//------------------------------// // Ch.2-His War // Story: Chronicles of Arche // by Spellbounder //------------------------------// Several days had gone by since what could only be described as “the Royal Wedding Massacre.” Although casualties were small, nothing fatal, some ponies required a magical cleanser to rejuvenate themselves after nearly having all love sucked from their bodies by the changeling menace. Property damage was a major issue. It seemed like all of Canterlot just went through a tornado. Except instead of rain water pouring through the skies, it was a descending plague of bugs on four hooves. Admiral Arche decided to examine the damage, taking a stroll through the city streets alongside two of his guards. He tended to do a similar routine while in the East, scanning the aftermath of battlefields to find a possible clue to work to their own strategic advantage when the next battle were to come. Suddenly halting to a stop, Arche feels something underneath his front hoof. It was a newspaper, with Celestia on the cover of it. Levitating it with his magic, he gazed upon the front page text labeled “Can’t keep her down.” It appears the main story was of the Royal Alicorn’s recent physical since the Wedding. The thought alone made Arche’s teeth grind in anger. He was within the pews of guests when Chrysalis revealed herself. How she easily overpowered Celestia when their magics collide. He couldn’t remove that monstrous queen’s decayed smirk as she prepared her invasion. Arche hoped to one day deal with her in a similar fashion to that of the changeling prisoner he had killed. His eye widens, remembering exactly what he did to that bug. After beating the life out of it, he claimed to his guards that it was all in self defense, and that there was no need to alert the princess. That was the first time in his military career he lied to his comrades. But what choice did he have? What other decision was necessary to deal with these vermin. They were savage creatures, nothing more. Death was the only solution. Of course, there was no way he could explain this to Celestia without winding up in mental care, or worse, a sentence within the dungeons. No, he shouldn’t think of such things, shaking his head in disbelief and crumbling up the newspaper. Arche had no regrets, it was the right thing to do. If he had to, he’d do it again, even if no pony understood. After examining fang marks from hospitalized ponies in hospitals, Arche was glad to report in his findings that even the deepest of bites from these changelings weren’t fatal, no matter if it was from the back or vital as the neck. But that slight glimpse of good news was quickly met with disappointment. Changelings tend to become more viscous and wild as they aged. This could mean that the beasts of the royal wedding massacre were no short of child’s play to how true monsters act. The changelings Arche had dealt with in the Eastern Regions mostly stayed in their hives, which kept them alive for so long. Arche remembered an encounter a few months back, how he had to flush the beasts out into the opening by striking their hive from above with spears. If not for Arche’s small squad of pegasus, pony casualties would be beyond comprehension. As he made his way out of the hospital, gazing upon his notes on patient bite marks, Arche thought back of Celestia’s word to him before the wedding. Retire? How absurd, especially after something like this. Thinking back of what he believed in destiny, Arche saw the incident at the wedding as a sign that his war with these beasts was just the beginning. No doubt Chrysalis is planning her revenge, breeding an army the size to which no pony could imagine. No, retirement was out of the question, and he planned to make that for certain once meeting with Celestia again. “Arche? Good heavens, I wondered where you’ve been all this time. Last I heard was your report about the fleeing changelings, then you just disappear. You didn’t even show up to the reception, didn’t you?” Arche lets out a quiet sigh, rubbing his eyes with his hoof. He already knew this wasn’t going to end well. “Princess, Canterlot was attacked, I had to take action. A party wasn’t the proper solution for me.” “Arche, it wasn’t the party that concerns me, it was Shining. Before he left for his honeymoon, he mentioned your name. When I told him you were at the ceremony, he nearly had a heart attack.” “For goodness sake, the child had been through enough. There was no need for him to-“ “He thought you were dead.” There was a slight silence in the room. Arche and the princess simply locked gazes, unsure what to say next before the stallion finally managed to break the ice. “Well….again, he was stressed beyond belief. You didn’t have to mention I was there.” “He didn’t expect you to come, but once I told him, he simply couldn’t control himself. The poor thing was ready to call in a search party when I told him about your report.” “I never even wanted to go. I saw no point in going until the changelings revealed their ugly heads in your castle. I was doing my job, nothing more. I’ve gathered intel from the streets of the changeling attacks and have verified possible hive locations around the outskirts of Canterlot. With your permission I will send my troops to-“ “What are you doing?” “PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME!” Another silence, this time caused by Arche. He took a few breaths and bowed to Celestia in apology. The old stallion never imagined he’d speak out of tone to her majesty. “Forgive me, Princess Celestia, a thousand pardons. I…I don’t know what came over me. I…I had no right to…to…” He feels her hoof on his shoulder, looking up with his one good eye at her glowing stature. Her colorful mane flowing with ease. Arche never could tell how it did that. The princess smiles, stroking Arche’s mane. “Its alright, just calm down. I was out of place as well. I didn’t mean to interrupt you, but I couldn’t help but notice how you’re even more tense than when we last spoke all those days ago. I thought you were now retired, Admiral.” Arche looks down, head still in a spin before looking back up at the princess. “I can’t….there’s no way. Especially now, with what we endured on that day. You are but few ponies who know of my past. What I endured….by those….those filthy creatures.” “Breathe……just breathe…..I remember…..it was the day we officially were acquainted…..and I personally rewarded you with your medal of honor for your service that day. I understand your pain, blaming yourself for what happened to those close to you, but all you’re doing is hurting yourself, Arche. You have been ever since that day.” “I….I think about them constantly……every night…..when I close my eye to sleep, its as if I can still feel my right eye…just before…before its cut by their fangs…” “You always fought proudly under my command. But the past has consumed you, and the wedding….the wedding didn’t make things any easier. I never wanted you or any pony to go through that fear. I promise you that things will be better, but you have to let others continue your battles, Admiral. I can’t force you to retire, but I’m truly hoping you’ll consider. You deserve a better life than this.” He sighs and begins to make his leave. Arche looks back at a concerned Celestia, their gazes connected once more as he nears the large castle doors once again. “We were at war, I had no choice then. It continues to this day, and I won’t stop until the job is done. I can’t stop……its just not in my nature.” Arche had finally left Canterlot that day, as he continued to look over his notes as the train made its way for the small town of Ponyville.