Stories in Stone, Luna's Royal Guard.

by TDR


Hoof Full of Gravel

Stories in Stone
Luna's Royal Guard
By TDR


Hoof Full of Gravel.

“So Rainbow borrowed the whole series?”

“Yup, every last Daring Do book I had. I don't think I will have too much trouble getting her to read the history book now. Even her choice of reading material puts her as an action junkie.”

“Well aye suppose that's understandable, given how she is. The fact she's gone in tah this sorta of thing in the same manner she goes in tah anything is not much a surprise as it was to find out she took to reading at all.”

Twilight nods finishing setting up the research table, then double checking over everything simply out of habit.

“Likely explains her table manners too at the hospital. I've had her over a few times for supper and never seen her eat like that. Thought she mighta had a head injury.”

“Well she may have had one, with as quick as some ponies seem to heal, I thought it would be at least a week or two before she would be out after that crash.”

“After all you went though trying to study Pinkie Pie and your wondering about quick healing, sugar?”

“Good point. Kinda explains a few things in the studies too.”

“Well I got a good bit of catching up to do I suppose. This books no western, but its got its interesting points.”

“So how far have you gotten into it?”

“Err, third chapter. Keep in mind aye don't have that much time tah sit down and read. Sides Fluttershy has had the other copy of it for a bit now.”

“Well I only made the two copies,one for Princess Luna and one to keep here. I had considered making one for Celestia as well, but I am not sure how much of this Luna would want her sister to know. Although at this rate I might need to start on another book just to get it all in.”

“Might want to have some pony or another look over your grammar too.”

“What?”

“Nothin, arn't you gonna start now?”

“I suppose so. See you after a while AJ.”

“Right, be seeing you the whole time though.”

She dropped into the spell the star splattered landscape unfolded before her. Twilight did not need to glance back to know the orange and gold star of Applejack glowed softly behind her. With all that had happened last time in this story she was sure Rainbow would love it the chapter. With the start of the Second Dragon War there was likely going to be a great deal more action for the blue pegasus to enjoy.

Twilight sighs, she herself found all of this interesting, but would have much rather it been a boring and calm book than to see what these ponies went through to get to their final act. She might know they all lived, but she had no clue of what state they were in when that time came. Finding out what they were like before they became statues would be key to help her decide what to tell Princess Luna.

She slipped into the larger window drawn once again to the groups unicorn General.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Report Captain.”

“Initial numbers are in Sir. One hundred and twelve out of two thousand seventy four civilians dead. Eighty two of the three hundred and seventy Guard's dead.”

“I would like a list of all the Guard's names, tag numbers, and birth dates.”

“Yes sir, continuing the current body count for the orc corpses in the city has reached four thousand four hundred twenty eight. However the count is still being tallied and none of the collapsed buildings have been cleared enough to count those underneath.”

“What are the plans for the bodies?”

“We have not considered that far ahead sir.”

Jer'rahd winces lightly, but ignores the pain for a moment to continue the debriefing.

“Collect the armor and weapons, they can be reforged for our war effort, move the bodies to that quarry not far from town and burn them there. See if any pony is willing preform last rites for them. There’s bound to be some holier than thou pony up for that left. Be sure to clear this with General Three Bear however. He is the ranking officer here and I don't feel up to stepping on his hooves.”

“Yes sir, Scouts have reported a small number of the Orcs being sighted fleeing towards the mountains.”

“Gather a few teams and send them out to end their threat. Even in small numbers if we let them go they might become raiders and continue to make trouble for Equestria. Best to kill them all now. That should be everything Captain. Take care of it.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Captain runs off shouting orders as Jer'rahd winces again as one of the nurses pulls the last metal fragment of his helmet from his skull, swabbing the wound and starting to bandage him. He was stretched out on a long bed his shredded front hooves dangling off the edge of the bed for another doctor to look over and prod occasionally. The third one was currently wrapping bandages over the flayed skin of his back and flank.

“Shouldn’t at least two of you be helping some other pony?”

“Sorry General, but against all odds we are over staffed for this crisis. With the civilian doctors and military doctors as well as the massive force of the Queen's Cross that arrived here earlier, the medics outnumber the wounded. With all the unicorn healing magic we have here nearly everything that was not life threatening is already healed, besides now the three of us can say we've tended the Monster of Manehatten.”

“Oh Buck, do NOT give me another title please. The Demon of Dullahan is far more than enough.”

“Are you sure you want to keep that one though General? Dullahan is gone.”

“Some pony needs to remember it, as long as I accept that title every pony will remember it, and what was lost there.”

A knock at the door drew the unicorns attention, a wince running along his features at the movement. He had made it all the way back to base under his own power, floating the corpse of the titanic boar along with him. The sight of the body along with the armored white buffalo and his three bears was enough to scare off any orcs who still had any fight left in them. He reached the main gate with the body and was greeted by a roar of cheering from the wall's defenders before he finally collapsed having left most of his blood in a trail of hoof prints behind him. He had woken several hours later already being treated in medical. After nearly getting into a fight with the doctors about remaining in bed before he hurt himself further, he consented to remain so long as they allowed other ponies into the room to report to him what was going on.

“Come in.”

Three Bear pushes open the door and then proceeds to try his best to squeeze past the pony sized door with his armor still on. The noise along would have been enough to wake half the ward if there was even any other ponies in it. Jer'rahd could not help to smile at the buffalo's issue with the pony entrances, but at least he manages not to snicker like his doctors.

“I apologize for not saluting Sir, but likely one of the doctors would belt me one if I tried to move.”

The doctor looking at his hooves snorts.

“I am still trying to figure out how you made it back here under your own power, let alone what you did to get your hooves to look like this. This kinda damage is going to take months to heal.”

“I don't have that long.”

“Has any pony ever told you you are a horrible patient General?”

“So often it is likely in my medical record.”

“Maybe that's what was written in zebra. I never saw a doctor's note from some pony's primary practitioner that required me to have a translator.”

“I would like to apologize again for my tardiness General Kaisur. If I had arrived on time...”

“I would have found some other way to maim myself. Trust me this is a common thing. If I don't manage to do something stupidly heroic or heroically stupid every time I get into a fight then the world is likely to end.

“Still not one for the small victories I see?”

“Not much of an option for a small one this time.”

“So it would seem.”

“So what stalled you any way General? I would not think with your friends outside there would be very much that could slow you down.”

“I called them because of what stalled me, I do not like asking Hastiin to bring his family into danger.”

“Hastiin?”

“Yes, Hastiin, Makawee, and their daughter, Nituna. “

“Introductions aside Sir, that doesn't explain what kept you, or why you came in here.”

“I cannot check up on a wounded comrade?”

“You know sir, were it any one else I would expect an ulterior motive. I can actually believe that from you.”

“Pity I do have an ulterior motive then.”

Jer'rahd sighs wincing again as the doctor working on his hooves prods something.

“Whoops, sorry General, but this is likely to hurt a great deal you really screwed up your hooves here. If I was not such a damn good doctor, you likely would never walk again.”

“You sure your not related to the Pelt family?”

“At any rate General Kaisur. General Mustang wishes you to return to Canterlot. You can complete your recovery there and report directly to him about this victory.”

“And fill out paperwork, are you being intentionally dodgy about what slowed you up sir?”

“Yes. Though a message has been sent to Canterlot with the information. If General Mustang thinks you need to hear it you will. As soon as the doctors see fit for you to travel a wagon train will take you and the other wounded to Canterlot.”

“If it gets him out of here faster we can be done in ten seconds flat.”
“Seriously I’ve met foals that whined less.”
“Honestly, we are more than happy to let some other ponies deal with him.”

“Your bedside manners are severely lacking.”

=================================================

“What do you mean you're lost Rhede!?!”

“Sorry, but as an earth pony aerial navigation is not my strong suit. I cannot even use the stars as guides during the daytime and everything looks different from up here.”

“So where do you think we are?”

“Well according to what I can figure Princess. We should be over Canterlot right now. I mean I would stop to ask for directions, but you know that's a long way down.”

Bleu turns her head back to glare at Rhede as the others look at the sheepish red earth pony.

