Whether by Princess Luna’s intervention or due to Nature Spark’s herbs, something helped Discipula Star sleep peacefully through the night and she opened her eyes feeling refreshed and ready to begin the day. She rolled over onto her side and saw Inferno, curled up in a tight ball and sleeping just as soundly as her mother had. Though the unicorn would have preferred to let the little dragon rest for awhile longer there were still a few things that needed to be done before she and her companions left Canterlot to begin the long flight to the Crystal Empire. Inferno mumbled incoherently a moment later as Star gently nudged her awake. The serpentine girl opened her large, yellow eyes and yawned widely as she rolled over to face the unicorn, smiling softly while she bid her mother a pleasant morning.

“Did you get enough rest?” Star asked as she begrudgingly pushed the covers off of her small body and sat up in bed, leaning against the ornate headboard for support.

“I did,” Inferno replied with another yawn before she too kicked off the blankets. “What about you? Any more nightmares?” she asked as she stretched her stubby arms out and then her tail, wings and each leg.

“Nope,” Star told her. “I slept like a foal all night.”

“Good,” Inferno replied. She sat up and threw her legs off the side of the bed, sliding on to the carpeted floor a moment after. “I can go get us breakfast if you wanted to take a bath. It’s likely that you won’t get another chance for awhile.” Star shook her head and proceeded to climb out of bed, standing on wobbly legs as she shook the sleepiness from her mind.

“Maybe later,” the unicorn answered. “For now I think that I would like to get some tea, since I didn’t actually get to have any yesterday.”

“Okay, let me just use the bathroom for a minute and then we can go,” Inferno said as she ambled slowly across the bedroom.

“Take your time,” Star told her. She began to gather up her clothes and pack her saddlebags. Inferno nodded her head and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and leaving her mother to pack for the journey ahead.

Star took a seat on the floor as she floated her boots and cloak over to her, putting them on one after another, while the grogginess in her head started to fade. She only hoped that Spark had enough herbs to last them for awhile, because she hadn’t slept so well in days and it felt nice to wake up gently, rather than being frightened awake by bad dreams. They would also need to buy some food and a few other things while in town, she thought, as she tossed her cloak over her back and pulled the sash tight around her waste, tying it with a casual flash of magic. She knew that the princesses would provide them with enough funds to stock up before they left and she only had to hope that Brass Heart and Dawn would still be able to pull the chariot once it was fully loaded with her, Ursa and Spark inside.

“Alright, I’m ready now,” Inferno stated as she exited the bathroom, her face still glistening with droplets of water from splashing her scaled viasage to help herself wake up.

“You may want to grab some clothes,” Star suggested.

“Why, is it snowing again?” Inferno asked as she turned towards the tall windows, which were still covered by thick curtains.

“I’m not sure,” Star replied. She hadn’t thought to check, but it was better to be prepared regardless. Inferno pulled back the curtains and peered through the window, her short tail swishing back and forth habitually as she examined the morning sky. “Well, how does it look?” her mother questioned.

“I don’t think that it is going to snow today, but the clouds are gathering as far as my eyes can see,” Inferno replied as she turned away from the glass with a shrug. Since dragons could see a fair distance further than ponies, Star was inclined to believe that a good portion of Equestria was probably blanketed by grey clouds. The weather was still growing steadily more severe day by day and Star began to wonder if Windigos held some blame for that fact.

“I suppose if it isn’t going to snow, then you don’t have to bundle up,” Star told her daughter, “but I’m definitely going to keep my boots on,” she added with a laugh.

“That’s probably for the best,” Inferno agreed. “Now, let’s go get you that nice, hot cup of tea.” Star smiled as she got up from the floor and followed her daughter out the doorway and into the better lit hallway, where they passed a couple of ponies cleaning on their way to the stairs.

“Good morning,” Ursa greeted as he spotted the two girls just about to turn the corner and go down to the dining hall. “I see that you managed not to sleep in today,” he observed, quickly trotting over to them. Star noticed that his normally unkempt mane was falling more or less flat along his neck, so it was obvious that he had gotten up before she had, but he still looked rather chipper as he smiled at them.

“Yes, although I did consider going back to sleep,” Star replied as the emerald coated stallion caught up to them. “I don’t think I’ve slept that hard in a long time. It was a shame to give it up.” Ursa just laughed as they began to descend the stairs, following just a couple steps behind his friends.

Inferno craned her spiked head back and asked him, “Have you seen Spark or Axel yet today?”

“No, but I’m not sure if that’s because Axel already left for the shop again or if the nights spent working have finally caught up with her,” Ursa replied.

“I would bet on the latter,” Star said, “but there’s a good chance I’d lose that bet,” she added with a smirk.

“That mare does seem to have a limitless supply of energy,” Ursa admitted. “If only we could find a way to harness it for ourselves.”

“We could probably keep the entire Equestrian Military awake for weeks,” Inferno joked as she stepped off the last stair and spun to her left, towards the entrance to the dining room.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Ursa chuckled in reply.

“Hey, wait for me!” Star turned around at the sound of Spark’s call and the blind stallion bounded down the stairs. He stumbled once near the end, but managed to keep his hoofing as he made his way over to his friends.

“It’s so nice of you to join us,” Star said as he made his way over to them, the green light emanating from the tip of his metallic dagger guiding his every step.

“Good morning,” Inferno greeted the lanky stallion. He soon skidded to a halt on the slick tiles.

“Are you three going to get some breakfast?” he asked as they resumed their walk to the dining hall. “I could certainly use a little something right about now.” As if on cue, his stomach rumbled loudly, causing Inferno to giggle in reaction. “I told you so,” he added with a grin.

“Yes,” Star replied, “although I will most likely just stick with tea for now.”

“Well I’m going to get my fill of fine cuisine while I have the chance,” Ursa said as they approached the next room, where the smell of a hot breakfast was beginning to creep out from the cracks in the doorjamb. “I can’t imagine that we will be eating that well while we’re traveling.”

“Hmm, maybe you’re right,” Star admitted. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to enjoy a peaceful meal while I have the opportunity to do so.”

“To bad they don’t have any gemstones,” Inferno griped. “But maybe I can get a couple from Gentle Gem when I see him next. There are bound to be some unsuited for enchanting.” Star just sighed and shook her head as she pulled one of the twin doors open for her companions.

“Thanks,” Ursa mumbled. He entered the dining room and headed straight for the table laden with food.

“I’m sure you’re right about getting some gems from him,” Star commented. “If for no other reason than because he is a bit of a pervert.” The little dragon just laughed as she followed the crystal pony.

“Oh, he’s just a harmless old stallion,” Spark defended. “And you have to admit that it is sort of humorous.” Star wasn’t so sure that she agreed with his opinion, but she didn’t bother arguing the point because she spotted a few steaming kettles of tea and their scent beckoned her across the large room.

“Hopefully Axel ate something before she left this morning,” Star mumbled aloud, utilizing a simple levitation spell to pour herself a cup as she spoke. “Would you like some tea as well, Spark?” she asked. She carefully blew on her own beverage and glanced over to the unicorn inquisitively.

“I’m sure Axel will eat whenever she gets hungry and yes, I would love a cup of tea right about now,” Spark replied. “I don’t suppose that there is a chance of one of those kettles containing Dragonwell tea, is there?”

“I seriously doubt that,” Star replied as she grabbed a much cheaper green tea and poured him a cup. “Just because the castle chefs provide good food, doesn’t mean that they spare no expense while making breakfast,” she laughed. “Dragonwell isn’t exactly cheap you know.”

“Yes… but a stallion can dream, can’t he?” Spark asked wistfully. Star floated his tea in front of him and scoffed quietly. The blind stallion felt out the cup and grasped it with his magic, taking a small sip as he strode over to another part of the table, where various fruits were sitting out for ponies to take. “Perhaps it would have been better had Celestia never given me some to try in the first place,” he sighed, though he continued to sip on the common beverage anyway.

