SAHA; never trust a writer to be happy edition

If you clicked on this looking for a story, I'm going to save you some time. This story is being rewritten, as it stands it doesn't even have a proper ending. You're not going to get a happily ever after, or even any sense of closure out of reading this. That being said, people apparently like it, so if you can forgive it that, you may be able to enjoy it.

Chapter 1

>Somewhere, there is a clock ticking.  Flush with rich mahogany, she ticks, ever facing forward.  She is an usual time piece, certainly for the era in which she was built.  The analog face ticks the hours, minutes and seconds, while four smaller faces keep track of the days, weeks, months and years.
>Each tick marks a moment in time that can never be recovered.  For she is not keeping track of the passage of moments, but instead counting them down.
>Even now, her time grows short, but the clock keeps her steady, plodding pace.  The end is in sight, but she is in no hurry.
>No longer any years left,
>Only one month,
>One week,
>Four days,
>Two hours,
>Thirty-eight minutes,
>And nineteen seconds.
>And though you’ve been face to face with her for some time now, she refuses to reveal her secrets.  Only the tell-tale ticking through space.
>Fifteen seconds now.
>Same as it ever was.
“Ah, forget it!”
>Throwing your hands up into the air, you allow your mind to clear, the clock pulling away from you, moving faster the further she goes.  Soon little more than a brilliant star in a vacant sky, her face reflecting an unseen light.  And then, nothing.
>
>Your vision clears as you snap back to reality.  Well, what passes for reality these days.
>The barracks are comfortable at least.  You share this room with five other guards and have never had any trouble with issues of space.  Despite your differences, they have gone to great lengths to see to your comfort, easing the difficulties of your transition.
>Pulling on your gear, you exit the barracks only to hear someone call out to you.
>“Hey!  Anonymous!”
>Turning, you offer a brief salute and smile.  Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard and one of the most amiable get-alongest people you’d had the pleasure of meeting.  The fact that he was a talking pony took some getting used to, but after three months here it was easy to slip into conversation with him as another intelligent being.
“Captain, a pleasure to see you again.  What brings you down from the castle?”
>The Captain mimics your motion as best he can, considering his hooves.  His greeting falls and yours does the same soon after.
>“I’m here to inform the city officers of a meeting up at the castle today.  It’s good to see you well, but I was wondering if you would be willing to see to a, personal matter of mine while I’m indisposed.”
“Of course, I would be more than happy to assist.  What is it you need done?”
>Giving you a sheepish grin, he chuckles.
>“I’ve been informed that I’ll be in charge of our defenses until this latest threat passes.  Unfortunately, I have a rather important guest coming to stay in the castle for a time.  She is arriving today and I would like to have guards there to meet her.  Since I can’t go myself, I thought you would be an excellent choice.”
“I’m honored you think so Captain.”
>“You have a knack for putting others at ease, and during these turbulent times that is an important skill to have.  Will you see to her safety?”
“Gladly.  What is your guest’s name?”
>“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
“P-pardon?  A Princess?  Captain, I hardly think that I’m qualified to see to the safety”
>“Don’t worry about it!”
>Shining’s air of formality drops the instant you accepted his request.  He’s giving you a wide smile now.
>“She’s no trouble at all.  Just make sure she arrives safe and sound in Canterlot.”
>“The Princess should be entering Equestria by coach in a few hours.  I’ve sent some other city guardponies to meet you down at the Canterlot station.  Take a train out to Galloping Greens and pick her up there.”
“Of course, Captain.  Thank you.”
>“No, Anonymous, thank you.  I know you have this well in hoof.  Or should I say hand?”
“Sir.”
>Offering a curt nod, and another smile, Shining Armor trots back towards Canterlot Castle, tri-color tail swishing in the process.  You place a hand over the snare drum in your chest.
>Escorting a princess.  More than that, overseeing the escort of a princess.  You were just a grunt!
>Granted, most of the City Guard were grunts, and any weapons and armor were more show than substance.  So perhaps it wasn’t that unusual to send a guard out on protection detail.  Surely they could spare one officer to see to the safety of visiting royalty though.
“This isn’t getting me anywhere.  The Captain trusts me with this, so there must be a reason.”
>Solidifying your resolve, you adjust your gear, shoulder your spear and make your way down to the station.
>
>The city of Canterlot reeks of majesty, wealth, and pomp.  Built into the side of a mountain, the ramparts have a beautiful view of the setting sun each evening, said to rival that of Cloudsdale.  The wealthy and elite of Equestria make this place their home.  You’ve noticed that most of the ponies falling into that category are unicorns.
>You wave at a few familiar faces and do your best to shrug off the stares you’re still getting from the rest.  It’s not like they haven’t seen you before, you’ve been patrolling the streets for a couple months now.  At first you could write it off as curiosity, but you’re beginning to get the feeling that whenever you walk down the street, they think the circus has come to town and you’re the main attraction in the freak-show tent.
>As you approach the train station, a sharp clear voice calls over the din of hoof beats and conversation.
>“Two-Legs!”
“Glory!”
>Holding his head high, Glory Road snorts and grins, stamping his hoof a few times.  A white earth pony with a flaming red mane, he’s prone to stand out in any crowd, though not always for his rouge locks.  You grip your spear and hustle over to him.
>“It’s about time.  If the Lieutenant was here, he’d switch you until you cried!”
>You nod a little, taking a few seconds to catch your breath.  Glory continues on.
>“Speaking of, did you pass him on your way down?  We’re eager to get going.”
“Actually, I’ll be heading this mission.”
>Pausing for a few seconds, Glory bursts into a fit of laughter. He’s a nice enough pony, but his laugh sounds like something coming out of an aging parakeet.
>“Haa, haa, haakkk, oh Anon, you card.  Now, who’s running this show?”
“According to Captain Shining Armor, I am.”
>The guardsponies perk up a little at that.  Glory fumbles for a moment, gathering his wits.
>“Well, lets not be questioning the Captain then.  What are our orders, Two-Legs?”
“We’re meeting a Veep down at Galloping Greens.”
>“Who’s the pony?”
“A Princess, so it’d probably be good to get there before her, you think?”
>The other two ponies throw themselves through the doors of the train, while Glory’s all smiles.
>“Must be a pretty big deal to send the town guard out to see to the arrival of a Princess, did the Captain give any reason why?”
“He said something about a threat, but didn’t go into too much detail about it.  All I really know is that he’s going to be overseeing the defenses, and needs to meet with all the officers, Royal and City, immediately.”
>The white pony nods and trots alongside you as you walk to the train.
>“The Royal Guard must have their hands full then.  Still, sounds like you’ve managed to earn the favor of the castle’s Guard Captain.  Not bad for a few weeks on the job!”
>Slugging you in the arm, you share a laugh as the train begins to roll away from the station, chugging down the tracks.
“I’ll say, I was stunned when he asked me.  About how long is it to Galloping Greens?”
>“Two or three hours, give or take.  We’ve got the hill on our side, so we might get up to quite a clip.”
>Nodding, you settle in on one of the seats, looking out the window.
“Glory.”
>“Mm?”
“Maybe you can help me figure this out.  Who, or what, would threaten Equestria?  Near as I can tell, this place is a paradise.  It just seems impossible for anything to want to put a stop to this, beauty.”
>The stallion sighs and lays down across from you, lifting his head to watch the scenery pass by.
>“You really haven’t been here too long I guess, but there’s lots of things out there that feel the world would be better served without Celestia as the guiding light.”
>“First Nightmare Moon reappears and then Discord, it really seems like the world is changing for the worse.”
>You nod mutely.  Your arrival was several months after Discord’s second banishment, but the tension visible in every pony whenever he was mentioned couldn’t be overlooked.
>“I’d hate to think what else could be out there.  Maybe a diplomatic conflict with the Diamond Dogs or the Griffons, or even the Dragons could put Canterlot on high alert.  But with every member of the Royal Guard and the Officers of the City Guard meeting together, I get the feeling that something even bigger is coming down the pipes.”
“What could be worse than Dragons?”
>Glory turns towards you and shrugs.
>“Who can say, maybe a spaghetti monster?
>You share a laugh at that, his cawing bringing a twitch to your eye despite the smile.  Silence lingers between you for the rest of the trip, leaving you time to your thoughts.  Mountains give way to hills, hills to forest and forest to lush green plains.
>“Last stop, Galloping Greens!”
>The conductor’s roar snaps you out of your reverie, and the four of you disembark while she turns gets the train turned around.
>Galloping Greens is a small, unassuming village on the northern edge of Equestria.  The major industry appears to be farming, though you do notice a few unicorn run businesses down the dirt road serving as Main Street.  Cloud homes linger in the sky, suggesting a decent population of pegasi.
>“It’s, quaint.”
>You nod at the unicorn guard under your command.  Several ponies take notice of you, but they seem much kinder than the looks you get in Canterlot.
“Not a bad place at all.  All right, let’s set up a post on the road, we’ll await the Princess’ arrival there.”
>The three guards give affirmative grunts and head over to stand on the side of the worn dirt path.  It couldn’t be that long of a wait, right?
>
>Oh, but it really could.  By the end of the first hour, you were drenched under your armored leather tunic.  By the end of the second, you could see the ponies beginning to feel it too.
>“Celestia’s horn, how long’ve we been waiting?”
 >You give Glory a pat on the shoulder.  You know exactly how long it’s been, that clock keeps ticking away in the back of your mind, it always has.  Pretty handy trick to know exactly how long you’ve been somewhere, but it never won you any bar bets.
>“I think the better question is how long do we still have to go?”
>The pegasus of your group grumbles and continues watching the road ahead.
“Why don’t you fly up and get us an aerial view?  Then we can at least see if she’s coming.”
>He grins, and takes off in a mottled brown and black blur, glad for the chance to stretch his wings, no doubt.  Glory and the unicorn look like they’re about to take a nap on their feet, which leaves you and absentee pegasus to watch the road ahead.
>Ah, scratch that, you spot the pegasus’ black tail hanging out on the edge of the only cloud in the sky.  There’s a reason that guardsponies for the city didn’t make it into the Royal Guard, not stiff enough, not dedicated, lacking.  But, they were your team, at least for the time being.
>Sighing, you set your gaze ahead, and wait.
>Three hours, eight minutes and twenty, five seconds into your wait, you see a cloud of dust rumbling up down the road.  Snapping your spear up to your shoulder, you call out to the others.
“Heads up, somepony’s headed down the road!”
>The pegasus nearly falls off his cloud, the unicorn glancing around sheepishly, wondering if anyone had seen his little snoozefest.  Glory makes no move to hide his actions, giving an enormous yawn and squinting up at the sun.
>“Ah, it’s about time.  I’m ready to get back to the cobbled streets of Canterlot.  How can anypony stand all this dirt, grit and rock on their hooves?”
“What do you see up there?”
>“It’s a carriage all right, but there’s nothing pulling it.”
>“Sounds like magic to me.”
>You nod with the unicorn’s assessment, though a still has settled over the hovering pegasus.
“Something else catch your attention?”
>“You could say that.  It looks like she’s already got an escort of pegasi.”
>You squint down the road, trying to get a better look for yourself.  The Captain didn’t say anything about there being a second escort, but then again she is a pony princess, so should you really be surprised?  Glory stomps his hooves a few times, snorting.
>“Well then I don’t know what we’re doing here.  If she’s got her own escort then why can’t they take her to Canterlot?”
>The carriage comes into view, and you notice that the pegasi flying alongside seem much more intent with bowling the carriage over than supporting it.  Turning to your unicorn companion, you smile.
“Guardspony.”
>“Yes sir?”
“Can you project a wall on either side of the carriage?  Just enough to knock those pegasi off her for a few seconds.”
>“I, I suppose I could, but won’t that cause issues with the escorting troop?”
>Smiling, you dig the butt of your spear into the dirt and watch the carriage come closer.
“If it does, then I’ll take all the blame.  But I’ve got a feeling that things aren’t exactly as they seem.  Just wait for my signal.”
>The beating of wings let you know that the pegasus guard was at the ready.  Glory even grins a little as he stands abreast of you, smiling a little.  The four of you watch as the carriage rolls closer, and you note that it’s wobbling from side to side.  The pegasi are buzzing the coach and bucking it as they pass.
>“Certainly seems like this is a little more than a pick-up, don’t you think, Two-Legs?”
“So it does.  Put up the wall, just a little ways in front of the carriage.”
>The unicorn grits his teeth and forms an artful gateway in front of the oncoming vehicle.  You hear screams from the pegasi and muffled thumps as they slam into the not-quite-real walls, and watch as wood splinters off from the coach as it scrapes along the stone.
>The projection fades and the unicorn crumples to the ground with a grunt.  You’re going to need to ask for a unicorn better equipped to handle the strain of magic next time.
>The coach slows to a stop as it approaches.  The door swing open and the Princess hurries out.  She is harried, her mane in disarray, wide eyed and terrified.
>And she is stunning.
>It’s been a few months since your arrival.  In one of your four meetings with Equestrian Royalty, Celestia has made it abundantly clear that you should plan on getting comfortable.  You’ve made several friends in Canterlot and have even tried courting a few of the mares that would have you.
>But this mare, this pony princess has struck you dumb.  Her hair, a tri-color affair of deep purple, a lush, faded red, and a perfectly pale platinum slung about by the frantic jerking of her head, begins to settle.  She fixes you with those stormy-purple eyes and trots closer, oozing femininity from something as obvious as the color of her overly pink coat.
>You take a few seconds to pick your jaw up off the ground.
>“Excuse me.  Where is Shining Armor?”
“He couldn’t make it.”
>The words sound foreign and throat-gaggingly fat coming out of your mouth.  Your tongue feels too large and your palms about to break out into a clammy sweat.  The princess gives a quiet sigh, glancing back at the pegasi, who are beginning to right themselves.
>“I see.  I’m sure that he has a reason.  Shall we go before my assailants cause more trouble?”
“O-of course.  Glory and I will take the rear so you two escort the Princess onto the train.”
>The pegasus and unicorn nod, the latter stumbling to his feet and making unsteady steps alongside Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s precise motions.  Glory’s chuckle snaps you back to reality.
>“A little heart-struck there, Two-Legs?”
“Cut that out!”
>The white stallion laughs and shakes his head as he stares at the oncoming pegasi.
>“Fair enough.  You know, I would have been much more comfortable escorting the Princess onto the train.”
“But then who would help me beat these fools?”
>“Too true.  I may as well enjoy this.”
>As the first pegasus approaches, Guardspony Road turns on a bit and bucks.  A resounding crack echoes across the flatlands as a soon to be black-and-blue attacker goes crashing to the ground.
>Glory cackles and charges headlong into the flock, his spear forgotten.  While most are contending with the earth pony, several begin buzzing around you in a circle.  You clutch your spear and lash out when you feel you can hit.
>You manage a few nicks and cuts, but it doesn’t seem to phase the pegasi.  Despite the spear being standard issue, it doesn’t seem to be very useful against flying opponents as they can simply ascend or descend out of the way.  Of course, it’s a little late to be finding that out when you’re surrounded by irritated ponies who look like they’re ready to crack your skull in.
>A quick glance back shows that the rest of your team has gotten the Princess on board the train.  Your delay, however small it may have been, was a success.
>A flurry of hooves falls across your head and upper body, the flying ponies taking advantage of your distracted state to score several hits and send you to the ground.
>Straddling your chest, one sneers down at you and puts her muzzle close to your face.  She gives an unearthly screech.  Still clutching your spear, you lash out towards her.
>The snapping of wood against bone seems even louder than the roar of Glory as he bounds through the flock towards you.  The pegasus you clocked stumbles a few steps, then collapses, the bottom half of your now broken spear resting in your hand.
>“Come on get to your feet now, Two-Legs.  No time to dally!”
>He opens a hole for you in the ring of fliers.  Propelled by adrenaline, you rush after him, taking several swings with your stick at your pursuers, making far more connections than you did jabbing out at them.
>The train’s whistle breaks through the din, wheels beginning to turn as it begins to leave the station.  Glory buckles down and makes it to the landing before glancing towards you.
>Your legs and lungs burn, but you push yourself faster regardless.  Extending your hand to the train, you grope for a handhold and find one, yanking yourself through the open door.
>Collapsing in a pile of arms and legs, you wheeze a sigh of relief, noting how tender your face and shoulders feel.  You’re going to need to get checked out by a doctor when you get back to Canterlot.
>“Not a terrible screw-up, eh Anonymous?  We got the mare and every one of us lives to tell the tale!”
“I swear I am going to punch you so hard, Glory.”
>“Work me over like those pegasi, hmm?  You certainly did a number on them.  Oh wait, that was me.  You were the one eating dirt while I was providing them samples from my personal stock of Flank-Beater.”
“Prick.”
>You chuckle as you climb to your feet and give yourself a once over.  No tears in the armor, cuts or scrapes, but you’ll probably get a few bruises from the bucks you received.
>“Pardon me.”
>Ah, the regal beauty.  You smile a little and walk up to her, bowing your head a little.
“Of course Princess, I am Guardspony Anonymous, at your service.”
>“Guardspony?  Hardly.”
>There is a huff of indignation in her voice, as if she were offended by your introduction.
“I’m sorry, what seems to be the problem?”
>“This is, without a doubt, the shoddiest escort that I’ve ever seen!”
>Ouch.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Princess, but the important thing”
>“Oh yes, I will arrive safely in Canterlot, that’s all that matters, right?  Ooh, that sounds just like something he would say!”
>Scowling, she turns and storms up to the next car, casting a glare over her shoulder before she slams the door.
>“If you value your position, I would advise against disturbing me until we arrive at Canterlot.”
>As the sound of the banging door recedes, you hear snickers coming from the rest of your team.  Glory trots up beside you and places a hoof on your back.
>“My goodness I knew you had a way with the mares, Two-Legs.  But, keep your head up.  I’m certain that it was nothing you did, aside from being her worst escort ever.”
>More muffled laughter.  You feel color rushing to your face as you take a few steps forward to clear your head.
“Fair enough, it was pretty awful.”
>The guardsponies smile and nod.
“So, let’s honor her request for the time being and leave her alone.  More importantly, what was going on with those pegasi?  Why would Cloudsdale or any pegasi outpost want to attack a member of the Royal Family?”
>Silence fills the car, the pegasus shrugging and the unicorn shaking his head.  Glory, however, appears to be deep in thought.  He notices you staring and smiles.
>“If it were only a few, I’d say we were dealing with a population of Ferals, ponies who were exiled from their homes for their crimes and regressed to a wild state to survive.  But there were nearly two-dozen pegasi there.  I doubt there are that many criminal ponies in all of Equestria.  And the way they operated, they knew exactly what they were doing.”
“I’ll discuss it with the Captain when I see him.”
>“I would appreciate that, Anonymous.  I must say I’m certainly not comfortable thinking that a horde of wild ponies have their eyes set on taking Canterlot.”
>You give a brief nod and the conversation drops off.  In a short while, the exhausted unicorn has collapsed on one of the benches to recover.  The pegasus moved on to the lunch car, leaving you alone with Glory.
>“If I may, Two-Legs?”
“Mm?”
>“The Princess seems out of sorts.  Perhaps now would be a good time to find out what the problem is?”
“I don’t think I want anything to do with her, Glory.  And she certainly doesn’t want anything to do with me, you heard her yourself.”
>“I know you know better than that.  Every mare you’ve courted so far has taken to hounding me when I’m on patrol about when you’re getting back in touch with them.  You’ve got quite the supple touch, and I believe she could benefit from that right now.”
>Sighing, you press your lips together and eye up the stallion.  He gives you his best smile and tilts his head towards the door the Princess left through earlier.
>“Go on.”
>You really shouldn’t be doing this.  Knocking firmly on the door, you stand at attention, waiting for her reply.
>“Who is it?”
>Though her voice sounds distant, some of the edge has left it, a sweeter tone drifting in.
“Guardspony Anonymous, Princess.”
>“Oh.”
>The ticking counts forty-one seconds before she speaks again.
>“You’re still out there, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Princess.”
>You hear a grunt and a sigh.
“All right.  You may enter.”
>With a nod, you glance back to give Glory a smile and open the door, stepping into the Princess’ car.

Chapter 2

>The door hisses shut behind you, latch falling into place with a sensual click.  As you enter the car proper, you see the Princess has already made herself at home.
>Stretched out on the seat, you notice she’s taken time to clean herself up, hair neatly arranged, feathers back in place.  A perfect picture of a traveling Princess.  So, this is Equestrian Royalty.
>“Can I help you?”
>And this must be Equestrian Royalty with attitude.  Putting on your best face, you walk across the car and sit down in the seat opposite her.
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I apologize for the rather lackluster performance back there.  We weren’t expecting any trouble.”
>“Well maybe you should have been!  You’re Guardsponies right?  Even if you are from the city, you should be prepared for something to go wrong.”
>You set your lips into a more concerned expression, if only to hide the fact that this mare has you grinding your teeth.  You never asked for this.
“I can’t do anything about what happened, Princess.  You are correct, it could have been handled better.  Are you all right, did they hurt you in any way?”
>The Princess takes a deep breath before locking eyes with you again, her expression stone cold.
>“No, I’m fine.  And I… apologize for my outburst earlier.  I was expecting to meet Shining Armor at Galloping Greens, and when you said that he hadn’t come out”
>She chuckles and shakes her head.
>“It’s just like him, so focused on the task at hand that he is unaware of other things going on around him.  What has kept him away this time?”
“Trouble in Canterlot, he called a meeting with the Royal and City Guard.  I believe it is to prepare in case of an attack.”
>“Ah, the citizens of Canterlot are trying to see to their own security, is that it?”
“I wouldn’t know, Princess.”
>Sighing, the alicorn glances out the window as the scenery rolls by.
>“I apologize again, these things really aren’t you’re concern.  Politics is an ugly thing, Guardspony, it has a tendency to make one rather bitter and deluded.”
>She taps her hoof on the window and nods.  When she doesn’t speak, you quietly excuse yourself and begin to walk for the door.  Her voice, clear and soft, stops you mid-stride.
>“To come and check up on me after all I said to you, you must be somewhat attached to your position as team leader.  Do you think you’ll get another assignment soon?”
“I should certainly hope so, Princess, though it’s more out of concern for your well being than my own hide that I came back here.”
>You twist on the ball of your foot to face her as you speak.  Her head is still turned towards the window, though you can see a faint tinge of red on her cheeks.  After a moment, she turns and regards you with a slightly warmer expression.
>“Are you planning on a career as a Guardspony then?”
“I owe a debt of gratitude to the ponies of Canterlot who saw to me when I arrived.  If I can keep them safe from antagonistic forces, then I have returned a measure of their kindness.”
>The car goes quiet again, the quiet shucking sounds of the train on the rails becoming audible.  Unlike before, you feel the Princess observing you, her eyes critical, sizing you up your physical stature and see beyond your outward apperance.
>“You’re an odd sort for a City Guardspony.  A guard with your attitude is usually snapped up to work in the castle.”
“I’d say it has something to do with my coloration.”
>The Princess raises an eyebrow and then giggles a little as understanding sets in.  The sound is subdued and hiccup-like, with a small upturn at the end.  You take a deep breath to try and subdue your pounding heart.
>“Clever, but those ponies are only the Royal Attendants. They see to the protection, transportation and public appearances of the Princesses.  There are many other branches of the Royal Guard and not all of them have the, strict breeding requirements that Attendants do.”
“Well, perhaps someday.  I have a long way to go, and today showed that.”
>“Considering that you didn’t lose anyone, I think you did rather well.”
>You smile up at her, she smiles back and then catches herself.
>“Not that you still don’t have a lot to learn, but everything will come in time.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
>“Of course, Guardspony.”
>She seems much more at ease now.  Mission accomplished.  Bowing your head, you stand.
“Thank you for your time, Princess, as well as your critique.  I’ll take my leave, and allow you time to prepare for our arrival in Canterlot.”
>“Do”
>The word hangs in the air for a long moment, tension worms its way up your back, leaving you clenching and unclenching your right hand.  The Princess clears her throat and begins again.
>“Do you have to leave so soon?  It’s been a rather lonely journey without another pony to talk to.”
“I, hardly think it would be appropriate for a Guardspony to speak so informally with a Princess.”
>She stares, and then smiles.  It’s a subtle motion, the corner of the Princess’ mouth rises, but her eyes take on a much brighter light, creating an eerie halo behind the purple iris.  Reaching up, she removes her crown and places it on the seat beside her.
>“What about a Guardspony talking with a mare named Cadence?”
>She seems rather determined, that her giggle is still tickling away just inside your ear.  You want to hear it again.  Taking your seat back across from her, you remove your half-helmet and place it on the side.
“Well, Princess”
>“Cadence.”
>The mare gives a coy little smile, you can’t help but return it.
“Well, Cadence, if that were to be the case, I would happily take some time to talk with a fellow traveler.”
>“So what’s your name then, Guardspony?”
“Cadence, you know who I am, I’ve told you already.”
>“Did you?  No, I’m quite sure that we’ve never met before.  I saw you escorting a Princess onto this train earlier, perhaps you’re confusing her with me?”
>The Princess is all smiles as you try to figure out if she’s crazy or toying with you.  You decide to play along.
“I’m sorry Cadence, I suppose I did get mixed up.  You do resemble the Princess though, it’s quite remarkable.  My name is Guardspony Anonymous, though, just Anonymous is fine, while the Princess is away, of course.”
>“Of course.”
>The two of you share a laugh, allowing you to revel in the sound.
>“So, Anonymous.  Why don’t you tell me a bit about your life before Canterlot?”
>Flashes of your final day there surface from the fog of your mind.
“You want to hear about me?”
>A beautiful day in late spring, where the encroaching heat and humidity of summer lifts just enough to make the world seem a little brighter.
“I suppose, I could.”
>A sweet young woman with eyes like the cloudless sky, stretching just as wide.
“Although, my life was rather boring.”
>Enthusiastic kisses exchanged on a street corner, the thick syrupy taste of her lip gloss.
“But my world”
>Watching her kneel over you with tears in her eyes.
“it’s a pretty interesting place.”
>“You sure you’re okay to talk about it?  You seemed a little distracted, Anonymous.”
>You shake your head and put on your best smile, trying to make the motion to check your stomach with your hand seem natural.  Assuring yourself that everything was still in place, you lift your hand and wave her off.
“I’m fine, I just haven’t thought about it in a while.  But about my world, where to begin?”
>“How about at the beginning?”
>You curl your lip at her, earning another laugh, before starting your story with dinosaurs.  Not quite the beginning, but a much more interesting start than ‘it all began with microorganisms’.  After all, who doesn’t love dinosaurs?
>Cadence is no exception.  She sits, rapt with attention as you explain pre-human Earth to her, and then promptly confuse her when you wipe the lizards off the face of the planet with a meteor strike.
>“So, you weren’t trained to slay the mighty dinosaurs?”
“Uh, no.”
>“Phooey.”
>She is understandably disappointed and now you are too.  Battling dinosaurs would have been a much better story.  Cadence’s brow furrows as she sighs.
>“Well, then just get to the part where you come in.  I want to know about you…”
>She looks to you and waves a hoof in your general direction.
“Humans?”
>“Right, tell me about humans, about -your- world.”
“Well, it’s pretty different from here in Equestria.  Humans don’t have magic, so they use technology to make up for what they’re not capable of on their own.”
>“No magic?  Really?”
>Despite the fact that she seems put off by the idea, she leans closer.  You smile and continue explaining.
>“Not a lick.  Sure, it exists in stories, but any magic that we have in our world is done by illusionists and generally has a trick behind it, so it’s not really magic.”
>“That sounds dreadfully dull.”
“It’s not so bad.  We have trains, like you do, but we also have automobiles, which are like trains but aren’t forced to remain on a set track.  We fly through the air in airplanes, which are like metal shells and some of them can carry us across the world at the speed of sound.  We’ve even gone into space and explored other worlds.”
>“Now I know you’re pulling my tail.”
>You turn and give your best wounded look.
“Cadence, why would I lie about something like that?”
>“Because the only pony to ever leave Equestria like that was Aunt Luna when she was banished to the Moon, and she couldn’t leave it for a thousand years.  So you must be playing around with me, if an alicorn can’t leave the moon.”
“Oh, but we can.”
>You smile and glance out the window.  In the distance, you can see the mountains approaching.  The longest part of your journey still lies ahead of you, the slow climb back to Canterlot.  Still, the time seems to be going by so fast.  It would be nice if it slowed, just a little.
“It takes an enormous amount of energy, but we’ve sent humans to our Moon and back, and mechanical cameras deep into our own system, taking pictures and showing them to us back on Earth.  Space is a beautiful place.  Terrifying in how vast it is, but beautiful.”
>Cadence smiles and leans closer still, drawing your attention back to her.  As one might expect of a Princess she is wearing perfume, a citrus-like scent, but hardly overpowering.
>“Is it really?”
“Have you ever asked your Aunt?”
>“I’ve never really had a chance to meet her.  I suppose we have something that we can talk about now.”
>Silence settles in between the two of you again, though you feel no need to leave this time.  The train chugs along, the huffing and puffing becoming more pronounced as you head into the ascent.
“So, what about you, Cadence?”
>“Hmm?”
“What’s your life like in Canterlot?”
>A faraway look graces the Princess’ features as she lets out a lingering breath.
>“Well, Canterlot isn’t where I was born, I’m actually from Trottingham.  As you can see, I’m not exactly a normal pony, so there was a lot of confusion until Princess Celestia herself came by.  She told us that my mother was descended from Equestrian Royalty, and that I was to be a Princess.”
>She laughs and gives a wide smile as she remembers.
>“My mother nearly had a heart attack.  To this day, she never lets father forget that she’s Princess of the house.”
>“From an early age, I visited Princess Celestia frequently.  As a guest, Canterlot was a beautiful place, full of mystery and wonder.  And the Princess, she was absolutely stunning.”
>“Not that she still isn’t, but when you’re a foal, looking up at the Princess, there’s nothing that compares to that regality.  She had such grace, poise, and an endless patience for my games.  And then, the time came for me to move to Canterlot, to learn how to be a Princess.”
“Did things get worse?”
>“Not especially.  Celestia stepped in as my guardian and continued to be patient as I began my education under her.  I spent much more time in the castle than in the city, so the friends I had made I saw less and less.  And the more time that passed, the more distant they became, even when we were together.”
>“There’s a sort of, blindness, when you’re young.  The fact that I had wings and a horn didn’t seem to faze them, in fact most were tickled pink.  But as time went on, the fact that I was an alicorn seemed to force a distance between us, leaving them cold and detached when speaking with me.”
>“They were cordial, certainly, but you’ve been in Canterlot for a while now, so I hope you’ll understand what I mean when I say that you can’t always trust what comes out of her resident’s mouths.  They’re all concerned about appearances, and approaching a Princess for anything, except introductions, is out of the question.”
>A small smile dances across her face.
>“Still, there was this foal I watched from time to time, her name was Twilight Sparkle.  There was an age gap, certainly, but she was so kind and accepting, it reminded me a lot of the friends I had growing up.  She’s a hero now, you know, she’s saved Equestria twice.”
“Impressive.  Must have had something to do with a sensational foal sitter.”
>Cadence shakes her head and giggles.
>“I wish I could say that it was all due to me, but Twilight is another of Celestia’s protégés.  Like myself, she was taken in at an early age to train her, natural abilities.”
“Magic, right?”
>“Mhmm.  Well before Twilight received her cutie mark, my training had taken me out of Canterlot and out into Equestria, making public appearances as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza along the outlying towns and cities.  I still visited Canterlot, though my trips were few and far between.  And Twilight was always engrossed in her studies, Celestia insisted I not interrupt her.”
“Sounds like that was a lonely time for you.”
>“A little, but I had grown used to it by that point.  Every town had new attendants, new guards, it was hard to get attached to any one of them knowing that I would be gone in a few weeks.  Celestia wanted updates on the state of the borders, particularly in the north, so I spent a lot of time up there.  This will be my first trip back to Canterlot in a year and a half.”
“No pony should have to become acclimated to loneliness, Cadence.  Having a good friend is one of the greatest gifts that you can ever receive.”
>The Princess makes a small sound of agreement, sighing and laying her head down on her foreleg.  A frown spreads across her muzzle, a few platinum curls separating from her mane and framing her face.
>“I suppose.  But, that seems to be a requirement of being a Princess, the only ones who could understand the struggles would be other Princesses.  Sometimes, I just want to be a regular mare, and do things that don’t require me to be distinguished and fair.  A little fun would be nice.”
>Cadence coughs, giving a brief sniff as she bats her eyes a few times and rights herself.  The smile is back on her face, though strained.  Levitating the crown back onto her head, she excuses herself.
>“Listen to me babbling on about all this, I’m sure that you don’t want to hear it.  Guardspony Anonymous, you may return to your post.”
>Just like that, the spell was broken.  Logic dictates that you leave the car immediately and get back to your team, but you reach out and take her hoof in your hand.  The Princess gives a stunned stutter, but you ignore her and get what you need to say out.
“Thank you for sharing your story with me.  It was a pleasant way to pass the time.  We should make time to talk again in Canterlot, you seem to have a lot on your chest.”
>“P-perhaps.”
>You bow your head and smile, taking one last chance to sniff the air before turn to exit.
“By your leave, Princess.  Should you need anything, I am only one car away.”
>She says nothing as you leave, the whisper of the door as it slides open, and the solid thunk and it clicks back into place.  All throughout, the strained chuggings of the train lie just beneath.
>
>You manage to make small talk with Glory and the rest of your team for the remainder of the trip.  Thankfully, there are no further incidents.  The Princess is a topic of interest, though you feel no need to disclose what she discussed with you.
>The train arrives in Canterlot well after sundown, and Cadence emerges from her car to be escorted to the castle.
>She has taken some time to further prepare herself for her arrival, with a heavier grey-purple eyeliner and her lashes teased out a little.  The Princess makes no attempt to create eye contact with you as you exit the train and lead her up towards the castle.
>Once again, you are drawing the attention of every pony in Canterlot, though on this occasion you are not at the center.  Murmurs rumble through the crowd as they catch sight of Cadence, the Princess holding her head high as she trots between the four of you.
>As you approach the castle, you are met by a detachment of the Royal Guard.  Pulling up short, you and your team salute the guard who return the gesture, making way for Captain Shining Armor as he walks forward.  Glancing over the five of you, he smiles and gives you a small nod.
>“I knew you were the right guard for the job, Anonymous.  Well done.  Are you all right with holding off your debriefing until tomorrow?”
>Allowing yourself a brief nod, you step aside and allow the Princess to move forward to the castle.  Shining Armor’s face lights up as their eyes meet.
>“Cadence.  It’s good to see you again.”
>“You as well, Shining Armor.  It seems you are doing quite well for yourself, the Guardsponies informed me that you’re a Captain now.”
>Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s voice carries that royal distance she had before she boarded the train.  Shining Armor doesn’t seem to notice as he puffs his chest out.
>“That’s right, pretty cool, huh?  If you would accompany me to the hall, Princess Celestia would like to meet with you.”
>Cadence nods and begins the long walk into the castle.  As the Royal Guard crowds around her, she chances one look back to you and smiles, allowing herself a small tilt of the head, before looking forward again.
>Her action doesn’t go unnoticed, as Glory slugs you in the side with his hoof, grinning like an idiot.  You pound your fist against his ribs, making him jump a little, but wink at you.  Once the Royal Guard is gone and your team dismissed, he trots up to you, all smiles.
>“I knew you were a force to be reckoned with.  Anonymous, the mare-slayer, thief of a dozen, no, two-dozen hearts!  It was said his smile could win over the coldest of nags, and subdue even the legendary Amazonian ponies!  A legend in his own time!”
“Ahh, cut it out, you’re embarrassing me!”
>The two of you laugh it off, heading towards the pub the City Guardspony grunts frequent.  As usual, the place is full of laughter and good-natured ribbing.  Several ponies are playing cards across the bar, a few have taken to singing off-key, but most seem content to drink, shout and jostle each other while sharing the gripes of the daily grind.
>“No place like home, eh Two-Legs?”
“You’ve got that right.”
>“As I recall I saved your keister back on Galloping Greens.”
>You let the statement hang for a few seconds before acknowledging it.
“Is that right?  I’m kind of foggy on how everything went down.  I could have sworn that you charged in their blind.”
>“Ah, you’re full of hay!”
>You both laugh and you give him a firm pat.
“All right, all right.  Cozy up to the bar, I’ll cover you tonight.”
>“You know, Anon, you’re a good fella.”
“And don’t you forget it!”
>The night passes in a blur of liquor, mares and taunting other guards from across the bar.  Sometime after midnight, Glory is regaling the entire bar with stories of his escapades.
>“So, there we were surrounded by violent pegasi.  I bucked left, and then bucked right, and one of them bit me.  They were everywhere, swarming me, Anonymous backed into a corner with nothing but a busted spear to protect himself!  I felt the fire rise up in me and bucked every last one of those sorry saps into oblivion!”
>The other guards cheer, stomping their hooves in approval as Glory trots over to you, slinging a hoof around your shoulders.   He reeks of booze, but you make no move to shrug him away.
>“And then, this guy.”
>He prods you with his hoof, laughing.
>“I save this guy from certain trampling, and then he goes and spends the next three hours chatting up Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  What a stud he is, am I right?”
>The bar erupts into another chorus of cheers, a few whistles thrown in for good measure.  A few of the mares look your way, but you smile and finally roll Glory’s hoof off your shoulder.
“It was nothing like that, I was just making sure that no harm came to her.”
>Glory fixes you with a grin, raising an eyebrow and leaning close, and doing a stage whisper, loud enough for the entire bar to hear.
>“Really?  For three hours?  Come on Anonymous, we’re all friends here, what really happened behind that car door?”
>“You had better hope nothing!”
>The bar goes quiet as everyone searches for the owner of the voice.  Ah, one of the City Officers.  You’re a little surprised he didn’t cut in earlier, but he does look a little drunk himself.  Taking a few stumbling steps forward, he raises a hoof at you.
>“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, if you did anything t’her, Captain Shining Armor will have your head!”
>Glory chuckles a little and takes another long drink, turning the situation over to you.
“I promise, nothing happened.  Besides, I’m sure it’s nothing that serious.”
>“That’s where yer wrong, pony.  Th’ Princess and Captain Shining Armor are t’gether, y’see?”
>Wobbling back on his hind legs, he lifts his hooves and squints down at them.  His tongue slips out of the corner of his mouth, as if heavy in concentration and then he taps his hooves together two times.  In the quiet of the bar, the sound is like a pair of distant thunderclaps.
>“Intimately.”
>The bar goes nuts at the apparently lewd gesture and comment.  The Officer falls back on his flanks, laughing it up with the rest of them.  You however, don’t join in the festivities.
>Deep in your chest, you can feel your heart struggling.  It will keep pumping, surely, but there’s a stranglehold on it now, making you feel lightheaded and queasy.  If you had been paying attention, you might have caught on sooner.
>The Princess knew the Captain well enough to comment on his mannerisms.  Her frustration when he wasn’t there.  Shining Armor delivering the mission himself.  The way he looked at Cadence when he saw her.
>That’s how the stories go right?  The Princess finds her knight in shining armor and lives happily ever after.  You laugh a little at how perfectly everything fits together, but this is a perfect world, you really should stop being so surprised when things just work out.
>“Hey, Anonymous, you all right?”
>Feigning a smile, you nod at Glory.  The stallion scowls and shoves your shoulder with his hoof.
>“C’mon now, none of that.  Did that idiot really sour your mood that much with his drivel?”
>You remain quiet and Glory groans.
>“Fine, I’m done.  Let’s head back to the barracks.  I swear, if you’re a baseline for humans as a whole, you must be a race of sensitive pansies.”
>You settle your tab for the night and help your friend back to the barracks.  Glory wastes no time collapsing on his bed, and you follow suit after switching into some lighter clothing.  Staring up at the ceiling as you wait for sleep affords you time to think, usually a good thing, though not tonight.  You come to a few conclusions.

>The Princess is a lonely pony.  Spending so much time away from Canterlot afforded her few opportunities to make friends, so when you agreed to speak with her on a personal level, she jumped on the opportunity.  Now that she was here, she would be able to establish relationships, and have no further need to talk to you.
>Your relationship with Cadence was strictly professional, you the guard and she the Princess.  Not even that anymore, because it would be unlikely to get to see her again.  Her attendants would be assigned from the Royal Guard, likely by Shining Armor himself.
>And Shining Armor may be the luckiest pony in the world.
>You roll over onto your side and try to ignore the pained squeezing in your chest for the rest of the night.

