Between Heaven and Equestria - Part I

Chapters

01 - One Job
02 - Reporting In
03 - R&R
04 - White Walls
05 - Luna's Call
06 - Observations
07 - Between Heaven and Equestria
08 - Mask of Courage
09 - Tumble Weeds
10 - Reflection
11 - Interrogation

01 - One Job

Chapter 1

One Job

A gust of sulfurous heat was Sergeant Blue Shield’s first hint that his carefully laid out plans had not survived first contact with the enemy. It was an old military truth every soldier joked about and every leader dreaded, but there it was, staring him in the face. The flames which followed the initial torrid gust rolled up and over the magical shield which his horn had been prepared to project since they had taken this position.

Orange and yellow light filled the night sky and gave everypony present a wonderfully detailed look at the path they were about to be running down at breakneck speed. The squad glanced up at their leader, large eyes sparkling as discipline warred with fear. Training caused them all to find solace in the unflinching courage of their leader, and that same training caused the sergeant to swallow his terror and stand unflinching against the enemy.

The rage of the inferno dissipated and a deep growl resonated through the chamber before them. Blue Shield’s pure white coat was covered in light steel plate and his blue mane was spiked in time honored regulations of Her Majesty’s Guard. The muscles in his large frame were flexed, bracing for battle and still ready to react to the danger before him. The midnight blue shimmer of his magic danced around the horn which marked his family lineage. He waited, ears forward, praying to Princess Celestia for a single sound.

That sound was absent for several seconds longer before the rapid clomping of the pony he had sent into danger could be heard rushing his way. Blue Shield’s heart thundered in time with those hoof beats and he gathered himself for the spell which would cover their retreat.

“Make ready,” he told his squad and the hum of three other horns resonated to life. Deep blue eyes squinted into the darkness and gauged the shape of his comrade. Green River was a lean, quick stallion whose magic allowed him to blink forward a short distance, but something was wrong. The treasures dangling from his lips included a necklace, a bulging sack, and a hoof sized cauldron which shed coins, which clinked to the ground, as he jerked them around in his haste. Astride his lean head was a golden crown with fire rubies inlaid around its rim. Treasure … more than he should have taken … bringing the wrath of the enemy upon them.

A star of light winked at the tunnel’s end and Blue Shield knew what would come next. A quick calculation told him the obvious, he’s too far away, and then he heard either Tick or Tock rumble, “He’s not going to make it.”

“No,” Blue Shield snorted, and he released his stance, rushing forward with all of the speed and power he had been building up over the past few seconds. Forward, he focused his energies and released the shield spell at maximum range. The midnight blue barrier crackled to life but was too far away to protect his comrade. Focus, the blue stones in his armor began to glow. Focus, they amplified his power and thrust the shield past the range of his regular abilities. Focus, the dark blue light around his horn grew hotter … lighter … sparks danced off to float through the air around him like a torch bearer running in the opening ceremonies of the Great Games. NOW!

Several spells discharged at once. The charging sergeant winked out in a flash of blue light and then reappeared farther down the tunnel. The barrier he had been projecting parted around the charging Green River like a curtain and then anchored itself to the cave’s walls. The sergeant’s sprint lost all of its momentum and he braced his dark blue hooves against the cave’s floor.

Heat, fire, and force struck his namesake. A psychic fist bowed the surface of his protective energies inward and the barrier became thin as it reached out to touch the unicorn’s flared nostrils. Force rallied against force, generating heat, vibrating stone, and rattling through the sergeant’s bones from horn to hooves. Then, the mighty fire ceased and all of the energy dissipated all at once.

Blue Shield took a knee and breathed hard as he recovered from the effort. Can’t … stay … here. Have to move. Another blast will be coming. Sparks of sound and magic suddenly flanked the sergeant. An orange pony, with red hair, pressed against his sergeant’s left side while his opposite colored twin took up position against his right. Then, there was another double chime and he felt himself scrunching through the eyes of needle like a Great Dane through a kitty door. The contents of his stomach lurched, realized they couldn’t make it through, and then slammed back into place with a great gurgling slosh. Then they were through and standing back at the entrance.

Green River began to laugh in semi-hysterical victory. “Right! Yeah! Do it!”

Blue Shield had half a mind to clop him firmly on the noggin, but the rest of his mind was way too invested in keeping his body upright and his mostly digested dinner under control.

“Move out,” he ordered, and they all began an unsteady trot down the side of the mountain. For a few minutes there was peace.

The night had been a fairly clear one and the moon shone down in a manner that made the sergeant feel as if the Mare in the Moon was watching. She is watching, his mind told him uncomfortably, only now she can give us orders. The thought made him swallow hard and he forced himself to focus upon his surroundings. Crisp cool air did wonders for his frayed nerves and soon he felt like himself once more.

“Drop the crown,” he ordered, scowling at the green pony.

“But … treasure,” River protested, but it was short lived as he let it fall to the ground. The rest of his treasures had already floated into the various pockets of his armor and his grin teetered between sheepish and proud.

“The crown should slow him,” Blue Shield told him as they moved a little faster. “If we’re lucky … we can get-” A roar of pure rage shook the air and rattled the stone all around them. Oh … sweet merciful Celestia … “Run.”

“Sarg?”

“RUN!” Another rumble, another shake, then the stallions added their own rhythm to the cacophony.

“Way to go bumble hoof!” Tick snorted at Green River.

“You had one job to do!” Tock added. “Just one!”

“Get in!” Tick continued.

“Get out!” Tock echoed.

“Get on with your life!” the two brother’s said in tandem.

“But nooo,” Tick scolded, “you just had to stop and steal the shiny!”

“Sorry,” Green River tried to tell them as he huffed, “I tried … but there was … so … much … shiny!”

“Less yappin’ more runnin’!” Blue Shield ordered and the debate was shelved for later. The hoof beats of five stallions became the music of their passing as they all rushed down the slope of the path at an unsafe speed. Hot wind gusted from on high and a great shadow swept over them, then its owner flew high into the air as if turning to make another pass.

“I don’t think he’s stoppin’!” Green River warned.

“They get like that when you steal their treasures,” one of the twins commented.

“It’s not like he was using it!” River wined defensively.

“It’s the principle of the matter,” the other twin told him.

“Awe, bit-spittle,” River moaned, “that principle’s comin’ back!”

Red scales gleamed in the moonlight and then blotted out the stars above. The mass of a small castle crashed onto the mountaintop and stones began tumbling down from on high.

“Halt!” the sergeant ordered, and his team stumbled together as they slowed. “Form up! Tortoise formation!” Flank to flank … rump to rump, the unicorn’s reigned in and assumed their stance. The five of them each faced out from a common center and together they could cover every direction. “Shield cover!!”

“Aye!” the whole squad shouted as the unicorns all lit their horns with a color unique to their specialty. Green, Orange, Red, and Silver all came together and moved around a core of midnight blue. Their energies swirled faster and faster until they solidified into a stiff and sturdy dome. The huff of winded stallions was muffled by the avalanche. The impact of large pieces of mountain jarred through to the base of every erect horn, causing winces of discomfort to swell through and around them. The strain was obvious, but they did what they had been trained to do in their years together as a team … they held.

“Recover,” Sergeant Blue Shield whispered when the sounds finally ceased. The hum of five horns fizzled out and their protection faded away. A slight shift in the stone caused them to jerk but it did not collapse around them. Instead they were now encased in rubble … surrounded by stone in an uncomfortable mass grave. “Shade.”

“Understood,” the dark gray unicorn muttered, and then he closed his eyes and focused. Shadows grew up around them, as Shade’s magic covered the squad and their stone prison in blackness. The others instinctively pressed themselves flat along the cold path. Labored breathing was forced into a quiet cadence as each member of the squad thought invisible thoughts.

A swoosh flattened their ears against their heads as the shadow passed over them once … twice … again and again as the dragon circled the mountain in search of its treasure. Frustrated snorts and sputtering growls gave voice to the smoke trail that trailed from its irritated nostrils. None dared move from their position … but they could not stay here for long.

“Tick … Tock,” the sergeant whispered at a level that everypony felt was deafening in this space, “blink us out of here.”

“Aye,” the twins acknowledged quietly and they closed their matching yellow eyes in an effort to slowly build up energy in a manner which would not disrupt the veil which hid them. For once Green River did not speak as the twins worked. He knew what would happen if their spell was not exact. Too little energy and they might reappear a hundred feet in the air. Too much energy and … well … the ground was very solid.

Precision was paramount in this travel spell and the strain was plain on their faces. The low frequency hum built up in their bodies and caused their teeth to rattle uncomfortably, but when the moment finally took them, their bodies slid apart. A multi-colored breeze drew them out through the cracks in the rubble and drifted them through the air as if it were a simple bit of nature’s plan. The world came back together in a thousand little pieces and they were all pleased to discover their hooves planted firmly upon the soil that had surrounded the mountain’s base.

“Sergeant?” Green River started.

“Cloak and run silent,” Blue Shield hissed.

A veil slowly shimmered over each unicorn stallion and they willed themselves away. It was hard to plod slowly along the open ground between the mountain and the Everfree Forest, but training and discipline kept them all together. Nopony bolted. Nopony gave the other’s away.

The green canopy finally shielded them from the dragon’s airborne gaze when first glimpses of Celestia’s morning light had just touched the eastern sky. Sighs of deep relief rolled from the nostrils of everypony present as they finally relaxed their focus and lowered their guard.

“Form up,” Sergeant Blue Shield ordered without the usual strength such a command. His stallions responded with equal levels of exhaustion as they formed a line and sounded off.

“Tick.”

“Tock.”

“River.”

“Shade.”

Blue Shield stared at his squad and was unable to keep the pride from his eyes. “Move out,” he finally told them and they plodded slowly as they began the long trek home. Nopony dared speak a word until the calls and cries of the forest’s creatures had risen up around them and the sun shone down from its proper place.

“We stopping for breakfast, Sergeant?” Green River finally asked.

“Yeah,” Tick snorted, “breakfast sounds good.”

“You wanna try the local cuisine?” Blue Shield asked them dryly as he motioned at the strange plants of the Everfree Forest. The silence and their faces confirmed the obvious answer. “Good, then stow the lip-blather and step on out. If we canter a bit we might be home by lunch.”

“Mmmm … lunch,” Green River moaned.

02 - Reporting In

“State your business!”

“None of yours,” Green River snorted at the muscle bound Clydesdale of an Earth pony who guarded the front gate of the city.

“At ease, colts,” Blue Shield spoke sternly as the stallions eyeballed each other defiantly. A flexing of his will forced the guard to face him and he reported in formal order. “Midnight Horns … we are returning on crown business.”

“Right,” the guard snorted as his eyes looked challengingly along Blue Shield’s worn armor. “You’re out of regulation … sergeant.” The rank had been added almost like a curse word and it drew angry rumbles from the Tick-Tock twins.

“Field work is dirty business, corporal,” Blue Shield spoke pointedly, reminding the gate guard of his lesser rank. “You would know that if you ever got away from garrison duty.”

The great stallion gritted his teeth and faced off with the slightly smaller sergeant. Blue Shield was large by unicorn standards, but this muscle-bound brute was powerful enough to flatten him in a fair fight. Fortunately, this was the military … and he would not allow this to degenerate into a common brawl.

“Corporal,” he finally spoke in a bored tone, “I’m not interested in this tree watering contest. Either let us in, or go get the commander of the watch.”

“Hmph,” the earth pony guard snorted, “you’re clear to pass.”

The five unicorns passed through the gate and into the street beyond, but that was not the end of it.

“Buckin’ ground pounder,” Green River cursed once the guards were out of ear-shot.

“River,” Blue Shield spoke sternly.

“Sergeant,” River continued unabated, “that colt was downright insubordinate! Why did you put up with him?”

“For the same reason I put up with you,” the squad leader explained. “Everypony has their place in Her Majesty’s Queendom and it is not up to us to judge.”

“But-”

“That’s enough, corporal,” Blue Shield said as the fatigue colored his words, “we’ve survived … let it be.”

Green River clenched his jaw but did not speak another word as they moved through the busy streets. Canterlot was bustling with the activity which the nation’s capital always enjoyed. The five of them moved with the crowds and drew only an occasional curious look from those who chose to notice. Likely they only notice the fact that we’re worn … lacking the typical spit and polish of the garrison.

The squad used one of the side entrances to get into the castle-proper and then reported to the debriefing area where they would be expected to report. From there the squad let their rumps hit the stone while their sergeant sent a messenger to spread word of their return.

“Attention!” Blue Shield called out and his colts snapped straight. The unicorn which entered the briefing room was as white as the sergeant with a blue stripped mane that fell loosely out of regulation. The sergeant’s eyes hardened at the captain’s casual swagger but he saluted crisply as was proper. “Midnight Horns reporting as ordered, sir!”

“At-ease, sergeant,” Captain Shining Armor spoke in a tone that said he was uncomfortable with Blue Shield’s level of formality. “Report.”

“Mission accomplished, sir,” the sergeant spoke with a crisp but less enthusiastic level. The glow of green magic drew a startlingly brilliant crystal forth from the pouch which River had been wearing and it floated forward until the sergeant took it in his dark blue grip. “The Dragon’s Eye has been liberated, sir. The previous owner was evaded. No casualties to report.”

“Good,” the captain nodded as he stared at the crystal for a moment. “The princess will be pleased.”

Which one? The sergeant wondered without speaking. The true princess we serve, the false princess you serve, or the frightening one who has returned from our nightmares to reign on high? “Yes, sir.”

“Your squad has done a good job, sergeant,” the captain said with a smile that was too brilliant. “You should get some R&R.”

“As you say, sir,” the sergeant responded.

“Yeah,” the captain said uncomfortably. “Dismissed.”

Don’t let me catch your meal ticket wearing my team’s hard fought goods. “Sir,” the sergeant said with a formal salute which his captain returned with a smirk that boiled the subordinate’s blood. Shining Armor withdrew and the Midnight Horns returned to the barracks area where they had been bedding down for many months since their group was activated. As a unit the squad shed their armor and collapsed into heap of unsteady bodies who longed for food and rest.

“Survived another mission,” Tick said with a weary smile.

“Time for some food,” Green River spoke next.

“Or a bath,” Tock added.

“Yes,” Shade spoke quietly as he tossed open his hoof-locker and drew out a towel and some toiletries.

“Scrub down first,” Blue Shield ordered, “eat second.”

“Awe … sergeant,” Green River whined.

“That’s not an order,” Shield said with a smile, “just something you should do before a mare kicks you in the teeth.”

“That only happened once!” River stated emphatically.

“And most ponies would have learned their lesson by now,” Tock snorted.

“River is not most ponies,” Tick snarked with a grin.

“You know it,” River shot back smugly.

“Sergeant Blue Shield?” The words came from the still breaking voice of a trainee who had not yet taken his vows.

“Hey,” Green River snorted, “no earth ponies in our bay!”

“Stow it, River,” the sergeant shot sternly as his command tone returned to his body. He then moved over to where the colt stood with wide-eyed concern. “Report.”

“The Princess wishes to speak with you, sir,” the colt squeaked.

“Sergeant,” River blustered.

“Sergeant,” the colt corrected himself.

“Now?” Sergeant Blue Shield asked heavily.

“Yes, sir.”

“Sergeant!” Green River spat irritably.

“Sergeant,” the colt spoke with a flush.

The silence between them created a tension as Blue Shield took a deep breath and then refastened his straps with his magic. A series of clicks and snaps straightened his armor and the helm of his rank floated back into place. “Lead on cadet.”

“Yes, sir … er … sergeant.”

The walk through the halls of the castle was a somber affair in which neither spoke. The young colt obviously wanted to ask questions, get advice, and listen to old war stories, but Blue Shield was just too tired for such things. The mission had been an all-night affair and his muscles ached from the march out, the action at the mountain, and the march back. More than anything he wanted to strip bare, scrub himself raw, devour something hot, and then collapse into bed. But all of that would have to wait … duty called.

