Chapter 20: Flight of the Lunar Guard

Running a hoof over her dress uniform, Senior Master Sergeant A.K. Yearling looks at herself in the full bodied mirror before her, and sighs. No matter how many times she looks at herself in this uniform, she can’t help but feel it’s some sort of mirage. Hay, the entire past few weeks had felt like that, a hazy nightmare only half remembered and laced with the screams of her fellow Reservists.

Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath and does her best to try and force down the terrible feelings of unease that had spawned as she had thought over the horrors she had witnessed.

“Mmm, did I ever tell you,” a voice comes from behind her, quickly followed by a pair of arms. “That I can’t resist a mare in uniform?”

Laughing as she opens her eyes, she smirks into the mirror and offers a wink to her husband. “Well, that’s not what you said last last night,” she says as she gently removes his hooves and turns around. “You seemed like you couldn’t wait to get it off then.”

“What can I say? You’re a bad influence,” Leaf replies, drawing his wife into a kiss. After a few moments, he leans back, a loving smile on his face. “Now, are you ready to go address your troops, Senior Master Sergeant?”

“I don’t know, Leaf,” Daring sighs, her own smile growing. “I don’t really want to stand in front of a bunch of ponies standing at attention. Just doesn’t feel right.”

“Could have fooled me, Dee,” Leaf chuckles as he leans over and kisses Daring’s forehead. “You look so natural up there, reminds me a bit of a certain Captain I met during that second time at the Academy.”

“You talking about Tide the Ripper?” Daring asks in a serious tone, raising her eyebrow.

“That’s a new one. We just called her Ma’am,” Leaf chuckles. “But, yes, except you’re not as stern and I’m not afraid you’re going to toss me off the side of a mountain.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Daring chuckles before sighing. “But, thanks for the compliment all the same. These two weeks have been tough, and I’ve been afraid I’ve been a horrible leader.”

“Hey, you did what you could,” Leaf says softly as he reaches up and gently puts a hoof against Daring’s cheek. “You were there when nopony else was, and held us together. So what if you were the highest rank there, you could have shirked it off to Dawn or Knight or somepony else. But you didn’t, and you led us through the darkest nights Canterlot has ever seen in living memory.” He gently caresses her cheek with his hoof, his smile remaining. “You convinced a God to get off his tail and join the fight, and stood strong when the bombs came raining down as thick as snow.” He pauses, leaning in and once more kissing Daring softly on the lips. When he leans back again, Daring can’t help but feel her heart all but stop at the look of pure love in his eyes. “And, most importantly, you got me as a husband out of it. I think when all is said and done, you came out on top just for that last part.”

Laughing, Daring nods and leans her head against her husband’s chest. For a long moment, she simply enjoys the contact, pulling all the comfort and strength she can from the simply act of being in his arms. “I guess you’re right. I mean, with you as my husband I can hardly be called the silliest pony in the room.”

“That’s the spirit.” He releases her and takes a few steps back before gently reaching over and smoothing out the wrinkles on Daring’s dress uniform. “Now, we’re late to tell everypony they can go home and hug their own loved ones and forget all the horrible things they saw.”

“Isn’t it usually the mare’s job to make sure their husband’s tie is straight?” Daring asks with a smirk as Leaf continues to fix her uniform.

“Well, most stallions aren't married to the most bad-flanked adventurer and Wonderbolts’ Reservist in the world.” Leaf smirks back as he finishes. “Now, let’s go before they think we skipped town and fled to Saddle Arabia.”

Standing up and starting towards the door, Leaf right behind her, Daring chuckles. “We could just run to Saddle Arabia. I happen to know this lovely town that has the most beautiful hotel in it.”

“I don’t know. The owner is kind of crazy,” Leaf answers with a wink. “Plus, I hear she has a bunch of foals on her hooves now. I don’t think she wants two more hanging around.”

“You take all the fun out of my ideas,” Daring sighs dramatically as she opens the door to the suite her and Leaf share.

“Just doing my duty as a married stallion, my dear,” Leaf winks as he follows Daring out the door, closing it after himself.

Further conversation is forestalled by the need to be professional, as the instant they are out of the door they’re not husband and wife, they’re Senior Master Sergeant and Senior Wingpony. They advance down the hallway from their suite, Leaf slightly behind Daring, and past the reconstruction work that is finally taking place all over the Castle to replace windows, shore up damaged walls, and cracked support pillars. Everypony they pass that is not currently working offers them a friendly greeting, some even a salute, as they acknowledge the current leader of Canterlot’s Reservist force and her husband.

The fact that, in most cases, they are saluting her and her alone makes Daring feel a bit awkward, even if she hides it behind impartial mask of a military officer. While she is used to praise from the Royal Equestrian Explorer’s Guild, she had earned her praise as an adventurer. This, she still doesn’t feel like she’s earned this respect, what with all the blood that still stains the flagstones of the city.

The fact that a lot of that blood is from her troops, the young mares and stallions who had placed their faith in her, only makes it worse.

The trip to their destination, which is a relatively intact area of the Royal Gardens, is blissfully short, and Daring only has to endure a few minutes of the salutes and greetings before she is in the open air and making her way to the group of seventy or so ponies standing around talking amongst themselves. As they get closer, Wind Rider, nearest to Daring and Leaf, spots the approach of their commanding officer and whistles sharply.

“Thanks, Wind,” Daring says curtly as the Reserves fall into ranks. “And here I was looking forward to getting them all to jump when I showed up without them noticing.”

