Without Question

Without Question

Chapter Eleven – Blood on the Sand

Night had fallen over the world as the moon rose.  Bon-Bon and her appropriately named “Widow Battalion” had traveled quickly as the sun set, stealthily using forests to remain undetected.  The WB consisted of ponies from all three common races, all united by the ultimate form of heartbreak.  Not only did their races vary, but so did their occupations prior to becoming a militia.  Some ponies were retired from the army and had combat experience, while others were merely smiths and provided decent weaponry.  But one particularly powerful asset the Widow Battalion possessed was their alchemists.  These brilliant ponies of liquid science managed to make dozens of explosive potions to be hurled at their enemies.

The WB had stuck close to Equestrian-occupied cities, but far enough away that they weren’t seen.  Eventually, they arrived a few hundred yards from Thornheart before Bon-Bon began informing them of her first plan.

“May I have your attention, everypony?  Thank you.  From what I’ve overheard while eavesdropping on some guard ponies, I’ve learned that there is a Changeling camp along the beach between here and the enemy capital.  Apparently, there’s at least two hundred soldiers at the camp,” she told them.

The ponies of Widow Battalion mumbled and whispered worriedly to themselves.  The enemy camp had twice as many soldiers as them, and the majority of the ponies had absolutely zero combat experience.

“Now now, I know what you’re all thinking, and I understand,” Bon-Bon sympathized, “But, we have several advantages!”

“Oh yeah?  Like what?” a scared and frustrated earth pony shouted from the back.

Typhoon stepped forward from Bon-Bon’s side to answer.

“For one, we do have a few veterans among us.  They will do their best to guide us through the fight using their knowledge of battle.  We also have the element of surprise.  The Changelings don’t expect Equestria to attack in force again anytime soon, so they won’t exactly be prepared to defend themselves against a hundred brave townsponies!  And our biggest advantage of all…we have explosives.  Our alchemists whipped up a decent supply of explosive potions to be thrown at Changeling structures and soldiers.  The glass breaks pretty easily, so don’t worry about throwing it too softly.”

The ponies of Widow Battalion still felt nervous, but much better after being told of their advantages.  Bon-Bon led the group to a long, thick hedge on a hill next to the road that connected Thornheart and the capital.  From their position, they could see the black forms of the Changelings moving around campfires and tents.  The only obstacle was the log palisade surrounding the camp.  Bon-Bon knew a wall of sticks wouldn’t be a problem.

“Okay, I want our strongest earth ponies in front!  Buck down the wall as soon as our alchemists hurl their bombs into the camp!  When the wall comes down, everyone will charge in and kill every last one of them!  Got it?”

The crowd of armed ponies nodded and whispered in agreement.  Though Bon-Bon was never in the actual army, she had talked to her wife a few times about how Equestria fought.  She could never fully wrap her mind around it all, but she did retain a few of the simpler tactics, like buck-and-run style fighting.

The alchemists quietly snuck over to the wall and pulled out their explosive potions while the WB’s largest earth ponies stood next to them.  Bon-Bon and the rest of her Widow Battalion stood ready a few yards from the wall, raising their short swords in anticipation.  Bon-Bon whistled, and the alchemist sent dozens of bottles into the air and crashing down into the camp.  The results were practically immediate, and huge bursts of flame licked at the night sky. The screams of the Changeling soldiers could be heard as they panicked and tried to make sense of what was happening.

The alchemists retreated back to the main crowd while the earth ponies slammed the walls with their mighty hind legs.  It took no more than four synchronized bucks.  The wall splintered and fell in.

“KILL THEM ALL!” Bon-Bon closed her eyes and screamed, charging into the blazing camp with a hundred ponies behind her screaming war cries as well.  They poured into the camp, expecting a fierce battle to ensue.  Much to their surprise, the blasts of the explosions had blinded or deafened many of the Changelings.  It took little to no effort for the militia to cleave through the stunned soldiers.  Unicorns blew away tents and soldiers with their magic while the earth ponies and pegasi milled about, slashing and hacking.

“Kih…Kill them!” Bon-Bon panted as sweat ran down her face.

“Bon-Bon, we did…” Typhoon shook her gently as he waved his claw across her vision.

He was right.  The ordeal came and went in what felt like minutes.  Every one of the two hundred soldiers had been slaughtered, their bright green blood staining the sand.  In a few spots, the intense heat of the explosions had converted patches of sand into small glass craters.

“Dih…did we lose anypony?” Bon-Bon stammered, her adrenaline slowly lessening.

“No.  Not a single pony.  The Changelings could barely put up a fight,” Typhoon responded.

“We…won?  We won?!  WE WON!” Bon-Bon shouted in disbelief and happily waved her sword in the warm air.