Stairs carried the pair up into one of the many towers and the climb caused his already exhausted muscles to scream in further protest. The sergeant’s fears were confirmed as they passed multiple rooms which could have been appropriate to brief any of the princesses. Around and around they circled, climbing all the way to the top before entering the observation tower.

“Here, sir-eh-geant,” the young guide said as he corrected himself in mid breath. “The princess will meet you here!”

The colt fled before the sergeant could ask any questions and Sergeant Blue Shield let out a deep breath as he let his eyes fall upon the closed door. Several deep breaths allowed him a moment of rest as he fought the urge to sag. If I relax now, I will not be able to tense back up again. Report now … rest later. Shoulders squared, and he scrunched up his face to draw blood upward. Then, he relaxed and knocked one hoof upon the sturdy wood door.

“Enter,” a voice on the other side spoke and the sergeant’s blood went cold.

No … no … not her … not … The door opened when he hoofed the latch and he pushed it inward carefully. Inside, the tower was open to the sky and the beams of high-noon passed through stained glass to smear color into odd patterns on the floor. The formerly banished Nightmare Moon stood regally before him, hair flowing ethereally to one side yet still sparkling with the stars of the midnight sky. Celestia preserve me.

“Come in, sergeant,” Princess Luna ordered and he obeyed. “It is … a beautiful day,” she said awkwardly.

“Yes, princess,” Blue Shield spoke from where he knelt in submission.

“You may rise,” Luna told him, and his eyes caught a glint of something shiny, surrounded by magic the color of midnight.

So similar to my own … and yet …

“Dost thou understand the power of yon crystal?” she spoke as her words slipped back into the accent of the ancient Canterlot Royalty.

“No, princess.”

“The Dragon’s Eye grants the masters of a realm the power to gaze upon any part of their territory with efficiency,” the princess explained. “Dragon’s know of intruders and royalty can watch our domains with a simple glance.”

This will allow you to spy on your sister and her subjects, Blue Shield thought as he began calculating the odds of taking on Nightmare Moon.

“For days we have felt something wrong within our territory,” Luna continued. “Now we have seen it … and there is much to do before events unfold too far.”

The glow of her magic lifted a dozen large stones out of the floor of the chamber and then more of her magic lifted several sizable pieces of furniture with the same effort which Blue Shield would have used to lift a towel to himself from across the room. The stones then settled solidly back into the floor and the furniture rested atop it. A round table with a crystal ball sat in its center and two plush chairs landed upon either side.

Blue Shield sat upon the offered chair, after the princess took her place across from him, and then he gazed at several rune stones which surrounded the larger sphere. Several of the stones had been retrieved by his team over the past several weeks and some of them appeared to have been collected by other teams. Of course, he thought as his mind clicked several bits of information into place, Midnight Horns sound like something she would adopt as her own. Just like the Shadow Bolts and the Dark Hooves are her creatures too. One squad from each race … her black-ops teams … and who knows what type of missions the others are doing for her.

“This piece completes the spell,” Princess Luna continued, “and we hath already discovered a great danger from beyond the Everfree Forest.” The darkness of her horn lit the crystal sphere and it danced with colors until clearing to show the forest floor. A gathering of huts appeared in her viewing and the odd assortments of foreign artifacts were scattered here and there.

“This danger hath taken much of our attention, but our sister is not yet convinced. Yet thine actions have granted new insight which can no longer be ignored. New precautions will be taken and this place shall be made safe. Thy actions have brought safety to thy home …” the princess then hesitated as if trying to remember something important. When she spoke again, she had cut away from her thickening accent and managed to sound a little more modern in her speech. “I … want you … to travel to this location and investigate what happened to these villagers.”

Of course you do, Blue Shield thought bitterly and he took a deep breath to steady himself before speaking. “As my princess commands … but with all due respect … my stallions have not slept or eaten in a day.” That’s it … don’t let her see weakness … this is for the rest of the squad and not me. “They require rest if they are to retain their efficiency.”

“Of course,” the princess nodded. “We … I shall still require some more time with this new knowledge to determine the best action. Take your rest, sergeant, but keep alert. We shall call thee before long.”

“As my princess commands,” Blue Shield spoke with a reverent bow that was as much sagging fatigue as it was humility. “Midnight Horns shall glide through the night at thy command.”

03 - R&R

“Why the long face, Sarge?” Green River asked as his squad leader sank into the steaming tub without armor. A groan of releasing tension oozed out of him and he dunked his head under the water for several seconds before coming back up for air.

“Did you speak to Princess Celestia?” Tick asked at once, but the sergeant only shook his head.

“Oh!” River moved excitedly and sloshed some of his bath water onto the floor. “Did you get to see her royal hotness?” The dead-eye stare of his squad leader caused the exuberance to fade from the young soldier’s face. “Oh … oh buck.”

“We’re on stand-by,” Blue Shield finally told them as they all lounged in their own tubs which had mostly cooled. The mirth in their faces faded as they all leaned heavily upon the wooden ledge. Shade gave the water an irritated slap while Tick and Tock exchanged worried glances.

“Great,” River sighed.

“Orders?” Shade asked unceremoniously.

“Stay sober and get some rest,” Blue Shield told them. “We have the rest of this day to ourselves but we are not to indulge in anything that will leave us unprepared for the morrow. Get a good meal but don’t eat anything greasy. Visit your family, if they’re close, but spend the night in your rack. Lights out will be midnight.”

“A curfew?” Green River blanched with the scoff of one who was offended by the notion.

“Princess Luna likes to send her troops out at midnight,” Shade reminded River. All were quiet for a moment. Then the dark grey pony turned to his leader and spoke on a familiar level. “Sergeant … do you have any intelligence we might need for this one?”

“Something … is happening,” Blue finally said after reviewing the details of his encounter with his mind’s eye. “I’m not sure what is going on yet but it has the Night Mare all worked up. She’s gone to Princess Celestia with her concerns … but they have not yet been taken seriously. This might just be some wild goose chase …”

“But you don’t believe that,” Shade spoke quietly.

“No,” Blue Shield shook his head. “Something’s about to happen … something big.”

Quiet fell upon the others as their sergeant’s words sank in. The quiet helped the frayed nerves and he let himself sink until only his ears and his nostrils were breaching the surface of the water. Green River broke first.

“Well I’m not wasting my time here with a bunch of naked stallions,” River declared as he clopped onto the stone floor and wiped a towel over his grass green skin. “There’s fillies to be flirted with and I’m gonna go scare me up a piece of flank!” He emphasized the statement by slapping the twin-rivers of his cutie mark which splashed recklessly over a sea of scattered stars.

“Make certain they’re legal this time,” Tick teased as he too got out of the tub.

“Mayhaps we should go with to chaperone,” Tock sniggered as he too stepped to the floor and padded dry his clock-face cutie mark.

“Fine,” River snorted, “you can be my wingponies.”

Tick and Tock made sounds of mutually offended dismissal, then both answered, “We shall see.”

The three stallions trotted out of the bathing chamber and Blue Shield finally allowed his muscled to relax in the hot tub.

“Blue,” Shade spoke quietly once they were alone, “what’s going on?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Seriously?” Shade asked incredulously. “Not even a guess?”

“Who knows?” Blue shrugged.

“You are lying.” Blue found his old friend’s eyes and they gazed right through him. “Speculate.” Silence followed as the pony Blue trusted the most drew his true fears right to the surface. He looked away first and then took another deep breath to gather his thoughts.

“The Mare in the Moon was imprisoned for a thousand years … but she might not have been the only thing trapped up there.” Blue paused and then asked the question he feared. “What if our dark princess was not the only nightmare to get free? What if something else got loose and is out there right now … scheming?”

“That … is a frightening thought,” Shade admitted. “So … we are on stand-by.”

“Yep.”

“Hmmm,” the dark eyed pony rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I know a place with good food and a wonderful view.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Blue started to protest but several course brushes suddenly lifted into the air and surrounded the helpless stallion in his tub. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Don’t tempt me,” Shade warned him as the course bristles closed in slowly.

“Pah … fine,” Blue sighed as he took over the spell on a few of the brushes and let the rest fall to the ground. Then, he closed his eyes and brought them in with some soap to scrub himself pink. Then he climbed out of the water and let his skin tingle. A brief rubdown later and he turned to the clothing Shade had brought with. “Not our usual finery?”

“They don’t like grunts,” Shade told him.

“We’re not …” Blue Shield paused when his friend crooked a brow. Then he let out a dramatic sigh and let his features sag. “They don’t like grunts.”

*****

A few hours later, Blue found himself on a raised part of Canterlot, at a café, surrounded by the most beautiful creatures in all of Equestria. The Mile High Club was owned and operated by pegasus ponies, and it was rare for anypony outside of their own to take to the place at all. The lower levels had wooden flooring but some clouds had been rolled into place for some of the upper levels.

Blue and Shade had a spell made for just a moment and they cast it at the base before they moved into view. Several concerned expressions found them when they bypassed the warning signs and then hopped off of the stairs onto the clouds. Blue could not help but grin at the feel of the spongy material under his hooves and he trotted lightly to a table that granted them a fine view of the countryside beyond the walls of the city. The two of them managed to angle themselves so that they could both see the entrance and still watch each other’s backs. The lack of walls meant the platform gave way to open air and while they had been developing some spells that would allow them to float like feathers to the ground … the return climb would guarantee their food would be cold before they got back.

“Nice,” Blue told his companion as they settled into the comfort of their nimbus seats. “We’re pulling a mixture of stares, though.”

“It’s a bit elitist up here,” Shade admitted as he picked up his menu.

“But … there are stairs,” Blue countered.

“By royal decree,” Shade said dismissively as his eyes scanned lazily over the list, “can’t be overtly racist … but it doesn't stop folks from trying.”

Blue gave a murmur of acknowledgment as he remembered River’s comments about earth ponies and how useless they were. Wingless, hornless, brutes without style or class, he had said. Blue had tried hard not to agree with his comrade’s crass comments but it was difficult sometimes. A life without magic was one he could not imagine … but at least the pegasus ponies can fly.

That last thought drew his eyes away from his menu to the landing pad marked in red where wait-staff landed with trays for their customers. Blue’s eyes followed their comings and goings, dazzled by the casual grace of their movements and wishing he could figure out a spell that would give him wings. Rumors of the unicorn who had entered the young flyers competition with dew drenched butterfly wings had drawn him back to his books but that kind of magic was beyond him. I’m a soldier … not an artist. It takes real skill to pull something like that off. Still … he had to try … though he had yet to succeed in doing much more than get himself soaked.

A beautiful pink filly captured Blue’s attention as she landed and his eyes grew huge as he watched her fold her wings together and glance around. When their eyes met his heart leapt and then bellowed with a surge of pure thunder. Her body was all lean muscle and easy grace as she trotted over to their table, and she blinked twice at him before slapping her notepad onto the table and gripping a pencil with her lips.

“Can I take your order?”

“Uh …” Tower to Blue … Tower to Blue … engage please … hello? Blue?

“Nimbus special with a side of rain-soup-surprise,” Shade finally said. “This is his first time here so he’ll get the rainbow delight.”

“One nimbus special and one rainbow delight,” the waitress repeated. “Anything to drink with that?”

“Two thunderclouds, please,” shade answered. “And a pair of bowls in case we spill.”

“Oh,” the waitress blinked as she tried not to smile, “of course.” Her lips swirled the pencil over her notepad and Blue marveled at the skill he had never bothered to learn. “Anything else?” she asked as she slid the pencil back into her notepad.

“No thanks,” Shade told her with a pleasant smile. She nodded and then moved away. “Hey, cow-paddy.” Blue blinked and looked over at his friend. “You going to talk to her or just drool?”

“I … I can’t …” Tower to Blue … engage already!

“What … scared?”

“Uh … huh …”

“Blue,” Shade said with annoyed expression, “Less than twelve hours ago I watched you charge directly into the fire stream of a very angry dragon. This is far less scary.”

“But … she’s just so … so …” Engage Blue … please respond!

“Pretty,” Shade teased him, “graceful, beautiful, kinda hot?” Blue grunted an affirmative and nodded slightly. “Well she’s not going to take you flying unless you ask.” Blue flushed and was certain the burn would cover all of him before long. Shade let out a laugh. “Oh, good grief. You’re so weird, Blue. Now stop blushing … somepony’s going to think we’re on a date or something.”

04 - White Walls

The morning sun crashed through dreams of dragons chasing ponies through the streets of Canterlot and burned away the fog of a fitful night. Blue Shield could hear the morning revelry and he moved instinctively to his window to face the flag. His hoof found his brow and he stared hard into the light as the white banner unfolded and showed Celestia’s golden sigil to the world.

A moan came from the far side of the barracks alerting him to one other having his dreams interrupted. “You know … we’re on furlough,” Shade murmured. “You don’t have to get up and salute.”

“Yes,” Blue told his friend, “I do.”

“Yeah,” Shade nodded, “you do.” Then, the stallion rolled over, put his covers up over his head and resumed his deep breathing.

A smile touched Blue’s lips, but it faltered when he looked at the three empty beds in the room which had not been touched since their return. “Shade.”

“Mmmmph.”

“The others didn’t come back last night.” An unconcerned utterance answered. “I need to go find them.”

“Try the jail,” Shade mumbled.

Blue blinked at that answer and was about to ask something but decided to leave it be.

*****

“Uh … mornin’, Sarge,” Green River greeted sheepishly. The stallion winced as he rose to a respectful stance. Cuts and bruises covered his skin with angry marks and his smile was missing another tooth. “Uhm … funny meeting you here.”

“The guard says you were fighting with these colts over here,” Sergeant Shield spoke in a voice that trembled with quiet rage. His gaze shifted to the earth pony guards who had stopped them the previous day. Their bruises were just as plentiful and not a one of them looked up to meet his gaze. At least my stallions appear to have put up a good fight.

“Uh … yeah,” Green River hung his head.

“Yeah, what?” the steel of command reminded him.

“Yes, Sergeant!”

Deep blue eyes stared hard at his subordinate and then shot to his brothers-in-arms. The Tick-Tock brothers flinched. “I’m not surprised to see this hoof-brain here … but you two? I expected more of you.”

“Sorry, Sergeant,” they spoke simultaneously, no excuses coming to their lips.

“Will you be taking charge of them, Sergeant?” the jailor said as he stepped closer to the cage.

“That depends,” he said without looking away from them, “how long will you keep them if I just leave them here?”

“Until the sun sets,” the jailor shrugged with a sour smirk. “You want me to keep them?” A long silence surrounded them as the three in captivity looked more worried with each heartbeat. “Sergeant?”

“I’m thinking,” he said as he continued to glare. As he let the silence stretch, the stomping of angry hooves echoed into the jail and sent the earth ponies in the cage standing ridged and terrified. Perfect. “Commander Shod Hoof.”

“Sergeant Blue Shield,” the earth pony gate guard commander nodded respectfully, his red body flexed in equal parts military perfection and harsh reprimand. Bright green eyes held his guards transfixed as he laid into them. “Well … well … well … do the bars and the cages need extra guarding?”

“N-no, sir,” stammered the highest ranking of the subordinates.

“The gold of the front gates not enough for you?” the commander continued. “Not enough action in your day-to-day lives?” The earth guards opened their mouths and then snapped them shut a few times like shore beached fish.

Every inch a war-pony. “It appears our colts have too much time on their hooves,” Blue Shield remarked. “Commander, do you have any walls which need a new coat of paint?”

“Miles upon miles,” the commander caught on immediately, “layered in the earthen tradition of bucket and brush without a drop of magic to help.”

“That sounds like some good training for a unicorn,” the sergeant said in the tone of a bully debating which filly he was going to beat up and steal their lunch money. “I volunteer my three idiots for the detail.”

“A novel idea,” the commander agreed. “I think it’s time for us to spend some quality time together … bonding.”

*****

“Ahhh … isn’t this fun?” Sergeant Blue Shield remarked loudly from behind his dark sunglasses.

