Hole Hearted

Three striped small airship were pursued by four larger Griffin War Wings. Bow mounted cannons of the War Wings fired upon the smaller striped Airships. Cannonballs whizzed through the skies. The large ships slowly were catch up to the small ones. Aboard the striped airship in front.

A Zebra engineer peered through a mounted spy glass and spoke to Zaza. Looking at the left striped airship’s glints he interpreted the signals.  “Commander Zaza, Captain Nokimbe signals that their ballast tanks have been punctured and… good fortune.”

“What?!” Zaza turned to the left window.

A striped airship bleeding smoke veered violently and crashed itself into the lead Griffin War Wing. The two ships exploded. Shards of fire and metal fell into the sea.

“Nokimbe you idiot now you choose to be brave!!??” Zaza struck the metal floor with her hooves with such strength the metal was bent. “Why?! We started with four ships… now two! Are not the specifications of ship engines the same? Why do they gain?” asked Zaza to a Zebra Engineer.

Reagle gripped his forehead ashamedly. “When, the Griffin Kingdom gifted airship technology to the Zebra Tribal Confederation they left a few holes in the schematics. It was a security measure, the Griffin nobles wanted still wanted to own the skies.”

“You knew of this?” asked Zaza.

“I am sorry Zaza, I spoke out against it but at that time mistrust still was too great.” said Reagle.

Zaza stomped her hooves angrily. “Argh, it matters not our engineers figured most of the flaws.” said Zaza. “Our gifts were tokens too. The secret instructions for our healing poultices require herbs grown only in Zebra lands. I am ashamed of my people too.”

“I did not expect our union to resolve the differences between our people.” sighed Reagle.

“It was a first step that you first took.” smiled Zaza.

“We took.” said Reagle.

A cannon ball ricocheted across their ship.

A Zebra engineer ran into the bridge. “Commander Zaza, enemy flyers!”

Black griffins pour from the War Wings.

“Fire the flak cannons!” cried Zaza.

“Flak?” asked Reagle.

Den and Blue bowed before the dual Princesses in the throne room.

“Dented Armor for your service in the battle of Manehatten, it is my pleasure to promote you to a full Captain of the Royal Guard. Arise.” said Celestia.

“I am honored.” said Den.

“Blueberry Frost it is my pleasure to promote you to Vice Captain. Arise.” said Luna.

“May your allegiance be firm evermore.” said Celestia.

“Omigosh.” said Blue hopping slightly.

“We are sorry, we have cut festivities short however there is a war to tend to.” said Luna.

“Of course.” said Den.

All four of the princess assembled in the council room.

A small purple dragon the size of a pony interrupted the proceedings the council room. “Everypony, another Griffin Invasion force! Five ships total.”

“Spike, which Guard Tower?” asked Twilight.

“Twenty.” said Spike.

“That’s not far from Canterlot. Scramble all pegasus forces!” said Twilight turning to central table covered with maps.

“Five ships is impressive however I expected more for a full attack.” said Celestia thoughtfully.

“Is the Cloudsdale project complete yet? If not I am not sure how spears would fare against their warships of metal.” asked Luna.

“In the battle of Manehatten wasn’t it proven a concentrated magical beam can beat the hull of those warships?” Shining Armor asked Den.

“Yeah.” said Den.

“How much magical energy?” asked Twilight.

“Too much, it’d kill the user.” said Den.

The purple dragon raised a claw. “What about the Elements of Harmony, Twilight?” asked Spike.

Twilight planted her hoof on her face. “Applejack is visting a sick relative in Appleloosa. Captain Rainbow is running a sortie to Manehatten… We won’t be able to recall any of them in time.” said Twilight.

“Then we’ve got no choice, I’ll volunteer to cast the beam. I swore an oath to protect Equestria with my life.” said Shining Armor standing up.

“Dear, we can split the burden, my love.” said Cadence warmly leaning against Shining Armor.

Shining Armor blushed in embarrassment. “You’re right, we can concentrate beams.”

“Between the three of us.” said Twilight.

“Thou art mad. I shall join and the fun shall be quadrupled!” said Luna.

“Dearest Luna, I’m joining too the enemy has five airships.” said Celestia.

Luna smiled at her elder sister.

“If we’re lucky we can get more than one ship in a single shot.” said Shining Armor.

