We were almost there, no more than a few hours walk from the town. Hell I could even see the outskirts of it as we crested the small hill leading us towards our hopeful rendezvous point.

Grace, my Grace, was anxious to leave this force forsaken place and head back to the capital so we could get together a MUCH better plan of action against the encroaching gryphons. Our forces now numbered in the low hundred and fifties... Seeing as a few had passed on in the previous night from their injuries... Amber Rose, Lone Sentinel and Jazz Heartstrings have been staying quite close to us, not letting either of us out of their combined sight as we led our forces to salvation...

The trio have also been none-stop harassing us about what had happened the other morning... Heckling us about, though mostly me, about what it was like laying with a pony, how was she, and how long was I able to last... While they asked/cajoled Grace about the size of my pecker... Making the both of us flush with each new level of vulgarity they would reach...

Surprisingly though, in hindsight not so much, Sentinel was the one with the most vulgar of jokes to tell about our hours of passion... Damned bastard... Though he was our source of laughter when Amber made a comment about his own sexual escapades... or their lack there of ... Seeing as she was his only marefriend at the moment. Though when she had said 'Only' I asked if it was traditional to have more than one... The answer surprised me seeing as I thought this was a Monogomy based race I had stumbled upon... though when she told me otherwise I was shocked.

"Actually Corpus... It is rather uncommon for their to be a relationship nowadays that their is only one mare or stallion in it... Most have up to three or four mares on average... Though I have heard of those back east that have up to nine mares and two stallions, usually brothers, that run what they call a herd... It's not a very widely spread phenomena, but it does happen."

After that I was loaded with questions, which they each answered very readily, each of them getting the gist That I knew very little about the civilization I had found myself defending. I even learned that it as, in herds, the stallions job to protect his mates while they went and earned the income for their family... Something I didn't quite agree with seeing as i was from a MUCH different place and society.

"Alright, I got a joke for ya's!" Jazz called, making his way through to the center of the group, pushing his way between me and grace as he did so.

"Alright, lets here it..." Lone said, his deadpan voice telling me that he's already heard it before.

"Alright! Corpus... How many Guards does it take to replace a banister in the Ivory castle?" He asked his cheeks bulging from his retained enthusiasm.

"Hmm... Nine...?" I asked, not getting the joke yet.

"One!" he fell over laughing.

"How is that so?' I asked, not finding it funny yet. Though I could see Grace give him a depreciating sigh as she bowed her head and shook it slowly.

"Cuz it only takes one to get Princess Celestia and show her the rip!" ... Not. Funny...

"Hey Jazz... How many Sea green maned Pegasi does it take to change the sun?"

"Huh?"

"One..." I then picked him up in the force and gave him a good toss up into the air, straight up. Lone and Amber looked up at his flailing screaming body and started to laugh, seeing the humor in my action. Grace just gave me a deadpan stare and shook her head slowly, giving me the 'Not cool bro...' head sign without really knowing it.

As he came back down I caught him in the force, gently lowering him tot he ground.

"THAT WAS NOT FUNNY CORPUS!" He screamed and flailed as he touched down. That is till I hooked a thumb in Lone and Ambers Direction. "Alright... Maybe it was a little funny." he allowed, still looking a little hurt by my action.

"Alright, hers one for you... How many Sith does it take to kill a Jedi?"

"How many corpus?" Jazz asked, slightly interested in my answer.

"Several hundred if its Luke Skywalker... only one if you're Obi-wan-kin obi..." i chuckled, the look of confusion on their faces was priceless!

"That makes no sense!"

"I concur..."

"Eh..."

"Why..."

"... You guys are no fun..." I sighed and continued walking, passing them by as I continued on towards the town. I then began to flex my proverbial muscles as I stretched out with the force, letting it connect me to all the living things around me, the birds flying south over head, the insects crawling on the ground, the arachnids making webs off in the bushes... And even the none-sentient wildlife of the forest over a mile to my left. I was even connected to the life forces of all the ponies that had traveled with me, linking me to their minds as I sent waves of pride and gratitude through the link and into their minds, bolstering their moral and slightly speeding up their set pace.

