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              A Bounty Hunters Work (Revamp)               
                      -by LordKioshi-                      
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              Chapter 1 - "Just Another Day"               
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Chapter 1 - "Just Another Day"
As I sat in the trees canopy, high above the foliage and fauna below, I readjust myself into a more comfortable position, my eyes never once leaving the scope of my rifle. The sounds of the forest's wildlife bit through the otherwise silent air. I take in a deep breath, the smell of pine, wet moss and grass and other vegetation quickly hit my nose. I close my eyes as I enjoy the smell of the forest. The wilderness had always been a source of comfort to me. Something about its unpredictability always calmed my nerves.
I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Introductions are in order. I have gone by many names in my life: Beastmaster, Clan of One and many others, but you can call me Fendral Marika, Mandalorian of the Bounty Hunters Guild. And it's the reason for my current high-rise predicament.
You see, for the past few weeks, the neighbouring towns, settlements and the like have been reporting trouble with a roaming pack of Diamond Dogs that had detached themselves from the main body of governing clans, coming together to form this rogue pack. They had mainly stuck to just stealing foodstuffs, drinks and weapons on the rare occasion, generally doing so in the cover night, nothing more than a nuisance. Recently, however, they had gotten brave, stealing larger and more important items like wagons, tents, clothing items and even dynamite and gunpowder in broad daylight. Although these were easily replaceable things, a search was warranted, but they came out empty each time. But with their latest pillage, kidnapping four to five Ponies from their beds as they slept, they realized the severity of the situation and decided they needed experts. So when the reports finally came across the desk of the Headmaster of our branch of the guild, the bounty was put up rather quickly. And I just so happen to get there first.
That's why how I found myself here, thirty feet in the air, a mile out from the border for Whitetail Woods and the Everfree, tracking the roaming pack of Diamond dogs with my supplies running low. Tracking them was easy enough as they left a large enough trail that even the most inept trackers would easily know where they went. What gave me trouble though, was that they were constantly on the move, never staying in one place for very long.
As I sat within my perch, I reopen my eyes, staring down the sights of my rifle again. Fifty metres ahead of me lay the Diamond Dog pack, which looks to be settling down into a temporary encampment. I needed to act quickly. Surveying the camp, I began looking for anything that may be to my benefit if things get dicey and seeing if I could spot any of the missing Ponies.
There wasn't much, at least not much of any note. A few white tents dotted the site, seemingly placed at random, more than likely those they had stolen, crates were scattered around the camp and in the back a few wagons which seem to have been unceremoniously abandoned, the contents presumably being mainly weapons or foodstuffs. Working inward, I spot a particularly large Dog circling what appeared to be a set of cages, snarling intermittently.
Reaching up to my scope, I readjust and increase the zoom of the sights of my rifle to get a better look at the prisoners and just as I had suspected, they were Ponies but from the angle, I couldn't see their faces. They looked to be a little worse for wear. Dirt was smeared across their coats and deep purple bruises marked their bodies and what clothes they had left were torn and fraying. Even if they're not the ones I'm looking for, they don't deserve this.
Moving my sights once more, that's when I finally spot him, the pack leader. Identified by his heavier armour and deep blue scarf, he was sitting on one of the few benches near the border of their camp. Repositioning myself again, I inhale deeply and started counting off-beat between my heartbeats. Once I was certain I would make the shot, I fired.
I squeeze the trigger and a bright flash flared from between the double-pronged end of the rifle, the power of which threw up loose bits of bark, the shot being able to be seen briefly before it hit its target. The Diamond Dog didn't have enough time to react as the projectile hit him, turning him into nothing more than a puff of ash. Where the pack leader once stood was now nothing more than an empty space, his armour falling to the ground, the other Dogs painfully unaware of his excruciating demise.
I open the chamber, ejecting the spent shell and I quickly reach for my belt, pulling out another slug and sliding into the open chamber and slamming it down. Aiming once more, I steady my breathing and choose another target. A Dog wandered up to where the leader had been standing and looked at his armour and the ash laying on the ground beneath it, briefly looking around in hopes to spot him. I didn't wait long before squeezing the trigger, doing the same as I had with my previous shot.
Just as I took the shot, the branches I sat on cracked, throwing off my aim. Catching myself before I fell, the shot fired and flew through the air, barely missing the dog by a few inches, whizzing past his head and into the ground behind him. The Diamond Dog jumped, startled and alert and looked to where the shot had come from. His eyes darted along the tree line, using his enhanced eyesight to his benefit.
After finding nothing, he ditched the attempt and raised his head high into the air, he took in several deep sniffs, occasionally taking a step forward when he finally stopped and lowered his head, a sinister snarl slowly made its way onto his muzzle before breathing deeply, far deeper than before. Releasing it, he let out an ear-splitting howl, a howl that I could feel in my bones, though my helmet mitigated it for my ears. Before I knew it, what appeared to be the whole pack amassed to his position, drawing their gimcrack weapons.
I grumble to myself as I jumped from my perch, bracing my legs for impact. Landing with a resounding thud, I use my momentum to roll, softening the impact and continuing forward, stumbling into a full sprint and holstering my rifle on my back before pulling out my pistol. As I drew closer, a few of the Dogs spotted me, alerting their kin to my presence. All eyes were now on me.
As I burst through the tree line, I fire a few shots off, hitting a few in the chest, the red bolts leaving behind a smouldering hole in their wake. Startled by the sudden deaths of their kin, the Dogs start firing their bow and arrows or crossbows, a few of which ping off of my armour. Sliding across the ground, I take cover behind some conveniently sized and placed crates, the Dogs still firing at me.
The shot stops suddenly and quiet now fills the air. Peeking out from behind my cover, an arrow ricochets off my helmet, forcing me back behind cover.
"Dank farrik," I grumble to myself.
Realizing the situation I was in, I saw no choice but to call for backup. Taking in a deep breath, I let out a long, loud whistle, letting it ring out through the air as I finished. I could hear shuffling behind me, the Dogs possibly unsure of what to make of the sudden sound.
Erupting forth from the brush in an explosion of leaves came something the Dogs least expected, a Timberwolf. The usually sick green glow that emanated from their cores was now a light blue, bordering on white with blue accents that ran up its forearms and across its back and a red bandana was wrapped snuggly around its neck. It charged forward with its teeth bared, the sap-like saliva also lacked the distinct green glow. The Diamond Dogs started again, the arrows lodging themselves harmlessly in its bark-like skin.
Smiling, I jumped from my cover, I slid across the crate's lid, firing a few more shots, taking down as many Dogs as I could. As the Timberwolf jumped over the crates, it distracted the Dogs by sliding under their legs, clamping down on their ankles, tearing the Achilles tendon before ripping out their throats in a bloody display.
Holstering my blaster, I pull my knife from my belt, ducking under a powerful sword swing. Plunging my knife into the side of my attacker, he let out an agonising scream as I bring the blade to the other side, slicing open his stomach. His intestines spill out onto the ground in a steaming pile as I drive the blade through the top of their head, silencing his wails.
I turn in time to see another Dog throw a punch aimed at my throat. Using my head, I slam his fist with great force, earning a sickening crunch followed by another scream. Ramming my knife into the Dog's chin, the tip pokes out the top of their head for a second, flecks of bone and grey matter mar the tip before I pull it out.
Another two charge me as I slowly walk towards them. Ducking again, I punch one in the throat before slamming my fist into the nose of the other, breaking its nose with an audible crunch, stunning them both. I quickly run behind the first one, kicking in his leg and forcing him to fall backwards. I catch his head under my arm before stepping forward slightly, applying upward pressure with my forearms on his neck. In an instant, a resounding snap sounds out as his body goes limp and I quickly drop him, thrusting by knife into the throat of the other, severing his spine.
I turn and spot that had alerted the rest of the camp, wielding a pair of swords. He starts a series of quick flashy flourishes, spinning and flipping them in a display of obnoxious arrogance, leaving me to watch the sight unimpressed. As he finishes, I simply draw my blaster and fire, the bolt finding its mark in his chest, killing him instantly.
Hearing the sounds of loud yelling to my right, I look to and spot a group of Dogs coming running around the corner of one of the various wagons, weapons held high. Glancing behind them, my eyes land on another one of their stolen goods, a conveniently placed red barrel. Throwing my first forward, a grappling hook shoots from my vambrace, zooming past the head of the Dogs and grabbing hold onto the barrel with its strong grip. I grab the cord and give it a hard yank, the barrel flying just above the heads of the now aware Dogs. Aiming, I shoot a single shot.
The ensuing explosion engulfed the small group in a fiery orange flame, killing most of them instantly, my large coat and scarf billowing from the sheer force of it. Those unlucky few that lived howled in anguish, their fur catching ablaze and their muscles melting off of the bone. Their cries soon turned to gargles as they screamed their throats and lungs raw, blood pouring from their somehow still shrieking maws. But soon enough, all was silent.
Looking around, I find the rest of the camp to already be dead, the Timberwolf making short work of them. Remembering the other reason I was here, I quickly strode over to the cages to let the prisoners out. But as I was about to reach them, a heavy blunt object rammed my right side and I was sent flying into nearby boxes, a surge of pain coming from where I was hit. Peering up, a large Dog sneered down at me, a large portion of his face was burned and melted away, revealing the blackened skull beneath with patches of fur that were either missing or still aflame from the explosion. He gives me nothing more than a single grunt before hefting his large mace above his head.
As the mace was at its apex, the Timberwolf jumped at his throat, digging its razer sharp teeth deep into the Dogs flesh and he drops his mace. Despite the weight on his shoulders and the pain that wracked his body, he stood tall, refusing to fall. Pushing myself up as quickly as possible, I tap my left forearm on my hip and a pair of thick slightly curved spikes jut out from the large gauntlet over my balled fist. Getting up close to the Dog and throwing my fist forward, the spikes easily penetrate the thin leather.
He quickly falls to the ground as I continue my assault even as the Timberwolf ultimately ripped out his jugular in a terrible squelch. His flesh rapidly began to tenderise as the sounds of crunching bone are replaced by the sound of wet blows as his ribs and sternum shattered from the relentless attack, flecks and chunks of meat and bone flying here and there. Eventually, with the Dogs chest caved in, I fall onto my back and the spikes retract back into my gauntlet.
Sighing a breath of relief, I try to stand but a jolt of pain erupts from my side and I end up back on my ass, clutching my ribs. Giving them a small poke, a few gave way from the pressure, letting me know they were broken. Reaching to my satchel, I pull out a pair of metallic syringes and gently poked them into my side, being sure to inject all the contents before pulling them out. I let out a small groan as the small, concentrated amount of bacta worked its way into my system. I grimace and laid my head down for a minute or two as a wave of nausea washes over me as the bacta and light sedative slowly started working. It'll take a while for these injuries to heal fully.
Once done, I stand with a groan, doing so slowly so as to not upset my injuries further. Standing slowly, the wolf walks over to me, dropping a set of keys on the ground, looking up at me expectantly, tongue out and tail wagging.
"Good boy," I said, clapping the wolf who yipped happily at the gesture.
Striding over to the pens, I try several of the keys for some time. I eventually find the one for the locks, finally opening the doors for the grateful Ponies captives. They were sceptical at first, having witnessed the bloody execution of their captors, couple that with the Timberwolf who was seen sniffing around the slowly stiffening bodies, unbothered by the blood drenching his wooden paws, but quickly warmed up to us once they realized we were there to help. Moving from body to body, I gave each of them a single bolt to the head, being sure that the brain was destroyed. You can never be too safe.
As I made sure they were dead, I began cutting off the ears of the Dogs that lay cold on the ground as proof of a job well done, clipping the pouch they were in onto my belt. Once done, I gathered the Ponies to a part of the camp where the bodies weren't, going over their injuries to see if any were serious. Thankfully none were.
I ask them a small series of questions, quickly finding out these were indeed the Ponies that had been kidnapped. Fortunately, the punishment the Dogs put them through was fairly minor when compared to other packs. Slight malnourishment and dehydration, easily fixed. And the Dogs only gave out a couple of light beatings for disobedience, giving them the injuries they had. All in all, they were in fair condition.
Double-checking their injuries, I nodded to myself and walked over to one of the various carts, removing the boxes and piling them neatly near another pile, picking up a piece of rope from one of them and indicating for the group to hop on. They hesitated briefly, before conceding, knowing I was their best chance at getting back home. Climbing on, they looked at me expectantly.
"How're we gonna get back?" One asks. "You're not gonna pull us, are ya?"
I smile behind my helm as I raise my vambrace to my face and I press a sequence of buttons, letting out a satisfying click once I finished. I gaze off to my left as I wait. Seconds go by and a whirring fills the air, the Ponies looking around in confusion. The sound gets louder when finally, bursting from the treeline, comes my BARC speeder bike, stopping about a metre in front of me. Hopping on, I back the bike to the front of the wagon, tying it to the back of the bike before climbing back on. The Timberwolf climbs onto the wagon, unconcerned with the startled Ponies.
Punching in a series of coordinates, the modified nav system showed me how to get to the location and how long it would take. Pressing forward, we advance at a leisurely pace so as to not disturb my passengers or undo the rope, my bike making enough noise to scare off any creatures in our path. On the journey, the Ponies made a few attempts at small talk, some better than others, but stopped at my lack of responses and talked amongst themselves while they dislodged the remaining arrows from the Timberwolf's bark. A few hours passed with non-stop travelling and my passengers happily drank from the large canteen I had on hand when we finally arrived at our destination. Valintine.
It was about as typical as you could get when it comes to a rural town. Wooden houses, thatched roofs, a general store, a farm, a forge and a decent bar. Even the colours were generic, consisting of mostly browns of various shades. Though the locals seem happy enough so they must be doing something right.
Parking my bike near the front entrance, I help the Pony resues out of the wagon as the local guard arrives to take them away to someplace safe and return them home. Untying the wagon from my bike, I swiftly move on, the Timberwolf not straying too far from my side. Moving farther into the town and down the main street, the Ponies make way for me as I walk, unsettled by my bloody appearance and by the large wolf that followed closely. Soon enough, I come to the town's bar, The Drum and Monkey.
Walking up the wooden steps, which creak loudly under my feet, I open the double doors and step inside, the once lively and bustling tavern soon fell silent, all noise now becoming a hushed whisper. I continue in without pause, my large strides taking me to a particular table near the far right wall. Situated there was the stallion who issued the bounty, who quickly notices me as I approached.
"Ah, Bounty Hunter!" He exclaimed. "I take it the jobs done?"
Reaching to the pouch on my belt, I chuck it onto the table in front of him, the contents of which squelch as they land. The disgusted stallion hesitantly reaches towards the pouch, slowly opening it before slamming it shut. He pushes it away, using his other hand to cover his mouth, trying his best to fight the rising bile. Swallowing, he quietly shudders, seemingly successful in pushing back his upchuck.
"Yes, well," He said, his eyes never leaving the pouch. "I'll take that as a yes."
"My payment please,"
"Yes of course," He said, pulling out a pen from his shirt pocket. "Hand me the bounty papers, if you will."
Reaching my belt again, I grab a leather-wrapped metal cylinder and unscrewed the cap, and pulled out a piece of rolled-up paper. Handing it over to the stallion, he rolls it out and scribbles near the bottom before rolling back up, handing it back to me and putting his own pouch onto the table. Placing it back within the cylinder, I reattach the cap and pick up the pouch before I turn away, striding back towards the bar's entrance.
"Thank you for your service!" I hear the stallion say.
Walking out, I say nothing as I walk back down the town main street and back towards my bike, the Timberwolf never once leaving my side. Climbing onto my speeder, I open a compartment behind the driver's seat, to which the wolf happily hops into. Double-checking everything was in place, I grab the handles and slam them forward. We take off in a surprising burst of speed, kicking up dirt and mud as we zoom down the Everfree, on our way home.
The trip to our final destination was far quicker. Having nothing to hold us back and the trail being relatively straight, with the occasional twist or turn, we were able to close to full speed, cutting the travel time of the journey down significantly.
A couple of hours pass and the nav system gives off a ping, giving me an auditory indication that notifies me we were near. After a while, I begin noticing changes. The world seemed to be getting lighter in colour, the darkness that had weighed down on us finally lifted and the air felt lighter. Soon after the trees changed as well, going from the typical withered husks to bright and filled with life, filled near to the brim with ripened apples.
I pull back on the handles, shifting my weight to the side and we come to a skidding stop, kicking up a thick plume of dust. As the dust begins to settle, we were greeted with the sight of none other than Ponyville, a quaint, bustling rural country town. Our Home.
"Hey! Uncle Fen!" A voice calls out.
My shoulders tense up and my hand twitches towards my pistol as my gaze snaps to where the voice called from. I relax and smile once I spot who called for me. Jogging towards me was a Stetson-wearing Earth Pony mare, a wide smile across her muzzle.
"Hey AJ," I reply, stepping off of my bike, moving towards the Pony as quickly as my long injured leg would allow.
Embracing the orange Earth Pony in a tight hug, I groan lightly as a dull throb of pain comes from my side, causing her to quickly let go and look at me with an unimpressed and an almost annoyed expression on her face.
"You always come back injured!" She chastised, lightly poking me in my armoured chest. "One of these days your not gonna come back and we'd be none the wiser. You oughta be more careful."
"I'm fine cyar'ika," I said, gingerly lowering her hand, tapping my side. "See?"
"Still," She said, losing the annoyed look, now more concerned about my safety. "We oughta have those wounds looked at."
I couldn't do anything but concede to the mare, knowing that the back and forth that would happen would last for hours before anything was achieved. We were about to move when from behind us came a loud bark, effortlessly gaining our attention. Spinning on our heels, the Timberwolf sat near the bike, an impatient look on his muzzle but wagging his tail nonetheless.
"How could I forget about you boy?" She cooed, rubbing the soft moss under his chin, earning a happy half bark from the wooden canine.
"Come boy," I said, lightly tapping my thigh, the wolf quickly coming to my side.
Applejack took my wrist soon after and swiftly lead me to the main house, leaving me to do nothing but gently limp behind. Leading me up the wooden steps and into the light red barn house, we entered the cosy living room where I was unceremoniously plopped onto the dark brown leather couch. She left briefly before she came back with the house first aid kit in her hands. Folding her arms, she gained an expectant look as she tapped her hooved feet against the varnished floors.
"Right. Off with the garments," She demanded. "Can't tend to ya if I can't see the injury."
Chuckling softly as I stand, removing my gauntlets before unfurling my scarf from my neck and taking off my large coat, setting them off to the side before removing my beskar armoured shirt followed by the plain armourweave undershirt, making sure to keep my helmet atop my head. I sit back down, raising my arms above my head so Applejack had a clear view of my wound.
"Sweet Celestia, what're ya like?" She asked rhetorically.
Looking down, I finally see what the damage was like. On my right side was a large dark purple bruise, taking up the majority of that side of my body. While the bacta syringes are amazing at healing wounds less than grievous, they do however take a very long time to act, leaving a lot of wounds to still require a slight dressing.
Lifting my head, I looked around the room, listening to the ambient sounds of the aged house, but gained a curious expression when I realized that was all that I heard. Applejack took a glance up at me while she worked on my rather large bruise, possibly sensing my confusion before she spoke.
"The others are out at the market," She explained as she applied a numbing salve before wrapping me in a layer of bandages. "They left not long before you got back actually."
"I see."
In little to no time at all, she was already finished dressing my injury, taking no more than half an hour to complete the process. However, being as stubborn as she is, she demanded I take it easy and relax for a bit, while she went to take care of a few things around the house. Much like before, I decided not to argue, knowing her sheer relentless stubbornness would win out anyway. So I lay there on the soft leather couch, basically shirtless bar the bandages Applejack wrapped me in, lightly snoring after I closed my eyes for a quick nap with my Timberwolf companion happily curled up in front of the couch.
"Applejack! We're back," A voice called out.
