Fall of Equestria: For Honor (revamp)

The two samurai were surprised to see a pony actually showing concern for one that was supposed to be their enemy as they were taken through the gates and marched through the city. As expected, many of the citizens were surprised to see an actual northlander being carried on a stretcher while being protected by the elements of Honesty and Loyalty.

"Wait here." Pharynx said before marching through the main doors of the palace.

Ryu waited outside with the others as he walked over to Arminius

"I apologize for our actions, we had heard rumors of Stonehooves and after witnessing slavers on our lands we feared the worst. I promise you, I will make sure your friend is taken care. I am deeply sorry." Ryu bowed to them

"I should lop off your head right now for attacking us but we are tired and have been traveling for days so I will refrain." Arminius grumbled while his warriors guarded the refugees and their families closely.

Just then, Sigrid came over and slapped Arminius in the back of the head. "Forgive my husband. He means well, but he's also brash and doesn't let things go easily." She turns to her husband. "Honey?"

There was a long pause from Arminius before Sigrid lightly punched his gut. "Hrmph! Alright, alright. Thank you for your hospitality, and welcoming us in your village."

"Good job, dear." Sigrid said to her husband.

Ryu could not help but smile after seeing such a display. Despite being similar to the invaders, he could sense the love between the two of them and even more so when their son came running up to be picked up in his fathers arms.

"I did not know you had a child."

"Our son Wiglaf." Sigurd smiled while Wiglaf snuggled against his fathers chest.

Meanwhile

Wulfric was in a daze until he smelled something strange in the air and looked to to his side to see what looked to be some kind of stick in a little bowl before he felt his arm being wrapped by a changeling in an elegant robe.

"Oh good, you're awake." The nurse said with a warm smile while she finished the bandages.

"W-where am I?" Wulfric groaned as he tried to sit up but was still too weak from the blood loss.

"You are a guest in my home." A voice said when he saw the empress standing at the door to his room.

"Oh! Your majesty, I didn't realize you were coming for a visit."

"It's quite alright. Tell me, how is our patient doing."

"Surprisingly well. Most would've died from Ryu's cuts yet he somehow survived."

"I see." The empress smiled while going over the wounded chieftains physique.

"Where...are my friends..." Wulfric said in a dry voice before being given some water by the nurse.

"They are safe, we brought your clan in as well and they have told us much." Chrysalis answered as she signaled for the nurse to leave and sat by his bedside.

"When we first heard of your arrival to these shores, I could hardly believe it. A warband of northlanders fighting their own?"

"You know of us?" Wulfric asked while the empress ran her hand along his chest.

"Indeed but I never expected their leader to be so...handsome~."

Even injured, Wulfric could feel his heart was about to explode out of his chest as his caretaker leaned forward ever so slightly to let her robe reveal her impressive bust as she held his left hand.

"Such rough hands...farmers hands."

"I...worked with my father in the fields last spring." Wulfric said as the beating in his heart suddenly slowed and the empress began to sense the sadness within him.

Chrysalis leaned back while still holding Wulfric's hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pryed."

"It's fine..." Wulfric said when another servant appeared with a food tray.

"Pardon the interruption empress."

"Oh no trouble at all. I do hope you're hungry." Chrysalis said to her guest as the food was laid out.

"I can barely move." Wulfric grunted while trying to get up again.

"Then allow me~."

The refugees and warband were invited into the royal palace for food and rest. Needless to say their table manners were atrocious even compared to the equestrians as the changelings watched them scarf down every bit of food on their plates.

"Mmm fabulous!" Surt exclaimed with one of his cheeks full as he kept stuffing his face.

"So good!" Wiglaf said with a mouthful of noodles.

"Son, don't speak with your mouth full. you don't see your father-" Sigrid lectured her son when she turned to her husband, only to see him scarf down multiple bowls of food at once. "Ugh. You're both pigs."

"Uhh my your boy certainly has a healthy appetite." A servant said while collecting the empty plates.

"He's still growing." Sigrid sighed while wiping the food from her sons mouth.

"Mmm mm. That's good eatin." Applejack said while savoring her meal.

"Mmm yeah! I can't remember the last time we had a meal this good!" Dash complimented before giving off a loud belch.

"So...how's Wulfric doing?" Applejack asked another servant who was serving the third course of their meal.

"He is being tended to by our best physicians. In fact, the Empress herself decided to visit him.

At that moment, Applejack froze as a chill crawled up her spine and she felt an unusual sense of anger.

