//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 - The Great Equestrian Plains 
// Story: Hooves of Wrath 
// by Moxypony 
//------------------------------//

	Moxi rose from her bed at dawn, moving gently out from under the warm covers to keep from waking the slumbering mare beside her. She trotted to her bedroom window and looked out over Canterlot. The city had been her home for more than half a decade, and it had only just begun to hit her that she was about to leave the life she had built for herself here in the palace. 
She pulled the strip of cloth bearing the symbol of the NLR, it felt strange having her flesh bare, she hadn’t removed it in years. “Luna Nobis Providet,” she mouthed the words she’d held so close for so long, laying the soft band of cotton on the dresser atop a letter of resignation.
Pausing only to gently run her hoof over the plush green mane of the mare who still lay slumbering in her bed, Moxi trotted quietly from the room, making her way through the palace, past the guards who all nodded in recognition, none of them realizing that this could perhaps be the last time they ever saw her. Arriving in the entrance hall, she took one last look at her home before pushing open the heavy palace doors.
“You were just going to leave without saying goodbye?” The words brought back memories, it seemed like a lifetime ago that she’d accosted Dreamcatcher as he left the palace.
“I promised I’d be gone before anypony woke,” Moxi said, turning to face Melody with cold, empty eyes, her mane was disheveled and her eyes shadowed from sleep, “and you’re making me break that promise.”
Melody reeled at the words, turning her face away with hurt in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, she didn’t sound it, “but I had something I wanted to give you…”
Extending a hoof, Melody passed Moxi a golden locket. It was simple, an oval of polished gold which fit easily into her hoof with a simple chain intended to be worn around the neck. Moxi eyed the locket before turning her listless gaze on Melody.
“So you always remember,” Melody said, meeting Moxi’s eyes defiantly, “what you have to fight for.”
Moxi turned her eyes back on the locket before nodding at Melody and tucking the golden trinket in her saddlebag. Melody bit back tears and trotted forward to wrap a hoof around Moxi, “Come home, okay?”
With a wordless nod, Moxi turned and trotted across the castle courtyard. Melody watched until the pegasus mare was completely out of sight, her face burning. “Don’t break that promise,” she muttered, turning and walking slowly back into the castle.

Riding on the train, Moxi laid out a map of Equestria and its neighboring nations. Germaneigh lay to the north, and with no direct travel route between its capital of Marelin and Canterlot, the trip would take several days at least and would take Moxi directly through a large stretch of Equestrian wilderness. The Great Equestrian Plains.
Moxi had kept tabs on the Navapony, even if she hadn't maintained communication with Dreamcatcher, she felt better knowing that she could find him easily if she ever chose to. "Well," she muttered, turning to regard the gathering clouds above, "I suppose the time has come."


The encampment was easy enough to find, even though the Navapony had increased their nomadic ways following the severe diminishment of their numbers in the Lunar War. Moxi strode directly into the encampment, several dozen tepees spread around a lush valley floor at the embankment of a river in the Great Equestrian Plains. A lone sentry spotted her well before she had arrived at the border of the camp, approaching her as she made to enter. "Good evening, traveler," he greeted her with a shallow bow, his voice and face were friendly, but Moxi could sense apprehension beneath the surface, "what brings you here to our home?"
Moxi returned the bow before replying, "I'm looking for an old friend of mine. I believe he is the shaman of your tribe. An earth pony by the name of Dreamcatcher?"
The sentry's eyes brightened and at once he looked genuinely pleased. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "You must be Lady Moxi, Dreamcatcher spoke of your actions during the war." He bowed again, significantly deeper this time, "Our people are deeply indebted to you for helping to return our shaman to us."
"No, no," she shook her head, flushing slightly, "you don't owe me anything. Dreamcatcher was my partner. Besides, he pulled my flank out of the fire way more often than I saved him."
"A noble sentiment from a noble mare," the sentry beamed at her, "Dreamcatcher's tepee is at the outcrop at the top of the camp, overlooking the rest of the herd, though he is likely asleep by now. Perhaps you would prefer to stay overnight? I'm sure the shaman would be delighted to speak with you in the morning."
"No time," Moxi sighed, waving her hoof in a dismissive fashion, "I'm only passing through. I have business to take care of, and this was on the way. If he's not awake, I'll have to be on my way. If that is the case, I trust you'll give him my regards."
The sentry blinked at her in surprise and she could see his face fall slightly, but he nodded in agreement anyway, "As you wish, Miss. Should you change your mind, there are many among our people who would gladly share their homes with you, myself included."
Moxi gave the sentry a brief smile and trotted into the encampment to search for Dreamcatcher.


