> Of Ice and Empires
>  by Sir Hat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The other side
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Daring Do stepped forward into the antechamber, her breath quick and heavy from her dash through the many corridors of this jungle temple. 

She took to her wings as she crossed the chamber, its floor undoubtedly set to trigger a whole host of deadly traps. The soft beating of her wings the only sound in the massive room. Her movement was slow, her eyes watching for any wires that might have been strung around to prevent those gifted with flight from passing any further.

She was mere steps away from the exit when a voice boomed from behind, "Stop that mare!" Daring took one look back, a mob of rough looking ponies had formed at the entrance. Several rushed forth triggering the traps that she knew lay in wait. A large pillar collapse turned three of the aggressors into paste, another two fell screaming as arrows ripped through their flesh.

Daring quickly shut her eyes and flew towards the exit. She left behind pained screams and the sound of crumbling stone as she landed hard on the stone floor. She shook herself off, dust flying around her as she did. She felt a warm trickled on the end of her left hind leg. Knowing full well what it was she decided to kick her leg and try not to look back. The thought of other ponies being on her was rather uncomfortable for her, despite how often she dealt with it.

Once free of any remnants of her pursuers she continued her journey. This room was too ornate to have any traps, the builders wouldn't make a room like this unless it was meant to stay pristine. She took a step into the dark room before a loud foom came from her sides. Soft blue torches flared to life lighting up the entire room. With the room illuminated she could finally see her prize: a large well sat elevated on the far side of the hall.

She smiled as she walked down the hall, statues of earth ponies in strange armor began to grow more frequent and more ornate as they narrowed the gap to the well. She took a moment to look at one of the statues. She couldn't recognize it. It wore what looked like blankets made out of fur on its back, a strange helmet completely different than the royal guards sat on each and every one. There was also something brutish about their stance, not aggressive but they carried a heavy presence about them.

She felt very uneased in their presence, like a weight was being placed between her wings. It struck her as odd that the weight was so focused around her wings. Another look at the statues saw they were all either unicorn or earth, not a single pegasus could be found in the entire hall. She took a moment to try her wings. A single flap found them sluggish and unresponsive.

"What the?" She exclaimed, at her now lame wings, "How does-" She was cut off by a loud crack from the entrance.

She wasted no time in running to the well. Her hopes dashed as she found only water in the well. Not pools of gold coins or priceless gems, but water, a simple inch deep dish of water. She muttered a few swears before stamping a hoof in it. All this work for nothing, not a single thing to show for it save a red stain on her back leg.

Another loud crack broke the splashing of water. A large could of dust flew into the room, the torches flickering from the sudden gust. "Go! Go! Go!" Yelled the low voice from before.

In rushed several unicorns with swords levitated out and ready to strike. But, upon the entrance of a lone earth pony the pool beneath Daring lit up a bright white. Her hooves fell out from under her as she felt like she had fallen into a thick slime.

She tried to scream, managing a tiny yelp before her entire body had fallen into the pool. Her last vision: bright blue flame, was quickly being snuffed out as she sank into her unseen death. The slime enveloped her, fraying her mind and all but sealing her fate. Was this the end? Was this how she was meant to go?


*^**^*


A loud war horn sounded through the halls, shaking the temple to its very foundation. I stumbled as it rang out, almost knocking over a passing monk, "We're under attack!" The voice of the tribe leader rang out, "To arms! All to arms in the courtyard!"

Before I could think a rush of ponies ran past towards the temple entrance. I levitated an axe from my side and joined the rush. I met with over one hundred others in the courtyard, the tribe leader stood high on a dais on the wall to the outside, "They approach, steel thyselves and make ready! They come for not only our blood, but our home, our temple, our very way of life! We hold at all costs!" The crowd gave a quick roar, stomping their hooves and yelling out their battle cries. "Young one!" He pointed directly at me, "See to the well! Should we fall you will be our last line, will you hold!?"

My mouth went dry, "Aye sir!" I yelled as loud as I could, "With my life!"

He gave a wide grin, "Then to your stations!" He quickly ran off, his cloak billowing as he turned. Within seconds there was an insanely loud scream from just outside the wall. A pegasus flew overhead, dropping the flailing body of one of the guards from her lance. The guard hit the snow with a meaty thud. The lance had torn a large hole through his insides, .the poor bastard was done for.

"They come again!" A shout came from the crowd, "Duck!" Another yelled to me. I managed to turn around, seeing the same pegasus barreling towards me, lance down and aimed at my heart. In a brief moment of panic I froze, sure of my imminent death my mind flashed to my home, my family, my friends. I would join them soon.

I could see the eyes of my killer glowing bright gold, she was hauntingly beautiful. Mere seconds later a small axe was imbedded in her side, tearing free the lance and severing part of her wing. The lance impaled itself in the soft mud, the pegasus crashing and sliding mere inches from my hooves. I took a reflexive step back before looking the pegasus over.

She was young, almost as young as myself. Her mane a soft gold, her coat a simple white, now stained with a dark crimson. She tried to stand, only to have a large stallion bring his hoof down on her back, followed by a ruthless chop with a large axe. 

With the assailants head nearly severed from the blow he turned to me, "You were told to guard the temple! GO!" He swung the bloodied axe towards me, showering me in blood.

In a moment of fear I ran in towards the center of the temple. My legs burned as I passed the zealots and monks running to their posts, this was bad. The zealots are only unleashed when the temple is thought to be in true danger. With them at the call I realized why they sent me to the center...I was to die last.

My heart sank as I realized it. My steps slowed as I reached antechamber. I was going to die, for what good? That those heartless pegasai bastards can take another of our holy sites?! The same pegasai that claimed to be bringing order, the same pegasai that brought these years of ice?! They would never be content until the whole world fell under their banner.

I felt my blood boil as I sulkily made my way to the center, to the temple wellspring. My thoughts were torn apart by the sight of an oddly dressed pegasus crawling from the wellspring. My mind quickly flew through the past few minutes, the way that mare had killed the guard, the way she turned to me without hesitation, the way the stallion had cut her neck nearly in two.

I clenched my teeth as I levitated an axe out of my bag and charged towards the mare, "Monster!" I yelled, closing the gap, "Die for your heresy!"

The mare was coughing up water and quickly tumbled down the steps of the wellspring's rise. I stopped my charge for a moment, the mare was no threat. That much was obvious given her watery cough and dazed appearence. Her dress was also the likes of which I had never seen, not any sort of armor or furs, just a simple covering that seemed to serve no purpose save style.

She was sputtering and coughing heavily. My mind shifted back to what she was, a pegasus, an oppressor!

I raised my axe over her neck, I grimaced as I prepared to drop it. But I couldn't. Just as I had convinced myself of her earned demise she met my eyes with her own. A hard purple stare burned me, I closed my eyes, unable to face her. "I'm sorry...." I raised my axe a final time.

"Wait!" She yelled perking her head towards mine, "Please wait!"

My conviction once again wavered, "I can't!" I tried to swing across her neck, my magic stalling and holding it in place, "I...I don't want to kill." I cringed at my own inability, this day truly was going to be my death. I felt my eyes start to tear up, "I- I don't want to die!" I raised my axe again, "I-" I couldn't see, my eyes a bleary haze from the tears.

I was caught off guard by a warmth pressed against my front and a weight pulling across the back of my neck. I felt my magic fizzle, my axe clattering against the ground. My eyes cleared just long enough to see the mare pressed against me, her onyx mane brushing against my face. I felt a deep surge of sadness, "I-" I felt myself crumble, burying my face into the intruders mane, "I can't." I wrapped my left foreleg around her, leaning in to balance out the forces, "I don't want to die...but I don't want to kill either! I'm scared...mother I'm scared!"

As I deteriorated into a sobbing mess the mare was pushing harder against me. Her mane covering more of my face as I nestled deeper into it. Soon she would take my fallen axe and drive it into my side, or draw some hidden knife and cut my throat clean open, and all I could do is cry.

"You're just a colt..." She whispered past my ears, "Why are you afraid to die?"

I was horridly confused at her apparent worry, she was here to kill me, to take this place for their empire. Why was-

My thoughts were interrupted as she started nuzzling my neck and rocking our bodies slightly back and forth, "Why is a colt in this dangerous place anyways?"

"They told me, to- to keep it safe. But I- I failed!" And then I realized something, she crawled from the wellspring. She hadn't used the door. She wasn't one of them. "You!" I tried to pull away, "Who are you!?" I struggled to get away, pressing my hooves against her, trying to gain my freedom. She answered by pulling me even tighter, slowing her rocking motion and leaning her head harder into my neck.

"It's okay...you're safe now. Daring Do is here." She cooed, slowly easing her grip, "I know the way out,"

Way out? "You...the way out," I finally broke away, taking a few steps back before cocking a hoof up, "who are you!?" I managed to grab an axe and reel it back, ready to throw. "Answer me," She shook her head dismissively and slowly started walking towards me, "Stay back!" I yelled, taking a step back and readying my axe.

"My name is Daring Do, now, how about you tell me why you're-" She was cut off by another blast from the temple horn. A loud drawn out tone followed by two shorter flares. Safe...safe! They had done it! "What the hay was that?"

Before I could answer a large group of hooded unicorns slowly walked in, many coated in blood. They paid us little heed as they walked to the wellspring. The first took his place, stopping as his hoof touched the water. The entire room quickly turned to myself and the mare at the base of the steps. The entire room focused on us, several of the zealots closing in and forming a circle around us.

The zealots' leader stepped through the crowd, ponies bowing as he passed. I was quickly overwhelmed by his presence, turning to him and lowering my entire body to the ground. Unsure of their hesitance to kill the mare I gestured for her to join me. She took a few moments to stare at the leader before bowing, her rump still high until forced down by a zealot's magic.

Their leader stepped forward, his eyes finally visible. The bright silver glowing from his hood tore my defenses to shreds. While the zealots were bound mute, they would often posses a speaker to tell their whim, and for a few moments I feared they would choose me. My fears were eased as a monk was brought into the room, quickly glowing a bright silver and tensing up.

The monk started to convulse as the zealot used him as a proxy voice, "Befouled," the zealots stomped their hooves, "you must fix this." The leader turned to the pegasus, "We know not who you are, but we know whence you came. To see you home you must fix this," The zealots stomped their hooves in unison once again.

The pegasus tried to right herself, "No big deal-" she was forced back down by anther spark of silver magic, "-what ever is wrong, I can fix it!"

The leader gave a humorless snort, "Together!" The zealots stomped their hooves over and over, threatening to crack the ground, "Skane!" The monk boomed at me, "You have failed to hold the temple," I crumpled under his gaze, curling up and accepting my fate, "As such you are to take charge of your blunder, and repair the wellspring." My ears perked up, before the rest of my head joined them, "This mare is to serve as a ward, keep her safe." A zealot tossed some furs on the ground at the leaders feet, "Hide her well, tell her of our ways, and when ready: seek Master Cobalt."

"Yes master!" I yelled, lowering my head back down to the floor. After a long pause I looked up, there was a long walk the zealots had cleared. Understanding their intentions I quickly piled the furs over the mares wings and walked her out towards the exit of the wellspring.

"Kid wait," The mare shouted, pulling me back from the exit, "You gotta be-" I wrenched myself free.

"Do not touch me, follow close and don't stray it could mean your death!"

I took a step into the antechamber, "Wait there are traps," I started walking on unsure of her hesitance, "...but, there were-"

"Traps? I believe I would know if there were traps in my own home," I turned to face the mare, in a moment of paranoia I levitated her hat off and jammed it in my bags. I also readjusted the furs to cover her entire body, "The zealots chose not to kill you, but others will not be so kind, nor as hesitant as myself!"

I started back towards my quarters with the mare in tow, "So, no traps. That doesn't explain these," She shook her body to jostle the furs, "You do realize...whoa." Her voice was lost to her as we entered the courtyard, the cold nipping at my skin and the smell of blood hanging heavy in the air. "But this place was- this was all jungle just a few minutes ago."

I pulled her along as several guards came to tend to the dead, "Maybe at one time, but since...your people...decided to close off the sky the entire land has been a frozen waste, it has been this way for nigh my entire life."

We entered the temple once more, I took to a short sprint while ponies surged in and out of the halls, "This way!" I took a hard right down a narrow corridor and crashed into the door to my quarters. It swung open under my charge, the mare leisurely strolled in, completely oblivious to the need for haste.

"Huh...neat."

Her offhand comment stirred up something inside of me, "Neat? Neat!? You think this is neat!?" I stomped over to her, "You think what just happened was neat!? How many lay dead outside, how many of my people are dead, how many-"

I was entirely cut off by the sudden soft texture pressed against my lips. It was fleeting, lasting only a moment, "Adorable, but you're still just a colt." I became exceedingly flustered, sputtering half words and muttering swears. My cheeks and ears set ablaze by the sudden contact. "Aw, see that's cute." she cooed, only serving to come across as mocking.

I wiped my face with my foreleg, trying to banish the burning sensation, "Perhaps you don't quite understand the gravity of your situation, you-" Once again I was cut off by another peck on the lips, "Ach- you!" my words failed me.

"Good to know that's all I have to do to shut you up." She laughed, "It really is adorable ya know."

"I am not a foal!" I yelled, stomping my hooves in a small fit.

"Really? Cause you look like a filly." My anger boiled over, in a moment of spite I took her hat out of my bag, "Oh hey!" She was about to reach for it when I gouged out the center with the back of an axe, "Hey! You little shit!" She rammed into me, sending the axe and hat flying across the room. We entered a short wrestling match, ending the the mare's hoof planted firmly on my stomach.

"You have no-" I wiggled under her weight, "-idea the atrocities just committed!"

"I know, look at what you did to my hat!"

"Hat!? You- how many lay dead in the courtyard!? How many beyond the walls!? You have no idea what I'm talking about do you!?"

She shrugged, "All I know is a couple of ponies tried to follow me in here, and now they're gone. Granted there was no snow bef-" Something caught her eye, she quickly left her dominant position and trotted about my room, "What the hay...how do you have this!?" She held a large gold pendant out in her hoof, "These...these are ancient!"

"Ancient?" I rolled on my belly and stood, "Hardly, I was given that no more than-"

She dropped the pendant and ran over to me, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me hard, "What year is it!?"

"Let me go," I threw her off, "Sixteen after frost fall. Is this not common knowledge!?"

"After frost fall? What's that after fall of Luna?"

"What is a Luna, and how did it fall?" Her eyes shot wide at my question, she let her hooves fall back to earth, "Really...what is a Luna?"

"Oh dear Celestia...."

"And what in the name of the trinity is a Celestia!? Stop making things up!"


*^**^*


I had spent the last hour trying to explain what was going on, "I told you, they closed the sky." I groaned, knocking a hoof against my horn, "What about that is so hard to understand?"

"I get that part," Daring rolled around on my bed, either enjoying the feel of furs or simply trying to get under my skin, "What I don't get is why." She rolled onto her stomach and stared at me, "I get the empire part, I get the sky thing, I just don't get the why."

"The why? We refused to bow to them! They offered us vassalage, a place under them, but we refused. We held our independence and thus they took the sky from us!"

She cocked an eyebrow, "Well...maybe I should join em, after what you did to my hat."

"Your joke isn't funny...you do realize we are at war with them correct? A war that has claimed the lives of thousands."

She gave me an annoyed look, "You're really sullen for a colt."

"I am not a colt!" I snapped, "I am stallion enough for your people to kill without hesitation!"

"Again, not my people. Calling all pegasus alike is racist."

I was absolutely flummoxed, "How are you so cavalier!? Did you not see the bodies!?"

She stepped down from my bed, standing chest to chest with me. Despite my being taller she managed to stand over me with the use of her wings, "My name is Daring Do, world famous adventurer. If I let a few bodies scare my I'd have to turn in that title and hang up my hat..." her eyes popped open as she said hat. I grew a devious smile, "...you owe me a hat by the way."

"I owe you nothing! If anything you ow-" She leaned her head down pecking the top of my muzzle, my words fizzling in my mouth again, the tips of my ears burning wildly again.

"Dear Celestia you're easy to disarm." She gave a quick laugh before rustling my mane, "And you said you weren't a colt."

I could feel my ears twitch, "I will end you!" I levitated and axe out and hurled it into my bedside table. "Raugh!" I huffed, as my coat bristled from rage.

"Whoa...you alright there?" Daring asked, landing herself next to me, "I was only-"

"Don't talk to me." I stated coldly, retrieving my axe from the now ruined table, "There...you made me ruin a table and I ruined your hat. Even."

"How did I make you-"

"Even." She grew a devious smile that was a tad more feminine than mine, "Do it and I will shred your barding next."

"Oooh does little...what's your name?"

"Skane!" I yelled striking a strong pose.

"Does little Skane want to see me naked~" I felt a twinge of excitement run through me base followed by yet another flustered surge of annoyance. She just laughed, "You realizing I'm just messing with you right? No offense but I'm not into colts...they tend to be...clumsy."

In another fit of rage I walked over to the now split table. I drew an axe and began chopping it into wood chips, "Stupid! Arrogant! Annoying!" Once it was reduced to sawdust I started stomping it with my hooves, "You make me so mad!"

"And did I mention aggressive?" I wheeled around and stared her down, "See, also let me see that." She took my axe in her mouth and hovered out of my reach. She laid it in her hooves and started examining it, "I could get so many bits for this."

