Author's Note

Hey guys, gals, and all of you sporting that techno colored rainbow in between, it has been a hot minute. I am splitting the chapter because this is where I got the flow to and liked it. I just felt like I did a bit too much for one chapter, so the next chapter (whenever that happens) will close out the night and lead into the following day. So until next time, please read, enjoy, and I'll see you next time.

The Night of The Blood Valkyrie(part 1)

It was evening time a few miles from Cirrus drop where the Warborn and Iron Talon had set up camp. The Warborn had gathered near the west side of the field, and all looked to be praying. Ivor was the first to stand, and his father followed as they retrieved a large basin filled with a crimson liquid returning to the front of the praying caribou. Gaius looked on till curiosity got the best of him and approached the two doing his best not to disturb any caribou.

"Mind if I ask what you all are doing?" Gaius asked, looking in the large bowl.

"Tonight will be special, and we are preparing to attack," Einar answered as he called for all warriors fighting to line up.

"How so?" The griffin asked, taking a sniff of the bowl and quickly pulling back. "Oh good gods, what the hell is that? Smells like blood." He coughed, looking at the two as Einar chuckled.

"That's because it is blood." Ivor smiled, stepping to the front of the line.

Einar dipped the tips of his fingers into the blood and put five lines down Ivor's face from forehead to chin. Ivor then took his place next to his father and did the same to the caribou behind him and the next.

"Okay, I'll bite; why do you have a bowl of blood?" Gaius asked as the father and son continued the odd ritual.

"For the raid, we have a special someone guiding us tonight," Ivor said. "And she demands that those who fight to wear blood like a badge of honor."

"And who's she, if I may ask?" Gaius asked, looking around but not seeing anyone particularly important looking.

"Her." Ivor pointed into the quickly becoming night sky toward the fort. In the stars above was what looked like a crimson-colored winged female caribou made of stars and galaxies holding a spear in her left hand with the tip pointed at the fort, but what looked like her head was turned, and two blinding white stars seemed to look off away from the cliffside.

"What the… " Gaius trailed off. "What the fuck is that, and should we concerned?" He asked, sounding worried.

"The Blood Valkyrie," Ivor answered.

"She is an unnamed warrior who was said to have fought over ten-thousand warriors in a single night," Einar said. "When the sun emerged the next morning, she stood victorious with her spear."

"I thought Valkyries carried warriors that fell in battle to Valhalla?" Gaius asked.

"They do," Ivor answered. "But while most will train to be Valkyrie, some earn it like her."

"That's right," Einar confirmed. "When her fight ended, Sigrun herself came, offered her wings and a place alongside her and her sisters." The older caribou continued as other caribou began their pre-fight rituals. "She accepted but had the backbone to demand her place in the cosmos from the Allfather himself."

"So now she's a collection of stars and nebulas?" Gaius asked.

"So she can watch battles till the end of time." Ivor nodded. "Her spear points to slaughter while she looks toward a great battle in the future."

"She's looking towards Canterlot," Gaius said. "Your story happen to say when that great battle will happen?"

"Fraid not," Ivor said, turning to paint blood on the next warrior until he saw it was Applejack. "And I assume there is no deterring you from fighting?"

"Not a chance." The farm mare smirked.

Ivor smiles and paints a few lines and symbols on her face. "These marks will show that you have no fear and that you will not break." The mare smiled and walked off to join the other warriors waiting to move and attack. "Gaius, I might need your help tonight," Ivor said, leading the griffin aside.

"Hey, you keep your shit inline," Gaius said. "I'll have enough on my plate keeping my troops alive."

"It's the kid," Ivor said, nodding his head where Vidar paced back and forth like an animal in a cage. "He's been doing that for almost an hour."

"So what? Maybe he's hyped up for your whole Blood Valkyrie thing," Gaius said. "Besides, wouldn't you want some bloodthirsty warrior for this fight?"

