The Winning Pony and the Templar

Leaning forward, Tornadokicker took a gently slurp of his morning coffee. Next to him, Atticus stood, his hands folded behind his back. Thirst now somewhat sated, he looked over his paper.

“Huh… Apparently, Princess Celestia doesn’t like tea… And many are calling for the removal of Prince Marcum…”

Atticus raised his eyebrows.

“I beg your pardon?”

Eyes still roaming over the ink, the Pegasus continued, “Apparently, in light of this recent development, many are feeling that the human is an undue influence on her majesty. This reporter also must remind the faithful readers of the horrid fight the Regents had, when he referred to our loving Celestia as a insufferable nag.”

Chuckling, Tornado turned the page.

“When asked to comment, the Prince replied, “Bloody fucking hell! Why the fuck can’t my wife have her own likes or dislikes?” This of course is in light of the loss of capital in the tea market as jobs are lost and pony’s concern of capital gains ignored.”

“I fail sir to see what is so funny…”

Giving a slight shrug of his wings, and wincing at the still sore feeling in them, Tornado took another sip of coffee.

“I don’t know what the big to do is, that’s all.”

“Agreed sir. But nevertheless, your kind are not readily accepting of major changes. Such things are… unsettling.”

Giving a nod of approval, the stallion said, “Quite right. A very clever insight from one who’s not an equine.”

“Thank you sir. Your praise is what makes it all worthwhile.”

Rolling his eyes, Tornado turned back to his paper, growling, “Smart ass.”

“I am also surprised you’re so glib about one insulting your goddess sir.”

Frowning slightly, the memories of his discussions with her majesty over his wifes demise still fresh, the stallion replied curtly, “I stopped think of her that way long ago son.”

He nosed the paper shut, and gave another chuckle.

“And in any case, all couples have their tiffs. I remember this incident as well, and those two made up almost immediately.”

The pegasi looked around the café they were in. Unlike the local pony establishments, which never appeared to know the phrase tone it down, the human was decidedly more rustic. Simply made wooden tables and chairs, plain coffee cups and glasses.  Everything immaculately kept free of dust and grime by the owners. Pony’s, again in general, tended to avoid it. Mostly because of rumors, but also because of the humans diet. While pony’s did eat eggs, the appearance of steak and ham repulsed and deterred most equine patrons. Of course, since pegasi did eat fish from time to time, they didn’t have the same problem with it as their fellow unicorn and earth pony’s did, and had helped to keep the local business afloat.

Tornadokicker loved it. Nice and quiet, a soft song being sung on the radio on the counter. Though the couple of skulls on the shelf behind it were somewhat unsettling. Good coffee, which was worlds above the swill he’d been sucking down for weeks beforehand.  Good company too, Atticus included. No pony trying not to stare, or turning the other way when he walked in. He remembered his commanding officer talking about it was a show of respect, he should enjoy it. But… despite the tireless rhetoric he endured over the years about family and tradition, the real reason he joined the guard was to help pony’s. And with his wife’s frigid attitude towards all things bedroom, at least until the latter years of their union, the uniform certainly didn’t hurt his carnal pursuits of mares and stallions alike.

He hated though, how everypony was so afraid of him. Over the years, as he rose through the ranks, more and more he found himself away from those he swore to protect. And as he was drawn away, he found himself more and more among the nobility and movers and shakers of Equestria.  His wife, in her rare moments when she did speak, would often chastise him over his close-muzzled approach in these encounters. Or lectured him on his soft hearted approach to their only daughter.

“What did the doctor say?”

Drawn from his musings, the stallions nodded towards his saddlebags.

“Oh, you fuss like a mother hen. Look, its ok. He gave me some antibiotics.”

Taking his cup between his hooves, he took sip of his drink.

“Antibiotics for what?”

The human sitting at the next table let forth a litany of curses as the Pegasus spit take coated the back of his head and shirt in luke warm liquid. Wiping his muzzle with a hoof, and ignoring the angry yells of a disgruntled patron, the white coated stallion guiltily turned to the mare stand a few feet away.

“Oh, hey kiddo…”

Giving a nod and a smile to the human, Cloudkicker turned her gaze back to her father. Smile fading into a frown, she walked forward.

“For what dad?”

