Heart Path POV. Reincarnation of a stallion 700 years ago. Continuation of the dream.

That night I could not even dream. How strange it is. But oh well. I was awakened by a sharp change in body temperature and ... water flowing through my body, especially from the face, to which the mane stuck. I'll find out who did it and kick his ass! I jumped up and stared at the insolent stallion with a bucket.

“Time to get up!” Our pegasus, Quick Strike, told me in a serious voice, with a grin on his face. Then he put the empty bucket aside and removed the towel from his back to throw it over my face. "In fifteen minutes we will move out. I received the cart as well as all the necessary supplies. Honestly, even out of old friendship, I took you a pot of hot porridge from our field kitchen! So you will have breakfast on the way. Valiant has already woken up and is now sharpening his gladius. And you are the only one here who allows yourself to relax!"

Well, he's actually right. So today his ass won't be hurt by my hoof. I hurried to dry my face and body, then looked this pegasus in the eyes and smiled. “Well, thanks for waking me up and bringing me breakfast. Now I will put on my armor and weapons, and then we will go to that village. We'll have a snack along the way."

Quick Strike nodded to me and walked out of my tent. I walked over to my travel chest and pulled out a scale armor, a full quiver of arrows, and a gladius. I also donned my green cloak and walked out of the tent, ready to start a new day. It was overcast outside, and a light fog covered the Legion's camp. My friend Valiant, wearing the same cloak, came up to me and patted me on the shoulder with a smile.

"Well? Are you ready to go to this village? Quick Strike is about to pull up with our cart. We basically got everything we needed while you slept." Then he leaned over to my ear and spoke in a whisper. "I hid a small barrel of wine in the cart, and took additional potions from the medics."

"Yes, you are good fellow Valiant. And yet the feeling that something is wrong here does not leave me. As if we are being sent to this village as bait. Okay, let's see what awaits us..." I said my concern, and put on my legionnaire's helmet, fastened the straps, and straightened my belt. Well, it’s not so hard, but it’s better to have my sword and combat bow always by my side.

A cart came to us, harnessed by our partner Quick Strike. He showed us with his hoof in the direction of our cart, where I saw packed bags of supplies. "Get in the cart! I'll show you both halfway, and then we'll switch places. This village is about an hour and a half leisurely walk." Then he turned his head forward and began to wiggle his wings and legs slightly, and eventually grumbled to himself. "If Pegasus were sent to this mission, then everything would be much faster! I still don't understand why they chose you. But the commander knows better."

We jumped into this cart and our pegasus took us from the camp towards the forest, along a country road, Valiant and I looked at this place, as if saying goodbye to everyone in advance. Our unicorns waved their hooves at us and wished us luck. Well, life goes on, and no one knows what fate awaits him along the way. Valiant and I sat in the cart, sometimes looking around, we don't need surprises. But just in case, I took out a combat bow and a couple of arrows. My friend looked at me knowingly and decided to do the same.

We drove along this forest road for about twenty minutes. And I didn't really like this morning fog, it is easy to set up an ambush in it. A suspicious silence reigned in the forest, only the sound of Quick Strike's hooves echoed along its outskirts. Complaints were aggravated by the fact that the idiot Pegasus did not change his armor for lighter ones. Well, obviously he knows what he's doing. He is still the former Praetorian Guard. Incidentally, I had a question for him, and I crawled closer to the front edge of our cart, at the same time asking Valiant to look around.

"Hey! Quick Strike? And yet why were you transferred from the Guard to our Legion?" I asked and my right ear twitched as I heard the crunch of a broken branch. Ahh, probably the wind!

Quick Strike, continuing to run slowly and pull our cart, turned his head to me and grinned. “I broke the nose of the commander of our unit. It happened by accident. Well, almost ... In general, in the end, as a punishment, they decided to send me to this legion. But I was allowed to keep this armor for myself. Otherwise, I would talk about how our centurion appropriates part of the money allocated for the weekend salary of Her Majesty Princess Celestia's Praetorians. What an asshole he is!" Quick Strike finished his revelation and turned his head back towards the road.

"And I already thought that you were specifically looking for a meeting with me!" I said and began to squint at the forest, trying to see through this fog, a possible threat.

"It is too!" Quick Strike shouted, and quickened his pace.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Valiant and I both laughed at the same time, and then I clamped one of the arrows between my teeth.

I began to look in different directions, my heart beat faster. And the sense of danger only intensified! I took the arrow out of my jaw and shouted to our pegasus. “Quick Strike! Run faster! We are under attack...” Before I could finish screaming, an arrow flew past my nose on the right side! Several more burning arrows are stuck in our cart!

"Damn it!" Valiant shouted, trying to brush the fire off his cloak. The fiery arrow did not pierce his armor, but flew along a tangential trajectory, but in doing so touched his cloak.

