Chapter Twenty Seven: A Hero's Wisdom
~BlackRoseRaven
Sleipnir picked thoughtfully at the food Rainbow Dash had set out, and the blue Pegasus glared at him as he ground his teeth slowly back and forth while Big Mac half-hid a smile behind a hoof and Apple Bloom gazed wonderingly up at the giant. They sat together on the rear deck, Applejack at the head of the table, on the one hoof relieved and on the other deeply-irritated.
To her, the giant was irrational, nonsensical, and crude... and yet he was also charming, charismatic, and possibly more intelligent than he acted. At the intelligence center, after all, he had only taken a glance at the large map on the wall before he'd laughed and clapped his hooves, saying he was delighted to see Luna was learning. And when Applejack had asked him what he meant, he'd grinned and replied easily: “Why, 'tis obvious. Luna has her droves stationed where they can cut off the trade routes. How was this missed?”
It had earned both respect and severe frustration: Sleipnir seemed to take nothing seriously, airily explaining this or that and then dismissing the information as unimportant, randomly going off on tangents, talking about how much he adored his little sister and telling them embarrassing stories about her and Celestia that would have been funny had they not been faced with two of the most powerful ponies in Equestria as their enemies.
When Rainbow Dash had come by to pick her up, his first reaction had been to stare in amazement... but it had soured after Sleipnir had invited himself along to dinner, saying he wanted to get to know them better. Applejack thought he had some hidden motive... but also thought that he clearly enjoyed annoying people, although the giant earth pony was fairly civil with Big Mac and treated Apple Bloom as if she was a niece he'd known for years.
Finally, Sleipnir picked up his plate and loudly shoved his face into it, slurping up the last of his food as Apple Bloom covered her mouth to suppress her giggles and Applejack sighed, dropping her head moodily forwards. Rainbow Dash, however, only stared before he glared at the titanic earth pony when he slowly peered over the top of his plate, a few bits of lettuce and other cut-up vegetables dripping off it as the Pegasus muttered: “Great. This is just great. I really see the resemblance here between you and Luna.”
“Aye, I know, I'm very pretty.” Sleipnir said seriously, dropping the plate on the table before leaning forwards, crossing his hooves beneath his muzzle and fluttering his eyes at the Pegasus. “So apparently as thy wife gets mad if I flirt with her, shall I flirt with thee instead, oh large and handsome husband to the pinecone mare?”
Rainbow twitched, glaring across at the male as Apple Bloom giggled loudly again, and then Applejack cleared her throat and leaned forwards, saying grouchily to her younger sibling: “Honey, maybe you can do us a favor; run in, put on coffee and get the desserts.”
Apple Bloom blushed a bit, but then she slipped out of her seat and hurried to the back door, obviously not wanting to miss the conversation as Sleipnir smiled at Applejack, then clicked his tongue and winked at Rainbow Dash, who stared for a moment longer before he leaned forwards and snapped: “Dude, are you acting like Luna on purpose? Do you think it's funny or something?”
“Technically, as I am the older sibling, Luna acts like me.” Sleipnir said pointedly, raising a hoof, and then Rainbow leaned forwards and seized a bun before throwing it firmly at the enormous equine's face. Sleipnir laughed and easily slid to the side, however, grinning slightly as he leaned back and said cheerfully: “Oh, come now! What's wrong with thee?”
“Look. Maybe we're usually in better moods and I bet you would be great to hang out with if I was drunk, but honestly? Not right now.” Rainbow Dash said shortly, sitting back and shaking his head firmly as he made a disgusted face. “We lost friends today. Three of them.”
“Two were friends. One was just a demon.” Applejack muttered, shaking her head slowly... and then both ponies looked up in surprise when Sleipnir slammed a hoof into the table. He glared over the two, the joviality fading from his features... and the sudden seriousness of the enormous stallion made Applejack wince a little as she leaned back, as if realizing for the first time that the stallion was the size of a carriage and likely as strong as a dragon.
“Just a demon? And what nonsense is that?” Sleipnir asked sharply, and Applejack couldn't help but swallow a little, feeling both guilty and even a little afraid at the way the male loomed upwards over the table, his hooves planted firmly against the wooden surface. “Just a demon! And I suppose thou art just a mare, and thy husband just a stallion: I suppose four of us here, the sweet little filly included, must just be worthless slave-hoofs, then, and the Pegasus nothing more than shorn-wing betrayer!”
“I... I didn't... but she...” Applejack began nervously, and then she winced when Sleipnir shoved his way out of his seat and stormed around the table to glare down at her, staring up at the equine that had gone from child-like to imposing in a matter of moments. “But the demons-”
“Can at least be counted on to show some honor and respect and loyalty, bah! I had expected so much more from both of thee.” Sleipnir snorted as he shoved himself backwards, shaking his head moodily. “'But the demon,' how foolish, how childish! A friend is a friend, and they only cease to be a friend when we ourselves choose to make it so: oh, aye, it hurts to keep a friend through thick and thin and when the tides of the world turn to separate thee, and it aches so direly, so painfully, to face a friend in battle... but give me heartache, and I shall temper it with laughter and memory, so as to make my friends all the more valuable! I shall remember them with affection, not poison myself with hate and recrimination, for what is more telling of the truth of the heart than the pain one feels when faced with such awful tragedy as fighting one's own kin and kindred?
“Thou art so foolishly convinced good and evil, right and wrong, Luna and Ponyville, that they are all 'sides,' but sides to what? Life is no game of dice nor runes nor coins!” Sleipnir gestured almost violently with a huff, shaking his head firmly as he glared over the two. “If thou had a disagreement between thee, would thou not attempt to reconcile it no matter how much it hurt, or would thou truly kill the bonds of love to try and run away from pain? If thou, Rainbow Dash, wert forced to live far away, were driven out of town by folly and circumstance, or if the ever-hungry war-machine turned upon thee, Applejack, with all the fury the politicians and the barons could muster up, would thou not send thy kisses still to Rainbow Dash, or would thou both decide 'oh, we must be enemies because the world says 'tis so, enemies cannot love, enemies must hate?' Childish! Folly!”
