//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirteen // Story: Battle Ready: The Rising of Sin // by D101 Reviews //------------------------------// Two months had passed since Battle agreed to take Fluttershy as his pupil. In that time Dash had returned to weather duty with a ferocity that bordered on obsession, determined to make up for her lack of input from her time in hospital. Pinkie seemed to have become her usual chipper self once again. Though she had spent the first week or so after the incident a little mopy, she was soon smiling again when she heard of the speed of Dash's recovery. Rarity had begun marketing for her new line, which she entitled the 'Rogue's Gallery'. While initially shaken from the events of that night, Rarity was a lady and maintained dignity in the public eye. In private she was privy to a few small 'what-if' scenarios at which she would faint onto the nearest chaise lounge. No change there then. And Applejack, the most rocksteady of all five of Battle's new friends was still hard at work on the farm, as per usual. She was admittedly a little glum for a while after the attack, which Rainbow Dash promptly whacked out of her with a pillow. As for Fluttershy, Battle's secret pupil, she continued to astound and amaze Battle by her sheer determination and simply by being an incredibly quick study. Battle, like much of Ponyville, would have never picked Fluttershy to be a fighter, and yet she was flying quite literally through every lesson Battle could teach her. The pace at which she learned was simply phenomenal. She wasn't as shy anymore Battle noted too. She was however still a scaredy cat, as evident by her paralytic fear of the upcoming Nightmare Night. Something Battle found out when she started shutting up earlier at night. Initially confused, as Battle often was still being new to Ponyville, he consulted the others one day about it. Well, he consulted Applejack about it. The farmpony had asked for Battle's help one Sunday as crisp golden leaves began falling. "No seriously, how do you grow these all year 'round?" Battle panted as he pushed the heavy applecart back towards the barn. "That right there is an Apple family secret," Applejack called from atop the cart. "Can't tell anyone 'cept mah kin." "Yeah yeah I get it," Battle grunted. He took another step, pushing his whole weight against the wooden cart, muscles straining under skin. It wasn't the most strenuous mass he had ever been forced to move, but it was still a while since he'd had to use his strength. "What did you say you're brother did? Sprained ankle?" "Shoulder outta socket," Applejack corrected, grimacing slightly. "Doctor told him not to put any stress on it for a while." "You still haven't told me what these are all for," Battle pointed out. "Apple Bobbin' sugar cube. What else?" "You get a lot of cause for Apple Bobbing this time of year AJ?" She frowned at him. "Well shucks, we do. It's Nightmare Night pretty soon." Battle stopped pushing for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... gonna have to simplify that for me." Applejack stared at him. "Sugar Cube where are you from?" "I get the feeling that's some common knowledge here." "National holiday." "Poop. Mind filling me in?" "It's a celebration o' when Princess Celestia banished Nightmare Moon. Everypony gets dressed up so her ghost don't see us as ponies and eat us all up. So we all get candy. Some of which we use as an 'offerin' to appease Nightmare Moon for a lack of ponies to eat and the rest we eat." "It sounds like the perfect way to promote tooth decay and type two diabetes," Battle chuckled. "How do you not know about it?" Applejack asked. Battle shrugged. "Guess I had strict parents." Applejack glared at him. "Sugarcube, ya'll know you're talkin' to the Element of Honesty. I know when you're lying." Battle sighed. "I guess you've made your point." "Darn tootin'. You gonna start talkin'?" Battle sighed. "You're getting the basics AJ. 