Pegasus ran as fast as his strength and stamina were enough. Our wagon began to bounce on bumps, and because of this, my battle bow almost fell out of my magical grip. From the woods came the screams of a dozen changelings. I saw how they flew out onto the road and began to chase us. Several changelings flew into the air and fired arrows at our wagon. And damn it! They were pretty good sons of bitches! Several arrows flew into our cart and set fire to the bags of our equipment. I rushed to extinguish the fire that had arisen. Meanwhile Valiant was trying to shoot back from his pursuers!

When I finally put out this fire, I also took out my bow and started shooting at the pursuer. But due to the fact that our cart shook violently, and sometimes staggered to the sides, I could not accurately hit these changelings.

"Oh shit! Valiant, keep shooting! A bitch on you!" I shouted, finally hitting one changeling in the head with an arrow, and he immediately fell to the ground. The rest continued to chase us.

“We need to come up with something! Otherwise, they will not leave us behind! And I already fired ten arrows and missed!" Valiant shouted at me in an alarming voice and loaded another arrow. "Think faster, Heart Path!"

I turned to Quick Strike, who all this time was running as hard as he could, and you could see how he was trying to spread his wings and just take off, but he understood that this should not be done. And he will not be able to lift such a loaded cart into the air.

"Quick Strike! How far is it to the village? Can we make it?"

He turned his head to me, eyes wide open, and his tongue fell out with fatigue. I already realized that we will not make it in time ... But he shouted, gaining strength. “There are several signal arrows in one of the bags! Light the thread with your horn and shoot that arrow into the sky! Sorry ... I forgot to tell you about this right away!"

"What the fuck!?" I turned my head towards our bags and jumped from this end of the cart in order to hastily find the indicated signal shells.

Author's note: These arrows have been specially enchanted by unicorn mages. Instead of a sharp tip, a small explosive bag with a wick was attached to them. Such arrows were invented in the pony army so that any signal could be dropped. For example, asking for help. And since not all unicorns had sufficiently developed magical abilities, such projectiles and healing potions were invented especially for them. In our case, these two unicorns just served in the squad, archers, not magicians. As their magical abilities were limited to the use of poorly developed telekinesis. And learning magic costs a lot of money. And our unicorns, Valiant Romantic, Path of the Heart, and other legionary archers, did not come from wealthy families. They are simple guys. So something like this...

I Found a bag in which there were several of these arrows, and I wonder how we have not exploded in this cart until now! What if a fiery arrow had landed in this bag? Oh, this pegasus! He's not as smart as it might seem at first glance!

I raised such an arrow with a wick to my horn and lit a magic spark, and then, taking my bow and pointing it into the sky, I fired a shot. The changelings saw me signal to the sky, screamed in rage, and flapped their wings. They began to approach our cart. My eyes widened with fear for our life, I pulled out a simple arrow and, shooting at one of the changelings, hit him in the hoof! It's just ... Fuck. This arrow hit the hole in the leg! There was an explosion in the sky and several flashes of red fire. It looked like a small fireworks display.

The noise of the hooves of a galloping pegasus, who was also in his armor, and the rustle of the wings of changelings, as well as the whistle of arrows flying at us, completely disrupted the idyll of the local fauna. Even the birds flew away in fear and out of trouble.

Valiant dropped his battle bow, drew his gladius, and braced himself for the worst. These changelings had already caught up with us and began to jump into the cart one by one. A friend of mine fought off one changeling and pushed him off the cart. At that moment, I continued to shoot at point blank range, from which the number of pursuers began to decrease. I counted about nine changelings, but I didn’t take into account the fact that these bad guys were joined by several other squads, two or three changelings per group. They flew out of the bushes and rushed to the aid of their comrades. It will not be easy for us, they have a numerical advantage, and our pegasus was already tired, but continued a fast gallop. I doubt he is happy at such a moment! I put down my bow and telekinesis pulled out another signal arrow. I lit the fuse and threw it off the cart and onto the road! The changelings saw a flashing arrow on the road, they just flew up into the sky. About seven seconds later, there was an explosion and a light show was put on on the forest road! Several dry bushes caught fire, forming smoke. This will distract our pursuers a little.

"Bend down!" Shouted Quick Strike. And I turned with surprise and looked in his direction. But my eyes widened in surprise. I threw myself at Valiant to bend him. Because ahead, on the side of the road, there was a tree, and its thick branch was blocking the road, just at the level of our heads! But at that moment two changelings jumped into our cart and brought their blades to hack us to death. But as soon as they swayed, these guys were carried away by the same branch. With screams of curses, both changelings were hit on the head. The rest of the changelings saw such a moment and angrily began to take off again into the air and prepare to fire fiery arrows.

Valiant got to his feet and looked up at the sky, showing with his hoof, screamed in a joyful voice. "Look! Reinforcements are flying towards us! We are saved!"

I looked in the direction my friend Valiant was pointing, and between the branches of the trees I could see the silhouettes of about three dozen pegasus, who, screaming, rushed to our aid. Their voices and battle cry were clearly... mare's.

"Wow! These are mares!" I turned my head towards our pegasus and shouted to him. "Quick Strike! We must stop the wagon! Aerial reconnaissance mares are flying to our aid!"

