New land, A New Home.

***Talion Ragnarok.***

The next few weeks were madness, we found out that some kind of animal was stealing our food. It somehow even stole the food that was in the traps left out for it. I stayed up one night to wait for it, I had no idea how long I stay up for. But just when I was about to call it a night I saw it, I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

It looked like a tasmanian tiger only it was taller than a diamond dog. It walked up to the bowl of food left out for it. After I told the others what I saw we then made taller walls to keep them out last thing we need is someone pissing them off.

I had everyone get to work making some new housing for our new guests. Things were rocky at first, but the ratkin as I started calling them would start to show up.

Maggable was making head way into this new magic he was talking about turn out he needed the bones of the native wildlife that lived here. I didn’t feel very comfortable about this, so I told him to only use what we've already killed to eat for now. I also made a rule that everyone must follow, don’t kill something unless you intend to eat it. Or it threatens your life and those around you. Simple but I think it was enough, should stop anyone from needless killing off all the animals.

Port Royal was quickly becoming a coastal town, we had to move more settlers inland to start a farming community. There was some troubles, like the poisonous lizards, spiders that we quickly found out we could eat once the fangs and poison glands were removed. Snakes, and a number of other plants and animals, everyone was quickly getting used to things here the only strange thing was. Some of the residents have started to pick up an australian accent. How or why I don’t know? I think it all started when I said the kangaroo babies were called joeys. Still need a name for those huge kangaroos.

Anyway once the docks were up and running, I told everyone my bold new plan. Let’s just say it didn’t go over too well. “You want to go to Saddle Arabia!?” Yelled Pickle Dilly. Yeah that was not the reaction I was expecting ever.

“Are you out of your mind!? We still haven’t gotten word from all the scouts yet! We haven’t mapped out all of Shadow Haven ever! Not to mention all these new creatures we’ve found, and don’t get me started on those Tasmanian Tigers as you like to call them!” Ranted Pickles as I’ve nicknamed him, I think all the stress is getting to him. I looked to Hel as she was reading a book.

“Come on, apart from that ship full of undead griffons and the mother croc. Nothing bad has happened in weeks, we’ve even managed to live with the crocs upstream as long as we stay out of there way.” I replied but he was having none of it. I just sighed as he went on and on, about how this was a bad idea. We even had our own militia now to keep the town safe, with more ships coming every month. We'd have to build a city at some point. I also started to notice that Hel was starting to get a little, fat? But I know better then to ask about her weight, ladies were sensitive about that kind of thing. Besides it didn’t change how I felt about her.

“You don’t understand, we’re not talking about a group of loss tribes here. We’re talking about a kingdom!” I groaned at Pickles as he went on what’s was the big deal? We was just going to go over there, say hello, maybe make a trade deal with them to get more income for the town. I then thought of something.

“Where are the docks for Saddle Arabia?” I asked, Mandy was looking through some of the maps at the time with Buggey, picking up a map she then showed me. I started at the mark that was where the docks were. It was on the other side of the bloody continent! “Can’t we just… make another dock on their land?”

“Absolutely not!” Screamed Pickle Dilly. Right in my ear! As I was rubbing my ear to get my hearing back, Pickle went on. “That alone could be seen as act of war, are you out of your mind!?” I rolled my eyes at this before feeling something playing with my tail, I looked back and saw it was Hel tail I then looked up and saw she was smiling at me.

“Are you listening!” Pickle screamed as he got right up in my face. I almost fell out of the chair I was setting in.

“Yes, yes I hear you!” I replied in a panic. It was times like this that made me miss Starranger, oh the simple life of only worrying about things that would try and eat us. “Look Pickles, this is going to happen. For better or worse we need to make contact with other lands, Would it help if I put someone in charge while I was away?”

“But who should be left in charge?” Asked Pickl, as I slowly turn my head to Mandy. She shook her head no, I then looked to Buggey and he shook his head no too. Damn, wait what about Rufus? He seemed like he could handle the job for a little while. “What about Rufus?” I asked as they all looked at me.

