The Winning Pony and the Templar

The doors to the hospital exploded in shards of glass and metal shrapnel. Inside, pony’s, doctors, and patients scatter as a yellow blur whizzed down the hall, her shrieks making all fur stand on end. Meanwhile, at the other end of the hospital, a brown coated and black maned earth pony in a security guard outfit, and an anvil as a cutie mark, glared furiously up at the human leaning against the wall.

“Sir, we told you before, you aren’t allowed to have that damn it!”

Eyes burning in his skull like blue fire, the human glared down at the equine, and said “You want my smokes? Better guards then you have tried…”

A red maned, white coated unicorn walked up, and tapped her hoof impatiently.

“All right Forge, whats wrong?”

“This bucking monkey is smoking!”

“Is that so?” the mare turned to the human, one brow raised. Suddenly, she smirked, and nodded to the clenched pouch in his hand.

“Mind if I bum one of them offa ya sonny?”

Nodding, Garret rolled up a tobacco leaf into some paper, then flicked it to the nurse.  Catching it between her lips, she nodded thanks. Lighting the end of her horn, and then the cigarrete, she walked back to her desk. Snorting with disgust, the stallion stomped away

Garrets hair suddenly rustled as the yellow Pegasus blurred past him, to stamp her hoofs on the nurses  desk.

“Zecora!”

The mare continued typing a moment, then looked, and said through the cigarrete, “Name?”

Fluttershy’s eye twitched as her wings flared out, and she screeched, “Zecora!”

Looking back down, the nurse said haughtily, “I’m sorry ma’am, but visiting hours are between…” suddenly, the mare found herself knocked off her seat and pinned to the wall. Baring her teeth fully, and tears streaking down her yellow cheeks, as her eyes blazed with hellfire and damnation, Fluttershy said in an entirely pleasant and kind tone, “Room number.”

Grinning back nervously, the mare said, “173.”

In a flash, the mare fell with a thump onto the tiles of the floor. Scowling, she stood, and walked back to her desk, muttering, “Damn, she’s a sweetie, but is that ninety-nine percent sweetie worth the one percent crazy?”

Cloudkicker briskly flew down the hall, rubbing her ribs with her hoof as she weakly called, “Come on Eepysqueak… they said… Acchhh!”

She glared behind to Garret, who clutched her tail, stopping her procession.

“Wait CK. Only Fluttershy can see her right now.”

Scowling, Cloudkicker floated down, and watched forlornly as a pink tail disappeared around a corner.Releasing her tail, Garret took a drag of his stick, then taking it between his fingers, took it out. Blowing the smoke out into the atmosphere, he cast a gaze down to look at the mare next to him.

“She’s special to you…”

Snorting, Cloudkicker cast a gaze over shoulder, and shot back, “Yeah? No shit.”

Putting out the smoldering stick, Garret then crossed his arms.

“How long you been after Fluttershy?”

Cloudkicker sighed, and sat down next to the human.

“We’ll, we first banged in Flight camp.”

“Huh, didn’t know you were a counselor.”

Cloudkicker scuffed a forehoof against the ground.

“I wasn’t… and neither was she.”

Garret jerked off the wall. Looking incredulously down at the blonde mane’d equine, he said “Excuse me?”

Cloudkicker chuckled weakly.

“Precocious little scamp ain’t I?”

The human shook his head.

“Did one of the counselors…”

The mare shook her head, and took a shaky breath.

“No, no, nothing like. One day, it just… sorta happened, you know?”

Leaning up off the wall, the human frowned down at Cloudkicker.

“No, I don’t know. Whatever possessed you too… I can’t even say it.”

Still looking down, Cloudkicker shrugged.

“Don’t give me that. Never mind whatever problems you got, ever think what that did to Fluttershy?”

The equine cast a slight gaze upward, then looking down, nodded.

“Everytime I see her.”

Snorting the human waved a hand in front of his face as though swatting a bug.

“Ahh, feel guilty? Well, shit, I guess that makes up for probably forcing yourself on someone else.”

“I didn’t force her Dash!”

Brows knitting together, Garrets gaze softened.

“Dash? Rainbow Dash? What does she have to do with this?”

Ears flicking back against her skull, Cloudkicker, and wrapped her wings slightly around her barrel.

