Lunar Spartan

The whistling sound of the flaming ball stuck down into the water next to the griffons that were crossing to charge up into Trottingham. The siege of the final city occupied by the Crystals has now entered its fourth continuous day with no luck in securing a piece of land to help with the amphibious invasion. The reckless attempts in flying over to the city ended with the same failure many others tried in the past, even if they were told to not do such irresponsible acts. However, by the king's eyes, they were to be easily replaceable with emotion that is nothing more than dust as he sent another million to fight. Aniketos knew that to be true for more rushed out warriors were sent to him at his position only to be sent out like the rest. Again, he had lost command of what he was able to do, having to stay with the new commander at all times to be his 'bodyguard'. When he heard of such order he scoffed in his mind, having to forcefully accept or risk ruining the already shaky relationship between Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom. For now he sat on a stool, sharpening his kopis and dory with a smooth rock while the commander watched the siege continue to repeat itself.

The commander closed his telescope and placed it on the table with the map of his position and Trottingham. "Those damn ponies are keeping put there with no sign of budging." He slammed his claws down the table. "Why isn't this working!? We have much more troops to throw at them and yet we cannot gain a single plot of land!"

Aniketos blew on his blade, turning his attention to the commander. "They have the high ground, you should take account of such advantage they have. Along with having the beachfront covered with barricades and enchanted objects that erupt when stepped on."

"They are called land mines Spartan, and I am aware of their advantages they have against us. But it should not always repeat the same defeat we face wave after wave!" He grabbed the bottle of alcohol and drank out of it, throwing the now empty bottle along with the rest.

Are all Griffons drunks? "Aye, that is called insanity. Repeating the same action over and over again expecting different results to come forth." Aniketos stood up and sheathed his kopis. "I would have expected something different to occur in your battle strategy knowing you are able to witness all the bodies that are on the beach and floating in the water."

Another explosion made the commander flinch while the Spartan did not bat an eye. "I cannot understand how things such as this was how you were raised," the commander said.

"Overtime, you only get used to such things. In this world, I have met with much newer discoveries that had tested my composure in which I would break through. It is only natural I believe."

The commander breathed out, nodding to himself of whatever thoughts he had. "Alright, I have grown tired seeing the bodies continue to pile up, what would you recommend we do Spartan?"

Aniketos approached the table, looking at the map to see what could be done. Next to Trottingham was a tiny island right next to it. He looked up and stared out towards the distance, from there he saw that there was some of Sombra's troops there but is not as defended than the main island. He tapped his finger at the tiny island which the commander took note of. "There. We must gain control of that island so we can have a front to work with." He looked to the commander. "Doing so will reduce the casualties we are sustaining. And possibly be able to push through with more ease."

"I see," the commander spoke, looking at the island in the distance then back to the map. "Very well Spartan, since this is your strategy I believe you leading the charge will assure its capture."

"You wish for me to lead?" Aniketos asked, assuring he heard right.

"Yes, yes, I've grown tired anyway of all this. Go do what you must," said the commander.

The Spartan nodded and placed on his helmet and grabbed his dory and shield, making way out of the tent and down towards where the next wave of Griffons were waiting at for their departure. He approached the low-ranking commander. "I will be taking command of this wave, your commander's orders."

Aniketos had never seen someone run away so quickly which made him shake his head. He turned to the Griffons which looked already defeated knowing how their comrade were before being sent out to their doom. "Everyone into the boats and follow my lead! We are going for another target instead of that death trap," he said while jumping onto a boat with four other Griffons joining him. He watched the two row out from land and deeper into the waters, seeing the rest of the wave follow along just like he ordered. Once more the barrage coming from the catapults rained down upon them, the loud explosion almost being ear-deafening to the Spartan. He looked at the Griffons that were with him, looking far too young than the rest. "You, did you come from school?" He asked.

The griffon looked around him then pointed at himself, which he saw Aniketos nod to. "Y-yes. Fresh out of it too. Once I had completed what I needed to do I was escorted to the military camps. My friend Graxson here is the same."

Graxson noticed the Spartan turn his attention to him. "It is true. I wasn't able to refuse or protest against it knowing that I would have been killed if I did."

