Hoofsteps to Legend Ch.2
(Question of the Warrior: What would be your reaction to the war happening in Changnia?)
(REMEMBER: This is before the events of Friendship is Magic.)
If it sounds rushed, PLEASE don't mind it along with some possible errors.
Chapter 2: A Warrior's Tears.
(Shining Armor's POV.)
I looked around Canterlot and saw that everypony has heard the news. The changeling homeland is having a civil war. Changnia is just north of the Crystal Mountains where the formal Crystal Empire stood and East of the Kingdom of Marey. Changelings were peaceful creatures before this all happened. But now that a war is beginning, their Queen, Chrysalis', aggression will be more deadlier. Devsalis, the leader of the changelings fighting for civil rights, is requesting us for assistance. Who knows how vicious Chrysalis' army will be. But if we don't help Devsalis, then Changnia will become a militarized and aggressive country in our world. Not a pretty image to think, but not as much as seeing it with your own eyes ever see. I thought to myself that if I help, will it change the war? My mind kept saying 'No'. I'm not going to be a hero coming out just to stop this war. Plus Cadance seemed like she didn't want me to go to Changnia.
Everypony around Canterlot was still reading the same newspapers. About the War going on. Hay, I just saw some stallions that just read it and immediately went to the nearest recruitment center. It makes me proud to see some fellow patriotic ponies to serve their country and protect their…loved ones. I thought about myself. That kind of would sound like me when I'm older. But I know war will damage me emotionally and physically.
I heard a male voice coming from behind me. "Excuse me, sir?" A unicorn stallion went up to me. He had the newspaper that told others about the war in Changnia. "Do you mind telling me where is the nearest recruitment center if you know?" He asked. By the look of his eyes, he was serious to join in the military force. I smiled and decided to let him redeem himself.
"It's that way. The left side of Canterlot's castle." I told him.
He shook my hoof and smiled. "Thank you." He said. "You thinking about serving your country as well?" The stallion asked.
I stayed silent for about five seconds, thinking. "I…I don't know." I answered.
The stallion nodded. "It's okay. I'm not forcing you to join. But if you're joining, I wish you luck." He said and walked away.
"You too, sir." I said. I continued my walk around Canterlot. This must've been the days most read newspapers were bought.
My thoughts were clouded with questions that I didn't know the answers to them. I just hope Twilight won't have this kind of struggle when she's older. But anything I can't do. It's just life. I kept those questions out of my head and continued to walk.
I saw some carriages fly out of Canterlot outside the city. They headed to the North-East direction. I recognized that North-East was actually where Changnia was located. The Crystal Mountains are like a border of Equestria and Changnia. I kept staring at the carriages until they were no longer seen.
"A depressing sight. Isn't it?" A female voice said. I looked behind me and saw a mare standing there, looking at where the carriages went.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just seeing some brave ones go to fight for their country and reasons." I said.
The mare looked on the ground. "My special somepony is heading to Changnia. He was on one of the carriages you just saw. But his training will be a bit delayed because of the friendly Changelings retreating to the west of their country away from that wretched Chrysalis." She told me.
"What's his name?" I asked.
"Steel Hammer." She answered. "He wanted to join the military. Also was adventurous and naive. But that's what I love about him." She smiled weakly. "I…just hope he will come back safely." Her smile flattened.
I smiled lightly. "I'm sure he'll be fine." I said.
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Thank you Mr…" She stopped to let me say my name.
"Shining Armor." I told her my name.
"I'm Violet Light." She shook my hoof.
I sighed. "You know I'm planning on joining in as well?" I said.
Violet Light smiled. "Really? What group?"
I looked down and answered. "E.S.O.F-R. Celestial Rangers." I answered. "I want to become a Royal Guard in Canterlot." I added.
Violet Light nodded. "Yeah. Joining the elites of Equestria can be difficult though. You're talking about more dangerous missions, fighting in any environment terrain, and even classified operations not meant for innocents to know." She told me. I nodded and told her that I already know what will it be like.
I looked at the path I was walking in and looked at her. "I gotta go. It was nice meeting you. And I wish your special one good luck." I smiled and walked.
"Thank you, Shining Armor." She said and walked to the opposite direction.
