Slices of My Life

“That…” Dash began with a breath, peering through the thermal imagers. “Is a lot of armed griffons.”

“Yep.” I whispered back, taking the monocular back to look through with my left to survey the massing forces below.

“And you’re going to go down there? Alone?” Dash looked at me incredulously as she shifted around in place where she lay next to me.

“Yep.” I whispered again, feeling my bags to ensure nothing had dropped or gotten lost on the way up here.

“With nothing but what’s on you right now?” Dash’s incessant questioning was beginning to get irritating, to be honest.

“Yep.” I replied as I mentally went through my inventory: Karambit, twin silenced P226s with a single spare mag for each, shotgun strapped to my bag in it’s holster with a single full reload to spare, the Chromium Thermite charges and my skills at being unseen. I was going to be leaving the thermal imaging monocular with Dash simply to prevent the potential loss of such expensive equipment.

“Do you have a death wish or something?” Dash’s voice began to rise in volume with her questions, so I placed a hand on her back to keep her down on the ground.

“No but you don’t have the stealth capabilities nor know-how on how to arm and detonate the thermite.” I looked towards the Private. “What kind of Captain would I be to send a greenback into battle without so much official training?”

“I see your point. But how are you going to get down there and into the city from here? You just spent an hour climbing up here!” Dash demanded insistently.

“I’m going to climb back down.” I replied, already thinking about the relatively easier return trip to the ground to my left. “I’ll sneak in under cover of darkness, plant the explosives and get out before they detonate.”

“Then what am I going to be doing?” Dash continued to whisper though she turned her eyes back towards the military stronghold.

“You’re going to ensure that if I'm discovered and taken captive or killed, you’ll get the information we’ve discovered thus far back to Celestia -as well as bury the remainder of our equipment- and potentially mount a rescue for me or my body.” I explained slowly, calmly. Dash’s eyes went wide at the suggestion of my death. Apparently that didn’t sit well with her.

“If you die?!” she demanded in a furious whisper. “No way in Tartarus are you going to die! You’re not allowed to die!”

“I appreciate the support, but in our line of work everything can change in an instant and may very well cost lives.” I muttered, as I began to look more closely at the potential targets.

“Alright, remember this. Their main stronghold where their military bases from looks to be at the very center of the complex. To the right of the road leading out looks to be a set of barracks and training grounds, with an armoury to the left across from the living.” I announced, hoping Dash could either remember everything or was writing it all down.

“She’s not writing and she’ll forget everything.”

“I’ve got it. What else?” Dash asked as she scooted up closer to me to get a better look at where I was looking specifically.

“Behind the barracks and immediately left of the HQ looks to be weapons manufacturing. I can’t see anything specific but that’s one of the target’s i’ll be hitting.”

“What about the Armoury? Are you going to blow that up too?” Dash grinned eagerly.

“No. I’ve got enough explosive for two targets, or one massive one. As it is, the enemy HQ is large enough to warrant all the explosive I have but if I can work strategically and bring down the key supports, then I should be able to bring down a load bearing pillar in the weapons productions facility.” I explained, still searching for more HVTs. “It appears that the rest of the buildings in the compound are all civilian domiciles.”

“Oh, I feel I should mention something.” Dash spoke up suddenly, turning my attention to the pegasus. “There might be a griffon down there by the name of Gilda. She’s not bad and I'm sure she’d be against this war in the first place. If you can, could you make sure she’s safe?” Rainbow Dash requested willfully as I handed her the monocular to begin my descent.