Twilight pointed her hoof at a mountain range on the map. “From guard tower twenty the straightest path to Canterlot is through the Foal Mountains. We can set our defenses in Foal’s Valley. That’ll force the enemy into single file for a beam.” said Twilight.

“Twily, that’s brilliant. We’ll skewer them like a kebab!” said Shining Armor.

Cadence jumped up with realization. “The Pegasus weather patrol can generate thunderstorms and force them into the valley.”

Luna trotted agreeably. “Clover the Clever, could not have devised a better plan! Huzzah, victory is within our hooves!” said Luna boldly.

“After the first shot they’ll focus their firepower on us. We need some diversion.” said Celestia.

A yellow pegasus with a fiery mane and an academy officer’s uniform stepped forward. “I believe my Wonderbolts can run distraction.”

Den and Blue exited the council room however Spitfire and a blue pegasus confronted them.

“So you’re that little pony that saved Shining’s flank during Manehatten, huh?” said Spitfire.

“Yeah, nice to see you too Spitfire and Soarin.” said Den with a mixed tone.

“Wonderbolt dropout.” Soarin smirked.

“You still throw up after a couple of laps?” asked Spitfire.

“Hey, Den’s a Captain too! You can’t talk to him like that!” said Blueberry defensively.

“Of the Royal Guards, he could have been a Wonderbolt.” said Spitfire. Den grimaced. Spitfire laughed.

Blueberry angrily eyed Spitfire.

“Don’t get your blood up, I’m just bustin’ your chops. It’s the drill instructor speaking.” said Spitfire.

“So can you really run distraction against five airships?” asked Den.

“Yeah, me an’ Soarin got this covered.” Spitfire gestured a wing at her partner. “This operation will be a cooperative effort between the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts. But we’ll be doing the heavy lifting here.” Spitfire put on a pair of aviator glasses and coolly left.

“Prepare to eat humble pie.” said Soarin following after Spitfire.

Blue spoke up. “Soooo Wonderbolt dropout?”

“Yeah, my long list of failures.” chuckled Den.

The aft cannons of the Zebra airships fired cannons balls at the mass of dark Griffins encroaching on their ship. The cannon balls exploded spraying pellets. The enemy soldiers like flies dropped from the skies.

“Anti Griffin weapons?” questioned Reagle.

“Yes, it’ll keep them from sending out boarding parties. The time though hopefully will be enough.” said Zaza.

“Commander Zaza, Equestria in sight.” shouted an Zebra Engineer.

“Flanking speed! We must make it!” cried Zaza.

“Let’s hope that the Equestrian Air Forces are competent.” said Reagle.

A mountain pass is fortified. Den flew overhead observing the preparations. Ballistae are wheeled into position. Den noticed that the bolts for the war machines were tipped colorfully. Den flew down to where Blueberry was.

Blue directed a group of Royal Guard earth ponies. “Argghh! The angle is wrong we need those to fire into the sky.” said Blue correcting some workers.

“Hey Blue, what do you have there?” said Den looking at the strange bolts being loaded into the ballistae.

“Weaponized fireworks. I stole dem big ones they use in the Grand Galloping Gala, should be able to do some damage.” smiled Blue proudly.

“I’m glad you figured it out. I have to get in position.” said Den.

“Hey Den, be careful up there.” Blue shouted to Den above.

“I will. You too!”  said Den shouting back.

Den flew further through the pass. He looked at the cliff where the Princesses and Shining Armor were positioning to fire. Den then flew to where the Royal Guard pegasus divisions were arrayed in the sky. The blue uniformed Wonderbolts formed the tip of the formation. Pegasus units were moving clouds to cover their position in the sky. Den flew beside Spitfire and Soarin has they held hover just looking over the cloud cloak.

“So are the Royal Guards Ready? The traps are set?” asked Spitfire in her flight uniform.

“Yeah.” said Den.

Dark dots in the sky approached quickly. Explosions were heard by all.

“What’s going on the battle hasn’t commenced yet?!” shouted Spitfire.

“Something is up.” said Soarin slapping on his goggles.

Den squinted to see that two striped ships were ahead of the three Griffin War Wings. One of the striped ships was glinting a signal.

Den recognized a pattern in the shines. “It’s horse code. A request for help.” said Den.

“What?!” said Soarin mouth agape.

“We have to change the plan.” said Den.

