We Brave Few

I couldn’t believe I was doing this, I really couldn’t. After many attempts to stop this plan from coming to fruition, Luna had finally forced me to give her another chance. That being said, I wasn’t going to just let her waltz right back into my dreams like before. No, I was going to give her some proper training, the type of training I had before the war. Praying that knowing how to live in the trenches and how to defend oneself will be enough to keep her from jumping off the edges of sanity.

Gravel crunched under the heel of my boot, as I stepped outside for the first time in a long time. Faint mirages kissed the barren field as I walked over to an old oak tree sitting quietly on the sidelines.

I had instructed Celestia about what I needed for the training. She was reluctant on many of the items, but after some negotiations, we’d come to an agreement of sorts. Surprisingly enough she had downright declined some of them. For reasons which I wish I knew earlier. However, for the most part, she was able to get what I needed.

Kneeling I tightened the linen strap on a beige bag laying against the tree. I could hear the soft steps of gravel parting as her voice rang, “ready and waiting.”

Turning around, I was quite pleased to see Luna just like she was back in my dream. A human woman in her early twenties with navy blue hair. She had done it up in a small bun that rested just below her brodie helmet. Her uniform was almost identical to mine, even down to the puttee wrapped around her legs. The only difference was her battalion badge, it depicted two ponies crossing horns, no doubt representing their nation.

It’d been her idea to keep the human form. She claimed that in the dreams she held no control over her form. In knowing, she said she wished to be trained the exact way it would have been like back in my homeland. Wise were her words, but naive was her mind.

There was no doubt that she had put a lot of effort into this. Often I would find her in her room preparing for this moment. It reminded me of myself back in the day, excited that my day of glory would be so soon. Even now, head held high she had everything she ever needed. Everything but two things.

Motioning her over towards me, I kicked the backpack leaning against my leg, “pick it up,” I commanded. My eyes locked onto her as I started to settle into my position.

Luna didn’t hesitate, as she walked over to the bag and pulled on the strap. The bag moved little under her force. Aiming her gaze back onto me she asked, “what may I ask, is in these? Rocks?!”

I nodded, “Yes,” as I picked up the pack and held it out in front of her.

Finishing up strapping it on, I shoved my trusted rifle into her hands. Gripping it delicately, I rolled my eyes and jerked it out of her hands, “Rule one, don’t you ever lose your rifle.” I commented shoving it back into her chest.

Luna nodded as I let go of the rifle and turned out towards the open courtyard. Since I was still technically a royal secret, Celestia had booked the entire training area for us today. She even made sure to send some guards to block the entrances and secure the skies to keep any surprise releases from happening.

It was thoughtful, but I fear that it would have some repercussions after the guards catch a glimpse of what the ‘new visitor’ was going to force their beloved princess to do. Nevertheless, I was not in a position to argue as I reached back and pushed Luna towards the track.

“Alright, now follow me and keep up! If you so much as fall behind two paces; I’ll have you repeat the entire thing over again!” And just like that, I was off running around the courtyard. I watched as Luna kept up behind me, the sweat already starting to accumulate from the extensive training.

Noticing her start to drag behind, I slowed down to jog next to her. Shoving her to the side I watched as her brodie helmet fell to the floor. Luna, however, kept running seemingly unaware of her now barren head. Pulling on the backstrap of the backpack I caused her body to be yanked back as her legs gave in.

“Where’s your helmet!” I yelled.

Luna quickly tapped her head only to go wide-eyed looking all around.

“You just going to stand there?!” Once she spotted it a couple of feet behind she quickly made a beeline towards it. I, however, didn’t let up, “You just died Luna! The moment you lost your goddamn helmet! And you know what? The Huns are now launching a counteroffensive! Do you think they're going to let up? No, instead they are going to stab your comrades back in the trenches! You want to see your sister at the end of a bayonet?”

Stopping to place her helmet on I once again let her have it, “Are you going to stop again?! When bullets are flying and the sniper in the other trench has his sights on you?” Luna shook her head as she quickly started to move again. A labored chough escaped her lips as she kept pushing forwards.

I had to give it to her, she was sticking with this. In all honesty, I didn’t think she would have lasted this long being from such a peaceful place. On top of that, she was of royalty, I half expected her to yell at me the moment I laid a hand on her. Thankfully, that was not the case as I continued to watch her run.

