Of War and Friendship

by DocDelray

Lighting the fuse

The bonfire had begun to die down, as did the celebration that had carried on around it. It was a beautiful moment of bliss to distract everyone’s minds from the grueling battles ahead of them. Through the night the Mandalorians and their newly inducted Pony recruits shared what little strong drink they had, and their collective mountains of stories. Torb had elegantly stated that it was a chance to celebrate the lives they had all lived and the people they were before marching headlong into the waiting jaws of death. It was a strange mix of comradery and a morbid acknowledgment of the uncertain future ahead of them.

Kad reclined happily on a jutting root that acted as a make-shift seat, his back against the tree trunk behind him. With a tired smile, he nursed what was left in his cup. Upon his knee sat his helmet staring unblinkingly at him, silently reminding him where his true loyalties lay. He quietly regarded the gaze with nod and a grin of understanding, “Excuse me, Captain, sir.” A soft voice beside him pulled his eyes to the orange armored Pegasus, her cheeks lightly tinted red from what little taste of liquor she’d had.

The Captain gave her a wry smile as he tipped his cup to her, “Ah, Shy’ika, what can I do for ya?”

Fluttershy took a seat beside him on her haunches as she stared at the ground. She found it rather amazing how her visor let her see as clear as day, despite knowing it was the middle of the night, “Rainbow Dash told me you’re really good at giving advice, so I wanted to ask you something…” The small amount of booze in her system gave her enough courage to start talking openly.

Kad gave a hearty chuckle at this, “So I’m turnin’ into the squad buir. What’s on your mind?”

Reluctantly, her gaze moved towards his, finding them holding a surprising kindness. “Well… I… I don’t even know where to begin; I don’t understand what’s going through my own head.” A growing look of frustration began to swell up within her like a beacon in the Force.

Kad placed a comforting hand atop her head and spoke softly, “From the start then, ad’ika.”

Taking in a calming breath, the Pegasus steadied her thoughts and resolve, “I guess it started after he saved me at your wreck sight. I honestly thought for the first time ever that I was going to die when that blade pressed into my neck. At first I was just curious about him - he’s so different from anypony else I know, but the more I learn the more I want to know and I just don’t understand why!” Her voice began to crack as she poured her heart out before the warrior.

Kad watched her go on and on, stone faced - only ever raising a brow towards the end, “Wait, you mean the rookie, Arkanna?”

Her frustration became crystal clear as her face took on a bright crimson shade, “Oh, I just don’t understand any of this. Am I crazy, sir? He’s an alien in every sense, but when I’m around him I feel safe. Even around my friends, coming this deep into the Everfree forest would leave me trembling, but around Arkanna I don’t feel as threatened by it.” Biting her lip, she stared up at Kad.

He stared down at her with a slightly critical look in his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest, “An’ just what’s wrong with bein’ close with an alien? My wife happens to be one, an’ our son is a half-breed.”

“Oh my no, I didn’t mean it like tha-“ Her panic stricken train of thought was cut short as a hand once more rested atop her head and began to ruffle her mane.

“Relax; I was just teasin’ ya.” Kad playfully admitted to her, “Look ad’ika, the galaxy is a crazy sort’a place, an’ ya never can quite tell what’s gonna happen or where you’re gonna end up, least’a all who ya might end up feelin’ for. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with how ya feel.” He tapped her breast plate with his finger, “That right there’s got more power in it than any Master Jedi or Sith Lord could ever dream’a musterin’, an’ it’s what really separates us from them.”

Much to the warrior’s surprise, the soft-spoken Pegasus wrapped her forelimbs tightly around his waist and hugged herself against him. With a soft smile, the older human put his arms around her shoulders to bring her into the embrace, brushing a hand through her mane. His mind replayed similar moments with his own child after dealing with a nightmare. In a hushed tone, he began to mutter comforts to her in Mando’a. Their literal meanings were lost on Fluttershy, but she could feel the intent behind them.

Finally feeling calmer, her thoughts began to organize themselves. With a bright smile, her eyes looked back up to the Captain’s, “What do you think I should do, sir?”