“We can’t it could be a trick. If we fail, Canterlot is defenseless!” said Spitfire.

“They’re flying into a trap.” said Den.

Spitfire looked down at her hooves.

Den looked shocked. “We’re just going to kill them all?” Den grabbed a shiny shield from a Royal Guard pegasus flier. He began flashing a reply to the signal.

“Stop that crazy pegasus!” shouted Spitfire.

Several Wonderbolts tackled Den and held him there in the air.

“You just revealed our location idiot!” Spitfire spat.

“We can’t just murder them.” said Den.

“You’re not authorized to make that decision!” cried Spitfire.

“We don’t have time to fly to Princesses and back.” said Soarin.

“Don’t attack the Zebra ships!” cried Den as he was hauled off.

Aboard the lead Zebra airship Reagle and Zaza were anxiously staring at the view of the horizon through the glass windows. Reagle looked through a spyglass and held another with his claws for Zaza.

Zaza saw a flashing pattern in a cloud formation. “That’s it we have confirmation. Signal back. Pull into that mountain pass.” said Zaza.

“We can’t maneuver in there.” said Reagle reservedly.

Another cannonball from the pursuing War Wing racked the Zebra ship sending vibrations throughout the entire hull.

“We can’t turn around so forward is our only option.” said Zaza.

“If the Equestrians are planning something then it would be there. I would do the same. We’re flying into a trap.” said Reagle alarmed.

“Reagle, we have to show them they can trust us. Signal the second ship. We’re filing into the valley pass!” Zaza ordered a Zebra engineer.

Shining Armor and Princesses waited on a cliff that had a clear line of sight from one end of the valley to the next.

“Wait until all their ships are in then we begin the spell.” said Shining Armor.

The first two airships entered the valley, their shadows seemed to project onto grass. However below were Royal Guard unicorns diligently projecting the illusionary curtain of greenery. The hum of the airship engines above frightened the Royal Guards below. Blueberry ran through the lines.

“Hooves off triggers. Come what may we don’t fire until all dem eggs are in the basket!” said Blue in a hushed whisper at several nervous ballistae operators.

“Yes ma’am.” said the operators stepping off the triggers of the wooden war machines.

Blue turned to a group of sweating unicorns. “Keep up that magical cloak.”

The Three Griffin War Wing airships followed the Zebra ships, firing their cannons. Forced into single file the large War Wings barely slid through the most narrow parts of the pass.

“Maybe Dent was right.” said Soarin observing the War Wings continual assault of the Zebra ships.

“Argh, send a flyer to the beam team! Tell them not fire on the striped ships.” said Spitfire.

“It’s too late now.” said Soarin.

“Send the messenger anyway!” shouted Spitfire.

Den was tied up and ushered into a small crevice of the valley. A single pegasus Royal Guard was left to watch him as the Wonderbolts left.

“You’ve got to let me go.” said Den.

“No, sir.” said the pegasus guard.

“Then, I’m sorry about this.” Den curled up his entire body like a spring and jumped up. His impact smashed the Guard’s head against the rocky wall knocking the guard unconscious. Den took the guard’s lance and began cutting through his ropes.

“Fire!” cried Shining Armor’s voice magnified by the valley’s cone shape.

“Now!” shouted Blueberry.

The front of the pass was blocked by an avalanched caused by Royal Guard unicorns.

The Royal Guards revealed themselves. Ballistae fired upwards at the airships’ bellies. Minor beam teams of unicorns concentrated their magic in focused blasts. Firework fuses were lit as the ballista bolts they were attached to were shot.

The Zebra ships shook as fireworks and heavy magic exploded against their hulls.

“The Equestrians are attacking us!” shouted Reagle. “Damn they’re actually getting through the armor. I’d rather die fighting.”

Zaza placed a hoof on Reagle’s claws. “Wait! We can’t strike back otherwise we’d given no cause to doubt our peaceful intentions. Give them a moment more, this could be a test.” said Zaza nervously.

The Zebra ships passed by the barrage without retaliation. However the War Wings behind them opened their bomb bays.

Den had gotten himself untied. He saw that the ground barrage had begun. With a powerful thrust of his wings he became airborne.

Spitfire, Soarin, and the pegasus divisions were now above the center of the battlefield below.

“Open your smokescreen packets!” cried Spitfire.

Pegasus with saddle bags strapped to them dove towards the airships.

