Heart Path POV.

I've been so exhausted all day! And Chrysalis that still lies beneath me emptied me twice a day. Damn! Yes, she certainly warmed me, but, to be honest, I have no strength to get up from her, and I have no desire. But it seems that this position was not something uncomfortable for her, but rather unusual. And it's not even about our sex. I feel that I am ready, if not for everything, then literally for a lot for her. I do not just like her, it seems she is very close to me.

Maybe this sounds ridiculous. So be it. Now she is everything to me! I continued to look at her gentle gaze and felt that I needed Chrissy. Her hooves continued to massage my shoulders and back as if she knew I really needed it now. I felt her heart beating in my chest. And this look of her, which, I'm sure, not everyone was able to see. Although I could be wrong. But on her part, I felt care for me. And this is her manner. Heh. That's all my soul lies with...

When her hooves stroked my back, and we continued to silently look at each other, and we did not need words. I felt something start to glow behind me and I got a little scared, so I had to get up with Chrissy. She moaned slightly, and her lips pouted with slight disappointment, but HER EYES shone again, only in a different way. Maybe this shows some of the feelings in mares? But our eyes did not leave each other, as if our life depended on it. As I got to my feet, Chrissy began to roll over onto her stomach. And I just noticed that the base of her tail is stained with our orgasms. The sight is erotic, so I covered my mouth with my hand and allowed myself a victorious smile.

But it was only when she began to gracefully turn towards me that I noticed ... Holes in the hooves became much smaller! Or even disappeared! Even the color of her wings has changed to a brighter one!

"Chrissy! Your hooves and wings! They have changed. Of course, I understand that this is some kind of magical reaction. But why did this happen to you? By the way, this is a very nice sight." - I said and sat down to better examine the legs of my girlfriend. To which she looked very surprised and narrowed her eyes. She turned her head to examine her hooves and then her wings.

She squatted down and looked closely at her front hooves, which were still slightly glowing. Then she slowly turned her gaze to me and stood on her hind hooves to press her chest against me and hug my waist with her front hooves, from which I almost lost my balance. No, really, what's going on? But I definitely feel like she's ... happy now? She laid her head on my shoulder and I hugged her to stroke her head, running my fingers over her long mane. This action made her flinch a little, and I heard her sobbing!

Is she crying now? But why? I was a little scared. But this moment seemed to me somehow dramatic. So I gently lifted her head to see her face. Face with tears in its eyes. These tears were streaming down my hand, and I could not help kissing her cheek and then lips. But her crying only intensified, she pressed her whole body to me, and then with a sigh she said, looking at me with unusually beautiful and shining eyes, both from tears and from magic.

“Forgive me Heart Path! I ... I just wanted a little love from you ... But you gave me more than I expected. You don't even notice it. But then I began to understand ... What, this forgotten feeling of a changeling is not lost! And all because you accepted me so ... " She tilted her head to one side to touch my lips. This time her kiss was different. And I felt how she poured energy into my heart and my mind through him, something so unusually warm. It's hard to describe. "You accepted me as I am, in my true form. This is not the first time in the history of changelings. But this is a very rare case. Thank you, for your love!"

Her words sounded like a confession. But she didn't dare to say that she loved me. As I am to her. Yes, in general, that was right. I feel that fate will test us more than once before we say these cherished words to each other.

"Chrissy ... My girl, I'm just as glad that I could help you as you are for me. But I ..."

Fuck it all to hell! I thought harmlessly and kissed her hard, thrusting my tongue into her mouth. To which she also answered, and our languages began to merge. And the fact that she had a long tongue gave her a very big advantage! She even tried to stick my tongue out to get into my mouth! And yes... I gave in to her. That's why I like her...

We continued to hug each other. She stroked my back with her hooves, and her magical insect wings began to make a pleasant rustling sound. I answered her in kind. But during this whole moment, we did not notice how two creatures were watching us!

"Wow! Chrissy! Yes, you are changing right before our eyes! And all thanks to one person. Oh, what? I like it! I will say even more. I am immensely happy for both of you!" Discord said and snapping his fingers threw the rose petals on us.

Chrysalis and I turned our heads abruptly towards Discord! By some miracle, he was finally able to recover! He sat by the stone wall and looked at us with a satisfied smile, his appearance was slightly illuminated by our bonfire, which had already begun to fade. After all, we were both too busy to throw some brushwood into the hearth, which Chrysalis had carefully prepared for us.

"Forgive me ... For distracting you from such a wonderful moment ... But in fact, I've been watching both of you for about five minutes. And I didn't want to interfere! You both were ... It was a real miracle! And very spectacular. Oooo What a blessing that I met you!" Autumn Blaze said as she entered our grotto. Then she began to gallop around her, as if chasing her tail. It was a funny sight.

Me, Chrysalis, and Discord looked towards the Kirin. Discord looked questioningly at this mare and was about to use some kind of magic, because his hand went up, but I quickly stopped him.

"Stop Discord!" I dropped the Chrysalis from my embrace and swept my hand to the Lord of Chaos. "No magic please! She's our friend! Meet Autumn Blaze." I pointed my hand at the Kirin mare, and decided that it was time for all of us to put ourselves in order now! And I have to put on clothes. And then somehow it is not usual. Thank God Discord accepted my request, he probably remembers that we are kind of like friends now. In the same boat, so to speak...

Autumn Blaze threw off her bag by the fire and began to get out of it all sorts of fruits and even the semblance of bread. Wineskin of water. What a good mare she is, saw three strangers and showed hospitality and care.

"I'm so glad you finally woke up Discord!" Autumn Blaze finished arranging the picnic and rushed to the Lord of Chaos to hug him.

Discord, fucking with such a sharp onslaught of this mare, fell on his back and waved his arms to keep Autumn Blaze at a distance. "Oh, Oh! Hush! I ... heard our acquaintance with you when Chrysalis introduced us to each other." Discord said, smiled at me and Chrysalis with a sly grin and stood up to stroke Autumn Blaze's mane. This she was immensely glad, as her tail again began to swing from side to side.

"YES!!?? Are you serious? So all this time you were pretending to be asleep?" I said in mock indignation, looking at Discord. Although I already knew Discord could be such a joker.

"Oh yeah! Actually, I didn't mean to distract both of you. You put on a great show! And I honestly forgot to take my movie camera and the "Oscar" statuette!” Discord said playfully and played along with our eyebrows. He hugged Autumn Blaze and continued stroking her mane and back. And she seemed to be very happy about it. Tenderness of discord. Closing her eyes, she placed a hoof on his shoulder and pressed against his chest with closed eyes. And she began to moan softly from such a massage.

I was not surprised by Discord's jokes and began to put on my dry, but in some places dirty clothes. Well, that's not fun at all! Okay, tomorrow I'll try to wash these clothes in that sea if the current doesn't blow me away. Heh, this is probably a stupid idea. When I finished dressing, I sat down by the fire and threw a few twigs of brushwood at it. I looked at all this picnic that Autumn Blaze this cute Kirin mare brought us. And I am immensely grateful to her, so I decided to distract her a little from the massage that Discord gave her. At the same time, he had a clearly caring look, and the Autumn Blaze continued to smile and press his body against the Lord of Chaos.

It's amazing how these creatures, from this world, quickly gain trust in each other. Perhaps someday I will be able to solve this riddle. I just need to watch more. And now we are not in a very comfortable position. We are on a mission from the Lord of Chaos and must help him. I don’t forget about it.

"Autumn." I quietly decided to attract the attention of our new friend Kirin. She turned her head to me and looked at me inquiringly, but there was still a satisfied smile on her face.

"Yes? What are you trying to tell me?" Autumn Blaise said and her smile stretched even further as Discord decided to massage her back more thoroughly with his chaotic hand. "Oooh yeah-ah. Stronger please. I have never been crushed like this in my life. But this is very nice..."

I chuckled at this reaction from the Kirin mare.

“Thank you, Autumn! You helped us a lot! And you showed concern by serving us this humble dinner. You are a good, cheerful and kind mare ... ” I said to her and winked, as if hinting that gratitude to her would not end not only in words, but in deeds. But Discord got ahead of me! Well, or it helped. We'll figure it out later. Because this mare is good, and I wouldn't be surprised if she starts taking a special interest in me or in Discord.

Chrysalis watched this picture with interest and a sly smile appeared on her face, which I noticed with peripheral vision. Her wings were still glowing magically, but the holes in her hooves began to show themselves again ... For some reason, it seems to me now that this is part of my fault! But there is another question: Is this bad for Chrysalis herself? Although she said something about healing, I didn't feel like she was sick. Quite normal. Well, of course, if you think from my point of view. I’m a little used to magic and its consequences. I will not be surprised that a much more spectacular sight will await me...

