Serving His Empress

Serving His Empress

~Or~

How Shining Armor Avoided a Crushed Pelvis by the Empress Daybreaker

Part the Fourth

The weather in the area of the former Griffon kingdoms was, in the opinion of Legal Twist, utter shit. There was not a single weather pony in the locale to clear the sky of the same dreary grey clouds, the winds themselves were cold nine months of the year, and the attitude of the natives was just as, if not even colder. Legal Twist huffed as he shook his head.

“Miserable flea-bitten cat birds,” he complained, turning around to step back inside the heated halls of one of the Empress’ many forts, “Why they choose to settle in this Empress-forsaken waste of rock, I will never know.”

“Are you still complaining about this place, Legal?” Legal Twist glanced over and spotted Autumn Twirl leaning over her desk at him, grinning at him widely. “Come on, we’ve been here nearly a year already. Surely something has to have grown on you by now!”

Legal Twist scoffed, trotting past her. “Unlike you, miss Twirl, I don’t deign to sully myself with the carnality of a bunch of uncivilized barbarians,” he said gruffly, heading to his desk. “Now, we have reports for Governor Fund, and I refuse to be tardy in their deliveries due to your predilection for salacious soirees.”

Autumn Twirl scowled at him, the unicorn mare glowering at him as she went to work on her own paperwork as Legal Twist did the same. Silence reigned in the room until another pony walked in.

“Ah, Governor Fund,” Legal Twist greeted curtly as he worked. On the other side of the desk, Governor Slush Fund saw the pile of paperwork on his worker’s desks and smiled.

“Legal Twist, Autumn Twirl,” the burly earth pony said. “I see that the reports are coming along well?”

“Yes sir,” Legal Twist answered. “Reports will be on your desk by this evening, provided there are no distractions.” Slush Fund smiled, just in time for several of the windows, and parts of the wall, to explode. The distinctive report of Griffon bowguns echoed in the air as the three ponies threw themselves to the ground in a panic, a bowgun shell passing through the space that Slush Fund’s head had just occupied a moment before.

“We’re under attack!? What in Tartarus?!” Slush Fund shouted, crawling to the exit as fast as he could while the others followed.

“Less talk, more fleeing!” Legal Twist shouted. The other two ponies didn’t verbalize their agreement, but their frantic movements intensified as they passed through the threshold into the halls of the fort. They got up, and they saw with some relief that the few members of the Imperial Legion stationed to safeguard them were running around in full gear to their stations.

“Oh thank the Empress, at least they-,” Autumn Twirl started to say before a massive explosion took out the front door, taking most of the guards out in one fell swoop as their bodies were thrown backwards, impaled by wooden splinters or hitting the walls and pillars with sickening crunches of bone and metal. “...oh fuck.”

“Fuck, to the wireless room!” Legal Twist shouted, shoving the two forward as furious Griffons started to pile in, trashing everything in sight as they and the remaining guards became locked in combat. The trio sprinted down the corridors, ignoring the cries of the fighters as they piled into a small room. The doors slammed shut, and Legal Twist shoved a filing cabinet over, pushing it over to the door. “Autumn, send a message to the Empire, tell them we’re under attack, we need help now!”

“B-But, I only do paperwork, there’s documents in using this, I-!” the panicked mare stammered as Legal Twist glared at her.

“FUCK THE DAMN PAPERWORK AND WORK THAT DAMN MACHINE!” he shouted. “WE ARE ABOUT TO FUCKING DIE!” The door suddenly shook in its hinges, the shuffling of bodies on the other side evident.

“Open up right now!” squawked a Griffon. “Open the fuck up right now, and we won’t hurt you!”

“Autumn, now!” Legal Twist shouted, shoving another cabinet in place.

