The Hero's Tale

Chapter 8: The Battle at Larsen Pass

Rings was exhausted, it had taken five days to traverse the foot road, and every day was beset by loud music, poisoned comrades, and every narrow pass of the trail would doubtless be littered with traps upon trips. Every square inch might reveal an exploding mine, or a hail of darts, or swinging rocks. Few of these traps resulted in fatalities, but the injuries where grievous, and dragging the wounded with them was significantly lowering morale. Rings was fairly good with numbers, and by his count they'd lost almost a thousand fighters and they hadn't even seen the enemy yet.

Then, thankfully all of them could see the end coming near. The final pass of the foot road was a narrow way between two rocky peaks. A canyon with marble walls on either side, it was several miles long and would necessitate marching the men in a tight formation. Saturn called for the army to halt, and waved Arano over to her.

"Larson pass, the gateway to Canterlot," Saturn said, reverently. "Arano, you know tactics, if you where going to stop an invasion of the city, what would you do with such a conveniently narrow pass?"

"I'd put everything I have on the other side." Arano confirmed.

"Exactly." Saturn said, "We're here, we are at the site of the battle."

"The men have been through hell," Rings said, "We should rally them before the final March, get them psyched up. Morale is low."

"So?" Saturn said, "We out number them at least ten to one, no army in history has been able to beat such numbers."

"With all due respect Baroness," Arano said, "We could possibly win this battle by just by flooding the enemy with our numbers, but we want guaranteed victor not possible victory. We should move the Ballistas forward, attack with Artilery first."

"That's a good idea," Rings agreed, "We can pelt the enemy form a mile away with flaming spears, give our men a chance to strike back first for a change. They can rest while to Artilery crews weaken the enemy."

Saturn nodded, "I like that idea." She agreed. "Unpack the Balistas and prepare oil to set the spears alight. We'll welcome our enemy with flames and death."

At Saturn's command the soldiers unpacks the Ballistas from the wagons, hundreds of the cart-sized spear throwing bows, and racks of spears. Behind them other soldiers donned their armor and weapons, hoisting their shield and marching in formation behind the Ballistas. Rings had gotten his confidence back, the Ballistas could rain down fire on the enemy before they where close enough to fire back. Finally they'd have the chance to strike back at the unseen enemy that had been attacking them and harming their friends.

Just as soon as things seemed to be going right, an enormous section of the road collapsed under the hundreds of ballistas, all of them crashing into the sinkhole in a cloud of dust that was only beat down by the pouring rain.

"Get some men in that hole!" Arano said, "Get those people out before it floods!"

Rings flew forward into the hole, seeing that almost every one of the siege engineers what where manning the Ballistas where injured or dead, and the Balitas themselves where smashed to splinters. Rings led the Pegasi in hefting out the survivors of the fall, and those the siege engines that could be salvaged.

"What is this madness?" Saturn roared, frustrated, "It would take every worker in Canterlot a YEAR to clear a pitfall this big!"

"I'm Afraid that's my fault, Baroness," Raven said, the unicorn appearing out of nowhere. "I own the contracting company who's job it is to maintain this road, seems the've been neglecting their duties. Please accept my sincerest apologies, this road will be fine to retreat over in no time at all."