"Just in time!" Quick Strike responded and smoothly brought our wagon to a stop. Then he hastened to free himself from the harness and draw out his sword.

“For Equestria! TO BATTLE!" One of the scout mares gave the order.

Several mares in light armor, armed with swords, flew between the trees to pin the changelings to the ground and fight them! It was a terrible sight... The faces of these mares expressed complete contempt for death. They knew no fear and fought better than some of the legionnaires. Valiant and I jumped out of this cart to support these mares. We fired our battle bows at those changelings who were trying to get around the mare and stab her in the back. The poor changelings fought in despair with the same contempt. I heard the screams of the wounded and the dead. But, unfortunately, this is a war, and neither side can do without losses! I saw how one of the changelings drove his blade into the chest of a mare ... She screamed in pain and fell. But another mare who fought alongside her quickly avenged the death of her fighting friend. I've seen a lot these days. But it was really a terrible sight...

But since these changelings had already exhausted their strength, in pursuit of our cart, they could not offer serious resistance. And this fight was over in three minutes. We were again rescued by the pegasus, only by the mares. I looked at Valiant and Quick Strike and quickly realized that I needed to help the wounded mares with something.

"Faster! Valiant! Let's get some potions and help the wounded!" I shouted and grabbing a bag of medicines, I ran towards these mares. They, in turn, sat tiredly on the road and wiped the blood off themselves.

When Valiant, Quick Strike, and I ran up to these mares, they smiled wearily at us while greeting us. One mare in a gray fur coat, with a long, bright yellow mane and tail, imperceptibly approached me and took off her helmet. I recognized her...

We looked into each other's eyes, and gradually smiles began to appear on our faces. I went over and hugged her, she didn’t mind. "Sandy Glow! If you only knew how glad we are to see you!" I leaned over to her ear and spoke softly. “Once again, you are saving my ass from trouble. I'm afraid I will never be able to thank you enough in my..."

Her smile gradually disappeared from her face, and she freed herself from my embrace, so that she would sadly hang her head and go to the dead mare, her squad. "I hope someday you can really thank me ... Heart Path." She said over her shoulder.

I could not resist and a lonely tear flowed out of my eye. Valiant came up to me and patted me on the back. Quick Strike, came back for our wagon to bring it to this place.

These mares from the air reconnaissance detachment approached their killed fighting friend and took her on their hooves. And I spoke to them. "I ask you to. Forgive us if you can! I propose to put her body in a cart, we will come to the village and bury her with all the honors!"

All the mares nodded in agreement and put their dead friend in our cart. Just at that moment when he drove up, Quick Strike. Valiant walked over to this dead mare and put his hoof on it, trying to comfort the already lifeless body. Sandy Glow came up to me and spoke with a serious tone.

“I have an order, if necessary, to help you. And then escort to the village. After that we will fly back to the camp. And no ... We will take her body with us. Let her be buried at home... And don't ask for forgiveness. This is our job."

Then she went to the vanguard of her warriors, and we exchanged glances with Valiant, sighed sadly and went with the whole detachment. Damn war!

“Why does it seem to me that this whole mission is based on lies towards us? Command equips the van and sends only three soldiers with it. Through the forest, which is likely to be hiding fugitive parties of changelings! It turns out that we are playing the role of bait... Since a detachment of pegasus-mares from aerial reconnaissance, quickly flew to our position in this forest. To join the battle. You can't even imagine Valiant how tired I am of all this. Be a pawn in someone else's game." I said tiredly to my friend.

"I thought about it too. We must end this war as soon as possible... Her name was Cloud Swirl. I will have to drink to the peace of her soul."

"We will definitely have a drink. But we should not lose our vigilance. I do not want to lose anyone else, on this damned mission ..." I said in a low voice, and continued our way, already in silence, which was interrupted only by the clatter of several dozen pairs of hooves, and one creaky cart...

This whole dream, which I observe through the eyes of my unicorn, has been going on for a long time ... I cannot get out of this reality. I feel like a prisoner of a dreamland. Once in all the time I heard the voice of the princess of the night, but I could not speak to her, being locked in these strange memories for me. I could feel the emotion in her voice, but what should I do? And the fact that these are memories, and this event happened seven hundred years ago, I am sure that it was so. But I still have many questions. And, perhaps, according to some strange law of the kingdom of dreams in this world, I will not be free until I receive the necessary answers. No, I have no control over my unicorn, but that means that someone, but I don't know who exactly, wants me to find out the truth! Hopefully my friends don't really think I'm sick or anything else. I don't want to give them trouble. And Creasy ... By my rough standards, several hours have passed, and I'm already crying without tears, I miss her! I also cry from what I see in this dream, which looks like a complete simulation of reality. War and death. This is definitely awful!

Our carriage drove slowly into an almost empty village, along the road, to the left of which was a field planted with various crops. On the right, in one row, there were three dozen peasant houses, and in the center there was a small square and the house of the head of the village. At the entrance to the village there was a tavern called ... Who would have thought. "Drunken Mare"! Hmm ... with fantasy, these earth ponies are fine!