“Just doing my duty and ruining your fun, Yearling,” Wind replies, skipping her rank like she had his.

“Right,” Daring smirks slightly as she looks to Leaf. “Best get in line with the others.” She watches as her husband nods, offers a salute, and then goes and fills a hole at the end of one of the lines in front. Waiting a moment, Daring takes a deep breath and holds it for a moment before letting it out slowly. She then takes her place in front of the Reservists and looks them over with a critical eye.

“Wonderbolts Reserve Corps, at ease!” Daring shouts, her command cracking in the morning air like a whip. As one, the Reserves relax slightly, all eyes turning to Daring who is now smiling broadly. Turning and starting to pace down the line, Daring holds her head high. “My friends, we have been through much the past two weeks. Things that any sane, or normal, pony would shy away from. Yet you all ran towards the fires raging all around you, if not simply stood your ground where you were already in the fire.” She pauses, and turns. “And why is that?”

“Wonderbolts don’t back down!” The Reserves all reply as one.

“That’s right! We don’t back down,” Daring agrees as she resumes pacing. “We are the final line of defense against all that would seek to harm our friends, our families. We are the last shield that any force must go through to harm other ponies.” She pauses as she reaches the end of the line, turns around, and starts the other way. “And it has cost us dearly. We lost a lot of good ponies this past two weeks, seen a lot of good ponies fall. But, I know they’re all proud of us! For today, we stand here at the end of the dark tunnel, once more in peace.”

Turning stopping at the other end of the line, Daring turns and walks back to the center a warm smile on her face. “And thus, my friends. No, my brothers and sisters, it is my honor to inform you all that as of this moment, as acting Command Sergeant, I am standing down the Reserves. You may all go home to your families, and put all of these dark days behind you.”

A general cheer comes from the Reserves, quite a few breaking ranks and hugging each other or sitting down with wide smiles. Daring allows their celebrations to continue for a minute, unable to ask of them what she needs to next without allowing some joy to fill their hearts first. Eventually, though, she holds up a hoof and brings them to silence.

“Yes, you are all free of me now,” Daring laughs, her eyes full of sarcastic humor. “Not like I really enjoyed being your Commanding Officer! I swear, you all are like herding cats.” She clears her throat, pausing to allow the Reservists to chuckle at her joke. “Anyway, I do have a request of you all, at least the ones who live here in Canterlot like me… I know I’ve no right to ask, but I was hoping some of you would stay on, keep helping with the repairs and such. I know I plan on keeping my uniform on and getting my hooves dirty because we’ve got a long road to rebuilding, and Canterlot could still use us even if we’re not ‘active’.”

The Reservists fall silent as Daring’s words sink in, and many of them looking around with conflicted expressions. And Daring can’t blame them, as much as she’d love to just go curl up in a corner with Leaf her sense of duty outweighs her desire to hide. When nopony speaks up immediately, Daring fears she’ll be alone with Leaf aiding the cleanup, but then right as that fear grows strongest she hears somepony clear their throat.

“We’ll stay, Senior Master Sergeant,” the voice is female, and as the first few ranks part to allow the speaker to step forward Daring can’t help but smile.

“Wingpony Sky,” Daring states with a chuckle. “I thought I said ponies who lived in Canterlot, you don’t, do you?”

“No, Senior Master Sergeant,” Starry Sky replies as she pulls herself up to her full height. “But, Stormy and I came to help, and we’re not leaving until the job is done!” She then pauses, her ears going back slightly. “Plus, my brother is out there somewhere, and I don’t want to leave before I know he’s alright.”

“That last reason is good enough for me, Wingpony,” Daring says softly as she gestures for Starry to come over. “Come over here with me and bring your coltfriend with you.”

Nodding quickly, Starry turns around and grabs a stallion standing in the third row by the arm and drags him forward. He puts up little resistance, and is in fact smiling widely as Starry and him come forward to sit behind Daring.

“Alright, anypony else?” Daring asks, looking along the line.

“Oh, well, I guess I can’t let you stand out there with just Starry and her coltfriend for company,” Leaf sighs dramatically as he walks forward. “But, I do this only for the greater good.”

“Leaf, my dear sweet husband,” Daring smirks. “I am your wife. I am the greatest good you’ll ever have.”

“My point stands!” Leaf proclaims as he comes to sit down next to her, kissing her cheek.

“Love you too,” Daring chuckles as she looks back to the group. A few more of the Reserves cross over to sit near Daring, until a good fifteen or so have gathered with her. As the final one makes their way over to her Daring hears a loud sigh from nearby, followed by Wind walking over and holding up some papers.

“Well, guess it’s time I gave you this,” Wind says slowly, his eyes slightly narrowed.

“This going to tell me you’re going back into retirement and to never knock on your door ever again?” Daring asks, raising an eyebrow as she takes the papers.

“Ha! Like I could leave you foals alone without adult supervision!” Wind laughs shaking his head. “No… Those are re-enlistment papers…”

Looking the papers over, Daring’s eyes grow large at the filled out forms. Flipping between the pages, she can’t help but stare, her mouth falling open slightly.

“Wind… These… You’re requesting I draft you into the Reserves fully until…” She pauses, looking at the last page. “Wind, there isn’t any date on here… Why isn’t there a date on here?”

“Because retirement is boring, Yearling,” Wind replies curtly.

“Spitfire retired you Wind, you’re too old to serve in the Wonderbolts,” Daring says slowly, looking up at the older pegasus.

