Gemstone in the Rough.[5]
Stories in Stone
Luna's Royal Guard
By TDR
Chapter 7
Gemstone in the rough.
Part One
“Honestly Twilight, you're making a far bigger deal of this than you should be.”Spike sighs.
“Really Spike? So does that mean I don't have to worry about you trying to restyle my mane while I'm asleep and doing something creepy?” Twilight snorts with half hidden amusement.
“With how your mane normally looks when you wake up if I did something to it, it would be an improvement. I can't help having a fancolt reaction when my two favorite ponies suddenly look so much alike.” Spike explains firing a taunt back at the unicorn.
“Suuuuuuuuuuuuure, that's all it was...... I'm telling you, there were little hearts and everything.” Twilight snarks.
“Grah, fine.... you let this go Twilight and I’ll drop the whole Smartypants thing.” Spike's eyes narrow as Twilight meets the glare with one of her own.
“That sounds like a deal.” Twilight grins.
She offers a hoof to the dragon who takes it, shaking it.
“Alright then so whats the plan for the rest of the day then Spike?” Twilight asks
“I don't know about you. but I plan to head over to Sugar Cube Corner and try and finish that game. Pinkie was gonna leave it here, but you practically threw us out last time.“ Spike grumbles.
“Spike neither one of you slept… and neither did I really, for two days. Pinkie was fine but you were seeing humans every where and I couldn't focus on anything with all that fus roh whatever going on.” Twilight sighs.
“Yeah, well I will admit that might have been a bit much, but you didn't help matters by yelling at us. Heck that was loud enough to be a dragon shout on it's own.”
“It was Royal Canterlot speech actually. I learned how from Princess Luna. I’m just glad it worked. To much of that play system thingy's going to melt your brain.” Twilight explains
“You're one to talk about obsessions rotting your brain. I mean you've been focused on that sword of yours for weeks now. That cannot be healthy either.” Spike retorts.
“Yes, but the sword is real history, not something based off a Trotkin novel.”
“Equestria's been at peace for nearly a thousand years, the only place most ponies have even seen something like a conflict is in a game or a novel. “ Spike explains.
“All the more reason to study it. To find out the truth of things.”
“If you say so, any way, I’ll try to be back for dinner, or sooner if Pinkie got grounded by Mrs. Cake.”
“Both of you have caused some trouble lately. I wonder whats gotten into her. All those riots on Nightmare Night and then you trying to start one today.” Twilight grumbles.
“I wasn’t trying to start a riot, I was just being honest and forgot how easily some ponies are spooked.” growls Spike. “Especially the Flower Trio. I could tell them that Princess Luna once saw some pony who sneezed and it would be epidemics and death all over with them.”
“Well you are right about that I guess and here I thought Rainbow Dash jumped to conclusions easily. Well since every things calmed down I might as well get back to it.” Twilight nods.” At least before the CMC destroy something else today.”
“It was mostly Applebloom this time. Anyway see yah Twilight.”
As the little dragon left she started preparing the spell once more, the more she cast the scrying spell the easier it got, though she wasn't ready to fiddle with it yet just in case. She removed a book from the stand, replacing it with her notes on the past flipping to the next blank page. She glances at the cover of the book she removed before putting it back on the shelf with a sigh. It had been only partially useful in dealing with the cutie pox. She really should get Supernaturals, back from Fluttershy, so much stuff kept happening and she really needed to sit down and read that book all the way through one day. Luckily Zecora had show up in a surprisingly timely manner, to fix everything yet again. Really that zebra seemed to have a knack for being where she was needed most, with exactly what was needed to fix the problem. She had pointed out that Supernaturals also had the cure for the cutie pox in it on top of the Poison Joke cure.
Twilight filed that away in her mind for another time as she pulls the sword box from under the table pulling it open to put the Waning Moon on the table as she set everything else up around it.
She figured while every pony else was calming down and the Cutiemark Crusaders were off trying something at Sweet Apple Acres she would have a little time to study this before the next disaster.
Besides now she was even more curious about what Rhede was doing in the Zebralands and what had happened to Jer'rahd,and Starfall. Four of the five beasts had been revealed, but Velkorn didn't seem that friendly with any of them yet, and she didn't see any real spark of friendship between any of them aside from Jer'rahd and Starfall. Rhede seemed distant even when he was talking to his foal hood friend and it was fairly clear that he and Starfall did not get along that well.
She set her notes straight ready to write everything down the moment the spell ended and cast it, fading into the past.
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Five years, well just over five years any way, had passed since he finished his basic Guard training and been sent to the western front for the Bone Hound Incursion. In that time he had gone from a nameless Guard recruit, to a Guard whose name was known by nearly every pony in Equestria. He had gone from a unicorn with barely any note worthy talents to a Major in Princess Luna's personal Guard unit.
Granted he still had an abysmal skill with magic, and had no real clue how he had managed to get this far, but hey at least he was getting better with his shields.... that was something right?
Word of his leading a small group of injured soldiers to take out the Zebra warlord had spread like wildfire in a drought stricken grassy plain that grew matchsticks. Each time he heard the story told by some pony it grew more and more ridiculous. 'It was a suicide mission', 'he took on the whole zebra army by themselves', 'he killed a zebra god in hoof to hoof combat', 'he had seduced the zebra queen to help kill her brother', it was all nuts.
Despite the other ponies in the attack being well known, the media decided to focus all their attention on him, mainly because no one but he, Velkorn, and Rhede seemed to know what really happened, and Rhede had made a rather lengthy report that it was all Jer'rahd's doing. The tall earth pony had also managed to charm or sway Velkorn into saying the same thing, likely the former. Though given the zebra mare's rather reclusive nature it probably didn't take much to get her to pass the fame to him.
The media caught wind of the report and had set their sights on making him the hero of the hour, ending the war in one heroic blow.
