Project Induction

Interval

I awoke by being shaken it was Cresa she wanted me to get up *sigh*
“You can stop i'm awake.” i said
“Oh sorry Shade you sleep like a rock.” Cresa said
“Well not really i wake up instantly i just pretend i'm still asleep you should try it.” i said
“Ragna told me to wake you.” Cresa replied
“Oh really where is she?” i asked
“Behind you.” She responded
“Oh! Hey Ragna!” i said turning around and looking at Ragna’s glaring eyes
“Pretend you're still asleep...” Ragna said with a odd look in her eyes...
“Heh... yhe what you didn't know? Your normally good with that stuff...” i said
“*Sigh* Nevermind... Shade everypony is set up their managing their groups and they asked not to be disturbed sooo...” ragna said i cut her off
“Im in for a boring day awesome...”
“Yup you get to spend the whole day with us!” Cresa said
“Great i'm able to spend my last day with two angels!” i said. Not getting my humor they took on grim faces
“Hey Hey i didn't mean it like that! Look i probably won't die i have been through worse and i went through those without a medic imagine what i can do with Ragna!” i said. Cresa looked at Ragna for confirmation. Ragna nodded and smiled
“Well Shade what should we do now?” Ragna asked
“Hmmm i don't know maybe just be lazy for a day. Sharpen my weapon, double check my armor, maybe after Toraven is done i'll spar with him.” i said
“After yesterday i don't think you should...” Ragna said
“Nah he doesn't scare that easy he probably wants a chance to beat me up a bit.” i said
“Well shall we get started?” Cresa asked
“Yes yes we should” Ragna replied. We went about our day it was rather peaceful and fun playing with Cresa and Ragna before the wolves arrived.

And it is here that the story diverges to the Princesses point of view this is brief and not truly necessary for the story if you dislike this type of info please by all means IGNORE THIS SECTION it simply gives some slight info about the princess action during the time that shade sent the letter to the moment before the attack.

“Is something wrong Princess?” one of my guards asked
“Send out a message to all of our outposts in our vicinity. Tell them that i am recalling all of the guards immediately we need a strong military force now!” I commanded the guard
“Yes Princess!” he replied and galloped off
“You there!” i pointed to one of the guards nearby
“Yes Princess!” he responded
“Gather my private guard and tell them to assemble on me at once!” i said
“Right away Princess!” he replied and ran off into the side rooms of the castle. Within moments of issuing the order my personal guard was at my sides
“Princess may i ask what is wrong?” the leader of my private guard asked
“Yes you may... Shade has informed me that an army is headed towards us he is sacrificing his encampment to give us time to organize our forces.” i said.
“Farewell Shade...” one of my guard whispered
“I'll make sure he gets that. Now go hurry and form my army now!” I commanded
“Yes Princess!” They saluted and said in unison and dashed off. After a few hours of waiting my army was organized and ready with the outposts units falling in as soon as they arrived. I decided to address them.
“Now you are all loyal soldiers so i shall inform you on what i organized you all for! There is an army marching towards us and all that is standing in their way is a small town. The leader of this town Shade is sacrificing all of their lives to give us time to organize and meet the enemy forces in a choke point. Now onward my soldiers Don't let SHADES SACRIFICE GO IN VAIN!” My army cheered and my commanders gave the order to move out towards a useful choke point. As i turned to go back inside my personal guard formed up on me i stopped and decided to address all of them to test their loyalty...
“Now i know that all of you are loyal soldiers but i hope that you all understand that Shade is nothing but cannon fodder to me... and all of you are in the same position as him. Shade was merely an experiment gone wrong... you are the success that is why you are all at my side... if you have any opposition to this speak your minds now.” i said judging their loyalty a mare spoke up it was the same one that said farewell before...
“I don't think you should talk about Shade like that... he is sacrificing his life and the ones he cares about for us... he already sacrificed Lilith what more do you want before you give him at least some respect.” the ignorant bitch said
“Look i own shade and whatever you assume he is i can assure you he is not he is merely a lost dog that was never found a stray the only reason he stays is because he knows nothing else. He isn't bound by loyalty he is bound by his past the sooner he dies the better.” i said walking off
“Anypony else want to defend Shade?” i asked turning around to face my private guard.
“No Princess!” they said in unison
“Good... Now lets go meet up with our army.” i said walking off. My army only had a slight lead on me so i caught up rather quickly staying in the rear side of my forces and let the outposts soldiers group up around me. My army marched for two days and reached its full size in just one day.
“Princess we are at the proper choke point what shall we do now?!” one of my soldiers said
“Wait.” i replied
“B-But Princess we can still continue we have made good time the base might still be intact and they might still be alive!” he said
“Than let them die it will only benefit us either way. If they die out they take out a large portion of the enemy's force if they live they repelled the enemy its a win win situation.” i told the guard
“Understood Princess!!” he said and walked off. A few members of my guard looked uneasy about this decision
“Princess might i go on ahead and see if the base is still intact.” The bitch from before asked
“By “see if the base is still intact” you mean lend Shade your assistance than no...” i replied
“Princess that is not what i said!” she replied
“But it is what you meant!” i responded.
“How about this? All members of you that want to go aid Shade do so... but you will not be able to return to my guard nor will i acknowledge your existence if you show up again.” they looked uneasy but the mare still stood strong...
“Fair enough Princess.” she said walking away. Two other members of my guard followed the others stayed.
“Damn traitors.” the captain of my guard said under his breath.
“Thats what i like to hear!” i replied laughing. And so we waited for their army to show up on our horizon.