It took a couple of days before I was allowed back out, but eventually the doctors, and Celestia, thought I would be fine. The days weren't that bad, save for the frequent checkups, since the girls all stopped by as often as possible. For some reason, none of them had seen Reku'un. They'd all been wary of checking Nyla's den, and I didn't blame them. I didn't see him either. I expected to hear from him after what happened, but he just seemed to be staying away.

Now that I was allowed back out, I wanted to know why. And... I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested in meeting his dragon. And a dragoness, too. Ponies barely ever see female dragons, which is why there's so little known about them. So, after I left the infirmary, I headed down to the barracks to see if I could find Reku'un. On the way, I spotted Rainbow and Rarity chatting by the mess hall. The former spotted me a couple feet away.

"Looks who's on all four," she laughed, holding her hoof up for me to bump. "Feeling better?"

"Definitely," I smiled. "I'm glad I don't have a scar from that mess."

"As are we," Rarity said. "A scar would ruin your complexion. But you look better than before."

Rainbow rolled her eyes and nodded inside the mess. "We were waiting for Flutters and Pinkie. AJ's helping some of the other guards build some shacks, so we were gonna eat together until she finished. Wanna come?" she asked.

"Actually, I was headed down to the barracks," I told them.

"Are you tired?" Rarity questioned.

I shook my head softly. "I'm fine, Rarity," I laughed. "I've been sleeping a lot these past few days."

Rainbow rose a brow and scratched her head. "So... what are you gonna do there?" I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged softly.

"I'm... curious about Nyla," I admitted. "A dragoness is barely seen outside of the mountains west of Equestria, and for one to actually be here is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

The two of them were picking up on my little bookworm moment, and Rainbow rolled her eyes again. "Riiiight," she slowly said. "Maybe you shouldn't visit."

I rose my brow, and Rarity stepped forward. "What Rainbow means is that she wasn't exactly... happy about us seeing her, personally."

I chuckled nervously, not exactly liking the picture they were painting. "Well, maybe Reku'un could help. They're partners, right?" I asked. They nodded in unison, but Rainbow coughed to grab my attention.

"We haven't seen him, lately," she told me. "Sometimes he goes outside of the camp, but those are the only times he's out. We checked his room but he doesn't stay there."

"It's strange, really," Rarity commented, looking up in thought. "What does he do with all that time? And he isn't visiting the princesses, either."

I shrugged softly, starting to trot past them. "Maybe I'll ask him when I find him," I smiled. They waved to me as I went down the hall and turned the corner, making my down to the barracks.

I passed through several bunks, trying to find Reku'un's room. It was towards the back of the stallions' bunks, unassuming since it had been a supply closet before his arrival. The other officers saluted and gave me curious glances when they saw me head towards his room, but I ignored them as I knocked on his door. There was no response, so I tried opening it. It was unlocked, surprisingly, so I poked my head in to see.

It was just like the girls said: the room was empty. His bed was basically a pile of spare blankets and pillows for him to sleep on. Across from his "bed", the wall looked bashed and dented... and raked somehow. It wasn't a blade's imprint, that much was certain. I ignored that and closed the door, sighing as I wondered where he could have gone.

"You just missed him." I turned back and gasped as General Stomped made his way over. "He's gone around this time every day. Not sure why exactly."

I nodded slowly, sighing again in frustration. "So what are you doing down here, anyhow?" I questioned.

He shrugged with a nervous laugh. "His first night in there ended up with shaken guards," he told me, glancing at the others with a grin. "Princesses asked me to make sure nopony caused a conflict."

It made sense... and it sort of explained the busted wall. "Any idea where he went?" I questioned.

Stomper shook his head and sat on a bunk beside us. "He's a big sucker, but he moves as quiet as a mouse. I barely ever see him, and I'm too chicken to peek into that dragon's den," he chuckled. His words circled in my head, and I stood up as I came up with an idea. "Twilight, think about what you're doing."

"I'll be fine. It's not like I haven't dealt with a dragon before." He rolled his eyes softly, and patted my shoulder.

"Just don't get roasted," he smirked, getting up and heading towards the exit. "And, a word of advice, try not to get into his head. Must be awful to talk about his time in that place."

I understood, and I had no intention of bringing any of it up. I saluted to him before making my way out. From what the girls had told me, the den was just beside the castle. Before, the entrance had been open to anypony, but guards were set in place after Nyla had scared a couple of fillies and colts away. Since I was a Captain, I was granted access. The tunnel was pretty large, nearly the size of a Manehatten building. I felt my hooves getting cold out of anxiety, and it only got worse as I smelled smoke and... meat.

The smell was nauseating, but I shook that off and moved onward. There was a sharp turn up ahead, and after rounding it, I came face to face with one of the most frightening experiences. Teeth the size of my body spread apart as a snarl reverberated in that massive maw, a bit of smoke billowing out from the snout. A large, yellow eye glared down at me, looking me over before letting out a deep growl.

Every part of my body itched to start galloping, and from what I've heard it was what most ponies did. But the snarling died down, and the dragon closed its mouth. It still looked aggravated, but for some reason it was less aggressive. That didn't change that fact she was giving me a stink eye.

"You truly are mindless." I turned back quickly, Reku'un walking around the corner with a slight grin. "You stood up to an Alpha, and now Nyla."

I swallowed forcefully and exhaled, trying to calm my trembling heart. "How did you know I was here?" I asked him.

He took a moment to answer me, looking at Nyla until he decided to answer me. "She told me you came," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I would have been offended he found my fright amusing, but his answer drew my attention. "She... told you," I repeated slowly. He nodded his head, glancing back up to Nyla with another smile.

