//------------------------------// // Return to Somewhat Daily Routine // Story: An Extended Holiday // by Commander_Pensword //------------------------------// Extended Holiday Chp 23: Return to Somewhat Daily Routine Act 3 Taze chuckled as he was pounced by a small white blur at the station. “Hey boy!” he smiled rubbing the pups ears. “I missed you buddy.” Shawn had tensed upon Taze being tackled, but after listening to him, calmed himself, returning to a relaxed stance. “I,” Was all Matthew muttered as he stared at the small wooden puppy. “Th, who? How?” He blinked and found that he could not really communicate the true surprise he was seeing of a Timberwolf puppy that, it was not making sense. Taze realised his friends where staring. “Heh sorry guys, this is Sylva Lupus, I saved him while I was in the forest.” he explained. “Ah, and you plan on domesticating the breed now?” Pensword replied with a raised eyebrow. He looked to Shawn and whispered. “Too bad the Zebra nation needed to meet suddenly, looks like we are stuck like this for a while longer.” “Honestly I’m ok with that for now.” Taze smiled placing sylvio on his back. “Gives me a chance to work on flying, fighting as a gryphon it’s all a new experience, I say ever onward.” Shawn was actually chuckling lightly at the name of the wolf. “Clever name.” He slowed his chuckles. “Wood Wolf.” “Hey, we seem to have a theme with latin names.” Taze shrugged. “Glad to hear you paid attention to the basics.” Shawn shifted his neck, stretching. “So, who want’s to check on the recruits? I want to see the smiths myself.” There was the sound of hooves against wood in a careful timed pattern as Moonshade appeared on the horizon. Stopping a bit off she looked around as if searching for something. Shawn turned towards the towards Taze and Matthew with a somewhat dark grin. “Should we?” He chuckled lightly. “Yes.” Taze nodded. Pensword blinked and looked at the two with a raised eyebrow, a trait he had just picked up from Shawn. “Do what?” he asked confused on what these two friends were already planning to do now. He blinked and smiled as he looked forward finally. “Oh, there’s Moonshade over there.” he paused and looked at this friends. Before shaking his head. “That’d be too mean.” Shawn put a hoof to his collar, fixing it. “If you say so.” Taze stood up straight and barreled out his chest putting on a face of ignorance and nobility. “Come my Lord, why must we spend so much time in this… Settlement” he spoke up just loud enough for Moonshade to hear. “Not even a decent guard to greet you.” Pensword glared at Taze with a glare that might have killed. “I’ll let you know that many of those in the Guard come from towns like this.” He was bristling and his feathers puffed out. “Besides, There is a guard right there you blind bird.” He pointed to where Moonshade was and blinked as he wondered why did he just say that. “I see signs of military activity. So use your eyes before you speak.” “Hmm… Yes, my lord why are we even here?” The gryphon asked. Shawn raised a brow and hummed. “Well, we are here to visit. For a short time before heading off.” “Yes, excuse me guardsmare!” Taze smiled. “Are you the escort here to meet my lord?” Moonshade blinked and stared right at the Gryphon. “I have never seen you before, As a guard of the Night Time I learn all the faces of anyone close to nobles and none of you match my memory.” SHe replied as she moved a little and the group felt that she just might attack them if they were not careful now. “Well you're not much for the element of honesty are you? Haven’t seen me before? Horse apples” he scoffed. “And surly you recognise us from somewhere?” Shawn placed a hoof on his head. “Not visually like this at least. Verbally, without a doubt.” He sighed. Moonshade blinked and furrowed her brow a little. She pointed first to Shawn. “Not really you speak with a High Canterlot accent, with hints of some Country in it.” She pointed to Taze. “I would guess the Northern Isles of Equestria, and he, I have not heard him speak too much.” She said pointing to Pensword. Pensword looked to his friends. “Seems something else Sombra tried to strip from us, our original personalities or something.” He shook his head and turned to look at Moonshade. “Whereas my friends seem to love dragging along things.” He sighed and looked at Moonshade. “We hold these truths to be Self Evident that all men are created equal…” He paused as he saw Moonshades eyes started to widen in recognition. “And the gears turn towards recognition.” Shawn mumbled slightly, most likely from being tired. “Gotcha!” Taze laughed as he let the persona go. He laughed loudly. “But still I am a knight you should be more respectful.” He said with a straight face. “Matthew?” Moonshade hadn’t looked away from the pegasus. “You’re a pegasus now?” “For the moment, yes.” He replied softly shuffling his hoofs a little. “I have to say, I feel more alert than before needing this disguise for the Crystal Empire.” Moonshade nodded her head a few times and then promptly fainted outright. Matthew looked to the others who just looked at him shocked. “What? I only confirmed my name and looks.” he looked down and at some passing guards. “Hey, you three, help me out with the Major please.” Shawn shrugged. “We were heading home anyways.” He crouched down a bit. “Go ahead and put her on my back, I’ll just carry her back.” “Must be quite a shock.” Taze noted as he lifted her up and placed her on his back. “Realising the species barrier just shattered.” “Uh, come again? Why would the species barrier exist? I mean, we are colleagues and friends, right?” he asked showing that he was clueless concerning what his friends might be seeing. “Oi.” Taze face taloned. “It’s like this, a dog generally doesn’t look at a bear as a possible compatible companion does it?” he asked. “Uh, right.” Matthew replied. “Still not following, at least I think I am not.” He paused. “Are you saying?” The Pegasus shook his head as they kept on going. “Can’t be, she has a boy or colt friend anyway most likely,” He blinked and shook back some thoughts he did not want to think about from Earth. “Maybe, but lack of evidence to non existence is not evidence of existence.” Taze noted “You should spend some time with her outside the uniform, get to know her a bit.” “I think I can do that, just, I guess I might like to know why she fainted when she saw me, and not say Taze, or you with that sword from Luna.” Matthew replied shaking his head. “Why faint upon clicking that I am me.” “Simple fact, subconsciously she has admired your personality for quite some time.” Taze noted, “But she has always seen you as an alien, when her conscious mind lost reasons to argue and her subconscious worked on full comprehension of everything, she hit your classic blue screen moment and needed a restart.” He looked at Matthews face. “What? The brain is basically a computer.” “Yeah, just..” he sighed and looked at his friend. “I’ll see what happens okay? Besides it was you who did the snowball fight, Shawn who build the seige weapons, what have I done to garnish the respect of….” he paused and looked at Moonshade and then at his friends. “Was it the Changeling invasion?” He asked with a baffled look. “Even then I stayed back and only did cover fire, you two charged in and got on the front lines.” Matthew just shook his head a little causing the mane to whip back and forth a little. “I just don’t see it.” “Yes I charged into a horde of angry changelings screaming my head off, while you kept the guards together and kept the tides thin, anyway you’ve spent more time with her then either of us.” Taze noted. “and when did I become the love guru here?” Taze stopped. “I really shouldn’t be giving advice about this” he shook his head. Shawn sighed. “Women, mares, are not all the same, you will see those that go after soldiers, knights, but that doesn’t mean that they all do.” He shifted his view towards Matthew. “Just because you stayed behind, that doesn’t mean anything less. In war, I don’t see who was a better shot, who was a better fighter. It is, who got what done.” He sighed. “You protected the group and kept it together, and you didn’t have to charge into battle to do it. You used what you had and went with it.” Matthew blinked and only lapsed into silence. Frankly the time he had been here he had been more just doing tasks to keep busy but not get too tied down to be unable to return home, He at least till now, had hoped that they would work on returning home but now… Would they send them home, send home a trio of heroes that. He sighed and looked at his friends and felt a pang of jealousness in his soul before squishing it down to a pebble sized feeling. Still he felt a little smaller with what he did. He shook his head and mentally began to recite just what it was he had done up to that point. In fact the more he thought the more he realized as he looked back to his flank. “I was a human CMC with all I was doing.” He paused and realized he said that aloud before sighing but smiling now at contemplating what he had done, and wondered if maybe he shouldn’t be hard on himself and actually try again. Maybe she didn’t have a colt friend, or