The King's War Ch10

“Talk”

                “Commander! We need some help… there is a new shop in the marketplace that is asking you to cut the ribbon at the grand opening.”
Commander Dust sighed, “Why can’t the shop owner do it himself!?! I'm busy!”
Captain Fleurir sighed, “They are requesting you… they believe it’s good luck for the commander of the Royal Guards to wish the shop luck in business by…”
“OK, OK, FINE!!! tell them I'll do it tomorrow! I need to finish organizing the ceremony for the unveiling of Princess Luna’s latest constellation! Then I have to settle the dispute between the landowners in the slums… then I have to meet with the new recruits to give them a motivational speech welcoming them to the Royal Guards then… AGH!!! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!! How does Commander Mist put up with all this crap! Celestia kill me now…”

                All of a sudden, a voice came from behind, “I would… But then who would I find to solve all these problems?”
Commander Dust quickly turned around and nervously bowed,  “Your… your majesty! I… uh… my apologies your majesty I didn’t mean to use your name in vain… I um… I mean…”
Princess Celestia smiled, “It’s ok commander… I understand it’s a rough job commanding the Royal Guards. But it must be done. Is everything going well?”
Commander Dust sighed, “Well the kingdom hasn’t collapsed… yet. I just don’t understand how Commander Mist does it. I’ve been in charge for a little over a week and I'm ready to kill somepony. While he goes about it acting like it’s nothing.”

                Princess Celestia smiled, “Commander Mist has had a lot of practice. Sometimes I think he will never retire, especially after his betrothed died. Nevertheless, He will complete his mission and be back so…”
“SISTER!!!”
Princess Celestia turned around as Princess Luna approached them, “Princess Luna, shouldn’t you be getting rest till sunse…”
“It’s Star Bolt! Now he has gone missing too!”
Princess Celestia was worried, “What? what happened?”
Princess Luna replied, “Sergeant Major Storm was the only pony I could contact in the Griffin Kingdoms. He says that the city of Kestrel has fallen to the Griffin Rebellion and Sta… I mean Major Bolt is among those who are unaccounted for.”

                Commander Dust immediately reacted by turning toward Captain Fleurir , “Gather the forces and be ready to mobilize as many troops that are available. Tell them to be ready to march towards the Griffin Kingdoms by…”
“Hold your horses Commander… this isn’t the time to panic. Sister, when did he go missing?”
Princess Luna replied, “Just yesterday afternoon. He gave an order to retreat if necessary, and… he gave his word that he wouldn’t retreat, no matter what.”
Princess Celestia shook her head, “If anything happens as a result of this, then it will happen in Gryphus first. We cannot act so hastily, otherwise we could turn the Griffin Kingdoms’ hostility towards us.”
“But Princess, We must..”
“Calm down commander. you can gather your troops if you want… but I don’t want any of them stepping  into the Griffin Kingdoms unless I see a need to do so. For now, let’s just increase security on the border.  Captain Fleurir, increase security on vital parts of Canterlot. We need to be ready for any attack, both outside and inside Equestria.”

                Princess Luna put her hoof on her face and sighed, “I can only hope for the best… I feel so useless…”
“Don’t talk like that sister, Major Star Bolt may be stubborn… but remember who trained him. He and Commander Mist will return, of this I am certain.”
Captain Fleurir spoke next, “Your majesty? What about the other solders in the Griffin Kingdoms… are they alright?”
Princess Luna replied, “Yes, however the numbers have been marked down to ten soldiers  total. They have been appointed to the castle in Gryphus to guard the king now.”
Princess Celestia nodded her head, “Then there is still hope. So long as one soldier remains. There will always be hope.”

