In the lands of ice and snow, where nopony dare live for it would be their certain demise. But, there was one family, one that could withstand such cold days and even colder nights. A family of Pegasi, the Heart Family who had built up an immunity to the cold. Living among the moose and learning the ways of being a lumberjack and how to skillfully craft things out of the trees. Our story focuses around the youngest of the family, the black coated Pegasus with a spiked out red and green striped mane. War Heart. And this is where it starts.

War Heart just finished his daily chores, having to cut down several trees from the forest having to drag them back to his parents camp. On his way to get the second batch he heard a familiar voice come up from behind him. “Hows it going there eh?” The voice was a thick Caneighdian accent which most moose had, but this one particular voice belonged to- “Jean-Luc, Nice to see you again.” War Heart turned to see a Moose wearing a toque with ear flaps leaning against a tree. “Did you hear the news eh?”

“What news?” War Heart raised an eyebrow with intrigue as he raised his head to look at his friend. “I heard some folk sayin’ that they were going to send one poor sucker to live down south eh.” War Heart smirked and laughed to himself. “Man it sucks to be that guy, I wonder what loser they got going.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN I’M GOING!”

“War Heart, lower your voice!” Snapped the white Pegasus with the mane of several wild purples. War Heart quieted down and looked at his front hooves in embarrassment. “Yes Mom.”

“Your Father and I have thought long and hard about this… and we want you to carry on the business down south.” War Heart’s Mother looked over at a tall dark grey Pegasus with a shaggy black mane and beard. He turned and looked at War Heart then back to War Heart’s mother. “ Please War Heart.” Everything was quiet for a brief moment. With a sigh War Heart answered. “Fine, I’ll go.” As War Heart said that a light grey Pegasus with a dark purple mane burst into the room pushing the door open and quickly latching her front hooves around War Hearts neck. “Noooooo I don’t want War Heart to go!” War Heart stood with a face that looked like it said ‘I am not amused’ not even flinching as the other Pegasus tackled into him. Barely even moving him an inch. “Sweet Heart! Let go of your brother!”

“I don’t want him to go!” War Heart looked down. “Sweet Heart.” She suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowed as she looked up at her brother. “Yes?”

“Let go. You’re my older sister and you’re acting like a filly.” Sweet Heart let go of him and walked a few steps away. “So now that we have that taken care of. When will I be leaving?”

“Tomorrow around lunch. That leaves you today to pack and say your goodbyes.” War Heart nodded his head in agreement and walked over to his room. Grabbing his saddle bag, he started to put some of his personal belongings inside. A small axe his father gave him when he was young and a wool toque with a red heart of the front of it. Not noticing his father enter the room War Heart continued to pack. “War Heart.” His father spoke with a deep yet soothing voice. “ I have something for you.” War Heart looked up and turned to his father. “What is it Dad?” He responded in his natural growling tone. His Father stepped back a bit and pulled inside the room a wooden chest with a metal plate that had some writing engraved on it. “ A gift from father to son.” War Heart hesitantly walked over and opened the chest, Inside was a large blackened metal axe with a red wood handle. Engraved into the metal was a heart on a shield. “What is it?”

“It is our family heirloom. This is the great axe from my great grandfather, Pride Heart.”

“The Great general?” War Heart asked with excited curiosity. “The same. Now it is yours, carry it with honour.” War Heart picked up the axe and swung it from side to side. “Thanks Dad.” War Heart’s father nodded and walked out.

The next day War Heart had his saddle bags packed and a small wagon set up full of maple syrup and some lumber jacking equipment. War Heart’s family stood there with him as he said goodbye to the three of them. Pulling the cart, War Heart started walking down the snowy road. Passing by what looked like a small hut, his friend Jean-Luc walked up to the road. “So I see you were the one they picked eh.”

“Afraid so Jean-Luc.”

“It wont be the same without you eh.” Jean-Luc raised his hoof. “It wont be the same without you either old friend.” War Heart raised his hoof as well and pressed it against his friends making a small clack. They lowered their hooves and War Heart began walking again.

As War Heart made his way to a wooden archway in big letters saying “PonyVille? Well it looks like I’m here.” War Heart continued walking through the town. Soon enough the residents were looking at him. He was not sure why they were but he just ignored it. Rummaging though his bags he pulled out a letter with a picture attached.

War Heart, once you get to PonyVille you need to find the Mayor and she will give you the land you will need, finding a home is your own problem.

With love: Mom and Dad.

Holding up the picture War Heart looked around. “So…. Where the clop do I find this Mayor?”

“I know where to find her.” War Heart turned around to see where the soft voice came from. Beside him was a small yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane. “You do? Can you show me?”

“I umm I-…” She got quiet all of a sudden like she was afraid of something. “You okay?”

“Yes.”

“What was that?”

“I said yes.”

“Still didn’t hear you.” From the other side War Heart heard somepony yell. “Hey big guy!” War Heart turned and saw another Pegasus hovering just at his eye level. “What are you doing to Fluttershy!?”

“I wasn’t doing anything!”

“Oh yeah!” The Pegasus pressed her face up against War Hearts “Then tell me why she looks so afraid!”

“How am I supposed to know I just got here! I was just asking for some help!” The Pegasus just kept staring at War Heart. “You know you have really pretty eyes.” The Pegasus jolted back. “I- Uh- What? Thank you?”

“You’re welcome. Now back to.. Fluttershy was it?”, The shy Pegasus nodded and pointed towards a bigger building with some columns in the front of it. “She’s there? Thanks for your help. Have a nice day Fluttershy. Later beautiful.” Rainbow Dash hovered there dumbfounded by the compliments. War Heart knocked on the dark wooden double doors of the building. The door opened and out walked a tan mare with a grey mane and tail wearing some librarian styled glasses. “Oh Hello, I am the Mayor, How may I help you?”

“My name is War Heart. My father sent me here and told me you were going to give me some woodland for my business.”

“Oh Right Stout Heart is your father. You know what. Walk over to the big tree in the middle of the town and a purple Unicorn will be there. Tell her the Mayor asked her to show you around.”

“Thanks a lot Mayor.”, War Heart walked down the steps and made his way through the town. Over head on a cloud Rainbow Dash watched him make his way to Twilight’s Library. “Why? Why did he say that!? GAH I’m getting all worked up over a guy.” Rainbow peered over the cloud, her cheeks turning a slight pink. “Well… he is kinda nice.” War Heart knocked on the red wooden door. Out came a purple baby dragon. “Can I help you?”

“I was looking for a unicorn. The Mayor said she lived here.” , The baby dragon walked inside the library and called out. “TWILIGHT, DOOR!” Soon enough the purple unicorn opened the door the rest of the way. “Hello. I’m Twilight Sparkle. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Uh yeah. I’m War Heart and the Mayor told me you can show me around.”

