Twilight wanted so badly to stand in front of Big Mac, to tell him there was another option, and indeed, there were, but she soon realized few of those options were actual good ideas. The Caribou just outside the wall had threatened to lay waste on all of Ponyville if they did not comply. And even if they tried to defend themselves, she found the idea to not be very good. She had taken a good look at the actual army just outside, and it was a very formidable force. But something that somehow sent chills down her spine was the fact they were all warriors. Unlike the "Wooden antlers", as they had referred to the past force, they did not have any spell caster with them, or at least not on sight.
And just the mere fact she could not see a spell caster among them, not to mention the actual armor and sharp weapons most of them wielded, what scared Twilight. If not for the fact Rainbow was helping her stay on her hooves, she would've fallen to her knees.
Her eyes just couldn't stay away from Big Mac's, but there seemed to be no need, as even without words, a full conversation was made between them, in which Twilight asked, PLEADED, for Mac to not go out there.
But a simple stare from Mac simply told her there was no other choice... and they both knew it. They didn't know what would happen if they dared to defy the Caribou by not complying to their threats... but Twilight knew they were brutal in the way they handled mares. How would they handle males that were "traitors to the cause", as they surely called them?
But in the end, a tear threatened to escape from her eyes when she remembered one of the most important lessons of being a princess she had read before about the great conquerors. Making the harshest decisions for the well being of the most, even if the cost would be of sacrificing lives... innocent lives.
Twilight found herself quiet. She wanted to say something so badly... but as she finally moved her eyes away from Big Mac's, she couldn't say something. Big Mac merely nodded silently before gripping tightly the hammer in his hands. Turning his head to look at Granny Smith, he suddenly found himself on the same position as Twilight.
Big Mac had always been a stallion of few words... but the moment where he wanted the most to really say something meaningful, Granny Smith simply lifted a hand to her mouth, sending him a sweet smile and then sending him a nod.
Twilight had the suspicion something bad might happen, and she was already getting up to try and go with him. If there was no way to stop him from going, then she could try to go along.
And yet, Twilight suddenly grew furious when a pair of guards stopped her from advancing further.
"No, princess. Allow us to go. You and the rest of the elements should stay safe. It is important for Equestria that you stay out of danger."
Twilight was furious... not at her guards, because they were right... no, not at them, but mostly at herself. She was a princess, and alicorn, one of the most powerful beings in Equestria, or probably the whole word... and yet, she was powerless to at least make a struggle. And as she looked at her two friends, she found they shared at least some of those feelings. Rainbow was noticeably uncomfortable with the whole setting. She wanted to fight, but without her wings, she was severely crippled. Indeed, she knew several fighting styles... but there was a huge difference between competitions, where she could brag and show off as many movements as she wanted against wooden dummies and hay filled bags... and a real war, just like the one they were facing.
As for Rarity? She didn't seem as eager as Rainbow Dash or even Twilight herself, surely because she didn't want to get her hooves dirty, twilight thought with a quick mental smirk... but there was still a very noticeable discomfort from not being able to do anything other than stand aside and pray to whatever deities that were out there for them to listen to her plight for the protection and well being of her friend's brother and those brave guards. For Celestia's mane, she had seen how Rarity had valiantly fought with her own hands and magic several of the changelings all by herself when the Changeling invasion occurred some time back. She wasn't a mare in distress in the slightest!
Twilight could simply let out a soft moan of frustration before simply stepping back and crossing her arms. She knew they were right. She was the last free princess of Equestria... and she needed to stay back, where it was "safe" if she wanted to keep not only Ponyville's, but pretty much the rest of Equestria's hopes of being freed and drive back the invading force back and fleeing from wherever they had come from.
She didn't like it... in fact, she hated the idea. She was now little more than a symbol, something akin to an idol to keep on a pedestal to look up to... and something belonging to a temple rather than the battlefield.
Her own presence was already enough to keep the morale high, or as high as the circumstances allowed it. And she knew it should be kept as such... But that more than often meant she'd have to stay back like the beacon of hope, rather than the flag at the hands of the vanguard. And she hated that.
As such... Twilight sighed sadly as she simply let her eyes follow the royal guards, some of the few still loyal to her... no, to Equestria, as they passed by towards the door.
In comparison to the rest of the ponies, and without including Big Mac, of course, those ponies were the only ones with real armor and weapons reserved for combat. Even if their once pristine armor had been stained with tar, mud or several of the other materials used for the construction of the wall, they still held the prestige of a royal guard fulfilling their duty.
