That unforgettable stench. It reeked. So sharp that it burned your nostrils and so vile you could taste it. It lingered in the air and no matter how hard you tried to ignore it, keep your mouth shut, or even avoid breathing, it would never go away.

"What is that smell?" Celestia winced in disgust, holding back a gag. The princess manifested a white handkerchief, holding it in front of her nose to try and lessen the smell.

"Death," Luna answered, less reserved as she stood firm.

"And destruction. War, it's a terrible thing to experience," I added, my helmets filters doing their best to keep the air clean.

We had just stepped off the train at the partially standing train station. Twilight held my hand, staying close to me, pinching her nose close as her friends followed behind me. They too, held hooves and handkerchiefs to their nostrils. The few selected reporters that were allowed to come with us were horrified at the sight of what remained of the station. The girls wilted at the sight of the half demolished and burned building that stood before them. But they knew what was coming. At least Spike wasn't with us. Twilight made sure to drop him off at her parent’s place.

"Come on," I ushered, leading the way towards the town center and away from the demolished building. Our boots and hooves thumped against the wood of the stations landing pad before we stepped around the building and into the light. The stench was horrible and only getting worse. "They're either burning the bodies or burying them poorly."

Twilight gasped, causing me to glance at her. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she held a hand to her muzzle. That's when I looked back over the town.

Buildings were no longer burning, but many were scorched beyond all repair and recognition. Others were partially or wholly collapsed, and few were just missing outright, a crater left in their places. Others were filled and riddled with bullet holes, both ours and the Grineer. Just about every home, business, or otherwise were missing windows. As we let the horror of what had transpired sink in, an armored dragon approached.

I ignored the flashes and clicks of cameras.

The drake saluted once he was close enough, "Princess Celestia, Comrade Commander Nuri is ready to see you. This way." He turned, leading us through the streets and towards the commander's position. That was about the point when all around, we noticed dragons working hard, cleaning the piles of debris from the battle well over a week prior. As we went, they watched us intently as they worked, hauling away wheelbarrows full of debris or tossing broken and scorched planks, wall material, and other debris into large piles.

The armored drake led us towards the still standing statue of Princess Celestia that still stood tall above the fountain in the city center, even in it's demolished state. It was missing a wing; her front right leg was snapped off and tail chipped, but she fought hard to stay standing. Town Hall was yet again only half a building and the city center was littered with deep, mud filled craters. This location that was probably hit the hardest by that bombardment.

"What could have caused such destruction?" Luna asked as she surveyed both the damage and wandered around a small crater.

"Mid-orbital bombardment," I answered, walking around the lip of a deeper crater. It was big enough that if I stood at the bottom, the lip would be over my head. "The Grineer opened up with everything. They even fired on their own troops." I helped Twilight along and in front of me so that I could support her. "Creeping barrage. They did their best to try and level the town."

"Why?"

"To try and kill us," Serenity replied as she opted to walk down into one of the shallower divots and up the other side. "What is one little town when they can kill us all?"

Our guiding drake came to a halt in the middle of the courtyard, informing us to wait nearby as he went to grab his commanding officer. He was gone only moments before he approached us yet again not too long after with a jet-black dragoness in black armor with red highlights. "Commander's," she saluted towards Celestia and Luna with a thick Russian accent.

I playfully nudged Drax in the side and pointed towards the dragoness with a smile and a soft chuckle.

He huffed, slapping at my arm before crossing his arms and looking away.

"Thank you for coming, Commander," Celestia thanked, causing us to look towards the dragoness.

"You're welcome, Commander Celestia," Commander Nuri replied before turning towards me and pointing. "Is that your warrior?"

The mare turned towards me before replying. "Indeed, Commander."

The dragoness approached myself, holding out a claw, which I shook. She shook Serenity's and Drax's as well before speaking further, "I would like to thank you for your sacrifice. We have done what we could in your absence."

"You're only a week late," I remarked with a sigh, which immediately soured the mood as I rested my hands on my hips. "What have you been doing with the bodies?" I asked, changing the subject.

