Chapter 5: Glory
A few weeks later, at Pinkie Pie's party for Ace...
"Let's hear it for Blue Arrow and the Red Hooves of Celestia, everypony!" Mic Bluez roared into a mic on the stage of the fairgrounds outside of the Ponyville Hospital.
The crowd cheered and stamped their hooves as Blue Arrow, dressed in his formal military attire that consisted of a red officer's jacket and golden rope around his right shoulder. He carried the Red Hoof sword at his side, landed on the stage, followed by his second in command, Dynamo, who was similarly dressed, but with a silver rope, and Papyrus, who just wore a plain off-duty Hoof red jacket.
A few more from Blue Arrow's unit flew overhead as they stood on stage and looked around at the cheering crowd. Dynamo just kept a stone-face as he gazed around, but Papyrus was smiling and waving as he walked up to a stunned Blue Arrow.
"How's this for a Hoof welcome, sir?"
Blue Arrow sniffed. "I...I never thought I'd see the day, lad..." He blinked away a tear and smiled. "That we, the Hooves, would be respected again..."
"No more mocking, sir." Papyrus said. "At least, for awhile."
Dynamo stepped forward, his head still held high, and stated, "I believe we're back, sir."
"What else would ye' think, mate?" Blue Arrow slowly rose a hoof into the air and waved, drawing more cheering from the crowd.
"Yessir..." Dynamo's head faltered a little. "It's just too bad Flying Sunstar couldn't be here to see this..."
"Aye..."
Some mares on the front row of the crowd were stretching out their hooves towards Blue Arrow and screaming at him.
"Blue Arrow, I love you!"
"Blue Arrow! I love your mane today!"
"Write to me, Blue Arrow!"
"Argh..." Blue Arrow cocked an eye and smiled awkwardly at them, hissing out of the side of his mouth to Papyrus, "Is this normal, lad?"
The young rookie chuckled, "Well, you did single-handedly slay a good-sized dragon, not to mention take on Discord and live...so it's natural they'd be attracted..." He chuckled. "You know, even if he did backhand you."
"He got you too, lad!" Blue Arrow shoved the rookie aside. "Don't forget that!"
The three Red Hooves shared a laugh before continuing to wave at the crowd from their spot on-stage.
An hour later, the party being well underway...
Blue Arrow was roaming around the giant party, holding a drink of cider as he went. He often stopped and mingled with important officials that had been invited, including the mayor, and discussed upgrades to the Hooves arsenal and access to official records for Hoof use.
Blue Arrow, to everypony's surprise, actually started participating in some of the fun activities as well. He demonstrated his skill at throwing darts, and this earned him a mare stalker for a good half an hour before losing her in a crowd of ponies going to talk to Dan near the food pavilion.
"Whew..." He turned an, upon seeing the mare had gone, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "That was a bonny close one... I'll never get used ta' that..."
He returned to the juice bar at the outdoor bar and ordered another glass of cider. He leaned on the counter, waiting for his order, when he noticed the rookie, Papyrus, sitting alone at a table, looking out into the crowd of ponies across the way at the food pavilion.
"Here you go, Mr. Arrow..." The barkeep said, handing the commander his cider.
"Ah..." He grabbed it and tossed the bits onto the table. "Thank ye', mate..."
He approached Papyrus's table and said, "Thinking about the answer to the bloody universe, lad?"
The rookie jumped a little at the sound of his CO's voice, and turned around. "Oh... Hello, sir."
"Can I join ye', lad?" Arrow smiled and gestured at the seat.
"Of course, sir..." Papyrus nodded, and turned his attention back to the crowd.
Blue Arrow heaved a sigh as he sat down and took a sip of his cider. "Today, you can call me by my real name, mate."
"Ok, si-" Papyrus chuckled. "Blue Arrow."
"By the way, 42." Arrow chuckled, taking a sip.
"W-what?" Papyrus turned, confused.
"The answer to the bloody universe!" Blue Arrow leaned forward. "42?"
Papyrus shook his head and sighed, "Your sense of humor is so bad, Blue Arrow. When are you going to realize that?"
"When I'm dead because of one my jokes, mate..."
Papyrus chuckled, "Ok, that was funny..."