“We’ll see.” I replied and lowered myself over the edge.

~~~

This. Place. Is. Massive!

From a kilometer or more away where Dash and I had done our reconnaissance, Griffonstone hadn’t seemed like a very large place. Maybe a small town or something. Standing with my back to the wall avoiding patrols along the ramparts had be re-evaluating my earlier prognosis.

One I'd gotten onto the ground, I was able to time the patrols along the tops of the walls to get up to where I now waited but there was another ground patrol due to arrive any minute now.

Keeping my back to the wall and my body hidden in the last hour of the day, I drew a single P226 and took vague aim at where the birds were due to appear from. I wasn’t kept waiting long as soon a trio of griffons, armed with what looked like some kind of clockwork pistols and scimitars rounded the corner and casually sauntered past my position.

Rather than make the mistake of stepping out of the shadows I merely pressed my entire body into the wall to stabilize and took aim at the back of the neck of the griffon nearest me; the back of the pack/flock/pride -what the hell do I call a group of these bastards?

Squeezing the trigger, the back of the neck exploded outwards and splattered the griffons ahead of him before I turned my aim to the next, popped him a single round and then finished off the third and final one. Holstering the weapon I moved to the bodies and began the arduous task of pulling the dead creatures into my hiding spot, as well as to search them for anything of interest.

Of the three of them, the leader looking one seemed to have swapped out a number of his actual feathers for throwing blades that looked like feathers. I’d have nearly missed them if it wasn’t for the glinting metal painted to match the colour of the surrounding feather groups. Gathering up as many as I could and dropped them into an empty bag that I'd eventually use for empty pistol magazines or shell casings, I continued to approach towards a water inlet that had bars across the opening.

Unfortunately for Griffonstone, the smallest animal they appeared to be trying to keep out looked to be a pony. I was thinner than most ponies and so it was no trouble for me to squeeze myself between the bars and let my Dragon’s Eye illuminate the dank, murky water pipe of concrete build.

Following the water’s direction of travel, I eventually found myself in a large underground reservoir with other tunnels leading water away and likely into the other portions of the city. Chances are that this cavern was directly under the HQ itself, or at least it was close enough by my estimations.

Following the cobbled pathways around the lake, I began to pick up the faint sound of heavy snoring coming from down a rather wide tunnel with no water running down into it. Curiously, I poked my head around the corner before entering in entirely.

“Well fuck you sideways.”

“Well shit…” I muttered under my breath as I took in the enormity and majesty of what appeared to be a fully matured white and black Dragoness. Unfortunately my comment did not go unnoticed as the Dragoness snorted and cracked open an eye.

“Oh, what’s this? Have my captors sent me something new to snack on?” she asked, getting in low to look me over. “No. I think not. You have the eye of a Drake in you. What are you?”

“Augmented human, ma’am.” I replied calmly though in all honesty my heart was racing and threatening to give me tachycardia where I stood. If that happened I truly would become her next snack.

“Hmm, never heard of your kind before. Are you related to the Simians?” she asked disinterestedly, rolling onto her side to scratch at her black underbelly. I also noticed the chains around her wrists and feet, keeping her relatively in place.

“Sort of. Human’s are thought to have evolved from a variation of them. We’re both homo-sapiens. Ma’am.” I replied faux-calmly.

“Ugh, enough with the ma’am. As you can see, I'm not a ma’am as I am a prisoner.”

“Yes, I've noticed. Are you a prisoner of the Griffons?” I inquired hopefully as my heart rate returned to normal.

“What gave it away? You’re sure you’re not a Simian, they’re not very bright you know?” The Dragoness mocked and rolled back onto her belly though her eyes refused to let go of my image.

“I’m sure. Then if you’re a prisoner of Griffonstone, would you be willing to help me destroy them if I were to free you? I’m sure they wouldn’t be expecting an attack from below.” I offered with a smirk. If I could turn her to Equestria’s cause then I’d almost be willing to part with some thermite to melt through her shackles if she’d return the favour and do the destroying herself.

“And what makes you so sure that I'd be willing to help you in the first place? Maybe I like it down here?” she retorted cautiously eying me over.

“Nah, I don’t think you do. There’s a distinct lack of gemstones, jewels or even any decent meat to eat. Except for the ones above your head. Griffon tastes amazing for dragons if you weren’t already aware.” I replied with an unsubsiding grin.

“And how do you know all this about us?” she demanded lackadaisically.

“I’ve got a white and gold baby dragon under my care, as well as her black and blue brother who doesn't like me that much.” I explained calmly, taking a seat on a nearby rock.

“Say that again?” the Dragoness almost demanded, getting as close to me as her bindings would allow.

“I have two baby dragon’s under my care. One is white and gold, her brother is black and blue. Their names are Weiss and Eben, appropriately.” I reiterated, slowly and unsure if I'd hit a nerve or something.

“Huh. So they’ve found themselves in the care of a new species. Well then, human caretaker… What do they call you?” she grinned benevolently.

