Same Heart, Different Days

“Hey. Think something’s wrong with the captain?”

“Why do you always come to me with your stupid questions?”

“Well… cause you’re the closest?”

Stella’s grumbling was almost muted beneath the order’s the general was barking at them. Though Grace kept her eyes forward, their conversation had piqued her interest. Then again, Rye wasn’t exactly the quietest.

“Nah, but seriously. Did ya see what she did to that poor squad captain earlier?” asked Rye. Instead of snapping at him, Stella resigned herself to his questions with a sigh.

“Of course I did. I was there.” Grace blinked a few times and shook her tail in a slow rhythm. To her surprise, she wasn’t sure who exactly they had been talking about. She’d been in so many fights that they all blended together in a mush. “She almost tore the poor pony in half. Didn’t know swords could make that sound on armor.” The memory returned to Grace just as she finished her sentence. She hummed under her breath, clearly pleased with herself.

“And to think you were the one starting something with her from day one.” Rye chuckled, then poked Stella in the side. “You really dodged a bullet there, Stelly.”

“Never call me that again if you like walking on four hooves.” Stella’s threat didn’t seem to do much to dissuade Rye. As he laughed, Grace returned her attention to the front, where the general was speaking.

“—a maneuver I’ve been saving for a day when we have a clear advantage!” She returned just in time, as the general looked in her direction and met her gaze. “Though we have tried two-pronged attacks before, today will be different. We have the advantage of at least twenty able-bodied soldiers. A chance like this will never happen again. We have to seize the opportunity!”

The crowd around her let out a spirited cry. Grace just nodded and kept herself focused.

“With that being said…” The general lifted his hoof, pointing in Grace’s direction. Just as quickly, he jabbed his hoof towards two other squad captains. ‘Squads 1, 5, and 7! Step forward.”

Grace smirked. As instructed, she walked out from the line with her squadmates close behind. Along with her came two very familiar squads. It almost seemed like fate that she’d been called alongside Gina and Front Line. Then again, they were both good soldiers, so she understood the general’s decision. Once they stood side by side, the general looked them over.

“It’s mostly thanks to you fifteen that we’re in this spot to begin with.” His eyes glowed like jewels as he met Grace’s gaze. “Especially you, Grace! Three squads all by yourselves? I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but if you keep it up, we’ll all be out of this forest by sundown.”

“Thanks.” The general’s praises still didn’t bring her much joy or pride, but her good mood made her smile anyway. He cleared his throat, then looked around at the others.

“Alright, everyone,” he called. “This is how we’ll attack.”

Over the next few minutes, the general laid out the plan of attack. As much as Grace didn’t enjoy listening to him talk, she paid attention to his plan. For the sake of her worn-out team, if for nothing else.

The squads that the general didn’t call forward came together as a single force. Grace was left in control of the final three. The main force would use the heavy tree cover around the enemy’s base of operations to approach. Once in range, they’d spring a surprise attack to incite panic.

That panic would be the signal for Grace’s detachment to move. The smaller group would wait at a flank, waiting for a vulnerability to show itself. After they infiltrated, they’d make a beeline for the general. The rest was simple.

The detachment walked off first. They had a lot more ground to cover than the main force to reach the enemy’s flank. Most of the trek was quiet. Everyone had to keep an ear out for any separated enemy squads. Being discovered could risk the entire mission, after all.

While she was keeping her guard up, Grace could often feel a hot prick on her neck. The sharp glare of a particularly miffed griffon. However, when Grace returned the gaze, she quickly looked away. She chuckled whenever she did. The feelings of fear and anger she had before seemed childish now. Grace slowed her pace, letting others pass her by. The look of panic on Gina’s face flared when she realized that Grace was closing in on her.

“Where are you trying to run off to?” It’d be hard not to notice the fear Grace instilled in Gina with her presence. Usually, that’d be a mark of honor for Grace. Instead, it just made her sigh. “Calm down. I just wanted to talk.”

“What could you possibly want to talk about with me?”

“Your skill.” That caught Gina off guard. Her confusion was quickly answered once Grace pointed at the sword at her side. “You’re actually a decent fighter. I expect good things.”

