“Hey Tia?” I asked.

“Don’t say it.” the pink maned Unicorn grunted.

“I think other ponies had the same idea we did.”

“Ugh…” Tia groaned, putting her head in her hooves.

Turns out, there had been four camp cities instead of three.

The fourth campsite, had been located upriver to the South of the three military encampments. But unlike the first three, the fourth was less a military base and more a refugee camp.

Ùllahdmaiden must not have been the only village with the idea to abandon their home and migrate South.

Ponies of all three tribes bustled to and fro amongst the tents, growling and shooting each other dirty looks. Each tribe tried to keep to themselves, but the hill that the river curved around that served as a perfect place to settle had only so much room. Tensions were constantly rising, as each tribe tried to erect buildings without heed to what the other two tribes wanted. A particularly heated argument was a three way shouting match between an Earth Pony who was trying to plow a field, a Unicorn who was trying to build a hut, and a Pegasus who wanted a lawn for his ‘cloud house’.

Coins were even being passed around within their respective tribe as ponies watched and bet amongst themselves.

“Do we… Keep going?” I asked as we found ourselves entering the camp, stunned by the amount of ponies that had suddenly loomed out of the wilderness.

“It’d be stupid to.” the left stallion replied. “We’ve been walking all day and the Sun’s starting to set.”

I glanced up, the sky was indeed starting to turn orange. I had been so enamored by the lush wilderness that I simply hadn’t noticed the time.

“Oh. Guess I didn’t notice the time…” I admitted.

“It’s been quite a day.” Tia agreed. “Try finding spots near the outer edge.” she continued, this time addressing her two stallions. “That way we won’t get into any arguments and can just quietly leave in the morning.”

“Sounds like a plan if I’ve ever heard one.” The right stallion agreed as the pair turned off the main path through the camp.

The side paths in the camp were much like the center, I did notice however that there were no ‘borders’ between the three tribes of Ponies. It was like the various villages from the different tribes just settled where they could regardless of their neighbors.

… Actually that’s probably exactly what happened.

Everypony glared at each other, all but daring the other tribes to do something. I could all but feel the tension in the air. It wasn’t a matter of if a fight would break out, but when.

More than once, the ponies on either side of the road would stop glaring at each other and stare at the survivors of Ùllahdmaiden as we walked by. Even the Earth Ponies glared. I wondered why, but then I realized they were glaring because the Ùllahdmaiden Earth Ponies were associating with Tia and I, the most visible Queensford Unicorns.

Nopony stopped us, until we reached the edge of the campsite and began setting up the tent tarps over our tents.

“Hey!” a pegasus shouted loudly as we started settling in. “Get outta here Mud Ponies!” he exclaimed as he tried to shoo us away.

“Now hold on a minute!” Tia interrupted, looking up towards the flying pony. “You’ve taken that side of the path! Nothing of yours is over here!”

“Yeah! Because I’m holding it for more Pegasi Hornhead!” he insisted.

“Are you expecting family or-?” Tia trailed off.

“Nope!” the stallion remarked. “Any Pegasi will do.”

“I see.” Tia narrowed her eyes. “Question for you then… How long have you been here?”

“Does it matter?”

“It certainly does matter!” Tia admonished. “It looks like your tents have been set up for at least a week! And if you haven't touched or set anything over here then you don’t get to dictate to me how it should be used!”

The stallion swooped down and touched the grass beneath our hooves.

“There, I touched it, now go away.” he stated as he returned to flying above our heads.

“Yes, after we’ve already started unpacking.” Tia responded. “If it’s such a big deal, then rest assured, we have no intention of staying beyond tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah right, like I’d ever trust Horn heads and Mud ponies…” the stallion sneered.

“If you’re going to be so… Pleasant- Lu? If you would?” Tia politely asked.

I pulled the Pegasoplian spear from under my cloak and gave it a practiced twirl in my magic, ultimately pointing it at the stallion threateningly.

“Can you trust this?” I asked. The stallion’s eyes bugged out, horrified at the weapon.

“Where did you get that?” he asked in awe.

“From Pegasoplis, obviously.” I snarked.

“Bucking hornheads think they’re so smart…” the stallion grumbled as he turned away, flying back to his own tent.

“Thanks Lu.” Tia stated when he was out of earshot.