“I am relatively certain that is Camp Geode down there.”

“Are you sure Starfall maybe Canterlot just shrunk, and got ugly, and moved to a scrub land on the far side of a mountain. It would be a good place to hide it from dragons.”

“Rhede just sit down and let a flier handle this. I've been here before, Bleu follow the road back towards the mountains.”

The dragon snorts wheeling around and winging in the direction Starfall told her. This would easily add a few more days travel time.

===========================================

“I feel silly.”

“You look silly too.”

“Thank you so much for that sir.”

Jer'rahd had been bandaged up and healed as best as the doctors could manage, a work force had arrived from Canterlot to start work on the city and clear out the bodies. Another supply train would be bringing the fallen back to Canterlot later in the week so their family’s could tend to their fallen loved ones. This first trip was just a few wagons with the ponies who were in no shape to continue fighting.

His back was wrapped in thick bandages as was most of his head, given the usual ragged state of his tail he looked very much like a mummified pony. A thick cast was wrapped around his chest as well making it a bit difficult to breath, with as often as he broke ribs he was used to this type of cast however. What he was not used to was having his front end propped up and his legs bound in a two wheeled torture device that was supposed to allow him to walk normally on his back legs while keeping his front hooves from the ground until they healed. The wheel chair was a horrid device of humiliation.

He had been visited by more than a few troops wishing to congratulate and thank him before he left though most never got past trying to hold in a laugh at the sight of him. The brace around his chest was also wrapped in bandages giving him the appearance of being much fatter than he really was. Thee giant pink bunny, that was the Manehatten hospitals' mascot, painted garishly on the front plate of the wheel chair did not help matters.

“Some pony shoot me now.”

“The carriage is here, at least you will not be seen inside that. “

“Thank Luna for small favors.”

He pushes off with his back hooves and promptly threw himself over the front of the wheel chair slamming face first into the ground with his back legs kicking wildly in the air as he struggled to right himself, his front legs still trapped in the device.

“Oh, you forgot to take the brakes off General, are you alright?”

The doctors move to help the cursing unicorn as Three Bear excuses himself before he can no longer contain his laughter.

=============================================

“So you can fly without magic then?”

“Yes, Starfall, indeed it is actually easier to fly when I do not have access to my magic.”

“Well you do kinda shrink a bit.”

“That is my actual size. A Goddesses powers tend to alter our appearance some.”

“So wait does that mean Celestia will shrink down as well if she uses all her magic?”

“Perhaps Rhede, she has a great deal more power available to her than I do. I have never seen her run out even though she has on occasion used far more magic than I can muster without any sign of weakness. I am her younger sister after all, perhaps when I reach as many years as she has I will no longer need to worry about how much power I can use.”

Bleu suddenly stands up, stretches, and yawns wide before cricking her neck and trying to shake the sleep from her eyes.

“Feel better now Bleu?”

“Yeah more or less, still starving though, just let me find a little dragons room and then we can get going, two more days of playing taxi and I can get a real meal and sleep in a real bed...”

=========================================================

The ponies pulling the carriage slid to a halt at the blood curdling scream coming from inside the lead wagon. Several of the escorting Guard rushed over and flung open the door to find Jer'rahd wide eyed , soaked in sweat, panting hard, and staring into nothing . He blinks turning his gaze to the door dark circles visible under his eyes.

“Are you alright sir?”

“Fine.... I'm fine.... I dozed off there for a little bit.”

“You do look like you could use some sleep sir, we should be in Canterlot by the morning.”

“Yes thank you, sorry about that.”

“No trouble Sir just making sure you are alright.”

===============================================

General Mustang smirked and Jer'rahd scowled.

“Pink bunny looks good on you there Kaisur, might need to alter your uniform a bit to reflect that.”

“Buck you sir.”

“HAH if you were not so useful in your rank I’d court marshell you for that one. Looks like you suffered enough for one day any how. Least this means my training ground can get repaired while you heal. Alright now what happened Kaisur.”

Jer'rahd tries to settle himself in the wheel chair as best he can while explaining the events that led up to his injury and the arrival of General Three Bear to Manehatten. He was stopped from time to time and asked specifics of the troop movements and defense abilities as well as a few other things that Jer'rahd did not see the importance of, like if the orcs looked like they were malnourished. When he finished the General paused pondering a moment before speaking.

“You remind me far to much of me when I was younger Kaisur, bat shit loco. Ease up a little in the future with the over the top crap that's likely to get you and any one with you killed.”

“I think I needed to cut loose on this one sir, I do feel better than I have in a while.”

“Yeah well you look worse. Then again from what I hear this is your natural state. Heavily wounded and still going. At any rate that clears up some intell. “

“Of what sort sir?”

“Always with the questions, fine least you don't gossip like General Shower does. Word was the orcs moved on their own without permission from their commanders, they sent a couple wings of white dragons out to bring the orcs back in, they encountered Three Bear and got the manure stomped out of them. A wing of them supposedly got away and is hiding somewhere inside of Equestria. We have ponies looking for them now, but the damned white dragons are hard to spot in a landscape covered in snow. Only Three Bear's force Princess Celestia, and the two of us know there's dragons across the front now. It needs to stay that way till we find them. No sense causing any further panic then what we already have. Now go have the medic take a look at you see if he has something non bunny related for you to walk around in.”

“Yes sir.”

“No matter how cutesy wootsy you look in it.”

“..............”

================================================

“We're stopping again? What gives? I can make it to Canterlot no problem we can even see the towers from here.”

“This is true, but by the same token Bleu we are at war. How would the Guards react to a dragon of your size trying to fly into Canterlot. You might be shot down before we are identified.”

“Gah, I’d like to see them try, its just so close.”

“It's fine, one more night in the field won't hurt us, then we just trot up to the gate tomorrow and we are home free. I mean look at the Princess, one more night of sleep and shes back to her glowy hair normal self again. Once she's back in Canterlot its back to work for her.”

“You seem strangely OK with this Rhede that worries me.”

“What, why would I not be thrilled to be traveling around with four delightful women.”

“Only one of whom has any interest in you and even she's been mostly ignoring you lately.”

“Yes well. I was threatened with violence if I did not stop complaining. You four are actually driving me crazy..... I really miss Jer. At least if he was here some of this female insanity would be lessened.”

“HAH,You know as well as I do he would do what ever Luna says. Though your not the only one who misses him. Wonder how the Boss is doing?”

============================================

“Well we have good news and bad news for you General Kaisur.”

“Alright.”

“The good news is that we can put your front legs in armored casts so you need not remain in the bunny wheel chair. It will still be preferred if you keep off of your front hooves a while , but at least the bunny can go home.”

“If I was able, I would be dancing with that revelation.”

“Yes, well that's part of the bad news, it will still be a while before we will be pulling those casts off. They will limit your mobility and ability to fight properly so you will still need to take it easy. All the new advances in magical healing will heal your hooves too quickly and they likely will not mend correctly as bad as they are. Since the magic goes after the largest injury first we cannot even use them for your back or ribs.”

“Not as bad as I thought, alright and the Nightmares?”

“How long have you been having them again?”

“Since I was in the buffalo lands. They were not that bad at first, did not even bother my sleep. Now I am lucky if I can get an hour before I wake up screaming, some times parts of it linger and other times all of it does.”

“Well, best we can do is try a sleep spell. That should at least allow for a dreamless sleep. Given your magical limitations however some one else will need to cast from the scroll to put you to sleep. If your familiar was here likely she could, but for now it would be best if you stayed in the hospital for a few more days at the very least to make sure the casts we put on you will set properly, So then shall we get you out of that wheel chair and back to walking at least some what properly.”

“Sounds good to me doc.”

===========================================

“In hind sight, the castle seemed much closer than this when we landed last night.”

“We seem to be doing that a lot Starfall. Tell you what, you drop the nonsense about my lack of aerial navigation, and I won't bring up your inability to judge distance on the ground.”

“I believe I can agree with that Rhede.”

Bleu suddenly stands up on Velkorn's back her head turning as she seems to sniff the air her tail whipping nervously against the zebra's side.

“Hmm Bleu what..?”