I jumped awake as I was abruptly woken from my power nap. Settling back down, I sigh as my mind slowly becomes fully awake and aware of the world around me. Not bothering to move an inch, I stay still on the now warm couch, listening to the several sets of hooves clopping around on the hardwood floor. Not long after, I felt a hand rest itself on my shoulder that gently shook me, trying to get me to move.
I lightly swat the hand away, grumbling to myself. The hand shook me again only to get the same response from me. It tries once more before giving up. A few seconds pass before I feel the couch begin to tilt forwards and soon find myself falling to the cold floor. I open my eyes and stare up at the ceiling before my vision is filled with messy light ginger hair.
"Su cuy'gar Butter," I said, still laying on the floor, briefly catching a glimpse of Big Mac kneeling next to the couch, rubbing behind the happy Timberwolf's ears.
"Hello to you too," The light peach mare said cheerfully, offering me her hand to help me up.
Accepting her offer, I take her hand and she swiftly and effortlessly pulls me to my feet. Nodding my thanks, I shifted my gaze to the side of the couch to see Big Mac, who wore a sheepish smile as he moved the kitchen. Shaking my head, I sit back onto the couch, gently poking my side, finding it still felt a little tender, but otherwise in better condition than it had been.
"AJ told us about your injury," Bright Mac said. "So I take it the job went well then?"
"It was a successful hunt!" I replied.
"Y'know ya oughta be more careful." He said.
"We both know that will never happen, dear," Peach Butter replied.
Bright Mac and Peach Butter, the parents of the Apple triplets, are two important ponies I share a bit of history with. To make a long story short, I have come to be quite close to the family. But I think that the full tale is one to be saved and shared for another time.
"Yall shoulda waited an' I woulda patched him up," Granny Smith said.
"Well what done is done," Butter said, moving to the kitchen, grocery bag in hand.
Putting on my armourweave shirt, I offered to help put away the rather substantial amount of shopping the four had done, but naturally, I was quickly denied and shooed out of the kitchen by the family's Elder, who lightly poked me away with her cane. Sitting down on the couch once again, I simply laid back down, listening to the sounds of the family at work in the kitchen, doing so for only a few minutes before they came back through, having already finished.
"Say, iffin you want ta, ya can stay fir supper 'fore ya leave fir home," Granny Smith said. "Yer welcome ta stay overnight as well."
"It would make Apple Bloom very happy," Bright said.
I slowly stretch my back and limbs, eliciting a series of cracks and pops, causing those present to cringe. I let my head rest against the back of the couch and briefly think about the offer. It had been a long and tiring few days and taking my time to let my wounds heal would be a good idea. And the idea of spending my downtime with those I cared for made the decision a no-brainer.
"I would be happy to."
Author's Note
So after a long time away and a whole fuck ton of thinking, I decided I'd try my hand at writing again, having found the motivation and some time to do it.
But why a complete rewrite? Well as much as I liked the first version, it was not without its flaws and after reading it a few times and going over the plans I laid out for it, I realized I could do a whole lot better. And I feel now that I've improved my "skill", even if by a small margin, I thought it'd be better to start again, rather than continue a story that I've ultimately lost connection to.
Characters will stay mostly the same, but key events and overall story are largely different. The largest change is probably the main character Fendral, as his personality has had a complete rework, with his backstory having similar treatment.
And unlike before, I will primarily focus on writing this fic, as it has a set road map and because I want it to be the best it can be while I work on my original piece on the side.
This was slightly long-winded and I do apologise for it, there was just a couple of things I wanted to explain before I went any further.
I just hope it was worth the wait.
Please point out any mistakes I may have made  
Constructive criticism is always appreciated  
Until next time, TTFN!

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                Chapter 2 - "An Invitation"                
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Chapter 2 - "An Invitation"
As the sounds of metallic clanging filled the hot and stuffy air, I wiped away the sweat that dripped down the black synthetic skin on my neck and lower jaw and flicked off the small drops into the forge, which then quickly fizzle away from its searing heat. I lift the rough blade in front of me and quickly inspect it, making sure it was the desired length. Nodding to myself, I place the tip into the hot charcoal until it was white-hot before placing it on the nearby anvil to refine the tip.
Once I was happy with the overall shape, I begin the beveling, starting at the tip, drawing the bevels back towards the shoulder. This was one of the more difficult parts of this particular way of forging, with even some seasoned smiths struggling through this process. As I finished, I place the other end of the blade in the hot charcoal before stepping over to the forges power hammer. I draw out the tang before hot cutting any excess material off, reducing it to the desired length. I put the tang in the hot charcoal once again before drawing it out to its final length.
Stepping over to a two-by-four, I use a draw filing technique on each side to start defining the bevels on the blade. To create the fuller down the centre of the blade, I use a hand scraper. As I used the scraper, it generated so much friction that the chips that came off were smoking. After using the scraper to rough in the fuller, I move on moved on to using a file to refine it.
Placing the full blade into the hot charcoal, I made sure to keep an even heat on its whole length. Once it reaches the proper temperature, I pull it from the charcoal forge and quench it in heat-treating oil. Using the heat of the charcoal fire, I watch for the colour down the blade. Straw was the colour I was looking for, trying to stay away from any blues. Now that I had it heat treated and tempered, I began filing it down once again, giving it its final edge.
"You finished?" I asked, peering over my shoulder.
"Almost," A voice calls back.
I stride over to a table on the far side of the forge, gently placing the finished blade on its surface. Turning on my heel, I quickly come to the one to who the voice belonged. Sitting at a separate table was a well built Earth Pony mare working on inscribing a pommel with her signature symbol of work, which was held in place by a clamp connected to the table via a long malleable neck.
"That should do it," She said, unclamping the pommel, picking up the handle and handguard that rested near her. "Ready?"
I give a simple nod before walking back over to the table to collect the blade, backtracking back to the mare. Grasping the blade in a tight grip, she attaches the crossguard and lightly taps it with a rubber mallet before placing the leather-bound grip on the tang, giving it a light tap. Grabbing the pommel, she lines it up gives it a few taps to ensure it was in its proper place before whacking it down, its grip far tighter to ensure everything else stayed in place.
She takes the blade from my hands and gives it a few up and down looks, a smile spreading as she does. Walking out to the side of the forges main shop, she slid the blade into a crate with near-identical copies, grabbing the hammer from her apron and nailing the lid shut tight. Putting it back in place, she stared at the other boxes which were stacked neatly under the thick cloth canopy with hands on her hips.
"That should be the last one," She said, not addressing anyone in particular.
I simply hum, briefly going back inside the forge to hang up my apron, coming back out to recount the boxes just to be sure we had the correct amount. I nod to myself, satisfied with our work and happy to finally be done with the commissioned project.
"Remind me again why the Princesses tasked us for this project," She asked, idly removing her apron as well.
"The royal forge burned down," I replied. "And being familiar of our work, saw us as the next best alternative."
"Well, they certainly hold us in high regard," She said, a proud smile spreading wider across her face. "Say, did they give you a time they would send somepony out to pick them up?"
I say nothing as I simply point behind her in response, causing her to quickly turn. And sure enough, in the distance was a large transport carriage, the thing having enough space to carry a small battalion of troops. It took a while for it to come close as it was a few miles out when I had spotted it, which gave us time to start bringing the crates out front.
When it finally landed along the main street, it did so shakily and with a resounding thud. It steadily began so slow to a crawl, eventually coming to stop in front of the shop. Hammer Strike, the mare I work with, was about to greet the royal guards who either hung tight onto the side rails of the large carriage or sat inside it when stepped out a figure we least expected, Princess Luna.
The tall she-wolf stepped out with a slight stumble, tightly gripping the small hand railing and blew a lock of her silver iridescent hair out of the way of her eye. Breathing deeply, she swiftly composed herself before straightening out any wrinkles her dress may have sustained.
"Apologies for the rough landing your highness," The pilot said.
"Think nothing of it," Luna said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Princess Luna!" Hammer gasped as she bowed deeply.
I could see the royal trying her best to hold back a sigh, tensing her neck and putting on a smile, lightly bowing in response. Peering over her shoulder, she subtly indicated the guards to start gathering the crates, to which they did so wordlessly, ever the silent obligors. Walking over to us, she lightly spread her arms, to which I accepted the embrace, being sure to repress any sound as an ache came from my still somewhat tender side, letting go of the fairly tight hug after a few comfortable seconds.
"Why're you here?" I ask as she stood beside me watching the guards at work, Hammer briefly giving me an unimpressed look, but said nothing.
"Am I not allowed to visit a dear friend?" She replied, softly giggling to herself. "My sister tasked me to oversee the delivery, make sure everything goes along smoothly and hand out the appropriate payment."
"Seems menial for you, no?"
"It also gave me an excuse to get out of the castle," She said. "You know what some nobles can be like."
I lightly nod my head, humming in agreement. A lot of nobles, though not all, are far more concerned with their monetary wealth and power, constantly vying for a higher rank with the nobility. But with that being said, there are still those considered honourable amongst the cesspool known as the higher class, with five of Canterlots largest families, including the royal extended family, being among the few with that mindset.
After Hammer Strike retreated into the forge, we simply stood for a while in silence, either watching the guards who were hard at work or waving to the locals who happily gave their greetings as they went about their lives. For if you've known someone for as long as we have, no words are needed. Nothing more than a comfortable silence is what we need to enjoy the company of the other. But that doesn't mean that idle conversation isn't welcome.
"Speaking of nobles, the Grand Galloping Gala is coming up and I was wondering if..." She started.
"No."
"I thought as much," She said. "I will be sure to inform Tia."
"That would be best."
Afterwards, we simply spoke, or more accurately, Luna vented to me about trials and tribulations about most of the noble populace they put her and her sister through daily. How they put up with such incessant obnoxiousness consistently without snapping is beyond me. After what felt like no time at all, the guards were loading the last of the boxes, double-checking the invoice before securely locking the large storage compartment of the equally large carriage.
"Everything is in order your highness," One guard said while the rest started boarding the carriage. "We are ready to leave when you are."
"And so I must take my leave," Luna said with a slight sigh. "As much as it pains me to no end, I have duties I must attend to. But before I go."
Once again giving a subtle motion, a guard quickly strode over to us, unlatching a sizable pouch from their belt. Taking the offered pouch, I bounced it in my hand a couple of times before looking to the Lunar Princess.
"This is more than we agreed," I said.
"Perceptive as ever I see," Luna said in an almost teasing manner. "Yes, an additional sixty per cent has been added on top of the agreed total."
"May I ask why?"
"It was a joint decision," Luna replied. "We realized this was a very large order and a very sudden one at that and it required a lot of resources so we bumped up your payment."
Humming, I latch the pouch onto my belt and begin escorting the large she-wolf to her carriage. Once we come up to it, we embrace each other in a tight hug and keep it for a few seconds, the present Guards not once blinking an eye to the act.
Canterlot Guards, Royal or otherwise, have always held at least a modicum of respect towards Bounty Hunters or any similar freelancers in an equivalent profession. This respect had been established centuries before my arrival on Terra and had endured well into the modern era. This respect had stemmed from the idea that we are the first to be called upon should a threat make itself known, as we are the first to lay our lives on the line for the greater good. In many ways, we were the first line of defence.
Letting go of the tight hold, I help Luna into the carriage, closing the door behind her and stepping back as they prepare to off. Before they do, Luna sticks her head out of the door window slightly.
"And before I forget, give my regards to Orion," She said before retreating her head back inside.
And with a single tap on the ceiling of the carriage, they were off, racing down the street, taking off in a matter of moments, soon becoming nothing more than a speck in the cloudless sky.
After the brief interaction I had with Princess Luna, I made my way back into the forge to let the two catch up and let me clean up. Depositing the metal shaving in a recycling bin and turning off the equipment, I place the tools back onto their respective racks, checking the tool list to be sure nothing was misplaced.
Once everything was in its rightful place, I sat down at the same table I was inscribing the pommels and rested my chin on my hands. As my body was relaxing, my mind began to wonder, my eyes glazing over as I started to daydream and my thought going to that of my teacher.
I've known him for as long I can remember and been taught by him for just as long. I owe much to him, as he helped me obtain my cutie mark and helped my mother out of a bad situation. Because of this and many other reasons, I have always had a good relationship with him. He's someone I've always been able to go to with most problems, giving me solutions I'd never think of and has always provided an ear for me to vent to should the need arise.
And yet, despite how long I've known him, he's remained something of a mystery to me. He seldom talks about his past and on the rare exception he does, it offers no insight into his time before moving to Ponyville. Only the Apple family know anything beyond what the average Pony know of him and most leave it at that.
"Hey."
Startled, I jump as I was pulled from my daydream and I hit my knee on the table. I peer up and see Fendral standing on the opposite side of the table from me, his head tilted slightly. I take a breath to settle my rapidly beating heart.
"You okay?"
"Yea I'm fine," I replied, rubbing my knee to mitigate the pain.
His voice was deep and smooth, akin to a wise sage, easily portraying his age and experience. But it also had almost robotic quality, a dim hum that accompanied each word. I'm not entirely sure how it works, all I know is that it's the "synthetic respiratory system" that was installed in his neck when he was younger.
"Good"
He pulls the chair out and sits with a grace one would not think an individual of his stature would have, but is immediately undermined by a slight groan as he eased himself down with a hand on his knee.
"How's your side?" I ask.
"Better," He replied simply, scratching the soft black skin-like material on his neck. "Still tender."
Wordlessly, he shifts his weight and reaches for his belt and grabs a large pouch dropping it in the middle of the table. It lands with a substantial thud and settled as soon as it landed. I look at my teacher with an odd expression before he indicates at it with his head, clearly wanting to inspect its contents.
Taking the pouch, I quickly open it and peer down inside it. My eyes almost pop out of their sockets as they landed on the vast amount of bits that gave out a pleasant jingle as they moved. I quickly look back up to Fendral who was sitting quietly chuckling to himself from my reaction.
"Holy shit, how much is in there?!" I exclaimed.
"Roughly eighty thousand bits," He replied. "They added sixty per cent to what was agreed."
"Why? Not that I'm complaining, but what we agreed was fine."
"Think of it as a personal thank you from the Princesses for a large order on such short notice."
"Buck," I mutter. "We're gonna be here for a while."
"Indeed."
Waving the mare goodbye as we go our separate way, I latch the pouch onto my belt after bouncing it in my hands a couple of times. Though at first, I was sceptical of the amount, I ultimately decided to not argue as I knew I wouldn't be getting a payment like it for a long while.
As I walk the light gravel path, there was a slight lightness to my steps, said payment having gotten me in a better mood than I had been hours prior. I walk down the dirt, making an immediate B-line as I left the forge. Rounding a corner, a rather frantic-looking Twilight rushes past my vision causing me to stop as a group of Ponies seemed to be chasing after her. I look after them but they vanished before I could properly see what the commotion was about and decided to just continue on the path to my destination. It didn't take me long to arrive, however. In no more than a couple of minutes, I was home.
It was nothing more than a simple, one-storey bungalow. With light cream-painted walls, and a brown tiled roof, it was about as generic as you could get for a rural townhome. But while others saw it as boring or bland, I saw a simple place of comfort, I saw a safe place and a place to go after a long and hard day. To me, it was home and it served me well.
I unlock the door and I quickly make my way in, letting the wind close the door gently. I close my eyes and for a while, I simply stand there, letting the silence briefly take over my senses, the dull ring of hammers slowly fading away and I take a deep breath. Suddenly, the sound of dull clacking registers in my ears and I open my eyes to see Orion, my Timberwolf companion.
Coming up to me, his tail wagging excitedly, he sat down at my leg and looked up at me expectedly. I chuckle before I kneel, vigorously petting his smooth wooden bark while he thumped his leg, the thin layer of moss on his paw muffling the sound slightly.
I soon stand again and make my way in further, taking a left after a couple of paces and passing the soft leather couches and down a short corridor and I came to my bedroom door. Opening it, I begin doffing my sweat-drenched clothes and discarding them in the nearby wicker basket.
I remove my helm and place it gently on the end of my bed and I step into my bathroom. Splashing a handful of cold water, I relish the cold chill as the water drips from my face. Slowly peering up, I look into the mirror and see the once young now, ageing face as I let out a slow, deep sigh, spraying a few loose water droplets into the sink. I stand there for what felt like hours, looking into the eyes that tiredly stared back, briefly wondering where the hell the years had gone.
Walking out of the bathroom after having washed my hair and face, I grab my helmet from my bed and make my way into the main living where Orion sat, vigilantly keeping watch before noticing me. I get the fireplace going before sitting down on a single leather couch, easing myself down with my hands on my knees and with a quiet groan, gently setting my helm on the nearby coffee table.
So there I sat, staring into the newly started fireplace, watching the flames as they danced and listening to the snap, crackle and pops as the wood was set aflame in a brilliant display of colour. My eyes begin to get heavy and my head starts to droop as Orion's soft breathing soothes my weary mind from the long day I had. Eventually, I succumb to the temptation and the world around me fades to black.
As the carriage lands, my grip on the handrails tightens as I brace for the impact. I have never been good with flying in carriages, even after all of my years doing so. The transport lurches as it comes to an abrupt stop, nearly flinging me to the floor and sending locks of my mane into my face.
Blowing the strands of hair out of my face, the door beside opens letting in a soft breeze, cooling my face as I stood to exit. I step down the small step ladder, the hustle and bustle of Canterlot becoming clear to me as my paws touch the cool tarmac. I turn on my heel and address the commanding officer.
"I trust everything is in order," I said.
"Of course ma'am." He said with a bow. "We have everything under control."
"Then if you excuse me, I have other matters that require my attention," I said with a smile, receiving a slight, but respectful bow from the lieutenant.
Bowing in response, I turn to leave, finding myself going into autopilot as I walk through the front entrance, quickly traversing the numerous halls and corridors in the maze of a Palace. I still can't believe Tia approved the design. Despite the confusing nature of the Palaces layout, it didn't take long for me to arrive at my room, the two guards posted outside the large pair of doors bowing as they saw my approach.
I briefly ignite my magic, taking the twin doors in my grasp and with a light click of my wrist, they open with the usual loud creaking, allowing me to enter with no problem. I let them close themselves as I sigh walking up to my desk and taking off my regalia, placing them on bust on my vanity table.
For the next while, I sit quietly as I sift through the thick pile of paperwork I had somehow let accumulate, picking my quill up from its inkwell, fully prepared for long hours ahead of me. My room was quick to fall into a monotonous silence, only ever broken by the shuffle of paper, scribbling of my quill or any other miscellaneous noises that were made within or without my bed Chambers. Hours must have passed by as each document, bill, grant or whatever had been presented to me was read over carefully, every word scrutinised as to not misinterpret their meaning and possibly approve something that was submitted by an untrustworthy noble.
Despite how hard my sister and I tried, most nobles still held the mentality that money was the ultimate power, preferring monetary gain and rank over the kindness of their hearts and charity, completely undermining the definition that made up their title. Though with being said, progress has been made to convert them to the ways of old.
I'm not sure how much time had passed by when my mind finally came to, subconsciously shaking itself from its daydream I filed away one of the many forms away for later use. A fairly large dent had been made in the pile of papers to my right, leading me to peer over the clock mounted onto one of the walls. Half eight. Looks like I was out of it for longer than I thought I was. There was a knock on the door a few seconds later.
"Enter," I said, leaning back into the pouch chair.
The door creaked open as the sound of soft hoof steps filled the quiet room, which soon stopped before I felt a pair of strong arms drape themselves gently around my neck and pull me slightly into a soft hug from behind. Knowing who it was, I reach and lightly grip the forearms that wrapped around me and gave them a slight rub with my thumb.
We sit there for a couple of minutes with not a word exchanged between us when eventually the arms let go, allowing me to finally stand and stretch my legs which had fallen asleep at some point or another. Making my way to my bed, I unceremoniously plop myself down, bouncing a couple of times before settling.
"How are we?" Celestia asked.
"As well as can be, " I said, absentmindedly sitting up and crossing my legs.
"Better than nothing I suppose, " She replied. "I trust everything was in order today then?"
"Naturally," I said "Fendral and Hammer Strike had everything under control."
