Extended Holiday
Chp 22: Back to the Future
Act 3
Pensword looked out from the small raised area to look out among the snow covered lands. “Great,” he muttered as he heard the shouting getting closer. He paused as his left ear, he realized that Ponies could be an ear dominant, which was an interesting discovery. He did not turn his head as he spoke to the pony coming up behind him. “Yes Commander?” He asked as he turned around to face a Crystal Pony about half the size of Big Mac, which meant he still was taller and bigger than he was.
“I only am here to once more tell thee to leave us alone and let us deal with yon problem.” He growled and moved his left front hoof back as if he was a bull about to charge. “I also request that you give up this foolish caving in on children and let professionals take over their care.”
Pensword narrowed his eye’s. “For the last three days you have asked me this. Four if you count the night you arrived, but I stand by my choice. I will not let down the children, and I fear the Lunar Princess more then I fear you. If you harm me, you harm the authority they hold. I disobey them, and I may very well be stone. If you did strike me or kill me, your life is forfeit.” he turned around and smiled. “Also if you really want to complain.” he raised up a telescope with his hooves. “I see the banners of Equestria marching this way. You shall have an audience with one of the Princesses.” he turned around and glared as he blocked his path. “I request you move now, so that I may greet them properly.”
“I said let me pass!” A voice shouted not far away from their current position. “I am a forward scout of the lunar and solar army and I have been instructed to talk to the acting commander!”
The Crystal pony guard blinked and looked down from the crystal wall of the outpost wall. “Which one? The one that claims to have a letter that the other commander deems a forgery? Or the one that arrived and been giving orders to countermand the other orders?”
There was a pink blur as a pink pegasus with a blue mane dressed in light mail. “I am Lieutenant Firefly of the forward pegasi scouts and if you continue to bar my way I will have to assume hostility and bring news directly to the princesses. Do you wish to bring sol invictus on this fortress?” She leaned in glaring.
“No,” The Crystal Guard stuttered. “I,” he turned and yelled down. “Open the gates, Open the gates.” He turned and looked at the Lieutenant Firefly. “Please, speak to the Commanders.” he smiled. “May you keep your sanity.” he turned to looked back out over the landscape indicating she could land inside the outpost.
With a huff the pegasus did so. “Where is Commander Pensword of Equestria?” she shouted.
“Up here.” Pensword replied as the Crystal Commander smiled and turned around and walked away as if pleased in making him late and looking like a fool. “I was dealing with some issues that needed my attention.”
“It is good to finally talk to somepony with some measure of decorum.” She said all too loudly as she flew over to him. “I am Lieutenant Firefly of the forwards scouts, I was sent to speak with you.” she spoke quickly but clearly. “Currently Princess Luna is on the approach with one hundred and fifty armed pegasi. Princess Celestia trails behind her by half a day with twice as many in earth pony soldiers and unicorn mages, the army will be in position for a siege within the next twenty four hours, are you prepared to admit her majesty inside the outpost or is she to expect more earth pony… hospitality?”
“You can expect the full cooperation of the Crystal Empire to my knowledge, it is just, their pride is bruised. They have a usurper on their throne, they are rallying troops, and they appear to be upset that I am being given more control over their troops then their own commanders. That is why I request that Commander Crystal Spade be allowed to take command over the troops of the outpost, I only wish to keep watch over the Royal children and the last remaining guard that was allowed to watch them.” Pensword replied forcefully but respectfully.
“It is not my place to give orders for her majesty.” Firefly noted. “But I will express your concerns to her, as of now the royal children are to be recognised as in Equestrian protection visa ve operation scattered wind, any crystal ponies who object this must present the case to Princess Celestia directly. I will be returning to the main body to report our successful relay is there anything else you would have me report?”
Pensword did not answer verbally but he saluted in conveying his understanding. “I shall prepare the outpost for Military Generals.” he replied. “This is what I can gather as the best accommodations we can provide.” He waited for a response from his lookout post.
Firefly saluted back before taking off.
Pensword only smiled as he turned around. “I bet Commander Crystal Spade will be happy to hear he will be having full control of the crystal troops upon Luna’s arrival, or a Crystal general if any were left. He sighed, he hoped ego would not harm this delicate situation.
Over the last few days things had picked up quickly, the operation had been split into four specific parts.
Grif took the guards on small lighting fast raids around the empire, stealing above other things wooden carts identical to the type sombras soldiers were using and bringing them back to the mines.
Starswirl would then take each cart and enchant it too show the contents as something completely different to what they are, food, building supplies, weapon, arms but nothing that would look out of place.
Hammer Strike lead the groups of ponies who mined and cut the stone as well as the ones who modified the carts to hold more weight than previous well giving away as little of their burden as possible.
The last group was individual groups of volunteers wearing specially enchanted stolen armor to make them appear as sombras soldiers. these volunteers would take the carts and park them around the wall’s at specific locations. over all the operation had gone smoothly up till this point.
“We leave in ten minutes.” Grif told the guards, he and the group had grown into a close group over the last few days. “We will hit the compound in the confusion of the explosion and free as many ponies as possible.”
“Remember my lord.” Starswirl said as he held the torch to Hammer Strike. “You need to run the second you light the first cart, the heat of the first explosion well set off the next.”
“If we do this correctly and space them appropriately, the entirety of the wall is coming down in one big explosion.” Hammer sighed. “Hope everypony can remember to take cover, debris and all.”
“We do not have a choice.” Grif said “It is this or a week long siege that we do not have the supplies for.”
“Yeah…” Hammer mumbled. “Yeah…”
Canterlot, Present day
“And that aunty Celestia is why we should simply foreclose these small villages, next time a royal see’s fit to grace there hick town, they’ll think twice about making them wait. Even if he only stopped because the ponies pulling his chariot collapsed.” Prince Blueblood finished his presentation. The general look he got was the same general look he always got, confusion and pity that he mistook for reverence and awe of his great wisdom.
It seemed someone was listening to the Prayer in Celestia’s mind as quite suddenly a flash of dragon fire appeared before her producing a message scroll.
“I’m sorry Blueblood, we will have to continue this another time. I will take your thoughts into consideration.” In reality she had already forgotten them.
With a huff blueblood left the throne room, yet he knew that it had to be from his aunties student who decided to move to that small town Ponyville, He shivered at who one of the mares had thrown herself at him, Did she not know it was the stallion who asked the girl? Soon everyone else followed as the solar diarch ordered them away leaving her perfectly alone in the throne room.
“Now…” She said eyeing the scroll. “I wonder what this could be about.” She opened the scroll before her and started to read the message sent by, she raised an eyebrow, it was Spike who had written to her as the others were still busy with the Crystal empire? She raised an eyebrow at this turn of events. strangely the handwriting was oddly messy, spikes handwriting was usually very neat.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Twilight and the others are busy, so I thought I should let you know, things were going well and, then there was an attack by King Sombra in the guard tower. Taze, Shawn and Matthew where… they died trying to hold Sombra back.
The rest of us are trying to hold together as we get things done here but I figured you had a right to know.
~Spike
P.S. I want Sombra to pay…. does that make me a bad dragon?
Celestia’s eyes trailed over the sentence over and over, something just…
It just didn’t seem right.
And then it clicked…
Back in the past outside the Crystal Empire
“And so assuming our sister’s engineers may gain the necessary timbers we believe we shall have the walls down within the week.” Luna explained to Pensword. The arrival of her and the pegasi had gone relatively smoothly. There was some dirty looks from the crystal ponies at the pegasi but they were not stupid enough to challenge a pegasus to single combat. Luna had gotten her FOB base set up within the outpost and was explaining the plans to the commanding officers.
Crystal Spad nodded his head, Pensword had not challenged and willingly given up command of the forces, and Crystal Spad had compromised in letting Pensword taking command of the Scattered Wind of Alto and Bellacoso. The atmosphere was now a lot calmer and both were talking in much more civil tones.
“So Commander Pensword it is our understanding thine lord and thy friend are still inside the city?” Luna asked walking away from the strategy table.
“That is correct your Majesty,” he started to walked as well on all four hooves to the window as well. “I only wish they are safe.” he paused and blinked with a slight tick of his mouth. “Knowing them they,” he was interrupted at this moment by an unusual event.
Suddenly a jet of fire shot into the air from the direction of the city mushrooming in the air. Boom! The crash echoed through the stone as two more jets shot into the air. as the crashes reached the outpost with a deafening boom. The process seemed to be repeating itself at a rapid and steady pace.
“Would do something like that.” Pensword deadpanned after the third explosion. “Never get those two alone for long, a Smith and a Gryphon that acts like a foal… and I still wonder how they pulled off the things they have done.” he shivered. “Did you know once they dyed my fur Orange?” he shook his head again and looked at the city. “Your majesty, do you wish to charge the fallen walls now?”
“... We must meet these friend of thou.” Luna managed after picking her jaw up off the ground. “They have a most intriguing style, still to charge the city now with no plan and only 200 ponies in total would be a foals errand, we must wait for Celestia.” Luna noted.
Pensword nodded his head. “Very well, just may we have ponies to save in there. Sombra is going to tighten his magic hold or something now that the wall fell.” He just stared out the window, just praying that his friends were okay, and so were those under them.
“Get down!” Grif shouted pushing the guard down as another hair of crystal arrows shot out where his head had been several moments earlier.
