“Good. I trust that you can get it done?”

“Yes sir! I’ll get my team on it!” Star Grazer saluted Shining Armor as he walked out the tent. Outside, the cold morning air lay crisp and fresh on the camp grounds. The ground lay damp and soft under his hooves. The camps calm quiet was broken by the shuffling of hooves. Star Grazer waited in front of the tent as the shuffling came closer. Light Dasher turned the corner first followed by Fluttery, Barry, Blueblood and another stallion.

“So what do we have to do?” Fluttery inquired, tightening the saddlebag on her back.

“Our mission is to scout out the town. We will skirt the forest edge, marking any weak spots in their defenses. Blueblood, you will be making a map of the area so our pace is determined by you.” Blueblood groaned and nodded, shifting in the light armor he was wearing. “Don’t attack anything unless you are certain you can kill it! Our mission is to scout, not kill the griffins, at least not yet. If everypony is ready lets move out!” The small group let out a cheer and followed Star Grazer into the forest.

The five of them were quickly plunged into the dark of the forest. Star Grazer insisted on travelling through the thicker parts to avoid detection. They ambled their way through thick bushes and large ferns. The sounds of rustling foliage filled the forest as they approached the town. It was a quaint little place. The cobblestone buildings and thatch roofed houses reminded Star Grazer of home. He stopped for a moment and observed the town and its griffin inhabitants, going about their daily lives, unaware of the equine eyes watching over them. The stallion charged with taking notes walked aside Blueblood with Fluttery and Light Dasher in front of them. Star Grazer and Barry scouted ahead for a good vantage point. Upon finding one, Star Grazer signaled for the rest of the group to come.

“Ok guys! We can see them but they can’t see us. Blueblood, did you start on that map?” Blueblood scowled at Star Grazer. “I’ll take that as a no…” Why do I even consider him my friend? Well… I am also friends with Light Dasher… and Fancy Pants… I should really reconsider my friends! He confirmed with himself and looked out toward the town. Windforge. Its quant. Has a nice ring to it, Windforge, wouldn’t mind living in a place called that. Cherry is awaiting me in that town. Let’s hope I have the strength to save her…

“Hey Star Grazer, I’ve finished this portion of the map. Do you want me to include the dock on the river as well?” He pointed toward… well, a dock on the river.

“Yeah. Shining wants as detailed a map as you can draw. It surprises me though.” Star Grazer rubbed his chin.

“What?”

“Apparently you are the only one who is able to draw well. Out of all the ponies we have with us. After all it is an army that we travelled with.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it was for that reason I was selected to do this job.” Remembering the night before Blueblood scorned Shining Armor for that.

The rest of the morning was spent travelling all around the edge of the town. The group met no resistance and was able to take some steady and solid notes on defenses. The guard shifts had an off time of about 1 hour in the mornings. The main entrance is always heavily guarded and smaller side entrances were guarded as well. Under Shining’s orders, Star Grazer ran through several scenarios of how to capture the city.

It was about midday when Star Grazer instructed Blueblood to pack up. He grimaced as he saw Blueblood’s hoof. It was a sickly purple color and throbbed rhythmically to his pulse. He has magic! Why didn’t he use it? Star Grazer knelt down and helped pack the ink and quills away in the saddlebag.

“Thanks Star.”

“No problem Blue.” He picked up his spear and began walking toward camp. “Come on guys, let’s go back.” Everypony nodded in agreement and trotted along with him.

The next few days were quiet and dull. A letter came through to Shining Armor late one afternoon. After reading the letter Shining’s face went pale and he rushed into his tent. He hadn’t come out of the  tent for hours either. Rumors of Shining going insane spread through the camp. Star Grazer put a quick stop to it by placing a counter rumor of Shining’s planning phase. Of course Star didn’t know what was happening either so he took it upon himself to visit his leader.