Well, I also noticed on the fence of these peasant houses ... wings tied to a rope. Just imagine for a moment. Changeling Wings! And I guess about their origin, judging by the still fresh blood based on them ... Abomination! Are they completely crazy here? Why do this?

"Ugh ... What disgusting! Why do they have wings of obviously killed changelings hanging on the fence? It's crazy!" My friend Valiant said, and with difficulty began to restrain his gag reflex. Well, he went to the nearest bush to empty his stomach. Yeah ... But this is just what we still lacked! I have to figure out what the hell is going on here. And if necessary, then I will arrange a real thrashing of this pony, who came up with such barbaric rituals in relation to another race. Yes, we are at war with these changelings! But we are ponies, we must not behave like savages!

And it seemed to me that I had already seen many horrors in this dream... But this is something new!

The mares who accompanied us also began to turn their noses at what they saw. But they did not accompany us to the center of the village, our cart stopped, and the commander of the Sandy Glow detachment ran up to me. She looked at me with a sad look, her golden eyes, then sighing with a note of regret, she looked into my eyes, which began to shine, from not begun tears... She can be understood. Today she lost one of her own. And all in order to fulfill the order, and save three stallions on this mission. The war does not spare anyone, neither old nor young. And this is not the first time I have seen it. I am still surprised ... Like me and my friend, I am still lucky. We survive, even though sometimes our asses hurt from the arrows of the enemy. But here I feel that such luck cannot last long. Until then, we are needed alive in this world!

"Heart path. This is where our paths diverge. And I just hope not for long. We'll take the body of our dead friend, pack her in a tarp and move her to our camp ... Good luck on this mission, try not to screw up, come back alive!“ Said Sandy Glow to me in her always gentle voice, and unexpectedly for me she hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek.

This kiss of hers and her gentle voice gave me a little comfort in my soul. For which I was immensely grateful to her! "Thanks, Glow ... We won't forget your friend. Goodbye." I said lastly, trying to remember the features of this slender pegasus. She is definitely a good friend. But I will not go into the details of our acquaintance with her ... It's really, just friendship.

Quick Strike, still impressed by what happened this morning, could not lift his eyes from the ground. He was in a trance. And then Valiant, who had finished vomiting in the bushes, decided to go up to him and console our pegasus. Our friend ... Now he can be called that way. Together we have experienced what can be called a possible death from an arrow of a changeling.

“Listen, Quick Strike! I understand that Her Majesty's Praetorian Guard Princess Celestia is clearly different from our legion. Welcome! Don't worry, Heart Path and I've seen enough of this...” Said my friend, his eyes trembling slightly with excitement. But Quick Strike looked at him like he was crazy. Although then his appearance changed and became a little kinder. Perhaps he finally realized that we were not joking here. And this war is real. In our capital, Canterlot, they learn about her only from the news. But all these residents will never know about this war until they see it with their own eyes. For this, the legions were created to take on all these horrors of war. Maybe it was for the best ...

Quick Strike looked towards the center of the village, where several ponies were running, and said. "We need to give the order scroll to the headman of this village, and then go and check into this tavern. I hope we find our goals. But just today, we are all tired." Then he looked at me and, giving the respect in his face, asked. "What will be the orders of the commander?"

The mares accompanying us had already flown away, and I continued to watch them ascend into the sky. But I heard that the question of our pegasus, to which I hastened to answer, first turned his head to the Valiant. “Valiant Romantic. You go to the headman of this village and give him a scroll with orders to buy provisions. Be careful and attentive. Well, me and Quick Strike will go to this tavern and agree to rent us a room. Anyway, then..." I went up to him and put my hoof on his shoulder, because we are used to making this friendly gesture. "If you shout something, we will come running to help. Remember, something bad is going on here because of the remains of the changelings we see here. If you can find out the details of this case, I will only be glad."

"Okay. I understood you, Heart Path! You yourself be careful! I still don't have a good feeling about this." Valiant said, and went to the cart to take the necessary documents from it, and went to the house of the head of the village.

Quick Strike and I exchanged glances, and I smiled and held my hoof out to the tavern door, inviting him to come in first. He rolled his eyes and, adjusting his cloak and gladius belt, decided to enter first. The door creaked, revealing a noisy hall for us. We walked in and saw nearly two dozen earth ponies sitting at a table drinking local alcohol. They turned their heads in our direction, on their faces there was complete distrust of strangers! And here it is quite noisy and carefree. It is immediately evident that these ponies do not pay attention to the war. They are definitely living for today. I've heard a few ponies play a funny melody on their instruments. Quick Strike and I paused at the door, not daring to move on, but then I spoke first, and my voice was full of seriousness.

Author's note: below is the image and the music track, their purpose is to convey the spirit of the scene taking place.

"GLORY TO THE PRINCESS OF CELESTIA!"

