I was there 04 (Patreon)

The crowd of ponies gathered around Solid Shot was silent as he continued his narrative in my Equestria dreamscape.

    “Our gunners held their fire until the dragons were within 400 yards of the outer walls of Fort Shield. Then it was our chance to roar. Our rapid-fire volley guns and fusiliers began unleashing volleys into their formation. Now even young drakes scales are relatively immune to smaller caliber gunfire, but their wing membranes are another matter.”

    “Every time the master gunner slammed the trigger bar down on the volley-gun it fired six barrels of three quarter inch caliber in rapid sequence. A quick flip of the trigger bar ejected the spent brass and fresh cartridges dropped from hopper magazine into the chambers. Then they repeated the process. This was the latest technology from the factories of Fillydelphia.”

    “Along side the staccato-fire of the volley guns and rifled muskets was sharp, piercing crack of the quick-fire 2pdrs as they began hurling canister and explosive shells into their attacking ranks. I saw several drakes spin out of control and slam into the slope from destroyed wings. Still the drakes pressed home their attack diving into our growing clouds of blue smoke.”

    “When they got within 200 yards of the outer walls they began shooting jets of yellow and green flame at us. For the most part the wards our unicorns had erected held and their hideous fire splashed harmless against them. Sadly one of their fireballs made it through. I watched the crew of a 12lb field gun vanish before my eyes as their limber went up in a blinding fireball.”

    “At about 100 yards some of our unicorns began sending multicolor lances of magical energy into their closing ranks. For the most part dragons are very resistant to unicorn magic, but that does not mean they cannot feel it. The unicorns worked to keep the drakes away from the gun crews while constantly refreshing the battered wards.”

    “Most of the dragons pulled out of their dive at about 100 feet above the outer curtain wall. As they rocketed over the outer wall they began climbing to make another diving attack. Their wings made the air rumble as they pumped them to gain more height above the fort. It was at this moment that our fliers came hurtling out of the early evening sky into them. Shooters sent bursting shells into them, once again aiming for the drakes more delicate wings. The shooters peeled away as plummeting from above came the Slashers. These armored pegasi ponies had curved razor sharp blades strapped to various locations on their bodies. Screaming like Windigos they crashed into the drakes with reckless abandon, slashing and tearing drake wings as they dove through the drakes formation. The tactics of the Slashers were hit and run and most made it through, however some ponies were swatted from the sky by drake’s claws or crushed in their jaws. Their lifeless armored bodies fell like leaves on an autumn day.”

    “Along with them more injured drakes tumbled out of the violet blue evening sky. The ground shuddered at their impact and great clouds of snow rose from where they crashed. Several never rose again but those who tried to rise felt the wrath of the field guns. Now the drakes were fair game for them. Bronze cannon barrels thundered and rang like mighty bells as they fired. Not even hardy dragon scales were immune to this type violence. Solid 12lb iron cannonballs crashed and tore through their bodies ripping off limbs and tearing them to pieces. Blood erupted from them in great steaming geysers that splattered on the white snow covered ground. Our attack was so ferocious that most of them never had a chance to use their flame against us.”

    Solid Shot stopped his story and looked around at us all gathered there on that bright sunny day. His eyes had a haunted look.

    “They may have been dragons and the enemy, but their dying screams are something that that I‘ll remember for the rest of my life.”

    “Now through all this my crew and larger fortress guns had only been spectators to the battle unfolding in front us. However at that moment I heard both of the six-inch rifles on either side of us fire almost simultaneously as two drakes made a strafing run over the fort in an attempt to rescue their fallen comrades. The thunder of the six-inch rifles firing and the screech of their friction carriages echoed over the sounds of battle. One gun missed altogether, but the other scored a direct hit on one of the strafing drakes. A six-inch explosive shell vaporized its head along with ten feet of neck. The drake’s lifeless body slammed into the side of our fortifications making the walls shudder, then it slid slowly to the ground leaving a great red smears on the outside wall. “

     “At this point I heard somepony yell.”

    ‘There’s another wave of them approaching!’

    “Out of the gathering dark came another three dozen drakes. They appeared to be carrying large baskets in their front claws. When they got within 500 yards of our position they lowered their heads and ignited their bundles with their own flame. Then they began their attack. The burning brands in their talons left great plumes of smoke behind them. Once again our guns began thinning their ranks, but still they pressed on. When they got within a 200 yards they threw their smoking brands at the outer fortress walls then they sharply banked off and retreating into the growing dark and spreading field of smoke. “

    Once again Solid Shot stopped and looked at all of us gathered there. He shook his head and continued his tale.

    “Up to this point the dragons attack hadn’t made much sense. Yes they had killed some of us but they had taken far worse losses. Our position was still secure, and they had lost more of their kin deploying a smoke field that appeared to be a waste of time. The winds were carrying the smoke away from the fort and down into valley. Even if they tried approaching us through the smoke screen we’d have at least 200 yards of clear view to cut them ribbons again. Even with nightfall approaching we had Luna’s beautiful moon to illuminate the snow covered slopes? It made no sense. As the second wave retreated the remainder of the first wave broke off and dove down into the valley and the smoke. One by one our guns went silent. “

    “ After a minute or so a cheer went up from the troops on the curtain wall. They’d shown the dragons that ponies were no longer afraid of them. That with our wits and determination we could hold our own against them.”

    Solid Shot lowered his head and closed his eyes as his voice began to quaver.

    “They, they were still cheering like fools when out of the smoke there exploded a gigantic roiling ball of greenish fire. It slammed into the outer wall like a meteor. Neither stone nor unicorn magic withstood its onslaught. The force of its detonation set off the powder magazine in the Northern curtain wall. In the blink of an eye most of the gun crews on that part of the wall vanished before my eyes. The force of the detonation shook the very foundation of our fortification. Then slowly from smoke and destruction there emerged things from nightmares. With wings so vast they seemed to blot out Luna’s moon there came two creatures of legend. Two great dragons were approaching us. Now the real battle had begun.”

To be continued.