POV: General Varian

North Hoofton village

Varian watches as the legions finish repairing the bridge the ponies seem to have retreated across the day before. their bodies still lying around, most thrown to the side to let the legionnaires tread on the path uninterrupted. The engineers and carpenters making sure the bridge would hold the weight of men crossing over it in full armor. While they work the legionnaires rest for however long this will take. While the cavalry makes sure nobody sneaks up behind them.

"Engineers, Is the bridge safe to cross?"

"Well the bridge appears old but we managed to use some timber from the village structures and a nearby tree to re-enforce the structure so that it should be safe to cross now. Though I would exercise caution with crossing it, since this bridge would not have been meant for many of the equines to have been crossing at the same time." The engineer states, as he walks up to the general.

"Hmm Very well. Tell the third legion to begin construction of a second bridge, while the cavalry goes ahead on the bridge to screen and scout While the rest of us cross the bridge. No need to ford the river."

"Aye sir, Ill tell the third legion to get their axes out." The engineer states as he walks off to the centurion of the third legion, while the cavalry captain, being close by, starts assembling his men to cross.

The cavalry begin to slowly cross the bridge, Taking thirty men on horses at a time to cross, who all spread out in case of an ambush that would never come. Meanwhile the third legion start spreading out towards the forest edge to cut down enough lumber to create a simple bridge. Gathering their axes and shovels from their equipment and leaving the rest with the army to let them travel lighter.

"Once the cavalry are finished crossing have the second legion cross after them, then the first. The second should stay near the bridge until the rest of us have crossed along with the auxiliaries and engineers. Then we shall head out towards 'Hoofton'."

Fifteen minutes later

Cavalry Auxiliaries across the bridge

The cavalry gallop across the farmland towards the coastal town. Having spotted it minutes into their march along the roads. The cavalry spread out, taking in every detail of the landscape. Seeing many flying ponies in the sky spot them and retreat back to the town. The cavalry press on, halting only when they surround the town at a reasonable distance to not get shot at. Many men see panicked ponies atop the walls and the gates close the second they were spotted.

"Seems they don't appreciate our visit." The Centurion states to his compatriots. Causing a few chuckles. "Alright spread out men, Make sure there's no ambushes, and set a group of men to the south just in case any re-enforcements arrive."

"Sir are you sure we are out of range?"

"We should be, i have yet to see a bow that can fire this fa-" The captain is cut off when his horse is struck by a magic bolt, killing it instantly and forcing the captain to get off and hastily get on the back of the nearest horse.

"EVERYONE BACK A HUNDRED PACES!" He yells as the horseman he joined turns his horse around and gallops farther back along with the rest of the cavalry group.

Hoofton walls

"Haha i told you i could hit him!" A random unicorn skirmisher exclaims.

"No you hit the big pony! not the human!" The pegassus next to her states.

"I still hit something.."

General Varian

Varian rides in the front of the column. looking over to the city walls that just appear over the horizon. And looking back to the legionnaires finishing crossing the bridge and the new bridge being constructed next to it.

"Alright, when we get to the city, i want a fortified encampment made by the fifth and first legion while the second and fourth legion commence the siege. Send a message to the artillery regiment that it will be safe to come here. The bridge should be finished by then." Varian orders to his messengers, all listening in carefully as they ride next to him.

"You" He points to the messenger on his left. "Go get the artillery regiment and you" He points to the man on his right. "Go with the third legion, and come back to me if anything of note occurs."

The two messengers nod and head out on their horses, going to relay their orders.

"Alright, lets put this town to siege."

Hoofton walls

One minute later

The Walls of hoofton are crowded with militia and the few pegassus guards sent from manehatten to assist the city in case anything happened. And all of them are looking out towards the road, watching a massive column of red clad humans, marching in near synchronization, all fully armed and well armored, march towards the town. The ponies are worried that they may not be able to hold the city. That fear is confirmed for most of them as the column continues coming closer. A group marching further east to start some sort of construction as even more humans continue marching closer. Soon, more humans surround the town than were seen at the battle up north, More than double, Triple even.

"Theres so many.." One of the militia earth ponies state, her spear shaking in her grasp.

"Theres got to be at least two thousand humans there! how have they managed to hide that many for this long!" The pegassus guard sent from manehatten states, flabbergasted at seeing the well drilled humans simply march up.

"Were all doomed!" Another earth pony yells out, Before getting slapped by Gilded lance, Who stands atop the wall in his golden armor.

"Get a hold of yourself. Their just humans, No matter how many there are there's no way they can breach the walls quick enough for the re-enforcement from manehatten to arrive. We just have to hold out and make sure they don't try to do anything. Just keep an eye on them and report back!" He states, harshly. Looking over the pathetic excuse hoofton has for soldiers.

"B-But sir! Look at them! they look well trained and well armed from here!"

"What did i say! I said they are just humans. Humans who no matter how they look will never match the ferocity of a well trained pony army. Let them play soldier out there. When the manehattens arrive you'll see just how humans are supposed to be." Gilded lance yells back. Marching off towards the keep of the town.

Roman Fort

Twenty minutes later

The master of horse, head of the stables in the fortress and with the task of taking care of the massive amount of horses used for cavalry and logistics, was expecting many things in this new land. Talking small horses, Flying small horses, hell even giant flying talking horses. But this takes the cake.

"You. Want to ride, That!" The master of horse states, pointing to the timberwolf sitting down outside the fort. "And use it, as a replacement for horses?!"

"Yes." The cavalry captain states, seemingly gone mad.

"You realize, That that-" He again points to the timberwolf. "-Is a giant wooden wolf, that not only by your account ATTACKED YOU and ate one of your horses, Is untrained, wild, And eats meat!"

"Yes when you put it that way it sounds worse than it is-"

"SOUNDS WORSE! YOU'VE GONE MAD!" The master of horse interrupts as he massages his temples.

"Look it sounds like a terrible idea but on the way here we discovered a great deal of things about these timberwolves."

"Timberwolves?"

"Yes, one of my men decided to name them that since they appear to be made of timber and are wolf like."

"Fitting name but that doesn't change the fact that-"

"They don't need to eat meat." The cavalry captain says, getting off his horse.

"I beg your pardon? They are wolves, they obviously need to eat meat!"

"Actually on the way here, we saw them begin to eat a decomposing log. One of my men has thought that maybe they work like plants and just gain sustenance from fertilizer like materials. And meat is one of them."

The growing group of legionnaires around the gate behind the master of horse all begin to talk amongst themselves. Some supporting the idea while others say the cavalry are crazy.

"Ok let us assume they don't need to eat meat, which would be easy to integrate into our logistics, how will you ride them? They don't look very comfortable and not only that they are untrained. And they might not be able to support the wight of a soldi-" The Master of horse is cut off as a cavalryman runs past, riding the wooden wolf seemingly having a good time, startling a few of the horses nearby. "I-i.. i need a drink.." He states, giving up and walking back to the fort to find his stash of aged wine.

Author's Note

Thanks for staying with this story. I forget to mention exactly how many soldiers were in the fort. Ill be making that clear next chapter. Thanks for all the support guys.