Redemption

Several minutes and a battery of psyche questions later, I find myself back in the parkour jungle, this time Pahnzer and his team are with me. “Why am I doing this again?” I ask, glancing back at Pahnzer.

“Because we need operational data on how you move and use the gear, and the easiest method is to watch you actually use your gear” He states.

“The easiest method would just to do a mind scan,” I retort, he stops and stares at me.

“Come again, private?” He states coldly, I blink at the tone, but shrug my shoulder mentally.

“The easiest method, the method they used to teach me, was via mind scan, they take the key methods and theories used in learning to use the mobility gear and copy it from the mind of someone who's already learned, and then implant that knowledge into a prospective soldier, all that's required after that is for the soldier to work on is muscle memory and reflexes,” I say, Pahnzer stares up at me for a moment before shaking his head.

“That's not an option, just demonstrate your gear and its use, Private,” He orders, I shrug, but nod my head.

“Alright, easiest part, using it to boost yourself. You generally want to jump first to get as much velocity as possible, then fire the appropriate thrusters at or just before the apex of your jump,” I illustrate by bending my knees then straightening up launching myself into the air a foot or two, then using my hip jets to send myself another couple feet up. I repeat this step several times pointing out what differences I know of between my gear and the sort used by ponies. After that, I start demonstrating various tricks and methods to redirect and disperse momentum without breaking bones.

As I'm talking I notice a certain amount of byplay amongst my watchers, various glances and facial twitches that only those who've worked together awhile would understand. So of course, I don't understand any of it, but the thread of pity and a certain amount of disgust is sadly very evident. After another couple minutes of this I throw up my hands in disgust.

“Something wrong, Private?” Pahnzer asks in confusion.

“Your team seems distracted,” I growl out popping the seal on my helm so I can stare at them more appropriately.

“What?” Rocky asks, I just tap the side of my head. “Oh,” is all he says as they share another glance and turn to stare at me, a general thread of consternation taking over, much to my delight.

“Thank you, now, since I obviously can't explain this properly enough to keep you entertained, let me see if my handlers available to explain it,” I say in a disgusted tone of voice, giving a satisfied smirk as I feel their anger ignite and erase all the other sundry emotions I was having to wade through.

Closing my eyes and focusing inwards, I reach out. 'Vine, you busy?' I ask, I feel a moments surprise then a welcoming sensation before she responds.

'Not really, catching up on some reading, what do you need?' She asks in a bemused tone, I catch a glimpse of another Daring Do book.

'I'm trying to explain the mobility gear to some ponies, but I'm not entirely sure how to explain it appropriately for their physiology, I was wondering if you could help?' I hold the aforementioned reasons in my mind, in the hopes that she wouldn't dig any harder, sadly, she knows me too well.

'And they also feel pity for you, don't they?' She whispers back in an amused thought, I feel my lips peel back in a silent snarl as she starts laughing, her love washing over me for a moment before she turns serious again. 'Let me guess? You want to take a hike for awhile, and make me experience some of what I'll never have again?' She asks in what's supposed to be a joking tone, but I can still sense some partially unhealed wounds.

'I truly am sorry they took your gear, Vine, but I promise to talk to the princesses about getting your gear back, or at least whatever they finally release to the civilian market. Besides, you're a frikken pegasus, why do YOU need mobility gear?' I ask, she just sends a thread of embarrassment.

'You know I'm not the fastest flier, but with the boosters, I could probably compete with their show-fliers, the Wonder-Bolts, at least in a straight line flight,' she replies, and I send my mental agreement as well as confusion over who the Wonder-Bolts are, which is immediately answered by a barrage of memories from talking to none other than Rainbow Dash. I can't help but chuckle at the thought.

“Private?” Pahnzer breaks in, and I nod my head.

“Yes sir,” I respond, then mentally poke Vine 'Please?' I beg. 'If the princesses don't agree, I'll see about smuggling it out, these eggheads aren't the most security conscious,' I entreat with a mental grin.

I feel her assent as my personality retreats from the forefront of my mind, shifting to my glade, I consider watching as Vine uses my body to show them the techniques, but I shrug instead, and simply go to sleep.