moving away, or going to college in another state, or was a crazy person when not taking meds she hated. He smiled a little maybe he would find happiness. “Thats better, keep that smile up.” Taze chuckled. “Something tells me we got quite the adventure out there yet.” The group opened the door to the tavern and entered Berry Punch looked up from the bar. She blinked and quickly stood up from where she was sitting down behind the counter. “Oh, Hello. Welcome to..” Berry began “Hey Berry.” Taze waved with a claw. “The… Punchbowl?” Berry Punch lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head in confusion. Pensword sighed and walked in. “Disguised that were given by the Princesses, it is us. Just… different forms.” “And us would be?” she asked. Pensword blinked and used a wing to point the forms of his friends. “Taze, Shawn, Moonshade, Me, as in Matthew. And Mutatio is about to pounce us from the ceiling.” he paused and looked at her. “How are Mutatio and Me-Me?” he asked and chuckled. “Also how many Ponies slash Gryphons do you know that know about those two?” “Okay, I’ll believe it.” Berry shrugged. “The changelings have been going crazy wondering where you three have been.” she said. “Just head on up.” Matthew only nodded his head. “Heads up on them going crazy? Didn’t anyone tell them we were on a mission to the Crystal Empire?” he asked as Mutatio dropped from the ceiling and looked right at Matthew with a tilt of the head. Mutatio looked over the three and before they could speak or try to explain he only began to smile, which Pensword admitted being almost face to face now with him. Just looked creepy. “You are back, where did you go? Why are you trying to hide in the pony world? I thought you were accepted without need of blending in, or is this military tactic?” He asked and paused as he looked at Matthew before closing his eyes as if trying to recall something and opened  them and looked to the others. “Was this to increase the life of Matthew?” “It was a disguise.” Taze noted. “The life extending thing was just a perk mutie.” Matthew however looked at Taze, and then Mutatio, “What do you mean by increasing my life, I was rather full of life and vigor before the change, just a little more energetic is all, the cold makes me, or did make me sluggish.” He looked at Taze and Shawn and quickly squashed another thought he was not going down that road again. “It’s not important.” Taze said, looking back. “Have you been feeding the phoenix?” Taze asked. “What about Matthew’s fox?” Mutatio blinked and smiled as he gave a small mock salute trying to imitate others giving reports. “They both have been feed, Rommel was taken care of some troops who kept on kidnapping him for a mascot of their unit. As for Renati, he has been rather pleasant once he got use to us. No problems at all. At least we think so.” “Now what happened that you aren't telling me?” Taze asked raising an eyebrow. “Well, uh, Me-Me and Mutatio think that he might be starting an nest to attract a mate or something. He has been singing outside a lot.” Mutatio replied looking a little nervously. “He also disappeared for a day and no clue where he went. He is back though and resting in your room.” “Wonderful.” Shawn mutter half heartedly. “I’m just going to drop her off-” He gestured to Moonshade on his back. “And then I’m going to visit the smiths, then go to bed.” He sighed. “Need to see how they are doing.” “I should check with Black Rook.” Taze noted. “See how the mixed training is going.” He smiled and looked at Mutatio. “Maybe you and Meme would like to visit Twilight to have her check up on Meme’s transformation.” Mutatio did not say a word as he turned and buzzed away being excited in visiting Twilight. Matthew just looked around at the group. “Uh, who is…” He paused and looked at the group. “Let me guess you want me to stay here and watch over Moonshade for when she wakes up and answer any of the questions she might have over what happened and why we are… more like her species wise?” He asked the group. “Seems fair.” Taze nodded. “How?” Matthew asked in confusion as he continued to trot up the stairs and following the two, and finding he had to move a wing to keep Moonshade from slipping from Shawn’s back. “She didn’t faint when she found out who I was.” Taze wing shrugged before turning and leaving. Shawn sighed as they entered one of the rooms. “Mind helping me?” He said with a gesture to Moonshade. Matthew sighed and nodded his head as he helped Shawn and soon Moonshade was settled on the mattress in the room and Matthew turned to sit down and look at the door as his friends left. He sighed and just kept watch, wondering just what was going to happen? Shawn sighed as he left his room, Renati had actually decided to go along with him and was resting on his back. “Alright. To Steel Weaver.” He said to himself as he walked down the steps. “Welcome back by the way.” Berry said as he left. “Thanks!” He called out in response. “Glad to be back.” He walked down the road and actually had noticed everyone in town, though they were just as friendly, seemed to look at him with a curious expression, specifically at the Lunar blade at his back. “I dunno what your businesses, but why you carrying a weapon in town?” a deep voice spoke up as a familiar red pony approached him. “Ah, hello.” Shawn said before actually looking at the blade. “I guess it comes from what happened recently in my past. I guess I’m a little on edge, though this blade is more than a weapon.” He smiled. “I am Hammer Strike, a pleasure to meet you…” “Big Macintosh.” Big Mac stood up trying to be as imposing as possible. “And ponies around here don’t appreciate you carrying that around.” Shawn hummed to himself. “I’m afraid I don’t have a proper place to place Princess Luna’s blade, not yet anyways.” He sighed. “She gave it to me as a gift, and I would rather not just throw it around. I was headed to a friend to see if I can have a case crafted for it.” Big Mac stared him down “We don’t appreciate it.” He repeated. “Next time find some place to put that.” He said and seemed to stomp off. “Well then.” Shawn mumbled to himself as he walked towards the smith. “Can’t be friends with all.” After a bit he entered the forge to see a familiar stallion. “Ah, Steal Weaver, good to see you.” “Have we met before?” Steel Weaver gave him a strange look. “I tend to not remember former clients from Canterlot” he noted.I Shawn chuckled. “I would guess so, though it hasn’t been that long. But a new form would stop most.” He smiled. “Let me reintroduce myself. I am Shawn.” He opened his mouth once more. “And to prove my point, I made you swear an oath to never discuss the information for the flintlock pistol with any other soul but myself.” “What happened to ye lad? You're a pony and your talking like one of them nobles with a stick up his flanks.” Steel Weaver said as his eye’s widened. “It’s tough to force myself back to normal speech in this form.” Shawn sighed. “Dark magic took place on our trip, and quite frankly screwed with our heads, all three of us. I can still speak without that accent, but, it’s more forced now.” He said, proving his point that he could speak like he normally did. “Aye,” Steel Weaver nodded. “Well, what do you need?” he asked. “It was just going to be a visit, but civilians here aren’t taking kindly to the lunar blade on my back.” He sighed. “So a couple of things. I need a case for it, and I’ve come to talk about legends, as well as stopping by to say hello.” “The lunar blade?” He asked raising an eyebrow. Shawn chuckled. “Guess what. I apparently own the Everfree forest now, and I was given this blade to prove my authority.” He said as he unsheathed the blade and presented it to Steel. “That’s… Quite a gift.” Steel Weaver said. Shawn sighed. “My friends and myself were sent far out of time, and had to fight in a war that is now history.” He mumbled. “Now onto the legends. Ever heard of the name Hammer Strike?” “Aye, the smith lord of legend.” Steel Weaver nodded. Shawn only started to grin, with an expression that just read, ‘guess what.’ “This better not be a joke.” Steel Weaver glared. “I made three sets of armor and three sets of weapons in less than thirty six hours. I am not kidding and I will never joke about that.” He said as he squinted slightly. “I still haven’t gotten much sleep from that, and that was, for myself… Days ago.” He said.  “This… Is a lot to take in lad.” He noted. “How do you think I feel?” Shawn replied. “We were set in stone to keep us alive, I bled out on the cobblestone road to fight in a war that was a thousand years in the past for you, but less than five days for the three of us.” Shawns tone started rising slightly. “Calm down lad.” Steel Weaver said. “It’s just a lot, you walking in here a pony and a thousand year old smith hero.” Shawn took a breath and sighed. “Sorry, I’m just worn out.” He took another breath. “In the total of… I don’t know, six days, I’ve only had a couple hours of sleep in total.” “Then you go head in.” Steel Weaver said. “Unless you came so I could give you some sleep aid.” he chuckled. Shawn chuckled in response. “No, I just need a case, I don’t want to repeat what just happened.” He sighed. “Being in disguise, friends don’t recognise you. And they don’t like this.” He gestured the sword. “Leave the sword here with me, I’ll have your case by the time you get up.” He promised. “Gives me a chance to get away from the by the book fussbucket that came with the troops” “Good, good. I’ll be back in a couple hours then.” He chuckled. “Got to love Insomnia.” “So what is our condition?” Taze asked as Black Rook followed behind him in step. Black Rook was still slowly getting over the surprise visit by a Gryphon who was in fact Taze. He quickly caught up with Taze before responding. “The new recruits are still rough around the edges but there learning quickly.” Rook said as they looked on at the group of thirty five ponies. “In your opinion lieutenant if we were to push a march now, how would we fare?” Taze asked. “Sir, there was another storm blown in from the Everfree while you were gone, the path we cleared is almost totally blocked with snow, it would take us more than two weeks to march in this weather.” Rook answered. “So it is your suggestion that we move our timetable back to allow for more favorable weather?” Taze asked. “Yes sir, winter wrap up is only seven weeks away, in spring we could march easier and most of these recruits would be well tempered to marching.” Rook answered. “Any family missing you for hearths warming lieutenant?” Taze asked as they walked. “My parents sir, this will be my first hearth's warming away from the stable as they say.” Rook answered looking away to hide his frown. “Well I can’t make any decisions on when we march alone you understand that well enough, the three of us well meet with the major and discuss this tomorrow, until then tell the men to rest, morning exercises only until you receive orders otherwise and make sure everyone gets an extra half ration, and double on hearths warming.” The griffon nodded looking over the recruits and the veterans mixed in helping them where needed. “Job well done, dismissed.” Taze nodded as Rook trotted off. The gryphon chuckled to himself as he headed back to the tavern, slowly it seemed, Matthew was getting this military thing into his head. “That’s the last time I drink hard cider late at night.” Moonshade mumbled as she started to stir. “Always gives me the weirdest dreams.” “I did not take you for drinking Major, especially while on duty right before meeting the train from Canterlot.” The voice Matthew still could not shake that new accent he had picked up, unsure what it was, he wondered as well why it was one that brought a smile to Luna’s muzzle the entire time he spoke to her in the hallway as if bringing back memories still he was keeping his mind clear and his eyes forward as he waited for Moonshades reactions next. “Sir?” Her fatigue melted away as her eye’s widened, she got to her feet as fast as possible. “Easy, Easy Major.” He replied as he realized she was reacting on his voice not his looks. “Take it easy you passed out in the Train Station. lay back down and Rest, don’t make me give that as an Order.” Moonshade slowly let her body relax back onto the bed. “So it’s true then?” she asked. “In what sense? I mean it is true the sky is blue due to light being filtered through the atmosphere, or that it is true that to you Luna and Celestia raise and lower the sun and the moon.” he smiled. “Major, be a little more direct here please.” He chuckled a little at the slight look he got from Moonshade. “You’re a pegasus?” She asked. “Yes, a plan Celestia and Luna thought wise for us.” he shivered. “Damn lucky,” he paused and shook his head. “Great, slipped there, anyway, I was lucky I was in this form. Some ancient evil called King Sombra attacked and if it was not for this form, I would have died from blood loss or Internal bleeding.” He shivered. “To you, and I it has only been, what five days maybe?” Moonshade shook her head. “Three days.” “Two days long…” He paused and shook his head. “No matter, to me, I just fought in a war, saved two royal children from the horn of Sombra, and fought his soldiers and had to be put to stone to keep me alive.” He sighed. “Ponyville followed me it seemed.” He tried to laugh. “So how long are you like this?” she asked. “No clue, Mutatio said something about my life force being stronger, no clue what that means, but we will be having a visit or called away to have the disguises lifted.” He shivered a little and he closed his eyes. “My wing still hurts from blocking that spear that almost killed Alto.” “Wait, what was the name you used?” She asked as she looked up at him suddenly. “Pensword. Kind of on the fly thinking with my cutie mark and all.” The Pegasus muttered. “Why do you ask?” He asked in a tilt of his head. “I mean records from that time period I thought were sketchy.” “You… You’re, your Pensword?” she asked her mouth moving a few times without words to follow. “Okay.” Pensword muttered dropping his head. “Remember, I just got done with that battle, to me, only a couple days at most passed, to you and the rest of the world, a thousand years past meaning I might..” He paused. “Great, speaking in technical terms I am the longest serving soldier outside of Luna I fear.” He paused. “I am not going to think about that conundrum at all.” “Your story was an important part in the Equestrian officers academy!” she noted. “You were the reason I pursued life in the guards!” “Okay, what exactly what did it say?” Pensword replied with a very nervous laugh. “I, I am, honored to hear that.” He paused and blinked back tears. “Colonel Hawk would be proud I think.” “You dragged your lord to the empire after you were attacked by changelings, you evacuated countless refugees and died leading the charge against the empire. No matter what you never gave up on those within.” she said. “How could I? I saw their faces, I got to know a few of them.” He shook his head. “I was a good man that had to do something to prevent evil from winning.” He sighed and smiled a little. “Might like to read what the books say.” He slowly started to laugh. “I hope you don’t think I am some perfect general or officer, I have flaws and you will see them.” He muttered. “it’s not about perfection, it’s about spirit sir! You were willing to sacrifice everything for a ponies you barely knew.” Moonshade said. He smiled. “Very few officers think that, I look up to my heros in the military I came from even if they were flawed, I just have meet some who think these men unblemished titans who never did a wrong deed in their life.” “It is amazing to think I knew you before you where you sir.” Moonshade said. Pensword actually began to break up laughing. “OH time travel, isn’t it hilarious I mean, think of what you just said, you said you got to know one of the reasons you joined the guard, before he made his famous moves… I mean really, think on it, because some of my actions was based on what I thought YOU,” he pointed a hoof at her. “Would do.” He smiled waiting for the reaction. Moonshade attempted to speak but couldn’t quite find words. All the while Pensword just kept smiling as he saw the gears shift and hopefully new trains of thought were being assembled. “That’s…. confusing” she finally managed to say. “That is why I don’t like Time Travel or think about it seriously, it is a fun distraction but actually think about it too hard, and you realize so many events, for example, did you know that the Royal family had three Siblings? That Princess Cadence is now a Queen and her siblings are now siblings to an Alicorn Queen?” “But I thought none of the children survived?” Moonshade said. Pensword chuckled. “Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadence, daughter to the late Queen, nice lady very Family originated, the two children, Alto and Bellacosa actually, got trapped in the same stone spell that kept us alive.” “They must feel like Princess Luna.” Moonshade said. “Displaced for a thousand years” Pensword just looked at Moonshade. “Try the entire City, I feel that Luna may visit often for a feel of the old ways.” “That must have been quite something to see in it’s height of power.” she said. “It was.” Pensword replied. “It will be again I think.” Pensword slowly chuckled. “Just like we will do to the Castle in the Everfree Forest. That will look grand when we are finished I feel.” “I think I can get up now sir.” Moonshade said getting to her hooves. “We have a lot to do.” Pensword nodded. “Very well, we should head to the barracks, how goes the building and testing of techniques? Also did the Blacksmith arrive? I better talk to him before he gets too set in his ways.” He smiled as he stood up. “Care to accompany me? I might as well give a welcome Speech or something.” “Of course sir.” she nodded. With that the two got up and Pensword smiled as he found his luggage outside his door and donned his battle dented armor from the Crystal Empire. Moonshade blinked, before moving to her own room in what was becoming an officer’s barracks and donned her own armor. The two started down the stairs towards the front door. “First thing that the new military blacksmith will make will be officer armor dress uniform type things.” Pensword muttered. “Have you three come up with an armor