Chryssi's Hyperspace Hyperwar II: Charge of the Grognards

>You know that little voice in your head?

>The one that scolds you every time something stupid?

>Yeah, that's the one

>They call it Reason

>And right now, my reason was going off like a chariot alarm outside your window on a quiet night

>It was so easy to change the patrol schedules of the castle

>Now she could come by every night, just like she wanted to

>Just like I wanted to

 

>I saw Cadence the other day

>She had come to Celestia to discuss matters of state

>I couldn't see her new... special somepony anywhere

>I'd escorted her from the train station to the castle myself

>Such a job was always reserved for the Captain of the Royal Guard

>The trip was spent in silence

>She looked at me several times, like she wanted to say something

>It was too late for that now

>She might be the Princess of Love

>But I had found the Queen of my dreams

 

>It had been a week, but I hadn't quite gotten used to her transformation

>When she went from the from of the tall messenger mare to her true self

>Chitinous and fanged with tattered wings

>Yet beautiful in ways I couldn't understand

>We would do as we did on the start of every night

>Deploy and fight

>But it wasn't about the game anymore

>I don't think it ever was

>She moderated herself, playing well enough to give me a challenge, but not enough to completely obliterate me

>Sometimes, I'd even win

>"Shining?"

>"Yeah"

>We had just finished a round, and I was already halfway through setting up my forces

>"Do you want to... go outside?"

>I froze as she asked

>"But... We were about to start a new round."

>"Y-yeah, and that is fine... We can play another round... I just wanted to know if... if you wanted to go stargazing or something."

>Stargazing?

>I'd never been the astronomer my sister was

>I looked at the table

>To be fair, we had spent every night at the table or in bed

>I was boring her, wasn't I?

>"Yes. Let's go outside... Are you sure it's safe?"

>Chryssi shone up and gave me a sly smile

>"T-thanks. And don't worry. I'm a changeling... I'm probably safer outside, stargazing with you on a remote hill or wandering the city in pony form than I am here in the castle"

>I suppose that was true

 

>The ragged grass of the desolate hill danced in the warm summer night's wind

>The walk up there had gone surprisingly easy

>Though I guess there wasn't anything suspicious about us at all, was there?

>A Captain of the Guard going on an evening stroll with a cute mere?

>The lads were going to talk about this tomorrow

 

>We were on the top before she changed back

>We laid back in the soft grass, feeling the wind blow over us

>Silence reigned

>I honestly had no idea what to say to her

>But it was her who broke the silence

>"Those stars kind of look like a Megacommando"

>I couldn't help but laugh

>"W-why are you laughing?"

>"Not reason... You're adorable, do you know that?"

>"Am I?"

>"Yes."

>We spent the better part of the night on that hill, pointing out Carniflexes and Kneeman Huss Battle Chariots in the sky

>Huddling closer to beat the chill, I could feel her every breath

>Listen to her soft, careful words, and the occasional stutter

>It sounded a bit like a cricket's chirp

>"H-hey Shining...?"

>"Yes?"

>"Do you... do you think we'll ever be able to see each other during the day?"

>"I hope so Chryssi, I hope so."

>"I-I would love to see you in the day... Preferably all day."

>She curled up next to me and added:

>"All day every day..."

>I couldn't speak

>I just laid my hooves around her thin body

 

>I woke up with a sense of panic

>It was morning, and I was still lying on the same hill

>Chryssi was gone

>And I was running late to my shift

>I could hear the guards at the city gates whistling and laughing as I ran past them

>I'd never been late before, and I wasn't going to let this be my first time

 

>I threw open the door to my quarters,

>I had to find my armour and equip it before I went to work

>I almost ran into the elderly stallion standing inside, looking over the game table

>It was Commander Ironsides

>One of the few military stallions in the castle who outranked me

>Chryssi's army still stood there, along with her alien carrying case

>"Late for work, are we?"

>"No sir"

>I looked at the clock on the wall

>I was four minutes late

>"THIS IS NOT ACCEPTAB..."

>His angry bellowing was cut short by a calm and ancient voice from someone beside me

>"Leave the stallion alone, Commander Ironflank. We are all entitled to making mistakes from time to time."

>He left, mumbling some barely audible curses about "The Guard these days"

>"Shining Armour, it's good to see you."

>I looked around, but her voice had already revealed who she was

>Princess Luna herself stood just inside the door

>I didn't know what made me more nervous

>That I was increasingly late, or that the co-regent of Equestria herself now stood before me

>Not knowing how to react, I simply bowed

>"Do not worry about your tardiness. The Guard will no doubt forgive you for being late once you tell them you had a meeting with a princess."

>"Princess, Luna... I-I'm honoured by your visit. May I ask why you've come?"

>"I just wanted to tell you how fine it is that you've moved on. Breaking away from a member of the royal family is... painful. For both parties."

>"Moved on?"

>"I've been getting reports about the young mere that comes by here every night. A castle is like a village, young Captain, there are no secrets."

