And Ever We Fight On (Redux)

Two Years Ago…

Galloping Gorge was an appropriate name for the large swath of land that stood in front of the city of Vanhoover and adjacent to Unicorn Range. A large steep cliff with miles of forestry behind it, it was the perfect garrison for the Equestrian Defense Force (EDF) to set up as a last defense for the city. That morning, everything was still, and for the soldiers there, it almost felt as if there was no war taking place, but at the same time they found the quietness almost too eerie.

The first light of dawn crept through one of the windows inside the barracks, piercing through to where Sergeant Rainbow Dash was sleeping. Even with her eyes closed, the light was enough to stir her from her sleep and with a groan she groggily opened her eyes. She hated waking up early, even after joining the Wonderbolts and taking part in early practices. Even in war time her opinion on it hadn’t changed and despite some inner voice beckoning her to go back to sleep, she threw off the covers on her bed and got up.

Immediately she headed for the showers and turned on the warm water. She had about five minutes to bathe herself due to conserving water, but then again she wasn’t just the fastest in flying. Still, it made her miss home and the opportunity to take as much time as she needed.

After getting dried off, she put on her uniform and made her way to the mess hall which was adjacent to the barracks. The fort that was built here had only finished about three months ago and it was now apparent that even with how large it was, it was struggling with the current number of Equestrian soldiers occupying it. Still, with the defenses it currently had plus the natural one surrounding it, it was almost impenetrable.

Once Dash reached the mess hall, she immediately saw her bunkmate and friend Lightning Dust eating at one of the nearby tables. Getting her morning breakfast, which consisted of lumpy oatmeal with some fresh fruit and juice, she made her way over to the table. Dust glanced up at her and a smirk crawled onto her face. “Wow Dash, you’re here ten minutes earlier than yesterday. That’s a new record.”

Dash rolled her eyes as she sat down. “Yeah, yeah, I thought maybe I could actually beat you here for once but I guess I haven’t achieved that yet.”

“I’m quite proud that I’m better at something than the infamous Rainbow Dash,” Dust teased. Her expression suddenly changed to a more serious one. “But seriously though, I’m surprised how lax you’ve been lately. You can’t tell me you’re not anxious?”

“Anxious about what? An attack?”

“Well obviously! We’re right next to a very critical port. If, hypothetically, the Empire were to overrun us and take control of Vanhoover, they’d have a straight shot down the cast and be able to march up towards Canterlot.”

“Well of course I know that,” Dash said as she started eating her oatmeal. “However, even if that did happen, it would take them months to assemble a naval fleet due to lack of materials on their end and by that time the EDF would have assembled a force to take back the city.” She then paused. “And also, of course I’m anxious. Normally I’d say excited but I know what’s going to happen. It…It’s going to get ugly, I know.”

“We both had a choice of leaving,” Dust said. “But that’s why we get along so well. Neither one of us are the type that run away from a fight.”

“That and the fact if we did, Spitfire would make sure to kick our asses once the war was over.” Both of them chuckled at the thought.

“So, having fun with the rookie?” Dust asked.

Dash sighed. “She’s dedicated, I’ll give her that, but she doesn’t have to treat me like I’m some super strict officer.”

“Well technically you are her superior officer,” Dust pointed out. “And I’m sure it’s cause she respects you.” She then looked over towards the entrance. “Well, maybe we can some input from her after all. Hey Vape!”

The mare in question, full name Vapor Trails, suddenly looked over in surprise. Dash couldn’t help but turn away in embarrassment as she glared at the green pegasus. “What are you doing!?” she whispered loudly.

“What, I figured she could hang out with us this morning, you know a good ice breaker,” Dust said with a smug look.

“You-!” Dash stopped short as Vapor made her way over. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to hang out with Vapor, she just knew Lightning had some ulterior motive in mind. She always did.

The young mare quickly saluted both of them as soon as she was standing in front of them. “Sergeant Dash, Sergeant Dust, is there something you needed?”

Dust glanced over at Dash with amusement and the rainbow-maned pegasus was sorely tempted to smash her face into the table. Instead, she looked at Vapor. “At ease Vapor, come on, you know there’s no need to be so formal this early in the morning.”

“Yes ma’am.” Vapor suddenly blushed. “I mean, I understand. Sorry, I just don’t want to screw up on my first week here.”

“Tell you what,” Dust said. “You can be totally chill with us, but Spits…well maybe you should stick to formal around her just in case.”

Vapor giggled. “I’ll keep that in mind. So…it’s okay if I sit with you two?”