                Farther away in Kestrel, Major Bolt slowly opened his eyes and realized he was lying on his back in the hospital. Feeling exhausted, he turned his head to the side and saw Traipse standing there with Blade and a few griffin doctors. Traipse shook his head and spoke, “Colt, you chose the worst possible time to wake up.”
Major Bolt replied, “Wh-what… what in Celestia's name are you…”
The doctor called to his nurses, who were holding his dislocated wing out, “Ready… On three… One… Two… Three!...”
After the doctor called three, the nurses pushed in Major Bolt’s wing popping it back into place and sending an intense pain through his body. Major Bolt screamed in pain as Traipse patted him on his shoulder, “Calm down colt… the pain means you’re still alive, it’s a good realization that you’ve survived yet another battle… however, I wouldn’t consider it a victorious battle.”

                Major Bolt breathed heavily as he replied through the pain, “Where… where am I?... what did you… do with my soldiers?”
Traipse replied, “They’re safe. They retreated out the back gate and made their way back to Gryphus.”
“why… Why am I… still alive?...”
“there isn’t a need to kill you just yet. first, I want to speak with you about a particular matter. But now isn’t the time, first you need to get a little more rest. I'll come back and speak with you later.”
As Traipse turned around, Major Bolt called to him, “WAIT!!!... Co… Commander M… Mist… Where is he?...”
Traipse turned and looked at Major Bolt, “what is he to you? why do you care where he is?”
Major Bolt cringed  as he replied, “that… that isn’t your concern…”
Traipse nodded his head, “well then, neither are you.”

                Traipse turned and Blade both left the room as Major Bolt lied there confused with Traipse answer, “Wait!... I'm not finished… with you yet! Get… Get Back here and tell me where he is!... GET BACK HERE!!!”
as they made their way down the hospital hall, Blade asked, “Why do you need to talk with him Traipse? I though you said he won’t be joining the Cutters.”
Traipse replied without any expression, “He won’t…”
“Then what do you need to ask him?”
“It’s not your concern.”
Blade quickly stepped in front of Traipse and spoke, “Not my concern? NOT MY CONCERN!?! I am your partner! Everything that concerns The Cutters concerns me too!”
Traipse gave her a look of irritation, “Step aside Blade.”
“No! I deserve explana…”

                Before Blade could finish her sentence, Traipse reached out, grabbed her wing, and slammed her against the wall by it. Then with one hoof already on one wing Traipse grabbed her other wing, pinned her against the wall and spoke, with an infuriated voice, “This matter goes deeper than you… it goes deeper thaan anything you could understand.”
Stunned and nervous, Blade replied, “Then tell me… and if I don’t understand… you won’t hear another word from me…”
Traipse glared at Blade and reared back his hoof to punch her. Blade closed her eyes as she flinched but the punch never came, slowly she opened her eyes and saw that his hoof was still reared back but he held it in place as he sighed, “Just let it be Blade… I'm sorry… but I can’t let you get involved with this. Just trust me when I say it won’t put you or the cutters at risk… that’s all I ask.”
Traipse dropped Blade and turned to continue down the hall as Blade looked in amassment at Traipse. She called to him, “You know! We don’t tell each other our past for a reason… because it can endanger one or both of us. But if you don’t let me know… then it still could.”
Traipse didn’t turn around as he replied, “It won’t…”
Blade knew he was keeping a secret from her, one that could have something to do with his past. But she decided to let it be… for now. So she followed Traipse as they left the building, and went outside.

                About an hour later, Commander Mist was still hanging from the ceiling in the cave as he was annoying the griffin guard, “Hey Skippy? How long have you been fighting?”
The Guard didn’t reply as Commander Mist continued, “Is that so… me? I’ve been in about twenty years. Need any advice?”
The guard sneered at him as he answered himself again, “I can’t say it’s the best advice but I'll tell you that it’s a bad idea to carry a spear when one of your soldiers likes to play with lighting.”
The guard continued to hold his silence as Commander Mist continued, “Yea, that’s what will happen, especially if your spear is made of metal. It’s a regular lightning rod… you know what Skippy? You’re all right. If we ever get out of this alive… I'm taken you out for a drink… my treat.”
Continuing his conversation with himself, Commander Mist didn’t notice as both Traipse and Blade entered the cave, “Hello again commander? Are you keeping yourself entertained?”

