//------------------------------//
// 10 
// Story: Tales 
// by geopol 
//------------------------------//


Tales

by

George Pollock, Jr.

X. The Home Stretch: The Four Warponies of Equestria


The chariot arrived at the flying field at 9 the next morning. Spike and I were the only ones there.

I knew even more that something was up when I saw the chariot team. Instead of the usual two palace-guard pegasuses, there were four huge warponies. They were bigger than most palace guards but about the size Rex was. Of course, I hadn't met him yet. But I remember his stature now, of course. And by the way, you didn't become captain of Celestia's guard unless you were a top-flight warpony. You had to qualify. It wasn't just some pretty title.

The warponies wore gold-colored helmets with unicorn-like blades on the foreheads. They weren't decorations. They were weapons – swords, knives, spears. Rex said they could penetrate dragon scales, if they had to. Not that Equestria had any quarrel with Pyra. It hadn't in a long time. But Mythos could be a problem, and any problem with Mythos was never a good thing, like I said. Mythos hadn't tried to "do" anything in a long time. But you never knew about the future with Mythos. That's why there were warponies. Mostly to deal with Mythos.

And warponies were expected to give their very lives at any moment to defend Equestria. Rex told me that as we grew closer. He could get orders any second, leave – and never return alive. I had to accept that. I did, but it was never easy. Especially after Promise and Purpose were born.

And then he died of a disease. Not in a battle. I never understood that

But that morning, I understood what it was like to be ready to give your life to protect those special to you.

The team leader – their insignias are on their collars – was a huge red pony with red eyes that seemed to glow like flames. He nodded to us and indicated we should get on the chariot. I thanked him and asked his name.

"War," he said, then he nodded at the three other ponies. He said it was his team. Celestia had requested them specifically to take us to the Forever Plain.

I looked at the others. They were a strange bunch: One was black and looked like he was starving. Another was white and seemed like he was possessed by a devil.

The last one was pale and looked like he was about to fall down dead.

Honestly, they really didn't inspire much confidence.

War made sure Spike and I were settled in, then he spoke to me. He said he assumed the fact we were there meant I had received Celestia's letter. I said I had. Then he asked whether I was prepared for anything that might happen. I said I was.

And then he asked whether I was ready for the possible sacrifice Celestia had mentioned.

I looked at him straight into the flames of his eyes. I said, "Yes."

He nodded and said the trip would be completely over Equestrian territory. Really, he said, we should just relax and enjoy the ride. His team could handle anything. He said, "We're always the ones who are left after any trouble, Miss. Please don't worry."

I looked at the team again. And worried.

During the entire trip, I kept looking around the sky for anything "untoward." Nothing happened. But I worried.

Now …

Ever been to the Forever Plain? It's a plain, all right, but it's high up in the mountains way beyond Canterlot, so even at noon in the summer, it can still be chilly. And there's often a lot of mist, so it's like you're standing in gauze. And the whole day is pale gray beyond that. It was like that when we got there. You could barely see the mountains surrounding the plain. They were just silhouettes. Or like ghosts.

Spike and I got off the chariot, and then there was this sudden, scary sound. It was like something heavy hit the ground with a thud. At the same instant, there was the sound of metal rattling. I saw it was the tongue of the chariot's hitch. I learned later there's a release the pegasuses can kick and unhitch themselves. I guess that's what they did.

War told us to come with him, so we walked away from the chariot and halted. The rest of the team moved out and took positions where they were facing away from the chariot. It was like the four members ended up at the four points of a compass. And they kept scanning the area – and the sky – like they were expecting something.

The pale pony was watching the area behind us. War said that one was always at your back. And he said, "By the way, you two aren't on the team, so don't get too close to him. Not a good idea."

I didn't feel like getting close to any of them – even War – but I didn't say anything. Finally, I asked him what this was all about. He told me only that the team was ordered to bring Spike and me here at noon. He said, "I'm not allowed to say anything else, Miss."

Which told me exactly nothing.

So we waited a little longer, and Spike – who'd been surprisingly quiet during the trip – shivered a little bit. That's when I remembered he's a reptile and because of that, he's cold-blooded. I guessed the chill was getting to him. I told War that and that I was going to nuzzle Spike to warm him up with my body. War didn't look at me. He just said, "Go ahead," like he didn't care. So I started nuzzling Spike, who embraced my neck, and it seemed to help.

A little bit after that, I heard this loud flapping, like it was coming at us from a distance. It wasn't the flapping of pegasus wings. Even at a distance, it was too loud for that. It was a lot stronger. The air seemed to shudder with every beat. You could feel that.

War suddenly turned his head back toward the team. It was like he was checking on it. The other ponies glanced at one another, like they were telling themselves to be ready for something. Like a fight.

That scared me. I could feel fright spark inside me, and I nuzzled Spike tighter. For my benefit, honestly – not his. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. He didn't say anything.

Then Celestia's chariot and its pegasuses materialized from the mist above. Which confused me no end. I thought, "That can't be where the flapping is coming from."

Her chariot landed and approached us, but the flapping continued. What the hell was it, I thought. Then the flapping stopped.

And three mountains slammed into the ground.

They were dragons.

They landed so hard, I nearly fell over from the impact. And I heard the hitching parts of our chariot rattle crazily, then stop. That's how strong it was.

One dragon landed directly behind Celestia's chariot. The two others landed just behind that one, slightly off to each side. Those two quickly scanned the area – and us. Me and Spike and War and his team. Even Celestia and her team.

Their eyes widened for a moment, like they were hungry and had suddenly seen a pile of snacks.

And I thought: Oh, this can't be good ...