//------------------------------// // Casualties // Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------// One Day Later… Ember sighed softly as she cradled Dawn in her arms, stroking the orange spines along her daughter's small tail. The baby dragoness gurgled in her sleep, nibbling on her mother's claws as she slept. There was a warmth like no other in Ember's heart. She was holding a hatchling that was her own… she was a mother… this was the beginning of her family with Draco. Carefully moving her child closer, she wiggled a claw into Dawn's grasp, opening her claws to look at the black marking on her palm. It was the mark of Draco's family, a sign of strength. She giggled as her daughter yawned softly, opening her little mouth and revealing her gums. Ember picked her head up when the door opened, Urishana carefully stepping in through the small crack and smiling at the weary dragoness. "How are you feeling?" She asked quietly, sitting beside her bed. "Better than the other night," Ember laughed softly, making sure she wouldn't wake her sleeping dragoness. Urishana could see the warmth in Ember's eyes. The warmth a newly appointed mother had. "She's beautiful." Ember nodded happily, nuzzling her daughter once more. "She is… I'm so… I can't explain how elated I am," Ember sighed, smiling as she looked to the ceiling. "This is the start of my family… of my and Draco's family." Urishana chuckled lightly, leaning closer as she ran a small healing spell over Ember's stomach. "Did I ever tell you I am a mother myself?" She asked, smiling as Ember shook her head. "I remember this exact moment… many cycles ago. I was a healer for the ship of a Protiiglo… the same Protiiglo I married. We had a daughter… her name was Nimani. It was after her great grandmother." It was Ember's turn to smile as she saw the mirth in her's doctor's eyes. Much more than happiness was expressed, and Ember could see just how much she loved having her own daughter. "Where is she now?" Ember questioned softly. "She is on the same ship as the Doshu'um… your beloved," Urishana told her. "Her father and I are not certain if she would excel as a warrior or a healer… and so she's there to learn from the vast number of healers." "Mm. Do you want her to be a healer as well?" Ember asked, shifting her daughter into a more comfortable position. The master healer shrugged slowly, sighing as she looked back to the window. "It is not my place to decide her destiny," she murmured. "I support every decision she makes… whether she decided to be a healer or a warrior. I want her to be happy… and nothing less." Now that she had laid, Ember could understand. She would make sure her daughter was happy… and she would try her hardest each and every day. And she was certain that Draco would do the same for their little girl. Before she could say something to Urishana, the healer stood up abruptly, looking out the window with a worried expression. "What is it?" Ember asked, glancing out the window. Dozens of cruiser ships were flying towards Canterlot, several dreadnoughts tailing them. Ember squinted, then silently gasped as she saw that each was damaged horribly, one of the dreadnoughts being pulled by the others. Their attention was directed to the door as it bursted open. A Mendigino had run in, and he held a concerned expression of his own. "Urishana, ut Yuteno dot (Urishana, the Yuteno is coming… they have wounded and bodies)" He said quickly. " (I'm coming)" Urishana nodded, turning to Ember as the man ran off. "Ember, I'll be back soon." "What's going on?" Ember questioned frantically. "What happened to those ships?" "Ember," Urishana firmly said, keeping her gaze stern even with her anxious mind. "Please, I'll be back soon, but right now I'm needed more than ever." Ember watched the healer run out of the room, and she turned back to the small group of ships returning. The longer she looked, the more familiar each of the insignia's were. They… they were the same ships that had been a part of the fleet where Draco was training. As she looked to the dreadnought being dragged through the skies by another two, she gasped silently. It was the same ship that Derekosh was to be executed. The ship was the League's… which meant it was the same one that Draco was aboard. No… please… please, no… please be alright, Draco. You can't… you can't be gone now… You have a daughter of your own… your family. Please! Hundreds of Signa, both wounded and dying, were hauled off of each cruiser as quickly as possible. The courtyard was filled with makeshift tents for the men and women, body bags already beginning to get laid out. Celestia practically galloped outside as she looked around for Figanti or the Alamonshuor brothers. Luna and Moon came after her, doing the same and looking for Draco or his family. Moon cringed as he saw the deadly wounds of the survivors. It was even worse when he heard frantic screams… the screams loved ones used when watching someone they kept close