I decided to go home and take a breather and get over this. When I arrived at my house, I saw my mom talking to some mare that she always knew since she was still in school. I walked closely to hear what they were talking about. I was surprised to see what was going on. My mom's friend was in tears. Her eyes were partially red as salty tears overflowed her eyes. I walked to both of them and looked at the two. They both stood there silently. No smiles were on their faces. I knew this was a serious situation even when my mom's friend was crying. The first one to react was my mom. She hugged me in an instant as I felt a few wet spots on my neck. She was crying as well. I hugged back to let her pass by and catch her breath.
"Mom? What's going on?" I asked her curiously. I was paranoid on what was she about to say.
My mom looked at me and petted my mane like what she would to to me when I was a foal. "I'm…I'm sorry…Shining Armor, my little colt." She spoke. "It's just emotional to just lose somepony you knew." She said.
I raised my eyebrow in confusion. "W-What's going on?" I asked again. I didn't like the sound of this.
My mom's friend answered. "My child…this will show the reason why." She gave me an envelope which was sent by the Equestrian Military. I used my magic to open it; which was already torn. I looked at the paper. It was a military death citation. I almost dropped the letter in shock. I looked at her as she hugged me as well. "My husband is killed…in Changnia. Just yesterday. Surprise ambush in Changnia's desert near Mutare City, which we reacted to." She cried.
I could feel the pain inside of her. Losing somepony you love from war is the worst heartbreaking situation that you'll ever feel. Cadance got on my mind when I thought about that. Would she be like this if the one she loves dies like this? Of course. She has a heart of a beautiful mare. I held back my tears by the thought of Cadance and my mom's friends hugging me for her lost. "I-…I'm very sorry…" I said.
"It's okay. Bethel is in a better place now." She mentioned her husband's name.
My mom looked at her friend. "Flower Pad. I think you should stay with us until you get better. I can't just let you stay in your house alone." My mom said. I agreed with her. Feeling alone will make it worse.
I saw Flower Pad wipe her face to let the tears off. She nodded. "Thank you, Velvet." She hugged my mom and went inside as me and my mom followed.
I went inside and saw my mom and Flower Pad were in the dining room with my dad. They were talking about Flower Pad's problems. It wasn't a good thing to hear. The looks on their faces were just way beyond down. This day has got to be the most depressing by the death of Bethel, a Sergeant serving in the infantry. I remembered that my aunt is in the military as well serving in the Mareines. Now I just got even more worried about the family. Just…just curse this war. I just hope Twily will be fine when she's older on what's going on. Speaking of which, In the corner of my eye, I saw Twilight standing there and headed to me. She looked at me innocently. She heared that Mrs. Flower Pad was in our house, but doesn't know what's going on.
"What's wrong with Mrs. Flower Pad?" She asked. I didn't want to answer her question. So I stayed silent; which made her even more curious. "Did I do something? Did we do anything to make her upset?" She frowned.
I looked at Twilight and hugged her. "No. You…you know her husband, right?" I started.
"Yes." She answered. "How is he? Is he okay?" She asked. It made me not want to say anything else. But I couldn't stay silent.
I sighed sadly. "He…he was killed in Changnia. Yesterday." I told her. "I'm sorry, Twily."
Twilight's eyes widened. In around ten seconds, they were now flowing with tears of sadness on what she just heard. I felt guilty for telling her the news. She was to young to handle it. I hugged her more tightly and rubbed her neck.
"Twily. Don't worry. Mrs. Flower Pad will be fine. She's just living here with us until she gets better." I told her.
"G-Good. I'll miss Mr. Bethel." She cried silently.
"I will too." I dropped a tear. Bethel was one of the kindest stallions to us and our parents. He was the one responsible for helping us at school as well. He even taught me how to use a sword with my hooves since he was in the military. I looked at my sister and carried her. "Twilight, you need some rest. It will help you calm down you know." I suggested. She nodded as I took her to her room.
I saw more books on the desk. My parents seemed to have a lot of books in the house. I walked to Twilight's bed and tucked her in. She was still hiccuping from crying, so I gave her a glass of water as she drank it slowly using her hooves, since she was still not used to unicorn magic. She gave the empty glass to me, then laid back on her pillow as I set the glass on the table. I was about to leave the room, but was stopped when Twilight called my name.
"Brother? I-…I can't sleep yet." Twilight frowned and snuggled in her blanket.
I smiled lightly and went back next to her. She looked at me with her lightly red eyes. "Here. I'll help you out." I told her.