“Yes, Yearling, I’m retired from the Wonderbolts,” Wind agrees, putting emphasis on the Wonderbolts. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t serve in uniform in the Reserves. Spitfire can take the forced retirement and shove it up her plot if she thinks I’ll sit by and let others serve in uniform when I’m still capable!”

Looking down at the papers in her hooves Daring sighs slowly, and nods. “Right. Wind, I don’t know what to tell you…” She looks up, noting Wind frowning at her and looking worried. “Except that you’re going to need to go get fitted for a uniform, and inform the Quartermaster that I expect him to give you the proper rank required to serve as my second.”

The smile that spreads across Wind’s face makes years seem to fall off of him. “Yes, ma’am, Senior Master Sergeant.” He turns and starts towards the Castle, an eager spring in his step.

“Oh, and Wind!” Daring calls before he can get too far away.

“Yes, Yearling?” Wind calls back, stopping to look over his shoulder.

“Equestria is lucky to have Wonderbolts like you.” Daring says proudly.

“No,” Wind chuckles. “Like us, Yearling. Like us.”

----

Trotting happily with his lunch tray balanced on one wing, Commander Amber Dawn whistles a wordless tune as he makes his way towards the table he is sharing with his fellow Commander.

Although Moonlight Knight is a thestral. he is still awake, along with a lot of the other thestrals of the Night Guard, as their sleep cycles had been tossed into chaos with the two weeks of almost non-stop duty. In light of this, Dawn and Knight had continued to relax a lot of the typically strict rules on shifts, and had continued to mix Day and Night Guards during all hour of the day while both shifts worked on getting their sleep patterns back.

Sliding into the bench across the table from his fellow Commander, Dawn lays his tray down and offers Knight a warm smile.

“Still weird seeing you up at this hour of the day, Knight,” Dawn comments as he picks up his mug of coffee, compliments of Rusty. “Though I suspect I’ll be seeing less of you in the coming days.”

“Yes, well. We can’t have our two commands continue to mingle forever,” Knight comments as he continues eating his own lunch, which includes a blend of tea that is lower in caffeine. “Besides, Luna will need us to gu-”

Looking up from his food, Dawn raises an eyebrow at the shocked expression that is plastered on his friend’s face, complete with slack jaw and wide eyes. “Knight? You okay?” Dawn asks, his concern and interest growing when Knight doesn’t reply. “Moonlight Knight? Hello? Equestria to my batty friend? Was there a bug in your tea or something?”

“N-no…” Knight replies, his voice soft as he blinks and rises stiffly. “L-Luna calls for aid..” He rises slightly, his eyes still wide. “She is calling us to the Crystal Empire…”

For a moment, all Dawn can do is blink, then he rises to his hooves and looks towards Knight with his eyes narrowed. “I’d ask how you know, but honestly after these past few weeks I’m just going to roll with it.” He starts to slide off the bench, stopping when Knight’s voice echoes from the other side of the table.

“No, Dawn,” Knight states firmly. “You can’t come with us… Luna has called her Lunar Guard to mobilize… and just the Lunar Guard…”

“Wait… the Lunar Guard?” Dawn says slowly, before his expression goes flat. “That means…”

“Yes, Commander, it means it’s time I showed you foals how a proper soldier fights,” a deep, metallic voice echoes from nearby. “So you had best sit down and finish your lunch.”

Turning around slowly, his expression neutral, Dawn comes face to face with the metallic face and glowing red eyes of the last pony he wants to see. “Captain P.L.” Dawn states calmly, his voice even. “I’d ask to what we owe the honor of you gracing us with the honor of your tin-can-plated self, but I think we’d both rather avoid you melting in the sunlight.”

An echoing snort is all the reply Dawn is graced with before the metallic faceplate and eyes turn to regard Knight as he comes around the table. “Commander Moonlight Knight, under the charter of the Lunar Guard, as established by Princess Luna, you are to report to duty beneath me immediately to venture forth to answer the call from our Princess.”

“I am at your disposal, Captain,” Knight says softly, bowing his head.

“Wait, wait,” Dawn says quickly, holding up a wing to block Knight’s advance. “You can’t have him. I need him here to help me run the Royal Guard! We don’t have a Captain to replace Aegis, and it’s taking both of us to hold things together right now.”

PL turns his gaze back to Dawn, who barely resists the urge to back up beneath the predatory gaze of the thestral captain.

“That is not my problem, Commander,” PL replies sternly, a growl echoing from within his helmet. “Nor, is it your place to command me! Now, stand aside, lest I be forced to remove you and take Commander Knight with me!”

“You wouldn-” Dawn starts, only to be cut off by a hoof on his shoulder.

“Dawn, I have to go,” Knight says softly as he looks at Dawn intently. “I need to go get our friend back.” He sighs and reaches into a pocket on his armor before pulling out a small box. “Besides, you won’t have to worry about holding things together without me while I do so.”

“What do you mean?” Dawn asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Princess Twilight came to me last night, and asked me if I’d fill the roll of Captain,” Knight admits, “I told her I thought there was a better candidate, and that I’d just been following his lead during the riots.”

“Knight…” Dawn starts.

“Anyway, I told her I’d offer the bars over personally, since you’re my friend and all,” Knight shrugs, hoofing over the box. “It was going to be a surprise after lunch, with the whole guard present. But, that idea has gone out the window.” He pats Dawn on the shoulder as he takes the box. “Congratulations, Captain.”