“Right, even if I have only lived here for a few months I know this town pretty well. So let me just tell Spike and we can go.” War Heart raised an eyebrow with curiosity. “Who is Spike?”

“Spike is a baby dragon and my assistant.”

“Right. Well, I was mostly wondering on where the land I bought is.”, War Heart brought out a map with the land marked on it. “I need to get here, could you show me?”

“I suppose so. Follow me.”, Twilight led War Heart out of town and towards the woods. After a few minutes of walking they passed by a cave. Twilight had a look of discomfort about her. War heart took notice of her uncomforted demeanour, “What’s wrong?”, he asked in his growling tone which seems to be impossible to whisper.

“Shh! This is the cave of Ursa Major and Minor. We have to be quiet or we’ll make them angry.”, Twilight whispered to him in a half scared and half ‘are you an idiot?’ sort of tone.

“Oh, really?”, War Heart walked in the cave. Twilight just watching with mouth agape and eyes wide in disbelief. Her frightened look persisted even after War heart came from out of the cave without his saddlebags. “What?”, War Heart looked at Twilight, who was dumbfounded and wondering, “How did you make it out of there with the Ursa in there?”, she half expected that he was either really sneaky or he was really lucky that they were asleep or something.

“I walked in there, woke them up, declared my territory to them and stood my ground. After they accepted my stay, they left me alone.”

“How did that work? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Where I come from, I wrestled with bears, they respect strength by any means, including strength of character. Fear is what they use to keep anypony off their territory.”

“Sounds like a very foreign place you come from.”

“There aren’t any ponies other than my family where I’m from. The moose were some of the only ones I could interact with on a regular basis.”

“Why are there no ponies up there?”

“Too cold.”

“Huh, I guess I’ll have to read up on Caneighda later then.”

“Right, well let’s go to where my land is supposed to be then.”

“all right, well, it isn’t very far. It is just about a minute’s walk past this cave northeast.”

“All right then. I don’t know how it works down here, but where I come from: everyone pulls their own weight. I feel I should help out with the town to earn my place.”

“Well, okay then. Maybe Applejack needs some help with her farm?”

“Sounds good, lead on.”

“Okay.”, Twilight walked back into Ponyville and then towards Sweet Apple Acres with War Heart trailing behind her. As they approached the home of the Apple family, an Earth Pony with a red coat and orange mane was standing on the porch.

“Big Macintosh, is your sister here?”, Twilight asked the large red stallion.

“Eeyup.”, he pointed over to the orchard where Applejack was bucking apple trees. Twilight walked over to Applejack while War Heart stayed at the house. Big Macintosh walked off the porch and raised an eyebrow as he noticed the black Pegasus was larger than he was. “You want somethin’?”, War Heart asked, feeling like he was being measured up.

“Ee-nope.”, Big Macintosh walked off toward the barn. War Heart watched the two mares approach him. “This is War Heart, he wants to help you with the harvest.”

“Well, that’s mighty decent of ya, War Heart.”, Applejack reached out a hoof to shake his. War Heart looked down at her hoof and clacked his hoof against hers.

“I felt like I should help the town in some way if I’m to live here.”

“Well, then you came to the right place, we’ll need plenty of help here with the harvest. With a pony your size, you’ll be able to help plenty enough.”

“So what do I do?”, War Heart looked towards the trees, all loaded with apples.

“Well, you put the baskets under the tree, buck the tree, and bring the apples into the barn over there.”, Applejack pointed towards the barn with the concluding of her explanation.

“Sounds easy enough.”, He walked towards a nearby tree with baskets already under it. He looked it over for a moment then turned around and walked away from it to gain some distance. He readied himself for a second before charging towards the tree. As he approached the tree he turned around and thrust his back hooves into the tree, causing a thunderous cracking and the tree to topple over. Twilight stood there in awe while Applejack had a look of annoyance. “Now why did ya do that?!”, she yelled at War Heart as he was picking the apples off the fallen tree.

“What? I did what you told me to.”

“I didn’t tell you to take the tree down!”

“Yes, you did, you told me to buck it, and I did.”

“I told you to buck it, not bring it down.”

“You lost me… I don’t think I am meant to work on a farm…”, He started walking towards the exit of Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight Sparkle looked at Applejack and mouthed the word “Sorry.”, and then she ran to catch up with War Heart.

“Okay, that was just a bit of a hiccup, I’m sure we can find you some work.”

“Hope so.”

“Maybe Rarity needs somepony to help her in her shop.”, they just arrived at Ponyville again and headed to Carousel Boutique.

“What kind of shop is this?”, War Heart asked kind of confused by the interior of the shop.

“This is Rarity’s dress shop.”

“Dress? What’s a dress?”

“Is that a serious question? Or is this sarcasm?”

“I’m serious, what’s a dress?”

“Twilight, did you really bring someone who does not know what a dress is?”, a purple maned, white unicorn walked into the room to greet Twilight and War Heart.

“Yes, I did, and he is looking to work for you. This is War Heart.”

“Hello.”, War Heart’s voice somewhat disturbed Rarity in its purely callous presentation of language.

“Well, I guess that would be the generous thing to do. I’ll let him help out as my assistant for now.”, Rarity exit the room, still not very interested in the idea of having such a pony in her employ. She came back with a jacket, in bright pink and golden lining. War Heart looked at it in confusion, “What’s that?”

“Your uniform. I’ve had this for so long in the case I got an assistant.”

“It’s… Pink…”

“And? It’s to make it apparent that you work here and are not just some random pony doing things he shouldn’t.”

“It’s also small…”

“Well I can fix that quickl- wait, where are you going?”, War Heart was leaving as she was in the middle of her sentence.

“Away, I quit.”, as War Heart left the building he was stopped by a Pegasus he had met earlier. “Oh look, it’s the mare with nice eyes.”, War Heart smirked as Rainbow Dash put on a look of irritation.

“Why do you keep doing that?!”

“What, I’m not allowed to speak my mind?”

“No, but still! Why are you trying to help my friends? Trying to get all their attention or something?”

“Has anyone told you that you’re cute when your angry.”, War Heart just stood there with a smile on his face, remaining totally unphased by her apparently aggressive mood.

“I bet you think you’re so cool with the way you act.”, Rainbow Dash said as her eyes narrowed.

“What’s it to you?”, War Heart asked in a calm, yet challenging way.

“I’m challenging you to a race. I’ll show you that you aren’t so cool after all.”

“Oh, Really?”

“Yeah!”

“You’re on.”