The ponies of Widow Battalion cheered with her and embraced one another in tears.  They did it.  They managed to defeat an enemy that outnumbered them two to one.  They had avenged the deaths of two hundred ponies, but they wanted more.  Thousands of ponies still needed to been avenged as well.  But for now, they needed to find a safe place to hide.  After all, the camp likely kept in touch with the capital through messengers.  If the camp suddenly stopped sending those messages or a messenger arrived at a camp full of slain Changelings…well…Bon-Bon didn’t want to think about the idea of her group being hunted down in the open.

Typhoon knelt down to pick up a half-scorched paper lying next to a dead soldier.  After studying it for a moment, he handed it to Bon-Bon.

“A map?  This is perfect!  There’s a large sea cave under the cliff behind the capital!  We’d be right under the enemy’s nose; the place they’d never think to look!  Alright everyone, I know you’re all tired from your first victory, but we need to hide before the sun rises!  I’ve discovered the location of a sizable cave that we would be safe in!  Follow me!”

Widow Battalion followed their leader along the beach; the soft, dark sand crunching under their hooves as they loosely marched.  Soon they would strike again, and make the Changelings suffer even more than they likely had already.

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Several hours passed and Silus slowly opened his eyes.  It took him a moment to adjust them to the light, and he blinked repeatedly.  He was in his room, but his chest felt incredibly sore.  Then his memory came back to him.  Silus had been slashed by a unicorn assassin, though moments later he managed to fight through the pain and snap the assassin’s neck.  Then darkness.  Through his uniform, he could feel stitches in his skin.  Silus attempted to get off of his bed, but his legs nearly buckled from lack of use over the past few days.  Slowly but surely, he regained his balance and left his room.

Silus made his way to the atrium where Chrysalis sat upon her throne.  Her eyes were closed and she was resting her head on her hoof.  Silus approached her, but did not wake her just yet.  A strand of her beautiful blue hair swayed loosely in front of one eye.  Silus leaned towards her face and gently blew the strand off to the side of her face.  Chrysalis’ eyes opened in surprise to see Silus smirking at her.

“Sleeping on the job, My Queen?  I suppose a Changeling as lovely as you deserves the rest more than anyone,” he said, still smirking at her.

Chrysalis blushed brightly; it was visible even with her black skin.  She felt like embracing him again, the way they previously had a few nights ago.  However, she felt as though she still had a serious reputation to uphold, and she was unsure of how her subjects would react if they saw her behaving like a little schoolchangeling.  Chrysalis stood with a small, but sweet smile and leaned her head against Silus’ chest.  There were several Imperial Guards in the room that stood motionless and silent, so Chrysalis whispered into Silus’ ear.

“I…missed your company, Silus…”

“And I yours, My Queen…”

Chrysalis motioned for her Guards to leave the room.  Now she could openly express herself.  She immediately stood up on her hind legs and wrapped her forelegs around his neck, pulling him close to her.  Silus himself was more than surprised and hesitated for a moment to reciprocate the action.  After all, he was embracing the ruler of an empire.

It took little thought.  Silus wrapped his arms around Chrysalis’ waist and basked in the warmth of the moment.

“How selfish of you…”

Silus raised an eyebrow in confusion upon hearing the Queen whisper.

“…to make me worry like that...you would give your life away so easily for the sake of my own?  All of this empire’s hope for preservation rests on your shoulders…and you would crush that hope by dying for me…” she whispered with her face still buried in his chest.

Silus could feel the area where her head leaned against him becoming slightly warm and moist.  Was she…?

“I…I don’t deserve this…I don’t deserve any of it…” the Queen’s voice was shaky now, “My foolish pride cost me the lives of so many Changelings…and I was unable to save my home on my own…and…and…”

The human held his Queen in silence, taking it all in.

“…and you…I’ve never felt such unrequited love from another…I don’t understand how you can feel so strongly for me that you would risk everything for my life…”

Silus shifted a hand away from Chrysalis’ wait and gently lifted her head so that her glistening green eyes met his own pale blue ones.

“My Queen…I would die a thousand times for you…each time with a smile…so long as it meant you were safe from harm…but if it is your will…I shall make the preservation of the Empire my priority…”

Chrysalis bit her quivering lip as her eyes filled again.  An appreciative smile slowly spread across her face as she closed her eyes and leaned into his chest again.

“Thank you, Silus…for everything…”

Returning his hand to her waist, he ran his other hand through her flowing blue mane.  It felt as though his hand was running through a cool stream.  But he heard the creaking of wood and craned his next to see what the cause was.