“Shhh”

The little dragon flies up to just over the tree tops to look around. Starfall and Luna fly up as well trying to find out what she was doing.

“What is going on Bleu?”

“Do you smell that?”

“I am afraid I am unable to smell anything past that our little group is in dire need of a bath.”

“I got used to that Princess, but there's something else in the air … some kinda musty oily smell that is really familiar.”

“Familiar how?”

“Familiar as in bad, but I cannot place where I know it from arrrgh, think, think, think...... wait..... Dullahan......”

“What about Dullahan Bleu. You need to be less cryptic I already don't get half of what the Princess says.”

“Really Starfall am I that bad?”

“Err, at times So what is it then Bleu?”

“Dragon.”

Starfall was about to respond when the forest before them erupted. Six large white shapes burst from the trees, soaring into the sky, and making a bee line for the not so distant towers of Canterlot.

“What!?. How are they this close to the castle..... Tia....”

Bleu drops down to the ground, changing quickly to her full sized form glancing back at Rhede and Velkorn urging them to climb on. Once the two have a firm hold on her spines, she takes off into the air again flying fast in pursuit of the six white dragons with Luna and Starfall taking positions on either side of her as they chase after the group.

===========================================

“So how are they General?”

Jer'rahd smirks a bit turning slowly getting used to the metal braces around his forelegs. He could barely bend his legs and the things were quite loud when he moved, but at least he was out of the chair.

“I can work with these. Is there a armored or spiked version?”

“General, these are to aid in your recovery, not for you to wear into battle.”

“Always good to be ….”

The sound of a clanging bell ends that sentence. Jer'rahd's ears perk at the alarm, before he shoulders past the doctor out into the hall clanking along loudly trying to keep on his hooves.

“ General wait!”

“Get to a shelter doc I need to be on the walls for this.”

“General Mustang said you were not on active duty!”

“Yeah well if Canterlot is being attacked its not like I can rest.”

He shoves open the doors to outside avoiding ponies running around like mad rabbits. He forms a shield before one stopping the unicorn in his tracks the panicked candy stripier looking to him in shock.

“Let me go... I need to get to a shelter...”

“What's going on?”

“Dragons are attacking Canterlot I need to get out of here.”

“Dragons?”

“Yes let me go!!”

Jer'rahd drops the shield letting the pony scurry off, not even paying attention as the candy stripier gallops away. His gaze turned sky ward spotting a group of pegasus gathering along the northwestern wall. He half gallops, half stumbles towards the wall making a ramp up to the top of it to look over, spotting the white shapes immediately against the blue sky. The small force of pegasus salute him as General Shower flies up. She starts shouting orders to the pegasus, who in turn take off to carry those commands to the others along the wall. She offers a glance his way as he studies the approaching dragons. Finally she sighs and trots over.

“General Kaisur get off the wall my pegasus can handle this.”

“I have no doubt of that Sir, but I also have no plans to go hide in a shelter someplace.”

“That was an order General.”

“I barely listen to General Mustang Sir, what hope do you have?”

“If I did not have six dragons to worry about I would kick your flank across Canterlot for that snark!”

“Seven.”

“What?”

“There are seven dragons, a blue one just took off from the forest behind them.”

“Buck, You are not to engage in combat Kaisur. Do you understand me?”

“It is not as if I can fly sir. If one gets through your group however I will defend Canterlot to the best of my abilities.”

“Now I know why Mustang bitches about you so much, I doubt I was even this annoying. Fine. Watch and learn how the air force does things.”

“I am prepared to be dazzled sir.”

===============================================

The dragons had noticed they were being followed, though oddly they did not seem concerned about the blue dragon gaining on them. The one in the lead shouts something back and the others chortle a bit as they continue towards the castle. Bleu turns her head back a bit to Rhede muttering.

“What did they just say?”

“I am surprised you speak so many languages, but not your own.”

“I only speak three and my language is pony not dragon.”

“They said you are late to the party Starscream.”

“Who is Starscream? Do you know Bleu?”

“That was my mother Starfall. I didn't care, but Platinum was curious and found out. She was killed in the first dragon war, evidently I look like her and these idiots didn't pay attention to their history classes.”

“Do we have a plan then Princess?”

“Take them down.”

“Of course so simple, alright its been close to a week shall we do something crazy again?”

Velkorn, Starfall, and Bleu smile as Rhede Stands up as best he can on Bleu's back roaring out something to the dragons ahead of them. The six dragons falter in their flight looking back at the blue dragon behind them one them finally noticing the ponies riding Bleu and shouts to the others. Bleu takes that moment to exhale a lightning bolt that strikes the lead dragons tail bringing a roar from the singed white scaled beast. Four of them quickly turn about to fly back at their attacker the other two speed up their charge towards Canterlot.

“What the buck did you say Rhede?”

“Tell you later Starfall, I am sure Bleu wants to know to add it to her collection of insults... Whoop here we go.”

Bleu banks suddenly diving under a blast of cold ice filed air the dragons sent her way. Rhede and Velkorn shift, moving to stay on the Bleu's back. Starfall and the Princess wing the other way, Luna's horn glowing as she fires bolts of energy that slam into one of the dragons sending scales and blood flying though the beast remains aloft. Starfall takes advantage of her speed darting down and slamming hard into the wounded lizards back her blades digging deep into the descaled parts of its hide.

The dragon with the singed tail flips about moving to rip Starfall from the back of his companion when Bleu collides with him, the two fall from the sky, her claws rake across his belly and exposed body. Her own scales join the falling cascade of scales and blood as he lands more than a few claw strikes as well. He chances a glance back as their tumbling forms near the ground he winces sinking his claws into her front legs clutching tight intent bringing her to the ground with him. Velkorn and Rhede cling to the back of the dragon for dear life as they fall. Bleu grins shrinking down suddenly and slipping free of his grip kicking off him and changing back to her full form to grab Rhede and Velkorn with her front claws wings unfurling wide as she pulls up in time to do little more that have her underbelly scrape across the tree tops, the crunching splatter of the white dragon all but ignored behind her.

Another dragon she's she still in the air and banks away from the battle with Princess Luna moving to fly right behind the Blue dragon. Velkorn glowers as Rhede wraps his tail around one of Bleu's spines flinging a few of his blades towards the face of their pursuer. Bleu dodges about avoiding the blasts of cold though one glances off her wings tip bringing a shuddering wince to her body as the cold shreds the flesh and thin membrane of her wing tip.

“I must admit this is quite the trip, Bleu if you would give me a tail flip.”

The zebra charges down the dragons back ignoring Rhede's cry of protest , her hooves slipping on Bleu's scales as she reaches the tail as Bleu jerks it suddenly launching the zebra into the air. Velkorn manages to predict correctly and lands on the white dragons wing as its lifting up knocking her directly onto the beasts back. She scrambles along the smooth scales as the creature bucks flipping around her teeth gripping a spine as she lashes out with her hooves slamming them repeatedly along the muscled joint of the white dragons wing.

“DOES EVERY PONY HAVE TO FOLLOW JER'S EXAMPLE!?!”

The dragon roars its wing seizing up sending it into a spiral towards the ground. Bleu turns back around as a volley of daggers strike at the dragons face forcing it to turn away from firing a blast at the on coming blue dragon.

Velkorn leaps off the dragons wing towards Bleu as she soars past claws ripping the wing off the falling beast. Velkorn lands on the blue scaled back once more, breath knocked out of her as she starts to slide off. A black tail wraps about her leg pulling her back up, Rhede's teeth clench around one of Bleu's spines as he pulls the zebra back to a spot she could hold herself.

Starfall grins her blades sinking deep enough into a wound to reach something vital, at least judging by the dragons faltering flight. She digs the weapon in deeper twisting and jerking the blade about in the wound, her face and shoulders soaked in dragons blood. She leaps free as the beast seems to croak its last breath, body going limp and falling out of the sky. A quick whip of her wings cleans the blood from them enough to allow her to soar into the sky to help the Princess. Starfall stops and face hooves at that thought, as she watches Luna dart around the dragon raining hoof blows on the last beast that shatter scales with every touch.

