Login

The Royal Elite

by Joseph Keller

Chapters

Prologue

The Royal Elite

Prologue


*****


The Royal Elites.


.....


That was the name of the group of the most legendary fighting force that had set the standards well above what most of today's soldiers and fighters in this world could work very hard to achieve. But there's no man or woman, in all of the world, who could hold a candle or a tome to their many deeds. For that legendary contingent of soldiers was the start of what true hope had looked like for every armed man and woman that had been taken into any war or battle within their home country.

And the many foreign countries that surrounded Equestria had revered them to be almost god-like in their quest against the many massive enemies. This included, but was not limited to, the undead legions of both Ragnarok and Tartarus itself, that had invaded their homes and killed their friends, families and citizens. There were also many a dark mage that practiced necromancy, corrupted leaders that sided with said magic users, and even a whole army's worth of mindless, savage monsters that destroyed everything in their path.

And in Stalliongrad, Centuaria, Prance, Zebrica, the Mareterrainian Islands, the Dragon and Griffon Kingdoms, the Norse Countires, Yakyakistan, Trottsnia, the Leo-Gar Highlands, the Caneighdian Providences, and even the Bugbear Colonies had given off their own myths and legends about the same warriors that fought against all of the evil that plagued the world. But only so few of the many citizens and subjects of said locations had truly known about their existence. And there was also that same small number that had been recruited.

And even though the Royal Elites started their defenses in Equestria, none knew who they were...


.....


In the first Era of its existence, before Celestia and Luna's rule of Equestria, the group was founded by a mysterious royal group that had kept to themselves at first. And not even the rulers of the land from before were able to keep a tab on the group. And such secrecy was needed, given that neither the common rabble, nor the Alicorn High Council, were unable to fight against the massive undead legions, the Chaos Masters, or even their worst enemy: Themselves. Or rather, specifically, the very first legion of soldiers to defect from the Royal Elites to follow the Second Royal Elite in order to form... the Brutes.

The first Prime Royal Elite, who had started the true defense of Equestria's borders and allies within the time span of many millenniums, had the vision of saving the world from all things chaotic and unholy while keeping a low profile. But the Second Royal Elite was corrupted with the evil visions of having glory, riches & power above all else in their grasps. And the Brutes were known to be the best fighters, but had become corrupted with the same evil in their hearts.

The rule of all of Equestria was all that the Brute's could see in their eyes. In an effort to stop the bloodshed from continuing, the Prime Royal Elite had tried to persuade their former second in command to try to come back to fighting for what was right: the defense of Equestria against all of the enemies that wanted to either conquer or destroy the lands. The Second Royal Elite, now titled the first King Brute, was not easily persuaded, and thus the true war against the now Royal Elites vs. the Brutes.

The Royal Elites were once a large, independent group that had operated just well outside of the Royal Armed Forces, as a secret weapon to the defense of the Princesses, while keeping their dignity as armed members of Equestria's forces. But more often than that, they were a force that consisted of the strongest and finest men and women of all races that had fought tooth and nail for their countries.

And they where greatly feared by all of the enemies that had tried to conquer Equestria in the past and present times. And they were also greatly respected by the same rulers of the land, even though they had no clue as to who was within that organization, or why they had fought for the lives of the population of their lands in the way that they did. Not even in the current day of age that all of the people were now peacefully living in. Once there was hundreds of thousands. But now... there was only seven. And no one knew of their identities at all.

But nevertheless, they were still a gigantic threat to have been reckoned with, should any creature or man try to stop the world from turning as it always had with the Princesses' magic. And they were also the greatest allies that the Princesses had ever known. Even though they would never know who was in that unit.

The people within the Elites had been consistent of soldiers from within that great alliance of the many soldier's countries that had fought for the fate of the whole world of Equis.

.....


The only real way for a person to figure out if they were an Elite, or not, was to ask them a simple question: “Do you know what truly happened on 4th day of Aurora's Smile, on the 990th year of the 2nd Era?”

The answer, if a Royal Elite was among them, was this: “Nightmare Moon had become a sniveling, whining, spoiled toddler who wanted to have a toy, in comparison to the real war that had happened, outside of Equestria.”

If there was a Brute among them, the answer would be: "It was the day that our goals were in our sights, and yet were set back by an unfaithful group of heretics!"

It was fortunate that the Brutes were no longer in existence... but there was still no way to be absolutely sure. The betrayal was what truly made the Royal Elites a hardened group to be feared against. And with great reason.

.....


And the very reason for that desired secrecy was because of how that very same group was secretly fighting that same legion that wanted nothing more than to destroy the lands of Equis, with all of the inhabitants as fair game to them as they had marched across the world. And not even the Elements of Harmony, their idol heroes, would have been able to fight off the many that were trained and honed to conquer the land. But it was in High Trotter City, within Stalliongrad, that the second war of Equis had started.

The scent of burning gunpowder and metal, along with the immolated corpses decorating the streets of the once beautiful cities and villages all around the world, with a majority of them having been reduced to nearly mountains of rubble, had permeated the once sweet air while ominous black clouds of unnatural origins had blocked Celestia's sun and Luna's moon from the scopes of the many fighters. The blood, sweat and tears, along with other fleshly contributions to the art of war, had been sacrificed for their countries. And even the bodies of a few hundreds of the Royal Elites had fallen to the battlefield as they pushed forward to their goal.


.....


And Sterling Caliber, at the age of ten, and from the land of Equestria, was recruited by the Royal Elites for his raw power and talent as a Card-Summoner. But it was through his many sacrifices, as well as his fierce determination in the battlefields that had earned him the highest praises in his unit.

When he was first starting out as a person from Equestria, he had run away from his village in Equestria when his parents had died in front of him at the age of eight. But before he could even start out as a fighter for his country, the one who picked him up, who was also within the Royal Elites as their Commander, had been saved by Sterling's ability to summon a weapon to kill an undead Viking corpse that was reanimated to kill the leader within a few seconds.

And his abilities with his unique magic were significant enough to allow the Royal Elites to make him their Captain. But as the Second Great War of Equis had progressed, the same power level within him had been significantly tripled by a trio of spiritual passengers that had helped him become much stronger in his abilities in return for allowing them to dwell within his body for a while. The training was grueling, but it was all worth it in the end for him.

As Sterling had foolishly taken point to find a cave for his unit to go to for the rendezvous, a large mortar shell had been fired at him from a distant tank. The resulting explosion, after seeing the ammunition miss him by a few feet, toppled the rocks of the cave while a piece of that metal from the shell had penetrated his chest from the back left side as the rocks then collapsed on his entire upper body, save for his head. He had seen that his death was coming as his vision became darkened with the blood of his body pooling around his collapsed body.

It was then that a trio of royal looking spirits had offered him a choice: If they were allowed to live in his body, they would give him access to a power that had never been seen in ages. One that would help him and his small unit in the many battles ahead of them.

Given that he just had no choice, while feeling the cold kiss of death imminently creeping up on him as that piece of frag pierced his body with the rocks crumbling at his bones, he had allowed the deal to be made. And it was a wise decision on his part. For after that, the many great enemies of the war had come to fear both him and his unit. And all because of that large, solid piece of frag that almost killed him when it had pierced his body through and through from his left shoulder blade.

The same trio of passengers within him were none other than a royal family from the ages before him. Their names were the King Platinum Will, the Queen Palladium Lily, and the Prince Titanium Heart. And they were imprisoned from the view of the world for many a millennium without any outside contact. And when they told him about their desire to be among the people, along with learning that he could teach them the customs of the new modern world, they had come to the same conclusion as the mage did: This was to be the start of a very benevolent relationship.

When Sterling asked them who they were, as he took himself to try to relax while finishing up an assignment in a village in Trottsnia, a gigantic history lesson had been lectured to him. But not only that, a major reeducation on the world of old had been placed into his mind. The soldier did not like it at first, but eventually, he grew to want to hear their voices whenever his friends and teammates would fall to their ignorant ways of conducting a battle. They were like a new family to him. And he grew to love them all as such.

.....


And after more than ten years of fighting in the greatest war that Equestria was not allowed to know about until a later time, his unit's official purpose had died out from the final battle that costed him the lives of his friends and family. But the real war was still going to go on until the end. The battle for all of the neighboring countries and continents of Equestria was over. But the truly final battle would be fought on his homeland. And Sterling knew of such things. It was taught to him in all of the times of both his little skirmishes and major battles.

And Sterling fought through all of the major battles between the ages of 10 through 22. And now as that young adult in his early twenties, Sterling had looked back into his mind as it was being cleared of all that he stood against. The many tests of the war had made his heart harden, even though the fires of his desire for love and friendship were still there.

At five feet and ten inches tall, and weighing in at 177 pounds with a quite muscular body, as well as a few scars here and there all around his midriff and on his face, he had still considered himself to still be an ugly bum. His face, counting all of the scars aside, was actually a very handsome one in the eyes of both men and women. That, and he had a real silver color in his eyes. But he had always doubted that he was a good looking guy. So much so that it drew himself an infamous name that stuck with him from the moment that he was given that title: Silver Bullet. But he also earned that name to not only disguise himself. It was also from how fast and powerful his actions were against his enemies.

But what he didn't know, much to his obliviousness at the time, was that the women that were in his unit, fighting the many battles with him, had already thought of him to be quite a handsome, nice and charming guy once they got past his stern demeanor. Most of the women, either they were in his unit or was a civilian, would even consider dating him if they had the chance. He never once believed that he was given that kind of compliment in a sincere way at all. And he was always brushing off the gestures like the figurative dust and gunpowder on his clothing.


.....


It was on the very last day that the war was finally over for his teammates. Before he could take the transport from a small island just outside of Zebrica's coast to make it back to his home country, he had asked his former Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Fixer, if he could take a last look around a little sector of the island, just a bit outside of the HQ, for a last patrol. The request, though a bit hesitantly, was granted.

But as he looked over the oceans for the last time when he got there, he was able to see a sight that had been denied to him for a lot longer than he had been fighting. And all while he was ten, with no means of training beforehand. The same sun that Princess Celestia had raised and lowered every day was now rising as the afternoon was approaching. Sterling had then, by some internal desire, taken a nap right after closing his eyes for a moment. The same rays of her benevolent star had given him the warmth and peace that he had so desired. And even the moon, during his many nights, would shine over him.

And then... when his nap was done, he heard a gigantic explosion coming from the mountains. The same ominous cloud of smoke had permeated his nostrils with the same scent that he knew was an omen of death. He rushed over like a bullet to see the damage that had just arrived. The panic was rising in his heart, the sweat was caking the sand on his face and his blood pressure was hastily spiking. There was no doubt that the base was now destroyed. The same home that Sterling had taken refuge in all those years ago was struck hard and fast.

As he looked over to the now burning HQ, his fears were confirmed: He was now the last.... of the Royal Elites. And he... was alone. This was what he had feared more than losing a battle for his squad. And whoever it was that ordered the hit against his unit... was also looking for him, he had concluded. But the perpetrator would die in his hands, no matter what it took from him. This he swore to the Goddesses above in the heavens, so help him both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

And with a flight spell being used from a summoned card, he had traveled back to Equestria. And not just in the hopes of being able to find the one who had wiped out his entire unit to kill them. But to avenge his fallen friends in arms. But under the training with his CO, along with his passengers' wise teachings, he would not just go charging into the battlefield like a bloodthirsty beast.

He would have to plan out the big offensive for a long time on how to draw out the ones that wanted him dead. And when it was successful, he would expose them to all of the country to see them for the traitor that they truly are. Because if he was correct.... to which he hoped he wasn't.... then the very same person who had wanted him dead.... was also the one who caused the start of the war against the countries outside of his own. And he would not rest until his friends and family.... were finally avenged.

"No matter where you go, no matter who you are.... When I find you, you will not die by my hand! But! You will be given a far worse punishment than what you have done to me! So help me sweet loving Fausticorn of Equestria!" Sterling had yelled out to whoever his true enemy was as he continued to zip-line across the horizon.

And the Ultimate Punishment spell, one that was taught by his spiritual passengers, to which he used against one of his great enemies from before, had become the last resort that he would use if it was the only way to remove the last form of his many conflicts.

.....

*****

Chapter 1: The Card-Summoner

Chapter 1

The Card-Summoner

*****

Six Months Later....


On the first day, Colonel Sterling Caliber, who was otherwise known as 'The Silver Bullet' to his many fallen friends and fellow soldiers in the Royal Equestrian Marine Corps, had arrived in the iconic, rustic town that was aptly called Ponyville for how the people had always worked very hard in every conceivable career. And the season was now spring. The time when every decent citizen would start working hard.

He had taken the train from the city of Canterlot after finalizing his education in the university within that city in just three months of coming to Equestria. And his promotion to Colonel, as it was given to him beforehand, had allowed him to pay for his much needed education.

This move to a different location was made in order for him to find a more peaceful place to call his new home. And that alone would allow him to settle in. This, of course, was exactly what he had been wanting for the longest time since his return to familiar grounds. And since he was finished with acquiring his new knowledge, he was all set to go live in a new home.

When the train had stopped, after about two hours of traveling from Canterlot, he had walked out of the train car to place his feet on the platform of the train station at the edge of the town's business limits. With a deep breath, he sighed out a content smile. He took in all of the sights that had caught his attention after he pulled up from the train.

Sterling then walked up to the City Hall after about fifteen minutes of seeing the sights. Before he opened the door to close it behind him, he listed out his goals to be achieved both externally and internally. The same place that he had then stepped into was just a big battlefield of legal processes that had been made 24/7 to fund all of the places that were very important to the town. And all while the taxes from the tolerant, righteous town people who paid their dues in the specifically dated times were given a very precise calculation. This included payback checks for the citizens who truly deserved such a thing.

The same man had been pondering about getting a new job, noting that his time in the Royal Equestrian Marines was already over. He had walked up to one of the administration offices and had spoken to the worker about his licenses for a new home, the ability to drive a vehicle, and his right to find work after his time in the military.

The same worker who he was talking to had perked up their head when he had mentioned his former career to them. And with a new determination, they had taken his picture for his new ID card and license while signing the legal document to own the house that was built near the river. The pleasant goodbyes were then made after about a good hour of getting the job done. But during that hour, however, the worker had commented to him that the house that sat on the right side of the river at about half of a mile from the town was in desperate need of a major rebuilding. Sterling had decided to make it so that the house was rebuilt by the time that the lunch hour had begun.

Within a few moments of finalizing the paperwork, they said their polite goodbyes. Sterling had paid a few hundred gold-backs for the same house on the river with a few more bits for his drivers license and the registration. And for as the civilian ID card, it came free, much to his surprise. And it was placed in front of his military ID that ranked him as a Colonel.

The lunch hour had arrived just seconds after he had left the City Hall. The food that he ordered to go was a large turkey sandwich with bacon, guacamole, and the works. While adding ten bits for the tip to the waiter that delivered the food to him, he paid the 6 bits for his main course.

As he made his way to walk that half mile to where the property was, outside of the town, he looked from a distance that was marked by a foothill that was steep enough for him to look over the place.

"Whew! This is going to be quite a lot of work for me to do today," he said to himself as he looked down to his new property. "But I'll see through this project, no matter what happens. Hoo-rah!" he grunted out as he made the final steps towards his project.

Sterling had finally done about five things on his list during the day: First, he got off the train that took him to his new home. Second, he went through all of the legal processes to get his new home and car license. And on the third and final thing to do: Go straight to where his new construction project had been sighted.

And he did so with a new feeling of happiness coursing through his body like the river that was flowing just a few feet away from the home. When Sterling had finally gotten to the property for a closer, he had noticed quite a lot of things about it: the framing was deteriorated, the walls were crumbling and the mood of the house was familiar to a haunted house story. But the main thing that he had noticed was how both right and wrong the legal worker was:

It did not need to be rebuilt at all. It had to be torn out, ripped apart, broken down and burned up from the face of the planet.

"It is now time... for a little explosion to happen," Sterling had chuckled to himself as he pulled out a card that, face up to the ugly home, was enchanted with an explosion spell that would work wonders for him. With a flick of the card to the open door and a quick incantation, he spoke the spell that allowed him to prime the act. After taking a few steps away from the house to go back up the hill, he snapped his fingers as loudly as possible.

*SNAP!!*

*KA-BOOOOMMMM!!!*

Within a few seconds, the house had then been taken from standing on its rickety old support beams to being a massive pile of dirty, grimy and ugly broken wood that could only shine out from having the glass pieces scattering all over. And it was a good thing that he was not within the radius of the blast. After the dust cloud had cleared up from the ground, he saw the results and smiled at himself, even when a few bits of dust made him cough for a bit. That was the only end result that he knew he could shrug off.

"Now that's how it's done," Sterling patted himself on the back. "And now... Hmm... What tools should I use for the excavation of that ugly looking wood?", he pondered to himself with his hands scratching his chin in his deep pondering.

Perhaps with your clones, and a few more cards to summon the tools and materials for your project?, a familiar voice of royalty asked him in response to his notions. Sterling turned around to see that the Royal Metallic Trio had been standing at a few feet away from him.

"Yeah.... yeah that would definitely work a lot," Sterling nodded with his smile getting wider. "Thanks, your Majesties," Sterling bowed to them.

Oh, not at all, Master Caliber, the Queen spoke to him with her own smile.

"Let's do it, then," Sterling nodded as he pulled out another few cards from another of his pockets. After placing the cards on his head and chest, he used the same old tongue to say 'Multiply this body to make a garrison!'. Within seconds, following a series of poofs that sounded off almost everywhere, a large group of clones of himself were standing along the entire large sized property.

Sterling Caliber had always taken a smile of pride with how his powers as a Card-Summoner had grown significantly since the age of eight years old. It was then, after looking over to the clones of himself, that he went through the checklist of what a Card-Summoner can and can't do.

"With every form of magic, it takes a great deal of concentration, determination and focus to cast the spell," he began to list off in his head, "The D level spells, such as levitation and matter manipulation, can already be learned from the elementary schools that most mages can accomplish. The spells from level C to level B, such as flight and shield spells, take a longer time to learn and practice to make them stronger. But level A spells, such as offense spells, heavy lifting and teleportation, are the works of mages who are able to focus a large amount of magic into microscopic fractions. And finally, the S class spells, such as the manipulation of the stars, cloning and everything else that deals with even a semi-god ability, can also be used. But it comes at the cost of real exhaustion all over the body and mind when the caster diminishes the spell."

