The Artist Rifleman

Sitting on her sofa late at night Twilight read another book, one of many thousands surrounding her, Spike was already asleep but even so she checked the room around her as she grabbed the book calling to her hidden amongst the rest. Checking over her shoulders she searched for prying eyes as she pulled out the copy of David’s diary she made, she knew she shouldn’t have made it, but the temptation was too great and now it called to her, the only book of another world, another culture nopony had ever seen before, it was like an itch she needed to scratch, she couldn’t help it. She needed to read it.

Sitting back down with the book in her hand Twilight opened it squeaking as a sheet fell from it, thinking she tore a weak page. She flicked through the pages frantically trying to fix it, but no pages were missing, in fact there were extra pages held in by paper clips. Opening the folded page on her lap she read it, the page had multiple round smudges like it had been caught in the rain. “David please, I’m sorry it’s been two months since your last letter, I don’t know if you’ve been getting these but, if you are, please send one back. I need to know your safe. Please, I'm sorry for what I said. I didn’t know what happened, I’ve been hearing stories, horrible stories about the front, before I sent that letter. You remember Mary? The one that used to slip you boy’s a few sweets under the counter when you were younger, she said men have been changing, becoming violent, attacking friend and foe alike. I thought I’d lost you. I thought you became something you weren’t, when Tom told me what happened I was so scared I thought I’d lost my boy. The boy I raised, the boy I loved, I couldn’t even hear him, only later I heard the rest. I'm sorry, you can’t imagine how sorry I am. Please, let me know you're safe. God bless I hope I’ll see you again soon.”

• Mum.

Sitting there, Twilight could hear the woman’s voice sobbing as she read her words, she didn’t know what to think. This woman was pouring her heart out, the stains clearly that of tears.

Finding the one paper clip without a paper she saw it was near the end; it was probably only a few weeks old, maybe a month. Slipping it back into the pages she closed the book, placing it back with the others before heading to bed regretting what she did.

1

Walking through the dreamscape, Princess Luna watched over the ponies of Equestria acting as protector of their minds, but as she did she sensed a dream, a dark dream, a nightmare that instantly brought her attention to the pony’s mind in question. It wasn’t the first time she had faced one of these dreams, normally she would face one every week, but over the past few weeks she had been sensing it almost every night, but everytime she searched for the source it disappeared. It was gradually taking its toll on her, making her lose faith in herself. She was failing her duties as princess, ruler of night and dreams, and this pony was suffering because she wasn’t fast enough, rushing through the realm she found the source, a door like many of the others, but this one was transparent, something she had never seen before. Reaching for the knob her hand fazed through it like it was a ghost, again and again she tried to open it, but it was like it didn’t exist. Even closed minds that tried to keep her out were just locked, but the door felt real as she rattled the handle, but was something she had never seen.

Waking up Luna joined her sister for breakfast. Celestia is making a mountain of pancakes for them, “G’morning Luna,, I hope you had an easy night,” Sitting down Luna groggily began to eat, not having much strength in her fork as she tore into her food. “that bad?” Celestia said, her voice dropping.

Looking up, Luna spoke, her voice sounding beaten and defeated, “It was that nightmare again, this time I found the door it came from but I couldn’t enter it, it was like it wasn’t there, my hand just went straight through it.”

“Luna, whatever this pony is facing you will be able to help, it's just a matter of time.” Celestia said in a firm but reassuring tone.

Looking up from her breakfast Luna replied, her tone not changing in the slightest. “But what if it’s too late? What if they are passed the point of help? Maybe they had something horrible happen and the first time I sensed them I could have helped them, but I wasn’t fast enough and now they are beyond my reach, maybe this is my punishment for failing them to sense their pain every night. Two weeks sister! Two weeks I have failed this pony!”

Seeing the tears in her sister’s eyes Celestia walked over, hugging Luna from behind speaking in a calm voice. “Nopony is beyond help, sure we may fail them from time to time, we may be a bit slow or make the wrong decision and have to pick up the pieces, but the fact you feel this way shows that you haven’t failed them in your heart.”

Looking up to her sister, Luna spoke with tears in her eyes as her voice softened to Celestia's words, “How is it you know what to say for every situation?”

Giving a slight chuckle Celestia spoke, “Practice. Now eat up, we've got a busy day today.”