The two sat in silence for a moment before Papyrus turned to his CO and said, "What will happen now?"
"What?" Blue Arrow cocked an eye, putting his drink down. "Ye'll have to be more specific, lad."
"What will happen to us?" Papyrus gestured to himself. "To the Hooves? Now that Discord is gone for good..." He sighed. "There's no danger to Equestria or the Princesses."
Blue Arrow looked down and off to the side as Papyrus continued.
"We'll become obsolete all over again!" Papyrus rose his voice with concern. "We'll again be considered Buffalo fodder to little foals! The subject of ridicule!"
"Ok, first off..." Blue Arrow leaned forward and eyed the rookie. "Who are ye' and what have ye' done with Papyrus?"
"Sir, I'm serious!"
"So am I, lad!" Blue Arrow leaned back again and took another swig of his cider. "What happened to the carefree pony that landed on that stage an hour ago?"
Papyrus sighed, "Sorry, sir. I guess I just got to thinking was all..."
"I see..." Blue Arrow leaned forward again, twidling his drink in his hooves. "There comes a time in every soldier's life when he or she has to confront not only an enemy on the battlefield, but his or her true purpose..." He turned towards the rookie, who was looking at Blue Arrow respectively. "Both of us are Hooves. And we always will be, lad. No matter what happens, never forget that."
A slow smile appeared on Papyrus's face. "Thank you, Blue Arrow."
"And besides..." Blue Arrow smirked and took another drink. "There'll always be some crazy loon looking to take over..." He looked over at Papyrus. "And we'll be ready, right, lad?"
"Yessir." Papyrus gave a quick salute before laughing with Blue Arrow. "Um, sir? Can I ask you why you came to see me?"
"What?" Blue Arrow chuckled. "A grizzled Commander can't come and mingle with his troops during a bonny party?"
"Well, I suppose you could but..." Papyrus smiled evilly. "Who are you and what have you done with Blue Arrow?"
"Ah, shut up, lad!" Blue Arrow laughed and shook his head. "Ye're a smart lad. There is indeed a reason I sat down with you aside from formal chit-chat..." He shifted in his seat before continuing. "As you know, Flying Sunstar..." He paused and watched Papyrus's face fall from happiness to solemnity. "Was killed by Discord. Torn in half, he was."
"I miss him, sir." Papyrus sniffed.
"We all do, lad." Blue Arrow nodded in remembrance. "However, he can't keep being my corporal being cut in half, can he?"
Papyrus perked up, "What are you saying, sir?"
Blue Arrow leaned forward and put a hoof on the rookie's shoulder. "Ye' handled yourself like a true warrior at Canterlot. I've put in for a commendation for ye' with Celestia, lad." He winked. "If ye' keep up the good work, ye'll be promoted to Corporal next time we go to battle, Private Papyrus."
"O-oh wow..." Papyrus fell back into his chair and looked up at the sky. "I-I don't know what t-to say..."
"Say yes, lad." Blue Arrow chuckled. "That would suffice."
"Yes!" Papyrus leaped up and did an aerial flip before landing standing up and shaking Blue Arrow's hoof. "Thank you so much, sir! When will the promotion be?"
"Like I said, mate!" Blue Arrow chuckled warmly again. "When next we go to battle!"
"Yessir!"
"That doesn't mean ye' can slack of until then!" Blue Arrow pointed at him sternly. "Keep workin' as hard as ye' were before, and ye'll get it."
"Oh don't you worry, sir!" The rookie excitedly sat down. "I won't let you down!"
"Good stallion..." Blue Arrow smiled again before taking another sip from his drink.
They continued talking for a few moments before Papyrus turned his attention back to the food pavilion, where he appeared to be watching something, or somepony, intently.
"Watcha gawking at now, lad?" Blue Arrow leaned to the side to see if he could get a better view of what the rookie was looking at.
Papyrus didn't respond. Blue Arrow watched as the Element of Honesty trotted by; Applejack, he thought her name was. Papyrus's tail started wagging slightly as he watched her walk out of the crowd and trot to the bar for some cider.
"S-sorry sir..." Papyrus turned around, blushing. "I've uh..." He scratched his head nervously. "I've always had a thing for...the strong, blonde type..."
