‘Gentlecolts, the Chancellor!’ Colonel Stone raised his goblet. The tentful of soldiers followed suit. Each regiment had its traditions. For the Rose Riders it was Wine Night, on which the officers drank a toast to leader and tribe.
‘Shining,’ said Stone once everypony had finished, ‘the next toast is yours.’
‘It would be my honour, sir.’ Major Shining Diamond rose, his eyes distant. ‘Gentlecolts,’ he began, ‘I ask that we drink to the Diamond! Lieutenant Sky Diamond, who with only six ponies rode to a pass on the Eastern Front eighty years ago today.
‘At its narrowest point he encountered the enemy, a party of Unicorn scouts. Behind them advanced a column two-hundred strong.
‘The skirmish was brief and bloody. One scout survived and fled. Only two of the Chancellor’s ponies remained – Lieutenant Diamond and his sergeant.
‘“Return to the regiment and tell them to advance,” Diamond told him. “If the horns get through, they’ll blast this country to bits.”
‘“Sir, there’s no time!’ protested Sergeant Star. “The regiment won’t reach here before they do.”
‘“They can’t pass through here more than one at a time. I’ll stay and use the sling, hold them off as long as I can. Now go.”
‘The sergeant nodded and rode away, leaving Lieutenant Diamond to his lone stand.
‘Sergeant Star delivered the message. When two-hundred slings reached the pass, the lieutenant still held the horns at bay. The Rose Riders fired as one, but they were too late to save Lieutenant Diamond. A fleeing horn’s furious spell crashed into his chest and killed him. He died a hero, who saved his people from a bloodbath on the plains.
‘As you know, he was my great grandfather. His son the regiment took in and raised, and he grew into a fine soldier. So did his son, my father. For a hundred years the Rose Riders have always had a Diamond!’
The regiment advanced tomorrow. Diamond sensed his chance to uphold the family name. He raised his goblet. ‘The Diamond!’
‘The Diamon—!’
A small pony in a lieutenant’s uniform entered the tent, cutting short the toast.
‘Oh. Excuse me.’
Colonel Stone’s brow went up. ‘Who the blazes are you?’
The pony saluted and said, ‘Lieutenant Venture, sir. I’ve just arrived and was told to report to you.’
‘Ah, yes, of course,’ said Stone, nodding. ‘Welcome to the regiment, my boy. You and Major Diamond are related, are you not?’
‘Yes, that’s right, sir,’ said Venture – and added, ‘Sky Diamond was my ancestor too.’
Shining Diamond glared at his distant cousin. Bloody conscripts, he thought. A good job the family name doesn’t depend upon the likes of him.
As the sun rose, the sling companies marched to the front. Lieutenant Venture was not among them. Colonel Stone had decided not to send the young officer into action so soon.
Yet the Unicorn fire was accurate, and it forced Major Diamond to dig into the cold, stony earth. ‘Blasted horns!’ he snarled as another explosion rocked their positions.
‘We’ve lost a lot of ponies, sir,’ said Sergeant Sweeper. ‘These artillery spells – can’t do a thing about them!’
Diamond scanned the area. ‘Unicorns must have spotters somewhere,’ he muttered. Then he noticed an old cottage atop a distant overlook. ‘There!’ he said. ‘On that hill.’
Sweeper nodded. ‘I’ll inform HQ.’
The CD (Communications Dragon) at headquarters belched out Sweeper’s message. Colonel Stone skimmed it and looked up, his expression grim. ‘Company D report heavy casualties. Well, lieutenant, you’ll have to get up there and do the best you can.’
Venture nodded. Unless they doused the artillery horns, the regiment would advance no farther.
The wounded marked Venture’s route to the front. Cantering into the first action of his life, he heard the shriek of Unicorn spells and ducked for cover.
‘Where’s Major Diamond?’ he asked.
‘Check that wall there,’ somepony gasped. ‘Might not be anypony left after the last pasting!’
But Diamond was still alive. He glared at Venture. ‘I asked for officers. Is this it?’
