Broken Bonds

by keithsterling


Chapter 4

Its a few weeks later, 350 meters long Imperator Alicorn designed carrier class warship glides through a star-formed nebula on the border of Horsehead Nebula Star Sector on routine patrol. In the cavernous belly of this steel space ship, divided by levels, were numerous Aerospace fighter crafts of different styles. The flight crew moves about each level effortlessly doing routine maintenance on the crafts as the pilot lends a hand to maintain their crafts to be battle ready.

In the Captain’s quarters, on the bridge deck of ‘The Stellar Eclipse’ carrier class warship, Royal Shogun Justice Silverlight looks through a porthole as the stars zoom by. After his Great Grandmother, Empress Galaxy learned that her great grandson Justice regained some of his memories, she felt that by sending him on his routine military duties, it might spark more of his memories to return and bring him closer to regain all of them. A moment later, chimes ring on the door of the Captain’s quarter getting Justice’s attention.

“Come in!” Justice calls as the sliding door whooshes open.

Walking through the door, was an alluring cool, gray, colored imperator Alicorn mare with a red orange mane and tail. Her toned 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a peach colored form-fitting space suit with knee high boots on her bare feet. Folded on her back were silver bio-mechanical feathered bird wings. This Imperator Alicorn was Galactic Knight Clio Quasar, an Imperator Alicorn Space Forces Specialist and Justice’s first officer aboard the ‘Stellar Eclipse’.

“Good evening Justice. May I join you?” Clio inquires politely as she bows to Royal Shogun Justice.

“You may Clio. Did great grandmother ask you too?” Justice asks as Clio walked over to the food replicator in the Captain’s quarters and passes her hand in front of the holo camera to bring up the holographic keyboard.

“She did, Want a drink Justice? The stuff we get out of the food replicator on the ship is not as good as we get back at the Infinity Palace. But it’s passable.” Clio comments as she types in her selection.

A moment later, two short, squat glasses appear before two ice cubes fall into the glasses and fill with apple cider. She carefully carries the two glasses over to the desk Justice is sitting behind and sets it down. She walks over to a nearby sofa and sits down on it and crosses her long leg over the other.

“Like Urania and Erato, I want to help you, regain your memory.” Clio explains taking a sip of her apple cider.

“But why? I want you to tell me the truth Clio.” Justice asked, taking a sip of the apple cider.

“The truth is, you took chances on an Imperator Alicorn born from a weak star. I might not be able to use my Eternal magic that effectively. But I still can offer my best to the Imperator Alicorn cause, because of you and your Grandmother allowing us to prove ourselves. I am eternally grateful, that’s the reason I want to help.” Clio explains as Justice has a smile on his snout.

“I knew that already, Clio. But it’s always fun trying to make you cry. as tough as an Imperator Alicorn mare that you are.” Justice comment as Clio politely chuckles into the back of her hand.

“But anyway, Clio, all I really need is some company right now. What do you say, number one?” Justice asks pointing the top of his glass towards Clio.

“So far, this routine space patrol has been very quiet and uneventful. So why not, It’s been a while since the two of us. Had a quiet drink together, Captain.” Clio comment as she walks back over to the food replicator and created an ice cold pitcher of apple cider for them to drink while they talk.

Meanwhile, 3 parsec (light years) from the current position of ‘The Stellar Eclipse’ a squadron of five NF 6R Reconnaissance Nova Fighter skirt the border of the Dark Star Sector as they make their way through an asteroid field just touching the borderline of the sector.

Leading the recon squadron, in her custom made NF 6R Reconnaissance Nova fighter was Galactic Knight Calliope Spirals, the third ace pilot assigned to Justice’s shogunate. She just currently returned from a long range recon operation in a distant star sector, after hearing that Royal Shogun Justice Silverlight returned.

As the squadrons come out from behind a large iron asteroid, a blip appears on the canopy hud system. The onboard recognition/identification program identifies the blip as long-range shuttlecraft heading into the Dark Star Sector. The squadron set course to intercept the long-range shuttlecraft before it can enter the sector. Within 1parsec (light years) of interception, the long-range shuttlecraft, a squadron FF 4I interceptor falcon fighters, burst out from the other side of the border and engages the recon squadron.

Meanwhile back aboard the ‘Stellar Eclipse’ on the bridge, Royal Shogun Justice Silverlight and first officer Clio Quasar assume command of the vessel.

“Erato take a full squadron of VF 5A assault vortex fighters to assist the recon squadron, your squadron should make it and engage those fighter and buy time for the recon squadron to break free from the enemy engagement.” Justice orders as a full squadron of fighters shoot out of the carrier on their way to the battle.

