//------------------------------// // Baker's Dozen // Story: An Extended Holiday // by Commander_Pensword //------------------------------// Extended Holiday Chp 13: Baker’s Dozen Act 2 Shawn rapped on the door smartly, partially because Taze seemed like he was going to kick said door in. “Not my fault they didn’t answer yesterday.” Shawn mumbled to Taze. “If they don’t answer today, you have permission.” “They're not answering.” Taze grumbled two minutes later. Shawn only took a step off to the right and faced him, giving a small nod. Taze smiled as he lifted his leg, preparing to break the locked door open… Only for the door to start moving as it was being opened. “Nightiva cloptcha clopnea!” Taze growled lowering his foot. Twilight was smiling as they saw Matthew standing there writing a little and then showed it to Twilight who only smiled and stood on her hind hooves and did a clapping movement with her front hooves. “Very Good.” She replied, “You are coming along nicely in writing it, just tighten up some of your writing.” She turned around and froze. “Oh… uh, hi?” She asked as she looked out to the sky. “Oh… oh my… oh no, I did it again.” Matthew blinked and looked outside as well. “Oh… uh hi?” he asked to his friends. “I’m, not in trouble am I?” He chuckled a little, “I lost track of time learning to read and write, still having trouble speaking.” Twilight blinked and stared. “Uh, you might want to take off your medallion, Shawn lost his. Do you want me to write to the Princesses to get a replacement to you?” She turned her head. “Spike!” She shouted her head turned to face up the stairs to her bedroom. “Actually Twilight.” Shawn said, pulling the amulet out of one of his pockets. “I have it here.” He showed it, not wearing it at all. “You, Your speaking Equestrian, but… how long have you been here?” She asked and blinked as Matthew moved a little as if giving a presentation in front of troops. “Three weeks and four days, plus the hours of today.” He replied before relaxing a little and smiling at Twilight, before looking at Shawn. “So… how, how did you learn to speak so quickly? I doubt you were bitten from a Changeling, I think that is what jump started the learning for me.” Shawn only chuckled. “Remember how I have Insomnia? Yeah, about all those nights in the castle with the night guards outside the door? Or the time I was hospitalised and they had a guard in my room to keep me company? Yeah, I’ve been working with them on the language. I have speaking down, but the others are only… So and so.” He shrugged. “I’ve been working on them in Ponyville.” “Oh.” Taze said reaching into his pocket he retrieved Macs map. “You’re heading back to Sweet Apple Acres today?” Taze asked “Can you give Mac this and tell him thanks but now that I know where woodmans burrow is located I can get there on my own.” Taze said. “Haven’t gotten the speaking down but the alphabet is simple enough, 26 letters just like english, ukrainian has thirty six so comparatively it’s a lot easier” Matthew blinked. “You know Ukrainian? Cool.” He smiled a little. “How much do you know?” Taze held up a hand to stop any more questions. “Don’t Twilight this up Matthew.” Taze said. “Truth be told I’m only conversational in it, still learning myself, reading is easier than speaking.” “My names a verb now?” Twilight asked confused. “Yup.” Taze said. “Rather you see it or not your as extreme as Pinkie Pie in your own way.” “I am not as crazy as Pinkie Pie.” Twilight huffed. A loud laugh came from the sky as Rainbow Dash landed with a smirk. “Actually yes you are egg head, Especially in writing to the Princess or getting some new book or research project going.” She chuckled a little at Twilight’s expression. “Hey it’s a good thing, I mean nopony else can be as smart as you. So it’s good.” She smirked and turned to face the humans. “Hey, you all doing well?” “Anyway seeing as you're not dissecting Matthew I guess the only questions are have you fed him and has he slept?” Taze asked. “What am I? A pet?” Matthew muttered as Twilight ignored him. “Actually he and Spike made breakfast. However why he had to used the cheese grater to grate potatoes, is beyond me.” Matthew smiled. “Well I think you liked them. You had how many trips to them?” “Only because you put some seasoning in it.” Twilight muttered. “Well I couldn’t eat what Spike was going to make, Hash Hay?” He shook his head. “I am not a Dragon or a Pony. So I improvised and I think you liked them. With the Pancakes.” All he got was a small nod from Twilight and Spike. “Well make sure you get back today.” Taze said. “Moonshade and Mutatio are getting antsy and you haven’t met Me-Me yet” Matthew blinked. “Me-Me? Who is that? I mean, did something happen while I was recovering from that bite from the Everfree?” “Remember that Praetorian that Mutatio shot? It turns out when you remove the massive hormone washes the queen forces upon them not all changelings are male.” Taze said. Matthew’s eyes widened as well as Twilight. “I’ll get your coat and tie.” She replied and here they realized that Matthew was only in his shirt and pant and the shirt was unbuttoned at the top button. “Right, I’ll get my hat… Looks like Twilight is coming with.” “Hey.. what about me?” Spike called out with worry, “I better go and help in case Twilight needs to send a letter to Celestia.” “No,” Matthew replied in a rather hurried and loud tone, before continuing in a quieter tone of voice. “Not yet… good heavens I do not want Ponyville swarming in more guards than already.” “Hey Spike why don’t you come with me? I need some help chopping wood and you probably would be better company than a chimera.” Taze said “Well, if,” Spike began. “If he gets in trouble you can message me Spike if you want so we can come help out if you need it.” Twilight replied. “You can come help once we figure out what is going on at the moment, I take it Matthew wants to assess the situation first before calling in any outside help.” Spike slowly nodded and they all looked at Shawn as if to ask if he had anything to say or add to the conversation that was taking place in the front of the Library. “If you need me I’ll be at Sweet Apple Acres.” He said, turning on the spot and starting his walk. With two fingers he gave them his typical wave and started to head off. “Come on Spike I gotta stop by the blacksmiths first.” He unhooked the battle axe he had been using from his back, the head was scratched chipped and bent as though it had been in an awful, awful war. “Don’t think these things were meant to chopping wood.” Spike just stared in awe. “What… you used that for a wood cutter? woah, that is, that looks heavy.” Matthew just stared and his eye twitched, “You, you… you, but. You don’t do that to a weapon,” he yelled a little. “You, Gah!” he yelled throwing his arms up into the