Extended Holiday
Chapter 14: Play Stupid Games….
Matthew’s eyes felt puffy and saggy as he struggled to force them open. The daylight was muted, thanks to the room’s thick curtains, leaving the human the leisure to yawn and slowly pull himself from bed. He stumbled to the door and down the hall toward the bathroom, where he finally saw his face. Despite getting a proper night’s sleep, several red veins stretched over the whites of his eyes. He groaned and quickly splashed his face with some cold water from the sink. The shock helped to draw the sleep out of him and pull him toward wakefulness.
He sputtered as he patted his face dry, then stretched and yawned. “That’s better,” he muttered to himself before returning to the bedroom and changing into his uniform. He wasn’t bothered when he found that Moonshade was gone. She had to shift places with some of the other guards from time to time, after all. But the fact that Mutatio was also missing set off a few alarm bells. The Changeling may have learned more of how to interact in society, but that did not make him an expert yet, and the fact that Chrysalis had sent assassins after him meant that she might try again when he and the others weren’t there to protect Mutatio properly.
Thus began the frantic search for any signs of the pair. Taze and Shawn were doubtless off fulfilling their responsibilities with the troops’ physical exercises and administrative work. That meant this responsibility would fall to him alone.
A dutiful search finally yielded a clue inside one of his boots. When he pulled the envelope out, a simple set of instructions greeted him.
Go downstairs.
Matthew frowned and geared himself up with crossbow and K-bar before descending the stairs. The dining room didn’t look different from the usual guests and patrons that visited, but Changelings had shown they could easily mimic other forms and people if they wished.
“Hey, sleepyhead!”
Matthew’s gaze turned sharply toward the now-familiar sight of Berry Punch’s sour expression.
“Took you long enough to wake up. I’ve been waiting for you for the last hour.” Berry rolled her eyes. “I’m supposed to give you this after breakfast,” she said as she retrieved another envelope from under the counter. “I recommend a big breakfast. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.”
Matthew frowned but nodded as two eggs were cooked sunny-side up with french toast dusted by powdered sugar and drizzled with a sweet berry syrup. “Do you know where my friends have gone?” he asked.
Berry shrugged as she watched the human eat. “They said something about some project they had to tend to. And your guard mare said something about a mission.”
“A mission?” Matthew’s heart began to race. Had they received a new assignment from the princesses? What about Mutatio? “Did she take our mule friend with her?”
Berry shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe? Probably.”
That … didn’t fill Matthew with confidence.
Berry rolled her eyes. “Just eat already. Your friends are fine. If it was an emergency, they would’ve woken you up.” She smacked the letter down heavily on the countertop. “And once you’re done, go ahead and read that. I’ll add your breakfast to your friends’ tab.”
“Don’t you mean mine?” Matthew asked.
“Nope,” Berry said, then disappeared from sight as she descended into the cellar.
Matthew finished his breakfast as quickly as possible, then broke open the sealed card to reveal a note and a folded piece of parchment.
Matthew Connors, an event of grave importance is about to come to pass. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow the map enclosed in this envelope and stop at each of the locations indicated along the way. You will receive further instructions at each checkpoint. Should you fail, we will be very disappointed, and the cake will forever be a lie. Good luck, Agent Connors. Operation B-Day has officially begun.
“Operation B-day?” Matthew mused as he stroked his chin. While the letter wasn’t signed, he would recognize Taze’s unique brand of sarcasm and wit anywhere, and only a fool wouldn’t recognize the iconic Mission Impossible reference. On the plus side, that meant Taze, at least, was fine. On the down side. This letter meant he was up to something, and that worried Matthew. “Just what are you up to, Taze?” he murmured as he looked over the map. Sugarcube Corner, Carousel Boutique, Golden Oak Library, and other locations had been carefully marked along a designated trail that ultimately culminated on the far reaches of Ponyville at Sweet Apple Acres. Finally, Matthew sighed as he finished his meal and withdrew from the counter. “Guess I’d better get started….”
The day progressed, taking Matthew from one surprise to the next, including a preview of his birthday cake to come in the form of a cupcake apparated courtesy of one Pinkamena Dianne Pie. Now, as the sun began to set, the human couldn’t help but grin at the sight of the huge banner that hung at the entry to Sweet Apple Acres proclaiming a happy birthday to him. The effusive well wishing and united shouts of surprise gave him a start, but he was happy to have received such a wonderful gift from his friends. The young human was escorted to a personal table outside the barn, where a makeshift stage had been constructed and lights were directed toward the front. After a number of songs were played in the human’s honor, the lights dimmed before a spotlight flashed on to welcome two humans decked out for a day of baseball, one to play, the other to hawk his wares in the stands. Naturally, this prompted an argument that led to a very important discussion about the team and its players.
“So when the end of the month comes and it’s time to pay the players, who gets the money?” Taze asked in mock annoyance.
“Every bit of it,” Shawn nodded in return.
“All I’m trying to find out is the guy's name on the first base,” Taze said in mock exasperation.
“Who,” Shawn replied.
“The guy that gets…” Taze replied only to be interrupted.
“That’s it.”
“Who gets the money?”
“He does. Every bit. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it,” Shawn explained.
“Whose wife?”
“Yes.”
Taze made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a whistle to express exasperation.
Matthew’s face was red as a tomato from all the laughter as he pounded his fist on the table. He squeaked and giggled as he struggled to gulp down air while the skit continued to the point of its inevitable conclusion.