Stung, Venture saluted all the same. ‘Yes, sir.’
Even now, in the midst of a battle, Diamond scowled at him. ‘Fresh off the assault course at training camp, eh, boy? Never fought a day in your life.’
Before Venture could respond, a roaring inferno scorched the ground beside them. Venture flew backward, yelling, ‘Look out!’
Diamond hadn’t even twitched. ‘If you’d seen as much action as we have, you’d know when those artillery spells are coming really close.’
Their ill-looking CD held out a scroll. ‘Colonel Stone for you, sir,’ he croaked.
‘He wants us to clear out that cottage,’ Diamond said after reading the message. Though he barked at Venture to rally the remaining troops, his heart soared. Another chance for another Diamond, he thought. It falls to me to save the regiment from a bloodbath.
Venture’s news was grim. They were at half strength; besides the two of them, no able-bodied officers remained.
‘Then you’re the last officer I have, Venture,’ said Diamond. ‘You’ll lead the first platoon. There can be no mistakes, so I’ll be right behind you.’
Venture gulped and nodded. No more than a minute later he was leading his platoon over the wall and into the Unicorn death trap. A few-hundred yards away stood a nest of horns. They smiled at the courage on display and charged their deadly spells.
Venture lost his nerve as the ponies beside him began to fall. It’s a slaughter! he thought. We must retreat!
Major Diamond, exposed atop the wall, bellowed orders in a voice like thunder. ‘Cover them! Reload your slings! Get moving, Venture! Get them up, on their hooves, and get moving!’
Not everypony saw this as bravery. Just look at him, one soldier thought. Ringmaster at the circus! He’s deranged!
Diamond was in a frenzy, possessed by the mad glory of the family name. ‘Those horns won’t be able to harm us if we get at them, soldiers! Stand and charge! Stand a—!’
An ear-splitting explosion drowned out even Diamond’s roar. Diamond stumbled from the ruined wall, his body intact. Then smoke engulfed him.
‘Diamond’s gone! Blown to bits!’
‘Never! Keep firing!’
As the Unicorns’ spells raked the ravaged platoon, Sergeant Sweeper shouted to Venture. ‘Barely ten ponies still standing, sir, and we’ll all go down if we keep this up!’
‘We have to retreat!’ Venture shouted back.
But before he could turn, the smoke cleared and Major Diamond was beside him. ‘Get moving, Venture!’ he growled. ‘Get forward! The artillery can’t touch you when you’re in the horns’ front lines!’
‘Diamond!’ said Venture, shocked. Then he gathered himself. ‘He’s right, sergeant! We keep moving!’
‘What? Who’s right?’
‘Major Diamond! Didn’t you hear him? He said the artillery can’t hit us if we’re in the horns’ front lines!’
‘I – I didn’t! Still, he would say that –’
‘Let’s move!’ Venture cried again. Covering fire from the company’s remaining slings brought them close to the enemy nests.
‘Fight!’ squealed Venture – to himself more than anypony. His heavy attack hooves crunched into the nearest Unicorn, whose face crumpled. A white-hot spell shot past Venture’s ear. He grunted and brought all his weight down onto another horn.
‘We’ve done it!’ gasped Sergeant Sweeper moments later.
‘OK!’ said Venture, panting. ‘Now bring forward the other platoons!’
‘No sign of Major Diamond,’ somepony muttered.
Shrieks filled the air again, and fire scorched the taken ground.
‘Artillery spells!’
‘Take cover!’
The spells were as accurate as before.
‘Crafty bastards,’ grunted Sweeper. ‘They fire on their own positions while the other platoons leg it fast.’
‘What’s wrong now, Venture?’ A familiar snarl. ‘Get up there and douse those horns! Or am I going to have to do it single-handed?’ Diamond returned as the latest smoke cleared.
‘How did you get there?’ Venture asked.
‘How did who get where?’ Sergeant Sweeper asked him.
‘The major! You heard him! Let’s get up and get moving! One platoon gives covering fire and the rest are with me!’
