A Whisper on the Wind

As Flame and I finished washing her laundry together, I reflected on our productive, if depressing, conversation regarding the settlement’s food situation. She appreciated having someone new who cared about trying to help out with that, but although she confessed that she didn’t think my arrival would change anything, she was willing to give anything a try. My main takeaway from our discussion was that, if nothing changed, the settlement would eventually disappear, its inhabitants scattered to the corners of the world or worse. This is before we even examined our more immediate problems, like the hostile settlement I'd escaped from, which was likely planning revenge.

I’m a problem-solver. That’s what made me good at what I did in my day-to-day life. When I saw a problem, I deconstructed it, analyzed its parts, and then rebuilt the concept to test it. Many of my clients thought that what I did was magic, a skill that they thought they could never hope to emulate, much less understand. Yet now, the problems I’d previously faced seemed utterly inconsequential compared to what I now found myself facing. How do you save a population when the very land and climate themselves become incapable of supporting life?

After a warm hug of appreciation, Flame and I parted ways. Now suitably re-attired, I set off to search for Ace. After asking various ponies where he might be, I was pointed in the direction of the barracks, a large structure not too far from where I’d met Crush earlier. Upon entering, I immediately knew I was in the right place, for I couldn’t help but hear faint sobbing as I moved about the reception area. I followed the sounds of wailing, past the fitting room and into the washroom at the back. There he was, hunched over, tears staining his muzzle. His eyes caught sight of me, and he adorably tried to wipe his face as I approached, but we both knew it was futile. I put my hand on one of his hooves, spurring him to speak, “Y-You came…”

I gently sat down next to him. “Did you honestly think that I wasn’t going to check that you were okay?” My acknowledgment was a nod, and a few sniffles for good measure. From this brief shared moment, a lot of things around me in the settlement suddenly fell into place. I realized now that, from my perspective, friendship was just a word to the ponies here, a thing said out of habit with no deeper meaning behind it. It was quickly becoming apparent to me that many here had never experienced genuine friendship before.

I squeezed his hoof gently. “Listen, Ace, I don’t know what’s going on here, but Flame had a point earlier about your comment. It wasn’t nice, and you know that. Part of my responsibility as a friend is to be honest with you, and I’d be lying if I said you were in the right. Yes, she could’ve handled it better, but you threw the first verbal punch. Do you think you can apologize to her, big guy?”

Silence filled the room, but a brief nod gave me the answer I was looking for. “I also need to address how you’ve been acting, too. It takes a lot to offend me, my boundaries are probably much further back than most, but if I were anyone else, you’d have crossed a few lines in the last two days. I’m dealing with a lot of shit at the moment; my life has been uprooted, and everyone I’ve ever known is gone. I can’t tell you how empty and alone I feel… and that’s before we even get to Alex. Something happened to him, and not knowing what feels like an open wound. So, here’s the deal; I will sort my shit out, and when you’re ready, you and I will talk about what’s been happening between us. Does that sound fair?”

I got a verbal answer this time. “... yeah, it does,” he said, sniffling and wiping the snot from his nose.

Smiling, I hugged him, and he smiled back, wrapping his forelegs around me and nuzzling my cheek. We stayed like that for several minutes until a familiar face walked into the room.

“Oh good, you're here,” said Scar, grinning at the sight of seeing us together. “We’ve gathered enough information to give you a decent picture of the kind of place you've ended up in, and what kind of place it used to be. If you want to follow me, we'll get started.”

We both took that as our cue to leave, Ace taking a few moments to compose himself before he too left to catch up with Scar and me. “Who are you inviting to this debriefing?” I asked her, intensely curious.

“Uh, myself, you, Ace back there, and our two new unicorns. Why, did you have any specific ponies in mind?” she inquired.

“Yeah, I did.” I stopped and turned to Ace, who was walking rather sheepishly behind us. “Ace, can you fetch Crush and Flame for me?” I asked, turning back to Scar. “I think those two can offer some useful insights during our discussion.” She mulled it over and eventually nodded, and Ace sped off to go round up my choices.

We returned to the outbuilding where we'd shared breakfast earlier. The table had been cleared and prepared for the upcoming discussion. Already present were Show Stopper and Tricky Canvas, now joined by Scar and myself, and within a few minutes, Ace appeared with Crush and Flame in tow.

With everypony seated around the table, Scar cleared her throat. “Thank you all for coming. As you've no doubt guessed, this meeting is to give our new resident human here an understanding of this world. Is there something that anypony would like to say first?” she asked, looking around the circle.

I put my hand up first. “I know I asked for this to be a glorified history lesson, but I've been thinking: I need to know about you, as in ponies in general, from a more personal standpoint. I need to know how you live, how you fight, how to fight alongside you, and, er… how you reproduce. Once I'm suitably informed, we can then move on to your history.”

A couple of ponies shifted uncomfortably in their seats, most noticeably Flame and Show Stopper, but Scar, ever the consummate professional, remained composed. “Sure, I think we can handle that. What did you want to know first?” she asked, a sly little smile creeping across her muzzle.

Crush saved me from my lack of direction. “I think he should know about our foaling seasons first. You’ve just missed one, Stuart, but it'll come around again later in the year.”