                Commander Mist looked over at Traipse and smiled, “Yep… Skippy and I are just catching up on stories of our career.”
Blade spoke, “Skippy?”
“Yep the guard right there… He doesn’t talk much, but since he won’t tell me, his name I decided to call him Skippy. Ain’t that right Skippy?”
Blade couldn’t help but giggle at Commander Mist’s sense of humor as the griffin guard looked over at Traipse, “Sir! Permission to put this pony out of MY misery?”
Traipse smiled, “Denied! But you’ve earned yourself  break. Go rest… I think it’s safe to say he won’t be going anywhere any time soon… especially since Kestrel is now under my control.”

                The guard saluted Traipse as he left the room, as Commander Mist spoke, “BYE SKIPPY!!! So… Kestrel fell hmm. How did it go by the way?”
Traipse replied, “It went well. I have to admit your solders are a determined bunch… In fact, I was wanting to ask you about one particular soldier who caught my eye out there. Now what was that young stallion’s name?… Oh yea… Bolt… Major Star Bolt. Do you know him?”
Commander Mist replied while trying to hide his concern, “I have a lot of solders… but I think I know the one you’re talking about? Dark body, carries a shield, a stubborn little brat, but good with his weapon.”
Traipse could since his concern as he replied, “Yea… that’s the one. I was wondering though. The first thing he said when he saw Blade was, Where is Commander Mist?… so can I ask what he is to you?”

                Commander Mist replied, “Just some stubborn colt I took in from the streets. He always wanted to be a soldier so I agreed to train him.”
Traipse continued without expression, “Funny… from the way he talked about you… I would mistake him for your son… though I see he has no resemblance to you.”
Commander Mist replied, “Nope, just a stubborn little spark of a pegasus.”
Traipse gave a fake sigh as he replied, “I guess it wouldn’t matter now anyway.”
“Wouldn’t matter? Why?”
Traipse smiled sinisterly, “I executed him this morning.”
Both Blade and Commander Mist looked at Traipse in shock, “What!”

                Traipse continued with the smile on his face,  “Don’t take it the wrong way commander… you taught him very well. but it wasn’t good enough to beat me.”
Both Blade and Traipse could see the rage in his eyes as Commander Mist glared at Traipse, “And Commander Shriek… Did you kill her too?”
Traipse replied, “The Cutters have taken many lives since this war began… please be more specific.”
Commander Mist replied with an angry tone, “Gray feathers… black body… the commander of the griffin forces in Javelin Falls.”
Traipse Nodded his head, “I know the one… but I didn’t kill her. The griffon who did, was the general who hired us.”

                Commander Mist was enraged, here he was tied up and hanging from the ceiling while the pony who killed his student was so causally standing in front of him, talking as if he did nothing wrong. Holding his anger in with as much strength as he could muster, Commander Mist spoke, “What are you going to do to me?”
Traipse smiled, “You’re the commanding officer of the entire Equestrian Royal Guard. I'm going to sell you back to them. At least this war won’t be a total waste. First, I'll deal with our contractor because we all know he won’t be able to pay the bill he’s raked up. then I'll make a simple profit from you… it’s a win, win. But first, we have to settle things in Gryphus. Just hang here till I get back. I'll have a guard bring you food soon.”
Refusing to wait around for a reply, Traipse left the room, leaving Blade behind. Blade approached Commander Mist then spoke, “That colt… did he really mean that much to you?”
Commander Mist didn’t reply, instead, he just gave Blade a look of pure hatred, while she replied, “I see…”
“BLADE!”

