Pony & Blade: Warparty

Chapter 5: Glorious Morning

Gavin had woken up at near midday with his face smashed into his pillow. He looked up and turned his head to see through his slightly opened tent flap, only to be near-blinded by the sun's light.

"Aw, damn it!" He said, blocking the light with his hand. He looked around the tent, never having got a good look at it in the middle of the night. There wasn't much to see: two beds, a small lantern, two sacks, and... a book? He picked it up and looked at the cover, "Diary of Twi-" He stopped himself and put the book down. -How the hell did she get a diary? WHO IS SUPPLYING YOU?!- Gavin sat confused for about a minute before someone unceremoniously whipped the tent open further.

"Stevius requests your presence." It was a soldier that wore the armor befitting a Rhodok sergeant, very green, very very green.

"You, my good man, are too green. As I am deathly tired, and have already been blinded by the light, tell him I will meet him shortly and please leave before your vibrant color kills my eyes..." Gavin spoke as he flipped onto his side. The soldier looked at him and scrunched his eyebrows, confused as to how such a man could be deemed so important. And why colors bothered him so much. The sergeant assumed he would eventually learn his place, and left the matter at that. He then proceeded to shake his head, huff, and march himself towards the command tent Stevius had the men set up while he was in town.

Twilight had spent most of the morning waiting near a burnt-out campfire waiting for Gavin to wake up from his fitful sleep so they could meet with Stevius. He worried her. All he seemed to do that night was twist around and mumble to himself while he slept. It was odd, how that strange person handed him that note and just hobbled away, and she began to regret not chasing him down. She had felt inclined to help in any way she could. So she slept on his lap. Hey, it was more comfortable than the bed! She began to feel like it would be better to stay close to this human, He was... different, to say the least. She hadn't expected another human to come crashing down from the heavens. She had assumed that it would be another pony, or a delicious muffin. At that point it occurred to the unicorn that her belly was starting to do the thinking, and that she should probably get something to eat. For the time-being she would stave off her hunger though, as a tired figure began to emerge from the tent.

"Oh, I see you're up." She said, a tone of worry in her voice.

"I guess you caught my night terrors, huh?" Gavin replied with a smirk and a yawn.

"Um... yes, yes I did." she hoofed the ground nervously, "Are you... alright?"

"Honestly? No." He frowned, "I was taken from my home, thrown into a war-torn medieval landscape, and now I'm being taken to a king who will probably decide my fate before I even get there." He felt like screaming. "All in all, I'm doing pretty fan-fucking-tastic, don't ya think?" Even he was taken aback by his sudden swear and apologized immediately. "I'm sorry, we're both going through the same thing here, aren't we?" Twilight was slightly shocked by his outburst, but knew that this was a lot of stuff for him to sift through in his head in so little time, unlike herself, who had quite some time to process the events unfolding.

"It's fine, you probably didn't mean to go off like that." She smiled at the realization that she had someone to relate to in this situation. "And you're right, we are." Gavin was relieved by her understanding and spread his arms wide in an offering.

"Hugs?" Twilight looked at this strange man confusedly, and he looked back, mocking her expression. She responded by rolling her eyes and embracing said strange man. She almost immediately regretted that decision. "YOU ARE SO SOFT!" He stood up with her raised off the ground and began to shake from side to side. When he felt he had adequately shook the life out of her, he released her mercifully and began to laugh hysterically.

"Why... did you do that?" Twilight scowled, panting.

"Because you are soft, and soft things require vigorous hugs." He replied matter-of-factly.

"Remind me not to let you hug Fluttershy, you might just smother her!" Smirking, she readjusted her mane and looked at the bystanders who had witnessed the display of affection. They were all either staring or laughing at the sight, which caused Twilight to blush.

"What? A guy can't hug a soft pony without being stared at by a camp of hardened war veterans? What is this world coming to?!" This caused her to blush even further, much to the delight of the camp, as well as Gavin.

"We should probably go meet with Stevius now, huh?" She interrupted him before he could make the situation more embarrassing than it was.

"Oh, fine. Party-pooper."

"Stevius, he sort of, uh... weaseled his way out of meeting you immediately." Stevius looked at his sergeant with confusion.

"Just... just make sure he gets over here, alright?" He rubbed his forehead with a chain-mail covered hand.

"I'll do what I can, sir." The sergeant left the tent, and Stevius with his thoughts. How was he going to keep those two in line? Would they even need to be in line? And the ultimate question, how could he keep them safe from the kings wrath? He knew of the inevitable end that would reach the two if they met the King under current circumstances, but if he didn't bring them to him then it's his ass. He needed to figure out how he could keep them from an untimely end, and still keep himself from croaking as well. He had but a day or two left on his contract, just enough time. Now wasn't the time to dwell on those thoughts though, as he had to speak with his new associates about their situation. He waited for awhile longer and heard male laughter outside his tent and the tell-tale clopping of hooves.

"There they are... Finally."