"We have a mass grave in the forest to the north east. We have survivors as well, prisoners. Weapons gathered and guarded near the castle. We have also started clean up as you can see," Nuri listed as she pointing in the rough directions of which each place was located.

Reaching up, I disconnected my helmet and removed it, holding it with my right hand as I rubbed my face with my left. "I'll get Ordis on reterraforming the streets. So, you don't need to worry about filling the craters." I glanced between the opening of my thumb and pointer finger and down the crater riddled street. "But first, we need to gather the weapons and anything else that may seem dangerous in the wrong hands and show me to the prisoners."

As I lowered my arm, I noticed as the commander rolled her right shoulder. "Perhaps you can help us with one thing first?" She waved us forward, so we followed as the dragoness lead us along. "We cannot seem to release one weapon." Leading us across the courtyard, I immediately spotted an old friend of mine.

Where upon it appeared as though one drake had pulled a muscle in his shoulder. A few drakes and dragoness' stood around my Skana. "We cannot seem to remove this blade," she said, holding a claw out towards the buried sword.

I approached my sword; somewhat glad she didn't find another who was worthy. "Well," I started, reaching out and wrapping my hand around her handle. "It's really quite simple, all you have to do…" With a jerk, I pulled her free effortlessly, holding her close to my chest. "Is pull," I smirked.

I glanced towards the commander; whose jaw hung limp in disbelief, along with the rest of her gathered troops. I ran my hand across her blade, cleaning the dirt and mud from her surface. "Clearly none of you were worthy of her standards." I flipped my weapon around, catching her by the blade and offering her handle to the dragoness.

Commander Nuri stared at the hilt and lifted a claw, reaching out, but paused. "If I am not worthy, I am not worthy," she dismissed with a wave of her claw.

"C-Cal?"

I froze, dare not turning towards the voice. But I knew I was going to have to face my sister eventually. I spun my sword back around and sheathed her where she belonged before I fully turned around.

Lily stood there, dirty, hair unkempt, and soaked in sweat. She rushed towards me; arms outstretched for a hug.

I held out my left hand, her chest slamming into my opened palm, stopping her dead in her tracks once she was close enough. The look of hope in her eyes faded into that look of pain I had seen several days ago. I held her back by the tips of my fingers for what felt like an eternity. "Have you learned your lesson?" I said, moving my hand and pointing my finger square at her nose.

She curled up, shying away from me and averting her gaze. Slowly, my sister shook her head. I lowered my arm after that and relaxed my stance. "You're still not off the hook yet," I told her, garnering yet another weak nod.

"I believe she belongs to you," Commander Nuri stated as she crossed her arms. "She told me what happened. In her defense, she has been working hard around here."

"I'll make that judgment call when I feel she has met my expectations," I replied to Nuri before turning back towards my sister. "You're still not getting the suit back."

She wilted but nodded as well.

I held the opening of my helmet close as I spoke into the mic. "Ordis, head towards the castle for weapons pickup and disposal. Then begin working on the streets. We'll worry about buildings later."

It was a rough day.

We gathered all the weapons, and I do mean all of them. We ran triple counts on all firearms in conjunction with kills and surviving prisoners. It seemed that Commander Nuri ran a tight battle net, never letting her troops press their luck. Seemed that being on foreign soil gave them limited ability on what they could and could not do. We sorted through the mass of Grakatas, Hinds, Gorgons, and so on. Through the pile, I found Drax's second Jagara, immediately handing it back to him. I found my sister's rifle as well, holding onto that along with that old revolver I bought. I found my empty arch-gun as well.

Ordis had headed off and began working on the craters as we headed off towards the prisoners. They were being held in makeshift prison scraped together from parts of the metal hulls of demolished ships, heavily guarded by numerous dragons. There was one heavily restrained, a Ghoul, the others were numerous injured and terrified Lancers, one Heavy Gunner, a Sniper, and a Butcher or two.

I stood before the prisoners and crossed my arms. I eyed every one of them. It was all the same look. That look of hatred in their eyes. Their Grineer indoctrination ran deep. I was going to make them an offer, but I canned that idea. I shook my head and turned around. Commander Nuri stepped up next to me.