I morning light was something I had missed looking forward to with the short time I was out here in the fields... Not knowing when the enemy as going to attack had placed me on a very short leash when it came to my sleep... Never fully getting to sleep the whole three weeks we were gone.

"Hey Corpus, wait up!" Jazz yelled as he and the rest galloped after me. I grinned and looked behind me as I heard them getting closer.

"Commander might we inquire as to how far away our destination is now? Seeing as we have been traveling for quite some time." Lone asked, falling into formality like it was a second language for him... which considering his demeanor, I wouldn't be too surprised if that was true.

"Well, seeing as we started out not to long ago... We would say... either this after noon or some time around supper is when we will arrive at Huffington... And, if Roid and Ducati followed my instructions, we should be meeting up with some form of liaison or some-er-other." I smiled at the sight of their relieved faces as I looked ahead of us again, still scanning our surroundings as we walked, though i only used the force.

Perspective Luna

"Princess Luna, I have word from Commander Brumby of the 39th!" Quick Silver announced as she came racing up to me as I walked down the halls towards the western training fields. I was adorned in a light set of plate armor and some Chain-mail underweave. It wasn't exactly heavy for one of my stature, but if it was ever worn by a regular pegasus it would weigh them down many times over...

"And what dost he say Fleetfoot?" I asked, my brow raised as I continued to walk.

"He has acquiesced to your request and is sending many of his pegasi squadrons to aid you... Also, Commander Hurricane is already waiting for you, he wanted me to let you know that he has sent one of the 101st airborne to scout the air space ahead of us, and to also make contact with Corpus and his men if they see them." Quick Silver saluted as she awaited my response for her to continue.

"Hmm... Good, what of the 22nd and the 36th?" I asked, quite curious as to their answers.

"Apparently the 22nd doesn't have as many pegasi as we thought Princess... They are unable to send any our way without compromising their entire battalions infrastructure... The 36th on the other hoof is willing to give us half of their entire battalion... Well over five hundred ponies, as they are going to be broken down soon and used as a training regiment..." Taking a breath she continued.

"Their commander told me that his forces were some of the best when it came to regimental fighting... So the general wanted them to train the next wave of recruits as payment for their unending training regiment." Quick Silver then sighed and shook her head, getting back to the conversation at hand.

"Also, I was approached by a unicorn by the name Scotch Thistle, she said that she is related to the commander of the 3rd division... a Miss Amazing Grace... Daughters of Hawthown and Lily from Inverneighs. She wishes to come with us on our trek to Huffington Mare... She says she will not be a problem and will be able to keep up with your flyers well enough to not get lost." Saluting with her right hoof she signaled that her report was over and awaited me to let her go.

"Very good Quick Silver... Thou may go... And tell this Scotch Thistle that she may run with us... But that she had better not fall behind..." I said in parting, smiling kindly to the messenger mare as she gave me a curt bow and smiled in return, going off to find the mare and give her the news.

Walking past the throne room on my way to the main entrance I saw my sister siting on her throne, conversing with Commanders Clydesdale, Cob, and Mustang... They were talking about an operation going on in the north, something about a suspected spotting of Gryphons or something of that course.

Ignoring them I continued on to outside.

"Ah, Princess, a pleasure as always!" Hurricane called as he saw me traversing the large hedge lined fields to his position by the back wall of the city. He was making the pegasi that showed up form into groups based on their specialty, fast flyers, mixed with the slower bunch to help with maneuvering if need be. Scouts on one group, heavy muscled fighters near the front along with the muraders, also a small platoon of pegasi was sectioned off to the side, each of them carried a set of quivers and a long bow... Obviously being the long range fighters here.

"It is good to see thee as well Commander... How goes thy life in this day-n-age?" I asked, raising a quizitive brow along with my warm smile. He beamed at me, his scared left eye showing some life as he smiled. He then trotted on over to my side, his light plate clinking together as he moved.

