Rain patters against the tent as I work, though actually, given that there are pegasi flying around outside looking for stragglers… let’s just hope its rain. “Wow my mind goes to strange places these days.” I muse.

Sugarberry looks over, “Thinking of Equestria?”

“Nope, listening to the rain outside and wondering if its yellow.”

“Ewww. There are only two pegasi flying searches out there right now…” Sugarberry says, then she looks down at Feather and the Cotton twins. “Remind me to avoid areas with lots of pegasi. There’s a new definition to acid rain.”

“And that’s why no one built homes or grew crops under Cloudsdale.”

Eric sits down across from me and huffs, “So, how’s the LT doing?”

Shaking my head I sigh, “not sure, Fleetfoot’s been with him all morning, they are working on the… condolence letters.”

“That’s a job I’d never want.” Eric adds in.

Nodding, I sigh, “How are Jay and Henry feeling?”

“Jay says he’s fine, he’d have probably been down for 6 months if we hadn’t stayed…” Eric says and nods. “Henry, he didn’t get touched, in the slightest, he’s fine.”

“And how is he emotionally?” I asked, my pen in my magic, skittering across the page.

“He’s glad to be back, he hated being a silly unicorn.”

“Silly, huh?” I glance up at him.

“Well compared to how awesome pegasi are.” He chuckles, looking at me.

“Oh ouch, way to stick it to my moral, I guess I’m just a silly unicorn.” I say, lowering my head in an exaggerated pout.

“Nope you’re worse, you’re a silly unicorn mare.” Eric says as he pokes me gently.

“I’m just… worried… I know cutie marks and Equestrian magic can be… hard to deal with.” I say softly

“Yeah but we’re human. So blah.”

“Human or not, magic has a funny way of sticking around after the fact… Think of it like radiation exposure.” I say with a giggle, “Your kids could be mutants now because of it. They could be born with wings, hooves, and a tail, oh the horror.”

“Oh I hope not, that would look just awful.” Eric jokes, “or worse some kind of silly horn.”

“What’s wrong with wings and horns?” Feather asks trying hard to look innocent. She, and the Cotton twins, are now sitting, giving him kicked puppy looks, with their ears down eyes wide and watering, tails clamped either to their sides or under their bellies.

I heard a beep, and put my hoof to my ear piece, “Yes Blaze? You found them? I’ll be right there.” Standing up I headed for the door, “Sorry Eric, I have to head out, um, try singing them a song or something… maybe that will get you out of trouble.”

“Oh, you are not leaving me here…” Eric said starting to stand.

Cotton Candy looks up meekly, “Aren’t you supposed to protect us mister? Were just too little and can’t use magic to protect ourselves yet.”

“Velvet!”

I teleport myself to the JLTV, teleports are for emergencies, and that was definitely an emergency.

Hopping in, I start driving, I didn’t know what to expect. I just know these poor ponies have missed the gate. I knew they are on the run, likely scared. I knew the police are involved. Pulling up and seeing Blaze and Fleetfoot arguing with SWAT members though, is more then I want to see.

I can see the abandoned car that we were looking for at the edge of the marina drive. In fear the ponies had taken refuge in a powerboat, there are only a few boats at the docks and they are in a 32 foot Carver. It has only one door to the lower deck and that is facing the water.

Trotting up I looked at the police, “Blaze, check the far shore, make sure they don’t have snipers there. Fleetfoot, if you could check the roof there and shore line… I’m going to go have words with the ponies.” Looking at the SWAT commander, I shake my head, “They are scared and cornered, the police are not needed for this.”

“They are illegals, and trying to steal a boat.” The SWAT commander growls at me.

“They are ponies, who were given permission by the US Government including the President to go the gate. They have been harassed and are taking the only option they can see open to them after their friends were arrested and carted off.” Turning, I walk down the docks heading for the boat making no attempt to hide.

“They have ignored any orders we have given, and don’t listen to police commands, we have to deal with them as a threat.” The officer says.