air. “Come on Twilight before my blood pressure goes any higher.” “Meh they don’t have a splitting maul or an axe that fits me, if I had the money I’d comission one, but if I had the money I wouldn’t be splitting wood.” “You did, what to that bloody axe?!” Steel Weaver yelled out. Taze handed the pony the mangled piece of metal. “Look at me, Shawn wields your great sword like a broadsword what do you think a pony wood cutter axe would be like for me? I needed something with weight to it… and now…. I need a new one.” Steel only snorted still trying to calm down. “I’ll make you a bloody axe for wood cuttin’. As long as you stop destroying our bloody weapons!” “And how long will that take?” Taze asked. “Not that long, but we don’t have a full forge set up, I’ll make you a temporary one, but it won’t last you in the long run.” Steel Weaver sighed heavily. “Well at least the metals still good right?” Taze said. “Boy, the metal in the axe is the only thing that can still be reworked. You can’t do much with the rest anymore.” “Sorry.” Taze said. “Shawn will pay for it.” Taze chuckled. “Which one of you is sayin’ that, You or Him?” “Do I look like a liar?” Taze asked leaning in to stare the earth pony eye to eye. “We can always settle this the human way, in the Everfree, just us, a rope and a knife, the one who comes out was right.” Taze growled. The smith only laughed out. “Alright, alright, calm yer’self down.” He said, chuckling. “You’ll ‘ave your axe in an hour or two.” “Thank you.” Taze said. “We’ll be back to pick it up.” Taze looked to Spike. “Think you could take me to meet some people if I gave you names?” Taze asked. “Uh how would you know these people exist in the first place?” Spike raised an eyebrow. “Octavia listed a few names when we spoke in Canterlot, sounded like interesting people.” Taze said. “Sounds kinda fishy.” Spikes look of confusion quickly abated as Taze offered a mid sized sapphire. “List away!” Spike cheered. “Okay first person is Derpy Hooves.” Taze said being lead away by the dragon. Matthew and Twilight entered the tavern and blinked as they saw Berry Punch duck behind the counter at the bar. “Where Closed thank you very much.” She blinked as she heard the sounds of the two running up the stairs and looked around. “uh, never mind… But break anything and it goes on that tab of yours.” She yelled, only her voice fell on deaf ears. The door to the room opened suddenly and the two, one human and Twilight rushed into the door before they stopped as the saw the third mattress which had two Changeling, and Moonshade on Matthew’s mattress watching the two Changeling. She looked at Matthew and sigh. “Finally, I can go and do something better then listen to two debating Changelings and actually order troops around.” She left in an huff while Twilight looked at the second Changeling. “Amazing, simply amazing, I mean, this is, Wow.” She spoke to herself as Me-Me looked at Matthew only to growl at him. “You, you caused this.” Her voice sounding angry or something. Matthew went on guard as well as Twilight as he answered. “Yes… I caused this.” “Good, you shall be allowed to eat Chocolate in my presence.” She paused and looked down. “Can I have more chocolate?” Twilight was just taken back by the sudden mood change. “I’ll go, go get some.” She stammered and left quickly. Matthew looked back from the door and to the two changelings before realizing somethin, the same thing that Twilight saw right away. “Oh my.” he found himself stepping back a little right away. “Are those?” The Changeling only grinned. “Ah, you like it?” She asked as she moved her neck a little. Showing a rather interesting sight. A mane was starting to grow. “I, Do not know fully,” Matthew admitted. “I mean… what is happening?” “Oh, something wonderous. I must ask you to stay armed with your tools, My hive must start growing.” She looked around the room. “This also will not do.” Matthew blinked and looked around. “Yeah…. better move to the castle asap.” he muttered. Just as Twilight came back with six chocolate bars wrapped in wax paper floating in her magic. She placed the chocolate on the small plate in front of Me-Me who quickly started to munch on it as Twilight and Matt watched they were amazed as they saw another little hair of the mane start to grow. Matthew and Twilight looked at each other and then towards Mutatio who seemed to be standing guard over Me-Me. “If he started to… make royal jelly or whatever changelings use that Chocolate is akin to… I am moving them out of here and someplace secure.” Twilight only nodded her head and looked back at Me-Me. Who looked up again at Matthew. “You lead troops do you not?” “I, teach more than lead at the moment.” Matthew muttered. “I am, still not sure of how well that will turn out.” He blinked as Me-Me mimicked a Pony in deep thought. She finally spoke. “Then I ask that you teach any changelings that may come to this small hive, or born in it. You shall be my teacher on the art of war.” Matthew sat down hard on the bed only to miss and land on the floor. He looked at Twilight who seemed to be about to do something. “Don’t.” He replied as if to stop Twilight. “We… Shawn has angered the Changelings, we have two who will be marked as traitors… if we can have them to help us… Ponyville may very well be protected from a full on invasion of Changelings.” Twilight just looked at Matthew. Before looking back at the two. “On the condition that I can study this mutation taking place.” She was fighting to keep a smile on her face. Happy that she did not have to blackmail Matthew like she planned. “Only if Me-Me agrees.” He didn’t get any further before she spoke for herself. “Only if the one the Queen hates brings chocolate with her for every meeting she has with me.” Twilight only grinned and her demeanor changed to a giddy one. “Deal, deal, deal… I shall start my notes now since I brought chocolate already.” Matthew sighed as he looked at Mutatio. “Well my friend, it seems that something anew and fresh is going to happen.” he paused and blinked in shock. “Yo… She gave you chocolate?” Mutatio only smiled. “What is a Queen without a Drone to help a Colony grow?” Matthew having read up on colonies and insect hives made a face of surprise and then turned to horror. “I am not standing guard during any colony growth meetings okay?” Mutatio only chuckled and nodded his head. “I accept that agreement.” “Did you see the look on there faces when they came outside and found that load of wood piled almost 6 feet high?” Taze chuckled as he and Spike wandered back towards the Punch Bowl tavern. They had managed to visit a lot of people on Taze’s list before picking up the temporary axe Steel Weaver had made. The design was obviously not meant to last but it took the constant impact against the wood a lot better. “I thought they where gonna faint right there.” Spike laughed. They had delivered several loads of wood to ‘Le Garden Meadow’ Ponyville only fine prance restaurant. The owner had been very condescending and rude when he’d first asked them to get some hard wood for the ovens. verbally stating how he doubted a ‘petite dragon and a massive monkey could do the job correctly.’ The two had not only located nicely seasoned wood but had managed to get twice as much chopped, transported and piled then the owner had wanted before he had checked on them the first time. As it turned out Spikes spines were so sharp the baby dragon had been able to split the wood in halves with a well placed headbutt. Stopping in front of the tavern Taze reached into the bag of his profits for the day. “Here bud you deserve these, if you ever get a slow day with Twilight don’t be afraid to look me up.” Taze said handing the dragon a fair sized handful of bits. as well as several gemstones. Spike only smiled and placed the bits and gemstones into the small fabric bag he had picked up from the library to carry things in and smiled. “Thanks, I can put some of this together and make myself a gemstone cake today. I guess I better go open up the library and see if Twilight has come back home, or you might see her still in there, if so, be sure to get her to eat something. I rather not have her missing meals from any of her research projects. “Thanks alot for the help today Spike, see ya.” Taze said with a flick of his index and middle finger before turning and entering the tavern, heading straight to the room to see what had happened in his absence. As he entered the room he just saw Twilight cutting open a small pod where Matthew had been laying in. He blinked and before Taze could act coughed and pointed behind Twilight who turned around and smiled and waved. “This is amazing, utterly amazing what is happening. Who gave the Changeling their first taste of Chocolate?” “Uh I did.” Taze said. “She was hidden under the bed I was trying to draw her out, she called it the food of the queens or something along that line, why?” Taze asked. “And what’s with the pod?” “Well it was just to test some things.” Matthew replied glaring at Twilight. He looked up at the ceiling. “You enjoyed that you mischievous Princess.” He actually shook a fist up, and that caused Taze to look up and blinked in surprise as the two Changelings had created some type of structure. Matthew sighed and stood up with a goo covered uniform. “Twilight decided to see what they did to cocoon the Princess and had me as a subject.” He shivered a little. “The Changeling will bite the neck of the victim, making them slow down, and then start to build a cocoon where they then will attach it to a ceiling to help keep the victim alive, and then… a snack of emotions whenever they want… if undisturbed, the victim will never know they are a food source to a Changeling hive.” He looked at Twilight with irritation, “How long?” “A half hour like I promised.” She looked at the pod’s remains. “Tomorrow I want to try it, as it is safe from what I can tell of your brain waves, and well, it would help science for me to know first hoof what it’s like in there.” Matthew held up a hand. “Okay, okay, just..” He looked up at the two. “Now come down here and help Twilight clean up her experiment.” He looked at Taze. “Help me convince them to move to the Library to continue testing, I had to talk her out of connecting me to the hive mind today.” He shivered and moved to the bathroom. “There is no way in Earth, Equestria or the Universe I will be turned into a Borg.” he muttered shutting the door to most likely take a shower. Taze was now in a room with what was turning into a mad science lab. “Meme if you don’t get down here, get this cleaned up and arrange for any more experiments in the library I’m cutting you off chocolate for a week.” Taze said. “No chocolate bars, no hot chocolate, no eclairs, I’m gonna count to 3!” Taze said “1….” “No!” Twilight yelled. “You can’t do that, you… Me-Me please come down here.” Me-Me actually walked to the floor on the ceiling and the wall and then the floor, most likely confusing anyone else around them as Mutatio started to break apart the goo that had already been created as it landed on a large tarp that Taze could see. It was here that Taze could see the start of a mane akin to Chrysalis. Twilight kept talking. “You, Do you see what is happening since you gave her chocolate, I mean, stop now and you may ruin the start of a mutation that could very well advance our knowledge of Changelings by decades if not the discovery of the Century on them. I cannot allow you to stop or interfere with the intake of Chocolate for this moment.” “Twilight, I understand your dedication to science, however these changelings have been put into our custody, the final say belongs to us and you won’t tell me what you will and will not allow, I don’t back down to my own nieces and they got me wrapped around there finger 90% of the time, so back off and do what every good scientists does, observe quietly.” Twilight blinked and back off scared. “But… but the entire culture and working of their hive is unknown, how can I not be involved?” The door opened and Matthew poked his head out. “Well just watch then, besides I think you have messed them up as much as Taze, I, or Shawn. I mean heck they call him the undying warrior now in awe and fear from what you saw from the Queen last morning.” he moved to put his hand back into the bathroom before poking it out again. “Also I am reminding you that you owe me a new uniform.” he shut the door. Twilight blushed a little and laughed. “Seems Changeling ichor is a bit… stain spell resistant on fabrics, fur and skin, fine to remove.” “Listen Twilight, it was pretty obvious Chrysalis had no good upbringing.” Taze said. “If Meme is gonna be a queen, which I can only guess is the case, then we have to be sure we set up some sort of moral code with her, she listened so obviously I’m not going to take choclate away, but you trying to go against what I say makes it seem like breaking the rules is without consequence, this is a bad thing.” Taze turned to Meme. “And we do not own this room young ling! No building pods, or constructs or anything in this room, you can wait until we get set up in the castle same as everyone else, and absolutely no eggs until we got everything settled down.” He turned to Mutatio “That goes for you as well, and you break her heart I break your neck.” Taze said. “Am I clear?” Mutatio blinked and gulped. “Well that would be hard as she would eat me.” he pointed to Me Me. “The General as Me-Me calls him would throw what remains to the woods or shoot me with his bolts, and then Twilight would do things with Magic that she wanted to do to the old Queen for messing with her brother, and now you…” He