Chapter 18

Amber Gem. Commander of king Sombras seventh attack fleet.
Yes she was, with all her successes. But now she was facing a defeat that she didn't like. "Prepare one of the light airships, 100 prisoners of war, and a minimal crew. I have to talk to the enemy." The officer at her side looked confused.
"The enemy has something that I want. Maybe we can achieve something in exchange for prisoners. Oh and look for the wounded who would only have been a burden to us."
"Yes Ma'am!"

"My squadron is getting pretty understaffed." Swift said very tiredly to Commander Dash as they both walked through the corridors of the airship. "One loss, one with a broken wing, the other badly injured, I'm not quite healed yet. And let's not forget Specialist Ruby is on a personal vengeance when we encounter enemies."
"Sounds fun." said commander dash and scrunched up her muzzle, "at least we can get out of here soon. With pinkamina we have five out of six. If the last element decides to show itself, we can put our feet up and wait for Nightmare Moon, no worries do something with her and then put Sombra in the cold. "
Swifts smiled wearily, "Yes, I hope so," he yawned heartily, "where a vacation would be nice."
Pinkamina Pie appeared right in front of the two of them without any premonition, her muzzel against Swift's muzzle: "I know what gets you up, comrade. I would like to end our sparring that we started."
Swift jumped back, landed on his rump, looked at her startled: "What in tarterus? How did you do that? And do you know what personal space is?"
Pinkamina giggled briefly before answering: "I'm always everywhere, Silly. That's part of my job. And yes, I know what personal space is, why?"
Swift's expression went blank as she said it so cheerfullly.

"Okay, time to shut you up, Pinkie!" Swift said, standing on his hindlegs, his front hooves raised to block her blows.
"Pinkie? I kind of like the sound of that." Pinkamina said, "If you beat me you can call me that."
"and if not?" Swift grinned with a determined look.
"I can think of something, lead wing." Pinkie also stood on her hindlegs, but her front legs were loosely down.
Swift saw it, then came the signal to start from Rarity, which dropped a handkerchief.

"Come on Swift! You can do it!" Called Electric and cheered him on.
"Come on, Seargent, you don't want us Air Force to be ashamed." that was Commander Rainbow Dash.
"Please be careful and don't get hurt." Fluttershy was there too, with the first aid kit at hoof.
Applejack had leaned against the nearby hull of the ship and was watching with interest, but said nothing. both began to circling, keeping an eye on their opponent.
Pinkamina held hers upright, her head slightly bowed and slightly silky, her ears attentive to Swift. Swift held back a little.
Then he saw Pinkamina just close her eyes and exhale.
That was his chance.
He jumped forward and hit her.
" huuuurg!"
His hoof landed in nothing.
Pinkamina had ducked under him, her front legs still loosely at her side, she turned and hit his hindlegs away from under his body with her hindleg.
Swift almost fell over, but he managed to prop himself up and quickly get back on his feet.
Pinkamina was back in the same starting position as before.

This time Swift wasn't going to let himself be tempted. he kept his distance and focused on Pinkamina. they both turned around until a glint in Swift's eyes briefly distracted him.
Something on the ship glittered in his eye ...
Bam, a hoof hit him in the face, followed by another and one in the stomach area.
Swift leaned forward to see Pinkamina jump, twist in the air, and cave in to a tremendous kick.
Swift reflexively raised his wings to protect his back, but the impact was so severe that he felt it in all four legs.
"not bad, lead wings." said Pinkamina, jumping a little aside, "that would have brought any normal Pegasus to their knees."
"The floor is dirty and I don't want Rarity to have another seizure because I ruin beautiful uniforms." Swift replied, stepping out of his current position after her. with one front hoof on the ground, he turned on his own axis and missed her muzzel by only one inch.
Pinkamina laughed and did a backflip, then another before she hit the wall of the airship, hit just over Applejack, kicked off the wall there and flew like an arrow in the direction of Swift.
He just managed to avoid it, but he barely had time to relax when pinkamina turned around and almost gave him another blow.

"I admit you're doing well, lead wing." she raised her hooves, "time to get serious."
Swift's eyes widened when he asked. "How now? You're just getting serious now?"
In response, he received a few quick blows to his side, and while he was defending himself, a hoof hit him from the other direction. He could only see a pink shadow moving in front of him and slowly backing away.
More punches until one got through and caught Swift on the muzzle. then another came in the chest, one in the stomach and a kick threw him off balance. he landed on his back and the air was pushed out of his lungs.
Next he felt how Pinkamina leaned on him and pressed down, with a big smile she explained: "I win."
"I haven't given up yet!" Swift explained as he wanted to jump up, only hit him again, this time harder than the others and sent him back into the dirt.
"Don't mess wit me." said pinkamina and her smile was gone, "You can't win this fight, any more than I would win an aerial fight against you. Stay in your element."
She raised her hoof to help him up.