"And how is our resident bounty hunter?" She asked. "It has been a few weeks since we last saw him."
I opened my mouth to reply but the words almost immediately got caught in my throat. Fendral is known for a great many things, but emoting is not one of them. In my several thousand year tenure, I have become an excellent judge of character and can read most with extreme ease. And yet, despite my many years of experience, my friend is still largely a mystery to me.
"I am unsure," I reply simply.
"May I ask why?"
"You know how he is," I said with a sigh. "He's a difficult man to read, even for me. So for me to tell you how he is, would be challenging."
"That makes sense," She said. "But I can't help but feel there's more to it."
"I will admit I'm getting worried, sister."
"Why?" She asked, leaning forward with a furrowed brow.
"His sleeping pattern is terrible, more so than usual. It's become erratic and inconsistent." I said slowly, my ears flattening against my head. "And given the fact I am unable to access his dreams, I can't do anything about it."
Celestia said nothing as she quickly stood from her chair, swiftly striding over to the side of my bed, her long legs making short work of the short distance. She sat next to me and gently pulled me into a soft hug, tenderly nuzzling the side of my face while wrapping me in her immense wings.
"I'm sure you're doing everything you can. And I know he knows that too," She said softly. "Besides, when we see him at the gala, we can speak to him then."
"What do you mean," I asked, partially turning to my sister as she still held me. "He said no before I could finish, like every time we offer."
"Oh I'm sure he'll be coming this time," Tia replied, a mischievous smile breaking across her muzzle.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Just a hunch."
Why weren't you there? You could have helped. Why didn't you help? Where were you? I'm so cold.
I awaken with a loud yell and swiftly jump to my feet, my hand darting to the holstered pistol on my thigh, aiming down its sights as I spin on heels to face behind me. My eyes frantically dart around the room, scanning every dark corner, hoping to spot some form of movement, my breath heavy as my body heaves with every desperate pant. They find nothing.
Letting my arm go limp at my side, I let out a hefty sigh as I hang my head slightly. Chucking my pistol onto the chair, I stare at my lightly shaking hands, closing my eyes and flexing them a few times before they settle, doing a couple of breathing exercises to get my breath under control.
Hearing a high whimper, I look to my left, spotting Orion who held a concerned look on his wooden features. Kneeling, I place my hand on his chin and give him a reassuring rub, getting a few face licks in response, calming my wracked nerves.
"I am alright boy," I said, though he and I did not believe it. "Just a little unsettled."
Suddenly, there was a hard and loud knock at the door. I stand with a groan, quickly grabbing my helmet, fixing it to my head before I make my way to the door. Grabbing the knob, I swing the door open and to my surprise, AJ stood not two feet away with her hand raised to knock on the door again.
"Oh," She said, sheepishly lowering her hand. "I wasn't sure ya were gonna answer."
"Why?"
"I've been trying to get ya fir the past five minutes," She replied. "Ya feeling alright?"
"Yea," I said. "Just tired."
"Right," She said slowly, clearly unconvinced. "Anyway, Twilight is calling us to the library and your on the list of people she wants to see."
"Why?"
"Dunno," She replied with a shrug. "Didn't say, but it seemed kinda important."
I simply nod before making my way back inside and picked up my pistol from my chair, swiftly holstering it before putting out the fireplace, plunging my home into darkness and just as quickly. Double-checking my helmet was secure, I strode back to the front door.
"Come boy," I said, tapping my thigh.
Before we knew it, we were walking the now emptying streets, the crunch of dirt and gravel being one of the few sounds we could hear as the marketplace vendors thinned out. Being that I live on the outskirts of the town, it took a few minutes to get to the main street. We didn't speak after we left, wordlessly deciding to revel in the sounds of coming silence, a welcome change to the usual noise that filled our working days.
"So how's your side?" AJ asked suddenly.
"Tender," I replied. "But healed otherwise."
"Any idea of why Twi wants to see us?"
"None."
We continue in relative quiet which continued until we had made it to the library, which seemed to already be occupied as we hear voices from inside as we came up to the tree front door. Giving the door a hard knock, we wait before it's opened by the library's resident dragon and primary caretaker. We exchange a couple of pleasantries before he lead us inside where the other five were seated.
"Hey, Fen!" Pinkie exclaimed, eliciting a small nod from me. "We were just talkin' about ya!"
"I'm sure," I said, easing myself down onto the closest seat, Orion resting himself next to Fluttershy, who happily scratched behind his ear.
"Nothing bad, I assure you," Rarity responded. "Just idle conversation."
"Why did you want me?" I asked, shifting my gaze to the purple Pony.
"Oh nothing, just this," She said, holding up a letter.
The moment my eyes landed on the golden wax that held the letter closed, I sighed as I pushed myself up from the leather couch and turned to leave, leaving all present to gain a slightly perplexed face. I had almost made it to the front door before Applejack stood in front of me, blocking me from my exit.
"Where ya goin'?" She asked, an incredulous look on her face.
"Home."
"Why?"
"I know what's in the letter and my answer is no."
"We don't know what's in it," Twilight piped up. "Why don't we see it before you leave."
The rest of the girls agreed, forcing me to begrudgingly sit back down as Twilight snapped the wax seal over her thumps, pulling out its contents. Opening the letter, a ticket fell lightly to the floor causing the purple Pony to reach down and pick it up. As she picked it up, her eyes bulged as she instantly recognised the ticket, shifting her gaze between it and me. She eventually looked to the letter itself.
"Dear Fendral Marika
I, Princess Celestia Alcina Astra, do hereby formally invite you to the upcoming event: The Grand Galloping Gala, taking place at Canterlot city hall on the 31st of December from seven p.m to six a.m.  
We would be honoured to have the pleasure of your company and hope to solicit your gracious presence.
Kind regards, your friend  
Princess Celestia."
The group gasped as Twilight read the letter aloud as I rolled my eyes with a small chuckle at the extravagant way the letter had been formatted, knowing she would get a good laugh out of it. She had always written to me in this fashion, a sign of goodwill and amiability, seeing as nothing more than a bit of harmless fun. I, for a while, had asked her not to but stopped as she continued to do so.
"Oh, darling!" Rarity exclaimed. "To be invited to the Gala, and by the Princess herself no less. What an honour!"
"Some honour," I said dryly.
"Oh, come on Fen," Dash said, coming up from behind me and wrapping her arm around my neck. "Why you gotta be such a downer?"
"I do not care for the majority of nobility and those who are redeemable are drowned out by a rabble of narcissists."
"A fair point," Twilight chimes in. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Even though it happens annually," I said, crossing my arms.
"Yea! But this would all our first time going," Pinkie said, readjusting her red frame glasses into a more comfortable position. "We can experience this together as friends! You can't get any better than that!"
The rest of the group voiced their opinions, which, to my dismay, all aligned with the party planner's idea. I sat back on the couch, letting myself sink slightly as I weighed my options. While my feelings towards the vast majority of the nobility were likely to never change, I couldn't argue with the party planner's point. While my feelings towards the nobility and their festivities were liable to never change, going with friends and family would prove to lighten the experience and make way for a far better time. And seeing as how it would be all of our first time going, it would make the escapade all the better.
Resting my head on the back of the couch, I gave a fairly throaty sigh. "Fine."
The gang lightly cheered at my decision, reassuring me that I wouldn't regret it and that it would be a night to remember. Though I didn't doubt it, as they could make watching paint dry interesting, I couldn't help but feel a slight pang in the pits of my stomach, like I wasn't going to like what's to come. But being surrounded by friends did quell the feeling and was enough to comfort me.
Staring at the letter, I shook my head and chuckled at the situation I was in and slowly began to realize I couldn't back down now or risk the wrath of six very unhappy mares. We spent the rest of the night in idle conversation before I left for home, Orion happily following close to my side. Walking into my home and locking the door, I promptly fell into bed, burying my face into the soft pillows, whispering to no one in particular before preparing for another night of restless sleep.
"What have I got myself into."
Author's Note
Did I make Luna a wolf? Yes. Was it a last-minute decision? Absolutely. Do I know why? Eh, I just like the idea.
And for the sake of simplicity and to save a bit of time here is Fendral's Helmet design  
https://camo.fimfiction.net/8AWEpiY5tmDcGNKno5zsXFW_gyDbOPauvL_EIj2tRXg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com%2Ff%2Ffedc2dc6-cc9d-4695-9a05-0a78b716188c%2Fdewn89t-360ea98f-c1d5-4cda-8211-74b3ec490857.png%2Fv1%2Ffill%2Fw_179%2Ch_200%2Cq_70%2Cstrp%2Ffendral_helmet_by_lordkioshi_dewn89t-200h.jpg%3Ftoken%3DeyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NTE3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZmVkYzJkYzYtY2M5ZC00Njk1LTlhMDUtMGE3OGI3MTYxODhjXC9kZXduODl0LTM2MGVhOThmLWMxZDUtNGNkYS04MjExLTc0YjNlYzQ5MDg1Ny5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9NDYyIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.nwkRTKTzU27cHsFcqgr_aA4KnaBSAfYknCAlSflGqkI
Other than that, I don't really have anything interesting to say, so I hope this was ok to read.
Hope you all have a very merry holiday and have a wonderful new year.
Please point out any mistakes I may have made  
Constructive criticism is always appreciated  
Until next time, TTFN!

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               Chapter 4 - "A Lull For Few"                
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 4 - "A Lull For Few"
After the events that took place a mere couple of hours ago, sleep hadn't made itself much of a viable option to spend the rest of the night, leaving the tall Reindeer plenty of time to waste. So after no amount of convincing, she eventually found herself wandering the many maze-like halls that the palace mainly consisted of. She had thought about checking out the garden but quickly decided against it.
As to be expected, the sudden assault had put Canterlot on high alert, those who survived the incursion were being referred to the royal infirmary with the vast majority of available Guards from the Solar and Lunar Guard being deployed throughout the city. Residents were informed to stay within their homes and to lock their doors. None were allowed out unless absolutely necessary. Dozens of patrols monitor the streets while towers scour the skies. The city was in an effective lockdown.
After what felt like hours of silent meandering, though it was possibly only minutes, Vixen found her mind back within reality and she took in the sights around her and finally realized where she ended up. In front of a familiar sight. A single plain dark oak door. Though she initially thought it odd she found herself here of all places, she simply chalked it up to random chance.
Taking a step towards the door, a noise made itself known in the peripheral of her hearing and only got louder the closer she got. Once she was within knocking distance, she could discern what the noise was—whistling.
Curious, she knocked on the dark wood door, resulting in the whistling to stop and the sound of muffled movement to come from the other side. After several moments, as she was about to knock again, Fendrals voice piped up.
"The doors open," He said, his deep, smooth voice clear as day.
Taking that as a go-ahead, she opened the door and quickly entered, letting the door close behind her.
"I'm sorry for the late social call, I....oh,"
Sitting at the room's vanity table at the far right side of the room was a half-naked Fendral, wearing only the lower half of his appeal with the rest sitting on the second chair not far from the table. And from where the Reindeer stood, she got a clear view of his back. His back was caked in dried blood, which flaked off as he moved, his gloved hands too covered in the crimson substance, one more so than the other.
In his hand was a pair of small pliers which held a suture needle, clearly sharp enough to puncture flesh with ease, while his other held a small mirror. On the table lay a tray with roughly a few dozen blood-drenched cotton balls sitting inside along with a roll of suture threads and beside it, a box of latex gloves.
Wordlessly, she strode over to where the Mandalorian sat, her long legs making quick work of the small distance. Taking the box of gloves, she took a pair and put them on, ensuring she didn't touch too much of them. Standing behind the man, she took the pliers from him and began doing her best to close the wound.
"Thanks," Fendral said, taking his gloves off and flinging them in the nearby bin.
"Of course," Vixen replied softly. "The back is always hard to get alone."
"Tell me about it."
"Why did you not go to the infirmary for this?" She asked as she very carefully brushed away the dried blood. "And why is it still open?"
"My family or I have always worked on the wounds I collect, it's become a force of habit," He replied, completely unfazed by the needle repeatedly poking into his skin. "And as for the wound, it reopened while I was patching up my coat."
Stopping briefly, she looked to the coat in question, the hole had indeed been sewn shut, and seemingly to a professional level. Either he's had plenty of practice or Rarity Belle had shown him a trick or two. Looking closer, she spotted several other sewing lines dotting his long coat, these ones seemingly far older than the newest addition, if the slightly faded colour was anything to go by. Definitely practice.
"I see."
Fendral only hummed as Vixen continued her work. The two stayed in relative silence as Vixen worked but before long, she was finished, quickly cleaning up the area around the wound before stepping back to give the man some breathing room. Now not having to worry about an open wound, she was able to get a good look at the man before her.
Obviously, she could tell he was in very good shape, but now that she could actually see what he looked like, she was a little surprised at just how well built the man was—years upon years of Bounty Hunting had left him in remarkable shape. With large muscles with just the right amount of definition, he was far from being lean but he wasn't strong pony levels of big, a good in between of the two leaning more towards muscle mass. It was no wonder he was able to hold his own for as long as he did.
And now that he wasn't wearing as much as before, she could finally see his neck, something briefly mentioned by Princess Luna that caught her attention. Starting at his collar bones, a black rubber-like material took the place of his regular skin, continuing up and wrapping around to the sides a small bit, though she couldn't see how far up it went. Two bright red tubes emerged a small distance from where the black material started and warped around what would have been his Adam's apple and disappeared presumably into the back of his throat. Though she imagined his helmet didn't help matters, she wondered if this was the reason for his almost digitized voice.
She was also able to see his tattoos, which she remembered Luna also mentioned. His left was one that started at his wrist and ended at the nook of his arm, a complex design of thick overlapping lines, segmented with thin unfilled lines equal distance from each other, a half-filled circle at the nook, the whole thing consisting of black and red ink. The other was far less intricate, with it taking up the entirety of his right arm. It took up a large portion of his peck, shoulder and shoulder blade with it to ending at his wrist.
But what truly caught her attention was something of a Bounty Hunter staple: scars. A myriad of scars covered the man's pale skin - lacerations, claw and bite marks, and the occasional arrow shot wound. The Reindeer eyes traced each and everyone as her mind created tales of how he could have amassed such a vast collection
Snapping herself out of her stupor, she realized she had been staring for longer than she had intended and Fendral was seemingly quick to notice, as he briefly peeked over his shoulder to look at the mature Reindeer. Quickly looking away, a light blush graced her cheeks though it was thankfully hidden by her fur.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," She said sheepishly.
"No worries," Fendral replied, reaching over for his satchel, careful so as to not upset his wound again. "I'm used to it."
Retracting his hand out of his satchel, he pulled out what looked to be a pair of syringes, poking both into his shoulder, emptying their contents before placing them back into his satchel, doing so carefully like before. Shifting his chair, he turned to fully face Vixen, who was still impressed with the man's physique despite his age, leaning back while his leg bounced lightly in a quick rhythm.
"It's a tick," Fendral said suddenly, almost as if to answer a question she was yet to ask.
"Do you get asked about it often?" She asked.
"Less so now," He replied.
"So," He continued, lightly slapping his knees before standing. "What brings you here?"
"A mixture of sleeplessness and boredom," She replied, watching the man as he put on a clean white shirt.
"Indeed."
"I hope it's not too much of a bother?"
"No," He replied. "My nights are generally sleepless as well."
"The joys of Bounty Hunting huh?"
"Indeed," Fendral said with a single chuckle.
Winter Ivory stood at the edge of her bed, her armour laid neatly upon its sheets, her analytical gaze scanning every crack and crevice for any sign of dirt or grime, guaranteeing its utmost cleanliness. Much like her peers, she far and away preferred to gear up within the confines of their room as opposed to the armoury.
The Lunar barracks weren't anything special, but far were they from mediocre. With there being less overall personnel, this meant that each room was assigned four beds per room, contrasted by their Solar counterparts, who housed eight per room via bunks. Every room was given a single, full-sized mirror and each bed rested parallel to each other with simple metal frames. A lone window rested on the far wall, a small chain connected to its frame and the wall it was housed on prevented it from opening fully.
Satisfied that it was without any form of grime, she began securing the first pieces of her armour to her body, zoning in and out as she did. Strapping on her chest plate, she contorted herself in all manner of odd and otherwise uncomfortable positions to ensure that mobility wasn't restricted where was needed, should the need arise that it would be required. Next were her pauldrons, which were easily done.  
Slipping her hands through her gauntlets, she tightened the straps around her forearms, copying the motion for her greaves. Finally, only her armoured skirt remained, which was a simple act of tying and tightening the restraint around the required loops and she was suited and booted.
Zoning back into reality, she caught the three other mares mid-conversation. As she was about to tune them out, the contents of said conversation did catch her attention, however. Double-checking that everything was secure and in its rightful place, she listened intently.
"So did you hear about that Bounty Hunter that was there when the Gala was attacked?" Platinum star asked.
"Which one?" Nightlight asked.
"Which do you think," Platinum asked rhetorically.
"Yea," Aurora asked, adjusting the straps of her gauntlets. "Heard he took out fifteen Griffons himself."
"Do you think he actually did?" Nightlight asked.
"Fuck yea I think he did," Aurora answered near instantly. "I mean, the guys ruthless, you've heard the stories during his service years."
"Pretty sure the stories are embellished," Nightlight replied
"Have you seen what he's capable of?" Platinum asked.
"Have you?" Nightlight rebutted.
"Once, when I was a filly," Platinum replied. "When my village was attacked, he was there picking up...something, I'm not sure. He was like a blur, faster than anything I'd ever seen."
"Oh come on," Nightlight responded. "You were young and in distress, you were just imagining things."
"Maybe," Platinum said quietly. "But the things he can do...his reputation is warranted."
"What about you?" Nightlight asked, looking towards the other mare.
"Didn't see it personally, but there was a Diamond Dog camp he cleared out some weeks back, I and a few others were sent out to clean up," Aurora said, cringing as she thought back on the carnage. "It was a pack of twenty-five. It was a massacre."
"Don't even get me started on the stories of when he went rogue," She added. "Enough to make even grown stallions cower like foals."
"I think it's all bullshit," Nightlight said, a clear look of scepticism on her face. "Do I think he's an incredibly dangerous man? Yes, absolutely. But there's no way he can do any of what the stories say he can do. There just that, stories."
"Trust me, rookie," Aurora warned. "When you see him in action, you'll believe the stories."
"What do you think Major?" Platinum asked suddenly.
"Care to elaborate?" Winter Ivory replied, not bothering to look up.
"Well, you served with him during his service years right?" She asked, earning a hum from the Thestral mare. "What was he like?"
Winter paused in her inspection and looked at the three expectant mares. She briefly looked away with a contemplative look before looking back.
"Different."
The mares looked at the older mare curiously, expecting her to continue, but glanced about themselves when she didn't. Although unsatisfied with her answer, the trio went back to securing their armour, moving on to other matters and before any of them knew it, they were off to their assigned posts with Winter splitting off in the opposite direction, as she was yet to be informed of her assignment.
This was far from being preferential, as she, like many others, did not enjoy being ill-informed, especially at a time like this. Despite her attempts to pull some strings with her CO to be stationed in more populated areas, they bore no fruit due to several heavy scheduling conflicts. She would love nothing more than to stand ramrod at any of the city's more populated venues, feeling as though her presence would ease the populace even by a small margin. But as life would have it, she would have to wait to be told where to go.
Deciding to cut across the Palace gardens to make the trip quicker, she passed more than a few other guards, both of the Lunar and Solar verity, all of whom were also swiftly making their way to their posts. A frown broke through the mare's otherwise stoic expression as she passed her many colleagues on this otherwise night.
Coming up to one of the garden's many doors, she took a hard left and down the palace's long hallway, she found herself nearing her destination. Making her way across the thick carpeted floor, maintaining a quick but light pace, again passing her already stationed colleagues, took another hard right and then a left then another right and before she knew it, she was almost there.