Sighing, Dawn lowers his wing and looks at the box. “I don’t know if I should feel honored or to deck you, Knight,” Dawn admits shaking his head. “I don’t think I can ever replace Aegis.”

“So don’t. Just keep everypony on the right track like you’ve been doing since that damned fortress blew a hole in the city,” Knight comments as he walks forward towards PL. The other thestral has already turned around and is making his way towards the door.

“Right, I’ll do that if you and Captain Tin-Can do something for me,” Dawn says loudly, catching the attention of both PL and Knight.

“And, what, pray tell, why do you expect me to honor any request?” PL states loudly, drawing the attention of nearly everypony in the room.

“Because you’re sworn to do this thing anyway,” Dawn replies. “But I’m going to ask anyway! PL, promise you’ll get Luna home safely.”

Snorting an almost chuckle-like snort, PL shakes his head. “Fine.”

Sitting down on the bench at the table with his lunch, Dawn sighs heavily as he puts down the small box he’d gotten from Knight. Opening it slowly, he reaches in and removes the gold bars of the Captain of the Royal Guard. Removing the goal oak leaves on his collar, he places them in the box the bars had just come from, and puts his new rank onto the collar of his uniform.

For a long moment, he sits there staring into space, his mind slowly trying to accept the fact he had just been promoted on top of his friend going into battle to likely pull Luna, and the Wonderbolts with her, out of some horrible danger. A part of him is angry that Knight had passed the Captaincy onto him, and that his friend is going off to fight the fight that Dawn himself wishes to fight himself. Another part is simply honored, and at the same time overwhelmed by the promotion, and the trust that Princess Twilight and Knight have put in him.

And then, he pushes aside all those feelings, as well as his food, and stands up.

“Well, if I’m the Captain now, best get started,” Dawn mutters to himself. “Starting with getting a group together and sending them north. I might be trusting PL to protect Luna, but Celestia knows that bastard will do that and only that.” He turns and starts towards the doors. “The Wonderbolts will need aid, and after what we saw here in Canterlot, I’m not going to subject Cadence and Shining to the horror of that Fortress. Not alone anyway…”

----

Walking swiftly down the hallway in full battle dress, the armored and padded uniform having been the first choice when aiding in clearing rubble, Daring wipes the sweat from her brow with a dirt-covered wing. Beside her, equally covered in dirt and rubble, are Leaf and Wind with all of them being escorted by a squad of grim-faced Royal Guard.

The guards had not informed her what she was being summoned for, only that the new Captain of the Royal Guard wished to speak to her on a matter of the utmost importance. They had told her, though, that apparently Luna had called her elite guard to her, and that every thestral in the Night Guard had gone with the captain of the Lunar Guard to do their mistress’ bidding. Daring could really only sigh when she learned that, as she had met Captain PL once, and she had been rather underwhelmed.

Turning a corner, Daring is slightly surprised to see they’ve come to Celestia’s study, which is currently being used by Twilight. The door is open, and through it Daring can see Dawn standing in front of the desk in full armor with a weary look on his face.

“Princess, I know you needed to replace the captain,” Dawn says as Daring and her group draws closer, “but you should have spoken to me first. I’ll do the job, but I still don’t think I’m the best choice.”

“With all due respect, Captain Dawn,” Twilight says calmly, a smirk spreading over her face as Daring and co walk in the door. “I believe you are the best pony for the job, as does Shiro and many of those who I spoke to about the matter. I understand if you are nervous. Adamant Aegis is Captain that will be a hard act to follow, much like my brother was. But you are a competent leader, you are kind, and you are humble. I can’t ask, nor wish, for anything more in a Guard Captain.”

“Princess, I…” Dawn starts only to be cut off by Daring slapping him on the back with a hoof.

“So they saddled you with the job?” Daring laughs, a sarcastic smirk on her face. “Good thing. I was afraid Twilight was going to hand it over to somepony warm and cuddly, like P.L.”

“I honestly didn’t even consider him,” Twilight states with an involuntary shiver. “Not that he is a bad Captain, mind you. He is however beyond my authority as the head of Luna’s personal guard.”

“And I guess Knight was out of the running?” Daring asks, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, I can’t imagine you not thinking about making everypony’s favorite bat-pony the Guard Captain.”

“He declined in favor of me,” Dawn replies, a small playful smirk growing on his face. “Truthfully, I think the paperwork scared him. I know it scares me.”

“Uhg… Tell me about it,” Daring deadpans as she rolls her eyes. “You should see the amount on my desk. And by desk, I mean the table I occupy in the mess hall.” She clears her throat and looks between Twilight and Dawn, slipping an arm around the latter. “So, any particular reason you called me, my second, and my husband away from digging through the rubble?” She pokes Dawn’s new rank insignia and wiggles her eyebrows. “You know, other than to show your most recent bout of misfortune?”

“Luna called her elite guard to herself earlier today,” Twilight answers, her playful smile remaining as Dawn facehoofs at Daring’s antics. “Captain P.L. led his forces to meet up with her. Though he gave me the briefest of statements in passing before flying away, we now know where the Wonderbolts are, and where they are heading.”

“Oh? Did Captain Sunshine and Rainbows actually tell you where they were?” Daring asks, canting her head to one side with a look of interest. “Must be your crown. All he ever tells most ponies is to go away and stop bothering him.”