style for the guard yet?” she asked. Pensword gave an odd look at Moonshade. “Well, let’s see, I think that will be next up, after all we just did fight in the Crystal war from a thousand years ago. Hammer Strike did make three armors and weapons in three days.” “One smith made that much in such a short time?” Moonshade asked “Isn’t that unhealthy?” Pensword sighed. “I wouldn’t know, I am not a smith.” He paused as he looked up. “You can ask him yourself you know.” he replied as he saw Shawn walk into the Tavern, what happened was almost instinct. “Milord.” he spoke as he stepped to the side to allow him free passage. “Huh?” Shawn hummed as he looked up. “Ah, hello Pensword, Hello Moonshade.” “Lord Shawn.” Moonshade bowed her head. “I must ask how you managed to get so much done with so little rest?” Shawn sighed for a second. “Lets see, what do you mean, which thing? I did several over the course of our time gone.” He shrugged. “Which one do you wish to know, the bleeding out but I’m still alive, the fighting, the last stand, the equipment, name it.” “The equipment?” she asked slightly worried. He hummed. “Lets see, combined with my Insomnia, I was awake in a forge to myself, I had thirty six hours, and a full stock of metals and tools. Because of how many years I have dealt with little sleep, I was able to push on despite needing much rest.” He sighed. “Still haven’t gotten much rest in all honesty, I finished around the thirty second hour, and when I went to rest the fighting started less than an hour later.” He stopped and shook his head. “Sorry, off topic. But yeah, full inventory to myself and I would not rest or eat until I knew Pensword and Grif-” He stopped again. “Matthew and Taze, were well equipped and ready.” “You must have been exhausted.” She said. “Oh yeah.” He replied. “Two to three hours of sleep over the course of… What was it, five, six days in total?” He asked Matthew. “Sounds about right Milord…” He paused and made a face. “Why can’t I stop calling you that now? I am an American.” He hissed. “Saying that is unbecoming of an American.” He sighed. “Stupid Magic.” “Magic, yes.” Shawn replied. “Anyways, yes it was difficult and yes very tough to fight, but would I do it again, yes I would.” Pensword smiled. “Same here. I could not stand and let lives be lost if I could do something to save even one life.” He sighed. “Anyway,” it seemed he was trying to push some thoughts from his mind. “We are heading to the barracks in Fort Necessity, would you like to come with?” “As much as I would love to.” Shawn replied before sagging slightly. “I still haven’t gotten any sleep.” His facade fell slightly to reveal his tired eyes. “I can work off one to two hours of sleep a night, but over the course of six days?” He sighed heavily. “I’m working on fumes, I need some rest before someone, or somepony, wants me to do something with them.” Pensword turned to the front. “Berry Punch, only the return of Nightmare Moon or the falling of the moon should you allow anypony to disturb Lord Hammer Strike’s nap. Also, tell Pinkie Pie that he is having a crash from a week of study straight.” Pensword turned to face his friend. “Get some sleep go on, we can hold the fort while you rest.” “I’ll get to work on that.” Shawn sighed. “Good luck, and if it comes down to it and you need to wake me, use what Taze did, I’m conditioned to wake up to a call.” He sighed. “Too many years of doing it. Ah well.” He perked up slightly. “Good day to the both of you, and I hope you don’t need me.” “I will do my best, I just.. I don’t know where my phone went to be honest.” Pensword replied with a smile and turned to Moonshade. “Shall we go scare the troops a little.” He sighed. “How many of them would even know the name?” “I wouldn’t know.” Moonshade answered. “It’s a famous legend but it is over one thousand years old.” She could see the sigh of relief that came from Pensword’s barrel and muzzle. “Afraid of what type of Reputation you have in Equestria now?” Pensword only nodded his head. “Well, I guess we should call the troops together.” he paused and laughed. “You know, I like this form better in that I am warmer outside in the winter. The, my old, no, as a human I could never regulate my body heat too well, always freezing in winter and nice in summer. Now… I am handling the winter like most of my friends would.” “Well there is still a month and a half left of winter, still lots of things that can happen.” She noted. She saw him nodding his head to her statement. “May I not have to see what happens then.” Here the two finished their trip to the rather temporary wooden fort to meet the new and old troops. “So… shall we hold this meeting?” “I’ll call the troops.” Moonshade said. “Form up!” she shouted. It took slightly longer than it should have but the troops assembled in front of them. Pensword found that they were in front of a wooden stage area, he looked at it, and to the surprise of the troops took to the stairs and stood in front of them. “Next time, I want you moving with purpose, memorize those next to you, At ease so you can look at the pony next to you, memorize their face and learn their spot. When we call form up again I want you looking for clues around you.” His voice carried over the wind. “Attention!” He shouted, “Now before you all start talking to yourselves wondering who I am, I am Pensword.” He spoke loudly. He took a breath to both gather his thoughts, and see what the troops would do at that word. Some stiffened immediately on hearing that name, while others seemed confused. He did not let the silence last too long. “I see some of you recognize the name. Now, I want you to know this. I was where you were once. Staring at attention as my Commanding Officer spoke words of wisdom to myself and my fellow cadets. We have been asked  to shape you up. Shape you up I will do so. Know this, when I am done, and my colleagues are done, you will be the most educated, most well tuned machine in the arsenal of Freedom from Tyranny. When you graduate, and I do expect you all to graduate, You would be the tip of the spear. What we don’t have in numbers, will be made up by how hard you fight.” He looked right at them. “Your friends, you will be amazing. That is why you are here. I don’t care what mess up you did before you arrived to this location, I don’t care about your past, because I know that inside each one of you is a leader. I don’t care if you say the Officers are the Leaders, those of you that are NCO’s, you are as much of a leader as the Officer, the officer may be promoted out of your ranks but NCO’s stay longer you know the pulse of the troops and by Luna’s moonlight you will teach new officers the history of your units, and the personalities of your men. You understand me?” He yelled, before smirking. “At Ease and Respond.” “Sir yes sir.” They responded. Once again there inexperience was rather obvious in the timing of the answer. “When I give the orders, fall out and return to your duties. You will be having morning PT at zero six hundred every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.” he was happy the days of the week had translated to mean the same things. “Dinner will be at eighteen hundred hours tonight, Warm chow this time.” He called out having already seen the schedule, he moved it back a half hour. “Lights out at twenty three hours.” He moved to the Equestrian form of Attention. “COMPANY!” He inwardly smirked at the clumsiness of the troops like his ROTC days. “COMPANY!” He shouted again. This time it was much better and acceptable as the temporary Platoon leaders yelled out Platoon. “FALL OUT!” He smiled a little as they started to walk away or mill about. He was stepping down as he noticed a few troops walking up to him. The camp was a buzz as ponies talked in hushed voices amongst themselves, accusations, rumors of a conspiracy, everything was going around the base after that. Finally one brave stallion approached him. “Who are you really?” he asked. Pensword just smiled. “A good question,” He sighed and looked at the buildings. “Walk with me soldier.” he could see he had not yet earned a rank yet. They slowly started to walk among the buildings of the fort, Moonshade staying close by. “You heard the rumors that three hairless minotaurs run the outfit? Well, prudent to some wishes by the Crown we were there at the return of the Crystal Empire, also, thanks to magic that I do not understand, we were there for the fall of King Sombra’s kingdom.” He held up a wing with damaged wing blades. “Yes, impossible, but not when it seems time magic is involved and you are, already written to do something, just you don’t know it. I was a Human, so how was I to know that someday I would be given a disguise, sent back in time, and rescue civilians, soldiers and the children of the Queen Sombra disposed of.” He smiled. “Trust me, just last year I was in your horseshoes, so when I say that I can sense the potential, I am not lying. I just pray you do not go through the fires I went through.” “It just doesn’t seem possible.” The stallion said. “Pensword died in that fight.” “The news of my death has be greatly exaggerated, most likely a story started by Starswirl.” Pensword