I was curious now. “You only have foals twice a year then, I take it?” The group nodded in collective agreement. “Okay,” I continued, “Does that mean… fuck it, I’m just gonna say it, does insemination only occur twice a year too?”

More nods followed. “We call it ‘Estrus’,” Flame offered, “It happens twice a year, and it's when mares go into season, ready to be… well, ‘given’ a foal. We carry them for eleven months, and then we give birth, either at the beginning of Spring or Autumn, depending on when we, um, conceive.” She blushed fiercely, the color visible even through her fur.

Scar interjected. “And Spring Estrus is only a few weeks away. Celestia, I hope we’ve stocked up enough on nettles…”

Ace tapped me on the knee, sensing my confusion. “We use nettles to make nettle tea, which we ration to the mares and fillies in the camp… after we segregate everypony by sex.”

Show Stopper contributed next. “We did that too. Well, we kept the earth ponies segregated anyway, but the unicorn and pegasi mares and stallions made sure to give each other a wide berth for a few weeks.” Crush and Flame shot Show Stopper dirty looks, likely in response to her segregation comment.

Scar continued. “Unlike what some horny colts might claim, Estrus doesn’t turn us into sex-crazed maniacs. It makes us itch down there, raises our body temperature, and makes us more likely to consider doing things we… otherwise wouldn’t. And it’s not just mares and fillies; stallions and colts aren’t immune to the allure either. Well, most of them anyway,” She momentarily glanced at Ace, as if she thought I wouldn’t notice.

“But I’m not a stallion. Do I personally need to take any precautions?” I asked, aware that this might be important information later.

“Honestly… I don’t know. I'm not even sure if you could get one of us pregnant, you’re so… different.” Scar’s tone wavered between curiosity and apprehension. “Anyway, members of our military forces are explicitly banned from engaging in sexual relations during or near Estrus Season where a foal is a possible outcome. You don't need to drink that nettle tea, though; that just helps us mares manage our symptoms.”

“And it's disgusting,” Show Stopper chimed in. “But, unfortunately, it's the best thing we have to suppress our… urges,” she said, a slight hint of revulsion in her words.

I put my hands together. “I'll give all of this some greater thought when the time comes. On a different topic, how do you engage in warfare?”

“Depends,” Scar began, “Spears and shields primarily; some ponies use maces or swords like Crush here, while a small number prefer hoof-to-hoof combat, like yours truly. We used to use ranged weapons like bows; in fact; we still have some, but arrows aren’t quick enough for us to manufacture to replenish how many would get used in a typical engagement. Ponies have vulnerabilities, though. Despite wearing helmets, a unicorn’s horn is vulnerable despite them no longer being able to cast magic. They have to keep it unsheathed due to kinetic feedback, so if you can manage to bludgeon or fracture a horn, you'll cause crippling nerve pain that'll effectively disable them.”

“Since we can't fly, there’s little point going for our wings in combat,” Ace contributed, “You're better off trying to go for our legs. We're the fastest tribe on land, and any damage to our limbs greatly hinders our effectiveness.”

Crush spoke next, “And never, ever attempt to take on an earth pony head-to-head. We will come out on top in a physical fight. In fact, we have a saying, ‘If you go up against an earth pony, and it’s a fair fight, you both screwed up’. We may not have the same strength as our ancestors, but we're still the physically strongest tribe. If you want to take one of us out, you'll need to hit us where we're weakest: our undercarriage. Due to our size, we have to compromise on armor, and a lack of coverage there is a tradeoff we have to make; we sacrifice protection for dexterity.”

“As someone who’s studied military history, this is extremely interesting information. I’m sure it’ll come in handy for future conflicts if the worst comes to worst. For now, though… let's change the subject to history. Have pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies always existed alongside one another?”

“I think I can help with that,” Tricky Canvas spoke up. “I previously helped compile a compendium of information on that topic, and I think I have most of it committed to memory. In short, yeah, pretty much. We don't know a lot about our very early history, but ponies were living together when… that other human arrived.” he said with a small degree of lament in his voice.

Tricky Canvas now had my full attention. “Do you know what the circumstances of his arrival were? Do you know who he met, and what he did during his time here?”

The brown unicorn shook his head. “Not precisely. We're sure he met with the royal diarchs, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, he would’ve probably needed them to sign off on his formal citizenship. Beyond that, we have photographic evidence of him with a group known as the Element Bearers. Judging from the surviving records I’ve seen, he was very close with them all.”

I couldn't tell you how happy I was hearing that. “I am incredibly happy to hear you say that. I'm sure that they were extremely lucky to have him as a friend. Who were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? You mentioned the word ‘diarchs’, which implies that they ruled jointly. On Earth—my planet—they would’ve been called ‘queens,’ with ‘princess’ being a title for one of their uncrowned descendants.”

“They were alicorns known for having the power to raise the sun and the moon in the sky,” Tricky Canvas continued, “I mentioned the Element Bearers earlier; they, along with the human, were responsible for saving Equestria numerous times from enemies who sought to invade and destroy it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Equestria? Is that where I am now? Also, what are alicorns?”

Show Stopper joined in. “Equestria was the name of the kingdom when it still existed. You're within the area claimed by its historic borders, but the kingdom itself no longer exists. All the major towns and cities were abandoned. Another consequence of your supposed friend’s meddling.”