"As far as my mother, bless her saint-like heart, was able to tell me: Most Card-Summoners can create a means of storing, utilizing and manipulating the same spells that take years, or maybe even eons, to even just get the D level gist of. The same powers of a Card-Summoner mage, even though they can become as strong as the Princesses' with the right amount of training, have a very heavy and ominous price to pay. Teleportation, clairvoyance, reality alteration, raising the dead, and even the manipulation of the sun and moon are not in the abilities of any Card-Summoner. Not even one who has had a great deal of training while being deployed to the countries outside of the land that I know and love. And a true Card-Summoner mage must never use their power for personal gain or to escalate a battle against those who are weaker than myself."

But even as he went through the list of his teachings in his head, he looked over to the clones with a smile that came with the thought that if he can use his clone spell to create a brand new house for his means of keeping a place for him to settle into, it was the only exception. And this was because of one logical reason: A happy home can make a happy man. And with that thought in mind, he would be able to help the others who would more than likely be in need of his services.

"Alright! LISTEN UP!!" Sterling commanded loudly at the clones who stood at attention to the original. "We got to remove that damned rubble while we start building a new house! CAN WE DO IT?!"

"YEAH!!!" the clones shouted out in unison. And soon, the work was commencing.

The same pile of rotting wood was being sawed off with a few chainsaws cutting through while the nails were being removed with the pliers, along with taking care of the glass that had been scattered everywhere. And that was just with half of the clones. The other half had waited to start their work on the whole house from the ground up. The real Sterling had then summoned a few tools and resources that were needed to do the work.

Large piles of rocks and stone, building wood, clean glass, insulation foam, steel beams and rods, and the other means for his house to be made were soon summoned from another set of cards that the real man pulled out from his pocket. As soon as the materials had come to view, the rubble had just become a heaping pile of firewood. Sterling would not need the wood until a much later time for when it was called on. The sounds of jackhammers, chainsaws, nails being nailed onto the wood, and all the other sounds of construction had become music to the Card-Summoner's ears.

As the woodwork for the house had been finished, after the clones had put in a high-grade concrete foundation for the land below from the rocks and stone, the man had daydreamed about what he believed would happen to the same cities and towns that had been blown up by the enemies that he encountered. He could see it all: construction workers piling up the stones and broken steel, volunteers helping out with the rebuilding. It was a really fantastic dream. And he knew that even though he would not go back to the countries outside of Equestria, his wish for his fallen friends to watch over them would be fulfilled.


.....


And after an hour and thirty minutes of hard work, the clones had disappeared in a puff of clouds from Sterling's sight with a few of those clouds covering the entire property that was being worked on for a few seconds. A small breeze then blew through the landscape, revealing his brand new home in all of its glory.

At the near left side of the house was that pile of firewood that was now neatly rowed up for his convenience. On the far right side, a few trees had been planted to give his residence the charm that it needed. In the middle of the property, near the front door, was a small garden of exotic fruits and flowers. A few windows were already placed around the house for the means of illumination. And the furniture and appliances were already installed where they were needed to go.

And there was also a library on the ground floor. The many dozens of books that he bought from the countries outside of Equestria had been shelved by both number, title and author on their spines. This also included an empty book that was enchanted to place his spiritual guides into. And they were happy to have a place where all of their knowledge of the old world, from ages before, could be written down by their magic.

At the top floor above the ground, about four bedrooms were made while fitting a bathroom between two of the spare rooms. And his master bedroom was made to look like a true paradise for those who were deprived of sleep. And all with a private bathroom from another door that was near his vanity wardrobe.

Both the library, the basement and the bedroom were given dimensional magic. The type that can hold even a university sized setting.

Below the ground floor was the basement where he was able to hold an armory for his many weapons, a cooler for his wrapped and cut piles of delicious and exotic meats, and a cellar to hold all of the alcoholic beverages, including some wine that he collected for any occasions. It made him smile that he was able to plan ahead. The six months, after being formally and honorably discharged with the promotion to the rank of Colonel in his resume, had not been spent without thinking of a way to finally settle in. There were also many medals that were given to him for his many contributions in the same foreign countries during his time in the Second Equian War.

"Time to have my grub, I guess," Sterling patted his stomach as he went into his dining room to feast on the sandwich that was reheated from the UV microwave that was placed near the refrigerator. When he took the first bite, he felt a sensation that was just as familiar to being in heaven for that little moment in time. The savoriness of both the turkey and the bacon, along with the guacamole's sweet taste, had sent him into a realm of deliciousness that could fulfill any hungry man's appetite. After about half of an hour, he finished his food with a savoring that most people would just ignore.

After wiping his face with a napkin, he placed it, along with the wrapper that the food came in, into the garbage can and wiped his hands from the water in the sink. His feet had then guided him to where his bedroom was. After opening the door, he closed it behind him as he locked it. But as soon as he laid his body on the covered fluffy pillows and blanket, the mattress had enchanted him to fall straight asleep.


.....


Another hour had passed by before Sterling woke up from the hard work that he had put in. And Sterling was now feeling a lot better. Riding the train to his new home, going through the legal processes of becoming a citizen, and even working his magic on his new home had taken their seriously taxing toll on his body. He looked over to the alarm clock. It was now reading 3:30 PM on the dot.

He chuckled at the wonder of how the time went by so fast. When he arrived in Ponyville, it was 12:00 PM. After going through the work to make himself a citizen, it was 1:00 PM. And when the house was finished, it was 2:30 PM.

"Well," he grunted as he got off of his bed, "it's time that I explored the new town that I'm a resident in now," he decided as he changed out his dirty clothes to reveal his somewhat nude body.

The shower within his own bathroom was calling him, and he obeyed. After a quick yet invigorating shower, Sterling was clean as a new whistle. And with a new change of clothes on him, he walked out of the house to his separate garage unit.

Before he could open the garage, however, there was a roar coming from the sky. Sterling knew what the noise was... without a doubt. A dragon.

His hypothesis was well met as a large red dragon was flying towards his property. The same creature then flew overhead as it circled around him. With a slight snarl in its voice, as it made the final approach, the creature spoke:

"Are you the one that is named Sterling Caliber?"

Sterling then looked at the creature in its eyes and said:

"I am him."

The same dragon had then begun to glow a light that surrounded its body. Within a few seconds, the large drake had shrunk itself to reveal a male anthro-dragon of about six feet and ten inches tall.

"Well, then: I am the Royal Courier of the Dragon Kingdom known as Fiery Carbuncle," the dragon spoke to him. "And I have a few packages for you, good sir," Fiery stated to him quickly.

"Oh, really?" Sterling asked with his curiosity piqued.

"This is the first of the packages," Fiery announced as he pulled up a scroll and handed it over to the human.

Sterling had then examined the outside wax seal to see the royal symbol to see if the dragon was not lying to him. It was the real thing, he concluded. When he opened the scroll, he saw that the contents inside had been a enchantment spell to create a vault for whatever treasures he would be given. There was also a letter that was claw-written by the Dragon King himself.

"And this... is not all of it, I take it?" Sterling asked as the brow above his left eye had peaked up after having quickly read the letter.

"I'm afraid not, Colonel," Fiery spoke up as another package was then pulled from his courier bag. Within a few seconds, before sterling could ask, a treasure chest had then been pulled out from the bag. But it was not an ordinary treasure chest, as far as he could see. The same chest was about five times bigger than his whole house.

"This must have come straight from the personal vault of the Dragon King himself," Sterling noted as his surprise had just heightened while his mouth was gaping as his eyes were widened. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but: Is there anything else?" he then asked the dragon in nearly a fearful tone.

"Just a last, light trinket," Fiery spoke to him with a proud nod. After searching through his bag for a moment, mumbling if the package was not what he was looking for, he found a rather small box. In it was a treasure that most would just kill to have in their possessions. Sterling then opened the box, and saw that very same thing that he was just slightly afraid of having:

The Royal Dragon-Heart Medal of Honor. Only the most courageous of soldiers could receive this honor. And no one alive had ever been so royally blessed.

Sterling had no words to speak, but Fiery had handed out a clipboard. It was for Sterling to sign his name on. With his signature, printed name and initials, the two of them had concluded their business. Within a few seconds after the dragon ascended to the skies, Sterling had then begun to speak out the enchantment on the treasure chest.

It became as small rock while drilling itself into the ground. Within a second after it stopped at just about ten feet deep below the ground, the same earth below him began to shake. But the shaking had soon abated after about forty seconds.

"The vault is now made, and my medals and weapons now have a better place, other than my basement, to be placed in," Sterling sighed with a smile on his face as he finally opened the door of his garage.

Inside the same garage was a machine that was a thing of beauty from first sight: his six-seat luxury car that also had a record speed limit of 290 MPH with a speed of 90 RPM in ten seconds. Black in color, glorious to look at, and very great to take care of. His TLC on the machine had earned him his right to say that it was not only his dream car, but one that would take him to many a place that he could go to. And many happy memories were made in that car of his.

After Sterling got in the driver seat, he twisted the key in the ignition and had turned on the engine. It roared loudly, speaking to him with a tone that desired to go somewhere.

"I know, my love. I know," he cooed to the car, patting the dashboard as if it were a child that was wanting attention from their parents. After pulling up from the open garage, he turned the wheel to the left and had begun to drive off to the town where he was going to drive around in. Even though the roads in the town were plated with asphalt years ago, they still looked relatively new in his eyes.

The speed limit of 40 MPH, as he saw on the signs, had been easily taken with his masterful driving. As Sterling cruised around the town, he noticed a building that looked like a ornate gingerbread house. It piqued his curiosity. After pulling up to an empty parking spot near the building, the man stepped out of the car to take in the sight.

"Hmm... I wonder what's inside?" he pondered before he took his steps towards the building to step inside. As he opened the door, however, he noticed that he was inside a rather dark room. The door closed behind him softly with a magical force. "Where's the lights to this place?" he asked out loud to where--

"SURPRISE!!!" a whole crowd shouted around him as soon as the lights went on. This caused Sterling to fall on his lower cheeks with the force of the event suddenly casted upon him. A few giggles and chuckles had then sounded out as he had gotten off of the floor. He looked around to see that there was.... a party? For him?!

*****

Chapter 2: The Elements of Harmony

Chapter 2

The Elements of Harmony

*****


Sterling was looking around the workshop that had been converted into a party place for a moment when he spotted a young woman that was bouncing up and down towards him.

"Surprise! Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and this is my 'Welcome to Ponyville' and 'Congratulations on Building Your New Home' party to you! So were you surprised? Were you? Were you? Huh-huh-huh?" the same woman greeted him in a rapid speech to him.

"To say the very least, Miss Pie," he panted while he caught his breath. Such a turn of events never really occurred to him at all. Not even when he was fighting in that war that was still active in his mind. It was that same reminder that kept him on his toes. And then... a sudden realization had hit him in the gut. His mouth went agape as he suddenly recognized the woman in front of him from the Equestrian News Network.

"No way..." he gasped.

"Huh? What is it, new neighbor?" Pinkie asked him quickly, curious as to how he had become struck with something in his mind.

"....Laughter," he mumbled out as his eyes didn't leave hers. "Element.... of Laughter?!" he shouted out in a shock.

"Well, of course, silly goose!" Pinkie Pie giggled to him. "Aaannd! All of the other girls are here as well, just in case if you're wondering," the party girl added to her answer.

Sterling looked around to see the same women who wielded the Elements of Harmony at the counter where the Cakes, who owned the building, had been taking the orders of their customers. He was immediately starstruck with the presences of those women in the same building.

"And of course, these are---" Pinkie was about to greet before Sterling put up his hand.

"May I venture the names of the rest of this rather majestic group, if you please?" he asked the bubbly girl politely.

"Ah! Okay, then!" Pinkie relented with a giggle as she headed to her friends.

Sterling began pointing to them one by one, starting with the obvious one:

"As it is, you are obviously named Pinkie Pie, and you are holder of the Element of Laughter, and the known sweets baker and party planner for this entire town. And for all occasions, too," he pointed to her, who was smiling just as wide as the corners of her mouth were allowing her to do. She acknowledged his observation with a squeak of delight.

"Your name," he pointed to the girl with a short, rainbow colored hairstyle, "is Rainbow Dash. You're the holder of the Element of Loyalty, a Wonderbolts Reserves member, and the Captain of the Ponyville weather team. With a lot of backed up boasts of being the best flyer in all of Equestria, to boot," he finished on her. The same athletic woman had given a confident smirk to him with a salute.

"This one, here," he pointed to the shy woman to follow up, as she looked away for a moment, "is named Fluttershy. The holder of the Element of Kindness, the local veterinarian who has a great talent with animals, the woman who can sing very well, and is also known to be a member of the Equestrian Wildlife and Exotic Magical Creatures Preservation Act," he was able to list out with a smile. The woman could only nod while her face was halfway hidden by her hands and hair. This act was just as cute as when he saw it on the news.

"And you," he continued with his finger on the farmer girl, "are the one named Applejack. You hold the Element of Honesty, you have a great family made assortment of alcoholic beverages, you have a rather large hard working family, and you so happen to be the recent 1st place winner of both the Dodge Junction and Appleoosa bull riding competitions," he stated to her. This received a lovely chuckle and a wink from the cowgirl.

"You, obviously," he bowed to the purple haired girl, "are the one that is named Rarity. The holder of the Element of Generosity, a growing icon in the fashion world all over Equestria with many famous clients, a gem enthusiast in your spare time, and you also happen to be known as one of the people who donates a majority of her profits to the Equestrian Wounded Warrior Project," he finished up with her. The woman was gaping her mouth in awe of what he knew.

"And finally," he spoke up, "This is the Alicorn Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. The holder of the Element of Magic, and an intellect that knows a lot about being knowledgeable while keeping an open heart to her friends, family and subjects like myself, who aren't even worthy enough to be near her," he finished with a deep bow to her as his knees went to the floor. This caused the Princess in front of him to giggle just a bit before she went over to him with her hands touching his shoulders.

"Oh! Please! Call me Twilight! And there's no need to make such a scene out of this, my new friend and neighbor," she spoke to him calmly. "Now please rise up, good sir. Let's get a good look at you," Twilight instructed him softly. He obeyed with his legs moving up so that his feet would go to the floor. "So, uh... what's your name? And how do you know about us?" she asked him with an eyebrow going up.

"Oh, right. *Ahem* My name is Sterling Caliber," he introduced himself to the women, knowing fully well that the other people in the crowd was listening in. He gave a salute to the Elements before he was given a salute back by them. "I was a soldier in the Royal Equestrian Marine Corps who had made it to the rank of Colonel before my honorable discharge. And for more than ten years, I have served my time and life to the country while I was deployed outside of Equestria," he explained a bit of his past life to them. "And I say more than ten years because I was not officially in the Corps until I was at the age of eighteen for my official sign-up. And uh... I was in a specialist unit during that time, so uh... yeah, that's what happened before I had arrived back to Equestria," he finished explaining to them all, hoping not to reveal himself too much.

"Oh, wow!/Hoo-wee, partner!/ Oooohh!/Oh, my goodness!/Goodness!/AWESOME!!!" the women spoke up to him in the surprising tone that he grew accustomed to hearing all the time.

"So then, uh... Colonel," Twilight began to ask the man curiously. "May we see the new house that you so happened to have fixed up? If you please?"

"Well, now! Who am I to deny the heroines of the land access to my home? I'll lead the way to there, if you'll have me," Sterling responded with a smile. "Oh! And, uh... I can also be called 'Silver Bullet' if you wish to do so," he added on to his info.

"Ah think that we might just call ya Sterling, 'cause there's a kid here that's named Silver Spoon, and we don't wanna cause some confusion between you two," Applejack nodded to him.

"Hmm... I'm good with that," the man conceded. "Now, shall we, my dear new friends?" he suggested to them as he waved his hand to the door.

They all spoke their unanimous agreement and headed out the door once the party had been dissolved. When the formalities for paying the bill had come through, they headed for their vehicles and took to the road that had led to his home on the southeast side.

The drive went on for about fifteen minutes, obeying the speed limit of course, before they pulled up to the house that he was very proud to call his home. And it was a good thing that the front door was locked before he drove off to the town earlier, lest he found a thief breaking in.

As he pulled up to the driveway to park his vehicle inside of the garage, he noticed that the time was now 4:30 PM. Right on the dot. He chuckled once again, thinking that the universe was paying him a better start to life than what he was given at the age of eight before he fought in that war that he had dared not to mention to anyone. Not yet, anyway.

"Yo, Colonel!" Rainbow shouted out to him after stepping out from his car to look behind him.

"Yes, Rainbow?" he replied.

"You got yourself a really sweet ride! How did you get it, man?" she asked with her eyes going a little wide while the other four women stepped out of her car on cue.

"It's a Stalliongrad engineered work of art that a royal family gave to me after I saved them from a contingent of assassins that wanted them to fall just for the sake of money," he answered her with the garage door closing behind him.

"Stalliongrad?" Rarity gasped, struck with amazement as the glitter in her deep blue eyes had shined brighter. "I've always wanted to go there, but I never had the chance. Not even Fancy Pants could get a flight there," she commented to him a dreamy, then turned somber, voice.

"Well, I'm sure that I could tell you all about it once we head inside," Sterling replied with a small grin to her. He looked over to where everyone would be at. His driveway was parked with a few cars behind his. But as he looked over, he saw that Applejack had not been present.

"So, uh... where's Applejack?" he asked them.

"Oh, um... she said something about getting some present for you for your move-in," Twilight answered him.

"Really?" he inquired to her. But as Twilight was about to respond, a horn had beeped a few times. And it came from the truck that was behind him not ten minutes ago. As soon as it parked, Applejack had stepped out and pulled up a big bottle of whiskey from the passenger seat. The Colonel had also seen three barrels stacked in the back. "Must be something that's worth putting into my personal contraband," he grinned as he saw the cowgirl go up to the back of her truck to open the back door.

"I got a big present for ya, Colonel," Applejack announced to him as she pushed a barrel from the open trunk before he offered his hand for her to get to the ground. It was then after her boots hit the pavement, that he was able to get a quick glance at what was hidden in her plaid shirt. Even though it was normal for him to think of women that way, his biological chemistry being made that way, he thought better than to keep staring.

