Chapter 53: To The Dust

All through the cabin, the only sound that could be heard was the ever present hum of the engine. Flash and Sparks sat against the forward bulkhead next to the cockpit. Garth sat with Shining by the open side door, gazing out over the rolling terrain. James sat in the back against the bulkhead bordering the engine compartment, head bowed low, arms resting on his thighs. In the center of the compartment a prone form lay, covered in one of the tarps they'd had on hand. For the second time since they left the barge, Flash got up and went over to the tarp, pulling it down to the neck of the body that lay beneath. He put a hoof over the still open eyes and once again attempted to close them.

James looked up from where he was sitting with haggard eyes, "I told you, you won't be able to close them for another couple of hours."

"I know, I just... it's too disturbing, it looks like he might get back up any minute."

"It's not really something you can get used to."

Flash pulled the tarp back over Feather's face, hiding his deathly gaze.

"Did he have any family?"

"I think so. He didn't talk about them much. I know he had a father, I've heard nothing of his mother." James said.

"They're dead." Myst said over the radio.

"How do you know?" James asked her.

"He got a letter a couple months back, his dad died. I asked him about his mother, said she died when he was born."

"Why wouldn't he tell us something like that?" Sparks asked aloud. "Why didn't you."

"Sorry guys, he made me promise to keep quiet about it."

"Poor guy," Flash said as he looked back down at the tarp, "going out like that with no family."

"We were his family," Myst said from the cockpit, "that was enough for him."

"What are we going to do with him?" Shining interjected.

"We bury him of course."

"Yeah, but where?"

"And how?"

Slowly, all their heads except for Garth's turned to James who was still sitting alone in the corner.

"What?"

"Well... you're the one who created the task force, are there special ceremonies for things like this?" Sparks asked the human.

"For the organization I used to be a part of, yes, but this is still the Royal Guard. To what ever customs or traditions regarding this falls under Captain Shining's expertise."

"Me?"

"Yeah you.

"Well, there is a ceremony for fallen members of the Royal Guard, but it's lengthy and it would have to be performed at the Royal Palace." Shining explained.

James keyed up the radio, "Myst how far out are we from Canterlot?"

"It's gonna be a while..."

"James, he was your teammate, your friend. You should decide how to handle this." Shining recommended.

James pondered this for a moment, "Alright, fine. Back in my world, a full military funeral usually just had the team and friends and family with a twenty-one gun salute, seven rifles, three shots each. But since it's just us and we don't have the firepower, we'll just wing it. Me and an old friend had an idea what we would do for each other if one of us died, we'll do that, but we'll need some rum."

"Lucky for you," Flash said as he walked around the body to a bag on the other side of the compartment, "I brought a bottle for the ride back."

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Atop the high hills northeast of Los Pegasus, four ponies, a mare and three stallions, stood around a low earthen mound at the base of a large oak tree aside two bipeds, one a pinkish light brown, the other a motley collection of green, yellow and brown, all in matching uniforms except for the unicorn mare who wore a faded green jumpsuit.

The human stepped forward and began to speak, "Brother, you gave it your all and asked for nuthin' in return." He hoisted an open bottle of rum into the air over the grave, "Work hard, play hard. Keep the tab open buddy, we'll see you soon."

He poured a little bit of the bottle onto the grave before taking a swig for himself and passing it on to Flash.

"Sorry we couldn't chill in your hometown like we talked about, I'll be sure to hit your favorite pub for you..." The pegasus mimicked James' actions and then passed it on to Sparks.

"I almost had that plumbing problem fixed. Hopefully it ain't a problem where ever you are now..." He too poured some rum on the grave and took a swig, passing the bottle on to Myst.

The hazy gray unicorn took it and held the drink high, "you were a good neighbor and a great friend. I'll miss the late night chats we had..." she then repeated the process and gave the bottle to Garth.

"Not long have I known you, but great things you have done. May your enemies forever cower before your blades and Shah'haratzoor guard your flank for eternity..." After offering some of the strong liquor to the fallen warrior, Garth also took a swig, grimacing as he did so before finally passing it to Shining.

