Chapter Six; The Knights Trial
Celestia approached the three humans and smiled broadly.
"We can arrange to have quarters prepared for you here in the castle if you wish. Or perhaps new homes could be built for you in Canterlot. As I said before you will want for nothing. Each of you will be provided with a royal seal, so anything you purchase will be billed directly to the accountant here at the castle."
"I can't speak for these two, but a simple room here in the castle will be fine. Although, I think a home in Ponyville is what I would like the most." said Dustin.
Anthony and Adrian both voiced their agreement.
"Very well." replied Celestia with a nod.
"My sister and I will make arrangements for your Knighting Ceremony making your royal status official. Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, I wish to ask for your assistance to ensure everything goes well."
Rarity gasped and fell over backwards with a great dramatic flourish only to land on a pillow quickly placed there by Pinkie Pie..
"A Knighting Ceremony." was all she could manage as she lay in a daze.
"I can do it like Candence and Shining Armors wedding party. Only totally different. I mean who wants to go to the exact same party twice? Where's the fun in that?" Said Pinkie Pie as she sprang back to her usual self.
"It would be an honor to help organize such a special event Princess Celestia." said Twilight with a smile.
"Your highness, as the Knights Trinity of Equestria. what exactly will our duties be? And if we are needed how will we be contacted?" asked Anthony.
"You will be consulted on improving Equestria's defenses and military strategies. The three of you will then help in building and training our army. Furthermore when the time comes the three of you will command and lead our army into battle. If you are in Ponyville we can send you messages through Spike. The Royal Seal will grant you passage here by whatever means necessary. "
"So can you give us any information on the enemy that is threatening our home." asked Adrian, trying to accept the situation.
"As of yet we can not. But, as soon as we receive word of the threat we are facing we will pass it along. In the mean time we need to start making preparations for war. The land of Equestria is vast and has a great many resources that will be at your disposal. All you have to do is request what you need."
"So when do we start?" asked Dustin.
"We believe we have sometime before our enemy presents itself. So for the time being I wish for you all to settle into your new home. You can start your official duties after the knighting ceremony. When you return to Ponyville speak with the construction ponies to begin designing your houses to meet your needs. If you create a list of things you require for your rooms here in the castle, I will ensure they are waiting for you next time you arrive. Also if you would put together any additional questions you may have I will answer them the best I can"
"I think the three of us could put something together." replied Anthony.
Luna walked to Celestia's side and whispered something in her ear, causing Celestia to look up at the trio with her usual motherly smile..
"Please if you will allow me, my sister and I would like to offer you all lunch. This is my way of showing my gratitude and offering an apology. Would you please accept."
"We would be honored, it would give us a chance to see more of your beautiful city." said Dustin with a smile looking a Luna.
"I was thinking more of a meal here in the palace. However, if your wish is to see more of Canterlot there are several fine eating establishments in the city."
"Sword Dancer!"
"Yes your highness"
"We will all be headed into Canterlot, please prepare an escort detail at once."
"Right away your highness.", replied Sword Dancer as he started pointing to a select number of guards.
The guards formed up in the hall outside the throne room as the group walked into the formation and they headed out of the castle. Celestia explained the history and architecture of the castle and what her and Luna's daily activities consisted of. As they entered the city the atmosphere seemed to change. The air felt heavy and thick.
Anthony walked in between Dustin and Adrian.
"Do you feel that? Something is off." he said quietly causing the other two to start looking around.
"Do you guys remember how many guards were in our escort?" whispered Dustin.
Adrian looked around and counted the guards. The escort had nearly doubled in size as they walked through the city. Nobody in the group seemed to notice the extras over their conversation.
"This ain't right. When did they get here. I'm pretty sure there weren't that many when we left the castle."
Anthony walked up to Twilight and ran his hand across her back. Twilight shivered at the contact as she turned her head to look at him.
"What's wrong Anthony? You look worried." she said.
