MetalBronyATL

Blood climbed out with a smirk and nuzzled Maple's neck and kissed her cheek, knowing that she wouldn't be mad a him. Ash lit her horn and warmed up her magic so she would be prepared for when the fight finally took place. She seemed far more calm and focused, mostly due to her frustration about crushing on Steel gone and the distraction no longer there. Fighting alongside him would also be helpful to her. Silent looked at Hazel but shrugged it off. He went to her and kissed her forehead. "Hello my dear. How are you feeling?"

Blood sighed and slipped out from under her. "Hun, as much as I love that beautiful flank of yours, I don't need it suffocating me before a battle." He said with a smirk before swatting her butt with his wing. The horde ships where one by one casting off shore. Silent walked around observing the progress. He got a chill down his spine a she thought about what Hazel could possibly do in this situation. He'd rather her not be part of the fight.

Kane raised an eyebrow at Radz's threat. "Father told me stories about Killjoy using rusty spoons on people. I guess Radz got it from somewhere." He said looking a the pencil. Blood blushed and scowled angrily. "I wouldn't hate water so much if SOMEBODY didn't try and drown me because I beat him in a race when we were kids!" He said to Shadow before turning to Maple. "So are you, little missy." He said, tussling her hair a bit.

Kane looked over his troops and took a breath. "Let's move." He said to Oakly as he headed for the coast. "We have to get their with enough to to assemble our navy. This is the last thing I wanted." He said with a sigh, wishing he could have avoided taking on his brother at sea. Blood groaned in frustration. "Why did it have to be ships? I hate naval battles." Kane walked past him and smirked. "Sounds like somebody is scared of water." He joked. Blood growled at Kane. "Watch your tongue!"

"I have considered it, but I do not care about my bloodline. The safety of my kingdom and her happiness come first. Whatever she feels is best I will do." Kane said with a sigh. Ash tilted her head at the strange substance. "What is it? Some kind of explosive?" ((Greek fire is legit. Greeks were geniuses.))

Kane cracked his neck as he gripped his sword and gave it a few swings. He looked up to the balcony of the palace where Autumn was watching him sadly. Kane sighed. "I will do whatever it takes. He won't harm anybody ever again when this is over." "True, but wooden ships burn easily." Ash said, tightening her battle skirt as she lit her horn to make a few small streaks of orange flames to practice.

Kane walked out in his armor as the Canterlot and Crystal armies prepared to move out. "We have to catch him before he gets to the sea. If his forces get onto their warships, we're in for a beating. Horde sailors are the best in the world." Blood was putting his own gear on with the bat ponies as Ash prepared to move out with the Elementals.

((The next big battle is soon, it's going to be a naval battle. Timeskip to the next day?))

Ash nuzzled his neck and smiled as a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. Kane entered the room and saw Autumn laying in bed. He sat down on the bed and ran his hoof through her hair. "You're always so nervous, Kane." Autumn said as she felt Kane next to her. "I can't help it. I'm trying so hard to end this war and the stress of it is astounding." Autumn sat up and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You were nervous before the war even started, but look how far you've come. You're going to beat him, Kane. I know you will." Kane smiled as he kissed Autumn's head.

Ash withdrew the kiss and smiled. "I'm glad you came into my life, Steel." Kane stood on the balcony a little ways below the top. He looked in the direction the Horde had retreated, thinking about how the actual confrontation with Silent would go when the war finally ended.

Ash blushed deeply and stood still for a movement. Finally she slowly moved towards him and kissed him. It was a moment she didn't want to end.

"Then....do you feel the same way? Even a little?" Ash asked, holding Steel's hoof.

Ash buried her face in her hooves. "I'm sorry, Steel. I shouldn't have said anything. You must think I'm crazy." Kane nodded and smirked. "You got that right."

Ash sighed but looked into his eyes. "I know I've been acting kinda strange around you, but there's a reason for it. Steel, something about you made me feel a certain way since the day I first met you. I....I think I have feelings for you." Soul sighed as his face was driven into the ground as Rose sat on his head. "Is this really necessary? This doesn't make me think it's any bigger." Kane nodded. "Very well, Oakly. Best of luck to you." He then smirked. "You sure are interested in this mare, I've noticed."

Ash was quiet for a moment before sighing. "Steel, I need to tell you something." "Yeah, it's probably been a while because nobody likes a mare with a flank so small and unattractive." Soul commented, not even caring that it may not end well. "Regardless, we need to stop her. I don't know what their relationship is, it could be genuine or Silent could be holding her against her will, but still we must save this mare from the nightmare....and from Silent." Kane added.

"You didn't fail, Steel. I promise. You saved my life." Ash said, involuntarily putting her hoof on his hoof that wasn't injured. "Sounds more like teenage angst and daddy issues to me." Soul scoffed. "Very well. Do you know if her Nightmare powers are voluntary? Or is she possessed by them?" Kane asked.

Soul rolled his eyes. "Somebody wasn't loved enough as a foal." Ash gently sat up. "Better, hopefully the healing magic will let me walk again soon." She felt guilty at Steel's injury. "I'm so sorry about your hoof. I owe you my life, Steel." Kane nodded at Oakly. "I didn't even know he had a daughter. But this is concerning. The nightmare hasn't had power since it possessed Luna. I can't imagine how much it has grown over the years."

"Then your existence is meaningless." Soul chimed in, his eyes watching Silent on a screen, wishing there was a way to reverse time and save him from the fate Rose created for him, a way to prevent the decades of hatred towards his own son that followed. A medic came and carefully took Ash to the infirmary where her broken leg was soon treated. She laid in a bed with a splint on her leg, the pain greatly reduced.

"So now you're tormenting innocent young ponies? You must have nothing better to do." Soul commenting rolling his eyes. "Or maybe you're just compensating for something." Ash grit her teeth again as they teleported back to the Empire. "God damn, that little girl hits hard." She said in pain.

Silent put his hooves around her and held her close. "It's ok, Hazel. They won't hurt you." He said, pretending to sound concerned, but was actually surprised that she had this ability. Ash grit her teeth in pain at her broken leg, but soon realized that Steel was holding her. She tried to ignore the feeling and focused on not succumbing to the pain she was in.

Silent was surprised at how well Hazel could suddenly fight. He was concerned for what Rose any have done to her, but he was still very impressed. "Yes, my dear. Well done." He said with a smirk, tussling her mane. Ash tried to stand again, but the impact of Hazel throwing her had caused her back left leg to break. She held back tears of pain as she tried to stand again.

Ash burned the barbarians with her fire magic, opening more firewalls to box in large groups of horde soldiers. Silent growled and lit his horn. "Because she's my daughter, you swine!" He said angrily as he blasted Oakly away with shadow magic.

Ash nodded and lit her horn, and suddenly a wall of fire tore through the horde and blocked them from retreating further. Silent lit his horn anticipating combat as he stood in front of Hazel. "Stay close, I won't let them hurt you."

The Horde got closer to Equestria's coast as they continued their retreat. Ash peered out of a bush at them as she anticipated ambushing the barbarians. Silent continued on with the Horde as he kept an eye on Hazel, worried about what else Rose could have done to her.