By the time the skit ended, the air vibrated with the force of the roaring laughter that emerged from every Pony gathered. A certain pink mare with a very poofy mane smirked slyly and slowly rose up next to the human as she tweaked her eyebrows and nudged him gently.
“Well? Do I know how to plan a party or do I know how to plan a party?”
“Well, you sure do know how to do a party,” he answered as the Apple family got on stage for some good old fashioned country music, complete with fiddle, banjo, jug, and triangle.
“It seems you humans have many talents,” Moonshade noted.
“Well, it makes sense. If Ponies and other species can, then why not humans?” Twilight asked as she took a bite from the birthday cake. “By the way, I have a present for you, Matthew.” The mare smiled as she levitated a small box wrapped tightly in wrapping paper. “I’ve got my number one assistant to help me when I need to jot things down, but I think you’ll have an easier time using these.” The paper swiftly came off to reveal a hard-cover flipping notebook complete with a pocket pencil case and sharpener. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you.” Matthew cheered at the notebook and paper.
“This one next! This one next!” Pinkie jumped from literally out of nowhere as she planted a box firmly onto Matthew’s lap, then jumped out of the way in a manner that can only be described as out of frame. The container was lined with holes, and a tentative snuffling could be heard from inside. Matthew was more gentle with this one as the surprise at what was clearly a living thing being presented to him left him more than a little nervous. However, when he opened the box, a small sleek muzzle with large ears and two of the cutest puppy dog eyes he had ever laid eyes on gazed up at him. A tiny yapping bark was followed by a leap onto his chest and licking his cheek. The little fennec continued to show its affection as Matthew’s startled exclamation faded to a good natured chuckle.
A very bashful Fluttershy smiled sheepishly from behind the curtain of her pink hair. “I heard from your friends that you liked foxes, but couldn’t have one for a pet where you’re from. That’s not a problem here in Equestria, and that puppy’s been waiting for a home, so I thought, maybe you’d make a good home for it. That is, … if you want to….” she trailed off.
“I’ll … do my best, then, I guess. I’m familiar with being owned by a cat, but I’ve never been adopted by a canine, let alone a fox. Uh, you can give me pointers and instructions, right?”
Fluttershy nodded and smiled. “I’ll help however I can. He’s very smart, so you shouldn’t have any trouble training him.”
“Thank you.” He looked to the fennec with a chuckle that soon took on a slightly manic tone. “I have the perfect name for you, little buddy.”
“Well we know where this is going.” Taze smirked as he approached with Shawn at his side.
“Oh? Where? Where? Where is it going?” Pinkie asked excitedly as she bounced with the sound of springs going off.
Matthew rubbed one of the ears. “Rommel, the desert fox,” he spoke with solemn finality.
“As expected.” Taze chuckled.
“Why is it expected?” Moonshade asked, confused at what had to be inside information between the humans.
“I’ll let him tell you.” Taze looked at Matthew. “Later, or we’ll be here all day.”
Matthew chuckled sheepishly. “One time. One time at a convention.”
“You started in the morning, and we lost the entire day.” Taze deadpanned.
“It was the day before the convention even started. We still got our early tickets.” He looked to his side. “Come on, Shaw—” He looked around. “And he’s gone.” He did see a note as Pinkie put a new present in front of him.
Hey Matthew,
By the time you read this, I’ve already stepped out.-
“I didn’t even notice him leave,” Taze commented.
“When did he gain ghost silence?” Matthew asked.
“After everything I’ve seen him do already, I wouldn’t put this past him.” Twilight sighed. “Though I wouldn’t mind doing a few tests later to see how that works….”
The letter continued.
Nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry. I’m just performing the final tests on this project. My gift comes in two parts, and so I am ensuring the second half is prepared. It’s been a challenge to complete this, so I’d rather ensure that it’s working fine now, given the timing.
To collect the second piece of your gift, come by the training grounds. I’ll be there.
Signed,
Shawn O. Viginti
Matthew looked to Taze. “Well, I think to give him a bit of extra time, we should finish the gifts.” He opened the box to reveal a decorative wooden case. The great seal of the United States had been etched into the lid. Inside, he found what appeared to be a leather belt and some form of sheath, carefully crafted and tanned for wear and tear. Since the weapon wasn’t there, Matthew could only deduce that Shawn was holding on to it to show him later.
“I think you’ll like mine, too.” Taze grinned as he handed Matthew an elongated package while he seized the wooden box to make room.
Matthew smiled as he opened the giftwrap. Rommel sniffed the paper curiously before biting it gently to shake back and forth in his mouth. Matthew gently flicked the kit’s nose and removed the paper from his mouth. “Easy. No biting, Rommel.” Then he stroked the fox’s head. “Good boy.” The fox eyed the box and paper carefully, as if gauging what the human’s response would be, but didn’t try to snatch it again. Another wooden box was soon exposed to the night air, and Matthew looked at Taze with a questioning gaze.
“Storm Hammer had to work on my word and not a lot of time, so it isn’t perfect,” Taze began. “I wouldn’t try translating the Elvish script, but it can glow blue.” He grinned as Matthew opened the box to reveal a finely crafted steel dagger roughly twenty-three inches long with a curved design and complementary curving script carved into the blade in a single elegant line. Despite its slightly curvy profile, the weapon was double-edged with a wide cross hilt curving upward and a spiraling leather-wrapped handle complete with a widened pommel. Beside it lay a leather scabbard with finely made steel pieces covering the mouth and tip. Using her skill, the smith had ensured to curve the metal pieces in such a manner as to give a vaguely leafy design.