“The edge of the Everfree forest, be there in fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll be there, beautiful.”, War Heart kept a completely straight face as the entire conversation went on. After the last comment, Rainbow dash turned a little red and flew off.

“What was that all about?”, Twilight walked outside the Carousel Boutique.

“She challenged me to a race.”

“No, I mean your obvious flirting with her. Do you like her?”

“What? No. I just find it fun to disarm people socially. A pony like her is out to show that she is the best, toughest, the coolest, and so on. A compliment on her looks is something that she isn’t used to.”

“That’s a bit of a strange thing to do…”

“A stranger thing is why you don’t wear glasses, you’d look awfully cute with a pair of glasses.”

“Uh… I don’t know… I never really considered…”, Twilight’s cheeks began turning red at the suggestion.

“I just did the same thing to you as I did to her.”, War Heart explained as Twilight just understood what he did. “Now you try.”, he told her as he stood waiting with a slight smile on his face.

“Oh, okay, ummm… You would look very handsome in… ummm… blue?”, She wasn’t quite sure if she was doing it properly, not quite sure if she wanted to do it at all.

“Well… it could use some work…”, War Heart said as he began walking away with Twilight following this time.

“I don’t know if you can win this race.”

“Why would that be?”

“She is pretty fast, and she also has the sonic rainboom.”

War Heart chuckled, “What, is that supposed to be some fruity energy drink?”

“No, she can go so fast that it breaks the sound barrier and creates a rainbow.”

“Sounds impressive, bet ya I can beat her.”

“How?”

“I have my ways.”, They had arrived at the start of where the race was supposed to be. Rainbow Dash was waiting impatiently, pacing back and forth.

“Hey, Beautiful, still waiting for me?”

“Are you sure you don’t like her?”, Twilight whispered to War Heart which he just whispered “Yes.”

“Stop calling me that!”, Rainbow Dash stomped the ground with her front hoof.

“I will when you stop being so beautiful.”

“We’re going to have a race around the forest all the way to back here.”

“All right then.”, War Heart took his place at the start line nonchalantly. Rainbow Dash readied herself, “The first one to cross the line wins.”

“Alright.”

“Go!”, Rainbow Dash zipped off into the distance. War Heart did not move.

“Aren’t you going to race her?”

“I am.”

“You aren’t moving.”

“Giving her a head start, she has a long way to go.”

“I think you do too at this point.”, Twilight was wondering what kind of incredible feat he was about to pull off. He walked forward a few steps and then walked around the end of the line and then stepped over the line.

“I win.”

“…. But, you cheated.”

“She said the first to cross the line. Never said that I had follow her path.”

“I guess that is true, but it seems dishonest.”

“I never wanted to race her anyway. This is more of a way to prank her.”

“I guess you did kind of fool her.”, Twilight giggled at the thought a little. Rainbow Dash was coming back to the starting line. She zipped past it and landed in her triumph while War Heart just stood there smiling. “What are you so happy about? You lost!”

“Technically, I won.”

“What? I never even saw you out there. How did you pass me without me seeing you?”

“I only had to move a few feet to go around the line and cross it, seems kind of silly to go the long way around.”, at this point, Rainbow Dash was getting very steamed about losing like that.

“You mad? You never look cuter than when you’re mad.”, War Heart said with a grin. Rainbow Dash took off without a word.

“She seems upset.”, Twilight remarked, not expecting the Dash to be so angry.

“She’ll get over it.”, War Heart said as he walked towards Ponyville with Twilight.

As they reached Ponyville, the commotion of three little fillies playing around could be heard. One orange coated Pegasus with purple mane and tail; a bright yellow coated earth pony with a bow in her red mane; and a white unicorn with bright purple and pink mane. “Hey, Girls, how’s it going?”

“We’re still trying to figure out what our special talents are.”, the young Pegasus said to Twilight

“Why’re you doing that?”, War Heart asked, a bit confused.

“We’re trying to get our cutie marks.”

“Your what-now?”

“Cutie marks, the symbol that you have on your flank?”

“How does that work?”

“It appears when you discover your talent.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you have one, you should know this.”

“Oh yeah, that, right. Bye.”, War Heart turned around and walked away, Twilight still following, “Bye, girls.”, she said as she left.

“What was that all about, War Heart?”

“I don’t have one.”

“A what?”

“One of those whatever marks.”

“A Cutie mark? Yes you do, it’s right there.”

“I had my friend draw that on when I was younger. I thought my parents just got tattoos and they didn’t really pay attention to that stuff.”

“You seem pretty old to not have even discovered it by accident.”

“Never occurred to me until a few minutes ago.”, War Heart and Twilight arrived at the Ursa cave again. “I guess I should wash this off.”, War Heart looked at his flank thinking, ‘I knew it was a stupid idea to do that in the first place.’

“I guess I could help you find your talent sometime, but I have to get home to Spike.”

“All right then, I guess I’ll walk you home.”

“You really don’t have to.”

“But I will anyway.”

“Thank you, but-”, Twilight disappeared in a burst of light, and reappeared behind War Heat.

“Nice trick.”

“Thank you.”

“Night.”

“Good Night.”, Twilight then disappeared again and War Heart went into the Ursa cave for some sleep.

War Hear had lived in the area for a few weeks now and winter was here. The winters in Ponyville had usually been reasonably chilly but this time it was a lot colder than usual. Everypony was wrapping themselves up in winter wear. War Heart found the cold was calming, reminding him of summer at home. War Heart strolled into Ponyville, no longer carrying his falsified cutie mark, or any other clothes for that matter. He saw Twilight in the street wrapped up in a scarf, hat, and jacket. “Hey, how’s it goin’?”, War Heart walked up beside her.

“It’s freezing out. I had to go and get some clothes from Rarity.”

“I haven’t noticed.”

“I forgot that you are pretty much impervious to the cold.”

“Yep, so what are you doing right now?”

“Going home, where it’s warm. Why?”

“I was going to invite you over to my place for pancakes and maple syrup.”

“What’s Maple?”

“…. Are you serious?”

“Should I not be?”

“How do you not know what the best thing in the whole world is?”

“I… don’t know?”

“Yeah, you are so coming over now, bring some friends if you want to, I can make enough for a lot of ponies.”, War Heart flew off towards his home.

“Ooookay. I guess I could bring Pinkie, and maybe Applejack and him should get another chance to fix for getting off on the wrong foot. Rarity too I guess, and Fluttershy should meet him too.”

About an hour later, Twilight gathered Pinkie, Rarity, AJ, and Fluttershy to Ursa Cave. “Where is he?”, Twilight wondered as she looked into the cave.