The attack had not gone well. They had made it to the compound undetected, snuck in and even free’d a few of the enslaved crystal ponies.
Then all tartarus broke loose. They had opened another cell to be surprise attacked by Sombra’s soldiers, corrupted guards and more soldiers flooded in all over the compound, the fighting had been fierce, ten of the recruits had died before they had managed to clear a retreat path. Currently they were held up within some kind of crystal cathedral. The door was barred as best they could but the fourteen were heavily pinned down. Of his thirteen remaining troops, three where severely injured and four had minor wounds.
They had spent the last two hours dodging volleys of arrows and returning fire as best they could with the three bows they had between them. Two more had been injured and one guard had fallen to an arrow to the chest. It was going to be unlikely they could stay alive for much longer currently.
The volleys suddenly stopped, the flicker of hope in the guard was stomped out as a voice echoed from the outside.
“Hello little ponies.” The voice was disturbingly deep, like you were looking into the abyss itself. “If you cannot already tell there is no escape from me, you have all proven your capabilities, come out, all those who kneel before me well join my army, I offer you power and riches and whatever you could ask for.”
One recruit, or rather a child upon hearing the call of terror only got up and bolted in the opposite direction only to have a single arrow. What Grif saw as something worse than being killed, he saw that the arrow was pure black and minutes after being hit by it, the little colt just stood frozen before turning around and bending down to bow to Sombra with an almost hypnotic glazed look.
One of the grievously injured ponies began to call out that he would join but he could not move. Yet instead to allowing himself to be lifted up to face Sombra, he died taking two guards out before a third ended his life.
“I would rather die than be a slave.” Grif said looking around at the leftovers of his men.
“Yeah, well, you got your wish, you killed yourself and you killed us all.” A guard yelled accusingly.
Grif looked at him. “I know.” He said. “Charger, Lance Lifter, Sling Stone, Guard Breaker, Shield Smash, Shield Smack, Buckler, Tower Defense, Gladius, and Poison Shaft.” he looked out at the body of the recently fallen pony. “And Spear Thrust.” he said “I hold their blood on my talons.” Grif said as much to himself as too them. “I lead them to death, I lead you to death, I was never meant to lead, I am not a hero, I admit it, is that what you want? I am not some mythical being who will lance through battle like a scythe through grain. I am not asking you to die with me, but if it’s my soul going down today, I will die well.” Grif said as he hefted the crystal shield at his side. His arm was injured in battle, he had sheathed a blade because the movement just caused him pain.
The gryphon slammed the base of his sword against the shield as he walked towards the door.
Thump!
He slammed the shield edge on the ground, behind him a veteran stood grabbing his own spear and shield he ran to stand at Grifs right.
Twack! Twack! Thump!
The sound carried louder by the end as two more joined them following the strange rhythm of the gryphons charge. by the time they lifted the bar from the door of the twelve left alive 9 prepared for battle. two were too injured to fight, the third sat glaring at them.
“For the queen! For the EMPIRE! FOR YOURSELVES FOR YOUR MARES FOR YOUR FOALS! CHARGE!” And with a kick the doors were flung open and they charged. Most of them dropped within the first few steps from crystal arrows.
Grif kept moving as an arrow found a chink in his plating spearing his shoulder. Another pony was impaled upon a spear as they engaged the enemy. The battle went on, Grif received a spear into his side. But he no longer felt the pain there is only the fight. His vision was red as he fought. Finally a sword found his other side deep under the wing and he collapsed. With a groan he welcomed the blackness of the void.
Pensword was pacing back and forth in his quarters. He looked to the wall with a map on it of the old areas, it had a map of even old noble lands. Unlike the maps he saw before this was patchwork quilt style. He shook his head and went back to his pacing. He hoped Celestia arrived with the troops. He had a gut feeling that something bad was happening. He looked up and for a brief second he thought he saw a confused looking specter of Grif look at him before it was gone. He paused and turned to the door he did not know why but something seemed to click, he remembered something his grandmother told him once, that his father had gotten in trouble and for some reason she was running to find him. It turned out he had been bitten by a rabid dog, and her quick actions saved his father’s life, especially as he was bitten in the face.
These thoughts were racing through his mind as he barged into the command tent Luna was using having surprised the guards to where they did not stop him. “They are being attacked.” He didn’t even give time to let Princess Luna talk. “I don’t know how I know, but it’s like my grandmother when trouble, They are in trouble. They are in trouble and need help NOW!” he stood in the silence breathing hard and panting showing he had almost flown at a breakneck speed he did not even recall touching the ground once leaving the room.
“Commander, get us squad together and fetch us meteor impact.” She looked to her nearest officer. “Tell Celestia we are pressing the attack… And get us our armor.”
Hammer Strike could only watch as a large section of corrupted guards slowly made their way towards the wall. The guard had done something a bit unexpected, they were surrounding them.
“You… Got to be kidding me.” He sighed. “We can not flee from this! They are surrounding us!” He said more in a harsh whisper to himself.
“What do we do?” A crystal stallion asked waving a pickaxe defensively.
Hammer sighed. “Well we have several choices really. One, we fight back. I do not want to try that. Two, we can try to flee. I doubt we would make it far. Or three, my worst plan yet and I will not say it now.”
“They’re getting closer.” Another stallion noted slinging stone with rather poor accuracy.
Hammer groaned loudly. “Alright. Listen up!” He called out to those who were with him. “We are using plan three, we charge and fight. But you will listen to my orders when they are said. If I say to do something, do it, no questions! Do you understand?” He yelled out.
“We are with you my lord.” Another stallion readied what seemed to be a wooden club with bits of stone embedded in it.
Hammer nodded. Turning forward again he looked out towards the guard getting closer by the second. “Alright, focus on the front.” He called out. “And be prepared to listen for my order.” He waited, letting them get closer. “Closer…”
“Closer…”
When the corrupted guard was within fifty feet he called out. “Charge! Front line!” Hammer yelled out his order, charging forward with what volunteers he had with him.
The stallion with the club was first forward followed closely by the rest.
Hammer had unsheathed his blade that rested on his back. With his strength he was able to move his blade with ease thankfully. His first slash removed one guards head with little effort before sinking into the chest of the one beside him. With a somewhat disturbing ease Hammer retched the blade away and proceeded to bisect another guard vertically.
This seemed to harbour the guards attention more than a bunch of crazed stallions with improvised weapons that when they were fortunate enough to hit simply bounced off their armor.
After several minutes of fighting he got what he wanted. A gap. He quickly moved back, dodging a swipe. “Quick! Go for the opening, I will be right behind you!” Hammer called out.
Most of the group didn’t need to be told twice as they ran. The stallion with the club turned back to stare at Hammer with uncertainty. Hammer only looked up to him for a moment with a sad smile before shaking his head. He mouthed two words to him, and thankfully they were understood. ‘Go on.’
The stallion’s face was grave as he turned and followed his fellows. At this moment one of the guards got a lucky blow on Hammer Strikes flanks. With a glare Hammer tightened his grip on the sword before letting one last phrase pass through his lips.
“I will be right behind you…” He smiled sadly. “I am sorry to say that was a lie…” He mumbled softly to himself as he lowered his crouch down, readying himself to fight a losing battle.
The battle was that. At the start Hammer Strike was indomitable, bringing down guard after guard with his sword, but the disadvantages of little sleep and a large weapon began to weigh on him as his strikes began to lose their accuracy. Soon other hits began to sink in his flanks sides and armpits. Blood ran from between his plates staining the metal red as his strength ebbed more and more. He started staggering. The final words that most that day would swear was said by Lord Hammer Strike as he was surrounded echoed through the deserted streets and Sombra rounded up the last of the dissenters. “You want me, Come and get me!”
When the forces from the outpost reached the ruined walls, their target was actually taking them right towards where the troops had started the explosions. Pensword had pushed himself at the same pace as the troops a forced march and then the force paused at the rubble, being able to fly they would be able to fly above it, yet their around the smoking burned remains of one cart was the scene of a battle. Pensword blinked as he saw something and dove to the ground. “Milord’s sword.” He kicked the dead guard’s body and shouted with shock. “MEDIC!!! MEDIC!!!” He looked down and did not touch the body before him, his hearing could hear the breathing but he looked up quickly as guards surrounded him, guards with wings. He looked down only to have Firefly land next to him. “We don’t have medics.”
Pensword looked up at her. “None? Get him stabilized then.” Pensword looked down at his friend. “Lord Hammer Strike, Strike come on, wake up, you can’t die. You can’t die.” he was almost breaking down. “Never dying, Come on, come on.” he was trying to rouse him and looked up as he heard something, the clanking of armor. “We have company.”
It was Princess Luna who yelled the next words. “To Battle, avenge the fallen this day.” What followed what another charge, one that Pensword in his grief and anger as he thought his friend would never woke up, fought like never fought before. He did not count the times he felt a wing connected with armor or a corrupted guard. Still he found himself having for fall back as he almost got surrounded as Firefly came to help.
She only stared at this odd Pegasus who fought like something she had not seen before. Still she turned to order troops and turned only to see Pensword once more diving into the fry again.
“Pensword?” Starswirl voice carried over the crowd.