It was all making him ill.
It didn't help that all the media coverage suddenly made him the most popular pony to see or be seen with. Nobles invited him to parties, higher ranking officers actually asked him things and listened to what he said, well pretended to any way. Ponies he had not seen in years suddenly were his best friends. In truth he could have dealt with that just fine if an old ex-mare friend that nearly crushed him hadn't suddenly reappeared.
He forget what the event was, they all blended together after a couple of months, though he had gotten to the point where he might be developing rather pricy tastes in alcohol.
He didn't know how she had gotten into the rather posh event but she had come up to him and immediately tried doing her best to be as sweet, kind and loving as she was when they first met. The Nobles around him were suddenly quite interested in the mare, who was fawning over their war hero and clearly loving all the attention she was suddenly getting from the act.
By this point Jer'rahd had been annoyed with it any way and Silphy's appearance was the straw that broke the ponies back and set him off.
“So who's this lovely young mare you have at your side today Major?” one of the noble ponies asked, there were a few reporters milling about him so Jer'rahd assumed he was some sort of media mogul, though by this point he didn't care.
“She's an evil hag who ruined my life once and is evidently dead set on trying to do so again.“ Jer'rahd growls. A few of the ponies that were crowded around the stepped back away at the venom in his voice, a few of them remarking something about his eye.
The mare however clearly didn't hear it and turned to try to say something to him stopping dead her eyes wide as he glared death at her.
“Silphy, buck off and die somewhere.” he snarled the name like he was spitting a foul taste from his mouth before he turned and left.
It was quite clear that the reaction was not one any of them had expected and when he stormed off after the statement, as for once no one tried to follow him. Considering up until that point he had been as polite and nice as he possibly could no matter how inane the questions asked,it was a shock for their 'hero ' to suddenly spout that much venom against one mare took every pony aback.
Of course they then had a field day digging into Silphy's back ground and tearing her apart in the news. To be honest he couldn't think of any pony who deserved it more. He supposed could have been nicer, he felt a small glimmer in his heart when he first saw her and she started fawning over him like she used to. But all he had to do was remember how she had treated him, and why she likely was even paying attention to him again, and any sweetness he might have had was gone. All that was left was a dark little pony in his head who was cackling with glee that she was finally suffering for her actions, but he mostly felt numb otherwise.
==========
On a happier note, there was the situation with the Major, or as he was actually named, Sunbeam. He had retired the second they made it back to Equestria, to much cheering of the higher ups who were tired of his antics, along with Azalea, their pegasus spotter. He hadn't thought the Major or Azalea were gay, but the two stallions seemed happy with each other so it really wasn't his business what their preference was.
Sunbeam's last act before he retired was to force the field promotion of Jer'rahd to the rank of Major for his actions. That act skipped him up several ranks and threw the entire structure of promotions out the window, but Princess Luna signed off on it, so he was a Major now.
Jer'rahd and much of the 42nd were also invited to the pairs wedding. Gay couples were rather uncommon and high profile ones like Sunshine were rare. The media still enjoyed bashing Colt Cuddlers and Filly Foolers when they could, as it sold more papers, though when word got out Jer'rahd was invited, the wedding was suddenly the event of the century.
Speculation ran high on which way Jer'rahd swung after his treatment of Silphy, and his acceptance of the wedding. None of the media was interested in the truth, so Jer'rahd didn't bother to try and correct them. He did have to stop himself from punching in one rather vile and particularly degenerate reporters face, but aside from that his attendance at Sunbeam's wedding went off without any issue.
There were not even the usual anti gay protesters in attendance, rather odd for such a high profile wedding. None of the reporters crashed the wedding either, all kept a respectful distance from the ceremony. It may have been that Princess Luna herself had agreed to preside, or it may have been that the entire 42nd had shown up in full uniforms, armed, armored, and looking for any pony who might want to cause trouble.
Aside from the absurdity of two grown stallions exchanging vows in excessively frilly white wedding gowns, it could have been considered a normal wedding of military personnel. Of course after the kiss, in true Major fashion as well, the old goat started a food fight with the wedding cake managing to some how cover the entire battalion in frosting. Princess Luna had vanished before it started and so she missed out on the chaos. The whole concept was rather sweet, if messy, still if two ponies of war could find love on the battle field then any pony could.
=========
Velkorn was another strange matter, or as he was supposed to call her now, Queen Velkorn the first. As far as he knew Rhede and Princess Celestia were in the Zebralands trying to get the new Queen settled in. From the reports he had heard, that was turning out to be nearly impossible.
Despite the iron clad rule of you keep what you kill the warlords seemed to favor in the past. Her brother had left everything to her in a will he drafted years prior. This was unheard of before this point, as mares tended to be viewed as second class citizens in the Zebralands, that one suddenly was in control of the largest military and seat of power in the Zebralands, unnerved a great many.
Still there were plenty who easily accepted it. Despite what evil he did, the Warlord Zal'Torack had done more for equality in the zebra lands than any one else before him, going so far as to allow female soldiers in his ranks. So despite the general unrest, most were willing to let Velkorn have a chance to rule. At least until his eldest son Baelit was old enough to take the position. Princess Celestia and a number of other advisers had gone there personally to make sure her transition into rule went smoothly and that a new peaceful era between the nations could begin. Most of the Zebralands, even those factions that opposed the rule of Zal'Torack or were opposed to mares in power, were still in favor of peace.
Velkorn however wanted nothing to do with it.
Ninety percent of the advisers days were spent tracking down where the new Queen had run off to during any given moment.
The doctor had no desire to rule anything in the slightest and primarily wanted to be left alone to do what ever she did without a horde of injured soldiers to tend.
