Author's Note

The chapter train don't stop. WOOOO

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Peace!

Frenchy Prenchy

“Il has no standing! Tue can not expect to soil the arene with ses presence!”

“First of all, you need to learn to use Equish properly. I’m getting sorely pissed at having to think back and try and translate your mashed up way of speaking Miss Hoity-Toity. Second, what the hell does she mean I have no standing? What standing?”

At first there was a stunned silence as the mare announced for them to work their issues out in the ring. Orion hadn’t even known that they had an arena of any type, so when it came out that there was a training ground, his first question was to ask how no one knew about it.

That's when he, and the rest of his class, learned that there was a mares and fillies only training ground inside the school. Apparently, females of this country were a bit more, militant, then Equestria was when it came to gender roles. The colts were absolutely not allowed inside, unless to be some weird cheerleading squad, and heaven forbid that they ever be allowed to participate.

The Prench nation as a whole was suffering from a severe lack of stallions in their society. The ratio of male to female ended up varying from one in ten, to one in fifteen. In recent years they were recovering, but that did not stop aggressive mares from traveling outside their nation in order to scoop up any willing, and sometimes though the rumor has never been proven, not so willing stallions to bolster the breeding population.

Because of the lack of males in the population, the poor bastards who lived in the country were regulated to second class citizens by sheer need to protect future generations, and over the course of the past near six-eight hundred years, they have become soft and easily manipulated into a very submissive group. And finally, in an effort to curb any further loss of stallions, it was mandated that they never be allowed in combat, nor even to learn to defend themselves.

This is why Orion had no standing. By law he and the colts with him were not even allowed to know about the arena, even if they were foreigners. The teacher, Miss Honey Spice, had actually violated the rules to even mention it. Cats outta the bag on that one.

“Monsieur Falls I regret even saying anything, I am sorry. But she is correct. You are not allowed to engage in any kind of combat. It is simply not done. I had thought she was in an argument with a filly of her age. Not a colt. You will of course forget that you have heard anything about it, and concede to Mademoiselle Cherie that you were wrong.” Her english was far better then the filly’s, but the tone and implication of what was said was he was expected to back down.

That pissed him off. The angry ha ha pissed off.

“Oh I don’t think so on either of those. You mistake me as one of those simpering cowards who have allowed arrogance and ego of the mares around them to make them pliable. You will find I am, what is the word...ah yeah, far more combative than the rest. Even among those in my own nation.” He grinned, but he was certain it didn’t match his eyes. Standing at his full height he loomed over both ladies, causing them to step back.

The teacher actually swallowed. The filly, however, well she was glaring back defiantly. She apparently didn’t have the honed sense of danger that those around them had.

“Tue wil-” She never got a further word out for Orion had slammed a rolled up napkin into mouth and held it there.

“The next words that come out of your mouth will be an apology to my friend Fancy and one for the rest of us for disturbing our lunch. If I do not hear that apology well,” He chuckled, “the auditorium will make for a fine substitute for your precious arena. Are we clear?” He had not realized he had walked her back into a wall, so the accidental sudden stop nearly jammed the rolled up napkin down her throat.

There was very real fear in her eyes now. Not that he got to enjoy it. “Monsieur Falls! You will let her go this instant!” Well, he was already going to get into huge trouble, what's a little more?

“And what will you do if I don’t?” The bulge of her eyes was damn near comical. “The way I see it, she had done enough damage to my friend and I’s pride that in any other situation, I could request satisfaction. But being that I have exterior plumbing, somehow I have to kotow the line and be all apologetic for something she started. Now that ain’t right.” That southern twang that had reawakened since meeting Applejack had made an annoying return. He hadn’t spoken like that since his grandparent’s passing, and his move to Florida.

“This is not how it’s done here in Prance. You must obey!” Miss Spice was looking a lot more than flustered now. She was getting angry, and he supposed she had a right to be, he was being a dick now. “You will apologize now!”

He let Belle Cherie go and strode quickly over to the beat of her hacking, to the teacher. He smiled. “Pardon my Prench, but go fuck yourself.” His smile morphed into that shit eating grin, teeth glinting in the light.

The combination of sharp teeth and his words had her recoiling visibly. She tried to speak, but no words could escape her lips. That was when a new voice spoke up.

“I say let him learn the lesson he so begs for.” Orion’s head slowly turned left, to the direction of the new voice. His grin, vanishing to a thin line. There stood a thick looking mare. As if she was born to the gym. He wanted to quote a modified line from a Batman movie he once watched, but he was in no mood for it now.

She was tall, only reaching to his shoulder but that was tall enough to be noticeable among the others in the room. Her fur was as black as his was, and the steel gray mane, while stylish, was bound in a ponytail. She was missing her right eye, a nasty looking scar barely hidden behind the patch spoke of something violet in her past. Her yellow green eye regarded him with amusement and a fair amount of disdain if he had to guess. She adjusted the purple and silver uniform, embroidered with vines and what looked to be a shield over the sword emblem. She smirked at him confidently.