shivered. “I am glad I do not live past first threat.” he shivered and finished cleaning the ceiling where Twilight then teleported the entire tarp and pod and other materials leaving the room spic and span. Me-Me nodded her head. “Of course. I understand, but if we are offered to build small items in her basement, can we?” she asked as she pointed to Twilight. Twilight looked to Taze. “Did, do you see what she is becoming?” She actually asked Taze in confusion as he looked hopefully at the thought of seeing a Changeling hive in her basement. “Well considering she’s growing a mane which in all honesty we only saw one changeling with a mane out of the hundreds if not thousands we each saw was the Queen, I’m going to make a hypothesis.” He grinned at Twilight’s look. “Yes I know big words!” “Anyway changelings feed of emotions predominantly love right?” He got a nod from both of them. “And for one to become a queen takes loads of love?” Another nod. “Well chocolate is known to cause the brain in humans to release endorphins, chemicals that force the body to feel as though its in love, if the effect is similar on changelings that means that chocolate as a steady dietary supplement can force this change on a female changeling.” “Wait… aren't you a hunter?” Twilight lifted an eyebrow “That answer was quite literally textbook” “I read…. a lot.” Taze said “My job means a lot of traveling, not much to do while other people sail the boat after all” Twilight paused and put a hoof to her chin. “That does have a logical sense, it does explain something your friend taught me and the Changeling. A nation that separates the warrior from the philosopher will have its fighting done by fools and their thinking done by cowards.” Matthew actually opened the door again with a comb as he had on his uniform from the first time he arrived in Equestria. “Other way around Twilight, thinking done by fools and fighting done by cowards. An Ancient philosopher said that, I just cannot remember his name, one of the first things taught to me in ROTC.” Twilight blushed and seemed more embarrassed at getting something wrong from memory then being interrupted. “Now I am tired, and Spike is going to be worried about you.” Taze said to Twilight. “If you don’t go home I shall summon the pink horror to convey you home.” “Pink Horror? Who is that?” Twilight muttered before narrowing her eyes. “If you mean Pinkie Pie that is not a nice thing to say.” “Yeah, that was mean, especially since I brought chocolate cupcakes to celebrate the fact we have a nice Queen here and to welcome her but wait for a party till you all are settled into the castle but I am inviting you all to come tomorrow to a welcome to Ponyville Humans party at Sugar Cube Corner after we close.” Pinkie Pie replied as she hopped out of the bathroom door. “No?” Matthew replied as he stepped back in terror and shock as he looked behind him as he was still in the bathroom doorway. He returned to looking at all with a very lost confused look that made him look more like a lost puppy. “Pinkie, I think you’ll forgive me.” Taze said “Well of course I am, I mean you did bring all that wood that the cakes needed and we were able to have three days now of cooking their special maple dessert products but here.” She placed the chocolate cupcakes by the plate. “Keep the tray, you might need it to hold the food and meals that will be coming.” She smiled and turned around and began to hope to the front door. “Come on Twilight, I want Spike to make some of those Hash Browns I heard about, they sound so yummy and tasty, how would they taste with whip cream or syrup with them?” Twilight blinked and slowly followed Pinkie Pie out of the room. “Heaven help us all if you ever make french fries.” Taze sighed locking the door behind them. “We’ll never hear the end of it.” “What? Why would I be the one to introduce them? I mean Spike might be the one to create them, I mean I did use the Potato as a food, they usually make it as a garnish not to eat.” he sighed and sat down on his bed. “Anyway, Yeah we are changing a lot in this world just by being here… How will this world look a hundred years ago? Ponyville as an oddity for the tech or inventions they make? Home to the only civil and nice Changelings in the world? Just what will happen?” Matthew sighed and Taze could see he was working really, really hard not to think about Pinkie Pie’s antics. Yet he couldn’t let it go. “She, how could she hide in the Bathroom? I checked all the places she could hide. It, It makes no sense, how? How? how?” he grumpled as he rubbed his face with a hand and looked to the ceiling. “I, I can take only so much of her, she’s like six Riku’s combined into one, all set to highest settings.” He sighed and shivered. “I hope I never meet Discord. That, will make me even more homesick.” “I think she’s figured out subspace wormholes.” Taze answered as though it where no big deal. “Or possibly she has tapped into Equestria’s ley grid” “Well that is possible.” Matthew muttered. “I just wish she wouldn’t do it around me. It, it freaks me out.” he muttered, “And it wears me out and it is starting to hurt having jolts of Adrenaline coursing in my system.” He sighed and looked to the window. “I’m the oldest of you all.” He slowly set up. “Let’s see, three weeks. Starting on the first of November.” He muttered. “That brings us to the 22nd, and four more days. That will make it the 25th.” he moaned and seemed to look sad suddenly. “I missed my birthday.” he muttered. “I cannot believe I forgot my birthday in all of this mayhem.” “Well its been pretty damn busy.” Taze said. “Still sorry to hear that.” He paused and asked a question suddenly. “How old are you?” “Heh, Twenty Nine.” Matthew replied. “Boy was it risky those first five years.” he muttered before closing his eyes. “Tomorrow I am going to Sugar Cube Corner and ordering a cupcake with a candle.” He closed his eyes. “You want to know something fun? My folks the last two years always came over and made a Pony Birthday Cake.” He chuckled a little before sitting up. “Can you remind me your age? Twenty five, right?” He asked his friend Taze. “Twenty two” Taze said. “Kinda funny how little age matters when you think about it in the long run.” Matthew nodded his head as he groaned and looked at the clock. “Six? Okay, I better take that potion again.” he muttered and make a face. “And yet, at times you feel much older then you are.” He got up and moved to the bathroom. “I know you’ve heard me say this before but I just feel older than I am, others have said the same thing that I shouldn’t have gone through what I did when I did.” Taze heard the sound of a cork popping and a gurgle and Matthew came out with a small shot glass size with a glowing blue liquid. “I just wish it didn’t come in a bottle that looked like the mixture of