The Fearless Warrior

"I think that they will be really disappointed with that..." Celestia said with her sister.
"Yes I know... but honestly? I don't care. I never like them anyway" Luna said shrugging. Celestia just chuckled.
"I know that... Well, but in one point I agree with you. If we do it here, we won't have the time to speak with him." The sun goddess said.
"So it's settled. We will be doing the festival at Ponivile. If those high class ponies want to come, they'll need to learn how to enjoy a party organized by Pink Pie." Luna smiled and using her magic, started to write a letter. "But tell me sister... what do you expect to hear from Eravel now? He already know about Discord... and about us. What else there is to be discussed?"
"The incident with the Hydra..." Celestia said "Never a monster from Everfree forest has came out... Something must have attracted it. Also, Discord said that we needed to keep the human in check."
"He said why?" Luna asked curious.
"As if he would really speak something straightforward..." Celestia sighed. "No... He only said that the human is dangerous. Eravel don't even have the slightest idea of how much his presence is dangerous for us..."
"You are not proposing that we..." Luna started with a worried tone.
"Of course not!" Celestia cut her sister "We will find another way to deal with this... We will fix all this mess without having to hurt anypony!" Celestia said in a serious tone.

Luna came closer to her sister and presser her head against her in a soft gesture.
"Calm down sister... we will make it... you will see..." Luna said comforting her sister. The moon princess knew how much her elder sister felt guilty for the whole incident of a thousand years back.

Celestia breathed deep for a second and caressed her younger sister head with her snout.
"Yes... we will make it..."

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Pink Pie was usually a very happy pony, always smiling and bouncing around... But on that morning she was so excited that her friends feared that she would blow up any second. The reason for her burst of joy? A letter from Princess Luna saying that the festival in honor of those who fought the Hydra was going to happen in Ponyvile and she was the responsible for organizing it all.

Twilight Sparkle was busy helping Pink Pie on the organization, Applejack was with the Cakes making the food. Rarity was locked in her boutique making some gala clothes for Big Mackintosh, Eravel and Steel Head. The six bearers of the elements already had their dresses from the Grand Galloping Gala. Fluttershy was working in a small choral of birds that would perform with the musicians on the festival and Rainbow Dash was with the other pegasi taking care of the weather. They wanted a perfect and clean sky. The whole party was going to happen tomorrow so, all the six ponies were working their hardest to make it all possible. The only ones that were left out of it was Eravel and Steel Head. The first on because of his right arm that was not completely healed yet, and Twilight forbid him of moving to help at the preparations and the royal guard was long gone to the capital. Nine days had passed since Eravel woke up, and he was finding it hard to not be able to help anyone.

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Looking around, watching all those ponies working so hard to make the event on the next day made me feel bad for not help at all. But after a few threats of being locked in a room at the hospital I gave up my attempts of offering any help. Also, my sword, axe and all my armor were taken from me by Rarity. She was working to fix them with the help of some other unicorn that made the armors for the royal guards. A blacksmith probably. And it was funny to think that a delicate pony like Rarity was helping someone so ruthless like a blacksmith.

Steel Head was back in Canterlot too. From what I've been told, he left to the capital as soon as he got good enough to fly, and, since I woke up at least two days after him, I still hadn't see the royal guard yet. I had no doubt of the reasons that made that perverted white pegasus travel to the capital, but the 'official story' was that he was called back by his superiors to give a full report of the incident, what was possible too. Either way, I was all alone now, without a soul to make me company and without my sword. For that reason I was now just wandering around Ponivile, watching everyone work and dying of boredom.

"LOOK OUT!" I hear someone shouting. As I looked back I saw a huge wooden barrel rolling towards Applejack. The orange pony was pulling a cart full of bakeries from the Cakes and couldn't run... I didn't hesitated and ran as fast as possible, jumping in front of the barrel. The barrel was something like 1,5M high and 1M wide and was coming really fast. I braced myself for impact, locking my legs on the ground and exposing my left side. I felt all the weight of the barrel on my shoulder. Luckily for me, the wood was not too strong and it broke on the impact, covering all my body with some kind of apple cider. Immediately after the impact my shoulder started to hurt a lot, along with my chest and other sore parts of my body. Damn it... If this was hurting now, I didn't even wanted to think of the next morning and the a nice purple mark that would appear.
"Are you ok applejack?" I asked the orange pony
"Yeh! Buh what'about yer shoulder!" She said in a concern tone.
"Don't worry, something so small can't hurt me" I smiled. But inside of my head I was using all my vocabulary to curse the barrel and the pain.

