Wrath of My Righteous Little Ponies

“Gr- Commander Green Garden!” Greenery heard Lightning’s voice snag as she called out. Turning she saw, surprisingly, the Wonderbolt commander trotting up to her walking next to the huge spiked armored form of Crème Brulee, his cold blue eyes shifting from Lightning to Greenery. Lightning saluted Greenery her face forced into a neutral express, but the scowl clear in her eyes. “The troops are ready to head out,” She clenched her teeth as if the next word were some foul food she was forced to swallow. “Commander Sword Strike has ordered us to take up hidden positions on the surrounding building.”

Crème left the mares, striding past to where his own troops a trio of ponies in dark gray barding. Greenery recognized Roseluck but not the other earth pony mare with her or the unicorn stallion. Crème spoke to them in a low tone that failed to reach any ears but theirs.

Greenery frowned, she hadn’t seen anything of Striker since his reassurance during her speech, let alone received any details of his intended strategy for the upcoming battle. “Where is Striker?”

Lighting’s eyes shifted from Crème’s turned back to Greenery and she scowled openly, “I have no idea. I’ve spent half my time looking for that lousy bastard, he just comes and goes however he bloody well pleases.”

Greenery’s frown deepened, “After this battle is over, consider my orders to report to Striker revoked.” Lightning didn’t offer a word of thanks, just rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Greenery continued, “So his intent is to attack their flank then? You won’t have the protection of the barricade and is could be devastating if they all turned on you.”

“We both know they won’t do that. Striker said they don’t have any pegasi in their ranks, our air superiority will be protection enough.” The scowl on Lightning’s face finally broke and the paladin looked eager for battle.

“Then proceed,” Greenery gave a nod then added, “And tell Cloudkicker she’s no longer grounded.”

Turing, Greenery didn’t see the scowl return to Lightning’s face or hear the scoff she gave before quickly trotting off to find her temporary commander. Greenery looked up and down the line of the barricade again, most of her troops had taken up their positions, the barricade looking even more flimsy with pony trying to take cover behind it. She saw Crème’s three armigers give him a salute and march down the line, Roseluck heading the opposite direction from her two companions passing Greenery as she moved to the end of the barricade.

“Everyone else is staying with their own orders,” Greenery commented almost conversationally as she moved next to Crème who had taken up his position behind the barricade. She looked down confirming that each of the paladin orders had taken up places on the line grouped with their own members. Only the guard ponies and her own Eagle Watch stood spread out filling whatever vacancies presented themselves.

“My ponies are unquestioningly loyal, I have no need to keep them close, Commander,” Crème replied, he kept his eyes forward and stood at attention. Greenery didn’t imagine telling him to be at ease would change much.

A hellknight would never lie, but that didn’t mean Greenery didn’t sense an evasiveness to his words. “That armor of yours is very distinct, I imagine there would be a lot of prestige for a cultist that managed to kill a hellknight.”

“The rabble will die trying,” Crème replied, but the growl in his voice betrayed more than just their shared hatred for the cultists.

“Commander!” Bon Bon called as she trotted quickly to Greenery’s side, “Everyone’s set. Your guards are waiting for you at the command position.”

Greenery frowned and shook her head looking distantly over the soon-to-be battlefield and wondered how could she be in some unique way important enough to warrant protection? Especially when the pony next to her willing painted a target on himself. “This is as good a command position as any. Tell the other to hold and await the enemy.”

“But the barricade is reinforced at the command position and we have to protect you.” Bon Bon clutched at her helmet almost pleading with Greenery.

Suddenly, Bon Bon protests were cut short as Crème turned her steely gaze on her. She gasped as if the air were being sucked from her lungs and shrank under those piercing eyes. “You have your orders.”

Bon Bon gave a last look at Greenery, but when the commander offered nothing to counter the hellknight Bon Bon saluted and dashed away, looking back anxiously at the pair. Greenery sighed shaking off the feeling of her fur standing on end, which it always did when ponies acted deferential to her. “You’re not suited from command, are you, ma’am.” Crème rumbled next to her.