"Show me then," Sterling commanded her playfully. A quick roll later, a big barrel that was labeled 'Apple Family Hard Cider' had been placed on the ground. "Well, now... You ladies trying to tell me something?" he smirked at them with a sly grin. This made the farmer, and the others, to laugh just a bit. Fluttershy, however, only squeaked in response to him. "I'm just kidding, ladies! Just kidding you," he calmly said to them.

"But! That ain't all, sugarcube! That's just the warm up," Applejack announced to him. Behind her back was a big bottle. She slowly presented it to the man. And as she did, Sterling's mouth was about to be broken because of gravity pulling down harder on it. "The world famous Applejacks Zap Apple Whiskey! Made by yours truly," she announced to him before putting the 750 ml. bottle in his hands to say, "And it's all yours, hon."

Sterling could not find the words to express his thanks, choosing instead to give her a big hug. There was a tear falling from his eye, staining the woman's shoulder. Applejack was quite surprised to have been given such a gift. He never even had a gift in any of his birthdays. Not even counting the gift of having his parents die in front of him when he was only eight years old at the time.

"There now, sugar," Applejack whispered to him, patting his shoulders while noticing his sobs. This almost caused her to ask--

"I was never given any gift as valuable as this! Not even on any of my birthdays, nor when my parents were alive!" he cried out softly to her. This almost made the farmer cry, given that her parents were also not around. But she kept the pain inside. "Thank you, Applejack...." he sobbed again. Applejack could only squeeze herself around him tighter.

"You too, sugarcube?" Applejack asked him with a soft tone.

"Mm-hmm," he nodded to her. He then pulled out from the hug and wiped his eyes of the tears. "Mine were lost to a war..." he sighed to her. And the other women had clearly heard him, because of a collective gasp. "And I had to find a way to avenge them, back when I was just a child," Sterling began to tell them.

"And when you're an only child in Dodge Junction, and you've just lost your parents, you have to learn to fend for yourself. But I didn't want to be a burden to anyone in that town, so I had to run away from my village to fend for myself. And after two years, I was found by a man that had taken me under his wing at the age of ten. He was my former commander until I was promoted to Captain, before I was given the promotion to Colonel. But even then, he knew that being an only kid was a sort of blessing in disguise. He had taught me how to fight with my knowledge, my mitts, my magic, and my heart. And so... my first shot and glass of hard cider will definitely go to honor his memory."

"Ah'll drink to that, partner," Applejack spoke up.

"Me too!/To that gracious man!/...yay.../To that man!/To his memory!" the others spoke up before entering his home.

After showing them to the living room, he pulled out the glasses and poured the cider into them. The clanking of the glasses makes the toast official before the cider was chugged down.

At about 7:25 PM, the real party had begun. The laughter was pursued as Sterling began to tell a few of his funnier memories about his fallen friends. And all after hearing their life stories. Even the ones with how their Cutie Marks were discovered. And all because of how Rainbow Dash had discovered her talent for the sonic rainboom.

"So-- Ah-ha!-- This grunt just gets the black berries from the nearby stream! And he starts thinking that he'll just make a fortune in selling some exotic fruit. Next thing I know, ten of my men are now having cramps in their stomachs that hold them back from fighting for at least two weeks!" he finishes up the last one that came about. The uproar of laughter had gotten even louder with every story.

"And you knew what they were, all that time?" Rarity asks them while holding back a snort.

"The laxative compound in that cluster of black and red berries is almost like a toxin to us Equestrians, so they were held up in lavatories for a long time," he clarified to the seamstress. The snort that the refined lady had held back then escaped, much to her embarrassment while the others had a laugh about it.

"And now I just feel sorry for those gentlemen who fell under that trap of that brute," Rarity giggled.

"Oh well. What could you do, huh?" Sterling shrugged to her. Within a second, he realized that the party had begun to die down as a yawn escaped his mouth. But as soon as he was about roll off to bed, Applejack comes in with a second glass of that whiskey with an ice cube in it while handing him another glass of the same hard cider.

"Thanks, A.J., you're the best," he nodded to her before he seated himself back on his favorite reclining chair.

"Nicknames, huh? Guess ya won't mind if Ah call ya 'sugar', right?" she winked at him with a rather flirty tone.

"Oh, well, um... Okay!" he smiled widely as a big blush warmed up his face.

"Oh really, darling?" Rarity scoffed at him. "I should think that you deserve to be called more than that, given what you've done for us, my dear Sterling," she encouraged him to smile further with her own wink. This had now caused the hardened man to give a slight chuckle that had a higher octave than before. The alcohol had done its purpose in helping him to loosen up a bit. But it was still making him a little more tired than before.

"I think that we can all agree that our new neighbor is quite sexy to look at," Fluttershy busted out from her mouth, two seconds before realizing what she just said. The same drinks made her a little more talkative. Her hands had found her face and covered the major blush that was painted on her face with a burning red as she squeaked as loudly as she was known to make. This action was just too cute in Sterling's silver eyes.

"Well, that too, Flutters! But I was going along more on the line of 'major fucking bad-ass with a razor sharp coolness about him!', you know?" Rainbow added on to the conversation. "That's right, bud! Even I know that Royal Equestrian Marines are the ultimate badasses in all of the world of Equis! And let's not forget, you are definitely a great looking guy!" she boldly stated with a wink.

"W-well, uh... I-I-uh... I don't know what to say about that," he admitted shamefully to the group that surrounded him while he took a sip from his whiskey while looking away from them. Even after all of the times that he had fought with the best and worst of them, he still had a major battle to go through: how to flirt back with a woman. He looked back to the clock, and it read 7:30 PM. Another yawn escaped his mouth.

"Now: I don't want to sound rude, but I think it's time that we all go home to sleep for the night," Sterling spoke up to them in a tone that showed his sleepiness. "Between a long train ride, followed by the legal checks on my background before coming in as a new citizen, along with my mage abilities being used to make my new home? I'm exhausted! And the alcohol is not waking me up at all," he spoke to them with his neck popped and his back cracking from an arching motion.

"Goodness! You really are getting tired," Fluttershy said to him.

"Oh, wow! Did you really use your magic to make this new home?" Twilight asked him.

"With the resources of rock and stone, wood, and all of the necessities needed for a functioning home," the man pointed to her.

"I must say that I am really impressed, Sterling dear," Rarity complimented him. "And with such impeccable tastes, if I might be so bold to say," she added on to her notions.

"I'll drink to that, my friend," he nodded to her with his hand up in a 'cheers' salute to her. And with a last big gulp of his drinks, he used his thumbs to wipe the tiny streams of liquids that almost dripped off of his face from his lips. But as he had gone into the kitchen, Rarity picked up on the shyness of their host almost immediately, as did Fluttershy.

“Um... I think that we should let him get his sleep,” Fluttershy quipped to the other girls in the room in her soft voice.

"Now hold on a moment, if you please," Rarity said as she waved her hand to the rest. They stopped from leaving immediately.

“What is it, Rarity?” Applejack asked her curiously as her voice went down, as did the others.

"I think that our host so happens to be almost as shy as our friend Fluttershy,"Rarity whispered to them.

“How could you tell?” Twilight asked.

“Well, his face was getting quite red,” Rarity began to answer, “And even though I agree that we must get some rest back home, given our schedules for tomorrow,” she sighed in some bit of aggravation, “I can't help but feel that our friend may have been single for a while. Plus, there's also how he reacted to my inquiry,” she added to the argument.

“Single? Him? Rarity, we all love you, you know that,” Rainbow arched an eyebrow at her. “But I seriously doubt that our former Colonel has not had a girlfriend,” Rainbow whispered in a doubtful tone.

“Has anyone even thought to ask him about his social life within his time of duty?” Twilight inquired. They shook their heads no. “Well, I think that if we just ask him, he might answer us,” Twilight pointed out to them. They all nodded their agreement.

“Single, and a virgin, shamefully,” Sterling answered them with his head bent to look at the floor. His glasses were now washed and rinsed of his drinks and placed on a drying rack near the sink. This was a bit of a bad move as the girls just jumped from his unexpected presence. His fast answer to their curiosity had gotten their brains a bit muddled before figuring out what it was that he had said to them. “And I've never had a girlfriend in all of my life. Not even a five minute fling,” he added on to his confession.

“Never?” Rainbow, Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie asked him at once. Sterling only nodded with a sheepish smile while feeling so ashamed of his answer to them.

“Oh! My goodness, Sterling,” Rarity spoke up. “You've never even had the simple, romantic pleasure of having a special someone to even go home to, every day?” she asked him with a concern in her voice. Sterling could only sigh with a hint of sorrow in his mind.

“We're all sorry for asking you about that, Colonel,” Twilight apologized to him.

“Well, it was about to be confessed to you, anyways, so... please, don't hurt me,” Sterling requested them in a half-joking way. Four of the girls gave a light chuckle to him.

“I need to go to sleep for tomorrow, because there's a lot of work for me to do,” he told them as his arms went up for a stretch that was successful with a few pops from his arms and back.

“Have a good night, Sterling,” Twilight spoke to the man as she made way to the door.

“Sleep tight, ladies,” he yawned to them. As Twilight left the door, she volunteered to drive them, given that the rest of the girls have had a bit to drink. When Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie followed suit, Rarity and Fluttershy each gave him a big hug that was followed with a kiss to his cheeks. This action turned the color of his face go to a beet red.

“Thanks, you two,” he nodded to them with a smile that made him feel like a civilian teenager.

“Y-you're welcome, Sterling,” Fluttershy stammered with a smile, given that it was her first time kissing a guy on his face. Her blush was the tell-tale sign that made it clear for him.

“Good night, you two,” Sterling responded back with a timid hand waving at them. “Hope to see you later,” he added to his farewells to them.

“Good night,” they whispered to him before opening the door to close it behind them. Once they all left, the sounds of their cars had been the last sounds that he heard before he nodded to himself. His thoughts had been focused on how to make the rest of his night just a wonder. The same dishes that were used during his impromptu get together with his new friends had been put away into the sink, leaving him to only wash and rinse them before putting them on the same drying rack.

When the same sounds from outside had disappeared, he walked up the flight of stairs to head to his master bedroom. But before he could take his sleep, he went to the shower in his own private bathroom after opening the door from the hallway. A quick shower later, he dried off and put on a new pair of boxers before putting on a pair of pajamas that had both pants and a shirt to go with them.

It was then that his thoughts of slumber had then been abruptly halted by how he observed how both Fluttershy and Rarity, two of the Elements that he befriended, had given him a hug and a kiss each. And as his body became submerged into the very comforting sheets of his new bed, the desire to sleep overcame whatever other plans he had for the night. But as he slumbered, his dreams had become as peaceful as when he saw both the sun and the moon for the first time. And all without the ever ominous clouds of both death and destruction in his vision.

"Rarity.... Fluttershy...." he whispered their names in his sleepy state.


…..

*****

Chapter 3: The Silver Bullet

Chapter 3

The Silver Bullet

*****


The alarm clock on Sterling's nightstand, which was fused into a lamp to make a modernized combination of the two, had rung out the morning hour of 6:30 AM. Within the time that the music was playing on the clock, Sterling had rubbed his eyes while they were adjusting to the morning light that had penetrated his room. A flatulence had then erupted as he shifted his position to place his back on the comfort pillows at the back end of the bed. Mumbling incoherently to himself, his attention had then focused on the door that made up the entrance to his bathroom.

A quick wash up later, he dressed up in his usual undershirt and boxers before putting on a white, short sleeve polo shirt and a pair of blue denim jeans with a pair of white socks to go with his pair of blue and white running shoes. He then went down to the kitchen to start making his breakfast. Two scrambled eggs and three slices of bacon were placed between two toasted slices of bread that had butter spread on them to make a breakfast sandwich. To top it all off, he drank down a big glass of orange juice to wash down the delicious taste of his food.

“I think I should go into the town to see if I can at least help out the town in some way,” he had contemplated to himself. But as he was thinking about his desire to start working, a sudden thought had passed into his head. He would need to actually go back into the town so that he could help the other citizens out. A run up the stairs was followed by his morning ritual of brushing his teeth and brushing his long black hair. Sterling took a few steps back to get a glance of himself. At five feet and ten inches tall, he was bemused with shame that his luck with the women in his unit, or even in his whole life, was just cosmically slim to none.

But his dismal luck with the opposite gender was primarily because of how he was just abysmally clueless as to how the women in his unit from before had been trying to flirt with him. His head hung in shame because of how he was just that much of a freshman when it came to dating. Or even flirting. But last night...

Last night was just by a chance of luck, in his point of view. Two of the Elements that he met yesterday, Rarity and Fluttershy, had kissed his face... This caused him to growl on the inside before he could even get himself to look in the mirror.

"That's IT!!! No more cowering, Colonel!!" he angrily shouted out to his reflection with a finger pointing at himself. "You may have just been oblivious at first, but now... you have two gorgeous women that may like to be with you! So don't let this new opportunity slide past you, you dipshit!" he further growled. "Yeah...", he then nodded to himself, conceding in his membrane that this was a golden opportunity. "But first... I have to get to know them, first," he nodded. "I may not even know how they actually feel. The alcohol that the ladies and I had consumed last night had only opened a small portion of themselves," he noted to himself out loud. "But if I do this right.... I just might be able to win their hearts for my opening up to them," he sighed with a small grin.

Just don't allow them to know everything until the time is actually right, a male voice instructed him softly. Sterling turned around to face where the door was. To his immediate right, the King named Platinum Will had stood at the wall with a little chuckle in his smile. Sterling gave a little nod.

"I understand, your Majesty," Sterling saluted to him. "But I want it to be made clear on three points, if I may be so bold," he pointed to him.

Go ahead, Master Caliber, Platinum replied.

"First: My true mission in Equestria is to not just have my own home after twelve years of fighting the legions of terrorists and undead warriors. It is to also find and punish the source of the conflicts. And with extreme prejudice against the perpetrator, so that the real war that I am still fighting in will finally be over," Sterling began. "Second: When I truly feel that the Elements of Harmony, and indeed the Princesses of this great land, are ready to learn the whole truth about me, as well as my unit, they will all know about it from me," he added on to the conversation. "And finally: I will not allow my lust or anger issues cloud my judgement in the coming skirmishes ahead of me. A clear mind with confidence and sincerity will win," he finished in his proclamations.

But remember to not raise your hand against these women who have touched your heart, young one, the Queen spoke up with a smile that spoke her approval to the soldier.

And remember that the women of this age are still just as fragile in the matters of the heart as the women in our lifetime were, the Prince added to the instructions.

With a deep bow to them in a goodbye fashion, Sterling had opened the door of his bathroom and closed it behind him. With a run down to the door, he grabbed his car and house keys from the key holder near the door and opened up the front entrance of his home. A lock-up later, he trotted his feet over to the garage and opened up the panels to reveal his ride in perfect working condition. And as the engine had roared once again, after turning the key into the ignition, he started his drive into the town.

Ten minutes later, he pulls up to the parking lot of another building: The Carousel Boutique. As he finds the right card to pull out from his card pack, his ceremonial uniform is then summoned with his magic. As he looked over from the dashboard, altering his gaze from the building to his uniform in ten second intervals, it had occurred to him to remember that even though Rarity was highly considered to be the authority in altering and remeasuring any and all forms of dresses and suits, she did not have the experience of remeasuring and altering any military uniforms. And with another incantation, he summoned a book that would help the lady out in her new endeavor.

But he was just not going to go inside the building to ask for her business. He looked at the clock under the dashboard, and it read 12:30 PM. He also wanted to have lunch with the proper lady. And as he pondered how to get her attention, he then had the thought that was soon brought about by another action. A few seconds later, he then summoned an old bottle of wine that had been gifted to him from the same family that gave him his car. In fact, it was just one of the many dozens that were gifted to him for his valorous deeds.

As he stepped out of the car, he made the uniform, the book and the bottle wine float behind him with a bit of magic. With a slam of the door, the car was then locked with his thumb pressing on the remote button that allowed him to do so. The steps toward the building were then accompanied by his hand opening the door to his intended destination. The bell above him rang out to let the woman inside know that she was about to have a potential customer.

"Coming~!" the same woman called out in a singsong tone. "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique! Where every--! Aah! S-Sterling!" Rarity gasped out with a yelp. "What brings you here, darling? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but this is rather unexpected!" she greeted him with her eyebrows raised up as her eyes widened while hugging him with glee.

"I decided to come see you about a few things, so here I am," Sterling stated to her with a chuckle.

"And you have come to the right place, if you are looking for some formal attire or some new clothes, my dear Colonel," she giggled at the last part. This made the man smile a little more, and all because of how flirty she was with him today.

"Actually, it's more along the lines of a refitting, if I can take your time for a few moments," Sterling spoke to her while floating his uniform and book to her counter.

"Hmm... What is that book for?" she asked him curiously.

"Well, let me get to the point," he started with his throat cleared. "It's only fitting that I bring that book to you, given that it is my belief that you've never done a refitting for a military uniform before. Am I correct in assuming that, Miss Rarity?" he asked her with a small tone of authority.

"Why, uh... yes," Rarity answered him. "I've only given a few custom made dresses and suits to some very important clients. Like Sapphire Shores, Fancypants, and even the Princesses Celestia and Luna, for example. But I have never been given the chance to see a military uniform," she shook her head with a gleam in her eye. "Is that the book that will help me with that, my new friend?" she asked him again, pointing to the hardback.

"All that you need to know about the uniforms' specific details of stitching, padding and coloring," he answered with a nod of his head.

"And you are wishing for my help in finding out if you can still fit in that marvelous attire?" she inquired.

"That is correct, my new friend," he nodded.

"Aah! Then we must get to work immediately!" she yelped with a delight in her voice. "I'll get the measuring tape so that we can get to work right away!" she chimed as that same roll had then floated behind her.

"Take your time with the measurements, Rarity," he calmly spoke to her, sensing her joy. "I didn't come here to just take some of your time, strictly for your business," he then said to her, causing the lady to arch an eyebrow.

"Oh? What else did you come here for, hmm?" Rarity spoke to him.

"I also came here with a gift to you," he stated in that 'matter-of-fact' tone once again. The bottle that he had been floating behind him had then been placed next to the book. "And I feel that a lady of culture and taste, such as yourself, deserves to have a little something from me," he boldly said with a grin as she eyed the bottle.

