The toll of this journey began to show itself more and more, not enough the loss of life and homes but now the quiet roads between battles, stress of never knowing when or where an attack might come was starting to wear on everyone...

I still wasn't welcome back with the main group of course but Dash though they questioned her choosing me over them still was and she relayed everything that was going on, small arguments and fights quickly broken up but the more this went on the worse things would get.

I was surprised that again the occasional mare would venture to our lone wagon whether encouraged by the Princess’s or by their own accord I didn't know, though I was sure the other stallions were doing their duty so how could I refuse?

Dash however made her feelings on the situation quite clear though she didn't try to stop them I guess she understood how important it was though she saw them off when we were done in no short order then coming into the wagon opening windows and sniffing around suspiciously like she didn't know what had just gone on rarely missing the opportunity to make a snarky comment.

Still she stayed with me and that was more than I could have hoped, Lyra too came by often, the two of them may not have seen exactly eye to eye but they seemed to trust each other. Several smaller villages and town we passed burned out and destroyed, a few small skirmishes with displaced goblins and small scouting parties easily defeated but it kept everyone on edge too as we neared the next big town of Baltimare.

Dash and I relaxed atop our wagon a lamp and map beside us and the stars above trying to guess what route Shining Armor might be planning.

"He's lucky he's Twilights brother or I'd give him a good kick right in the nu..."

"Dash..." I chuckled. "He's doing the best he can, give him a break."

"Humph..."

"Still we have to end this quickly..." I gently rubbed her slightly expanded belly. "Your all getting closer, it's dangerous you or the babies could get hurt..."

She rolled on top of me giving me a fierce kiss. "None of that, you won't let that happen..."

"But I can't..."

"We... I trust you, and they motivate us... Every mare in this army will fight to the death to give their unborn foals, all of the foals a life beyond..." She gestured the way we'd come from and toward Canterlot. "This..."

I held her close kissing her softly. "Ok, that’s what we'll do then, we'll kill that bitch and take it all back."

"Yeah! That’s what I like to hear... Wait..." Her face joyous a moment ago get serious looking at me.

"What?"

"What about you? If we... When we win what will you do? Go? S... Stay? Not that I want you around, just curious..." She blushed.

"Oh really...?" I kissed her again grabbing her muscular rump and squeezing it firmly. "Just used to regular sex maybe?"

"Maybe... I've kinda gotten used to you ok, it's not just anyone who can keep up with me you know?"

"Ok I know it, I'd certainly like to stay, see my foals grow... But I guess that will be up to the Princess’s."

"I guess..."

"It's ok Dash, one problem at a time right?"

"Right! Well here’s your first problem then, you've got a horny mare right beside you who needs some attention, what do you do?" She teased rubbing against me.

"Oh really? Well I think I have the cure for that..."

We both fucked and made love atop the wagon a strange mix of passion and lust, tender and rough. Her 'I love you I hate you' attitude was hard to get used to but honestly a huge turn-on as well, we fell asleep there entangled together for the moment trouble free...

The first horn of the morning a signal to begin preparations to get underway made for a lousy alarm clock, dash groaned covering her head with my shirt to block the sun while snuggling closer.

"Make them go away."

I chuckled rubbing her neck. "You can nap some more in the wagon..."

"Nope..." She wrapped her forelegs tighter around me. "I'm comfy right here."

I sighed and smiled craning my neck up to see the other wagons were almost ready I lined ours up well behind them as always and we were ready when the signal horn sounded to move out. It’s tough enough to navigate laying down let along with a sleepy and sexy pony laying on you, thankfully the road was fairly straight and by nine Dash was up and I could see and get dressed!

Two more days would see us at Baltimare, Dash's friends in the scouts laid out he plan for her and she for me. Baltimare hadn’t been a walled city but the goblins within had ravaged the nearby forest erecting an impressive twenty-five foot wall around most of the city, most. They'd cut corners in their construction using some of the buildings as filler and most of them were sturdier then the wall itself but further back where they'd cut through the 'poor' section of town there were several they'd used that seemed quite poorly built.

The plan was simple but should prove effective the main body of the army would begin an assault on the front gate while two elite forces would sneak around to the back, break through the weak points and catch them in a pincer maneuver. It was a solid plan though I would have right up alongside the wall to make sure both teams were covered, my range had expanded further even though it was a large city still not a problem.

The next two days were suspiciously quiet, I expected for us to encounter at least one patrol from the city but no sign. Nor could I detect anything within my sphere of influence though it had been proven that it certainly wasn't infallible, and sure enough as we approached the city my senses came up against a barrier. Chrysalis’s magic in a strange pattern of a dozen fifty-foot diameter globes spread around the city, some overlapping and some not. It made no sense but her chaotic nature was no surprise by this point.