“I can command just fine,” Greenery shot back steadying herself. “I just don’t like ponies treating me like I’m more important than anyone else, we should be protecting each other.”

“I’ll make sure you survive commander,” Crème vowed and Greenery shot him a glare that broke when she thought she saw some shimmer of glee behind his cold eyes. They stood silently for several second the air growing heavy between them when Crème finally broke the silence. “This wouldn’t have happened if they had let us call in devils for aid, the legions of hell know how to deal with this demonic scum.”

Greenery raised an eye skeptically at him, “You’re not so willing to summon them into your own country.”

“It is different here ma’am, the crusades would have ended at the first with the aid of the devils.”

Greenery shook her head, “Let the devils and demons war on their own planes, we don’t need them to bring their bloody conflict here.”

“At least they would have come, your celestial host has offered you little aid, ma’am.” Crème’s nod of respect came a little late that time as if he’d nearly forgotten his strict manners in their debate.

Greenery hesitated a moment her mind turning to the dead, to Caramel. “They… understand the importance of letting us fight our own battles. Unlike your devils, they have no desire to let our will stagnate and rule us afterward.” Greenery spat a little at the distasteful thoughts of the devils’ tyranny.

“The weak willed are lawless ma’am, they need to be subjugated, for the good of all.” Crème rumbled behind his helmet, his eyes distant and focused on his ideals.

Greenery opened her mouth to argue but didn’t. Instead, she shook her head, “Such a debate won’t provide much aid in battle. It’s been talked to death by ponies smarter than… well me anyway.”

Crème growled a little his cold eyes turning on her and stared into her as if they could cut through her. Greenery stared back meeting his cold blue eyes with her own cat-like eyes never blinking until Crème looked back to the battlefield, “I hope your resolve in battle is strong enough ma’am.”

“You'll find out Crème, soon enough,” Greenery promised her own eyes sweeping the battlefield.

“What are they doing? They just have us standing around here waiting. I thought the cultists were going to be here soon.” Blossomforth asked neither of her companions, her voice just edging on a whine that showed her age. Her new fine chain shirt felt like a lead weight on her back though she knew it was lighter than the plate barding they had given her before. She felt venerable, but no more than she had before. She clutched her new glaive under a wing and a crossbow hung from her back.

Dumb-Bell tugged at the collar of his shirt, they had taken the time to cut holes for his wings in it, but it was still tight around the collar. He too clutched his glaive in a wing and glanced back again to make sure the crossbow was still with him. “Maybe they had second thoughts and turned back.” He gave Blossomforth smile more sweet than reassuring, but his joke didn’t seem to help cute mare and it dropped from his face. He looked over at Wind Whistler who held her glaive in her mouth now after nicking herself several times trying to hold in in her light blue wings. She didn’t bother to try and speak past it, just shaking her head slightly, causing her faded pink bangs to sweep across her rolling purple eyes. Dumb-bell went quiet before Wind gave a short sharp jab towards Blossomforth who didn’t notice with her eyes glued to the ground. Stepping a little closer to Blossomforth he gave her a gentle nudge with his free wing and gave her a reassuring smile when she looked up this time. “It’ll be all, it’ll probably be over before we know it, just stick close to us B and you’ll be back with your family in no time.”

Blossomforth tried to return the assurances, but only managed a weak smile for a moment, before groaning, “How did I get into this mess?”

“Don’t blame me, I tried to talk you into escaping with me,” A voice said and suddenly there was a fourth pony in their group. One they all recognized with his black long coat, expensive hoof blades and notable lack of armor. Striker looked at the other two as if surprised and pointed a hoof at each in turn, “And you, and you. I just had to go trying to partner up with the three craziest pegasi I could find.” Striker shook his head.

“What are you doing here?” Blossomforth asked glaring angrily at Striker.

“Ya, I thought you were bailing out of this place.” Dumb-bell was joined by Wind Whistler in his glare at known self-serving pegasus.

“Ah well that was my intent, but I ended up getting drafted you might say.” Striker waved a hoof at Dumb-bell chuckling mirthlessly at his predicament.

