With Ponyville reclaimed, the equestrian forces now had a firm hold on the front lines against the invading horde however one last obstacle remained in the form of the dark portal that lied just beyond the everfree forest.

The horde flags that had once decorated the front gates of the fortified town had been replaced by the Guardians of Harmony and the royal banner of Canterlot while the magical barrier surrounding Twilights castle was deactivated which made moving the wounded troops through the portals back to Canterlot easier. The other soldiers to scoured the battlefield for their dead comrades and any equipment that was still useful and it wasn't long before the first mournful cries of his men could be heard.

"Open your eyes...please!" One of them shouted angrily with tears in his eyes as he held his friend that had been run through by a spear while another began wailing uncontrollably after finding his friend skewered by arrows before he was covered up and carted him away with the others. This was one of the many horrors of war that Pendragon had witnessed countless times yet that still wasn't enough to shield him from the guilt he felt for losing so many and for the rest of that afternoon he would hear the cries of the families those soldiers belonged to. Fathers, sons, sisters, mothers and daughters were all lost after that first battle.

"Sir Pendragon?" A soldier from Luna's night guard entered his tent holding a report for the princesses.

"We've finished tallying the casualties."

"Losses?"

"At least 115 dead and several hundred more wounded."

Pendragon gave a short sigh of relief as he signed the report and stepped out to have lunch with his men who began praising him for helping them claim back the town. Unlike most military officers, Pendragon would eat and sleep just as his men did to keep them from feeling jealous and to show that he never thought he was better than them and would even give them a few pointers during training but this did not sit well with the military officers from Canterlot as they thought it was bad form to mingle with low ranking soldiers and dine with them.

"Sir Pendragon, you must reconsider." Urged one of the other officers as they neared the mess hall.

"There are more suitable areas for you to dine."

"I'm not changing my mind." The knight replied sternly with a slight glare from his eyes.

"These men fought hard today, they deserve to know their efforts are appreciated and besides....fancy dining isn't my thing."

Without a second thought, Pendragon stepped into the mess hall and was greeted by the sound of laughter and cheering along with the smell of ale and hot food in the air.

"Just like home." He sighed nostalgically while grabbing some grub.

"Captain! Over here!" Called one of his lieutenants who was sharing a drink with some of the men.

For a while the soldiers laughed and chatted with one another while others began playing music and games as the atmosphere became more cheerful but despite all this, the nobles of Canterlot could not take any more and marched up to the captain.

"Sir Pendragon! Cease this behavior at once!" One of them shouted but Pendragon seemed to ignore them as he continued to drink.

"You are an officer in the princesses army so act like one!" Another spat when the stallion finally had enough and slammed his mug down with a loud thump.

"I've been an officer a lot longer than you, you pompus buckhead! So back off!!" The paladin cursed making them gasp in shock.

"What did you nobles do when the scourge invaded your world? NOTHING!!" As Pendragons voice rose, all eyes were suddenly turned on him and the other officers.

"I even warned you of the hordes invasion but you brushed it off as some excuse for me to gain more glory and now look at what's happened! Hundreds of citizens dead or missing, families are now homeless and starving while you all sit in your fancy houses wasting your money when it could be put to better use!!"

The nobles stood there completely stunned by Pendragons rage and rushed out of the tent with the soldiers cheering and laughing as they ran.

After filling his belly, Pendragon returned to his tent for a much needed rest and relaxation but that was not going to be the case when he walked in on Applejack who looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Sugarcube!" The mare sighed with relief as she wraped herself around his neck before kissing him.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked while looking at her.

"I was just worried when you didn't come back with us."

"Well I'm here now."

The couple spent the rest of the day snuggled up against each other before being called to Twilights castle for an urgent meeting after sunset. The ponies arrived at the designated time yet something seemed off; Twilight and the others had just returned from Canterlot saying they had received a similar invitation from Pendragon.

"I smell a setup." Said Rainbow Dash who began looking around for any suspicious characters when Lady Tyrande suddenly appeared with a hooded figure beside her.

"It is no trap young pegasus, our guest here called for this meeting." The priestess replied as the hooded stranger stepped forward and spoke in a strange accent that the paladin seemed to recognize.

"Ya all are wonderin' why I called ya here. it is because we have a common enemy."