Pensword paused and quickly located the voice and found that it was in a direction that did not have troops, he looked to the guards and they nodded their heads having heard the call as well. Without a second thought he raced to Starswirl breathing hard and feeling sweat coating his fur as he raced forward.
A familiar form was held within the wizards magic as he approached. “Is this the entire army?” He looked around.
He turned around and shook his head. “Nay Starswirl. I, I know not why but I felt that if we had waited for the troops, more lives would be lost.” he blinked as he heard two screams and his eyes widened. “Impossible, they are.” he was already in the air and saw it, some of Sombra’s troops had started to attack the side and he saw the supply carts being attacked, without thinking he dove at the cart and made a landing as he began to attack, already Luna’s troops were being engaged and he knew he would be on his own for a while. He turned back as he saw two heads poke up. “STAY DOWN!” he roared with anger before turning and stopping a blow from another guard with his wing. “Do not look, and stay quiet please.” he begged before he could not speak again as he started to fully engage the troops.
Meanwhile back where Starswirl just stared at where Pensword had just been, he paused as he heard a voice coming from Grif. “Vul...pix” Grif groaned as he attempted to move, attempted to break the magic and go after his friend.
Starswirl shook his head. “Easy my friend, he has gone to save friends in trouble. Please, please do not move, I am trying my best to heal your wounds.”
The ten guards who were at the moment protecting Lord Hammer Strikes body suddenly turned and turned back to the forces only to see them pausing as well, a body was moving, stirring and groaning as it pushed himself to his four hooves. “I’m,” It gasped, “I am not,” Another breath before working to get his hind legs fully up. “Done yet.” He rose his head which had no helmet as he glared at the shocked troops before him. Lord Hammer Strike was back on his hooves again.
Luna stared for a second before smiling. “Huzzah, a noble who stands, we must give a boon for his deeds this day.”
Pensword was being attacked on all sides. the Pegasus danced around his enemies landing quick blows with his wing blades. However wing blades and light armor left him open to heavy strikes and it wasn’t long before a mace found his side. To both sides surprise he still fought, as he realized that this pain was nothing compared to waking up from his surgeries, it hurt, boy did it hurt but it was something his mind and body would and did handle in the past. He just fought harder, but finding that he was fighting trying to not to aggravate the strike site. he smiled a little. “I had worse done to me to keep me alive before, tis but a scratch.” he breathed out as if trying to unnerve the guards he still fought on. Then came a blow to one of his wings denting the armor and he could feel a bone break. He gasped and yet he looked back he could not fall, the guards on the other side were thankfully engaged with other troops and so he had to keep this side safe. This distraction cost him a blow to a hoof and he looked up as he head butted a guard away. It was infact a guard pushing him back that he hit his head and back against the base of a wheel he then crumpled to the ground limply as the fight left him, seconds before Firefly lead fifty pegasi to retake the carts. As the troops were pushed back to regather and lick their wounds two children were suddenly around the fallen Pegasus crying and trying to wake him up.
Starswirl looked at Grif, Hammer Strike and then over to Pensword, he examined their obvious injuries and then thought about the injuries he likely couldn’t see. Celestias medics were too far away, they’d never make it if they waited despite his appearance Starswirl was no immortal being, his magic had been raining steadily and there was no way he’d be able to teleport that far. “Please forgive me.” He whispered as he picked Hammer Strike up in his grasp while still holding Grif. He pulled the two with him as he approached Pensword and with exertion he lifted him too. The wizard made a beeline for the center of the empire. Lightning strikes and fireballs colliding with anypony of sombras ilk who got in his way. the old wizard never noticed the clippity clop of small hooves behind him or any other sign of his tailers as he focused on saving the lives of these three.
A pedestal sat in the middle of a small park, the queen had planned to build a statue here. infact the plans had already been drawn up. “I pray this will return you to the future you belong.” he said as he placed each of them on the platform. Grif shakily in the center. Pensword to his right and Hammer Strike to his left.
“W- wait!” Shaking Grif lifted a tallon as he weakly rose to his feet. He glared right at the castle that had started to change, in front from a balcony one could see Sombra staring at the battle, having not noticed the small park that was outside of his vision's range.
“There is no time.” Starswirl grumbled.
“It w-will just take a second.” Grif said. glaring upwards he lifted his knife from it’s belt with a shaky taloned hand and ran the blade gently down the palm of his talon. “Hear me and know me s-Sombra, I am Grif son of Graf, sometimes called Taze, and I make this oath before you, I will come for you! When you lift your head I will be there to cut it off, I will be the thorn in your side and the fly in your ointment. every time you rise I will be there to trip you up. For every pony I lost today you shall pay, a hundred no a thousand times you shall pay for every drop of their blood. this is my blood oath.” The gryphon used the last of his strength in a weakened screech.
From behind the park and unseen by Starswirl two small children, Alto and Bellacoso snuked up and Pensword heard them and with a sigh he dropped to his knees concerning Starswirl greatly. With great pain in a move he did not know why, he opened his wings as if in a still defensive stance. Starswirl looked behind him to see, well nothing, in that moment Grif noticed the children and looked at Pensword even after being the one to tell him that none of the children survive, did something else, he moved his own wings to try and shield the bigger of the two children. Pensword looked to his friend and mouthed ‘thank you’ to his friend.
“No more waiting!” Starswirl’s horn fired.
“Starswirl,” Grif spoke as he felt a cold on his feet as stone crawled up. “Please I left a bag and two swords at the Inn. Bury the swords in the castle of the two pony sisters for me. and place the bag in the library.”
Starswirl only stared in wonderment that this Gryphon knew about the castle yet it was too late as the Gryphon was already a statue, He turned to Pensword. “I shall bury anything of yours I find as well.” He paused and looked at the pose. “You must be in pain.”
“Meh, this will keep the bones in the right place I think. I-I think I cannot move my wings anyway.” He kept his eyes open with a look of facing an enemy as the spell hit, well it hit him in the face as it started to spread from head to hooves. Starswirl did not know that the magical field had already turned to stone two small foals as the Stone finally started to spread down the wings. Unseeable as well, was that they were holding a Euwe and a rabbit in armor that was two years before its time.
Starswirl turned his gaze towards Hammer Strike. “Any requests my lord?” he asked.
“Please, I am as much as a lord as any pony on the street. The future holds many things, but not one of them is me being a true noble.” He chuckled faintly.
Starswirl’s eye’s only seemed to widen slightly as he chuckled. “My lord, you are by far more noble than any highborn pony, you may not have been born to the title, but you deserve the honor more than most” Starswirl noted as his horn fired.
“Starswirl.” Hammers tone lowered a bit. “I must request a huge favor. Something that I wish did not have to be done, but must.” He took a more upright stance for when he was made a statue. “You must make them forget.”
“Who must forget my lord?” Starswirl asked.
“Celestia and Luna.” Hammer exhaled. “They must forget, or never know about us three.” He coughed lightly. “Not for a long, long time. But I have a plan.” Hammer’s hooves smoked as glowing red stone began to slowly creep up them. Rapidly cooling into white stone.
“A key phrase, to awaken the memories.” Hammer finished.
“What shall it be my lord?” Starswirl asked as he saw the very slow creep of the stone he might have to blast other areas to speed up the stone process.
Hammer grinned a sad grin. “The three are dead, Taze, Shawn, and Matthew.”
“Very well.” Starswirl nodded. “Goodbye Lord Hammer Strike, may you find peace.” and with that Starswirl bowed even as stone swallowed the earth pony in form.
Meanwhile back in the present of the Crystal Empire, the climax of the conflict with Sombra was occurring, Spike had just jumped from the window of the Crystal Empire’s tower, Sombra was rising up as he began to turn from shadow to flesh as he got closer to the Crystal Heart.
On the balcony that once help King Sombra, Shining Armor looked at his wife who gave a determined expression and in an almost psychic link Shining Armor picked up his wife and tossed her right at the crystal heart. She flew in and snatched Spike and opened her wings and made a loop to turn back to the plaza where she landed on the fake Crystal Heart that shattered under her hooves as one Pony realized that she looked like a pony from their memory.
“Behold the Crystal Princess.” he called out as the heart was returned to the resting place between two spires. Upon being biden from Cadence the Crystal Ponies knelt down and what was at first a very unique street design began to glow and radiate powers as Sombra cursed and demanded they stop. Yet that did not and a surge of pure joy radiated from the heart that blasted Sombra to dust and flung his horn into the distance.
At the same time in a park, the statues of two ponies and one Gryphon began to show cracks as the magic was seeping its way into the stone and mixing with Starswirl’s magic. A flake of stone fell away from the beak to show, a real beak underneath the stone facade. The cracks spread farther with more and more flakes breaking off. Revealing real feathers, armor, fur, weapons. With a thump Grif collapsed on the platform his blood and that of friends and enemies covered over his body.
Meanwhile the Pegasus on the right started to crack up as if it was going to crumble into dust. suddenly in a sound of tumbling pebbles the entire facade fell off revealing a Pegasus in dented armor and a mended wing but still the scratches and open wounds from the battle were still visible, he slowly began to fold his wings as he looked down tired and exhausted from the battle. “The two are safe.” he muttered as he realized something. “Uh… why am I suddenly glowing like you did before the heart was stolen?”
The two children only stared as they looked around suddenly as the two stuff animals were dropped and Pensword could not but help laughing at this as cracks finally began to appear across the final figure, an earth pony.