Blinking as I awaken, I glance around at some very sweaty ponies who are all looking back at me with semi-exhausted faces. “I gather it went well then?” I ask.

'You could say that,' Vine whispers in a very satisfied tone of voice. 'Apparently, our training was a little harsher than theirs,' she giggles.

I give her a deadpan feeling in response. “Did you use magic to boost my stamina?” I ask in a flat voice.

'Nope, they really just couldn't keep up,' Vine snickers in my head before giving a mental wave as I feel her break the mental connection.

“Oh,” I mutter as I glance at my impromptu audience. “So I take it you learned some stuff?” I ask in a cheery voice, several muttered expletives reach my ears and I have to fight the urge to grin.

“Yes, Private, we 'learned some stuff'. Now, who was that?” Pahnzer asks in a weary tone of voice, and I fight the urge to face-palm.

“That was a pegasus mare by the name of Vine Bloom, she's my handler,” I reply in a questioning tone. “Didn't Celestia tell you about us?” I ask, partially confused, I get several shaken heads in response. “Oookay, why would she do that? That's frankly not safe,” I say in a confused tone.

“She probably wanted you to come at it from a fresh perspective,” Fairy Dancer says to Pahnzer as she considers a nearby bench almost longingly, I take a moment to assess my own situation and find myself tired, but still ready to go again.

Pahnzer nods in response, still staring up at me. “You learned how to use this gear by having the memories implanted in your consciousness?” He asks, I sense he's putting something together in his head rather than being absentminded, so I nod my head and settle to the ground folding my legs, most of the other ponies seem to take this as a sign and flop down themselves.

I just glance around and chuckle, before schooling my face into an expression of non-expression(Yay for oxymorons!) and watch Pahnzer as he thinks about something very deeply. “You are aware that most magics of the mind are classified as dark magic, right Private?” He asks, and I nod my head.

“To be more specific, the USE of said magics on unwilling participants,” I amend, then glance around at them. “But, you five also trust each other implicitly, and I trust my mental stability in case you tried to take or do anything you shouldn't. And if I'm not capable of defeating you, there's a mare that I feel quite confident can hunt each and every one of you down,” I state in a cheerful tone, they just stare at me.

“You think a lone pegasus can take us all?” Cloud Burst asks in an affronted voice, I turn to look at her and let the barriers in my eyes drop for a moment, needless to say, she looks away first.

“We're broken, Ma'am, you're not. Yes, she can take you, not head on, that's suicide, but assassination is always outlawed by the stronger party, not the weaker,” I state, the obscurity of my statement causes a moments confusion before I see several faint nods. Turning back to Pahnzer, I tilt my head. “You were saying, sir?”

Pahnzer just sighs and shakes his head. “Nothing at this time, Private,” He says in a flat tone, causing me to blink. Turning to the others, he tosses his head. “That's enough for today, hit the showers, we'll begin again tomorrow after PT, dismissed!” He then turns back to me. “You're sleeping in your own quarters in officer country for now, Luna has advised that you not be near others while asleep,” He remarks, and I nod my head solemnly.

“Princess Luna is very wise, Sir,” I remark as I stand and follow the others towards the showers.

“That bad?” He asks quietly, following me.

I glance down at him and give a half smile. “That bad, I can show you, assuming I make it to sleep tonight, Sir,” I state sadly, I miss Vine already.

He just stares up at me in a confused manner.

I shake my head, he doesn't know, righto, expo time. “I'm a dream-walker, or in other words, I can do a small amount of what Princess Luna does, I'm nowhere near as powerful, and the world of dreams can be . . . dangerous for one such as I, but sharing memories isn't overly difficult. Although, to be honest, I'd recommend against it, at least until I get a better idea of your mental solidarity, Sir.” I slowly state as I consider the situation.

