is good ground. Is this good ground generals? The place to have an army?”

“Very good ground sir,” Campion said “very good ground.”

“I hope so,” Winter Gust said “because we’re going to have a fight again here soon. Generals, this is what’s going to happen. General Campion, if I may have a look at the terrain?”

“Yes sir,” Campion said and had his aides pull up a map for Winter Gust and the other officers, who soon crowded a little closer as soon as it was laid out. General Winter Gust then began his briefing “Generals,” he said “as you are no undoubtedly aware, our lines are stretched out in a reverse half moon. Since our campaign started we have struck successfully up from the west, thanks to our successful amphibious operations at Van Hoover, and from the southwest up through Los Pegasus, moving northward towards Canterlot and Manehattan. But right where we are here, our line is in the shape of a shepherds cane. If we follow the river from the southern delta at Los Pegasus up towards Ponyville, it curves around to the right and follows the Unicorn Range and behind that is the Smokey Mountains until they reach the borders of the Crystal Empire. Our fortified lines successfully have occupied all of that territory and we have maintained that. However, we are too close to Canterlot for Celestia to really not give us any thought. I believe that she will try to have a river crossing through the Everfree Forest, since that is where our defenses are weakest. General?”

General Campion then spoke “Thank you sir. General Winter Gust has ordered elements of the Fifth Corps and the Second to move further north in a diversionary attack towards the Galloping Gorge. If this is successful, we may be able to divert more forces away from Celestia’s center and they can then drive south towards Canterlot. The Fourth and First Corps will likewise strike out from Los Pegasus. The effort gentle ponies is to move as much of her forces as possible away from her center. However, we know that she won’t fall for our bait, and will keep most of her forces in her center. But, your mission is to make her as nervous as possible and make her attack us on this ground.”

General Winter Gust continued “We will do everything we can to harass her. If she moves and attacks us here, or tries to attack us on our flanks, she will get restless. Shining Armor might see it, but she might over rule him regardless. If they move against our flanks, Generals, it is your responsible to keep the high ground from falling into enemy hooves. If that is done, it will convince her that our weakest point is in the center and she will attack us there.”

“Sir,” General Hammer Hoof asked “What do we do if Celestia sends a force larger than either of the two corps defending the flanks and actually succeeds in breaking through?”

“We will pull back from the mountains into the cities,” General Winter Gust said “and from there we will continue to hold the line until General Campion can move his forces in a surgical strike into Canterlot. We don’t anticipate her doing this, but if she does, we’ll move to Canterlot before she can do any real damage. Anymore questions?”

There were none and Winter Gust said “Good, good day gentle ponies, and good hunting.” With that he saluted and they in turn saluted him.

The Hunt For Twilight Sparkle

Storming of Canterlot

As General Campion led his troops up the steps of Canterlot Castle, a grin spread across his lips and his eyes flashed. With a blast of magic he slammed open the doors. The palace guards surrounded him. He looked and he saw the two traitorous Diarchs, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and some of her other friends. No clouds of darkness swirled around him, no mystical force caused them to fear. Princess Celestia addressed him in a proud tone of voice “Who are you? What are you doing in our royal presence?”

“For twenty years I have waited noble Princess,” General Campion said mockingly “while my family starved and you sat here stuffing yourself. While my country was ravaged by disease and the barbaric yaks from Yakyakistan tore through the country side. While I had to watch my mother die from grief at having her new born child die in her arms, while I had to bury my youngest brother and become a soldier so that they could make it through the next winter. I have waited, I have watched, I have trained, I have bled, and I have wished for this very moment.”

“You do not frighten me colt,” Princess Celestia said contemptuously “I alone am more powerful than you in magic and could turn you into a gnat.”

“You could,” General Campion said chuckling “but then, you wouldn’t be here to witness the power I have.”

At that very moment the guards surrounding Campion broke and ran for cover. A group of one hundred flyers from his regiment shot straight in and the battle ensued. Their horns lit up the hall as blasts of magic in rapid fire raked the ceiling and the floor. They had to hold off for at least five minutes, and then the rest of the regiment would be pouring in through the city gates to sack the city. Campion fought hoof and leg with a royal guardsman, but in no time he hacked him down, a blast of magic ripping a hole in his chest the size of a dinner plate. He turned around and saw two guardsmen fighting one of his friends, he threw himself at them, a battle cry reverberating from his lips “For Maretoniaaaa!!”