“Mademoiselle Shadow! It is against the rules, this would break every custom regarding the arena! He has no standing, to allow him to have one would be to set a precedent of other colts and stallions to make a challenge.” He had never actually seen anyone wring their hands, but he imagined this was exactly what it looked like. Like dry washing with a towel.

“Mademoiselle Spice, relax. This will be an excellent lesson to the fillies that their training is superior. And will put this young upstart in his place all at once. Besides, as Maîtresse des Terres, I take full responsibility. The fact is, the rules are only custom. As it stands right now there is no official rule barring a colt student from participating in a match. Only training.” She looked back to him, her smile wicked. She looked like a Disney villain. “Besides, I have heard of this one. He is supposedly dangerous. I think he has let the fame go to his head. No?”

The Arena of Nimes was built upon an actual arena from when the Minotaurs ruled. Their territory having been reduced by unknown means meant a lot of the land was up for grabs. And grab the Prench did.

They had kept the name, but built what was, at least to him, a long and slightly less wide hallway. The ceiling caped at fifteen meters from the ground in ornate painting that would give the Sistine Chapel a run for its money. Tall thin windows were to his right, evenly spaced between gray pillars. On his left, bleachers for what he supposed was an audience and those awaiting their own turn.

The entire place was decked out in the flags of their nation, and the school flag. Purple and silver were liberally applied everywhere. At the other end stood Belle Cherie. Not looking nervous at all after a bit of talking to from the Maleficent wannabe, who stood calmly off to the left, that smug smirk on her face.

It bothered him that there had yet to be any sign of their teachers and lone escort. By now someone should have notified them that he was about to murder someone. Just what had happened, and was this planned from the beginning. Well maybe not the match, but cornering Fancy Pants was certainly.

Speaking of whom, he was standing nervously to Orion’s left, pleading for what seemed like the tenth time for him not to do it.

“Orion, for the last time, please stop this and just apologize. She has no idea what she is getting herself into. Please, before you hurt her. Please stop this.” He had grabbed his arm in a tight grip. His friend was of the mind that you just don’t beat on the opposite gender, even if they deserve it. He shared the same mind on it, but sometimes you just had to put your fo-hoof down.

“Fancy, she made her bed. Now let me go so I can go smack this Ho. Besides, if I was a betting stallion, I’d say she is not the main course. I have a sneaky suspicion that the moment she goes down, Atilia the Nun over there is gonna be livid and may just try and fight me herself. She is the one I have to look out for.” He patted his friend’s hand and smiled. “No dear, would you be so kind as to let go of me so I can defend your honor.” His nose in the air, and speaking in a nasally tone he got the results he wanted.

Fancy Pant’s huffed, let go and marched over to the bleachers. A sour look on his face as he sat down. He had to chuckle.

At that moment Shadow stepped forward and stood between the two. “Now, as I have allowed for this joke to go this far, I will officiate.” She turned to regard Orion, and him alone. “There will be no killing blows, so you won’t have to worry about anything other than a well deserved spanking, colt. For your benefit there will also be no hitting below the belt. You are rather fine for a street rat, I’m sure we can find a mare to take you in.” She chuckled. “Now we shall get the match underway!”

Fancy was not worried about Orion’s safety. Far be it he was worried about what he had said just before sending him away. If he damaged that mare’s pride enough, it was likely going to fall right into the scenario that Orion had said it would. She would demand satisfaction.

As she began to count down he looked to his friend. The strange colt he had attached himself to. Most would say it was the other way around, but he knew better. Despite his standing in life, Orion knew of things no other pony had knowledge of. There was a stubborn wisdom to his thoughts and actions, and if he was being honest with himself, he was inspired by him every time he stood for what he believed was right.

He had to laugh, the colt looked bored to tears standing there watching as Miss Cherrie bounced, flexed, and generally limbered up. He had to admit, she was gorgeous. But her attitude was poor, and another had caught his eye, though he was too nervous to approach that vision of beauty.

Fleur de Lis was a tall, graceful filly. Her soft pink fur was complemented by the two tone white and slightly darker pink of her mane. The lavender eyes, while gentle and kind looking, threatened to sear his soul to ash with a glance. Her form was lithe. She was well proportioned but not built with the same thickness as other mares of Canterlot, still did not stop him from ashamedly stealing peeks at the rest of her.

To his delight, she was there in the bleachers. Her face bore a worried look. There also spoke an undertone of anger. Was she angry at Orion? No, her gaze was directed at Miss Shadow. He had to agree, this was a foolish waste of time only to prove a point. He wondered what Fleur was thinking.

