So much for relaxing on this ride, I think to myself as I dry heave into the strange wagon’s toilet. “Oh if feels worse without the windows, why does it have to feel worse without windows.”

“Are you alright in there mister Black-Mane?” No Sunny, why would I have ran in here if I was fine!

“Ugh, I do believe that I’m getting the land based form of sea-urp-sickness. I think I’ll stay here for a while if that’s no trouble.”

“Oh dear, motion sickness. Do not worry sir, I believe we shall be arriving in about 30 minutes. It is only a trip up the mountain and with the cog gears deployed we should be making good pace up the hill.” Well that’s a relief I suppose, I thought we might be here for hours.

“Alright then, I’ll be here if you need me.” With that, I resume my hovering over the bowl.

She was split between hoping he would feel better and enjoying this excellent chance to discuss what do do with their new guest with her Captain. “So what do you think of him from these two days of observation?”

“He’s arrogant Ma’am, but it doesn’t seem to be the completely baseless.”

“How so?”

“His eyes were moving constantly from what I could tell. I suspect he saw me, yet didn’t change his posture at all.”

“So his arrogance is extreme confidence, rather than simply being naive to us.”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Do you believe he’s seen combat?” A question with an obvious answer, but still one that must still be asked.

“Absolutely, and lots of it. Between his detecting of our presence, and knowing you approached him last night, he’s likely been ambushed multiple times-”

“And developed the ability to be constantly on the lookout for them.”

“Princess, if I may ask-“

“Of course you may”

“Do you know what those spells he had charged were? None of the night guards covering you could tell from their positions.”

“They most likely are from his homeland. They seemed to be defensive in nature, but even for all my years, their exact mechanics and function were a mystery.” A simultaneously disturbing and exciting prospect. She suspected her teacher would have loved to be able to analyze every bit of those spells as she did. Magic the likes of which hasn’t been widely seen since before her ascension, how could she not be curious?

“Whatever they were Ma’am, the guards reported that they seemed powerful. That seems a risk.”

“A risk they may be, he has done nothing hostile since we encountered him. We must not treat somepony as a dangerous entity based solely on somepony’s magical strength and military experience.”

“Of course Ma’am, but it’s my job to be paranoid, I thought it necessary to bring up regardless.”

“Thank you Tenacity, I am sorry to have been so hasty to approach him when we first spotted him. I know you and everypony else had kittens when I walked up to him.” At this remark, the guard who had happened to be sitting next to them replied before her Captain could.

“Thank you Ma’am, we know you can handle mortal risks, but it’s our duty as Guardsponies to want you out of harm’s way.” The stallion seemed to be nervous at saying so to her, so she moved to positively reinforce that willingness to speak up to her outside of official duties.

“Thank you guard for saying so. What is your name?”

“Light Shedder Ma’am” Ah, a lower noble of a Clever branch.

“Ah, which of the Evening families do you hail?”

“T-the Star Gazer
“Thank you for voicing you and your peer’s opinion Light Shedder. While I cannot guarantee that I will heed them, I still appreciate that dedication.” Shedder blushed then nodded, remaining silent. She could hear what sounded like a door opening and locked eyes with her Captain.

“So besides your sleep, how was your morning?”

“Mine was good, had some good coffee rations with the fresh breakfast. I can’t wait for food from an actual kitchen back in the Canterlot barracks.” With that smooth transition, the previously ill topic of their previous discussion returned.

“My apologies. It would seem that whatever brought me here did a greater number on me than I’d thought” the unicorn said as he retook his seat. “I’m usually quite fine with riding carriages, boats, etcetera, but I’m a bit under the weather from my journey here.”

“Do you think you’ll be alright?” Even as veteran guards, her ponies show her how caring hey can truly be.

“Once I get some more rest I should be on track, thank you for asking. Speaking of which, what exactly is this thing we’re riding called? I know the locomotive pulls this whole train as you said, but white are the individual carriages called, if not carriages?”

“These are called cars, they are what the train’s engine is coupled behind to pull along the rails.” She always enjoys a chance to teach, and this newcomer, whoever he is, gives her an opportunity to indulge.

“Trains made up of an engine and cars, thank you.”

“I am happy to help.”

Suddenly, a voice is heard coming from the front of the car as the train begins to level off in the tunnel “We are now arriving into Canterlot’s outer station, last stop before Canterlot Central Station and the public line’s end. Anypony disembarking here should do so now.” When none of the guards moved to exit, nor their company, the conductor nodded and moved on to the next car. She, for her curiosity and his safety, moved to ask him to stay with them.

“Mister Black-Mane”

“Please, drop the mister, it makes me feel old.” Not compared to me, she thought.