“What are you…” Realization washed over Gina’s expression. Her familiar anger replaced it soon enough. “If you’re trying to flatter me… don’t. I hate being pitied more than anything.”

“It’s not pity or flattery. I’m being serious.” Grace looked at the rest of the squads, taking note of their conditions. “You’re one of the only few here that isn't ready to drop dead. Well… that might be because you took a day off.”

“You…” Grace hummed as she watched Gina remember yesterday. She couldn’t help but smirk in the face of her embarrassed rage. Her next words were hushed, almost grumbled. “We’re not done. Watch your back.”

“Sure. I’ll take you on whenever.” Grace shrugged. She was in an unusually devious mood. “And when you lose, I’ll make sure Front Line is around for your punishment.” As she spoke, the pony in question met her gaze. Like the two griffons, he was looking surprisingly energetic. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind indulging you. If you really wanted it, that is.”

“What!?” Gina shouted, startling the rest of the group. Taking a page from her book, Grace subtly provoked her with a smug smirk. Again, her voice plummeted to a whisper. “You’re dead. Both of you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Grace. “Let’s get this mission done first though. I’m sure you also don’t want to be in this forest for much longer.” Gina looked down, avoiding the curious glances of those around her. With a final chuckle, Grace retook the lead of the pack.

Soon after that, the pack reached the place where the general had someone mark for them. A line of trees with long thin sections of peeled bark. The problem was the sounds of fighting they’d been hearing as they approached. Realizing that they could be a little late, Grace ordered the teams to move in immediately. They couldn't miss their golden opportunity.

The enemy had taken hold of a large clearing near the north of the forest. It was hard to tell apart from their own base of operations. There were a few ponies and griffons scattered along the treeline. They had weapons in hand, but had their back turned to the group. As they crept closer, none had any idea what was about to happen to them.

“Let’s go!” With a muffled cry, Grace burst from the trees like a beast, tackling the nearest soldier to the ground. They slammed against it like a sack. The one next to him met a similar fate, as a shield bash sent him careening into a tree. Grace met eyes with the final member of her crew, Graham. His silent tendency made him easy to forget. Grace smirked at him and gave him a nod of approval. “Great. Let’s move fast and hit hard!”

The fallen soldiers were quickly dispatched. Unfortunately, the bright lights from their teleportation were bound to turn some heads. Shedding the tree coverage, Grace and the fifteen others rushed into battle. Their focus was dead set on a particular pony wearing a red flag.

“Shit, there’s more of them! Everyone, to me!” The panicked shout grabbed the attention of every straggler in the area. Grace rushed forward through the clearing. Every pony and griffon in earshot hurried to his aid. Fighting each one individually would take too long. They’d have a chance to recuperate and fight back. Gripping her sword, Grace came up with a new plan.

In front of her were a sizable chunk of bodies. She took a deep breath and hopped over the first two. Not expecting to be vaulted, all they could do was swipe at her paws. Unfortunately, she was too fast and cleared them in no time flat. They turned to surround her but the detachment behind her engaged them.

Focusing her attention forward again, she slipped through the soldiers. Ducking, jumping, weaving, and jiving, she kept herself unharmed. The general’s surprise was only matched by his growing ire. He pointed his hoof and barked more orders, but Grace continued to approach at an alarming rate. Finally, after moving through the crowd like a wraith, Grace landed on her paws a few steps away from the general.

Immediately, he was protected by another soldier. The unicorn raised her longsword and used its superior length against Grace. With a hefty grunt and a swipe of her sword, the magic surrounding the hilt was shaken. As she dropped her sword, she put up a magic barrier in an attempt to pause her aggression. Swinging her entire body in a wide arc, Grace smashed the pommel of her sword against it. The pony recoiled a bit. After a final shoulder check, the last of his defenses were removed.

“Y-You can’t be real…” murmured the general. He reached for his own weapon, but in his haste, he dropped it. He never took his eyes off Grace’s hulking form. A loud crash rang out after he tripped over his hooves and fell to the ground. “You’re a monster…” Grace’s eyes narrowed, and she hoisted her sword into the air.

“Yup,” she said calmly. “So fear me.”

