Equestrian Soldiers

“So where should we go next?” Celestia asks me. I shrug, and follow Celestia.

“Where would you like to go?” I ask her.

“Hmm.” She says as she waves for me. I smile softly.

“Lead the way Celestia.” I tell her with sarcasm. She giggles to me, and we start towards the labyrinth.

“So what do you and your friends specialize in?” Celestia asks me. I smirk.

“What were you planning on doing with us?” I ask in return.

“Oh, I’m just curious to what you all can do.” She replies with that motherly smile of hers.

“Well, I specialize in close to medium range combat. Delta specializes in long to super long range combat. Night is the berserker if you tick him off. Steel is the close range specialist. Flame scepter is an all-round soldier. Sharp is our planner, and escape artist. And when we are all on the same mission we can get it done with a ninety percent chance of completion without casualties, and a seventy percent chance without injury.” I tell her with a prideful smile.

“Well then, I guess I’ll have to test you all later on.” She tells me. I smile at that.

“We were in a test of sorts when we came to your parents.” I tell her.

“Oh, and what kind of test was it?” She asks.

“It was an intel retrieval test. We were supposed to go into the enemy building, and retrieve three brief cases that have intel reports in them, and return to base. We used dummy rubber rounds that only bounced off you, and left a nasty bruise latter. We never finished the test, because a lightning storm came in, and then I created a portal, met your parents, and now I’m here.” I say with a dramatic story telling voice. Celestia giggles at my drama, and we exit the castle into a courtyard.

“What do you personally plan on doing while you’re here?” She asks me. I smile at that.

“Nothing that will harm your country, or ponies. Other than that would be telling.” I reply. She raises an eyebrow at me.

“A riddle? Well it’s been a while since I’ve had one that needs to be figured out.” She tells me with a smirk. I shake my head and chuckle.

“Well, I wouldn’t call it a riddle, but it is a surprise.” I tell her. She looks to me with amusement in her eyes.

“Are we going to go through the maze?” I ask as we head towards said entrance.

“No, but I have a small spot I like inside that is nice to stay and talk at.” She replies as we enter the maze, and she led me around curves, and corners.

“Do you take people to this spot often?” I ask as we enter a small area with a type of fruit tree.

“Not unless they are here to stay for long periods of time.” She tells me. I look over the tree, and notice something. The flowers where the fruit will potentially grow were multicolored.

“This tree has magic, doesn’t it?” I ask as I look over the flowers, and gasp slightly as they slowly change to different colors.

“Yes, and it is the last of its kind. This is the last solar tree.” She replies with a small smile.

“I see you have an emotional connection with this lovely being.” I say as I look over the tree some more. I am filled with a sense of contentment as I watch the petals of the flowers slowly change.

“This tree is as old as I am. It was planted the day I was born. It keeps the immeadiate area warm in the winter with its passive magic, so this small spot in the world will stay in summer temperatures no matter what. The tree is more or less like a sister to me. The colors on the flowers are tuned with my emotions. The tree is also a way to tell how I’m doing as it wilts and flourishes with my health.” Celestia says as she sniffs at one of the flowers.

“Sounds like a very powerful magic is at play here. It would make me believe that your sister has one as well.” I say as I look back to Celestia.

“She does, and it is in the labyrinth as well.” Celestia says with a smile, “But she keeps hers to herself for she thinks it as a private place.”

“Hmm, well it is her tree, she can do whatever she wants.” I say as I sit down with my legs crossed.

“I personally think she should share it with others, but I can also see why she keeps it private.” Celestia says with a slight undertone of sadness.

“It sounds personal, and saddening, so I won’t ask.” I reply with a sagely nod.

“Come Dark, I have to return to day court, and I would think you would like to rest.” Celestia says as she starts to walk again.

“I don’t need to rest, and if I remember right day court seems to be a drag, so I think I’ll come with you.” I reply.

“I don’t mind if you come along, just don’t do my job for me please.” She answers in that motherly voice of hers. I chuckle, and just fall instep besides her.

“Now why would I try to do that?” I ask her. She looks at me for a few seconds.

