Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 3: Ground Work

By: Major Frostwing

-4 Months Later-

"What the fuck are we doing out here again?" Stubbed Leather asked as he trudged through the muck with his partner through the Everfree Forest.

"The Princess sent us out here for a training exercise against some new fighting force The Fist has been training." Steel Rivet said stepping over a downed tree. "I don't even know what the main objective of this training is." He said looking back at his partner.

"I'm just so annoyed that command sent us out here with no orders except patrol and be vigilant to our surroundings." Studded whined adjusting his MR-22 magic assault Rifle.

"I hear ya man but orders are orders." Steel said as they heard something impact the ground behind them. They both turned as one to see a black armored person crouched low a CRAK-8 Shotgun aimed right at Steel's chest. The assailant pulled the trigger and Steel flew backwards impacting the ground with a thump. Studded didn't even have time to raise his weapon before he met the same fate as Steel. The assailant stood loading two more concussive shells before running up to Studded's body rigging him to a concussive mine. The assailant heard the sounds of other guards moving onto her position. She quickly finished her job signalling to the other four that hid in the trees around her before running off.

It only took a few seconds before the guards arrived to investigate what had happened. "What the fuck happened?" One asked sweeping the tree line with his rifle.

"Get our wounded out of here and then search the area. They couldn't have gotten far." A sergeant ordered looking about the area with the eyes of a man who had seen battle many time. His aged eyes Fell onto the bodies just as they were about to be moved "STOP!" He barked out as the soldiers all froze. "We aren't alone here. Formation Alpha Secure." The soldiers were quick as they all formed a circle aiming at the trees around them. "Come on out little rabbits." He muttered out keeping his eyes trained on every little shadow that dared to move.

The four in the trees above watched quietly taking aim with painfully slow movements. Once their targets were in their sights they opened fire starting with their leader and moving on to the grunts. They didn't even get to yell out their alarm. Once the group was dealt with they dropped down from their hiding spots motioning to each other silently. They all nodded as one moving deeper into the forest. They were to meet up with Their leader.

Celestia and Luna sat outside the forest with Jon. A small group of ten Knights stood surrounding them as they were the captains of both the Night and Day guard along with their best men beside them. "Jon I understand you wanted to put your troops through their final training but was making us the final targets really necessary?" Celestia asked as she sipped on her tea.

"They are trained to take out high value targets at all costs even if it means throwing away their lives but if I was to hazard a guess they won't throw their lives away so readily if a simpler solution made it self known." Jon said calmly. "Normally they would hunt down their target but I think they are waiting." Jon shrugged his shoulders casually.

"And what makes you think they are waiting?" Luna asked when her eyes flicked to the forest before settling on Jon once again. "If they are as ferocious as you say they should have made their move by now." Jon chuckled raising his cup up to his lips.

"A well honed weapon stands on the precipice of Unrestrained violence and a cool calm will. A perfect shot only comes to those that wait." Jon took his sip tilting his head to the side to rest it on his fist. A loud crack of thunder rang out as a round impacted Celestia's chest knocking her backwards out of her chair. Jon cracked a smile as the guards drew their weapons aiming at the tree line. Luna got to her feet only for another crack of thunder to ring out knocking Luna to the ground as she threw up a shield. A hail of magical weapon fire ripped through the tree line overwhelming Luna's shield and subsequently knocking her down for good. The other knights opened fire into the tree line only to be cut down themselves. Jon raised his fist and the firing stopped. "RETRIEVE THE INJURED AND REPORT TO ME IMMEDIATELY!" Jon bellowed out only to hear silence. A few minutes later the black armor clad army moved out of the forest carrying their injured and the injured enemy combatants to the table. The set them out and Jon gave a low whistle. "I sent fifty of you into the forest and Forty eight of you returned to me unharmed. You completed your mission with complete efficiency. I commend all of you on such a wonderful performance. You all graduate as of today. Welcome to the 115th Battalion "The Burning Anvil". Awake your injured and give them the good news. I will be giving you your orders when they come in. Remember your role in the military is beyond top secret go back to your original posts as standard guards but remember your training and remain vigilant. DISMISSED!" Jon ordered as they all saluted to him as one. They quickly moved out to perform their duties.

"What the hell hit us?" Celestia asked as she sat up rubbing her sore chest.

"They graduated and performed every task I laid before them." Jon said turning to her. "They will be returning to their standard posts as guards but they will be sent out on missions I assign them. I Hope you will come to understand the difference between your guards and my Anvil." Jon commented coldly as Celestia looked at all of her downed guards. There were Two Hundred and Fifty Downed guards all laid out waiting to be awoken.

"I will have to say they performed perfectly. My guards will not be pleased with such a defeat and will probably demand a rematch." Celestia said finally getting to her feet.

"To my battalion this was only a test. A non lethal skirmish which means they had to hold back. If it was lethal I feel as if they would not hesitate as they did." Jon said moving over to Luna to get her back to the waking world.

"What do you mean hesitate?" Celestia asked as Jon calmly healed Luna.

"If it was full lethal they would have shot through my head just to get to you. I know that MK- 77 Lucky Anti Magic Rifle can rip through most armor like tissue paper like it is not even there." Luna opened her eyes rubbing her head groggily.

"That was not pleasant." Luna commented with a groan.

"You'll live. Now let's get the rest of these guys up and about so they can return to their duties." Jon said getting to his feet with a sigh. "We have work to do after all."

"Before that I have to know who the captain of your battalion is." Celestia said as Jon looked over his shoulder at her.

"There is no captain. They each can perform their duties as if they were in charge. None of them with argue a sound plan and follow who came up with the plan. Each of them is a commanding officer as long as they can form an attack or defense. That's how they were trained." Jon turned away from Celestia making his way to revive the injured.