War Torn

"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.