"Tis good, tis good! And how art thou, Sister still coddling thee for whatever damned reason she can think of?" He asked, a teasing light entering his voice as he chuckled at my pouty face.

"Nay... She just wishes to protect me... from... things..." He gave me a look, making me break down in his presence, Aye! Fine! She still does, and its very annoying our dear friend! She seems to not take a hint! Even with our Dearest Corpus getting in her way of doing so she still finds ways of doing it!"

"Hmm... Seems thou hast a problem Princess... Now... 'Dearest Corpus'?" he asked a mischievous light in his eyes as he smiled at me sidelong, making me blush and stammer at his insinuations.

"Um...uh...he-i-um..."

"Is he somepony special to thee, Dear Princess?" He asked his teasing tone still tickling at my hearing.

"Um... we... dost see him as someone special to us... For he did save our life once or twice already..." I said meekly, making him look at me owlishly as he suddenly began to howl with laughter.

"Ah! So the grapevine proves true once again our fair lady! So, we are to understand that he is not a pony then, with how thou had said 'someone' instead of 'somepony'... So tell us, what dost he look like, this 'Corpus' of yours? He asked, all teasing gone from his voice anymore.

"Aye... He is what he calls... 'Human... Though he said that he is also of another race as well... Though we cannot remember the name of what he said for the life of us... But! He is a fine stallion... Very Noble and kind... Though he dost not waver from using force when necessary... He is also a finally skilled swordsman... Having seen him take on our sister in battle and trounce her in but a second was... awe inspiring... He is also the strongest mage we hast ever seen..."

"How so? I myself know many a good mage... What makes him the strongest?" Hurricane asked, his brow arced in curiosity.

"Well... he has a master over lighting, being able to conjure it with but his fingers... and with a thought he is able to lift many thousands of times his own weight, he is even able to enhance his agility, being able to move as fast, or faster, than the average pegasus during flight..." To say that Hurricane was gobsmacked would have been an understatement... He was completely at a loss of words and was very truly stunned at what he was hearing. He knew how hard it was for many mages to conjure lightning, having only seen the adepts of the order use it with some difficulty... But levitation was quite simple for them.. but to lift on such a scale was unheard of... And to augment ones speed... that was something not very many could do... Only the Arch mages and a few outside their office could boast to that effect.

"He...He sounds like a magnificent stallion your Ladyship... But I must say... I would like to meet such a stallion soon if thou would allow it... princess." Hurricane bowed slightly to me, showing his true want of this request with his actions. So, smiling, I gave him his answer.

"That would be fine Hurricane... Seeing as thou would be the commanding officer on this operation with us... It would be most likely that thou shalt meet him quite soon." I said, smiling as I myself could not wait to see my dearest Corpus... My friend, and so much more in his absence...

Perspective: Corpus

"Alright everypony! we are just about to the city! Get ready for a bit of relaxation... And grieving if you need to... None shall judge thee if you chose to..." I called out, making several of the ponies arrayed in front of me nod and smile with tear filled eyes as they thanked me.

"For now though, get some rest, grab some food, and make sure to be ready in an hours time!"

"Sir!" They all shouted, saluting, before they walked off to tend to their wounds and get some food in their starving tummies.

Sighing to myself I walked away, back to my small group of confidants and their area of comfort. We had sortied ourselves on a small hill, over looking the small cam below, a small fire had been set up in the center of a circle of six logs. We had dumped most of our things on one of them. Lone and Amber had chosen this time to bath in each others presence, the two of them laying up against one of the logs as the fire warmed their fur. Jazz was off down in the rest of the camp helping with treating some of the more minor injuries... Something that I was going to go tend to as well soon enough. Grace was sitting by the fire, a rose and a lavender held in her hooves as she glazed at the tantalizing flames before her.

"Grace... We art heading down to the soldiers... Dost thou wish to join us?" I asked, sitting beside her as I wrapped one of my long arms around her, bringing her in close as I rested my chin gently on her head. Taking a small whiff of her mane I could smell the gentle smell of lilies and mango in her hair...

