My Little Pony: Civil War
With orders from General Forty-Five, we are to move out. At first light on the morn, we marched out where we were to meet up with the 1st Ponyville Regiment, and the 12th Canterlot. With our Griffon-Soldiers in the 6th Cloudsdale, the numbers swelled to about 12,000 strong with artillery support. On the march was a Rebel army of 10,000 Ponies.
Of our 12,000 brought to arms, 2,000 of them are Griffons with both our troops combined with the newly formed 8th Cloudsdale under the command of me and Valiant Charge. Our armies met at a creek that flows into the Celestial River called 'Snow Creek'. The plan calls for a 'bend-don't-break' tactic. Our Griffons lay in wait as the battle is underway.
The cannons roared like thunder, and still the Rebel-Ponies in their grey uniforms marched into battle. Ponies yelp when the shell shams into the ground, sending Ponies flying in all directions and falling dead with a defining light 'thud' like dropping a sack of potatoes. General Razor Edge and Captain Flash Blade led two columns of 2,500 into the advance
"Take aim!" bellowed the General
"Fire!" yelled Flash Blade fiercely
White puffs of smoke filled the air as the shots rang out and echoed on the warm summer winds. Many soldier-ponies in the 'Separatist Greys' made their last cries out as their lives are stolen by hot lead going right through their bodies. I saw an iron shot from a 20-pounder Parrott Rifle sped through to blast a hole in the belly of an unfortunate stallion
Bits of ribcage were exposed from his pelt, and his flash would be food for the crows as he fell back in a blood of his own blood and guts. The shell went through him, and took five other Ponies with it. The Rebel-Ponies fired back on command from their officers. Our own Ponies were cut down by rifle fire. Despite their losses, the Rebels pushed forward
General Razor Edge and Captain Flash Blade's Ponies began to bend onto the onslaught into a 'horseshoe shape'. Still, they did not break or fold under the pressure. A flare was shot up, and Gilda moved forward only for me to stop, "Wait...we attack on the second flare," I said to her, and she went back into a prone position on the ground. Gilda is eager.
"Easy, Gilda," said Valiant Charge
"Sorry," Gilda replied back quietly
"Don't be, we're all eager for battle," I replied with a grin and wink to my fellow officer. Flash Blade's Pony-Soldiers were closing in on the sides in a 'pincer movement' with her rifles attacking the flanks. The air was filled with the smell of death as the dead were piling up, and the many cries of the wounded filled the air. Some were missing whole limbs
'Canister Shot' was being loaded into the Parrott Rifles, and were cutting down and making a mess of anypony in it's wake. Their lines were faltering as the trumpet sounded a retreat only for the trumpeter-pony to get shot in the head. With the Rebel Ponies on the gallop, we saw the second flare being shot up skyward. I unsheathed my sword to fight
2,000 bayonets are now fixed, and Gilda and Gabby and the Griffon-Soldiers had their rifles ready with six shots. As they were retreating, we emerged from the hill to their utter shock, "Take aim!" I yelled out with a raised sword, and I made a downward slash, "Fire!" puffs of smoke came from the barrels of 2,000 rifles as the Rebels crossed Snow Creek
"C'mon, you Birdies!" yelled Gabby
"Give the Rebs all six!" yelled Gilda
"Charge!" Valiant Charge and I yelled out, pointing our sabers to the retreating Rebel-Ponies. We attacked them as they retreated, and gave them no escape though a few Pegasi slipped through to fled their lives. Bayonets skewered flesh, and the light crack of bones echoed in the ears as faces and skulls were taking the full brunt of hardwood rifle stocks
The bodies of the dead fell with splashes, and floating facedown in the river. So great was the onslaught that the river ran red with blood for three days, and the number of dead were so great that it dammed the creek to the point where one can cross it. For those village-ponies in Ponyville, the savagery of the battle earned it the nickname 'Bloody Snow'
To think that months before, many Pony-Soldiers thought the war was lost. It was these soldiers, these Griffon-Soldiers, that most of the Top Brass had no faith in, were holding their own in a fight. It's amazing how quickly the tide of the war can turn. Amid the cheers, my flanks jiggled as I hugged Valiant Charge. I got hugs with nuzzles from Gabby too
"Huzzah!" cried out our tired troops
"Come now, Gilda!" I offered to her
Gilda's smile emerged as she saluted me, and my saber rattled in it's scabbard as we shared a hug. There was merriment in the town square of Ponyville as the cider flowed, and potato soup was served by the locals for soldiers both Pony and Griffon alike. There was music on the fiddle, and guitar for the soldiers dancing with comrades, and village mares
Even in their pain, the spirits of the wounded were not dampened. The dead were honored can go in merriment to the next life, and know that they gave their lives valiantly on the field of battle. Even our drummer-griffons are still here. They got to dance with adult mares like me and Flash Blade to the joy and clapping of soldiers. What an evening it is
(The party song is 'Year of Jubilo/John Ryan's Polka/Old 1812' by Wayne Cantwell)