"What of the prisoners?" she asked.

I glanced back, Serenity and Drax were the only ones with me. "They are no use to us."

"Execution then?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" I immediately replied, looking to the commander.

"Not at all," she replied, pausing briefly and turning back towards her guards at the prison. The commander held up her right claw, clenching it into a fist and pointing towards the forest with two fingers. To finish it off, she ran her thumb across her neck. "We are not like our pony allies," she added, turning and facing forward again.

"You actually have a backbone," I quipped. "Good to know someone on this planet is willing to be violent when necessary."

"Equestria is a rather sheltered nation. There is still slavery to the south and atrocities all around the world. They would be applauded by what happens outside of their own little world, " Nuri explained.

"Believe me, it was a culture shock when I landed," I replied as we entered back into the crater filled city center. Ordis was already overhead, slowly working his way along and reterraforming the street as the draconian guards moved about, avoiding the pyramid of light emanating from the craft. I sighed, "I don't know where the hell we're going to get enough wood for a project like this. Let alone other materials to rebuild what was lost."

"We have scavenged what we could, " Nuri said as she crossed her arms, looking out over the remnants of the town. "But you are right, we do not have enough to rebuild what was lost."

"I'll do what I can," I informed her, causing the dragoness to look back at me. "Well start off with getting an even surface to work on and go from there. My team will aid in any clean up and rebuilding efforts. We can use the Liset to help with heavy lifting." Reaching out, I patted her shoulder plate. "We'll get a plan going. Thanks again."

"You're welcome."

At that moment, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight approached and stood next to Drax and Serenity.

"So, what's the plan?" Serenity asked.

"Clean up operations have begun," I started as I looked around the group. "The dragons have more than secured the area, so we can begin working without delay."

"My dragons are more than willing to work," Nuri added.

I turned towards Celestia. "We have a small army at our disposal, and they are eager to prove themselves. Now is that time to let them do exactly that."

The princess sighed, lowering her head and closing her eyes. "I suppose…" she lifted her head, gazing out over the destruction. "I just… how do we even recover from this?"

"With help," Twilight added, causing everyone to turn towards her. "This is a perfect opportunity to forge bonds and create new friendships. We've all been in low points in our lives, but somepony has always been there."

"Celestia," I said, grabbing her attention. "We will stay for as long as we have to until -at the very least- Ponyville has been rebuilt to the point that you can finish without our help."

"Perhaps now is the time to lift the restrictions surrounding Ponyville," Luna mused. "And let the residents return if they so choose."

"Ah know mah brother would be more than willin ta help," Applejack interjected as her and the rest of the girls approached, making our little circle bigger. "We could use the muscle. Definitely more destruction than when that ursa came bustin through."

"We're going to need a lot of help. Bringing the Kavor in is a good first step. With their help, the help of Commander Nuri's troops." I held a handout to her briefly. "We can at least get started. Twilight and I will get a list started of buildings that require the most work," I suggested

"My Drakgoons can help with that as well."

"At least we'll have a starting point," I finished. "That alright baby?" I asked, turning my head towards Twilight.

"You know how I am with lists," Twilight joked, garnering a huff and some smiles all around. "Of course I don't mind."

"I'll contact the Mayor," Celestia offered before turning towards her sister. "If you will get the Kavor?"

Luna nodded.

"Girls, maybe start making a definitive list of materials," I delegated to the five mares. "Serenity, Drax, either help the girls or see if the Drakgoons need any help." All of them nodded as I continued. "Commander, keep doing what you're doing, you seem to have a system down. Try and get the paperwork done today before we get to the nitty gritty. Good?"

"Good," everyone repeated.

"Come on Twi, we have work to do."

It was nothing special. Dozens of buildings were demolished and ruined. The ones that were leveled were missing walls, others were partially burned, just about all were missing windows. Some were shot full of holes and ransacked. Very few were untouched someway in the chaos. But by the end of the day, the list of everything was made. We figured out what buildings needed the most work, which needed to be rebuilt entirely and the girls had a list of all the materials we would need to begin rebuilding.