Princess Celestia finally stepped in directly and had a fair sized section of the jungle cleared on the spot where Velkorn's medical tent had been. She brought in the best pony engineers she could and had a state of the art modern hospital and medical college designed and built in just under five months. It was staffed by ponies at first though the idea was in time to train and staff if with zebras. Over the next few years this area of the forest was widened and spread with housing and other structures to eventually become the first stable city of the Zebralands. Velkorn of course spent enough time in the college and the hospital that the new city became the capitol rather than the warlords fortress.
With Velkorn primarily in one place now, Princess Celestia worked on trying to convince the new Queen to get her country in order. This was met with middling success as Velkorn eventually agreed but only if 'after a set amount of time an elected council took over and she could be away from this foolishness.' The advisers made the arraignments but it would still take a few years until everything could be done. A few trade agreements and other things were finalized and Princess Celestia came back to Equestria after a few months of leaving Princess Luna in charge.
Rhede and a number of others were left as liaisons between the two countries and her first official act as Queen was to name the new capitol of the Zebralands.
She named it Asclipius.
====================
Rhede, of course, was being his strangely dodgy self. Jer'rahd had cornered him a few times during his trips back to Canterlot to report on what was happening in Asclipius, but he never got a straight answer from the stallion.
Jer'rahd was particularly curious as to why Rhede passed on being the hero. Given the attention he was getting from mares he figured that would be right up his friends ally. Jer'rahd himself had received quite a few propositions, both tame and outright lavacious, though most were obviously only interested in him due to his fame, something he doubted would have bothered Rhede.
With everything as it was Rhede was stuck in Asclepius most of the time and only came back to Canterlot when the Queen visited or one of his other mysterious visits that didn't seem scheduled. Still he was more than happy to sneak off to have a drink with Jer'rahd when he had the time.
“So still not going to tell me why you were there?”Jer'rahd grumbled over his drink, asking the same question for the umpteenth time.
Rhede took a sip of his drink, eyes wandering watching a few mare’s pass by. The tavern was by no means busy and it was in one of the less popular sections of town for the Guard and nobility. This made it a good spot to avoid being recognized, something Jer'rahd loved about it more than the cheap drinks. Rhede complained there were not enough mares, but he did agree the peace was nice.
“Maybe one day, but that’s not today ….. tomorrows not looking so good either.” Rhede grins.
“Alright so then how about why you pinned it on me?”Jer'rahd questions swirling his drink in the glass.
“What not happy with the fame? ….... OK, OK, cut out the death glare. I suppose, I didn't think too far ahead about how ponies would react.” Rhede placates backing away from Jer'rahd noting the reddish glow to his injured eye.
“For you thinking itself seems a stretch sometimes.”
“I am wounded my friend... well not as much as you have been obviously. Seriously your cutie mark should have been a band aid.” Rhede smirks.
“I've not gotten hurt that much, there's likely some pony out there who has been messed up far more often than I have.” Jer'rahd admits.
*****************************************************************
In another place, in another time a young pony named Lil'Pip sneezed.
*************************************************************
“Well considering I won't always be around to protect you Jer,I figured some public exposure would keep you in the lime light, perhaps even safe for a while.” Rhede states, his tone a bit more serious.
“Pfft, I’m a caged bird right now Rhede. The nobles and higher up barely let me piss by myself for fear I might tarnish their built up image of a war hero. I'm more a icon for ponies to rally around than some one who did something. I am not comfortable with this or the lying you and the Princess are having me do either. Also I don't need protection ,from some nebulous construct you refuse to elaborate on.”
“It's not a lie Jer, your blade took the head of the Warlord. No one ever asks if you were the one holding it. Besides it's gotten to the point now that even if you say you didn't do it no pony would believe you. I mean I know things have gotten a little out of hoof.....”
“There is a novel out there that has me seducing Queen Velkorn just so I can then get into the bed of the Princesses.” Jer'rahd snarls.” Not one or the other, but both of them.. at the same time......”
“Pfft, no pony reads that sort of trash,.....”
“They are making it into a stage play......”
“No one takes off Bardway plays seriously......”
“It's ON Bardway.....”
“Okay so it's a lot out of control. Fine look at it this way, Equestria has been in some war or another for years. We got out of the Dragon War just to get into the War of the North with the Griffons, We barely finish that one and the Bone Hound conflict starts. THAT gets finished and this Zebralands nonsense starts. Sure the last two of those only lasted maybe three years each, but still the public’s tired of war, tired of conflict. You and Starfall were put on pedestals for a reason. The Dragon and Griffon wars lasted generations, you two stopped a conflict in next to no time by all accounts on your own, the public eats that stuff up. Doesn't Equestria deserve a bit of peace? Someone to thank for stopping a conflict before it really even begins? You are giving ponies hope, and putting fear into the hearts of any who would attack Equestria. Doesn't that amount to something?”
Jer'rahd sighs “I suppose you are right, though I find it hard to think of you as being generous enough to give up the chance to be a hero.”
“What and go through the same nonsense you are? Pfft forget that, besides your story will look better in the history books. Daring hero storms the keep of the enemy with a handful of solders and manages to succeed where countless other, better armed forces, failed. Family with a history of conflict raises Equestria's next great hero. Seriously? We have that or we have 'random tail chaser ambassador some how manages not to screw up'. Yours sounds much better on paper.”
“Yes, the whole thing reeks of a action novel right down to the secret Queen helping out.” Jer'rahd admits.
“Another reason you're the hero in this story. If any other pony had asked she probably would have refused, it seems she knows you, she was willing to come back into that place after she fled it to help you. You do tend to inspire ponies to go and do stupid things sometimes.”
“Likely, she felt sorry for me and all the others that were suffering for this battle and wanted to see some one end it.”Jer'rahd growls.
“That’s it exactly, to be honest. Every pony is sick of war. More than a few are blaming Princess Luna for getting them into these conflicts. Flower Foals bah, They cannot even see that Equestria hasn't started a single battle, everything has been a response to an attack.”