This was beyond foolish. How could Mademoiselle Iridescent Shadow think this was a good idea? She turned her gaze to the colt in the arena proper. This was her first time actually seeing this Orion Falls, and she did admit he was a handsome young stallion. His height was more than a little intimidating however.

He could have been a younger brother to Mademoiselle Shadow, all black fur. But that mane and beard were of a fiery orange brown. Like embers losing their luster. There was a scar, that while rather ugly, did not distract from his overall features. The horn was surprisingly large, even for his frame. But again, like the scar it did not distract. But those eyes, they frightened her. The dangerous gleam within bellied the bored look he displayed.

“Begin!”

She was broken from her musing as the fight had begun.

The colt had not moved, but Belle Cherie stalked forward as her horn alighted with the red hue she was so familiar with. The bar of red light formed between her hands, and she gripped the magic forged weapon in her hands like one would a staff of war.

Orion blinked, eyes going wide, a grin flashing acrossed his face. “Dude that is so fucking cool how did you do that?!” The crowd had been silenced from their cheering by the boom of his outburst.

Belle had paused looking confused. Indeed Fleur was confused as well. Why was he asking her questions in the middle of a match. A match that the poor colt was about to be trounced in.

“I will offer this, if you manage to beat her, I will tell you how it's done. Would that satisfy your curiosity Monsior Falls?” Mademoiselle Shadow shouted back.

He grinned, those frightening canines showing briefly. “Deal! No takesies backsies!” He laughed.

Did he really believe he had a chance against the number two duelist in the academy?

The next few seconds left her wondering what had happened. One moment he was just casually standing there, the next he was in Belle’s position facing the wall, and Belle was slammed into the defense barrier hard enough that a snap was clearly heard. One of the boucliers was on her knees holding her head.

There was stunned silence from the students of the academy. She too could not produce words for what had happened. The groan from the Canterlot school drew her attention. They looked, upset with Orion of all things.

A filly stood up in the bleachers. “Orion! Couldn’t you be just a little gentler! You could have killed her!”

“They knew what was going to happen?! And they're angry that he didn’t hold back?!” Her mind was a whirl with the implications. She detected no teleportation magic, it was almost as if he willed himself across the grounds. Wait. It wasn’t will, he had developed a spell set that allowed him to fuel his natural strength and speed. He bolstered his physical abilities with magic. His mane was oddly aglow. As if someone was holding a fire inside of it.

“Oh please, I just smacked her open handed. I didn’t even put that much into it. Shut your hole Breezy.” His tongue was rude and crass. He was definitely no noble pony.

“WHAT WAS THAT!” Mademoiselle Shadow was in the arena crouching over Belle Cherie’s unconscious form. Anger blazed within her eyes as she stared at him.

“That, was me showing you the number one rule that you seemed to have forgotten. Never underestimate what your opponent can do. Well, that was more of a broad lesson for everyone here.” He didn’t say everypony. He said everyone. The more he spoke, the more puzzling he was to her. “Now. I believe you and I had a deal. Care to hold up to your end of the bargain?”

The look of absolute fury exploded on her face. Then she grinned. Fleur shuddered, she hated that grin, it always preceded something awful. The last time she smiled like that, she herself had been on the receiving end of her abuse. Now it was directed at the smug colt. Things were not going to end well, though now she had to wonder, for whom would come out on top.

“D’accord.” Mademoiselle Shadow had slipped back into their native tongue. “I shall give you a demonstration on how it is do-”

A boom of the doors brought everypony to silence, a shield surrounded Orion. All gazes swept to the entrance to the arena. There stood one of the chaperones, Shining Armor, fury was painted across his face as he glared daggers at him.

“Aww Goddamnit. Shining could you wait, like five minutes. I was about to learn something legitimately cool.”

“So, while we were drawn away, one of their fillies got aggressive with Fancy Pants and his refusal to consider their herd. You stood up for him, seeing as none of the Canterlonian fillies had bothered, and you all ended up in the arena in an attempt to correct Orion’s behavior and make him more submissive. Or so that is your belief.”

While upset that he had missed out on learning a cool new trick, the idea of him being able to have an available weapon on hand at any time was ideal, he had to admit that Shadow was up to something nasty. It was likely for the best that they had been interrupted. Still, he had to ask.

“Is that your go to move? Just a shield?”

“Yes, it is the best way to incapacitate your opponent, and not cause harm. Once my shield is up, it is over with. Nopony has ever been able to escape as it negates teleportation.” That was, actually pretty cool. It was effective without major impact. The fact that it can prevent teleportation was an interesting side effect. One of these days he was going to have to test whether or not that shield could actually hold him. But not today.

“I am getting a headache.” Shining sat down and a chair and glanced between the two of them. The other being Fancy sitting in on the edge of the bed. They had decided to do this in their shared room. The idea was likely to not let any others listen in on their conversation.