Back with Wulfric, Chrysalis was busy feeding him with a pair of chopsticks. "Care for a little more~?" She asked while daintily picking a piece of sushi for him to eat.

"I gotta say, I never though eating fish raw was a good idea." Wulfric smirked as he took a bite.

"Well true, most would get sick from parasites but we make sure each fish is properly cleaned and prepared. Oh, you got some rice on your chin." The empress then plucked the grain from his face and popped it into her mouth with a satisfied moan that made the injured chieftain gulp a bit.

"Now let's get you some soup." The empress said as she made his head rest on her lap with her breasts hanging overhead.

"Comfy?" She asked with an innocent smile but could sense his lust.

"V-very." Wulfric said nervously.

When the soup arrived, Chrysalis started to spoon-feed her guest while letting her dress part a bit.

"If you wish, I can offer other services~." She purred while gently stroking his head before letting her breast press against his cheek with a lustful gaze in her eyes.

"Um...thank you, your majesty but I'll have to decline." Wulfric surprised her with his answer.

"With these injuries of mine, It will be difficult to accept your...services."

The empress seemed impressed when the door suddenly slid open and Applejack stood at the entrance completely flustered.

"What in tarnation are y'all doing in here?!?"

Before Wulfric could answer, Chrysalis got up and nodded her way. "Healing this warrior, and making sure our guests are truly who they say they are." She smiled down at Wulfric before looking back at Applejack. "And I'm happy to say you passed."

"What?" Wulfric asked as the queen fixed her robe.

"Had you given in to your lust and tried to come at me, my most trusted bodyguard would've cut you down in an instant." Chrysalis then gestured to the wall just opposite of his bed as it opened to reveal a hidden passage with a samurai standing at its entrance.

"Meet Crafty Dodger, my personal guard and husband."

"My empress," Crafty said before going into a low bow.

"Darling don't be so formal." Chrysalis giggled while gently laying Wulfrics head on the mattress.

"But I am surprised that you showed up dear Applejack, I didn't think you'd be worried over such trivial matters."

Applejack's cheeks became red at the implication. "Um... well, you see."

Chrysalis smirked at what was happening. "I see."

"Dear please stop making jokes out of our guests." Dodger sighed before joining his wife.

"Stay as our guest until you have fully healed and I will see to my sons about this."

"Your sons?" Wulfric asked when he realized he was talking about Ryu and Pharynx.

"Again, I apologize for what they did to you," Chrysalis offered her apology to Wulfric.

"Applejack, why don't you stay and keep him company."

"Me?" Applejack pointed to herself while stepping aside for the royal couple.

"I don't see why not. You're already here." As Chrysalis and Dodger left the room, Applejack looked over at Wulfric with a bit of a blush.

"Forgive me if I worried you." Wulfric smiled as she sat beside him.

Applejack said nothing and looked away. Wulfric could still sense her nervousness around him and could only sigh.

“You hate me, don’t you?” Wulfric said.

"What? No I-"

"It's alright, I understand. My people have done terrible things to yours, you've all suffered so much." he took a deep breath and got comfortable in his bed.

"I don't know if we can ever make up for that bastards mistakes but I promise that when we win this war, we will depart these shores."

“Um…can I ask you something?” Applejack asked while getting comfortable.

“Of course,” Wulfric said.

“Why does Dainn hate us?”

"He doesn't hate you, he hates what you stand for." Wulfric replied with his eyes closed.

"He and his clan are firm believers of the strong ruling the weak and cannot stand the idea of equality and freedom, it's why his clan was hated even amongst us."

Applejack was surprised upon hearing this.

"I'm sure you heard this before but before the invasion, my father had made plans to establish trade with your land in hopes of forging a new alliance but Dainn could not allow such a thing to happen and so his shamans placed a spell on our land, trapping us in a blizzard for a whole year." Wulfric suddenly went into a coughing fit before Applejack gave him some water.

“That’s terrible,” Applejack said with a frown. “Did he and your father always hate each other?”

“The Warborns and Stonehoofs have been at each other’s throats since my own grandfather’s time,” Wulfric said. “However, it most likely has something to do with an old Warborn legend about Tyr.”

“Legend?” Applejack asked, now curious. “And who’s Tyr?”

"The God of Justice. It is said that he came down from the heavens after falling in love with a mortal and together they had many children and taught them the values of honor and justice. From that day on, the Warborn have been the guardians of the northlands and as you can guess we opposed Dainns plan to invade your land and challenged him."

Wulfric took another breath as he began to drift off and felt tired.

"Forgive me, I don't think I can keep talking."

