Guardian Chap 32

by ~Sunjian54

The Equestrian Guardian

Chap 32

David and his army marched into Appleloosa the following day. Most of the glances they received from the ponies in the town were those of confusion or concern. He didn't blame them, he would probably be concerned too if 300 ponies in armor walked through his town. "Can I help you fellar's with something?" A pony wearing a sheriff's badge said as he walked toward the group.

"Yes you could actually. I'm looking for a pony named Braeburn." David said as calm as possible. "Now why are ya 'll looking for Braeburn?" The sheriff asked narrowing his eyes. "That's none of your business, and if you want us to stay peaceful I suggest you tell the Guardian what he wants to know." Bio said getting right in the sheriff's face. At the mention of the word Guardian ponies began to pour onto the streets all trying to get close to David. "Can I touch your armor? How strong are you? Is that sword real?" They asked as the surrounded him and prevented him from moving. "Soldiers a little help?!" He cried with a hint of panic in his voice.

A small group of the army moved in and began to shield David and drive off anyone who tried to get close. It was then that David noticed Devin walking into the Appleloosa saloon. He quickly broke away from the crowd and walked inside along with Bio who followed close behind him like his own shadow. The saloon reminded David of all the western movies he'd seen as a kid. There was a loft area where ponies could look down on the stage, a player piano, a bar, everything you would expect of a saloon. It was Bio who noticed Devin first, he was sitting at the bar getting hit on by the earth pony bar mare.

"I'll talk to him; you get yourself a drink and find Braeburn." He said walking toward Devin. David took a seat at the bar as the Bio began to lead Devin toward the exit, much to the dismay of the bar mare, but she quickly changed her tune and came over to David. "Whatcha ya'll be wanting?" She asked with a smile. David had never been to a saloon or a bar before so he just spit out the first thing that came to mind. "Strongest thing you got." (WOW! That was really stupid!) He thought as the bar mare turned and began mixing drinks together with a flurry of motions.

"Sheeoot! Ain't never heard of someone ordering the strong stuff before." A voice said from the corner. David immediately turned and saw a yellow pony with long brown hair and a cowboy hat sitting in the corner. It was his cutie mark that got his attention though. It was a bright red apple. "Braeburn I assume?" He asked taking his drink and sitting down directly across from him. "Yep. And who might ya'll be?" He asked flashing a small smile. "David Arman. The Guardian of Equestria." He said putting his hand out to shake Braeburn's hoof. Braeburns eyes shot open in surprise as a huge smile crept up on his face. "The Guardian!? Wow! My cousin AJ sent me letters about you. About how ya'll worked together to master your powers and such." He said going into a rant. David looked into his light brown drink. In its liquid surface he saw images of AJ and all the others flash before him as Braeburn continued on and on and on.

"Braeburn…" David started, but Braeburn didn't hear him.

"Braeburn." He said a little louder. The ranting continued.

"Braeburn!" He said slightly raising his voice. Yet the stallion kept jawing. David downed his drink in one sip (nearly coughing up a lung because of the burn.) grabbed Braeburn by the leather jacket and slapped him right across his face.

"WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME YOU GOSH DARN FOOL!?!?" He said letting his southern anger out on the unsuspecting stallion. Braeburn staggered back to his feet as he rubbed his sore cheek. "What in the hay did you go and do that for?" He asked his eyes glaring at David. "AJ is in danger!" David said barely raising his voice since his throat burned from the drink and from yelling already. "What do ya'll mean danger?" Braeburn said his face showing pure concern. David then began telling him everything. From how Celestia had betrayed him, to how Nightmare Moon had taken advantage of it by corrupting her and becoming Nightmare Sol, and how Nightmare Sol had captured AJ and the others. Braeburn buried his head in his hat. David could hear him crying but respected him for being a true stallion and not showing it. "That's why I'm here Braeburn. I need supplies, troops, anything you can spare. Braeburn picked his head up and put his hat back on but he kept his eyes from meeting David's.

"There ain't much we can give. We need the apples from our harvest so we can eat. Plus, we ain't fighters; we don't have weapons or anything for ya." He said finally sitting up so David could see his face. "I'm sorry Braeburn, but I've made my mission that I WILL get AJ and the others back." He said pounding his fist on the table. David slowly rose from the table and left Braeburn in his semi trance like state until he heard him speak. "I'll get my things. That's my cuz she got held up in that castle and I'll do whatever it takes to get her back." He said rising from the table head held high. "I'll also get the train ready for you boys. Ya'll  are gonna need a lift to Manehattan aren't ya?" He asked calmly walking with David out of the saloon. "Yeah we will. Thanks Braeburn, we're leaving tomorrow so get packed tonight." David ordered.