Kad rested a hand on the side of her face and brushed his thumb along her cheek bone, “Ya say you’re curious ‘bout the boy, right? Try sharin’ somethin’ ‘bout yourself with ’im. I’ll give ya a bit’a time before we take off in the mornin’; get whatever ya got outta your system before the mission. Need ya both focused and ready.”

She gave him a happy nod before hugging him tightly again, “Yes sir.” Kad let out a grunt as her limbs tightened on him. Arkanna was right - she really did have a mean grip.

---

In the town of Ponyville, the strange visitors from afar had begun to make themselves a bit more useful to the citizens of the tiny town they had been exiled to. A pair of troopers had been assigned to one task in particular: fixing the mess that had been made at Sugarcube Corner some nights before. One of them was a human male looking to be in his late twenties with sandy blonde hair and green eyes, while the other was a Twi’lek, light blue in hue with dark brown eyes and a tribal tattoo pattern running down his lekku. The pair carefully put the last touches on the repaired display case they’d been working on.

“Alright, just a little to the left Mackers, and that should center it.” The Twi’lek stated.

“Right’o Yazan; aaand now how does it look?” The human dubbed Mackers questioned.

Yazan gave him a thumbs-up, coupled with a proud grin, “Kandosii, that should do it!”

The duo had worked into the night, working hard at repairing the bakery after the long, hard brow-beating Tolik had treated them to. As the day progressed, the owners of the establishment, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, had watched the alien creatures clean the mess they had made. They had been pleased by the gesture, but still felt very awkward about the arrangement.

As the work came to an end, Mr. Cake took a few brave steps up to the troopers with a nervous smile, “Thank you boys again for cleaning things up.”

The pair shared a knowing look but chose to bite back any sarcastic remarks floating between them, “Wasn’t any trouble sir.” Mackers proudly answered him, “You and your kin take care now sir, and sorry again for letting that fight break out.”

“Oh, by the way boys,” Mrs. Cake quickly interjected as she trotted over and placed a small white bag in their hands, “A little thank-you gift. You both take care, now!”

The two gave her a genuinely happy smile as they nodded a thank-you to the Cakes. As they made for the exit, a wad of pink ended up bumping head-long into Mackers’ gut, sending him back a few steps. “Pardon me, ma’am,” He stated with a sly smile as he looked over the mare in front of him, “Should pay better attention to where I’m going.”

Pinkie Pie had a reputation for being an extremely friendly pony, especially to new-comers to the village. However, she regarded the armor-clad pair with suspicious glances as she inched her way around them to enter the bakery, “Yeeeeeah, hi.” Once her path was clear she quickly moved into the kitchen and disappeared behind the swinging doors.

Finally moving into the streets, Yazan gave Mackers a sharp poke in the side, “Hey, what was with that look back there?”

“I wouldn’t read into it man, she’s probably still mad at us for busting up the place.” Mackers replied as he checked the sweet-smelling contents of his bag.

“Didn’t mean her - meant you and that smile of yours.” His comrade quickly corrected him.

“What about it?” He questioned, failing to see the point.

“Last time I saw that look in your eye, you disappeared for a few days with that Cathar from the cantina, and then got slapped with child support nine months later.” Yazan reminded him.

“First off, how was I supposed to know we were genetically compatible?” Mackers defended himself, “Secondly, that pink one is kind of a looker, ya know?”

“I just don’t understand your obsession with females far removed from your own species.” Yazan stated, shaking his head as he took a cupcake from the bag and began to happily devour the small treat.

Far across the market square, Tolik watched as the pair laughed and carried on. Leaning against the post that held up the hotel’s awning he took a sip of caf, observing the pair as well as the rest of his team. Under the soft glow of the street lights, he took note of the rest of his squad as they conversed and even joked with these aliens. In the back of his mind he could just hear Teth’s voice now chastising them for dereliction of duty. It pained him as he watched these young men he saw almost as sons smile and laugh with the very creatures they may be ordered to kill at the drop of a hat. Taking another sip of caf, he let out a tired sigh as the grim prospect played on his mind. Over his shoulder the sound of already far-too-familiar hoof falls came.

