“... and I have received reports that you have ordered your men to mutilate the bodies of the fallen enemies. I see no point in such an act.” I stood before Celestia as she sat on her throne while Travis, Luna, and the Six watched from behind us. Celestia was pissed at me as she glared down to the former near male version of Pinkie Pie but more spicy. Still grayed color, flat hair, and skinny I stood there with out a word. Then she had a softer expression and spoke more kindly.
“Please Meason, you don't talk to me, I don’t see you, and look at you... what's wrong?” that was an easy one. I found out just how powerful King G'afssa was in that cave with Pinkie Pie. We found the reason to why this war was going on for so long. I don’t know why it affected me like this but it hit me hard. I sighed and finally told her the truth (and no I’m not coming out the closet).
“What the minotaur had told me furthered my suspicions...” I went on to tell her why I ordered my men to tear apart the bodies at Ponyville after the raid. Ponyville had been razed but we were able to evacuate everyone to Canterlot first. That’s also where I meet an old friend dragging himself along the snowy ground of early winter.
When I was being tortured I remembered every little detail especially my torturer. I hadn't noticed until he was in my face screaming but one of his eyes was completely black. I took my troops to fight off the raiders and found a dragon that looked like his scales had been burnt off. Then I saw his eyes and I made sure his body wasn't going to get back up again. I ordered my troops to do the same and then pile them up to torch them. King G'afssa was keeping them alive and as long as the body wasn't to damaged this war would never end for us.
“Now I need to make sure that everyone is ok.” I turned and left Celestia after telling her everything. I passed by everyone else with looks of shock and horror on their faces, Pinkie just stared at the floor. Without another word I left and made way for the court yard where everyone from Ponyville took refuge at. None of them were hurt but losing your home was always painful. I watched from a little distance away at the sad and worried faces. That's when I noticed the three fillies huddled in a corner and I went to them.
“Are you ok girls?” I knelt down in front of them with a sad smile. They were here alone because Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were needed elsewhere, no one knew where Big Mac and Granny Smith where.
“Just trying to sleep...” Sweetie Belle said and sniffed, I noticed she had been crying and so had Applebloom. Scottaloo was trying not to but she was on the verge of breaking down. I took off the large coat I had been wearing, I never noticed it had been draped across my shoulders, and wrapped the crusaders in it.
~Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more~
They finally fell asleep and so had a lot of the others listening to me sing. Nearly everyone stopped and watched me sing to the three fillies until they went to sleep. The magic dome above that kept out the snow amplified my voice and calmed a lot of worried souls. I stood up and walked away as it became hard to see. I stopped at the walk way out of the court yard and used my finger to wipe away something on my face. It was tear and it clung onto the tip of my finger before I watched it splash on the ground.
“What was it he said... real men don't cry...” I started walking again and went up to the second floor to an empty room that I made my little hide out. Inside the room was a small stool I sat on and a candle on the floor that cast a dim light. The Blackhead sat in a corner in a puddle of liquid but it was to dark to see what it was. I sat on the stool looking at my hands hanging down in between my legs. I sat there for some time in complete silence.
“You should try this cake, I made it with triple sugar.” Pinkie Pie, coming out of nowhere, bounced up and down on her tail with a plate of cake in front of me but I didn't move or do anything. She stopped bouncing and looked me over.
“Hey come here real quick.” she went to the door and opened it, waiting for me. I slowly stood up and followed her but she just went right out the door and to the ledge. She waited for me to come up next to her and pointed down at the court yard. There I saw Applebloom clinging onto Big Mac while sobbing, Granny Smith held the other two to comfort them.
“You did that. If it wasn't for you who knows how many of them would have escaped. I know what we saw in the cave was... but that’s over you don't have to be sad anymore.” as Pinkie spoke I watch the five stay together and kept them selves warm.
“I'm not sad... I'm angry. Not only is he keeping them alive through the pain of death but his controlling them. There is only a handful of soldiers that are actually fighting for him and not against their will...” I hadn't noticed I was holding onto the railing real tight that my hands stuck to them a little as I pulled them away.
“Then you know what we need to do.” with that said Pinkie left me alone as I stared down at the Apples, Sweetie, and Scottaloo. The way all five of them were close together and... smiling.
“Once this winters done I do...” I watched them still but then something happened. I smiled because I did do that, I saved them in time and now they were all together safe. Slowly the color came back to my skin and my hair started to curl again. The belt I wore snapped off as I went from a 20 to my normal 40. I wasn't that sad, mad, little man anymore. Again, I was the guy who was going to pound a gay King's ass (not like that). I was the guy who planned on winning this war.