Autumn Twirl nodded her head frantically, passing by a stunned Slush Fund and sitting by the machinery that would send a wireless message to the closest embassy to the Empire. She looked around for anything that could help, and quickly started to smash her hoof on the clicker.

~~~

Shining Armor walked down the side of the training yard, overlooking the mix of ponies assembled in front of him. Following just behind him, Sergeant Blueberry Frost waited patiently for the Centurion to give her an order as they continued their inspection. A few more minutes of silent walking, and Shining stopped at the head of the formation, standing straight and facing the ponies.

“First Sergeant Frost.”

“Yes sir!” Frost responded, standing up straight herself as she looked at the group with him.

“First Sergeant, I have inspected the company front to back, and I am disappointed to say… that I have not found a single thing wrong among these fine ponies,” Shining told her with a slight smirk of amusement. He saw Frost relax just slightly as he refocused on the ponies before him. “That said…”

The company of ponies straightened as Shining cleared his throat loudly enough for them to hear. “Mares and stallions, you are Imperial Legionnaires! You are the face of Her Radiance’s armies as they go out to preserve peace around the world! We are professional soldiers, dedicated to serving the Empire however and wherever we can! However, it has come to our Empress’ attention that we in the Legion, as well as our Empress’ Royal Guard, have not been vigilant in our duties and thus, changes are taking place as we speak.

“To start, all promotions within the Legion and Guard are to be decided on merit and ability alone,” Shining announced, seeing more than a few ponies flinch and gape in horror. “We will not be promoting based on family name, monetary supplements, or the like. Second, we will be cracking down on the unethical treatment of prisoners of war, and all incidents related to such practices. And yes, this includes myself as well, for those of you who have served with me prior.”

“Finally, from this point on, we will not be treating, or calling enemies of the Empire savages, or beasts,” Shining continued. “If they have lasted this long against our Empress’ rule, then there is a reason for it. So, we will treat our enemies with the respect they deserve, and they will do the same. And in doing so, we will become more than just soldiers. We become heroes. First Sergeant, they’re all yours.”

Blueberry Frost nodded as she stepped forward barking orders at the company as Shining sighed in relief. Oration was never something he was particularly good at, the hearing for changing Equestria’s laws notwithstanding. That speech, no matter how small, had terrified him. Still, it did fill him with some amount of pride to see several of the ponies under his command standing straighter than they had previously. Shining watched as Blueberry Frost took the new troops through their paces as she continued to bark orders at them, only noticing the messenger approaching him when Shining realized that she wasn’t one of his soldiers.

“Centurion Armor? Sir?” the runner panted, slowing down from her gallop to stand in front of him.

“At ease, relax, catch your breath now,” Shining ordered. The messenger nodded gratefully, catching her breath before standing up straight and saluting him.

“Centurion Armor, our Holy Radiance, the Solar Empress Daybreaker herself, requests your presence in the Solar Hall as soon as you are physically able!” the messenger stated. “It is of utmost importance, sir!”

Shining nodded, resisting the urge to sigh. “Understood. You are dismissed, and I will be there in the hall as soon as I can.” The messenger took the hint and took off, leaving Shining to wait for Blueberry Frost to return to his side. “First Sergeant, you have command of the troops until I return,” he told her.

“The Empress summon ya again sir?” she asked.

Shining nodded. “She did,” he confirmed. “That said, start preparing them for deployment. I get a feeling we might need to pack our things.” The mare nodded.

“Understood sir. You go an’ take care o’ things with the Empress, I’ll git these louts ready for ya when ya get back.” Shining nodded appreciatively as he headed out of the training field and into the halls of the castle. He passed by dozens of serving ponies, a few of them wearing collars signifying their status as indentured servants, but where weeks ago many of them seemed to carry an air of fear around them, most seemed to have relaxed somewhat. Proof that apparently, something that Shining had said to the courts, and to Daybreaker, had gone through.

Still, the dutiful unicorn stallion made his way to the doors of the Solar Hall, and waited patiently at the thick golden doors as the guards checked him. They nodded a few moments later, opening up the doors and letting Shining pass them. He stepped inside, and was once again struck silent at the sheer grandeur of the hall. And there on her throne at the end of the hall sat Daybreaker, although… the pony in front of her was a new one for Shining.

Stopping a few paces away, Shining bowed to his Empress. “I have come as summoned, my Empress,” he stated, keeping his eyes low to the floor as Daybreaker giggled.

“Rise, my Centurion, and please, come closer,” she told him. Shining did so, coming to a stop beside the other pony. Daybreaker licked her lips, taking a quick sip from a goblet before addressing him further. “Centurion Armor, there has been an incident in the Griffon Territories. Four days ago, another band of rebels have attacked one of our outposts, only this one was a diplomatic outpost.” Shining nodded along, waiting for Daybreaker to continue. “Now, normally, I’d send my legion to wipe these feathered fiends out and rid the world of their filth for good, but…” Daybreaker sighed dramatically. “They have seen fit to capture several of the workers there, and are holding them hostage.”

Shining nodded to her. “I see. So, if I may presume Your Radiance?” he asked. Daybreaker nodded to him with a smirk. “I would presume that in light of there being a hostage situation, that you want those ponies rescued, and fast. So, sending in a full legion to squash this is a gross misallocation of resources, but if you send in a small team, then the chances are that even they could be stopped by sheer numbers, no matter the skill.” The pony beside him scoffed, and Shining looked over at them and was only somewhat surprised to see a rather stern looking mare beside him, her plum colored coat an unusual rarity up in Canterlot. But what took his attention for several seconds was her horn… or rather, the jagged stump of what used to be her horn.

“I do apologize to you, miss, if I have insulted you in any way. That is merely how I perceive this situation,” Shining added before refocusing on Daybreaker. The monarch smiled as she laughed to the mostly empty hall.

“Well my dear Centurion, you aren’t too far off, I will admit!” she exclaimed. “And you are indeed correct. Sending in a full legion to take care of a few ruffians is… wasteful.” She set her goblet down, standing up off her throne and walking to the pair. “However, as much as my dearest shadow would love to take care of this whole matter by her lonesome, I’m afraid I will have to deny her request. So, a compromise.”

The pair straightened up as Daybreaker stood beside them, her wings gently tracing their sides with literal feather light touches. “Shining Armor will be in overall command of this operation,” she declared, “But Tempest Shadow is your equal as well, Centurion. I expect you to listen to her.”

“Of course, my Empress,” Shining told her with a calm voice. On the other side of Daybreaker, Tempest took a deep breath and sighed.

“It will be done Empress,” she said flatly. Daybreaker grinned.

“Good! The two of you depart today!” The two unicorns looked at Daybreaker as she skipped back over to her throne, jumping onto the plush cushions with a flourish. Shining took that as his cue to leave, bowing to Daybreaker, Tempest doing the same as they departed the Solar Hall. The pair exited through the golden doors, and had rounded a corner away from the hall when Tempest turned to face him with a scowl.

“What are your intentions Centurion?” the mare asked Shining with a sharp tone. The stallion raised an eyebrow at her, keeping his expression neutral at the mare’s rather barbed inquiry.

“I’m afraid you have me at a loss,” he replied. “Are you asking about my intentions for this mission, for my career, or…?”

Tempest huffed, irritated. “I mean, what are your intentions with the Empress?” she shot at him. Shining had to wonder just what he had done to piss her off THAT much before he looked her over for himself, a faint memory suddenly rushing to the forefront of his mind.

“Wait a minute, I remember you!” he said, stopping Tempest from going on a rant. “My first night with the Empress, after she was finished with me, you were there in the room for a few seconds before you left and I was swarmed by those servants! I honestly don’t know how I didn’t recognize you earlier.” Tempest blinked, momentarily surprised by Shining’s memory before she hardened her expression.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she pressed.

Shining sighed. “Fair enough. My intention is simple. To serve her, and her empire, to the full extent of my abilities and do right by both,” he said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“She gave you a phoenix feather.”

“One which, while I’m honored, I still feel like I didn’t deserve,” Shining countered. “I lost nearly my entire garrison defending that post, and that was a price far too high.”

“And your little… slave laws?”

Shining chuffed. “Miss Shadow, please,” he explained. “I can be a selfish buffoon of a stallion, and still have the interests of the empire populace at heart. Those laws happened to coincide in a good way.” Tempest narrowed her eyes, forcing herself to look straight ahead.

“And your plans for those terrorists?”

Shining took a deep breath. “If I can be honest, I don’t know. I don’t know the full situation, nor the area we’ll be fighting in. Without knowing what exactly we’ll be going into, we don’t have a plan beyond the bog standard ‘wait them out’ ploy.” Tempest grunted, whether in dismissal or agreement, Shining couldn’t tell.

“Very well. I will attend to our means of transporting your soldiers,” she told him. “You will corral them and make sure they understand that they are departing. I assume you are capable of doing that?”

Shining nodded, keeping a sudden rush of anger from lashing out. “Of course. I can get them ready and to the trainyard in… two hours.” Tempest nodded.

“That is… agreeable. Go then.” Tempest trotted off down a hallway, leaving Shining alone to ineffectually glare at her retreating form. Shaking his head, Shining started to trot back to his unit, passing through hall after hall before coming back to the training grounds, Blueberry Frost still barking orders at the new recruits.

“Sergeant Frost!” Shining barked. At once, Frost straightened up and looked him in the eye. “Sergeant, assemble the troops, I want them packed up and ready for deployment, meeting up in the trainyard in an hour and thirty minutes!”

“Yes sir!” Frost responded, snapping her attention back to the soldiers and yelling at them. “WELL?! YA HEARD THE CENTURION, GIT YER FLANKS IN GEAR, EMPRESS-DAMMIT! MOVE MOVE MOVE!!” Shining watched the soldiers rush off, likely heading to their bunks to grab their gear and pack it, not to mention rush on over to a supply clerk and check out their assigned weapons from the armory. He looked over to Frost, who gave him a curious look. “New orders, sir?”

“Direct from the Empress,” Shining confirmed. “I’ll brief en route.” Frost nodded, giving him a salute. He returned it, letting Frost rush off to get her own gear ready in time for the company to muster at the docks. Trotting to his quarters, Shining looked at Mahiri, who was currently lying on the bed asleep, snoring cutely as she pulled more of the blankets over herself. The stallion smiled softly, taking a moment to simply stand there and admire the striped mare in the bed before gently walking over to her side. “Mahiri, love,” he whispered, nudging her tenderly on the side.

“Mmmm?” the zebra mumbled. Shining laughed gently kissing her along the stripes on her neck.

“Time to wake up love, we’re moving,” he said to her. Mahiri grumbled more, shaking her head weakly as she tried to mummify herself with the blankets. “Mahiri, we need to go,” Shining said a bit more forcefully. “Empress’ orders.”

“Noooooo,” she mumbled. “Kaa na mimi…”

Shining sighed. “Okay, well, I gave you fair warning,” he said taking the blanket in his magic, and then teleporting it off the bed, leaving Mahiri laying there exposed to the cooler air in the room. The sudden chill to her body snapped the zebra awake, the mare looking around wildly before her eyes locking onto Shining.

“Shining Armor?!” Mahiri snapped before devolving into angry Zebrican, her words flying by Shining in a rush as Mahiri vented at him for a few seconds. The stallion merely waited for her to get the frustration out of her system before Mahiri stood there, still stewing a bit in annoyance at him. Still, Shining smiled at her, walking over and hugging her. She stiffened for only just a second before relaxing into his hold.

“I’m sorry I woke you up,” Shining apologized, holding her close.

“You are forgiven… at the moment.”

Shining nodded slightly. Fair, he thought to himself. “Well, I do have… news,” he told her. Mahiri huffed.

“The Empress has another impossible task?” she grumbled. Shining nodded. Mahiri reached around the armored parts of her lover and hugged him closer to her. “Where?”

“Gryphus.” Mahiri glanced at him curiously. “Well, what used to be Gryphus,” he continued. “They haven’t been a proper kingdom in well over five hundred years now, not since King Grover lost the Battle of Tirek’s Claws, and the subsequent collapse soon after.” Mahiri hummed in thought, even as Shining finally broke the hug. “Anyway, we got word that one of our outposts there was taken over, and… I’ve been tasked with finding a way to take it back.”