"What is a bit?" I asked shifting my bags. I kept two axes in each side along with other essentials, her keeping my axe away meant I was leaning slightly to the left.

"A bit...you know...money." She slowly hovered back down and gave my axe back. "So you really don't know who Celestia is?"

"Sounds like a fairytale."

"She's a princess." Daring knocked into me with her flank before giving a short gasp, "Ow ow ow!" She jumped away, "What the hay!?"

I turned to face her, a small cut had come across on her flank, "Oh dear." I looked down at my bag, a small silver streak had cut through a patch on my bag. I gave a long sigh, "Stay here, I shall fetch some bandaged."

"Dear Luna those things are sharp!" I had to smile at that, for all her teasing and agitation I had the final laugh.


*^**^*


"I have retur- my blankets!" Daring had held my pristine white furs against her bloody cut, "I have to sleep in that you know!"

"Well then you should be more careful with those things!" She let the furs fall, now stained with blood. I felt a deep frown grow on my face at their loss. "Hurry hurry hurry! I might be an adventurer but this still bucking hurts!"

I rolled my eyes and quickly levitated the clothe around the tear in her skin, "This may sting."

"Ah!" She screamed, causing me to flinch back, "Heh...gottcha." I angrily bound her flank tightly with the bandages, "Ach hey! Don't you know you should never roughhouse a mare's flank!? Are you even a doctor!?"

"I am an apostle...we learn all practical skills. fighting, healing, speaking-"

"Obviously not how to touch a mare..."

"Oh quite you...I have tended to many mares!"

"Have you now?" She asked with a lascivious tone, "Anyways...I have an actual question!"

I finished with the binding and met her face to face, "And that would be?"

"Who were the the hooded ponies?"

"Ah...the zealots...they- they act as protectors of the temples. There are four sects, one for each temple."

"Four...wait there are more of these?!"

"Four, as I said. One for each race, two are held in the earth pony tribes land, the other are held by the empire."

"Again...don't know what the tribes are."

"Your ignorance is astounding...the tribes are a loose collective of free nations. While not technically part of it the zealots and monks serve whoever holds the land. I...my situation is rather unique...I was meant to become a zealot."

"You? No offense kid but you're kinda...well...you're...you don't strike me as a dark mysterious type."

I shook my head, "I am the son of two pure unicorns...it's what separates the usual monks from the zealots. The monks are just attendants and keepers of the temples. The zealots are the protectors, and thus pure blooded unicorns are asked to take the vow. What you did not see is..." I felt a lump grow in my throat, "...pyromancy."

She scoffed, "Pyromancy?"

"If you have not seen it hold your tongue! Nothing is more frightful than the smell of incinerated pony flesh...but it is also the reason I am but an apostle instead of a zealot...I- training...I hurt someone, they." I took a step back and lowered my head, "I lost control. They sent me to the monks because of it."

"Oh, were they-"

"They died." I said dryly.

"Oh...hug?" She stuck a foreleg out.

"I'm not a- ...yes." I levitated my bags onto my bed to avoid another cut and stepped forward. I wrapped my foreleg around her, nuzzling into her mane, "I will say...for a contemptuous shrew there is something comforting about you."

"And for an uptight would be stallion you're still pretty cute." She gave a tight squeeze before letting up, "Better?"

"A little," I gave a deep sigh, "I must be honest, I am still rather nervous. What the zealots said...we'll be leaving soon."

"What do you mean?"

"If...you don't even know the grandmaster. If were being sent to her that means we are going outside the temple. That means I'll be leaving all this behind." I grew quiet, the true depth of those words had sunk in all at once.

"Leaving behind a bed and a busted table? Come on, they said I had to go with you, it'll be fun!" She walked to my left, bumping me with her uninjured flank, "Are you saying you don't want to hang out with the world renowned Daring Do?"

I stepped away from her, trying to put on as annoyed a look as possible, "So renowned that I have never even heard you name. Perhaps notorious is the better word."

She froze, for once I had managed to fluster her. "Yeah well, that's beacuse you're...old! Not like age old but...wait...yeah age old. I have to be honest," She put a hoof on her chest, "I've been stabbed, burnt, nearly crushed, and almost tortured by these kinds of things, but time travel is a first."

"Are you insinuating you traveled back in time..."

"You don't even know who Celestia is...and this is obviously the same place as I started. Same rooms, same look, same feel even...although it's a bit colder than before."

"Sixteen years of solid snow and ice will tend to be cold, though from what I was told this place was rather lush before the sky closed up." My mind shot back to a painting the monks had shown me once. A painting of deep blue skies, lush green foliage, and a strange brightness to the entire scene.

"Ya know, this is actually kinda cool. Never thought I could talk with the people that lived in the places I raided."

"Raided!?" I snapped, nearly slashing her cheek as I swung around my horn, "You raided our temple!? Is that why you're here!?"

"...Maybe raided was a bad word, think of it as, bad ponies were trying to steal from you, so I came to steal it first." I only grew more agitated, "Hey look, it was either them taking it to some auction house, or me taking it to a museum, so calm down...I'm respectful!"

"Apparently not! The wellspring is not meant to act as a portal or door of any sort...if you used it as such it is no wonder its power has waned."

"It's not like I wanted to! I was just standing in it and-"

"Why in the world would you stand in it!?" I yelled pressing my forehead against hers. We quickly entered a shoving match, each of us pushing with all our weight.

"Because- I was expecting treasure, and what did I get? Water! At least until...hey wait." She pulled back, sending my stumbling forward from the sudden loss of equal force, "It happened when...this stuff is unicorn magic right?"

"No," I shook my neck out, "This temple is of the earth ponies, the unicorn temple is to the south."

"Oh...that would explain it. Anyways, I love talking about ancient-" I grumbled, "...I love talking about temples and all but," Daring let out a long yawn as she spoke, "Today has been kinda long, I'm gonna hit the sack." She flew up before letting herself fall onto my bed, pulling a few blankets over her, she claimed the entire surface as her own.

"Hey no! No!" I levitated my blankets free, "You're blood stained and I will not have you taking my last night in my bed away from me!"

She stood, lunging at me and vying for my blankets, "You're bloody too, now gimme those! Too damn cold in here."

I jumped back, "I'm not-" A quick look down reminded me of the mare from the courtyard. Her blood was striped across my white coat, painting my chest and neck a grim scarlet. I scowled at the sight, I had all but forgot about the sight. My would be killer was beautiful, even after her head was severed her eyes hung open, twin golden orbs holding on to the final bits of life as she faded away.

"Kid...you alright?" I felt Daring shake me. I shot upright, her face conveying a strange mix of emotions, most notable of all: concern, "You look a little...sick."

"I'm fine," I bit back a shout, settling on a slight verbal hiccup, "Here..." I levitated the blankets back to her, "Enjoy them."

She returned me gesture by slowly walking back to the bed, "We...I mean, if you...if you can control yourself, you know, not throwing another axe around the room...we could share. I mean it is technically your bed...."

I weighed my options. Reluctantly I approached the bed and hopped up next to her, "Don't take this as a concession nor acceptance...." She gave me a sly smile in return, "It is merely rather dangerous to sleep on the floor...I would rather not wind up losing my legs to frost because of petty-"

She bit at my ear, stopping an inch away from the soft tissue. The loud clack of her teeth making my breath catch in my throat, "Just don't make it weird," She quickly flopped on her side, wrapping herself in a thick beige fur.

"I truly do not understand your obsession with provoking me in such a licentious manner-" She rolled her back to me.

"Because it's fun, and I don't need to worry about leading you on. Like I said, I'm not into colts." I grumbled angrily, settling on wrapping myself in a heavy fur and pressing our backs together, "Getting a little fres-"

"Enough! Cease your obnoxious prattling and lay still. The night is bitter cold without layers, so consider yourself no more than a source of warmth."

I felt her roll again, she quickly pressed her folded legs against my back, "Oh lighten up, it's not the first time I've had to do this. Remind me to tell you about the crystal empire." She pressed her body against mine, a soft warmth seeping through the layers of fur and into my back. In turn I could feel her her nestling my mane, her muzzle ice cold on my neck. I bared it and let my neck warm her muzzle, "Skane..."

"Aye?"

"What are these?" She shifted in the furs.

"White stag. A gift from the monks upon my arrival."

"Oh...so these...hmm...so...these are real."

"Aye...why do you ask?"

"Just not used to the idea of wearing living creatures...well...dead now but...you know."

"Oh is the boisterous Daring uncomfortable with such a simple act?" I laughed, "Renown most unearn-ah~"

She blew a soft stream of air past my chin, "Go to sleep." She threw a hoof over my chest and pulled me close, "I don't think I'll ever be able to take you serious...Celestia you're warm..."

"A-aye...."

"Oh calm down kid," she pulled me tighter still, "We just met, and when we met you started crying. Now just,"- She laid her head across the side of mine, -"Relax."

I felt my breathing slow, partially due to an overwhelming sense of safety not felt since my mother lived, and from my slowly fading consciousness. "Daring?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm nervous...but...I think," I took a deep breathe to steady myself, "I think I'm ready for it."

"Go to sleep kid, you're showing me around this place in the morning so get some rest."

"Aye...apologies." I muttered my last. Sleep came slowly, my brain receiving too many singles from the mare against me. It did not help that while she was pressed against my back my brain was trying to unearth what the monks or zealots had in store for me. What grand adventure awaited, what perils would I face, what.... My mind wandered on.
> The last comforts of home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I jolted awake with a snort, "Where?!" I looked around, feeling something curl around my back as I moved. I was reminded of the mare curled up against my back as her breathing lapped across my shoulder. I felt my ears start to burn as she pulled me tight against her barrel.

"Five more minutes," She groaned into my mane, "Mr.Bingo isn't ready either...." She moaned as I tried to wiggle free.

"I am not-" She squeezed tighter, "-a...eugh...." I gave up, resigning myself to being her temporary play thing. It wasn't a complete loss. Letting her win meant I was also being drawn deeper into the warm center of the bed. I gave a deep relaxing sigh as I tried to enjoy the heat. Most nights if even a single hoof was exposed to the cold night air you could expect a rather uncomfortable wake up, so this was proving to be rather beneficial if taken from a physical standpoint.

She pulled me lower as her chin rested on my crown, "Cold...." She mumbled, before burying herself in my mane. I could feel myself wearing an unamused expression. Despite the warmth I was not really a fan of being treated like a foal, or in this case, some sort of doll. But another warm breath passing softly against my crown and past my horn saw me calmed.

Daring was an annoyance, but this was also undeniably comfortable. Deciding to simply make the best of this situation, I pushed back against her and closed my eyes. I felt her rustled behind me, "How long?" She asked groggily.

I gave another deep sigh as she continued to stir, "Since you called my 'Mr. Bingo'. On that note...what's a bingo?"

"Nothing..." I felt the warmth at my back fade for a moment before being replaced by another even warmer texture. She had shed the thin covering between us and had pressed her bare fur against my back, broken only by her thin barding landing across my neck. Next came her hooves over me, landing across the center of my chest, "Skane...it's Skane right?"

I felt my breath catch once or twice as I adjusted to the new sensation, "Aye."

"Skane," My coat bristled at her words, her tone was like that of a mother, "Calm down. You're heart's racing."

My voice came out tremblingly, "Well it's not often I share my bed...let alone with a mare." I took a deep breath as I was slowly becoming painfully aware of her heartbeat resonating in my back, "Ah- Fraternization is...ah...forbidden. Those who do are often- castrated."

I felt her lean over my head, her breath warm against my muzzle as she looked down at me, "Castrated? That seems a bit harsh." She murmured before standing from the bed and starting to stretch out, "I mean, a little, unf unf-" She added a few vulgar thrusts to accentuate her point.

"By The Trinity...."

"-is totally normal. I mean, I guess it explains why you're so easy to tease, and why you got mad enough to murder your table." She shook her body and gave her wings a few flaps, "Do you even- you know...take care of it?"

"Not...really...we're never really alone...and dealing with those issues is...complicated.... At any rate don't bring up the table, no one is to know. In fact just don't talk at all." I rolled onto my front, the fur blankets landing in a circle around our nestling spot, "I just thi-" I was cut off by a quick shove, falling off the bed and landing on my side, "Ow! Why!?"

She quickly flew down, landing with a loud clop. "Never tell me not to talk, Virgin." She smacked my face with her tail before looking around my room again.

I was about to call her some vulgarity when I felt a long strand of hair cling to my tongue, "Oh yo- pff- ach!" Thinking fast I managed to grab in with my magic instead of forcing a dirty hoof in my mouth. The long charcoal hair finally vacated, "Oh you incredulous ass!" I quickly rolled onto my stomach and stood, "Aggravat -"

"Got anything to eat?" She cut me off mid yell.

"...You make me so mad..." I levitated a fur blanket onto her back, making sure it would hold her wings down and keep them nigh invisible, "As said, let me talk." I quickly trotted past and made my way out the door.

Daring bumped past me, "Mares first." She said with a slight tune, "Now hurry up, really wanna see this place when it's not trying to kill me." I just grumbled angrily and marched on.


*^**^*


"Geez, this place it huge." She exclaimed, garnering the attention of a pair of passing monks.

"Hello." A mare monk removed her hood, "I don't recognize you...a pilgrim?"

"Uh, no...well, maybe sorta." Daring looked around, "I'm not a follower of..."

The was a long drawn out silence while the monks looked at each other. Eventually the monk realized, "The Trinity."

"Right that. But I'd love to know more!" She added a wide smile to try and compensate for her faux pas.

The monk took a step back and looked her over. She did a quick lap around her before returning to the other monk, "Very well." She turned and trotted off. "We will start with the basics for a heretic."

I saw Daring's tail twitch at being called a heretic. I quickly pulled up along side her and pulled her ear down, "It's the technically meaning...they're not trying to be insulting."

She quickly whispered back, "Yeah well, they were! Go wait in a corner somewhere...I'm gonna go deal with her..." She kicked me back with her hind leg and darted off towards the monks. I grimaced and just watched from a distance, she was about to find out the splendorous wonder of having your ear chewed off over religious practices. I grew a devious smile.

"Runic!" I called to the monk, "Remember to tell her about the Goddess!" I let an evil smile grow on my face as I turned away. I could grab enough food for the both of us before she was free again.


*^**^*


Pine water, snow berries, tundra grass, seems a good a breakfast as any. I trotted along just as Daring was being escorted back to the chamber by the monks, "Daring, hel-" She sullenly walked over before jabbing me a few times with her hoof.

She pressed her forehead against my own, "Three hours of the phrase 'The Trinity', not cool.... Now where's my food..." She huffed, walking to poke at my saddlebags, "I can smell it."

"Ha, be glad only three." I turned and started back towards my room, "Yes I have food, let me say first off that it was delicious warm, but I'm sure you won't mind eating it cold." I snickered as I said it, Daring only running ahead to glare at me, "Be calm, it was a joke, nothing but a joke." I levitated out a bottle of pine water, "Open,"

We stopped in the hall as I held the bottle for her to drink, her hoof met the glass with a thunk, "Hmm- ah...wow is that-"

"We put small amounts of alcohol to keep it from freezing yes." In truth most of us were so used to it we barely noticed besides the taste, "Are you saying, O' might adventurer, that you are going to be chaste from alcohol?"

She glared at my smirk before taking the entire bottle from me and chugging it. With it freshly empty she tried to throw it down the hall, only for me to catch it and tuck it back in my bag, "Kid...I will drink you under the table."

A devious smile grew on my face, "Is that so...then I shall be sure to steal some spirits before we depart." I started us back down the hall, "Keep in mind we drink that as mere water, and the taste of pine is rather refreshing over the usual tooth rotting sweetness of berries."

She caught up with me, giving a quick laugh to lead into her speech, "I'm always one for a bit of sugar." She leaned in, blowing past my neck. I froze and bristled under the contact, "If ya know what I mean...." She trotted on past, "Hey, you coming?"

I shifted side to side, "Give me a moment..." I stood there, focusing on the cold and trying to banish any lewd thoughts. After a few moments I was free to move again, "In privacy is one thing...but in the halls is another entirely...please refrai-" She tried it again, this time my hoof booped her nose, sending her back, "Refrain, from doing that again."

She grumbled angrily as we made our way to the privacy of my quarters, "Acting like you don't like it...."


*^**^*


"Huh...that's it?" Daring asked, poking the grass bun with a hoof, "I mean...it's a little small."

I rolled my eyes, "My apologies we petty monks cannot sate your endless appetite. Amazing you are still so slender." I laughed as I headed back to my bed and waited for her to eat, wrapping myself in my two blankets and curling up.

"Thanks? I know I do look pretty good." Daring stated with a strange conviction.

"That was meant as a joke...you look...well...slender, but it's surprising given...given that you...asking for more...." I let my words trail off, the joke completely failed. I ducked my head down from the shame.

"Well...I've eaten worse I suppose...bugs were definitely worse." I could hear her bite through the soft grass bun. They were effectively grass shells with sugared berries on the inside. The grass was rather hardy and a rather good offset from the sweetness of the berry ooze the waited inside, "Oh my gosh..." There is was, "This-" She dug back into it, taking the whole bun into her mouth before sloppily chewing, "-ish jusht, soo gud!"

"Indeed. Food is rather scares, so what little we have, we make very appetizing. One of our few comforts aside from the warmth of a fire." She tried to utter a reply, only managing to accidentally spit out the multicolored paste, dribbling it down her muzzle "You do realize we're going to meet with the highest authority in this holy site...and you're covered in berry paste...truly a grand envoy of your people." I deadpanned, hoping she would try to clean up.