"Somethings goin on. I don't know what, but I have a feeling its not good. We need to be ready but keep it quiet I don't wa..."
A massive green flame erupted in front of the group causing them all to jump backwards. The guards formed a circle around the royal party as several humming sounds filled the air. One by one the extra guards were surrounded by similar flames as their true form was revealed. The royal guards started engaging the changelings, but having been caught in the ambush they were starting to lose ground. Sword Dancer deflected a blast from a changeling with his sword as he spun around. He sliced forward towards the changeling, but it flew backwards causing him to miss.
"Protect the Princesses!" he yelled out to the three humans. Anthony, Adrian, and Dustin formed up around the ponies and brought their weapons to the ready.
Adrian heard a strange sound above him. He looked up just in time to see what looked like green rockets hurling at them from above.
"INCOMING!" he yelled, taking aim.
A brilliant white aura surrounded the group just as the first projectile hit. The magic shield flashed from the impact but the object was deflected to the ground. Dustin saw the thing that had hit the barrier stand up. To his surprise it was another changeling.
Those green rockets are changelings too. Their like guided missiles."
"Ah Ah Ahhh Celestia" came a voice from outside the bubble.
"Chrysalis! How dare you." cried out Luna as her horn charged in a blue light.
The three humans stared at the odd looking pony as she approached. She was black with a crooked horn. Like the other changelings she appeared to have holes in her legs an d bug like wings. Her horn glowed green as she levitated several ponies in front of her like a shield.
"Now Luna I know you wouldn't wish any harm to come to your precious subjects, now would you." she said with a chuckle.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other, their heads sank as the glow of their horns faded along with the magic shield.
"Release them at once. Your fight is with us, not them." commanded Celestia as she stepped forward.
"When you all surrender to me I'll set them free. Refuse and I will order my minions to start attacking the citizens of Canterlot. Celestia lowered her head again.
"Guards stand down."
A single shot rang out from Adrian's rifle, striking Chrysalis in the horn. She winced in pain as the aura around the captured ponies disappeared and they fell to the ground.
"Hey bitch! You forgot about us."
The three humans stepped up together, rifles aimed at the leader of the changelings.
A look of fear and confusion crossed Chrysalis's face for a moment.
"You foals!" The sky lite green as more changelings shot down towards the city..
Dustin took aim and fired knocking several of them off course, causing them to crash into nearby buildings.
"Look out!" was all Adrian heard from behind him.
He turned to his side as a changeling charged its horn. There was a loud blast and a laugh and he saw his opponent knocked stupid by a flurry of streamers and confetti. He looked around to find Pinky Pie pushing a small cannon beside her.
Apple Jack charged forward. She spun around and bucked a changeling who was starting to overpower one of the guards. The impact sent the changeling flying backwards into the wall. Green flames flared as the changelings started to mimic any nearby pony.
"Okay this just got complicated!" said Adrian, as he aimed his rifle from one Pinkie Pie to the next.
Twilight ran forward and blasted two of the Pinkie Pie's with her magic. They slid across the ground and reverted to their former selves.
"How did you know they were changelings?" asked Anthony as he dodged another attack.
"I didn't. I just got lucky."
Anthony's jaw dropped at the princess's response.
Chrysalis turned and retreated towards the town square as the guards continued their fight with the changelings.
"Sword Dancer! Get everybody to safety. Leave this mess to us." said Dustin, as Adrian and Anthony formed up at his side.
Sword Dancer nodded and started leading the group away.
"I will summon the palace guard at once to assist you." said Celestia as she blasted the occasional changeling that stumbled or crashed into their path.
Dustin started moving down the street towards the square with Anthony and Adrian in a V formation. They moved quick but methodically as they had trained. A small group of changelings crashed into the ground in front of them. When the creatures climbed out of the holes they'd created three shots rang out from three rifles . Blue blood splattered across the road behind them as the bullets found their marks. The trio neared the square and could hear the cries for help. They took cover behind a cart on the corner to survey the situation.