I watch Blaze land across the way and flare his wings wide. Sniper point, just where the LT would set it up, bit of a rise, cover, but good line of sight. We are all in uniform so if the police fire it will be no question of their intent.

Walking up to the edge of the boat I reared up to peek over the edge, “Hello?”

From inside I hear a female voice call back to me, scared, unsure, she simply responded, “Bonjour?”

“And now, I need a translator.”

*** 4100 miles away, give or take a street or 2 ***

Walking into the old farmhouse Beth looked around. This place hasn’t changed since she was a little girl. The house itself was built sometime in the 1800’s but had been modernized several times. Old fireplace and pot stove in the living room had long been supplanted by the electric oven in the kitchen.

The coat of arms, hung over the fire place, 3 golden gourds on a red field, with hash mark or spear mark dividing them. Beth used to be able to use the right heraldic speech to describe it but it was so long ago. Above the shield was the helm and above that a unicorn rearing in defiance.

Animals are quite common in family crests, the Abbott family uses unicorn, though dog, fox, deer, dragon and griffin were very common. Unicorns didn’t start making an appearance though on crests until about a thousand years ago. They didn’t become popular or more common in family crests until about five hundred years ago.

Just standing there, Beth finds herself lost in the family crest, up until her mum hugs her from the side, “Beth! Your home! I missed you so much! So tell me, have you found yourself a nice husband yet?”

“ACK Mum, no, just… no.” Hugging back, it always seems that her mum’s only concern was grandchildren. Shaking her, “It’s my birthday, I’m 25, let’s just have some fun okay?”

Her mum smiles and nods, “Sure thing darling, just wait here and relax a bit.”

Tommy sits beside her, offering a pint, as he sips his own. “A quarter of a century, sis.”

“I don’t know I don’t feel 25, I feel hyper and full of energy.” She giggles softly.

“Hey Mister and Misses Abbot,” Ed walks in without knocking, like usual. He helps out on the farm with the sheep. “Hey there birthday girl, I brought you a gift.” He smiles, offering a small package.

“Hey Abbots!”

Tommy cringes, “I hate that guy.”

Peat walks in with a large bag, smiling and putting it with the gifts. “Did you hear they are taking down the old woods near the castle? They are putting in a motorway flyover, car park, and even talking about a new shopping mall.”

“Oh that’s not fair, that whole area was supposed to be a heritage estate.” Beth huffs.

“Not enough people are fighting for it, and it is crown land. The castle is staying, just the woods are being taken down. I think they want more tourist interest.” Peat says.

“I heard about that,” Tommy says, “Lions Construction is supposed to be handling some of the work.”

Beth puffs out her cheeks and huffs, “I loved that forest.”

“Well we can get one last look at it tomorrow, everything changes.” Tommy says. “If everything stayed the same the world would be one boring, cluttered and overcrowded place.”

“Not helping.” Beth says and heads over to the big country feast laid out for her.

*** Velvet ***

I set my phone to speaker mode and carefully float it onto the deck near the ponies. I can see three stallions and two mares. They are huddled down in the cabin below deck. The boat is split into one lower deck, with mess, head, and a bedroom at the bow. A middle deck with the bridge and open aft/party deck. Then the top deck, which was accessible by ladder to the flying bridge, this layout wasn’t that uncommon with fishing and pleasure boats, through many don’t have the flying bridge.

One stallion is a pegasus, all of the rest are earth ponies, and none of them look well fed or groomed. It looks like Earth ponies are having the hardest time using Earth tech. Pegasus wings give them some extra manipulators to hold or pick up things, but unless the pony really gives up on human ideas, the concept of using the mouth for things becomes alien to them.

“Hello I’m Twilight Velvet.” I say slowly.

Listening to the translator, something doesn’t sound right, I only hear my first name said. Though a little purple mane with white streaks slowly pokes up, attached to the cutest chubby pink face.

