Man of War

Chapter 278 Surrounded By Us

Perspective: Luna

THUD

I whimper with my face in the ground as I lay on the stone steps leading towards the P.C.H. After looking for an unlocked apartment to sleep in I decided that it would just be faster to sleep in Miles's old dorm room. That... and I may have wanted to sleep in his bed. It was a little silly, but I set my mind to it!

Which was a mistake.

I managed to get a bot to help me across the city. But I had to get up the stairs by myself. I feel like that's a massive oversight made by the city. There was a ramp with a guide rail on the side. But I was feeling cocky. And now it's been an hour and I'm nearly to the top.

I've bruised my legs and cut my right foot so far! My wrist is starting to hurt and I'm pretty sure there's a bump on my head. I just want to curl into a ball and cry myself to sleep at this point! But if I make it to the top a bot will be able to help me in and heal me. There's only a few more steps to go!

I push myself to my hands and knees and start to crawl up the stone steps. It's extremely uncomfortable, but it's the fastest I can move. At this point I'm getting desperate so I start to push myself to move as quickly as possible. No matter how much it hurts my toes and knees and palms and fingers and nails...

*Sad Luna noises*

When I make it to the top I practically throw myself onto the level surface. The ground scuffs against my chest and I roll onto my side in pain. Everything hurts! Being human sucks!

"GAH!" I yell and arch my back when something pokes into my side. I look over to see a medical bot stabbing me with some mechanical arm filled with various medical equipment.

"You are injured. I am administering first aid." I growl in pain as I feel magic start to force its way into my body. What feels like forever eventually fades and my whole body throbs for a moment. After a few labored breaths I feel myself over and realize that all of the pain is subsiding.

"Thank you dear... thank you." I tell the machine as I roll onto my back and try to catch my breath. Note to self; avoid stairs. I look to the machine and chuckle. I must look really pathetic right now. "You wouldn't happen to be able to teach me how to walk, would you?"

"I can, would you like to pay for my services?" I laugh a little until I remember that this is a machine and doesn't make jokes.

"How much?" I ask, still laying on the ground. I've been using Miles's account so far. But everything we've used so far can easily be explained. A medical cost? I don't know how I'm going to explain that to him.

"One moment please... scan complete. Military family services render the bill to two hundred and fifty credits. Would you like to engage in my services?"

Two fifty to learn how to walk... worth it. Even if I'm caught, it'll be worthwhile.

"Do it. Teach me to walk!" I tell the bot. The arm with all of the medical devices drops down as several tendrils unwind from the arm. Four reach over me and wrap up my ankles and wrists. With abnormal strength it forces me to stand and holds me in place. I squeal from the sudden movement and hang onto the throw for dear life.

"Center your gravity. Rotate your hips forward with each step. Keep your toes pointing forward and in line with your hips as we move forward. Good posture will aid with keeping your gravity. Shoulders back, chin up, and walk. Heel down first. Followed by your toes. Push off with your other foot and try not to over extend you knees."

It's weird being puppeted by the machine as it walks me forward. I keep trying to look down to see what I'm doing, but it won't let me. So I try to go with the motions and listen to its instructions. I don't know how long we were at this. It felt like forever. We keep pacing the front of the building as it continues to puppet me. But slowly and surely I started to get the feeling down. And after that it started to click in my head. Once I could feel myself walking... I didn't need to think about it. And the machine was very precise with my movements and where to improve.

When we make it to the front doors of the P.C.H. I turn around to thank the machine. But that's when I realized it had let me go and I was walking on my own! I look down to my feet and take a few more excited steps before giggling to myself. I'm walking! All by myself now! And it's only been... an hour!

I'm not sure if that's good or bad to be honest.

I wave to the machine before turning around and marching into the Parliamentary Congressional Hall. The warm glow of the lights heat me up immediately as I look over the grandeur of the main entrance. Gold trim. Velvet smooth carpeting. Marble pillars and obsidian walls. This place is beautiful! And, most importantly, comfortable to walk in.

I do my best to remember where to go for the dorm rooms. I think there's normally supposed to be someone here to guide me or restrict movement. But I seem to be alone. I take a look at the mico platforms before guessing on one.