Chrysalis and the changelings had captured a group of ponies. They were bound by glowing green circles and several of the creatures hovered above them.
"Alright, you two flank around and set up. I'll distract the big one and on my signal take out the ones guarding the ponies. Once their down we 'll focus on her." said Dustin as he checked the remaining rounds in his magazine.
Anthony and Adrian nodded and split off. Adrian ran across the road and slammed through a nearby door. He worked his way through the shop until he found a window with an adequate view . From his vantage point he could almost see the entire square. He sighted in on a group of hovering changelings watching impatiently for Dustin to give the signal. Anthony went running down an adjoining alley when he noticed an opening between two buildings. He stopped and spun around towards the sound of hooves behind him. Slowly he backtracked a ways down the alleyway.
"What are you doing here Twilight? I thought you went with the others."
"I thought I could help."
Anthony pointed his rifle at Twilight causing her to take several steps back.
"What are you doing?" she asked nervously.
"How do I know its really you? What's my name?"
Dustin took a deep breath as he stood and marched confidently into view of the Changelings. Chrysalis's horn glowed green as she watched him approach.
"You...What are you and why do you fight for these ponies?"
"My name is Dustin! I am a powerful human. I order you to release those ponies. If you do, I promise you and your changelings can leave unharmed. Refuse and I guarantee you will not leave here at all."
"You order ME!" said the queen. I will swat you like a fly."
"This is your last chance. Leave Now!"
Several changelings started walking towards Dustin with their heads down ready to fight.
Dustin raised his rifle and gun fire burst into the square. The changelings guarding the prisoners were the first to be hit, falling to the ground with a thud. Dustin turned taking aim at the Queen but her horn flashed as a magic bolt launched his way.
"Enough!"
Came a thundering voice from behind Dustin as a dark blue aura formed around him deflecting the blast.
"Luna get out of here. As a leader your life is worth more then ours. Let us handle this."
"I will not leave the fate of my subjects in the hooves of three humans, now stand aside."
With that Luna fired a magic burst, as Chrysalis did in return. The two beams met halfway between the pair and flashed brightly as they impacted. Dustin watched in anticipation as the magic auras pushed each other back and forth. Suddenly he noticed a flash from the corner of his eye. Another changeling had fired from the alley and the burst was rapidly approaching. Without thinking he lunged into action driving himself into Luna's side knocking her clear and taking the hit instead. The impact broke Luna's concentration and the green beam smashed through hers. Dustin stood up and looked himself over. Much to his surprise his body armor had taken the brunt of the hit and he was relatively unscathed. Then the magic blast from Chrysalis collided with him and he was slammed backwards into a nearby building. The pain in his chest and side were almost unbearable and he struggled to breath. He closed his eyes as he saw the next bolt of magic headed his way. With a flash he disappeared in a cloud of dust, as the wall exploded around him.
Adrian was changing magazines when the second blast hit where Dustin was at. A pink beam of magic streaked across the square towards Chrysalis. A green shield formed around her deflecting the blast upward. He opened fire repeatedly after seeing Twilight's attack. It seemed that the barrier stopped his rounds right along with the magical blast.
"That's just fucking great." he said as he broke the window completely and climbed out.
Dustin felt like his skin was on fire and he could barely breath. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the crimson eyes of Rainbow Dash. He looked around and saw that he was lying behind a nearby vendors stand.
"Now ya owe me one." said Rainbow Dash with a smile as she shot off into the air kicking several changelings on the way up.
Anthony moved forward out of the alleyway firing at any target that presented itself. Then he heard the sound of charging hooves as the Royal Guard raced down the road towards them. Beam after beam of magic flashed in from multiple directions at the queen and her dwindling army. Chrysalis and the changelings retreated into the sky leaving they're dead and wounded behind. Adrian continued firing at the fleeing force as Anthony ran to him, yelling cease fire.