                Hearing her name being called, Blade turned around and started to trot away, “Why? Why are you doing this?”
Blade paused… but she didn’t answer Commander Mist’s question. Instead, she just stood still for a second, sighed, then left the room and met Traipse down the hall. As she approached Traipse whispered to her, “I'm going back into Kestrel to speak with Bolt. You stay here and watch Commander Mist.”
Blade had to ask, “Why did you tell him that? Why did you make him believe that the colt is dead?”
Traipse turned to leave as he replied, “Commander Mist apparently has a strong bond with that colt. I just wanted to see how he would react if the colt all of a sudden died. I wanted to remind him the dangers of caring about another in combat… it will lead to disaster in the end. Just stay here until I return. there is a chance that when I come back we will have one less prisoner.”
“One less? Are you going to kill him?”
Traipse continued leaving the cave as he replied, “Who knows… a lot can happen in a few hours.”

                Traipse left the cave and made his way back into Kestrel. As he entered the hospital, he met his guards outside Major Bolt’s room, “How’s the colt doing? Is he awake?”
The guard replied, “He is… he’s up and trotting around inside but we wouldn’t let him leave.”
Traipse nodded his head, “Take the rest of the day off! I'll watch him from here.”
“Yes Sir!”
As the guards walked away, Traipse slowly opened the door to Major Bolt’s room. The lights inside were off and the curtains were closed, leaving the room dark. Traipse smiled as he casually trotted into the room, “Colt? Are you in here?”
After taking three steps into the room, Traipse already knew what was about to happen, but he continued to act casual.

                As Traipse started to take his forth step, Major Bolt jumped out of the shadows behind the door and tried to stab him with a medical scalpel. Expecting a surprise attack, Traipse ducked to avoid the strike, then grabbed Major Bolt by his front hoof and swung him over his shoulder, slamming him against the ground. Stunned and weak, Major Bolt laid there as Traipse pulled the scalpel from his hoof and tossed it away from him, “Good attempt colt… but you’re predictable. First off, you turned the lights off. An easy attempt at concealing yourself, but a surprise attack is more successful if you’re in plain sight. Next time try doing something unexpected. Like lying in bed pretending to sleep with the scalpel hidden under the covers. Or better yet, sitting in the bed and starting a conversation with me before attempting to attack. Either one would have been better then hiding in the corner of the room where the shadows are the darkest. There is only one pony in this world who could use that strategy and successfully pull it off. And no matter how much you resemble her… you will never be her.”

                Major Bolt laid on the ground still stunned as he replied, “Resemble? What are you ta…”
Traipse held his hoof out to help Major Bolt up, “Come with me Major… I want to talk to you about something.”
“Talk?”
Traipse smiled, “The battle is over Bolt… and you lost. But since you are wounded, and you have no chance of putting up any kind of fight against us… I see no reason to treat you like a prisoner.”
Rather than taking Traipse hoof to be helped off the ground, Major Bolt rolled onto his side and picked himself up on his own as he replied, “Why?... so you can let me trot beside you until you finally stab me in the back? I don’t think so?”

                 Acknowledging that Major Bolt didn’t allow him to help him up, Traipse shrugged his shoulders, turned, and trotted towards the door as he smiled, “If you haven’t notice… I don’t carry a weapon. There is no sword on my back, no quiver, axe, or even a shield. But remember one thing colt. If I wanted you dead… then I would have snapped your neck before you even had the chance to say my name. But as I said, this isn’t the case. Right now, you and I are just two stallions with a different look on life, no reason to fight… no reason to die.”
Traipse stood at the door waiting for Major Bolt to follow him, as an awkward silence passed. He didn’t know if he could trust this mercenary or not… but if anything, Major Bolt knew that if he cooperated, he could be lead to where Commander Mist was being held, so Major Bolt swallowed his pride and started following Traipse as the two ponies left the building and started through the streets of Kestrel.

                As the two ponies trotted next to each other, Traipse decided to speak first, “You’re a very strong stallion… I know I was a little rough with you… but you do have potential. I just wanted to show you the harsh reality that is war.”
Major Bolt gave Traipse a confused look, “So you’re a mercenary, a murderer, a foalnapper, a war monger, and a philosopher hmm?”
Traipse smiled, “When Blade told me about a pony who chased her through the streets of Gryphus, and was able to survive more than five attacks from her weapons, I thought I fell onto a gold mine. A soldier with that kind of skill is the type of soldier that I would love to recruit to The Cutters… to fill the void that was left when our last member left. But when I first saw you… I changed my mind.”