“Well, my crown does afford me certain courtesies,” Twilight chuckles with a wink and a smirk. “But, yes he did inform me. Which, sadly, is why you have been called here.”

“I assume then,” Wind speaks up from behind Daring as he makes his way to stand on the other side of Dawn, “that we are going to be sent after them? The Wonderbolts, I mean.”

“No, Commander Rider,” Twilight starts, but stops when Wind holds up a hoof.

“It’s Master Sergeant, Princess, I re-enlisted under Daring,” Wind states, a smile on his face.

“Found a way around the retirement, did you?” Dawn smirks.

“Yes, I did,” Wind nods, a proud smile on his face.

“Anyway, as I was saying,” Twilight coughs. “No, you will not be sent after the Wonderbolts. Instead, Captain Dawn and I are sending you, and as many uninjured Guards as we can, North.”

“North?” Leaf asks, speaking up for the first time since entering the room. “We’re going to the Crystal Empire?”

“Yes,” Twilight confirms with a nod. “My brother and sister-in-law do not know what they face in the Shadowbolts, and soon the Shadowbolts and the Wonderbolts will be on their doorstep.” She sighs and shakes her head, her voice growing soft. “I will not, nor can I, allow another Canterlot to happen. The ponies of the Crystal Empire deserve better, and I cannot in good faith allow them to suffer as we have suffered here.”

“Then we won’t,” Daring states firmly, releasing Dawn from her sideways hug. “Princess, say the word and I will round up all my remaining Reservists, and we will go north under anypony you deem worthy to lead this mission.”

“Funny you should say that, Daring,” Dawn chuckles as he pokes her in the side. “You were speaking of my latest bout of misfortune? Well, I think your luck is slightly worse.”

“What do you mean…?” Daring asks, her tone growing worried.

“Senior Master Sergeant Yearling,” Twilight declares as she rises from behind the desk, “We require you to lead this important mission to the Crystal Empire. As such, we are putting you in charge of the joint resources of the Royal Guard, the Equestrian Navy, the Equestrian Army, and the Wonderbolts Reserve Corps.”

Blinking slowly, Daring stares at Twilight before she snorts a few times. Before long she has devolved into full bodied laughter as she flops backwards and holds her stomach. Her laughter lasts for a good few minutes before she realizes nopony else is laughing with her, causing her laughter to die out slowly and a cold sweat to develop between her wings.

“You’re not joking, are you?” Daring asks slowly, a growing pit of dread forming in her stomach. Sitting up and clearing her throat, she looks Twilight in the eyes. “Princess, I am not a field commander, I am hardly even an officer! Send Admiral Star, or hay even his mother! Captain Noire, o-or even Shiro! Shiro could lead this mission!” She gestures with one arm, nearly backhoofing Dawn in the face in her panic. “Or Star Swirl! As I am to understand his wife used to lead the bucking Empire! He’d be welcomed back with open arms leading a military force!”

“Shiro and Star Swirl have both agreed that they are out of their depth leading a military force in this day and age,” Twilight explains as she sits down in front of Daring. “Shiro may perhaps, someday, be able to lead as a military general again, but right now he does not know modern tactics and weaponry.” She smiles softly a chuckle escaping her lips. “As for Star Swirl? He is a scholar, and a wizard. He will be invaluable to you with his magic, but he is not a soldier. They will both, however, be coming with you. As I am to understand, they have business in the Crystal Empire separate from this mission, but they are willing to forestall it until after the Empire is safe.” She keeps smiling warmly, as she continues as if adding in an afterthought. “Of course, they’ll be more than happy to advise you, as they have been advising me, but being well over a thousand years out of date, that is the best they can offer.”

Taking a deep breath, Daring looks over to Wind and Leaf who both nod at her. Releasing the breath slowly, Daring hunches her shoulders and looks up at Twilight, a determined glint to her eyes.

“When do we leave?”

----

Walking carefully down the still damaged, but currently clear, streets of the High Class District, Serenity can’t help but feel like she is walking through another warzone. Sure, this was her home city, and the battle had ended days ago, but the feeling of violence still hung in the air like a bad odor.

Sighing as she turns down a side-street, Serenity cannot help but frown at the state of the shop that is her destination. Once, the tea house at the end of the street had been a meeting spot for many of her fellow nurses, and even some of the more well off ponies as well as some of the Wonderbolts. The last had been a bonus for the older unicorn, as she’d been able to sneak away not a few times from the Hospital and steal quiet lunches over tea with her husband there.

The memories of the quiet lunches with the love of her life causes her to slow a bit, a warm smile forming on her face that is nearly equal to the warmth radiating from her heart when she thinks of the stubborn old fool she married.

The smile lasts well into the ruins of the tea house, and all the way up to the door to the cellar where the sounds of conversation can be heard.

“Hello? Is Holly Sweep down there?” Serenity calls down, knocking on the frame of the door.

“I am!” The reply comes, quickly followed by white earth pony with a red and pink mane. “Serenity? What a pleasant surprise! What’re you doing here?”

“I came to see if you had some spare herbal medicines on hoof,” Serenity answers, her warm smile remaining. “We’re nearly out, and with the Guard and Reserves mobilizing a small force to head north…” She shrugs her smile slipping. “We can spare a few personnel, so I’ll be going north… but we can’t spare the medication.”

“I… see,” Holly says slowly before turning. “Best come downstairs, and I’ll see what I’ve got that I can spare.”