"That bitch got Dustin." said Adrian firing a few more rounds.
"Hold your fire. Remember we are short on ammo."replied Anthony as he reached out and pushed the rifle towards the ground.
Anthony heard a loud gasp of shock and looked to find its source. Twilight and her friends were gathered around something.
"Come on Adrian. I think they found Dustin."
Running over to the vendor stand they heard the mares telling someone everything was going to be okay. There in the middle of the ponies lay Dustin. His neck and arms were severely blistered, and the front of his body armor was burnt, exposing part of a shattered ceramic plate. Dustin gasped and spit out blood as he tried to smile when he saw Anthony and Adrian approaching. Anthony opened up Dustin's aid bag and started pulling out supplies while Adrian worked at removing the demolished armor.
"Do you have a hospital."asked Anthony as he looked at Twilight.
"Oh I uh."
"Do you have a fucking hospital." he yelled again.
"Y-yes, we do. Is he going to be okay?"
"He most likely has several broken ribs and internal bleeding. These burns are pretty severe and he may have a broken back too. We have to get him to the hospital so I have the medical supplies I need. But, we need a way to move him without changing the position of his body. If he twists or bends we could make his injuries worse."
Rainbow Dash's ears dropped as she backed away through the crowd of ponies.
"I have an idea" said Twilight running over to grab a board which was leaned against a nearby wall.
Anthony jerked his hands back as a dark blue aura wrapped around Dustin and he was lifted off the ground.
"I shall carry him there. My magic can keep his body still til we arrive." said Luna as she started across the square.
Adrian picked up Dustin's equipment as Twilight and Luna lead the way to the hospital.
"Help!" yelled Adrian as they walked through the doors of the hospital.
Several ponies, one apparently a doctor and the other a nurse ran over to them. The doctor looked Dustin over and his horn started to light up. Adrian jerked up his rifle aiming at the doctor. Twilight saw what was happening and placed a hoof on Adrian's leg.
"Its okay Adrian he is using his magic to assess his injuries."
Adrian lowered his weapon, but kept a close eye on the Doctor.
"What is he and what happened to him?" asked the doctor.
"The changelings attacked. Queen Chrysalis hit him with her magic because he was defending the ponies of Canterlot." replied Twilight.
"He's in bad shape." said the doctor grimly. We need to get him to a bed so we can set his broken bones and patch the internal bleeding. Follow me."
A nurse opened the door to a room and watched as Dustin was floated in.
"This bed was made for minotaurs, so it should be big enough to support his size and weight." said another nurse as she adjusted the pillow.
Anthony pulled out is field knife and cut away Dustin's uniform top and t-shirt. There was a large black bruise in the shape of the ballistic plate on his chest.
"Can you patch him up with magic or do we need to open him up?" asked Anthony as he administered a shot of morphine into Dustin's arm.
The Doctor's horn lite up again. "I'll see what I can do but I don't know his anatomy. What are you three?
"We're human." replied Anthony pulling a note pad and pen from his pocket.
He drew a rough sketch of a human chest cavity and placed it in front of the Doctor. He looked it over closely then closed his eye's to focus on his work. After what felt like hours, he opened his eyes and sighed as if exhausted. Dustin's breathing seemed to become easier, as he leveled out. The morphine did its job helping to reduce the pain.
"I think I managed to get everything put back together temporarily. He'll have to stay here to be monitored. With any luck his body will kick in and start to heal itself properly. I'm not going to lie, I'm not sure if he'll make it or not."
There was a gasp from the doorway.
"You mean he might die?" asked Rainbow Dash as tears started to well up in her eyes.
Adrian looked up and saw the genuine look of concern on her face.
"To be honest I don't know how he survived at all. After the third shot hit him I though he was a goner."
"The third one missed." said Rainbow Dash as she flew closer looking at the floor. "I kinda pushed him over to the stand right before it hit."