“Sure.” Dash moved over so the mint and yellow-colored mare could sit next to her. “But only cause I’m your SO.”

“Speaking of which, if you’re not busy today perhaps you could help me a bit with my um…archery?” Vapor asked.

“Uh…” Dash could remember the last time she helped Vapor train with a crossbow: the bolt barely managed to miss a fellow cadet who happened to be eating lunch and it hit his apple instead. Dash had a hell of a time explaining to Spitfire what happened while Dust had a hell of a time keeping a straight face. Crossbow training wasn’t required for Wonderbolts but it came in handy for picking off long-distance targets when you were in a bind. Most of the ponies that did use them were EDF soldiers (who were mostly earth ponies).

“I mean…we could work on that, yeah,” Dash said. “Just as long as Spitfire doesn’t put me on assignment duty again.”

“Don’t be so modest, if she’s gonna throw that on anypony it’s gonna be me,” Dust chuckled. “She hates my guts anyway.”

“She doesn’t hate you,” Dash said, feeling this was now at least the fortieth time she had said this. “She called you out on your ego and all that but you wouldn’t be here if she didn’t think you were Wonderbolt material.” At the very least, the lecture Spitfire gave her after she had joined managed to bring her ego somewhat down.

“Fine, fine, I’ll drop it.” Dust sighed as she moved her tray away from her. “But anyway, if she’s busy Vapes, I could give you a hoof on some of those maneuvers we’ve been practicing. Constructive criticism of course, but if we put you on a battlefield right now with a hundred meter length of artillery, you wouldn’t last one second.”

Dash suddenly gave her a look that clearly said, What the fuck was that!?

“Oh…well in that case maybe I’ll take you up on your offer,” Vapor said, looking rather conflicted.

“Cool! I got time to spare afterwards, why don’t we meet-” She was suddenly cut off as an alarm rang out through the entire fort. Everyone who was inside and stopped what they were doing and looked around in confusion before getting up and making their way towards the exit.

“Seriously, another drill?” Dust groaned.

“No…I don’t think so,” Dash said and her confirmation came right through the door. Captain Spitfire came in at a calm pace and spotted the three mares instantly. “Dash, Dust, we need you at the Command Center on the double!” She then slid the shades she was wearing down her nose as she squinted slightly at Vapor. “You might as well join us too Trails. Now hurry the hell up!”

“Yes ma’am!” The three mares said simultaneously as a wide grin crept onto Dust’s face.

The Command Center was the largest building in the entire fort and consisted of multiple levels. The main level consisted of rooms filled with ponies who were constantly listening to and broadcasting messages via radio all over parts of Equestria, from Vanhoover to Manehattan to Canterlot. The basement floor consisted of machinery that powered not just this facility but everywhere else along the fort, including some of its own defenses. As for the top floor, it consisted of smaller, more private rooms that were used for private meetings.

As Dash and the others entered the large meeting room, she saw a large table in the middle where a large map of Equestria laid, pinpointing EQD and Imperial forces. There were other ponies in the room as well and she quickly identified some of her fellow squad mates: Soarin, Fleetfoot, and Misty Fly, all Lieutenant rank. They all gave Spitfire a small nod before turning their eyes to the fourth pony in the room.

The stallion in question was a pony with a cyan coat and a light brown mane, a pegasus any Wonderbolt and Wonderbolt fan knew; his name was Wind Rider. Back in his earlier days, Wind Rider was, and still is, a living legend. His record-breaking time in the Mustang Marathon was ingrained in the record books and to this day no one has beaten that record. He had been retired for the past ten years, at least until the war broke out. While Wind Rider denies it, there was a rumor going around that Wonderbolt Command practically begged him to come out of retirement to help lead the Wonderbolt Corps.

Spitfire then stepped forward and offered a quick salute. “Colonel, all present and accounted for.”

Wind Rider sighed as he looked up. “For the last time Spitfire, ‘Colonel’ isn’t necessary. Besides, I never earned that title, it’s just Command’s excuse to have me outrank all of you.” He then glanced at both Dash and Dust. “Well, well, well. I’ve heard plenty about you two from Spitfire here. The fact she promoted you two in a short amount of time says a lot actually.”

“Yeah, that we’re severely understaffed,” Soarin joked, earning a glare from Spitfire.

Dash couldn’t believe she was blushing now of all times; she also couldn’t believe she was face to face with one of her idols. “I…well we hope to live up to the hype, sir.”

“You won’t have to wait long then,” Wind Rider said, motioning them towards the table. “Our scouts have just informed us that a large Imperial force is coming our way from the northeast. At least six heavy artillery cannons and almost double that with standard cannons.”