As soon as the door was opened and the group of ponies passed through it, Twilight spread her wings to fly onto the upper part of the wall where she could see more clearly. If anything, perhaps to calm herself instead of just staying on the blind and wait... no, pray for the better. Perhaps she could even be of help herself!
She looked patiently as Big Macintosh walked forward, followed closely by the small group of guards behind him. Every step seemed to be sounding loudly on the field, as if the ground was made out of marble rather than dirt. And yet, perhaps it was by the burning conviction behind their eyes, but Twilight could see no fear at all behind the eyes of her friend and her guards. That could easily be because of their training.
Of course, aside of the Changeling invasion, none of them had been in an actual war, but the constant training they had been under was showing as they marched. Her ears lowered against her head as she knew what that meant. They were ready and willing to give up their lives for her and the other ponies.
After several tension filled minutes, the big red stallion she called friend was finally standing before the Caribou warlord. While the distance made it difficult, Twilight could still see something concerning. Big Mac, one of the biggest ponies, without counting Celestia and Luna themselves, could barely reach to the Caribou's neck, with the tip of its ears barely reaching the chin of the Caribou in front of him.
The caribou on the other hand, was looking at him with... a smile?
Twilight had to blink several times to make sure her eyes weren't betraying her. The caribou was actually smiling at Big Mac! After a few moments, the Caribou let out a laugh so loud she could hear it clearly. But it wasn't the kind of mocking, cruel laugh she had heard moments before. It seemed... genuine laugh.
When she saw the Caribou's mouth begin to move, she quickly used a spell to enhance her hearing. What the caribou was saying could barely be heard at the moment, since he wasn't shouting. Her horn shone for a few moments, ensuring the spell was up before she began to listen closely.
"-must say... you are definitely more... closer to an actual warrior than the rest of ponies we have seen. You, and your little group of... lackeys here." The caribou made a gesture with his hand towards the other guards behind Big Mac. "... and to be honest... it would be a very great shame to destroy you."
Big Mac merely stared at the Caribou, holding tightly the hammer in his hand.
"You see... that 'strong' and 'powerful' kind... he only cares for the so called 'male superiority'..." Twilight was surprised to hear as some of the other Caribou behind him began to laugh softly, as if mocking the idea of "male superiority" their own King was enforcing! "... but we... we have a different view of things."
Both, Twilight and Big mac suddenly tensed up when the Caribou lifted its halberd, almost as if he was about to attack. Big Mac even held the hammed up to block the incoming attack... but said attack never came. Instead, the Caribou simply dropped the halberd, letting the edge get embedded into the ground and letting the handle in the air, confusing both ponies. Slowly, the Caribou warlord began to walk back and forth as he spoke.
"That stupid trash of superiority and conquest and such? Blegh." He added with a dismissive wave of his hand towards the ground. "He is too blinded by his new slaves and pleasure of life he and his followers have managed to acquire that he has lost the true purpose of what being a Caribou means."
"... which is?" One of the guards asked lowly, but still keeping his guard up, much like the rest of the ponies before the menacing Caribou.
"Being warriors, of course. Ages before this... superiority thing began, we, the Caribou, were a proud race of warriors. We didn't live in a single place. We were always on the move, waging war, taking spoils... but that changed when the bloodline of Dainn arrived. Things changed... some tribes began to settle and leave the ways of war behind... and that made them weak and fools..."
Some far memory seemed to pass through the Caribou's eyes as he suddenly took his halberd from the ground, making the ponies flinch again. But instead of attacking, the Caribou let out a scream of anger before plunging his halberd down onto the ground again.
"... and now... our lands... the lands were countless of our ancestors rest... is gone... because one single Caribou was foolish enough to try and become a god..."
Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing. What did he mean by "trying to become a god"!?
"... but that is in the past... if anything, our tribe learned to not stay on the past and instead keep moving. If anything... perhaps it was for the best, since most of the weaker tribes have diminished. Yes, they have powerful magic and their deity on their side... but we are more, and stronger."
Twilight's mind began to race with possibilities... were they truly planning to form a truce, if not an alliance with them to take out Dainn?
"However... the Stonehoof clan and the Black Pelts aren't... that close as you ponies are... he even decided to trust a mere pony, no offense..." Twilight could hear one of her guards scoff at that. She honestly shared the feeling. "... But Dainn... he isn't looking for the wellbeing of his own people. He only wants to conquer, to claim, and to show everything as if it was a prize on a wall..."