War Heart came out from the trees behind the group of mares. “I guess I forgot to mention I don’t live in the cave anymore.”

“I was wondering how you were making cake in a cave.”

“Pancakes.”

“That’s a type of cake right?”

“Kind of, follow me.”, War Heart walked back into the trees with the mares following him. They eventually came to a new clearing in the woods and a wooden long house.

“This is my new house.”, War Heart took pride in his work.

“It looks really good.”, Twilight commented. They group approached the doorway which was lined with ornate carvings of what looked like dragons.

“The Craftsmanship is divine.”, Rarity said as she passed the doorway. They group entered the building wear a wave of heat enveloped them.

“It’s so… Warm…”, Fluttershy looked around the long room.

“It took me a while to warm the place up, but I finally got a fireplace working.”
The walls were made of logs and a large rectangular table sat in the middle of the room. There was a circular shield on the wall behind the seat at the head of the table. The shield had a heart on it and had some wood chopping axes behind the shield itself.

“What is that thing for?”, Applejack asked pointing at the shield. War Heart looked up at it. “Well, I have ancestors from WorNeigh, and thought that I should have a shield hall.”

“What’s a shield hall for?”, Twilight asked War Heart, never even hearing of WorNeigh.

“It was where they would eat, drink, and celebrate.”, War Heart was explaining this to Twilight until Pinkie Pie screamed, “You mean they had a PARTY!”

“Yes, they did. Now if you’ll have your seats, I’ll bring out the pancakes and maple syrup.”

The mares all took a place at the table, waiting for this new food they never knew of. War Heart came back with a large steaming plate of circular pieces of baked batter. He gave them all four pancakes each and poured on some maple syrup. He sat at his place on the end of the table. All but he and Pinkie hesitated to eat at first. Pinkie took a liking to the syrup instantaneously. “It’s so good! What is it made of?”, Pinkie asked, by then everypony in the room was eating their pancakes.

“Well… I made this batch last year, I won’t bore you with the details but… it’s tree sap.”

“Really?”, Pinkie was starting to wonder is all tree sap was this good.

“Well, it’s from certain types of maple tree. The rest don’t have enough sugar in the sap to make this.”, War Heart explained.

“Well, I must say it was mighty decent of ya, to invite us over.”, Applejack said in appreciation of the meal.

“I’ve yet to serve you all drinks. A shield hall is not complete without it.”, War Heart brought out a large jug and wooden cups. He poured the yellow liquid into each cup.

“What is that?”, Twilight asked as she smelled the liquid. He aroma was strange to her.

“It’s made of honey.”, War Heart said as he was pouring the last cup. “It makes a pony strong, stupid and full of spirit.”, Twilight took a sip and shivered.

“I think it might have gone bad. It tastes a bit strange.”

“It’s supposed to. The taste won’t bother you after a bit. While you start drinking, I’ll just grab the other jug.”

“Where did you find all the time to make all this?”, Twilight asked.

“Well, I know how to get things done when I want to. The syrup and Mead though I brought from home.”

“It’s very impressive you got all this done in such a short time.”

“Yep, now who wants a shield in my hall?”

“What does having a shield in here mean?”, Twilight asked, wondering if there are consequences for such a thing.

“It means that you have a seat in my hall always reserved for you.”

“Does it come with more pancakes!?”, Pinkie asked with an abundance of enthusiasm for sweet things.

War Heart chuckled, “Yes, you can have more pancakes if you have a seat here.”

“Then I want one! Me! Me! Me!”, Pinkie was bouncing up and down, all excited.

War Heart left the table to grab a blank shield and he put it on the floor in the corner with some buckets of paint. “Just paint what you want to represent you on your shield, and I’ll put it up when you are finished.”, War Heart explained it to the excited pony who had just finished their drink.

“Okey, dokey, Lokey.”, Pinkie said as she went to the shield to paint.

“Okay, anypo-”, War Heart was about to speak until Pinkie screamed

“Finished!”, Pinkie came back, bouncing with a shield in her mouth, painted with a pink balloon.

“That was quick.”

“Now where are the pancakes?”, Pinkie asked, looking around.

“Over there.”, War Heart pointed and took the shield from Pinkie and placed it on the wall behind her seat. Pinkie Pie came back with a bottle of maple syrup and poured it into her drink.

Over the course of the night, they had drank an entire jug of mead and were starting to share stories with each other after they all eventually made a shield for the walls. All the ponies were having a good time being intoxicated in the warm hall of War Heart. The next morning War heart awoke on his chair. He looked around the room. Pinkie Pie was asleep, clutching an empty syrup bottle; Twilight was asleep on the floor; Fluttershy was asleep on the table; Rarity was sleeping on a pile of cushions on the floor she had stole from the chairs; Applejack was also on the ground but laying facedown in a puddle of vomit. “Well, that’s no good.”, War Heart said as he went into the back room and grabbed some blankets and put them on reach of the sleeping mares. War Heart dragged AJ away from the puddle of vomit and put a bucket next to her just in case. Then he went over to Twilight and put a blanket on her, then going to Rarity’s cushion pile and stealing one, he put a cushion under Twilight’s head for a pillow. War Heart then went to Pinkie Pie and put a blanket on her as well. He walked over to Fluttershy, “I wonder what happened to you.”, he whispered to himself as he placed a blanket over her. He walked to his closet and grabbed a bucket and headed to a small stream nearby to gather some water. He was starting to walk back until he saw Rainbow Dash flying overhead with a frantic look on her face. War Heart raised an eyebrow and stared at her. After a few seconds, she returned his gaze with an addition of suspicion. She flew down to War Heart and stared him in the face, “Where are my friends!?”, she interrogated him with an angry tone. War Heart grinned, “I took them all to my place. They are all lying on my floor, because I poisoned them.”, War Heart made and extra effort to sound extra sadistic. At the point of hearing this news, Dash grew pale and a grim look made its way to her face, “You’re lying!”, Dash said in disbelief.

“Well, a little bit, yeah.”

Dash sighed in relief.

“Fluttershy is on my table.”

“Why would you do this!?”

“I felt like having some fun.”, War Heart smirked. Dash backed up a bit, starting to fear War Heart.

“And now I have you all alone out here. You’re all vulnerable here, completely at my mercy.”, War Heart was staring down at Dash and walking towards her slowly and menacingly as possible. Dash kept backing away until she bumped into a tree. As War Heart closed in on her, her heart began to race. He kept staring at her, getting closer each second which seemed like forever. As War Heart came face to face with her he whispered, “Would you like some pancakes?”, at which point Rainbow Dash was frozen from confusion.

“What?”

“Pancakes, it’s almost lunch and I’m making plenty for the rest of your friends.”

