Quashed

A month had passed since Steelhorn had been named Regent of Equestria. After the first week, rumours had begun to circulate that he was the one behind the princesses kidnapping. Steelhorn had neither confirmed nor denied these rumours, opting instead to dismiss them by stating that his duty is to Equestria and its safety. Many of the citizens saw no real difference to their lives, and continued on as usual, but others began to flee, reasoning that a minotaur could not dictate how a pony should live. Almost all of those fleeing opted for the relative safety of their satellite nation, the Crystal Empire.

More importantly, the day Steelhorn had promised was about to arrive. It was time to test the new defenses he had installed in Canterlot, by way of a wargame. He gathered up the promised two hundred and twenty soldiers, leaving the remainder to their actual duties. Just because there was a wargame going on did not mean the citizens would go unprotected. Neither were the citizens locked in or out of the city. There were two auxiliary entrances where the common citizen could enter or exit the city at will, but the mock invaders were not allowed to use them, as that would defeat the purpose. If this were a real siege, the city would be sealed, meaning that the auxiliary gates would be exactly as impregnable as the one they were supposed to use.

Steelhorn stood atop a platform and looked over the crowd of guards. They all stood completely still, a far cry from when he had first come to Equestria. There was no talking among the ranks, just silence and paying attention. "Today is not a special day," he said, his voice being amplified so as to reach all of them. "Today is an average day. Everypony in Equestria is going about their business as if nothing were wrong. At midnight tonight, that is all going to change. Those of you wearing the blue tunics are going to try to kidnap Princess Celestia!" He held up a stuffed doll that was very clearly some variety of dog. It had the name Celestia crudely painted across its chest in a green acrylic. "Those of you wearing the green tunics are going to try to stop them.

"You've each been given a bow, a foam sword, and twenty suction cup arrows. These represent actual weapons, and I expect you to treat them as such." He picked up a foam sword for demonstration. With a single swing, he smacked at a guard standing next to him. "As you can see, these swords will neither kill nor maim." He dropped the sword and picked up a bow, using it to fire a suction cup arrow that stuck to another guard's breastplate. "The arrows are also non-lethal. We just spent a month training you, we're not trying to kill you off. That said, if you are hit with either of these weapons, it is to be considered a kill, and you must deploy your death flag. You all have, attached to your belts, two tabs. When pulled, they release a red flag, like so." With a firm tug, a guard on stage deployed his death flag, indicating to everyone in the audience that he was officially mock dead.

"Those of you in blue, you are to make your way out of the city. Once you have reached your camp marker, you have until midnight to prepare. At midnight, you may begin your assault. Do not harm any citizens, do not attack regular guards. Your only interactions should be with the other players in this game and Princess Celestia." Once more, Steelhorn held up the doll. "Those of you in green, you are defending only. You are also not to interfere with regular guards or citizens. You also have the added restriction of being unable to leave Canterlot for any reason. This game shall commence at midnight, and will continue until either Princess Celestia is outside the city, or seventy-two hours pass. That's three days. If Princess Celestia is captured, victory will go to the blue team. If she is unharmed, victory goes to the green team. Are we understood?"

Almost completely in unison, the guards all saluted and responded, "Yes sir!"

"Good luck to all of you. To your positions."

Immediately, the green team huddled together and began going over their plan, while the much larger blue team filed out of the courtyard. Steelhorn made his way to the throne room, setting the stuffed doll on the throne as if it really were the tetrarch. With a smile, he made his way up to the residential section of the castle and entered into one of the bedrooms.

"A rousing speech, Chief Steelhorn," said Luna, casually sipping at a cup of tea. "We heard the whole thing from our balcony."

Steelhorn strode over to the small table and unfolded his chair. As he did so, Luna poured him a cup of tea with a small squirt of honey. "I'm glad you found it to be to your liking, princess."

"We do have one question, though. Why didst thou wish luck upon the blue team? If they do manage to take the doll, does that not prove that you failed to protect the castle?"

Steelhorn took a sip of tea. "Yes, it does. But it proves something else, as well. You see, I trained all of the soldiers out there. If they manage to take the castle, it means that I've improved Equestria's assault forces cosiderably. After all, it's not an easy task to take down a drawbridge and portcullis while a volley of arrows rains down on you, fake as they may be."

"T'would be a lie if we said we hoped the defense fails. Tens of thousands of bits went into these constructs. To see them fall would be quite expensive, indeed."

Steelhorn chuckled. "Worry not, Princess Luna. I use these same defenses on my own home. We've repelled many a siege. Those gates will hold. In fact, I'd be surprised if the invading forces even make it back into the city."