Gallant trotted his way up beside Tolik as he began to observe the actions of both their troops. A soft glow encased his horn as a mug filled with a hot black liquid floated beside him, “I don’t understand how you can drink this swill day in and day out, Tolik.” The Unicorn guard stated as he forced down a sip of caf.

He regarded the fellow Sergeant with a smile and nod, “You get used to it.” His attention then shifted back out to the rest of Ponyville, “Seems the boys are starting to settle in nicely to our exile.”

Gallant gave him a nod as he watched his pair of Earth Pony guards enjoying a laugh at something their new-found Trooper friend had told them, “This town is certainly not the worst place you could have been dropped and left to be forgotten,” Glancing up he gave Tolik a wry grin, “Besides, at least you’ve got us for company.”

Tolik rolled this over in his mind for a moment before looking back to his friend, “Gallant… I wanna say thanks, for the other night. If you hadn’t gotten to me I would’ve marched into those woods with nothing but a pistol, stinking of cooking sherry and looking to either kill or get killed.” He gave him a smile, “You’re a good friend.”

The Guardspony gave him a wry smile as he continued to watch the nightly scene play out before them, “Don’t get soft on me now, Mandalorian; we still have those fugitives to capture.”

---

The haze of the coming morning had begun to settle on the wilds, slowly but surely stripping away the vestiges of night. Very little was stirring in the Everfree Forest, save for a pair of armored figures moving quietly through the brush. Arkanna followed close behind the quiet Pegasus as she led him through the forest. Behind his visor, he wore a look of boredom as he tried to figure out what would warrant getting him to follow her out this far. The only clue he had been given to her intent was that she had something for him to see, and he honestly hoped it wasn’t going to be some small “cutesy wootsy” critter friend she had made.

Eventually they came to a large clearing of rolling hills, covered in what looked like flowers, “We’re here.” She said in that soft tone.

“Oh yeah… Uh, this looks really nice, mesh’la,” In his head he cursed at himself for not being able to just tell this girl no when she came to him stuttering her requests, “Those are some real pretty flowers you have here.”

She shook her head and sat back on her haunches, “Oh no, I didn’t bring you here to see flowers.” She said as she avoided his visor’s gaze, “If you could just watch, if that’s okay, I mean, you probably have other things to do…”

Arkanna shook his head with a sigh and took a seat on the grass beside her as he removed his helmet, “Might as well see what makes this place so special to you.” Arkanna gave her a smirk as he lounged back, “Came all this way, after all,” he said, giving her a soft smile.

The rising sun brought with it a strong wind that came down through the trees and whipped over the fields of flowers, causing her to gasp out excitedly - as excitedly as her whispers seemed to get, “Look, it’s starting.”

Arkanna’s tired gaze looked out over the fields, wondering what exactly it was he was supposed to see. As if on-cue, a wave of multi-colored wings began to fill the air around the field. His eyes went wide as he beheld thousands of tiny winged insects rise from the flowers and fill the air with shimmering color as the sun danced through their wings.

The young warrior was speechless as he watched this colorful symphony play out before him, the sweet scent of flowers filling the air. It wasn’t until he noticed his mouth getting dry that he realized it was hanging open.

“I know you and your friends are working hard to help us…” She nearly whispered to him, “And the Lieutenant told us that things would only get harder after all of this… So, I wanted to share this with you…” She said in a shaky voice as she tried to avoid his gaze.

Arkanna glanced over at the mare who was turning a bright scarlet as she looked off to the side, smiling nervously, “You know what? You’ve got a really impressive world, Fluttershy.” He said as he placed his arm around her shoulders, causing her to turn even redder.

“T-thank you… Arkanna…” She managed to force out as her voice shook violently. Biting her lip she kept her eyes fixed on the wall of butterflies. Fluttershy took a steadying breath as she managed to scoot herself in closer to him.

The pair watched the shimmering wings glint their cascade of colors in the growing light of the new day in comfortable silence together. Fluttershy slowly ventured a gaze up at him, a soft smile coming across her face as she watched the human enthralled with the scene playing out before them. Unconsciously, she leaned her head onto his shoulder as her cheeks became a soft red tint.