"Hmm..." she curiously hummed while looking at the contents on the label. She then gave out a small gasp. "Oh, goodness! A bottle of dark red wine from a Stalliongrad winery? Why... this is..." she trailed off in the daze of being able to see the bottle in front of her.

"Very expensive," he finished for her with a nod. Sterling then went up to Rarity and placed a hand on her right shoulder. "And it is all yours to have, my friend," he then nodded to her. The look on Rarity's face as she faced him? Priceless!

"Wah-HA-HAH!! T-This... Aah! B-but--!" she started to protest before Sterling raised his hand to silence her for a moment.

"No buts, Rarity! If I want to give something expensive to a new friend, nothing is going to stop me until I've done it," he nodded to her with a stern face. It was then that Rarity, after putting the bottle down on the counter, had suddenly jumped from her heel-clad feet and gave the man a very big hug with her arms locking around his broad shoulders. If there was ever a time that he would be surprised by a woman's touch, his face would gladly indicate it for anyone else that might have seen the display.

"Oh! Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you! Thank you so much!" she rapidly said into his chest with a nuzzle. "This is just the best gift that a lady has EVER been given!" she chimed to him before giving him a kiss on his left cheek. "Thank you ever so much!"

"Heh-heh-heh! You're welcome, Rarity," he said to her with a blush on his face. The lady's embrace had then been broken off within a few seconds. As it did, he looked over to where a clock had been hanging on the wall. It read 12:45 PM. He then looked to the woman who had then taken the bottle from the counter into her hands.

"I might have to store this into my private collection, so don't wait too long, my dear," Rarity chimed to him with her eyes not leaving his.

"Like I said: Take your time," Sterling nodded to her. Rarity then took the bottle and walked over to where her kitchen was. As Sterling watched her almost dance to where her new destination was, he noticed that there was a slight sway in her movements. Given that he was a healthy young man, he gave himself a little look at her backside and smiled silently to himself.

As Rarity disappeared into the kitchen, he was able to take the mental picture of her image into his head. The same measurement numbers that he observed on her body were still running through his head: 37-24-36. And all with a perfect hourglass figure that showed that she was able to take great care of her body. But it was also her face that he pictured. If ever there was a time that he wanted to tell a woman that she looked like a supermodel, or even a Goddess sent angel, he never took that chance.

"Beautiful...." he whispered to himself as his face had turned a brighter red.

"What was that, dear?" Rarity spoke up from beside him. This caused him to jump back from her in a defensive position as a yelp had been shouted out from him.

"N-nothing! Nothing!" he tried to lie, though his reddened face had betrayed him. She giggled a bit at him before approaching him with her hand touching his shoulder.

"You must have been quite lost in that little world of yours," she smiled at him.

Sterling was then confounded. His vigilance had been taken over by how infatuated he was with the woman. But in his defeat, he had then decided to stop beating around the bush.

"Uh... Hey, Rarity?" he began to speak.

"Yes, darling?" she asked him.

"I-I... Uh... Um..." he began to trail off before he began to mumble incoherently. Rarity's hand had then softly touched his face, earning a small squeak from him.

"Sterling.... you know you can tell me anything, darling," she cooed to him, recognizing his hesitation.

"W-well, um..." he tried to speak to her. He then took in a deep breath to calm his nerves around her. "Rarity...?"

"Yes?"

"I... I also wanted to--"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

The scream from outside of the building had been a bloodcurdling tone that spoke of danger. This had made the both of them jump.

"W-what was that?" Rarity shivered.

"Trouble, if ever I heard it," Sterling answered her. His hand had then opened the door with his magic. But as he was about to bolt from the door, his arm had then been grabbed by Rarity's hand. "What is it?" he quickly asked.

"That scream came from Fluttershy's house! It's best that you let me lead the way," she answered him with a nod from her now stern face.

"Lead the way, Rarity!" he instructed her, going back to his soldier form.

"Follow me!" she instructed back as they went out the door with the man following her.

"Let's take my car, Rarity! It'll get us there in a jiffy!" he suggested as his keys had then turned on the engine after they closed the door.

"We better hurry! There's no knowing what it is that made Fluttershy scream like that!" she spoke up as they entered his car.

"Going to turbo now!" he stated as his foot had pressed hard on the wheel while reversing from his spot before driving off from the parking lot of the building. His speed had then excelled from the limits as he drove towards the arch bridge that had made up another part of the town.

"Just down there, near the other bridge! Hurry!" Rarity shouted out in her fear.

"Affirmative!" Sterling replied.

The car had then been pulled up to where the bridge was. With a hasty movement, both Rarity and Sterling had stepped out from the vehicle to assess the situation. Near the cottage that Rarity pointed out to him, there was Fluttershy. And she was running for her life, away from the house of hers. The little woodland creatures that she was known to take care of were also running in fear. But what they were all running from was what had perplexed Sterling... until...

"TIMBERWOLVES!!!" Fluttershy screamed out to the sky in her fear.

And sure enough... an entire pack of Timberwolves had surrounded the cottage, destroying almost everything in their path.

"FLUTTERSHY!!! GET OVER HERE!!!" Sterling commanded her with his hands gesturing for her to get to safety. And the frightened lady did this. "Tell us what happened here, Fluttershy!" he asked of her.

"They all surrounded my home, and they ate some of my critter friends! Please! Someone..." she cried into his chest with fearful tears streaming down his shirt. It was right there, after hearing her plea, that Sterling's desire to defend her and Rarity had ignited his anger against the new enemy.

"Rarity!" he shouted to her. "Take Fluttershy into the car and get some help! You and the other Elements will be needed, along with some reinforcements!" he commanded her to do.

"But what about--?" she was about to ask.

"No time to idle! JUST GET THE OTHERS, AND CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS!!!" Sterling shouted to her, pushing Fluttershy towards her. "And don't come back until you've gotten the proper men and women to take these beasts down! Is that understood?!"

"YES, SIR!! Fluttershy, we need to call our friends!" Rarity spoke up before going into the driver seat while Fluttershy took the back passenger seats. As the car had then driven off from the path, Sterling had then crossed the bridge to face the monsters.

"ALRIGHT, YOU OVERGROWN TUMBLEWEEDS!! IT'S TIME TO TURN YOU INTO MULCH, AS I SHOW YOU HOW I AM KNOWN AS 'THE SILVER BULLET!!!" he yelled at the packs after summoning a long sword that he used to dispose of the undead legions in Stalliongrad and Trottsnia.

The first wolf to lunge into its attack had then been sliced into a bunch of firewood by his sword. The green slime that made its blood then stained his body and face, along with the blade. And as the other wolves surrounded him, his abilities had been put to the test as the wolves, one by one, had taken a leap towards their intended prey, had all been killed with a swift motion of his blade. But while he was successful with his defenses, a few of the wolves' limbs had penetrated his skin from his clothing. This in turn made him bleed out as sharp bits of pain had entered his membrane. But the adrenaline had overtaken his pain, and thus was able to kill even more of the abominations that wanted him dead.

But as his attackers had lost another dozen, the wolves had then heard the unnatural sound of an unknown creature from the Everfree Forest. But this howl was deeper in its octave. And as it was heard, the other creatures had fled in fear. Naturally, Sterling would have relished in the victory of having taken care of more than ten dozen wolves. But his victory was short lived.

Within seconds, a pair of creatures had lunged from the forest and landed on top of the cottage, thus destroying the roof as the damage had then collapsed the rubble into the interior of the house. It was just as Sterling had feared, but not as much as the dark mages that summoned the undead legions. This was just a few degrees more....

A pair of Alpha male Timberwolves had snarled their jaws with the green slime making up their drool. This had raised Sterling's adrenaline by a higher length. 'Flight' was not in his mind. He would do what he could in order to protect both the town and its citizens. But as the creatures drew nearer, he laughed loudly with a hearty smile.

"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HHAAAAAH! NOW THE FUN HAS BEEN DOUBLED!!! he proclaimed as his stance had taken the offensive.

"BRING YOUR PRETTY FACES TO MY SWORD!!!" he shouted out his taunt to the monsters. And this had become another epic battle for him to fight in. The first of the creatures had then lunged swiftly towards him. As the creature had then drew nearer, Sterling had summoned a flaming spell that had engulfed his blade to make his defensive move. And with a slight chuckle, he said: "Bad move, fire wood!"

With a planned move, his blade had then penetrated the chest of the first creature and set the creature aflame. And with his blade within the heart, he ran with his blade, slicing through the whole body in a swift move as if a knife was cutting through butter. And as the very large denizen had howled in its pain, the body was then immolated into ashes and dust. This move had wiped out the monster within a few seconds.

"Whaddya say, number two? Wanna get some?" he growled at the other as his flaming blade had shined out towards it. The wolf had then  swiped its long paw against him. "Again: bad move, sparky!" he growled once again as his weapon had cut against the limb, setting the whole paw on fire. And with another move, his speed had taken a silvery etheral blaze around the wolf.

And as the flames, after slicing through the wood of the creature, had been put out from the man's weapon, the last creature had then been put to the same punishment. And as the body had then thumped to the ground in ashes and dust, he sensed another presence within the forest. But this new presence... was still in the Everfree Forest.

"No time for idling by! Best get to the source!" he grumbled as he stepped towards the crumbled house. As his steps had then circled around the house, Sterling decided to venture into the same setting that was known for its many dangers.

.....

Within a few minutes, his unguided steps had somehow taken him into where a tree hut had been set by a person that lived there. But the same person of interest, as he had sensed from before, was not the true cause. He broke into the hut and saw that a Zebrican shaman, female from his observation, was being possessed by an evil spirit that more than likely had caused the evil creatures to come around the cottage to attack the village. His blade had then disappeared as he knelt before the woman who was flinching and seizing out from the spirit possessing her.

"Madam! Don't worry! I'm here to exorcise the spirit that has now possessed you!" he shouted out to her with his fear starting to climb into his heart.

"No need to kill me, you ignorant and insignificant piece of scum!" the spirit called out with a sneer.

"Oh but there is, you malevolent denizen!" And with a card pulled out from his pack, he looked to the evil ghost and had sneered back. "This will be the end of you, foul demon!" he growled to it. "Now..." he whispered with a breath to clear his mind. "With the power vested in me, by the grace of the Lady Faust, I cast this evil spirit back to the circles of Tartarus! For we are strong in the power of the holy light!" he chanted to the demon, who had shrieked an ungodly scream. With no words or time wasted, he slapped the card to the shaman woman's chest. And as the bright light of the spell had become brighter, the demon within had then shrieked its last words:

"Beware, Silver Bullet!! The Secondary Elite shall arise from the confines of Tartarus to take back the world that is rightfully his!! SO IT SHALL BE DDOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNE!!!" And as the last of the malevolent denizen had been destroyed with a small explosion, Sterling then snickered and said:

"And when I see him, he's next!" he whispered as his body had then found a couch to rest himself on. The powers that he had activated, as he already knew, had suddenly taken their toll as his world had then become as black as night.

"Good sir.... are you injured?" a soft voice could be heard before the entire world was now unconscious.


.....


.....


(Beep. Beep. Beep...)

Chapter 4: The Truth Revealed, Part 1

Chapter 4

The Truth Revealed, Part 1

*****


".... going to be alright?" a voice spoke up in the hospital room that Sterling had been laying in for two days now. Even in his grogginess, he was able to recognize the soft and timid voice that he heard. It was Fluttershy's voice.

"I'm sure that he'll be fine, Fluttershy. He's a lot tougher than he looks," Twilight answered the other woman. Sterling's eyes were then able to see more clearly as he saw the ladies grouped all around him. Though he was keeping his eyes half lidded, he was able to behold their physiques for a moment.

"Yeah, because even I know that he isn't going to let a few wounds hold him back," Rainbow Dash chimed with a brash, yet happy tone. Yep. It was the same attitude that even his former Commanding Officer would not have taken, unless he was able to somehow hold back his emotions. "Taking down two Alpha Timberwolves AND performing an exorcism? That just earned him another fifteen points on my 'Cool Guy' o'meter."

"Then you might want to take off one hundred points on my scorecard, for the time being," Sterling mumbled out loud to the women that had been circling around him. This earned him a few soft laughs and giggles from the ladies around him. He could only grin for a bit before the pain in his limbs had caught up to him with a vengeance.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Rainbow asked him, confused with his words.

"Because I was actually more scared of what would've happened if I hadn't taken down both the wolves and that evil spirit," Sterling answered with a solemn and somber tone. "It would've been High Trotter City, all over again," he commented under a grunt of pain as he tried to raise his body to sit up.

"High Trotter City?" Twilight asked him as Rarity and Fluttershy had softly placed their hands on him.

"Stalliongrad, at the age of 16, before officially becoming a Marine," he began to speak as a tear had formed from his eyes with a shudder coming around his voice. "Somehow, an entire army's worth of Dire Wolves, Timberwolves, and even some undead warriors had been accompanied by anti-air and anti-tank machines to utterly destroy the place of its people and resources. I couldn't allow my new home, or anyone's home, to be destroyed," he somberly shook his head to them.

"But, no one is allowed to be in the Marines unless they've been trained after the age of eighteen," Twilight spoke up with her eyebrow raising up on her face. "And you told us about how you were in the Corps at the age of ten," Twilight continued on her observations.

"True," he nodded, hoping to somehow avoid talking about his past until a later time. "I did say that. But that is not what I'm wanting to know, right now," he spoke to them.

"Zecora is perfectly fine, darling, if you wanted to know," Rarity quipped to the man, knowing what he was concerned with. Before Sterling who she was talking about, Rarity added, "She's the same Zebrican shaman that you exorcised that evil spirit from, two days ago."

"As soon as we got to her place, Zecora had become quite concerned with your welfare," Fluttershy spoke up with her eyes not leaving Sterling's face. The man turned his face to meet hers. "She was also able to see that you were suffering from the poison that the Timberwolves injected into you. Her antidote was able to clean your blood of the poison from going any further, towards your heart," she added to the story of how Sterling was now in the hospital.

"So I've been in here for two days, huh?" the patient asked them, taking in a deep breath before asking.

"Uh-huh," Fluttershy nodded.

"Huh... well..." Sterling nodded to himself, looking away from them. "That's not the worst amount of time that I've taken to fully heal myself," he commented.

"Whaddya mean it's not the worst?! You looked like as if the Timberwolves got to you first!" Rainbow shouted out, showing how shocked she was about his calm attitude.

"The shortest time for a full-on healing was five minutes, while the longest time was about three to four weeks, give or take," Sterling answered her.

"Is that why we all saw that ghastly array of scars on your back?" Rarity asked, aghast from how calm the man sounded.

"The nurses must have shown you my battle scars," Sterling sighed. "I was not wanting that to happen..." he shook his head in his new defeat.

"But... why?" Fluttershy asked him.

"Because of how ugly it all looks. And that's putting it mildly, given that my war stories are just atrocious for me to remember," he spoke up to her with a stern look that was betraying his emotional pain. "And even my face has the scars to prove it..." he mumbled a bit loudly.

It was then that a nurse, named Red Heart, had entered the room with the door opening loud enough for the girls to hear her.

"Alright, ladies. I need to look over my patient before he's cleared to leave," she instructed them. "So may I ask that you ladies leave the room?" she asked them with her gaze locked onto her patient.

"Let's let the good nurse do her job, girls," Twilight spoke to her friends with her hand beckoning them to follow her.

"Sterling?" Rarity spoke to him.

"Yeah?" he responded.

"Thank you... for everything," she almost sobbed as she kissed his cheek. "Thank you...."

"Yes... you saved me and all of Ponyville. Thank you..." Fluttershy softly thanked him as well with her own kiss to his face.

"....See you later?" Sterling softly asked as he waved to them.

"Yes, darling," Rarity cooed to him as she stepped out of the door. When the door was closed, Nurse Red Heart had proceeded to take a seat next to his bed and lifted a clipboard to her face.

"Do you feel ready to walk out of the room, deary?" she asked him in a warm voice.

"As soon as the numbness subsides, I guess," Sterling answered her honestly. "Can you tell me what I suffered when I was admitted in here?" he then asked the nurse, wanting to know if there was going to be any new scars.

"A few of those monsters were somehow able to sink their fangs and claws into your right thigh, your chest and the lower part of your back," she began to list to him. "And if that poison had gotten into your heart, you would've died right then and there in Zecora's hut. Thankfully, even though you were majorly bleeding from some major arteries, the poison was able to reject itself from going any further. And the antidote that she gave you was also able to heal your wounds for a time. But it seems that your body has already taken more than its fair share of scarring and stitches."

"Well, that's what happens when you're in the direct line of fire from your enemies on the front lines," Sterling nodded to her.

"And how long have you been fighting in this... war, as you call it?" Red Heart asked him, professionally curious about his claims.

"Since I was ten years old, before I was even allowed to legally enter the Armed Forces of Equestria," he answered her out of courtesy.

"Oh, goodness!" she gasped loudly, clearly shocked with his truthful claim. "Then it's a miracle that you survived all of that!" she spoke up in her surprise. "But... by all rights, you shouldn't even be in this hospital bed! And with how you are now in this bed, it's a wonder how you are even able to move your head!" she chimed.

"Even I've asked the universe how the Lady Faust watches over me in all of those times," Sterling conceded, knowing fully well that he was supposed to be dead now. "My guess is that someone in the heavens does not want me dead," he then nodded with his face still being stern.

"I should say so," Red Heart nodded. "Well, then... we need to put you in the wheelchair if you're ready to leave," she calmly told him as she summoned the same contraption from the other side of the room.

"Nurses' orders," he said as his body was now able to rise from the bed. "But I'll need the clothes and possessions that I was admitted with, if you don't mind," he said to her as his feet had then been planted onto the cold tile of the floor. The shock of the floor being cold had woken him up a little more as a small gasp escaped his mouth.

"No problem, Colonel," she smiled at him as the man had placed himself into the wheelchair.

Minutes later, his trip to the dressing room had revealed that there was another set of clothes piled up before him on a bench. They were not the ones that he had worn during his adventure against the evil creatures and spirit. He saw that there was a note on top of what he perceived to be the shirt. It read:

Dear Sterling,

I took the liberty of making you a new set of durable clothes for you. And you'll find that it is within the fashion that I saw you in before you defended all of Ponyville from those vile beasts. And you needn't worry about paying me; you saving us was more than enough for me to say that any payment isn't necessary.