Following behind Holly, Serenity chuckles, “If you can’t spare anything, dear, it’s alright. I’m just here with a small list, and if you can’t spare anything then don’t worry.” She pauses as they reach the bottom of the stairs. “Except for my usual order, I… really do hope you have some spare digitalis.”

“You and your foxglove, Serenity,” Holly laughs. “I think I do have some spare digitalis, though not a lot.”

“Like I said, whatever you can spare,” Serenity assures Holly as her friend walks off. As he does, she takes as moment to look around at the basement of the building. She’d never be down here before, though now that she has she is not surprised by how it is packed with brewing equipment and storage racks. Though, it is also far from undamaged, as there are cracks in the walls and bits of stonework laying pushed in the corners. But, at least some part of the building had withstood all the punishment that had been put upon it.

Advancing further into the space, close behind Holly, Serenity smiles softly at the other ponies that are down here. Namely, Fine Brew and three foals are slowly cleaning up what remains of the rubble, and organizing what what looks to be shelfs of tea leaves. The three foals are all unicorns, like Fine, and at least one of them is wearing the cape that Serenity has come to know as one to mark the bearer a Cutie Mark Crusader.

“So, let’s see that list,” Holly says, bringing Serenity’s attention back to him as they stop in front of some shelves. Taking the list that Serenity levitates over to him, Holly starts browsing the shelves. “I think we can spare most of what’s on here, though I fear you may need to go without some of the less critical stuff for now.”

“I figured as much, the stuff I’ve got underlined is the stuff I can’t leave without, though,” Serenity states softly, but firmly. “We’re not sure what we’re going to be facing up North, but one things for sure there is going to be a lot of injured coming in…”

“Do you think it’ll be as bad there as it was here?” Holly asks, slowing turning his head to look at Serenity. “I mean… our daughter is out there with them…”

“As is my husband, Holly,” Serenity sighs, her ears lowering against her head. “I... I don’t know if it’ll be as bad as here, but I don’t doubt we’re going to be treating a lot of injured…”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” a voice comes from behind Serenity, causing the older unicorn to look over her shoulder. “The Wonderbolts are strong and know what they’re doing.”

“I hope so, Fine,” Serenity sighs softly. “But, my husband isn’t as young as he used to be… and…”

“He’ll be fine,” Fine repeats, putting a hoof on Serenity’s shoulder. “Just like our daughter is fine. After all, Witch is a doctor and she’ll help keep your husband in one piece.”

Smiling warmly, Serenity gently pats Fine’s hoof with her own. “Thank you. Your daughter is a talented healer, so I guess if anyone can hold my stubborn husband together out there it’ll be her and Bliss.”

“You know my mom?” another voice, this one clearly a colt, asks from slightly behind Fine.

Looking down and leaning slightly to one side Serenity finds the colt from earlier standing beside Fine, an eager smile on his face.

“I do. I worked with her at the hospital before she was transferred to the Wonderbolts Auxiliary,” Serenity states warmly. “I didn’t know she had any kids, though.” She looks to the two fillies who are also wandering over. “Let alone three.”

“Oh, they’re not my sisters,” the colt laughs as the two fillies walk over, one of them lightly punching him in the shoulder.

“The fillies are mine, Serenity,” Fine smirks. “Chamomile and Jasmine are orphans from the attack, and Tricks here is a former ward of the Crown that my daughter adopted after his parents… didn’t want him.”

“Well, if that cape is anything to go by, I’d say any parent would be lucky to have a son like you,” Serenity says with a smirk. “I’ve heard good things about you Crusaders.”

“My parents didn’t want to deal with my horn,” Tricks says mournfully. “It grew in wrong… and they argued a lot.”

“Wait… I think I recall a young unicorn who came into our hospital who had parents who were infamous for yelling…” Serenity starts, stopping as she notices the forlorn look growing on Tricks’ face. Smiling warmly she walks over towards Tricks and leans down. “But that’s in the past, my little friend. You couldn’t have gained a better mother out of that whole ordeal than Witching Hour.”

“I know. Witch Doctor is the best mom!” Tricks replies happily, his mood immediately lifting.

“If I see her up north, I’ll tell her you said that,” Serenity promises as she smiles brightly before turning around to look at Holly who has returned to looking through his supply. Turning her gaze back to Fine as the other mare speaks again.

“How’s your own family fairing, Serenity? They make it out of harm's way alright?” Fine asks, concern clear in her voice.

“Yeah, my kids made it out alright,” Serenity offers with a nod. “Wasn’t so lucky about the house, but that’s what happens I guess.”

“We’re not in much better of a position,” Fine laughs as she gestures upwards. “We lost just about everything that wasn’t down here in the initial blast. That said, if you need anything else, that isn’t my husband’s herb stores, feel free to ask. I’ve still got most of my tea making equipment, so feel free to tell your kids that if they need somewhere to go that isn’t the ruined city, they’re free to come visit.”

“I’ll be sure to tell them,” Serenity replies warmly. “Thank you, I’m sure they’ll appreciate that offer.”

“Well, that should be everything I can spare for you, Serenity,” Holly stares as he comes over with the herbs and Serenity’s list. “I wish I could do more, but I’m already low as it is. Just hope it’s enough.”

“So do I, Holly,” Serenity sighs before reaching up and patting her friend’s shoulder. “But thanks all the same. I’m sure this’ll do a world of good where it’s going.” Sighing she lowers her hoof and looks towards the way back to the surface. “Which, on that note, I should be heading back.”

“Stay safe, Miss Serenity,” Tricks says cheerfully.