I did sympathize with her more now than earlier, and yet I was searching for a reason as to why this all had happened in the first place. Before I could wander down that mental road, Tricky Canvas answered my second question.

“Alicorns, according to legend, were the physical and magical embodiment of all three pony tribes. They had wings like the pegasi, a horn like a unicorn, and the strength of an earth pony, each aspect magnified and enhanced many times compared to a regular pony.” He moved forward slightly, resting his forelegs on the table. “There were six known alicorns; Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Flurry Heart, and Opaline Arcana.”

Tricky Canvas shifted in his seat as he shared his knowledge. “I mentioned the Element Bearers earlier. History records that there were six of them too, each embodying an aspect of friendship. Twilight Sparkle was the Element of Magic, for example. Over time, the need for the Element Bearers became less urgent, and Twilight Sparkle at one point was appointed as the sole ruler of Equestria. Until Opaline showed up…”

Scar cleared her throat. “After Opaline launched an insurrection against the crown, the world went to Tartarus in a handbasket. Afterward, Alex helped Twilight to seal our magic away. When you showed up, we thought he'd come back to unlock it for us again so we could finally use our magic to rebuild our society. But that's not going to happen… is it?” she asked, her voice heavy with doubt.

That question began to weigh heavily on me. There had been a calamity of apocalyptic proportions in their past, and now everypony was searching for a way end to it all, only for the world to show them it had other ideas. My thoughts once again turned to Alex.

“Okay, so, Alex has very clearly had a big impact on this world, and whatever his motivations were, you are all suffering in the aftermath. I know the man, and I know that if he could see your suffering today, it would break his heart. That’s probably cold comfort to many of you, but he seems to have a plan, albeit one I’m not privy to… at least, not right now.” I said, trying to lift the spirits in the room. “His plan does not involve me, nor would I presume to interfere. I trust him and his judgment, even if it appears to have lapsed at some point. If he is truly seeking to correct a mistake he made, I want him to succeed. However, our collective future is unwritten, and while I propose that we must do all that we can to help set his plan in motion, our own survival must inevitably be our concern as well.”

I looked at Show Stopper. “You mentioned to me that Alex would return when ponies are facing their darkest hour. Now, don’t get me wrong, shit is proper fucked out there… but it’s not hard for me to imagine that a greater calamity waiting in the wings. As far as I’m concerned, we’re standing upon the shoulders of giants who’ve come before us, and it’s up to us to lay the foundations for the giants who are yet to come. Who's with me?”

One by one, the ponies in the room raised a hoof. All of them except for Show Stopper.

“You're a sentimental fool.” she spat, figuratively dripping bile. “Do you seriously expect me, or any of us, to just quietly accept being a cog in someone else's machine? What comes first for you; our prosperity, our survival, or his plan?”

Her question was valid, and I didn't have an easy answer. “To whatever force in the universe may be listening, I hope that I never have to make that choice. I'd rather die than betray any of you or this settlement; how's that for an assurance?”

That seemed to placate her, and she too raised a hoof. I turned to Crush and motioned for him to hand me the sword he carried, currently sheathed at his side. Taking a few moments to realize what I was asking for, he eventually hoofed the sword to me.

It being a bastard sword, I was able to rest the tip on the table, the sharp edge making a dent in the battered wooden surface. “I, Stuart of the House Robinson… probably the first of my name, do solemnly swear that from this day forward, I will uphold the ideals of friendship, courage, and gallantry of the former Kingdom of Equestria. I will do my utmost to serve and protect not only those present here today but also the settlement and all who dwell within it. And, if the time should ever come, know that I would gladly lay down my life to protect any of you. On behalf of you all, I swear this creed; that I will be an advocate for friendship and compassion to all, to move in the shadows as an avatar of justice, and to be known in the annals of history as nothing more than a whisper on the wind.”

I’d never seen a pony clap before, never mind six of them clopping their hooves together and stamping them on the floor in applause.

I took a step forward, and handed Crush his sword back, watching as he immediately re-sheathed it with a nod of thanks. “Thank you all for doing this for me; you've given me a lot to think about. Captain Stopper and Tricky Canvas, would you mind staying for a bit while our friends give us some privacy?”

Scar saluted and swiftly ushered everypony out, a clear demonstration of respect for my request. Both of the unicorns exchanged apprehensive glances, clearly unsure of what was about to transpire.

I took a seat, placing myself between the two unicorns. I regarded them with a penetrating stare, the silence in the room thick with tension. “My world has a saying; ‘Let cooler heads prevail.’ I wanted to get some sleep and some food in me before I had this conversation with you, Former Captain. And. it’s only your impeccable timing that you’re here too, Tricky Canvas. If I’d had this conversation earlier, I would’ve quickly lost my temper. Now that I’ve had time to calm down, I wanted to give you the chance to explain why you thought torturing me was justified that day.”

The two unicorns remained silent, their discomfort palpable. Tricky Canvas opened his mouth to speak, but Show Stopper immediately cut him off. “Be quiet, Tricks. This is not yours to excuse.”