“Oh…,” Mahiri looked at Shining worriedly as he started to pack his things. “Then… you will be gone for some time, won’t you?”

“No, I won’t be gone long,” Shining told her. “We will be.”

“Shining, I am pregnant with our foal. Are you certain taking me to a possible battle is the safest thing to do?”

Shining shook his head. “Honestly? No,” he replied. “But between that, and the possibility of leaving you here alone while the nobility stews and schemes and complains about the new changes I put forth? I’m sorry, but I trust the bad aim of Griffon terrorists more for your safety than the goodwill of the Canterlot nobility here.”

“...it’s sad that I agree,” Mahiri finally commented, walking over and helping him pack. Shining smiled ruefully at her, taking a moment to nuzzle her before resuming his own packing. The pair swept through the room, packing everything they needed into couple of trunks before being finally ready. Standing at the door, Mahiri looked over Shining and smiled. “For what it’s worth… you are still a rather handsome stallion in armor.” Shining chuckled as he opened the door, levitating their belongings behind them.

“Heh, thanks love,” he said, leaning over to kiss her before the pair walked out. The two soon came across Shining’s company, Frost leading them before she silently stepped aside so that Shining would take the lead to the trainyard. As one, the one hundred and twenty-three pony company marched, cutting through crowds as they went to the stations lower down the mountain. It didn’t take long for them, and Shining had to suppress his own urge to whistle as he spotted the trains coming and leaving, their long, almost serpentine lengths stretching from one end of the station to another.

The company marched to the front gates and waited, and it didn’t take long for Shining to spot Tempest waiting just on the other side. “Wait here,” Shining ordered Frost, who nodded as he trotted over to Tempest. “Ma’am.”

“Centurion.” Tempest looked at a nearby clock and nodded. Shining swore that a flash of a smirk graced her face before she looked back at him. “You’re early.”

“We didn’t need to pack much,” Shining countered politely. “So, we’re taking a train then?”

“Yes. Follow me,” Tempest ordered. Shining nodded, signalling for his troops to follow. The Centurion followed the mare through the station, moving into the military access trains soon enough before coming to an empty series of cars attached to what appeared to be a much more streamlined engine than what Shining was used to seeing.

“That’s… quite the engine there,” Shining said, impressed.

“It was designed by a thaum-mechanical engineer about twenty years ago,” Tempest said, pointing to the open cars. “Your soldiers go here.” Shining glanced at the cars, then nodded.

“Sergeant Frost, fall in!” he ordered, pointing a hoof at the cars before looking back at Tempest. “How long can we expect this trip to take?”

“Two days to arrive at Griffonstone, and from there, we travel another three days to reach the outpost,” Tempest explained. Shining nodded, moving to help his soldiers onto the train when Tempest cleared her throat. “You will not be bunking with them.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Centurion, you are an officer, you shouldn’t be bunking with common soldiers,” Tempest commented. “There are better cars for the two of us to-,” Shining huffed, cutting her off as he pointed to his soldiers.

“Miss Tempest, at the end of the day, I’m a soldier,” Shining told her firmly. “No more, no less. And with respect, my troops come first. So, I’m staying with them.” Tempest’s jaw clenched as she stared him down.

“Centurion, the Empress-,” she started before Shining cut her off.

“Wants results,” he pointed out, helping lift up a pack of one of his soldiers and getting it on the luggage car. “The more time you and I waste on debating the merits of me sitting in a fancy car while my soldiers travel packed in cars like sardines, the less time we have to do our jobs and save ponies in need. Again, with respect Miss Tempest, I’m not here to play politics. I’m here to protect others.”

Tempest looked like she wanted to argue the point further, but let out an irritated huff instead. “Just make sure your troops get on the train,” she snapped. “We leave soon.” She turned away, trotting off to the front of the train. Shining shook his head, even as Mahiri wandered over to him.

“Shining? Are you okay?” she asked him.

He sighed. “I’ve been better,” he told her. “Nothing too bad though. Besides, with luck, we won’t need to work with her for long.” Mahiri nodded, looking over his shoulder at the retreating mare.

“…She does seem to be a bit of a bitch,” Mahiri quipped, much to Shining’s amusement, if the slight smirk on his face was anything to go by.

“Well attitude or not, we need to respect her, dear,” he told her, helping her pack their things onto the train. “Besides, she’s closer to the Empress than I am, I think. Wouldn’t do us good to actually piss her off.”

“...you think they… are that close?” Mahiri asked, grinning as she said it to Shining in a near conspiratorial whisper. Shining groaned.

“Mahiri, love, I don’t know, I don’t want to know, and I don’t think there’s enough gold in the treasury to make me WANT to know,” he answered. “Let’s just get on the train and ready to go, please?” Mahiri laughed, nuzzling the side of his neck before the two quickly finished getting their things onto the train before getting on themselves. Inside was packed, groups of ponies chatting with each other amiably as Shining wandered to the front, quickly spotting Blueberry Frost at the head of the group. “Sergeant Frost, is everypony accounted for?” he barked.

“Yes sir!” the blue furred mare responded. “Ev’ry pony here and accounted for! We’re all set, ready to roll outta the station, sir!” Shining nodded.

“Good. Do a quick check before we leave anyway, I don’t want to leave anypony behind, or lose any equipment. Once we’re moving, get the other sergeants together, and we’ll start the initial briefing.”

Blueberry Frost nodded, passing by Shining and Mahiri as the pair found an empty compartment and settled down inside. They had only just gotten down when Shining found himself pinned to the wall, his zebra lover leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder. “Love you too Mahiri,” Shining said fondly, turning his head and giving her a kiss on her forehead.

“And I love you,” the mare murmured. “Just… stay still. Please?”

Shining smiled. “Of course.” He remained in place, enjoying the simple joy of Mahiri resting against him, their chests rising and falling almost in unison as they waited for the train to depart. They didn’t need to wait long, as the train lurched before moving forward out of the station. Mahiri watched in fascination as the train pulled out, soon entering the vast plains of farmland near the capitol as the train picked up speed. “Heh, you know… it’s odd,” Shining commented quietly. “I look out there now, and… I almost miss the savannah.” Mahiri gave him a curious look as Shining smiled. “Reminds me of you.”

“Now you’re just trying to flatter me,” she said with a smile.

“Not flattery when it’s true,” Shining remarked as Blueberry Frost opened the door to their compartment, looking at Shining.

“All soldiers present and accounted for sir,” she told him. “All the sergeants are ready for the briefing.” Shining nodded, and Mahiri got off of him reluctantly.

“Excellent Sergeant Frost. Go ahead and get them up, we’ll go on ahead and meet up with our new… advisor.” Shining stood up, kissing Mahiri before walking out of the compartment. Blueberry Frost motioned for the remaining Sergeants to follow them, and they began to head up the train. Car after car they passed through, most of them full of disassembled siege equipment. Catapults, enchanted rolling walls, even a few ballista; Shining was impressed at the stash of force, but his brow furrowed all the same.

This isn’t right, he thought. We’re a company of infantry, not engineers. Why carry all of this equipment? What does she have over there that we don’t?

He opened a door, and nearly slammed into a seemingly annoyed Tempest, who briefly looked flustered at his sudden appearance before composing herself in a flash. “Centurion Armor,” she said, looking over his shoulder and narrowing her eyes. “And I see you’ve brought nearly half of your force with you,” she added, her voice dripping with seeming disdain.

“Only my sergeants,” Shining commented. “May we enter please?” Tempest took a deep breath and stepped aside, allowing them inside. Shining looked around and realized that they were inside of what had to be the briefing room, what with maps pinned to the wall and a table covered in parchments. Shining motioned for his sergeants to take seats, and without a word, Blueberry Frost and the others sat down, their attention focused on him and Tempest as she walked to the main map on the wall.

“Okay, now that we’re on the way,” Shining said, glancing at Tempest who merely glowered, “We can start the briefing. Four days ago, Griffon rebels attacked a diplomatic outpost within the Griffon Territories. As far as we know, the rebels have captured members of the outpost, and are holding their position inside.”

“How many hostages are we looking at sir?” Shining looked at the sergeant in question.

“At this time, unknown,” he answered. “Miss Tempest?”

Frowning, the plum colored mare huffed. “We know that the Griffons have at least two, if not three,” she said. “The local governor, and two outpost officials. Beyond that, we don’t know for certain how many other ponies they’ve captured.” The sergeant nodded as Shining looked at the table and looked through the parchments.

“Now, as it stands currently,” Shining continued, “We have no idea as to the total numbers of the enemy, nor of the hostages, let alone the area around the outpost. So, with that said…” Shining looked at Tempest. “Miss Tempest, I’d like to know what skills you have. Just so we can properly plan things out.” The sergeants leaned in, eager anticipating Tempest’s answer.

“Fine. If you must know Centurion, I am our Empress’ best assassin,” Tempest said coldly. “I’m sure most of you can stretch your imagination at least a little in that regard, especially considering your commanding officer.” Shining took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before he somehow snapped.

“In that vein… for now, prepare all soldiers for possible siege warfare,” Shining ordered. “We’ll be in Griffonstone in two days, that’ll give everypony time to prepare. Dismissed.” The sergeants began to trot out, Tempest moving to leave the other direction when Shining cleared his throat. “Miss Tempest, a moment of your time please?” Tempest huffed, standing still as Blueberry Frost was the last to leave. Once the door closed, Shining took a deep breath.

“Look, I get that you don’t like me,” he began, turning to face her. Tempest was expecting a shy stallion to look at her, but the stern look on his face told her otherwise. “And whatever issues you have with me and the Empress, well, that’s between you, me, and her. But let me make this absolutely fucking clear.” Tempest blinked, leaning back suddenly as Shining got in her face. “You will not imply that I am incompetent to my soldiers while on duty and in their faces from this point on, and you being the Empress’ assassin be damned to Tartarus!”

And even now, Tempest was impressed at how Shining was keeping his composure. “We are equals in this mission, as per the Empress’ wishes,” he continued, “But that also implies that we both maintain a level of respect and professionalism! If you feel like there is an issue with my method of command, then you may discuss it with me, in private. At no point are my subordinates to be involved with your issues with me, as technically speaking, you are not in my chain of command, nor are they in yours. Right now, my soldiers need a solid, fixed point, and I am not in the mood for any pony with entitlement issues to undermine my soldier’s faith in me before our mission even starts! Am I clear in that regard, Miss Shadow?”

Tempest looked Shining straight in the eye as she responded. “Clear.” Shining gave her a flat look. “...clear, Centurion Armor.”

“Thank you Miss Shadow,” Shining said, stepping away. “Now… I understand that this is our first formal operation together, so I will not put this in any reports. Right now, this is merely a discussion between equals. The Empress… does not need to know,” he added, suddenly nervous at the mention of hiding anything from the Empress.

“You’d lie to the Empress about this?” Tempest jumped at the bit, trying to tear him down to size. She saw an opening, a spot of weakness, and as her Empress’ Shadow, she was NOT passing an opportunity like this up.

“Not lie, just… not tell her about a petty squabble,” Shining tried to explain. “Come on, the Empress is a busy mare, and I’m sure she doesn’t get told the minutiae of what happens every day in the Empire, right?” Tempest felt her blood pressure rise as the stallion… made an infuriatingly good point.

“And yet, she favors you,” Tempest deadpanned. Shining groaned.

“What is… no, I’m sorry, that almost came out wrong,” Shining apologized. “Look, perhaps a dinner tonight is order.”

“...a dinner?”

“Professional of course!” Shining stammered, gulping a lump of nervousness down his throat. “Just a simple meal where we just… talk. If that is agreeable with you?” Tempest was silent for a moment, making Shining start to worry that he had somehow gone and truly pissed off the assassin when she sighed, visibly lowering her shoulders.

“It is… agreeable,” she answered. “Dinner at dusk. Sharp.” Shining watched her leave, his heart hammering in his chest as he stood there in silence.

“...oh Faust, I’m fucked.”