"Well, thanks a lot then partner." She said in a relieved tone. "Yer just saved all this food here... But ah suggest yer go an' take'a shower… All this apple cider will dry an' you'll got all sticky…"
I was about to agree with her when suddenly rain starter to pour on me, soaking my entire body and my clothes, washing all the cider away. I looked up to see what was happening and saw a black cloud going smaller and smaller until it vanished, completely dry. Right next to the cloud was a cyan pegasus laughing.

"Rainbow!" I shouted at her, in a fake angry tone. I wasn't really angry at all, my lips were arched in a soft grin. She just laughed harder landing right next to me.

"You have to see your face!" She said lying on her back, embracing her stomach and laughing.

"Oh you little…" I jumped on her, warping my arms around her neck, pressing my body against her. My soaked clothes started to soak her fur and wings.

"NO! Argh! Let me go!" She started to squirm in my hands but I grabbed her more firmly. Soon we were both rolling on the ground, over the water from the rain, cider and mud. Both our bodies started to get really messy. "Aww! Look what you did to me!" Rainbow dash said when I finally let her go. We both were completely covered in mud. Apple jack just sighed.

"Not even mah lil'sister do this kinda'of foalish thing..." She said with her eyes closed in a disapproval tone.

I looked at her... and then looked at Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus looked back at me and we both grinned to each other. Me and Rainbow jumped on Applejack, hugging the defenseless pony and messing her fur and mane. Without wasting any time, we both started to run from the danger zone... We could hear Applejack screaming at us, her voice echoing through Ponyvile while we both laughed.

We run for some time until we reached a safe distance.

"Did you saw the look on her face!" Rainbow Dash said laughing again.
"Yeah! It was awesome!" I said sitting on the floor "But we are a mess... guess we both need a shower now... a real shower this time."
"Agree... I'll go back to my home to wash... we see each other later." She said spreading her wings and beating them fast... but something was wrong because she couldn't fly. "Oh no..." She said looking at her wings. They were totally covered in mud and the feathers were all messed up... She couldn't push the air to lift her body.
"My home is not so far from here... why don't you shower there?" I offered.

"Sure... why not? I don't think I ever went to your house anyway" She said starting to walk next to me. "So... Nervous for tomorrow?" She asked to me."
"Very... I never went in any kind of event of this size..." I answered. "And I still have the feeling that I don't deserve it..."
"Oh, don't start this again..." She sounded a little annoyed.

"Ok, Ok... I won't..." I chuckled

It didn't take long for us to finally reach my house. I open the door and waited for her to go in first.

"The shower is upstairs, go ahead and make yourself at home" I said to her
"Heh... If you say so... But I don't want you complaining latter if I REALLY 'make myself at home'..." She said going upstairs... My eyes followed her forms while she was walking. I couldn't refrain my thoughts about her... 'strong, valiant and cute'... all at the same time.

I waited until I heard the shower sound. Then, I went upstairs, taking my clothes of and dressing my blue robe. While Rainbow Dash was cleaning herself I was outside, cleaning my clothes and then putting them to dry in the sun.
"Hey, you can go now" I heard Rainbow saying from the second floor window after a few minutes. I ran upstairs to shower too, but when I went inside the bathroom Rainbow Dash was still there.
"Ahm... yes...?" I asked as she looked at me.
"Nothing..." She said and just sat there. I kept looking at her.
"Well... you can leave if you want to..." I encouraged her. She chuckled a little.
"Just like Rarity said... you are really shy of your scars... You know you don't have to be right? I mean, they are proof that you fought two monsters and survived!" She said and I just sighed.
"Look, I just don't like to be naked in front of others... Can't you just... step outside and wait until I'm finished?" I asked gently.
"Ok ok..." She said laughing lightly and went outside. After that I just took a quick shower, washing all the cider and mud from my body… My robe was going to be washed too, but that could be done later.