For his friend’s part, he looked nervous and relieved at the same time. After his warden's initial outburst things had moved quickly. The two Canterlot class groups were ushered back to the hotel, the other chaperones wanting to let tempers cool and figure out what had happened. This led to a two hour interrogation by both Shining Armor and Mrs Dream.

Not satisfied with just the one way Q and A, Orion fired back his own questions, and the answers were not surprising. The teachers had been lured away by the faculty, a promise of watching over their students themselves coupled with a tour of the grounds. A tour that took them far away from the auditorium. The mistake was made when Miss Shadow, unsurprising that the bitch was not married, decided to pit what they believed was one of their best students against him.

Celestia had actually bothered to train Shining in sensing Orion’s magic signature. The moment he had charged his magic field, the Lieutenant had sensed the mana surge and had come running despite the cries to stop and return to the tour group. By that point the other four teachers that had come with chased off, figuring if a soldier was running back to the school proper that something was off.

In the end, it was learned that there had been a warning that something like this might happen. Mares and fillies in this country were absolutely desperate to recoup any loss of their male population in any way they could. It was predatory, and violated several customs. But it broke no laws. Thus there was no legal recourse to punish them.

It pissed him off to no end that they could get away with this kind of barbarism. But now he had a real question. “Why Fancy? Why him?” His friend looked up in alarm, but nodded. It seemed he too wished to know why he had been targeted for grooming.

Mrs Dream looked to the ground and sighed. “I should have known something was up when they asked if Fancy Pants was going to be attending the field trip. It had been a specific inquiry. But considering his family is high nobility I believed it was in the interest of the school to be very respectful of his position, so they wanted to be sure that if he was coming he would be afforded the best comfort.” She looked back up and looked at the victimized colt. “I am so sorry your Lordship, had I known I would have cancelled this trip immediately.”

“Your Lordship? Just how high on the totem pole was he? A question for later.”

“I can assume this has happened before?” A hesitant nod. “When?”

“Ten years ago. It was the reason why we had not had a school trip outside the nation. Well one of the reasons. But in the events back then, five male students were coerced into staying behind. We never found out if they were forced into it, but by today's events I would say that is all but confirmed. Of the two classes, only Fancy Pants was a viable candidate it would seem. Though a few other colts have reported that they have received similar requests from groups with less standing than Belle Cherie’s. I can only assume they were going after the main prize before moving on the others.”

“Okay, what's so important about you bud?Why go through so much effort to isolate students from the teachers over you.” Orion had fixed his friend with a hard but not cruel stare. He wilted under the gaze anyway.

“I….I have no parents. My mother and father were killed in a carriage accident on the border of Griffonia during the hunger riots. They were attempting to get food to the griffon people, but the royal guard at the time were making things difficult. When it all came to a head, they….they and their carriage were pushed off the cliff. I…” His eyes misted over, and Orion’s own stomach turned painfully. “I was inside the carriage with them, but father was always the stronger in magic of the two, and he teleported me out of the carriage and back onto the cliff. The effort was more than he could bear at that point and he….and he and mother…”

Fancy Pants began to cry like a foal. Unable to speak more, Mrs Dream wrapped him up in her arms, cooing softly to him. Shining stepped up besides Orion.

“I had studied the incident.” He spoke quietly. “Seven, no eight years ago now, his father saved him, but the mana surge he called forth ripped him and his wife apart when he pulled that much magic into himself. Lord Pleats was a strong magic caster, but his ability to teleport was limited in strength. He just could not form a proper circle to cast it. I myself can’t do it. No one save maybe the Princess or Starswirl the Bearded know the answer to why certain unicorns can’t do what others can.” He sighed. “In any case, the resulting explosion terrified the crowd and the mad rush to flee killed another noble family from Griffonia; they had been working with Lord Pleats to get food to a starving people. No pony to this day knows what happened, and Lord Fancy Pants was left alone. Distant relatives attempted to intervene. But the Princess selected an impartial magistrate to handle the estate affairs till he came of age, a good thing too, there have been attempts to usurp his right of heir.”

His friend, was essentially the head of his own house. He felt terrible for the loss of his family, the knowledge that scratched at a still raw wound in his own heart with the Apple family. Fancy had borne the responsibility of rule, even if he is aided by a magistrate to oversee the major affairs. To him, the guy just seemed like the average noble, carefree and happy with his station in life. It reminded him of just how little he knew of him.

Pulling himself slowly from Mrs Dream’s arms, Fancy straightened his clothes, blew his nose, and with a determined look stood and looked to Orion.

“I don’t talk about it because that face you're making right now my friend. To have others look at me with such pity, it pains me and puts a gap between those I wish to be close to. That is why you never knew, why I never invited you over.” Despite the red eyes he looked every inch the noble he was born to be.

“Man I don’t give a shit about that.” The noble colt blinked. “You think because I know you gone through some shit means I’ll treat you differently? Who the hell do you think I am? Dude, anyone would be sad as hell for a friend who lost their loved ones. The only regret I have is I can’t just go out and kill those responsible.”