muttered. “Did they ever say they recovered the body?” “They gave you a full funeral with honors and everything.” The stallion said. Pensword only blinked and chuckled. “Oh great… Next time,” he turned to Moonshade. “I don’t care what traditions state, unless a body is placed to a name, they will be placed MIA. No real funeral till their remains are found, is that clear?” He sighed and blinked. “Does, was Pensword made a knight already?” He blinked wind wonderment as he realized if so, he was, or rather the name he had been using was knighted twice. “No.” The stallion said. “Equestria rarely does post mortem knightings.” “So, a knighting, would that?” he put a hoof to his muzzle. “This is why I hate time travel.” he muttered. “Still, I’ll write to the two princesses and see what will happen, I rather not use Matthew as a pony.. Even though it means gift from creator.” he did not feel like using the word God yet around the Ponies. “I like the more… straight forward naming scheme you all have, still, language of names was a hobby before I, well before I have wings feathers and fur.” The soldier only shook his head, “Still can’t believe that.” He turned down another path. “Oh, the blacksmith wants to see you I think or well Matthew at least.” WIth that the Soldier turned a corner and was out of sight. “So, head to the blacksmiths?” he asked Moonshade who only nodded with a smile as if looking forward to the reaction from Pensword to the newest Blacksmith. “Hey Stormhammer.” Taze said as he walked into the separate forge. “Hello Taze, oh sorry my mistake greeting sir Taze!” she laughed. “Hey none of that now.” Taze said “A knights only as good as his smith.” “Heh thats an interesting take on things.” She noted. “So why have you come to me?” “Well you see Stormhammer, hearths warming is coming up.” Taze reached into his bags to pull out a sheet of parchment. “And I figured you’d enjoy crafting a new crossbow design I’ve been working on behind Shawns back, something I think Matthew would appreciate.” The unicron raised an eyebrow as she took the parchment and unraveled it. “This is… unique.” She said. “I don’t think I've see a reloading mechanism quite like that, but are you sure about these bows? Can the crossbow handle this amount of stress?” she asked. “I used a base design from the bowguns of Pokke.” Taze said. “Can you make something like this before hearth's warming?” “Honestly I’m not sure.” She said. “Lets find out together.” Pensword and Moonshade both stood at the entrance of the forge and they realized one thing. “Where is Stormhammer and Steelweaver? Did they not share this space?” he looked at Moonshade as he could hear the sounds of hammering inside. “Might as well enter and find out what happened.” He stepped forward and into the belly of the beast. “Stand and Account.” he bellowed inside the shop doing his best part of being the commanding officer. “Wrought Iron, reporting.” He heard from off to the back part of the forge, working its way forward. “Good, I am the Commanding Officer, filling in for Matthew at the moment.” He responded. “May I ask where the other two are? I thought you three would be holding a council of war to wage against the Everfree Forest.” He smiled a little. “The two smiths that couldn’t follow simple instructions?” He heard the voice closer this time. “They were relocated. They could not even follow simple by the book creations.” “Relocated, because of?” he paused. “May I ask what you were trying to do? What instructions were trying to be given?” His voice calm and not showing any emotions. Moonshade looked to her side, she rarely heard Matt, or she smiled at the thought that she had Pensword next to her. “They couldn’t follow guidelines in their creations, instead, they wasted materials on constructs that would possibly fall apart.” Once more the voice was closer but the other ponies and equipment in the forge was keeping the image of the speaker hidden. “Did you think that they were trying to invent a new technique? A new weapon design? A new concept? We have blacksmiths like that to do Research and Development. The swords and the blades on my wings are standard yes, but it was a smith thousands of years ago that came up with the idea of putting armor together, or even heating up raw ore to make metal.” Pensword smiled at his little comeback. “We smiths have standards.” He said rounding the corner, revealing a Pegasus with a coal grey mane, and a dark grey coat, his cutie mark was a metallic spike. “The two assigned to work with you were assigned a simple guideline for what to make and how to make it, yet they seemed to have forgotten orders given to them previously and created blueprints for constructs that are unidentifiable.” “Half of those came from the mind and work of the Lord of this operation, Lord Hammer Strike, and his brother in arms, Lord Shawn.” He smirked as he spread his wings a little. “They only built what was shown them, and they had the gumption and courage to try a new idea.” “Who are you and what are you going on about, Hammer Strike is a long dead Smith.” He questioned. “And a legend like his should not be sputtered by feeble creations.” “Who am I?” He asked his voice low. “Who am I?” It was louder and Moonshade smirked. “I am Sir Pensword, Knight of the realm of Equestria, I am the Captain of Lord Hammer Strikes forces both yesteryear and today. We three warriors were encased in stone by Starswirl to make us live. Lord Hammer Strike the Undying Build this armor and weapons for me. He also crafted blueprints that have made my mind wonder what he thinks, Don’t YOU dare tell me what my Lord will and will not do with his time.” His voice rang in the silence. He did not look at Moonshade as he kept his eyes right at the pegasus smith. “That is who I am Wrought Iron.” “Prove it to me then.” The smith replied. “Prove to me you are who you say you are, fetch Hammer Strike.” He shook his head. “Let’s see if you are truly Pensword.” Moonshade almost stepped forward only to have Pensword put out a wing to keep Moonshade from advancing. “How would me getting Lord Hammer Strike prove I am Pensword?” He spoke as he tried to mull that over in his head. “What you are asking is to prove that Lord Hammer Strike is real, not if Sir Pensword is real.” He just stared and narrowed his eyes. “Lord Hammer Strike would have his work, and by his legend, nopony could recreate his blade, those who came close could not even lift it. If he is here, I would believe your tale.” The smith snorted. “Prove that, and if you truly are Pensword, he would defend your word.” “Very well.” Pensword growled. “I shall wake him up and bring him back here. I hope you are prepared.” He growled and turned around. “Come along Major, time to wake him up.” He waited till he was outside before sighing. “Great, can’t he ever get eight hours of sleep?” he asked Moonshade. “No clue sir.” She replied with a smile. “So…” She started with a chuckle. “You’re a pony, what of our food did you want to eat? A lot has changed in a thousand years.” Pensword laughed at her little joke. “Well, I heard in the camp something about hay fries, those sound good.” He got a laugh from Moonshade as they walked towards the tavern. Moonshade and Pensword stepped into the lobby and took a quick glance around before seeing that Shawn was not there in the lobby, so they both started up on the stairs towards Shawn’s room where thankfully Pensword had a key. He placed the key into the lock and after turning the key he pushed open the door to the room. “Yes?” They heard him call out from one of the side desks. He was sitting at one of the desks with only his white dress shirt on, his vest and coat leaning on the bed behind him. He had a candle lit and he seemed to have been writing or drawing something in which he moved out of sight. “Well, how much sleep this time?” Pensword muttered like a long suffering friend. “Also, someone in the camp is outright refusing to take me seriously and now demands that you make an appearance with a giant sword only you can pick up.” He sighed. “Before you ask, he is the new smith, Wrought Iron is his name and, it feels like he just would not take well to what you have been doing with Steel Weaver and Stormhammer. I was wondering why there was more smoke around the back of the fort.” “Well there’s your problem, Wrought Iron, that’s tough to reshape.” He shrugged. “If the name means anything they possibly have a tough time with change. But for sleep, I’ll be glad to let you know I got three and a half hours to four hours of sleep.” He paused. “I don’t remember when I went to sleep, but I know it was before three.” He chuckled before sighing. “Alright, armor or no armor? Lunar blade or no Lunar blade?” He questioned. “All, I want you dressed to the nines. This is to prove who you are. So dress to impress.” Pensword replied with a smirk. “Also I am going to donate this armor to a museum… after all, this is the armor worn, IN the battle we all ‘died’ in.” he smirked again. “Also, we need to create your Everfree forces armor sometime in the future.” He talked a little but tapered off as he waited for Shawn to act. Shawn pushed himself from his seat before heading to his