//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eight - To climb any mountain 
// Story: All the Queen's Horses 
// by Bluespectre 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER EIGHT

TO CLIMB ANY MOUNTAIN


Despite their snug hideaway, water still managed to sneak its way through to drip on the ponies sheltering from the foul weather. Outside the dark of night was just starting to brighten, but even that wasn’t saying much – the sky was still heavy with rain clouds and of the sun there was little more sign than a slightly lighter grey patch of cloud. Huddled together, the mares had slept surprisingly well despite the ingress of the occasional droplets and Golden stretched out with an expansive yawn, “Sleep well?”

Fair Lace groaned, “No! Well, I suppose I did…a bit.” She gave her friend an apologetic smile, “Sorry darling, bit grumpy in the morning you know.”

Golden raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “Wouldn’t have you any other way, old girl.” She managed to shrug herself out of her blanket and pushed her muzzle through the branches to take a look outside.

“Still raining?” Lacy asked behind her.

The white mare looked about at the sodden woodland. There was a mist in the air here, one that leant an ethereal feel to the dark green and brown scene before her. It felt like the sort of place that she’d heard about in the old legends, of the time before ponies when the gods themselves walked the land of Equestria. It had been an age when magic was rich in the air and anything was possible. Golden closed her eyes and sniffed the air; it was thick with moisture here too, not surprising considering the amount of rainfall, but there was something else, something she could sense that made her hackles go up. Whatever it was she couldn’t quite put her hoof on it. Golden shrugged to herself; spending too much time up here could likely send a ponies mind adrift back to when they were little more than primitive prey animals. Even now, despite all the advances in their civilisation and culture, there was a little of that primitive compulsion left in Equestrians and it was a constant battle for any soldier to overcome the instinctive desire to run when facing a frightening situation.

“Hoy! Have you gone deaf?”

Golden pulled her head back in and re-arranged the branches the best she could; they’d be leaving soon enough, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious nonetheless. Sitting down, she looked her friend in the eye, “Eager to be off?”

“Not likely” Lacy huffed, “But as much as I simply love our new abode, dearest Golden, one would much prefer the slightly less rustic amenities of ones more civilised abode.”

Golden rolled her eyes, “Brekkers first though,eh?”

Fair Lace, her demeanour more like her old self this morning, flopped back onto her blanket and attacked an itch on her neck, “Mmm. I think eggs, soldiers, some bubble and squeak and a pot of tea would be just the ticket. Milk and sugar don’t forget, but white cane if you please – brown sugar is for coffee don’t you know.”

Golden dumped the contents of the packet into her tin cup, poured on the hot water and gave it a stir
before passing it to her amber coated friend, “Milk with one?”

“Ah! Delicious! Army regulation coffee. Celestia-knows-what mixed with something-or-other and sweetened with buck-knows.” She inhaled the steam from the mysterious mixture and sighed, “Best thing in the world.”

“Not quite tea dear, but you can use it to soften your breakfast.” Golden passed her a ration biscuit.

Lacy’s eyebrows shot up, “How could I resist?!” she asked animatedly, “Hard tack and coffee – a real soldiers repast.”

“Only the very best nutritionally balanced and compressed ingredients for Equestria’s finest” Golden smirked, stirring her own coffee, “But as much as I’d love to stop here for the rest of our excursion, I fear we must be away before long.”

“Don’t forget to tip the waiter before we leave, darling” Lacy said with a grin. She took a bite of her biscuit, her face contorting with the effort before the dried thing broke with a loud snap, “Goddesses above! What do they put in these things, steel?”

“They have iron in them apparently,” Golden observed, “I’m reliably informed that’s good for you.”

The amber mare spoke around a mouthful of dry fragments as she tried to break them down, “Tell that to my teeth!” She took another mouthful of coffee and swallowed, “Luna’s tits, I don’t know about the rest of the ingredients, but it’s like eating bloody iron plate.”

Golden nodded, trying her best to get through her own, “I think I know what the artillery battalion use in their ballistae now. Bloody hell, can you imagine being hit by one of these?”

“I’ll admit,” Lacy said shaking her head, “I never thought I’d see the day breakfast became weaponized.”

Golden swallowed the sharp edged biscuit and chugged back a mouthful of coffee, “Goddesses above, the blasted things won’t even soak up liquid!” She shook her head, “I tell you what, I’m going to get the recipe for these and make my fortune when I retire.”

“Making these?!” Fair Lace asked in amazement.

The white mare nodded, “My father’s a builder by trade, and he was always trying to work out a new formula for the perfect roof tile.” She lifted the remains of her breakfast, “And by Celestia, I think I’ve found it.”

Lacy sniggered behind her hoof and swallowed the last of what passed for her breakfast, “Ugh…I suppose I’m going to have to get back into this bloody lot am I?” She stared with loathing at the stacked plates of armour, “I seriously don’t fancy putting that lot back on!”

Golden nodded, “I know, but we’re still on duty, Lacy.” She glanced at her own and sighed, “I think we can dispense with wearing the helmets, though. Who the hell’s going to report us out here?”

“Buggered if I know” Lacy dragged her packs from the depths of the branches and took a peek outside of their temporary home, “Dripping a lot, but it’s definitely clearing up.”

It was, but only just. The mist caused moisture to bead on their fur almost as soon as the two ponies left the shelter of the pine and began clipping on their armour. Soon enough, Golden had her own armour in place and was helping Fair Lace into hers. Plate after overlapping plate clipped and buckled into place as expected, until it came to the amber mare’s sides and belly. She didn’t say anything, but Golden could see from the straps that Fair had been adding holes to the belts to try and get the things to accommodate her ever increasing size. Good goddesses, it wouldn’t be long before everypony in the academy began to wonder why one of the cadets was bulging out of her amour. In some ways it was almost amusing, but Golden knew, that to her friend…it signified the end of her career. She closed her eyes a moment and pulled the last strap into place, “Are you alright in there?”

Fair Lace smiled, “No, but who is in this stuff?” Golden gave her friend a wink. “I bloody knew it! You get a kick out of wearing this, don’t you?” The amber mare threw up her forelegs in despair, “That’s what I get for being friends with a masochistic pervert! Only I could get lost in the mountains with a kinky white mare!”

“Oh, belt up” Golden Spoon laughed, “You’re the one who got knocked up. I’ll have you know I’m as pure as the driven snow.”

“Huh! And you need to get that changed before you become a dried up old spinster!” Lacy nickered pulling on her panniers, “You know what they say: you can sate your thirst best from the well when it’s fresh and pure.”

“That’s disgusting!” Golden snorted, “Goddesses, where do hear you things like that?”

“I didn’t think it was that bad” Lacy muttered, “It’s your mucky mind. No wonder they used to call you the ‘kinky corporal’.”

“I never was a corporal!” Golden protested, “I went straight to the academy and you bloody well know it!”

Fair Lace tossed her green mane, her big brown eyes sparkling in the wan light of the forest, “True, but it still suits you.”

“Oh, sod off!” Golden pushed past her friend and gave her a playful flick with her tail, “Put those legs of yours to more legitimate work and let’s find the others – I need a proper cup of tea.”

“I’ll second that motion,” Lacy sighed. “After you, darling.”

The mountain path was nearby. Golden had marked its location by breaking several branches to indicate their route when they’d been looking for shelter. The last thing they needed was to be lost up here, but at least the winding muddy and stony strip of sludge that passed for a path was taking them ever upwards to the rendezvous point with the rest of their troop. Even so it was hard travelling despite their rest. Armour was heavy and uncomfortable at the best of times, but today with the incessant cloying damp and large droplets of water falling from the saturated trees, the two ponies found their strength being sapped slowly but surely as the morning wore on. Neither of them spoke now, and Golden was beginning to wonder whether the tattered scrap of paper that laughably passed for a map was leading them off the edge of the world. There was something frightening about this place; frightening and yet oddly enchanting too. This was nature at is purest – other than for the path of course, but there was so much of the world that had never been explored, so much of even their own land that they knew nothing about. Here, in the mountains that stuck up like the spikes on some enormous dragons back, one could easily imagine the creatures of myth and fairytale running through the trees laughing and frolicking. When she closed her eyes she could imagine hearing the music even now: the dancing, prancing foxes, goats and breezies, all singing and playing together. She allowed herself a smile and plodded on. It wouldn’t be far now, in fact she could see…

“Hyacinth!”

Fair Lace had beaten her to it. The sentry was dozing peacefully beside a tree in full armour, her sword stuck carelessly into the ground next to her. What a state! Golden rolled her eyes and walked forward until she was beside her friend. “Lieutenant Spoon coming in” she announced formally.

Nothing.

“Hey, Hyacinth, get the bloody kettle on will you, I’m parched. Celestia’s fat arse, I’m…Hyacinth?” Fair Lace stopped and stared at the purple coated mare leaning against the tree and lifted a hoof, “Are you asleep? Good grief, I…” Her words died in throat as cold realisation dawned on her and she turned to her friend, “Golden…”

Golden walked up to the sentry, carefully moving her friend aside before walking around the motionless figure. Gently, she moved the soldiers cloak aside and quickly let it fall back again. “Lacy...” She shook her head, “Take out you sword and stay behind me.”

“What?” Fair Lace frowned, “What’s going on? Is she?”

Golden nodded, “She’s gone.”

“Gone?” Lacy took a breath and blinked, “Oh goddesses.” Without another word she drew her sword, “What are we up against, Lieutenant?”

“Animal by the looks of it.” Golden held her sword in her mouth and moved to the cover of the treeline, keeping her eyes and ears open, straining her senses to their limits. Whatever it was, whatever had done this to Hyacinth, could still be out there. “Keep close” she whispered.

The mist was thicker here, concealing the two ponies and, as Golden was all too aware, their potential foe. She blinked away the intrusive image of Hyacinths injuries. The beast that had done that was big – very big, and unlikely to be a mountain cat or timber wolf judging by the size of those raking wounds. She paused; something was up ahead, something moving ever so slightly. Lacy gave her a nudge, motioning towards the shape. “Stay here” Golden whispered. Silently, her friend nodded her assent as the white mare moved slowly forward, keeping low, her sword ready and her ears straining to detect any sound that may alert her to danger. The mist flowed around her as she moved, the lithe muscular mare covering the damp muddy and rock strewn bare ground in near silence. Even with armour, Golden slipped through the cloying damp like a ghost, her armour barely making a sound. It was something she’d prided herself on – tailoring her armour to her taste
as well as cushioning the areas that overlapped. At the time it had been an interesting way to spend her free time, as frugal as it was, and she sent a silent prayer to Celestia that she’d had the wherewithal to do it. In truth all she’d really been doing was tinkering in the armoury when she was bored with no real plan in mind. But, as fate would have it, that very same tinkering had eventually turned into a project that may keep her alive in this terrifying place. And goddesses…what a place. It was silent – unnaturally so. In this land of mist, even this high up, there should be something: wind, rain, animals – at least something other than…than this. Golden glanced about her; the only movement she could see was the soft swirling of the mist and her own hooves as she used the thick mud to help smother the sound of her approach. But then, after what felt like an excruciating length time, the white mare was finally within reach of her goal. She reached out and snagged the end of the soaked cloth, pulling it carefully towards her…

A single blue eye in a mint green face stared back at her. The rest of the ponies face was…oh goddesses…Golden nearly screamed. The torn and mangled wreckage that had once been a living creature lay before her in a pool of her own entrails, her body as cold as the mist and as silent as the grave. Golden closed her eyes, fighting back the overwhelming urge to throw up and quickly pulled the cloak back over the forlorn body, hiding her comrades sight from the world that had brought her to such a cruel end. A shudder ran through Golden’s body; what had happened here? Where was everypony else? She looked around her and eventually her eyes began to make out more shapes. Closing her eyes she let out a shuddering breath; she didn’t need to look – she already knew what they were. Keeping low, Golden moved onward, looking for what she knew would be there…and it sure enough, it was.

The troops little cart, the one that had been carrying their tents, food and equipment, lay on it’s side with their precious supplies strewn all around beside two more of her comrades. Fighting down her emotions, Golden checked them one by one. Dead. Both of them. But one of them had her hoof on what Golden sought, the very thing that could save her and her friend from sharing the same fate as the rest of their troop. A quick check showed that two of the cartridges had already been used, but mercifully the rest of the package was intact. Swiftly she gathered what she could, stuffing food and water into her panniers and followed her own tracks back to her…wait…what was…? Golden swallowed, staring down at the enormous tracks beneath her hooves: the huge unmistakable prints, the outline of claws – the very claws that had opened Hyacinth’s belly like a tin of beans. Shaking off the encroaching fear, Golden nearly missed Fair Lace in the mist and jumped at the sight of her appearing from it’s depths.

“Did you find anypony?” she asked.

Golden nodded, “They’re dead.”

Lacy looked past her friends shoulder, “All of them? No…no they can’t be! Lieutenant, they’re our friends! I-” she gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut for a second before facing Golden square in the eyes, “What did this?” she asked quietly.

Golden shook her head slowly, motioning for her friend to follow, “Ursan.”

“A what?” Fair Lace moved up closer, her voice little more than a whisper, “An ursan? What, you mean a bear? Come on, those things couldn’t wipe out a whole platoon, Trips! It had to be a dragon or something like a hydra, something big.”

“If you’d been paying attention in class, you’d know that ursans are a little more than just a bloody bear” Golden hissed, “Keep it shut and follow me.”