“The guy who helping setting up with the farm inland?” Asked Buggey. I got up and made my way over to the maps, there was one place we could go. “You really want him in charge?”

“Sometimes the best rat for the job, is the one who doesn't want the job in the first place.” I replied as I picked up one of the maps. Maybe we could visit one of these port towns, or at least I think there port towns? “Besides what could go wrong? I mostly just let everyone else do their jobs and trust they can do it.”

“So even if you do go, you’ll need a group to go with you.” Said Mandy as she gave me a look that said, you’ll need the help. Why do they all think I can not take care of myself? Then again the extra help could be useful. But before any of that, I want to know why that airship was full of undead and why it stopped in Black Marsh.

“But before we do any of that, I want to look up north for a bit and come right back.” I said to everyone, as they looked at me strangely. “That airship landed in black marsh, we need to find out what happened to the crew of the ship it’s the least we can do for them.”

“Can we wait a week or two, just until things calm down? We kind of need you here.” Asked Buggey as he looked at everyone I thought about that, it was two more weeks. I guess it couldn’t hurt to wait.

“Keeplord!” Someone yelled as they ran in, I turned to the voice and saw a Muself panting. The little guy looked like he’s been running all day. “We found something to the far east!” This news made everyone feel tens.

“Well, what is it?” Asked Maggable as he hobbled over. Seeing he now had dead animal bones hanging off his robes looked a little creepy to me. The mouse looked like he was going to say something, but stopped and had a thoughtful expression on his face.

“It’s better if we show you.” He replied, that sounded worrying. Buggey and Mandy had already left as I tried to calm this guy down with Hel help. Just what did they find to freak out one of our scouts?

Well it looks like someone made a small fort I ask how anyone missed it, but seeing as it was at the bottom of a cliff by the beach no one bothered to look down the stupid thing. By the looks of it, the fort had tall wooden walls and in the middle of the fort had a large pool of water with cranes around it, with large cages half submerged in the sea water.

“What in the cages?” I asked as I was laying low, next to the scouts with Mandy and Buggey. One of the scouts pulled out a spry glass but this one looked different. The spyglass had what looked like a little hood that block the light of the sun from reflecting off it. That’s a really good idea, why didn’t I think of something like that?

I took it and had a gander at what we were dealing with the little outpost was full of ponies, yes ponies. Along with some Diamond dogs and one big minotaur who was walking around. It looked like he was giving orders, I then saw some ponies go to one of the cranes and started pulling up one of the cages. What I saw were what looked like big fish, no wait, big fish that had horse like heads… What the hell was I looking at?

The minotaur looked like he was yelling at them we were to far away to hear what was going on, I did see a pony bring over what looked like a long pole with a noose on the head of it. It reminded me of thous dog catcher poles. With the help from a diamond dog, they got hold of one of the sea horses? Anyway, once they dragged it out they closed and locked the cage before lowering it back into the water. The fish like horses quickly poked their heads out of the water. In fact it looked like these things were in all the cages, anyway they took the one they had and started tying it up to a wooden stake.

“What are they doing?” I asked myself as I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I looked up at Buggey as he looked at me, I passed him the spyglass. “To the right by the gates, big minotaur talking to some kind of half fish half horse?” I told him as he had a look.

“Seaponies.” Said a voice to my right, I then turned to look at the pony who was with us. He was a earth pony, who was missing a eye. He looked back us as we all stared at him. “What?”

“Whatever, I just want to know if they’re a danger to us and if these... Seaponies can help us if we save them.” I replied before feeling Buggey nung me with his elbow. I took back the spyglass and looked through it, to find the seapony was now dead. There was blood all over the wooden floor of this outpost.

It’s body was being dragged away before being thrown over the wall into the sea as the minotaur was cleaning his bloody axe. As a diamond dog picked up the seapony head and throw it into the water between all the cages. “Yeah… These guys have to go.”