“No problem.” I replied, putting the weapon back under the manticore fur cloak. “Did you want me keeping watch? I don’t think we’ll be able to get away with no guards tonight.”

“No.” Tia agreed, chewing the inside of her cheek. “No, you go get some sleep. You’ve been pulling a cart all day.”

“I’ll try; But I’m not sure how I will with so many ponies around.” I informed her.

“I know how you feel… Something’s off with this camp, but I’m not entirely sure it’s the Ponies…” Tia murmured as she glanced around at the surrounding camp.

“It isn’t?” I asked with surprise. My Moon Mark must be acting up again, because I could’ve sworn it was the Ponies making me anxious.

“I’m not sure.” Tia admitted. “I know you don’t do well with Ponies you don’t know, but I’m not sure I’d cross them off the list either.”

“Whatever it is, you’ll likely know before I do.” I shrugged. “Did you need me for anything else?”

“No Lu, go on and get some sleep. If you need me I’ll be checking with the rest of Ùllahdmaiden.”

“Alright, if you need me don’t hesitate to ask.” I responded. “Goodnight Tia.”

“Goodnight Lu.”

We both turned away from each other, I towards the covered cart that I had taken to sleeping in, and Tia towards the other villagers of Ùllahdmaiden. I pulled off the manticore fur cloak and pulled the Pegasoplian spear back out. I hopped into the cart to find it empty of other ponies, only wooden crates that had been made on the road were present.

Excellent.

I yawned and curled up like a cat in the corner I had unofficially claimed for myself, hugging the spear like it was a stuffed toy and allowing the cloak to cover me like a blanket.

Now if only I could sleep.

I tossed and turned on the floor of the cart for what felt like hours, technically comfortable, but unable to sleep as the voices of too many ponies kept interrupting me whenever I started to doze off.

So I settled for laying on my back, staring at the cloth above me, just listening to the surrounding area. Shouting in the distance. Murmured conversation of passerby. A few pegasi flying overhead. But strangest of all, I thought I kept hearing something moving in the sky above even the Pegasi. Like something solid was moving against the wind amongst the clouds.

Finally I decided that until the camp quieted down, I wasn’t going to fall asleep. So I threw off my cloak and made for the back of the cart.

It was reasonably warm out earlier so I left the cloak behind.

I looked up to the sky as I poked my head out of the tent, the Sun cast a dull orange and purple glow along the West horizon. It couldn’t have been more than two hours at most since I had tried to go to sleep. Ponies had started to huddle together around campfires, although it wasn’t uncommon to see Ponies still walking around.

Tia sat next to a campfire with several Ùllahdmaiden Ponies nearby, seemingly deep in conversation with them.

I hopped from the cart and approached.

“Couldn’t sleep Tia.” I murmured to her, so I didn’t disturb the conversation. “I’m going to try going for a walk.”

“Ok Lu, be careful, and don’t go far.” Tia murmured back as an Earth Pony mare was saying something.

“I won’t.” I promised.

“Excellent. Now, as you were saying Heartbreak?” Tia asked as she turned back towards the conversation.

Permission now acquired, I tucked the spear back into its familiar place and trotted out into the path and started walking.

The camp was much more subdued now. With Ponies huddled around their own campfires, they weren’t actively trying to start fights with the other tribes. And yet… The tension remained.

Even as I walked, passing by Ponies telling each other stories or darning their clothes or cooking food, this oppressive feeling hung in the air. Yet I could not find the supposed source. It reminded me of that night… With the hydra.

It felt like the Hydra had returned and was once more staring down at me as if I were a mere worm and it an Emperor.

But there was no Hydra looming over the camp.

The only thing overly noteworthy were the trio that consisted of an Earth Pony, Pegasi, and Unicorn that had gathered by a campfire.

With the exception of the Unicorns formerly of Queensford mingling with the Earth Ponies of Ùllahdmaiden, I had seen no friendly interaction between the tribes, so that in itself was strange enough. But the things that truly caught my eye were what they were wearing. Namely, the Pegasoplian armor the yellow Pegasus wore, and the starry cloak of the light gray Unicorn. The tan Earth pony didn’t stand out as much, but a closer inspection revealed a finer red garment than what the common peasant wore.

They were, by far, the strangest group of Ponies I had ever seen.