Lacy pressed on regardless, hurrying after her “Where are we going? Damn it, Trips, there could be survivors out there, we can’t just leave them!”

“We’re not.” Golden stopped and pointed up the mountainside, “We’re going for help.” She lifted a hoof to Fair’s mouth, “You want to live?” Fair nodded. Golden narrowed her eyes meaningfully, “Then keep that shut!”

The two hurried through the sucking mud and cloying damp, keeping to the cover of the trees beside the track, pausing every so often to stop, listen, and then move on once again. Golden kept them moving. Fair Lace may be pregnant, but she was still a soldier and they had to keep their heads or they would end up as two more casualties of this damned mountain. Survival was paramount. If need be they could stop, but it would have to be at the very end of need. Right then she had no idea where the rest of her platoon were, if any still survived at all, let alone whether the ursan was still in the area. All they could do was keep moving, and stay alive.

Time passed, their progress swift despite the increasingly steep gradient, but as they continue their ascent the going became increasingly difficult: the mud turning to rocks, the trees to brush and yet more rocks, and then…they broke through.

“Oh goddesses!” Fair Lace all but collapsed to her knees, “I…Celestia’s buggering fetlocks...”

Golden stopped and stared up at the sun, closing her eyes and let the cool air and light bathe her “Thanks be…” Quickly, she unhooked her canteen and took a mouthful before passing it to the grateful Fair Lace. The poor mare looked exhausted, gulping down the water and finally, wearily, passed it back with a relieved nod.

“What’s that?” Lacy asked, nodding towards the box Golden Spoon had placed between them.

“Signal flares” The white mare opened the box and took out the tubular brass device she’d recovered from the body beside the supply cart. Quickly, she shoved the spiked end into the ground. “Simply add magic.” She opened the box of coloured tubes and began unwrapping the protective wax paper.

Fair Lace moved closer, “Two have gone. Looks like somepony had the wherewithal to try and call for help.”

“Not much use in that fog” Golden replied, dropping one of the charges into the tube, “If you know any prayers, old girl, now’s the time.” She pulled the lever on the device and was rewarded with a loud ‘pop’ and a whoosh as the projectile shot into the air before exploding with a crackling, shrieking sound that resonated around them together with a bright red flash.

“Luna buck me!” Lacy gasped, “If that damned things got ears on its noggin, it’ll hear that racket a bloody mile off!”

“To hell with that damned ursan, I’m only concerned about our boys hearing it.” Golden replied, watching the bright red sparks fade away, “Anyway, if we don’t do something we’ll be joining Hyacinth and the others in the herd sooner than you think.” She pointed to her pack, “I managed to snabble some grub so at least we’ve got something to keep us going.”

“For Celestia’s sake, how can you think of food at a time like this?!” Lacy choked, “Damn it, Golden, those ponies back there were our friends, our friends! Goddesses forgive us, we just left them there…”

Golden hung her head, “What do you want me to do, Lacy?” she said quietly, “Scream, shout, and rail at the world? What good would that do anypony? We have to keep our heads so we can get out of this mess alive, and I don’t know about you, but I want off this rock pile as soon as I bloody well can!” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before laying a hoof on her distressed friend’s shoulder, “Look, there’ll be time to mourn later. For now, let’s just concentrate on staying alive, eh?”

Fair Lace sighed and nodded, her distress fading like the mist, “So what now?”

“We sit tight” Golden said levelly, “We crack another one off every ten minutes and pray for somepony to come get us.” She lifted her pannier, “Cold carrot and potato?” Fair Lace sat up suddenly, her ears pert, “What was that? Oh no…Fair…it’s the ursan! It heard that bloody flare!”

“Get into the bushes, quick” Golden shoved her friend before her, snatching up her pack and the flare launcher. As she moved, without warning the loose rock beneath one of her hind legs suddenly shifted, sending her to knees with a loud clatter of metal. Hissing in pain and anger, Golden dragged herself upright and dived forward into the bushes beside Fair Lace. Hell fire! The damned ursan was bound to have heard her now – of that, she had no doubt at all. Bloody, damned, bloody luck! She gave herself a mental kick; if it came down to it, she’d make a break for it, lead the ursan away from Lacy, giving her a chance to get away. There had to be-

Movement.

Fair Lace reached out, grabbing Golden’s foreleg. The amber mare was normally incredibly calm under pressure, her mind as sharp as a razor despite her tendency to bend rules that she deemed ‘useless’ or simply ‘boring’ but this new Fair Lace was different - she was scared, trembling with…what? Fear? Maybe, but not for herself… Golden closed her eyes and tried to keep herself calm as realisation washed over her. Lacy was afraid for her unborn foal, and as much as Golden was her officer, she was also her friend. She would save them, all of them if she could. Her ears suddenly twitched at a new sound; whatever it was, was coming closer. She gripped her sword and readied herself…

“Hey, Limbo, you see anything?”

“Nah, could of sworn I did though.”

“Been too high for too long mate, you’re seeing things you silly bugger.” The charcoal coated stallion clucked his tongue, “Guess that’s that then.”

A third stallion, a cream coated pegasus with a crimson mane shook out his wings, “Yeah, probably.” He paused, “It’s not like Limbo to make mistakes like that though, Zephyr.” He span round suddenly, motioning to his colleagues, “And you two really need to work on your hiding skills.” He grinned widely, “Coming out to say hello, ladies?”

Golden and Lacy, tired, cold but otherwise unharmed, emerged from the concealment of the bushes and approached the two stallions. “First Lieutenant Golden Spoon” the white mare said, clopping her right hoof to her chest, “Equestrian Military Academy.”

The cream pegasus raised an eyebrow, “Bit off track aren’t you, girls? Where’s the rest of your class?”

“I’m sorry, you are…?” Fair Lace asked, clearly irritated by the stallion’s lack of decorum. 

He turned a bronze eye on her and huffed, “Squadron Captain Vane, Third Wing, Fourth Flight.” The officer immediately dismissed Lacy and refocused on Golden, “Well?”

Golden bobbed her head, “I believe they were attacked by an ursan, sir. I counted at least four casualties, but due to weather conditions and the likelihood of the ursan still being in the area, I felt a withdrawal was the best course of action. We cleared the mist and used the distress flares as per standard procedure.”

“Yes…” Captain Vane watched her for a moment, his striking bronze eyes as bright as diamonds in the light of the sun. He turned back to his subordinate and began issuing orders, the two mares all but forgotten.

“Sir?” Golden stepped forward, “Captain Vane?”

“Hmm?” The pegasus turned back to the armoured mare, “What is it, Lieutenant?”

“Do you have any orders?” Golden felt like screaming at the dismissive attitude of the captain, but bit back what she really wanted to say. Part of her would have been more than happy to shake him until he saw sense, but as much as she may enjoy that she doubted the good captain would see it quite the same way.

Vane raised an eyebrow, “Yes. Sit tight.” He passed Golden a flask from his pack as he continued, “Don’t worry, the transport’s on its their way, Lieutenant. I’ve instructed my scouts to check the area for other survivors, but with the cloud cover as thick as it is it’s going to be difficult to spot anypony until it lifts. I’ve also requested a combined operations team to begin a search of the mountain.” He wiped his forehead and sighed, “I know you’ve been through a lot here girls, but there’s only so much we can do without risking more casualties, particularly if there’s an ursan around as you claim.”

“I don’t claim, Captain, I know! How many creatures around here have pawprints the size of a house and can gut a pony in one swipe?” Golden snorted, passing the flask to Lacy. There was something about this pegasi’s demeanour that made her temper flare and her muscles twitch, “Look, those ponies were my responsibility, sir, and It’s only by the grace of Celestia that Lieutenant Fair Lace I aren’t cold corpses down there with the rest of our platoon.”

Captain Vane dismissed her with a raised hoof as he turned to another of his squadron, passing the winged stallion a scroll which he took with a salute before soaring up into the sky. More pegasi were appearing now. One after another, as swift as arrows and as light as a feather, they swept in with barely a sound. Despite her frustration at the situation she found herself in, Golden couldn’t help but marvel at the amazing creatures.

“Is there a point to this, Lieutenant?” Vane asked without looking round.

Golden took a deep breath, her mane bristling, “Yes, sir” she said levelly, “I want you to take Second Lieutenant Fair Lace back to the academy while I go and do what I should have done from the beginning.”

The captain turned to face her, “Oh? And what’s that?”

“I’m going to find my ponies.” Golden flicked her mane and saluted, “Celestia guide you, Captain.”

“Stop right there!” Vane snapped. Golden froze. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, First Lieutenant? Trying to get yourself killed? Be a martyr? How many of your troops do you think you’ll find down there?” The pegasus advanced on her, his ears flattened, “Don’t you think I’ve come across wannabe heroes like you before? All full of bluff and bluster, showing off your bravado to your comrades, and then what?” He suddenly poked her in the chest, his bronze eyes flashing, “Another statistic. Another corpse rotting in the middle of nowhere leaving some poor sod the unenviable job of writing home to your parents with some cock and bull story about what happened to their precious daughter.” He shook his head slowly, “No. Denied, Lieutenant.”

“I didn’t ask for your permission” Golden retorted, “And what I do is my-”

“You will do as you are damned well told!” Vane snapped, “As long as you are a cadet at the military academy, you are bound by military law. Now obey my orders or I’ll have you hobbled and gagged!”

Golden took a breath and slowly let it back out, closing her eyes and trying to find the place of calm that right now was as elusive as a catching mist in your hooves.

“Patience.”

The white mare looked round in surprise at the pegasus who was reading from a piece of paper. Without moving his head, he glanced up at her, “Don’t be in such a rush to die, First Lieutenant, we all go home to the herd one day. It’s how we live our lives here, in this one that matters.” He gave her a surprisingly gentle smile, tinged with…sadness? Golden’s blue eye watched the pegasi commander as he spoke, “We can’t bring back the ones we’ve lost, no matter how much we want that to be true.”

Golden looked away, her breathing shallow, her heart thumping in her chest, “If I don’t do something, Vane, I could never face my ancestors, nor my friends – either in this world or the next.”

“They’ll understand.” Captain Vane smiled and hoofed his note to one of the pegasi who immediately flew off into the pure blue sky. Both Vane and Golden watched him go. “Pegasi believe that when we die, the spirit of a pony flies to the herd on wings of pure light, to spend eternity in the silver city above the fields of the eternal herd.” Vane said quietly, “What about earth ponies? What do your people believe, Lieutenant?”

Golden gave a solemn laugh, “My people…” She shook her head and took a mouthful of her tea. It wasn’t hot, barely tepid really, but right then it was simply…perfect. Golden sank to her haunches and sighed, feeling the horrible weight she’d been feeling since this nightmare began lessen if even just for a moment, “We just die, Captain. We die, our bodies are cremated, and then our souls travel to the eternal herd, to the golden fields of wheat where the trees grow heavy with fruit as sweet as wine and the rivers flow with the purest crystal clear waters that can quench any thirst.” She raised an eyebrow, “Not much different to yours, wouldn’t you say? Except for the wings of course.”

Vane nodded, “Have you ever flown before, Lieutenant Spoon?”

Golden frowned, “Flying is for pegasi, sir.”

“Well, there’s a first time for anything Golden.” He gave her a smile, “Your carriage awaits.”

“WHAT?” Golden turned to see a sky carriage landing a few yards away. The things were so quiet, even in the still mountain air she hadn’t noticed it sweep in. “You want me to get in that
thing?!”

“Do you want to walk back?” Vane grinned, “Your choice.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I could order you, Lieutenant, but your junior officer…”

He didn’t need to finish. Swallowing her discomfort at the situation, Golden nodded, “Thank you, Captain Vane. I shall make a full report upon our return and commend you and your ponies for your swift response.”

“A pleasure” Vane said, snapping off a salute, “Be seeing you, First Lieutenant Golden Spoon.”

Fair Lace silently passed between them, blocking Golden’s view of the Captain and causing her to take a step back in surprise. Without a word the exhausted amber mare clambered into the chariot and all but collapsed. Golden nodded to the Captain and followed her friend in, allowing the pegasi to strap them down. She barely noticed; all she could see was the worn look on Fair Lace’s face and the sweat on her brow. She didn’t look well at all.

“Lacy?”

The amber mare looked up weakly, “Hey…”

“Are you alright?” Golden asked quietly, “I can ask Vane if there’s a medic and-”

Lacy shook her head, “No, please Trips, I’m so tired I just…I just want to go home.” She let out a moan and settled into the carriage, barely stirring as the contraption left the ground in a gust of wind.

Golden leaned back and tried to find the calm inside her heart, while pressing against her armour she could feel the oddly reassuring tension of the straps that were probably meant more for cargo than for ponies. Still, she felt surprisingly comfortable all things considered. She wondered for a moment whether she should have asked Vane whether she and Lacy could have taken their armour off for the trip, but it was a little late now. The wind stung at her eyes, but other than the horrible plunging sensation she’d felt when the chariot first took off, she was pleasantly relieved to find the experience of flying one she actually quite enjoyed. Feeling a little braver she stared over the side at the land far below. There was nothing to see. All that was visible was a thick blanket of white nothingness with only the peak of the mountain poking up like a wizard’s hat. Golden shook her head sadly; it was no wonder the distress flares sent up by the ponies in the clearing hadn’t been seen. The sound too would have been muffled by the cloying damp of that sinister place. She closed her eyes a moment and silently cursed herself. ‘Ponies in the clearing’…was that how she would remember her friends? The mares she’d been training with day after day? How was it she could simply sit here dismissing the ones she’d thought of as comrades, as something so...empty. The ponies in the clearing.