We all went to bed tired and miserable…

One train came into town a day later.

Those few that were willing to return back to their hometown, returned, and the reactions were just as I had expected. Tears were shed, words shared, hugs handed out and many, many apologies made.

Work was ready to go as the Kavor were brought in as well.

Words of hate were shouted at the clones by the residents. I did my best to assure the residents that it was not the Kavor's fault and that they were not to be blamed. I'm still not sure that I got through to all of them. But I got far enough not to incite violence.

We began working immediately.

I grabbed my sister and we began working on a home with a missing wall. I started laying out the boards that we were able to salvage. The family that owned the home said that now was their incentive to remodel, so we began building how they liked. They worked inside, clearing their belongings after we had stabilized the home while Ember and I tacked the wall together. While this was happening, I just began to whistle a tune.

A simple tune, while using the nail gun as an instrument. A song I was very familiar with from a friend of mine back on Venus. A woman who has shown exemplary strength in severe heartache. A woman so powerful, that the first thing she did was sell her heart, so that she could buy a gun.

I started to sing, softly.

A tail of hard life but filled with hope. A story of building a better life, not only for ourselves, but for our friends and family as well. I repeated the chorus, speeding up just slightly, only pausing briefly as Ember and I started to lift the wall. But once it was up, I continued to sing until the wall was in place. I finished off the song by tacking the wall in place. I continued to hum out the rest of the tune as I stepped back to examine my work.

That's when I suddenly realized how quiet it was.

Turning my head, I was surprised to see so many eyes watching me.

"What?"

Earlier, in Manhattan.

"Brother? Steel! Get in here!" A light grey stallion shouted out of his office. The stallion was larger in stature, gruff, and well-aged. His broad shoulders and large hooves were a testament to his work ethic. A pony that had worked hard all his life to get to where he was now. He currently sat in his office, reading the Manehattn Times newspaper.

"What?" another stallion asked as he walked into the room. He was built much like his brother, big, strong, and equally as gruff. His key difference between him and his brother was that this stallion had a silver mane and his brother had blonde hair.

"Have you seen the paper?" the first stallion asked, lowering the newspaper, spinning it so that his brother could see.

"I have," Steel replied with a nod. "What do you think we should do, Iron?"

Iron folded up the paper and rested his elbows on his desk and chin on his hooves. "I think we need to help!"

Steel, with half smirk upon his lips, replied, "Great minds think alike!"

"That they do," Iron shot back. "We have more than enough equipment and pony power to get the job done!"

"So where do you want me?"

"I need you to go down to the floor and get as many ponies as we can afford to take with us," Steel said as he got out of his office chair and walked around the front of his desk and towards his brother. "Gather what cranes and machines we can spare as well."

"What about you?"

"I need to make a few calls," Steel replied. "I'm gonna get us a train and as much materials as I can muster."

"Do not bother," a feminine voice stated as she entered the stallion's office. Her fur was a pale pink, her mane was long and bleach blonde in color, and she stood as tall, if not taller than her male counterparts. Draped over her back was a very elegantly made ensemble clearly made by a premier designer. But that wasn't important right now. "I already have most of my stock ready and waiting. You'll have plenty of wood, nails, screws, brackets, everything at your disposal. We just need to load it."

"Lady Timber," Steel greeted with a smile and a small bow.

The mare waved her hoof in dismissal. "Forget the formalities, Steel. I'm here to recruit you to see if you are willing to help the ponies of Ponyville."

It wasn't a question; it was an order.

"I was just about ready to call you," Steel replied.

"Don't worry about a train," yet a new voice said as a new pony entered the room. The stallion was much smaller than the original trio. He wore a striped blue and white rail workers trousers and cap that were unusually clean for his line of work. His fur was grey and tail black, but small strands of grey hairs were in there as well "Guess I caught you three at the right time."

"Axle," Lady Timber greeted the smaller stallion.