Chapter 3

>So, that was that.  Once again, you were Guardspony Anonymous, leader of the nearly botched escort of a Princess.  All that remained was your debriefing on the mission, and you would never cross paths with Cadence again.
>That thought kept you up for a while, but you manage to get several hours of sleep, in between waking up six or seven times.  Daylight comes all too soon and rouses the other guards, Glory giving you a few friendly parting shots before heading out on patrol.  Pulling on your leather gear, you make your way towards the castle.
>The armor, despite being custom made, is ill fitting, probably because you’ve gained a fair amount of size since arriving in Canterlot.  The constant training and walking has altered your build, meaning you should probably get your armor resized.
>For now, it’s a momentary discomfort and you resolve to see the requisitions officer after your debriefing with the Captain.  The pristine white unicorns at the gate of the castle don’t say a word as you pass by, though you can feel their eyes follow you beneath their golden helmets.
>When you enter the castle, you see the elegant corridors branch off in every direction, including several in areas only a pegasus could reach, a real Escher of an entryway.  Still, you know the route by heart, and set off down the middle left hall.
>Ten a.m., you enter into the Debriefing Room and take a seat.  It’s another twenty-eight minutes before Shining Armor arrives.  He gives you a smile and rolls his eyes.
>“Sorry I’m a little bit behind, we’re trying to get Princess Mi Amore Cadenza settled in, and it’s proving to be more difficult than I’d like.”
“No trouble at all, sir.”
>It was a little troubling, despite the fact that your job was done except for the fade to black, you are still concerned about Cadence’s well being.  As a result, you can’t stop yourself for asking
“Is the Princess all right?”
>“She’s fine, if you like we can discuss that at length later.  What I’m more interested in is what happened yesterday.”
>Walking over to the table, he pulls up a seat and positions himself across from you.  A quill and parchment levitate from across the room to the space between the two of you.  His usually relaxed expression now holds a sense of foreboding as a small dribble of ink splashes down on the paper.
>“Whenever you’re ready, Guardspony.”
>As you tell the story, you see the pen scratching frantically, though Shining Armor never breaks eye contact with you.  The slow start to the mission, standing in the heat, the relaxed nature of your fellow Guardsponies and the realization that the Princess’ carriage had come under attack.  Shining Armor takes a distinct interest in that.
>“Did the attackers give any indication of who they worked for, any noticeable marks or clothing or accessories that you can remember?”
“Not a one, Captain.  They just seemed like regular pegasus ponies, a few of them were wearing straps of cloth around their legs and necks, but there wasn’t any discernable pattern or reasoning to the color selections.  And they made no move to talk either.”
“One of them had me pinned to the ground.  She lowered her face to mine and gave this terrible screech, something that would sound better coming out of a bat than a pony.  They grunted and screamed and screeched, but never said a word, not even to each other.”
>The Captain nods, writing all of this down.  He goes quiet, continuing to observe you but asking no further questions.
“If I may, Captain, I have some questions of my own about the mission.  Would you be willing to answer them?”
>“If I’m able to, sure.”
>The scratching continues, Shining Armor taking the opportunity to glance down at the page and read over what he has so far.  You go ahead with your questioning.
“Sir, why was the Princess not accompanied by a detachment of her own?  If the security of Canterlot is at risk, wouldn’t the Princess require an additional detail to ensure her safety?”
>“We weren’t expecting to be attacked that far north, but we did have eyes on her at all times.  Several three pony reconnaissance teams were monitoring her progress the entire way to Galloping Greens.”
“Is it possible that those pegasus ponies could have taken out one or more of the teams?”
>“Possibly, but not likely.  These are trained Guardsponies with years of experience, the very idea that a handful of wild ponies would route them sounds ridiculous.  If I had known that the attack was going to happen, I would have sent ponies to cover her carriage as well.”
>You nod and note that the quill has been set aside, the Captain turning his attention back to you.
“Why was the Princess out in the field anyway?  She’s a high profile target for any ponies looking to stir up trouble.”
>“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is the only member of the royal family fit for travel across Equestria.  The expectation of the populace is that the Princesses Celestia and Luna spend the majority of their time here in Canterlot, while Prince Blueblood is a constant P.R. disaster.  Sending him out among the general population would have him dead within a week, so it all falls on her.”
>“She helps to serve as the face of Equestrian Royalty.  Princess Cadence doesn’t tower over other ponies making her more relatable, more pony-like than either of the sister Princesses could ever hope to be.  Her presence is a comfort that the Royal Family cares, but she also serves a deterrent to outside forces, especially along the kingdom borders, where conflict can spark in an instant.”
>“The idea is that the Royal Family is ever present and ever watchful.  Using free roaming members of the family has been enough to dissuade the griffons from attacking for hundreds of years.  But now it seems like the problem might be internal, what with ponies turning against each other, the Princess was no longer safe within the borders of Equestria.”
>“As a result, she would be a prize piece in any negotiations that might take place with this latest threat.  Princess Celestia wanted to ensure that she would arrive safely back in Canterlot, but sending an armed regiment to escort Princess Cadence across Equestria would have added several days to her journey.  In addition, it would have hampered our ability to defend Canterlot from a surprise attack, so it was decided that speed rather than security should be prioritized.”
>Logically, it makes sense.  As far as importance goes, Cadence falls third on the list behind the Princesses, important but not essential to the stability of the country.  Still, hearing the Captain explain it like this, it makes her sound like less of a pony, and more of a chess piece.
“So, where do you think these ponies are coming from?  What would make them turn violent and attack each other?”
>Shining Armor gives you a pained smile and shakes his head.
>“Sorry, that’s on a need to know basis.  The only thing I can tell you is that we have a few ideas, but none of them sound good for any pony involved.”
>Again, understandable.  No need to stir up trouble when you aren’t sure what the cause is.  Noting your silence, Shining Armor’s horn glows as the quill and parchment float into storage.
>“Now, before you go, I have something that I’d like to discuss with you.  Relating to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
>Ah.  A bolt of fear slides from your toes to your skull.  How much had Cadence told the Captain?  Thinking back, you were terribly out of line with her in the train car, perhaps you had offended her in some way or she had let Shining Armor in on your discussion.  If the two of them really are… intimate… either seems possible.  It also seems possible that your time in the Guard could be coming to an end before you leave this room.
>“To be blunt”
>You tense, resisting the urge to grimace as Shining Armor sizes you up.
>“Cadence can be a willful nag.”
>That, was not what you were expecting.  The Captain takes a deep breath and sighs as words begin gushing out of his mouth.
>“In public she’s all smiles and beautiful and graceful, but behind these walls, it’s her way or the high way.  I’ve been putting up with it for years and I’m still not used to it.”
>Shining Armor gets up and begins to pace around the room, glaring at the ground.  Seizing the opportunity, you let out a long, quiet breath and sink a little lower into the chair.  Bullet dodged, well done Anonymous.
>“I’ve been trying to set up a service detail for her since before she arrived.  Last night she shot down every one of my suggestions, and for the most inane reasons!  Too slow, smells awful, no tact, no pony that I brought up seemed to please her.  Finally, I asked her who she wanted on her detail.”
>Shining Armor turns on a bit and trots over to you.  You sit upright as he approaches, feeling the sweat beading on your forehead again.
>“She said that if I wasn’t able to protect her myself, she wants the Human Anonymous to take the lead on her guard detail.”
>Oh dear.  Why Cadence, why?  You stammer, trying to string together a rational response to get yourself out of this greased up frying pan.
“That, that’s ridiculous Captain.  I’m just, a City Guardspony, and a patroller at that.”
>“Which is exactly what I said.  I like you Anonymous, I really do, but you’ve only been with the City for three months and, from the sound of your report, you aren’t quite ready to be thrust into a leadership position, much less guarding a high-ranking individual like the Princess.”
>You flinch a little at his words, but regain your composure easily.  He’s just worried about his special some pony.  And you could have handled that situation better.
>“But, she won’t have it any other way.  She made that abundantly clear.  So, Guardspony Anonymous, will you take on the duty of protecting Princess Mi Amore Cadenza during her stay here in Canterlot?”
>You can feel your mind grind to a stop as the gears chuck-chuck in place, caught on some nearly invisible grain of sand.  You were surprised of course, but was it really such a hard decision to make?
>Yes, in fact, you had set your mind down the path that Cadence was out of your life, and now here she was again.  The expectations would be enormous however, and you would be closely observed throughout the entire process.  This could easily make or break your career as Guardspony, and possibly your future in Equestria.  Was it really worth the risk?
“Uh…”
>Shining gives a small smile and pats you on the shoulder.
>“That’s okay, Anonymous, I understand that it’s a huge task to ask of someone so green.  It’ll be difficult, but I think I can manage my time between seeing to Cadence’s safety, as well as the protection of Canterlot…”
“No!”
>As you slam your hands down on the table and jump to your feet, a small part in the back of your mind cries out to you.
>No, Anonymous, what are you doing?  Anonymous, stop.
>But you can’t stop, something inside of you has snapped.  If it was because of the blow to your pride, Shining Armor continuing to place Cadence second to Canterlot, or the thought that the city’s protector might be unduly distracted, you didn’t know.  But you still couldn’t stop yourself, not now.
“I’ll do it, Captain.  You shouldn’t have to worry about seeing to the safety of the city and the day-to-day life of the Princess.  You’re the Captain of the Royal Guard, protecting this city and the Princesses from outside forces should be your priority.  I accept the assignment, graciously, if you’re still offering it.”
>Your shoulders heave as you realize you may have just stepped in it in a very big way.  But excitement, rather than fear, wells up inside of you as you met Shining Armor’s eyes again.  You are ready. Even if you fail you are ready to at least try.
>Shining Armor takes his time walking over to you, the meticulously heavy clip-clop of his gait causing the stones beneath your feet to quiver.  His eyes are set, cold and stern, a chilling blue that could freeze the blood in your veins.
>He veers outward a little, walking around you and the table in a circle, sizing you up again from each angle.  After his pass, he stands in front of you, looking up into your face.  The nervousness doesn’t settle into your belly this time, the butterflies instead igniting against the desire already burning there.
>At last, he extends a hoof and gives you a wry smile.
>“I like a pony who knows what he wants.  You’ve got passion and with a little work, I’d like to think this could be your ticket into a permanent position in the Royal Guard, Anonymous.”
>You grasp his hoof and shake firmly once, before releasing and letting your hand rest by your side.  Shining Armor, your new boss, wastes no time in getting down to business.
>“As lead on her guard detail, you’ll be assigning individual ponies to see to the Princess’ security, safety and general wellness.  You yourself will be on call at all times, and will be residing within Canterlot Castle until the end of your assignment to facilitate ease in contact.”
>“Although you will be seeing to the Princess, you still be considered a City Guardspony.  Outside of matters pertaining to your position, you are not to interfere with Royal Guardsponies, or the other Princesses.  Additionally, I’m willing to lend you a senior member of the Royal Guard to help show you the ropes until you get acclimated to the position.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Captain.  When will I start?”
>Shining Armor grins.
>“Tomorrow morning at daybreak.  Head back to your barracks and gather your belongings because you need to be settled into your new quarters tonight.”
“Sir!”
>Shining Armor acknowledges you with a nod of the head and you rise to your feet.  As you turn to walk away, he calls to you again.
>“Anonymous.”
“Yes, Captain?”
>“When you get back, see our quartermaster about procuring some better fitting armor.  We can’t have you running around as a guard for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza looking like you’re wearing hoof-me-downs.”
>You crack a smile and acknowledge him before walking out of the room.  You make it as past the gates, noting again the sharp gaze of the Guardsponies as you walk out, before breaking into a run.  Your chest burns with excitement as you let out a shout.
>You leap into the air, flying over an embankment.  For an instant you hang, and then drop with a thud to the cobblestone streets below.  The resounding smack draws the attention of every pony around as you start to run again.
>Ponies are staring, like always, but really you couldn’t care less, you’re flying by them too fast to really think about it.  You have to tell some pony about what’s happened, and there’s only one on your mind.  Heading over to the commercial district, you grab the patrolling Glory and lift him off the ground.
>“Hey!  Hey what’re you doing you big ape!  Put me down!”
“Glory!  Glory!  I did it!”
>You laugh, spinning once and putting him back on his hooves, the stallion glaring and taking a few wobbly steps back.
>“You’re acting like you’ve gone mad is what you’re doing.  A grown male swinging another off the ground, it just isn’t right.  Now tell me what all this is about before I have to mess up that mare-slaying mug of yours with my hoof!”
>Despite your panting, you manage to take a deep breath and the words just tumble out behind it as you exhale.
“I’m in charge of guard detail for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!”
>Glory’s face freezes, half-slack jawed as his eyes glisten and his lips turn up.  Bringing up his hoof, he slugs you in the shoulder, and you return the favor to him.  All grins, Glory gives a delighted stomp with his hooves.
>“You damned Two-Legs!  Haha, I knew there was something special about you from the moment I laid eyes on you!  Won the princess over with your primate charms, is that it?”
>The stallion makes a show of biting his tongue and bucking his back end up and down a few times, sending his tail flying.  You laugh and shake your head.
“Not a chance, you know that.  I had to let you know though.”
>The two of you share a laugh, Glory tilting his head to the side and waiting for the other shoe to drop.  You don’t make him wait long.
“It looks like I’m going to be living in the castle for a little while to see to the safety of the Princess, so it might be a little while before we see each other again.  But, I just wanted to say, thank you for being so, accepting over these past few months.  You’re the first friend I made in the Guard, and the only pony in it worth his weight.”
>Glory gives you a small smile, reaching up and patting you on the shoulder before he hoofs you in the gut.  As you double over he laughs and shakes his head.
>“Don’t go getting soft on me now.  You’re still going to be in town and I’m sure we’ll see each other from time to time.  Just promise that you won’t forget about the little ponies down here in the City Guard while you’re up sipping tea and crumpets with the Princesses.”
>“You have to come back to us after all, and if you try to act like you don’t know me, well, I’m not liable to forget it.”
>Catching your breath enough to right yourself, you laugh and flash your friend a smile.
“Thanks Glory, I’ll keep that in mind.  See you around, okay?”
>“Aye.  Be sure and put away a few bottles of wine for me!”
>You give the white stallion a wave and hustle back to the barracks.  Packing doesn’t take too long.
>As a Guardspony, there’s not much space to store your belongings, generally a few changes of clothes, small personal effects, and being a visitor from another world, you didn’t get to bring much with you.
>You slide the remains of your smart phone against your fingers.  The screen has cracks in a million different places managing to hold itself together only by the thin adhesive screen cover.  Thoroughly destroyed, it’s well past the useless stage.  It will never turn on again, but you keep it as a reminder of where you had come from.  Same with your wallet and keys.
>You have fifty dollars in assorted bills in your wallet, along with a terrible picture featuring you on your driver’s license, the last one you would ever have.  A few plastic credit cards in the sleeves and, tucked away behind everything else, a picture.
>The sides have long since passed the creased stage, instead succumbing to scratches and wear, creating a white frame around the small photo.  You allow yourself the briefest of peeks at the woman you left behind before sliding it back into place, shaking your head.  That time was over.

>Gathering the rest of your things in your rucksack, you turn down your bunk take one last look around the barracks.  Despite being a recent resident of Equestria, you had formed bonds with several of the ponies who you had served in the Guard with.  Most of them suffered from a lax attitude towards pretty much everything, but they weren’t bad ponies, just a bad fit for their positions.
>Lifting your bag, you sigh and shake off the sadness before it can drape itself over you.  Glory’s right, you’re never too far from your friends.  Setting yourself back on the road, you begin the walk up towards the castle.  Your heart thuds with excitement and you can’t wipe the silly grin off of your face no matter how many times you try.
>Time to show the Royal Guard what you’re capable of.

Chapter 4

>This is it, the start of a path that’s going to lead down a whole new life.  Nothing can stop you now.
>Floating in that strange state of nearly awake, you float over to the mahogany beast inside your head.  Ticking away the seconds, you pull yourself up to its face.  Ten to six.
>Early enough.
>Waking up is easy when you keep perfect time.  Opening your eyes, you are greeted by the thin sliver of the crest of the moon as it descends behind the mountains to the west.  Faint stretches of pink battle mighty swaths of retreating purple as the sun begins her ascent on the other side.
>With a few stumbling steps, you lean out of your window and bask in the pre-dawn symphony, a wide smile on your face.  A chill still lingers in the air, common at this altitude, and the hairs on your arms prickle as they touch the icy stone.
>Truly, this is where you belong.
>As a new day begins, you pay special attention to your hygienic needs.  A few extra minutes in the shower and in front of the mirror shaving can go a long way in looking presentable on your first day.
>Slapping each cheek twice, you flash your reflection a grin and make a gun out of your thumb and forefinger. Your reflection winks and jerks his wrist back as you mutter
“Pow.”
>and go to dress yourself.
>Considering that the castle quartermaster had absconded with your leather armor last night, you were forced to dress in something a little more, casual.  Button up shirt, white, and a pair of charcoal slacks.  You decide to finish off your ensemble with a black belt and shoes.  It’s hard to go wrong with a classic.
“Looking pretty good, Anon.”
>Contorting yourself to get a view from the back, you chuckle.  Not too bad at all.  Adjusting your belt one last time, you make your way towards the officer’s barracks, where you’ll be meeting your mentor.
>While the path is ingrained into your head from Shining’s directions, you do take some time to enjoy the interior of the castle.  Quite unlike anything else in Equestria, it boasts marble columns, interspersed with elegant statues and stained glass, among other odds and ends.
>Taking a moment to enjoy the scenery, you pause in front of a particularly interesting pane of glass.  A large black unicorn mare and another white unicorn mare, clashing with one another over Canterlot.
>“Greetings, wayward guest.”
>Flinching, you turn towards the sound.  Princess Luna approaches you, her head held high, though the bags around her eyes are evident from a night of labor.  Standing beside you, she turns to the glass.
>She’s not quite as tall as her sister, but still strikes an imposing figure, her mane as dark as a starry night.  She glances over the picture before turning to you.
>“This story, it interests you?”
>Unsure if you should be speaking at all with any Princess other than Cadence, you flash her a small smile and nod.  Better be as proper as possible.
“Uh, verily.  If thou, couldst… explainith…”
>The Princess’ tired face brightens a little at your failed attempt at formality.  Chuckling to herself, she brings a hoof to her muzzle and smiles.
>“It is acceptable for you to speak in the common tongue.  It will assist in the acquisition of the modern language of our subjects.”
“I, suppose I am then.”
>As the Princess nods and turns back to the glass, she smiles.
>“It is a story of mistakes and confusion.  Of dreams and nightmares.  If you would accompany us to our quarters…”
>Flashing you a sly grin, the Princess of the Night raises an eyebrow.
>“We would gladly share this”
>She pauses, flicking you with her tail.
>“tale, with you.”
>Wut.  That, sounds suspiciously like a proposition to be a bed partner.  Which is something you definitely don’t want to be doing first day on the job, sleeping with your boss’ boss’ sister.
“Sorry, I need to get to the Officer’s Barracks for my assignment.”
>That catches her off guard.  Keep it up.
>“Oh, so, you are not a guest then?”
“Ah, no, I’m afraid I’m just a guard.”
>That smile’s back.  Brace for impact.
>“We see.  Then, perhaps we should order you to accompany us instead?”
“A-apologies Princess, but I am in charge of Princess Cadence’s well being.  I can’t shirk my duties.”
>“Mmm, indeed.”
>The Princess pouts a little, averting her eyes as she mulls over that latest bit of information.
>“Very well, guardspony.  But, when you are up for reassignment, know that we would be more than happy to have such a, devoted member, in our guard.”
>Whipping you once more with her tail, Princess Luna trots off towards her room, leaving you shaken and disturbed.  It would be best to hustle to see your advisor.
>
>“Ah, good morning, Guardspony.”
>Shoulder heaving, you hold up a finger and try to catch your breath.  The bolt across the castle really took it out of you.  With a hack and a cough, you right yourself and smile.
“Guardspony Anonymous, reporting in.”
>The unicorn pony nods, floating over a mug of coffee.  You accept, graciously, taking a quick sip.  Bitter, but not bad.  Clearing his throat, you turn your attention back to your mentor.
>“Good to see you made it without incident.  Captain Shining Armor has informed me that you will be seeing to the welfare of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza during the daylight hours.  For the next two weeks, I shall be your second, my name is Lieutenant Laurel Wreath.”
>Despite his grizzled, scarred torso and wrinkly face, the LT seems to be a friendly sort, boasting a wide smile.  Motioning for you to sit down, you do so.  He slides a single piece of paper in front of you.  On it is a schedule of Cadence’s daily regimen, which, as of today, is yours as well.
>“You shall be present outside Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s door at promptly seven.  Members of the royal family, as well as any visiting guests or dignitaries shall dine at seven-thirty.  Unless invited to dine with them, you are only to observe and see to the needs of the Princess.  I advise you to eat your fill before coming on duty, either in the barracks or grabbing something from the castle kitchen.”
>Giving a brief nod, you make note to do so after leaving your meeting.  Seeing he has your attention, the officer pony continues.
>“After dining, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza will have four hours of tutoring.  Unless you request additional assistance, you shall be her only guard during this time.  Lunch is served at noon, and I advise you again to eat on your down time.  After lunch, Cadence has free reign of the castle and upper city until six.”
>Leaning in, Laurel taps his hoof over the large block of time.  It’s an awkward motion, but you understand his attempt to emphasize this next point.
>“During this time, the Princess will be most vulnerable, so your vigilance is required.  Should she desire to leave the castle grounds, you must ensure her safety in every regard.  Dinner is served between six and seven, with the rest of the evening being spent in recreation.  The castle slows down for the night around nine, when your shift ends.”
“Fourteen hours is quite a while to be on your feet.”
>Laurel stares at you for a moment before catching your meaning, and then nods, chuckling.
>“It is, indeed.  Thankfully, you have the privilege to call other guardsponies to see to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s well being, if you need to step aside for a few moments.  If you were so inclined, you could have another pony oversee Cadence’s tutoring sessions, and spend some time training with the other members of the Royal Guard.”
>“However, you must also consider yourself the last line of defense for the Princess, and it is not simply something you can place on another pony.  You are her guardian, first and foremost.”
>Allowing yourself to nod again, you let your eyes roam the schedule.
“How often does the Princess leave the castle grounds?”
>“Not too terribly often.  Much like the other Princesses, she is easily recognizable.  With such recognition, trouble and harassment often follows.  It is easier for her to stay within these walls.”
>Grunting, you allow yourself one last look over the page, before folding it up and placing it inside your pocket.  Laurel gives you another smile, and then levitates a small wooden box onto the table.
>The wood is different than most you’ve seen before, a solid brownish grey affair, hewn from a single piece of wood.  Roughly ten inches by eight and five deep, it closely resembles a jewelry box back on Earth.  In the dim morning light, it glistens like steel.
>A key rests upon the top of the box, likely to the latch keeping it closed.  The unicorn reaches out, pushing it closer to you.  Taking the key, you place it into the lock and turn.  With the audible click echoing through the air, Laurel speaks again.
>“I advise you to keep that key on you at all times, or, if you can’t, in a very safe place.  The chest is hewn from an Ironbark tree, nigh indestructible, but light enough to be easily moved.”
>Nodding, you flip open the latch and lid.  The velvet inside is tired and worn, no longer a deep lush red, but more of a faded pink.  Set inside the interior are three small items, two large badges on either side of the case, and between them a bracelet with a heart charm attached.
>Your lip curls a little as you pull the bracelet out, causing your second to laugh as he watches you.
>“Not the largest fan of jewelry, are we?”
“Not especially, no.”
>“Well, you’ll want to hold on to that one.  Take a closer look at the other side.”
>Trying to hide your displeasure, you do as requested, noting that there are a series of engraved symbols on the other side.  While some of them do look familiar, it’s clearly not written in common tongue or Equestrian.
>“That there is perhaps the most important thing you now own.  The badges legitimize you as the Personal Guard Attendant to one of the Royal Family.  For most any guardspony, seeing those will be enough.  That charm, however, is one of only a handful from the days before Equestria.”
>“The metal is malleable, and the magic within is a seeking spell.  Currently it’s attuned to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and so it resembles her cutie mark.  That little piece of metal can guide you to her, no matter where she is.”
“Sounds pretty useful, if your charge has a tendency to wander.”
>Chuckling, Laurel nods his head a few times.
>“Mostly, it’s to keep track of younger members of the royal family.  However, due to recent instances, Captain Shining Armor ordered that we assign one to each member of the royal family, just in case.”
“Mm, is there anything else I need to know about?”
>“That does it for the trinket, just make sure it’s locked up each night.  In the wrong hands it could result in her kidnapping, but as long as it’s in the box, it’s certainly safe.  As far as the badges go, attach one to your armor and sew the other into your guard dress uniform.  With that you should be well prepared to see to the Princess.”
>“Speaking of, it’s nearing seven now, the Princess will be expecting you.”
>With a nod, you stand and snap a salute to the Lieutenant.  He responds in kind, bringing his right hoof to his chest and nodding his head.  The ironwood case is snapped closed and secured in the crook of your arm as you make your way into the depths of the castle.
>At the stroke of seven, you are in position outside of Princess Cadence’s room.  Your stomach is full, badge, key and bracelet clicking together in your pocket, and the lock box secured in your bedroom.
>Taking in a deep breath, you wait and put on your best smile as the door creaks open ten minutes later.
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, good morning.”
>She’s picture perfect, as usual, not a hair out of place.  Cadence offers you a small smile and a nod, before allowing her eyes to roam your body.  Stiffening under her examination, you stand a little straighter and try to avoid eye contact.  That earns you a laugh.
>“Well, you look less threatening without your armor, but I think you’ll do.  Shall we?”
>Trotting up beside you, she flashes a grin and raises her eyebrow.  Without waiting for a response, she continues down the hall.  For an instant, the familiar citrus scent lingers in the air, feeling sharp against your tongue as you take a deep breath.
>Turning on your heel, you make your way after Cadence, walking a few steps behind her.  Despite your best attempts, you can’t help but notice the liquid smooth side to side rolling sway of her flank.  Clearly practiced to perfection.
>It’s difficult, but you drag your eyes up her back until she resides in your lower periphery.  This is how you’re going to have to walk from now on, so you may as well get used to it.  Plus, getting caught staring at the Princess’ hindquarters is a good way to get Shining Armor riled, you imagine.
>“Now, I hope that you’re prepared to change your ideas about how things work here in Canterlot.”
>Cadence’s warning draws your attention back to her.  She sighs and looks towards a pair of large double doors, two guardsponies standing in front, prepared to open them.
>“There’s a lot of talk about how great and noble the Princesses are.  All that I would ask is that you keep an open mind and your mouth shut.”
“I can manage that much.”
>Relief spreads across her face as Cadence nods to the guards.
>“Good.  Welcome to Canterlot Castle, Guardspony Anonymous.”

Chapter 5

>The guardsponies nod to Princess Cadence and the doors swing open.  A luxurious banquet hall stretches beyond, half a dozen chefs zipping along as they place out breakfast platters piled high with greens, fruits and grains.
>Interestingly enough, there are also several platters with meat on them.  While they look severely undercooked, you can feel your mouth begin to water at the sight.  You’ll have to duck into the royal kitchen later and see about getting something like that.
>Remaining behind the Princess, you note that Princess Luna, still exhausted, is sitting near the head of the table.  Beside her sits the first Prince of Equestria, Prince Blueblood, glancing about with a masked indifference.  Cadence moves around the table, taking up a position across from Blueblood.
>As she sits, you glance around to the other guards surrounding perimeter of the hall.  Numbering somewhere around two dozen, they stand with stoic expressions.  Moving to stand against the wall behind her, Cadence gives a low whisper.
>“Across from me.”
>You pause, raising an eyebrow.  Aside from the dining staff, Princesses Luna and Cadence, you are now the center of attention.  Every guard has turned towards you and Blueblood dons a smug smirk.  Sighing, Cadence turns back to you, giving a pained smile.
>“Stand against the wall across from me, in case I need you for something.”
>That would make a lot of sense.  As a quiet ripple of laughter rumbles up from the guards, you swallow your embarrassment and move to you appointed position.  As you do, the armored ponies return to a more neutral position, staring straight ahead, though you still feel Blueblood’s eyes on you until you pass out of his field of vision.
>Standing with your back to the wall, you face Cadence, who gives you a small smile.  You’re off to a good start Anonymous; maybe if you’re lucky they’ll take you on as a jester when you screw this up.
>Rudely interrupting your negative line of thinking, a deafening blare of horns makes you stand up a little straighter.  You’re not alone in your reaction as several of the other guards thrust themselves up and out.  You see Cadence’s shoulders quiver a little as she laughs at your suddenly perfect posture.
>Two hulking bull-men enter, the plates quivering on the table with each step they take.  You try to drag your eyes away, but the sight of something so human-like is both a comfort and strangely alien.  A quiet voice to your left cuts through your thoughts.
>“Minotaurs, from the southern kingdoms, try not to stare.  If you really have to, don’t make eye contact.  They’re an easily riled bunch.”
>Low and familiar, the Guard Captain had slipped in after you, only choosing now to make his presence known.  Turning your head, you give Shining Armor a small smile.  He doesn’t seem to notice, nodding back towards the table.
>“Eyes ahead.  We’re here for them.”
>With a small jerk of the neck, you’re facing forward again.  Cadence seems engaged in a conversation with Princess Luna, the pink mare smiling and chatting away.  The minotuars take their seats their backs to you and Shining Armor, the Guard Captain murmuring to you again as three eagle-headed lions enter.
>“Gryphons, from the western confederacy.  The one up front is the diplomat, the other two are traders.”
>That would explain the meat.  Nodding you take a deep breath as the Gryphons move with an easy, loping grace, taking up seats next to Princess Cadence.  Afterwards, other ponies begin to filter in, Shining Armor explaining they were visiting as diplomats with business propositions from cities and towns across Equestria.  And then, she enters.
>Equestria does not have a queen, but if they did, it would be Princess Celestia, without a doubt.  And as the Sun Princess enters the room, it’s easy to see why.
>Towering over all but yourself and the minotaurs, Princess Celestia’s long, powerful legs provide her with a high trot as she makes her way into the hall.  Her mane, ethereal like her sister’s, dances from her body like pastel fire, occasionally breaking off, shimmering for a moment and then vanishing into the air.
>Your breath catches in your throat, and as you examine her immaculate white coat your body loses the strength to support itself.  Falling back against the wall, you gaze at her a moment longer.  Her eyes move up to yours, and you feel your heart go still.
>In that momentous eternity, you feel her examining you, judging your worth.  Cold, heavy limbs begin to quiver and shake, your eyes blur as the colorful blaze of her mane draws you ever deeper.  The world seems distant now, silence dominating the entire room.  She turns her head away and sits down next to Cadence, across from Princess Luna.
>And the spell is broken.  Taking a moment to steady yourself, you stand back up, still quivering a little.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see Shining Armor give a small smirk, and a quick look to Cadence shows concern across her face.  Celestia clears her throat.
>“Welcome, honored guests.  It is a pleasure to see all of you this morning.  If you would, please enjoy this fine meal that has been provided for us.”
>There is a murmur of agreement, and then the guests waste no time digging into breakfast.  The gryphons and minotaurs, lacking magic, reach out with thick fingers and claws, grasping and tearing into their meal.  As for the ponies, nearly all of them levitate the food to their plates.
>Once again, you notice a disproportionate number of unicorns seated around the table.  In fact, there is only one pegasus out of the bunch, likely a representative from Cloudsdale.  Earth ponies fare little better, a smattering amongst a sea of horns.
>“Guardspony?”
>The Prince.  His voice is everything that you would expect out of royalty, smug, self-assured and slightly flamboyant.  Though you can only see the back of his head, in your mind you can see him giving the guard across the room from you the same smarmy smile he shared with you earlier.
>The pony rushes forward, bowing his head.  Like many of the Royal Guard, he is a white unicorn, clad in golden armor.
>“Yes, my Prince?”
>“I require more juice.  Fetch it for me.”
>With a nod, the glass is levitated in front of the guard and he trots off towards the kitchen.  Before he returns, several other guests have asked for additional refreshment, or food, and have been served by the guards.  A tight feeling knots itself into your stomach.
>Being assigned as Guard Attendant was beginning to seem less like a position for a soldier and more of one for a servant.  Holding back a sigh, you glance up at Cadence.  She’s taking her time, seeming to be in no hurry to get through breakfast, picking at her food with a rather bored expression on her face.
>A loud gulp causes you to glance over to Princess Celestia.  What you see, you are certain, will haunt your dreams for some time.
>With a lengthy hum of approval, the Sun Princess is devouring everything she can get her magic on.  A plate of wild rice with spinach and a pear sauce disappears down her gullet as soon as it reaches her mouth.  Likewise with the grapes, Princess Celestia opens her maw and swallows the entire bunch, groaning as she pulls the stem from her mouth, stripped entirely clean.
>The sheer gluttonous nature of the otherwise dignified and confident Princess is enough to hold your attention for several seconds.  Shining Armor clears his throat, snapping you back to reality.
>“It’s rude to stare at the Princess, if you’re not serving her.”
>“Mmph, Shining Armor!”
>“Yes, my Princess?”
>“I think”
>Princess Celestia smacks her lips once.
>“I think I need another napkin.  And another plate of fried dough.”
>“At once.”
>Bowing his head, Shining Armor shoots you a glance as he trots by, his expression making it clear that you should take care not to screw anything up.  You return your eyes to Princess Cadence, who is still picking away at her first plate.  Her expression is distant, as if she isn’t aware of her surroundings at all.
>Deep in your chest, you feel your heart twist.  Compared to the cheerful mare you met on the train, she seems so dead inside.  With a small cough, you clear your throat and focus on her.  It takes a few minutes, but eventually she realizes she’s being watched and glances up.
>When she meets your eyes, you realize you have no idea what to say to her.  Or, for that matter, if you’re even allowed to say anything to her.  So, you do what any responsible individual would do in that situation.
>You mimic her bored expression as best you can.  Eyes upturned, mouth half opened, head cocked a few degrees to the left and shoulders slightly hunched.  Confusion causes Cadence’s brow to furrow for a moment or two, but realization hits and she’s quick to smile.  You even earn a quiet giggle out of her.
>Snapping back to attention, you wink at the Princess and she smiles all the wider.  Some of the guards across from you are watching you curiously, but being talked about for a day or two is a small price to pay for setting the tone with the Princess.
>Just in time too, as Shining Armor makes his way back into the dining hall with a platter and pair of cloth napkins.  As he passes behind Cadence, she’s quick to press her lips together to keep herself from laughing again, going so far as to bite down on them.  The Captain takes no notice as he delivers Celestia’s request.
>Breakfast continues in this manner for the next half hour.  After breaking the ice, Cadence is more than happy to utilize you as a ‘go-for’.  It is a little degrading, certainly not what you were expecting, but she makes a point to thank you each time you bring her something.  It’s more than you can say for any of the other attendants.
>Somewhere in the castle, clocks begin to chime the hour.  Eight o’clock.  At once, food is forgotten and the entire hall goes mad, ponies shouting at one another and minotaurs and gryphons going pierced septum to beak.  With a flap of her wings, Princess Luna is airborne, flying over the guards as they close in on the table.  She meets her attendant by the door and disappears into the hallway.
>The only one unfazed by all of this seems to be Princess Celestia.  Smacking her lips a few more times, she levitates another bite of breakfast to her lips.  You see Prince Blueblood force his way out of the orgy of bodies, giving a disgusted grunt as he shakes himself.
>“Filthy animals.”
>Letting out a sigh, he spots you and smiles.  A few steps later and he’s in front of you, his head turned in profile as he looks you up and down.
>“You are the guard from earlier.  Cadence’s new attendant?”
“That, that’s correct.”
>You manage a small, nervous smile, suddenly noticing that the Guard Captain has entered the fray and is standing next to Princess Celestia.  You feel very alone in this foreign and nearly violent landscape as Blueblood continues sizing you up.
>“You’re an odd sort, aren’t you?  I’ve never seen a hairless minotaur before, and a runt at that.  Did your father cast you out because you shamed his house?”
“I’m not a minotaur at all, actually.”
>“He’s a human.  And I believe that we should be headed for the study.”
>Cadence’s voice cuts through the din as she comes up beside you.  She’s looking a little worse for wear, hair frazzled and even a bit of syrup on her cheek that she hasn’t noticed yet.  Beyond that, she seems unusually tense, like she and the Prince weren’t on the best of terms.  Of course, if you bothered to look at her eyes, brimming with distaste, you might have come to that conclusion much sooner.
>Blueblood chuckles and shakes his head.
>“I don’t believe I’ll be attending lessons today.  I have to meet with a few of my fellows in Canterlot, we are going to have a wonderful time.”
>Giving his cousin a sneer, Prince Blueblood, accompanied by his attendant, trots out into the hall.  Cadence lets out a small growl as she shakes her head.
>“Ugh, he’s absolutely impossible sometimes.”
>With a huff, the Princess hurries out of the dining-hall-turned-brawl, you three steps behind her.  The doors close behind you, making a marked difference in the audible nature of the fight on the other side.  Another deep breath and Cadence glances back at you, smiling.
>“So, what do you think?  Not what you were expecting, I’m sure.”
>With a laugh, you nod and speed up a little until you’re walking alongside her.  Licking your thumb, you press it against the spot on her cheek.  Cadence freezes, eyeing you with curiosity as you clean the sticky mess off her coat.  You fill the void with the sound of your own voice.
“Certainly not.  When I imagined working here in the castle, I thought I’d be seeing illustrious visitors from other countries, noble dignitaries and proud members of the monarchy.”
>As you take a moment to clean your thumb, the Princess smiles and offers her cheek to you and picks up the conversation.
>“Instead, you got a pompous prince, one gluttonous princess…”
>Popping your thumb out, you laugh a little and nod, going back to work.
“Don’t forget about the sexually promiscuous princess.”
>Cadence’s mouth drops open, despite her best attempts to hide it.  You draw your eyes to hers as you chuckle, and after a moment she joins in.
>“Oh my gosh, don’t tell me she’s already come onto you.”
“Mmm, this morning on my way to the barracks.  She invited me into her quarters that she might ‘share a tale with me’.”
>Cadence laughs all the harder at that.  You smile and glance at her coat, once again immaculate.  A few moments brushing your fingers through her mane and she once again looks presentable.  The Princess shakes her head as the two of you begin walking again, you a step behind her.
>“I can’t believe that Auntie already tried to get you in bed with her.  I was told that she had a bit of a problem, but, you haven’t even been here a day!”
“It’s fine and completely understandable.  I have an undeniable animal magnetism.”
>Cadence looks back at you, a smile forming on her lips.  The laugh breaks out in an instant, leaving her wobbling from side to side as she chuckles.  Taking several deep breaths, another fit of giggles overtakes her, ending with an abrupt snort.  The pink Princess stops, lifting a hoof to her mouth as she squeals.
>“Oh goodness, that was terrible.”
>You laugh and nod a little, giving her a moment to settle down.  Clearing her throat, though still wearing a smile, Cadence turns a corner and sighs.
>“Well, I’m sorry that you weren’t prepared for the onslaught of activity here.  It seems that lately, everyone has been on edge.  For instance, today the pony delegates are going to get together and spit and scream at each other over precipitation allotments.  Apparently, the abundant rain we’re having this spring is cutting into Unicorn businesses profits.”
 “And here I thought I got away from these kinds of politics.  It kind of sounds more ridiculous than back on Earth, what with you having absolute control over the seasons.”
>“You would think that, but every solution comes with its own set of problems.  Control the weather and everyone wants it altered to benefit them.  The ponies sent to Canterlot are incredibly self-centered, but they’ll come to an agreement eventually.  They always do.  Turn here.”
>Cutting around the corner, you see Cadence nod towards a door at the end of the hall.  Nodding, you pick up the pace until you’re a few steps in front of her.  Arriving at the door first, you smile and open it for her.
>Cadence’s mouth turns up as she walks ahead of you, not taking her eye off of you until she passes.  With the Princess in the room, you walk in behind her, letting the door fall closed on its own.
>The study itself is large, as everything seems to be in the castle.  Piles of books are scattered about while the shelves are all but bursting with binding, dousing the room in the musky scent of old paper.  A stone hearth sits along the right wall, looking fresh and clean, as it should with summer on the way.  Tables and chairs are placed sporadically throughout the room, though they all face an enormous chalkboard.
>A geometric stained glass window high above the center of the room cascades a fractured design onto the floor below.  Several windows line the outside wall, allowing some much needed light into the room.  Behind you, the door closes with a resounding thud.
>“Hmmng!”
>A voice growls from behind several piles of books.  Tottering out, an older pony with horn-rimmed spectacles regards the two of you with a passing glance.  After a moment, she snorts.
>“It’s about time you got here, Princess.”
>“Apologies, it was a difficult meal to escape from.”
>The mare grunts, glancing past you and scowling.
>“I see that your cousin has decided not to attend?”
>“He’s, down in the city.”
>Another grunt.  At last, the old unicorn seems to notice you.  Taking a few steps closer, she squints and looks you over.  Being examined is getting a little old.
>“So, you’re the new attendant?”
“I am.”
>“Well you don’t look like much.  But, settle in, you may learn a thing or two.”
>Cadence gets a comfortable spot near the front; you take up a position nearby, watching her.  Clearing her throat, the unicorn begins, as if giving an auditorium style university lecture back home.
>“We’ll begin today’s studies with an observational work, written in the third century of Princess Celestia’s rule.  It examines the day to day lives of a handful of ponies in the now defunct Pegasi town of Feather Down.”
>Her voice is flat and detached, as if she’d spent years perfecting the most listless tone imaginable.  Writing off learning anything as a lost cause, you resist the urge to groan and decide peruse one of the book stacks for something that you could wrap your head around.
>If the old mare’s tone is any indication, it’s going to be a long four hours.
>
>Along the perfect, cobbled streets of the upper city, Prince Blueblood trots, his head held high.  He draws a great deal of attention, as usual, and doesn’t bother to hide his pleasure at that fact.  Primping as he tosses his blonde mane from one side to the other, the Prince sighs and lingers in the public eye for a few moments longer.
>With Main Street behind them, Blueblood and his escorts make their way through the narrow side streets of Canterlot, stopping at a ramshackle tavern, The Barley Bray.  Regarding his attendants with a careful eye, the Prince spots an unfamiliar face.  A pegasus with a light brown coat and darker mane.
>“Guardspony?”
>“Yes, my Prince?”
>“You shall wait for my guests to arrive.  Please inform them that I await their presence inside.”
>The guard bows his head as Blueblood and the three remaining guards enter the building.  Minutes tick by, and what remains of the faint pinks of early morning soon washed out by the brilliant blue of the sky.  The guardspony, Lark, lets out a heavy sigh. >A sharp clanging sound to his right causes him to seize up, gripping his spear tighter. With an unsteady stride, Lark moves towards the alley, squinting down it.  The shaky nervousness makes itself known in his voice as well.
>“H-hello?  Is someone down there?”
>Another series of bangs rumbles forth, followed by the quiet skittering of hooves against the ground.  Taking a breath to steady himself, Lark continues to approach the darkness.
>As he approaches, he becomes aware of a sound, an odd mixture of a cicada and grasshopper or cricket, it is equal parts relentless buzz and sharp chirp.  Lark’s body tenses as he readies his spear.  As the point passes into darkness, the sound stops in an instant.
>Jabbing his weapon into the inky abyss a few times and receiving no response, the guardspony sighs, allowing a smile to spread across his face.  Getting all worked up over nothing.
>“Ugh!  Those simpletons, standing me up like that.  Who do they think they are?  And where is my guard?  I’m quite certain I told him to wait here.”
>Blueblood’s voice is identifiable in an instant.  Lark scowls, cursing his luck, whispering under his breath.
>“Couldn’t you have just stayed inside a few seconds longer?  What I wouldn’t give for a chance to get back at him.”
>
>“Guardspony?  Guardspony!”
>Scowling, the Prince turns to his handlers, fully prepared to take his anger out on them.  A sudden crash cows him into silence, his usually cocky demeanor deflating as he drops to the ground.
>“Wh-what was that?”
>With their charge quivering in fear, his handlers spring into action.  Moving to the front, the three ponies glare towards the alley where the sound came from.  After a few seconds, Guardspony Lark trots out, an embarrassed smile on his face.
>“Sorry about that, but nature calls y’know?”
>The two additional guards chuckle at Lark’s casual comment, though Blueblood’s primary attendant can only scowl.  Taking a few steps forward, he goes muzzle to muzzle with the lackadaisical Lark.
>“You received direct orders from the Prince himself, a simple task to observe and direct.  If you are incapable of following his orders, perhaps you should consider a different line of work.  Should this happen again, I will personally request your immediate dismissal from the guard.  Are we clear?”
>Lark grits his teeth, glaring at the pony and then nods.  Blueblood, having since gotten back to a standing position, eyes him with a smug confidence, as if he hadn’t just been cowering on the ground.
>“I understand.”
>“Very well.  As we have been here for an hour and the Prince’s guests have not arrived, we shall return to the castle, post haste.  Form up and move out.”
>Lark falls in step to the right of the attendant.  The trip back to the castle is an easy one, without incident.
>Back within the alley next to The Barley Bray, the chittering hits a fevered pitch.  The buzzing continues for several minutes before going silent.