“Oh, don't thank me Heart Path, I have to thank you for coming to Fear Peak Island. I was alone and already starting to go crazy. But you saved me from loneliness, and Discord was so kind to me!" Said Autumn Blaze, looking at Discord with a gentle gaze, and slowly slipped out of the hands of the Lord of Chaos to come and sit next to me. Discord did not take offense at such an act of the mare and decided to also sit next to the fire, and took some local fruits to unceremoniously chew them.

Chrysalis came up to me to rub her side on my back and, playfully whipping me with her tail, decided to approach the Lord of Chaos! Oh, she really loves these games. Yes! She turned into that same yellow pegasus with a pink mane. Yes, I remember her name is Fluttershy. She approached Discord from behind as he raised his right eyebrow and crossed his chaotic arms across his chest, watching Queen Chrysalis act as Fluttershy.

Autumn Blaze and I were amazed at the changed Chrysalis and her behavior. Yes, only I also choked from an overabundance of emotions, and from this semblance of bread, which I began to eat a little, because hunger was still making itself felt. Only my appetite was shattered by this performance, which my friend decided to show. The mare I fucked twenty minutes ago.

"So what are you up to? Pseudo Fluttershy." Discord said and made a blank face, trying not to look the changeling queen in the eye.

But Chrysalis, instead of answering, standing behind the lord of Chaos stood up, putting her front hooves on Discord's shoulders, to start giving him a massage!

Discord. To put it mildly, he was shocked by such an act of Queen Chrysalis and chaotic wings flew in different directions. He began rolling his eyes in pleasure and moaning in a rough, old voice, pointing out to this Pseudo Fluttershy where best for her to massage his back.

Pseudo Fluttershy (Chrysalis) tilted her head to his ear and licked him shamelessly, from which Discord began to writhe in ecstasy, and then whispered to him. "Well and how? Do you like it? By the way, I guessed long ago that you were pretending to be asleep!"

Such a statement by Chrysalis caused Discord to turn sharply to her and grab her in his arms to bring her to his knees. From which she screeched in surprise, but her voice was completely like Fluttershy. She lay in Discord's lap modestly pressing her hooves to her stomach and at the same time looking at him from behind the pink mane that fell on her face. The Chaos Lord bent his head towards her and spoke in a way that Autumn Blaze and I could clearly hear.

“I have no doubt that you understand this, but you know me. I'm always such a joker! Also, I know that you love to make love, so you should be watched. You are an exhibitionist. I don’t blame you for this. This is your essence. Please, Chrissy, don't play on my feelings for Fluttershy. What was between us is the past..."

Pseudo Fluttershy turned into Chrysalis again. She reached out her hoof to her cheek of strife to stroke it gently. “Everything will be at your word, my friend Discord, forgive me for that. Now you can let me go. Will you believe that I really care about you?"

"I believe Chrissy... Therefore, I am on good terms with you. Well, you, or rather your abilities, will be useful to me on the way to the Source of Chaos." Discord said, still looking into the eyes of Chrysalis, and then he let her out and she jumped off his knees, rolled over onto her stomach and got to her feet to come and sit next to me.

Autumn Blaze and I continued to watch this picture all this time in silence, and I did not notice how Autumn sat closer to me. I hugged her neck in a friendly way and offered to tell her story. Or rather why she has been alone for seven months.

"Well, of course! I'll tell you. But I don’t promise details. After all, during this time I managed to forget something! What? Try to live in the forest yourself and at the same time being able to communicate, only with those who cannot answer you ... sometimes I feel on the verge of collapse!” Said Autumn Blaze to the three of us and just opened her mouth when Discord interrupted her.

“So stop. Stop. Stop!" Discord protested, covering the Autumn Blaze mouth with his hand. To which she looked inquiringly at Lord of Chaos ... Then her eyes lit up strangely! She pulled his hand out of his mouth. Her mane flashed with a bluish-red magic fire!

What's happening? I thought and felt a sharp rise in temperature in the air, so that my clothes began to warm me like in a sauna!

"I'll be damned!" I screamed in panic and jumped aside as if my life depended on it! I was struck by the heat of the fire from that mane ... "Autumn Blaze!? What the fuck is this?"

Time has slowed down.

Chrysalis and I reacted in seconds! Rather, two seconds.

I ran to get gloves and glasses to put them on in a hurry. If they don't work ... And that will be very bad. After all, the work of gloves is activated only by a built-in earpiece in technological glasses. Chrysalis, using her wings, flew up to the ceiling of the grotto, screaming curses towards Discord and all living things. She began charging her horn to use some kind of magic. This fiery mare began to slowly approach Discord, who also managed to react in time and fly to the side. The look and eyes of this mare were clearly menacing.

Thank God! My glasses are still working. The charge level is normal. I gave the command to fire darts, and three loaded barrels jumped out of my gloves (I remember that there are only two shots in my right hand). I aimed my left hand at this fiery kirin, which was slowly approaching Discord.

But Discord, seeing what I want to do, just waved his head at me in a negative gesture. He snapped his fingers and a fire extinguisher appeared in his hands, which he hastened to use. He put out the fire of this fiery creature, and in a few seconds there was a wet and embarrassed Autumn Blaze in front of our eyes.

Poor and completely wet Autumn Blaze squatted down and lowered her head sadly. Foam and moisture dripped off her, from which her appearance was really pathetic. And I felt uneasy from this sight. I ran up to her and sat down and hugged her to my chest. Heh at the same time wiping it off with her already disheveled clothes. And I don't care about her, maybe I can get myself some newer outfit. And Rarity is far away now. But not about this speech. Autumn Blaze burst into tears and turned her head towards me to hug me back.

Chrysalis descended to the ground again and quietly approached us, just like Discord.

"Calm down. Calm down Autumn!" I hugged the wet Autumn even tighter and continued to soothe her. As much as I can from my life experience. "Autumn ... Sweet Autumn. Please forgive us all if we could offend you in any way. But can you tell us what happened?"

She looked at me with her tear-stained eyes, her wet mane pressed against her neck, but she was able to smile.

What, however, she has a quickly changeable mood.

"Not. Forgive me for this ... um ... awkward moment. It started with me just four months ago. It just happens on an emotional level. And I honestly don't like being interrupted! Although such magical seizures began with me when I was left alone.” Said Autumn Blaze in an unusually calm tone and whispered in my ear. “Thank you for comforting me. It was necessary."

"I will know this for the future." I answered in a quiet and gentle voice.

I picked up Autumn Blaze. And she did not react badly to it, on the contrary, she allowed me to show concern. And to be honest, at this moment I wanted to give everything that I was wearing, in return to receive a large towel to wipe off Autumn.

What is happening to me? I've never been that kind of person! I was not ready to sacrifice for someone else. But several days passed ... And my heart became more receptive to this world. I'm shivering again with cold and moisture, but I brought the mare in my arms closer to the fire and took off my frayed shirt to start wiping all the moisture off Autumn. All this time she looked into my eyes, and I saw how gradually her smile disappeared, and surprise came in her place. Chrysalis came up to us and began to consider my caring actions with curiosity. Discord is great. He understood what was happening.

"Forgive me for distracting you. But can I help you? Do you remember Heart Path my promise?" Discord said and patted me on the shoulder in a friendly way to get my attention. Well, I could not understand what was happening the first time. Generally. I was totally focused on caring for this mare! But we only met her a few hours ago...

Chrysalis came up to me and slapped me on the cheek with a wing, I looked at her in surprise, and then at Discord, standing on the left, who stood up and looked at me, raising an eyebrow. Then I looked again at the mare, which I was carefully trying to wipe off the water. Autumn Flame looked at me with a twinkle in her eyes. The tears in her eyes were already dry, and she smiled at me and put her hoof on my chest.

“Thank you, of course, for taking such care of me Heart Path, but I'm already quite dry. Unlike you. Hehe." She spoke in a cheerful voice and quietly slipped out of my embrace, and then walked around our fire on the other side, all the while not taking her eyes off me.

I received an unexpected but not strong blow to the head with a hoof.

"Hmm ... But you didn't give a damn about me when the sea wave covered me!" Said Chrysalis, pretending to pout her lips. But then she broke down and laughed, and her laugh was infectious. Because even Discord could not stand it and also laughed, and after him, and Autumn, and then me...

"Fuck you all!" I swore innocently and wearily lay on my back to catch my breath, and then spoke. “Forgive me for this bout of concern. To be honest, I haven't noticed this before. And ... Autumn, come on tomorrow tell us your story, otherwise today I am very tired. So much in just one day! You have no idea what these experiences are. But I am still grateful to fate that I am here now. With all of you. Good night everybody!"