Den zoomed above the lines past lines of the Royal Guards. Smoke was now shrouding the battlefield. Explosions flashed through the smoke behind him where the War Wings had begun to bomb.

“Den?!” questioned Blue as she saw the pegasus blur by. “Pull back the forward positions!” shouted Blue as she saw the War Wings begin dropping their payloads.

The lead striped ariship was now spewing smoke from the barrage. Alarms were ringing through the ship. Zebra engineers where panicking and running about.

Reagle grabbed Zaza’s face with his claws. “Zaza, I’m going to kick Odin’s feathery ass if he doesn’t let a Zebra into Griffin Valhalla.” said Reagle tearfully kissing the striped mare.

“Oh, Reagle.” said Zaza smiling.

The two lovers embraced as their airship shook.

The Wonderbolts and Royal Guards had nearly covered the Airships in smoke. From the vantage point of the cliff the beam team readied itself. An arcane circle had been drawn on the ground complete with a five point star that touched the edges.

“Arghh!!” said Twilight shouting.

“What is it Twily?” asked Shining Armor.

“I remembered in my readings on Advanced Magics. The Unicorn that focuses the magic in this array feels the most drain. A three pony magical array can put the caster in a permanent coma. With five of us channeling one, we have no idea what will happen.” said Twilight.

“The smokescreen is nearly up. We have one shot! Make ready!” said Luna stepping up front.

Celestia pushed Luna aside. “I shall be the conduit for your magical energies. It is the biggest burden. I am the strongest.” said Celestia.

Luna’s voice reverted to her gentler tone. “No dearest sister.” said Luna.

“No, Luna. I must do this.” said Celestia determinately.

“No, sister we’ve just re-connected!” shouted Luna.

Celestia stomped her hooves onto the ground causing fissures of energy. “This isn’t a Republic! I give the orders!” said Celestia sternly assuming the center of the magical array.

“Celestia!” said Twilight.

They were interrupted when a pegasus crashed onto the ground in front of them.

“You mustn’t shoot down the Zebra ships!” cried Den.

Two squads of Wonderbolts began flying in a swirl. Griffins protected the open bomb bay doors with a torrent of arrows.  Arrows and dropping bombs from underneath the Griffin War Wing withered the ranks to but a few pegasus flyers.

“We can’t do this!” cried Soarin flapping his wings furiously.

“We’re almost there! Keep at it.” cried Spitfire gritting her teeth as she flapped harder.

Spitfire and Soarin finished creating the tornado as a few more of their comrades were felled. The tunnel of wind smashed into the Griffin War Wing causing it to turn right into a mountain of pass.

Royal Guards and Pegasus flyers whooped triumphantly. Their smiles and cheers were ended when a magical green shield appeared on the side of the airship. The magical barrier cushioned the War Wing and prevented it from hitting the side of the valley. The War Wing rebounded instead back into position.

Spitfire and Soarin were panting heavily where they had crashed atop a mountain plateau.

“They have magic! All is lost.” said Soarin.

“No we’ve got one hope now!” Spitfire looked towards the end of the valley.

The white bright cutting beam seared through splitting the smokescreen. The first War Wing presented a green magical barrier. The barrier was penetrated in a splash of green sparks. Explosions ruptured the hull of the ship.

The beam then reached the second War Wing. The energy struggled to breach the shield in white and green sparks. Seconds later the barrier of the second airship was broken. The second War Wing imploded.

The beam continued onwards to third airship. Again it sparked as the opposing energies fought for dominance however this time the beam flickered. The light faded and the green shield remained with the airship intact behind it.

Some earth pony troops ran hopelessly as the shadow of the airship swallowed them up. Ballistae were abandoned as their crews threw aside ammunition they were loading. Soldiers under her command shoved past Blueberry, their discipline lost to abject fear. Unicorn beam teams gave up their fire and began meekly casting shields in which they cowered under.

“Celestia save us!” Blueberry cringed as she stared upwards at the third encroaching War Wing.

The War Wing’s bomb bay doors were opened. The angry humming of the War Wing’s engines drowned out all screams.

The humming stopped. Then it resumed. The last of the War Wings began reversing its propellers. Surviving Griffins shrieked scurried to board the retreating ship.

The specter that the War Wing projected began to shrink back. In its wake was a valley devastated by death’s shadow.