Realizing how what I'd just said could taken, I hastened to amend “That's not to insult you, sir. Just, I was just one of the soldiers, Vine was little more than a messenger. You don't want to see what our officers turned into. The job . . . killed them, on the inside. One of the few things I could assist my Queen in, was assessing and repairing fractured personality gestalts. I not only got to bare up under their disgust and fear during waking hours, I got to wade in it when they slept and try to give them a purpose to get up the next day and sacrifice even more lives for another couple hours of safety.” I state with a soul deep sadness, I'd seen the situation from all levels, I'd been one of the few that knew just how bad it was, and upon further consideration, it was another sign of the deep trust my Queen had given me that I was too blind to see at the time.

“In fact, dreams were one of the few places left to escape, to pretend for a few . . . Hmmm, hey sir?” I ask, pausing just outside the showers to look at Pahnzer, he stops to look at me with nod, inviting me to continue. “ I know you view black magic as taboo, but what about group dreaming? It'd be another method to share the knowledge without spending several years retraining,” I say with a glimmer of excitement.

Pahnzer just blinks a few times. “Is that possible, private?” He finally asks, I take a moment to think about it.

“Maybe? I'd have to speak to Princess Luna and get her permission and help in setting it up, sir” I finally reply.

Pahnzer nods. “If the princesses doesn't rule the option out, I'm sure we can work something out, private,” He says, I nod my head. “Oh, and Private?” He asks, I look at him inquisitively. “No more blood in the cafeteria,” He states with an awesome 'I can't believe I'm saying this' face, I just nod my head and stride into the showers to go get cleaned up.

About half an hour later, feeling much cleaner, and having given my armor a through look-over, I make my way out to find only Staff Sergeant Rock waiting, everypony else seems to have departed. After glancing around a moment, I give Rock a salute which he returns.

“Come on, I'll give you the five bit tour then show you your berth,” Rock says with a grin, I just nod my head and replace my helm upon my head.

“By all means Sergeant, lead on,” I state, my curiosity taking flight. He nods and walks off, I follow after him. We make several stops, from the armory where I'd acquired my, ugh, weapons, to the medical facilities they maintain for the palace guard. I take note of specific routes and key sentry points as I go, doing my best to get a feel for the facility.

Our last stop takes us into what is obviously the barracks. Surprisingly, it turns out I'm not being bunked in the Rising Dawn's wing, something about sleeping arrangements, they probably didn't have a room available, which I find surprising to say the least. I'll have to find out if that was honest lack of space or inter-branch politics later. Instead, I find myself in the officers zone of the Night-Guard branch of the barracks. Did I mention how frikkin huge the palace was?

“Sorry, about this, but you'll have quite the walk,” Rock says with a shrug, to which I shrug my own shoulders.

“Eh, long as they don't try to put me in the kennels,” I say, he just shakes his head. “Oh, where would I find the library?” I ask, he gives me some more ridiculously long directions to which I nod my head before giving him another salute and checking my room out.

My first action upon entering my room is to check for gear and to assess the room. Four walls, okay, no window, which is oddly surprising in an officer's quarters, but nice nonetheless. One bed, a table with several chairs in a corner giving the whole space a rather cramped feel, I'm home again, only with twice the space this time round. Checking the trunk at the base of the bed, I find my duffel bag was delivered.

After taking it out and securing most of my gear on the provided armor rack which was obviously used for the palace humans, but still appreciated. I put my armor on the rack as well and change into a simple pair of gray pants and a brown shirt, then, steeling my resolve, I open the door and step outside, only to step right back inside and lean against the now-closed door hyperventilating.

“Come on Redemit, you're safe here,” I mutter to myself. “Safe? Ha! You're surrounded by armed ponies, and your handler, the only one who ever kept you safe, is now more than a few hours away by wing, and most of a day by train,” is my emotion's ready response. “They hurt you before, they'll do it again,” my emotions whisper, and my intellect just can't gather the will to fight the thought, It's probably true. I just slide down the door to the floor and cover my face in my hands.

…

Several minutes later, I reach a compromise. Using one of my collars wrapped around my upper arm twice, I attach the knife, with the handle just out of sight under my shirt's sleeve. Stepping out my door still leaves me feeling defenseless and exposed, which I know is silly since my armor was specifically designed to NOT resist unicorn magic, I was more lucky than I could express that they'd only managed to land a restraining spell on me in the market and not an attack, otherwise my apparently powerful armor would have let it through, and probably exploded in the process.