This quiet moment would have lasted for hours on end, if not for the sound of Kad’s voice coming over the comlink reminding them to return to camp for the start of the operation. Arkanna let out a disappointed sigh as he scooped up his helmet, “Captain’s got some real nice timing,” He muttered to no one in particular. Arkanna gave her a playful smirk before slipping back behind the mask, “Alright mesh’la, let’s go save the world.”

As the pair returned to the camp they could hear the loud hum of the shuttle’s engines awakening. The rest of Epsilon was busied readying gear and weaponry, checking power packs and grenade belts. Upon Arkanna’s approach Zex tossed the Private a bandolier lined with power packs that was quickly strapped around him.

“Load up people; we got a frigate to drop!” Kad called out over the comlink.

The soldiers of Mandalore had no reservations about piling into transport craft, their Equestrian recruits, however, seemed to have a few reservations about the strange, unearthly growl of the engines or the cold metal beneath their hooves. All save for Rainbow Dash, who seemed rather excited about the idea, “So, we’re really about to go into space?”

Behind his visor, Kad couldn’t help but smirk at her eagerness, “Aye, Dash; in just a moment we’ll be on our way to the inky black.” He said with a motion to the sky.

She eyed the co-pilot’s chair for a moment before looking towards her new CO for confirmation. Much to her delight she received the nod of approval she’d hoped for. Barely containing an excited giggle, she leapt into the seat beside him, looking about eagerly and waiting to see what was just beyond the sky she called home. As the last of the team climbed aboard and the landing doors locked closed behind them, the ship began to lift from the shallow mud. She watched with bated breath as the world around them began to slink away, and felt the shudder of the machine’s bout against gravity. A sudden burst of speed pressed her back into the seat as she beheld their ascent’s acceleration.

Rainbow Dash had seen the sunrise from above the clouds a thousand times before, but this time it held her interest in a vice. She watched, almost awe-struck as the clear blue and light tints of yellow and orange started to melt away from view. The sky shifting to the “inky black” as Kad had stated. She found herself at a loss for words as the planet she had known as home for years fell away and took a strange new shape in her eyes. The sight of not only Equestria but all other nations at once, the vast oceans and rolling clouds was like nothing she could describe.

With a snicker Kell prodded her side, “Careful there shiny, don’t wanna use up all the oxygen.”

It was at this point Rainbow Dash realized she’d been staring out the window, her jaw agape the entire time. Becoming flushed with embarrassment, she managed to pry her gaze from the admittedly breath-taking scene before her, “What’s a shiny?”

“You’re a shiny,” Kell replied, “You an’ the other recruits; you’re all shiny and new.”

“An’ we get to help scuff ya up.” Kad added as he started punching in coordinates, “Alright folks, we should be comin’ up on that frigate pretty soon. So strap in an’ get ready.”

“Out of curiosity Captain,” Twilight interjected, “But what happens if this plan of yours doesn’t work?”

“We bug out an’ hope we can outrun their guns,” Kad stated as he continued to check his controls and heading, “That don’t work, we’ll be dead, but you can chew me out for all eternity then, Sparkle.” He added as he gave her a sidelong look from behind his visor.

---

Shaw Salizar sat watching his monitor with a look of boredom-fueled annoyance. Ever since coming to this new system, he’d been slated for double shifts daily and it was really starting to get to the Corporal. With an annoyed sigh, he looked over the readouts one more time while in the back of his mind wishing he hadn’t loaned his holovid of “Twi’leks Gone Wild” to his bunk mate. He felt himself coming close to falling asleep when a small blip appeared on his screen.

Going into reflex mode he began looking over the object’s registration, finding it matched a shuttle that was sent out a few days ago to hunt down those Protectors. There was one glaring problem though: they were supposed to have come back to the ship a day ago, “Shuttle three-seven-one, this is control, respond.”

Things continued to seem rather odd as the response came via voice transmission only, “Control this is three-seven-one, requesting permission to dock, over.”

“Three-seven-one, you’re a full day late for your scheduled return, respond.” He kept a finger hovering over the alert signal. One tap and the ship’s entire gunnery crew would be taking pot shots at the tiny vessel, “Also, why are you responding via voice only? Has your holoprojector been damaged? Respond.”