“We…. She thought I raped Eepy, and came after me. I… we hurt each other . But… I messed up her…” the mare cleared her throat, “Well, her snatch… pretty bad. She can’t have foals because of me, and Eepy broke up with me the same day I went into the hospital.”

Sighing, Garret rubbed his arms as though he was cold. The room was perfectly warm.

“Oh Elohie Cloud… Where were the counselors? Any adults?”

Cloudkicker shrugged her wings, and gave a bitter smile.

“Probably doing what me and Eepysqueak were up too.”

“This isn’t a joke CK.”

The equine nodded. Uncrossing his arms, and rubbing the back of his neck, the human scowled.

“Damn it Cloud…”

The equine glared up at Garret.

“Haven’t you ever done something you regret?”

Garret winced, and looked down.

“Yeah… Yeah I have…”

Sighing, Garret sat down next to Cloudkicker on the floor.

“What a mess.”

Slowly, Cloudkicker leaned against Garret, and rested her head on his shoulder. The human felt slightly uncomfortable as she pushed a wing across his back, over his shoulder, and with a whimper, wing snugged him.

.......................................................................................

Fluttershy stroked the mane of her lover gently, leaning forward to nuzzle and nip the zebra affectionately. Thankfully, everything was bared to her since the doctors had removed the mare numerous gold rings, and sighing, the pink maned pegasi laid her head on the zebras chest.

“You’re her.”

Fluttershy yelped, and looked to her side, eyes wide. A young zebra sat next to her, eyes bloodshot. Still stroking Zecora’s mane, she looked at the foal, giving a soft smile.

“Oh dear, little one. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

The zebra shook his head. Slowly, Fluttershy panned her eyes over his frame. He was simply far to thin, and it was almost ten at night.  Tsking softly, Fluttershy whispered , “Oh come now. Time for all little foals to be in bed.”

The foal hmmphed, and stuck his nose in the air.

“Condescending wench. I am a proud warrior of the Zebra grasslands, and will be addressed as such.”

Fluttershy just smiled and nodded.

“Of course, forgive me.”

For a moment they just watched the mare before them sleep.

“Your Chane right?”

The foal closed his eyes a moment, then gave a nod.

“I am.”

His eyes shot open as he felt Fluttershy’s wing go around him and draw him to her side. Cheeks flushing, he looked up at her, and smiling, she leaned down to nuzzle his cheek.

“Well then, it’s very nice to meet you Chane. Welcome to Ponyville.”

The foal looked back down, squirming slightly in her embrace. Zebra’s were more often then not touch shy. From the time their weaned, both males and females are denied embraces or nuzzle, to harden them to the harshness of their lands. And even as adults, aside from mating in in the privacy of their huts or houses, it was generally frowned upon to show to much favor to your mate or offspring, the belief being that such a state would detract from the tribe overall. Mind racing, Chane ran through reason after why he nudge her off, or slap her for being so forward. But, after a moment, when his resolve weakened under the gentle warmth of the pegasi, he settled down with a sigh.

“Madam Fluttershy?”

“Yes Chane?”

He sighed, and wiped his nose with a hoof.

“You know who I came with, what they wanted me to do. I didn’t want too, but my sister disgraced us, and refused to return. So, why do you embrace me, this foal who should be your enemy.”

Fluttershy looked at him a moment. Smiling, she drew him to her neck, and rest her head on top of his head, flattening his Mohawk.

“Oh Chane. Tell me, why are you so fearful of me?”

“You… You corrupted my sister. You spend all your time in debauch and filth. You are an outsider, a heathen…”

Leaning back slightly, still smiling.

“I’m… different?”

Slowly, the foal nodded. Taking his hoof, she pressed it to his chest.

“Tell me little one, what do you feel?”

The foal looked down a moment.

“My… heart beat?”

The yellow mare nodded, and drew him against her again with a wing.

“What do you hear now?”

The foal shrugged against her. “Your heart beat. Why?”

Nuzzling the top of his head again, she said softly, “See?”

“See what?”

“There exactly the same.”

The foal looked down, brows knitted as he went through this. He looked up, and frowned somewhat as she continued to stroke his sisters mane. Rolling his eyes, he leaned against the yellow mare, and scrunched his muzzle. Looking back, and seeing the look, Fluttershy giggled.

“What’s wrong?”

“We might be the same, but I still think what you and my sister do is icky.”

Giggling, Fluttershy nuzzled the foal.