“Is that what Celestia drinks?” Star asked, realizing that she knew far more about Princess Luna than she ever would about the older alicorn.

“It’s her favorite,” Spark replied. He lifted out a shiny red apple and held it aloft, alongside his cup as he turned away from the buffet and started off towards the opposite table, where Ursa and Inferno were already sitting down with plates full of various baked goods. Star decided to grab a few items for herself and then joined them for breakfast once she had finished, taking small sips from her cup the entire time.

Once they had finished eating, Star and Inferno left their friends in order to meet with Brass Heart and Dawn Glory at their respective homes. The pegasus were still unaware that they would be making the long journey to the Crystal Empire and the unicorn only hoped that they would agree to escort her and her companions, though she knew that Princess Celestia or Princess Luna could just as easily order the soldiers to do so anyway. She would much rather leave the choice up to them though, because forcing somepony to put their lives in danger seemed wrong to her. It certainly hadn’t worked on Spark, at least, not at first.

Inferno had spoken the truth when she had said that the cloud cover was far reaching, Star noted, as she gazed up at the dark haze above them. The snow hadn’t yet fallen though and it even appeared as though some of the ice had begun to melt away, but the city was far from warm, not that her daughter seemed to notice. Inferno walked along beside her mother at a steady pace, growing only slightly winded by the time that they reached the plain, stone face house in which Brass Heart resided. Star immediately walked up on the stoop and knocked twice, wondering if he was even at home. The question was laid to rest as the white stallion pulled open the front door just a second later, his mane still damp, because she had once again caught him just as he was stepping out of the bath.

“Star,” he greeted her with a smile, “we really have to stop meeting this way. Ponies may start to get the wrong idea about us.” It was a simple enough statement, uttered in a completely unserious way, but Star felt her smile falter for just a moment none the less.

“Umm, good morning,” she replied, trying to keep her cheeks from blushing as they had the last time she was put in the same, awkward situation. “May we come in?”

“Yes, of course,” Brass Heart replied as he stepped back into the house. “Make yourselves at home.”

“Thank you,” Inferno said. She followed him inside along with her mother, who was doing her best not to stare at the pegasus’s toned muscles as he led them through the short hall into his living room, which happened to look a bit more presentable than the last time she had seen it. It appeared as though her recent visits had given the corporal ample cause to tidy up a bit, though she had to admit that it didn’t really do that much to make the place seem any less like the den of a single stallion.

“So, should I even ask what brings you two here today or shall I just grab my boots so that we can be off to pick up Dawn and head over to the old shop?” he asked with an amused glint in his light blue eyes as he spoke.

“Well, I suppose that you are half correct,” Star replied. “We do need to go to Dawn’s house, but we won’t be heading over to the shop just yet, there are a few things for us to discuss first.” This seemed to intrigue the winged stallion and he took a seat while he waited for her to elaborate. “Ahem, my friends and I will be leaving for the Crystal Empire today,” she began to explain, “which means that we will need some help getting around, considering that none of us are pegasus.” She smiled and tried to gauge his reaction, but Brass Heart’s face was as reserved as ever; just one of the reasons why she hadn’t expressed her feelings yet.

“I see,” the corporal replied. “Please, go on.”

“I am aware that this mission comes with more than its fair share of risks and I would be remiss if I were to not make that fact very clear-”

“Oh, just ask him already,” Inferno interrupted with an annoyed tone at her mother’s carefully considered response. “Or better yet, I’ll do it for you,” she said as she turned to Brass Heart. “What my mother is trying to ask is whether or not you would be willing to pull their flying chariot to the coast, around the Crystal Mountains and into the heart of enemy territory.” It was a rather blunt way to ask, but Star had to admit that the directness was a welcome relief from her own stumbling words.

“Is that all,” Brass Heart asked. His face broke out in a smile. “It’s sort of my duty to face dangers like that for the good of Equestria and it is always a pleasure to escort you, Miss Star.”

Star blushed slightly as she heard her daughter whisper, “That’s because he’s in love with you,” but thankfully, the corporal didn’t seem to hear her. It was getting to be a bit of a chore trying to hide how she felt from the pegasus, but Star was still managing at the moment, though Inferno wasn’t making it any easier on her.

“So I guess that means that all there is left to do is for us to go and get that slacker, Dawn,” Brass Heart said as he got back up from the chair, giving a quick shake of his wings to help their plumage lay flat.

“I suppose so,” Star agreed. She and Inferno got back up as well. “Is he at home right now?” the unicorn asked as they all left the house, pausing momentarily at the front door to give the corporal a chance to slip into his boots and throw on his cloak.

“As far as I know,” Brass Heart replied. He locked the door behind him and gracefully hopped off his front stoop, the slick ice creating no obvious challenge to the agile pegasus. “I don’t know of anyplace else that he would have gone anyway. I’ve told him to be ready every morning, just in case Axel needed our help again.” Ever the committed soldier, Star thought, as she listened to him speak. She began to wonder if it would even be possible for him to make room in his life for her, should she ever tell him how she felt. The unicorn then realized that she was getting ahead of herself anyway, because she was still having trouble gathering the courage to voice those feelings.

“Now isn’t the time fo-” Star stopped herself, realizing that somewhere along the way she had begun to answer her own thoughts out loud. The very idea made her face burn brightly and she quickly glanced away and attempted to correct her mistake with more words. “Er, what I mean to say is, now is the time that we could really make use of the flying chariot,” she hurriedly corrected, hoping that the slip of words hadn’t been as painfully obvious to her friends as it had been to her. If either of them noticed though, they certainly didn’t act as if they had. “Walking around in the cold isn’t much fun,” she added with a groan.

“I don’t think that it’s that bad,” Inferno replied with a smile, while performing a quick spin on her heels with her arms reaching up to the skies.

“Well that’s only because extreme temperatures aren’t as hard on a dragon’s tuff scales,” Star retorted. “If you were a pony then you might agree.”

“I guess that we’ll never know,” Inferno replied as she ran back up to the two ponies, “unless you’ve happened upon a spell that can turn a dragon into a pony sometime during all your studies.”

“I can’t say that I have,” Star told the dragon, “though I suppose that it could very well be possible, if somepony were well versed enough in magic to even attempt such a thing.” An alicorn seemed like the only one who could potentially pull something like that off, but she couldn’t see any reason for either of the princesses to try their hooves at it.

“So you say that we’re to leave for the Crystal Empire today, huh?” Brass Heart asked as they continued down the cobblestone streets, passing by a few shops and residences that seemed to be alive with activity since the snow had ceased for a couple of days. The constant blizzards over the past few weeks had left the normally thriving city rather lacking in activity and Star was glad to see the change.

“Yes, the sooner that we can put an end to the duke’s devious plot, the better it will be for all of us, Equestrians and Crystal Ponies alike,” Star replied.

“I’m sure you’re right,” Brass Heart said with a nod of his blonde maned head. “I must admit it surprises me that Princess Luna would send you on such a dangerous quest though. I would think that she would have rather sent one of her night guards or somepony else whom she hasn’t grown so close to.”

“She would,” Star admitted, “but I made the decision to go on my own and she decided that it should be my choice.”

“Ah, well that would explain it,” the corporal laughed. “I should have known that you wouldn’t allow your friends to run off by themselves.”

“Very true,” Star said with a flash of white teeth. “And somepony has to keep them in line, after all, so why not me?”

“I suppose young Inferno here will be joining us as well?” Brass Heart asked. The question seemed to deflate the serpentine girl’s good mood just a bit and Star sighed deeply as she glanced over at her.

“No, I have asked Inferno to stay behind this time,” Star replied sadly. “Her safety is far too important for me to put her at risk for a selfish reason such as wanting to be together. There are a few things that I need her to do while I’m gone anyway and at least she will have Axel for company.”

“I’m sorry if I have touched upon a sore subject for the two of you,” Brass Heart quickly apologized. “I meant no harm in asking.”