She only stuck her tongue out before wiping her muzzle with her hoof. As I followed her hoof down I noticed a deep red stain on her left hind leg, "Daring...are you alright?"

She made sure to swallow before addressing me this time, "Yeah- as good as I can be, why?"

"You're bleeding."

"Well that's your fault, should learn to keep sharp things away from other ponies."

"I apologized for that...and no, look at your leg." I shot a hoof out of the blankets towards her leg, "That is not from-"

She looked down and immediately locked eyes with the tabletop, "That's not mine...I'm not sure whose it is, but it's not mine."

A dim silence grew between us. It sat for a long time before I chose break the silence, "Then you've killed...I ask you, how?"

She looked back at me, a hint of sadness buried in her eyes, "I didn't kill them, I was just around when they died...what about you. You don't look hurt, so whose blood is that?"

The blood striped across my chest became very apparent. I shook my head, choosing to deflect the topic, "We should go now, before I lose my nerve." I hopped off the bed and stepped towards the door, "Come along...lest a tribal find you and claim you as a slave."

I could see her tail swish around as I passed, "Like they could, I'm Daring freaking Do." She hopped off the table, adjusting the furs and following me into the hall.


*^**^*


"Ya know, this place is kinda nice when it's not trying to kill me." Daring observed mindlessly, "Kinda cozy for being rock."

I looked around the hall to the Grand Master's chambers, "I still don't understand how this place could every try to kill you. It's not alive, it's not armed, and to my knowledge it is very sturdy." I pressed a hoof against a large pillar, it stayed perfectly still against the test.

"Yeah but...if I'm right, the traps just haven't been made yet. Just you wait, this place will be a deathtrap eventually."

I grew an annoyed expression, "That such a holy site would fall into disrepair, absurd." I stepped off the pillar and rejoined her on the long walk to the far end on the room. We were watch the whole way there, monks, pilgrims, and the occasional zealot watched our every step. It wasn't often even the senior monks met with the Master, let alone a young apostle and a heretic pilgrim.

"This is creepy...why's it so quiet?"

"I don't know...but I must agree with you, this is rather unnerving."

"...So, this master of yours. Are they nice?"

"I have no idea...I've never met her, not in person anyways." I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat as we were met at the door by two zealots. A quick, soul rending stare later and the door was held open for us. "Thank you sirs." I bowed before walking Daring inside.

It was a massive circular room, sixteen pillars lining the inside ring. We stepped into the center when the Master approached. A gorgeous earth mare with a tan and white spotted coat, and short brown mane. I felt myself start to grow excited from the mere sight of her, "Skane..." Daring brought her hoof under my jaw and closed it, "You're staring."

"Wha- I wasn't...was I?"

"You were." A melodious voice cut my thoughts. I turned my head nearly knocking my muzzle against my master's forehead. I took a reflexive step back before bowing my head.

"I am so sorry Master, please...I beg forgiveness." I said as I jammed my eyes shut, sure of my imminent punishment.

"Be calm Skane, please"- I felt a hoof raise my front up and off the ground, -"Rise."

"Oh course!" I straightened up before I made her pull my entire body off the ground.

She gave me a warm smile, "Miss." She called to Daring, "Give us a moment alone?"

Daring smile before nodding, "But...Skane," I turned to her, "Don't slobber all over her."

"I will bury you!" I snapped as she walked away only to have her stick her tongue out at me, "Insolent-"

I could hear the master give a quick laugh, "She does seem to be rather outlandish."

"Outlandish...perhaps...I would use harsher words-"

"Skane, I though we taught you better than that..." I looked back to see the masters disapproving stare. Two cyan orbs, not unlike mine, staring through my soul.

"I- I'm sorry...." I lowered my head again, "I should go..."

"Skane...we have matters to discuss...grave matters." I perked up as the master passed, my minds drifting to lewd thoughts as her flank swung by, I become completely focused on one of the tan spots that sat on her flank, "Skane, focus."

"I wasn't staring!" I yapped, turning and meeting her pace as she walked us around, "I swear!"

"Well that's good, I never said you were so better not to start." She gave a telling laugh as her words ended. My face glowing a bright red before turning away, "Skane. I need you to listen close now." I looked back to her, my blush fading at her expression. Her face was scrunched up, like her voice was becoming poison in her mouth, "The pegasus' appearence is a sign...the temple is weakening-"

"Weakening!?"

"Skane let me finish...please. Understand...what I ask of you would normally be delageted to the zealots...but they have refused. Their master named you as personally responsible." She turned to me, "Skane, I need you to draw water from the other two petty temples, and pour them in the great basin in the fourth."

My brain reeled from the sudden surge of information, "But...why? I thought we only needed to draw from the great basin!?"

The master lowered her head, "Skane...these temples are not natural holy sites. Only the basin is, but even it has limitations. Draw what power is left from the three, and restore the fourth. From the fourth draw a flask for the temple, with it we will be sustained. Please...I understand this may be sudden...you may wish for another way, a simpler way. But this is our way a-"

"I'll do it."

"-nd we- Excuse me?"

I stepped forward, "I said I'll do it."

"But you could- you could be killed, or captured, or you could- could get eaten, burned, enslaved-"

"That won't happen." I said with a dismissive wave of my hoof, "I am Skane, trained by the zealots, taught by the monks, kin to the earth tribes. I will not fail." I was bluffing of course. I was secretly scared out of my mind but there was no way in the world I could let her down.

The master looked away for a moment, "Of course you won't." She darted a hoof out and pulled me in for a tight hug, "This is your final night with us Skane..." My heart started racing like mad, my brain running through what that could possibly mean, "I want you to enjoy it..."

"I- I don't think I-" I deteriorated into half syllable stammers as she slowly eased away. Next she would lead me to her chambers then-

"Skane...no...not like that." A weight fell into my gut along with a deep relief, "Believe me when I say I have my reasons."

I took a deep breath, "I understand...things are-" I was cut off by a hoof on my lips.

The master gave me a warm smile before letting off, "What is your friends name?"

"Daring...Daring Do...." I said still taken off guard by the sudden contact. 

The master gave a final smile before trotting off, "Ms. Daring, Skane, come along!" Daring swung around from behind a pillar and trotted to meet us, "Given that you will be leaving soon I wanted the both of you to leave in the best condition we can possible leave you in." She pressed through a pair of large doors, leading us to a spectacle of royal blue fire. As it dissipated a sole zealot stood staring into a pool of steaming water, "Thank you Jeager." The zealot gave a quick half bow before walking out, "You two...please enjoy." She started walking out, "And be sure to clean that blood off the both of you, it will lead to sickness if left." She gave a final flick of her tail before strutting out. My eyes locked on her swinging flank.

"Skane...Skane...you're-"

"I know...just let me." I watched the spot that wrapped around her flank. It swayed heftily as she walked. The only thing that could be considered modest about her was her mannerism. Her tail stayed down with no movements the whole time she walked away. She was a chaste monk after all, no different than any other.

"She is pretty cute."

"Cute...yes...not the word I would use but yes..."

I could hear daring moan as she stepped into the water, "Wow...it's like a pool. You coming in?" I turned to see a pile of furs and her barding atop it. "Skane!" I jolted up at the edge of the water, "I knew you wanted to see me naked." She started chuckling.

"If I wasn't covered in blood I would walk out...and if I wasn't told to keep you alive I would drown you...I just want you to know that." I slowly dipped into the water. It was amazing, not even warm, hot. A heat that chased back the bitter cold in seconds, replacing it with a surrounding heat as I slowly submerged myself, "Oh by the Goddess, and The Trinity...this- why are you laughing?" I could here Daring snickering.

"Look at you!" She finally gave up trying to pull back, "You look like a mop!"

I looked myself over, I looked completely normal, "Well I apologize if I have more fur than some; thrill seeking, mare loving, jungle dwelling, hat wearing nitwit! ...and also you're sickly thin."

"No, you're just fat." She flapped her wings, sending water all over the room, "Look at this flank!" She jammed the point of her hoof into her rump, "This is one hundred percent Daring muscle!"

"Please stop that..." I sank into the water.

"Or what you gonna- Ah!" I had managed to duck under the water, swimming with just my horn above before lunging up and stabbing her buttock with it, "You- oh you little shit!" She dove down, forcing me to retreat back to my tactic of using a pointy bit of bone to keep her away. I started backing away. I couldn't see when I tried to rise, all I could tell was something was forcing me down. In a brief moment of panic I forced myself up by pushing off the bottom of the bath.

"Daring what are you-" I was cut off by water filling my mouth once more. Another moment of freedom saw me to the edge, "By the Goddess! Are you try-urk-" I felt something land on my crown, sandwiching my jaw between it and the stone floor.

"Feel that! Call me sickly again, I dare you! I Daring dare you!"

"I can't see!" The weight had fallen across my brow, weighing heavily on my horn.

I felt the weight lift off me, leaving me struggling to regain my composure while the upper half of my body sat soaking the floor, "Never poke my butt without permission."

I turned around to see Daring floating in the water, a look of serenity on her face. I felt like holding her under until the bubbles stopped, "I hate you..."

She floated past, "I know~" I could finally see how she was floating around so fast. She was using her wings like paddles and letting the rest of her body float on the top of the water, "Hey," She floated back to me as I was stepping back into the water, "This might seem kinda weird but...help me out?" She lifted a blood encrusted hoof out of the water, "I'll help you if you help me...."

I stared at the red stained hoof. I let my hand run over the wetting streaks of blood across my chest, "Yes...I don't...the mare that...I don't want to think about her..." I took her hoof in my own and started scrubbing the blood from her fetlocks, "You never told me what happened."

"Do you really want to know?" Daring said with an odd tone. I looked over her, she was floating on her back, an uncomfortable look riding her face.

I let my hooves dig into her ankle, "I suppose not." Things got quiet as I let the blood wash away, "I'm going to have to replace those bandages..." I let her hoof go for a moment, letting my hoof trace along her bandaged flank, "Does it still hurt?"

"You running a hoof delicately along my flank? No way, makes me feel like royalty."

I took her hoof back and levitated the bandage over, using it to finish up with her hoof, "Why must you mock me? Do you hate me? Does it amuse you?"

"No and yes, you do amuse me and I don't hate you, I don't hate ponies, even the ones that chase me." I dropped her hoof in the water, causing a large splash to send water onto her face, causing her to spasm in the water. She managed to get to her hooves, gasping from the sudden rush of water down her windpipe. "You did that on purpose!" She yelled before going into a coughing fit.

I rolled my eyes and got behind her, tucking my hooves across her chest before giving a single pull to get situated before pulling hard and forcing the water out of her, "Better?" I asked letting her lurch forward.

I was quickly met with a hoof to the chest, "You....uhgh..." She clutched her chest, "You can- ow- clean yourself...I'm gonna go lay down somewhere.... I'm not mad...but...that hurt...bad." She crawled out of the water before laying her soggy form down on a few strewn about furs from her pile.

"Daring...are you alright?" I asked wading over to the edge of the bath, "Daring?"

She turned away and groaned, "Just let me be here for a little while...I just wanna be here."

I grew slightly concerned, hurrying my bath and using the bandages to clean my coat back to its pristine white. I could see the hazy image of my soaked navy mane in the bobbing water. With my body cleansed I pulled myself out of the water, quickly wrapping myself in a large fur and trotting to find the master.


*^**^*


"Oh dear, is she alright?" The master asked, trotting over with the bandages.

"She'll be fine I think, here." I levitated the bandaged off and started wrapping the quickly healing wound.

"Skane...did you do that?" Master asked as I wrapped Daring's flank.

"An unfortunate accident with an axe. There." I pulled it tight and tied it off, "Should be healed by tomorrow." I quickly levitated the pained mare up and over to us.

"Skane is that safe?" The master asked as she lead us to our sleeping place. She had generously given us a large room with two beds.

"She weights almost nothing. I could toss her about like one of my axes for all her weight." The master gave me a worried look, "Not that I would."

She just shook her head and led on, my final night was going to be spent in a large bed and I was eager to enjoy it.


*^**^*


"As promised...a bed for each." I quickly surveyed the beds. I set Daring down on the large one, "Skane how kind." I gave her a quizzical look as I levitated the blankets from the smaller bed to the larger, "Oh...are you two-"

"I do not bed a mare after only knowing them for a day...but she is an excellent heat source...in your absence that is." I stepped up to the master. She was young, not quite as young as me but still very fair, "I could..."

"Skane...no. I'm sorry...perhaps in time you will understand why but for now you need to trust me."

I took a deep, defeated breath, "I do trust you, it's just difficult...I've seen you before...we've never actually spoken but I feel like I know you so well."

"And that Skane, is why it cannot be." She turned and walked out, "Be ready to leave in the morning."

I watched as the door creaked shut. Turning away from it I crawled in bed next to Daring, this time in the dominant position. I let my forelegs pull her against my barrel, sapping her warmth for my own, "Kid...Skane, not like that." I jolted up, "Here-" Daring grabbed my hooves and pulled them around her, "There...like that.... It's lucky you're coat's so thick...you feel like." I felt her sigh as she nestled into my barrel, "Like a big...hmmm...blanket."

"...Are you always so comfortable around one day companions?"

"Are you always this forward with a mare?"

"When I can be...which isn't often, so I might be taking advantage."

"Yeah you are. But it's too cold to complain about cuddling with strangers...there comes a point when you're more tolerable than the cold." Things got quiet aside from the soft rustle of slowly piling blankets, "And...if you really make me mad," She backed her rump into my groin. I jerked back from the contact and sat uncomfortably away from her waist, "I just do that."

"...My loins ache...I just wanted you to know it's your fault." I laid my muzzle into her mane, "Daring..."

"Yeah?"

"When we're out of the temple...can you teach me to masturbate?"

"...Go to sleep kid..."

"I wasn't being funny...you seem rather....traveled...and living with the monks hasn't exactly given me a wealth of knowledge on the subject...it's starting to hurt..."

"I'll...we'll figure something out.... Why do I always get the weird ones?"
> Broken wings and bloodied hooves
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

		I watched as large chunks of navy hair fell past me, a soft itch forming along my neck. This was it, these were my last moments before departing. Days worth of preserved food, a large purse of coins to see us on our way, and copious furs to hold the cold back. All topped off by the cropping of my mane.

It itched, more than anything else it itched. I felt much lighter, my head swung about without a whip from it, I knew it was cleaner, but it itched.

I felt encumbered as myself and Daring were walked to the main entrance. My heart raced as we neared it, my body trying to keep from taking each step towards the unknown. I had left the temple with caravans many times, but this was different, this was myself and one other, alone in the fields of pure white.

We reached the door, the master to my right, Daring to my left. A pair of monks pulled the door open, letting forth a massive chill that threatened to consume us all. There was no wind, only the bitter cold pushing in against the soft warmth of the temple, "Skane." The master called, "Go..." I nodded as I stared out into the pure white, I took a step only to be grabbed once again, "But be safe." I felt a heat break through the cold settling on my coat, it was fleeting lasting only a few seconds, but lingering so much longer.

I took a quick look at Daring. She was prancing about, no doubt hesitant to get moving and try to work some blood through her limbs. I stepped forward, "Goodbye...I shall not fail." I started out into the path away from the temple. Daring following quickly.

"I know Skane...good luck." And with that, the massive doors slammed shut. The only thing left for us to do was walk, and so, we walked. The cold evening out and settling into the furs instead of my skin.


*^**^*


The soft crunch of the snow under hoof was eclipsed by the loud clanking of a bottle of wellspring water against my axes. Would that I could stop and shift, but stopping now out in the plains would lead to nothing but death, "Ya know...when you said closed the sky, I thought you were exaggerating." Daring said through a deep chatter, "But they- brr- they really did it."

I looked to the sky, through the dim fog you could see a dark grey blanket hanging over the entire sky. "Indeed. Take what joy you can from the lack of snow. It seems once a week they deem it necessary to pelt us with another layer."

Things devolved into another lull as Daring slowly drew closer, eventually pressing herself against me, "S-so...sixteen years? Sorry for-" She gave a hard shudder, "-calling you a mop."

"Aye." I pressed back against her, walking together through the long empty fields of ice. "Have any stories? May help to make our journey less...taxing."

"I have one about this one kid, he asked me to teach him to clop," She started snickering.

"I don't, what?"

"....You know, the thing you asked me about...last night."

"Ah. Apologies if my mind is not leaning in that direction. To be perfectly honest I can't actually feel my genitals."

"Tuck your tail then! That's what I did. Anyways, I got one about." Daring went to work telling her story, a tale of modest adventure in a sweaty jungle. 

Little by litter her story grew more and more risque and bordered on pornographic. "Daring, Daring stop...I'll be...behind that bush." I skulked off the path and down an embankment. "I'll just.... Daring...Daring I can't do it if you look at me.

"Really? Cause I'm just gonna do it more now." Daring trotted over and stared at me through the bush. My excitement "You done?"

"I stared at her through the bush. "I haven't even- how do you...I...." I was flummoxed.

Daring started snickering. "Do you really not know how to masturbate?" Daring lowered her head and started bursting out in laughter. "This- I mean, how do you not know how to masturbate!?"

I started slowly walking out of the bushes, "Well I'm sorry I'm not as practiced in the carnal arts as you! I can't deal with this right now anyways...it's...shrinking, from the cold I mean!"

