"*Uuugggh*Why are they making this so difficult?"
"Because they still aren't sure if we will succeed or if you have their best interests at heart Moon; centuries of fear and hatred doesn't go away in months." Toffee pointed out the obvious.
Moon smacked her head onto the desk she was using now in their secret headquarters in the forest of probable itchiness about 200 feet underground.
2 months had passed since the incident at the Ornlun Ruins and they had made fantastic strides since that time, at least according to Toffee. The Druids threw their whole support behind Moon which swayed many Monster groups to at least stay out of the way of Moon's rebel alliance. And it was an alliance in the most disjointed sense as it was a ragtag team of everyone who was not supporting the royal crown of Mewni.
The rats led by Reepacheep were fully behind Moon but with their disaster attacking during the feast 3 ½ months ago their numbers were limited. Monster tribes and groups were flocking to their side one by one but varied in effectiveness and resources in such an extreme manner that they couldn't be relied upon for much. River and Bonibell had gotten Pixtopia to support the alliance but only in a non-military fashion with them not even sending weapons for them to use. Prince Ponyhead had gotten many Ponyheads to join but they could sometimes just up and leave for weeks at a time to go party so they couldn't be relied upon. The Dawi Zharr offered their fortress and resources and services to Moon but it would take months still to get their production center fully working with all the damage the falling rocks and ice caused. The Guardians of Mewni offered their services and Magic to Moon whom they viewed as the true queen now but many did not escape the "Culling of the Guardians" and their few numbers were already reduced from 450, not including recruits who hadn't finished training, to 300 including the new recruits.
Meanwhile the Shadow Clause was not slowed down by the loss of a member at all. The people who could have been sympathetic to Moon's cause were rounded up and put into internment camps to be "properly educated" in how Mewni works. They also had the entire Royal Army of 3,000 knights with magical armor and weaponry supplemented by guards, soldiers, and lesser lord armies adding up to nearly 30,000 soldiers. They also had a large reserve of resources to call upon to supply and equip their army and could double their forces with conscripts if need be.
All in all, the Shadow Clause had the upper hand and Moon's rebels had to play catchup in the most extreme sense even after 2 months; they weren't an army, they were the resistance.
"Why can't they just realize that this is the best chance they have at freedom?"
"Because Moon, they are too scared to consider freedom when in the past it has usually equaled death." Toffee came over and rubbed her head softly. "We just need to show them one good win to start this war and we will have their support even if they don't want to give it because they will have no choice."
"I don't want to force them like that. I just wish there was another way." As Toffee removed his hand she grabbed it and placed it back on her head. "More please."
As Toffee rubbed her head some more, 'I have the feeling she is part cat' Toffee thought, Buff Frog burst in.
"My Queen and General… is this a bad time?"
Moon kept Toffee's hand on her head "Of course not, please continue. And don't slack off Toffee."
"*deadpan expression*... Well we have just received a message from Reepacheep. Some of the local lords have finally gotten tired of our raiding's and are marching a force 1,000 strong to confront what they believe to be a hidden store deposit south of them."
"How is that such a bad thing, even if their beliefs are right we can just move the stores?" Toffee said as he rubbed Moon's head with Moon sounding like she was purring.
"They are right in their beliefs and they are only 3 days away, and we cannot transport the goods in time as it is one of our hoards."
This made Moon and Toffee come to attention. They had multiple stocks all over the countryside they were using to gather raided equipment and resources that were always small and mobile most of the time. But there were currently 5 major hoards which they accumulated supplies before taking them to Ornlun for protection and they were not mobile or easy to transport. If the lords got their hands on it they would be set back weeks most likely.
"Then are we finally going to have to fight?" Moon asked knowing the risks if they did so. Doing so would bring them out into the open and make it a full on rebellion especially if it was a thousand men they had to face. Toffee responded,
"This day was inevitable Moon, I just hope we can pull this off with our limited resources."