Chrysalis and Autumn Blaze, as well as Discord, continued to talk quietly about something for some time. But what exactly I did not understand any more, because the dream quickly covered me with my head. And I plunged into the realm of dreams. Today, in truth, it was a very difficult and eventful day. Just think how many events! And I’m still alive, and I have friends with me. After a while, I felt someone's body pressed against me, first on the right and then on the left. But I was already, not in time for how to react. Although I already guessed by sensations. Chrysalis and Autumn.

Luna! If you can hear me, please ... don't leave me. I'm worried about how it went this afternoon. And we never found the time to talk to you. We are always separated by something! What are the difficulties. Obstacles. I remember the first time we met. And I will not forget this. You have become my guiding star in this world. Forgive me for perhaps letting you down. But I give you my word that you will be proud of me. For the one whom you decided to bring to this world. So did Celestia and Discord. I only pray that your heart can still find a place for me. After all, you are not indifferent to me ... And on these last thoughts, more like a prayer, I fell asleep.

Dream of Heart Path.

The fog in front of my eyes dissipated and I saw an evening field in front of me... A BATTLE FIELD!

What's happening? I cannot control my sleep. And I feel it as if it were real.

I stood in formation on four legs, and before my eyes in a magical grip was a battle bow. It was unusual to feel in this position. In my forehead, I felt some kind of additional process and, having examined it to the end, I saw a horn, and the stallion's property dangled between my legs! I'm a unicorn? Heh. I never thought I'd see this. My character turned his head in different directions and you could see how several dozen identical unicorns in light scaly armor, short blue skirts on the croup, covering their hind legs (hooves) just above the knees (apparently, these skirts have some purpose and designation detachment, affiliation) and helmets like those of legionnaires, directed their bows towards the field. Our line was tight and flat. Yes, it turns out I'm kind of like a unicorn archer in the army. I heard the voice of a stallion from the middle of the formation. Apparently, it was the commander.

Author's note: The armor in the picture is an exact copy, only in a dream it was armor on a pony!

My character turned his head back and saw two more lines at a distance of three meters each. And about fifty meters behind our formation was (as I understand it) heavy infantry, consisting mainly of earth ponies. They found themselves in a completely unusual position! They squatted down and placed blue shields (Scutum) in front of them, holding them with their left hoof, and the emblems on the shields showed the sunrise over the sea. I wonder what this sign could mean? (For reference: Earth ponies used this shield only in a standing position, as it required the use of the left front hoof. But during the movement, such a legionnaire, an earth pony, attached a shield to his back. Melee using Gladius and Scutum, legionnaires) took positions and crouched again, and if they needed to use an attack on the move, they simply rammed the enemy with their armored body, to which a spear was attached on the right side. Therefore, only the hardy and brave Earth Ponies were recruited into these troops. If the earth pony (legionnaire) needed to change a throwing weapon, then he held the Scutum with his left hoof, blocking the enemy's attack from the front, and his right hoof keeps the pilum at the ready when firing! For the armored Earth Pony (dressed in armor Lorica Segmentata), all they need is an increase in speed relative to the direction of the enemy, who, having seen such a deadly ram, simply fled the battlefield in panic!

Damn it! Personal thoughts are something that I could hardly control in this dream!

“All archers remain in their places, even if it hurts from the return fire! All we have to do is fire five rounds and stretch our formation so the heavy infantry behind us can pass through our ranks. And then these guys get into close combat! Remember, we are missing pegasus! So we have no air cover! Accordingly, our task will be to destroy air targets. But in the name of Princess Celestia, DON'T DARE SHOW YOUR Asses WITHOUT My Order! Calm down... I can already hear the sound of the wings of these vile changelings! Get ready to shoot!" The commander shouted at the same time in the cheerful voice of an enthusiast. An approving hum came from our ranks!

“Yes, commander! Let's show these changelings! For the glory of PRINCESS CELESTIA" All the unicorns of our unit screamed.

My unicorn (that is, this is me, in a dream) squatted down, continuing to hold the battle bow in a magical aura, and began swinging his right hoof upward, singing a battle cry with his squad and glorifying the rule of Princess Celestia. I noticed that the color of my hoofed character's coat was a shade of light purple, since that part of the hoof, starting from the flexion joint, had no armor. I also began to feel how a belt was attached to my back, on which a short sword (Gladius) hung on its left side, and on the other side a quiver with arrows and some kind of pouch, in which some bottles were ringing, and probably there was food. I do not know and cannot verify this. Since I am just an observer in this dream, with a view from the eyes of a unicorn-archer.

I felt the hoof of my comrade in arms pat me on the shoulder in a friendly way and I turned my head towards this warrior. At that moment I noticed how the long black mane hanging from my shoulders began to flutter in the wind.

“If anything, then remember how we agreed with you, my friend Heart Path! We will stick together no matter how this fight ends. I'll cover you, so don't be afraid. And I'm counting on you too. Good luck to all of us! I also began to hear the sound of wings...” The pink unicorn spoke to me with a short purple mane protruding from under his helmet. Then he winked at me and smiled. Then, putting on a serious face, he took the arrow out of his quiver and clamped it in his jaw.

"Yes, my friend Valiant Romantic! I will cover you too." And for the first time in all this time, I more clearly heard the voice of my character. It was the pleasant voice of a young stallion, filled with a touch of bass.

Stop! What? Did he just say my name? I am not deaf and I definitely heard! And this dream resembles an isolated version of a historical event. I see everything as in reality and feel everything exactly the same! Heck! We must get out of here!

I turned my head forward and did the same, pulled the arrow out of the quiver and clamped it in my teeth.

I was not lucky. Definitely! My character in a dream has a long mane like a rocker! Damn, it hangs below the shoulders. This long mane began to creep into my eyes from the wind and, of course, partially blocked my view from the helmet! But what I definitely felt in my body was a lot of muscle.

"All get ready to fire!" Our commander ordered, and we all took out another arrow to draw on the bowstring of our battle bows.

I saw about two hundred black dots moving across the sky and across the field in our direction. Someone from behind began to give orders to the formation. As far as I understood, these were the commanders of other units. My gaze darted from the sky to the field, and what at first were only dots, now turned into separate images of the enemy. The enemy slowed down and eventually stopped. These changelings also had some sort of armor and melee and ranged weapons. Those changelings that soared in the sky rushed towards us, picking up speed to attack our forward formation!

I kept in sight the approaching air targets and very much hoped that I would hit someone. Otherwise, it won't be fun for us! Well, it's just NOT FUN at all! Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that their ground troops were also galloping rapidly towards our positions. It's just ... They started to bypass us! SMART CHILDREN of bitches! Behind me, I heard the screams of the commanders, and then the clang of metal armor. Apparently, they began to rebuild their positions in such a way as to prevent encirclement. But here we are, left without cover! And if our commanders screw up, I will find them in this or that world! And I swear I'll kick those horse asses! Always the commanders are some idiots! No, I started getting angry with them early on. I heard part of the heavy infantry rushing to our position. If only they had time to make it. I already feel how some of my comrades, including myself, will begin to emit slight tremors in their legs! Well, what do you think? You are now looking at all this from the outside, and I am here! On the battlefield! And some black attack aircraft are flying at us. Damn bastards, now they will sweep away our line of archers, and then our heavy infantry will suffer from their blows from the sky!

"Targeting air targets!" Our commander gave the order. Yes, and so, in principle, I understood that the air target was prioritized.

All unicorns aimed their combat bows in the sky, at the approaching enemy, the distance to them was reduced to about a hundred meters. But we must take into account that the wind in the air will be stronger than here on the ground. Now I began to understand why I have such a long mane! I'm an idiot! In the direction of the flapping of my mane, I calculated. And took aim at the approximate hit point with the target.

"OPEN FIRE!" Our commander screamed in such a voice that I almost dropped my battle bow from my magical aura!

FWOOSH!!!

The first volley and clouds of arrows from our positions flew into the air, towards the enemy, but not only arrows ... Yes. I also noticed magic missiles flying from somewhere far from our rear units, which means that we still have the support of the magicians! Good news, sweat has gone from my face (the stallion). Heh. We quickly reloaded the arrow we were holding with our teeth and fired another volley! I began to notice how changelings, screaming in pain and horror, began to fall from a height, being wounded or killed...

I loaded the third arrow, and then my eyes widened in horror! Now a bunch of shells were flying at us from the sky, among which were both arrows and magic rays of green and gray shades!