Both chaperones did a double take, and Fancy cracked a smile. “I don’t think the people intended that to happen. My heart still hurts, but I have since learned to walk with pride, as my father once did. I will not allow my family’s honor to be soiled with wanton revenge over events that were overcome by chaos and confusion. So please, no killing my friend.”

There it was, the calm take command reserve that he was so known for. He accepted the events of what happened to be unchangeable, and even though it pains him to this day he keeps taking the next step. First Applejack, and now him. It amazed him to find such strength in what he honestly believed was a soft people.

Chuckling to themselves, Orion looked to Mrs Dream. “So, in light of recent events, what are we going to do about this? Will there be repercussions for what was essentially a bitch slap to that Belle Cherie filly?”

“Oh there most certainly will be, Belle Cherie isn’t just some silly filly, she is the daughter of Comtesse Iris Petal. Who is the headmistress for Lycee Marearago. She is also incharge of education, under the current Queen. She holds no small amount of power. I have decided it would be best if we left as soon as possible. With that in mind I have already alerted the captain of the ‘Sun’s Grace’, but it will take three days to have him ready for flight. They were in the middle of a tear down repair for the starboard engine, or so I am told. We will remain here in the hotel. Once word has been received we will depart immediately. I have already sent a message to the Principal as well, she will inform the Princess of what has happened. That will take a few days for the spell to take time to travel that distance.” Not for the first time He wished they had internet, or at least phones.

“I know it's a long shot, but is there any way I can go to the national library? If Shining is escorting me I can get there and back. Hell, I am actually damn decent at teleporting. Despite my range with magic, teleportations seem to be no problem for me. After four or five miles I will have trouble, but the library is public, and only about a quarter of a mile away. I just want to look up some history texts, and it shouldn’t take more than two hours. Please?”

It had taken more than a little coercing, but he managed to get his way. On the second day of their self enforced isolation from much of the nation, he had managed to get permission to go. So he, Fancy, and Shining had teleported four blocks away at an intersection he had managed to memorize. They almost got run over from a carriage.

The first day, while he had still been trying to get them to relent and allow him to go, they had gotten several missives and visits from the school. All of which were politely, but quite firmly refused. There would be no going back. The second day a vice principal, one of three that tended to the school, had personally showed up with a writ for him to come in for punishment, for striking a daughter of nobility. That too was rebuffed, as it was done under the rules for a duel. It was a weak argument, but that lady was pissed when she left.

Finally, what got Shining to relent was when Orion told him about his only chance to see the lady he was so obviously pining away for. He had caught whispers from the other teachers that he was looking forward to seeing his ‘special somepony’, and decided to use that as leverage. The smaller head won, and they were off to the library. The plan was to leave Fancy and him in a protective field inside the library while he went and dipped his wick, or whatever he planned to do. If someone attempted to breach the shield he would know immediately and come running.

They had gotten to the Bibliotheque nationale de Prance no problems. Got set up, bribing the hell out of the staff to allow a shield inside the library, and Shining guiltily slipped away shortly after getting a message that popped in his face. Though he was smiling.

While Fancy busied himself with learning trade law, or some other such thing that involved logistics Orion himself didn’t care to learn, he dived into the history books contained in their private section. A fair amount of bribery, and noble bullying from his friend, got him access to records not open to the public.

The reason he was so desperate for history, particularly involving the early years of Equestria and it’s formation was because as the school years had gone on, he was more and more convinced that history for the citizens had been heavily rewritten. He wished he had been wrong.

Celestia, and then at the time Princess Luna, were warlords, warlordesses? Whatever, they were extremely militaristic. It seemed there really were two reunification wars, the second one more of a reclamation. Given what was going on during that time, he could see why they were so hell bent on it all. The nobles in the land now known as Equestria were fighting petty battles, and killing off whole villages in their desires to dominate the other.

As he read, he realized that this might also be what started the decline in the male population. They were killing them off like a deal at a Dollar General for two for one snack packs. By the time the Celestia and her sister had rolled in on the scene, the mares were in charge. There wasn’t much detail about the first reunification, only that again, Celestia and Lune seemed to be at the center of that one as well.

The second however, ended when Luna deployed a massive airfleet to absolutely crush the few noble families and their castles that resisted. It is said that victory is secured by those who hold the high ground. Minus orbit, the air is the next best thing, and she had been absolutely ruthless.

One thing that stuck out to him was the fact that she knew exactly where they were, and had struck before dawn. That told him all he needed to know about the lost Alicorn’s abilities.

Rumors in the book were easy to confirm, along with his own suspicions considering recent events that she was able to find a person's dream, and thus find their location in the waking world. That absolutely terrified him to his core. Because if she could do it. Then Nightmare Moon could as well.