2

Walking around the gallery Celestia and Luna looked over the paintings standing on easels with their artists standing proudly beside them, Celestia walked around with a small crowd around her while Luna walked around mostly alone her only company were a few night guards keeping their distance. Walking passed the painting Luna’s eyes lazily glossing over them not caring for her royal duty, she had to nominate one as well as her sister, but each one was good and she could appreciate them, but each one was the same, they weren’t the same in style or what they were painting of, but they were all in broad daylight. It seems after all these years nopony has come to appreciate her night.

After a while her tired blue eyes noticed a tall easel alone with nopony beside it, walking over her eyes widened to what she saw, the paint made used deep blues, blacks and gentle whites. The scenery was all in black with the silhouette of tall bare trees and several figures walking behind them over a lump mud road, above the road and men was a deep blue sky with countless stars and a fogged over moon, underneath the mud road at the bottom of the painting was what looked like a lake mirroring the sky, trees and men perfectly apart from a single ripple that created a shimmer across the mirrored sky.

Looking around Luna looked for anypony that could be the artist behind this piece that captured her night so well, after a while she noticed nopony was coming. Looking down to the bottom right corner of the painting she saw the letters D & M. Catching the eye of one of the organisers, an older unicorn with a pale white coat and glasses along with a grey mane. “Can I help you princess?”

Turning to her she spoke, “Yes, do you know who painted this?”

Looking to the painting the organiser spoke, “I believe that was posted by a, David, Mason.”

“Great. Where is this pony? I wish to express my aberration for his work.” Luna almost exclaimed.

A little taken back by Luna’s volume and excitement, she spoke in a lower voice than before. “I’m sorry princess, but he never came, it was just sent in the post, if you would like I could get the address it was sent from.”

Smiling, Luna spoke her voice still filled with excitement. “That would be most excellent!”

3

The rest of the day went rather fast for Luna. Her sister nominated a beautiful scenic painting of Canterlot, while she nominated this David Mason’s painting, after giving out the prizes Luna received the address the painting was sent from. Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres. The next day Luna was heading to Ponyville with the painting wrapped up under her arm, arriving at Sweet apple Acres she saw Applejack tending the farm replacing a rotten fence post.

Upon spotting her Applejack instantly straightened up speaking in a shocked tone. “P… princess Luna!? What are you doing here?!”

“Greetings Applejack, I’m looking for a pony named, David Mason. Apparently he sent a painting from here.”

Looking down slightly hiding her eyes under her hat she crossed her arms across her body rubbing herself as she spoke in a quiet tone. “Ah about that, he didn’t send that… I did.”

Looking at Applejack in disbelief Luna spoke in a degree of shock. “So you're the artist?”

Taking a step back Applejack in a jittery voice. “No no no I would never take credit for something somepony else did, he let me borrow it to show ma friends and I kinda sent it off without him knowing.”

Sighing, Luna looked down shaking her head as she spoke in a low tone, “Applejack, I would expect this brash behaviour from Rainbow dash or Pinkie Pie, but you're the Element of Honesty.”

“It's not like that, I showed the girls and they convinced me to send it and I thought it would be nice, if he won it might have cheered him up a bit. He always seems down in the dumps.” Applejack said.

With another heavy sigh Luna spoke, “I don’t suppose you know where he is?”

Looking off into the distance to the apple fields, Applejack lifted her hat up. “There's an old cabin in the orchard, he’s been living there for the past week but before you go he’s… quite different.”

Looking at her too odd statement with a confused expression that matched her tone, Luna spoke, “What do thou mean?”

Stroking her arm again Applejack looked away from Luna’s gaze, “Well, he’s not exactly a pony.”

Luna’s expression relaxed somewhat as she spoke, her tone holding less confusion. “So he’s what, a griffin or a minotaur?”

Applejack spoke in an uneasy tone, “No he’s a, umm… I’m not sure what he is, but just be aware he’s different.”

Heeding her advice she walked towards the cabin finding it right where Applejack said, it wasn’t big but it was easily big enough for somepony to live alone. The wood of the walls was dull and beginning to show signs of rotting making it perfectly clear that before this man had lived there, nopony had maintained it. The two windows on either side of the door were clean on the inside but filthy around the edge on the outside, with dirt and moss trying to grow. Approaching the door Luna knocked against the weak wood feeling it wane against her fist, hearing nothing she tried the door handle only for it to rattle against the lock.