“It’s okay,” Inferno assured him as she tried to put on a smile. “I understand her reasons, even if I may not like them.” No doubt getting the gems from Incendiaura had something to do with her sullen response, Star thought, though staying behind in and of itself was hard enough as it was. “Just promise me that you will take good care of her for me, okay?” the little dragon requested of the soldier.

“I pledge on my honor as a royal guard to the princesses that not a single perfect hair upon her head or flank will be marred in the slightest,” the pegasus assured her as he dipped into a bow. Inferno simply laughed in reply, but Star just looked away out of embarrassment that he had referred to part of her as perfect.

“That’s good to hear,” Inferno replied before hurrying across the street. Brass Heart and Star followed after the little dragon, walking side by side in a mostly comfortable silence. The unicorn would cast the occasional glance the pegasus’s way when he was looking elsewhere and she could almost swear that did the same. Perhaps opening up would be a good idea after all, Star admitted to herself, beaming brightly at the thought of what that would mean for them both.

“Wake up, you lazy good for nothing excuse for a soldier!” Bras Heart called from outside of Dawn Glory’s house. It was a fairly tall, old building in which a few homes were arranged in a sort of complex, one atop another. Knocking hadn’t worked and rather than banging on the door even more obnoxiously, the three friends only had to hope that the private would hear his corporal’s shouts and come downstairs to see what he needed. It hadn’t worked so far though.

“Maybe he isn’t home after all,” Star suggested with a small sigh. Time was wasting away and she wasn’t to keen on having to hunt Dawn down, but they wouldn’t have any choice if he had gone somewhere.

“Dawn!” Brass Heart tried again to summon his friend and this time he was met with successes as the blue maned stallion finally graced them with his presence. Dawn looked a bit tired, with dark rings around his eyes from lack of sleep and he yawned as he peeked out the open door.

“What’s with all the noise, Brass Heart?” Dawn asked. He blinked in the face of the morning light. “Are you trying to wake the whole damned neighborhood or something?”

“I told you to be ready in case Axel needed us today,” Brass Heart retorted.

“Ugh, I could have sworn she was finished needing our help,” the tired pegasus groaned as he stepped outside, not bothering to even don some sort of clothing before he shut the door behind him. “I didn’t get much rest last night, so I don’t think I’ll be able to stay awake if we have to sit around that shop all day.”

“I have some good news then,” Brass Heart replied. “We have just been given a new mission, so I hope you’re ready for a long trip, because we’re escorting Star and the others to the Crystal Empire today.” Dawn just stared at him and snorted in disbelief.

“He’s not joking around,” Star assured him. “Nature Spark returned yesterday and the princesses decided that it was time for us to strike back against Duke Doré Langue.”

“Oh, in that case I should probably grab my gear before we leave,” Dawn replied. He turned around and hurried back inside. “I’ll just be a minute.”

“Alright, but try to be quick,” Brass Heart called after him. “I think Star here is starting to get a little cold.” It was probably because of her verbal stumbling earlier that he thought that, but in reality the small mare was surprisingly warm in her fuzzy boots and old cloak, though she knew it would be in her best interest to buy some new clothing before she left.

“We’ll still have to gather the supplies we will need before we can depart,” Star told her friends while they waited for Dawn’s return. “We’ll need to get enough food to last for the trip there and back, just in case we are forced to make a quick retreat and can’t stop anywhere long enough to procure more.”

“Everypony will need plenty of cold weather gear as well,” Brass Heart added.

“I’ll have to ask Spark if he has any of the spare gems for the chariot left and if not, then I can see if Gentle Gem won’t send you all off with a couple more, just to be safe,” Inferno told them. Star nodded her head slowly as she listened to her daughter’s suggestion.

“That is an excellent point,” the unicorn admitted. “We can’t forget about a map as well. I know Ursa is from the empire, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he knows the entire country’s layout by heart.”

“I’ll be sure to grab us weapons as well,” the corporal stated. “I can only imagine the resistance we will be met with upon our arrival to the capitol.” Star’s mind flashed back to the last time she had been forced into a conflict; a griffon’s life had been taken by her hoof that day. The Wyrm Stone would be all the power she required to defend herself, but the haunted mare wasn’t sure that she could stomach using it again. At least she had gotten some practice with an offensive spell though. The black char mark on the ceiling and floor of her room in the castle could attest to that fact.

“I think that you will only have to worry about Dawn, your self and possibly Ursa, although I can’t fathom how he would have escaped the duke’s clutches without some sort of weapon,” Inferno replied.

“Very true,” Star agreed. “I know that I haven’t seen Spark without his dagger once since he returned from the hippogriff settlement. I get the feeling that he probably sleeps with it on these days.” Quite a change from the laidback stallion she had met just a month and a half before, she mused.

“Well, Dawn and I can take our wing blades, although I’m not certain whether either of us could pull the chariot while wearing them, but at least that would keep one of us ready for battle during the trip,” Brass Heart said as the door behind him opened again.

“Okay, we can head out now,” Dawn informed them. He walked down the stairs, having bundled himself up in thick boots and a pale blue cloak. “Point the way, oh fearless leader,” he chuckled, causing the corporal to roll his eyes in response.

“Sometimes I just don’t know why I put up with you,” Brass Heart replied with an insincere sigh and a smile.

“That’s just because I’m your only friend,” Dawn jested as they all started on their way down the icy sidewalk.

“And isn’t that just a little bit pathetic,” Brass Heart shot back with a shake of his blonde maned head.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Star chimed in, earning herself a playful switch from Dawn’s tail. “What? He said it first,” she laughed.

“I see how it is,” the private replied. “Everypony is going to team up against poor defenseless Dawn. Well, at least Inferno is on my side, right?” The little dragon threw her clawed hands up in surrender.

“Hey, don’t drag me into this,” she told the pegasus. The three ponies just laughed again as they hurried across the street for a pony pulling a chariot who had been kind enough to let them pass first.

“So, what exactly is the plan for dealing with the duke?” Dawn asked once their laughter died down. He had been left out of the loop thus far and didn’t know anything about the mission. “Are we supposed to just waltz on in and tell him to surrender? Because I have to be honest, I don’t think he would.”

“We haven’t exactly gotten that far in our plans,” Star admitted. “We’ve been more concerned with getting into the Crystal Empire, since he no doubt has those griffon mercenaries patrolling the skies along with the crystal guard.”

“That does pose a bit of a problem,” Brass Heart agreed. “We will have to assume that Doré Langue has the entire Crystallite military at his disposal, unless we find proof otherwise. Keeping that in mind, I am left to believe that successful breaching of the capitol’s borders will be next to impossible with the number of us that there are.”

“We thought as much,” Star replied.

“I hope that means that you’ve developed some sort of plan for sneaking by undetected,” Dawn commented.

“Not quite,” Inferno told the pegasus. “They plan on meeting up with the resistance that has formed, somewhere in the city of Calvary.”

“We only have to hope that they will know something that we do not,” Star added. “Perhaps there is even somepony who has managed to infiltrate the duke’s ranks without having their mind warped.”

“That sounds like a bit of a long shot to me,” Brass Heart replied, “but I suppose that I don’t have a better plan at the moment.”

“Yes, well, that is about the way I feel too,” Star admitted. “Between Windigos, griffon mercenaries and the duke himself, the odds seem to be stacked against us. If we can somehow manage to expose his corruption to the majority of the crystal ponies though, then I’m sure the princesses could use the Elements of Harmony against him.”

“Then we don’t necessarily have to succeed in capturing Doré Langue,” Dawn observed. “We only have to expose him as an enemy to both countries and allow the princesses to take it from there.”

“That sounds about right,” Inferno agreed.

“Still, that is all easier said than done,” Brass Heart retorted.