"Do not worry comrades, this is hoard we are defending. We have plenty of resources we can us in the defense of our resources. Wait is that the proper way to put it?" Buff Frog seemed concerned.
"Actually it is." Toffee responded a little too quickly. "Get the warriors ready for battle and try to slow them down as best you can."
Buff Frog smiled knowing that they could finally get this war started. He handed them a scroll with the information on it and left after giving a strange salute that involved slamming his fists onto his chest, kissing his fingers, and holding his fingers into the air from outstretched arms. Toffee tried lifting his hand from Moon's head again and she pushed it back down pushing her head into his hand. After a few minutes she let him release her and got up sighing in exhaustion.
"I know we are not ready Moon but we have no choice here."
"I know. I was just hoping we could reach a peaceful settlement with Mewmans and Monsters living in peace."
"With all the hatred for 1,000 years some form of violence was inevitable no matter what happened if you tried to stand up for Monsters. Let's go, we have much work to do." Toffee grabbed the scroll and led Moon out and while he seemed ready and even eager the look in his eyes gave away that he was terrified of what could happen if they lost.
"Don't you find it suspicious Mi Lord?"
Lord Rumsworth glanced over to his second in command in annoyance as he surveyed his army. He was put in charge of the expeditionary force sent out to sweep the land of the raiding Monsters. They had gotten an anonymous tip through Shcwartzhaffen that one of their store houses was in this place and, given how Monsters had been slowing them down so their 3 day foray had turned into a week of slogging past booby traps and raids that took supplies and men by the single digits every hour, he suspected it was right.
"Well I'm just saying there have been no attacks today and its almost noon. They could finally be ready to strike us all down at once." Rumsworth laughed at that one.
"They are not properly equipped or organized to do such damage to us. They are far more interested in stealing and feasting on their stolen goods to organize under a single leader. The snows will begin falling in a few weeks and when that happens they will be no threat once we shatter this raiding force."
"But what if Moon…"
"Don't mention her name. She fled south with the Guardians to some ancient fortress and is hiding from her mother like the child she is. Now get the men ready to march again, we should be there in 2 hours."
King Arthur OST - 01 - Woad To Ruin ( watch?v=uS1CIA41blE) (start 5:02)
"Yes sir." The commander ran off with Rumsworth shaking his head in annoyance. He was a good commander but was overestimating the Monsters. They need to just get the supplies back and show the Mewmans they had nothing to fear from some mud squatting bug eating degenerate creatures that didn't know left from right.
Within minutes they were marching again with the men beginning to look around suspiciously at the forests edge. 'If I find out he has been spreading fear amongst the men I will beat him down so hard he will sneeze out of his bellybutton.' He thought in irritation. He will admit these Monsters were crafty like wolves but this fighting style was clear they couldn't stand up to a force this large. He smiled as he took to the head of the column completely unafraid of a head on assault. He noticed his personal guard were also beginning to look around nervously unintentionally reaching for weapons just to reassure themselves they were there. He was about to snap at his men to clear their heads when several grew arrows out of their heads and he was knocked from his Warnicorn by a bolt that strayed just far enough south to strike his breast plate instead of his neck.
As he came to his feet he saw big burning spheres of who knows what rolling down the surrounding hills towards his men with Monsters following the spheres in wedge formations. His men leapt to action but arrows and bolts and javelins and rocks were raining down on all sides disorienting the soldiers. He leapt up shouting for order in the ranks and his body guard closed ranks around him with a shout.
"All men to positions, pull your pants up and get the lead out of them." He smiled as his second in command snapped back into action and got the soldiers to form up best they could.
The spheres had penetrated the ranks knocking men aside so the Monsters could enter in wedge formation… 'Widening our ranks so more can fit in there, maybe the men did have a reason to be worried.' Rumsworth thought. He also noticed only now they were in a slight valley that allowed the flaming balls to be rolled at them and to allow archers to fire over the tops of comrades heads. He didn't have time to marvel at the cunning of this fox for in seconds his group was beset by a knot of Monsters who were working in surprising tangent. They were attacking in a fashion that made sure they always outnumbered their opponents and they were picking off his lesser men one by one.