“But, you told me they’re dead…”

“I never said that.”, War Heart stated while trying to hold back a chuckle as he walked towards his house with the bucket of water.

“What is he up to?”, Dash whispered to herself as she hesitantly followed, hoping her friends are okay.

War Heart walked back into the house and put the bucket of water on the table, then went to put more wood on the fire. Dash walked in and was taken in by the warmth and the decoration of shields on the walls and dragons on the doorway. Dash was relieved to find her friends were all just sleeping on the floor and Fluttershy on the table.

“You said you poisoned them, they look fine.”, Dash stated to War Heart, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

“I did technically.”, he pointed to the jug of mead on the table with a cup next to it.

“What is it?”

“It’s sweet, take a taste, but not too much, it’s more appropriate that you not drink much until the evening.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, let’s just say that some ponies have a worse reaction than others, like the farmer over there, she got a bit sick.”

“You said it was poison, but you still drink it?”

“It is a poison, you lose sense of balance and the idea of social barriers. Fluttershy is quite a party animal when drinking.”, War Heart was making more pancake as he was talking to Dash.

“So you tricked me.”

“I didn’t lie and you jumped to conclusions. That’s all there was to it.”, War Heart walked to the table and put down a plate of pancakes at a seat without a shield behind it.

“What’s that?”

“Pancakes. For you.”, War Heart then poured some maple syrup on the pancakes.

“Umm… Thank you?”, Dash said as War Heart began to wake up the other ponies by gentle nudges and soft-ish whispers. As Applejack awoke she had a weary look and gross taste in her mouth. War Heart pointed her to the bucket of water and told her to drink a cup. Applejack did so without hesitation. War Heart then went to Fluttershy and poked her in the face with his nose, he then put on a creeper face and stared at her while poking her. Soon her eyes opened and saw him staring at her, she froze for a moment.

“Time to wake up.”, War Heart said in a creepy voice. Fluttershy quickly slid off the table and hid under it. War Hear then went to Rarity and her cushion pile. He leaned in closely, “You’re wearing a plaid dress.”, he whispered and then walked away. Rarity’s eyes shot open and she quickly jumped up to check if such a terrible thing was true. To her relief, it was a lie. “Good morning, Princess Cushion-thief.”, War Heart said with a humorous tone.

“A lady does not stoop to sleeping on a floor.”, Rarity said as she took her place at the table.

War Heart went over to Twilight and looked down at her. He knelt down and whispered, “Wake up, it’s almost lunch.”, Twilight slowly opened her eyes and stretched. War Heart put more plates down, all covered with steaming pancakes and syrup. Everypony was eating slowly, feeling all groggy from the night before except for Pinkie and Dash. Pinkie was just fine and didn’t require a wake up call to be up and about. “What’s wrong with my head? It hurts so much.”, Twilight groaned.

“Well, that is the after effects that sometimes happens when you drink.”

“It seems kind of silly to do this with the knowledge that it will give you a headache the next morning.”

“Well, you had a good time, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes.”

“And that is why ponies do it, to have a good time.”

“I guess it makes sense when you look at it that way.”, The ponies all continued to eat in the quiet. After a while all the mares left to go about their daily business. War Heart began cleaning the place up. “That was a good night.”, War Heart said to himself as he was cleaning Applejack’s vomit off the floor. “I’m gonna sleep now though, still feeling a bit tired.”, War Heart went over to another room in his home and laid down on his bed.

War Heart awoke the next day with a rather good feeling. “That was a good sleep.”, War Heart got out of bed and went towards the front door. “I think I’ll go for a walk.”, He yawned as he opened the door. He froze as he opened his eyes, “Where’s all the snow!?”, he looked around in a panic. “Did I really sleep the entire winter!?”, War Heart flew off towards Twilight’s house and busted into her house, breaking the door down. “Twilight! I think I’ve been asleep for weeks! The snow is gone!”, War Heart shouted in panic.

“What? You were only asleep for a day, when we left we took care of winter wrap up.”

“Winter What-now?”

“Winter Wrap-up, we melt the snow and get spring ready.”

“… You serious about that?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“… That might explain why it’s always so cold where I’m from…”

“That could be an explanation… I guess.”, Twilight looked at her now broken down door. “Now, about my door…”

War Heart looked at the door, “Oh… Oops, sorry.”, War Hearted propped up the door against the wall, “I’ll make you a new one later.”

“At least it isn’t so cold anymore, so I can wait a while.”

“Alright, I’ll have it soon, I promise.”

“I know you’re good for it, War Heart.”, as Twilight said this, a thunderous crash came from the sky and an explosion of rainbow colours.

“Another weird seasonal thingy?”, War Heart guessed.

“No, that is Rainbow Dash and her Sonic Rainboom.”, War Heart chuckled at the name once again.

“A nice move, but it still sounds like a fruity energy drink. Why is she doing that?”

“She’s always practicing for the Wonderbolts, who she’s meeting at the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“The what?”

“It’s a formal event for the higher-ups of Equestria.”

“Sounds… odd.”

“It can be fun if you try to make it fun.”

“I don’t know if I’d be good at the whole formal thing. I’m going to catch up with Dash, be back later.”

“Bye, War Heart.”

War Heart took off towards the sky. He found Rainbow Dash resting on a cloud, looking exhausted. He was more wondering how she was sitting there. “How are you not falling through that cloud?”

“I’m a Pegasus, all Pegasi can walk on clouds.”

“First the cutie marks, and now this too.”

“What?”

“I can’t walk on clouds.”

“You can’t? Why?”

“I don’t know, I just can’t.”

“That’s weird.”

“Not as weird as you’re cute.”

“I was half expecting that at this point.”, Dash put on an uninterested face.

“Looks like it has lost its effect on you.”

“Yep, totally lame now.”

“Or you totally love it.”

“No, I don’t!”, Dash reacted with anger in her voice.

“Gotcha again.”

“Grr…”

“Well, I’m gonna go now, good luck with that fruity drink move.”

“It’s a Sonic Rainboom!”

“That’s what I said.”, War Heart flew off towards his house to prepare a door for Twilight.

