Grey Mane got ready. She nestled herself into a tree and activated her camoflauge spell. First sign of danger and thats it, she'll attack. If they come as they were asked, then a formal meeting could happen.
Masquerade went to the welcoming desk, and asked if there would, per chance, hire him in the thundermanes. The mare looked at him, and told him to go at the second floor, and ask for superiors. She also said that they weren't hiring a lot of ponies in this town, and the building mostly served as a meeting point for generals, and she didn't knew to who she could refer for hiring. He then said a shy ''thanks'' to the mare, and went upstairs.
Venquis walked to the Tent. Caesar had gave him some recruits and other solders. " We shall let the Thundermanes know who is the rightfull leader of this land. We will nail their leader to the top of Kaisars palace. Her body facing north so that she can watch her world die." Venquis was now in his signature armor. He picked up the imfamous 'Blade of the South', A gigantic longsword. "Lets get to work"
Snow gathered the base's troops, "We have reason to believe that Ceasar is about to begin his spring offensive. So, we need to get to the border to stop a breakthrough on our turf. We march in two hours so hurry and break!" She announced to the assembled troops. They quickly scattered to gather their belongings and marching gear. While the troops where doing this, she compared herself to the army of Ceasar. She was at the virtually the same rank as one of those Prima Centarions (The head centurion for those who don't know, I'm guessing that as Ceasar's army is based off the real ceasar, this is one of the ranks). She took heart in this and went to oversee the camp breaking.
Finally upstairs, Masquerade saw a pony entering a room. He had a general's hat, so he followed him. He knocked at the door, and entered. "Sorry to interrupt... I just wondered, would you, by chance, hire me in the thundermanes? I had tried to join your forces for a while now." The general looked at him. "Pardon my curiosity, but do you know how to fight? You don't seem... Very strong..." Masquerade smiled. "Oh, i understand. I ain't that tall, and i don't really fit in the soldiers uniforms. But let me introduce myself: Masquerade Butcher, also called the Masked Gambler. I'm not so good with swords, but..." In a flash, Masquerade was behind the general. A card over his neck, and his hoof over his body, holding him. "You see, i know how to defend myself very well. I also know how to move without been heard and seen; i think you could use my abilities in your army, no?" "You sure are fast, but are you resistent?", asked the general, while getting out from masquerade. "Oh, i ain't very resistant, but as you can see, i really sneak on ponies. They usually don't see me comin'." "I'm sure you could get some place in our ranks, but... You'll have to receive a proper training." Masquerade sighed. "Please, don't tell me i can't make it already..." His mask changed for 'The assasin', and he vanished in the shadows. "Wait, i think i just had an idea... Yes, a good idea. We're going to hire you as a mercenary. These procedures haven't been used for a while, but i think they're still legal in our army. I don't have the right to hire you: only a general could." "You ain't a general...? I tought, with the hat..." "Oh, this is a higher soldier's helmet. You should learn the helms significations if you want to be in our ranks." "Yeah, i'm going to read the soldier's book, and learn all there's to know about your formation. Thank you." "Oh, i'll have to refer you to some general... I think i know who could hire you: just wait outside, will you?" "Um, yes. I'll wait outside. Thank you again." Masquerade left the room, and closed the door. He sat against the wall, patiently waiting for the pony to call him back.
Venquis walked through the everfree. Even if his army would fail, his armor had was extrenely resistant to magic and to most weaponry. "We are almost there, dont disapoint lord Kaisar. You dont want to know what happens to ponys who do" Venquis said to his men. Venquis now drewout the Blade of the South, the imperials will destory the thundermanes in the Everfree.
After a few minutes, the pony opened the door, and gave him a paper. "Here, I can only say you this: From now on, you're an affiliate of the thundermanes, but you're hired as a mercenary. Don't push your luck too hard, and do your job." Masquerade stood up, took the paper, and putted it in his saddlebag. "Thank you, it means a lot to me-" "I ain't finished. You should go to a library and read some books on the thundermanes. At least, you'll have the basic information you may need. And my name is Scribb: report to me if you need something. You're under my commands." Masquerade nodded. "I see. I'll find a library and the books. Thank you, Scribb. I'll report to you later." Masquerade had a small ironic laugh. "... General~.", he said, as he bowed to him. Scribb smiled. "Soldier. Good luck finding those books in an ancient imperial city. They have been burned and foreign in almost all equestria."
The Thundermane army under Snow laid in ambush, waiting for the Ceasarian army to come. Just as predicted, the army followed the road, right where the Thundermanes wanted. After letting the army pass for a bit so the full force of the ambush group could slam right into their flanks. When time was right, Snow motioned to a caller and a bird signal sprung out. Soon, the whole forest was alive, but then it died as quickly as it began. That's when the first arrow flung itself at the army of Caesar, soon a hail of arrows, stones and other projectiles were being flung from the forest. Then in the resulting confusion, the Thundermane army charged out and slammed straight into the flanks of Caesar's army. Snow had already thrown her throwing pilim, and was now cutting her way into the army.