>"Oh yes... She's just a friend really. She comes over to play Hyperspace Hyperwars from time to time. It's a table---"

>"I know what Hyperspace Hyperwars is. Well, you must introduce me to your 'friend' someday soon. Preferably in her own chitin."

>And with that she was off

>I was stunned

>She knew

>She bloody knew

>But how?

 

>The lads had been joking at me the whole day

>Asking me about my newest "conquest"

>I'd smiled and made a few boasting statements

>Just like in the old days

 

>I didn't smile as she came by that night

>"Chrysalis, we have to talk."

>"Wha... A-about what?"

>"About us."

>She looked like she was going to cry

>I felt as if I was going to cry

>"W-what about u-us?"

>"Luna knows. About us. Maybe Celestia as well. We can't continue seeing each other like this."

>She looked heartbroken

>I guess I did too

>"C-c-can't we leave. Go to my hive...? Go anywhere?"

>"You know I can't do that. Not right away. I've packed your miniatures for you..."

>I levitated the case to her before continuing:

>"I can ask to be redeployed to some desolate outpost. But it will take time."

>I felt like shit

>If I had been the knight my name implied, I would have ran away with her

>If I had just been

>Better

>"W-what did... what did she say?"

>Small drops of tears were beginning to form in the corners of her eyes

>"Some half-subtle threat."

>The tears started their decent

>"What did she say?!"

>She spoke firmer than ever before

>"She told me to bring my friend over, in her own chitin."

>Conversation broke down after that

>Chryssi tried to gather herself

>I had no self to gather any more

>"L-let's do it"

>"Let's do what?"

>"Take me to her."

>"Are you mad?"

>"A-aren't we both? She can't hurt us. Not with our magic. A-and out love."

>Reason spoke to me again

>But what is reason to the Queen of Hearts?

>"Ok."

>The night wind sang a song of strife as she whistled between the castle's archways and domed towers

>I could see Luna's imposing shadow on the night sky, standing on the balcony of her observatory

>The guards let us in without trouble

>"You are expected." They said

>There were no guards in the observatory

>Nor was there any light to speak off, just the gentle shine of the moon and the stars above

>It was filled with star charts, astral globes and desks full of documents, drawings and... a battlefield?

>I didn't get any further chance to study it before I was interrupted by a raised voice from the other end of the room

>"Welcome, welcome to both of you. I'd perform a host's duty and offer you seats, but I'd rather wait until you do a guest's duty, and end this masquerade."

>It was no use denying it

>Chryssi changed back to her normal form

>I felt dwarfed, standing in this grand hall with a princess and a queen

>"Isn't that much better?"

>A hundred candles were lit aflame as if by magic, covering the hall and the three of us in their yellow light

>Two chairs were drawn aside for us, but neither I nor Chryssi felt the need to sit down

>There was indeed a Hyperspace Hyperwars table amidst the cosmic chaos

>"You can't do this to us!"

>Chryssi was Chrysalis again

>She sounded like she did during the wedding incident

>She wasn't a nerd

>She was a queen

>"Have I ever threatened you? I'm aware that my exile has made me out of touch on some social norms, but I cannot imagine invitations pass for hostilities these days."

>I couldn't stand for this

>"Then why did you call for us? Does Celestia know?"

>"My sister is... heh... kept in the dark, so to speak. I called for you because I needed to talk to the both of you."

>"But why?"

>"Because I know. I know about the two of you. I know you, Shining, changed the guard schedules for personal gain, and harboured an enemy of the state. I also know that the two of you seem... changed. Better. And lastly, because I off all ponies know the value of redemption and forgiveness."

>"So you're saying that?"

>"Sigh. I'm saying that this will stay between the three of us. Eventually my sister will find out, and there is little I can do to hold her back when she does. I think it's for the best that I hold you both here, where I can observe and judge you."

>It didn't feel like a victory, but it sure as hell wasn't the defeat I had expected

>"You, Captain, can forget about being redeployed. You're staying under our watch. And you... Chrysalis... are required to visit me in my observatory at least once per week. If you're gone any longer I'll start a search for you that'll make a Hyperimperial Inquisition seem like a pre-school field trip."

>My ears listened, but my brain refused to process this information?

>She... was letting us be?

>"There is, however, a certain task that must be completed first. To show your worth."

>I knew my scepticism was well grounded

>"And what task is that?"

>The nocturnal princess stepped over to the battlefield, lifting several black cases from behind a desk

>"One of you must best me. In Hyperspace Hyperwars."

>I couldn't take this shit seriously

>"Which army do you play?"

>Chryssi was back, and she sounded intrigued

>Luna stared into Cryssis's eyes

>And over the sound of all of her cases being unlocked at once, I could hear Luna say:

"All of them"

>Chryssi was the first to speak

>"I'll do it"

>It made sense

>She was many times the player I was

>But still

>I couldn't let her do everything for us, could I?

>Besides, it was only a couple of years since Luna came back from her thousand year exile

>And I was an avid player with many years of playing behind me

>"No, I'll do it."

>"Are you... sure about that?"