Golden let out a sigh and settled back, listening to the sweep of the pegasi’s wings and the soft sound of her friend’s sobbing. It was over, they were on their way home. Goddesses what a nightmare… Lost in her own world she barely noticed they’d landed until Fair Lace was duly collected and taken off to the medical wing on a stretcher while Golden herself was just as unceremoniously deposited at the academy armoury to store her equipment. The assistant armourer barely said two words when she arrived there on her own, and Golden was glad of it. The last thing she wanted now was to be quizzed as to where the rest of her troop was – there’d be time aplenty for that later. The black coated mare began helping her remove the heavy steel plates, all the while watching her with an expression that made wood look animated. Occasionally the quiet girl would ask her to move, lift a leg and so forth, but in reality Golden was more than capable of removing it all by herself. The buddy system was encouraged at the academy of course; each cadet would help the other to don or remove their steel shell’s before and after drills. Ostensibly it was to help build trust, comradeship and team building – all that good stuff, the stuff that really counted. 

Golden felt like screaming.

“You can leave that” the armourer said in her soft monotone voice, “I’ll clean it and hang it up for you.”

“Oh…” Golden paused, her hoof halfway to the polishing box, “Erm, thanks.” This was unusual! Ponies didn’t normally clean each others armour unless they were on punishment or, occasionally, lost a bet. The chief armourer and his assistant were there to maintain stocks, make repairs and so forth; the general day to day running of one of the hubs of the academy. They certainly drew the line at cleaning armour. Naturally everypony knew the love affair the academy had for polished steel: swords, spears, armour, even cutlery. Everything that could be polished was polished, all that should gleam, gleamed, but right then, Golden was far from her namesake. Achingly she trotted to the bath house and all but threw herself into the tiled room with its invitingly hot bathwater.

It was heaven.

Bathers were, by orders, supposed to wash themselves down before entering the bath waters. Buckets, soap and towels, all regulation, all neat and tidy, were provided for everypony. Bucket – one, for the rinsing of. Soap – one, for the lathering of. Towel – one, for the rubbing of. “Sod that…” Golden mumbled, and rolled herself over the edge into the water. The heat, the blissful, wondrous heat, was beyond words. It soaked through her white fur between her haunches, soaking up her tail and mane. Golden couldn’t help but whinny loudly, turning over in the deep water until she was upside down, her legs pointing up comically as she simply…floated. That was when she noticed the mud still caked on her hooves and cringed – that was why they were supposed to wash off before bathing. She groaned, propelling herself to the side and heavily, wearily, pulled herself from the warm embrace of the bath before dropping to her haunches in the washing off area. 

Despite her exhaustion the cooler water in the buckets felt wonderfully refreshing, but it was the scent and the feeling of being clean, really clean, that began to make her feel altogether more equine again. Ponies were clean creatures by nature, and even the farm hooves made sure they washed up at the end of the working day. Golden shrugged; when you used your hooves to eat it made sense. Those unicorns sure had it easy…

Soon, clean, rinsed and relaxing in the hot water of the bath, Golden’s mind began to drift off once more. It wasn’t the best thing she could have done either: memories of her friends, their faces, their voices, all came back to here piece by piece. Scarlet, Polish, poor old Fire Bricks, and of course…Hyacinth. Dear Celestia, they were all…gone. All she could do for them now was pray that some had gotten away from that place of slaughter, but if they had, wouldn’t the pegasi have found them by now? Were they still on that cursed mountain, lost in the mist, cold, maybe injured, and alone? Had she, their leader, really just abandoned them to save her own hide? Bile began to rise in Golden’s throat at thought – she should have stayed, she should have done something, anything! Damn that Vane, damn him and his bloody infuriating… “Damn it!” Golden span round and pulled herself up the steps from the bath. A good towelling off and a meal inside her would probably do wonders to help her state of mind and go at least some way to settling the aches and pains in her body. Her hind leg still hurt where she’d twisted it on the rocks and she’d managed to chip a hoof too. Golden shook her head; if only the other had just a chipped hoof to concern them, then-

“First Lieutenant?” A voice from the doorway called over to her.

Scrubbing her ears, Golden nodded to the messenger, “Yes?”

“Begging your pardon, ma’am, Brigadier Metal Flake has requested that you attend his office at
eighteen hundred hours.”

Golden nodded again, “Please inform the brigadier that I shall attend as requested.” The messenger saluted and left, leaving the white mare leaning against the wall and cursing under her breath. She’d never been to the brigadiers office – never! Those who went there would usually end up on kitchen patrol for weeks or, for major infractions, found themselves rapidly propelled through the academy’s gates with a hoof print on their arse. She tried not to think any more about it, but by the goddesses, it was impossible. The academy hierarchy would need to know, they would have to know. She closed her eyes; so would the families…once they knew how many were…gone. Reluctantly, Golden threw on her off-duty cloak and headed for the canteen which was only a short trot from the bath house. Outside, the academy grounds were quiet, with only the occasional cadet running errands or a guard doing the rounds to interrupt the near total silence. It was almost a relief when she reached the now deserted canteen and she nickered quietly under her breath as the doors closed behind her. Had they always been so loud? Golden gave herself a shake; she didn’t know what she would have done if there’d been anypony in there, - anypony she knew at least. To face them now, to have to explain to them why she was on her own would have been too much to bear – far too much. Still, a hot meal could do wonders for morale but her heart sank at the sight of the now clean and very empty serving area. A clatter of pans caught her attention and she peered around the serving hatch. As luck would have it, one of the cooks was still hovering around the kitchen readying whatever mysterious concoctions they created here ready for the next day. Most of the ponies had had their evening meal already of course but she just barely had enough time to grab something before she presented herself to the tender mercies of the academy hierarchy.

“You’re too late” the cook called from the depths of the steaming kitchen, “Dinner finished half an hour ago.”

“Look, just give me whatever you can spare, eh? Leftovers, cold, I couldn’t give a toss.” Golden leaned on the counter top and squeezed her eyes shut, her temper fuelled by the fractured emotional state flaring up inside her. “Please?”

The cook walked out from the bowels of the kitchen, his white hat cocked over one ear flopping comically. Golden normally would have found such a sight amusing, but not today. “All I’ve got is some left over mash and corndogs” the yellow and brown coated stallion said
rubbing his forehooves on his apron. He gave his unexpected customer an appraising look, “You okay?”

The cook’s assessment wasn’t exactly inaccurate. Golden felt a wave of tiredness wash over her as she fought down the emotional storm that was threatening to break through her already fragile veneer of calm. “I’m fine, just a little tired really.” She tried a smile but she may as well have been trying to crack stone with a feather. Instead, all she managed was a grimace.

“Well, get yourself sat down, Lieutenant, and we’ll see what we can do, eh?” The cook gave her a concerned look which he tried to conceal with a smile and vanished back into the steam filled kitchen. 

Steam… Golden shuddered at the way it flowed and swirled, reminding her uncomfortably of the mist in the mountains. In some respects she was oddly grateful that the thick white mass had prevented her from seeing more of the bloodied and mangled bodies of her friends, but now…now the doubts began in ernest. What if they’d been alive? What if she’d been merely a few yards from them and she’d not made any effort to find them…or help them? At the time she had believed it possible the ursan was still in the area, and shouting could have-

A steaming plate of food appeared before her with a thud. “Here you go” the cook announced placing a mug of what smelled like tea beside her, “Milk with one, wasn’t it?”

“How…?” Golden lifted her head in confusion.

“I know my customers” the cook shrugged, “I may not know everyponies name, but I know what they like to eat and drink.” He tapped the side of his head with a hoof, “All in here, see?”

Golden shook her head, “I…” She cleared her throat, “Thanks. I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

“Milk Shake.” The cook rolled his eyes sarcastically, “Yeah, yeah, I know, but the folks thought it was cute.”

“I think it’s nice” Golden replied honestly, “I’m just a bit embarrassed that you’ve been serving me so long you can remember how I take my tea and I’ve never even bothered to ask your name.” She sighed, “I’m sorry.”

“Meh, don’t mind me” the cook chuckled, “Most ponies seem to think their meals cook themselves by magic.” He tapped his horn, “Does help though!”

Golden smiled, “Thanks Milk Shake.”

“Don’t mention it.” He turned to walk away, “And it’s Shaky to my friends, Lieutenant…?”

“Spoon, but you can call me Golden, if you like…Shaky.” Golden smiled.

“With a name like that I’d have expected your natural talent would be more in line with my kind of work than soldiering” Shaky said with a wink, “If you ever get fed up with square bashing, give me a shout.”

Golden barked out a laugh, “You know, I may just do that!”

The yellow and brown stallion’s purple eyes sparkled as he smiled, “Not until you’ve got that down you. Come on, missy, you need to get some meat on those bones.”

He wasn’t wrong. Although she felt reluctant at first, Golden soon found herself gorging on the food as if it were her last meal. Whatever it tasted like she had no idea, and neither did she care. Her body was crying out for fuel and fuel she would give it. She reached for the cup and froze – it was empty? Good goddesses, she couldn’t even remember drinking it! Fortunately her intuitive kitchen angel, Shaky, was quickly on hoof with a refill, silently topping up her mug and her plate until eventually her muzzle was covered in a sticky combination of corndogs, mash and gravy. Finally sated, the white mare all but collapsed back in her chair with a belch and a loud moan of satisfaction.

“Good healthy appetite you have there” Shaky observed, collecting Golden’s plate, “A mare should eat well. She needs strong hips for healthy foals.”

Golden cringed and turned to face the retreating figure of the cook. Strong hips for healthy foals? Good grief! Well, she supposed he was ‘technically’ right about that, but the way he just came out with it in such a ‘matter of fact’ way was like something her mother would have said. Perhaps Shaky was just a little old fashioned in that respect, but he clearly meant well and judging by the lingering aftertaste in her mouth, was damned good at his craft. Surreptitiously she reached down and prodded her hips: they seemed pretty strong, and lean too. She shrugged; nothing wrong with the old Spoon hips at all! Birthing would be…something she didn’t want to think about! Gah! That bloody stallion! Still, she could stop grinning for some reason. Golden shook her head and called over the counter into the kitchen, “Thanks Shaky. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“No prob’” came the reply, “Take care, Golden.”

And with that, Golden found herself trotting across the deserted parade ground and up to the steps that lead to the academy headquarters building. Beautifully designed in a combination of red brick and white marble, the structure’s elegant doric columns and carved stone manticores screamed out style, taste and above all – power. Whoever had built this place had certainly know what they were about, and more than a little about equine psychology. The tall building which had equally tall doors held a special place in the psyche of the students already without the need to look imposing, but here she was, climbing the steps into the mouth of the metaphorical manticore. Goddesses, she couldn’t wait to get this over with, her heart rate and blood pressure were making her feel giddy as it was, not helped by the way she’d stuffed herself senseless in the canteen earlier. She swore under her breath; why hadn’t she shown a little self control?! Celestia’s arse, she felt hot, dizzy, and now with a hint of nausea coming to join the party she all but knocked the sentry out of the way as she entered the brigadier’s secretary’s office.

The indigo mare behind the desk looked up at her casually, “Yes?”

“First Lieutenant Golden Spoon, reporting as ordered, ma’am.”

The secretary made a show of leafing through the large ledger in front of her, making Golden’s hackles go up more than they were already. That smarmy cow knew damned well why she was there!

“Wait there, please First Lieutenant.” The secretary got up and walked to the large oak door, knocked, and opened it slightly before poking her head inside, “Pardon me, sir, there is a First Lieutenant Golden Spoon to see you?” The muffled reply was unintelligible. “Take a seat please, Lieutenant” the secretary offered, holding out a hoof towards a conveniently located chair.

It was as hard as stone. 

Golden tried to make her self as comfortable as possible while she waited, but it was immediately apparent that ‘comfort’ was clearly the last thing on the designers mind when they’d built the bloody thing. In fact, if she didn’t know better she’d be forgiven for thinking the dreadful piece of furniture had been intentionally designed to make the sitter feel like they wanted to be anywhere other than sat on the damnable thing. Every so often she caught the secretary peering at her from under her manicured brows. Golden’s neck twitched; that little bitch knew what these chairs were like didn’t she? Well, she sure as hell wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing her fidget and stress about the impending interview. Taking a breath, she unfocussed her mind, letting her thoughts wander, drifting through the gathering darkness outside, free, flying through the air on wings of magic as her stallion flew beside her. His eyes gazed into hers searchingly, those big bronze orbs catching the last rays of the setting sun and making her melt inside like warm chocolate…

“Lieutenant?”

“Wha…?!” Golden jumped out of the chair, her eyes wide in surprise. Damn it all, she must have
been daydreaming!

“The brigadier will see you now.”