They were so out of place I found myself drawn to them, curious and wanting to know more.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked as I approached.

The trio looked almost taken aback, seeing me approach their fire.

“Uh… No go ahead.” the Unicorn hesitantly stated, glancing to her compatriots for permission. The Pegasus and Earth Pony only shrugged slightly in response.

“Thanks.” I responded as I sat down on one part of one of the logs by their fire. “Don’t mind me, I was just going for a walk because I couldn’t sleep and I’m curious about how a Pegasus, an Earth Pony, and a Unicorn happen to come to a single campfire. A Pegasoplian soldier and a Unicornian Royal scholar in particular.”

“You’re… Not upset?” the Earth Pony mare asked with confusion.

“Why would I be? I’ve lived with Earth Ponies for the past six years and briefly camped with a Pegasoplian warband as a filly. If anything, I’ve found them to be nicer than my own tribe.” I responded, pulling out my Pegasoplian spear to show them.

“You lived with-” the Unicorn started, but was interrupted by the Pegasus.

“I knew you looked familiar!” she quietly exclaimed. “Gosh how you’ve grown! You were only a filly when I last saw you!”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.” I shook my head slightly.

“Oh no, you wouldn’t. We didn’t speak. I was busy with my duties.” she stated, her voice as soft as daisies. “Private Pansy.” she extended a hoof across the low fire.

“Luna.” I replied, reaching over and shaking her hoof.

“Luna? As in Luna Hydrabane?” the Unicorn asked, her voice filled with trepidation.

“Whoa wait… The Hydrabane?!” the Earth Pony exclaimed in shock.

“I’m the only Hydrabane I’ve ever heard of.” I shrugged.

“You’re the one who scared Sapphire so badly she hid herself in her tent and refused to come out!” the Unicorn stated, her voice squeaking.

I felt my chest constrict.

“How do you know Sapphire?” I stated evenly, trying to hide the growl that threatened to break out.

“She’s a legionnaire in the Crown’s employ.” the Unicorn replied. “My Master is accompanying Princess Platinum’s expedition.”

This Unicorn was one of the Crown Unicorns that had invaded Ùllahdmaiden!

“Why shouldn’t I fry you right here and now?” I snarled. “I was there in Ùllahdmaiden. I had to bury friends and neighbors because of you!”

The trio fell silent.

“I don’t know who this… Sapphire is… But I can understand why she ran.” the Earth Pony remarked after a moment.

“Look Luna… Do you know who we are?” Pansy asked gently.

“Why would I?” I almost barked.

“We’re the representatives of the Crown, the Clans, and the Congress.” The Earth Pony supplied. “Keeping an eye on the civilians who followed us South.”

“We’re here together because nopony here trusts our governments.” Pansy added.

“So rather than sit alone, we sit together.” The Earth Pony supplied again.

“I’m sorry for what we did to your village.” The Unicorn muttered finally. “We didn’t want any bloodshed, we just needed supplies to head South.”

“How about we start over?” The Earth Pony tried, her chocolate brown mane bouncing. “Hello, my name is Smart Cookie.”

“Clover. Clover the Clever.” the Unicorn responded, extending her hoof. I glanced down at her extended hoof, but I wasn’t quite ready to accept her offered friendship.

“Do you know why I hate Sapphire?” I asked instead, meeting the self proclaimed ‘clever’ Pony’s eyes.

“I- No. No I don’t.” she sighed, dropping her hoof.

“We grew up in the same village together.” I began. “She and her sister, Emerald Gleam, tormented me daily. Until one day the Crown’s soldiers brought news that the Queen had died. But they didn’t bring any food that the village depended on to survive the Winter.” I explained. “Almost the whole village decided to move South to find anything to eat. Many ponies died on the journey, including my Mother. Until we came to Ùllahdmaiden. A schism outside its borders forced the twelve of us who remained to vote for a new Reave. Sapphire and her sister supported their Uncle, who lost by one vote. He threw a tantrum and stormed away.” I picked up a burning stick in their fire and watched the smoldering tip, hypnotized by its glow and lost in the memory. “ Sapphire and Emerald followed him, shortly by his own daughter, a mare known as Snow Step. She was disappointed with her Father’s reaction and went to soothe his nerves.” I tossed the stick back into the fire. “The next we saw him, Sapphire, Emerald, and Snow were nowhere to be seen, and he tried to attack Ùllahdmaiden by himself. It almost cost us everything as the villagers thought we were simply a distraction. A fight broke out, and I killed the stallion. The villagers of Ùllahdmaiden saw me kill ‘one of our own’ and took us in. ”

The realization of what Hoarfrost had tried to do had come years later, and the idea that he had even tried still sent a shiver down my spine.