FLASH

I appear in what looks like an office. It's a bit disheveled in here, telling me that it hasn't been cleaned yet. I step off the platform to take it back to the entrance when I spot something. In one of the piles of junk there is a small metal bar sticking out. I don't know how I noticed it, but I know what it is. A Virgum de Marcas. The tool that gives humans their magic.

I walk over to it and squat down by it. I can see the beautiful etchings that mark your hands within the metal. The last time I saw one of these Soul Fire warned me that I wasn't ready. But what about now? I'm a human now. Does that mean I'm ready? Will Soul Fire speak to me if I try to take it? I guess there's only one way to find out.

I run a finger over the cold metal before grabbing it and pulling it out of the junk pile. I feel my heart race as I stare at the magical device. Last time Soul Fire was quick to tell me that I wasn't ready. The fact that she hasn't said anything is all the evidence I need. Now's the time.

But should I do it here? Maybe I should get somewhere more comfortable before trying this. If only to be able to sit while doing this. I'm tired of being on my hooves... feet. This is going to take some getting used to.

I rush back through the teleporter and try the next one. It takes a few tries until I'm in a familiar hallway. I recognize it from Miles's memories. But which one is his room? I try to think of what his room number was... but it's not coming to mind. If I saw the inside I think I'd recognize it. And I know it's none of the ones near the teleporter.

I start to walk down the hall and look over each door. They're all numbered, but that seems to be the only thing about them that's unique. And none of these numbers are ringing any bells either. So I'm going to just guess and hope for the best. Hmm... room two-three-six-one it is then!

I try the door and sigh in relief when its unlocked. The thought did occur to me that they all might be locked as well. But I guess a little favor was meant for me. I step inside and take a look around. Much of the room is still a mess from long ago. I can tell some bots came in to do some dusting and minor cleanup. But that just means that the mess in here was pushed into one pile. But the beds were made and look clean, so it'll have to do.

The room is similar to what I recall of Miles's dorm, but it's clearly not his room. His room didn't have all of these posters of various weapons and strong looking women. It has the same set up though. Two beds with footlockers at the ends. A desk between them with a computer. Not the room I wanted but it's a good resting point.

I turn around and see that there are mirrors on the closet doors. I step in front and take a look at myself. I look frumpy. Though, that is mostly because of the throw blanket I have myself wrapped up in. I huff in annoyance. I don't know where all this self doubt is suddenly coming from. But I'd really like it to stop for two seconds.

I toss the throw blanket onto one of the footlockers and drop down onto a bed. I feel my hole body throb in relief from the days misadventures. It is strange to feel the blankets against me, but I'm too tired to really think on it right now. A quick nap and I'll check out the Virgum de Marcas. Then to the medical ward to see what they say about this form of mine. Seems like a plan.

So now I'll just... fall asleep...

Falling asleep.... now...

Maybe I should get under the sheets? Once I'm fully nestled in the bed I close my eyes and try to fall asleep.

Sleep...

Sleeping...

I am sleeping...

Why am I not sleeping!? I toss the blankets off in a huff and stare up at the ceiling. Why am I so restless? I have a golden opportunity to get some sleep! I'm in a cozy bed all to myself with no one to disturb me! Why isn't this working?

I look around the room and huff again. Well, if I'm not going to sleep anytime soon I should take a look around then. I sit up in the bed and take a look around. There's the lockers, the desk, the closest, and some storage above the beds. Where to start... why am I debating this? What is going on with me right now? Am I procrastinating? On what?

I take a peek at the throw blanket at the end of the bed and note the metal bar sticking out. I guess I am trying to put that off. Is there any real reason not to just get it over with?

I take one more look around before crawling to the end of the bed and yanking the bar out of the blanket. I sit back and look it over again. The two spots with the etchings are darker than the rest of the bar. It's not a particularly thick bar. I could fit my hand around it easily enough. So... I have a guess on how to use this. But I don't know whether or not it's correct. I hope there isn't anything else I'm supposed to do. Or if there are any cultural norms that I'm unaware of.

I look over the bar once more before I slowly move my hands over the etchings. I swallow my nerves down as I grip it tightly, hoping this is right. I can feel my skin filling the etchings. If I press harder they might imprint more evenly. I don't know how long I'm supposed to do this, but I get the feeling I'll know it when it-

FLASH

THUD

Perspective: Miles

I hum to myself as I look over my computer screen. I'm looking over some data from the griffin clouds, just to freshen up on them. We're nowhere near a breakthrough. But maybe starting over will open my eyes to something. I grab my half eaten sandwich and take a bit when a proximity alarm goes off. I pull up the feed and watch as Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Shadow walk out of the tram from Topaz Falls.