Sighing, Luna turned around to leave. This was an unannounced visit, so he could be anywhere, leaving the cabin she began to walk back down the road she came from stopping as she heard something. Standing there in silence she listened to the sounds slowly approaching, becoming clearer with each passing second as the sounds became barely audible words of a man. “-by order of the king, god bless him, we’ll fight and win or die. The empire and the king, god bless him. Is the nation’s cry, our country’s pride are fighting, god bless them and vict’ry bring. For they are gladly dying just to keep the old flag flying, by order of the king...”

As the source of the low murmur of a song came into view, Luna just stood there not sure what she was looking at, he was wearing the same clothes he arrived in minus his overcoat and bags that wrapped around his body. His holstered belt was wrapped around his waist supported by the strap that was wrapped over his right shoulder, in his left hand was a large heavy bag that clunked and cluttered with each step. As he drew closer to the Princess of the night she heard his voice call to her, “You alright their dear?”

Still somewhat gawking at him she spoke her words, “Err… yes. Applejack sent me, I’m looking for a David Mason.”

Approaching her he began to fumble with his keys as he spoke, “Well you’ve found him, come on I’ll stick the kettle on, might not have much but I haven’t lost my manners.”

Opening the door for her David let Luna into the cabin, stepping into the cabin Luna saw it was rather bare, by the wall to the right of her was a small iron box fire with a wide pipe leading to the ceiling. In front of the fire was a pair of old armchairs being worn down in various places with a small pale side table between them, in the corner of the room next to a standing easel was a stack of canvases. Walking over to them she saw the painting on the easel, it was of four men dressed in the same uniform as David, their arms locked around each others shoulders as they smiled, looking closer at the painting she saw the man seconded from the left was missing his face, but in the bottom right corner was a photo in black and white, the photo of the men untouched by the paint.

Looking down to the stack of canvases beside her she saw they had all been used, kneeling down beside them she began to flick through them. The first of which was of men similar to David in the trenches surrounded by mud and rain. The men where huddled around a roughing fire watching intently as a more detailed man spoke his mouth open, smiling being mid sentence as his arm hung out synthesizing what he was saying, he was dressed in similar clothes except a long cloth was wrapped around his head, hiding his hair unlike his thick black beard.

The next painting was depressing: a man in British uniform was laid over the spiralling barbed wire of no man’s land, a helmet laid beneath his limp head, all she could see was his short brown hair hiding his dead face. His motionless right hand reached out into the trench beneath him, holding a blood stained letter while his left held his rifle.

The next painting was even worse, there was a man in the trenches crawling back against the mud, his hands clasping at the dirt behind him in fear, his terrified expression was hidden behind a gas mask, but what she saw in his glassed over eyes was worse. In his right eye was a black silhouette of a man in heavy clothes armed with a flamethrower spewing flames, in his left eye was an even worse sight, a man holding his arms above his face bracing himself for the fire that was already engulfing his body.

Almost afraid to look at the next one, she continued to flick through them, finding the next one to be more cheerful, men smiling as they rode on a giant metal beast just before tipping into a large puddle. The painting after that was, different. It wasn’t of mud, blood or men. It was beautiful. A pale grand cathedral sat on top of a tall hill ornate with ancient carvings and long glass windows and a dark roof, across from the cathedral was a castle, its pale stone walls over shadowing the city below.

Walking in, David dropped his bag next to the coat rack as he hung his hat and jacket up as he entered the main room. “So what brings you here, umm sorry I didn’t get your name.”

Standing up from his painting Luna turned to him, speaking in a slightly shaky voice to what she saw. “Luna.”

Rummaging through his hanging jacket he found the box of matches hidden amongst his supplies as he spoke, “isn’t there a princess named that?”

In that moment she knew he didn’t know who she was. She was just another pony to him like any other, “Yes my mother named me after her, does thou remember that painting you let Applejack borrow?”

“The clear night march, what about it?” he said.

Perking up Luna spoke, her voice became more cheerful and energetic. “Well you see, she didn’t exactly show it to friends. She entered it into a gallery and it won, it was nominated by the princess herself but after finding out you weren’t there she sent me to find you. So congratulations, this is a high honour, the princess of the night has never cared for a work of art like this, she said she never knew a painting could capture the beauty of her night.”

“Well I’m glad she enjoyed it, judging by your reaction she wouldn’t approve of my, other work.” he said calmly.

For a moment Luna was taken aback thinking he had seen through her lie, but looking back down to the paintings beside her she spoke, her shaky tone returning, “Yes, they are quite unsettling.”