"Pffff...ahahaha!" Blue Arrow slapped his knee and rocked back and forth in his chair. "Aw, lad! That's adorable! Applejack? Really?"
"Yes, really!" Papyrus looked flustered. "I've had my eye on her for awhile now..."
"Ye' don't stand a chance gettin' a bloody Element of Harmony!" Blue Arrow chugged what little remained of his drink. "She's way outta yer' league, lad!"
"So are you saying Rainbow Dash, an Element as well, was out of Ace's league?" Papyrus retorted.
Blue Arrow paused for a moment, then nodded slowly. "True enough...tell ye' what, lad..." He leaned on the table with one hoof. "I bet ye' 50 bits that ye' can't pick her up in two years."
Papyrus scoffed and shook Blue Arrow's hoof. "Deal, old man! I'll show you!"
"Go get 'er, lad!" Blue Arrow called after him as he got up and walked after Applejack. "Don't stare at her too long, yer tail will wag! And I'm 38!"
Papyrus waved a hoof in Blue Arrow's direction before disappearing into the crowd after AJ. "Thank you for being an epic leader sir!"
Blue Arrow laughed, "Eh, rookies... I love screwin' with um..." He picked up his empty glass and started spinning the ice cubes around in the cup as he gazed at the horizon.
Finally having a moment to himself, he started to ponder the events that led up to this point in time. He began to think about his earliest memories of joining the Hooves, the first battle he fought alongside Shadow..."
"Shadow..." He said the name out loud as he continued to ponder. "I'll never forget ye're sacrifice, mate..." He thought, looking out at all the partygoers. "And neither will they... I'll put a bloody monument on yer' grave if I have to..." He smiled. "Thank ye', Celestia..." He returned to thought. "For givin' me the opportunity to serve..." "And thank you, Shadow...for helping me become who I am..."
"Blue Arrow, sir..." A baritone voice sounded from behind the war vet. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
Blue Arrow turned and beheld the stallion of honor, Ace, with a small smile on his face.
"Ah, Ace..." The Hoof CO nodded. "Of course ye' can. Have a seat..."
"Ace!" Rainbow Dash yelled from behind Ace. "C'mon! Let's go play bumper carts with Pinkie Pie!"
"Gimme a sec, Dashie!" Ace called while sitting down next to Blue Arrow.
"What can I do for ye', lad?" Blue Arrow said. "Let me say what an honor it has been to fight for ye'-"
"Let me stop you there, Arrow..." Ace held up a hoof and closed his eyes. "I'm not here looking to get more praise... Trust me, I've gotten more than my fair share today..."
"You and me both, lad..." Blue Arrow sighed.
Dan chuckled, "For real." Ace returned to seriousness. "Commander, I came to thank you."
"What?" Blue Arrow looked taken aback. "Why?"
"Why else?" Ace shrugged. "Without you and your help, my plan would've failed and..." Dan sighed and shook his head. "I'd probably be dead in a ditch in Canterlot...and so would everypony else..."
Blue Arrow was speechless. "Ace, I-"
"Without your support, none of this..." Ace gestured around. "Would be happening..." Ace looked down solemnly. "I came to thank you profusely and...to offer my condolences..." Ace looked Blue Arrow in his grizzled eyes. "I understand you lost some good stallions that day..."
"Aye, lad." Blue Arrow sighed. "My corporal, Flying Sunstar, and my long-time...friend...Shadow, from Manehatten..."
"Blue Arrow..." Ace put a hoof on Blue Arrow's shoulder. Blue Arrow turned towards Ace, who nodded. "From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry for the losses you suffered that day...I'm sure Celestia will be proud of them..."
"Aye..." Blue Arrow responded simply.
Ace wiped away a tear, sniffed, and stood up from his chair and saluted him. "Thanks again, sir."
As Ace began to walk away, Blue Arrow jumped up and ran up to Ace. "Hey, Ace!"
Ace turned, "Yeah?"
Blue Arrow saluted him. "The Hooves will always be ready, Sir Blue Bass. All you need to do is give us the call!"
Ace laughed, walked up, and grasped hooves with Blue Arrow. "Glad to hear it commander."
"Aye lad..." Blue Arrow smiled. "I swear it..."
FIN
OC:
Mic Bluez (c) Don'tDriveAnrgy7