“Well, I can’t read Elvish, so no worries there,” Matthew began as he picked up the blade gently. The moment he touched it, it began to glow blue. “Cool.” He sheathed the weapon and donned the ensemble.
The next box was poorly wrapped and small. Rainbow Dash beamed with pride as Matthew slowly unwrapped the gift, revealing a large crystal sphere filled with milky bands in every color of the rainbow. He looked to Rainbow with a tilt of his head.
“Hold it up to the light,” she urged.
Matthew frowned, but did as instructed, placing Rommel on the ground and approaching a torch. As he held the orb in front of the light, the colors within the crystal churned, becoming almost liquid before a weak rainbow jumped from the now-glowing crystal. As Matthew moved to place his hand beneath the beam, he found to his surprise that the light had a physical form. “What?” he gasped.
“It’s a rainbow diffuser. Most foals in Cloudsdale get one to help them get used to interacting with clouds and weather. Since you’re new and all, I kind of thought you might like it, think it was cool and all.”
Matthew grinned as he pulled the orb away. “It’s amazing, Rainbow Dash! Thank you! We never had anything like this back home. I can’t wait to see what it does in sunlight!”
Rainbow grinned. “Trust me. You’re gonna love it.”
Among the other gifts were a new set of dress uniforms that looked suspiciously like a set of garments from World War Two, complete with, of all things, a tricorn hat from an era over a century earlier; an exceptionally delicious batch of homemade cupcakes iced to look like the American flag; a batch of highly coveted preserved zap apple jam; and a beautifully carved jade four-leaf clover complete with a card wishing him luck while begging he not show it to Twilight for whatever reason. From the CMC came a surprisingly well-made saddlebag sized proportionally for a human to help him carry any objects he might need with less difficulty. With gifts accounted for and the party going into proper swing, Matthew finally rose to prepare for the last gift. Surely, Shawn had enough time to finish his preparations by now.
He rose and passed the young kit to Fluttershy. “Would you look after Rommel for me until I get back? I don’t know what Shawn wants, and puppies get tired easily. I don’t want to have him hurt himself.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I’m sure Rommel will understand. We’ll play with him till he falls asleep and bring him by the Punch Bowl later if you can’t make it back.”
Matthew smiled. “Thanks.” Then he waved himself into the night.
The walk to the training grounds was short but calming after all the excitement and warmth from the festivities. The grounds themselves had developed significantly in the short time since their arrival in the community. Ponies were efficient, even without access to their magic. The temporary barracks was already fully erect, and to the side, the archery range had been roped off with recently staked iron poles to keep outsiders off the site without permission. A set of torches had already been placed on the edges and near one of the targets. Shawn stood patiently next to a portable table by the opening of the range.
“Happy Birthday, Matthew,” Shawn commented with a small grin.
“Thank you, Shawn.” Matthew returned the smile. “It turns out you can have foxes as pets.” He bounced in place as his other gifts came to mind. “Also, I can touch rainbows!”
Shawn gave a brief chuckle. “I suppose in a world like this, that sounds about right. In any case, I have one last gift for you, and I’m sure you’re curious about it, given our location.”
“I am.” Matthew nodded. “Is it a short bow or something?” he asked as he gestured down range.
“Not quite. You’re close, but not quite in the right field,” Shawn gave a smile. “Allow me to show you, as well as demonstrate its safety.”
“Safety?” Matthew asked. “Just what did you make?” he asked suspiciously.
Shawn reached into his coat and pulled out a familiar device. He held the dark redwood grip ending in a rounded golden cap. Following the grip revealed the mechanics of the device as he pulled back on the hammer at the back of the mechanism until an audible click sounded off. Finally, the steel barrel gleamed in the torchlight as he raised it and aimed for the target. Though it could not be seen, Shawn knew the inside of the barrel had been correctly rifled. Underneath the barrel, sitting parallel with it, was the ramrod, safely tucked away within its slot by the wooden grip and awaiting its next use.
In Shawn’s hand, was a flintlock pistol.
A crack echoed through the silent night as the trigger was pulled, the hammer slammed home, and the gunpowder ignited. The detonation was followed by another quieter snap and crack as the archery target took the brunt force of the homemade bullet’s collision.
Shawn had officially created the world’s first firearm.
“That was…. Wow,” Matthew said as the full implications of just what Shawn was giving to him dawned. “Shawn, that is, … yeah, that needs a lot of safety.”
“I used some more modern techniques I learned from my grandmother while keeping true to the era of Equestria,” Shawn replied before shrugging. “Well, close enough to this era, anyway.” He flipped the flintlock in his hand to hold it out for Matthew. “If you didn’t open the first half of my gift at the party, it’s the holster and case. Ammunition will come later, as, while it works, I’d like to get some perfect ratios and an exact method of adding it.”
“Of course.” Matthew nodded as he pulled the holster from his side satchel and put it on the other hip from Sting. He chuckled. “I look like some cowboy.” Then he grinned and hugged Shawn. “Thank you. I’m lucky to have a friend like you watching my back. Just let me watch yours where I can.”