“Some of the ponies think that after I say no that they can change my mind with a sad story, or a bribe, but they are foolish to think so.” She tells me. I sigh, and shake my head.

“You could be a bit more strict with your ponies, not angry strict, just give them a reason to not waste your time, like a small fine or a removal from the court room by guards, or heck you can even use me as an incentive to not waste your time. You are just a pony with a title, and you have needs just like everyone else.” I reply as we enter a throne room with six old educated looking ponies beside a giant red pillow.

“Thank you for filling in for me while I was attending the emergency at hoof, you are all free to go.” Celestia tells the six elderly ponies. They all just mutter a response, and exit the room. Celestia walks up to the giant pillow, and lies down on it with a sigh. It wasn’t a comfortable sigh, or a sigh that says I really don’t want to be here, it was just a sigh.

“Sit next to me if you’re staying Dark. Today has been rather slow, but I need to be here in case there is somepony to talk to.” Celestia says as she motions to one of the now empty pillows on either side of her.

“Do you mind if I just sit on the steps in front of you to the side, I prefer something a bit firmer than a pillow for my rear?” I ask her. She nods to me, and I sit at the top of the stairs to her right.

“So what do you do when in here?” I ask as there was not a single pony in there at the moment, and there weren’t any coming for now.

“Well, when there are ponies here to talk to I listen to a request from my little ponies, and if the request is reasonable, and has a positive purpose, and outcome I will grant it, but most of the ponies that come in here are nobles that just want to flaunt at my hooves for more money or power in the world. It gets tiring very quickly, but such is the life of a princess.” She replies.

“Sounds as though you need to be a bit stricter with your high class ponies.” I observe.

“I would, but that would create more problems than fixing them.” She answers.

“Well, look at it this way then. If you have less nobles groveling at your hooves for no reason, then you are less stressed, and in turn are able to deal with higher needs for your country. You will also have a tighter rein on your upper class ponies.” I counter.

“Yes, however if I do this then the nobles will become irritated with my actions, and cause crime rates in the cities to rise.” Celestia counters effortlessly.

“Yes, if you do it bluntly, but if you do it right you can also lower crime rates, as well as improve the economy.” I reply.

“Since when did you become an expert in politics?” I hear someone ask. I look out on the court room to see that Delta Shot was walking up to me. He had his left arm in a sling, but other than that he looked fine.

“Since I lived in America where the politics are idiots.” I reply with a grin, “And I gave you orders to get some rest.”

“Come on Frost, we all know your orders are more like suggestions.” He replies with a wave of his right hand. I chuckle at this, and wave him up to us.

“So which of your group is this?” Celestia asks me.

“This is Delta Shot, and he is also the comedian of the six of us, but what he said is in a way true now.” I tell her.

“Oh, so you have loose control over your friends?” Celestia asks.

“Well, they are their own person, but on the field in the heat battle or during missions they listen when it counts.” I reply with a smirk, “However in regular day to day stuff they can screw around if they want.”

“Yeah, that and if we let him boss us around all the time he would go crazy.” Delta says as he stands at the bottom of the stairs.

“So what brought you here Delta?” Celestia asks.

“Honestly Princess, I was bored, and thought I could come and chat with you two.” He says with a sheepish smile.

“I would enjoy your company, so go ahead and take a seat.” She tells him. Delta smiles, and takes up the other side of the stairs across from me.

“Let me guess Frost, day court?” Delta asks me.

“Day court.” I answer with a nod.

“So Delta, may I know your real name?” Celestia asks. I sigh, not wanting to here this story again.

“I would prefer if you didn’t. I have a bad past with my name that I don’t want to go over right now.” Delta replies with his head hung.

“I understand, and won’t bother you about it.” Celestia replies with a sad smile.

“Thank you Princess.” Delta says as he nods.

We stayed in silence for a few moments before the throne room doors opened, and a unicorn mare walks in. She stops a few feet away from the stairs, and bows to Celestia.

“Rise my little pony.” She tells the mare, “and tell me what you need.” Celestia had put on a kind ruler mask when she did this.