“ALL KEEP POSITION! CONTINUE FIRING!" Our commander screamed ... But after that he got a magic projectile in his back. He died just after he gave his last order.

FWOOSH!!!

Arrows and all this chaos began to fall on us. They were knocked down only by the wind from the ground. And thank God! These idiots continued to shoot on the move, which made their accuracy lower than ours. But whatever this war, which I now see through the eyes of this unicorn, is absolutely terrible. I can hear their shells falling on our positions, impacts on the ground, dust rising and the screams of dying comrades.

“And they can mow us down here! But the commander is dead and ordered to shoot further! How are you there? Valiant alive?" I shouted with concern in my voice, hoping that my friend was alive after the enemy's return fire.

I asked my friend. But I dared not turn my head in his direction. Because it is simply impossible to distract from shooting at changelings who will bring us down from the sky with dense fire! Our unit fired more than five volleys of fire, and we continued to stand, despite the fact that we suffered losses! And we heard and saw changelings approaching us and galloping in our direction.

"Of course I'm alive! Idiot! Yes, there are already two arrows sticking out in my ass and I am of course silent about the fact that there are already three of them in you! The question is: how do we not notice the pain at all? Is that Adrenalin? Or that potion called Celestia's Blessing does it affect us in this way? Ahh Shit! I think I killed someone!" My friend's answer was very funny, and I nevertheless decided to look at him out of the corner of my eye and at the same time pull out another arrow from the quiver for another volley!

I noticed that two arrows were sticking out of his buttocks, but my friend continued to shoot, as I did.

“Now is not the time for jokes! Now we will be swept away by enemy ground forces. Look at their changelings, the ones in the air, they stopped shooting! This is a bad sign for us!" I answered quickly. And then, looking back, I saw a formation of heavy infantry, which could not pass through our formation in time, because we did not let them through in time! They simply created a formation in the form of a Turtle and they were absolutely indifferent to the arrows of the enemy flying at them. But now, when the enemy stopped firing from the air, and their ground troops had already approached us at a distance of about fifty meters. I decided to take on interim command.

I shouted a command to all the surviving unicorn archers. "Faster! All archers, extended formation! IMMEDIATELY!"

“Yes, commander!” And I saw how our formation, or rather what was left of it, began to carry out the command. And it was on time.

Our heavy infantry finally waited for us to let them pass, laid their shields on their backs, and prepared spears for a frontal assault on the changeling ground forces. But we must not lose our vigilance, and I ordered our detachment, emerging from the rear of our heavy infantry, to continue to control the enemy in the sky and on the flanks.

"Hey. What are you? Decided to become an officer?" My friend the Valiant asked me with a smile.

"No! But someone had to be in command! Otherwise we would all have died here! And now let's go!" I shouted to my friend, and ran forward, on the way shooting at the enemy flying above us.

Our heavy infantry quickly passed through our ranks, and I saw the changelings, determined to attack us from the field with their ground units, stopped and put their shields forward. And our land ponies at a gallop regrouped into a wedge and began to pick up speed for a frontal attack into the center of the enemy formation. But the enemy on the flanks began to put pressure on our infantry units. If it were not for the heavy armor of the enemy foot troops, then I'm sure they would have just all launched a massive attack from the sky! But the changelings' heavy infantry played their part. But I'm not a very experienced soldier yet, so I don't understand a lot.

Our squad of unicorn archers galloped after our earth ponies. My friend Valiant Romantic and I were driving along the right flank of our free formation. I see how the wedge of our earth ponies crashed into the enemy's ranks with such force that some changelings began to scatter in different directions, with screams of horror threw down their weapons and fled. But not all ... Several dozen changelings took this battle with particular fury. In the distance, the screams of the wounded and the dead could be heard. Moreover, on both sides. The heavy infantry legionaries pulled out their gladiuses and hacked them to the right and left, trying to maintain a tight formation. The changelings that flew in the sky and continued to shoot at us from time to time also formed a wedge. But their sole purpose was to help the remaining ground units strike from the sky to engage in close combat.

The dust from under our hooves rose so much that those who ran behind us were simply covered with mud. In the meantime, I heard how our heavy infantry, seeing the enemy's maneuver from the sky, began to rebuild into a turtle.

"Get ready for hoof-to-hoof combat!" I shouted, turning my head to the left. The unicorns who understood the possible fate of death looked at me like I was crazy, but they all followed the order. They tucked their battle bows onto their straps behind their backs and pulled out a gladius with a magical aura.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Asked me the Valiant, but he himself began to peer into the sky and hastened to draw his sword. He understood that he would now be waiting for us. And if we do not tear off a part of the attacking enemy from the sky (we are already an exhausted detachment of archers), then our heavy infantry will be surrounded and destroyed. Even if not right away. But earthen ponies, although they were hardy, strong stallions, will not be able to maintain a defensive formation for a long time. They need help! By the way, it was they who saved us five minutes ago. It's time to pay back the debt.

"Aaaa!!!" The wounded comrades screamed and fell to the ground writhing in pain. Several of our guys received a magic arrow and died on the spot. Only now I realized that here we can die. Only a miracle can save us!

Arrows and magical projectiles fell next to me, which, crashing into the ground, formed waves of dust in the air, but spurred on our legionnaires, who tightly closed their ranks with shields and even from air attacks. And only the clang of metal from striking the shields of the legionnaires was heard in the area. At this time, the enemy descended from the air to the ground at some distance from the legionnaires who were occupying the position and began to fire from their bows, and they began to gallop around us, looking for weak spots. There are four dozen of our unicorn archers left. Our arrows have long run out, and we have entered close combat to help our legionnaires at least somehow! Many had wounds on their hooves and were clearly limping. The blood on our faces and our bodies was already something common. Help us Celestia! I noticed that the wounded centurion of the legionnaires was lying on the ground with his hoof pressed to his face. He was hit hard in the left shoulder and face. Their deans were also wounded and some were killed.

“For the glory of Equestria!!! INTO BATTLE!!" All the unicorns screamed at the same time. And our species was clearly formidable to enemies.

The changelings saw what the pony light infantry was capable of.

Our formation entered into close combat, on the flanks, and at that moment the earth ponies finally began to remove their shields and also fought off the changelings using melee weapons.

I was fighting some cruel changeling, and when I chopped off his head to watch him roll on the ground and his body fell dead, a new enemy flew in his place, so I was already diving and jumping from side to side, trying be saved. Me and my friend who was also busy fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that he was wounded in the left hoof, from which blood was flowing. Heck! I heard the whistle of a spear flying at me, but when I turned towards the sound, I almost crap on the spot! The spear hung in a magical aura ... and then fell to the ground. I looked at the one who changed his telekinesis and my heart began to skip! There, unarmed, lying on the ground and fighting only with hooves against two changelings, was my friend the Valiant Romantic!

"Die, scum!" I screamed, ran up and pushed with the front hooves of the changeling, who was about to thrust his blade into my friend.

I turned abruptly and hit the second changeling with the hind hooves, from which he flew to the side and fell with screams of pain.

Several of our unicorns ran up to us to help in the battle, but the enemy, seeing that their attacks on the ground were doomed, and also discovering that we were the only squad of archers, now actually ceased to exist as a squad, decided to go on a trick and climb sky to destroy us by shooting bows. Of our unicorn archers, only nine stallions remain. And everyone had wounds and bloody marks on their bodies. We were dying but not retreating. And so we helped fight off most of the attackers of our changeling legionnaires. (And since these changelings were aerial attackers, they had almost no armor or light fur vests. They could be called light infantry.)

"Hey! Heart Path, Thank! You have always been a good friend. I will die with honor and pride that I fought shoulder to shoulder with you!“ Valiant Romantic said to me, and limping, he came up to me to sit down next to me and hug my shoulder in a friendly manner. He smiled at me with his merry bloody face. I turned my head from side to side to remember for the last time the place where my comrades and I would die, and then I looked at the sky behind... My eyes widened in surprise. For a few seconds I was speechless. I was no longer distracted by the sounds of the battle taking place far from us and the screams of dying enemies and comrades in arms.

“Valiant Romantic! It's not time for us to die!" Then I went and picked up the nearest shield of the deceased legionnaire. "Faster! All find yourself shields! Now we will hide behind them, from the arrows of changelings!"

Valiant followed my gaze like all other unicorns, and there was hope in our eyes!

"HURRAH!" The remaining unicorn archers screamed and hurried to find their shields. (Fortunately, there were many on the battlefield.) “Celestia didn’t leave us in trouble! Faster, guys, let's hide behind the shields!" One of my comrades shouted.

