//------------------------------// // Update for the Goddesses // Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------// Agner and Derekosh walked at an even pace through the halls, being escorted by the captain of the Solar Guard. Behind them, two armored pegasus stallions followed. Each of the stallions barely reached the thighs of the behemoths. Even after the arrival of the prince's true family and race, the ponies of Equestria and the Empire, along with the other four nations, were unsettled and curious to the aliens. Their daunting appearances and armors caused even more of a scare. Shining Armor was mildly cautious. On one hoof, he didn't know what these visitors were hiding (as they refused to allow any ponies other than the princesses onto their ships), while on the other: they were Draco's true family. They seemed to keep calm and civil, but if Draco was any indication of their true behavior, a platoon of Solars wasn't going to cut it. "You are taking the long way," Agner pointed out, surprising Shining Armor. "Oh, were we?" A stallion to the left questioned. "Gale," Shining grunted. "I must have gotten lost in thought." "We all know that isn't the case," Derekosh said. Shining kept silent, remembering that they had abilities beyond any unicorn. Deciding that getting on their bad side wasn't the best decision, he turned right on course to the throne room. "Considering we saw you arrested and sentenced to death almost a year ago doesn't really ease my guards," Shining stated, careful to keep an even voice. "And by your princess' word you will never admit or say anything aside from knowing I died," Derekosh snorted, turning to glare at the guard to the left. "And I would appreciate you keeping a neutral amount of respect for us." "Derekosh," Agner quickly said. "Enough." The two unicorns standing at the throne room doors lit their horns and opened the golden entrance. Shining Armor walked alone with the giants until he reached the foot of the throne, where he bowed to Luna and Celestia while the giants bowed with much more reverence. "If you would leave us to speak in private, Shining Armor," Luna nodded. "Yes, Princess," he saluted, turning and trotting to the door. Once the door shut, Derekosh and Agner sat down on the red carpet. "Ichima. Limir," the brothers nodded. "It is a pleasant surprise to see you both again," Luna smiled gently. "But I would ask why?" "Jaqeluu, Jerosh, and Figanti are occupied with Reku'un's training and coordination of our fleet," Derekosh explained. "What with Figanti unaware of what's happened, it's become more difficult to keep myself hidden." "We're here to report where our dreadnaught will be for the next few months before we need to move out of orbit," Agner added, standing up and grabbing a portable, 3-D projection map. The room exploded with colors and landmasses, adjusting to give them an aerial view of the land. Their display went several miles northeast of Canterlot until they were near the Minotaur Republic's western border. Right above the Badlands. "By the seventh lunar cycle we'll be here," Agner told them. "I'm not completely certain where we'll be afterwards, but I guarantee this." "Agner," Celestia said softly. "May I ask about Draco?" The man nodded and closed the holo-display. "Of course, Ichima," he smiled. "Reku'un was as much a son to you as he is our brother." "Thank you. How is his training coming along?" She asked. Agner glanced to Derekosh, and they both started laughing boisterously. "For…Forgive me," Derekosh laughed. "Reku'un… Reku'un is adapting quickly." His younger brother recovered his composure a bit quicker. "He's devoted. Jerosh is personally training him through every skill he will need," Agner smiled. "The thermite has helped him keep up, and our own sessions are bolstering each of his abilities." "And what is Jerosh doing?" Luna asked. "We've not been able to pick up on either his or Draco's signatures for hours. And this has happened constantly." "There is a room in the Ulisha that was salvaged from our father's dreadnaught," Derekosh said, withholding any emotion. "It allows the Doshu'um or Makti to train without sensing other life forms. The room acts the same for any outside beings. They cannot sense any energies on the inside." "To keep him focused," Celestia nodded, receiving a similar gesture from Agner. "He's already surpassed me," he chuckled. "But it comes as no surprise." "After all, he lasted long enough on his first session," Derekosh laughed. "What do you mean?" Celestia asked. The brothers turned to one another once again, and