Ponies milled about in the main parade grounds, the armor of the EUP and the Crystal Guard gleaming in the early morning sun. Nervousness and an undercurrent of fear filtered through the air. I could smell it as easily as I could when Sunshine decided to cook early breakfasts.

I ground my teeth, thinking of her. She had woken up late in the night and she wasn’t in pain, despite the large cut in her shoulder. The pain was mantic, she wouldn’t be able to manifest her wings for at least a day, so she was effectively out of the coming assault. She had kissed me before I left for the assemblage, with a look and a whispered thought.

Come back to me, the same as she had told me back during the fight with Acerak. I had winked at her in response, reassuring her with a wide grin. Staring out at the milling soldiers, though, it didn’t bode well. I couldn’t blame them, though. War was something most of these ponies had never seen and weren’t prepared for.

I smiled ruefully at that. It seemed at times that the EUP had both great members and more often mediocre members. I had slipped past plenty without effort when I went to steal Twilight’s crown, and from what I had heard, Rainbow had been framed easily by someone dropping off a cake to a trio of guards not too long ago.

“You look worried,” Twilight said as she alighted on the elevated walkway with me.

“They haven’t seen nearly what we have,” I said. “They’re not ready for this.”

“They’ve faced small groups in the patrols," she countered.

“And I’ve run firefights in Warfare with my Dash,” I said. “Doesn’t mean I’m qualified to carry a firearm.”

She sighed. “Any suggestions?” she asked as the captains and sergeants called the ranks to order.

I looked down at the assembling ranks. I was about to speak when I heard a voice ring out over the silence.

“Look alive!” it shouted. “I’ve seen foals stand up straighter!” Azure walked up the ranks, Gleam Star and Shining Armor with her. Our friends trailed behind them slightly. The usual look of mirth was gone, replaced with a stern frown.

She took a spot with Gleam at the head of a column as Shining Armor climbed up to stand next to us.

“This is probably the hardest task I’ve ever assigned anypony to do,” he said, his voice carrying through the parade ground. “To march forth and face a foe that terrifies you. But think of your families, think of the families that live within these walls, and don’t flag or fail.

“Remember your training, and remember your oaths, and Celestia grace you all.”

“He has a simple earnestness about him,” I said. “I can see why Cadence fell for him.”

“That’s my B.B.B.F.F for you,” Twilight said. She sighed. “They don’t look any more enthused than before.”

I blinked a few times, trying to think of something to do to alleviate the worries of the soldiers when a strident voice began to sing.

Axes flash, broadsword swing,
Shining armor's piercing ring
Run we all with a polished shield,
Fight those bastards till they yield
Midnight mare and blood red roan,
Fight to keep this land your own
Sound the horn and call the cry,
How many of them can we make die?

I looked down to see Azure, her horn alight as her flute piped out a marching tune. Gleam joined in with her on the next verse.

Follow orders as you're told,
Make their yellow blood run cold
Fight until they all drop,
A force like ours is hard to stop!
Close your mind to stress and pain,
Fight till you're no longer sane
Let not one damn cur pass by,
How many of them can we make die?

I saw several of the more veteran soldiers join in midverse, including AJ, Jackie, Hot Shot, and RD. The Raritys and Fluttershys held back, and the Pinkies were just watching the growing voice with glee.

The Sirens joined in, and their gems began to glow, triggering the gems of the Elements my friends wore, causing light to leap forth and connect them to their twins.

Guard your walls and children well,
Send these bastards back to hell
We'll teach them the ways of war,
They won't come here any more
Use your shield and use your head,
Fight till every one is dead
Raise the flag up to the sky,
How many of them can we make die?

I found myself and Twilight singing with them as we winged our way down to join the vanguard as the standard was raised and the gates opened. We began marching down the road next to Shining Armor, the human Bearers all clad in the armor granted by the geodes. As I joined them, my armor appeared as well, and surprisingly, similar armor manifested around each of the Equestrian Bearers.

Azure’s clear voice rang out with the final verses as the sound of hooves thundered in the dawn air, echoed by two thousand pony soldiers.

Dawn has broke, the time has come,
Move your hooves to the marching drum
We'll win the war and pay the toll,
We'll fight as one in heart and soul
Midnight mare and blood red roan,
Fight to keep this land your own
Sound the horn and call the cry,
How many of them can we make die?

Axes flash, broadsword swing,
Shining armor's piercing ring
Run we all with polished shield,
Fight those bastards till they yield
Midnight mare and blood red roan,
Fight to keep this land your own
Sound the horn and call the cry,
How many of them can we make die?

I found Azure as we marched. Her cocksure grin was back as her flute sheathed itself again.

“You’ve done this before,” I said to the bard.

“Once or twice,” she said, her Foalksmill brogue thick with her laughter. “Soldiers are a stubborn lot more oft than not. Sometimes you just need t’ whip up the blood, make ‘em believe they can do anything.” She glanced at me. “Mighty fancy armor you got there.”

“Long story behind it,” I said.

“I’d love to hear it, we make it through this.” she said, flute sliding forth again to join the drummer in a piping march tune.

The march on the encampment had begun.

Author's Note

In case you want to hear the march...