Sweeper was bewildered. Diamond’s orders, no doubt – but where is Venture getting them from?
Yet Venture had his orders and was following them. ‘Use your grenades, boys!’
The grenades were effective. The survivors of the latest nest fled as Venture’s platoons advanced.
‘They’ve had enough!’ he said. They had won another assault that he would have deemed impossible only this morning. ‘Let’s get our breath back, sergeant. Consolidate our position.’
‘Very good, sir.’
As Sweeper turned to tell the others, Venture found himself face to face with Major Diamond.
‘What the blazes do you think you’re about, Venture?’ he demanded. ‘This isn’t ladies’ luncheon in a factory mess!’ Diamond pointed. The horns had already launched a counter-attack. ‘It’s wake up or die! The regiment’s relying on you to capture that cottage. Now take care of this lot!’
‘Up!’ roared Venture, leaping into action. ‘Everypony on your hooves!’
And the Unicorns were on them, horns flashing. A hoof-to-hoof favoured the Earth Ponies. But action had tired Venture’s platoons, and the spells kept them at bay. Venture fought the hardest he’d ever fought in his life, his battered hooves stained with horns’ blood.
‘Behind you!’ Major Diamond’s warning came in time. Venture hurled himself at the Unicorn; his head broke against a rock.
‘Thanks,’ managed Venture, staggering to his hooves. ‘Thanks for saving me.’
Diamond’s eyes were hard. ‘I didn’t do it just for you. I did it for those poor bastards in the regiment, pounded by the artillery.’
‘Sir.’ It was Sweeper, his face bloody but firm. ‘A message from HQ. I can’t find Major Diamond, so you’ll have to take it.’
‘But –’ Venture span around. ‘But he was here only a moment ago!’
‘Sir?’
‘OK – OK, I’ll take it.’
The CD handed him the message. ‘Colonel Stone wants us to push on with all speed,’ said Venture once he’d read it. ‘But how do we get up there?’
Sweeper pointed at a winding path leading to the summit. ‘That’s the only way I see.’
‘Then let’s go.’
As Venture led the file, he spotted Diamond some distance ahead. ‘Come on, Venture!’ he called, waving. ‘Get a move on! Anypony would think you’re strolling through a park!’
Once again Diamond had somehow managed to get in front. ‘We were looking for you, sir!’ Venture replied, speeding up.
‘You shouldn’t have wasted any more time. Follow me now, and keep up.’
Venture’s leadership had impressed some of the soldiers. Private Spector, a seasoned veteran, was well respected.
‘Hey, Specs. Who’s this new bloke up top?’
‘Lieutenant Venture,’ said Spector. ‘Arrived last night, and he’s more than halfway to glory already, eh?’
‘Oh, sure, sure,’ said Private Bristle, who wasn’t as happy with their new CO. ‘He’ll be a hero if he doesn’t get himself killed – and all of us with him. Shit!’
A rabbit shot past them; Bristle scowled as Spector laughed. Then a violent explosion stopped the soldiers dead in their tracks.
‘What was that?’ Venture asked Sweeper.
‘A mine!’ said the sergeant. ‘Set off by a rabbit! The path’s mined! Well, that’s it, then. We can’t go through a minefield.’
He turned, and so did Venture until he saw Major Diamond, glowering at him.
‘Where did you vanish?’ Venture asked him, but Diamond waved him down.
‘Never mind that. Get those soldiers up here at once. We’re advancing.’
‘Advanc—? This is crazy! The path’s mined!’
Diamond scowled. ‘I’ll find a way through it. We go up, or we let the horns blast our regiment to pieces. Follow me – and make sure everypony else does too.’
Though the plan seemed crazy to Venture, he sensed Diamond was right. What other choice do we have? He turned to Sweeper and said, ‘No one ordered a withdrawal, sergeant! We keep moving!’
The words stunned Sweeper, but he obeyed. ‘Y— yes, sir.’