Well done! This unicorn is a resourceful guy! Yes, I already saw that several hundred Praetorian Pegasus were flying from our positions in the sky above us! So my character got his luck in this dream!

"And why didn't I think to do it right away?!" Valiant asked me, lifting the legionary's shield he had found.

"Don't blame yourself. During the battle, sometimes we can lose concentration. But we are lucky! Praetorian Pegasus from the reserve of the command of the fleet are flying to our aid!" I said trying to cheer up all the unicorns.

My comrades and I found each of us a shield, then we formed our little turtle, in the hope that we can stretch out for a little more time behind cover. I looked through the gap between our shields. A dirty and bloody long mane stuck to my nose. The mane, which today helped me determine the direction of the wind and more accurately shoot from a combat bow. Several dozen surviving changelings circled the sky. They craved blood and revenge. Revenge for defeat! Our heavy infantry still sat, covered with shields, awaiting enemy action. The poor fellows lost all their commanders, and they themselves were exhausted by this battle. But they were able to save our asses in time, and we did not remain in debt. If we survive, we'll get drunk! Of their entire detachment, half of the soldiers remained. And this is undoubtedly a great loss! But, we were not going to retreat. We did not have such an order. Heh. Those recruited into this legion are obviously brave and desperate stallions.

It seemed to me that someone was trembling with nerves and, probably, experienced an excess of feelings that day. And my friend nodded to me and gave me a friendly push on the shoulder, from which I looked at him in surprise, and decided to entertain the guys a little.

"Hey. Guys? Did you know that there are dozens of barrels of wine in the tent of our late centurion?" Asked our detachment the Valiant Romantic.

"How did you know about this, Valiant?" Someone asked him from behind.

I can hear the familiar whistle slicing through the air! These are arrows! Stop joking, you will be covered with a rain of arrows! I was able to cut through my thoughts again in my sleep. And, surprisingly, my character reacted to this by shaking his head slightly from side to side while shaking the mane off his nose at the same time. It feels like he heard me! Maybe I can talk to him?

FWOOSH!!!

"Yes, because..." But he did not have time to finish, as arrows began to crash into our shields!

"Here they are assholes! Not only do they prevent us from talking, they also decided to make a test on the strength of our shields!" Valiant said, and pressed closer to me sideways. Although I noticed that he was trembling with fear.

"Okay, tell us what kind of wine our late centurion has, after all this chaos is over! Hang on, guys! Reinforcements are already arriving. I can hear the screams and war cry of Her Majesty Princess Celestia's Pegasus Praetorians." I tried to shout down these sounds of flying arrows. And the ringing from hitting our shields. It is good that the legionnaires' shields were strong.

My gaze began to examine my left hoof and horn, as if trying to galvanize the extent of the wounds received in battle. But mostly there was changelings blood on my hooves. But from my ass, no matter how ridiculous it may sound, three arrows still stick out. With a grimace on my face, I turned on my croup to make sure that I saw it once again. And yes, my eyes do not fail me. I also looked at my comrades and, unfortunately, everyone had a similar complaint. So I'm not the only one here Hedgehog.

Someone noticed that I was conducting such an examination and with a crooked smile decided to joke at me.

"Listen. Heart Path! Of course, I understand that we look like attractive stallions in this form, but you nevertheless took the time for this!"

“Fuck you! Now, no one cares that Celestia's Blessing is gradually waning? This means that in about five minutes, we will begin to feel a lot of pain from all of these wounds! So I highly recommend drinking another bottle of this potion. well, or clamp your tongue with your teeth! Otherwise, you will scare off all the dead when all these arrows are pulled out of your ass. I still don’t know why our cereals should not be protected by armor from the entire part of the body! And instead of him some kind of skirt, supposedly for protection from the cold. It's funny..." I answered with a joke, and we laughed...

I looked through the slit of my shield and saw the arrows of the enemy sticking out of it. And in the sky above us at full speed and battle cry "Glory to Princess Celestia!" about two hundred pegasus flew by. The changelings stopped firing long ago. They were in the minority, and just desperately trying to fight for life and death.

We threw our shields on the ground and squatted, raised our hooves in greeting, and in the same way glorified the name of the princess of the sun.

We were saved. When I turned to my friend, I saw that he bowed his head in exhaustion. And his hoof was still bloody from the wound. I went up to him to hug.

"Valiant! Everything is fine. We survived in this Tartarus. And today we will drink the same wine from the centurion's tent to honor the memory of all those who fell in this battle."

He raised his head and took off his helmet. I did the same. Then he wiped the blood off his face with his hoof and looked into my eyes. I noticed a lone tear rolling from his eye, which crawled down his cheek, washing away the clotted blood along the way and falling to the ground. I followed this drop of tear until it fell, and then slowly raised my head to look into my friend's eyes. But he didn't want to say anything. Then I did it.

"What's the matter with you Valiant?"

“You know, I've always wondered, even though you and I have been in this service for almost a year, why should we fight changelings? What is their fault? Are they guilty of what nature and magic have done to them so that they become predators of the senses?“ He said these words not out loud, but only so that I could hear him, and he began to shake my shoulders, urging that I hear and understand his hints.

But I ... understood him perfectly. And what did he mean. And I agree with him. Therefore, taking his hooves off my shoulders, I conspiratorially and in a whisper told him. "Hush. Calm down Valiant. I give you my word. We'll find out for sure." Then I winked at him, to which he smiled and gave me a friendly hoof in the shoulder.

We were interrupted by the approaching stomp of many pairs of hooves, and we looked with surprise in the direction from which several dozen ponies were approaching us. They galloped in our direction, from our rear. I looked at our small unit and noticed that they were all just tired and therefore, while awaiting further orders, they simply decided to take care of themselves and their weapons. Someone drank bottles with healing tinctures, and someone, helping his comrade, took an arrow out of his ass. I suddenly remembered...

"Valiant! It seems Primus Pilus is approaching us with his entourage of guards! Listen, could you help me? Well ... Get those arrows out of my ass?"

Author's note: Primus Pilus
Highest rank centurion in the legion. Essentially the deputy commander of the legion.

“Heh and how can I do it, my friend Heart? Telekinesis? Or teeth?"

I looked at him with a raised right eyebrow and said. "Considering how much you worked today with your ... horn ... Then you probably have magical exhaustion, just like me. So be kind. Do it with your teeth. Just hurry up, Primus Pilus will soon come to us!"

Are these guys seriously going to do this kind of thing in front of the commander!?

"Yes, as you say Heart" My friend answered me and began to pull out arrows with his teeth. From which I experienced severe pain ...

"Ay FUCK! I forgot to drink the potion!" I screamed in pain and my eyes widened, and the leg from which they gave the first arrow expressed just a great desire to kick well, the one who hurts me! But I understood that my friend was doing it, and he showed his concern. So I restrained myself, instead I gave a bottle of pain reliever potion called Celestia's Blessing and started drinking it greedily, then I pulled out another small bottle that acts as a wound healing agent. It tastes completely disgusting, but if you want to live, then you will drink and not that!

A minute later, when Valiant finished this procedure, I did the same for him. Except he wasn't as stupid as I was and drank painkillers before I took two arrows out of his ass.

The other seven unicorns laughed quietly and without malice at our actions, but then their faces changed ... Respect? And they came up to the two of us one by one to express their gratitude. Thank you for staying alive... Then they lined up, just as Primus Pilus approached us with his officers and bodyguards. In the neighborhood there was a terrible picture of the past battle, there were many killed, both from our side and from changelings. He looked around the battlefield and stood against us. All the unicorn archers bowed. Everyone except me. I didn't bow!

Primus Pilus approached me and looked at me seriously and decided to ask his own question. "What is your name? Soldier."

I looked into the eyes of this stallion, but in my soul I had only thoughts about spitting in his face! But I answered. "Privatus, Heart Path."

He looked seriously into my eyes, then moved his head back behind me and at the rest of the unicorns, who were still bowing before the senior officer. And he spoke in a commanding voice.

“I ask all the ponies to stand up! And look everyone at this stallion!" He pointed his hoof in my direction and continued. "You are all glorious warriors of the Equestria Kingdom! You fought with dignity with your enemies and were able to win, and most importantly, survive!"- he said his last words with sincere respect for us. "And since your squad has suffered serious losses, out of eighty unicorn archers, I see only nine ... The wounded are still being carried out of the battlefield. Your squad of nine stallions is being transferred to a reconnaissance group under my personal command. You were brave today. You now have experience. And you Heart Path are appointed by Decanus and take command of the remaining unicorn archers. Now go to the camp, rest and drink to victory!“ Primus Pilus finished his speech, turned and went to inspect the old battle. One of the officers of the suite ran up to me and handed me a blue ribbon with two orange horseshoes, symbolizing my new position.