Daring shrugged, "Sure, and I've been around the barn once or twice. You meet a lot of unique ponies out adventuring." Daring helped me out of the embankment.

I grumbled angrily as my loins ached. "Well then, perhaps you would be the perfect pony to ask about losing such an important item to one such as myself."

"If you're asking for a blow job it's not going to happen." She flicked me with her tail before walking back down the path, "Maybe we can find you some flank in...where are we headed?"

I climbed back on the path and hurried to join her, "A town that helps supply the temple, we're supposed to head through there and towards the first temple...should reach it within a month."

"A month!? The town or the temple!?"

"Oh...the town will be a few more hours."

"Ugh!"

We had been walking for miles, my legs starting to tire from the long march. I tried to distract from the burning in my legs, "So, are there any other stories about-"

"Shut up, and besides, do you really want to hear them all right now? Then what will I tell you when we're walking for hours on end." She slowly grew more melancholy as she went on, "I could fly us faster damn it!"

"Ah, so a fan of inciting a panic and possible catching an arrow through your chest? We stay grounded." I shouted, best we limit our chances of drawing attention as much as possible.

"Oh come on who's gonna se-" She was cut off by a sharp scream coming from the blurred out distance, "Oh come on!" She groaned as I darted past, "I had to say something!"

Our hooves kicked up snow as we charged down the path towards the scream, the dense fog limiting our vision to only a few meters ahead. The screams were slowly petering out, as well as being drowned out by the soft plodding as we marched through the snow. As we ran a dim orange slowly cleared away the fog, leaving a deepening blackness rising above it, "Fire!" I yelled, lowing my head and speeding to a full gallop. Daring fell behind, not used to forcing her body through the snow.

The source of the fire was a recently attacked caravan. Several broken carts and corpses littered the scene. The potent smell of blood cut only with the smell of burning timber, "What the hay- oh no...." Daring pulled through the snow, "What in Tatarus happened?"

I was slowly losing myself as I scanned the bodies. These ponies were from the temple, these carts were transports, this wasn't just a supply caravan. "Daring...there are ponies still out there." I scored the ground for prints. The entire scene was a mess of slush, blood, and mud, save a few bloody hoof prints leading away from the scene. I felt a surge of heat course through my body, more powerful than the fire slowly turning the wood to ashes, "We need to hurry!" I started slowly following the prints, each set of prints punctuated by a bloody right foreleg guiding my way.

I could hear Daring heaving as she tried to keep pace, "Skane- oh dear Celestia...how do you do this!?"

"Be quiet! We're not alone." I hissed, only giving her a moments rest before driving back into the snow. The smell of burning fat slowly drew closer, "Daring, follow close and be quiet." I lowered my body and began skulking around the path. A small group of ponies were slowly making their way through the snow. One lagging behind and limping. I quickly recognized her as one of the caravan guards. I felt my body tighten up as I felt my magic grip an axe, but I needed to wait...we needed to follow them first.


*^**^*


I watched as the group of bandits hurried down to their camp. A large collection of torn tents and fire pits dotted a large clearing. The captured guard was thrown down as several bandits formed a circle around her. My blood ran cold as she was violently tossed around, eventually being dragged off by the bandits, "Skane...Skane talk to me."

"Daring, I'm not going to leave a single one of them alive." I slowly started sneaking down to the camp. A single bandit breaking off from the group to relieve himself. I pulled a white fur over my mane and slowly crawled forward. The bandit was all alone, no one would hear. no one would see.

I felt something grab my leg as I closed in, "Skane, what is wrong with you!?" Daring whispered, pulling me back and trying to stop me, "Kid we need to think this out. Besides since when were you so blood-"

I yanked my leg free, "Don't think for a moment I have never drawn blood. I feared for my life at the prospect of the legion, but I will not bend to banditry! These caravans...the ponies were my friends, and these bastards will pay in blood!" Daring seemed to be in shock as I crawled on.

The bandit had is legs spread pissing shakily in the snow. "Gotta get me some soon...won't be anything left af-"

In an instant of rage I levitated an axe out of my bag. My realization of what would happen to the guard sped me along, "Harrikar na kar!" I whispered as I charged, swinging the axe into the bandits throat. With another quick yank the stallion gave a short scream before his throat filled with blood. I closed my eyes as the warm spray stained the ground.

The warm smell of ammonia quickly replaced by the metallic smell of blood. With the axe still embedded in the stallions throat I yanked him down and pulled him deeper into the snow. A final chop with the axe ceased his flailing, "Skane what in Celestia's name was that!?"

I quickly turned to Daring, she recoiled a few steps at my bloodied appearance, "I grew up hearing stories about these ponies...about how they would ransack our caravans, kill our people. I might not have been able to do something before- but no more!"

Daring shook her jet black mane, "Two days ago you were crying about not wanting to kill and now you're-"

"You were unarmed, we were facing a legion, and I had no motivation other than survival. These bastards...these beasts deserve nothing more than utter devastation!" I could feel my teeth starting to bleed from the extreme pressure I was putting on them, "Daring this is no more than killing an elk or caribou for fur...I have no interest in killing ponies, but these...to call them ponies is an outright lie!" I turned away from her abruptly, "Nothing more than clearing the ground...nothing more than what is needed."

I reduced my motions back to a crawl. Each step saw us deeper into the cesspool of the bandits camp. Bodies strewn around like grotesque trophy's, the smell of blood and fire heavy in the air, the soft whimpers as some unseen brutality occurred. But I could do nothing, I needed to single them out, kill them one by one. The zealots taught us that if we were ever alone, relay on cunning and tactics to win any battle.

With a quick thought I managed to tip a brazier over, setting fire to a number of tents. With the loose scattering of the tents it would do little more than serve as a distraction, but a distraction was all I needed. As several bandits took to stomping out the budding fire, I brought the axe head to bear across their throats. One by one they fell, adding fuel to the growing pyre. Most managing a small squeak before having their throats flooded with blood, but one, one small stallion no older than fourteen, managed to rear up and block my axe with his forelegs. The axe bit through his fur padding, nearly severing his leg. With another sideways swing I caught him around the base of his neck, his body going limp within seconds.

But before his death, his screams managed to alert the entire camp. I quickly ducked into a burning tent and buried myself in the snow. I watched as six ponies scored the area for me. Daring must have waited somewhere safe while I did my righteous work.

"Kill the prisoners!" A burly stallion yelled before running off.

Like a fire had been lit in my guy I sprang forth from the burning tent. Two thrown axes finding their mark, one fell into a screaming heap as it tried to dislodge the axe from its side, the other simply going limp and falling with an axe jutting from its broken skull.

Four more, there were four more. Over the pained screams of the dying pony I ran from tent to tent, most empty or filled with dead ponies. I managed to find two younger bandits cowering in a tent. In a moment, not unlike my breakdown with Daring I felt sympathy. They were young, foolish, they had no idea how to handle this other than hiding. The rest of my thoughts were stopped by the searing pain of cold steel ripping through my flank. My rear leg buckled and send me falling onto my side. A bandit ready to drop a sword into my chest.

I could only smile as I saw my death approaching, slain by a simple bandit in a fit of rage. How fitting...I wasn't some hero, just a hopped up foal pretending to play soldier.

The bandit turned her head and slowly lowered the tip of her sword towards my chest. I closed my eyes and waited, but the blade never came, only a soft yelp followed by some heavy thuds.

I slowly opened my eyes. Daring had tackled the mare and was stomping her face into a fine paste, "Don't you dare- fucking- touch him!" Once she was satisfied with her work she quickly turned to me, "Idiot," She rolled my onto my stomach, "Running in here like some lunatic, what the heck were you thinking!?"

I ignored the pain in my side and slowly stood, "More...there is more-" I nearly fell, Daring running and letting me lean against her as we walked out of the tent, "Wait...inside, we need to-" I kicked weakly at a nearby brazier, "We can't let them go."

Daring leaned me against a collection of pilfered boxes and looked inside the tent, "Skane...they're foals! You're trying to burn them alive!?"

"As I said- not one survives..." I slowly righted myself and tipped a brazier over, lighting the tent's edges on fire.

"Skane!" Daring quickly stomped out the fire, "They're foals!"

"They're bandits!" I screamed through my pain, "If you want them alive then watch them, there is one more of these animals here, and I intend to make him suffer." I levitated a bottle of fortified pine water out, pouring some over my wound and downing the rest. My body burned from the sudden surge of alcohol, spurring my forward through the dulling pain in my leg.

I could hear soft screams from the largest tent in the collection. I managed to run inside as the burly stallion severed the head of the caravan guard, "No!" I screamed, charging the stallion. I bounced off weakly before drawing two axes, one between my teeth, the other levitating next to me. The stallion tried to bash my head in with a hardy kick. A quick duck and sidestep later and I swung an axe into his neck, causing him to drop his axe. He gave a stout yell before rearing up and trying to stomp me. I managed to move most of my body out of the way, absorbing the heavy impact with my uninjured side, I whirled my head around, slicing the stallions throat.

Still standing, the stallion bobbed hazily from left to right. He managed to headbutt me, causing my legs to buckle. Another followed, and another, and another, each one weaker than the last. My head was splitting from the impact but eventually I felt his weight rest on my forehead, "Piece of shit..." He growled, "What gives you the right-" I felt him cough some blood onto the snow between us, "-to do this...?"

In my pained state I mumbled my words a few times before achieving coherence, "What gives you the right- to kill the innocent...?"

I could hear him laugh, followed by another torrent of bloody coughs, "There is no innocence here...only varying degrees of guilt." I could feel his head slide off of mine, "But I guess-" He landed in the mud with a heavy thud, "-I guess...the victory decides who was right in the end." With a few more coughs he was quickly reduced to gasping for air. A few moments later and the wheezing stopped.

"Skane!?" Daring yelled, darting inside and wrapping her hooves around my neck, "Skane talk to me!"

In my pained haze I mumbled out, "The others?"

"They're gone Skane, we won't see them again!" I felt her pull me upward by my mane.

As my mind cleared away the haze from the repeated impact I began to feel a deep pain. I managed to reach the body of the caravan guard, her head sitting a few feet away, "I- I wasn't-" I slowly felt my eyes burning, "Daring I wasn't...I couldn't-"

"Skane..."

I felt Daring press her body into my back, "Get off! Get off of me!" I screamed, trying to wiggle free, "I could have done more!" I cried, "I could have stopped him if I was quicker."

"Skane please...you tired...you-"

"Excuse me, not to be insensitive...but these bindings are starting to hurt." The both of us snapped up at the sound of the robust voice, "Over here...behind the uh...corpses...." I bit back the tears and slowly stood, wandering towards the voice. A small pile of bodies lining the way. At the end of the path sat a pegasus mare in stocks, her legs spread wide and head bound tight. She wore a soft blue coat with a pink mane. "Hello there...I would love to meet my rescuers face to face...but if you're thoroughly enjoying yourself with my plot I won't stop you...not that I could." She shifted her weight to show her bound nature.

I wanted to rip her throat out for her insolence, "Legion!?" I yelled.

I could feel the air rush past as the mare's tail flicked past, "Tenth legion, fourth century...might I ask who you are?"

"Do you value your life?" I hissed.

"Only that I might serve the legion...so I take it you're not an ally...well I must say I'm flattered one would destroy a bandit camp for the shear purpose of raping me. I can't really think of any other reason a tribal would attempt such a bold attack." She started to raise her tail, "I suppose I can think of worse fates...torture would be worse...being raped by a petty bandit too. All in all, perhaps I can convince you to let me go once the act is done."

"Insolent...fucking...fool." I limped my way to her face.

I was met with a pair of scanning blue eyes, "Oh...mercenary or priest? I can work with either but mercenaries are simpler."

"Acolyte..." I groaned, falling to my stomach.

"Ah...that does complicates things. Are you hurt?"

"No...I simply enjoy laying amongst the dead." I deadpanned.

"Well then fall on a sword and join them permanently, I deal with those that can see reason." She snarled, her eyes lighting up as she caught a whiff of the blood staining my coat, "I can help you if you let me go."

"Free a legionnaire? So that you might kill more of my friends?!"

"Listen colt: I will serve the legion till I die, but should our goals lie parallel I see no reason to withhold assistance. If you truly hold such ire for the legion then kill me and be done with it!"

"Oh...so eager for death now? Not five minutes ago did you lift your tail for me and now-"

"Will you two shut up!" Daring yelled, "You...pegasus, you're wings broken isn't it?"

The bound mare flapped her wings, her left wing sporting a plethora of broken feathers and singed hair, "Amazing the effectiveness of unicorn magic is it not?"

"Good." I could see Daring pick something off the burly stallion and walk over. She quickly jammed a key into the lock that bound the mare and freed her.

"Daring you idiot, you damned fool!" I screamed.

The blue pegasus quickly shook her body out, "Thank you- oh!" She quickly looked Daring over, "But...you said you were a priest...why would you-"

"Long story...no time. You're a soldier right?" Daring asked, guiding the mare to me, "Can you fix this?"

The mare looked over my flank, "Yes sister...but...I still don't understand why-"

"She's a slave." I said dryly.

I could feel the mare poke my wound, "A priest with a slave? I doubt it...secret lovers more likely. How salacious."

As much as I wanted to kill this mare my thoughts were put aside by a cold at my flank. The wound slowly numbing and causing the pain to subside, "Incredulous...whore..."

"Quite the gentlecolt...you'll have to let me borrow that cruel tongue some time sister." The mare laughed as she looked through my bag, "I could put it to good use after a hard day's fight!" The mare pulled some bandages over my wound and splashed some pine water over it.

"Why must you jest!? Can you not see the carnage these bastards have wrought!?" I screamed, her cavalier attitude stirring my rage.

"I'm a soldier,"- She pulled the bandages tight, -"They teach us to treat death as a fact of life, to dwell is to die as they say. There..." She finished with the bandages, "Now if I might make a suggestion...we should find a tent with fewer...bodies, in it."

"You help him, I'll find a tent." Daring called before running outside and leaving me with the unnamed mare.

The mare quickly yanked my upright and leaned my wounded side against her body, "So young colt...what is the name of my gracious savior and his lovely conquest?"

"Tawdry bitch...tell me yours first, then I shall decide if you are worthy of hearing mine."

The mare bumped her hip against mine, sending a jolt of pain through my bandaged cut, "Umbri, my bitter friend, and as much as you might despise me, your daring rescue has earned my friendship with or without your consent!"

"Oh joy...another to make light of my trauma."

"So bitter for a colt...so tell me mighty warrior, your name and your years?"

"My name is Skane, my years are seventeen. My companion can tell you her's if she so chooses."

"Hmm, one of seventeen years. Perhaps not such a colt as I thought. Served the legion twelve years, since my sixth. Tell me, what makes you so eager to kill and then so sullen at the loss of a simple guard?"

"I shall explain myself to you when you can explain your absolute disrespect at the loss of my friends!" I yelled in her ear.

She recoiled a bit from my verbal assault, "Well...perhaps I was a bit rude, but to mourn the loss is one thing. To dwell on it and cry will solve nothing." We eventually spotted Daring again. Our labored walking quickly ended as we fell onto a pile of furs as some makeshift bedding.

The two mares quickly began speaking. Nothing I paid any mind. I let them prattle on as I drifted off to sleep. My slight intoxication mixed with utter exhaustion sent me to bed like a sack of potatoes.


*^**^*


I awoke with a start. My vision was cut by a pair of hooves dangling over my head. A quick adjustment found Daring curled against my barrel, while Umbri hung her hooves over my head, "Off damn you...." I shook my head free and dragged my way out of the pile. I looked back over the duo, "Grow a winter coat and stop leeching off of me." I grumbled angrily.

I needed to take care of something, alone. I slowly walked out into the bitter night, a soft glow from my horn illuminating the scene. I slowly made my way back to the biggest tent, once inside I started my work. I collected the body of the guard, dragging her outside and piling a few sticks around her. A tent canvas quickly wrapped the body and head. I gave a final look around to see if I was clear before calling a few sparks from my horn, lighting the makeshift pyre ablaze, "May the goddess treat you better than we."

"That you might find everlasting peace...." A voice sang from behind. I didn't bother turning around, I knew who it was. Umbri quickly stood beside me, "So you knew her?"

"Aye...she was always with the same caravan, I talked to her before they left each time. She had a foal not three weeks ago, and now...why was she even out here..." I turned to Umbri, "For you I assume, because you were dumb enough to get captured instead of dying!" I snapped, "Why do you deserve to live while she dies!?"

The legionnaire looked hurt, "I never claimed I-"

"Shut up! Oppressor, heretic, monster! This entire day has been your fault, this entire war is your fault!" I turned to her, the fire illuminating the side of her face, "You should have died."

I expected retribution, hate, spite, anything but what came, "I'm sorry." She let her head fall, "I didn't really have a choice in the matter."

"Didn't have a choice!? You always have a choice!"

"The legions don't decide what to do! We take our orders and we execute them. I don't know how things work with you and your filthy tribal friends but we have a duty to follow orders!"

I inched my way forward, resting my forehead against hers and staring her down, "Does your duty compel you to kill the innocent, to take the sky from generations for your petty greed?"

"Does your ignorance run so deep that you can't see why we're trying to unify the land? It's not simple greed, it's all for a reason and if your people would just submit-"

"To rule under a flag that would see us slaves!?"

