Quashed

Having seen the whole thing, Arrow leaped on top of Celestia and Luna's carriage, lifted his horn to his lips, and sounded the alarm. The leading guards dropped back, focusing their defense around the carriages as zebras sprang from the undergrowth and rushed at them.

Steelhorn cursed himself. The zebra forces had been the bulk of the invading party, numbering over a hundred and fifty. Their party had been limited to forty-five men, not including the minotaurs. He had kept the party small so as to draw less attention as they left Canterlot, but if all of the zebras from the invasion were here, they were outnumbered three to one, without optimal defenses. These were not great odds.

Steelhorn entered the fray with his mace swinging low. The zebras kept their masks on and their shields up, keeping them mostly protected from his faster, weaker blows. Even if he were to strike hard, the worst he could do was to knock them back a few steps. His strikes were regulated and rhythmic, keeping them from coming too close to him. He would have to rely on his allies to aid in his advance.

Arrow was trying to assist in just that. Being a skilled archer, he had the means to take out some of the zebras between Steelhorn and the carriages, but not the time to do so. He was constantly turning around, firing arrows into the zebra archers that had taken up positions among the tree branches. Their decision to go without armor afforded them such a position, but did nothing to protect them from retuning fire. On his own, Arrow managed to take out more than half a dozen zebras.

Boneshatter was having much better luck, having chosen a weapon that was excellent at dealing with shielded enemies. His hammer shattered both shield and bone as he carved a path through the zebras, making his way to the trees. With a mighty strike, he sent shockwaves up the trees, knocking zebras out of the thicker ones and toppling the smaller trees. It wasn't long before he had opened a large hole in the zebra forces.

Hardtusk and Scrimshaw were having a more difficult run at the back of the line. While they did have a fair amount of training for close combat, there were fewer equestrian guards near the back of the convoy, meaning there were no defensive formations around them. Between them, they were managing to hold off several of the melee attackers, but could not switch to their specialty of ranged attacks.

At Arrow's command, Boneshatter switched to the other side of the road, managing to punch enough of a hole in the zebras that Steelhorn could return to the group. "We're outnumbered and they have the advantage," called Steelhorn, only just being able to be heard over the din of the battle. "Make a hole in front and show them our heels!"

Boneshatter nodded, making his way to the front. Steelhorn started back to pick up the rear, but was called from that task by an arrow glancing off of one of his horns. He looked to the source, and saw the zebra that had shot at him reloading his bow. He picked up a rock and lobbed it as hard as he could, showing the zebra archer how to accurately hit a target in the face. As the archer fell to the ground, Steelhorn's attention was again drawn away by a fresh wave of zebra spearmen.

Boneshatter had made his way to the front and punched a hole in the zebra forces. He called out the retreat order, prompting the guards to grab tightly to the carriages holding the princesses and run. A small number of guards heard the message, but stayed behind, holding back some of the zebra forces in order to make the escape easier. Steelhorn took note of them, opting to have them remembered as heroes, whether they managed to survive or not.

Steelhorn ran alongside the carriage holding Luna and Celestia, bashing away any zebras that came close to it. Arrow held his position atop the carriage, firing at any zebras brave enough to come close, and dumb enough to leave any small gap between their shield and mask.

Before long, they exited the forested section of path. Normally, this would be where they slowed their pace, but the fortress was in sight, so they kept going. They had almost made it. The portcullis and drawbridge were open, they just had to reach them to be safe.

As they arrived, Steelhorn gave the order to close the doors and prepare the defenses. Any zebras that had followed them would be subjected to a rain of arrows. However, no arrows fell, as the zebras had not pursued them beyond the forest. Steelhorn sighed in relief at the return of this news.

"We are honoured to receive you, Regent Steelhorn," bowed the fort commander. "And to receive the princesses, as well. However, I'm confused. Didn't your missive state that you were bringing two carriages?"

Steelhorn looked around. Only one carriage, the one holding Celestia, Luna, and the priestess had arrived. The one holding Twilight was nowhere to be seen.

"On top of that," continued the commander, "I'm quite sure you said four minotaur warriors. I only see two. Three, if you count the one in the carriage, but she doesn't look like much of a warrior to me. Where are the other two?"

Just after the retreat had begun, a pair of arrows had taken out the soldier pulling Twilight's carriage. Scrimshaw had doubled back to take command of it, detaching the body of the dead guard and holding the yoke in his hands. As he resumed his running, another arrow had come in, this one finding its home right in Scrimshaw's neck. The arrowhead had cut a hole in his trachea, and severed his jugular vein. In less than a minute, he was suffocating in his own blood.

As for what had happened to Hardtusk, seeing his younger brother killed had sent him into a blind rage. He managed to kill more than two dozen zebras and injure twenty more before they could take him down. As he gasped for his last few breaths, an axe came down, splitting his skull and finishing him before any more damage could be done.

Twilight was terrified as the lock to the carriage door was forcefully broken off. As the door swung open, she peered out. Among the bloody carnage that surrounded her was a platoon of zebra warriors. At the center, one stood particularly tall. He was pale, and wore a large bandage over his abdomen. Seeing her, he bowed.

"Princess Sparkle, might I say what a pleasure it is to see you today. We feared what had befallen you, but now our fear can be subdued. Come, let's take you to your sister. I'd wager that you've sorely missed her."

Twilight felt a twinge of hope. "You're taking me to see Cadance?"

The pale zebra nodded. "Now, we have a very long way to go. But first, an introduction. I am Prince Jericho."