“Woo-hoo,” Green River grumbled in a flat voice, “this is the best … job … ever.”

Blue Shield sipped his icy drink and then paced along the base of the gleaming white walls which protected Canterlot from harm. Three mixed teams of one unicorn and one earth pony stood upon scaffolding, painting by hoof, with nothing but buckets and basic tools.

Magic was forbidden, though not for any true traditional reason. The truth was, most of the city had been constructed by magic and much of it was maintained by those same spells. Still, chipping paint was a time honored tradition in the military, and the more public the humiliation, the more efficient the lessons tended to be.

This paint detail was all along the outer wall near the east gate. While this was not the main gate, it still saw traffic and drew amused stares from those whom passed. Blue Shield was pleased to see that the bickering had eased away after a few brief gusts and now the teams were suffering in silence.

The sun was at its zenith when they were all granted a water break. The groups came together at the two troughs and there were some furrowed brows before they all rolled their eyes and plunged in.

“Hey,” Green River suddenly said as his head and ears perked up all at once, “hey look! It’s princess hotness!” The other stallions all followed his gaze and they all froze … captured by beauty that did not let them go.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza stood upon the ramparts with Captain Shining Armor, her pink body was graceful, flowing, and leaned lovingly along the flank of the unicorn captain. Her large violet eyes sparkled with adoring feelings and the captain’s face spoke of being so thoroughly smitten that it was a wonder he did not fall off of the wall.

They look like a real couple, the sergeant observed as he studied their features. Could it be real? Might their arrangement be more than just political? The thought drew a familiar pain into his chest as he thought of the empty space in his own heart. It had been years since Blue Shield had known a special somepony. At moments like this that ache made it hard to stand … and then he realized something that increased the flush in his blood. I’m … jealous?

At that moment, the princess turned her gaze and seemed to stare right at him. Something light and pure resonated through him in a decidedly non-invasive manner, and Sergeant Shield was grateful for the shades which were covering his tears. The princess stared at him until the captain followed her gaze, and then some private whispers passed between them. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips and she nodded to him.

A gasp of air deflated from Blue Shield’s lungs and he suddenly felt the anger leave his belly. He had not realized how much of his strength and momentum had come from that anger and soon, he found himself unable to continue with the day’s agenda.

“Alright, gentlecolts,” he spoke as his command voice refused to boom at its full volume, “we’re good.”

“Really?” Green River blinked and both Tick and Tock reached out to smack him at the same time.

“Really,” the sergeant said calmly. “You all stopped fighting long enough to work together and in the end … that is all we really need of you. You don’t have to love each other … but we are all on the same team. As long as you can set aside your petty differences long enough to work toward the betterment of Princess Celestia’s Queendom … then that is enough.”

The others glanced at one another in confusion but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Understood, Sergeant,” Tick and Tock spoke as one. The others echoed their compliance and quickly they set to the task of cleaning up their mess. Exhaustion settled into Blue Shield’s limbs as he put one of the earth ponies in charge and then retired the field.

The splendor of the city vibrated with the pride of its white walls and splashes of golden suns. The residents in their afternoon splendor moved through the streets with their heads held high … literally moving with haughty dignity at the knowledge that they were the elite of Equestria. Am I one of them? Do I honestly belong to this place?

Canterlot had been his home for many years, and in all that time he had been alone. Friends were a wonderful thing but that was not the end of his heart’s desire. When his hooves drew him to the royal gardens, the old ache welled up inside and threatened to fling him to the ground. It was here that he had last rolled the dice at love … and it was here that he felt the sort of rejection one rarely recovers from.

It was her … the princess felt my wounds and her magic reopened them … but why? Why did she do this? Why couldn’t she just let me be?

“Sergeant.” The captain’s voice straightened the soldier’s posture and created an unsteady quivering which the soldier had not felt since he was an untested private.

“Sir,” he spoke reflexively and he heard the approach of two ponies. No, his nose suddenly told him, a pony and a princess. His stomach began to quiver as his knees grew weak. I cannot face her … cannot look.

“Princess Cadance would like a word with you.”

“Alone,” her silvery voice spoke.

“Alright,” the captain said in a voice that spoke of weakness and the knight moved away from them.

“Sergeant,” the princess’s voice called out to him, and he felt the rest of him turn toward the beautiful alicorn and his head dropped heavily in a proper bow.

“Princess,” he spoke formally.

“Please … just Cadance,” she assured him.

“I cannot,” he insisted as he drew up his armor and crushed down the emotions which were running over his courage. “How may I serve you, princess?”

“You may serve … by being honest.” The statement was mixed with a mixture of command, sincerity, and a gentle nature that he instantly began to trust. “Your pain reached me.”

“I … apologize,” Blue Shield said with a flush of embarrassment. “My pain is my own … I would never force it upon another … especially you or your sisters.”

“My duty to the crown is in the betterment of its people,” she corrected him. “I work with the hurt and the damaged so that they may learn to love once more. Your struggle has not been as personal as you might believe it to be … I have heard others talking and I have seen the shadow for myself.”

“The shadow?” the sergeant asked with a furrowed brow, and he dared look up at her. The violet in her eyes watched him with genuine concern and her body’s language lacked any fear that one might normally show somepony with his reputation.

“Sadness,” the princess clarified, “loneliness … desire … you looked upon Shining Armor and I and it hurt you … both physically and deeper.”

“Princess,” Blue Shield spoke more sternly than he had meant to but the tone stopped her words. “I appreciate your concern, but this is no more than the loneliness created by a stallion without a mare. I have been single and alone for a lone time, with only duty as my mistress. I shall not fail the crown. I will not fail due to some hurt feelings or lash out to harm one of the colts under my command.”

“Then why do you look upon your commander with so much venom?” she asked with the casual nature of one who has lured prey into a trap.

“It is not appropriate for me to say,” the sergeant spoke with military precision.

“Very well,” the princess said and then she cleared her throat. “Sergeant Blue Shield, as your princess I am ordering you to tell me why you look at your captain the way that you do.”

Because he’s a pretty, undisciplined, child of privilege whose family has been chosen by the crown for special treatment. “With all due respect, princess, you are not my princess. I shall not speak poorly of my captain to you or anyone else, for that matter. Only Princess Celestia herself could cause me to obey such a command.”

“I see,” the princess said with sadness in her eyes, but then a slight smile touched her lips. “Your captain is very lucky to have soldiers as fiercely loyal as you. I hope that in time your opinion of him will lighten … but not all can see him as I do.”

A dozen terrible things flooded through the sergeant’s mind as he wondered the many ways in which they had seen each other. Unworthy … he is so … so very unworthy. “Might I ask what you see in him, princess?” Her smile answered him and her cheeks reddened slightly in a very pretty blush. “Of course,” he said with a nod. Then, he finished rebuilding the wall of his discipline and gave her a courteous bow. “Princess,” he said politely, and when she nodded to him, Sergeant Blue Shield returned to the barracks.

05 - Luna's Call

“Quilliam … Quilliam …” The voice echoed through the fields as the purple darkness rolled in to crush out the light of day. The grasslands sprawled in every direction … spreading into the vastness of infinity. Unreachable goals … unattainable conquest … unquenchable emotions laid barren within the beating heart of beasts and ponies. “Quilliam … Quilliam …”

Hooves beat in a constant rhythm. A single stallion rushing forward toward what was supposed to be a better tomorrow. Another day stood before him … and then another … and then another. A mortal plodding of never-ending delay … struggling to hold back the fleeting nature of mortal lives until the day they fall upon the field and become sweet grass for the next generation to nibble upon as they too rush off to their untimely end.

“Quilliam … Quilliam …”

A sudden stab of pain lanced through the blue shield on his flank. A white, five-pointed, star slammed into its center and sent him sprawling. A sickly green fire erupted from the wound and he could smell the heat branding his flesh. He wanted to cry out … wanted to fight back and howl his defiance to the heavens … but he could make no sound in this place and his body laid impotent before the spreading fire.

“Quilliam … time is fleeting, Quilliam. Forever is the curse of the sun and the moon until they too find their end. Embrace the blessings of thy fleeting days … embrace eternity and let thy passions sing …”

“No!” his voice finally echoed as the fire crawled over the rest of him. White skin charred black and then split open to reveal dark chitinous plates. “NO!”

“MIDNIGHT HORNS,” the voice echoed in the volume of the Royal Canterlot ancients, “THE TIME IS NOW!!!”

“NO!” The scream burst Blue Shield from his slumber and woke the rest of his squad. Lanterns sparked to life and the power of four horns flared to life as tightly strung unicorn soldiers prepared for battle. Several tense moments ticked by as adrenaline held them aloft, eyes scanning for danger, magic at the ready, and then … nothing.

“Everypony alright?” Shade spoke quietly as the others slowly eased the power out of their spells.

“I think … we’ve just been summoned,” the sergeant admitted.

“So … Princess Luna appeared in your dreams too?” Green River asked in a shaky tone.

“It appears so,” Tick nodded.

“Most unsettling,” Tock agreed.

“Sergeant?” Shade asked expectantly.

“Make ready,” Blue Shield told them as he rose and slipped into his uniform. “I will send word if this is the real deal.”

“Aye, Sergeant,” the squad spoke as one, and they turned toward their labors with the efficiency one only achieved through practice drills.

The castle was quiet and the night guards were all surprised to see the sergeant cantering through the streets at such an hour. The tower which Princess Luna had met him in the past stood oppressively before him and he took a moment to gather his courage. Another charge of hooves approached and he turned as he witnessed another pony answer the call.

“Sergeant Steel Bit.”

“Sergeant Blue Shield,” the lean earth pony returned the greeting, his grey coloring and matching eyes showing wary respect as he stopped short of the doors.

“Did you see her?” Blue Shield asked cryptically.

“My whole squad saw her,” Steel Bit responded. Understanding passed between them and they turned their gazes skyward just in time to see, Flutter Gloom, head of the Shadow Bolts, landing at the tower’s zenith. “Figures.”

“Yeah,” Blue Shield mumbled, as his horn glowed for a moment and he flicked open the locks that ran along the inside of the tower and then drew the doors open, “you first.”

Steel Bit snorted in recognition of the joke and then took a deep breath and began his long, circular, charge up the stairs. Blue Shield lingered just long enough to shut and lock the doors behind them. Then, he too took a breath and charged upward. Around and around they went … up and up and up until the sweat flowed freely along his flanks.

“We’re getting too old for this,” Steel Bit complained when Blue Flank huffed and puffed his way to the top landing.

“I don’t think winged ponies feel safe along the ground,” Blue Shield japed, “makes them feel all vulnerable, down at our level.” The other sergeant chuckled as they finished catching their breaths. Then they pressed the door open and entered the tower side-by-side.

The chamber was already decorated in the princess’s colors and the objects all around them appeared to have come straight out of a story about witches and wizards. A large round table was set at the center of the room with the large crystal sphere filling much of it. The runes stones that had been gathered by all surrounded the crystal and other strange objects had also been added to the table. A sizable telescope was tri-pod mounted on the far side of the room and several mirrors were attached to the walls.

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble?

“Good evening, Equines,” Princess Luna spoke with the authority of her station, “come hence to yon circle and close the doors behind thee.”

Oh great … she’s in mysterious sorceress mode.

Blue Shield’s ears popped when the door closed and he could feel the circle’s magical hum. He extended his senses, experimentally, and felt the barriers which would prevent any from eavesdropping through mortal or magical means. A collection of respectful nods passed between the gathered sergeants as each of them took position around the round table in a manner which formed a cross.

“Dark creatures hath escaped from ancient bonds to strike at our peaceful land,” the princess told them. “The task falls to this circle to discover foul plans and weaken nefarious strength. The bards shall never sing of our deeds nor be recorded by the histories by scribes. Thus far thy agency has served well in whispering shadow. But now thy prowess has earned thee more. From this eve hence, thou shalt be our agents … my agents. Chosen from amongst the loud and unwieldy … each hearts shadowed by a darkness that draws thee to duty.

“Thy troops shall go unseen into the enemy’s layer to spy and prepare the way for their fall. The power of others shall land the smiting blow but for thee … intelligence must be gathered and strongholds need sabotage. Turn the attentions of our enemies away from the glory seekers and leave their backs to the true threat. Thy missions shall be wrought with dangers … and not all shall survive. If any of your teams are not proper to the task … please release them for reassignment.”

Green River immediately came to mind, and the eyes of the other two sergeants also spoke of their own idiots. Idiots who might get us all killed … idiots who play an important role in the team. Idiots which we are not fully whole without.

“Very well,” the princess said with a nod when none spoke. The glow of her power surged and a stab of raw fear played through Blue Shield’s senses as he recognized some of what made Nightmare Moon earn the title. The glowing lamps suddenly dimmed and the crystal sphere at the room’s center flared to life and then projected faint images into the air around them.

“Three dark powers hath escaped, since the stars aligned,” a great image of the moon filled the space before them and they all watched as the Mare in the Moon faded and then fell to Equestria without fanfare. Blue Shield remembered the day it had happened … remembered the call to arms. Days of combing the Everfree Forest had stirred up many dangerous creatures and a score of soldiers had been lost … never to be heard from again.

We were impotent before their fury … unable to stand up to the darkness that flooded over us … saved only by the Elements of Harmony … granted to civilians. The terror of those memories was covered by a sheet of rage that boiled up and then flowed through expertly crafted channels of discipline. The reservoir of Blue Shield’s power filled with the strength of those emotions and he let the magic hum in his veins. Stretch out your senses … see past the illusion and listen to the truth. Time slowed as he took in the details and the agony of those days replayed themselves before him.

“Thine powers shall not overcome us, mortal … calm thy rage.”

The orders had come straight into his mind from the princess past the defenses he had pressed into service. Time resumed its endless march and the images before them focused on other details which had previously been unseen.

“Lunar seals held others in place,” the princess continued, “but the fracturing of chains has brought them hence. Some have already resumed old schemes which shall soon surround us with dread. These dangers cannot be locked away and then forgotten. Though their keys were cast away, their danger has faded into memory … now; we must face our rivals and deal with them.”

A pained expression flowed into her features and all of the stallions present glanced at each other in recognition of her meaning.

“We have to neutralize them somehow,” Blue Shield spoke first. “Either turn them into an asset or destroy their ability to make war against the rest of us.”

“Precisely,” Princess Luna nodded. “The power of our sister and her student broke open the shell of darkness which held us … me.” She paused as her emotions flickered briefly before recomposing herself into something less ancient. “My eyes have been opened … before I was blind but now I can see past my own selfishness. We have grown … I have changed … but that darkness is still within us … me. We cannot simply destroy the darkness … it does not work that way. But we can limit its power over us … and we shall be the scouts and saboteurs who prepare the way for the vanguards.”

“Sounds like an interesting challenge,” Flutter Gloom spoke with casual arrogance as she stretched her purple wings and then gave them a quick flap before retracting them.

“Interesting,” Steel Bit agreed, “and likely to get us all killed.”

“Why us?” Blue Shield asked and all eyed turned his way.

“Because thine hearts have tasted darkness yet retained their love of the light,” Princess Luna spoke regally. The sergeants all looked to each other and then back to the princess once they had found their courage. “The three of thee shall be promoted … Lieutenants all as thy duties shall demand increased authority. Ye shall not make thy missions known to others nor brag of thy deeds. None must know the horrors of thy learning … less the queendom fall into chaos from fear and doubt.”

“No metals of these deeds, eh?” Flutter Gloom shook her head. “The fillies won’t like that.”

“Then choose new soldiers, Lieutenant,” Steel Bit spoke with heat in his voice. “You can do that when you’re in charge.”

“I know that, Lieutenant,” the pegasus shot back and the two of them glared at each other.

“Save it for the enemy,” Blue Shield interrupted. “We’re officers now … this rough and tumble rough horsing is for enlisted.”

“Wonderful,” Steel Bit snorted.