If I'd had a say I would have held off the attack until we had more information about what was going on inside there, the scouts unfortunately couldn't get close there was a surprising amount of changelings buzzing around most concealed from me by the shields but visible to those watching.

We came around a bend clearing the woods and giving us our first clear view of the city, it was impressively large many of the buildings within taller even then the wall. What was missing was activity, usually goblins would be swarming the walls ready to defend but there was nothing... Maybe some small movement along the walls but from this distance it was hard to tell.

A city of this size might have held five to ten thousand ponies, I imagined at least as many if not more goblins as well but I couldn't sense... There! On the far side of the city just at the very edge of my senses pony life, as we got closer I was able to count about thirteen hundred ponies and... Ten of something else, they seemed familiar but I just couldn't tell, still it was the largest number of survivors we'd found yet and that elated me until I thought again of how many had been here and all across Equestria... Shaking off those morose thoughts I extended my protection to them though that stretched my ability’s nearly to their limits, I filled Dash in sending her galloping off to relay the news.

I lined up the wagons and waited trying to relax, I'd need every bit of energy I possessed by the end of today I was sure. Before too long I felt a pony break away from the main group heading my way I figured it was Dash returning but to my surprise it was Shining Armor and Cadence. I was confused a moment before remembering the Alicorns kept themselves shielded.

I hopped down bowing politely to them. "Shining Armor, Princess Cadence good to see you both. How can I help you?"

"Rainbow Dash said you had some information for us?" He asked brusquely but not overly hostile at least.

"Yes, she mentioned survivors?" Cadence asked eagerly.

"Of course..." I outlined what I could sense, the strange circles of Chrysalis’s magic and the survivors how many there were and their location."

Cadence looked hopeful but Armor retained his concerned look. "Very well, and Rainbow Dash said you thought we shouldn't attack?"

Dammit Dash, you’re going to get me in trouble one of these times... "I just said until we know more about these areas it might be wise to hold back..."

He thought a moment Cadence quiet beside him, now that I had a chance to look at her close up I could see she too was pregnant with signs of a slightly expanded belly. "I agree, but the rescue of the imprisoned must be our first priority agreed?"

"Yes."

"Then we shall go ahead with the feint but the rear force shall only reconnoiter, gather intel and retreat while you break through the far wall and release the prisoners escorting them to safety."

"I like this plan, I thought... Never mind."

"What?" He looked at me suspiciously again.

"I thought you were a bit too 'by the book', inflexible. I worried you might endanger some ponies for the greater good..." I sighed.

"I see..." His gaze softened somewhat. "Actually I'm glad you have such worries, I mean I've trained hard and had a little practice leading but this is all new and horrible territory for me too, and any mistakes I make..." Cadence leaned against him comfortingly making him smile. "It's good to know you have my back so to speak..."

"I do, don't worry about that."

He nodded and he and Cadence stepped back a moment whispering together before they turned back to me. "I'll go rally the troops then, let's save these ponies and find out what these bastards are up to."

"Sounds good, be careful."

He galloped off and I watched him a moment before turning to get ready and jumping slightly surprising myself as Cadence was still standing there.

"Princess! Did... Did you need something?"

She smiled shaking her head slightly. "I'm here to transport you to the other side of the city."

"Oh right! I suppose that would be quite a bit more convert then me just walking there like I planned..."

She giggled. "It will take a short while for Shiney to get everyone ready so if you need to prepare...?"

"Shiney?" I grinned.

"Oh!" She blushed slightly. "Just a pet name, please don't mention this..."

"No worries Princess, I'll just be a moment."

I got undressed and redressed in the wagon putting on my battle uniform just in case and emerged minutes later. "Congratulations by the way."

"Hmm?"

"The baby..."

"Oh! Thank you, with everything the way it is..." She sighed sitting heavily. "I almost wish we hadn’t succeeded..."

"Cadence..." I rubbed her back softly trying to comfort her. "I'll do all I can to protect you, all my mares and foals... Stallions too of course." I chuckled.

"Thank you, I hope it will be enough... Ooh..." She shivered as I caressed her.

I pulled my hand back quickly. "Sorry about that."

"No it's fine, it's been awhile since someone touched me... Shiney's so busy lately it's not his fault... It's just hard, so thank you..."

"Anytime..." She leaned over and kissed me softly but with a bit of heat behind it too, I caressed her soft body almost involuntarily a moment her soft sweet lips and intoxicating scent driving me mad but I gently pushed her away, I was already in enough trouble not to mention I'd hate to hurt Dash like that. I knew she was just lonely...

She sighed with a small smile. "Well we had best get going..." And leaning against me she teleported us.

