The Warhorse Way

Morning came, well, twilight came. Equestria was always stuck between night and day. Princess Celestia struggled everyday to keep the sun up while trying to keep the moon from rising. Nightmare Moon struggled as well but with keeping the moon up while attempting to keep the sun from rising. While laying in his bunk, Strongheart looked up at the tent cover pondering about the war. This war had started because of one mare's jealousy, turning the beautiful Princess Luna into that evil being, Nightmare Moon. Strongheart felt anger and yet, he felt sorry for Nightmare. The bugle sounded signaling for everypony to get up. Strongheart lazily sat up and hopped down onto the ground. Time for the daily routine. First was breakfast. Strongheart made his way to the lake, where they served breakfast. The line that started from the serving table was overwhelmingly long.

''Hey Strongheart!!'' yelled a familiarly accented voice.

Strongheart turned to the right to see Ironhoof waving to him by the lake with two bowls near him. Strongheart chuckled a little. Seeing Ironhoof getting up before the bugle so he could be first in line for breakfast was quite humorous. Strongheart trotted over to him and sat down. Ironhoof pushed the bowl towards Strongheart. Strongheart looked at the bowl. Sloppy oats, again. He sighed and looked at Ironhoof. He had picked up the bowl with his teeth and tilted his head back allowing the slop to slide into his mouth. In one swallow, he was done. Ironhoof then eyed Strongheart's bowl hungrily.

"Ya going to eat that mate?"

Strongheart looked back at his breakfast then pushed it towards Ironhoof who gobbled up the contents in one go. Ironhoof stood up to drink from the river when he noticed Strongheart was just staring where his bowl use to be. He sighed and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

''War is tough mate. The people who havent seen it think we are heroes.....,'' his voice trailed off as he pondered for a split second.

''....but the ones who have seen what we have done call us murderers. Are we murderers?''

Ironhoof stopped and took a drink from the river, lapping up the water with his tongue. Stronghoof took in his words. Were they murderers, or heroes? Strongheart remembered back to what his father used to say.

''You know, my father used to have a saying. He said that everypony has a right to defend themselves and the ponies they love. Killing should be a last resort to any conflict. But if your family's lives are on the line, by any means necissary, defend them, until your last breath." Ironhoof nodded in agreement.

"Your father is very wise." Strongheart started to laugh creating a confused look on Ironhoof's face.

"Hahahaha....I wouldn't call it wisdom. More like, common sense if you ask me." Ironhoof chucked to himself the looked to Strongheart.

"He is wise in knowing what is worth fighting for. Not blindly fighting because everypony else is fighting. But fighting for a purpose." Strongheart calmed himself as the words sunk in. He smirked and held out his hoof.

"Grayden Strongheart," he said looking at the green pegasus.

"Terry Ironhoof," he responded.

Strongheart felt his own stress level lower tremendously. He finally had a friend he could trust. Ironhoof got up and picked up both of the empty bowls with his teeth as he spoke through them.

"I vetter go thake zhese vack."

Strongheart laughed slightly at Ironhoof's temporary speech impediment. When Ironhoof turned and walked away, Strongheart caught a glimpse of his cutie mark. It was a horseshoe with a wing attached to the side of it. He thought it fit Ironhoof. After all, he was the only pegasus he knew of that wore iron horseshoes. Strongheart turned and looked at his own cutie mark using his reflection in the river. It was a silver heart. Memories began to push their way into his thoughts as he recalled the day he got his cutie mark.

~flashback~

The young colt, Grayden Strongheart sat on his back legs on top of the hill that overlooked Foalsville. He was watching the sun wavering from rising to setting knowing Princess Celestia was fighting to keep the sun raised in the sky. His next-door neighbor and best friend, Josh Woodcutter, was sitting beside him. The brown earth pony looked towards the sun, concern and worry in his eyes.

"Looks like they are still at it, huh Grayden?" Strongheart said nothing as he kept staring at the sun. Woodcutter looked over at his friend.

"Grayden?" Woodcutter nudged him with a hoof snapping Strongheart back to reality.

"Oh, sorry Josh. I was just thinking that in four days, I'll be old enough to enlist for the royal guard. I can't wait for that day! I'm gonna jump up the ranks so fast, I'll be a warhorse in no time." Strongheart looked at Woodcutter with eagerness. Woodcutter sighed wishing that Strongheart wasn't so keen on joining the war.

"So you won't reconsider? There is absolutely no way to change your mind?" Woodcutter asked. Strongheart shook his head.
They suddenly heard a thunder clap that echoed in the land. They looked at eachother in confusion.

"Its not supposed to rain today is it?" asked Woodworker looking at the purple and orange sky.

"I don't think so..." Strongheart looked around trying to pinpoint where the thunder had come from. A few minutes went by. Woodcutter stood on his hooves and stretched, yawning.

"Welp....I think I'm gonna hit the hay. See ya later Grayden!" Strongheart waved bye to his friend.

"Yeah. See ya tomorrow Josh." And with that, Woodcutter galloped to town. Strongheart turned his attention back towards the sun as he rested his head on his hooves. Sleepiness started overtaking him and before he knew it, he was asleep.