Nearly an entire week of endless warfare came to an end with the swing of a sword. All eyes turned to the fallen general as his flag began to spark and fizzle. A grand flash of magic beamed him off into the distance, and he was gone. His absence left the battlefield silent.

Yet, this peace only lasted for a few moments. A loud horn blared, loud enough to be heard from anywhere in the forest. Before anyone could question it, the flags on their armor began to glow, all at once.

The harsh light from everyone caught Grace off guard. She lifted her claw to protect herself from it. Next, the air around her got hot and space seemed to constrict. She was squeezed into a small space for a single moment. It felt as if she were flying through the sky at speeds she couldn’t imagine. Once her body returned to normal, she felt the soft grass of the nearby meadow underneath her paws.

“Somehow, I knew it would be you.” Grace lowered her claw, meeting a new face. An icy glare and the presence of a royal. Floe Blossom wasn’t exactly hard to spot. “Grace, right? I’ve heard that you were quite an outstanding soldier. I suppose that this proves it.”

“Yeah…” Grace immediately turned her gaze from the pony and surveyed her surroundings. Plenty of soldiers fell to the ground, exhausted and relieved. Many others had looks of doom on their faces. Some even directed their anger at her. Grace returned her gaze to Floe. “Is everyone out of the forest?”

“Every soldier who’s still wearing their armor, yes.” Floe looked among the ponies and griffons laid out in the field. “Injured soldiers and medical personnel, as well as a few soldiers on clean-up duty will stay behind.” Grace’s expression soured immediately. Of course, the victory felt nice, but without Rain being there, it felt somewhat hollow. She put a claw to her temple and sighed.

“I really am too far gone…” Floe watched her with a curious expression but kept quiet.

“Captain, that was awesome! I ain’t never seen someone of your size move like that!” Before either could continue, a loud voice cut through their conversation. Rye all but sprinted to Grace’s side, eyes bright like diamonds. “You’re like a ninja! Or like… one of them ghost fighters or something!”

“Looks like you’ll have your hooves full with this,” said Floe, turning away. “Farewell, Grace, and company.” With that small goodbye, she began walking away back to her entourage. Grace watched her go for a few moments, then turned to the forest.

“That was seriously impressive.” Next to speak was Gus. By the looks of it, he took a few bumps in the final fight. In fact, the entire team looked worse for wear. Grace felt a little guilty as she studied them.

“How much did you train to be able to dodge like that?” Last to speak was Stella, who looked way more emotionally drained than anything. Grace guessed that handling magic for that long without a long break would be pretty tough. That and she was the one dealing with the brunt of Rye’s banter. “I’ve been training since I was a foal and I’m sure I can’t do that.”

“A lot.” Grace’s simple answer seemed to amuse her squad. Even Graham let out a chuckle. She shook her head. “You all show good potential, like I said. Train a bit more, and you’ll be just like me.”

“Somehow, I doubt it…”

The mood around the five was light, but Grace’s attention was elsewhere. Their general had emerged from the wreckage of the soldiers, looking better than ever. He stood tall and proud in front of Floe Blossom who held a medal in her magic.

“Soldiers! To Attention! You’re not free just yet!” Floe’s voice reached every soldier in the meadow. With bellyaches and groans, they followed her instructions and presented themselves properly. “The war game has officially come to a close. Team Alpha are your victors. As a reward, every soldier will receive a week of free time to recuperate.”

The award went over well with the tired soldiers. Even Grace was happy to hear the news. Immediately, she began wondering what she’d do with it. Sitting around was never her style, after all.

“As for Team Omega… they will receive nothing. I expect you to be up bright and early come Monday morning.” The groans were louder than the cheers. A single glare from Floe kept them quiet, though. “Now, will the general for Team Alpha please step forward?”

As he was called, Grace spotted the overzealous pony strut forward. His smile was full of pride. Floe lifted the medal up and draped it over the stallion’s neck. Finally, the general bowed and scampered back to his place. Grace rolled her eyes, then turned back to the trees. As the closing remarks of Floe Blossom’s speech blurred into background noise, she had a nice thought.

She had no idea what she’d do with her free time, but it was a safe bet to assume Rain would be involved. Satisfied, she hummed and tapped her beak with a talon.

Winning a battle had never felt so nice.

