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// Chapter 19: After Action Report 
// Story: The Elements of Honor 
// by Flanagan 
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The remaining members of the 1025th stood in the briefing room, all still wrapped up in their bandages and casts as they awaited Princess Celestia and Commander Garrison. Not a single pony said a word while they waited, not even Battleaxe, for even he knew that the survivors were reflecting quietly on the events of over a week prior. They continued their silence as Shining Armor and other high ranking members of the Royal Guard entered the room, their personal conversations cut short by the dead silence of the 1025th. The groups waited for a few more minutes until at last, the two ponies that they were waiting for came through the door.
“Greetings, my little ponies,” Princess Celestia said in her sweet gentle voice. The 1025th started to bow to her, but she motioned them to stop, “there is no need to bow today, for I am the one who should bow to you.” The Princess lowered her whole body towards the 1025th, Shining Armor and Commander Garrison followed the Princess’s action, then the rest of the ponies as well. “Now, Commander Garrison,” she said looking to the Commander, “you may begin to debrief of your unit.”
“With pleasure my lady,” Commander Garrison said looking to his bloody, broken, but still standing ponies, “Twelve days ago, nearly ten miles outside of Los Pegasus the 1025th, under the command of Capitan Greatsword, was to set charges to blow two mineshafts of a suspected changeling sleeper cell.” He looked at all the ponies in the room then he continued, “As the members of the 1025th completed their mission they were met with combat from the dragon, Smog.” The 1025th all shuttered at the name of their enemy. 
“The 1025th, with no supplies to combat such a threat, engaged Smog in a successful fighting retreat.” The word ‘successful’ made Greatsword nearly throw up. “The 1025th continued their retreat, taking multiple casualties,” the Commander’s voice grew unsteady as he continued to read the report, “but in the last few seconds of combat, the charges that were set in the mine were ignited, causing the mine to collapse on itself, killing Smog and ending a major threat not just to Los Pegasus, but to all Equestria…” The Commander had to take a deep breath to finish what the report had to say. 
“All members of the 1025th showed great bravery and heroism in their actions, they represented what all service members in her majesty’s military should have. All members of the 1025th are recommended to be awarded, whether it be posthumously or not, The Celestial Medal of Honor. The highest award that anypony can receive.”
All the ponies in the room with the exception of Princess Celestia had a look of surprise on their face. The last recipient of the Celestial Medal of Honor was awarded for his actions in the War of The Long Night, over one thousand years ago. The 1025th looked to Commander Garrison his gaze was on Princess Celestia. The Princess softly closed her eyes and nodded her head, she believed that such an honor should be given to the ponies that gave all they could to end an unseen threat to her kingdom.
“It is the least I could give to all of you,” Princess Celestia said looking to what was left of the 1025th. “And I wish to honor your fallen friends as I know you would wish them to be honored.”
“My lady, do you mean?” Shining Armor said standing from his seat moving towards the Princess.
“Yes I do,” the Princess said turning her gaze to Shining Armor, “they will be given a Royal burial, so that it is known through all Equestria that a few gave their lives to save them all.”
“Then it will be done.” Shining Armor said motioning the rest of the Royal Guard to exit the room to begin preparations for the event.
“My lady, I don’t know what to say…” Commander Garrison said his gaze still on her.
“Then say nothing Commander,” She said looking to him, “you have proven yourself time and time again, and now I know that those who you trained have just as much skill, if not more than yourself.” She turned towards the 1025th, and her smile turned to a look of sorrow, “I’m truly sorry for what happened,” she said making her way toward all that remained of the 1025th, “I will award you anyway you wish, whether it be a public ceremony or a private, one on one occasion, but I will not allow you to deny this honor, many lives are still belong to their owner’s because of you.” She looked directly at Greatsword when she finished speaking. Almost as if she knew what he was going to do once this meeting was over and she didn’t want it to happen.
“I will accept this honor, my lady.” Long Shot said bowing his head and covering his heart with his hoof, the rest of the 1025th followed his action, except for Greatsword who turned his head, trying to hide his tears.
“Very well,” the Princess said, still looking at Greatsword, “I call this debrief over, you may turn to whatever you wish now and to you all I wish you a good day.”
All the ponies still in the room began to leave the briefing room, filing out one by one. By the time Greatsword was about to exit the Golden glow of the Princess’s magic closed the door in front of him, he looked to her slightly confused at her action but she continued to look at him with her understanding eyes. “I would like to leave and be about my business, my lady…” he said motioning, at the door.