Fluttershy and I will be waiting for you at the little bench outside of the front entrance when you step outside of the hospital. My friends and I were all greatly worried about you, but it was Fluttershy and I who were especially worried about your condition.

And as such, we wish to take you out to the Haute Trotter Cafe & Restaurant. Our treat, of course.

With love,

Rarity.

P.S. Both Fluttershy and I wanted to let you know that we both discovered something about ourselves. We'll tell you about it when we see you.


"....." Sterling was not able to understand what she meant by 'our treat'. But as he dressed up into his new clothes in stride after lifting himself from the chair, he took a deep breath and calmly assessed the situation. He was being taken out... on a date. With two very beautiful women. He had then started to notice how it must have been some higher deity in the heavens that was treating him to this new change of events.

"Sweet... Celestia..." he whispered out loud, even with a tinge of nervousness in his tone. One side of him was yelling out that they were only treating him like a poster hero in a movie. And that this was not going to be a social calling. Like, at all. But that voice in his head would have won, had it not been for the fact that his heart was jumping for joy. And as a teenager going to meet his rock-star or celebrity would, his feet had jumped up and down from how excited he was.

"I GOT A DATE!!! I GOT A DATE!!! I GOT A DATE!!! I GOT A DATE!!! I GOT A DATE!!!" Sterling had shouted out as he jumped up and down in his newly found excitement. This made the nurse behind him giggle loudly from his enthusiasm. Soon as he heard it, his excitement had suddenly turned into embarrassment. Sterling then cleared his throat and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that," he chuckled to her.

"First one at all?" Red Heart giggled. Sterling could only nod to her. "Got get 'em, tiger," she winked at him with a slap on his lower cheeks. This made him yelp out with a 'ooh!' after feeling the slap on his lower cheeks. But he could only smile, given that the yelp was an indicator that he was now fully healed.

"Thanks, Nurse Red Heart," he smiled back as his goofy grin crept back to his face.

Sterling was not able to hear the reply that Red Heart had given him, given that he was now making his way towards the front entrance of the hospital. But then, another nurse had called out to him. And as he was stopped, he signed the official paperwork to let himself out. And as he finished, he then took his steps towards the door. Slowly, this time.

No war stories would be shared with the women that wanted to take him out on this date. It was then that Sterling had to remember that even though he would have to share what his unit was, and how he was the last of them, he would eventually tell them about it all when it was the right time. His role in coming back to Equestria, his abilities in magic, all of his past life would be revealed in time.

“Good sir, I see that you're alive this day,” a deep voice spoke up from behind him.

Sterling turned his head to look at the woman who had observed his recovered health. He recognized who it was immediately: Zecora. The same Zebrican shaman woman that he had saved from that malevolent spirit that had possessed her two days ago.

“And I see a great joy in you; are you going out today?” she further asked him.

“Yep. Both Rarity and Fluttershy decided to take me out on a lunch date,” Sterling nodded to her. “But... I am wonder--” he was about to ask of her well-being, before Zecora's hand stopped his question.

“The spirit you destroyed, it set me up for a frame. But, as we depart: To you, I must give my thanks,” Zecora said to him. “But there is also a thing that I saw in you. A secret that could make or break your soul. Is this true?” she asked him.

“Yes,” he nodded. “And I would not allow myself to reveal it until I am able to truly find the right time,” he spoke to her.

“Ah... Now I see... now I see,” Zecora cryptically spoke up. “An undead and evil legion, your unit had fought. And you are the last of them, from all that the evil had wrought. Many a nation, outside of ours, speak of your many deeds. And also how you never sought power. This is wondrous, indeed. But it's the final battle that you must win. Equestria is need of a hero to wash away the dark influence that seeps within. And when Celestia's sun rises, all of the praises to you will be sung just as high.”

This prophecy had spooked him out for a little bit. But after opening his eyes, he noticed that the woman who gave him that cryptic message had just... disappeared.

“In the future, I better learn how to avoid such mystic people,” Sterling chuckled in disbelief as he shook his head. And as he stepped forward to the door, he saw that the sun was now over his head. He mumbled incoherently, feeling that the sun that Princess Celestia rose up and lowered every day was really giving him a reason to go blind.

But the slight pain went away as fast as he felt it. “And I better summon some sunglasses soon, lest I go blind from Celestia's powerful might,” he chuckled to himself as a pair of sunglasses had suddenly appeared in front of him. “Huh?” he arched an eyebrow towards the glasses before him.

“Something for your eyes, Colonel,” a familiar voice called out. Sterling turned around to see that Twilight Sparkle was already waiting for him. “We don't want you to go blind on us,” she giggled to him.

Sterling had then grabbed the glasses and placed them on his face. He then walked over to lady and gave a small bow to her. “Thank you, my lady,” he spoke to her with a small grin, trying his best to keep himself composed.

“You're welcome, Colonel,” Twilight replied to him. Not two seconds after the exchange of words had come that the same Princess had reached her arms swiftly around his body to hold him in a deep hug. Sterling was quite surprised. But he could only reply to her silence with the same gesture that she was giving him.

The two of them had then decided to keep the deep hug going for a while. For Twilight, it was all because of how grateful she was truly feeling for his valor. And she wanted nothing more than to show him that her feelings were genuine. The same valor that the man had shown in many battlefronts was what got her to feel the same feelings that always came around when a person risks their life to save countless others. Her silent sobs had been heard by the man that she was really hugging very tightly around her arms.

For Sterling, it was circulating in his head that no one ever had ever thanked him that deeply for his many deeds to save Equestria. No one. And for him, considering that he was a part of the armed forces of his country, getting that kind of a hug was rumored to have two meanings:

The first was consisted of the belief that only the best of the best of soldiers deserved this deeply heartwarming gesture from a Princess. And that the hug was a means of telling him, in silence, that his many sacrifices, both personal and in the rules of war, were not in vain. But the second belief, from what his former commander had told him, was that this kind of hug was also meant for him to figure out that the Princess was also falling in love with him.

He quickly waved away that second part, given that he was certainly not going to entertain the thought of a royal Princess falling for an ordinary guy like him. Even though he was considered to be a true hero in his unit's eyes, he never wanted to be seen as anything more than just an ordinary guy. And rightfully so; thinking a that Princess would go with a guy like him? Not likely to happen in his new life.

“Thank you, Princess...” Sterling whispered to the woman, prompting her to look into his silver-colored eyes. Sterling then looked into the same deep amethyst purple eyes of hers and saw that her fears were mixed with her gratification for him.

“No...” Twilight whispered back, “Thank you... for saving all of us,” she almost sobbed again before giving a small cough to clear her throat. “And all of Ponyville, for that matter,” she nodded to him. Sterling could only chuckle a bit from her response.

“Well, uh.... that's what happens when a Dragon-Heart Medal recipient is crossed against in any fight,” Sterling sighed with a grin. “'If any type of evil crosses your path, they will be faced with a fury that rivals that of the Dragon King and Queen'”, he quoted to the Princess in front of him.

“Well, that sounds kind of.... weird,” Twilight speculated, not really knowing what he said to her. “What does that quote even mean?” she then asked him, curious about his answer.

“It means that if any kind of enemy tries to kill my friends, or destroy my home for that matter, then they'll simply be fought against. And with no means of showing mercy, unless the opponent truly wishes for my mercy,” Sterling answered her.

Even though Twilight was perplexed by his answer, she eventually processed the words 'my friends' into her head. Those two little words made her suddenly smile. But as her smile was appearing, it froze for a few moments. 'No means of showing mercy, unless the opponent truly wishes--' But Twilight knew exactly what he was meaning to say.

“Do you really think of me-- I-I mean! -Us, as your friends?” Twilight corrected herself after gathering the information. That sudden word made her blush quite a lot.

“You okay there, Twilight?” Sterling asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Y-yes, Sterling," she nodded to him as her blush was ceasing. "I'm perfectly fine. But what about you? You look like you just healed yourself with a massive spell," Twilight then observed.

"Nah," he waved to her before replying with, "It's a small regeneration spell that I learned a few years ago. Plenty of sleep does the trick well," Sterling nodded.

"Rarity and Fluttershy are waiting there for you there," Twilight regarded as her hand pointed to the other two women that were graciously perched on the bench, waiting for him. "See you later?" she asked him.

"That you will," Sterling replied to her. And with a final yet quick hug, they parted. Twilight was now taking flight to her castle as Sterling walked over to the ladies at the bench.

Sterling had then observed that the ladies' clothing was slightly changed; For Rarity, the had donned a simple white blouse that had a stitched trio of diamond-cut sapphires on her left sleeve. This was obviously her symbol, Sterling noted. But for the lower part of her attire, she had a purple skirt that reached to her knees. And yet it was still quite sexy to look at, even though it was a bit tight. Her shoes were also in a deep blackish purple shade. With Fluttershy, all that she had on was a summery sundress that had three pink butterflies stitched onto the left strap. And with a pair of pink flats for her footwear, too.

"Have you two been waiting long?" Sterling asked them, perking their heads to look at him.

"Oh, no. Not at all, darling," Rarity cooed to him after scoffing the first two words. Wait... cooing? "It's only been about half of an hour, but that's just trivial, dear," Rarity spoke again with her hand waving out a bit.

"We both saw you and Twilight sharing a hug," Fluttershy said to him. "It must have been quite nice," she then nodded.

"It was just a hug between new friends, nothing more," Sterling shrugged off.

"Oh that modesty of yours," Rarity giggled. "You really made an impression on her, you know," she stated to him.

"Oh! Speaking of impressions, there was something that you wanted to share with me on that note," Sterling noted to the ladies besides him.

"Y-yes... that's right," Fluttershy answered softly with a nod.

"Walk with us to the cafe?" Rarity suggested to the man.

"With my hands on your shoulders, if you please?" Sterling added.

"And ours on yours," Rarity giggled. Soon after, the three of them had each other wrapped in the others' arms. And as they did this, Sterling, Rarity and Fluttershy went walking in a southwest direction. This walk, as Sterling supposed, was taking them to the cafe. Rarity had indicated so with a few added directions.

Within a few minutes, the Haute Trotter Cafe, a relatively new but classic place to get some coffee and real food, (unlike the tasteless crap that Sterling would have been fed if he stayed any longer in the hospital) was within their view.

"Goodness, I never would have thought about it, but it looks quite pleasant, doesn't it?" Rarity commented while looking at the decor of the establishment.

"It does look nice," Fluttershy spoke up. "And I wonder if they'll have a few food choices that have no meat," she then added to the conversation.

"Eh... I've seen better places in my tours, but it does look like a neat place to eat in," Sterling spoke up, noticing the pang that hit his stomach. "I'm just worried about the prices that they'll charge," he scratched his head in contemplation.

"Oh, Sterling. Speak not of price, but of quality, my dear," Rarity said to him with that high-class tone that she was well known for. "After all, we do wish for you to hear about how the both of us came to a certain... well, understanding that Fluttershy and I have come to realize about ourselves," she hesitated, hoping to find the right words.

"I can only hope that it isn't anything about me that could damper our new friendship..." Sterling sighed, almost regretting not going home immediately after leaving the hospital.

"W-what?" Fluttershy almost shuddered, a little scared about how he came to that conclusion. "Why would you say that?" she asked him with her concern for him rising.

"I certainly must agree with my friend-- why would you say such a thing, darling?" Rarity then said to him, also sharing her concern. "If anything, this is actually quite a bit of some... uh how would you say it in your terminology?" she began to ask him, "For when you are wanting to know some information on your new friends?" she then asked him.

"Background check with reconnaissance for better internal affairs?" Sterling then said to her.

"Mmm... quite a way of putting it, Sterling. But, yes! That is quite right!" Rarity applauded him with a lady-like smile.

"Thanks for that," Sterling chuckled with a small blush. "It just... mmm... seemed like the best way to speak about the approach of this... uh... little lunch date of ours," he said to them with his fingers whirling around to them all, still a bit nervous about it all.

"You're still nervous, aren't you?" Fluttershy softly asked him again.

"Despite my rigid stance, I'm still shaking like a rattlesnake's weapon of choice," Sterling admitted. But she was just that good. Timid herself, she knew just what to say to him.

"But without the venom, right?" Rarity joked to him.

"No venom, just an anesthetic," Sterling quipped to her. From there, they each got a little laugh.

Minutes later, Sterling and his dates had taken one of the cafe's outdoor tables to enjoy their new meals. When the waiter had come to take their orders. When the drinks (a small cola for Sterling, an orange juice for Fluttershy & a soda water with lemon for Rarity) had been served, Sterling had ordered a supreme style pizza without the meats, explaining that he only eats meat or fish for his breakfast meals. This, of course, was to absorb the proteins in order to get and stay stronger for every day that he started. Fluttershy had ordered a veggie omelet with a bit of feta cheese inside of it. And for Rarity, she ordered a salad with croutons and finely shredded cheddar cheese.

Within a few moments, the ladies had daintily begun to eat their food while Sterling had taken two slices of his pizza and began to eat them like a man that had been hungry for a while. Two days of not eating anything was certainly a good reason to start pigging out on some good food. Sterling then noticed, after eating about half of his first two slices, that the ladies were looking at him in a weird way. He then swallowed the good food that he had chewed on, and he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I am really sorry about my behavior, ladies," he bowed his head to them. "But after two days of not being able to eat some really good food, I needed to really get some food in, given my heightened hunger. And no hospital food could do that for me," he explained to them, hoping to clear the air of his ravenous behavior. "Besides, that green jello is enough to kill a manticore," he whispered to them, earning him a few giggles.

"Oh, it is quite alright, my dear Sterling," Rarity waved her hand to him. "You're a grown man who has his needs, right?" she chimed to him. Sterling gave out a 'mmhmm' noise as he began to finish his sandwiched slices. "And I am certain that you need to have your square meals every day," she then nodded to him.

"That I do, indeed," Sterling replied to the lady. "And I should like to say that I ordered a large pizza because of how my appetite for pizza is without end," he then said to her.

"Like Pinkie Pie's appetite for sweets?" Rarity asked him curiously.

"Well... maybe less of the hyperactive type, that is," the man replied. "Given that I am an omnivore, I can eat anything. But given that the both of you are more than likely to be vegetarians, I decided to not go for the other ingredients that might make you uncomfortable to look at," he added to the conversation.

"You really skipped the meat for our sake?" Fluttershy asked him as her eyes widened. Sterling could only nod at her.

"Well! I must commend you for choosing to eat your vegetables, Colonel Caliber," Rarity chimed again at the man's altruistic gesture to them. Sterling could only chuckle at her words as he went for another two pieces to sandwich together. "Now, um... would you be willing to listen to the discovery that Fluttershy and I made about each other as well as what we both found out concerning you?" the lady then asked him.

"Uh..." Sterling hesitated, hoping that what the women were about to say would not affect his relationship with them in a bad way. "O-Okay," he conceded with a shrug. If there was a good time to back out, it would have been now. But he was never known to back away from anything that might have concerned him. Whether it was something personal, or even within his fights from a long time ago, he would face all of his fears. Including his dreaded hypothesis. "Go ahead."

"You must understand, darling, that this discovery is not as bad as you might have thought, so..." Rarity began. "We must begin at the beginning. On the first day of your recovery, Fluttershy and I had become more than concerned with how you would survive. Rainbow Dash would always go on with that brash attitude of hers how 'Sterling won't just die because of some wounds!'. But my friend and I," she pointed to Fluttershy, who squealed with a tiny sob that they could barely hear from her, "were not feeling so well about the situation. She and I had our doubts. And yet..." she trailed off for a moment before continuing.

"Even though you were alive, as Red Heart told us at the time, we still felt that you would have died if not for us," Fluttershy intervened. "And w-we just... um... w-w-we-- Oh, Sterling!" she then cried to him as her body was guided to tackle his to the ground. After a hard thump was heard on the ground, Sterling had seen that his new friend was tightly wrapping her arms around him in a trembling hug that spoke of her fears.

But as Sterling was about to rise from the ground, Fluttershy had then taken her lips to meet his in a kiss. This move was made almost immediately as they both froze up from the action that she made as their faces burned up with an embarrassed blush. And as she pressed her lips to his, Fluttershy had then begun to kiss him more and more. This barrage of kisses was almost copied out from any romance novel that any person could buy for a good or bad reading.

Sterling, however, was just as surprised, if not more, with how this turn of events had suddenly come around. Instead of backing away, he cupped his hand on Fluttershy's head and cheek to return her kisses with a few of his own. He was not a great kisser, by all means, but he still wanted to return the mutual feelings. His heart was now in an inferno that engulfed his entire being with a flame of passion. "Is this... what love feels like? Because it just feels amazing!" the man had proclaimed in his head. And after about five minutes, both he and Fluttershy rose up from the ground and dusted each other off with some awkwardness that came around.

Before Sterling could say something back, Rarity had then taken his face with her hand and planted a few passionate kisses on his lips. Once again, the man was stunned from the action being made to him. But he could only try to repeat the same action to the newest kisser. And after yet another five minutes, both Sterling and Rarity parted from each other with a gasp for air.

"That.... was....", Sterling panted while looking at the both of them. He then noted that he got Rarity's dress a bit dirty. "Oh, uh... sorry about the dirt," he awkwardly said to her with a sheepish smile.

"Oh, no worries, Sterling," Rarity spoke to him with her hand waving at him. "I take it that you were able to hear us out?" she then asked him with her smile not leaving her face as her eyes kept looking at his.

"Mm-hmm," he nodded to her.

"And there is something else for us to say," Fluttershy added on. Before Sterling could ask what she was about to say, both Fluttershy and Rarity looked into each other's eyes and began to kiss each other full on the lips. This kiss caused both of the women to blush just slightly before they each closed their eyes after their lips parted.

"My friend and I had discovered, during your time in that hospital bed, that we're both willing to love each other just as much as we found out we could love you, my dear," Rarity explained to the man who had felt his face getting hot after seeing them kiss.

"So you both want to be my girlfriends, then?" Sterling concluded, still bewildered from seeing how affectionate they were with him and each other. "N-not that I don't think it's.... bad, but--" Sterling tried to speak before he felt two pairs of lips smooching on his face cheeks. By the time that the lips left his face, both of the women then smiled at him with a warm smile that he never saw from two women that both desired his affection. "Okay. Let's see what we can do as a three-people couple," he then spoke up, reading off a gasp from them.

