Equestrian Legends: The Mercenary of Magic and Steel [Book-3]

I have no idea how much I could’ve slept, but when I woke up, it felt like every morning. “Rise and shine Princess, I was about to wake you…” Altamir exclaimed, startling me from the side.

“Do you enjoy watching ponies sleep?” I asked.

“It’s my room, I’m welcome to it at all times.” He replied, and he was right. “Ready to go? Had a good rest?”

“Good to go.” I replied and got out of bed. “Lead the way.” I exclaimed.

“Remember what we agreed on.” He replied and started off. We left his house, and entered the dimly lit streets.

“Why is it so dark?”

“Let your eyes adjust.” He replied.

“Okay.” He was right once again, a few seconds later things were brighter, and soon we saw the light of a campfire nearby.

“There they are.” He muttered, and we approached them.

“Altamir! Twilight! Come on closer! I feared you have forgot already!” Starry Shield greeted us.

“Well, you know I stay true to my words…” Altamir replied as we walked closer.

“I see you brought the visitor too, afterall…” Starlight replied.

“As far as I knew, she was allowed…” He replied, trying to protect me.

“With all respect, if I’m not welcome, I can leave anytime…” I exclaimed.

“For now, you will be allowed stay and visit, but don’t expect us to share anything with you… Our food perhaps, but not knowledge…” She replied.

“Starlight! Come on! You know what she came for!” Altamir replied.

“Fine… If you want us to share our knowledge, you must earn it… If you can prove yourself worthy of it, or useful enough for us…” She replied.

“I’m sorry Twilight, that’s all I can do for you… She has a good point, you know.” Altamir whispered to me.

“It’s all right, really, I’m glad I can stay to begin with…” I assured them.

“Twilight.” Starlight exclaimed.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Please, walk with me, we have to talk.” I nodded in response, and she walked up to me.

“Wait, you’ll be back soon, right?” Swift Steel wondered.

“Hopefully.” Replied the mare next to me, and we walked off… I was in a little panicked, since Altamir wasn’t with us, so I trotted along, responding briefly. “Twilight Sparkle, is it?”

“Yes.”

“Princess of friendship, and element of magic…”

“Yes.”

“And prized student of…” She swallowed, and her tone changed. “Princess Celestia…” She said her with so much venom, I swear she could have poisoned me if she wanted to.

I knew that fact right there was a minus point, and prepared for harsh treatment. “Yes.” I replied.

“Why are you here, once again?”

“Well, Altamir offered me a chance to do some research about this place and it’s history.”

“Did you expect this place to be empty? In ruins?”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

“How much do you know so far?”

“The way here, and that you exist… Also the fact that you serve Princess Luna.”

“Very well… How about our history?”

“Way back when, before the Nightmare Moon incident, Altair came to you for help, and you, united with the royal sisters, and the Changelings, defeated King Sombra…”

“So you know about him… Well… Why do you care so much?”

She had me right there… I couldn’t just say curiosity, yet, that was the truth… “Because I wanted to prove to those in Canterlot that it wasn’t all Celestia who did the hard work.” I replied.

“Well then… Have you noticed our Verba arbitrium?” (Words of choice.)

“Your… What?”

“Good, then it still fulfills it’s purpose…” She muttered. “Now, be honest… Have you tried to get information from Altamir?”

“Not really.”

“It would’ve been a vain effort anyway… He only knows as much as he learnt from my brother, under a month, about fighting as a Mercenary… Do you know how old he is?”

“Your brother, or Altamir?”

“Altamir.”

“He told me he’s 20 years.”

“Barely, if I say 6 months, I exaggerate...”

“He told me about the spells.”

“Then know what to expect from him… Truth be told, he has a heart of gold, yet… He’s still so young, and perhaps, just as naive...”

“On our way here he handled the Timberwolf very well…” I replied. “If only I knew what the sawdust was.” I muttered.

“Say again… What do you mean handled it well?”

“He threw the barrel over it’s head, and told me to run… I did, and he caught up by telep-”

“Shhh.” She replied, and her ears perked up.

“What?” I whispered.

“Listen.” She replied, and we heard howling in the distance.

“Timberwolves… Are we safe here?” I asked.

“Follow me…” She replied, and started making her way upwards to the sky.

Levitation spell… Clever. I thought to myself, and took flight after her. We didn’t go far above, when we stopped. “What do I need to see?”

She pointed a hoof downwards, at the path we had followed on our way here, it was bright. “Just as I thought… You were followed…” She repled, and began to fall full speed back down… I dropped just as fast, and we both landed safely.

“I-” Had no time say a word, before having a blade shoved against my throat.

“Research my flank… You let the Humans get here… Do you know what this means?”

“No… You don’t understand…” I replied.