But I was getting off topic, trying to think of anything other than what I was doing as I slowly walked down the hall, doing my best not to freak out at the smallest noise, and I hadn't even run into anypony yet. I wanted a book, but the trip to the library was seeming more and more a mistake the longer I was out. Gritting my teeth, and narrowing my focus to the path ahead and the objective in mind. I forced myself to stride confidently down the hall, watching for landmarks along the way.

The first obstacle encountered was a lone maid walking down the hall, she watched my curiously, but otherwise didn't alter from her path, so I continued on. Passing two sentries, I nod my head curtly, and they continue to stare ahead stolidly giving no sign of noticing my presence, a response I'm just fine with.

As I go, my fear abates some and my curiosity compels me to start examining some of the artwork and other scenery as I go. Glancing out a window, I come to find the day mostly spent, with the sun making its way to the horizon, they'll probably be shifting astral bodies soon.

Glancing down out of the window, I'm met with the sight of the palace gardens, affixing the location in my mind, I make a mental note to check them out later before I turn to continue down the hall on my quest to check out the library . . . that probably isn't open at night.

Well, that shot that idea in the foot, guess I'll have to find something else to do, shrugging my shoulders, I lean out the window to contemplate the gardens, trying to get some feel of how to get out to them, at which point I rustle my wings slightly to settle them more comfortably and then face-palm. I have wings, use them.

Shaking my head, I step back from the window as I consider how best to go about performing the act of defenestration upon myself. I'm distracted from this by a voice suddenly speaking out behind me.

“What are you doing, human?” a voice asks behind me, and I freeze as I run various scenarios through my mind.

A. Not another psyche test, the middle of a hallway just ain't the place for it.

B. My wings are very apparent, oblivious somehow?

C. Talk or just throw myself out now? Is it a unicorn? If the second answer is yes, the first should probably be no.

Turning around I'm find myself confronting a white unicorn stallion with two stars, one superimposed over the other which has been rotated 45 degrees, for a cutie mark. Noting his face which seems to be twisted into a semi-disgusted sneer, as if dealing with something unpleasant or disgusting, every alarm in my mind goes off screaming 'noble proximity alert' and 'get out, now'.

As if to lend additional credence to this the unicorn seems to finally notice my yellow eyes and proceeds to flip the buck out. His face adopts a look of horror, and he rears back, his horn lighting up, I choose that point to stop watching him and instead I rock back falling out the window. “Monster!” Follows me as I fall.

I twist as I fall aligning myself to the ground, upon impact I remain crouched a moment sweeping the surrounding area. Seeing nothing I move backwards hiding against the wall, glancing up, I see no immediate signs of pursuit, no bodyguards launching themselves out the window after me. Right, peaceful realm, no constant guardians, the palace guard was all I had to deal with, and I was officially one of them.

Fighting the urge to continue hiding, I instead stand up and start glancing around, seeing a path, and having nothing really better to do, I start following it. Glancing around, I see a variety of plants, many the flowering sort, and what others there are that aren't, are still decorative. I also see a variety of animals, including a small family of rabbits crossing the path in front of me.

Seeing them, I feel my mouth water, but I resist the urge stubbornly. I'll have to see if I can't hit the forest below the city at some point. It's bound to be teeming with game, and I may not know how to hunt, but I'm certainly willing to try.

Shaking my head at the errant thoughts, I turn my attention back to the path before me. Looking around, I determine that I'm angling back towards the palace. Content with my probable destination, I continue on my current path. Coming around a bend, I pause as I feel eyes on me, glancing around, I don't see anything immediately. Coming to a halt, I take a slow turn, looking at my surroundings hard, still seeing nothing, I shake my head and glance up, only to freeze.

Three pegusai in a sweeping formation are flying over the gardens, glancing around, I see more than a few patrols. Fighting the urge to hide, I'm almost certainly already spotted, I continue my slow pace through the gardens. Ignoring the various sights and sounds, I focus instead on the guards I see all about, waiting their move.