The train worked smiled at the mare. "As much as I would like to say it's good to see you, the circumstances of which they are happening say otherwise. Anyway, I have hauled materials and equipment for both of your companies for years. I'm here to tell you that I have a crew, ready to load and carry anything you need, waiting down at the yard right now. All you need to do is get there."

The quartet of ponies eyed one another before Steel decided to speak up first. "Hold on," Turning around, he stepped up towards his desk and grabbed his speaker, pressing the button and grabbing the attention of his workers. "Everypony, stop what you are doing right now."

Him, his brother, and two companions stepped past his desk and over towards the windows that looked down and over the steel yard. The yard was filled with metal beams, machinery of many kinds and numerous stallions and mares dressed in bright green vests and hard hats of various colors. The bustling yard came to a screeching halt as everypony turned towards their boss’s office.

"Everypony… I'm not sure if you all are aware, but our fellow ponies. Our brothers, our sisters, have been attacked. A town by the name of Ponyville in the center of the country has been ransacked and nearly leveled."

Looks of horror and worry were shared by the crew all across the yard.

"Everypony, we have never led you astray here. My brother and I, along with Lady Timber and Axle Rod have come together and we need a crew! Now is the time we come together as a nation to help our fellow ponies! Which is why I say now is the time to drop everything. We have a train at the yard and wood on standby. We have the machines and the ability. If you're with me, now is the time to step up!"

All across the yard, looks and words of determination were shared. You would have never needed to ask. The decision had been made right on the spot.

A single, resonating, stomp of hooves as everypony stepped forward. One stallion decided to yank on his cranes horn, blaring his support as the rest of his fellow operators did the same.

"Mount up everypony!"

"Cally, where did you learn that song?" Twilight asked me as she approached. The looks of shock never seemed to go away.

"I learned it from a friend of mine," I replied, slightly confused.

"What's it called?"

"It doesn't really have a name," I admitted. "Guess it could be called Lift Together. But I could probably go as far as calling it the Ballad of the Solaris United." I set the nail gun down on the ground next to me and rested my hands on my hips. "Why, if I may ask?"

Just as I was about to respond, there was a blaring of a train horn in the distance. Both Twilight and myself turned towards the direction and we could see the plume of smoke from the train that had just arrived.

"Was someone supposed to be arriving today?" I turned back towards Twilight just in time to see both Luna and Celestia approach, both covered in sawdust and wearing a work apron and belt full of tools. "Was someone supposed to be showing up today?" I asked again, this time towards the princesses, who both shook their heads.

With silent agreement, Celestia and Luna stripped their gear and took off in a trot towards the station as Twilight, myself, and my sister following suit.

Within a few minutes we approached the station as our hooves and boots thumped against the wood as we ascended and ran across the platform. The train was long, and I could see a fair amount of material loaded on flatbeds, along with some heavy machinery. Just as we had reached the first closed car, did the door open and a grey stallion stepped off. He immediately spotted us and bowed.

"Your majesties," he greeted before he stood up, holding a hoof to his chest. "My name is Steel Beam and on behalf of my brother, Iron, and our companion Beam and Beam, along with Timber Lumberyard, and the Manehattan Train Yard. I brought as much materials as we could muster, along with as many heavy machines we could muster and an eager crew that's ready to work!"

I blinked once, then twice, both times in disbelief. I then turned towards Celestia and Luna, who were both floored, mouths bobbing like fish out of water. Celestia eventually let out a sound between a choked sob and a gasp before she sat down and held a hoof to her head. "I think I'm going to faint…"

I decided to speak on her behalf. "Steel, was it?" He nodded, so I continued, "We'll take everything we can get!" Reaching out, I offered my hand, which he rested his hoof in it for me to shake. "Thank you…"

He smiled, "I refuse to turn a blind eye."

"We greatly appreciate the help."

I released his hoof as he turned around and let out a very loud whistle. "MOUNT UP CREW! WE HAVE WORK TO DO!"