Sleipnir huffed, and Applejack didn't even know what to say as Rainbow Dash only shrank slowly in his seat, before Big Mac looked up and said calmly: “Yup.”
And suddenly, Sleipnir was grinning again, looking warmly over at the red stallion as he shouted cheerfully: “Exactly! A pony who understands, finally, and may the blessings of Asgard hail down upon thee! Now come, enough foolishness, enough pathetic whining, up, up on thy hooves, all of thee, we have much to discuss but first I desire a game!”
“A game?” Apple Bloom pushed through the door, looking eagerly up, a tray held tightly by the handle in her mouth with an apple pie and several other baked goods on it... and Sleipnir's eyes lit up at this before he seized the pie and greedily upturned it as he shoved his face forwards, the other ponies staring as he gobbled most of it down and sent a flurry of crumbs and smaller pieces flying in all directions and pattering down to the ground below.
Then he simply tossed the empty pie plate aside and nodded firmly once as he wiped his foreleg across his muzzle, saying cheerfully as Apple Bloom stared up at him with something like awe: “Aye, a game! Filly, thou shalt be on my team, and we shall play against the others and show them just what the likes of us silly children can do, shall we? Now, where is a hoof-ball? Thou must surely have a ball of some kind here.”
“I, wait, I don't think...” Applejack began, but then she sighed as Apple Bloom hurriedly tossed the tray onto the table before charging down the steps with a giggle towards the storage shed, and Sleipnir laughed as he followed her before the goldenrod mare reached up and rubbed slowly at her face. Then she stared incredulously as Big Mac calmly climbed out of his seat and headed for the stairs, blurting: “Big Mac, no! You can't be serious!”
“Yup.” Big Mac only smiled over his shoulder and shrugged, and Applejack groaned and hammered a hoof against the table in frustration before she gave Rainbow Dash a sour look when he cleared his throat and carefully began to slip towards the field as well.
“Maybe it'll be fun?” he said lamely, then he grinned and cleared his throat, straightening a bit. “Besides, you know me, can't turn down a challenge. Not even when it comes from a giant like him... but maybe if we beat this mighty Sleipnir at his own game he'll take us more seriously, you know?”
Applejack sighed a little, and then she silently looked out into the field, watching as Big Mac helped set up goals and Apple Bloom happily bounced around with the giant, the pall of pain and depression her little sister had suffered since escaping the Greater Nightmare gone... and the mare sighed again, shoving herself out of her seat as she muttered: “Fine. I'm only doing this for Apple Bloom, though. The one thing that makes me hesitant to just kick the flank of that pony is the fact he's making my little sister smile.”
“Yeah, I guess he can't he can't be all bad.” Rainbow Dash said softly, then he shook his head a bit and smiled a little, walking side-by-side with the mare into the field as he murmured: “And his advice made no sense at first but the more I think about it...”
Applejack was silent, not wanting to admit the way it made the enormous earth pony's words made her insides twist and her mind feel heavy... but soon enough, she was distracted as Sleipnir cheerfully laid out the rules for a simple game of rugby. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had traded amused looks at this, since it would essentially be three-on-one. Apple Bloom, after all, was just a filly.
Yet Sleipnir treated her like an equal teammate, which admittedly made it harder for both Applejack and Rainbow Dash to dislike him. All the same, Rainbow looked eager to show off both the strength he'd earned from both constant training as well as all the hard work around the farm, and Applejack flexed as Big Mac merely stood calmly, a wall of a red stallion. He looked a little concerned, but the others disregarded it, and Rainbow Dash laughed when Sleipnir said cheerfully: “Worry not, my teammate and I shall try our hardest not to win by too great a margin.”
“Yeah, okay, pal. We'll see what you think after I show you why I'm called Dash.” Rainbow grinned slightly, leaning forwards and pawing a hoof at the ground eagerly, but Sleipnir had only smiled cheerfully in return.
At first, it seemed easy: Applejack passed to Big Mac, who tossed an easy throw to Rainbow Dash as the Pegasus shot over Sleipnir and Apple Bloom all the way to the end zone, scoring the first point. He had danced around a little and Sleipnir had laughed even as Apple Bloom had grumbled, but the giant had only winked to her and said kindly: “Let them have a little fun, my friend.”
They scored twice more... and then, as Big Mac had run down the field, Sleipnir had calmly stepped in front of him... and Applejack had gaped as her brother charged into the enormous earth pony but bounced off like he was nothing more than a child, falling on his back with a grunt of surprise before Sleipnir had picked up the ball and given it to Apple Bloom, saying kindly: “Go ahead.”
Rainbow recovered from his shock fast enough to shoot forwards and steal the ball back from the filly before she had managed more than a few feet... and then he squeaked when he tried to shoot past Sleipnir and the earth pony seized him by the head before shoving him flat into the ground beside where Big Mac was still laying, waggling his other front hoof and saying kindly: “No, no, what kind of athlete art thou? Bah, all of thee are too intent on winning instead of playing the game for fun! Now give the ball back to the filly.”
Rainbow dumbly held up the ball, and Apple Bloom giggled despite herself before she took it and hurried off towards the end zone. Applejack, meanwhile, was only staring at Sleipnir: he was still smiling calmly, almost childishly, but without even a glance he had snatched Rainbow out of the air like a paper plane and Big Mac hadn't been able to so much as budge the giant. Then she winced as she heard a cheer from behind her, turning around to see Apple Bloom had scored before Sleipnir clapped and laughed. “Excellent! Now the game begins!”
