Captain Grive al’Tera and what remained of his soldier’s stood at the edge of the forest looking into a large apple orchard. Over the last few hours he and Tasil had wandered the strange woods looking for their comrades and slowly found them either by themselves or already in small groups ding the same. Grive was pleased to see that of the fifteen men and women who had remained for the final stand had all survived with only a few minor injuries added to their already injured bodies all except for one. Grive turned away from the view of the orchard and looked back at the horse back swordsman who laid on a make shift stretcher taking slowly ragged breaths. He had been found unconscious lying in the bushes and despite their best efforts they couldn’t wake him.

“How is he?” Grive asked his fellow swordsmen who were tending to them; none of them were healers and only had basic training in the art. One of them looked up from their comrade and they didn’t need to say it, their face told Grive all he needed to know. “Damnit.” He said and slammed his fist into one of the twisted trees hard enough to cause it to shake. It was one thing to loose soldiers during combat, that was inevitable, but it was completely different to lose them because you failed to get them the aide they required fast enough after the battle.

Grive turned to the two scouts that were within his group. “Go, find out where the hell we are, report back in an hour. Do not be seen.” The two saluted and one sprinted into the woods while the other sprinted into the orchard, it didn’t take long for Grive to loose site of them, they were trained to vanish into any environment and avoid detection everything except for the strongest of detection spells. He sighed and turned back to the injured man, it was going to be a long hour.

<<>>

Storm Chaser trotted though a field of grass, her ride walking beside her. She was almost as tall as his shoulder. “I see someone is enjoying her exercise today. “He said and smiled as his hand his hand along her neck. She tossed her head and flicked her tail. “Oh? Is that how it is?” He chuckled. “Well then let’s see if you’ve can beat me yet. “He said and before she could blink he took off running leaving Storm Chaser to gallop after him. She always enjoyed racing her rider; it was one of her favorite things to do though these days he always lost.

It didn’t take long for Storm Chaser to overtake him as she galloped ahead.

BEEP

Storm chaser skidded to a halt and looked around, what had that sound been.

BEEP

There it was again. She looked back at her rider and froze, he wasn’t anywhere in site.

BEEP BEEP BEEP “her heart rate is increasing”

Storm Chaser galloped for all she was worth back the way she came. She had to find him!

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP “don’t let her hurt herself.”

Slowly the green field blurred and the grass be neither her hooves was replaced by cobble stones, the open air around her replaces by burning building, the smell of smoke filled her nose. Her armor tight against her body, she had to fine him!

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP “She’s waking up, get the nurse now!”

Storm Chasers eyes shot open and she was looking at the face of a white mare beside her. Out of instinct Storm Chaser shot her hooves out catching the horse in the chest sending her staggering back and cause pain to shoot up her left for leg which had a hard white casing on it. She gritted her teeth in pain; whoever this was she wasn’t getting the drop of Storm Chaser.

“Captain calm down, it’s alright; Nurse Readheart is not an enemy.” The voice of Dark Night said from the other side of her and Storm Chaser relaxed and fell back into the bed she was laying in. She took this time to look where she was.

She was in a small white room with a window looking out onto the town of Ponyville. A strange contraption that was making a beeping noise was beside the bed and attached to her by thin strands of something. There was a door opposite the window and she saw Gorp standing beside it. Beside the bed was Dark Night. “What happened?” She asked, her head was pounding and she left was still sending shots of pain along her nerves.

“You saved three fillies lives, that’s what happened. “The white horse with a hat that had a red cross on it now that Storm chase actually look at her better said as she got to her hooves and took a few deep breaths. “Honestly I’m surprised you were able to do that, most ponies would barely be able to move after being run over by a cart loaded with furniture and other knick-knacks.” She said walking back over to the bed side and looking down at Storm Chaser. “Honestly, they’d be far more injured as well.”

“Nurse Redheart I assume?” Storm Chaser asked and the horse nodded. “What of the fillies?”

“A few scrapes and bruises, considering what would have happened if not for your quick action they are fine.” Redheart said smiling. “You are a hero Mrs. Chaser.” Storm Chaser tilted her head at that. A hero? Her? That didn’t make any sense, she just did what her Rider would have wanted her to do and most likely any of the other black and silver humans would have done seeing young ones in such danger.

“It seems this town has been talking non-stop about what you’ve done and are planning to honor you captain.” Dark Night informed her.

“Yes they are, Mayor Mare is planning on giving you an aware once you’ve recovered.” Read heart said.

“Where am I?” Storm Chaser asked looking out the window.

“Ah, you’re at Ponyville General Hospital, you were brought here after what happened along with the fillies. Your two friends haven’t left this room since you were brought it and have been glaring at all the staff that has come to check on you. And before you ask it’s been a couple of hours, it amazes me you are awake at all after such a short time.” Redheart said looking over Storm chaser. “I’ve never seen anypony take a hit like you and recover this fast and not seem concerned with it.”

“Why should I concern myself with it?” Chaser asked.

“Because you were run over by a cart?” Redheart said staring at her.

Storm Chaser just shrugged. “Didn’t kill me so it doesn’t matter.” She said simply. Redheart stared at her

“Yes…well you seem fine to me for now and I have other duties to attend to. Also I believe Applejack, Rarity, and Princess Twilight along with the fillies have been waiting for you to wake up so they could thank you. I’ll let them know you are awake and stable if you don’t mind.” Nurse Redheart said and Storm Chaser just shrugged and the nurse left the room.