                Major Bolt was getting annoyed with the small talk, but with Commander Mist’s location in mind, he decided to put up with it. Major Bolt sighed, “Good, I wouldn’t have joined anyway. But out of curiosity… why?”
Traipse replied, “You’re too pure… you haven’t tasted the true blood of battle yet.”
“The true Blood?”
At this time, the two ponies had made their way up a staircase and were overlooking the battlefield in front of Kestrel from atop the city wall. Traipse looked deep into the battlefield where his soldiers were still recovering the dead, and spoke, “The true blood… the betrayal, the loose, in the end, something is always lost in battle. Sometimes, it’s a life, a limb, a friend, a loved one, or… a piece of yourself. I lost myself years ago, there is nothing for me anymore. but you… you’re still young. If you stop now you can save yourself.”

                Major Bolt was curious, “Save myself?... from what.”
Traipse shook his head, “Yourself… I've been killing for as long as I can remember, but now. I can never live a life like other stallions. Not with the blood still dripping from my hooves.”
Major Bolt looked into the battlefield and thought to himself, there has to be a way to live a normal life, even if you have a long list of Sins. As he was deep in thought, Traipse changed the subject, “Where did you learn to fight colt?”
Major Bolt replied, “I’d appreciate it if you would call me by my name… but I learned everything I know from Commander Mist.”
Traipse nodded his head, “I find that hard to believe. Commander Mist is a strong opponent… but you out did him without even trying… Tell me, have you ever heard the name Serenity?”
Major Bolt thought to himself for a few seconds, “No.. I don’t think I have.”
Traipse continued, “How about The Reaper, any information about her?”
“Hmm, that name I’ve heard before but I don’t know anything about her… in fact I didn’t know she was a SHE to begin with, I thought the Reaper was a stallion.”

                Traipse lowered his head in disappointment, “I don’t suppose you know where she is then… do you?”
Major Bolt could see the disappointment in his eyes as he replied, “Sorry… but no.”
Traipse sighed then continued, “Well I knew it was a longshot to begin with. Anyway. I'm sure you want to ask about Commander Mist now right?”
Major Bolt was surprised that Traipse brought up the subject so bluntly without even trying to stall it any longer, “Um… yes what I want to know is… what you did with him?”
Traipse replied, “He is fine, he is being held in a cave not too far outside the city. He isn’t hurt, nor is he injured in any way. But can you tell me what your relationship is with him?”
Major Bolt sighed, “If you must know… he raised me, he took me in when I had nothing. If it wasn’t for him… I probably wouldn’t be here.”
“So… your mother didn’t raise you?”
“I never knew my mother.”

                 “What about your father? Didn’t he do anything?”
Major Bolt shook his head, “I have been an orphan for as long as I can remember, my mother… my father… both are a complete mystery to me.”
Traipse smiled, "They must have been very strong willed.”
“What?”
“Think about it, not every trait used in battle is learned. Some are inherited. For all we know, one, the other, or even both of your parents were great warriors.”
Major Bolt thought to himself for a few second, “You know… you might be right. I never thought of it in that sense before.”
Traipse smiled, “Tomorrow morning there will be a supply convoy heading south to Trottingham. You will take your shield and follow them back to Equestria, then you will stay there.”
Major Bolt was appalled that he was getting ordered around by a mercenary who was fighting against him, “Excuse Me? Whe…”
“You’re excused…”
“NO! I mean, where do you get off giving me an order! I'm here for the Griffin Kingdoms’ defense and that’s what I intend to do!”