“Not until we are really done here,” the Princess replied, “I hoped what I said in the meeting would quell your thoughts and that I wouldn’t have to do this, but it seems that I have no choice.”
“Do what?” Greatsword asked Princess Celestia, who was now very close to him.
“This…” Princess Celestia said giving him a powerful kiss, Greatsword was frozen in sheer confusion as her lips made contact with his, when she finally released him from her; Greatsword was still frozen in a state of shock.
He shook his head a few times before speaking, “And what was that for?” he asked Princess Celestia, who was still looking at him the same way she was before.
“To open your heart to me, Greatsword,” the Princess responded, “I know that you don’t feel that you deserve any recognition for what you have done,” she laid down in front of him.  “I don’t know why you are being this way, and I want to help you like you helped my sister nearly five years ago.”
“You don’t know why I’m like this?” Greatsword said in a mix of anger, sadness and shock, “Do you not remember that thirteen ponies are dead because of me?!” his voice elevated, but Princess Celestia remained calm, listening to everything he had to say. “I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t lead them all to safety, I COULDN’T SAVE THE ONE THAT SAVED ME!”
“You did what you could,” Princess Celestia said in her soothing voice, “that’s all you can ever do.”
“I COULD’VE DONE MORE!” Greatsword roared in primal furry, punching the wall next to him, then he fell to the floor, his voice became soft as he fought the tears trying to escape his eyes. “I… I could’ve done more…”
Princess Celestia drew Greatsword to her body, as a mother would to her foal; she looked at him with loving eyes. “Greatsword…” she began, stroking his mane, “you’re always the strong one, but the moment that you need somepony to be strong for you, you hold what you truly feel deep inside you and won’t allow anypony to help you.” Greatsword looked up to Princess Celestia, seeing that she fully understood what was going through his mind. “This time, Greatsword…” she continued, “this time I will be the strong pony for you, but only if you will let me.” She lowered her head and gave Greatsword another kiss, but on his forehead, just above his scar. The two stayed there for what seemed like hours, Greatsword had found comfort in Princess Celestia’s warm embrace. 
Then Greatsword finally spoke. “My past still haunts me more than anything, Princess…” he said looking away from her.
“You may just call me Celestia, Greatsword,” Princess Celestia said still looking on him. “Now, what of your past haunts you more than the rest…” she took Greatsword’s head in her hoof and turned him to face her.
“A love…” he answered. “A love not completely forgotten, one that was stronger than any steel forged in the hottest flame.”
“What do you know of her?” Princess Celestia said keeping her eyes on Greatsword.
“Almost nothing, Celestia.” Greatsword answered, this time still looking at the Princess, “What I do know is that she was perfect… and I have forgotten her…”
“Then let us begin…” Princess Celestia said. Princess Celestia and Greatsword remained in the briefing room for the remainder of that day, talking to one another about what troubled the two of them the most.
Near the same time that Princess Celestia had started to speak with Greatsword in the briefing room, Warhammer arrived at Princess Luna’s door. He looked at the two lunar pegasi who stood guard at the door, Night Wing and Dark Knight recognized their old instructor and allowed him inside. As he entered the room he saw Princess Luna preparing for bed. She noticed that somepony entered the room and looked to the door.
“Warhammer…” she said finishing the final brush stroke, “I was hoping you would come by today.” Warhammer nodded as Princess Luna walked towards the door, “Night Wing, Dark Knight, I ask that you take some time off. I have important matters I need to discuss with Warhammer.” the two nodded as they turned and walked away with small grins, assuming the obvious.
Princess Luna closed her door and turned back to Warhammer, “How was your debrief?” she asked him, “I can only assume that it was hard for you given what happened.” Warhammer nodded in agreement with Princess Luna, to which she rolled her eyes, “Words, please…” she said with her hoof over her face.
“All the report said was a vague description of what happened,” Warhammer said, “but her majesty saw it fit to award us with the highest honor she could provide, I will be receiving a Celestial Medal of Honor, along with the rest of the 1025th.”
“Oh my,” she said surprised, “nopony has received that honor since…” Princess Luna lowered her head as she remembered, “since the war I waged against my own sister…”
“That is the past, Luna,” Warhammer said taking his place at her side, “and the past is indestructible. The more time you spend trying to destroy it in the present, the less time you have for your future.”
“I know, Warhammer,” Princess Luna said her head still lowered to the floor, “but it’s hard to forget such actions.”