“Oh Captain, my captain!” Star Grazer caroled as he poked his head into the tent. The tent was a mess of scrolls, papers, maps, and books across the ground. Shining Armor sat at his desk, hand coursing through his now mussed up hair. He looked up to Star Grazer and quickly gestured for him to come closer. Star Grazer gingerly walked through the sea of parchment to Shining Armors side.

“Sir, are you all right?” Star Grazer tilted his head.

“No. We have a situation. These griffons… have hostages.”

Star Grazer stood patiently aside Shining as he briefed him on the situation. The griffons have a small group of ponies’ hostage. Judging from the way the letter is written and the current situation, the ponies are most likely inside the town. Assuming that the griffons are unaware of their position several forms of attack can be comprised. Shining Armor and Star Grazer contemplated several scenarios for a solid hour before fatigue washed over Shining.

“I think we are on to something. I’m going to have to call in Team Green Bean in order for any of these plans to work. You will be briefed on your next assignment ‘yawn’ when you are needed. For now, you are free to do any work around the camp as you please. Just don’t cause any trouble and keep Blueblood in check.” They both chuckled as Star Grazer waded through the parchment sea again.

“Well good night sir!”

Star Grazer woke up the next morning in a daze. He felt groggy and disheveled. The sky was a still shade of gray. About dawn… He slowly got up and walked through his tent. The tents his troop were supplied were slightly smaller than the rest. Large enough to hold 2 ponies and their stuff but small enough to not allow too much hoof room Star Grazer carefully walked to Barry’s cot nudging him awake.

“Mmngph. What? Is it breakfast yet?” Barry rolled over onto his stomach and scratched his flank.

“No. I think it’s too early.”

“Then what you go and wake me up for!” He grunted and rolled away before Star Grazer could reply.

Star Grazer stared at the stallion some more before turning about and walking out of the tent. The air was crisp and clean and a low fog filled the land. The ground was soft and moist with the dew of early morning. I wonder if all the mornings are like this. It sure seems like it. He smiled and walked toward the campfire. The small circlet of rocks, tinged black from flame, was still warm from the night’s fire. The embers in the wood were long since dead and gray ash was left in its wake.

He turned around when he heard a yawn and a slight shuffling from behind him. Light Dasher had just woken up and was stretching by her bed. She looked up at Star Grazer and yawned out a tired ‘good morning’. She finished her stretching and walked over to Star Grazer.

“Hey. Why are you up so early?”

“I should be asking you the same thing.” They both giggled.

“Well obviously I just woke up. Why are you out here?” She tilted her head in curiosity.

“I don’t know if I should tell you this but I trust you. There is a hostage situation. If this is true then were going to be fighting again soon…” He trailed off in thought.

“Okay then? That is why we are in the army… to fight? Hence, Army. What really is on your mind?”

“Hmm well did I tell you why I joined?”

“No. But I get the feeling you’re going to tell me!” She leaned in closer to him.

“Fine, sit down and I’ll explain.” She plopped down at the very spot she was in cause enough for a face palm from Star Grazer. He pointed to a log and they sat down.

I’ve known Cheery Grove since I was a little filly. Her coat was of the most beautiful light rose colored coat. Her mane is a light pink with white highlights. She kept it short and made curls that progressively became bigger toward the back of her mane. Her tail was also stylish and cut short to accent her mane. She has the cutest laugh and the nicest smile. She always smelled of cherries hence the nickname ‘Cherry’.

She used to always be happy. She was brave, bold, and daring! She had a way of brightening my day when I was down. I became Elite when I proved myself capable at the University of Equestria. I excelled at the top 5 percentile of my class. I graduated early and was awarded the Equine Prize for my discoveries in theology and philosophy. Cherry was so excited for me. I used by good standing with the university to make Cherry a recognized Elite as well.

