Sweet, Sweet Dusk

A road rolled up a mountain, towards a dragons cave.

"KNIGHTS OF THE DRAGON! YOUR EMPRESS IS WITH YOU!!!" a stallion called from the rear of three tightly pack pones. Captain Blood Drake, great grey eyes, and his bloody red mane flowed through his armor as the wind swept up and kissed it. His armor, a deep blue with silvered accents on it, glimmered even in the dull cloud covered day. Snow, though soft, fell onto the group of knights. At the head march several unicorns, their horns glowing as the walked.

"Captain Drake if you please! The Knights and Errants are fine so they do not need your yelling to spook them into rushing up the hill!" another voice called out, from a crisp green pegasus, who walked beside some other knights.

"Captain Thunder-ice I say that to give them their blessing! What else," the earth pony replied, "Why else would I-"

"Both of you quiet," a bearded Stallion said, his icy snow mane and soft grey fur making him blend if he wasn't in heavy and brutal armor.

"Sorry Master," both Captains replied.

The snow gently swept over the march of horses as the four captains; Captain Thunder-Ice, Captain Drake, a unicorn towards the front followed behind the mages he commanded, and another earth pony, his armor hiding his charcoal coat and his deep navy blue mane.

Blitz looked at the eight earth ponies under his command, all errants and new to the order. Their first field mission, and as he remembered his, they were either terrified or prideful. The terrified had a higher chance to survive since their eyes were twitching and looking around.

The march continued in silence, starting to round a bend to a small evergreen tree forest, the route widening up.

"SPREAD OUT!" came a call from the rear. Blitz rolled his eyes and nodded to the stallions around him.

"Sargent Amp, take three and spread out ahead, make sure the errants keep their cool," he ordered, a kngiht nodding back.

"Aye Captain, I 'ill 'eep in lione, sah," the mare replied before barking out orders at three errants, who turned and followed her out. She was the musician of the group and she had a beautiful voice, if Blitz had ever a choice to say. But then again, that would be a little bias, since she was his filly friend. What made it better for him and her, was he proposed to her before they were assigned to this. She had accepted and it he was hoping this was going to be quickly over with, so they could be wedded on the next full moon celebration.

The march again, though calls and shouts now common, was relatively peaceful, and Blitz enjoyed it. During his first mission as a errant, his master, barked out orders the entire time, making the stallions grumble and groan. To make it worse, they were marching through a valley with a blizzard.

"SIR!" a stallion called, making Blitz look at him, a smaller earth pony with a worried look on his face, "Sir, Tomes saw something move in the tree's sir. Will you please come look?" Blitz raised and eye brow and looked at the ponies worried eyes.

"Alright, errant, I'll come and-" he began turning to walk towards the bush.

A scream cut him off as something dove out of the trees and landed on a unicorn at the front. There was a rush, as everypony grabbed their weapons, and surged forward.

Blitz reached for his when the errant was in front of him was crashed into by a shape, wings and talon's, beak and feathers dove in on the young one. A sicking crunch and cracking of bones made Blitz cringe for a moment, drawing his sword, rushing to the aid of his duty. The errant screamed for a moment until the beast cracked his neck with a strong twist.

"Defend yourselves!" came a call, Blitz rushing to the beast and cutting at it, making it leap back and jump to the air. As it did so, it was cut down by two bolts of red energy, impacting its body and crushing its rib cage and the sickening pop and crackle of them imploding.

"CAPTAIN KRIEG!" called a unicorn coming over, "We need to get back into a ri-"

"I know! Get your errants to Sargent Amp," he said to the knight-captain, "Gryphons? Out here?" he asked nodding to the fallen one.

"Aye. I'm just as curious," he said, twisting away and rushing towards his charge.

Blitz spun around when another Gryphon leapt from a tree, killing two errants in one jump. He called out for his ponies to pull together, which they did. Even ones he didn't command.

He raced to Amp, who stood next to Captain Thunder-Ice, who was laying on the ground in pain.

"Where are your flyers Captain?"

"All dead. LUNA DAMN THE BEASTS!" he roared, getting up and coughing roughly. Blood spat from his mouth, then eagerly bleed from the side of it, "They took us all out so fast," he said between some more coughs. The eyes looked around at the captain.

"Amp, get any one you can to find the Master. Captian Thunder-flare, your charge is to cover the sky with magick. The rest of you, hold your spots. Captain Thunder-Ice, just... lay-"

"No. I'm dead anyways, might as well as making it with the young ones," he said walking past him. Blitz could see the crumpled wing, a broke bone stabbing outwards through the flesh.