"Then you most likely saved his life.", said Anthony not looking up from Dustin's broken body.
"But, you said moving him would make things even worse. That's what I did, I had to hit him pretty hard to get him outta the way. So he could die now because of me!"
"Rainbow Dash! If you hadn't moved him he'd be dead already. You gave him a chance to live. He would have done the same for you if the situation was reversed." replied Anthony calmly.
The worried look never left the blue pegasus' face, but she did seem to relax a little at Anthony's words.
Dustin groaned loudly as he settled into the bed.
"Alright everypony, Out out out." said the nurse. "Your friend is in good hooves, but he needs his rest so you need to leave. We'll send word as soon as his condition changes.
"Nurse, can one of us stay here with him?" asked Anthony. "Those things may still be around. I'd just feel better knowing somebody else was here with him."
"I suppose your right. We'll allow one of you to stay in the room but everypony else can wait in the lobby." replied the nurse.
"Anthony. You, Princess Luna and I should return to the castle and inform Princess Celestia of whats happened. Adrian do you want to guard the hall and make sure no pony else gets in the room." asked Twilight.
" You'll also have to watch his gear to make sure nothing happens to it.", added Anthony.
"No problem." said Adrian as he stepped into the hallway.
"So who's gonna stay in here with Dustin?" asked Apple Jack with a puzzled look.
"Rainbow Dash would you mind staying here and keeping an eye on him for us? At least until I get back from the castle?"
"I'm on it!" replied Rainbow Dash, giving Anthony a salute.
"Thanks."
Anthony and Twilight headed out the door followed by the rest of the ponies. Together they all returned to the castle.
Rainbow Dash walked over to the bed and looked Dustin over. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she put he hoof on his hand. She replayed the events of the day in her head over and over, trying to figure out what she could have done differently.
"I'm really sorry this happened." she whispered. "Your pretty cool…for a human."
After a while one of the nurses entered the room causing Rainbow Dash to jerk her hoof back and regain her composure.
"And just what do you think your doing?" she asked fly up blocking the nurses path.
"It's alright Rainbow Dash, I brought a salve that will treat his burns and reduce the pain." replied the nurse holding up a small round container.
Rainbow Dash looked the container over and glided out of the way.
"Alright but don't try nothing funny, I'm watchin you!"
The nurse simply smiled as she opened the container and started to pour the contents over Dustin's burns.
"If you wouldn't mind could you please spread this around gently. I would appreciate the help."
The though of being able to help made the rainbow ponies ears peak up.
"No problem." she replied as she carefully started to rub the salve over the burns with her hoof.
"Is this stuff really gonna help him?" she asked. "It smells kinda bad."
"Yes it will. Zecora gave some of this to the Doctor in Ponyville. It is a natural remedy of sorts made from plants and minerals. Anyway, the doctor was so impressed by how well it worked he had her make more and he distributed it around the many hospitals of Equestria. If it works as good as he claims the burns should start to heal after four or five days."
After the nurse finished her work Dustin's bed was pushed out of the emergency room and into a standard recovery room. Adrian and Rainbow Dash both watched the hospital staff closely as they move him down the hall.
"Nurse." said Adrian tapping the mare on the shoulder. "My friends will most likely be returning before long be sure to let them know we are in a different room."
"No problem. Sir, before I go can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Are you the humans that stopped Chrysalis earlier?"
"Yes we are. That is how Dustin got tore up so bad."
"Thank you..Thank you so very much. My daughter was one of the mares taken prisoner by the changelings. She told me about how three creatures that walk on two legs had saved her. One of the guards mentioned you were humans. My mother use to tell me stories when I was a little filly about humans coming to take me if I didn't go to bed. I didn't realize you really existed and its nice to know she was wrong. Thank Celestia you were there. If there is anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to ask.
Adrian felt a bit of pride as he listened to the nurses story. It wasn't very often he was honestly thanked for his efforts and it felt good that even though Dustin was injured they had made a difference.