Tilting his head to the side he looked down to the paintings beside her, a light grin forming on his face. “Hopefully not all of them, I know the midlands aren’t the grandest of sights, but it’s still my home and besides that first one there is of a good laugh at the time and a good time painting.”

Walking over he picked up the painting allowing Luna to see as he held it up chuckling as he spoke in a pleasant tone to the memories resurfacing. “That guy in the middle telling the story, that was Rajesh, of the Indian regiment, now he was a right laugh he could do any ascent without fault, this one time we had orders coming through, but half the men missed it, so without batting an eye he repeated the orders in the commanders Yorkshire ascent, right to the commanders face the entire regiment was laughing so loud the we got reports that the French could hear us. The closest Frenchman was four miles away!”

Even Luna started to let out a light laugh as she heard his story, not to the idea she had no clue what a Yorkshire accent was, but regardless she just laughed with him not to the story but how he told it. Pointing to one of the men beside Rajesh, Luna saw he was rather young looking compared to the others as she listened to David speak, still laughing lightly as he did. “You see this guy here, that’s Tom the Tommy or Tommy Tom, sixteen years old, god he was wet behind the ears, we could have gone fishing behind them, but he was a good lad, not ruff and ready or prim and proper like some of the others, but a good lad nonetheless, so we took’m under our wing and kept him safe.”

Smiling to him, Luna was beginning to get an idea of this strange man, gently placing the painting with the others he spoke, “Right, the tea.”

Walking over to the iron box he began filling it with cut longs from the pile beside it humming a low tune, recognising the tune Luna spoke in a curious tone. “What is that?”

Looking up and back from the box he answered, “What’s what?”

“That tune your humming.” she replied.

“Oh that, it’s just a marching song.” he said in a calm tone.

Her curiosity getting the better of her she asked, “What about?”

Lighting the fire in the iron box he replied, “War and what we fight for and how we fight.”

Moving up from the fire he moved over to the cabinets across the far wall pulling out a kettle and cups as he began to sing in a slow low tone while Luna moved to one of the armchairs ``The empire’s pride, stand side by side, Upon the battle field. Like knights of old, so brave and bold, the King and Flag to shield. For each brave heart, will do his part, for Country and for King, and gladly go, to meet the foe, just hear them proudly sing, by order of the King, God bless him, we’ll fight and win or die. The Empire and the King, God bless him, is the nation’s cry, our Country’s pride are fighting, God bless them and vict’ry bring. For they are gladly dying just to keep the old flag flying, by order of the King. The clash of steel, may make us reel, but we’ll not give an inch. For right and fame, we’ll play the game, and we will never flinch. Thro’ sounds of war and cannon’s roar, we’ll ever pray and sing, God give us might, to fight for right, by order of the King. By order of the King, God bless him, we’ll fight and win or die. The Empire and the King, God bless him, is the nation's cry, our Country’s pride are fighting, God bless them and vict’ry bring. For they are gladly dying just to keep the old flag flying, by order of the King!”

As he sang she saw him prepare the side table moving the few books on it, but before he moved them she saw the titles. ‘Starswerl’s theory on dimensions and realms’ and ‘magical transport for none unicorns.’ Sitting down on the other chair David poured the tea for Luna and he offered her milk and sugar, but upon lifting his cup he looked to be in discomfort almost dropping the tea on the saucer as the discomfort became clear pain. Leaning forward he began to violently cough into his right hand becoming weaker with each cough, Luna’s eyes became wider with each wheeze of his lungs. As she spoke, her voice full of concern as she leaned in from her chair. “Does thou need help?”

David’s eyes began to water, as he held in the coughs holding up his right hand to her in a dismissive fashion, upon seeing his open palm Luna’s eyes shot open in shock as she saw what was pressed into his skin, the sight was as clear as day, the sight of blood. Slowly his breath returned to him like his hand and upon seeing the state of his hand he spoke in an almost defeated tone as he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket whipping away the blood. “Good grief.”

Jumping up from her seat Luna flared her wings as she yelled frantically, “What’s wrong, do thou need help!? Do you need a physician!?”

Weakly speaking, his voice more of a wheezy breath than anything, “No. No I’ll be fine it’ll pass in no time it always does.”

Luna’s wings slowly softened returning to her back as she spoke in a doubtful firm tone “No thou aren’t, I may not be a doctor, but even a foal knows coughing blood is bad, you need help.”