“You must not forget those actions,” Warhammer said. “You only need to learn from them, then you will become a better than you ever were before.”
“You always seem to know what to say and when to say it,” Princess Luna responded giving Warhammer a kiss on the cheek, “and I love that about you…” she stared deeply into his silver eyes, “I love you so much…” 
Princess Luna wrapped her forelegs around Warhammer’s neck and kissed him again, this time it was with far more power than the previous one, in fact, Warhammer couldn’t remember if Luna had ever kissed him like this in the four and a half years that they had been together. Warhammer then fully understood the reason for such force behind Luna’s kiss when her tongue entered his mouth with little resistance. Luna seemed to use the kiss to drag him wherever she wanted him to go. Before Warhammer could fully grasp what was happening he was standing over her upon her bed. The look in her eyes was something so simple that even the densest stallion could recognize.
“I do not want to force this upon you, Luna,” Warhammer said lowering himself to her, “are you sure this is what you wish?”
Princess Luna only responded by gently placing her muzzle under his chin and brushed it across his granite jawline, ending it with another kiss and the same deep stare. “I have never felt this way about anypony, Warhammer…” she said with a smile, “and I know you feel the same, this is the first time I ever WANTED to do this with somepony.” 
She kissed Warhammer again, using her wings to pull him even closer to her until finally, their chest became pressed together. They could feel their hearts pounding in one another’s chest. The two had every element needed; the gentle kisses that pulled them even closer, the odd mix of passion and fear in both their eyes as they prepared to cross that line.
“I love you, Warhammer…” she said using her foreleg to pull his head towards hers.
“And I love you, Luna...” Warhammer responded pressing his lips against hers.
An hour had passed, and Night Wing and Dark Knight were returning form their break, thinking that the ‘words’ that Princess Luna had to discuss with Warhammer were done being ‘said’. As they drew closer to her quarters however, they heard what to them sounded like cries for help.
“OH CELESTIA!” Princess Luna’s voice called out, “OH MY… OH MY, DON’T ST-GEAHH!”
“SOMEPONY’S KILLING THE PRINCESS!” the two lunar pegasi yelled at each other simultaneously rushing to Princess Luna’s door. 
The two lunar pegesi stood at the door, ready to eliminate whatever it was that was attacking their beloved Princess. With a nod of Night Wing’s head, Dark Knight opened the door. What he saw shocked him to the point that he slammed to door on his own head as he pulled it out of the room, his face a bright shade of red.
“What the hell, Dark Knight!” Night Wing said throwing his hooves in the air. “Princess Luna’s being murdered and your to squeamish to save her?!”
“She’s…” Dark Knight started to say still staring at the opposite wall. “She’s not dyeing… in fact…” he turned his head to Night Wing. “I think she’s enjoying herself… quite a lot…” 
“Well if YOU’RE not going to save her I WILL!” Night Wing said as he struck a heroic pose while holding the handle of the door. “Princess Luna!” Night Wing called out, “your hero has come!”
“ME… TOO… OH CELEST-GEAHH!”  Princess Luna yelled out again.
“NO! DON’T-”
Dark Knight tried to stop Night Wing from opening the door, but as soon as he did, a massive bolt of sapphire colored magic shot through the now open door. The blast launched the two Lunar Stallions into the wall on the other side of the hallway.  As they tried to pry themselves out of their holes, form inside the room, Warhammer and Princess Luna were looking in the direction of the devastation.
“So…” Warhammer began; “You’re a bolter?” he looked down on his lover, her horn still steaming while her face turned a deep shade of purple.
“I guess I am…” Princess Luna said giving an awkward smile to Warhammer.
“You know… I’m ok with that,” he gave Luna a kiss. “So long as your horn is not pointing at me when we do this again…”
Princess Luna giggled slightly at the thought. “Deal,” she said returning Warhammer’s kiss with one of her own. “So long as you still love me.”
“The Buck just happened?” Night Wing said finally pulling himself out of his hole in the wall.
“I don’t think the Princess was done ‘talking’ to Warhammer…” Dark Knight said staring at the now broken door frame.
“Wait…” Night Wing said as he put two and two together, “so she was?”
“Yup…” Dark Knight said, still not bothering to look at him.
“And we got hit by…” Night Wing said as he looked up at the two pony shaped holes in the wall.
“Yup…” Dark Knight said again.
“Mother of Celestia…” Night Wing said covering his mouth as a look of horror came to his face, “Princess Luna… is a bolter…”