Applejack heard all he said and went over to sit by his side. "I'm sorry that bastard did that to you and your clans." She lay a hand on his arm and started gently rubbing it. "Fer the record, I would've liked to have met ya under better circumstances."

“As would I, miss.” Wulfric said as he eyes began to close. “As would…I.”

The stag’s eyes soon closed as slumber took him to the dream realm. The farm mare stayed by his side for a few more minutes and eventually stood up to take her leave. She stopped at the doorway and looked back at Wulfric once more before finally leaving him alone. She felt a strange twinge within her, but brushed it off as her imagination.

Wulfric opened his eyes and was met with what looked like some sort of starry void. He couldn’t make heads or tails where he was and noticed he was floating in midair.

“Hmm…strange,” Wulfric said aloud. “Is this a dream? Or…”

Suddenly, a light shined down on him and he looked up. He saw the full moon in the sky of the starry void as it illuminated the area around him. The stag arched a brow until he saw something quickly come out of the moon. To his surprise, it looked like a pony mare with dark blue fur with a pair of wings and a horn on her head. Wulfric was so entranced by the mysterious mare but barely managed to duck out of the way before she swiped at him with something.

“What in Thor’s beard?!” Wulfric snapped as he looked at the mystery mare.

The mare in question looked back at the stag with eyes of burning hatred. She had dawned silvery armor and held a lance with the blade looking like the crescent moon.

“Foul beast! How dare you trespass in the realm of dreams!” The mare shouted, readying her lance. “I will kill you here so that you may be rendered moot in the realm of reality!”

"Wait! I'm not your enemy!" Wulfric pleaded with his attacker before she suddenly lifted him into the air with magic.

"SILENCE!! I, Princess Luna Nocturne will not suffer you Stonehooves in my home a moment longer!"

“Princess Luna?!” Wulfric gasped just Luna forced Wulfric to come flying towards her while she readied to pierce his heart. “Wait! I know of you! We saved a few mares named Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie!” Wulfric closed his eyes and readied for his end. He waited and waited until he perked his eye open to see the tip of Luna’s lance mere inches from his chest.

"You dare speak the names of my friends in my presence? death is too much a mercy I should curse you to a never ending sleep plagued by your worst nightmares." Luna growled.

“I swear!” Wulfric begged the enraged princess. “In the name of my forefathers and honor of my very clan’s name, I speak the truth! Furthermore, I am no Stonehoof! I am Wulfric Warborn!”

"Warborn?" Luna said before her lance was lowered but just slightly.

“Your majesty, your rage is justified, that much I understand,” Wulfric said. “But we have come to your shores for the single purpose of driving out the Stonehoofs.“

Luna raised an eyebrow at Wulfric before her gaze turned to the distance before her horn lit up.

Suddenly panels showing events appeared events that Wulfric was familiar with because they were his memories.

"Truly, the alicorns are powerful." Wulfric muttered.

“Hmm, it appears your words ring true,” Luna said, eyeing back at Wulfric. “But why should trust you? What makes you so different than that accursed Dainn?”

"You can see into my memories yes perhaps actions speak louder then words." Wulfric suggested.

“Perhaps they can,” Luna said, finally releasing Wulfric from her magical grasp. “If you wish for me to trust you, you must earn it. I know not where you are, but there is a Stonehoof loyalist who I want dealt with. I would do it myself, but I am still recovering.”

“Who is this loyalist?” Wulfric asked.

“He goes by the name of Throft, and he has taken over the town of Dodge Junction,” Luna said. “Kill Throft, and I just might begin to trust you.”

Hearing this made Wulfric grin, much to Luna's surprise.

"And If I do this, will you meet with us?"

"We shall see."

The moment Luna released him, a bright flash woke him from his sleep along with the joyous screams of Pinkie Pie who had just bumped into her friends at the main hall.

"EEE!! I thought we'd never see you two again!" Pinkie sobbed happily while squeezing Applejack while Fluttershy hugged Rainbow Dash.

"I'm glad you girls are safe but how did you escape?" Applejack asked after Pinkie settled down.

"We were being transported to a slave market when the caravan was suddenly attacked by a band of knights."

"Knights?" Rainbow asked after hearing that there were others rebelling against Dainns regime.

"Yeah, they were these soldiers wearing a golden sun on their armor and it kinda reminded me of Celestia!" Pinkie said before sitting down.

"But enough about that, who are these guys?" She asked while pointing at the Warborn and Ghost clans.

"Believe it or not, these guys saved us." Rainbow answered, surprising both her friends.

“Saved you?” Fluttershy said. “Um…but they’re…caribou.”