"No! Look at yourself, you have a horn, you could achieve a standing in the wor-"

"And what of those with no horn, no wings, what of them!?" I yelled, my words growing increasingly bitter in my mouth.

"They're inferior, what else can they do!?"

"Inferior, you call them inferior!? Those who ripped you from the sky and slayed your kin-"

"Your kind killed us...with the fire no less. I don't know why I thought you'd understand...your mind has been poisoned by them for far too long."

"And you are so narrow minded you could miss the forest for the trees." There was a long silence between us.

"I'm sorry." Umbri finally spoke, "I'll leave in the morning if you wish."

I rolled my lips back into my mouth, "No...I- we...we're both fools in different ways." I removed my head from hers, "Perhaps with some time we can remedy that..." With a soft smile from the blue mare we turned back to the fire.

As it crackled I felt something press against the side of my neck, "I'm truly sorry for this." Umbri spoke, her breath running along my chin.

I gave a deep sigh before pressing back, "I know...I am equally ashamed for my rash words." We spent the rest of the night watching the fire, I told stories about the caravans and she told stories about her century, both ripped away from us, both a rather hefty loss. The only easement was the warm body pressed against my side, an insulating wing trapping my body head and radiating it through her, "Umbri?"

"Aye?"

"We should make sure my companion doesn't freeze to death."

"Daring? I wrapped her in as many furs as I could find...and I don't really want to move right now..." She nestled against me, "Do you?"

"Not really...you're sure she's safe?"

"Well, you would be more certain, living in this icy hell for so long, but I think she should be fine."

I just gave a deep sigh in return, "Umbri...do your loins ache?"

"W-what?"

"The priesthood is forced into celibacy...I assumed the legion has a similar policy."

I could feel her breathing quicken, "Ah...aye, I suppose it has been a while, as in...never...are you suggesting-"

"A tumble in the snow...yes...." I spoke flatly. My demeanor fair much better than my actual nerves.

"But...your friend, your wound, my wound...is now really the best time?" Her voice was curious, a bit needy, but mostly curious.

"I just took the lives of ten bandits, I just watched my friend die in front of me, and I have been teased incessantly by a grown mare. I can think of no better time for stress relief than now."

"With...with an absolute stranger...with a mare you plucked from the jaws of death mere hours ago. This...would be rather sudden, and I'm still technically- in- ah- the- oh dear...legion." I had rustled free of her wing and mounted her while she spoke.

"You seemed eager as a filly when you were bound...you want to back out now?"

I could feel her heart beating wildly as I rested my weight on her back, "I- oh goddess...I have no intention of dying a virgin...and- ah-" I was already sliding out of my sheath, letting it bat against her.

"So needy are you that you were willing to be raped to satisfy that urge?" I laughed, bucking my hips slightly, letting my member press against her sex, the heat was amazing.

"I am a grown mare...and I will-" I prodded her once more, "Enough!" She rolled, sending me sideways into the snow, "Find a tent without the stench of death!"

She bolted off to find a tent, "Such need for the physical...truly I have found the one who can understand the best-" I slowly followed before being yanked into a tent.

"No love," She piled some furs and bent over.

"No passion," I answered.

"Just sex." As her words fell away I slowly mounted her.

"Just a tumble in the sno-"

Daring's voice cut me off just outside of her sex, "Guys...I smell fire!"

"Fucking fuck!" I screamed, stepping back, "Fucking bitch, fuck, ass, cock, fuck!" I threw a tantrum at my denied release, "Fuck you Daring, fuck you!"

"Indeed!" Umbri yelled, her breath still shaky.

"What did I do!?" Daring yelled from her tent.

"Just fuck you...fuck you in the ass!"

"With a lance!" Umbri added.

"Yeah!"

"Oh...ooooh, I see...did I interrupt something!?" Daring jeered, a soft rustling sounding from nearby, "That's cute...a bit sudden, but adorable." Umbri and I buried ourselves under a pile of furs, "You two will make such cute foals~" Daring cooed, entering our tent, "Yep...called it."

I answered by hurling an axe into a tent post by the exit, "Heretic..." Daring just whinnied and wandered off with my axe, "Hey!"

She spit my axe out, "Well then behave...just because I almost walked in on two budding foals about to get into the nitty gritty doesn't mean you should throw deadly weapons around like a lunatic. And you..." She stared at the pair of blue eyes, buried in a bundle of furs, "Remember what I told you about the balls..." With that Daring trotted out with my axe.

"What!?" I screamed, "You...this...premeditated!?" Umbri sunk deeper into her fur trappings, "Traitor...I mean...I'm flattered, but still, traitor."

Umbri started to crawl out of her fur fortress, "I know...but as I said-"

"Not dying a virgin, oh go mount a corpse...the moment is lost for now." I shook free of the piled furs and walked out, "Maybe another time...when certain intruders are busy being mauled by a bear...."

"Or being torn apart by timber wolves!" Umbri yelled, trotting out after me, "We could arrange that you know."

"Perhaps...perhaps when we reach town. I can drug her and we can rent some rooms." I snickered at my own deviousness.

"So does that mean-"

We started looking around the slowly brightening camp for Daring, "Aye, you can tag along. If you can avoid being spotted and branding me a traitor by the tribes. If ever you needed sex, being captured by a tribe would be your best bet. Set out for public use in a town square...not exactly as intimate as you might like but it is an option."

"Oh and I'm sure the empire would love a sarcastic caster like you, they might even use your horn to tip a spear!" Our rude jokes and petty jabs continued even after we found Daring and started back onto the road. It was nice to have something to draw my mind away from the brutality without the constant pain in my loins.
> Towards the town of Shattered Hoof
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The night dragged on as Umbri continued her stories from the legion, "I mean they told us you were all barbaric animals, hell bent on destroying order and civility."

"And the tribals would always speak of your legions as horrid oppressors, content taking out land and freedom in return of indentured servitude."

"Well...I may enjoy seeing a certain stallion in binds." Umbri slowly listed over to me, letting her side rub against my own, "Or perhaps we shall repeat our meeting, although I was slightly disappointed to find my knightly savior to be some restless colt."

Our tails were quickly batting at each others, "Well I may not be a civil as you, but I would think the needy filly at my side would enjoy some barbarism." I let my back leg brush along her barrel, her breath catching as I did.

"Perhaps...and perhaps in return for your barbaric conquest, I can show you the true hospitality of the empire." She punctuated her point by wrapping her tail around mine, "As you said...sharing our intelligences, will be absolutely vital to better understanding."

"Oh will you two fuck already!" Daring yelled from the rear of the group, "I mean honestly...you just met and already you nearly gave her a poke...and you, you lifted your tail for him without even seeing him!" She dashed in between us, "So either find a bush and fuck, or shut up! Dear Celestia...just like high school." Daring pushed past us and hurried along, "So what is it gonna be?" She asked, trotting backwards.

I gave a quick look at Umbri, she was a bit abashed, "Well...I mean..." Umbri mumbled weakly.

"We're not animals...we can wait until we find a bed...or tent...or even a hovel if need be...." I said, rejoining my tail with the legionnaire's. It did feel a bit strange trusting what was meant to be my sworn enemy, but considering her unarmed nature and airy demeanor she struck me as genuine. That coupled with the smell she carried saw her speaking the truth in her need.

The smell was subtle, something I think only I noticed, but I was no doubt giving off my own scent that Daring and Umbri could sense. Perhaps that is why Daring saw fit to pester me, although since we left the temple she has kept her distance, "Daring...are you alright?" I quickly unwound my tail, "A moment Umbri."

"Aye? I'll be around."

I hurried off and met Daring at the head of the group, "Daring...you're being distant."

She shook her grey scale mane, "Sorry...things have just been kinda.... I didn't expect you to go all crazy and...well, I'm not a fan of killing ponies...but you seemed to handle it well. You went from crying over your death to murdering ponies like it didn't even matter."

I scrunched up my muzzle and cocked an eyebrow, "As I said...I treat these outcast vagabonds with the respect I give an empty bottle. I cried at the thought of being skewered by a legionnaires lance...a true threat, not some diseased banditry."

"And the whole I don't want to kill?" She questioned, bumping my flank with her own.

"...Again...I thought you were legion, and...you were unarmed...and...I.... Perhaps I have a soft spot for pretty faces. But I have no remorse killing some rapist, murder, ugly son of a hornless cunt!" I snorted, feeling some slight release of tension from my quick snap, "I am no murder...killing you would have been murder of an unarmed adversary, killing them was a mercy."

Daring gave me a nervous smile with an equally nervous laugh, "I uh...guess you're more grown up than I thought...had you pegged as a school colt...turns out you're-" Here it is, finally she'll stop calling me a child, "-more of an angsty colt."

"....Really? I just slaughtered a bandit camp, saved a...pretty...mare, and am now leading a troop of ponies into a town, all the while hiding the fact that they are both pegasai...and yet I am still not a stallion?" I asked with as annoyed a tone as possible.

"Hmmm ever been with a mare?"

I sputtered a few responses, "I...well I would have...."

"Well I guess you'll be a stallion after that...anyways how much longer?"

"Hmm...no idea, I lost track of where we were after last night." I looked around at the endless plains of white, slowly darkening as the night went on.

"So...we're lost!?" Daring screamed, nearly knocking me off the path.

I bumped her back over to the side of the path, "No...we are still on the right path, but the walk is long. If I had to guess...I'd say...walking for a day and a half...rested for seven hours...perhaps another three hours? So we're close."

Daring gave a drawn out sigh, "So....three hours is close. Hey Umbri!"

"Yes?" Umbri shouted from behind.

"Come over here," Umbri quickly took her place next to me, her tail batting with mine, "Can you two stop...need to pass the time, figured I'd ask some questions. Like you lance butt, why does a young mare already have such a violent cutiemark?"

Umbri looked back at her flank, a lance and shield sat firmly on her rump, "It's not violent...I got it during training...to be honest I've only had to kill robbers and thieves back in the empire...this excursion was my first. And well...after the battle I can understand why your temple forms the border between the tribes and the empire. How we hold the pegasus temple is beyond me."

"You hold two," I interjected, "The central and the pegasai, which will also be out first target...granted heading straight into the empire may be a bit of a bad idea...but the unicorn temple has been...well...we lost contact some time ago. I'm assuming the worst. From what I heard the temple has had trouble with...ba-"

Daring gave an annoyed snort, "Can you stop with the temples and sex...talk about...I don't know, what do colts talk about?"

"Sex...mostly sex...Umbri? You were raised around warriors?"

"Aye...and he's right, mostly sex, sex and comparing spears." Umbri giggled, letting her tail bat at my backside, "Glad to see our people do share some similarities."

"Sex, violence, dru- actually," I stopped and fished around in my bag, "Umbri have you tried pine water?"

She walked over, "No? What is it?"

"Just water." I levitated a bottle infront of her. She quickly took the neck of the bottle in her mouth and leaned her head back. She quickly backed off, coughing the fiery liquid out.

"That- what is that!?" She looked to be rather caught off guard, "It burns like fire!"

I laughed at her trouble, "Water fortified with alcohol," I said with a devious grin, "Are you implying you've never drank?"

"The drink- makes your reactions slow..."

"It also keeps our water from freezing." I deadpanned, "By the way...be sure to thank your people for that when you return."

"Guys...lagging behind..." Daring called from a few feet ahead. Umbri and I quickly caught up, "So...I get her mark...but..." Daring slowed, stopping to look at my flank, "A star? The bandages are kinda in the way."

"Ah...yes...a star." I said with a downturn in my voice, "I...it appeared after the incident."

It took Daring a moment to realize what I was speaking about, "Oh...oh Skane...that's...that's rough."

"Aye," I looked at Umbri, she was thoroughly confused, "I'll explain later."

Umbri nodded, "I won't pry."

Daring trotted back to the head of the group, "So...what does it mean?"

"The star? I always assumed it had something to do with magic...or fire." I shook my head, "...I miss my mane."

Daring just smirked, "Trust me colt, mares love the trimmed look." I looked to Umbri, she gave a quick blush and whisked her head around in an bashfully affirmative gesture, "See, and trust me you still have a coat like a mop."

"Because it's cold out! Just because you two have no winter coat does not mean mine is misplaced-"

I was cut off by being sandwiched between my two companions. Daring was the first to answer, "There is a reason we all slept in a pile...trust me colt I'm not trying to cop a feel."

"Cop a feel?" Me and Umbri asked in unison.

"it's...it means...playing grab ass?" Me and Umbri shook our heads, "...touching each other."

"Ah- wait why did you dance around the point? Does your body disturb you?" I jeered.

"I think it might," Umbri added, nuzzling my neck, "Do displays of affection offend you?"

"I think they might, my rather forward companion." I craned my head up and took her ear in my mouth, tugging lightly and causing her voice to catch in a feminine squeal.

"Stop already! Seriously...should we hurry so you two can have some alone time?" Daring cried, growing rather annoyed with our antics, "Do ponies always just dive right in and start making googly eyes?"

"We're not about to get married...we have something the other wants...mutual want," I snuck my tail between Umbris legs and brushed her neathers.

Umbri quickly started nipping at my chin, "Indeed...once we finish our act I'll make my decision on whether or not to stay, depends on how you make me feel."

I turned to stare into Umbri's eyes. The bright pink nearly burning holes into my soul, her pink mane falling against my head, "So your fate rests on my sexual prowess?"

We stopped walking so we could better stare at each other, "Yes. Does that make you nervous?" Umbri asked with a sly smile, tracing a hoof in a circle between us, "I promise to return every favor."

"Well that's good, but I'm sorry to say if we trade blows we both may lose our ability to walk."

Umbri pursed her lips, "I..." I wasted no time in walking closer, letting my body tower over her's.

"Guys! I think I see it!" daring yelled, breaking our moment once again, "Yeah, that's a town!"

"Fuck me Daring...every time..." I groaned. I quickly turned to the path once more, "I swear to you I will mount your face to shut you up!" I hurried to meet her on a small bluff, "How can you- oh....yes indeed...mares...welcome to Shattered Hoof."

The mares gave a pair of giddy smiles before following me into town, "First things first let's get some sleep!"

"Yes...sleep." I chuckled, Umbri soon joining me, "We should find an inn."


*^**^*


"Closed!? Why's the gate fucking closed!?" Daring screamed, pacing around the front gate into the town, "Come on! Why!?"

I just gave a defeated sigh, slowly turning to Umbri, "Make camp?"

She returned me a soft frown, "I'll find some firewood...you can start a fire right?"

"Aye...be quick...I'll see to Daring." Umbri nodded and ran off, "Daring?" I reached her and put a hoof on her shoulder, "We're going to have to wait."

"It's not fair...it's not even that late." Daring grumbled, "Fine...but you're going to be a living heater tonight."

"As every night I suppose...." I gave a short laugh, "Come along." I lead her to a small clearing where Umrbi was piling sticks, "Ready?"

"Yes I think so." She stepped back from the firewood, "Please hurry...the cold is coming."

I nodded and lowered my horn to the sticks, "Just...just a little..." I felt a familiar heat travel from my head to my horn, ending with what felt like a drip of melting candle wax. A bulb of blue fire fell and started a small fire.

"Whoa...that was..." Umbri watched in rapture as the fire turned from blue to orange, "Zealot?"

I lowered my head, "Long story. Now, bend over."

"W-what!?" Umbri shouted, a bright blush forcing its way to her face, "I don't think-" I shook my head, walking over and poking her flank. Her legs quickly buckled, sending her into a heap on the ground. Her breath was heavy as I mounted her, resting my weight on her back.

"Celestia's horn colt...really?"

I ignored Daring and shifted myself around, "Quiet you..." I gave a long sigh as I found my place, "A matter of warmth." I shifted once more, "Umrbi...comfortable?"

She tried to speak, failing completely and uttering some strange moan, "I can feel it, oh by the mother it's hot."

"Indeed...it is the warmest part of my being." I laughed, my chuckle resonating through our stacked bodies, "I'm going to bed now. Feel free to join us." With those parting words I settled down on my future conquest, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of a warm body beneath me. I simply let my chin rest on my love drunk companion's head. With a final sigh, I turned my head sideways and slipped away.
> Honors
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I stirred, surrounded by a strange warmth. "This isn't my room...." I mumbled as I took in my surroundings, "Wait...why am I in a room." My eyes shot wide as I came to, "Bed!?" I snapped my head around, "Daring, Umbri!?" I panicked, looking around the bed two lumps were snoozing happily under a large fur blanket. I started shaking the lumps, "Wake up! Wake up, something is-"

I was cut off by a ginger mane pulling itself free from the covers, "Is it time?"

I felt a deep sickness fall into my gut, along with a burning heat in my face, "What in the-" I was cut off by a weight toppling me onto my side. I was quickly blinded by a violet mane falling over my face. My hooves quickly pressed themselves onto soft flesh.

I felt a set of lips nip at my ear, a warm stream of air flowing past before a honey covered voice broke the rustling, "Hm, such big hooves. You must be hiding quite a hunk of-"

I pulled myself free with a guttural yell, "What in the name of the goddess is going on!?" I was quickly swarmed by two mares dragging me under the sheets, "What is going on!?"

The mares were giggling at their conquest when the sound of an axe splitting wood sang from the other side of the room. A booming voice set the mares upright and off of me, "Off of him! I said to present yourselves not to force him!" I wiggled upright to get a view of my savior, a large red stallion with a huge grey beard, "By the gods look at you," He started laughing hardily, "You must smell like a brothel." He walked over and stood at the end of what I could now recognize as a large bed, "Well boy, taste of the fruit or meet me in the hall, we have much to discuss but I won't deny you pleasantries."