Counting the doors, she stopped and opened the sixth, swiftly and quietly walking in, the other Guards present briefly looking at her before going back to what they were doing. Sitting at a nearby table, she removed her helmet and ran her hands through her short, curly hair, a slight sigh managing to escape her lips as she and the other guards mentally prepared themselves.
"Ok, since everypony is already aware of the situation, we'll go straight into assignments." Shining armour said, readjusting his reading glasses. "Brave Heart, you and your squad are to be stationed at the Briston residential area, report to Cold Fire for further orders."
"Aye, sir."
By this point, Winter had partially zoned out, only listening to who the order was being given to as opposed to the orders themselves, going in one ear and out the other. By the time her name was called out, most of the guards present had filed out.
"Winter Ivory," Shining armour called out, lightly stroking his beard, a habit he picked shortly after growing it out. "You are assigned to be Fendral Marika's escort."
The moment the words left the Captain's mouth, a quiet murmur broke out amongst the still remaining guards.
"With all due respect Captain, you can't be serious," A guard called from the back of the room. "The guy is practically his own personal escort. There ain't no damn way he would need any of our help."
"These orders were given to me straight from the Princesses themselves," He replied evenly. "If you have a reservation with their choice, then I recommend you take it up with them."
"Oh I...uh, um,"
"Then I suggest you sit down and await your orders."
"Yes sir."
"Good," He continued. "Now Winter, you are to report to Swift Lotus asap."
"Yessir," She replied after standing from her chair, giving the Captain a crisp salute.
"Very good. Your dismissed."
~~
It had taken Winter far longer to find her escortee than she had anticipated. Roughly an hour and a half had passed since she had received her order and was yet to see hide or hair of the Mandalorian. Eventually, she had to resort to asking her fellows if they had seen the man, to which the vast majority had not, much like her, but one thankfully had seen him. And of course, he was in the first place she looked: The Guard Training Grounds.
Actually getting to the Grounds took a further half an hour, something she quietly scolded herself for. Upon arriving at the Grounds and making her way through the front entrance, she wasn't surprised by the utter lack of personnel present within the mess hall as most that were on duty had already been deployed through the city.
Making her way out of the mess hall and farther into the Grounds itself, she briskly walked passed the on-sight barracks and towards the sight's own gym. As she got closer, grunting became known within the peripheral of her hearing along with the sound of slamming.
Rounding a corner, she arrived at the sights gym and finally found her ward. Next to the large boxing ring, laying waste to the punching bag was none other than Fendral Marika, her old shield brother. She'd recognise that helmet anywhere. She was about to approach when she noticed the nature of the punches he was delivering to the punching bag. It wasn't the pace he was going at that gave her pause, it was the power behind them.
Standing in place, his head lowered slightly, he twisted his body as he throw each punch, maximising the power he delivered. Seconds passed and the semi-regular pace began to quicken and the punches became more powerful, shaking the specially designed rack overhead before he threw one quick, final haymaker, breaking the bag off of the metal chains that were attached to the rack, sending the bag and the sand inside flying back into the wall that stood damn near ten meters away.
He simply stood there afterwards, his heavy breathing now being the only sound within the gym. Letting out a sigh, he walked to the side of the boxing ring where he had more bags laid out. Lifting one by the chain, he quickly strode back over to where he was, lifting the sand-filled bag as though it were a simple bag of groceries and attached it to the overhead rack and continued his onslaught.
Winter simply stood there, awe-struck. Punching bags are about ninety kilos a piece, so for him to break one open and lift another with apparent ease was no feat to scoff at. She almost chuckled, after so many years of not seeing him and with this being the first introduction after that time, it caught her off guard a little bit. She and he had served together for years, so she knew he was strong, but not like this. Apparently, he had gotten stronger with age.
She knocked herself back into reality when she heard the thumping stop. Gazing back over to the man, he began making his towards a nearby table, taking off the thick hand wraps and placing them in a nearby bin to be washed.
"Long time no see, killer."
The Mandalorian stopped in his tracks as the voice registered in his ears. Looking up, their eyes met. Quickly standing, he strode over to the significantly shorter mare, his long thick legs making for work of the distance. Once within arms reach, he stopped once again. Seconds ticked by and the two began chuckling, devolving into full laughter and the two embraced.
"Fancy meeting you here," Winter commented as she let go of her former shield-brother.
"Not my first choice," Fenrdal chuckled, his deep timbre resonating within her chest.
"That much is obvious," Winter replied with amusement. "So who roped you into it? Your niece?"
"Who else," He replied as the two made their way out of the gym and towards the Grounds exit. "Her and her friends."
"Big surprise there," She said, making no effort to hide her sarcasm.
Fendral shifted his gaze and looked to the short mare, who peered up at him with an innocent smile plastered into her muzzle, her cat-like eyes seemingly glowing ever so slightly. He couldn't help but smile under his helmet.
"It may have been damn near twenty-five years since we last saw each other," She started. "But you've always had a soft spot for them."
Fendral only hummed in agreement.
As the two walked the ever-complex labyrinth of halls and corridors, Winter couldn't help but quietly observe her former shield-brother. The passage of time had changed him immensely. Gone now was the energetic, wise-cracking merc, replaced with an old grizzled veteran, the scars marring his body showcasing his extensive years of experience. His sheer muscle mass now completely dwarfing what he used to be. Even the way he walked was different, the usual spring in his step she was so used to seeing was gone also, devolved into a light, uneven limp.
Before, in the barracks, when she told her colleagues he was 'different', she was only making an educated guess. But now that she had actually seen him, she realized just how right she was.
She glanced down, noting that his hand stiffly swung by his side, never straying too far from the pistol strapped to his thigh. She wasn't surprised by this, however, if you have as many years of experience as he has, this habit is guaranteed. Besides, not all injuries are physical after all.
"Time has not been kind to you my friend," She thought.
Giving the large decorative door a hard few knocks, Fendral placed his hands on his hips, leaning on one leg and then shifting to the other, giving Winter Ivory a quick glance. After several moments of silence, he went to knock again, before the door swung open to reveal a certain pink mare.
"Fen!"
Before he knew it, a pair of impressively strong arms locked themselves around the large man's neck, forcing him to bend to compensate for the added weight. He wordlessly wrapped his arms around the younger mare, giving her a reassuring squeeze. The party planner swiftly let go, taking his hand and leading him further into the room, Winter close behind them.
"Come on, the others have been worried sick!"
The door quickly closed behind them as they made their way into the room proper. It was slightly larger than your average guest room, though it still paled in comparison to the Princess's private chambers - for obvious reasons. A well-stocked bathroom lay to the left as you came in, with a large shower and bathtub inside. A queen-sized bed sat on the far left-hand side of the room, leaving plenty of room for a well-sized desk on the right at the back with a vanity mirror above it. Modest, but high-end enough that no one would bat an eye.
"Fen!"
Before the man had time to react, a sizable weight crashed into his chest, resulting in him stumbling and falling onto his back with a grunt. A sharp pain came from his shoulder but thankfully his wound didn't reopen thanks to Vixen's work. Trying his best to move his head, he was able to see the rest of the group, including Spike and a certain Timberwolf, were all piled on top of him. Deciding it best to simply accept his fate, he rested his head on the carpeted floor, letting the group do their thing. Slowly, one by one, they got off the man, finally letting him get to his feet.
"You all ok?" He asked, worry clear in his voice.
"We should be asking you that," Dash said.
"Exactly darling, we know you have a knack for this sort of thing, but we're still worried," Rarity added.
"I'm ok girls," Fendral replied, scratching Orion's chin, who happily thumped his leg as he hit just the right spot.
"Uh huh," Applejack nodded, her brow deeply furrowed, pointing to the man's shoulder. "Then what's that?"
"An occupational hazard," He replied.
"That's a bullshit response and you know it."
"It's my job to make sure you're all safe," Fendral started, rising to his feet. "Your safety is my priority and I'll be damned if I let anything happen to any of you."
"And if you don't come back? What then?" Applejack demanded, her face contorted in anger. "What then!"
"Then someone else will take my place! Yes, I will ensure that will be able to continue protecting you all but there will always be those to replace me!" Fendral shouted. "You are not so easily replaced!"
"How dare you belittle yourself!" Rarity shouted in an equal tone, stomping over to the larger man. "You are an incredibly important and special man! You have touched the lives of so many! So don't you dare suggest you are replaceable!"
The Mandalorian simply stood his ground, his breathing, though calm, was heavy. Memories flashed in his mind of his past. Memories of his past actions. Memories of the people he's met. Memories of them. They knew the stories well but they do not know what truly happened. To him, he did not believe himself worthy of being deemed irreplaceable. There will always be those to rise to take his place.
Fendral let out a sigh, stepping past the alabaster unicorn with Orion by his side, swivelling the chair to face the group and easing himself down onto it. He sat for a moment, searching for his words.
"I have lived a long and arduous life," He started, letting his head fall slightly while he stroked Orion's head. "I've lived on Terra for over forty years. During that time I lost everyone I held close. I have done things I am proud of...and many more I am not. I've many Killed people who deserved it, and those who didn't."
"I'm an old man with a life filled with mistakes," He continued, his voice, usually filled with determination and experience, was now weary and tired. "But knowing and protecting you all is not one of them. It has given me a renewed purpose to my name."
He quickly stood from his chair, surprising most of those gathered in front of him, Orion simply stepped back.
"I made a promise to each of you, that I would protect you with my life," He continued, determination clear as day in his voice. "And if that means laying down my life so that you may live then so be it! It's my duty to ensure your safety! And I will not break that promise!"
Now only silence remained, an almost palpable tension that lingered in the air as the group of ponies nought but stare at the man before them. None dared move for several moments, until, surprisingly, Fluttershy stepped forward.
"And it's our job to make sure you're ok," Fluttershy signed, a spark of confidence flashing in her eyes. "We may not be family, but we don't need to be for us to care deeply about you."
"Yea big guy," Dash said finally working up the courage to say something. "We may not be related, but you're practically everyone's Uncle here."
"You're the best damn Uncle ah could ever have asked for," Applejack said, slugging the man hard in his good arm.
"Yea! And you're awesomest guy anyone can have the pleasure of knowing!" Pinky said, appearing on top of the man's shoulder, her smile as bright as ever.
"You're an utter privilege to be around darling," Rarity agreed.
"And you're incredibly smart to boot," Twilight added, a smile spreading across her muzzle. "And there's so much more to you than you give yourself credit for. You're one of the most amazing people any of us know. Fluttershy is right, it's also our job to make sure you're ok as well. We care immensely about you. And that'll never change."
Orion barked in agreement.
The man couldn't help but faintly smile under his helm. Though he felt deeply that he was not deserving of it, he felt lucky beyond words to have himself surrounded by those who cared as deeply as they did for him. He looked to Winter who simply watched the whole thing go down. A warm, fang-filled smile gave him everything he needed about how she herself felt.
Giving in, he stepped into the now open arms of the six in front of him, tightly embracing the group as best he could, while Orion pressed his head against his leg, allowing himself to revel in the moment. To revel in the care of those surrounding him.
Giving the large decorative door a hard few knocks, the sound echoing down the long hall for a second or two, Fendral stepped back slightly and crossed his arms and gave Winter Ivory a quick glance. After a couple of moments of silence, the door was enveloped in a golden aura and quietly opened. Without a word, the man stepped in with his escort not far behind.
The room was nothing more than a simple if extremely cosy study. the room consisted of warm browns in various shades. Off to the right sat a large fireplace, which snapped, crackled and popped as the wood thoroughly burned while an oversized couch sat in front, the fire itself casting the expected warm orange glow across the room. To the left was a rather impressive bookshelf which spanned the entire room. A thick, simple throw rug lay neatly on the floor. And at the far back was a large dark brown wooden desk, facing towards the studies entrance door. And who sat on the couch and at the desk but none other than Princess Luna and Celestia respectively with Vixen sitting near the large bookshelf.
The two monarchs appeared rather dishevelled, their manes held back into messy buns. Light bags hung tightly under their eyes while they darted over the parchment in front of them. Celestia dug greedily into an impressively large slice of cake all while not once taking her eyes off of the document in front of her while Luna sipped on a cup of tea. Vixen however looked to be the same as Fendral had last seen her.
"Are you sure there is nothing from Blackgate?" Celestia asked after swallowing a forkful of cake. "Nothing at all out of the ordinary?"
"Absolutely nothing sister," Luna replied. "All reports indicate everything is well within the set parameters."
"Then where could they have come from?" Celestia muttered before going back to her cake.
"No luck?" Fendral asked.
Celestia looked up finally from her parchment, a few crumbs of the cake falling from her mouth and onto the desk, while Luna sat up on the couch, arching her back and stretching eliciting loud pops and cracks from her joints before noticing Fendrals shoulder. Beckening him to sit on the couch beside her, he wordlessly complied.
"Unfortunately my dear friend, we are as of yet empty-handed," Celestia sighed, leaning into her chair.
"What of the Griffon Empire, have they nothing to say?"
"They are currently unresponsive to our attempt at communication," Luna replied, igniting her hands as she enveloped the man's shoulder wound with healing magic. "Which is unusual as they are normally very responsive, even to us."
"So we're back at square one," Winter piped up, unfazed at seeing her superiors as they were, having already seen them like on several occasions.
"That we are."
"What of Discord?" Fendral asked after a moment. "Eris?"
"Though Discord is highly knowledgable of a great many things, I highly doubt he'd know where these augmented Griffons may have come from, Eris as well," Luna replied as she continued healing the man's injury carefully removing his stitches as she went along. "And besides, the two of them are on a long vacation and aren't due back any time soon."
"Speaking of the Griffons," Winter started. "Have we performed an autopsy? Perhaps that could yield something of use."
"An autopsy has already been performed," Vixen quickly answered. "Unfortunately we weren't able to get anything from the bodies, other than that the modifications were grafted directly to their skeleton and seemed to be rather crude if highly advanced."
"And since we have never seen modifications on such a level, we were also unable to pinpoint where they might have originated," Luna added leaning back, having finally healed Fendral's shoulder.
"So we're shit out of luck," Fendral commented, leaning back into the couch as well.
"Indeed we are my friend."
The Mandalorian simply stared into the fire for a while, listening to the wood burning and watching the embers rise. For a while, they sat in silence before a thought came to him.
"What of the Guards?"
"Each Guard will be buried according to sub-species traditions and with full honours," Celestia replied. "And their families will be compensated as best as possible."
"Good," Fendral nodded. "It's the least they deserve."
"Indeed," She sighed. "So many lives lost."
"And for what?" Winter asked, the question being aimed at no one in particular.
"I think they were sending a message," Fendral answered, keeping his gaze on the fire in front of him. "Maybe even a warning."
"What makes you say that?" Celestia questioned, putting down her fork for the first time since she had picked it up.
"A hunch," He replied, inclining his head to face the solar matriarch. "I could be completely wrong and this could very well be an isolated incident conducted by those hell-bent on revenge, but I have a feeling that this isn't over. I think there's more to come."
"You are not alone in this my friend," Luna said. "We also believe there's more to this than simply being a one-off situation, but without further information to act upon, we would be taking a stab at the dark, which could worsen the situation."
"So what? We do nothing while whatever or whoever green-lit this attack could very well be plotting another?" Winter interjected, her voice giving off a clear tone of frustration.
"Well as Princess Luna said, without any info, we can't do much else but play this by ear until such times we can act accordingly, there are just too many unknowns right now," Vixen said, earning a slow but earnest nod from the two monarchs.
"Until such times we can act, all we can right now is wait," Celestia said, giving the bridge of her nose a hard rub.
"Earlier, you said that the Griffons Empire is unresponsive," Fendral started. "What of neighbouring countries? Do we know if they're reporting similar findings?"
"My sister and I recently had a meeting with Princess Alia Sohra of the Lycan Commonwealth about discussing better trade routes," Luna replied. "And had they had similar interactions, she would have mentioned it, which she did not."
"So either the lack of a response is purposeful, or it's a recent development," Fendral mused to himself.
"Indeed, though I doubt it's the former," Celestia said. "Despite our...coloured history, they are an honourable people and would never break the treaty they willingly helped put in place."
"You never know," Fendral said quickly, again turning to fully face the powerful mare, his voice low and his tone dark. "Time changes people, what they would do years ago does not mean that would be what they would do now. You saw the Griffons at the Gala"
"And I understand that," Celestia responded, putting a little more authority behind her voice. "But we simply cannot go pointing fingers without the proper information. Doing so would not end well for any party involved."
"I am with my sister in this," Luna said in a more gentle tone, softly placing her hand on the man's shoulder. "Though yes, we believe there is more to this act of violence, anything we have we can only speculate upon, and acting on speculation will only make matters worse. Please, my dear friend, I know you have more history with Griffons than most, but think about this rationally."
Fendral said nothing as he shifted his gaze and again stared into the fireplace, letting the words of his friends run through his mind. Sighing, he nodded his head.
"The time will come when action can be taken," Celestia said, rising from her seat, stepping away from it and behind the Mandalorian, resting her hands softly on his shoulders, visibly calming him down. "But right now, there is nothing more we can do."
Author's Note
Ok, this took way longer than it should have. I suppose doing a couple of complete rewrites cuz I wasn't happy and then losing all my progress would do that. And life got in the way as well, you know the drill by this point.
This was a fairly tame chapter, all things considered, kinda lost it near the end but I'm pleased with how it turned out, but I sincerely hope it was worth the wait.
Please point out any mistakes I may have made  
Constructive criticism is always appreciated  
Until next time, TTFN!

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                Chapter 5 - "Passing time"                 
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 5 - "Passing time"
Fendral stood tall and straight, holding his gaze upon his opponent firmly and holding the grip of his weapon firmer, the mare opposite him in a similar position. Winter gave a few shakes of her arms as she hyped herself up for the early morning sparring session Fendral had decided they hold.
Giving her sword a single spin, she lunged, quickly closing the small distance between them. aiming her sword at the Mandalorians chest.
Fendral anticipated this and swiftly stepped to the side, slapping the flat of his sword against her side, a painful smack echoing through the otherwise silent training ring. She grunted as she came to an abrupt stop, quickly turning back to her sparring partner.
"Come on," He said in an almost mocking tone. "Come on."
"Old man," She replied, hoping to get him even a little riled up.
Exhaling through his mouth, he went in for the first strike. The two exchanged a quick flurry of precise attacks, each one blocking the other's strike or redirecting it in hopes of landing the killing blow, even slapping different parts of their opponent's arm to distract them for the same reason. Not one movement was wasted, and not one ounce of energy was put into an unwanted action.
With their blades locked, Winter pushed slightly against her opponent and went for his right leg. Moving it forward, her forearm slammed against his thigh while at the same time, he slammed his against her neck. Slapping it away with her opposite hand just enough to move, she went for a backhanded strike. Moving the small distance, Fendral easily blocked the blow and pushed it away, leaving her entire right side exposed. Punching her open side, he roughly grabbed her wrist and twisted it, bringing his arm around and over, effectively locking it in place over his shoulder while he moved his blade and placed it against her neck.
"Dead," He said plainly before pushing the mare away.
She groaned as she shook her now unlocked arm, lightly rubbing her potentially bruised side. If there was one thing her observation upon their first meeting in a while had been one hundred per cent right on, it was that he had undoubtedly gotten stronger with age.
Cheering began being heard coming from the stands not too far from where the duo stood. Looking over, their eyes landed on an enthusiastic group of Ponies, Dragon and Reindeer. Even Fluttershy and Rarity offered their own appraisals, despite their usual negativity towards violence.
"Fuck yea, that was awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as her wings lightly flapped behind her.
"Though I do not agree with the use of language," Rarity said. "I do agree that that was quite an impressive display."
"Yall think that's impressive? Yah ain't seen nothin', trust me," Applejack added.
"It would have been," Fendral started, almost disappointedly. "Had this one not been holding back."
"Sorry," Winter replied, idly making her way towards the weapons table. "Guess I'm just not in the mood today."
"Mood?" Fendral questioned, his tone now carrying a certain level of audacity towards the mare's words. "What does mood have to do with it?"