“Admittedly, they have us outnumbered almost two to one,” Spitfire continued. “The only two advantages we have are the fort itself and the fact that they’re out in the open, making easy target practice for our artillery. Still, we all know retreat is not an option.”

“Come on, all we gotta do is take out those guns and the rest will be literal cannon fodder,” Fleetfoot shrugged.

“Actually, General Iron Wood wants us to hold back and see what the enemy does first,” Wind Rider says.

“Seriously?” Dust asked, now looking disappointed.

“Aside from outranking me, I’m inclined to agree,” Wind Rider said as he stared at the map. “Something seems off here…if they really want to take Vanhoover, and Sombra does, make no mistake, then they’d have double the forces. For now, the artillery can take care of them.”

“Well, whether we get into the fray or not, we’re at the ready,” Spitfire declared.

Wind Rider looked up to the group and nodded. “Good, then get to your posts and be on the ready. I just hope to Celestia that luck is on our side today.”

All was quiet. It bothered Dash more than having to sit and wait on the top of one of the walls surrounding the fort.. The walls were too high for the enemy to climb and they could withstand a bombardment from enemy artillery, at least for a time. If the intel was accurate, Dash was certain of their strategy: the enemy would use their artillery to little down their defenses, despite how long it would take and once the walls fell, the infantry units no doubt would charge ahead into the fort.

However, the fort did have six main cannons stationed in the front part of the fort, twelve all together and they had quite the range as well. There was no doubt about it, the Imperials were going to take a lot of casualties. But then again, Sombra will just find more ponies to replace them.

It wasn’t long before she and the others started hearing the low rumble of footsteps, as well as the squeaking of wheels which identified the wagons that the artillery guns were placed on. Due to the clear weather, their forces were noticeable almost five hundred meters away. “How does it look?” Dash asked, turning to Spitfire.

Spitfire then looked through the pair of binoculars that she was wearing around her neck. “No doubt about it,” she then said as she lowered them. “They’re definitely serious about taking Vanhoover.”

“And ol’ Iron Wood wants us to just wait here and let them come?” Fleetfoot asked, looking annoyed. “I know he’s a general and all but this is bullshit. We can take out that artillery no issue and the rest of them will just scurry off.”

“You’re right, he knows that and Wind Rider especially knows that,” Spitfire argued. “But Wind Rider knows what’s best for us and I don’t want a reason to have him kicked out and replaced with somepony that doesn’t follow Wonderbolt standards so deal with it.” Fleetfoot looked like she wanted to retort but changed her mind as she looked back towards the open land.

The infantry were coming into clearer view and Dash could now see the helmets they wore which, along with giving off an intimidating look, contained dark magic that brainwashed the wearer into submission. She knew the ponies underneath those helmets didn’t want this war, nor did they want to kill but they would not hesitate. The only way to set them free was to take out King Sombra himself.

The spotters at the cannons shouted into their radio sets, asking the higher ups permission to open fire. The order apparently was given since commands were then given as the cannons aimed towards the large group of ponies. A warning was quickly given and everyone in the surrounding area, including the Wonderbolts, covered their ears.

The cannons suddenly erupted, firing hot balls of iron towards the enemy. The field around them exploded, lifting dirt and crumpled bodies into the air. The shots were surprisingly accurate as the enemy suddenly took heavy losses.

The infantry, realizing their position, started running towards the fort almost like a desperate charge, hoping to get out of the cannons’ range of fire. Unfortunately, the attempt did not dissuade the artillery teams as they kept up their bombardment and finally the Imperial troops took pause and decided to retreat.

“Wow…surely they weren’t just hoping to catch us off guard or something right?” Soarin asked.

Dash looked towards her CO and noticed the suspicion on her face. “Something’s not right,” Spitfire said. “If they were testing our defenses, they wouldn’t have sent so many ponies.”

It was then they heard another sound, one that was unrecognizable. She grabbed her binoculars again and looked around. It was then that Dash saw it. Coming from the north side, there was a large black cloud approaching, or at least it looked that way from a distance. Unlike a cloud, it was moving towards them very fast, faster than any pegasus could push.

Spitfire suddenly gasped. “SHIT!” She threw the binoculars off herself and suddenly flew up above the wall. “Everypony get to cover right now!” The sudden urgency in her voice told everyone that shit was about to hit the fan horribly.

For Dash, adrenaline suddenly kicked in and she and the others found cover in the trenches dug throughout the entire fort. It was at that moment the bombs began to fall and explosions ripped up across the entire complex.