Twilight had no idea what was going on, she too fought side by side with Princess Celestia, she had no idea who General Campion was or what was happening, but she knew that she had to do something. She turned to Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie who were standing watching the ensuing battle.

“Come on,” she shouted above the screams of the dying “we have to get out of here!”

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, there was General Campion. His eyes flashed with a blue fire and his horn glowed all the way down to the base. He struck at Twilight with lightning speed, but she dodged just as fast, parrying with the best of her ability, horn, wings, hooves, the battle that went on between them was intense. Sweat dropped like rain down Campion’s face, but he pressed his advantage in speed, and power. Twilight, more intelligent and surprisingly calmer, used her environment and her better flying ability than Commander Campion to out maneuver him and position herself in places of advantage around the castle. She knew the ground better than he did, but he didn’t let that bother him.

“Girls,” Twilight shouted over the clamor of battle “get out of here, now!”

Suddenly, Fluttershy was struck by a bolt of magic and went down. Seeing her friend, and the nicest creature she had known in pain sent Twilight into a maddening sickening rage. Her horn glowed crimson and her cutie mark flashed with a purple fire. Unperturbed, Campion used his opponent’s distress to create his next opportunity. He kept dodging her furious attacks, coolly calculating when he would strike next. Twilight went in for a side thrust with her horn, Campion dodged, and plunged his horn deep into her chest. Not enough to kill, but it knocked her out of the fight. Twilight’s eyes went wide, she screamed in pain as the hot searing blue fire cut into her like a hot knife through butter. Rainbow Dash rallied her friends to charge into the fray. Campion stood over Twilight’s sullen body, blood dripping from his horn as he laughed in triumph. All around them, palace guards, servants, and others were being mercilessly cut down by lances of blue and green magic. The Maretonians pressed their advantage and swept through the castle like a Changling swarm.

Princess Celestia crushed a Maretonian’s skull with one massive hoof as tears filled her eyes. How could she have been so blind? She thought How could she have let this happen to her friends, to her servants, to her ponies? She lashed out again, another vicious kick catching another Maretonian soldier square in the jaw and knocking him unconscious. Suddenly, she heard Twilight’s scream and turned to see her drop to the ground, with the Maretonian commander contemptuously shaking off Twilight’s blood from the horn.

“No!” She shouted and charged in with Rainbow Dash and the others to Twilight’s rescue. But Campion was ready for them, he was a juggernaut, a battering ram, a war hammer. Despite their futile efforts, he blocked and dodged every single attack. It was then when his rage boiled inwardly and he launched his own offensive against Princess Celestia. Using his flying harness to become equally the match of Princess Celestia in flight, they flew quick as lighting around the pillars of the hall. Chandeliers broke and showered deadly shards of glass into attackers and defenders alike. Celestia and Campion locked horns, shot powerful bursts of magic at one another. Princess Celestia levitated one of the broken stone pillars which had fallen in the hall to block Campion’s path, but Campion smashed it with his own spell of magic, his desire for revenge for his family and his friends outweighed the fighting spirit born out of desperation and fear. This was what his country wanted, this was what his ponies deserved!

Celestia, panic now in her eyes sent one last message to her sister, Luna telepathically Get them out of here, she urged now! Don’t argue, get all who can out of here!

Luna, obeyed without hesitating, she used magic to drag Twilight, Cadence, and Shining Armor to her and teleported far away in one brilliant burst of light.

Howling with rage Campion pressed his attack, and Celestia, knowing that her friends were safe, though still fighting for her life fought desperately to keep Campion at bay. But then, an opening presented itself, and Campion with powerful spell, struck Celestia in the chest. She fell like an angel, gracefully amid the chaos and hell which burned around Canterlot. Almost forgotten, Campion’s regiment had easily entered the city and the Sacking of Canterlot began. The houses, buildings, and towers erupted into flames and smoke etched in a dark haze across the now red sky. Campion landed next to Celestia’s crumpled but not yet lifeless form, looking down at her, he then let out a laugh which rang eerily across the now empty hall. The fires raged in Canterlot’s castle, and, lifting her body with magic, he carried Celestia as his prize captive to his superior officer, General Winter Gust.