a Mouthwash and wine container.” he sighed and drank it in one go and made a face. “Well, tonight is Green Beans,” he muttered to Taze. “Come on, let’s get dinner and,” he looked at Me-Me and Mutatio. “We’ll bring back something for you two.” Matthew smiled and nodded to Taze. “See you downstairs.” he smirked. “Might have a glass of sparkling water to toast my family tonight.” He muttered as he exited the room with a slow walk as he slowly descended into personal thoughts. Shawn only had a small frown on his face as he walked through the camp, doing a quick check up. His mind was going over what the smith had told him. How a friend of his had set the cost of a new axe to him. He sighed to himself, he had paid for his friend this time. Thankfully he seemed to have the bits necessary, and still had plenty more. As he walked through the camp with a slight glare he caught the eye of some of the guard. Some of the guards were actually sitting down to eat some stew as they looked at him glaring at them and one of them leaned over to his friend. “I, it unnerves me most from him, with the hunter, we know he is always angry about something, and with the teacher, he is willing to give a lesson and teach even if he is yelling, and yet… what is he thinking? What goes on in his mind? I know he is smart, the other two seem to respect him and the Princesses honor him like a Lord, but who is he?” In response Shawns glare seemed to grow and he reached up with his finger, tapping his ear in a gesture of, ‘I can hear you’. The guards only silenced themselves and quickly moved to just eating their vegetable stew. With that Shawn only rolled his shoulders and continued his observation of the camp, continuing his walk. The guards waited till they saw Shawn leave and they turned back to discuss just what happened and just what they thought was the deal with Shawn. They were trying to figure out once more just what he was wanting of them as all three seemed to be training and finally one guard got up in a huff. “I mean, if all he does is move.” he stopped as he ran into something and then promptly froze and stared up and lowered his ears. It was another cadet, who finally had enough. “Just say something,” He yelled out. “How can we communicate or figure out what you are trying to teach us if we cannot compare notes?” He did not seem to wilt under the steely gaze that Shawn now had as if judging them for even thinking about him without them there. “Just say something maker’s sake, say something!” He took a huff of air. “Or are we not allowed to compare notes and repeat other’s mistakes for your sake of teaching each one of use the same exact lesson?” The Pony Shawn recognized as one Silver Spear, who just two days ago it seemed had almost been ready to leave the guard. Shawn chuckled his deep laugh. “And there the question finally arrives, well, some questions in a sense.” He looked towards the group. “It’s quite interesting to see how you all seem to get so paranoid so easily, but here is a lesson that only one seems to have learned, to push past your paranoia and actually try to reason, to do something.” He looked down to Silver Spear. “Silver Spear, you got guts, I’ll give you that. The only one it seems, that did something.” He nodded. “I think I’ll keep you in mind. Until that day, enjoy your night.” He said with a small smirk as he turned and continued his walk. The group just stared dumbfounded and slowly they turned to look at Silver. “Dang… that…. you, woah.” they muttered as they gathered around Silver as they slowly began to change their topic, when might be a good time to question or ask the question. “And so there me and my mates stood on the horrid blackened wasteland, ash and lava shooting up all around us. Surrounded by the crater of a large extinct volcano, we oh so carefully walked across the stone, careful to avoid the maga lakes never more than a hairs breadth from you foot, when the entire earth seemed to quake with fear.” Taze held his hands up expressively causing the wide eyed foals to ‘ooh’. “Then the sounds of shattering stone echoed across the crater as the dark god himself rose from the lava, the Mighty Akantor roared with anger! I thought we were dead for sure, but always remember young ones, courage be not the lack of fear, it is the time when fear is still present but you have the will to keep pressing forward.” “Did you die Mr. Taze?” a small purple filly asked looking up with wide eyes. “Aye sadly I did, twice in that battle infact.” Taze nodded. “But you know what? I got better.” he said with a snap of his fingers. Matthew just had to cover his mouth and tried hard to not laugh at the joke he had just heard from Taze, or rather an inside joke. He was sitting more at the bar table then the tables as a large space had been cleared for this story telling. “How did you do that?” One colt asked. “Well you see lad, there is a special insect in my homeland a insect so lively it can live for a thousand years!” Taze said “Like the princess?” A foal asked “Exactly like the princess, so you see what we do is we take this bug which we call the ‘god bug’ and we crush it into powder with the horn of a wyvern, and that powder can heal you, even from death itself. Sadly I used the last of it in that fight, but we found glory that day foals, always remember it’s not rather your enemy is bigger and stronger, but whose will is stronger, even the smallest dog, can have the biggest fight! Now run along and play, we’ll finish this story up later when your elders aren't given me the evil eye.” Taze smiled as the young pony’s aww’d before running off. Matthew moved a little, still dressed in the Jungle camo that had been a costume and was now one of his many uniforms that he had already gathered and collected. He noticed four foals huddled in a corner with red caps and a badge sewn on it. He looked over at Taze with a look of annoyance. “I will not be heading after those four if they get any ideas from you. You know that?” He whispered as he finally sat down wearily next to Taze. “At least you can tell about your life, just how well would they take my war games I played?” He shook his head and looked forward. “Sorry for that snap there, Just.. cranky and missing home.” He looked down at the empty mug. “Been drinking Raspberry Punch a bit.” “Matthew, Britain vs Napoleon, Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, William the conqueror, you have a million stories in you, you just got to fish them out and dress them up.” Taze laughed poking Matthew lightly in the forehead. “Storytelling is about telling a story, it doesn’t need to be your story.” Matthew chuckled a little. “You are right, I just.” he looked over at the kids and some of their parents. “What would they say about Robin Hood? Or MacArthur? Patton? Washington.” he shrugged. “Maybe I should