"In the begining... I was strong, I was proud, I was resilient, more importantly I was... a soldier."
"Iron Clad!" "Iron Clad they're making another push."
A voice rang clear through the sounds of my snoring comrades I reconized it instantly as a dark blue stallion burst through the barracks door breathing heavily.
"Fort Night have a runner check the emplacements. Then report to the west entrance." The stern order came from our captain Long Sword.
Fort Night snapped into a salute then galloped back through the door. Long sword was a bulky stallion, brown with a white mane. He was already getting into his armor as I noted the many scars and patches where hair would never again grow, no doubt from battles he and I had been cunning and lucky enough to live through. He grasped his silver helm under his left foreleg and turned to me.
"Iron Clad..." He spoke calmly. "We have seen to few victories in this war you and I, but you have not once wavered in the face of death. It has been an honor to stand beside you."
I was not expecting theese words and honestly they scared me, becuase he spoke as if we were already dead.
"As soon as you prepare and make your peace join Fort Night at the west entrance of the camp, and Iron may your blade cut clean."
I stiffened head held high and brought my right foreleg to my chest. Long Sword placed his helm on his head returned the salute then trotted out the door followed by his personal guard. I then proceeded to hastily adorn my own armor. I placed my short sword in its sheath. The blade made a satisfying clink insuring me it was firmly in place as I made my way to the door.
The sun had just broken the horizon as I met Fort Night at the west entrance. Only a few hundered feet from the mouth of a desilate looking cave. His sandy mane dancing from the crest of his helm in the light breeze.
"Still quiet."
Fort said quickly informing me of the sittuation. Tension building in the air. I heard sizzling as the two torches on either side of the entrance were doused. I watched a light grey unicorn inspect the broad head of one his arrows. I had always thought it a little unfair for unicorns to be archers. I mean after all, sometimes of us have to release arrows by hoof without the use of magic. But however unfair it may seem their accuracy can not be qeustioned. My train of thought was interupted when I felt a nudge from my right.
"Iron are you ready?" Fort asked.
I hesitated reassuring my self by resting a hoof on my blade.
"Of course my friend we can not falter." I responed holding my right hoof out low.
Fort smiled then brought his left hoof to meet mine. A deathly silence fell over the entire camp. Fort took on a very somber expression.
"This is it then." Fort Night said with a slight nod of his head.
There was a buzz in the air, but it was not from fall morning conversations. The buzzing was growing louder. Only a foal would not know the sound of approaching changeling fliers. Several changeling burst from the mouth of the cave some at a full speed rush toward Fort and I, while others took to the skies. Fort Night readied his blade and dropped his head low in to a charging stance. I did the same.
"Achers take aim." A field leader yelled.
"Enemy at half distance.... Fire!!!"
The arrows tore through the air faster the than the order which gave them release. The first volley met their marks as they sank deep into the changelings disorderly lines, punching through thick hides and mangeling vital organs. "Chaaaarrrggee!!!" The order finally came. I was the first to set foot on the enemies side of the barricade my blade at the read, Fort Night followed suit instantly I looked up as the air assuallt began. Changeling and pegasi bodies met mid air hoof and spear connecting with flesh and bone. Casulties mounting on both sides as wounded and dead fell to the earth. An arrow shot past grazing my shoulder plate. Fort Night tucked his head tightly to his chest as rolled under aan angry swipe from a sword, Fort gracefully came up with a rising strike and hit his mark right between the shoulders of his enemy. The blade made a slightly jagged cut up the chest blood pouring from the wound. The black stallion gurgled as it dropped its weapon and slummped to the side.
"Clean." Fort said as he dealt with the owner of the blade he had rolled under.
"Look out!" A tan stallion said as he slammed into an archer taking aim at a group of battling ponies.
But not soon enough the arrow had been released. It tore through the air spinning violently and hit a grey stallion in the neck just below the cover of his helm. Blood oozed from both sides of the stallions neck as he tried in vain to catch his breath instead his lungs fillied with blood. The terror in his eyes knowing death had been sharpening his sickle for the harvest. The stallion fell to his side as his life left him.
"For glory!!" A pegsi yelled from somewhere above no doubt tallying another kill.
I took one more step before getting slammed into from my right. The changeling and I slid a fair distance in the blood soaked soil. I shifted my attackers wait into a roll as we slid, trying to come out on top but the exact opposite happened. The changeling stared down at me meancingly, but before he had a chance to make his move I swung my right hoof hard into his chin. I quickly regained my hooves. The changeling backed away a few steps and shook its head. I then plucked my sword from the ground and swung precisely, my enemy perried the attack the thick shell on his arm was barely scratched. "Remeber your training Iron, go for the joints." I thought to myself. I was more accurate with my next flury. I dodged an attack from the left by ducking under. Then landed two perfect slices to backs of my opponents rear knees. His back half dropped to the ground as I lifted him by his neck from behind. I placed my blade fluch with his neck and pulled to the right. His pained screams of agony fell to muffled gurgeling. As the arterial spray from his gaped throat added a new shade of glistening gore to the battlefield I eased my grip as the violent thrashing turned into slow twitching. Now no longer nervous I rushed to Fort Nights side.