<<>>

Twilight walked down the hall towards Storm Chaser’s room followed by Applejack and Rarity then behind them were Scootloo, Applebloom and Sweetiebell. The three fillies had been released from the hospital after a short check up to make sure they were ok after having been shoved out of the way by Storm Chaser, despite the mare being able to deliver powerful blows with her hooves she seemed to have control over how much force was behind the blows as she hadn’t even bruised the filled when she pushed then to safety. This was impressive considering she only had seconds to do so before the cart struck.

Twilight was surprised at how fast Storm Chaser had acted though not as much as she would have been had she not fought with her earlier that day, The mare was fast both mentally and physically. Twilight had to admit she had been concerned about the three ponies do to how they had reacted to meeting her but, after what they had done, both Storm Chaser saving the former Crusaders and the two stallions stopping the cart by delivering precise applebucks to the side of it in perfect unison causing it to flip onto its side before it could hurt anypony else had put the three in a whole new light.

Twilight and her group reached Storm Chasers room and she knocked politely. “Come” She heard Storm Chaser say and the group of ponies entered the room. The first thing Twilight notice was that Dark Night was standing beside the bed watching the room, and that Gorp was doing the same from beside the door. These ponies seemed to expect an attack to come at any moment no matter where they were. “Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, fillies.” Storm Chaser said looking at each of them in turn her hospital bed.

The former Crusaders stared at the three ponies with wide eyes. Even they seemed to be intimidated by the strange ponies. “You are so AWESOME!” Scootleloo yelled and the three fillies ran and jumped onto the bed. Or maybe they were just in awe of the three it seemed. Twilight moved to try and get the fillies away from Storm Chaser before she had another reaction like she did at the edge of the Everfree but stopped as the mare smiled at the three fillies.

“Awesome? Can’t say that I’m familiar with that word. What does it mean?” She asked as she scratched her chin with her right hoof, her left leg being in a cast.

“It mean…um..that you are cool…radical…awesome!, not as awesome as Rainbow Dash of course but still awesome.” Scootloo said excitedly.

“Well, im going to assume that it’s not an insult then. “Storm chase said chuckling as she patted the orange Pegasus filly’s head.

“Yeah, the way you moved so fast and jumped in front of that cart! I never seen an earth pony move so fast. And they way your friends stopped the cart, it was amazing!” Applebloom joined it.

“just doing our duty little miss.” Dark Night said smiling at the filly. Both he and Gorp had visibly relaxed when the filled jumped on to Storm Chaser’s bed. They still scanned the room but the air of intimidation was gone like it had never been there before.

Twilight couldn’t help but stare. It was like they were three completely different ponies in the presence of the fillies. Not three hard and cold ponies read to attack anything that moved, but three simple ponies just enjoying the day like everypony else.

“You have got to show us how you got to be so fast!” Scootloo went on.

“Well it takes years of training and practice, the being used to carrying heavy armor and a Rider. Without them we are able to move much more freely.” Storm chaser said with a big smile. Twilight found what she said a bit odd but this was the first time she’d seen the three of them not ready to attack something so she remained quiet while the three fillies talked with Storm Chaser. Only being interrupted by Dark Night and Gorp a few times to offer comment. The three fillies mostly talked about how amazing the three ponies were.

After about an hour Applejack and Rarity spoke up explain to the fillies that Storm Chaser should rest some and then they both thanked her for saving their sisters before they bid their good byes. Much to the sadness of the three fillies who wanted to stay. They asked if Storm Chaser would like to hang out at their club house some time and once more to Twilights surprise Storm Chaser agreed happily.

Applejack and Rarity ushered out the former Crusaders and as soon as the door shut the easy going mood of the room vanished and was replaced by the one of intimidation once again and the three ponies looked at her. Twilight swallowed, having the three of them patchily glaring at her as if expecting an attack was a bit unnerving. “So…how are you feeling?”

“Fine.” Was the reply from the mare. Gone was the warm and friendly mare as if she never existed in the first place and was the cold and calculating Captain Storm Chaser. Though what she was a captain of Twilight had no clue and didn’t want to pry in case it set the three ponies off. Though there was one question on twilights mind she needed to ask.

“What happened when Scootleoo, Applebloom and Sweetiebell where here?” She asked.

“What do you mean?” Storm Chaser asked tilting her head in a way Twilight had come to recognize as a sign she was thinking.

“It was like you three were completely different ponies. Not these…cold ponies. But warm and friendly like normal ponies.” She explained.

“Young ones were present. Are you implying we would want to terrified three fillies into cowering before us?” Storm Chaser asked her eyes narrowing as a thread of anger entered her voice.

“No, no that’s not what I meant. It’s just…it was surprising is all.” Twilight finished lamely.

Storm Chaser started for a while before she shook her head. “You are one strange horse.”

“Pony.”

“Excuse me?”

“We are ponies, not horses same as you.”

“Ponies?” Storm chaser looked between her two companions who looked equally confused before she looked back at Twilight. “Explain.”

“Um…” Twilight said unsure. She was just as confused as they seemed to be. “Well…we are all ponies here, colorful, peaceful ponies. Just like you three.” Twilight winced when she remember how these three ponies had easily beaten both herself and Rainbow Dash in a short fight. The three looked at each other once more then back to her and Storm Chaser gestured for her to continue.

All in all it took about two hours to finish explain do to all the interruptions from the three of them asking questions but after she was done Storm Chaser asked her to go and let her rest. Not wanting to upset the mare twilight bid her farewell and made her way out of the hospital.

As she walked down the street she caught site of a dark figure moving down an alleyway between two houses but when she looked there was nothing there. As she turned back she thought she caught a glimpse of another dark figure on a roof but when she looked there was just simple air. Shrugging it off Twilight continues on her way.

Author's Note

So how is everyone enjoying the story so far?