Golden’s heart leapt in her chest. Goddesses, why was she acting like a school foal in trouble with the headmistress? She had to get a grip of herself and regain her focus…focus…She took a deep breath, rubbed her face and walked through the open door into the room beyond. Inside, the feel of age and authority was heavy in the air, sending a shiver down her spine. Golden tried to remind herself that in reality Equestria’s military academy wasn’t all that old despite outward appearances. The princesses had been reluctant to have any form of military, let alone an institution that trained officers, especially after the wholesale slaughter that had become known as the ‘war of the three tribes’. Yet even now, pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns were still divided. Oh, Celestia and Luna could paper over the cracks of course, hold their ceremonies celebrating unity and togetherness, but everypony knew, everypony, that the divisions were still there just as much as they ever had been. Goddesses protect them, they probably always would be. Even here, even at this academy, the three races that made up the bulk of the Equestrian population, were divided. Ostensibly it was because of their unique features: pegasi could fly, unicorns had magic and earth ponies had…well, strength she supposed. They were the infantry, the artillery, the sailors and general hoof-sloggers of the armed forces. There was an underlying feeling amongst the cadets that the haughty pegasi looked down on their earth bound brethren, and Golden had always considered that since they could fly that viewpoint didn’t seem altogether unreasonable. But to some, the feeling of being seen as somehow ‘inferior’ bubbled away beneath the surface, festering, fomenting, and would on occasion erupt into drink fuelled violence. For times like that there were the royal police who would be more than happy to crack anyponies skull regardless of whether they had wings, horn, or just a thick head to bash. Regarding unicorns though – they were just nuts. Except Shaky, he was nice.

Golden’s nose twitched. The log fire was burning merrily in the large hearth, sending additional light into the room which had all of its lamps lit despite the daylight filtering through the tall windows. Time was getting on now though she supposed, and the nights were starting to draw in too. It would be winter soon enough and the first hints of it were in the air even now. Standing to attention before the desk, the white mare snapped off a salute, “First Lieutenant Golden Spoon reporting as ordered sir.”

The brigadier said nothing. Sitting in his large red leather chair he pored over a sheath of notes, occasionally turning one and frowning. In the quiet of the large room the sound of the paper seemed unnaturally loud. From the corner the grandfather clock clunked away the seconds while the faces of past academy commanders stared down on the proceedings with dead, emotionless eyes.

“Would you care to tell me where my ponies are, First Lieutenant?”

Golden’s stomach felt like she’d swallowed a lead weight. The old stallion behind the desk didn’t move, didn’t even look up at her, but just the tone of his voice made her knees quiver. She tried to convince herself it was just her, that it was nothing more than nerves and tiredness; the truth was she was scared – was this it? Was this the end of her career?

“Well?”

Golden swallowed and tried her best to shut off her emotions, “Sir, I wish to report that Epsilon Troop was attacked by an ursan whilst on exercises in the mountains. I was unable to locate any survivors other than myself and Second Lieutenant Fair Lace. As per academy emergency protocol I sent up a distress flare and we were located by the extraction team.”

Seconds passed. Golden watched the brigadier staring at his paperwork. His grey mane, regulation length, twitched every time he turned a page, his faded brown coat and lemon yellow eyes had probably seen more of life than she would ever see, or want to. All of sudden joining the army didn’t seem like such an amazing career choice after all – not that she’d exactly had a choice in the first place. Slowly, the brigadier looked up at her,

“You saw this… ‘ursan’, did you?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

Golden stared straight ahead, “No sir, only its tracks.”

A pause, probably only a second, but it felt like it went on for an eternity, “Your platoon was attacked by an ursan, which you didn’t see…” The brigadiers words trailed off. Golden dared take a breath before the brigadier spoke again, “Tell me, First Lieutenant, who was in command of Epsilon
Troop?”

“I was sir” Golden replied.

“You were.” Brigadier Metal Flake tapped his hoof on the desk as he watched the white mare before him, “You understand, First Lieutenant, why I am asking you this, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

The brigadier closed his eyes and took a slow breath, his next words slow and deliberate, “Where were you when your ponies were being attacked?”

Golden swallowed; all of a sudden the explanation she had been rolling around in her head, the words she’d meant to say, sounded foolish and weak even to her. Celestia’s feathers, what in the goddess’ name was she going to do?! Desperately she tried to speak, her throat closing up and defying her words from coming out. Unexpectedly, a glass of something red appeared before her and she took it as quickly as a drowning victim clutched at anything that would keep them afloat, keeping them from going under that last time… 

The burning liquor made her cough, but whatever it was it had the desired result, “I…I was with Second Lieutenant Fair Lace, sir” she explained, “When we neared the camp site I stayed behind to ensure all our troops made it up there and nopony was left behind. Lieutenant Lace was the last of them and suffering from fatigue. I determined that with the failing light, low visibility and risk of injury, she was unable to continue so we set up a temporary camp until we could rejoin the rest of our troop.”

“Fatigue…” the brigadier echoed.

Golden nodded, “Yes, sir. I believe so.”

“Where is this pony now?”

“Lieutenant Lace is in the infirmary, sir” Golden replied.

The brigadier leaned his forelegs on the desk before him, the tall rectangular windows behind him adding a shadowy cast to his outline, “I want her gone as soon as she is fit to travel” he said calmly, “I will have her discharge papers ready in the morning and I will expect you to have your full report ready as well.”

Golden froze, her eyes wide in shock, “Sir? I don’t think I understand.”

“I think it’s quite straightforward, First Lieutenant” Metal Flake said levelly, “Second Lieutenant Fair Lace will no longer be a member of this academy as of tomorrow morning. Once she is fit to travel, we will make arrangements for her to be taken home. I think that’s quite reasonable, don’t you?”

“But you…you can’t!” Golden sputtered.

“I can and I will” Brigadier Flake said with finality, “And I would appreciate it if you would not question my orders, First Lieutenant.”

Golden’s temper suddenly flared, her indignation and outrage flowing as hot as molten steel through her veins, “It’s not her fault!” she snapped, “I was the pony in charge and so I should be the one to take the punishment. Brigadier, sir, if anypony should be thrown out of the academy, it is me. I will accept full responsibility for-”

“And you WILL!” Brigadier Flake slammed his hoof on the desk making the glasses rattle, “I have thirty nine ponies missing, First Lieutenant, THIRTY NINE!” The brigadier’s eyes blazed, “Never, NEVER in the history of this academy has anything like this happened before. We expect the occasional mishap, the odd fatality or injury are always a risk when soldiering, but this?!” The old officer rose from his seat, seeming to tower over Golden like some giant of legend, “You will present me with a full report of this debacle in the morning, First Lieutenant Spoon. A court martial will later be convened to determine your culpability in this...this disaster, and as for Second
Lieutenant Fair Lace, I suggest you clear out her locker for her. Once she has been interrogated by the royal police, she will be finished from this academy and you will count yourself damned fortunate that I haven’t seen fit to have you flogged through the grounds for dereliction of duty!”

“But…” Golden began.

“You are dismissed, First Lieutenant.” Brigadier Flake pointed to the door, “Now get out of my
sight!”

Golden slammed her forehoof to her chest, “Yes, sir.” She turned woodenly and walked through the door, closing it behind her with a heavy clunk. Dear Celestia…what had she done…


*********************


The night dragged on forever. She’d always wished for a night were she could simply roll into her cot with absolute silence and enjoy a deep, restful sleep. The reality however was blood chilling. In the barrack block the snoring, coughing and other night time sounds of forty one mares sleeping was like the ballad of the angels compared to the now stony silence of the noticeably empty quarters she had which adjoined the main bunkroom. Silence… Oh, how she wished for somepony, anypony to share that room with now! ‘Be careful what you wish for, it may just come true’ she had been told once, and by Celestia, how true that was. Golden sat up in the bed and rubbed her gritty eyes; she could see them all now, she could name everypony: where they slept, what they liked to eat – all the mudane, day to day quirks and foibles of a group, a troop, of ponies. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought back a sob. This wasn’t right, this wasn’t fair! None of this, not one damned part of it! When she’d left the brigadier’s office she’d tried to get in to see how Lacy was doing, but the
royal police had turned away. Turned her away! Her, her best friend! And what a friend…

Golden flopped onto her stomach, pulling the pillow over her head. She’d betrayed her friend hadn’t she? Fatigue! By telling the truth she’d effectively pushed the blame onto Lacy and now they were going to use her as a scapegoat for this bloody nightmare! By rights it should be her, Golden Spoon, the leader of the doomed expedition. Why the hell was she alive? Why wasn’t it her body lying cold and lifeless on that hellish mountainside? She grabbed the pillow, shoved her muzzle into it and screamed. Golden’s cries of distress, muffled by the soft pillow went on and on as the mare poured her grief, fear and rage out to the world. The brigadier…that old rotten soak! He had no right, no right at all to use a pony as a scapegoat for what had happened. It was that damned ursan! Surely to the goddesses he could see that, couldn’t he? These weren’t battle hardened troops armed to the teeth and highly trained, no, they were young mares training to be officers and armed with swords – swords against a beast half the size of a bucking mountain! Damn it, damn it to hell! They didn’t stand a bloody chance, they never had! The one really to blame here was that scum Nut Case – he was the one who’d sent them into an area where there were ursans roaming around in the first place. Goddesses, hadn’t anypony checked the place out before hoof? Golden slammed her hoof into the bed, pouring out her fury, her rage, again and again. Neighing, she jumped from the bed, bucking the frame as hard as she could and bellowed out a roar that rattled the windows. Let them break, let them! Better the cursed things shatter into a million shards like the lives lost because of her incompetence and…and….

“Oh, Goddesses…why? WHY?!” Golden screamed to the empty room, “Where are my friends Celestia? Where are my sisters?” She snatched the painting of the white alicorn from the wall and threw it across the room to smash into one of the lockers, “GIVE ME BACK MY FRIENDS, YOU BITCH! GIVE THEM BACK!!” Tears poured down Golden’s muzzle, dropping onto the floor like rain, “Give them…give…”

“Shhh…hey…hey, it’s alright, it’s okay now.”

Golden looked up into the bronze eyes of… “Vane?” Golden whispered. She closed her eyes and collapsed into his forelegs, her strength gone, her will to fight fading with her exhaustion. It was too much…


*********************


Light filtered through the window, illuminating the empty…wait, this wasn’t the barrack block! Where the hell was she?! Golden sat up, throwing the bed sheets off her and turned to stare at the stallion trotting through the door with a tray on his back, 

“Good morning.”

“Good…” Golden shook her head, “Wait, what the hell am I doing here? What’s…oh, no…” she held a hoof to her face, “We didn’t…?”

“Didn’t what?” Captain Vane gave her a puzzled look and suddenly barked out a laugh, “You fell asleep and I brought you here, that’s all.” He placed the tray of tea and crumpets on the bedside table next to her, “I couldn’t leave you in there, it looked like a tornado had gone through the place.”

Golden sat back and facehoofed, “Oh, goddesses…”

“Yup!” Vane smirked, “Don’t worry, my crew are on the job and nopony will be any the wiser. Honestly, when you party like a pegasus, you have to be able to tidy up the evidence.” He gave her a wink, “We’ve got plenty of spare paintings of ‘her indoors’ too if you get my drift.”

Groaning, Golden covered her face with her forelegs, “I’ve gone mad. It’s finally happened, hasn’t it? I’ve lost the plot and now I’m in the loony bin and you’re a figment of my imagination.”

“I don’t know about a loony bin, you’re in my bedroom” Vane chuckled, “And in case you hadn’t noticed, First Lieutenant, your breakfast is going cold.”

Breakfast… “Oh, hell! I’ve got to write that blasted report!” Golden shot out of bed, nearly upsetting the pegasus stallion as well as her breakfast tray in the process. Vane, initially surprised, simply smiled and held out a hoof towards his writing desk,

“All ready for you” he said calmly, “I’ll have my adjutant do the honours while you dictate and enjoy your breakfast.” Vane shouted through the open door, “Hey, Swirl, get your arse in here and put that mouth of yours to good use for something other than ale, eh?”

“Sure thing, skipper” came the chirpy reply.

Moments later a dusky blue-grey stallion trotted in, gave his captain a nod, and settled himself into the chair by the writing desk. Golden watched the winged creature as he took out a quill, ink pot and other accoutrements and, much to her surprise, took out a small pouch of ‘something’ from his pack. The pegasus sprinkled a portion of it onto the back of his foreleg and with a loud huff, snorted the whole lot up his nose. Golden’s eyes went wide.

“Snuff?” the stallion offered. Golden just shook her head as he shrugged and turned back to his work, “Suit yourself.”

Golden blinked and turned to the Captain, “Vane? This is all a bit…strange” she whispered, “Am I in some sort of alternative reality or something?”

Vane chuckled, “I think we all are, Lieutenant, in one way shape or form.”

“And I thought unicorns were bonkers” Golden muttered.

The captain gave her a wry smile, “Oh they are, but then genius and madness are two sides of the same coin, or so they say. Others say that earth ponies are on one side, pegasi the other, while unicorns balance right on the edge, and all it takes is the slightest breeze to blow them off.” He gently wafted his wings to emphasise his point.

“You don’t really believe that though do you?” Golden asked, taking a mouthful of her tea, “I mean, I know we all joke about them, but are they really like that?”

“Oh, yeah” Vane said with a nod, “Their sanity is like a soap bubble you know. Any moment – poof! And the next thing you know they’ve gone off the deep end and are going around turning fillies into ice lollies and colts into frogs.”

“That’s an old wives tale!” Golden laughed, “I’m not that stupid.”

Vane barked out a laugh, “I never thought you were, Golden, not even for a moment.” He paused,
“May I call you Golden?” The white mare nodded. “Then I ask you to forgive me for teasing you. We pegasi tend to, how do I put this now, ‘overlook’ the fact that earth ponies can be a little…erm… ‘stiff’, sometimes?”