“Captain. May I ask what relationship you have with my kids?” I nearly demanded but did what I could to remain cordial.

“Oh, that’s interesting. Your kids?” the Dragoness grinned again bemusedly. “Those two drakes are likely my kids.”

“Oh? And why would you say that?” I offered interestedly. This was surely becoming something of an incredible meeting.

“Because I was drunk when I popped them out and named them Weiss and Ebenholz. I distinctly remember Princess Celestia making a remark about the names. She said they sounded funny.” I had to give her that. Weiss and Eben’s names were a little on the nose. “Tell me, funny creature; how are my…” The Dragoness caught herself and smiled kindly. “Our kids doing?”

“Please feel free to continue calling them your kids. It’s a bit strange hearing the word ‘Our’ used when we have no real relationship beyond I just found you here. Beyond that, you’re welcome to come see them if you agree to help me destroy Griffonstone when I get you free.” I offered, standing and patting the pocket in which the thermite resided.

“Hmm. You make an interesting offer, Captain.” she replied thoughtfully as she sat back to contemplate my offer. “Very well. I shall assist you in your mass slaughter of the Griffons above us, I shall feast on their corpses in the process and you shall let me see my kids for the first time. Oh, and you may call me Lady Schatten”

“Agreed. Now, shall we get you freed?” I grinned and pulled out the packaged Thermite.

“Feel free. I’m not quite sure how you plan to remove these irons though. They appear to have been enchanted to withstand dragon breath.” Lady Schatten smirked as she shook the chains that bound her.

“Maybe they have. But do you think they’d have been enchanted to withstand twice the temperature of boiling magma?” I grinned and cut open the package with the karambit before spooning out a line of thermite over the nearest chain link.

“Where are you going to find boiling magma here? Even if you did find some in the nearby mountain, how would you get it in here without injuring yourself?” Lady Schatten inquired as she watched me move on to the next chain binding her feet. “What is that strange dust?”

“This is Chromium Thermite. When I ignite it, it will burn at over 2200 degrees Celsius. Almost twice as hot as molten magma.” I explained and continued spooning lines onto the chains. “Truth be told, these packages were going to be used to destroy the military base above us by burning through their structures’ support pillars.”

“I see. And how are you going to survive such temperatures here in an enclosed space?” Lady Schatten inquired as I wrapped up the remaining package and stuffed it away.

“I… Hadn’t thought of that actually.” I admitted after a moment of nothing coming to mind. It was true, if I was to light the thermite and run before I myself got injured, I'd have to run at Mach chicken.

“I have an idea. Since I'm sure it was little Weiss who gave you that eye through magical means, and since it hasn’t rejected you, that means you’ve got some magic in you. Which means I can offer you a gift for taking care of my children in my absence.” Lady Schatten announced, tilting my head and turning my attention up to her face.

“Oh really? And what, pray-tell would that be?” I asked interestedly.

“How about dragon-scale armour? You’re body obviously isn’t foreign to magical augmentations so this should be simple.” Lady Schatten explained as she reached back behind her body and extracted a single white scale as large as my entire fucking body.

“And how would this work?” I asked, examining the shiny side of the scale; admiring my distorted features and silver hair.

“You must not be clothed, for one thing. Then I merely breath my own Breath on the scale, melting it down to the point of pliability. After that it should begin to fuse to your skin and provide the armour.” Lady Schatten explained before her face become one of worry. “I do have to tell you something though.”

“What’s that?” Frankly I didn’t care. This was going to be cool.

“There’s risk of damaging your body while doing this. If I don’t get the temperature of my Breath exact, or your own magic rejects mine and/or the scale, you may suffer permanent and severe bodily harm.” she frowned at my lack of caring. This was too cool and I was eager to get started. Besides, if Weiss had such great control over her Breath at such a young age, then a dragon matron ought to have perfect control.

“I’m not worried. Weiss’s Breath doesn’t seem to hate me, so why would yours?”

“Very well. Please disrobe.” Lady Schatten requested as she held the silvery scale before me to offer privacy. It didn’t take me very long to shuck everything and stand in my skivvies.

“Ready.” I eagerly announced.

Lady Schatten lowered her head to my level and with a concentration let out a single, long breath of pure white fire over the scale and my body. It was unbelievably soothing to the touch, actually. I was expecting an instant sunburn with how the fire was completely white, but I was quite content standing in just about nothing as the scale began to disintegrate and coat my exodermis.

A minute and a half later and the scale was gone, having been transposed onto my now silvery- white skin to match my equally silver hair.

“That is actually pretty cool.” I announced, looking myself over before drawing my karambit to test drawing it over my forearm. The blade merely glanced over what looked like tiny scales of my own, leaving me without injury. “Thank you very much for the gift you have imparted to me.”

“You’re very welcome. I’m pleased that the transposition went as smoothly as it did. Now, about my rescue?” she requested eagerly, ensuring not to shake off the thermite.