Surprisingly, they continue sweeping the garden, and aside from a few curious looks, I'm left alone. Blinking at this odd turn of events, I continue walking through the gardens, trying to puzzle out what's going on, then it hits me. It's nearly dusk, time for the transition from day to night. And if my guess is right, the guards are securing the gardens for the ceremonial portions of the changeover, not some monster hunt.

Curious now, I jump forward giving my wings enough lift to get me airborne, glancing around from my new vantage point, I see the two princesses not more than 60 feet away. Setting down again, I set off in their direction.

Coming up to the point where I last saw them, I'm met with the sight of a small 'clearing' of sorts in the garden, a motif showing the princesses in their endless cycle of night and day adorns the floor, and various markings surround it showing stylized versions of the four seasons. After admiring the scenery for a moment, I shift my focus to the two beings to whom it's all dedicated.

Luna and Celestia stand facing one another, completely still, if I didn't know any better, I'd be worried it was some sort of standoff, but it isn't, and I do know better, in fact, I can feel it. Stunning amounts of power move through the two ponies before me, the very feel of it makes my bones ache and my muscles tense in sympathy.

The first to move is Celestia, I feel her power let loose dimly, and I lose track of it quite quickly after that, but I can figure where it's going. I look to the sun, and watch it dip beneath the horizon, signaling the end to another day.

Then, as Celestia's sun retreats from the sky, Luna's power lets loose, I close my eyes and bask in the feel as the power I'm much more experienced with dances and weaves, I dimly feel stars pop into being at her behest, great constellations alighting like some great fish breaking the surface of the sea to take flight upon the black tapestry of the night sky. And to make it all complete, to add that one great signature to an orchestra of lights, I feel her power reach out, and a song responds. Not one of wood and string, of metal and keys. But of astral winds, of aching cold and burning heat. Of ponderous mass and ancient magic, a mind that while not intelligent in the classical sense, is still aware of its Avatar's call, and is willing to answer.

I feel a smile on my face and tears running down my cheeks as I listen to the song, proof that here, at least, I'm not the greatest monster there ever was. And that though I may have murdered my Queen's moon. Princess Luna's was still whole, and as beautiful as ever. That even for one such as I, there's a chance at happiness.

Opening my eyes, I look to see Celestia and Luna nod to one another before turning and heading off, one to bed, and the other to whatever she does at night. Which makes me wonder, what DOES Luna do at night? Do they have court at all times, or does she handle some portion of the governing that's best performed during a slow period.

My curiosity piqued, and with nothing better to do, I set off after them. As I go, I start seeing more guards moving about, Night-Guards taking their posts relieving the Day-Guard contingent. Coming up to an entrance back into the palace, I see Luna disappearing through the door and head after her.

Glancing around once I'm inside, I find myself pausing, the hallway is entirely unlit, while the moonlight coming through the windows along the hall provides more than enough light for me to see here, just inside, the interior hallways have got to be all but pitch black. Glancing around, I see Luna and a small entourage of Night-Guard moving down the hall.

Shrugging my shoulders, I turn to follow after her, accelerating my pace slightly so I can catch up without being so fast I attract the ire of her escort, I can dimly feel them flitting around in the shadows the night shrouded castle is full of.

Catching up to her, I hear snippets of conversation, primarily something about a Prince Blue Blood and not having time for foolish adventures. It becomes clearer the closer I get. “We do not care, We have intensified the guard throughout the palace, and the gardens were swept, no sign of this 'monster' our cousin doth speak of was found. So We see no reason to continue wasting time on the subject. Unless you have more information on the subject, We will be eating the breakfast We missed thanks to this entire debacle,” She grumps, I can't help but grin.

Sadly my anonymity comes to an end, and a guard steps forth from the shadows in front of me. “Stop.” He says in the sort of voice you use with an animal, I narrow my eyes dangerously, but come to a stop nonetheless. “What's a human doing out at this time of night?” He mutters looking around me for something.

“Are you really that stupid?” I find myself asking, the corridor grows very still for a moment before it becomes very busy.

“Threat! Threat!” Somepony screams and I find myself hitting the floor as several dark shapes pass through the air where I'd been standing previously. Rolling clear, I resist the urge to pull my knife somehow as I shoot to my feet and snatch another Night-Guard trying to tackle me out of the air, this one a pegasus, and proceed to shake her while she screams.