“Urania takes a small flight of WF 1MP assault/combat Wasp fighter and escort the recon squadron back to the ship, tell them to land in docking bay two and then you take your flight to the battlefield to help mop-up.” Justice orders as a small flight of fighters shoot out of the carrier.

~one hours after the enemy engagement~

In the Captain’s quarters, aboard the ‘Stellar Eclipse’, Galactic Knight Urania Corona, Galactic Knight Erato Aureola and Galactic Knight Clio Quasar wait for the arrival of another Aerospace fighter pilot. As the door slides open, in walks a charming carbon gray colored, imperator Alicorn mare with an avocado green mane and tail. Her athletic, 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a pine glade green colored, form-fitting space suit with knee high boots on her bare feet. Folded on her back were silver bio-mechanical feathered bird wings. This Imperator Alicorn was Galactic Knight Calliope Spirals, an Imperator Alicorn Aerospace fighter pilot ace.

“Your report Calliope, if you please?” Justice asks as Calliope shook her head.

“My squadron was coming around the back side of a large iron asteroid when, off my right wing, my radar picks up a blip, it identified it as a long-range shuttlecraft, we changed course to intercept the shuttlecraft. Within one parsec of the vessel, a squadron of fighters from the Dark Star Sector engaged my squadron and the rest, you know, My Lord.” Calliope explains as she bows after finishing her report.

“Understood, Urania, Erato and Calliope, you three have not taken your sleep period. So, I order you three to turn in for the night. I will not take no for an answer, understood?” Justice ordered as Urania, Erato and Calliope leave the Captain’s quarters and head to their own quarters to sleep.

“Talking about a sleep period, you are passed your own sleep period, Justice.” Clio comments as she yawns.

“I’ll turn in after I dismiss you, Clio, plus, it seems, you too, are past your sleep period, number one.” Justice comment as Clio shook her head in agreement. With a wave of his hand, Justice dismisses Clio and she leaves to head to her quarters to sleep.

~in the dream dimension~

In the dream dimension, a familiar 6ft 3in, dark blue, Alicorn mare with a moderate sapphire blue mane and tail, attired in a flowing gown makes her rounds in the dimension. Her bare feet pitter-patter softly across the clouds. She stops momentarily to peer into someone’s dream, looking for any sign of a nightmare making trouble in the dream. Suddenly, Luna senses a new dreamer entering the dream dimension. She makes a beeline to the area where the new dreamer is.

“J-J-Justice, how can this be?” Luna said her voice cracking as she peers through the opening in the dream and saw Justice fast asleep in a bed.

Without a second thought, she jumps through the opening of the dream and finds her spirit form standing in the awakening world next to Justice’s bed. She reaches out with her ghostly hand and caresses his cheek as tears streak her snout. Quickly, Luna senses the opening back to the dream dimension is weakening, if she doesn’t go back, her spirit form could never reunite with her real body. Before returning to the dream dimension, Luna kisses her fingers and touches Justice’s lips with them, leaving a bit of dream dust on his lips.

“Huh?” Justice exclaims sitting up in his bed as he reaches up and cleans the dust off his lips. He rubs the dust between his fingers wondering how it got there.

Dream dust? How do I know what this dust is called? Wait, I think another terran Alicorn told me about it, she’s somehow related to my wife, Celestia Silverlight.’ Justice thought as he fell back to sleep finishing his sleep period.

The afternoon of the following day, the routine patrol has, once again, become quiet and uneventful. Several Aerospace fighters are down for repairs after the fighting with the Dark Star sector squadron Urania, Erato and Calliope have been removed from the active duty roster till their ships are fixed. So, Justice has invited the three aces and his first officer to his quarters for drinks and to talk with them about what happened during his sleep period.

“Are you sure you didn’t dream it, Justice?” Calliope said sipping her apple cider.

“Now Calliope, the three of us here knew Justice for a long time. but not as long as Erato did. So there’s no doubt that he didn’t make it up.” Clio said taking a sip of her apple cider.

“But anyway, Justice, can you refresh my memory. What is dream dust?” Urania inquiry taking a sip of her soft apple cider.

“All right Urania. Dream dust is special dust that can only be found in the Dream dimension, only those familiar with dream dimension can freely pass through the veil. Someone related to my wife can freely pass through the veil into the dream dimension. For some reason, I can recall that the relative was showing someone else that’s related to me and my wife how to pass into dream dimension to help.” Justice explains as he took a drink of soft apple cider from his glass.

“Last time you completed a memory, Justice. it was sparked when you saw my painted nails on my hand. so like I told you then, search your fractured memories for something that relates to your wife. if I am able, I’ll do it to help you, Justice.” Erato said as all three mares agreed to help.