“Mhmm,” Star mumbled in agreement, “which is why we should get to the duke as soon as possible, before he can do more damage.” Both of the soldiers nodded their heads and soon quickened their pace, while Star picked up her daughter and placed the dragon upon her back, since she could run much faster. Inferno didn’t argue, accepting the fact that the need to hurry outweighed her own reservations about riding on her mother’s back like a child. “Hold on tight,” Star urged as she tried to keep up with the two agile pegasus running ahead of her.

After arriving back at the castle with Inferno, Brass Heart and Dawn in accompaniment, Star found Spark and Ursa waiting for her return in the main hall. The stallions both called out greetings to her and her companions as they walked through the spacious doorway and trotted across the polished floors. Inferno hopped off of her mother’s back near the entrance, choosing to end the slight embarrassment that she felt as soon as she possibly could. The unicorn didn’t hold that fact against her, because she knew her daughter was simply growing out of the age where that was still acceptable behavior in public. The young mare had to admit that the thought made her a bit sad.

“Welcome back,” Spark greeted them as they came to a halt just a yard away from the blind stallion. “I sense that you brought Brass Heart and Dawn Glory back, just in time for us to turn around and go buy the supplies we need,” he chuckled. Inferno just sighed from annoyance, since it seemed that they had wasted time. It wasn’t as if they could have known that they would be turning right around however.

“Did you already procure funds from the princesses?” Star asked, her surprise at their forethought showing once again. It was nice to be able to depend on Ursa and Spark for planning and other things, of course, but she was beginning to feel a bit useless over the past couple days.

“Yes we did,” Ursa replied as he tossed a bag of bits to each of his friends. They were fairly large bags; a little larger than both of Star’s hooves put together or one of Ursa’s and packed fairly full of the gold coins. It would be plenty of money for them to buy everything they would need for the mission.

“And we have a rough list of important supplies,” Spark continued. “There may be a few odds and ends that we’ve forgotten, but I think what is on here will get us through the trip there and back.”

“Shall we divide up the list and each tackle part of it?” Brass Heart asked. Although it wasn’t really his job to go shopping, Star was thankful for the extra hoof and decided that he could assist her while the other four split into two teams of their own and each group could take a third of the list. She told her friends as much and they all seemed content with the idea.

“I’ll take Inferno and we can go procure the gems for the sky chariot,” Dawn stated, to which Inferno replied with a satisfied nod of her head.

“Then Ursa and I will buy some food,” Spark replied.

“I suppose that leaves Star and Brass Heart to take care of the other odds and ends,” Ursa commented.

“I’ll have to stop by the barracks and pick up our weapons,” the corporal stated.

“We should also buy some medical supplies,” Star suggested, “because my healing spells can only go so far.” The blonde maned stallion nodded in agreement.

“Then let’s get going,” Dawn said as he turned back to the large doors that they had just entered through a few minutes before.

“Alright, but we should meet back at the shop when we’re done,” Star replied. “I wouldn’t want to take off without saying goodbye to Axel,” she explained as she left the castle with Brass Heart by her side.

The six friends split up just outside the front entrance, with Inferno and Dawn heading for Gentle Gem’s store, Spark and Ursa making their way to the market district and Star following Brass Heart as he walked down the path on his way to the military barracks, where his and Dawn’s gear would be waiting for them. The few patches of hardier grass that managed to stick up from the frosty ground crunched underhoof as the two ponies walked through the outer gates and down the worn track. Star could feel the bone chilling breeze gaining strength as it passed through her dark mane.

“Good morning, Corporal Heart, sir!” The two soldiers standing on either side of the entrance to the short, easily defendable building shouted out upon seeing their commanding officer. It was one of the very few times Star had been around Brass Heart and other soldiers at the same time, barring the time she’d spent with him and Dawn, of course. It was an odd contrast to the slightly more laidback way the pegasus carried himself with while off duty.

“At ease,” Brass Heart commanded as he passed by, with Star trotting along beside him.

“I sometimes forget that you’re an authority figure most places,” Star commented as the thick metal doors of the barracks were opened for them.

“Yeah,” Brass Heart chuckled. “I blame Dawn for that. He thinks that because we’ve been friends since we were colts, I should have to treat him as such and unfortunately, I generally will. That’s only when we aren’t in the presence of our superiors or on a mission though.”

“Unless that mission is escorting me someplace,” Star corrected.

“Haha, I suppose that’s true,” Brass Heart admitted before walking up to the low counter, behind which sat an older looking unicorn who wore a flat expression as he watched the corporal approach. “Corporal Brass Heart, making a formal request for weapons and amour to suit myself and Private Dawn Glory for a mission, under the authority of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” The graying maned stallion looked only mildly curious as he quickly jotted something down on a sheet of paper and floated it across the counter to the corporal. A nod of Brass Heart’s head was the only reply before he was off, down the hall with Star trotting along by his side.

They traveled down almost perfectly identical corridors, yet Brass Heart didn’t hesitate once. His face was stoic and eyes set straight ahead as they walked along. Star could easily see the soldier behind that steely blue gaze. It was quite a different perspective of the pegasus for her to have seen and she began to realize how little she actually knew about the corporal. After a few more minutes he stopped in front of a door that appeared to be just the same as every other door she had seen, except that this one had two guards standing to either side.

“Wait here for me,” Brass Heart quietly told her as he walked up and the soldiers quickly saluted. He snapped his hoof up to his head and gave a quick salute of his own before showing them the paper that he had been given by the surly looking unicorn at the front desk. The guards read it over and then stepped aside to give him passage. “I’ll only be a couple minutes,” he called back to Star before entering the room and closing the thick, metal door behind him.

Star stood on the other side of the narrow hallway, her violet eyes drifting about the place as she waited patiently for Brass Heart to procure his and Dawn’s wing blades, along with whatever other items the pegasus deemed necessary. She briefly considered trying to converse with the guards, but they didn’t look quite as friendly as the corporal did while off duty and she wasn’t sure that they were even allowed to socialize when guarding the room. Most likely not, she figured. True to his word though, Brass Heart walked back out of the armory just a few minutes later.

“I told you that I wouldn’t be long,” he said with a hint of his familiar smile. The pegasus was sporting a set of large saddlebags now as well and two sets of wing blades could be seen poking out of the top.

“What else did you happen to grab?” Star asked as she matched the guard’s grin, before turning around and walking back the way that they had just come.

“I thought it prudent to grab some light armor and a couple of other pieces of equipment that we may have a need of at some point during this little excursion,” Brass Heart explained. “You can never be too prepared you know.”

“I suppose that is true,” Star admitted. “Was that the only business that you needed to attend to here?” she asked. They turned a corner and continued through the low light of the building all the way back to the entrance.

“Mhmm,” Brass Heart replied, “at least, that is the only thing that I can think of at the moment.”

“Then the next task is to purchase some much needed medical supplies,” Star said. They walked past the front desk and out the front entrance of the barracks, the bright light of the sun outside forcing both of the ponies to squint. Somepony definitely needs to put more light sources in there, Star thought, as she blinked a few times while her eyes adjusted. “We could go to a few stores and find what we need, but I may have a quicker solution,” the unicorn told the corporal when they started back up the path to the main roads leading into the greater city.

“Quicker is certainly better,” the corporal commented.

“My thoughts exactly, which is why we’re going to stop by the hospital and pay a little visit to my friend, Doctor Suture,” Star explained.

“I’ll follow your lead then,” Brass Heart replied. The two ponies turned the next corner and started down the hill. The unicorn glanced over to the stallion walking beside her a few times before finally deciding to speak and once she’d started, it was impossible for her to stop.

“How come I never see you with a marefriend?” Star asked before she could silence herself. A few awkward seconds went by without the pegasus replying and she began to think that she’d offended him somehow. Thankfully he had only been thinking and a casual shrug of his shoulders let her know that he was perfectly fine.

“I’m not sure,” Brass Heart answered. “It may have something to do with my job…” He sighed softly as they continued to plod across the cracked stones that made up the sidewalk leading into the older parts of Canterlot. “Okay, I’d be completely surprised if it didn’t have everything to do with my duties as a soldier,” he amended afterward.

