//------------------------------// // Ashes of His Fathers // Story: Why I Fight // by PeacefulKnightofChrist //------------------------------// Sweat ran down his face as he committed the stances to memory. He swung the spear in a wide arc, rearing and thrusting at unseen enemies. He swept the air before him once more before placing the spear back on the rack. “Wonderful performance.” A sweet voice spoke behind him. He turned, was greeted with the sight of Princess Cadence and bowed. “Thank you, Your Highness Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Cadence softly giggled. “Shiny, I babysit your little sister. No need to be so formal.” “All guard members are to refer to members of the royal family by their title.” He dutifully recited Royal Guard Directive Number 37 Subsection B. The giggling had turned into full-blown laughter. “Well, I’m ordering you to call me Cadence.” “I…I guess I could do that. But if I get in trouble will you help me out?” “Of course.” “So…Cadence. Thanks for foalsitting Twily. You make her happy.” “She’s a sweetheart. So, would you like to take a walk?” “It would be good exercise. Sure.” He trotted after her and they went to the gardens. He remained at a brisk canter through the rose-lined trail while she merely trotted. “Shining, could you slow down?” He stopped. “Are you getting tired?” “Yeah.” She sat down on a bench. He sat beside her. “It’s been a long time since I’ve walked with someone.” “Really? I always assumed you were popular. You’re so sweet.” She was silent for a while. “No. Not really.” “How come?” She shifted. “No one wants to know the real me. They just see a princess, a symbol. My so-called friends only hang out with me when they know I can get them into a ball or other fancy party. All the stallions just want to bed a princess.” “That’s terrible.” She leaned her head against him. He felt something wet against his fur. “Are you crying?” “It’s stupid. I had a fight with my last friend. I don’t have a single friend left.” He wrapped an arm around her. “I could be your friend, Cadence.” “I’d like that.” That’s how it all began. A friendship. Each day the princess and her guard took a walk among the gardens, speaking of their day. She would watch him at all his training sessions till the other Guards began to tease him and call him the princess’s pet. He didn’t mind, realizing that they were just jealous. When he was injured she would fuss over his wounds, wiping away any blood on his white coat or bandaging his hooves. He would feebly protest, but always give in to her ministrations. … Years had passed since those days. Shining trotted past the flowers in the garden. The War Council had reiterated what they already knew. Their mission was simple. Reinforce the Mustang’s already formidable defense against the Roan’s formidable assault and siege engines. Shining trotted through the gardens, eager to see Cadence. At this time of year the garden was a symphony of colors and scents. There were the happy oranges and yellows of the marigolds, the bright red, delicate curves of the roses, the gracefully flowing willow trees. Hidden deep within the garden depths was a naturally occurring grove of cherry trees. It was here that Shining and Cadence had first kissed. The pink and white blossoms danced in the breeze, lightly entangling themselves in the hair of Princess Cadence. She stood in the grove, smiling as he approached. They nuzzled each other and for a time entwined their necks, enjoying each other’s warmth. “What was it that you wanted to give me?” Shining whispered in Cadence’s ear. Cadence stood back and pulled out a heart shaped locket. She placed it over Shining’s neck. “I give you my heart, Shining Armor.” “Fair, as you already have mine.” Shining said then realized he could feel a pulse in the locket. And Cadence had a dead serious expression on her face. “C-Cady…what is this?” “It is my heart-my anam, my soul essence.” “It’s…it’s a piece of your soul.” “Yes.” “It’s a piece of your soul.” He took it off and hoofed it back to her. “I can’t take this. What if I lose it? What if it’s harmed or destroyed?” “It will return to me.” “This…it’s too much.” “Shiny, I want you to have it.” She said, leaning into him. “By wearing it, it will grant you the power of an alicorn. You won’t get wings, but it will significantly increase your power level beyond anything you can currently do.” Shining was staring at her, slackjawed. With trembling hooves he put it around his neck. “I wish there was something I could do to give you a gift like this.” “There is. After this war is over…marry me.” Shining kissed her. “Of course my love.” Cadence wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply. “I wish I could stay here, but Auntie Celestia wants me to meet with the Mustang ambassador.” Shining stroked her mane. “I wish you luck. Can you meet me this evening back here again?” “Of course.” She kissed him again and then left the cherry tree grove. Shining watched her go then began his own trek home. While he walked through the streets of Canterlot memories played in his mind. There was the alleyway him and a gang of colts had spent so many wasted afternoons in, eating ice cream and pulling mischief. He grinned when he saw some faded graffiti that read SA was here. Next to it was SS was here. Silver Star and he had joined the guard at the same time. They had finally grown tired of their aimless, drifting lifestyle. The Guard gave them purpose, a direction. The last he’d heard two of the other colts Flim and Flam had gone off into the world having become traveling sales ponies. Those two had always been trying to come up with a get rich quick scheme. There had been the time they’d sold fat-free water and nearly gotten run out of town selling fake jewelry. There had