By the end of their thirty minute game, Applejack was breathing hard as she sat back on the steps, Big Mac was covered in sweat and rubbing slowly at his head, and Rainbow Dash was laying prone on the grass and refused to move as Apple Bloom laughed and danced around with Sleipnir in the field. The cheerful giant had bludgeoned, bullied, and bashed his way through them like they were toys, and no matter what they did, he'd always easily outwitted or simply outdone them with his behemoth size and incredible strength.
When Rainbow Dash tried to fly overhead, Sleipnir had easily leapt high into the air and slammed a hoof into the ball, sending both it and the Pegasus flying across the field with a squeak. When the Pegasus tried flying even higher, obviously frustrated, Sleipnir has whispered something to Apple Bloom, who had nodded rapidly with trust and adoration, and then to Applejack's horror the earth pony had picked the filly up and thrown her like a rocket. His aim had been perfect, sending her crashing into Rainbow Dash's face, and the Pegasus had yelled incoherently as he'd veered violently back and forth while Apple Bloom fell... but with a cheerful grin, Sleipnir had easily run across the field, leapt up and caught the filly, and then thrown himself backwards and caught Rainbow Dash as well before he could crash. The Pegasus had grinned and looked awkward... and then Sleipnir had thrown him with the same ease he'd thrown Apple Bloom across the field and into the endzone, saying cheerfully: “Point!”
Possibly because she'd wanted to inflict a little revenge and pain on the male, Applejack had ordered a full-out charge and she, her brother, and Rainbow Dash had attempted to ram their way through the earth pony... and although they succeeded in sending him skidding backwards, he had then simply laughed, then knocked them down one-by-one like they were children before picking up the ball and walking cheerfully over them.
Other humiliating tactics included throwing Apple Bloom as she'd held onto the ball, sending her over their heads and into the end zone, simply trampling them if they attempted to get in his way, and more than once laughing and picking them up when they had the ball, and carrying them all the way through their own goal. They had almost gotten around this once, when Big Mac had hurriedly passed the ball to Rainbow Dash... but then Sleipnir had simply thrown the enormous red stallion into the blue Pegasus like he was nothing more than a sack of grain.
The game had proven that he was stronger, smarter, and faster than any of them had suspected: the childish game had proven that Sleipnir was everything he boasted about being, and he was still cheerfully playing with Apple Bloom, as if on top of everything else the earth pony never tired. It made Applejack frustrated on one hoof, but on the other, also brought faint hope to her heart... after all, for all her talk, she knew that the chances of anypony beating Luna or Scrivener in a fight were minimal. But now that they had this jovial giant, this unstoppable warrior on their side...
Yet all the same, she felt hesitant: after all, even Celestia had been corrupted... and Sleipnir talked like he was still friends with his sister, like he wasn't willing to kill her no matter what... like somehow, he still clung to the ridiculous notion that Luna and Scrivener could be saved. That they were still friends, and should be treated as such... and then she sighed as Apple Bloom and the giant finally fell over in the field to gaze up at the twilit sky, the mare shaking her head slowly before she muttered: “Well, I'm gonna go have a shower.”
“I'm going to join you.” Rainbow said tiredly, and he shook his rainbow-colored mane out as he muttered: “But in all honesty I think I just want someone else in the bathtub with me to make sure I don't fall over and drown. Every single part of my body hurts.”
Applejack grimaced and nodded in agreement as Big Mac only nodded with a wince, rubbing at the back of his neck... and as the mare and the Pegasus headed inside, Sleipnir smiled and rubbed at his grass-stained armor, looking warmly over at Apple Bloom and saying kindly: “I heard, young one, that thou hast not been well lately. That thou misses a friend of thine, my sister's daughter... my niece, Scarlet Sage. Is it true?”
Apple Bloom fell quiet as she looked up at the darkening sky, nodding slowly once, and Sleipnir half-rolled onto his side as he gazed at the filly, saying gently: “Oh, now, there I recognize that look all too well. Thou hast been separated from thy lady-love, is this not so?”
The filly blushed deeply at this, looking awkwardly towards Sleipnir before shrinking a little even as she gave the smallest of nods, but Sleipnir only smiled: both warm and sad, the earth pony leaning forwards and saying quietly: “Well, worry not, child. Aye, the pain is great now, and unfair and unfathomable, but thou will appreciate what it teaches thee when 'tis over. When thou art reunited with thy sweet, thou shall be able to recall what it was like when thou were forced to be without her. It shall ensure thou does not take her for granted, and that even should thou fight about thy lady-mare things, thou will still cherish her and never risk throwing her away over some silly quarrel.”
He nodded firmly once, then looked back up at the night sky as Apple Bloom hesitantly gazed over at him, then said quietly: “You ain't... I mean, well, you... how do you balance it all, Mr. Sleipnir? You talk about Luna so much, but you also seem determined to help stop her... how do you love your family, and fight against 'em?”
Sleipnir was quiet for a few moments, and then he turned his eyes towards Apple Bloom, saying softly: “It is hard. It is one of the hardest things in the world, perhaps... balancing love and duty. But it must be done... honor, loyalty, love, these are all important things. And it helps to remember that it would hurt my sister more if I did not fight against her, if I did not stand up for my beliefs and merely bowed my head like a coward to what she has done. For we both know she has hurt me, and hurt what I stand for, even if I do adore her and do wish to see her happy, and when we meet I shan't raise my hoof to her but instead will embrace her as little sister she shall always be to me.