Chapter 6

>Noon at last.
>With a relieved sigh, you close the sturdy door behind you, feeling your body go half-limp.  Staring up at the ceiling, you rock your torso forward, rolling your chin to your chest in the process.  A small giggle erupts from your charge, Princess Cadence, as she eyes your rag doll display.
>“Come now, it wasn’t that bad.”
“It was.  Horrible.”
>you whisper through clenched teeth.
“I’ve never cared less about the history of Equestria than I have listening to that old nag.  How do you do it, stay awake through the entire ordeal every day?  I think I’d lose my mind, I just might anyway.”
>“Oh, she won’t be back again until next week.  Tomorrow is vocal practice, focusing on poise and projection.”
“How thrilling.”
>The deadpan delivery causes the pink princess pony to smile again before trotting down the hall.  Falling in step behind her, you do your best to erase the last four hours from your mind.  It might be good to find a suitably competent replacement two or three days out of the week for this block of time.
>“Come along, Guardspony.  I think I’d like to dine on the veranda today.”
“I thought that meals were a big deal here at the castle?”
>“Oh, they are, make no mistake.  But you saw how the delegates were after breakfast.  They don’t stop until dinner and I’d like to eat at least one meal in peace today.”
>Chuckling, you nod and move alongside her, keeping pace with her, one step behind.
“As you wish, Princess.”
>Cadence gives you a playful glare as she rolls her eyes.  Your walk is uninterrupted, thankfully, and with the alicorn’s guidance, you soon find yourself overlooking the castle gardens.
>The stone is different out here on the balcony, smooth and seamless, as if it were cut out of a single piece of rock and smoothed over.  Knowing the ponies, that could be a possibility.  Leaning against the railing, Cadence smiles out at the greenery.
>“You know, the garden used to be my favorite part of the castle.  Whenever I would sit for Twilight, she would insist on going down there.  We’d spend hours playing in the grass, hiding in the bushes and chasing one another through the trees.”
>Her smile falters a touch as an air of melancholy settles across her features, granting her a stunning lonely beauty.  Memories locked away or forgotten, trickle up from the back of her mind, the corners of her mouth slowly turning downward.
>“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here at the castle, and I feel like everything’s changed.  Auntie Luna’s returned, Auntie Celestia’s diet has spiraled out of control, and Prince Blueblood is somehow even worse than before.  I only recognize a few of the guards, and Shining Armor…”
>Bowing her head, Cadence quivers.  In the process of shaking, she lifts her hoof, and as the shudder subsides, she slams it down upon the ornate barrier.
>“Ugh!”
>Moving next to her, you also put your weight on the intricate stonework surrounding the ledge.  There are only a handful of inches between you, but she still moves closer, scowling at the garden.
>“He’s changed.  Somewhere between being recruited into the guard and becoming Captain, he stopped being the young stallion I admired.  And with Twilight gone as well, it’s a struggle to find anyone to confide in.”
>Silence reigns for several moments.  Eventually, you reach up and place a hand on the base of her neck.  Cadence doesn’t shy away at your touch, though she does give you a rather curious look.  Taking a steadying breath, you give her a smile.
“Ponies change, Princess.  I’m sure that the Captain has had more than his fair share of struggles, just like you have.  I’ve had to change a lot myself since coming here.”
>“I suppose so, but I don’t have to like it.”
>Her words hang in the air for a moment, before her expression brightens and she gives you a wide smile.
>“Besides, I don’t think you’ve changed that much at all.  I’m sure that back on your planet, you were much like you are now.  Perhaps a little thinner or rounder, but in your heart you have a knack for being honest and doing the right thing.”
“There’s no way you could know that for certain though.  I could be a thief or a criminal, a societal dreg.”
>Chuckling, you flash the Princess a teasing smile.  Cadence’s grin never falters, even as she cocks her head to the side and then shakes it.
>“I’m quite sure you’re not.  You have honest eyes, Anonymous, and anything that you may have done which could be considered ‘criminal’, I’m sure you had a valid reason for.”
>For an instant, your heart hiccups, forgetting its purpose as you meet her eyes.  Like a pair of low hanging plums in the early morning mist, just catching the first groping fingers of daylight, they glisten with dew and draw your attention deeper.  A flush of pink hides them from sight as Cadence blinks, and your heart begins pumping again in earnest.
>“Anonymous?  Have I stunned you into silence with a few sweet words?  I know love is my talent, but don’t look so dumbstruck, it’s just a compliment.”
>Laughing, you shake your head and smile.  Cadence chuckles a moment longer before moving to one of the small tables set up around the open area.  You follow along behind, curious at what she’d said.
“What do you mean, love is your talent?”
>“Oh, well, it’s just that I make ponies love one another.  Just like Princesses Celestia and Luna control the heavenly bodies, and Shining Armor specializes in defensive magic, I make ponies fall in love.”
“So, just like that?  One minute they could despise one another and the next they can’t get enough?”
>“It’s not really that simple, I can only use it where love already exists.  I can’t make people stop loving another pony either, so it’s rather limited in scope.  Let’s just say I don’t make them fall in love and instead that I remind them of why they love, or should love, their partner in the first place.”
“Even so, that’s quite a talent.  It would be easy to manipulate a populace with that kind of power.”
>Ah, Anonymous, you really do know how to run your mouth.  All too late, your teeth bite down on your traitorous lips, but you’ve already said your piece.  You can feel Cadence’s eyes upon you, the once teasing expression turning dark again, verging on furious.
>“Manipulative?  You think I use this to force my will on other ponies?”
“That, that’s not what I meant to say.”
>“But it’s what you did say.  Do you really think me so shallow, so base, that I would manufacture that sort of situation just to benefit myself?”
“Of course not, Cade”
>“Princess.”
>The knot in your throat swells as she corrects you.  You swallow it anyway.
“Of course not, Princess.  I spoke out of turn.”
>“Indeed, you did.”
“Again, I apologize.  I just thought that Captain Armor’s fears regarding your possible abduction were well founded.”
>Walking over to her side of the table, you rest an arm on her shoulder.  The Princess flinches under your touch and averts her eyes.  The scowl is still present on her face.
“You wouldn’t do anything like that.  You’re a very genuine pony with a generous heart.  Otherwise you wouldn’t agree to travel across the country just to make other ponies feel more secure.”
>For a long moment, the pink alicorn doesn’t speak, though you can feel her trembling under your touch.  At last, she whispers.
>“You can’t know that.”
>Your hand slides from her shoulder to her chin, applying a slight pressure to turn her towards you with your fingers.  Resisting at first, she relents after you show no signs of letting up.  Purple-granite eyes, wobbling between frustration and hope, stare up at yours.
“I saw the Prince today.  He’s arrogant, self-centered and rude, a sharp contrast to you.  And yet Princess Celestia more than tolerates his presence.  If you wanted to be ambivalent towards the populace, I imagine she would have nothing to say about it.  The fact that you choose to spend your time among them speaks volumes about your character.”
>“You’re just saying that.”
>Still, the Princess gives you a smile before removing herself from your touch.  Clearing her throat, Cadence settles back into her seat.
>“Guardspony, there’s a door to your right that leads into the kitchen.  Could you inform the chef staff that I’m prepared to eat my lunch?”
“At once, Princess.”
>You bow your head and make your way to the side entrance to the kitchen.  As soon as you enter, you’re very nearly swept off your feet by a bolting unicorn cook.  He turns to you, terror in his eyes.
>“Apologies, sir!”
>And then he was gone, a bowl of levitating salad leading him towards the dining hall.  Taking a moment to glance around the kitchen, you see that the other chefs are in a similar state.  They snap at one another and at the assistants as they cook and jostle against each other.
>Pots and pans clang, water spits as it boils over and the relentless sound of knives pounding against chopping blocks assault your ears.  Towards the back, in a separate room, you can see the shock white feathery head of an eagle, wielding a butcher’s knife in its claw.
>“You!”
>A pink unicorn snaps, bringing your attention back to the area around your person.  He glowers, sizing you up then snorting.
>“You don’t look like much of a cook, but those fingers ought to be good for something.  Come on and we’ll get you a cutting board.”
“Actually, I’m here for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
>With a heavy sigh, the unicorn scowls.
>“I should have figured as much.  They’d never send us a spare set of hooves unless it was the Gala.  What’s the Princess want?”
>“She’s going to be dining on the veranda today.  Could you send someone out to see to her?”
>The gruff looking unicorn stares for a moment, then chuckles, cackles even, and begins shaking his head.
>“Haha, I’m sure.  You find out what the Princess wants to eat, and then YOU can take it to her.”
“And how’s she supposed to know what is available?”
>Growling, the unicorn glances around, then purses his lips and gives a whistle.  At once, an earth pony with a shaggy blonde mane stands beside you, quivering.
>“Y-yes chef?”
>“You still got the list?”
>“Yes chef!”
>“Well, give it to the minotaur.  Princess Mi Amore Cadenza wants to know what’s for lunch.”
>With a relieved sigh, the pony nods, giving another ‘yes chef’, before turning to you and mentioning with his head.
>“Follow me, it’s on the board.”
>“Don’t lollygag!”
>“No, chef!”
>The earth pony leads with a spring in his step, over to a large cork board.  All manner of recipes, notices and warnings reside there, stretching across in every direction, often causing papers to overlap and hide from prying eyes.  Thankfully, the ‘list’ is near the top, so the pony lifts his head and grabs it with his teeth.
>“Eeh ou go.”
“Thanks.”
>The pony offers a smile and then jumps as the chef shouts at him again.  Leaving him to his fate, you work your way through the bustling assistant chefs and head back towards the balcony.  Once clear of the kitchen, you take a few moments to glance over the list.
>Daisy Sandwiches?  Yuck.  Vegetable Soup?  Edible.  Mutton?  Thank goodness for carnivores.  As you continue to scan the list, Cadence clears her throat.  A quick glance up reveals that you nearly crashed into her.
>“So, you’ll be waiting on me today?”
“I, uh, suppose so.”
>You hold the list out to her, gripping it at the top between your thumb and forefinger.  The paper droops, wobbling a little in the wind, but the Princess comes to a decision quickly enough.
>“I’ll have fruit, the soup, buttered bread and the hay plate.  Water will be fine.”
“As you wish.”
>Turning to leave, the pink pony calls out to you.
>“Anonymous?”
“Yes?”
>“What about you?  Or have you already decided, seeing as how you were so engaged in checking it before I stopped you?”
>Cadence’s lip curls up slightly, stretching more so as your stomach burbles in response to her teasing taunt.  Bringing a hand down to your belly, you feel your face color a little before she laughs, shaking her head.
>“Please, I don’t like to eat alone, but I’m certainly not putting up with politics.  I think I’d like it if we shared a meal together.”
“A-as you wish, Princess.”
>Leaving her still smiling, you hustle back to the chef and give him Cadence’s order.  He grunts in response.
>“All right, just hang around, we’ll have it ready in a bit.”
>Snatching the list from your hand, he tosses it to another pony who rushes to put it back on the board.  How they find anything in that mess is beyond you.  As the ponies work, you make your way back towards the other room you saw earlier.  A deep, throaty humming sound rumbles out from the open doorway, broken by intermittent chops.
>The gryphon within is the source of the sound, and apparently a female by the shape of her body.  Supporting herself with one claw against the counter, she swings her hips from side to side, in time with the music.  You can just barely make out words in the song before a pair of steely eyes turn to you.
>“Who enters my space?”
>Her white head is offset by the not at all subtle aqua-colored feathers around her eyes.  Creating a wing like design, you lose yourself in her appearance, until her beak snaps shut.
>“Well, out with it?  What is it you want from Vanda?”
“I, uh, was wondering if the mutton was any good.”
>Vanda regards you for a moment, before smirking and nodding.
>“It is quite good as it has been cooking since yesterday.  I should know, I’ve been seeing to it this whole time.”
>With a chuckle, she drops her knife and points to a corner.
>“Please, take what you like.  I fear that the delegates will not finish what I have prepared.”
>With an appreciative smile, you pass behind her and grab a plate, taking a sizable chunk and moving back into the kitchen proper, leaving Vanda to her work.  You feel her eyes on you the entire while.
>“Ah, there you are.”
>The chef from before approaches, though he eyes your choice in lunch with a mild distaste.  Placing your own food aside, you reach into the blue aura surrounding the plates and rest them on your arms.  It’s a little uncomfortable, but you mange to balance all of them, plus two glasses of water and your own meal of meat, bread and an apple.  As the pony leaves, you realize the real trick will be getting outside.
>Twisting, turning and panicking, you eventually make it outside.  Cadence taps her hoof against the table, once again glancing off into the distance, seeming equal parts bored and depressed.  And entirely unaware of your presence.
“Scuse me, Princess?”
>She turns and you give her a helpless smile.
“I’d appreciate if you could lend me a hoof?  Or a horn?”
>After a moment of staring at your predicament, she chuckles and her horn goes alight, levitating two of the plates away from your person.  Finding your load that much easier, you hustle over to the table and carefully place each plate.  You notice that Cadence seems particularly intrigued by the fact that you picked up the meat.  At least, judging from the way she’s staring at it.
“Do you want some?”
>The way she jerks back, you can’t help but have a laugh at her expense.  Taking a few seconds to organize your plates from hers, you tip your glass in her direction before taking a drink.  The scent from that meat is heavenly, and you’re looking forward to making a half-hearted sandwich.
>Princess Cadence snaps back to reality after a moment and begins eating her own lunch.  A comfortable silence settles in between the two of you as you enjoy the meal, though you occasionally sneak a look up at her.  Once or twice, you catch her doing the same.  You both give nervous grins and go back to your food.
>You’ve made it through halfway when the pink alicorn perks up.  Getting up from her seat, she walks over to the balcony, smirking a little.
>“It seems that the Prince has come back.”
>Leaning over beside her, you give a wide grin.  Prince Blueblood and his entourage are strutting through the garden towards the entrance beneath your balcony.
“So he has.  Do you think he’ll pass underneath us?”
>Cadence’s eyes light up as she smiles and looks back to the table, her horn glowing with a soft light.  Your cup moves with hers until they both hang over the edge, turned almost to the tipping point.
>“I certainly hope so…”
“Princess, I don’t really think that’s a good idea.”
>No, it’s a wonderful idea, but you can’t let her know that.  From what you’ve gathered, the Prince is a pompous buffoon, but it wouldn’t look good on your record for her to get into mischief on your watch.  Cadence turns, her grin turning into a smirk.
>Her eyes widen and her mouth forms a small ‘o’ as she shakes each glass with her magical hold.  She repeats the action several more times, never moving her eyes from yours.
>“Oops!  Woah!  Uh oh!  G-Guardspony Anonymous, I, I just don’t know if I’m, strong enough to hold these glasses.  They, they’re, slipping!”
>Any sense of control you had over this situation has slipped away in an instant.  The Princess’ expression morphs back into a playful smile.  As you take a step towards her, she takes a step back, and wobbles one of the glasses.  She even wiggles her eyebrows.
>“I think I should dump it.”
“That’s a very bad idea.”
>She purses her lips, as if considering what you had said.  After a moment’s pause, she nods.
>“Yeah.  Gonna dump it.”
“Cadence…”
>The Princess smirks, taking a step towards you and cocking her head to the side.  She’s toying with you, but a part of you is finding yourself drawn into her game.  She takes another step and raises an eyebrow.
>“Tell me, Guardspony, what are you going to do about it?”
>She’s about three paces away now, the cups are twice that and hanging over the edge of the balcony.  Prince Blueblood must be passing underneath you soon, best to stall for time.
>Dividing your attention between her and the glasses, you take a step forward.  She doesn’t move them at all.  Taking a deep breath, you turn your focus back to her.
“I don’t suppose there’s much I can do about it.  I don’t have magic and I can’t fly, so stopping you from dropping them is out of the question.”
>With a throaty purr, Cadence smirks and takes another step towards you.  She’s enjoying this, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t.  Her playfulness reminds you of someone in your old life, someone you miss tremendously.
>“So you admit that you don’t have any tricks up your sleeves?  You’re very bad at this bluffing game.  I might have believed you could pull them in with your superior reach, but since you can’t stop me…”
>Cadence smirks and turns her head towards the garden.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see the glasses turn.  Thinking quickly, you hold out your hand.
“Wait!”
>It works.  The Princess pauses and turns her attention back to you.  She seems slightly aggravated, but that’s fine by you.
“You’ve got a spot of lunch on you.”
>She didn’t, of course.  She was an immaculate eater, dabbing at her face constantly.  The syrup this morning had probably been a result of the post-breakfast brawl. Still, the Princess gives a small nod and presents her cheek to you.
>You take a step to close the distance, close enough now to feel her breath on your skin.  As if someone tugged on her tail, the Princess’ body suddenly goes rigid from hoof to horn.  Her eyes scream of a struggle between cautious curiosity, and a desire to end the game.  But she holds her ground.
>Kneeling in front of her, you place yourself nearly nose to muzzle with her, before licking your thumb and wiping away some imaginary crust and butter.  The stiff nature of her body is evident even as you touch her, like her coat has not a fraction of give to it.  All too quickly, she turns her head and whispers
>“A-are you finished?”
>There’s a quietness to it now, as if her will for the game was at last about the break and she looked away to save herself.  Pressing your thumb against her muzzle, you turn her back to face you.  She doesn’t fight in the least.
>At this moment, several things happen at once.  You meet her eyes, feeling yourself slipping into the purple fog within, even as her breathing falls into sync with yours.  Blinking becomes a foreign sensation, as if doing so would tear her away from you.
>And then there is the tinkling of glass and a screech of dismay that breaks the spell.
>“I-I’m soaked!”
>“Uh oh, seems I lost my concentration.”
>Cadence whispers as she meets your eyes again and gives an apologetic grin.  Sighing, you curse Prince Blueblood for being the slowest moving horse in Equestria.  Moving to your feet, you give your charge a grin, whispering back.
“Well, Princess, would you prefer to wait for them to catch up, or should we go somewhere until he cools down?”
>A smile breaks across her face and Cadence nods, galloping towards the kitchen.  With one last mournful look back at your unfinished lunch, you hurry after her.

Chapter 7

>Air rushes through your hair, whistling in your ears and punctuated by the thuds of your heavy steps.  Memories of sunny days spent barefoot on a broiling blacktop, accompanied by the tinkling laughter of your friends, rumble just beneath your conscious mind.  Your lungs strain in the most delightful fashion as you pump your arms and legs all the harder, as though running towards the past.
>Humid mornings, when the very act of stepping outside would bind your shirt to your skin and cool clear nights, where the air tasted just a little bet fresher and cleaner than any other time.  Each step brings those thoughts closer into focus, you can nearly see their faces now.
>“Turn here.”
>The breathless gasp of your companion snaps you back to reality.  Grunting, you shore up your steps and back hard before stretching back out to a lengthy stride.  The Princess pony beside you is flush with exhilaration, quite a feat considering her pink coat.
>You’re not quite sure if it’s worth the effort to be running, but once she started you were unable to stop.  From the kitchen, through the vacant dining room and now to the halls, the excitement is welcome and invigorating.
>Through the halls you dash, as though Cerberus himself were nipping at your heels.  Her delighted giggles massage your ears, spurring you forward.  Ponies yelp and scatter as they catch sight of you.  There are a few unlucky ones who don’t notice you in time, however.
“Look out!”
>You roar, shortening your stride enough to bob and weave through a group of five diplomats.  They wail and screech in displeasure, especially the final one.
>An enormously round unicorn pony, he gapes as you and Cadence approach, scooting his rump back against the wall.  Because of his largeness, there is still only a little bit of room left towards his snout.  Your charge gives you a small smirk and places herself on a direct course to take that route.
>With a short heaving exhale, Cadence rockets by you, intent on beating you to the punch, forcing you to run behind her.  There’s only one problem with her plan.  You’re not ready to get beaten.
>The obvious route is out, that’s for certain.  Despite your ability to keep up with her, when she pours on the speed you will fall behind.  Over short distances, the ponies are going to smoke you every time.  Cutting her off is out of the question.  That’s fine; you’re not out of options yet.
>Hanging low to the ground, the unicorn’s belly quivers a little as he realizes that you’re still charging straight at him.  In an attempt to protect himself, he squishes his hindquarters further against the wall, giving Cadence more room, and making your attempt to get by him that much harder.
>His distended stomach is now a foot or so from the floor.  Sliding under him now would be next to impossible.  That arched back however, you could clear that.
>With a terrified cry, the unicorn flinches, closing his eyes as you continue on your collision course.  A mad grin slips across your face as you pull your legs under you just before the crash and propel your body, hands first, over the squealing stallion.
>Bracing yourself against the floor with your hands, you feel them collapse against your body as they make contact with the stone, rolling into the fall.  The stone chills your neck and lower back, and you’re quite sure one of the seams rips in your shirt.
>But then you’re back on your feet, hurtling forward alongside the Princess.  Across her soft purple eyes, a mixed look of delight and wonder dances, glistening with a gemstone like quality.  The unicorns are frustrated, sputtering and shouting after the two of you but you don’t care.  At this moment, you have Cadence, and that is all that matters.
>Her hooves clop heavily against the ground, as do your own boots in a relentless rush forward.  The steps, when they appeared, are cleared in a single stride, two at most.  Until you arrive at the spire.
>Cadence pauses for a moment to catch her breath, and you do the same.  Through heavy wheezing, she shakes her head and smiles up at you.
>“I”
>Coughing, she takes a deep breath and tries again
>“I would have thought you to be slower, with only two legs.”
>Sparing her a grin, you lean your forearm against the wall and quiver with quiet laughter.  Collecting yourself, you push yourself back to a standing position and shake your head.
“I had a lot of practice running back home.  I imagine the height has something to do with it too.”
>With a laugh, Cadence nods towards the stairs, and begins climbing them at a much more relaxed pace.  The change is a welcome one as you fall in behind her.
>The Princesses, in general, are built vastly different than other ponies in Equestria.  Certainly, the presence of both wings and a horn bears mentioning, but structurally, they are notably abnormal.  Long, lengthy legs, a core that is nearly perfect in its lines, lacking the swell and curve given by the belly, but still ending with large, strong flanks.  The same flanks that are, once again, going through deep, swaying motions in front of you.
>Keeping your eyes upwards won’t help you now as you’ll only catch more of an eyeful of her prominent posterior.  Instead, you fall back a few steps more and keep your eyes low to the ground, watching her hooves as she trots up the stairs.  As her breathing steadies, Cadence begins to speak again.
>“I apologize for making you go through this.  Though, I must say it’s the most fun that I’ve had with Prince Blueblood in ages.”
“I suppose he wasn’t always so tightly wound up?”
>“At one time he was quite, pleasant.  Pompous and self-entitled, but he had a courage about him, as the young do, I suppose.  He had dreams of adventure, saving damsels and coming back to Canterlot as a hero.”
>At last you reach a landing.  Though the stairs continue to circle up higher, there is a small door off to the side.  The wood is worn and tired, quite unlike most of the varnished wood in the castle.  Cadence chuckles, covering her mouth with her hoof.
>“The young Prince was insufferable then too, but at least he was endearing while doing it.  Door, please?”
>Moving in front of the Princess, you give the handle a firm shove.  Cadence gives a small giggle as it refuses to move and you throw your weight into it and make a smidge of progress.  It’s heavy, designed to keep inquisitive ponies out.  But, by the command of your charge, you struggle and push your way into the room, wood screeching against stone the whole while.
>Turning your back to the door, you collapse for a moment’s respite, while Cadence makes her way into the room, horn aglow with a soft whitish-blue light, a small orb of light in the darkness.  Shadows flee before her, the sphere illuminating bookshelves and tables, then passing again into the depths as she passes.
>A few dozen paces in the Princess pauses, glancing left and right before closing her eyes.  Her horn explodes with a flash of light, bathing the entire area in its warmth.  Though it blinded you, your vision returns quickly and provides you with a better view of the room.
>While windowless, it has many lanterns scattered about.  Books line dozens of shelves, though there are only a handful of tables compared to the study you were trapped in earlier.  In the center of the room is an ornate carpet, stitched with various designs you can’t place, as well as the few odd symbols that you can.  You make your way in for a closer look.
>“This is the meditation chamber, a place for study, training and perhaps most importantly of all…”
>Behind you, the door glows blue for a moment, and then slams shut with a resounding thud.  Jerking your head back at the sound, you turn quickly back to the Princess, who seems quite pleased with herself.
>“It’s private.”
“So it would appear.  If I may ask, why didn’t you open the door yourself in the first place?”
>With a smile, Cadence nods to several of the lanterns.  A brief flare from her horn and they glow with a soft blue light.
>“I do find some delight in making you sweat, Guardspony.”
“I’m not sure that bodes well for our future relationship.”
>“Not for you at least.”
>With a wry smile, Cadence’s horn glows again, removing her crown and placing it upon the nearby table.  Taking a few steps, she positions herself on one side of the rug then nods across to the other.
>“Sit with me a while, Anonymous.”
>The worries of formal speech seem to ease a little as you fulfill her request.  The rug is firm, providing only slightly more give than the stone beneath it, though it is much warmer.  Your eyes linger on the symbols as you cross your legs in front of you, earning a smile from Cadence.
>“It’s in surprisingly good condition for something so old.  The first Court Mage of Equestria, Clover the Clever, brought it with her when she left her homeland.”
“That’s actually really impressive, being over a thousand years old.  So what, it makes magic stronger?  It opens the ‘inner eye’ and helps accelerate learning?  Or does it ward off evil?”
>Cadence smirks and raises an eyebrow.
>“No, it’s just a nice looking centerpiece.  I also think it’s more comfortable than standing in place.”
>Despite the removal of her crown, Cadence still has quite a proper seated posture.  Haunches against the floor, forehooves resting between her thighs and a smooth incline from the top of the spine to the base.
“That would make sense.  Other than hiding out until our pursers lose interest, why here?”
>“I was hoping, you might tell me a little more about yourself.”
>Your first instinct is to tense up, but that would give it away.  Instead, you lift your hand, waving it in the most nonchalant manner possible.
“I’m sure I told you everything interesting while we were on the train.  I led a rather boring life back home.”
>Those plum-purple eyes fix themselves on yours, and a disapproving frown crosses the Princess’ face.  Despite her expression, she wears it as well as she does a smile.
>“You told me well enough about your world, but very little in regards to yourself.”
“What does it matter?  I lived a decent enough life back home, but now I’m more interested in my life here.”
>“Maybe I’d just like to get to know you better?  You’re interesting to me, that is part of why I requested you for my personal guard.  Besides, you can’t ignore where you come from, it helped make you who you are.”
>True enough, but remembering was hard.  Painful.  Your chest tightens as more recent memories bubble to the surface.  Friends and family, long gone, and a woman you would never see again.
>“You’re hurting.”
“Is it that obvious?”
>Your eyes snap back to hers as you sigh.  It would be easier to forget about the past than to face it, but from the gleam in Cadence’s eyes, that’s not going to happen.  Squirming in place, you scratch the side of your face and try to figure a way out of this.  Best to try the obtuse guilt route.
“I lost a lot when I came to Equestria.  I didn’t arrive here by choice, so there are people back home that I’ll never get to see each other again.  It’s a hard pill to swallow, so I prefer not to think about it.”
>Rather than make her feel bad about asking, that only piques Cadence’s interest further.  She smiles a little, leaning forward expectantly.
>“So, you had a lot of dear friends?  Maybe a large family?”
>A concerned look spreads across her face as she tilts her head slightly to the left.
>“Perhaps, a lover?”
>Oh boy, now you’ve got her attention.  Sighing, you give a half-hearted shrug, trying to again impress upon this pony the simple fact that you have no desire to talk about this.  Cadence responds by getting to her hooves, moving half a dozen steps closer, and sitting down again.
“What does it matter?  That life’s behind me now.”
>“It matters because I’ve been very up front with you about my position.  Likewise, I’d appreciate it if you would confide in me.”
“All right, fine.  My family’s normal, more or less, I have a good number of friends and I’ve had a few women that I’ve been intimate with.”
>“Selling your life a little bit short, aren’t you?  Details, Anonymous, I want details.”
>Placing your fingers along your eyebrow, you give a heavy sigh.  Shining Armor did have a point about her being insistent on having her own way.  A quick peek reveals an expectant Cadence leaning in ever closer, smiling all the more.
“All right, I guess I could tell you a story.”
>She squeals, in a most un-Princessly way, wiggling in place as her eyes widen.  Clearing your throat with a sigh, you begin.
“It was three, almost four months ago now.  It was dark, save for the stars and moon.  The ground was coated with a fresh dusting of white when I pulled myself from a snow bank.  Considering it was late spring back on Earth, I knew immediately that something was wrong.  So, I pulled my”
>Cadence, who had once been so interested in your story, frowns a little when you mention Earth and the difference in seasons.  Before you can get into the story, she holds up her hoof to silence you.
“Wait.  Wait, wait, wait.”
>You oblige by going silent.  As her leg ceases it’s back and forth movements, she squints at you, a frustrated crease appearing between her eyes.
>“I wanted you to tell me about your life, not about Equestria.”
“That’s just it, Princess.  You wanted to know more about me, and I’m telling you that.”
>“But you’re telling me about my world.  I don’t need stories about my world, Anonymous, I want to hear about yours, where trains move without rails and you fly without wings.  Given a choice between hearing about a strange new world, and the one I live in every day, I’ll always choose the first.”
>A sly smile slithers across your face as you give a halfhearted shrug.
“I think it’s fair, after all, all of your stories have been about your life here in Equestria.  Maybe I want to hear about strange new worlds too.”
>Cadence stammers for a moment
“Bu-but…”
>then sighs in defeat, slouching and leaning back on her haunches.
>“Fine.  But sooner or later, you’re going to run out of stories about Canterlot, and then you have to tell me about your Earth.”
>Ignoring her sullen look, you chuckle and close your eyes, looking back over the past few months.
“Fair enough, if you’re around that long.  Now, where was I?”
>“Snow bank.”
“Right.  So I pulled myself out of the snow bank.  After checking myself over and deeming myself fit for travel, I spotted lights in the distance.  Without any idea where I was, I began walking towards them…”
>
>Shuddering in the cold, you stagger forward and tug your arms closer to your body.  Where ever this place was, you weren’t dressed for the weather.  Short sleeves and no jacket left you clutching your elbows with your hands, shivering to keep out the chill.
>Before you looms one of the strangest sights you’ve ever witnessed, a castle carved into a mountainside.  It stretches so high, you could almost swear that you could stand on top and touch the moon.  Below the palace faint lights glimmer in the sharp, brisk air, all the way down the mountainside.
>Stumbling through the frozen wasteland for a good half hour, you crest a hill and see a large wall surrounding the base of the mountain.  Torches flicker along the outside, and figures patrol the upper levels of the wall.
>It’s a lot to take in at once.  One minute you’re staring up at the wild blue yonder while the blacktop sizzles beneath you, people screaming and the next you’re freezing your tookus off in a medieval winter wonderland.  All the same, opaque white smoke curls up from your mouth as you cough.
“Any port in a storm, I guess.”
>With a deep breath, you pick up the pace and jog towards the wall.  With your destination in sight, traveling is easy and you even begin to warm up a little.  At least until one of the guards on the walls starts shouting at you.
>Some of the words sound familiar, but it’s quite unlike anything you’ve heard before.  Cupping your hands over your mouth, you shout back.
“I don’t understand!  Please, just let me in!”
>Another sharp cry from the top of the wall and still you can’t make heads or tails of it.  Scowling, you resume the march towards the stone barrier.  The whistling of something cutting through the air is enough to give you pause.
>As is the sudden pain that jerks across your cheek.  Forgetting the frigid temperature for a moment, you grab your face in your hands.  A slick wetness oozes between your fingers, then the pain hits.
>It’s not a deep gash, but enough to be uncomfortable.  Gritting your teeth, you figure that their intention is clear enough.  Stand your ground or the next one is going through your eye.  Without much of an alternative, you comply.  Ten minutes of shivering later, the front gates finally open and a small patrol comes out.
>And when you say small, you mean small with the tallest standing no higher than four feet.  Shot at by Pygmies, wonderful.  Knocking the chill out of your throat, you make another attempt at communication, speaking in a slow, clear voice.
“Excuse me.  Do any of you speak English?”
>Right as you finish speaking, one of the heavily armored guards gets close enough for you to get a good look at him.  And that’s when things get crazy.
>The first thing you notice is that all of the guards are quadrupeds and that their spears aren’t being held, but are instead hovering by their sides.  You tense up out of reflex, and one of the guards shouts, before a brilliant orange flash blinds you and a downward force begins exerting itself on your body.
>In three seconds you’re forced to your knees.  For an instant you feel immobilized, but then begin to thrash against it.  A cry of surprise comes from somewhere within the patrol as you pull your feet under you and begin to stand.  Then the pressure comes back, two, three times what it had been, and you collapse.
>Your hands bury themselves in the snow as you fight the force that seeks to drive you into the ground.  Sweat drips from your brow, making small tunnels as the drops burrow their way through the white.  Taking a steadying breath, you pushing yourself back to your knees and lift your head.  Ten large eyes gaze back at you in awe.
“You…”
>They flinch as you speak.  You shake your head, unbelieving of what you’re seeing under their helmets.
“You’re horses.”
>Forced to your knees by a bunch of little horses.  Colorful little horses at that!  Growling, you again try to climb to your feet, only to fall back into your resting position, wheezing in frustration.  The crunch of snow brings your attention back to the fore, just in time for a spear to thunk you between the eyes.
>
“And that is how I was introduced to Equestria.”
>Sometime between Cadence reluctantly agreeing to let you off the hook and you finishing your story, she had moved in close again.  Her mouth hangs slack, perfectly purple eyes wide as she holds her breath.  When you smile and lean back on your elbows, she scowls.
>“Well, what happened after that?  Where did you wake up?  Did the guards question you?  How did you overcome the language barrier?”
>With a laugh, you hold up your hand and shake your head.
“Princess, if I told you everything you wanted to know about me when you wanted to know it, how long do you think I would hold your interest?”
>Smirking, you lean in close to her and wink.
“I have my job security to worry about, after all.”
>The scowl lingers for a while before the corner of her lip curls up, just a touch, and then she laughs.  It’s an easy sound, one that you all too readily get caught up in and soon the two of you are shaking in delight.  After a few moments, Cadence collects herself and coughs into her hoof.
>“Well, I suppose I was wrong about Equestria not having any more interesting things going on.  Still, I would like to hear about your time on your own world.”
“It’s not a story I’m ready to tell, but all in good time, Princess.”
>“I’ll hold you to that, Guardspony.”
>Closing your eyes, you realize it’s been nearly two hours since you settled in to this windowless room with the Princess.  That should be enough time for the Prince to cool his hooves.  Focusing back on Cadence, you grin.
“So, think we should chance heading out?  Or would you prefer to stay in here a little while longer?”
>“Absolutely.  Spending the rest of the day in this tower is not exactly my idea of a good time.”
>Without giving it a second thought, Cadence climbs to her feet and tosses her head, sending her mane flying off to one side.  One pale purple eye stares out at you, the other shielded by her tri-color mane and she gives you a warm smile.  Chuckling, you push yourself to your feet and move towards the door.
>It proves to be just as difficult to open the second time, but you allow Cadence to have another laugh at your expense.  She trots by, giving you a small smile, her crown once again situated on her head.
>The trip down is easier than the one up, the two of you moving in comfortable silence until you hit the landing on the bottom floor.
“So, where are we headed next?”
>You ask, rounding the corner, only to be interrupted by a loud, self-important voice.
>“There you are!”
>Gritting your teeth, you suppress the growl so that it only rumbles in your chest.  There, along with four ponies from his contingent, is Prince Blueblood.  His mane has long since dried and seeming none the worse for wear, other than the burning distaste from his eyes.
>“Did you really think you could hide from me?  After what you did?”
>Scowling, Cadence curses under her breath and averts her eyes.  In an attempt to defuse the situation, you put on your best smile and approach the Prince, arms open.  Turns out that was a mistake.
>The feeling of steel against your tender neck is foreign.  One of the guards, a white unicorn clad in gold armor, sneers up at you, his horn alight with a soft purple power.  Just like the one surrounding his spear.  He gives a little nudge, and you feel the metal press a little deeper into your skin.
>“Blueblood, stop!”
>Cadence snaps, storming past you and towards her cousin.  The guardspony glares at you for a moment more, before the spear leave your neck and stretches out in front of the Princess.  It is quickly joined by another spear and the two weapons successfully thwarting her forward progress, though it does nothing to sate her anger.
>“Are you really that furious over a little water?”
>Indignant, the Prince moves forward, placing himself on the other side of the spear barrier.  His lip curls as he eyes his cousin.
>“The two of you ruined my good jacket and made me look a fool in front of the castle guard.”
>Cadence chuckles darkly, shaking her head and firing right back.
>“Please, like either of us would have to try and make you look like more of a fool.”
>“What exactly are you saying, Princess Cadence?”
>Being removed as you are from the conversation, it’s easy to see the bait.  The water was a blow to his pride, yes, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed.  You take a few quick steps towards Cadence, but as soon as you open your mouth to warn her, she fires off another shot.
>“You’re a self-centered, pompous buffoon!  No one has ever taken you seriously and no one ever will.  Any positive qualities you have are drowned out by the fact that you are the most despicable, despised pony in Canterlot!”
>Before you can take another step, and then Cadence launches a second volley.
>“The only thing that you’re good for is being used by gentleponies who want to get in good with royalty!  You’re a sham, Blueblood, and every time you open your mouth you shame the Royal Family!  So while you go and put on airs, living it up, just remember that there is nothing else for you here in Canterlot.  You will only ever be a fool of a prince!”
>Well, that was certainly something.  Cadence’s body quivers as she relents in her verbal assault, the occasional sharp jolt giving her form a twitch.  As she settles down, you can hear Prince Blueblood’s breathing deepen and accelerate.
>His pupils dilate and you can see him processing what she said again and again.  His frame begins to shake with rage, becoming more pronounced as his lips curl up into a vicious snarl.
>“Honor!  I demand a fight for my honor!”
>Cadence rolls her eyes and shakes her head.  If she could, she’d walk away, but the guards are intent in preventing that.  Her anger sated, she attempts to brush the Prince off.
>“Honestly Blueblood, are you really going to get this riled up?”
>“You have insulted me for the last time!  Accept the challenge or apologize.”
>If you’re going to stop this, now’s your last chance.  Clearing your throat, you walk up along side the Princess and give a wide smile.
“Now, I know this looks bad, but I’m sure”
>“Quiet worm!”
>The unicorn from earlier snaps at you.  As much as you try to fight it, the corner of your lip curls up you spit at the ground in front of him.  The other guardsponies gape as the spear wall falls apart and you feel the sharpness against your neck again. >“There’s no way around this, it seems.”
>Blueblood purrs, his eyes settling on you and his attendant.  A smile graces his face as he turns back to his cousin.
>“One way or another, those two are going to be fighting.  Make it easy on yourself and accept the challenge.”
>Crap.  You’ve bitten off more than you can chew this time.  A Castle Guard with years of experience against a City yokel only three months on the job?  Not good.  Still, you have full confidence that Cadence will apologize, and then you can take a few hits and drop.  The guardspony will be satisfied and you can
>“All right, I accept.”
>Your body runs cold, a chill sliding up your spine and then to your extremities, making you go rigid.  The Prince sneers and eyes his cousin again.
>“Marvelous.  We meet in the gardens in one hour.  Come prepared.”
>The clip-clop of retreating hooves snaps the spell and you drop to a knee.  Cadence watches the five ponies go, before turning her attention to you.
>“Are you all right, Guardspony Anonymous?”
“Me?  I’m great, wonderful even.”
>A large knot works its way into your throat.  Despite several attempts to swallow, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
“Fantastic.”
>A quick glance over at Cadence does little for your hopes of selling the lie.  One eyebrow cocked, she sets her mouth in a straight line.  The mixture of concern and frustration on her face does loosen the tightness in your neck a little.
>“I only agreed to do it because it was going to happen.  Besides, I have full confidence in your abilities.”
“You’re too kind.”
>No, really, she was.  Once again you realize how out of your league you are in this job.  With a small nudge from Cadence, you’re back on your feet.  Well, if you’re going to have to fight, you may as well put on a show.
“I have to pick up some things from the quartermaster before the fight.  Care to accompany me?”
>Cadence’s stunning smile once again rouses your heart, the pressure in your throat disappearing as you walk towards the barracks, pink pony Princess at your side.  Maybe the fight won’t be so bad.
“So, what can you tell me about my competition, is he any good?”
>“He’s the most decorated unicorn in the Castle Guard after Shining Armor.”
>Giving you a sheepish smile, the Princess chuckles as your face drops.
>“It’s just an honor battle.  It will end whenever one of you yields.  If worse comes to worse, just yield.  I’m not too concerned as long as you make it look good.”
“Right.”
>One way or another, this Princess is going to be the death of you.  You can feel it.