Author's note: Decanus Commander of 10 soldiers with whom he shared a tent.

I put on my helmet and looked at my subordinates.

"Well guys!? Let's go do what we were given permission to! Aha. Exactly. We will drink to victory!"

All the unicorns looked at me with smiles and walked towards the camp. I remained standing, Valiant came up to me, and, as always, put his hoof on my shoulder, promising eternal friendship.

“Congratulations, my friend Heart Path! You are now Decanus! Come on, I'll tell you where our former commander hid the extra barrel of wine!" Valiant told me and we both laughed slightly.

It was already beginning to get dark outside, the sun was already setting below the horizon, when we approached the camp and began to put up tents for the night. The drunken stallions, however, made noise in the legion's camp. In some places I even heard the neighing of young mares, and sometimes lustful moans. But today I am overwhelmed with emotions and experiences. So when Valiant and I finished setting up our tents, we started preparing dinner. But first we went to a temporary bathhouse set up in the camp to wash off all this dirt. Our bodies sighed, but our hearts were still heavy. And we sat down by the fire to enjoy delicious camping porridge and ... as promised, a barrel of wine. I looked up at the night sky and saw the moon flashing like winking at me. It was at this moment that I felt out of place. There seems to be something mysterious going on here. But I was so tired that I decided to take a break from all deep thoughts...

Some stallions, obviously musicians at heart, played the flute with their talent. Someone put themselves in order after the fight. Several unicorns from the hospital carried the wounded to the tent of the temporary hospital for treatment. In general, despite the fact that the evening was dark, the legion's camp had its own life, and it was quite noisy. There are at least a thousand ponies of us here. The landing from the sea lasted until evening. And our vanguard squad of unicorn archers and some two hundred Earth ponies of heavy infantry were to land first from the Quinquerems to create a foothold for the rest of the legion.

Something this dream dragged on for a long time. I'm already afraid not to wake up. What's here? Already gradually I began to feel the reality taking place! And it seems to me that I live right now, at this time. Be a four-legged creature. A pony, or rather a stallion, a unicorn archer, and now also a scout! Luna, if you can hear me, please help me get out of here! I know that you are the ruler of the kingdom of dreams and I need your help ... please.

Me and my friend, as well as the rest of the unicorns, now from my reconnaissance unit, sat by two fires, each sharing what was in his heart. We sat down and drank wine during our short rest. And rightly so, such pain as war can only be quenched with wine!

But Princess Luna didn't hear me. Eh, well then I just have to watch this story further. And take part in it as an observer.

I was sitting near the fire, and like a madman, I continued to look at the shimmering moon, and in my magical aura hung a mug filled with a noble drink. But Valiant noticed this and began to show interest, as always with the curiosity of a close friend.

“Listen, Heart Path, I understand that you are still impressed with everything that happened during the day, but ... What worries you this time? Can you tell me? Am I your close friend after all."

I sharply turned my head towards him, as if coming to my senses! But what was it? And why do I have some strange feelings? Maybe this is how the consequences of the battle affect?

"What?" I said in a shocked voice. And then my eyes caught a mug of wine hovering in my magical grip. And it brought me to my senses a little, I began to feel reality more seriously. Otherwise, I started imagining some kind of crap. What I am, this is not me. And I shouldn't be here right now! This is some kind of nonsense!

I am not sleeping! And this is reality! It's... it looks like I'm starting to go crazy.

"Valiant! Do you know if there could be a side effect of the Blessing of Celestia potion, assuming our Legion is the first to start testing in practice?"

"Hmm ... If this is really interesting to you, then why don't you ask our medics who give us these potions?" Valiant answered me and crossed his hooves across his chest with a grin.

"Okay. Valiant Romantic, forgive me for making you worry about me. In fact, I am still impressed with what is happening today!" I said and drank the whole mug of wine in one gulp. My eyes widened instantly, from the sensation of a severe burn in my stomach!

I opened my mouth, trying to catch my breath, but suddenly something new came into my thoughts! And I did not know that it was possible.

Yes. That's right, even in a dream I felt the taste and decent strength of this drink. And that (griffin tincture) that we drank with Major Quick Strike and Captain Bastion seemed like baby syrup to me compared to it. But this is the sensation of the stallion's body, in which I now observe my dream (well, or not quite a dream, I have already begun to doubt myself) and not my personal, human.

Yes, I brought my hoof to my nose and sniffed as much as possible. All the unicorns gradually distracted from their affairs and conversations in order to turn their attention to me. My friend Valiant's jaw dropped, and he couldn’t believe his eyes in what had just happened. I noticed this, and froze in a funny pose, with a hoof near my nose. My entire unit got up from their seats to gather around me with curiosity on their faces and one of them showed his concern by patting me on the back. And yet he spoke to me in a respectful tone.

“Wow. Heart Path. Commander, you've done the almost impossible! You drank this wine in one gulp and did not even bite to eat! And yet you still sit quietly without losing consciousness?"

I looked with my eyes at the unicorns surrounding me, and making a slightly indignant face, I decided to ask, showing pride I had not known before. "What have I done that might surprise you?"

"Ahahah! Hah. Ha. Yeah ... Guys! We should definitely be proud of our Decanus!"

All laughed, but this unicorn patted me respectfully on the shoulder. And then my friend Valiant, spoke in a serious tone, but his look was definitely kind.

"Are you serious? My friend, not a single stallion in the area is capable of drinking such wine in one gulp, and at the same time is in good condition. Usually, those who tried to do this fell after about twenty seconds. And then they behaved funny, for example jerking their hooves, trying to hit an invisible target!" Said Valiant and for the sake of interest, or maybe out of friendly mockery, he poured me more wine into a mug.

I heard such a statement, only raised an eyebrow and crossed my hooves in indignation on my chest. And then, looking at my poured full mug of wine, I repeated this trick. I drank this mug of wine in one gulp. All who looked at me was clearly shocked.

"Yes! This is our commander!" Proudly and loudly, one of the unicorns expressed his opinion.

After the second glass of wine, I felt good. And I began to forget that today we killed someone and lost someone...

Yes, these are serious thoughts! But I'm wondering what happens next with my character...

Gradually, all the unicorns went about their business, leaving Valiant and me alone. And we decided to talk to him a little, before going to bed. In the camp of the legion, the noise gradually decreased, and you could see how the patrols of legionnaires were walking, so I was calm. For now...

Valiant already drunk wine, suddenly decided to remind me of the past. “Heart Path. Remind me again what your cutie mark means. Well, I mean, these lines are tree-like roads, and there are little hearts at the end of them."

I smiled at my drunken friend, who was already yawning but was still a little cheerful. He really did his best for me. I realized this a long time ago.

“Oh, this is not the first time I’ve told you this! From a young age I began to take an interest in mares. Rather, I easily managed to find weaknesses in the psychology of each mare. This made it easier for me to find communication. and further action, with um ... mares! Yes. It all started when I was a curious foal. And I managed to seduce the filly. Well, it got even more reckless. Until I realized that this is my talent! I could subconsciously find a way to the very heart of the opposite. And at the same time, my tactics always changed, depending on the mare I wanted to get my hands on. Well, not only hugs. At the same time, I really feel love for these mares, most likely, this manifests itself on the mental level, I have some kind of aura or magic. And trust me, I don’t mean to say that I am a sex obsessed stallion! Not! On the contrary, I can really find the feeling of love by connecting my consciousness and energy to the right heart rate of the mare. I easily understand falsehood during sex, so sometimes they are afraid of me. They are afraid that I can read their hearts!"

Valiant Romantic answered me with a sigh and a smile. "As far as I know you, but I always liked to hear about your story ... Hahaha ..." My Friend broke down and laughed, and then wiped the tears of joy from his eyes and spoke again. “Heart Path! Conqueror of hearts, all mares, or the conqueror of their bodies! Sounds proud, doesn't it? In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if, when the time comes, you tell Celestia that you will fuck her on her own throne!"

And then I looked seriously into my friend's eyes, then laid my hoof amiably on his shoulder, and then lightly patted him. His words lit a fire in my soul! It was a challenge! And I accepted it unconditionally...

"I give you my word! And even more. I give you my heartfelt oath! In this life or in another. I will fuck our princess! And I will do it very sensually! Even on the throne!" I said, putting my right hoof to my heart. I do not regret my promise. I am confident that I will be able to fulfill it, even after many years ...

In fact, all this conversation between these characters started to amuse me until ... (I'm a stallion) I said those words! If I could somehow comment on this whole scene ... Why did it start to seem to me that we are one with this stallion?