Meanwhile, a shadow loomed over Ponyville. It came from above with the smell. It reeked of sulphur and rotting flesh on it’s breath. It’s massive wings as wide as houses and powerful as the tide. It’s eyes a piercing green with a rage only centuries of hatred and greed could create. It’s claws were long and sharp as razors. It’s skin was that like a serpent, with scales as black as an ebony statue. It’s tail as if it were another limb also carried with it spines that could chop a tree down in one swing. A dragon had its eye on Ponyville now. Fixing it’s deadly gaze on its ponies. The beast had a hunger that would only be satisfied with blood. And when it was finished with them, it would take their precious things and leave nothing but smoke, ash, and fire. It slowly descended upon Ponyville from the mountains. The Ponies outside noticing the awe-inspiring creature coming down to them began to panic and run in a rush of fear. As the dragon landed, it let out a roar that shook the very foundations of Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle ran outside to see the source of the noise. Her mouth agape at the sight of the dragon destroying Ponyville, devouring ponies as they futilely tried to flee the beast. There was another noise that bellowed from the creature, but more in words this time. “I am Agarrmagonn, your lives are forfeit until my hunger is satiated!”, the dragon shouted this more as a challenge for anypony to try to fight him. Twilight watched as the more brave ponies attacked with no result and only result in their doom of being devoured, piece by piece. The dragon walked towards Twilight, “You shall have an interesting flavour.”, the dragon reached for Twilight, who was frozen in terror. Suddenly the dragon wrenched away from Twilight and screamed. It turned it’s head to see a large black Pegasus stallion with a red and green striped mane; a shield on both his sides, strapped to his wings; and an axe on his belt biting on Agarrmagonn’s tail. “Puny creature, you will suffer my wrath for this insolence!”, the dragon then inhaled deeply. War Heart let go of the dragon and stood there, waiting for the dragon to make the first move. War Heart had a determined look on his face looking the dragon in the eye. Agarrmagonn exhaled forth a stream of viscous glowing fiery fluid at War Heart. The Pegasus could not be seen in the smoke, but when it cleared, there he was standing there with shields extended forward, they had blocked the hit and had remained unscathed. “It seems this will not be as simple as it seems.”, Agarrmagonn said as he turned around completely to fully face War Heart. “Who are you, Pegasi, so I can remember the whelp that actually survived the first ounce of my wrath.”

“I am War Heart, of the Heart Clan.”

“And what makes you think you can stop me?”

“I don’t.”

“Then why don’t you run?”

“Because I have to protect those I care for. With every bit of my being…”, As War Heart spoke, his flank began to glow and a cutie mark of a shield with a heart emblazoned on with a vertical sword behind it. War Heart stood on his hind legs and pulled out his woodcutter’s axe. “I wield the axe of my great great grandfather: Pride Heart, the general, the mighty-”

“An old axe is not going to help you defeat me.”

“But it is…”, War Heart point the head of the axe at Agarrmagonn, “…for he was also known as ‘Slayer’, for his feats of bringing down creatures like you.”

“Expect that axe to be added to my hoard, Pegasus.”

“Expect your head to be mounted on my wall!”, War Heart flew towards the dragon with his axe in hand. Agarrmagonn slashed at War Heart with his front claw, swatting War Heart into a nearby building, crashing through the wall.

“Ha! Pathetic pony, fell on the second blow!”, Agarrmagonn walked to the building and pulled away the roof, to reveal War Heart standing there, covered in dust.

“My shields are made of the wood of the Steelbark trees. Sturdy enough to withstand your hits.”, War Heart coughed a bit, blood dripping from his lips.

“You, however can’t take as much punishment.”, Agarrmagonn chuckled before inhaling again. War Heart readied himself, waiting for the exhale.

On the Exhale, Agarrmagonn screamed “Diiiiiiiiiie!”, the fiery fluid spewing forth into the house where War Heart was standing. There room was filled with fire and smoke. War Heart was gone. “It seems that your time was shorter than you believed it would be.”, Agarrmagonn taunted, looking at the shield in the inferno that used to be a building of Ponyville. War Heart hid behind a building to Agarrmagonn’s right. “That was a risky move, I couldn’t get away unscathed.”, War Heart whispered to himself as he looked at his partly burnt wing, cringing as he tried to move it. He had thrown a shield off him as he tried to dive away from the blast. “At least now I have the element of surprise.”, War Heart Whispered as he readied his axe again. He ran at Agarrmagonn as the dragon was about to go after another bystander. War Heart brought his axe down on the dragon’s tail. The axe cleaved through the scales as if it were butter. Agarrmagonn let out a guttural roar of agony as his tail was cut, which he swung the remainder of it into War Heart, knocking him to the ground a few feet away. “A clever move, one you will not be able to boast of later.”

War Heart coughed up a bit more of his blood, “Wanna bet?”, War Heart challenged and readied his axe again. Agarrmagonn was growing tired of this pony. The dragon inhaled once again. War Heart started running with his shield put up towards Agarrmagonn, he ran towards a house with the door open. Agarrmagonn exhaled the fluid flames at War Heart as he ran into the house. The dragon then reared back and brought both front claws down on the house, crumbling it to the ground. War Heart shattered through the second story window of the house next door, landing on the dragon’s back. “Dragon! Your death shall neither be quick nor painless!”, War Heart screamed as he brought the axe down on Agarrmagonn’s right wing. Agarrmagonn reared back again, in an attempt to throw the Pegasus off his back. War Heart grabbed onto the remainder of the dragon’s nub of a wing as it reared back. War Heart then took his axe and swung into the dragon’s back and held on by his axe while Agarrmagonn tried to shake off the Pegasus. Agarrmagonn rolled over onto his back, War Heart jumped away, tearing the axe from the dragon, but not jumping far enough that he got his wing caught under the dragon, causing the Pegasus’ already burnt wing to make him cringe in blinding pain. The dragon got back to his feet, and so did War Heart. Both of them were looking weak from loss of blood on Agarrmagonn’s part, and from exertion and internal damage on War Heart’s end. “Is… That… All you have?”, War Heart mocked exhaustedly.

“I will devour you by this day’s end.”

“Say that when I’m dead!”, War Heart screamed as he threw his shield from his wing into the dragon’s face, and then charged after it. The shield struck the dragon in the eye, causing it to raise a claws to it’s face to care for it’s eye instinctively. As the dragon was caring for it’s eye, War Heart swung down with his axe, cleaving it’s claw of the leg. Agarrmagonn lost his balance upon losing a foot suddenly and fell to the ground with a thundering crash. War Heart quickly swung again and cut off the claw coming to hit him on the dragon’s fall. The dragon was now at his mercy. “There are others, I’m not the only one, they will come, and they will come looking for retribution.”, Agarrmagonn told War Heart in a last hope he might be shown mercy.

War Heart raised his axe above his head, “I said I’ll protect this town…”, he looked Agarrmagonn in the eye, “… And I will.”, with that War Heart brought down the axe into the dragon’s neck, cutting through bone and flesh in one fluid motion until the head severed. War Heart walked away from the corpse to a nearby house and threw his axe to the ground. He sat down and leaned against the building, cringing from pain. War Heart sat there for a moment before the blackness took him, seeing a purple entity speeding towards him until all was black.