I leaned back, somewhat surprised. “Tricks, huh? I guess I should've expected that. Let’s drop your rank, Show Stopper. You're no longer in service to your former commander.”

“Call me Stopper, then. It's all the same to me,” she said, gazing off to one side.

“Well then, Stopper, I'm still waiting for an answer as to why you did it; why you scarred my mind and put me through Hell. I want to know why.” I pressed, my calm, deliberate tone filling the room as I pointed a finger squirrely at her.

“I was following orders,” she replied coldly, avoiding my gaze.

“Is that your answer too, Tricks?” I asked. He only nodded muted.

I could tell that this wasn't the whole truth, but it was a start. Truth nearly always begins in lies, especially the ones we tell ourselves.

“Would you like to know what we did to people on my world who helped commit atrocities, and claimed they were ‘only following orders’?”

No response. I clasped my hands together. “In many cases, they were executed, my little ponies. I still remember what you said, Stopper—that if ten earth ponies had to starve so that you could eat, so be it. If I go out there and ask Scar, I know she would agree that it would be morally justifiable to withhold food from you in light of those comments. I don't agree.”

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. “You have both been given an opportunity—an opportunity to be better ponies than you are. In that spirit, Tricks, I am extending you the same offer I made to Stopper; an offer of friendship.” I leaned forward and extended an arm. He hesitated, but then extended his hoof to meet it. As I clasped his hoof, his expression softened, and despite his brave effort to hold back, tears began to stream down his cheeks.

After a few seconds, I released his hoof and stood up. “Get up, both of you, and follow me. I’m about to show you that I meant what I said earlier.”

The two unicorns, even more mystified now, silently followed me outside. I led them to the barracks, where, as luck would have it, Scar was inside filling out some paperwork—exactly the pony I wanted to see. I approached her with the two unicorns flanking me, catching her attention and prompting her to put down her pen, which had been held in one of her wings. “Stuart. What can I do for you?” she asked, as chipper as ever.

I gestured to the two ponies behind me. “I know I have no authority here, but I have a request. I’d like for these two to be given the appropriate rank and station befitting ponies of their talents. Stopper, what’s your specialty?”

She stepped forward. “I cut my teeth in military logistics. Put me in charge of your resources, and I’ll make your military the most effective fighting force this side of the Celestial Sea.”

Nodding, I raised my voice just enough for the other unicorn to hear me, “Tricks, what’s your specialty?”

The male unicorn took a step forward, “I am adept at stealth and subterfuge. My skill lies in gaining access to places where I am decidedly not welcome. Put me to work, and I’ll boost your intelligence-gathering by a factor of ten.”

Scar weighed my request carefully before responding. “I’m sorry, Stuart, but I can’t risk the settlement on a request like that. You gave a good speech earlier, and it gave me a lot to think about, truly it did. But I don’t have the luxury of taking chances on ponies who, not three days ago, would have killed any one of us without a second thought. I made a previous decision earlier based on faulty intelligence, and I have a responsibility to this settlement to do my due diligence, which I failed to do. I can’t take the risk you’re suggesting, I’m sorry.”

Scar had now unknowingly wandered into my specialty.

“Then, if you won’t put your trust in them, I ask that you put your trust in me. I have a compromise in mind; let me lead an expedition into their settlement, with these two as mission specialists, to recover valuable materials and artifacts. You two—what do they have?” I said, deciding to test their loyalties on the spot.

“Tear of the Moon,“ advised Stopper, “It’s a magical gemstone. It has a low magical output, but it continuously recharges from the ambient magic around us all. We used it to charge that… thing you destroyed…” she trailed off, a hint of regret in her voice.

Tricks quickly added, “And I collected dossiers on numerous ponies of interest, both past and present. Allow me to retrieve those, and you’ll have the best cache of intelligence you could ever hope for, and then some.”

Reclining in her seat, Scar scrutinized me as if measuring my resolve. “You can’t lead an expedition, Stuart. As you mentioned earlier, you have no authority, and no rank in my army. You can’t command a squad, nor can they follow your commands proper rank appropriate to your stations…” She rummaged through a drawer at her desk, eventually tossing something at me—a pin adorned with two upward chevrons. Digging deeper, she placed two more pins on her desk, each with a single upward chevron, silently indicating for the two unicorns to retrieve them.

“Stuart Robinson, by my authority as Commander—self-appointed as it may be—I hereby grant you a field commission to the rank of Corporal. Show Stopper and Tricky Canvas, I also grant you each a field commission to the rank of Private. You will follow Corporal Robinson’s orders. Upon your return, Corporal Robinson will report directly to me with an assessment of your mission. That assessment will affect both your and your squadmates’ future standing in my beloved corps. You depart at midnight under the cover of darkness. Your primary objective is to recover the Tear of the Moon and the personnel dossiers. Your secondary objective is to recover additional artifacts or resources that do not compromise the primary objective. Are my orders clear, troops?!” she commanded.

I saluted sharply. “Sir, yes, sir!” I responded with equal authority. Stopper and Tricks mirrored my salute, echoing, “Sir, yes, sir!”

Scar leaned back, visibly satisfied. “Very well. You are off duty until twenty-three-hundred-hours. Report to the barracks for a final briefing then. Dismissed!”