On the left cracks formed at a slow rate, each with bright lights blaring out, but something different happened. It didn’t fall apart and shatter.
It started to melt from sheer heat.
The earth pony moved his head to the left and right with a soft pop coming from each side. “Oooh. One thousand years, will give you such a crick in the neck!”
He sighed. “And still injured.”
“I think we need a hospital.” Taze noted holding up a tallon.
Pensword blinked and spoke something that confused his two friends. “My apologies for not bowing your majesties.” When the two turned back to face where Pensword was looking, they saw Luna and Celestia already standing there with some smiles.
“Can we get a respawn?” Taze asked. “Or a medpack? Healthpack? Red potion? Medigel?” He looked up hopefully. “Seriously I had a sword blade put inside me I kinda need a medic.”
Celestia blinked and smiled. “I think I have something better for the moment.” She put her horn to Grif’s forehead. It glowed bright gold for a moment and the injuries on his body started to knit. “So this is why Starswirl asked me to learn healing spells after Luna’s banishment.” She sighed as she pulled back the horn. She looked to Luna. “He taught me the long game once you were banished Luna.” She smiled and gave a sisterly nuzzle to her check. “It is good to have you back.”
She smiled and walked over to Shawn who looked the worst for wear. “Are you ready Lord Shawn or should I say Lord Hammer Strike?” She replied with what one might call a cheeky grin.
Shawn only laughed in response. “I’m going to have so many titles and names to go by… I think I might lose count.”
Celestia grinned. “I lost count already, you shall have no problem with these.” She smiled and placed her horn on his head and once more found the resistance again and had to pour more power into healing then she had hopped. Finally after five minutes as well as bits of what might call liquid sunlight dripping from her horn she finally stepped back and looked at Pensword. “I can only heal anything internal at the moment, the rest you will have to seek normal help.” She stepped softly as she looked back at Shawn. “Why does your magic resist anything trying to help it?” She sighed and touched Pensword who felt nothing change he was still tired as he looked at Luna and Celestia.
Suddenly from behind Pensword a surprise happened the two foals popped up and waved at Celestia and Luna. Who both stared at the, supose to be dead relatives. “Hi,” they both called out with glee.
Taze finally got to his feet. “If you’ll excuse us, there is a pony who desperately want to see these two and doesn’t even know it yet.”
At this moment Grif, Pensword, and Hammer Strike all saw a crowd forming and then Pinkie Pie appeared once more right in Hammer Strikes’ Face. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie, and, well my pinkie senses just went bonkers and I knew that this big giant surprise would be coming, at first I thought it was Luna and Celestia but then I realized that the statues turned into live creatures, isn’t that cool? I wish Shawn was here, or Taze, they would be fun to see, and Matthew, he would be freaking out and pulling a Twilight at the moment as he tried to figure what happened.”
Sadly while the three humans turned Equestrian creatures turned time travelers who decided to see if Pinkie could actually go forever sadly found her cut off by Twilight who pulled her off Hammer Strike as she looked around. “Uh, Princess Celestia? The Crystal Ponies are…. why are they acting like that?”
At that moment Princess Cadence stepped through the crowds as the two children looked up still holding the stuff animals, Cadence was looking over these beings before blinking upon seeing the crystal Ewue animal in Alto’s hooves. She just stared as if, it almost seemed like she was rebooting her brain for a moment.
“KK?” Bellacoso looked at her “Is that you?” He justed froze staring at Princess Cadence as he dropped the stuffed rabbit from his hooves.
“Co...sy?” The words crawled out of Cadences mouth as if she was still trying to comprehend them.
“KK” The small child raced to his much taller and older sister while Shining Armor looked at his wife.
“Cadence… who is Cosy?” he asked in confusion as he blinked suddenly finding his wife acting like a little kid as she began to bounce up and down. He suddenly felt a little nervous for his wife acting like this around the Crystal Ponies… only to blink as he saw them bowing to this Cosy and then the other pony a little filly raced up to Cadence.
“Katy you got so big, what happened? Did, did you also get turned into stone to escape Sombra?” She asked in a fast pace that might have been how Pinkie started her speech long ago. “Because that is what happened, we, we were scared and we didn’t know what Starswirl was going to do, but he was going to send them to the future and I didn’t want to lose our last guard…”
Cosy smiled a little. “I came up with the idea of sneaking in to hide with them. Being stone feels funny.” He smiled a little as Cadence only laughed and Shining Armor looked at his wife. His expression plainly reading ‘what is going on, who are these children?’
Pensword was trying to move out of the crowd feeling rather small as the family reunion was happening, he wanted or would have liked to make a stealthy exit. Sadly it seemed he could never escape when he wanted to.
He turned to find some of the ponies already smiling and talking to Spike with praise and thankfulness. Also his escape path was blocked he looked around as he saw Grif moving already.
Grif approached the princess slowly removing his helmet. Crystal ponies backed away as he stepped forward. “Your majesty? If I may request that you kneel.” he said.
Princess Cadence blinked but did so as she looked at Grif with confusion, the last time she saw him was when she was a filly before a blue box, yet he seemed unaged no older than the last time she saw him.
“Before the attack on the empire I took private council with Starswirl the Bearded. He told me it was you mothers wish that you take her place as ruler of the Crystal Ponies,” he withdrew something from behind his breastplate. a silver ring topped with a single purple stone. “This ring was given to Starswirl by your mother. It is sadly the last piece of royal jewelry that has survived. And with the permission of my Lord Hammer Strike.” Taze looked back to Shawn and received a nod in response.
“We the defenders of the empire, in the trust of the crystal ponies do crown you, her majesty Queen Mi Amore Cadenza of the Empire, Thirty Second Queen of the Crystal Empire, daughter of Queen Blood Diamond , Long Live the Queen!” After sliding the ring onto her horn, Griff drew a sword in a warriors salute.
Pensword slowly moved his wing in a salute as well feeling nervous as he had to fight nearly every generation of his ancestors as all of them fought for the American side of a revolution he did swallow his pride and instead was saluting a friend. Mentally he now wondered, did that mean Shining Armor was a king? What did that make Luna and Celestia, what about Twilight?
“Long live the Queen!” The shout went out and ponies bowed to Cadence. However soon another call echoed it.
“Hail the wall breaker!” One pony shouted.
“Oh boy.” Shawn mumbled.
“Hail the blade of the innocent!” the call went up again.
For Pensword he realized something, ‘oh dear’ he thought to himself.
“Hail Death Gale!” the ponies again shouted.
For a fleeting moment Grif felt pride in his chest, a warm pride that was soon extinguished as faces flashed in front of him.
“All hail the Great and Glorious Spike the Valiant” someone shouted. cheers erupted all around them.
Pensword blinked as he felt. “Oh dear.” he muttered aloud. He had just had Spike placed on his back as Spike only waved unsure of what to do but loving the attention. Pensword after a minute of the cheering began to chuckle a little even has his wounds clotted and slowly stopped bleeding. He actually didn't mind now that he was a pedestal for Spike. It allowed more Crystal Ponies to see the small dragon.
“Aww, Doctor we missed the whole thing.” Derpy moped even as the other celebrated. Even as her body shimmered with the crystal light.
“But that’s not right we should have came in exactly at the right time. What went wrong?” A currently shiny earth pony stallion was flabbergasted.
It was Pensword who noticed the two first as he was walking away slowly and stiffly as he favored one leg from the battle, he was trying to slip away, well as much as possible when Cosy refused to leave his side as it was Cosy who was leading him to the city’s healer. Pensword blinked and paused and slowly waved as if unsure if these two would know him or recognize him.
“You!” the doctor growled as the sonic beeped in his mouth. “You’re full of time particles! well more so than everything else around here, you stole the adventure didn’t you?”
Pensword blinked and something snapped. “Stole? How about being ambushed by King Sombra, being told you were going to be flung back INTO the void of no time or something, find yourself on the brink of the fall of an empire, finding a letter written to you to save two children who never lived past the day.” he forgot that Cosy was listening. “Went and nearly got Killed so that I could live knowing I did all I could to save two innocent lives.” he took a breath. “If you want to do it and save the children as well, fine go back and change it.” he blinked and the Doctor could see a haunted look. “I killed to protect. I am a college student, not a warrior before I came here, I was an armchair historian…. look what I have done, mucked up history very badly I assume if you are yelling at me.” He had advanced with a limp right up to be nose to nose with the doctor. Cosy was just staring at him before he shook his head.
“You are not an armchair historian or student, you were my general, you saved my sister and I’s life. You fought like the knights my mother read to me about. You are a general now, as Prince of the Crystal empire I proclaim it.” He stomped his hooves childishly.
Pensword only sighed and looked at the Doctor and then at Cosy. “How about a commander? I do not want to be a general, not yet.” Cosy only nodded as he sat thinking as the words actually started to sink into his head.
“Wait,” Cosy began, “Sombra sent you back in time. Why?” he asked wondering aloud like a child would.
Pensword paused and blinked. “Said something about messing up his plans.” he paused and looked at the tower. “Oh monkeys, stable time loop, we were meant to go back in time and muck of time.” he sighed and fell to his belly. “Do your worst Doctor. I am done with time mechanics.”
The doctor chuckled. “Next time you get pulled through time, have some common courtesy and invite us.” the pony said.