The rest of the train cars opened, and dozens of stallions and mares exited, dressed and ready for work. They mounted up onto cranes, bulldozers, and heavy lifters, engines roaring and tracks squeaking as they descended the ramps and began lifting pallet after pallet of wood beams, side sheeting, and other materials which were taken right into the center of town. The stacks were high and ready.

The residents were just as dumbfounded as Celestia and Luna.

As we continued to unload the plethora of materials, all of which were donated, another train came roaring into the station and parking itself on the tracks. Yet again that day, I found myself approaching with Twilight and the princesses. Yet again, we waited patiently on the pad as the door opened and a little white mare with a blue cross for a cutie mark approached with a bow.

"Princess," she greeted before standing up. "My name is Blue Cross with the Equestrian Red Cross. We brought as many ponies as we could muster. We have tents, food, water, and everything we thought you may need for the relief effort."

Just then, Big Mac stepped off the train, sword tied to his hip.

We locked eyes and I gave him a welcoming nod of respect, which he returned.

"Along with a few residents that wanted to come back home after a change of heart," Cross finished as she turned back to face us. "As long as you will…" she paused, looking past us and squinting her eyes. "What is that?"

Turning around, I looked to the skies and reflexively drew my rifle at the sight of some unfamiliar airship maneuvering its way towards us. But I never raised my rifle when I noticed that the shape was wrong for it to be another Grineer ship. It was a blimp, an airship, that hovered along and was being flanked by numerous smaller craft. Her and her guards came to a hover just outside of the town limits. I urged Cross to begin unloading her crew as the rulers and myself headed towards the blimp. Just as we made it to the crafts landing spot, did the door open and a ramp descend.

From the door, the Minotaur Ambassador, along with the Griffon Ambassador exited along the ramp. Yet again we received another set of bows before the Minotaur Ambassador was first to speak.

"Princess Celestia, on behalf of Minos, and her King, I brought my best warriors to aid however you need."

Celestia glanced back towards the town and the two trains before looking back to the two representatives. "Thank you, both of you."

"Unfortunately," the Griffon Ambassador cut in, looking rather embarrassed. "I was the only one that was willing to come from Griffonstone."

I shrugged my shoulders. "At this point, I think we have more than enough help. Come."

The bull whistled loudly for his team to begin unloaded as we lead the duo back towards town. We gathered those in charge near the fountain so that we could start setting up a plan of attack. But just as I opened my mouth, the ground started to rumble. All of us glanced down to see small pebbles begin to bounce before all of us lost our footing.

"Earthquake!" Cross panicked, diving towards the ground.

"Are we even on a fault line!?" I shouted, stumbling several steps before catching myself on the lip of the dried up fountain. I caught Twilight a second later as she stumbled into me. She held on tightly to me as I reached out and placed my left hand on Fluttershy's back, stabilizing her as I held myself firm with my right hand. The violent rumbling continued for several seconds before it came to a quick halt. "Everyone okay?"

We helped one another back to our feet and words of concern were passed around. While we were doing that, a lone, yellow stallion with an almost flame colored mane and tail, wearing a brown vest and Stetson hat approached.

"Howdy cuz!" he waved.

"Braeburn?" Applejack said, confused before she approached the stallion and gave him a welcoming hug. "What in tarnation are you… doing… here?" Her words slowly trailed off. The apple mare could clearly see something that we couldn't from where we were standing.

The stallion rubbed the back of his neck as he approached his relative. I followed close behind him and reeled back in shock as I looked out over the sea of ponies and wagons.

"Ah brought the whole clan," Braeburn explained, smiling nervously. "Say howdy everypony!"

"HOWDY EVERYPONY!"

I winced at the eardrum shattering shout, even closing my eyes as Applejack was knocked from her confusion. Ponies of all colors, of all walks of life, stood before us. If they were anything like the apple mare next to me, they knew how to work.

Twilight approached, waving at the sea of smiling faces before she turned to me. "Cally?" she asked, causing me to look towards her. "Could you teach us that song?"

The sounds of hammers sang their song, like the beat of drums. Ponies worked side by side, hand in hand like a well-oiled machine. They hummed to the tune; the makeshift band began to play. I grabbed a beam, hoisting it onto my shoulder as Twilight did the same behind me.