"Briefly have I spoken with you, rarely have we talked. Still, you are one of the bravest ponies I have ever had the privilege to know. May Celestia's sun warm your days and Luna's moon light your way through the darkness. Rest in peace, you are relieved from the watch..." The Captain finished the ceremony with a splash of rum upon the mound of dirt and a shot of the burning liquid.

James took the bottle from him and finished off the drink, "Feather, you were a damned fine soldier. Your sacrifice will not be in vain." He completed his short eulogy with a snap to attention and a smart salute, the other five in attendance following suit.

The ceremony concluded, five of the attendees made their way back to the small airship resting on the soft grass nearby. Myst jumped in and hopped into the cockpit, beginning the engine start-up while the others settled in the back. James momentarily remained behind at the grave, taking two sharp daggers from where he had stowed them on his belt. At the head of the grave and the base of the tree trunk, he stabbed the daggers into the wood, wedging them deep into the old oak. With another few good kicks from his boots, James had them buried into the wood to their cross guards. He then gave them both a hard tug, satisfied when they didn't so much as budge.

With that done, he turned around and loped back to the Clipper as it prepared for take-off. Entering the cabin, he staggered over to an open seat near the back and plopped down onto the bench. Sparks was sitting near the human and turned to him with a question.

"So... what do we do now?"

James briefly rested his head in his hands before looking back up with a determined face and answering, "Before he died, that unicorn piece of shit that killed our friend said he was part of a larger fleet. We need to get back and get ready for a fight. Kraster thinks he's come here and fuck us all over, we're gonna reply with a stone cold cock block."

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By the time Canterlot came into view, the sun was close to setting. James had wanted to just go straight home, but there were reports to deliver and preparations to make. As soon as Myst put them down on the pier, James hopped off the airship and began briskly walking up the path to the palace, followed by Shining, Sparks, Flash and Garth who was wearing his boonie hat low over his eyes and a scarf around his nose and mouth like a mask.

He marched with conviction and a little anger left over from recent events. The palace guards made no moves to stop him, having learned long ago not to get in the human and his team's way when they were on the war path. However, when James reached the Throne Room, he was intercepted by one of the palace attendants who informed him that Celestia was in a very busy meeting and had instructed that she not be disturbed except under the most dire of circumstances.

With as much politeness as he could muster, James asked the attendant to let the princess know that his team and Captain Armor would be waiting for her in her private meeting room and had important information to share with her as soon as she was finished. The attendant rushed of to fulfill the request while Shining, James and his team quickly moved to the room in question. They had only waited twenty minutes when both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came barging in.

"Ah, Commander Kaughn, what news do you bring us?" Luna started.

"Yes, I too am eager to hear what you and Captain Shining Armor have found," Celestia cut it, "but first, how are you all doing? Garth, I'm happy to see you applying yourself constructively."

The large Lotkin warrior gave a stiff bow at his acknowledgement.

"And the rest of your team seems to be as healthy as ever, though you seem to be missing somepony. Feather Touch, was it? Has he some important errand?"

James stiffened at the mention of his friend. His jaw tightened and his lips pursed in a thin line as he answered, "Ma'am, he's... he's still on patrol."

"Well surely you could have included him in such an important briefing." Luna replied.

Shining hesitantly walked over to the two princesses and whispered into Luna's ear. For a moment, she seemed confused, but then in a split second, her face morphed from confusion to shock to sorrow at his words.

"What has you worried so, sister?" Celestia asked, concerned at the sudden change in the Night Princess' demeanor.

Luna leaned over and conveyed Shining's words to her sibling. Celestia displayed a similar reaction once she comprehended exactly what had happened.

"Oh my... Commander... James.... I'm so sorry for your loss." Celestia said in condolence, her eyes heavy with sadness.

"Please ma'am, if we could just move on..." James requested, straining to keep his voice even and professional.

"Of... Of course. What then do you have to show us?" Celestia's expression and tone of voice still did not change.

"Ma'am, we have reason to believe our enemy is on the move. We have thoroughly reconnoitered the potential landing sites and even arranged a sort of early warning system. Additionally, I recommend an evacuation plan for the nearby city of Los Pegasus be drawn up. Captain Armor here has the details. Captain?"