                Traipse shook his head, “Well at any rate, you should still leave the Griffin Kingdoms. Otherwise you might lose your life… or worse.”
Major Bolt replied, “I'll be fine… but why are you releasing me so easily?”
“You remind me of somepony I cared about, we will just leave it at that. Oh and one more thing… the griffin here are ordered to kill you on sight if you attempt to leave the city before dawn… Just a friendly tip.”
With nothing more to say, Traipse turned back towards the city and began trotting away from Major Bolt, who had to ask, “So… what do I do till then?”
Traipse shrugged his shoulders," I dunno? Figure it out! You’re not a prisoner, but you can’t leave the city so I’d suggest getting ready for your journey tomorrow.”
Major Bolt sighed, “So I'm a prisoner… and I'm free… well this is confusing. However, I don’t care what he says. I'm not going back to Equestria… not yet.”

                Back in the cave, Commander Mist was thinking silently to himself while hanging from the ceiling in the room. He hadn’t said a single word since Traipse left, but his thoughts were circling one subject. “Sparky… is gone… that stubborn little pain in the hind quarters… isn’t alive anymore. He… he wasn’t my son or anything… he wasn’t even related to me… but. I raised him. I brought him into my home and taught him everything I knew about being a soldier, not because I wanted to… but because he begged me to. He made me proud so many times. The day he learned to fly. The day he learned to fight, the day he used the lightning orb successfully… there hasn’t been a day that has gone by that he didn’t make me proud… even yesterday. Knowing that he was a good enough soldier to have Traipse know his name, was also something that made me proud. But now… he’s gone… and … and I never told him how proud I am of him. I never told him…”
For the first time in many years… tears started to roll up Commander Mist’s upside down face and drip from the harness that was covering his horn.

                Finally, he started to focus on what to do next. Looking around the room Commander Mist could see his spear, and armor just a few feet away from him. With the spear sitting up at about the same height as his head, he thought up a plan. First, he looked around to make perfectly sure he was the only one in the room. Then, he started to swing himself back and forth continuously until his head was close enough to the spear’s blade. He knew that he had to time it just right, otherwise he could accidently impale himself either through his head or his neck. Finally when he decided he could predict the swing. He lifted his head high and waited until he swung as close to the spear as possible, then as he started swinging back the other way he lowered his head and caught the leather halter on the blade. With his body weight pulling him back, the blade shimmied itself just under the halter and cut a small slit in it. However the other side of the blade cut into Commander Mist’s neck deep enough to draw blood, but not to cut anything vital.

                With him swinging back the blade cut itself free from the halter but the spear still fell to the ground with an echoing sound. Commander Mist immediately looked towards the door and waited for a guard to enter the room. However ,it seemed like either the sound wasn’t heard, or it was ignored. After about two minutes of waiting for a reaction, Commander Mist started shaking his head to see if his plan worked, the halter was now loose, and it even cut a portion of the leather that was covering his horn… but would it be enough? With blood running up his face from the wound on his neck, Commander Mist looked at his spear that was now lying flat on the ground, and started to focus. It was very difficult, but he managed to pick the spear up with a very small amount of magic. Making one more check around the room to confirm that he was still alone, Commander Mist carefully brought the spear to his neck and slowly cut the strap that was still holding the halter on his head. As the leather halter fell to the ground, Commander Mist quickly used his magic to catch it and carefully set it down so it wouldn’t create a second sound. Now came the part he wasn’t looking forward to. Of all the spells he knew, performed, and mastered, he has never been able to perform a spell on himself, which is why he never used a teleporting spell, so cutting himself free and preventing his body from making a sound would be difficult.

                Once again Commander Mist overlooked the room, then still using his magic, he placed the spear’s blade against the rope that was tying him to the ceiling, “This is gonna hurt.”
Bracing himself for the fall, Commander Mist cut the rope and cringed as he fell from six feet in the air, hitting the ground on his back. After hitting the ground, Commander Mist quickly rolled under a nearby table to conceal himself incase somepony or somegriffin entered the room. As he lay there, he used his magic to break the weld on the chains and free his hooved from their cuffs. Then Commander Mist stood up, wiped the blood form his neck, picked up his spear with his hooves, and looked at the door way to enter the room, “Ok Traipse, It.. is… on…”