Chapter 8

“So, aside from being one of the most experienced veterans in the Guard, what else can you tell me about him?”
>Cadence gives a small hum as the two of you march down towards the barracks, her brow creasing in thoughtful contemplation.  Your own thoughts wander to your armor; with any luck they’ll have had time to get it fitted.
>“Well, his name is Snowy Glen and he was already an established member of the Guard before I began visiting.  At one time, he was second in command of the entire Guard, next in line to be Captain, but he stepped down to see to the protection of Prince Blueblood some time ago.  He’s prefers to control his spear through his magic and has a large repertoire of spells to pull from, mostly for protection.  Once, he held off a horde of roving bandits all by himself, just to ensure the Prince’s safety.”
“So, what you’re saying is that I’ve picked a fight with the oldest, meanest, slyest wolf in the entire pack.”
>A sly smile crosses the Princess’ face as she nudges your harm with her head.
>“I suppose so.  Just remember what I said and you should be all right.  Not fine but, you’ll walk away from today.
“That’s all I can ask for.”
>Arriving at the supply room, you tap twice on the wooden counter with your knuckles.  An earth pony colt trots up and throws his hooves over the counter to pull himself into a standing position, giving you a look at his mottled brown coat.  Regarding you with curious green eyes, he smirks.
>“So, yer the new fella that everyone’s talking about.  I thought you’d be taller, or at least a little more impressive looking.”
“And I thought I’d be talking to a pony who knows what he’s doing, not a kid that looks like he just woke up this morning with his cutie mark.”
>You and the colt glare back at each other, but before the situation can escalate a thick bodied unicorn trots to the counter and gives you a small chuckle.
>“Cool it boys.  You’re Guardspony Anonymous, right?”
“Yeah, I dropped my armor off last night to get it resized.”
>The unicorn grunts and nods to the colt.  The smug little jerk sneers at you one last time before galloping into an adjacent room.
>“It’s been a while since the castle employed a biped, none of the others knew how to adjust it.  You’re lucky I’m familiar with your body type otherwise we’d have to send it down to the Minotaurs.  That’s three days there and back.”
“Just for leather armor?”
>The burgundy pony gives a slow nod, his grin spreading across his face.
>“We’ve already sent your measurements down to them so that we can get your official armor made, I’d say it’ll be a week, give or take a day or two.  Hope you don’t mind too much.  Ah, here we are.”
>You do take some joy in seeing the colt struggling to get your armor out the door.  For a pony, they’d wheel out one of the clothes horses but because of your size and shape that’s impossible.  With a ferocious growl unbefitting of his size, the colt jerks his head to the side and pulls the loaded cart through, the rope at last going slack in his mouth.  Another dozen steps back and the Quartermaster levitates your armor onto the counter.
“I’ve lived in this heap for the past three months.  Another week isn’t going to kill me.”
>“I’d hope not, otherwise I wouldn’t have time to teach the squirt here how to repair for your size.”
>The two of you share a laugh, while the colt scowls in frustration.  It takes a few moments for you to give your armor a once over, during which Cadence decides to make her presence known.
>“So he’s your apprentice?”
>“Aye.  Nigh on half a year now.  Introduce yourself to the lady, boy.”
>The colt goes quiet.  His master sighs and gives him a nudge, jerking his horned head back at Cadence.  Staring down at the ground, the colt shakes his head again.
>“I don’t think I oughta.  That’s the Princess.”
>Turning with a curious frown on his face, the unicorn glances Cadence up and down for a few seconds before his eyes settle on the crown.  As they grow to the size of dinner plates, he lowers his head, very nearly clocking himself out on the wooden shelf in front of him.
>“A-A thousand pardons Princess, I had no intention of speaking so, informally.”
>The casual tone of the stallion’s voice disappears in an instant, coming off as stiff and forced.  Cadence gives a small, barely-noticeable sigh and, out of the corner of your eye, you see her give a strained smile.
>“Please, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I’m just curious about the boy.  Would you tell me your name?”
>Her eyes settle on the colt and watches as he slides his tongue along the outside of his teeth, pondering.  You can see the outline of the muscle against his muzzle as it moves.  Adjusting the straps along the side of your armor, you dress yourself as the boy speaks.
>“Dusty Trail, formerly of Lower Canterlot.”
>“And I’m Festus, one of three Quartermasters for the Guard.”
>Tightening the cinches on your chest armor, you fit the remaining pieces over your arms and legs.  Your neck prickles, hairs standing almost on top of one another as you feel a weight settle on your shoulder.  A quick look up reveals the colt, Dusty, staring at the badge on arm.
>“Did you patrol the lower city at all?”
“I’m afraid not, I was in the upper city for the most part, though occasionally there was a ruckus on the other levels that demanded additional guards.”
>“Oh.  I was hoping you might know my father, Winding Trail.  I haven’t seen or heard from him since”
>“That’s enough of that, boy.  Don’t trouble the guard.”
>Festus’ tone is chiding, earning him a glare from the colt.  Still, Dusty sighs and turns back towards the back room.  The three of you watch him as he rounds the corner, before the unicorn speaks again.
>“Good kid, but probably a little too attached to his old man.  Is there anything else that I can get for the Princess’ Attendant?”
“I don’t suppose you’ve got a decent sized spear back there, about so high?”
>It’s a long shot, you’re certain, as you hold your hand up about even with your brow, fingers pointing towards your temple.  Festus purses his lips and then shakes his head, a curious gleam entering his eyes.
>“Nothing that big, but are you looking to stir up some trouble?”
“More like trouble found me.”
>“The Prince has challenged me to an honor battle.  Guardspony Anonymous will be fighting with Guardspony Glen in a short while.”
>Though the Princess was the one who spoke, the unicorn can’t help but whistle, giving the pink pony an apologetic smile afterwards.  His horn glows green for a moment as a large stick rattles out of one of the bins and moves towards the counter.  It hangs in the air for a moment or two before you realize to grasp it and the magic fades.
>“If you’re going up against Glen, I think this would do you better than a spear.”
>The stick is a few inches longer and wider than a standard pony spear, but far lighter than you’re used to.  As you give it an experimental swing the wood makes a delighted whistling sound, cutting through the air.  The sound and weight make it feel like a switch, but the size is more akin to a branch.  Still…
“I’m sure this will be very impressive.  I show up with a twig and he snaps it in half with his spear.  Can’t you get me a real weapon?”
>“That ‘twig’ is a real weapon.  We’ll be making them into spears once we get the heads in, but it’s more than formidable enough on its own.”
>There’s a sly grin that crosses Festus’ face as he leans in a little closer.
>“But if you’re so sure it will break, perhaps we could make a wager?  I’m a little short on coin at the moment, but I’ve got enough to cover say, eight bits?”
>Reaching into your pocket, you place the small coins on the counter without batting an eyelash.  They glow green for a moment and Festus gives you a wide smirk, his eyes dropping to the glimmering gold.  Something about that smile bothers you, so you slam your palm against the counter.  The smack causes he and Cadence to jump, a smile working itself across your own face.
“Remember now, you’ve made a deal with me in front of the Princess.  When this thing snaps, I’ll be here to collect what’s mine.  If you don’t, she’ll hear about it.”
>The surprise disappears and the smile returns.  You still don’t like how confident he seems, but you’ve at least made it clear that you intend to collect.  Shouldering the stick, you give the Quartermaster a brief nod and begin walking towards the gardens with Cadence.  Like Festus, she’s smiling, though hers is much more innocent and honest.
>“That was interesting.”
“Do you really think so?  My friends and I would make stupid little bets like this all the time back home.  I am hoping that this stick is as tough as he says it is.  It won’t do me much good otherwise.”
>A light chuckle erupts from Cadence’s throat, the pink mare tossing her mane to the side opposite you, allowing her a better angle to observe.
>“No it wouldn’t.  Though I can’t say I understand why you would make a bet on something you don’t want to happen.”
“I can’t really explain it either.”
>Now that you’ve had a few minutes to get used to the weight of the armor, you find yourself moving with ease.  Perhaps you’re a step or two slower now than you were, but the leather is familiar and worn in just the right places so that it fits perfectly.  Even more so now that they’ve let it out at the shoulders.
>“You seem confident.”
“Hmm?”
>“You’ve got a spring in your step, you’re holding your head high and the way you’re gripping your twig”
>You laugh long and hard at that.  You don’t mean to, but hearing her call it that reminds you of how ridiculous you look.  And so you quiver with a rumbling sound coming deep from your stomach.  Cadence joins in a moment or two later, before clearing her throat and giving both of you the chance to unwind.
>“Your grip suggests that you have at least some experience wielding it.  Do you think you can beat him?”
“Anything’s possible, I suppose.  I’m not holding my breath”
>The weapon is more of an undersized walking stick as it only comes to your lower chest.  Clearly designed for creatures no more than four feet tall, it’s still sturdy enough that you think it could take a hit or two.
>Memories of escorting Cadence to the train rise up from the depths of your mind.  The wild-eyed pegasi flying circles around you before they dive in to attack, snarling and gnashing their teeth.   The gaping maw of the one that pinned you to the ground and screeched in your face, the sheer wrongness of the sound making your blood run cold.  Your spear, shattering against its skull
>“Anonymous?”
>Snapped from your reverie, you realize that you and your charge have arrived at the gardens.  A quick check confirms that its five minutes until the appointed time, but the Prince and his entourage are nowhere in sight.  The Princess’ face, usually bright and glowing is now furrowed in concern.
>“Everything all right?  You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“Yeah, just thinking, I suppose.”
>And like a switch, her face opens up again and she smirks.
>“You suppose?  I’d think you could tell one way or the other.”
“Ha ha ha.”
>You respond with a snarky chuckle
“Aren’t we clever?”
>The smile doesn’t falter, even as Cadence turns back to the garden.  Her shoulders heave with a heavy sigh as she continues to take in the scene.
>“It has been a while since I’ve been down here, but it’s just as beautiful as I remember.  It seems a shame to trample them just for a fight.”
>In the quiet breeze, her mane flutters across her face, the steady rhythm of wind easing the hairs into a slow waving motion, creating a purple and red sea, with gold froth flickering in and out of sight.  Just as you gather your wits to respond, a clear voice laced with distaste cuts through the air.
>“You worry too much, cousin.  Your only concern should be about the grass he will flatten when he collapses.”
>For all his pomp and grandeur, the Prince has a natural talent for sneaking around, though Cadence doesn’t seem surprised at his arrival at all.  The two royal relatives take several steps towards one another; Blueblood still with his head high, his mane once again perfectly coifed and straightened and the Princess, her clouded eyes reminiscent of the sky during an ocean storm.
>“You have one last chance to apologize to me, Cadence.  If you were to do so, my dear guard has agreed to forgive your pet ape’s transgression as well, seeing as he is a simple creature and unable to understand the severity of his actions.”
>“My guard’s name is Anonymous and we’ll see how smug you are when he’s victorious.”
>No matter how many times you think at her to stop, this Princess pony keeps digging your grave ever deeper.  With a sigh, you shoulder your weapon and walk up behind her.  Across the way, Snowy does the same.
>He’s sizeable, especially for a unicorn, though not in girth.  Due to their coats and the lack of need for physical dexterity, most horned ponies appear soft, squishy even.  Inside the castle, it’s a different story.
>The Prince’s attendant, like many of the guards, is large in the front and smaller towards the back, giving him a bulkier, more earth pony-like appearance.  His spear levitates beside him as thin trails of purple lick up from the aura surrounding it like a flame, flickering in the air before vanishing out of sight.
>Seeming much calmer now, Guardspony Glen remains silent as he sizes you up from top to bottom.  The glow spreads to his helmet as it lifts off his head, revealing the aged pony underneath.
>Bearing a silver mane with creases forming around his eyes and mouth, the gold headgear did wonders to make him seem youthful.  If you had to guess, he’d be pushing fifty back on Earth, old enough to have experience, but still with a touch of a younger vitality.
>“You’ll be fighting without a spearhead then?”
>He’s observing your hand, blue eyes narrowed in suspicion.  After a moment of blank staring, you realize you should probably answer and give him a quick nod.  He responds in kind, the spear twisting so that the blunt end is pointed towards the sky.
>“Then neither shall I.”
>It’s a small bit of consolation, not getting gutted, but you’ll take what you can get.  The Prince smiles, his attention fixed on both of you, before he turns back to his cousin.
>“It would appear that our warriors are ready.  Anything you’d like to get off your back before we begin?”
>Cadence meets Blueblood’s smug expression with a confident snarling smirk of her own.
>“Not a thing.”
>The two part, with the Prince going back to his entourage and your charge moving a few dozen paces away.  You are left inside a lush green ring of bushes, pockmarked with flashes of color, across from a seasoned guard with a suit of hardened leather and what amounts to a sturdy branch to protect yourself.  Guardspony Glen gives you a nod, which you return without much of a thought.  Then he descends upon you.
>Wind whispers harsh words in your ear as the rounded end of the guard’s spear passes by your ear.  Stunned, you gape as the old stallion smirks and tosses his head to the right.  The spear follows suit, clocking you upside the head, leaving the inside of your skull ringing as you scramble away from the possessed weapon.
>Turns out that wasn’t the best of moves, as Snowy jerks again in your direction.  Pain traces broad rivers up and down your back, the force of the broad sided blow sending you to the ground.  Your fingers dig into the soft dirt of the garden while your other hand massages your temple, trying to ease the buzzing out of your head.
>For a moment, you catch sight of Cadence.  She’s shouting something at you, but the incessant throbbing in your head isn’t allowing for anything else to get through.  Slowly, you become aware of the wooden staff rubbing against your cheek when you move your fingers.  It would be best to put it to use, at least once.
>With a renewed vigor, you turn to face the guard and grip your weapon tightly.  Snowy regards you for a moment and then smirks, just before you feel your knees get pulled out from under you.  No time even to turn, you clock your cranium against the ground with a crash worthy of atmospheric entry.
>The subtle four part harmony headache explodes into a full on symphonic orchestra, complete with cannons and kazoos.  As they play along to the victory march of Snowy Glen, you feel the round firmness press against your throat.
>The aged pony applies a little pressure, making you gag in protest.  His eyes are cold and detached, though a ghastly smile is etched across his face.  In the distance, you can hear the rancorous laughter of the Prince and his entourage.
>Just as quickly as the weapon on your throat is gone, though you roll onto your side and continue to hack for several moments.  Prince Blueblood and his lackeys are showering the victorious pony with praise, even as Cadence trots to your side.
>“Excellent work, Snowy!  He didn’t even land a hit.”
>“You certainly showed that filthy monkey what for.”
>The Princess kneels beside you, offering you a conciliatory smile.  You do your best to match it, though moving your head in any way seems to rocket fresh pain through it.  Over the din of ‘well done’s and back patting, Blueblood’s voice rings out, clear as a bell and just as painful to your ears.
>“I’d hoped that your chimp would have put up more of a fight.  As it stands my stallion here didn’t even break a sweat.  Perhaps we should report his lackluster performance to the Guard Captain?”
>Cadence scowls in frustration as her cousin’s words ring out.  She bites her lip and gives you a once over.  It’s not that unusual as you’re used to being stared at here in Equestria.  You’re a freak, an anomaly, one of a kind.
>But the way she’s looking at you, with uncertainty in her eyes, hurts more than all the stares and the drunken jeers you’ve dealt with until now.  That look, an almost pitying stare, which said she might have been wrong, that she had made a mistake.
>That you weren’t worthy of being her guard.
>Your heart trembles in your chest, the primal percussive pounding serving to drown out the lingering strings still humming away inside your skull.  Your hand tightens around the stick in your hand, the rough texture of your palm and fingers whispering along the divots in the wood.
>And you stand.
>The Princess moves to your side, giving you a small nudge.
>“Come on, lets get back to the castle.”
>To be honest, you’re not sure what you’re feeling right now.  Frustration, obviously, at getting your tail handed to you so readily.  Then there’s anger towards Blueblood and his ilk and, if you’re going to be forthright about it, disgust with Cadence, the doubt that showed in her eyes.  She chose you after all; the least that she can do is have some confidence in your abilities.
>Though, you haven’t given her much reason to do so.  You don’t know the rules and regulations, you’re scrambling to play catch up, and you can’t even keep her out of trouble.   If you could do any of those things, you wouldn’t be here now.  But maybe, because you are here now, you have a chance to show her, everyone else, and even yourself, what you can do.
“We’re not done here.”
>The entourage doesn’t seem to notice, still patting Snowy on the back.  Even he’s ignoring you at this point.  Well, scratch that, the pegasus of the group seems especially interested in the fact that you’re back on your feet.  Good for him.  Wiping some of the accumulated wetness from your lips, you scowl and say a little louder.
“We’re not done yet.”
>The group goes quiet, and out of the corner of your eye you can see the Princess gaping up at you.  Blueblood fixes you with a smug, disinterested stare, while the aged unicorn turns and frowns, shaking his head.
>“The battle’s done, boy.  I’ve bested you.”
“You’ve knocked me around, sure, but I haven’t admitted your victory.  This is an honor battle, just as your charge requested, and will continue until one of us kneels to the other.”
>Your words hang in the air for a moment, but a slow smile works its way across Snowy’s face, causing his wrinkles to show even more than usual.
>“Or until you’re unable to continue, for whatever reason.”
>Well, it might have helped to know that before you started posturing, but you’re not about to back down now.  In spite of your throbbing headache, you give him a nod, and he responds in kind.
>
>High above the gardens, Shining Armor observes the scene.  Princess Cadence is moving a safe distance away and even the Prince is taking several steps backwards.  From what he has seen thus far, Guardspony Glen is clearly more talented and skilled than the human could ever hope to be.  Still, a smile graces his face as he leans a little more over the edge of the veranda, intrigued.
>“I thought seeing the new guard get trounced once would be enough.”
>Hooves touching the ground with all the clatter of a whisper, Celestia trots up beside her Captain and cranes her neck out.  Her face is set in a thin scowl as Anonymous drops back to avoid the first attack.
>“Perhaps you could explain why you have not stepped in to stop this yet?  Dissent among the Guard is something that I would like to avoid.”
>“Its fine, Princess.  Guardspony Anonymous, for all his bluster and bravado, doesn’t stand a chance against Snowy.  However, I am interested in what he’s capable of.”
>Shining Armor ignores the glare of his Princess, though his hooves clop against the ground a few times as he begins to sweat under her stare.  She holds it for a while longer, before turning her attention back out to the garden.
>Anonymous, using his staff as a buffer between himself and the flying spear, seems content to remain in a defensive position.  With slight twists of his wrists, he uses either end of the blunt weapon to deflect the oncoming weapon.  His steps are measured, and the intensity in his eyes belies the more relaxed approach.
>“What are you looking for, Shining Armor?”
>Below, Guardspony Glen continues his assault, pressing the attack until Anonymous runs out of room, his back pressed against a shrubbery wall.  The unicorn gives a smug grin and thrusts forward with his spear.  A thunderous thwack roars up from the garden as Anonymous deflects the weapon and then pins it to the ground underneath his staff and foot, the magically controlled projectile losing its aura.  The human’s mocking smirk is short lived, as the spear flares to life seconds later, pulling itself free and rocketing back to Snowy’s side.  Shining Armor gives a small nod.
>“Because he came here, with no understanding of magic, and was able to resist three veteran Unicorns when they tried to subdue him.  Just now, he broke the concentration of a highly trained, highly decorated member of our guard and I’m not sure he’s aware that he’s doing it.”
>Taking the opportunity to flee, Anonymous situates himself in a position where he can continue his defensive tactics.  Blueblood’s attendant continues to push forward, the grunts and growls at each blocked blow beginning to rise up, even as high as the veranda.
>“If I can understand how he does it, maybe I can find out a way for us to use it as well.  We would have a distinct advantage over any magical trials we might face in the future.”
>Princess Celestia gives a small hum of interest as she watches the scene unfold below.
>The spear descends from above, moving in a large chopping arc.  Sliding your hands down to the left end of the staff, you catch it with the broad side of your stick and fling it wide.  Instead of pressing the attack further, it floats back to Snowy’s side.
>As you’d thought, the unicorn was capable despite his age.  But his once steady strikes have been coming slower; especially compared to the lightening quick thrusts he’d beaten you with the first time.  His strikes are still as strong as ever though.
>You take a moment to shake the tingling echoes of his blows from your muscles.  Your arms are stiff and tired, begging to be unleashed, but you’re a little uncertain.  While spear training is a requirement for all Guards, Royal or City, you’re far from an expert, and, if you’re being honest, you despise the way a spear feels.
>Your stick has held up surprisingly well, its frail appearance understating the sturdy nature beneath.  You grip it around the base, tightening your grip and giving it another experimental swing.  It almost feels like a baseball bat.
>A warm sensation grows slowly in your chest at the thought of baseball and home.  You could use a bat.  Choking up a little more on the stick, you step as close as you’ve dared all day.  Snowy tenses, his spear drawing level with your chest.  Seems he’s intent on not letting you encroach any more on his space.
>Tough.
>You take another step and he thrusts out at you.  The short end of your staff snaps up and knocks the attack over your shoulder.  With the unicorn’s reach extended you charge inside, ending your rush on a short, foot settling hop.  Your back foot pivots as your hips begin to rotate, unleashing a childhood of little league fury in Snowy’s direction.
>The air whistles with excitement as your bat roars through it.  Your heart screams in your chest, demanding contact.  Despite your eyes being wide open, you’re so into the motion that you can’t see, only feel.  It’s liberating.
>The breezy hum is silenced by a cacophonous crack of contact.  A quiver runs down the length of your arms, stopping your swing short and causing you to lurch forward as a result.  Your vision catches up with the rest of your body and you take a moment to revel in your work.
>Only, the white unicorn is still standing.  He’s got the fear in his eyes, you can tell that much by the way they’re switching back and forth between you and your bat.  But he hasn’t got a bruise on him.
>A quick glance down to your hand shows a shattered weapon, broken in two large chunks, with several splinters littering the ground as well.  It dawns on you that Snowy has good reason to be afraid.
>It’s his spear that’s shattered, after all.
>As you rear back your bat again, you see a brilliant purple light burst forth from the horn of your opponent.  You lift your front foot, intent to swing the weapon half-cocked, but you find yourself sliding backward.  Even as you drop your leg, you continue to slide back.
>Beads of sweat dribble down your nose and face as you push back against the magical force, even managing a few steps forward.  And then your luck runs out.
>With a shout, you roll end over end, through the bramble infested foliage, kicking up dust and pulling up clods of sod as you grasp at the grass in futility.  Your forced retreat is abruptly ended by a tree, more specifically, the back of your head slamming into the unyielding plant.  The world begins to darken, and the band starts up again.
>How did that tune go?  Hail Guardspony Snowy, you are the very best?  What a terrible song.
>
>As Cadence moves to approach the fallen Anonymous, a flash of reddish pink light bursts into existence.  As it fades, Shining Armor trots over to the victorious unicorn and gives a brief nod.  Snowy, legs quivering under his weight, as well as the suddenly stiff breeze that had kicked up, can only manage a half-hearted return of the gesture.
>Shining then looks to the rest of Prince Blueblood’s entourage and tilts his head towards the staggering unicorn.
>“I believe we’re finished here.  Take him to the infirmary and get him checked out.”
>The ponies give a brief nod and move forward to the senior guard.  It takes some doing, but soon they’re leading him inside.  Blueblood flashes Cadence a large grin and cocks an eyebrow.
>“So much for being victorious, hmm?”
>With that, he turns and trots back to the castle.  As he leaves the garden, however, his expression darkens until it morphs into a cold scowl.  With the Prince gone, Shining Armor turns to Cadence, finding the mare kneeling by the unconscious Anonymous.  Sighing, he approaches her with a slight smile, his head cocked to the side.
>“He’s stubborn.”
>The Princess’ words give the Guard Captain pause.  They’re quiet, almost contemplative as she sits down beside the human.  A weight drops inside the unicorn’s stomach as he watches her move closer to Anonymous.  Fear for Cadence rather than her guard drives him forward.
>“We should get the salts and wake”
>“No.”
>Without a thought to Shining’s concerns, the Princess interrupts him.  Giving her attendant a long smile, she turns to the Guard Captain.
“He’s done enough for now and earned himself a little rest.  Could you inform one of the physicians to tend to him out here?  I don’t think it’s wise for him to be around the Prince, or any of his guards.”
>“Princess, it’s not wise to stay out here alone.  He’s in no state to protect you.”
>“If you’re that worried about me then I suggest that you finish my request as quickly as possible.”
>Seeing Shining squirm gives Cadence a small thrill of delight.  While she was concerned for her guard, any opportunity to make the Captain uncomfortable in his position was one she would gladly take.  He spends a few moments trying to come up with a reason why he shouldn’t, before scowling at her and galloping through the gate.
>With a content sigh, Cadence pulls her forelegs up closer to her body and leans back against the tree.  Turning her head a little, she smiles at Anonymous and settles in, watching for a few moments.
>“I suppose”
>she whispers, her eyes moving up and down his prone body
>“the biggest question now is, why you would go through all that.”
>When Anonymous doesn’t respond, Cadence gives a small giggle and shakes her head.  The breeze picks up a little, flowers and branches bobbing in the wind.  It sets her heart at ease.
>“I told you I spent a lot of time down here but I never came alone, being unable to share all this with someone felt wrong.  When I arrived in Canterlot and saw how things hand changed, I thought for certain I’d never enter this place again.”
>Closing her eyes, Cadence sighs and leans her shoulder against Anonymous’.
>“I’m glad I was mistaken.”
>Across the castle, Prince Blueblood scowls, snorting and huffing as he paces in front of Snowy Glen’s bed.  He’d entered in much the same manner and now seemed to be building up to an enormous explosion.  It was only a matter of time.
>“I apologize again, my Prince.”
>Snowy sighs and shakes his head.  A large bowl of bean soup is laid out in front of him, the spoon surrounded by a purple glow as he lifts it to his lips and sucks it down.  After a particularly hearty gulp, he sighs.
>“I was ill-prepared for his tactics.”
>Blueblood freezes, in the middle of a step.  Staring off into the distance, he whispers
>“Tactics?”
>With a howl, he turns and throws the sitting table aside, knocking loose the drawers and spilling its contents across the floor.  The blue aura around it fades as quickly as it appeared, the Prince’s own horn reverting to its usual white coloration.
>“Those were not tactics!  He was scrambling for his life in the most crude, inelegant manner possible, and you let him beat you!”
>Another of the unicorns steps forward at that, attempting to calm the rabid Prince.
>“My Prince, Guardspony Glen won the battle, he was the last one standin”
>A cold glare from the Prince silences the guard.  Despite the difference in size, as Blueblood takes several steps towards the Guardspony, it is the larger of the two that is backpedaling.
>“Get.  Out.  All of you.”
>The ponies stand in stunned silence, looking back and forth before the Prince snaps again.
>“All of you, now!”
>The guards are the first to beat a quick retreat, all but falling over one another to escape his wrath.  The nurses linger a while longer, until Blueblood snarls at them, his horn lighting with a soft pale glow.  That gets the message across.
>With the observers gone, Blueblood sighs and allows himself to calm down.  His body quivers and shakes as he closes the door and pulls the blinds closed with a flick of magic.  In the darkness of the room, a few candles flicker, just enough to illuminate the two unicorns.
>“Again, my Prince, I apologize.”
>A deep, steadying breath comes from the Prince, followed by a long sigh.
>“And you’re certain it’s nothing more than exhaustion?”
>“Indeed, I have been granted a clean bill of health.  It may take a day or so to get back to full strength, but I am still capable of performing my duties.”
>The Prince nods, but remains silent.  After a long moment, Snowy broaches the delicate topic.
>“You, saved my life, my Prince, there is no shame in that.”
>Even in the faint light, it’s clear that Blueblood has become uncomfortably straight, as though his legs and neck were incapable of moving, except at the joint.  With a short cough, he shakes his head.
>“You exaggerate.  I am certain that you were prepared to duck under his swing.  I over reacted in the heat of the moment.”
>“Please, my Prince.  Had you not wrested control of my spear from me and brought it to my side, I doubt I could have moved quickly enough.  I would be laying here with a fractured skull, or perhaps the morgue.”
>With a hollow laugh, Snowy shakes his head.
>“I am not a young stallion any more.”
>Silence enters then, the two doing their best to avoid one another's gaze in the whispering light.  At last, Blueblood speaks.
>“Regardless, I interfered in the battle.  Even if no one else knows, we will.”
>Even in the dark, Snowy’s magic finds the soup spoon.  Taking another long, lengthy slurp, he smiles.
>“Then, I suppose we shall have to take back our honor.”
>With a heavy grunt, Blueblood smiles.
>“Indeed, we shall.”

Chapter 9

>A quiet, steady assault on your ears brings you back to a state of near alertness.  Your internal clock looms, as she always does, silently marking each passing second.
>Tick.  Tick.  Tick.
>Judging from the fact that your body doesn’t seem quite ready to move, that trunk was harder than you thought it would be.  Add to that that you apparently got smoked at the end, you don’t really feel like doing much at all.  Sighing, you place your back to the time keeping guardian and pull your knees to your chest.
>On the upside, you’re still alive.  The sun is warm on your skin and the day birds are still singing their songs, so it can’t have been too long.  After such a wild day, it’d be nice to take a few extra minutes and relax.  As someone begins twisting and turning your head though, you realize any rest you get is going to be off duty.  With a heavy heart, you open your eyes.
>The light from the sun is blinding.  You wince and make a move to turn your head away, but large, steady hooves hold it in place.  It’s not what your preference, but you close both of your eyes and wait for them to adjust.
>“Well, he seems all right, if a little photosensitive.  He should come by the clinic tomorrow for a through check-up, but I don’t see any signs of a concussion.”
>“What a relief.  Thank you doctor.”
>“It was my pleasure, Princess.  By your leave.”
>The sound of retreating hooves serves as your cue to open your eyes.  Princess Cadence sits beside you, radiating soft, peaceful warmth with her smile.  Seeing your alert state, she chuckles and winks at you.
>“My, my, it seems my guard has finally come around.  You had me worried.”
>She flashes you a teasing smile, her head cocked to the side while her mane runs like a waterfall down into the open air.  Your mouth goes dry as your heart sputters in protest.  You wet your lips and try to speak.
>“It’s only your first day on the job and you’re already causing trouble?”
>You recognize that voice as belonging to Captain Shining Armor.  On instinct, your legs pull themselves under you, and force you into a standing position.  The rest of your body was not prepared for such a change in elevation and sends you crashing back to earth.
>Spitting grit and grass, you look up to find your Captain staring down at you.  His eyes are cold and serious, and your stomach tightens around itself.
“Good, good afternoon, Captain.”
>“It would be, Guardspony, if I hadn’t caught wind of Royal Guard Attendants facing each other in an honor battle, one that nearly cost a guard his life.”
“My apologies, Captain.  I allowed the situation to get out of hand”
>Shining Armor steps forward, placing his hoof in front of your face.
>“Enough.  I don’t want to hear about why it happened as the event has already taken place.  I’ve spoken with Guardspony Glen, but you should know this as well.  You are what incoming guards aspire to be, the right hand of royalty.  If you can’t handle your disputes in a civil manner befitting your rank, then you are not fit to serve in this capacity.  Are we clear?”
“Y-yes, Captain.”
>You push yourself to your feet and stand as straight as you can manage.  When the Captain doesn’t excuse himself, you brace for a further butt chewing.  The feeling of his eyes running over your body is obvious, like fat drops of rain sliding across your body, causing you to shiver in disgust.  The response comes soon enough.
>“I saw some of the fight myself.  You’re very good, far more than I gave you credit for, but I’m concerned about some holes that you might have in your training.  As Guard Captain, I must ask if you would be willing to undergo an examination, to see where you stand in relation to the other guards.”
>Finally, someone who sees that you’re not a perfect fit for the job but doesn’t doubt you.  You square your shoulders and give a nod in response.
“I would be more than happy to, Captain.  I’ll do whatever it takes to better protect the Princess.”
>His lip curls up a little.  For a moment, doubt clouds your mind but it quickly dissipates.
>“Excellent, I’m looking forward to seeing how you stack up in the ranks.  Physically, you seem in decent form, so the test will mostly consist of combat and tactics.  I’ll provide you with additional bodies if you need them, so all you need to do is get a good night’s sleep and come prepared.”
>Turning to Cadence, he bows his head and gives her a small, charming smile.  She blushes in response.
>“If you would be so kind as to grace us with your presence as well, Princess Cadence, I would be more than happy to have your perspective on Guardspony Anonymous’ skills and abilities.”
>“I, would be honored, Captain.”
>“Tomorrow then, four o’clock in the training fields.”
>“We’ll both be there.”
>The Captain nods, giving you one last look before he marches back into the castle.  Letting out a deep breath, you finally allow your shoulders to slump.  Cadence trots up in front of you and begins looking you over.
>“That was quite a bump, are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’ll be fine, Princess.  I’m a little roughed up but I’m not concerned.”
>“Good, I’d hate to be stuck staring at someone else during dinner.”
>With a shared laugh, both of you make your way through the entry and into the depths of the palace.  Were you to be entirely honest, your pride was more than a little wounded and then there some lingering fears about what Shining Armor might have in store for you.
>You’ve heard the horror stories of what Royal Guard training can entail.  Because of Cadence’s request for reassignment, you were able to avoid all of them and that may have gotten you on the bad side of several of the guards who earned their positions.  Still, there’s nothing that you can do about it until you find out what he wants you to do.
>Taking solace in that, you march in step behind Princess Cadence towards the dining hall.
>Dinner proceeds in much the same way breakfast did.  You enter the room first and took up your position next to Shining Armor and then the delegates file in, followed by the Prince, and then the Princesses.  Tonight’s menu includes a bean soup, lavish salad greens with plump tomatoes and a mix of zucchini and cucumbers, and a pâté served with wafer crackers for the carnivores, though you notice that one of the earth ponies is quite partial to the paste.
>Considering the mess that you faced after breakfast, you expected more of the same, but the delegates are quite cordial to one another.  Laughter rumbles in slow rolls across the table, the guests sharing stories of life at home, family, and even day to day experiences in the castle and Canterlot.
>While not what you were expecting, the pleasant drone of conversation serves as an accent to the scents rolling out from the kitchen.  Soon enough, the appetizers are cleared away and the squeak of wheels signals the start of the real meal.
>The main courses were even more exuberant.  Vegetable casseroles garnished with lavish leaves of spinach, enormous mushroom caps, with the innards partially scooped out and filled with all manner of cheese, vegetables and bread until they were bloated to bursting, and so much more.  Between all of these and the mutton you had partaken of for lunch, it was enough to make your stomach grumble in protest.
>Throughout the meal, you feel a set of eyes on you.  Their weight is ever present, not heavy by any means, but an irritating buzzing that you can’t shake.  Standing a little straighter, you allow your eyes to roam from one end of the room to the other, finally settling on a certain white unicorn.
>Guardspony Glen glares at you with all the distaste you’ve seen a pony manage in your time here.  Noting that he has your attention, his mouth turns up a little into a smug smirk and he mimes knocking his head back against the wall.  You respond in kind, wetting your lips and making a spitting motion in his direction.
>He fumes as you chuckle, noting that you’re drawing some attention from the table.  Including Cadence.  Cutting off all contact with him, you focus again on the reason you’re here.  The lovely Princess.
>She gives a quiet, exasperated sigh and rolls her eyes.  It’s a warning, and one you take to heart.  For the rest of the course, you don’t look away from her.  Good thing too, she’s rather partial to the mushrooms and sends you back for more of them twice.
>Some time later, the meal is cleared away and discussion begins again.  Subdued and with a relaxed air, it continues to be about trivial things as opposed to business.  Within three minutes, the squeak of wheels heralds the final course.
>The drinks come first, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and perhaps even a few bottles of alcohol.  The kitchen staff attends to each member of the table, pouring them their drink of choice and bustling on to the next.  With each served, the drink cart is pushed away, revealing the star attraction.
>Tiramisu.
>The cocoa coating glistens in the light, with large sloping chunks of grated vanilla on top.  Three perfect layers of alternating soft brown and cream, winking in and out of the light like the stars in the sky.  Your mouth moistens at the sight.  Your appetite is curbed, however, when you catch sight of Princess Celestia.
>Her fork, glowing with a soft sunny light, levitates from beside her plate and cuts into the moist dessert.  From where you’re standing, you can almost hear the firm texture whisper in protest as the warm silver slides through it.  From top to bottom, complete with a small click as the implement hits the plate, she eyes the treat with the gaze of a practiced connoisseur.
>“Hmm…”
>A delighted sound escapes her mouth, even as the loaded fork fills the vacant space.  Her lips close around it and her face contorts into a wide smile.  The small coffee colored remnants still on the tail end seem to quiver and melt, standing out starkly against her pristine whiteness.
>“Ahh.”
>She murmurs, pulling the now empty fork out of her mouth with a long, leisurely motion.  Her lips caress each contour and corner of the implement, savoring the sugary sweetness it once held.  With eyes half-lidded, she gathers another forkful and deposits it in her mouth.
>“Mm.”
>A quick glance around the room shows that everyone waited for her to start the second bite before taking their first.  Your eyes turn back to Celestia and, as nonchalantly as you can manage, you wiggle your leg.  After that display you’re thinking you might need to have your pants let out a little more at the crotch.
>The meal concludes shortly before seven thirty.  The guests exit in much the same way they entered, though some of the more inebriated of the group and enjoying one another’s company more than they had before.  Outside of the dining room, you give Cadence a smile.
“So, where does everyone go after the work day’s done?”
>“They end up being pretty chummy with one another, don’t they?”
>The Princess flashes you a smile, but doesn’t answer you straight away.  Instead, you fall in step behind her as she leads you down to the common rooms of the castle.  Several of the older delegates have taken to making themselves comfortable in large backed chairs.  You hear the murmur of business being discussed, even at this hour.
>“Most of the guests spend their time in the castle, forming strategies and alliances for tomorrow.  The foreign delegates are especially interested in creating beneficial trade agreements, but several of the ponies will band together too to push local issues through.”
“And it’s like this all the time?”
>“Only for a few weeks throughout the year.  If I remember correctly, most of the delegates will head home within a week or so, leaving one from the Gryphon confederacy, and the Minotaur kingdoms and a few ponies, specifically Canterlot, Cloudsdale, Trottingham, Stalliongrad and Manehatten.”
“And what about the rest of the delegates?  I’m seeing maybe three-quarters of them here.”
>“Ah, experiencing the joy that is Canterlot’s nightlife.  I hear it has a tendency to be very exciting.”
“I’ll say.”
>Cadence brightens a little and glances over her shoulder.
>“Really now?  I never pegged you for a party-goer, Anonymous.  Perhaps you’d be willing to share some of your nighttime escapades with me?”
“Nothing so interesting,”
>You tease, flashing the mare a smile.  Picking up your place a little, you walk just a half-step shy of being abreast of her.
“I spent a few nights out on patrol, breaking up rowdy ponies before they got too out of hand.  Got bucked a few times in the process, but that’s a hazard of the job.”
>“You should really be more forthcoming with information.  It sounds as though you led an interesting life.”
“If today is any indication, I still do.”
>You’re still sore about getting beaten, physically or otherwise, but you hold no ill-will towards Princess Cadence.  Your wide smile is infectious, enough that she even graces you with a brief laugh.  Tossing her hair to one side, she keeps the open side of her face pointed towards you, eyes glittering in the torchlight.
>At last you reach the end of the sitting rooms and the two of you follow the curving path back towards the entry hall.  With the delegates behind you, and Cadence showing no signs of stopping, you have to ask.
“What about you, Princess?  How will you spend your evening?”
>“Tonight I believe I’ll be turning in early.  I have a rather unique opportunity to observe some of the Guard tomorrow and I’d like to be well rested.”
>The Princess gives you a playful look, her brow arched ever so slightly.  Your heart sputters for a few seconds before resuming it’s usual pace.
“I, suppose that would be good, wouldn’t it?”
>“Indeed, I must be at my very best, it wouldn’t do to be muddled tomorrow.  Will you escort me to my quarters then?”
>You crack a smile and bow your head, earning a small giggle from your charge.  The walk is rather lengthy, as the common rooms are on the ground floor and on the opposite side of the castle from the royal living quarters.  To pass the time, you reminisce about the incident at lunch.
>“I really don’t know what came over me.  It just felt so exciting, so right.  And then you ended up getting squished underhoof.”
“It wasn’t all that bad, was it?  I thought I at least gave him a run for his money.”
>That tiny playful upturn of her mouth reappears as Cadence averts her eyes, taking on an uninterested tone.
>“It was well enough, I suppose.  Not a victory, but you did uphold my honor.”
>A silent ripple of laughter grows between the two of you before you both lapse into silence, the pleasure of one another’s company filling in the otherwise awkward absence of sound.  Its several minutes before the pink Princess speaks again.
>“I never did thank you.”
“That’s because you don’t have to.”
>“No, no I do.”
>Cadence stops suddenly.  You’re getting better about stopping when she does and only stutter almost a full step before catching yourself.  Taking a deep breath, she turns to you.
>“I understand that I can be a little bit of a bear sometimes, Guardspony.  But you have made me feel like I belong here in this castle more than I have in years.  I know it’s your duty to serve and protect, but I suppose I feel like it’s more than just duty that makes you do, what you do.”
>The Princess manages a squeaky, uncertain laugh as she blows a few strands of hair out of her face.  She bites her lip, wrestling with what she wants to say.
>“I, suppose, that you make me feel at home, you care about me as a pony more than a distant figure to be honored and praised.  It’s refreshing.”
>Your heart stumbles about in your chest as you see echoes of the Cadence you met on the train.  Not entirely sure of herself, easily flustered and utterly endearing.  Sensations of pinpricks run up and down your arms as your hairs stand on end, your entire body heating up with embarrassment.  Noting your state, color rushes to her face after a moment and she turns away, stammering wildly.
>“Th-that is to say that, you do your duty well, but your, ah, companionship is equally welcome.  Not that I want anything more from you… ugh!”
>She winces and brings a hoof to her horn in frustration before hanging her head.  With a deep breath, she squares her shoulders and meets your eyes again, smiling.
>“You do an excellent job as attendant, guard and companion because you put your whole self into the work, not just your sense of duty.  Thank you.”
>It takes a second or two for your brain to catch up with the rest of your body.  The sensible thing to do would be to bow your head, thank her for the compliment, and say it’s a delight to serve her.  Your fingers start to twitch and before your mind can send the desist order, you’re moving towards her.
>A short distance, four, maybe five small steps.  You cross that in short order.  Cadence stammers in surprise, her lips slightly parted as she tries to process what you’re doing.  Dropping to a knee, you take the hoof so recently pressed to her forehead and hold it for a long moment.
>It’s probably wrong and if you were seen like this, questions would undoubtedly be raised.  A part of you delights in seeing her sweat.  Not maliciously, but to test your boundaries just because you can.
“Princess?”
>“H-huh?”
>What a very unregal answer.  Her eyes drift from her hoof in your hand, up to your face, blinking in confusion.  You do your best to hide your smile.  If she saw it, she’d know you were playing it up.
“It’s my honor and a privilege to serve.  I’d still be on the beat if it wasn’t for you.”
>To further drive the point home, you slide your thumb along the edge of her hoof.  It doesn’t actually do much, seeing as how she’s wearing a sort of golden horseshoe-flat hybrid on her hooves, but she shivers all the same.
“You make doing my job a pleasant experience, so I am more than willing to give my all to you.”
>For a few seconds longer, you remain locked in the same position.  With an audible gulp, the Princess pulls her hoof away and tosses her hair back in position to obscure her face.
>“Well, that was enlightening.  Y-you’re welcome, Guardspony An”
>Another gulp and a shaky repetition of your name follows.
>“Anonymous.”
>You stand and the flustered Princess trots by you.  Quieting the laughter so that it rumbles through your stomach, you fall in step behind her.  Maybe you did push it a little too far, but you do feel indebted to her.  Without her presence, none of this would have been possible.
>But, you were still hamming it up.
>Right?
>The walk does wonders to cool her down, and by the time you arrive at her door she’s back to her usual self, smiling, laughing and rolling her eyes.  Pausing outside her door, she gives you a coy grin.
>“Well, it seems you’ve had quite the first day.  It’s a little late, but do you think you’re up to the task?”
“Absolutely.”
>“Good.  I’ll see you bright and early, Anonymous.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
>With another chuckle and a shake of her head, the pink Princess pushes past her door.  The wood creaks as it settles into place, though you stand outside her room for a few moments more, listening to her move about as she prepares for bed.
“Creeping on a Princess?”
>The whisper of your own voice makes you smile.  Turning towards your own quarters, you set about preparing for tomorrow.  After a lengthy shower to scrub out the grit and grime, you set about cleaning your gear.
>Though it’s not official, you attach one of the badges onto the armor.  It hisses for a moment as it adheres then grows quiet.  A firm tug of your thumb and forefinger show that the medal has magically latched onto the sleeve of your armor.
>Another thirty minutes of cleaning and you look almost presentable, aside form a few scuffs that you couldn’t buff out.  Placing your armor aside for the night, you feel a dull pain in your stomach.  It’s been eight hours and change since you’ve had something to eat.
>Yielding to your rumbly tumbly, you re-dress in a clean set of clothes and move to the hall.  The door grumbles, as if telling you that you shouldn’t.  Stepping outside your room, you understand why.
>“A-Ah!  Hello!”
>You hear him before you see him, as he’s situated himself on the other side of the open door.  His voice is wavering, but certain.  Without much fanfare, he reveals himself, a gold-armored pegasus pony, the large plates looking tremendously out of place on his small, sandy brown frame.
>“Guardspony Anonymous?”
>You grunt and take a moment to close the door before responding.  When you turn away, you hear his hooves clatter against the stone floor.
“You’re impatient.”
>“Pardon?”
“Just give me a minute.”
>You sigh a little and secure the door.  Turning back to the guard, cock your head towards the stairs before walking towards them.
“That would be me.  What about you, Guardspony…?”
>“Lark, sir, Meadowlark.”
“Right, Guardspony Lark.  Well, what can I do for you?”
>“I observed your bout with Guardspony Glen, today.”
“Ugh, I’m beginning to think that every guard in the castle was watching.”
>“Well, no sir.  I was just standing near the Prince.”
“Ah, right.  You’re the one that seemed to care that I wasn’t staying down.”
>“Yes sir.”
>As you make your way towards the kitchen, you spare the pegasus a glance.  True to form, he’s taken to flying a few steps behind you and to the left.  He notices your gaze and puts on his best smile.
“So what can I do for one of the Prince’s guards?  Here to give me a message?  Taunt me maybe?”
>“Nothing like that, sir.”
>Grunting again, you turn your eyes forward again.  The kitchen is coming up on your right, the normally boisterous bellows of chefs absent with the end of the day approaching.  As if sensing his time was short, Lark blurts out
>“I’d like to join you as a member of the Princess’ guard detail.”
“And why would I want to let you do that?  Sounds like all I’d be doing is stirring up more trouble.”
>“I’m not assigned to the Prince or Guardspony Glen.  I was simply snatched up for the Prince’s excursion into town.”
>For a moment, you consider ducking into the kitchen and leaving the pegasus pony out here on his own.  You’d come out, he’d be gone, problem would solve itself.  Then again, this isn’t the City Guard.  You don’t have the same network of friends here.  In fact, only Guardspony Wreath, the Captain, and now Guardspony Lark have been cordial to you.  It would be best not to burn any bridges if you didn’t have to.  With a sigh, you turn back to the pegasus, eyeing him closely.
“So, there won’t be any trouble if I take you on.  But that doesn’t explain why I should in the first place.”
>“Well, you don’t have anyone providing you assistance yet, as you spent the entire day with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  You also got under the skin of Prince Blueblood and his attendant, so it would be best to avoid contact with them whenever possible.  Seeing he and the Princess are cousins of about the same age, they’ll be interacting regularly.  Having someone like me around will allow you to avoid the more awkward of those situations.”
>The black-maned pony pauses and smiles, glancing about.  He does have a point, if the Prince decides to stay around the grounds tomorrow, it would be best to have an out.  Lark clears his throat, drawing your attention back to him.
>“Aside from that, it’s not a good idea to keep yourself removed from Guard politics.  I can be your in there, and we can begin to build up your image.  I’ve seen you in action, you belong here, it’s just a matter of showing everyone else.”
“So you get me out of tight situations with the Prince, watch my back, and ease some of my workload.  Sounds great.”
>The pegasus beams in delight.
“What’s the catch?”
>“Ah, no catch, sir.  Just looking to help out the fresh meat.”
>You remain silent and keep your eyes on his.  The pony shuffles his hooves a little, glancing left and right before finally crumbling.  With a heavy sigh, Lark pulls his wings in to his sides and glances about.  He leans in once assuring himself the area is clear, speaking in a low voice.
>“All right, look, I’m fresh out of training so I don’t have a lot of time logged with the Guard.  No one’s going to give me a fair shake until I’ve been around for at least a year or two.  That means I get snapped up for the crappy jobs like wall duty, the best I can hope for is a temporary assignment on guard detail.  Not days, hours.”
>“That’s why I’m coming to you.  You spent a few months with the City, but you and I both know you were at least a year away from even being considered for the Royal Guard.  That’s just how they operate up here, you either have to put in the time or be personally referred by a pony with serious clout.”
>“I’m not saying you don’t deserve to be up here, you do.  I just want the chance to show you, and the quill pushers, that I belong up here too.  That I’m more than capable of doing the job.”
>A grunt seems appropriate here.  As you work up the breath however, your stomach summons a sharp snarl.  Guardspony Lark’s lip curls a little, and the two of you share a short laugh.
>“I’m sorry, I’m keeping you from getting something to eat.  Will you at least think on it?”
“I will.”
>With a smile, the pegasus bows his head and flaps off towards the barracks.  Sighing, you take a moment longer to think on the matter.  He does have a point, and if it would get you in with the other guards, it couldn’t hurt.  And you were a recipient of grace yourself.
“Maybe on a trial basis.”
>Your stomach squirms again and you decide that it’s a solid enough plan before ducking into the kitchen.
>Hopefully, they’ll still have some of that dessert.