"Not like him, " Ivor answered. "I can deal with blood fueled rage, but not when the one having it is already that much of an animal."

Gaius watched Vidar spin a newly acquired hatchet and a large knife in his hands, looking at the fort on the cliff. "I'll try to make sure he doesn't kill anyone he's not supposed to."

"That's all I ask, " Ivor smiled, patting Gaius on the back. "We move when the first star is visible." Gaius nodded and went to help his soldiers prepare to attack.

-+-+-+-

Shining Armor stood before his soldiers as his daughter sat on a nearby log, kicking her feet back and forth. He had just marched his army halfway across Equestria on her vision of a dream, and now he was wondering if he was second-guessing himself. At the top of the hill was Cirrus drop, and the night was coming fast; if they didn't move soon, they would lose their chance to attack.

"Prince Shining!" A soldier shouted as he ran up the white stallion.

"What is it?" Shining asked, concerned.

"We captured a scout." The warrior smiled. "We thought you should question him."

Shining looked shocked and told the soldier to take him to the scout. He led to a large tent where a caribou dressed in Valkyrie armor and a helmet covering their head tied to a chair. The caribou was struggling against the ropes that held them down. Shining stepped in front of their prisoner, making them stop fighting. "So you wanna tell me what you know, or should we just break your bones one by one?" Shining asked.

"I know you, half-wits, better let me go, " The caribou spoke. "I mean none of you harm."

"Why should we believe you?" The Prince asked. "Your 'king' has taken our homes, our people, our very way of life, " Shining spoke, getting in the caribou's face. "Give me one good reason why I should let you go."

"King? I don't answer to a. . .oh pfft hahaha." The caribou laughed. "You assholes think I'm Stonehoof? Oh, that is, that is funny."

"And why is that?" The soldier who brought Shining armor asked, confused.

"Help me with my helmet." The caribou said, still giggling.

Shining grabbed the helmet and pulled it off, revealing a female caribou with short nubs of antlers, long hair that split into three braids at the middle of her back, and a healed scar across her lips from the bottom of her left nostril to the right side of her chin.

"Do I look like the kinda lass to fall in with Stonehoof?" The caribou cow asked.

Shining looked confused. "What are you?"

"Warborn sweetie, now you," She nodded to the soldier behind Shining. "Get me out of these, and I'll let you keep more than half your teeth." She smiled, gesturing to her bindings. The soldier looked to the prince, he nodded, and the soldier made quick work of the ropes. "Thank you, " She said, standing up and rubbing her wrists, giving the soldier a look. "Hmm, you're cute… too bad, my wife is the jealous type." She chuckled, grabbing her helmet, and started towards the tent opening.

"Wait," Shining told her before she got to the flap. "Could I persuade you into fighting with us?" He asked.

"Of course, " She nods, opening the tent. "This is the Warborn symbol; try not to kill any of us." She answered, showing a tattoo on her right upper arm of a red raven an attacking pose. She stepped out of the tent and grabbed her spear and shield that were nearby. She was beginning to leave the camp when a scream made the entire camp jump. Without hesitation, all the warriors ran towards the scream with Shining at the front in seconds and found himself where he had left his daughter, but she was gone.

"FLURRY!" The prince shouted rapidly, turning in circles, hoping for even a glance of his daughter.

"DADDY!" A scream came just beyond the trees. Shining sprinted through the forest to a road to see his daughter being carried into Cirrus Drop by a caribou. The stallion could do nothing but watch as the gate of the fort closed, and his daughter was gone.

Shining turned towards the army that had followed him and took a sword from the closest soldier.

"We! Move! NOW!" Shining yelled, starting to walk towards the fort, only stopping in front of the female Warborn. "I'm getting my daughter back, tell your chief, or whatever you have; he's welcome to help or stay the hell out of my way." He growled and continued towards the fort with his army close behind.