"...yay..." Fluttershy cheered in a whisper as she wrapped her arms around her chest.

"Marvelous," Rarity spoke up with her hands on her chest, touching where her heart was.


.....


The food was, after about another half hour, either fully eaten or was wrapped up to go. Sterling had decided to pay for the food, despite the fact that it was Rarity and Fluttershy who wanted to treat him with some good food. Sterling was not going to hear any of their protests, calmly saying that it was only right for him to pay for the food. Especially with how he now had not one but two girlfriends.

When he had asked Fluttershy why she wanted to be his girlfriend, she stated that he was just a very kind and understanding soul. One that had shown his desire to protect both her, her friends, the town, and her animal friends as well. When he asked Rarity if his going out with her was because of his gift of wine to her from the days before, she only laughed heartily, saying that his token to her was only that. But his gift was able to tell her that his generosity was almost better than hers.

And as they walked off from the cafe to the boutique, Sterling had asked Rarity if it was alright if he could take Fluttershy out on his first date first. He quickly explained that he believed that, given her caring nature, the veterinarian just deserved nothing but the absolute best from him. Even more than what he had as he was growing up. Rarity was a little disappointed about not being asked first, but she understood that her best friend, Fluttershy, was his first kiss. Thus, giving her the right to date him first.

And when Fluttershy had asked him to pick her up at 7:00 at her house on the next day, he kissed her full on the lips. His smooches were now even better than before as his lips pressed passionately on hers. This received a sigh from her, silently speaking of how much she enjoyed it as her arms wrapped around him.

After a few moments, Sterling then turned to Rarity and kissed her just as sweetly. Rarity had given a shudder from his touch, eager to let him know that he was just spectacular with his action to her. After kissing his other girlfriend, Sterling then parted from them with a fond farewell. And after saying their goodbyes, Sterling had walked off from the entrance of the boutique towards his home.


.....


As he opened the door of his home, he was greeted by the familiar trio of spirits that he soon greeted.

"I suppose you were worried about me?" he asked them with an eyebrow raised up.

Not entirely, Master Caliber, the King answered. We already knew that you were in that hospital during those days. But we knew that you'd heal up in no time.

I, however, must speak my congratulations to you, the Queen spoke up with a smile.

"Yeah.... I guess being able to stop a few Timberwolves and an evil spirit will allow some commendation," Sterling nodded.

Oh, I was merely speaking about you finding love, my dear friend, the Queen giggled.

And with two beautiful women, no less, the Prince commented with a chuckle.

"Oh.... that, too," Sterling blushed sheepishly. "I need to take a nap. And hopefully... I can dream a good dream about those babes," he then smiled as his feet were guided to the bedroom. After taking off his clothes to place them on the floor, he placed his entire body on the bed and had allowed the desire to sleep to overcome him.

Chapter 5: The Truth Revealed, Part 2

Chapter 5

The Truth Revealed, Part 2

*****


A whole week had come and gone since both Rarity and Fluttershy had confessed their true feelings to Sterling. And after a few dates with them both, as well as a few solo dates with them, the same man had given his all to make them feel happy around him. And not because of his looks (to which he still could not believe was any factor at all), nor because of some hype that a newspaper would want to publish. But it was not because of his riches, either.

Both of the former Element Bearers of Generosity and Kindness wanted to go out with him because of his fierce dedication to protecting their shared hometown. But not only that, but the same guy was also good with the children, was able to help any vendors in the town who needed help, and was also just a man who wanted to show his better side to them.

When it came to their dates, Sterling was able to figure out how to please the both of them. Whether it was with the two ladies at once, or just one of them with him. But either way, there was no way that either Fluttershy, nor Rarity, would go without knowing that he was a real gentleman to them.

.....

"Oh, goodness!  Do you remember when he took us out to that play in Canterlot?" Rarity almost sang out in a joyous tone to Fluttershy as they were trying out the new dresses for an important client. Rarity had been tinkering around with the creation that she was hoping would turn out great.

"Oh, yes! That play was just so nice to watch," Fluttershy nodded to her friend as a piece of the clothing was being stitched onto the left strap. "But I also remember how the three of us went to that expensive restaurant right after we watched that play," she remembered while the left sleeve was being looked at from Rarity, who was using her magic to float them around.

"And yet I wonder how it is that our boyfriend was able to afford such a wonderful gift for us both," the seamstress muttered while seeing the results. "Mmm.... no. Too much ruffles. So! I simply must tell you- Oh, do be a dear and take a look at the cloth, please, dear?" Rarity asked her friend who was modeling for her.

"Hmm? Oh! O-okay," Fluttershy nodded. After undressing herself to only her light pink undergarments in the larger dressing room, much to her unneeded embarrassment. She then saw the same material that was meant to go to the left shoulder strap. "Goodness..." she shook her head.

"Yes? Is there something wrong, dear?" Rarity asked her.

"You were right, Rarity. This ruffled shoulder cloth just won't do," Fluttershy giggled. "The time period for a bunch of ruffles is way back in the second era, where it belongs," she added to the notes for her friend.

"It's just as I feared then: I'll have to just keep the inch wide shoulder strap untouched, then," Rarity conceded as the excess material had been thrown back into a drawer that was marked 'Unneeded Materials'. "So! Before he allowed us the chance to see that play, where was the place that he took you to on your date with him?" Rarity asked her friend, who was now dressed back into a light sundress.

"Oh, um.... He took me out to a nice restaurant after he helped me with fixing the chicken coops and the birdhouses," Fluttershy answered her with a slight blush on her face. "But, uh.... he then.... eep!" she squeaked as a rather naughty thought had passed through her. "No, Fluttershy! No thinking about his-- Eep!" she squeaked again, blushing wildly.

"Goodness, darling, are you alright?" Rarity asked, concerned about her friend's well being.

With a deep breath, Fluttershy then spoke up what she was wanting to say to her.

"Yesterday, Sterling had treated me like a real woman after.... we got to my bed! EEEP!!" Fluttershy squealed out her confession before adding: "And I loved how great he was with me during the whole time..." Rarity was able to hear the words that Fluttershy was too scared to repeat again. And after hearing the confession, Rarity soon had hear turn to blush just as profusely.

"Wh... was he.... Wa-haa-HAA!" the seamstress yelled out with a gasp. Her smile, though slowly, had turned into the 'high gossip' mode that she was well known for. "Details! Details, Fluttershy! Otherwise you, my love, are not a lady!" she nearly growled to her, wanting to know how good he apparently was.

"Okay, okay...." Fluttershy relented, knowing that her girlfriend was nothing if not persistent. "You see, um..."

"Yes?" Rarity pressed her to speak up.

"His thing is at ten and a half inches tall, we went for four rounds with two for each of us, including the buildup and foreplay, and I am still sore from the pleasure that we had two days ago yesterday," Fluttershy whispered to her after cupping her hands around the ear.

This time.... Rarity was stunned to the point of being speechless. Indeed, her best friend not being able to say such things was more than expected. But this time, her best friend and love-mate was a lot braver and more assertive with him than she ever was since... ever. But instead of being angry, like in most normal situations between two best friends, Rarity had become very happy. And the only way for her to show her heightened mood was to walk up slowly to her. Before Fluttershy could ask what she was doing, Rarity had then given her a passionate, lingering kiss on her lips.

Fluttershy, even though she was surprised at first, was now even happier than ever before. The kiss from her best friend had elated her mood to go into a form of overdrive. Soon after the kiss was broken, Fluttershy had then walked Rarity over to the red couch and pulled her down with her. Soon after, the both of them were deepening their passion for each other as their kisses got even deeper.

"Does this mean....?" Rarity tried to ask her, after gasping for some air to breath.

"Yes, Rarity...." Fluttershy sighed lovingly to her. "I love you just as much as I do for him..."

The kisses had then gone into the sensual groping of each other's breasts, followed by a few giggles and moans that seemed to push them even further and further into their throes. Fluttershy had then unbuttoned the white blouse of her gorgeous love-mate and began to peck and smooch on the big chest mounds that Rarity had kept in a purple bra after laying Rarity on her back.

"Um... may I...?" Fluttershy began to ask her, licking her lips in anticipation. Rarity knew what it was that she wanted within a second of hearing that whispered suggestion. Rarity then undid her bra with a snap and revealed her breasts to her. After removing the bra and placing it under the couch, Rarity then squeezed her mounds in front of Fluttershy. The same woman who was usually very timid about such things had then taken her tongue and licked around the tip of her nipple, granting a long moan that spoke of her approval. Fluttershy could only go a little further by sucking on the nipple that her mouth was on while using her free hand to squeeze the unattended breast in an altering motion that left Rarity shuddering and moaning.

"Oh, darling... you're just too good at this..." Rarity cooed to her, feeling the pleasure coursing through her body. But as soon as she felt that she had enough, she immediately got up from her back and began to kiss her friend very passionately. "But I certainly must do the same for you..." she panted as she kissed her intensely while giving a gentle squeeze on her larger mounds.

"I agree, love.", a familiar, manly voice spoke up from a few feet away from them. They turned their heads around to see Sterling staring at them with a genuine smile that could only come from his heart. "However, I think that we should still give her a good time, Fluttershy," he said to them as he walked over to them. As soon as he got to them, Rarity had then kissed him with a deep kiss that he returned with his own to her.

"Oh, uh.... well, um... do you think that you could... um... massage Rarity while she takes her taste of me?" Fluttershy then suggested to him. Such a raw, carnal idea had then sent his loins into a feeling of fire. But as he felt it, the same fire then wrapped around his heart. He was still in love with his girlfriends. And with no objections coming from neither him nor them, he nodded. He looked to Rarity and kissed her again.

"I'll be gentle with you, babe. I love you..." he whispered to her, much to her approval, as he gently wrapped his arms around her midriff as his hands had cupped the same breasts that Fluttershy had shown her affections on. The same woman that he held had then undone the top half of her friends sundress and saw that she was not wearing a bra at all. This scene widened both Sterling and Rarity at the same time. "So beautiful...." he mumbled again, noting how Rarity spoke the same thing.

"Thank you, darlings... all of you! Mmm!" Rarity purred as she proceeded to lick the same breasts that Fluttershy wanted her to lick and flick on while Sterling had held onto her in the most tender way that a man was able to when he held a woman. His massive arms had become a security blanket for both of the ladies, he observed. And after altering her hands and mouth, Rarity had taken another nipple into her mouth and began to almost loudly suck on them. She loved the actions that were made to her before. And she would not be allowed to not pay her back in kind.

"Aah! Sterling! Please... do me as well," Fluttershy breathed out, nearly yanking his his head off as she pulled him close to her. But he paid the slight pain no mind. And then, he proceeded to do the same, mirroring Rarity's movements. And after a few moments of just sucking on the nipples, Sterling then pulled Fluttershy up from her back and sat back to where he could see Fluttershy to his immediate left.

A lustful idea had then passed through his mind. With a few moments to spare, he then cupped Rarity's breasts again while kissing her deeply.

"Hey.... how about letting Fluttershy watch us as we consummate our next step in this relationship?" Sterling whispered into Rarity's ear. But as soon as she was about to agree--

"STERLING!!!" a voice, terrified for some reason, had shouted out loudly, interrupting the would've-been step. This fear-induced scream had made them all jump. And with a rather quick recovery, Sterling had then stepped off of the couch and opened the door with a wave of his hand. Within a second, Applejack had come into the boutique and slammed the door behind her. The look on her face was a traumatized one. "HELP ME!!!" she screamed in fear, running up to him in a deep hug that almost broke his back as he felt his bones popping and snapping.

"Ap... Applejack! My-my back!" he wheezed from feeling the air escape him.

"Oops, sorry pardner," Applejack gasped before releasing him from her grasp. "Sterling! Mah family has been kidnapped! Some varmint has broken into tha home and just snatched both Granny Smith, Big Mac & Apple Bloom!" the farm girl cried to him. "Please, Sterling! Help them!" she almost begged him while on her knees.

"Now hold on, A.J.!" Sterling stopped her before she could have a breathing problem. "Take a deep breath, and focus for me," he calmly began to tell her. "Now: Tell me how your family was snatched up---!" he then gasped. A sudden thought, turning into a hunch that he had started to hope was wrong, entered into his brain. "How tall was this criminal?" he began to ask.

"Ah'd say about seven to eight feet tall," Applejack answered him with her eyebrow going up, suspicious at his sudden behavior change.

"Did he display a gray colored mohawk with sideburns on his whole head?" he pressed on.

"Yep!" AJ answered him.

"Looks like a hybrid between a gorilla and a dragon?"

"Yep!"

"Had a weapon that looks like an ugly sword?"

"Yep!"

"And did he ask for me while he wore a bloody skull with an upside-down star on his left shoulder?!"

"YEAH!"

Sterling was now done with his interrogation.

"No..... no..... not...." he mumbled before opening the door with his magic. Before he could even think to stop, his anger had taken over his sense of reasoning. This new foe against his town and friends was an old one:

"LEVIATHAN!!!!" Sterling shouted out from the top of his lungs, his voice rivaling the Royal Canterlot Voice in many ways.


.....


Meanwhile:

"Y'all let us go this instant, ya nasty meanie!!" Apple Bloom shouted out, hoping to coax the enemy to let them go. This order, instead of being replied to, was denied as the little girl was swiftly slapped with a force that would have killed her. But the ugly looking villain was not going to kill her... not yet.

"I shall do no such thing, you impudent, inbred piece of scum!" Leviathan smirked to them evilly. "Your fear is what makes me all the more powerful! And I shall harvest your bad feelings until you are all dead. And soon, you and the rest of your family will be reunited in the heavens! If I don't take your souls first!" he laughed loudly in that trademark laugh that made him known as a real villain.

"Not while Ah can kick you into a new Timberwolf den!" Big Mac threatened him. Leviathan had then taken his sword and sliced his sword to make a big scratch on his face. And as the farmer man bled out from his forehead and cheeks, the hybrid villain had begun to grunt.

"Where is the man that I really want to kill before I do in the hicks?!" he shouted out to the heavens.

"LEVIATHAN!!!!", a voice shouted out from a few kilos behind him. Leviathan then looked to the area where he heard the voice. But as he looked to where the war cry came from, he was surprised by a massive force punching him in the gut, throwing him into a larger distance. This knocked out the hybrid for a while before he could wake up.

Sterling then looked where the family was tied up and summoned a blade spell that cut the ropes that bound their hands.

"Oh, shit! Big Mac! Can you hear me?!" he almost cried to the man who was bleeding like a river. "Ah, shit! Hold on!" he commanded to him. Big Mac nodded to him, not knowing what he was about to do. A wave of his hand later, a red aura had enveloped Sterling's hand and began to close up the shallow wounds from the other man's face. When the man was satisfied with his ability to heal him, he then stood the taller one and said:

"I need you to take your family out of the town and help the citizens escape from this place! Swiftly, now!"

"But Ah can help ya!" Big Mac protested.

"If you don't leave this instant with your family, then I'll have to bury three more people!" Sterling shouted to him. But before Big Mac could persist, a deep growl was heard from a distance. "GO!!!" he shouted, prompting the other Apple family members to pick up their feet. "Evacuate the town immediately!!"

Within a few seconds, the same hostages had left the field and went into the town. Sterling then looked to the place where Leviathan was standing on his dragon feet. Another evil laugh had come from the hybrid's throat, boiling the man's blood.

"Still the same weakling that wants to save the world from all that is supposed to be natural in this world!" Leviathan chuckled.

"It is not weak to value the lives of those with no power to stop you!" Sterling snapped back, silencing his opponent for a moment.

"And all of those efforts will be in vain after I destroy your new town, just like I did to your parents back in the day!" the foe had declared to him with a widening smile. This declaration, as he would soon learn, was a bad idea to speak about. As his sword then clashed with his opponents weapon, the sounds had echoed throughout the whole world around them.

It was then that Sterling had felt his rage rising to the point where even a Berserker from the Norse countries would say 'Aw, Ragnarok no!!' if they saw it. His eyes had then become silver all over as his scars were then glowing a penetrating light as his hair was then being lifted up from an unknown breeze.

"Yes, Colonel Caliber: I am the one  that you've been looking for in order for you to avenge your parents! And oddly enough, your mother would have been able to give you a little brother or sister if she was still alive!" Leviathan laughed as he felt the rage within his opponent rising. "And now-- AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHH!!!!" he then shrieked out as a blade had somehow penetrated his otherwise impenetrable armor before he could finish his job. But it was not the end for Sterling's desire for blood.

The same military man had then taken the sword from the chest and swung the blade to lob off Leviathan's head. But after seeing the head roll off to the ground, he then proceeded to summon a war hammer and smashed the head until the cranium was mashed into pieces. And after that was done, the same hammer transformed into an ax, and he began to chop off the limbs in an extremely gory way to smash them into oblivion. But as he did this, he felt the tears running down his face. And when there was no body part that could be identified, his rage had been significantly reduced to that of guilt and fear.

And as he walked away from his mess, the same powers within him had begun to vanish from him. And even then, as his vision began to darken, he knew that this would not bring back his parents.

"I am so sorry, Mom and Dad.... I am truly sorry!" he breathed as he felt the final level of post-adrenaline rushes hit him in the back of his head. After a second of saying that apology, his whole body had begun to shut down immediately. His only thoughts were on how the whole town was now saved. But at such a great price....


.....


Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow had then seen the scene at the battlefield where Sterling had fainted after helping the citizens get to the underground shelter.

"STERLING!!!" Fluttershy and Rarity shouted out in fear.

But there was no word from him.

"Let's get him to his home, girls," Twilight said to them, using a spell to levitate him from the ground.

"And hurry!" Fluttershy cried out.


.....


.....


"Lothokriin, vhaszadarrou Equis... sahnahvv-adarraagt.", he whispered to no one in particular.


.....


Within what felt like only a few minutes to him, though in reality was more than five hours, Sterling had woken up to find himself in his bedroom. His eyes had slowly fluttered to allow the light of the still ongoing day to let him know about Ponyville's welfare. And it was good of him to know that no civilian was harmed. But it was his dignity as a soldier that was wounded after remembering how he killed his long-time rival and villain.

As he slowly rose from his slumber, he had seen how the sun was certainly lower than before. It was no doubt that it was Princess Celestia who was still looking over all of her subjects. His mood was then soured, knowing that she would more than likely throw him into the lowest dungeon after hearing about his needed actions in order to save his hometown. But he still resolved, in his mind, to face the punishment that was more than likely to come his way. After taking a moment to assess his bodily health, he felt that he was able to walk.