He opened his eyes to see he was in a hospital bed. His head shot up, he didn’t know where he was, he cringed in pain as he looked at his belly, which was all bandaged up. “They said that you broke a lot of ribs and nearly collapsed a lung and that you almost lost your wing.”, Twilight said as she walked in, noticing that War Heart woke up.

“Not the best day I’ve ever had…”, War Heart said trying to sit up.

“Everypony in Ponyville was so grateful for what you did that they are declaring you protector of Ponyville. They’ve been leaving gifts all week.”

“All week?”

“Well, yeah, but that was after we got the town cleaned up. That really took a long time.”

“How long have I been out?”

“About a month.”

“Wow…”

“Of course, you’ll be able to leave soon, but you’ll have to take it easy for a while.”

“Fantastic…”, suddenly there was a knock at the door.

“Who’s that?”, War Heart wondered.

“Come in!”, Twilight said as the door opened to reveal the familiar face of Jean-luc.

“Oh hey there. Nice battle scars there, eh?”, The moose with his ear-flapped toque entered the room.

“What are you doing here?”, War Heart asked him, kind of cautiously.

“Well, we heard the news that Ponyville was attacked, eh?”, Twilight Sparkle was staring at Jean-luc, never seeing one of his kind before.

“Did you come alone?”, War Heart asked.

“Uh… Well…”

“WAR HEART!”, Sweet Heart burst into the room and leapt at War Heart to hug him. War Heart screamed in pain as Sweet Heart jumped away.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”, she quickly tried to apologize to her sore brother.

“It’s okay…”, War Heart said while cringing.

“Also, War Heart, I forgot to mention that I wrote to Princess Celestia about what you did. She said she wants to meet you. You are now invited to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Sweet Heart turned to Twilight and then whispered to War Heart, “She’s cute, is she your mare-friend?”, she then giggled as War Heart swung to smack her upside the head but missed.

“So what’s your name, eh?”, Jean-luc asked Twilight.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle.”, Twilight answered the moose in a polite manner.

“So, what are you, eh?”, the moose asked in a clueless manner.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”, Twilight was feeling rather awkward.

“Well, War Heart says he’s a Peggy-sauce or something. What are you, eh?”

“I’m a unicorn.”

“That’s pretty nifty, eh?”

“Why do you keep saying that?”

“Saying what, eh?”

“That ‘eh?’ word.”

“Just the way I talk, eh? I can tell you have an accent too, eh?”

“Rrrriiiight, well I have to go do something, but I’ll be back later to check up on you War Heart.”

“Bye, Twilight.”, War Heart said as Twilight left.

Jean-luc and Sweet Heart left the same day that War Heart left the hospital. He was walking along the street until he was stopped by three fillies. “What do you three want?”, he asked with an eyebrow raised as they were staring at him.

“Your cutie mark looks different from last time.”, Apple Bloom stated.

“Well, my cutie mark was just painted on before.”, War Heart explained to the fillies.

“You were a blank flank until you were this old?”

“Uhhh… sure?”

“How did you get your cutie mark? Was it while you were fighting that dragon?”

“Yeah, sure.”

All three of the fillies looked at each other in excitement until they all screamed in unison, “Cutie Mark Crusaders, Dragon Slayers!”, and took off down the street.

War Heart scoffed at first but then his eyes widened as he realized they were serious. “Son of a birch…”

About a week passed, War Heart was at home, napping. There as a knock at his door. “It’s open!”, he shouted in the direction of the door. The door opened and Twilight walked inside “Hey, how’s you injuries?”

“Still being injuries.”

“I came to get you.”

“For what?”

“We’re going to get you some clothes for the Gala.”

“… I’m not wearing a dress…”

“You won’t be wearing a dress.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“I guess I could take a look.”, He slowly got to standing position, struggling to get up.

“Are you okay, do you need help?”

“Nope, nope, nope, I’m good.”, He said as he finally stood up and walked towards the door.

“Okay then let’s go.”

“Lets go by your place first.”

“Why?”

“I still need to put your new door in.”, War Heart said as he balanced the sturdy door on his back with one wing.

“You really don’t have to…”

“Well, I’m going to anyway.”

“Ok, I guess…”

The two ponies walked into Ponyville on their way to Twilight’s library. War Heart dropped the door by her door way. “This is gonna be a real birch to put in place…”

“I can help.”, Twilight’s horn began to glow with a purple light and the door began to levitate into place.

“Handy.”, War Heart commented as he fixed the door into the frame.

“Okay, now that is taken care of. Let’s go to Rarity’s.”

“Okay.”, War Heart walked with Twilight to Carousel Boutique. They entered the well decorated shop. Rarity came out to greet them. “Well if it isn’t the hero of Ponyville.”

“Uh, yeah. I need clothes for that Gala thing.”, War Heart said, still not sure if he wanted to go.

“I guess I could make a jacket for our hero.”

“So long as it isn’t pink…”

“I wouldn’t put that colour on you it wouldn’t suit. You need something to go with your coat.”

“Okay… How about just a regular tuxedo jacket?”

“You shouldn’t be seen wearing any old jacket! You have to show off that you are a somebody!”

“Okay…”

After about an hour, War Hear was wearing a crimson uniform jacket with several jewels pinned into the breast of it as if they were medals. The trim and embroidery was done in gold. “I feel… overdressed…”

“Well that’s because you aren’t at the Gala.”

“I guess.”, War Heart took off the jacket and put it in a box, “What do I owe you for this?”, he asked expected a high price.

“Nothing, think of it as a thank you for saving the town.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t take this for that. Is there anything you need done?”

“Well, I’d love to be seen at the Gala with the hero of Ponyville, such a thing would surely get me noticed if you were to act as my escort.”

“So you’re asking me to be your date?”

“In a way, yes.”

“Pass…”

“What?! Why!?”

“I’m not interested in you.”

“Fine. Your loss.”

“Yep.”, War Heart picked up the box and left a bag of bits by the door on his way out.

It was the night of the Gala, War Heart donned his new jacket in preparation of his meeting with the princess. “Son of a birch, I’m so nervous, my knees are quaking. Just got to remember to act like a gentleman.”, War Heart walked outside towards Ponyville, where he saw the carriages that Twilight and her friends were stepping into. “That must be my ride.”, he said as he walked towards the carriage behind theirs and took a seat. He was so busy looking out the window that he didn’t notice the grey coated blonde Pegasus mare sitting across from him. The mare spoke up, “So, you’re that new Pegasus that saved the town.”, this sudden break of silence startled War Heart.

“Oh, yeah, that’s right.”, he said in a rather bored tone.