I started to sing.

"Cold: the air and water flowing. Hard: the land we call our home!"

We pasted Big Mac and Applejack as they pulled with all their might, heaving a wall into place. "Push, to keep the dark from coming, feel the weight of what we owe!" Big Mac sang deeply.

"This: the song of sons and daughters, hide the heart of who we are!" the Crusaders sang with all their hearts as they handed off a bag on nails to the apple siblings before scurrying off.

We all finished the last verse in unison. I clenched my fist, a sign of our strength together as one. "Making peace to build our future. Strong, united, working 'till we fall!"

This time, everyone joined in, the beats of their hammers picking up the tempo. "Cold: the air and water flowing. Hard: the land we call our home!"

Ropes went taught as more walls were heaved into place. "Push, to keep the dark from coming,

"Feel the weight of what we owe!"

Beams passed overhead as the cranes work hard to set roofs, the Beam crew pulling on their horns. "This: the song of sons and daughters. Hide, the heart of who we are!

"Making peace to build a future. Strong, united, working till we fall!"

I took the lead as Twilight and I reached our destination at the skeletone of Sugar Cube Corner. The town came alive with heart and life. Gone were the victims. Long live hope and love.

"And we all lift, and we're all a drift together, together!"

Twilight and I dropped the beam as I held my arms out wide, encouraging everyone to sing to the very end.

"Through the cold mist, 'till we're lifeless, together, together!"

The town continued the hum the rest of the tune and work to the tune. I turned and went to grab another heavy board with my left hand. Just as I started to lift, my shoulder cracked and I immediately dropped the board, stumbling back and grabbing at the joint and dropping to a knee.

And there wen't my happy mood...

"Cally!" Twilight immediately jumped to my aid.

"I'm fine," I said, trying to dismiss my injury, but she was not going to have any of it. She really did have me on a tight leash now.

"No, you aren't," she firmly stated before grabbing me and helping me to my feet. "You've done enough for the day. Come on, we're going to go get you a seat and something to drink too. No come on you stubborn bull, get up."

"Yes dear," I relented, wincing as I began to limp along.

"Dash!" Twilight shouted to the pegasus that was hovering overhead, causing the mare to look down at us. "I'm gonna take Cally to go rest. You're in charge for the time being!"

The blue mare snapped to attention and saluted before fluttering away.

"That was a bad idea," I joked, causing Twilight to smirk back knowingly.

"Come on goofball, let’s get you to the meal tent."

"Shining, we need to do something!" Cadance stated as she stared at the paper sitting before her. Her belly was starting to expand as the foal inside her grew. She was clearly no longer the slim pony she was on her wedding day.

Her husband wandered into their crystal bedroom. He was longer confined to his own wheelchair. But the scar across his eye and the two on his abdomen were still plain as day, every time he looks in a mirror. Memories, no matter how much he liked it.

"What do you suggest?" he asked, approaching his wife and wrapping his hooves around her bulging belly and resting his head on her right shoulder.

"We really need to go and help," she whimpered as she stared down at the newspaper. She couldn't take her gaze away.

"You do realize this is his fault, right?" She swatted him on the nose, causing the stallion to yelp and fall backwards. "What did I say?" he said nasally. He really hoped that he wasn't bleeding.

His wife glared down at him, causing the poor boy to wilt and shy away. "Ponies lives have been ruined and all you can think about is Twilight's boyfriend!"

"He's not her boyfriend…"

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

Cadance pursed her lips outwards in a tight line, her glare never faulting. "Do I have to remind you who ruined this family?"

"Caddy…" Shining whimpered, his ears spading agaisnt his head.

"No!" she stated, holding a hoof towards her husband to keep him from speaking further. "Your stubbornness and to prove yourself not only gave you that scar across your eye. But also, nearly got you killed and now Twilight refuses to talk to either of us!" She hopped off her seat and loomed over her former captain of a husband. "Here is your opportunity to try and mend your stupid mistake. Gather the guard, we're getting a work crew together!"