~~~

Shining was in the food car, forcing himself not to pace its length as he waited for Tempest to show. He was dressed up as best as he could for the situation, a simple dress uniform with what few awards he had earned stuck to his breast. Even the phoenix feather was tucked inside of an inner pocket that he had sewn in, mostly as an assurance… just in case. “Oh come on now Shining, it’s only dinner,” he muttered to himself, “A dinner with a mare who can probably kill you with a single buck to the face. Or in my sleep… oh Empress, this is… oh Faust…”

A door opened, and Shining turned to face the newcomer. “Hoooooowww…,” Shining started to say before he trailed off, eyes wide in surprise.

Standing there, apparently even more nervous than he was, stood Tempest Shadow. But it wasn’t that she was standing there that shocked Shining. It was the fact that she was… well… Shining had to stop and clear his head because he simply didn’t know how to react to Tempest in a dress. It was simple attire, closer to the very low end of ‘acceptably fashionable’ by the snootiest of Canterlot elite, but the simply cut red-orange fabric complimented her coat well, especially since the dark, flaming tones of the fabric lightened as his eyes travelled up her flank and to her face.

“Excuse me Centurion, I’m afraid that… this may not be what you’re used to,” Tempest said, trying to remain serious even as she seemed to blush hard under her fur. “I-”

“...wow, you look… beautiful,” Shining said. Tempest froze.

“...Pardon?”

Shining gestured to her. “You’re beautiful,” he repeated, gulping down his own nervousness. “Your dress is… well, it’s great on you, and you wear it well, and, umm, well… oh Faust, this went somewhere awkward, didn’t it?”

Tempest looked at him and nodded slowly. “...Yes.” She gestured to the table. “In any case, let’s… let’s get this over with.” She went to go sit down, only for Shining to suddenly be there, pulling the chair out for her. “Uh, what are you doing?”

“Uh, helping you sit down?” Shining answered, confused. “I mean, that’s the gentlecolt’s thing to do, right?” Tempest looked down at the offered chair and took a deep breath, sitting down and allowing him to push her to the table before going to sit across from her. He sat down, glancing at the menu as a serving pony came out. “So, uh, you know what you’d like?” he asked Tempest.

Tempest grunted. “I do.” She looked to the serving pony. “Carrean salad, dressing on the side, with Radiant Gold to drink.” The server took the order, then looked to Shining.