When did they go down there?

Why did they go down there?

...

WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING IN THE EVERFREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!?

I nearly fall over myself as I start to rush out of my shed to intercept them. But when I make it to the stairs I nearly fall over in a daze. I grip my chest as I feel something within me stir. It's as if there was a massive shift in a whirlpool and I'm caught in an all new current.

But just as soon as it started, it ended. I haven't had a feeling like this since I went through my changes. What was that? It was far too deep to have been from my standing too quickly. I feel myself over before I hear the senor go off again. Whatever it was, I'll have to come back to it. I need to make sure the girls get home safely so I can kill them myself!

Perspective: Tempestive

I wake up and feel myself nearly throw up. Something within me is getting all mixed up and making me seasick. I sit up in bed and hold my head as everything spins. Lupus huffs in annoyance as he moves away from my side.

"Sorry boy," I tell him as I pet his side. "Just feeling off."

He moves in to sniff my face, growling as he searches for whatever is making me feel off. I giggle a little from his cold wet nose. When I push him aside I take a look and nearly have a heart attack.

Leaving Dad's shed is... that person. The one from when I blinked. The one that's going to get shot in the town fountain. The one that's surrounded by fire...

What should I do? I saw him leave Dad's shed. Do they know each other? Maybe, but he also might be stealing from him! But he also saves me in the future. So he might not be bad. But he also might be bad now and good in the future!

He's running off into the Everfree. Should I follow after him? I don't know, it is pretty late. And going to the Everfree this late is never a good idea. But I can't just let him go! Can I?

"What do you think?" I ask Lupus. He stares out the window before walking in a circle and laying back down. "Why is that always your answer?"

"Huff"

I look back out the window and watch the figure disappear into the wilderness. I have to know who that is. I have to know what he has to do with the future!

I toss my blankets off and jump out of bed. I grab a flashlight and start to run out of my room when I realize something. I should bring Shadow and Lupus. For extra protection! I go back to Lupus but nearly trip over myself when I see a note laying on top of him. Confused, I grab the note and read it over.

Tempestive,

Do not go into the woods.
Not a good idea.

Tempus.

P.S. In case you ignore this, please bring the red bag under Shadows bed. Red. Not orange.

P.S.S. This is Spatium, we love you to the moon and back! Take care and be sure to eat your all of your greens so you can grow up big and strong!

I read the note again before looking around. When did they put that there? Why didn't Lupus react to them? Are they telling me to go or not to go? I mean, they said one thing, but then gave me instructions for another. Should I go? Does Shadow need that bag? Does this mean she's already out there?

All this time travel stuff is giving me an all new headache.

... aw heck! I'm going! Whatever is in that bag must be important enough for Tempus to tell me about it!

"Let's go Lupus!" I yell before rushing to Shadows room. I'll need to hurry though. That person has a massive head start on us now.

Perspective: Miles

I really should force myself to change into an alicorn. I'd get there faster. But I can't risk not getting up in time. At least it's the three of them. I don't have to worry about scaring anyone as a human.

When I make it past a bend in the road I finally see them on the path. They all stop as I rush towards them. I'm relieved to see that they're okay. But since I can see that no one is hurt, I'm pissed beyond belief.

"Dad!?" Shadow calls as I come to a stop before them. "W-what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing?" I ask as I try to collect myself. I almost chuckle when she looks to her friends for help. "What the fu... what are you all doing out here!? It's the middle of the night!"

"I can explain!" Shadow retorts. I stare at her as she slowly backs down. Whatever excuse she was going to make seems to vanish.

"What she was going to say," Sweetie starts, stepping between the two of us. "Is that we're on a mission from Luna!"

"What?" I ask. Scootaloo nods and jumps in front of the others.

"Yeah! For some trip thing happening soon! Uh... we can't say more! We promised Luna we wouldn't!" I stare at her before looking back to Shadow. She looks like she's about to have a panic attack.

"Shadow, is that true?" I ask her. She blinks and looks up to me.

"Uh..."