“How so?” Star questioned. She didn’t want to pester him, but figured that the more she learned about her friend, the easier it would be to confess her feelings for him. It wasn’t working yet though and there was something else bothering her now.

“I’m not a mare, so I can’t be sure,” he chuckled. “If I had to venture a guess though, I’d say it is because of the danger I put myself in o a regular basis. Most ponies don’t care for that much uncertainty about whether or not they’ll see their loved one again. That’s probably why my relationships don’t last long.”

“That makes sense,” Star admitted.

“What’s your excuse?” Brass Heart asked her. Star took a moment to contemplate her answer. Part of the reason that she didn’t have a special somepony was because of her reputation as Princess Luna’s protégé. Many of the stallions she had dated in the past seemed to get a bit intimidated by her position, though there was no real reason for that, at least in Star’s opinion. Perhaps that was part of the reason she had taken such an interest in Spark’s sister, Surinam, because the actress hadn’t been fazed in the slightest when she’d found out.

“I’m not sure,” she finally replied. Star blew her purple and blue bangs from her eye in a huff. “Studying under the princess and traveling Equestria looking for artifacts seems to put a strain on my relationships, so that is most likely a large piece of the problem.” The pegasus nodded his head slowly in understanding as they trotted across the street.

“I can imagine how that would be,” Brass Heart admitted. “Maybe we’re just interested in ponies who are incompatible with us,” he joked. There was a bit too much truth in his statement for Star to laugh though.

“Maybe you’re right,” Star replied with an insincere smile as she stared at the ground. The unicorn glanced up a little later and noticed that they’d made it to the hospital, which elevated her mood quite a bit. “We’re here.”

“So we are,” Brass Heart observed before turning his sights on the small mare beside him. Star glanced over just in time to see his head moving towards her and his stunningly blue eyes beginning to close.

Brass Heart’s lips pressed against Star’s before she knew what was happening and though the insecurities of her own ego screamed for her to break away from the kiss, her body seemed to move of its own volition, leaning into the connection as the corporal raised his forelegs. One of his hooves gently brushed across her withers as the other pressed against the back of her delicate neck and pulled her in closer. She moaned softly as her mouth began to open, allowing her longtime protector’s tongue access. Brass Heart seized the opportunity she’d given him, his hooves caressing her softly as his tongue began to explore her more passionately.

Star’s mind was in shock at first, but slowly her thoughts began to fade out until the only thing that mattered at that moment was the feeling of Brass Heart’s firm, but gentle touch against her body as they stood in a loving embrace, while the cold winds swirled around them. He was almost a head taller than she was, causing the young mare to rise to the tips of front hooves with one back leg lifting up from the ground naturally as she leaned further into the kiss. She began to probe her tongue into his mouth tentatively at first, but then more forcefully as she gained confidence in the maneuver. Her eyes slowly closed and the world around seemed muted as she wrapped her forelegs around his muscular shoulders, while he slowly stroked the crest of her black mane.

The world felt safe to Star while she was holding onto Brass Heart, almost as if no matter how much pain the war brought, she would be protected from it. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest and the fevered beating of his heart against her as they held each other close. Every twitch of his well toned muscles sent her body trembling with ecstasy and the muffled sounds of his desire meshed with hers as she felt herself being lifted up higher and closer to him. She eagerly explored his body, running her hooves against the silky smooth plumage along his large wings. She was nearly drowning in bliss.

Then it was over and the two ponies pulled away, stealing a few more quick pecks as they both opened their eyes again. Star released the stallion from her warm embrace and sank back to the flat of her hooves, standing motionless for a moment as she gazed at Brass Heart, his white coat practically glowing in the late afternoon light of Celestia’s sun. The pegasus stared back at her with the same mixture of admiration and pleasant surprise, his mouth curling up at the edges as he cleared his throat, but something didn’t feel right to the unicorn.

“I’m so sorry,” Brass Heart suddenly said, taking a step back and allowing his eyes to drift elsewhere. “That was completely unprofessional and I-”

“No, it’s okay,” Star assured him. “I’ve actually been hoping that you would do that for awhile.” It was the honest truth, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a mistake, though she couldn’t say why she felt that way at that second.

“Really?” the corporal asked eagerly, his blonde tail swishing behind him with a childlike excitement that she hadn’t expected from the usually stoic soldier. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long, but I was afraid that you didn’t feel the same way…” His smile began to fade, as if he could see the hesitation in her eyes. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

“No… I mean, yes… or I’m not sure,” Star sighed quietly. The kiss had felt so right in the moment, but as the afterglow of her passion began to fade, the small mare was left with a nagging feeling that it wasn’t the right time for them to be exploring their feelings for one another. “We should get the supplies,” she told him and then resumed walking towards the large hospital at the end of the street. Brass Heart watched in stunned silence as she passed by and then began to follow her.

“Star, I’m sorry if I overstepped my boundaries back there,” the soldier apologized as he caught up to her. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s not that,” Star replied. “I just- Can we talk about this later?” she begged as they approached the front entrance of the sprawling complex.

“Yes, of course,” Brass Heart replied as he held the door open for her. She entered the hospital without another word, cursing silently at herself for being so fickle.

The walk through the hospital was awkward at best, but eventually Star and Brass Heart stood outside of Doctor Suture’s office, both of them unsure of what to say or if talking would even be advisable at the moment. Knock. Knock. Star rapped on the door and waited in silence, knowing that the pegasus was looking at her, but too nervous to return his gaze. A few seconds crept by agonizingly slow, until the dean of the hospital finally answered her door. The orange maned mare’s face lit up in a smile, with just a touch of wrinkles in the corners and she quickly opened her door the rest of the way.

“Star, it’s good to see you again!” Dr. Suture welcomed her. “Please, come in. Is there something that I can help you with today or is this simply a social visit?” The older mare’s bright orange eyes evaluated the morose looking soldier by her friend’s side.

“Suture, this is my, uh… friend, Brass Heart.” Star replied to the question she’d known was coming. “We actually came to get stocked up on supplies, but I did want to talk to you as well,” the younger unicorn continued. She walked over to one of the plain, slightly uncomfortable looking chairs and sat down. Brass Heart followed her over and took the only other available seat in the room, aside from the doctor’s.

“Which would you prefer to begin with then?” Suture asked. She shoved a few stacks of papers across her desk so that she could see her guests without having to peer around them. Star noticed that there were large boxes to the side of the desk as well, stacked with even more paperwork. The doctor obviously hadn’t been lying when she’d said that leaving the hospital would be a tedious process.

“I can take care of the supplies if I can have the assistance of one of your nurses and the list from Star,” Brass Heart offered. The corporal was clearly trying to escape from the discomfort that Star had created and she figured that it was probably for the best. He grabbed the list as soon as she lifted it over to him and he quickly exited the room, the resounding bang of the door causing the black unicorn to flinch. She took a deep breath and blew it up towards her forelock with a sigh.

“That means we can talk,” Star stated somewhat happily.

“It would seem so,” Suture agreed. “Now, first things first, what is going on with you and that royal guard?” she asked, much to the younger mare’s chagrin.

“He’s a… well, I’m not sure,” Star admitted. She had tried not to let the tension between her and Brass Heart show, but had apparently failed pretty terribly. “He’s acted as my escort for the princess more times than I can count and he’s a great friend, but…” she trailed off as she tried to find the right words to express her conflicting emotions.

“But you want him to be more than just a friend?” Suture offered. It summed up some of the problems that the smaller unicorn was dealing with, but it failed to convey one important aspect of her thoughts.

“Yes and no,” Star replied rather poorly. “I do like him as more than a friend, but there’s somepony else that I have feelings for as well.” The pale yellow mare across from her nodded her head understandingly.

“And this other pony, do they feel the same way about you?” the doctor questioned. “Because it is fairly clear that he does.”

