The Freeblade and the Nurse

-Canterlot Hospital, Two Day Later-

Marius sat in his wheelchair, choosing to relax in a lobby area, near one of the windows, for the day. Though, what he watched wasn’t the mighty Imperial Knight he piloted… No, it was actually the nurse that had been assisting him from the begging of his charge over Equestria. Currently, Nurse Redheart played with a group of foals, from Canterlot Hospital’s Foal’s Ward. Watching her playing with them, a caring look about her. When one of the colts brought the mare a flower, she smiled and placed it into her mane, before giving him a hug.

The display actually made him smile, everything seemed so peaceful. Something Marius has not seen in a very long time, along with something needed in Equestria’s current crisis. He has not seen such a thing, young ones happily playing in an environment that seemed like there were no troubles, in many years… Not since the loss of his home and House. It made him happy to see. “Prince Corvain?” Annnnnnd happiness gone.

“Thought I made it perfectly clear not to call me that?” Marius looked back towards the voice, and saw Strong Arm standing with two of his squadmates. “Is there something you need, Sergeant?”

“Not me, Prin-…” Marius gave him a stare, that actually unnerved the season guard. “U-Uh… Lord Corvain. Princess Celestia wishes for your presence, which also include Nurse Redheart’s.” This caused the pilot to raise an eyebrow. “For Blueblood’s trial, sir.”

“Didn’t use his title, oh this will be good.” He thought, before giving a nod. “Alright, we can go after Nurse Redheart is done playing with the little ones.” Strong Arm gave a nod, understanding.

-Canterlot Castle Throneroom-

All four princesses were near the throne, Celestia and Luna sitting in their thrones while Cadence and Twilight stood at their sides. At the base, Prince Blueblood was on his knees, chained and bound, with a panicked expression on his face. Not far from them, Marius was in his wheelchair with Nurse Redheart, Star Squad behind them.

“Blueblood, do you know why you are here?” Celestia asked, Blueblood flinching at the harsh tone from his aunt.

“All I was doing, was protecting Canterlot from a murderer, and his accomplice!” Blueblood answered, ears folding back.

Luna narrowed her eyes, causing the stallion to scrunch back a bit. “More like rile our subjects into an angry mob, then attempt an attack on an unknown party to further your own power, along with attack a medical professional trying to do her job!” The tone within her voice was terrifying to Blueblood, fearing that the Moon Princess was about to kill him. “Not to mention, with Lord Marius being of Royalty, and the only one from House Corvain within our Kingdom? Means you could have started a war with the remaining members of his House, who could pilot machines just like noble Umbra Equitis!”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And need I remind you, about how vastly out matched we are compared to such power?” She asked, Blueblood sweating nonstop. “And how bad things already are, right now, without you organizing an angry mob on the very being that can fend off the undead hordes?” He gave a nod. “Good, then you would understand your punishment for these actions.”

“W-Which i-is?” Blueblood stuttered.

All four princesses gave an eerie grin at the stallion, making him to sweat even more. “You shall be stripped of your rank, and title, then placed within the newly formed ‘Knight Squad’, as a private… Reporting to Lord Marius and Sergeant Strong Arm, immediately after being properly prepared.”

“What?” Blueblood, Marius, Nurse Redheart, Strong Arm, and al of Star Squad; said at the same time.

“That is correct. With the permission of Princess Twilight Sparkle, Star Squad will become the founding members of ‘Knight Squad’. A group trained to deploy and work with Umbra Equitis and Lord Marius, on any mission they take on… With you as their first recruit.” Celestia explained to a dumbfounded Blueblood, before looking to Marius. “Do you agree with this, Lord Marius?”

Marius shook his head, snapping out of his surprise. “It is not unheard of, for an Imperial Knight to gain a unit to fight alongside them. Not to mention, it’ll give the bastard a pair and become a real man.” Blueblood glared at Marius, who grinned a bit. “I’ll agree to this, if they fall directly under my command, even for training and armament.” Celestia gave a nod to his terms. “Good, Princess Twilight? How long would it be, until Umbra is full armed again?”

“Um… Around a month?” She answered.

He gave a nod, smirking a bit. “And if you could copy any of my weapons, to arm the whole squad?”

Twilight suddenly realized what he was thinking, smirking at the idea. “If they are not like the ammunition? I can have them fully ready and armed in the next few days.”

Marius gave a nod, leaning back into the wheelchair. "Splendid. With the Squad’s help? We will have this coward turned into a real noble, worthy of his title.”

Celestia smiled, and nodded. “Then Blueblood shall report to you, once he has seen the quartermaster and gets settle in the barracks.”

“B-But, Auntie-…”

“It is done, Blueblood. You shall stay under his command until he and I both agree that you have atoned for your crimes, or have met your end in service to Equestria.” Celestia interrupted, lifting her hand up to the guards. “Take him to the quartermaster, then to Star Squad’s barracks.”

They nodded, quickly getting Blueblood on to his feet, and walking the former prince out. Once he was gone, Twilight flew over to Marius and Nurse Redheart. “Lord Marius, can I see your weapons, for duplication.”

Marius smirked at her, pulling his sheathed saber off of the wheelchair’s back. “Here is the power saber, but here is another weapon. It is hidden in Umbra’s storage compartment. It is a bigger version of my las-pistol, and it is meant for mass production and military use.” He answered, drawing the las-pistol and handing it to her. “It is, ironically, called the ‘lasgun’.”

“I’ll have some of the guards retrieve it.” Twilight assured, taking the weapons where they are performing the duplication spells.

Celestia let out a content sigh, causing all to look at her. “This is good… Within a month’s time, we will have a solution for one of this city’s major problems.”

“What problem is that, dear sister?” Luna asked, never hearing about anything but the undead being a problem for Canterlot.

“Princess Twilight and I spoke about having Lord Marius and Umbra Equitis go out and rescue trapped ponies, with a Royal Guard unit supporting them, and…” She leaned more into her throne, looking to the wheelchair bound man. “Help make supply runs… According to Fancy Pants’ reports, we will run out of food, water, and medical supplies within two months’ time… Will you help us do this, Lord Marius?”

“Train a group of soldiers on how to us las and power weapons, along with how to properly take down undead targets, one of said soldiers having no training what-so-ever; within a months’ time… Then, go from town to town, rescuing civilians and collecting supplies, all the while fighting off hordes upon hordes of undead? What you are asking, Princess, is considered to be impossible.” Marius informed, Celestia suddenly giving a sorrow filled expression… But, when she saw the look on the commissar dressed pilot’s form, she was completely speechless.

The peaked cap covered his right eye, a confident grin upon his lips. Both of Marius’ hands were pressing against the other’s fingertips. HE sat up straight, allowing the black and silver great coat to drape over his body, like it was armor and not cloth. The thin mustache and beard, all connected and neatly trimmed, giving the man a seasoned knightly hero’s presence. For a split second, Celestia thought she saw some Knight Champion standing before her, instead of a wheelchair bound man.

His next words sounded like they came from some fairy tale prince, who is actually defying fate’s hand. “But, completing impossible, zero survival rate, missions are exactly what the Imperial Knights were created for.”

Celestia smiled at him, nodding. “Good… Now, let us return to Canterlot Hospital.” She smiled at Marius and Nurse Redheart, standing up. “I finally have time to start making good on the promise I made.”