“Well, I think some of the comics colts read are icky. Just because we disagree, does that mean we can’t like each other?”

The foal shrugged.

“I guess we can come too amicable agreement.”

Tittering softly, Fluttershy wrapped her hooves and wings around the foal, and squeezed him tight. Cutest. Baby. Brother.

Ever!

Zecora chuckled as she watched the show.

“It is nice to see the two pony’s I love getting along so well.”

Chane yelped and squirmed.

“Release me heathen! You dare embrace me in front of my kin, unclean one!”

Giggling again, Fluttershy let the foal go, who jumped to his sisters side.

“Zecora, are you… ow” Sticking out his bottom lip, he rubbed the top of his head.

“Troublemaking little snapper!”

“How dare you strike the eldest born son… ouch!”

Snorting derisively, Zecora spat back and she raised her hoof again, “Even in our homelands, or whether I liked stallions or mares,  little brother, I’d be whipping your worthless hide as much as I want.”

“Witch! Harlot! My vengeance… ow!”

“That is quite enough Zecora!”

Setting her jaw firmly and giving her mate a stern look, Fluttershy drew the colt to her chess.

“Now I know your brother and you aren’t happy with each other right now, but you will not treat him like that in front of me!”

Leaning down, she nuzzled the now sputtering foal in her embrace, and cooed, “Now don’t you worry. Your big sister Zecora is just cranky from having to heal up…”

Zecora sat up gaping.

“What? I’ve got a hole in my side and neck, and you take the side of the boy?”

Fluttershy gave a curt nod, and looked at the zebra expectantly, brows raised.

“What?”

“Apologize!”

Zecora crossed her forelegs, and made a duck face.

“I certainly will not.”

“No double ended marital aid for your missy!”

“Yeah, well…. Hey, Chane?”

Fluttershy looked to her side.

“Is he asleep.”

“I think he fainted….”

………………………………………………………

Cloudkicker groaned as she stretched out her legs in her sleep. Nuzzling into her pillow, she murred softly.

“Uh, yoohoo, Cloud…”

Grumbling now in annoyance, the pegasus wrapped her forelegs around her pillow.

“Ow, damn it! Let go!”

Five more minute mom… she thought. She was to cozy to even care… if she felt a tongue go across her cheek, blech! Launching off of the human to bounce a few feet away on her rump, she vigorously scrubbed her cheek.

“Damn it Garret, what the hay?”

Scowling, the human stood and stretched.

“You were spooning me!”

“I’ll have you know most males would think themselves damn lucky to being embraced by a fine specimen of mare like me."

“That’s cause most males don’t know you!”

Earning himself his first equine raspberry of the day, Garret sat down again.

“Look, just… sorry, ok? I’m not used to this sort of thing.” He patted the spot next to him.

Sticking her nose snootily in the air, Cloudkicker sat back on her haunches and crossed her forelegs.

“Maybe I don’t feel like cuddling some jerk? Maybe I….” suddenly, her words were cut off as lightning clapped outside, and thunder rolled, rattling the windows in there frames and temporarily dimming the lights. In the moments between darkness, Cloud leaped across the floor and dug in next to the human, eyes wide, ears flat against her skull. As the lightning cracked, she gave a small cry, and pressed her face to Garrets shoulder.

“Geez, Cloud… what is, some kind of….” He stopped as he stroked her mane, and felt her trembling.

“CK, you all right?”

The mare nodded, then cried out again when the storm continued outside.

“Good heavens! You spend all day with in the clouds! I would think this sort of thing would be your thing.”

Cloudkicker whimpered, and nuzzled the humans shoulder.

“Lightning doesn’t bother me… It’s thunder…”

“How come?”

Whimpering, the mare lay a wing over the humans chest.

“When… when I was a foal, my dad and uncle went and explored some caverns in northern equestrian. Problem was, we didn’t know that local weather team was running through, and we were flooded. I got knocked off my dad’s back, and was swept further down into the caves. It felt like hours, and the whole time, underwater or with my head sticking out, all I heard was that horrible thunder echoing through the cave. My dad dragged me out, and gave me cpr. Ever since, I can’t stand storms.”

Garret gave the mare a scratch behind the ear, and despite initial annoyance over being treated like fido, she began to feel better. Fear somewhat, she sat up slightly, looking curiously at the armor the human still wore.

“You fought three Zebrican hunters in that?”