“I've had more than a few of them yelling at me in some of these damned press conferences and public events that have been foisted on me.” Jer'rahd grumbles. “Rather vicious with their words to be 'ponies of peace.'
“Yep, any way despite being in Canterlot I suggest you remain on your guard. You are still a member of the 42d, and a high ranking one now too.” Rhede smirks.
“Still wondering about that, I jumped from enlisted right over to officer and not even a minor officer either, all without any training.”
“Luna's Royal Guard works differently than the normal Guard. Her officers are made such on merit, not time served, schooling, or who their fathers are. You can lead, you can follow, and you can fight, that's all that matters to them. You've managed to pull off two rather impressive feats in a very sort amount of time. You might have been over shadowed by Starfall in one of those, but the important ponies know you were responsible for Princess Luna still being alive. You've managed more medals in five years than most Guards will see their entire career.” Rhede chuckles.
“What about you Rhede, manage any medals? And you can cut the 'simple ambassador' stuff I am not buying that. You have information you shouldn't if you know about me saving Princess Luna.”
“A few. They keep them in a basement some where in Canterlot. If I feel like going to look at them I’ve got to sign some waivers.”
“What?”
“Don't worry about it, it doesn't matter, lets just say the right ponies like what I do and be content with that. I can't stay too long tonight though, I met a pretty filly over in the east end who would love me to do a painting of her.” Rhede grins.
“You still use that lame painting line? Your art work sucks, you know that right?” Jer'rahd scoffs. “Better than your singing, but not by much.”
“I am offended by that, but at least I am getting me some play Jer. I go with what works. Though as I said Jer, don't get too complacent here. Rumor mill is that somethings going on in the east. Most likely you will be going there.”
“The only thing in the east is the Darklands. Lovely. What do you know Rhede?” Jer'rahd sighs
“Not much, just the rumors, a couple of settlements have been attacked out side the wall. A couple people claim they have seen trolls, one or two claim giant monsters as well.”
“Maybe some Discordian monsters have formed packs or something. I figure the 8th division would have reported in if it was anything important.” Jer'rahd shrugs.
“Maybe, might be that, might be some bandits taking advantage of the legend. Still I would suggest you consider it to be more than something simple. Discordian monsters don't randomly gather into packs unless something stronger forces them too. Chaos and all that. There's a standard destroy on sight with all of his creations. Even the harmless seeming ones tend to be horrific, like the parasprites.”
“At least we know there's a reason why the Guard has a full time marching band.” Jer'rahd chuckles remembering that bit of info from the training.
“Luna is likely going to send at least part of the 42nd, most are going to be allowed some down time but some are going to meet the 8th to investigate things. It's a pretty safe bet she's sending General Mustang......”
“Must be important if she's sending one of the Generals.” Jer'rahd whistles.
“She's also going to be sending you.”
A good portion of Jer'rahd's drink wound up on the bartender who had come over to see if he wanted a refill. The ale soaked earth pony glares at Jer'rahd as the unicorn chokes on his drink after the spit take.
“Why cough the buck would she be sending me?”
“Results most likely. Between you and Mustang she expects something to get done. The 8th is filled with a bunch of noble foals whose parents bought their spots to get them out of the way and still keep them safe and out of actual combat. Those that aren’t noble tend to be the trouble makers that other regiments don't want. The 8th is a shady unit to say the least. You're probably going to be spending most of your time arguing with some stuck up so and so about things. On the plus side you might also be in luck, I hear the ESO is setting up a show out there in Dullahan Keep here before long.” Rhede explains offering the bartender a napkin.
“Well that's nice to know that the trip won't be total shit. I finally get to see the dragonling that made Starfall laugh.” Jer'rahd coughs again clearing his throat.
“Where is that fine pegasus any way, I wanted to say hello, maybe flirt a bit.” Rhede grins.
“We both know that would never go anywhere. It's been five years and she's still fixated on her late husband. She's clearly one of those mares that mates for life Rhede. Took her vows seriously. She's in the same place she always is when shes off duty.” Jer'rahd smirks.
“How's Cloud Dancer doing any way?” Rhede grins.
“From what Starfall says the little filly is driving her sister crazy, trying to mimic her moms rain boom before she can even fly.”
“Wow, that foal is going to be a nightmare when she gets older. Daughter of a war hero and the only pegasus know to preform that maneuver.”
“Sounds like she's one now to me.” Jer'rahd smirks sipping from his refilled glass and glaring at the bartender who had watered it down heavily as a bit of pay back for the mess.
“True enough. Speaking of lost loves Jer, I understand you're a bit bitter still, but you shouldn’t have done what you did to Silphy.” Rhede sighs.
“Heard about that hmm?”
“All of Equestria and probably most of the rest of Equss has heard about that. The poor mares not likely gonna ever live it down. To be told to drop dead by the war hero currently in the media spotlight. I didn’t think you had that level of nasty in you. It was like you were spitting poisoned ice.” Rhede gestures dramaticly.
“Nope just ale. My good ale........” the bartender points out setting down another pair of full glasses before moving away with another glare at Jer'rahd.
“Hey I’m paying for it I should be able to do what I want with it!” Jer'rahd shouts after him before looking back at Rhede. “Maybe I am still bitter, but it didn’t help she came back only due to my new fame. You know damn well all the crap she pulled with me and all of it was just to get to you. That shit doesn't sit well with me at all. I may not be proud of what I did , but damned if letting her have it didn't feel good.”
“You sure that was it Jer? Right death glare again”Rhede grins taking note of the soft glow from his friends eye again. “ You are right though, she always was the flighty sort. You did always have a massive deal about betrayal too. Still, with that sort of comment to a mare ponies might get the wrong idea about you. That and your attendance of that wedding......”