My friend laughed heartily at my statement. "Aah hah! I love your self-confidence Heart Path! But why don't we make a friendly wager with you?" My friend Valiant Romantic told me and I think I noticed a spark in his eyes. He smiled slyly as he waited for an answer.

"Why not?" I said in a serious tone and brought my face closer, narrowing my eyes in anticipation of a catch.

My friend was lying on his side, his head propped on his hoof, and was still looking into my eyes. Different emotions were read on his face, or maybe we are just already drunk enough to say such things, completely without thinking about the consequences. It was already dark enough outside for the sounds of crickets to be heard somewhere. And although the nightlife in the legion's camp continued, among our reconnaissance detachment only my friend and I were awake. The fire from the fire, in which I left some wood, with my magic, continued to burn, and its brightness was reflected in our eyes.

"Do you think I'm so obsessed with this idea? Your oath is enough for me! And everything I've said before ... it's just the ravings of a drunken stallion. You are my Friend and I believe in you. And if it comes to that, I will only be sincere happy for you if you fuck Celestia! Even if it will be in about ... um ... well, let's put it this way. Seven hundred years! Don't take my words so seriously though. And don't look at me as a changeling you want to shoot with a bow."

“Fuck you! Are you kidding? Okay… Trust me, my promise will stand. Celestia! Wait for me! Even if it takes many years!" I noticed how several legionnaires approached us, and I seem to have begun to recognize some of the faces and coat colors of many of them! These are the same guys who saved us today!

"Good night to you warriors from the archery support unit!" One of the earth ponies said and bowed slightly, as did the other six stallions.

Valiant and I got up from our seats and looked at these stallions, who were not wearing normal armor, and my friend spoke first. "Glory to Celestia! These are the same guys who helped us survive today!" Valiant looked at me with a radiant smile, while these stallions were a little embarrassed by such a statement. But then I intervened.

"Greetings to the brave fighters of the 1th Marine Legion!" I walked over and shook each of them with a hoof, and even hugged someone! Earth ponies reciprocated my feelings, their faces showed only friendship and respect. And we smelled noticeably of wine. This is clear. Today, almost the entire legion is in this state.

So. So it turns out that I'm serving in a kind of analogue of the Marine Corps? Yeah. Exactly! I remembered those emblems on the legionnaires' shields. Now that explains a lot. And those blue skirts with waves painted on them also gave such a hint. It's just that I have not yet seen what the fleet of the ancient kingdom of Equestria consists of, which has slightly adopted the technology of humanity. Maximus Scipio, general of Equus' First Legion, donated to these ponies not much technology, according to Celestia. But she could not finish telling me the details ... And I will definitely find it out on occasion!

One of the earth ponies put his face on my shoulder and began to cry. To which I reacted very warmly. I was always moved by someone's tears. Especially tears of remorse. I felt the bitterness of loss and regret. A promise of something in the future. He looked at me with his tired eyes. And I, in turn, was able to notice the stitched wound on his face. It was not a sight for the weak. His shoulder was bent over. And I began to guess who I see now, and I am standing in a friendly embrace! Oh Celestia!

“Forgive us. We didn't want to interfere with your holiday. We just came to express our gratitude and regret to you. After all, your squad ... In fact, your squad took most of the blows today! And take our word for it. We, more precisely, our entire squad went to the Primus Pilus tent and literally bowed to ask for a reward for your squad, even if it would be a posthumous reward for some of you!" And after that the stallion wet my shoulder with tears. I decided to pat the stallion's back with a comforting hoof. He accepted my gesture and walked away from me, bowed, and then walked towards his tents.

The rest of the legionary stallions, in farewell, simply shook our hooves, and the last of them stopped beside me and said. "It was our centurion. He was able to survive that battle, although we gave him a potion of healing to drink. Thank you again! And good luck." This earth legionnaire pony turned and rode off to catch up with his comrades. I looked at it all as if I was in a trance, like my friend Valiant.

I watched these brave stallions leave us, but my left ear twitched and I instinctively turned in that direction to see the centurion walking in our direction. He was accompanied by four praetorian pegasus. Apparently, these are the guys who decided the outcome of the battle in the sky today! Well, thanks to Princess Celestia, whom I promised to fuck, she sent elite pegasus to help us! So she's not stupid. I like...

“Decanus, Heart Path! Private, Valiant Romantic! Follow us at the behest of Primus Pilus."

So what the hell do they want? These guys just had time to relax a little! Although I am familiar with the army.

"Okay. We will follow you." I answered and, with a loud yawn, made it clear to this officer that he was actually interfering with the rest here, although I certainly did not say it out loud.

My friend Valiant and I got up from our seats to go to the post of the deputy commander, accompanied by these guards.

"What do you think? Has he called us to give us a reward? " Valiant asked me as we walked towards our destination.

"Not. At such a time, we could not be called for a reward. There is something different here, and I feel that we should prepare ourselves for something serious." I answered my friend, and I tried to concentrate, because we are actually a little drunk now. And why the hell are we distracted at a moment like this? We'll find out now. And if I don't like it, then I ... will do what I am told. Damn it!

My friend, like me, was in good shape! Good wine. And I didn't even want to look for a free mare. And they were in our legion. It's simple. Without mares, stallions would be less disciplined and nervous. Therefore, in each legion there were several detachments of mares, who, by the way, were also trained in martial arts. So they were also considered legionnaires, only they performed other tasks in battle. Basically, they pulled the wounded out of the battlefield, helped them or kept the camp clean and tidy, and prepared food. Well, especially talented mares have found a vocation for themselves in narrower specialties, for example, scouts. But there were also such separate cohorts of the legion, consisting only of mares. They fought almost on a par with the stallions! Only they had lighter armor, so they were not considered the main fighting force.

As we walked to the tent of Primus Pilus, the Praetorian Pegasi behaved as disciplined as possible. But one of them gave us advice that we would be more calm. After all, we are going to the commander.

Valiant and I went into the tent to Primus Pilus, who at that moment with two other officers I did not know was looking at a map on his table and discussing something. But when he noticed that we entered, a smile appeared on his face. It feels like our arrival was for him something on the level of a fun respite.

"Heart Path. Valiant Romantic. I'm glad to see you again." He walked around the table and walked towards us while we both stood silently and waited for him to give us the opportunity to speak.

Then he turned his head to the table and pointed his hoof at the map, inviting us to come closer and see what he would show.

"Look here." He pointed with his hoof to a specific spot on the map and continued. “This village, not far from the forest and the sea, has recently been supplying provisions to our camp. About a hundred earth ponies live in this village, they undoubtedly believe in Princess Celestia because they pay taxes. But there is this problem. After our battle, runaway changelings in the form of ponies may hide in this village. You are not little foals, and it is not for me to explain to you the abilities of these creatures! Which, by the way, your Archery squad, just during today's battle, killed almost a quarter of all opponents coming at us!"

My friend and I carefully studied the map, provided that in our eyes, there was a slight cloudiness due to wine.

Then I looked at this officer seriously and spoke. “You want us to go to this village and check are there changelings hiding there?"

"Yes. You understood me correctly. But ... This is a challenging mission. Because you will travel to this village disguised as the purchasers of provisions for our legion. And there will be only three of you!"

These words of his made me a little wary. In fact, he gives us an order to go on a mission in which we may be in a very disadvantageous position!

"Heart Path, tomorrow morning go to reconnaissance. During this time, you will simply have time to relax! This is your third group member." The commander pointed with his hoof to the corner of his tent, where all this time stood some kind of pegasus in heavy praetorian armor.

“Quick Strike. Go here. And meet your comrades on this assignment." Then he looked at me at the moment when this pegasus came and stood next to me, and continued to speak. “Quick Strike is a former guardsman. He was transferred. to our legion, and in your assignment he will play the role of a messenger for communication with our legion, and in general he is a good warrior! Therefore, you send any report with this pegasus. Don't worry, so... Quick Strike is a capable guy... What's wrong with you!? And why are you looking at each other as if you know each other!? And not on the good side. I would like to know who I am sending on this important mission, so give me your explanation!"

Yes. So this pegasus, which is an exact replica of my friend from reality ... Is he his great-great-great-grandfather with the same name? The world is small. And this is definitely funny!

A brown pegasus came up to me, quite large, and slightly taller than me. I recognized him ... Ha.

“Oh hello, Quick Strike! How is your mother? Downy Feather!"

I was hit by a hoof in the jaw, from which I lost my balance a little. My jaw pain was contained by the wine I drank. So I slowly turned my head to look again into the eyes of this pegasus.

