Torn Apart

The Everfree forest is the scariest place I’ve ever been in. You can barely see it’s so dark. There’s trees and brush everywhere. I could already tell the fighting would be up close and personal.

The lads were happy to see me back, especially Bulls-eye. He never seemed the same ever since I saw him in Ponyville. But none the less, we greeted each other warmly. Besides the scenery, little had changed. Aside from the rebels, we were introduced to a new enemy, the ferocious creatures that await us in this nightmare of a forest. We apparently also received a new sergeant while I was absent. I knew little about him, but I hoped he was somewhat as good as Toothpick. With spring having arrived, and both sides resuming combat (winter was spent in winter quarters, it was a hibernation period for the army), my nerves became more tense. During one of our patrols, I discovered some bodies of stallions, our lads. I assumed they were from when they went scavenging for food during the siege, its memories still fresh in my mind. There was distinct claw marks on the bodies. Whatever took them, was a rather large animal. I tried to push a mental image of the horrible thing out of my mind and continued onward.

Woosh! A heard the sound of a bullet fly past us. “Take cover!” our Sergeant said (Who I learned had the nick-name of Sweet William). I took my position behind a thick tree. Toothpick had said this area was littered with sharpshooters, but I didn’t expect to run into any. “Do you see him?” William asked. “No Sarge!” another replied. I poked my head out, only for it to be swiftly drawn back by the wiz of a passing bullet. “Stardust!” William yelled. “Sir?” he asked. “Start running towards that tree in a zig-zag formation!” he said. “Are you crazy sir?” Stardust asked. “Just do it private! The rest of you, I want you to give him covering fire, once you see the flash of that reb’s gun, light him up!” “Aye sir!” I said.

Stardust began his sprint. The sharpshooter took the bait. We began pouring rounds into the tree from which he was firing. I aimed my rife, looked down my sights, and fired. The reb fell from the free onto the ground. Most of our day had us repeating this until we stumbled upon some sort of fortress. “What in the hell is that?” Sawbones said. I noticed the Lunar flag waving over the structure. He marked it on a map, and we marched back to our camp. Upon telling Toothpick, he quickly made his decision, we would attack at dawn.

The next morning, we ate a quick breakfast of salt pork and a small cup of coffee and marched out. A song started to resound throughout the column, which went something like this:

"Rise up you valiant patriots, and listen unto me!

Those turncoat traitors of the dark have gone to war with ye!

So enlist me lad and join our ranks and we will make them see!

Put on your suit and grab you boots an’ come away wi’ me!

To arms me lads, assist the princess in her dire hour!

We’ll give those rebs the bayonet an’ show them our true power!

We’ll take the Princess of the Night and bring her to her knees!

Put on your suit and grab your boots an’ come away wi’ me!"

We reached small clearing right under a ridge overlooking the structure. It was there we made camp. It was here that I learned of the importance of this fort. This fort was the only protection left between Luna’s Castle and us. I could see the end of the war was in sight. Right after lunch, we formed our battalions for the assault. My regiment had the job of being the first wave. A detachment of pegasi was going to hopefully provide a distraction while we attack. We formed into our battle lines. Toothpick came up and addressed us. “Fix...bayonets!” I pulled that long piece of steel out of my scabbard and attached it to my rifle. It shined gleamed brightly on that clear spring day. “Shoulder, arms!”. “Forward...March!” Our attack began. At that moment, the cannons of the Lunar fort opened up on us. One of them made a direct hit on our line. A collection small of legs and hooves rained down on us.

More shells landed around us. After a few minutes of marching, the infantry opened up on us. Men were falling left and right. Our color bearer fell, one pony dropped his rife and took his place. “Steady boys, steady!” Toothpick said. We continued marching. Another volley of lead poured into us. The lad towards my left was hit in the arm. I could hear the bones break as he fell backwards. The artillery and musket fire was getting more and more accurate. Our lads were being mowed down like cattle. “Forward, keep going forward!” Toothpick exclaimed. Our regiment was already down to 1/3 strength. “At the double quick, march!” Toothpick ordered. We started galloping towards the fort. It was then, that an artillery burst sent a small piece of shrapnel into my neck. I fell down on my stomach. The last thing I remember was seeing our regiment run forward towards the fort, and seeing our flag fall from the hands of the bearer.