The morning sun beamed full of life, its rays touched the surface of the vast ocean reflecting on it. The wind breezes blew in direction of the coast as the waves used the breeze in its advantage to have more force and move faster. From afar an average merchant ship was coming and thanks to the good conditions of the weather the oncoming ship would arrive slightly earlier from the date expected. Still it wouldn’t be much the difference if the ship arrived a day after, but the person who is inside waiting to disembark would rather be early because he holds news of sum importance for the fate of the Empire.

‘’A day earlier my friend, it seems that the destiny wanted us to arrive to our homeland faster’’ Said one members of the crew to other who was watching the approaching land resting on the railing. ‘’Such a pity that we had to travel to the other side of the world only to return with bad news’’

Both dressed in uniforms, but the man resting on the railing dressed bit fancier than the other but it was for the sole reason of his job which gave him a high status in the society, still there was similarities of said uniforms.
‘’Remember that there is always another path where we can find the good news which we seek with much effort’’ He replied without broking his focus on now the approaching port.

‘’That might be true’’ The ship stopped and anchored itself to keep stable ‘’I just hope that the opportunity would come faster’’ The statement brought a sigh from the uniformed man as he broke the focus on the landscape.

‘’Indeed, I also hope so’’

‘’Lord Protector your boat is ready to depart’’ A different voice was inserted to the small conversation; both men nodded their heads and followed the royal guard. The three of them went to their respective position and soon the boat’s engine started; both messenger could have waited to the ship to reach the actual port but their mission was kept a secret and they wanted to keep it in that way. Landing in a commercial place crowed with people would have driven unwanted attention.

‘’You won’t believe what has transpired in these last moths Lord Protector’’ The driver said turning his head slightly enough to see the path and the person who was talking. The waves still maintained its calmness but that wasn’t an excuse for the waves to make the boat jump a bit as it kept going.

‘’Oh? Well then; please enlighten us from the recent events since our absence’’ the lord protector said, he had no clue of the transpired events in his absence and that the situation was getting worse every day. He wasn’t prepared for what was about to receive as a response.

‘’Well everything started with…’’

‘’That must be a cruel jest!’’

The words left my mouth almost instantly at the counted events, what he just told me couldn’t be real, or I denied myself from believing it for the sole reason which would leave my Empress as a complete hypocrite liar something that would never be thought of her. I was standing from my seat with waxing rage inside me ready to be pounced against the royal guard who was driving our boat as he told me the true which I couldn’t believe. But I was trained better; I cannot let my emotions speak for my actions I just need to remain in control of myself and try to get a proper explanation of the situation.

‘’Lionheart please calm yourself, you had been taught better than this’’

And so did I as I returned to my seat sighing, allowing all my emotions either negative or positive leave my body, but I could only wonder one sole thing.

‘Why?’

Before my departure I talked with my empress reassuring her that everything would end well, that the hard times would pass away and fade as a bad memory with the years. The floor was stained as were my thoughts; I blamed myself because I wasn’t there for her to give my empress emotional support. I know that her sister and Twilight had been there for her but judging by the situation they weren’t enough.
Those damned nobles have must forced her to do this!

But it is already done; as my depressed stance which I was showing in the boat to my fellow companions onboard.
‘’Are you alright, sir?’’ The boat speed slightly reduced when he asked me for my well-being, something that I didn’t like because I had a new objective. I needed to reach Canterlot fast.

‘’Worry not, arriving the port is more important’’

‘’As you wish’’ He replied

I glanced to my right only to be greeted with the worry face of my travel companion, but without words I dismissed his worry away, and everything went silent except for the sounds of waves around us and the ones which slightly moved our boat. I could presage our arrival to the port when I heard the faint; yet bothersome, singing from the seagulls and other bird which fly around the coast for the search of food.
Our arrival as expected wasn’t received with a committee of welcoming like the traditions dictates to be done when somebody important arrives from a long travel, we wanted everything to keep in secrecy; every citizen in Canterlot believes that I was in Equestria training in secret places, but as I heard they believed that my absence was caused because I was sent to a special mission inside the infected zones. Together we quickly haste our pace for not being noticed by the crowd around us, but still I could appreciate our surroundings. The port wasn’t same since I left, I recall that the people who ever be a merchant, a costumer or a fisherman they wore a smile and looked vivid; but now the environment looked and smelled to death.

The plague did too much irreparable damage to Equestria and I wasn’t there to see how it happened, and the worst of all I wasn’t here to keep her company in those hard times. I regret for accepting my mission even if she personally asked me to take lead in the mission. MY mission filled her heart with hope but now I don’t know what will be the result when I give Celestia the cold truth.

‘’I hope that returning wasn’t a mistake Lionheart, but both of us know that our duty is in our home’’

‘’Indeed, I would never dare to leave alone Equestria, let alone our Empresses’’

We kept walking with care for avoid being noticed but everybody around us had their own problems to actually care about us, as my duty I should go to help them but I had more important matters to attend and that simple thing felt like receive a death blow on my chest. I was rejecting to do what I swear to do at the start of my service for the crown.

My position left me lost time and I would have continued in that state if my companion wouldn’t have talked to me.
‘’Here is where our paths must separate, it was a pleasure and a honor to travel with you Lionheart’’ I glanced to his direction too late to give him a response, because when my head turned he was already gone leaving me alone with my thoughts in front of the train station. I was troubled with myself but I know that seeing again my Empress would cleanse my mind; but first I have a train to get into.

Author's Note

Well hello there!

It was a quite busy month to be honest but not because I had homework or other things
because february was the the new year beast blossom for Dota 2 which every won match you recieve a set so I belive that you can deduce the rest, but freet not! the event ended today so I can give more focus to all my stories thought I'm a week away from start university but you know is a week!
Besides my shecdule is not bad, why?
Because I end at afternoon mening that I have all the night of free time, omiting the part of stuying for the next day of course

However I hope that you like the chapter, dont forget to leave a coment!

PD: The name Lionheart ocured to me when I was playing age of empires: Castle siege in my phone, because there is a hero called Richard Lionheart and my mind said Why not?

-Lufe out!