“So what are we going to do?” Jean asked.
“I don’t know.” Steve responded. “I guess the best course of action is to try and defend our home. If we repel the attack, then we can relocate. The problem is, it’s the two of us against possibly 60 guards, with their commanding officer, and, possibly, the literal Goddess of the Night. Honestly, the best we can do is fight and hope for a good outcome.”
“Well that sucks.” Jean stated.
“That’s putting it lightly.” Steve bluntly said. “Can you fly me home, so we can get back quicker?”
“I can do that.” She said. The dragon picked him up and began to ascend. “So, that way, right?” She asked for confirmation.
“Yep. That way.”
“Alright, away we go.” They soared through the air, at high speeds. Steve looked down to make sure they wouldn’t be seen by the guards. Luckily, Jean curved around them to make sure they wouldn’t be seen. They made it home quickly.
The duo landed right in front of Steve’s shelter. He opened the door and stepped inside. The first thing he did was open his chest. He quickly grabbed as much as he could. Then, he turned to his bed, furnace and crafting table, and he broke all three of them. He put on his armor to make space for those three items. He turned around to see Jean at the doorway just standing there.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“Well you didn’t really make this house dragon friendly.” She replied.
“Well, I didn’t expect me to willingly allow a dragon to come into my house.”
“Fair enough.” Jean stated.
“Here, let me help.” He pulled out his pick and destroyed the cobblestone surrounding his door. She stepped inside his little hole.
“So this is where you’ve been staying? It’s pretty small.”
“This isn’t that bad. Back when I was in the army, we slept in two by one by two holes with trapdoors over it, in order to save space.”
“That sounds awful.”
“Yeah, but I guess I signed up for that life. Anyways, enough about my past, we need to figure out how to defend this base.”
“I mean, I could just fly you out of here right now.”
“Oh yeah. I guess this problem...” he trailed off. “Never mind.”
“What?” She asked. Steve simply pointed behind her. There they were. The guards had arrived just in time. They were looking right at the duo, weapons ready. A familiar face stepped in front of the guards.
“Luna.” Steve said under his breath.
“Well, well, well, it appears we have finally found your home. However, these coordinates are useless as we also have the creature right here.” Luna said in a menacing tone.
“Well, you still haven’t captured us yet.” Steve responded.
“True, but there is around thirty guards here, with another thirty on the way. Even with thy friend by thy side, thou doesn’t stand a chance. So we have an offer for thou, surrender, and turn yourself in and we will let thy friend there go. Stay and fight, and you will both be captured.” Luna said.
A dead silence fell upon the area. Steve thought about the offer. While he didn’t want to be captured, he didn’t want Jean to suffer for his actions. He sighed, heavily, before taking a step towards the guards. He put away his sword, to not look threatening. He walked with his head down, with a look of defeat.
“Steve, what are you doing?” Jean asked.
“The right thing to do.” Was all Steve could say.
“No Steve, don’t-.” But she was cut off by him.
“It’s okay. I’ll be okay. Just trust me.” Steve told her. He walked right up to Luna, and looked her right in the eyes. He pulled his hand back. Before anyone could react, he formed a fist, and rocketed it up her chin. Her body was sent flying back, and landed motionless. It took a second for Steve to comprehend what had happened. Did I just knock out a godd-, wait, focus on the battle Steve. He pulled out his sword, as Jean came up right beside him.
“Bring it on!” He shouted at the hoard of guards. Ten of them launched at the two. Steve blocked two with his sword and shielded himself from another two with his left hand. He quickly realized he didn’t pull out his shield. He quickly equipped it before a spear ran right into it. Jean blocked two attacks with her left arm, before smacking two aside with a fist. Another wave of guards went at them, this time being more careful. Steve slowly backed up, in order to establish distance between them and the ponies. He kicked one that tried attacking from his side, before hitting another with the hilt of his sword. The two repelled attack after attack.
“Come on, men.” Sargent Stone tried to encourage his troops. “We’re almost there.” They had been marching for an hour or so. While they were trained to do this, it didn’t make the march any less painful.
“Look, there’s the mountain!” The Corporal exclaimed, in an attempt to cheer them up.
“Oh, we’re right here.” Captain Armor said. As they got closer, however, they could hear what sounded like spears and swords clashing. They slowly crept up towards the area where they heard it. The Sargent took the lead, crouching behind heavy brush. From there, he could see the Princess, who was laying, probably unconscious, several guards who lay with her, other guards who were fighting the creature they had been looking for, and a dragon who appeared to be fighting with the creature.
“We gotta help them.” The Corporal stated.
“No shit, Corporal.” Stone replied, causing her to glare at him. He looked towards the captain. “Might I suggest we surprise attack them while they don’t know we’re here?”
“Good idea.” He glanced back at several other guards. “Get the net. We’ll try and capture it while it still hasn’t noticed us.”
“Yes, sir.” They spread the net out and got ready to throw it.
“As soon as it lands, pin it down with your magic.” He said to the Corporal and the Sargent.
“Yes, sir.” They replied in unison.
“Ready.” The captain said. “Aim.” The guards targeted the Steve and Jean while the Corporal and Sargent got ready to use their magic. “Fire!” Captain Armor yelled out.
Steve and Jean had successfully repelled all the attacks at them. However, it had taken its toll on them. They were both panting heavily, and were covered with cuts and bruises. He took a deep breath as he pushed another guard away. Suddenly he heard something to his right.
“Fire!” Someone yelled out. He glanced over his shoulder, and saw a net flying right at them.
“Look out!” He called towards Jean as he dove away. Unfortunately, she didn’t notice, and the net came down upon her. “Jean!” Steve called as he ran over to the net, to try and cut it lose.
“It’s okay, Steve. Just get out of here while you still can.” She told him.
“I’m not leaving without you.”
“But you have to-.” She was cut off mid response. “Look out!” She desperately yelled. Steve quickly rolled back to dodge an attack. Several more bolts of magic were sent his way. They fell just short of his feet. He began stumbling back before turning and running at a full sprint. He wiped the tears out of his eyes as he took off into the Everfree.
“Quickly! Pin her down!” The captain called. Stone and Eagle used their magic to pin the net down. Jean tried her hardest and was able to rip the net in half. Before she could fly away, however, she was stopped by a spear right in front of her neck. There a pony stood panting. She looked right into his caramel colored eyes. She felt something very hard hit her in the back of the head, and everything went black.