Meanwhile with The Ponies

POV: 3rd person, Following Baroness Black Ink

Black ink looks over the gathering militia ponies in front of the town walls. Over seven thousand strong, a unusually high number for a town this size but the baroness doesn't complain, and most equipped with padded armor, and a few wealthier stallions or mares having chain mail and metal helmets. Most armed with spears, wood axes, and even a few pitchforks and the wealthier ones having a sword as a backup. While 5000 of the militia are earth ponies, about 1500 are pegassi, armed with light armor, or no armor at all, and most wielding light crossbows or javelins. The Remaining 500 are unicorns, mostly armed with no weapons and light armor, their main weapons being magic missiles and grabbing stones from their saddlebags to throw at high speeds. As well as to cast shields over their allies for the few who have learned to do so.

Overall the Baroness is moderately satisfied with her 'army'. Wishing they were professionals instead of militia but the numbers more than make up for their poor training, or lack thereof. Donning her favorite purple robe and sitting in a chariot pulled by two pegasi.

"Alright ponies! We are going to be fighting some escaped humans spotted in north hoofton village! They appear to have armor and some weapons, which will not matter due to our numbers advantage, magic casters, and fliers! We will crush their little rebellion before they can gather steam and be heroes of equestria! Now Mares and Stallions! To north hoofton!" As the baroness finishes her short speech, the deafening cheers of the gathered ponies echo through the town. Many ponies off to the side wishing their families and friends good luck as they start walking down the dirt roads north of hoofton.

The marching army walking down the paths in rough lines and many ponies chatting amoungst themselves to pass the times as they walk past fields of farmland with countless humans working the fields. A few stopping to watch the ponies walk but quickly go back to work when the farm ponies get nearby to see what all the ruckus is about. Waving to passing friends and cheering them to beat whomever they were fighting. The marching column of ponies passes by farm after farm.

Black ink bored already at the march, and slightly annoyed at the constant conversations and yells from the peasants around her quickly uses a 'royal canterlot voice' spell to project her voice. "ENOUGH TALKING!" she yells out causing all the ponies in her makeshift army to silence, especially the ones near her, for they have almost gone deaf. "Thats better! Now continue marching!"

The Now much quieter army marches on. Crossing the halfhazardly constructed bridge to north hoofton village, having to cross a maximum of ten ponies at a time to avoid the bridge collapsing. While black ink groans at the slow pace, wishing her quote unquote 'army' was all pegassi or unicorns instead of mostly earth peasants, she decides to write about this to her sister.

Meanwhile With the Roman Cavalry

The pockets of roman cavalry spread out across the woodland area to scout for any landmarks or any dangers. Going ahead of the main army to quickly fall back if they find any trouble. The cavalry gets to the forest edge faster than anticipated and waits at the treeline while the rest of the cavalry regroup to their position. The Roman cavarlymen dismounting their horses to drink, talk or have a snack. Not really paying attention to the town a few miles away. Until one group of cavalry finally regroups with the rest of the cavalry force. Slowly galloping round trees to the satisfaction of the captain.

"Anything to report? Everyone else has said nothing important." The captain states boredly while he takes a drink from his water sack.

"Yes sir, we spotted what appears to be a large force crossing the river on a small bridge. From the looks of it its at least 5 thousand strong if not more. One of our scouts may have been spotted while they were at the tree line last time. Otherwise this may just be a coincidence and there is a war going on between this party and another unknown one" The captain states, Giving the captain a crude map to go along with the rest to be made into a larger one later.

"Hmm interesting." The captain thinks for a moment before turning around and walking back to his horse. Thinking about the situation. "You two." The captain points to the messengers, who are currently leaning against a tree next to thier horses. "Go to the Legion and tell them we found a army nearby and that we are going to interact with them. Tell them to be prepared if we have to rush to them if we need to retreat."

The two messengers salute and rush to get on heir horses and cautiously ride towards the beach to find the legion. While the Captain climbs upon his horse. "Attention!" all chat suddenly quiets. "Everybody mount up, a party of our cavalry have spotted an army crossing a bridge. We are to go and interact with them to see if they are friendly and know any directions to a roman border. Be on guard! And do not provoke them, they have over five thousand men from what the scouts estimated. Mount up!"

Suddenly the meandering cavalry group bursts into a flurry of activity. Quickly stashing any foodstuffs they brought with hem and mounting their steeds while simultaneously equipping their weapons in case they are attacked or need to attack. Within five minutes every cavalryman is on top of their steed and prepared to move out. The captain riding to the front of the rough line of men. Having 400 of the 500 men stay in the tree line, bringing only 100 of his men to seem less threatening. Hoping he wont have to call upon the rest of the cavalry.

The ride there was slow, having to jump over many fences, though they appear to be shorter than expected, and crossing the fields of unharvested crops and vegetables. Taking ten minutes to get to the side of the village, Seeing nobody in the streets the captain and cavalry assume everybody is hiding inside. Though seeing many window shutters being closed as they ride by confirmed that the village was indeed inhabited.

Finding a dirt road the cavalry quickly line up and ride down the road. Seeing the large group of men in the distance at the bridge. Though more than half appears to be on the opposite side of the semi calm river. The captain watching slowly as he hides his anxiety, while going forward down the path. Though when they get within reasonable view distance the army appears to have seen them and is quickly forming a lines of spear-men, though the closer the men get the more odd the 'men' appear to be. The captain stopping the cavalry with a raised hand about two hundred yards away on a small hill using the same hand to cover his eyes from the sun and see the army better.

"Captain. Is it me or do those look like small horses with spears?"

"No i see them too. And looks like they see us." The captain states, only to gasp along with the rest of his men as a few hundred of the horses fly up into the air.

"Are those... Pegasi?" The cavalryman states in disbelief. "I'm.. not the only one seeing this... Right?"

"I'm sure we all see it. And looks like two of them are attached to a chariot and are.. Coming this way!" The captain yells out. "Everybody be on your guard. We don't know what to expect."

The chariot pulled by the pegasi is followed by two hundred-ish other pegasi and quickly hover above the cavalry less than fifty yards in front of them. The chariot landing as well but slightly closer.

"You two, follow me, Let us go meet whomever this is...."

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. Leave a like if you enjoy the story and a comment if i misspelled something or a sentence makes no sense. Sorry for the short chapter but i am busy with classes and family. I hope to get back to doing 2K+ chapters.

P.S. ive started a patreon account. Support me if you want. People who pledge $2 get to see the next chapters early before i post them.

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8718397