Fall of Sombra

The mountains of Unicorn Ridge. Once, a nice place for families to have vacations, or to stop on the way to Vanhoover or Tall Tale. Now it was nothing but the furthest southern border of the tyrannical King Sombra. To act as a deterrent against further expansion along the rocky terrain, three divisions of Earth pony guards were deployed along the hundred mile expanse of Faust damned land. But even though earth ponies were notorious for being the strongest and most durable of the three tribes, winter bows down to no one.

The swirling winds dampened most if not all of the soft spoken words shared by friends. "Dammit Braeburn get over here!" But the sudden yell of action by one's superiors isn't what one would call soft spoken.

"Yes sir! Star! Am ah' clear?!" Braeburn yelled out to his partner.

His partner a gray coated earth pony looked over the edge of the hastily built barricade. "I can't see a damn thing in this mess! Where's a bucking unicorn or pegasus when you need em huh?" Before he could complain anymore his head was thrown back as an arrow pierced his helmet killing him.

Braeburn heard the crack. "Star! are ya there partner? Cap! Ah' think Star's been hit!"

Braeburn couldn't see it but he could feel the Captain's anger. "Cow manure! ALRIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS! HERE THEY COME AGAIN! ARROWS AT THE READY!" Braeburn grabbed a bow magazine from his dead partner's bag and loaded his turret. The Crossbow Turret, developed by a tag team effort of a Trixie Lulamoon and Twilight Sparkle, required a team of at least two ponies to operate safely. The full team consisted a loader, an aimer and shooter, a main body transporter and a foundation transporter.

Braeburn, like many other crossbow turret chiefs in his section, was operating on an extremely short staff. And now like few others was now all alone. Of the ten turrets deployed alongside him only one had a full crew. As Braeburn latched the magazine in place he pulled back the loader setting the first of twenty five arrows in place to be fired. Now he waited. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow pull something back. Only his hardened reflexes saved his life as he dodged an arrow. With a scream of rage he twisted his turret towards the offender and pulled the trigger. Like a bolt of lightning the arrow struck true. As soon as the conscripted pony fell the cry of war echoed up the mountain side. "HERE THEY COME!" The captain screamed. "UNLEASH TATARUS!" With that order arrows flew from the respective turrets and into the advancing army. Braeburn himself acted as his turret's whole crew. Loading, moving, aiming, firing, unloading all while under fire.

Now while under normal circumstances that wouldn't be a big deal. But the one defect the Crossbow turret had was it's lack of effectiveness in cold temperatures. Meaning that it tended to freeze in operation. But with an earth stallion with the background like Braeburn. His strength just broke the ice that normally would have caused the machine to jam. His ability to do all the tasks with a timely effectiveness shown upon the battlefield. As the approaching army neared the trenches that Celestia's army used for cover there was a sisable bulge where Braeburn and his turret was. Even when the call for swords was issued he still continued to fire his turret upon the invading army. His focus was cut when the call that made even the most drilled ponies falter was called. "SAMBRA!" That call was meant for any deployment of soldiers in the sights of the tyrannical king himself. And if the he was coming there would be no retreat. Not even surender was an option.

With icy determination in his blood he hefted the turret off the rotator link and shouted "PULL BACK! AH'LL COVER YA'!" The remaining Earth Pony Guards didn't need to be told again. Even the captain obeyed without question. Like a flood of flesh the remaining guards both the wounded and living made a mass retreat to the top of the pass. Braeburn followed as he continued to fire his turret down upon the army. As his comrades made a break across the wooden planks to the evacuation airship, stationed on top the mountain pass for the wounded and supplies, Braeburn stood on top of the highest ridge and continued to fire down at the advancing army, who now had to go up the mountain pass single file due to the pass. When he ran out of arrows he hefted the contraction in the air and threw it down at them. Because visibility was virtually zero he only knew he hit something when he heard the screams of pain. With one last look at the retreating airship he pulled out his sword and turned back to the path that the army was using. He grimaced as the screams of thousands of ponies carried up to him.

Then, like a shadow, a figure emerged from the swirling snow. Like an omen the mountain became still. Behind him, thousands of ponies, each wearing a faceless mask, followed chanting his name like he was some god. Braeburn now stood against very devil himself. King Sombra. Braeburn hunched his shoulders low and brought up his sword up expecting an attack as the king neared.

Sombra gave him a bone chilling smile. "I will admit... Even when defeat is certain you ponies and your beliefs always manage to impress me. Before you die you can find solace that I will honor such a selfless... yet pointless act. He started to chuckle. "If you would be so kind as to remove your helmet... I like to witness the face of those who I kill." When Braeburn made no move Sombra's smile vanished. "You dare ignore a king?" He asked as his horn ignited.

"Ah' don't see no king around these parts sir... Just a sad pony compensatin' fer' somthin'." Braeburn said mockingly.

Sombra growled. "I will kill you slowly for that."

Braeburn smiled. "Good, more time fer' me t' kill you then..." He leaned back on his rear hooves.

With a shout of rage Sombra launched himself at the earth pony just as Braeburn launched himself at the evil king. There was a scream of pain before the screaming wind returned two fold. Half buried in the snow was a golden helmet cracked in two. Before it a golden clad hoof attached to a blood covered sword. A shadow moved over it. "I will give you credit. Your family has made a habit of being the only ones to deliver actual injuries to me..." The shadow was joined by another . "Gather his body and send it to them as a thank you...then order the attack. Our path is open once again." With that final order the shadow faded into nothing as the snow began to cover the helmet.