Stopper and Tricks departed ahead of me, and just as I turned to follow, Scar delivered one last verbal twist, “Now, you’re the one that has to salute.”

—

Scar graciously lent us the same wooden chariot that I’d escaped in earlier, and our three-pony escort had dropped us a couple of kilometers from the target’s boundary. My backpack, now emptied of all worldly possessions except for a portable charger, was strapped securely to my back, and my trusty black hoodie provided adequate warmth on this mild spring morning. In my hand, I held one of my phones, charged and ready, serving as a navigation aid with its compass-augmented capabilities. The only issue with my phone at the moment was adjusting to this world’s twenty-six-hour day, a problem I’d have to address later.

My two subordinates (and boy does saying that feel weird) were modestly equipped, each clad in their original black armor and matching helmets from their previous commands, with saddlebags flanking their sides. They traveled without weapons, though it would be foolish to consider us unarmed collectively.

Stopper glanced over at me holding my phone, “That’s a neat little bit of tech you’ve got there.” she commented.

“Fucking should be, it cost me enough,” I replied, adjusting our course to keep us on track. As we moved a few hundred meters further, Stopper halted me with a hoof.

“I need to know something, Stuart. Do you trust us?” she asked, with Tricks now focusing his attention on us both.

I pocketed my phone. “Isn’t that the crux of all this?”

She snorted. “There’s trust and then there’s trust. I’m asking about the latter.”

Before I could answer, a loud horn sounded in the distance, and three armor-clad pegasi armed with spears swarmed in to engage us. I glanced to my side and realized Tricks was missing, a jolt of panic shooting through me. Stopper stepped forward. “How gracious of you to welcome us. As you can see, I’ve returned with our captive. I demand to see Commander Stormhoof immediately.”

One of the pegasi spoke up, “Did you really think you’d fool anypony by returning here?”

“In my defense, you left me little choice after threatening me. But results speak louder than words, and I’ve delivered the human, Prince Alex, into custody. Now, I suggest that you deliver us to the Commander before he loses patience with you.” she said, the pegasi soldier visibly wavering.

“Follow me,” he ordered begrudgingly. Reluctantly, I marched onward with them into the distance, the pegasi behind me seemingly enjoying stabbing me in the buttocks with their spears. I made a mental note of that.

We were escorted to a large stone building, spanning two stories. Stopper and I ascended a spiral staircase with a solitary guard trailing behind. The staircase led directly to a spacious office where a visibly high-ranking pegasi sat behind a large desk. “Leave us,” he commanded his guard, who promptly exited and closed the double doors behind us.

Commander Stormhoof slouched behind his cluttered mahogany desk, his bloated figure a stark contrast to the air of authority he tried to exude. “Ah, Captain Stopper!” he exclaimed as he got up and met his returning soldier personally.

“You always were my favorite.” he drawled, his tone dripping with insincere charm. “I have to admit, I was disappointed when you abandoned your post, but it seems your loyalty has led you back to us with a great prize—returning the traitor Alex to our grasp!”

Stopper stifled a giggle, her demeanor suddenly shifting. “Tell me, Commander. What has four hooves and a hole in its face?” she queried, her question hanging in the air like a threat.

Confusion flickered across Stormhoof’s features, and in less time than it took me to blink, Stopper swiftly spun and landed a precise kick to his head. The Commander crumpled to the ground, motionless. Rushing over, I checked for a pulse.

Nothing. He was dead. Stopper gestured to his desk. “Second drawer on the right.”

I wasted no time, retrieving the jewel emitting a soft, pulsing blue light—the Tear of the Moon, no larger than a marble. Pocketing it, I pondered what else might be of use.

Across the room, a sprawling bookshelf caught my eye, its contents in a script I didn’t recognize. Stopper joined me, pointing out three particular tomes. “If you’re interested in learning about magic, take these,” she suggested, “They won’t be of use to us, but they’ll provide some of that cultural insight you wanted regarding unicorns.”

I nodded, stuffing the tomes and a gold pendant with a green gem from the desk into my backpack. But, one immediate concern remained.

“How do we get past the guards?” I asked. Stopper nodded towards a hole in the wall with a sloped floor leading downward. I peered into the darkness. “Do you know how deep it goes?”

“That’s a good question,” she replied nonchalantly, giving me a swift push. As I landed with a stumble, I was greeted by a pungent odor, realizing that I’d hit a steaming pile of excrement at the bottom.

“It’s about four meters,” Stopper called down from above.

Giving her the finger, I moved aside to give her room to land, which of course she did more gracefully than I, contrasting sharply with my earlier introduction to the Element of Surprise. It probably wasn’t something an Element Bearer would have borne, but I doubt that Stopper would’ve complained if that had been her aspect. However, I was silently complaining about needing to get pony shit off of my shoes when we got back.

Seeing no guards around, we hastily departed. “What about Tricks?” I asked, breaking our stride.

“He’ll know where we are; now, see if you can get us back to that chariot,” Stopper challenged. We had put some distance between us and the camp when a familiar voice joined us. “I’ve completed my task and collected all the dossiers. I’ve also secured and torched their maps of the surrounding areas, along with the map room itself,” Tricks announced casually

“Well, Stopper here just assassinated the settlement’s leader. Aren’t you concerned about retaliation?” I asked with a tinge of worry in my voice.