The group instantly stopped their light cheers and clapping, now invested in the moment unfurling in front of them. Very rarely had they heard their friend and Uncle hold the tone of disappointment, almost frustration as he did now. Very rarely did they ever witness his calm demeanour drop like it did now.
"You fight when the necessity arises, no matter the mood," He continued, his tone quickly turning into apparent anger as he pointed his blade towards the mare. "Now fight!"
Lunging at a surprising speed that made Rainbow Dash jealous, Winter sidestepped the attack, barely dodging it as a startled look overtook her features. Going for his back, his surprising speed didn't let up even a little bit as he effortlessly blocked the attack, stopping any momentum she may have had.
Taking advantage of the brief pause, he twisted his body and locked her arm under his, slamming his back hard into her chest. Grabbing the blade portion of his sword with his free hand, he pushed hers out of her hand, sending it flying across and out the sparring ring before he spun, aiming for the mare's head. Ducking, she turned and jumped over the weapons table, quickly a pair of daggers after she landed.
"Come on!"
The two once again delivered a flurry of blows, Winter just barely able to keep up with the man's impressive speed. While before it had been fairly easy to keep up despite him being vastly more experienced but now she was pushing herself to her limits, the ferocity and power behind his attacks left the mare wondering if he was actually aiming to kill. He had a cheek to talk about holding back, as even now she felt as though he could have ended the current match far sooner.
Ducking under an overhead swing, Fendral slugged her hard in the stomach, leaving her reeling back and onto her knee. Flipping her daggers, she quickly looked up. Raising his sword slightly overhead, she redirected it away with her left and took a swipe to his side, missing by a few good inches, before bringing back for a stab where he brought up his leg, letting her hit his armoured shin.
Standing, she swiped and stabbed at the same time, Fendral easily leaning back to avoid. Taking another swipe, she used her momentum and spun, her right arm poised for a stab. Catching it with his free hand, she used her own, locking it behind his calf and sweeping him off his feet before getting on top of him, placing the tip of both blades to his neck.
"Dead," She remarked, a subtle smirk gracing her lips.
"Aye, but you would have joined me," Fendral replied, nodding his head down.
Perring to where he indicated, she spotted the tip of his own blade pressed against her side.
"I see you found the mood," He commented, his voice practically dripping with sarcasm.
Getting off from on top of him, Winter offered her hand, which he wordlessly took, the mare grunting in effort as she lifted the far larger and far heavier man to his feet. Once up, he looked down at her before walking off towards the weapons table, placing his sword on top of the piece of cloth atop its surface alongside the other blades. Craning his neck, a series of satisfying pops sounded out.
Fendral took note of the sound of shuffling to his left and shifted his gaze toward the source of the sound and spotted the group who had been spectating their sparring match quickly making their way to the duo. Their faces were a mixture of confusion and fear with only a few holding a look of understanding to the situation, excluding Winter herself.
"Dude, where'd that come from?" Spike asked incredulously.
"Yea, I thought this was a friendly spar," Rainbow Dash added.
"You don't understand do you?" He asked rhetorically. "Your opponent doesn't care about what mood you're in, they only care about ending your life. It's attitudes like that that get you killed."
"That may be so, but you looked as though you were actually intending to kill her," Twilight said.
"Real-life combat scenarios are some of the best ways to learn that there will be no mercy in battle."
"Well yes, but putting another in harm's way just to prove a point? I'm sorry darling but I simply do not see the benefit," Rarity added.
"No. How could you? You don't know my ways," Fendral said softly, in an almost comforting tone. "When you're staring someone in the eye who has the intention of killing you, you don't get to choose what mood you're in. You either fight or die."
"Like the Griffons?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes," Fendral answered after a moment. "Yes, like the Griffons."
It was only the morning after the attack on the Gala and protocols had already been put into effect. Measures had quickly been put into place to ensure the cities inhabitant's safety, not a single area of the city was left unprotected, Guards constantly stayed ever vigilant in this time of uncertainty, as did the Princesses themselves,
Even in the short amount of time since the attack, while the Guards roamed the streets and skies, the Twin Monarchs tirelessly combed through every bit of intel they had at their disposal. It was still early and info was still steadily rolling in, though not as fast as either of them would have preferred. So far, their efforts bore no fruit, but it was early, so they remained hopeful for something to pop up.
"Could not have said it better myself."
Peering behind him, he spotted the twin princesses steadily making their way towards the gathered group. Coming upon them, the group all bowed, bar Fendral himself who simply offered an extended nod. As they stopped, Fendral gave the pair a slight head tilt, an unspoken question they seemed to understand as Celestia subtly shook her head.
"That was certainly quite an impressive display my dear friend," Luna praised, a wide smile across her muzzle showing off her sharp canines.
"Indeed," Celestia agreed, a soft smile of her own gracing her lips. "And while harsh, Fendral's words are those that many within his profession live by."
"It is not a pretty philosophy to be sure, but it is one that has saved his life many times over," Luna said, standing next to the taller man. "We understand the trepidation you hold for this way of thinking, but after you've seen and experienced the things he has, you tend to rely heavily upon it."
"And besides, he's right," Winter piped up, all eyes shifting to her. "I'm a soldier, I'm trained for situations like that. Though we are expected to handle certain scenarios non-lethally, we are also fully expected to take lives if necessary. Though you may not agree, he's right."
Turning towards the larger man, Winter stood straight and held her gaze evenly, not looking him in the eyes and spoke in an even, professional tone.
"I am sorry for the momentary lapse in my judgement sir, it won't happen again."
"See to it that it doesn't," Fendral replied, his tone equally even and smooth before his posture relaxed. "At ease."
Seemingly satisfied that the situation was dealt with, he nodded before turning to face the twins that stood next to him.
"So," He continued. "What brings you here."
"We simply wished to see you as we have there is not much else for us to do currently," Luna replied, her smile not once wavering. "We also have a visitor."
Stepping aside, they let the mentioned visitor step forward. A bright orange unicorn mare passed the two monarchs, her thick fiery hair held back in a neat plait. The grey plaid flannel wrapped and tied around her waist hung halfway down her deep blue jean-clad legs, leaving her plain purple top exposed.
"Sunset!" Twilight exclaimed.
Rushing forward, she practically jumped onto the slightly taller mare as she tightly embraced her older adopted sister. The two stood there for a few moments before they broke the hug, Sunset Shimmer cupping Twilight's cheeks as a look of concern washed over her face.
"After I heard what happened I got here as soon as I could. Are you ok? You weren't hurt, were you? Please tell me you didn't get involved."
"Sunny, I'm ok, I promise. No, I wasn't hurt," Twilight replied, somewhat calming her sister ever so slightly. "And even if I wanted to get involved, which I didn't, this one wouldn't have allowed it."
Pointing over her shoulder, Shimmer looked to the Mandalorian with a look of gratitude. Though she wouldn't expect anything less from him, she was still immensely for him protecting her sister and her friends.
"Thank y-"
"No," Fendral interrupted. "No need."
"Well," Shimmer replied. "I would try to give it anyway, but I know what you're like."
Everyone gathered agreed with the statement, even Orion nodded his head in agreement, knowing the man more than most being his lifelong friend.
"My thoughts exactly," Celestia agreed, placing a gentle hand on Shimmer's shoulder. "As stubborn as they come."
"No," He responded. "I simply will not take unnecessary thanks for saving someone close to me."
"Told you," Celestia whispered into Shimmer's ear, earning a soft giggle. "Well, be that as it may, we will still thank you whether or not you take it."
"And you call me stubborn," Fendral said with mirth.
"I didn't say I wasn't," Celestia said, a cheeky grin spreading across her face. "Now with that out of the way, I do believe this was best three out of five?"
"Damn it!" Winter exclaimed as she hit the ground, kicking up the sand and gravel beneath her.
"And I believe that's eight to one," Celestia announced, checking in on the wheezing Winter to make sure she was alright, the group now stand at the threshold of the ring. "I do believe that calls for a break."
"Actually," Fendral said quickly. "I want to go one more round."
"Uh...Fen, in case you haven't noticed, Winter ain't in any shape to keep goin," Rainbow said, the other girls voicing their own concerns.
"Yea, ya thrashed her pretty good," Applejack said.
"I didn't mean with Winter," Fendral replied, slowly turning his head to face Vixen. "I meant with you."
"Oh?" She voiced in an almost amused tone, a smile crossing her lips. "May I ask why?"
"Since the attack, you have barely left my side twice," The man started, leaning against the weapons table. "All things considered, I don't know you, not well. So if you're going to be as close to me as I think you're going to be, I have to see what you're capable of."
"So you want to assess me," Vixen stated, her smile ever present.
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"Very well, I had a feeling it would happen sooner or later," She said before standing, quickly making her way to the edge of the ring. "Good thing I came prepared."
Reaching down, she removed her plain white shirt and placed it on the weapons table beside her. Her rather ample chest was bound firmly in place by a series of tightly wound gauze. She kept on everything else, which was only a simple pair of loose-fitting joggers, as they didn't minimize her mobility any. As she was about to step into the ring, she paused briefly before stepping back.
"Shouldn't we wait and let you rest before we do this?"
"No," Fendral replied firmly before anyone could also voice their own concerns.
"Alright," Vixen conceded, knowing that the man wouldn't budge in his decision. "If that's what you want."
Stepping into the ring, she knew there was no backing out now. She continued forward, coming to a stop about a metre away from the Mandalorian. The two stood still, silently sized the other up, shoulders facing at a slight angle, muscles tensed.
For Fendral, we had to know how well she could handle herself. He had heard about her as she works under the Mercenary Guild, which often worked in conjunction with the Bounty Hunters Guild for certain jobs if it served multiple functions. He knew she could hold her own, being that she had been in service for longer than she hadn't, but he needed to see for himself how well she could handle herself.
For Vixen, on the other hand, she knew of his exploits, his skill and tenacity. Damn-near everyone in Equestria knew his name and ferocity. She knew she was being tested and wasn't planning on holding back, but she knew what she was getting into and she was nervous.
Standing as still as ever, the tension in the air was palpable, not a sound could be heard, not even the sound of breathing as the pairs audience watched with bated breath.
Fendral flinched forward, raising his arm slightly before pulling back, Vixen recoiling back. Vixen offered a flinch of her own a moment later, but the man simply stood and stared. After a second, she shot her hand out, the man leaning back and blocking it, throwing out his own punch only for it to be blocked as well, allowing her to shoot out her fist once more resulting in the response from the Mandalorian.
The two stood back and began circling, not once taking their eye off each other.
Raising her leg, Fendral raised his as he began to let his instincts take over before they put them back down. Just as they did, Vixen took the lead and sent out a three-point kick, Fendral raising his leg and arm to effortlessly block the attack, bringing up his other arm to deflect a side blow to his neck. Redirecting the next series of surprisingly quick attacks before ducking under a fist sweep aimed for his neck, throwing his own punches that she too deflected as she lifted her powerful leg and aimed for his head, the man simply leaned back.
There was a series of reactions from everyone currently gathered, each one different from the last.
The Group couldn't help but watch in awe as they watched the man most of them looked up to fight with speed and precision that they had only seen in the likes of movies. They had seen him train, but that was nothing like this and they had been very quickly evacuated during the Griffon attack, so having him be able to not hold back with someone of apparently equal footing, for them, was a sight to see.
Winter too watched with her jaw slack, though for different reasons. The two of them were on par in terms of age, her being slightly younger by five years. Yet despite this, he moved as though he were a well-oiled machine, shifting and faintly moving his body in a way most Guards could only ever hope to achieve. In the way he moved, it was almost as if he knew exactly what Vixen's next moves were going to be. She had seen this before yes, having served alongside him years ago, but it never ceased to amaze her.
As for the Princesses, it reminded them of older times. Seeing the man they had come to know and love almost as a brother fight like he was thirty years younger, brought back memories of a time long gone, of people long since passed. It was almost a bittersweet moment for the pair.
For Fendral however, his thoughts were beginning to be confirmed. She was aggressive, taking to the initiative in hopes of quickly gaining the upper hand but was prepared to be defensive if the need arrived. Even in their quick exchange, it settled most of his questions. But one remained: how much further could he push her?
Vixen, however, was a different story. It was taking most of her training and years of experience to be able to keep up with him. If this was how he fought after having already gone almost ten rounds previously, she dreaded the thought of fighting him fully rested. It was then she realized how thankful she was he was on their side.
Stepping towards him, Vixen shifted from hoof to hoof, raising her fists as she did, stepping back last second in hopes to juke him out. It didn't, only eliciting the same, blank stare. Throwing out her hand, she pulled it back and punched out with her other, Fendral moved his head, leading her to miss, barely scraping his shoulder. Shifting her weight, punched again with her other hand, getting the same move from the Mandalorian as she went for a tight sideswipe, but he quickly ducked under it.
Throwing a punch of his own, she was quick to catch it with her forearm, wincing as she did, quickly grabbing it and pushing it down as he throw his fist in a powerful haymaker. Ducking the last second, he used his momentum and went for an elbow to her face as she came up. Reacting in a split second, she blocked it with the same forearm, a quick ache pulsing in the area as she batted his elbow away, grabbing his wrist and applying pressure on his shoulder.
Using her powerful legs, she kicked out her knee, the blow being blocked by Fendrals free hand. Using the momentary pause, he twisted his body to again below her. She raised her arm to protect her face, releasing the pressure on his shoulder, allowing him to raise and twist her arm and reverse the position. Going for his own knee, she too blocked, gaining a very slight bit of distance which she used to strike at his exposed hip. The blow connected, the man loosening his grip on her wrist. Pulling it fully out of his grasp, she quickly got behind him, wrapping her strong arms around him, one arm under his and the other over his shoulder, locking her hands together at his neck.
Using the slight space he was able to, he strikes downwards into the nook of her arm which loosened her grip, allowing him to twist slightly and elbow her once more. This time, the blow found purchase, as he grabbed her hand and yanked it down. Though momentarily dazed, she was able to use her momentum and kickflip out of the fall and onto her feet, standing tall, if now a bit winded.
Circling once more, they stared each other down, their blood pumping through their veins as adrenaline and years' worth of instinct were all that was in control at this point. Deciding to take the initiative this time, Fendral throw a powerful kick to her side, the blow effortlessly blocked. Going for an uppercut, her strike was redirected as she throw a sideswipe, it too effortlessly stopped. Spinning around, Fendral used his momentum to power another elbow, this one, though blocked, sent the Raindeer stumbling back. Jumping forward, he put his weight behind his next strike.
Blocking the attack, she took a tight grip on his arm, catching the other one as he throw a sideswipe of his own. Jumping from where she stood, she placed both her knees on the man's chest, using her weight to throw him over her head and onto his back. Acting as quickly as she could, she grabbed his wrist, holding it to her chest as she placed her powerful legs over his neck and legs.
Seconds ticked by as the man struggled, their audience holding their breath in anticipation, waiting. Nothing was seemingly happening until there was a soft, rhythmic tapping as Fendral tapped the soft ground beneath them. Upon hearing and seeing this, Vixen quickly let go.
Taking a moment or two Vixen lay on the ground briefly to catch her breath before standing to her hooves, quickly offering her hand to the man who still lay on the ground beneath her. A second or two passed as he simply looked up at her before he firmly gripped her wrist and she his. Without a moment's pause, she brought him to his feet.
But as she went to let go, the grip he had around her wrist tightened, almost threatening to pull her closer. Looking to him, she wasn't able to glean any sort of emotion from him. All she could see was the blank expression of his helmet, her reflection barely seen on the black visor.
A moment passed.
Then another.
Then another.
And he nodded firmly.
It wasn't much. Not even a single word was uttered. But she knew its meaning. Gaining back her smile, she offered her own nod, tightening her own grip as the two stood for a second, before ultimately letting go. Grabbing her shirt, Vixen left the Training Grounds.
All except the Princesses were left speechless, looking amongst themselves in awe at the session they had just witnessed. The Training Grounds stood in silence as none dared break it until two Monarchs made their way towards the lone man, one standing at each side.
"So my friend," Luna said after a moment. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes," He answered simply. "Yes, I did."
Author's Note
My first outing for any sort of published work and the first chapter since Kioshi put down his pen as it were. Kioshi stopped just before the fight between Fendral and Vixen (which I really hope I did well, I'm not great at writing fight scenes) but he did give me, essentially, the bridge notes of what he had planned both for this and future chapters. of which I will try to be as faithful to
I'm sorry for the wait, I hope you guys enjoyed it and I hope you guys stick around for more
Please point out any mistakes I may have made  
Constructive criticism is always appreciated  
Until next time, TTFN!

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               Chapter 6 - "Coming of Chaos"               
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Chapter 6 - "Coming of Chaos"
"Ya shoulda told us you was alright right away! At least AJ and young Bloom had the sense teh let us know they was fine! We was worried sick about ya the whole journey here ya rascal!" Granny Smith said practically beating the poor man over the head with her cane while Butter, Bright, Orion and Mac all consoled the two Apples that had attended the Gala.
Once news of the attack spread, any of the Element's that still had family rushed to Canterlot to ensure their safety. While Sunset was the first to make an appearance, the others followed shortly after. Each family had been taken to a separate room to let them have their privacy with their kin, both to check on them and also to allow them to catch up.
So this left Fendral with a highly annoyed and worried Elder, an equally worried Nephew and two highly concerned adopted siblings and parents. They were quick to check on their youngest, who, though still very confused, was well. Applejack was much of the same, though she was fully aware of what had happened.
Putting up his arms in a futile attempt to protect himself, he recoiled slightly as each bonk vibrated his helmet rather violently. It wasn't sore by any means, but it most certainly was not comfortable.
"Ok Mom, I think he's had enough," Bright said, lightly pulling the still-peeved Elder away from the man as he rubbed his unprotected forearms, feeling they were definitely going to bruise.
"I know ya would have done it regardless, but thank you," Butter said as she pulled him into a tight hug. "Ya alright?"
"I'm fine," Fendral replied, gladly returning the hug. "Nothing I'm not used to."
"Still doesn't mean we ain't worried about ya," Bright said as he too hugged the larger man.
"I know."
Letting go, he looked over and saw Granny approaching again, only this time she held a more sombre expression. Bright and Butter stepped to the side to let her pass and went back to the Apple trio a few paces away. He turned to her fully and knelt down to meet her gaze.
"Ah'm sorry young'in," She said quietly, keeping her head low but maintaining eye contact. "Jus' when we heard what happened and ya never sent fir us or nuthin', we git worried sick about ya."
Without a word, Fendral kneeled and reached up to his helmet and carefully removed it, placing it gently on the floor next to him. He took Granny's hands just as gently and gave them a soft squeeze and gently rubbed them, while Orion placed his head on their hands. Offering as comforting a smile as he could give, he cupped her cheeks.
"I not only made a promise to the trio there behind you, but I made a promise to all of you," He said softly. "I promised to protect you all to the best of my ability. Yes, that will often mean throwing myself into harm's way, but it also means I will ensure that I will continue being able to protect you."
"But who will Protect you?" Applebloom asked.
Looking past Granny Smith and to the youngest of the siblings, Fendral kept his smile.
"I have a few friends I can count on," He replied, giving Orion a healthy pet behind his ear. "Don't you worry about me."
"Too late," Applejack chimed in.
"Eeyup."
Fendral couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"It's going to take more than a few Griffons to take down."
"Jus' write teh us next time will ya?" Granny said. "Jus teh let us know yer ok."
"I promise I will."
"Good."
"This is all the intel we could get?" Celestia asked incredulously, looking at the small pile of papers Shining Armour had placed on her desk.
"Unfortunately your Highness," He replied. "This is all we could get under such short notice. However, given the earliness of the investigation, I am almost one hundred per cent certain that we will be able to obtain more intel further down the line. Hopefully sooner rather than later."
"Thank you, Captain," She said. "You are dismissed."
"Your Highness," Shining saluted before promptly making his way to the door of the Princess's study.