“I don’t think so,” Star answered simply. It was easier than delving into the fact that the other pony was actually a mare. “I suppose that I really don’t know for sure though,” the younger mare admitted.

“That may be the problem then,” Suture replied.

“Yes, I think it is,” Star agreed, “but that isn’t the only thing that I wanted to talk with you about.” Her need for closure with Surinam could wait.

“Oh, no?” Doctor Suture’s eyebrows rose inquisitively.

“It’s about Inferno,” Star explained as she folded her forelegs atop the messy desk and rested her head upon them. “I asked her to stay behind.”

“You asked her to stay? As in, stay in Canterlot while you travel to the Crystal Empire?” Suture asked in disbelief. The last time that they had spoken, the doctor had been expecting the little dragon to make the journey with her mother and the revelation that she would not be was very surprising.

“Mhmm, I decided that it was too dangerous for her to come along,” Star replied morosely. “She took it pretty badly at first, but I think that she has come to accept it now.” It had seemed that way to her at least.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that things have worked out, but at the same time, I’m sorry to hear that you will be parting for so long a time.”

“Me too,” the black unicorn agreed. “I’ve asked her to do me a favor while I’m gone though.”

“What would that be?” Suture asked as she picked up a pen with her magic and quickly jotted something down on one of the many pages littered across the surface of her wooden desk. There were notices and forms, but all of it looked completely dull.

“She’s going to visit her mother and try to get the gems that we need to repair Spark’s eyes,” Star explained. “I cannot be sure that she will succeed, but it isn’t like either of us has had much luck looking elsewhere.”

“True, although I can blame part of that on my hectic schedule,” Suture replied. “I would offer an alternative means if I had any. I know how much Inferno must detest the idea of asking her biological mother for anything.”

“That is true, but she knows how important this is to me and I believe that she has far better odds than I ever would. Incendiaura is not my biggest fan, to put it mildly,” Star said with a weak laugh. “How has everything been progressing for you lately?” Doctor Suture shrugged her thin shoulders noncommittally before taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

“I’m starting to finally make a dent in this pile of paperwork, which is a good sign,” Suture replied. “I still have quite a few decisions to make regarding the staff and who will take up my position as dean of the hospital while I’m gone, but with any luck I should be ready to assist the military within a week or so.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Star told her with a genuine grin. “Whereabouts are you planning on working from or do you have any idea yet?”

“Ha ha, well, I’m a little bit more focused on getting this place sorted out at the moment, but I can only imagine that they may need some assistance up north. I am sure that the conflict will reach our cities soon, unless you and your friends actually manage to stop the war.” Suture sounded hopeful, Star acknowledged, but not entirely convinced that they would succeed in their endeavor.

“I’m sure that they will be pleased to have your expertise,” Star replied as she sat back in her chair. “I do hope that your services are not required though, I must admit.” The doctor smiled back at the young mare across from her.

“I suppose that would make two of us then,” Suture agreed. Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound of somepony tapping against Doctor Suture’s door caused both unicorns to glance in the direction of the office entrance. The knocking had been forceful and precise, exactly the sort of sound Star expected of a soldier.

“Come in,” Star called out to Brass Heart. The pegasus entered just a second later, with a new saddlebag hanging down on the opposite side of his the saddlebag containing his wing blades. The new, cross marked bag was stuffed full of bandages and most likely everything that Star had written on her list, which meant that they would be leaving soon. The black mare groaned quietly as she forced herself up from the uncomfortable chair she had been sitting in and turned back to the doctor. “I guess that the two of us should get going,” she told her friend.

“So soon?” Suture asked disappointedly. She rose from her seat and made her way around the large desk separating her from her friend. “I guess time is of the essence, but it was lovely seeing you again,” she continued as she pulled Star into a quick hug. “You be very careful out there. I don’t want to have to bandage you up when you get home.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be extra safe,” Star assured the older unicorn. “I’ll have four strapping young stallion’s protecting me, after all.”

“Lucky you,” Suture said with a wink and a giggle. “I’ll be sure to keep an eye on Inferno for you while you’re gone,” she added in a more serious tone as they broke apart.

“I would really appreciate that,” Star thanked her friend and then turned towards the exit, where Brass Heart was waiting patiently for her. “If you can’t seem to find her at the castle, just ask one of the servants where she went. There’s a chance she might either be at Gentle Gem’s Enchanted Gem Shop or at an old warehouse, where Axel has been designing the new flying chariots for the military.” Suture nodded her head a few times before Star eventually pulled open the office door with a quick flash of white magic.

“I’ll see you when you return,” Suture said with a smile and Star nodded her head in reply, flashing her own sparkling teeth before leaving the doctor to get back to the paperwork waiting on her desk. It had been a quick visit, but Star was glad that she had gotten to see her friend one last time before leaving for the empire. Departing took most of her willpower, knowing that there was a distinct chance it could be the last time she would ever see the doctor, but she slowly walked down the sterile corridors just a few steps behind Brass Heart.

“Did you have a nice visit?” the pegasus asked, seeming to have had his fill of uncomfortable silence for the day.

“Mhmm,” Star mumbled in reply as she trotted up beside him, “I just wish there was more time in a day, so I could have stayed for a little while longer,” she finished.

“Don’t worry so much,” Brass Heart told her. “We’ll go up north, take care of the duke and be back here before anypony even gets the chance to miss us.” He shot her a reassuring smile and it did cheer her up just a bit, although she still couldn’t seem to muster a smile of her own, but that was only partially due to her concerns about their mission.

“I wish that I could have your faith,” Star said as they turned the corner. The front doors of the pristine building sat at the end of the last hallway. “I’ve tried to maintain a positive outlook, but every day my surety seems to dwindle a little more. Our task seems insurmountable right now, even though I know that the princesses wouldn’t have given us this mission were they not positive that we had a good chance of success.”

“It is perfectly understandable,” the corporal assured her. “Not only is this your first mission of this sort, it is also the first time you will have ever purposefully thrown yourself into danger and conflict.” He looked like he was going to place a hoof on her back while he spoke, but suddenly changed his mind, most likely fearing that the tension between them would grow worse.

“Yes, but I seem to be the only one affected at the moment,” Star replied agitatedly. They stepped outside the hospital and were unhappy to find that the snow had begun to fall during their absence. Large flakes drifted gently down upon the city and whatever warmth the sunlight had been providing was slowly sapped from the earth, much to the ponies’ mutual disappointment. “Spark and Ursa haven’t purposefully gone to battle or been involved in a war either, yet they both seem to be coping rather easily,” she continued, doing her best to ignore the frost that was slowly beginning to accumulate over the back of her cloak.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Brass Heart replied. He continued to crunch along the icy sidewalk in the direction of the shop where they were supposed to meet said companions. “Have you bothered asking either of them how they’re actually feeling? You may be surprised to find that their calm surfaces hide a much more conflicting tide beneath.” They were wise words, Star thought, although she was fairly certain that Ursa would have mentioned something during one of their conversations. The crystal pony’s only real concerns were of Backdraft and his wellbeing. “You appear to be that way at least,” the corporal continued, undeniably referring to the reaction that she had made to their kiss earlier. Star sighed imperceptibly and looked away, hoping that he would drop the subject. She wanted to explain herself, but it was difficult to even sort her thoughts on the matter, let alone try to express them clearly. He seemed to take the hint and the rest of the walk passed in relative silence, minus the natural sounds of the city.

Star and Brass Heart weren’t the first ones to arrive back at the old warehouse; Dawn and Inferno had beaten them there, though only by a small margin. Axel was present too, relaxing in one of the few worn down chairs surrounding a messy worktable. The little dragon was pacing back and forth impatiently behind her as they waited for their friends’ return. Brass Heart slipped the medical bag off and then the saddlebag containing his and Dawn’s weapons, allowing them to drop to the floor gently before following Star over to their friends and taking a seat beside her at the dusty table. Inferno stopped her methodical walking and joined them a moment later, her yellow eyes bright despite the low light of the musty building.