Aniketos nodded. He was not disappointed from what he heard knowing that their lives were much different than his own. What was there to criticize? Another explosion erupted, this time being awfully close to them. He saw all of them duck down while he remained as he is. "Come on, keep rowing, you do not want to remain a still target for the ponies." He turned around, seeing that they were slowly approaching the island he knew would assist the Griffons in obtaining some ground. He turned around and stood up having his dory and shield ready while watching the Crystal Ponies ready themselves as well, yelling at him. He jumped off the boat and into the water, the water being knee high for only a moment as he approached his first victim of the siege. He drove his dory straight through the pony's neck, pulling out after and blocking a spear drive to him with this shield.

His boat and two others with Griffons jumped off the boat and joined in the fight, both sides yelling at each other with fury. The echoes of metal clanged out as it made contact with the opposing sides, some following by death screams of the fallen. The charge of the Griffons made soon switched into one on one combat with the Crystals, five dying for every one pony killed. For the Crystals, once spears deemed to be inefficient, most switched to their hoof daggers and fought against the Griffons' long swords, axes, and hammers. For a lack of grip they made up with shear experience and agility, being able to combat against a bipedal race which most would agree had the advantage, along with having the fireballs behind them being fired up towards the gray clouds and down upon the Griffons. It would not be so easy to fight back, they knew, for their enemy's morale was high as the Spartan fought with them taking many ponies down by both his spear and shield, and once he had no spear his odd shaped sword.

Aniketos yelled out as he drove his dory straight through another pony, this time through the eye opening of the helmet. With no time to pull out, he quickly pulled out his kopis, slashing up at one that charged towards him in the process. He bashed one to his left with his shield and slashed down on another to the right. "Forward! March forward!" He yelled out, not flinching to another fireball crashing down near him, the burning hot debris that touched his skin not even making a reaction. The Griffons, now a half off the boats, yelled out following the Spartan's order, overwhelming the Crystals as they were overrun, being forced to move back more and more to have a fighting chance. Aniketos made a charge forward with his shield, bashing many away with the Griffons finishing them off as they followed. He slashed up, cutting the helmet of his next target and watching him collapse onto the ground. He followed his attack with a straight stab down to the body, twisting it to assure he was dead. The blade was pulled out and he watched many of the Griffons push forward against the remaining Crystals that continued to fight, some retreating off the island and swimming over to the fortified beachside of Trottingham.

He whipped off the blood off of a dead pony's body and sheathed his kopis, returning to another body and pulling out his dory which only half was pulled out of. "The dory always breaks in this world," he said to himself. Dropping the other half he returned forward, seeing a made staircase down underground. Making his way in, he saw much documents around next to the lit candles. Walking up to a table, he found the map of Trottingham with a full detail of what remained in the fortified city. He was not sure if he was lucky or it was stupidity for the enemy to have a map out of what they were defending, but it did not matter to him now for he knew their weak spot to enter the city. He made sure to have said location in memory before exiting back to the surface seeing much Griffons waiting for the next orders. He faced a group of Griffons, "All of you, maintain and hold this position, the rest of you return to the boats."

The many the followed him did so, avoiding the large holes that was made by the explosions and the dead bodies that laid around. Aniketos watched the next wave of Griffons beginning to approach the island he was one, this time with the commander that he was with many minutes ago. Hopping on the boat he noticed that there were different Griffons with him besides Graxson. Most likely his friend had perished in the small battle that was just fought for. Again the boats were floating in the water, the splash of the fireballs crashing down onto the water creating a momentary shower for the Griffons. Soon enough, the barrage of magic bolts were being fired down upon all that were with the Spartan. He held his shield in front of himself, acting as a shield for those on his boat listening to the pings that it rang out, his arm feeling some dents being formed adding on to the battle-damaged shield. While most armor would have been pierced, his was able to be resistant to such things with the exception of damage coming from physical contact.

To his left he watched much Griffons fly up into the air after being hit, the water following with them up then back down into the water. He returned his attention forward seeing that the land was close enough for him to take foot on. On this day, I go to Elysium, Aniketos thought in his mind, moving quickly off the boat and submerging his feet in the red water for only a moment as he charged up the beachside along with other Griffons in the wave he was in. A large cry of war shouts could be heard in the very distance of where the battle was, possibly far enough that it reaches the known world. Around the Spartan the many bodies of Griffons from previous charges were littered all around, newer ones joining the pile from being hit by the magic bolts from the unicorns and the fire balls making contact to the ground and shooting around debris. An explosion from the side of him made him collapse onto a knee but he quickly recovered and continued forward, his ears hearing nothing but a single high-pitched sound. He took cover behind a large boulder along with others that survived along with him. Looking back he watched many still charge up or find cover behind anything. "Still alive Graxson?" Aniketos spoke out.