“I’m Twilight Sparkles mum.” I say, smiling softly.

Blinking I looked at the phone and huff. “Twilight’s the family name, please don’t translate that.”

“Sorry,” I hear from the phone then a better translation comes through.

This at least gets somewhat of a giggle from the pony.

“My name is Alina Gauthier.” I hear come from the translator.

“Hi Alina, you look kind of familiar, do you know your pony name?” I say cheerfully.

“Excuse me, what do you mean pony name?” I hear from the phone and blinked.

“Just translate that please.” Rolling my eyes, I look at the pony.

The translator is obviously getting frustrated, he probably has no idea what is going on, but that does not give him any excuse not to do his job.

The pony listens, then responds to me seeming a little more relaxed at first. Instead of translating though the translator starts to argue back, I don’t understand the language but the tone alone is enough to get me frustrated.

“What did she say?” I ask.

“Hold please, I’m trying to get clarification, what she said doesn’t make any sense.” The translator responds.

Oh great, a human trying to translate for 2 ponies, that doesn’t know or understands that there are ponies involved. “Just translate directly, I’ll suss out what they mean.”

“We’ve been following the dream, the Princess came to us a week ago. We’ve been trying to survive on grasses and roots, avoiding humans till we get to the city.” The translator says, “See it doesn’t make sense.”

“Translate just what we say, don’t argue or worry.” Shaking my head, I smile at the ponies, “Luna sent us all dreams, the rest of your group got to the gate fine. If you want to follow, we can get you some fresh food, drinks, and a place to rest and recoup.”

Carefully all the ponies move out of the boat. Hanging up on the translator, I figure I’m going to have to fix that later. Nodding to them I pick up my phone and hook it back into my foreleg holster. Blaze and Fleetfoot pull up the flanks to keep the small group protected and we lead them to the JLTV.

As the police come forward I turn to face them, “We have it from here, we will take them to our processing area, if there are any charges file them with CID.”

“That’s not the way this works.” The officer says.

I just look at him, “You’re arguing with a magical talking unicorn pony from another world, nothing regarding ponies is how it works. Until the government sorts things out all we can do is follow orders. File charges with CID, CID will see what charges can and can’t apply right now. Right now everything is going top down, meaning it’s up to the President to decide.”

Getting into the truck, I smile back, then start driving back to the portal site, “Dial Sugarberry”. Humming softly I wait for her to pick up.

“Sugarberry, cutest unicorn in the club.”

“We are not having a who’s cuter contest Sugarberry.”

“Cuz you’d know I’d win?”

“Cuz I already have a stallion.” I counter with a giggle, “Okay, can you check with HQ? We are going to need translators that can deal with pony and pony terms. I also need you to talk to the SOC HQ, maybe they can find something? United Nations Interpretation Service or someone else like that. Maybe, people who can be vetted, then given pony terms that might be needed. Think you could arrange that?”

“Sure thing, anything else?”

“Yeah, we need an 800 support line, I have a bad feeling we are going to see ponies still changing for months, if not years to come. There’s going to be a lot of lost and scared ponies out there.”

“Any ideas?” Sugarberry asks.

“The Ears on a Swivel hotline. Tell us your Tail.”

Sugarberry giggles “Oh, that’s bad.”

“Toll free service to provide emotional support, comfort and a caring ear. If you've gone through major changes in your life, and don't know where to turn, you're not alone. We will provide confidential counseling, or put you in touch with a group to best serve your needs. This service is open to all those 25 years and older born after May 1st 1995. We will help you understand the mark life has left on you.”

“How long have you been working on that?” Sugarberry asks.

“Not long, wanted it vague enough that humans might not get it, but the ponies would.”

“I’ll get in touch for that too, maybe we can tie it to the VA’s hotline.”

“Ok I’m back just pulling in now.” I say, “Talk to you in a bit.” Hanging up, I park and help the ponies out to the shower first. Smiling, I watch Feather run up with the Cotton twins, nothing helps ponies relax more than a group of happy foals. If the foals feel safe, the adults do too.

