//------------------------------//
// Chapter 18: Home Sweet Home 
// Story: Equestria Divided: Faceless Legion 
// by ArthurGabriel 
//------------------------------//

	The train continued chugging along the rail tracks. A NP Spotter saw the train and ordered the guards to open the gate. It was large, made of steel and had some form of scribes or ruins on it. The trains whistle blew and came to a slow stop at the train station, the cabins were slowly being detached and taken to the train yard. Everyone got off and went their own way. Arthur stepped off first and helped Jade, grabbing a hoof and guiding her down. She giggled and took a light bow. Arthur said, "listen...I, was gonna visit my daughter. Would you like to meet her?" Jade nodded happily and smiled. The two walked and Tin looked over at them, "be back at nineteen hundred hours for dinner alright?"

Jade and Arthur nodded and the two scampered off. He looked over and saw the clock was chimming, ringing twelve times, "ah. Lunch is served," he smiled and eagerly ran back to the house. Jade gave a light laugh and flapped her wings and followed. The two laughed and chuckled, dodging various ponies and obstacles to get home, it was indeed a sight to be seen. Arthur recognized the house and eagerly knocked, Ebony answered and looked surprised, "oh. Your back. I thought you and Tin left for Filly."

"We did," Arthur chuckled as he hung his hat and lightly undressed and took the saddle bag off as Jade trotted in, "but we were called back for some reason. We don't know why though." 

Jade lightly smiled at Ebony, "hello." 

Ebony replied back, "hello, and you are?" Jade smiled and took a light bow, "I'm Jade Wind. Its a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." She merely smiled, "pleasure to meet you Jade. I'm Ebony, Tin's wife."

Jade lightly smiled, "ah. So your the Ebony he's mentioned before." Ebony giggled and nodded, "and, may I ask how you know him?" Arthur walked off and went to the bedroom that Aurora took quarters in. But, she wasn't there. Arthur walked back to the girls and he asked, "ummm, Ebony. Where's Aurora." Looking a bit worried as Ebony waved a hoof at him, "she's fine. She's over at a friends house right now. She should be back in a few minutes for lunch."  He nodded and slowly took a seat at the table and Jade followed suit.

"I hope, you don't mind if we joined you two for lunch, Ebony." Arthur asked as Ebony walked into the kitchen, "no worries at all." Just then the door opened, "Ebony! I'm home!" Arthur hear Aurora's voice and, tried keeping his composure. Jade lightly nudged him, "it'll be alright love. Just, let the motions flow alright," Arthur lightly nodded as Aurora trotted in. 

She saw him, "daddy!" She quickly galloped to him and lunged into his arms. Tears flowing down her face, "I've missed you daddy." He sighed happily and held her, "daddy's, missed you too. Very, very much...did you get daddy's letter?" 

She nodded, "yes. I even got those sugar bars you sent me." He lightly nuzzled her and kissed her cheek. "Aurora...I, I'd like you to meet some pony who, recently befriended me. Jade." Rose looked over and saw her. She seemed sheepish as Jade eyed her. She giggled at Roses attempts at hiding. "Hi there sweetie, its a pleasure to meet you." Rose peaked over Arthur's shoulder slowly and looked at her. Jade extended her hoof and Rose lightly shook it and her arm quickly darted back. Jade lightly giggled as Ebony served some sandwiches, "its peanut butter and jelly with banana slices."

Arthur looked over at Rose, "since when did you eat banana's?" She giggled and eagerly ate her sandwich, "she's, been eating a lot more since your departure." Arthur gently stroked Roses mane, "good. That's good." Rose lightly giggled and continued eating as Arthur and Jade joined in. After a couple of sandwiches, Rose was yawning a bit. Ebony lightly giggled, "its been like clockwork since you've left." Arthur sighed happily, "that's good. She, always napped with her mother after breakfast and lunch. Then after, we'd, go for a small walk to the lake and back home for dinner...I'm, glad she's getting better." Rose nuzzled into Arthur's chest and he sighed happily, petting her mane. 

"I'll take her to bed," Ebony nodded and Arthur slowly got up, lightly rocking her in his arms. He took her to the bedroom and sighed happily at seeing it: the flower wallpaper, some crayons scattered across the floor, an easel with a hoof painting on it. Its the bedroom he always thought she'd have, and he was happy. He laid her down and covered her up, and lightly kissed her. He slowly tip toed out of her room and went downstairs. He walked to the kitchen and noticed Jade wasn't there.

"Umm...where, did she go?"

"She went back to the barracks," Ebony said as she was washing some of the dishes. "And, thanks for all that you've done Ebony. I, really appreciate it." She lightly giggled, "please, my plot is for sitting and not for kissing. But I appreciate it nonetheless." Arthur nodded, "and, thanks for Roses bedroom too." Ebony plainly said, "your welcome." Arthur slowly got dressed, "I'm, heading back now. Take care alright," she looked back and nodded. Arthur closed the door and she sighed, looking at a family photo of her, Tin, and a young foal and lightly muttered to herself, "she'd, be Roses age if, she was alive."





Back at the barracks, Jade flew in and quickly ran to her barracks and once again, the colts were gambling bits away, "what's the game this time?" She asked as she got a pint of cider and rested on the couch. Joker looked over, "we's playin' twenty-one. You want in?" She waved a hoof at him. "Ah, who needs ya anyways," chuckling as he tossed some bits in the pile and the guys continued playing.

Some time has passed and Arthur walked in, every other pony was still playing cards and Jade was quietly sleeping on the couch. Tin noticed him, "so, did you enjoy your time with, Aurora?" He smiled and nodded. Joker looked over, "oh? And, who is this Aurora of which he mentions Artie? Are you still being the lady killer that your are," nudging him and Arthur rolled his eyes and glared at him. "Aurora is m daughter..."

Joker just, shuddered a bit, "sorry. I didn't know." Arthur looked over and pulled a seat, "of course you didn't. Because I didn't feel it necessary, Joker," as he pulled a stool next to him. "But perhaps I should let you guys in on my life for now on...now, what's the antie?"

Tin chimed in, "two bits this time." Arthur chuckled and threw a couple bits in and joined in. As time passed, Arthur got to know everyone else and, he divulged some information about him. Nothing personal or private, just that he was an artist before joining the rangers and that he had his wife and daughter Aurora. Nothing more or less. Arthur won the pile and everyone went for dinner, he pocketed it and walked over to Jade. He smiled and lightly nuzzled her, waking her up and heading off to dinner.