The Princess remains stone faced as her hooves contact the dragons scales, a bit of magic aiding in the impact causing small bursts of blue fire to aid in her strikes. She darts around him like he was standing still, picking the dragon apart bit by bit until it becomes hard to tell where the creatures scales even cover it any more. The creature was already franticly trying to fly away though Luna was having none of that and had started hammering the creatures head specificly with her blows, eventually a strike hits the beasts head with enough force that her hoof punctures the skull and crushes the creatures brain directly. yanks her hoof free as the white dragon falls gore trailing from its eyes and the new hole in its head.

==================================================

“FIRST SQUAD GO.”

General Meteor Shower leaps off the battlements followed by a good two dozen pegasus with spears, nets, and bolos. Jer'rahd watches them take off though most of his attention had been focused on the fight behind the two advancing dragons. He wished he had the magic to aid in distance viewing or at least a telescope, two of the dragons seemed to have fallen out of the sky themselves with out the blue dragon being any where nearby. A burst of fire drew his attention to the near battle as General Shower cackles loudly, her whole body bursting into flames as she slams into the side of one of the beasts. Jer'rahds eyes widen at that move though his attention is drawn to the last dragon winging towards Canterlot, easily out distancing the encumbered pegasus chasing it. He frowns as the dragon moves closer to the wall remembering what happened last time he tried to stop a dragon.

He forms a large shield in the air before the beast, ignoring the sudden impact and feed back of the spell as the dragon breaks through it, to form another, then another. The white dragon plows through six of the shield panels slowing with each one until he bounces off the seventh and is set upon by the pursuing pegasus force. The nets and bolos entangle its wings bringing it crashing to the ground as the spear wielding pegasus tuck their wings and fall from the sky putting all their weight in the the large spears they carried and impaling the writhing beast to the ground before the castle wall. As his gaze clears from the headache induced by the destruction of his shields he notes the charred corpse of the other dragon crashing to the ground and shattering apart like a lump of charcoal. General Shower grins her burning hooves the last thing go out, she looks up in time to see the blue dragon barreling down on the city.

“Oh crap.”

Jer'rahd winces trying to form another shield when the dragon suddenly shrinks in mid air dropping a very panicked red pony and a annoyed looking zebra. Its little blue form streaks towards him at an alarming speed.

“Boss pony, catch me!!”

“What?!?WHOOOOOMMFMFFF”

The resulting impact of small blue dragon and injured unicorn sent both of them off the battlements to crash into one of the market stalls set up along the wall. Several pegasus move to rescue the General before a commanding voice halts them.

“WE ORDER THAT YOU STAND DOWN SOLDIERS. THAT ONE IS A MEMBER OF THE GUARD.”

The pegasus look back towards the voice to see Princess Luna gliding down to land on the battlements, a very strained Starfall holding Rhede, who had Velkorn's tail gripped in his teeth, struggle to land on the top of the wall.

Rhede and Velkorn run down the steps as Starfall pauses to catch her breath before gliding down to the destroyed stall to find out what happened to Bleu and Jer'rahd. Luna glances after them but stays in the air to direct General Shower to the clean up effort.

The three poke their heads into the stall wincing a little, Rhede pulls back yelling out.

“MEDIC!”

Velkorn and Starfall both belt him in the back of the head with a hoof. Jer'rahd twitches, flat on his back, out cold, with a small blue dragon passed out across his heavily bandaged chest.

“Why is it every time we leave him alone, he winds up looking like a mummy?”

“Not that I have to point it out to you, but he winds up like this when we are with him too.”

=============================================

“I am glad that you are well General though I question how you managed to hurt yourself so badly in a few short weeks.”

“You should know by now Princess that this is what happens when I get left alone too long.”

The group half trots and half hobbles, in Jer'rahd's case, towards the throne room to inform Celestia of their return. Bleu remains draped across Jer'rahd's back snoring softly. Velkorn had taken to prodding and poking at the bandages covering him and paying close attention to the armored boots he wore.

“Dare I even ask, this damage was caused by what task?”

“Killing an Orc god. The Waning Moon works perfectly for that by the way Princess. Well Almost perfectly I had to carve him up a bit..... and it needs a guard of some kind....”

“I will inquire as to further detail about that strangely flippant response later General, for now I need to inform my sister of what has....”

“LULU!!!”

“What?!?WHOOOOOMMFMFFF”

The group collectively winces as the white blur of Celestia plows into her sister hugging the smaller alicorn tightly.

“Oh yes.... I forgot to mention Celestia is in some sort of mood.....”

“We will have words later General....”

“Eeerrr, yes Princess.”

====================================

It took a bit of time for Princess Celestia to let go of her sister and regain her composure. It took a little more time for Rhede and Starfall to stop snickering at the event. She invited them all into her study to let every one catch up as well as inform them of the current goings on in Canterlot. None of them really mattered past the war effort and the Winter Wrap Up event and Jer'rahd already knew most of the current events, he simply let Celestia speak, more than content to know everyone else was fine. When she had finished she let Luna proceed with the tale of the attempts to gather allies.


Celestia listened in as Luna informed them of the failed attempts as well as the situation with the wendigo. Her eyes shifted over each of them as their parts in everything came up. She pauses for the longest time on Velkorn eyes focused on the necklace, a small smile crossing her lips. Jer'rahd listened intently as well, having not been aware of anything that happened after Rhede left the torture room when he was ordered to. He noticed Celestia was letting her sister talk without interruption so he held his questions as well, though he would have very much liked to facehoof as the bit about Rhede's negotiations came up. Thankfully both Velkorn and Starfall smacked him in the back of the head for that, evidently not having heard it before either.

Celestia and Luna ignored the now wounded Rhede's complaints ,as Celestia seems to consider the story.

“General while I consider this would you mind informing them as to what you have been up to? Feel free however to leave out our discussion. “

“Alright. I suppose though I do have a couple of questions about what happened myself. The one I really want to ask is sleeping beauty here. So that's a little difficult.”

Jer'rahd explains what he could remember from Neighlantis, which was not much, and what happened after he woke fighting a Hydra. He went on skipping the return to Canterlot except for a few highlights before starting into what had happened in Manehatten. Rhede stared at him, Starfall looked a little torn between being annoyed at him or proud at the accomplishment, and Velkorn looked to be gnashing her teeth at the sheer volume of idiotic things he did to sustain the injuries he had. He inched a bit further away from the zebra just in case she wished to take a swing at him as well.

“.........At least I got out of that damn squeaky wheel chair.”

“Sounds like you had a rather pretty mare nurse watching over you for a bit there too Jer.”

“She was married.”

“Ooh, checked on that did you? “

“I'm jaded Rhede, not dead.”

“I question that with all my might, it likely will be safer if you do not leave my sight.”

“Look some pony had to do what was done and I was there. I already feel bad enough that you went on without me, don't add my injuries to that pile.”

“It is not as if we could have brought you along Jer'rahd. I would have very much liked to have you along as well, but you were in no shape to come with us.”

“I likely still am not Princess. I still have issues from that.”

“Seems they were not enough to stop you from hurting yourself though Jer'rahd.”

“Yes well, I usually don't need any help to do that.”

“Would the five of you excuse my sister and I . there are a few things I wish to discuss with Luna alone. “

“Of course Princess provided we can get our cripple back to his hooves and out the door.”

“Oh goody Bleu is asleep and you try to take over as the Element bearer of laughter Starfall? This should worry me.”

===========================================

The Princesses watch the group leave Jer'rahd mentioning something about a drink and getting slapped by all three of the others for it.

“So how bad is it Luna?”

“Fairly bad. With the exception of General Three Bear none of them will, or can help, and Aqua is little more than the next war waiting to happen.”

“That is a far worse turn of events than I had considered. Surely my joke could not have brought this about.”

“I doubt it sister. So do not worry about that. She may have been like this since the Discordian war even and simply been hiding it. She planed to ransom me for the books so likely there is a connection.”

“I knew they were dangerous, but how could Aqua have known we had them?”

“She claimed her adviser could sense their presence on me.”

Celestia's eyes narrow a bit as she turns looking at her sister.

“How much of them have you been reading?”