"Just tell me the truth Shadow. Why are you all out here?" I ask her, trying to sound as calm as possible. I have no clue why they would be out here this late by themselves. I find it too hard to believe that Luna would send them. There's something else going on, I can feel it.

"Well, Daaaaaaa-sir?" I tilt my head as she goes wide eyed and stares off behind me. I turn around and nearly have a heart attack as Timely comes running down the path. He's got an orange waist bag in his mouth and Lupus is trotting along side him.

He comes to a stop and we all stare at one another for a moment. I can't believe this is how I'm going to tell him that he's half human. This is how he finds out!? Late at night in the middle of the Everfree!? This is where I'm going to explain to my son that he's not fully pony?

At least I have pants on...

"Uhm... I was... I brought this!" Tempestive says as he takes hold of the bag. I look over to Shadow and glare at her as I try to think of what to say. She's equally mortified. But apparently tonight is the night! Why not? I've been home for all of three days, we're well over due at this point!

"Tempestive!" Shadow squeaks out, slowly stepping around me. "U-uh... we gotta go buddy."

"Why?" He asks as he presents her the bag. "Who is that? What is that?"

Before she could answer a low growl rumbles through the woods. I take a look around in an attempt to figure out what's out there. Lupus starts to growl in return, the hairs on his back standing on end. I look to Shadow and she nods to me. The girls gather together and start to usher Tempestive out of the forest. I can see that he wants to protest. But he knows to keep quiet right now. But in the rush to escape he drops the bag.

Whatever that was, it's watching us. The growl was to scatter us. As long as the girls stick together they should be safe. I wait until I lose sight of them to ignite my hands. Lupus is still by my side, staring out into the woods. I look out at where he's looking, but I can't see anything out there. The moonlight is hidden by slight cloud cover. So my view into the woods is spotted. There are parts that are decently visible. But then there are parts that are completely dark.

"Lupus," I say quietly. "Go to the boy... go get Tempestive."

He growls in response but slowly starts to leave. He pauses to look back out into the darkness before sprinting down the path. I follow his gaze and pause at a specific tree. It's a little too dark to make anything out, but I feel something looking back at me.

The cloud cover moves and the light shows the tree in greater detail. But only for a moment. Something there moved out of the light. It was tall. Possibly two stories tall! Its body blended with the trees and ground cover almost perfectly. If it hadn't moved I might not have seen it. But its face stood out the most. It looked like a porcelain mask for a human. But was minimal. Just two openings for eyes and a slight bulge out for the nose. Two large antlers sprouted from the top and stretched far out to the sides.

But the movement it made... it was too smooth. It was as if a normal sized person was stepping away. And there was no noise either. Something that big, moving silently, and that quickly... it's not natural. Even for the Everfree.

I take a look around and try to think of what to do. Should I go after it? It seems to be leaving the area, so maybe I should just stand my ground and wait it out. But what if it's moving to flank the kids. I don't know though, it moved away from them. I also get the feeling that it was watching me. It didn't move when the kids made a run for it. It only moved once I had visual. Is it aware enough to make that desertion?

I snap to my left when I hear a branch break. I can't see where it is though. That's too fast for a normal creature to be moving! There wasn't any sound either! At least I know it's here though. It's after me... so why isn't it moving?

I turn again when I hear a tree groan. Something heavy just forced it to bend and almost break. But now it's ahead of me. I take a readied stance and prepare myself. There's a fight coming, I can feel it. I just have to wait for it to make the first move.

Perspective: Luna

I feel my eyes burn a little as something bright shines down on me. It takes me a moment to collect myself. But when I do I find myself in the white void of my mind space. I sit up and take a look around, but there's nothing here right now. There's no windows into my memories. Normally they'd at least be in the air out of reach. What's going on? I don't even see-

I am here.

"Gah!" I jump from the sudden voice behind me. The humanoid womanly figure with wings and a horn known as Soul Fire is hovering there. Her midnight blue body glows with enormous power. Much more than usual. It's almost as if she's about to burst into flames.

It is time.

"Time?" I ask as I stand up. "Time for what?"

To meet us.

I take a look around to see if there is anyone else here. I look back to Soul Fire in confusion but she only responds with what I assume was a smirk. She holds herself tightly for a moment before throwing her arms out. Hundreds upon hundreds of small fires explode out from her and start to race around the void. Each flame racing around the room is its own unique color.