try.” Matthew muttered a little. “It’s all about the stress points.” Taze pointed out, “You throw the heroic spotlight on someone and they’ll love him, you cast the wicked light on someone and they’ll hang on your every word, it’s not about what they will think, it’s about how you want them to think!” Matthew slowly nodded his head. “Right, just, you finish your story tonight unless you think I could share one of mine.” He muttered. “I’m gonna let them stew for a while, never finish a story the same night, let it sit for a while.” Taze said. “Matthew slowly smiled. “Shall I start a story so they they stay inside and not get into too much trouble?” He looked to Taze, “If you don’t mind me starting my own string of stories.” “Be my guest.” Taze gestured. “Just remember there kids.” Matthew smiled and pulled from his back his black beret. “So, you still hungry for some stories?” Matthew asked loudly. He caught some attention of some of the children. A few of them started to come over and he slowly smiled. “Now, I may not have any life threatening stories as my friend.” he began. “However, I have a story. A story about the birth of my nation.” A few of the children groaned before they were silenced by Matthew’s voice crying out with a loud voice. “Give me liberty, or give me death.” The silence afterwards was staggering. “Those words spoken by a statesmen named Patrick Henry.” he ignored the sniggers at the name before continuing. “My Nation was once a small set of separate colonies numbering thirteen. Ruled by a Empire an ocean away.” “A whole ocean?” One foal asked eye’s widening at the scope. “Yes, it was so large, it would take a sailing ship three whole months.” Matthew replied. “It was an undertaking to travel to this land, it was called the New World and where they came from the Old World.” He looked up at the ceiling and back down with a smile. “Now, I am glossing over some things here because I would never get past even the stories of them first arriving and their clashings with the natives. That would take months to fully explain and tell the tale.” He smiled, “But what brought on this cry by Patrick Henry? Why the madness of their King. King George the Third.” “There were three of him?” One filly asked Matthew chuckled, “No, he is just the third to carry the name who has sat on the throne. You see they liked to number the names a little, so by this time there have been three King George,  Two Williams, and a few others.” he shook his head. “But that is for another time.” He replied. “King George felt that the colonies who he had gone to war with another kingdom next to him who owned land in the new world should pay for it. So he raised taxes, on everything.” he spoke with finality. “Tea, Stamps, Paper, Lumber, Furniture, Ships, Boxes, Anything you can think about, he taxed them, and refused to listen to petitions, or hold court to listen to those being affected by this. Why should he care, they were an ocean away and mail takes forever to travel.” He got up and slowly paced. “This went on for years and years.” “But couldn’t the pegasi fly over there really quick?” One colt asked Matthew smiled and turned to face the group. “The problem, is that every single human, looks about like me, just different skin colors of a range, no flight, no fast modes of travel.” The result was a resounding gasp of shock from his now engrossed audience. Matthew nodded his head with a wide smile. “Yes, you can see the problems. So, in protest, the colonies dressed as natives to disguise themselves and boarded a ship. At which point they took every box of tea onboard and promptly threw it overboard.” “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Matthew’s voice seemed loud and soft at the same time as he finished the last line of the document that would lead to a war, he had gone with the preamble and mentioned that it had listed all the things that was wrong and ended with this line. “That, Was what would be the fuse to a war, but, tomorrow, I think I shall tell you about a shot that was called the shot heard round the world.” He smiled a little and moved to drink a little water. “Just wait till I tell you of a man who would not tell a lie and would be called the father of our nation.” He moved to sit down, feeling tired as he had moved about with his storytelling. His audience looked up at him with wonder. “Okay all of you better go find your parents, it’s getting late.” Taze called, with many a disappointed groan the foals trotted off to find their families. “Good job Matthew, was that so hard?” Taze replied with a slight chuckle and a light slap on the back. Matthew shook his head in the negative. “No, it is rather easy, At least once you get the hang of it.” Matthew trailed off as he blinked and stood up quickly. “Ma’am.” he responded towards the teacher and one of the watchers of the group, Miss Cheerilee. “A most interesting fairy tale.” She began, “But really, how could your nation or this parent nation have gone so long without consulting dragons, or the rulers of your sun and moon.” Matthew blinked and looked down a little. “Are, Did you not hear the answer I gave? I am the example of a human being.” “Well,” Cheerilee replied. “Yes, a warrior class, but surely you have more than just you rulling or walking around.” She blinked as Matthew only shook his head. “Excuse, are you actually saying that you, and, but what keeps your moon and sun in alignment?” Matthew looked up and a small twinkle in his eyes. “Gravity, the universe, no one being that lives forever controls them that lives on my planet. That is the beauty of my world in a strange way if I am looking at your viewpoint.” he muttered as he realized something, she had no frame of reference. “What I just told them was me compiling over one hundred years of history into one night’s story, and we didn’t get to the full Revolutionary War, or the War of eighteen twelve, or the Louisiana Purchase that lead to the Lewis and Clark Expedition to map and explore that land from one coast to the other. It is downright fascinating and that is just not covering the first hundred years of my nation.” “And how old is your nation?” Cheerilee asked, only to blink in dumbfounded stupor at the age. “Two Hundred years.” Matthew replied softly. “Roughly, I think we were hitting the two seventies when I came here.” He chuckled as Cheerilee left, only to be stopped by Berry Punch before she could get to the door. He could see the teacher mind as he called it starting to turn gears in new ways. “Reminds me of how my dad would think at times. Teachers have some similar personalities. She was actually digging for the truth, not realizing how much I gave tonight.” Matthew watched Cheerilee only moved to sit next to Berry Punch. “Can’t please everypony.” Berry Punch said from behind the bar as she slid Matthew