She enjoyed the luxury of Elites alongside with me. I worked at the Royal Canterlot Library. I had a few opportunities to see Twilight Sparkle before she did her amazing feats in The Magic of Friendship. Cherry and I did many things together. We often visited the Canterlot gardens and I would show her the constellations in the sky. She would tell me about her day of work at the small café she worked at. We’d go and dance and at the Canterlot parties. Sometimes, much to my dismay, I’d attend her when “hanging out” with her Canterlot friends. It normally wouldn’t bother me if they weren’t almost all stallions.

Something changed however. One day she stopped smiling, stopped attending parties, working at the café, stopped being Cherry. It was about 2 months ago. She was living as a roommate with a stallion down in the town portion of Canterlot. She sent me a letter inviting me to dinner with her roommate at his place. The kind gentlecolt  am, I graciously agreed and prepared for the dinner.

The dinner was fine, normal. Slightly awkward for me seeing as I sat between her and the stallion. They would have conversation across from me and play games that made me very uncomfortable. It was when they tried to play hoofsies that I asked to be excused to the bathroom. I heard a lot of noise and Cherry screaming so I ran out. She was gone. The door was open and the stallion and her were both gone.

I informed the police and went on a desperate search for her. The first day was fruitless. No sign of her was found. The second day, police found a waft of her mane. They used it to track her back to a weird building in the poorer district of Canterlot. We found her in the back, shivering, and cold. Her eyes were blood shot and looked slightly emaciated. Her body was covered in welts and bruises and she recoiled when I tried to touch her. It was then that I noticed the red and white liquids near her flank…

“From that day she has never been the same… She distanced herself from me and eventually stopped talking all together.”

Light Dasher wiped tears from her eyes. She hugged Star Grazer and quietly sobbed into his shoulder. Star Grazer was dumbfounded and simply patted her on the back.

“Uh… are you ok?”

“You’ve been through so much!” she had difficulty choking out the words.

“Um… I haven’t really been through anything traumatic in my life but Cherry certainly has…” his angst showed through his confused expression.

“Ok. Tell me then, why did you join the army?” She wiped a residual tear but continued to hug him.

“Well I had heard she was still in Canterlot when it was attacked. I was going to return to Canterlot but that warning cloud thing showed up so I stayed in Fillydelphia with my family.”

“So now you are looking for her? Like the hero in fairytales?!” Her eyes sparkled. “AWWWWWWWWWWW!!! That’s so romantic!!!” She squeezed him or more strangled him.

“L-L-Light… Da-shh-er… Cant… breath…” She let go of him and smiled.

“Sorry. That is just so romantic! I wish I had a stallion like you to come save me!” Her face reddened through her caramel coat. Star Grazer stared at her for a moment confused before he made the realization, blushing himself but smiling.

“Ha! Doesn’t surprise me! Look at me! Mares are falling head over heels for this face. Come on look at that chiseled jaw!” He struck a pose glamourizing his small frame. Light Dasher fell, rolling on the floor laughing out loud. Star Grazer followed suit. They laughed and laughed until Barry threw a pebble at Star Grazer yelling at them to keep it down. Their laughter died down to giggles and lied in the grass smiling at each other.

“I think I understand now. You know something? I like you, not in that way but I do like you. You were quiet and stuff when I first met you. You had this weird accent and I felt the need to watch over you. That is the reason I joined the army. I don’t know why though. I guess I'm a natural mother.” She winked at him and he chuckled a bit. He stuck his nose up in the air and looked down at her, taking an obnoxiously loud breath.

“Well thank you mother! May I go and play with my toys in the foyer now?” He imitated a privileged rich kid’s voice.

“Hmm yes. Why certainly darling! Go on and play with your toys!” Light dasher imitated a privileged rich woman and turned her snout to the sky.

“Thank you very much! I am indebted to you!”

They burst out in a fit of laughter again. Only pausing momentarily when Barry got out of the tent and stomped into a spare tent grumbling along the way. This only fueled the duo into more laughter and jokes lasting all throughout the day. Next Chapter: Welcome to the Team Estimated time remaining: 30 Minutes