Once I was finished, I used a towel to dry my body and went to my room. But when I went there, Rainbow Dash was in the balcony looking outside. I quickly got dressed in what was left of the previous clothes that Rarity had made to me. They got all ripped after the fight with the Hydra. The shirt was beyond my capacity to repair, but the pants were fine.

I stepped outside the room, in the balcony. I was wearing just the pants. My chest completely exposed, full of scars. I got close to Rainbow and she smiled at me.
"I thought that you didn't like to be naked in front of others..." She said
"I'm wearing pants, I'm not naked" I shrugged and sat right next to her. Our heads were almost on the same level now... she was a little taller.

"Heh… weirdo." She chuckled and turned her head to watch the sunset. "When you were at the hospital, I had the weirdest dream about you..." She started and I looked at her.
"Really? How was it?" I Said curious.

"Well, I dreamed that we were on a cloud, watching the sunset..." She looked at me. "...but you were a dragon! And then I said something that I couldn't remember... and you stood up and fell from the cloud. I jumped after you, but I was not fast enough and... well.." She looked away.
"I know..." I said looking at her. "I hit the ground... ... ... You know, I had the same dream... I was a dragon, and we were in a cloud, watching the sunset..." She looked at me and our eyes meet.

"Do you... remember what I said to you in the dream...?" She asked and I saw a light blush on her face. I got a little closer and she approached too.
"Well... a... a little..." I felt a little awkward... Her forms under the orange light of the sun... her big eyes staring at me... that rainbow mane that were never in place. To me, all that was just... Beautiful.

I couldn't control my body... I started to get closer and closer to her. I saw her moving too. Our faces getting closer by the second. She closed her eyes almost at the same time I closed mines. I felt her breath near my own. My heart was beating so hard that I feared that it would blow out of my chest. I could feel... just an inch from her snout... and then...

"RAINBOOOOOWWWW" A female voice echoed. We both looked to the sky to see a gray blur coming fast. The gray figure hit Rainbow Dash before she could even think of dodge and both rolled on the floor a few times. I jumped on my feet to see if they were alright.

Rainbow Dash was laying on her back and a gray mare with blonde mane was on top of her, smiling like nothing had happen. I saw her eyes and got a little shocked for a second. They were completely crossed. Each one looking in a different direction.

"Derpy! What the hay!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the gray mare.

"I found you!" She said smiling widely. "Rarity told me to find you so you could help me look for... what was his name again...?" She stopped for a second thinking.
"Eravel...?" Rainbow said pointing a hoof towards me. Derpy looked at me and smiled again.
"Yes! That's him!" She said happily, coming towards me. "Rarity wants you to go see her in the boutique... she said that your clothes are ready but she wanted to see if it will fit good."

"Ahm... now? I mean..." I looked to Rainbow Dash but then I felt Darpy passing her forehoofs under my arms and lifting me in the air. "H-hey!"
"Come on!" She said giggling. "Rarity is very impatient!" With that she started to fly away from my house. If I thought that flying with Rainbow was scary, I can't find words to say how the feeling of flying with Derpy was. She flew fast, not as fast as Rainbow, but still fast, and the problem was that she didn't really considered that I could hit the top of trees and buildings if she didn't had high enough, so I had to dodge some trees and buildings as she flew to our destination.

"Derpy! Look out! Careful please!" I screamed at her while dodging the obstacles. I saw a huge metal shaft o the top of a building approaching fast and a swung my body hard to the side, making the gray pegasus change her course by force. "By Odin! You are going to kill me!"
"Sorry!" She said still smiling like it was nothing.
Soon we landed near the boutique. Well... more like I was dropped at the door. But I never felt so happy to feel the firm floor... even if it was after falling from over six meters.

"Oh there you are!" I heard Rarity voice calling me. I looked at the boutique's door and there she was. "Come in! Hurry! I need to see if everything is perfect!"

I Stood up and went inside... she started to push me with her head near that little pedestal surrounded by mirrors. She closed the curtains to give me some privacy.

"Ok, strip of... and put this on..." She said opening a chest nearby... I simply started to dress as told and then got near one of the mirrors to have a better view at myself.