“I’ll keep you to that,” Shawn replied with a chuckle. “Be sure to pass a thanks to the smiths as well, Steel and Storm have been assisting me where they could, since I’m not used to these tools just yet. Not quite our size, nor our modern ones.” He chuckled once more.
“I shall do that when I see them next. Also, can you make some blanks? I wouldn’t mind scaring some of my students to silence next time they decide that my voice isn’t loud enough.” A moment later, he shook his head. “Never mind.”
“I mean, I can probably do it. Just have to give me some time to get a small enough ratio as to not cause any potential damage while still making the noise.” Shawn shrugged.
Matthew smiled gratefully at his friend. “We have all the time in the world at the moment.”
“All right. Go ahead and head on back. Enjoy the rest of your night. I’ve got some other things to work on before I’ll be back.”
“I shall do so,” Matthew answered. “Just be sure to come by and get more sweets.”
Shawn shook his head. “Not a sweets person. But I’ll see if I can stop by while everyone is still around.”
“Please do. I don’t know what Pinkie Pie would do if you missed the party.”
“I mean, I was there earlier, so I’m sure she’d understand.”
“I do,” the mare said as she popped up from one of the nearby hay bales, waved quickly, then sank back in again, presumably to disappear back to the party again.
“Please don’t pop up in that area, Pinkie. It’s not a safe location,” Shawn called as he moved to depart.
Far away, the cry of, “Okie dokie, Loki!” could be heard drifting on the still night air.
“That…. But…..” Matthew started. “No, won’t talk there, won’t question,” he said and promptly turned his back. There was no way she could have gotten to the hay bale without Shawn or him seeing her. And yet she had. But the sacred rule must always be followed to avoid going insane, and he knew well the consequences of attempting to one-up that unspoken rule. It was Pinkie Pie, and he most definitely was not about to question it.
“Good morning!” Taze said to the assembled group as they stood in the recently finished training grounds. “As you may have noticed, we won’t be doing our usual run today, because today we start with weapons training.”
A Pegasus grinned exultantly. “Finally!”
“First off, you’ll be surrendering your halberds to the warrant officer,” Taze informed them. “They have no place in this guard unit.”
One of the Unicorns gasped. “The halberd has been the traditional Equestrian Guard weapon for centuries. It’s an integral part of our training.”
Taze signaled the Unicorn forward. “You think this is a good weapon?” He picked up one of the halberds.
“If you know how to use it properly, yes, Sir.”
Taze offered it to her. “Then take it and get ready for an attack, soldier.”
The Pony seized the weapon in her magic and twirled the weapon to get a proper feel of its balance before bracing for attack.
Taze took a few paces back and waited for her to signal she was ready.
“Have at you, then!” The mare lunged forward with the polearm and jabbed with the blade. Taze immediately dodged to the side, unsheathed a knife, and locked it under the halberd’s beard, moving the weapon aside. The familiar ring of magic indicated what was to come next, and Taze was ready for it when the weapon launched easily from the lock Taze had engaged and twisted with a deadly slash that Taze dodged. His hand flicked with an almost imperceptible speed as the dagger he had used whistled toward the mare’s horn. The halberd launched forward to divert the flow of the dagger, sending the weapon thumping and rolling over the ground. As the halberd drew upward to arc back, however, it stopped suddenly at its peak and quivered in the air. Taze now stood next to the mare, the cool edge of his sword placed neatly at her throat.
“You were saying?” Taze asked.
The mare glared angrily at the human, but finally sighed as the halberd descended slowly. “I yield.”
“The halberd has situational advantages,” Taze said as he sheathed his blade. “But its range is also a weakness if you get inside of it. We need to have you all capable of defending yourselves and adapting to surprises. The princesses were kind enough to loan us some masters of arms who we will be making use of to test and see where your aptitudes lie. Shield and sword, the spear, or other such weapons, to determine how to best make use of you.
“On top of this, each of you will be learning to use a bow and arrow. The size of said bow will also be something we test. Until such a time as your master of arms determines you ready, you will not be permitted to use live weaponry outside of an emergency without permission. You will, however, be provided the appropriate gear and be expected to care for it. Failure to properly clean and oil your equipment will result in punishments being handed out. Am I clear?”
The crowd roared back. “Yes, Sir!”
“And what if our aptitude is with a halberd or some other polearm, Sir?” the mare from before asked.
“Then we’ll see what can be done,” Taze replied. “But before you can master a halberd, you’ll need to be able to master the spear. You need to walk before you can run. On a related note, while I’ll overlook what you did for the sake of the demonstration, I must remind you once again that you are not permitted to use magic unless specifically told during your training.” He gave the mare’s horn a flick. “We aren’t attempting to make you into a guard that looks pretty for parades and holidays. We’re trying to make you all capable of defending your home and your families in a time of crisis.”
“Sir, requesting permission to speak, Sir!” the Pegasus from before cried.
“Go Ahead,” Taze said.
“If we are going to be learning how to use these weapons and start our training today, then where are these masters of arms?”
“They should be here momentarily.” Taze said. “For now, I want you each to think about weapons and what you’d like to try first. Keep it simple. The more advanced weapons can come after you’re deemed ready for them. Is that understood?”
The soldiers all straightened and saluted. “Sir, yes, Sir!”
Taze smiled. “Good. Then let’s get started.”