"That would be fine Corpus... Lead the way my love..." I smiled as she whispered the last part into my ear, her blush ever present on her fur covered face.

"If that is thy wish my love... So shall it be..." I purred in response as I picked her up bridal style and carried her out of camp, the small giggles and chuckles of Lone and Amber barely reaching my ears as I strode away down the hill.

Grace giggled and laughed as I carried her down the hill, making me smile at her care free attitude, brightening my day from its earlier somber attitude. Though, when we got to the bottom, our joyous mood ended as we laid our eyes upon the injured and dying laying around us... Knowing that more would be perishing this night of nights.

"We'll be going around helping the wounded... What will thou be doing in the meanwhile?" I asked as I set Grace down on the slightly wet ground.

"I will be going and finding one of our few remaining apothecaries and seeing if I can help them with their duties, seeing as I have some experience with this kind of work..." Her tone being that of reminiscence and happier times. I could see the ghost of a smile on her face, just as it had died seeing the pained expressions of many of our troops around us.

"Alright, go, we shalt be here tending to the wounded. We'll be together again soon..." I got down and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. Her demeanor brightened as I raced off into the crowed of injured, looking for the much in need as I moved.

Finding a Mare with several broken ribs and a busted wing i went to work, setting her ribs and wrapping them in an aura of force healing as I went to fallowing instructions from a fellow Pegasus as I wrapped her wing and set the brake. I then moved on to a Stallion that had been suffering from several deep wounds to his barrel and sides...

Firstly upon sitting beside him I used the force to scan his body, using it to search for any foreign bodies that might be present, IE; blade's, wood, dirt, rocks, or other inanimate objects. This also happened to save this poor stallions life when I found that there was a blade resting up against the outer layers of his heart, just centimeters from killing him outright. Alarmed and slightly distressed by what I had found I used the force to put him under, which did alarm the Apothecary next to me... Though I allayed her fears when I explained that I had just given the stallion a drug to help ease the pain... Granted it was a lie, it was much closer to the truth than what she was going to understand.

Using the force I steadied the blade shard and helped pry it away from the heart wall... I was concentrating so much I did not notice that many of the Ponies around me were starting to stare. I knew I had to be quick seeing as he was going to go into shock soon if I didn't remove the piece of metal and heal his wounds... I know that the force can preform many a miracle... My self being a piece of living proof... But not all have my luck that I know.

With a soft 'squelch' the metal came sliding out, it also acted as a plunger, bringing some blood, that had been contaminated, with it. I then tossed the blade haphazardly to the ground and began to seal up his wounds... Taking out a shoto to cauterize the more damaged and open wounds as I saw fit. When I had taken out the shoto I had heard many small gasps from around me, not really caring I just continued. But, now knowing many other things, I know that it was just

"Um... Corpus, Sir, what was that just now... That thou did with thy light beam thing?" One of the apothecaries asked. His brown coat was stained with blood and caked with a weeks worth of dirt and grime... along with some more... Gruesome aspects of his job...

"We used our blade here," I motioned to the saber in my right hand, "to cauterize the wound. This helps keep the wound from festering and becoming infected, so long as there are no foreign bodies present. Those being anything that a body should not have in them, like say a blade or a piece of rock or some dirt." I then motioned for some of them to come over and watch what I was doing, thinking to myself that; 'I might as well teach them how to better treat their comrades then let them continue in ignorance.'

"Come, we shalt show you all what we mean, it will but take a minute." I called, gathering even more of them up as I continued to work on the stallion, being quick as I cleaned out the rest of his wounds, using some clean water and a rag.

After a few more treatments I was confidant that most of them would be able to get most of our men treated, and on their feet soon... But I was unable to save the stallion I had worked on... He went into shock not more than a few minutes after i was done with him, shocking everyone there and showing them the look of failure. Shaking my head i then trudged back up the hill, juggling a few rocks around my body wit the force to keep my mind preoccupied.

