Book 2, Chapter 22
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the known characters/places of Redwall or in MLP:FIM, I do however own Shooting Star, Colonel Ashpaw the Brave, Braveheart, Princess Rosethrone and Storm Breeze.
Captain Ripfang had lead Princess Rosethrone's army back to the Castle of the Two Sisters. He really was determind to make a name for himself in Princess Rosethrone's eyes. Heck in bothered him that Darkwing a raven was regarded as one of her best captains. Ripfang turned to the army that was with him. The rat captain now spoke to them "Alright mates! Here's the deal! We're here to lay siege to the Castle of the Two Sisters, I'm certain our foes have spotted us which is what the Princess wants us to do. We are also here to make this siege last for days so they tire themselves out! For this to work we aren't going to charge the gates to take it rather shoot arrows from afar!"
All of Princess Rosethrone's soldiers nod at his comment. Captain Ripfang then gives out the order "Well? What are you all waiting for?! Get ready to attack at once!"
"Yes sir!" was the reply of the forces.
While Princess Rosethrone's army prepared for battle, Captain Ripfang saw movement coming from the grass. His paw itched right towards his cutlass "Who goes there? Friend or foe?"
Braveheart's shaky voice answered as he walked into Ripfang's view "It's just me Captain Ripfang sir!"
"Ah, Braveheart matey! Don't ever scare anybeast by sneaking up on them! For that matter, I told you to stay with the Princess! Why aren't you at her side?!"
Braveheart answered the Rat Captain "I was obeying your orders Captain Ripfang sir! But the Princess sent me to help you saying that she didn't want me to fall into the same trap as Princess Celestia's guards."
Captain Ripfang put a paw under his chin "Oh, goes to show you how embarrassed the Princess is of Princess Celestia's old guards. Too be honest she's got a point. In all me years as a pirate, and serving in both Urgant Trunn and Princess Rosethrone's armies, I've never seen anybeast as incompetant than those guards. Now Trunn had to disaplin members of his horde at times but nobeast was that incompetant! Why she keeps those worthless lot is beyound me but that's Slopjaw's command now. Anyway you may help us! Get bow and arrow set and we'll go and put the enemy on seige, I'm sure they saw us which is what we want. The sooner we put them on siege the more we can be sure Princess Rosethrone returns with her pet."
"Yes sir!" Braveheart replied bowing and obeying orders.
Captain Ripfang watched the colt run off to get fitted with weapons and sighed "Good old Doomeye would be proud of this young un. The Princess knows what she's doing for sure. He'll grow to be a fearless warrior for her under my command...If only Doomeye wasn't shot by an arrow during that final battle Trunn had against Lord Brocktree he'd probably be still alive."
He watches his soldiers gather their weapons readying their attack on the Castle of the Two Sisters.
Colonel Ashpaw indeed had seen them coming and knew the attack was shortly on it's way soon. Sergent Snow was with the Colonel shielding her eyes to see how much of Princess Rosethorne's soldiers were around. One thing was for sure, she didn't like the numbers. Sure the reinforcements of the otters did help somewhat but she was sure this was Rosethrone's entire army. To Colonel Ashpaw, he was studying the scene to, it sure looked like Ripfang was going to attack but there was one thing bothering him "Sergant Snow! Have you seen Princess Rosethrone?"
"Negative sa'h!" Snow replied "I was hoping you'd see her."
"I sadly do not...Which is already setting up some alarm bells in my mind" Colonel Ashpaw said to her "I'm certain that she's up to something. Regardless we have to get our forces ready."
"Right! Everybeast and everypony the vermin are outside! Get to the ramparts!" Sergant Snow shouts.
While the defenders of the Castle of the Two Sisters ran to get ready for battle, Colonel Ashpaw turned to Squrriel Cheiftain Ruro and Log-A-Log Grenn whom were still on Princess Celestia protecting duty were also now watching what was going on. The hare Colonel addressed them "Not exactly sure what Princess Rosethrone has in mind but her soldiers are outside preparing for an attack, which I'm sure is coming soon. Keep Princess Celestia safe and indoors till we repel the invaders!"