About ten meters from the completion of the first round, I gave Luna a large shove. Losing her balance she tumbled to the ground. Dazed by the sudden shove, she slowly started to get back up.

“Faster! Do you think they're only going to send one shell at you? Huns got hundreds of the things and you lying on the ground is giving the men in the trenches an easy target!” I yelled as I pushed her back to the ground.

At that point, it looked almost as if Luna was going to give up. I could see it in her movements, how she was slowly losing her stamina. Sadly, for her, it was my job to train and I wasn’t going to let her first day be easy. In fact, I’d been going pretty easy on her thus far.

I watched as she got up off the ground and continued to finish the first lap. It was after the first lap that I started to see the fruits of my training start to pay off. Luna was now watching everything around her. Her steps were becoming less labored as she reached the point where everything starts to numb over.

It wasn’t till the tenth lap that I finally got Luna to her limits. As she passed the line she leaned forwards and proceeded to vomit. A clear sign that it was time for a break. Arriving behind her I took the backpack off and brought her underneath the nearby oak tree. Sitting her down I passed her my canteen.

With pride, I watched as she kept my rifle in her grip as she undid the cap and started chugging. I now knew what my CO’s were feeling back when I was in training. I had always thought they hated me, but in truth, they were just as proud as I am of the progress of their trainees.

Taking the canteen away from her face, Luna finally spoke up, “How is this going to help me cope with the horrors?” she asked before taking another sip.

“It’s not,” I simply stated.

“Then what-” was all she could say before I continued.

“It’s to keep you alive. There is no point in going into my dreams if you can't keep up with me, or just get shot right off the bat.”

My reasoning seemed to settle in as she finished the last bits of the canteen. Taking it back from her, I grabbed her arm and lifted her up, “alright that’s enough rest time to go at it again, I want another five laps.”

Luna's expression didn’t falter as she once again adorned her backpack and went off towards the track. I watched as she completed her first lap before I went over a second sack that I had left beside the tree. Opening it up, I took out a large roll of yarn and a couple of wooden stakes.

As Luna continued to do her laps, I went to the middle of the courtyard and started hammering the stakes into the ground. Once I had them all lined up, I started to wive a web in between them with the rope. Stepping back to admire my handy work I joined Luna in her laps.

“Alright, change of plans, follow me,” I commanded as we split off the edge of the track towards the middle. Hitting the deck I started to make my way under the rope as I yelled back, “If I see so much as a twitch in this rope; I’ll have you do another three laps.”

Having done it a hundred times, I was out on the other side within seconds. Getting up I could see that in Luna’s case it was quite different. She was struggling to find a way to hold my rifle while keeping her backpack from hitting the rope.

In the end, it caused her bag to catch on the rope. I could see Luna visibly cringing as she witnessed what had happened.

“You’re now stuck in the middle of no-mans-land with howitzers zeroed in on you. Congratulations Luna, you just fucken died. You know what? So did your best friend behind you!” I yelled as I took the part that was caught off the rope.

Now free to move, Luna shuffled all the way to the end. I met her there as I shoved the rifle out of her hands. Slinging the rifle over my shoulder, I grabbed her hands and brought them out in front of her chest. Slinging the rifle back I placed it horizontally nestled in her elbow pits.

“When you go under, you’ll hold it like this next. Now come, we have three more laps to do,” Just like that I was off with Luna following closely behind. As before, her breaths were coming out rough, but now she held determination as she re-slung the rifle over her shoulder.

The three laps went by in a flash, as I kept my attention towards Luna’s progress. Turning the last bend we once again peeled off the main track and headed towards the center. Bundles of yarn encased in a rats nest, loomed ever closer as we both hit the deck. Hands on our helmets we arrived at the wire as Luna cradled her rifle.

Like dancers, we fell into sync as we pushed passed the wire and came out on the other side. Getting up I once again continued onto the track, taking a quick glance backward I came to see Luna struggling to catch up. Her pupils started to pulse quickly as her breaths became shorter and shorter.

It was painfully obvious what was about to happen as I stopped in place and immediately ran back towards Luna. She looked right through me as she continued to run forwards. Her head swaying from side to side. Lady luck was thankfully on my side as her eyelids closed I reached out and brought my left arm in front of her chest.

Luna then lost all control of her body as it went limp against my arm. Sighing in relief, I took my rifle from her hands and tossed the backpack to the ground. With all the excess weight dealt with, I bent down to pick her up.