“I have already read all of them Tia. I had to to understand where to even find the Elements resting place. Do stop looking at me like that. There was nothing in any of them that was dangerous to either of us. And even fewer things that were worth casting at all.”

“Those books are why Discord did what he did to Aviana. They twisted him further than he was to begin with. The only thing we should be doing with them is figuring out how to destroy them.”

Luna's eyes narrow as she regards her sister.

“There are still things in them worth casting. I will not lose a potentially powerful weapon in a time of war simply because one insane creature could not control his libido enough to understand Aviana did not return his affections. I have no plans to destroy them sister, and if need be I will use everything in them to win this war and the next. We have no allies, we have no time, and we have several races under the command of dragons camped out nearly on our door step, waiting for the slightest hint that they can come in. I will gasp at every advantage we might have, no matter how much of a long shot it might be. That is the only reason I was even willing to go on this fools errand for you Celestia. We both knew it was going to end in failure, only now it has ended in failure and the start of another war. There is no longer a chance for negotiation, we either fight or we die. And when we fight we need to make sure that we remove the threat to this land with enough force that any one else will not even consider trying to wage war with us again. Only then will you have the peace you seek sister.”

Luna had risen to her hoofs and was practically yelling at her sister now. Celestia simply regarded her with casual indifference and a some what saddened look on her face.

“War will not bring peace Luna.”

“Peace will not come about any other way. You might have gotten to the point where you can sit in Canterlot and ignore what is going on outside. But I have been in the lands recently and I have seen with my own eyes how ponies are considered by the other races of the world. We are either a joke or a hassle to the lot of them. Your are a foal if you think everything is going to be all better because you wish it to be so.”

“You are tired and should rest, we will talk again later when you have calmed down. “

“There is nothing..”

“LUNA. OUR CONVERSATION IS ENDED. GO REST.”

Luna steps back a moment looking down at Celestia the white alicorns eyes narrowed to slits as she glares down the Moon Goddess, her whipping mane and tail showing a agitated state that her calm expression did not match.

“As you wish Celestia.”

Luna turns storming out of the study leaving Celestia alone to sip her tea.

=========================================

“What do you mean your going to bed? I just got up boss!”

“You have also been riding around on my back all day and missed everything. While it is nice to see you again Bleu I have not been sleeping well lately and could use a nights rest. Can you handle the spell on the scroll? “

“Yeah, its simple enough, heck you should be able to use it yourself honestly. I think this was another of the think tanks ideas. See these runes along the edge? Each one is a dose of the spell. When they run out the paper becomes useless. I guess the reason they wanted some one else to cast it is so in case something goes wrong.”

“Well either way I want to sleep in my own bed tonight, I am sick to death of hospital beds. I have not even been home in two months.”

“So what do we do now any way?”

“Wait for Luna I suppose. You should check on your think tank, Velkorn was planing to head to Manehatten to check on the Queen's Cross. Starfall is spending as much time as she can With her daughter and Rhede and I are headed to Ponyville tomorrow to check up on mayor Maw Pelt.”

“Aww I wanted to go see her as well, specially the hell she is gonna give you for getting hurt again. We just got everyone back together, and now we are splitting up again.”

Jer'rahd drops onto the bed clearly exhausted which makes Bleu curious as to why he would need the spell.

“We will not be that far apart for long, Manehatten is only three hours gallop away and Rhede and I will be back tomorrow night. We can hit a bar or something. Still want to know where you learned to fly like that.”

“What? I hang out with Starfall. Don't think I would pick something up?”

“Heh, alright Bleu, I'll buy that. Go ahead with the spell.”

Bleu mutters the spell, one rune fading from the paper as the unicorn shudders slightly, feeling the spell take effect and putting him out immediately. Bleu sighs throwing a blanket over him and rolling the scroll back up, dropping it on the night stand before heading out and trying to curl up in her own bed.

She sighs, after tossing about for a while, she gets up heading back into Jer'rahd's room and climbing onto the bed with him curling up against his back. She simply lay there a while before drifting off to her own light sleep not really feeling comfortable leaving him alone long. Even with how long it had been, and how Platinum had shown up to comfort her, the image of Jer'rahd filled with spears and dieing kept creeping back into her mind.

Once again he nearly died when she was no where around to even try and help him. She was terrified he would head off one day and she would never see him alive again. And every time her mind took that route the image from the test appeared in her head once more.

============================================

Luna looks over the ingredients she had collected with a sigh. In particular the last ingredient to the spell. She had the black pearl, the twig from the Yggdrasil, as well as the blood of the corrupt. She had thought the last would be the hardest, but she had over looked this one.

The heart of a black dragon.

Something like that should be easy to acquire, but so far there had been no reports of a black dragon anywhere. She sighs, floating the Gray Grimoire back into the chest it was stored in with the other two. The ingredients she gathered soon joined the book as she pondered briefly. Her anger at her sister had yet to calm. Celestia was blinded by optimism and could not see what was happening around her. She truly loved her sister, but at times like this she was immensely pissed off at her as well.

She settled back trotting over to her bed with a sigh. Perhaps she was right perhaps things would look better in the morning. Luna doubted it, but perhaps at least some plan would work properly for once without a high cost in lives. Winter Wrap Up was supposedly underway this week, that itself might help with resources which were already dwindling.

She flops down onto her bed her gaze traveling to the open window watching her moon's slow decent towards dawn until she finally drifted off to sleep

==============================================


“Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed “

Starfall sighs half dozing herself as she softly sung to her daughter. She had managed to make it home not long before the filly’s bed time and had been drug into Cloud Dancer's room for a bedtime story and a lullaby.

“Hush now. Quiet now.
It's time to lay your sleepy head.
Hush now. Quiet now.
It's time to go to bed.

She almost thought her little filly might have gotten too old for this sort of thing by now, yet she seemed quite happy to let her mother sing her to sleep.

“Driftin' off to sleep.
The exciting day behind you.
Driftin' off to sleep.
Let the joy of dream land find you.”

“Hush now. Quiet now.
Lay your sleepy head.
Said hush now. Quiet now.
It's time to go to bed.”

She blinked slowly rising from the bed, the soft breathing of Cloud Dancer clue enough that the filly had drifted off to sleep. She leans in kissing her forehead lightly and flaps her wings lightly gliding back out of the room to not make any noise. She smiles softly closing the door and turning to stare straight into the very annoyed face of her sisters mare friend.

Starfall blinks looking at Stormsong as the mare waves her towards the kitchen and heads off there herself not bothering to look back to see if she was being followed. The mare pushes the door shut as Starfall walks in waiting for it to close before turning to glare venom at the other pegasus.

“What the buck do you think you are doing?”

“Singing my daughter to sleep like she asked.”

“Not that, you know what I am talking about. You vanish for months at a time and then saunter back in here like nothing has happened. Hasn't your inflated sense of pride given up on this shit yet?”

“My pride has nothing to do..”

“BULLSHIT Starfall. That is a great heaping pile of it, and you damn well know it. You could have accepted the money offered like half a million other mares and stallions, gotten back on your hooves and carried on with your life. But no, you refuse the money and then go off leaving your daughter for extended periods with no assurance that you will even be coming back.”

“You are out of line.”

“LIKE HELLS I AM. Who gets left here explaining to your daughter where you are and why you have not come home. What happens when you get killed how the hell are we going to tell her that? Oh sorry, dear your mom had such a stick up her ass and inflated ego she left you to go fight a war she did not even have to be in.”

“I am saving ponies lives out there.”

“Let some other pony do it, and be a damn mother for once in your life. She was three years old when you left and shes ten now going on eleven soon. She's seen her teacher more often than she sees you.”

“Don't you think I know that? Every time I am not here I do my best to get back here I try my best to stay as close to her as I can, but there is no other pony who can do what I do, I know I have tried to teach others with no success.”

“Then you never should have repeated it after the first time. That stupid rain bloom or what ever of yours, every time you do that you cement yourself deeper into the military as an asset they cannot do with out.”