Twilight remembered the image Luna had shown her, of the throne Dainn sat on, which had the severed horns of the princesses attached to it. The Caribou was honest on that part.
"And what are you suggesting, Caribou? Surely you do not propose a truce?" One of the guards asked with an aggressive tone, something Twilight could easily share her feelings with.
"No, no, no... nothing of the sorts." The caribou quickly replied back with a smile, one that sent shivers down Twilight's back. "What we are proposing is... a reward for our services..."
Twilight's mind seemed to stop for a few moments as she tried to think about what the Caribou had said. But before any of them could ask, the Caribou simply chuckled at the confused expression of the ponies before continuing.
"What we suggest is... we get rid of Dainn, with a little of your help of course. We'll be needing for you to handle over your last precious pony princess, and she instantly becomes the key to get us close to Dainn himself! Only those who are inside the very small circle of confidence of Dainn can come close to him at the moment. The pony prince from the frozen wasteland at the north? That disgusting shapeshifting bug? His council, formed only by members of his own tribe? Aside of that, nobody else. As such, we cannot get rid of that disgusting bastard, as we will not be able to get close without the mixed force of caribou, pony and bugs falling down upon us..."
Twilight couldn't believe what her ears were picking. Were they truly saying they could destroy Dainn if they helped them!?
"... what's the catch?"
Even the Caribou seemed surprised as the words came from the big red stallion himself. But after a few moments, he simply shrugged before walking towards them, alone and with no other caribou behind him.
"... the catch is... we are on unknown lands... with little to no knowledge. Yes, we could return to that frozen wasteland at the north those transparent ponies used to live at... but aside of that, we'd be without food, resources, housing. We'd endure, but it'd be a harsh way to live... instead..."
Twilight gulped, fully knowing what the Caribou was about to say: they wanted a land for themselves. One where they could thrive and prosper... but then what? Would it be worth it if that meant they could go back to their barbaric ways of waging war, or worse, to have Equestria as a slave kingdom, just for saving them, and paying tributes to them?
"... and what about the ponies the caribou have captured so far?"
Another guard asked, willing to see where this was going.
"Ahh, yes... you can have most of the enslaved mares. we have no use for weak ponies within our ranks."
Twilight almost let out a smile of happiness at that. Her friends, they would be free! But her smile vanished as soon as the Caribou spoke again.
"We'll just keep the strongest ones to ourselves. After all, the next generations need to be stronger and better than the past one... as such, we will keep those you call 'alicorns' for ourselves. The rest of the ponies can return to their families and live their silly little and useless lives as usual."
Twilight's ears flattened when she heard that proposal. of course, she wasn't expecting the caribou to go for free... but that price was too much! They were basically planning to have her, Cadence, Luna and Celestia become full time breeders!
"... eeenope."
Twilight's ear flicked when she had that single word. it had come from Big Mac, but she could see by the way the guards stood, ready, and eager to battle the Caribou, they shared the same thought.
"... and here i thought you ponies were so much more 'civilized' and 'smarter' than other species... so illuminated by prosperous and peaceful times that you'd manage to see the advantages of this offer." The caribou began to speak in an agitated tone, showing he was bothered by Big Mac's answer. "Don't you see it is a good plan, one that will not include the deaths of several of your ponies? It almost seems as if you prefer a life of misery under the hoof of a tyrant rather than be free!"
"... what you describe isn't liberty." Big Mac spoke firmly, taking a step forward, and even going so far as to stand in front of the caribou with a cold glare. "It's sacrificing what we believe in... what we are..."
"Yes... princess Twilight has taught us the value of friendship..."
"And friends don't give up each other for their own hide."
Twilight felt a certain warmth inside of her, one she hadn't felt recently... pride. Was this what Celestia felt everyday when seeing her and her friends... and the kingdom she and her sister had lifted?
"So... what is going on?"
Twilight let out a loud shriek of surprise and terror when her thoughts were broken by the voice next to her. It was Rainbow, who had somehow managed to get a pair of binoculars and was staring in the distance at the caribou, right next to her. Twilight had to resist the urge to slap Rainbow on the back of the head for that scare, if only because she seemed to be just as, if not more interested than herself.
"... they are talking." Twilight answered simply,
"Well, duh. But i mean, what are they saying?"