“No,” Stopper replied coldly, “It’ll ignite a civil war. The power struggle among the important ponies will distract them. Many of the rest will perish or flee, those left behind won’t pose a threat to us for a very long time.”

It was hard to argue with her assessment. After circumventing the complete shitshow we’d just unleashed, we’d regrouped with our escort and headed home.

Home.

That word began to hold meaning for me again. Though I was far from feeling safe, I found a sense of purpose brewing within me. Sometimes, feeling useful was enough to anchor oneself in a storm. The three of us settled in for the journey back, allowing me time to mull over the morning’s tumultuous events. Both Stopper and Tricks had not just burned bridges to their old lives; they had completely incinerated them, crossing whatever the pony equivalent of the Rubicon was.

As dawn broke, we arrived back at our settlement. Relief washed over me at the sight of Ace and Crush waiting for us, offering us much-needed water pouches for sweet, merciful rehydration. Stepping out of the vehicle, Ace saluted me with a grin. “Now you’re saluting me, too?” I teased.

Ace chuckled. “Scar told me about your promotion, congratulations! I’m just a Private First Class, so you outrank me.” He gestured for me to follow. ”Scar wants to see you as soon as you’re settled. Follow me, Corporal Robinson,” he said, lightly teasing me with the use of my new rank.

At the barracks, I stood before Scar with Tricks and Stopper at my side. As we all saluted, Scar ordered, “At ease, soldiers.” Tricks and Stopper sat while I remained standing, hands clasped behind my back in a posture reminiscent of a school assembly.

“Corporal Robinson, I wish to hear your report on the morning’s events,” Scar addressed me directly.

I gulped, not out of fear of having done anything wrong, but out of concern I might disappoint my new commanding officer. “Yes, ma’am. We encountered enemy units before reaching the camp. At that point, Private Canvas proceeded independently to achieve one of our primary mission objectives. Private Stopper employed strategic deception and lethal force to accomplish the second primary mission objective. Together, we also managed to fulfill our secondary mission objective. In my assessment, our mission was a resounding success, ma’am.”

Scar regarded me with the same intense scrutiny as the day before. “Please provide further detail on the use of lethal force,” she requested.

I mentally kicked myself. “Private Stopper made a tactical decision based on the situation at hoof. Her actions were conducted discretely and are expected to significantly diminish the threat from that settlement, enhancing our security,” I reported, maintaining my military bearing.

“What is your personal evaluation of that decision, Corporal?” Scar pressed.

Meeting her gaze squarely, I replied, “I fully endorse Private Stopper’s decision. It demonstrated astute tactical acumen honed through extensive experience. Both privates acted admirably during the mission, and I recommend they be considered for deployment elsewhere and promotion to positions reflective of their performance, ma’am.”

“Permission to speak candidly, ma’am,” Stopper interjected.

Intrigued, Scar nodded. “Granted.”

“I believe the corporal is glossing over our actions, ma’am. Private Canvas left our group without authorization, leaving us vulnerable at a critical juncture. While it is true I used deception to gain an advantage, I also deliberately assassinated the commander of a rival settlement in an unprovoked, lethal assault. And, admittedly, I shoved my commanding officer into a latrine because I thought it would be funny.” Stopper admitted bluntly.

Scar leaned back, processing the information. “And was it funny?” she inquired.

“Very,” Stopper affirmed, her smirk evident without even looking.

Scar stepped away from her desk and approached us. “Beyond these walls, there’s no Admiralty Board, no Geneighva Convention, no treaties guaranteeing safety for anypony out there. I won’t pretend that honor and decency will prevail in every situation; those are luxuries of a time we’ve left behind. But I do believe there willcome a time when they matter again.” Her voice carried a mix of pragmatism and professionalism. “I’m entrusting you with discretion in future missions. If you can avoid unnecessary bloodshed, I support that. But if you must act to ensure your safety, you have my authorization to use whatever means are necessary, as long as you can justify your actions later.”

The weight of responsibility settled on me like the heavy backpack I’d first carried here. For the first time, I had to consider not just my own welfare, but that of my new comrades-in-arms. “Future missions? Does this mean we’re approved for active duty?” I inquired.

Scar nodded. “You've impressed me, which isn’t easily done these days. Now, show me what you brought back from your expedition.”

Without hesitation, I placed the Tear of the Moon on her desk while Tricks organized his paperwork nearby. I opened my backpack and laid out the tomes Stopper had recommended along with the pendant, its green gem gleaming in the light against a gold setting.

Scar examined our findings. “Much of this may not be immediately useful, but it’s better in our hooves than theirs. They hold cultural significance, at the very least.”

“I believe that they can offer more,” Stopper interjected, “These tomes contain magical theory from our tribe; Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. They may be useless, but they preserve our legacy. If others can read these, they’ll know who we were…”

“This means a great deal to you, doesn’t it?” I remarked, sensing the depth of her attachment.

It dawned on me that until now, I hadn't fully grasped the magnitude of their loss. It wasn’t just identity; it was the essence of their existence that had been stripped away unjustly. Every time a unicorn looked in a mirror and saw their horn, every time a pegasus looked at their wings, and every time an earth pony tried to invoke their strength, they were reminded of a stolen birthright.

