Invasion

While Armanii, Emerald Impaler, and the rest of the ponies sat on the train heading towards the Crystal Empire, an army marched forward from Ponyville, led by Master General Gritz himself. He led an army 1000 strong, packed to the brim with the best soldiers Talomanza had ever seen. But what is the purpose of this part of the story? Well, it is to show you how these soldiers talk to one another, and how “evil” the enemy is.

“Yalo kol solmaz! I Cri Palone e illimgaz!”

Continue marching soldiers, the Crystal Empire is waiting.

Gritz harped on his men to no end, but while they marched there were other side conversations in the ranks.

“Hey, Thanzo, how are you doing?”

“Alright, I guess. I’m still worried about what might happen here.”

“Why so?”

“Well...my brother just got back from Cloudsdale…didn’t you hear? They lost the battle to the ponies, and Giiluge was lost in the fray.”

“That’s awful!”

“I know...he said he never wanted to go back there ever again...he wants out of this war, and frankly so would I.”

“It could be worse, you could be serving under Arog.”

“I guess that’s true. Hey, have you ever noticed that Arog’s name looks a lot like the word Da-aron?”

“It sounds nothing like it.”

“Da-arog?”

“Somewhat, but you still have the da part of it. It would be like putting Gritz’s name in Mal-Giptz”

“That’s even better!”

“Oh dear Talos…”

The night was approaching, they had to settle down for the night. Gritz whipped his men at every turn but he would not make them march at night like Arog had a tendency to do. Soldiers need sleep and refueling after all.

They set up their camps and bonfires and took off their armor for celebration and eating. Dancing was common among soldiers of Talomanza, and with the ever approaching Passing of the Souls day, it was a time to dance away your sadness and fill it with music and food. Delicious horse was fed to the soldiers this night. None from Equestria, that was saved for the higher generals of the army, since it was so rare and difficult to cook.

The soldiers Thanzo Tiip and Mazbo Yuli sat together to discuss further things, while other soldiers danced and played music.

“So Thanzo, you mentioned you want out of this war?”

“Hush up will you? Gritz might hear you…”

“Oh, sorry. Well, why did you...you know?”

“Well, it started when my sister was sent to the battle of Appleloosa, you’ve heard of that small apple farming town in the southwest right?”

“I think I have, that was the town where we lost like 20 men right?”

“Yeah, it was. My sister was among those 20…”

“Oh...Thanzo I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine, I’ve gotten over it. But I don’t want to end up like her...killed by the assassin that Sve keeps with him…”

“You’ve heard of him...her...it too?”

“It’s a him, I’m pretty sure.”

“How can you ever tell with those Silver Assassins?”

“You never really can, but the way Giiluge described it to my brother it was a he.”

“Is Giiluge dead?”

“Well...secretly...I hope so. He’s probably not though.”

“That’s an awful thing to say!”

“Well I don’t particularly like Giiluge, I served under him, and he is lowest ranked general for a reason.”

“So if we went back to Cloudsdale under a different general you think we’d win?”

“I didn’t say that. The Pegasi are powerful...but we do have their famous ones.”

“What do you mean?”

“My brother and the rest of the remaining soldiers captured a one Rainbow Dash, one of the Elements of Harmony that supposedly watch over Equestria. At Cloudsdale she fell and she’s being reassigned to a new job. Some new factory or something is what I overheard from Gritz.”

“I only know of the fliers we caught at Sum-Sarem. The ‘Wonderbolts’ are supposedly the fasted fliers in Equestria, and they were shot down. Can’t believe they survived.”

Thanzo took a bite out of his horse meat.

“I would be surprised too. Not every day someone survives a plasma blast.”

“Well, I think we only hit their wings, but they crash landed so...I’m not completely sure. I only know that they are still alive.”

“I wonder what Gritz will do with them.”

“They aren’t really important to anything, He may send them to the Pegasus Device.”

“The what now?”

“You haven’t heard? Vedrach brought back an old weather controlling machine he called the Pegasus Project, or device. It can harness the powers of the Pegasi.”

“Wow, amazing!”

“I’ll say it is. Might just turn this war around.”

“But we’re already winning.”

“I know. I didn’t mean for us…”

The two sat and ate as the festivities continued. Songs about the gods echoed through the night sky. Some retired to bed before the dancing and singing could get any louder. They had a long day of marching ahead of them.

“ALRIGHT! Soldiers! Time for resting! Put out the fires and go to your tents!” Gritz yelled as the party came to a close.

The soldiers grumbled and walked to their tents. They slept soundly, and Thanzo had a dream that something awful would happen to him at the Crystal Empire…

He had a dream he’d be killed.

The sun arose and the soldiers, now well rested, put on their armor, packed up their tents and the extraneous food, and continued to march towards the Crystal Empire.

“Why does Gritz want to invade the Crystal Empire?” Thanzo asked Mazbo.

“No one is really sure, he’s been very secretive about it, but I’d imagine it’s because it’s part of Equestria, and he wants it all for Talomanza. That would be my guess.”

“What if he wants it for more sinister plans?”

“Then no one will ever know. Talomanza’s citizens don’t even know about this war. The military is great at keeping secrets.”

“That they are...that they are…”

The army marched for hours on end, stopping every now and then for water and other supplies from their canteens. Many of the soldiers wished they had vehicles, but vehicles were not coming till later in the war. They needed a factory first.

Then, they saw it, the tall tower of the Crystal Empire. The soldiers gazed with awe at the beautiful sight before them. All the wonderful little houses made of crystal and all the designs on the walls. It looked amazing.

“How beautiful.”

“It really is.”

Gritz spoke up above the crowd.

“Alright soldiers! Today we march for the Alicorn Mi Amore Cadenza! Your orders are to kill and destroy everything you see! I don’t care how beautiful you think it is! It is the enemy! Now we march forward to destroy them!”

“Yes my general!” Came the army collectively

Thanzo turned to Mazbo

“I can’t believe we have to destroy this, it’s so amazing.”

“He’s a horrible man, alright? Let’s just get this over with.”

“But...what about the innocent….”

“They may be innocent but we have orders. Unfortunately we have to kill these poor creatures.”

“Talomanza really needs to figure out it’s priorities.”

“Well said. Now come on, let’s get a move on.”

They marched down the hill to the entrance of the Crystal Empire…

Preparing for the slaughter that would soon follow.