“Every time I use it, I save ponies lives or make the world better some how. You want me to let lives be lost just because I want to see my daughter more? In case you have not noticed there is going to be a massive war out there and very soon, Canterlot itself was attacked by dragons today. Without ponies like me every one would be dead. Is that getting through your anti war propaganda flooded skull?”

“Don't even try to lecture me. I was in the Guard same as you, only I was smart enough to leave when my time was up. I also didn't have a foal dependent on me when I joined up. Do you even know what her favorite book is? What colt she has a crush, on her favorite food?”

“Six months of trying and failing basic training does not count as being in the Guard. You didn't have a foal, cause your little more than a barren wench of a filly fooler.”

Storm Song belts Starfall across the face with her wing growling, Starfall's return slap nearly knocks the mare to the floor.

“You are pressing very close to dangerous territory Starfall.”

“Buck that. You want a go at me, I will not hesitate to end you. The only reason I even let you in this house is my sister seems to like you for some reason, and Cloud Dancer thinks your alright. You want to hurl insults and talk shit that's fine. I am used to that, but you will not tell me how to live my life.”

“What sort of life do you think you have now? You spend all your time wanting to be back with your daughter and then when you are, you spend it worrying about when your going to be away from her again. It boils down to your damn pride.”

“I will not let ponies die or suffer just to make my life easier. The Princesses themselves think I can do some damn good out there, my own suffering is nothing compared to what I can stop by staying right where I am.”

“And what about Cloud Dancer's suffering. What about the worry she has that any time you leave you won't be coming back?

“This conversation is done.”

“Only for you.”

======================================================

“Odd to see you in here tonight Miss Velkorn. Especially drinking alone. Wheres that red stallion you always seem interested in?”

I did not come here to pout, but all I know is that he is out.”

“Chasing some other tail huh. Pity nothing wrong with yours. Might be in your interest to find someone else. No matter how good you think he looks.”

“That I find him attractive I cannot deny, but it seems so one sided at least to my eye.”

“So what will it be, the usual then? I guess since Jer'rahd's not here I don't have to close the bar down at least. Not like its been a busy night any way. If your more comfortable with it you can always stick to your native tongue. I do speak zebra, dragon and a few other languages... you have no idea how much that helps with running a bar.”

[“I suppose I can see how it would Starcloud.”]

[“Right, well I suppose you need to get something off your chest as well. Most of us bar keeps tend to have a degree in psychiatry in our skill set, as well as enough martial prowess to throw the rowdy out on their flank.”]

[“Really? “]

[“Nah pulling your tail with the first part though, I do get a lot of sob stories. Not many drunks tend to be able to keep quiet when wasted. Your friends are some of the few exceptions..... OK, not the Princess... she was rather loud and obnoxious drunk. Funny though.”]

The bar keep sets a glass before the zebra who looks at it briefly before draining half of it in a few gulps and starting to just nurse the rest.

[“I often wonder why Jer'rahd comes here every chance he gets. And yet now that I have developed problems this is the first place I go.”]

[“Can't speak for your friends reasons, but a lot of soldiers come here, usually to just drink themselves stupid so they do not have to remember what they have done or lived through. Papers say he's done quite a bit and had a lot happen to him for it. I can understand that might be the reason he's taken to the cups so easily, same with the bottomless pit that rides around with him. If that's how much a little dragon drinks I don't want to see how much a full grown one can drink.”]

[“About three barrels of particularly strong drink. “]

[“ Ehh?”]

[“Bleu has gotten a bit bigger, you may wish to increase your stock soon.”]

[“Bugger. So then you still have not brought up whats on your mind, though I suspect its still Rhede?”]

[“Indeed”]

[“Why don't you look for some one else, hell you seem alright enough with Jer'rahd I am pretty sure he's single.”]

[“Hah, I do not see him that way in the slightest, half the time I see him as a friend the other half the time I see him as an experiment of how much one pony can live through. I have whole chapters in a book about treatments I have used on him when he does something stupid. No, the only pony I have interest in is Rhede. With the way he is I do not know why I do. He seems to be trying his damnedest to push me away.”]

[“Likely does not want to see you hurt, I see a few ponies like him around full on playstallions. Most of them don't seem to care what happens to their conquests so long as they get what they want. If he had not been refusing you I would have pegged him the same.”]

[“If he does not want to see me hurt then he should stop hinting that there might be more to it and simply tell me. I am not some filly who needs to be softly guided into rejection. His actions counter his words and then vice versa I have no idea how he truly feels about me.”]

[“ You likely never will unless he wants you too. He strikes me as one of those types who only gives you just as much information as he thinks you need. Pity might be easier for you if he was one of those who ran his mouth off when drunk.”]

Velkorn takes another sip of her drink and sighs.

[“I wish it would be that simple. He is an annoying bit of work that infuriates me every time he does something, and yet I still can some how forgive him for any thing he does.”]

[“ Sounds like love, or some mental condition, but like I said the psychiatric degree is purely for show. So don't take my word for it.”]

===============================================

“Odd to find you out here. Shouldn't you be drinking some mare into your bed by now Pelt?”

“I am not solely defined by my libido Princess. Granted if a few drinks is all you would need to join me in bed I might consider it.”

“ I doubt even you could handle me. So what sort of deep thoughts are keeping you from your bed?”

“I could ask you the same thing. Half the castle heard you yelling at Princess Luna. Even if the why of it was missed.”

“I did not expect the conversation to turn to me so quickly, you are quite good at that Pelt, though I do plan to stay the course of my questions as to what ails you.”

“Everything really. It's all been one big game to me for most of my life. Enjoy what you can avoid what you can't. Now I've been dropped into things I can't avoid or dodge or even get away from.”

“I believe that is called growing up.”

“Ha ha. I am serious. My whole little world gets ripped down around me and slowly built back up. I am still trusted by most of my friends regardless of what I did, hell Jer even knows everything and he still wants to associate with me.”

“He is an unusual pony.”

“He's an idiot. So's Velkorn......”

“Oh? I take it she still has interest in you then?”

“Heavily.”

“You could always accept and settle down you know.”

“Do I seem the sort that can settle down?”

“Well there is that. Though if you do not have the interest why not simply tell her? She is no frail thing.”

“Because an out right rejection would hurt her. And I have been doing my best to keep from doing that. Especially after the deal with the order. I would rather not hurt any one who doesn't deserve it.”

“A quick cut would cause less pain then this slow drawn out approach you are taking. Likely every mare you are with that is not her will twist that blade of pain a bit deeper. Though honestly I cannot say how she feels. It has been far too long since I was in any situation even remotely similar.”

“Heh, Honestly I think I would like to meet the pony that would deny you, they would either be blind or have balls bigger than their flank.”

“Nothing quite as dramatic. We give up a lot by simply being who we are Rhede. We are forced to watch as time steals the life away from every one around us, and there is nothing we can do to stop or even stall it for long. It is one reason I tend to panic whenever my sister is gone, or missing for very long. She has been the only constant for me for thousands of years aside from the inevitable rise and fall of the sun and moon. Even the other gods of the world, while just as long lived, are no comfort. Most seek to enslave or simply kill ponies. But then again you knew most of that.”

“Yes though hearing it in that tone makes it a great deal more impacting. Need to be careful about that sort of dark mood Princess. You are supposed to be the shining beacon of purity and leadership of pony kind.”

“Every pony has their issues Rhede. How one works though them or surmounts them is what defines us. I am sure you will be able to work through yours in time. Goodnight Rhede.”

“Perhaps, good night Princess.”

======================================

He was unable breath,his movements felt sluggish as he struggled. Nothing but darkness, hollow sounding and cold surrounded him, slowing his limbs and stealing his life. He lashes out, hooves connecting with something, the only thing he had felt yet in this world and he felt it give from the blow . He bucks out again hearing an echoing crack in the darkness as his hooves connect again. The black ink suddenly giving way, a hole of blinding light appears where his hooves struck, yanking him, pulling him towards it.

He is sucked out of the hole and flung into space bright blinding light surrounds him as he takes the first sharp breath of nearly frozen air before the sensation of falling in noticed. He forms a shield to stop his fall and passes right through it before he can form another his back slams into a immovable object before he bounces off of it still tumbling down in the blinding light. A flash of pain is felt from the impact, before he doesn't feel anything. He strikes several other objects he cannot see in his fall barely able to see his form becoming twisted and broken, though he was unable to feel it. He finally slams hard into what he thinks is the ground ,a pool of blood forming around him as his body refuses to move at his command.