Moxi approached the tepee at the top of the camp to find its fire pit naught but smoldering ashes. The embers were still hot to the touch, but the inhabitants seemed to have long since retired. She pressed her ear against the soft, leather structure and listened for any sounds of life within. When she heard only the deep breaths of sleep, she turned from the tepee and made to leave.
"Did you really come all this way to leave without saying a word?"
At the sound of the gently chiding voice from behind her Moxi turned to face her old friend. "Dreamcatcher," she smiled, walking forward to wrap a hoof around the stallion. 
"It's been a long time, Moxi," he said, returning the hug, "how have you been holding up?"
"Well enough," she replied, breaking the hug and stepping back to speak with him face to face, "Luna's guard detail is a pretty simple job. Nopony wants to see her ousted from the throne, so there's really not much for us to do."
"That's not what I mean," he said, his eyes softening as he turned them on the burn scars around her neck, "does it still hurt?"
"No," Moxi winced, turning away, "some of the unicorn doctors have offered to try to fix it so the scars will be completely gone, but I want to keep them. They remind me that I've got something to fight for."
Dreamcatcher's eyes widened slightly and he began to respond when the sound of a mare stirring in her sleep emerged from the tepee behind him. He placed a hoof to his mouth and motioned for Moxi to follow as he walked deeper into the camp.


The pair settled down by the main bonfire of the camp, kept burning all through the night. A couple of stray ponies sat beside the fire, but there was plenty enough room for Dreamcatcher and Moxi to sit without worry of being overheard.
"So," Moxi said, sitting down in the warm orange light, "you've found a mate? And you're already living together? That was quick."
Dreamcatcher smiled, gazing into the heart of the flames. "I'm not a colt anymore, Moxi," he remarked, turning to face her, "I'm getting older, it's time for me to settle down, besides, my people need me, and they certainly need more ponies."
"Already got foals on the mind, eh, Catch?"
"I should hope so," he chuckled, "she's pregnant."
Moxi's eyes widened and she beamed at Dreamcatcher, wrapping the stallion in a hug, "contratulations, Catcher."
"Thanks Mox," he smiled at her momentarily after they broke the hug before his face went stern, "but the more important thing is that my place in the fight is over. I served my time in the war."
Moxi eyed her former partner warily. "Catch," she said, "I'm not trying to recruit you for this…"
"I know that, Moxi," he said, his face hardening with a gentle sternness, "that's not what I mean. What I mean is that you were beside me for most of that war." He took in the premature wrinkles creasing under her eyes beside the scars, "You're not a filly anymore either, Moxi, and you've done your part too. It's time to pass the fight on to the next generation and get the rest you've earned. My offer still stands. You can come live with us here, settle down and find a life for yourself among the tribe. You may not be Navapony, but the tribe would accept you without hesitation."
"I can't do that, Catch," Moxi said, not turning from the fire, unable to look her friend in the face, "you know what they did. You were there. Most ponies don't even know that they're out there. Don't know that he's out there." She shook her head, "Worse yet, with the rumblings Luna has been hearing from across the world, not just Equestria, mind you, the world, it seems that the majority of ponies who do know about him are his followers; this Cult of Wrath. I can't entrust this fight to anypony else."
"And why not?" Dreamcatcher said, an edge in his voice, "Moxi, you can't do this! You can't let yourself fall into this trap! You're fooling yourself into thinking this is your duty, but it's not! What you're doing is chasing revenge, but killing for revenge is just the same as killing for spite. It won't bring you peace, just like killing that lab pony didn't bring you peace for Chillwind."
Moxi glared at him at the sound of her lost love's name, "Shut up."
"I will not!" Dreamcatcher got to his hooves, "Not until you promise me that you'll go home and leave this business to somepony else!"
"Like who!?" Moxi stood as well, glaring into Dreamcatcher's eyes, "Radiant Sol? Twilight Sparkle? How many corpses do you expect me to ask? Nopony else knows about them! He appeared to us! The only other ponies I could entrust this to are you or Luna." She fought back the tears welling up behind her eyes. "Luna has a country to lead," she spat, her voice cracking, "and you've got a tribe, a family."
Dreamcatcher's face softened and he reached out a hoof to comfort the mare, "Moxi, I-"
"Save it, Catcher," she spat, tears streaming down her cheeks, wetting her coat over the deep scars across her face, "I'll do this on my own or I'll die trying." And with that, she turned and stormed away, leaving Dreamcatcher standing alone beside the bonfire, watching her depart.
Do it or die trying, he thought, watching her go with a heavy heart, but which are you hoping for, Moxi?