“Honestly the only idea ponies should have about me is I am a member of the Guard doing whats needed to keep them safe. What ever fantasy they want to write about me for their little story books is all on them. Once I'm dead, I really don't care what the books will say about me.”
“Very dark, very morbid talking like that. Gonna dye that sandy hair black, start writing bad poetry and cutting yourself?” Rhede mutters.
“What?”
“Nothing, nice to see you're still not up to date on youth culture. Well off to go paint a sexy mare, see yah around Jer. Try not to get hurt on the next assignment, I really don't need to see you name inscribed on a monument some where.” Rhede smirks rising from his stool.
“I can say the same for you.” Jer'rahd responds.
“Heh, don't worry if I die doing something, no one is ever likely to know I was even born.”
“What the hay is supposed to mean Rhede.... Rhede? ”Jer'rahd turns on his stool. He scans over the crowd blinking in surprise not seeing his friend any where. He sighs and looks down spotting a bit of paper on the bar top, a Greece for the current tab the pair had set up as well as a sizable tip for the bar tender.
“Damn Rhede. You're only suppose to vanish like that if you don't pay the tab. Ah well I guess I’ll see you again when I do. Hopefully.”
============================================================
It was not long after that night that Rhede's information had proven to be right on the bits. Despite still being at the height of his popularity and under a number of orders to attend various functions and parties, he was called into the Guard HQ and briefed on a new mission.
To be honest he was more than happy to be getting away from Canterlot. He had a standing order from six or seven minor nobles to be their escort to the next Grand Galloping Gala and if he refused any of them it was going to be a rather big fuss, so this was a nice legit way to avoid it all. Besides he was so sick of the damn parties he was about to request a transfer to the Zebra lands just to get away for a while.
It was here he met General Mustang for the first time. The old gray earth pony was a legend in the Guard. He had fought in the Dragon war almost a hundred years ago when the Dragon Lord Forge Scale was defeated, He had fought in the War of the North with the Griffons and he had been commanding the majority of the forces for both he Bone Hound Rebellion and the war in the Zebralands. In every battle he had been in he managed to be part of one or more decisive battles. It was a lesser known fact that he was immune to magic, or as near to immune as a pony could get. Spells simply fizzled if they were cast any where near him, often dramaticly enough that the caster wound up with a splitting headache. This was both a blessing and a bane as healing spells didn't work on him either, luckily he seemed supernaturally tough and had climbed the ranks rather rapidly to the point where now the only ponies he had to answer to where the Princesses themselves. General Mustang was known for one thing above all others, getting results, even if he had to go and do it himself.
Meeting the General he immediately noticed that Mustang seemed to be much larger than he actually was, his voice boomed as if a dragon was shouting and despite the fact he was old enough that no one but the Princesses likely knew what his original coat color was, he was still spry enough that he could be confused with a pony a quarter of his supposed age. He wore heavy Guard armor at all times colored with the Black and Purple of Luna's Personal Royal Guard marked with five silver stars denoting rank.
Jer'rahd had no idea how any pony could compare him to this stallion, despite his own rather rapid rank climb.
“So yer Kaisur, huh? Not much to look at, with the way all these yahoo's have been going on I expected you to be ten stories tall, covered in spikes and spitting fire. Let me tell you something right now before you even say a damn word you bucking media darling. This hero shit you seem to be known for? Doesn't mean a load of parasprite drippings while you are under my command. You understand Major? I am not happy to have you with me, if my last commanding officer had not been killed during all that crap in the Zebra lands I wouldn't even be talking to you.” Mustang rants.
“Yes sir. I am quite happy to be getting out of Canterlot any way.” Jer'rahd responds flinching a little as Mustang turns around to glare at him, the ponies jade eyes seeming to try and burn themselves into his face.
“Awww what's a matter lil toy soldier, the lime light not good enough for yah? Don't like the idea of every mare and filly fawning over your every word?”
“I'm a Guard sir, simple as that.” Jer'rahd quickly responds trying not to watch the General pace around him like a tiger waiting to eat him at the first sign of weakness.” I was more comfortable in a trench getting bombarded than have have been in Canterlot since I came back Sir.”
“Feh. We'll see about that by the time this is all over. What do you know about this assignment?” Mustang snorts.
“Nothing official sir.”
“Humor me Major.”
“I've heard there is something going on at the wall and we are to investigate it , sir.”
“That's more than any one is supposed to know. This is supposed to be a bucking inspection assignment where we check everything out for the ESO tour coming through. And that's all you tell any one. It's a perfect job for a media face like you so no one will even bat an eye.”
“Errr what about you Sir?”
“I'm doing what ever the buck I want, just like I always do. I don't need a damn cover.”
“Yes sir.”
“Here's the skinny, you are being put in command of about thirty members of the 42nd. Your official task is to oversee the preparations for the show, but what you are gonna be doing is looking for anything out of place, or that doesn't make sense in regards to what's going on at the wall. Then you are going to tell that to me.”
“Yes Sir.”
“We have gotten a number of reports about trolls forming up in large groups and hitting settlements near the wall, a few of the towns were wiped out completely. The 8th command has not so much as uttered a peep to anyone about these events. When questioned they claim them as nothing more than rumors or bandit attacks. Which is bull shit, we have a few survivors who came to report the issue directly to the Princesses after getting no help from those at the wall. So something is up, particularly when they described trolls perfectly. Most ponies have seen trolls in books or illustrations, but these survivors described the stench, and nothing smells like a troll but a troll. I want to know what the 8th is doing, If they are up to something they are gonna be doing their best to keep me away from anything interesting, so that's where you come in. No one's gonna give a crap about what the Guard's poster colt is doing to set up for a show every pony wants to see.”
“Won't the 8th command have issues with my poking around? The majority of the ones in charge still outrank me, sir.”
