Rōnin

“Do you have to go?” Fluttershy asked, tears streaming from her eyes as she clung to Big Mac.

“I do Shy,” He says hugging her back. “I have to go. I know how ya feel but I have to go, if I don’t I won’t be of any use to the resistance. I’m no blacksmith and there are no farms here for me to work on. I won’t leave my comrades while they throw themselves at the enemy while I hang back.”

“I don’t want to loose you Mac.” Fluttershy said with a cracking voice.

Big Mac, being almost eight times larger than Fluttershy now, sat down on a nearby chair and pulled her in close. He just held her to him while she cried in worry. He knew what she meant, he wasn’t sure if he would make it back, but he sure as hell would try. He hugged Fluttershy tighter.

“Please, come back to me.” She cries, “Promise me you’ll come back.”

He sighs. “I can’t promise that Shy, what I can promise is that only death itself will stop me. I will do everything I can to get back to you, I always will.”

Fluttershy couldn’t say anything, her quiet sobs being the only thing coming from her mouth. After a few minutes she got off of him and let him up. He walked out of the house, grabbed his kanabo before leaving the building. He walked about ten feet, then turned back to look at her. Fluttershy was watching from the doorway, tears running freely down her face. He gave her a sad smile, then continued walking to the gates, where the rest were to gather.

After Mac had left, Fluttershy walked back into the house and slumped into one of the chairs. Burying her face in her hands she continued to sob. She prayed, more than ever she had before. After some time she saw one of her hawk friends come in. She, being Fluttershy, understood most all animals save the stray mythical being of yore.

“Weep not my friend.” The hawk says. “Your husband is much more capable than most.”

“Please, just watch him, and help him if you can.” She says through her tears.

“I will keep watch over your husband, friend.” The hawk says. “I will protect him as best I can”

So the hawk flew off to join Mac and the others on their march.

Big Mac stood with the other samurai behind the lines of the usual legionaries. The strategy appeared simple, the legionaries would have a shield wall behind the samurai, but then why were the samurai in the back? Big Mac didn’t know the plan, but he knew that they were to first engage an enemy army that was coming deep into their territory in search of their capital.

Big Mac was in the front of the samurai ranks, which had been placed in no particular order, there were all forms of the samurai on the front line except for the lights, as they were primarily archers. He had his kanabo over his shoulder for the march as there was no real way to sheathe the heavy club. The medium-heavies had sheathes for their katana and the medium-lights held their naginata like the legionaries held their spears.

Princess Luna and the samurai Akira stood at the front of the lines. The princess ordered them to march, the gates to the massive city opened to let them out. Mac had always wondered how the hell they opened in the first place because of their gargantuan size. Though he supposed he shouldn’t ponder it, they worked after all, and he had another problem to worry about.

He marched with the others for quite some time before they came across the army they were to fight. The legionaries formed the usual shield wall up front, but those in back formed a ramp, making it obvious to those behind what it was they were supposed to do. When the Equestrian line met theirs the samurai ran atop the ramp of shields and leapt into the frey over the shield wall.

Mac instantly raised his kanabo over his head and brought it down as he landed, nearly splitting the poor guy he hit in half. Then he began to do what his training taught him, to swing his kanabo without mercy, his immense strength helped him keep from being thrown off from the weight of the weapon. He sent the equestrians flying with each blow that landed. One managed to get behind him however and raised his sword to strike at Mac’s exposed back. Before he could, a hawk flew down and attacked his face, alerting Mac to the danger. He swung his kanabo at the mans feet and knocked him to his back, then crushed the mans head with his weapon.

This brutality, as well as effectiveness, frightened the equestrian soldiers beyond anything. The samurai left no survivors, and the last left alive was not like the rest, he wore steel plate armor with chain mail underneath, and he was left facing Mac. Mac struck the ground with his kanabo as an attempt at intimidation, the ground shook slightly, and the armored stallion seemed to have a moment of fear. This moment was used by Mac.

Mac attacked the stallion and swung his kanabo overhead to crush the stallion, it was dodged and followed up with a swing at his neck by the stallions sword. Reacting quickly Mac brought his weapon up and caught the blade, he responded by bashing his opponent. The stallion was thrown off balance, and Mac thrust his kanabo into the stallions gut, making him fall to his hands and knees. Mac stepped beside the stallion clutching his gut, and brought the kanabo down on the stallions back with a sickening crunch.

He pulled the kanabo out of the enorous dent in the dead stallions armor. He put the bloody weapon over his shoulder and surveyed the field, so many dead enemies, it made him feel an odd regret. He returned to the rest and they proceeded to march a bit longer, before setting up camp in a forest some ways away.