These ponies just looked at us in silence, and it began to seem to me that I had chosen the wrong approach. Quick Strike noticeably tensed and pulled his hoof under the cloak to reach the gladius, but when I saw him move, I stopped him by placing the hoof on his back. At that moment, he looked at me inquiringly. Yes. So he still recognizes me as the commander of this small reconnaissance group. When he was finally able to see what war was capable of, he suddenly began to change his behavior. And he began to trust us.

“Calm down, Quick Strike. I understand these ponies. Well, more precisely, distrust of strangers. Changelings have probably carried out several acts of sabotage in this settlement. And in their eyes, we can be one of them." I said in a whisper in my ear to my friend Quick Strike, but he only tensed even more from these thoughts. It is clear that with these ponies we will not be able to prove that we are not enemies!

"I don't like these assholes, so you better be prepared for the worst." Quick Strike answered me in a whisper, continuing to hold his right hoof under his cloak, obviously holding on to the hilt of the sword.

One of the stallions, a typical farmer, shouted sternly in my direction, and then with a crash put the mug on the table, which clearly made the others at the table nervous. "You! You can go back to your Celestia and fuck her on the throne! Ik ... All the ponies here have not been waiting for her mercy for a long time ... SHE left us!"

I listened calmly to this aged stallion. But my gaze was unwavering, and I answered it. "Rest assured! I totally agree with you! But please understand correctly. Celestia is just a long-lived mare and she is our ruler! She cannot see much while sitting in her palace! This is why we came here. We must tell her about the state of affairs in this village, and also influence future investments in the form of war-related compensation!"

After the stallions and several earth pony mares, sitting at their tables, heard my speech ... They looked at each other and began to knock on the table with their mugs. And then they greeted us and each of them invited us to join them. But we politely declined. A couple of minutes later, our friend Valiant came into the tavern, and I hastened to convince the locals that he was my friend. We walked past the table at which all these ponies were sitting and approached the innkeeper. All this time he calmly watched us. A stallion aged and with an already graying mane looked at us with his bored eyes and gave us the opportunity to speak first.

"Hi! Do you have a spare room for three bunks? And some kind of dinner for every day. In total, we plan to stay here until five days." The last words I said louder on purpose so that this crowd of ponies could hear. This way I want to attract attention. If we play the role of bait ... Well, we must match. Although I do not like it.

"Well, for the three soldiers of the legion, I'll find a room with three bunks. You pay fifteen coins a day." This old stallion answered in a lazy voice and looked towards the young mare who was washing the dishes. "Azura. Show our guests to the second floor and place them in room B. And get back to work, we still have many visitors today!"

I just noticed a very young mare coming out of the kitchen with a shoulder-length yellow mane and a pale blue fur coat. I smiled at her, but noticed how she reacted when saw three soldiers. She lowered her head a little sadly and, without saying anything, just showed us the step with her hoof. I turned my head and glanced slightly at Valiant. “Valiant, be so kind. Get our things out of the wagon and drive the wagon itself into the barn we saw next to the tavern. Then count the coins for our stay in this tavern, to this owner. Come back and be careful. Um ... Don't forget the wine!"

My friend, frowning, clearly puzzled that I was sending him a second time on business, decided to ask me. “I hope you have some kind of plan? Personally, this place makes me sick. But I hope for the best."

"Yes, you are right." I said, and pushed Quick Strike aside, who had already started a casual conversation with one of the mares to get his attention. And then we went up to the second floor following this mare, Azura. Hmm ... Something is wrong with this mare. What a strange look she has. And she is silent, as if her is afraid of something. We should try to talk to her, but only later.

We climbed this creaky staircase and out into a small corridor. In front of the door to one of the rooms stood the same Azura, who was still afraid to look into our eyes. She opened the door and spoke softly. "This is your room. If you need anything, please contact the owner or me." Without waiting for an answer, she hastened to return; Quick Strike and I calmly watched her leave. Well, at least kill, and the feeling that this unusual mare, grew more and more.

When we entered this modest room, I hurried to the bucket of water to wash my tired face. Quickstrike took off his armor and sat down at the table just as wearily, hoof under his chin. Two minutes later, our friend Valiant came to us, who by telekinesis was holding a large bag with us equipment and coins for our mission. He also went to the bucket and began to wash himself. The water was cold but refreshing.

"First. We need to agree. About the password." I began a serious conversation and began to take off my light armor.

Quick Strike raised an eyebrow slightly, but made an understanding face. “I understand what you are driving at. Well, what should it be? Oh, I suggest: death to changelings! Why are you looking at me like that? He spoke the last words with undisguised rigidity in his voice.

I decided to hesitate a little with the answer and, looking at Valiant, asked him to pour us three glasses of wine. Fortunately, this room contained a decanter and crockery so that weary travelers could serve themselves. And after that we all sat down at this table. Quick Strike looked at us like we were crazy. Well, I understand him. To him, we are just rank and file soldiers of the legion, and he is a temporarily suspended Praetorian Guardsman. But life in Canterlot changes a pony's personality a little. The peculiarity is to look at all the ponies from a height. So it is with our pegasus.