“Yes Princess. I have come to ask for help. My child is in need of medical attention, but I don’t have the bits for the surgery.” The mare says with a frown. I move so that my elbows are on my knees, and my hands are clasped in front of my jaw.

“And what is the problem that you child has?” Celestia asks with a bit of genuine worry in her voice.

“Her wings have broken while she was flying, and she can’t move them without causing damage. The doctors need to go in and surgically place the bones back into their proper positions, but the surgery costs too much.” The mare says with a slight waver in her voice, “If my filly can’t get her wings fixed she’ll never fly again.” I narrow my eyes a bit as I see something in her eyes, something that was off for a mother talking about her child’s future, but I wasn’t sure.

“Tell me, how did she break her wings?” Celestia asks.

“She was flying overhead while we were going to the market, and ran into another Pegasus, but she also hit a tree on her way to the ground, but she was dazed, and couldn’t pull out of the fall in time. The tree slowed her fall enough so it wasn’t lethal, but broke her wings in the process.” Tear were know streaming down the mares face, and she hung her head. I kept a close eye on her facial expressions, as I’m sure Delta was doing as well.

“I see, and what of the other Pegasus?” Celestia asks.

“He is fine as he managed to land safely, and then he helped me move my daughter to the hospital. He is even helping with the payment of the surgery out of kindness.” The mare says. Celestia seems to be in thought for a few seconds as the mare kept her head hung.

It was then that I saw it. My piece of proof that said she was lying. She gave herself a smug grin.

“Liar.” I say as with a neutral voice.

“Dark Frost?” Celestia asks me, “How is she lying?”

“It is in her facial expressions. While she had her head hung while you were thinking there was a smug grin, and her eyes are also showing the wrong emotions for a mother in distress about their child. She is either not telling the full truth or this is a made up scenario.” I say with my eyes staring right into the mare’s. Her facial expressions said she was shocked, and angered, but her eyes said otherwise. Her eyes said ‘how did you know that?’ with a large hint of anger in them.

“Delta Shot?” Celestia asks.

“My word is the same. She had a grin on her lips while her head was hung. She is hiding something.” Delta says as he looks the mare over.

“Princess, you can’t possibly believe those things over one of your ponies.” The mare says, now trying to pull on heartstrings.

“My little pony these are my and my sister’s personal elite guards. I trust their word about as much as I trust my sister.” Celestia says calmly.

“So you are going to believe them?” The mare asks. Celestia nods.

“Yes, so please tell me the truth.” Celestia says with a curt expression.

“I…I can’t. He won’t let me.” The mare says now looking down at the ground in what seems to be shame. I just keep a close eye on her.

“Then what is truthful in your story?” Celestia asks her.

“My daughter’s wings are broken, and I don’t have the money to pay for the surgery.” She tells us all. I narrow my eyes a bit as I see fear in her eyes, and movements.

“Did someone break your daughters wings, and is threatening you to not tell?” I ask her. She gasps at me, and then starts shaking in fear.

“H-h-h-how d-did you know?” She asks. I sigh and shake my head.

“Who did it?” I ask calmly.

“I can’t tell you, or he’ll hurt her more.” The mare says. I was starting to recognize this situation.

“I’m going to take a guess. It was either your boyfriend, your husband, or the child’s father, am I correct?” I ask her.

“Oh no no no no no no no, Now he’s going to hurt her more!” The mares says as she huddles herself into a laying position on the floor and starts to sob. I look to Delta as he was always better at stuff like this, and he nods before getting up, and walking down to the mare to comfort her.

“Dark, how did you know this?” Celestia asks me with a raised eyebrow.

“It happens too much in my world, and it happened a lot from where I’m from in my world.” I tell her, “And it’s always the same way, but a different reason or victims. I suggest letting me find the accused stallion, and bring him in.” I say with a professional voice.

“I think that my guards should handle this.” Celestia says with a shake of her head.

“I don’t think that would be wise. If you send a guard or two the stallion will know that she either told you what happened, or that you figured it out, and the child is harmed more than she is, but if you send me who looks nothing like a guard it will give me time to detain him, and the child is safe.” I explain to her. She thinks about this for a few moments before sighing.