“Sapphire and Emerald were nowhere to be found, but we found Snow Step in the woods, with her throat cut.” I sighed, overcome with memories, and looked back into Clover’s eyes. “Nopony knew what had happened to Snow Step. No pony that is, until seven years later Sapphire shows up at the gates of Ùllahdmaiden bearing the crest of the Ponies who abandoned our original village to die.” I paused to watch the Unicorn’s reaction. Her eyes were wide as she pieced my words together. “So forgive me if I don’t trust a Pony who serves the Crown that abandoned me to starvation alongside a murderer.”

“Huh… That explains how a group of Unicorns ended up in an Earth Pony village.” Smart Cookie commented. “That, and the rumor that one of those Unicorns, a mere filly, had slain a hydra dominated the rumor mill for almost a whole year when the news got out.”

“It wasn’t by myself, I only got its heart because it was already wounded, and we burned it with everypony we had lost.” I admitted.

“Nonsense.” Cookie grinned. “You know how dangerous it is to get close enough to stab a hydra in the heart?”

I sighed.

“... Very.” I conceded after a moment.

“I’m- I’m sorry.” Clover admitted. “Truly I am. I grew up in the outskirts of Unicornia, life wasn’t easy, but now that I’m older I realize it could’ve been a lot harder. The only reason I got out of that life was because Master Starswirl chose me to be his apprentice.”

“... Apology accepted.” I sighed.

Why’d I do that? What happened to the righteous rage at this mare? Was this… Sympathy? How would I react to a filly blaming me for what happened to her village when the only thing I’d done was grow up directly beneath the towers of Unicornia? The last to be forgotten by the Crown, but tormented by always being in sight of riches you could never have?

If she was telling the truth, then maybe we weren’t so different?

“Cookie was right… We started on the wrong hoof. Hi, I’m Luna.” I extended my hoof. Clover smiled.

“Clover.” she responded in kind, reaching once more and shaking my hoof.

“So um… You know my story.” I awkwardly started. “And you’re all representatives for the Tribe governments, but what’s your story?”

“Grew up in Pegasopolis, was forced to join the Legion, hate every second of it.” Pansy bluntly snorted.

“You hate it?” I asked in surprise. “I thought every Pegasus loved serving Pegasopolis?”

“Most Pegasi do, but only because they hate being cooped up in the city itself. Most hate raiding farming settlements.”

“Oh… I expected less nuance…” I admitted.

“Oh don’t get me wrong, they only hate raiding farmers because it’s not challenging enough.” Pansy amended. “But I hate being in the legion full stop. I’m awful at it, and I can’t do anything right. I’ve had the rank of Private for so long I’m pretty sure most ponies think it’s my first name. The only reason I was assigned here to watch the Pony villagers is because even if I screw up, I won’t accidently sabotage the war effort.”

“Oh.” I repeated, not quite sure what I should do with that information. Thankfully, Smart Cookie came to the rescue again.

“I’m Chancellor Puddinghead’s personal assistant and niece!” she chirped. “Grew up in the Pie Clan’s home of Igheannheim. Ma and Pa got me hired for the position after Aunt Puddinghead’s last assistant had to quit the job.”

“Igheannheim?” Clover asked.

“It means ‘Oven home’ in old Ponish.” Cookie supplied. “It’s said that was where the first oven was made, and where the first baked food was baked.”

“Ùllahdmaiden means Applewood.” I added.

“Fascinating.” Clover muttered as she pulled out a scroll and began to scribble down notes.

We discussed Earth Pony naming conventions for hours into the night. The camp fell silent around us as the multitudes of villagers finally fell asleep.

Despite its rocky beginning, the conversation would turn out to be a memory I would remember fondly.

But then snow began to fall.

Next Chapter: Chapter 81 The Memories Part 40 Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 44 Minutes