“Stiff?!” Golden snorted loudly, “I am not stiff!”

“Stuffy?” Swirl offered from across the room.

“Oh, shut up!” Golden and Vane said together. The two turned to face each other and burst out laughing, leaving the shrugging figure of Swirl to roll his eyes in exasperation. Eventually, Golden’s mirth subsided and she took a sip of her tea. There was work to do, and as much as she hated to do it, it had to be done. She closed her eyes and began…

Hours passed, but finally, the report was completed. Aside from the occasional mutter from Swirl when Golden corrected herself it had gone surprisingly smoothly – especially as Swirl was a fast writer. She lifted up the finished scroll, blowing off the last of the sand which he’d used to soak up any excess ink and read it back to Vane. It was remarkably well written – much better than she could have done herself – and as factual as it was, it still managed to convey the awful truth of what had happened. What she couldn’t reconcile though was that she was here and they were…out there. As if in answer to her question, the captain placed his hoof on her hind leg, looking into her eyes, “Lieutenant? Are you up for a flight?”

“Huh?” Golden gave herself a shake; she wasn’t used to being touched by stallions and she wasn’t sure she liked the familiarity of the pegasus officer, regardless of how friendly he appeared. They all seemed a bit ‘forward’ to her and as much as it fascinated her, it ran against every part of her upbringing she could imagine. In some ways, Vane struck her as an almost schizophrenic mix of hardened officer and lewd teenager, all blended into one feathered pony type creature. If it had just been him, that would have be one thing, but now that she’d met more of them it was quite clear that they all carried a certain ‘energy’ that she simply didn’t know what to make of. For a moment, she
wondered: was she stiff? Was she…boring? Oh, goddesses!

“Ahem? Golden, you in there?”

“Oh!” Golden tossed her mane and huffed loudly, “Sorry, Vane, bit of mind fuse there. What do you have in mind?”

“We’re going to go and search for your ponies of course” he said casually.

Golden closed her eyes and took a breath, “Of course.” She froze, staring at the scroll in her hooves, “Wait, we’re what?! Yes! YES!” Suddenly reality hit her and she nearly choked, “But…Vane, I…the brigadier...”

“Oh that!” Vane smirked, “Don’t worry about that nonsense. Swirl will drop it off for you, won’t you?”

“Aye, skipper” the dark coated pegasi chirped, snapping off a peculiar salute. 

Golden turned to Vane with a puzzled expression, “‘Skipper’?”

Vane shrugged, “Meh, an in-house nickname. We all have them; it’s a sort of pegasus tradition.”

“I daren’t ask.” Golden muttered.

Vane winked at her, “And don’t worry about the ‘other thing’, we’ve got your back.”

“Other thing?” Golden frowned and then nickered, her head hanging as the awful reality of what the brigadier had said came slamming back to her – she was to be court marshalled. Everypony knew what that meant: dismissal, flogging, maybe even hanging. Celestia’s backside, she was up to her neck in it but if these ponies were willing to speak up for her, she’d take any help she could. But would use could they really be? They weren’t there when it happened, but…

“You know something, don’t you?” Golden asked quietly, “There’s some reason reason why you’re being so friendly to me when you’ve only just met me.” She narrowed her eyes, “What’s really going on here, Vane? Truthfully now.”

The captain raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. His eyes closed and his face broke into a knowing smile as he spoke, “I was right about you, Lieutenant Spoon, you have a keen eye for the unseen.” Vane stretched his wings out and nodded to Swirl who bobbed his head before
trotting out of the room. The door closed behind him. “One of our scouts saw the ursan.”

Golden’s tail bristled, “They saw it? Where…where, Vane?”

The captain shook his head slowly, “In a cave at the foot of the mountain near the old valley road.” His eyes searched Golden’s, “You know what that thing is, don’t you?”

“A bear” she replied quietly, “A very, very big bear.”

“It’s much more than a bear,” Vane said knowingly, “they’re a creature of two worlds: of both magic and earth.” He patted her hoof gently, “Have you ever seen one, Lieutenant?” Golden shook her head as the captain continued, “They’re unlike anything else I’ve ever encountered. It’s like fighting the stars, the planets and galaxies, all swirling and colliding in a chaotic whirlwind of rage and animal instinct.”

“How…how can we defeat such a thing?” Golden breathed, “Can’t we use magic to fight it?”

Vane smiled, “If the thing was susceptible to magic, sure. But combat spells tend to just piss them off, especially this time of year.” He scratched his chin, “That’s what I can’t really understand about all this: they’re usually hibernating this time of year.”

“You think there’s something more to this, don’t you?” Golden said pointedly, “I lost a lot of friends out there, so don’t mess me about, Vane, please. If you know something, or suspect something, tell me.”

Vane closed his eyes and sighed. Moving Golden’s hoof aside he walked to the window and moved the curtain, staring out into the distance. “My daughter was killed by an ursa minor when she was a foal.”

“Oh, no…Vane…I’m so sorry.” Golden’s heart sank.

The Captain shrugged, “Don’t be, you didn’t know her.” He leaned his forehead on the window, a sad smile playing across his face, “It was two years ago now. I was out on patrol when I got the message telling me what had happened. She’d been playing with friends when they’d wandered into a cave to explore. She knew not to do it, but her friends egged each other on, and…you can probably guess the rest.” He turned from the window and picked up a crystal decanter, pouring himself a stout measure, “I hit the bottle after that, but I came round eventually.” He slugged the spirit back in one chug, “You have to. You have to move on, no matter how much it hurts inside.”

“Did you ever find the ursan?” Golden asked woodenly.

“We did” Vane replied, “We let it go.”

“You what?!” Golden was incensed, “After what it did?!”

The captain nodded, “The ursan didn’t kill them out of malice, Lieutenant, it’s an animal, no more, no less.” He hung his head, “That’s what we believed at the time anyway.”

Golden’s voice cracked, “What…happened?”

“It killed again” Vane said. His voice sounded heavy with pain and regret, “Two colts playing in a field near their family farm were…taken. We found the tracks, but we didn’t find any sign of the boys until what remained of them turned up in a pile of ursan dung.”

“They eat ponies…” Golden breathed.

Vane shook his head, “Not normally, no, but once they get the taste for pony flesh they have to be put down or they’ll kill again and again. I wish there were some other way, Golden, and Celestia knows I wish I was wrong, but this needs to be done.” He walked over to her and sat down facing her, “I’ll understand if you don’t want to come. It’s going to be a fight to the finish, but pegasi have the advantage here. We’ll take you in a chariot if you want and-”

“I want to fight, Vane.” The white mare lifted her head and tossed her deep blue mane, “I owe it to my friends.”

Vane nodded, “I know, but Golden, this isn’t about revenge, understand? No heroics, no ‘proving yourself’ or anything that will put yourself or others in danger. We go in, we take the thing out, and we come home, alright?”

Golden nodded, “Yes, sir.”

“Attagirl!”

Golden rolled her eyes. How was it a pony could be so intriguing and yet so bloody infuriating all at the same time?

There was a knock at the door. “Skipper? The fog’s lifted.”

Vane turned to face the white mare with the deep blue eyes and smiled broadly. Golden’s heart jumped in her chest; Vane had a wild look about him, a dangerous and exciting sense of freedom that sent a flush through her and made her ears tingle. His words resonated with her, “Fortune favours the bold, Lieutenant.” He held out his hoof, “or the foolhardy.”

Golden grinned and swigged back the last of her tea “Then foolhardy I am.” She took the offered hoof and stood face to face with Vane, her blood singing in her ears “Let’s move out.”


********************


There was a knock at the door, “Excuse me, Lord Spoon? Court will be in session in thirty minutes.”

“Thank you” Runcy called out in reply. Deftly, he buttoned up his shirt and pulled on his waistcoat. Looking in the mirror he checked his muzzle and nodded to himself. He’d probably need a full coat trim soon, but the barber had done a damned good job on his mane and tail, not to mention the wonderful pomade the fellow had combed through it. He smelled slightly spicy, with a hint of cardamom and cinnamon. Damn it, he wished Lark was there, she’d be all over him! The big stallion chuckled and checked his pocket watch – wound, ticking steadily, and good to go. Like him. Jacket on, top hat in place, coat tails neat and spotlessly clean, the lord of Spoon manor, was ready.

“Runcy? You all set?” A familiar face appeared through the door.

“Naturally” The grinning grey stallion opened the door the rest of the way and joined his friends out in the corridor, “Let the festivities begin gentlecolts.”

Feeling surprisingly fresh this morning, Runcy led the way through the long corridors of the palace, noting the number of nobles joining them as they went. Before long there was a veritable crowd of ponies all heading towards the throne room and these were only the ones who had been staying at the palace itself – they didn’t include the ones who had taken up rooms in the city or nearby homes.

Sunny clucked his tongue irritably, “Bollocks! I ‘d hoped we’d get there handy and find a seat – we’ve no chance now.” He let out a huff, “I bloody well said we should’ve gone down there early.”

“I’ve been up for hours waiting for you,” Runcy replied, ignoring his friend’s tone, “but when you didn’t turn up I presumed you’d changed your mind and decided to wait for your morning call instead.”

“Hah!” Sunny snorted, “I didn’t turn up because I’d loaned my alarm clock to the illustrious Master Coalford here.” He nodded towards a very sheepish looking stallion in a black three piece suit, “You can ask him what happened.”

Runcy glanced at the young stallion and caught the helpless expression, the bloodshot eyes and the dark patches under his eyes. “Oh, goddesses…” He shook his head, “Tres…”

“I wasn’t drunk!” Trestle explained anxiously, “Honestly, I only had a couple of gin and tonics with you chaps and then…well…”

“Well what?” Runcy asked.

Trestle groaned, “I was so worried about my first day in court I…” He swallowed, “I couldn’t sleep.” He rubbed his face and gave his mane a hopeful shake, “I was up for hours and ended up playing dominoes with one of the porters to try and take my mind off things. Next thing I knew was everypony was getting ready and I had to rush back to my rooms for a wash and brush up.”

“You couldn’t sleep…” Runcy shook his head and sighed, “I told you not to worry, didn’t I?”

“It’s not that easy!” the black stallion protested, “Come on, Runcy, you must have been nervous the first time you were at the royal court, right?”

There was a snort beside them, “Nervous? He nearly wet himself.”

Runcy clucked his tongue and shot his friend a look, “Oh thanks, Sunny!”

“Don’t mention it” the older stallion chuckled, “Couldn’t stop shaking the whole time you were there, remember? Your father thought you were going to be sick.”

“I was sick!” Runcy snapped, “I threw up everywhere! I can only thank the goddesses that I didn’t do it in the throne room or that would have been it.”

Lord Aura shook his head, smiling “Oh don’t be so melodramatic, Runcy my boy. Many’s the colt or filly whose nerves have gotten the better of them before the princess.” He raised an eyebrow, “Just have to make sure you don’t hit anypony important when you let fly, that’s all.” He paused, frowning in thought, “Unless it’s Lord Crinkle. I can’t stand that miserable little…”

Runcy groaned; there was no stopping Sunny once he started rambling on about the ponies he knew at court, or more specifically, the ones he didn’t like. Come to think of it, there weren’t many ponies his friend did like. Whether it was a trade deal he felt he’d been swindled on, political leanings, comments he didn’t like, or even something as simple as they had a funny shaped muzzle, Lord Aura nearly always had an opinion and comment to make. What the grumpy old bugger thought about himself and Trestle he didn’t want to know! 

They entered the grand hall, and found themselves moving along as part of a larger group of ponies who flowed around them as though they were leaves on a brightly coloured river, picking them up and taking them inexorably to their destination. And the doors to that destination stood open before them. Runcy raised an eyebrow at the prominent archway in front of them that was humming with magical energy, and either side of it a number of armed royal guards, and…others. He wasn’t sure whether his friends had noticed them, but there were several suited ponies watching the crowd, their gazes hidden behind sunglasses and sporting expressions as emotionless as stone. The telltale bulges beneath their overcoats, as small as they were, spoke volumes. Even the guards, bolstered by Luna’s enigmatic ‘night guard’, weren’t anything like the ponies Runcy recalled from the last time he was at the palace. There was a certain ‘edge’ to them; whether it was in the way they watched the nobility filing beneath the detector, or the way their hooves hovered near the hilts of their swords and spears, it sent a chill through Runcy’s spine. He didn’t like change, he never had, and yet as much as he could eventually come to accept a certain modicum of ‘advancement’, what he was seeing here today both shocked and angered him. Were the princesses now living in constant fear of another changeling attack on the palace? He supposed it was understandable though, those vile creatures had managed to infiltrate the court, the very heart of Equestria, before openly invading Canterlot in a bold attempt at seizing the seat of power and the princesses themselves. And yet now, despite gaining the upper hoof, they were entering peace talks with those things? Runcy took a deep cleansing breath and reminded himself that there was a reason Celestia had been the ruler for thousands of years. She had defeated Nightmare Moon, she had overthrown the evil of King Sombra, brought the wars of the three tribes to a close and united the land. He had faith in her, he had to have, regardless of the concerns of Primus and the others. Celestia, always knew what was best for her people.

“Lord Aura?” A mare in an enormous hat was standing on her hind legs vigorously waving a hoof from one of the rows nearest the thrones, “Coo-eee!”