“Don’t remind me,” Flutter Gloom flared her nostrils and then shook out her dark purple mane.

“Very well,” Princess Luna finally spoke, and then three scrolls flared into existence and floated to land on the table before each of the new captains. “Thine orders, lieutenants. The Shadow Bolts shall travel north to examine the resting place of crystalline might. The Dark Hooves and Midnight Horns shall travel to the Everfree Forest and investigate the possible disappearances of several allies. The places shall be marked. Keep thy soldiers close … and may the light of Equestria guild thee.”

06 - Observations

The train out of Canterlot chugged quickly through the starlit night with a different type of cargo than typical. A dozen sleepy pony soldiers sat in silence in various stages of unrest, some snoozing, some staring out the window, and all were troubled. Lieutenant Blue Shield was among the sleepless as he stared at the intelligence report he had been granted. Bits of information … reports that formed a dangerous picture … rumor and legend mixed together with the thoughts of the darkest of Equestria’s princesses.

Strange sightings in the Everfree Forest were normal in that dark place. Only the young, foolish, or mad would willingly go into its gnarled tree line and Blue Shield wondered if it was a good thing that his fear had settled like a stone in his guts. An old mental technique caused him to focus on the details of his orders in an effort to move him past the claws of his panic.

Several of the smaller comminutes which Equestria traded with had reported things which were a step beyond the typical oddities of their little nations. Incidents of violence seemed to be increasing. Larger creatures were wandering into inhabited zones, smashing homes to splinters, and making even the safest roads impassable.

“Blue Shield,” the voice roused him from his reverie. Blue eyes lifted upon the other new lieutenant whose mission would take them somewhere else.

“Steel Bit,” he nodded to the grey earth pony.

“Nice night,” Steel Bit spoke quietly as he glanced at the sleeping soldiers, “is the mission keeping you up?”

“It always does,” Blue Shield admitted. “Guess we have that in common.”

The big grey soldier nodded as he reached into the satchel on his shoulder and dropped the blue scroll in on the floor. “Let’s share.”

“The princess ordered us not to,” the unicorn objected but his counterpart simply stared at him with his steely stare and then his eyes fell to the parchment.

“Information is life,” Steel Bit rumbled softly, “and I intend to see my colts come home in one piece. Are you willing to put their lives in the hooves of a politician?”

A dozen harsh responses jumped into Blue Shield’s mind and he ground his teeth as he struggled with that bit of logic. Then he motioned to the cabin door with his head. Steel Bit took up the scroll and the pair of them moved farther back out of one car and into another. Eventually they pushed their way into one of the private cabins, locked the door, and then pulled the shades. A single lantern was easily brought to life with unicorn magic and its light was shuttered just enough to let them see their instructions.

Several villages along the borders between Rambling Rock and the Everfree Forest have mentioned people whose behavior seems to be changing. They have been becoming more insular and trade less with their neighbors. Several festivals have gone unattended. Investigate and report.

“You’re going to be touring little villages, eating their food, attending parties, and not sleeping on the ground?” Blue Shield asked with a furrowed brow.

“You are going to observe the great dragon migration and study their behavior in the Badlands?” Steel Bit blinked and returned the confused stare. “What did you do to irritate the Nightmare?”

Blue Shield shrugged but then wondered out loud, “I wonder what Flutter Gloom’s fillies are off to stare at.”

“Ice,” Steel Bit shrugged, “lots of ice.”

“I guess … we’ll just be watching for things that aren’t normal … and don’t make sense,” Blue Shield returned the shrug.

“Like sending three elite squads out to seemingly random locations to stare at people, places, and things?” the earth pony asked in a tone that suggested they had been made a fool of. The cabin filled with silence as the two new officers tried to decide the best course of action. Both had hoped the other’s instructions would make more sense once some time had passed but now they were more confused than ever. “Fire, ice, and magic.”

“The frigid north, the burning south, and the wild center,” Blue Shield added and the two of them nodded, “we’re all headed to the most dangerous areas of Equestria where all of the really bad things come from.”

“Maybe,” Steel Bit suggested tensely, “we should rendezvous before returning to Luna.”

“Where?” Blue Shield asked with a nod.

“I’ve got family in Ponyville,” the earth pony suggested. “My team will be headed in that direction. We’ll be hoofing it but I’m sure we’ll reach them by the time you’re done with your dragon study. We could meet there, have a little R&R, and then share what we have learned. Maybe these puzzle pieces will make more sense if we put them together.”

“Maybe,” Blue Shield nodded, “not to mention it gives you a good excuse to remind yourself of your duty.” The steel gray stallion took a deep breath and his eyes unfocused as memories danced before them. Home … the ultimate treasure of our lives. The place we keep in our hearts. The place every soldier defends with his life. Both soldiers nodded and clopped hooves in camaraderie.

“Get some sleep, lieutenant,” Steel Bit ordered with a smile.

“You too … lieutenant,” Blue Shield spoke in the same tone, and the two of them retired to more comfortable surroundings. Sleep … yeah … like that is likely.

*****

Sleep had been far more likely than Blue Shield thought it would be. He woke at day break and then took a quick head count before starting the morning ritual of checking his gear. The others rose sleepily and everypony moved through the dusty supply shops of Dodge Junction in an effort to pick up last minute supplies. There was a rowdy little goodbye party at a local tavern and then the two groups spoke harsh goodbyes before splitting at the fork in the road.

The Midnight Horns moved south though the desert which eventually became rocky and steep but their primary concern was the dragons. Everypony knew to stay clear of the Badlands, and this was especially so during the great dragon migration. Once a century every dragon gathered to frolic. Males would compete for females, flights of young dragons would raid the countryside, and they were aggressively active. No pony had ever studied the dragons due to the danger of such activities and now they were off to correct that oversight.

“At least we’re not taking any civilians with us,” Green River grumbled with a sigh as they all rested atop a cliff.

“That would make life more of a challenge,” Blue Shield agreed.

“Do you think we might try and teleport to that ridge over there,” Tick asked as he motioned his red face and shook his orange hair.

“It might save us a climb,” Tock nodded his orange head and ruffled his red hair with one nervous hoof.

Blue Shield narrowed his eyes at them and then leaned carefully over the edge of the cliff to see what the two were scheming. Below them lay a great and unmoving form that was likely a sleeping dragon. Its body stretched on and on along the valley floor and the lieutenant estimated the entire population of Canterlot could have sat on its back all at once.

“Hey Sarge,” Green River began and then coughed, “I mean, sir … can dragons sense magic?”

“Most of them,” Shade spoke softly.

“We might need to be ready to gallop once we’re over there,” Blue Shield spoke mostly to the Tick-Tock brothers.

“Aye, sir,” they both nodded, and the new officer wrinkled his nose at the title.

“We will be dizzy when we come out of the teleport spell,” Shade warned.

“Can you glamour us up some shadows to hid in?” the lieutenant asked his second.

Shade grunted and bobbed his dark gray head a bit. “I’ll have to wait until we’re on the other side, though,” he told them. “Otherwise the spells might interfere with each other.”

“Make ready,” Blue Shield ordered and they all spread apart to prepare their minds for the task. Then, once all agreed they were ready, the Tick-Tock brothers began to gather up the red and orange energies for their spell. The magic hummed and circled, drawing together more and more energies in a slow build up until the squad all came together in a tight space. Then, there was a flash, and Blue Shield’s stomach lurched.

Whenever somepony else performed a teleport spell it was like this. All of the molecules that made up his body squeezed together and thrust forward like wind through a tunnel. The world slid by at a dizzying speed and suddenly they popped back into existence. A disorganized jumble of sight and sound flooded into the unicorn’s eyes and ears but his second in command was already beginning his task.

Shade’s dark magic slithered up and over them in a veil that made them all but invisible to those whom might be trying to find them. A deep, and annoyed, rumble resonated out of the valley and everypony looked back before staring back to one another.

“Stay together and move out,” Blue Shield spoke, but his voice sounded as if it were coming in from very far away. He was not sure the others had understood any of what he said but they knew enough to stay together.

They had only taken a dozen steps when a massive dragon head crested the horizon and then flopped sleepily upon the stone on top of the mountain. Smoke poured through its nostrils and large lips smacked together as a yawn which could have devoured a small house gapped open and took in a deep breath. The exhale wafted sulfurous morning breath across the plateau. Blue Shield’s eyes watered as he tried not to breathe, but the air was not much sweeter once the initial gust had passed.

The small group crouched low as the luminous eyes scanned back and forth. Every time the dragon’s gaze passed them the unicorn’s instincts forced his heart rate to accelerate. Discipline held them all in place until the creature grew bored and then it let out another noxious yawn before sliding backward to crash upon the valley floor.

A collective sigh of relief eased tension out of Blue Shield’s shoulders and then they began moving slowly once more. Eventually they were able to move off of the plateau and slid down to where a relatively level path snaked through several of the steeper mountains.

“Sir,” Green River finally muttered, “requesting permission to start screaming hysterically.”

“Not a chance,” Blue Shield smirked in amusement. “I don’t feel like having every predator within a mile descending upon us.”

“I know,” the green pony said with a crooked smile, “I just needed to hear that smooth voice of yours giving orders.” Tick and Tock snorted as they resisted the urge to let their nerves explode them into fits of giggles but they still shook silently in the motion.

“I see,” the lieutenant spoke with a deadpan expression. “Better now?”

“Much,” Green River nodded.

*****

It took three days for the squad to make it into the heart of where the dragons had gathered. They developed a strict schedule of holding a light veil spell in place to keep themselves hidden. Each caster would also have a spotter to make certain the unicorn whose attention was split did not walk into or off of anything.

Camp was eventually set up in a natural cave about a mile away from a large active volcano, and the team always had three ponies awake and two asleep. Long term spell casting was taxing, and special effort had to be put into keeping the level of energy expended at a steady level. Too much energy would alert the dragons to their presence and exhaust the pony using it. Too little energy would cause the spell to fizzle out, allowing their scent to travel over where the fiercest predators on the planet would notice them and come raiding.

The sound of voices travels a long way in the wilderness, so no pony spoke. Everypony carried a notepad and three pencils to record their observations but they needed to conserve their materials so few notes were passed between them. Body language was the primary means in which they communicated during the time they were there and Blue Shield quickly missed the sound of his comrade’s voices.

The dragons, however, had no problem making as much noise as they possibly could. The din of posturing, scuffling, and rowdy laughter was constantly pressing in upon their senses. Blue Shield tried to keep his mind focused upon his duties, as he took notes on their behavior and tried to record their names, but it was not until an odd little newcomer began some sort of initiation ritual that Blue Shield found something worthwhile to report.

The newcomer was very tiny, as dragons went, and a shade of purple and green normally found in ponies but rarely in dragons. The younger dragons surrounded the newcomer and began the types of hazing trials normally reserved for military units and particularly rough fraternities. Fire belching, tail wrestling, and an embracing display of King of the Horde did not go well for the runt, but he had no trouble following the other dragons as they all leapt into a pool of molten stone. This appeared to impress the other young dragons and soon the initiation rites died down.

Several days passed as Blue Shield followed their behavior but then the younger dragons all rushed off together, roaring something about a dragon raid. The little purple runt did not return. The dragons which did return all appeared to have been in a fight, however, and this caused the unicorn team to come to a grim conclusion.

The weeks which followed did little to change their initial assessments. Something had the dragons wound up. Aggression increased and fights went beyond anything that should have been sane for any intelligent species. Dragons had their own language, traditions, and culture, but they acted like savage brutes. Males beat each other mercilessly to create a hierarchy and then fought even harder when females came into the equation. They can’t always be like this … this can’t be natural! Could it?

A month passed … then another. Groups of dragons came together and then parted, going off on raids which yielded the loot of gemstones and plunder that was useless to dragons but yielded them status. The cycle went on and on, hinting at greatness and then proving levels of pettiness that went beyond Blue Shield’s understanding. It was maddening. It was constant. It was beyond the poor unicorn’s understanding.

Is this something which dragons do specifically or something we might all become given enough time and isolation? His mind traveled back to Hearth’s Warming Eve and the pageant which had been put on for them all by the wielders of the Elements of Harmony. One upon a time we were just as bad as these dragons, he realized. It is for that reason that I fight. A tiny smile formed upon his face as his wits returned to him. It is for that reason I will not let Princess Luna or anypony else endanger our queendom.

07 - Between Heaven and Equestria

The world was on fire. The stone burned like a forest and but instead of ashes and dust it went molten and spread along the ground. Lava pooled in craters only to boil over and rush down the mountains toward a village of uncaring ponies. The grass around their homes was green and the inhabitants frolicked gaily as they carried on oblivious to the danger. Blue Shield opened his mouth and tried to shout out a warning to them but there was no sound … they did not look up. The orange river ran over them, snuffing them out before they could look up and scream. There one moment and gone the next … and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“Is this thy greatest nightmare?” a voice spoke and Blue Shield looked beside him. The midnight sky and its stars shone in perfect brilliance in Princess Luna’s flowing hair and it blew sideways as if moved by some ethereal wind. Moist sadness reflected in her teal eyes and it took time before she could turn away from the horror of the village to look at him.

“Failure,” Blue Shield spoke with a nod. “Failure to my princess … failure to my soldiers … the destruction of our people …” He stopped and took a breath, the fear and weakness of his dream-self causing his will to lay in pieces all around him. The training of his magic schooling knew what to do in these types of situations, though, and he gathered his will to take over his surroundings. A shift of consciousness faded the scene around him and then the two of them were standing in the Canterlot’s royal garden. “This is a better place for us to meet.”

“Tis true,” Princess Luna admitted, and then she turned her hear slightly to one side in a gesture of curiosity, “though thine reaction to our presence in thy dreams is naught … as if expected.”

“I read it in a book once,” he half lied, and he began to wonder why he had so foolishly tipped his cards to her.

“Oh?” she blinked at him suspiciously. “Would thy book hath been an intelligence report?”

“A threat assessment,” he nodded before he could stop himself.

“And?” she asked expectantly.

Blue Shield threw up a mental barrier to the question and his hesitation drew a raised brow from the princess. A surge of potent will burst through his defenses and his mouth began moving against his orders.

“Nightmare Moon is a category ten threat to Equestria,” Blue Shield reported with military precision, “but reports are still inconclusive when it comes to Princess Luna.”

“Interesting,” the princess said, and her grip on his psyche slipped as she considered his words, “we did not realize our sister was spying on us.”

“She is not,” Blue Shield told her flatly as his mind twisted in her psychic grip, and then he moved to unbalance her. “I am.” The words came out in sharp stabbing motions and hit the princess squarely where she was not expecting it. The lieutenant broke free of her control and he moved away to where she could not harm him … then her eyes flashed with anger and she glared at him.

“You … dare …”

“Yes I dare!” he shouted in defiance as he raised up more barriers between them. “I trust Princess Celestia with my life … but she is your sister and her emotions compromise her judgment! I’ve seen your darker self and I know what you are capable of! I will not go forth blindly! I will not let you work unobserved!”

Blue Shield glared into Princess Luna’s eyes and became acutely aware of her power. The vast expanse of night spread out before them and suddenly he was adrift amongst a sea of stars. Even with the home team advantage he was only able to create a small glowing disc for his hooves to brace against and it took most of his power to do it. Alicorn wings spread out from her body and glittered with the shimmered distortion of her power. The unicorn squad leader knew he was way out of his depth but he did not blink or shy away. Instead he stared head long into her challenge … and thus he saw the flickering emotions that played out before him.

The surface of the moon rose up beneath them and the two of them were soon standing on its crater marred surface. A darkly beautiful crystal palace jutted out of the ground and towered over them as they continued their staring contest.