"Father? What happens next? Father?" Asked the little wide eyed pegasus colt. Hovering just about a foot off his bed.
Iron Clad came back to his senses. Scenes from the past still fresh in his mind. Heroic stories of his father's battles against an enemy that could take on the form of any mare, colt, filly or stallion of its choosing were all that Valiant Sword wanted to hear before he faded into his dreams. Of course Iron censored the more graphic parts of the his harrowing tales. Some times iron thought he did so more for himself, (Not wanting to relive the days he tread across corpse laden blood soaked battle grounds.) then for his sons sake. Iron smiled at his son and replied."Another story for another night perhaps. Now in to bed little one, I must go check on your mother."
"But father." Protested the small white pegsus.
"No, no buts. You must rest well tonight because we will continue your training early." Iron said as he rustled Vals light blue mane with his hoof.
Val slowy lowered himself to his bed. As Iron removed his hoof from Vals now roughed mane, Iron found himself looking at his sons mark. It consisted of a masterpiece of a long sword with golden ornate helm in its background. It truly was Valiant. Val had been born with his mark which had never been heard of to Irons knowledge. The doctor had said that it was "not impossible for this to happen." Vals mother saw the worry in irons eyes the day he was born. Her words played through Irons mind.
"Do not fret my love Val was born with his purpose chosen for him." Snow had said this with a smile.
Even so why couldnt his mark have been anything but what it was. "I wanted a peaceful life for you." Iron thought silently.
"Father... I will be a royal knight one day just like you!" Val said as Iron began to tuck him in.
Hearing his son say that filled his mind with memories. First Iron recalled a day from his youth, when he had said those exact words to his own father. The thoughts that followed this made him shudder. Iron began to imagine his slicing through the flesh of an enemy or taking an arrow to the chest. Every death that Iron had witnessed flashed before his eyes. Those who died now wore Vals face where their own should have been. So many gruesome fates, but Iron forced a smile as he shook the images from his head. "I know you will make me proud Val, for within your chest beats the truest of hearts. Never forget this fact." Iron spoke calmly as he nuzzled the side of vals face.
"Good.... night father." Val said between yawns.
"Good night Val." Iron replied as he blew out the candle on the bed side table. Iron closed the door to his sons room leaned against it. He took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. He then proceeded down the hall to his own bedroom. He stuck his head trough the crack in door to see Snow Storm, his beautiful wife and the mother of his child. Snow was slumbering peacefully. The candle light made her pure white coat seem to glow golden. Iron felt his heart miss a beat as all his worries from his talk with Val melted away. Iron remembered the first time he had the pleasure of laying his eyes on this gorgeous mare.
Iron had just returned from one of his many battles. On his way through town he spotted a pegasus walking with overloaded saddle bags. "She must be to weighed down to fly." Iron thought to himself.
"Excuse me ma'am do you need any assistance?" He asked as he approached.
The mare turned to answer. When she did iron immediately felt his gray cheeks catch fire. He was now face to face with the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
"Oh yes, thank you sir knight." The mare replied.
"Even her voice is beautiful." Iron thought before he responed. "May I ask your name fair lady?"
She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts as Iron noticed that her cheeks seemed to be turning red too. The White pegasus shook the blush from her face before speaking. she took a small bow and answered politely "My name is Snow Storm."
"A fitting name for such a beautiful mare." Iron said confidently as he took time to study her figure.
Snow Storm was a lean strong pegasus. Her coat was as white as "snow". Her mane was short but obviously well kept, light ice blue with not a single strand out of place. Her mark was a snow flurry that matched the color of her mane perfectly. The thing that stood out to Iron the most were Snow's eyes. They were golden brown. Iron walked to her side and hefted her bags on to his own back over top of his armor.
"Well where to?" Iron asked when he noticed the mare had been watching with her jaw dropped.
Snow shook her head to regain her composer. "Oh, yes, my destination. i live outside of town. It is a fair distance by hoof are you sure you want to carry my bags?" She asked seemingly concerned.
"Miss Storm." Before Iron could finish he was interupted by an outstretched hoove.
"Please call me Snow" She protested.
"As you wish. Snow I am a knight, marching long distances while overloaded with equipment is what I was trained to do." Iron said quickly boasting at his strength and stamina.
At that Iron and Snow began to walk. The leaves on the trees beautiful shades of gold, red, and orange. Soft crunching beneath their hooves as they strolled along the trail.