Summer was coming to a close.

The thought sprang into Rain’s head once he finally found a decent spot to sit under the warm sun. With fall fast approaching, the weather was nice and cool. The perfect middle ground. The breeze brushed across his coat and put him at ease.

Usually, he’d never think to spend his time here, alone. Very few griffons found themselves needing medical care after Floe gave them a week off. With so few patients, Gideon gave over half the team a break of their own. If he needed them, they’d still have to report back, but this freedom was better than none.

Rain closed his eyes. A breeze ruffled his hair in the wind, and the sun tickled his coat. Before long, his ears picked up the small sounds around him, normally masked by hustle and bustle. The chirp of a bird, the crunch of a twig under hoof. The blades of grass tickled his legs and flank. The earthy smell of soil caught his muzzle. He took a deep breath.

It had been a while since he felt this way. He’d almost forgotten what it was. A buzz near the bottom of his stomach, always moving. Churning, even when he didn’t feel it. A pleasant feeling, if only because of nostalgia. Another deep breath and the feeling grew ever so slightly. But, as he tried to push it higher, it fizzled out of his control. Suddenly, the weight returned to his shoulders. This time, he sighed, then opened his eyes.

“I’m out of practice…” The thought made him feel a bit guilty. Remembering the times when it came to him easier only made the feeling worse. He hung his head and then sighed again. “Heh. She’d be so upset.”

“You’re not the easiest pony to find.” Only after she spoke did Rain notice the wingbeats behind him. He turned just as her paws touched down in the grass. “Hey.”

“Oh, Grace,” Rain hummed. “Sorry, were you trying to find me?”

“Duh,” she said with a light chuckle. In a single step, she was at his side and took a seat in the grass. Her tail rested atop his. “What are you doing all the way out here, anyway?”

“Just thinking, I guess.” Rain looked at the view. The hill he decided to perch on was a bit away from the campgrounds. Seeing the hustling soldiers down there reminded him of ants. Just watching them soothed him, somewhat. “Um… Grace?”

“Hm?” she hummed. In only a few seconds, it seemed like the mood got to her as well. She seemed relaxed. Just that was enough to put him at ease.

“Thank you.” Grace’s eyes widened as he smiled at her. “For saving me, I mean. I don’t think I ever got the chance to say it.”

“Of course,” she responded, smiling all the same. “Why wouldn’t I come to help?” Immediately, the question made Rain feel foolish. The thought of losing hope in her so quickly made him feel ashamed. His ears drooped as his mood did.

“I-I’m not sure. That day, I thought I did something awful to you.” He hummed and shifted in place. “So I guess this is also the best time to say sorry, huh?” Grace wrapped her claw around Rain’s side and pulled him in. The warmth of her chest feathers was only rivaled by the heat rising in his cheeks. Comfort welled up inside of him.

“Let’s just put that whole thing behind us,” said Grace. She pulled away from him so she could see his face. “Instead of that… let’s just talk.” Rain raised an eyebrow.

“Talk about what?”

“Anything, I guess.” She turned to the scenery below them and took a deep breath. “I just want to talk. Is that weird?”

“Not really.” He chuckled. “It’s cute that you’re worried about that, though.”

“Hmph.” Try as she might, she couldn’t hide her smile from him. After a few more moments of silence, she turned back to him. “There is something I’ve been meaning to ask. If you’re up to answering.”

“Sure! Go ahead.”

“Your name… You got it from your great aunt, right?” After Rain nodded to confirm, she continued. “What kind of pon… zebra was she?” Rain brought his hoof up to his chin, tapping it a few times.

“Auntie was… strict is a nice way to say it.” He chuckled nervously like he expected her to be behind him. “Despite that, she was one of the kindest mares I’ve ever known. She taught me almost everything I know about… everything. I think I spent more time with her than my own parents.”

“Did you get along with your parents?” asked Grace. Rain was quick to nod.

“They were often busy, so Auntie had to take care of me. That’s how I learned to heal others and… a couple of other things as well.”

Rain closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before long, the buzz from before returned. Keeping it under control was still an issue, but this demonstration would be enough.