I quickly looked left and right at the ravenous mares and scrambled out of the bed and after the stallion. I wasn't overly keen on being used as some horrid plaything for two hungry mares. Despite my desire to breed I was still not about to forfeit it to some loose mare in heat, "Sir wait!" I caught up with him before he even left the room, "Where am I, my possessions, my-"

He slammed his hoof, "We found you outside the wall, the only ones to come from the road since my kin were returned. I was not about to leave the savior of my children laying out in the cold. I instructed my guards to bring you to my home, your things are being mended, your slaves are being kept safe, and you...well, you had your opportunity to enjoy yourself, but it would seem you're more chaste than most."

I let out the breath I was holding, "Oh thank the goddess, wait. Your kin?"

"Aye, kidnapped by the banditry to the north. They came scampering home earlier last night. Told us of how you stood between them and a bandit."

I felt a sudden pang of guilt. I had already figured out that Daring hadn't killed the children as I instructed, what was worse was that her mercy proved beneficial. "Ah...might I ask who you are?"

His expression soured, "Chief Jut of Shattered hoof,"

"Ah, an honor." I bowed my head.

He stopped and faced me, holding back a chuckle before outright laughing in my face, "You must be a priest, I had you pegged for a mercenary but you're far too well mannered. Might I convince you to speak with my children, they could use a few lessons." He snorted a laugh, "A joke my friend, but I suspect you want something, your expression is rather telling."

"I nodded hastily, "My fr- slaves, where are they?"

He let out a long sigh, "In the cells. Holstein!" At his call a meek stallion ran from a side room and into the hall, "Take our guest to his slaves while I find his things."

"Yes sir." He frantically pulled me through the hall, "Come along, please be quick."

"Don't worry boy, I'll find you with your things soon." With those parting words from Jut I was dragged into the masonry of this building.

As I was lead down a flight of stairs I noticed a large scar on the stallions back. A quick peek around saw another mirrored on his right side, "An exile."

The stallion stopped dead, "Yes...how did you-"

I shook my head and pointed to an alcove. Once clear of any eavesdroppers I divulged my secret, "My companions are not slaves, without going into too much detail one is a mercenary the other is a disgraced legionnaire."

The stallion bobbed his head, "Disgraced you say? Does she still believe the lies of the empire?"

I cringed, "To some extent...I am hoping to sap its grip on her."

The stallion leaned in, studying my face hard, "You..." he narrowed his eyes and carefully scanned my entire face, "You're going to fuck her aren't you." He grew a wicked grin, "In all my years. I've been banished, had my wings cut off, been brutalized, starved, and burned. But never did I think I would see that day when a priest would mount a dame of the legion in the lands of the earth tribes, under the roof of a chief no less." His grin only grew wider as he began to laugh, "We should not waste time then-" He jerked back from a stifled laugh, "Gods know I don't want to keep you from your god's work. Saving the lost souls of the empire, one heated night at a time."

I shoved him as he began cackling, "Mind yourself exile."

He rebounded off the wall and slapped me with his tail, "Give me this hilarity, my life is enough hardship as it is, and I think I deserve to have a laugh once in a while."

"And I think I could find something to hurt you with in here, so best to hurry and keep me from finding something." I growled, annoyed at his piercing laugh. He just scoffed and walked on down the dank hall.

"Admittedly it is rather funny. Gods know I've been mocked about my wings, yet you don't see me threatening people about it." His sudden nip at me made me feel rather ashamed at my anger, "At any rate here...they...are." He took a sharp turn and stood next to a barred wooden door, "I'd suggest staying outside of the cell...the yellow one was rather angry when we put her in there."

"I'm sure-"

"Skane!? Oh you fucker!" Something slammed into the door, causing myself and the exile to jump back, "Skane!?"

I gave a single worried laugh, "Hmm, perhaps you are right...for safety's sake." The stallion nodded, holding a set of keys out for me before walking to a safe distance. With him out of the way I leaned onto the door, "Daring...are you alright?" I was met with a fiery mare at the door window, "Ah...how are you?"

"I will eat your face."

I turned to the stallion with a horrid grin, "So, when I let them out-"

The stallion rolled his eyes, "My lord has made it clear you are to be accommodated, even this is simply to keep them safe. Two unarmed pegasai in the streets would cause nothing but trouble."

"Understandable," I turned back to the door, "Daring, I'm going to let you out now. I need you to promise you won't run." I levitated the key into the lock and opened it. I was quickly flung back by the door as Daring charged out, taking my ear in her mouth, "Ow, Daring why!?"

"Shut up!" She growled into my ear, "You no good, toothless, shanky, moppish, ass!" Once she was done with her verbal assault she shoved me to the side, "Phew...alright...I think I'm okay."

"Well I'm not!" I yelled, nursing my bitten ear, "Why the ear? Who does that?"

"Foals." Umbri pranced out of the cell, "Foals do that."

Daring just glared at her, "I don't need you arguing with me-"

"It's hardly arguing when you're clearly being childish."

"Yeah well sorry I'm not some pricy would be lancer with a fetish for butts- oh did I say that out loud?" Daring mocked.

The wingless stallion intervened in their pissing match, "Enough! Dear god boy...how long have you put up with this?" I shrugged, "Well I do feel bad for you now."

"Ah, the brave warrior and his servants united at last." A booming voice rattled around the stonework, Jut walked over with my things, "Young one..." She slid my bag off his back and gently onto the floor, "And I have cleared your room of the mares."

"Mares!?" Umbri and Daring yelled in unison.

Daring quickly got in my face, "So while we were sitting around in some dingy hay covered cell you were enjoying some alone time with a bunch of mares?!"

I folded my ears back and smiled. I quickly looked away and towards Jut, "Boy, do you always let your slaves talk to you like that?"

"Slaves!?" Daring quickly left me and stood at Jut, "I'm not some slave you ugly, bearded, smelly-"

Jut just leaned over her, "Best shut your mouth before I fill it. You're guests under my roof and I suggest you behave yourself, peasant." With Daring sufficiently put in her place Jut turned to me, "You know how to find your way back to your accommodations?"

"Aye sir."

Jut nodded wisely, "I shall give you time to sort yourself then. Be prepared though, we have war to plan."

I was confused by his words, "War, sir?"

"War. But it can wait. Take some time, sort your slaves, perhaps give them the rod...teach them their place."

I looked back at Umbri, "Is that an order?" I asked with a devious smile to the now bashful mare.

Jut looked between me and Umbri, "Ah...ahahaha- yes." With that final odd order he walked off. My trio alone once again.

I started walking back out towards the room I had woken up in with my mares in tow.


*^**^*


"This room smells like cheap perfume." With that note Daring strode in and looked around.

Umbri quickly walked across the room to a side door, "What is- oh, a bath...how pleasant. So the tribes do bathe. Skane do you mind?"

"No? Do what you must." As I finished my sentence she gave a curt nod and stepped into the side door, "Strange-"

Daring walked in front of my view, an annoyed look straddling her face, "Skane...she's waiting for you, dumb ass."

"I don't oh...good." I felt a dopey grin grow on my face, a few steps towards the door and I felt something grab my tail.

"Skane, before you do this, two things: Help her preen, she'll love it, and two: use protection."

I cocked my head at Daring, "Protection, what like armor? I understand some call it a sword but I don't think it works like that."

Daring scrunched up her muzzle, "Not like- oh wow, right, past. Uh..." She quickly patted down her barding, "I might have one...oh! I think I- yep!" She pulled a small square from her pocket, "You put this on your thing so you don't have kids."

I looked at the square in my hood, "Why would I not want kids?"

Daring's face went blank, "Do you really think now is the best time?"

I thought about it, in two months when a mare would start to show we would be- "Noted.... And what was that about preening?"

Daring flexed a wing, "Her feathers are all burned up, just bite any that are broken and pull em. Don't yank em like crazy but if they're broken don't be- actually, just ask her." With Daring finally out of advice she started pushing me to the door, "Also...don't get fancy, first time is never great so just do what you're gonna do."

"Daring I feel like you're trying to get rid of me," I jeered as I pulled the side door open. Inside sat Umbri nipping at her wings, "Oh my, uh, hello?"

Her eyes shot over to me before looking back at her wings, "Skane..."

I quickly took my place next to her, we both sat on the edge of a small pool of water, "Would you like help? Daring said-"

"Do you know how to preen? I have been so preoccupied that my wings are rather ragged." She flapped her wings, sending a few feathers floating around the room, "See...that's not suppose to happen."

"Aye...so I just pull them?"

Umbri held a wing out for me, "More or less, just be nice about it- ah!" I had taken a bent feather in my mouth and was slowly wiggling it back and forth until it came loose and was plucked, "Oh- my, it's different when-" I took another and repeated, I could see her other wings flapping from the contact, "Ah- when somepony else does it."

I ignored it and went about my work. Most of them were already loose, most went flying as I switched wings. A plethora of blue feathers was slowly growing around the floor. Little by little I made it larger as I stripped away the chaff, "Better?" I asked, spitting out a final feather.

She tucked her wings away, "So...do you want to waste time or-"

"I'll get ready" I turned away and found the square, "How do I..." I turned the square over and over trying to figure it out, "Am I stupid or- oh...it's a skin." I ripped the skin open and out fell a circular skin, "More skins? What does this...wait." I looked it over, "Do I...Umbri I'll be right back." I walked out into the main room once again, "Daring!?"


*^**^*


I walked back into the bath with new found knowledge. Umbri was laying on her side atop a pile of neatly laid out furs, "Ready?"

With my member growing I levitated the "condom" over it and pulled it on, "By the goddess, this is...strange." I shook my legs and tried to get used to the feeling of the semi slimy skin over my member. I waddled over to her.

"Skane are you alright?" She started laughing as I walked behind her and laid down next to her, "Not used to being excited?"

"Daring gave me something strange to prevent foal bearing...I don't like it." I let her tail ride up and land on my flank as I lined myself up with her, "I suppose you'll see what I'm-" my voice was a bit shuddery as my breath quickened.

"Skane just hurry...before I lose my nerve." Her voice was equally breathy. A bit reassuring but it also showed just how amateurish we both were, "Skan- ah- ah~" I slowly sunk myself into her, stopping at a slight resistance.

"Keep going?" I barely managed to ask through my shaky voice.

"Skane don't stop, I'm fine." with her permission I slowly drove myself into her, her voice turning into a drawn out moan followed by a soft shriek, "Go, go, keep going, I'm alright." I complied.

Thrusting sideways proved slightly odd, made all the better by the extra pressure her hips added. I let out soft grunts as I drove myself deeper into the unseen heat. I could feel my face burning like mad as I tried to keep a steady pace. The sensation was grand, a burning meaty hole just for me and my own. As carnal as it might have been I was enjoying the disgustingly wet sounds of my member filling her, followed by an accompanying moan from my mate.

I slowly forgot about everything else as I focused on the wonderfully organic sensation surrounding my length. From what I could see Umbri was enjoying it as well, her legs curling up after each thrust, her head thrown back against my neck, my forelegs pulling her back against me. It felt like nothing else. Even as her tail batted agaist my side I found it hard to care. As the pressure built and I became more debased I latched onto the base of her neck. Umrbi gave a loud howl as I quickened my pace.

This was mine, I was inside of it, I was biting it. It knew it was mine, it wanted to be mine, it was happy I was inside of it. The want to breed filled my mind as I slowed my thrusts, deepening them to compensate. It felt like I was jamming myself fully inside of her, filling her cavity to the brim and still she screamed for more.

From my clamped position on her neck I loosened my jaw and started panting across her coat. This only served to spur her forth, causing her to slam her flank back against my groin. In once such thrust she refused to let me back up to thrust again, instead wiggling her backside with me seated deep inside her. Each rotation, each movement, each grind caused me to convulse inside her.

Deciding to take control fully I rolled us, making sure I came out on top. From my now standing position I made quick work of her. While I had lost some of the pressure from her hips I had gained an ultimate amount of control. That coupled with the feeling of complete dominance sent me over the edge. From her howling and moaning I suspected the legionnaire was enjoying being dominated, a life of always being in control might have seen her unable to lose herself in such a way.

The opposite was true for me, having my entire life planned out, now thrown into a position of utter authority was amazing.

I gritted my teeth as I rammed my cock into her as deep as I could. My ears started ringing as I felt myself spill into the rubbery skin. Once I was finished I rushed backwards, sliding out of her with a wet plop, "Skane I want-" I shut her up by jamming my muzzle into her sex and lapping madly. The taste of sweets filled my mouth as I lapped at her juices. In my hormonal state I collapsed to my stomach and just eat from her like a happy fool.

Even as she convulsed and sprayed my face I dug into her. Only once she crawled out of reach did I stop, letting my chin fall on the pile of damp furs. The room reeked of ponderous sex, sounded of conquered mares, and tasted of sugar. I slowly crawled over to the spent mare and found her crying a little.

She met me half way and clung to my neck, "Hold me....sad...just hold me." I got behind her and tumbled us back to our sides. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying but-" I pulled her head back and jammed my tongue into her mouth. A soft moan later and she submitted. Once her sobbing stopped I released her, "Skane...I...that was..."

I just pulled her close, "I know." We sat there wrapped together like drunk fools.

"Whoooooooo! Get some!" Daring shouted from the other side of the door, "Sounds like you rode her hard!"

"Umbri...I'm going to kill her...." I said with only a tiny hint of jest. Umbri laughed but eventually agreed. Feeling the awkward fullness surrounding my groin I got an idea.


*^**^*


With ourselves cleaned up I hovered the condom next to me, "Skane are you really going to-" Umbri began to question.

"Yes...she sees fit to ruin a wonderful moment I will show her my rage. Just hold her down." Umbri nodded and walked into the main room.

"Oh...she's asleep...." Umbri called from the main room, myself joining her after a few moments, "Are you still going to-"

"Yes..." I hovered the condom next to her drawn mouth, "Umbri sit on her...."

Umbri quickly planted herself on Daring, pinning her to the bed. I held her mouth open with my hooves and quickly turned the condom inside out over her mouth. She snapped awake and started sputtering, "What the fuck!?"

"Shut up you!" I yelled, "You seem so interested in my sex life, have a first hoof account!" I forced the entire condom into her mouth, "Protection turned weapon! Ha!" I laughed like a madman as Daring tried to spit it out. I clamped down on her jaw and held her in place.

Umbri quickly joined my evil laugh as we got our petty revenge. Once I deemed it enough Umbri and I jumped off of Daring, "Celestia's giant white ass! Tastes like I just gave a fucking blowjob, and ate pussy all at once! Bastard! Bitch! Cunt! Why would you do that!?"

"Maybe next time you wont listen to two peoples private moment...or at least learn to not commentate on the aftermath."

She glared at me before rushing to the bathroom, "My breath smells like cum...toothbrush?"

"Why would they give us a toothbrush?" I asked to the entire room. Daring just gave a crazed scream and slammed the door, "...Was that too much do you think?"

Umbri looked at the door, "No...well, maybe a little. But we have a free bed now."

I looked at the large inviting bed, "Indeed...round two?"

Umbri grinned devilishly, "Perhaps after some rest, can't seem too eager can I?" She crawled into bed and presented herself.

I quickly climbed in next to her and assumed my position curled around her. "A quick nap...then we see what our host needs..." I mumbled as I drifted off to sleep. I could get used to sleeping with a bed mate.
> A sudden tide of blood
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A horrid scream followed by an ear shattering thud rang out. Myself and Umbri snapping to and falling out of bed, "What the fuck was that!?" I screamed, my ears ringing from the violent wake up. Daring rushed out of the side room and slammed into the wall, "Daring, Umbri, stay here!"

A horn sounded as I rushed into the hallway. I ran with a surge of ponies through the hall and into a large mustering hall. Jut and two others were shouting orders. After a few moments the crowd surged out towards the exit. I joined them, but was stopped at the door by a stallion with a bear's head as a hat, "You with me! Stick with me and fight hard!"

I looked over the stallion and nodded, "Aye sir! But what's going on!?" The bear headed one turned and charged out the door with me in tow, a scene of flying rocks, shining armor descending from the sky and the smell of blood overtook my senses. This was a war zone.

"Sixth legion came from the south, thought they could catch us unaware but we're always ready! My name is Holden by the way, I don't care who you are, bring me some heads and maybe I'll ask." Holden quickly lead me to a large group of ponies, most armed to the teeth, several others working in pairs to move equipment towards the walls. We quickly joined the group and clashed against a regiment of legion recruits that had landed inside the wall. Our numbers ranked maybe one hundred, theirs one fifty, "I hope you're ready to bleed child...take as many as you can, and be ready to meet the goddess."

I swallowed hard as we stared down our opponents. As we drew close we could see their fear, this regiment was young, perhaps even fresh out of training, "Retreat now and we may let you live!" The commander for the regiment screamed, his voice unsure and wavering.

Holden let out a loud groan, "They're trying to keep us from the real fight...giving us these weaklings to keep us preoccupied. Blue hair, can you deal with this?" He stared at me as he started off, "Twenty stay, the rest come with me, we find a real fight!"

"Wait! I don't-" Before I could argue I was flanked by twenty exceedingly brutish looking ponies.