"Surprisingly, Spartan," he replied.

Aniketos chuckled a bit and peaked his head out to see if there was any openings. He spotted a gate that was not too far ahead with sharp spun wires surrounding the path towards it. Without notice his helmet was hit by a bolt, making him collapse onto the ground. The large pinging sound echoed around the Griffons seeing the strange creature that brought them hope collapse to the ground. They slightly relaxed though after seeing him slowly rise back up and get back into cover.

"Ya lucky bastard, I say." One of the griffons spoke out.

Aniketos pulled off his helmet and saw the large black dent with smoke still rising from it. "If that came from Celestia herself, I would surely be dead."

"Celestia's is much worse than this?" Graxson asked.

The Spartan placed his helmet back on. "Aye, her magic pierced my armor and struck my heart. Was lucky to survive from it." He noticed much of the Griffons cringe a bit from thinking about it. "I will tell the story later, right now we must keep pushing." Looking back to the beach he watched another wave of Griffons approaching.

"We'll all die if we go!"

"Aye, best if we stay here!"

Aniketos scoffed. "Those who are cowards will stay here. Those that will face death in its eyes, follow my arse." He quickly maneuvered away from the boulder and continued his charge forward, feeling the fire ball debris fly around him as it crashed down, some cutting skin on his arms and legs. Still he moved ahead, seeing the gate grow much closer with each step. He was not sure if it was luck that he happened to reach this far in the charge, or if it was the opposing side that was running out of energy to keep on going, whatever it was, he made it escaping death once more. Approaching the gate, he pulled out his kopis and used it to slice away the wiring that was in his way. Finally he was out of much of the range of the defenders, charging the gate with his shield over and over to force it open. More Griffons made their way to where he was, pushing and banging on the gate to make it go their way.

Behind the gate, much of the Crystals prepared their ground in the oncoming charge of griffons. They lined up with shields and spears lined up and ready to take the beating. The banging frightened some stallions along with their commanders telling all to remain steady and hold their ground. They knew this was it. For the battle of Trottingham was their last remaining ground that was crucial to hold, otherwise their enemy would have a clear path to their beloved empire and create havoc to their ponies back home. Much behind the dozens of ponies, Sotekina stood idly watching the gate begin to give in with each push. He was sent here for a reason by Sombra, to kill his Spartan counterpart in order to destroy the Griffon's morale and begin to take back what was lost. The last time he saw Aniketos was when the fort was taken, showing his own army that would not be beaten easily, proving it was it was the fourth day of battle. For all he cared was not the battle, but his own blade entering flesh of his own.

Finally with a final push, the gate opened up widely allowing the gathered up and angry Griffons to charge forward into the city, all colliding against the wall of metal. The line held down by the Crystals refused to budge an inch, both sides getting kills that would only follow by another to replace the fallen.

"Push! Push forward! No mercy!" Aniketos yelled out, getting a chant from the Griffons as a response. He shoved himself and his shield forward, doing his best to budge the still Phalanx the enemy had made. In his thoughts, the idea of continuing this assault in this condition would be deemed not successful, he being an expert in such tactical ways. He knew if this continued then he and the Griffons would eventually be pushed back and defeated, losing the only morale everyone had left in them. Then it hit him, for if the front cannot be moved, any other strike will break the formation and dissolve the Phalanx. "Fly! Fly and scatter in the air!" He yelled out. "I order all who wish to do so to fly!"

He noticed the rush of air blowing down onto him, seeing most take air and move ahead of the line taking out those behind and others flying farther into the city. This was what the Griffons were waiting for, to gain full control of what they were capable of doing. Aniketos moved back through those who remained on the ground, letting them handle the line while he pushed back out to the beachside. The barrage of magic bolts were no longer a threat, along with the fireballs ceasing as well. "Fly!" He yelled out to the next wave. Seeing the ripped Griffon flag on the ground he grabbed it up and waved it high.