"I was listening until somepony interrupted." Twilight answered back in an annoyed tone as she began to redo the spell.
But at that moment, both, Rainbow and Twilight let out a gasp of horror when they noticed it: Big Macintosh had been pushed aside by a guard, who could only watch in silence when the halberd carried by the big Caribou suddenly fell onto him, cleaving cleanly between his head and his right shoulder.
Twilight's mind instantly became clouded with fear. Her worst fears had indeed come to pass. These Caribou, the Black Pelts... they did not hesitate to kill. The Caribou she had seen back at Canterlot did not kill, they only seemed eager to capture and conquer, but that did not imply killing.
And now, even as she tried to force herself to fly towards the fallen guard to try anything she could to save him, her body just did not answer. It was as if a huge weight had been put on top of her body, immobilizing her and incapacitating her from doing anything at all.
And of course, she wasn't the only one. Not a single soul said anything for what felt like years, simply staring at something none of them expected to ever see. Yes, they had been told of the horrors done back in Canterlot, and they had seen it themselves when the first group of Caribou arrived...
... But at that moment?
Twilight suddenly noticed somepony close to her hyperventilating. Her neck felt as if it hadn't moved in years, almost giving her a pain from the strain it took from simply tearing her eyes away from the scene before her to look in the direction the heavy breathing was coming from.
There, one of the flower ponies, was with a look that held a huge amount of not fear, but pure, unadulterated terror behind them. And yet, she didn't move much like what they used to do in the past, where they would simply jump and run in a random direction while screaming as loud and for as long as their lungs would allow them...
Instead, she was paralyzed, unable to, like Twilight, tear her eyes away from the horrid scene before them, especially now when a small puddle of blood began to form around the dead guard's body. After a few moments, the flower pony finally opened her mouth, as if she was about to say something, or more like yell at the top of her lungs.
But no sound came out... instead, the hyperventilating continued... until suddenly, her eyes suddenly widened... and she simply fell back, completely unconscious when her body touched the ground. It was as if someone had simply flipped a button off!
Twilight understood the feeling... as she almost felt like throwing up, much like Rainbow had done moments before right next to her, when such a horrid scene came to be.
"OPEN THE WALL!"
Twilight suddenly heard, making her feel as if she had just woken up from a very bad dream. Even the deafening buzzing that had invaded her mind seemed to disappear when the voice of one of her guards came to her ears. Her head turned immediately in the direction of the voice. And then, she saw it:
3 of the four original guards that had gone with Big Mac were running back as fast as they could towards the fortified town, with two of them barely able to carry and run with an unconscious Big Macintosh between them. Twilight was just about to yell the order to open, though her mind stopped working once more when she saw it.
Despite the color, twilight could easily see it: a small, red trail of liquid running down from a heavily bruised, and possibly badly injured side of his head. Twilight was stuck in shock, unable to do anything other than watch until the small group of ponies vanished from her sight right below her, having finally entered the town.
But the terror didn't end there: her eyes immediately went back to the now lifeless body of the guard on the other side of the field, whose blood had made a small trail down the ground, which led to the Caribou's hooves. Twilight stared in horror at the murderous Caribou as he simply leaned down to pick up both, the hammer Big Macintosh had been holding onto when he got out of the town, and the dead guard's sword.
After a few moments of inspecting both weapons, the Caribou simply threw the hammer down to the ground, as if it was a mere piece of garbage, before turning to look at the shiny, silvery sword on his other hand. Somehow, he seemed more pleased with the sword, even if it was a bit bloodied.
For a moment, their eyes crossed, and Twilight felt a chill run down her spine, all the way to the tip of her tail when she saw his eyes. Cold, murderous, but with a burning conviction behind them. It told her everything she needed to know:
They would not stop at anything to achieve what they wanted. In a way, it was similar to Dainn, but the stare of the Black Pelt had something different written on it. Twilight could only stare in terror as the caribou lifted the bloodied sword, and closed his free hand through it to collect the spilled blood.
Slowly, the Caribou lifted his blood coated hand towards his face, staining it with a hand shaped blood stain before pointing forward.
Twilight's spell wasn't up, so she wasn't able to hear what he said when his mouth moved in the distance. She didn't know either if the gesture was to the town, or directly at her (both sent a terror filled chill down her back)...
But she did know one thing. And such thing was only confirmed when, as one, the rest of the Caribou took a loud step forward, rising their weapons in the air and letting out a menacing war cry.
She was NOT ready for this.