“Umm… regular salad, with water please,” Shining told the server, who dutifully took the order and walked out, leaving the pair alone at the table. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air between them for several moments before Shining attempted to break the ice. “So… how long have you been serving the Empress? Um, that is, if you don’t mind me asking,” he inquired. Tempest closed her eyes, remembering.

“I have served her faithfully for… many years,” Tempest answered. “Longer than you.”

“Ah.”

Silence.

“...So, where are you from?” Shining asked. “You don’t look or sound like a native to Canterlot, n-n-not that that’s a bad thing!” he added as Tempest started to glare at him. “It’s just that your accent isn’t all… pompous like most, and-”

“Centurion, my past before I met and served the Empress does not matter,” Tempest cut in coolly. “Let it go.” Shining nodded, biting the inside of his cheek as he went quiet.

“...I’m sorry,” he apologized a second later. “I… okay, umm… how many missions have you done? Like, anywhere exotic, or close to the Empress, or…?”

A razor thin eyebrow went up as Tempest looked at him in what would charitably be called amusement. “Eager to see how you compete?” she asked back. Shining shrugged.

“Professional curiosity?”

Tempest snorted. “If you wish to call it that, fine.” The server came back in, a tray hovering in his magic as the pony dropped off an empty glass and a bottle of a golden wine before Tempest, followed by Shining’s own meager glass of water. She waited for the server to leave before continuing. “I’ve been all over the world. Griffon Territories, the Savannahs, Yakyakistan. Carrea too.” She went to grab the bottle with her hoof, freezing as Shining picked it up with his magic.

“Umm… if I may?” he asked her. Silently, eyes beginning to narrow, Tempest slid her glass over. Shining uncorked the bottle, the soft pop echoing in the room as he poured out the wine into her glass before setting it down between them. Seeing her glare at him, Shining sighed. “Look, I’m not doing this because of your horn, okay?”

“Then why?”

Shining fought the urge to give the mare a dumbstruck look. “Because it’s the polite thing to do? Because I was raised to be an upstanding stallion by my parents? Take your pick.”

Tempest huffed scornfully. “Centurion, nobody helps anyone else just because it’s ‘polite,’” she remarked. “Everyone always has an angle.” Shining went and sipped his water, setting the glass down as he leaned in over the table.

“Well, what if that angle really is to be a nice pony?” Shining asked. “I mean, from what I can tell from how you’re… defensive for her, you care about the Empress. And I’m willing to bet she cares about you too. Ever think that maybe she cares simply because she likes you?” There was a pause as Tempest gave him a momentary owlish look before she finally broke out laughing. The stallion was left confused as the mare laughed, leaning her head against a foreleg as her shoulders heaved. “...I fucked up didn’t I?”

“The Empress… the Empress and I…,” Tempest began to say, trailing off as she saw Shining look at her with interest. “We… she cared for me when no one else did. I owe her for that, and it’s a debt I can’t repay.” She took a sip of her wine, setting the glass down and looking at Shining. “And do you think she cares about you?”

Oh Faust, Shining thought. “Well… I don’t know,” he answered. “I would like to think so, but I can’t deign to know what goes through our Empress’ head. But, if she didn’t want me around, then I wouldn’t be in this… relationship with her. It’s as simple as that.” Tempest huffed.

“Oh really?” she drawled. “I hardly think it would be that easy for you. After all… you’ve lain with her.”

Shining nodded slowly. “Yeeeeeees, but I am not staking my entire relationship with the Empress based solely on how she and I are intimate,” he told Tempest. “That, and she’s our Empress. Harmony alone knows how vastly better at uh, ‘being intimate’ she is than me, let alone anypony else alive.” Tempest rolled her eyes.

“Not what she says,” she muttered. Shining perked up, but wisely kept his mouth shut as the mare took another drink from her glass.

“That all aside, I think we were discussing where you’ve been to, right?” Shining asked, hoping to change the subject. Tempest nodded. “So, you mentioned the Savannah. What was it like for you?”

“Hot, dirty, and the zebras are a bunch of mud loving savages who I can’t care less about,” she answered dully. “Their petty tribal conflicts bore me, and it’s too easy to get them destabilized. Poke a zebra from one tribe with a spear made by another, and it’s another tribal war being waged within a week. Pathetic if you ask me.” Shining frowned, folding his forelegs across each other as he looked at her.

“They aren’t savages,” he said firmly. “Different, yes, but they aren’t savages.” Tempest shook her head.

“You’re only saying that because you’re fu-,” she started before Shining nearly jumped out of his seat angrily.

“They’re no less honorable than any pony out there!” Shining snapped. “And for the record, what happens between me and Mahiri is none of your damned business! Tartarus below, she’s more of a mare than most in the Empire that I’ve met, and I’m not going to tolerate her being insulted by somepony who’s so stubborn and cynical that basic acts of kindness seem to be beyond your grasp! Let alone somepony who’d spit and insult our Empress’ faith in her subordinates!” Shining stood up, heading to the door as Tempest stared after him.

“Wait, Centurion? Where are you-?”

“Miss Shadow, I don’t have to like you in order to work with you,” Shining snapped, glaring over his shoulder at her. “So long as you don’t piss me off, and I don’t piss you off, we should get this mission done just fine.”

“But… your meal?” Tempest asked, suddenly nervous. Shining huffed.

“Not hungry. Good night, Miss Shadow. Rest well.” Shining opened the door, stepping out just as the server came back into the car with their food.

“My Lady, will… will you still be needing these, ma’am?” the server asked, uncertain as he looked at the well dressed mare. Tempest huffed, this time in defeat.

“No Stellar, I… I will not. You and the cook may have it,” she answered glumly. Stellar took the hint and swiftly departed the car, plates held aloft as he left Tempest to her thoughts. The mare sighed, resting her head on her forelegs as she simply sat there, a small tear forming at the corner of her eye.

Down the length of the train, Shining strode furiously down to the car where Mahiri was waiting for him. Various ponies popped their heads out of their compartments, took one look at the Centurion, and then wisely went back inside their compartments. Shining didn’t mind. Tartarus below, he didn’t even really register them as happening. All he could focus on was just the sheer nerve of that mare he just left. How could she be so damned callous to everypony? Shining thought. Not everypony is bad, and that includes zebras! Just… what does the Empress SEE in her?!