“So, I take it that you had some success,” Inferno stated as she glanced over her mother’s shoulder at the bags lying on the floor. The gleaming tip of one set of wing blades could be seen poking out of Brass Heart’s saddlebags, a sharp reminder of the danger her mother would be facing.

“Yes,” Star simply replied. “Doctor Suture set us up with the medical supplies we needed and Brass Heart picked up a few things from the barracks.”

“I trust that you brought my wing blades as well?” Dawn’s eyebrow rose inquiringly.

“No, you’ll have to do without, Dawn,” Brass Heart quipped. “Of course I grabbed your weapon and a few other things that might be useful,” he added with a smirk. Dawn simply rolled his eyes in reply.

“They’ve had a little luck as well,” Axel said, motioning to one of the chariots resting just a few yards behind her back. It wasn’t her newest creation that she gestured to; instead Star saw the prototype that the earth pony had allowed Spark, Strata and Inferno to use during their trip to the hippogriff settlement. It had suffered a few scrapes and dents, but appeared to be in working order. “I looked over the vehicle and replaced one of the gems, so she should have no problems getting you to the Crystal Empire,” the bubbly mare assured them.

“We also have a few spare jewels that Gentle Gem was kind enough to sell us for a cheap price,” Inferno added. It wasn’t free, Star mused, but then again, they had been given a hefty sum of bits by the princesses, so that wasn’t much of a loss. “Axel will have to show one of you how to replace them, but it shouldn’t be that difficult.”

“That Gentle Gem is quite a character,” Dawn stated. Everypony nodded in silent agreement, except for Inferno, who failed to stifle a laugh.

“Are you sure that chariot will hold everypony?” Brass Heart asked as he eyed the flying chariot. It was a smaller model and was fitted with only enough straps for one pony to pull it. “I wouldn’t want to slow us down by having to switch places with Dawn every few miles.” Axel seemed to understand his concern and her tongue poked out from the corner of her mouth as she thought about the problem.

“I suppose that the only solution is for you all to take the military model then,” she replied. “I have the drawings that I need to build more. It will just take a little extra effort without the prototype to work off of, but I can manage.” The corporal nodded his head in thanks.

“Thank you, Axel,” Star said. She stared over at the vehicle in question. The two pony model was in much better condition and had a healthy layer of metal sheeting that would help to protect those riding inside. It was obviously a bit heavier than the original, but with two pegasus to pull it the weight issues would be easy enough to deal with. “Have either of you seen Spark and Ursa yet?” she asked as she turned her attention back to her friends.

“Not yet, but I’m sure that they’ll be returning any time now,” Inferno told her mother. “Spark just probably stopped to smoke or something,” she continued with a casual flick of her black spiked tail.

“Well then, is there anything that we can assist you with while we wait for them to meet us here?” Brass Heart offered.

“If there are any last minute adjustments that need to be performed on the sky chariot, now would probably be the best time,” Dawn agreed.

“It couldn’t hurt to double check,” Axel admitted, her demeanor becoming livelier as she readied herself to do what she loved most, working on a mechanical invention. “It would be in your best interest to suit up in your weapons and whatever armor I heard clicking around in Brass Heart’s bag. We’ll want to be sure that the harnesses can accommodate the full range of your wings and sustain the tension with the added weight.” The blonde mare quickly wrapped a band around her messy mane, tying it in her signature ponytail so that it wouldn’t get in the way as she worked. “Another quick test flight with all of us inside might be beneficial as well.”

“Okay, but one thing at a time,” Dawn chuckled.

“It will take us a few minutes to get this gear on,” Brass Heart explained. Axel’s head made a nodding motion, but it was clear that her mind was already distracted by the polished metal of her creation.

Brass Heart walked past Star, pausing momentarily to say, “We need to talk about what happened,” before heading over to the bags on the floor and busying himself with removing the swords that he and Dawn would be fitting onto their wings. The unicorn knew that she needed to explain herself to the pegasus, but their current situation wasn’t conductive to an emotional conversation. She was hoping to wait until they had a bit more privacy, just in case her feelings got the best of her. That was no reason for her to amend her usual behavior however, so she walked over to lend her assistance to the two soldiers.

“Here, let me help you with that,” Star offered, picking up Brass Heart’s wing blades with a steadfast levitation spell.

“Thanks,” Brass Heart replied. He turned around and allowed her to slide the swords over his outermost plumage until they sat right on his corporal joints, then she quickly latched the straps that would hold the weapons in place. “I can get the chainmail,” the pegasus informed her as he bent over and grasped the metallic covering in his teeth.

“Did you need some assistance too?” Star asked Dawn as she turned away from his superior officer. The blue maned stallion had gotten the swords put on, but was still struggling to latch them in place.

“That would be great,” he replied with a thankful smile. Star finished the task in a flash of white light and then stepped back to allow the soldiers to finish getting their gear on. The end results were certainly intimidating, the unicorn acknowledged silently. Both pegasus wore the classic dark grey helmets, with deep blue crests. Their chainmail was the same matte color of grey, except for a small lightning bolt insignia done in brass which signified them as royal guards to the princesses. Their wing blades were perfectly maintained and held a wicked edge which reflected even the minimal light that managed to creep into the old building. They wore boots instead of metallic shoes however, which caused Star to smirk a little despite her best efforts not to do so.

“What are you smiling about?” Dawn asked in confusion.

“Oh, nothing,” Star lied. “I just haven’t actually seen either of you wearing your full armor in, well, I can’t even remember how long.”

“And I wish that we had no need to wear it now,” Brass Heart flatly replied before making his way over to the armored chariot sitting behind the table, where Inferno was still waiting patiently for Spark and Ursa’s return. Star followed him over, while Dawn was busy trying to get his armor to sit comfortably and Axel was still preoccupied with whatever had caught her interest under the flying vehicle.

“Look, I know that we need to talk and I think that it would be for the best if we got it out of the way before we leave,” Star told the corporal.

“Okay, then let’s talk about it,” Brass Heart replied. Star just shook her head and glanced around the room to each of her friends.

“Not right here, but once you finish helping Axel, we can slip outside,” the unicorn replied in a voice barely above a whisper. The blue eyed stallion appeared to be unhappy with her response, but mumbled his reluctant agreement never the less. “Thank you for, well… for being patient with me right now,” Star said as she turned away from the pegasus and went over to join her daughter at the table once again.

“I take it that you finally told Brass Heart how you feel and he rejected you?” Inferno asked in a consoling voice. “Even if he did, I still think that it was better to have told him,” she added with a half smile.

“No,” Star replied, shaking her head slowly. “I mean, yes, I told him how I felt… some what, but he didn’t reject me.”

“Then what’s the reason for all of the tension between you two?” the little dragon questioned suspiciously. Star took a moment to silently curse the fact that the serpentine girl was far more perceptive in such matters than she would ever be.

“It’s, uh… it’s complicated,” Star admitted unhappily. The word didn’t quite convey the full nature of her current issues, but it sufficed as a temporary answer to assuage her daughter’s interest for the moment.

“I’ll take your word,” Inferno replied as she leaned back in her chair and clicked her forked tongue disapprovingly, “for now,” she added as she resigned herself to waiting once more.

After Spark and Ursa had returned from their excursion into Canterlot’s shopping district, Star found her opportunity to speak with Brass Heart in private. The two ponies snuck out the open doors of the shop while the rest of their friends were busy going through their supplies to make sure that nopony had forgotten everything. The corporal had been surprised by Star’s sudden insistence that they leave, but that surprise quickly turned into stone faced stoicism as he realized what she wanted. It was obvious that after the way the unicorn had reacted to his advances, he was wary of what she would have to say to him.