'Kay? There are some things about my life I don't want to relive okay?" "'M not askin' for you're life story. I just wanna know something Battle. You run Ponyville's library for Mayor Mare and you know how to kick some flank. That's 'bout all we do know about you." Battle pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked Applejack in the eye. "It should come to know shock to you that I'm not Equestrian." "Keep goin'," Applejack said folding her arms. "Where're ya from then if not here." "A place called Warhorse," Battle replied. "It's a good country. Warhorse and Equestria have been good friends for many years now." "Sounds like a... military state, or whatever it's called," Applejack said cautiously. Battle smiled. "Not really. In Warhorse we do take pride in our military, but we don't technically give it the power. We still live under a monarchy. The current King, Veteran Centurion, he's a good stallion. Prefers to solve conflicts with words rather than steel. But that's been the trial of all Warhorse leaders I suppose. Diplomacy before military." "The title sounds like it'd be the other way around," Applejack said. "Well you can't be blamed for that I'spose," Battle admitted. "The Warhorse military however has a strict code. It may be strong, and recognised by the international community as such, but it's not in the war game for it's own gain. Warhorse has a thriving culture, fertile lands for farming and is stable in it's government. It doesn't need to attack others. Honor is what the Warhorse military is recognised for having. It believes in justice and peace, and that peace is to be achieved by any means. Be it diplomatic or not." He noticed the look AJ gave him and he blushed. "Sorry. It sounds bad I know, but Warhorse doesn't use it's military for it's own gain like I said. The Council of nations gives its orders to the Warhorse Military. They're kind of like world police I guess." "Were you in the army?" Applejack asked. Battle nodded, rolling up his sleeve and showing her his slightly scarred forearm. "How'd think I got these?" Applejack nodded. "What're you here for then partner?" A face flashed before Battle's eyes and he lowered his gaze. "I... I made a mistake..." he muttered. "And someone got hurt." A light way of putting it he knew, but it was the first he'd had to vocalise those events in a long time, and he wasn't sure if he would've told Applejack if he could. Thankfully, Applejack nodded, and didn't press the issue any further. She just looked at him sympathetically. Battle blinked and rubbed one palm into his left eye. "Look the long 'n' short of it AJ is I was deemed temporarily unfit for military service and was put on indefinite leave of duty." "You didn't stay home?" Applejack asked, confused. "My dad thought I should go out and see the world a little more," Battle explained. "Didn't ya get out enough when you were a soldier?" "Technically yeah. I was posted from everywhere from Zebrika to Griffinstan but I wasn't like I was sightseeing." He bite his lip. "Didn't see much but people in pain and lot's of sand." "Aw sugarcube," Applejack said softly. Battle shook his head and smiled up at her. "Hey it's not like I didn't know what I was getting in for. Why d'you think I have this?" He pointed to his Cutie Mark. "Been meanin' to ask 'bout that. Just what is your special talent?" she asked. "Perfect warrior," Battle said simply. "My special talent is to be the best fighter I can possibly become." "So basically you kick ass and take names?" Applejack asked. "That's the layman's way of looking at it I guess," Battle agreed. He breathed in through his nose and placed his shoulder back against the cart and began pushing it once more towards the barn. "So you were posted in Griffinstan and Zebrika before, why not go there for your leave?" Applejack asked. "I'm not going to dignify that with a response," Battle grunted. "Point taken." Applejack muttered. "So... if you didn't have Nightmare Night in Warhorse, ya celebrate anythin' like it aroun' this time o' year?" "Well..." Battle said slowly. "I suppose we did have The Masquerade." "The Masquerade?" "Yeah. I wasn't really a celebration, more like a ritual mourning. The sun would set and the moon would rise, and every pony would go out into the streets." "What's the catch?" "Every pony has to wear a mask on the night of the Masquerade. If someone you've loved or cared about has died you wear a black mask. If no one you know has died, you wear a white one. The first time a pony in white meets a pony in black, they offer them a gift in condolence. A pony in black may refuse the acceptance of a gift on the night of Masquerade, but a pony in white may give out more than one gift." "What happens if you don't have a gift to give?" Applejack asked. "You give them your condolences," Battle said simply. "You place your arms around them and say you're sorry for your loss." "It sounds creepy," Applejack muttered. "Some ponies do find it unnerving. But it's a way of lending support to those who've suffered loss and tragedy without avoiding some big wig noble trying t make himself seem overly influential as a PR stunt. It's a faceless, anonymous evening where those who've suffered can be comforted and reminded, they don't have to suffer alone and in silence." Battle looked at Applejack. "I think it's rather poetic."