Chuckling, Tornadokicker rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh, you know, for uhh… Atticus here! He caught a little bug, you know, in the badlands?”

Not taking her gaze from her father, eyes narrowing, Cloudkicker walked forward. Tornadokicker leaned back slightly as she drew close, and their noses touched. Not breaking eye contact, the lavender mare said “Sick huh?”

Covering his mouth, the human let out the most disingenuous cough of all time.

Sighing, the mare turned away, shaking her head. As she walked, Tornadokicker shot a look that spoke volumes.

What was that?

Atticus tilted his eyes downward, and gave a quirk of his right brow.

It was all I could think of.

Grimacing, the stallion looked back his foal. Tilting his head, his grimace worsened.

“Hey, Cloud, you ok?”

Looking up, the mare smiled and nodded, then leaning her head down, took out a couple of bits. Seeing her fathers look, she spat the bits out, and frowned back.

“What?”

“Lieutenant?”

The human clicked his boots together.

“Sir.”

The stallion nodded towards his daughter. Eyes not leaving the target, the soldier moved in. Before his quarry could escape, he pinned her down, chin pressed against the table top. Leaning down, he gently prooceded to extend her wing as she yelled.

“Hey…. Hey,watch ittt…. Yah! What are unnnnnngggg….” Her eyelids fluttered as her wings were toyed with, but she yelped and jumped as he felt along the edges.

“Sir, her wing is swelling here.”

As he spoke, he slid his fingers along the length of the opposing, making the mare gasp, then yelp again as the he prodded the tender spot.

“And here.”

Face letting out no emotion, Atticus stood again, leaving the mare with eyes half lidded on pleasure on the table. Her

fathers snickering drew her out of her moment two seconds later.

“I also noticed something else sir.”

Smirking, the stallion looked up.

“Oh?"

“Excuse me one moment sir.”

Tornadokicker turned back to his table, and nodded towards his daughter.

“Really now, such a display in public.” The stallion made a tsking noise.

Blushing furiously, Cloudkicker pouted and tried to flatten her wings to her side again.

“That was mean. You could have just asked….”

Before the snickering elder could reply, Atticus returned, a bowl in hand.

“You are of course right, ma’am. That was terribly rude of me. In the Territories, when one wrongs another, we are expected to make restitution.”

Smiling pleasantly, he placed the bowl on the table. Looking down, Cloudkickers eyes widened in horror. No… not that… she’d sleep with a diamond before she’d face this horror…

“You like ice cream, Miss Kicker?”

Grinning sheepishly, Cloudkicker rubbed the back of her neck.

“Oh, no… I couldn’t.”

“Oh, but you must. To refuse amends when a peace offering is offered is an insult.”

Cloudkicker looked helplessly at her father, who grinned and shrugged his wings.

“You wouldn’t want to offend such a gracious gesture, would you kiddo?”

“I…. can’t. This is chocolate. I’ll get pimples.”

“Your covered in fur.”

“My parents never let me eat dessert before dinner …?”

“Oh no, I couldn’t deprive you of such a tasty treat.”

“Dad… I really….”

“Present spoons soldier,”

Setting her jaw, the mare took the bowl between her hooves. Lifting it to her mouth, she took a bite from the top half, then swallowed, and laying the bowl down made yum sounds. Atticus counted off in his head.

3…2…1

Cloudkicker teared up in an instant, and pressed her hoof to her cheek. As the cold confection slid into her muzzle, it touched the still setting tooth, sending the equine into fits of agony.

Tornado raised his eyebrows.

“What happened?”

“You’ll get mad…”

Seeing her fathers look, Cloudkicker sighed.

“It was Garret…”

For a moment, both Atticus and Tornado looked at the blonde bombshell, then her father went back to his paper with another shrug of his wings.

“Oh, ok.”

“What, is that it?”

The stallion looked up, and smiled.

“Well, it was obviously your fault my dear.”

The mare dropped her hoof, and didn’t even feel the fresh shot of pain as her jaw dropped.

“How can you say that?”

As they spoke, Atticus discretely went to stand before a window. Rolling his eyes, Tornadokicker went back to his paper.

“Look kiddo, we’ve been here before. Your old enough now not to get yourself in these scrapes, right?”

Pouting again, she nodded.

