"We're.... broke. What happened exactly?" I ask as I step towards the table.

"He doesn't seem to get the whole smelly thing, does he?" Breaker mumbles to Mom, getting a nod in response.

"Well, the Griffin Colonies were our largest buyers in the cloud industry," she starts as she holds her tea between her hooves, "but ever since the green storm started we've been taking a lot of flak from them. In order to keep relations the way they are between our nations we had to pay a grievance fee, just some hundred twenty million bits." She says with a smile.

"Hundred....twenty... million..."

"Yes, needless to say we had to shut down and declare chapter five." She says before taking a sip of tea. I try to glance over to Breaker, but he only looks away in shame.

"Are you alright?" I ask Mom.

"Oh yes, thank you. The Princess has actually been very helpful during all of this. Originally it was going to be two hundred million and a hanging..."

"WHAT!" I yell as I nearly fall over myself.

"Yeah, but she negotiated it down to the hundred twenty thankfully. Well, that and she also seemed to mention that we were also part Terradisian. I'm sure Miles will have fun with that later today..."

"So that's why you're here.... you had to sell the house didn't you?" I ask, getting a slow nod from her. "I'm sorry...."

"Why?" Breaker asks. "Its not like you're the pony responsible for all of this..."

"Oh hush now." Mom says as she sets down her cup. "Nopony blames you for that. It was the work of Steelwing and those Centaurs, nopony else." She says as she rubs his back. His only shakes his head as he looks away from her; guilt filling his eyes.

"... where's Twilight?" I ask as I look around.

"Oh, she went upstairs awhile ago. Why don't you go up and talk to her... after taking a shower of course. We'll be down here OK?" I nod to her before taking the stairs up to my bedroom, where I find Twilight. She's sprawled out on her back in the middle of the bed with a book covering her face.

"Rough night?" I ask as I walk over to the bed side. She lets out a small yelp before falling off to the side. I just chuckle and finish to undoing my armor as she gets back up.

"STORM! you're back!" She yells before running over to me and wrapping me up in a hug. As I embrace her I take a moment to get familiar with her again. Her sent, the way her fur feels under my hoof, the warmth I get as she rubs against the side of my head.. the way she giggles uncontrollably... wait... she isn't giggling....

"Mom.... what are you doing?" I ask slowly as I look over to her. She's standing in the doorway below staring right at us.

"Oh don't mind me, I'm just passing through." She says as she creeps her way to the other door, never taking her eyes off of me.

"She'e been.... very curious about things." Twilight whispers to me.

"How so?"

"Well... she... uh... she really wants grandfoals."

"... and?"

"And when your mother started giving me advice on proper positioning...."

"WHAT!?"

"Did you need something dear?" Mom asks as she runs back into the room.

"Yeah... I mean no... I.... *sigh* I just need a shower."

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

Once Storm flies off I send everyone down into my shed to gather their gear, only to have True Will pull me aside again. We walk over to the side of the house where he glances around a bit.

"Something on your mind?" I ask.

"Yeah, its about Camo Flash. I don't exactly get why he died the way he did."

"He didn't have a cause..."

"I'll be honest, I kind of just shouted the first thing that came to mind."

"That's exactly what we wanted." I tell him, getting a bewildered look from him. "You were weak, hungry, sleep deprived and most importantly, scared. We took you down to the most primal instincts and asked you what pushes you. There's a reason you said redemption; it meant something to you. Camo didn't have something to push him in that moment of need. He didn't have that cause to push him in that near death moment, that's why he died." He thinks about it for a second before walking over to the shed, passing Damian as he enters.

"Next week right?" He asks as he trots up to me, strapping his scythe to his back.

"That's what we said..."

"I had another question though. You made Storm and Big Mac weapons, can I get one?"

"Sure, what are you looking for?"

"Something to make me weaker." I stare at him for a few seconds before laughing.

"Yeah, sure. I'll get right on that." I chuckle.

"No, I'm serious." Again, I stare at him for a few seconds before laughing at him.

"OK Damian, I'll get on...."

KA-BOOM

"GIVE ME FLESH!" From down the tree line a massive explosion shakes the ground as a massive humanoid creature emerges from the ground. He stands at least two stories tall with crimson red skin. His face has two beady black eyes right above a massive four pronged mouth that's slick with drool. He stands up and lets out a tremendous roar as he flexes his muscular body.

"What... the...fu.."

"I've got this." Damian says casually as he steps forward and takes his stance with his scythe.

"You've got to be..."