Campion's Coup D'etat

The Hunt For Twilight Sparkle

Twilight woke up from her relatively high speed impact. The last thing she remembered, was her and Spike escaping their prison cell and being pursued, then blackness as she slammed into a tree. She looked down, and saw that she was on top of another pony. He had powerfully strong muscles, dark brown hair and a light brown mane, he was a unicorn, and had a scar over his left eye…Twilight jumped up, suddenly remembering who it was. Campion was underneath her, his mechanical wings crushed and crumpled due to their combined weight upon impact. The scar was fresh, had she caused that? Or the impact? Spike was starting to regain consciousness as well, and he was also startled when he saw who had cushioned their fall.

“Come on Twilight,” Spike said gesturing to her “we should leave now before he wakes up.”

“Hold on a second Spike,” Twilight said nosing Campion “I think he saved our lives.”

“Saved us?” Spike said snorting “you can’t be serious. He wants to kill us, remember? More importantly, he wants to kill you, and Equestria can’t survive without you.”

“I know,” Twilight said after pausing and looking down at Campion “I just want to make sure he is alright.”

“He wouldn’t do the same for you,” Spike said “and besides, we’re at war. Have you forgotten that?”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten,” Twilight said retorting and looking back towards Spike “but I just want to know…”

“Why I saved you?”

A voice from underneath her spoke. Campion got up, shaking off the mechanical wings and bracing himself for a fight. His eyes flashed, but Twilight thought she could see something for a second, but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

“Yes,” she said “among other things. I wanted too…”

“No time for questions,” Campion said he started walking, but he grimaced as a sharp pain from his left back leg shot up and made him aware that he wasn’t going to be dancing any time soon.

Twilight saw him wince in pain “Are you alright Campion?”

“I’m fine,” he grunted and gesturing with his horn “you and the dragon, into the trees, now!”

“What for…” Spike was about to ask, when the drone of more wings could be heard in the distance. Quietly and quickly, they all made it to the undergrowth.

“Deeper in,” Campion said his voice almost tickling Twilight’s ear he was so close behind her. He could hear him fighting the pain through his breathing, but she kept her mouth shut. Now wasn’t the time to ask if he was going to be alright.

“Alright,” Campion said after a few minutes “here’s okay, now get down and shut up.”

He pointed at Spike “Especially you.”

Spike looked as if he were about to protest, when a look from Twilight made him stay quiet. Down below, there were more security guards from the POW camp, that Twilight and Spike had escaped from. Twilight was puzzled, there, less than fifty feet away, was Campion’s perfect opportunity, to turn her back over to her captors. But here they all were, hiding behind a clump of ferns, and desperately trying to stay undetected. Had he suddenly had a change of heart? Or was it that he didn’t want any witnesses around when he finally got around to killing her? If that were the case, then she should just rush out and surrender to the guards right then and there. Sure it’d be difficult for her to break out of prison again, but if it happened once, it could happen again. If she could just find a way to distract her long enough…

“Don’t, even, think about it,” Campion whispered into her ear. He was laying on his belly next to her and had placed a hoof firmly in between her wings and right at the base of her neck. Twilight turned and looked back at him, but she inwardly shivered, his eyes were as cold as steel in a winter night, and there was murder in them. Twilight turned her head back to face the guards down in the clearing, and decided to wait and watch. It was a very long wait, three groups of guards, probed and watched the edge of the clearing, while a third first assessed than inspected the wreckage of Campion’s flight harness and took it back with them for repairs. Then the rest joined the inspection crew, before, they all lifted up into the sky and flew back to the prison. A minute later, they were beyond visual range. Twilight shook off Campion’s hoof in her back and got up.

“Well,” she said shaking off the dirt and sticks which had clung to her “I suppose we ought to…’

“Quiet,” Campion said his horn starting to glow dangerously with magic “the area is rigged, either with traps or sensors, I don’t know which, but we better not go down there if we don’t want to walk into a mine field.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s standard operating procedure for prison guards,” he said matter of factly “if something seems a miss, and you can’t have sensors or anything like that, you just mine the area and then leave. Saves a lot of time and effort.”

“I didn’t see any mines being laid,” Twilight said “perhaps they forgot?”

“Unlikely,” Campion said “we move, now. Deeper into the forest.”

“Why?”

“Because otherwise,” he said while gesturing to Spike “I kill the dragon and then you. I could always claim that you shot at me first, and I was only acting in self-defense. As a top ranking General, I have that privilege.”

“What do we do now?”

“We think,” Campion said “and dragon, get over here.”

“My name’s Spike,” Spike said haughtily “I have a name you know.”