Masquerade went out of the builing, and walked in the town to find the library. He headed to a huge tree, transformed in a library, and tried to open the door. Tightly shut, the wooden door wouldn't budge. "Locked, and closed. And there isn't any sign that gives the opening hours..." (Remember me, Snow, is the battle in a road next to the forest, or a battle INSIDE the forest?)
(Thanks~ I'm coming, finally!) Masquerade walked around the huge library, wondering where to go, when he remembered something he saw on the desk in Scribb's office. It was a plan of the forest, with arrows and road highlined with color ink. The color had capted his attention more than the plan, so he didn't remembered the scheme of the forest, but it's only now that he realizes the title of the map. They were numbers, like an hour and date. Today, and at this exact hour. Masquerade rushed to the forest. He had to find that particular road. He passed next a big cottage, and went to the only hole in the trees, the only entrance of the forest. The map came back in his head, and he saw the only entrance on it. That was a good sign. He made his way between the trees, regardless the little roads of dirt. His mask changed for 'The Hunter', a wooden mask with paintings of animal blood and animal teeths. He located the entrance, and uncounsciously, he made a mapping of his surroundings, and remembered some places on the map earlier, adding them to his current map. He orienyed himself and ran in the direction his senses told him.
Snow cut off the head of yet another Imperial soldier, and turned slightly to see who was likely the leader of the army about to reach the battle line, You and me, she thought with an evil grin and teleported to right in front of the commanders face. She quickly bucked him to get some room and pointed her sword at him, "Fight me, so I can send your head back to Caesar!"
Masquerade heard the noise of a battle growing slightly as he continued to run in the same direction. He arrived to a road, and saw dust at the end of it. He went on it, and his mask changed for 'The Warrior', a metalic mask painted in a dark grey color. It was a full mask, and his neck was protected by a chain mail. He walked on the road, to discover a grand battle, involving Thundermanes and Imperials. His eyes directly found what he was looking for: the general's helm. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and ran to the general.
( Venquis is ment to look like and sound like Legate Lanius From Fallout NV) "And who are you to come before me?" Legate Venquis said to Snow. Venquis was easily twice the size of snow and had his blade of the south in his mouth. "You bear the symbol of the Thudermanes but you dont wear it like a solider of the north wears it." Venquis said to snow. " Lord Kaisar will be pleased with what happens today, i hope you skill with weapons outweighs yous skill with words" Venquis rushed thowards snow.Even if he was to lose this battle, he would not die.
Snow smiled as the commander charged, Perfect, she thought. Right before his blade touched her, she suddenly jumped out of the way with lightning speed, and then jumped on his back, "Let's see how you deal with this!" She yelled, driving a small dagger into a chink of his armor, it was meant less to harm and more to irratate, she knew if a soldier lost their temper, they would lose their discipline and training, and become a much easier target. She had used this strategy before to kill other Caesarion commanders, but this would be the highest ranking one she's ever faced. Snow flipped off Venquis' back and said, "I hope Caesar has enjoyed my gifts! Who's head was it last time?"
Masquerade made his way in the battle, evading the blades and the soldiers. Many of them, in the both armies, looked at him surprised, while others took advantage of the situation against their enemies. In his way, Masquerade had took out his card pack, and the Imperial soldiers falled like flies behind him, holding their throats. He was smiling, and his mask changed for 'Harlequin', his favotrite, as he walked up near the General. He wait for her execution to finish, in retrait, still evading the imperial's attacks, and throwing cards at some easy targets.
(I have now changed Venquis from Earth pony to Unicorn) Venquis laughed at snow. "Magic doesnt affect me very much thundermane, I was born like that." Venquis wound started to heal by itself until not a single scratch was left. "You're a worthy opponent, i can tell you that much. But i would like to know your name so i can reveal it to kaisar" Venquis said to Snow. Venquis teleported himself behind Snow and swung his blade at snow, injuring her.
(Um, it was a dagger, not magic) Snow stung from the injury, but as far as she knew it wasn't too bad. She hopped just out of range to get a quick look at the battle, it was going quite well for the Thundermanes. Snow saw that their objectives had been fulfilled, the Caesarion army wouldn't be able to march any further into Thundermane territory, all their supplies had been destroyed and more than half the army destroyed. Snow looked back to the commander, "Well, its been nice fighting you, but I must take my leave!" She yelled, her horn suddenly glew a bright white, blinding the Caesarion army and Venquis. "Oh, and the name's Snow!" was the last thing he heard from her. By the time that they got their sight back, the Thundermanes and any sign of them being there was gone.
(i thought it was a magic dagger. Sorry about that) Venquis looked at his army. Most of them were dead, and the rest crippled. "Snow....." Venquis thought to himself. "Lord Kaisar wont like this, but at least we have a rival." Venquis and his men teleported to the Imperial City, Where Caesar was waiting, Venquis told Caesar about the events that had happened in the Everfree. Caesars reaction was surprising, he wasnt angry at all. In face he knew that this was going to happen. "Thank you for your infomation on the Event Venquis." Caesar said to him, he walked to his council "I now introduce a death sentence on the pony known as Snow. half a million bits dead, a million alive !" Caesar demanded to the council. "I WANT HER DELT WITH NOW !!!