“Oh goddesses!” Sunny facehoofed and looked away, a painful grimace on his face, “Damn it all, it’s her! Why is it every bloody time!”

The enthusiastic mare was now standing on her chair and waving furiously, “Sunny? Sunny dear, over here!”

“Oh no, kill me now…” Sunny sighed before turning back to the mare and treating her to a beaming smile and a wave, “Coming Emmy!” He shot Trestle a look, “Not one bloody word!”

“I…” Trestle swallowed, looking to his grey coated companion who merely shrugged in response. Whoever the bizarre mare was, she clearly knew Sunny and even more importantly…

“I’ve kept three seats for you, dear” the mare chirped, brushing a bright orange wisp of mane hair from her muzzle, “One each for your friends, and one…” she patted the nearest one, “just for you.” The look Sunny gave Runcy could have cracked ice. Runcy, for his part, sat next to his friend and leaned across, “Hello, Emmy, how have you been?”

Half covered by voluminous skirts and an enormous hat, the beaming mare reached over and patted his hoof, “‘Absolutely average’ as my late husband would say, dear.” She gave him a wink, “Still life in the old bones yet though, don’t you know. How is young Lark and that gorgeous foal of yours?”

Runcy smiled, “Both doing well, thank you for asking. Silver is excelling at her school and business is good. Thanks be to the goddesses.”

“Thanks be to the goddesses,” Emmy echoed.

The green mare gave Runcy a serious smile and blinked her enormous pewter coloured eyes. They’d always struck Runcy as strange, and it was decidedly unnerving the way they seemed to be able to bore through your skull and read the inside of your head. Emmy, or rather ‘Emerald Dreams’ as she had been named by her parents, looked to be about the same age as Sunny. She certainly seemed to think so, and the randy old bugger had been hunting him down with all the voraciousness of a starving manticore. In Emmy’s eyes, Sunny was a cute little bunny: all furry, soft, and absolutely delicious. To Sunny however, Emmy was most definitely classified as something to be avoided at all costs – the poor sod looked like he about to be devoured. Perhaps he was.

“Still living in that old house by yourself, dear?” she asked Sunny.

The target of her interest swallowed, staring straight ahead, “Yes!” he squeaked, “Thank you, Emmy. It’s fine though, really.”

“Now that I simply can’t believe.” Emmy clucked her tongue, floating a brush from her bag and then out of nowhere, began attacking a knot in Sunny’s mane, “Look at the state of you; anypony can see you don’t get proper care at home.” She shook her head, “Every stallion needs a good mare by his side, Sunny, I keep telling you that.”

“I know.” Sunny’s expression was a mask of tolerance with an undercurrent of barely restrained rage – or was that fear? “You keep telling me.”

“But do you listen?” Emmy clucked her tongue, “Of course not.” She leaned across to Runcy, “He won’t you know. I don’t know how many times I’ve offered to come and take care of him, but he’s so stuck in his ways it’s like trying to reason with a brick wall.” Runcy just smiled. “And what about our young friend here?” The mare extended a hoof which Trestle quickly took and kissed politely,

“Trestle Coalford, my lady.”

Emmy clopped her hooves together delightedly, “Now that’s how a stallion should behave around ladies!” She jabbed Sunny in the shoulder, “You could learn something from our Master Coalford, Sunny.” “Are you married, Master Coalford?” she added.

“Yes, my lady” Trestle replied politely.

“And foals?” Emmy suddenly shook her head, “No, no I wouldn’t imagine you have yet; far too
young. Far, far too young.”

Trestle caught Runcy’s gaze and blinked, “Um, I’m old enough to-”

“Excuse me?” A stallion behind them tapped Emerald on the shoulder. She huffed in annoyance and turned to face him,

“Yes?”

“Could you kindly move your cat somewhere else madam?” the tall fellow asked, “it’s blocking everyponies view of the throne.”

Emerald’s eyes went wide as she bristled in indignation, “My WHAT?!”

The stallion lifted a hoof, “It’s asleep on your hat, madam.”

Sunny cringed as the large mare beside him recoiled like a snake ready to strike and flushed scarlet with righteous fury, “Th…that’s not a cat, that’s pure Derrian Minx you blasted ignoramous, not some bloody mangy old moggy!”

“It looks like a stuffed cat, madam” the stallion observed, “And your hat’s dimensions are blocking the view of half of the attendees.”

“I don’t give a bloody toss!” Emerald span around in her chair, knocking away Sunny’s helpless attempts at restraining the wrathful creature, “Who the hell do you are, sir, to talk to a lady like that? I have a good mind to call the usher and have you thrown out!”

The stallion rolled his eyes, “I am the court usher, madam…”

“Oh, for bucks sake…” Sunny mumbled, but it was too late now, Emmy was away on one of her rants.

“Then you should jolly well know better young stallion!” she boomed, “You don’t ever, ever speak to mares in that course manner – it’s a bloody disgrace! Haven’t they taught you anything about proper etiquette in court? Of course not! It’s simply too much to ask for isn’t it? A little civility is far too much to expect from ponies these days, and to show respect for your elders? Perish the very thought! Back when I was a foal, mother used to teach us to-” Emmy clucked her tongue and brushed off Sunny’s hoof, returning to the usher, “to…oh bollocks, I’ve forgotten where I was. Right! Now, young stallion, I-” She gave herself a shake, “WHAT?!”

Sunny gave her a helpless look and motioned behind himself, his voice an anxious hiss, “Emmy, for the goddesses sake…!”

The princess stood stock still, staring along the row of seats, her deep azure eyes taking in every detail, every sound… 

Emmy swallowed and bobbed her head quickly, “Your Majesty.”

Princess Luna raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow quizzically before shrugging it off and ascended the stairs to the twin thrones. In her wake, the green coated mare flushed a remarkably vivid shade of red while around her silence, broken only by the occasional cough or creak of a chair, fell like the shroud of night over the assembled ponies as its mistress stood towering over them, her voice booming across the room, “Lords, ladies, ponies of Equestria, your princess bids thee greetings. It is with regret that we speak to thee without our sister present, however she has important matters of state to attend to that draw upon her time. Allow us to assure thee that she will be joining us as soon as she is able.”

The midnight mare cast her azure gaze across the assembled ponies, noting the general mutterings and undercurrent of concern. Why wasn’t Celestia here? ‘Important matters of state’? What was more important than attending the call to the lands nobility, a call she had made herself and now wasn’t even here?! Luna ruffled her wings, pulling the attention back from the low muttering that they probably thought she couldn’t hear. She smiled wryly to herself; nothing was hidden in a pony’s dreams…nothing. She nodded to the chancellor who approached the lecturn and gave it a tap with her hoof,

“AHEM!” The chancellor’s voice rolled out across the assembled ponies, “Item one on your agenda is regarding safety and security at the palace during your stay. Please refer to your handout which describes the locations of the various exits, fire escapes and toilets. If the alarm sounds, the assembly area is the sky chariot park which is the purple area on the site plan on page two.”

A hoof went up.

“Yes?”

The stallion looked a little embarrassed, “Erm, what is that archway thing? And why are there so many guards here? Are we in danger?”

The chancellor sighed, “Can you at least try to wait until I’ve finished the introduction?” The stallion blushed and sat back down, allowing the chancellor to pick up where she’d left off, “Thank you. AHEM! Now then, there will be a comfort break at ten o’clock where refreshments and snacks will be served in the grand hall. Please note that there is a limit of two sandwiches and one fruit juice, tea or coffee per pony. Make sure you get your hoof stamped or else you won’t be allowed back in. Lunch is at twelve thirty, with an afternoon break around three and-”

A hoof went up.

“Yes?”

“What sort of sandwiches are they?” somepony asked, “I can’t have cheese, I’m lactose intolerant.”

The chancellor leaned her forehead on her hoof, “Look, can we please just-”

“Is there gluten in the bread? I’m gluten intolerant.”

“What about nuts? I have an allergy you know.”

“I knew a mare who had that once. Ate a pie that had pine nuts in it and bang! Dead, just like that!”

“Do you think they have cakes? They had these lovely iced squares last time and-”

The chancellor banged her hoof on the lecturn, “IF I MAY CONTINUE?” Silence fell like a lead weight, “Any further interruptions will result in your expulsion from the court and there will be no sandwiches, no drinks and certainly no bloody cakes!” She paused and turned to the princess, “Sorry, Your Majesty.”

Luna shrugged, a little bemused by the situation, “Not at all. Please carry on, Chancellor.” Everypony focussed on the mare behind the lecturn as she treated them to her sternest gaze, “Now, if we’re all quite finished, we’ll begin the items of discussion first. The main items will be discussed later once Princess Celestia joins us.” That seemed to placate several of the more animated ponies in the audience as she ploughed on, “Lord Cobblestone’s proposal for the introduction of toll roads to cover highway improvements and maintenance. May I refer you all to appendix A in your documentation and annex one.” She nodded to a short well built deep blue stallion in the front row, “Lord Cobblestone, you have the floor.”

“Toll roads!” Sunny muttered. He turned to Runcy, “Greedy fat toad has been rolling in it since he snabbled the contract for the Las Pegasus highway.” He was careful to keep his voice down, but his eyes all but screamed what he really thought of the blue stallion as Lord Cobblestone began to put his proposals to the princess and the court. Meanwhile Trestle, his initial enthusiasm tainted by concern, was now finding his mind wandering off on paths of its own design instead of staying focussed on the debate – but it was so hard! Goddesses above, was it all going to be like this? Droning, boring ponies droning on about boring things for hour after interminable hour? The only memorable part of all of this was that at least he’d be able to say he’d seen the capital at long last, and the trip by ship and riverboat had been simply wonderful. He fought back the urge to yawn and tried to disguise it by rolling his shoulders. Trestle didn’t like sitting in chairs for long periods and preferred the more natural positions of either standing or lying down. Chairs felt artificial somehow, and as much as they were an accepted part of pony life now, he still enjoyed snuggling next to Illustria on their rug in front of the fire, especially on cold nights. He smiled to himself and took a sip of the water being passed around – no alcohol here! Still, he supposed that for a first visit this wasn’t too bad – so long as he could survive the intense boredom.

“Thank you, Lord Cobblestone, that was…riveting.” Luna’s words dripped heavily with sarcasm and was met with a single loud guffaw from one of the audience. “As always, thy voting slips will be available at the end of court and marked with the relevant topics for thee to decide aye or nay.” Luna took a deep breath and leaned towards the chancellor, “We are ready for the next topic.”

“Ah! Yes, of course Your Majesty.” The chancellor gave herself a shake and turned the page on her bundle of notes, “AHEM! Item three on the agenda: Effects of the combustion of fossil fuels upon public health.” She raised an eyebrow and motioned to a mare who was then passed some sort of magical amplification apparatus which she hung around her neck. “Lady Kibble Mill, you have the floor.”

Trestle’s ears perked up: fossil fuels? Coal? Public health? Wait a minute, this was his family’s livelihood! He felt his ears begin to burn as the tan coated mare with the nasal whining voice began. Within minutes of her opening statement wherein she acknowledged the benefits of coal and steam power for Equestria, she quickly changed tack and began reeling off the perceived risks not only to the health of ponies, but also to the environment when using such ‘dangerous’ fuels. Trestle’s mane bristled with indignation; who the bloody hell did she think she was?! His hooves were a blur as he leafed through the agenda, searching, trying to find the right page, and sure enough, there it was – a brief synopsis of Lady Kibble Mill’s ‘concerns’. Trestle’s eyes narrowed as he focussed on the slim creature, her voice grating on his now rapidly fraying nerves.

“…the weak, the sick, and the elderly, but it is the children who are the ones who are facing the greatest risk to their wellbeing, particularly when considering the increase in popularity of coal over more traditional wood fired and magical methods of heating and cooking.” The mare adjusted her spectacles and turned the page on her clipboard, “We must, as a people, try to see past the novelty of the black rock and look to cleaner and more sustainable methods for fuelling the ‘wheels of progress’ and keep Equestria clean from the foul plumes of smoke that are slowly choking our most precious assets – our own children – into an early grave.” Lady Kibble Mill tossed her mane and took a breath, “Our land is crying out to us, Your Majesty, crying out as the greedy corporates rape nature’s very body to bring us this black and sooty ‘future’ which-”

“WHAT A LOAD OF OLD BOLLOCKS!”

Lady Kibble Mill froze. With agonising slowness, every eye turned to focus on the tall black stallion standing near the front row; the stallion who was almost incandescent with rage. Now this was more like what they had really come to see!

“Who the bloody hell do you think you are?” the stallion bellowed, “Using children to try and justify your damned lies! I’ve a good mind to-”

“ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!” The chancellor’s voice boomed out across the vast room, her eyes locking onto Trestle like a hawk watching a potential meal, “Sit down sir!”

“I will not!” Trestle snapped, “This silly old bag hasn’t got a bloody clue what she’s talking about!”

The chancellor nodded to the usher who appeared behind him, his hoof gently pressing on his shoulder, “Please sir, you will have your chance to respond.”

Trestle span round, his eyes wide, “I…” and then, the moment passed. Realisation of what he had done, of where he had done it, flushed through his body as cold as ice water. Gently, the usher helped the unresisting black coated stallion back into his seat where two pairs of eyes stared at him in horror. Runcy looked like he was ready to throttle him and Lord Aura’s expression was one of incredulity. He’d crossed the line. Dear goddesses; his first time at the royal court and he’d made a public mockery of himself before the princess! He closed his eyes and wished for nothing more than the floor beneath him to swallow him up and get him away from that awful place.