"You mean Garrosh." Pendragon answered when the stranger revealed himself to be a creature with large tusks and ears followed by dark blue skin and a red mohawk with a skull painted on his face. Twilight and the others gasped in fright at the strange creature yet Pendragon seemed unphased by him, instead he offered a friendly handshake and a warm smile as he greeted the stranger.

"Vol'Jin of The Dark Spear Tribe. It's been too long old friend."

"De spirits told me you had changed ma friend but I didn't think it would be like dis." Vol'Jin said as he looked at the stallion standing before him but easily recognized the human he once was.

"Uh sugarcube? You wanna introduce us?" Asked Applejack who cautiously approached with her friends.

"Right. Everypony, meet Vol'jin. Chieftain of the Dark Spear Trolls."

"Spirits be wit ya." The troll said humbly with a bow before sitting down.

"And you are right old friend, it is about Hellscream."

"It's bad isn't it?"

Volj'jin nodded towards Pendragon while Applejack began to make a campfire and after a brief moment of silence, he began to tell the ponies of what was happening back on Azeroth.

"Garrosh has made enemies on all sides. After Thrall relinquished leadership of da Horde to him, he began making plans against de Alliance."

Using his magic, Vol'jin showed images of the hordes army marching on the forest of Ashenvale and other alliance territories as they plundered their resources while killing any who stood in their way. Not even innocent villagers were spared the hordes wrath.

"How horrible!" Fluttershy whimpered in fear as she continued to watch.

"Dis is nothing compared to what he has done!"

To show just how far Garrosh was willing to go, Vol'jin showed them a small city built near a swamp. Pendragon recognized it as the island of Theramore but something seemed to fill him with a sense of dread and that is when he saw it.

"What the...."

The paladins jaw dropped as a blimp carrying what looked like a massive bomb over the island came into view.

"What is that?!?" He stammered slightly.

"A bomb of dark magic. Garrosh had his smiths forge it for dis exact purpose." Volj'jin replied as they watched the bomb drop tpwards the unsuspecting citizens below and withing moments the entire island was suddenly engulfed in a giant explosion as the houses and walls surrounding the city were reduced to rubble. The sight of such devastation was enough to bring Twilight and her friends to tears but Pendragon felt nothing but rage.

"DAMN HIM!!" The stallion cursed as he smashed the fire with his bare hoof no longer wishing to see any more.

"How can Thrall leave such a monster in charge?!?"

"I've been wonderin' dat myself and I think it's because he had no choice."

"What do you mean?"

"In de war against da Lich King, Garrosh won many victories for da horde and in doing so he earned our peoples favor but dat pride has blinded him. I fear if he isn't stopped soon, both our worlds will suffer."

As the hour grew late, Vol'jin placed the hood of his cloak over him and was preparing to leave when he asked Pendragon one final question.

"When de time comes, will you stand with us?"

There was no need to think about his choice, the paladin simply nodded with a determined gaze towards the troll as he vanished into the shadows along with Lady Tyrande as his guide. All was quiet when the ponies returned home with troubling thoughts about what Garrosh would do to their world should he succeed in Azeroth especially Princess Twilight who was in the map room of her castle wondering what this war would do to all Equestria.

"Twilight?" A voice called to her when she turned to see Pendragon trotting through the door.

"Couldn't sleep either huh?"

"No." The princess admitted before returning her attention to the map.

"So what now?" She asked her friend who was fixated on Sweet Apple Acres.

"When we have pushed the horde out of our lands, I will return to Azeroth and join in the fight against Garrosh." Pendragon replied making sound easy but in truth it would be a far greater task than he could hope to accomplish. Thankfully he was not alone.

"Me and the rest of our friends will be there to help."

"And what if I said I wouldn't allow that?" The paladin jested with a smirk along with Twilight who gave off a slight giggle.

"Like you could stop us."

Pendragon let out a slight chuckle before looking towards the banner hanging above the doorway and remembered the victories he and his friends achieved against the scourge. With them by his side, he was sure victory against this new horde was certain.

"Thank you Twilight." He said humbly while placing a hoof on the princesses shoulder.

"For what?"

"For everything."

End.

Author's Note

Did it take long? Yes!

So sorry for the lack of updates bit things like this take time.