CLUNK

FOOOOSH

In the spawn of only a few seconds Damian was able to lunge into the air, stab down into the chest of the demon, burn it with some blackened fire, and still land perfectly.

"... and here I thought I was over powered." I mutter as he walks back to me. "Also, never stab with a scythe, its meant to be a slicing weapon."

"Yeah... so about that weakening weapon..."

"What was that?" Dust Devil asks as the rest of the Spartans begin to climb out of the shed.

"You mean to tell me none of you saw that?" I ask as they all approach me.

"See what?" Night Fury asks.

"The demon! The giant, red, fucking demon! None of you saw it! None?" I ask in bewilderment.

"That's suppose to be a secret." Damian says under his breath.

"NNope. We were all in the shed, didn't see a thing." Big Mac says. "By the way, are we gonna git guns or are we stickin ta blades?"

"Guns will only be used in extreme conditions..."

"You use a gun." Damian points out.

"Yeah, go fuck yourself." I tell him before facing the others. "Okay, enough weird..."

"Miles?" Regina asks from behind.

"Regina? Did you see it?"

"See what?" She asks as she looks around. "On my... you made more sexy Spartans didn't you?" She asks as she walks up to Damian. "Hi, I'm Regina..."

"He's gay." I inform her.

"No I'm..."

"Really? Damn, he was a cute one. How about..."

"Regina, what are you doing here?" I ask as I pull her away. Behind me I can hear Damian complaining as some of the others try to comfort him, but I ignore it as we walk towards the front.

"Well... it has to do with Storm Breaker and Terradisia." She says uncomfortably.

"What about us?" I ask as we make it to the front yard. I come to a stop and stare out at the contingency of griffins standing before us.

"I'm sorry Miles, I really am, but I have to arrest you and Breaker. Somepony has to be held accountable for the green storms, and Breaker was one of the ones working with them. My leader has also decreed that you be arrested for giving him..."

"Regina, I respect you, but I'm not going anywhere." I tell her as the rest of the Spartans walk up behind me. "Breaker paid his price already, and I am more than willing to help your nation in its time of need. But I will not be made into a criminal for a crime I didn't commit or even assist in."

"Miles, please don't make this harder then it needs to be. I brought over two hundred griffins..."

"Well I have seven Spartans so go get some more guards and then it may be a fight."

"Miles, these soldiers have their orders, and they will carry them out. Please come peaceably. Seven Spartans cannot stand against two hundred fifty griffin soldiers." Regina says as the group of griffins draw their weapons and take their stances.

"Regi..."

"Miles." Damian says as he walks over to us. "I'll handle this. My name is Damian and you have sullied the honor of the Spartan regiment, prepare to die." He says as he draws his scythe. The griffins, and some Spartans, begin to chuckle as Damian takes a few steps forward. I step aside and pull Regina along, getting quizzical looks from everyone.

"HA!"

FOOOSH

He slashes forward and sends a massive wave of black fire that tears through their ranks with total ease. I had to look away due to the heat, but when I look back, less then fifty of the griffins stood on the edges of what was the group.

"OK I did my part." Damian says as he sheaths his scythe and walks over to the patio, passing all of the dumb founded Spartans as he does. "You guys can handle the rest." He lays back against the house and dosses off in a completely relaxed manner, ignoring all of the stares.

"Like I said," I say after a long silence, "I have seven Spartans."

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

After my little chat with Miles I take the remained of our troops and head back to the air ship. That was... too powerful. Even by Miles' standards. I need to inform...

"I am here." A deep booming voice says in my head.

"Sir!" I say quickly as I bow down.

"I was with you when it happened, we shall not make that mistake again. I fear a summit meeting must be made..."

"Sir, a summit meeting hasn't happened in... centuries! Surely..."

"A new nation has arisen. To formally acknowledge them we must meet. I'll send a letter to the Isle, hopefully they will hear my call. Return home for now, we don't want to lose anymore griffins then we need to."

"Of course sir..."

"And Regina."

"Yes sir?"

"remember where you are from." I pause for a second as I feel his influence disappear. Where I'm from...

"Ambassador Strongwing?" One of the soldiers asks.

"Set a course for Canterlot. I need to have a word with... a friend."