"Dear sister please lay your head on your comfy bed.
Empty your mind and fall back to rest your sweet head.
Come close your eyes to make the troubles be gone.
Breath in and out to make you have a good sleep.
Count to one, two, three by using your heart.
Your big brother will never leave you from harm.
Rest so sweetly as angels watch you.
Cause we care about you as I love you too."
My singing made Twilight more relaxed and sleepy. She hiccuped, but was able to sleep in good slumber. She needed some rest because she probably stayed up all night reading the books on the desk. My little sister is growing up, isn't she? Twilight was now asleep as her breathing was calm and her eyes were shut gently. I smiled on how adorable she looked while snuggled with her blanket. Then I decided to get Twilight's stuffed animal from her wall shelves. Twily called her stuffed animal 'Smarty Pants'. I wonder why? I used my magic to gently put it next to her. She twitched and felt her stuffed animals presence and hugged it. The look on this made me sleepy as well. So I decided to lay down next to my dear sister and took a nap.
-(Mutare City Far Outskirts. Chrysalis Force Outpost.)-
(*Shining Armor's POV off.*)
In a huge tent in the outpost of Chrysalis's army, one male changeling with a huge set of black and blue armor was by the table, staring at a map. The look of his eyes showed nothing but cold blood. No emotion or anything. Just cold. He was mostly focused on the map as his hooves full of holes moved different colored flags. He was interrupted when a recognizable female voice called him from behind.
The voice chuckled. "You're to focused on our strategic advances are you, General?" She said.
The armored changeling looked at her. "My queen, you gave me this task. I can't just leave this here." He said with the helmet covering part of his voice.
Chrysalis raised her eyebrow. "Oh. Highly loyal than I expected. I like that." She smirked. "My forces are fighting well Vhamilan. You have pleased your queen today." Chrysalis smiled evilly.
"Anything for my queen, I was born to serve as your sword and shield." General Vhamilan bowed.
Chrysalis couldn't help but smile at his loyal attitude. "You flatter me too much, General. Report to your tent. You need some rest." She suggested him. Vhamilan nodded and walked out of the tent, leaving Chrysalis by herself.
She looked at the map and saw Vhamilan did a good job for her military strategic advance. She grinned and covered the flags where Devsalis' forces were remained, pretending she crushed the resistance and Equestrian forces. She looked down at the country of Equestria, just south of Changnia past the Crystal Mountains and placed a flag on the North-East of Equestria, near by Manehattan. It seems like she not only wanted to take all of Changnia, but soon all of Equestria! She wanted to take all of Changnia first before moving on to Equestrian territory. Then perhaps the Kingdom of Marey just far west of Changnia.
"The many things I'll do when I'm in charge of three nations." Chrysalis grinned as her sharp teeth were seen. "All the ponies will rule under my acts." She walked out of the tent and watched as more of her forces advanced to the partially fallen Mutare City.
-(Mutare City, Changnia *2 Hours After*)-
"GO! GO! GO! Out of the city! Now!" A changeling with black armor with glowing green spots around it. The changelings that heard him followed what he said.
"Sir!" Yelled out a female voice. The black armored changeling looked at where the voice came from.
He took out his helmet, revealing his face. He had vampire like teeth like a common changeling, his eyes had a green pupil and bright sky blue around, and his mane was like Chysalis' but it was spiked. "Captain Cora! Give me the status on the outskirts to the south!" He asked out loud since panic and destruction was all over Mutare City.
"Clear path to evacuate from the south and west! Colonel Chaflin, We need to get the bloody hay out of here now!" Cora said. More buildings collapsed by the catapults that launched reign of fires.
"Roger that! Report to Devsalis and defend her! I'll take care of these Chrysalis' Слабаков (Weaklings)!" Chaflin lifted up his hoof and revealed an interesting weapon. A small electric projectile launcher that can be fired at ranges. He used it to fire upon Chrysalis' forces who were in the air. He seemed like a good marksman. The weapon was called an M1L for Equestrian or P1L for Changnian.
Cora took out hers as some Equestrian E.S.O.F members arrived and assisted Chaflin. Cora then gave a battery pack to Chaflin before she left. "Sir! Just in case you need ammo!" She said.
"Thanks Captain! All units, keep engaging until Devsalis or I say to fall back!" Colonel Chaflin told the E.S.O.F teams and some Devsalis Changeling fighters.
