Broken Shell

Broken walked into town, ignoring the looks he was getting. "Hmm I should probably go see if Twilight is alright. I mean, I did kill that guy in front of her." He walked up the the library and opened the door seeing all the elements there sitting in mild shock with Twilight holding a letter. "Hey, did I miss something?"

Twilight look at him flinching for a second when she heard his voice. "W-we have been asked to go as representatives of Equestria to Saddle Arabia in order to open up a intellectual exchange. This might even lead to the founding of a university between the two nations." Her eyes sparkled with the idea. "I mean, we have made great strides with their kingdom the past 20 years since their new king took over."

Broken nodded. "Yes, their current king is very progressive in thought." He leaned on the wall. "Who knows, this may lead to trades with other nations." He yawns. "Of course, this means I have to get a few things from Canterlot."

Twilight's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? There is absolutely no way you are coming with us. You were told to protect us here but we won't be here, so you will stay here till we get back. Got it?"

Broken smirked. "I was told to protect you not just here. Plus, you will need a guide once you get to Saddle Arabia. And who better to guide you then someone who grew up there? I mean, I know the capital and most major trade routes like the back of my hand."

Twilight looked at him. "Wait you're from Saddle Arabia? How did you become a knight for princess Luna? You know what, fine, whatever, you can come. But we need to leave tomorrow after lunch to make it to Canterlot and then to the harbor in Baltimare."

Broken nodded. "Yes, well I need to go see if Vinyl will let me keep the room well I am gone." He started to open the door. "Oh, and dress for the heat and make sure to pack at least one nice dress." He opened the door and walked out. "Well, they don't seem that scared of me."

Broken made his way down the street when he stopped mid step and turned and looked up at the sky. In the sky there was a pegasus with dark gray almost black fur and a light cyan gray mane with light stripes alternating with very light gray lines. He was muscular but had the look of somepony who enjoyed hanging out and having a nice time. "This town just gets better and better." He saw the pegasus start to move some of the clouds away from the town to the holding area for them to stay till the next storm.

Broken sighed and started to walk towards the house he is staying at. He walked in and saw Vinyl sitting on the couch. "Hey Vinyl, I am going to be gone for maybe a week do I have to pay for you to hold the room or are you going to keep it for me or should I get all my stuff?"

Vinyl looked at him and smiled. "Don't worry about it, we will keep your room for you." She got up. "Oh and if you want you can set up your mail to come here since something tells me you will be staying here for a while. Also don't worry about your stuff, I will keep your door locked."

Broken smiled. "Thanks Vinyl. You have been great to me, especially with the whole town being scared of me, or thinking that I am a monster."

Vinyl nodded. "Yes, well, something in my gut tells me I can trust you, and I am trusting that." All of a sudden she lifted her glasses and squinted, looking at him. "You have a question don't you?"

Broken shook his head not really wanting to talk about it. "No, not really. I should go and pack." He started to walk past her.

Vinyls arm outstretched and grabbed his shoulder with more strength then Broken thought possible from her small frame. "Come on, what is it?"

Broken sighed and looked at her as her grip loosened. "There was this pegasus he had very dark gray fur and a light cyan gray mane."

Vinyl smiled. "Oh Thunderlane! He is second in charge of the weather team. Wait, do you have a crush on him?! No way, I can't wait to tell Cloudchaser!"

Broken looked at her. "Please don't. I may have a crush on him but I am so not ready to be in a relationship plus, I am bad luck."

Vinyl looked at him. "Now what makes you say that? I am sure you would be perfect for him."

Broken shook his head. "No most ponies who I get close to end up getting hurt. I mean, this is the second longest conversation I have had with anypony since I have gotten here."

Vinyl looked at him and sighed. "You know, for somepony who apparently is a skilled fighter, you sure are a chicken some times."