“Absolutely.” I grinned as I redressed. As soon as I was covered up again my skin seemed to return to it’s normal tanned white tones, piquing my interest. Putting it to the back of my mind I hoped to Celestia that it was merely a camouflage thing like with chameleons and that putting on clothes hadn’t undone or deactivated my new protection service.

Pulling my shotgun I took aim and blasted a shell at the thermite, effectively lighting it and letting the intense heat almost instantly melt through the chain link with pure iron flying about in sparks. I remained quite cool internally.

“Quite the display you’ve made there.” Lady Schatten noted with a smirk as I fired the next round at the next link, then the next and the next. “I’m sort of glad that I hadn’t eaten you right off the bat if you have something like that on you. I’m sure I'd likely have been killed from the inside out after my stomach lit up that powder.”

“Probably, yeah.” I smirked as Lady Schatten pulled against her chains and snapped the links before stretching out in all her magnificent, intimidating splendor. “Now for your side of the deal concerning the killing of griffons?”

“Of course. Please, climb on.” the Dragoness requested as she offered me a large claw to climb up onto and ride. I soon found myself on the Lady’s head as she began to very quickly claw her way through the ceiling. “Hold on to something, Captain.”

“Already on it!” I shouted back up, clutching onto one of her spines. Seems Weiss got her good looks from her mother.

A single minute and a raked claw later, we broke through ground and appeared in what I assume to actually have been the Griffonstone Military Headquarters judging by all the startled, but armed griffons around us.

“Hello, dinner.” Lady Schatten grinned and I had to admit, I smirked just a little. As the griffons began to evacuate, Lady Schatten began snatching them up to drop them into her mouth and not even chew as she stuffed clawfuls of bird/lion things into her gullet.

“Oh, I should tell you now that I'm not alone here. I’ve got a blue pegasus waiting for me to return on the mountain overlooking this encampment and some equipment stored in a cave down the road that I need to retrieve.” I announced as the Lady rampaged through the city, destroying everything in her path with her claws, breath and wing sweeps.

“Absolutely, we’ll pick them up on our way into Equestria.” the Lady nodded in kind as she all but belly flopped onto the weapons manufacturing plant at my request.

“You! What is the meaning of this!” A single, terrified/furious female voice demanded of me from behind the Dragoness and I. Lady Schatten spun around and took hold of the female griffon just as a blue pegasus appeared wings spread.

“Wait, please! She’s my friend!” Dash demanded, beating her tiny hooves against the pointer finger of Lady’s claw.

“Is this the pegasus you spoke of?” Lady Schatten asked of me.

“Yes. Lady Schatten, meet Private Rainbow Dash of the New Luna Armed Forces. And apparently this griffon is Gilda, friend of Dash’s.” I explained as Gilda looked at the Dragoness with silent tears streaming. “Please spare her.”

“Very well.” Lady Schatten opened her hand and let Gilda recover joyfully with Dash that she’d lived and not been eaten.

“What is going on? What happened to the thermite explosives?” Dash demanded as she and Gilda hovered next to me.

“Used them to free Weiss and Eben’s mother.” I shrugged back as the moon poked it’s light through cracks in the cloud cover above us. “Turns out that a fully grown Dragoness has a higher kill rate and is more thorough at destroying things than a pound of thermite.” I grinned as the Lady smirked.

“Private Rainbow Dash and friend Gilda. A pleasure to meet you both. I apologize to Gilda if I've consumed any of her friends or family.” Lady Schatten gave a short bow for introduction.

“N-no you’re good. All my family and friends moved out before conscription started.” Gilda meekly replied, shaking the single claw of my new friend. “I’m just glad that Rainbow Dash appeared when she did to save my life!”

“Nah, it’s nothing! I’m sure you’d have done the same for me in better circumstances.” Dash grinned and rubbed the back of her neck as the two creatures landed next to me. “So what now?”

“Well, we’ve accomplished our mission through Lady Schatten. Now we exfiltrate and return to Princess Celestia with the news. Gilda…” I looked at the bird in question hesitantly. “I don’t know. We could say that you’re a prisoner or that you’ve defected from the Griffons and want to join the NLAF as a new recruit.”

“Hey, I didn’t even like those feather brains. They conscripted every able body over the age of legal consent to fight in this stupid war. If you can get me in a position that the Equestrian’s won’t reject or hate me, then I'm all for it.” Gilda offered in surrender.

“Well there we have it.” I announced with a content grin. “Shall we recollect our equipment and head home?”

“Yes please. I kind of have to talk to my friends about this whole thing. They don’t actually know what I've been doing for the last three days.” Dash admitted sheepishly. “They all think I'm in Canterlot for a Wonderbolts thing.”

“Question, where am I gonna live?” Gilda held up a claw with her valid question. “If I'm going to be scrutinized during this war for being a griffon, I don’t want to live on my own.”

“Easy, you’ll come live with me! I’ve got a spare room at my place in Canterlot!” Dash grinned adamantly.

“That’ll help if and when you join the new army.” I shrugged as Lady Schatten took off for the nearby mountain with our stuff still waiting for us before diverting to the cave in which my bike and bags waited for me.