Dumb-bell scoffed, “No way bro. They can’t draft ponies and if they did, they’d have given you some barding. What are you here for? Cus whatever it is, we’re not buying it.”

Striker chuckled at that but tried to look dejected as he spoke. “Afraid they can if they catch you stealing, and criminals aren’t entitled to the generosity afforded the virtuous volunteers like yourselves.”

Blossomforth’s eyes widened and her frown softened until her glare was gone and she giving Striker a sad pitying look. “That’s not fair,” She muttered softly, then cleared her throat and took a step towards Striker. “I’m sure we can convince Lightning Dust to give you something for protection, there were several sets of barding they gave use before theses ones you could use.”

Dumb-bell's glare faded at Blossomforth’s words and he too stepped forward and gave a nod, “Ya bro, they can’t send you out there naked.” Wind agreed with a silent nod, though her face didn’t grow very soft.

“Daww, you guys are sweet, but don’t worry about it,” Striker said coolly brushing down the white fur of his chest. “Barding would just slow me down.”

“All right troops were heading out!” Lightning voice broke over the group all four looked to see Lightning Dust and the rest of the Wonderbolts approaching. Striker seemed to instantly get smaller, his ears flopped down to his head and his eyes fell to the ground. Along with Lightning and Cloudkicker, there was Brightglow who’s wings were a hard yellow while her face was orange, and Starsong who’s mane was a rainbow of pink shades. They all wore the same light blue plate barding with a golden lightning bolt running down the chest.

They stopped in front of the volunteers and after looking them over a last time Lightning spoke. “We’re taking up position on the surrounding builds. Striker here is going to make sure we’re hidden, so once you are don’t move until you hear the signal.” Lightning didn’t bother referring to Striker as their commander for the mission, she knew a pony like him cared little for rank and she couldn’t stomach the idea of calling him it either. The way he was carrying himself, it would only bring down moral for her ponies to think someone like him was in charge.

“Stereotyping me a little aren’t you there, commander,” Striker joke in a little voice and smirked up at Lightning, she just snorted at him.

“You’ll be in pairs with my knights, stay close to your wing mare if you want to come out of this alive. Dumb you’re with Bright, Wind you’re with Star, and Blossom you’re with Cloud. Remember the first thing you do is hit them with a volley of crossbow fire then fly down and cut off their way of escape. If they get away, more will come. Alright, move out.” Lightning finished by spreading her wings and jumping up into the air followed by Striker.

Blossomforth gave a worried looked between her fellow volunteers before trotting over to stand next to Cloudkicker. Dumb-bell watched her go with a pained look a hoof moving to reach for her, but he stopped and withdrew his hoof looking at the ground as he trotted over to Brightglow, Wind Whistler was already next to Starsong.

Dumb-bell and Blossomforth took their glaive in mouth and along with their wing mares lept into the air. They flew swiftly from building to building Striker picking out a pair of them and arranging them into hiding places even as their ears twitched with the approaching sound of hooves on cobblestone.

Lightning found herself impressed with Striker’s abilities, it wasn’t just enough to be hidden in truth there was no real place to be unseen on the flat and thatched roofs of the surrounding low building. He did things like have Dumb-bell cover most of Bightglow’s body with his own and rolled his chain shirt up high so his brown fur blended with the wood of the roof. Leave snapped off crossbow bolts sticking up out of Starsong and Wind Whistler’s armor to make them look like shot down corpses. He even smeared Cloudkicker and Blossomforth with bright strikes of blood, how it had come from his clean white handkerchief she didn’t know.

Once they were set he would whisper something into the knight’s ear and move on to the next. Once they were all set he took Lightning to the eaves of a large manor that dominated the street, it was on of the few places that a pony could simply hide behind cover coiled and ready to pounce, too bad half of it had been crushed in the attack. Once she was secure he told her the signal, ‘when the crows take flight’ and before she could even understand what that meant he was gone. Breaking her own word, she craned around her hiding spot searching the sky and streets for him, but she couldn’t see him. Her eyes always quickly sliding over the corpse of a pegasus impaled on the weathervane above her being attended to silently by a few crows.