“What’s wrong?”, the mare asked curious about how the Pegasus could not be happy about his new status.

“I don’t know, I kind of feel like I don’t deserve this. Like I haven’t done enough to earn it.”

“You can only do so much. You are just one pony, you aren’t invincible.”

“I guess, what’s your name?”

“Ditzy Doo, but my friends call me Derpy Hooves.”

“Why do they call you tha-”, he looked towards her and noticed one of her eyes was fixed on him and the other on the window, “Nevermind.”

“What’s your name?”

“War Heart.”

“Sounds pretty interesting, pretty intimidating I’d say.”, Ditzy giggled a bit.

“Nopony has anything to fear from me.”

“Says the Pegasus that became famous for being strong enough to bring down a dragon?”, Ditzy jested.

“Okay, I guess then everypony has something to fear of me…”, War Heart chuckled with Ditzy.

War Heart noticed they were alone in the carriage, “Were you coming to the Gala with someone? Or were you separated from your friends?”, he asked with honest curiosity.

“Nope, I’m all alone.”, Ditzy declared without any shame or embarrassment.

“Would you like for me to accompany you to the Gala?”, War Heart asked her, hopeful.

The mare pondered for a moment, “Hmmm… Sure, why not?”, she said with eyes closed and a grin.

“Great.”, War Heart said with a bit of enthusiasm. Soon the Carriage stopped and War Heart stuck his head out the window of the carriage. He noticed the line of carriages that also stopped, leading all the way to the palace about a dozen carriages away.

“It seems we’re going to wait a while… There’s a line to get in.”, War Heart explained the situation to Ditzy.

“Oh well, gives us time to get to know each other. What do you do for a living?”, she asked with honest curiosity.

“I’m a lumberjack, from Caneighda. I cut down trees for wood to make… stuff.”, He explained to her as best as he could, “How about you? What do you do?”, he asked, rather intrigued by her.

“I deliver letters and packages to other ponies.”, she showed some pride in her occupation.

“Is that difficult?”

“No, not really, but sometimes accidentally drop things on my way. That is one of the reasons they call me Derpy Hooves.”, she scratched the back of her head and smiled with eyes closed, somewhat embarrassed.

“Nopony is perfect.”

“How about being a lumberjack? Is that difficult?”

“Well, I kind of grew up with it, but it was really difficult at the beginning when I was just a colt.”

“You had to work like that as a colt?”

“Yeah, being the only ponies, I had to help out a lot for my family’s survival.”

“What was it like where you lived?”

“Well, I can sum it up in about one word: Cold.”

“Anything else?”

“Well, the only other creatures to talk to were moose.”

“What’s a moose?”

“Big creatures with horns that look like tree branches, with big squishy noses. They say ‘eh’ a lot.”

“They sound friendly.”

“They are.”, The carriage had finally arrived at the Gala.

“Looks like it’s our turn to make our entrance.”, War Heart said as he began to open the door to the carriage. He stepped out the carriage onto the red carpet leading to the palace. Ditzy stepped out after him and took her place by his side and walked with him to the palace.

Twilight and her friends were all waiting around for War Heart and noticed he had a mare by his side. “Isn’t that the mail-mare?”, Twilight asked her friends and pointed towards War Heart and Ditzy.

“I do believe so.”, Rarity said, looking at them as the pair walked by.

War Heart walked up the stairs with Ditzy towards Celestia. Celestia had her usual smile on. She looked down at War Heart. “I must congratulate you on your amazing feat. To defeat a dragon like Agarrmagonn is no easy task.”

“I was just doing what I could. If I were to refuse helping, I’d be no better than the dragon itself.”

“Powerful, Brave, AND Noble. You are very special kinda of pony. Please accept this medal, and with it my thanks for saving the lives of many of my subjects.”

“Thank you, Princess.”, War Heart bowed his head as the medal floated around his neck. The medal was made of silver and was in the shape of a shield. War Heart walked on with Ditzy into the palace where the most of the Gala was being held. Almost everypony stared as he entered, he felt uncomfortable. He walked out into the crowd where he whispered to Ditzy, “At this point, I think I’d rather be fighting the dragon again…”, at which point Ditzy giggled.

“Don’t worry, just be yourself.”, she instructed him in his doubt.

“If you say so.”, he responded, still feeling a bit ill at ease. He walked up to a white unicorn stallion with blonde mane and a snooty look.

“Hey, some party, eh?”, War Heart gave a playful jab to the unicorn who was taken off guard.

“I am Prince Blueblood, how dare you assault me!”, the unicorn speaking with utmost confidence from years of being treated as superior to all others.

“Hey, buddy, I wasn’t assaulting you, eh.”, War Heart put on a bit of an irritated look.

“And that accent… You sound so uncouth!”, the unicorn scoffed and walked away.

“What was that all about?”, Ditzy asked War Heart quietly.

“I speak in my Caneighdian accent whenever I get nervous.”, War Heart explained in embarrassment.

“Aw, you don’t have to worry about anything. Prince Blueblood is always like that anyway.”

“He’s a Prince?”

“Yep, nephew of Princess Celestia.”

“Greeeeat. I’m never gonna fit in at this rate.”

“It’s just a few hours, don’t worry.”

“Why couldn’t they be as nice as you?”

“I dunno.”

“I need to get out of here.”

“There’s a way to the garden over there.”, Ditzy pointed to a big glass door leading outside.

“Sounds good, let’s go.”, War Heart hurriedly walked towards the door, Ditzy following behind at regular pace. Upon reaching the door, War Heart waited for Ditzy to get there before opening it for her, then exiting himself. When he got out to the garden he breathed in deeply. “Felt like I was suffocating in there…”, War Heart walked a few steps before sitting on the grass.

“I’m going to get a drink, I’ll be right back.”, Ditzy walked off nonchalantly.

“She’s a good mare.”, War Heart commented to himself as she left.

“Sounds like you found someone to go to the Gala with after all.”, Twilight approached War Heart.

“I guess so… At least it wasn’t Rarity.”

“What was wrong with Rarity?”

“She’s too… Fancy for my blood.”

“Oh, I see.”

“So how is the Gala going for you?”

“Stuffy, as usual.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Yes, and it was boring at first, but then a bunch of things happened that ended up making it interesting.”

“Hm… Just wish that not everypony would stare. I hate being the center of attention.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon enough.”, Twilight turned and left to go back indoors.

A few hours later, everypony was starting to leave and head home. War Heart and Ditzy took the same carriage back. Was Heart fiddled with his hooves nervously, “Would you like to come over to my place for some pancakes?”

Ditzy looked at him and smiled, “I would love to.”

END