The unicorn approached the table and placed his map on it, "Most probable landing sites are here, here and here...."

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Late in the night, James made the long walk home. The meeting with the two princesses had not ended until it was just past mid night, only pausing to allow them both to lower the sun and raise the moon. Now finally, he could rest his weary bones, although, he wasn't sure he really wanted to. His mind kept showing him images of Feather laying lifeless on the burned deck of the barge. James was in no way looking forward to whatever his dreams might bring.

The rest of his team had gone home already, Myst to her small apartment at the HQ, Garth to his newly constructed hut near Fluttershy's cottage. Flash and Sparks had offered to walk back with James, but he told them to go on ahead without him. He wanted some time to himself. Only now that he was alone, he couldn't stop thinking about his friend's death. Coming up over the top of a small rise, his house came into view, quiet and darkened. With a quickened pace, James ran up onto the porch and through the front door into the living room. It had recently been repaired along with the kitchen, but it still had a subtle scent of charred wood about it.

As he ascended the stairs, he began disrobing, first taking off cover and uniform top before unlacing his worn boots just outside his door. He picked up the boots by their high tops and opened the door, tossing his garments and footwear into a corner. James then turned and was about to flop down onto his mattress, but stopped when he saw a sleeping Rainbow Dash snuggled up under the covers. For a moment, his brain failed to register a reason for why she would be sleeping in his bed, but then he remembered that he had told her that today was the day he would be back. He just didn't expect to have gotten back so late. She must have gotten tired waiting for him and decided to go to bed.

James didn't blame her, tired as he was. So he stripped down to his under shirt and boxers, then quietly slid in next to her, the warmth of her body welcoming him back from his trip. James got comfortable and attempted to fall asleep, but all he could do was stare up at the ceiling. With a huff, he changed position and tried again, but was met with similar failure. Phoning it in, he got up out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping mare next to him, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. He went into the cabinet and pulled out a half full bottle of rum and a short glass. He began to unscrew the top of the bottle, but stopped when he heard the sound of hooves lightly stepping down the stairs. James put the bottle down and turned around to face the kitchen entrance.

"Oh, hey, you're back." Dash said with a yawn.

"Hey, yeah. I just got in." James said, leaning against the counter.

Dash absent mindedly rubbed one of her eyes, "What's with the booze? Don't you think it's too early in the morning for that?"

"Uh, yeah... I guess you're right." James put the glass and the bottle back away.

"Why don't you come to bed with me, I could use the company."

"Ugh, I tried. Couldn't sleep."

"Why? What's wrong?"

James looked away and scratched the back of his head, "It's uh... I-It's nothing, really."

"C'mon, something that can keep you awake is definitely not nothing. Please James, if you can't tell me, then who can you tell?" She said, walking over and nuzzling up to his side.

"Honestly, I don't think it's something you wanna hear. But... you'll probably find out soon any way."

"Feather is... Feather is dead. And it's my fucking fault." He bowed his head and rubbed his eyes with one hand.

"W-Wait, WHAT!?"

"I made the decision to go in, my reflexes weren't fast enough, I'm the one who trained him and brought him into my way of LIFE!" He turned and pounded his fist on the counter hard, causing the items resting on it to jump before smacking back down on the hard surface.

Unnoticed by James, Flash and Sparks peeked their heads around the corner of the kitchen entrance. Dash spotted them and silently shooed them away. They glanced at each other briefly before quietly backing out, returning to their rooms.

James' voice dropped to a strained whisper, "I was supposed to die, but he took my place instead. I got him killed..."

Dash flapped her wings and hovered over to him, wrapping her forelegs over his shoulders and pulled him into a hug from behind. He hunched, muscles stiffening at the unexpected contact.

"He went with you because he wanted to, not because you told him to." She whispered into his ear.

"Yeah? How do you know, did he tell you?" Jame said sarcastically.

"No, Fluttershy did."

James' heart sunk and he brought his hand back up to his face, "Ah, shit." His hand acquired a slight tremor.

"Don't worry, don't worry. We'll all go talk to her together, ok?"

James took in a deep breath and let it out, "Ok."

"Good. Now come on back to bed with me, you need the sleep."

"Alright." He said quietly.