“Aye, I am not saying these bonds cannot be broken, that blood cannot sour, that friendships cannot die... I only say that they can be maintained, for the price of pain, and strengthened even when we face friend as enemy.” Sleipnir paused meditatively, looking up at the sky above before he reached out and wrapped a foreleg around the filly with a smile. “But for all that she has done, I know my sister has maintained her own honor, however dark and bent and odd it may be. She indulges in things I do not approve, she has done a thing I must stop... but I still understand why. I still see in her... my baby sister. I know that I must fight and stop her, but... I will do it as gently as possible.”
Apple Bloom nodded slowly, and then Sleipnir said quietly: “And I know... thou art strained thyself, little one. Thou loves the enemy, whom thy family... does not all accept. 'Tis not fair to put such a strain on one so young. But know that it will make thy bonds stronger... and remember that even with the world against thee, love may find a way. It certainly did for my sister, no? Say what thou will about her relationship with Scrivener, but 'tis majestic all the same... the Valkyrie and the Tyrant Wyrm, and worse still, the poet and the warrior! What a sweet and impossible image it is!”
Sleipnir laughed, and Apple Bloom smiled a little up at him, nodding and looking reassured as she let herself curl a bit closer before the gigantic earth pony sighed and grinned down at her, shaking his head slowly. “Why can't thou be a mare, though, Apple Bloom? Or even just a little older! I would try to steal such a pretty and intelligent thing as thee away from thy Scarlet Sage, if only for a night, if but for an hour!”
Apple Bloom blushed and laughed, and Sleipnir smiled at the filly before he reached up and ruffled her mane, then sat up and shook his head, gazing down at her kindly. “But as thou art too young for me and I am too large for thee, I shall instead petition thy sister to come with me one day when I go to Castle Enstasis. We shall find thy lady-love, this I swear by my honor and by Asgard.”
“Really?” Apple Bloom rolled up to her hooves, blushing deeply as she gazed up at him ardently. “I... thank you, mister, but... I really don't think my sister is going to go for it...”
But Sleipnir only grinned widely and winked, leaning down and saying kindly: “Not at first perhaps, no. But fear not, filly. Should worst come to worst, I may not be able to bring thee to thy lady-love... I shall bring thy lady-love to thee. And that is my promise.”
Sleipnir pounded a hoof against his armored chest, and Apple Bloom looked up at him with warmth, finding it strangely easy to trust the giant. His eyes shone with his honesty, his warmth, his compassion, and he leaned down and ruffled her mane again before firmly kissing her forehead, saying kindly: “Now run along, child. And remember, it is good to smile, even when thou art sad, and it is no crime to be happy even in the worst of times. Thy family cares for thee and was happy to see thee happy tonight, and that gives me hope that one day they shall better understand thee and accept thy lady-love.”
Apple Bloom blushed and nodded a few times before hurrying off, and the enormous equine laughed before shaking his head slowly and heading towards the steps. He smiled slightly at Big Mac as he passed, and the red stallion glanced up at him, then nodded slowly... before staring as Sleipnir grabbed the back of his head, yanking him forwards to plant a firm kiss upon the crimson pony's forehead. “Worry not, I shan't leave thee out, handsome and wise hoof-brother! Now come, I demand thy company tonight, let us head out and make merry at a tavern together!”
Big Mac didn't even know how to respond, and so he only sighed as Sleipnir nodded a few times rapidly, the red earth pony mumbling a disconsolate: “Yup.” before dropping his head forwards and following as the giant laughed and cheerfully paraded into the house.
At first, Applejack had been glad when she had found out Sleipnir had left, but that had turned to apprehension when she realized Big Mac was gone too. She and Rainbow Dash stayed up late waiting for the two, wanting to discuss plans for tomorrow, but eventually went to bed around three in the morning.
Applejack woke up early as always, tired and cranky, but since long days and sleepless nights were becoming routine for her it felt little different from a normal day. She didn't bother waking up Rainbow Dash before heading downstairs to put on breakfast... and halting in the living room, her jaw dropping at the sight of Sleipnir laying on the folded-out couch, a few bottles of whiskey and empty glass beer-steins laying here and there over the floor, the male's armor laying in a discarded pile nearby and Big Mac clutched against his chest like a stuffed toy.
The red stallion was deep asleep as well, hugging a blanket against his chest, snoring loudly, one of his ears in Sleipnir's mouth and twitching every now. Sleipnir mumbled around this as he shifted a bit, and then Applejack closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down despite the mess before calmly making her way to the kitchen.
Five minutes later, she came back with a bucket of cold water, glaring at the two before hefting it high and splashing it forwards over them with a shout of: “Wake up, you damn idjits!”
The two woke up in a flurry of yells, flailing wildly in the bed, now-sopping wet and shivering... and then Big Mac slowly stared over his shoulder, and Sleipnir peered back at him for a few moments before he grinned widely and winked. The red earth pony winced and hurriedly shoved himself away, half-falling off the bed with a dazed groan, and Sleipnir laughed before he sat up, briskly shook himself out, and then winked over at Applejack and patted the bed beside him. “'Tis just like old times! Say, though, 'tis still fairly dry and feels early yet... crawl into bed with me and we'll see if thou makes a better teddy bear than thy brother!”
Applejack responded by slamming the bucket over Sleipnir's head, unable to even think of a response as she hissed through her teeth, and her frustration only mounted higher when Sleipnir laughed beneath the plastic bucket. Instead, the mare turned her fury on Big Mac as he slowly began to crawl to his hooves, wheezing a little before wincing when Applejack seized his shoulder and snapped: “What the hell is this? Dammit, Big Mac, I ain't ever seen you be so irresponsible in your life! You smell like a brewery, now get the hell into the shower before Apple Bloom sees you like this... I never imagined my big brother would-”
“Oh, be not such a harpy.” Sleipnir said cheerfully, pushing the bucket back as Big Mac flushed deep red, stumbling hurriedly out of the room, and Applejack snarled over at Sleipnir, but he only grinned widely and winked at her. “'Twas not so bad! He holds his liquor well and held most delightful conversation, and we ended the night responsibly, did we not? Getting the rest of the way drunk safe at home instead of rowdy at the bar, talking about things stallions should never admit to talking about, and then, well, he told me about this marvelous contraption of a hidden bed, and he fell asleep here because the stairs were much too mountainous with us both so terribly drunk. Worry not, pretty mare, I did not take advantage of him. Apple flank or not.”