Matthew stood in front of the desk at full attention garbed in his officer’s uniform with Sting on his right hip. He watched as over half of the troops filed in early with Silver Spear in the lead alongside Black Rook. The group looked questioningly at the frame that had been installed within the tent’s structure and the doors that had been inserted on the other side, but chose not to voice their thoughts. After the group had taken their seats, they waited patiently until the clock that had been added to their pavilion struck one. At that point, Matthew cleared his throat.
“Silver Spear, please close the doors and engage the lock.”
“Sir, what about the others?” a female Earth Pony asked.
“I warned them to be early or come on time. Those who don’t have to face the consequences. This is part of the test. Now, please do as I asked, Silver Spear.”
Silver Spear nodded and winced as he pulled the doors closed. The distant sounds of shouting voices could be heard until the two doors locked and the bolts were engaged. He nearly reached his desk when the handles jiggled and the doors began to shake.
“Ignore that,” Matthew ordered calmly. “Now—”
He was interrupted by a loud wrenching tear as a knife slashed jaggedly through the tent’s wall to grant passage. A few seconds later, a Unicorn passed through the new entrance to stare at his commanding officer and the class before moving to take a seat. Matthew kept his mouth in a thin line as the rest of the class walked into the room. He waited patiently, then gazed at one of the other Unicorns who had a needle and thread for her cutie mark. “Cross Stitch, I need you to use your magic to repair the tent’s wall. You have my permission.”
“Yes, Sir.” The reedy Unicorn’s horn lit up and the tear began to seal under her care until a stray gust kicked her chair out from under her, disrupting her flow and leaving the job only partially complete.
Matthew strode first to the Unicorn and raised her from the ground. “Are you all right?”
Cross Stitch nodded. “Just a little startled, Sir. I’m all right.”
Matthew nodded and returned the chair to its proper position. “Resume the repairs. It seems that I have a troublemaker to attend to.” He strode down the aisles to where a smug-looking Pegasus with a flat top mane cut sneered at the human. “You look like one of the newer recruits to our facility. I’m going to guess some hotshot who thinks he’s got everything figured out. Or maybe you think Pegasi are better than anyone else, not unlike how some Canterlot nobility think of themselves. I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. More importantly, I’m here to tell you that you’ve just lost your privileges for leave.” He turned to peer at the rest of the class. “I was going to commend you for your clever thinking. Though destructive, it did serve to provide an opening to join this classroom, and I encourage open thinking. However, I cannot overlook the choice of your friend here to use his magic for the sake of a prank. You’ve already been warned about the consequences for such an act. And that means triple laps around the town.”
The Pegasus snorted and rolled his eyes. “This coming from the man who just ordered a soldier to disobey a standing order from his commanding officer.”
“A commanding officer with whom I work jointly and who authorized me to be able to give permission to use magic in the event that I deem it necessary or appropriate. I have as much authority over you as Taze or Lord Shawn do. And more importantly, I deserve the same respect that you give to them. You can talk with some of your more senior cadets about how and why. I have neither the time nor the patience, and I sure as hell don’t have the respect for you to tell you my story after what you just pulled. More importantly, I doubt you could be relied upon when a situation is life or death, given how self-centered you clearly are.”
“And what do you know about life or death?”
Matthew’s eyes flashed angrily. “I know a hell of a lot more about life and death than you do.”
“Oh? Like what? Reading about it in your books?”
“I suppose you wouldn’t know much about the battlefields of life, would you? You think this is all fun and games. But there are Ponies who had to fight for their lives long after the invasion was dispersed at Canterlot. My friend Shawn was one of them. He nearly died. I, myself, have had four separate brushes with death long before the invasion took place. We’re old friends.”
He peered intently at the troops. “No one is to speak to what I am about to show you. Do you understand?” And with that said, Matthew unbuttoned his uniform and stripped to expose his chest, along with the multitude of scars that traced in ugly white streaks. “Look well, Upstart. Tell me that this isn’t the sign of a warrior’s spirit when these treatments were performed without any magic whatsoever to heal me. I had to do all of this on my own with drugs, needles, thread, and intensive physical therapy. Go ahead. I dare you. Because if you keep up this snark, I guarantee you we’ll have you shipped back home so fast, your head will spin, and you will never have a chance in the Guard again. That means disgrace to your family and whatever legacy you may or may not have.
“This is the last and only chance I will give you. And I guarantee you that Lord Shawn will take my word over yours any day of the week. So listen carefully, colt. You’re going to shut up, shape up, and learn to work with your fellow guards as a team. Right now, I’ve seen only two capable leaders among you. Their names are Silver Spear and Black Rook. In case you haven’t noticed, your name isn’t on that list.”
He rounded on the Unicorn who first cut the hole into the tent. “Given your haughty expression after you cut your way in, I’m going to guess that you’re the ringleader of this little gang. A poor leader at that, if you can’t even keep your men in line.” He pulled his shirt back on and began to button the jacket up. “Out of curiosity, was that a deliberate attempt to supplant my authority by coming late, or were you delayed? The end result is the same, as I’ve said before in this class, but your answer may yet have an impact on your punishment, Mister…?”
The Unicorn glared at the human. “Golden Shoe.”
Matthew looked expectantly at the Unicorn.
“Sir,” he grated.
“And don’t you forget it. Now, about that late arrival?”
“It was the former.”