And after rising from his bed to get to his feet, he then walked to his bathroom door. The same guilt of not saving his parents had come back to bite him in the ass. But he would not allow it to be heard until he was able to let it all out to the ones that he still considered to be the ones that he loved. The shower head was able to create the hot water that he wanted to drown himself in as he decided to take a long bath instead of a shower.

And as he was able to take in his cleaning with some soap, while applying the same agent on his hair, he was debating to himself why it was that his opponent needed to die. First: He was the same villain that murdered his parents when he was just an eight year old boy. Second: His campaign against the world outside of Equestria was one that needed to be stopped in order to save the lives of the many billions that made the countries' populace. And finally: he would not allow those who would conspire against his monarchs to go through their plans.

When the water was feeling lukewarm, he then stepped out of the tub and started to dry himself off. And every inch of his muscular body had been wiped of the water that made him look all wrinkly. And after a successful drying process, he proceeded to comb his long hair. As he looked at his face, now dried, he saw that he was growing a beard. Within a moment, he pulled out a can of shaving cream and his razor. And after a few minutes, he shaved off the beard on his face so that he could look better than before. And after taking a final look over, he then looked to the body mirror to examine himself.

What he had seen was a sight that he never saw before: All of his scars, stitch marks, bites, deep wound stories? Gone. Even the ones that were on his face. Somehow, as Sterling began to speculate, his magic had begun to work in a way that responded to his self-abusive nature; he always hated how his scars and wounds were a part of his undesired history with war. But even though he was now a little happier with how much younger he looked now, his smile faded from his view.

Sterling had to face his punishment. And as far as he knew, killing a man was a serious crime in his country. One that is punishable by death.

"Aw, to Tartarus with it all! I will face the consequences of my actions, come death or imprisonment for life!" Sterling shouted to himself with a nod. And as his left fist rose up, he then shouted: "Lothokriin, vhaszadarrou Equis... Sahnahvv-adarraagcht!"And after having said that, he stepped out of the bathroom and found himself back in the bedroom.

In just a few minutes, he had found another undershirt and he put it on before putting on his boxers and socks. Sterling then put on a pair of blue denim pants and an opened, short-sleeved, button-up gray shirt to go with his pair of runner shoes. But before he stepped out of the room as he opened the door, he contemplated the idea of bringing his card pack. He shrugged it off, knowing that he would not need it.

As Sterling headed downstairs, he heard the hushed voices of more than three people in the room. From what he could figure out, it was a whole group of women. Three of them, as he heard, were unfamiliar to him. And yet, he was able to figure it out: Royalty. Specifically, it was Celestia, Luna and another Princess named Cadance who were in the room. But along with that, there was also a few other voices that he recognized: The girls. And two of them were especially worried for him.

"I'm worried about what you'll do with him, your Highness.", Rarity spoke up.

"Please, Princess Celestia! Show him mercy, I beg of you!", Fluttershy cried in a plead to the unseen Princess. It was then that he nodded to himself, thinking that it was best to confess every last sin to his rulers.

"I am certain that if he tells us all about why he saved your town in the way that I did, then maybe he'll have to take a lesser sentence.", Celestia then spoke to them in her warm, motherly tone that had the signs of seriousness in it.

"And I will take whatever punishment you wish to give to me," Sterling then declared after seeing himself to look into Princess Celestia's purple eyes. He then knelt in front of both her, Luna, Cadance & Twilight Sparkle. "If I am to die or be imprisoned for life for the crimes and sins that I have committed in the past, then so be it. Lothokriin, vhaszadarrou Equis... sahnahvv-adarraagt.", he then spoke to them his pledge in the Old Equestrian military pledge as his head was nodded down to look at the floor.

Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had gasped at his pledge.

"How....? Who....?" Luna trailed off.

"Colonel Caliber," Celestia then began to command him to speak. "What happened on the 4th day of Aurora's Smile, in the 990th year of the Second Era? Tell me now," she ordered him.

With his head looking directly to her, Sterling answered her sternly:

"That was the day when Nightmare Moon had become a sniveling, whining, spoiled toddler who wanted to play with a toy, compared to the real war that was happening outside of the land of Equestria!"

"And what would your opponent say, if he was alive?" Luna then asked him, still aghast by his long answer.

"'It was the day that our goals were in our sights, and yet were set back by an unfaithful group of heretics!'", he repeated to her in a near mocking tone against those who had made that pledge.

"'For only the truest of the most loyal elites will defend the world of Equis from all that seek to destroy it!'" Celestia had translated for all of the girls that surrounded the man.

"'From here until beyond our deaths, and with a never ending courage!'", Sterling nodded to the Princess as he pounded his chest to emphasize his pledge.

"Wait! Wait! Wait a minute here, Sterling!" Twilight impatiently demanded to say. "If what I've read is correct, only the most fiercely loyal of soldiers and warriors could be given that pledge if..." she trailed off before gasping out loud, "If you've been pledged to join the Royal Elites!"

"The what now?" four of the other five girls had asked while Rainbow gasped out, "No way..."

"Yes, Twilight: Colonel Sterling Caliber, at the age of ten, was pledged to become a part of the Royal Elites for his abilities as both a Card-Summoner and as a fierce soldier in the Royal Equestrian Marine Corps before he could become an official soldier at the right age," Celestia nodded to her former apprentice. "And the same contingent of fighters were made to fight the same enemies of Equestria, thousands of years ago, long before even Luna and I were even born. And the Brutes were the greatest enemies of the Royal Elites. For they believed that taking over all of Equestria was their birthright. But the Royal Elites would not allow them to do such a thing, and so began a war that lasted for many eons until today," Celestia then explained to her subjects. Sterling knew that the Princesses knew about his unit's existence, but it felt (to him) refreshing for him to listen to his charge speaking about his history.

"And the reason for this secrecy, as far as we both know, was because of the same fights that had been taken place all over Equestria, and beyond," Princess Luna then added to the lecture. "For even my sister and I were not able to know that this young and handsome man was a part of the Royal Elites," she pointed to him with a quick wink. This gesture greatly confused him. Did she just say--?

"Sterling?" Fluttershy spoke up to the man. He raised an eyebrow at the royal ones and they gave him a confirming nod. He then turned around to look at the same woman that wanted his attention. But it was just after locking his eyes with hers that both Fluttershy and Rarity had punched him directly in his face. But even though he felt a small pain from the punches, his head had been blown back. This caused the others to jump into action to hold the two assailants back from hurting him further.

"HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL US ABOUT YOUR LIFE BACK THEN, YOU DUMB-ASS?!?!" Rarity screamed out from the top of her lungs in anger while fighting back her tears.

"HOW COULD YOU LIE TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU DID?!?!" Fluttershy screamed to him as well in the same anger that she felt.

Shamefully, Sterling hung his head as he looked away from them while he felt the tears streaming down his face. The physical pain was only that of a sting, but the emotional pain was almost too much for him to handle. He then said to them:

"It was a burden that I needed to take upon my shoulders in order to protect you and my charges...."

"Uh... 'charges'?" Applejack asked Twilight, quite confused by his last word.

"He means all of us who are Princesses, A.J.," Twilight clarified for her friend.

"Oh! Well, that makes a difference," the farm girl sarcastically muttered.

"If this is the end of the relationship that we had.... Rarity... Fluttershy...", he spoke to them with his tears dripping on the floor. "Then I won't bother you anymore... and I will leave Ponyville immediately, on whatever honor I have left in me," Sterling pledged to his soon-to-be exes.

"W.... what?" Fluttershy whispered out loud, now finding the tears that she was trying to fight back dripping like a river. And Rarity was no longer able to fight back her own tears for him.

"S... Sterling?" Rarity whimpered, hearing his words.

"Now wait just a minute, Sterling, sugar!" Applejack piped up before walking over to him. Naturally, he was afraid of what she was going to do, as was indicated by his defensive mechanism. But instead of hurting him, Applejack placed his arms around him. Sterling shivered at her touch before realizing that Applejack was only trying to hug him. He could only grasp one of her arms with his hands. "I saw that look on yer face... the one that showed how deeply sorry ya are for deceiving us all. Especially with your two girlfriends. And now y'all are sayin' that you'll leave if they want you to? Now that there is true love if ever Ah saw it, sugar!" Applejack defended him. "And Ah'm with ya, every step of the way!" she then said to him with a kiss on his cheek. This had then made the man blush just a little bit before he could compose himself again.

"To clarify..." Sterling harrumphed after composing himself to the others. "Applejack.... Crush on me?" he asked her with his eyebrow raised up. The same woman, who had just defended his honor now, had nodded to him to confirm his suspicions. "Walk over to Rarity and Fluttershy there to speak to them later about this," he said to her with his finger pointing at the other women. "Princess Luna?" he spoke to the night Princess. "Did you really just say that I look handsome some moments ago?" he asked her as his eyes widened with the memory.

"Indeed, my young soldier," Luna smiled at him. "And even my older sister can agree with me, right Celestia?" she asked her sister, who smiled back at him with a nod. "And even our niece thinks the same," she pointed to the other Princess who smiled wryly at him. Now, that.... that....

Sighing, he was about to be defeated. He knew that even though it wasn't what he wanted to hear, at least the punishment that awaited him would seem trivial compared to getting these compliments from his charges.

"And you too, Twilight?" he then asked him for the last time.

"I guess I was just.... scared to tell you, given that Rarity and Fluttershy wanted to go out with you..." Twilight sighed. Sterling could only nod to her when he gave the final inquiry:

"Do I even need to ask?"

Within a few minutes, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie all confirmed his fear.

"But.... why? W....why me? Out of all the men in the world.... why--?" he was about to ask them before he felt Fluttershy place her fingers on his lips, shushing him softly.

"While you were sleeping, Sterling," Rarity began to speak to him, "Fluttershy and I had decided that we would not allow you to break out of our relationship with you. And now that you've told us your secrets, we can only love you even more...." Rarity purred to him as she wrapped her arms around him.

"And we would never abandon you. Not even if you told us to go away, Sterling...", Fluttershy spoke to him as she also did the same action as her love-mate.

"Princesses?" Sterling then called out to the royalty in the room.

"Yes, Colonel?" Celestia replied.

"What is the punishment that you would inflict upon me? For I must pay for what I've done both today, and in--" he was about to ask before he was silenced by her hand. It was then that before he could even speak, Celestia had pulled him into a deep hug. And this time, she was demanding that he hug her back in her silence. And he did so.

After ten minutes of hugging the Princess, Luna then did the same for him. When they were done, they explained:

"We both had to give you this hug, knowing that you have been through what no young man should ever have to witness at all," Celestia somberly spoke to him. "And we both wanted thee to know that thine actions have saved all of Equis, and for that, we thank you for giving your life to us," Luna added.

And after another moment, the Royal Sisters had both planted a kiss on his cheeks. If Sterling's memory was sharp, fie on Tirek if it wasn't, he remembered that a kiss from the Royal Sisters was the ultimate 'thank-you' gesture that only the most dedicated of soldiers was able to receive in his or her lifetime. But instead of questioning it, he sighed a breathy sigh that spoke of his elevated mood.

"And with that, we must leave to go back to Canterlot," Luna spoke to him. "But: Should thou so desire to see us, then please don't hesitate to contact any of us, dear Sterling," she added to the farewell.

"Anytime, anywhere; whether up close or by scroll is your choice," Celestia added on. And from there, both the Royal Sisters, Princess Cadance (who also gave him a kiss on his cheek) and Princess Twilight (who repeated what the other royals did for him) had left the house from the front entrance.

Upon viewing the royalty ascending for their flight towards Canterlot, Sterling could only shake his head in disbelief.

"The Ultimate Pardon? But... w-why?" Sterling muttered to himself as he stepped towards the right front porch railing.

"B'cause y'all is a war hero to Equestria, that's why!" Applejack spoke up, making Sterling turn his head for a moment.

The both of them cleared their throats, given the awkward situation that they placed themselves in.

"Hey, Sterling?" Applejack spoke up again.

"Yeah, A.J.?" he replied.

"Ah uh.... Ah know this is quite... well, soon. For me to say this to ya, but...." she began to speak. "After y'all saved my family from that there villain, Ah'm more than sure ta be able ta say this..." Applejack then lowered her hat to her chest and confessed: "Ah've fallen in love with ya, Sterling. Ah know that ya got Rarity and Fluttershy to love ya, but...." she trailed off before continuing, "Ah believe that y'all could allow me into ya love life, if y'all wanted me. But if not, then Ah'll respect-- Mmmph?!"

She was then quickly interrupted by a lingering kiss that Sterling planted on her lips. Little did Applejack know, Sterling was told in silence by both Fluttershy and Rarity to kiss her.

"What.... was that all about?" she dreamily asked as her blush spread across her face.

"That was me saying to you: Come on in, A.J.", Sterling said to her.

"Ya... ya mean it, sugar cube?" she asked as her eyes widened in her surprise.

"We all do, Applejack darling," Rarity said to her from behind.

"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded.

"Well, shoot," Applejack chuckled. "Ah'm feelin' a lot better now, ya know."

"Eeyup," Sterling winked at her. This caused all three of the women in front of him to laugh happily at his poor attempt to imitate Applejack's brother. Sterling laughed as well. "Sorry, A.J. Just a bit of humor," he looked to the floorboards.

"Hey, that's alright, sugar. Ah don't mind at all," she said to him with a smile.

"Aw, man! I just remembered something!" Sterling then spoke up as a thought suddenly came back.

"What is it, sugar?" Applejack asked him.

"I'm afraid that if your going to be with me, then it means that you might have to-- Huh?!" he yelped before noticing that the farm girl had begun to kiss both Rarity and Fluttershy with a lingering smooch that even surprised them.

"What? Did y'all think I wouldn't be able to find some romance with ya?" Applejack teased him. "Besides: Ah always wanted to kiss them both, just to find out if Ah could get kissed back."

"And did we both satisfy you, Applejack darling?" Rarity asked her.

"That ya did, Rares. And you too, 'Shy," Applejack winked at them.

"Well.... I think that my former unit would be just jealous of the four of us being together like this," Sterling laughed slightly.

"Uh... J-jealous?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly.

"Yep. Because of how I never even dreamed of having three girlfriends in my life," Sterling answered her with a nod.

"But they did?" Rarity asked him straightly.

"Uh-huh," he chuckled. "And their metaphorical jealousy is just divine to taste!" he nearly shouted with a low growl. He then looked to them and asked: "Too much?"

"Just a little, hon," Applejack admitted. "Now! Let's pull out the whiskey and whatnot so that we can celebrate, y'all!" she then suggested to the group.

"I certainly must agree with you there, darling," Rarity agreed as Fluttershy only nodded. But as they had entered the home again, Rarity had then taken Applejack's face and kissed her lips again. "I must apologize, darling, but I just wanted to take another kiss before we all entered the kitchen," she stated to her.

"Aw, that's alright, Rarity. Ah love ya too," Applejack said to her as she stole another kiss from her friend and now love-mate.

"Cheeky," Rarity teased her.

"Darn straight, hon. And don't ya forget it," the farm girl giggled to her.

"Oh, I almost forgot again, but there's something else that I want to show you after we get the drinks out of the way," Sterling announced to the ladies in front of him.

"And what would that be, Sterling dear?" Rarity asked him, now curious about his sudden announcement.

Sterling then kissed both Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy full on the lips before answering them with:

"The source that I go to in order to get the gold-backs so that I can spoil you three."

All three of the women had then said 'Huh?' after hearing his vague message.


.....

*****

Chapter 6: The Dragon Vault

Chapter 6

The Dragon Vault

*****


The time was now 4:30 PM. Both Sterling Caliber, Applejack, Rarity & Fluttershy had all gone through at least two barrels of the hard cider that the farmer girl (now the third woman in Sterling's beginning harem) was known to make. And it was already a good time as any to drink.

Just five hours ago, he had eliminated the threat that would have destroyed his hometown if he didn't interfere with their plans. That opponent's name was Leviathan, a gorilla/dragon hybrid who was so bent on destroying all of Equestria with his power. And he was the same opponent who considered Sterling to be the perfect rival against every battle that they were involved in. But unlike the Brute, Sterling was given the 'Ultimate Pardon' from all four of the Princesses. One of them already back home.

Within the few hours that they were drinking themselves to a near stupor, Sterling had looked to his three girlfriends with a major blush going on on his face. He still couldn't believe that, given his obliviousness in the past, that there were now three hot women that wanted to show their affections to him.

With Fluttershy, he was able to finally let go of his walls and fall into the emotions that he held back for so long. And the same veterinarian would be there to help him heal his soul. With Rarity, he could very much spoil her with any expensive gift that he would give to her. Even if she would fake a protest about being given such expensive trinkets. And finally, with Applejack in the picture, he could be honest with his feelings and opinions. And Applejack was happy with that.

"So, um..." he called to the company around him. They turned to face him. "I think it was time for me to show you the secret as to how I will be able to afford this place for many generations to come," he announced to them. "But first: I need to ask you all about this one thing that you might have felt when I first got here," he spoke up to them. The women were now just curious about what he  was about to say to them.

"Is this about how ya spoiled both Fluttershy and Rarity rotten with that there fancy play and restaurant in Canterlot?" Applejack asked him with her eyebrow raised up.

"Indeed," he answered. "Now: How many of you felt a shaking in the earth on the day that I arrived here?" he asked them all.

"Well, shoot! Ah thought there was going to be an earthquake when I felt it, but Ah had seen that none of the property was damaged at all. The trees that Ah buckle down during the harvest season, however, had a lot of them apples fallin' down," Applejack answered him.

Sterling then he pointed to Rarity. "And you, love?"

"Well, if you must know: I was having myself a break from filling out an order for a customer, who wanted one of my custom made dresses made for their dinner date with a special someone on their mind. I had felt the same ground shake below my establishment. I feared for my dresses and materials. Oh, but Sweetie Belle was quite all right - as was Opalescence, my cat," Rarity then told him.

"And all of my animal friends were also running about when it happened. I didn't know it at first, but Harry the Bear was telling me, in his small roars, that is, that he was feeling something shake the earth beneath them," Fluttershy spoke up after remembering what happened in her point of view.