Swift was holding his muzzle, his nose bleeding from the last blow.
But he accepted the hoof and let himself be helped up.
"Okay you won." he admitted, "How about I invite you to the next dinner. I'll pay then."
"It's a deal, lead wing." she smiled, "and I want to borrow your Marefriend."
"Me?" Electric asked startled, "Why?"
"I have a few ideas and you are the best mechanic I know." Pinkamina said with a smile, "Oh, everpony except Swift can now call me Pinkie. I like the nickname." she trotted away happily.
Fluttershy took care of Swift's nosebleed.

Just as they were getting back on board the airship, a courier came flying in and landed on the deck. He saluted the soldier there, handed over a letter, and flew away again.
A little later, Rainbow Dash's voice sounded over the PA system and announced: "To all stations, we are receiving important visitors. A Crystal Empire ship requested an exchange of prisoners. Get ready for take-off. To all military and civilian employees We want to position ourselves well , dress up, but stay vigilant. I don't want any spies near the machines. "

Swift was on the deck with the others. The airship was floating in the no man's land between the fronts, and an armistice had been specially declared. The other airship came slowly alongside and a wide bridge was pushed over.
"You have to be kiddn me ..." mutterth Swift quietly when he saw Amber Gem, the enemy commander, as she and two guards strutted across the bridge.
She stopped at the end of the bridge and asked: "Do I have permission to come on board?"
"Permission granted." replied the captain of the ship and saluted, just like everyone else in this parade formation.
"Thank you very much, captain. May I say that your uniform is really good looking? Equestrian fashion has always been an eye catcher." she strutted from the bridge onto the airship.
"Thank you ma'am." replied the captain, more forced than actually meant.
Amber gem walked across the deck towards Commander Dash, but suddenly she stopped.
right before Swift.
"Oh look at who is there." she positioned herself right in front of him.
Swift didn't move a muscle, looked stubborn, and continued to salute.
"Tell me how did you fare, Swift . You ran away pretty quickly back then. I'm impressed that you're still alive, I have to admit that."
"I do what I can as a soldier." Swift just said.
"Oh come on, we know each other. Don't be so cold to me." she smiled at him, then turned back to her intended destination, towards Rainbow Dash, flicked her tail at Swift, "We'll talk again."
"I hope not, ma'am." Swift replied, which actually made Amber laugh.

"Ah, I should ask if I can take you with me. You are extremely entertaining." she went on, then at Commander Dash she started again: "Ah and there we have her. Commander Rainbow Dash. in pony! May I say how much I admire you, Miss Dash?"
"Save it, we're here for business, not chatting." replied Commander Dash calmly.
"Of course, of course. You have recently captured one of our jamming units. I ask a hundred prisoners against the leader of this group."
"only the leading officer? nopony else?" Rainbow looked at her with a look of doubt.
"Yes, only one officer. You have certainly already taken the others away. Not far enough away that this exchange would be impossible, but further than this one officer who guarantees the safety of this ship." Amber chuckled to herself, "and if he's not available how about a hundred of your soldiers against this sergeant?" she pointed to Swift.
"No way." said Dash and looked at her contemptuously, "Why do you want my sergeant?"
"Oh, I've had fun with him. He's got a strong will, and he would be great by my side if I taught him the necessary manners." She looked at Swift and licked her lips, "I love challenges like him."
"That will not happen." Dash said and nodded to a soldier: "Bring the prisoner."
The soldier saluted and galloped away.

A little later the soldier came back with the captured unicorn.
"Mother?" he asked when he saw Amber. she rolled her eyes.
"We're on duty. Please address me like that." she said with a sigh.
"Yes, ma'am, Sorry ma'am." said the unicorn stallion and came to her with ears flat against his skull.
"That explains a question I've been asking myself all along." Commander Dash said with a knowing grin, "Interesting."
"Yes he is my son. And no, he didn't need my help to get up." Amber said and rolled her eyes, not because of Dash, but because of her son. "But he also seems to have to learn manners again."
"It seems so. He didn't want to talk to me at all." said Commander Dash and accompanied the former prisoner and the enemy commander back to the bridge over which the captured soldiers of Celestia were being brought. Most were in bad shape.
Dash said nothing and monitored it.

Author's Note

Armistices are rare, but they do happen every now and then. up to now this has been observed with every armistice until it officially expired. Something very rare in these uncertain times.