“Like I care,” Campion said “now shut up while we talk.”

“You don’t have to be rude to him,” Twilight said coming quickly to Spike’s defense “he’s more than just a dragon, he’s a close friend of mine…”

“Ask me if I care,” Campion said again.

After a pause, Twilight realized that reason and logic would only get to Campion, not aversion. At a glance from Twilight, Spike knew that she understood how he felt and felt sorry for how he was being treated, but Spike sat down was content to stay silent.

Twilight then looked back at Campion “Thank you for not turning me into the prison guards.”

“It wasn’t my choice,” Campion snorted “don’t worry, there wasn’t anything noble in the deed. I didn’t want to be found just yet, and you would have given away my position. Candle Bright is going to have to give some hog-wash story about what happened to me, and I can’t contact her until I know what that story is…”

“You could send her a message,” Twilight reminded him.

“I could just alert the prison guards who were watching over you and be done with it,” Campion said “unless you don’t think that they can’t tell a message spell from a transfiguration one. Now, are you ready to actually make a good plan or what?”

“Okay,” Twilight said trying to change the subject “what’s your idea?”

“It’s four days to the closest settlement away from the prison,” Campion said “ we designed it that way, makes it difficult for convicts who’ve escaped to blend in back with the rest of society.”

“So what do we do to get there?”

“I first have to alert my superiors that I’m alright without compromising the fact that you escaped,” Campion said “and anyway, we can’t just waltz down in there until I know the situation. Also, we’re leaving the dragon.”

“What?” Spike said, protesting “Twilight, I…”

“Spike is a valuable asset to me and my friends,” Twilight interjected “more importantly, he’s my friend. I wouldn’t abandon him here in the wilderness.”

“I wasn’t talking about merely abandoning him,” Campion said his pointing his horn towards Spike “besides he knows too much.”

“Too much about what?” Twilight argued.

“Everything,” Campion “he can’t be trusted, and he’ll compromise the mission…”

“What mission?”

“The mission of getting out of here alive?” Campion snorted impatiently “he has to stay, he’ll only slow us down.”

“Twilight…” Spike began but Twilight cut him off.

“I can carry Spike if I have too,” Twilight said firmly “but I’m not leaving him, and that’s final.”

“Alright,” Campion said turning back to Twilight “then we come back to my original idea, and I kill both of you and leave you here. It won’t hurt my career any. Why don’t you try and convince me otherwise?”

“Firstly,” Twilight said “if you’d wanted to really kill us you would have done it already…”

“Point,” Campion said his eye slightly twitching.

“…and secondly,” Twilight said “Spike can send messages that can’t be detected. I’ve sent many to Princess Celestia…”

"Oh great,” Campion rolled his eyes “now the mission’s been compromised before it’s even started…”

“…before the war even started,” Twilight continued, ignoring Campion’s interruption “we can get a message to Candle Bright and she’ll know that it’s from you. Don’t you have a secret method of being able to let her know that it’s you and only you sending the message?”

“Of course I do,” Campion said “that was one of the first things she and I created when she became my adjutant. Verbal codes and more importantly, a cipher which only she and I know.”

“Well then,” Twilight said “what if we send her a message through Spike. That way, we can update her on our progress as we go along. Spike can make it pretty discreet when he wants it to be.”

“And where do you fit into all of this?” Campion asked eying her suspiciously.

“I’m the only one who knows the spell which can allow us to both send and receive messages,” Twilight said, playing a bluff “Spike is merely the courier…”

“What do you mean?”

“I say the spell,” Twilight said making up an explanation as she went. It wasn’t how it really worked of course, but if she was going to keep both her and Spike alive long enough to get out of this situation, she’d have to fib a bit. She then continued “then Spike breathes fire at the same time which causes the message to disintegrate. The spell causes the message to appear to whomever and wherever I want. Then when we want to receive a message, I’m notified but Spike actually receives the physical message…like a mailbox.”

Campion didn’t look convinced, but he wasn’t about to waste any more time arguing the point.

“Fine,” he said shrugging “we’ll send the bloody message. But isn’t it just convenient that you thought of this plan just so that both of you could stay alive?”

“It’s kind of the whole point,” Twilight said “besides, you said yourself that this forest has lots of dangerous creatures in it. Having a third pair of eyes can’t help keep us safe while we sleep.”

“Us?”