The plan that night was simple, we go under the cover of night, we take out the guys at the watchtower, one guy go in and opens the main gate to let the rest of us in. We move quickly and quietly, take prisoners if we can and kill them if we must. For my plan to work I’d need those who knew what they were doing. There was just one little problem.

“You’re telling me we don’t have enough guards?” I asked. From what I saw the outpost we found held no more than, twenty maybe thirty at the most. But then again there could be more, I wasn’t going to move in on this until we had the numbers to take them down without huge losses.

“We only had enough Nightwalkers to guard and protect the settlement. What you’re asking is not driving off a wild animal but to attack a bandit camp!” Captain Chulls explained. I could understand his worry, but if we didn’t deal with them now they’d be a bigger problem later.

“What about the Mus-elf’s?” I asked, he gave me a confused look after that before I went back to reading reports. “Some of them must know how to fight right? Why not recruit them into the guard give them some training.” I don’t know why but the captain was starting to look like someone had told him some bad news.

“We don’t need them.” Chull suddenly said from out of nowhere I looked up from my work and glared at him. The good captain looked surprised by my glare but stood his ground.

“Alright then… We’ll take all of the guards and leave our settlement defenseless. Seeing as you can’t see the need for more man power.” I said bluntly, but I’d never do that for real I was just making a point. I looked up at him and saw the look on his face, maybe this was a pride thing between him and the Muself’s?

“Talion they’re weak and can not be trusted why can’t you see they will betray us the first chance they get.” Chull may have been a by the book kind of guy but he was not looking at the bigger picture here. Then I had an idea, it may have been crazy but if this worked.

“We’ll take some Muself with us to fight the bandits if they do well you have to let them into the guard. If they don’t then I’ll drop this matter.” Chull looked surprised at my little demand but I saw the thoughtful expression on his face he was thinking about it I watched patiently as he walked around the room. Chull took one last look at me and sighed running his hand over his face.

“Alright, fine I’ll take some in but they have to have some kind of combat experience.” I smiled after he said that it was about time he started thinking more open mindedly, even if I had to twist his arm a little to get the point across.

“That all I’m asking for.” I replied before going back to my work as Chull left I was going over the laws of the nightwalkers. Some of them seemed crazy to me and too harsh for my tastes, some of them I understand but others I did not so I began to make a list of new laws as well as keeping some of the old ones. Not only that but I also added that all Nightwalker and Muself pups must go to school they also must learn ever math or, Huh would it still be called english here or equestrian? I think about this as I ran the thoughts around in my head.

“I’ll say equestrian make it easier for all of us.” I said before weighing it down with my notebook by my side. I even heard Nightmare Moon complain about not having anything to do I told her I’d show her around the farms later, that seemed to put her in a better mood.

I met up with the night guard as I start to call them, there was a good thirty of them. Nightwalker’s all of them and twelve muself’s. I looked at them and Chull who did not look please.

“Alright then, I guess we all know why we’re here?” I asked, as they all looked at me. My guess was half and half whatever Chull told them they must not have liked it.

“We’re here so you can find some glory in battle.” Said one of the nightwalker guards. Yeah not what I was hoping for as a reply so i was going to set some things straight.

“There no such thing as glory in battle.” I told them, as I started walking around them. “Forget any fantasies about getting glory in war, this isn’t a war. We have no idea how long these bandits have been living here, what do you think will happen once they stumble upon our settlement? What you think they're just going to leave us alone no. At some point they will attack us and when they do a lot of those we want to keep safe will die.”

I looked at each and everyone of them, I’m not sure if they see my point or not but they seemed unmoved. I sighed as I look to the Muself and looked at their weapons, half had spears and the other half had bows. “You guys any good with those?” I asked, they all looked surprised by my question and acted on it.

“Worked for my king for ten years.” Said one of the older ones as he stood up straight.