He came to the door of his compartment and opened it. He almost strode straight in before he noticed that Mahiri was curled up on the retractable bed, chest rising and falling in slumber. Shining took a deep breath, trying to let go of his anger as he stepped inside. Shutting the door quietly, he stripped off the fancy clothes he had been wearing and put them away before settling onto the bed next to Mahiri. Looking over the sleeping mare, Shining smiled fondly at her before curling up next to her, swiftly falling asleep with her in his grasp. Tomorrow would be a new day.

~~~

The Solar Primus was rising to its zenith as Tempest walked down the length of the train car, passing by soldier after soldier, and a few train engineers besides. Last night had been… uncomfortable for the mare, and for once, she had actually failed to get any sleep at all. Tempest forced herself to continue holding a neutral expression on her face. Entering a compartment, she spotted the Centurion’s pale form hunched over a desk, reports being filled out in relative silence as a quill scribbled across parchment.

“Centurion Armor, if I may have a moment of your time?” Tempest inquired, stepping up to the desk. Shining glanced up, and Tempest felt an unfamiliar tightening in her chest at the look of seeming indifference in his eyes.

“You may,” he answered curtly, gesturing to a seat with his hoof. Tempest took the seat, her armor making it only slightly uncomfortable for her as Shining resumed his reports, pulling a few sheets of parchment closer to him as he wrote.

“Centurion, I…,” Tempest took a deep breath as she forced herself calm. “I believe we got off on the wrong hoof. The Empress did pair us together for a reason, and I would be… critically remiss in my duties to her if I antagonize you further.” The quill stopped, and Shining looked at her.

“Miss Shadow, I believe you made your views clear to me last night,” he said flatly. “Just as I made mine known to you. Now, I do not deign to know our Empress’s thoughts, but regardless, we have a job to do, and I expect all of us to put personal feelings aside to complete it. Is that satisfactory to you?”

“It… I believe so, yes,” Tempest answered. “Is there… is there anything you would like to discuss with me in regards to the mission?”

“Yes.” Shining pulled out a sheet of parchment, sending it over to her via levitation. “We have siege weapons, but very few engineers. I’m assuming you have contacts in Griffonstone who will provide us with said engineers?”

Tempest nodded. “Yes, I do. Members of the Twenty-Third Engineering Legion, and Griffon mercenaries aside.” Shining raised an eyebrow. “They’re mercenaries Centurion. They don’t care who they fight, so long as they get paid.”

“...I’m going to assume you don’t trust them.”

“Of course not.”

“Good.” Shining went back to his reports. “Let’s try to give them no reason to double cross us then.”

Tempest wasn’t used to this. When she told ponies who she served, many treated her with fear. Some bent over backwards to kiss the ground under her hooves, trying to earn her favor, and by proxy, the Empress’. To have Shining Armor treat her as another pony… or to have him treat her so coldly was… different. “Centurion Armor… about last night…,” she began.

“Last night is of no concern to the matter at hoof,” Shining stated, stopping Tempest in her tracks. “The Empress has given us a mission, and we will focus our attention on it, and it alone. Agreed?”

Tempest fought back the urge to flinch at his tone. “...agreed.” She looked down at his desk, eyes roaming over the many reports, several of them looking to be maps with penciled in notes. “Is there anything else we need to discuss Centurion?”

“Your skills,” Shining answered. “What can you do?” He glanced up, his eyes briefly settling on the stub of her horn. “And don’t worry, I am not going to ask what your spell repertoire is, I understand that it’s nowhere near what the College would deem ‘acceptable.’”

“I am skilled in hoof to hoof combat,” Tempest answered. “Give me a weapon, and I can use it well enough. And I’m good at slipping in without too much incident. Magically… I can create an electrical blast and… that’s about it.” At that point, Tempest couldn’t help but let just a little hint of resentment filter into her voice as she mentioned her magical skill, or rather, lack thereof.

“The fact that you can do anything with that stump is impressive enough.”

It wasn’t the words that struck her, it was the tone. Grudging respect, but minimal, professional. Dismissive. Tempest was internally shocked at how effectively this stallion managed to praise her yet also backhoofedly insult her in the same sentence. And he claims to not have an angle?!

“Still,” Shining continued, “Magic or no, your skills are something we can both work with. Preliminary plan is that we reach the outpost, and you will lead several scouts in to reconnitor the area, see just who and what we’re up against. Rules of engagement will be to attack only if discovered. At absolutely no point are you to go on a one-mare killing spree and attempt to free the hostages by yourself Miss Shadow. Our Empress’ best you may be, but you are still only one mare. I’d rather you stay alive than rush off and die.”

Tempest sucked in a breath at what she was sure was an implied insult. “Of course Centurion,” she replied, holding back her own temper. “That said, if I have a chance to eliminate a target… I will take it.”

Shining looked at her. “Really?” he asked her. “And what if that ‘target’ is just a scared little child in the wrong place at the wrong time? Are you really that willing to have their blood on your hooves?”

Tempest stilled, mind filling with rage at this stallion for daring to question her. “Shining Armor, there is something you must understand. In the work of the Empress, there is no line which shouldn’t be crossed, no order which can’t be followed. Our Empress commands all, bears all responsibility. If it is her choice that we must kill, then we shall, regardless of the who and why. So yes, if I find myself needing to kill the young, the old, or the weak, I shall do so, because my Empress commanded it.”

It was deathly silent in the room, mare and stallion looking at each other in quiet study. Seconds dragged on into minutes, and Tempest was waiting, expecting, silently demanding that Shining explode in rage at her words. Finally, he spoke up. “...that may be why you, and you alone are her shadow,” Shining said, his tone deceptively calm and measured. “But I… do not share your views. I am not willing to kill the weak, the old, and the young. For the Empress, I am not willing to become the kind of pony you hear in stories to protect her empire. I cannot allow myself to be like you.” He took a breath, then gestured to the door. “We’re done here Miss Shadow. Dismissed.”

That was not what she expected, at all. And for the life of her she couldn’t simply accept it. “Do you think yourself better than the Empress?” she demanded, stepping closer to him, ignoring the dead-eyed glare she received in doing so. “Do you think you have the right to simply ignore what needs to be done to serve your own petty morals? She is our Empress, our leader, our Goddess, and you, a lowly stallion chosen to grovel at her feet, think you are aware and attentive enough to think you can step beyond her commands? Who do you think you are, Shining Armor?”

“Exactly who I say I am. Shining Armor.” Tempest blinked, even as Shining continued. “My name means that I stand as a pony who protects others. That I have a code of morals. That I stand by them, even when my country, my world… and yes, even my goddess, demand otherwise.” Shining closed his eyes. “I am no better than any other pony. No better than you, no better than my First Sergeant, and certainly no better than our Empress. But I will be damned to Tartarus if I allow myself to choose methods of cruelty as a first resort when other options are available. I will serve my Empress faithfully to the end of my days, but I will do so with honor and integrity befitting my position a Centurion of her Legion. No more, no less.”

Tempest stared at him, unwilling to process the words he was saying. No pony thought like this. No pony behaved like this. Believed like this. No pony, no being, no where. It wasn’t possible. Beings were selfish, inherently, and didn’t give a damn about anybeing else around them. Even the Empress only ‘cared’ for her as an effective tool, nothing more.

“You… you are a fool,” Tempest said lowly. “Fool for thinking that you can stay moral in a messed up world like ours. As a child I thought being good was easy, was possible.” She lit her horn, sparks flying like tiny cinders to bounce off Shining’s armor. “I learned the hard way that no good comes from being good. That trying to do what is ‘right’ will only lead to a bad end somewhere down the line. You are merely delaying what is impossible to avoid, nothing less.”

“Then I’m a fool,” Shining shrugged, “But at least I’m honest about being such. And I never said being good was easy. It’s not.” He stood up, Tempest’s eyes following him as he gathered up his reports in his magic. “Quite frankly, being good hurts, it’s not even remotely rewarding in the relative long term, and yes, I suppose that at some point down the line, my good deeds will come and bite me in the flank. But knowing that I am doing the best I can as a pony, as a decent being… the faces of those I save… that is worth the pain.” Shining smiled just a bit. “It’s an uphill struggle… but I find those little victories worth it.”

“You… you can’t…” Tempest did not normally stutter. She always knew what to say and how to say it, based solely on knowing exactly what the other pony had to hear. But for this… she had nothing. “You can’t just… You KNOW what is wrong with what you do yet you do it anyway?! How can you be so…?”

Then Tempest looked, really looked in his eyes. And in that moment she saw the same determination there that she saw in her own. Only there was more than just determination there. There was passion, strength, and… and something she only half recognized, having seen it in the face of hapless morons she’d manipulated time and time again.

Hope.

“I…”

“Get some rest Miss Shadow,” Shining told her, moving past her as he headed to the door, his tone now back to stoic professionalism. “We still have a day yet to reach Griffonstone, and we’ll need our strength to march from there to where we need to go.” He finally passed by her, leaving Tempest alone in the room as the door shut most of the way behind her. “Have a good day.”

Tempest stood there, frozen in shock and disbelief as the stallion left. He… he really does think he… but how? Tempest looked over her shoulder, catching a fleeting glimpse of his tail before it vanished from view. Shaking her head, Tempest looked at his desk and decided to rummage through it. She… she had to find something, ANYTHING to make certain that Shining wasn’t an aberration, that even he had his faults, that he HAD to fit in her world somehow. The mare got behind the desk, frantically rummaging through the drawers, shuffling through papers.

“Come on, come on!” she whispered to herself, her pulse racing as by the second, her fears were cementing themselves inside her. Finally, she slammed a drawer shut and leaned over the desk, her heart racing as the truth threatened to overwhelm her.

Shining Armor was a pony convinced that being good, no matter how difficult or ineffective it was, was worth it for its own sake. Believed sincerely and utterly that doing the right thing was more important than anything, even orders or threats to his very life.

And she would have to work with this pony in a hostage situation. After her Empress explicitly told her that casualties didn’t matter so long as the targets were dealt with.

“Oh Faust…”