“Yes sir.”

“So, you wanna tell what happened?”

“Its just…. He’s a pretty good buddy of mine. But the last few weeks, he’s been acting weird. So, last night I just went to talk with him, and we got into a shouting match. This escalated into a full blown fight.”

Sighing, the stallion nosed his paper shut, and regarded his little foal. For a moment, he thought of telling her the truth, his mind flashing back for an instant…

Nimbus glided silently through the window of their home, and made dents in the cloud as she landed. Looking up, eyes brimming with tears behind the exposed part of her helmet, her eyes wandered over the photo’s of her graduation…. The day of her wedding…. Her little filly, cuddling next to her…

Her stomach gave a lurch. Walking forward, she gently took the picture of her foal  from the wall, and holding between her teeth, walked towards the sofa. As she walked, she disarmored, letting the still warm armor fall to the white of the floor. Her husband watched, eyes wide. No soldier worth his salt would let their gear down like that. Nimbus undid the straps and buckles of her wingblades, and the weapons fell of his drooping wings as they dragged across the ground. photo,She sat down back against the sofa, and sitting up, held the photo in her hooves.

Tornadokicker walked into the room, his eyes hard.

“So, are you happy then? Is this what you wanted?”

Nimbus just looked down.

“Well, answer me soldier!”

The mare flinched, and made a sound that her stallion couldn’t recognize at first. Walking towards the couch, he said timidly, “Nim?”

She didn’t look up. Sitting down in front of her, he gently took the helm she still wore. She was crying. Gently, he wiped her cheek with a wing.

“Oh Nimbus…”

He couldn’t help… even after all these years, all the struggles… she was still so beautiful. Looking up at him, her mane beginning to show some of the gray fur of age, she whimpered.

“Celestia’s name…. What have I done…?”

Tornadokicker slowly wrapped his legs around his mare. Leaning her face to his chest, she sobbed, “What have WE done… I… I never wanted this…”

Slowly, the stallion stroked her mane.

“Dad?”

Tornado snapped up, and looked at his daughter.

“Huh?”

“Garret?”

Sighing, Tornado rubbed a hoof on his forehead.

“Look, Cloud, I know your worried, its just…”

Tornado lowered his hoof, and stared at Cloudkicker sternly.

“A person’s past is their business. If he doesn’t want to talk about it, then drop the matter. Clear?”

Sighing softly, Cloudkicker nodded.

“Yes sir.”

meanwhile, at the edge of the everfree

Dinky shivered like a leaf under Zecoras bed. Peaking out, she covered her mouth with both hooves to cover her breathing. That afternoon, she had been helping the zebra pick various roots and herbs Suddenly, as they were boiling the flora,

Zecora told the filly to hide under the bed. When she heard the hoof steps, she had shut her eyes as tightly.

“wewe! Kahaba!”

This time the herbalist spoke.

“Ah, hivyo wale umri mbwajike hatimaye alimtuma wewe.”

More hoofsteps echoed.

“kujisalimisha! The mapenzi  ya the kabila ni kabisa.”

A hoof stomped near the bed, and Dinky jumped slightly.

“Kuma mamako’s!”

Screams echoed through, and Zecora screeched in agony. An odd thump sound, and Dink slowly opened her  eyes. Oh Maker…. Her mentor lay bleeding, the end of a spear through her side and throat. Eyes widening as the blood began to draw close, she scooted back. The two weapons jiggled in their prey, the two different striped hooves pressed to the body. With a disgusting sound, the ends of the spears were pulled, and the body was dragged. Dinky whimpered.

The four sets of hooves stopped.

“Nini ilikuwa kwamba?”

Suddenly, a set of hooves belted back, and a sneering striped face poked under the bed. Slowly an unsettling leer crawled across the muzzle.

“Hey, ‘ittle un. Come to your uncle, eh?”

Dinky shook her head.

“Oh come on. If you nice to uncle, uncle be nice to you, eh?”

The other zebras snorted and chuckled.

“Pretty please?”

Dinky shoved herself into a corner.

“Come here little filly. You come with me, maybe be my sons new bride, eh?”

Grinning, the zebra reached under the bed towards the foal. Dinky screamed and clawed helplessly against the floor boards, and finally, her bladder let loose in her desperate attempt at escape. Suddenly, the chuckling was silenced as an odd whistling, then a meaty thunk echoed through the room.