“I know how it looks but we’re telling the truth, sugarcubes,” Applejack said. “They literally risked their lives for us. Otherwise I’d still be used like a toy and probably knocked up with a bastard or two.”

“Or worse, knocked up with War Beasts,” Rainbow shuddered.

"Gultoppr's." Arminius corrected Dash as he finished his meal.

"The most feared beasts in the north."

"So that's what they're called. I've seen my fair share of creatures in Equestria but nothing like them..." Applejack said while Fluttershy and Pinkie sat beside them.

"So Dainn found a way to breed them after all. Sick bastard."

"We first found them in the swamps that bordered our land. They were sick and depraved beasts that needed killing. Didn't know Diann was stupid enough to tame them, let alone breed them," Arminius said while taking another draught. "What is this wonderful liquid? It's clear like water but kicks like ale."

"It is called Sake or Rice Wine."

"Wine made from rice? Now I've seen everything." Sigrid laughed as she took a swig before suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her stomach.

"AH!!"

"Sigrid!" Arminius yelled before going to his wife. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"No, no." She lifted her cup before rubbing her stomach. "I think the baby just disagrees with my drinking."

"So you really are pregnant?" Arminius asked before Sigrid nodded. "Odin be praised! I'm going to have another child!" He shouted before hugging his wife and spinning her around.

"Ahh ha ha!" Sigrid laughed as the entire room began to erupt with applause.

"Wiglaf, come here." She called to their son as he leapt into her arms.

"You're going to be a big brother soon."

"Alright! I can't wait to teach him how to play Orlog and shoot a bow!" Wiglaf said while in his parent's arms.

"Hold on, little stag. You may end up having a sister, you know," Arminius said while ruffling his hair.

"Whatever, I'll love her all the same," Wiglaf said before hugging his mother's stomach.

Sigrid sighed as she stroked her sons head.

"My little drengr." She smiled.

"Well this certainly calls for a celebration. Eat and drink as much as you want tonight, you are guests in my home." Chrysalis smiled while raising a glass of sake.

"What about Wulfric?"

"His wounds will be mended by morning." Crafty Dodger said before retiring with the empress for the evening.

The next morning

Wulfric arose at the crack of dawn when the first glimpse of sunlight pierced the blinds on his window, as he got up he had noticed the fatigue had completely left him and his body did not ache. When he removed the bandages, he found the cuts inflicted on his body had completely healed as if they were never their.

"Healing arts." Ryu startled the chieftain as he stood in the doorway.

"How did... Nevermind." Wulfric shook his head as Ryu would probably just say something along the lines of "It's a ninja thing" or something

"Wait, healing arts?"

"Yes. Despite our unique magic to transform into others, we also mastered a different type of "magic" as you may call it. It's called Chakra." Ryu told him

"Chakra? How is that different from magic?"

"Magic is found around us, in the air, the ground, and while yes all ponies have access to it one form or another, chakra is different. It is something inside us and, if mastered correctly, allows us to do far more than what you normally may do. For example."

Ryu took out his wakasashi and cut his hand, he then closed his hands and took a deep breath as a blue flame covered his hand and the cut started to heal "Chakra allows us to use the energy inside us to perform ninja arts, or Ninjutsu as we call it." Ryu explained.

"Is that how you beat me in our fight?" Wulfric asked.

"No. You were just too slow." The orochi said with a smug grin as his guest grumbled in annoyance.

"If you are feeling better, my empress wishes to see you."

"Bathroom? like an actual bathroom?"

Wulfric was then lead to a large tub of hot water with a strange assortment of phials filled with powders an oil as two maids suddenly began pulling him towards the tub.

"This way sir."

"We'll have you squeaky clean in no time."

"Um thank you ladies but I can bathe myself!" Wulfric said before suddenly feeling their grip turn into a vice as they both gave innocent smiles.

"I see you are going to be stubborn about this so you leave us no choice."

Before he knew what happened, the chieftain was suddenly stripped naked and thrown into the tub like a rock before popping his head out of the water for air.

"Now please hold still."

Wulfric soon found himself at the mercy of the queens servants as they scrubbed him down and lathered him up like an infant taking their first bath.

"H-hey! I can scrub myself!!" He protested when one of them began scrubbing his buttocks.

"WOO! Hey watch it down there!"

The maids were having the time of their lives as they practically felt him up while scrubbing him down and drying him off before giving him a set of silk robes to wear while giving his hair a much needed combing and braiding. By the time he was finished, one could swear that Wulfric was a nobleman of the east.