>Chryssi seemed unsure

>"Yes. I'm sure."

>"Very well. Just as planned. You'll both find your armies on the balcony."

>A little unnerved by Luna's extensive planning, I collected both my own warband and Chryssi's army

>We decide to play until one army was completely wiped off the table

>Luna chose an outrageously modified warband

>I could clearly see that they were painted as Dark Legion Cosmoscommandos

>But every single commando was modified so extensively, there's no wonder I haven't seen her in any tournaments

>They were probably not allowed

>She deployed her warband with a small group of allied warriors from the Sept of Pau

>"Chryssi? Let me borrow some of your Sludgenoids."

>"But... Commandos and Sludgenoids don't have any kind of synergy."

>"Just let me borrow a few."

>"Sigh. What kind of Sludgenoids do you want? I have some really cost effective Zonethropes that I think will work."

>"Just give me the largest, meanest melee troops you have."

>"But."

>"Thrust me on this."

>She gave in and gave me some melee-oriented Sludgenoid Warriors

>I deployed hastily

>It was time to rumble

>Luna sounded a short laugh

>"That's an... interesting army you have there. Haven't you read the newest revision? It's all about the ranged superiority now."

>I'd show her

>We rolled to see who would go first

>It came out in my favour

>Luna had deployed most of her units in or behind cover, as if she expected a longer shoot-out

>"Guts for the guts god!"

>She gave me a puzzling look

>"What?"

>"Bones for the bone dome!"

>I charged with everything

>She studied my army again

>Not a single gun to be fund

>"Well, that was unexpected. And suicidal."

>Luna's turn

>Hellfire rained down on my advancing front

>I lost many good stallions, shredded by her Leviathan bolts

>Chryssi looked away, faking interest for a nearby star chart

>My turn

>The board was larger than a standard two player board, and it offered little cover for troops caught between the fortified deployment zones

>It gave ranged units another edge

>I doubt it was a coincidence

>I continued charging

>I didn't really know what else to do

>Luna's turn again

>Another portion of my army dead or wounded

>In hindsight, I should probably have let Chryssi do this

>She actually knew what the hell she was doing

>My turn

>Contact

>My surviving commandos and their Sludgenoid allies ran into Luna's lines

>"Guts"

>I started throwing attack dice

>The room went silent

>Never before have I seen so many sixes in so few rolls

>Luna looked at me, and for a moment she looked truly confused

>"For the guts god"

>Miniature after miniature fell

>Grogar the Destoryer and his Grognards tore through the opposing warband

>Chryssi started giggling

>It took a while before Luna did anything

>Had she played against a normal opponent, she would no doubt have won

>But in the end, few things can catch you unprepared like a suicidal charge and dumb luck

>Or that was what Chryssi told me afterwards anyway

>For me, everything was going according to plan

>Luna looked at me intensely and said:

>"Ave Dominus Nox!"

>"What?"

>"Hail to the Night."

>It was on

>Any attempts to keep this "just a game" deteriorated after that

>I don't know how, or when it happened, but Luna and I ended up talking to each other in character

>I was Grogar

>And I had spent every round charging

>She was Noctaria, the severely misequipped warlord

>And she would always find an opportunity to pump my ranks full of lead and explosives

>I honestly have no idea how long we played

>Luna showed great skill, turning this more into a game of attrition than anything else

>Her allies were long gone

>Her army was a ragtag band of various squad survivors

>Some heavy gunners here, some light infantry there

>All under commend of her fearsome warlord

>My army was even more tattered and worn than hers

>Grogar still stood, covered in enemy blood from his constant charges

>And more than a bit of blood from his own wounds

>A few Sludgenoids and Berzerkers still roamed the field

>Hunting Luna's forces

>It was my turn, and for the first time in the whole match, I wondered if a change of tactics were in place

>I wouldn't quit charging

>My soldiers weren't good at anything else

>But maybe instead of running after her footsoldiers, it was time for something else

>It was time for regicide

>Grogar burst from the battleranks, ending his long haunt of a particularity annoying group of commandos

>He charged through the enemy lines and straight for Noctaria

>I rolled for attack

>All sixes

>"Oh you can't be serious?"

>Luna looked at me in disbelief

>"Two more wounds. You're dead, Noctaria."

>"B-but... This is murder."

>I looked at her

>"No Noctaria, this is Hyperwar."

>I was ripped out of character by Chryssi

>My line had sent her into a fit of laughter

>Soon, I stated laughing as well

>Luna did not laugh

>She finished her round quickly, with mechanical moves and no narration

>And the game continued

>Grogar fell to an intricate set of moves and suppressive fire

>It hurt me a bit, but I still had men alive

>We continued wearing each other out, until it was down to just a few soldiers

>Another round of bombardment, and I was severely undermanned

>Another round of charging, and we were even again

>It was beginning to lighten up around us before we were finished

>I had won

>"Shining Armour?"

>Luna said something for the first time since her last mere fell

>"Yes."

>"Could... could you come by more often? To play?"