"She says you froze at the sight of her," he chuckled, moving past me to set a chunk of stone beside her.

I frowned and narrowed my eyes at him. "Well around here, it isn't exactly normal to see a dragon with its teeth in your face. Those ponies never make it home." His smile ebbed, and a small inkling of regret flashed across his face.

He glanced up to Nyla, who huffed a small puff of smoke before lowering her head. Reku'un sighed softly and turned back to me. "I am sorry... where I'm from, Nyla's kind are a part of life," he said. There was sadness in his voice, barely noticeable because of his smile. "She knows you are one of those who rescued me, and she's grateful as well."

My annoyance receded, and I nodded softly. "It's not like we could have left you in... whatever it was," I murmured, forgetting Stomper's words.

He didn't seem to mind, or he didn't hear that part, and he stood up and walked over to me. "Is there a reason why you're here?" he questioned, genuinely curious.

I nodded and cleared my throat. "I was wondering if you could share some information with me," I said. "A cultural exchange."

He glanced over to Nyla, who was busy trying to doze off. He turned back to me, then shrugged. "I suppose. But let us do it elsewhere. Nyla wants to rest."

"Sure. The meeting room should be empty." He nodded softly and went over to the far right wall, grabbing his sword and pressing a panel on Nalo.

"Lead the way," he smiled, gesturing with a hand to the exit.

We made our way out of the tunnel and back towards the castle. It was a silent walk, which was a bit awkward since everypony stared at him as we passed. I heard several loud whiffs of the air, and I peered over my shoulder to see him sniffing the air, making weird faces and grimacing a few times.

"What are you doing?" I questioned. He disregarded me for another minute before rubbing his nose and grunting.

"The meal being prepared... how can you stand it?" he asked, covering his nose.

I sniffed the air, but I still couldn't smell the chef's cooking. "You get used to it after a while," I shrugged. "The kitchen is a floor above us and across the castle. How can you smell the food?"

He chuckled again and tapped his nose. "It's very sensitive to any scent. Especially the smell that comes from others," he explained.

It was interesting to know, and it explained how he'd picked up my scent when we first met. Another thing came to mind... something he told me. Smelling like someone he knew.

"Where is this meeting room?" I shook from my thoughts and glanced around the hall, spotting the entrance to the right.

"Right here." I opened the door and glanced inside, opening it fully when I saw it was empty. "Just take a seat where you want."

He grabbed several of the cushions and sat on top of them, while I moved across from him. "Strange," he murmured.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Where I'm from, learning about one another doesn't include acting formally," he explained, rubbing the back of his head. "It's a sign of distrust. Indifference."

I was surprised to hear it, knowing it held an ounce of truth. "Well, no offense, but I don't know anything about you or your kind," I sheepishly answered. "It's not that I don't care. It's the fact that I don't know enough to believe I should care."

He smirked slightly, then shrugged. "Then at least we have one difference in our societies." I nodded, then reached into my saddlebag for parchment and a quill. "What more do you want to know?"

"First, I'd appreciate if you share what you know on those... Arthanians, right?" His expression hardened, but he nodded. "Anything valuable helps."

Entry #812

May 5th, 2020

Update

With Reku'un's knowledge, the Arthanian race sounds worse and worse with every new piece of information. His kind study them from the age of five, and their lives are just training to fight them. It sounds impossible that this war has raged for nearly 1000 generations. But he was too proud and passionate to seem like a liar.

In any case, here's what I know about them.

There are FOUR kinds of Arthanians.

Soldiers: 100-150 pounds. Grow to be between 3-4 meters. Have a lifespan of 2 years and fully mature 2 weeks after birth. Skilled blacksmiths, born with the knowledge of their predecessor.

Scouts: 50-80 pounds. About a meter tall. Lifespan of four years, grow into adults in a month. They are used for CQC action and meat shields, or distractions. Rarely ever used in full fledged battles.

Queens: Female versions of soldiers. 90-110 pounds. Average height of 3 meters. They are rarely ever born, mostly 1 out of thousands of other newborn. Like soldiers, they mature in 2 weeks, but can live for a decade. Throughout their adult life, they mate constantly with the sole purpose of giving birth. A single queen can birth an army in less 2 months. Strangely, they can give birth to either scouts or soldiers, depending on which one impregnates them.

Alpha: 4-6 meters tall. Soldiers with the blood of a species of Loki'irian called Signa. The Signa are gifted with unnatural abilities, which are transferred into the soldier it mutates. Each mutation varies in intensity and product, making any Alpha unpredictable. Their strength and skill can surpass that of a Signa. Their transformation also unlocks parts of their brains that are shut out from its own nervous system, making them able to coordinate and lead.

The lights out policy came into effect before I could get anymore information, but I'll be informed tomorrow. Reku'un is willing to help us learn more.

There's something about him that I can't understand. He is an entirely different being, but he acts like one of us. He is an heir to a throne and a warrior, but he doesn't act it. And... he doesn't show fear. The Arthanians horrify me much more than before, now that I know more about them. He's grown up with this information, and yet it only makes him more eager to fight them. He wants to fight an enemy that can replenish itself overnight, but that doesn't stop him.

Is he crazy, or is he ignorant?

...both?

Author's Note

Hey guys! Just wanted to let everyone know I haven't abandoned this story, and that it's still alive Just a heads up, I'm not gonna be able to post as frequently, but I'll do my best! So, if you're enjoying this story, remember to like, fav, comment, and have an awesome day or night! Peaces!