"Right away!" Ruro replied "Come on Log-A-Log Grenn!"
"Right with you Ruro!" the shrew chieftian replied.
Colonel Ashpaw then gave them more advise "Do inform the Princess that neither Sergent Snow and I haven't seen Princess Rosethrone amoung the enemy. It's best to keep a level head to successfully protect Princess Celestia and if you two spot Princess Rosethrone do what you can to stop her from doing her plan."
"Or we'll send a scout to inform you" Log-A-Log Grenn told the hare.
Colonel Ashpaw agreed with her "Indeed!"
While the two chieftians rush to obey the Colonel's orders, Colonel Ashpaw returned to address his forces turning to Skipper Brogalaw and Skittles "Everybeast ready?"
"Ready as we'd ever be Colonel sir!" Skittles said saluting.
"Just as the hedgehog said Colonel, my otters and I are ready for the enemy!" Skipper Brogalaw said.
"Good!" Colonel Ashpaw said.
The defenders were prepared to deal with Ripfang's army.
Captain Ripfang walks up towards the Castle of the Two Sisters. With him his army was just in arrow range as was his soldiers. He looks to see Colonel Ashpaw looking out towards him "Ahoy there Rabbit, guess whose back!"
Colonel Ashpaw's long ears stood up at the insult "Call me a rabbit again you mangy cowardly one-toothed rat, and I'll show you what this rabbit can do! I'm a hare! What is it that you need?!"
Ripfang snarls again a creature made fun of his own one good tooth "You've just sealed your fate rabbit! We've come to slay you all under Princess Rosethrone's name!"
Colonel Ashpaw clinched his paw as he addressed the rat "Oh? I'd like to see the big bad rat, try, I heard Lord Brocktree's army easily beat your lot...Heck your lot couldn't even bring down a group of sixty hares or otters even when you had them out numbered!"
"THAT STRIPE DOG BADGER LORD CHEATED! CAUGHT ME AND DOOMEYE UNAWARE, CHARGING FROM OUR FLANKS! I ASSURE YOU RABBIT THAT YOU'LL DIE! IF NOT TODAY IT WILL BE SOON! SOLDIERS ATTACK!" Ripfang roars.
With their captain's orders Princess Rosethrone's army charges the defenders firing arrow after arrow at them.
"Everybeast duck, cover then fire back!" Colonel Ashpaw ordered.
At the hare's command everyone ducked, or covered then returned fire as the third assult on the Castle of the Two Sisters began. While the fighting was happening, Princess Celestia was informed on what was happening outside by Ruro and Log-A-Log Grenn. The Princess sighed heavily, it proved Shooting Star's point, while she was alive, Princess Rosethrone wouldn't rest until she was dead but like Colonel Ashpaw she was puzzled on what Rosethrone could have planned. She turned to the two Chieftians "I do wonder what Princess Rosethrone has in mind. You two both told me that Colonel Ashpaw and Sergent Snow weren't able to see her right?"
"That's correct and from what Ruro and I can confirm we couldn't see her" Log-A-Log Grenn said.
"She's certainly up to something" Princess Celestia said "What could it be?"
"Don't worry your pretty head Princess Celestia" Ruro told her "Grenn and I have your back."
"I'm grateful for it in these times" Celestia told the two chieftains "But not knowing what Princess Rosethrone is up to is making me feel uneasy. Whatever she's up to, it's not a good thing for us. Keep a good eye open for anything you see."
"Right!"
Princess Celestia closes her eyes full out guessing part of Rosethrone's plan this fight as a destraction of somesort that she knew. She then spoke "Oh Sister, how good you must be having it with Shooting Star, I'm sure you're safe now."
Little did she know that at the moment the aircraft was just inches away from being attacked by Darkwing and Ironwill.
end of chapter
Short Chapter, but it sets up two battles in the next chapter. Whom will be victorious and how long can our heroes outsmart Princess Rosethrone by thinking what her plan is? Next chapter is Book 2, Chapter 23.