"Okay. Where's Drake?"

"I don't know.. the Gryphons grabbed him and took off."

Blitz nodded slowly, then turned to the last of his group. Of the twenty three, only three Captains, and twelve knights.

"Captain. Any idea on how we're going to live through this?" Amp said, her knowing eyes looking at him as eh walked to some of the errants.

"Amp. If I knew that.... would we be here?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head, turning and walking away. The unicorn, Captain Thunder-flare walked over and looked up.

"They seemed to have stopped for a moment Captain. Any suggestions?" his voice not wavering in a single moment.

"Maybe... how many of you unicorns are left?" he asked, looking around.

"Two, plus myself. Any those two are barely experienced in this kinda combat," he said looking around as well, eyes looking on the forest edge. It was dark, and ever expanding backwards.

"Move us to the middle of the path. Its safer there. They have to travel further to reach us," Blitz said, watching, "And keep your eyes on the skies."

"Understood," he said rushing off. After a few moments they moved to the center of the road, a ring of earth ponies around the unicorns, all their blades drawn.

Blitz stood at the right looking. The attack had lasted less than a minute, and yet it had killed just about ten ponies, all the Pegasus's and several earth ponies. That was worrying.

"Captain..." a voice creeped up, one of the younger errant's voice shaking violent.

"Yes, errant?" his strong firm voice reaching his ears. The errant looked at him, knowing with his eyes could get him killed if he was in the guard.

"We're going to die here. Aren't we?"

Blitz looked at him, and smiled, then back to the forest edge.

"If we do, then lets see how many of them can we make die," he said smiling of the old battle cry of the knights. A solid cheer went up from several of them. He smiled. That cheer drew out several gryphons in front of him.

"KNIGHTS! Surrender! And you will live!" a taller gryphon called out, "Our lord seeks us to let you live! But only if you give in to us!"

"Who is your lord?!" Blitz called back.

"The dragon?" Thunder-flare called out as well. The gryphons laughed, then grinned at him.

"That monster is not our lord. It is dead itself," the leader called back, "So surrender. And we'll see to it that you can leave with no harm to you."

Blitz looked at Thunder-flare and smiled, "Hear that..."

"Ya..."

"TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL WITH YOU! YOU YELLOW-BELLY BASTARDS!!" Blitz called back. The gryphons seemed to smile and walk back into the forest, before one dragged out a bearded knight.

Voices murmured, and Blitz walked out of the circle and forward to a point.

"You know him?" the Gryphons said smiling. The master's gaze slowly climbed up, claw marks crossing his face, the canyons bleeding gently down his face.

"Captain... Krieg..." a soft whisper crawled out threw his lips. Blitz stared gently, watching this little show the Gryphons putting on for them. He felt something inside him. Anger.

"Krieg..." the voice whispered again, "How many..."

The gryphon looked down and smiled, "No? Captain?"

"Silence, Gryphon...." Krieg stated, eyes still watching the master.

"How many.... of them..."

"Can we make die." the Captain finished, the master nodding.

"Enough of this!" the gryphon said reaching down and killing the master with a strong and vicious twist. The shattering bones echoed out, making the knights behind Blitz.

"Will you surrender now!" the Gryphon called, looking at them, but Blitz had turned around and walked back to the group of knights, "FINE!! KILL THEM ALLL!!!"

From the trees leap a good dozen Gryphons, who dove at the group. A few magic bolts stopped some, but the majority reached them. It didn't matter to the circle formation they had taken, as the gryphons crushed the knights in claws and beak. Screams of terror and blood curtailing cries of anguish filled the skies. Blitz rushed back, slamming into a Gryphon and thrusting his sword into its gut. Around him, the knights fell. A errant, broad and strong, was picked up by a Gryphon and thrown at a tree, his body twisting around the trunk and cracking his spine. Blitz rushed another Gryphon, cutting into it again, and killing it, as it crushed the windpipe of a knight under its talon fill claw.

"KEEP FIGHTING! DON'T STOP!" called Thunder-flare, but he knew it was a losing battle. Blood wept from a scar across his forehead, making him grit angrily at the few knights around him.

Another knight dropped, and on it a Gryphon and it tore at its body and armor, killing him completely.

Amp finally made her way to Blitz, both them pressed side to side.