Chapter 10

>It’s 6:18 a.m.  One hour ago you got out of bed and went through your morning routine.  You dressed, armor and all, took a hunk of bread from the kitchen and went down to the officer’s barracks.  That took exactly twenty-two minutes.
>For the remaining thirty-eight, you have been on the receiving end of a rather passive aggressive butt-chewing on the part of Lieutenant Laurel Wreath.  Apparently word of your bout with Guardspony Glen has already made its rounds through the barracks and is the talk of the castle.
>The aged unicorn paces in front of you, shaking his head again.
>“Further more, as you have been placed on an assignment with the highest priority, you should seek to end confrontation with as little violence as possible.  Your job is not to fight, it is to protect.  I didn’t think I would have to explain this so thoroughly, but apparently I do.  Do you understand?”
>After nearly three-quarters of an hour, you certainly hope you do.  Taking another long drag from your cup, you hit the bottom and place it back down on the plate.  Without taking your eyes off your second-in-command, you push both pieces of china towards him.  Laurel huffs and rolls his eyes, but lifts the pot and pours you another cup.
>Smiling, you bring it back to your lips and savor the scent, feeling your eyelids descend.  You let out a satisfied sigh that scatters the steam and take a quick sip.
“I understand that I did make a few mistakes, Lieutenant, but the situation escalated out of my control very quickly.  I was not adequately prepared to deal with the more, rambunctious side of the Princess.”
>“And you’re saying that you are today?”
>The corner of your mouth slides up as you open your eyes.  The unicorn is giving you a concerned look with his lips curled downward, his brow furrowed.  Placing your coffee down, you nod.
“Absolutely.  Princess Mi Amore Cadenza will no longer be any trouble.”
>That’s an out and out lie and you both know it, perhaps you better than he.  Cadence is playful by nature and that has a tendency to get her into trouble.  It’s impossible to watch her every hour of the day and still provide her the level of control over her life that she clearly appreciates.
>Still, if you can stop the big things from going wrong, it’s very likely that any remaining issues can be nipped in the bud.  Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with problems that have already cropped up.  You tap your fingers on the table a few times and then look to Laurel.
“Lieutenant, how do I assign a guard to the Princess’ detail, for when I have personal matters to see to?”
>“For today, inform me who you would like to observe the Princess and when.  I’ll make sure that it makes it onto the assignment board before the day guards are roused.”
“Ah, all right.  Then put down Guardspony Meadowlark and another two ponies of your choosing to cover the Princess’ detail from after breakfast until lunch.”
>For the first time all morning, Laurel smiles a little.  Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he moves across from you and sits down.  After a sizeable slurp, he raises an eyebrow.
>“Not looking forward to face time with Guardspony Glen, I take it?”
>You tip your cup in his direction and laugh.
“That’s part of it.  I realize I’m a far cry from what Royal Guards are supposed to be, but that doesn’t excuse my rather lackluster performance.  It’s obvious that I need to step up my training, but the last pony I need to be hearing it from is Snowy Glen.”
>A comfortable quiet settles into the room, punctuated by soft sips of the black brew.  Finally, you ask
“What’s going on with him anyway?  He seems like he’d be an excellent officer, possibly even Captain.”
>The Lieutenant gives a nod and then shrugs his shoulders.
>“We all thought so too, as a matter of fact he was fast tracked coming out of the academy to be the Guard Captain.  Our previous Captain beat him by the skin of his teeth, and that was only because he was a better politician.  After that, Glory decided his skills would be better served as a Guard Attendant.  He was assigned to Blueblood’s mother and has served the young Prince since her death.”
>You give a short grunt and finish your cup.  Placing it down on the table, you climb to your feet and wipe your hands against the hardened leather armor on your chest.
“Well, I can say nothing of his dedication then, though his attitude could use some work.”
>“That attitude made him who he is.  Snowy is highly regarded for his earlier years in the Guard, though you’d have to ask him about it if you want the whole story.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.  Make sure that Guardspony Lark knows about his assignment?”
>“Understood.”
>The officer bows his head and you give him a brief salute before making your way towards the kitchens to grab some breakfast before beginning your day.  It would be best to inform the Princess of the change in her protection before it occurs as well.
>She doesn’t take it as well as you would have hoped.
>“Really?”
>The distaste on the Princess’s face is evident, her brow furrowed with a scowl resting along her pretty lips.  You give Cadence a quiet smile and hold your hands out, palms up.
“I think it’s a valid reason.”
>“Being afraid of a few words from my cousin’s attendant?  Anonymous, you have nothing to be ashamed of, you did your best.”
“I didn’t say I was ashamed of my performance, just that my best wasn’t enough.”
>You take a moment to bow your head and let out a heavy sigh.
“Princess, it is my duty to protect you, is it not?”
>“It is.”
“And if I can’t fulfill that duty, then I’m failing you, correct?”
>Cadence’s scowl deepens into a frown, her stern gaze softening a little.  She shuffles her hooves a little and finally glances away.
>“Anonymous, I don’t like the direction this is headed.”
“Just hear me out.  Yesterday showed me that I still have a lot of room to grow.  If somepony attempts to bring you harm, I have to be able to put a stop to it.”
>In an instant, her eyes snap back to yours.  It’s not very pronounced, but there’s a hint of desperation dulling her eyes.
>“And I’m sure that you will.  You had Guardspony Glen reeling back on his hooves yesterday and”
“And it was in fair combat.  Criminals and desperate ponies do not fight fair, and will capitalize on any opportunity.  You don’t often get second chances when you’re soundly beaten the first time around.”
>“I still fail to see why you are ashamed to be seen in front of them.”
>You give a short laugh and shake your head.
“Again, it’s not shame at being beaten, I can handle any sort of verbal quip he might have on him.  But, he beat me, soundly.  My performance was lackluster, and I can’t abide by that.  I want to continue being your attendant, and so I need to get stronger.”
“I will be using my time away take part in some of the morning training exercises, to get a better feel for the sort of tactics that the Guard uses.  Surely there’s someone there who can help me.”
>Cadence scowls, puffing out her cheeks and averting her eyes.  You see the pale tip of her tongue wet her lips before she speaks again, in a soft and low voice.
>“Well, I still don’t like it.  I wanted you to be my attendant because you were honest and fair, not because you could protect me.”
“Well, I’d like to be all of that, and more.”
>You reach down, taking one of her hooves in your hand.  You give it a firm squeeze and bow your head.
“How about we go our separate ways after breakfast, and then at noon we can take lunch outside again.  I’ll even share another story about my time in Canterlot.”
>Though you’ve averted your eyes, you look up just enough to gauge the situation.  Cadence has a wide smile spread across her face and, after a long moment, pulls her hoof away, maintaining contact with your hand for as long as possible.
>“I suppose that is a fair arrangement.  But I’ll hold you to that, and I want a real story.”
“And you’ll get it, I promise.”
>Another smile and this time you’re allowed to bask in the innocent warmth behind it.  The Princess trots by you as you stand then follow her into the dining hall.
>Breakfast operates in much the same manner as it had the day before, though you notice that the Prince’s eyes seem fixated on you until he reaches his seat.  For the most part, you decide it would be better to focus on the delegate’s end of the table, sparing a look to the Princess every minute or so to see if she needs anything.  It works rather well, and prevents you from engaging Guardspony Glen.
>Eight o’clock comes soon enough, and at the first chime the ponies, gryphons and minotaurs are again at one another’s throats.  Cadence manages to escape unscathed this time around, meeting you at the door rather than walking through the mess of bodies to get to you.  As you wander through the halls, the Princess turns and gives you a concerned smile.
>“While I can’t make you stay by my side all day, will you at least promise me that I won’t have to call a physician for you again?”
“If you agree to be the picture perfect princess who sits up straight and never gets herself into trouble, I imagine I can.”
>She doesn’t miss the playful upturn at the end of your statement.  Though the grin spreads across her face, you can still see the worry in her eyes.
>“You know that I could never do that.”
“Well then, all I can say is that I’ll do my very best to avoid it.”
>With a satisfied nod, Cadence turns her eyes forward.  You meet with her guard detail soon after, Guardspony Lark donning a face splitting smile.  While you don’t recognize the other two guards, they seem much more professional than the fresh pegasus.  Maybe you can bring Laurel some coffee from the kitchen later as thanks.
>After a brief goodbye, you head down to the barracks to meet with Festus.  This early in the day, he’s still doing inventory, Dusty squirming in and between baskets of weapons, calling out quantities for the large unicorn to write down.  You clear your throat and earn the attention of both ponies.
>Festus grins as he sees you’ve still got your stick and murmurs something to the earth pony colt.  With a rather irritated scowl, he trots back to the back room, leaving you alone with the sizeable unicorn.  Tilting his head to your weapon, Festus chuckles and asks
>“So, not bad, hmm?”
“Not bad at all.  What is this exactly?  It’s like nothing else I’ve ever used.”
>With a conspiratorial smile, Festus heaves himself up onto his hind legs, crashing one leg down on the counter on his side.  Glancing left and right, he levitates a flimsy looking arrow in front of you before letting it go with a clatter.
>“Break that.  Just snap it in half.”
>You frown, but pick the projectile up.  Its light, as you would expect, that the arrowhead is fashioned in such a way that it would require a good deal of time and energy to remove it from the shaft.  The end is thicker than the rest of the bolt and boasts several eagle feathers.  With a curious glance up at the still grinning Festus, you clasp your hands on either side of the arrow and turn your hands down and towards one another.
>It offers no resistance as it flexes between your hands, flowing up higher and higher until the knuckles of your pinkies clack together.  Still intact, the bolt quivers in protest, but does not snap.  You adjust your grip so that your hands are closer, with similar results.  On your failed third attempt, Festus lets out a deep, rumbling laugh, and pulls the arrow from your hands.
>“Not so easy, is it?”
>The arrow flops back into place, seeming none the worse for wear, straight as it ever was.  You chuckle a little and watch as Festus attempts to saw through it with a knife, with about as much success as you had.
“While that is amazing, it doesn’t let me know who it’s like that.”
>“Ironbark.”
>Festus grins, leaning in closer.
>“Strong and resilient as metal, flexible and light as wood and its used to produce heirloom quality items.”
>There it is again, this magical wonder wood.  First your storage box, then the arrow and staff, it sounds too good to be true.
“Sounds like it’s the best material you can work with.  Why isn’t everything made of the stuff?”
>“Lots of reasons.  Access to the raw materials, since ironbark trees grow in the Gryphon Confederacy and the cost is enormous because of the labor required.  But, I’d say that it’s mostly because this,”
>A quick tapping sound draws your eyes to the arrow, which is again glowing green with the Quartermaster’s horn.
>“gave the stuff a bad name.  You know that the only way to remove an arrow is to pull it out.  Normally, you’d snap off one end and just pull it through, but as you saw that’s almost impossible.  So, you can remove the head, pull the fat end through and risk further damage, or you can apply a goodly amount of heat, melt the bark, and pull it through.”
“None of those sound very comfortable.”
>“Aye, that’s why it’s a crime to use them.  The Gryphons never had much in the way of metal, but they’ve got entire forests of ironbark.  And by the time ponies made landfall in future Equestria, the tribes had been harvesting it for centuries and become quite adept at archery.”
>“Masterful, it’s the claws y’see, gives them a manual dexterity that ponies could only ever dream of.  Pegasi Commanders lost countless soldiers to these fellas in border conflicts before the peace accord.  Wouldn’t know it form how buddy-buddy Cloudsdale is with the tribes now, would ya?”
>Festus enjoys a deep laugh while your stomach turns a little bit at that thought.  Despite the pleasant nature of the land, it seems it had a very colorful, very dangerous, history.  A part of you wants to ask what sort of contorted legality would allow the use of an ironbark spear over an arrow, but there’s a look in the Quartermaster’s eyes that makes you think it might be a question for another time.  You search for a quick way to change the subject.
“So, I’m looking to take in some training today, and I was wondering if you had any idea who might be the pony to study under.”
>“Guardspony Stardust, of the Night Guard.”
>The unicorn doesn’t hesitate with his answer, which leaves you at a loss for words.  Finally, you manage to string something together.
“And, why Stardust?”
>“I’d hate to ruin the surprise, so just trust me on this one.  Guardspony Stardust is your best bet if you’re looking to get a handle on your weapon.”
>Smirking, you nod and tilt your staff at him.
“I appreciate the insight, Festus.  You enjoy those bits, all right?”
>“Surely as grass grows I will.   And if you’ve ever got the feeling that your pouch is too heavy, you come see me and I’ll be glad to take more off your hands.”
>The two of you share a laugh before you wave him off and head out to the training grounds.  While you’re familiar with the area, the grunts and groans of cadets in conflict are a pleasant reminder that you’re on the right track.  Stepping out into the sunlight, you shield your eyes for a moment and let them adjust before taking in the scene.
>Compared to the straw ponies you had access to in the City Guard basement, this is a paradise.  Wide open spaces of lush green grass, matted down in some places from the constant falling of hooves, while dirt and earth peek from beneath equipment racks.  The sharp clacking of steel and wood is ever present, along with the occasional cheer or grunt of disapproval from the guards.  Reaching out to one of the passing unicorns, you place a hand on his shoulder, earning a look you’ve become quite used to.
>“Aye, what is it?”
“I’m looking for Guardspony Stardust, can you tell me where to find him?”
>Before he can answer, a second voice cuts through the din.
>“What’s a hairless boar like you looking for me for?”
>The guardspony smirks as he nods behind you.  Taking a breath, you turn and face the speaker.
>Not a stallion, certainly, not even with that low grumbling beast of a voice.  A thin vertical black slit sits perfectly centered in two large yellow eyes.  Her lips curled up in a teasing smile as she stands on her hind legs, a heavy looking spear spread across her shoulders, held in place by her forehooves.
>While her grey coat is unremarkable, her armor glistens like starlight in the late purple of dusk.  Perhaps most remarkable are the wings stretching from her back, not those of a pegasus, but rather a bat.  You’d seen them, on occasion, circling the castle towers as you patrolled the common streets, but never had you been this close.
>“I’ll say it again.  What d’you want?”
>You waste no time crossing the grounds to meet her.  Even as you approach, towering over her as you do with nearly every pony in this city, she does not flinch.  If anything, her smile grows all that much wider.
“Guardspony Stardust, I presume?”
>“You’d presume right.”
“My name is G-”
>“I know who you are.”
>Stardust cocks her head to the side, still maintaining that playful smile.  Behind her eyes, however, there is something simmering, threatening to boil over.
>“Everyone in the castle knows who you are by now.”
>Rolling her shoulders, she knocks the spear loose and spins it over her head in a slow, lazy motion as the crowd gives a quiet laugh of approval.  The blunt end of the weapon drops into the soft dirt and you feel her eyes, roaming your body.
>“How could anyone not?  The lowly City Guardspony who won the attention of a Princess, enough that she would personally request him to be her Attendant.  Surely”
>She pauses and nods to the crowd of ponies as they grumble in agreement.  Waving her hoof, Stardust smirks and locks eyes with you again.
>“Surely, he must be among the greatest of warriors to have ever graced Equestria, rivaling the legendary heroes who fought, bled and died for our great country.”
>Using her wings and the spear to balance herself, Stardust stalks forward on two legs and though she is still a good deal shorter than you, she shows no fear.  Her lips curl into a snarl.
>“Certainly more worthy than a future Weapons Master of the Royal Guard, wouldn’t you think?”
>The ponies murmur in agreement.  Stardust’s scowl deepens as she thrusts wide to your right side.  You flinch towards the left out of habit, but her surprise attack would have skewered you if it had been on target.
>“But then he shows himself to be nothing more than a talentless!”
>Setting herself back to a neutral position, she thrusts again, far to the right this time.  You feel your right side tug as the spear bounces off the outside of your armor
>“Graceless!”
>You’re falling back on your heels now, stumbling to keep up.  As she thrusts up at your head, you have the sense to knock the spear away from your face.  Though the strike was knocked aside, you still feel the force of the breeze as it zips by your ear.
>“Beast of a creature!”
>Snarling, she thrusts her entire body towards you this time, again knocking you back.  Stumbling, you regain your footing and grip your staff all the tighter.  Though she still smiles, Stardust’s eyes betray nothing but outright hatred towards you.  You’re going to have to have words with Festus.
>“Even if it was at the request of a Princess, you took what might have been mine.  So take your business, whatever it is, and shove it down your throat.”
>Well, this is certainly not going as you’d planned.  The guards are all seeming quite pleased with Stardust’s performance, cheering as the mare drops to her hooves and turns her back on you, moving deeper into the training green.  Your reputation is sinking, and if you can’t hold at least some measure of respect in the Guard, they’ll likely turn against you.  Your eyes dart from side to side, searching for some way to bait her.  It comes in an instant
“Is that why you’re the only Night Guard out here?”
>The crowd hisses, a low and dangerous sound, as Guardspony Stardust stops in her tracks.  Those vicious yellow eyes find yours again, burning all the brighter with righteous indignation.  You can’t help but smile, knowing you've struck a nerve as she snarls at you.
>“What, are you implying?”
“Only that it’s rather strange that none of your comrades are in sight.  Is that because the Night Guard is somehow less capable than the rest of the Royal Guard?”
>Laughter trickles in from the corners, rolling its way through the crowd as the ponies delight in the fact that you’re finally showing some backbone.  Stardust takes a step forward and her nostrils flare.
>“The Night Guard is descended from the most mighty and noble of the warrior pegasi!”
“Is that so?  Then why does the Princess of the Night not use her own Guard to see to her needs?  Last I checked he was a unicorn, from the Royal Guard.”
>“Hold your tongue, beast!”
>Watching the pony quiver with rage, you know that you’ve made your point.  While you’ve likely stepped into dangerous territory, you’re building rapport and a presence in the Guard.
>“I’ll not have you insult me any longer.  Ready your weapon.”
>The only question in your mind is if you’ll be able to keep any respect once she’s done wiping the floor with your backside.  You take a deep breath and bend your knees a little, holding the staff at the end and around the middle, the opposite end running parallel to your shoulder.  And then, you wait.
>It doesn’t take long.  With a howl, Stardust descends upon you with all the fury you should have expected.  As before, her attacks are quick and send you reeling.  Unlike before, however, she is well prepared for your attempt to escape.
>On her fifth attempt, she feints high and left.  You bite, jerking your head away and to the right, only to see that she has set herself up to strike again.  Stardust thrusts right for your heart.  Too late, you begin to roll your body into the blow but still with enough time to avoid getting run through.  Still, the attack is enough to knock you from your feet.
>The bat-pony clears the space between you with a single leap, her spear angled down as she descends.  It’s easy enough to tell where she’ll strike, but another matter entirely to escape from the ground.  Rolling as far as you can to the right, you force yourself left and onto your belly.  The metal tip of Stardust’s spear digs deep into the soft earth near your ear.  Her hooves make themselves comfortable on your back.
>“Not so big now, are we?  Where are all that taunting now that you’re eating dirt and muck, like a wild creature should?”
>While the ponies in Equestria aren’t especially large, Stardust is not light by any means.  You can feel your ribs creak as the pony places her full weight onto your back, as though two large sandbags attempt to pin you to the ground.  At that thought, you smile.
>It’s awkward to move your arms, certainly, but you persevere.  The fact that you can see the spear shuffling back and forth as your opponent digs it out of the dirt certainly provides you with a sense of urgency.  As the weapon leaves the earth, you position your hands underneath your body and push upwards as quickly as you can.
>A cry goes up from the crowd as you feel the weight on your back vanishes.  With an ungraceful grunt and an accompanying cloud of dust, the bat-pony falls on her flank.  Sneering, you hop to your feet.
“Why don’t you leave the standing upright to me?”
>With an equally unpleasant scowl, Stardust moves back to a two-legged stance, though she uses the spear to steady herself until she extends her wings.  That earns your attention.  She wobbles once and then drops back into a ready position.  You decide to goad her a little more.
“Looking a little unsteady on your hooves, maybe you’d like to take a break?  Get your scrapes looked at?”
>“I’m going to set the record straight once and for all, you filthy baboon.  You’ve got some fancy footwork and your reach is to be reckoned with, but off your feet you’re as helpless as a newborn foal.”
>Though she taunts you, there’s a small smile there and the hatred seems to be matched by a ravenous hunger burning in her eyes.  Dropping back into a defensive position, you give her a smirk right back and wait for her to engage.
 >
>“What do you see, Snowy?”
>The aged guard glances over his shoulder towards the Captain.  Shining Armor’s eyes, cold as winter’s wind, remain locked on the field below.  With a sigh, Snowy Glen turns his gaze back to the green.  Leaning against the stonework, he props his head up on his hoof and sighs.
>“Guardspony Anonymous gotten under her skin, not that it is incredibly difficult.”
>“His movements, what are you learning about his movements.”
>The detached tone in the Captain’s voice gives Snowy pause, though he doesn’t dare look back again.  As Stardust renews the conflict by charging forward, Anonymous backpedals, knocking the incoming blows aside.  He has several close calls, the nicks along the outside of his armor attest to that, but he does well protecting his sizable core from the bat-pony’s assault.
>“He’s slow to attack, but his steps are precise, moving only as much as he needs to avoid contact.  He’s more concerned about saving his own hide than ending the battle quickly.”
>Shining Armor sneers at that conclusion.  Stalking forward, he keeps his eyes on the retreating human as Anonymous begins to circle around to the inside of the half-circle of guards, giving him more room to evade.
>“So he’s a coward?”
>“Uncertain in his combat ability is more likely, Captain.  By all accounts he’s had only a handful of time as a member of the City Guard, but he moves with a grace most warriors take years to learn.  Whatever he did before arriving in Canterlot, it prepared him for long bouts of combat.  Watch.”
>Even from their perch, the unicorns can’t miss Stardust’s cry of frustration as she continues to press her advantage, to no avail.  As Anonymous runs out of room to retreat, he shifts his weight and knocks the attack wide, turning out and away before setting his feet.  He repeats the process on the next attack, forcing Guardspony Stardust into the corner he had so recently been trapped in.
>“I see.  Then we shall simply have to place him into a position where he cannot run.”
>A stillness settles between the ponies as they observe.  The elder of the pair at last speaks, resisting the urge to lick his lips in anticipation of the answer.
>“Captain?”
>There is no response, but after a moment, Snowy presses on.
>“Might I ask why you drew me away from the Prince?  I consider my business with Guardspony Anonymous to be concluded.”
>The silence carries on for several seconds more.  Guardspony Glen sighs, resigning himself to never knowing the secrets of his Captain’s mind.
>“It is because I have business with him.”
>Pursing his lips, Snowy keeps his eyes on the field and waits quietly and it is not long until the Captain continues.
>“If he is unfit to be a member of the Guard, he must be routed out as quickly as possible.  I do not believe he has the strength, training or conviction to be one of us.”
>“He may not have the first two, and his conviction may be questionable, but he is unflinching in the face of danger.”
>“All the more reason to have him removed, the reckless have no place among those who would protect lives.  Once the Princess sees that he is unfit, she shall have no choice but to remove him from her service.”
>With a heavy frown, the older unicorn looks to his superior officer but says nothing.  Shining at last meets his eyes, cold determination in his voice.
>“Snowy, you shall serve as the leader of the opposing force for Anonymous’ test.  Together, we shall drive this blight from our castle and return things to the way that they should be.”
>Another bout of silence, then Shining Armor turns and makes his way towards the interior of the castle.  Before disappearing around the corner, he turns back to the Prince’s Attendant, smirking.
>“And do not try to fool me, Guardspony.  I know that the Prince would not let a defeat mar his conscience, and neither would you.”
>The realization that the Captain is aware of Prince Blueblood’s interference ties a knot in Snowy’s belly.  The opportunity to pay Anonymous back, however, still brings a smile to the old stallion’s face.
>
“Getting a little tired?”
>Stardust snarls as she meets your eyes.  It’s quite funny, actually, watching her scamper after you, extending her spear again and again without success.  You’ve watched her stumble three times already as she balances in a bipedal stance.  Nearly frothing at the mouth, she spits in your direction.
>“Ugh, if you’re going to fight like a beast, at least have the decency to get skewered like one!”
“I’m afraid that would make meeting the Princess for lunch rather difficult.  As an attendant, I must place the needs of my liege above all others.”
>“ARGH!”
>Another push forward.  The weight of the spear is getting to her; it’s evident in the slower strikes, the tip taking about .8 of a second longer than the three close calls you had at the start.  She really would have been better to be more cautious with her assault.
>Despite the back and forth, you’re both grinning like idiots.  She’s in far better physical shape than Guardspony Glen, but she’s beginning to get worn down.  Now is a good time to put a stop to this.  On her next thrust, you move to roll away again.  From there, it’s a simple matter of pinning her back against the crowd, and forcing her to yield.
>As you rotate away and move to plant your back foot, you hear the low whistling sound of wood cutting through the air.  The bat-pony grins, having taken another few steps with her latest attack which put her in prime position to slam the broad end of the spear into your gut.  The wood smacks hard against your armor and sends you to the ground.
>She’s on you again, faster than last time, placing her hooves onto your shoulders and wedging her spear against your staff.  A sharp kick to the face has you seeing stars as the crowd roars in approval.  As her cheshire grin comes back into focus, Guardspony Stardust laughs.
>“D’ya yield?  Or would you prefer a chance to get more intimate with my spear?”
>It takes a moment to swallow your pride but you nod.  Stardust smirks and shakes her head.
>“Oh no, not after all that bluster and bravado you were showing earlier.  You’ve got to say it.”
>Your tongue grows fat and useless as your mind scrambles for some way to come out of this and save face.  But concerns for your reputation are quickly replaced with those for your body as she hefts her weapon once again.
“I yield.  You are the better warrior.”
>Laughing again, she jabs your chin playfully with the tip of her spear.  While she doesn’t break the skin, the pressure is certainly unwelcome, and if you didn’t think she’d make you regret it you would throw her off right then and there.
>“The very best, and don’t you go forgetting that.”
>No matter how good she claims to be, you’ll never be comfortable with her waving that pointy stick in your face.  Thankfully, she is quickly hoisted off of you by the crowd of onlookers, laughing as they carry her off in celebration.
>A few linger around, offering their condolences.  It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but made easier by the fact that they seem honest about it.  You made an impression, and a good one at that.  In the end, that’s all that you can really hope to do.
>Lifting your suddenly heavy body, you grab your staff and make your way back into the castle.  A quick trip back to your room to freshen up, noting again that grass stains are a real pain, and you find yourself outside the library scant minutes before Princess Cadence wraps up her lessons.
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.”
>You bow, putting on your best smile.  Glancing up you can see Guardspony Lark and the others standing a good distance away, content to observe for the moment.  The Princess tosses you a wry smile and raises an eyebrow.
>“My Attendant comes, at last.  I must say, things were dreadfully dull without you around.”>Chuckling, you lift yourself back to a standing position and approach her.
“Is that so?  Why would that be?”
>“Despite your occasional ineptitude, you are quite pleasant to be around.”
>Cadence doesn’t miss a beat as she chuckles, the smile soon spreading into a wide grin as she walks up to you.  It’s evident she’s paying attention to the bruising and bandages on face, though she does well to hide her concern.
>“Did you have an eventful morning?”
“I don’t believe so, took in some training and made the acquaintances of some of the guards, so no, nothing terribly interesting at all.”
>Out of habit, you offer her your hand.  Your eyes meet and your heart gives a small flutter as a slight pink tinge graces her cheeks
“So, my Princess, where shall we dine today?”

Chapter 11

>The pond is a nice touch.  It helps to break up the green and grey of the courtyard with a vibrant, almost ethereal blue.  The light catches the occasional ripples just right, giving them a crest that would look more appropriate on a ten foot wave.  It’s really wonderful, except for the mosquitos.
>Slapping your palm back against your neck, you wince as you feel a slick wetness dribble between your fingers.  You’ve got that one, now there are just a few thousand more to go.  Cadence doesn’t seem fazed in the least by the bothersome buzzing, humming to herself as she lays out the picnic lunch.  Such are the benefits of being a pony.  The spread is bereft of any meat, but the numerous jams, jellies, and candied fruits are a colorful touch to the otherwise green and yellow meal.
>A glance over your shoulder confirms that Guardspony Lark is still following you around like a lonely puppy.  You’d dismissed the three guards shortly after being reunited with your charge and the other two had gone off for reassignment.  Not Lark.
>There had been that 'third wheel' moment when you and the Princess just sort of stared at him, expecting him to realize he wasn't needed.  Only he didn't bite and had taken to following half a dozen steps behind you the entire length of the castle.
>Not that you mind, it’s nice to have some time away, but his presence is beginning to make things feel a little awkward around the Princess.  Honestly, what if he started freaking out about how informal the two of you were?  What if it got back to the Captain?
>“Anonymous?”
>At the sound of your name, your attention goes back to Cadence.  She’s wearing a concerned smile, though there’s a measure of frustration in her voice as she continues.
>“I believe that you owe me a story, isn’t that correct?”
“So I do.”
>Nodding, you reach down and pick up one of the apples.  Three wipes and a bite later, you’re chewing and attempting to look thoughtful.  Cadence’s lip curls up a little as she smiles wider before sparing the pegasus guard a glance.
>“You don’t have to look so stiff, you know.  Come and sit, I imagine that Anonymous will be too busy talking to indulge his appetite and I certainly can’t eat all this on my own.”
>Lark glances around a few times before walking forward and sitting down opposite you.  It takes a moment or two, but he gathers up the courage to grab himself a banana.  With that out of the way, you turn back to the Princess.
“Now, where’d I leave off?”
>Biting her lower lip, Cadence leans forward with a conspiratorial smile.
>“You’d been taken captive by the ponies.”
“Right, I regained consciousness a little while later…”
>
>The soft sound of feet pacing brings you back to alertness.  You know that’s it’s been a little over two hours since you were conscious, but you don’t know where you are.  You’d really like to believe that the whole getting assaulted by little horses thing didn’t actually happen.  Unfortunately, the still lingering pain of a busted nose and the chilly stone sapping away your precious warmth isn’t giving you too much hope.
> Rolling onto your back, you push yourself into a sitting position and open your eyes.  The light isn’t so much blinding as it is disorienting, low and flickering.  As your vision adjusts to the ghostly glow, you struggle to your feet and stagger forward into the metal bars keeping you from the outside world.  The bridge of your nose aches and your breathing is rather strained, but you at least feel energetic enough to get some answers.
>Dragging your knuckles along the bars, you do your best to ignore the ear grating jangling sound you’re making.  When no one comes by, you take a deep breath and shout.
“Hey!  I’m awake now!  Mind telling me what’s going on?”
>Though there’s no one shouting back at you, there is a distant sound like someone running.  Smirking to yourself, you turn and take stock of the rest of your cell.  The mattress is well worn and several sizes too small, marked with vibrant yellow stains from urine and vomit.  Ick.  Definitely going to be resting against the wall.
>On the far corner of the room is a hole in the ground.  You dread what it might be, but as you don’t really have anything else to do, you approach it.  Six feet from the hole, even your busted nose starts getting whiffs of decaying fecal matter.  Waving your hand in front of your face, you gag and cough a few times before returning to the less odoriferous open wall.
>You have enough time to get comfortable between the metal and stone walls when you hear the sound of footsteps getting closer.  Too tired to get to your feet, you put on a wide smile and wait.  Your faux cheer shrinks as your fears are realized, another of the small horses trotting in front of the cell.  While you may be upset to see him, he seems delighted to see you, grinning from ear to ear.
>He stays there for a while, grinning like an idiot, then cocks his head to the side sending his red mane flying.  He meets your eyes and for an instant you hope and pray that he’ll understand you.
>“Sal way.  Kid a-geese?”
>So, assuming this isn’t some wild dream, you’re dealing with sentient horses.  You stare at him a moment longer and then grunt before smacking your head against the wall.  You’d hoped to knock yourself out of this nightmare, but instead your body decides to let you know how much it’s hurting, from head to toe.  Gritting your teeth, you give him a smile and cock an eyebrow.
“I don’t suppose that you know any English?”
>The little horse laughs a little and shakes his head, lifting one of his hooves in an apologetic manner.  He’s as lost as you are.  Not much left to do now but sulk and die.  Noting your sour expression, he thinks for a moment and then taps on the bars to get your attention.  Still grinning, he pounds his hoof into his chest.
>“Gloria Weeah.”
>Extending his hoof, he gives you an expectant look.  In your mind, you’re still scrambling to process the fact that you understood some of what he said.  Gloria was a girl’s name and this creature seemed male, but at least it was familiar.  You glance between the offered limb and his face but before you can react, he repeats the process, again holding his hoof out.  Lifting your hand, you point at him.
“Gloria.”
>He grins and nods, before pointing at you again.  Taking the cue, you grin and grasp his hoof in your hand.  Gloria’s eyes widen as you do so, but before he can pull away, you give him your name.
“Anonymous.”
>Gloria gives a small nod and pulls his hoof away, mouthing the strange sounds with his tongue.  He has several rough starts, but after a few tries he seems like he’s got it.  With a hacking laugh that would sound more natural coming out of a dying bird, he repeats it a few times more.
>“AHnonHEmos.”
>That’s close enough.  You give him a nod and a short chuckle, which grows longer as he joins in.  Soon the two of you are cackling back and forth at one another, only to be silenced by a sudden resounding crack of wood on stone.  Gloria stares off to the side before turning back and giving an apologetic shrug.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see thee more equines march into view.
>Staying with the tiny theme, they’re all about three and a half to four feet tall, though you’re more interested in the fact that these have horns.  The door to your cage glows an eerie purple before swinging open and allowing them to enter.  You think you recognize the two in the back from the wall, but it’s the one who’s on point has caught your interest.
>Like the other two he’s got a white coat, but his head is uncovered, revealing a thick mane boasting three different shades of blue.  The elaborate purple armor is another indicator that this isn’t some simple wall grunt.  He stares at you for a long while and you really don’t have the will to do much but glare right back.  After a solid two minutes of silence, you finally break.
“Well we're off to a great start, aren't we?  On the off chance that you understand me, I'm Anonymous."
>You place your palm against your chest and smile.  Off in the corner, you can see Gloria quivering a little as he holds back a bout of laughter.  The unicorns, at least, that's what you think they are, show no reaction other than a few glances back and forth at one another.  Except for the front man, horse, thing, who simply stares.  Squirming a little, you again attempt conversation.
"So, you’re unicorns?”
>That gets their attention.  A slow smile spreads across the muzzle of the lead horse as he trots in front of you.  He paces a few times, then chuckles.
>“Unicornis?”
>His voice is similar to Gloria's, rather calm and laid back, but his gaze is relentless.  You can feel him sizing you up, though it’s rather clear that he has no intention of harming you.  Finally he stops and takes a step towards you.  Then the questions start.
>At least Gloria had taken his time sounding out his name.  This one just assaults you endlessly with a language that you haven’t even begun to grasp.  When he relents and all you can do is smile and shrug, he renews his efforts with much more vigor.  But no matter how hard he tries, you just can’t grasp what he’s saying.   Finally, Gloria steps in and pulls the stallion aside.
>They speak in low voices for a few seconds before all four ponies exit the cell.  The unicorns say something to Gloria who gives a curt nod before the trio walk back down the hall.    As the sound of their hoof falls echoes into the distance, Gloria sits down in front of your cell and lifts a hoof.
>“Sal Weh.”
>
>You sigh a little and take another bite of your apple.  Cadence seems slightly interested in your tale, but Meadowlark is fully engaged, ready to spring up to a standing position at any moment.  His helmet rests by his side, as well as his almost untouched lunch.  You laugh a little and glance over at the Princess.
“And that’s how I met my best friend and future City Guard partner and started learning to speak Equestrian.  I thought it was going to be a nightmare, but the tongue is remarkably similar to one of our root languages back home.  Once Glory and I figured that out, it was easy to grasp some of the ideas and start building off them.”
>The pegasus pony nearly crawls up into your lap as he scoots closer.  His eyes are as wide as his smile.
>“So, how long did it take you?”
>Ruffling Lark’s mane, you shrug.
“I stayed in the city drunk tank for about a week, until I was able to convince Captain Shining Armor that I wasn’t a threat.  From there, I spent half a dozen days playing with some of the younger ponies around town, to better understand the basics that I was having trouble with and then I spent a couple weeks in the market, sitting, listening and engaging.  It’s amazing what you can do when you need to keep food in your belly.”
>“So you’ve known Shining Armor the entire time that you’ve been in Equestria?”
>The Princess’ question catches you off guard, but after thinking about it for a moment, you laugh.  Stretching out into the grass, the buzzing forgotten, you stare up at the sky and shrug.
“I suppose so, though we didn’t start out on the best of terms we’ve made some good progress, especially since the Royal Guard examination.”
>Lark’s face blots out the sun as he hovers over you with an excited smile.
>“Can we hear about that next?”
“Maybe, but not today.  I’ve got a little over three hours until the Princess and I have to be at the training grounds, and I need to get some grub before I head out onto the field of battle.  Right?”
>“Indeed.”
>Cadence clearly does not share in your anticipation.  Sitting up, you press your elbows into your knees and take a moment to watch her.  Once again, she’s staring off into the distance, perturbed by whatever it is that’s on her mind.  Clearing your throat, you can’t help but smile a little as she jerks back into an attentive position.
“Everything all right, Princess?”
>Those cloudy purple eyes find yours and brighten a little.  Regardless of what’s bothering her, she’s legitimately happy to have your attention.  Brushing her mane out of her face, she smirks.
>“Perfectly all right.  Eat up; you’ll need time to digest before taking the field.”
>That’s all you need to hear.
>
>As the madness of lunch comes to an end, Princess Celestia dabs a napkin at her lips and excuses herself from the table.  The delegates do likewise and make ready their arguments for the afternoon’s trade agreements and audiences.  Savoring these few brief moments of peace, she walks alongside her Guard Captain, wearing her nearly ever present shallow smile.
>“Captain, have you any news?”
>“Yes Princess, we have half a dozen incidents regarding the southwestern border.”
>The Princess gives a small sigh of disapproval, though she doesn’t show it on her face.  Her face crinkles a little, as if in thought, but all too soon she resorts simply to smiling and chuckling quietly.
>“My, that doesn’t sound promising at all.  What do the reports say?”
>Frustration is evident in the Guard Captain’s face at her lackadaisical response.  Taking a steadying breath, Shining Armor sighs and begins.
>“There have been four reported raids on caravans headed into the western territories, spearheaded by what we presume to be Pegasi.  In addition, there have been two reports of raids on food stores in Appleoosa and an Equestrian Engineering Corps outpost.  Earth ponies are believed to be behind the attacks.  Casualties are almost non-existent across all instances.”
>“Well, at least that’s a bit of good news.”
>Celestia’s rather bland statement lingers in the air for a long moment before giving way to silence.  The Princess, for all her size, is quite graceful, her hooves making soft clicks compared to the much louder steps and clattering armor of her Captain.  As they enter the throne room, Shining turns to her and frowns.
>“Princess, what would you have me do about these attacks?”
>A look of legitimate surprise crosses Celestia’s face.  Pursing her lips, she leaves her Captain standing at the base of the stairs as she climbs to her throne.  The Princess takes a few moments to situate herself before responding.
>“You’re asking me?  You are among the most capable Captains I have ever had the privilege of knowing.  I have full faith in your abilities to protect the ponies of Equestria from harm without advice.”
>“This is not a matter of needing advice!”
>Shining Armor’s hoof cracks against the marble floor beneath his hooves.  The echo rumbles back and forth between the pillars of the throne room for several seconds before fading into nothing.  Princess Celestia’s smile has grown stern, her eyes narrowed as she lets her gaze wander over the smaller unicorn.
>Shining Armor’s face reddens, finally realizing the lengths of his childishness.  Though he is ashamed of his actions, he meets the Princesses eyes and does not apologize.  At last, Celestia sighs.
>“Very well, Captain, I shall hear you out.  State your business.”
>“Thank you Princess.  As you know, we are surrounded by countries that are growing in power.  The Gryphon Confederacy grows larger each year as more tribes assimilate into the collective.  With their resources, our cloud cities might be overrun in days, limiting our control over the weather.  A prolonged siege would end in starvation for the pony populace.”
>The Princess gives a small nod as she watches her Captain begin to pace across the room.  He pauses in front of the throne, staring at the ground for a moment before looking back up at her.
>“The Minotaur Kingdoms are running out of usable land.  They have gone as far south as the mountains so now the only options to them are the arid lands to the west and the lush plains of Equestria.  Once desperation strikes, they will move on us.  The need to survive will make their already frightening strength a force to be reckoned with.  And then there are these”
>Gritting his teeth, Shining Armor grinds his hooves into the floor as his body begins to shake.  Taking a few moments to collect himself, he all but spits his distaste for the saboteurs.
>“These feral ponies, though they’re more like beasts I say.  These creatures have thrown off any semblance of culture and decency, and obsess about fulfilling their own basic desires.  We have tolerated them because they are our kin and made their homes in the untamed wildernesses across Equestria, but we cannot continue to ignore the fact that they are quickly becoming a threat to the safety of the land.”
>“The fact that we continue to let them attack us can be perceived as a sign of weakness.  Were any of the neighboring countries to catch wind of this turmoil, they would capitalize on it.  Please, just give me the word and I will drive them out of Equestria.  Let me keep our country safe!”
>Princess Celestia, with her mane billowing over her shoulder in a nonexistent wind stares down at her Captain.  Her eyes have lost the warmth they usually hold, making her seem that much larger and distant in the suddenly chilly throne room.  With practiced poise, she speaks in a low, detached tone.
>“And what of the rumors that members of the Guard have been seen among the ‘feral beasts’?  Will you be so eager assault your comrades in arms?”
>Shining Armor tenses at that.  He can’t stop the question from escaping his lips.
>“Who’s told you that?”
>The white alicorn gives a smug smirk, some of the mirth returning to her face as she speaks.
>“I take great interest in the lives of my little ponies.  My eyes and ears stretch far and wide across Equestrian territory, and even beyond.  But you have not answered my question.  Are there members of the Guard who are defecting?”
>Shining Armor averts his eyes and thinks for a moment.  Indeed, there had been some sightings of ponies donning Guard armor and weaponry, but the idea of a pony turning their back on the Princess was, unimaginable.  Stiffening his jaw, Shining returns his attention back to the Princess.
>“You have been told rumors, nothing more.”
>“And how do you know this?”
>“When we enter the Guard, we swear allegiance to Equestria until our service ends.  We belong to the land, the ponies, and to the Royal Family as well.  To cast off our vows so easily would be an act of treason and would see any Guards involved excommunicated from their friends, families and loved ones.  No one would risk that.”
>“You seem very confident.  And yet there have been numerous guardsponies seen heading multiple raids.  Is that not what you have heard, Captain?”
>Shining Armor sets his lips into a thin line, trying to hide his frustration.  His teeth grind against one another as he furrows his brow and nods his head.
>“That is the rumor, yes.  But there is no evidence other than word of mouth.”
>“And yet there is nothing which disproves it either.  I thought that I had made it clear, I will not allow you to bring harm to any of my ponies, regardless of if they are feral or not, unless I have adequate information to make a decision.  Bring me evidence that the madness is not spreading, or, if it is, the reason behind it and I shall be more than happy to provide you with my blessing to deal with the situation as you see fit.”
>Snapping his head back up, Shining Armor does his best to restrain himself from snapping at the monarch.
>“Then I shall go myself, taking along a small detachment from the Royal Guard.  We shall confront these raiders and capture them alive, that we might better understand what it is that we are dealing with.”
>Raising an eyebrow, Princess Celestia settles back into her seat.  She gives a slow nod, that pleasant smile returning to her lips.
>“This is acceptable.  Shall I send word to have the train prepared now?”
>“No, I have matters regarding Guardspony Anonymous that must be dealt with before I leave.  Once I have finished with preparations, I shall let you know.”
>A shudder runs down Shining Armor’s spine as he sees the Princess’ smile spread wider across her face.  Her voice takes on a slightly amused tone as she raises an eyebrow.
>“Ah yes, Princess Cadence’s Attendant.   I was noticing that you seem rather irritated by his presence.”
>The Captain squirms a little at that statement.  The monarch chuckles and lifts a hoof to her muzzle to quiet the delighted sound.  Tossing his mane, Shining struggles to keep his composure.
>“You’re overanalyzing things, my Princess.”
>“Am I?”
>Princess Celestia cocks her head to the side, still wearing that pleased smile.  Scowling, the unicorn decides he’s had enough and bows his head, keeping his eyes low to the ground.
>“By your leave, Princess, I have matters which need my attention if I am to leave tonight.”
>“I suppose you do.  I know you will find success, Captain, and hopefully it brings you a measure of peace as well.”
>With another heavy sigh, the white unicorn nods his head and puts on a stern smile.  The doors creak open as he leaves, the three gryphon delegates entering, flanked on either side by a pair of guardsponies.  Princess Celestia smiles and nods her head at them.
>“Welcome, delegates.  Shall we begin finalizing trade negotiations?”

Chapter 12

>It’s twenty after three when the soft buzzing assaults your nose, earning a brief snort as you attempt to flush out the invasive pollen and get back to the important matter of resting.  As the tickle subsides, you smile and feel yourself drifting back to your nap.  You hear a slight giggle and then the sensation begins again, much more pronounced this time.
>Grunting and batting at your nose, you sigh in frustration as it refuses to abate.  Cracking open your eyes, you catch sight of the tell-tale blue shimmer of Princess Cadence’s magic.  Your eyes roll about in their sockets as you search for the pink pony, finally settling on her smiling face.  She chuckles again, and the pressure surrounding your nose disappears.
>“Sorry to wake you, Guardspony, but I thought you might like a little time to stretch your legs before meeting with the Captain.”
>Managing a tired smirk, you sit up and tilt your head back, earning a small pop from the stiff muscles.  She had a point and there were worse ways to wake up.  Wetting your lips, you take another moment to glance around, noting the absence of the pony who had been standing in for your shadow today.
“I appreciate your concern, Princess.  Do you know where Guardspony Lark went off?”
>“One of the other guards came by and said that the two of them had matters to discuss shortly after you lay down to rest.  I haven’t seen him since.”
>You suppress a groan as you sit up and knock the loose bits of grit and grass from the back of your head.  Unfortunate that you hadn’t woken up sooner, it would have been nice to spend more time with the Princess, just the two of you, but there’s nothing to be done now though.  Your mouth stretches wide as you yawn and lift your arms high over your head, feeling the tension seep out from your body and into the open air.  Taking a few moments to collect yourself, you press your palms against the ground and rock forward onto your feet.
>A little too much oomph puts you in a precarious position, arching forward as you balance on the balls of your feet.  Your arms lift in an attempt to steady yourself, and after a few exciting seconds, you can finally pull yourself back and put your heels on the ground.  Cadence doesn’t bother to hide her laughter, and you can’t help but smile as well as you march up beside her, grabbing your staff along the way.  Sighing, Cadence leans her head up a little and inspects your face before giving an approving smile.
>“Well, at least you look presentable.  Do you think that you’re ready for Shining Armor’s test?”
>The two of you make your way across the grounds, heading towards the barracks.  Having just walked the route this morning, the meandering passages are still fresh in your mind.  You shrug.
“I’d like to think that I am, but who can say?  I don’t really know how he’s going to test me yet, but I believe that I’ll be able to see it through.”
>Shaking her head, Cadence smiles.
>“You’re so self-assured that I’m almost inclined to believe you.”
>Both of you walk in silence for a while as you struggle to make small talk.  You’d thought it would be a blessing that Lark had been called away but instead you’re scrambling to find common ground.  It’s a mixture of nerves and a feeling of awkwardness that’s come out of nowhere, tying your stomach in knots and making your mouth feel unusually dry.  In an attempt to shift your focus away from the internal discomfort, you notice again the grace with which the Princess moves.
>Even with the metal shoes, she makes hardly a sound, the slight but distinct rocking of her hind quarters, and the delicately line of her spine.  Cadence notes your silence and dons a comforting smile.
>“Don’t worry Anonymous, you’ve proven yourself to be capable.  Just go out there and be yourself and everything will turn out just fine.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence, Cadence.  You’re right; I suppose it’s just nerves.”
>The pink pony’s lip curls up a little as you refer to her by name, and you can see a hint of color as she turns her eyes forward again.  Up ahead, you can see the green space of the training grounds.  You clutch your staff in anticipation and take a deep, steadying breath as you walk out onto the grass.
>There is significantly less space here when compared to the lush rolling gardens and walkways which snake through the rest of the castle grounds.  The walls radiate heat from the warm day, creating a stifling humid environment that makes your first few breaths ragged, your underclothes taking in the moisture in the air and resting heavily against your skin.  Cadence is not immune to the change either, letting out a heavy and exhausted sounding breath as she trots alongside you, a thin sheen of perspiration glistening against her neck.
>“It’s quite uncomfortable.”
“You can say that again.”
>Cadence smirks and tosses her mane in your direction.
>“It’s quite uncomfortable out here.  Can I count on you to wrap things up quickly?”
>You give her a brief chuckle and nod, motioning her towards a small set of wooden bleachers.
“I’ll be done as soon as I can.  Why don’t you wait in the shade?”
>The Princess nods and moves past you, situating herself on the cooler side of the grounds.  Arriving in the center of the training area, you take a few moments to stretch, grunting and sighing again as you notice the all-encompassing humidity makes it feel more difficult to move.  Staring into the blue sky, you search for the faint touches of evening as the sun begins its descent.  It’s still a little early for that though, though you do see a touch of pink out of the corner of your eye.
>Turning to inspect the unusual hue, you get another look at the Princess, specifically her mane.  She  seems quite intent on brushing her mane, though it’s doing little to offset the wild and untamed look that she’s currently sporting.  You ponder for half a moment where she managed to hide the brush, before getting caught up in watching the simple movements of the bristles through her mane.  Covered in the soft blue aura of her magic, she moves the brush with practiced ease.  Noting her relaxed thousand yard stare, you can’t help but smile, grateful for the quiet moment spent with her.
>“Good to see you’re prompt, Guardspony.”
“Of course, Captain.  How would it look for me to come late to my own examination?”
>Despite the frustration you feel at the scene coming to an abrupt end, you resist the temptation to reveal this fact.  A quick look to Cadence before you turn shows that she seems quite interested in Shining Armor’s appearance.  With that, you turn on your heels and snap a salute to the Captain of the Guard.
>Having forgone his helmet, the unicorn gives you a slight smile, extending his hoof outwards in response.  He drops it quickly, though you hold your pose for a moment before doing the same.  The smile grows as he trots up in front of you, though he stops about five feet away, allowing him to still look up at your face.
>“If you did, then it would reflect poorly.  I expect that you’re all set?”
“I’m ready to being whenever you would like, Captain.”
>“Superb.”
>Shining Armor turns back towards the entry arch and tilts his head to the side.  You feel your body stiffen as Guardspony Snowy Glen steps out into the grounds followed by Prince Blueblood, both of their coats immaculate, wearing similar smirks.  Several other guardsponies fall in behind them before the group splits, two guards accompanying the Prince towards the bleachers while the others continue following Guardspony Glen.  Cadence looks none too happy about sharing the space with her cousin, though she holds her tongue for the time being.
>Your attention turns from Blueblood and his escorts, back to the parade of ponies making their way towards you.  A troop of earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns, enough that you lose count somewhere around fifty bodies, all outfitted as though they were headed to war, all wearing stern expressions, save one.  Towards the back, a pegasus gives you a silly, apologetic smile.  So that’s where Lark had gotten off to.  Shining Armor turns his attention back to you.
>“As Guard Attendant to the Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, your first duty is to ensure the well-being of her Highness at all times.  While you have not been called upon to protect her, the time may come when it becomes necessary to do so.  The Princess is a high profile target, her worth is incalculable, so anypony looking to abduct her will likely take steps to become familiar with her escorts and will prepare accordingly.”
>Shining Armor pauses for a moment, and you can’t help but smile as you look over the gathered troops.  Smirking, you look to the Captain and chuckle.
“I hope that you’re not expecting me to fight off a few dozen ponies by myself.  Not to be rude Captain, but I’d like to think that even you would have trouble standing up to a force like this.”
>Your comment earns you a few sympathetic chuckles from the guards as some of them break the stone faced routine.  The Captain doesn’t falter though, and continues.
>“Of course not, if such a force were to move through Canterlot, the Guard would certainly catch wind of it and move to suppress any actions against the crown.  However, I do believe that should such an occasion arise, you will find yourself outnumbered and I would like to see how well prepared you are for such an incident.  Guardspony Snowy Glen has graciously decided to serve as the agitator in this exercise.”
>Snowy gives you a wide, toothy smile as he takes a few steps forward, nodding in your direction.  The grin stretches to a twisted distortion of itself as he hisses through his choppers.
>“I look forward to testing your capabilities, Guardspony Anonymous.”
>While it’s enough to make your hair stand on end, he doesn’t seem to be overly threatening in his posture.  You smile and, without missing a beat, clack the staff against your collarbone, driving the butt into the ground and make a show of putting on a teasing smile as you lean against it.
“I’m sure it will be quite telling about both of us.”
>Snowy’s  expression falters as his lip curls.  Stepping back in line, the two unicorns share a brief nod before Shining Armor clears his throat.
>“The exercise will last for fifteen minutes.  You will have your pick of up to nine ponies to serve as the Princess’ escorts and they will be under your direct command.  However, I must make you aware that Guardspony Glen’s team will outnumber yours three to one.”
>Well, that doesn’t sound too bad.  A quarter of an hour holding off a sizeable force, while difficult, was certainly doable.  Noting your grin, Shining Armor adopts a smile of his own.
>“You seem confident.”
“More than I was before you arrived, I’ll admit.”
>“Good.  In this exercise, you will be taking the Princess back from her captors.”
>You cock your eyebrow at that, setting your lips into a thin line.  Your eyes rove his face, searching some sign that he was putting you on.  Unfortunately, there’s no such expression to be seen.
“You’re serious?”
>“Do you have a problem with this scenario, Guardspony?”
>Noting the slight smile that graces his lips, you struggle to keep your bubbling frustration in check.
“I do, actually.”
>You hiss through your teeth.  The Captain, noting your change in tone, presses his lips into a thin line, as if daring you to continue speaking to him in that manner.  Taking a moment to collect yourself, you continue.
“This scenario implies that, inevitably, I’m going to fail in my duties protecting the Princess and that I’ll need to mount a rescue operation with limited resources.  In the first place, I would rather die than see anyone bring harm to the Princess, so this is a moot point.  Second, if the Princess is taken hostage, are you honestly going to stand by and watch while she is clearly in danger?  I would be throwing the entire Guard at whoever dared to lay a hoof on her!”
>The longer you stare at the Captain, the closer you can feel yourself move towards the tipping point.  To emphasize your point and break eye contact with the condescending stallion, you stab your finger over in the direction of the bleachers, turning your head as you do.  The Princess’ coat seems a few shades darker around her muzzle as she refuses to meet your eyes.  Feeling a little color rush to your own cheeks, you cough into your fist and turn back to Shining Armor, the frustration now back in check. “A-as I would expect to be done for any member of the Royal Family.”
>The Captain doesn’t seem to acknowledge your statement at all, still staring up at your face.  Finally, he sighs and takes a few steps forward, closing the gap between the two of you.
>“As a member of the Guard, you must understand that not all situations will be ideal, and eventually you may be staring at a ‘worst case scenario’, or called upon to do things which you may find abhorrent.”
>Two feet away now, he shortens his stride and lifts his head high to meet your eyes.  It’s clearly uncomfortable for him, but he doesn’t stay in the position long.  With a ‘humph’, the Captain is balanced on his rear hooves, putting him about chest level with you.  One armored hoof cracks against your chest plate, the force of the blow causing you to rock back on your heels.  For all the physical strength unicorns supposedly lack, Shining Armor seems to be an anomaly.
>“While this is simply an exercise to test your capabilities, you can’t pick and choose your battles as an attendant, Guardspony.  Her Highnesses’ life is more important than yours will ever be.  Stars forbid that the Princess is ever captured, but if she is and the Guard is not available, you will have to work with what you have available to you.  If you don’t like it, then you’re free to leave at any time.”
>The two of you stare at each other for a few long seconds, neither wishing to concede an inch.  Though you’d rather crack his head open, you settle for cracking a smile.
“I think I’ll stick around for a while.”
>“We’ll see about that after you finish the exam.”
>Shining Armor glares for a moment longer before dropping back onto all four hooves.  Making his way back towards the guardsponies, he calls over his shoulder.
>“How many escorts would you like to have?”
“Not a one, I’ll go it alone.”
>The unicorn Captain pauses mid-stride, only for an instant, but long enough to know that he’s surprised.  The smug smirk never leaves your face as you continue.
“This is a test of my own limits, right Captain?  If I involve ponies in my personal conflict, how will you receive an accurate measure of my skills?”
>Another ripple of laughter rolls through the guards.  Apparently there were a few who appreciated your style of humor.  Shining Armor doesn’t say anything to you, though he does take a few seconds to converse with Guardspony Glen, the older unicorn nodding in agreement.  Turning back to you, the Captain nods towards the bleachers.
>“I will be with Princess Cadenza and Prince Blueblood, observing.  Guardspony Glen and his companions will be between us and will strive to keep you away for fifteen minutes.  All ponies standing in opposition to you must be incapacitated in one form or another, either through yielding or inability to continue combat.  Once that is done you shall pass.”
>There’s a knot growing in your stomach, tightening all the time as more and more stipulations arise.  For all your bluster, this is quickly getting out of hand.  Still, you give an understanding nod and manage to ask the question you’re dreading.
“And if I don’t pass?”
>The smug expression on Shining’s mug is almost enough to get you to take a swing at him.
>“Then the Princess is considered captured, beyond your reach.  You fail the exam, and will be judged solely on what you showed in the exercise.”
>Realizing too late that it’s become impossible to back out, you give a brief nod and glance back at the Princess.  She seems a little haggard herself after hearing all of that, but she gives you a warm smile, though it does little to comfort you.  Still, anything is better than nothing.
“Fair enough.”
>Shining nods and locks eyes with Guardspony Glen, nodding towards the Princess.  With a grunt, Snowy and two guards, an earth pony and unicorn, move between you and your charge.  The Captain waits a moment before moving after them, though he does speak to you one last time.
>“By the way, Anonymous, should you decide to accept a leadership role at any time in combat, feel free to call on some of the ponies to assist you.  However, the rules remain the same, that for every pony you call up, three more will join Glen’s side.”
“I’ll manage just fine on my own, thank you.”
>Shining Armor snorts and shrugs his shoulders, joining the Royal cousins.  Snowy catches your eye with his usual grin and you can see his body quiver a little as he lets out a deep laugh.
>“I’m looking forward to an excellent show of combat prowess.  Don’t disappoint me.”
>Your right hand tightens around the middle of your staff, while the left grips down in the bottom third.  You glance past the opposing ponies and meet Shining Armor’s eyes.  After a moment, he nods.
>“Your time begins now, Guardspony Anonymous.”
>He’s a little late getting started, eight seconds after the minute, but you don’t expect him to be as precise as you are.  Your legs go taut as you bend slightly and then charge forward.  You see the earth pony snort twice and then lower his head, galloping towards you, full tilt.
>Compared to the unicorns and pegasi guards that you’ve seen, the earth pony possesses a much broader build which is reflected in his armor.  Unlike the other two species, the guard is loaded down with metal from head to haunch, three-quarters of his legs coated in polished steel, held in place by leather straps.  Instead of the minimalist armor protecting his back and the upper portion of his torso, the stallion’s protection extends well below the barrel of his chest, forming a sort of skirt, ending just above the hock of his hind legs.
>As you continue your charge, you notice something about your opponent.  While heavily laden with armor, he’s not carrying a weapon.  Brushing it off as inconsequential, you adjust your grip on the staff so that both your hands rest along the bottom third and let loose with a swing.  The wood makes a delightful wooshing sound, followed by a resounding clatter as it connects with the oncoming pony’s trunk.  The staff shudders at the contact, sending tingling shockwaves up through your arms.
>You let out a whoop of victory, expecting the smaller creature to crumple under your strike.  Only it doesn’t seem to faze the pony.  And then it dawns on you why the stallion doesn’t need a weapon.
>He is the weapon.
>Striking you with all the grace of a speeding semi, you find yourself knocked aside, the world spinning and churning as you scramble for equilibrium.  Your chest aches in protest as the air is blasted out of your lungs, ribs ringing from the force of the stallion’s charge.  Your brain settles back into its case, just in time to see the stallion rear back on his legs in an attempt to squash you underfoot.  You can hear the guards cheer as you roll out of his stomping range, leaving clods of dirt and flying sod in your wake.
>If you had to guess, outfitted with all that metal, the stallion could very easily be approaching three hundred pounds and with the speed he just displayed, getting trampled under his weight is a very real possibility.  Getting flattened by a linebacker masquerading as a pony isn’t very high on your to do list, so you scamper to your feet, trying to come up with a way to overcome this latest obstacle.

