//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Gathering // Story: Guards: The untold story // by Joseph_Tanner //------------------------------// [Wednesday] Blaze woke up from the night’s slumber after a day of hard work, not forgetting to send Blossom a letter. He got out of his bed, and sat up. “Maru, tlegger ój” Said the hen. (According to Google, it’s what female birds are…)(Good morning, sir) “Si kennö,” He replied. (You too) “?Tilegger rék” She asked. (Would you like breakfast?) “Mönözsök… men,” He replied. The hen nodded and left. He looked at the scroll next to his bed. What’s this? He opened it, a small glass bottle fell onto his bed filled with a strange brew inside. (No thanks) “Hey bro It’s me, Blossom. I spent most of my day making that brew. I want you to trust me, and drink it. You will know a lot more about spells afterwards. I even met an unfortunate colt today, but that’s not the point. The point is, I worked my bottom half off to make this, so you do better drink it. I only want to help my sibling… Hear from you later...” He grinned, and put it away. He set the bed, put his equipment on, and drank the brew, then made his way into the kitchen where the family sheltering him was having breakfast. “Taygávté ój” He said. They nodded at him, mouths full. Blaze continued on his way to see Sigmis and Avala. The guards allowed him pass without any escort. “Ah, Blaze. Come,” Sigmis addressed him. “Yes?” “Our farmers say the crops are growing significantly faster than before…” Avala joined in. “What? We barely finished them by night…” Blaze pointed out. “And the planted seeds are already sprouting…” Sigmis replied. “Glad to hear… It means we’ve solved that problem?” He wondered. “Indeed you have. You have become a known face around here… The locals now trust you more than before, will even stop to talk any time,” Avala explained. “Honored… Now, what else do we have left to be done?” “Have you seen the rubbles? We need to rebuild those houses… We can barely house everyone as it is. You have seen it yourself...” Sigmis explained. “If so, I will get to it right now,” “Do so at will,” Sigmis reminded him, they never asked him to do anything, but what their problems were. As Blaze was in the door he stopped, as he saw Avala open to speak. “Blaze?” “Yes?” “Thank you…” “Thank me when you’re free… It’s too early for it…” He replied with a grin, and met up with a construction team. “? Egyu, Ezalb, á” Said one of them, greeting him. He was surprised, because now Blaze knew what he said right away, with no need of translation. (Ah, Blaze, right?) “… Bbétráh kotajllá negi” He replied, knowing they still wouldn’t understand him the same way. (Yes, stand back) “Vinegram Turakte…” He said while focusing. The piles of rubble began to float, and took place the way they one stood, forming the house. At last, the house was rebuilt. “… Őzögűynel” (Incredible…) One of them said. Blaze simply left, and repeated the process at every pile of rubble. He was exhausted from the walking from place to place, but by noon he was done, granting shelter to many. After reporting to the twins he went for a walk, only to be called back on an alarm. “What is it?” He asked from Sigmis. “Him,” He replied, pointing at Shadow. “Been a few days, so… Why, I came to visit,” He exclaimed. “You know him?” Avala asked. “Damn right I do. It’s best not to threaten him… If not for who, then for what he is…” Blaze replied, warning them. Shadow was still surrounded by spear birds. (Spearmen?) “Careful. Someone might get hurt,” Shadow warned them. “Most likely you,” Replied one of them. Thanks to the potion Blaze knew the meaning, Shadow by some means also knew. “Get it out of my face, or I’ll shove it through yours…” Shadow replied with a grimmer look. “Come on! I’m here to visit Blaze!” He yelled to the twins. “Let him through...” Avala yelled. The soldiers stood down, letting him through. “Geez. I sure won’t come here more than now…” Shadow muttered, standing aside them. “Who would you be, and why have you come?” Avala questioned. “Corporal Shadow. From the Equestrian Night Guard,” He introduced himself. “Same as the Royal Guard, but the night shift?” Sigmis wondered. “Don’t compare the two. They are entirely different by nature,” Shadow pointed out. “How so?” Avala pondered. “The Royal Guard does most of the surface work. The things the citizens notice the most. We, however… Our