Matthew’s face remained flat as he pondered the statement. Finally, he spoke. “At least you’re honest about it. That is to be commended, if nothing else in your behavior. As such, you’ll be leading your fellow soldiers through their chastisement. You will also be responsible for ensuring that everyone does their exercises properly. And if they don’t, then you will be responsible for starting them all back from the beginning until they get it right without exception. You want the chance to prove yourself. Congratulations. I hope you and your fellow trainees enjoy it.”
The Pegasus sneered, and Matthew began to walk back to his desk. “And for those of you who think you’ll be able to slack off or report falsely, you can think again. You will be caught, and you will be reprimanded, and you will face an even worse punishment as a result. That is not a threat. That is a promise. And that particular punishment will be devised by all three of us, rather than myself alone. Poor troops reflect poorly on their commanding officers. You’ve seen and experienced what happens when a few of you do so to Lord Shawn. Do you really want to see what happens if you actually manage to make him angry?”
A collective shudder coursed through the Ponies at those words.
A thoroughly cowed Golden Shoe spoke in far softer tones. “Did you ever serve, Sir? Before the attack on Canterlot, I mean.”
Matthew nodded bleakly as he turned to face the class again. “I served for two years in my nation's military training facilities, being given and giving the same routine as anyone preparing for active duty. If not for my health, I would have made it my career. But If I can teach you, help even just one of you go from washout to proper soldier, then it will be worth it.” He grinned. “As for what I think was the unasked question, I was just as tough on my fellow cadets when I was in opposition forces during training. I was even ordered to tone it down because of how easily I spotted them. In other words, I have the knowledge and capacity to help you build the proper foundation for a successful military career. It’s up to you to decide whether you will accept that help or have that house collapse on you before you’ve even begun construction.”
Golden Shoes looked intently at Matthew. “If your race even let someone as weak as you have a taste of the military, maybe you can teach us something,” he conceded.
“You can’t be serious, GS.”
“You saw it, Bluster. He’s proven he’s not afraid of death. Or at the very least that he’s faced it before.”
Bluster sputtered and folded his forelegs sulkily. “Coward,” he muttered.
“You two can sort out your differences later,” Matthew said. “I will have order in this classroom, however.” He approached the blackboard. “A word of advice to you, Gold Shoe, and to any others who are of a similar mind or background. You’ve all been unbelievably arrogant. You refuse to adapt to change. In war, that will kill you. The enemy doesn’t play nice. The enemy doesn’t stop because you tell him to. The enemy will do whatever it can to kill you and then ravage the people you are meant to protect. A playful gust or a fiery attitude won’t save lives. Your skills and your ability to think clearly on the battlefield will. And if you want to be taken seriously at all, then you had better start acting with the maturity and discipline that your station is meant to represent. Otherwise, your word won’t mean a thing when it may count the most.”
He motioned toward the Pony’s desk. “Take your seat, Golden Shoe. And as for the half of class that actually listened to my instructions, you will be properly rewarded. I am giving each of you an extra five points’ worth of credit on your tests. Five more will also be awarded to you, Golden Shoe, for your innovative thinking in how to make your own entry into the class when your first one was barred. Two extra points will also be given to Cross Stitch for her role in repairing this tent, so that we don’t have to bother the princesses by requesting a new one so soon.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Now, then, with that settled….” He flipped the chalkboard over to reveal a series of neat and carefully written Equestrian symbols describing the unbeatable prompt. “This is your test. You have the rest of this special hour and a half to write your answer to the problem. Be detailed and specific in how you address this situation. I want to see what you’re each capable of in your reasoning, and more importantly what action you choose to take as a result of that reasoning.
Golden Shoes gaped at the question. “But nothing like that has ever been recorded in Equestrian History!”
Matthew bared his teeth in an unnerving grin. “Who ever said the basis of this scenario came from Equestria? One hour, twenty-nine minutes, everypony….”
The scrawl of frantic pens was deafening.
Shawn took a breath as he straightened his stance. “All right,” he exhaled. “That’s the match.” At the moment, he was gauging both the strength of those they had as well as his own, given some abnormalities.
Before him was one of the Pegasi of his unit, Glory Blaze, who groaned from his place on the ground. With how fast they were, Shawn had to use different means of combat against them, including redirection.
Into the floor, in particular.
“Come on now, it wasn’t that hard of a hit,” he added, reaching down to assist the guard back onto his hooves.
“Felt like I was hit by a bloody tree,” The Pegasus said.
“Redirection,” Shawn spoke up as he patted the unit on the back. “Terrifying to Pegasi in particular, because mobility is your main strength.”
“Sir,” an Earth Pony spoke up. “Permission to speak freely?”
“Granted. What’s on your mind?”
The Earth Pony gestured to the half dozen trainees of varying tribes laying around nursing bruises, abrasions, and other related injuries. “Sir, you've been using a different excuse for a similar situation six times now.”
Shawn hummed briefly as he looked over the injured. “It is certainly strange.” He frowned. “Back home, I wasn’t particularly strong, but maybe it has something to do with the difference between our worlds.”
“Sir, have you tested your strength since the Changeling attack?”
“Not really, as I was more focused on the healing part after the attack. A broken spine makes things difficult.” He sighed. “I’ll have to look into a strength test when I have the time.”
“Sir, you’ve taken down Earth Ponies twice your mass.”
“I’ve also flatlined three times here, but for some reason I kept coming back.” Shawn shrugged. “Your world’s physics are slightly different from my own. I can’t tell you if it’s just a general strength thing or if it’s your world tampering with the scales.”