“Worked as the palace guard for five years.” Said another. Who looked younger and had soft brown fur.

“Bowman for six years.” Added the next Muself. It went on like that until they were finished. Well they all had training that something to be thankful for, I just hope they don’t run away once the fighting start.

“You all volonter for this right?” I asked. Everyone in the room nodded, that good I was hoping for that. “Alright plan is as followed, Buggy come in.” Buggey came in through the door with a large barrel rolled in.

“What this?” Asked Chull as he saw the smile on Buggey face.

“This is how we’re getting in.” Buggey replied as he then sat on it. “There enough gunpowder in this to take out a reinforced stone wall. Well, maybe a stone wall?”

“We’ll use this not only to make a hole in there wall but also surprised them. A small group will set this in place and set it off, bowmen and gunmen will pick off targets from the top of the cliff face. Our main attack unit will then attack, the explosion is to distract them and catch them in a panic. Once the main unit is inside they will hold a defensive wall, I’ll aid in support of it. The enemy in their panic will ever attack us or try and run.” I explained.

“The hard part will be there numbers so before this attack will take place we will gather intel on their numbers, who’s their leader and lastly if there is anymore of them.” After that everyone went off to do what they needed to to get ready, me on the other hand have been wondering about something. Where is Lily?

After my meeting I went out to look for Lily, low and behold I find her in the last place I would never expect. She was working in the school with Hel teaching the young Nightwalkers and Muselfs that were listening to them. I didn’t interrupt there classes and waited for later in the day to talk to them. I wanted to see if Lily could scout out the bandit fort to see if there was another way in or some way to remove them without getting anyone hurt.

I noticed the kids leave running off, or walking with their parents home. I looked back and smiled when I saw Hel standing in the doorway of the makeshift school. “How were classes?” I asked.

Hel looked down at me and smiled before walking over to me. “They were fine, like all pups they were a handful. I had help from some of the villagers, its hopeful to find even the lady of the light can reach out this far.” Hel replied, before setting next to me. “Is there something wrong? You looked worried.” She asked before resting her hand on top of mine.

I let out a sigh as I lay on the wooden floor, looking up at the sky listening to the wild cockatiels singing on roof tops. Something I keep forgetting, there were cockatiels all over this land. Some even became pets to the Mus-elfs and Nightwalkers who started feeding them. “I’m worried, these bandits are a risk to our new home. We can’t leave them alone and hope they won’t find us, unless we deal with them now they will become a bigger problem later. I just don’t want anyone to get hurt, everyone expecting so much from me but I’m not someone who is a ruler. I’m just like them a guy who want to get by in the world and not make any trouble.” I explain while I hold her hand, Hel gave my hand a gentle squeeze making me look up at her. From where I was laying on the floor I could see into her eyes, it made me feel better.

“You’re a kind nightwalker, yes you’re not a noble or be of royal blood. But you understand what it like to work hard to make a living. You could have sent others to go full fill dangerous tasks but you go yourself, you do not make others deal with these dangers alone. You’re the first one to go out and help them without any thought of reward or glory.” I listen to her words, each one fills me with hope and put my mind at ease. I never had these worries before because I was in a group, all we had to deal with was staying alive. I notice Hel reach into her robes and pulls something out, I sat up to get a better look at it. It was some kind of pendant?

“I made this charm to help ward off bad dreams and evil spirits, I want you to have this to help keep you safe.” Said Hel as she start to put it around my neck. I smiled at her as she returned my smile, we just looked into each other eyes before we started to notice something. The sound of the crowds had died down to soft whispers as we turn to find a crowd had gathered to stare at us having a moment. I gave them a annoyed glare as the crowds moved on.

“I’ll come back alive, I already died once I don’t plan on doing that again.” I replied before giving her a light kiss on the lips. Hel blushed as she softly start to giggle at this, we then get up and start walking around the settlement talking about our days. I took the time to enjoy this, hoping I can spend the rest of my life with Hel like this.