Seeing the joy in their faces, the relief, the relaxation at the showers, even if it is more of a hose down and grooming. At least there is now some dignity. They are being treated and somewhat pampered as Citizens of Equestria, not just animals, mutants or such.

I bring out food for all of them, a mix of oat burgers, thick cut potato wedges, and of course, fresh hot apple pies. Pegasi drool, I don’t know why, but pegasi drool. Laying out the selection of food for them all, I smile as I watch them dig in like it’s the first real meal they’ve had since their change.

Sadly, it might have been. That thought gets a frown from me.

Laying down, I look at my saddle bag and pull out the EUP field manual. I lay it down between my forelegs and gave it nuzzle, taking in its scents. Feeling it its cover with my nose I just enjoy the texture. It’s Equestrian, made by ponies, for ponies, and it was made in our homeland. It is from home.

Closing my eyes, I remember laying at home when I was young, reading the manual. Something about the scents brings the images back to my mind. Carefully I open the book and start reading softly to myself.

Shaking himself out, Blaze lay down beside me, looking down at the book. Glancing up at him, I watch him making weird faces at it, and can’t help but laugh. “Oh come on Blaze it’s not that bad, you’ve read field manuals before.”

“Wait, you can actually read that?” Blaze says, looking at me, shock evident on his face.

“Oh har har, yes Blaze, I know how to read.” Looking down at the book again I clear my throat, then I start reading aloud. It becomes very quiet all of a sudden, as every pony stops what they are doing. All eyes, all ears, find their way to me as I read the intro to the EUP handbook. It is short, only 3 paragraphs long, but when finish I looked around at all of the ponies. “What?”

Everyone stays silent, shocked, Feather is the first to move, but she just walks up and sits in front of me looking wide eyed. Her wings are quivering and she gulps hard with tears in her eyes.

Sitting up I looked around confused, “Sorry if I interrupted something.” I say, starting to feel really nervous.

Looking over, Ah-Pee moves up to me and sits as well. “It’s not what you read, it’s how you read it hon.”

Looking down at the book, I looked back at her, blinking, “What do you mean? I just read it word for word.”

Blaze shakes his wings out, shaking his head vigorously as if trying to clear clouds in his own brain. “Love, the book was written in Equestria… You were speaking the Pony language.”

*** 4500 Miles away, give or take a few yards ***

Beth screams, sitting up. Panting hard, she wipes the perspiration off her face. Those eyes, they still haunt her even though she’s awake. Those mismatched, misshapen eyes. Slowly she stands up and walks into the bathroom.

“Five score divided by four.” She mumbles, then looks at herself in the mirror.

It was wrong, it wasn’t her, it was her but it was wrong. It was like looking at herself through a mask.

Closing her eyes tightly, she rubs her face, then splashes water against her forehead and cheeks, continuing to pant. Looking up again, she recognizes herself, but it just feels strange. Shaking her head again vigorously, she gets into the shower.

The water is warm, and helps relax her a bit. Turning, she stretches an arm out, wondering if she’d need to shave soon then blinks, looking at her hip. Grabbing a sponge, she gently rubs at her hip with soapy water, then blinks.

The mark doesn’t come off, it doesn’t look like a tattoo, and for the life of her she’s never gotten a tattoo, looking to her other hip, there’s an identical matching mark there. “Heraldic marks?”

Getting out of the shower she gets herself dressed, then looks for Tommy. Asleep in his room, she kicks him hard enough to push him off the bed. “Wake up, you brat!”

Tommy groans, “Beth, you better have a good reason for this or I’m going to kill you.”

“Sneaking into my room and drawing symbols on my butt is NOT funny.” Beth snarls at him.

Tommy puts his hands on the bed, pulling himself up to look at her, “I didn’t do a thing sis. I may pull pranks once in a while but…”

She turns slightly and pulls down the side of her jogging pants so he can see.