a new raspberry punch. “She was always finicky about other ponies when we were kids.” Cherilee shook her head. “Nah, it’s okay, use to worse lots.” He shivered. “Was coming home from ROTC once on the bus, was in full uniform even, I spent that full thirty minutes with a man degrading me verbally about the military and how we were,” he paused and shook his head. “The topic was not polite company with the implications.” He smiled, “However afterwards, a Vietnam Vet, a war hero was on the bus and thanked me for my commitment and my service, and complimented me on how I handle myself with the middle aged man.” “You boys keeping telling those stories I’m gonna have to stop charging you for drinks.” Berry said with a chuckle. “Never saw the foals so intrigued.” Matthew blinked and blushed while shaking his head. “I only know so much and it is about my own nation's history.” he looked down at the bar’s counter. “I am just hoping that with how I tell my stories they’ll want to learn about Equestria’s own history, I have no history books just some first hoof or hand documents with me.” Cheerilee blinked and looked sideways, “What of?” Matthew was lost in thought and smiled sadly. “The full Declaration, I did not recite it all as I do not know it all. Our Constitution which is another story altogether, the Magna Carta which is a document that was violated by King George the third with the colonies.” He did not want to mention the religious text he had with him, that he felt would bring more danger than anything else he had spoken of yet far. After leaving the camp Shawn wandered around the town, over the last few days he had made a mental map of the entire town, as well as keeping notes on key buildings; the library, restaurants, home, Sweet Apple Acres, and a few other buildings. With a sigh he wandered through the now empty market, due to the time. He was thinking over things, plans and possible things to do for tomorrow, but he had no clue on whether or not he was needed. He continued his walk with a destination in mind, home, or at least, temp-home. Upon reaching the door his hand stopped, hovering above the door knob before he took a step off to the side out of sight, the door opening to Derpy and her daughter Dinky leaving the building, neither of them saw him off to the side behind the door. With a last glance he grabbed the door before it swung close and slowly entered the building. “You’re sure there is no Vashta Nerada this time mom?” Dinky asked watching the dark warily. “Honey, your father isn’t here, when do we run into these things without him?” Derpy asked. “...Point taken.” Dinky said sighing with relief as they walked onward. “Ignoring that.” Shawn barely mumbled to himself. In the room was Taze and Matthew sitting at the bar. Both had a mug of something in there hands and seemed to be relaxing. “So, what‘s going on in this neck of the woods?” Shawn questioned. “Oh Matthew here is just spreading the seeds of sedition and revolution.” Taze chuckled. Matthew blinked and looked and glared at Taze as if to say he did not find that funny. Yet he did not say anything else. “Oh, and Taze… About that, axe…” Shawn said slowly drifting his gaze to Taze. “I was framed!” Taze shouted dramatically. “How dare you!” a large well built yellow pony stormed into the Punch Bowl, a rhinoceros beetle cutimark adorned his flank. His mane was bright orange and currently his blue eyes burned with a seemingly righteous fury. “Where do you get the nerve telling kids about that kinda thing?” Matthew didn’t move and he looked at Taze. “You’re up.” he muttered as he turned back to his Raspberry Punch. “Now calm down buddy.” Taze said getting to his feet and attempting to make himself look larger, fortunately these ponies were not yet aware a good buck could probably kill a human. “It was just a little adventure.” “Adventure? You call Treasonous remarks adventure? You call Sedition against the crown and deposing a monarch, adventure?” The stallion shouted. Taze stopped dead for a moment. “Wait which story do you mean?” “The one about revolution of course.” The stallion glared at Taze dead on. “No no I’m the one who talked about cutting large dangerous beasts up with sharp pointy things.” Taze said. “Oh…” The stallion said considering it for a moment. “Then who….?” Matthew blinked and moved from the chair and stood up, standing rather stiff and formal. “That would be me sir.” He replied. “That was no story, that was the story of my nation's’ birth.” He did not budge or flinch as he got the full gaze of the Stallion. “After they exhausted all forms of recourse of actions to resolve the situation peacefully.” “Do you know what ponies think when they hear ponies talking of revolutions and such? Such talks disgraceful! I don’t want you filling my sons head with such things.” the stallion shouted storming around in a tangent. He was keeping away from william only cause Taze saw fit to keep himself between the two. “So… it is unwise to give my story as a lesson for those to know there is more to an option then just grin and bear it?” He asked. “Do you know how long? Over twenty years of oppression faced by the Colonies. Seeing their lives taxed to almost breaking. Shop keepers lost fortunes and went to debtors prison due to those taxes, and then, they went and tried to seize a town’s powder, or in terms you would understand, imagine if the Crown marched into this town, and took the Town Militia’s military arms from you. Arms you used to defend yourself from attacking neighbors and etc. How would you feel?” It felt like a different human was talking, one that Taze and Shawn had never seen in person. “How would you act then?” “I didn’t come here to discuss hypothetical situations with you.” the stallion snorted. “I don’t want to hear anymore of you filling my son’s head with these things, if you do there'll be trouble.” the stallion attempted to get around Taze only for a dark purple hoof to stop him. “You said your piece Hard Shell, now we’re closed so please leave.” Berry Punch gave the stallion a leveled gaze. “Unless you want June Bug to find out about last weeks poker match.” she said. Hard Shell stood gaping for a few moments attempting to say something before turning around. “Suit yourself, I’ve said what I came here to say, stay away from my son! And berry, me and my family well no longer be coming here.” With that the stallion stormed out. Mutatio dropped from the roof and with a growl bucked the door shut. turning to Matthew. “Are you ok my friend?” he asked. Matthew only nodded his head softly as he sat down shaking a little. “Shooken up, a little surprised by that.” He reached around and found a full mug even though it was half empty last time he had touched it but he didn’t care and took a sip of it and took a deep breath. “I, I was not expecting to be challenged