“This is my mom's greetings to you! True, it had to be verbal. But I decided to add a little from myself! After all, we are almost relatives!" Quick Strike told me. And meanwhile, rubbing my bruised jaw with my hoof, I tried to squeeze out a semblance of a smile. Moreover, everypony who was in this tent was very tense and reached for their weapons. Therefore, it was necessary to give understand that everything is fine. Well, almost...

I raised my hoof, urging everyone to calm down. "Everything is fine. It's just... We're familiar with Quick Strike. But for the most part, I know his mom." Then I rolled my eyes, remembering that moment, and decided to say a little personal. “Down Feather, good mare! We lived next door, and she turned to me for help!" I made a calm expression on my face and looked around everyone present. Yes. Everyone at that moment had a face expressing interest. You can understand them, you need to distract yourself from the war for at least five minutes. And I was for them the very find that will entertain them at this moment. But my friend Valiant tried not to give out his laugh, because he knew my story very well.

Primus Pilus looked at both of us at the beginning did not hide his displeasure, but only as I mentioned the mare... His gaze softened, and so did his voice. The other two officers pretended to be looking at the map, but in reality, they wanted to know the details! Huh.

“Um... Listen, guys. You can of course freely tell us what your problem is." Primus Pilus said, looked at me with a slight smile and waved his hoof urging me to continue the story.

Yes, it's interesting to me too.

"Are you seriously? I will not tell the details of the meeting with the beautiful mare!" Then I patted my so-called relative on the shoulder. Quick Strike gave me a more serious, even worried look, and then he spoke.

"Oh no. I understand, of course, that you did my mother a favor. There is only one BUT! My Father died in this war. And my mother got pregnant from you!" Quick Strike prodded me with its nose and looked me in the eyes with a stern look that felt the promise of punishment. “You are only four years older than me. Of course, I was happy for my mother that she was able to find herself someone who could comfort her. Maybe even fondle her. But I never expected that it was you who would become this asshole! You left for the war, leaving the mare! So congratulations, you will soon be a father. For this reason alone, I won't hit you in the horn!" Quick Strike finished his serious speech and walked away from me with a smile.

And his words undoubtedly surprised me. I felt ashamed. And I lowered my head slightly.

Wow. It's a drama. I never would have thought. Heh, my character will have a foal soon. True, as far as I understand, in this story the mare (the mother of this Pegasus Fast Strike) is older than my unicorn. Well, I will not hide, I am already becoming interested in seeing this dream to the end! I hope they won't wake me up.

The calmest in this command tent was my friend Valiant. He just walked over to me and put his hoof on my shoulder. "Calm down. Do not worry. Heart. Let's end the war and go home. You will be a happy father. Well, I'll help you as much as I can. And now we need to put our thoughts in order..." But he didn't have time to finish because I abruptly lifted my head and looked at Quick Strike.

“Forgive me, Quick Strike! I didn't know she got pregnant from me. But we had no serious plans ... If I die in this war. Promise you will bring and Down Feather my deepest apologies for leaving her!"

Pegasus listened to me and simply nodded in response. All the officers present were finally able to listen to us, and we all went to the map to check the routes and the location of the village again. I hope this isn't a suicide mission. We need to get better prepared, and we only have a few hours.

Primus Pilus watched us all this time, and, apparently, made some conclusions for himself. Then he looked closely into my eyes and spoke in his serious voice.

“If you have already dealt with this drama, I am glad for you! And now I ask you to collect your thoughts and focus on the upcoming mission. And now to business ... Tomorrow you will grab the cart and the corresponding scroll of the purchase order for the provisions for our legion. And the necessary amount of money." Then his eyes narrowed and he looked at everyone, then he hit the table with his hoof, which made the standing officers a little shocked. But they quickly came to their senses, knowing the manners of our commander." But do not think to spend money on entertainment! I know you young stallions! Of course, I allow you to spend the necessary expenses associated with staying in a local tavern, but nothing more!" Primus Pilus gave us his order, but then pointed his hoof in my face, and his eye was clearly twitching nervously. "And you, Heart Path! Don't even think about fucking the local mare! Yes! You understood me correctly. Otherwise, I will come to this village with my hundred legionnaires, and I will tear you apart in front of everypony!"

Valiant chuckled slightly at this statement from Primus Pilus, while I kept a calm expression on my face. It feels like I'm guilty of something in front of this commander. No, I cannot make such promises.

I don't know how to relate to this. But... I watch this dream, and I begin to understand something. After all, this stallion is my reincarnation from a past life! Perhaps this is the case.

"Commander. I understand everything. But what weapons and equipment can we take with us on this mission? And what is the time frame for this mission?" I decided to ask and defuse the tense situation a little.

Primus Pilus eyes widened, his cheeks flushed. The two centurions who stood next to him did the same. It seems that this stallion has finally remembered the main thing. War again.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot about it! And it's definitely your fault Heart Path! All my old brain is worn out by your antics... although I am a fan of talking and listening to this topic related to mares." Primus Pilus said, but I noticed how he began to smile. Finally.

"Commander. Allow me and my friend Valiant to take our battle bows with us. They are like talismans of victory for us! " - I said and shook my head towards my friend, showing that he was involved in my request.

The commander thought a little and looked at the other officers nodded his head, and then looked at me with a calm face, and said. "Yes. You will go on this mission in your combat gear. Tomorrow morning you will receive some potions from the medics. Still, the mission involves danger. And I will answer your question in advance: I cannot send a large detachment to this village. We must not frighten away the changelings. And so you are in three, and with the support of local ponies you will have to figure out all the changelings. If possible, take at least one prisoner. The deadline for completing the task is up to five days. And remember, you keep in touch with us through Quick Strike."

"I understood everything Primus Pilus. And thank you." I said and for the first time in all this long time bowed to the officer, showing my respect and gratitude.

"Wait. That's not all." Primus Pilus waved his hoof to one of the officers, and he, taking his hint, went to one of the chests standing in this tent. Then he came back and came up to me and my friend to hang purple ribbons with a medal around our necks. This medal featured a rearing unicorn stallion with the sun in the background. This is the medal "For Courage"!

"You and your unit deserve these medals!" Said Primus Pilus and came up to us to give us a tight hug. "And forgive us. For this war. Now go get some rest. Be ready for a mission tomorrow."

"For the glory of Equestria!" - Valiant and I said, and then left the Primus Pilus tent and headed towards our tents. But Valiant looked at me and at his medal and then asked.

“You weren't quite right. We have been called on a mission in which it is possible that we either won't find anything, or we will be killed by changelings! Of course, there is always a chance that we will survive. It seems to me that this task is very dangerous, but I am glad that we will be together. And that means a lot." Valiant said and smiled at me.

“Don't think about the bad Valiant! Today we have too much experience, we survived the battle, then drank wine and on top of all this, we go on a mission that we have to start in a few hours! Now let's go to our tents and sleep. And do not forget about the second barrel of wine, which we were able to beg in advance. We'll take it with us tomorrow. Well, this is so that we don't get bored. And don't worry about that Pegasus, he's a good stallion, young, but yeah ... I fucked his mom and all that, but he doesn't take offense at me for it. We're all ponies here. So there are no such sensations, and experiences should not be alien to us.” I answered in a tired voice.

My friend just sighed at my words and said nothing. Meanwhile, we approached our tents. All the other unicorn archers were asleep, so we didn't make any noise so as not to wake them up. They deserve their rest. I went into my tent and unbuttoned the rivets on my light armor to remove from myself.

When I approached my bunk, I immediately began to creep in a variety of thoughts. including those that I will have to become a father ... But from these thoughts I was able to fall asleep with a smile on my face. I am glad that the beautiful mare Down Feather will be able to leave after me my flower, our foal. I am sincerely sorry that I suddenly left her. But we were just lovers, and I felt my freedom. Yes, she has always been fundamentally for freedom of relations. But she is definitely a beautiful mare! Take my word for it. White fur coat, pink slightly curly mane. Always smiling and calculating, always friendly and caring. Um ... Maybe I'm not friends with my head at all? Why did I just go to this war? And all this was at the call of the heart...

HEART Path! Please answer me! I'm very worried about you... I cannot enter this door! It is sealed with ancient, magical runes! I hope that with you everything will be fine.

Luna! I recognized her voice! She tries to break into my dream, but it looks like she's not succeeding. So what's going on here?

Author's Note

This is how the story turns out ... There are many incomprehensible even for me! And here I take the side of the reader, so that together we can find out what is really going on. Many questions arise ... And I, as an author, undertake this task to find the answers.

The continuation of this chapter is already under development. And the new chapter will begin as a continuation of Heart Path dream.