Atop the podium, Princess Luna covered her mouth with her hoof and tried to disguise her mirth, but it was too late. Several of the audience had picked up on her amusement and giggling and titters were spreading outwards in a domino effect that had Lady Kibble Mill shaking in outrage. To her credit however, she carried on with her speech, but the impetus of it was now lost and the moment gone forever. Finally, defeated, she nodded to the chancellor and sat back down and accepted several conciliatory pats from her friends. 

Gradually, the chuckling faded away and the chancellor cleared her throat, “Lord Coalford, you wished to raise an objection to Lady Mill’s proposed bill?”

Trestle closed his eyes and took a breath. Celestia’s arse, this wasn’t happening! Why hadn’t he kept his big mouth shut?! Now his legs were shaking like jelly and his ears burning with embarrassment. What was- “Ow!” He leaned down and rubbed his hind leg, looking up into the eyes of Lord Runcy. The silver-grey stallion was nodded his head and motioning for the nervous young lord to stand and give his reply. Easy for him! The fellow was just sitting there and had the bloody cheek to kick him just because-

“Lord Coalford, if you do not wish to respond to Lady Mill then we shall move onto the next agenda item unless anypony else has…” She paused, a bemused smile crossing her face, “Thank you. The court recognises Lord Trestle Coalford of Equestrian Fossil Fuels.”

The black stallion, black as the coal his company drew from the ground and had, up until he was able to find a dry cleaners, stained his best suit, stood before the chancellor and the court, his heart hammering in his chest. Everypony was looking at him, every…single…one… He opened his mouth to speak but his heart felt as though it was choking him, his throat as dry as the desert. “Look at the chancellor, nopony else…” Runcy’s whisper broke the spell, and Trestle’s fears, if not so much disappeared, at least subsided to the point where he could speak.

“If it pleases the court…” he began, and froze. His voice, amplified by the device he hadn’t even noticed the usher place before him, sent his words crashing out around the court. As much as it surprised him, in some respects it was actually quite…empowering. Was that the word? Yes! Trestle gave himself a shake and began, “Your Majesty, Lords and Ladies of the court, my name is Trestle Coalford, the…” his words died in his chest.

“I’m sorry, Lord Coalford, please…continue.”

Trestle stared at the tall white mare, her wings, her horn, the deep red velvet dress studded with pearls and trimmed in black and white lace. It was then, right at that moment as he stared into those two purple orbs, he knew…he’d lost his heart. Celestia simply smiled at him and turned to her sister. 

“Um…I…” Trestle’s confidence winked out in an instant and he found himself propelled, firmly but not unkindly, back into his seat.

“Never mind lad, the main event is about to begin anyway.” Runcy gave his young friend a wink, “Now hush up and listen.”

Celestia and Luna were conversing on the podium, their words unheard by the massed ponies, but the expressions on their faces spoke volumes. There was something else too; Runcy had noticed it, so had Sunny judging by the glint in his eyes – it was her dress. Princess Celestia tended to wear a white, purple and gold flowing dress, but this…this was new. It gave the viewer the impression of timeless nobility, yet with a hint of hidden power. Whoever had designed this needed commending, it suited the princess…perfectly. Runcy sighed; poor Tres, he’d never met Celestia had he? The lad looked star struck, with eyes as wide as saucers. He couldn’t help but smile to himself – she’d had
that effect on him when he was Trestle’s age too. Princess Celestia: terrifying, powerful, and the very embodiment of equine beauty that even now, after so many years, still subtly pulled at Runcy’sheart. Goddesses forgive him, if Lark found out she’d flog the hide off him! Still, a peek around at the rest of the audience showed a sea of worshipping eyes that he’d long become accustomed too. He closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and listened.

“Lords and Ladies of Equestria,” Celestia began, “you will all no doubt be aware of the recent attack upon Canterlot and other outlying towns by the creatures we know as changelings.” The princess’s voice rolled out around the room, her eyes watching for any and all reactions to her
words, “I can assure you that the stories are true. An army of changelings lead by their leader, Queen Chrysalis, infiltrated the wedding, impersonated my niece Princess Cadence, and attacked the wedding party. Shortly thereafter, Canterlot itself was attacked – an attack that was repulsed through the bravery, strength and swift action of our armed forces, agencies, and of course the combined magical talents of my niece and her fiancé, the royal guard captain, Shining Armour.”

Runcy scrubbed his chin with a hoof and frowned. So, no mention of what had happened to her then, and no mention of Luna either. Apparently he wasn’t the only one thinking like this, If the background murmuring of the lords and ladies around him was anything to go by.

Celestia’s mane rippled in some unseen wind, “I would like to assure you all that steps have been taken to ensure that there will be no more undetected changeling incursions into Canterlot and that decisive steps have been taken to ensure our cities, towns and villages are similarly protected.”

A mare in the audience raised her hoof.

“The court recognises Lady Twist” the chancellor intoned.

“Princess Celestia, these….these ‘changelings’ were always considered to be monsters of legend, stories to tell each other on nightmare night. How is it that these things are here? Didn’t you know about them? And if so, why didn’t you take precautions to prevent them attacking Equestria?”

There was a general rumble of agreement.

Celestia bobbed her head acknowledging the question, “The changelings are a race from the beginning of time,” she explained, “a race which shared our world in peace and in harmony with nature. They were not always as you see now.” She nodded to one of the ushers and a projector screen lowered from the ceiling. Moments later, a pony standing further back in the hall slid a slide into his projector and the image of a changeling appeared on the screen, eliciting gasps and squeaks of fright from many of the assembled lords and ladies. “The changelings were once a people not unlike us, but then, the war of the three tribes changed everything. Magical weapons, the likes of which Equestria had never seen and I pray never will again, created a miasma of magically charged energy which settled in the valleys where the changelings lived, altering their bodies and warping their minds into the insect like beings you see today.” She nodded her head and the picture disappeared, “Todays changelings survive on emotional energy, draining it from their victims to sustain themselves.”

“They’re vampires!” Somepony shrieked, “Vampires are living amongst us!”

More mumbling and even some panicked voices began to rise, leading to the chancellor banging on her lectern for order. Gradually the noise began to ebb away and the princess continued, “Yes. They are a form of vampire, if you wish to use such archaic terms.” She raised a hoof, forestalling the
impending questions, “They do not kill, or at least, not intentionally. Only the sick, the weak, elderly and young are vulnerable to them and these are the ones we must concentrate our efforts on to protect.”

“Protect? We should be going on the offensive and taking the fight to them!” another stallion called
out.

Celestia nodded, “Yes. The changeling’s actions are undeniably an act of war against Equestria.” She raised her voice, letting her words sink in to the listening nobility, “But I can tell you, that Equestria is not ready for war. Peace has ruled here for a millennia and our people are not prepared for a conflict, especially one that would involve creatures that can morph their appearance into one that resembles us.”

A stocky red stallion stood up, his green and white mane bristling, “Princess Celestia, you say we are not prepared for conflict and it is all too obvious that we are not when an enemy as insidious as these monsters was allowed to walk right into the heart of our realm and attack our leaders!” He stomped his hoof angrily, “You admit you knew about these creatures and must have realised that there was a chance something like this could happen.”

Celestia nodded slowly, “You are correct Earl Caraway, I did know about them, but the changelings land was sealed away with powerful magic a long time ago. I did not anticipate they would escape their realm to attack us.” She raised an eyebrow, “However you are incorrect when you suggest we did nothing. The capital was surrounded by a magical repulsion field as a safeguard against the changelings.”

The stallion snorted loudly, “So you admit that you knew all along that these creatures, these ‘emotional vampires’, were sitting right on our doorstep and it was only magic that was holding them back?” He turned to the rest of the audience, “We all know about the fickle nature of magic, Your Majesty, and it seems incredible to me that you would risk your peoples safety by not taking proactive measures to ensure a more permanent solution to the problem.”

The princess narrowed her eyes, “And what ‘permanent solutions’ are you proposing, Earl Caraway?”

The Earl sniffed, “We all know the answer, princess, I don’t believe I need to spell it out.”

Celestia’s wings rustled with her rising irritation, “You speak of war, Earl Caraway, do you not? Tell me, have you ever been in one yourself? Have you ever thrust a sword into another living being and felt their blood spill across your hooves as you watch the light of life die in their eyes?” Several ponies looked distinctly pale as the princess continued, “You, and others like you, would plunge our homeland into a deadly slaughter the likes of which we have not seen in a thousand years. It would be a war where many innocent lives, hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives, would fall before a determined enemy. And what would you do then? Exterminate an entire race? Butcher foals, the
elderly, the sick and the weak?” The princess shook her head, “No. I have seen war, Earl Caraway, I have tasted of its bitter fruit far too many times and I will not subject my people to another needless and senseless slaughter.”

Runcy suddenly noticed his forehooves were digging into his hind legs and he shifted his weight, trying to make himself more comfortable. But, dear goddesses, the tension in the air here was palpable! If he didn’t know better he’d think the world sat on a knife edge and could tumble at any moment into the madness of war with an enemy that could be standing beside you and you would never know! He took a breath and listened as Celestia continued…

“Some of you will no doubt have heard of the recent ‘expedition’ into changeling territory. I can tell you now that as a result of that, the changeling Queen, Chrysalis, has agreed to come to peace talks and find common ground between our nations. It is my hope that we can come to an understanding between us that will lead to a lasting peace for all Equestrians.”

“UNDERSTANDING?!” Somepony roared. A yellow stallion with a silver and blue mane jumped to his hooves and neighed angrily, making several nobles sitting near him back away in fright, “You think we can come to an understanding with creatures that survive by sucking the emotions from ponies? This is…this is madness!”

Another stood up, “The changelings have shown us that they cannot be trusted, Celestia, they see us as nothing but a food source and will turn our home into a wasteland of death!”

“Order! ORDER!” the chancellor banged on her lecturn, her eyes flicking to the guards at the sides of the hall. “If you cannot control yourselves from these outbursts you will be ejected from the palace. Do I need to remind you, you are in the presence of the princesses of Equestria and you will show them the respect they deserve!”

A hoof went up and the chancellor took a breath, calming herself before announcing, “The court recognises Lord Sunshine Aura.”

Runcy turned his head to see his friend standing up and nodding politely to the princess who bobbed her head in return, “Your Majesty, I for one can understand the concerns raised by the ponies here today. Rumours of the attack on the palace, and upon your own personage, have sent shockwaves of fear across the country. May I ask, how can you be certain that the changelings will abide by any treaties when they have shown that they are willing to openly attack a peaceful country with no provocation nor forewarning?”

The princess closed her eyes and took a breath before settling her wings by her side. “We do not.” Voices suddenly began to be raised with occasional shouts and arguments breaking out amongst the audience. “But it is all we can do, as we have do not have any other choice, Lord Aura.” Celestialifted her head high, her voice resonating out around the throne room, “Listen to me, ponies of Equestria! The changeling queen has agreed to a truce while talks continue. This does not mean however, that we will be complacent whilst this is happening. Our armed forces have been mobilised and are being modernised as we speak. Do not think for even a moment that we are naïve and will allow such a terrible act to be forgotten so quickly. No, we are, and shall, be taking appropriate measures to protect our people and as such we ask that all of you cooperate in this undertaking.” She spread her wings suddenly and nodded towards the door, “Now, lords and ladies
of Equestria, I believe tea is being served. We shall resume in one half hour.” And with that, the princess of the sun, followed by her sister, the princess of the night, left the room to a shocked nobility.

Sunny slapped his hind leg, “Well, time for some grub boys,” he suddenly grimaced, “And ladies, naturally.”

“Humph!” Emerald sniffed and stepped down from her chair, “You ‘boys’ can go and do whatever it is ‘boys’ do; I’m off to powder my muzzle. Good day to you.” With a toss of her mane, the green coated mare barged her way into the flow of ponies heading into the grand hall and the waiting legions of serving staff and long tables full of food and drink.

Trestle watched her go and opened his mouth to speak, quickly closing it when he caught Runcy’s warning glance.

“Looks like old Emmy’s still got a thing for you old fellow.” Runcy grinned, “Still got it, eh?”

Sunny huffed, “Huh! You can bloody well keep it as far as I’m concerned.” He waited until the majority of the ponies had left before slipping through a side door and into what appeared to be a relatively small chamber lined with books on Equestrian law, a large table, chairs, and much to Runcy and Trestle’s surprise, an array of buffet snacks and beverages. The old stallion waggled his eyebrows, “Dig in chaps, we’ve only got an hour remember.”

Runcy stared at the platters and shook his head in disbelief, “How…?”

Sunny shrugged past a half eaten sandwich, “Friends in high places my boy.” He swallowed, “the circle have members everywhere, not just the ones you saw on the ship.”

“Do the princesses know about this?” Runcy asked.

Sunny plucked another sandwich, waving to one of the larger platters, “You really ought to try the burdock snaps, they’re my favourite of the lot.”

“Sunny!”

“Oh, pooh!” Sunny gave his friend an exasperated look, “How should I know? Maybe? Who cares?” He chugged back a mouthful of the apple cider and shivered, “Delicious!” Catching Runcy’s expression he groaned, “Look, Runcy, I don’t know…honestly. Some of the circle arrange these areas for circle members so we can chat without being overheard by the rest of the noseybonks out there.”

