Bloody Sunrise Chapter 15

The sun set on the western horizon, turning the sky a deep bloody crimson. Crickets chirped in the long grass below the sentry tower. It was a roughly constructed wooden structure and at its highest point a vat of kerosene stood, the flammable liquid reflecting the last rays of the setting sun.

A lollipop stood at the wooden railings, leaning on his musket. He was tired and was looking forward to being relieved of duty. It would be another hour before the night sentry came to take his place. The candyfloss trees below him rustled in the cool evening breeze and the shadows grew darker around him. The only light came from the stars and from the torch in a bracket on the top of the tower. He looked up sharply as a strange sound met his ears. It made the back of his neck prickle unpleasantly and he moved one hand up to rub at his neck. He stopped midway as something caught his eye. He dashed to the far side of the watchtower and looked at the crest of the next hill. Something was moving about on it. Something dark that moved through the grass without disturbing it. He notched an arrow and waited, fixing his gaze unblinkingly on the intruder.

He stumbled back with a startled outcry as something flew up past his head. Red eyes gleamed in the dark and long white hair flowed down the back of the vampire that now stood before him, perched on the wooden railings.

“How nice to see the Candy Kingdom sent out a welcoming party just for us?” he sneered, his snake-like tongue flickering over his fangs. The lollipop stared at him, eyes wide with fright, his mouth stuck in a grimace. He glanced over at the torch in the bracket. Before the vampire had time to react he picked up the torch and plunged it into the vat of kerosene. The vat erupted in a tower of bright orange flames, reaching far up into the sky. The lollipop stepped back, shielding himself from the blazing inferno. He heard shouts echoing up from the watch tower a few miles back along the route. Another fiery signal blazed into view and another and another. The lollipop glared at the vampire.

“Now the entire kingdom knows you’re here,” he snarled. The vampire reached out, grabbing the lollipop, his pale slender fingers coiling easily around his thin neck. He lifted him effortlessly into the air and held him out at arm’s length. The lollipop struggled in midair, choking and grasping at the vampire’s arm.

“Good, I shouldn’t want to arrive unannounced,” he grinned before letting go. The lollipop yelled in horror as he dropped away from the watchtower. The wind whistled in his ears as the ground seemed to rush up to meet him, eager to claim his life for its own.

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Princess Bubblegum stood atop the gatehouse. She was wearing the battle armour Elidyr had forged for her and she carried her crossbow with an air of unease. Lady Rainicorn stood beside her, resting her front hooves on the stone wall. She too looked uneasy. She was frowning and gazing steadily at the horizon. A nougat man, Captain Sucrose, stood on her other side, clutching a rifle tightly in one hand. Their breath came out in clouds of mist and a stiff breeze ruffled Lady’s mane. They heard the soldiers shuffling uneasily in the trenches below, their armour clinking with each movement.

Lady looked up sharply as something caught her eye. “공주!” she cried, a look of horror on her face. The torch at the top of the watchtower on the crest of the nearest hill had been lit. Princess Bubblegum clenched her crossbow tighter. “It’s time,” she said solemnly, “Alert the troops.” A drum sounded deep within the palace, calling all the soldiers to arms and alerting those in the trenches. Several of the archers nocked wooden stakes onto their bows and crossbows, ready to fire. The air in and around the kingdom was so tense that it could have been cut with a knife.

“Are you ready, Princess?” asked Captain Sucrose.

“Is anyone ever truly ready for war?” replied Princess Bubblegum. She climbed up onto Lady’s back where she sat. Lady could feel the tension in the young woman and desperately wished this were not happening.

Then they saw them, crawling over the hills like large shining black beetles. A grey banner decorated with a blazing orange sun flew above their ranks. Lady braced herself against the stone floor before launching herself into the air. The princess held on tightly to the metal spikes that protruded from the back of her helmet as they dove down towards the ground.

“Secure your positions,” she called down to the pikemen, “Central battalion, move out!” A group of soldiers moved out with her, rifles glinting in the moonlight as they advanced across the grassland to meet their foes. As they drew near they were met by a hail of arrows. Princess Bubblegum ducked her head and she felt several clangs as they bounced harmlessly off Lady’s armour. The battalion hid under the cover of their iron shields, weathering the attack. Here and there a candy person crumpled to the ground, the black fletching blossoming from his chest. Princess Bubblegum raised her crossbow, aiming at the front ranks of the advancing vampires. She fired a stake which whistled through the air, finding its target and sinking deep into the vampire’s chest. Smoke gushed out from withering pale lips and he slumped to the ground, gushing more smoke and shrivelling away to nothing. A war cry erupted from within the vampires’ ranks and another volley of arrows were unleashed on the candy people. They retaliated, lighting the fuses on their matchlock rifles.