Applejack gave him a horrible look, and then she stormed towards the kitchen before Sleipnir called cheerfully, the bucket still on his head: “Does thou get the joke I just made? 'Twas witty, was it not?”
Breakfast was awkward: Applejack pointedly cooked only for herself, Rainbow Dash, and Apple Bloom, and Big Mac sat at the table with his head lowered in embarrassment, drinking black coffee and with a large bottle of aspirin beside him. Then Sleipnir barged in, not wearing his armor, and both Rainbow Dash and Apple Bloom stared at the tattooing across his chest, giving big grins... before both hurriedly turned their gazes back to their breakfast when Applejack gave them dark looks.
Then the mare glared at Sleipnir when he began to root through the cupboards and the fridge without bothering to ask, Rainbow giving his own grimace at this... but before anypony could say anything, they were all stunned as Sleipnir said absently over his shoulder: “I took the liberty to tell the soldiers I ran into last night there would be a strategy session this morning, at that briefing center we were in yesterday. 'Tis good that thou woke me up, we should not dally much longer before getting ready to go.”
“You can't do that! You're... briefing session for what?” Applejack asked incredulously, and then she glared as Sleipnir turned around with a smile and a wink, taking a large bite out of an apple in his hoof. “I have had just about enough of you, you know that?”
“I often hear this from many mares.” Sleipnir remarked mildly, and Applejack closed her eyes and forced herself to take a breath before she stared as he added quietly: “Thy forces are not prepared for what we face, both in terms of soldier and commander. I shall therefore teach them what I know about the enemy... including my sister and my brother.”
Applejack only stared as Rainbow Dash and Big Mac both looked up, Apple Bloom frowning worriedly... but Sleipnir only smiled, winking at the filly before he said easily: “I am going to polish my armor. Please be ready to leave within the hour, I wish not to be late for my own first strategy session. 'Twould look bad.”
With that, Sleipnir turned and left, and the ponies traded confused looks before Rainbow quickly shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth before hurrying away from the table to get ready as Big Mac grimaced, drinking down his coffee in a few large gulps and popping several aspirin back into his jaws before heading quickly off himself.
Apple Bloom left for school not long after, pausing on the front deck as she saw Sleipnir sitting on the steps, slowly cleaning his breastplate with a rag... and the male smiled at her kindly as they looked at one-another before he reached out and nudged her shoulder with a hoof. “Worry not, friend Apple Bloom. I am only doing my duty... I do not aim to see Luna or even her allies killed, what I shall tell them will be instead with the goal to keep our own soldiers alive.”
The filly nodded slowly at this, then she blushed and looked up as several foals began to pass by on the road with an escort of two adults. “Okay. I trust you, Mr. Sleipnir.”
“Just Sleipnir. Run along, child.” Sleipnir smiled at her, and the filly nodded with a smile back before hurrying out to the path, leaving the stallion to polish his armor in quiet even as he gazed thoughtfully up at the sky, then sighed a little and murmured: “Oh, innocent youth. To be that pure-hearted again...”
Eventually, the male began to strap on his gear: chainmail first, then the heavier breastplate. He stroked slowly over the emblem of Yggdrasil engraved over the breast of this, then glanced over his shoulder as Applejack emerged from the house, clad in her orange vest and cowboy hat, mane and tail tightly braided back. For a moment, they only surveyed each other, and then she nodded slowly to him, and the stallion smiled slightly in response.
The others joined them only a few moments later: Rainbow Dash in his lightweight scale mail, and Big Mac in heavier plate mail that covered him from hoof to head, a helm locked securely around his skull. Sleipnir nodded with a grunt, then stood up and strode down the steps, saying calmly over his shoulder: “I desire to know more about the Knights of New Equestria. Numbers, units, specializations, supplies... every bit of information is important, every last detail helps.”
Applejack was surprised at how businesslike the stallion had become, but she nodded slowly, answering as much as she could as they headed into Ponyville. Sleipnir listened intently, asking questions but otherwise refraining from making any comments until they reached the former library and the mare said finally: “But all our records and stuff are kept here, if you wanna double-check anything...”
“I do not trust written records. They are static, while the unit always changes, and I require sharp accuracy: moreover, they are a vulnerability that the enemy could easily acquire and use to learn much about us.” Sleipnir replied with a shake of his head, and then he grimaced a bit as he shoved the door open, muttering: “But come then. To betray my sister.”
Applejack winced a little at this as the enormous stallion strode calmly through the main room of the intelligence center: the table had been pushed aside, and many soldiers had already gathered, different ranks mingling together as Nibelung Architects stood awkwardly near the back of the room while dwarf soldiers sat amongst pony, their past as enemies long forgotten. This was the one thing that seemed to make Sleipnir smile a little as he gazed over the several dozen crammed into the room, waiting a few last long minutes before nodding once and calling in a voice that easily silenced the half-apprehensive murmurs: “Calm now, friends!”
All eyes looked up to him, and Sleipnir smiled a little wider as he said kindly: “The turnout is neither as large as hoped nor as small as expected, and I suppose this is good. There are more than enough of thee to spread the word, though, and I see many of higher rank, who I am sure will pass what I have to say onto their own soldiers and allies.