"Ell of ah way to 'ay 'ood 'ight, eh sah?" she said smiling. Blitz nodded, as Thunder-flare and two other moved close to them.

"Five Knights against a dozen gryphons? Doesn't seem like a fair fight, right Captain?" Thunder-flare asked smiling, the blood now turning his soft brown first a dark sticky red.

"No. They need more Gryphons.." Blitz replied. A gryphon leaped forward, to have Thunder-flare shot him down, grabbing at its chest.

"Blitz... something I have to tell you," Thunder-flare commented, looking at him.

"Oh please, you have a wife and kids, come on now," Bltiz teased.

"Not that! Ew no! I'm... I'm gonna put a spell on you," he said, shooting down another Gryphon, its head smoldering on the left side as it fell into the red snow.

"Why? What is it?" he asked, looking at him.

"Its ta get ya out of 'ere sah! One of us needs ta tell the Empress wat 'appened 'ere! Nawt ta let us die of ta 'old and Gryphons sah!" Amp said.

"I am not le-" Bltiz didn't get to respond as a Gryphon jumped at him and Amp stepped in the way and was cut down, "AMP! NO!" he surged forward, thrusting the blade through its chest in rage and let it go as he shoved it back, and dragged her back. Her neck was cut greatly, and it bled roughly, seeping into the snow below her. He looked at her and smiled, "Come on you... Stay with me..." Her eyes stared softly at her, and she coughed smiling.

"Orry sah... Nawt tis time.... 'Aptain...." she said, blood draining down her mouth, "Oh 'aptain... my 'aptain..." she groaned out.

"Don't say that... You're gonna make it..." Blitz said, Thunder-flare standing over them, holding back Gryphons. The others stood behind them blade keeping the Gryphons back, "Come on.. we... we were going to see the Full Moon Celebration in a month.... we... we were going to.." A tear welled up in his eye.

"Captain its now or never!" Thunder-Flare barked.

"Transport us all if you can!" Blitz ordered. A swirling angry vortex appeared around him and Thunder-flare, with Amp in Blitz's hooves, while one knight was dragged away by a Gryphon. A powerful swirling light surrounded the four, before peeling off into a towering entry way to a castle. Knights, all dragon-Knights rushed forward, errants and even some guard ponies rushed over. Blitz kept looking at Amp, smiling.

"Come on you... you're.... you're a tough girl... come on.." Blitz said, trying to keep her going. She smiled at him gently, the blood on her lips still present.

"'Aptain.... we 'oth know I ain't gonna be...." she said, which made Blitz shake his head, tears starting to well up again.

"Don't you dare do that to me... please..." he said tears rolling down his cheek softly, "You can-"

"'Litz... I 'ove ya... And I'm 'orry... I 'on't be makin' it ta that date..." she said, eyes starting to become cloudy. Blitz shook his head, crying, not accepting her statement to him. She leaned up and kissed him, "Ah present 'efore I go..." she said, a soft smile on her face. She slowly laid back down, eyes staring gently to the distance.

"I... I love you to ... Amp..." Blitz said, tears gently rolling down his cheeks. He sighed gently, eyes staring at hers. He knew it was over, and he would never hear her songs again, hear her lovely voice against his ears. To hear her say those three words again. Or the two I wanted to hear.

"Knight-Captain Blitz Krieg..." a voice came from behind him, which jarred him back to the reality around him. He looked up slowly and turned his head. In front of him stood a board, tall and great stallion, his armor a soft black with bronze edgings. His eyes locked to Blitz's, seeing his sadness that was swallowing him.

"Grand-Master Hawk... I..." Blitz began, before receiving a gentle smile from the Grand-Master.

"Relax.... I can understand right now... Lets get her to some where more respectful then a floor in our Orders halls," came an assuring statement from him. Blitz looked down and nodded, getting up and letting some other knights pick her up and take her to another area. He followed behind them. The Grand-Master and Captain Thunder-Ice in pursuit behind him, discussing what happened, and possibility of who led them. Blitz didn't care though, as they came to a room, which they left her body in the center of it, atop of a stone table. His eyes washed over her, pain filling them, while the tears slowly pulled from them. He gently removed her helmet and moved her mane from her face. He pressed his head to her's and gasped, feeling the tears on his eyes again.

"Blitz?" A voice came, making him stand up and wipe his tears and cough gently.