job is simple. We have certain criterias, for which each we are to respond with a certain level or violence.” “So…” “Our only job is to kill. When we are sent out somewhere, it is guaranteed that somebody will die that day,” Shadow explained. “Good thing you just came to see me, huh?” Blaze threw in, reminding them. “As good as they believe it…” Shadow replied, knowing the twins are not likely to believe. “Yes. I came alone, and was not followed,” He continued before anyone could ask, then faded away. “What was that about?” Sigmis asked. “I don’t know… He’s a friend of mine, but I didn’t call him…” Blaze explained. “From the North!” Yelled one of the guard on watch. The defenses soon stood up and ready. A small group of Centaurs, less than a dozen approached slowly. Walking. Soon they knew who they were. The Prince and a small company of guards. “Calm yourselves. I come here to talk,” The Prince exclaimed. “Talk to yourself!” Avala replied. “Unlike my parents, I seek to establish peace for once!” “There will be none so long they live!” Sigmis threw back. “Allow me, and me alone in, so we can talk properly…” He requested. “What do you say?” Sigmis asked from Blaze. “Let him, but only him in… The sooner we end this the better it is…” He replied, explaining. “You can, but nobody else!” Avala replied to the Prince. The guards opened the gate, and let him in, shutting it close behind. “Your weapons, please,” Blaze asked kindly, but he was not pleased to do so. The Prince slowly unsheathed the sword on his side and handed it over. “This way,” They went to the twins, who didn’t seem happy to see him. “What is it?” Sigmis asked. “Like I said. I wish to make things calm again… I tried talking to my parents, but they wouldn’t listen…” He replied. “Why should we believe you?” Avala pondered. “I’m here by myself, without armor or weapons,” Came the reply. “We’re all ears. What are your plans to solve this?” Sigmis asked. “I came here seeking yours on the matter. Mine had all failed…” “Well, now that you know the way to our last settlement, we can hardly allow you, or your men to leave…” Threw in one of the Turul Generals. “Kill them, or kill me, like we had your kind if you please. But be aware. My absence will soon be discovered, and if I don’t return soon, you will anger my parents,” The Prince said, kneeling before them, awaiting judgement. Blaze left their little circle without a word, so he could keep an eye on the Prince’s group. He returned to the gate, but they were gone. “Where have they gone?” He asked the guard. “No clue. One of them said they are going back without the Prince,” The guard replied. He left looking for them around the village. He found them… Fighting the guards. Pulling his swords he joined in, ending the fight rather quick. “All okay?” He asked in Equish instead of their language. Apparently, Blossom’s potion also made them understand what he said. “A scratch,” Came the reply. Blaze rushed back to Sigmis and Avala. By the time he got there he was a bit late. The Prince was still alive and well, but not in a good situation, circled by spearmen. “Twins!” He exclaimed for attention. “Yes?” Avala wondered. “The Prince’s group attacked our guards. We killed them all,” He informed them. “What? But… I…” The Prince muttered, speechless. “Had any of ours died?” Sigmis inquired. “None,” Blaze assured him. Avala kicked the Prince in the chin, knocking him back, lying on his back. Only his elbows holding him up. “I know nothing of this! I swear!” “Or do you?” She asked. On closer inspection, the Prince had a short sword on him. “How come you didn’t give THAT to us?” She questioned, putting her razor sharp feathers to his neck. “I didn’t put it there!” The Prince exclaimed, hopeless about his innocence. “I know where you will be put…” Avala replied. “Ease!” Sigmis yelled, ripping her away from the Prince. “We can’t prove…” He continued. “Prince, it’s best you leave right now… I’m unsure what they will do or say,” Blaze warned him, showing him to the gate. “What about the bodies?” “After this whole war is over, you will have yours, as we will have ours,” He assured him. The Prince took several steps, alone, as his company was no more. Avala stood aside Blaze, a bow and an arrow in her wings. “If you want to prove whose side you’re on… You know what to do,” She said on a calm tone. “He left on request with no resistance…” Blaze