Towards the Griffon campsite, the commander remained seated and without any hope knowing well enough that the battle would not be won even with the Spartan on their side. "Commander," a griffon called out gaining his attention.

He sighed and stood. "What is it?"

The griffon pointed towards the beachside which gained the commander's attention. There he saw the Spartan waving the flag along with the Griffons approaching him taking flight. "My goodness," he breathed out, laughing out loudly after. "You! Tell everyone to take flight towards the city! We have a chance of winning after all!"

"Yes sir!" The griffon replied, moving out after.

Aniketos stopped his waving as he watched the dozens of Griffons in the air come closer towards Trottingham, the sight making him smirk to the closing hours of the Griffon Campaign. His fight was not over however, for lowering his defense he felt a dory stabbing through his armor and through his lower abdomen. He shouted out from being struck, looking down and seeing the tip of the dory red and having slow drips of his blood.

"Celebration before the end of a battle should not be done." Sotekina spoke, pulling out his kopis. "All Spartans know to remain prepared until it is finally over."

Aniketos fell on one knee, pulling out the bloody dory from him. Not a wise decision to do for he would bleed out more, but he would not be in a great fighting position. "Aye, thou can speak of my influence being altered by those around I."

"Need not to speak anymore my weak self, for you will now cease to exist!" Sotekina swung down, which was blocked by Aniketos' shield.

The Spartan stood back up, removing his blue cloak in the process while blocking or dodging the strikes his own shadow committed. "Brother against brother, a fight even the Athens would be afraid witnessing." He counted back with his kopis, the shadow Spartan being on the defensive this time. He shoved him back, cutting the shadow's arm in the process hearing his own self yell out. Again he fell to his knees, feeling the blood run down his leg.

"It is pointless to continue fighting. Accept your fate, accept your death," said Sotekina.

Aniketos stood back up. "You should know better, that we Spartans never surrender. It is our law!" He struck down with his kopis, the blade being blocked by the shadow Spartan's shield. Sotekina retaliated by swinging back, which Aniketos dodged swiftly.

Between the two fought on, the echoes of their blades being covered by the battle that was in progress in the city. Both did not worry, for their true rival was standing in front of them with equal skill. Their combat synced with one another, from the side looking as if they were dancing with each other with their weapons instead of having the intent of killing. Few of the Griffons that saw their Spartan fighting did not fly down to help, knowing from the stories he has spoken about through those that retell it know that there was honor and much others on the line with the two Spartans fighting each other.

Aniketos, with a large strike from his kopis, swung down towards the wrist of Sotekina and severed it from his body, the hand and shield falling down to the ground. The shadow Spartan yelled out and continued to swing his kopis, only for that to be cut off as well with a bash of the shield following. Aniketos brought down his shield onto the legs of his own clone, hearing him scream in anger as he was now unable to stand, instead sitting up with no way of fighting back. He picked up the other kopis from the ground and returned back to the defeated Spartan, removing his helmet and seeing his own face, blood running down from the top of the head.

"A fight that determined who the better Spartan was in the world…" Sotekina spoke.

Aniketos removed his helmet as well, placing it down with his shield. "Even though you were my adversary, you still fought with honor."

Sotekina laughed. "Don't give me sympathy, Spartan. Return me to where I belong."

"Selene guide you," he replied, gripping both blades and cutting the head of his own clone. He watched the body fall to the ground along with the head falling to the side of it, blood pooling on the now red sand. He watched the body soon disappear and change into an aura of light that surrounded Aniketos as if a part of him had returned back into himself. This had been true, for the wound he received was no longer there, only a scar remained. "Spartan," the commander called out, gaining his attention.

"Commander, surprised to see you on the battlefield," said Aniketos, sheathing his own kopis, the other having vanished.

"Well there is no need to be far when now everything is coming to a close." He put out his claw, which the Spartan grabbed for a hand or claw shake. "Will you not be remaining here for the celebration once the battle has ended?"

"Aye, I must return to Equestria and assist them in finishing off their war. My assistance here is now complete."

"I see. Everyone here is thankful for your assistance Spartan," he said," From what I've heard they are marching towards the Crystal Empire."

"Really?" Aniketos asked, seeing a nod in return. "That is great news. The war will soon be over."

"And what would you be doing once it is completely over?"

"I?" He replied, the thought of Luna entering his mind. "I believe I will be a married stallion."