“Yes, us,” Twilight said stomping her hoof irritatedly, was there no end to this pony’s stubbornness? “I don’t think that Spike would be too happy if I didn’t come along.”

Campions face showed a mix of emotions as they rapidly crossed his face as he worked through the logic of her answer, anger, annoyance, and reluctance, but the desire to survive eventually won out.

“Fine,” he said jerking his head “but follow me, and keep up.”

Despite his limping Campion kept a steady pace. Clearly, Twilight thought, the Maretonian military discipline was strong in him. He didn’t utter one word of complaint, though she could clearly see the strain on his face as they hiked over rugged and sometimes swampy forest terrain. The glade where they had crashed was far behind them by the time dusk arrived. Campion raised a hoof, causing them to stop.

“What is it?” Twilight asked

“Standard procedure Twilight,” Campion said “unlike your soldiers, we never go running head first into something before checking it out first. It’s called reconnaissance, maybe you should tell your brother about it sometime…”

Twilight winced, she’d almost forgotten just how badly her brother Shining Armor was beaten at the Battle of Ponyville. It had taken place over three days with heavy losses on both sides, but in the end, Shining Armor had to gallop back to Canterlot with his tail tucked between his legs, and Campion was left standing alone, triumphant on the battlefield. Twilight never got the courage to ask Shining Armor about the details of that particular defeat. She was gone on a different mission from Celestia, when she’d heard about the battle. Then the Storming of Canterlot happened, while she was there, and she got to see first hoof the ruthless efficiency of the Maretonian military machine, once more, with Campion in command. As Campion looked, his eyes never missed a thing, darting back and forth, not missing a single detail, he gestured that they move forward.

Twilight found herself suddenly admiring Campion. She wondered how things might have turned out if she had met Campion before the war started. Shining Armor had told her once, how he and Campion were best friends at the Canterlot Military Academy, but she was too young to really understand why Campion was there in the first place. He was after all, only a year younger than Shining Armor, and yet, he outranked Shining Armor. Apparently he was smarter than her brother, which appealed to her. But she had a burning desire to find out why he hated her so much, and why in fact, he wanted to kill her. What had she done? To her knowledge, she hadn’t had any prior contact with Campion. Had she hurt his feelings or insulted him back before she had become the Princess of Friendship? What could she have possibly done to cause him to have such strong negative emotions towards her?

Campion must have sensed Twilight thinking about him, because he suddenly stopped “This looks safe enough,” he said breaking her thoughts and concentration “we’ll camp here for the night.”

“Can’t we have a fire?” Spike asked “I’m freezing!”

“Deal with it,” Campion said gruffly “unless you want to douse yourself in tasty sauce, tie yourself to a roasting pit, and cook yourself.”

Spike visibly grimaced “I think I’ll pass…”

“Good,” Campion said and then added “don’t worry, it’s understandable why you want a fire, but as we’ve said multiple times, there’s dangerous animals here. Fire only attracts them, and more importantly it’ll give our position away to the soldiers who want to find you.”

Spike was surprised. Why was Campion suddenly having this mood swing towards him? Was his lashing out earlier just been a result of Twilight being there? He shrugged “Okay,” he said “who’s staying up first?”

“I’ll be taking first watch,” Campion said laying down and working his foot gingerly “you two get some sleep. Spike you’ll be next, and then Twilight, you can have the dawn watch.”

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked “I’m not incompetent you know…”

Campion shot her a glare which sent shivers down her spine. She decided it would be best to go to sleep, anyway, she could use the rest and needed to recover her strength. But that nagging thing at the back of her mind kept her up. She tossed and turned trying to find a more comfortable position, but every time she did, she kept asking herself, why does he hate me? What did I do? The question kept mulling in her mind over and over again, what did I do? What did I do?

Spike sat up and eyed Campion, his head was slowly swiveling like a clock, trying to take in everything to establish what was normal and what wasn’t in his surroundings. He noticed Spike, but then he kept on his vigil “You should go to sleep dragon,” he said “we have a long day tomorrow.”

“I know that,” Spike said “but I can’t sleep. Anyway, my name’s not dragon, it’s Spike.”

Campion eyed him curiously, Spike saw…a warmth and kindness in his eyes, something he hadn’t noticed before and certainly not whenever he talked with Twilight.

“I apologize Spike,” Campion said “I’m also sorry for being rude to you earlier today. The pain in my leg was getting to me, and…well, I don’t like Twilight and whenever I’m around people I don’t like, I get a bit touchy.”