As I took a few sips of wine, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a Quick Strike gaze that looked at me questioningly. But I will give him a few explanations. “Listen to me Quick. We will not have such a password. I understand that we are in this thrice-damned war, but I will not tolerate such cruel treatment of changelings! “ I said, and hit the table with my hoof, which almost caused our glasses of wine to fall. Valiant hastened to leave them on the table. And I continued to speak, looking at the dumbfounded face of our pegasus. “The password will be: End of the war! And it is not discussed. Now drink this wine with us and relax a little. Today we almost died again, and once again watched the death of the pony from the side. If you could understand Valiant and me. The war must end there; he took too many lives. But I want to honor the memory of both lost ponies and changelings!"

"Great! I love this idea!" Quick Strike said, and then finally drank his wine. Somehow his mood changed dramatically.

"It's good. I love understanding. You two need some rest, but I'll probably go downstairs and chat with the local ponies. By the way. Valiant. That the headman of this village has any useful news? And then behind all this moment, you know, I forgot to ask you about it.“ I asked and put on my sword belt and purse, in which I folded a dozen coins, and put on my cloak.

Quick Strike hastened to lie down in his bunk and covered himself with a blanket. It was even funny. But I repeat, he really could be understood, he was tired.

Valiant looked at me skeptically, and crossed his hooves over his chest. "Before I answer you, is it possible to ask what you are up to and why you are taking some of our money. It looks like you are leaving to have fun." Then he broke down and laughed softly.

“I already said. I need to get in touch with the local ponies. Maybe I'll even buy someone a drink and get some interesting gossip and news. Besides, I also want to watch this mare, Azura, for a bit. Now your turn."

Valiant sighed wearily and, putting his hoof under his cheek, looked at me with one eye, just as wearily spoke. “I met with the head of the village. In fact, he bored me for one minute of conversation! In general, his reaction to the fact that he saw a soldier of the Legion, and even with the order to buy food, was this: to put it mildly, excessive enthusiasm. And his words about how much he loves our princess made me roll my eyes. Well, if in essence, he said he would collect the necessary provisions within three days. So we still have two days left. So you can send Quick Strike to the camp so that the command sends another wagon here. But we know that we have a more specific task. I asked him about the remains of changelings on the fence of local houses. He seriously replied to me that this was done in order to scare away these changelings! Well, I expected that. I'm wondering if changelings use the same practice in their provinces? I don’t know ... for example, hang a unicorn's horn or pegasus wings at the entrance to the hive cave !? How do you like this idea?“ My friend finished giving the details and took a sip of wine from the glass, and then his face broke into a smile. “What? Do you think you're the only one who can do this? Ik..."

"Hah. Okay, you did well, Valiant. Now try to rest. Well, I have to show myself a little to the local ponies. Let them start spreading rumors that there are three legion soldiers in their village, and for what purpose they came here. they've taken the bait. Don't worry about me, I'll try not to leave the tavern."

"Okay. Good luck. And ... remember the words of Primus Pilus! No sexual relations with the local mares! Ha-hah-ha! Although I know his words won't stop you. Just be careful." My friend smiled at me and began to take off all this armor to take a little nap, after such a hard day.

I just shook my head and put a hoof to my forehead at his words. And then I left our room. As soon as I opened the door, I again heard the music and the noisy company of the ponies.

Going downstairs, I again cast my already slightly intoxicated look at the local ponies. They didn't even pay attention to me, except ... that mare. When I crossed eyes with her, she noticed this and in a frightened way continued to carry a tray of snacks to the next table to serve the guests. Well, here you are again. Azura. I think I have an idea. I went to the table where three, already pretty drunk earth ponies were sitting, to try to keep them company. When I asked them, they did not mind my presence, they just continued their casual conversation. And they stopped talking only when I decided to call Azura to our table. But first, I politely asked when she finished her business.

"Azura!" I waited until she turned her attention to me and continued. "May I have your attention. Unless you are, of course, very busy ..."

Hmm ... During all this time, I saw for the first time how she smiled at me. And after she finished her business, she hurried to me.

"Yes? What do you want, mister?" She asked in her absolutely humble and gentle voice.

"Simple. Heart Path. Can I order a modest lunch for myself and my friends in the room? Well, maybe a glass of wine with these ponies.“ I pointed my hoof at the neighbors at this table. They were clearly surprised, but also delighted. I laid out three coins and handed them to this mare.

Azura smiled at me again and scooped up the coins with her hoof, then bowed slightly. "Oh, you are very generous. Heart Path hmm ... I will fulfill your order, but you will have to wait a bit." She finished speaking and quietly walked away towards the kitchen, and on the way quickly turned around, giving me a fleeting glance.

Before I could plunge into my own thoughts about this mare, I was distracted by the voice of one of the stallions.

"Ahem, ahem. So you say your name is Heart Path? Well, I'm glad to know you. My name is Maverick, and this is Granite and Lazy Step." The stallion said in the rather bass voice of a drunken pony, pointing his hoof at his comrades.