“Right, just, but how would I contact you?” he paused and blinked as he remembered something. “Shoot I never told the Princesses that the Muffin lady told me to give her Princess Cadence.” he muttered suddenly and looked back and forth. “That…”
He saw confusion between the two time travelers. “But,” It was Derpy who spoke. “I never did that.” She paused and looked at the Doctor. “Doctor did you do something behind my back?”
Pensword blinked and looked at the two. “So, does that mean we have a third party now in time travel?”
“I’ll have to look at this.” The doctor said, without much of a acknowledgement he walked off mumbling. Derpy just shrugged at Pensword before running after him.
Pensword turned around and yelled as he jumped back and spread his wings at seeing Pinkie Pie appear right into his face. “Don’t do that,” He yelped before folding his wings. “To you you might have only faced one being. I fought his army. It,” he looked to the castle and the sky. “Has it really been a thousand years?”
“Give or take a decade.” The pink pony shrugged.
“Of course.” he blinked and bowed a little to be a gentle Stallion. “I am Pensword Captain of Lord Hammer Strike’s personal guards,” he stood up again after the bow and smiled. “However I doubt that title means much, the other nobles surely broke up my lord’s land upon our “deaths” long ago.”
“Did you really fight a dragon with a pitchfork?” Pinkie asked.
Pensword just stood there. “I do not recall that certain event.” He sighed and smiled. “Who knows, my mind is a little rocky at the moment.” he smiled as Pinkie laughed at the slight rock pun joke.
“Did you really run screaming into an angry mob?” She asked
Pensword laughed. “Depends on which mob you refer to. But I did charge a Fortified position with only a cart and my wing blades.” He smiled. “That, will be what I remember the best. Saving the children.”
Cosy just stared at Pensword and smiled at being told that he was the fondest memory that his guardian had of those terrible days. “Well, Come on, let’s see if I can get you into the castle for some fun.” he paused and handed over the stuff animal. “Oh, you might want that again.”
Pensword only nodded and smiled. “Thank you.” he tucked the stuff animal which thankfully Pinkie did not see in a moment of being distracted. “Come along, I guess I, what was I going this way for?” he wondered before shaking his head. “No matter I better find Grif and Hammer Strike.” he smiled at Pinkie. “Milord is my best friend, and we have been together for a long time, that was a boon he gave me after one fierce attack, the ability to say his name.”
He paused and looked at Pinkie. “My eyes seem to deceive me, but I feel thou hast stories as well, well, come regale me with one as we return to the crowd.”
Pinkie only giggled. “You sound like Luna when she first came back, but then again that makes sense since you both come back a thousand years ago.” pinkie sucked in a huge breath of air. “Well you see it all started in Canterlot...” she begun there story.
“So…” Rarity gave her best lady like smile as she approached Lord Hammer Strike. “Was there a Lady Hammer Strike a thousand years ago?”
‘Hammer’ chuckled in response. “No, there was not. It appears you know me, may I have the name of the beautiful mare before me?” Hammer gave a small smile, something in him clicked upon hearing the name.
Rarity giggled a bit into her hoof. “I am Rarity, my lord.” she said giving her mane a toss.
“A pleasure.” He replied, giving a low nod. “What brought you over? It seems the crowd is more enthralled with Katty, or, Queen Mi Amore Cadenza and the return of her sister and brother.”
“It isn’t everyday one meets an actual fairy tale hero.” Rarity noted.
“Fairy tale hero?” He questioned with a raised brow. “I thought we would have been forgotten really.” He hummed in thought.
“Oh no my lord, there isn’t a foal who isn’t told the legend of the three heros before bed.” Rarity assured him. “Likely there isn’t anyone who doesn’t know of you.”
“That is…” He paused. “Remarkable, I might have to read this tale myself.” He chuckled. “A thousand years is a long time for a tale to travel.”
“It must be very stressful for you to wake up so far outside your own time.” Rarity said. “Away from family and friends.”
Hammer gave a sad smile. “My friends are here with me, as for family, I am the last of my bloodline.”
“Oh my, it would be such a shame for such a robust noble line to die out.” Rarity smiled.
Hammer chuckled. “A name can die out in a short way, but I am a smith, I try to leave my name throughout the years of work.”
“I must say your armor is so stunning.” She said. “A little wash and polish and it must simply be stunning to see. Did you make it yourself?”
Hammer looked to his friends, seeing that Pensword just came back to the park with Pinkie Pie still talking to him, Grif stood off to the side letting Spike keep the well deserved limelight. Hammer Strike then looked back to Rarity. “Thirty six hours to make three sets and something to defend ourselves with. Blasted changelings had ambushed us on our way to the Crystal Empire and stole our equipment.” He gave a friendly smile. “I just need to fix out the battle damage, polish and it will be as good as new.” He paused for a moment. “Would you by chance want a set for yourself? There would be no charge for a friend.”
“Oh a simple dressmaker like myself is hardly worthy of such a thing.” Rarity, Shawn was sure actually blushed at this offer.
He gave a smile in response. “Nonsense. I can tell there you are no meer simple dressmaker, you give off an aura, something… Je ne sais quoi.”
Rarity blushed redder as he spoke. “Well if you really think it would fit me.” she giggled. “I suppose it would be nice to have something stylish for an emergency.”
“I will make sure of it. Something to match you.” He gave a friendly smile.
“Excuse me!” Twilight suddenly charged into the scene… and the atmosphere evaporated. “I’m sorry but I just had to talk to you Lord Hammer Strike.” Twilight said.
“No problem miss..?” He still had a friendly smile on.
“Twilight Sparkle.” she gave a small bow. “It is an honor to meet the hero of new Whinny’sberg personally.”
Hammer gave a slight pause. “The honor is mine, it is a pleasure to meet such friendly faces, though it appears some of these tales might be a bit… Out of hoof.” He hummed.
“Oh?” She asked. “How do you mean?”
“I have never heard of, or been to a town called Whinny’sberg, though it certainly sounds interesting.” He gave a slight shrug. “I’m sorry to fall short of expectations, but I’m afraid that was not me.”
“No my lord, if anything it is the scribes who are to blame.” Twilight noted. “But you are the Hammer Strike who fought to free the empire from King Sombra right?”
Hammer gave a small nod. “My two friends and myself did fight in the battle.”
“How did you survive? All sources said you bled to death in the middle of battle.” She asked.
“I did bleed, and I did fall, but to death? I think not.” He chuckled. “I can remember most of it, I had passed out, and when I came to I was surrounded by guards some time later, the battle was still ongoing and I could not sit by and let those around me be injured.”
“Then how did you wind up in stone?” She asked.
“A friend of ours thought it would be best to preserve us, until healers were within range of the castle, for you see, when we were struck down only Princess Luna and her legion of Pegasi had arrived.” He sighed. “Starswirl put us in stone to preserve us until healers had arrived to save us, but it appears something different happened.”
“You met Starswirl the Bearded? Personally?” she asked.
“Is that what he is called now?” Hammer smiled. “How did he fare in the eyes of history?”
“His age finally caught up with him twenty years after the empire vanished.” Twilight said. “He was a very old unicorn, it was said he laughed at your funerals, I guess it’s obvious why now.”
Hammer gave a laugh. “Understandable.”
“Whoo boy.” Applejack noted as she approached the group. “How can you even swing that monster?” She asked.
“This here?” Hammer looked to the sword on his back, the thing was quite big. “Actually very easily.” He replied. “May I have some space, I can show you then.” He smiled. “Miss…?”
“Applejack.” Applejack tipped her hat. A space was made for him relatively quickly. With relative ease, He unsheathed the blade and supported it with on hoof, putting a majority onto his back.
“There we are. One of the ways.” He chuckled. “It is not really heavy in the first place.” He said before resheathing it onto his back.
“I doubt Big Macintosh could swing that cleaver.” Applejack said.
“Family I presume?” Hammer chuckled. “I would guess he is quite big, the name does seem to give it away.” He gave a friendly smile.
“There aren’t many ponies bigger.” Applejack nodded. “But then again, depending on how big y’all are under that armor you may be taller than him.”
“We’ll have to see.” He gave a nod before pausing. “I feel rude, you have asked questions of myself, but I have been running my mouth since, what about you three. I would love to hear about some tales I have missed, or just friendly chatter.”
“Perhaps you would first appreciate a bath and a healer.?” Luna approached him from behind. She idly vaporized an eyeball that had been hanging on the back of the collar on his armor.
He gave a quick run down of himself before he jumped up slightly. “Oh dear! I apologise. I still look like I am just out of battle.”
“You are just out of battle.” Luna nodded.
“I am afraid so.” He mumbled to himself. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation afterwards.”
“Of course.” Twilight nodded.
“We’ll see you later darling.” Rarity smiled. Applejack simply tipped her hat.
“Very good.” Luna said. “Come with us Lord Hammer Strike we shall gather your retainers and away.”
The meeting room in the crystal empire was currently crowded as all three Princesses, the mane six and Spike were all gathered around waiting patiently for the three.
“So Rarity? What's up with you and and that lord guy?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I think she has a crush!” Pinkie giggled. “Huh, Rarity? Huh?”
Rarity hid behind her hoof. “A lady does not discuss such things.” She said.
“Shoot.” Applejack smiled. “Sugarcube, you’re turning redder than a red gala at harvest time.”