I stare up in wonder as they begin to circle around me. It's as if I'm in a tornado of prismatic fires. A single bright red flame comes racing to me and seemingly dances around me. I laugh as I watch the flame circle around my arms and waist. The red flame stops before me and spins itself tighter and tighter before a womanly figure unfurls herself from the flame.

It's another Soul Fire. But unlike mine, this one is purely human in shape. She's a little shorter than me, but not by much. She takes a moment to look around before setting foot on the ground.

All around me I see images of people and places I've never been. There are a few people I can recognize. Like Susurrans Bellum. And of Topaz Falls. But all of these aren't my memories. They seem to be someone else's. This Soul Fire's probably. I look to her as she crosses her arms and shifts her weight onto one leg.

"Who are you?" I ask. It doesn't respond. Instead dozens of other Soul Fires race down and start to inspect me as well.

I was a bit nervous at first. I didn't know what they were doing or why. But then I saw the red Soul Fire again. She looks... happy. I can't make out what is telling me this, I just feel it. She's happy. They're all happy! Is it because I'm here now? Or did I do something that they liked?

Go to him.

"Huh?" I ask... them. I can't make out which one said it. But at the same time it was as if they all said it. I look to the red one and she nods to me. But I feel something in my heart tell me everything is going to be okay. As if... I'm not longer alone.

Go to him.

"I will! I'll... I'll go!" I tell her. I don't know what she's talking about. But that doesn't matter right now. I... I trust her. I'm not even sure who she is but there's something deep within me telling me that she's here to help. Maybe she's guiding me or knows something I don't, I have no clue. I just get the feeling that whatever she's telling me, I should listen.

In the blink of an eye I wake back up in the room I was in before. I look around and find myself back in my alicorn form. But not in my usual lesser form. I'm in my greater form. I run a hoof down my dark side before I take a look to the mirror. I stare back into my own teal draconic eyes and wonder why I'm back in this form. A form that I usually avoid because of the painful memories it brings.

Did they put me in this form? They want me like this, but why? She said to go to him. But there's only one person I can think of that they are telling me to go to. So what has Miles down now? For someone who is supposed to be taking it easy, he's really bad at it.

I stand up and start to charge my horn. If there is trouble, then there's no time to wait. I can teleport to the city walls and make my way back to the surface. As I charge my horn though, I notice something in the mirror. Under the pillow on the bed is a tablet. I look back to it and pull it out with my magic. How did I not notice this under there?

I should just get going... but curiosity gets the better of me. I levitate and charge the device with my magic. I wait for it to power on before trying to open it. But it's locked. There is a picture on the screen though, and I nearly drop the device when I see them. Fidus and Tenera Kor. They're in military uniforms and holding each other while smiling for the camera.

Dozens of messages start to appear suddenly. All from Fidus. Which tells me that this is Teneras tablet. I stare at the device and try to think of what to do with it. Should I take it? It seems... wrong. I don't know what's on here. And I know there are personal messages here between her and the others. Especially Fidus. And I know if I go get in I'm going to read all of them.

But this is three thousand years old. What's the harm in reading those messages? Plus, she might have photos that would otherwise be unknown. And it's not like there's the possibility for me to get permission.

I swipe up on the screen and see that it needs a number code to open. Without that code, this is just a shiny piece of glass with a nice photo on it. There can't be any harm in taking it, right? I'm sure it'll be fine! Besides, I might not be able to open this anyway!

I take a look around before I go to the closet. I'll need a bag to carry it with me. I don't want to risk breaking anything. I take a look inside but stop when I see several outfits laying on the ground. Dresses, shirts, pants, shoes, tiny socks, everything a human female would need to be properly dressed.

...

Taking her clothes wouldn't be bad, would it? Some of it looks really nice! It would be a shame not to take it! Besides, this was all left here a long time ago! It'll be for emergencies! Incase I turn human again and need to cover up! Even though the idea of that is still silly to me, I can see why humans do it. She'd understand that!

I grab a laundry bag and start to stuff it with clothes. I can't take everything, so I have to consider everything that can fit. Plus, this bag feels like it's going to break if I put too much. So... maybe three outfits. Yeah... that should do just fine.

I'm sure she won't mind! Now, off to find whatever trouble Miles has gotten himself into.