“For a thousand years … this was my home,” the princess spoke with a sadness so heavy it nearly pressed the unicorn to his knees. The princess’s body seemed to shrink, as if her fire had gone out, and she palled to an almost lavender color. “Anger … fear … pain … all of it was here with me during that time. I was lonely … afraid of my sister and so jealous that it consumed me. I watched the world she was ruling and grew outraged at much of it … then I fell into slumber”

The scene around them shifted and they were looking at a coffin made of crystal. The inside of it was lined in soft fabrics and it glowed with the same luminescence of everything else that existed around them. “I drifted through the dreamlands … not wanting to wake … knowing that the spells which held me would eventually run their course. There were others in the prison as well but we largely ignored each other. In time we would be released … in time we would return. Then we did … and I was shown mercy.”

“You were shown more than just mercy!” Blue Shield spat through clenched teeth. “You were shown forgiveness and love! Your sister wanted you back and now … now what are you?”

“We do not know,” she admitted, and Blue Shield could see the truth of it. The whole of her body began to sag and he recognized her pain.

“You … are like me,” he marveled as she took a breath to collect herself. “How can that be?”

“Our hearts are trapped in the moon,” the princess spoke with a sad little smile. “Hidden in darkness away from the world … cast in shadows where no light can see. Thy wounds are different, but thy pain is no less. Jagged thorns tear at our hearts … you bleed the same crimson rivers.”

“No,” Blue Shield shook his head, “I’m not like you … I can’t be!”

“We were not born immortal,” she told him. “We are not perfect. It is that weakness which calls to thee now … and though thou are loath to trust … we … I would ask thee for a little … so that we might complete our mission.”

“What is our mission?” Blue Shield asked sternly as he tried to draw his focus away from his insecurities. “What are we really here to observe?”

“Corruption,” she spoke simply. “The dragons are a savage, selfish, and violent race which could destroy our world if they ever organized. This gathering is the time which they could possibly accomplish such an action. So … report.”

The word straightened Blue Shield’s spine and his military demeanor took over as he considered her carefully. Both of them were vulnerable while in dreams, and their manipulation was something that anyone with enough will could accomplish. Princess Luna had gotten the jump on him and extracted a great deal of information out of his surface thoughts before he had stopped himself and then he had returned the favor. Now they were on equal footing and it had come to this moment for him to decide. Do I trust her … or do I move against her? The breath caught in his throat as he considered his options and then he finally drew it in and found his voice.

“The dragons are as we have always known them,” he reported in a military manner. “They can barely stand one another and they fight for dominance on a very primitive level. Since coming here I have witnessed no deaths but they have inflicted an incredible amount of harm upon each other. If left alone I believe they will finish their rituals and then scatter back to whence they came.”

“I see,” the princess nodded and the calculation became visible in her eyes. “Then I will declare your mission complete … save for one minor detail.”

“Which is?”

“I need you to rescue a damsel in distress,” she spoke simply … and then the details flashed before his eyes. A rush of emotions … images … information … and then … he opened his eyes and looked up at the concerned expressions of his squad mates.

“Report,” his voice finally croaked as it tried to find words for the first time in weeks.

“You’ve been down for hours,” Shade whispered hoarsely. “You were burning with fever and we could not wake you up.”

“Princess Luna was in my dreams,” he confessed. “She really can dream walk at will.” The others all looked nervously at each other and his heart began to accelerate. “What is it?”

“There is …” Shade began but then he paused.

“A damsel in distress,” Green River said with excitement in his voice. “Some poor filly got snatched by the dragons in a raid and is tied to a stake! Can we go rescue her? Please?” The childish gleam in his eyes brought laughter to Blue Shield that he could lessen but not completely suppress. It shook his aching muscles and drew him to his feet where he stretched the kinks out of his frame.

“Alright,” Blue Shield spoke with a grin, “gather up your gear. This mission is over … and we’re going to rescue this fair mare before setting off for home.”

08 - Mask of Courage

“Is that him?” Blue Shield asked as he laid flat on his stomach upon the too warm stone.

“Oh yeah,” Green River whispered softly, “that’s him.”

“How can you tell?” Tick asked.

“Looks a lot like the other red dragons,” Tock echoed.

“It’s him,” Green River assured them. “I’ve been a lot closer than the rest of you to him.”

“As you were running away,” Tock chuckled and his brother’s smirk mirrored his own.

“I had to sneak up on him first,” the blue manned colt sneered while barely maintaining his hushed tone. “Trust me … it’s him.”

“I believe you,” Blue Shield nodded and he gave a stern look to the twins who got the message and ceased their teasing. “We’re going to need time this carefully. Tick … Tock, you two will be tasked with keeping River from being caught by the dragon. Move quickly and be careful when you teleport. There’s a lot of rocks around here to get stuck in and none of us are going to be able to dig you out with all of these dragons flying about. Shade,”

“Sir?” the dark grey pony responded formally.

“You’re going to be the one who actually performs the rescue. I’ll back you up if anything goes wrong and you be sure to bug out if it comes to a straight fight. I’ll engage any of the dragons who aren’t properly distracted, but you need to get the hostage away from them. Any questions?”

“If you die,” Tick spoke straight faced, “can we have the focus crystals on your armor?”

“If they survive,” Blue Shield told them dryly. “Anything else?” They shook their heads. “Alright … let’s go do something stupid.”

*****

The crater which the younger dragons had chosen for their hostage had fewer magma pools than those claimed by the adults, but it was still plenty warm. The teenage dragons had romped around in circles and boasted of their prowess before all who cared to get close enough but they finally had worn themselves out by the time night claimed all of Celestia’s light. Now, only the dull red glow of the volcano gave them direction and Blue Shield was certain the dragons could make out more than he could.

The damsel in distress was easy to spot among the dragons and gemstones. Her yellow complexion was blotchy from dusty neglect and her forest green mane had become a tangle that flopped over her face. It was difficult to tell her true condition from a distance, but she was tied to a stake and had stopped struggling.

“Not good,” Blue Shield assessed as his blue eyes scanned the situation. “She might need to be carried out and our distraction might make that impractical.”

“I can get her to the edge on my own,” Shade whispered as his silver eyes moved in a similar fashion. “Might need your help getting her over the top, but once there I can get her down alive.”

“What about your veil?” Blue Shield asked. “Can you do all of that and stay hidden?”

“It won’t be a complete veil,” Shade admitted as he considered his options. “Mostly an obfuscation. You just need to keep them all properly distracted and they won’t notice us slipping away.”

“Right,” Blue Shield nodded as he tried to appear courageous.

“You don’t need to pretend you’re not afraid,” Shade whispered with a slight smile.

“Yes I do,” the lieutenant told him. “If I start freaking out now … I might give away our position with all of my blubbering and screaming.”

“Noted,” the darker pony nodded.

The pair of them fell silent as they waited for the signal. The scent of brimstone stung their nostrils even after all of this time in its presence and it was difficult to keep the mind clear of distractions. So many things could go wrong during any operation and the lieutenant had no illusions about the danger of this plan. One little screw up and we might all be dead. It was a sobering thought which he tried to keep away from the rest of his mind. It took all of his concentration to remain focused, but then a mighty roar resonated out in the darkness and the sound of distant thunder jarred them to life.

“See you on the other side,” Shade whispered as his magic fogged over him. Blue Shield nodded in response and then watched the other dragons. Several of the older ones raised their heads and looked in the direction which Blue Shield knew his colts had gone off to. The younger ones did not seem to notice right away, but as the distant thunder grew less distant, they began to rouse and look blearily around them in annoyed confusion.

The older dragons rose, stretched, and then opened their wings to take flight. The resulting wind blew dust from the stones into the air and caused the captured pony to stir and look around as much as she dared. A sizable crash finally caused the teenage dragons to look up from their collection and the roar which followed got them all talking among themselves. The thunder drew closer … and closer … and closer … and then …

“Hi hooooo, River!” Green River shouted as he launched himself over the edge of the crater. The green radiance of his horn generated a platform between his hooves and the slanted stone which he proceeded to ride, like a snowboard, in an avalanche of debris. No sooner had River reached the bottom then a gigantic form crashed into the center of the crater and cracked the ground in a dozen places with his weight.

Merciful Celestia! They’re going to bring the rest of the magma to the surface! It had not even occurred to Blue Shield that the dragon might inadvertently destroy the shield of cold stone which was keeping the volcano from erupting. That means we need to get through this quickly!

Green River juked sharply, running a jagged figure-eight pattern as his pursuer waved his tail and proceeded to smash mighty fists into the ground. Tick and Tock blinked into position along cliff-side walls and coordinated their magic, blinking Green River to a safer distance every time the dragon got too close.

The smaller dragons had all but forgotten their loot as they scattered from the fury of the massive intruder. Blue Shield circled along the edge of the chaos as his trained eyes noticed the tell-tale blur of a veiled unicorn moving toward his target. All was going according to plan, so the lieutenant put on a little speed and got himself to the escape point. There he crouched and stared at the others with his heart in his throat.

Green River dodged a gout of dragon flame and then flashed away under his own teleport spell. The second flashed caused him to reappear upon the dragon’s back, which he clung to and shouted insults that were not to be repeated in polite company. The unicorn’s efforts were successful in their attempt to shake up the dragon but the reaction had been to leap high into the air and then come down fully upon its back.

Blue Shield gasped as he watched and prayed that the twins had successfully teleported River to safety. Large cracks spider webbed out from the impact zone and secondary explosions began to fling slabs of lava coated stone into the air … right toward the hostage. Without considering his position, Blue Shield released his energy in a mighty salvo of destructive force. Large pieces suddenly became small pieces, blowing apart and raining down over the defenseless captive in a manner which caused her to scream in either agony or fear.

All eyes turned to where the blast had come from and the white unicorn nearly clopped himself in the face. Way to go, bumble-hoof, now your escape route is compromised. Teenage dragons lifted into the air and began flying toward him in a swarm that was much larger than he remembered observing before. Six … seven … eight … nine … or crud! A glance around told him this was a lousy place to fight the overwhelming force from and though the inside of the crater was becoming redder and hotter … it suddenly appeared to be a much better idea than to stay where he was.

With a battle cry and a surge of his magic, Lieutenant Blue Shield launched himself into the air. The feather falling spell from before caused him to move forward and drift downward at a rate which would carry him past the crater’s half-way point. The smaller dragons moved to intercept his maddened charge and their mouths opened in heated anticipation. A dozen gouts of dragon dire came at him from several directions and so the group leader drew his power around him in a protective shield and let himself fall to the ground more quickly.

Blue light flashed in a protective bubble around his body as dragon fire struck his defenses, parted, and then snaked around. The ground buckled under his hooves when he finally reached it and he was forced to take a blind leap in order to avoid being pitched directly into the magma pool. A few desperate jumps allowed him to reach a firmer battlefield and he circled in an effort to get his opponents in front of him.

Three young dragons crashed to the ground around him and the soldier lashed out with his power. Jagged beams of concentrated force lashed out, striking down one young dragon and then another. The third launched itself into the air and Blue Shield was forced to lunge sideways in order to avoid a collision. An almost graceful tuck and roll only skinned up the knees on one side of his body as he came up running. A zig-zag pattern allowed him to avoid two more bursts of fire but then a really big problem presented itself.

A red tail the size of an ale-house slammed through the surface of the lava-dome and cut off Blue Shield’s forward movement. The owner turned to stare at him with bright orange and yellow eyes and then a similar coloring burst forth from its lips. The unicorn gasped as he fumbled for his magic but then the whole world suddenly squeezed itself together. Tick and Tock had done this spell to him enough times for him to recognize their less than delicate touch but when the world slammed back into focus, he was all the way at other side of the crater’s edge. The place where he had been a moment before exploded in a shower of solid and liquid stone and it was a challenge to rise and move once more.

The world was unsteady as his legs wobbled him forward but his sense of balance returned to him along with a difficult realization that a certain yellow somepony was still tied to her stake. Shade was juking back and forth rapidly as he confronted a trio of smaller dragons but his shielding magic was not the best on the team.

Blue Shield grit his teeth as he charged toward the captured mare and he was forced to leap a couple of slowly expanding magma pools as he went. The ground was breaking up around them and he was certain there would soon be very little for them to stand on before long. The exposed magma was causing the heat to become even more oppressive than it had been and time was running out.

Blue Shield focused his own teleport spell on his target and the world blurred out of focus as the equine pieces rushed forward. He gathered destructive energies into his horn as his body came back together and the hostage screamed as the stake that she was tied to broke free of the ground and toppled her onto one side. A lance of light slashed as Blue Shield whipped his head in a circular motion and the ropes broke apart.

All at once several things happened, and time seemed to slow as Blue Shield’s battle instincts drew in far too much information all at once. The captive was on the ground … free but not moving. The ground around them was breaking up too badly to make a run for it with the dead weight of an earth pony on his back. Several dragons of various size had risen into the air and were preparing to make an attack run on his position. Shade and Green River were heavily engaged … but the Tick-Tock brothers were nowhere to be seen.

Blue Shield let a ball of light flash into the sky … a signal designed to signal an extraction from his current position. The destructive forces of a battle-pony then gathered around him and he flung it into a quarter-dome which stood between him and the approaching dragons. Two smaller ones struck and bounced off … but the larger one slammed his fist over its surface and then coated the shimmering surface with more fire. The shockwave rippled through Blue Shield’s body and seemed to crackle through his horn and into his skull. The space behind him was still open, though, and a double flash told him the cavalry had reached him.

“Get the mare out!” he growled at them, and their responses were lost in the haze of concentration and battle fatigue. Another double flash told him they were away but the enemy was upon him. Three teenage dragons tried to tackle him with their bodies and it took some quick hoof-work to side step their advance. A quick burst of energy flung one into one of the widening magma pools and a quick double hoof kick with his hind legs discouraged the second from continuing the fight. The third dragon snapped its jaws, flicked its tail, and then hissed in frustration. Blue Shield coated it with his energy beam … but the result was not what he had been anticipating.

The dragon’s skin bubbled and then rolled off in a flash of dispersed magical glamour. Beneath lurked slick black skin with protrusions that were similar to a dragon’s fins but more insect-like in overall structure. Dragonfly wings flicked out and sharp teal eyes glared up at the unicorn with a hiss of bared fangs. A surge of warped energy lurched up though a crooked horn and hit Blue Shield square.

The lieutenant jerked himself sideways and tried to leap away from his position, but the rot of the spell seeped into his skin. The creature’s energy began eating his reserves … literally. The unicorn’s spells began to weaken and his legs began to feel as if he were pressing them through steadily thickening jelly. Blue Shield tried to modulate his shield, but the enemy spell penetrated the barrier without concern. Desperation drew the stallion back up onto his hind legs and then he lunged forward with a defiant snort. Lowering his horn, Blue Shield lunged forward and then flung himself into the creature.

The impact was painful, and the creature’s skin turned out to be solid. Though his horn did not penetrate the enemy’s armor, he was still able to strike it down with brute force. A brief struggle allowed Blue Shield to trample his opponent a little, get his hind hooves properly aimed, and then he struck out with all of his strength. The impact was even more solid than the first one and the pony-like bug thing fell back, skipped off of the stone, and then splashed into the magma-pool. A shriek of terror and pain rippled through the air as the creature cried out in agony. It flailed about briefly and then sank under the surface.

Blue Shield turned away from his doomed opponent and stared out at the carnage. The ground was now so broken that the magma had already reclaimed almost half of the solid space. The heat stung without remorse and the heat shield began flickering weakly. Planting four hooves firmly upon the ground allowed the body and mind to balance and previously jumbled energies began to move in more organized patterns. Blue Shield took a deep and steady breath, pulling his heat shield in against his skin like a finely tailored suit. The magic rested easily on the skin of the caster and the sting of too much heat eased.

One hoof suddenly slipped and Blue Shield’s eyes bulged open to discover that the platform he was standing on was losing its solid state. A brief shuffle allowed him to get his hooves under him and a quick glance allowed him to spot another island. A brief trot created momentum and he leaped away from his doomed bit of dirt and onto something harder.

Once safe he glanced around and discovered the battle had completely destroyed the ground and what remained was now more molten than solid. Two forms were bouncing away from him on the far side of the depression but Blue Shield could not make out enough details to tell who they were or what they were doing. A glance around showed him that he was in an orange and yellow lake and he put a little more power into his skin-tight shield.