“Then don't let them notice, every one thinks your a moody flake any way, play that up.”
“News to me on that sir.” Jer'rahd sighs. “There are others who would be more suited to this task I am sure sir. I don't do subtle very well.”
“ You served under the Major, I don't expect subtle was in that stallions vocabulary. Besides colt, I'm a fan of hedging my bets.” Mustang chuckles.
“What do you mean sir?”
“Colt you have wound up being in critical spots during the last two conflicts, so critical in fact that they pretty much ended the conflict in our favor. That is completely unheard of in terms of bad luck. The sort of luck that borders the bucking divine hoof of the universe poking you with a stick. Now I figure yer a clever pony, so you can figure out what that means. If something's gonna happen at the wall there's a damn good chance it'll happen while you're there. Princess Luna believes that as well, so you're going. Despite my arguments to the contrary she wants to see how you'll do with an operation of your own.”
“It's your command sir, I'm only here to help.”
“Damn right it's my command. And I don't want any crazy shit you might have picked up from your predecessor to seep into that head of yours. We do this my way or else you clear?” Mustang agrees.
“Yes sir.”
“Good, go get prepped Major, we ship out tomorrow and its a long march. Dismissed!”
==============================================================
General Mustang was not kidding. The march itself took over a week to run from Canterlot to the eastern side of the country where The Wall stood, it took another three days to travel along it to Dullahan Keep situated in the middle of the structure.
The Wall was a twenty story towering solid mass of obsidian jade. It stretched from a mountain range in mid Equestria all the way to the north east where it bordered the mountain range to the Dragon lands blocking off a mountainous peninsula from the rest of Equss. During the Discordian war the land on the other side of the wall was the last refugee of the Chaotic god Discord. The very landscape warped and twisted to his strange whims, becoming a place that was any thing from simply offensive, to deadly to all normal life. The section of the world was situated between two massive mountain ranges to the north and the south , and the open sea to the east. The west was sealed by The Wall. Even this long after Discord's defeat, the land was twisted. The Princesses decided the best action was to seal it off, and the pair of them pulled The Wall from the very depths of Equss itself to do so. The Princesses then placed a branch of the the Guard at the wall to monitor it and guard against intrusion. The 8th Division was born of this command. Even during the Dragon War The Wall was left untouched despite Dullahan being the closest Equestrian military base to the Dragon Empire
The dragons had suffered under Discord as well and The Wall was marked as a non combatant site during the conflict to prevent any damage to the structure.
The very nature of The Wall itself seemed to deter any of the Discordian creatures from approaching it and as such it was considered a relatively low risk duty assignment. Unfortunately this meant that the children of rich or noble birth who wanted to join the Guard for their own ambition were often placed here. As were the troops that had records, or were simply problem ponies to the Guard at large, but not enough to kick them out. It also helped matters that despite the conflicts Equestria had with other nations, the wall had a set number of ponies that needed to staff it's length and none of them could be pulled away for other conflicts.
Still it was not one hundred percent no risk. Certain things from the Darklands on the other side of the wall enjoyed testing the walls defenses. A number of things could also fly or burrow which meant that the Guard on the wall had plenty to do. This made the recent attacks more curious as there had been no investigation by the 8th. Of course this could be more due to incompetence or laziness than any sort of malice given the compensation of the 8th.
The settlements around the wall were something neither Princess liked, but they were some what a necessity. A number of Gem mines had been in the mountains before the Dragon war, and after ward the crystals became much more sought after as their inherent magic was strengthened by the chaotic magic from the near by Darklands. There was also a number of farms that grew food for the Guard at the wall. Of course the nearness to the Darklands produced a number of strange but harmless crop variations such as foal carrots and rainbow colored apples. Most of the tainted crops however were ruined which led to the farmers having large farms with a multitude of various crops as it was unlikely that all of them could be ruined.
Those living by the wall also had a unusually high fertility rate. There was also the added chaos that a pair of earth ponies often found that their gave birth to a pegasus or unicorn. Something which a number of the more hide bound racist ponies couldn't stand. Still despite the added fertility and variation that some parents might seek for their foals, the dangers of being that close to the Wall kept the population mostly to farmers and members of the 8th.
The entire Wall and the surrounding area was the sole responsibility of the 8th division, while the main command of the 8th was in Canterlot proper, it was usually only the older semi retired brass that stayed in Canterlot, the rest remained at the Wall in various outposts along it's length.
In the middle of the length of the wall sat the largest structure, Dullahan keep. The fortress was nearly as tall as the wall it self and was built so that one side of the keep actually was made up of the wall, leaving a massive open air courtyard in the middle surrounded by thick walls that contained living and work space for everything from a blacksmith, to a 8th division run post office.
Dullahan Keep was named after the first General of the 8th legion It's said that during one of the last great battles of the Discordian war while the Princesses sought to raise the wall, he was beheaded in combat while trying to keep the monsters back . The legend states that despite this he continued to fight on and help push the Discordian forces back before he finally bothered to stop and die. Years later there are ponies who say he still can be seen on dark nights galloping across the fields on the other side of the wall fighting the Discordian armies and looking for his lost head.
It was up to the massive gates of this keep that they finally arrived, and the moment General Mustang trotted through the gates the battle was met.
Not a single one of the officers in charge wanted the 42nd any where near their keep, excuses and lame reasons were met as to why they couldn't be housed in Dullahan or that they didn't have time for inspections or even the ESO presentation that they themselves had requested.
Most of the officers seemed to simply be passing on some one elses orders as a number of them were in command of the other outposts along the wall and where only in Dullahan for a scheduled officers meeting. Something Jer'rahd was sure General Mustang had planned for.