“I am Sleipnir the Mighty, brother to Luna and Celestia. Believe what thou will about me and my sanity but that is the truth, and I have the strength to prove it should there be any doubts.” Sleipnir continued calmly, looking over the group as murmurs passed through the crowd again. “I have been sent here to aid thee, and to put a halt to what wrongs my sister has wrought.”
“You mean you're going to fight her, kill her?” asked a voice from the crowd, and Sleipnir grimaced as he held up a hoof even as murmurs of both worry and hope passed through the group.
“In time I shall get to this. But first of all, I am here to pass on to thee information on thine enemies. None know Luna's tactics better than I... and even if she has evolved and changed, I am sure many of the core truths will remain the same.” Sleipnir replied, then he slammed a hoof against the floor, completely silencing the room before he stated calmly: “Firstly, even if thou and thine have the advantage of numbers, superior weapons, and armor... do not engage Luna in close combat. No matter how fast, brave, or bold thou art, no matter what thy training is or thy strength, do not engage Luna in the melee, whether she brings horn or spear against thee. Close combat is where she dominates.”
“Couldn't you fight her? And what about when we get soldiers, like the special units that New Equestria is supposed to sending us?” asked a voice, and there were rumbles of agreement, but Sleipnir only smiled wryly.
“Aye, I can fight her, but I lost to her when last we fought.” Sleipnir reached up, rubbing slowly at his throat. “I have trained hard but now she will be even stronger and more dangerous. Nay, victory against her will not come from blind attack. And no matter how elite, how many, how strong thy soldiers are, compared to the experiences Luna and I have faced, compared even to the soldiers of the past, they are still greenhorns who may display talent but have not likely had the experiences necessary to temper their strength and skills.”
He halted, then shook his head slowly, continuing quietly: “Luna is most at home on the ground. She dislikes aerial combat: this is not to say she is at any serious disadvantage in the air, only that she will avoid aerial battle whenever possible. Much the same applies to magic and long range, but this is one of the few points of advantage we may be able to take against my little sister. Luna prefers medium range magic and is less accurate over long distances: furthermore, consecutive spells will leave her drained and more vulnerable.”
The stallion stopped, then held up a hoof with a look of distaste when several ponies leaned forwards is if to say something. “Let me speak! I shall answer thy questions afterwards but for now only listen, there is much to go over. Luna was very powerful even before she tied herself with Scrivener, even before she became... what she is now. Many are foolish enough to believe that because she is darkness, she stands in Celestia's shadow... but she is my big sister's equal, and in a few ways possibly her better. In order to defeat Luna we will require strategy that plays off her weaknesses... but we must also bear in mind her greatest asset: Scrivener Blooms.
“I have heard him referred to as 'pet,' 'monster,' and other things... but this is only adding to an illusion that I am sure Luna is glad to fuel.” Sleipnir said quietly, looking back and forth slowly. “The illusion that Scrivener, as a Tyrant Wyrm, is like an animal, is only a weapon. But he is not. He is intelligent, perhaps as cunning as Luna, and his mind is sharp.” Sleipnir paused, and then he leaned forwards and said empathetically: “And I have great respect for him. Great respect. When my sister felt the pain of heartache, he stepped in to protect her, fighting for her even knowing that it would be a losing battle, and honoring the terms of our duel. And I can think of few things more dangerous than a Tyrant Wyrm with a mind... except now, he is a Tyrant Wyrm, in possession of Luna's soul and experiences, with Celestia's horn further empowering him.”
There was silence for a few moments, before Sleipnir leaned forwards and said quietly: “Under no circumstances is he to be engaged. The only advantage we have is that even now he is not a warrior first. He is brash and depends heavily upon Luna, and in his smaller state is strong, but far more vulnerable to physical attack. Over the coming weeks I will share with thee defenses we used in the past to delay or wound Tyrant Wyrms and all information I know of the terrible breed.
“I think this goes without saying, but the greatest difficulty lays within the fact that Luna and Scrivener are almost never apart. To engage them separately will be difficult: when I fought them together for the first time, from the first moment I embattled them I knew my chances were next to none. Even adjusting to their initial transformation, they moved together and channeled one-another's abilities with ease. We must develop ways to interrupt their mental link and plans to separate them from one-another if there is to be victory against them.”
Murmurs ran through the crowd, and then Sleipnir sighed and shook his head slowly before he said finally: “But on the other forces we face...”
Sleipnir went over everything he knew about Nightmares, demons, constructs, and everything else, providing much more information on these creatures and their weaknesses and strengths. When the subject of Celestia was brought up, he skirted around it haphazardly, saying that without her horn Celestia would be weaker... but it was obvious that wasn't what worried him from how uncomfortable he seemed.
The ponies insisted on talking more about Luna and Scrivener, some complaining, some challenging, some simply scared... but Sleipnir only shrugged them off and replied that he'd explain the vulnerabilities and weaknesses he knew of in the two later. It discouraged the soldiers, and others looked worried as he forcefully dismissed them, leaving him alone with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Big Mac before the mare said quietly: “You scared 'em pretty bad. But that was your goal, wasn't it?”
“Aye, it was.” Sleipnir grumbled, stomping a hoof against the floor and shaking his head distastefully. “It will do good to make them afraid instead of purely hateful. 'Twill save lives on both sides, and 'twill stop them from going out into the wilderness and killing every so-called enemy they see. Arrows are better saved for piercing the eyes of cyclops' than the hearts of mischief spirits.”
Applejack grimaced at this, and Rainbow frowned as he looked up, saying slowly: “But all that stuff about Scrivener and Luna...”