“Ugh! You idiot! Now whatever we do, we’ll be discovered! So far only we, and Luna knew where we are, and that we exist!”

“What do you mean?”

“If we let them in, they will tell their precious Commander. If we kill them, they’ll just dispatch another team to investigate!”

“You’re Assassins and Mercenaries… You can handle a few Humans...”

“Just because we could kill them, it doesn’t mean we must… Twilight, they are guards from Ponyville, they did nothing bad… We can’t just kill them until they run out!”

“I know.. But we made sure we weren’t followed! I swear!”

Meanwhile, at the campfire...

“All right, that’s it… I’ll go find them… What could take so long anyway?” I told the others.

“Starlight won’t be pleased…” Swift Steel warned me.

“Fuck that then, Twilight has no idea what she could, should, or must say…” I replied, and began galloping around, until I realized the obvious: I knew I should’ve went with them. “Starlight, would you mind telling me what the fuck you’re doing?”

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” She replied.

“The only thing I care about is what the fuck you’re doing.” I threw back.

“I should’ve known… I knew we shouldn’t have let you stay that day…”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Humans are after us, they followed you!” She answered.

“Uh, you mean the 10 Changelings at the gates?” I replied.

“What?”

“I came past them… They said they needed a disguise, so the Ponyville guards won’t bother them…”

She immediately sheathed the blade, and apologized to Twilight.... When she was done, we went to the gates to see our newer visitors, Salutem still there, standing guard. “Here you are… What of them?” She wondered.

“Changelings… What are you doing here?” Starlight inquired.

“Ah… The light of stars… I, am General Thorn Wings… Mother wishes to see if you’re well… She… Heard… Of what happened.” Their leader replied.

“So?” Salutem inquired.

“Altamir… Please write what I’m going to say…” She replied, and he summoned a quill and a sheet of paper. “Regina Chrysalis, lunaris eclipsis est super communicatione vestra cura. Sed vereor ne tibi videndum ... Expectamus responsuros et sequentibus diebus adventu ... O si missurus existimabatur Ignavum fucos pecus vel milites, ne quid exspectet remittunt. Cognoscere volumus, si solus ad ostendendum quod habuisti fiduciam nobis.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s all… Altamir, Twilight, you have a task…”

“Hmm?” We replied.

“Go back to the hive with these ones, and deliver the message…”

“WHAT?!” Twilight inquired.

“Yes?” Starlight wondered

“You want me to go there!?” She asked..

“Do you want that research, or not?”

“Fine…” She muttered.

“Can we go now?” I inquired, having returned from my house with our bags while they talked.

“Ah, the lavender Princess herself… Believe this one… We do not like the company of… Yours either…” The General replied.

“Says the one leeching on others…” Twilight replied.

“HEY!” I yelled. “We’re not here to watch you argue… Salutem, open the gates, and let us go…” I exclaimed, and we left, before things got out of control. We wandered through the Everfree, and met with the scouts.

“Lapidus ubi illae venis et quo vadis ad eum?.” The Soldier inquired. (Altamir, where did those come from, and where are you going with them?)

“Simplex, diplomacy.” I replied. (Simple, diplomacy.)

“Bene ergo …” (Well then…) He replied, and allowed us pass, and soon we reached the edge of town, so we stopped.

“Is there a problem?” The General inquired.

“You can go ahead, we’ll catch up…”

“Ah, this one is worried… Will the Princess and Mercenary know the way?” He replied.

“Yes, we will, when you arrive, tell your Queen we’ll be there in a day or two.” I informed him.

“As the Mercenary’s kind would say… May the stars guide you…” He exclaimed before leaving with his kind.

“Altamir, are you sure you know the way?” Twilight wondered.

“Weren’t you the one complaining about their presence?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Do you have anything against us staying at your castle for tonight? Tomorrow we’ll move on.”

“No, of course not.” She replied. We were on our way there, when we were stopped by a guard patrol.

“Hold it there…” One of them exclaimed.

“Yes?” Twilight inquired.

“Princess, may I ask why are you still out this late?” The guard asked.

“I’ve been at a friend’s house, why?”

“I see… And… Is he with you?”

“Should he not be?” She threw back, doing her best to make him uncomfortable.

“Well… He could be…”

“You mean I don’t know how to look out for myself?”

“Well, I…”

“Just who are you to question royalty? How dare you to begin with? Who’s your commanding officer?! You know what? I don’t care! Get out of my sight! All of you!” She replied, and they got out of there faster than I could keep track of them…

“Good going.” I commended her.

“Geez, I usually don’t do anything like this…” She replied, and we moved on. Eventually we got there, and quietly entered, trying not to wake the other 5 mares, and the dragon inside… “This way.” She whispered, and took me to her room.

“Wait, there’s only one bed.” I noted.

“Well, you welcomed me to your room, it’s only right of me to return the favor.”