“Quite.” Rarity said.
“Rarity, do you have a crush on Hammer Strike?” Twilight covered her smile with a book she was reading, muffling a small giggle. After a second she removed the book from her mouth. “Oh, I think the two of you might do well together from what I’ve heard.”
“Well, ahem thank you Twilight.” Rarity said turning to hide her blush.
“Twenty bits says she faints when she finds out.” Luna whispered to Celestia.
Celestia opened her mouth to reply only to stop for a moment. “Deal.” She paused. “Though I think even they are lost in their role.”
“I can’t believe they’re alive.” Cadence said quietly. Her aunts eyed her as tears welled up in her eye’s. “I can’t believe I didn’t remember them, after all this time.”
“Perhaps the same thing happened to you as it did us.” Celestia quietly responded. “I couldn’t recognise or remember them, at least, after the change.” She sighed. “It just, clicked when I read Spikes letter.”
Further questions where cut off as the doors opened wide admitting the three heroes without the armor.
Pensword looked around and seemed to have been groomed and his feathers back in their place. “I feel vulnerable,” he muttered to Lord Hammer Strike. “Still, not wise to show up armed to the rulers of the two kingdoms?” he asked softly right before the doors opened in front of him. He looked to Grif and blinked it felt like ages since they did not have to wear their armor that it just seemed, odd to his mind.
“I feel naked.” Grif noted. “I haven’t been without armor in a long time.”
“I shall repair the sets when I have the time.” Hammer Strike replied to the two. “Now, onto business.” He smiled as he faced the mane six, Spike, and princesses, but the expression of seven caused him pause.
Rarity fainted outright. With a groan Celestia silently hoofed over the bits.
“Is something the matter?” Hammer questioned.
“Lord Shawn? Taze? Matthew?” Twilight shouted each name with just a little more surprise. “You three are the ancient heroes?”
Shawn paused for a second after hearing his name, letting her finish something just felt off as he replied. “Y-yes…? No? It is… It’s… It’s a big blur.” He put a hoof to his head and groaned.
“Sombra’s magic, changed us slightly.” Taze noted.
Pensword blinked and looked his friends. “We befriended Changelings?” he asked, just as Rarity woke up and she stared wide eyed at the comment and fainted again. “Err, I guess not all knew that?”
“Welcome back Lord Shawn, Taze of Pokke, and Matthew of America.” Luna nodded her head.
“Back…” Shawn mumbled. “Yeah… Back… No, forward.” He groaned. “Good grief I can’t piece together my thoughts…”
Pensword just stood there and spoke softly. “Permission to sit in the royal presence?” He asked in fear as he found the room swaying a little. “A…” He blinked and looked green. “I, swore… I, I worked.” He blinked as memories that, “Why was it so easy to forget?” he asked.
“Get out of my head.” Taze stomped his foot against the ground. Dragging up his hatred for sombra until he felt something break. Suddenly it was all back. He was taze, and he was grif, they weren’t interchangeable they were simultaneous. “I am me, I think therefore I am.” he bellowed as the magic lost it’s hold.
Shawn sighed heavily. “It just feels…” He sighed. “I’m fine. I got my thoughts in order mostly…” He paused and looked to Rarity. “Still going to keep my word though.” He shrugged. “Everything I said was still me, just… A bit more older speech.”
Pensword blinked and bowed his head. “I humbly request that I be held accountable for my actions, with impersonating a captain of the guard, giving…” He fell silent as Princess Celestia raised a wing cutting him off. He remained silent while still bowing his head. “Permission to rise at least your majesty.” He asked as Celestia lowered her wing.
“Rise Matthew.” She replied. “There is no need for a trial, I will not hold it against you for the help you have done. Any of you three. There was no harm, but help in your actions.”
“Technically I did nothing wrong anyway.” Taze noted. “I never claimed to be of any official station.”
“Anyway.” Luna rolled her eye’s. “You have by far gained a right to hold a title within the court.” Luna noted. “Infact” Luna smiled as the sound of metal grating against metal echoed as luna drew a sword. “We have figured it was time we make some things official.”
“Matthew of America, Captain Pensword, we would ask if you’d allow yourself to take a knee?” Celestia raised a brow.
Pensword just looked at Luna with a raised eyebrow. He seemed to have an inner dialog before doing so, as if doing it more for loyalty to her then the crown. He breathed in and out as he tried not to be sick in his actions.
“Matthew of America, to us from this point on you shall be Sir Pensword.” Luna began as she gently guided the sword on each of his shoulders. “You shall have all the honors rights and privileges a knight of Equestria is privy too. Beneath the sun and the moon you are now a knight of Equestria, rise Sir Pensword”
Sir Pensword slowly rose and remained stoic but showed respect as well to the honor with a small as he rose before standing still. He was mentally trying to figure out why his mind was starting to be okay with that, was it the magic in the air? The World? Or something else he wondered.
“Taze of Pokke, take a knee” Celestia ordered. With a gulp the gryphon followed. similarly and in short order he rose as Sir Grif Graffson of Equestria. and then it came to Shawn.
“Lord Shawn of Pokke, take a knee.” Luna ordered this time.
Shawn with a nod followed suit, going onto a knee.
“Lord Shawn of Pokke, you have shown kindness and compassion mixed with ferocity and a will to live on that quite frankly astounds some of our top minds.” Celestia began.
“These are the qualities of a good leader.” Luna continued. “Qualities that are rare in Equestria today, as a reward for your kindness to Equestria in the past we have made a decision.” With that Luna touched the sword to Shawns shoulders before turning it too him.
“Rise Lord Hammer Strike of Equestria, Lord and Master of the fiefdom of the Everfree and all that lies within it’s borders. This title is given to you and all who come after you, let no one take it from your hooves from now to the end of time. Let this blade be the symbol of your authority in the realm, now rise Lord Hammer Strike.”
Shawn stood up tall, his expression gave off a silent amazement at what was happening. “Your majesty…” He paused.
“Yes Lord Hammer Strike?” she asked.
“Are you sure, I… It’s just a bit sudden.” He said looking at the blade being presented to him. He looked up to Luna for a one hundred percent confirm.
The alicorn merely responded with a nod.
He grabbed the blade and studied it to reveal a dark blue metal for the blade and a dark material or cloth wrapped around the grip. The blade was a simple straight sword, it was a light blade compared to the one he left behind in his room. It was an elegant blade with a dark jewel into the center of the handguard. Looking back up at Celestia and Luna he could only say what was on his mind.
“Thank you.” Shawn muttered softly
“You are most welcome Lord Hammer Strike the Undying.” Luna grinned.
He gave off a light chuckle, in his mind the title would possibly never go away.
The mane six each gave a low bow, griff followed soon after. Pensword once more showed a bit of his own personality by rendering a salute with his wings first. He seemed to give a small cheeky smirk for a second that almost didn’t seem to be there and yet felt like it was there.
Behind the backs of Grif and Pensword, or rather Taze and Matthew, the Element holders were looking at each other with questions in their eyes and already seemed to be mentally conspiring to get these three in a corner to get answers.
It was a half hour later that Pen, That Matthew, Shawn, and Taze found themselves in the same room where they first heard about the Crystal Empire fair. As well as a catchy song. Once again they were all gathered around the table and Pensword sighed as he looked at the others.
“Okay,” Taze started. “We are here, what do you want to ask?”
“What the buck happened?” Applejack spoke up.
Shawn hummed in thought. “Well, a lot of things happened. What do you want to know, all, part, how it happened, when it happened, what we did, how we did it.” He shrugged. “You name it, and we’ll answer what we can.”
“I mean how’d yall get vaporized and suddenly end up coming out of some thousand year old statues?” Applejack clarified. “Y’all should be older than Granny Smith.”
“Well.” Shawn started. “If I remember correctly Sombra cursed the kingdom, so in technicality, when it vanished and reappeared, it was more of a…” He paused and looked to Matthew and Taze. “A time jump of sorts? That sound about right?” He hummed. “We were sent back, there was a problem apparently, we showed up in a war.” He shrugged.
Rainbow Dash just glared at the three. “Okay, but how did you convince those ponies that you were legit? Posing as Equestrian noble family just seems… wrong.”
“We were the only survivors of a changeling attack coming home from the third great gryphon war.” Taze shrugged. “And Starswirl said there were a lot of new bloodlines being promoted to lord hood so no one really went against his word.”
Twilight’s jaw just dropped. “Yo, You, you got to meet Starswirl? Wh, what was he like? Is he like the books? Different?” She just stared and it was Rarity who smiled and patted Twilight on the back.
“Now, now dear, let’s not go too overboard now, I am trying to restrain to ask about the fashions of that era and how the nobles really acted. I think we could show a little restraint dear.” She smiled as she looked to Shawn, Taze, and Matthew as if apologies for Twilight’s outburst.
“Heh,” Twilight laughed a little rubbing the back of her head with her hoof. “Sorry about that guys, I, I got a little carried away.”
“Say Pinkie Pie?” Taze asked just remembering something.
“Yes?” Pinkie responded.
“Could you run over to the library and get my bags? They should be somewhere near the back.” Taze asked.
“Okie Dokie Lokie!” Pinkie said and was gone in a pinkie shaped puff of smoke.