And suddenly there was a massive wooden wall before us and about two hundred feet away was whatever building they had their captives held, not far of a distance but with that many ponies crossing it... Well hopefully the feint at the gates would draw all eyes to it.

"Thank you Princess, you'd better go."

"No, these ponies have been brutalized and imprisoned by these two legged creatures nothing like you of course but it might be best if you had me with you."

"But..."

"Shush... You'll keep me safe."

I knew better then to argue mares were no less headstrong then any woman, we waited quietly the prisoners strangely seemed to be unguarded so far as I could tell...

The horns sounded in the distance and the attack was underway, I found a small gap between the logs widening it slowly and carefully well aware of impacts on ponies so far away but nothing major, a few moments and I'd opened a wide enough hole for the two of us to wiggle through. Beyond the wall lay a dilapidated playground and past that a school it seems they were using as an ah-hoc prison. we moved carefully across the open space both of us on the lookout for anything or anyone watching but all was quiet...

I was keeping watch on the strange circles with my senses as we advanced but they too remained stationary though they now seemed to be expanding and contracting slightly, pulsing almost. One lay just on the other side of the school so I might be able to get a look at what was going on.

We approached the double doors without any challenge the windows in the door were shattered and a chain wrapped around them locked, not an issue for me though. I snapped a link and tried to quietly pull it out.

"This is too easy isn't it?" Cadence whispered.

"We're about to see..."

The majority of the prisoners seemed to be held in the gym but there were others scattered all over the school including the ten I couldn't identify, we approached the gym doors and it was quite quiet though we could hear the occasional whisper and cough within. We eased open the doors to a very dark room a few tiny torch lights here and there illuminating practically nothing.

"Who's there?" Came a faint whisper.

"Let me..." Cadence stepped forward her horn lighting up with a soft warm glow growing and growing revealing huddled groups of ponies of all kinds, young, old, Pegasus, Unicorn and Earth all looking fearfully toward the light.

"Do not fear ponies, we have come to recue you." Her soft whisper somehow magnified reaching all through the room.

"P... Princess Cadence? Is that you?" One of the older mares came forward squinting in the light.

"It is... I'm so sorry you've been imprisoned here for so long, it's been a hard journey and it's not over yet but for now we must get you out of here."

"But the others say we must stay... It's... It's our only chance of survival!"

"Others? What others?"

"The city elders and leaders... They all have separate rooms that they stay in for their loyal followers..."

"Oh brother..."

"What is it?"

"Sounds like a little amount of power going to some pony’s heads, making themselves out as rulers in their own prison..."

"That’s horrible!"

"Well... I guess we shouldn't judge."

"If they've perpetuated crimes against their fellow pony judged they will be! But that’s for later."

"Right, I'll round up the rest and send them here? You can keep the ones here calm, let them know the plan?"

"Very well, be careful."

"You too."

So I set out to each 'warlords' little fiefdom, the first was easy a small group of teachers holed up in the science lab. They needed little convincing to rejoin the others and of course the Princess. The next two wouldn’t even open their doors only caving in and cowering when I broke them down explaining several times to them that I wasn't here to hurt them but to save them, finally mentioning Princess Cadence got their attention and they rushed off to kiss up like good little sycophants.

The second last group was quite different, made up of a dozen very tough looking stallions they cordially invited me in and listened to me before attempting to jump me! Tough through they might be they had no idea who they were dealing with, I had to drop my protections on them and throw them around a bit so we understood each other. I send them limping off with a warning and if they tried anything with Cadence...

Shaking my head, I moved on to the last group, the ones I couldn't identify and when I found them I understood why. Griffons, I had 'sensed' one before but only once and it had been some time ago.

"Who are you, what do you want?" They growled suspiciously their talons and beaks making them quite formidable but they too looked thin and weak.

"I'm with the Equestria army, we're trying to get you all out while the main body distracts them at the front gate..."

"You have to pull them back!" One of them rushed up grasping my collar panicked. "Those things can't be stopped!"

"What things...?"

He gestured to an open window and from the third story view I could see one of the blank spots in my scenes, it looked like nothing more than a huge pile of goblin bodies. Corpses I assumed as they didn't move at all, there were hundreds and hundreds of them but why would they...

"What’s going on?" I asked but they had already fled out the door, I turned back just in time to see some of the goblins 'move' but it was wrong... They moved as one, as if joined together by invisible strings more and more of them lifting into a huge humanoid shape at least thirty feet tall! All at once their eyes shot open and the whole of them let out a moan that made me shiver ducked behind the windowsill peeking out. They... It? Turned and slowly began tromping towards the front gate I could feel the others doing the same.

This could be a problem... A fucking huge problem...

Author's Note

Hey I'm not dead! Lazy...? Well yes but not dead. I'll be finishing this story off before continuing with anything else, so regular...? ish? Updates. lol