~~~

The train had pulled into the station a few hours ago, and Shining’s first impression of Griffonstone was much the same that most ponies, and Griffons, had of the place.

It was a Faust-damned dump.

Streets were filled with trash, a few rotted and decayed carcasses of small prey here and there which sickened several of his troops. The buildings themselves were falling apart, or had already fallen apart years ago, and the locals were by and large either indifferent or passively hostile to Shining and his forces. Several Griffons that passed by were clearly mercenaries, clad in half-rusted plate armor, barely functional weapons at their sides. Shining’s eyes hovered on a few Griffons holding weapons that resembled crossbows, were it not for the metal tubes sticking out the front.

“Never seen a bowgun sir?” Frost whispered to him. Shining shook his head.

“Not outside of the Academy, no,” he admitted. Bowguns were a weapon used almost exclusively by the Griffons, and that made fighting them even more difficult than normal. A pegasus could outmaneuver a Griffon in the air, striking with weather magic with relative impunity in open air. But a pegasus against a Griffon with a bowgun? Well, depending on the type in question, then the pegasus was more often than not almost powerless against the faster moving projectiles the weapon fired. Still, Shining noted that the few Griffons present with bowguns clearly hadn’t bothered to maintain them, their barrels rusted and wooden furniture beginning to splinter.

“Well, here’s hopin’, right sir?” Shining nodded, even as Tempest approached through the crowd, her vivid mane sticking out like a light in the dark.

“Everything go well, Miss Shadow?” Shining asked.

“We have our engineers, and our support,” Tempest answered with a nod. “And the outpost itself is only three days away via airship. I’ve already taken the liberty of getting the equipment sent over to the docks.” Tempest saw Shining’s jaw clench as he gave her a slight nod.

“Of course. Very well, since things are taken care of, Miss Shadow, if you would be so kind?” Tempest turned around, walking through the crowds as Shining and the troops followed. They passed through the streets unaccosted, not a single Griffon bothering to even shout insults at them. Although, there were a few younger Griffons who paused in their play to watch them pass by, a few of them even looking at them in awe before their parents took them away.

Tempest slowed her pace, now only just in front of Shining. “Is there a problem, Miss Shadow?” Shining asked, his guard swiftly coming up.

“No,” she answered. “Just… be careful. Some of these Griffons are crafty.”

“Oh yes. Clearly the infants have an insatiable bloodlust for pony deaths,” Shining deadpanned. “Miss Shadow, they’re fledgelings. Hardly a threat. Still…,” he paused, glancing up to the tops of the buildings, “Stay on guard. It’s not the children I’m worried about.”

Tempest nodded, her eyes looking to the tops of the buildings as well. Thankfully, nothing came of Shining’s fears as they reached the airship docks, where several transports and a freighter were waiting for them. The company piled on into the airships, Shining finding himself, his command squad, and Mahiri on the lead ship… with Tempest. “Is there a reason we’re all on one ship?” Shining asked Tempest as he found her at the bow of the ship, even as crew continued to get their supplies and ships in order.

“It’s a solidly made airship,” Tempest answered. “She’s well-armored, and is fast for her weight. Crew is well-trained. We are safer here than on any of the other ships.” Shining hummed in thought, looking over the bow to the whitecapped waves crashing on the distant shores.

“Ah.”

The silence between the two was awkward and tense, even as the crew finished preparations. Suddenly, Shining felt a presence next to him and glanced over. Behind him, Mahiri looked at him, her posture hesitant. Shining smiled, moving to the side and nodding to her. Mahiri stepped closer to him, her eyes looking at the vast ocean in awe as she stopped by his side. The airship lurched suddenly, the zebra giving out a startled yelp before she found herself held against Shining, his magic holding her close as he smiled.

Mahiri sighed, resting herself against her stallion’s side as he let his magic dissipate. The pair stood still, watching the waves as the airship finally took off. And through it all, Tempest watched them, looking at the pair with critical eyes. The leaner mare looked at how the zebra and pony interacted, taking in their subtle cues. How Mahiri rubbed her head against Shining’s neck. Or how the two entwined a front hoof in their partner’s. To anyone else, and if given the right context, he and the zebra would have appeared as little more than a pair of well adjusted and loving individuals.

And yet, he is a Centurion in our Empress’ Legion, and the zebra is his slave, Tempest thought to herself, stepping away and giving the pair space. Yet… why do they seem so… content with each other? Making her way below decks, Tempest trotted into her ‘suite’ and shut the door, sealing herself off in the small room. It was bare, devoid of personality considering its occupant even as Tempest hopped onto the cramped bunk, heedless of the fact that she was still wearing her armor. She sighed, staring at the ceiling. How can he look at that zebra and be so… hopelessly enamored with her? What’s so Tartarus-damned special about her?

While Tempest was mentally agonizing over the stallion she was forced to work with, Shining and Mahiri remained up above decks, the pair looking over the ocean as the airship flew. “This… this is amazing,” the zebra whispered to Shining, her striped body flush against his. Shining nodded.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed. Shining leaned over and kissed her, making Mahiri blush under her fur at the display of affection. He smiled, looking at the vast ocean. “You know… this is the closest I’ve ever been to the ocean.” Mahiri laughed.

“Really? A first for us both then,” she commented. Shining laughed along with her, happy to be with her in the moment as one of Daybreaker’s suns began to dim to twilight. The two of them stayed in place, watching the waves before Shining cleared his throat.

“You know… we’re going to be stuck on this airship doing nothing really the entire trip,” he said. Mahiri nodded.

“Yes. And?”

Shining gave her his best attempt at a roguish smile. “Well… perhaps the lady would like a bit of a… distraction from the monotony of the trip?” he asked. The zebra mare made a show of thinking it over before she leaned over and pulled Shining over for a kiss.