“Uh, Taze we scanned every inch of the library remember? There was no bags…” Twilight was cut off as Pinkie Pie returned carrying said bags.
“Found them.” She said handing them over.
“Ah.. Wha… How?” Twilight asked
“They were under B.” Pinkie smiled.
Taze laughed as he opened his bag and rummaged around before pulling out a tome. “Here Twilight, first edition one of a kind.”
Twilight blinked before taking the book in her magic and opened it up before staring wide eyed and in shock. “Bu, but what? What?” She gasped in confusion and looked down. “Th, this was, some of his late work, but… how?” She gasped and shivered. “The, I do not know what might happen, but this could mess up the space time continuum.”
Rainbow Dash blinked and looked to her friends. “What is Twilight freaking about now?” She looked a little nervous, “Should we worry as well?”
“Twilight, the actions that set about getting you this book where scripted already, they happened as they were supposed to, this book was never published outside of the empire, this was Starswirl advanced copy, it was in the empire when it vanished outside of time. Nothings gonna get erased by you having it.” Taze assured her.
Twilight only blinked and went from worrying about the end of the word to smiling and grinning like a foal who got the best present at Christmas or hearth warming eve. Still to those present it was a heartwarming scene full of both D'aww and Adorkable.
“So what was it like? Being stuck in the past?” Pinkie asked.
Pensword blinked. “Well, the speaking was easy, scared to mess things up, but at the same time, finding that you might be able to succeed at making a change to better society. Say, helping reunite a family separated by time?” Pensword only smiled before falling. “Bloody, very bloody as well.”
“It was horrible.” Taze said darkening a bit. “So many ponies died, I lead them to their deaths, all of them.” His head hung in shame as the memories of the battle hit him full force. “I need to be alone.” The gryphon said suddenly as he left the room.
Taze stood in front of the cathedral looking around. The bodies and blood were gone but marks of the battle still marked the area. Faces and names ran past his face with every step as he walked around the battlefield. He said a silent thank you he was alone as tears flowed freely from his eye’s.
“Tis never easy when one loses a comrade.” A voice replied from the shadows as Grif or rather Taze as a Griffon. She slowly walked to stand next to him staring at the scars of war.
“I lost twenty three in one day.” Taze gave an empty chuckle. “That’s got to be some sort of record.” He sighed. “How do you deal with it?”
Luna raised an eyebrow. “Tis not wise to get into that type of contest when thou speaks to a Princess that has led troops into war.” She looked over at Grif. “What I have done since returning, has been to think of them and wonder what they would say to us today.” Luna’s expression turned dark. “Tis was one of many reason why we did what we did with the night.” She smiled and looked to the sky. “Each does it differently, for us, we have named a star after each who have gone before. Tis only I who know which star is which in case another decides to take on that grief.” She looked back down from the sky and looked forward. “Tis only advice and guidance that we can give thee, tis you who must find what works for thee.”’
“Does the pain ever stop?” He asked her.
“Nay Taze of Pokke, and Grif of Everfree.” She replied. “It dulls, but it never leaves, tis what you do with the pain, doth thou let it consume thee? Or doth it become a fire to forge your life?”
“It can’t happen again.” He looked at her. “I can’t let that happen again, I need to get smarter, I need to learn to fight better, I need to keep the next bunch safe.”
Luna only smiled. “Tis wise then to keep your war games going. Tis wise to learn from your mistakes.” She sighed and looked to the sky. “Tis wise to learn, and be grateful thou has a chance to grow. Create the school or college thou wish you could attend and create it for future generations of Gryphons and ponies of the Everfree.”
“Thanks.” Taze turned to Luna. “For what it’s worth, I don’t believe everything was just as the legend says it was, it wasn’t all your fault.” He got to his feet. “When you see the others, tell them I’ll be in the outskirts, there is something I need to do.”
Luna only nodded. “Of course, just do not do anything too rash that might need a search party to come after thee, other then that I shall let them know that you need time to ponder and contemplate.”
Pensword sighed and left the room as he had let Shawn start answering more of the questions and once more Rarity and he were starting to go back and forth again. He sighed and hoped that Spike would not get jealous of Rarity giving Shawn attention. He slowly moved listening to his own clip clop of his hooves along the hallways and turned to the left and ran right into Princess Celestia who was smiling a little. “My apologies Princess.” Matthew replied.
“It is alright Sir Pensword.” Celestia smiled, not her usual smile but a smaller sadder one. “How are you coping?”
“Surprisingly well.” Matthew replied. “More getting use to feathers, hooves and a more quadrupedal stance.” he shook his head. “Just… trying not to think of the lives I ended in Canterlot and here.” He took a deep breath in and out. “I was trained and took classes, and ran scenarios in my head, yet, nothing does prepare you for the real thing and the real thing stinks literally, exhausting, and,” he paused and remained silent almost having said that he missed the firearms. Still he acted like his trailing off was due to the memories at least he hoped it worked with his high school and College acting classes.
“And not what you signed up for when you ended up going from your armchair to here?” Celestia asked.
“That obvious?” he asked as he realized something, her guards were not present in the castle. He blinked and even Celestia could tell he had gone on a higher alert. “But yes, I was just attache for my military, it was the troops job to protect me, even if I could carry a pistol if I wanted.” He took a breath in and out. “My apologies, but you are correct Princess, going from Armchair to here is not what I thought my life would end up being.”
“Matthew, I am a millennia old princess, you really think that I am that easily fooled?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.
Pensword blinked, then blinked again, and then again. “Then why have me have to play the charade? You could have stopped this any time you wanted, why?” he asked as he thought back on many things from teacher Celestia to Trollestia in the fandom. “Just why have this happen?” He never rose his voice, did not scream, just asked why.
“The three of you where new and scared, we wanted to make everything easier on you.” Celestia explained. “We were not aware of what your kind was like and the last thing we needed was a panic on either side.”
Pensword only smiled. “So thou knewest that thou hast three imposters within yon court and played along?” he paused and smirked in a strange manner that only a Pony in the cartoons pull off. “That might have been good, it gave a situation to attack, a means to either fight or flee so to speak and we focused on that immediate problem instead of worrying about anything long term, and by the time thou might have had us slowly do away. This happens.” he moved a wing about the hallway. “Seems we both shall live with a lie that has become reality.”
“I feel that maybe we played the role a little too well, you three should not have been made to go through this.” Celestia frowned. “You have my sincerest apologies.”
“Princess, they did a physical. I lived through five Open Heart surgeries, I am on a drug you do not know about that thins my blood, and had half the valves in my heart replaced by mechanical valves with part of the Coronary Artery replaced as well. For me, this just means I am still alive and not dead.” He almost laughed a little. “If anything being a Pony has given me a new lease on life and,” he smiled as he raised a hoof. “Making it a little difficult to decide if I even want two legs again.” he turned behind him. “Wings to fly in a manner unheard of.” he tapped his ears. “Hearing improved, smelling a little better, eyesight is better I don’t need glasses.” He paused and looked at Celestia. “You may need to apologies to my friends, to me. This is just one more trial in a hard life that I have excelled at.” He paused as he heard something. “If I may be excused I think I hear either Alto or Cosy exploring the castle after Sombra’s redecorating.”
Celestia stared at him for a moment. “I have lived a thousand years and I cannot imagine what that must have been like.”
Matthew paused and smiled. “Then you are still young, you only grow old when you stop learning or seeing new things.” Matthew chose to take her comment that way as his eyes did darken a little from emotions. “I do miss my family, and I just am happy and lucky in a way. Most folks go through what I did, instead of doing what I did, would be in a corner feeling sorry for their life.” He sighed and put a hoof to his face to rub it. “Not that I am disparaging anyone like that, it is just I have done the opposite of what the doctors of my world expected my life to turn into.”
“It is my hope then that this new opportunity gives you a chance to experience life to the fullest.” Celestia said. “No matter how your story started, you are a hero now, never forget that.”
Pensword saw that Celestia gave a non verbal cue for him to follow the footsteps of the small children in the castle, however he could not leave without one more statement. “We all are the star of our own story, just, sometimes the hero you become is unexpected.” He smiled cryptically as he left.
Eventually it was simply Rarity and Shawn left in the room. The fashionista's face was a little red as she looked at Shawn.
“Uh Lord Shawn, about earlier.” she started.
“Yes?” He raised a brow in question.
“I wanted to thank you for humoring me before and playing along, I hope I didn’t embarrass you.” She said.
“Humor you?” He kept his brow raised. “I don’t follow.”
“Before in the park?” She asked “I didn’t recognise you and you were very polite as not to make fun of me in public. Don’t get me wrong you are quite handsome as a stallion but a lady should never approach a friend like that.”
“Why would I make fun of you?” He questioned. “I would never do that to a friend, I meant what I said.” He replied.
“Oh.” Rarity said, then a small smile developed on her face. “Oh my.” She giggled. “This is quite funny, I must look like a total mule right now.”
“Please.” He replied. “I fail to see that.” He smiled.
“So… When we get back to Ponyville, I was wondering if I might show you some of the finer establishments held within?”
Shawn grinned in response. “That sounds wonderful. I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I.” Rarity smiled. “I shall see you later then, I simply must see what fashions have survived all these years.” Rarity was practically skipping out the door.
Shawn waited until she left the room before he looked around one last time, the room empty of everyone else. “First day back and I have plans.” He chuckled.