“Is that you?” Though he couldn’t see it, Rain imagined the astonishment on her face. It made him smile. “What is that? I feel… tingly.” Rain took a deep breath, then opened his eyes again. For a split second, the grass around him rippled with power, and the air stood still. But, as the buzz dissipated again, everything returned to normal.

“Auntie was her tribe’s shaman before she left with my grandfather. She told me that she was the best at their unique magic.” He smiled, remembering all the times her teachings were drilled into him. “She said I had a talent for it, so she taught it to me. I haven’t really recognized the potential yet, though.”

“Zebrican shamanism…” Grace said the words like she was getting used to them. Her brow furrowed in though, and she hummed. “That’s incredible. A pegasus that can use magic is amazing.”

“I-It’s not that impressive. I mean, all I can do right now is channel it a bit.” Rain chuckled nervously. “Back when I was still practicing, I could do a little more.” After a bit, he shook his head, then looked at Grace. “Enough about me, though! What about you?” Grace raised an eyebrow.

“What about me?”

“How are your parents?” Grace’s expression slowly became neutral, and Rain noticed it. He put his hooves up and his ears drooped. “S-Sorry. Only if you want to talk about it.”

“If I’d want to talk about it with anyone, it’d be you.” Grace quickly replaced her expression with a smile, putting Rain at ease. “Well, it’s nothing special. At least, not for a griffon.”

“I’d still like to hear it.” Grace nodded, acknowledging his request. She took a deep breath, then looked out over the hill. After a slow breeze rolled through, she began.

“I guess the most interesting thing about my family is the size. I’m the third oldest of seven.” Rain’s surprise was poorly hidden, but he kept quiet about it. “We’re all military chicks, like our parents before us. They were so excited to see us fight in the same war they did, so they had us hold swords since we were young.”

“Did you… want to be a soldier?” asked Rain. Grace tilted her head, mulling over the question.

“I didn’t really think about it. I’ve been fighting a war my whole life. What happens next… I have no clue.” Narrowing his eyes, Rain's pitiful look caught Grace’s attention. “Well, it’s not like it’s all bad. I’m making mom happy and bringing honor to my dad’s name.”

“Wait… your dad’s name?” asked Rain, puzzled. “Gideon told me that honor was important to a griffon, but he told me it’s for the family.” Grace agreed with a silent nod.

“Normally, that’s how it goes.” She scratched her chin with a talon. “That’s the other special thing about my family, I guess. Me and my siblings all carry the honor of the Goldenwing General, so we’re—”

“Goldenwing General?” Rain’s eyes widened. “Like, the Goldenwing General?” His enthusiasm clearly confused Grace as she raised an eyebrow.

“You know about him?” she asked.

“Not all that much, but… I know he’s some big-shot griffon!” Realization washed over him, and he gasped slightly. “Isn’t he like royalty? Wouldn’t that make you super important?” Grace chuckled in the face of his childlike wonder.

“Some griffons back home like to call me princess to make fun of me.” She chuckled again. “But I’ve never been a fan of my father’s politics. I spent much more time with my mother, training my sword than in meetings discussing war tactics.”

“Wow…” The excitement began to wear off. He blinked a few times, then cleared his throat. “I thought you said the most interesting thing about them was the size?” Grace laughed.

“Well, you don’t normally see houses of that many griffons, do you?”

“I guess not.” He chuckled along with her, then met her eyes. “I can’t wait to meet them.” Again, Grace’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked away with an awkward smile on her face, then chuckled under her breath.

“That’s probably… not a good idea,” she said. “If mom finds out I’m dating a pony… a non-combatant pony, she’ll raise hell.” She chuckled nervously, like she was imagining the situation. “Best case scenario, she throws you through the gauntlet. And I really don’t want you to walk out of there disfigured. Or, you know. Not walk at all.”

“That doesn’t sound like a joke…” mumbled Rain. He pressed his head into Grace’s chest again and closed his eyes. “Still… I want to try.”

“You’re always oddly stubborn about these things.” Grace wrapped her claw around him again, then rested her head on his. For a few moments, they let the peace and quiet wash over them. Rain couldn’t think of anything better than these quiet days. “Well, if you really want to.”

“Hmm…” hummed Rain. He laughed under his breath. “Eventually.”