~~~

“Tell me again what this thing is and how it works?” Gilda requested as she looked over the bike as we rode the silvery back of Lady Schatten into Equestria.

“It’s a motorcycle adapted for high speed and off-road travel. It uses a combustion engine to power the drivetrain which turns the wheels. I hope to create a full sized truck when we get back to Canterlot and have some time while Luna’s in a good mood to allow me to borrow her magic.” I explained as I relaxed against a spine.

“I didn’t understand half of that.” Dash admitted as she sat on the bike herself, with Gilda keeping it upright. “All I know is that it works and it’s awesome!”

“So how much longer till we get to Equestria?” Gilda inquired, looking past Lady Schatten’s head to try and see the approaching border.

“Not to much longer I suspect.” I replied, letting myself fall into a sort of lucid sleep state in the remainder of the night.

“It’s funny. I don’t feel any of the usual magic in the air when I'm not in Equestria.” Dash noted thoughtfully, gazing up at the stars for a while. “I wonder why it just seems to stop at the border.”

“No idea.” I muttered as I slowly fell asleep.

“Hey Soren. What’cha doin’?”

My eyes shot open and I stared into space at the sound of my name being called.

Can I actually think my name? Could I do that before? I wondered to myself. Could I say the name Soren Mercer in my head?

“Hey, Captain.” Gilda caught my attention and I looked up at her bewildered. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

“Not exactly.” I muttered in return. I was too busy trying to remember if I could even think my name without having the powers that be preventing me from doing so. “Are we still out of Equestrian control?”

“For now, but the border is rapidly approaching. Why?” Lady Schatten requested from ahead of us all on her back.

“I wanna try something. My name is Captain Sor-” I announced, just as we crossed over the border and both Dash and Gilda rushed to the edge as far as they dared.

“Look at that! A straight edge between Griffonia and Equestria with snow!” Dash exclaimed excitedly. “We’re finally back home!” I sighed.