"Y-Yes?" he said looking back at his Grand-Master again. Behind him stood two Guard Ponies, form the countries Imperial Guard.

"I... I've heard Knight-Captain Ivan Thunder-Ice about what happened. I understand that you took commander after Master-Knight Vancer Cane was.... taken?" he asked. Blitz nodded gently, "And you led, as you commanded, fifteen knights, many too their deaths?"

"U-Unfortunately sir..." Blitz said, giving another nod, this time to his own imitate death.

"Then... You did well Captain. Many would have just ran at the first sight of this, even Captains. We have reason to believe, that, we have some one coordinating events in other countries..." Hawk said walking forward. Blitz looked up, eyes watching his Grand-Master, "The Empress Frostmane is on her way here... though I will give you the time to clean up, and see to your love's burial..." he said walking up to her body, reaching into a small pouch and pulled out two bits. He brought them to his lips and kissed them, before placing them beside her softly.

"May Luna, and Thanatos guard her soul..." he whispered. He turned and walked off. Blitz looked back at Amp, sighing gently. He stood for what felt like an eternity. Then she screamed and leaped up at him, her hooves changing to claws.

"YOU GOT ME KILLED!!!"

Blitz shot up in his bed, sweat beading down his body. He looked around, then found the clock on the wall where it had been placed. Eight-forty in the morning. He had been asleep for less then 4 hours. How could he sleep after finding that filly on the road? Why would he even want to?

He thought back to the dream, and remember that day. The Empress met with him, the Grand-Master and a few other knights, and explained what was being asked of her. The cyan Pegasus smiled as she found that Blitz would do it, but when she learned the reason, the smile disappeared. She looked at him, eyes gentle as he had ever knew them to be. She walked over and embraced him, apologizing for asking this of him, even though he had volunteered. Frostmane would see to Amp's burial for him, and make it a grand burial, while also giving a reason for a knight to be leaving on this kind of mission. It was as they said, to be a 'banishment' in the eyes of the Galatrian's, while they were to still treat him with the respect that a Dragon-Knight was given.

He got up slowly, looking at his armor. It made him disgusted to have worn it, but he knew he must. It was his oath, and its command drove him to protect everyone. He walked slowly down the stairs to the main room, eyes drawn to the couch. It was dirty, mud caked and disturbed by the events of his night. He wanted to cry, thinking that he was the fault of her injuries. Twilight had kept them up-to-date through either Odin or Kleric. She had gone into surgery, and around three in the morning was brought out of it. She was in intensive care now, which made him happy, but also worried.

"Blitz?" Odin groggily said as he stepped from his room. Blitz looked at the unicorn, who groaned and stretched softly, a pop and crack as he stretched his back. His coat, a gently orange-red was marked by a spear surrounded by runes. He walked over and groaned, "Your up so early. I figured you would have slept in. I guess the Dragon-Knights don't do that often," he said with a smile.

"Ya... we tend to work a lot and rise with the sun," Blitz replied, smiling. He hid what he could with his exterior, as best he could. Odin smiled and nodded.

"Luna and Celestia have their own guard units, but the Royal Guard tends to be up twenty-four, seven. So... its hard work at times for us too," Odin said, walking over and sitting down at the table, "So Blitz... we gonna be recruiting today?"

Blitz smiled, having him know what the plan was good. This new unit of ponies he was creating was going to be interesting, cause unlike Galastria, many of these ponies had not been trained or even thought of martial service. He shook his head no.

"Not for you and I. We are going to be investigating after we visit Miss Shy," he said, "I want answers." Odin just nodded and looked at Klerics room.

"Leaving Kleric and Windcutter to recruit? That sounds like it will go swimmingly," Odin said. Blitz nodded, knowing how Windcutter seemed to disapprove of outsiders. He sighed gently walking over to the table as well, sitting down with Odin rubbing his head.

There was silence for a long time.

"Blitz. I'm curious... What kinda name is Blitz Krieg?" he asked. Blitz shook his head with a soft chuckle.

"I don't know. Why not ask my mother and father?" he replied, getting a soft laugh form Odin as well, "I could ask you the same thing. Odin? Really?"

"Odin is a nickname that is stuck with me for my life. My parents originally called me Rune Staff, then when my cutie mark turned out to be a spear, and I wanted to be a Royal Guard, it got change to Rune Spear.... then when I anounced I like poetry, I got the nic-"

"Poetry? Really?" Blitz asked trying not to laugh.