Another flare of unicorn energy pushed against his little island and produced the momentum he needed. Soon he was careening along the molten surface toward the escape path he had originally come in on.

Come on … come on …

Blue Shield’s vision was becoming a tunnel and the path to safety looked farther away than before. Dizziness threatened to topple him sideways and he realized his life raft was becoming less solid by the moment. The strength in his legs buckled and he went down to one knee. The unicorn squeezed one eye shut as he dug deeply for the strength he needed to keep his spells in place. A burst of strength responded to his call and a molten wave lifted him up and surged him toward his destination.

Releasing the locomotion spell caused his shield spell to waiver and the whole of his body suddenly stung. A sharp intake of breath hurt his lungs and terror slogged ice into his veins. The adrenal reaction allowed for a moment of clarity which recovered his shield and allowed him to turn toward the shore and leap onto the opposite shore. Four legs pumped fast and hard, propelling him up the path that snaked along the side of the volcano. His flight wobbled slightly as the ground shook and then he realized another problem … the magma was rising.

A string of panicked cursing spilled form Blue Shield’s lips in time with the striking of his hooves. The path turned sharply and he slid, planted three hooves on the wall, and then sprang off and up. The path became steeper but then it leveled out. Then he was in the home stretch and he sprinted forward as hard as he could. The stars spread out overhead and he broke over the edge of the volcano and into the night.

Relief washed over him, triggering a sharp giggle that staggered his balance. Several clumsy stumbles later, the soldier lowered himself to the ground and lay there in a heap of exhaustion. The shield flickered out and cool air rushed in, raising goose bumps along his flesh as his chest heaved. Swollen muscles lanced pain through his nerves and he tried to catalog everything he had just experienced. A dark grey glow suddenly pulled him up into the air and he gasped as the air was forced from his lungs. Then he fell onto Green River’s back … and Shade came in beside them.

“Go!” the darker pony ordered and River snorted his acknowledgement as he moved carefully through the dark. Blue Shield’s body screamed in protest as he bounced and jostled but then he felt the both of them fall to the ground behind a sizable outcropping. The two stallions squeezed into the depression and flinched as a squadron of dragons passed overhead.

“Can’t … stay … here …” Blue Shield managed to speak between gasps of breath. “Lava … rising …”

“Great Galloping-,” Green River broke off. “Are you sure?”

“Sure,” the lieutenant managed a little more firmly as the rest allowed some of his strength to return to him. “We need to get out of here!”

“Where?” Green River asked as panic gripped the edges of his voice.

“Back to base,” Blue Shield told him as he tried to remember their plans. He forced a little bit of his command authority back into his voice and he stared hard into his subordinate’s eyes. “To the next ridge … then over to our secondary fallback position.” The words seemed to stabilize the younger unicorn’s fears and he nodded sharply.

“Can you make it?”

“I’m tapped out of magic,” Blue Shield told him, “but I can still run.”

“Alright,” Green River’s voice was shaky but he managed to draw his battle stance back over his fear. “Let’s go.”

They drew several deep breaths before moving out together. The jog down the slope was nerve wracking but they got to the bottom without incident. They were moving up the other side when an explosion caused them both to look back. The magma had risen to the top and become lava … red, orange, and yellow poured over the lid of its container and slid down the sides in a sluggish rush. It motivated the onlookers and fear smothered their fatigue as they staggered forward with renewed determination.

The top of the next ridge would likely have protected them, but neither was able to stand in place. They kept on moving … and moving … along the flat surface and down another pathway, forcing more distance between themselves and the scalding heat they had left behind. Green River covered the both of them with a low level obfuscation spell and they allowed night’s cloak to hide them from their enemies.

Time became unreadable as they moved and they nearly missed their own markers. The natural cave which had been their base was cooler than the outside and the spell that had hid it from the rest of the world did its job admirably. It took only a few moments for Blue Shield to realize that the two of them had been the last to arrive, and the sight brought a tired smile to his face.

“You … you all made it!” he spoke with exhausted laughter … and he could not stop the emotions from overrunning him. His legs finally buckled from the strain and flopped down in an almost dignified manner. It took some focus to stay awake but he refused to allow his weakness to demoralize the others. “Well done, gentlecolts,” he told them with shaky compliments, “well done.”

09 - Tumble Weeds

The heat of the volcanic craters lessened as they plodded wearily through the night, and the darkness was too thick for any of the dragons to find them. No ponies spoke as they cantered uneasily through the dusty oblivion of the Badlands. The stone pressed back up through their hooves and the ache off too much action throbbed every muscle and hung in every joint. Forward, was the mantra. Forward, to whatever was ahead of them. Forward, to escape the dangers of the previous day. Forward, until they came to an inlet that was not quite a full cave.

A chilling wind began to slide through them and the soldiers set up their perimeter, draping blankets over the entrance to block out the worst of the cold. A gathering of stones were placed in a circle and the green unicorn focused his magic, causing a deep glow in the lifeless stones, shifting and altering their molecules until they caught fire. Relief settled as a comfortable heat filled the chamber.

“Good job, River,” the lieutenant spoke with quiet authority. “Bed down, everypony. I’ll take first watch.” The order released much of the tension which they had all shared until that moment. Packs and armor fell in disorganized heaps to the ground and a shuffle of movement later saw the green, red, and orange unicorns following the example. The shadowy grey unicorn set his gear down carefully and then let his eyes scan around, for a time, before exchanging a nod with his leader and then letting his body go lax.

The great white stallion removed a few of the heavier pieces of his armor, exposing the Blue Shield and white, five-pointed star of his cutie-mark. Then he placed his back to the fire and settled into a relaxed but alert position upon the stone. The gold circlet that framed his head and horn contained three blue gemstones which seemed to glow lightly when he concentrated. Then his stormy blue eyes met the mare’s pools of forest green, and her breath drew in sharply. The flutter of her heart sped and the breath she took did not release itself for several seconds. She sat there, frozen, until he inclined his head.

“You should come over here by the fire,” he spoke softly, and there was a quality to the sound which told her that he was not going to let anything bad happen. A glance to the shadow in the corner told her that they were being observed and so she moved awkwardly into the circle and was careful to give the warrior his space. It occurred to her that she should say something, but the others had been too frightened, or cautious, to talk since they had departed the crater and she found she could not break the silence until one of the others did so first. “My name is Blue Shield.”

The words caused her to jump a little but she managed to do little more than flinch and blink quickly. “Honeycrisp,” she whispered, and she was surprised at how horse her voice sounded.

“If anything happens,” Blue Shield told her as if she were a frightened animal, “just stay close to me and I will protect you with my shield magic.”

“C-c-close?” Honeycrisp managed as she felt her whole body shiver as if she were freezing. A sturdy mantra began spinning through her mind and it repeated itself in a steady cadence. It said, OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!

“Yeah, real close,” the orange member of the Tick-Tock twins muttered.

“Not too close,” the green soldier muttered in an annoyed fashion, “she might give ya pony-pox.”

“Only colts can get pony-pox,” the red Tick-Tock twin snorted, “for full blown stallions the condition’s way worse.”

“Symptoms include distraction, moodiness, simpering melancholy, and pure madness,” the orange Tick-Tock twin echoed in the tone of a lecturing professor.

Honeycrisp flushed crimson until she was certain the whole of her yellow complexion looked splotched with orange.

“Looks like she’s a carrier,” the green unicorn nickered with a knowing leer. “The dull mud-brain looks like she’s going to crumble into clay any second.”

The fire in Honeycrisp’s skin turned sharply at the unicorn’s words and a different type of heat flared to life. Terms of earth and stone were powerful to her kind … and they carried power when used to compliment of annoy. Racism often carried these kinds of uncouth comparisons and it was considered incredibly bad taste to do so in most circles. A dozen hateful remarks brewed in the mare’s mind as she glared daggers at the offender but it was her rescuer who came to her aid once more.

“Corporal Green River,” Blue Shield spoke sternly and the subordinate stood in reflex and brought his legs together in a rigid posture.

“Sir!”

“Your behavior is unacceptable,” the officer scolded. “Normally I grant you leeway in such matters, but we have a guest present and you will extend her the proper courtesies of a gentle-colt or I will make certain you dig every latrine we employ from here back to Canterlot.”

“Don’t do him any favors,” Honeycrisp heard herself saying before anypony else could think to respond. “I don’t think your Little River would care if he got a little mud on his hooves. Now if you really want to make him suffer … you can let him help me at work for a day … without any magic.”

The earth pony felt all of the eyes in the little camp turn on her and she felt the pressure of their curious gazes. “If we may ask, Ms. Crisp,” the red Tick-Tock brother ventured, “what is it that you do for a living?”

In answer the green mare stood and thrust her flank toward them all so that the group could clearly see the yellow and black striped honeybee she had earned as a cutie-mark “I stay very busy,” she informed them dryly, “buzzing here and there with friends who pollinate and sting. If you decide to visit … I think I have just the job for you!”

The unicorn’s eyes went wide with understanding and the Tick-Tock bothers burst into fits of laughter that caused them to lean against each other. Blue Shield’s gaze had been murderous but the laughter contaminated his steel, and soon, he too found his war face fracturing with heavy chuckles. Even the shadowy wisp in the corner shook with silent mirth and he finally spoke for the first time.

“Hey boss … I like her.”

“Me too,” Blue Shield said with a smile. “Corporal, when we reach our destination, I want you to meet with this young filly’s friends. Your attitude will determine how much safety gear you get to wear during the introductions.

The laughter caused Honeycrisp’s limbs to tingle as the tension around them broke and she felt her own anger fade away. The soldiers and their jokes continued for the better part of an hour and she understood the need for it in such a terrifying place. It was almost sad when the Tick-Tock brothers finally announced that they were spent and leaned back-to-back in the darkness.

It was only then that Honeycrisp noticed how their cutie-marks made a complete set. The red Tick had a clock face with only a minute hand and his orange brother had a clock with only an hour hand. Green River’s cutie mark was a pair of splashing green rivers over a field of mostly white stars. Shade had some lighter grey wisps over his darker grey self and she wondered what that was supposed to symbolize.

Blue Shield eventually caught her staring at his cutie mark, the simple blue shield with a white, five-pointed star in its center. His reaction was contemplative and she could tell he was studying her. Once again his attention caused her cheeks to heat and she took a deep breath to shake off the sensation. With an effort of will, she tore her eyes from his, laid her head upon her crossed legs, and tried to clear her mind of distractions. Once his presence was pushed aside the fear of her adventure fell in upon her. Exhaustion followed and she faded off into unconscious slumber.

*****

The unforgiving bleakness of the Badlands pressed in upon the small group of travelers. Honeycrisp slept a long time and discovered that the stress and panic of the previous day had left her whole body wracked in agony. Dragging herself out into the open was a major effort and moving along the sandblasted stone was even harder.

Green River gnashed his teeth the whole time. Honeycrisp could tell that the colt wanted to run as fast as he could and that a military pace was much faster than what they were currently doing, but she was scared, hurt, and not like them. The light yellow mare was a workhorse who could haul, plow and plant with great efficiency. While this gave her the muscle needed to lift, run, and fight, it did not grant her the endurance needed to march steadily across harsh terrain for a week. The going was slow, the looks were harsh, and she felt a great burden to the rest of the team.

Each night an oppressive tension seemed to glower upon her. She was never asked to keep a watch and the inside jokes of the other stallions left her an outsider with no idea how to join in. Worst of all was the silence. None of them spoke, during the march, and Blue Shield had made it very clear to her that noise might attract the dragons to their position. The thought frightened the voice right out of her and a steady, seething, paranoia began telling her that her hooves fell to hard and her breathing was too loud. At night she feared she might snore and her dreams were filled with the snarling fire of swooping dragons who killed her escorts and then tied her to a stake.

The edible mushrooms and a strangely nutritional scraggle-grass, which the Midnight Horns had gathered around the dragon’s gathering place, had run out on the third day of their journey. A full day of no food and heavily rationed egg-water had taken their toll on her in a big way. The others all made a big show of the situation not bothering them but she could see the elements wearing on them. Each of the stallions were sagging with the effort of staying alert and ready and there were deepening shadows under their eyes.

The sun was high on the fifth day when the first tufts of green grass were spotted and it was a battle not to knock each other down in an effort to claim it. Blue Shield nearly smote Green River with a blast from his horn and let the first meal go to Honeycrisp. The guilt nearly spoiled her appetite but hunger was too good a seasoning for her not to enjoy it. Less than an hour later, the Tick-Tock twins were able to find a bite to eat, and the others found their own meals shortly after.

By the time the sun was setting they had come across an actual gathering of tall grasses and a small pond. It was torture to show any caution in such a predicament but they all knew they would be sick if they gorged themselves. Also, it would be difficult to fight or flee on a full stomach. Still … they had food in their bellies, and that night Honeycrisp slept better than she had since the dragons had swept her off into this adventure.

*****

“I think we’re clear,” Green River finally spoke on the morning of the sixth day. His watch had been last and so he had spent the morning mixing some plants which he had scavenged into a strange but highly edible mash.

“Temp fate, why don’t ya,” Tock grunted sourly.

“Not that fate really needs an excuse to smack us around,” Tick echoed.

“The dragons are all over there and we’re over here,” Green River said dryly. “Besides … we’ve got the damsel out of distress, so, according to stories, we’re supposed to take her home and then she’ll get married to the hero and live happily ever after.” Honeycrisp felt her whole body boil into the type of blush that could cause butter to melt.

“So you think you’re going to marry our fare mare?” Tock snorted and then he and his brother burst into simultaneous laughter.

“That would be cosmic justice for ya!” Tick roared as he gasped for breath.

“No,” Green River sputtered as his eyes bulged, “I-”

“All hail Green Hero!” the twins exploded into synchronized insult slinging.

“He’s got the complexion for it!” Tock announced.

“And the chip on his shoulder to go with it!” Tick agreed.

“And, his commanding officer is present so he could perform the ceremony on the spot!” Tock nodded vigorously with the momentum of his excitement.

“NO!” Honeycrisp finally shrieked in a tone that caused the stallions to jump and go silent. “He’s not the hero of this story and I’d not have him even if he was! Blue Shield’s the one who saved me and so don’t you go shoving that rude, elitist, bit-spitter at me!” The eyes of the unicorns went wide at her words and Honeycrisp’s blush reached critical mass, causing her vision to tunnel a little. The silence lingered until Blue Shield cleared his throat.

“The road to Dodge Junction is a few miles that way,” he motioned with a flick of his head. The magic of his horn slid his armor into place and the last three straps latched themselves firmly. “If we hustle, we might make it by dinner. Does anypony else want some fresh food and a hot bath tonight?”

A round of silent agreement passed around the circle and Honeycrisp’s vision finally returned to normal. The six of them set out before anything further could happen and they found the road much more quickly than the earth pony had expected. Once there the group lined up and began a steady traveling pace which carried them along the rest of the way.

Honeycrisp was desperate to stop, by the time the sun began sinking, but she her humiliation had burned like a hot coal in her belly. Every time she felt the need to rest she glanced once at Blue Shield, glared over at Green River, and then pushed her head forward with extra determination. The path blurred before her as the sand and dust raised up to mark their passing. Then, a giant tumbleweed rolled into the road, gathered up the Tick-Tock twins, and stole them away.

For the briefest of moments, Honeycrisp’s mind seemed to have fractured. What … just happened? Twin howls of fear and excitement rose and then fell as the massive bramble continued its journey without pause. Honeycrisp’s gaze unconsciously followed the drama and so she ran into Green River, who had reduced his speed to gawk or turn. They crashed to the sand in a tangle of limbs, which left them both in a particularly compromising position, but the others had already adjusted their course to intercept the danger.