"So what really brings you to this settlement?" Granite asked me, a gray stallion with a short white mane.

“Actually, our little detachment was sent here to buy provisions for the legion's camp. Simple practice. Send small detachments to the nearest villages, get vegetables for our canteen. And in general, to find out how things are in the province, as I said earlier. This means that it will depend on you: how much truthful information I receive, such financial assistance will be directed to the development of your village!" I replied with a slight smile to these guys. Then I took out three more coins to put on the table in front of these stallions. "And this is a small present from me personally. Buy yourself some more wine with this money, if you will be a good and cheerful company for this evening."

These three stallions looked at me with narrowed eyes, and then wide smiles began to spread on their faces!

Then Granite stood up with his glass raised and attracted the attention of all the ponies. "Listen! This guy is called Heart Path! And today we drink to his health and generosity!" When he finished his speech, all the ponies at one point raised their glasses and drank them in one gulp. It seems the plan has begun to be implemented. And I'm slowly gaining confidence in the local ponies.

Time passed, and twenty minutes later Azura brought my order, and I proceeded to dinner. I am amazed and at the same time delighted with the life of the village ponies. Despite the everyday life on the farms, they also find time for entertainment. The company with which I was sitting at the table tried to joke and tell me about their life in this village. But, unfortunately, I don't have any useful information yet. Although the feeling of a certain strangeness did not leave me. I ordered more wine to treat all the ponies in this tavern. The owner of the establishment was only satisfied, and his reserves allowed us to arrange a real party.

Almost an hour passed, and I was already tipsy, several maids of the mares now and then went down to the wine cellar to bring the jugs again and serve them to the guests' tables. But at some point I felt like ... out of necessity. So I excused myself from the table and headed to the stallion room! But when I finished my business and left, the fun in the hall continued. One of the mares came up to me, staggering on her hooves and with drooping eyelids, and, looking sideways at me, without hesitation, hit me in the face! Oh ... It hurts! I turned my head to her and looked at her, raising an eyebrow, and she talks to me as if I offended her!

"Impertinent! You could first warn me that you want to fuck me in the wine cellar! I don't mind, but not so unexpected! Then she came up to me and licked me on the cheek, right up to my ear, and at the end she said in a whisper. "Although you were pretty good! And left me completely devastated ..." And then she turned and walked towards the counter of the tavern owner.

What's going on here? I asked myself a question, rubbing my bruised cheek and watching the mare's ass. She had an orange fur coat and a red curly mane. She was also wearing the kitchen maid's apron.

One of the stallions came up to me and asked me a question with a slight grin. "Heh. Heart Path. You just arrived and you are already amusing the people! Keep it up! But didn't you just go for more wine in this cellar ten minutes ago?" Granite asked me, and pointed to the door with his hoof.

Although I was drunk, the gears in my head were clearly working. And I began to understand something. I have to go check out the basement. I don’t think I need help, and my gladius still weighs on my belt, and I hurried to test it with my hoof. I smiled back at this stallion and decided to play my part a little, but without further ado. Besides, all the ponies in the tavern are so busy with their booze and fun.

"Oh. Yeah. I completely forgot that I had to bring the wine from this cellar myself. I'll be back soon, continue without me for now!" I answered, and turned around to go down to the wine cellar.

When I went down to the dark basement, which was lit only by a few torches and candles, there were several large barrels of wine against the wall, and in the middle of this room was a pillar. The sound of my hooves bouncing off the walls and apparently attracted attention ... A pony figure came out from behind the column and that slightest light from torches allowed me to see the features ... a copy of me!

We looked at each other for a minute. I brought my hoof to my chin to scratch it. And this copy of me did the same. I wanted to pull my sword from my belt using telekinesis, but damn it! Several magical sparks fell from my horn, and all because I drank enough wine, as a result of which I could not give concentration to telekinesis! Damn it!

We'll have to do it the old fashioned way, with the help of hoofed kinesis! I took out my trusty blade with my hoof and pointed it towards this impostor.

"You stole me! And I'm here to steal myself back!" I said and began to observe the reaction of this impostor.

This copy of me, too, took out a sword with a hoof and spoke in my voice. "Then give it a try!"

I rushed to this guy and delivered a side blow on his shoulder, but he naturally parried such a thrust. And only the ringing of steel was reflected from the walls. Then he jumped in my direction from which I was still able to dodge and try to knock the sword out of his hoof! But it was not there. And this guy was good enough to repel my attack again.

And again the clanging of steel from our crossed swords.

This impostor was starting to make me nervous! I jumped on my hind hooves and quickly decided to stab him with a thrust, which he repulsed again. And already his sword flew in my direction, from such a dastardly blow I had to roll over, as if jumping over this sword. Heh looks like I surprised him. And, fortunately, I succeeded! I really wonder how I didn't break my horn!

This impostor, realizing that this could drag on for a long time, and he could be in danger, decided to jump on these barrels of wine in order to climb into one of the windows in this cellar. Such windows are partially built over the ground. And there was no grate on it.