“Not happening… Not as long as I’m here… I can go for a week without rest…”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you need rest as well…”

“Twilight, look… It’s kind of you to offer, I’m grateful as well, but no, you just go on and sleep… The floor will do for me.”

“Fine, but promise you’ll get some rest too, okay?”

“Sure will.” I replied, and we went to sleep… As usual, I muttered my own before doing it… The morning which followed changed my life… Forever… During the night, I dreamt of nothing, but a blank, black void… Nopony or nobody else, but I alone… Only 5 minutes before I woke up, did I see Luna herself...And even then, the only thing that happened was simple… She looked at me and spoke.

“I’m sorry, but it has to be this way… I wish I could’ve stopped him.”

I woke up on the cold, crystal looking floor on which I went to sleep all right, but also in a world of pain… I could feel every bone and muscle in my body shifting places and turning… Before I would wake anyone with my screams of agony, I cast a silencing spell on myself… When it stopped I stood up and looked at the floor, perfectly reflecting me. No… This can’t be… Why me of all?! Why must I endure such? My worst fear and nightmare came true… I became something, which’s existence I despised the most… I was one of those filthy Humans… I heard gently knocking on the door, so I answered it…

“Are you allright?” Luna inquired while calling me outside with a gesture.

“W- Wha- Your highness? What are you doing here?” I wondered.

“I’m here to ease your situation as much as I can… Is the pain over?” I nodded in response. “Glad to hear… I wish I could say I’m going to transform you back, but I can’t… I know what I’m going to say will hurt, however… For the benefit of Equestria, I must agree with Discord… It is for the best if you remain what you are now…”

“But… You said you’re here to help…” I replied, somewhat depressed.

“Yes… As you can see… Humans need to wear clothing at all times, unlike Ponies…” She pointed a hoof at my lower body while looking away.

“Oh… Ow… Shit…”

“Let’s get that fixed, shall we?” With a flash of magic, I was wearing brown steel capped boots, blue pants, the materials of which I have no idea about, a shirt, a trenchcoat, and a baseball cap. “If you don’t like the colors, Rarity would help… Oh, and also...” Out of nowhere, there was a scarf looking piece of fabric around my neck.

“You have my gratitude… But, what is around my neck?” She used her telekinesis to tighten it in the back, and put it onto my face, covering it while allowing me to still see. “And to what end do I need it?”

“Once, Humans served only my sister and I… But now, their General is independent from us… In fact, these soldiers were recalled just an hour ago, and tomorrow, the replacement will arrive… And believe me when I tell you, I know that it is unavoidable for you to have conflicts with them…”

“And you gave this to me so they won’t recognize me… I see…”

“Do you understand now?”

“I will do what I must… In order to restore balance and peace...” I replied.

“Before you would wonder, Twilight, the other Elements, and your friends at T.L.E already know of your… Change…”

“You have my gratitude once again… I will never be able to repay this…”

“You will… By doing what you must, you will make my efforts be rewarded…”

“May I ask something?”

“Of course.”

“What about my saddlebag? It’s too small for me now…”

“Oh, right… I nearly forgot.” She used her magic once more… “I used this spell on John’s bag the last time… It served them well…”

“Which one?”

“John’s bag was every soldier’s dream… No matter what he desired, he could’ve just reached into the bag, and withdraw the desired item, no matter of it’s size, or ever being placed inside or not…”

“And how does that help me?”

“Same thing goes for your sleeves, if you focus enough, the desired item will fall into your hands from the sleeves… Go ahead, try it!”

I tried to scavenge around Sarah’s memories, and found a pistol to try… A second later it fell out of my right sleeve, into my hand. “A Colt 1911, small clip size, but good from a medium range…” I muttered.

“I knew you could do it… Now try to make it disappear by throwing it away and imagining your hands empty.” I threw the pistol as far as I could, and thought of my empty hands, and I watched as the pistol evaporated into nothing but thin air. “Excellent! Remember: Things only disappear if you want them to, if you just throw them away, others may simply pick them up to use against you… Now that you know everything, I must go.”

“Thank you once again for everything…” I replied before she left, and I returned to the room. I sat down with my back against Twilight’s bed, and produced a knife, and simply had in sitting in my hand until I would need it… I’m not going to lie, I actually fell asleep again, so it was up to Twilight to wake me…

When I woke up, I heard snoring from ahead the bed… It was Altamir, just like Luna said…

“Altamir?”

“Hnngnngmm…” *Snoring*

“Altamir!”

“Uhhhmmmngnmm” *Snore*

“Wake up already!” I yelled, no effect… Perhaps Pinkie could help…

[Five Minutes Later.]

“Okay Twilight, tell me when…” Pinkie whispered.

“This will surely work…” I muttered.

End of Chapter 4