I crouched to meet Stopper at eye level. “If you'd like to teach me what's inside these books, we can make time for it. Okay?” I asked. She turned to me, and at that moment, I saw a flicker of something new in her eyes. Before I could fully comprehend it, she surprised me with a tight hug, wordlessly accepting my offer.

Scar smiled and returned to her seat. “Private Tricks, Private Stopper, you’re off-duty for now. Corporal Robinson, please remain. Dismissed,” she said with a nod, as the two unicorns departed visibly happier than yesterday. I back to Scar. “Is there something specific you need from me, ma’am?”

Reclining in her seat, Scar clasped her hooves together and sighed softly. “What’s your secret, Stuart?”

I turned my head slightly, furrowing my brow, “Ma’am?”

“Stuart, you have a way of… how can I put this? You seem to bring out the best in ponies. You’ve turned two former enemy combatants, one of whom is honestly one of the most dangerous ponies I’ve ever encountered, into valuable and productive members of our community. How did you manage that?” Scar asked, genuinely curious.

I pulled over a chair and sat down. “Earlier, I mentioned that you don’t know me, my life, or my beliefs. Over time, I hope that you will get to know me and all that I am. But, for now, the one thing you really should know about me is one of my core beliefs: If you treat people with compassion, you can turn today’s enemies into tomorrow’s friends.”

Her smile showed she understood, but I continued. “I know it sounds idealistic, and yes, sometimes it might mean sacrificing a battle. But I believe that if we don’t take that compassionate approach, we risk losing the bigger war—whether it’s out there or the war of hearts and minds of those who remain.”

Scar nodded thoughtfully, seemingly satisfied for the moment. “Crush asked me to let you know he’s ready for you to visit. He’s got something planned for you.”

I grinned and chuckled. “Good to hear. I’ll head over right away.”

Scar shook her head, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Not before you bathe, I can smell you from here.”

—

After tending to my ablutions and meticulously cleaning my incriminating footwear, I made my way over to Crush’s tent as the afternoon sun began its descent. He grunted a greeting upon my arrival and pointed to a pile of equipment to his right.

“Alright, time to see how well you handle combat. In that pile, you’ll find a shield, a mace, and some chainmail. I’ve estimated your measurements as best I could, but I erred on the side of caution, so it might be a bit baggy. Put on the chainmail, grab your shield, and meet me in the ring over there.” he instructed, pointing to a large fenced-off circle a short distance away.

As Crush headed over to that arena, I pulled the chainmail over my hoodie, trusting the fabric to provide some additional protection. Surprisingly, despite his caution, the chainmail fit snugly with minimal adjustments. Securing the shield around my right wrist, I joined Crush in the arena where he awaited.

The arena appeared larger up close, easily spanning six or seven meters across. Crush stood in the center, grinning as I approached, “Impressive armor, if I do say so myself. Now, we’ll see how you fare against an unarmed earth pony,” he declared, moving to the perimeter of the circle while I positioned myself at the opposite end. “Do not worry about hurting me. I will be coming straight at you. Your task is to protect yourself from my approach. Ready yourself!”

I braced myself with the shield in front of me, feeling uncertain of exactly what the fuck I was supposed to do. Before I could fully process it, Crush closed the distance between us swiftly. Instinctively, I pushed forward as he made contact, the shield making contact with him with a thud… and that’s all it did. I was rendered utterly powerless as his momentum overwhelmed me completely, sending both me and the shield flying well beyond the bounds of the arena. Momentarily winded, I coughed a few times before getting back on my feet and returning to where Crush patiently waited.

“That’s the first lesson: never meet force with force. You’ll lose every time!” Crush explained passionately before retreating to the edge of the arena again. “Begin!” he called out once more.

He charged at me again, a relentless juggernaut that seemed absolutely unstoppable.

In a split-second decision, I swiftly withdrew my wrist from the shield, gripped its rim tightly, and hurled it at his head.

Time seemed to slow as I watched the shield sail across the arena. Crush, unable to adjust his massive frame quickly enough, took the full impact of the shield’s rim to his face with a resounding THUD. Stunned, he crumpled to the ground in a heap.

Ignoring where the shield landed, I rushed to his side, flipping him over so that he could breathe. Blood trickled from his nose as he gasped, “Bucking… Tartarus…”

After a tense moment, he managed to roll onto his hooves, wiping blood from his face. “Actually, you might have a knack for ranged combat. Give me some time, and I’ll see what I can come up with. Good work today,” he complimented, bowing slightly as he retrieved the shield and headed back towards his tent.

Without further instruction, I went back to the barracks to find Scar organizing equipment in the fitting room. “Looks good on you, champ,” she complimented absentmindedly. “What can I do for you?”

“I need a place I can store this chainmail?” I replied, nodding towards the armor, “The guest lodge doesn’t have any storage.”

She pointed to an empty box nearby, granting silent permission to stow the armor there for later. “On another note, do you still have those tomes on magic? I’d like to start reading them soon.”

Scar stepped out briefly and gestured to the tomes still on her desk. “Take all three if you want. They should be labeled by level.”