>
>Along the sideline, Princess Cadence leans forward, watching as her attendant sidesteps another attack from the earth pony.  It’s rather obvious he’s uncomfortable with his situation, but refuses to stand down.  Her heart pounds in her chest, though her eyes are drawn to her companion has he clears his throat.
>“He’s rather nimble.”
>Despite such an offhand remark, Shining Armor smiles as he watches Anonymous dodge the oncoming charge.  There is a loud clang as the human connects with another blow to the pony’s armor, though the guard doesn’t seem to feel a thing.  The crowd is beginning to get worked up, cheering on the pony, Skipper, a stallion beginning his fifth year as a member of the Guard.  Though he feels the Princess’ eyes on him, he doesn’t give her any attention.
>“Shining, please, what are you trying to prove?”
>“I’m not trying to prove anything.”
>Cadence huffs, pursing her lips and shaking her head in disdain.
>“Three experienced ponies against a green guard?  It certainly seems like you’re pushing an agenda here.”
>“You act like I’m purposefully setting him up to fail.”
>“Aren’t you?”
>Shining Armor smiles a little, turning his attention away from the spectacle and giving Cadence his full attention.
>“If I am, it’s only to see how capable Guardspony Anonymous actually is.  He has proven himself multiple times as a member of the City Guard in terms of strength, adaptability and creativity; it’s why I sent him to meet you in the first place, I believed he could handle your escort and he succeeded, for the most part at least.  However, where is his upper limit?  Would you want to be protected by a pony who is incapable of keeping you safe?”
>The Princess goes quiet as she looks to the ground.  Shining Armor sighs and turns his head back to the match, choosing to hold his tongue out of respect for her Highness.  As Guardspony Skipper nearly flattens the human guard, it becomes apparent that Prince Blueblood holds no such reservations.
>“Marvelous match, Captain, I’m sure that my attendant appreciates another chance to square off against this upstart.  There’s nothing like a little blood sport to get one excited.”
>Cadence’s glare travels down the line to her cousin, the noble unicorn giving a quiet chuckle as he leans in for a better view.  Huffing, the pink alicorn looks back to the Captain.  She notes that he and Guardspony Glen have exchanged nods, but before she can inquire further, there is a loud shout from her attendant.

>
>The earth pony slows to a trot as he circles around to face you again.  To be honest, he was really getting under your skin, taking blow after blow and not going down.  You’ve landed several strikes against the pony’s head as he rushes past you time and again, but the helmet is distributing a good deal of the force and the pony is still able to run in a straight line.
>On the other hand, your constant attacks and the permeating heat seems to be having quite the effect; you can see Guardspony Skipper’s shoulders sagging with each successive pass.  The same could be said of you, but the pony is bound to be boiling in that hotbox, it simply doesn’t breathe the same way leather does.  You’ll outlast him for certain, so the best thing you could do would be to let him tire himself out and take him out when his charges get to be sluggish, but the time limit won’t allow for waiting games.  It’s already been nearly four minutes since the test began, so you need to eliminate him as quickly as possible and move on to the two unicorns.
>Although you can’t see the pony’s face, it’s obvious that he’s sizing you up, deciding how to catch you off guard.  He’s been favoring his right side when he charges, but with you always clearing out to his left, he was bound to catch on eventually.  A fifty-fifty split on getting steamrolled doesn’t sound too enticing.
>Your latest evasion has turned you so that you’re facing the two younger Royals and the Captain.  The Princess seems quite uncomfortable, looking like she’s about to exchange words with her mouthy cousin.  Though you can’t make out the words, you’re certain it’s nothing good.  A loud huff draws your attention back to the Guardspony.
>Grass and grit rise as Skip paws at the ground, snorting like Brahma bull.  Your body tenses as your mind whirs, searching for his tell.  Left?  Right?  He’s giving you nothing.  And then, you realize that it doesn’t matter.  A smirk graces your lips and you can feel your blood reach a boiling under the heat.  Your skin is moist with perspiration as you pound your closed fist against your chest and roar.
>The Guardspony flinches, taking half a step backward at the sound before shooting a glance back over his shoulder to Guardspony Glen.  The unicorn nods, then glances over in the direction of his horned subordinate and does the same.  You can almost see Skippy’s shoulder heave as he obliges, lowering his head and galloping forward.
>As you expected, he’s lagging behind a little, a touch over a second, barely noticeable if you weren’t keeping track.  Your legs coil under you, ready to spring.  The earth pony notices and begins to push himself harder against the ground, muscles groaning in protest beneath his iron shell.  He’s still a dozen of his own strides away when you begin your charge.
>To his credit, Skipper doesn’t falter he continues on his course as though it were the tracks to his train.  The ponies cheer as you finally take an offensive move, though they’re likely more excited to see the pony flatten you.  Three strides out, Skipper lowers his head, turning his body into a steel battering ram, committing himself to the collision.
>Perfect.  Your stride stutters on the next step as you adopt a two handed grip on your weapon and pull it close to your chest.  Rather than continuing the mad rush forward, you square your feet and bend your knees, using the energy from your charge to propel yourself up into the air.
>Time slows to a crawl as your feet leave the ground.  Skipper hasn’t noticed yet, and by the time he does, it will be too late to raise his head or adjust his course.  There is a problem though.  You’re in pretty good shape, the change in your diet and training with the city, lackluster as it was, has seen to that, but your vertical is not anywhere near where it needs to be to clear a pony, even with their head down.
>Since it’s difficult to maneuver left or right once you’re off the ground, you opt for a forward rolling motion instead.  Your body doesn’t go as straight as the pony who’s charging under you, but the forward dive puts you over his body, allowing him to rush underneath you.  Just like the bull fighters of old, you take a chance to get a hit in, allowing your right elbow to jerk forward a little, clocking the guardspony in the back of the head with your staff.
>It’s not much, but Skipper staggers under your strike, veering off course as he passes beneath you.  It seems like all those hits are adding up, maybe you can finish him off on the next pass.  You would take the time to laugh, but gravity at last makes its presence known, pulling you back down towards the earth.
>Contorting your body to protect your head by pulling it closer to your chest, you rotate forward and hit the ground with your palms.  Your hands take that opportunity to remind you that they’re still holding your weapon with a sharp ringing as they collide against the earth.  You wince, but allow your arms to collapse under your weight, continuing to roll through your landing, starting with your shoulders and continuing down to your tailbone before you finally roll into a squatting position.
>It’s not graceful or pretty, but aside from the ringing in your biceps, you can’t complain.  Though every instinct tells you to turn around and face your opponent, you can’t help but chance another glance back at the Royal observers.  You seek out your charge first, of course.
>Cadence’s brow is arched in surprise, her eyes wide, but there’s a wide, delighted smile on her face as she presses her forehooves together.  Your heart thuds a few times as she makes eye contact with you and you note a wild flicker behind them.  A quick look to the Prince reveals him to be red faced and fuming, his lips curling up into a snarl.  While it would be fun to acknowledge his existence with a wave or tip of the hat, you decide against it for the time being.
>The Captain and Guardspony Glen are taking it much better than the Royals.  Shining Armor has a few lines creasing his forehead as he nods, though the thin line of his lips suggest he’s none too pleased with the situation.  But Snowy’s smug smirk ties your stomach in all sorts of strange shapes.  He’s planning something, but you don’t know what.
>The sound of hooves pounding through the grass snaps you back to reality.  You whirl and ready your weapon again as you try to get a read on which direction Skipper will go.  Confidence swells in your chest, having just proven your superiority over the earthbound pony.  It doesn’t matter which way he goes, you have him beat in all three directions.
>After two more strides, it becomes obvious that the pony isn’t going to change course, and you opt to just sidestep to the left.  Smirking, you decide to toy with him a little and make an obvious feint to the right.  Skipper doesn’t bite.  But that might be because your foot didn’t move in the first place.
>A quick glance down shows that your ankles are surrounded by a pale green light, creating a pair of shackles that are visibly staked to the ground.  Despite your attempts to move, you’re successfully locked in place.  Your eyes jerk back up to the charging pony as you attempt to parry his charge, but too little too late.
>Though the faceplate is in the way, it’s clear that Skipper has a manic grin on his face as you can see wide swaths of herbivore teeth through the narrow slits.  The fact that he’s launched himself up to eye level with you, much as you did on his last pass, certainly helps as well.
>The airborne pony crashes against your chest, carrying both of you to the ground.  The initial hit is hard enough to blast the wind from your lungs and make your body ache in protest, but the two of you continue your descent downward.  You hit the ground a split second before he lands on top of you.  Bones strain and crack, caught between two opposing forces and all you can manage is a groan.
>Blessed be, Skip doesn’t try to squash you underhoof, probably suffering from the collision himself, and chooses to roll off.  He staggers away and you lay there for a long moment, trying to breathe without being blinded by pain.  The second guardspony that Snowy brought with him, his horn is alight and glowing the same color as the shackles that encase your ankles.  Well, that explains that.  Sweat dribbles down his forehead as he glares at you, struggling to maintain focus.
>After a few seconds of shuffling, you manage to get your hands underneath your body and push yourself to your feet.  Despite the ringing in your head and the creaking in your bones, you’re able to do a quick assessment.  Everything hurts but it’s especially centered within your chest when you breathe and move.  Nothing seems broken, but you’ve probably cracked something and you feel especially woozy.  The crowd has gone silent, or maybe you’re just in too much pain to hear them, but Shining Armor’s voice rings out, loud and clear.
>“Impressive, Guardspony Anonymous, but I think we’ve seen enough.  You may submit.  There is no shame in doing so.”
>He’s right, you’re hurting.  The smart thing to do would be to throw in the towel and admit that you can’t keep up with the Guard, they’re too well trained and you’re just too green.  Unfortunately, the very thought of yielding, to supplicate to the Captain’s ego, makes your fist clench on instinct and sends a fresh wave of pain through your core.  But, really, what chance do you have?  Your eyes fall on the staggering earth pony guard as you try to gauge your chances for success.
>Skipper’s clearly concussed by this point, unsteady on his hooves and standing through sheer force of will.  That’s both good and bad, he’s weak and another good blow could take him out of the picture but he’s also likely unaware of his own limitations, letting him push himself harder.
>Then there’s the chains, can’t do much if you’re stuck to the ground.  A quick shake of your foot confirms that, yes, movement is still extremely limited.  You scowl as you consider your options, finding them few and far between.  You’re in bad shape, you really should just stop while you’re ahead.  Taking a deep breath, and cursing yourself as your ribs renew their ache, you glance over your shoulder.
>The Princess is wearing a concerned frown, a thin bit of her teeth visible against her lower lip as she chews on it.  It’s a far cry from the exhilarated expression she was wearing moments ago, instead leaving her beauty clouded by fear, uncertainty and hurt.  You pause for a moment, wet your lips and then put on a flippant smile for the Captain.
“If I’m not mistaken, I’m still standing.  I’m still on my feet, aren’t I?  As long as I can stand, I’ll continue to protect the Princess.”
>A still descends upon the crowd as you taunt the Captain.  When he doesn’t make a move, you shift your gaze to Snowy Glen.  Deep in your gut, you feel the solidarity of your resolve standing in staunch opposition to the expectations of the crowd.  You exchange grins with the unicorn and then nod at him.
“Please, continue.”
>Unlike the Captain, Snowy seems quite pleased with your declaration.  Nodding to Skipper, he calls out.
>“On your hooves, ponies, we’re not done here yet.”
>You face forward again, though you make sure to fix the spell casting guardspony with a look before you do, letting your gaze settle on the still wobbly Skipper.  His legs are splayed out from his body, but he’s still standing and after a shake of the head to knock the cobwebs loose, appears to be back in fighting shape.  Each of you stare the other down for a solid three seconds before the pony begins his charge, kicking up grit, dirt and grass.
>The heavy sounds of snorting fill the air, becoming louder as the guardspony approaches.  You tighten your grip, holding the stick in the middle as the thundering hooves draw ever closer.  He’s five seconds away from a collision when you twist your body and throw your weapon through the air, straight at the unicorn with the pale green aura.  With as much focus as he was pouring into holding you in place, he never stood a chance.
>The ironbark whistles through the air, refusing to bend and alter course, a perfectly straight projectile.  You turn back to face the rampaging earth pony, holding your arms out wide, making a show of how open you are to attack.  Skipper bites hard and commits to his charge, lowering his head just as you hear the unicorn behind you grunt in pain.  The earth pony pays no mind, instead launching himself from the ground as he goes for another midair crash.
>As the unicorn curses, you feel the magic dissipate from around your ankles, freeing you to avoid the diving pony.  Instead, you fall back against the ground, your chest grumbling loudly in discomfort as it is jostled about yet again, the change in altitude causing Skipper to fly over you.  Battling through the growing pain, you bring your knees up to your chest and wait, finding yourself unable to do anything but smile at the sight that greets your eyes.  The armor, thick as it is, doesn’t cover the entirety of the earth pony.
>Because of the inflexible nature, both of metal and pony bodies, armor is designed in such a fashion that a pony can wear and remove it with relative ease.  The armor that covers the limbs and the head are individual pieces, while the armor covering the barrel of the body is a single piece.   As such, much like the pegasi and unicorn armors, earth pony heavy armor is designed to be slipped over the body by entering from the bottom.  The skirt exists to further protect the frontline fighters from incoming projectiles or weapons coming up at an angle from the ground.  However, the stomach is left bare.
>You grin as Skipper sails overhead, the chink in his armor finally revealed.  Thrusting your legs upward, you land a hit square in the unprotected space, using his own momentum against him and sending Skipper falling forward.  He does not have the same success with his landing as you did, cracking his helmet against the ground and rolling repeatedly before finally stopping on his back.  The earth pony does not make any attempt to get back into a standing position.
>With Skipper out of the way, you turn your attention back to the unicorn who bound you.  He’s still holding a hoof to his reddened snout, furiously muttering under his breath.
>“Such atrocious actions lacking grace and civility; he’s a vile barbaric beast is what he is.”
>You pause a moment to appreciate the scene.  From his holier than thou attitude, he’s probably the colt of some well off Canterlot house, a thought that brings you quite a bit of pleasure as you consider continuing combat with him. Picking up your staff, you smile at him.
“You’re not out of the woods, yet.”
>The unicorn goes rigid at the sound of your voice, but that doesn’t stop the stick from cracking off of his helmet.  The much softer pony crumples under his own weight and you place the end of your stick against his neck.  You could drag this out a little longer, but every second counts.  Instead, your face breaks out into a smile as you ask the all important question.
“Do you yield?”
>Looking up at you with frightened eyes, the unicorn nods, scrambling to save himself.
>“I-I yield.”
“Atta boy.”
>For good measure, you flick the unicorn’s helmet off of his head before turning to the team captain.  You’re only halfway to the time limit, with Guardspony Glen being the only thing standing between you and victory.  As you keep the seasoned veteran in your sight, you take the chance to gauge the reactions of the gallery on the benches behind him.
>Shining Armor’s neutral expression has morphed into a shallow frown, much to your delight.  His irises have narrowed to pinpricks, and you can almost swear you see him sweating and beginning to squirm in his seat.  There’s a little satisfaction to be had there.
>Cadence is once again heavily invested in the match, watching you with that soft smile of hers.  The concern for you is still evident in her eyes, though far less noticeable than it was after getting squashed.  Surprisingly, Prince Blueblood seems even more pleased that the Princess.  On second thought, perhaps it should be expected, seeing as he now gets to observe a rematch from yesterday, expecting the same results.  You can’t wait to prove him wrong.
>“Not bad Guardspony, not bad.”
>Glory’s words draw your attention back to him.  The stallion smirks, his praise coming across as though he were speaking to a pet or a child, loaded with a sense of mock importance.  You take a moment to rub at your still aching ribs and shrug.
“You make it sound like the exercise is over.  While I wouldn’t expect it, I’ll at least ask, are you going to submit without a fight?”
>The crowd presses forward at your question, dozens of ears twitching as they await the pristine pony’s response.  Snowy gives a small roll of his shoulders and continues grinning.
>“I’ll admit, I’m still a little weary from yesterday, but I’ve been given a task to complete.  Since you seem so gung-ho about seeing this through to the end, I can’t help but feel my own desire to fight growing.”
>Guardspony Glen drops his body just a touch, splaying his legs out to steady himself as his horn goes alight with power, casting a quiet blue hue across the grass near him.  You take note of the spear lying on the ground beside him.  Though it doesn’t have any magic surrounding it yet, that could change in an instant, and the business end is pointed in your direction today.  You’ll need to be on guard.  Seven minutes remain as you lock eyes with the unicorn standing between you and the Princess.
>“Well, Guardspony?  Are you waiting for an invitation?”
>There’s that tone again.  Your blood boils as you grind your grip along the unflinching staff.  Putting aside the ache in your bones, you rush forward, fully intending to bush the smug unicorn like you had everyone else.  Said pony’s horn glows all the brighter as your approach.
>Fifteen paces or so away, everything begins to move at an agonizingly slow pace save to the steady tick of seconds, you note, as time continues moving on uninterrupted while you begin to slow.  Your body feels heavy and sluggish, as though you were moving through an enormous jello mold.  At ten paces, you can’t bring yourself to take another step but before you can set your feet, you feel the invisible force pushing back against you.  Without warning, you’re launched back around where you began your charge.
>Despite being floored, you can move your limbs without strain again.  Sitting up, you scowl at Glory and notice that the air around him as taken on a nearly transparent blue bubble-like sheen.  The pony chuckles and begins pawing at the ground, cocking his head to the side as he looks you over.
>Before he can resume his taunting, you’re on your feet and charging at him again.  The results are unfortunately predictable, as you find yourself staring up at the sky again, much to the delight of the gathered guards, who have taken to whooping and hollering their support for the aged unicorn.  You can hear the rather snobbish chortles of the Prince that only spur you on to take another shot.  Again and again you rush him and each time the outcome is the same.
>You’ve burned more than two minutes trying to get through whatever Guardspony Glen’s thrown up to protect himself, leaving you less than three hundred seconds to figure out a way around it and how to incapacitate the jerk.  Sitting up again, you huff in frustration, beginning to stalk your way around the perimeter of the bubble.  Left to right, then right to left, you feel more and more like a caged cat with each passing second.
>The unicorn doesn’t take his eyes off of you the entire time, turning with you as you pace around him.  Captain Shining Armor has once again returned to a neutral expression, though he is very clearly pleased with the direction that things are going.  Blueblood is still quivering with laughter at your repeated attempts to break through whatever this creation is.  You don’t dare look at the Princess, feeling your will about to falter if you should see her lose heart again, so you return you attention to Snowy.  At last, he chuckles and shakes his head before finally calling out.
>“You’re never going to get through like that.  You have to want it, really want it.”
>There’s a slight clack as your teeth snap against one another, grinding for a moment or two as you continue to examine the situation.  It’s not a matter of simply wanting it, if that was all there was to it, you would have powered through this mess in an instant.  There’s more to it, but the pieces are missing.  Seconds tick away until you finally take a deep breath and proceed to lose your temper.
“AGH!”
>Screaming, you grip the staff at the base and lift it high over your head, bringing it down upon the bubble as hard as you can.  The accompanying sound is more of a ‘bloop’ than the ‘cra-ck!’ that you’ve become used to and is hardly as satisfying.  The bubble bows under the force of your attack, but quickly bounces back into place.  You stumble back in order to keep a hold of your weapon and are met once again with the sneer of a superior foe.
>Superior?  Where did that come from?  Just because you can’t figure out the trick for how to get through his impenetrable bubble he’s worlds better than you?  You can’t let that stand.  Huffing in frustration, you cool your head and try to forget about the rapidly approaching two minute warning and consider what you know.
>Magic is unfamiliar territory but you know a few things about it, like when a unicorn’s horn glows, they’re actively pumping magic through it.  The bubble is magic.  Snowy’s horn isn’t active, but the bubble still exists.  Therefore, the bubble is independent of magic once it’s created, and must abide by certain rules.  Brute force is only going to get you thrown on your tuckus time and time again, so maybe a more subtle approach would be more effective?
>You walk up to the bubble and reach out your hand.  Your fingers slide smoothly through the membrane, and you find that you can wiggle them without only slightly more effort than usual.  Pushing your hand deeper into the magic, you encounter some resistance, but nothing compared to what sent you flying before.  Taking a deep breath, you decide to bite the bullet, and begin walking through the bubble.
>As you enter the magical field, you can feel every hair on your body stand on end as though they were trying to warn you of an incoming lightning bolt.  The pressure exerted on your body is akin to being underwater, so you opt to hold your final breath for the time being, just in case.  Your hand gropes at the open space in front of you, searching for where the field ends.
>The deeper into the bubble you go, the more forces begin to push against you, threatening to expel you at any moment.  Still you press on, even as the seconds tick by and your lungs begin to burn, begging for fresh air.  At last, you fingers grasp the end of the field, and you stumble forward, finding yourself no more than half a dozen paces away from Snowy.  Your shoulders heave as you waste a few seconds finding your breath before your eyes drift up to the unicorn and you greet the unicorn with a grin.
“Well, that’s a neat trick, but you didn’t think it would be enough to stop me, right?”
>“Perhaps you’re more clever than I give you credit, Guardspony Anonymous.  However, you’ll find that your examination ends here at my hooves.”
>Snowy looks none too happy as his horn begins to glow and the spear lifts from the ground.  There’s an audible pop and the magical field drops around the two of you, the oppressive environment vanishing as quickly as it appeared.  Much as you’d like to run your mouth, there’s no time, so with ninety seconds left, you square your feet and place your separate the staff into thirds with your hands.
>Guardspony Glen moves to attack first; his quick thrust catches you off guard as you take a few stuttering steps back and set your feet again.  Pressing his advantage, the experienced unicorn follows up with another pair of thrusts in an attempt to put more space between the two of you.
>You parry both attacks, taking a step inward each time in an attempt to make up for lost ground.  You don’t know how far he can send his weapon before his magic begins to lose potency, but it’s enough to know that if you can’t get inside eight feet, you’re not going to be able to attack him effectively.  Adjusting your grip towards the bottom of the staff, you thrust forward once, causing the unicorn to rock back on his hooves.  That’s another three steps for you, placing him into attacking range.
>To his credit, the unicorn doesn’t show anything other than a stern frown as he brings his spear up to a defensive position and tries to step back out of range.  You pursue, the ironbark whistling through the air, the two wooden weapons clacking upon contact.  The process repeats itself over and over as you move to press your advantage but find it impossible to break through.
>After half a dozen deflected blows, a deep ache in your arms joins the seemingly constant throbbing pain your chest, throwing off your balance and giving Snowy a chance to set his hooves again.  You whirl to continue your press, only to find that the unicorn forcing the spearhead up in a slicing motion.  As you jerk your head back to avoid getting your face cut you note that there is no follow through, the tip of the spear is still resting somewhere between your chest and chin.  You committed to dodging his feint and you’re left wide open as the spear reverses its motion, bringing the butt of the weapon crashing down against your face.
>Flinching, your eyes close before contact but that doesn’t stop a new bruise from making itself known around your left eye, joining the other protesters demanding a stop to the violence.  Seconds drip away as you try and reorient yourself in the suddenly wobbly world, leaving you wide open to a series of quick thrusts.
>Staggering left and right, you grit your teeth and curse your lack of finesse as the iron tip bounces off the thicker portions of your armor before scoring a deep cut against the outside of your shoulder.  At last you regain some sense of balance and see that Guardspony Glen has successfully navigated himself out of your effective range while maintaining control over his weapon.  Under a minute to go, and you’re all out of ideas.  Clenching your fist, you growl and switch your grip to your uninjured arm.
“It can’t end like this.”
>Snowy gives you his usual mocking smile, laced with animosity and distaste as he splits his attention between you and the occasional glance at Shining Armor, waiting for him to call time.  There’s twenty-eight seconds remaining and the unicorn seems content to simply run out the clock rather than renew his attack.  You don’t have time to collect yourself as you take a step forward and regain your opponent’s full attention.
>The spear begins to bob from left to right in the open air, daring you to take another step.  When you do, the aura around it glows brighter as it begins thrusting again.  Certainly it’s still a challenge, but with your eyes open and your head mostly clear, it’s a good deal easier.  But dodging won’t pass the exam.  Snowy makes another pass at your wounded side and you make your move, leaning with the attack and then making a grab for the shaft as it passes.
>Despite being of similar size and weight you can tell a distinct difference between the weapons as you tighten your grip, feeling Guardspony Glen’s spear bend a fraction of an inch.  Grinning in the shocked unicorn’s direction, you manage a sort laugh before he adjusts tactics and trying to wrench the weapon from your hand.  With each successive pull, you can see the frustration continue to grow, especially as he begins to jerk his head left and then right as though that would make the magic more effective.  The jagged corners of the spear make small indentations in the soft flesh of your hand, blood dripping down into the creases of your hand and loosening your grip.  The unchecked wound in your shoulder throbs as does your chest, but you tighten your fingers around the shaft and pull.
>At once, the blue aura around the spear fades.  Stunned, you glance up at the guardspony and see him in a similar state.  With ten seconds left you switch over to autopilot, hurling your staff at Snowy and charging in behind, rotating the weapon in your wounded hand in spite of the blood-slicked fingers.  Snowy recovers in time to dodge the incoming projectile by hopping to the left.  Dropping your body low to the ground, you push off with the ball of your foot and leap into a flying tackle.  Your bulk proves to be much too difficult for him to sidestep.
>Connecting your shoulder with the unicorn’s face, you trap the smaller creature under your weight, with your legs on either side of his body.  Three seconds.  Your hand quivers as you realize you could end it with his own weapon.  But you can’t bring yourself to commit to the idea and there’s no time left to incapacitate him, so with no other alternative you press the tip of the spear against the unicorn’s unarmored neck.
“Yield!”
>You scream as you push the weapon harder against Guardspony Glen’s neck, making a deep impression that threaten to break through the skin at any moment, trying to inspire pants-wetting terror in the prone pony.  The fear passes through his eyes, you recognize it immediately, but in an instant it’s gone and replaced with a smug smile and, in defiance of the stunned silence from the crowd, he declares
>“No.”
>You stare at him, even as the spear slips free from your fingers.
>“The time limit is up, the exam is completed.”
>The Captain’s words ring hollow in your ears, the ravenous, hungry fire that was burning in your chest just a moment ago, quickly smothered as though it were nothing.  Your heavy, leaden limbs refuse to move and simply hang, the spear whispering against the grass as it falls from your hand.  Hanging your head, you try to find the energy to push yourself into a standing position, but to no avail.  You have nothing left.
>“That’s twice now.”
>Snowy Glen’s voice is low, a barely there whisper that lifts the haze from your mind and draws your attention to his face.  That smug, self-assured expression remains.
>“Even when I’m still weak from crushing you yesterday, you can’t beat me.”
>Your thighs, no longer applying pressure to the sides of his body, prove an easy escape for the experienced unicorn.  Pushing himself off the ground, he places himself snout to nose with you, chuckling under his breath.
>“You should ask yourself, Guardspony, how deep does your devotion to the Princess actually run?  I wouldn’t have hesitated were our positions reversed.”
>Pulling his hind legs free from beneath you, Snowy stands, turns his back and you and returns to the side of the Prince.  Your head droops towards the ground and you find the strength to move your hands to hide your face, that you might avoid seeing the scene.  As a result, you miss the furious look the pompous pony gives to his attendant before Blueblood dawns a smile and begins glorifying his actions.
>“Well done, Snowy, excellent use of tactics.  I was astounded when that buffoonous baboon managed to figure out your bubble, but you certainly proved your worth a dozen times over.”
>“I owe it all to training and years of experience and to protecting you my liege, though I fear that I shall need to bathe before dinner, I believe he may have bled on me.”
>“Haha, is that so?  I’ll make sure that you get the finest soaps then, in honor of your success.”
>The rumblings of the crowd as they exit the training ground are generally jovial, if a little mean spirited towards one another.  You don’t bother to look up; content to drown in the physical aches and pains, as well as the emotional maelstrom threatening to overtake you.  It’s a good two minutes before a pony pads up to you and touches your shoulder.  Again, you don’t bother moving, but that doesn’t stop the Princess from speaking her mind.
>“Please, don’t hide your face, Guardspony as you did the best that you could.”
>Holding the pose for a few seconds more, you lift your head, your swollen eye a mixture of angry purple and rich red from your palm.  Your heart tightens as you catch sight of the pink princess, fully expecting her to be horrified at your grotesque appearance.
>Cadence stars for a moment but doesn’t pull away at the sight of your battered body.  Instead, she reaches out her hoof and presses it against your cheek.  The cold metal of her shoes feels marvelous against your flush and aching skin and you lean into the touch.  Cadence smiles as you respond to her.
>“You did wonderfully, better than I ever could have expected.  You’re just full of surprises.”
>Your heart jumps at the praise, causing your face to heat up all the more.  Slowly, your limbs begin to feel less like hardened concrete and more like flesh and blood.
>“He’s also shown himself to be lacking.”
>The Captain’s words steal away the warmth that you had been feeling.  You sigh and turn your head to look back at Shining Armor.  Like the Princess, he doesn’t recoil, but he doesn’t smile either.  Trotting over, he shakes his head and looks between you and your charge.  Meeting his eyes, you feel frustration beginning to come to a boil deep in your gut.
“I had him beaten; you know that, don’t you?”
>The words are strained and they rub against your throat as though they were sandpaper grinding it raw.  But it feels good to speak again, to call into question the results of the exam.  The unicorn doesn’t bat an eye as he stares you down.
>“The final assailant was neither incapacitated nor did he yield and so you failed.”
“I had him dead to rights!  All I had to do was apply a little pressure.”
>“Then why didn’t you?”
>The rather callous nature of the question sends a chill down your spine.   Shining Armor continues without a moment’s rest.
>“Had you done so, you would have passed, fulfilling all of the objectives.  Instead, you chose to try and force him to yield and you failed.”
“You would have me do that?  Kill a pony during a, a training exercise?”
>There is a silence that falls between the three of you, Shining Armor glancing first to the Princess, then back to you.  After a moment, he shakes his head and turns away.
>“I didn’t think that you would, but if you had I wouldn’t have been surprised.  For all your passion and bravado, it seems there is a line that you will not cross.  However, you should know that your resolve will be tested, Guardspony Anonymous.  We must live with the decisions that we make, as they clearly define the type of pony, or person, that we are.  Princess, you are aware of my opinion on your attendant, I suggest that you take it under advisement while I am away.  Good evening.”
>With a flick of his tail, Shining Armor returns to the castle, leaving you alone with the Princess.
>“Anonymous!”
>And Meadowlark.  You chuckle a little as the pegasus flutters into view, a concerned smile on his face.  Giving you a once over, the winged pony gives you a stern frown.
>“You should have called me!  We could have taken him together!”
“I’m sure that would have gone over quite well, you, me, and four other ponies?”
>Lark scowls, contorting his lips into a slanted line before shaking his head.
>“Even so, we could have taken them out!”
>His expression is a mixture of confidence and bluster.  He’s probably just as happy that you went on your own and left him out of it.  Your shoulder quiver as you begin laughing at the thought, though the sharp pain in your core makes short work of the otherwise jovial moment.  Grunting, you struggle to your feet and look down at Cadence.
 “Sorry to be such a bother, I know it’s nearly suppertime but could you could accompany me to the infirmary?  I think I may have gotten a scratch or two rolling around in the dirt like that.”
>Sharing a coy smile with you, her Highness shakes her head and begins trotting back to the castle.  You fall in step behind her, limping a little and favoring your right side.  Taking a moment to collect your weapon, you turn back to Lark and raise an eyebrow.
“You coming?”
>The pony grins and takes flight, following behind you.
>
>“Twice!”
>In the quarters of Guardspony Glen, Prince Blueblood stalks from left to right, pacing as he shakes his head in frustration.
>“Twice in as many days, Snowy he has beaten you.  I thought that you said you could handle the ape?”
>“I was mistaken, my lord.  It appears that I am not yet in peak condition and was caught off guard.”
>Staring at the steam billowing up from the bathroom, the Prince can only shake his head in frustration.
>“Once again you have been saved by outside forces.  At this rate, he will defeat you, bringing even greater shame upon both of us.”
>Though his charge is in the other room, Snowy hangs his head and nods, letting the water run down his body as he prepares to cleanse himself from the filth that covers his coat.  Though it was little more than an exercise, the fact that a young upstart could give the veteran so much trouble was weighing heavily on his mind.
>“I am aware of that, my Prince, and I do not take pride in the victory today.  The next time we meet, I will be certain to throw every spell I can think of at him.”
>That sounded like a nice idea, but there was something troubling about the primate.  Twice now, he had lost control of the magic controlling his spear when Anonymous came into contact with it.  Any spells used against him would have to be carefully chosen, lest he waste energy on something utterly ineffective.
>“See that you do, Snowy.  I don’t believe that I can tolerate another loss.”
>“I understand, Prince Blueblood.  I shall not fail you again.”
>The Prince stares out the window, noting that the sun has begun its descent, turning the sky flush with color.  His thoughts linger for a moment on the many hues before a smile crosses his lips.
>“Perhaps I should speak to Auntie tonight.”
>As the quiet hiss of water continues to pound against the floor, his Highness rolls the thought around in his mind, his smile never faltering.