“ARE YOU BUCKING RETARDED?” I shout, my terror and anxiety curdling into rage inside me. “You want to attack me? I'll KILL YOU ALL!” I roar straightening my arm out explosively launching the poor pegasus into the first response team to charge me, disrupting their charge and buying myself time. Pulling my knife, I snarl as I lower my stance and spread my arms out slightly to engage on all sides. Sensing something behind me, I straighten my wings out with a snap, catching somepony and launching them into the wall with a sharp yelp.

“Stand down!" Luna's voice rings out, I drop my knife instantly and step back. One of the Night-Guard isn't as intelligent and tries to body-check me. I reach out and grab the unicorn by the top of her barrel guard and pull her up off her feet, my other hand takes a hold of her horn and I hold her up to the side of my face as I snarl with my teeth next to her eyes. She doesn't soil herself, but from the whimpers, it's a close thing. “STAND! DOWN!” Luna bellows from much closer.

I feel the ponies surrounding me stop and slowly back off. Lowering the unicorn in my grasp to her feet, I keep one hand on her barrel plate as she rocks a little before standing on her own power. Wrenching her chest-piece from my grasp. She stares up at me with murder in her eyes. I just smile back, she's the first to look away.

“Redemit, what are you doing?” Luna asks in a tired and annoyed voice. I drop to my knee before her, irrational fear of what she'll do running through me.

“Forgive this one, Your Majesty, This one doesn't know where he erred, but will do better,” I say face tilted towards the ground, I feel her mutter something before I'm pulled to my feet by her magic.

“None of that, what did you do, Redemit, and this time, you tell me, not 'this one'” Luna says, fighting to keep her pity from showing on her face, it's almost as painful as the prospect of another beating.

“I do not know your majesty. I was bored and curious so I decided to come see what you did at night. When I got close one of your guard detail mistook me for a human, when I said something they just freaked out,” I report, suppressing my scorn, any guards-pony that manages to miss a pair of wings on a HUMAN doesn't need to guard anything more important than a privy.

“Who did that?” Luna asks, staring at the various Night-Guard surrounding us.

“I did, your majesty,” One of the pegusai steps forward giving me an ugly stare before bowing his head to Luna.

Luna blinks a few times before glancing up at me in confusion, I find myself growing confused as well at her response. “Explain yourself,” She orders.

“I'm sorry, Your Majesty, when he walked up, I only saw another human, I don't know how I missed his wings, I just . . . didn't see them,” He states, his confusion evident. I kind of wonder how he missed my eyes as well, but in the dimness of the corridor, everything is a shade of grey, add in my irises being at full extension to let in as much light as possible, and I probably blended in perfectly.

I find myself confused as well, my wings lower all the way as my fight or flight reflexes calm down. Luna glances up at me then does a double take before striding over and around me to start poking them.

“Ow! Your Highness!” I yelp as she pokes my wings a few times with her hoof, that HURTS!

“Interesting,” She mutters, most of the guard behind me start murmuring as well, I glance back but see nothing besides my brown with white highlights feather coloration. “Redemit, right now, I can't keep my eyes on your wings, every time I look at them, I have to fight to keep my gaze from shifting,” Luna states in a thoughtful tone.

“What?” Is my response, very intelligent, I know, but my brains dealing with a backlog of denial, it's all I can do to not say 'that's not possible', curse my world view. “I'm not sure why that is, Princess,” I finally remark, feeling more than a little insecure at the moment.

“Can anyone else see his wings?” Luna asks, a variety of 'no's and a 'barely' is the response. “Huh, well, We shall have to tell our sister about this,” She states, before shrugging and continuing down the corridor. “Inform Prince Blue Blood We believe the 'monster' he ran into has been dealt with,” She orders offhandedly, a pony saluting before striding off back the way we came.

I stand there a moment feeling very confused. “Coming, Redemit?” Luna calls out, I nod my head and follow after her, my body on auto-pilot as my mind replays and examines the chain of events that was today, trying to find the cause of this odd chain of events.