Getting a nod, she shook her head.

“Your are either brave, or foolish.”

Grinning, the human replied, “I’m neither.”

Undoing the clasps on the green and brown leather armor, he lifted it slightly. Under it, he wore another shirt, but under the soft leather of the armor was mesh of chain mail.

Fascination with all things military in full effect, Cloudkicker tilted her head.

“That’s… not steel, or iron. What is that?”

“Kalresian. Light as a feather, five times stronger then pegasi steel. Of course, if a dragon were to chuck me onto a mountainside…”

“Sweet Celestia… that must have cost a mint…”

“Nope, my Commanding officer gave it to me when he retired. I got a plate one at home, but this ones lighter.”

And with that, the two settled into discussions of respective equipment

..........................

the Next morning

Dinky sat morosely on the bench, kicking her hind hooves over the dirt under her current seat. Since yesterday, doctors had been in to see her, asking how she felt, if she got enough sleep. Any nightmares. It didn’t make sense all the fuss everyone was making. Mr. Garret had walked in saved her and Zecora from those bad zebras. When she had said this, of course the nurse and doctor looked shocked, and asked how she felt about the bad stallions dying. She merely said, “They were bad guys.” Now she was under observation. Hay, it wasn’t like she’d never seen a dead pony before.

Hearing somepony’s hooves crunching the dirt pat through the hospitals private garden, she looked up a moment, then down again. Chane. Despite avoiding him when she could, she really didn’t hate the little zebra. Not only was he Zecora’s brother, but he tried to stop the bigger zebra’s from being so mean. Now, the grown-ups were trying to find a place for him, though both Fluttershy and Zecora said he could stay with them.

“Hello.”

“Uh, hi… Chane. Wanna sit down?”

The colt nodded, and said, “Yes, I would like that very much, thank you.”

That was another thing. He wasn’t any older then any other foal in town, why was he always talking like a grownup? Jumping onto the bench, Chane folded his legs under him, and looked at Dinky.

“Ms. Dinky, theres a matter I wish to discuss with you.”

There it was, that grown up talk. The little grey unicorn gave a nod.

“I want too…. Apologize. I’m so very sorry I couldn’t stop what happened, and am especially sorry over the behavior of that stallion.”

Dinky shrugged.

“Is okay. What did he mean though, I’d be a bride for his son? Im just a filly.”

Chane winced. Back in the home country, though the princesses had done much to eradicate such practices, a forced marriage was semi-rare occurrence. He remembered the scared, hollow look of the girls his father had married, and how quickly they’d disappeared. Shaking his head, he smiled.

“Its… complicated…”

Pouting, Dinky looked down to the dirt again.

“Miss Kicker and Sparks always tell me that. And mommy would do the same thing too.”

“Where is your mother Ms. Dinky?”

“She died.”

Chane winced, and looked down shamefully.

“I’m sorry.”

“Where’s your mommy.”

Shrugging his shoulder, Chane said “She’s dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

Chane drew invisible circles in the bench with his hoof. Really, one of the first conversations he’d had with someone his own age since he left home, and already he stuck his hoof in his mouth. Ears turning towards the trees, he looked up. Maybe… smiling, he said, “Ms. Dinky.”

The unicorn turned to the zebra. Looking up at the tree, Chane let out a sweet litany of notes. From the tree, a song sang back. Dinky’s eyes widened as a little blue bird flittered down, and gazed up at the two equines.

“Its… It’s a blue jay…”

Chane nodded, and whistled again. The bird took a couple steps forward.

“You can talk to them like Ms. Fluttershy.”

Chuckling, Chane shook his head.

“No, I don’t. In any case, birds don’t sing to be pretty or because they like it.”

“They don’t?”

“No. The sing to stake out territory. Basically, they’re yelling, “MY TREE, MY TREE.”

The avian let out a series of notes. Snorting, Chane leaped off the bench, and lowered his head to the ground.

“No, MY DINKY! MINE!”

The bird sang again. And again, Chane shook his head firmly.

“Nuh-uh, MY DINKY! Go get your own, MINE!”

Sticking its beak haughtily into the air, the  bird relented. Nodding and smirking, Chane said, “Yeah, you’d better flap off! NEEEAAAGGGHHH” At the end, he stuck his tongue out for good measure.

Dinky giggled, and covered her face with her hooves.

“Oh Chane, your so silly!”