“FIRE!” yelled Princess Bubblegum. More stakes whistled through the air. Some found their mark while others bounced off metal armour. The vampires, armed with swords and bayonets flew at the candy people while others morphed into terrifying beings with slathering jaws and bloodshot eyes. They roared, swiping at the candy people with talons and tentacles alike. Princess Bubblegum nocked an arrow as Lady Rainicorn flew towards the hulking great beast. It roared savagely, swinging a tail like a mace at the Princess. Lady dodged the blow and Princess Bubblegum released the arrow. It embedded itself in the creature’s eye. It howled in pain, flailing around. She fired another arrow, blinding it while a group of Candy soldiers moved in with their crossbows.

She swooped down unleashing stake after stake at the oncoming vampires but for each one she killed three more took their place. She could hear the clamour of battle echoing up from the east. She cursed under her breath, the vampires had chosen more than one attack route. One of the watchtowers had been raised to the ground and the acrid smell of burning reached them. It was the sickening smell of burning sugar. Something whistled past her ear and she heard Lady give a shriek of pain. Next thing she knew they were tumbling through the air. It was all the Princess could do to hold on. With a shuddering lurch Lady managed to right herself. Princess Bubblegum looked around and spotted the shaft of an arrow sticking out from her back.

“Lady,” she cried. She  began edging her way along the length of Lady’s back. This was hard to do whilst in flight and several times she feared she would slip. At last she reached the arrow. She grasped a hold of it and tugged. The arrow caught for a moment before coming free. Lady shuddered and the Princess almost lost her grip again. An arrow whistled over her head and she ducked, crawling back up to the saddle. At last she was back in place. Lady wasted no time in swooping low, providing the Princess with another opportunity to strike. Three more vampires shrivelled and fell and once more the two forces met with a resounding clash. Vampires and Candy people alike met their end and before long the ground was soaked with red sticky syrup and withered smoking flesh.

Suddenly Princess Bubblegum heard someone call her name. It was Captain Sucrose sitting astride the Morrow, her giant falcon.

“Princess, you’re needed back at the castle,” he yelled, “The south wall is about to be breached.” Lady wheeled around in midair and soared back in the direction of the palace, Princess Bubblegum leaning forwards in the saddle, her feet braced against the stirrups. The wind whipped back her ponytail and rippled her chainmail skirt. Captain Sucrose rode alongside her on the great falcon.

They reached the palace and were greeted by the sounds of battle. The Candy People were fighting the vampires in groups on the open plains while the archers shot down all they could from their places atop the battlements and in the trenches. The southern wall was in a terrible state. The walls were starting to crumble under the vicious barrage of rocks from the catapults. The Candy People were holding them off as best they could but this band of vampires were equipped with shields that they used to deflect the arrows. She surveyed the scene for a moment, trying to work out the best course of action.

“Lady, we’ll have to barrel right into them,” she said, “We need to scatter them and make it easier for our riflemen.” Lady agreed and swooped down towards the shielded group of vampires. Lady lowered her head, surging straight into them. She tossed her head from side to side, scattering vampires right and left.

“NOW!” she yelled over her shoulder. The Candy People charged forth, taking advantage of the vampire’s confusion and dispatching a great many with jabs from sharpened wooden staffs. Smoke belched into the air in thick greasy clouds, making the Candy People cough and splutter. Princess Bubblegum soared back up above the battle. She caught sight of something that her heart leap for joy. The first rays of the rising sun were peeking over the hills on the horizon, casting it’s dark banishing light over the land. At the sight of the dreaded ball of light the vampires shrieked in pain. It was an ear-splitting sound and many of the citizens backed away in alarm. One by one the vampires vanished. The Candy People cheered, waving their weapons in the air with jubilant cries. Princess Bubblegum landed in amongst them.

“Princess, we defeated them,” cried a peppermint candy.

“They couldn’t take our kingdom,” yelled another.

“Don’t get carried away,” cautioned Princess Bubblegum, “They’ve merely fallen back to regroup. They’ll return tonight almost certainly. Until then we must prepare.” A hush fell over the crowd. “We can put an end to them though,” continued Princess Bubblegum, “Once and for all. You fought valiantly, each and every one of you.” There was a ripple of satisfaction at this. “We’ll move back within the kingdom walls for now. We need to take care of our injured and get some rest.” With that they began to make their way back into the Candy Kingdom. The injured were carried in on stretchers and the dead were taken to have their last respects paid by loved ones. It was a bittersweet victory, as is the case with all wars but Princess Bubblegum was determined that no matter what happened, it was a war the vampires would not soon forget.