Two struck at him with clubs from both sides with blows that would kill oxen, but he was not a dumb ox. He dodged the first blow and caught the second with his sword deflecting it and getting up close. Swiveling the blade around he shoved the pointy end of the cross guard into the monsters eye and used the leverage to snap its neck. He then pivoted to block its companion's club blow with the dead monster before smashing his shield into the monsters right arm at the elbow snapping it and forcing it to drop its club. The Monster tried to back track but he was quicker stabbing his sword into its chest and feeling it hit something important as the monster fell onto its back coughing and wheezing.
He wasted no time turning around to face any other that would dare to face him and met another one immediately. This one charged with horns lowered to skewer him and while the horns would not have penetrated his armor the force of the blow would leave him wide open. Using a double step maneuver he dodged and brought his sword up neatly cutting off its head. What he did not count on was the extended arm that smacked him making him spin like a top. As he tried to right himself he was bull rushed by a heavily armored Monster that could have knocked over an Ox, and this time he couldn't get out of the way. He was thrown a full 15 feet through the air and skittered another 15 feet losing his sword in the process. As he tried to stand what felt like the hammer of the Gods fell on him caving in the armor over his left shoulder. He heard a distinct crack but didn't have time to feel pain as another blow came down on his head bringing a numb blackness that began to consume him.
"I underestimated them." He babbled to himself as he lost consciousness for the last time in his life.
Buff Frog nodded to a Monster named Spike Balls as he killed the general but with the close quarter fighting going on that wouldn't make any difference. Soldiers had formed small circular formations that occasionally a Monster would smash through so others could follow them in and butcher the men but they couldn't break the formations easily. Buff Frog called everyone back to figure out what to do now but kept Monsters so the Mewmans would have to fight in order to group up even more. As they surrounded the knots, Buff Frog counted about 18 knots with about a score of men each, he heard a whinny and saw Warnicorns bearing down on the soldiers from the back of the column.
Buff Frog smiled and had his men let them pass as that was Moon's doing. As the Monsters attacked from the sides doing what damage they could Moon and the Guardians would sneak in the back and take out any nobles so they could seize the supplies and use the backup Warnicorns they always had with them to trample the soldiers. The Mewman soldiers became of aware of this a little too late as the Warnicorns trampled 2 knots before the men began trying to scatter and get out of the way, many of them being trampled in a cruel twist of faith. Some of the men just locked their shields and formed a fish scale ball that did hold up to the stampede rather well even with Moon adding a Warnicorn stampede to back up the actual Warnicorns. When the dust cleared the Monsters wasted no time in surging back in to take out the remaining soldiers and while they did cut down the loners the remaining knots were able to form up into a single circular fighting formation that would be VERY difficult to take out.
As both sides formed up glaring hatred at each other the Monsters parted ways some of them giving predatory smiles as Moon and her associates came through. This made the remaining men, about half of what it was before the stampede, quiver in fear at the realization that the worst was yet to come.
"You men are not the enemy I am fighting against, so throw down your weapons now and you will live." Moon could sound very commanding at times, Buff Frog gave her that.
(end music)
"I YIELD, I YIELD!" What looked to be a very pompous noble with a feathered helmet immediately stepped forward and threw his weapons down.
The rest of the men looked at each other hoping for a loud voice to command them but the loudest was the one who just yielded. So the men began throwing down their weapons and came forward to become prisoners. Some of the Monsters grunted in annoyance that they would need to feed and house multiple Mewmans but went along with taking them prisoner. Armor and weapons were stripped of the men as were any form of supplies that the Monsters needed. Buff Frog had to admit, this could be listed as a very successful raid except for the fact that as he looked around he saw dozens if not hundreds of dead Monster bodies with all the Mewman soldier bodies.