As the door closed, hearing the Captain's hoof falls fade, she unceremoniously fell into the chair's backrest, sighing heavily into her hands in a vain attempt to alleviate the very quickly building stress. After the Griffons had signed the peace treaty thirty-three years ago, she had hoped to maintain peace both in and outside her and her sister's borders for at least another hundred years before something was to disrupt it. But as it would seem, fate had other plans in store.
"Why couldn't things just be easy?"
Silence.
Realizing she was alone, she reached over and opened the small cabinet door of her desk and pulled out a rocks glass and a half-empty bottle of Smoking Gun Whisky. Pouring herself a glass, she swiftly knocked it back, savouring its taste. Though it was a comparatively cheaper whisky than what the vast majority of Nobles would choose, the grains distilled with smoked tea that blended its leather and tobacco notes and rather signature smoulder was something she preferred over most other options she came across.
Just as she was about to pour herself a second glass, the door to her study opened, Luna walked through and quickly closed it behind her, spotting her sister about to pour her glass.
"Normally I would say something about drinking on the job, but given the current circumstances, I would say it's warranted," Luna said, removing her crown and placing it on the small table next to the large couch in front of the fire. "Is that all?"
"Unfortunately yes, this is all they could gather," Celestia said as she poured her glass, downing it as soon as she finished.
"That's almost nothing."
Celestia could only nod as she took a clean rag from the desk's cabinet, wiped the glass dry and placed everything back inside and closed the door.
"With how quickly everything transpired, I don't think we'll be seeing any fruit for our labour anytime soon."
"That's an awfully defeatist attitude, especially for you."
"Luna you saw those Griffons, they were like nothing we've seen before," Celestia said rather pointedly. "Even Fen and Vixen, who need I remind you are some of the most experienced people we know, have never seen anything like this."
"Alright Tia," Luna said softly. "Understand I am stressed as well, but taking it out on me won't help."
"I-" Celestia sat forward, leaning her elbows against her desk, lightly rubbing her eyes before looking back to her sister. "I'm sorry Lu, I didn't...I...I'm sorry."
Striding over to her sister's side, Luna wrapped her arms around her distressed sibling, lightly rubbing her arms and placing her resting her head on her own, being her to avoid her horn.
"I know Tia, I know," Luna comforted.
Cupping her cheeks, Luna looked deeply into her sister's firey orange eyes, watching them flicker almost akin to fire, she pushed aside a lock of her bright red mane away from her face.
"We will get through this, as we have gotten through everything before, together," She said, placing her forehead against her sibling's, again making sure to avoid her horn. "But we're not in this alone. This is not just your, or my, burden to bear. We have those at our side, happy and willing to help us. We are not alone."
"I know sister," Celestia said, hugging her sister tight, as though she'd never be able to again. "I know."
"Speaking of," Celestia said, letting go of the hug, Luna following suit. "Where are they?"
"Fendral is spending time with his family," Luna said as she leaned against the desk. "And I believe Vixen is with them as well."
"They seemed to have hit it off fairly well," Celestia commented, leaning her elbows on the desk.
"I had a strong feeling they would or at the very least will," Luna replied, a big smile spreading across her muzzle, flashing her pearly white canines. "The little sparring session definitely helped put his mind at ease."
"Oh speaking of which, you still owe me ten bits."
Luna sighed. "I still think he let her win."
"Oh as do I," Celestia replied, letting a fairly smug smile cross her lips. "But a wins a win."
"Sometimes I wish you inherited Father's disposition to winning," Luna laughed.
"Oh and not rub it your face when you lose?" Celestia laughed as well. "Never."
The two sisters giggled to themselves, letting the worries and stresses of their lives wash away, letting them be themselves and not the personas they act and letting them let go. It was moments like this that the two always cherished more than others. So few and far between were there times they could let their hair down and act like everyday ponies, just enjoying life and being with family. Where they could be normal. For even the briefest of moments. Such is the life of Monarchs.
Luna opened her mouth to speak, but as she did, a sudden flash appeared at the centre of the desk's surface. Momentarily blinded, they blinked away the trails left behind by the light and saw a scroll where the flash appeared. Reaching over, Celestia picked it up.
It was a simple parchment, wrapped and bonded in a fine red silk ribbon, an unmarked silver wax dried and hardened to keep it in place.
Curious, she broke the wax seal over her thumps, unravelling the scroll and reading through its contents.
A couple of hours had passed and all the families had caught up with their kin and made sure of their safety, leaving them to simply talk amongst themselves for a while in a common room. No one topic was held for very long, one often leading right into another that would keep for twenty minutes before promptly leading into the next. With all the families gathered, mingling together, Fendral decided to hang back, happy to let them chat and chat up on the lives of their friends.
Right now they were deep into a game of Monopoly, laughing, cheering and groaning as the game progressed. A smile crept upon his face. After the events of the previous night, he was happy to see them all relaxed, not letting the experience take over what was a good time. Fendral sat near the back, idly playing Orion's ears, the Timberwolf thoroughly enjoying the attention he was receiving.
"It's nice isn't it?" Vixen said sitting next to him, idly stirring a hot, steaming mug of coffee in her hands as Orion placed his head on her thigh. "To see them all happy, having quality time together."
"Fendral, can I ask you something?" She asked, stroking Orion's head, the Timberwolf humming in enjoyment.
"Hmm?"
"Why did you never settle?"
The man had to stop and think, the sudden question momentarily catching him off guard. Folding his arm across his large chest, he shifted from one foot to the next, sighing, before coming to a stop.
"How long have you been a mercenary?"
"About thirty years, give or take," She responded. "Why?"
"I've been in this business for almost forty-five years," Fendral said, resulting from a swift double take from the Reindeer beside him, a look of surprise taking over her face.
"FORTY-" Catching herself, she briefly looked over the amassed group, though thankfully, none had caught her outburst, except for the wolf at her side. Not that he cared much. "Forty-five years?"
"I have been doing this far longer than I haven't," He responded, not really replying to the question directly. "Whether it be when I served, bounty hunting or...."
He trailed off.
"The thought of stopping now is...it feels unnatural," He continued. "Foreign almost."
"But that's not really it...is it?"
He did respond for a moment.
"No." He said, almost at a whisper, Orion left Vixen's side and came up to comfort his old friend.
"Has it something to do with-"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
Vixen looked at him for a second, his voice was more rigid, monotone when he replied. His shoulders tensed and his head was held slightly higher, his back straightened and his legs locked. It was clear to her that this was a very, very touchy subject. One she would probably benefit from not bringing up again soon. Not that she was worried he'd do anything, she didn't want to ruin what friendship they had built and were building, slowly but surely.
"Alright," She said softly, nodding her head before turning back to the group in the middle of the reasonably well-sized room.
Fendral remained silent, his mind currently a whirlwind of thought. Thoughts of the night before. Why did they attack? Who or what might be behind it? When might they straight again? What will come after as a result? Will anything happen? How could they prepare?
How can I protect them?
Thoughts like this flooded Fendrals head, swirling around like a torrent threatening to burst the dam of his mind. But before he could dwell on them any further, there was a knock at the door. The door opened to reveal a Day Guard Unicorn, who stepped through into the common room, giving a crisp salute upon seeing the Mandalorian.
"The Princesses have requested the presence of Fendral Marika and Vixen Ragsdill in the Throne room at your earliest convenience."
Sighing quietly, Fendral stepped up, Orion as close as always. "We'll be there shortly."
"At once Sir," He saluted before he left closing the door behind him, teleporting away a second or two later.
"No rest for wicked huh?" Bow Hothoof, Rainbow Dash's father, said.
"So it would seem," Fendral said as he made his way to the door, Vixen not far behind. "We'll be back as soon as possible."
"Well, ya better hurry up!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Cuz I'm so gonna kick your butt at Uno!"
"Yea!" Scootaloo jumped up with her older sister, the small drake fluttering her wings as she did.
~~
The two stopped in front of the Throne room's large, ornately designed double doors, the structures standing a solid twenty feet above their heads. Glancing over to a Guard on his left, he gave Fendral a solid nod, stepping up to one of the doors, giving it a few hard knocks and stepping back, the sounds echoing through the long and winding hallways before falling silent. A few seconds passed and the doors began steadily opening, revealing a pair of large earth ponies tightly gripping the door handles.
"Ah, thank you for coming," Princess Celestia said as they stepped their way into the Throne room, clapping the Timberwolf as he was the first to get to them. "We apologise for taking you away from your family and friends, so we'll make this as quick as possible."
The Princesses smiled before their expressions darkened slightly.
"Firstly, we want to apologise for last night," Princess Luna said, her ears falling near flush to her head. "It was supposed a night of celebration, a night to forget and enjoy life. But it was ruined beyond anything and your and their lives were put at risk."
"You had no power over it," Fendral said quickly. "That was out of your hands, you were not aware of it. You couldn't have prepared for it."
"Exactly," Vixen replied. "We understand the role of Princess is hard as it is, nobody blames you. Least of all us."
Orion barked loudly in agreement.
"There wasn't any more that you could have done," Fendral said, coming up to Luna's side, putting his hand on her shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Your words are reassuring," Celestia said. "But lives were at risk and more were lost. We can't forgive ourselves for that."
The man nodded and let his head hang a little as he squeezed Luna's shoulder ever so slightly tighter.
"Be that as it may, we know you did everything that you could," Vixen reassured.
"But we also want to thank you," Celestia continued. "Though we know you both would have done it regardless, you not only saved the lives of several Nobles and many civilians but you also saved the Element's lives and we cannot thank you enough."
"I have a duty to Equestria and its people, especially my friends and family," Fendral said quickly. "And I will be damned if I fail now."
"I may be new here, but I also have a duty to protect the nation and its people."
Without a word, the Princesses pulled the two into a tight hug, Orion placing his forehead on Luna's thigh to join in, tears threatening to fall but the two composed themselves quickly. After several seconds, the Princesses let go, grateful smiles across their face.
"Thank you," Celestia said. "But unfortunately that is not the only reason we called you."
"Thought so," Fendral chuckled slightly. "So what you call us for?"
Luna subtly waved her hand, the Guards stationed at the nearest set of pillars seeing the signal and nodded their head and left their posts, the other Guards leaving with them as they passed. The double doors closed soon after, leaving the four alone in the room.
"We also called you for this," Celestia said holding up the scroll they had received earlier.
Fendral took the scroll, unrolling and skimming over the words held within, his eyes landing on the name at the end, the one who had sent it.
"Discord."
As soon as the name left his lips, there was a blinding flash of light, an almost cartoony sound of confetti and party poppers popping and the sound of two voices laughing joyfully. Blinking away the light smear in their eyes, all four present looked to the source of the commotion.
Discord and his daughter Eris floated a little above their head, Hawaiian shirts hanging loosely from their shoulders and straw hats atop their heads. The two Chimeras were still laughing, an arm draped over the other's shoulder as their laughter slowly died down. Once it was, Discord let go of his near-identical daughter.
"Oh, honey! I'm home!" He shouted in an almost sing-song manner.
"Yes Discord, hello," Luna replied, fighting back the encroaching grin.
"You're hard to miss," Celestia added, not fairing much better.
"Why Tia, Lu," Discord said, turning to the Princesses, and placing a paw on his chest. "It's almost as if you're not happy to see your dear old brother."
The two sisters laughed, as Celestia pulled him in. "We're happy to see you Discord."
"Hey, what about me?" Eris guffawed.
"As if we'd forget you dear," Luna said, pulling the young Chimera in with her wings, Eris laughing gleefully at the gesture.
The four laughed amongst themselves as they embraced each other. Vixen, Fendral and Orion looked at one another as they all stepped back a little, letting the four have their moment together. Eventually, they let go, and the atmosphere instantly darkened, Discord and Eris gaining a knowing look.
"We heard what happened," He said, the God of Chaos unnaturally serious. "We dropped everything as soon as we heard."
"Literally," Eris said, brushing small bits of glass from her hair. "Don't think I've seen him move that quickly."
"Well, the same could be said for you little misses," Discord shot back. "But seriously, we were worried."
"Brother," Celestia took Dicsord's hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "We are ok. It takes a lot more than that to put us at risk."
"Oh I know, but it doesn't stop me from worrying."
"Ever the protective elder sibling aren't you," Luna stated. "But Tia's right. We're big strong girls, we can take care of ourselves."
"Ain't that the truth," Fendral muttered, Vixen giggling in response.
"Don't think we forgot about you, ya big lug," Eris said, suddenly appearing behind, locking the man in a headlock.
Vigorously rubbing the top of the man's head as he vainly tried to escape the Chimera's vice-like grip, he could almost feel his hair being tussled as Orion jumped around his feet yipping. Eventually breaking free, he couldn't help but laugh at her antics.
"It's good to see you both," Fendral said. "Fluttershy will be happy to have you back Discord."
"Speaking of," Discord started as he appeared floating beside him. "Tha-"
Fendral reached and wrapped his hand around Discord's snout faster than anyone could react, clamping it shut before he could get another word in. Not that it stopped the Chimera, as he continued to ramble his muffled thanks, seemingly unbothered by the hand gripping his mouth shut. A full minute and a half later, he finally stopped.
"Oh, you were right," Vixen whispered to Celestia. "He really is stubborn."
"Like I said," She whispered back, "As stubborn as they come."
"So what now?" Vixen asked.
"Now, we go unpack," Discord said, lifting his and Eris's suitcases, both of which were fit to burst. "Then I go say hello to some friends and we try to find out who's behind this little scheme we have on our hands."
"I'd hardly call it 'little', brother," Celestia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at the man, his companion and the Reindeer. "In the meantime, you three head back, I'm sure your family and friends are eager to have you back."
Out of the palace grounds and in Canterlots public park, a rather large light grey earth pony sat on one of the many benches looking towards the castle proper, admiring the high towers that stood the test of time for many centuries. He admired the near-perfect masonry of the beautiful stonework, the impeccably designed glass windows that littered the tall spiralling masts, and even the roof with its neatly placed tiles that met at a seemingly perfect point. Mostly, however, he admired the work of the countless individuals who put their blood, sweat and tears into this gargantuan passion project, and the pride they must have felt when it was completed, their predecessor's work finally seen through. That was what this stallion truly admired.
Letting his head rest momentarily on the bench's headrest, he let out a content sigh as his breath escaped through his nose and dispersed into the cool air. Looking around, he noticed he was seemingly alone, not a soul was anywhere near him, and not even a City Guard could be seen from where he sat, with the exception of a couple of ponies on the far outskirts of the park, but otherwise, he was very much left to himself.
Sitting up, he rested his below on his knee, leaning to his side and placing his hand on the other, letting the chilly wind blow his thick shaggy, deep auburn mane. Just as he was about to get up and leave, a sudden caw caught his attention. Looking to his left, he saw a rather odd-looking crow.
A pair of bright cyan-blue eyes looked back at him as it slightly hopped in place. The same blue covered its body, tracing its form in a smooth, almost runic-type pattern that seemed to have a rather healthy glow to it.
Looking around, the stallion double-checked he was alone before turning his attention fully to the crow in front of him.
"Dominus," His voice was low, raspy and gravelly, practically rumbling in his throat, reinforcing his uniquely large size.
The crow fluttered its wings and gave a quick series of low squawks and grumbles.
"The attack was completed and the ponies have been left clueless," He said. "It was a success."
The crow hopped again, tilting its head around, readjusting its wing and staring back at the stallion, squawking again.
"Gladly."
Sitting back and resting his arms on the bench backrest, the crow shook itself, the blue runic pattern across its back and wings brightening slightly before going back to there previous state and it looked to the stallion with a tilted head, cawing again, this time in a much higher, more natural tone.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll find plenty to talk about soon enough."
Author's Note
Well, first full chapter I've written by myself. A decent start, but there's room to improve I think.
I've managed to get some time to sit and write something and I was able to pump this out fairly quickly, hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please point out any mistakes I may have made  
Constructive criticism is always appreciated  
Until next time, TTFN!

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             Chapter 3 - "A Gala To Remember"              
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Chapter 3 - "A Gala To Remember"
"Please, darling? Just try something," Rarity complained. "You would look utterly dashing!"
It's been a few weeks since I had reluctantly accepted the invitation to the Gala and since then I have had Rarity on my back about wearing much more formal attire than what I had planned to wear. Even the others had made various attempts to entice me into a suit of some variety, all of which have yet to be successful. And today, on the day the Gala was to take place, was the fashionista's latest attempt.
"No, I am not going to be fancy," I said flatly, readjusting the bandana around Orion's neck. "I wasn't given many options, all things considered."
"Be that as it may," She replied. "You should at least try to look presentable."
"No," I said again, this time more firmly, faintly shaking my head. "My decision is final."
Rarity sighed, finally giving in to the fact I wouldn't give any ground on the matter. She suddenly stood and my hand twitched to my pistol as I stood quickly but I was able to force myself to stop. I diligently watched her as she moved around her workshop with her usual elegance and refinement. She eventually reached a chest of some sort and reached deep inside, her face lighting up as she seemingly found what she was looking for.
She stood once more and moved towards me but slowed when she met my gaze. Once she was within a metre of me, she reached up to my scarf and pinned something to it as I dared not move an inch. As she stepped back, I took the object in my hand and tilted it so I could get a better look. It looked to be a brooch. It resembled a flower, expertly cut deep blue crystals sat firmly on a finely crafted light metal frame, elegantly flowing to create a very natural design.
My eyes shifted to the alabaster mare in front of me as she wore a wide smile, possibly sensing my respect and admiration for such an excellent piece. I moved to remove it but was very quickly stopped by a pair of soft but strong hands as Rarity slowly lowered my own, with not a word uttered.
"I cannot accept such a piece," I said as Orion stepped back to get a better look at the piece.
"You can and you will," She replied, her smile growing wider.
Stepping back once more, she gained an analytical eye, looking me up and down, her smile never once wavering. She indicated for me to spin, twirling her hand with a single finger raised. Giving out a single exhale of a chuckle, I did as I was asked and spun, spreading my arms slightly as I did. I came to a stop after a spin or two and waited for the fashionista's verdict.
"Splendid!" She said after a moment, Orion nodding in agreement. "It may not be what I was imagining, but it is better than nothing."
"And correct me if I'm wrong, please," She continued. "Colour has an important meaning in Mandalorian culture, yes?"
"Indeed," I responded.
"And, if I may, What is blue's meaning?"
"Reliability."
"Wonderful!" She exclaimed, her smile somehow getting wider. "A fitting colour for a reliable man such as yourself."
I shook my head with another chuckle when I was spun around suddenly and scooted towards the front door, Rarity's surprising strength once again shining strong as she pushed me around with apparent ease despite my far heavier build with Orion, of course, happily plodding along.
"I'm sorry darling, it may be early but I still have a few things to do," She said as I made it over the building's threshold. "Have a wonderful day my dear."
Swiftly closing the door behind me, I was left standing there in a daze, partially unsure of what happened. Giving myself a shake, I knock myself out of my confusion and glance down at my companion, who simply shrugs, before I look skyward towards the sun. It appeared to be roughly 20 degrees due east, telling me it was nearing eleven a.m. Still had a lot of time to kill. Looking around, I decided to go for a long walk and picked a random direction to go, tightening my coat to protect myself from the cold morning air. I give my thigh a single open-palmed tap and Orion is quickly by my side.
As I went, I was cheerfully greeted by Ponyville's menagerie of residents, the general hubbub drowning the irregular sound of my footsteps, instigated by my light limp. Though my mind was alert, it was on other matters and it was that of the coming Gala. Though I had steeled myself that it was going to be a long night, I knew it wouldn't make much of a difference as the Nobility had a certain way of wearing down even the most patient of men and women. They all somehow know just which buttons to press.
Coming to a stop, I realised I was now walking along the woodland path of town that ran along just outside the Everfree that sat a safe distance away. Spying a nearby bench, I ease myself down and look over the large town as I think back to years gone by. A sad smile breaks over my face, remembering the times we had, remembering the good and bad and remembering their voices. Remembering her laugh.