He looks up seeing shadows in the light, vague outlines and voices of those he knows. They claim he was useless now, no help to any one, better he died than to be like this. One by one they began to fade vanishing into the light leaving his broken body paralyzed, alone on the ground. He could hear conflict, screams of the dieing, triumphant roars of monsters. A line of red marred the other wise white landscape, growing larger as it rushed towards him. A wave of blood surging across the land, drained from the dead, rushing at him and sinking him into its submerged depths again.


Just like every other night he slept, Jer'rahd woke screaming. The spell breaking from the sudden surge of adrenaline and fear. He all but jumped out of bed flinging a panickedd dragonling into the air as he fought the sheetswrappedd around him before crashing heavily to the floor. Bleu bounces off the wall and then lands back on the bed peering over the edge of the bed as he gets a hold of himself, panting heavily.

“You OK boss?”

“So much for a dreamless sleep.......”

=============================================

“You look horrid Jer'rahd. You getting enough sleep colt?”

“Not nearly as much as I would like Maw, but that cannot be helped.”

“Need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.”

“I know Maw just a lot has been happening. So how has everything been going? I gather you already had the new addition to the family then? I am sure when Fox and Wolf let Rhede up he will be interested in meeting the new sibling.”

“Daughter, Jer'rahd. Named her Golden. “

“Golden Pelt, has a nice ring to it.”

“Thank you, planning on coming out for the wedding ?”

“First I have heard of a wedding.”

“Oh really? I know you were the one who arraigned to have those two stallions you brought along to the party posted out here. Was wondering if Fisher or Faux had you set that up.”

“Ugh, I expected those mares to work fast, but not this fast. Which one broke down?”

“You need to have a little more respect for them, blood sisters or not.”

Jer'rahd raises an eyebrow at Maw who sighs.

“OK, yes it was a little fast, but Fisher got Potato to propose to her. Biggs seems the smarter of the two. He only promised to do so if he survived the war, claims he does not want to hurt her if he gets killed.”

“I have no say if they will get deployed any where else Maw. I do have superiors myself still. But if I can they will stay at this post, so please stop giving me that look.”

“I will hold you to that. Now then I guess I can show you whats going on while Rhede tries to get free. Those two at least had the sense not to tackle the injured pony.”

“I am also glad they are still too young to join... both of them have interest in the Guard. This is just the wrong time to try and join it.”

“Yes, but its not likely they will change their minds regardless of how they act, those two look up to both you and Rhede. Personally I don't see how, as every time I see you your sporting some new wound.”

“I was fine when I came here for Hearths Warming.”

“Yeah and right after you had your heart ripped out and spat on. Not to mention the poison. You going to visit them?”

“I do every time I am here. The place has grown quite a bit, though you seem to have forgotten to cut down a tree in the middle of the town”

“Ah, no pony is going to touch that tree. Princess Celestia herself planted that tree when the town first started.”

“Your kidding, it looks like its two or three years old already, Celestia was only here two months ago.”

“Show some respect for her colt, but yes. The Princess must have a might powerful green hoof.”

The pair trot and hobble respectively though the town, the metallic clank of the armored casts on Jer'rahds's front hooves the only sound made by the two for a good while. Jer'rahd pauses suddenly looking at a small patch of land that still had not had anything built on it. He turns his gaze looking over to Maw curiously as she nods.

“When I was made Mayor, I was given all rights to every plot of land in this town. Including that one. I figured I would hold onto it a bit, see if you might want it back.”

Jer'rahd smiles slightly moving over to hug the smaller mare, who blinks at the odd gesture from the unicorn.

“Thank you Maw, but that stopped being my home a long time ago. Use it for what ever you think it should be used for. I don't mind.”

“Well now. That's rather mature of you.. Now if I can get Rhede to grow up some as well I might see a grand foal yet. Not seeing any one else are you?”

“After my luck with mares Maw? The next one I show interest in is likely to die, there's a depressing pattern in my choice of marefriends. “

“Lets see, if I recall the first one just tried to kill you not herself, the second one just betrayed you, the third one died, and the last one tried to kill you. So the next one will betray you and the one after that will die.”

“You keep up with that!?!”

“Rhede writes home a great deal more lately. He is worried about you.”

“I know.... Though if you count the ones who express a interest in me, but not the other way around, I have already been betrayed again.”

“Really you love that one?”

“No.”

“Then no it doesn't, stupid pattern you have any way, its not even repeated itself once. That's not a pattern, that's in yer head.”

“Far too much going on in my head lately.”

“I say not enough. We can talk shop later, this Winter Wrap Up stuffs gonna take some time to work through, I can fill Rhede in on all that. You got some ponies to visit best to get to that while you have the chance. Lame as you are it's gonna take you all day to get out there.”

“Right Thanks Maw. I will be back before long. I still would like to meet Golden Pelt.”

“You will, Paw has her for now and that lunk head can't even remember how to change a diaper properly. Had nearly a dozen foals and he forgets that, yet he can remember names and faces from forty years ago with perfect clarity.”

Jer'rahd chuckles slowly walking off as Maw watches him head towards the farmhouse and the graves behind it.
=========================================================
“Hmm? You refined the healing gems further?”

“Yes, we can now use lower quality gems that are more abundant with the same charge as the more rare gemstones.”

“Well, that's good, but the time to make them is still too long though.”

“We have been working on that Director.”

Bleu shivers a small grin on her face as Celestia's student uses her title, she would never get over that.

“Do your best, your coming along fine, but we still need some haste. What else do you have?”

“Unfortunately not too much, we managed to refine the message transfer in dragons breath to transport the scroll to a set unicorn by means of a enchanted gem stone they can eat. The unicorn puts a small enchantment into the stone. It can be anything it just needs to be a spell from them, and if a dragon eats that gem anything they use their breath weapon on can be transported to that unicorn. Seamore managed at least three gem addresses. So far he does have the highest count. “

“Better, but still not practical. There are only about seven of us and I think we are going to stay too close to each other to need to send messages.”

“It is actually fairly practical for you however Director.”

“Hmm?”

“You seem to be in the field a great deal. The ability to send messages back to Canterlot could be useful. Or to either of the Princesses.”

“I had not thought of that.”

“And that is why you are only in charge of this group of genisues and not in it.”

Bleu sighs as Seamore makes his presence known with the gloating.

“Did you and Lily have anything constructive or are you just here to harass me?”

“Bit of both. To be honest the latest thing we have some what needs your palette swapping trick for a test subject.”

“Oh joy, a new title of lab rat.”

“Well the rat parts right, anyway.”

“Stuff it Seamore.”

=============================================


“You know mom if I didn't know any better I would say you've been running around with some stallion other than dad. Even fox is a dull orange, Golden's coat is almost metallic.”

Maw Pelt ignores her sons comments, booping the nose of the tiny filly on the bed before them. Golden pelt giggles and falls back her brown tail swishing as she tumbles from the boop.

Rhede smiles watching the filly a bit lifting a hoof to boop her nose lightly only to have the foal latch onto his hoof and try biting it. He lifts his hoof lightly trying to dislodge the filly with out any real luck.

“Let go of your brother Golden. You don't know where hes been.”

The filly blinks giggling at her mother and lets go plopping back down onto the bed with another laugh.

“So how are the preparations going?”

“Smoothly, We have a bit of a problem with the birds, but it will take time to get that right. The goal is to do as much as we can so the Princess does not have to use as much magic as she normally does to bring about spring. The snow removal and planting are easy, same thing with the clouds now that we have the pegasus force here. Took us a time to figure out how to wake up the animals gently enough so they would not panic, but loud enough so they would get up. A little bell of all things. We started making birds nests too, just to try and entice some of the southern fliers back a little early. Seems to be working though slowly, I thought this was going to be little more than a lark, but its working out quite well. I'll give Jer'rahd the paper report to take to the Princess when he comes in.”