“I’ll try,” Serenity chuckles. “You and your aunts stay safe, too, okay?” When Tricks nods, Serenity heads to the exit, and back into the ruined landscape of Canterlot.

Instead of heading towards the Hospital, she heads towards the train station, where a loud shrill train whistle is already sounding

-----

The shrill whistle sounding from the top of the engineering compartment of the massive black and red locomotive beside Daring causes her to wince. In the span of time it had taken to mobilize the Royal Guard and get them down to the sprawling ruins that had once been Canterlot Central Station, Daring had been able to shower and get most of the dust from her combat gear.

Looking at the mass of ponies loading the train she is standing beside, Daring can’t help but be glad she had showered, because she has to look every bit the confidant leader if she is going to pull this off.

Turning and spreading her wings, wincing slightly at the soreness still present from the shrapnel injuries from the initial Canterlot attack, Daring flaps once and hops up to the engineer’s platform. Inside, muttering and cursing in ways that’d make even a griffin blush, is a bright red stallion wearing an old Equestrian Army uniform.

“I swear, Mystic, if you don’t start speaking Equestrian I am going to feed that braid of yours to you!” the red stallion growls, turning towards a purple unicorn wearing an Equestrian Railway outfit.

“I am speaking Equestrian, you blustering old bag of wind!” Mystic counters, lightly bopping the stallion on the head. “Now, listen up, Red, I’m only going to repeat this once more!” She turns to the large boiler, which is hissing and rumbling as the pressure builds, and taps a lever. “This is the brake, you pull backwards to disengage the brake and allow the train to go forwards.” She turns to pressure valve and turns it. “This is the master steam line, if this,” she taps a gauge, “gets in the red, you turn this nozzle, and release the pressure or they’ll be digging your sorry flank out of Yakyakastan, in pieces.” She turns to another lever, this one looking like something you’d find on a ship. “This, and if you remember nothing else but this I’ll be happy. This controls the speed of the train, now you are going to be hauling SIXTEEN cars behind this beautiful steel mare, and that means you’re going to have a couple thousand tons of weight behind you. That means you cannot, and I honestly can not stress this enough, you shall not go above half speed at any time with the exception of the Senior Master Sergeant behind us telling you that Tartarus itself has opened behind the train and all that it holds is about to descend onto your sorry excuse for a flank.”

“Alright, alright, I get it!” Red growls as he looks over his shoulder at Daring. “Where in the name of Celestia’s unshaved fetlocks did you find this mare!?”

“Mystic? She came highly recommended by a few friends, as well as the Equestrian National Rail Engineers Union,” Daring says with a smirk. “In the words of the stallion I spoke to at the office, or what’s left of it, here in Canterlot, ‘Mystic is damn near the best train engineer I’ve ever seen, she handles steam engines like she was the one who invented them!’ or something like that.”

“I’m really not that good,” Mystic coughs as she blushes.

“Right,” Daring smirks before growing serious. “How’s she doing? I saw them having to right her back on the tracks earlier and was worried this old girl wouldn’t be ready to go in time.”

“Oh, no ma’am!” Mystic says loudly, a faint tone of offense in her voice. “This ol’ girl is an Equestrian Steel Horse, model DRB-Fifty!” She gently rests a hoof on the side of the engineering compartment, a soft smile on her face. “I don’t know how JSS got their hooves on her, but her and her sisters took worse hits during the Griffin-Drake War!”

“I have to agree with her,” Red states firmly before spitting as if the words taste wrong in his mouth. “I used to rely on these trains when I was the supply master for the Equestrian Army. They’re tough, and I learned to rely on them.”

“Yeah, now if only you know how to properly maintain her,” Mystic mutters, earning a glare from Red.

Nodding, Daring looks to the two ponies in front of her with a serious expression. “Good, we can’t afford to be late to the Crystal Empire. I don’t know about you, but I want to get the drop on these Shadowbolts for once.”

“Of that I am sure we can all agree on,” Mystic sighs. “Just wish I could help you all more than simply getting this old girl working,” she pauses and looks over at Red, narrowing her eyes, “and attempting to teach this old wind bag.”

“Hey now!” Red starts, but is stopped when Daring clears her throat.

“Red, Mystic, please try and not kill each other?” Daring asks as she turns towards the entrance to leave the platform. “Okay? I need Red in one piece if we’re to get to the Crystal Empire, and I don’t want the entire Railroad Union breathing down my neck if you injure one of the best and brightest.”

“Fine,” both Red and Mystic say at the same time.

“Good, I knew I could count on you two,” Daring chuckles. “I’ll talk to you later, Red. And Mystic, stay safe alright? If you can teach Red here how to run this thing, first round is on me if we get back.”

Before they can reply, Daring hops down from the platform and back onto solid ground. She takes a moment to chuckle at the antics of the two who she just spoke to, before turning and walking down the line towards the cars connected to the beast of an engine. Like Mystic had stated, there are sixteen cars, all of them salvaged from the JSS trains that had brought in the weapons that had been used to attack the city. Dawn had objected when she had laid out the plan to get them north, but Twilight had backed her up by stating they had nothing in their own arsenal to combat the Shadowbolts. JSS did, however, and they had brought their heavy weapons in spades.

Of that weaponry, the majority had never been offloaded, and even more still had been left undamaged when the Navy had swept through and cleared the artillery positions. And now all of it was being loaded onto train cars along with food, medical supplies, and tools that would be needed by the time this operation was done.