Derekosh nodded to his brother. "Our customs say that the eldest sibling of the family shall train the younglings," Agner stated. "Jerosh has a preliminary battle with each of us to determine what we need in order to be Signa." "He's forced to let loose as much power as possible without using a single Ina change," Derekosh continued. "Agner lasted 2 minutes. Fermot took half a minute longer, Jaqeluu 3, and I survived for 7 minutes." "And Draco?" Celestia worriedly asked. "4," Agner chuckled. "Just barely." "Our beatings were enough to kill any other Signa," Derekosh chuckled, rubbing his left arm as he remembered the day it was torn off. "But Reku'un's starting to give Jerosh a run for his money." "And he'll be training to use Ina properly." Agner could only imagine what it would be like to see Draco and Nyla meld into the final stage of Ina. "He'll be unstoppable then." Celestia felt happy that her son was getting along just fine. And at the same time, she felt a sense of worry for him. Not just for what he will need to rise to, but what he'll become as a result. The eleven months that had flashed by were awful. No letter or message from her beloved son. Not a single glance. Not even a visit. She hadn't the faintest idea of what Draco looked like, or even if his appearance had changed. What were his brothers teaching him? Has he started acting differently? What has his training done to him? "He constantly thinks about you and the ones he loves, Ichima," Agner told her, smiling softly. "Jaqeluu feels your pain and that of his love. He'll be the same man to you… although he'll be taller and stronger." "But he won't change to his family," Derekosh nodded. "I promise you." Celestia smiled subtly. "Thank you," she said. "I just worry for him." "As he does for the rest of his friends," Agner chuckled. "He's devoted for the safety of you all. But… we aren't sure if he'll cooperate as his position as Makti." That issue was a very delicate one. The brothers knew he wouldn't want to leave the world that held his mother, family, and lover. On the other hand, they needed him to lead their people to find a new home. There were too many to settle on the small planet, especially since the planet wasn't as bountifully rich as theirs. For their people to have hope, they would need Draco to be completely committed to their cause and their people. For now, the only reason for him to fight was keeping those he loved safe. "What will he need to do once the fight is over?" Luna asked. "Our people will have finished our longest war… and before we can rejoice, we will mourn and search for a new home among the stars," Derekosh sighed. "If we succeed… we will have peace… peace we haven't seen for thousands of generations. And we'll need a home to live out our lives." "To wait for our next call," Agner said. Celestia and Luna felt sympathy for them. They had lost their world, their family, their friends, and still they fought. Their race fought against evil, and had no other cause but to fight that evil. If they completed it, they would be nothing anymore. If they didn't, the galaxies would suffer. They were in a lose-lose situation, and they were damn proud to be in that fix. And at the same time, they had their own cause. To fight for those they've lost, and to make sure their children had a home away from violence and suffering. "Agner." The second youngest of the brothers took the holo-display from his waist and turned it on. Jaqeluu appeared on the invisible screen. "What is it?" "I need Derekosh back on board. Agner, Renkan required your assistance with some of the maturing Signa." "What's wrong with them?" "They're reacting to the energies of this world. They've accumulated unusable energy, and their Illness is causing them to release that power." "Shouldn't you be there?" "I already am. I need you to help the healers as fast as you can. "I'm on it." Agner closed the display and bowed to the princesses. Derekosh did the same and started for the door. "Signa," Celestia called, causing them to turn to her. "Please… make sure nothing happens to him." They glanced to one another, then put their fists over the hearts. "We promise," they announced. "On our honor as Alamonshuor's," Derekosh nodded. With that, they made their way out of the castle and to the courtyard. After mounting their dragons and taking flight, Agner felt a multitude of energies burst from above, some from the Signa, and two from Reku'un and Jerosh's energies appearing. "Looks like they've finished," Derekosh chuckled. Agner laughed softly. "At least he's conscious this time."