The Hero's Tale

Chapter Six: Prepare for War

Rings was overjoyed, in his talons was the vial of Gregory's deep red blood. With it, he could . . .after a short ceremony, call the Shades back into this world. Rings had thought the caller had to die to open the way, but Saturn assured him the blood was all that was necessary. They only had to take one more city, two more immortals to kill, then the long afternoon of eternity. An eternity with Saturn, with a new face, and a new world. It drove him wild with anticipation and excitement, like he was a kid again about to open a birthday present and take a big bite of his mother's ash cake.

The Hippogriff took a drag on his cigarette as he watched the Armies disembark the two trains, unloading water and food into the supply wagons in large cisterns. Rings had mono tired how this army marched to Zebrica, trampling any resistance and taking the entire country in a matter of days. Baharra put up quite a bit more of a fight, much shorter but with considerably more losses, and all indications showed Canterlot would be far harder to take. They where out of tricks, no more port charms, paired off spies, or skullduggery, and this would be a dirty, face to face fight. Rings found himself okay with that, let these sinful beings fight for their dirty little world, a world where his loving parents where never accepted for their love. Where a pony could mutilate him, and do it on regal orders. Soon, it would be dust, a fading memory. Rings admitted to himself he would miss his Mom and Dad. . .but it would be a far more terrible thing to allow them to live, ostracized in a world that refused to accept the love of a pony and a griffon.

"Deep thoughts, my friend?" Arano asked.

"Just thinking that I'll miss my parents." Rings said,

"I'll miss my sister," Arano said, "She still thinks I'm a professional wrestler. My Nephew wears my T-shirt. I know they will pass away with this world, but in a hundred years they'll all be dead anyway. I save them suffering, the shades will obliterate them totally, painlessly, nothing left but a memory. No afterlife, just. . .gone. There's a kind of peace in that."

Rings shrugged, "I guess that makes as much as much sense as anything." He admitted. "I've never been much of a philosopher. I've always just looked for the next payday, not asking a lot of questions about how or why I get the money. Now, I'm part of something, Arano. That feels good."

The Big Minotaur patted Rings on the back, "It certainly is my Winged friend." He said. "When you taste immortality, you know there are greater things ahead and anyone's death is well worth it, even those close to you."

Rings nodded, noticing the army was in lines and ready to March. "Well, that mountain won't climb itself." He noted. "Let's go."

Rings joined Saturn in her Chariot, Arano preferring to walk beside it. Saturn listed the mask, and gave Rings a tender kiss on his beak. Both turned to the mountain road the snaked up the mountain, an arrow shaped sign pointed toward the bottom of the road reading "Canterlot", but there seemed to be a massive landslide that had covered the road.

"Well, that's inconvenient." Saturn said, "Arano, can your minotaurs clear that?"

"Yes, Baroness but it will take days," Arano said.

"If only there was another way around." A well-dressed unicorn in a smart fedora said, seeming to appear at the side of the road out of nowhere.

Fourty thousand weapons suddenly trained on the stranger, but Saturn motioned for her soldiers to stand down.

"You are twenty miles from the nearest town, and alone." Saturn said, "You are to well dressed to be a hermit but not dressed to be and adventurer. . .who are you?"

"Just a simple businessman," The unicorn said, tipping his hat. "I was on my way down to see a farm I bought nearby,"

"How did you get past the landslide?" Saturn asked.