Chapter 13

>“All right, you can get up now.”
>You mutter your thanks to the unicorn mare with the bronze-colored coat before lifting your back from the mattress, hissing through your teeth as you do.  The tender aches and knots feel as though they have swollen to gigantic proportions while you lay incapacitated in the infirmary.  It has been a little less than three-quarters of an hour since you wrapped up the Captain’s test but the deep, throbbing pain makes it feel much further away.  Cadence notices your contorted expression and trots over, giving a concerned glance to the physician.
>“He still seems to be in quite a bit of pain.  Are you certain he’s fit to leave?”
>The smaller mare lowers her head to the Princess, avoiding eye contact as she responds.
>“There’s nothing that will put him on prolonged medical leave, if that’s what you’re asking, Princess.”
>The pink pony’s face scrunches up in frustration at the show of respect.  You decide to cut in, drawing the unicorn doctor’s attention.
“Even if you say that, I still feel like they did a number on me.  I’m not going to be feeling like this for the rest of my life, am I doc?”
>The corner of the mare’s lip rolls up as she chuckles, blue eyes sparkling in amusement.
>“Only if you insist on consistently starting fights that you can’t win.  The gashes from the spears were easy enough to sew up, just keep an eye out for infection.  The bruises will fade in a few days, but those cracked ribs could be a problem if you push yourself too quickly.  Stay away from combat drills for a week and you should be right as rain.”
>Now it’s your turn to make a disapproving face.  The doctor laughs again and excuses herself, bowing out of the room to leave you alone with your charge.  Neither of you speak for a solid minute, the disinfected physical state of the infirmary carrying over to its audible range, creating an eerie, unearthly silence.  At last, you clear your throat.
“Well, that could have gone better.”
>“Anonymous, just admit it, they worked you over.”
>There’s a mixture of pain and exasperation in the Princess’ tone.  Not that you can really blame her, it couldn’t be easy watching someone get curb stomped out of responsibility to you.
“Don’t blame yourself, Princess; I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
>“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
>Cadence lets out a heavy sigh, turning her head away and allowing the gentle movement to send a gentle wave through her mane, creating a roiling sea of purple, rose and gold.  It is several seconds before she speaks again.
>“Anonymous, do you remember when you came to speak with me, on the train?”
“Of course.  Why?”
>“What about what we discussed?”
“You wanted to know more about where I was from and how I came to be in Equestria.  I still don’t understand why this is important; do you want me to tell you some about Earth?”
>While your world is certainly fascinating, you have no desire to speak about it right now, so it comes as a relief when her Highness simply laughs and shakes her head.  Of course, you should have realized that the issue at hand would not be so obvious.
>“Anonymous, it wouldn’t have mattered if you were from another world, or if you were a pony who had grown up in a wealthy house in Canterlot.  I spoke with you because you didn’t treat me like the others.  You made me feel as though I were normal, that I didn’t have to be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and, just for a while, I could be Cadence.  It’s a feeling that I had not enjoyed for quite some time.”
>There is another low sigh as the lovely pink pony turns back to you.  She’s biting down on the corner of her lip, he eyes flitting between your own and the floor, as if she’s having trouble mustering the courage for what she needs to say.  Eventually though, she reaches a boiling point and has to let it all out.
>“You are more than I could have possibly expected, Anonymous.  You are generous and kind, day-by-day you become more skilled as my guardian, and I can’t help but be amazed as you continue to meet your challenges with no hint of doubt in your heart.  But, after today, I’m beginning to worry that you will, or worse, that you might already, see me not as Cadence, but as a member of the Royal Family.  I want our”
>She pauses, struggling for the right word.  You feel yourself leaning in closer as she ponders, your hand resting on the edge of the bed as you push yourself out into open space.  Gravity very nearly pulls you from the bed to the floor, but you catch yourself before you fall too far.  Cadence fails to notice as she finds her will to speak yet again.
>“I want our, relationship, to be one which is more than just charge and attendant.  Though you have just entered into my life, you take up a welcome space in my heart, a space which has not been filled in ages.”
>Even with all that time to think about what she wanted to say, there’s still a rosy tint to her pink muzzle.  Not that you’re doing much better, the mixture of embarrassment and strain of supporting your weight is causing your face to flush with heat.
>“At, at the very least, I would hope that we could be companions, confidants for each other’s hopes, dreams and concerns.  I just don’t want you to see me as a duty or a responsibility.”
>Cadence holds out her hoof and offers a weak smile to you.
>“I want you to stand beside me because you want to be here with me, not for crown, country, or career prospects.  For far too long I’ve felt like a tool to be used by those in power, either to dissuade external and internal conflict, or rally the ponies to a cause which may not support them.  Local politicians, Canterlot representatives, even Auntie Celestia, they all seem intent on using me as a means to their own desired ends.”
>“You are a skilled Guardspony, Anonymous, and I am very lucky to have you as my attendant, but I do not need someone who will lay their life down for me at a moment’s notice.  From what I have seen, any guard in the castle would be willing to do that much.  I need you, by my side, as my friend.  I will understand if you cannot be more than just a guard, I will count my blessings that I have a talented individual such as yourself at my side.  But please, let me know where you stand now, before my heart breaks as you throw yourself in harm’s way for me again.”
>The extended limb is quivering by this point, though if it’s from fear, or if she simply started rambling and couldn’t stop, you can’t tell.  With a pained grunt, you push yourself out of bed and kneel in front of her.  The recently wrapped regions of your body make loud their protests, but you push the aches aside and take her hoof in your hand, holding it against your palm.  Rubbing your thumb along the exposed portion of leg above her shoe, you smile and look into her eyes.
“I believe I would very much like our relationship to be like that.”
>Cadence’s face goes alight in an instant.  With a very undignified laugh of delight, she flings her other hoof around your neck, hugging herself tightly against you.  The wind escapes your lungs from the force of the surprise attack, but you bite your tongue to keep from shouting out.
>There is warmth radiating from her body, far more than you might expect.  Her coat is lush and soft, with a gentle, fruity natural scent that tickles your nose and causes your pulse to begin a steady ascent.  Your limbs feel awkward and blocky, so it takes a moment of hesitation before you move to pat her on the back, but the Princess pulls away before you can do so.  She seems a little out of sorts as well, flushed in the face and working to steady her breathing.
>“I, I apologize, that was very out of sorts.  I let my excitement get the better of me.”
>You stare at her for a moment and give a chuckling snort as you shake your head.  It was incredibly clumsy, but at the same time wonderfully endearing.
“Its fine, Cadence, as long as you understand that just because we’re companions now, doesn’t mean that I’ll stop putting my neck out for you.”
>Reaching out with your thumb and forefinger, you take a moment to smooth out a little bit of her coat, just below her eyes.  There’s a hint of dampness, but any tears she struggled with seem to be long gone.  Still, she watches you with a measured sense of concern.
“If anything, I’ll have to work that much harder to see to your well being.  Can you live with that?”
>Cadence nods after a moment, though she doesn’t seem as though she fully agrees with your condition.
>“Then, I suppose that I will have to take care not to put myself into positions where you will need to protect me.”
>Inwardly, you breathe a sigh of relief.  Maybe now you can begin to focus less on reacting to the Princess’ temper and mischievous streak, and more on the day to day aspects of her life.
“It certainly sounds like we’re moving in the right direction, as long as we both take the time to see to the changes instead of paying lip service.”
>Cadence gives a quick nod, then smiles and tilts her head towards the door.
>“So, Guardspony.”
>She has a soft lilt to her voice as her lip curls up higher.
>“Shall we make our way to the dining hall?”
>You hold back a laugh and pull on your armor and boots, grabbing your staff on the way out.  Despite the heavy weight of your body, you feel light as you fall in step behind Cadence.
>Dinner is a pleasant affair, light on the stomach with a variety of citrus fruits to begin, followed by a robust salad decorated with sliced walnuts, noodles in cream sauce, with the option for what appears to be a lamb-like meat.  The dessert, on the other hand, threatens to be enormously filling, fresh baked breads with a caramel glaze reflecting even the low light of the dining hall.  From the way some of the unicorns are walking after the meal, it’s fairly obvious that they succeeded in gorging themselves, reminding you of bloated well off individuals back home being escorted back towards their quarters after a night of gluttony.  Even across worlds, it appears that some things never change.
>Captain Shining Armor is noticeably absent from the meal, though Princess Celestia makes no mention of it.  The Gryphon Delegation, upon realizing that the Captain would not be making an appearance, appeared quite animated in their discussions throughout the meal.  The pony representatives took no notice, and with your distance from the table, their hushed conversation could not reach your ears.  Still, the Sun Princess did not seem the least bit perturbed by this change in their attitude.  After the meal, as you head towards the Princess’ quarters, you decide to question Cadence.
“So, where do you think the Captain ran off to?”
>She turns her head a little and smiles, a twinkle dancing in her eye.
>“To be honest, after this afternoon I don’t care where he is.  There may have been some issues that arose within the barracks, or a meeting called with the Royal and City Guard that he was required to attend, but I doubt it’s anything to be concerned about.”
“Our feathered friends were quite interested in his absence; you don’t think there might be more to it than what it appears to be?”
>Cadence’s smile falters for a moment, but she quickly adopts a diplomatic façade.
>“I’m, certain that whatever it is will be resolved shortly.  Captain Shining Armor will be back before he’s missed, as usual.”
>You’d like to believe that, but the Princess’ attitude and tone suggests otherwise.  Despite that, she doesn’t seem to have a great deal of information, so you decide to leave the subject alone for the evening.  Though she did not indulge as some of the unicorns did, it seems that dinner and the day she had did quite a number on the pink pony as well.  After exchanging brief good nights, she retires, giving you free reign within the castle.
>With your duties done for the day, you decide to investigate the barracks, and see if any of the other guards know what has the Captain so preoccupied.  However, as you make your way down towards the lower levels of the castle, you spot one of the Night Guard, a batpony, lingering around one of the doors.
>Well, that’s not entirely accurate, as the pony’s leaning heavily against the wooden portal, ear perked up as though that would let the winged creature hear through the oaken beast any better.  You decide to approach from behind, and cause the pony to jump into the air when you clear your throat.
“Excuse me, what do you think you’re doing?”
>Despite the fact that you whispered, the guard is obviously terrified at the thought of being caught reaching into the cookie jar.  Turning, you raise an eyebrow as you realize who it is.  A spark of recognition crosses her features as well, and the look of fear changes to a twisted face of disgust.  Such a sour expression, it could only be Guardspony Stardust.
>“Oh, it’s you.”
>While her tone is rude, you can’t help but smile, remembering the wide yellow eyes that had so recently been pleading for you to have mercy.  Seeing you so happy only serves to deepen her scowl, forehead furrowing as she no doubt tries to hate you out of existence.
“Come on, I thought that we’d come to an understanding this morning.”
>“The only conclusion we came to is that I beat your tail all across the grounds.  And from the sound of it, Guardspony Glen did the same this afternoon.”
>The reminder of your recent trouncing sours your demeanor a little, earning a smug smirk from the batpony guard.  She glances towards the door for a moment, then back up at you.  Wearing her best bored expression, she lifts a hoof and waves it absently in your direction.
>“Look, if you don’t have pressing business, I’ve got a job to do, so scat.”
“Oh yeah, you look really busy, listening in on other ponies conversations and all that.”
>Stardust seems to gag a little as you call her out, her eyes going wide as red colors her cheeks.  Scowling at the stonework under her hooves, she paws at it, as if not making eye contact will make you disappear that much faster.
>“You, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Who’s on the other side of the door, Guardspony?”
>“Why should I tell you?”
>You try to hold back the grin.  You really do.  But it inevitably works its way onto your lips, and you can’t contain yourself.
“Because, if you don’t, then I’ll scream ‘Intruder’ at the top of my lungs, and send whoever it is that you’re eavesdropping on into a tizzy.”
>The fear makes itself known in Stardust’s eyes again.  It’s obvious because her head jerks up so she can see if you’re serious or not.  Granted, she’s no pushover, she’s taking the time to try and read you, to see if you would actually do it.  Before she can test your tenacity, you take a deep breath, making a show of puffing out your chest.  It hurts, you can feel your ribs strain under the sudden pressure, but it gets the job done.
>Without a word, Stardust grabs your hand in her mouth and tugs you away from the door.  She glances from side to side as you round another corner before spitting your mitt out of her mouth, the frown back on her lips.
>“Uck, you taste disgusting, do you ever wash?”
“Twice a day, actually.”
>“Better bump it up to three, you taste like stale sweat and leather.”
“While it’s nice to know that ponies won’t find me appetizing, I’d appreciate it if you stopped avoiding my questions.  Now whose room was that, and why were you so interested in it?”
>Stardust puffs out her cheeks before giving a long, slow exhale and rolling her eyes.
>“It’s the entrance to Princess Luna’s quarters.  I was coming by to inform her that the city perimeter was clear and that the train she requested I investigate was getting ready to leave the station.  But someone was already in there talking to her.  I’m pretty sure it’s Prince Blueblood.”
“So, you make a habit about listening in on conversations that don’t involve you?”
>“It, it’s nothing like that!”
>Stamping her hoof against the ground, Stardust shakes her head.
>“I just, it’s Prince Blueblood, you know?”
“I know he’s a jerk.  What’s so important about him?”
>“A jerk?  No, you’re the jerk!  Ugh!  Nevermind, you wouldn’t understand.”
>Turning her gaze to the side, Stardust mutters something under her breath.  It’s incoherent, but it gives you a chance to process the information you’ve been given.  The Princely Twit was meeting with the Moon Princess, something that’s apparently relatively uncommon.  An absentee Captain, mysterious late night trains leaving Canterlot and now secret royal meetings behind closed doors?  Something was definitely wrong.
“What were they talking about?”
>The batpony stares at you for a moment, then chuckles, which soon erupt into full on laughter.  Rearing up on her hind legs she clutches at her sides, using her wings to counterbalance her weight.
>“Y, you’re serious?  You pull me away from eavesdropping, and now you want to know what they’re saying?”
>Another giggle fit overtakes the previously stern faced pony, leaving you more than a little irritated, both at her, and the fact that she’s right.  Maybe it would have been better to hang around for a little while, but there’s nothing you can do about that now.
“Well, how about you tell me what you know, and we both go on with our lives.”
>Catching her breath, Stardust gives a small nod and drops back into a four-legged stance.  She’s still viewing you with contempt, but she seems all too eager to talk about the obnoxious Prince.
>“His Highness was saying something about one of the guards, that they had been acting strangely and wondered if Princess Luna knew anything about them.  There weren’t any names, not that I could make out, but I imagine it had something to do with the guards down by the train station.”
“Was the Captain with them?”
>Stardust purses her lips, then smiles, nodding.
>“Yeah, he was standing outside on the loading area, watching gear and guards go onto the train.  It looked like they were getting ready for a long trip; it must be a secret mission or something.”
>Or something is right, there’s definitely something rotten in the city of Canterlot.  While you mull that new revelation over, Stardust leans back out into the hall.  A quiet gasp jerks you out of the thought process, just in time for you to catch the batpony as she barrels into you, knocking you against the wall.  You crumple into a seated position, getting out little more than a hiss before the Night Guard clasps her hoof over your mouth.
>“Shh!”
>Sitting there, eye to eye with her, you the slightly uneven tufts of fur that puff out from her face when she’s nervous.  Her eyes dart over to you for a moment, then back towards the open hall.  You hear the hooffalls just a moment before Prince Blueblood and Guardspony Glen march by, likely to the Prince’s quarters.  After they pass, the two of you unnoticed, Stardust gives a sigh of relief and removes her hoof from your face.
>“Sorry, about that.  Just, I didn’t want to get caught skulking around up here and didn’t know if you’d sell me out or not.”
“Yeah, sure.”
>You grunt, rubbing at your back.  The batpony gives a half smile before realizing that she’s practically on top of you.  That gets her up in a hurry.  She shudders once, trying to shake off the fact that she actually touched you, and then fixes you with a glare.
>“Well, now we’ll never know what they were talking about, I hope you’re happy.”
“I actually am.  I’ve got a little bit more information on what might be happening, and that’s enough for now.”
>Stardust perks up at that.  She smiles, sitting on her haunches and tilting her head to the side.
>“Well, I shared my info, how about you do the same?”
“Why so interested in Royal drama?”
>“If it involves the Prince, I make it my business.”
>With a smirk, the batpony scoots closer, fixing you with her big yellow eyes.
>“So, c’mon, what do you know?”
>The excitement in her voice is infectious, and wins you over within seconds.  For some reason, you feel especially eager to share your knowledge with her.
“Not much, just that the Gryphon delegation took a lot of interest in Shining Armor’s absence.”
>“You think they might have something to do with it?  We should inform the Princesses immediately.”
>Stardust hops too her hooves, moving to scamper off before you grab her by the tail.  With a pained yelp, the winged mare glares back at you, then to the offending appendage.  If she’d had sharper teeth, she might try to bite it off.  She might still try anyway.
“If we tell the Princesses without any proof, we’ll just get ourselves in trouble if we’re wrong.  Besides, Celestia’s probably got the situation under control.”
>When Stardust opens her mouth to protest, you release the pony’s tail, and give her a grin.
“But, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do a little fact finding mission of our own, just stay on top of things.”
>That devious smile makes its way back onto Stardust’s face, the same one she wore when she had you dead to rights just this morning.
>“I like the way you think, sometimes. It’s sneaky, dangerous, and even a little underhanded.  What do you propose?”
“Since we’re working opposite shifts, we should each focus on gathering information when we’re on duty, it will look less suspicious.  If there are a lot of guards missing, chances are that the remainder will consolidate on major avenues of travel instead of protecting the entire castle.  But we need a place to exchange information.  The mess hall’s too public, and if the other guards see us eating together, they might start asking questions.”
>Nodding in agreement, Stardust presses her lips together and furrows her brow.  You take the time to consider options as well, but it’s only ten seconds before the batpony comes up with a suggestion.
>“What about the training ground?  It’s used by every member of the Guard, and we can take the time to spar and pass along any information we gather when we’re cooling down afterwards.  Even though you couldn’t hold a candle to me this morning, if we keep meeting up to spar then the other guards probably won’t take notice.  Besides, you could use the extra practice.
>With a slight teasing tilt of her head, the Night Guard meets your eyes again.  It’s a pretty good idea, all told, and Stardust was leaps and bounds better than any guard you’d gone toe to hoof with so far.  To compete be able to compete on her level would be an enormous relief, both to you and the Princess.
“Not bad.  If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you’re starting to like the idea of working together.”
>“Pfft, yeah right.  I told you that if it concerns the Prince, I want in.  That’s all.”
“You gonna tell me why?”
>Stardust shoots you a look of mock thoughtfulness for a moment but then shakes her head and grins.
>“Nah.  I’ll see you in the morning, okay?  Don’t forget.”
>You give a curt nod, leaving the batpony to her own devices as she scampers off down the hall towards the Moon Princess’ quarters.  Again, you consider going down to the barracks, but decide it would be best to let the fact that there were Guardsponies missing set in before questioning their comrades about what happened.
>There would be rumors, undoubtedly, but charging in and asking questions would be a good way to stick your neck out at the wrong time.  Best to wait until tomorrow to begin questioning the other guards.  Setting that aside for the evening, you make your way down to the kitchen to scrounge up some scraps.
>
>The spring breeze still carries the warmth of the day as it tousles Shining Armor’s mane.  Despite his urge to pace across the loading area of the train station, the Guard Captain stands in stoic silence, watching as the selected members of the Royal Guard load themselves onto the train cars.  At the insistence of her Eminence, Princess Celestia, he would make his way into the plains and badlands to the west of Canterlot, investigating a strange surge of attacks on her peaceful ponies.
>While he did not want to be away from the castle during such dangerous times, he could not so easily ignore the request of his Princess.  Besides, the castle was in good hands.  Even if the latest guard from the city, Guardspony Anonymous, was among those remaining.
>Shining Armor does well to keep the hairs on the back of his neck from standing on end at the thought of the, human.  Of course, he knew the biped was talented, he had been keeping close watch over Anonymous’ progress since his arrival and the Captain was more than impressed.  While certainly lacking in training when compared to his peers, Anonymous made up for these shortcomings with a number of natural advantages, long limbs and height especially, and a dedication to understanding his craft.  In time, he would make an excellent member of the Royal Guard, possibly even an officer.
>Which was one reason why the sudden ascent to Guard Attendant was so bothersome.  Anonymous, for all his talents, was ill prepared to take on the responsibilities that come with protecting a member of the Crown, much less serve as the final line of defense for someone as important as Princess Cadence.
>His cheeks color a little at the thought of the pink pony, earning a few looks and a handful of chuckles from the guards, but Shining Armor pays no mind.  That was another component to the puzzle.  Had Anonymous remained within the City Guard, the white stallion was quite sure that he would currently be cozying up to his sister’s former foal sitter.
>But the human threw everything he had planned into disarray in a single afternoon. He stole the attention of Princess Cadence and seemed to block each and every one of his attempts to woo the young alicorn mare.  It wasn’t clear if Anonymous was intentionally putting himself in between the Princess and Shining Armor, but the way that Cadence would look at him, it unnerved the young Captain.
>The timing of this trip could not be worse.  This was a pivotal moment in the young alicorn’s life, and if Shining did not move quickly, he feared he would lose her forever.
>“Captain!  We’re all loaded up!”
>Shining Armor shakes his head as the cry from one of his troops snaps him back to reality.  Placing aside matters relating to his personal life aside, he climbs on board the train and makes his way towards the conductor.  An aged earth pony with enormously thick glasses and a blue and white vertical striped hat gives a nearly toothless grin as the unicorn approaches.
>“We all set, Cap’n?”
>“We are.  Set course for Spaghetti Junction.”
>The pony nods and pulls himself up with the assistance of the console in front of him.  Wrapping his gums around a free swinging pulley, he gives a firm tug and a loud whistle tears through the night.  A few flicks of his hooves later, and the leavers and knobs lock into place, the quiet hiss and ‘ch-chunk’ of gears whispering into place as the engine comes to life.
>Trusting that the conductor has things well in hoof, Shining Armor walks back to the passenger car and takes one last look at the castle.  Glistening in the light, he thinks of the Princess who he has longed for, and the human standing in between them.  As much as he would like to stay, responsibility was calling him, he would simply have to deal with the two issues upon his return.  Pulling up a seat, the Captain positions himself to stare ahead at the adventure awaiting him.

Chapter 14

close the door behind you.
>The worst part about trying to find out secrets is getting started.  You spare a glance to the aged clock that resides in your headspace, noting the passage of time.  It’s been three days since you began your secret investigation with Guardspony Stardust and neither of you have found out anything.  It’s beginning to feel like you’re making too big a deal out of this, but nothing about the situation feels right.
>With a heavy sigh, you place your back to the oaken exterior and stretch your legs out.  Most of your nights are like this; you’re aware that you’re asleep, stuck in a fully lucid state that lends itself well to pondering things out.  There are dreams, of course, but after years of living out your fantasies without any repercussions, it began to get a little stale.
>Not to say you still don’t indulge in them from time to time, but as you’ve gotten older, the opportunity to sit and ponder without interruption has become more and more enjoyable.  Unfortunately, when you’re in a situation where you don’t have any leads, it really feels like more of a curse than a blessing.  As you huff in frustration, the clock continues to tick onward, lulling your eyelids lower and lower as you drift deeper into your subconscious.
>All too late, you realize that you’ve made a terrible mistake.  Your eyes snap open and you bolt to your feet, searching the vast emptiness for the familiar mahogany pillar, a sign that you can still make it back to safety.  But it’s already gone and you groan in frustration as you bury your face in your hands.
“Not again.”
>The comforting, ever present ticking has vanished, signifying your full immersion in the dream.  While most of the dreams are of your own design, allowing you to tether yourself to the time keeper’s presence, on occasion you’ll stumble into a random collection of thoughts and memories.
>You’ve tried your best to control these as well, but even the knowledge that you’re asleep isn’t enough to give you power over them.  You are simply too deep in your sleep to wake yourself up, forcing you to either ride the dream out, or find a way back to your semi-conscious state.  Sliding your palms through your hair, you glance around as the dream begins to take form.
>The world is enveloped in darkness, save for a single pillar of light that surrounds you, stretching out about five feet in any direction.  People, humans, begin appearing out of the darkness, giving you a decent berth by not entering within the radius of your circle.  You groan, recognizing the setup immediately.
“I need to get out of here.”
>Squaring your shoulders, you walk in what you believe is the opposite direction of the path you chose the night before, the dull thrum of footsteps and unrecognizable conversation beginning to echo in your ears.  As you continue along, the rumble of idling engines makes itself known and you find yourself jogging, but quickly breaking into a run.  The crowd is thicker now, they’re beginning to push and jostle their way into your space, into the light.
>While they have the body of humans, they are entirely devoid of details, colorless forms that stretch and walk like shadows freed from their owners.  As the din around you continues to grow into what could only be a bustling street corner, you hear a pair of sounds cut through the cacophony that makes your blood run cold.
>Rubber against asphalt, and the laughter of a child.  Somewhere, a switch is thrown and another stroke of light pierces the darkness, illuminating another shadow, much smaller than the rest.  In its hands rests a single, brilliant piece of color in the otherwise droll shadowy world, a cherry red ball about the size of your head.  The child shadow bounces the ball against the ground a few times, and you turn your back on it.
“No, not tonight.”
>Your palms decide to make up for the saliva that your mouth is apparently incapable of making, the wet slickness tickling at your fingers as you try to block out the sound of the ball bouncing.  The incessant sound chips away at your brain, like seconds ticking away on the clock.  And then, the horn comes.
>It drowns out everything, sound, even movement as all the shadows turn and stare at the child, but you stand firm.  Again it comes and your body begins to turn against your will.  You open your mouth to scream, but can only feel the sudden rush of air in your lungs as you charge towards the second shaft of light.
>Your heels dig into the unyielding asphalt while your hands grip the child, flinging it behind you, out of the light.  It vanishes into the darkness as a sudden wind roars by your face, the second stream of light beginning to fade.  The horn sounds once more before fading into the distance.  Taking a deep breath, you sigh and resign yourself to your fate before the crunch comes.  You don’t have to wait long, and when it arrives, you are forcibly thrown from the dream, back into the waking world.
>
>The sheets are heavy with sweat as you jerk up into a seated position.  Your eyes jump from left to right several times, trying to confirm that you are indeed back in your quarters.  While the cold, uneven stonework is far from welcoming, it does provide a sense of relief, knowing that you are once again grounded in the real world.  Rolling your shoulder, you make a face as your bedclothes stick to your body.
“Yeeuck.”
>It’s a little after four in the morning, but you won’t be getting any more sleep tonight, just like last night, and the night before that.  Pulling yourself from the bed, you shiver as your feet touch the cold stone and resolve to let the sheets dry a little while you shower before attending to them.  By five, you’re ready for the Princess to be up.  It’s a very long two hour wait.
>
>There are few things in this life more irritating than a poor night’s sleep.  Every morning since you arrived in the castle, you’ve been feeling less and less rested, and your raccoon-eyed visage was a sight to behold this morning.  Even Princess Cadence, ever tactful, had commented that you might want to look into some cover-up to make yourself more presentable.
>It wasn’t just your appearance either; the lack of restful sleep was beginning to show in your actions as well.  Forgetting little things like eating, or appointments with the castle physicians, not to mention the unshakeable bloated feeling of your body, every step felt strange and foreign.  And you were really suffering for it now.
“Gh!”
>You grunt as sweat stings at your eyes, the endless clacks of wooden weapons reverberating across the training grounds.  Guardspony Stardust stands across from you, wearing an almost sadistic smile on her mug as she twists her head to the side again, bringing the heavy sword shaped stick along for the ride.  Your arms ring as the staff in your hands suffers another blow, nearly slipping away out of your hands as you continue to lose feeling in them save for the jabbing sensation of pins and needles.
>She’s slower today as well, choosing to stay on the ground and only fight with her mouth, but that doesn’t make her any easier to overcome.  While you scramble to find leverage, Stardust constantly presses her advantage, forever keeping you back on your heels.  It’s incredibly irritating.
>The more you backpedal, the more your own body weight begins to wear on you.  Your steps wobble, becoming sloppy and unrefined, until a misstep causes your ankle to roll under your weight.  You let out a cry of surprise, dropping to one kneel and using your staff to support yourself.  Stardust, sensing your inability to continue, lowers her head and crashes into your chest, sending you sprawling out across the cool grass with the batpony landing square on your abdomen.
>She’s wearing that self satisfied smile again, the delicate fangs in her mouth standing out in sharp contrast against the worn, earthy wood.  The weapon presses against the side of your neck, and you hear her mock you in a strangled tone.
>“Gosha.”
>One dark chuckle later and the pony climbs off of you, trotting towards the bleachers.  You lay there for a few seconds longer, waiting for feeling to come back to your limbs, and for the dull ache in your chest to subside.  Not the heartbreak of disappointment, it’s become abundantly clear after your last few encounters that getting beaten by the ponies is something you’ll have overcome with time, but the still ringing sensation in your breastbone from Shining Armor’s examination.
>At last, the feeling becomes tolerable and you pull yourself back into a standing position.  Unfortunately, your ankle threatens to buckle as you put more and more weight on it, so you use your staff as a walking stick for the time being.  You would go see the physician, but you’re certain you missed yesterday’s appointment, and would like to avoid confrontation if possible.  Besides, you can still support most of your weight and it will be better in a little while.  Probably.
>As you approach the rows of benches, Guardspony Stardust holds out a cup to you.  The abrupt jerking start and stop of her hoof sends water spilling over the lip.
>“Drink up.”
>You nod in reply, still trying to find your voice.  The fluid burns a little on the way down against the portions of your throat that still feel a little raw, but the low temperature is otherwise satisfying.  Plopping down hard beside the batpony, the two of you watch the other guards as they train.  Despite your sleep addled brain, you begin to go over the details of what you do know abut the Captain’s disappearance.
>As you had suspected, Shining Armor had taken a fair number of the Guard with him, perhaps a little less than ten percent of the standing hundred and fifty members of the Royal Guard.  Apparently a few of the City Guard had gone missing as well, though why the Captain would request the city’s assistance is unclear.  Patrols had increased in length of time and scope to cover the absences, much to the frustration of those left behind.  So far, it seems that you were accurate in your assessment of the situation.  There’s just one problem.
“Did you get any bites?”
>“Not a one.”
>You groan and lean back against the bleacher behind you.
“It’s been three days, and no one’s talking.”
>Stardust sighs and gives a slow nod in response, taking another sip from her cup.  She stares off across the training ground and shakes her head.
>“I don’t get it.  Usually this place is rolling with rumors and gossip, at least when the officers are out of earshot.  But now it’s like everyone’s being tight lipped about some big secret.”
“Or they don’t know anything at all.”
>“Even still, eventually someone’s got to come up with something.  I mean, this is the Captain we’re talking about.  If he leaves the castle during troubling times, that’s really big news.  But it’s like he never left.”
>You sigh and reach over, patting the batpony on the back.  Stardust gives you a glare and a face full of leathery wing for your trouble.  As you rub your stinging cheeks, you venture another guess.
“Maybe it hasn’t had time to sink in, or maybe they haven’t started putting the pieces together yet.  We should give it another few days before we really start to worry.”
>“No can do monkey-boy.  Every day that the Captain’s out there is another day that Canterlot and the Royal Family are at risk.  We need to find out what’s going on as quickly as possible.”
>It takes a great deal of effort but you manage to stifle a yawn before it can escape.
“I’m beginning to think we may have overestimated the importance of the Captain’s disappearance.  Besides, if we push too hard, too fast, we might alert whoever’s masterminding this whole thing to the fact that we know something’s up.  It’s not like we can just ask any of the ponies what’s going on and expect to get a lead.”
>Stardust scowls for a few seconds before her face goes alight.  Grinning from ear to ear, she slowly turns her head and cocks an eyebrow.
>“Whose to say that we can’t?”
“Uh, me, because everyone’s being tight lipped about this.”
>“I bet I can think of a pony who would be willing to let us know about the latest dish among the Royal Guard.  Only problem is, she’s outside of the castle, and considering the current situation, I wouldn’t want to go into town if it wasn’t necessary.”
>Her upper lip curls just a little, showcasing the pair of jagged teeth in the process.  The best you can manage is a blank stare as you try to figure out why she looks so happy about not being able to leave the castle.  When you don’t speak up, Stardust’s face twists into a scowl and she huffs in frustration.
>“I swear, you can be so thick sometimes.  You an me, we’re partners in this, right?”
>Thinking better than to speak up, you simply nod.
>“So, that means we do things to help each other out.  I’m just a grunt, so I’d have to get special permission to leave the castle on my own, even if I were to take some time for leave.  That would look suspicious.  But, if you were to take the Princess into town and were to take me as part of the entourage…”
>The statement hangs in the air as the batpony gives you an encouraging look.  Three seconds later, you think you catch her meaning.
“You could go and see your contact without raising any flags.”
>“Bingo, atta boy!”
>The guardspony punches you in the shoulder.  To your sleep addled mind, it’s a decent plan, but something still bothers you.
“It sounds like it could work, but why would some pony out in Canterlot know more about what’s going on in the castle than any of the other guards?”
>“She works in a bar in the upper portion of the city that serves members of the Guard.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned after living with these guys, it’s that they’re perfect whenever the Officers or the Royal Family are around but pretty laid back otherwise.  And they’re terrible at holding their cider.  Any rumors that have passed through the bar, she’s heard.”
“So, we might not even get the truth from her and end up chasing shadows.”
>“Hey, it’s better than sitting around waiting for someone’s tongue to slip.  A lead is a lead, and the sooner we can start eliminating what we know to be false, the sooner we can find the truth.”
“I guess so, but there’s no way to know if it’ll work.  We can’t force Princess Cadence to go into the city.”
>“That’s why I’m leaving the specifics up to you, oh fearless leader.”
“Gee, thanks.”
>Pushing herself back onto her hooves, the batpony tosses her mane to the side, though it’s too short to do much more than wobble in protest.  Glancing back at you, Stardust smiles and gives a brief nod.
>“I’m counting on you, Anonymous.  Don’t let me down.”
“Mm.”
>Grunting and shooing her with a wave of your hand is the best that you can manage.  She looks a little peeved, but goes off without another word, leaving you alone with a cup of water and your heavy eyelids.  You lay out across the bleachers, resolving to take a fifteen minute nap before heading back to your room to get presentable for Cadence.  The trip up the stairs takes a little while longer on account of your ankle, but by the time you’re redressed it’s capable of fully supporting your weight again.
>As you approach the appointed meeting place, you see that the two royals have squared off against one another.  Bright sparks of light flare violently from their as they glare at the other.  Correction, Cadence is glaring, wile Blueblood is simply smirking and looking like the cat that ate the canary.  Hustling up to the three Guardsponies you assigned to her detail, you turn to Meadowlark, the most familiar face of the trio.
“Lark, what’s going on?”
>Giving an apologetic grimace, the pegasus’ brow furrows as he nods to the two rivals.
>“Today, the subject was Advanced Magical Application.  Apparently, Prince Blueblood’s talents are severely understated.  He took every opportunity to show up and embarrass the Princess.”
>You sigh and rub at the back of your neck.  Great, and here you thought that Cadence had been making progress.  Preparing yourself to talk her down, you look back at the winged pony.
“Is that all?”
>“Ah, no.  The Princess took most of it in stride, but then the Prince came after her after she left and said that it’s no wonder that you were her choice for Royal Guard Attendant.  Let’s see, I think he said something like, ‘An inept Guard for an impotent Princess’.”
“Ouch.”
>You can’t help but wince at that, the rest of the entourage nodding as one.  That certainly makes handling this a little more difficult.  As you try to figure out how to defuse the situation, you notice Guardspony Glen standing off in the corner, looking just as pleased as his charge.  No longer wishing to charge into the middle of what might end up being a magical maelstrom, you decide to divert some of the pressure.
“Hey!”
>Both Royal ponies flinch at the sound of your voice, but they refuse to break eye contact.  Snowy’s gaze turns towards you with a lazy roll of his head, still wearing that self-satisfied smile.  He doesn’t make any move to speak, so you begin to approach him, taking longer strides than usual.
“What the heck do you think you’re doing?”
>“Me?”
>Giving a practiced look of mock innocence, the white unicorn chuckles and shakes his head.
>“I’m quite certain I have no idea what you mean.  I am observing the Prince to make sure that no harm comes to him.”
“Sure looks like he’s about to do something that’ll harm him.”
>Though your attention is focused on Blueblood’s attendant, you can feel the gaze of all the ponies in the area on you and Snowy.  Unfazed, the unicorn smirks all the wider.
>“I assure you, the Prince is not in any danger.”
“How can you say that?  This childishness is going to get someone hurt.”
>“You may be right on that point, but I assure you, Prince Blueblood is in no danger.”
>Before you can reply, the Prince cuts in and steals any momentum you’d built up.
>“Snowy’s quite right, Guardspony.  The Princess, for all her bluster, is too afraid to make the first move, since she already knows there’s no way for her to beat me.”
>A sudden rush of magic fills the air and causes the hairs on your arm to stand on end, brilliant blue streaks emanating from Cadence’s horn.  You see Blueblood preparing a spell of his own and realize you only have a few seconds to act, falling back to your original plan.
>Without even a second glance to your rival Attendant, you step in between the two magically charged ponies.  For an instant you can feel the gathered energy skipping across the pores of your skin as you reach out a hand towards Cadence.  The scowl which had marred the pretty pink pony’s face falters, as does the light from her horn.  Though she seems ready to ask you to step aside, the longer she stares at you the more her magic wanes, until at last, she decides to stand down.
>The Prince is not so quick to do so, and you can still feel your hackles standing at attention as you kneel in front of your charge.  You flash her a slight smile before bowing your head and speaking.
“Princess, I apologize for my lateness.  While I am certain seeing you and the Prince practice your spells would be an excellent use of time, I am afraid that we already have a very full schedule today.”
>Cadence looks at you in surprise, quirking an eyebrow but giving a slow, uncertain nod.  She glares one last time at her cousin before tapping you on the shoulder with her hoof, allowing you to rise and lead her away from the pair of unicorns.  The entourage falls in step behind both of you, and you make it around the corner before Cadence’s frustration takes over.
>“Oh he’s so infuriating!”
>The Princess of love is visibly seething, grinding her teeth together in a vicious grimace as she huffs and stomps down the hall.  You open a door to one of the rooms adjacent to the hall, allowing Cadence to storm her way inside.  Glancing over your shoulder, you motion for the other guardsponies to hold back, giving you a chance to speak in private with the Princess.
>Another library in what seems to be a castle consisting almost entirely of libraries.  Thankfully this one is empty and well lit, sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows that dominated the eastern side.  The pink pony is still in quite a state, thrashing her head from side to side as she stomps around the room.  It’s cute, in some twisted sort of way, but you realize that it’s not healthy for her to try and work her anger out like this.
>Crossing the room, you place a hand on Cadence’s back.  She stops pacing, though you can still feel her heart beating away at a rapid pace, and the continue huffing and puffing of her body makes it clear that she’s far from content.  Kneeling down beside her, you rest your arm on her spine and rub gently at the back of her neck.
“Cadence, you need to calm down.”
>“I.  Am.  Calm.”
“No, you’re really not.”
>Turning to face you, the pissed Princess scowls, seeming to glare right through your head and straight to the door.
>“He’s impossible, wicked and nasty!  I can’t believe he’s related to me in the slightest.  What sort of pony takes delight in tearing down others?”
“Well, there are always going to be people, and ponies, that are like that.  Back home, there are a lot more folks who will do anything they can to get ahead, even betray their own families.  Just, take a few deep breaths and we’ll talk it out, okay?”
>Cadence gives an uncertain nod, then does as you request, inhaling and exhaling as she tries to equalize herself.  After a good four minutes of breathing, she’s back into a stable condition, and even manages to smile a little.
>“Thank you, Guardspony.”
>Satisfied with the change, you place your arm back at your side.  Still, you can’t help taking a small jab at her.
“Anything for you, Princess.”
>Rolling her eyes, the pink pony sits down on the rug and lets out a final, heavy breath.  A few seconds of silence pass before you press.
“So, what happened?”
>She responds with an immediate shake of her head, dropping the formal speech for the time being.
>“Thank you for worrying, Anonymous but I would rather forget that it ever happened.  I’ll just say that my cousin’s ego has swollen to outrageous proportions and it’s only getting worse as the days go on.  Considering how often we see each other, it’s just a matter of time until there’s another outburst like today, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself next time.”
>Sighing, you reach out again and cradle her cheek in your palm.  The Princess closes her eyes and leans into the touch, both of you savoring the all too momentary contact before you pull away again.
“Well, I think I’ve got a solution.”
>“Mm?”
>Cadence’s eyes flutter open with the soft sound coming from the back of her throat, those gentle eyes of hers so quickly finding yours.  Your mouth goes dry and your heart begins to pound, but you push on regardless, those pretty purple pools peering at you.
“It’s pretty clear to me that you’ve gone a little stir crazy since you arrived in the castle.  The stress you’re feeling about the Captain and your cousin, it’s all contained within these walls, and there’s really nowhere you can go to escape it.”
>“Are you saying I’m mad?”
>There’s a slight upturn at the end of her question, mirrored by the curl of her lips, the gentle playfulness again making itself known.  You both share a laugh before you continue.
“What I’m saying is that I think it would be best if we spent some time outside of the castle today.”
>Considering everything that’s gone on today, you really do feel like this is a wonderful plan.  Cadence gets to go outside, away from the castle and all of her problems, you get to spend an afternoon with her in the bustling upper city of Canterlot, and you’ll be able to fulfill your end of the arrangement with Guardspony Stardust.  The effect is immediate, though not what you were expecting.
>The smile you’d worked so hard to get disappears in an instant while the Princess pony’s breathing deepens and she averts her eyes.  Clearing her throat a few times, Cadence shakes her head.
>“I, I don’t believe that’s a very good idea, Anonymous.”
>Her sudden reluctance throws you for a loop.  Giving a nervous chuckle, you twist yourself to try and make eye contact with her, but Cadence just shifts her head to the other side.
“Sorry, I don’t really understand, Cadence.  I know that you’re a Princess, but you’re so eager to be treated like the rest of the ponies under Princess Celestia.  If you go out there, you’ll be able to be yourself.”
>“Anonymous, I spent years among the ponies of Equestria, not as one of them but a symbol of Princess Celestia’s right to rule.  The very fact that I look like this…”
>Cadence takes a moment to unfurl her wings.  With her back to the windows, she casts a beautiful silhouette the pink and purple feathers providing a sort of incandescent halo around her body.  She finally meets your eyes again, the plum-colored orbs threatening to be overcome with tears.
>“Marks me as something other than a pony.  I’m different, and that’s all that they will see when they look at me.  Things may try my patience here, but at least I’m viewed with some sense of normalcy, I have my aunts and my insufferable cousin.  And I have you.”
>She’s hurt.  Anonymous, you idiot, how could you forget what she’d been doing before she came to Canterlot?  Heaving a sigh, you move closer to her and wrap your arm around the base of her neck, pulling the pink pony in for a hug.  Shuddering and stuttering uncontrollably, it takes Cadence a long while before she wraps her hooves around your neck and returning the gesture.
>It takes a little while for the shakes to dissipate, but eventually Cadence clears her throat and releases her grip, giving you the chance to do the same.  She’s still a mess, her face has a few matted clumps of fur from the few tears she shed, and her eyes are bloodshot, but she seems to be better.  So you try again.
“Princess, I know that it’s difficult for you to imagine going out there, but I think I have a solution that will let you go out in public, and be yourself.”
>You’re certain she’s going to break down again, fear and disappointment making themselves known in her eyes.  But then, a spark of something else.  Hope?  Trust?  Cadence gives a gentle, uncertain smile and raises an eyebrow.
>“What, did you have in mind?”
>
>An hour later, you’re waiting on the Princess inside her chambers.  Well, to be precise, you’re waiting in the sitting room, as Cadence’s quarters are roughly four times the size of your own, at the very least.  Taking another look around the lavishly decorated room, you shake your head and toss the tassels of one of the tapestries, muttering to yourself.
“And I thought I made it big when I got out of the barracks.  We could fit dozen bunk beds in here alone.”
>“A-Anonymous?  I’m, not so certain about this disguise.”
>Cadence calls out through the wall.  You grin from ear to ear and shake your head.
“Don’t worry about how it looks.  Just come out and let me see it, okay?”
>“But, it’s uncomfortable.”
“That’s just because you aren’t used to wearing clothes, you’ll get used to it.  Now come on!”
>It takes several more times going back and forth before Cadence relents and trots around the corner, looking down and away.  The disguise is little more than a hooded cloak that you managed to get from the on duty Quartermaster, but it serves its purpose.  While certainly not something you’d find in a boutique on the upper level of the city, the gentle blue fabric is trimmed with an off white cream, sturdy and functional with just a touch of class.  When the silver clasp in the front is sealed, it successfully hides the Princess’ wings from view, making her seem like nothing more than an unassuming unicorn.
>The hood also helps to obscure her face, while still providing her with a decent field of vision.  You’ll need to walk alongside her to stay in her periphery, but considering the fact that you want her to appear indistinguishable from any other unicorn it’s necessary.  Cadence shifts in discomfort, wetting her lips before she looks up at you.
>“I, I look ridiculous, don’t I?”
>Smiling, you walk over and place a hand on her cheek.  Biting her lip, the Princess looks up at you, her hood sliding back slightly in the process.  You can’t help but smile at the sight of her being so anxious.
“You look like a pony, who I would very much like to spend a day out in the town with.”
>The seconds tick by as the two of you stare back at one another, but eventually Cadence cracks, showing a small smile.
>“You’re quite the charmer, Guardspony.”
“Ah, it’s Anonymous when we’re in town, remember, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?”
>Cadence puffs out her cheeks for a moment, then laughs.  You join in and move towards the door.  It had taken a lot of doing, but eventually Guardspony Laurel had agreed to provide you with a few pegasi, as well as a certain member of the Night Guard, to watch over you and the Princess from the air.
>“Anonymous?”
>You pause, your hand on the door handle.  Glancing over your shoulder, you see the Princess, still uncertain, shuffling her weight between her bare hooves.  Their nakedness strikes you for a moment, and when you glance up at Cadence, you know she caught you looking.  With a red tinge on her cheeks, she takes a cautious step forward.
>“You, will keep me safe, won’t you?”
>Grinning, you nod your head and pull the door open.
“I swear it on my life, Princess, I’ll protect you forever.”
>That’s all she needs to hear.  She trots past you with her head held high, adjusting the hood of her cloak as she enters the hall.  Giving one last look to the room, you smile and