With that, the mare stomped past her husband and headed out of her bedroom.

"Do I have to?"

"NOW SHINING ARMOR!"

The entire castle shook with that shout, causing the poor lad to scuttle to his hooves and run out the room.

It wasn't long after that that Cadance and her husband had gathered a crew of volunteers from the Crystal Guard. They spent some time gathering what little equipment they could before loading onto the empire's new train and shooting off towards Ponyville.

By the time they had arrived after a very short trip, they were stupidly surprised by the number of ponies that were already there and working. There were even numerous minotaurs and some other humans that Cadance and Shining Armor wondered how they arrived there. The princess had only brought a crew of about twenty-five crystal ponies. But there was well over a hundred -if not two hundred- workers already here.

So Cadance, unsure what to do, headed towards the tent city and to grab something to eat.

"Cadance?"

Twilight and I stared in confusion at her two relatives as we limped towards the nearest table. The pink princess and her blue haired husband's ears swiveled towards us before they lifted their heads and looked at us in shock. Twilight pulled a chair out for me, to which I plopped myself into post haste once we made it to the table.

"We came to help," Cadance explained as she watched us intently. "But it would appear you don't need it."

"We have it down pretty good," I replied as I glanced towards the pink pony princess. "Could you get me some water please?" I asked, directing the question to my future wife.

"Of course," she replied softly before pecking me on the forehead and walking away.

I turned towards the crystal couple, staring at the white stallion glaring at me. "What?" I said, annoyed. Now my mood was really bad. "You looking to lose another fight? Because even now I could still put you under."

"You're not her boyfriend…"

I chuckled at that, lowering my head and shaking it. "You're right…" I replied honestly before I lifted my head, making damn sure to look Shining right in the eyes. "She's my fiancée."

His jaw hit the table.

I continued to smirk at him as he sputtered incoherently. "NO, YOU ARE NOT!" he evenually shouted.

"SHINING ARMOR!" Cadance bellowed at the stallion, slamming her hooves on the table as she sat up, her face red with rage. Shining for his part, wilted in his seat at the harsh tone. "YOU ARE GOING TO SIT YOUR FLANK DOWN IN THAT CHAIR! SHUT YOUR MOUTH! AND KEEP QUIET! AM I CLEAR MISTER!"

It wasn't a question, that was a damn demand.

"But honey…" he whimpered.

"You have torn enough of this family apart!" Cadance finished as she fell back in her own seat, still fuming but no longer boiling red with rage. She crossed her forelegs and blew a puff of steam out her nose. "I don't care what you say, you are on the couch."

"Caddy…"

"Shut up Shining Armor!"

That moment, Twilight blinked into existence, a frantic look on her face. "I heard screaming! What happened!?" she questioned, frantically looking me over for any further injuries. She was more likley to give me a new injury at this point than she was to help me.

Cadance took a deep breath, glaring her husband into submission as he lowered his head and accepted his defeat. "Your brother is struggling to accept reality…" Cadance grumbled.

Twilight glanced to her brother, her gaze narrowing before she crossed her arms, facing him fully. "Shining. Excalibur and I have agreed to be wed. Whether you like it or not."

"Twily please-"

"No!" she firmly cut her brother off while holding out her open palm to him. "No. Nadda. Not-uh. We're getting married whether you like it or not." Twilight grabbed my arm and helped me to my feet, causing me to wince as she man-handled me. "Cadance, you're invited whenever we set a date.

"You're not, Shining…"

She said that too as we limped past him. Leaving both him and his wife alone. Shortly after that, Cadance chased after us, asking what she could do to help. Her husband however, stayed where he was.

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPTCq3LiZSE&list=PLYulzAZievo-VyCFwPFsfv8kwb8S06cqB&index=73&t=0s

Truly one of the best video game songs ever created!
Jeez... I can't believe how long it took for me to actually come to this point. I knew, when I heard this song that it would fit perfectly for what I wanted to do here. And thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it.
If you enjoy what I got going, lick that like button!