Broken's eyes narrowed. "I will show you who a chicken is. When I get back, I will ask him out." Suddenly he glared at her. "Oh you're good. Damn you are good." He walked up to his room and sighed. "I can't believe that just happened." He pulled out his bag and opened a small pocket, pulling out a drawstring backpack. He put a few small things in there including the vial he got from Zecora, a small black silk bag, his phone charger, and a broken striped shell.

Broken walked out the door and sighed. 'I guess I should go grab something to eat.' He thought as he walked out the front door. He saw young foals running around and remembered that he had seen today would be a half day.

He stopped at the market and looked around. He walked over to the apple family stall and looked up at the large stallion working it. "Hey, your Big Macintosh right?"

The stallion nodded. "Eeyup." He looked down at Broken Shell. "How can ‘ah help you?"

Broken looked at the stand and noticed what looked like small fried balls drizzled with caramel on a stick. "Wow what are those?"

Big Mac looked at them. "Oh those are apple pancake balls covered in caramel. They are a newer product we started making after granny heard how much you liked her pancakes."

Broken nodded. "Those sound great. I will take three of them." He pulled out some bits and payed for them before starting to walk down the street again. He stopped in front of a large fancy looking restaurant and smiled. "Hmm, this place looks nice." He finished off the first stick of apple pancake balls.

Broken walked down the street in the large circle around town. He stopped at the park and looked around. "Hmm, this looks a lot better in the daylight." He finished off the second stick and smiled.

Broken made it back home and finished the third stick and sighed looking, at the time. "I should go to bed early." He changed into a pair of basketball shorts and then quickly fell asleep.

***

Broken woke up and grabbed a pair of boxers and his toothbrush, walking towards the bathroom. He got into the bathroom and brushed his teeth before starting the shower. He relaxed in the warm water for a few moments before washing himself. He got out and dried off with a towel and pulled on his boxers. He walked back into his room and put on a light gray tee-shirt and a pair of skinny blue jeans.

After getting dressed and brushing his hair, he walked down stairs with the drawstring bag on his back and saw Octavia sitting in a chair reading. "Oh, hey Octavia."

Octavia looked at him. "Hey Broken, I heard you are going out of town for a bit."

Broken nodded. "Yeah I am heading out with the elements to be a delegate of Equestria. I feel like I would rather just chill here." He sighed. "But it's not up to me."

Octavia nodded. "Yeah well I hope you have fun. Oh I am going to do laundry, so is your stuff in the hamper in your room?"

Broken smiled. "Yeah it is. Thanks. Oh and don't worry, I will bring back gifts." He smiled and started to walk out the door, throwing a peace sign at her as he went. He started to walk towards the library knowing that Twilight would probably be up and in a panic.

Broken got to the door and knocked before opening the door and seeing books strewn around the floor. "Wow, it looks like a tornado went through this place."

Spike's head poked up from a stack of books. "Yeah, you have no idea how much Twilight can go overboard when she wants to study." He chuckled and started to put books away.

Broken shook his head. "Yeah she reminds me of a guy I know, he is totally obsessed with knowledge. Of course he is also a master of dark magic and necromancy and Twilight is more of a book worm."

Spike looks at him and starts to put books away. "Wait I thought that Princess Celestia banned dark magic about 500 years ago, and necromancy has been outlawed since before Princess Luna was banished."

Broken nodded. "Yes, well he is a special case. I assume you know about the unicorn exalma. The thing that allows a unicorn to convert energy in their bodies into magic which is then put into their magical reserve?"

Spike nodded. "Yeah of course I do. I had to attend all of Twilight's classes with her. But what does that have to do with black magic?"

Broken nodded. "Well sometimes that exalma can be tainted and that will lead to the magic being corrupted and turning into dark magic. The princesses can not figure out how to fix it so they allow those dark mages to practice. Well that led to my friend becoming a master of it and becoming a member of the lunar operations. From what I hear he was sent to go and talk with a large pack of diamond dogs, well things went south fast and he had to kill some. He brought them back to fight along side him. From what I hear Princess Celestia was not too pleased but had to concede that it was a useful talent to have at her disposal. Of course this was before Luna got back and took control of our order."