“OK now we’re talking Doctor Who arguing with Sir Humphrey Appleby level of strange.”

Beth blinks as she pictured that and cringes, the unstoppable force hitting the immovable object level of paradox there.

“If you didn’t do it who put it there then?” Beth glowered, “I doubt we have people breaking in to put Heraldic marks on people’s butts for their birthday present.”

“When’s the last time you got drunk?”

“You’ve been staying at my flat for the last few days, you know I haven’t gotten drunk in the last week, and I didn’t see the mark there yesterday or the day before, so what?” Beth puffs out her cheeks growling.

“Well I’m going to go back to sleep, your return isn’t ticked for another 2 days so you have time to relax.”

“Relax, oh yeah, like that’s going to happen. I’m going to head out to the woods.” Beth says, turning and storms downstairs.

Heading into the kitchen, she looks through the cupboard and hums. Taking a baggy out, she loads a few biscuits into it. Her mum had bought some crunchy oat, as well as strawberry yoghurt crunch, both are great for road snacks. Popping a yoghurt one in her mouth, she moves over to the next cupboard. She isn’t in the mood for sweets or crisps, so she just walks over to the fridge, grabbing two bottled waters. Once satisfied, she turns and heads out to her bike.

Picking up her bike, she rides down to the woods, to most people on the other side of the pond, a forest is hundreds, or thousands, of acres of trees. In England though, clumps of trees are rare, so even a half acre forest is rare and special. There are large forests, at least a few of them, left around England. Beth, however, grew up here.

By the side of the road are the signs, advertisement for Lion Construction Inc. Notices of intent and clearing of crown land. It was crown land, meaning the government owned it so they have the right to clear it. It isn’t Heritage land so it isn’t protected.

Walking her bike into the woods a bit, she looks around, enjoying the smells, the sounds of the birds, it is so different than her flat in London, but at the same time, it feels so normal. There is a path through here leading towards the castle. She finds a spot on a bit of a knoll, she leans her bike against a tree and sits down. She can just see a bit of one tower and wall from here, can’t hear any cars, the sun is low in the sky.

There are always animals around, and today is no exception, but Beth is finding it kind of strange. Opening her bottled water she looks at a fox, a little red vixen sat down about twenty feet from her and is watching her. Normally foxes keep their distance, but this one seems more curious.

Opening the baggy, she starts munching on another biscuit, and notices other animals around her sniffing the air, several rabbits have popped up, choosing to put Beth between them and the fox, but seem to still be curious. Even an old badger starts to watch her.

“Yes?” She said looking around in confusion at the animals. At the sound of her voice, they back off, but still watch her. A shiver runs down her back, maybe they are all rabid. She doesn’t like that thought, however the animals around here have seen humans before and are generally scared of them.

Getting up carefully, she picks up her bike and moves down to the castle, the animals don’t follow her and once she is safely away she looks back. She can hardly see the knoll from here, but, for a moment she is stunned to see unicorn standing watching her, pure white, with a beard, she blinks, and the unicorn is gone.

Closing her eyes, she shakes her head. She hears screams, yelling, she hears laughter. A voice she recognized called out, “Oh hide and seek is such fun.”

Looking around, she finds herself panting hard again, she hears the thunder of hooves, but no horses, she hears the crying of children. The area is clear, just the stone walls of the castle. Closing her eyes again, she hears the voice. “There you are young lady. Now hold still… Five score divided by four…”

Tommy puts his hand on Beth’s shoulder, breaking the spell, and causing her to scream. Backing off quickly Tommy blinks, looking at her, confused.

“Sis are you okay?”

Panting hard, she shakes her head no. “Not even close to okay.”

Sitting down on one of the rocks at the castle, she looks around.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have no idea, I’m seeing things, I’m hearing voices. I’m going crazy I think.”

“What are you seeing?” Tommy moves over closer to sit beside his sister.