armor that was covered and off to the corner. “I got blueprints for the armor…” He paused and looked around real quick. “Somewhere.” He sighed as he started to strap the pieces of armor on. “We’ll have to head to the forge Steel Weaver’s using to pick up the Lunar Blade, he is making a case and a sheath for it.” He sighed as he finished putting everything on, even strapping the blade to his back. “Is it bad I feel a bit more comfortable with all this on?” He shook his head. “Then again, I don’t think I can part with it due to me making it.” He rolled his shoulders. “Alright, follow me to Steel Weaver’s.” “Very well milord.” Pensword replied while Moonshade followed actually wanting to see what happens next, she was liking this. Upon heading down the stairs Berry blinked from behind the counter. “Uhh… Rise of Nightmare Moon?” She said sinking a little. “Or the moon falling?” Pensword sighed. “Neither thank goodness, just having to show that we are who we say we are, also he was already awake.” He smiled a little. “Trust me, I would be yelling and ordering muster stations if Nightmare Moon was coming back, still, keep the kettle warm, we should be back soonish.” He sighed and smiled as he stepped out of the steps and blinked as he saw Big Mac pause while pulling his own cart of apple to sell. He snorted as he stepped forward and glared, only to have Pensword speak first. “Big Mac, I heard you don’t like weapons but first, my armor is damaged, second I am trying to prevent insurrection from even happening by proving to troops that we are who we say we are, and third… I am still coming to terms that I am considered a legend.” He snorted a little bit as he stepped around the big draft pony. Big Mac shook his head. “I only came to apologize, words gettin’ around ‘bout you folks and.. well it was Granny who talked some sense in my head, sorry bout all that, just we folks don’t like seeing weapons being carried all over the place, makes us worry something bad is coming.” “Something always happens here it seems.” Pensword muttered. “I read the papers to learn the history, parasprites that ate the town, A spell gone crazy, plus whatever plan your younger sister and her friends come up with.” He smiled a little, “Still thank you for speaking your mind. It is refreshing to have some pony tell me what really is bothering them.” Big Mac only smiled and spoke one word in a farewell. “Eeeyup.” After a moment of walking they finally arrived at one of the forges in town. “Here we are.” Shawn said as they walked in. “Steel Weaver, you in?” He called out. “I need my blade and a sheath for it.” “Oi lad.” Steel Weaver called out. “I thought you were gettin’ rest!” He replied, coming out from the back. “I did.” Shawn smiled. “But something popped up as well, so it’s time for me to get to work.” Steel sighed. “Alright, your blade’s over there.” He pointed a hoof to one of the tables in the back, behind the counter. Shawn simple walked up to it and strapped it to his back on the opposite shoulder before turning back to the two. “Well? Lead the way to Wrought.” Steel Weaver stopped in his tracks before adding one last thing. “Give that fool a good tongue lashing. Fool couldn’t think outside the box to the point where he pulled rank on us.” Pensword only smiled. “Oh, I plan on it, and I think part of it will be how he treated me, when I first talked to him.” he smiled a little. “Well Milord, shall we depart?” Shawn stood up straight and cracked his neck. “Oh yes, definitely.” He gave a small smile. “Lead the way.” Pensword only chuckled. “Usually if I say, Shall we depart? Depart we shall is how my family responded.” He sighed with a smirk and started to walk to the camp. “Long way around? Show the camp who is here now?” “Oh yeah, I do not want to deal with that later.” Shawn sighed. “Good.” Pensword muttered and the three ponies walked towards their next location. Continuing their walk through the town they took the long route, heading towards the far side of the camp. Upon arriving they came across varied reactions from the recruits that were out and about. Some stopped and stared, some rumored in hushed tones as they passed, one unfortunate stallion walked straight into a wall. And three mares fainted outright. But throughout all of them, one thing was the same, they knew who the two truly were. “Got to love getting stared at.” Shawn said to Matthew. “I rather be stared at during a Military Parade, this is just as if the President or Patton was walking down the streets.” The Pegasus whispered to his friend. “Stay alert… this is a stage one event, it could go any which way next.” “Oh, definitely.” Shawn replied. Moonshade only smiled and did her best to hide a blush from the conversation. She almost felt like a very lucky major having an almost side by side comparison of before and after of an event. As well as being, next to those that she looked up to during her officer school. After a moment they arrived at the forge in which Wrought Iron was held up at. “So, prepared to halt the mind of another?” Shawn gave a small smile. “Told off by the patron smith.” Moonshade grinned. “Is that an issue of pride or shame?” Pensword only smiled. “I already lectured him once.. I wonder his thought when he realizes I am telling the truth.” he whispered with a chuckle. Upon entering Shawn gave a small smile to the two before turning forward. The room they were in was currently empty, meaning Wrought Iron probably went to the back again. “Should I call him out?” Shawn whispered to the two. Pensword only smiled. “Go for it.” He spoke with his voice filled with a snicker at the idea of the face of Wrought Iron seeing this sight. Putting a hoof to his mouth he gave a slight cough before taking a breath in. “Wrought Iron! Report in!” Shawn yelled out, the tone of his voice was severe. “Can I help you?” The smith asked with a sigh setting down his hammer. “Come to the front so I can see your face.” Shawn called back. The pegasus rolled his eyes as he did so. “Your stature is very convincing, but such acts have been done before.” He responded. Shawn only gave a bored expression in return. “Honestly, I can already tell…” He stopped before sighing. “Alright, so what is this. You call my captain a fake, then proceed to call my work pathetic?” He snorted. “What is next, do you want to call me a fake?” His expression darkened as he said this. “Ponies have tried to claim the Strike bloodline before, distant descendants, some even claimed as you did that Lord Hammer Strike was simply frozen in stone.” Wrought Iron said. “Oh I certainly was.” Shawn replied. “Do you want to call me out on that? I know of two facts that stand before you, that you have yet to notice.” “If you have the sword then let me examine it, otherwise you may as well leave, that oaf wasted a lot of pig iron on these oversized axe heads which now needs to be melted down and I’ll hopefully be able to save most of it.” Shawn simply reached up to his right shoulder, unsheathed the blade and rested it on his shoulder. “Come here then.” The pegasus approached carefully. His eye’s begging to scan the blade. Shawn only gave a dark grin before holding the blade out. “Here.” He nodded towards the sword. “Take it.” The pegasus eyed the sword for a moment before deciding against it. “Place it on the bench.” The pegasus pointed. Shawn shrugged before moving over and placing it onto the bench like asked. The pegasus eye’d the blade with scrutiny. “Certainly is a well made replica.” He noted to no one in particular as he examined the hilt, looking for several specific marks. “It was definitely made with crystal hammer.” He noted. “Replica.” Shawn said simply, though his tone had a deep emotion sunk into it. “Replica…” His left eye twitched for a second before he took a breath in. “You dare…” He gave a light chuckle before stopping immediately, his expression turning to anger. “It’s seen battle.” Wrought Iron didn’t seem to notice Shawns reaction. “Wrought Iron, you dare call out against my work.” Shawn started before unsheathing the blade given to him by Princess Luna. “You dare. I am Lord Hammer Strike, and you dare call out against my work. I did more work in thirty six hours than a narrow minded fool such as yourself could do in two weeks. Princess Luna gave me this blade, this is a sign of my rank, of my history, do you wish to call me out on this?” His tone wasn’t loud, but anger rolled through it like a blazing inferno. “Do you wish to call my history a lie? Do you wish to call out against my work or dare try to say this is a replica, or a fake? Do you want more proof, do you want Princess Celestia herself to come here and break the news to you?” Wrought Irons face blanked. “...I, that is to say… Please forgive me my lord.” The stallion dropped in front of Shawn. “I will have to think on that.” Shawn squinted slightly. “Wrought Iron, you are to bring Steel Weaver and Stormhammer back. I do not care if they do not follow rules and regulations set in books, for I did my work based off my mind alone, with little to no time to make second guesses, or rely on instructions.” He said, sheathing the Lunar blade as well as grabbing his sword and doing the same to it. “Of course my