"As I as saying, I got the nickname Odin, after a poet unicorn call Odin Runemane," he finished, sighing, "Its been stuck ever since."

"Sounds grueling," Blitz commented, smirking. Odin just smiled and got up, ignoring the idea that he was never going to live down the poetry part.

Twilight and Applejack sat out in the main lobby, worried looks on their faces. Rarity was on her way, Pinkie Pie was getting balloons and Rainbow Dash was out in a furious rage looking for Fluttershy's attackers. She hoped that Dash wouldn't get herself into trouble.

"Twilight Sparkle? Applejack?" a soft voice came, as a nurse pony walked up and looked at the two ponies, "Fluttershy is awake now, and she can be visited. Though... try to keep her from moving too much okay?"

Both ponies nodded and got up following behind the pony. It was oddly peaceful to be here, Twilight couldn't help but enjoy how quiet it was here, as only a few coughs and groans could be heard once and awhile as they walked to the room Fluttershy was in. They walked in to see Fluttershy laying on her belly, bandages wrapped around her rib cage and an out spread wing with casting around it. Around her neck was some bandages, maybe to protect it from something, but Twilight wasn't too sure. She looked up at the too and smiled her soft smile.

"Hi Twilight, Hi Applejack," she said in her quiet soft voice, as it would be normally. That was a relief of both the two ponies.

"At least your okay..." Applejack said walking up with a sad little smile.

"Oh the doctor said I would be fine. Two days here then another two weeks worth of bed rest in the lower wards, and then I'm out," her gentle voice wafted through the air, making Twilight nod gently.

"Fluttershy... um... I know its soon but... what do you remember?" Twilight asked, concerned for her friends safety. Fluttershy's eyes, which had been friendly as ever, switch from that to stern and worrisome at the same time, then to doubt and looking down at her bed.

"Not much... I remember running... running away from somethings... then... being hit onto the side of the road and this Celestia-aweful pain, that just shot through me... now I know it was my wing and ribs," she said, before thinking for a brief moment, "And... green eyes... they just.."

"What?" Applejack said looking at Fluttershy closely.

"I don't know how to explain it.... they just seemed to bare into me... and he mentioned," she started looking up at them, " that... 'I want to use her for my experiments' and then the eyes just disappeared into the darkness..."

"Okay... anything you remember after you got knocked unconscious?" Twilight asked sitting down next to her, while Applejack did the same. Fluttershy smiled again, eyes returning to her shy but fun selves.

"Oh I do indeed. I remember this warmth finding me... he seemed so soft and caring, strong but... different.." she said, "He knew you.... He called you Miss Sparkle. His voice was commanding at times too..."

"Blitz Krieg..." Twilight said smiling, "He chased off the beast and saved you. The doctors said that you would have been killed out in that rain storm last night..." Fluttershy looked down and smiled.

"Blitz Krieg..."

"What was that?" Twilight asked, raising an eye brow. Fluttershy eeps a little and looked at her saying it was nothing. Twilight bought it, but sighed as someone poked her head in.

"FLUTTERSHY!! ARE YOU OKAY!!!" Pinkie by came in bring in some balloons and some chocolates. She rushed over and bounced in front of her, which made her smile nervously.

"Hello Pinkie...." she said quietly.

"How you feeling? I hope its good enough for a party!" she says, grinning like crazy.

"Um... Pinkie.. Doctors orders are not to move around too much," Twilight said, smiling.

"Ya. She's did go through a surgery last night. So she needs time to rest... we just came to see how she was," Applejack said. Pinkie Pie seemed to deflate so what before smiling evilly.

"Then how about after you get out? Like a 'Getting out of the hospital' party!" she said throwing her arms up in there air. For a long time they just talked, Fluttershy softly putting her imput. After a while Rarity showed up with Rainbow, who was incredably worried.

"I'm sorry Fluttershy, I couldn't find them," Rainbow said, completely disappointed in herself. Fluttershy smiled at her.

"Really I don't mind Rainbow. You did your best," she softly said, being reassuring to her. Dash smiled, sitting down. After a while they had all settled in watching Fluttershy and talking about what had happened. Fluttershy questioned about her place, and her animals and Twilight said that she and Applejack were going there afterwards. She seemed happy to hear that.

Then came a soft knock.

"Miss Fluttershy? You have some more guests," a nurse pony said looking into the room. All the mares had puzzled looks on their faces. Odin poked his head in first, smiling softly.