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

After dealing with the griffins I had everyone stick around for something later tonight. Rainbow Dash said she didn't feel comfortable using my shower so she went home, promising to come back as soon as possible. After a good shower I start my plan by going to Moosden to pick up Shadow.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I wait outside of Butterscotch and E'Claire's place, not really paying attention to anything, until I hear the high pitched giggles of Shadow from inside. Curious, I open the door and step inside. A massive pillow for has taken over the middle of the room, with Shadow and E'Claire sitting at the top of it. How they are sitting on a fort made of pillows is beyond me, but I ignore that a I dodge a pillow that was about to hit me in the face.

"Shadow, what's with you and throwing things at my face?" I ask.

"MILES!" She yells before running inside the fort. As I hear a series of metallic locks and doors open up, none of which making sense to me, I look down to see a passed out Butterscotch laying underneath a pile of pillows."YOU'RE BACK!" She yells as she runs out the draw bridge and tackles me in a hug.

"How did you make this?" I ask as I peer into the hallway of pillows, complete with furniture, a stair case, and even picture. Not drawings they made and put up, pillows with drawings in the folds.

"Guess what! Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle made me an CUTIE MARK CRUSADER!"

"Uh..."

"Oh right, yay!" She sheers quietly.

"That's... great. Is that a fountain spraying out pillows?"

"And Butterscotch and E'Claire said I can come over whenever I want! As long as you say its ok. And then... then, um, we went out to Ponyville and we had a small party, two actually! One was for me and the other was a welcome party for Butterscotch and E'Claire. Pinkie Pie threw both of them and they were really fun and... um... oh yeah! Twilight signed me up for school, and I get to go to class with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and... are you listening?" I laugh a bit as I pick her up, getting an irritated look from her.

"Lets see, Cutie Mark Crusader, can visit Moosden whenever, had to.... parties, and go to school now. Right?"

"Right!" I look over to E'Claire as she pulls a single pillow out from the wall, making the entire thing fall into one massive pile.

"Thanks again for watching her." I tell her as I step over Butterscotch.

"No problem at all. We actually really like having her around. If you ever need a foal sitter, we're your girls!"

"I'll keep that in mind." I say as Shadow taps my shoulder.

"Um... can... can I come over even if you are home? Not all of the time but... visit a lot... and stuff?" She asks nervously. I lool over to E'Claire before looking back to her.

"Well, as long as they're OK with it I am to. Just let me know when you're heading over OK?"

"OK!" She says before hugging me again.

"Oh, tonight I have something planned for Luna at my place. You two are invited so if you want to attend it'll be at ten tonight. It's for her birthday so if you want to bring a gift you can, though it's not necessary."

"Luna has a birthday?" E'Claire asks aloud.

"Yeah... it was actually a few days ago. Anyway, I need to get... hmm... actually, do you think you can make it?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure about the gift but we can be there. Why?"

"Could you watch Shadow until then? She can't really go to what I have planned for before hand." I say, getting a sly grin from her in response.

"Oh you sly dog you, of course we'll watch her until then. Go and have fun with your wife."

"Not like that." I say as I kneel down and set Shadow on the ground. "I'll be back later tonight, but tomorrow is just me and you OK? No distractions, no work, just the two of us."

"Really?" She asks as her eyes brighten up. "You promise?"

"I promise. Now I have to get going, be good for E'Claire and I'll see you later tonight."

"Have fun! LETS MAKE IT AGAIN!" She yells before diving into the mass of pillows. E'Claire offers me a smile before running in after her, the two of them giggling loudly. She seems to really like being with them... that's good though. It'll give her a home for... after I'm gone.

Pushing that depressing thought from my mind I begin the trek to Canterlot, getting there as quickly as possible. Its the middle of the afternoon, so I guess I can let her sleep a bit longer. From the top of the mountain I make my way to the front of the castle and casually walk in. None of the stoic guards pay any attention to me, standing at their post like statues. I make my way to the main hall where I catch Celestia leaving.

"Miles, what brings you here?" She asks as she approaches me, two guards flanking her.

"Just thought I'd swing by and steal Luna for the night. You know, give her her late birthday present." I idly say, making her eyes go wide.

"Her what?"

"Her birthday present. I know its a few days late, but I couldn't get away from Spartan training in time..."

"BUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!"

Sorry for the delay on this chapter. I wanted to wait for the bugs to be worked out better before continuing. And for those of you who took a sneak peek.... SHAME ON YOU EVEN THOUGH I'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST BUT STILL, SHAME. Also, I'm debating a scene to come up so I'll leave it up to you, the readers. Do you wish to have the Soarin/Rainbow Dash sex scene written out? Leave comments telling my your thoughts, I can go either way so some input would be nice.
Brony on!