Diamond had already started. ‘Keep your hoofsteps exactly in mine,’ he barked over his shoulder. ‘You’ll be safe.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Venture said, gulping as their perilous walk began. The cold, sodden ground held hoofprints well. Venture followed Diamond, and the remaining soldiers followed Venture.
‘Keep in the hoofsteps!’ called Sweeper. ‘Lieutenant Venture’s marking the way!’
‘Venture’s cracked to try this!’ hissed one pony. ‘It’s like he’s talking to someone, the way he keeps muttering to himself!’
‘And where’s Diamond?’ muttered another. ‘I haven’t seen him since the attack began!’
‘He’s dead! I saw it! Blown to bits by a spell! There one moment and gone the next!
But Venture could see him quite plainly. ‘Be careful, sir!’ he said as Diamond’s walk became a march.
Then, without warning, another explosion. Venture watched smoke, flame and shrapnel engulf his CO. ‘Major!’ he yelled, covering his face.
Rubble slid down the slope to rest among the soldiers.
‘The blazes set that one off?’
Venture was still as the smoke cleared. He must be dead. So, now it’s up to me.
It was Venture’s turn to tread the graveyard path. But when he reached the blast site, Diamond’s body was missing, and the minefield had ended. ‘It’s solid rock from here!’ he said.
Some time later the soldiers, panting, reached the summit.
‘Let’s take a breather before we try anything else,’ Venture told Sweeper. ‘What’s our strength, sergeant?’
‘Few, sir, and we haven’t a clue what’s up there.’
As he spoke, one pony peered over the ridge. ‘Still a way to go before we reach the cottage, but there’s some cover and – argh!’
The spell threw him from the path and to his death. The horns had drawn first blood. To reach the cottage seemed, yet again, impossible.
‘They’ll mow us down the moment we clear that rise,’ said Sweeper. ‘It’s sheer suicide.’
Now what do we do? thought Venture, his brow tight. Below them the artillery continued to pound the regiment.
‘If we stay put,’ Venture said, ‘we’ve all but failed. The horns can still drop those spells. At this rate the battalion will be wiped out!’
‘And if we go up, we’ll be wiped out,’ Sweeper told him. ‘What do you suggest, sir?’
The decision rested with Venture, and he wasn’t ready for it. Sit tight and watch the carnage? Or sacrifice his life and those of his ponies in a hopeless attempt to capture the cottage? What would Major Diamond do? he found himself thinking.
‘There’s only one thing you can do, Venture. Get everypony to their hooves and get fighting!’
To Venture’s astonishment, Major Diamond had appeared on the ridge. Venture tried to argue, but Diamond was gone.
‘Oi. He’s talking to himself again.’
Venture was on his hooves. ‘On your hooves, sergeant! Charge!’
‘Move!’ bellowed Sweeper at the others. ‘On your hooves, Bristle!’
A barrage of spells met the charging ponies, and they started to fall.
‘Keep moving!’ screamed Venture. ‘Get at them!’
This time they would not listen. Exhausted, Bristle and Spector dived behind a rock. Further spells cut the ponies beside them to pieces.
‘We can’t make this!’ shouted Sweeper.
‘Tell everypony to take cover!’ Venture shouted back. He skidded behind a boulder – only to find it occupied by Major Diamond!
‘Ducking out again, eh, Venture?’ he said.
‘You!’
‘Get back out there and fight! You won’t take the hill by hiding!’
Venture had had enough. ‘You’re trying to get me killed!’ he snarled. He had known from the start that Diamond despised him. ‘You hated me the second I stepped into that tent! And it’s because you don’t think I’m good enough to share the family name, isn’t it? You just want more glory, and you don’t care how you get it!’
The outburst did not faze Diamond. ‘I don’t care two bits for you, Venture! What matters to me are those ponies back there, being slaughtered! And more will die unless you get the horns off this hill!’
‘You expect me to believe that?’
Before Diamond could answer, Sweeper called to Venture. ‘Lieutenant! HQ wants a situation report!’
‘OK,’ replied Venture. ‘I’m coming.’ He realised he didn’t know what to say and turned to Diamond.