“Perhaps it may be safer to let us spar and you watch from the side?” The Earth Pony asked.
“Can’t let you get off that easy.” Shawn shook his head. “Though my strength is questionable, I am still teaching you all. I’ll attempt to hold back in some capacity, but we’re going to move forward. I’ll look into giving all of you a longer break to recover afterwards.”
“I was afraid of that,” The earth pony sighed.
“Credit for trying. And thank you for volunteering to be next.” Shawn smiled at the recruit.
That Earth Pony would wake up the next day with a double concussion.
Matthew looked up as Shawn and Taze walked into the Tavern, having taken over a booth to grade papers. Moonshade sat on the other end to give advice and input as he sought it. He waved his friends over as he made space for them. A piping hot vegetable dumpling soup sat at his side, still too warm to eat.
“They call this cold weather?” Taze asked as they approached.
“Taze, you come from the far north. I have a parka on order from Rarity. And these Ponies talk about things based on fur comfort, not human comfort.”
“Yeah. They have fur and they’re acting like it’s cold out.” Taze chuckled.
“Yeah, it’s not too bad outside at the moment,” Shawn spoke up with a shrug.
Matthew chuckled. “And I’m only skin and bones with a little metal in the chest. I need all the layers I can get. But I heard they’re prepping for a big storm coming in. Temps should get below freezing with about two feet of snow on the ground. Earth Ponies are dividing in shifts to make sure the snow doesn’t break any tree limbs around town.
“A storm, you say?” Taze smirked.
“Sounds like fun,” Shawn commented.
“Yeah, they say it’ll be a blizzard. Whiteout conditions,” Matthew answered.
“Now it sounds like fun.” Taze grinned.
“Of course you would say that,” Matthew deadpanned.
Moonshade looked confused. “Someone want to explain this to me?”
“I come from a farther northern area than these two. He,” Taze pointed to Matthew, “gets some snow and cold. But compared to me, he gets very little. He,” Taze pointed to Shawn, “lives in a desert area.”
“That sounds about right, except if we get a once-in-a century storm. Then we might compare,” Matthew said.
“He lives in a desert?” Moonshade asked incredulously.
“Yeah,” Shawn replied. “From a high of one-fifteen, and a potential low of below zero. Fahrenheit. Celsius, it’s like … forty-six to negative … seventeen, or something close.” He shrugged. “Depends on the season and part of the desert.”
“Your world sounds terrifying,” Moonshade noted.
“Ah, it’s not that bad.” He shrugged. “To us, your world is downright insane at times. So, we’ll call it even, yeah?”
“Fair point.” She shrugged.
“Indeed.”
“Guess there won’t be much of a crowd tonight, then.” Taze sighed.
“We’ll see. Never know how many may stop by.” Shawn shrugged. “As for that, though, I’ve got some work to do, so I’ll be heading up.”
“Sounds good, Shawn.” Matthew chuckled. “Well, what should we do with the snow that’s going to hit?”
“I guess the responsible thing to do would be to hunker down,” Taze commented as he rose to his feet. “I’m going to go get some food. You two have fun with your papers.”
Matthew nodded, waved his goodbye, then tested his soup to discover it had cooled sufficiently to enjoy. “I have a silly question for you, Moonshade. And I hope you won’t find it offensive. I’m just really curious. Back in our world, we had bats that fed on insects as well as fruits and sometimes other animals. Do Thestrals ever go after moths or insects as well, or do they strictly go after bigger game like deer and other non-sapient species?”
“We’re, I believe the term is opportunistic omnivores?” she said, unsure. “Thestrals can eat meat and vegetables, but we prefer meat. Likewise, if need be, we’ll go for smaller game, but it makes more sense to hunt larger creatures, given our size.”
“That is the correct term, and makes sense.” He paused and looked out the window at the fall air outside. “It’s getting close to the time of year that the people in my nation prepare food for family gatherings to give thanks for a good harvest and remember the ancestors and immigrants who traveled over waters to reach our country and eventually make it what it is today. Perhaps we could try something akin to a culinary cultural exchange,” he mused.
“Oh?” Moonshade asked.
“We call it Thanksgiving. And one of the main staples is usually a turkey or poultry-based dish with mashed potatoes and greens.” He grimaced at the word. “Sadly, greens are something I have to watch my intake on.” He cleared his throat quickly. “So, I guess I should ask in advance, in case we do go through with exchanging recipes. Do Thestrals have any food taboos or allergies? Because I was thinking of making my creamy garlic mashed potatoes.
“Nothing I can think of that would apply to such things,” she noted. “You may need to talk to the cook about using the field kitchen.”
“I’ll do that, then. And what’s a traditional Thestral meal?” he asked curiously.
“Braised venison with glazed carrots and preserved fruit.”
“That sounds yummy.”
“It is.” She nodded. “Though it's difficult to get venison these days.”
“Why?” Then his eyes widened with realization. “Oh, right, other Ponies. Venison is common back home, but a little more expensive if you don’t know where to look.”
“I suppose it helps coming from a race where meat is common,” she said with a shrug.
“It is. If we can get you to visit Earth, I’m sure we can show you a wide variety compared to what you usually eat here.” He chuckled. “Admittedly, this still feels a little strange. I couldn’t hold this conversation with a native pony from Earth. They’re not intelligent like you and the other Equestrians.”