Spike watched him as he spoke. "Wait you mean the order of lunar operations has been around since before Princess Luna returned 2 years ago?"

Broken nodded. "Well it was founded before she was banished. I was in fact recruited before Princess Luna returned. I was a member of a small group of mercenaries that helped protect caravans in Saddle Arabia when I was recruited."

Spike nodded. "Wow how long were you doing that? I mean you must have been doing it for a long time for the Princess to notice you."

Broken smiled. "Well I was adopted by them when I was only six and I had already had a little training then. I started going out on missions with some of the older members when I was 10."

Spike nodded and finished putting up the books. "Wow that must have been crazy." He started to walk towards the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I have enough food to make some breakfast for you too."

Broken smiled. "That would be great actually." He walked into the kitchen next to the small drake. "Hey, why don't you have wings?"

Spike looked at him and sighed. "I wasn't born with them so I guess I won't get them. I mean, that's how it works right? I mean, why don't you have a horn?"

Broken looked at him. "Wait what? Who in the world told you that dragons were born with wings? I know a very old dragon who has the same appearance as you. He could probably teach you a few things about dragons."

Spike nodded. "I would love to meet him. I really want to learn more about dragons but all the ones I have ran into were jerks."

Broken nodded. "Yes well a lot of dragons in Equestria have been away from their homeland and the ways of it for so long they are little more than greedy beasts. The dragon I know is both an ambassador for the dragon's land and a very kind soul."

Spike nodded and started to cook. "Yeah the ambassador to Equestria is rarely here so I have never met them."

Broken nodded. "Well it is a different experience to meet a true dragon then meeting one of the dragons here in Equestria."

Twilight walked in. "Hey Spike." She looked over and saw Broken Shell. "Wow, you're here earlier then I thought you would be." She sat down at the table.

Broken shrugged. "Well I figured I would be early." They all sat down to eat.

***

A few hours later the group of six ponies, one zony, and a dragon, boarded the train to Canterlot.

***

Once the train stopped at Canterlot, Broken Shell walked off and met a royal guard holding a large duffle bag. "I take it you are the one I am supposed to get my stuff from?"

The royal guard nodded and handed him the bag before walking away.

Broken walked back onto the train and sat in the large booth with the rest of his group. "Okay, now I have my stuff." He set his bag up on the luggage rack.

Rarity looked at him. "Well, what did you have to get Darling?"

Broken shrugged. "I needed some dress clothes and some of my casual clothes for when we are there."

Rarity looked at him. "Well I am sure you would know what to dress like. If we had more time I am sure you could have helped me make clothes for the rest of us."

Broken shrugged. "Well I mean I didn't really need them but I prefer to have some lighter clothes than what I brought with me to town. I also need to have my belt to look the part.

Rainbow looked at him. "What do you mean ‘look the part’?" Her eyes narrowed.

Broken sighed. "We are going to the capital of the Zebra's largest trading partner. I still stick out to them especially since they saw me two months ago."

Pinkie looked at him. "Oh I know we can throw a party for you and them to resolve your problems.”

Broken looked at her. "That party would turn into a bloodbath. There is no way around the path myself and the council chose. This was set in stone when I was six years old."

Applejack looked at him. "What happened when you were six sugarcube?"

Broken shrugged and sighed, starting the tale he had told Zecora the day before.

The group looked at him all of them in shock about what had happened. Finally Rainbow looked at him. "What happened after that!? You can't just stop the story!"

Broken chuckled. "Oh I am sure I can find time to tell you what happened after that. But that and what happened two months ago have caused this to become my own personal war."

Twilight looked at him. "Well I would love to hear the rest of the story some time."

Broken shrugged. "Maybe when we get there. Wait how close are we to the port?"