It was a light green shirt with long sleeves and it was a little thigh, but still comfortable. The pants were black and very simple too. She had made new boots with some material that was really close to what good quality leather would be, but didn't had that smell that leather always had. Everything fit perfectly but was too plain for the taste of someone like Rarity. I just looked at her e nodded my head, making a sign that everything was ok.
"Good, now... I want you to wear this..." She opened a curtain that hid what she really wanted me to wear. It was a shiny new armor that I could only dream to have back in my home.

The chest piece was long enough to almost reach my knees. Past the waist, it had a frontal opening to not hold my legs when walking or running. It was made of the same material of my boots but looked more resistant and was covered with several pieces of metal arranged like small scales with 5cm each. In regular intervals, you could see some golden scales to decorate it all. In the center of the chest was a round piece of metal with the Moon and Sun emblem, made out of silver and gold. The shoulders were made of three metal plates, decorated with gold and silver in several delicate drawings on the edges. Under the arms was a piece of a well made chain mail.

The bracers were made of only two pieces of metal, full of drawings and details. It had also two pieces to protect my shin and knees with drawings that matched my braces. Around the armor was a fine belt made of the same material that imitated leather and also had the Moon and Sun emblem. I could see also a pair of gloves, same material as the boots. A piece of metal to protect the back of my hand and several small pieces for each finger. It was not enough to hold a full blow, but was still good against weaker ones.

One of the parts that really called my attention was the helmet. It was nothing like my previous one. The design resembled a dragon with the mouth open. The jaw covered my own jaw. The yes of the dragon had opening so I could see through it and the nose of the dragon covered my own nose... Only my mouth was a little exposed for me to breathe without problems. It was like the helmet was made to replace my own head with one of a dragon. Several green feathers, matching my shirt, were placed in between a pair of horns, on the top of the helmet.

"Go ahead, put it on, see if it suits you" Rarity said after some time I just stared at the armor.
I started to dress myself feeling the weight of it all… It was incredibly light, I thought that it all would weight far more than mine previous armor. When I finished dressing, I saw a dark green cape, matching my shirt floating towards me. It covered my shoulders and attached itself on the center piece of my chest, the Moon and Sun symbol.

"This it amazing…." I said looking at myself in the mirror. "But… how… why?" I looked at Rarity through the holes in the helmet.

"It was Princess Luna's idea…" She started to say "nothing suits better a warrior than a nice and new armor."
"But this helmet… why it has a dragon shape?" I took the helmet off to analyze the details.

"The helmet was Princess Celestia's idea... I don't know from where she took the inspiration to think of something like this, but I have to say that this suits you very well." She smiled at me.
A dragon… Maybe the legends were true? My family really had dragon's blood that would activate whenever we needed it and that was what inspirited Celestia?
"This is just perfect… I don't know how to thank you properly!" I said still looking amazed at my image on the mirror.
"Don't worry with that… I had my share of help from Canterlot's blacksmith" She said smiling and I started to take off the armor. "Put it over there and you can go now… I need to finish some small details for my own dress and also some others that are with me until tomorrow…"

I looked at her and noticed that she was tired... but at the same time, really excited with her work. Not wanting to bother her more than necessary I quickly stripped off the clothes and put my ragged pants to go home. We said our 'goodbyes' and I left her boutique. It was already night, Luna had just rise her moon and I used it's light to find my way home again.

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A white stallion was looking at the moon that night. He never really stopped to admire the night, unless he was in the company of a mare. Technically he was in the company of a mare... but she was sleeping on the bed, right next to her was some kinky toys and she had some red bruises on her body. She had a cream fur and black mane and tail and was resting peacefully.

Steel head knew this little kinky filly from some time, and she came looking for him from time to time. Some weird fetish for royal guards arresting her and then punishing her form some imaginary crime she did. At first he thought that was weird, but he got used to it and started to like it a little too. But this time... No... This time he was feeling empty and far from satisfied. He never felt this way before...

It started after his chat with Rarity back in the hospital. He came back to Canterlot to find a cure for that emptiness in his chest. It was his third day there, and this was his third mare... but still the feeling was haunting him... He was starting to get really desperate and depressive now, and he didn't even know why!

Steel Head let a sight escape his mouth and the grabbed a pen and a paper. He wrote a simple note to the sleeping mare, something about him needing to attend to some royal duties and then he left her room, going back to his own room in a hotel. He didn't wanted to show at the palace, didn't want anyone to bother him.