"You look good." The head maid smirked while showing him his reflection in the mirror.

"I feel violated..." Wulfric grumbled.

“Oh come now,” the maid said while walking behind Wulfric to tie his hair up. “You know, you strike me more as a gentleman than any caribou I’ve encountered. You mother must be so proud of you.”

"I believe she would be," Wulfric said.

“Please, sit,” Chrysalis said as she sat in her knees.

Wulfric did so and sat down with his legs crossed.

“Tea?” Chrysalis offered and Wulfric nodded. “I must confess, this is an unexpected situation I find myself in.” She gently picked up the pot and poured into Wulfric’s cup. “Caribou are seen as the destroyers of our land, no offense, yet here I am having tea with one.” She then poured herself some tea and set the pot down. “Tell me, Wulfric Warborn, what makes you such a polar opposite of the Stonehoofs?”

Wulfric would say nothing at first as he took a sip of his tea.

"For generations, The Warborn and Stonehooves have been at war even during my great grandfathers time. Their clan still clings to the old ways when we used to raid and pillage other lands just to survive while we learned to adapt to a more peaceful life. Taking what we need from the land and sea and giving thanks to our gods."

"Then why would your enemy come to our shores if your land is so plentiful?" Chrysalis asked while taking a rice cake for herself.

"I fear...we are to blame and not just for the invasion." Wulfric said as he placed his cup down.

"Fifty years ago, the Stonehoof Clan ignited a civil war to conquer all the northlands, they subjugated all their enemies and bribed those who were willing to betray their own kin but then came my great grandfather who united the now fractured tribes and fought back, defeating the stonehoof clan and restoring peace. It should have ended with the death of their chieftain at the time but my great grandfather simply banished them to the swamplands of the north, a truly harsh and savage place to live in."

"A story of greed, pride, and vengeance. An endless cycle of blood." Chrysalis said as she took a sip of her tea.

"Indeed," Wulfric said. "We thought banishing them would end their obsession for domination, but it only fueled their hatred and animosity. So much so, that they resorted to the dishonorable act of trapping my clan and any who allied with us on our land within a snow storm. Had we come sooner, Equestria would not have suffered as much as it has now."

"You should not blame yourself." Chrysalis said before handing him a rice cake.

"So what will you do now?"

Wulfric thought back to his visit from Princess Luna but knew he couldn't divulge too much to the changeling queen as he was still suspicious of her motives.

"We need to get this rebellion going. I don't suppose you know of any places we can strike away from Canterlot?"

"As a matter of fact..." The queen opened her fan to hide her devilish smirk.

"I hope you understand, Sir Wulfric, that I still don't trust you," Chrysalis reminded the young chieftain. "I only offered you sanctuary because you would bleed for even us. But that is not enough."

"Then how many remedy that?" Wulfric asked.

"A test," Chrysalis said. "Recently, my scouts have reported the presence of Kirin in the area. Do you know what they are?"

"Yes. They're half-pony half-dragons, or so they say," Wulfric answered.

"Indeed." Chrysalis clapped her hands and the sliding door opened to reveal a Kirin sitting on his knees. He was covered in the green coating that was used to subdue her captives and the Kirin was dressed in black robes. The Kirin looked pretty banged up and bloody as he glared at the two. "This Kirin has some very valuable information that just might tip the war in our favor. However, despite my best efforts, this one refuses to talk."

"Shall I try my hand?" Wulfric asked, cracking his knuckles.

"Much as I would love to see your methods of interrogation, I'm afraid it would be a wasted effort," Chrysalis said. "Kirins have some kind of countermeasure to literally mute themselves. Even as I saw to his interrogation myself, he didn't even make a sound. I often heard tales of the Kirin having some kind of potion, of sorts, but never really looked into it."

"Then what makes this Kirin so special than the rest?" Wulfric asked.

Chrysalis silent until she looked directly at Wulfric. "He knows of a secret entrance into the Crystal Empire."

"I know of that place, from the rumors around the refugees, Dainn still hasn't been able to conquer it." Wulfric said before looking at the prisoner.

"So tell me friend, what's got your tongue tied in knots?"

PTOO!

The kirin spat in Wulfrics face but was met with a quick backhand that sent him tumbling to the ground.

"I'll see if there are any among our clan who can break this spell."

"In the meantime, I will give you the location of the fortress as well as the name of the one in charge but in exchange, I request that Ryu and his troops be allowed to join you so that they may report any future developments.

"Keep your friends close and enemies closer." Wulfric smirked as he grabbed a rice cake.

"Is that not how the saying goes?"

End.