“Yeah,” Spike said “I noticed. Is your leg doing okay?”

“It’s a bit tender,” Campion said testing out his leg again “but I’ll manage.”

“Wow,” Spike said “you’re tough. If I were in your position, I’d be in bed for a week. I remember one time I broke a scale once, that was painful enough...”

“That’s what military training does to you,” Campion said “it makes you tough. You need to be tough in order to survive. Those that aren’t…well, they don’t make it back do they?”

Spike nodded “I guess so,” he said, then he asked “Campion, if I might be so bold, why are you fighting us?”

Campion looked up, surprised by the question “What do you mean?”

By this time, though she kept her eyes shut feigning sleep, Twilight eavesdropped on their conversation.

“I mean,” Spike said “what did we ever do to you? I mean, as far as I know Maretonia and Equestria have always been good friends. It wasn’t until General Winter Gust came that the war started. It just seems like the war began for no reason.”

Campion swallowed, he wasn’t about to pour his heart and soul out to Spike, they weren’t on that level yet, but he could give him part of the answer “We thought we were friends,” he said to Spike, like a teacher in a classroom “in fact, you’re right, for the longest time, we looked up to Equestria like a big brother or sister. But when we asked for help, it never came.”

“What do you mean?” Now it was Spike’s turn, he never kept up to date on politics, he was more interested in comic books and playing Ogres & Oubliettes than reading the news, that was Twilight’s area.

“Well,” Campion said “about ten years ago there was a great famine, part of it was caused by weather related conditions, the other was due to raiding parties coming over the border from Yakyakistan. We had sent many messages to Princess Celestia, the Duke and Duchess themselves even went to plead our case. Celestia said at the time that she couldn’t do anything about it. Two years after that, there was wide spread rebellion across Maretonia, mostly due to food riots, but a Great Sickness spread throughout the country and many ponies died. We still pleaded with Celestia hoping she would help us, but she didn’t do anything. Then General Winter Gust came from out of nowhere. It’s true that his ascension to power could have been a lot less violent, but he brought us back. That was four years ago. When he tried to reestablish relations with Equestria, Princess Celestia called him a tyrant and a dictator. Then instead of helping us, she formed and alliance with Yakyakistan.”

Spike groaned, so that’s what that whole party Pinkie Pie was trying to pull with those Yaks had been about. He facepalmed himself in recognition of what was finally going on. From Maretonia’s perspective, when Princess Celestia should have really sided with them, her fellow ponies, she instead sides with their enemies. Spike could understand completely why they felt the way they did. But he had to ask one more thing.

“So,” he asked “why do you hate Twilight?”

“I…” Campion began but he was interrupted by a howl and a pair of green glowing eyes which popped out of nowhere. Distracted by their conversation, Campion hadn’t noticed the Timberwolf which had snuck up on them. Twilight heard the howl, her eyes snapping open as she struggled to get up. The Timberwolf leaped up at her, Campion leapt towards it and tried delivering a spinning kick. But in his rush of adrenaline he’d completely forgotten his hurt leg, instead of pulling off an cool martial arts maneuver, his leg seized and he crumpled to the ground. Spike rushed to his side, waving his arms in the air and trying to look helpful, but he didn’t know if he actually was. By this time Twilight had fully gotten up but the Timberwolf was now attacking Spike. It swiped at him with a paw, battering him away like a fly causing him to slam against a tree and see stars. Twilight darted up and then came hurtling downwards like a thunderbolt, the Timberwolf saw it coming and swiped at her as she approached the lowest point in her dive, she only dodged by a hairbreadth but the claws managed somehow to catch hold of her left wing and pull her to the ground. She screamed in panic and terror, and was looking into the open slobbering jaws and green eyes, when it burst into shattered slivers and splinters of wood. Campion was there, his horn glowing a bright gold, panting very heavily, and his legs shaking, his body covered in sweat.

“Are you alright Twilight?” Spike asked rushing over as best he could to her side.

“I’m fine,” she said looking over at Campion “as for you, you don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine,” Campion panted his horn going back to its natural brown color “I’ve had worse."

“Hardly,” Twilight said shrugging Spike off and running over to Campion as he collapsed on the ground.

“Campion,” she asked concern written all over her face “Campion, are you alright?”

But Campion soon faded into the black of unconsciousness and her voice faded into obscurity.