“I’ll leave them here for now,” I decided, “I have some things to do first; is there a study area that I can use?” I requested.

Scar gestured towards her right, saying, “I normally use it if I need some privacy, but sure, knock yourself out if I’m not around. On one condition, though.”

“Name it,” I challenged.

“I need to know about you. If you’re going to serve under me, I need to know who you are physically. I need to know your weaknesses are, your strenghs… essentially, Corporal, I need you to submit to a physical inspection,” she instructed.

“When would you like this physical inspection, ma’am?” I asked, unsure of what she was ultimately looking for.

She looked again towards her study. “Now, Corporal.”

Taking a sharp breath, I entered the room first, followed by my new commanding officer, closing the door behind her. Sitting down at the sturdier desk inside this room, she leaned. “Please undress.”

If she was looking for a sense of shame, she was barking up the wrong tree. My clothes formed an unceremonious pile on the floor In short order, leaving me exposed as the day I was born. Scar smiled, and practically leaped out of her chair as she circled me, her curiosity evident in scrutinizing every difference between our species. There was one area she seemed particularly interested in, her hoof causing it to swing from side to side. “I’ve seen everything I need to; get dressed, Corporal,” she ordered.

I needed no further invitation and quickly donned my clothes. Once properly attired we both took seats in the room. “As we discussed in our briefing, Spring Estrus is approaching,” Scar began, “I wanted to see if you are compatible with our biology, and honestly, I think you might be. I know that this is a lot to take in, but I needed to ask you this in private: If I asked you to participate, would you be willing?” she asked

I was taken aback. Did I even have the right to bring a new life into this world? “That’s a… big ask, ma’am. Do you even know if, uh, relations between our two species are can produce offspring?” I asked her, my mind racing with the implications of such a union.

Scar brought a hoof to her chin, “We don’t, but we’re trying to rebuild a shattered society here, and that means maintaining our population levels. Would you… be willing to give it a try with somepony?” she inquired.

I considered the offer carefully. “How are partners assigned? It can’t be a free-for-all.” I reasoned.

“We assign stallions to mares on a rotational basis due to a severe gender imbalance; for every three mares there is one stallion,” she stated matter-of-factly.

I had made my decision. “In the interests of scientific progress, I’ll gladly assist in any way I can. However, I have one non-negotiable condition: I would need somepony to volunteer, rather than being assigned to me. If you can accommodate that, I believe I can help.” I stated firmly.

Scar smiled, “I think I can arrange that. Can I ask you a personal question?”

“You want something more personal than seeing my genitals?” I quipped.

Scar chuckled, “I deserved that. What are your… preferences? I don’t expect them to be identical here, but did you lean towards mares or stallions on your world?”

I pondered for a moment. “I didn’t focus much on that aspect. I’ve always been more drawn to individuals rather than what was between their legs. As for your species, I’m open to both at the moment.”

Scar nodded with a sly smile and gestured towards the door. After saluting once more, I left the barracks to find Stopper and discuss what she wanted to teach me about magic. It didn’t take long; I found her in Crush’s tent engaged in what seemed like a heated argument.

“I will not have my combat prowess questioned by you!”, screamed an extremely-annoyed unicorn.

“And I will not have my vocation belittled by you!”, Crush screamed back. I walked over to the both of them.

“What’s going on here?” I interjected.

“This!” Crush pointed accusingly at Stopper, “She’s claiming my craftsmanship is inferior!”

Stopper scoffed, “Hardly, I just said that my former settlement had access to higher-grade metals. Your armors are inferior compared to theirs. Crush here then insinuated that my combat skills were lacking!”

“Enough!” I intervened firmly. “We’ll settle this later. Stopper, come with me.”

She huffed but followed me back to the barracks. “We can discuss this incident tomorrow. Right now, I need your insights on these tomes,” I said, indicating the numbered books on Scar’s desk.

Stopper examined books, each adorned with intricate gold designs. “The first book covers magical theory, essential for understanding the foundational principles of unicorn magic, along with some simple spells like telekinesis and levitation. The second book delves into basic spellcasting, teaching defensive shields, sound manipulation, protection wards, and even contraceptive spells. The third book, advanced spellcasting, includes teleportation, energy beams, and more lethal offensive spells,” she recited with evident passion.

I nodded, absorbing her words. “I know this sounds grim, but I have to know: do you know if there have been any attempts to transplant unicorn horns onto other ponies?”

Stopper paused to consider. “There were experiments in the past. Stories were passed down about attempts to graft a horn from a deceased unicorn onto an earth pony, but it was unsuccessful, and the research was abandoned.”

“How exactly do unicorn horns function? Are they merely collectors of magical energy, or do they serve a more complex role?” I inquired, delving deeper into my query.

“They absorb ambient magical energy and store it within their structure. A unicorn’s nervous system regulates this energy, enabling us to channel it into spells,” Stopper explained, her hoof lightly stroking one of the tomes.

Continuing, I pressed on. “Have there been any records of attempting horn grafts on creatures other than ponies?”

Stopper was taken aback by the question. “I’ve… I’ve never heard of such a thing. Where is this leading, sir?”

I took a deep breath. “I have an idea, Private. It’s an idea that, back home, would be highly controversial and likely illegal. I need the horn of a unicorn.”