Twilight looked at him. "Well we should be there in two hours. So we have a bit of time."

Broken nodded and fell asleep almost immediately, having learned how to fall asleep almost anywhere.

**********************

Two hours later Broken woke up as the train came to a stop. "Huh, what, are we here?" He looked up and saw the girls gathering their things. He got up and grabbed his bags. "So, shall we go." He lead them off the train, keeping an eye out for anything extra ordinary.

He walked them to a large boat. "This is our ship. We have the whole ship to ourselves." He tossed his bags onto the ship before climbing on himself.

He helped them up and smiled. "Awesome, this is great."

Twilight looked at him. "Umm, what was that? After we got off the train until, we were on the ship it was like you were a completely different pony."

Broken shrugged. "Because we were on open path where you would have been in more danger than anywhere else." He watched as the ship's crew took the luggage to different cabins. "Okay it is about 8:00. We should get there around noon tomorrow and we will get to the capital about 4 tomorrow night, as long as the wagon is there when we get there."

Twilight looked at him. "Wagon? Why would we need a wagon? I mean it is only a 4 hour trip."

Broken looked at her. "Yes but it is four hours on a path that raiders frequent. So it is better to be safe. Plus, with a wagon and caravan it will only be 3 hours."

He walked down the stairs of the leading the girls to where they could put their stuff. "Plus we will get to be guarded by the best guard mercenary band in all of Saddle Arabia. The Red Scimitars." He lifted up the back of his shirt showing, a tattoo of a red scimitar in the small of his back. "They raised me after my parents died."

Fluttershy nodded. "Isn't their leader one of the best fighters in the world?"

Rainbow looked at her. "Flutters, how do you seem to know about this fighting stuff all of a sudden?"

Fluttershy blushes as everyone looked at her. "My parents had me enrolled in a martial arts class when I was a filly. So I keep up on this stuff sometimes."

Broken nodded. "Well you are right. There are five great fighters in the world recognized as the best. They are called the Malznara. My master is one of them. There is him in Saddle Arabia, one in Gouxia, one gryphon in their homeland, one zebra who is the current head of the Shadow Hunters, and one in Equestria."

Rarity looked at him. "Who is it in Equestria? I mean it is probably one of the royals guards."

Twilight smiles. "It has to be Shiny, I mean he is the Captain of the royal guard. That means he is the strongest, right?"

Broken shook his head. "No. Actually, it is a old stallion who lives alone at the top of the smoky Mountain. I guess he was once a member of the Lunar Knights."

Pinky bounced as she set her stuff down. "Oh! We should have a party when we get there to celebrate us getting there!"

Applejack looked at her. "Now calm down sugar cube. We can't just be throwin’ random parties."

Broken nodded. "Plus, I don't think you could find all the booze you wanted for it on such short notice. There are not many alcohol providers in the country. They weren't even allowed to drink there till about 50 years ago. Yet me and the training partner I had who is still my best friend still managed to get drunk every so often."

Applejack nodded. "Wait, how old are yah? I mean we are all 21 or over."

Broken smiled. "I am 19. I started training when I was 6 or so and joined the order when I was 16."

Rainbow looked at him. "So that must mean you're pretty high in the order right? I mean, you were sent to guard us. You have to be at least the third strongest at least!"

Broken shrugged. "Rank doesn't really matter."

***Meanwhile in Canterlot***

Shining Armor walked into Princess Celestia's study and bowed. "Hello Princess."

The Princess nodded to him. "Shining Armor, you asked to see me. It must be important."

Shining nodded. "Yes Princess. I am wondering why you sent the lowest ranked member of the order to Saddle Arabia with the Elements without any back up. I mean, he is the 25th seat. Doesn't that mean he is the weakest?"

Celestia sighed. "He is currently 25th. He was previously the 7th seat. He just quit trying two months ago after the 6th seat was killed. He just gave up and stopped caring about what seat he held."