“And we just so happen to have this room arranged for us.” Runcy took a breath and slowly let it out, trying to keep his mind focussed, “It’s not just for us though is it?”

The door opened behind them.

Sunny smiled, “Nope.”

A familiar blue coated stallion walked in, his short black mane slicked back and perfectly formed. Lord Nadir, Weather Well, Primus Pilus of Veritas, walked in as though it were his own home. Politely, he passed his jacket to a familiar looking mare and took his seat while the terracotta mare looked on with an absent smile that made Runcy’s blood run cold. Barbary Nights – he never could seem to get away from her, even here.

“How are you finding your first day at the palace?” Lord Nadir asked Trestle who was suddenly looking decidedly green, “A little different from what you are used to I’ll wager.”

“Y…yes, sir!” Trestle blurted.

Barbary tittered demurely and poured Lord Nadir a drink. Nodding to her, the blue stallion continued, “I noticed your…shall we say, forthright manner with Lady Mill.” He smiled absently, “Novel, I’ll grant you, but perhaps not the most elegant way of dealing with her.”

“You have to admit it was effective” Sunny interjected. He lifted his drink and cocked his head towards Trestle, “Lad’s a bit rough around the edges, but he has energy and drive, Weather, and that’s something we’ll need.”

“Indeed.” Lord Nadir closed his eyes and sighed in pleasure at the sensation of the alcohol slipping down his throat. The cider, a finely refined version of the more common or garden variety served in the outlying villages left a pleasant tingle on the palate and refreshed the senses. He turned his deep brown gaze on Runcy, “So, do you have any thoughts, Lord Runcy?”

Runcy grimaced. He knew all too well what the primus was referring to and it was something he’d hoped to avoid talking about. However, by the looks of things here it was unlikely he’d be able to escape back into the throne room early – the trap had well and truly been sprung and he’d walked right into like a blundering buffoon. “The princess confirmed she’s in talks with the changelings” he said levelly. Runcy closed his eyes and fought back the urge to give his anger free reign, “She also said that she would ensure Equestria was protected and that the armed forces are updated. Goddesses know how much that needs doing, but how long is all this going to take?”

“Our estimates are between one and two years” Lord Nadir answered levelly, “Three at the outside. Our factories are producing magical weapons as quickly as possible, however due to the fine calibration needed for the focussing crystals it’s a time consuming process and cannot be rushed. Training the soldiers to use them of course is another matter altogether. You know yourself that the royal guard are more of a ceremonial hang over from yesteryear whereas the army have been reduced to a glorified customs and excise force with more in common with the village watch than anything approaching an actual fighting force.”

Runcy closed his eyes, trying to fight back the outrage he could feel bubbling up from deep within him. To think…to think that everything Golden had worked for, that ponies had fought and died for, had lead them to this point. It was a disgrace. He slugged back his cider and slammed the cup down on the table, “The princess has said that she will protect Equestria, Lord Nadir, and I have faith in her to be able to do this.”

The blue stallion watched Runcy in silence, noting his discomfort, the way he flicked his mane and tail when he was agitated. He smiled. “Your faith in our beloved princess is admirable, Lord Runcy, admirable indeed.” He lifted a hoof for Barbary to pour him another drink, “I do need to ask you though; what is it that gives you that faith?” At Runcy’s wide eyed stare, he raised a hoof, “Please, do not think that I doubt her majesty, far from it, it is just that…I have concerns.”

“What concerns?” Runcy asked, narrowing his eyes, “I don’t like the way this is going, Primus.”

Lord Nadir shook his head, “And neither do I brother, neither do I.” The blue stallion tapped the table and smiled his thanks as his drink arrived, “You know of course of the so called ‘elements of harmony’?”

Runcy nodded, “Who hasn’t. A group of hormonal teenagers with magical powers that they were gifted by the princess.”

“Indeed.” Lord Nadir smiled and bobbed his head in acknowledgement, “Six fillies, entrusted with a power capable of banishing an alicorn. A power, I might add, that her majesty was able to control by herself during the war with Nightmare Moon.”

Runcy took a sandwich and bit into it thoughtfully, “I expect she has her reasons” he reasoned, “What does this have to do with the changeling threat? From what I can gather, although the girls were present it was the royal guard captain and Princess Cadence who used magic to repel the invaders.”

“It was.” Lord Nadir said confidently, “But you will notice there was no mention of what had happened to Celestia during this time, nor where Luna was, correct?”

“Yes,” Runcy agreed, “you told me already that the changeling queen had… ‘defeated’ the princess, yet even if that were true, she appears healthy and strong now. The changelings have been pushed back and the army is being remobilised. These are all good things, Nadir, and we should not be second guessing the princess.”

Weather Well shook his head with a knowing smile, “Nopony is Runcy, nopony at all. As a loyal and devoted subject of her majesty, I consider it my duty to do whatever I can to help our people to thwart this threat and I would encourage any loyal citizen of Equestria to do the same.”

“What’s your point, Primus.” Runcy asked. He was beginning to feel distinctly uncomfortable under the brown eyed gaze of this pony, regardless of his standing as Primus in Veritas.

“My point, Lord Runcy,” Nadir explained, “Is that Celestia, as much as we love her, as much as she was able to defeat the Legion and Nightmare Moon, not to mention her role in the war of the three tribes and the defeat of King Sombra…she is no longer the powerful goddess of Equestria she once was.” He paused, hanging his head, “There is a reason she has passed such magical power to those girls… It is because she no longer has the strength to wield them herself.”

“What a load of hogwash!” Runcy spat, half rising from his seat, “Just because she doesn’t confide everything to her subjects doesn’t mean she’s become senile, nor some doddering old mare.”

“Really? Giving six children a power strong enough to take down a goddess strikes you as reasonable behaviour does it?” Nadir asked. Runcy opened his mouth to reply, but the blue stallion was there first. “When was the last time the princess wielded power, Runcy? When? Shall I tell
you?” Runcy said nothing. “You should know,” the blue stallion said, his voice rising, “it was the time of your ancestor – Golden Spoon.”

“That was a thousand years ago!” Runcy snapped, “A hell of lot has happened since then!”

“Yes!” Lord Nadir said loudly, “A thousand years of negotiations, of peace accords, trade deals, building and administration.” He banged a hoof, “Where was Celestia when Nightmare Moon returned? Where was Celestia when Chrysalis infiltrated the wedding? There are more examples, Runcy, many, many more. Each time the princess has had to delegate any direct action to others, and now she has found a successor in a young mare, a filly name Twilight Sparkle. I believe you know this unicorn?”

Runcy frowned in thought. He’d heard of the girl, certainly, but…she was one of Celestia’s favoured students wasn’t she? Lark had mentioned her but he hadn’t really been listening and all he could really remember was… “She’s a librarian who lives in a tree” he said with sniff, “Hardly
what I would call a protégé of the princess of Equestria.”

Nadir banged his hoof on the table, “Exactly!” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes catching the light filtering through the window, “And there is more, Runcy, one more piece of the puzzle, one more little fragment of truth that the princess would not tell even her favourite student.” He leaned
forward and met Runcy’s gaze, “Celestia lost a portion of her magic after the second battle of River
Valley.”

Runcy swallowed. Taking a breath, he tried to clear his racing mind, “And you know this for a fact? How?”

“Show him.” Nadir raised a hoof towards Barbary.

The mare balked, “But, Weather, you said-”

“I said show him!” Lord Nadir raised himself up, his tail swishing from side to side. It was the most animated Runcy had ever seen him, “He is a noble of this country, Barbary, and the descendant of a line of Equestrian warriors who fought and died to defend what we hold so dear in our hearts.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, settling himself back down in his chair. “He has earned the right, through blood, and through steel.”

Runcy’s heart was in his throat. What was going on here? Why was… “Oh!” He looked down at the old book before him on the table, “What…what is this?” Gingerly he reached out and traced the faded embossed gold wording on the front :

VESCERE BRACIS MEIS

“My ancient Equestrian isn’t all it could be” Runcy breathed uncertainly, staring at the words, “Bracis means ‘trousers’ I think and Meis is ‘yourself’, or my own. Vescere…I’m not sure…I keep thinking it has something to do with consumption.” He looked up, “Do you know?”

“Open it” Sunny said lifting a hoof, “The first page will tell you all you need to know.”

Runcy did as he was instructed, and carefully, gingerly, opened the dogeared and worn book. The words here, protected from most of the ravages of time and wear by its thick cover, were written in modern Equestrian. He cleared his throat and read:

This book belongs to Starswirl the Bearded, Magister of the Arcane Arts, Illuminator of the unknown and Court Mage to her majesty Princess Celestia.

If found, please return to Canterlot palace and ask for the court mage’s quarters. Leave it in the letterbox beside the door together with your name and address and you will be sent a signed picture as a reward.

Failure to do so will result in vaporisation.

“Vaporisation?” Runcy said, pulling his hoof away hurriedly.

Barbary smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ve had it tested and the magical wards have faded over time. Well, there was that one incident involving Peggy, but we can always buy her a new cat.”

Runcy blinked and stared at the book, apparently a diary belonging to the royal mage from the time of the war with the Legion and felt his mane begin to twitch. This would have been from around the time Golden Spoon was alive. She had mentioned the mad old wizard in her own diaries, but to hear of that ancient world from another perspective would be…fascinating. He subconsciously licked his lips in anticipation. “Perhaps…I may read more of this later?”

“Of course” Lord Nadir smiled and held out his hoof in invitation, “I believe Lord Aura can summarise it well enough for us however, as I am aware we are running out of time before court resumes.”

Sunny cleared his throat, “The princess appears to have been afflicted with something Starswirl refers to as a ‘darkening of her soul’. Somehow this ‘darkness’ was removed from the princess and concentrated into a crystal which was then subsequently lost during a battle with a dragon over what we know today as the Everfree forest.”

Runcy sat back in his chair and took a sip of his drink, “You believe this ‘darkness’ has something to do with Celestia’s loss of power?”

“It is quite clearly recorded in the book before you” Nadir said gravely, “You understand now don’t you Runcy, why the princess did not divulge this to the public? You also understand why she has given over the control of the elements of harmony to this Twilight Sparkle and her friends?”

Runcy shook his head, “So if this is true, with the loss of the crystal she lost a part of herself? A dark part perhaps, but a part nonetheless.” He rubbed her forehead and sighed, “I expect she chose the girls as she was able to mould them into a weapon she could use indirectly.”

“That is our belief” Sunny said sadly, “When Lord Nadir told me, I didn’t want to believe it. After all, who wants to believe that the living embodiment of everything that is good, strong and noble in our world, has lost the power she once had.”

Barbary leaned forward, her scent wafting across Runcy’s nose invitingly, “It’s our fault, Run. All of it. We put all of our trust and faith in one mare and she has done so much for us already - so, so much. For thousands of years she has been our sword and our shield. Now, we must be hers.”

“But what any of this to do with me?” Runcy asked, “You tell me all this, you confide in me, but I’m just one pony, what can I do?”

Lord Nadir nodded, “You can stand with us when the time comes, Lord Runcy, that is all. It is all we would ask of any son or daughter of Equestria.”

Runcy sat up, his heart hammering in his chest, “But stand for what?” he asked, “What can we do?”

Sunny placed a hoof reassuringly on Barbary’s as he explained, “A war is coming, Runcy, a war we cannot avoid. Be it next week, next month, or ten years from now, war will come.”

“With whom? The changelings?” Runcy asked.

Sunny nodded, “Celestia is trying to negotiate with them, but we have seen what they can do, and what they are willing to do. Negotiating, appeasement, none of it will not work in the long term. Earl Caraway may be a blowhard, but even that buffoon can see what others can see all too well. The changeling kingdom is dying, and they need to feed. They have managed to slip the chains holding them back and as heavy a blow as they have been dealt, they will recover, they will learn, and they will be back.” He shook his head, “And goddesses help us when they do.”

“But, I don’t understand.” Runcy breathed, “What do you expect me to-”

Lord Nadir reached out and pushed the diary towards Runcy. His eyes were full of sadness, full of regret, “Take this as a token of our trust, Runcy. Do not tell anypony of this, nor trust anypony, not even in the circle.” He nodded towards the sleeping Trestle, “Not even your dozing friend.” Nadir nickered quietly, “Be aware Runcy, that there are those who seek to thwart our plans and will do everything in their power to destroy our world, and all that our ancestors built for us.” He raised an eyebrow, “You have already met one of them on the passage to Canterlot, have you not?”

Runcy swallowed, “I…yes.” Dear goddesses, how did they know about that?

“I would tell you not to listen to them, Runcy, but you are no fool. You know yourself, in your heart as well as your head, that trust has to be earned, not given and not coerced.” Lord Nadir stood up from the table and looked up at the clock, “Time to return I think. We shall leave by the other door. Oh, and Runcy?” Runcy looked up. “Take care, brother.”

Runcy felt suddenly sick, “Yes…thank you, brother.”

Trestle stirred from his chair and blinked away the sleep from his eyes, “Huh?”

“You nodded off my boy!” Sunny chirped, “Galloping alicorns, somepony of my age has an excuse, but you’re just a youngster! Come on, let’s get ourselves back out there or they’ll wonder where we’ve wandered off to and send out the search parties.”

Runcy held the door open and followed his friends out into the crowd filing back into the throne room, the words of the pony on the ship’s deck humming in his ear…

“Your friend is lying to you.”