“A unicorn… Not like a Narnian unicorn but a small one, like the English unicorns, complete with the beard.” Beth says, shaking her head.

Tommy hugs her softly and shakes his head, “Nope we’ll figure this out, and worst case, we can always go to the doctor and get you checked out.”

“I should have just stayed in London, all of this started when I got back here.” Beth sighs.

“Yeah but the family doctor here makes house calls. In London you’d have had to wait at the hospital.” Tommy points out with a smile.

“I know what would cheer you up, there’s a chip stand in town, deep fried and battered mushroom caps, and maybe a deep fried mars bar for desert.”

With a sigh, Beth stands up, “Ok let’s go for it.”

*** Fleetfoot***

The bed of Grandfather’s pickup seems to be a safe place, a place of peace where fears and worries vanish. It is a place where James’ mind drifts back to, for safety in times of stress. There are probably other ones, but for some reason this one is fresh.

It holds a special place for James, as well as Fleetfoot. So it seems like a good place to start from. The air is fresh and clean, there are no loud noises, just a peaceful night. The moon is in the sky, stars out in all their glory, with galaxies painting the sky.

James lay on the truck bed, twitching a bit uncomfortably, it’s not that he doesn’t want to be here, it’s just that he knows what is coming and it makes him feel… twitchy. Spreading his wings, he looks back at Fleetfoot, “Do we have to do this?”

“Wing care is an essential part of the life of a pegasus. Learning preening is important. Besides, if you ever want to preen me, or Blaze, you’ll need to see and feel what it’s like, otherwise you could hurt us.” Fleetfoot says firmly, if somewhat underhoofedly as she preens his wing.

“Why would I want to preen Blazes wing?” James says, looking back.

“Oh simple, what if he’s injured? I’ll be teaching Henry and Velvet to do this too, Henry for medical reasons, Velvet so she can preen Feather.”

Relenting, James watches how she sorts though is wings, flinching as she tugs, he looks back at her and then at the feather. “Umm, OUCH!”

“I did that just so you could see what happens if you pull too hard, especially on the wrong feather.” Fleetfoot says. “Preening is also often a bonding time, very close friends, parents, couples, and siblings. Just because of the trust involved and how personal the wings are.”

“I gathered as much, I also noticed not many preen in public.” James chimes in.

“That’s not the case, I think. That might have been a carryover from human culture, but pegasi often will preen before heavy flights, or fights. Just to be in top form. That means they will have to do it in public.” Fleetfoot responds, before stepping back and spreading her wings. “Ok, your turn.”

Moving behind her, James carefully begins preening her wings, following her instructions. It is a useful skill to have and know, he guesses. Even if it isn’t for himself, others would need it and he has had to sit through strange classes before.

Fleetfoot eeps, but forces her wings to remain still, she doesn’t want to embarrass him with an uncontrolled wing reaction mid preening, and looks back, nodding. “Perfect. Now come on, time to learn about pegasi.”

“I still don’t understand why.” James says, standing up and looking up at Cloudsdale.

Moon Shadow steps up on the other side of James, “To understand the instinct, the drive, the reason for what she did, you need to understand a bit about Pegasi and their culture.”

“It’s just a short flight, come on,” Fleetfoot says, smiling at him.

Looking up, James takes a deep breath then spreads his wings wide, all of a sudden they are flooded with images of the battled of the mare of the bear with its great paw. The rage, the sadness, can almost be tasted in the air.

Moon Shadow steps forward, pushing the images away, “Don’t think of that right now, don’t think of your first flight, think instead of Fleetfoot, think of her flights, follow her.”

Fleetfoot is panting hard, she didn’t expect the rush of emotions and images herself. Looking back, she tilts her head, then slaps James’ face with her tail, “Watch the tail and catch it if you can.” She says, taking off.