Stopping in front of a large box car, the JSS emblem having been hastily replaced with the the symbol of the Equestrian Crown, Daring watches the progress of one of the large guns being carefully loaded. Though she is no expert, she had listened to enough lectures earlier in the day from both Red and Miracle, the latter insisting he be allowed to come due to his knowledge of large guns, to hazard a guess on the caliber of the artillery piece before her.

“Is this car loaded with only twenty-fives?” she asks a passing officer, his uniform marking him a member of the Hundred-Twenty-Second Artillery Corps.

“Yes, ma’am,” the officer, a faded-rust colored unicorn stallion replies. “This car, along with two others are loaded, or will be loaded once this last gun is onboard, with the thirty twenty-five pound guns we were able to salvage.” He levitates a clipboard up from a saddlebag and flips through it. “We also have two cars worth of munitions for them, and each car has also been loaded with the tools required to service them in-field when we arrive.” He lowers the clipboard. “A few of them were damaged in the fighting, but JSS wasn’t able to scuttle them before we overwhelmed their positions.”

“What about smaller guns? I understand we salvaged some twenties and ten-pounders?” Daring asks, coming to stand beside the unicorn and look at his clipboard.

“Yes, ma’am,” the stallion replies. “The Triple-A twenties are loaded a little farther back, they were never fired during the battle as far as I can see.” He chuckles nervously as he flips another page. “I am glad for it, too, our airships would have caught Tartarus up there if those guns had been employed.” He then clears his throat and stops on a page, tapping it with a hoof. “The ten-pounders are in the back near the munitions cars. They’re nothing more than carronades, honestly, but if we can angle them properly we might be able to get some use out of them bashing against the shield I heard about.”

Sighing, Daring nods, “Celestia will be with us if we even put a dent in that shield, Lieutenant, so every bit does help.” She pats the lieutenant on the shoulder and smiles. “Thanks for the update, I should go see to other things.”

“You’re welcome,” the stallion replies automatically, then pauses and looks to Daring. “One more thing; Miracle wanted me to tell you he got the One-Twenty-Two working.”

“Guess I have to buy him a bottle of Crystal Brandy now,” Daring chuckle as she turns to walk away. “I’ll let you get back to work if there’s nothing else?”

“No, ma’am,” the lieutenant says with a smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Moving back down the line, Daring continues to visit with various other officers and familiarizes herself with the different groups that will be coming with her on the mission. It soon becomes apparent to her, if it hadn’t already, that she is leading a small army North and that, when this is all over, she is going to have to go find a nice quiet ancient temple to discover for a few months with her husband. It’d be nice to get away from all the other ponies, and the troubles that follow them, for a little while. Not to mention, it’d give everypony time to forget that she’d been given the title of ‘Commander’ in the vein of the Equestrian Army, since she is the commanding officer for this insane venture.

The shrill whistle of the engine pulls her from her thoughts, causing her to look up from the supply manifest she is going over with another mare, a quartermaster from the Navy, and look towards the front of the train. Red hangs out of the side of the engineer’s platform, waving his helmet to signal his readiness. Looking from Red, Daring observes the rest of the train seems to be packed, everypony taking the whistle and the waving as the signal that it’s close to departure time.

Not wanting to prove them wrong, Daring hands the clipboard back to the mare with a smile, and then puts a hoof to her lips and whistles up towards the engine. Red pulls the cord for the whistle twice, and Daring smirks as she stands up.

“Alright, everypony! Time to go kick some Shadowbolt flank!” Daring shouts as she trots quickly towards the large armored passenger cars, all the ponies on the train platform backing up or following in her wake to board the train. Daring herself goes for the largest of the cars, which has a collection of radio antenna sticking out.

Mounting the stairs and quickly heading inside, she finds herself in the mobile command center that JSS had been using to command their efforts separately from Blueblood’s command tent. When Dawn had seen it Daring had sworn his mane got a few gray hairs, but he had insisted they bring it along with them so they could properly defend the Crystal Empire. Going right up to the large table in the center, a large map of the Crystal Empire replacing the one of Canterlot they’d found there originally, Daring nods to Shiro who is seated on the other side of the table.

“So, how are you are enjoying your continued taste of modern warfare?” Daring asks, a slight smirk on her face.

“I find it is no different from what I am used to,” Shiro deadpans as he looks at the map. “War... War never changes. No matter the tools you use.” He looks up at Daring, raising an eyebrow. “Are we ready to depart? I am eager to see the kingdom Hope built after Equus fell.”

“Just about,” Daring sighs as she crosses from the table to a window to look outside. After a moment, once everypony is aboard the train, she reaches over and flips open a speaking tube. “Red, it’s time.”

“Good! Let’s see what this old mare can do!” Red’s voice comes through the tube, followed by another shrill whistle and the engine’s bell ringing.

For a moment, there is nothing but that sound. However, right when Daring fears Red has broken something up there the car beneath her hooves lurches forward, and the train starts forward.

With one, final sigh, Daring watches the ruined city of Canterlot slowly pass her beyond her window as the train picks up speed and leaves the station.

At last, two weeks after the fateful attack by the Shadowbolts, they’re going to strike back.

Author's Notes:

Well, that's it, the end of the story!
I hope you all enjoyed it! I know know I enjoyed writing it!

So, normally I'd write a longer note, but I am attending a convention tomorrow and have to up early tomorrow, so I'll just say see you all in the next story!

~Sylvian