“It is true. And it is far better they run from my sister and brother than they attempt to fight them.” Sleipnir looked towards Rainbow Dash calmly, quirking his eyebrow. “Unless thou wants to upset the Tyrant Wyrm and the Valkyrie, is that it? Does thou want these ponies to charge into a meaningless battle, be slaughtered, and then have their corpses sent back to us... or, say they do battle, and a lucky blow strikes and wounds one of them. Both of them, I should say, from how they are bound together. Tell me, what would a pride-injured Luna and Scrivener do, who now might consider this village filled with children pretending to be warriors less a nuisance and more of a... an insult to their dignity?”
“Point taken. What the hell, though, did you get a delayed hangover or something?” Rainbow asked flatly, and Sleipnir grunted at this before he smiled a little, and the Pegasus looked relieved as he brushed his short, rainbow mane back. “Oh good. For a second there I was worried you were going to hit me and I just remembered how you threw Big Mac at me like a baseball last night.”
“Yes, last night was fun.” Sleipnir said thoughtfully, and then he shook his head and grumbled: “There is an awful air of sadness and betrayal in this intelligence building, I do not like it. I think I shall go and find Apple Bloom.”
“My little sister's in school right now... you know, school? Learning beside the other foals?” Applejack said flatly, and Sleipnir gave her a moody look over his shoulder, making her wince a bit before she pointed at the map and said awkwardly: “Look, Sleipnir... I'm sorry I doubted you before. We could really use your help here, planning out strategies against Luna and... getting ready for this mess with Enstasis. It's... she's like a blot on Equestria, and we got the advantage of a nation against her, but she's right next to Ponyville and-”
“Oh, really?” Sleipnir snorted in amusement, cocking his head, and Applejack frowned a little bit before the titanic earth pony slowly turned around and gazed back and forth between the three ponies. “Tell me, has my sister sent out envoys yet?”
The ponies frowned, and Sleipnir nodded with a rueful grin. “Exactly. Firstly, thou forgets she has an army of dark servants at her disposal, positioned all throughout Equestria... but whom can make jumps of great distance as they please, with greater ease than most ponies ever could. Secondly, thou art counting thy cockatrices long before they are hatched: oh, yes, the Barons say she is bad, and as always many will follow along with what these new, self-appointed leaders of the nation will say, but there will be others who doubt. And more still, if Celestia begins to openly support Luna. I do not believe my big sister was corrupted, after all, as I have heard said. In fact, this is insulting. Celestia has grown wise, that is all, and sometimes the wise sound a little funny to those who do not see quite so clearly.”
The goldenrod mare frowned a bit, but Sleipnir only held up a hoof, shaking his head slowly. “My sisters' motivations are less important than what she does now, though. If she vanishes, some ponies will think that even Celestia feared Luna so greatly that their shining beacon ran away, and they will be terrified into siding with her. If Celestia speaks openly for my sister and against Equestria, others will side with her out of loyalty and confusion as well as fear. And when Luna begins recruiting, begins sending out messages across Equestria, others will join with her, because she will promise them power and prosperity... and she will even give it to them. What do we promise, Applejack? Freedom beneath a council that has made no move to save their own Queen when she gave herself up to save Ponyville? That does not sound like freedom to me. That sounds like abandonment.”
There was silence between them... and then Sleipnir smiled, bowing his head courteously. “I feel better, getting this off my chest. My thanks for listening. I shall help out with the strategy, though, worry not, but I sincerely hope that we do not come to full-out war. Even if we win, we will all lose very, very much. Now, if thou shall excuse me, I must go see Apple Bloom. She is a wonderful little ray of sunshine in these dark times... and oh, speaking of which, Applejack, when I am able to arrange a visit to Enstasis, I plan to bring her with me. Thou can argue with me later about it but for now I would stay silent and think of what I have already lectured thee on, else-wise I may have to jam something more painful than a pinecone into thy loins.”
Applejack grimaced and glared, but remained quiet all the same, watching with the others as Sleipnir turned and made his way calmly out, leaving them in quiet: a solemnity shared for only a few moments by the gargantuan earth pony before he shook his head hurriedly and then looked up with a smile, his armor glinting as he said quietly: “Away, bad thoughts. Nay, I shall think on the positives instead now, and be happy.”
He smiled, stepping forwards... and then Applejack cleared her throat loudly behind him, and the male sighed in exasperation, dropping his head forwards as his ivy mane spilled around his head before he glowered over his shoulder at her. “Did I not just say-”
“Apple Bloom ain't going to Enstasis.” Applejack said firmly, and Sleipnir slowly pursed his lips before the goldenrod mare gritted her teeth and lowered her head forwards, looking almost pained before she finally muttered: “But if... if say, Scarlet Sage were to come here with... Twilight Sparkle, or Celestia, or... or somepony like that... Apple Bloom could see her in the town square or some other public, well-guarded place.”
Sleipnir leaned back in surprise... and then he smiled warmly and simply stomped a hoof in agreement before turning and heading down the street, calling cheerfully back: “Then I shall go and inform her of this immediately! And then come back and give her a hug for thee if she requests it, and perhaps more if my mood continues to brighten!”
“I hate you.” Applejack slammed the door loudly, and Sleipnir laughed and shook his head as he continued easily through the streets, smiling warmly to the ponies and Nibelung he passed. He wasn't familiar with the layout of the town, but his sharp eyes were able to pick out many smaller hoof-prints in the dirt of the road here and there leading in the same direction thanks to his long-honed tracking skills... and more than that, it was as if the earth itself was whispering to him where to go, the male looking benevolent as his mood rapidly rose.