I lean back into the bench slightly and I take in a deep inhale, letting it out through my nose. I close my eyes as I reminisce, thinking about my time on Terra, thinking about the years I spent alone. I thought about the life I could have had, about where I would be had things turned out differently. I find myself doing it more often as of late, especially now that I have grown older. I am unsure of what brought it on, but I haven't bothered to find out. It's doing me no harm.
As I stare out towards the early morning scenery, Orion jumps up onto the bench and places his head on my thigh. Nudging my hand, he easily persuades me and I lightly rub in between his ears, eliciting a happy sigh from the tamed Timberwolf. A smile breaks across my face and at that moment, however brief it was, all of my worries were washed away.
"Uncle Fen?" I said loudly, knocking on the door of his house. "Uncle Fen, are you in?"
It's been several hours since anyone had last seen him and it was starting to near the time we were to get ready to go to the Gala, so I had tasked myself with looking for him. I had tried a few of the places Ponies would be able to find him, but with how large the town got, even in the last few years, the task was proving to be a long one and I was beginning to run out of time.
"Yo! AJ!"
My ears twitch as a voice calls out and I turn, spotting the source. Without turning my head, I give the door another knock, being sure to add a little more power behind it in hopes of getting a reaction. When none came, I stepped back and placed my hands on my hips with a sigh as Dash came up to my side.
"Anythin'?" I ask, turning my head slightly.
"Nothin'" She replied as she too gave out a sigh. "Y'know, for a guy as distinct as he is, he bucking difficult to find when he wants to be."
"Ya don't know the half of it," I remarked, fully turning away from the door.
"Is there anywhere we haven't tried?"
Rubbing my chin, I went over all the places we had looked for him and remembered there was one place we hadn't looked.
"There is actually," I replied after a moment.
"Where?"
Saying nothing, I simply turn my gaze to the forest encircling our town and stare beyond its borders. Dash followed my gaze and seemingly paled as she realized what I meant.
"I, ugh, I'll go check on Flutters, see how she's doin," She said uneasily.
Nodding, we went our separate ways and I was on my way to the Everfree. It didn't take very long before I was standing on the fringes of one of Equestria's most notorious areas. Staring out into the dark forest, a lump formed in my throat and an apprehension filled my chest as I became unnerved by the forest's stillness.
The Everfree has always been a place most Ponies tended to avoid unless it was a necessity to pass through. Though the risks the forest posed have begun to ease over the last few years, many see that fact as a bad omen and regard it as the same deadly forest it had always been. And yet, despite its remaining innumerable dangers, my Uncle, though highly capable as he is, deemed the place worthy to build his workshop in. As much as I love the man, he will never cease to baffle and frighten me.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I began my march through the still high-risk forest, keeping a tight grip on the handle of the knife my Uncle gifted to me which was attached securely to my belt. As I worked my way farther into the woods, I quickly noticed the change around me.
The sun's light dimmed as the colour seemed to drain from my surroundings, the once vibrant flora now desaturated and lifeless. The air became thick and musky, making it hard to breathe and think straight. It also became heavy and felt as though it was physically weighing me down and slowing my otherwise quick pace. Shaking my head, I try to ignore it and focus solely on the path ahead of me, not letting the forest dissuade and make me lose my way like it had so many others.
After several minutes of uninterrupted walking, I noticed a light in the enclosing darkness which urged me to quicken my pace and before I knew it, I came to the familiar sight of the decrepit ruins of the princess's prior castle, a dim light emanating from its courtyard. Even though the wooden bridge had been repaired, I tread carefully as I made my way across, keeping a firm grip on the rope supports, and walked under the stone archway that made up the front entrance and into my Uncle's den.
For the unaware, it would look like an utter mess, but since I was familiar with my Uncle's equipment, I at least had a vague understanding of what most of it was and what purpose it served. Overhead sat a large beige, triangle-shaped canopy, held up either by wiring or by rods stuck deep into the ground. Metalic crates or boxes were stacked neatly in one corner or another and sprawled across the ground were thick wires covered by black and white ramps which served as a form of protection. The wires were connected to a generator of some type which powered low-hanging floodlights, washing the place in soft yellow light. Off to one side of this makeshift den was a workbench, covered with a multitude of different types of handheld tools, a pair of odd-looking but highly technical boots atop its surface with an intricate blue brooch placed safely on one of its shelves.
Looking around the den, I was unable to spot the man and I eventually decided to venture farther in. As I did, I spotted a large dark silver structure, a soft gleam shone from its many panelled surfaces. Though the technical name escapes me, I would recognise my Uncle's personal gunship anywhere. Its blocky design with its two large cylindrical thrusters gave it a very distinct and unique silhouette. And lo and behold, sitting on a metal crate not far from the ship's main entrance was none other than the man I was after with a heavy-duty toolbox at his feet which left nothing to the imagination.
He wasn't wearing much: his usual greaves, jeans and stained tank top which showed off his impressive physique and the tattoo on both arms, one starting at his wrist and ending in the nook of his arm and the other taking a large portion of his shoulder and peck and ending at his wrist. His helm held firm atop his head. It was a rare sight to behold, to see him unarmoured outside of the comfort of four walls to protect him, even more so in a place as dangerous as the Everfree.
But what truly caught my attention wasn't what he was wearing, but the fact he looked to be nursing a fairly substantial cut on his right palm and a certain, familiar trio standing not too far from him, a sheepish expression clear as day on their faces.
"We're sorry Uncle Fen," Applebloom said, embarrassment clear in her voice. "We really are."
"Yea, we didn't mean to hurt ya," Scootaloo said, the young drake's wings flittering slightly behind her back.
After wrapping his hand in a layer of gauze, he placed his non-bandaged hand on Applebloom's cheek and softly placed his forehead against hers, visibly calming the otherwise tense filly. Upon seeing the act of affection, the other two calmed as well as their shoulder drooped considerably.
"I know," He said, his voice low and warm.
He stands suddenly, making his way to his workbench, and placing the medkit into its compartment within it. Stretching, he goes through a small series of quick exercises before turning his attention to me, leaning against the workbench.
"I assume there's a reason for that?" I ask, indicating to his now-wrapped hand.
"Tried teaching them machinery," he replied with a chuckle, nodding to the trio as they approached. "Didn't work."
"I see that," I said. "Anyway, I came to make sure you were ready fir the Gala."
"Knew it was something," He said, folding his arms, accentuating his larger build.
"So are ya?"
"Yes Jack," He responded. "Don't worry"
"I'm sure," I said. "I trust you'll make yer own way there."
"Naturally," He said, giving a slight nod.
Nodding myself, I peer over the group of friends as they stand awkwardly nearby, looking around for something to occupy their attention. I let out a small sigh and place my hands in my pockets and look back at my Uncle.
"I had better get these three back to town," I said. "Get them ready for the Gala as well."
Saying nothing, he simply nods again as he indicates for the trio in question to follow, with them doing so without delay. Leading us to the entrance of his den, we quickly give our goodbyes before we march back into town, the girls close behind, maintaining constant contact so as to not lose each other. Before we knew it, we were back in the bustling town, ready to fully prepare for the night ahead.
As Luna's moon hung low in the cloudless, starry sky, the inhabitants of the nation's capital city corralled themselves in their usual upbeat tempo, their excitement pouring off of them in as their excitement constantly boiled over for this annual festival.
Tonight was the night, as the crowds of Equestrians filled the cobblestone streets of Canterlot. Parties were being thrown for those unlucky enough to not make the guest list, but this did not deter them, not one bit. Even from the early hours, Ponies celebrated this annual holiday in fervour. Banners hung from windows and rooftops, confetti littered the streets as music blared from anywhere and everywhere. Streets acts dotted Canterlots many streets, ranging from Ponies showing off odd talents to music they had written to comedy acts. This year's celebration was one to remember.
Months upon months of planning were spent in preparation for the upcoming Gala, the final few days leading up to the ball having been used to ship in and assemble the items necessary for the celebration to go off without a hitch. Like many, the kitchen’s staff worked the ovens in the Royal Castle which bellowed with searing intensity as not only the nation’s top chefs, but those from around the globe tediously tended to their tasks, creating the finest dishes that their culinary minds could muster.
The Gala was now well underway, and the many nobles and Ponies invited filed in seamlessly. Ambassadors of all kinds: ranging from Zebras, Minotaurs, Cats, Hippogriffs and Minor Dragons just to name a few enjoyed themselves, happy to go about without the added stresses of politics, as they hadn't been invited in the name of diplomacy but rather to get them away from diplomacy. The only ones missing were the Griffons, though most expected this. Some of the more grounded and agreeable elitists had also attended. All mingled with foreigners amicably and no issues occurred, much to the Princess's delight. Even commoners, who either had connections or had performed exceptional acts, were accounted for, happily going about their business within the festive atmosphere. Yet, despite the more than friendly atmosphere, it was clear most were out of their comfort zone.
The Princesses didn't let this bother them, however, as they graciously greeted any who passed the booth they sat within. Unlike years before, where they would personally greet every attendee one by one as they arrived, instead, they decided to forgo this and arranged several entrances to allow quicker and easier access to the hall. Though still wanting to talk to the masses, they would move amongst the crowds, greeting the attendees on a larger scale and streamlining the time it would take, which happened to allow time to themselves. Although a far less personal approach, it was far more efficient.
The party went off without a hitch.
Luna took a quick sip of the glass of wine in front of her, relishing its bitter yet fruity taste. She set the glass down as she gazed out to the crowds, a pleasant smile across her lips "I'd say this year will be our best yet, wouldn't you sister?"
"I'd have to agree," Celestia replied, taking a sip of her glass.
"And it is good to see the Elements enjoying themselves," Luna commented. "I admit I was unsure it would go well for them."
"As was I," Celestia replied. "Though I had faith."
"You always do."
The two giggled, briefly leaning against each other before going back to their wine. After a while, Luna's eyes glanced here and there, as though they were in search of something. The Lunar Matriarch sighed, though her expression did not change. "He still isn't here."
Celestia initially said nothing, steadily finishing off her remaining wine before she peered over at her lunar counterpart. "Do not worry. Though he is an oddity, he is a man of his word. He will show soon enough."
Their following conversations then began to meander in terms of topics, picking one seemingly at random and yet somehow managing to vaguely string them together in haphazard cohesion. But after some time, during one of their few pauses, a Thestral guard walked up to their booth and whispered into the large she-wolf's ear, a smile widening across her face, just enough to be noticed by her sister who watched intently, not so subtly leaning in to hear what was being said.
"Well sister, it would seem the universe, though later than preferred, has heard us," Luna said as she scooted herself free from the booth.
Leaving before her sister could say a word, Luna b-lined towards one of the hall's side entrances at a brisk pace, being stopped occasionally by dignitaries who wanted a word. It took a few minutes, but she was finally able to exit the building, briefly acknowledging the guards by the door, and enter the hall's side courtyard. It was quiet, the sounds of the high-energy excitement dulled, as a sound suppression spell had been cast so as to not disturb any sleeping residents, with the wind rustling the bushes and shrubbery, as well as the various animals being among the few sounds that could be heard. The Lunar Princess closed her eyes as she felt the wind on her face and as the tranquillity calmed her wracked nerves.
But before she could relish in quiet calm any further, she picked up something on the fringes of her hearing. It wasn't much, a low rumble that could just barely be picked up, very slowly rising in volume, soon turning into a very audible growl. Seconds passed by, the sound now echoing loudly throughout the now darkened sky, when she finally spotted the source. An object, oblong in shape, soared high in the sky, effortlessly gliding along the star-speckled expanse. As it came closer, the sound became near-deafening, many residents peered through their windows or exited their homes entirely to better look at the roaring beast.
Luna's ears fell back slightly, mitigating the great noise if only a bit. The craft began hovering overhead, blowing many a bush and shrub into a tremble, kicking up loose debris and sending the Princess's dress into a frenzy as three of its many panels opened to reveal struts of some kind, one at the front and two at the back. Once these struts settled, the craft lowered slowly, eventually falling still, allowing the Lunar Princess to admire its form.
It was vaguely rectangular with two cylindrical extensions jutting out from the middle a fair bit. It lacked most of any colour, consisting mostly of a dull silver. The only colour it had was at the front, painted onto its surface, a large sinister red grin revealing razor-sharp teeth.
Eventually, as the dust finally settled, silence remained once more, as the flora fell still. But it was not to last. The back of the craft let out a jet of steam as a large section steadily lowered to the ground with none other than the Mandalorian himself standing in wait at the top, his Timberwolf companion by his side. As the platform hit the ground with a thud, Fendral began making his way down with a hand wrapped around his belt loop, his right arm swinging stiffly by his holstered blaster.
The Guards by the door, who were already made cautious by the large metal craft, stiffened upon seeing the highly armoured man and wooden canine, the grip on their rifles tightening as he descended from his craft. They paused briefly once they had made it to the bottom, Fendral tapping his gauntlet in a specific sequence, before quickly resuming their walk. The two large pistons holding the platform began to move, slowly guiding it up and back into place.
Naturally, Luna had become used to this, having witnessed it on more than a couple of occasions. Unfazed, she opened her arms as her friend walked up the small flight of stairs to meet her. Graciously accepting her offer, he wrapped his arms around her and hers around him. For a few moments, neither dared move, as they enjoyed the other's embrace. Unanimously, they each let go and turned, making their way towards the hall's entrance.
"I was starting to think you wouldn't come," Luna said, giving her friend a sidelong glance as idly stroked between the Timberwolf's ears.
"I keep my promises, " Fendral said evenly, glancing at the Guards who snapped into a salute as they passed.
"You do, indeed," She replied amused. "Though you certainly took your time."
"She was being a nuisance," He said, jerking his head towards the now silent and stationary ship.
"Well you're here now," She said. "And with that being said, there's somepony I'd like for you to meet."
The moment Fendral set foot within the large hall, a quiet murmuring broke out amongst the Nobility, though mostly the Equestrian Nobility. Though most of them gave the large Mandalorian a wide berth, there were the small few with the confidence to detail their disdain directly to the source, wording their frustration in excruciating detail. At some point, their words melded together, but the meaning was not lost on the man. The Nobles were none too happy to see him.
However, those of the foreign Nobility actually respected him, as they respected strength and skill over monetary power. Most notably, those of the Dragon Clans held him in high regard, finding his strength and tenacity to be admirable attributes as well as valuing his speed and efficiency. But the other species? they respected him for other reasons.
Throughout his long and coloured career, both as an accomplished Bounty Hunter and during his service years, he had garnered himself a reputation as a man that gets the job done and gets it done quickly and proficiently. But it wasn't until during the darkest period of his life that his reputation turned from respect to fear. At that point, people realised that the Mandalorian was not a man to anger and if you were on his kill list, your days were numbered.
Fendral looked down as these memories flashed through his mind. To this day, the memories of his past transgressions haunted him and they would until the day he drew his last breath. He was no reincarnation of the Draconic God of War, he was no Grim Reaper or vengeful spirit. He was a simple man trying to make his way in the world. He did not regret his actions, however. Only the reasons the actions had to be taken in the first place.
"Look who it is."
The man was shaken from his musings and launched back into the real world as he glanced around to find the source of the voice and quickly find it. A white stallion in a black suit slowly made his way towards him, his blonde mane tied back into a neat ponytail. His icy blue eyes looked the Bounty Hunter up and down with a sneer while his nose was held up slightly.
"I'm surprised the guards let you in, let alone come close," Blueblood said, standing directly in front of the taller man.
Fendral said nothing, simply folding his arms across his large chest, and letting out a barely audible sigh.
The Prince huffed in seeing the display, turning his nose up slightly further. "You would do well to show me some respect, nyaff. It is not every day that I allow commoners such as yourself to attend gatherings such as this."
"And it's not every day I hold restraint towards narcissists such as yourself."
The Prince huffed again. "Mangy cur."
"Bellend."
"Plebeian."
"Pissant."
"Fool."
"Dick."
Blueblood scowled as he too crossed his arms, staring into the man's blank helmet. They stared each other down in a contest of dominance as the Nobles around them glanced between themselves apprehensively, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before them. Then they heard laughter.
It was small at first. A quick exhale, followed by a chuckle soon after. And just as quickly, they could hear Blueblood audibly laughing wholeheartedly, the pairs rigid stances relaxing. Offering his hand, Fendral took Blueblood's outstretched hand without hesitation in a firm handshake.
"Good to see you're still as quick as ever," Blueblood said with a chuckle. "How have you been my friend?"
"Busy," Fendral replied.
"So I've heard," He responded, letting go of the man's hand. "The Diamond Dog Camp, the reincarnated Manticore and the runaway Hippogriff. You've certainly been a busy bee."
"Come," He continued before indicating behind him to a nearby table. "Why don't we take a seat? Standing around all night wouldn't be too much fun, I imagine."
The Bounty Hunter did as he suggested and followed Blueblood to the closest table and eased himself gently onto the metal-framed chair, with the two deciding to face towards the room with their backs to the wall behind them. They didn't say anything for a moment, simply relishing the weight taken off of their feet.
"Before we continue, I must ask: where did you acquire such a piece," Blueblood asked, pointing to the brooch on Fendrals coat.
"Rarity Belle gifted it to me."
The Prince hummed in thought, lightly rubbing his chin. "I'll be sure to commission a piece from her. It's simply exquisite."
"So," Blueblood said after a moment. "How are you finding the Gala so far."
"It's as I thought," He replied without hesitation. "Filled with self-absorbed egomaniacs."
"Yes," Blueblood agreed quietly. "Though I have been hard at work trying to convert them to the old ways, it's...been difficult."
"But slow progress is still progress," Fendral replied. "Because it is difficult, it means the reward will be that much better."
"Wise words indeed," Blueblood commended. "I will have to bear that in mind for the future. Thank you"
"Have you taken any time off?" He asked suddenly.
"No," Fendral quickly replied.
"If I may ask: why?" Blueblood asked, gaining a look of slight concern.
"I am not one to stop when I am perfectly capable of continuing," Fendral responded.
"I know my friend, I know," Blueblood nodded. "And I know my words alone will not convince you otherwise, but please, for your sake, if others request that you do, heed their words."
Fendral nodded slowly as Blueblood turned his gaze out towards the party before his head seemed to snap to his left, a smirk quickly donning his muzzle. The man took notice of this and followed his gaze and easily spotted Luna making her way to them with an unknown figure not far behind. Blueblood stood suddenly and stepped in front of the table.
"Well, I know my presence is not required," He said, bowing deeply. "I hope you have a wondrous evening."
And without another word, he was gone, briefly giving his regards to his aunt and the individual following her, before taking off farther into the Gala. Fendral stood from his seats, giving a short but respectful bow to the approaching Princess, as the two continued forwards until they were upon him, who could now take in the appearance of the new arrival.
She was a Reindeer, possibly of northern descent if the shorter, more rounded antlers were anything to go by. Her fur was made up of light shades of brown, with a darker shade running down her face and splitting at her nose and continuing down the sides. Her hair bordered on white, which was long and fluffy and continued down the back of her neck, connecting just under her jaw and proceeding into a large tuft of fur above her well-endowed chest.
She was dressed in a black dress that hugged her full but well-defined frame. It was clear it was a comfortable fit, tailored in such a fashion it wouldn't hike up or stretch too tight. Tight enough to leave nothing to the imagination, but loose enough to be decent and appropriate, with a simple pair of black leggings protecting her thick legs.
A beautiful individual by all accounts.
But what caught the Mandalorian's attention, was that she was of equal height to his. With the average height of most species being five foot six to five foot nine, with the Princesses being only six foot, his six foot four stature meant he had to physically look down to whoever he was speaking to. So this was certainly a pleasant but welcome surprise.
"Fendral, I'd like you to meet-"
"Vixen Ragsdill," He finished, once again folding his arms. "Noble turned mercenary. I know her."
The reindeer seemed amused as a pleasant smile made its way onto her lips. "And you are Fendral Marika. I've heard much about you." Her voice was deeper than most he had met and seemed to hint at a level of maturity similar to his own.
"All good I assure you," Luna added, gaining a mischievous smirk.
"I'm sure," he said dryly.
"I hear you're from Ponyville," Vixen commented, earning a short hum from the man. "I started moving there a few days ago after I heard some great things about it from...a friend of mine."