"Hello..." she said walking in and moving to one side, unintentionally standing next to Rarity, who smiled at him and curled her hair.

Then a charcoal hoof stepped in, and in stepped the stallion who saved Fluttershy.

"Hello, Miss Shy," he said looking at her, a gently, but nervous smiling appearing on his face. Her eyes widened at the voice, raised her head and her ears perked forward. She knew that voice, and she smiled brillantly.

"You... You we-" she started.

"He was the one who saved you yes..." Odin said, "Captain Blitz Krieg. From the Dragon Knights." Blitz nodded and smiled, which was a soft and reassured on for her.

Fluttershy smiled and wanted to get up to just hug him. She was grateful to him for saving her, and for taking care of her. Dash stepped forward.

"Why didn't you get the guys hurt Fluttershy? HUH!" she asked getting angry, getting up infront of the taller stallion.

"Rainbo-" Twilight started.

"No. I want answers. I can't find them, and he has them.WHY DIDN'T YOU!?!" she yelled at him. Blitz looked down and sighed, before Dash started to growl, "Oh come on Knight boy. Too scared? Or just not gonna tell me?"

Applejack got up and walked over too, "Actually ya! Why didn't you??" she asked with Dash. Blitz stood there and looked at the two.

"G-Guys... I really do-" Fluttershy started to say.

"No. We all want answers for this. Be honest, cause you ain't gonna be lyin' to me, mister! I'm the element of honesty to don't even try it!" Applejack said, staring at him. Blitz looked at Applejack then back at Dash.

"Fluttershy is fine guys and right now we should be worried about her he-" Rarity said walking froward to try and defuse the situation.

"What. HAPPENED?!" Both the girls asked.

"From what I can tell right now," Blitz said looking at the two, "She was attacked. I intervened and carried her to my residence. That's all I know." The two watched as he spoke firmly to the two, eyes locked to theirs. Applejack leaned back and smiled, but Dash didn't.

"Why don't I believe you? Really?" she said still locked onto him. Odin stepped forward.

"He's speaks the truth. He maybe new this country but he's truthful," he spoke, eyes calm as ever. Everypony but Twilight looked at him then at Blitz.

"Another country? Really?" Rarity asked, before Pinkie Pie grinned stupidly.

"That deserves a party!!" she called out, to be shushed by Applejack.

"Wait. I met you yesterday and you didn't tell me that you were from another country," AJ said raising an eyebrow to him.

"No way. You're from another country?!" Dash said, "See! He can't be trusted and he's foreign!"

"DASH!" all of them said at once.

"What? I'm serious. I don't like him at all. For all we could know is he could have been the one to hurt Fluttershy!"

"Dash... that is absurd! How could you even-" Twilight stated standing up.

"She's right Miss Sparkle," Blitz said, looking at Dash, "I am an outsider. I am foreign. I am a possible suspect. But one things for sure. If I wanted to hurt her, why would I even attempt to harm her?" he asked her. Twilight perked up at this.

"Oh right your oath!" Twilight exclaimed.

"What does that mean? Its just an oath. Doesn't mean he would follow-" Dash said looking at her.

"Its a magical one. He's not allowed to harm a pony in anyway, and if a pony is in need of help, he is forced to help them. Correct?" Twilight asked looking at Blitz. He smiled and nodded, gently raising an eyebrow. Dash fell silent, then tapped her hoof against the floor.

"Oh... I'm... I'm sorry," she said, "I'm just mad about not being the-"

"Its okay Miss Dash. I can understand," Blitz replied with a solid voice, "Though..."

"What?"

"Odin and I are going to investage to see if we can find them," he said, "We can use a flyer. Just to be eyes and ears in the sky."

"O-"

"Before you jump the rock, listen to all of this," Blitz said smiling, "If you come with us, your enlisting in this new unit Celestia has created."

Dash just dropped her jaw. She wanted to help but, not at the cost of her freedom as a flyer. Her loyalty to her friends, or to her freedom. What was more important to her?

"Can... Can you give me some time to thing about it?" she said nervously. Blitz nodded to her, then walked ot Fluttershy smiling.

"Miss Shy. How are you feeling?" he asked, being polite. Fluttershy smiled, her gentle lips curling to that beautiful smile.

"Well thank you... I feel great... all thanks to you," she softly said, looking at him with soft eyes, "I owe you my life I guess..."

"No. You don't," he said smiling, "However... I need your help. Anything you can tell me?"