reminded her. “What if he was set up?” Avala refused to say a word, but held the weapon toward him. Blaze took them and took aim. “Let this mark the beginning of a war… But you know that one race will be extinct by the end, do you not?” He asked while holding aim. “It’s them or us. Tooth for tooth, and eye for an eye… They too will feel the loss we had…” “Would it not be wiser to kill the King and Queen in front of the Prince then?” Blaze wondered out loud, still in sight. “It’s now, or never…” Avala exclaimed, as the Prince got to a clearing, but much farther away from them. Blaze took aim, and let go of the string. The arrow whistled through the air, screeching quietly to itself on it’s path, only to end its journey buried in flesh and bone. “Not bad for a first…” Blaze noted to himself, never having used a bow before. Avala patted him on the shoulder, then the two turned to face one another. “Now I know who I can rely on… Don’t get me wrong, I too wish this to end the quickest as it can, as do you and my brother. Yet, we must not be blinded by false promises. I mean not to judge your past, or abilities to make decisions, but… Blaze, this is war… Kill or be killed. We will NOT, and I repeat, NOT be on the losing end,” “I understand your concerns. I too feel the pain you do… No, I don’t, actually… I never knew my parents… Perhaps it’s for the better. I will do the most I can to help on your side of the war, but I ask you to remember one thing. I too am alive, have thoughts, rights, and even feelings, regardless of profession,” He replied, giving the bow back. “Keep it. You seem to do better with it that I had ever. You have no idea how grateful my sibling and I are… The citizens… Not so much yet, but with patience, they too will grow to love, accept, and adore you for what you do for us,” She reminded him. “I’m not here for glory… Not for adoration… Not to be loved… I came here to fight for a friend of mine... But now, I fight for my friends…” Their conversation was interrupted by Sigmis in a hurry. “Guys! Reports just came in! All our occupied towns were attacked by ponies in black armor!” He spat out, catching his breath. “Could it be the colt from earlier? Your friend, Blaze?” Avala pondered. “Shadow? No, he’s too low in rank to do it… Now, Princess Luna on the other end… She’s the only one the Night Guard obeys, and their superiors, but those are belov Princess Luna in rank. If it wasn’t her who sent them, then it’s not the Night Guard,” He explained. “Either way. Refugees are on the way… Civilians, they are headed right to us. Soon some should arrive,” Sigmis continued. “I guess this IS going to end rather quick after all…” Blaze said to Avala with a grin, reminding her of their conversation. They left, hurried to make preparations for the refugees. Camps and shelters were set up in a breeze. The first wave arrived, seemingly worn, dirty, injured, exhausted and hungry Turuls mostly. They were granted warm food, medicine, and shelter. During lunch, Blaze sat down among them with his own bolw of bean soup. “Are you hurt?” He asked the hen next to him. “No…” “Can you tell me what happened?” “Your kind… In black… Killed them all… Freed us, and sent us here…” “I see… Thanks for the info…” He replied, leaving his bowl for her. To their surprise, a larger group of ponies in white arrived soon. “Who could those be? They talked about black…” Sigmis asked. “I know who they are. The Ascendants. They are the Night Guard’s opposite. They obey Celestia, and instead of killing, they use magic to help. Fix wounds, create food from thin air, medicine and such,” Blaze explained once again. They slowly approached the trio, guards at their side. One pony came closer than the usuals, Blaze recognized him. “Lumes? Huh, the world is small,” Blaze greeting him. “And so it seems. Princess Celestia sent us to help however we can. By orders, you are the one in charge while we’re here,” Lumes replied, informing them. “Send a dozen to the refugees, have them introduce themselves, and survey for their problems,” Blaze gave the order. “The rest scatter in town. See if the soldiers or locals need any help,” “You heard him!” Lumes yelled behind him. The Ascendants dispersed as told to. The rest of the day went down relatively calm. At night, before sleep Blaze sent his message to Blossom, and laid his head to rest among the refugees, to show empathy. [End of Chapter 10]