“Orion, why are you so obsessed with Equestria’s history?” He nearly leaped out of his skin. He had not heard Fancy approaching, so engrossed in what he had been reading.

“Jesus Christ on a squeegee, Fancy. You scared the hell outta me.” He leaned back in his mountain of books and put a hand to his chest, his heart beating violently.

“I’m sorry, you were just so engrossed in what you're reading that I had to wonder what was so interesting.” He chuckled and sat on the floor besides him. “Tell me, what has your attention so ensnared?”

He glared balefully back at his friend, and then shrugged. “History has a habit of being rewritten by the victors. All throughout my education, reading our history was like trying to read words off swiss cheese. There was always something missing. I suspected two unification wars. I was right if this is all to be believed. Did you know Celestia has a sister? Or at least had.” The fact that she was still alive and stuck on the fucking moon seemed not to be needed to be said at the moment.

“I had heard rumors that she might have had one, but a second war? Are you sure?” The way he said that last was not as much of a question as it seemed. Looking into Fancy’s eyes, he realized that he had already been aware of both.

“Yeah, and by the look on your face, you already knew. How?”

The how had been simple, all the high nobles kept a hidden library, or at least his family did. One that he stumbled over by accident when he was still a recently orphaned colt. Once he had gotten inside, he had discovered a pretty grim secret history. In them, was the first war, as well as the second one. The last ended officially after the sisters had departed for a year, leaving temporary magistrates in charge while they were away. When they had returned, they were both a little different. At that time, enchanters had started to dwindle, slowly at first, but by the time of Starswirl’s disappearance they were all but gone.

What was worse was shortly after his sudden vanishing act, Luna turned on Celestia in an attempt to take over completely. Something about no one appreciating who she was, and the sacrifices she had made in order to secure victory.

Celestia had countered using ancient, even for her, artifacts to banish her sister to the moon. That had been nearly a thousand years ago. Two hundred years later, the last of the enchanters had died, and with no one to realign Equestria’s airfleet, they were shut down and stored away. What expansion that had been done was swiftly halted as other nations, embolden by the loss of Equestrian air power, fought back and forced the lone Princess to stop her advances for resources.

The history of Equestria was steeped in rivers of blood and death. It was no wonder things were as stale as they were. The people were still recovering nearly a thousand years later.

“Holy shit. Like holy fuckin’ shit dude. That is heavy.” He was stunned. Both the history and the fact that it was well known to the noble class of what truly happened. Talk about censoring history.

They were both sitting at one the tables in the library, books having long since been put away. Just talking about all that Fancy had learned so long ago. The world would have been a different place indeed had she still had her air fleet. Something stuck with him.

“What were the artifacts she used?” It had been gnawing at him for some time. He had heard about them before but not their name.

“No pony knows, the name of those artifacts were never recorded. No pony knows what happened to them after the old palace had been destroyed. They were never recovered, and Princess Celestia had never indicated she still retained possession over them. Though some suspect she still does.”

He shook his head and looked at the colt sitting across from him.

“If you wish for my honest opinion, I suspect she does not. Otherwise, given her nature she may have tried to use them again.” Orion nodded. He suspected that to be the case too. It was not unlike one to give up that much power just because it was right. Less so in her case.

“So, I learned WAY more than I thought I would about history. You wouldn’t mind letting me see inside that hidden little library would you?”

“Hah sure my friend, but it will have to be done late at night when Miss Croft is asleep. She will not like me having a non-noble looking through noble things.” They both chuckled.

His goals being met, Orion allowed himself to be talked into learning about logistics and the way to keep a nation supplied for emergencies. He wanted to tear his own heart out. It was so dull.

Thankfully, less than an hour later Shining had returned in a rush. Worry etched on his face.

“Oh thank bucking Celestia you both are okay.” He sank to his knees, breathing heavily.

“Man that must have been one HOT date if she left you this exhausted my dude.” He failed to pick up the air of tension that was coming from his shadow. Fancy had not.

“What is wrong Lieutenant? You seem to be in some distress.”

Oh and distress it was.

While they had gone off to play, terrorists had attacked the very hotel he and the students were staying at. No one was a fool and knew that it had been a set up. But that was the official statement from the Grendamare, the Prench royal guard. It had happened less than an hour after they had left.

So far no one had been injured but some rather ridiculous demands had been issued already that was in no way going to be fulfilled in the time they demanded. This had obviously been planned as a smash and grab, the target was on the roof across from the hotel with Orion and Shining.

“This is fucking ridiculous. How ballsy can one be? Thank fuck we left when we did or Fancy would have been long gone by now.” The spell, ‘visum prope’, of which Shining of all people knew, gave them a very up close view of the dining hall where the Equestrians had been gathered. It was on the eighth floor, facing toward the palace. There were at least two dozen pirates, of all things, guarding them. No attempt had been made in freeing them in the past six hours. The afternoon was turning to evening, and it was getting colder and the light dimming early.