As Braeburn took off in one direction a royal guard appeared from the other. "SIR! General Bio requests your presence at former Commander Devin's oasis home." He said saluting. "Lead the way soldier." He said waving the trooper onward. The soldier led David into the desert toward the oasis where he had found Devin before, only to see that there was a small wooden cottage set up next to the oasis pool. "We didn't notice it before sir because it had an enchantment on it that prevented us from noticing it." The soldier said stopping outside the entrance to the building. David cautiously knocked on the door. "Who is it?" He heard Devin answer from inside. "It's me Devin can I come in?" "Oh sure! Hang on!" David heard the shuffling of chairs and tables as someone walked toward the door. It opened to reveal Bio, with Devin sitting at a table in a living room. Bio stepped out of the house mumbling to him; "He's all yours David. Try and talk some sense into my little bro." He said as he shut the door behind him.

"Wait… You're Capt. Bio's brother?" David asked as he sat down across from Devin. "Yep!" Devin said smiling as he handed a picture of he and Bio in their military uniforms. Bio had a tiny smile on his face while Devin was grinning from ear to ear. As David looked up from the photo he noticed a giant flag with Devin's red anchor cutie mark on it pinned to the wall behind Devin. "Is that your unit flag Devin?" He asked pointing to the strange flag. "Yes, and that's my sword beneath it." He said pointing to a mysterious sword with a blue handle. "Commander I really need you in this fight." David said once again appealing to Devin for his help. "And once again I say no David. I swore that I would never fight again. Not after… what happened in the last war."

Devin closed his eyes and began digging up old memories. "It was about 15 years ago. The Griffin kingdom began squabbling with Celestia over a small patch of land that had become Equestrian territory. She sent me and Bio along with a massive army to crush the Griffin force threatening the land. The battle plan was of my own design and we were easily crushing the Griffin army. However due to a mistake I made, Bio and I were separated from each other. Without our skills combined and working together we were easily crushed by a Griffin counter attack. The battle was lost along with the war and the territory." He said opening his eyes to look at David. "My mistake nearly cost Bio's life along with 5,000 ponies that died in that battle." He concluded.

"But that's the past! You need to look to the future! My dad was a soldier too and he always told me that mistakes are made, but the biggest mistake is dwelling on one." David said with as much vigor as he could muster staring into the warrior's eyes. "Even so… if you can't show me the evil that this Nightmare Sol is capable of then I won't help you." Devin said ending the argument. David began to feel his blood boiling. Commander or not, Devin had no right to question the evil Nightmare Sol was capable of. However it was then that David had a wicked idea. "You want proof? I'll GIVE YOU PROOF!!" He shouted as he grabbed Devin's head with his hands.

He then began using his shadow powers to show Devin the evil that Nightmare Sol had done in front of David's eyes. Images of Ponyville in flames, Twilight and the others being captured and images of Nightmare Sol herself flashed in David's mind and flashed over to Devin's. "STOP!! MAKE IT STOP!!" Devin cried is fear. But David would not stop, not until he saw Nightmare's pure evil personality. The image of Nightmare first appearing shot to Devin's mind. He watched in horror at how Celestia had become such a monster, and how her evil was unspeakable. David released Devin and watched as he fell to the floor drenched in sweat.

"Remember this Devin. If this army fails and Nightmare takes over. YOU'LL be the one picking up the pieces." He said as he walked out into the hot sun. "DAVID!!!" Breaburn called out from the town. "The train's here let's go!!" He cried running toward the platform. As David walked toward Appleoosa he suddenly heard panting coming from behind him. He turned to see Devin chasing after him in silver armor with his sword strapped to his side. "I thought you were retired?" David said smiling. "Retirement is overrated." Devin responded. David shook Devin's hoof and together they walked toward and boarded the train and headed toward Manehattan.

(Well… I may not have gotten any soldiers, but I got a great commander, and I got a loyal sibling who would die before he saw AJ get hurt. Yeah… I think that's a good day's work.) David thought as he fell asleep listening to the clattering of the train tracks and the talking of his soldiers. Next Chapter: Chapter 33 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 3 Minutes