for telling history here.” He looked to Cheerilee. “Are you going to go off on me as well now?” “Ch...changeling” Cheerilee's attention was noticeably distracted at the moment. Berry approached her sister and put a hoof on her back. “It will be ok cheers, calm down deep breaths.” she coaxed. the teacher eventually managed to calm down. Before the door flew open, the extra excitement causing her to faint outright. Mutatio was quick to return to the ceiling. “There he is da!” Pipsqueak pointed a hoof currently riding a shorter but powerful looking mottled palomino stallion. Matthew noticed that he was being pointed at and so he turned around placed his drink on the bar top. He then turned around and stood to face the two. “Yes?” he asked trying to not shake again. “Oy! Where do you get off goin’ around telling lil Pip here about kings and revolutions and oppressions.” the palomino said looking at him. “and you didn’t have the audacity to think just maybe some of us would like to hear this lot too?” the stallion looked at Matthew in an interesting mix of excitement and disappointment in his eyes. Matthew then noticed his cutie mark, the silhouette of two fancily dressed ponies crossing blades. Matthew actually sat down hard as he registered the actual words and found that his entire argument that he had built up upon having been pointed to fleeing like a ship from pirates he thought before finding himself saying the first thing coming to mind. “Won’t happen again sir, you are welcome to come over tomorrow night… might need some protection if Hard Shell decides to silence me.” “He’s ran into hard head has he Berry me gel?” The stallion looked towards the mare. “Yes he has Tall Tale, that stallion just came in here ranting about how he was corrupting his son and everything.” Berry replied with a slight smile at being addressed as Tall Tale did just now. Tall Tale’s face seemed to morph from overly serious to overly jolly in record time. “Well messmate.” He clapped a hoof on Matthew’s back. “Don’t worry your ‘ead about him, he’s just overly protective of his son what with him having knocker troubles and all, anyway if you lot tell Tall Tales as well as lil pip here praises you, then I think we’re gonna be great mates, and any mate on my crew is looked out for by the whole crew.” He spread his hooves wide as if too some invisible group. Matthew stood up and took his beret off his head and gave a sweeping bow, “I thank you for giving aid to myself, I am honored to be counted as a crewmember of your group.” He rose and smiled to hide a wince on his face. “That reminds me… I have a story I may like to try out on you and your son. It involves a talking mouse by the name of Matthias and his quest for a blade to help defeat a horde of Rats, Voles, and other nasty vermin.” He smiled a little. “And it all takes place at a nice little abby called Redwall.” “Redwall ey?” the stallion ran the title through his head carefully. “that sounds interesting, don’t that sound interesting pip?” he looked up at the colt on his head. “Aye it sure does da.” pip nodded. “However ‘fraid we can’t do this tonight.” he said “School night and all that, can’t be a pirate of the seven seas without a diploma.” Matthew only nodded his head. “Nor a Soldier like I without one either, I best let you all go, and you sleep well.” He smiled a little. “Come back tomorrow, we can do some more story telling then if we aren't out saving the world.” “What do you say to him pip?” Tall Tale asked looking up. Pipsqueak stood tall on his father's head puffing out his chest. “We thank you for the story, words bold and true, we hope that someday we can return a story to you.” he recited from memory. Matthew nodded his head. “You are welcome.” He replied. “Though what you heard tonight from my mouth is more history to me than a mere story, for it for me, is my past, and so has shaped me to guide my future.” He did not know why he said what he did, but he felt that he should flower up his own response. “Oh but thats the point of stories” Tall Tale laughed a hearty chuckle. “We tell our past with stories, learn our lessons with stories, before books the story teller was the village historian.” Tall Tale smiled making his way to the door. “The best place by the fire was always saved for, the storyteller.” he said with a wink before they left. “Well he was a fun guy” Taze smiled finishing his mug. Matthew only nodded his head and turned around and blinked. “Who keeps filling my mug up? I only ordered one mug.” He asked in confusion at seeing what to his eyes appeared like a full mug once more. He sighed and sat down to sip on it. “But that was, a lot better than Hard Shell was. Honestly,” he muttered to himself. “Has no appreciation of history in my mind, utterly Philistine in my opinion.  As well as just, no sense of. Oh he, he was close for me declaring him having attacked my honor.” “Well even during the revolution there where the tories” Taze pointed out as Berry seemed to step into the back. “You can’t please everyone.” Matthew nodded his head. “Aye, I can’t please anyone, but… What gets me is that I have met folks like that back home, who refuse to learn even if you speak to them about it, to their face. They are belligerent and want the world to fit their mold.” He shook his head. “That is what frosts my cookies, is his attitude, why if I talked about the history of Nightmare Moon on the events that happened he would be angry at me for filling his head up on horror stories.” “Well we have Shawn the Undying if he tries to cause any real trouble, hey Shawn?” Taze looked towards him. Shawn sighed. “For some reason I think that title is going to last a long time…” Matthew only shook his head to hide a smile and laugh before he looked up at the ceiling. “You doing okay Mutatio?” he asked out as Cheerilee slowly came to from fainting. “Ponies are very strange.” he said dropping down again. “So different how do they deal with it?” Matthew looked to Shawn and Taze and back at Mutatio as he continued to sit. “One day at a time, One day at a time.” he muttered. “To me, Ponies act a bit like Humans in that sense,” He closed his eyes. “Spread out over our planet has, around two hundred nineteen nations, some recognized by a world organization, or are nations unrecognized.” He smirked. “For example, Depending on who you speak to, Taiwan is either a separate nation, or a rouge provence of a bigger nation.” He looked at confused look Mutatio gave him. “At least here, you seem a little more simpler in that regard, no real grey areas of nations.” Neither of them noticed Cheerilee just sitting up and staring at the philosopher discussion happening between a Human and a Changeling in Equestria’s native language. “If I live for three centuries I’ll never understand people or ponies.” The changeling shook his head.