‘Tell them your strength and that you’re pinned down,’ Diamond said at once. ‘And ask about getting some air support!’
At headquarters Colonel Stone sighed as his adjutant read out Venture’s report. ‘They’re pinned down at no more than quarter strength. Young Venture’s in command, and he wants to know about air support.’
Stone made up his mind. ‘Tell him it’s on the way.’ He sighed again. ‘We can’t expect much from Venture, so tell him to use the strike as cover to retreat.’
‘Sir,’ said his adjutant, ‘the entire regiment would have to pull back!’
Stone nodded. ‘Yes, until we can douse those horns. We’ll have to try something else.’
On the summit, as the CD belched up Colonel Stone’s reply, Diamond spoke. ‘It’s your choice, Venture. Stay here and die a coward – or advance! It’s your choice.’
Venture wondered why Diamond did not take command himself, but he did not have time to argue.
‘Sir,’ said Sweeper. ‘Shall I order the withdrawal?’
Venture looked him in the eye and shook his head. ‘No. Prepare to advance.’
Though shocked, Sweeper followed his orders. But not everypony was as disciplined as he.
‘You hear that? “Advance”? He’s lost it!’
‘Snapped! I’m getting out of this!’
‘If Diamond were here, things would be different –’
The remnants of the company began to scramble back to the rise.
They’re deserting! thought Venture. Diamond’s making me give orders they won’t follow. They think I’m sending them to their deaths.
Diamond placed a hoof on Venture’s shoulder. ‘Stop thinking about yourself, Venture! You made a decision! Stick to it!’
The drone of engines grew closer; planes swooped in to release their deadly cargo.
‘Here’s the support, boys!’ shouted Sweeper.
‘Now’s our chance!’ screamed Venture. ‘While the horns hold their heads!’
The remaining soldiers followed him into battle once more. The second round of explosives wiped out several nests. Venture and his boys took care of the reeling Unicorns.
‘There’s one more round to come from the planes, sir!’ yelled Sweeper. ‘We’ll have to wait before we strike the cottage!’
Venture saw a figure rush through the smoke in front of him, toward the flames. Major Diamond.
‘We go in now!’ shouted Venture. He had no doubts left.
‘Yes, sir!’ And Sweeper rallied the platoons and charged. The soldiers at the ridge saw their bravery.
‘See that, Bristle?’ shouted Spector. ‘The new officer’s another Diamond!’
‘Well, let’s get in there with him, then!’
Venture leapt through the breached wall. He fought his way through the crippled horns inside. Then he heard the unmistakable, impatient voice of Major Diamond. ‘More in this room, Venture! Come on!’
Venture tossed his last grenade and followed it up with his attack hooves. The cottage was theirs. They had doused the horns at last.
At headquarters Colonel Stone watched green flares rise from the hilltop.
‘The success signal!’ cried his adjutant. ‘Venture’s taken the overlook!’
Grinning, the colonel nodded. ‘Order all companies to advance.’
At the cottage Colonel Stone congratulated the young officer in person.
‘Quite a view, eh?’ he said, peering through binoculars. ‘Our every move completely visible. And the artillery horns knew exactly where to drop their spells. Well done, lieutenant. Very well done.’ Colonel Stone’s next words shook Venture. ‘Shining Diamond would have been proud of you.’
Venture blinked. ‘What do you mean “would”, sir?’
Colonel Stone’s brow went up. ‘You didn’t know? He was killed by a spell at the start of the attack. We’ve recovered his body.’
‘But that’s impossible!’ protested Venture.
‘That’s war, my boy. And it’s the way Shining would have liked to go.’
‘But –’
It dawned on him. He came back to lead me to glory. It sounded foolish, but Venture could not explain it any other way.
‘And from what I’ve heard,’ Colonel Stone continued, ‘the Rose Riders still have a living legend! Or so your sergeant tells me! A new Diamond! You!’
Venture gulped, caught between strange feelings of pride, sadness and gratitude. He nodded.
‘I learned from the best, sir.’