The Valkyrie pulled a hunting horn from her belt and gave it a mighty blow alerting all around for miles.

-+-+-+-

Flurry kicked and screamed, trying to get free of the stallion as he carried her into the middle of the fort.

"LADS GATHER ROUND!" He yelled, throwing Flurry to the ground. "WE HAVE OURSELVES A LITTLE TREAT, AN ALICORN PRINCESS, AND ON THE YOUNG SIDE AT THAT!" He addressed the warriors of Cirrus drop. A caribou pair grabbed Flurry, putting a jagged black ring on her horn, an inhibitor ring.

"You know they say the smaller the fruit, the sweeter the juice, so I say we all have a taste." A savage-looking caribou laughed, starting to walk towards where Flurry was.

"You won't touch her." A voice called out. Everyone turned to see a caribou walking down from some steps. He stood as tall as Shining armor and carried a Dane ax on his shoulder; he was dressed in furs, pelts, and bore many scars across his face and chest. But his most prominent feature was his left arm looking attached gruesomely to his shoulder; it was tar-black with electric blue seeming to pulse through it.

"High commander, " The savage said, giving a small bow. "What's a little touch or bite on the little cutie?"

"Because Dainn wants a complete set, and if I let you and the rest have a turn, then I'll have to explain why instead of a Princess, I've delivered a corpse." The commander said, walking up to Flurry and used his left hand to tilt her face up. "But a little damage will be fine, dislocate her wing, and put her in a cage with a view." The savage chuckled, grabbed Flurry by her shoulder and wing, then he whispered in her ear.

"Make a wish."

With a deep popping sound and a scream, he pulled her out of its socket. With tears welling up in her eyes, they started dragging her to the other side of the fort that was little more than a stone bridge. Along the bridge were cages hanging over the sides with several mares hanging from inside them. The savage threw her in a cell at the end of the bridge and pushed it where it hung over the edge above a massive drop down to the water. As soon as she was locked up, the sound of a hunting horn tore through the air, alerting the entire fort.

-+-+-+-

Shining's army had pushed catapults into range and ready to fire. Shining was advancing on the fort with about two dozen of his best and a few bridge launchers they rolled alongside them. As they reached the wall, Shining hit the device's lever, launching at the keep wall, creating a bridge. The former guard captain was halfway to the wall before anyone could blink. Once he reached the border, arrows began to fly from the front and behind, but he didn't care. He was going to find his daughter.

He found himself in at the wall when he heard footsteps behind him and saw a young caribou running straight at him, wielding a hatchet and hunting knife. He turned to fight, but the caribou used Shining's shoulder as a step up and made it to the top, where he pulled himself up and over. Confused, Shining shrugged it off as one of his soldiers handed a short ladder to him to scale the rest of the way up the wall.

"FLURRY!" Shining yelled as he reached the top of the wall. He quickly found himself surrounded by caribou and loyalist stallions ready to attack.

"Get out of my way," Shining growled, tightening his grip on his sword till his knuckles turned a burning shade of white.

"Or what?" One of them chuckled.

"Or this, " A voice said as dozen of caribou came over the wall and quickly began to overwhelm the stonehoof army. Shining stared in shock as the same species that took his home now fought against each other as he had fought them.

"Don't just stand there, kill somebody." The same voice said to Shining, making him turn to see a warlord bash another caribou with his shield. Shining was back to fighting in seconds, taking down various enemies and making his way down to the keep's courtyard when he noticed a raider watching over the battle. When their eyes met, the raider stepped through a close-by door where a bright flash followed. He ran to the door but saw that it was an empty room; before he could question it, he found himself tackled to the ground and wrestling with a stallion.

Elsewhere in the keep, Vidar was underground fighting. He was quick and agile, jumping off walls and swinging from rafters as he took down enemy after enemy. The young-adult caribou was more ferocious than usual; every hit either broke a bone or was a killing blow. The simple reason? All the voices in his head screamed at him one single thought:

'SHE IS HERE!'