He found the schoolhouse without trouble, striding calmly past a soldier on duty outside that stared at him stupidly, obviously not knowing what to do before the enormous earth pony slammed a hoof into the door and kicked it open, startling the class of foals sitting at their desks and making the earth pony teacher almost fall out of her seat as she looked dumbly up at him. Sleipnir's eyes locked on her, and he grinned widely at the lavender mare, striding easily into the room and leaning on the desk as his eyes roved from her two-tone pink mane to her light-green eyes. “Well, thou art the youngest, prettiest teacher I have ever laid mine eyes upon! What fortune favors these students to have such a vision as their tutor; tell me, what is thy name?”
“It's... Cheerilee. I... and who are you, exactly?” the mare asked finally, and Sleipnir let his eyes rove down along her frame to the cutie mark on her flank, of three smiling daffodils. It made the mare blush a bit, clearing her throat before adding hurriedly: “Sir, we... were right in the middle of a class...”
“That's him!” whispered Apple Bloom loudly to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and both the foals started as they stared at Sleipnir, some of the other children looking curiously back and forth in their seats as a few giggled and others only looked as shocked as their teacher was.
“I am Sleipnir the Mighty!” the male declared, throwing his head back, and then he paused before reaching down and looking delighted as he picked up a book of Equestrian history. “Is this what thou wert teaching?”
“I... yes, but you should really-” Cheerilee started awkwardly, and then Sleipnir threw his head back and laughed before he turned towards the class, stomping a hoof firmly as the guard from outside looked in. Cheerilee waved at him madly behind Sleipnir's back, but the soldier only shook his head violently and gestured wildly towards at Sleipnir before turning and hurrying away, making the mare groan and slap her forehead.
Sleipnir, however, was peering happily over the class before he rose a hoof, saying cheerfully: “Apple Bloom! There thou art! Give me a moment, I have good news for thee, but first I shall teach thy class about the old days of Equestria I lived in. For thou sees, in the days of old, more than a thousand years ago, I journeyed with my sisters, Celestia and Luna, far and wide across the land...”
The foals let out various sounds of amazement and shock at this, even Cheerilee looking up with surprise as the earth pony talked, easily recounting an old story he was obviously fond of, dancing around at the front of the class and looking cheerful. It was enough that when the guard finally showed back up with several other soldiers, Cheerilee only shooed them away, now leaning over her desk and listening with as much fascination as the children she taught.
Finally, when Sleipnir was done, he clapped his hooves and said cheerfully: “And that is all! I now leave thee in the capable hooves of thy teacher. Apple Bloom, come, I wish to speak with thee anon.”
“Uh... recess?” Cheerilee said quickly, raising her hoof, and the foals cheered before swarming for the back door as Apple Bloom smiled and blushed, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shyly accompanying her as they walked towards Sleipnir.
He smiled down at her, then tipped a wink to Cheerilee as she looked at him kindly, saying finally: “Sir, that was quite a story... Apple Bloom, tell me, is this stallion part of your family? He was very convincing.”
“What? Nay, 'tis truly I, Sleipnir the Mighty, and the fact that thou does not believe me wounds me so!” Sleipnir posed for a moment with a hoof over his chest, and then he winked and leaned towards her, making the mare blush and rear back a bit. “Thou shall have to make it up to me tonight.”
Cheerilee cleared her throat and awkwardly turned, mumbling about checking on the foals as she hurried for the back door, and Scootaloo laughed as Apple Bloom smiled and shook her head, looking up at the male and saying kindly: “You don't ever learn, do you?”
“No mare is immune to my charms, Apple Bloom, as thou shalt soon learn. See, I asked only to speak to thee and I have three pretty fillies instead of one right before me!” Sleipnir remarked with a wink, and Sweetie Belle smiled a little wider as Scootaloo mumbled a bit before the earth pony leaned down and said gently: “Thy sister has agreed to let thee see Scarlet Sage if she comes to Ponyville.”
Apple Bloom's jaw dropped and her eyes lit up, and Sleipnir winked at her as both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked incredulously up at him. “See? I told thee to trust in me, and that thy sister would not be so harsh: I feel she has a good heart beneath the needles. We must merely pry those pinecones out of her, 'twill make her much more amiable.”
“Thank you!” exclaimed Apple Bloom, leaping forwards and hugging the male fiercely, and Sleipnir smiled warmly as he hugged her tightly back, then he laughed and leaned forwards, sweeping the other fillies up into his embrace and lifting them all into the air, and Sweetie Belle giggled as Scootaloo wheezed but smiled all the same despite the blush that rose in her cheeks. “Oh thank you thank you thank you!”
“'Tis no problem. Now run along and play, all of thee. I shall see thee again soon, fear not.” Sleipnir replied kindly, gently setting the fillies down and smiling affectionately as they nodded, Apple Bloom lingering a moment longer with a bright ,warm smile on her face before she turned to hurry off as well after her friends.
The equine clapped his hooves together... and then he tilted his head curiously as Cheerilee embarrassedly entered the room, hurrying over to him and clearing her throat as she held up a strip of paper, and Sleipnir took this with a grin as the mare looked up at him with a blush and said embarrassedly: “I... I'll be home all night.”
“Aye, but thou won't be alone.” Sleipnir winked at her, and Cheerilee blushed and nodded before turning and hurrying back out of the classroom, leaving the earth pony sitting alone by the front door before he flexed his forelimbs and beat lightly against his chest with a laugh. Then he slipped the strip of paper beneath the neck of his breastplate before whistling to himself as he turned and strode back out into the streets of the village. He knew things were going to get worse, he was going to be pitted against his own family in combat, he was helping ponies that didn't seem to even understand what they were fighting for... and yet he couldn't help but smile, because in spite of it all, there was still good to be had.
There was the joy of helping a little filly reunite with her love, the pleasure of new friendships, and always, always hope for the future... not to mention pretty mares to flirt with and a shining sun overhead, and Sleipnir threw his head back and laughed. He could be sad any time he wanted... but all-in-all, the stallion found it was much better to just be happy instead.