Fluttershy seemed to shift uneasily about that and told him everything she remember. She went through several times, trying to remember anything that she had yet state. Every time she repeated, she seemed more scared, as if reliving it. Finally in the third time Blitz put his hoof on her shoulder gently, stopping her.

"You can stop. I can tell your not enjoying the experience... I don't want you to work yourself up," he said, pulling his hoof back and looking around. Blitz could see their expressions were not that of happiness but more of concern for their friend. He planned to do help her out, no matter what it took.

Fluttershy nodded and looked down, "I hope that can help you..." she said returning to her quiet self, before laying her head down on a pillow. She sighed softly, eyes closing. Blitz looked at Odin and motioned his head that they should leave.

They walked out, Dash following a few moments later.

"Um... Blitz?" she said speaking up, making both turning around and look at her, "I'm gonna take you up on that offer. I'll go with you too help Fluttershy. I owe her that..."

"Okay. Come on, " Blitz said smiling, "And Welcome to the unit Dash."

They walked down the road to where Blitz found Fluttershy the night before. The forest seemed friendier then last night, as Blitz looked around, examining the scene.

"Odin... can you do a tracking spell?" Blitz asked looking at the unicorn.

"Yes... but I need something related to the creatures or Fluttershy and even then it would have to be fresh..." he replied.

Dash, who was hovering above them, looked around and then flew to a tree. She plucked something off it and flew back over, handing it to him and looking at the tuff of fur, "This good enough?" she asked.

Odin looked at it and smiled, "Should be enough... though don't expect much though." For a while he did nothing before his horn began to glow, and he started to walk along a soft path, leading into the forest. Dash flew slowly above them, Blitz meandered behind Odin.

Rainbow Dash finally sighed after twenty minutes. It was going to be a long day...

Kleric sat behind a booth, and sighed softly, looking at the list. Out of the towns population, seven earth, two unicorn and five pegasus's had signed up for this new unit. Of those fourteen ponies, most of them were young Stallions, which he figured was a good thing, but the few mares there were...

"Kleric?" Windcutter said nodding to another pony, a big, red and strong stallion. Kleric smiled and leaned forward.

"Hello. Going to join us in the new Equestrain unit?" he said, keeping a happy tone to his voice, "Good bits and lots of adventures!"

The big pony, a hay straw in his mouth switching from one side to the other, then nodded, "Eeyup. I reckon we could do some things that seem dangerous and 'fun'." he said, his voice very slow and purposeful.

"Okay. Anyponies in town who should b-"

"Big Macintosh what in tarnations are ya'll doin'!" an orange pony yelled coming over. He rolled his eyes and looked at her, Kleric and Windcutter turned and looked at the mare as she walked up, "Ya're nawt joinin' nah unit ta get yaself killed!"

"Applejack, I know ya don't want me to go but, you and Applebloom an-" he started, voice slow and gentle.

"NO! You are ta stay 'ere and look after us!" She said, putting her head to his and looking at him in the eye, "Ya promised Ma before she died! So w'y s'ould ya get to go and do t'at if ya 'ave t'at promise ta keep!" she said. Big Macintosh was about to speak when Kleric stepped in.

"Miss... Apple I presume? Well... I can promise the won't have anything happen to him... I'll watch his back," he said. Applejack shook her head no, "Miss Apple, how old are you? I take a guess around twenty or so.... Do you not think that she would be proud to see him do something like this, to be able to better protect you?" She looked down, and sighed.

"Honestly.. I'd rather 'im not go... but he does 'ave his own choice..." she said looking at him. Big Mac smiled and looked back at Kleric. A few moments later he received some papers and left with his little sister, Kleric hearing her complain and telling him new rules and items, especially to take care of himself. Kleric looked at Windcutter, whowas leaned back and hooves up on the desk, eyes faintly closing. Kleric rolled his eyes and looked bakc at the papers going on to write some notes about Macintosh.

"They split here..." Odin said, looking around, middle of a large field. They had walked all the way around Ponyville, past Sweet Apple Acres and towards a dark and dank forest.

"The Everfree forest..." Rainbow Dash murmured, before thinking gently. She looked up and thought gently, then at Odin, "Where does the trails lead?"

"One into the forest about west, north-west... why?" he said looking up at her. She took off, speeding away.

"Zecora... she lives there!"

Blitz didn't wait, rushing after her, "Odin, mark the spot and lets get going!"