Leaning back in his seat he rested his head back as he let out a few light coughs, his voice getting stronger as his breathe returned to his burned lungs. “There's nothing a doctor can do, my lungs have been torn up pretty bad, all we can do is wait for them to heal, it’s not nearly as bad as it was.”

“What… what happened?” Luna said, her voice full of worry.

“Was in a gas attack a week before I came here, the buggers use some damn nasty stuff on us, blisters the skin and melts the lungs. I was able to get the mask on in time but I still breathed some of it in.” he said in a slow worn out voice.

Luna’s face just froze in horror as she spoke, barely able to make words. “That's terrible... I can’t imagine what it was like to go through that.”

“That's war for you, but enough of old wounds and battle scars. What about you? I've been here for a while now and I’ve never seen one like you.” he said, his voice returning to normal.

“I could say the same of thou I’ve seen many a creature, but nothing like you.” she said, eyeing him curiously hoping he wouldn’t press the question of alicorns.

Giving a slight chuckle David replied with a worn out smile, his words sounding more like a revised script than natural. “You won’t believe how many times I’ve been asked that. I’m a human I’m twenty-seven hailing from the United Kingdom of Great Britain, born and raised in Lincolnshire, educated in Oxford university Officer of the British army, Corporal of the Artist Rifles.”

Blinking in surprise, Luna tried to take in all that information he had given her. “What?”

Rubbing his eyes he pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke in a defeated tone. “Sorry, that was rude, I’ve been asked that question so many times I’ve become a bit numb to it.”

“It's quite alright, I’ve been there, when I was sent to the Griffin lands I had to repeat thyself a number of times.” Luna said in a reassuring tone.

Removing his hand from his face he spoke in his low tone becoming calm, “No let me do this with the courtesy you deserve. I’m a human, I’m twenty-seven, I have three brothers John, Jack and Gordon and I’m the eldest. Three years ago war was declared on Germany, so we all signed up to fight for King and country. We were assigned to the Artist Rifles. I became an Officer and worked my way up to Corporal. That painting you saw with the cathedral is where I grew up, eventually I moved to Oxfordshire to attend the Oxford university where I studied cultural art and heritage before going home. My father is a musician and my mother is an artist, guess it’s easy to see who I took after.” He ended his words with a soft chuckle as he looked up to Luna sitting across from him “What about you? What's your story?”

Dreading this question she looked to her side pulling out the paper wrapped painting handing it back to its owner. “Well I have one older sister, we’ve kind of been opposites most of our lives, but recently we’ve made amends and now we are living together, she works most days while I work at night which didn’t help us in the pasted, but now I’m helping out at the gallery in Canterlot. Oh the princess wanted me to tell thou she really admires your work, truly she does.”

A strange mix of emotions dwelled from within Luna’s chest tightening around her heart and flooding her mind, at first she was afraid of him then she laughed with him and now she feels sorry for him. In fact she felt a connection to him, he was in a strange world surrounded by ponies and customs he did not recognise or understand just like her and right now he was treating her like anypony else, it was strange to her, no titles or decrees just the two of them getting to know one another naturally unlike all the nobles who she had been briefed on beforehand. So before meeting them she had an opinion on them never being able to just meet somepony and get to know them through them, not their title.

After a while it was getting late and Luna had to be back at Canterlot to raise the moon, standing up to leave Luna spoke her voice soft and pleased as she thought of a reason to return. “Before I leave the princess asked if thou would be willing to do some paintings for her, thou see she loved the night sky, we almost had to pry it from her when she left.” Giving a light giggle as she finished.

Standing up he handed her back the painting with a smile. “She can keep it. Wouldn’t want to bring down the princess’s wraith would I?” he joked.

Taking the painting in hand she just stared at it speaking in a bewildered tone, “I couldn’t possibly take this, isn’t it personal? Thou didn’t even know she had seen it.”

Waving it off dismissively he spoke, “I’ve still got the memory and I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate the other.” he joked.

“Thank thou, I’m sure she will enjoy seeing it again, but she did want more, she’ll pay thou, money is no bother she said, you are the only artist that can truly capture the beauty of the night.” Luna said hoping she would have a reason to return.

Looking around the mostly empty room he spoke in a calm voice. “Money’s not really an issue; But I don’t suppose with her being a princess she has a piano going spare?” Seeing the confused expression on Luna’s face he continued. “It doesn’t have to be a grand master piece, doesn’t even have to be in tune, would just be nice to play again.”

Smiling, Luna replied with a soft voice, “I’m sure I can come up with something.”