One such stallion with a stripe of red painted across his head walked to my side, "What's wrong boy? This is ideal for a budding warrior, a place amongst the best, a force of petty fools and children, this will be a slaughter. Say the word boy."

I looked back at our enemies, their column was solid save a small chunk in the right flank, "The right...hit them on the right side." The stallion looked up and smiled his evil smile, "Well...go, charge!"

From behind one of the stallions blew several small charges with a horn and set the ponies around me free. I watched in awe as swords were taken into mouths, spears were lowered to sides, axes were thrown through the air. I cringed as I heard the impact of their charge, screams, bone crunching snaps, the sound of metal slamming together filled the air.

The formation collapsed immediately, their back broken and troops scattered from the weakened flank. Seeing an oppurtunity to catch some off guard I drew my axes and charged. As I hurled an axe into an unsuspecting boy I felt a surge of warmth through my body. Colors grew brighter, my vision hazed into a blur of colors, the smell of blood grew heavy in the air, a loud chant sounding from the growing massacre, "Blood!" They cheered, the recruits trampling each other to run from us. The legion was meant to be an unstoppable force, but these fools were nothing.

I skewered somepony's neck with my horn, driving him into his friends and tearing his neck wide open. A spray of blood spraying the surrounding soldiers. All I could hear now were screams, from my allies, from the enemy, from the civilians running about, some joining us in our slaughter, some running for cover.

So rapt was I that I lost myself, my body acting on its own. A violent display of a rabid beast filled my eyes. I hurled another axe into another's fight, freeing another able body and drawing yet more blood from the legion. The fray grew wild and I found myself surrounded by a group of hesitant legionaries. One braver sort charged me. He managed to roll me onto the ground before being pummeled to death by a passing mob. An older foal helped me up and with a smile, grabbed an axe from my bag and joined the fight. I was down to my final axe, this was it.

As the fights drew narrower, fighters linking up and forcing the last of the regiment against the wall, they began to scream for their lives. I forced my way through the crowd and halted the encroaching death, "Hold damn you, hold!" I stepped cautiously towards the cowering group, their numbers cut down from over one hundred to just thirty.

Once again the red stained stallion met my side, "Sir, your orders?"

I looked at the cowering group, "What would-" I shook myself hard to regain my composure, "Can we take them alive?"

The red stained one grimaced, "Not the glorious death they so demanded!" He shouted at the frightened huddle, "But I suppose a bit of mercy is honorable. Take them!" A horn sounded one with a high pitched toot, followed by a drawn out one that whinnied down. The civilian mob ran off to join some other fight while the eighteen remaining ponies left to me started disarming and clubbing the defeated group unconscious.

Once the group was sufficiently subdued two stayed behind to keep them there. After trophies were taken, weapons checked, wounds quickly bound, my sixteen formed back around me. I looked back at the scattered bodies behind us. I felt strong, I felt amazing. I ran towards a growing clash with my troops. A smaller group of tribesmen were pinned and defending to the last. With our unit freed up we charged into the assaulting enemy, catching their backs exposed and punching a hole straight through to the wounded ponies within.

As we fought I never found myself alone. As we helped the trapped group out, we split into two lines and started pushing the enemy formation apart, scattering them and dividing their strength. While better fighters than the last, our unity meant they couldn't push us apart. The red stained one to my right, knocking his skull into an enemy and shattering their nose, letting me drive an axe into their throat and ripping it open. Another nearly slicing my leg open found his sword ripped from his mouth and completely unarmed. He was quickly slain by a savage mare with a dirk. Such a small weapon, it took several horrible stabs to end the fighter.

As half the formation fled, our second line joined the first and pushed them into another fight. A growing mass of death formed in front of me until finally the last were killed and I was met with a bloody earth pony with a frightful look in her eye. She nearly charged me, unsure of my side until the red stained one took my flank once again, "All those who can still fight, form up!" He screamed.

The group we had saved, and the group we had forced the enemy into quickly reformed into two units. A mare with a shaved head and half an ear walked over to me, "Right, you're the one givin' us the blood sport." She quickly headbutted me, sending me back a pace, "Ha! Tough, fer such a little twat ain't yah'."

I shook my head and quickly banished the slight pain, "Enough, do you know where we should go?"

Half ear looked out along the battle, "You an yers' go n' find da chief. Get sum ordas out here."

I nodded and looked to my group. With the injured taking a breather we were still sitting at about fifty ponies ready to fight. I looked around and saw an extremely large group fighting near a tall building, "Sir?" The red one asked me.

I stared at the fight. I could see a heavily armored group landing and marching slowly towards the fight, "Those, get those before they can turn around!" the horn sang out again, letting the group know my orders and lurching the whole loose formation towards the flank of the slow moving group.

"Get between their armor and shred them!" One pony screamed, charging the group. We slammed into their side, causing their formation to buckle, but still they fought hard. Little by little we were whittled down, as were they. As the fight slowly turned against us, most of my troops wounded or fled, another horn sounded from our left. A huge throng of ponies swept away the rest of the heavily armed ones, turning them into paste under the stampede.

I had taken a few cuts and bruises, one of the heavy ones managed to stab my side. As I limped after the horde I was grabbed by the chief, "Boy, be calm!" He held me back as the red painted one stood with us, "Take command, clean up this rabble and restore order!" The red one nodded and ran off, yelling at what was my group and leading them.

"Chief...we, I saw them-"

He shook me hard, "Get a hold of yourself, I saw what you did, bought us time and got pretty well done in too. Holden!"

Holden ran over, "Aye sir?"

"Take the boy back to the great hall, let him hang the banner." I was tossed over to Holden and quickly pulled away from the fight, "Ya did good lad, now take a breather and let us clean up our mess!"

I quickly found myself crossing the bloodied streets. Several townsponies helping the injured or finishing the wounded enemies. "By the goddess boy I tell you to deal with a bunch of recruits and ya go and knock out a bunch of veterans. It's like you're trying to find your honored death."

I muttered wildly as I was dragged back into the building I had started in. little by little I was lead up a tower until finally we met the top. A lookout post, several horns, and a large banner sat around the tower floor, "You!" One of the lookouts charged over. She looked me over and kissed me, forcing me back against the wall. It was dispassionate, brief, and horridly confusing, "White coat blue mane, you're a lunatic! A brilliant lunatic!" She quickly bit my ear and dragged me towards the edge of the tower, "See that!" She pointed out a group of ponies being led about in chains, another pile of bodies quickly growing, a strange path of bodies carved out in a street, "You bloody punched through and butchered their flank!" She pulled me against her chest, "You're an amazing madman!" She kissed the top of my head and laughed hard, "Look at that! You can see where ya went!" She traced a hoof along a path of bodies leading to the wall. From the wall they went east, where a small line separated two graveyards. From there along a large open area the metallic soldiers we had nearly died to were being finished.

"I don't understand!" I yelled.

"What's to understand!? Ya fuckin' killed em! Ya chopped em up, ya hacked em ta bits, ya-"

"Enough!" Holden shouted, "Set our the banner, they've lost this one."

The mare quickly threw me away, "Sorry sir," She grabbed the banner and hooked it before tossing it over the short wall, "Congratulations..." She mumbled at me before ducking away.

Holden quickly stared her down and walked me down the steps and back to my room, "Skane." He said, pushing me into my room, "They'll be chanting it at the feast tonight!" He laughed as he wandered off.

"Skane!?" Umbri quickly grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me, "Skane, by the goddess you're covered in blood, what the-" I cut her off by driving my tongue into her mouth. She put up a bit of a fight before letting me take over. I could see Daring peek out of the side room before ducking back inside. Good to know all I need to do to earn some privacy is go to war.

I finally pulled back, leaving Umbri gasping, "Bed, now." I stated with the same authority I used in the field. She quickly scrambled away and jumped into the bed, flicking her tail to the side and presenting herself.

Daring strolled meekly in before I could reach the bed, "See...now that looks like a stallion." She laughed as she pushed me back, from my spent mate, "Seriously though, calm down."

I snorted angrily, "I will en-" I was cut off by a deep hug.

"Don't get ahead of yourself kid...I know that feeling. An adrenalin rush is a heck of a thing, but you need to calm down."

I pushed Daring back, holding her at length, "Daring I feel strong, I feel so strong, so alive!" She gave me a funny looking smile, "Daring?"

"You remind me of me...back when I started adventuring. You're in for a heck of a life kid." She hugged me again. My state slowly lowering, colors fading, brain clearing. I slowly calmed down. As I did I felt a deep depression surge over me. I was quickly led to the bed, my mate expecting another go, only to be left wanting. I felt tired, dead, everything felt low and horrible.

Umbri quickly held me against her stomach as Daring wandered off, "Daring what's wrong with him!?" Umbri screamed, "Daring!?"

Daring popped back into view, "He's just coming down. He'll be back to normal in a little bit. Once he's up again we should clean him up." Daring pulled my eye open, "The low is never fun, is it?"

"Fuck you..." I mumbled out before passing out for the exertion.
> Loss
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I woke up in a large amount of pain. My flank burned like the purest fire while the rest of me felt completely drained. I slowly opened my eyes, the vivid color from before now drained back to the usual dull. I looked around, finding myself tucked under Umbri's neck. The room was completely dark save a lone candle in the distance.

I slowly pushed up, Umbri forcing me back down, "Stay still, Daring went to get help for your leg."

My leg? What was wrong with my leg? I slowly realized that I couldn't feel my right leg, "Umbri what's wrong with my leg?" She refused to look at me, instead caressing my head with her foreleg, "Umbri!? Umbri please, what's wrong with my leg!?"

"Just stay calm Skane, I need you to stay calm." Umbri pulled my against her neck, "You'll be fine."

I could feel my heart racing like mad as Jut's voice started booming through the halls, "-should have told me...idiots!" A loud stomping ended as the door to the darkened room flung open, "Get these candles lit now!" Jut marched over, "Off him now!"

Umbri quickly left me along on the bed. As she move I got a look at my leg. A deep gash just under my flank was a dank purple, smelling of metal as blood caked around it, "Oh by the goddess." A hooded pony with a creaky voice ran over, "I'm surprised he didn't feel it sooner. Hold him down."

Before I could speak I felt Jut lean his weight onto my side, "He's not going to move."

I just stared in panic as Daring and Umbri watched the two ponies get to work, "Get ready, he's going to scream." As the croaky voice cut out my leg came out of its numbness. I let out a blood curdling scream as each nerve in my leg came back to life. My vision was quickly blurred by tears, "Can you feel your leg!?" I only screamed in response, "Good," The next thing I knew I felt such a horrid pain in my leg I nearly blacked out. The only thing that kept me awake was the dull burning in my flank, "Binding." I felt the pain multiply as a vise like grip wrapped around my leg, "There...he should be fine now. He's going to have a fever and the shakes for a while but he should be fine."

Jut lifted his weight off, "Good," He wandered around into my vision, his scarred face scowling at me, "Don't die. We have business to take care of before you do." I found my throat unable to convey any words.

The hooded pony walked towards Daring, "Make sure he drinks this instead of water, in four hours unbind and redress his wound. Pour this over the wound before and after wrapping it, it will draw out the infection." The hooded pony looked at me once, "He'll have to suffer through the pain, anything I could give him might poison him in conjuncture with the antiseptic. And you," The pony walked over, "Next time you take a wound like that you tell someone, walking around like that will kill you." The pony bopped the side of my head with their hoof and walked off, "If the fever doesn't break in three hours come find me."

As soon as the hooded pony left Umbri jumped back on the bed and wrapped her body around my dead weight. My leg was slowly going from burning agony to pure numbness as I felt myself drifting away.

I was moments from losing control when Umbri started shaking me awake, "Get up , you can't fall asleep right now!" She looked panicked.

"I'm okay...I'm fine." I muttered hazily as I felt myself drifting, "I just need...a little sleep...."

I started to close my eyes, "Skane no, Skane you need to stay awake. Skane?! Skane!" I drifted into a deep sleep, I was ready to meet my mother again.


*^**^*


"Wake him up then!" A voice boomed as I felt myself meet the floor, "Get up." I felt myself wrench upwards as I found my hooves, "Boy I need you to focus." I felt a quick slap that sent my eyes wide open, "Good...we need you to give the rites to our dead." Before I could say a thing Jut yanked me towards the door. Umbri and Daring started yelling but quickly faded out as I was dragged out and into the main hall.

Room by room I was pulled limply along. It only ended as I was thrown into a large pedestal. I picked my head up and took a moment to look around. Rows and rows of covered bodies, all lined up down the main road. I felt myself start to shake violently as my leg reawoke. "One thousand two hundred and thirteen lives are waiting for your blessing boy, see them on their way."

My hooves clattered hard as I quivered. I started hyperventilating as I stared at the rows of dead, "Boy..." The mare from the tower tapped my shoulder, "Please...for my son."

I bit down hard and nodded. I turned to the colossal crowd, "By-" A sudden surge of bile came forth from my mouth as I turned away. I leaned onto the pedestal until I could speak again. I stamp my hoof on the hard oak surface, "By the goddess above, the giver of life, our mother, our savior, I commend these honored dead to their rest. May our forgiving mother take them upon her body and give them rest. May those who died in this great battle be remembered always, and may they find everlasting peace in the embrace of the goddess. Praise the mother!"

The crowd surrounding the dead surged up, "Praise the mother." And just like before, a bright orange light enveloped the lines. The true gravity of the death toll hit hard as the lights of the pyres went for nearly a mile. Even for the enemy giant pillars of pitch black smoke rose from the outskirts.

Jut stepped to me and pulled me away, "Good my boy, good. Take him back."

I was quickly picked up and placed on the backs of two large ponies as they walked my broken form back into the main hall. Once back inside the set me down, "Hey...can you walk?" One asked as they held me still.

I put pressure on my leg, it burned horridly but I could suffer through, "Thank you bo- sir. We would have had to send for a runner if not for you." The other pony gave me a quick bow before hurrying back outside, "I'm sorry but we...wish to attend, say our farewells."

I nodded weakly as I found myself alone in the main hall. I limped along the wall as I tried to get back to my room. I tried with every bit of my strength until finally my leg gave out. I crumpled to the cold hard floor and found myself staring at a row of banners on the opposite wall.

I laid there for an ungraspable amount of time, it felt like days, but it could have been mere seconds. "My oh my." A strangely familiar pair of blood stained fetlocks glided into my vision, "Tell my Skane, do you even remember who did this to you?" A hooded face looked down on me, "I know who you are, we've met long ago but I'm doubtful you'd remember. At any rate you will survive this, and you will have to deal with what your survival will entail. Many hard choices lay ahead, you will make poor decisions, you will make good decisions, but by the end of your journey you will lose yourself."

The hooded pony took their hood off, a clean red face lay behind it. I knew who this was, I couldn't place his name but I knew him. He was banished from the temple years ago for murder. "Find your place in life Skane, but find it soon. Your goddess may forgive you, but those ponies who could never understand will not. Look to your enemies to find friends, look to your home to find a reason to leave, look to your friends to find a reason to continue." He pulled his hood back on, "And most of all, decide what you are, become what this world needs you to be and embrace it." He started walking away, "Oh, and a final thing. Don't die, your parentage will for one of the most powerful lines in all of this worlds sordid history. Hm, to think they end up purple." He laughed as he walked away.

I stayed half dead on the floor for maybe an hour. My leg had went from burning to itching as the bindings started to loosen. I needed to find them, I needed to fix my leg. I got to my trembling hooves and limped through the hall's corridors until I found the room, "Skane!" I flopped inside and laid on the floor. Umbri ran over as did Daring.

"Leg...my leg." I mumbled as I laid my head on the cold wooden floor.

Daring looked at my leg before looking across my body at Umbri, "I'll get the bandages!"

I felt myself get dragged along the floor until Daring returned, she stared at my leg as I felt the damp bandages unravel. She grimaced at the sight of my leg, "Well...I've seen worse. I mean it's not good, but I've seen worse." She poured a burning liquid on my leg causing me to kick wildly, "Oh stop being a baby." She wasted no time in rebinding my leg and pouring the liquid back over my leg.

I waited until the burning subsided before standing up, "Here." Umbri held a strange looking flask for me, "They said-"

"To drink it..." I took it from her, "I hope this doesn't taste like crap." I dipped the flask back as the atrociously acrid flavor washed over me, "Kess harik." I swore in anger as I swallowed the horrible swill, "By the goddess that tastes like...like a fucking pine cone!"

As horrible as it was I could feel a strange coldness in my upper body as the liquid fell into my stomach. I shook my head and tried to disperse the feeling through my body. My leg, while burning, was not in nearly the same amount of pain as before.

I lowered my head and shook it hard, "Umbri, I have a favor to ask."

"Anything," She stepped forward and pressed her nose against mine.

I smiled before going stoic, "Hit me, hit me hard."

She reeled back, "Hit you!? Why do you want me to hit you?"

"Look...I just need you to hit me, please just do it."

She stared into my eyes for a moment, "I don't want to."

"I need you to." She grimaced before pulling her foreleg up and leveling it into my jaw. It was a solid punch, not overly damaging but it hurt, "Ow. Okay. Umbri, half of one of your legions was just pushed out of the city. Untold dead, many wounded, many more taken alive."

She stared at me, "You were right...I do want to hit you now." She grew quiet as she looked at the floor, "This is a war though, they fell for the empire."

I shook my head, "I might have taken my axe to a few."