“Very well, I will let you go and arrest this stallion, but I don’t want him harmed, just get him here or to my guards without hurting him.” She tells me. I nod, and stand up.

“This shouldn’t take long, but what about the kid?” I ask her.

“I’ll pay for the surgery, and we’ll discuss her more after you arrest the stallion.” She replies with a determined nod. I nod back in confirmation, and turn to Delta and the mare.

“Delta, is she calm enough to be moved?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“No, but she will talk now.” He tells me.

“Good.” I say as I walk down to the mare.

“Okay, I’m going to go arrest the pony that did this, but I need to know what he looks like.” I tell the mare in a calm voice. She nods, and looks up to me with tears streaming down her face.

“He has a dark blue coat, and is a Pegasus. His mane in short and dark green. His cutie mark is of a red quill, and a book. He has bright green eyes.” She tells me. I take the description into my head, and nod.

“Okay, I’ll get him, don’t you worry.” I tell her as I look at the court room doors.

“Oh, where do you live?” I ask her.

“Here in Canterlot, in the middle class area.” She tells me. I nod, and start on my way out.

“Celestia, I need a way back into the palace.” I call over my shoulder.

“Then take this with you.” She tells me as she gives me a medallion with her cutie mark on, and her inside the sun.

“That will let you in the gates and into the throne room as well.” She tells me.

“Thanks.” I say as I exit the room. I walk over to a servant.

“Excuse me, but could you tell me how to get to the middle class area of Canterlot?” I ask her.

“Just leave the castle, and head down the road. You’ll hit it without much difficulty.” She tells me.

“Thank you.” I say with a kind smile. She just nods, and walks on. I start on my way out of the castle. I got a few looks from the guards, and servants, but I paid them no mind. They’d get used to me as I plan on being here for a long time.

I exited the castle and the grounds rather quickly before I started on my way down the main road. I got stared at by every single pony as I walked down the road. I was looking through the crowds with a keen eye for the suspected stallion, but didn’t see him yet.

As I was looking I bumped into a pony, and stumbled a bit. I look at who I ran into, and see that it is the stallion I was looking for. He looked up to me in curiosity for a few seconds.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” I say to him.

“Why? I don’t know who, or what for that matter you are.” He tells me. I sigh, and pick him up and throw him over my shoulders.

“You’re being arrested for suspected child abuse by the orders of Princess Celestia.” I tell him as he starts to struggle to get loose. His wings extended, and I jump and land rather hard, making him lose his breathe.

“Please, continue to struggle if you want to pass out.” I tell him as I start walking back to the castle.

“Halt!” I hear a guard says. I stop walking and turn to the guard as I pull out the medallion that Celestia gave me.

“Yes?” I ask him as I show him the medallion.

“Never mind, would you like an escort?” he ask.

“Sure.” I tell him. He waves his fellow guard over, and they flank me as I walked back to the castle.

“So, who told you?” The stallion asks me.

“No one did.” I tell him.

“I bet it was the whorse of a mare that had my kid.” He says with a jaunty tone.

“You guys got something to shut him up?” I ask the guards following me.

In an answer a muzzle was put on the stallion’s mouth. I chuckle at the irony. The stallion over my shoulder just growls in my ear.

“Oh be quiet you. If you weren’t a dumb ass and hurt your daughter then you wouldn’t be getting carried like a fresh kill to the castle.” I say as I show him my canines. His eyes widen, and he starts to thrash. One of his hooves hits me on the side of my head, and I drop him before planting a boot on his back to keep him there. I held my head where he had kicked it, and feel blood there. I growl at him.

“Wrong move.” I tell him as I hold my hand out to one of the guards.

“Got any rope?” I ask him. A small bundle was put in it. The first thing I did was tie his wings down, and then pulled them slightly tighter than necessary, and then hog tied his legs together with a weave around his upper legs. I then tie a harness around him like I would a dog, and carry him over my back as I held into my head with my other hand.

I stated walking again. I was glad that the castle wasn’t very far because this Pegasus wasn’t very light. I walked straight through the gates, and into the castle without much problem.