A messenger stood at the door, his dark skin paled with fear and shock.  Apparently, the Queen had heard the entrance as well and wiped away her tears as she left Silus’ embrace.

“What is it?” Chrysalis asked with a very small sniffle.

“M-my Queen!  The Ebony Coast c-camp!  They’re all dead!” the Changeling stuttered.

“What?!  How is this possible?  When did this happen?” the Queen demanded an answer.

“An investigation indicated that an attack occurred last night!  Those responsible appear to have used something to blow up several parts of the camp!  Of the two Centuries stationed there, none survived, and no trace of the attackers was found!” the messager answered.

“I…was unconscious when this happened?” Silus mumbled as he stared at the tiled floor.

“It would appear so, Lord.  Might I say, I am quite glad you are feeling better!”

“NO!” Silus shouted with an echo that rose to the rafters, “NO!  This could have been avoided if I was awake!”

“Silus, none of us could have kn—” Chrysalis tried to comfort him.

“Two hundred Changelings…DEAD!  I was weak…I should have awoken sooner!  I sh—!”

Chrysalis walked around Silus and stood in front of him.  She stood and put her hooves against his chest, pressing her nose to his and staring into his eyes.  He immediately stopped speaking.

“Silus…what has happened cannot be reversed.  Do what you know must be done.”

Without a word, Silus nodded and bowed.  The Queen returned to her throne and ordered all high-ranking officers to meet Silus in the war room.

The war room was in the shape of a circle and was no less luxurious than the rest of the castle.  A raised, circular map made of some odd mineral stood at the center of the room.  In terms of height, the circular map stood even with Silus’ stomach.  Silus, Grimsoul, and eight other Changelings stood around the circular map.  Grimsoul had explained to Silus that the map was made of a mineral that allowed drawings to be easily carved into it and erased with the introduction of water.

“Officers, as you know, we have suffered a serious blow.  Two Centuries of soldiers lie dead on the beaches of the Ebony Coast.  This is unacceptable.  Therefore, I am placing my Guard, Grimsoul, in charge of a task force of five Centuries.  This task force will perform its own independent investigation of the battle site and hunt down the bastards responsible.  Understood, Grimsoul?” Silus stated and received a nod from his Guard.

“As for the city of Thornheart, it shall soon be reclaimed by the glory of the Changeling Empire!  Fort Storm and Fort Ash will each send a Millennium of troops to gather outside of Thornheart.  Another two Millennii of troops will be sent to that staging area from the capital.  In total, four thousand Changeling soldiers will be participating in this grand siege.  Since the heavy armor and weapons of our soldiers restrict them from flight, we will have to create a squad of lightly-equipped soldiers that will sneak in and open the gates for our more powerful troops.  The plan may be altered if circumstances happen to change.  Understood?”

The eight Changeling officers nodded and left when Silus dismissed them.  After about three hours, the four thousand troops began their march towards the staging area.  Grimsoul’s task force would be traveling along with Silus’ two Millennii from the capital, but only until they reached the ruined camp.  Eventually, the troops reached the area and stopped for a short rest.  Silus and Grimsoul let their soldiers sit by the road while they approached the camp.

(Author’s Note:  This next scene was inspired by the following song.  It is not mandatory to listen to, but it adds ambience while reading.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCfowliTnlo)

Silus climbed over a shattered log from the remnants of the palisade and helped Grimsoul over as well.  All around them, the burned bodies of fallen Changelings lay sprawled in the sand.  The tide was coming in and washed over a few of those closest to the water.  Their blood remained stained into the sand, but was slowly disappearing with each gentle wave.

One particular body caught Silus’ eye.  It was a very young Changeling, much smaller than the others.  He must’ve barely met the age requirement to join the army.  A blade had been run through his back, though most of his lower body had been horribly burned.  It brought a tear to Silus’ eye to see such a dedicated, young soldier killed in his prime.  He fell to his knees and delicately ran his hand over the deceased boy’s eyes, closing them and whispering to him.

“I am sorry, brother.  I was not there to protect you.  But I will not let your death be in vain.  May you find peace in a place far from this one…”

Grimsoul walked over and stood behind Silus and placed a hoof on his shoulder.  Without turning to face him, Silus spoke.

“Grimsoul…end the lives of the murderers who did this.  Or better yet, capture them if you can…but I want this beach cleaned up the second you finish your investigation…give these lads a proper burial…”

“It will be done, Lord Silus.”

“Thank you, Grimsoul.  I’ll make you and every Changeling at the capital proud.  I swear it.”

The two exchanged nods and went off to their duties.  Grimsoul and his soldiers began looking for evidence, while Silus and his troops headed towards Thornheart.  The scales were beginning to balance, and soon they would inevitably tip.