lord, at once.” He stammered. He was gone moments later. “Now.” Shawn said, taking a breath before looking back to Matthew and Moonshade. “Shall we go about our day?” Pensword looked miffed and did not say a single word at all. It seemed that he was not happy that just a few words spoken from his friend held more weight than his own words. He paused and looked at Shawn. “I am going to think he got scared to the Lunar Blade.” He took a breath. “Sorry I woke you up… just… I am sorry I am in a slightly foal mood suddenly.” “Well he certainly was a strange one wasn’t he?” Moonshade said. “Hopefully he’ll be nicer to our officer’s from now on.” “Hopefully so. Or I will have to come back and deal with him again.” Shawn replied with a dark smile. “Imagine how he must feel, now that I think about it. He just got told off by two old legends.” He chuckled as he looked to Matthew. “Just imagine that.” “Oh yeah…. delayed reaction.” He mouth worked into a small smile. “That would be rather amusing, wonder what will happen when he does think that.” he slowly began to walk out of the forge. “But a Pegasus Smith, I might see if he would be willing to make another set of armor, seeing as he knows more about working for those that must fly and fight.” He smiled a little as he heard the sound of a hammer falling onto the ground. He smirked a little happy he was heard talking about asking for some armor. He waited till they were outside. “Might have to ask him of course to try and bend a little… after all Wrought Iron itself can create some very nice symmetrical designs.” Shawn hummed to himself. “We’re my designs a bit too heavy?” He shrugged lightly. “Tough to make armor based of mental imaging and what not.” “But you can lift them, you just make weapons suited for yourself.” Pensword sighed and shook his head. “Now if you excuse me, I know what I can do to make myself happy.” Moonshade blinked but smiled a little. “What is that?” “I am going to have a debate with my friend Grif.” With that Pensword turned to the left and started to walk away. Moonshade turned and looked at Shawn. “Debate? He finds debating relaxing and fun?” Moonshade just blinked. “Debating is many things but relaxing is not one I would use to describe that.” She looked to Shawn a little. “Lord Hammer Strike, can you explain that to me?” “You honestly did not just say that.” Grif said as he swooped down. He looked to Pensword. “She did not just say that.” Pensword only smiled and looked to his friend. “Oh I think she did, then again, but I do say she did give a valid question.” he smiled a little. “I think last time the question got asked at that convention we all attended, I answered, why not let you answer this time Grif?” “Debating unlike it’s classic cousin arguing is the art of clear and level headed discussion with either side taking an opposing view and attempting to make the otherside see this point of view.” Grif recited off. “Arguing is stressful, infuriating, it causes trouble and can break friendships, but debating is clean respectable and given the right topic it is fun. history, language, science, art literature, pizza toppings, all great debate topics” Moonshade raised an eyebrow. “Pizza toppings?” “It is the civilized mind that debates, it is the savage who argues.” Grif said. “To even attempt to call debating stressful is like calling chocolate sour.” Pensword only smiled. “Chocolate is actually bitter it not mixed with sugar, and like Chocolate, the more one debates the more refined and tastier the event.” He smirked. “I still say that Anchovies are the better topping, omega three oils and the salt is good to the body, and the taste was good.” He smirked a little. “And with that I’m out.” Shawn said. “If you need me, you might have to look for me, I’m just going to wander for a bit.” He said before turning. “With that I bid you adieu.” Moonshade blinked but nodded her head and waved a wing farewell. Before turning back to the two. “Anchovies? I know we Pegasus like fish a little more than the Unicorns and Earth Ponies, but surely a better topping would have been ricotta Cheese and sliced Green Peppers.” “This is what I’m talking about.” Taze said with a sweep of his hand. “And now we begin, and good strong mozzarella is the best, it mixes well with the flavors around it.” As Shawn was walking he blinked as smaller soldier blinked as he stepped up, he looked behind himself at some of his friends. “Uh.. can you really swing that thing around or is it a sign of your work and station?” He smiled as he ducked a little as his smile faltered as if scared of offending the smith in front of him. Shawn gave a small smile. “Yes actually, in fact, I already have used it in battle before.” “Can you show us?” The spokespony asked with a look of shock. “Sure, where are some training dummy’s?” Shawn replied, looking at the soldier before him. One of the other ponies a larger Earth Pony smiled as he moved to one of the streets. “Follow me, the training grounds are this way.” After a bit they arrived at the training grounds in which had several training dummy’s set up, some training weapons, a ring, in which he assumed was for sparing, and some targets for ranged practice. Shawn hummed to himself as he inspected the training dummy’s. “How well do you think these will last?” “These are the best dummies we got sir.” One mare spoke up. “They can take a lot of punishment.” “Enchanted, by chance?” Shawn questioned. “Straight from the Canterlot military outfitters.” The mare nodded. Shawn nodded, unsheathing his sword. “I think I will go with a light hit first, just to give it a test…” He said as he balanced the blade on his back, holding it with one hoof. After making sure all were out of his way he took a breath in and gave a swing at the target, the results were, interesting, to say the least. The blade cleaved through the dummy with ease. As Shawn pulled the blade back to his shoulder he looked at the dummy as it slowly slid apart, collapsing. After a moment Shawn only raised a brow. “Well then.” “Wha… Bu… How?” The mare who had mentioned about how strong the dummies were asked. The Mare who had first approached Shawn to ask if that was the real sword and if they could see a demonstration just stared slack jawed “I, that, they don’t lie when they say that your blade was unbeatable.” Shawn chuckled. “Unbeatable hmm? Well I did want to make sure it would last a war, wouldn’t do it well to break in a fight would it?” The entire group shook their heads no as it made sense. Shawn noticed a few more ponies in armor and out of armor were starting to gather around to see this. It seemed that a few had seen his test and word was spreading around camp about his sword slicing through the dummy. It also appeared a lot of them were not believing the story and a few were looking close to coming to blows over it. Shawn simply rolled his eyes as he slammed his blade through another dummy to silence the growing crowd before looking back to the mare. “I will be paying for more of these, stronger ones too.” He said before turning back to the crowd. “Now. What in the world is going on!” He yelled out. “Arguing like foals, the lot of you! Besides those who weren’t of course.” He mumbled the last part to the groups closest to him that did not partake in that. The place was utterly silent as the group just watched the display and then started to melt away into the shadows ashamed at being schooled by a legend. The group at his side blinked in shock. “A voice that shook like an anvil being struck.” One finally spoke in awe. “Remind me to read up on some of the things wrote about myself and my friends, I am starting to question some things.” Shawn said chuckling. “Of, of course. I am sure the academy would send documents if you ask.” The same pony, a stallion, responded with a laugh. “But you're supposed to be a mountain!” A mare shouted. “Larger than a horse.” “Now I need to read these documentations.” Shawn said with a smile. “Compared to most of you I technically am bigger, but that scaling?” He chuckled. “That is a little too far.” “What was it like learning at Luna’s hoof?” A thestral asked. “And we hit myths.” Shawn said simply. “I was never trained by Luna.” “Did you train her then?” a pegasus asked. “Pretty sure I did not.” He replied. “How can he train the original Smith?” The same Thestral asked with a look of irritation. “We all know Luna brought smithing to Equestria.” A unicorn seemed to bristle at that. “It was not Luna, she just perfected the art, Smithing was around long before the two Sisters found the warring tribes.” “I leave one debate to stop an argument and then deal with this.” Shawn mumbled to himself before perking up again. “Well then. It seems that I should not use my blade against these training dummy’s, anything else you wish to ask or request of me?” “If you can do that with a sword, Celestia only knows what would happen if you hit it with your hoof.” Another stallion said. “Shall I give that a try?” Shawn said with a sly smile, looking at one of the training dummies. Facing the dummy he rolled his shoulders before widening his stance, after a second he lowered his stance as he picked his right hoof off the ground before