Starlight Rising

Three days had passed since Starlight began training the new unicorn soldiers and the morning sun woke up Starlight and Spike. While Spike was slow to rise Starlight jumped out of her bed and immediately began fixing them breakfast. She fixed an extra large meal as she knew she would need it. Spike was still unsure on whether Starlight should do this or not. He asked, "Starlight, are you sure you should do this? Are you sure you shouldn't just get in touch with Shining Armor to handle this."

Starlight glared at him, "Spike, I have been training with the soldiers and I am doing this. I have this feeling that it may very well be my destiny to do this, that the whole fate of Equestria rests on whether I lead the troops into battle."

Over the past three days Spike had seen a change in Starlight, a change that he did not particularly care for. He said, "Starlight, you don't even seem to be the same pony anymore. Just a few days ago you were kind and caring, now it seems like all you care about is killing Chrysalis and fulfilling this destiny you keep talking about." He looked her in the eye and asked, "What is this destiny you keep talking about? I have a feeling it is something much bigger than simply taking control of the new army you are creating."

Starlight replied, "Spike, I just have a feeling it will lead to a whole lot more for me. It could be taking control of the new army or it might be something else. Like I said, this nagging voice in my head is saying that the fate of Equestria hinges on this and perhaps my own fate rests on it too."

Spike realized that Starlight was not going to reveal any details on this and began to eat his breakfast. While he was eating his rather slowly, Starlight was devouring her's. It was not long until she finished it and got into her armor. He gave her a nervous look and asked, "But Starlight, what if you were to die in battle?"

Starlight replied, "If I do, I do. As long as we can get the princesses freed that is all that matters. After all, if they remain captive Equestria could collapse. It could fall to Chrysalis or some other foe."

Spike asked, "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to come too?"

Starlight replied, "Spike, a battle is no place for a baby dragon. I want you to stay here and hope for the best." Starlight headed towards the door and continued, "Now I must get going. I do not want to be late in getting us off to do this. See you later."

As Starlight headed out Spike couldn't help but worry yet at the same time he couldn't help but wonder what he had truly gotten himself into. He wondered what his role would be if Starlight were to succeed and take over the new military. He wondered if he would still be an assistant or if he would be more of an errand boy and he still wondered what the whole "it might be something else" if she succeeded. He wondered if she knew something that nopony else did.

When Starlight arrived at the base the unicorn soldiers were ready to go. One of them asked, "Starlight, so how are we going to do this? Are we going to march to the wastes from here or what?"

Starlight replied, "No soldier, we will not. We will be taking a private train from here to Dodge Junction where we will refresh and refuel. After that we will march southwards into the wastes and attack Chrysalis's cave." She pointed her hoof towards the train station and continued, "Alright troops, let's get going. The train is waiting."

They headed to the train station and got on board. While Starlight was full of confidence and her troops did have confidence in her, a few couldn't help but wonder if dealing with the changelings would be as easy as she claimed given that the replicas she made did not shoot out ooze. A few even felt like they were headed to their doom.

It was a bit after noon when they arrived in Dodge Junction and disembarked from the train. Ponies were giving them odd looks as they headed down main street towards Cherry Hills Ranch.

Starlight ordered her troops to wait back a ways while she headed into the farm where she was greeted by Cherry Jubilee. She had a shocked look when she saw a pink unicorn mare in armor approaching her. She nervously asked, "Hi, what can I do you for?"

Starlight replied, "Ma'am, before I tell you that I need to see if you can keep a secret."

Cherry said, "Well yeah, what is it."

Starlight replied, "I have tried my best to keep this secret from civilians but in this case I can't. A few days ago Queen Chrysalis and her changeling army attacked Canterlot. They took Princess Celestia and Princess Luna captive and I am leading an army into the wastes to free them. I am wondering if my troops could fuel up before we start our long march south."

Cherry had a stunned look on her face. She asked, "Seriously, the princesses were abducted and you're the one leading the rescue mission?"

Starlight replied, "Yes, I am. I am Celestia's protege, Starlight Glimmer and given that I have knowledge in battle tactics, I decided I would be the one to free them."

While she did have a fair amount of cherries readily available to eat, she was not counting on an army of 100 showing up. Cherry said, "Well I really don't have enough cherries ready to eat."

Starlight looked around and saw that there were plenty of ripe cherries that had yet to be harvested. She levitated one off a tree and ate it. She suggested, "Well my troops and I could always levitate the cherries off that we would eat."

Cherry replied, "You know, I can't afford to just feed your army. I do have to make a living."

Starlight suggested, "Well once I free the princesses and let them know about this I'm sure Celestia will make sure you are reimbursed."

Cheery looked outside the gate at the hungry army. She replied, "Oh alright. Come on in boys, y'all look hungry."

The troops rushed in and began to remove the cherries from the trees and eat them. While she knew it was important that the princesses be saved, she couldn't help but scowl as the hungry unicorns were starting to eat her out of house and home. After ten minutes of scarfing down cherries, Starlight yelled, "Stop! That should be enough."

The troops stopped despite still being hungry. One of them replied, "Starlight, I know you said to stop but we're still hungry."

Starlight replied, "Look, as we journey south out of the desert there is one small area where there is vegetation before we reach the wastes. We will fill up more there. Besides, I don't want us eating Miss Jubilee's entire crop."

Cherry added, "I would certainly hope not. I do have to make a living."

Starlight replied, "Don't worry, I'll see to it that you are reimbursed. I am Celestia's protege and after freeing her and Princess Luna, chances are I will be more than that and can arrange it much more easily."

Starlight was beginning to feel like they had overstayed their welcome with the way Cherry had been mentioning having to make a living. She yelled, "Alright troops. Let's get going, it is a long march to the wastes."

Starlight headed towards the ranch's exit, followed by her soldiers and headed south. Again, like they did when Starlight first arrived, the ponies in town gave her and her army strange looks. While they were not nervous given that the town was not attacked, they still couldn't help but wonder why an army would march into town.