Buff Frog was searching a man and found a small locket with a picture of what looked to be him with his wife and child. Buff Frog looked at it then at the man who looked up at him in defeat. Then he gave the soldier back his locket.
"Keep. You will need it to help you find your family when this is over." The soldier gave the closest he could to a smile before allowing himself to be bound at the hands and taken away.
"They are just people like us caught up in this conflict, but I think you have figured that one out." Buff Frog turned to see Helsinki come up smiling.
"Well… perhaps average Mewman not evil, just misguided by evil ones." They shared a smile and move up to where Moon was.
"300 monsters dead as opposed to 850 Mewmans, that is an overwhelming victory in anyone's books. The remaining chiefs will come to our side now." Toffee was pointing off numbers like he did when he wasn't advising.
"I hope so." Moon was looking around uneasy not staring at the bodies for long.
'She must be queasy about sacrificing so many lives and killing so many.' Buff Frog thought to himself. That was a good thing actually, while it would hold up a person in a fight it meant Moon would not kill lightly which would be a terrible attribute for a leader.
"My queen, I think you might want to see this." That was Lily Forest, one of the Guardians in higher command, maybe second in command… Buff Frog was not sure the ranks were confusing to him.
Moon stepped forward followed by Toffee, Buff Frog, Helsinki, and her other Companions to see what was wrong. Lily brought them up to the noble who had surrendered and he didn't look important but Moon, Toffee, and Helsinki blinked in shock recognizing that boy.
"I take it he is important?" Buff Frog asked in confusion.
"I should hope so, as I have a message of great importance for Moon." The noble spoke.
"That Buff Frog is Maximus, one of my former suitors." Moon said.
Queen Willow was sitting in an empty council room holding her head in frustration. All of these pinpricks from various sources over the past 2 months and now an outright battle where of nearly 1,000 Mewman soldiers most were killed and the remaining men were being ransomed back. Why had it come to this after all this time, she had ruled with logic and foresight and kept the lands stable and safe and prosperous and this was her payment? Betrayal by her own daughter and husband and many others including the Guardians of Mewni. What is worse, one of her advisers had been murdered by what seemed to be a Guardian of Mewni in his own quarters. Willow was just at a loss of what to do as she didn't want a war but couldn't force one unless if Moon decided that she was ready to fight.
"That damn lizard is using her like a puppet to rally people to satisfy his desires, he is to damn clever for his own good."
"My queen is everything alright?" Willow looked up at the intrusion.
She smiled when she saw Rhombulus enter with Lekmet and the other 2 members of the council, Omnitraxus Prime XI and Fiorbhin the Slaughterer, with Etheria in tow. Rhombulus was one of Moon's friends and strangely enough the only one with an ounce of common sense as he claimed his gut told him that Toffee was manipulating Moon.
"Come in all of you. Before we begin we need to address the fact that Salicus is dead and will no longer be serving on the council." Everyone bowed their heads at that, "So I am appointing Etheria Butterfly to take his place on the council and I know we don't have Glossarick to induct her but desperate times call for desperate measures." Everyone looked a bit shocked including Etheria, but everyone nodded to Willow saying her decision was wise.
As she got the meeting started she couldn't help but notice that Rhombulus seemed uneasy while Etheria seemed triumphant. It was probably nothing as Willow did not need these troubles and she was projecting again. 'I just need to overcome this trial like I have in the past.' She thought to herself.
"Well of course Rhombulus would be a spy, did you expect a master plan from a 15 year old girl?" The non-mirrored figure spoke in an old man's voice.
"No, but I expected it from the damn lizard who is working with her." Said the first figure in an old woman's voice.
"This could work to our advantage though, feed him false information and have the rebels run around in circles until they make a mistake." The second figure said in a gravelly voice. "For now though, we wait until the shadows no longer conceal Moon and her allies. Patience is key here."