“I mean, I don't know of any sapient apes in Equestria,” she returned.
“Touche. I guess this is still a first for both sides.” The sat in silence for a time as Matthew ate his soup. Finally, he turned his attention back to the mare as he placed the spoon in the meager puddle that remained. “Well, it’s getting sort of late.” He frowned as the shadows began to lengthen and the daylight shifted seamlessly into night. “I guess another question I can ask is … do you have any traditional lullabies for Thestrals? I have a few from my childhood I can offer in exchange.”
“An unusual request,” Moonshade noted. “But not one that I can’t oblige. There is one I remember….”
Shawn hummed as he looked over the finalized blueprint of the flintlock. He was happy to have completed the first one, and ensured that it worked to the level of efficiency that he wanted. Of course, he had some questions come his way when it came to the gunpowder, but it wasn’t too complicated to deal with without revealing too much of his plans.
There were some potential adjustments he could make for the ammunition, though at the moment, his single use cartridges would work fine for now, even if they took some time to make. Beyond that, he was happy to have fully adjusted to Equestrian tools. And due to some kind of enhancement, shaping metal was drastically easier than it was when he worked with his uncle.
Shawn sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. He missed them, but he couldn’t let that stop him. He needed to ensure forward momentum, no matter the price he’d have to pay. In a world like this, stagnation would kill him, either mentally, or physically again.
“Are you fine tuning those blueprints again?” Storm Hammer cut in. “You already made a cannon for the hoof. How much worse can you make it?”
Shawn blinked out of his thoughts. “Plenty worse, actually. But I don’t plan on doing that. This is already enough, given the world.”
“How could you make that worse?”
“Imagine it being able to fire multiple times before you need to load it again,” Shawn remarked with a small smile.
“That sounds devastating,” she noted.
“It is.” He sighed. “War is something we know well. For now, though, it’s self defense. I want to make sure they can fully defend themselves from anything, even magic and flying opponents. Magic will be tricky if barriers are made, however.” He scratched the side of his head in thought.
“I’d memorize those, then hide them then. Or burn them if you trust yourself.”
‘I trust myself, but I’ve also done something that most won’t recognize from just glancing at it.” He gestured to the blueprints, which were covered in a series of textual blurbs that Storm Hammer couldn’t even take a guess at the language. On top of that, she was certain there were additional parts that weren’t on the final product.
“All smiths use obscure languages or ciphers in their plans. Doesn’t mean it’s one hundred percent.” She shrugged.
“Yeah, but if you build it the way you see it, it’ll detonate in your hooves before it would actually fire.” Shawn smirked. “Wrong scales, wrong numbers, wrong measurements. The correct stuff isn’t written, as it’s all committed to memory. But if someone happens to steal this and try to make it….”
“So it’s a decoy, then?” she asked.
“Correct.” His smirk widened. “I’ve planned for as much as I can at this time.”
“You don’t just want to know if someone’s trying to steal it. You want to send a message to those who would,” Storm Hammer guessed.
“To ensure the safety of these designs, and the safety of my friends, and those under me.” Shawn’s smile softened. “That’s my goal, no matter the cost or risks I have to take for it.”
“Can’t say it’s not a valid idea.” She smirked. “Feel sorry for the poor sod who tries it, though.”
‘If they’ve gone so far as to steal these, it means they’re likely trying to use it against us.” He frowned. “It won’t kill them, but it will at least get them to back off.”
“Well, glad to know we won’t have to worry about Gryphons toting these around. Or worse,” she shuddered, “nobles.”
“I’ve just got to figure out a way to deal with magic next.” Shawn hummed. “But it’ll come after I make the others and I’ve got a better understanding of how magic works in this world.”
“Yes, but first you're going to take a few days off,” she said simply. “You’ve been spending day in and out in this forge for weeks.”
“I can’t.” Shawn frowned. “I’ve got to finish at least the one for Taze within the near future.”
“And you can work on it when you’ve had some time to unwind. This isn’t a request. Steel Weaver and I agree you're taking some time off,” Storm Hammer said in a very no-nonsense tone.
Shawn wanted to form some kind of reply, but each possible one felt wrong. Finally, he sighed. “All right.” He started to roll up his blueprints. “Two days sound good?”
“Two days.” She nodded.
“Okay.” He tapped the rolled blueprints. “Well, at least this will give me time to come up with some new designs,” he remarked as he turned to leave.
Storm hammer shook his head as he left. “And people say I'll work myself to death,” she commented to herself.
“Ye’ actually got him to take a break?” Steel Weaver questioned as he entered the forge.
“I made it clear we weren’t asking,” she said. “Seriously, he’s in here more than the two of us combined, and we’re both chronic workaholics.”
“Aye, but after seeing that cannon he made…. Makes ye’ wonder what else he could come up with.” He shrugged. “But, breaks are important. Pull a muscle and you aren’t exactly workin’ anymore.”
“Yeah, and working too much too long makes you sloppy. The things he makes seem like they need precision.”
“Lass, he’s already sleep deprived.” Steel Weaver looked over to her. “He already should be making some major mistakes.”
“Safety first,” she said. “You want him blowing up this workshop?”
“‘Course not. I’m just tellin’ you that he’s already got things that should keep him out of here. I just don’t get how he can keep working like that.”
“Me either, Weaver. Me either.”