I walked into the court room where Celestia was. In all the time it took me to find, arrest, and bring back the stallion was only about thirty minutes, so the mare was still there, although not sobbing anymore, as well as Delta. I walked up and dropped the stallion in front of the stair before I removed his muzzle. I stood up, and look to Celestia.

“Remove the rest as well. There is nothing he can do now.” Celestia tells me. I pull out my sword, and cut the rope off of him, well except for his wing bindings, and then sat down on the stairs again breathing slightly heavy.

“What’s wrong Frost? Was he a little too heavy for you?” Delta asks with a smirk.

“Fuck off…” I tell him. He laughs at me, and I lay back against the stairs.

“So my little pony, how do you plea?” Celestia asks. It was then that I noticed that the six old ponies were back in the court room.

“Is there a reason why you’re asking me this?” The stallion asks with a growl. I pull out my revolver, and shoot it just below his hoof.

“Show some respect idiot. If it were up to me you will be dead tonight, but that’s not my place.” I tell him with a glare. He was now shaking as he looked at the damage my revolver did to the floor as there was now a big chunk missing in the stone floor.

“Dark, please never do that again.” Celestia tells me with a stern tone, “That is very expensive stone.” I nod, but smile on the inside as she didn’t scold me for shooting at the stallion. Delta just face palms. I holster my revolver.

“Please answer the question.” Celestia tells the stallion.

“Guilty.” He says with a slight growl in his voice. I narrow my eyes, and lay my hand on my sword hilt. He sees this, and swallows in fear.

“Jury, what will his punishment be?” Celestia asks.

“He will be given restraining orders from the mother and child. He will also pay a fine of one hundred bits to the family that he so harmed.” The jury spokes pony says with a bored voice.

“Bullshit!” I say as I look to Celestia.

“The same crime would have been him being put in jail for at least ten years with no chance of early parole. He would also have to pay child support to the mother for the rest of the kid’s childhood.” I tell Celestia.

“I can’t give him any more than this because he pleaded guilty.” Celestia tells me. I growl for a few moments before turning to the stallion, and walk right up to him.

“If I so much as hear from the mother or child that you even so much as entered their home I will personally hunt you down, and tear off your wings. Are we clear?” I ask him.

“You can’t touch me.” He says in a calm tone. My anger was now almost over my control. And then I smiled as I turned to Celestia with an idea.

“Celestia, is there a way I can duel him for a harsher judgment?” I ask. She blinks a few times in surprise.

“Yes, but you could only use your sword.” She tells me. My smile grew grim.

“The I challenge him to a duel.” I say as I draw my sword, and point it at him.

“If I win you will take my punishment of ten years in prison, and child support bills for the rest of the kid’s childhood.” I say with a smirk, knowing he couldn’t beat me.

“Fine, but if I win I walk scot free, and you can’t even so much as touch me.” He says with a curt nod. I smile even more showing my teeth.

“When and where?” I ask.

“Here and now.” He answers.

“Hold it you two.” Celestia says. I hold my sword down, and turn to her. Her horn lights up, and a barrier is put up around us in a ten foot circle. The Pegasus was given a sword, and then she nods.

“Begin.” Celestia says. The stallion charges me, and I smile as I parry, and slice him along his entire left side. I then get ready again, and the stallion charges at me again.

I parry, and cut him along his right side.

“Give up your out skilled, and out matched.” I tell him. He growls around the sword in his mouth. I sigh as I dart forward, and swing at him. His sword manages to block mine, but I pull back my left hand, and punch him square in the face. I pull back my hand that now has a slight sting on it, and then back away.

He had dropped the sword, and I was standing there.

“Give up.” I tell him.

“No.” He tells me as he charges without the sword. I drop my sword, and bring my foot up, Spartan kicking him in the chest. He flies back, and hits the shield with an audible slam. He is unconscious, and the shield drops.

“I warned you.” I say before I hear a drip. It took a few seconds before I remembered that he had kicked me in town, and I bring my hand up to my head again to slow the blood loss.

It was too late as I hadn’t been caring for too long, and I pass out from blood loss.