Vidar made his way deeper and deeper into the dungeon and did not leave any alive in his wake.

Back up top, the Warborn, Iron Talon, and Equestrian knights were barely holding their own. Ivor and Gaius were standing with their backs to each other as warriors surrounded them.

"Love to hear any suggestions, branch brain," Gaius growled at the caribou.

"Workin' on it," Ivor growled back. Ivor began scanning the area, spotting a berserker currently fighting off any who came near. "HIM, THE BERSERKER!" Ivor yelled, causing the whole of the Warborn clan to focus their attention. The other armies followed suit and began pushing their way towards the mentioned caribou, who was starting to fly into a rage before spotting who he thought to be the Warborn chief, Einar.

Einar was old. He had seen nearly forty winters before his son was born and thirty more since he had lost his wife. But it did not matter to him if the gods allowed him to live that long, He would fight until Ragnarok and after that. Einar turned to face his next opponent, a Berserker.

Einar swung his ax at the charging warrior, who dodged it and went to bring his blades down on the older caribou. Einar rolled back to avoid the attack giving the two a moment to circle and size the other up before going In for another attack. The berserker charged and began to unleash a flurry of attacks upon the old former chief, Einar, while old had enough speed and knowledge to only receive a few cuts before slamming the pommel of the ax into the berserker's nose, making him back off. With his nose broken and pouring blood, the berserker roared in anger before charging again.

Einar let the warrior come at him and hoisted him up onto his shoulders. Grabbing the berserk's neck and hip, the old caribou gave a violent jerk downward, making a crunching and cracking snapping sound. The berserker roared in pain and continued to do so as Einar threw him to the ground. With the berserker felt with Einar turned to address the armies.

"YOUR CHIEF IS BEAT LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS AND SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE WARBORN!" Einar yelled. As the Stonehoof began to kneel, the berserker growled, giving a violent jerk making his spine snap back into place, and standing on shaking legs, he drew a knife charging at Einar, who had his back turned.

He planted the knife in Einar's back, causing him to gasp as he felt it hit his lung and scrape his heart. The old former chief fell to the ground catching himself on his knees.

"I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY 'SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE STONEHOOF' YOU OLD FOOL!" The berserker yelled, letting out a chuckle.

"I would if I was chief," Einar growled back, fighting to try and stand back up. "But I'm not."

"Then who is?" The berserker asked.

"I am." The voice of Ivor said, stepping forth and helping his father to his feet. "And you have attacked my father, so now I'm going to rip your head off." Once, he passed off his father to some other Warborn, Ivor turned to face the berserker. If you looked into his eyes, all you would see was rage and blood lust.

Ivor charged at the berserker, tackling him to the ground, and began to bash his head in with his shield. The berserker tried to bring his knife up into Ivor's neck, but the young chief grabbed his wrist and broke it, making his enemy drop the blade and continued his assault. His shield was becoming stained red as his strikes continued until the berserker's face was red as bones were beginning to show and sputtered blood. As his strikes slowed till he stopped and took a breath, standing up, Ivor lifted the Berserker to his knees and stood behind him. Most would have gone with a quick snap, but Ivor said he would pull his head off, and he would hate to be a liar. So grabbing the kneeling caribou's antlers and a hoof on his shoulder, Ivor began to pull slowly, and what followed was screaming, cracking, popping, and ripping of flesh.

The armies looked on as one chief killed another, and with a roar, the berserker had his head removed and tossed aside. Ivor rolled his neck out with a crack. With their leader gone and the violent display over, the rest of the Stonehoof began to surrender, not wanting to join the fallen warrior.

Ivor walked over to Shining and spoke. "Find what you are looking for; I must attend to my father."

Shining nodded. "Search the area, find my daughter!" He called out as the armies began to search.

Even after all that had happened, everyone could tell that the night still had a lot in store. . .for everyone.