Amazingly, she was pretty light for a woman. In fact, she was probably around ninety pounds. Looking down I found myself mesmerized by her features. Little strands of her blue hair fell lazily upon her face. Her delicate eyelids gently closed as she took in small breaths. But most of all, was how soft her skin was as her hand grazed my own.

It put into perspective just how different the two of us were. My own callous covered hands from years of manual labour and fighting against. It almost felt wrong having her soft ones come into contact with mine.

Was all this really the right thing? I thought to myself. Shaking my head, I once again focused on the task at hand. Knowing that it would be a while before she would awaken, I set out back into the castle. A few questioning glances came from the guards stationed at the door, but miraculously no quarrel came of it.

It wasn’t long before I had once again breached the doors of the castle's throne room. Seeing the state their princess was in, the guards had immediately opened the two doors to reveal her smiling sister.

Half expecting her smile to fade the moment her eyes landed on her sister's form, I was quite visibly taken back when it only grew, “well now this is quite the sight to behold,” she snickered, “a stallion holding my sister as if she were his bride,”

I did not laugh, instead, I stood there with a stoic expression etched across my face. Had she known that the training was going to be this rough? Or perhaps she was simply holding off all judgment until she knew better. Either way, it sent a bit of a chill up my spine seeing this reaction from her.

“Oh come now Leo you two look adorable like that,” and just as quickly as her words a flash brought me to see my sergeant with his arm around me and a couple of my other mates. A soldier in front of us was holding a camera while the other had some other machine.

“We’re gonna be in the pictures mate!” A chap from down the line stated, “they're gonna put us on the front page, I bet.”

“Why would they want your ugly mug on the front page?” Came the laugh of the Sargent.

“Oi, watch it!” He barked back.

“Maybe you’ll want me to tell the boy here about what happened when the shitter broke last week. Could-” was all the Sargent could say before the chap swatted him with his cap.

I smiled watching the two bicker on and on with each other. The photographer seemed to be loving it as he kept shooting away. Seeing as he was done with the main shot I stepped forwards and looked towards Luna in my hands.

“I’m sure we do, now if you would be so kind as to tell me where I could take her?” I questioned. I thought that Celestia would have taken a hold of her sister by now, but instead, she seemed contempt letting me hold her for now.

“I doubt she needs any medical attention, it’s just simple exhaustion. You ran her pretty hard out there, but will it be enough?” There it was, the cautious tone I was looking for in Celestia the moment I stepped in here.

In truth, I had no idea. I had the same training and it still got to me. That being said, Luna is a different case. Where she’ll only live through snippets, never actually living the experience.

“I’ll keep preparing her, this was just the first day. I’m sure after the week is over she’ll be hardened enough to live through the start. Eventually, as cruel as it may sound, you just have to get used to it. Used to seeing dead bodies in the mud, used to the constant sounds of shells.” I simply stated, “right now all I can do is give her tips to survive. The mental battle will all be up to her.”

Celestia nodded, her smile slowly fading, “I see, you can take her to her room for now. I’m sure she’ll be awake within the hour.”

Giving her a nod, I turned back towards the main corridor.

“Take care of her Leo,” Celestia’s voice rang, “you’re not the only one being healed.”

Stepping out into the main hall, Celestia’s words found themselves lodged in my mind. Was there someone else this was helping? I looked down at Luna, she was the only one other than Celestia it could be.

Luna’s form transformed back into its original state as I left the throne room. Turning down the first hall, I looked back down at Luna and chuckled. Her uniform was now two sizes too large, the brodie helmet covered most of her face while the boots she once wore were now off and on her barrel. As per her puttee, they surprisingly remained on her rear hooves.

Twisting and turning within the halls of the castle, we soon came upon her room. Kicking the door gently, I slipped inside and laid Luna down upon her bed. Quietly taking the oversized items off her person, I placed them neatly on the vestibule against the wall. Turning back I placed her under the covers and went over to the door.

“I’m going too easy on you,” I mumbled under my breath. Back in camp if you passed out like that, you’d be sleeping where you fell. Nevertheless, things were a bit different here. She was no ordinary bloke, she was a leader of a continent.

Standing there for a while longer, I gazed at her sleeping form. My mind calmed for just a moment until I shut the door and walked out into the hall. I had things to get read and more things to get approved. Today was just the start and with a bit of perseverance and a whole lot of luck, maybe, just maybe, Luna will come out of this unharmed.