“First officer, report to the bridge for a priority communiqué from the Horsehead Nebula Star Sector.” The ship’s loudspeaker blasts through the corridors as Clio stands up and leaves Justice’s quarters to head back to the bridge.

“Pilot Calliope and Pilot Urania, please report down to the flight deck.” The ship’s loudspeaker blasts through the corridors as Calliope and Urania stand up and leave Justice’s quarter to head down to the flight deck. As the two mares leave Justice’s quarters, Erato couldn’t help but laugh. She is, once again, left alone with Justice to help him regain his memory.

“Well Justice, it looks like it will be me again trying to help you regain your memory.” Erato said as she walks over to the desk and sits down on a nearby sofa.

“There’s no one better than you, Erato. to help me regain my memory.” Justice comment as Erato blushes a bit.

“So let’s get started, Justice. Like I said, searches your fractured memories for something.” Erato said with a soothing voice to relax Justice’s mind so he could concentrate on his memory.

Suddenly, the broken pieces of a fractured memory pull together in Justice’s mind. The image that forms was a dark blue, barefoot with tangerine colored nail polish. The foot belongs to a 6ft 3in, dark blue, terran Alicorn mare with a moderate sapphire blue mane and tail. Justice couldn’t make out any facial features of this mare as this image is hidden in shadows.

“Erato! Please remove your boots. that other relative is another mare. I seem to recall, most of the time, she was barefooted when she entered the dream dimension.” Justice explains as Erato pulls both her boots off revealing a pair of dim gray, bare feet with red nail polish.

“Great work, Justice. now, concentrate on my bare feet, use them to reconstruct some of your broken memories. if you need to, I’ll let you handle my feet.” Erato said her voice constricted at let Justice handles her feet, but if it will help him remember, she will endure it for him.

With that, Justice stands up and walks over to the sofa that Erato was sitting on. He reaches down and swings her legs onto the sofa. In the palms of Justice’s hands sat an almost perfect shaped pair of dim gray, bare feet. For Erato’s height (a tall mare) her feet are quite average sized, with some weight on them. Justice slowly and methodically traced the outer edge of her right foot with his finger.

She bites down on her lips to prevent the release of laughter. She did promise herself that she would endure it for him. Erato’s face turns a bright red, as he traces the outer edge of her foot with his finger. Justice stops and sets her foot back down on the sofa cushion, allowing Erato to exhale.

“Justice, why did you stop?! If it helps you regain your memories, I would endure it.” Erato said in a brisk, business-like tone of voice.

“I can’t do that, Erato. If that means hurting you. you are my friend.” Justice says apologetic as Erato stretched over and kisses him on his cheek to thank him.

“That’s the exact reason I am allowing you to touch my feet, because I am your friend. We’ve been through a lot together, his is nothing compared to some of the things we have been through. You have been at my side for a lot.” Erato explains as it sparks a memory.

Suddenly, the broken pieces of a fractured memory pull together in Justice’s mind. The image that forms this time is the same dark blue Alicorn mare wearing purple colored body armor with a fin shaped helmet on her head and a pair of boots on her feet. She is asking “can your team get into the fortress unseen to rescue thy sister?” and Justice answering “Yes, your highness.” As Justice comes out of his memory, he finds himself staring at the beautiful face of Erato.

“What happen Justice? Did you remember something?” Erato inquiry placing her feet on the ground next to the sofa.

“I did, Erato, that other mare is my wife’s younger sister, Princess Luna Silverlight and now I know why she is barefooted when she enters the dream dimension. She is the Princess of the Night and Dreams, which means to enter, the dream dimension, she must be asleep. if you are in bed, you wouldn’t be wearing shoes to bed.” Justice explains as the door into his quarters opens and in walks Clio who gasps upon seeing Erato’s barefeet.

“I hope I am not interrupting something between you two.” Clio said teasing as it causes Erato to blush a bit embarrassed.

“I just received a report about a heavy gamma ray storm in the area that ‘The Stellar Eclipse’ will pass through on patrol, that size of storm will wreak havoc with our instruments. So I set course to the Sigma fortress in Horsehead Nebula Star Sector. I don’t know how long it will take for the storm to end, will you allow the ship’s crew some shore leave at the space station, Captain?” Clio inquiry as Erato gapes in stunned silence.

“After encountering the dark star sector, I think that’s a great idea, Clio, to give the whole crew shore leave at Sigma Fortress space station makes it so, number one.” Justice said as Clio bows.

“One more thing, Erato. Do not tire out the Captain. This patrol is not even half way done.” Clio comments as Justice grabs Erato around her waist to keep her from attacking Clio for what she was implying.

“Justice! Let me go! I swear on the first star! I am going to kill that first officer of yours!” Erato said savagely as Justice uses all his strength to keep her from breaking free from his grip.