She stared me dead in the eyes, "I don't care. I am still a soldier, I care for you but understand I have killed as well, but right now we are not fighting for either side, we are fighting for ourselves."

"Aye. I suppose we are...does that mean once you're healed you'll fly off back to your legion."

She looked at Daring then to me, "As far as the legion is concerned I am dead. They are still my people but...I...I want to help you." She pulled me into a warm hug, "You've known me in a way no other has and I will not abandon you."

"Even if I asked you to?"

She tightened her grip, "You're not in charge of me, I am a legion veteran now and I go where I please. Some stallion drunk on power isn't going to tell me to where to or where not to go."

I pushed her back with a smile, "Insubordinate shrew."

"Mopish thug." I gave a quick laugh before hugging her again.

Daring gave a loud groan as she walked past, "Dear Celestia you two are more cheesy than one of those cheap romance novels."

Once she was gone I reached my mouth up to Umbri's ear, "An excellent uniting point isn't she."

Umbri chuckled "Mutual hate is as powerful a bond as any."

Our small joining was interrupted by the red marked pony stomping inside, "There you are, Jut told me to find you."

I let Umbri go and walked over to the waiting stallion, "Aye sir, what does he need?"

He stared at Umbri, "A matter you're no doubt accustomed with, your slaves wait in their cells and Jut wishes to know what you plan to do with them."

"My slaves?" I asked with utter confusion.

The red marked one nodded, "You took nearly thirty legionaries alive, as such they are yours. We need your order, if you do not make your decision soon they will all be executed."

My blood went cold as he finished. I could hear Umbri run over, "What!? Skane you-"

"Umbri please." I pushed her back, turning to the red marked, "Sir...may I bring my companions?"

He stared at Umbri for a moment, "If you must. Just be quick." He hurried out.

I turned to Umbri, "Get Daring and be quick." She nodded before bolting off.


*^**^*


We ran through the halls, I fell behind a few times before bolting to catch them. We hurried down the stairs and into the holding area. Jut met us in one of the first rows of cells. A horde of ponies clamoring at the bars, "Ah about time." The beast of a stallion walked over to me, "Twenty seven conscripted legionaries, I understand you are a stallion of the goddess so I've decided to make it simple. You make take your captives for your own, or you may leave them to me in exchange for coin." He pulled a huge bundle of coins from his side bags, "Seventy gold bits for each."

I stared at the money his hooves, this was amazing, I could finance a small army with this, "Skane." Umbri pulled my head to meet her's, "You can't, please." She looked at the scared young ponies behind the bars, "If you give them to him you know what will happen." A life of slavery in the tribes land would most likely kill most by the end of the year.

I looked back at Umbri, "But we need the money, we could by weapons, armor, we could hire guides and guards-" I was shut down by her unwavering stare, "Umbri please."

She turned away from me and went to the bars, "You, colt!" She was met by a meager looking stallion at the bars, "For whom do you fight?"

He stared blankly at her, "For the empire Miss."

She stared hard at him, "You lack conviction. I will ask again, for whom do you fight?"

The stallion had to stop himself from repeated his propaganda, "I fight for...I fight for my farm Miss."

Another pony walked to the bars, "I fight for home."

The captives started slowly clamoring to the hard metal bars, "I fight for my brother."

"For myself."

"For survival."

"For my family." 

The ponies continued to chatter as Jut pulled me to the side, "Gutless cowards all, no stomach for a good fight."

Umbri walked over between us, "That's the idea."

Jut stared at her as Daring went to listen to the ponies, "What are you on about outsider?"

Umbri looked at me, "Where are we headed?"

I looked at Jut who was growing rather skeptical of my entire reason for being here, "We are heading south, pushing into empire controlled land." Jut cocked an eyebrow. I stared at the floor before looking Jut right in the eyes, "We are not on your side Jut."

He scowled hard, "Then what side are you on boy?"

"My own!" I stamped my hoof at him, "I fight those that oppose me, and with those who's goals align with my own." Jut's expression soured even more, "Should it come to it we may very well meet in the field."

"Is that so, then perhaps I should simply kill you now." He reached her head back and pulled a curved dagger out, "You're brave to tell me what you have, but I hope you realize you are not welcome here any longer."

I nodded, "It was never my intention to stay."

Jut leaned over me, danging his knife over my head. He gave a long groan as he slowly sheathed his knife, "A shame. Then tell me why you are truly here."

I took some time and explained what I could, saving the details about who Daring was and how she got here, "We are heading south to the temple of the sky."

Jut just smiled, "You're going to kill yourself."

"Hello?" Umbri pushed between us, "I was making a point before you two barbarians started your intimacy!"

Jut snorted at her, "Then make your point fool."

Umbri puffed out her cheeks and stared at Jut, "These ponies did not join by choice. All have no greater wish than to head to their homes. We are going to their homes."

I stared at Umbri, "You want me to bring them with us...."

"Yes!" She smiled and nodded frantically.

Jut and I looked at each other, he eventually gave a long sigh, "An army of slaves is only as loyal as you can force them to be. You'll need help...." He gave a sharp whistle. The red marked pony from before trotted over, "Skane, I believe you know York."

I nodded and walked to the now named pony, "Good to put a name to your face."

York smiled, his white coat splashed with red was unique enough but a name made things all the simpler. Jut pushed York to me, "This fool is assembling an army of the legions dropouts, make sure they are hammered into pure iron."

York looked into the cells, "Jut, you're asking me to turn that rabble into a band of fighter?"

"You were the one who complained about a lack of excitement." Jut turned to me, "Get some rest, we'll bring your makeshift army to the southern gates in the morning."

I nodded before walking off with Umbri, "Thank you Jut."

"Aye, but let me warn you boy, we meet in the field and I will make you cry like a filly!"

I gave a single nervous laugh as Daring joined us as we walked to the room.


*^**^*


I limped into the room rather tired. I was not sure how long I had been awake but my body was screaming for rest, "Umbri." I let her take a few steps ahead and turn around, "I hope you realize you owe me."

"For what?" Daring strolled between us, "Can somepony tell me what's going on?"

"Daring listen very closely, Jut is assembling an army, we are going to move south in the morning, and right now we-" I pointed between me and Umbri, "-are going to share a nights sleep, alone."

Daring scrunched up her muzzle, "Where the heck am I supposed to stay?"

I thought about it, "Hmm, I'll be right back."


*^**^*


York and I walked into the room, "I was busy before this, I hope it's important."

"York my new friend, I assure you it's of the utmost importance." I left him in the doorway and found Daring reading a book, "York, this is Daring Doo. She has a horrible habit of saying stupid things. I need you to teacher her discipline."

York looked at daring before snorting, "And you thought of me?"

Daring looked up at me, a confused look on her face, "Uh Skane..." I bopped Daring on the muzzle to shut her up.

"I just thought you of all ponies would be in a unique position to teacher her to hold her tongue." I gave York a telling look.

He looked back at Daring for a moment, "I suppose I could find something for her to sate her maw." He smiled wide, "I'm sure by the end she'll learn to curb her tongue." She walked behind Daring and started pulling her down the hall.

Daring started yelling and screaming as she was dragged to another room. Finally alone I walked over to the bed and tucked myself into the large bed. Umbri walked in from the side room and pressed her back into my chest, "What will he do to her?"

"From what I understand he is an trainer. So...training."

Umbri gave a weak laugh, "Hmm...it's quiet without her."

We both laid in the dark room. Things were horridly quiet, "I miss her." I mumbled to myself.

Umbri shifted against me, "Aye. It's too quiet without her."

Another long silence fell between us. I wrapped my hooves around her body and pulled her against me. I listened to her heart to drown out the silence as I fell asleep.
> To understand the breaker.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
*^**^*


Daring found herself dragged through the stone corridors of the great hall by the stallion with the red paint over his eyes. "Take it easy!" Daring pulled herself free of the stallion. "What the heck do you think you're doing!?"

York turned around slowly before staring at Daring. "Just be quiet and follow me." York waited until Daring eventually complied, walking her towards his quarters. "Your master wanted me to commit a lewd act, something about you not shutting up."

Daring took a few steps back. "Wait- you're gonna- Oh no you're not!"

York just looked at her annoyed. "Oh calm down, you're not exactly appealing to me."

"I bet you'd like- wait what?" Daring snapped her head towards York, running after him and walking backwards in front of him. "What's that supposed to mean!?"

York nudged past her. Leaving Daring blinking in the corridor. "You just don't appeal to me."

Daring was growing indignant as she ran after him. "Is it because I have wings!?"

"No."

"Because I'm not an earth pony?"

"No." York and Daring made it to his quarters and pushed inside. "Find a cot and get some sleep. If the boy asked you were rutted like a lusty maid." York hopped up into a large bed and laid on his side.

Daring stared at him for a few moments, eventually looking around the room and walking over to the edge of his bed. "Why don't you want me? I mean...you can't have me, but I mean--"

York snapped his head out of the bed, staring angrily at Daring. "Oh, a bit sad you're not the best looking pony in the land? Used to getting the attention of all the stallions hmm?"

Daring felt her face contort as she sat on her haunches. "It's just not...I mean, normally ponies are all over me."

"Pride will do you no favors." York laid his head back down. "Just understand you have nothing I want."

Daring sat quietly. "So uh...why?"

York popped his eyes open and stared at the wall. "Are you still on about this?"

"It's not normal!"

York rolled his head to meet her's. "No...I'm not normal. Your kind has nothing I want."

Daring thought for a moment, Her kind? "Wait...are you-"

"Gay? Yes." York noted coldly. "Now I suggest you keep that information to yourself!" York pulled himself out of his bed. "I find out you tell a single pony and you'll learn the true meaning of a burning flank!"

Daring cocked her head hard. "I don't-- what?"

York's expression fell flat, the bright red mark over his dirty white coat dropped to match his annoyance. "I will brand you with a hot iron."

Daring lifted her leg reflexively. "Whoa! I mean, it sounded like you were making a sex joke but, branding, do you really do that?"

York jumped down from his bed. "I've broken ponies in more ways than you could imagine! You take them in combat, you take their pride, you take their marks, their specialties, their lives, and you crush them!" York stamped his hoof, making the wooden floor creak under his forceful stomp. "I swear...the young one's cry less than the older ones. But I suppose it doesn't matter, they all cry when I take their lives for the horde."

Daring had wilted as York towered over her head. "Dear Celestia...you...so you just rape ponies?"

York snorted a stream of hot air onto Daring's muzzle. "I rape them, I beat them, I brand them, I make them pliable and docile. And I help lead the penal hordes. Criminals, captives, foreigners, traitors, those types are the ones I break. They fight hard, but they aren't loyal. Hopefully your friend, the one with the wings, can keep them in line. If not...well, I fear for my own safety as well as your masters."

Daring poked York in the chest. "My master!? I don't have a master, I am a strong independent pegasus and I don't bend to anypony!"

Rage grew across York's face. "Do you want to test that theory? I'm sure I could be persuaded into mounting someone I feel nothing for, if only to prove a point." York stood over Daring as he licked his teeth. "I'm sure you'd make a fine concubine, our foals would be strong, fast, they could rival Jut himself." York let out a breathy huff past Daring's horrified face.

Daring backed into a wall as York continued his movements. "Are you serious...York- you're York right?! York- York stop!"

York nipped at Daring's ear, causing her to crumple beneath him. "Then don't test me. Now...I'm going to find a young colt for the night. Feel free to use my bed."

York strode out of his room, toting a hardy bit of excitement under his hips as he walked out. Daring waited for him to be completely out of the room before muttering to herself. "Fucking lunatic...." Daring looked around York's home. "Huh...nice taste though." Daring trotted around, looking at the shields and blades that adorn the walls.

Getting brave, Daring pulled a journal from a cabinet and skimmed it. It was filled with runes and ancient letters, Daring had no way of reading it, but given the number of drawing and detailed paragraphs Daring assumed it was some sort of horrible rape journal.

She settled in atop York's fur blankets, not daring to burrow beneath for fear of sexual stains or blood. She skimmed the book lazily, enjoying York's apparent drawing expertise and settling into the warm fur blankets that caressed her body. "That colt cuddler really knows how to draw." She drifted away as her mind drifted to her friends. "I wonder if they're fucking right now.... They're like...yeah...they're probably fucking." Daring's mind drifted to perverse regions as she thought about their nubile bodies drenched in sweat as Skane's bulky form took complete control over Umbri's athletic frame.

Daring looked back at her flank and lifted up her backside, a small wet spot was growing behind her. "...Stupid sexy stallion." Daring ground herself against the soft fur blankets and settled into a night of tossing and turning, trying to cool her excited sex and go to sleep. All it took was a quick thought back to the draft that she felt on her head. She would avenge her hat one day, probably through continued cock blocking. She thought to herself as she settled in.
> Exile
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Umbri and myself woke up to the sound of screaming. Daring quickly burst into the room. "York said to meet him in the yard!" With her message delivered she ran off, leaving myself and Umbri rather confused in the bed.

I let out a long groan as I stood up. "Bloody mornings...why is there...sun."

Umbri bristled as she shook her body. "Because...planets need...light."

"Buck the planets." I stepped off the bed with a thud. "What have the planets ever done for me?"

Umbri joined me as we started off towards the yard. "Idiot, we are on a planet!"

"You're a planet!" I shouted grumpily. Umbri just stared at me, bemused. "No...you're not a planet." I nuzzled her neck. "You're my mate...and I...well...if it's mutual I think I might--"

Daring burst into the room once again. "You guys coming or not!?"

My rage boiled over, "Daring!"

"What!?"

"You're a planet!" I screamed, trotting over to the door, "No...you're not even a planet, planet is too good for you. You're a moon."

Daring looked me over, "...Screw you...." she turned her nose up at me and wandered off. I watched her angrily as Umbri walked over next to me.

She nuzzled my side. "Come, rest is over, we will lay again another time."

I groaned loudly, lifting my injured foreleg and looking at the red stained bandages. "Fine, but I want something to numb the pain!" I limped slowly after the duo, my leg giving me trouble. "...Umbri...Daring...somepony...help." No one came, screams ringing in my ears.

I continued to limp forward, using the wall as a crutch and hurrying out after the two. My muscles burned, my leg causing a heavy limp. I reached a small door outside, spotting Daring and Umbri standing in shock before the door. "What, what is it?!" I yelled, the screams growing louder once again, "What is that--"

I stopped dead as I spotted the source. In the middle of the main road, the same road where the dead had been lined up, was covered with ponies in chains. Little by little they were worked down a line towards York, who was standing near a fire pit, striking each pony with a brand.

The smell of burn flesh followed with the screams of the prisoners filled the cold air of Shattered Hoof. I felt ill as I watched the ponies line up, a pair of earth ponies holding them down while York stuck a burning metal piece into their flanks.

I turned away as fast as I could, a cold rumbling in my gut refusing to leave as the screams continued. "Umbri...Daring...." I called out softly, "We need to let him work...."

Daring was bristling with rage, "Are you kidding me!? We can't just--"

Umbri cut in, "Skane, she's right! We can't just--"

I spun around, falling to three legs, "You both listen to me! I've seen this, back at the temple. A pegasus with a brand is an exile! But the alternative...." I tugged at the tips of Daring's wings, "The alternative is much more grim...."

Daring slapped her wings to her sides, "That doesn't make this ok--"

"It's to keep them from leaving!" I yelped, stomping my back hoof, "Umbri...explain...."

Umbri swallowed hard as Daring's livid gaze turned to her, "Daring...a pegasus exile...has no land." she tried to ignore the continued screams cutting apart the calm grey morning, "...An exile who returns to the empire...they're seen as weak, and they're more often than not...castrated, clipped, and...forced to labor."

Daring's wings flared back out, "So what, they're gonna be slaves then!? Is that what your plan--"

I glared at her, limping over to meet her eye to eye, "Daring...this was never my plan. But with me, with me they have a chance!" I screamed, followed by another howl from a slave, "With me they have a chance to fight, a chance to earn a home, a land! If you go out there, you will only earn a mark yourself!"

Daring and I had a battle of glares, hers breaking first and sending her storming down the halls, "This isn't right!"

I looked at the floor as Umbri took Daring's place, "It's never right...." I stated, turning my nose up and looking into Umbri's scared eyes, "It's never fair." I leaned my head against her's feeling her push back against the base of my horn.

"Skane...please...." Umbri mumbled into my forehead, "Please promise me you'll never do this again."

I took a deep breath and slung my good hoof around her neck, "Umbri...I will do everything I must to see the sun again, and to bring peace back to this frozen land. Should their lives be required, so be it, should my life be required, so be it--"

"And if it comes time for me?" she asked, nuzzling my head and pushing her muzzle close to mine.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, "Then I shall take your place...." I laughed weakly, "By the Mother...I think I'm smitten...promising my life to some legion soldier...."

Umbri pecked my cheek and pressed our cheeks together, "And here I thought I was the fool...wandering around with my life in the hands of some backwater preacher with an axe."

I forced myself beside Umbri, slowly leading her away from the pained screams. "A backwater preacher with an axe, and, a bad temper."

Umbri chuckled nervously, "Lest I ever forget...may the Mother strike me dead."

I stopped my nuzzling and looked at her, holding up my hoof, "Umbri, don't tempt fate...please." Umbri nodded, trying to ignore the pained screams. But they continued despite her denial, and all I could do was try and be there for her until the branding was done, my legion was created, and our lives shifted from the town into the wide unknown once again.