throwing it straight up into an uppercut at the dummy, resulting in with a loud crash the dummy's head was torn clean off the neck and rocketed skyward… It didn’t come down. After landing back on his hooves, Shawn looked up and then back down to his hoofs. “Perhaps I should have removed these first.” He said tapping the weighted plates that acted like a gauntlet for ponies. The first sound heard was a collective gasp from the group and then muttering and a few ponies were starting to tuck their tails under them. It seemed that any more demonstrations were now being quickly filed away for another time, with a little safer location. “YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!” A voice echoed out of ponyville, clearly the display had been noticed by the town. Shawn only looked up again before looking back to the group. “I honestly wonder when that will come down…” He said, looking up again. “I do not see it still…” The others who saw the display could only look at each other and they couldn’t really come to an idea of when or where it went as well. “Well then…” Shawn said. “Any questions, this time not requesting me to break another training dummy?” “Uh, permission to return everyone to present tasks sir?” Black Rook asked. “Permission granted.” Shawn said finally looking back down, giving up on seeing the head come down. “If you need me, head into town and look around.” He said, as he walked away. The debate that the three had started was currently at the moment concluding it at an outside table in Ponyville eating a Pizza that had four slices and slightly smaller, at the moment it was the fifth pizza being polished off and they were smiling. “So,” Pensword replied with a smile. “Have to say, never thought debating would lead to an interesting dinner?” he asked. None of them really cared they were the only ones eating outside due to the subject matter of the debating. “I have a question for when this comes around again, Can Thestrals eat meat?” he asked in polite company. Then again these three had just debating the virtues of Pizza Toppings as if they were three diplomates finding a way to end a three way war. Moonshade held her head up and opened her mouth “You can see canines right? How many herbivores have them?” she asked. Pensword nodded his head and held up a Pizza tin and looked to try and see if he had canines himself. “That would be the one thing hard to give up, meat.” He muttered softly. “Well, as two of the three here can eat meat, a debate on meat toppings is in order at some point in the future, right Grif?” he asked the Griffon. “A….” He was cut off quite abruptly by a thundering crash. The three looked to sky and blinked as their was not a cloud in the sky as the sun set into the Horizon. Yet they could see a dark object flying into the sky, the pizzeria was a new place built just to the edge of the location of the fort. Seemed business was starting to grow with troops to cater to, mainly food places and a few more clothing shops, still Carousel Boutique was the place to get good quality clothing. “Why do I think our friend is behind that display?” Pensword muttered softly as he moved from the table to get a better look. “I, I lost track of it, and, I cannot see where it is heading.” He shook his head and turned around to sit back down at the table. “What say you Major?” he asked with a smile. “I think Lord Hammer Strike can handle himself.” Moonshade noted. “We are technically off duty at the moment are we not?” Pensword nodded his head. “Yes, while we might be in our armor we are technically off duty, but that can change at a moments notice.” he smiled a little as he looked at his friends feeling a little happy. “So, may I ask who you are looking forward to seeing next time you have leave?” He asked as he decided to get to know her a little better. “Oh look at the time! With that note I’m gonna fly, got a few things I wanna take care of. Got a dog to feed, wood detail for tomorrow. ” Grif said as he looked at the watch he may or may not have been wearing and taking off. “Have fun.” and with that he left. “No ones going to miss me.” Moonshade said kinda downcast. “My parents passed away years ago, my sister is in neighpon, we haven’t spoken for years.” she said. “I got nowhere to go really.” “Wait, but in Canterlot you said you had family.” he muttered and blinked. “Was that, to cheer me up?” he asked as he looked up to the sky. He laughed suddenly. “You are the first person or lady I have meet who has not mentioned a boyfriend.” he muttered bitterly. “I was always late to that it seemed.” he shook his head. “My apologies just, not sure what to feel at the moment.” he looked right at her, in the eyes. “Because I would never stand between two people, it is not my way of doing things.” “When I said it? No, my sister and her family were still in the city, I found out about the move when we shipped out, they left by airship the same day.” Moonshade sighed. “I am not an interesting mare, I’ve always just been there, did what was expected of me.” She said. “Few spare me a second glance.” He blinked and looked at Moonshade and tilted his head. “I see you, I have asked for your advice on how to run this outfit. I also expect many things from you, things that will hopefully see you outgrow that Major’s fins you have on your head.” he smiled a little. “Remember, I come from a world where this was not possible, so I find you very interesting, yes I find the entire world fascinating but I find you above that level.” He smiled a little and was wanting to make her feel better. “I appreciate that sir.” She smiled a half smiled. “I have felt more at home with all of you these last few weeks, it’s… always interesting?” “I just hope it doesn’t last, I like being able to relax, chill, exhale. I cannot always heading forward full power all the time, I have to rest.” He chuckled a little. “Then again, with what has happened, I doubt we will have a, normal day.” he chuckled again. “Also you're welcome Ma’am.” he replied feeling a little conflicted being called sir, it was protocol true, but he decided not to push it at the moment. “If you want me to leave for hearths warming I’m sure I can always find a place to spend the time sir.” She offered. Pensword shook his head. “Maybe the two of us could work through the holiday and spend it seeing what we can do to make the fort better, and when to move out.” He smiled. “I still need a little help adjusting to the modern days.” he chuckled at the joke that was becoming between the two. “Although I will miss hearing you say Human to me.” “It would be my honor to aid you.” She said saluting him. “Human.” He returned the salute. “Thestral.” he smiled a little feeling a little bit of the old times coming back. “Who would have thought you trying to insult has become a sign of who we are and has to be one of the strangest, oddest greetings between two species… who now are not as different as one thinks.” he trailed off and turned to the building to try and hide a slight blush he felt in his face as he realized that. There was a akward moment as both looked away to hide their own blushes. Finally moonshade stood as the pizzeria was closing down. “Well, permission to proceed with preparation for lights out sir.” she saluted. “Permission granted, Also, starting tomorrow, start test construction of the Officer quarters, I like the tavern, but I much prefer to sleep on base then off base.” “Yes sir.” She nodded. “Goodnight sir.” and with that the mare left in a timed march. though the added spring in her step was difficult to not notice. Pensword only smiled a little and looked to the clock, it was only twenty hundred he could see. “Dinner at the mess halls, lights out at twenty two hundred, and then bed.” he paused and realized something. She had been sharing a mattress in his room till now and he blinked. “Oh my. That might be a little different.” he moved quickly actually using his wings to propel him down the street. “Err, Major,” Pensword spoke softly. “As you know I have taken temporary quarters in the human’s room…” he trailed off wondering if she would get the information first time without too much details. “Yes and I was his assigned guard. But as soon as the officers quarters are up I will be able to leave you in peace.” She said. “That makes sense Major,” He could tell she said it matter of factly. “Sorry, I just had to ask. My apologies if I offended you Major.” “You're my superior sir.” she said. “The two of us sharing a room when other accommodations are available would be highly against regulation.” Pensword nodded his head and could see some milling troops. It would be now spread around the camps that the two were only bunking due to no room elsewhere and the two were rather chilled at the idea. That would be the extent of the rumors. The two turned around and left to their perspective tasks. Moonshade to run Lights Out in two hours. Pensword to look over reports and plans for what the Officer quarters would be like, he was thinking akin to Fort Laramie in Wyoming, small two story homes for Officers, to allow any family to arrive with them. As well as two large dorms for unmarried Officers. One Male and the other for Females.