“Alright then, Black-Mane. Would you have a problem with coming with us on until the Guard-only train stop?”

“Would that be a problem for your superiors?”

“I think it’ll be fine.” Day Captain Tenacity of the Equestrian Guard answered for her. Though his reply was worrisome.

“Ok then, I hope I’m not in any trouble?” After subtlety giving Tenacity confirmation, the Captain answered.

“I see no reason for you to be in trouble, is there one?”

“Of course not miss, I was just nervous. The last time I was put on a cart into an unfamiliar city surrounded by guards, I was to be executed without being charged with a crime nor given any trial.” Both of them could not stop their eyes greatly widening at the sudden revelation. Upon seeing their reactions, Black-Mane backtracked to explain. “Well I wasn’t executed of course, and that actually ended up being what started the series of events that led me to being in the very legion that brought me there. And to be fair, I had simply been swept up in their circumstances when they caught me along with their actual quarry.”

Oh boy they’ve got questions at that. What did I expect honestly, dumping that little tidbit on them. Now we’ll have to give out more information to appease them.

“Please let me give some context” at this, and their subsequent silent nods, let’s get this story started.

“First I must say that the legion had been in conflict with the other group for some time. This other group, led by one Ulfric Stormcloak, had been fighting a civil war with the Empire to which their homeland was a province. This group, called Stormcloaks after their leader, sought to drive out the imperial rule and have Ulfric become their king.” Oh, I’m being interrupted by Sunny.

“Why would they go so far as to start a war?”

“Why else, religion and deep rooted hatred for a group that opposed theirs.” To this Sunny sighs and developed an almost haunted look to her, I wonder why.

Yeah, she’s in a higher position than she seems to be, and it’s really showing.

“Long story short, the Empire made a treaty with an enemy nation in order to buy time to rearm and prepare for another war, and the Ulfric and his supporters couldn’t stand for one of the points of the treaty banning the worship of one of their most valued deities. While I, and the many who supported the Empire, understood the inflammatory intentions for the banning or simply remained loyal, Ulfric and his many supporters took exception to the ban and started a revolt.” They’re enraptured by my story, Sunny seems haunted as I described the religious aspect of the history. I wonder if she’s seen such religious violence before.

“So, because of the Stormcloaks’ rebellion, the king of the province, known as Skyrim, was killed by Ulfric in a duel he was honor bound to accept, despite being incredibly outmatched, and this led to Ulfric to be branded a murderer by those who supported the Empire.” The ponies are aghast at that, apparently disturbed by what they likely think was purely murder. Not that they’re wholly wrong, just not entirely correct.

“While a truly horrible circumstance, this unfortunate act is not unheard of here, especially in the Griffon Empire and Dragon lands.” Griffins? At Sunny’s reply I realize there’s new group I’ll need to read up on. I can already tell that I’m going to wind up camping out in the local college’s library.

“What can I say, Skyrim’s a harsh place, and the culture lends itself to that. The traditions held strength of will and martial prowess highly in regard to leaders. The simple fact that they hadn’t been used for centuries didn’t matter until then.”

“So context behind murder aside, where does this lead to you almost being executed?” Sunny’s reply cut right to the matter.

“Well, Imperial Legion had been deployed to quell this uprising, and had successfully ambushed Ulfric as he was traveling with a small escort. This is where I come in as, while crossing the border to reach a village near my small camp, I had walked right into ambush alongside the Stormcloaks.” Along with a certain foolish horse thief that got himself killed before the attack that would’ve given him a way out arrived.

Tenny, grim faced, is the one to speak next. “So when they captured you they roped you in with the rest.”

“Yup, one cart ride and no trial later I was the second one brought to the chopping block.”

“So these ponies were about to execute you without a trial and you’re telling us you joined them?” Tenacity, asking the question practically written on their faces.

“Eh, context matters in this whole debacle, in my time serving the situation behind the civil war was resolved peacefully between the two factions.” Leaving out that I’d already retired from my first time serving the Septim line, so I had a vested interest in the Empire triumphing over the Thalmor that sullied their memory regardless of any other factor. “As a legionnaire I fought in the unified force that bested the Thalmor and ended the religious persecution. So that wrapped up the whole problem as neatly as one can hope.”

“So how did you not di-“ Tenacity’s question interrupted by a terrific sound and the train lurching to a slow crawl into the station.

“It would seem that we shall be arriving at our stop soon, everypony should prepare to disembark now.” And with Sunny Skies’ statement we’ve begun to do just that.

Author's Note

It took me much longer than it should have to figure out how to do the

thing.
Yippee