Star couldn’t blame him of course, because she hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with her problems. Brass Heart had opened himself up to her, exposing the tenderest aspects of his personality and she had spurned him. True, she hadn’t actually given him a final answer on the matter, but that was probably even more damaging than if she had. The black mare’s heart felt like it was beating at half speed as she took each step towards the exit, with the corporal just a short distance behind her. Each thrum physically hurt in her chest. She had made her decision though and was adamant that she make it known, before she caused her friend anymore confusion than she already had, even if she had to hurt him once more in the process.

The snow had continued to fall while they waited for their companions to meet them and a healthy coating of the stuff had settled over every available surface that the crowded city had to offer. There wasn’t a single street or rooftop as far as Star could see that wasn’t frosted over. Her breath came out in plumes of vapor as she led Brass Heart around the corner of the building, where they wouldn’t be as easily spotted should one of the others come to investigate their sudden disappearance. The pegasus followed her silently, the weight of his armor causing him to sink down, clear through the blanket of snow that obscured the sidewalk from view.

“I guess that I should start by explaining why I reacted in the way that I did,” Star stated. She absentmindedly bit her lip while trying not to let her gaze wander away from the soldier’s steely eyes.

“No, I should start by apologizing,” he replied quietly. “I thought that there might have been something between us and I could have sworn that I felt you kissing me back, but clearly I miss read the situation.” He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from side to side as the unicorn continued to stare back at him. “I overstepped my boundaries and I can only hope that this won’t ruin the friendship that we have together.” Star offered a weak smile before closing her eyes with a soft sigh.

“No, it- it’s not that at all,” she replied.

“Then what is it?” Brass Heart asked, his flat expression finally revealing some of the confusion that she had made him endure for a good portion of the day.

“I felt something too,” Star admitted. She hated to see the corporal so flustered by her actions, but knew that what she was going to tell him most likely wouldn’t help to alleviate any of the bothersome feelings. “You are an amazing stallion and I can’t thank you enough for everything that you have done for me over the years.”

“But…” It was clear that Brass Heart wasn’t too keen on the direction that their conversation was headed.

“But I don’t think that I can do this right now,” Star told him, her voice falling to little more than a squeak as she tried to fight back the tears she could feel welling up in the corners of her violet eyes. “I can’t ask you to wait for me. It wouldn’t be fair to you, but I want you to know that I do feel the same way. I wasn’t lying when I said that.” The pegasus huffed in reply a dismissive response that nearly broke the emotional dam that she had put up. “You can understand that, can’t you?” she begged. Brass Heart was quiet as he looked away from her, seeming to stare off at something behind the wooden fence surrounding the back of the shop, though the teary eyed mare figured that he just didn’t want to meet her gaze.

“No,” Brass Heart finally responded as he turned back to face her. “No, I’m sorry, but that just isn’t good enough,” he reiterated. “I fell for you a long time ago and now that I gathered the courage to express those feelings and you’ve admitted that you feel the same way, I’m supposed to just sit off to the side and wait like- like a good little soldier!?” The normally reserved stallion’s face welled up with hurt as he spoke and each word was like a nail being driven into Star’s heart. “Don’t you think I at least deserve to know why? Why we can’t be together?” he questioned. Star wiped away a few stray tears that had managed to escape, but couldn’t reply past the lump that had developed in her throat, so she nodded her head once instead.

“I- I can’t because, well… I just nee- ugh!” Star tried to choke the words out, but only managed to start sobbing as she stared back into her friend’s face. This time Brass Heart didn’t hesitate as he placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder and pulled her close. The small mare buried her face into his chest and wept for what seemed like hours, but in reality was probably just a few minutes. Once she had regained some semblance of control and the corporal felt her shaking taper of, he stepped back and dropped his hoof to the ground once again.

“Please, Star. If there is something that I can do to make this work then please, just tell me,” he pleaded, his own eyes beginning to grow watery.

“I need closure,” Star blurted, her eyes fixed firmly on the snow beneath her.

“What do you mea-? Oh…” Sorrow filled Brass Heart’s face as his words trailed off. “This is about Suri, isn’t it?” Star couldn’t bear to look up at him so she simply nodded her head again. “You still have feelings for Spark’s sister, Surinam, and that’s why… Damn, I’m so stupid!” he berated himself. “I suppose that I should have caught on sooner. I saw the way you look at her when you think nopony is watching, the same way I’ve stared at you before.” Star could hear the sound of his chainmail scarping against itself as his head sunk low. “You love her, don’t you?” he asked in a quite voice that cracked once from the emotional strain he tried to hide so well.

“I- I’m not sure,” Star answered as she forced her eyes back up to him.

“Does she at least love you back?” Brass Heart asked her. “Does she at least love you like I would, like you deserve to be loved?” The unicorn just whimpered intelligibly. “And yet you’re willing to push me away for what, the chance that she may one day wake up feeling the same way that you do? Is that how little I actually mean to you?” His words rose in volume, which only served to amplify the trembling of his voice as Star squeezed her eyes shut.

“I just need to know,” Star responded demurely as she sank to her knees on the cold, damp ground. She could feel the bite of the ice against her bare hide, but it didn’t make the slightest difference to her and she watched her tears sink into the snow. “I just can’t move on until I have a final answer from her,” she tried to explain, but it seemed that the pegasus had heard enough.

“We should get back,” Brass Heart replied without any hint of emotion in his flat tone. “We wouldn’t want anypony to worry about us… or get the wrong idea,” he added as he started walking back to the front of the property, leaving the small mare weeping in the shadow of the warehouse.

Star stayed huddled over in the same position until her legs started to go numb and her tears ran dry. The salt on her cheeks stung in the cold wind and she used her magic to lift a small pile of snow, using it to clean any trace of her sorrow away as best as she could. A few more minutes passed as she stared blankly at the ground, the snow now marred by her and Brass Heart’s hoofsteps. Eventually, she began to feel as numb inside as she was on the outside and the sorrow turned to anger towards her self. She had chosen the miniscule possibility of maybe one day being with somepony who was nothing more than a close acquaintance over a promise of love from a friend who had protected her for years.

“Mom!” Inferno’s voice called over the blowing winds. “Mom, everypony is ready to leave, but we need you first.” The sound of her daughter’s voice was enough to force Star to stand back up, but she walked with a careless stride, her mind too preoccupied with the dismal thoughts she was harboring. Even so, the unicorn knew one thing above all else, she wanted closure from Suri if she ever returned home. It was the very least that she felt she deserve. “Oh, there you are,” Inferno said with a smile as she spied her mother walking out from around the side of the large building, but that smile slowly vanished once she sensed something was wrong. “What were you doing back there?” the little dragon asked, perplexed by the unicorn’s sullen body language.

“I was just doing some thinking,” Star replied. It was the truth, though only a small portion of it. “Is the gear all loaded up?” she asked, plastering a fake smile across her face to hide the inner pain she was trying to ignore.

“Yeah…” Inferno replied, still seeming a bit unsure about the situation. “Everypony is just waiting for you.”

“Then we should go up to the castle and let the princesses know we’ll be leaving now,” Star replied calmly as she made her way to the open doors. There were events happening all over Equestria and even beyond the country’s borders; events that far outweighed one mare’s personal issues, Star decided, as she entered the shop. Whatever mistakes she had made in the past, whomever she had hurt in life, whichever path she wished she could have taken to reach a different destination, none of that mattered right then. The only important thing that she needed to concern herself with was ending the war and coming home to her friends and family. “I’m ready,” she stated as she stared across the room at her friends, who were all waiting around the chariot for her to return, even Brass Heart, who had seen fit to reapply his normal expressionless gaze. Star saw a flash of anger in his blue eyes before he looked away. “Let’s go,” she added afterward.

Author's Notes:

I can't believe that I actually got this chapter done in a week. I even racked up a couple hours of overtime at my new job. Couldn't have done it without caffeine of course. So, this chapter was quite the interesting one to write and I know a couple people that might not be too happy with how it ended, but I hope that it was written well enough that they will still find it enjoyable, despite the train-wreck it contains.