“It’s sad it was only temporary.” Rarity bemoaned at the train station as the mane six crystalness had worn off.
“Hey cheer up.” Applejack noted. “Things are better when they're a ‘rarity’.” she winked
The mane six, Shawn and Matthew were currently at the train station waiting for the early morning train back to Ponyville. With the crystal empire secured there was no longer any major reason for them to stay and though they wanted too most had pressing business back in ponyville to get back to.
Matthew looked to the train and behind him as he smiled a little. “Now, come to visit if you can.” He called to Cosy and Alto. “Be safe and listen to your older sister for me, okay?”
All he got where some nods and sniffling from Alto while some of the new guards were already standing watch over the return of the children of the Royal Family. Still Matthew felt that he was leaving family behind, and friends. He turned around to avoid showing that he was crying there on the station platform as he got another wave of being homesick, and for the third time he checked to make sure Alto did not try to keep Major Bunny. He paused and looked up. “Uh, where is Grif?”
It was here that Pensword found out that his friend hadn’t been seen for hours, in fact he hadn’t come to sleep last night in his bed. This worried him as he looked to his friends as Twilight spoke up.
“Didn’t Princess Luna say something about the outskirts?” Twilight asked.
Pensword looked to his friends. “Should we form a party and search for him?” he looked out to the land around the station. “Get too far away and you end up with snow blindness or lost due to directions.” He paused and looked at the clock on the station. “I will, we have to search for him if he does not show up by the time the train arrives at the station.”
“Matthew, Matthew, Matthew.” Tazes voice filtered through the air. “Have a little faith and trust.”
The Pegasus had actually ignored the name as Crystal Ponies were around and he was still in a way holding onto his little bit of history. In fact Twilight was impressed by the way Matthew did not react to his name. That was till Taze started to call Pensword did he start to look around with puzzlement.
“I found my happy thought.” Tazes voice spoke out again.
This caused Pensword to look up in to the sky as he began to grin as he realized what that meant.
Hovering just above him Taze grinned as he looked downwards. “Think of a wonderful thought.” He smiled. “It took me all night but I finally figured it out.”
Pensword tilted his head and closed his eyes and opened his wings. “Think a happy or wonderful thought.” he muttered and leaped into the air and blinked as he found not just Taze, but Rainbow Dash grinning as she also was in the air.
“This is so cool, I get two new flying buddies to hang out with.” He tilted his head. “Happy thought? Maybe when you start out,” she smiled and poked a hoof into Taze’s side, “Still soon you’ll be flying without need of those thoughts it’ll be second nature to you.” She paused and looked at the two and lowered her voice. “Also, never reveal your first happy thought that got you flying, considered bad luck in Pegasus crowds.”
“This is incredible.” Taze noted. “Completed three dimensional movement! I understand why the ancient pegasi were warriors now, the things you can do with these wings.” With a sigh he landed on the platform. “But no time to test it.”
“As well as no armor or weapons as well, they are all packed away at the moment.” He sighed. “Next stop Canterlot, with a layover, and then to Ponyville.” he paused and looked at his friends. “I bet one round of ice cream that something happens with Spike in Canterlot.” he had whispered that last sentence to Taze.
Shawn only chuckled at the conversations going on around him, he was keeping to himself mainly, if someone wanted to chat with him he was all for it, but if nobody was up to chatting he would just watch the scenery outside the train shift and change when they started their ride back.
“I don’t make stupid bets.” Taze chuckled as the train pulled up. Taze grinned as he stepped aboard the train, his thoughts of Ponyville and sylvio, he just wanted some time to relax away from adventure.
Pensword stepped aboard and turned to Twilight who was walking on the train after him. “Can I check out a book on steam engines when we get back to Ponyville? I, I got the time to study these.” he smiled as he moved to a seat and just seemed to become hypnotized by the outside sounds of the train. He smiled and just seemed to use the sounds to relax. He also made a mental note to talk to Shawn about both building a specialized train for troops and see if they could extend a spur line to the Castle eventually. Eventually all the luggage and passengers were aboard and the familiar cry sounded before the train slowly lurched back towards home.
The train ride back was not dissimilar to the train ride towards the empire. Exhausted from the events of the last few days Taze choose a comfy spot and was soon asleep again. Before bedding down he noticed Pensword passed out already against the window of the train car and he remembered a story about sleeping anywhere, he yawned and placed his head down and slept.
While Shawn was exhausted beyond normal belief, he surprisingly was awake for the trip, watching the scene change from its snowy state to something different.
The trip back during the day left the Mane Six and Spike awake and chatting for most of the trip. It was a long trip but the atmosphere seemed mostly happy, save for Twilight who was constantly becoming more stressed at the idea she may have failed her test.
It was early evening when the train finally started to ease off approaching Canterlot station. With a loud yawn Taze stretched out his body in a decidedly cat like manner. He gently ran his talons across the fabric under him. Then it hit him, he could feel his left hand. Looking down her found the crystal prison had vanished at some point into the night leaving his hand completely free. “When did that happen?” he wondered idly.
“Sometime after us being released from stone.” He heard Shawn reply.
“Guess with everything I never noticed.” Taze shrugged as he walked over to Matthew and shook him gently. “Bud, we’re nearly in Canterlot.” He shivered a little at saying the name.
Pensword blinked and was wide awake in a second. “Oh?” he paused and looked around before back at his friend. “Bud? Why did you call me that? Are you cold you just shivered a little.” He took a breath and slowed down as Taze held up a taloned hand. “Okay, I’ll slow down.”
“Bud, you know buddy? Friend? Compadre? Amigo? Ally?” Taze asked “We’re not in the empire now Matthew.” Taze reminded him.
“Oh.” Matthew’s face fell. “Right, back to.” He paused and began to smile. “I hope they let me stay as this for a little while, I can really train and see what a Pegasus can do.” he looked around but Twilight was already shaking her head.
“I rather not, I think Ponyville can only handle one Pegasus pushing their limits at a time.” Twilight returned to reading the book she had received in the Crystal Empire to try and ignore her growing panic attack and failing her test.
“With all do respect Twilight, I believe that call can only be made by his current liege lord, which would be the current lord of the Everfree” Taze noted.
Pensword froze and bowed his head with a grumple. “I missed the US.” He muttered crossing his forelegs across his barrel. “I am beholded to a Lord now, not good.”
Shawn only looked over to the group. “You act as though I tell you to do things or even give you orders.” He said with a raised brow. “I think I would consider the term friend, than lord, thank you very much.” He was still looking at Matthew with a raised brow.
“Right, just.” he sighed and slowly settled down. “Not use to nobility, structure like a military is fine, but… having another person be lord over all actions..” he shivered and shook his head. “Maybe I am thinking about this the wrong way.” He lapsed into silence as the train squealed to a halt at the station.
“Matthew.” Shawn started. “We’ve been friends since before we arrived here. I don’t expect any different treatment from then to now. I don’t hold power over you, in the eyes of nobility in Canterlot or wherever they can think I do, but I will never hold that over you.”
“I really think you are over thinking these things.” Taze chuckled. “I’m just looking forward to getting back to Ponyville, I hope Meme is okay.”
“Soon.” Shawn chuckled. “Soon we’ll be back in town and we can get back to work.”
“When life gives you lemons you know what you do Matthew?” Taze asked
“Oh, make lemonade?” Pinkie asked
“No that’s silly, you give the lemons back and demand to see life’s manager.” Taze said.
“Wish that worked for me.” Matthew replied with a laugh as the others started to get up. “Shall we depart and spend a night here?” he looked at Canterlot. “The good news is we fit in, we won’t be too out of place and hopefully not too many nobles will take notice of us.”
“I just want to get in, get Twilight’s thing done and go home.” Taze said as the train stopped.
“Who knows, might be here awhile, might be a short visit.” Shawn mumbled.
“Please don’t jinx it.” Taze said as they left the train. There luggage was being delivered separately too there room. “At least Celestia didn’t cheap out on the service.”
“But we are sharing a room, again.” Pensword deadpanned. “Surely,” He just stopped and sighed. “Nevermind.”
In short order they found themselves at the palace. Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, and Fluttershy as well as Shawn, Matthew, and Taze, and Spike were instructed to wait out in the courtyard, Twilight was to go in alone.
“So what do you think?” Taze asked Shawn.
“Something along the lines of her overreacting, she comes out happy, something song related. I don’t know.” Shawn said with a shrug.
“I ain’t singing, you?” Taze asked.
Shawn just gave him a look of, ‘are you honestly asking that.’
“Calm down Shawn.” Taze said. “No need for looks.”
“Well, I plan on singing if I can.” Pensword replied with a smile as he looked at his two friends.
Shawn only chuckled in response as the doors opened to reveal…
“I passed!” Twilight shouted happily.
“And…” Taze snapped his talons.
“You were prepared to do your best.” Rarity started to sing.
“I’m out.” Shawn mumbled as he walked away. “Meet you at the train, too tired for this. The light is enough to give me a headache.” Shawn mumbled about his light sensitive eyes.
“I’m gonna pick up some donuts from Joes for the road.” Taze noted before flying off.
Pensword looked around before turning around and smiling he let, well whatever it was that caused spontaneous singing to happen and just went with the flow singing along with the group. He also liked the sound of his voice singing, much better than when he tried to sing back home.