He awoke to the smell of smoke and the sounds of thunder. He quickly got up, shaking the sleepiness away and looked towards Foalsville. His sky blue eyes dilated at the sight he saw. Foalsville was in flame and a giant black thunderstorm was situated right above it sending lightning bolts into the town. His body froze in fear. He was in shock. Finally, he gathered his courage and galloped to town. As he got near, the sounds of screaming ponies could be heard after each lightning strike. Strongheart put on a burst of speed as his family popped into his thoughts. He arrived at his house and saw that it was in flames. He was relieved to see it was still standing. His small feeling of joy was short-lived as he watched his house collapse on itself. Strongheart's heart began to race, his adrenaline flowed through him.

"MOM!!!! DAD!!!!"

His shouts were in vain as thunder drowned his voice. His heart began to sink until he heard Josh screaming from next-door. Strongheart burst through the front door only to be greeted by a wave of black smoke. He coughed violently until his lungs temporarily adjusted to the smoke. He scanned the first floor finding nothing at all.

"JOSH!!!! WHERE ARE YOU???" he shouted into the house.

Smoke filled his nostrils again causing him to cough hard. When Strongheart stopped coughing, he went upstairs to search for his friend. A new smell seeped into his nostrils. Strongheart felt his stomach turn over, nearly emptying it's contents. Strongheart forced his way to the door to Josh's room. It wouldn't budge. Strongheart turned around and started kicking at the door with his back hooves. The door began to crack from the stressful blows. Finally, the door gave way, breaking in half horizontally. Strongheart vomited from the strong smell that washed over him. He had never smelt something this bad before. After entering the room, Strongheart saw Josh in the corner with his hooves over his muzzle crying softly.

"C'mon Josh, we need to get out of...."

Strongheart looked to where his friend was looking and saw a horrific sight. Underneath a pile of burning wood, was Mr. and Mrs. Woodcutter, their bodies burnt beyond recognition. Strongheart looked at the corpses with disbelief. Suddenly, a section of the ceiling over the doorway collapsed, bringing Strongheart back to his senses. He looked for an exit. He saw a window near them and without a moments notice, he grabbed Josh by the mane with his teeth and pulled him to his hooves. He jumped out the window bringing his friend with him. Strongheart wrapped all four legs around Josh, who was screaming as they fell. Strongheart felt his back tense as he braced for impact. He landed hard on the ground, knocking the wind out of him. He didn't have enough time to get any air back into his lungs as a result of Josh sandwiching him between him and the ground. Strongheart gasped for air as Josh rolled off of him. He coughed a couple of times after his lungs filled with air. After recovering,

Strongheart weakly stood up looking over to his friend. He was still crying but was on his hooves. Suddenly there was an explosion. Pain erupted from the back of Strongheart's head as he collapsed to the ground unconscious. When he came-to, a nasty smell forced its way into his nose. He looked down to find that he was on top a pile of corpses. He quickly got up but found no traction from the lifeless bodies. He tumbled down the pile and landed on his back. His eyes began to water when his head made contact with the earth. Strongheart felt the back of his head. It was warm and wet. He pulled his hoof in front of his face and saw it was blood. He must have been clocked in the head by a rock bomb's debree. He got up and felt a warm feeling on both flanks. He looked at his backside and watched as the image of a silver heart formed in his fur. Strongheart felt his eyes water, but they weren't tears of joy. He could feel a lump in his throat. His tears were falling one after the other. He was alone. His parents were either missing or dead. Strongheart looked at the pile of corpses. His heart started beating really fast. He began to whimper softly, the same word over and over, steadily getting louder.

".....no....no......no....No...No....NO!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!"

Strongheart fell over on his side, eyes clenched shut as tears seeped out.
Laying motionless in front of him, at the very bottom of the pile, was his best friend, Josh Woodcutter. He could still feel his flanks warm from his cutie mark appearing. He didn't care. So what if he got his cutie mark? Several hours passed by. He was asleep most of them. The mental tension and physical pain drained him. Finally, he got up and headed towards Canterlot, to sign up for the royal guard.

~end flashback~

Strongheart looked at the reflection of his cutie mark again. The more he thought about it, the more he realized, it was no cutie mark, but a mark of war. He had done nothing special to get it. His greatest talent was piano, so why would a silver heart appear on his sides? Strongheart sighed wishing everything made more sense. He looked around at other pony's cutie marks. There were cutie marks that resembled talents of knowledge, literature, writing, crafting, baking, foods, building, music, arts, sports, and so much more. He was the only one with a mark of war. Strongheart became deep in his own thoughts, trying to figure out his purpose in all of this. He had fulfilled part of his dream. He was now in the royal guard. His urge to become a warhorse had died along with his best friend. Strongheart slouched letting his mane fall in front of his eyes. What was he fighting for? Revenge? Justice? Right now, they seemed to be the same thing. His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of hoof-steps galloping towards him. Strongheart looked up and saw Ironhoof running with everything he had. Ironhoof didn't put on the brakes a moment too soon. He skidded a little, stopping in front of Strongheart's face. The look on Ironhoof's was one of worry. Strongheart was about to ask what was wrong, but Ironhoof cut him off before he could say anything.

"They attacked Clydesdale!!!"