"Hey! Come on, stop!" I screamed and ran after him.

"Why are you attached to me!?" The stranger answered and swung his sword at me once again. Of course I stood on three legs, on these swaying barrels.

I repulsed this sword, and honestly, I had a hard time keeping my balance. But he too. "I have a question too! Why did you set me up?"

At some point, these barrels swayed strongly, unable to withstand our jumps on them, and began to fall. In the place with them, hay was scattered on the floor, and this softened the blows a little. But our swords flew out of our hooves as we fell. I crawled up to this impostor and crawled on his stomach, putting my hoof on his chest so that he would not run away. Damn I'm too old for such acrobatic shit!

"Can you show your true colors now !? Come on ... Don't make me nervous." I spoke in the face of this copy of me, and pressed this kicking body with my weight.

This stallion rolled his eyes, then a green magical aura enveloped him, and under me was already ... yes, right. It was already a changeling mare!

"Well, are you satisfied?"

My eyes widened in surprise. More precisely from what I saw. "Princess Emerald?!"

But as soon as she opened her mouth to give me an answer, I put my tongue in her mouth. And we kissed, she answered me with the same passion. I gave the opportunity and a little room for her hooves, and she happily hugged me and began stroking my back, emitting lustful moans in my mouth. So our kiss lasted almost a minute, maybe more ... Then I freed her mouth, and only a thin thread of saliva continued to connect us. We both breathed deeply, continuing to look eagerly into each other's eyes. Oh, those eyes of hers ... Eyes that I did not dare to forget to this day, after our last meeting with her. But it's already been ten years! But my thoughts are now too busy with others, so I do not want to go into the details of my acquaintance, with the changeling princess, Emerald. Her mom, Angeron, gave her definitely a beautiful and fitting name!

"I've dreamed about it all my life! Since we last met ..." I said in a whisper and got up from this changeling princess to stretch her hoof and help her to get up.

After she got to her feet, and wiped her beautiful mane from her face, she looked at me with a slight sadness in her eyes, and then spoke to me in her gentle voice. "Forgive me Heart Path. For the fact that I then had to run away from you immediately the next morning. But I had to go back to the hive! Otherwise my mom would have started looking for me!"

I squatted down and hugged her with my front hooves. And I held her so tightly to my chest, as if I had really found what I had lost many years ago. My Emerald. A changeling mare to whom I gladly gave my love... Tears of joy flowed from my eyes. She felt my emotions and started rubbing her cheek against me, trying to calm me down.

"You ... you disappeared from my life so suddenly! And finally I found you!" Then I looked into her eyes with a loving look and quietly asked. "But how and why did you find yourself so far from home? Why are you hiding in this village?"

She sighed, gently pulled out of my embrace and also looked into my eyes. “I escaped from the hive. I fled right after I was able to find out the whole truth about the origin of our species. Once I managed to steal from my mother an old mysterious map with an indication of a sacred place on it. It shows the approximate location ... The mysterious guardian of this world! It was he who sentenced my mother to this magical gene. But this does not suit me, I don’t want to think all my life how to live my days and look for love and other feelings in relation to my soul! And all this for the sake of survival! If you only knew what agony it is sometimes! On this map, I want to find this Guardian of the World and ask him for mercy. So that he returns again Our previous appearance! To save us from suffering! I made my way to this village at night so that they could not find me, then I learned that the sea traders Griffins come to this village about once a month. Then they sail home again. I got a job in this tavern, I was easily accepted, in the guise of an earth pony named Azura. Azura, the fugitive from the war. I needed to get to this island of griffins. And so that I would not be accepted in my true form. I could not fly to this island, it is too far ... From the map I stole, I could determine that the entrance to this secret valley is located in the kingdom of the Griffins. But my mother later, as I managed to find out, was outraged by my act. She branded me as a traitor to our hive! And she sent mercenaries and bounty hunters after me to ... kill ... And then suddenly you appeared. I was scared that you, too, might be a mercenary. After all, a big reward has been assigned to my head!" Then she, too, began to cry and pressed herself to my chest in a belittling gesture. "Please ... I beg you ... help me. I feel love for me in you, so you are not looking for my death!"

"Oh. Emerald. I ... I will help you." I wanted to say something else, but we heard someone coming down to this cellar.

My heart started skipping a beat. And Emerald again changed her changeling magic to transform herself into Azura. Then she pressed her lips to me, and hugged me with her hooves, to which I answered her in the same way. Hope we don't get in trouble!

All this time I am a prisoner of this dream. And during this time I began to understand something ... Princess Emerald. I definitely have to see the whole truth to the end. And as it was intended by fate, everything is happening.

Author's Note

Secrets are gradually being revealed. And this is just the beginning. In general, the entire volume of text that I have published so far is only the beginning of something more ambitious. Thank you for reading this work, and stay tuned for updates. Well, I already know the plot further, I'm just sure it would be better to transfer it to the next chapter.