No mercy was shown on the faces of the Equestrian Rangers and Nomads along with Devsalis' fighters. The more hostile changelings came, the more they stood there firing back. Chrysalis' changelings fired back with their horns using harmful magic. Some had P1Ls. One of the Celestial Rangers got hit on the side as he fell down squirming in pain.
"Ranger down! Ranger down! I got him. Cover me!" One of the Eclipse Nomads went to the wounded fighter on the ground. There was a glowing blue mark on his side where he got hit. The Eclipse Nomad fighter tried his best to treat the Celestial Ranger's wound as fast as he can.
One Devsalis fighter was still firing non stop at his enemies. He took two shots per hostile because he wanted to be sure they were down. Smart. But as he kept firing, he missed one enemy; which resulted him to get hit on the foreleg. He collapsed but rolled over to make him go prone and got back at the Chrysalis Fighter that shot him.
(A/N: Oh yeah. You'll find out how the allies can tell on which one is a Devsalis Changeling Fighter in later chapters.)
"Sir! How many the hay are there?!" One of Chaflin's fighters asked.
"How should I know? I don't count the size of the witch's lap dogs!" Chaflin responded.
"All units. This is Devsalis. We are now to retreat to the west immediately. You are all good to retreat, but leave no warrior behind. I repeat, leave no warrior behind. We need every able fighter on our hooves. Including you." Devsalis called out by a radio.
One of the E.S.O.F members of the Celestial Rangers kept firing. "So much for holding off. Here I was having fun with these M1Ls." He commented.
Colonel Chaflin looked at all the Celestial Rangers, Eclipse Nomads, and Changeling resistance. "You heard her! Let's go! Now! You two, get the wounded!" He ordered. The changeling resistance and the Celestial Rangers ran away from the firefight zone. Chaflin was the last one to go because he was checking if they left behind an Equestrian or Changeling fighter.
Instead of a soldier, he found a female changeling foal by the building being carried by her mother to get out of the city. The mother tumbled and dropped her daughter, crying out loudly. In the distance, a Chrysalis fighter heard the crying and headed to where it was coming from.
"О, нет. (Oh no…)" Chaflin ran as fast as he can to the mother and the crying foal. One of the Equestrian Soldiers followed him to assist.
The Chrysalis fighter saw the crying foal and the mother on the ground. He landed and looked at the foal with his cold blank expression. He looked at the mother and aimed his P1L at her head. "Sorry Собака (Dog). Your foal is coming with me." He aimed more steady which made the mother close her eyes, preparing for her death. She heard a blast of a weapon, but she didn't feel anything. She opened her eyes and saw the Chrysalis fighter on the ground. Colonel Chaflin, with a dusted P1L and an Equestrian Soldier was right in front of her. Chaflin picked up the changeling foal and gave it to the mother and picked her up.
Chaflin looked at the Equestrian Soldier. "Corporal! Lets go!" He ordered and carried off the mother and foal.
"I got your back." The fighter said and kept firing his M1L.
Chaflin looked at the road and saw that their carriage was ready to get them out of Mutare City. "Hey! Get ready to go immediately when we get on!" He yelled out.
The carriages readied up and awaited them. Chaflin and the Soldier reached the carriage and jumped on immediately. The Corporal kept firing and looked at the driver. "Go! Get us outta here!"
"Roger. Hang on!" The driver told them and dashed out of the city in high speed. They all looked back and saw Mutare City now being shattered like glass. Smoke coming out of the buildings, shops now covered in dust, and Chrysalis' Changelings flying around the city.
Chaflin contacted Cora. "Captain, you there? How's Devsalis?" He asked.
Cora responded and sighed. "She's okay. We got a few wounded, but we're good. We'll meet you in Stalliongrad." She said and looked back at the smoke. "We just lost another city."
"I know. But lets pay them back when Equestria sends all they got." Knight River said on the radio.
"Я надеюсь на это. (I hope so.)"
A/N: (I'm very sorry if I rushed. I'm not really good at making third person stories much. First person stories is what I prefer, since I found Shining Armor's POV easier. I'll write more slowly in future chapters. Anyway, stay tuned for Chapter 3. Air Horse Aces Chapter 11 is being written right now. Sincerely, HFHoofHammer.)
-(QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER- What would be your weapon of choice if you were in this story?)-