die. And with every scream of pain and sorrow, Celestia searched even more frantically. She couldn't bare the thought of seeing her son among those in the rows of deceased… she just couldn't. They had covered the entire courtyard, and still no sign of him. Before the solar princess could go galloping off, Luna grabbed her sister. "There are many being sent inside," Luna said, trying to keep her calm. "Moon and I will search there, but you must wait for those being taken off of the ships, alright?" "Okay," Celestia nodded, wiping her eyes and suppressing a sniffle. "I'm just-" "Sister," Luna interrupted, "please… just have a bit of hope." Celestia nodded softly, watching her sister and nephew gallop inside while she turned to the newest batch of survivors. She looked up, however, when a larger dropship hovered above the courtyard. Two gurney-like, floating platforms lowered with a woman, and Celestia gasped as she saw Agner and Fermot, both bleeding profuse amounts of blood from lethal areas. From the same ship, Jaqeluu and Derekosh were assisted by healers as they grunted and growled in pain. Lastly, Figanti lowered with a gurney… and Celestia felt her hooves grow cold as she looked to her unconscious and bleeding son. Figanti spotted his nephew's practical mother, but he kept going, knowing she would follow. He rushed inside, hearing her hoofsteps beside him. "What happened?!" She exclaimed, casting a healing spell over his wounds. They weren't closing in the slightest, and her son roared in agony, his arms and legs restrained by energetic bonds. "Stop!" Figanti shouted, turning a corner to follow the others. "You cannot do anything but wait like the rest of us!" "How did this happen?!" Celestia demanded to know. "Where is Jerosh?!" She could see the man clench his jaw, then turn to her with an impatient look in his eye. "Ichima… please… wait until I see that my nephew survives," he growled, doing his best to keep his temper contained. They bursted into an empty medical room. Figanti pushed the bed off to the side and pressed a small panel on the gurney. Four pikes shot into the marble floor, then the ends shot out another set to secure themselves. Three different healers ran inside, their energies peaking as they started on him. Celestia gasped as Draco roared again, this time even more pained. "Come," Figanti said, practically dragging her outside. "I need to see my son!" She shouted, pulling herself free. Before she could run in, Figanti slammed the door shut with his rites. Celestia pointed her horn at him, her mana funneling into it to make a powerful blast spell. He stared at her with an almost doubtful frown. She heard Draco scream, not roar, and then orders from the healers to hold down certain parts of his body. "What happened?" Celestia questioned sternly, almost snarling it out. Figanti explained what had transpired the night before, slowing as he explained that several ships were destroyed… and that tens of thousands of his people had been killed so suddenly. Luna and Moon arrived, and they all moved to the opposite wing, where the Elements were staying. Said mares were in the halls that were filled with Loki'irians rushing to and fro, some covered in blood while others shouted frantically. The princesses ushered the girls into their guest room so that Figanti could fill them in as well. From when he sensed the Iikro, to when the Ashla released control of Draco's body. They were all shocked… no pony could say a word. Figanti sat against the wall, his fists clenched in rage above his lowered head as he thought about how many of his people he had felt leave his senses. Knowing that Konaskol, one of his closest and dearest friends, had sacrificed himself without hesitation made it even worse. He felt a hoof touch him, and he pushed it away and moved the wall, punching a hole into it and letting loose a yell of anger. The others moved away from him, shocked to see him so angry. He took several deep breaths before moving back to the wall and sliding to the floor. "We've lost over half of the surviving Signa… and those vessels were the strongest of our fleet," he growled, his fists clenching once again. "I couldn't protect them… I couldn't protect my nephews… I couldn't protect Reku'un, above all." "Their power exceeded yours by massive proportions," Luna said, stepping closer. "You wouldn't be here to tell us this if the Ashla hadn't stepped in." He kept silent for a moment, then stood back up. "We won't be able to leave for an assault… we're crippled beyond repair," Figanti sighed. "Even with Reku'un's power… we'll only be able to take the homeworld… and we would all perish if we were to attempt that." They understood now why he was upset. He was angry for the loss of his people, for the harm that had come to his nephews. He was upset… because now they stood no chance against the horde. It would take generations to create another army of Signa… and they had no thermite to speed the process. "We've lost."