From where he sat, Orion could see one, a female griffon yelling into something. Likely still in communication with whoever had organized this shit. He had tossed ideas to free them but Shining had shot them all down. The only thing he had agreed with was not going to Prench authorities. There was far too much of a chance they would simply make Fancy disappear.

This was making him grind his teeth so hard he was sure he heard one crack. Fancy’s look of dismay was substantial. His idea of being tossed to them to free the others had been shot down by both of them. No way were they just going to get what they wanted.

Sitting back against the wall, Orion’s mind raced for a solution. It was clear that the Prench were going to do next to nothing. The demands for money would not be met, someone was gonna get hurt.

“Is that….is that Fleur De Lis?!” Fancy’s straggled shout broke him from his thoughts. Looking closely, he saw her. She too had a ring on her horn just like the rest. What in the blue hell was she even doing there?

“Yeah, that's the supermodel alright. The hell is she doing there?”

“Who is Fleur De Lis?” Shining was bewildered.

“Filly that our colt here, is crushing on, Hard.” The spluttering from his friend brought a brief smile to his face. Then he frowned. “Well she must not be that high on the pyramid of power if they aren’t making a move for even her. As it stands without much…..wait...Hey Shining Arse.”

“That is not my name you little shit!”

“Yeah sure whatever, tell me, can you make an irregular shield that can bond to a floor?”

“I can, why?”

The grin that came over Orion’s face made both visibly nervous. “I gotsa plan.”

Fleur questioned for the thousandth time why she was even there. And for the thousandth time she was reminded that she had wanted to speak to Orion Falls. It wasn’t for romantic interests, though he was certainly more than appealing, it was how he had won that duel.

It plagued her mind how fast he had beaten Belle Cherie. A brief flash of power, and that was it. It was over. There wasn’t even enough to gauge his actual strength. Her curiosity to know brought her here. Into a hostage situation.

It had been nearly eight hours if she was correct. No pony had tried to negotiate, a demand had been sent out, but it seemed to only be for distraction. The pirate crew had tossed rooms more than once. They were looking for something, or somepony. And judging by the increased and frantic shouts from their captain, they weren’t finding what they sought.

None of the ponies she was stuck with had made an attempt at escape. Of which she was extremely grateful. Odds are they would have gotten themselves killed had they tried. The crew’s interest in them was very fleeting it seemed. Only as a bargaining chip. Nothing more.

“I’m telling you mare! He is not here. We have torn apart their rooms, we have not spotted him, nor the one you want dead anywhere. Their male guard is gone too…..no, no one saw any of them leave the building. We have been watching for them since this morning. It’s as if they were never here.” She paused, grunted as a scowl crossed her face, the crystal in her ear must be giving her bad news. “What do you want me to do?! Forge him out of clay?” She stormed off, nearly screaming at somepony when nopony was there. Such a curious invention, she was more than a little curious about how that device worked.

Suddenly a pop, a woosh of air, and a purplish vision crossed over her eyes. After blinking a moment she turned around to see Monsieur Shining Armor sitting amongst them, scowling as he looked outside the shield.

“THAT WASN”T PART OF THE PLAN!!!!!” He roared, nearly deafening her.

Looking back outside she realized they were all under some sort of shield. A shield that enveloped all but two. There stood Orion Falls and, if she wasn’t mistaken Fancy Pants. In Orion’s left hand was the neck of one of the pirates. He had casually snatched the pony’s sword and handed it to Fancy, whom was now testing the blade with graceful swings.

“Sure it was, we just didn’t tell you about it or we would have gotten nowhere, you sit tight Mr Tank, let the dps’s handle the grunt work.” The sound of a snap shook her to her core, in his left hand was now a very dead pirate. “You ready Fancy?”

The colt with the sword nodded grimly.

She had never seen somepony killed before, now the lifeless corpse of a brigand dropped to the floor nearly in front of her. She wanted to scream, but the casualness in which he had done that had forced her into numbness. Around the pair, the pirates just stared in shock, unable to move or comprehend what had just happened. The strangled sound coming from behind her forced her attention back to Monsieur Armor. His eyes held stunned shock.

The battle commenced the moment she turned back around. Orion was pure carnage, and for once she got a true measurement of his potential power. He was terrifying. He held no weapon, but his fists, hooves, and knees tore through any who thought to stand before him. He punched through plate armor. Tossed mares and stallions alike like rag dolls. On the other side, Fancy stood, facing off against several himself.

Where Orion was a brutal dance of destruction, Fancy danced gracefully around opponents, his blade biting deep, felling foe after foe. It was oddly beautiful and captivating, the blood sprayed like water, he bore a grim look, not liking what he was doing, but resolute in his actions to see it through.

Her horror was forgotten, as she watched this colt valiantly fight for the lives of his friends and classmates in a dance of death that had her heart beating, not for fear, but of excitement. It was not long before those that faced him, threw down their weapons to flee.

