Stories in Stone
Tip of the Scale
By TDR
[Canterlot]
“So how are they?” Celestia asked quietly as she sipped her tea.
“Surprisingly well given the extent of their injuries. The little Dragon is relatively unharmed. Major Kaisur, sorry, General Kaisur suffered a number of nasty injuries, but he is up and walking again already.” Luna explained sitting across the table from her sister looking over the reports.” I am seriously doubting he is a real Pony with all that has happened to him up til this point.”
“I do hope the rapid promotions do not go to his head, but if he keeps doing things like this we might need to invent new ranks for him to aspire too. Or we just name him a prince.” Celestia smirked as even Luna chuckled a little at that.” And Miss Scale?”
“The doctors thought she had died at least three times during the surgeries. She may have well succumbed if not for the intervention of Queen Velkorn. As it stands at least thirty percent of her bones have been broken or out right shattered, one lung was been punctured by a rib and she will have a great deal of scarring across her entire left side where the Dragon's claws hit her.” Luna listed. “With the damage she sustained I would dare say there was no way she should have been able to keep singing after the impact against the wall, but there are numerous accounts swearing the song did not stop until the Dragon was killed. Both Bleu and General Kaisur have said the same and the pair have been spending as much time with her as they can. The doctors are a little annoyed at this point by having to work around the pair. But it is not doing her any harm and after the General bounced an orderly down the hall who attempted to physically remove Bleu all of them are too scared to even try at this point.”
“And how do you feel about her?” Celestia asked refilling her tea cup.
“Given the nature of the attack and what we were able to decern out of Claymore, Rhede is quite skilled in that sort of thing mind you, we were able to find that the Flame party was largely involved, but also that we have some traitors here in Canterlot.“ Luna continued as if trying to force Celestia to a particular topic. “Rhede was quite insistent that the Order played a hoof in this. The few members we have arrested squealed like stuck Orcs and we have a laundry list of nobles to interrogate now.”
“Really? Well you seem to have that under control. Also that is not what I asked you.”Celestia smirked.
“I am getting to that. ”Luna snorted. “We owe the three of them a great deal as their contributions to the defense of the wall likely saved us from an outright invasion. Had Dullahan fallen it would have made a perfect staging point for an attack where we are the weakest with no natural defenses and nothing but farmland straight to Canterlot......”
“Lulu.....”
“Fine, I am rather excited that she survived. I was only witness to one of her performances and that there is now a chance to do so again is a great relief.” Luna rolled her eyes.” That said I have not had the chance to speak with her much since she is recovering. Why do you ask?”
“Because I think she might be what we were waiting for.” Celestia smiled. “Particularly with how well she seems to get along with our new General.”
[Canterlot Hospital]
“.... So they had him executed?” Platinum asked from her bed, opening her mouth for the small spoonful of mush that she was allowed to eat, and that Jer'rahd insisted he feed her.
“Yeah, really after a betrayal of that magnitude I doubt they would have done anything else.” Jer'rahd commented, resting in a chair at the side of her bed. “It's not something that happens very often, but with how many died and how close we were to losing there likely wasn't another option. Evidently the information he gave up under questioning was far more than expected and the tribunal had him put to death immediately.”
Jer'rahd had been out cold for about two weeks and the moment he woke up he had to be restrained from marching all the way up here to where Platinum was, two floors up in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He had blacked out upon reaching her door for another week after that and when he came to again he had been moved to the room next to hers simple because his first attempt had opened a number of his injuries as well as causing a number of new ones on the staff that tried to stop him.
“Couldn't have happened to a nicer pony.” Bleu grumbled from where she was curled up at the foot of the bed.
Jer'rahd looked around the rather empty room with a small sigh, as he scooped up some more of the mashed oats, the spoon held in his magic. Aside from the flowers and a few other gifts he and Bleu had brought her, and the rather sizable pile of things from various fans, there was nothing from any of Platinum's family. He had sent word to them weeks ago and had not received any sort of response.
He had asked Bleu about it and the little Dragon told him not to bother. Platinum was some what estranged from her family. Her parents and the rest of the Scale family were accountants or were fully involved in money. The one black sheep that wanted to go into singing was largely written off.
Having dealt with the Bluebloods Jer'rahd could understand how one part of the family might ignore another part, but not how some one could simply give up their foal for doing something they loved, let alone ignore the fact their daughter had been grievously injured.
He tried discussing it with Platinum though she seemed dismissive of it, as if it was something that no longer bothered her. Still she hadn't wished to talk about it further and he hadn't pressed.
“Heh, I suppose not.” Jer'rahd responded to Bleu as he offered a last spoonful to Platinum, his ears perked as there was a knock at the door. “Ahh that should be them.”
“Them who?” Bleu asked lifting her head.
“Couple of friends of mine. One of them is a fan of yours Bleu.” Jer'rahd chuckled. “Come in!”