“Uh, no, no damage here control just uh, well, are there any COs in earshot of ya?” The voice answered back nervously.

Shaw gave the bridge crew a quick once over finding them all to be busy with their own work at the moment, “Not a one, mind explaining yourself three-seven-one?”

“Look, try an’ keep this to yourself, alright? We met a few of the uh, local flavor.” He responded with.

“You spent a whole day fooling around with the locals?” Shaw’s voice was dripping with annoyance.

“Yeeeeeah, we might have, also we might have a uh, bit of cargo with us.” Came the shaky reply.

“What do you mean a bit of cargo?” Shaw could feel his ire rising ever faster.

“Okay look, here’s the whole story, we met a few local girls, they were all kinds of impressed with our ship an’, well, after one thing led to another we thought we’d take ’em on a tour.” The voice on the other side of the com informed him.

Shaw was suddenly aware of a few feminine giggles and voices in the background, “Wait, aren’t the aliens on this world all quadrupeds?”

“Look man, I’ve been stuck in space with a ton’a guys, no shore leave coming any time soon AND my woman left me. The parts all match so I’m goin’ for it.” Were the tired and exasperated words, “Make ya a deal, man: get me into a hangar bay with no wanderin’ eyes an’ preferably no cameras an’ I will get you every dirty detail, maybe even introduce ya to one of the ladies.”

Shaw sat for a moment, looking about at the rest of the bridge crew as an impish grin came across his face, “Fine, send me your docking code then head for bay two, should be empty and I’ll shut off a few of the cameras for you.”

Back in the shuttle, Kad looked back at the rest of his team, beneath his visor he wore a content smile, “Roger that control, sending codes now.”

The tiny craft made its way along the side of the far larger vessel. Rainbow and Twilight both crowded the main view port as they took in the sight of the imposing vessel. Fluttershy seemed to prefer cowering beside Arkanna, holding onto his leg tightly. Luna, however, glared daggers at the warship as she took in the great power of their enemy.

Back at the control station, Shaw kept his word of shutting off the cameras in the landing bay, almost all of them. A childish grin came across his face as he watched the ship glide through the bay doors and come to a stop. He narrowed the view on the shuttle as the gangway dropped, watching in bated anticipation for the females to disembark. His eyes went wide as a massive form covered in thick armor and weapons strode out of the shuttle followed by several more armed men. One of them stopped in his tracks and looked dead center at the camera and leveled his blaster with it before everything went to static.

In the landing bay the intruders were treated to the wailing sound of sirens going off around them as a rather familiar voice called out over the loudspeakers, “Intruders in hangar bay two, I say again, intruders in hangar bay two!”

Kell couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the sparking remains of the camera he had just blown away, “So much for the element of surprise!”

Torb quickly turned their current situation over in his head as he calculated the odds to formulate a strategy, “Captain, I suggest you, the Staff Sergeant and Cadet Dash head for the engine room. The rest of us will hold this position till you return.” He removed a computer spike from his belt and tossed it to Kell, “Use this on the main console after you finish up.”

Kell looked the spike over before placing it in his bandolier with a chuckle, “Like I said before, Torb: sometimes you are just plain scary.”

Comments

[DocDelray]

1196269
I absolutely mean a kama, but not everyone knows what that is so I just simplified it.

[Kishin]

1197324

Oh ok

I'm really glad that you're doing a great job with this.

I haven't felt this way ever since I read Karen Traviss's (now-tainted) Republic Commando series.

Hopefully you'll add in some more allusions to Mando'a and Mando'ade culture

Super excited!!!

[DocDelray]

1197409
Here's hoping I don't disappoint you.

[DocDelray]

1214756
Hah, yeah you do.

[TheTownCrier]

WooHoo! Moremoremoremoremoremore!

[DocDelray]

1217912
Do you mean the language or the people?

[A Wild Magikarp]

Shaw sat for a moment, looking about at the rest of the bridge crew as an impish grin came across his face, “Fine, send me your docking code then head for bay two, should be empty and I’ll shut off a few of the cameras for you.”

Insert Abraham Lincoln.
"Now you bucked up!"
"Now you bucked up!"
"You have bucked up now!"