been a filly that hung out with them too, Dixie or Glixie or something like that. The Mighty and Strong Glixie. No, that doesn’t sound right. He could barely remember her. Her family had moved away. She had wanted to be a magician and always spoke of herself in the third person. Flim had liked her. There had been Razor Edge, another one who’d gone into the Guard. There was Quick Buck who had pursued a business degree. He passed by Donut Joe’s where many pleasant childhood afternoons had passed. He and his mischievous “gang” had gone there almost every day after school. Crossing a corner brought him into a neighborhood full of large, alabaster mansions. Ivy wrapped around many of the columns and pillars. From here one could see the flags waving in the breeze from the high spires of Canterlot Castle. He had grown up in the shadow of these mansions, but this wasn’t where he’d grown up. He kept walking, occasionally nodding to an acquaintance. The further he walked the smaller and less grand the houses got. He was no noble. Since the time of their ancestor, Megan’s companion the great unicorn warrior Galaxy, their family had been warriors. There had not been a conflict in Unicorn or Equestrian history his family had not taken part in. His grandfather had won the rank of general leading the defense of Baltimare from an invasion of Diamond Dogs. His father was a major, a rank he’d earned leading an expedition against the Dragons. It was Shining’s birth that had inspired him to retire. Shining was only a Lieutenant. A respectable rank, sure, but the fact that his childhood friend Captain Silver Star outranked him continued to irk him. Not that he was jealous of course. His wandering finally brought him to the gates of his family home. It was a two story home, decently maintained, with rose bushes surrounding all the sides. Juicy red fruit hung low from apple trees that Twilight and he had often played beneath. He used his magic to get an apple as he walked through the door. The house was empty which wasn’t surprising. His father worked at a bookstore and his mom was probably away on a shopping trip. Spike was probably visiting Moondancer. Still, there was one member of the family who was notable in her absence. “Twily? Twily, you in here?” At eleven years old Twilight was mature enough to be left at home alone although she still hung out with Cadence. Either their mom had taken her along on the shopping trip or she was in her room. Shining walked up the stairs then paused. The sound of sniffling was definitely emanating from Twilight’s room. He knocked on the door. “Twily?” “C-come in, BBBF.” Yes, there was definitely a sniffle to her voice. He walked in. The purple unicorn filly was sitting on her bed, surrounded by papers and books. She looked up at him with a tear-stained face. “I-I can’t figure it out.” Shining sat on the bed and hugged her. She buried her face in his fur. “Is it your homework?” “N-no.” He looked at the books. They were all history books. Military history. “Um, Twily what exactly are you trying to figure out?” “I-if you’re going to come back alive.” A chill went through him. “What?” “I’m trying to figure out how many soldiers usually die in a war. In the last big war thirty percent of soldiers died.” Shining winced. “Yeah, the Diamond Dog War was brutal. This is only a military expedition. We’re just providing support, that’s all.” “It’s still dangerous.” “I know Twily, I know.” He held her tight, stroked her tail. Stroking her tail had always calmed her ever since she’d been a foal and it still worked. She melted into his forelegs. “I’m just scared. I don’t wanna lose you, BBBF. I just wish I knew if I was or not. I hate not knowing.” “I’m sorry Twily. I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I might not come home.” She let out a wrenching sob and wrapped her hooves around his neck. Shining leaned back on the bed and cuddled her. Tears welled in his own eyes. “I’m so sorry.” “Y-You could leave the Guard.” “I can’t.” “Resign your commission.” “I can’t. Not until my two years are up.” “I-I don’t want you to go!” “I wish I could stay too.” “Why d-did you join the Guard anyway?” “So I could protect ponies. You, Cadence, Mom and Dad.” “Y-you could be a police pony.” Yeah, he could be. His destiny was to be a protector. He could just as easily have been a police pony, but he chose the guard. “Twilight…” He thought carefully about what to say to the furry bundle he was cradling in his hooves. “Twilight, one day I will die. And you will die. And Mom and Dad and Silverstar and Moondancer and Cadence and one day, at the sounding of the last trumpet, Celestia too will die.” “How is that supposed to make me feel better?” “It isn’t. It’s just true. You’re too young to think about it, but we all have to accept it at some point. We will all die.” “Stop saying that!” “It’s true, Twily. Maybe not today or even a hundred years from now. But it will happen. And I want to know that my life and my death had some sort of meaning. If I must die I want it to be defending my nation and the ponies I care about.” “But if you die I’ll be all alone.” He touched his horn to hers. “No, you won’t. You’ll have Mom and Dad and Spike and Cadence and Celestia and you really should try to be better friends with Moondancer-” “But I won’t have you!” “Yes, you will. I’ll be in your heart.” “It won’t be the same.” “No, it won’t be. But as long as you remember all the good times we shared we will never really be apart. Do you understand?” Twilight wiped her eyes. “I think I do. I still wish you didn’t have to go.” “I know. It’s okay to feel that way. I’ll send you a letter every week, okay?” “Okay. Can we stay like this?” “Sure.” So they curled up on the bed together, Twilight cradled in his hooves till suppertime.