The sand settled over Honeycrisp’s sweat-drenched skin and instantly clung to every uncomfortable surface she could imagine. The invasive presence of Green River was different from what she had been expecting. His muzzle was inches from hers and the firm flexing of his muscles and the salty tang of his musk nearly overwhelmed all of her senses. The fracture in her mind opened into a full fissure and she could not gather enough thoughts together to determine a proper course of action. Then, Green River twisted carefully away from her, mumbled an apology, and then sprinted off to join the others.

A moment later, Honeycrisp found herself alone on the path. The others had all set off to chase down their tumble-napped comrades and there was little she could do to help them. The strain of the journey and the agony of the day’s run caught up to her all at once and she was not certain she could go another step.

Confusion washed through her as she wondered what had just happened. The idiot she had run into was the right type to fall for a pony like her. Brash, headstrong, and full of doubts … treating me life a love-struck foal who teases the filly he likes on the playground because he’s too emotionally constipated to know what else to do with himself.

Of the five … she had hoped she would have caught Blue Shield’s attention, but he was so focused on his mission and his troops. True, the lieutenant had done all that he could to watch out for her … but that was his job. Protecting me is just part of his job … and Green River’s the emotionally immature jock who can’t risk looking weak in front of his buddies. Way to go Honeycrisp. The thought of a flustered and blushing Green River suddenly invaded her mind’s eye and it drew a tiny smile to her lips. She clopped herself in the head as she tried to shake off the feeling. Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Don’t do that! Just let it go! The image faded slowly as she sat there controlling her breathing and most of her trembling had stopped by the time the others returned to the path.

“Whew! That was fun!” Tick managed with an excited giggle.

“You should definitely try it!” Tock agreed as he too waivered on the edge of hysteria.

“Pass,” Honeycrisp spoke gratefully, happy to give her mind something professional to focus upon. “You’re going to be picking seedlings out of your mane for weeks.”

“Nah,” Tick waived his hoof dismissively. “We’ll just shave ‘em off.”

“That’ll get all the sand out too,” Tock nodded in agreement.

“Not a bad idea,” Shade said with a smile. “Perhaps we should smooth ourselves out as part of a team building exercise.”

Blue Shield let out a non-committal huff and then turned his attention to the town which lingered at the edge of the horizon. “Eyes open, team,” he finally said. “I want to sleep in an actual bed tonight and I can’t do that if someone goes tumble-ridding again.” A general chuckle of agreement went through the group but Honeycrisp knew it would not last.

“You two need to get the burs out of your feet and legs first,” she insisted. The twins glanced at her in annoyance and then looked at each other. Their amused expressions faltered for only a moment but she could see their annoyance.

“I see her point,” Tick finally said as he moved closer to his brother and plucked a few burs from hard to reach places.

“She does seem to know a thing or two about this,” Tock agreed as he began picking at his brother’s burs in return.

Honeycrisp moved over to help them and stole a glance at Green River … whom she caught staring. He quickly looked away from her and she turned back to face the brothers. Her instruction allowed them to get rid of the worst of their prickly problem but most of the day’s light was gone by the time they began moving forward again.

Blue Shield raised a light blue shield bubble over the team as they set out and they took a cantering pace that was slower than before but allowed them to arrive before the moon had found a comfortable spot in the sky. The six of them all stumbled into the saloon together and set upon the stunned bartender with a vengeance of requests for food and drink. Their leader then secured rooms for the night and they all set to the tasks of recovering.

Elixirs from Celestia’s well of magic could not have induced the sort of bliss that this simple meal had offered. There was almost no chatter during the small meal but they all set upon it with determination.

“Razor,” Blue Shield said when they all finished and Green River twitched as Shade produced a small but sharp blade. “Out back, Colts … then we’ll hit the showers and off to actual beds.” A series of professional nods rounded the table and then he turned his attention on Honeycrisp. At once she felt a tingle of warmth under her skin but she set her will against it and refused to show weakness. “Ms. Crisp, I’ve already paid for a separate room for you and there should be a bath waiting. In the morning we will be leaving, but I have enough coin for another ticket. Where do you need to go?”

This could be the last time that I see him … the last time that I see any of them. The thought brought with it a sadness which she had not been expecting, and to that end, her words were barely able to reach the surface. “I live in Ponyville.”

“I see,” Blue Shield nodded, “then it looks like we shall be escorting you all the way home.” The weight suddenly lifted off of Honeycrisp’s heart as the stallion gave her a polite smile. “We shall see you in the morning, fair mare.” The big unicorn turned and swatted Green River, who had not yet left the room. The colt stumbled and then yielded to the direction of his superior, leaving Honeycrisp alone at the table.

I’ll see them tomorrow. We’ll take the train together. I’ll have to get them all something! Yeah! I think I know just the gifts!

Author's Note

This chapter was fairly challenging, as it was suddenly from Honeycrisp's point of view. This character is more the slice of life character from my original outline and a new type of challenge for me. My stories tend to be adventure based and I am not certain how to create a slice of life story that carries the plot on its own. That means I will be sailing into uncharted territory once the adventure is over ... or maybe I will just find ways to keep the adventure going. Might be easier for me to write it that way instead.

10 - Reflection

The sun peered in through the east facing window and caused Blue Shield’s eyes to flick wide open. Without moving his head, he rotated his eyes in his sockets and gathered the information he needed about his surroundings. I’m in a bed. We’re in Dodge Junction. We don’t need to worry about being found by dragons. There’s plenty food and drink downstairs. Today we shall be relaxing on a train.

A deep breath turned into a yawn as he stretched blood back into his aching muscles. Miles of road and days of neglect had caused discomfort to seep into nearly every part of his body. The water of the hot tub had stripped miles of filth and strain from his body but it would take a few days before he was able to completely recover from the strain. A pair of cramps seized his hind calves and he twitched, shaking the sharp stabs away into throbbing aches. Several more deep breaths caused his heart to push richer blood back into the corners of his body and he groaned with the effort of rolling to a stand.

A scuffing snort drew his gaze to where Green River sprawled. The colt’s mouth was wide open and one part of his pillow was soaked by a trickle of leaking drool. Shade’s bed was empty, and the lieutenant knew this was because the poor unicorn had been on the night watch, messing up his sleeping patterns. The twins had gotten their own room and the damsel, Honeycrisp, was given her own space.

I rescued a damsel in distress from dragons. The smile forced hip face to pull back and he was unable to keep his dour expression. The walk down to the saloon was pleasant enough and breakfast was fresh and cooked in an actual kitchen instead of out in the field. Shade approached the table in his bare skin and the two stallions sat in silence for a time as they each ate their meal.

“It’s nice to stretch out without the armor,” Blue Shield finally said and his companion nodded and gave a grunt of agreement. “I think I’m going to write a letter to my Dad.”

“Finally found something to write home about?” Shade asked with an amused expression.

“I rescued a damsel in distress from a dragon,” Blue Shield said with his smile from earlier returning. “That’s the kind of news any father would be proud to hear of from his son.”

“True,” Shade nodded, “just don’t break OPSEC.”

“Operational Security will not be compromised,” Blue Shield drolled at his second in command. “Do you want to read it before I mail it out?”

“Nah,” Shade waived his hoof absently as he poked at a few crispy bits of hay, “you always get all simpering and poetic then you write home.”

“Simpering?” the white unicorn grinned. “That’s quite a big word for you, Shade.”

“Maybe you’re rubbing off on me,” the dark skinned pony mumbled as he stuffed the last bits of his meal into his face.

“Let the others sleep,” the lieutenant ordered. “I figure we’ll move out around noon.”

“That’s rather non-specific,” the sergeant commented with a look of concern.

“I’ve just spent three months being really blasted specific,” the officer sneered, “it’s time for some R&R.” There was more to that statement than the words themselves, but he did not need to explain the undertones to his friend. Shade had been his almost constant companion for the better part of three years and they had an understanding that nopony else seemed to share. Quite a few off-color jokes about their relationship had circled as scuttle-butt and it had become a bit of a joke between them … but they knew the score. Comrades sometimes made the best friends … and that bond would never change.

The Dodge Junction Pony Express was just as dry as the rest of the town but it was a little less dusty than the other buildings. Blue Shield knew that the dryness would allow the paper to retain its consistency better than it would in other places but the dust and sand would inevitably mix with the ink and make it all grainy.

Sure enough, when he bought his writing materials from the attendant and moved off to a writing desk, his ink clumped like cookie dough. It did not matter, though, and Blue Shield mixed the ink until it was usable, took up the fountain pen in his mouth, and carried on an old family tradition by forcing himself to write without magic.

Dear Dad,

I finally rescued a damsel in distress from a dragon. She’s an earth pony from Ponyville and my squad is taking her home now. My team and I were watching the Great Dragon Migration, so we were in the area, and we discovered that it is mostly younger dragons that like to raid nearby territories and carry off loot. That is a good thing because the bigger adult dragons are can stretch form one side of a village to the other. Fortunately they tend to sleep all of the time and the one we did wake up only bothered to look around for about ten seconds before flopping back down to continue snoring.

He paused, seeing his father’s blue hornless face and his short black mane in his mind’s eye. The two of them had disagreed when Blue Shield left home to join the guard and he had to be extremely careful when writing home to talk about his day. He could not give out his position, could not tell his father where they were going, and had to be careful not to talk about the missions themselves. Secrets … security … protecting ponykind from the things that went bump in the night without them all knowing about it.

A deep breath filled Blue Shield’s lungs and he crossed out a line which would give away their position:

She’s an earth pony from Ponyville and my squad is taking her home now.

A few more lines went onto the paper and then he took up another one and rewrote the letter as a second draft. When he was finished, he stared at the bottom for a long moment … then he signed.

Lieutenant Blue Shield

Special Operations Division

Midnight Horns

Then he scribbled it out and wrote:

Quilliam Bluehoof

He sat there staring at the name which his parents had given to him for a long time and he huffed in annoyance when a single drop of ink dripped out of the pen’s tip and splotched onto the paper. He considered scrapping the entire letter and throwing it away. Writing home and giving out any details like this always risky. A truly determined enemy could trace the details about the Great Dragon Migration and put them all in danger … but if that information fell into enemy hooves he could determine that there was a leak in the mail system.

Blue Shield shook his head. Training had forced him to keep up a constant level of suspicious attention during a mission and it was difficult to turn off. Concern during a mission was necessary but this was a level of paranoia would drive him mad if he kept it up. It’s only paranoia if you’re wrong, the voice in his head told him … but it was time to make a stand against that voice. A low level spell could have quick dried the ink but instead he blew across the page and gave it the time it needed to set. Then he folded the letter into an envelope, signed it, stamped it, and gave it to the mailpony.

By the time he finished Green River was awake and the team assembled for a brunch before purchasing tickets for the train to Ponyville. Honeycrisp descended for a quiet bit to eat but her yellow cheeks kept a steady orange blush through most of it. From time to time she stole a glance at Green River, who was sleepily engaged in the art of trying to eat, and not noticing.

Figures, Blue Shield scowled to himself but he kept his expression a careful mask. It was nopony’s fault that mares always seemed to go for the bad colts but it still bothered him when it happened. We are told to be gentlecolts and treat a mare with respect and dignity … then she kicks us to the curb and runs off with the idiot. Then, of course, she comes crying back when it doesn’t work out … and once she feels beautiful again, she goes running back to the idiot. How do we ever survive?

“Sir?”

“Hm?” Blue Shield blinked and looked over at Tock, a look of expectation on his face.

“Are you going to eat that?” the orange pony asked as if he were repeating himself. Heat boiled up inside of the officer and he raised his sandwich into the air with his magic, broke it into a dozen small pieces, and then sent one hurtling at the twin. The reddish hue of his magic caught the morsel, as was his specialty, and plopped it into his mouth. “Mmm … not bad,” the colt said with a nod of thanks.

Blue Shield chuckled, despite himself, and forced himself to eat. The meal resumed without incident and the group checked out of their rooms before moving to the train. Deep blue eyes scanned the train for traps and he even forced Tick and Tock to blink onto the top of the cars for a jog. Once inside, he checked the seats and took note of all of the exits and possible places to hide and take cover should disaster strike.

A metallic shimmer drew his attention and his attention focused upon it. Battle senses took note of the compartment, the positioning of the seats, and the ponies inside. Nostrils flared as he moved forward and found … a mirror which had been dropped on the ground. And for my next trick … maybe I’ll attack a granny who produces knitting needles in order to make a blanket for her grandcolts.

The train moved out toward their next destination, and the others of his team managed to fall asleep in one fashion or another. Blue Shield tried to relax his nerves but that only led to more pacing. Despite his fatigue, his mind would not stop sifting through the events of the past weeks and so he began to walk through the compartment cars in an effort to work off the nervous energy.

A dozen little pieces of information were spread out in front of his mind’s eye and he stared at them each in turn. The things he was discovering did not settle well together but he knew his mind was in a bad place and might be jumping to conclusions. Thus … he clunked the bench which Shade was napping upon and motioned to one of the private carts.

“You’ve got that look again,” the dark gray pony mentioned in his quietly steady tone once the door was closed and the curtain was drawn.

“I need a sounding board,” Blue Shield told his second.

“You’re paranoid,” Shade told him.

“You haven’t even heard what I have to say yet,” the big white unicorn scowled.

“Uh-huh,” the smaller unicorn grunted in an unimpressed tone.

“Fine,” Blue Shield said as he fought to not roll his eyes, “I’ve got some information that I’m worried about.”

“Is it classified?” Shade furrowed a brow.

“Of course.” There was a pregnant pause. “I’m worried about Princess Luna.” Shade’s furrow went slack and his face lost all expression. Blue Shield knew that meant he was actually feeling emotions that might conflict with his normally bland nature and thus this was one of his methods of hiding them. “I think she is removing some of her competition and then she plans to stage a coup.”

Shade’s silver eyes shone placidly as he considered the words. “What is you evidence?” he eventually asked like a professor who is patently speaking to an intelligent student.

“The princess was imprisoned for a thousand years,” Blue Shield finally said as he put into words something that had been bothering him since that horrible day. “Upon returning, she was possessed by some terrible magic that she unleashed all over the place and she was put down by the Elements of Harmony. Then she was suddenly all better and her sister forgave her without a second thought. I have not been there for any of their private conversations, or anything, but I can’t imagine someone just waiving a magic wand and being all better like that.”

“Not even Princess Celestia?” Shade asked blankly.

“Especially Princess Celestia,” the lieutenant declared and then he strode forth to explain. “I love and trust Holy Celestia with all of my heart … but she is not perfect. If she had been then Luna would not have needed to be imprisoned in the first place. The imprisonment always seemed a little extreme to me anyway … but if she really did need it, can we really just suddenly forgive and forget?

“Then there are the other prisoners. Luna once told me that she never really had any contact with them and that she is really just concerned that the others are going to attack us or cause some sort of trouble. But I don’t see how that is possible. A thousand years is a very long time … whole civilizations can rise and fall in such a span and I don’t see how the prisoners could have just left each other alone.”

“Says who?” Shade asked when the pause came.

“Says Nightmare Moon,” the white unicorn said seriously. “If Nightmare Moon is not Luna … then what is she? Who is she? Where is she now? Was she some sort of shape shifting demon? Did she possess the weakened heart of our sad princess when she was emotionally distraught and vulnerable? Maybe she’s still in there … just waiting to return! Maybe the demon has been driven out and is now searching for another host! Shade … I say something … back when we were fighting in the crater! I zapped one of the dragons and it turned into … something else.”

“What was it?” Shade asked but his commander only shook his head.

“It was … black, and armored like a bug.” Blue Shield paused as he tried to remember and found the image rushing back along with the memories of the fight … the heat … and the pain. “I think … it was a shape shifter.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah … I remember reading something about them once but I don’t really remember the details,” Blue Shield shook his head and glanced up at his friend who was watching him carefully. “Tactically speaking, it is really a bad idea to send three crack teams out to seemingly random locations to spy on innocuous targets and collect little to no intelligence.”

“Dragons are not innocuous,” Shade pointed out.