“Not like you did much in the first place.” I smirked, having been able to get out the first three letters of my name before Equestria said otherwise.

“True. I’m sorry for interrupting. You were giving your name?” Dash requested as both females returned to the little group.

“Nah, it’s too late now. Seems it’s only Equestria that doesn’t let me say my name.” I shrugged off the idea and tried to go back to sleep.

~~~

“Well, this is certainly unprecedented.” Princess Luna announced as she flew up to meet us upon our arrival in Canterlot airspace. “Good morning to you all.” she greeted us warmly. “How was the mission?”

“Mission complete, though through alternative means.” I grinned in reply, patting Lady Schatten’s back appreciatively. “Turns out that Weiss and Eben’s mother was captive to the Griffons and offered to help us in return for meeting her children.”

“Well, I think we can accommodate her wish. I feel I must ask, however, what the casualties were.” Luna requested as she sat down next to me as we came in for a landing in the Canterlot Gardens, the only viable landing zone for a fully grown Dragoness.

“They were great. Of all the griffons residing there, I think a small handful got away and Gilda was spared. The rest of the city fortress was levelled and consumed by me. I hadn’t actually eaten anything substantial for at least a decade, you see.” Lady Schatten announced as she touched down and we all removed our possessions from her back.

“Of course. Does it make a difference to ask what they had for military assets?” Luna inquired as I let the bike rest against the mountain wall near to the door to the Dungeons.

“Yes it does. The Headquarters were heavily fortified and they had a weapons manufacturing plant close by. They’ve also discovered firearm technology.” I announced, making Luna’s face go pale and her eyes wide in shock. “I shall of course share my own advanced weapons technology with Equestria to combat these new weapons.”

“We appreciate that.” Luna nodded solemnly. “I have to ask though, what has happened to your skin?” This question had both Dash and Gilda approach me quickly and examine my dermal layers.

“Woah, yeah! It’s so shiny! Almost like Lady Schatten’s scales!” Dash exclaimed as she looked me over.

“Actually, that would be because they are, or were Lady Schatten’s scales.” I explained as the Dragoness chuckled behind us. “I have been magically augmented further in order to prevent physical harm from coming to me during rescuing the Lady.”

“Astounding, you’re slowly becoming a dragon yourself!” Luna chuckled before a thought suddenly hit her. “Lady Schatten? As in, the Lady Schatten?”

“I see you’ve heard of me. A pleasure to formally make your acquaintance.” the Dragoness smiled kindly as the rest of us merely looked at the two beings dumbfounded.

“Captain, do you not know who it is you’ve rescued from captivity?” Luna turned to me with a grin and a look of absolute pride. “You’ve rescued the Dragon Queen herself!” Everyone’s jaws or beak dropped open.

“I’m sorry, what?” I stumbled back a step, as though that would help me. “Dragon Queen?”

“Indeed, my small rescuer.” Lady Schatten remarked with a smirk. “Honestly I had no idea you didn’t know who it was you were rescuing.”

“Well shit… Slayer of hostile mythical beasts and rescuer of Queens.” I muttered incredulously. “Quite the title, huh?”

“I think there’s one that fits you even more perfectly.” Queen Schatten proclaimed, raising herself up onto her hind legs. “For all eternity, you shall be known to the Dragon race as Drachenreiter. It is a title befitting of a Queen’s personal friend and confidant.”

“Drachenreiter.” I mumbled under my breath, still in disbelief.

“You should know there are only two others on Equus with the title Drachenreiter, and one of them stands before you.” Queen Schatten grinned bemusedly as my eyes went to Luna who smirked sheepishly.

“Do you get the feeling that we’re in way over our heads?” Dash whispered to Gilda who merely nodded in silence.

“I graciously accept the title you have bestowed upon me, Queen Schatten.” I gave a small bow as Luna did the same. “I shall also retrieve Weiss now.”

“Go ahead. I’m eager to finally meet my children.” the Dragoness said eagerly as she got back down to our level. With a nod of the head I made my exit into the dungeon with my bike to unpack and bring Weiss to her mother.

Holy shit, Weiss is a princess herself…