"Well, uh.... that was all my fault," he confessed to them with an embarrassed look as his lips frowned while he scratched his head.

"Oh, really? And how, pray tell, did ya do that?" Applejack proceeded to ask him in a nearly interrogative way. "Was it some spell that y'all needed to cast at the cost of some homes?"

"Rainbow! I am shocked at your words to him!" Rarity spoke up to her, defending Sterling with her hands up to stop her brash friend. "And I should very well like to know about how, and why, the Colonel made the earth below us shake," she then pointed out to her friends with the same curiosity.

"And with that, I would like to show all of you how and why it all happened to you," Sterling then spoke up. "But first: I must offer my sincerest apologies to all of you for that startling experience on all of you," he bowed his head to them.

"Oh, it's alright, Sterling," Fluttershy spoke to him in her soft voice.

"And all of Ponyville too, right?" Rarity asked him.

"And all of Ponyville, too," Sterling nodded to the ladies.

"Well... alright then! Care to show us, please?", Applejack then asked him after accepting his apology.

"I shall do so. Is everyone sober enough for the trip?" Sterling then asked them. A hiccup was heard from Fluttershy as he had looked at them. "Eh, close enough," he shrugged. As he got up from his seat, he locked his eyes on them and said to them: "Now, we won't have to travel across Equestria, nor to any of the countries outside of our own. In fact: all that we all have to do is to travel to the barrel that I've placed near the driveway, okay?" he announced to them.

"Um, forgive me for asking, but... did you just say 'travel to the barrel'?" Rarity shook her head.

"I did," Sterling stated proudly to her. "And if you will all have some patience with me, I will show you why the barrel is very important."

"I'm in! Because I'm guessing that you've got some sort of secret money stash in it, right?", the fashionista chipped up, curiously excited to find out what he was talking about.

"You're almost right there, my sweet," the man chuckled to her.

"Shall we then, my dear friends?" Rarity suggested to them.

"We shall," they all spoke up.

Within a few minutes, after placing the fuller glasses on the counter as the empty ones were washed and rinsed, they all slowly stepped towards their first intended stop: the barrel that was just a few feet from his garden.

"I should see about removing any weeds when I get to it tomorrow," Sterling mumbled as he saw the garden before he turned to the women behind him. "Now, Fluttershy," he pointed to the veterinarian behind him, "Do tell the class what you notice about this barrel," he smiled at her.

"Well, um..." Fluttershy began to observe, "It does look a lot like a wine barrel. More than one of the empty barrels of Applejack's hard cider or whiskey."

"Well, Ah wouldn't know about that, honestly," the farm girl interrupted before tipping her hat.

"And it does look quite old, but.... why place it here, near the garden?" Rarity further observed with Fluttershy.

"An astute question, Lady Rarity! Ten points to Griffin's Door!" Sterling pointed to her with a light chuckle with Rarity giggling at his reference. "And now: I shall cast a spell that will open the door to my secret," he then announced to them. "But! Before I do, I must swear all of you to secrecy so that none of you blabbers about it to any one. No one but the other Princesses and the other girls can know about this, okay?" he inquired to them in a solemn voice that he had to muster up.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" the ladies then vowed to him after seeing them place a hand on their eyes.

"Huh?" he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"That was our Pinkie Promise to you, silly," Fluttershy giggled to him.

"I am so going to make you three say a more sacred promise than that when we leave," Sterling mumbled out loud to them.

"What's more sacred than a Pinkie Promise?" Applejack asked him.

"You'll see it when we get there," he shook his head as his hand had glowed a light that then surrounded the barrel within a second. "And when we get there, you'll all understand my... unique position," he added to his merits. "Now.... Ah, right! The spell goes: 'From the highest of--' Nope!", he snapped before remembering his incantation. "That was the start of the vow! Ah! Got it!" Sterling quickly spoke up, remembering the enchantment that he needed to recite.

"Gee. Can't wait," Applejack sarcastically shrugged as her shoulder was punched by Fluttershy. "OW! Flutters!"

"Let's see what he does now," she told her.

Within a few seconds, the same silvery aura had enveloped the barrel. Then, Sterling said:

"Hey! Magic Door of the Vault! Give us a ride down, will ya?!"

Within a few seconds, before the girls could give a titter or laugh at his words, the barrel had then redirected the magic to an empty spot near the garage unit. As it did, an elevator had come into view with a poof of his magic. This was just a small bit of magic on his part, but in their point of view, they were all in awe of what had just happened.

"Neat, huh?" he chuckled to them. "Let's all go in, then," he then told them. One by one, the girls took his suggestion and had entered the elevator. And as he saw the buttons that could lead him to any sub-level floor, indicated by the letter 'B' next to the number, he pressed the most obvious floor button that he wanted to take them to first. "Sub-level 17, it is," he mumbled out to them. "Now, as the last instruction that I must give you," he told them as the door closed slowly in front of them.

"Hold onto something."

Within a second, Sterling had placed his back on the corner while gripping the closest hand rail. And then.... the descent began. The gravity pull had then enveloped all of the occupants. Applejack, most obviously, had held on tightly as the pull from the gravity was about to squish her down. In a few minutes, the drop had begun to slow down as the pull had begun to loosen on all of them. And as the elevator had finally stopped at its destination, the women had become quite relieved.

"WHO-WEE!! Now that was more fun than bein' on a mechanical bull before gettin' sloshed at midnight!" Applejack cheered after somehow getting her nerve back from the thrill of being taken to the lowest floor beneath the ground.

"I swear... I am never going to understand you, Applejack," he chuckled to her.

"Meh, you get used to it," she waved her hand dismissively.

The door had then begun to open up with a slow speed at first. And when it opened all the way in a faster speed, a golden light had enveloped the surrounding that they were all in. The light had been adjusted to their eyes and they soon saw a sight that took away the ladies breaths.

"Hoo-wee!/Oh, wow!/Oh, my goodness!" they exclaimed as the saw the sight of massive mountain ranges of gold and silver coins, gold and silver bars, jewels and gemstones, and other treasures all around them. But as they all saw the wealth pile, Sterling had only chuckled slightly at their displays.

"Now that there is a lot of dough, if ya ask me," Applejack nodded.

"A lot of dough?! Applejack! This... is a Dragon's Vault! How in all of Equestria did you get this much wealth, my love?" Rarity shouted out to him with her mouth gaping.

"It was a small gift that was sent to me from the Dragon King and Queen themselves," he nodded to them all in a strangely calm voice.

"The.... THE DRAGON KING AND QUEEN?!" Rarity shouted out with a raise of her voice.

"Now calm down, my loves. I already told you that this was only a small token from the royal Dragons," Sterling chided them. "And this whole entire vault, as we so happen to be on one of the floors of, was given to me as a means of having the highest security known to all of Equis. And speaking of that, I have to have all of you make a sacred promise that is to be repeated solemnly," he eyed them both.

"Alright... I'll make the promise," Fluttershy softly spoke to him.

"As will I, my love," Rarity then told him as she kissed his cheek.

"Good. Now everyone," he began to instruct them. "Repeat after me with your left hand clenched up to the air: 'From the highest of all eyes upon me, I solemnly vow to the heavens that I will keep the knowledge, location and contents of this sacred royal vault from any and all eyes that seek to take what does not belong to them! So help me, sweet lady Faust!'"

The girls had then been given a magical band that wrapped around their wrists in both a super hot and super cold burn that didn't leave a mark on them, but connected them to the power of the vault.

"Seems that the vault was able to trust you as much as I trust you both with the vow that I gave you," Sterling told them with a small smile.

"But... did it have to hurt us like that?" Fluttershy asked him as she winced slightly from the pain before it left.

"Safety precaution: If any of you happen to be kidnapped, the spell will make you forget about how you know about it. And there will be an immense pain in your brains to remind you how much you need to defend the vault with your lives, just as I went through it. And when you are sworn to defend the location of the King and Queen's personal vault, the pain is even worse than what all of you went through right now," Sterling told them.

"Did it really hurt that much, dear?" Fluttershy softly asked him.

"Imagine getting your tooth drilled with no anesthetic, as well as getting dipped into some lava, but intensified by tenfold," he nodded to them. The thought had made them all shudder.

"And are you likely to die if we had asked you where that vault is?" Rarity asked him hypothetically.

"Not so much death, because that would be more merciful than the torture that I'd go through if I even revealed where it is," Sterling replied to her in a deadpan voice.


.....


Minutes later, Sterling and the girls had come up from the vault (with the trip back up being worse than going down, apparently) to see the living room in their sights. And all but Sterling had decided to take the big couch. Exhausted, they sighed as they felt how comfortable the couch was. The man could only chuckle at them all. But before long, he also felt his exhaustion coming up.

"I take it that you all don't want to go back to the vault from now on?" he asked them before taking both Rarity and Fluttershy from the couch.

"No, darling.... please don't pull us from here," Rarity mumbled to him groggily. Fluttershy could only hum as she was pulled out with her friend.

"Oh, so you don't want to see my bedroom, then?" he chuckled teasingly at her. This caused the eyes to widen out for a little moment before she looked to the floor. "The bed that I have is more comfortable than that couch, I promise," he whispered to the ladies that held onto him.

"Carry me, darling...." Rarity conceded as she wrapped her arms tightly around his left arm while Fluttershy did the same to his right arm. He then summoned whatever strength he could muster and hoisted both of the women to wrap his body from the floor below them.

"Have fun, y'all," Applejack then said to them.

"We will, A.J.", Sterling replied.

Within a few minutes, the door to his room had opened for him with his magic. The ladies that he carried to his room had then seen the bed and slowly descended from him. As Rarity took the middle of the bed, Fluttershy took the leftt side as Sterling took the right side. And as the covered mattress had touched their backs, the desire to sleep overtook their ability to speak.

.....


Within another few hours, Sterling had felt a slight movement from the mattress that he was laying on the right side of. Without a doubt, it was Rarity who was cuddling up to him. He knew that much before feeling the slight headache from his drinking coming over him. And he also heard a small groan that he knew was the same pain that Rarity was feeling as well.

“R...Rarity?” he mumbled out to her as he was able to grasp her into his arms. Gently, of course.

“Mmmm.... that you, Sterling darling?” she mumbled as well while feeling his embrace. She wraps her arms around him as well.

“You feeling a bit hurt?” he asked her.

"Just a tad, but I'll get over it," she whispered her answer to him.

"Mmmmm.... emotionally and physically?" he then asked, still panged with a bit of guilt in him.

"Yes... but I still love you, darling," Rarity reassured him as she heard the guilt in his voice.

"I love you too, babe...." he trailed off as he felt a tear fall from his face.

But instead of voicing her concern, Rarity had begun to peck her lips at where the tear was. And as she did this, she was able to see his face in a closer matter; he looked as if he had done something that made her heart break. Indeed, his inability to speak about his past to her, or her friends for that matter, was a bit wrenching. But she was able to also sense, like Fluttershy could, that he wanted nothing more than to make amends for his actions against her. And in their silence, Rarity decided to allow him to make up for the time that he lost with her.

Their lips met in a passionate lock that made a few moans escape from them both as the lady laid down on her back. The same moaning and breathing had become the only indicator for how much the both of them needed to tell each other how much they meant to each other. Sterling had then begun to trail his kisses on her neck, moving his way to gently nibble on her right ear lobe. This action gave her a reason to giggle just a little loudly. Then, his hands had begun to slowly trail down to her breasts, caressing them with a gentle massage that earned him an approving moan and sigh. His hands had then massaged them in a gentle yet firm grip that spoke to her about his desire. She looked to him with a lustful smile and nodded to him.

The same man had then lifted her towards him to lift up her shirt while she wrapped her legs around his pelvic area. But it was after he removed his girlfriend's blouse that another pair of hands had undone the clasp of the purple bra on Rarity. She was also able to sense it. Both she and Sterling turned their heads to see that Fluttershy was just as eager as they were. Before Rarity could speak, the same woman had begun to invade Rarity's mouth with hers in a deep Prench kiss. This massage of their wet muscles had turned up the mood into a higher setting for all three of the people in the room.

Hoping to get into the little party, Sterling then begun to pepper some kisses on Fluttershy's face. This action caused her and Rarity to giggle as he also kissed her the same way. Both Rarity and Fluttershy then got an idea that sparked them up. Their tongues then connected with his in an erotic dance that turned them on even further. Instead of using his words, the same man had begun to gently push Rarity back to the mattress as he and Fluttershy, who was able to pick up on his idea in an instant, began licking and sucking on her luscious nipples. A sharp gasp had escaped from Rarity before she was able to moan in a dreamy approval.

Fluttershy then got the idea to take off Rarity's purple, lacy panties with her teeth. But Sterling wanted in on this action as well. With his best 'please?' look, the pink-haired girl nodded and began to nibble on the band of the panties before she and Sterling were able to take off the last of her undergarments with success. It was then dropped to the floor below the bed. The scent of arousal from Rarity's nether-lips had then become stronger to smell. Fluttershy then blew a small breeze on the glistening flower, causing Rarity to shiver with the anticipation of having both of her lovers having their way with her.

Fluttershy took two fingers from her hands and began to spread the lower lips of the honeypot in front of the man. And with a broad, long lick, both Fluttershy and Sterling was able to get the first taste of Rarity's dripping cunt. The taste of it was able to induce him into an overdrive of lustful ideas, the first being to continue the act of cunnilingus in a lapping motion that allowed him to drink the juices that were flowing from her petals. The moans that Sterling made had given Rarity a reason to shiver even more as the vibration of his noise had caused her to bite her lip so that her shriek could instead turn into a moan.

"Aah! Ooohhh mmmyyy~!", Rarity moaned out loudly as both of her lovers lapped away at her lower flower together. Her yelps and half-shrieks had been accompanied by a bucking that had been held back because of her desire to let the feeling last forever. But unfortunately, her moans soon turned into shrieks as the two lovers decided to drill their fingers and tongues into her velvety walls. And after feeling the climax becoming a reality, the small, sweet squirts of her lady-cum had splashed their faces almost immediately as a final scream indicated her orgasm.

"Oh my... Seems Rarity wants to go even further, Sterling," Fluttershy sultrily teased the man next to her.

"I know...." Sterling whispered in a husky voice that sent a shiver to even him. "But first: I can't possibly please her with my manhood until I've tasted you as well, Flutters," he told the pink-haired woman next to him.

"B-but... I-I w-want...", Fluttershy began to protest before she felt the taste of Rarity's cum on their faces again as they kissed.

"I know you want to have me inside of Rarity, Flutters, but I must taste your pussy again before I do this," he said to her calmly. Fluttershy was about to say no, but thought better of it. And after taking a moment to undo her dress, with Sterling noticing that she was not even wearing any underwear at all, Fluttershy had then crawled her way over to him. And like a slut, she presented her slit to the man who immediately began to perform the same foreplay on her, earning a few screams.

"Aah~! Oh! S-Sterllliiiing!" she shuddered as his tongue and fingers prodded both of her lower holes. And this music was just sweet to listen to, for both the man and Rarity, who was eyeing them with the most wanton look as she laid on her back. But as the veterinarian woman was nearing her orgasm, the man was kind enough to pull away from her and had begun to look at Rarity with an animal grin and a scorching lust in his eye.

"You ready for the main event, love?" Sterling growled lowly to the lady as he aligned his hard rod with her flower. As Rarity moved her legs back around his waist, she nodded her eagerness to him.

"Please, my love... put it in me already," she breathed to him. He nodded with a smirk to her.

Without any further needed invitation, Sterling hilts his shaft slowly into the awaiting cervix that was naturally glistening with her juices. The same liquids became the natural lubricant that was able to lock them both in their awaited union. As soon as he felt satisfied that he was able to fill her up, he pulled back a little bit in order to try out a rhythm that worked wonders for his partner. And after a few seconds of this action, his speed picked up. As the steady slaps of his waist had picked up more speed and strength, both he and Rarity had moaned and grunted louder.

And as he was elevated to the mid-orgasm level of his pleasure, he saw that Rarity was just in much need to have an orgasm as he was. In order to induce said feeling, his hands had cupped Rarity's perfect breasts in a massage that was getting smoother with their sweat glistening the both of them. Fluttershy, on the other hand, was watching intently on how both her boyfriend and girlfriend looked like a pair of teenagers so desperately in love with one another, thus reducing the timid girl to having to please herself besides them.

But Rarity would not have any of that from her. Within the half-yelps and moans, Rarity gently ordered her girlfriend to sit on her face so that she could eat her pussy out. Fluttershy obeyed eagerly as her legs wrapped around Rarity's head. Within a second of doing this, Rarity had begun to eat out her girlfriend's awaiting flowerpot.

This, in turn, excited both Rarity and Sterling to go even faster and harder with their intercourse. And after a few minutes of their joined activities, the three of them had begun to feel their climaxes nearing. Sterling then picked up more speed as he fucked the fashionista more and more. While his shaft bobbed up and down into Rarity's tight hole, Sterling could only shout out his love for the woman below him. And Fluttershy knew well that the love in his heart for Rarity was as strong as his shared emotion for her. And as the final breaking point crashed through their joined efforts, the combined cum of the three lovers had exploded all around them in a torrent-like fountain that gave a few pooling stains to the bedding below them as they each shouted 'I LOVE YOU!' inside the whole room together.

A few seconds later, after feeling the three-way orgasm hit the both of them, Sterling's body had stumbled gently onto Rarity's body, thus prompting both of the ladies to move to his sides. Sterling then made himself comfortable as the women's breasts rested on his chest and arms. And as the ladies kissed him, and one another with the same fiery passion, the emotions of the post coitus afterglow had begun to emerge from his heart.

"Rarity? Fluttershy?" he called to them in a mumble. The girls gave a small 'yes?' look to him. "I am truly sorry for not telling you about my life outside of Equestria. I really," he apologized to them with a tear falling from his face.

"We forgive you, Sterling," Fluttershy panted to him in his left ear.

"Yes, darling.... Oh... we both forgive you," Rarity whispered into his right ear.

And with a final breath, indicating his desire to sleep, he whispered:

"Thank you.... both of you...."

*****

Return to Story Description
The Royal Elite

Mature Rated Fiction

This story has been marked as having adult content. Please click below to confirm you are of legal age to view adult material in your area.

Confirm
Back to Safety

Login

Facebook
Login with
Facebook:
FiMFetch

Register