"What about you?" She continued. "Been there long?"
"For a while."
The Mandalorian glanced between the Lunar Princess and Vixen as suspicion started to grow, making itself known in the back of his mind. Though it was not one hinting towards malice or anything of the sort, it was suspicion nonetheless. Taking ahold of his faded triangular belt buckle, he turned to the Princess before addressing her.
"Luna, may I speak to you for a moment?" He asked, though phrasing it as a question, he and she both knew it was more of a polite demand.
Luna slowly nodded her head and without another word, the two stepped away. Though not far, it was still a fair distance and Vixen raised an eyebrow before not so subtly scooting over to better hear the conversation between the two friends.
Coming to a stop after several paces, Fendral moved his hands to his waist as he and Luna settled, shifting his weight intermittently from one foot to the other. He let out a heavy sigh as his gaze moved to the Princess in front of him.
"I know what you're doing," He said, not bothering to hide his accusatory tone.
Though Luna wanted to playfully act offended, or dance around his accusation with a few choice words, she couldn't find it in herself, heart or mind, to do so. Some friend she would be if she did.
"I know, I just..." She knew he would ultimately find out, he had a knack for it, but she was still at a loss for words. "How long has it been?"
Though she was quiet, quieter than she had any right being, her words were heavy on his mind. They both knew the answer. Fendral said nothing as Luna gently and slowly reached down and took his hands in hers, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"I know it still hurts. It likely always will," She said. "But sometimes the best way to make peace with it is to face it head-on. And you won't be alone. Not if you try."
"I have everything I need, everything I want," He said, tiredness filling his voice. "In my line of work, tomorrow is not guaranteed. I Will not put anyone through that."
"Is that not their choice?"
His chest heaved as another heavy sigh escaped his lips. Though he hated to admit it, she was ultimately right.
"It's been a long time," He whispered after a moment. "But I don't know if I'm ready. I don't know if I'll ever be."
"We won't know unless you try."
Vixen took a look, this holding far more concern than before upon the man's weighted words.
She, and many others the world over, were familiar with the man's previous exploits, but anything beyond either his service years or his time as a Bounty Hunter was new territory to her. Though feeling guilty over it, the conversation she had just eavesdropped on had laid out many context clues for her to pick away at. And the vague picture that was starting to be painted out for her was not a pretty one.
Scooting back to her previous standing, the two friends quickly stepped back over. As they did, Vixen noticed the man's shoulders had tensed, notably riding slightly higher than usual. Though it would have been difficult to tell under his armour and the thick coat that he wore had she not been as close to him as she was.
"Is everything okay?" Vixen asked, trying her utmost to feign ignorance.
"Yes, everything is fine," Luna replied before clapping her hands with a smile. "Where were we?"
Hours thereafter seemed to pass the four by like minutes, their conversations carrying them well into the night. The small group merely observed the goings-on as the Gala progressed, often providing commentary where they saw fit, much to their amusement. Throughout it all, Fendral had, at one point or another, decided to take a backseat in the talks, allowing the two to effortlessly fill the man's silence, occasionally checking to make sure that he was mentally still with them.
Although not offering much in the way of adding to the various conversations, he was beginning to enjoy himself as he was more than happy to soak in the positive atmosphere he often secluded himself from, a soft smile not once leaving his face. Eventually, Princess Luna had to excuse herself, leaving to speak to foreign dignitaries who had requested her presence, leaving only Fendral and Vixen.
"So you wear the helmet to symbolise the lack of importance your race plays in the overall scheme of your religion," Vixen summarises, taking a bite of her half-eaten apple pie. "Am I getting that right?"
"In a nutshell," Fendral replies. "Though when and where it is worn is clan specific, it's generally in front of an individual's closest friends or family."
"Fascinating."
Fendral looked back out towards the crowds. Though it was late, the party was still going strong, the jovial atmosphere and high, upbeat energy failing to wane in the slightest bit. But throughout it, Fendral couldn't help but wonder one thing, a question that appeared simple on the surface but one he had a hard time trying to answer himself.
"Why did you agree?"
"What do you mean?" Vixen asked.
"You know what I mean."
Vixen seemed to hesitate for a second, her smile wavering for just as long, but she quickly composed herself. Her face softened as she turned to face him.
"Being of a high Noble background, I have always been acquainted with Princess Luna and after hearing that I had decided to settle down, she hoped to help you achieve the same."
"Luna was the one who recommended Ponyville, wasn't she?"
"...she was."
He said nothing as he nodded, casting his gaze once again back out to the party, his mind wondering briefly. He and Luna had been friends for some time, she had stuck with him through his darkest moments and she wanted what was best for him, as does he for her. Celestia was much of the same, though their friendship wasn't as deep as his with Luna, it wasn't any less real.
Luna had always looked out for him, even before he had become friends with her when he was merely working for them. But for her to go out of her way to do something like this? He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
As he cherished the friendship he had with the sisters, he couldn't help but feel as though they worried too much for him. Not that it is unfounded, however, as he often put himself at the centre of danger, even eagerly at times. But he didn't see it like that, just an occupational hazard.
Suddenly, he felt Vixen take his hand softly, cupping it between hers as she gave it a slight squeeze, the soft expression she kept since he met her hours prior never wavering. Despite his helmet, she was staring into his eyes.
"Look Fendral, we're not getting any younger. At one point or another, we have to ask ourselves: have I done enough? And from what I understand, you have. More than your fair share. Maybe it's time to start thinking about life beyond hunting people down for money."
Though he would never admit it, he had considered it a various occasions but was quick to dismiss the notion. He had been in this business for the vast majority of his life and the idea of retiring had become foreign and unnatural, especially now. And with the experiences he's had to endure throughout his lifetime, the idea of stopping is swiftly stomped.
Fendral lightly pulled his hand away and partially intertwined both of his, resting the forehead of his helmet against them. He let loose another long-winded sigh, this one softer than the other as these thoughts graced his mind. To him, he wasn't ready and forcing it upon himself wouldn't help matters.
"...I don't know."
"As the Princess said: we won't know unless you try."
He briefly glanced at the Reindeer before something caught his attention. There was silence. The room, which had been filled with noise the whole night, was now deathly silent, any and all sound snuffed out as the guests stared at the front entrance. Slowly standing, Fendral reached for his blaster, quickly pulling it from his holster as he made his way to the middle of the room. Coming to a stop in front of the gathered crowd, the Princesses stood beside him as he raised his blaster.
"What's happenin'?" A small voice said.
Looking down, he saw Applebloom along with her friends, hiding behind him as they tightly gripped the ends of his long coat. Glancing up, he also saw Applejack and her friends arrive at his back as well, the rest of their families not far behind. Placing a gentle hand on Applebloom's head, he spoke as softly as he could.
"I don't know," He said as Orion nuzzled the scared filly. "Just stay behind me."
Keeping his eyes on the door, he began listening intently, the tell-tale sounds of battle meeting his ears, however, muffled they were. With his sights trained on the front doors, his trigger finger itched in anticipation while the Guards stationed around the large hall converged to his side, their rifles held tight. Suddenly, the doors slammed open with a loud bang, a Solar Guard landing on the floor in an unceremonious heap.
His armour was battered and beaten. Large dents and dings littered the otherwise pristine gear accompanied by long and deep scrapes, blood dripping from the open wounds.
The Guard twitched as he tried moving but was barely able to shift his head as a large Griffon came from behind him and lifted via his neck. Two more came to his side from above, brandishing their firearms. But the look these Griffons had made his skin crawl. They looked dead.
Their once bright golden feather was dark and grey, missing in places to reveal a sickly green skin that was falling away in places to reveal the decaying black flesh beneath. Their cracked beaks bore a malicious grin as their clouded eyes scanned the crowds. But what caught the attention of all was what was beneath their flesh. Following the structure of their bones, metal reinforcements broke through their heavily stitched, stretched and scarred skin, and various symmetrical lights flashed in sequence as gears and pistons shifted the slightest of movement.
No one dared move as the Griffons started to chuckle, locking eyes with the Twins. "Tsk-tsk. Princess, you threw a party without us? Rather rude, eh?"
The Princesses face contorted into that of rage, as the Guards around the hall began moving en masse, both the Solar and the Lunar Guards surrounding the Griffon like a well-oiled machine, their rifles raised and aimed to kill at a moment's notice as the apparent leader began laughing. Fendral pushed the three Fillies farther behind him upon seeing this, knowing full well what was about to happen.
"That's more like it!"
The Griffon reared his head back before he clamped down on the Guards' throat with deadly force and tore away, sending a torrent of blood over his face and once clean floor. The Guard's eyes went wide as he tried to close the gushing wound, gargling his plea for help before he went limp, a look of terror plastered on his face.
The room was flung into chaos as a cacophony of yells and horror-filled gasps sounded off throughout the hall as the guests panicked while more Griffons arrived, either flying through the now wide-open front entrance or smashing through high windows above. Gunfire and quickly dissipating smoke filled the room as the Guards cut down the three at the front entrance, screams echoing throughout the hall while the guests tried to get away through the back door to the gardens while Minotaurs, Zebra Shaman, Minor Dragons and other battle-ready species protected them as they evacuated.
Jumping to action, Fendral grabbed the nearest table and threw it in front of him and those he cared for as they dived for cover. Long dormant muscle memory took over at this point as he began barking orders to the Guards nearest to him.
“Protect the Elements and their families! Get them out of here now!”
The Guards nodded, circling the group as they fired upon any who dared get close. Fendral let out a shrill whistle, gaining Orion’s attention. Lightly punching his thigh twice in quick succession, he pointed to the fleeing group. Knowing the command, the Timberwolf wasted no time in running towards them, ripping and tearing his way through any Griffons he came across. Ensuring they were safely out of the way, instinct kicked in.
Emerging from cover, an arrow glanced off his chest plate as he unleashed a volley of blaster bolts. The shots struck true, finding their marks between the eyes of the nearest group of Griffons and dropping them instantly. Vaulting over the overturned table, he sprinted toward a Griffon who charged at him, firing wildly. Closing the distance, he grabbed the creature’s arms and rifle, twisting them into an arm lock. With the Griffon immobilized, he held down the trigger and spun in a deadly arc, the wild spray of gunfire cutting down anyone caught in its path. The Guards nearby quickly ducked to avoid the chaos.
With a swift motion, Fendral wrenched the weapon from the Griffon’s grasp and flung it aside before delivering a bone-shattering punch to its jaw. The decayed flesh and brittle bone gave way easily, tearing apart as a foul black liquid gushed from the ruptured wound. Suddenly, a sharp ping echoed in Fendral’s helmet, jerking his head toward the source. Another Griffon had opened fire, though the shots bounced harmlessly off his beskar armour. Fendral raised his arm, and with a flick of his wrist, the vambrace-mounted grappling hook shot forward, effortlessly piercing the Griffon’s rotting flesh. With a powerful yank, he pulled the attacker into the air. As the Griffon hurtled toward him, Fendral delivered a devastating punch to its chest, the force of the blow caving in the creature’s chest, sending it flying backwards in a mangled heap.
The front doors burst open, and yet another Griffon stormed in, preparing what appeared to be a rudimentary grenade. Reacting swiftly, Fendral grabbed the nearest chair and hurled it with all his strength, just as his blaster was shot out of his hand. Three Griffons advanced as an explosion erupted behind him, one of them discarding an empty rifle and drawing a formidable blade.
Fendral swatted aside a knife slash from the first attacker, shouldered the second, and deflected a blade from the third before driving a powerful uppercut into his jaw. The strike shattered the hollow bone completely. Ducking beneath another attack, Fendral shifted slightly to evade, grabbed the second Griffon by the arm and shoulder, and hoisted him overhead. With a brutal slam, he brought the Griffon down onto the hard floor, cracking both his spine and the marble beneath.
Staggering momentarily, Fendral recovered as a fresh volley of shots ricocheted off his armour, chipping away the paint to reveal the silver beskar beneath. Seeing a group of five charging, their empty guns discarded in favour of knives, he broke into a sprint. Leaping high over a table, he seized the head of the first Griffon, smashing it down with tremendous force. The neck snapped audibly upon impact. Before landing, Fendral deployed his grappling hook, latching onto the table, and used the momentum to fling it overhead. The makeshift projectile crashed into the group as one collapsed, his skull caved in as the table slammed him into a nearby pillar.
The four remaining opponents charged him simultaneously. The first lunged with a stab, but Fendral sidestepped, catching the blade on his armour. He shouldered the third attacker aside while smacking the second in the face, leaving him dazed, and his armour deflected a wide slash from the fourth. Redirecting the third’s stab, Fendral caught the fourth's arm and rammed his head into the Griffon’s face with a bone-crunching impact.
As the third attacked again, Fendral evaded the strike and used the momentum to drive his elbow into the first attacker’s face, shattering his beak and causing black blood to pour from the wound. The second and third swung in unison, but Fendral deflected their blades. Catching the second’s follow-up strike, he hammered his fist into the third's face, sending him reeling. Capitalizing on the moment, he disarmed the third with a precise forearm strike before sweeping his legs out from under him.
The fourth attempted a stab, but Fendral blocked it and countered by using his armoured head to parry the first attacker’s swipe. With a brutal kick, he sent the first flying, simultaneously driving the fourth’s own blade deep into his thigh.
The third, recovering, charged again, but Fendral met him with a vicious uppercut, snapping his head back. The first attacker swung wildly, but Fendral intercepted the blow with a punch to his arm before landing a devastating strike to his face. He spun around with deadly precision, delivering a powerful downward blow to the back of the third’s head, sending him crashing face-first onto the marble floor.
The second, in a last desperate attempt, roared and lunged to tackle the Mandalorian. Fendral sidestepped smoothly, seizing the back of the Griffon’s head and unleashing a flurry of brutal punches. The force of the blows shattered the Griffon’s skull, leaving him lifeless at Fendral’s feet.
Fendral’s head snapped forward as the third Griffon fired off a couple of shots. The man spun around, catching the Griffon’s hands and forcing the gun away from himself. The two grappled before the man leveraged his greater strength, flipping the Griffon over his shoulders. Without hesitation, he seized the Griffon’s head and twisted, the sickening crack of a broken neck cutting through the chaos.
Before Fendral could regain his footing, the fourth Griffon’s taloned claw struck his head, throwing him off balance. Dazed, he was yanked backwards by the first Griffon, who gripped his coat and slammed him onto his back. Fendral raised his gauntlets just in time to deflect a series of rapid strikes from the first and fourth attackers, each blow forcing him to back-peddle. The first Griffon lunged, attempting to grab his arm, but was rewarded with a sharp elbow to the side of his face. In retaliation, the fourth kicked Fendral squarely in the chest, giving the first an opening to drive a blade into the exposed section of his shoulder. The weapon pierced clean through, narrowly missing bone and arteries.
With a pained yell, Fendral lashed out, sweeping the fourth Griffon’s legs out from under him, following up by slamming his knee into the first Griffon’s face. Pivoting on his heel, he blocked another incoming strike and retaliated by hammering the fourth’s legs again before wrenching the blade from his own shoulder. Gripping the first Griffon by the neck, Fendral plunged the knife deep into his attacker’s shoulder.
As the fourth Griffon staggered back to his feet, he struck Fendral from behind. The Mandalorian spun around just in time to block another punch, his counterstrike shattering the Griffon’s beak into bloody fragments that scattered across the floor. With precision and fury, Fendral targeted the same leg he had kicked earlier, sending the Griffon crumpling to the ground once more. He seized the fallen enemy, hurling him with immense force into a nearby pillar, the impact shattering both the Griffon’s body and the stone, leaving the pillar cracked and crumbling.
Turning to the last remaining Griffon, Fendral strode forward with measured, deliberate steps. The Griffon raised a trembling hand in a futile gesture of surrender, his entire body shaking with fear. His clouded eyes begged for mercy, but the Mandalorian’s cold gaze promised none.
Breathing heavily, Fendral loomed over the Griffon, his towering frame casting a shadow over his cowering enemy. Finally, he had seen enough. With a swift, brutal motion, he drove his fist into the Griffon’s stomach. Reaching up through the creature’s chest cavity, Fendral tore out its still-beating heart. He crushed it effortlessly in his hand, letting the Griffon see it before he collapsed to the floor, limp and lifeless.
The sound of chain sounded off behind and with the last vestiges of adrenaline his body had, he spun around to see a Griffon hefting a sword high above his head with a thick blade deeply embedded into his chest. He dropped the blade with a clatter as his body was yanked back towards a familiar Reindeer. Once the Griffon was within range, she sent an almighty blow, cleaving his head clean from his shoulders. Flicking her wrist, the chain attached to the blade handle wrapped around her forearm as she caught it.
Nodding his thanks, he looked around the room. Everything was still. Fendral limped to the pillar next to where he was and leaned against it, letting himself slide down its length, settling onto the floor with a dull thud. His adrenaline finally left his body as his senses began to dull, his heavy breaths soon levelling out. He let out a tired sigh while he gazed around the corpse-littered hall.
Guards saluted their fallen comrades as they quietly sang their laments, placing a single bit within their belts. The man offered his own prayers for the departed, though he knew his words held no meaning to them, he prayed for them anyway.
Pressing against his knee, he stood with a groan and looked around for his blaster, quickly finding where it had been shot from his hand, miraculously unharmed, bar a chip in its paint. Holstering it, he nodded to any Guards he passed as he strode to the opposite side of the room where the Princess's and Vixen stood, the former two clad in thick, heavy plate armour, their helmets held under their arms.
"They certainly weren't like any Griffon I've ever seen," Vixen said, her hands placed idly on her hips, her blades sheathed on her back.
"What about you my friend?" Luna asked as Fendral came up to the trio.
"No," He replied simply. "This is new to me."
"And those augmentations," Celestia commented. "I have never seen anything like them."
"I've seen a lot of things, but nothing like this," Vixen added. "This is something else entirely."
Fendral only nodded in agreement as he watched as the bodies of the Guards and Griffons were taken away, to be buried and burned respectively. He shook his head.
"Such unnecessary bloodshed," Celestia commented.
"What now?" Vixen asked after a moment.
"I do not know," Celestia responded while Luna signalling for a Guard to come to their position. "I will be in contact with the Griffon King by the morning and Luna will contact possible places they may have come from to hopefully shed light on this situation but for the time being, we can't do much other than wait."
"Yes, you Highness?"
"Take these two to the guest quarters of the Castle while we clean up this mess," Luna said, indicating to the taller duo.
"Of course," He replied, nodding for the two to follow.
"We shall see you later," Celestia said before turning and walking away. "Hopefully we will have answers by then."
In what felt like no time at all, the entourage found themselves in Canterlot Castle, the corridors now filled with both Solar and Lunar Guards, standing at their assigned posts, statuesque as ever, strictly abiding by their stringent code. Before long, they found themselves in the guest's living quarters, a comparatively more modest arrangement Little to nothing was emblazoned or embellished, the colour palette consisting of warm shades of browns, creams or dark reds.
"Here we are sir," The Guard said suddenly.
Looking up from the floor he had stared at for most of the journey, they had arrived at a singular dark oak door. There were no ornate designs it adorning it. There was no gold lining or accent that marked its frame. It was just a plain, unassuming oak door. Nodding his thanks as the Guard opened the door, he silently slipped past him, briefly saying farewell to the Reindeer that accompanied him on the short journey.
He closed the door softly behind him before he made a start on doffing his armour when a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Carefully removing all articles of upper wear, placing them as neatly as he could onto his bed, he examined the sizable gash in the vanity table's mirror. He sighed once more as he leaned back into the table chair.
Tonight was going to be a long night.
Author's Note
Blueblood's a decent person and crazed Griffons are attacking out of nowhere? What's the world coming to?
Apologies for the wait, been a bit busy with things and as a heads up, future chapters will more than likely follow a similar release time, just so we're all aware
This is also the longest piece I've ever written, so yay for that I guess
please point out any mistakes I may have made  
constructive criticism is always appreciated  
until next time, TTFN!