The crash as two bodies were violently tossed out the window drew her back to the obviously more dangerous of the pair.

Orion stood, the captain of these would be kidnappers secured in his right hand by his throat.

“You can’t touch me you little shit, my armor is packed with nullstone!”

For the first time since the fight started, Orion spoke. “Oh? You need to seriously learn what that means. Sure it blocks magical influence, but it doesn’t block heat that is generated from magic.”

As he spoke, his horn blazed a bright angry orange and black, his mane began to waft in some unfelt breeze. Lightning crackled from him. His mane began to softly glow as even those inside the shield felt a smoldering heat emanating from him.

The captain screamed. Nothing but fury was painted on Orion’s face. It was like seeing the face of an angry demon, one she was not sure was there to save her, or kill her.

“Orion, that's enough. It is over. Let her go.” Fancy stood there, a hand pleadingly reaching out to his friend as sweat foam collected on his brow. He was beautiful, and brave. She had never seen a more brave colt in all her young life.

She watched as Orion nodded, and dropped his would be victim. And then he vomited.

Shining watched as the bodies were carried away, only a little numb from what he had seen before. “Orion is a killer.” The fact that Fancy had also ended the lives of others tonight had not escaped him. But it was the manner in which the former had gone about the grizzly work that scared him so much. He was no longer sure he could contain him. The level of violence was beyond what was expected. The violet vomiting and subsequent shaking from him, confused the stallion. He could not understand how somepony could go from crushing a head into vomiting and trembling like a leaf.

Fancy was also trembling, but he had not left his friend's side no matter what. There would be no charges filed, a terrorist act was often met with death. If anything these two colts likely saved the Grendamares paperwork and time.

He expected the students to be fearful of the pair, instead he had seen something that amazed him. The moment they were free they had run to get water for both colts, none hesitated to come near them. Even Ivy Dream was surprisingly enthusiastic in getting them blankets. Thank yous and tears were flowing freely. These poor foals believed their death was soon. They also believed they were alive because of these two.

Shining also got his share of thanks. Fillies hugged him, colts shook his hand. It felt hollow. He had done very little, the two young stallions had done all the hard work, and excelled.

“D-don’t.”

He looked into Orion’s eyes. They stared back, unwavering. “Y-ou did the job that needed to be done m-man.” He spoke with that slight tremble. “If you hadn’t neither of us would have been able to do ours.”

Fancy also had the same resolute look. A firm but trembling nod. These two were going to need counseling.

“I take it this is actually your first time, ending a life?”

“Please don’t go into details, but yeah. Never killed anyone before today. Unless you count a hundred and thirty three timberwolves.” He chuckled, burped and was promptly handed a bucket of which he noisily used.

He had to chuckle. As brave a face as he put on, he was still only a foal. But one that Shining felt he was beginning to understand. Brash, arrogant, and courage to put the stoutest soldier to shame with an equal amount of honesty. This was one he wanted to see serving with him.

Iridescent Shadow fairly growled. An unknown sound to come from her voice. They would not get a second chance like this, not with the Grendamare in full force, now that the hostage situation had been resolved.

The plan had thoroughly failed. Her Ladyship would not like this, who knew that Shining Armor was actually that accomplished of a soldier, or that the chosen pirates would fail so miserably initially. She crushed the crystal under hoof, she would not be able to try again so soon, no sense in allowing anypony to trace the magical signature back to her. Turning she quietly vowed that this was not the end as she slipped into the shadows of the ally.

She didn’t get twenty feet before a searing pain lanced through her chest. Teetering, she spun around, a tall shadow moved in the unlit ally.

“W-ho ther-'' Blood poured from her lips as she gagged. The question went unanswered, though it wasn’t a mystery for too much longer. Out of the shadows came a mare. Thee Mare. One of white as snow, with a mane that suddenly alighted in flames. Golden black eyes stared into her soul.

“You have been a bad bad pony.” The voice sent levels of fear through her as she fell over, Or at least she started to. Flames scorched her flesh as they held her up, she tried to scream but nothing more than blood erupted from her muzzle.

“Shhhhhhhhh no pony can hear you. Now, you may not be able to speak, but, your mind will tell me all I need to know about who attempted this.”

The mare was right. No pony heard her scream. Even after she had managed to clear her throat and the wail had fled her, not a single soul heard the terror laden scream belt out its dying last breath.

Stepping over the pile of ash. She looked up at the hotel. A smile on her lips. Just as she was about to intervene, he had done the work for her. While her heart hurt for what he had to do, she could not be more than a little proud. Of both of them.

Still, tonight she had her own work to do before she returned home. Her control was tenuous at best. So she had to be quick.

“Well done Orion. Well done indeed.”

The hollow pop started those walking by, wondering what the noise had been.