The arguing died down to passing the buck as General Mustang made quite clear he would have none of this back talking shit and had a number of officers demoted or shipped back to Canterlot for reassignment,and he had one particularly persistent first lieutenant thrown in a cell to cool his hooves for a few days. The rank and file troops of the 8th did their best to not get involved and simply tried to stay out of the way. Jer'rahd did notice the guard and postings were excessively lax in some places and he exercised his own rank to try and get a few things fixed up still running in his mask of setting up for the ESO show.
He had not managed much organization or review when he had his first personal encounter with the keep's Commander. Colonel Claymore.
The Colonel had avoided the attention of General Mustang, mostly by placating him or giving him what he wanted, though he also did his best to hinder or distract the General. And if he couldn't, he usually changed anything that was altered back to how it was before when the General moved on to something else. This left Jer'rahd to come back again and try and fix things once more which pissed the Colonel off to no end when he found out.
“You, Major!! What the buck are you doing there?!” Claymore shouted storming into the office of the jailed officer that Jer'rahd had taken as his own for the time being.
Jer'rahd winced inwardly hoping the reaction did not show, or at least not enough to be noticed by the irate Colonel. The earth pony stormed into the room his black mane was cut short and streaked with silver and gray, though not likely from age as he wasn't that much older that Jer'rahd. His sandy yellow colored flank was marked with a dull gray sword that seemed roughly made. His ears were back against his head and he some what reminded Jer'rahd of Rhede in that he had the sort of face that he figured mares found attractive for some reason.
Granted at the moment the stallion was shoving Jer'rahd aside with more force that Jer'rahd expected and yanking the papers and maps he had been looking over out of the unicorn's grasp.
“What the buck is this?” Claymore yells in Jer'rahd's face a bit of spittle splattering on his face.
“The rearranged patrol schedules as per the Generals orders. Given the number of civilians that will be present sir we need a tighter schedule than what was assigned....” Jer'rahd starts to explain.
“And what the in the name of Celestia's plot is this crap, you're sending out patrols into areas we do not cover, and you're putting officers into patrols as well? Officers don't do patrols, that's grunt work. Not like I expect some showboat fancy famous pony like yourself to know a damn thing about the proper way to do things.” Claymore bellows.
“With all due respect sir, the patrol route is full of holes, there are more than a few areas that should be watched given their locations near some of the towns and other outposts. None of the new patrol routes have weakened defenses in any areas. With this set up twice as much ground can be covered and adding the officers into the routes makes more sense as more eyes will be better in the long run and a command structure on the ground will help in any surprise situations.”
“Like buck am I going to allow this to happen. You idiots in the 42nd think your all hot shit because you get into a lot of fights. You're all just a bunch of barely contained pyscos who need to be put out of every one elses misery. You have no idea how things are done here yet the first thing you do when you get here is try and change everything without even bothering to find out why it is set up the way it is. It's even more proof that you ponies have no respect for real military law when some waste of ass wipe like you manages to skip half the ranks and is just given the rank of Major. Makes me sick seeing what the Guard's come to. It used to be you had to freaking earn your place, not any more clearly.” Claymore rants as he flings the papers back in Jer'rahd face.” You want to do these patrols Major, then you and that group of thugs you brought with you can do them yourselves. I'm not giving you a single one of my ponies to do so. We have a wall to protect here and we've done if fine for several thousand years with out any help.”
“Sir with the number of reports of villages being attacked in the area, I have a duty to make sure the ESO has a safe......”
“I don't give a shit about the ESO and I know all about the attacks. The General has the reports and if he doesn't see fit to tell you that it's been isolated bandits, a poisoned well, and a bunch of drunk villagers seeing wolves then that's his issue not mine. Why don't you go back to your gilded spot light and leave the soldiering for real stallions Major, now get out of my officers room. You are Dismissed.”
It went on like that every time Jer'rahd attempted to do anything at all. It got to the point that General Mustang had to get directly involved in a few cases and both times as soon as the General left what ever had been changed went back to normal.
While Jer'rahd was apologetic as he could be to the General for his having to get him involved, the General was strangely understanding of the effort needed to deal with the Colonel. It seemed even he could not manage to do anything permanent to Claymore. The Colonel had his own contacts in Canterlot and even Mustang would be hard pressed to remove the stallion without some sort of backlash.
When another village was attacked, General Mustang sent Jer'rahd along with the 42d's expert on Discordian creatures to the site.
First Sergeant Buttercup was a pegasus mare with a lime green coat and purple mane. Her cutie mark was a strange one that set her path for her long before she even knew what the creature was, a cartoonish troll with little x's for eyes. She had studied Discordian creatures and monsters and myth since she was little and with the supposed exception of those on the wall there didn't seem to be any one who knew more.
They went along with the 8th's patrol to the town to investigate, much to the officer in charges annoyance. While the 8th talked to the ponies who lived there and looked around, Jer'rahd and Buttercup did their own investigation.
Nearly half of the town's food supplies were stolen and everything else was either defiled or covered in troll droppings. The buildings were ripped apart or burned down and more than a few ponies were injured. There were at least six confirmed deaths in one case a pony was partially eaten.
Buttercup confirmed everything pointed to trolls though she did not recognize some of the larger claw marks found further from the town in the search. She believed that what ever made them might have been what was directing the trolls. Colonel Claymore however had sent his own 'expert', a gold and brown spotted pegasus named Quickling. He and his own team trod on evidence, ham hooved anything that could have been taken as proof and claimed very loudly that this was the work of a feral maticore.
Sergeant Buttercup called it bullshit and told Quickling such right to his face. If Jer'rahd had not intervened the First lieutenant probably would have bucked Buttercup back down to private right there.
Jer'rahd might not have the authority to deal with Claymore or any of the other officers at his rank back in Dullahan, but he was the highest ranking officer in this investigation. Despite that he was largely ignored and told to keep his mouthy subordinate in line before they went back to whatever they were doing.