The door opened admitting a large red Earth pony wearing the large red robes of a Royal Ambassador. A Zebra mare with a pair of large saddle bags covered with pouches marked with various medical patches of several dozen different cultures and races. And a gray Pegasus mare dressed in Guard blues who seemed rather annoyed..
Platinum looked up from there bed where she was wrapped in a number of bandages with an iv or three in one arm.
“Platinum, Bleu. This is Rhede Pelt, Velkorn, and Starfall Silvertail.” Jer'rahd waved a hoof, pointing to each in turn as he spoke. “Guys, these are Platinum and Bleu Scale.”
“Charmed.” Rhede smiled.
“Hey.” Starfall chimed in.
“We have met before when you were barely there, tis nice to see you again as an intact mare.” Velkorn added.
“You're friends with the Queen of the Zebralands, her adviser, and the mare who preformed a sonic rain boom?” Platinum muttered glancing at Jer'rahd as Bleu simple stared at the trio.
“The idiot here also has the ears of both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Given he's been made one of Luna's five Generals.“ Starfall added with an eye roll as Jer'rahd sighed rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof.
“I am not comfortable with that promotion.” Jer'rahd muttered.
“Yes well too bad Jer, you got it. With what's coming they needed a fifth and no other pony has done anything remotely like what you've done.” Rhede smirked.
“Damn Boss, you do know how to pick them.” Bleu whistled looking back at Jer'rahd and Platinum as both ponies turned a bit red.
“ I trained him well.” Rhede grinned.
“This was not the introduction I had in mind.” Jer'rahd sighed.
[ Seven months later]
“Score?” Jer'rahd growled.
“Twenty seven to five, she's kicking yer flank across the field.” Bleu chuckled.
“Again.” Jer'rahd grumbled.
“Much as I enjoy smacking you around Jer'rahd. Haven’t you had enough for one day?” Starfall asked
.
“I've had worse.”
“I'd say you lie, but I saw you at Camp Geode, not to mention how you looked coming back from Dullahan. Fine, I figure I have a few more rounds in me.” Starfall grind. “ After all how many ponies can say they can knock the crap out of the Demon of Dullahan consistently?”
“ Don't call me that and just start already Starfall. Not like there is much else to do while waiting for what ever we are supposed to be doing.” Jer'rahd grumbled.
“Fine, you asked for it.” Starfall grinned.
Platinum giggled a little as the pair started sparing again. She was a lot better now, though Velkorn was rather insistent that she stay off her hooves for a while longer yet and not engage in any sort of exercise. Bleu had of coursed chimed in that the plan was to wait until marriage any way for any real exercise, which brought a blush to her face and a smile to the Zebra.
Still she supposed she was part of this little group now. The ESO was pretty much a lost cause. Most of the performers had been killed and it was getting hard to find any one who wanted to risk preforming with the organization with the talk of war running rampant.
Still her survival kept the group alive, or rather who her new contacts were. She had met both Princesses, not for the first time, but this had been on a more personal level. She had been visited by Princess Luna and had played chess with Princess Celestia. Well more she had played keep Bleu from eating the gem stone chess set that Princess Celestia played with, but it had been nice. Celestia had even agreed to increase the ESOs funding as a favor to her. That more than anything else kept the relief group going even if the entertainment part was currently mothballed. She was quite thankful for that at least.
She was not quite as thankful for the nickname the press had given her and Jer'rahd.
The Demon of Dullahan, had a nice ring too it, but he seemed upset by it so she didn't bring it up much.
Particularly since her new nickname gained a similar disapproval from her.
The Siren of Dullahan.
Clearly whoever coined that nickname had not paid attention in school. Sirins were mythical seapony like creatures that lured early mariners to their deaths until they were banished by Starswirl the Bearded. It bothered her a little to think such history was forgotten, but she also had to remind herself that she had been a member of Celestia's School for a little while and even afterward her education was the best bits could buy until she decided to be a singer.
She winced as Starfall trounced Jer'rahd again, a small smirk crossing her face as Bleu laughed.
“Honestly I thought you told me you were a skilled fighter.” Platinum called out.”All I’m seeing is a mare smaller than you bounce you around the field like you just learned which end of the sword was pointy.”
Jer'rahd glared over to Platinum where she sat in the wheel chair a look of hurt indignation on his face as she stuck her tongue out at him. Starfall just laughed.
Platinum teased him yes, but watching the two of them fight she was in awe, a bit scared, and a little depressed. Some of the things these two were doing were far beyond anything she had even heard of. Multiple shields, a swarm of weapons, Starfall could move fast enough to look like she was in two places at once. Jer'rahd broke countless training blades with the strength of his swing, no matter if he was using magic, his teeth or even his tail.
These were very dangerous ponies, and she felt a little upset that she was no where near this skilled at anything save maybe singing, yet she had never felt safer or more appreciated before in her life than she was with them. Save maybe Rhede she caught that stallion looking at her flank far too often.
“Hehe don't crush his ego too hard boss, I don't think he's got much left after this.” Bleu chimed in.