“Well, my beloved Centurion, I dare say I’d like that,” she replied. Shining grinned, happily sweeping her off her hooves with his magic, Mahiri laughing along the way as they went below decks to their room.

~~~

Tempest sighed, wishing for sleep to come to her, her mind exhausted from trying to calculate and perceive the confusing conundrum that was her fellow officer for this mission. Unfortunately for her, she heard a mare laughing outside of her room before a door to an adjacent cabin opened and then shut. “Oh joy, a pent up moron,” Tempest muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance, reaching for a pillow to muffle the sound before the voices filtered through the evidently thin walls.

“So, my dear Centurion,” the mare purred, “How will you ravish your dear mare tonight?” Tempest’s eyes widened in alarm. She knew that accent. That was Zebrican. Which meant that the only other pony in the room next to hers besides that zebra was-

“Depends,” the unmistakable voice of Centurion Shining Armor answered. “What exactly would my dear like for me to do?”

Empress, give me strength! Tempest pleaded in her head as she grabbed the pillow and jammed it over her head, desperate to block off what she knew was about to happen. The absolute LAST thing she needed to hear was that idealistic fool fooling around with that mare!

“Well… perhaps you can start here,” Tempest heard the zebra say. A moment passed, giving the assassin a brief moment of hope before the zebra started moaning, a shuddering, relaxed sound that made Tempest contort her face into a look of utter frustration. “Oh yeeeeees, right there Shiny!”

“‘Shiny?’” Tempest muttered to herself, befuddled. “‘Shiny?’ Really?!”

The moaning continued, driving Tempest to groan herself as she pressed her face deep into the pillow, the magenta mare trying not to shout in anger. Still, something about those moans was… well, it was doing things to her. Something was building up in her core, a slow burning heat as Mahiri was being given something by Shining Armor.

“You are so, so beautiful Mahiri.” Tempest perked up, hearing Shining speak up.

“You say that all the time,” Mahiri responded.

“Doesn’t make it any less true,” Shining countered. Tempest groaned into the pillow.

What a complete sap.

Still, Mahiri giggled. Tempest could almost see the stupid look on the striped mare’s face as she spoke. “Vema mpenzi wangu, do go on.” Tempest heard Shining chuckle, and then the thuds of armor plates hitting the wooden floor boards.

“Oh no… oh Empress no,” Tempest muttered, squeezing her eyes shut in frustration. “Please no…” Unfortunately, fate had other ideas as she heard the bunk next door squeak, likely from Shining climbing on. She heard yet another moan from the mare, with the addition of a lower pitched groan from Shining. And then… she heard the damned kissing. The slow heat building up inside of her was getting warmer, and her armor, nay, her form hugging under-armor, was suddenly far too tight on her.

She huffed, quietly tearing off her own armor and setting them down on the floor. In moments, mostly due to years of practice and more than a bit of desperation, she was effectively ‘nude’ on her bunk as she laid back on it… and HARMONY DAMMIT HOW WAS HE STILL KISSING THAT ZEBRA?! Tempest fully expected the likely horny pair to have already gotten around to rutting like debased animals by now, especially considering the rather risque tales her Empress had more than proudly shared with her. That Shining was not fucking that zebra yet was driving her nuts!

“Nakupenda Mahiri,” Shining said, his Zebrican heavily accented, but still more than easily understandable. Tartarus, even Tempest paused as she took a moment to try and translate it in her head. I love you Mahiri. Somehow, something inside of Tempest twisted, even as her hooves drifted down her frost, brushing through her soft fur. “Is it safe?” Shining asked.

“Shining, I’m already carrying your foal. You can’t exactly get me pregnant again like this,” Mahiri replied. “I can take it.”

On the one hoof, I want to say he has the endowment of a twig, Tempest thought. And yet… he can satisfy my Empress. So just how big is-? Tempest got her answer as Mahiri let out a sharp gasp, and then a long, shuddering groan that was more than clearly orgasmic in nature. And that was the kind of cry that, on very rare occasions, that Tempest overheard when passing through Canterlot’s red light districts, and various other seedy locales all over the world. ...there’s no way. No. He can’t be that foolishly naive or in my Empress’ favor with what I think he has. He just… how?!

Even now, she was still hearing Mahiri moan and groan as she assumed Shining finally began to screw her… and yet, she wasn’t hearing that bunk move. Why wasn’t the bunk rattling? Where was the loud, inane sex her Empress claimed he could induce?!

“Shin-iiiiing!” Mahiri moaned.

“Shhh…,” the stallion told her. “Not until you tell me to.”

Tempest blinked. And then she shuffled herself closer to the wall, her hoof touching her wet folds as she listened intently to the actions on the other side. Tartarus, she was beginning to rub herself when she heard Mahiri speak up.

“Go on Shining. Take me… my dear Centurion.”

Tempest blushed as she heard Mahiri call Shining by his rank. While academically, she knew that ponies had dumb, infuriatingly and sickeningly sweet pet names for each other during sex, she never thought that anyone’s rank could be made quite that… well, dirty. Especially since it concerned that idealistic-

A wet smack echoed in the next room, Mahiri gasping. As luck would have it, Tempest did so too as she accidentally brushed her hoof against her winking clit. The mare bit down on her lip, freezing in place as she listened for any sign that the couple not even inches away through a wall heard her. And with the slow, rhythmic slaps coming from their room… Tempest was pretty sure that they hadn’t even noticed. Hesitantly, she reached back down and stroked herself, biting back a whine of pleasure as the couple the next room over continued to go at it.

She touched herself, pushing her hoof into her steadily soaked folds, listening to the sounds of Shining and Mahiri having sex so close to her. Still biting down on her lip, Tempest closed her eyes, ashamed that she was doing this to the sounds of a zebra and a complete fool… fornicating. Still, a part of her was… oddly satisfied in that for once, she wasn’t having to deal with a clueless dolt of a stallion who would thrust once and finish, nor have to use a toy to force herself over the edge.

Tempest could hear the two conversing with each other, but she couldn’t hear the exact words. Not when, completely unbidden, that damned ivory colored stallion invaded her thoughts. Made her wish that he was in her room right now, that whatever he was doing to the other mare, he was doing to her. Tempest imagined that stallion atop her, that clueless, hapless, well built, stupidly endearing male ravishing her. She imagined that it was his hoof instead of hers bringing her to the edge, that his… ‘lance’ was penetrating her, and that he was whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

And it was at the point that Tempest came, and came hard. She let out a high pitched squeal, her mouth shut as she tried to contain her climax to her room before her body went slack, the mare panting in relief as what seemed like weeks of stress just melted away from her muscles. Tartarus below, she barely even paid any attention to the slowed down sounds of ponies screwing in the other room before Tempest slowed her breathing down… and then promptly fell asleep.

On the other side of the wall, Shining was gently going in and out of Mahiri, the two of them looking at the wall in concern. “You think she is okay?” Mahiri asked. “She sounded… strained.”

Shining huffed, shaking his head. “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he commented. “Empress knows she can take that polearm out of her ass and loosen up. Still…,” he paused, hugging his lover close to him and adjusting himself to rest comfortably beside her, “I would never have taken her to sound anything remotely cute like that.”

“...you think it was cute?”

“I would. Problem is, she’s still a speciest bitch,” Shining clarified. Mahiri was quiet for a moment before she spoke up.

“So… you’re saying that were she less of a bitch, and more tolerable, you’d lay with her too?”

“What?! No, nononono, uh uh, no, absolutely not!” Shining stuttered, blushing. “Mahiri, I wouldn’t think about it! I love you, and I don’t- I mean, she’s got a nice coat and all, but I’m not just going to… to… I’m not going to screw her based on that alone!” Mahiri smirked as she turned her head to kiss Shining’s cheek.

“So… is that a yes?” she purred.

“Mahiri…,” Shining groaned. The zebra chuckled, shuffling in place and making sure the Centurion’s forelegs were wrapped around her barrel.

“Shining, already I share you with the Empress,” she pointed out. “If you can ever get her to relax, then I won’t mind.” Shining snorted.

“Right. Mahiri, the chances of that mare EVER being a nice pony are about as likely as me encountering one of those so called ‘Elder’ kirin in, I don’t know, Neighpon or something,” he retorted. “It’s not gonna happen.”

Mahiri only giggled in response. “In any case, good night love.” She kissed Shining on the cheek before closing her eyes contentedly. Shining smiled, kissing behind her ear before closing his eyes and falling asleep right after her.