“True,” the lieutenant nodded, “but they rarely cause trouble.”

“But they did, this time,” the darker unicorn pointed out.

“Right when Luna said they would,” Blue Shield pointed out. “What if it was a trap?”

“A trap?” Shade let his brow furrow again.

“What if we weren’t meant to survive the encounter?” the lieutenant asked. “What if the civilian is actually an informant or maybe just a distraction?”

“Is she that distracting?” the second in command asked with a hint of amusement.

“Not like that,” Blue Shield snorted, “she was exactly in the worse kind of trouble she could be in at a place and time that Luna could have no possible way of knowing. Unless she has some crazy sort of magic to show her such a thing … in which case, why would she need us out here at all?”

“So, the mare is a spy?” Shade asked in a manner that Blue Shield recognized.

“She was rather convenient,” the lieutenant commented, “and now she’s in a prime position to keep tabs on us.”

“Yeah … she did sort of seem to be rather into you. That never happens.” The gray unicorn’s silver eyes sparkled with mischief and the level blue ones met them with narrowed warning.

“She’s not my type,” he said crisply.

“And what is your type?”

“Strong, confident, graceful,” Blue Shield began with confidence and then he trailed off for a bit.

“Wings and horns,” the soft-spoken pony added. Blue Shield flinched a little.

“Well … yeah,” Blue Shield thought for several seconds longer before adding, “look, we both know I can’t go galloping off with some simpleton. I have standards, and a graceful mare with a keen intellect is very near the top of my list.”

“And how has that list treated you so far?” Shade asked with genuine curiosity.

A flash of anger slashed through Blue Shield’s skull as he glared at his friend with unnatural hostility. Silver eyes reflected his harsh blue gaze with disinterested ease and the temperature in the room rose a couple of degrees. Is he right? Did he hit too close to home just now?

“I’m going to interrogate her,” the lieutenant declared with barely contained fury.

“Be thorough,” Shade smirked. “She might like that.”

“There’s something else going on here,” Blue Shield declared as he pushed forward, “and I think we might find the next clue at that little town we’re going to be getting off at.”

“Will the Dark Hooves be meeting us there?” Shade asked as his business as usual attitude returned.

“Only way to be sure this is not all just a giant waste of time,” Blue Shield nodded. “We’ll pool our information and get a larger picture. Maybe with more puzzle pieces we’ll finally get some answers.”

“Which will lead to more questions,” Shade warned him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Blue shield sighed and then turned his attention to the window that showed scenery as it passed them by. “I can’t let this go. If something’s going on … then her majesty needs to know about it.”

“What if she really is blinded,” Shade offered. “Will she will listen?”

“If enough evidence is put before her,” Blue Shield spoke sternly, “then she will act. I don’t believe she is perfect … but I also do not believe she is a fool. While the heart can give us false hope … I don’t believe she would just turn a blind eye if sown the truth.”

“Yeah … emotions can do that,” Shade told him, and the friends both nodded in understanding.

“That’s why I’ve got you here,” Blue Shield told his second, “to keep me straight.”

11 - Interrogation

The smell of a grassy meadow after a summer storm was mixed with the sharp sweetness of honey at work. Humongous Humming Hazy Honeybees buzzed around the dozens of flowery fields which had been prepared for them by the keepers. Each of the yellow and black stripped insects would flop into a cluster of them like some enormous house cat and then roll like a playful dog. Pollen, petals, and nectar would all get stuck to the creature’s fur which it would then happily carry back to its lair.

The yellow pony who watched them had eyes for little else and a head filled with the events of the last few days. The excitement of the festival and the reactions of the tasters had allowed her to swim through a sea of endorphins. Now that it was over, she stared at the housecat-sized Hazy Honeybees and basked in the glow of her accomplishments. There was no way she could transport the tools needed to construct what was needed for a bee hive that would take up as much space as a three story building … but she could marvel at the work of those who had.

One of the unsteady giants flopped down at the pony’s feet and then gazed up at her with its multi-faceted eyes. It shivered in a little dance, producing a teeth grating hum and then turned to one side. With a smile, the pony reached for a single hoof and carefully scratched the oversized bee between the wings. The worker marched in place for several seconds, humming her appreciation at the pony who could reach the one area no bee ever could.

An instant later, the Humongous Humming Hazy Honeybee shuddered and waddled away to a place where it could fling itself into another open flowerbed. A joint grinding sound suddenly rattled through the fields and all of the bees seemed to take it as a signal. At least two dozen of them swarmed up and stirred up a flower scented wind as they flew back to their hive. It did not occur to the pony that she should have taken that moment to look around for whatever had startled the creatures.

The breath was knocked out of her lungs when the attack hit her. The battle cry of the predators flattened her fight or flight instincts for several precious seconds and then they were upon her fully. The ground fell away in a sideways arc and she was lifted higher into a horizon full of barren hills and sulfurous pools of molten stone. From there she would be a damsel … and her distress knew no end.

Honeycrisp let out a little gasp as she woke from her nightmare. Wide green eyes flicked in several wild motions until her mind caught up with her instincts and she realized the situation. I’m on a train … I was rescued … I am safe. The sound of her heartbeat abated in her ears and her breathing began to level out. Three of the unicorns who had rescued her were flopped into various sleeping positions but their seats were far enough away that none of them seemed to have noticed her outburst.

A sheepish little grin formed as she wiped the sleep-drool from one cheek and she moved carefully from where the others dreamed. A blanket fell to the floor and she blinked at it. She did not remembering having one when she had initially dozed off. Her eyes traveled suspiciously to Green River, but he sprawled in selfish ownership of his area and so she chose to imagine the leader of their group in her fairy tale.

The trip to the train’s little bathroom was a wobbly affair. She swore she could feel every uneven spot in the metal rails as the vibrations went up through the floor and into her hooves. The events of the past days made this a tiny inconvenience, however, and the grumbling of her angry stomach told her she had other issues to consider.

Two passenger cars led her past a few sleeping passengers to the dining car where the smell of cafeteria food seemed to have soaked into every surface. It was eerie, with only the light of the moon showing her inside, but her stomach ordered her to move forward like a stubborn filly in need of her dinner. There might not be much in the way of hot food available, but at this point she would happily eat them out of nuts and dried fruit if only to put the evil hunger beast to bed.

A small light glowed faintly to life and the sudden presence caused her to rein back with a tiny start. Two shapes could be seen at a table in the corner and she realized she was seeing her two missing guardians.

“Good morning,” Blue Shield rumbled politely, “sleep well?”

Honeycrisp flushed and ran a hoof along her tuff of hopelessly tangled mane. It fluffed back up and she grunted in frustration. I guess he’s already seen me at my worst, she thought as she forced herself to relax. “Not really,” she admitted as she closed the distance between them. “Nightmares.”

“I can’t stop thinking of the dragons?” Blue Shield asked as he moved politely to one side. Honeycrisp slid into the booth which the white and grey unicorns were sharing. Brilliant silver eyes stared silently from across the table, studying her with an intensity which had not become more tolerable with time. Shade was always watching … always calculating … and she never knew what it might be about.

“Do you think you are recovered enough to talk about it?” Blue Shield asked her with a gentle blanket covering his typically professional tone. The pure blue gaze was not something Honeycrisp felt she could meet as the memories came unbidden into her mind. A sharp breath widened her gaze a little as she recalled it but she gripped her emotions tightly and refused to lose control.

“It might help,” she admitted. “I hear you’re supposed to talk to somepony when things like this happen.”

“I’m not a headshrinker,” Blue Shield spoke with a touch of humor in his tone, “but I’m told that I’m good at listening … and Shade’s so good at listening that you might forget he’s even here.”

“Thanks,” Honeycrisp smiled as she settled into place and took a breath. “I’m … really into plants. I’ve got a little shop, a few employees, and I occasionally try my hoof at honey making. It’s fun … though I’m still learning. My stuff’s got nothing on Beezwax’s Liquid Gold but I managed to get invited to compete anyway. The eightieth Baltimare Honey Competition’s an invitation only kind of thing … but they invited me anyway.”

“You must be good if you received an invitation to such an exclusive event,” Blue Shield commented, and a touch of pride glowed warmly in her chest.

“Nah,” Honeycrisp shook her head as the blush colored her cheeks with an orange hue. “I only got invited because I surprised a grieving mare with some flowers after her father passed away. There’s no way I’d have gotten an all-expenses paid vacation to Baltimare, otherwise.”

“Really?” Blue Shield asked with a teasing furrow of one brow. “You have no skill at all? You’re just that lovable?”

“Well … uhm …” the heat began to increase in her face and she felt it moving down her neck where it met up with the flutter in her chest.

“How did you do?” he asked.

“Well … I ranked twelfth …”

“Out of how many?” he asked politely.

“About thirty,” Honeycrisp said as she tried to remember more of the details that had been knocked aside when the dragons took her.

“So you beat out,” Blue Shield paused a beat to do math and then continued his question, “around twenty other professional honey makers? Now I will have to try out your blend when we get to Ponyville.”

“Okay,” she managed to say as she let her smile flash a little more widely than she meant it to. Stop grinning like an idiot Crispy! Focus!

“Miss Crisp?” His voice had the tone of one who was repeating himself and her ears flicked forward.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to make you relive such a painful event,” the lieutenant paused as he made a visible effort to soften the blow of his next statement, “but do you think you are recovered enough to talk about the dragons?”

Hahaha!!! Look at the little morsel! Bet she’d go great with a side of rubies!

The memory caused her muscles to tense and she dropped her eyes to focus on the salt shaker.

“Is there anything to eat here?” she blurted, even though her appetite had fled.

“I’ll get something,” Shade spoke in a manner which caused her to jump. The nearly invisible unicorn slid from his perch and ghosted into the dining area. His silhouette faded into the shadows and it seemed as if he had disappeared entirely.

“It must have been really scary,” Blue Shield spoke calmly as if to a frightened animal. “How long were you tied to that stake?”

“I don’t know,” Honeycrisp admitted in almost a whisper. “Maybe a day. It seemed like forever.” The sound of the train rushing over metal rails was the only sound for an eternity. The knocking of where the tracks met was the only sound as she breathed through the emotions of her memories.

“Did the dragons say anything about their plans?” Blue Shield asked on the other side of that eternity.

“Oh,” she breathed, “well … they talked a lot about impressing some of the bigger dragons. There was this one … I think his name was Crackle … or was it a her …” she shook her head. “They wanted to impress the bigger dragons with the loot they got from their raids. They made a lot of jokes about eating too much of their treasure because … you know … they eat gemstones. But they said they could eat me because I wasn’t worth anything.”

A snort caused Honeycrisp to stop and she blinked up at the stallion in front of her. His eyes had narrowed and there were lines in his face that formed an outraged expression. For a moment she thought he was angry with her … but then he shook his head and snarled, “Animals.” He paused for a breath and then allowed his fury to recede into something more manageable. “I’m sorry … that must have been horrible. Please … continue.”

“Yeah,” she nodded with a tiny smile at the reaction of her savior, “it was bad … but there was a lot of commotion about a raid gone bad and so their attention got pulled away from me.”

“Oh?” Blue Shield leaned forward with interest.

“Yeah,” Honeycrisp nodded as she leaned unconsciously toward him, “there was a raid on a phoenix family that went horribly wrong. Three of the dragons were injured and one didn’t come back at all! They were so worked up about it that they were discussing how they could get revenge … they forgot all about me when that happened.”

“Strange,” the lieutenant spoke thoughtfully as he tapped one hoof in an unconscious manner upon the table, “that happened weeks before you were captured. I wonder why they waited so long to talk about it.”

“I don’t know,” Honeycrisp shrugged. “Maybe they were embarrassed and trying to hide it from the other dragons.”

“That’s a possibility,” the white stallion nodded as his eyes unfocused into deepening through.

He has such pretty eyes.

“Did any of the dragons act … a little weird?” The question snapped Honeycrisp out of her reverie but the question caused her to frown.

“Weird?” she blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Was one of them different from the others?” he clarified.

“Not … really,” Honeycrisp replied as she tried to sift through her memories for anything that might be useful. “I was kind of tied up.”

“Yes,” he held up one hoof in a placating gesture, “I apologize. But if you think of anything, please let me know.”

“Of course,” she replied a little too eagerly. “So ... what are you going to do when we get to Ponyville?”

“I’m going to meet a friend,” Blue Shield told her with a disarming smile. It did something to the mare and she forgot the questions that had been meant to follow. He’s so close … not even fully across the table. What would happen if I touched his hoof … would he let me? Would he pull back? Get a grip Honey … he’s a life-long career military pony! He’s married to the force and doesn’t do things like date or give Hearts-and-Hooves Day cards! But … he’s a thunderstorm in armor. I wonder what would spill out if I broke that disciplined shell …

The solid clunk of a shimmering plate, filled with breakfast-type food, landed on the table in front of Honeycrisp and she nearly tumbled onto the floor in a pile of shattered dignity. The dark grey unicorn had reappeared in his original position and she was, once again, filled with the feeling of being intruded upon during something personal.

“Oh! Thanks!” she nearly shouted as she tried to recover from so many emotions hitting her all at once. It might have just been nerves but for some reason Honeycrisp felt herself stuffing a little more food into her face than she thought was appropriate. Shade eyes her with a blandly suspicious stare and she focused more on her food in an effort to keep herself from shivering. I swear … it’s like he’s trying to keep his daughter’s virtue intact!

“We should be arriving in a few hours,” Blue Shield finally said. “It might be a good idea to get some more sleep before we arrive.

“Alright,” Shade spoke the word in such a low tone that Honeycrisp had almost not heard it. She paused in mid-chew to blink at the rare sound of his quiet voice. He then glanced at her, as if for good measure, as he trotted out of the car. An odd thought crossed her mind and she let her eyes roam over to Blue Shield … who as watching after his comrade with a fond expression.

Oh … my … oh …by Celestia … they’re … they’re …

“Don’t worry,” Blue Shield told her, “he’s always like that with ponies who he doesn’t really know.”

Oh no … they are!

“Oh, it’s okay,” Honeycrisp sputtered and a few tiny bits of leafy green flew out of her mouth. She chewed vigorously for a few more seconds as she waived her hoof and tried to smile and look non-judgmental. “To each their own!”

A sly little smile appeared on Blue Shield’s face and he gave her a slight nod. “Good night, Ms. Crisp,” he said politely as he slid from the compartment.

“Bucking figures,” she swore to herself once she was alone with her meal. “A once in a lifetime opportunity to get rescued from a fire breathing dragons by a knight in shining armor … and, of course, I would get rescued by one of the prancing ponies!”

*****

“Well?”

“She’s clean,” Shade said with certainty.

“Are you sure?”

“The only thing she’s hiding is a burning desire to ask you on a date,” the sergeant said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah … and not very well,” Blue Shield said with a smirk. “It was written all over her.”

“Interesting,” the dark grey unicorn rubbed his chin in a thoughtful gesture. The cushioned seats of the private car devoured the pair of them as they settled down for their debriefing and Blue Shield was distinctly uninterested in any word-play.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to say something to embarrass me?” Blue Shield asked dryly.

“Because you’ve known me a long time,” Shade said with a grin that nopony else would have noticed.

“Fine,” the larger stallion grumbled with a shake of his head, “say it.”

“I just find it interesting that her need was so great that she appears to want to latch onto you like a barnacle to the hull of a ship.”

“Heh,” Blue Shield snorted with amusement, “love barnacle.” Shade made a lewd “O” face and spent a few seconds sucking on the side of his hoof. Blue Shield shook with laughter for several seconds and was surprised how good it felt. “You’re such a pig.” He flopped over onto one side and made certain his back was to his friend.

“Rooting in the dirt isn’t all bad,” Shade commented as he lay down. “It might be nice to get a little muddy.” Blue Shield shook with laughter until tears rolled from his eyes.

“Oh, shut your pie hole,” Blue Shield ordered and then he drifted off to a nap that would carry him to the end of his trip.