“This is total crap sir these ponies can't tell their plot holes from a mine shaft let alone what happened here. I mean seriously sir. They have even managed to confuse the ponies that saw the trolls into questioning what they saw.” Buttercup snarls.
“It's fine Sergeant, all we need to do is report what we found to General Mustang. The 8th might be idiots, but at least they are helping the ponies here rebuild what was damaged. I'll see that some excess supplies get moved here as well to help the wounded and replenish the food stores so they can get by for the winter. Still is it just me or was this place attacked differently than the others in the reports. The tactics seem odd.”
“Yeah, I’ve never heard of trolls stealing food before sir. You saw the store room, there's no way they could have eaten all that was taken that was a seasons worth of crops in there.” Buttercup mutters.
“Put it all in the report, something is going on here.” Jer'rahd mutters.” The 8th might even be a part of it with how hard they are fighting this. Still, never attribute to malice what could be little more than stupidity.”
==========================================================
Mustang filed the report and sent it back to Canterlot, but the General had let Jer'rahd know that the Colonel had also sent out a report just before theirs that made a claim that the 42nd was attempting to undermine the 8th's authority and was falsely accusing his troops in order to gain more popularity with the population, and cited Kaisur's assignment to the post as proof of that. How it was proof neither Mustang nor Jer'rahd could figure out, but they were sure some pony would find or make a connection.
It seemed to them both as if the Colonel was worried more about his own appearance and status than anything else. As such he seemed to be doing his best to discredit any sort of investigation or change anything any one else did.
The rank and file of the 8th however didn't seem to care about how they were viewed and were in some cases thrilled that Jer'rahd was there. Not because of any changes he was trying to make, but because his presence was a herald of the ESO performance that all of them were waiting for. The rumor mill was spreading quite rampant about what the performance would entail, though nearly all of them were sure that the star performer Platinum was going to be at this show. A few of the 42nd , who had been to her shows near the front, swore she had a voice like praise from Celestia and a form beautiful enough to make Luna jealous.
Accompanying her would be the usual round of acts for the show and much to Jer'rahd's amusement the comedic stylings of the dragonling Bleu Scale. If things went well enough he might actually be able to catch the show for once and see what Starfall found so amusing about it.
Well he had hoped that at least until General Mustang pulled him aside with another assignment.
“Slightly changed mission for you Kaisur. You, ten of the 42nd , and ten of the 8th are going on a little trip to Cincinagi.”
“Are you sure sir? That's going to take about a week round trip and everything here's not settled yet.” Jer'rahd protests.
“Bah, I figure you would be thrilled to get away from Claymore. Besides not much can be done. This is a personal request from some one fairly high up for you to go with a small force. Pick some of the ones you think you can trust, or at least ones who don't like Claymore from the 8th.” Mustang responds.
“Shouldn't be a problem. None of the mares here like him at all. Seems hes some what a misogynist.”
“I've heard that complaint too, but no proof that I could find directly. Any way get your team together you ship out in the morning.”
Yes' sir.” Jer'rahd sighs.
“What the bucks the matter now colt? Figured you'd be happy with a bit of a vacation.” Mustang narrows his eyes.” It's the show isn't it?”
“Yes sir. Rather curious about it honestly sir, I have yet to actually see one and a few friends of mine recommend it highly. “ Jer'rahd explains trying not to sound whiny.
“I wouldn't worry about it . The shows still a good ways away and you'll be back before it starts I can promise you that. As a side note Kaisur I still don't think your up to match my last XO, but its too late to track down some one better. Dismissed Major.”
“Yes Sir.”
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"Costello: I don't know".
Right before the first use of a bold Third Base.
Loving the story so far. Next chapter should be interesting, I predict chaos and tragedy.
hahahahaha yay its the whos on first base skit i loved doen that skit when i worked at a boy scout camp in CO.
Some letter mixups ill just go and fix those when i go thru your stoy on google docs.
Miiiight wanna trim the "Who's on first?" sketch. It detracts from the narrative flow.
Classic comedy. Love it.
Also loved the Fallout: Equestria note of Lil'Pip. Always cool to see authors nod to other stories.
Enjoying this lots so far, can't wait to read more when I can.
Ansestors meet, history repeats, that is time. Also... A TRANSFORMERS REFERENCE! REALLY!!!
I have a message from Abot and Costello, they asked me to link this. Just replace job with act
I loved the chapter though
About two thirds in i was starting to think the Who's On First skit was getting too long, but as i continued reading the repetition made it funny again.
transformers: dragons in disguise
I remember doing the "Who's on First?" Skit for Oral Interp. It was a load of fun!
"8Th's a bit of bad news though Jer, its cleaned up a lot in the last few years but most of the ponies who get sent there are there cause they screwed something up or their parents are rich and want their children to go some where safe."
And they guard "THE WALL" DUN DUN DUNNN!!
Hmmm. My little Game of Thronies much?
Gawd, I love the SIS seris and i think this would have to be my favorite chapter out of any of them, mostly becasue we finally meet Bleu (sorry Spike, but Bleu is best dragon) and to me this chatper is where I really started getting into the story in my first read through. I love the relationship between Jer'had and Platinum, but that being as it is, it makes what happenes in the next chapter that much more tragic
"bored"
"work"
Was that something about 'foal carrots' earlier on? I get what you mean, but I still find the idea of carrot/baby pony hybrid monstrosities amusing.
“You, Major!! What the buck are you doing there?!” Mustang shouted storming into the office of the jailed officer that Jer'rahd had taken as his own for the time being."
I think there must be Claymore, not Mustang
Only ofhef time I heard of chaos land was in flight of the alicorn Ji
Only ofhef time I heard of chaos land was in flight of the alicorn Ji
Having read that story five times, all I can say is:
