Saronyx

(Hey look, I'm not taking a full day.

And don't sweat it about controlling Carmus, it's fine.)

"... And that's the story of how your mother and I met."

Carmus said, landing lightly on the ground before the two young colts, "Again."

He added, with a slight chuckle. The Commander looked at his sons, who despite having heard the story multiple times before, still seemed to enjoy hearing it. Vel really did remind him of his little brother. His appearance was closer to Spitfire's, sharing a slightly darker tone of her yellow coat, while his mane was a white streaked orange, which he wore in a style akin to his father's. Flash looked slightly more like Carmus, bearing a red coat. Though his mane was the the same colours as Vel's, the pattern was switched. Despite this, he shared some tendencies of his namesake, Spitfire had said. Since their birth, Carmus had become a believer in the Power of a name. Each son wore around their neck a piece of the Soul Stone that the original Flashbomb had given Spitfire. The colts didn't fully know the significance of these stones, but they would in time.

He cleared his throat, glancing up at the sky as he crouched down before his sons, "Anyway, I think it's about time we get going, eh? Your mother's probably waiting for us."

The colts gave him a somewhat sloppy salute each, and began to help clean up their lunch area, Flash chattering away as they went, "So is it all true? I mean, we've heard the story a bunch of times, but did you really carry mum all the way through a falling building?"

Carmus chuckled, and was about to respond when Vel cut in, "Of course it's true! mum and dad are awesome!" He looks at Carmus as the stallion leans down to pick up the cooler in his teeth, and pokes him in the neck, "Hey dad, when're you and mum gonna tell us about what happened the rest of that day? I've heard Aunt Shimmer mention it as one of the most memorable days of her life. Musta been pretty awesome to get her to talk about it like that!"

Carmus glanced at his older son with a slightly pained look. He knew Shimmer still took the events of those particular few days pretty hard, when she thought about them to much. He shook his head, "The events of that day were certainly something. But they weren't all 'awesome'."

"You gonna tell us about them?" Flash asked, blinking his orange eyes at his father expectantly.

Carmus gave him a solemn smile, "Maye when you two are older."

He picked up the case, spreading his wings, "Now lets get going! Don't want to keep your mother waiting to long. We all know who'll get punished for that!" He gave a jovial wink at his children as they climbed onto his back and clung tight as he took off. While the two of them were excellent flyers already, they weren't quite able to match his speeds just yet, and he wanted to get back to his wife as soon as possible, so they could all be together while they were still able.

As Silver and Seeker neared the section of the plaza where their mother was, they were able to see her, wearing her full armor - minus the helmet - that signified her position as head of Twilight's Guard, explaining a few things to an assortment of Pegasi, Unicorns and Earth ponies, all wearing armor akin in design to her own, but less gilded. The newest recruits.

Before they were able to get to close to her, a beige unicorn stepped out in front of them, grinning. It was Rune, the son of the former Commander Jet-Stream.

The young unicorn continued to smile broadly at them, "Hey you two! On your way to visit your mum, huh?"

He chuckled, shaking his head, "Ah, what am I saying? Of course you are!"

Rune turned his attention towards Silver Chain, "You learn that spell you were telling me about yet? Judging by your excitement, I'd say you did!" He chuckles, waving a hoof, "Anyway, I should get going. I just had to pick up a few books for Zecora. I don'f want to make her wait, or keep you two from seeing Shimmer. Silver, you'll have to show me that spell next time, huh?"

With one small adjustment to his pack, Rune smiled and his horn glowed briefly before he vanished, having teleported away.

His action of stepping in front of the twin fillies had been well timed, as Shimmer had finished up her lecture to the recruits while he was talking, and had turned away from the initiates as soon as the young colt teleported away. Spying her daughters, Shimmer's serious expression melted into one of joy, and she galloped over to them, pulling the fillies into a hug as best she could, given the armor, "Girls! My goodness, you two are a nice sight! I've had to deal with some new recruits all day. Which is, quite frankly, exhausting."

She kisses each of them on the forehead before releasing them, still smiling, "What brings the two of you out here? Where's your dad?"

(I was putting this off until I was able to get acess to a computer, but I've waited long enough, and I apologize for this)

Jet-Stream had nodded in response to Spitfire's surprise, "I realize that it is. Personally, if it were up to me, I would've made you a captain straight outta basic. But the higher brass didn't want to let me. I did manage to convince them of this though."

He and Carmus fell silent when she continued to speak. Jet-Stream returned the salute, smiling.

Carmus wrapped an arm around Spitfire, "Give it a couple weeks. Your speech giving's going to be useful in the future."

["Don't worry about it to much, Spitfire. Some of the troops may have some sort of complaint about your promotion, but I'll handle that. You'll do great. I love you."]

Carmus released her shorty before she looked over the camp, and spoke to Jet-Stream again.

The dark coated stallion chuckled, "Well, I can never say no to a cider. Lead the way. Commanders."

He gave a small smile as he fell in behind Spitfire and Carmus, satisfied with his choice.

(I am so terribly sorry for the delays as of late. I've had family visiting for the past week)

Jet-Stream led Spitfire and Carmus away from the main group, back closer to the building that housed his living quarters. He stops outside, turning to face the couple. The older stallion smiles at them, "That was something back there. You two managed to stop an operation that would have cost us so many lives. I hadn't been on board with the mission myself, so I am grateful."

The stallion clears his throat before continuing, "I've served as Commander of the Raptor Division for a long time. Two generations. From Carmus' parents, to the two of you."

Jet-Stream looks from Carmus, to Spitfire before he speaks again, "I know there have been rumors surrounding my retiring since the end if the last war. Truth is, that's all they were, rumors. Until now, it seems. I've seen the leadership the two of you posses. And when you factor in the link between your minds, well, that's almost overkill. You may need a little more time to hone this skill further, but I feel it will become a powerful advantage in the future. And before I step down, I need to choose a successor."

The Commander steps up to them, placing a hoof on the shoulder of each, "But I figure, why not two?"

He smiles, "In the 900 plus years the Raptors have been in existence, they've always only been led by one pony. Over the past events, I've been watching you two, and a thought occurred to me, 'why not two commanders?' If you want to tea into it, the two of you are technically one mind. It will keep you two off the main lines of fighting if you do not choose to be there. Give you two a chance to start a family, while still serving your homeland."

Jet steps back from Spitfire and Carmus, smiling, "If you two accept, consider this a late wedding present."

Carmus was astonished, to say the least. He cleared his throat, blinking a couple times, "Er, Commander, are you sure about this?"

Jet-Stream nods.

Carmus looks to Spitfire for a second before back at his father figure, "I would be honored to take up the role," he looks back to Spitfire, "If Spitfire feels she is up for it that is."

Jet-Stream nods, "Of course."

(I apologize if this seems sloppily done. I am tired, and had to do it on my phone, rather than an actual computer.)

Carmus stands beside Spitfire, a happy, relieved, grin still on his face. He nods to the generals, [colour=#b22222]"We've still got everything we payed for from that last operation. We'll figure something out."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Jet-Stream trots up, nodding to each of them in turn, before looking to Spitfire and Carmus, "Would you two mind coming with me? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."[/colour]

Jet-Stream remained relatively silent as Shining Armor appeared, and began to speak with Spitfire.

He agreed with the mare, nodding slightly before turning to the technicians, "Cease action! Await the Captain of this Squadron!"

He began to trot towards them, "I need to see the generals overseeing this operation."

When Skyline began to speak, Carmus nearly punched the stallion. Before he could however, Hawkfire cut in, and the two began to debate. Carmus watched them go back and forth before Hawkfire stated he was pulling his support, and Skyline gave in. Relief flooded throughout Carmus, a smile beginning to spread across his face, "Thank you... Both of you."

He looks directly to Skyline as he begins to back up, "Trust me, General. She is."

He saluted before turning fully around and shooting off towards the loading docks.

Not only had he managed to keep Spitfire safe in Equestria, but the rest of his squadron, and so many more. He had to remember to thank Deity. Whatever the demons reasons for helping him, they worked.

Carmus hit the ground running upon reaching the loading dock, making a beeline for Spitfire and Shining Armor. He gives the unicorn a rushed salute, before placing both his hooves on Spitfire's shoulders as he faced her, "We did it! They pulled the plug! You're all staying!"

In his excitement, he'd missed what Deity had said, about having something else in store for his hosts...

After she released the embrace, Carmus had been about to intercept Spitfire's speech when she was called away. He smiled at her and gave her a sad nod.

He was not pleased. About the way the Generals were speaking of his wife, and how nonchalantly they were sending her, and by extension him, to their deaths.

Carmus stopped behind Hawkfire and Skyline as Spitfire 'spoke' to him, feeling her panic. He was going to respond, when a short burst of pain struck him. Wincing, he listened in confusion as somepony else speak to him. It was... Deity? Carmus wanted to tell the demon to shut it, but what he spoke made sense. Absolute sense, even.[colour=#b22222][Why I'm listening to you.. I'll probably never know. But if your idea gets Spitfire to stay here, I'll take it.] [/colour][colour=#000000]he thinks in return to Deity.[/colour][colour=#b22222] [/colour]

To Spitfire, he 'says', [colour=#b22222][Just stall them! Do anything you can to keep them from shipping you off! They're trying to keep me here.. But don't worry, I've been given an idea.][/colour]

The Captain lifts himself into the air, landing heavily in front of the two generals, [colour=#b22222]"Wait! First off, you two must be forgetting that, one, Spitfire and I are connected. If she dies, I day, and vice versa. Her odds of survival where you're sending her are one in a million, and through extension, as are mine.[/colour]

[colour=#B22222]"Furthermore, you two wish to keep my sister here as well, to preserve the Sentinel line. But what you're doing, sending Spitfire on this mission, will doom it. Spitfire and I are.. Planning on having children. Extending the line," [/colour][colour=#000000]His voice begins to gain confidence as he speaks, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"Spitfire dies, and the chances of the Sentinel line continuing deplete by half. Shimmer may stay alive, but what's to say she'll be able to handle losing her only remaining brother, and having no control in stopping it? What if that proves to much? You'll have effectively wiped out the entire line.[/colour]

[colour=#b22222]"I'm not normally one for threatening my allies, but if you do not see reason, I swear on my ancestor's names I will not hesitate to do all in my power to get Spitfire out of here,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]He narrows his eyes at the generals, standing to his full height before them, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"Court marshal me if you will, but there is no way in Tartarus you are sending my wife to that death trap. If you two need further reason, I have a suspicion that Spitfire's death will cause complications with my sister's health. Spitfire shares a common bond with Shimmer's fiance, Time. What's to say if she dies, that common bond will not cause Time to die? Spinner and Shimmer share a bond, much like Spitfire's and mine. If Time dies, I have reason to believe my sister will as well."[/colour]

Across the base, where Spitfire and most of the rest of the squadron were being loaded up, Commander Jet-Stream made his way towards the loading dock. He raised his voice to speak to the higher ranking ponies that were overseeing the process, "What's going on here? Was the Squadron Captain consulted about this beginning? Where is Captain Carmus?"

The stallion had exited his quarters to see them off. But when he noticed that Carmus was not with the rest of the squadron, he grew confused. Jet had known Carmus the Captain's entire life. He'd even raised him and his siblings for a time after the Sentinel's parents passed. He knew how Carmus operated, he would never leave those under his command to embark on any mission without his presence.

Carmus sighed, pulling Spitfire into a hug. It wasn't proper protocol to perform such actions in uniform, but comforting her as best he could was more important to the stallion, [colour=#b22222]"I know... It seems hopeless..."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]He sighs and looks out over the hill, his tone is solemn, but with a hint of determination, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"I'm going to try and talk to the Commander. See if we can't sort this out some other way."[/colour]

(Deity makes a good point. Just tossing that out there.)

Carmus stayed back in the meeting room for a minute more before following Spitfire out, [colour=#b22222]["I don't see how it's possible. It's a stupid plan, that much is certain."][/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus drew in his breath sharply as his heart rate sky rocketed, and a flooding feeling of anger swarmed his mind. Spitfire definitely wasn't happy. After the anger subsided, he picked up his pace until he was out of the building, where he lifted himself into the air and scanned the surrounding area for his wife.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]It wasn't long before he spotted her. Gliding down gently on outstretched wings, Carmus landed and sat beside her, sighing slightly as he replied to her thought in a hushed tone that only she could hear, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"I disagree with it myself. I don't see much we can do though.. Short of trying to get ourselves transferred to a different squadron, or resigning so soon. Though I doubt they'd let that happen. Maybe we could speak to the Commander about it?" [/colour][colour=#000000]He sighs, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"Perhaps we could request leave.. I just don't know."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus looks over at the mare, smiling sadly, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"I want to keep Equestria safe.. But I don't want to risk our family.."[/colour]

Carmus grimaced as Spitfire and the officer went back and forth. Granted, they did have it planned out pretty well. But still... ten years? That seemed almost to long. Especially if he and Spitfire were going to start a family.

He glared darkly at the stallion, still standing. He was mainly mad at the way the officer spoke to Spitfire, [colour=#b22222]"Why not evacuate any civilians that might be there, and just sink the continent?" [/colour][colour=#000000]Carmus muttered darkly, before clearing his throat and shaking his head. It wasn't befitting for him to think that way.[/colour]

(Would have commented last night, but at 2 in the morning after a 5 hour Age of Empires session.. my mind was kinda fried)

["A couple late nights, and the clipping of small hooves throughout the house."] [colour=#000000]He thinks in response. He would've expounded in a less joking sentence when he felt a small sense coming from the mare next to him. It took a second for him to deduce what caused it. Carmus placed a hoof on her's beneath the table, before turning his attention to the orange pegasus, who'd stood and begun to speak.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]When the stallion had finished speaking, and Spitfire asked him what the environment was like... Carmus didn't like the answer, [/colour][colour=#b22222]["I know, Spitfire. I don't like it either."][/colour]

[colour=#000000]He stands, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"Forgive me if I am speaking out of turn, but I want to get a couple things straight. You're sending my squadron into a veritable tartarus opening- hostile territory - for ten years, on our own? I understand the oath we took as Raptors, to follow orders, but that just seems a little extreme to me."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus clears his throat before continuing, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"How did we acquire this intel in the first place? Perhaps we will need to get into contact with our Zebra friends. They are more well versed in stealth. But what's more - how do we know the CC aren't expecting us?"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus sighs, [/colour][colour=#B22222]"I'm merely thinking of what's best for my family."[/colour]

["I'm thinking I might be ready to retire after this operation, if it really does take us a full ten years.."]

[colour=#b22222]["Don't think like that. You'll do great as a leader. I can help you along, if you need."][/colour]

Carmus replied, gently.

To be completely honest, he was taken aback by her question. He would be lying if he said he hadn't think about it in the past, but he refrained from bringing it up until she felt was ready.

He was about to reply when the officer held the door for them. Like Spitfire, he saluted him and continued on, [colour=#b22222]["It's times like this where I wish I could hug you. There's no need to apologize, Nare. I've given the matter some thought before.. It would be a nice to have a child,"][/colour][colour=#000000] [/colour][colour=#000000]Carmus smiles at her, and turns the smile to the assembly, giving them a nod as he sits alongside her and continues his thought, [/colour][colour=#b22222]["I feel you'd make a great mother. if you think you're ready."][/colour]

[colour=#000000](Aaaand my mind instantly gets slammed by potential designs for their offspring. Overactive imaginations, I'm tellin' ya.)[/colour]

(OK, so any posts I make (until Sunday) will most likely be later at night. I'm in the eastern timezone, if that helps at all.)

(Also, dat foreshadowing)

(On another note, I finally came up with Carmus' cutie mark: A Banner, waving in the wind, to represent his leadership.)

Carmus heaves a sigh, flicking a bit of his white mane from his forehead, [colour=#b22222]"Even now, there's still malcontents? Very well. Let's get going."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]He began to walk with Spitfire towards the main building, following her gaze when she 'commented' on Horizon, [/colour][colour=#b22222]["He certainly does! There's a strange thrill that comes from commanding a group of ponies like that. Especially recruits. You'll come to learn that yourself before to long"] [/colour]

Is his chuckling response.

Carmus would have nuzzled her as he responded, but doing so in uniform (in the sight of recruits, no less) was not often smiled upon, [colour=#b22222]["It is really nice. I'm glad you're comfortable here. As for the ribs? Eh, no need to apologize. They're fine. Had worse my first run through."] [/colour][colour=#000000]He was, however, allowed to smile at her.[/colour]

Using this rather than spam the main thread. I'm in Virginia visiting family right now, so I will probably be pretty inactive until Sunday

(Gahaha! Sorry for not posting yesterday. I'm one of those people that when I get struck by writer's block, it sticks around for a lot longer than it should. )

[colour=#B22222]"As soldiers, we will be made to march to war. However, we do not seek it out. We do not wish for conflict, or hardship to arise. Our goal is peace, and the safety of our citizens. That is what we fight for. While war may not bring about peace and harmony forever, it at least reminds us to cherish it while it lasts."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Landing softly on the platform, Carmus nodded to the ponies he was speaking to, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"That is part of our code of honor we uphold, as Raptors. Now, if you'll kindly follow Sergeant Kyre, she'll show you where you'll be staying during your time with us."[/colour]

T[colour=#000000]he recruit saluted and stepped over to the Griffon who Carmus had indicated. The Captain turns and spots Spitfire heading towards him, and he glides over.

Carmus smiles as he lands before her, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"I don't think I'm ever going to quite get over how good you look in that uniform," [/colour][colour=#000000]He says, with a small chuckle, [/colour][colour=#b22222]"But you didn't come over here just to be complimented by me, what is it you were after?"[/colour]

Shimmer nods, [colour=#696969]"Yeah... It certainly has been."[/colour]

[colour=#000000](Aaaaand time skip!)[/colour]

(Taking a lot from the Army Ranger training program, minus the Mountain and Desert phases, for this. I kind of imagine the Raptors being the Equestrian's Rangers, in a sense.)

(I would have gone into further detail about the training in the actual post, but I am running low on time to do so.)

[colour=#000000]To say the next two weeks were hard, would have been an understatement.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Jet-Stream prided himself in how tedious the Raptor training program had become in his time as Commander.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus had been tasked with running the course with Spitfire as well. While her Wonderbolt training had helped her, along with Carmus' previous knowledge of the course, starting each day before the sun rose, with only an hour of sleep the previous night, and being made to begin drills immediately after awakening began to take its toll. Not to mention there was only one meal a day, and it could barely be called that.[/colour]

They hadn't gone through it without taking a few hits however. Through their connection, both Spitfire and Carmus had broken a few bones, even a wing, multiple times over, and been thoroughly battered throughout. .

But through it all, Spitfire managed to pass at the top of her class (even setting a few records), and received her first commission as a Sergeant in Ensis Squadron, under Carmus' command.

(I plan on her being promoted to Captain before this is all over)

(This would have been more in depth, but I didn't have the time to fill it all out, unfortunately.)

The mare shakes her head, "None that I'm entirely aware of. I never really bothered to much with historical clothing... Perhaps if we went to one of the more established cities or towns, they'd have something available."

Oh. I had been waiting on Sleeps for some reason. Hang on, I'll go post now.

(I have been struck with slight writer's block, hence my not commenting sooner. I apologize for this.

Since we're running out of ideas, do you figure I should just explain the whole boot camp sequence and skip past that to the next thing, which we can then play through or just have explained? I'll explain the boot camp thing in my next post, depending on the answer.)

Carmus stood silently by as Horizon trotted over, and began speaking to Spitfire. He glanced away for a second and suddenly felt his arm go dead. He 'glared' at his fellow Raptor, [colour=#b22222]"Heey! Just what the heck're you doing?!"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]He chuckled quietly and shook his head, waving to him as he left.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus turned his attention to Spitfire as she 'spoke', [/colour][colour=#b22222]["That would probably be wise.. a lot has happened today."][/colour]

[colour=#000000]Shimmer had been standing silently in place, going over what Time had told her multiple times in her head. She was shocked back to reality when Spitfire hugged her. It took the steel coloured mare a second, but she smiled and returned the hug, [/colour][colour=#696969]"Good luck."[/colour]

[colour=#696969]S[/colour][colour=#000000]he said, as she released the hug. From there she walked towards Time, but stayed a few feet back, simply waiting for his business to be concluded.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Carmus shrugged, burying his nose in her mane for a second as he responded, [/colour][colour=#b22222]["I honestly cannot answer that. Perhaps we just have an appreciation of beautiful things?"][/colour]

[colour=#000000]The stallion himself looked up and yawned. He shook his head, [/colour][colour=#b22222]["Right.. Let's get some sleep before one of us just falls over right here."][/colour]

[colour=#000000]He wraps a wing around Spitfire and begins to guide her away from the beacon, towards their home.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Now that any immediate threat was no longer in sight, Jet-Stream gave the 'at ease' order, and the Raptors began to disperse. The Commander looks over at Spitfire and Carmus, chuckling as he calls, "You two get as much sleep as you can! That's something that will be sorely missed when you're back under my program!"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]He grins at them for a second before making his way out.[/colour]

Carmus smiles at Spitfire's words to Deity, ["Well put.."]

He turns his attention to Celestia when she speaks, and Spitfire responds.

Carmus smiles at her, ["Glad to be of service."]

He wraps his hooves around her, chuckling slightly at her jumping from their synced hearts, ["Yeah, that'll take a bit to get used to.]

Carmus returns the nuzzle with one of his own as he responds, ["I have faith in Twilight... Besides, it'd better work, if it nearly took you away from me after all."]

The red stallion looks down at the stone when it chimes, raising an eyebrow at it. Spitfire must've sensed his curiosity, as she explained what it was shortly after.

He takes the stone, rolling it over in his hoof, giving a smile, ["Guess that means they're both watching us right now, huh?]

(Stuff dun got serious)

Shimmer slowly nodded, "I see, so-" she had been about to say more, when she caught sight of Spitfire and Carmus standing by the quickly angering Celestia. She gestured to them with her head, "That doesn't look good..."

Carmus had been about to respond to the question of a cure, when he was interupted by the sudden influx of emotions from Spitfire, followed shortly by Deity's relayed message. He turned his eyes towards Spitfire. While he couldn't see Deity, he still scanned the immediate area around Spitfire, ["This is... Peculiar.. Just what in Tartarus..?"]

He felt his body tense in fear as Celestia began her tirade, to who he assumed was Deity.

When he heard Spitfire 'say' she was scared, he stepped slightly in front of her, backing the two f them away from the miffed Alicorn, ["I know, Nare. Just try to keep calm, don't give Deity an opening."]

Nare was something of Carmus' nickname for Spitfire. He didn't like calling her 'Spit', or any variant, and 'Fire' was a fairly common name. Though 'Nare' meant fire, it was in an older language that was utilized by Crystal Ponies under Sombra's rule.

Jet-Stream had been on the verge of leaving, along with most of the remaining Raptors and his family, when he heard raised voices. He turned to see Celestia quickly losing her temper with an unseen individual. Though he didn't know the full extent of the situation, he quickly reverted from his casual attitude, to the one of a military leader.

The dark coated stallion rounded on his youngest brother, who was hovering off the ground with Rune on his back, "Saro! Get my son and the rest of the non military personal out of here!"

Saro nodded, "Right!" He landed, pushing the 'non military personal' - which consisted of the Commander's wife and a score or so of others- out of the area.

Jet-Stream turned his attention to the Raptors, "We are not outiftted for this, but if worse comes to worse, we will do out best to keep undue casualties from occurring. Am I clear?!"

The chorus of affirmatives caused the Commander to smile, "That's what I like to hear."

The militant forces spread themselves out, sorrounding the area in varying combat ready stances.

Carmus looks at her, surprise creeping across his minds, ["Yeah... I can hear you..."]

He looks down at her writings, chuckling slightly at the embarrassment that flooded over to him from Spitfire, but he shoved them aside quickly as he spoke, answering Celestia as well, "Yes, it seems so... I can't see or hear Deity, though I'm aware of who he is."

(OOC: forgot about this before, sorry)

Shimmer nods slowly to Time, "Yeah, I could probably use an explanation."

(I am terribly sorry for posting so slow. I'm kind of wishing I had brought a laptop along on this trip, and not just a mobile. Sometime tomorrow, I should be able to get on an actual computer, and be much quicker and clearer in my posts.)

Carmus shivered slightly when Spitfire's fear flooded over to him. He glanced at her, and a second later was struck by the pain of the headache. He grit his teeth as the pain subsided.

Feelings of concern and worry crept into his mind. Whatever was happening with Spitfire, he didn't like it, "Is everything alright?"

He asked her, "Just nod or shake your head, don't try to speak."

*(in the event they can hear each other's thoughts. If not, ignore this part of the post)

["You're not a burden... Well, now I'm imagining things.. Am I? Could this connection give us a mutual telepathy? Don't see why not but.. Huh."]

Carmus could tell Spitfire's inability to speak was causing her distress. He tightened his wing against her as he spoke to Celestia, "We're connected. I don't mean that in the sense that we're connected by love, but I mean literally. Spiritually, I guess."

He sighs as he thinks about what to say next, "When Spitfire was in Caelum, she was physically dead for about 15 minutes, I believe the doctor said. While she was there, her life force was consumed. However, upon her revival, her existence was tied to mine. We share a life force. We share pain, we can tell what the other is feeling. Our hearts, like Time and Shimmer, are synced up,"

Carmus looks at the mare beside him for a few seconds before looking back to Celestia, "If one of us dies... So will the other."

He taps a hoof on the floor, "Also, the doctor mentioned another bond. One that was somehow tied to Time, if I remember correctly."

Yeah, I can't exactly post in the main thread until we reach Marelia. So I can at least sleep comfortably knowing I'm not holding anything up.

Carmus raises an eyebrow as the doc speaks. Well, this was interesting. He nods after the doctor finishes speaking, "I see. Thank you."

He looks to Spitfire when she nudges him, returning the smile. It took him a second to decipher what she was trying to communicate, but he manage. Carmus nods, wrapping one wing around her as they walked, supporting her.

He felt the floor rumble as the shield activated, "Let's hope that was positive.. It felt positive."

He says, partially to himself as the neared the door to the auditorium. When they entered, Carmus glanced out one of the nearby windows. Sure enough, there was a shield around the city, and the surrounding country, and it was coming from the gem. He sighs, "Well, at least it was worth it."

He glances over the room until he spots Celestia. He points to her, "There," the Captain looks to Spitfire, leaning down slightly to nuzzle her before asking, "Ready?"