“What don't trust me enough to deliver it mom?”

“Nope, I raised you, I know quite well how far I can throw you.”

“Ponies do change.”

“Sometimes not enough, and some times too much. Your still in the not enough section of that colt. And Jer'rahd might be going to far.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well he's always been sort of a dark minded, serious colt, seems that has gotten a bit worse with everything that's happened.”

“With what he heaps on himself, its easy to understand. He takes every death of a pony under his command personally. Jer puts all that aside into one big grudge that builds every time another Guard dies. Drinks too much too.”

“They why don't you do something about it. Your supposed to be his friend.”

“What the buck am I supposed to do about it? I can't change him.”

Rhede winces as Maw Pelt belts him in the back of the head and Golden giggles.

“Language.”

“Sorry. But nothing changes, he is more than willing to talk about it, but even he hides things. Same as always. I think he expects to die in this battle.”

“You better make sure he doesn't follow in his fathers hoof steps that far.”

“Trust me ma we are all working on preventing that. But we can't watch him all the time.”

=============================================

Jer'rahd screams out, jerking back and tripping over the tombstones crashing hard onto the pile of snow he had cleared from the graves. His heart races as he struggles to get his breathing back under control. The images of skeletal hooves dragging him into the dirt burying him in the soft earth linger for a few moments more before he got his bearings again. Once he fully realized what had happened he dropped his head back into the snow with a curse before struggling back up to his hooves.

His nightmare was subtle this time, not even letting him know he dozed off before assailing him, yanking him into the ground to suffocate with dirt rather than the water. He never used to remember dreams or nightmares, now they stuck with him for hours after he had them. He shakes his head ignoring the sting from the wounds of his back after his impact. He sighs not even bothering to shake the snow from his coat before starting the trudge back into town, bidding the graves a silent farewell.

========================================================

“OK what the deuce is this thing?”

“It's a cloak, you know clothing?”

“Perfect Seamore you created something that already existed for thousands of years, you must be so proud.”

“Why yo....”

“Seamore Please. “

Bleu glances up at Lily as she moves between the two with a small sigh taking the cloak back from Bleu and flipping it over her dragon companion. The cloak flutters a bit and the dragon seems to turn invisible. Bleu looks at the spot a moment seeing the outline of Seamore as well as a purple haze that seems to fill the area the cloak covered, random patches of orange appear occasionally as well.

“Well that's interesting, would make a nice light show.”

“Told you she would not get it Lily.”

“Its an invisibility cloak Director, the problem is it picks up on the coloration of who ever wears it and changes trying to match that. We have figured out that its the coloration that does it, as it reacts differently to what ever color the pony or dragon under it has for their coat or scales. We think with your ability to change colors we might be able to narrow down which ones work the best and which do not. Then perhaps we can fix it to work for any pony.”

“Interesting, Rhede would likely love something like that. I suppose I can see what you want now . Give it here lets start this up. I actually have all day.”

===============================================

Jer'rahd's spirits were some what lifted upon meeting Golden, and after the meal and receiving the report he and Rhede bid the Pelt family goodbye and set out back to Canterlot before the sun sank fully from the sky.

Rhede swaggered along in his usual manner pausing every so often for Jer'rahd to catch up. After a time Jer'rahd managed to get the hang of the armored boots again and Rhede slowed down enough to maintain a pace with him.

“So then Jer. Whats wrong this time?”

“Why would anything be wrong?”

“You look like something That came out of my rear end after the first time I tried fine zebra cuisine.”

“Colorful as always Rhede..”

“Well?”

“Next time we think of a plan. I will take the mare and you get the insane phobia.”

“Not a problem. I'll be happy to let you pray to be gelded for a while.”

Jer'rahd raises an eyebrow at that.

“Then again if it was bad enough for you to have wanted that, maybe I did get off lucky.”

The two walked on in silence for a bit longer before Jer'rahd spoke again.

“Been having nightmares. Bad ones. The kind that wake me up screaming, every time I try and sleep. I also have developed a fear of water. Took me a month to get over that enough to even have a bath. Longer, not to panic when it rains.”

Rhede pauses letting Jer'rahd walk ahead of him a bit before darting forward to catch up with him.

“That was sudden and informative.”

“You asked what was wrong. Bleu knows after I woke up screaming last night. She probably already told Velkorn. I figured I would let you know since you asked.”

“How bad is the fear of water?”

“I spent a week in Manehatten thinking up reasons to not go oversee the defense of the city from the harbor side. If the road into the place had not kept the river hidden by the surrounding hills I would not have made it there at all.”

“So crippling.”

“Close enough to it. I got over the fear some and I can handle rain with out freaking out completely now. So far that's the best I have been able to do.”

“Velkorn could not figure out what to do when you were in that coma. I doubt she will have anything that can help over this.”

“Likely so, I try not to dwell on it. It was not enough to stop me from helping Manehatten, it won't be enough to stop me from doing much. It is not like we were going any where near an ocean for a while anyway. Though I might need to retire if a war starts with the seaponies.”

“Might be for the best. Does Luna know?”

“Likely not, from what I hear she and Celestia did not have a nice conversation last night.”

“Well now, if even you heard about that it must have been a massive row. Supposedly Luna was grounded or something. Can Celestia even do that?”

“I could not tell you, but Celestia has been under a great deal of stress lately and was genuinely worried about Luna. I don't see her as having been flippant with her sister, but it was clear something she said set Celestia off.”

“Want to ask?”

“No, but I was planning to do so anyway. You were right though.”

“About what?”

“Celestia is quite terrifying when angry.”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A loud pounding on her door pulls Twilight out of the spell before Applejack had even gotten off the couch to see who was knocking. The earth pony manages to get the door open and was tackled by Rainbow Dash clutching a book.

“TWILIGHT WHAT IS ….. wait your not Twilight. AppleJack!!?!”

The cyan pegasus blushes her wings flaring a moment before she suddenly flings herself off of the confused farm pony and grabs Twilight shoving her into a side room.

“I errr need to talk to Twilight alone a moment AJ be right back.”

“Ummm kay.”

Rainbow Dash shuts the door behind her and shoves the book into Twilight, the red blush clear on her face.

“Twilight what the buck is this?”

“It's a book Dash. Didn't we go over this already.”

“I know what it is, look at the title its one of the ones you gave me.”

“Daring Do and King Solamane's Mines........ “

Twilight blushes suddenly.

“I didn't mean to give you that one … oh by Celestia....”

“Didn't mean to give me this one? This is one of the better ones I...... “

Rainbows wings “pomf” again and she struggles to keep them down.

“Are there any more like this one?”

“I really did not mean to even get that one, I thought it was just another Daring Do book at the time until I read it. I think there may be others, but I never bothered to go look in the clop section to find out.... I think there's one called Daring Do versus Lana Crop, but that ones a mare on mare sort of book.....”

“Mare on mare? You mean like this one with Alan Quartermane and her but with.....”

“Yeah I actually didn't think you would be this excited over it. Though I never meant to include that one.”

“Err no not excited just, I just want to read everything written by the author and this one was really good so.... umm. Yeah... I suppose I do need to head to a book store for that one sometime.....”

“Preferably not in the middle of the night though. “

“Right right.... Um well thanks for explaining that I better go.”

“What in tarnation is going on in there?”

“AKK …. not a word of this to AJ.”

“Alright my lips are sealed. I am just glad you found a book series you like. Maybe after ward I can interest you in some other books I have. “

“Err yeah sure I'm just gonna go then. Talk to you later Twilight. Errr sorry about barging in and stuff. “

“Well it was kind of a surprise, but its nice to see your enjoying the books …. um even that one...”

“Yeah OK .”

The Pegasus looks back at the door and takes off darting out the window in the side room still carrying the book. Twilight sighs shaking her head wondering what had gotten into Rainbow Dash. Sure the book was a Daring Do, but it was little more than clop fiction ..... ooooh.

Heading back out into the main part of the library she was greeted by an odd stare from Applejack.

“And what was that all about sugar?”

“Just Dash discovering the versatility of some books.”

“Versatility? What you mean like using one to prop up a wobbly table or something?”

“Something like that.”