The stallion let out an “Unnnkkughh….” As his eyes rolled into the back of his head. In the room, the remaining four hunters stood stunned. From the back of their leaders head, a tomahawk stood, the blade sunk deep across the skull, splitting the Mohawk of the stallion in the back of his head in half. The other four clutched their spears.

“Ndugu! No, si Ndugu!” a young voice called.

Another stallion yelled, “Ambao ni wewe?”

Dinky covered her head in her hooves, and standing at the doorway, she saw the dark leggings of a human, its feet covered in heavy boots. Slowly, the boots walked forward. And then the human spoke, its very words sending chills up Dinky’s spine.

“Yako avunaye.”

Screaming in a battle cry, three of the four charged. Sidestepping the zebras easily, the unicorn filly winced as the air whistled with drawn blades, and battle cries to shrieks of pain and shock. As the boots skidded across the floor, Dinkies eyes widened further. Hanging down from his hands were a short sword and another tomahawk, both dripping with blood. The other zebras suddenly collapsed,  bodies gashed and indented from the weapon play. The other zebra closest to the bed whimpered, and Dinky winced as he dropped his spear.

“No! Please… I… I didn’t want too to be here! I didn’t kill Zecora, please!”

The human turned to him, and the zebra collapsed. Dinky slowly crawled out from under the bed, eyes away from the bodies, and just focused on the last zebra. He… he was so small. With a new feeling of horror present, Dinky realized he was just about the same age as she was.

“Please no! I… couldn’t stop them, please!”

Slowly the boots walked over the floor, and Dinky looked up to see her savior. His upper half was covered in a camo leather of browns and greens, and his head was covered with a hood. His face was covered in brown a green cloth, concealing his features. All she could see were his eyes.

“No…” A voice gurgled.

Dinky and the zebra foal gasped, and even the human turned to look down. Zecora lay in a pool of her blood, several cuts and a couple of deep wounds. Pressing a hoof to her neck, the zebra snarled, “So… this is all the hunters can do? Feh...”

Dinky screamed and rushed to the herbalist, and with a screech of his own, the stripped colt bolted. Reaching out, the human grabbed a handful of the black and white mane.

“Please! I… I DON’T WANT TO DIE! PLEASE!”

“Garret!”

Slowly, the human turned. Zecora lifted her head weakly, and shook it.

“As if I would do that. Just making sure he sticks around.”

The foal yelped as he was dropped onto his rump. Tucking his forelegs to his chest, the zebra sobbed.

“Chane!”

The foal jumped slightly, and slowly turned to Zecora. Tapping her hoof on the ground, Zecora huffed, “Come here boy.”

Whimpering, the foal stood, and walked over to the unicorn and zebra. Dinky’s eyes narrowed as he drew close, and she actually snarled at him, her horn shooting sparks. Chane whimpered, and lifted a foreleg up as though ready to bolt again.

“Dinky…” the striped mare cast a disparaging look at the filly.

The filly huffed, and gave the mare a nuzzle. Slowly, the zebra continued his trek. Coming up too Zecora, his hindquarters slumped, and he sniffed, then gave a choked sob.

“I’m…. I’m so sorry sister!”

Smiling softly, Zecora lifted her brothers chin.

“Oh Chane…. Why, why would you do this?”

Tears streaming down his cheeks, the foal screamed, “No Zecora! It was not I! Father… he said it was my duty!”

Rubbing his forelegs, he ducked his head again.

“But…. I couldn’t… I failed…”

Zecora eyes flashed. Raising her brother chin again with a hoof, she said firmly, “No Chane! I… I know now you would never hurt your family! You are not the  weak one, Jelani is!”

The foal gasped, and knocked the hoof away.

“Sister! You dare disrespect father in such a way!”

Smiling, Zecora reached out in a flash, and drew the foal close.

“Oh Chane… my sweet Chane,,,”

For a moment, the foal struggled, then collapsed. Sniffling, Dinky crawled next to  them and hugged them both as hard as she could.

Garret looked on, and for a moment, thought, “Through the gates of hel, I see the light of the long tomorrow…” and with that, turned, and walked out to get the local towns doctors.