James laughs and focuses on the tail, chasing it. Fleetfoot doesn’t follow a straight line though, she is zig zagging and evading all through the flight. It takes all of James concentration to stay on her, he isn’t used to flying like this. This isn’t wing suit gliding, this is like some kind of video game, with quick reverses, turns, and rolls. Finally she lands on a cloud, James hit the cloud, panting hard.

“Man you’re fast, and agile.” James says.

“Oh come on, do you really think me being more agile or faster has anything to do with my wings in this place?” She giggles, panting a bit herself.

“Two can play at that... Do you really think that’s air your breathing now?”

Moon Shadow giggles, shaking her head, “You two are incorrigible.”

“Cloudsdale, pegasi can walk on clouds naturally, though a few unicorns know cloud walking spells letting them come up here. Pegasi mostly use clouds to make structures, but can also make them solid enough to allow for other things such as wood and metal to be brought up and used.”

Looking around, James sits down in a mix of shock and wonder, the grand Pillars, the Coliseum, the statues, it looks like pictures of ancient Rome, or Greece. Great structures like the Amphitheatre stands with smaller clouds having individual houses, if they could be called houses. Many are more like estates with their own fountains made of rainbows.

“The pegasi of old were warriors, like the Spartans or Amazons. They fought the gryphons and minotaurs. Often they acted as mercenaries, protecting the earth ponies and unicorns, in exchange for food.” Landing at the edge of the great Coliseum Fleetfoot sits on a cloud bench looking down.

“Many of these traditions have even been carried on to modern equestrian. Jousting matches, races, flying competitions testing the speed and maneuverability are a big part of a pegasi’s life. Even something as simple as a race often involves physical contact.”

Moon Shadow gestures, and the two pegasi watch Brawly and Rainbow Dash racing each other. Brawly using his larger size to ram the smaller Dash off the course in a turn, this sends Dash spinning out a bit before recovering and diving after the colt

“With earth ponies something like that would have been considered cheating or worse, with unicorns it would have been uncouth and below them. To pegasi though, it’s part of a race, because it’s in our nature. If you can’t take a few bumps and bruises, you shouldn’t be flying.” Fleetfoot says as the image disappears.

“I guess that explains Fluttershy.” James says, looking down.

“Don’t underestimate Flutters, she may act meek but she’s still a pegasus. She still has the instinct in her and we see it time and time again in the show, where she stands up with every bit as much ferocity as other pegasi.”

Moon Shadow sits beside James, “In the heat of battle, she fell back onto old instincts. She fell back to the times when pegasi were the greatest of warriors.”

“The Spartans had an old saying, with your shield or upon it. That was something movies like 300 missed or forgot about. What it means is simple. A warrior would return with their shield, meaning they didn’t run from a fight, or they would return on it, being dragged lying on their shield. To run from a battle was the greatest show of cowardice.” Fleetfoot points out.

“Yeah but we see ponies running and screaming all the time in the show.” James says, looking around.

“Of course, fight or flight means just that, if they think they can run away, that will kick in first. This was war, she was standing with you. As were the others, you can’t think of her as a civilian, as a child, or such. She was a soldier, acting like one.” Moon Shadow says, moving closer to sit beside him.

“It’s never easy for a commander to lose soldiers,” James says, “Just the idea that something like luck, destiny, or such kept me alive while she died. I know it happens all the time on a battlefield, but it doesn’t help or make it easier.”

“Your mark gave her, and the others, the strength to fight. The willingness to fight, your mark kept them alive. Consider it a memorial for her.”

***

“LT Fisher, Captain Fleetfoot.” The private calls into the back of the truck. “Command is on the horn.”

James sits up quickly, shaking his head, then looks at Fleetfoot who is shaking her whole body out. On the other side, Moon Shadow shakes her head as she awakens as well.

“Remind me to put up a do not disturb sign next time.” Fleetfoot says.

Moon Shadow shakes her head, “It’s okay, this session’s over, just think but don’t dwell on what you saw.”

“I’m coming,” Standing up, James pulls on his boots and jacket, before giving both the girls a hug. “Thank you.”