"Time to stretch these wings." Snow said happily and with I few graceful flaps she achieved lift off. The tips of her feathers were ice blue. During their trip long conversations insued. Iron was feeling more alive than he had in a long time. The two had just met but Iron felt as if he had known her his entire life. As he walked she flew but never to far away from him. As they neared her small house Snow landed and began walking beside Iron once more. Yet this time the two were side by side. Had it not been for the saddle bags they would have been pressed against each other. As they drew closer to Snow's house what Iron saw saddened him. What she called a house looked unfit for a mouse much less a pony. Iron noted the poorly crafted wooden structure, missing boards exposed the insulating layer of dried grass. A small steady stream of smoke rose from the twisted chimney. Snow was the first to reach the door. She turned to Iron "It's not much but it is mine." Snow stated with a smile. With that said Iron condemned his earlier thoughts.
With the sun now gingerly hanging on the horizon and the cool autumn night approaching fast. Snow opened the door and stepped inside as the old hinges whined in protest. "Please come in." Snow motioned with a hoof for Iron to follow her inside. Iron accepted the invitation happily thinking of where the night may lead.
"Where would you like me to put your bags?" Iron asked with a smile.
"Here by the table if you would please." Snow replied as she rummaged through the cupboard. "There you are." She exclaimed as she pulled a large pot out into view. "So sir knight would you join a lady for dinner?" Snow asked propping one hoof up on the pot.
Iron started to decline the offer to be polite not wanting to over stay his welcome, but his stomach growled at the word dinner. Snow noticed Iron hesitating to answer and offered some extra encouragement. "It's been a long time since I've had company for dinner. Normally I'd sit in silence, it would be nice to have conversation over dinner." Snow said with a smile.
"If you insist I will not turn down a warm meal." Iron returned the smile.
"Well I'll get dinner started you make your self at home by the fire." Snow nodded toward the small living room.
"Thank you my lady." Iron said removing his helm and placing it on one of the houses make shift counters. He careful un-latched his belly strap and removed his heavy iron plate armor and leaned it against the wall.
Snow was chopping ingredients for soup when she found herself watching iron remove his armor. His helm came off and his brick red mane fell into place the ends however were a dark crimson. She watched intently as he moved, his muscles rolled under his scar riddled grey coat. She felt herself blush. She stopped chopping and stared at his mark. Irons mark consisted of an armor chest piece which was covered in intricate engravings. Those engravings seemed to shine like silver as iron moved toward the next room. Iron felt as though he were being watched. So he raised his left eyebrow, put on his most devilish smile and turned his head back toward Snow. Just in time to see her turn her attention back toward her chopping. Crestfallen, Iron shrugged and walked into the small living room. He placed his fore legs far out in front of himself and leaned low for a stretch, then sighed contently. Iron looked for something to amuse himself while dinner was being prepared.
"That will do." He thought to himself having found the poker for the fire place. Iron causally picked up the poker and started fiddling with the embers that were still glowing red. Iron added a decent sized bit of wood to the ember bed for some extra warmth. Iron Sat and continued to prod when he heard a soft hoof step behind him. Iron started to turn when feathers filled his vision from both sides.
"Guess who." A sugary sweet playful voice came from over his left shoulder.
Iron took a guess to play along. "Oh I don't know... the queen?" Iron said sarcastically.
"Close, but a queen must have a king to be so." Snow replied softly.
Iron smiled as he felt a fore leg get draped across each of his shoulders. Iron felt Snows warm under belly press gently against his back. Iron turned his head to the left and was face to face with Snow. Snow closed her eyes and her cheeks went flush. She was pretty sure her stomach had tied itself into a knot. Iron hesitated but then leaned in for the kiss. It was a long meaningful kiss. Iron felt Snow shiver as her fore legs tightened their hold around his chest and shoulders.
"Iron... Iron? My love? What are you doing?" The sound of Snows voice snapped Iron back to reality.
Iron smiled. "I was just thinking beautiful." Iron stated as he walked over to the bed.
"Were they pleasant thoughts?" Snow asked sweetly.
Iron leaned down close to Snow and whispered in her ear. "Any thought of you is a pleasant one... my queen." Iron then looked deep into snows golden brown eyes and kissed her forehead.
Snow scooted back on the bed so that iron could join her. Iron got on the bed with Snow laying chest to chest. Iron rubbed her belly softly and asked. "How is our little one?"
"Sleeping soundly. Not as troublesome at bed time as Val was." She said quietly.
Snow then covered iron with her right wing as she locked a hoof with Iron and said. "Now like your children and the sun, you must rest my king."
Iron shared a good night kiss with his loving wife. With a smile Iron craned his neck and blew out the candle. The world around Iron exploded into darkness as the thick inky blackness of night finally engulfed the couple. The last thing Iron saw before his eyes fell shut was the embodiment of his love.