Getting there I saw that everyone else was already back, though Jazz and Grace had less than stellar looks... also being covered in grime and blood from trudging through the dead and dying. Lone and Amber were sitting on one of the logs, looking ever the part of the most stone faced couple I had ever seen... So much in fact that I bet you could have bounced a credit chit off their faces and they wouldn't have noticed...

"Ah... Corpus... Thou hast returned from the pool..." Jazz said blithely, his usual happy demeanor having been skewered and shot from all the death he had had to see down in the camp... Not really even smiling anymore and just opting for a scowl instead.

"Pool?"

"Aye, that's what we started calling it, seeing as you start drowning in sadness when you walk into it..." Jazz mono-toned out, his flat voice heralding many sad thoughts and shattered dreams.

"Ah... It is apt we will give it that..." I said, a small, sarcastic, smile wrecking my visage as I looked at him. He nodded in assent and went back to staring at the small fire we had going, not opting to continue our conversation in the face of such distress.

"Well... We ar-" I cut myself off as I heard the telltale signs of flapping wings on an approach vector. I knew the other s hadn't heard it yet as they were still motionless next to the fire, but i quickly reacted and threw out my senses, pushing my perspective of the area to the farthest reaches of my abilities. Then, I felt it, it's energy.

Almost immediately I could tell that it was not a gryphon, the sense of emotions I got from it, and the way its mind worked, was much to different to that of a gryphon for me to NOT be certain. That's when it clicked, 'pegasus!' That's what I was feeling!

"Grace, alert the troops... We have a visitor!" I shouted; I was happy, ecstatic even, as I started cheering.

"Why, are there Gryphons coming Corpus?!" She asked, her and the others instantly grabbing their weapons and forming up into a circle around me.

"NO! Force No! It's a scout! An equestrian scout!" I shouted, tears of joy running down my face. I picked up Grace and the rest of them in a massive bear hug and spun around, making them all scream and shout in joy and surprise.

"Alright! I'll go alert the troops, just. PUT. ME. DOWN!" Grace shouted, still laughing. Dropping them all I leaped for joy and started shooting off shots of purple lightning, acting as a living flare to the scout, so he could find us easily.

Grace and the rest quickly ran down the hill, yelling all kinds of joyous things as they got close to the troops, raising moral through the roof. Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping got very loud and I flipped around to see a large Cyan colored Pegasus landing not twenty feet away from me. He was dressed in thin gold colored plate and wore a sash across his chest that was attached to a small satchel.

"Are you Commander Corpus?" The pegasus asked, his stance guarded and very ready to take back off in a moments notice.

"Aye Soldier... We art thee, Commander Corpus... Might we ask who thee are?" I gestured to him with an outstretched hand, a small smile on my face as I showed I was not a threat.

"I am Sergeant Lightning Strike, of the 101st Equestrian Airborne. ...I have orders from Commander Hurricane to escort you lot to the township of Huffington Mare, posthaste."

"Good! Good! We were all headed there soon anyway! We were already prepping the troops as soon as we saw you... They should be ready soon! Also, dost thou know of any Medical Facilities that might be located in Huffington? For we have many injured soldiers in need of serious aid..."

"Nay Sir, but we can pray and hope that their is..." The stallion bowed his head in reverence to my concern for my troops.

"Alright! Everypony is to wait here while I and my three guards scout ahead... WE need to make sure that the way is clear into town... Even if we are but a mile or two from it... Now, Grace will be staying here with Lightning and will be keeping an eye on the lot of you... We shall send a signal for the all clear. It will be fairly obvious." I said, smiling as many of them laughed at my declaration, though Lightning just stared at me with a raised brow.

"Alright lets go!" I yelled as the three Pegasi took to the air and raced after me. I cleared fallen trees and the random small water filled ravine as we came ever closer to town. From where I was I could see the signs of life in the town, though of which kind I could not rightly know just yet, not until we got closer.

Author's Note

Life seems to be looking up for our heroes... don't it?