Chapter 15

>With the Princess in tow, you make your way down towards the courtyard.  Upon arriving on the green between the walls and the castle proper, you meet with the three pegasi who will be serving as your aerial observation team, Guardspony Meadowlark, Guardspony Stardust of the Night Guard, and a third you’ve never seen before.
“Sorry, who are you?”
>Putting on your best smile, you hold out your hand to the new face.  It’s another male pegasus who looks suspiciously like the guards you’d seen stationed outside the throne room.  Clad in the usual gold armor, the perfectly white pony stares at your offered limb before snapping a quick salute to you, then bowing to the Princess.
>“I am Guardspony Cirrus.  Upon hearing that Guardspony Laurel was looking to acquire an additional body for an excursion into town, I knew that my talents would be required.  I am at your disposal, Princess.”
>Cadence puts on a strained smile and gives an uncertain laugh, as she looks to you out of the corner of her eye.  There’s a slight pleading tone there,and you step in with a laugh, motioning for him to stand down as you do.
“Woah there, buddy.  I don’t know how much Guardspony Laurel told you, but this is supposed to be a low-key operation.  You can’t be doing that when we’re out in the city, ponies will start talking.”
>With the way Cirrus’ mouth is hanging slack jawed, anyone would have thought you just slapped him across the face.  To his credit, the starch white pegasus collects himself quickly, puffing out his chest in an attempt to intimidate you.
>“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is a member of the Royal Family and should be treated as such.  To show such disrespect to her would be the same as if I were to do the same to Princess Celestia herself.”
“You couldn’t tone it down, just a little?”
>“That is impossible, sir.”
>There’s a note of irritation in the way he responds to you, signifying that it’s going to be incredibly difficult to reason with him.  Moreover, the more time you waste trying to get this guy to relax is less time you’ll get to spend in the city.  Holding your thumb and forefinger to the bridge of your nose, you shake your head and sigh in frustration.
“I’m going to have to have a talk with Laurel when we get back.”
>Resolving to do that immediately upon your return, you decide it’s time to work with what you’ve got. Pulling your hand away from your face, you smile at the trio of winged ponies.
“All right since I’m clear on who everyone is now, let’s go over assignments.  I wanted pegasi to mitigate how much attention the Princess and I will draw on the street, so you three will observe from the air.  Guardspony Stardust, you’ll attend to the security perimeter.  The Princess and I will be sticking to the market sector today, so feel free to patrol it however you like.  If something goes wrong, you’ll be our second line of defense.”
>“I’m on it.”
>Stardust gives you a grin and a wink as she flaps her leathery wings and lifts herself off the ground.  She looks rather worn, likely because she should be sleeping off her shift right now, but she readily takes to the sky.  You watch her fly off into the blue before looking back at the other ponies.  Guardspony Lark is pleading silently, wearing a nervous smile as you resign him to his fate.
“Guardspony Lark, you’re with Guardspony Cirrus.  You’ll be following us from above.  If a situation warrants investigating, you two will take care of it but please, try to remain out of sight as much as you can.  We want to avoid every pony in town knowing that there’s a Princess about.”
>The uptight Cirrus gives a derisive snort, but manages to spare you a nod before taking to the air with a sudden ‘woosh’.  That leaves you alone on the ground with Cadence and a scowling Meadowlark.  The brown pegasus groans and saddles up next to you.
>“C’mon Anonymous, are you really going to stick me with him?  He’s wound so tight that I think he’s going to snap at any second.”
>You reach out and ruffle his mane a little.  Despite the friendly gesture, the brown pegasus still seems irritated.
“That’s exactly why I need you to keep an eye on Cirrus.  He’s all gung-ho about protecting the Princess and I get the feeling that he’s going to come down if someone sneezes in her direction.  Keep close to him and keep him out of trouble, okay?”
>The junior Guardspony scowls before setting his lips into an uncertain line.  Seeing that you’re not going to budge, he sighs in exasperation.
“Yeah, all right.”
>Meadowlark gives a small nod and rockets up into the sky.  As he becomes little more than a pinprick in the vast expanse of blue, you turn to Cadence and offer her a grin.
“Alone at last.”
>Cadence gives a playful laugh, taking a moment to cover her mouth with her hoof as she does.
>“I hardly consider an aerial escort ‘being alone’.  But, I’m feeling anxious to get started, shall we go?”
>Turning your palm upward, you make a slow motion towards the main gate before beginning to stride towards it.  When Cadence doesn’t follow your lead, you pause and cock an eyebrow.
“Where’s the eagerness you were just talking about?”
>“You can’t expect me to walk out that way.”
>Donning a nervous smile, you glance between the suddenly stoic Princess and the yawning exit in the distance.  Unable to understand her reasoning, you finally give in.
“And, why is that?”
>“All of the disguises in the kingdom won’t do me any good if we’re spotted leaving through the castle entrance.  The gate leads right into the middle of the upper district, one of the busiest areas in Canterlot.  Trying to leave undetected through there would be impossible.”
“Ah, right.  Good, uh, good point.  Just give me a moment.”
>Well, she certainly shot that idea down quickly and you’re stuck off guard, wrack your brain to come up with another way out of the castle.  There might be additional access points around the perimeter, but you’ve only ever used the main entrance.  Maybe Cadence could fly outside and meet you somewhere, but, again it would be a matter of negating the attempt to hide her identity.  Seeing your distress, the Princess smiles and shakes her head, walking off towards the eastern wall.
>“Follow me.”
>After taking a few seconds to swallow your pride, you fall in step behind Cadence.  There are a few moments as you cross the green where you’re sure that the cloak is going to cause her to stumble, but the pink pony handles it with only a few stuttering steps to keep her balance.
>Your walk eventually leads you to the eastern wall.  The Princess’ eyes search for a moment, before she smiles and nods to a section of the wall.  You lean in, noting that there’s a design carved into one of the stones, a smaller replica of the royal crest, with both Princess Sisters chasing after one another.
>“Place your hand there.”
>Trusting in the pink pony, you press your palm against the stone.  It grows hot in your hand before tracing up the length of your arm and causing the badge on your armor to give off a gentle glow.  The stones give a momentary groan before collapsing under your touch, revealing a passage through the wall, with accompanying stairs leading deep under the castle.  Your surprise catches in your throat.
“Wh- Did… did I do that?”
>Sparing you a brief laugh, Cadence makes her way down into the depths, allowing her horn to light the way.  You hesitate and try to place some of the stones back into place, but they refuse to be lifted from the ground.  After a moment, you follow the fading blue light the Princess is giving off.  A sudden clatter erupts behind you as you begin heading down the stairs, causing you to turn and look back at the hole.
>The wall is in one piece once again; perfectly smooth as though it hadn’t just collapsed in on itself.  In the half light of the Princess’ horn, you can just make out the Royal Crest set in the stone.  Shaking your head, you hurry after Cadence, making sure to watch your step as you descend.  As you approach her from behind, the Princess glances back and smiles.
>“So, what did you think?”
“I, I really don’t know, to be honest.”
>Chuckling, Cadence turns her eyes forward again.
>“It seems that today is going to be an experience for the both of us.  Stay close to me and the wall.”
>The stairs hug either side of the wall, spiraling downwards into darkness.  Over your right shoulder, a pit stretches the length of the room, some eight to ten feet.  The dim light from Cadence’s horn doesn’t even pierce the shadows that reside there.  You recoil a little, not wanting to lose your balance and fall into the darkness.
“Yeah, you don’t have to tell me twice.”
>Another lapse in conversation provides you the opportunity to explore what little of the area you can observe.  The steady clop-clop of Cadence’s hooves is almost soothing as you reach out and slide your fingers along the wall, feeling slight indentations in the stone.  The symbols cut into the stone are unfamiliar, possibly a proto-language to the current Equestrian tongue.  As you pass by a landing without getting off, you turn back to Cadence.
“How does that work anyway, the collapsing wall?”
>“There’s magic inside the crests given to all the Royal Guards, allowing access to the secret areas of the castle.  Have you ever noticed how some of the Guardsponies always seem to cross the castle with ease?”
>Certainly, there were a handful of guards that you had seen in multiple places at once, but you never could have imagined anything like this.
“You’re telling me that they just walk through the walls of the castle to get wherever they need to go?”
>“As long as they have their crests, yes.  The magic in the crests resonates with the magic in the walls, allowing the Guard to move unseen through the castle.  The original designers built this concept in as a precaution, should it become necessary to move ponies through the castle without being spotted, such as during a siege or an occupation.”
“Pretty clever, but  couldn’t a unicorn who knew about the existence of the passages open the walls without a crest?”
>Cadence shakes her head as she exits onto the landing.  You take a glance back, noting that the stairs go down a good deal further, but hesitate to ask what’s down in the deepest, darkest places of the castle.
>“Each unicorn has a specific resonance to their magic, so any unicorn that tried to open the wall just using their magic would be denied.  In this case, the only pony who can access the secret roads without the use of a crest would be the Captain of the Royal Guard.  It’s the Captain’s responsibility to ensure that all the crests are properly attuned to their own resonance.  If a crest is lost, it can be deactivated by the Captain, even across vast distances.”
>The ability to travel unseen through a bustling castle without anyone knowing that you’re there; being Captain certainly has its perks.  You give a small grunt and nod your head, reaching out as Cadence indicates you should touch the wall again.  As before, the stone crumbles away, and you shield your eyes from the sudden influx of light on the other side.
>When your sight clears, you realize that you’re down on the street level of the marketplace, roughly halfway between the center and upper districts.  The exit places you in what would otherwise be a dead end alley, out of sight from the hubbub only a hundred or so feet away.  Cadence has already walked past the wall, her hooves eagerly clattering against the cobblestone streets.  She glances back at you, wearing a broad smile, quite unlike the uncertain mare in her bedroom.
>“Well, what are we waiting for?  Come on, I want to see what’s changed!”
>Your head is still spinning with questions, but for the time being you decide to indulge the Princess’ wishes.  The stones clatter back into place before you leave the alley, but you’re already too caught up in Cadence’s excitement to notice.
>To her credit, the pink pony resists rushing from storefront to storefront, but only just. Beneath the cloak, it’s obvious to you that she’s bouncing with anticipation.  Much of the rest of the morning is spent window shopping, though there are a few stores she decides she wants to enter.  Mostly mid-range clothing stores, perhaps looking for something low key for another excursion that doesn’t stand out quite as much as a cloak.  You can’t blame her for that.
>Once or twice, you notice a pair of pegasus guards, circling close to the ground.  Likely, Cirrus wanted to be sure that the Princess was safe, after spending two minutes longer in a store than he thought she should.  Though they never touch down, each time you spot them your stomach tightens uncomfortably, as though their very presence would give away Cadence’s identity.  Thankfully, no one else seems to notice them.
>That might be because the Princess is attracting quite enough attention on her own.  Though you gave it your best effort, your choice in clothing was only to hide her wings from view, not to entirely obscure her face and mane.  There’s no doubt about it, Cadence is a pretty pony, and the reaction from even some of the upper crust stallions in town is indicative of that.
>It’s during another stop at a jewelry stall that you notice him, a unicorn in a top hat and a wavy blonde mane billowing out from beneath it.  You remember seeing him back at the previous stall as well, keeping a safe distance but always looking over in the direction of the pink pony.  He’s looking now while she’s facing away from him, ogling her haunches.  Stepping in front of Cadence, you take a moment to cough and clear your throat before fixing the stallion with a glare.  A surprised expression crosses his face, as though he weren’t used to be told off.  As you’re left wondering how ‘educated ponies’ tend to be the thickest of the bunch, you turn to the pink pony and lean down to whisper in her ear.
“Princess, it might be best if we move on before we make a scene.”
>“Hmm?”
>Cadence’s eyes flit around, in confusion as she tilts her head to the side.
>“I’ve been trying to be as discrete as possible.  You don’t think anyone’s caught on to who I am, do you?”
“I’m pretty sure that no one has any idea who you are, but you’re attracting attention all the same.”
>At the Princess’ confused expression, you motion back to the staring pony with your eyes.  She turns to face him, and from the coloring in her cheeks, it’s rather clear that the amorous stares hadn’t slipped by her unnoticed.  Excusing herself from the vendor, Cadence hurries away from the scene, with you close on her tail.  She walks for several blocks before you try and bring a halt to her retreat.
“I apologize for bringing that up, Cadence, but I thought that you might want to know you were being watched.”
>Shuffling off to the side of the street, the Princess finally turns to face you.  To your surprise, there’s a wide smile across her face as she does.
>“Guardspony, I have to say that this has been the most revealing excursion I’ve had in a while.”
“You’re, not upset that he was practically drooling at the sight of you?”
>Cadence chuckles through her teeth, the smile turning slightly nervous for a moment before she shakes her head.
>“No, that was very uncomfortable.  But the fact was, he had no idea who I was and I still attracted his attention.  Being able to distance myself from my position… I suppose that it’s just a relief to know that there’s more to me than just the crown.”
“Well I could have told you that.”
>Snorting at her explanation earns you a loud laugh from Cadence, and garners the attention of most of the rest of the street.  She quickly brings a hoof to her mouth and coughs and life resumes after a few moments.  There’s a twinkle in Cadence’s eyes as she looks back up at you.
>“Of course you could, but it’s entirely another matter to experience these things for myself.  It’s just been so long since I’ve been out among the ponies and felt like I was just another pony in the crowd that everything feels fresh and new.  It’s, liberating.”
“Well, that’s a relief.  I was worried you were going to end up scarred and not want to come out with me again.”
>“Are you kidding?”
>Cadence squeaks in surprise, dropping her put upon language as her eyes threaten to pop from their sockets.  No one else seems to notice, but you can’t help chuckling a little as the prim pony collects herself.
>“The chance to feel normal and shop without everyone stopping everything they’re doing to wait on me?  I haven’t had the chance to take time and actually browse a store in ages.  Come on, let’s see more!”
“All right, all right.”
>You hold your hands up and smile.
“But, why don’t you let me take the lead this time?”
>In all honesty, Cadence had probably spent more of her youth inside this city than you had in your entire life.  Still, the opportunity to show her around some of your old haunts and the sites of some of your fonder memories was too good to pass up.  Always eager to hear more about you, the Princess is more than happy to indulge you for an hour.  While passing by another alley, you hold up your hand, signaling her to stop.  You take a few steps inside and shake your head, letting a smile spread across your face.
“I remember this place.  I caught my first thief here.”
>Cadence’s eyes light up at that, and she quickly trots after you, taking a look around the alley for some sign of struggle.  But, that was months ago, and it’s not like they’d put up a plaque in your honor.  After a moment of searching, she turns to you.
>“So, this was where you captured your first criminal with the City Guard?”
“What?  No.”
>You laugh at Cadence’s confusion and then shrug your shoulders.
“I was a few days out of the holding cells.  I knew enough of the common language to get around, but I was still working on picking it up.  I was watching some foals play with a ball around the corner when I heard it…”
>
>“Catch!”
>One of the younger foals bounces a ball against his head.  The others quickly form a circle, knocking the sphere back and forth between one another, laughing as they do.  You’ve found a comfortable perch on some unused crates, and take the time to listen to the general ruckus of the street while keeping an eye on the young ponies.
>After being released from the holding cells, Glory Road had taken it upon himself to find you a place to stay.  Currently, you are living out of a small floral shop that wrecked havoc on your sinuses.  The owners and Glory were apparently old friends and more than eager to put you up for the additional labor that you provided.  It seems that business has been good, since the owner gave you a small payment of coins every three days, just enough to keep you fed with two or three left over.
>Jiggling your pocket, you listen to the coins that you’ve managed to save so far as they clatter together.  You’re unsure if you’ll need them for an emergency, or acquiring lodging later.  Maybe you would ask Glory what you need to be looking to save for when you meet him at the bar tonight.  As the foals lose track of their ball down an alley, you hear a loud cry.
>“Stop him!  Some pony, stop him!”
>As if on cue, the crowd parts and begins staring at the haggard earth pony running in their midst.  His mane is in disarray, his sunken eyes wide and bloodshot as he gallops down the street.  Behind him is a rather rotund pony, huffing and puffing as he tries to catch up.  Red faced and wheezing, he gasps for air before shouting again.
>“Stop… him…!”
>And yet no one moves.  The pony jukes around one of the mares who had decided she wouldn’t move out of his way.  She squeals in terror as the pony diverts his path down a nearby alley, and you choose that moment to act.
>Springing forward, you pick up the pursuit of the pony.  Because of the length of your stride, you’re able to close the gap in a matter of seconds.  Tackling the filth-ridden creature to the ground and pinning him under your weight, slamming your hands down on either side of his head.
>As soon as his skull stops ringing, he begins trying to explain himself, but his accent is so thick and his voice so filled with fear that you can’t even pick up the slightest inkling of what he’s trying to say.  You struggle with how to express yourself and finally decide to go the simple route.
“Stop.  What.  You.  Take?”
>Confusion crosses the stallions face, and he again tries to explain himself.  Giving him a light slap across the muzzle, you hiss at him.
“Stop.  Show.  Me.”
>That seems to get the point across.  Tilting his head to the side, the stallion reaches into his satchel and pulls out a bag.  You snatch it away from him, reaching in and waiting for the chill touch of coins against your fingers.  Instead, the inside of the bag is soft and forgiving.  You glance within and see that it’s filled with bread.
>Pressing your lips into a thin line, you climb up off of him and shake your head.  The pony’s body seems to sag a little as he turns and makes his way out of the alley.  Before he rounds the corner, you call out to him.
“Stop.”
>Another moment of tension as you approach him from behind.  Reaching into your pocket, you pull out all seven of the coins you’d had saved up and hold them out to him.  Though there was no way for you to know what he needed the bread for, it was obvious that the pony was more pressed for cash than you were.
“Here.”
>Again, the pony shoots you a confused look, but doesn’t question as you shove your hand in his direction again.  In a flash, the coins are gone, and the pony is nodding his head repeatedly, muttering the same phrase over and over as he backs away.  While you can’t place it, you’d like to think that he was thanking you.  You blink, and the pony is gone, the wheezing unicorn rounding the corner soon after.
>
>Cadence smiles a little, the corners of her mouth creasing a little against the pressure.
>“So, you let him go?”
“I had to.”
>Giving a small laugh, you shake your head and glance at the end of the alley as it leads out into a second street.
“I didn’t have any right to detain him since I wasn’t even technically a resident of the city at the time.”
>“And what about the bits you gave him?”
“Like I said, I didn’t need them.  The unicorn owned a bakery and helped to keep me fed on day old bread while I was living around here as long as I kept an eye on his store.  That night I asked Glory about what happened, and he told me that there was more going on in Canterlot than I realized.  After I heard all that, it was pretty clear that I could make the most difference in Canterlot as a member of the Guard.  There are lots of ponies who need help.”
>Cadence gives a small hum of approval.
>“I suppose that there are, and not just in Canterlot…”
>Lapsing into silence, you and your charge make your way out of the alley and back towards the street.  It’s a comfortable sensation, one that you could enjoy for the rest of the day, if Cadence would let you.
>
>High above the city, Guardspony Cirrus spares another glance down to the street below.  Spotting the Princess and the human, he can’t help but curl his lip up in a sneer.
>“Those two are awful chummy with one another.  I don’t like it.”
>“What, Anonymous and the Princess?  They’ve always been like that.”
>Guardspony Lark circles in long, lazy loops as he keeps one eye on the ground and another out into the wild blue yonder.  The white peagasus’ scowl deepens at that and he cuts inward until he’s flying alongside the much more relaxed Meadowlark.
>“It is not the role of the Royal Guard to become friends with the Royals.  We exist to protect them and see to their needs, nothing more.”
>“Things aren’t always so black and white, Guardspony Cirrus.  I can think of a few Guardsponies who thought it was part of the job to challenge the Royal Authority as well.”
>Lark tilts his head towards his comrade and offers a small smile.  The irritated pony huffs and turns back to the ground.  Noting how easily he got under the white pegasus’ skin, Meadowlark shakes his head and continues on, unabated.
>“I believe we’ve got a bigger problem on our hooves anyway.  It’s been three hours since we left the castle, and Guardspony Stardust hasn’t checked in once.”
>Giving a small grunt, Cirrus nods and takes a moment to search the sky for some sign of the bat pony.  Seeing none, he increases the range of his flight, circling back after a quarter mile with a shake of his head.
>“I see no sign of her either, Guardspony Meadowlark.  Perhaps something has happened to her?”
>“What a mess...”
>Lark sighs and sets his lips into a thin frown.  After a moment, he looks to Cirrus.
>“I can trust you to watch over these two, right?  You’re not going to go flying off the handle and dive bomb them at the first sign of trouble?”
>“Ha!  Me?  Please.  I’ve been with the Guard five years longer than you have, I think that I know when to act and when to bide my time.”
>“Is that so?  Then why have I already stopped you twice?  Just keep an eye on them and I’ll be back in two shakes.”
>The senior guard huffs again, and watches as his companion bolts off with surprising speed.  Shaking his head, Cirrus turns his watchful eyes back onto the ground.
>“That fool doesn’t know the first thing about being a Guard.  One must be always alert, always attentive, for trouble lurks where you least expect it.”
>
>Back on the street, Cadence finally decides to break the silence with a small, satisfied sound.  You spare her a glance and a smile.
“What’s all this about?”
>“Just, a wonderful day, I suppose.  I haven’t had a chance to be out in public like this since I was a filly.”
“So that’s how you knew about the secret passages.  You had someone accompany you outside before.”
>The Princess chuckles, but nods and closes her eyes.
>“Yes, that’s right.  I have many pleasant memories of afternoons spent with him, exploring the city.”
>Silence settles in again as Cadence opens her eyes and resumes the march forward.  You take your time catching up, and finally ask,
“So, don’t I get anything more than that?  Who was this mystery pony?”
>There’s a sparkle in the Princess’ eyes as she turns to face you, her lips curling up in a teasing smile.
>“I believe we’re both entitled to have a few secrets, Guardspony.  When you are prepared to tell me all of yours, I will share all of mine.”
“Well that hardly seems fair.”
>Noting the teasing tone in your voice, Cadence giggles and trots in front of you.  She turns suddenly, and begins walking backwards as she smiles and looks up into your eyes.
>“Fairness has it’s time and place in every game, but in ours I believe we can bend the rules from time to time.”
>You chuckle, taking your eyes off the Princess for a moment.  It proves to be a serious mistake.  A squeal and an accompanying grunt of surprise snap you back to reality.  Cadence has fallen to the ground, her legs tied up with those of a passing unicorn stallion.  He gives a sudden cough of surprise as he struggles to untangle himself from her.
>“Gracious!”
>His voice oozes sophistication and launches you into action.  You quickly move to help Cadence remove herself from the tie-up, even as the rush of wings and the clatter of hooves dance against the cobblestone behind you.
>“Attention citizen!”
“Oh no…”
>“By order of the Royal Guard, identify yourself at once!”
>You groan and glance back at Cirrus.  He’s standing alone, with no sign of Meadowlark in sight.  You’re going to kill that pony.
>The four of you are garnering more than your fair share of attention, something you would have preferred to avoid.  You shoot Cirrus a look before nodding your head to the crowd.  The pegasus sets his lips into a thin line, but turns away from the scene and walks out into the middle of the ponies.
>“By order of the Royal Guard, disperse at once!”
>Wow.  That was utterly useless.  There are grumbles of dissent and none of the ponies seem very eager to be on their way, but it gives you enough time to pull Cadence back to her hooves.  The hood of her cloak has been pulled back, revealing her frazzled mane to the world.  At the same time, stallion has righted himself as well and a note of recognition sparks in his eyes as he looks at Cadence’s uncovered head.
>“Ah, I know you…”
>And today had been going so well too…


Chapter 16

>From your position at her side, you can see the pink Princess’ eyes widen in surprise.  Cadence’s mouth visibly drops as she gives the unsteady unicorn a vacant stare.  She’s doing an absolutely horrid job of selling her shock, so you take a moment to clear your throat and draw the attention of the horned pony.  With a small laugh, you walk in front of the pink pony and attempt a disarming smile.
“Do you think so?  She’s heard that a lot today, but no one has been right so far.  My friend just has one of those faces.”
>The posh unicorn frowns a little, the monocle over his eye threatening to pop off of his snout if he squints much harder.  Glancing between you and the Princess, he gives a small snort befitting of his tuxedo-clad front.
>“Is that so?  Because I’m quite certain I know who she is.”
>Ouch.  Flinching, you bite down on the corner of your lip and attempt to look as composed as possible.  After a moment, Cadence chimes in, with a much more honest, soft spoken approach.
>“I’m sorry, sir, it seems that I have much to apologize for.  My, friend”
>The Princess shoots you a glare before continuing.
>“has a bad habit of jumping to conclusions.  Not to mention colliding with you and, perhaps worst of all, not knowing who you are.”
>At the rather cordial response, the unicorn smiles and lifts his head.
>“Perhaps I have become a little arrogant, believing you would remember me after spending so much time away from Canterlot.  The last time we met, you were still a filly, and I, little more than a young upstart of an entrepreneur.”
>Pausing, the upper crust pony takes a moment to look outside the alley.  Despite Guardspony Cirrus’ attempts to hold back the threatening tide of prying pony eyes, he’s been backed up to the alley with little room left to maneuver.
>“Though, it would appear that now would be an inopportune time to discuss these issues at length.  Still, I would like to see you again, perhaps this very evening?”
>With a slight flick of his head, the unicorn’s horn begins to glow and a small, stiff slip of paper slides out from his jacket pocket, flittering over in front of the Princess’ face.  For a moment, she squints her eyes at the card before gasping in surprise, her eyes darting up to the classy pony, who simply smiles back at her.
>“My card.  Now, if you will excuse me.”
>The stunned Cadence can only gape as the unicorn passes between the two of you.  Reaching out your hand, you give the Princess an uncertain frown as she turns her head to look at the retreating backside of the strange pony.
>“That was…”
>The pink pony’s words trail off as the two of you watch the unicorn approach Guardspony Cirrus.  With a robust laugh, he hurls a hoof around the squirming pegasus’ neck, grinning from ear to ear as he taps a hoof against the Guardspony’s chest.
>“That was quite the ruckus back there.”
>The pegasus attempts to recoil at the touch, but the stallion only tightens his grip and grins wider, showcasing a set of perfectly immaculate teeth.  With an uncertain squeak, Cirrus responds.
>“P-Pardon?”
>Another laugh, accompanied by a friendly and exceedingly familiar jostling of the stallion’s mane.
>“Come now, don’t be so humble!  That little collision put quite a scare into me, but I should have known that you would down here in an instant.”
>The grumbling of the crowd seems to fade, then swell back in an even greater volume.  Holding Cirrus close to him, the unicorn stands on his hind legs holding his free hoof out to the crowd.  Just as you’re about to rush the Princess away, you hear an excited squeal from one of the mares.
>“It’s Fancy Pants!”
>A cheer goes up from the crowd and the mass of bodies lurches forward, attempting to get closer to the pony with the finely coifed mane.  You can only stare in disbelief, stuck in a state much like your charge had been earlier.  Finally, you manage to form the words.
“That’s Fancy Pants?”
>Fancy Pants, the single most powerful pony in Canterlot, outside of the Royal Family, of course.  A captain of industry, who had his snout in all sorts of businesses across Equestria, from the means of production all the way down to street corner boutiques, Fancy was a stallion to be envied and feared for his monetary and political prowess.  And you had almost certainly started things off on the wrong foot with him.
>“Anonymous.”
>While you’re standing there fretting, Cadence gives an uncertain tug at your leg.  You glance down and see that she’s set her lips into a thin line and is nodding towards the opposite end of the alley.
>“I think it would be in our best interest to use this opportunity to get away.”
>She’s right, you realize as you take a moment to collect yourself.  As a string of camera shutters slam into place, you take advantage of the opportunity to whisk your charge out of the limelight and down the back alleys of Canterlot.  The two of you make it a few blocks before Cadence begins to giggle, then outright laugh, forcing her to stop her escape as she leans against one of the structures.  You pause long enough for the Princess to catch her breath, watching as she shakes her head with an incredulous smile on her lips.
>“Fancy Pants, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in years…”
>Since she broached the subject, you feel comfortable prying for a little more information.  Taking a breath, you squat down beside her, offering a small smile and a tilt of the head.
“An old acquaintance?”
>The Princess almost looks like she’s about to burst out laughing again, but she contains her gaiety to a string of giggles.
>“Fancy and I?  Never.  In fact, we were hardly even acquainted, what with the gap in our ages.  I only know him by face because he often frequented my auntie’s balls and banquets for the Canterlot elite…”
>Smirking, Cadence leans in close, her words tickling at the inside of your ear like a warm summer breeze.
>“As a busser.”
>Shaking off the chill that slides down your spine from her teasing tone, you lean back and shake your head in disbelief.
“You mean to tell me that the toast of Canterlot spent his younger days waiting tables?  Forgive me if I find that a little hard to swallow.”
>With another giggle, Cadence nods her head and glances back towards the alley.  Her voice takes on an almost wistful sigh as she seems to drift back towards the stylish stallion.
>“Well it’s true!  I don’t know much beyond that, but I remembered he served me once when I was allowed to stay up for a celebration of some sort.  I can’t remember what it was, but I found him to be a very charming young stallion, though I had no interest in them at the time.”
>An awkward silence finds its way into the conversation, bloating the space between you to the point where you almost feel like you need to shift away from the Princess, just to give her room to breathe.  Cadence’s face goes flush as her conscious mind catches up with what she just said.  With a nervous laugh, she waves her hoof in your direction.
>“N-not that I’m saying I am attracted to him, just that, at the time, I had no real interest in colts.  You understand, right?”
>Donning an embarrassed smile, you chuckle and allow yourself to give the Princess a brief nod.  The tension escapes the pretty mare’s face with a sigh, her muscles relaxing as she shakes her head and sets her lips.  After another few seconds of silence, Cadence’s horn lights up, again holds the card in front of her, taking the time to look it over before turning to you.
>“Anonymous, I believe I know where I would like to go next.”
>Without waiting for a reply, the pink pony presses Fancy Pant’s calling card into the palm of your hand.  You take a moment to look over the elegant flowing script, noting the address before glancing back up to your charge and smiling.
“I should be able to get you there without any trouble.”
>Cadence gives a relieved smile and gets back up to her hooves.  With a teasing smile, the pink mare stares back at you as she trots back towards one of the main arteries that runs through the city.
>“‘Us’, Anonymous, you should be able to get ‘us’ there.  We’re companions, aren’t we?”
>Though she turns her head back to the fore, you’re quite certain she a touch of the smile that spreads across your face.  A few long, quick strides has you abreast of her again, navigating your way through the bustling crowds of Canterlot as the two of you make your way towards the residential sector.
>
>Despite the fact that you’re on high alert the entire time, none of the ponies seem to be interested in you or the Princess.  Though, that might be because as you continue deeper into the upper district, the ponies are holding their snouts higher and higher in an attempt to seem more dignified than their neighbors.  It’s rather amazing that they can walk around without tripping over their own two hooves.
>While you’re used to marching through the cobblestone streets for hours on end, it’s clear that Cadence has had just about enough of this little adventure.  Her body is slouching a little, her hindquarters no longer rolling to an invisible beat.  She’s obviously worn out and needs a chance to rest.  You glance up long enough to check a nearby cross street and then smile down at the Princess.
“It’s not too much further.”
>Cadence gives a quiet sound of relief as she trots alongside you, at last able to lift her head.  The dignified ponies don’t even bat an eyelash, so self-absorbed in themselves that they are utterly oblivious to a pair of apparently lower class individuals.  After another half dozen blocks, you both arrive at a lavish gated mansion.
>The iron blockade seems to be more ascetic than practical, with deep lines gouged into the metal.  You squint at it for a moment before taking a few steps back and noting that the lines actually form a geometric design that stretches across the entire length of the fence, with an elegant ‘FP’ placed in the center of it.  Noting your interest, Cadence pauses long enough to catch sight of the insignia herself before laughing and shaking her head.
>“He certainly is proud of his accomplishments.”
>You grunt and nod your head as you both make your way to the front of the gate.  The guard, if he could be called that, is a rotund Earth pony, appearing to be more for show than substance, though his hindquarters are especially well muscled.  Despite eyeing the two of you for a good thirty seconds, one flash of the card is all it takes for the stallion to huff and puff his way up to the door, placing his hoof on a mechanism that opens the gate with a grinding squeal.  As the winded pony trots back out, Cadence gives him a stellar smile, stopping the earth pony cold.
>“Thank you very much.”
>He mutters something inaudible in return as she passes by.  You manage to hold back your laughter, though the Princess is unable to suppress her smile as her hooves clatter against the perfectly aligned stones curving up through a small garden towards the mansion.
>Pillars of white stone burst from the ground, stretching towards the sky to hold up a portion of the roof, while the entrance stretches across a vast expanse of the property, giving the front of the building a look similar to that of the Parthenon back on Earth.  As your begin climbing the steps, a familiar voice calls out.
>“My Princess!”
>“Hello again, Guardspony Cirrus…”
>Cadence adopts a hesitant grin as the overeager Guardspony rushes out the front, a broad smile splitting his face, his wings fluttering in excitement.  Stopping five paces out, he seems to suddenly remember his place and bows low, dropping his chest to the ground and nearly cracking his snout against the stonework.  The Princess nods, giving the stallion permission to rise.  When he does, Cirrus quickly turns towards you, snapping a quick salute in your direction.
>“Attendant Anonymous, I must apologize to you, as it is clear that I underestimated your tactical brilliance.  Truly, your diversion this afternoon was a stroke of genius.”
>To your credit, you manage not to swallow your tongue as the Guardspony lavishes you with unexpected praise, though it does take a few seconds for you to respond to his gesture.  You don’t have any idea what he’s talking about, any plan that may have been utilized was all thanks to Fancy Pants.  Still, in order to keep up appearances, you cough and adopt a strained smile.
“It, it was nothing.  Besides, you and our host were the real heroes of the afternoon.”
>Cirrus puffs out his chest and lifts his head higher as you give his ego a small jump.  Before he can speak again, Fancy Pant’s distinctive voice calls out from within.
>“Are those my two guests that I hear?  Cirrus, my friend, don’t keep me waiting, I want to meet with them right away.”
>The Guardspony immediately straightens up, calling back into the house.
>“O-of course, Mister Pants.  Princess, if you and your Attendant would be so kind…”
>Cadence bows her head slightly and trots into the house, leaving you alone with the usually uptight pegasus.  He seems rather ecstatic to have met Fancy Pants, and you can still see his body quivering with excitement.  You clear your throat, catching Cirrus’ attention.  He snaps back to attention, looking forward.
>“You have something to say, sir?”
“I’m a little worried about our two other fliers, I haven’t seen wing nor tail of them in quite a while.”
>The pony’s eyes brighten and a devious smile slides across his face as he relays the day’s events to you.
>“Ah, yes.  Guardspony Meadowlark decided that Guardspony Stardust was not taking her assignment seriously, and broke away from the mission in order to find her.”
>Great.  You sigh and slide a hand through your hair, resisting the urge to mutter under your breath as you mull over that morsel of information.  If the batpony hadn’t finished her task by the time the two pegasi spilt, then Meadowlark could end up flying all over the city looking for her.  Certainly not an ideal situation, but you hoped that your leathery winged cohort could keep her mouth shut regarding your investigation.
“All right, since other members of our escort team have yet to find us, I’d like you to resume patrolling the darkening skies above the mansion.  If you see either of the ponies, have them land and meet me inside, immediately.”
>Cirrus looks a little crestfallen with the understanding that he won’t be able to bump hooves with Fancy Pants, but gives a sullen nod.
>“Of course, sir.”
>As the pegasus moves to take to the air, you call out to him again.
“And Guardspony?  You’re not to speak a word of this to anyone back at the castle.”
>His body sags a little more as he takes to the air, not even bothering to turn back as he sighs in response.
>“…Of course.  Sir.”
>While you’re not entirely sure that you believe the guard, there’s little you can do once he’s airborne aside from watching him shrink to the size of a speck and begin circling the home of Fancy Pants.  With a shake of your head, you enter the elaborate mansion, following the muffled sounds of conversation as the bounce along the lustrous wooden walls.  As you round a corner, the sound becomes abundantly more clear, and you can hear the tell-tale tinkle of Princess Cadence’s laughter coming from one of the nearby rooms.
>“Oh my, you certainly have been busy, Fancy Pants.”
>“Princess please, though I haven’t seen you in an age, we’re at least acquainted enough to where you can call me Fancy.”
>“Then, I don’t suppose it would be too out of line for you to simply refer to me as Cadence?”
>You walk through the entrance to the sitting room, just in time to see the Princess jerk back into an upright position.  Apparently she’d been quite entranced by whatever it was that Fancy Pants had been saying, and looked rather ashamed to have been caught looking so engrossed.  Sparing a glance in your direction, the classy pony smiles before he turns his attention back to the pink Princess.
>“I can’t say that I am comfortable enough to do that, my dear Princess.  You are, after all, a member of the Royal Family.”
>Cadence’s expression drops a little, softening into a weak smile.
>“Ah… yes, I suppose so…”
>Fancy Pants takes no notice of the sulking Princess as he gets to his hooves and walks in your direction.  Trotting around you twice, he smiles and stops in front of you before extending his hoof.
>“My, my, you are quite the specimen.  Quite imposing for a guard, had I known you were available for hire, I might have snatched you up before the Princess got her hooves on you.”
>Pulling your eyes away from Cadence, you chuckle and take his hoof in your hand, giving it a firm shake.
“While you’re quite the charming fellow, Fancy Pants, I’m afraid that you don’t hold a candle to our dear Princess.”
>The unicorn’s eyes light up at your response.
>“You certainly have a rather blunt way of putting it into perspective, although I cannot deny the truth, but come and sit.  I’d like to hear how the two of you ended up in that alley this afternoon.”
>Fancy leads you back to the center of the room and you take a seat on the lounging couch next to the Princess.  She’s kind enough to pull her hind legs off the cushions to provide you with ample room before regaling your host with her journeys through the market today.  They make small talk about some of the shops and ponies with which Fancy is familiar.
>Watching in relative silence, aside from the occasional commentary, you watch as Cadence’s face lights up when she’s talking to the affluent stallion.  A gentle, affectionate smile and posture, complete with occasional gestures of her hoof, suggest that she is quite comfortable with Fancy, though they haven’t seen each other in some time.  It’s eerily reminiscent of when you and she carry on in private.  That thought brings a small tug at your chest, though you’re not certain why.  As you close your eyes to consider that, a quiet voice interrupts your thoughts.
>“Anonymous?”
>You snap back to attention, jerking your eyes in the direction of the Princess.  She’s wearing a concerned smile, and a quick glance over at Fancy Pants shows that he’s adopted a similar expression.
>“Are you all right?  I know we’ve been out on the town all day, so if you need to rest…”
>With a quick wave of your hand, you smile.
“It’s nothing, Princess; I’m just thinking about our stray guards.”
>“Of course, I hope they’re all right.”
“They should be fine.  I have Cirrus circling above the mansion now, with orders to send them down to me when they arrive.  Speaking of…”
>You smile ad turn to the pony with the monocle.
“How did you manage to get him so excited?”
>With a chuckle, Fancy Pants shakes his head and glances out the window.
>“I suppose it’s because I gave him a sense of importance.  He was insisting on going after the two of you, originally, but when I explained that I needed an escort back to my mansion, he was all too eager to accept.  While he’s certainly troublesome, I’ve found that meeting the unspoken needs of my employees goes a long way in improving their attitudes.”
>Fancy does have a point about Cirrus’ attitude.  Maybe you had been a little hard on him, and it’s not like the two of you got off on the best of terms to begin with.  You store that information away for use at a later time, and give a small nod of approval to the wealthy pony.  After a moment of silence, he continues.
>“If you still wish to wait on the rest of your entourage, I would be more than happy to have all of you for supper.  I realize it’s not palace fare, but I assure you that something at my table is bound to tickle your tongue.”
>Ah yes, supper.  Considering the time, it would probably be in the best interest of everyone if you and the Princess would make your way back to the castle.
“As nice as that sounds, we really should…”
>“That sounds wonderful, Fancy.”
>Huh?
>You stare at the Princess, unable to hold back your jaw from dropping in surprise.  She meets your expression with a wide eyed, innocent gaze, before she cocks her head to the side and offers you a broad smile.
>“Well, it’s already quarter until six.  If we go back to the palace now, we won’t arrive until dinner’s well underway, and entering the dining room after Princess Celestia has been seated is frowned upon.  I don’t know about you, Anonymous, but I could certainly go for a hot meal.”
>As you’re about to protest, your stomach burbles audibly at the thought of food.  The two ponies exchange knowing glances, leading Fancy to get back to his hooves and make his way towards the hall.
>“I’ll tell my chef to set aside five more places tonight.  Both of you should feel free to take some time and rest up before we dine.”
>Unable to comment, you give a slow nod, watching him round the corner and disappear into the depths of the mansion.  As the quiet sound of his hooves clopping against the floor fade to nothing more than soft echoes, you turn to the Princess.
“Cadence, I’m not so sure that this is a good idea.  Your absence at tonight’s meal is certainly going to be noted and we could be questioned upon our return.”
>Giving you a gentle smile, the pink pony shakes her head and chuckles.
>“I wouldn’t be too concerned about something like that, Anonymous.  Aside from dictating which village or town I’m to visit next, Princess Celestia has shown very little interest in what I do, as long as it does not reflect poorly upon the Royal Family.  Besides, we’re still short two Guardsponies, and I doubt losing a pair of pegasi thanks to impatience would reflect well on you.”
>Well Anonymous, it’s rather clear now that you’ve unleashed the wild child hiding just beneath Cadence’s demure exterior. Despite the Princess’ confidence and teasing, you can’t help but feel a sense of uncertainty settle into the pit of your stomach.  You wrestle with it for a few seconds more, before trying again to get Cadence to reconsider.
“But, Princess…”
>“Anonymous!”
>You’re cut short by an excited cry from the hall.  The rest of your entourage enters the room, causing you to sigh in relief.  Although Stardust is looking somehow more exhausted than before, with her usually upturned ears sticking out from her head at mismatched angles, neither she nor Meadowlark seem to be hurt.  On the other hand, all three of your fliers look as though they could use a break, and the meal would provide just the right chance.  After assuring their condition, you smile, taking a moment to look back at Cirrus as you do.
“The prodigal ponies return.  Thank you for keeping an eye out for them.”
>The snobby pegasus puffs out his chest and looks about ready to launch into a tirade about his experience.  You cut him off before he gets the chance.
“We’ll be having dinner here at the mansion tonight, at the insistence of Fancy Pants and our Princess.  For the time being, feel free to rest your wings, as we’ll be headed back to the castle as soon as we finish here.”
>Despite being cut off, Cirrus is more than happy to accept an invitation to dine with the most powerful pony in the city.  As he begins to gush to Meadowlark about his experiences throughout the day, Stardust pulls you aside, leading you away from the Princess.  Cadence seems a little put off by this, but is quick to turn her attention away from the two of you.  After an extraordinarily suspicious side to side glance, the batpony turns her large yellow eyes up to yours.
>“So, I met with my contact, and actually managed to pick up on some juicy information…”
>You’re quick to lift your hand and shake your head.  Stardust scowls, glaring at the ground, but a quick pat on the back of her neck is enough to bring the tired pony back around.  With a small smile, you reassure her.
“I’m eager to hear about it, but this isn’t the time or place.  I’ll debrief you when we get back to the castle, and we can talk about it in private then.”
>The batpony nods, biting down on her lower lip.  One fang hangs down over her lip, casting her in a very cute, if uncertain light.  With a sigh, she glances back towards Meadowlark and murmurs,
>“Beyond that, I think you should know that we might have a problem.  I think the brown one knows something.”
“Lark, really?  What would ever give you that idea?”
>“He found me shortly after I left the bar.  I didn’t tell him anything, but he seems suspicious.”
>You rub your chin and give the guard in question a once over.  Meadowlark certainly didn’t seem to be very imposing, much like the other ponies in Equestria, and didn’t have a bad bone in his body that you had seen.  Still, you had to admit that you weren’t as familiar with the young pegasus as you would like.  Before you can ponder Stardust’s information further, you hear Fancy call from the hall.
>“My guests, please, come join me in the dining room.”
>Setting that line of thought aside for the time being, you walk back to Cadence, letting the rest of the entourage take point as you accompany her to dinner.  As you cross the threshold, weariness begins to settle in upon your shoulders from the day’s events.  Just a little longer, you remind yourself.  A meal and then you can return to the castle.
>You hope.

Chapter 17

>As you enter the dining room, you are forced to pull up short to avoid running into the Princess.  The pink pony has an amused smile on her lips as she looks over the three winged ponies that make up her entourage while they gape at the table, heavily burdened with all manner of produce, bread and wine.
>The fruit trays are loaded down with defleshed delights, apples, pears, pineapples and coconuts, with plump punctuations provided by grapes, plums and berries surrounding the outside of the tray.  There’s an audible gulp to your left, and a quick glance confirms that Stardust’s eyes have shrunken to the size of pinpricks as her eyes flit from one offering to the next.  She’s perhaps only a few seconds away from dribbling drool down the sides of her mouth, but Cirrus isn’t doing much better.
>The cloudy-colored Guardspony seems less impressed by the spread, and more excited about the company, his eyes fixated on Fancy Pants, and another unicorn that you haven’t seen before.  Though she’s roughly the same height as the other ponies in Equestria, her long, elegantly toned legs and the slender barrel of her body give the illusion of an alicorn-like figure.  However, with the lack of wings the overall effect makes her torso seem even more petite.  She was graced with a body which, had she been human, would have screamed runway model.
>While you were drinking her in, the white mare seems to sense your gaze and fixes you with a coy stare, subtle pink eyes smoldering from beneath a two tone, nearly washed out, lavender mane.  Her lip curls up a touch, until her eyes drift to the Princess at your side and the unicorn’s expression falters in an instant.  There’s a flash of something in the pony’s eyes that you don’t like, but you’re unable to place your finger on what it means exactly.
>Before you can act on your suspicion, the mystery unicorn switches her attention back to Fancy Pants, the two rubbing their muzzles against one another and exchanging brief, gentle words.  Looking back to your group, you find that both Meadowlark and the Princess seem to be taking everything in stride, wearing similar smiles, pleasant, but not overbearing.  Fancy Pants clears his throat after greeting his other guest and smiles to the group.
>“My apologies for keeping you waiting, but there’s just one more matter of business.  Princess Cadence, I would like for you and your entourage to meet my lovely partner, Fleur de Lis.  Fleur, this is the Princess and her guards.”
>With a flick of her mane, the unicorn pony flashes a winning smile and bows her head.
>“Quite the pleasure to meet you, Princess Cadence, I can only imagine what an exciting day you five must have had.  I apologize in advance for Fancy’s pushy nature; he’s quite used to getting what he wants.”
>The two lovebirds share a laugh before they move towards the table, seating themselves along the right side.  Cirrus is quick to join them, leaving the rest of you to take a seat on the left.  Fleur looks none too happy as the overeager Guardspony crowds his way into her space, but even her strained smile is enough to keep the obnoxious guard staring in her direction.  Fancy coughs and looks across the table at his guests, though his eyes seem to consistently drift in the direction of Cadence.
>“To my new friends, I would like to thank you for joining me tonight.  It is my pleasure to share this meal with all of you, so please feel free to eat as much as you like.”
>Meadowlark and Stardust share an uncertain look, but after a moment’s hesitation, they grin and dive into the offered dinner with a ravenous appetite.  Your host even goes so far as to lean back in his seat, laughing as the pony pair pile their plates with whatever they can get their hooves on.
>It’s incredibly rude, but you can’t do more than smile and shake your head.  Really, after flying around all day, it should have been obvious that the ponies would be starving.  Letting them have their moment, you turn to the alicorn beside you and offer her a gentle smile.
“Anything that I can get for you, Princess?”
>Cadence laughs and shakes her head, a soft blue light surrounding some of the fruit and salad as they move towards her plate.
>“There is nothing that I can’t get myself, Guardspony, although your kindness is most reassuring.  Feel free to take some time off from attending to me.  After all, you are as much a guest in Fancy Pants’ home as I am.”
>“Absolutely!”
>Your hardly humble host chimes in.
>“Not only are you holder of a rank which is even enviable by someone such as myself, but you are also one of the strangest creatures that I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
>You chuckle, taking a sip from your cup after loading your plate.  Resisting the urge to react to the dry taste of the wine, you swirl it around in your mouth, trying to get used to the flavor before swallowing.  In the few seconds it took for you to do all this, Fancy has started to lean over the table, his eyes expressing an uncertain interest in you.
>“You seem a little dumbstruck, did I offend you in some way?  Perhaps it was the ‘strange creature’ comment?”
>Laughing again, you shake your head and hold up a hand.
“Hardly, I’ve been called much worse things than a ‘strange creature’.  Though, I’m not quite sure how you can compare our two positions.  I mean, you’re the first pony on the list of who’s who in Canterlot, and I’m just the guard who has the privilege of seeing to our Princess.”
>“But that’s the beauty of it!”
>Fancy smiles as well, placing his flank back against his seat.
>“You have, in a few short months, catapulted yourself into a position of near absolute authority.  As an attendant, you have the run of nearly every corner of Canterlot Castle, as well as the entire city at your disposal.  Why, at your request, you were able to provide the Princess with three unique pegasi guards.  How far in advance did you plan this little escapade?”
>Gritting your teeth, you force a chuckle and scratch at the back of your neck.
“It, uh, wasn’t really planned.  I just said that we should go to the city and Ca-”
>Coughing, you catch yourself and continue.
“Princess Cadence thought it was a wonderful idea.”
>“So less than an hour.”
>Sighing, the affluent pony looks away from you at last, turning his eyes towards the ceiling.
>“That’s what I mean.  Although you might not realize it, the power you hold in your possession rivals that of any officer in the Royal Guard short of the Captain himself.  I may have wealth and power, but I cannot expect every pony to follow my requests in such a manner.  You, you could do almost anything you like.”
>Although Shining Armor and Lieutenant Laurel had said something to that effect when you accepted the position, hearing it from Fancy Pants causes your stomach to twist in a most uncomfortable way.  Staring down at your plate, you wonder if you’re going to be sick, but fight down the queasy sensation in your belly.
“I suppose I could.”
>Your voice quivers a little.  Even with your head down, you can feel the eyes of the ponies on you, the constant clatter of Stardust and Meadowlark falling prey to the silence which gathers itself up in the room.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see Cadence giving a gentle, if forced, smile.  Her expression is enough to encourage you to continue, and you lift your head, smiling at Fancy Pants.
“But, I don’t think that I could do things that way.  Even if I can order them do whatever I wanted, they’re still Guardsponies, just like me.  If any of the guards at the castle, or even in town, were to be hurt while following my orders, I don’t think that I could carry that on my conscience and not do anything about it.
>The silence comes back, consuming the room again until there’s the gentle thud of Stardust’s hoof bumping itself against your arm.  Glancing back at the bat pony, you see a small smile on her lips, mirrored by her ravenous companion.  Fancy Pants taps his hoof on the table, requesting your attention back on him, and the broad grin he now sports.
>“That is a very honest answer.”
>While Fancy seems rather pleased with your response, and even Cirrus is having trouble hiding his smile under a cool façade, you notice that Fleur seems to be almost sneering at you.  As you turn to face her, it quickly morphs into a pleasant smile, the meticulous mare going so far as to quick an eyebrow in your direction, as though her face hadn’t been contorted just a second previous.  There’s a sudden weight on your arm as Cadence rests her head against you.  Before your host or any of the entourage can launch into a barrage of concerned questions, you take the initiative.
“Everything all right?”
>“Yes, I suppose I’m just a little tired.  It has been a long day, after all.  Give me a moment, and I’ll be fine.”
>The table settles down quickly at the Princess’ comforting words, everyone going back to their meal and leaving the two of you alone for the time being.  They can’t see it, neither can you for that matter, but you feel Cadence’s lips curl up against the flesh of your arm.  A secret smile shared just between the two of you.
>“So, Princess.”
>Putting on his best smile, Fancy Pants attempts to engage the pink pony in conversation.  You give her a small nudge by lifting your arm, though you can feel the gentle sigh escaping her lips before Cadence turns her attention to your host.
>“Yes, Fancy Pants?”
>He leans across the table again with an honest and earnest grin on his lips.
>“Has the city been everything you thought it would be?”
>There’s a momentary flash in the Princess’ eyes.  She sits up a little straighter, adopting a perfectly poised position, and gives a measured nod of approval.
>“I have to say that Canterlot has grown quite a bit since I last lived here.  The side streets seem a touch smaller, but the city is bustling more than ever.  I must say that it is invigorating to be back in familiar territory, even if the scenery has changed a little.”
>Fancy Pants gives a slight nod, but then fixes her with a curious smile.
>“That is all well and good, Princess, but I am far more interested in what you enjoyed about being in the city, not its current state.”
>“Pardon?”
>It should be nothing more than a simple utterance, one of slight uncertainty, but one look at Cadence makes it obvious that she’s oversold her reaction.  Those gentle purple eyes bulge a little in their sockets, brow quirked while her delicately slender lips turning in a contortion of confusion.  Fancy clears his throat, causing the Princess to shake her head and adopt a more neutral expression before he continues.
>“All that I meant was, what was it you saw in the market today that caught your eye?  Considering both of our statuses, I must assume you feel similar to how I do when I visit the shops, a pleasant sort of anonymity that we are allowed to enjoy from time to time.  The opportunity just to be a citizen of Canterlot, minus all the usual trappings and labels, it’s always an experience.  In short, I’d like to hear about what you went through today.”
>Say what you want about the stallion’s taste is architecture, food, drink, or his previous line of work as a busser, Fancy Pants is colder than an ice cube and twice as slick.  You watch the Princess squirm with a small measure of amusement, even as she works up the nerve to speak.
>“Well, honestly, it was the most fun that I have had in years.  To be out among normal ponies, not having to worry about trappings or speaking in a formal tone, the only word I can think of to describe it is ‘liberating’.  But also, exhausting, I had no idea how much walking it took to get around the market district.”
>Fancy Pants gives an honest and heartfelt laugh, nodding is head in approval.  You let your eyes linger on Cadence for a little while longer as she begins to discuss the local businesses that caught her eye.  It’s nothing too interesting, so you allow yourself to focus more on the meal in front of you, confident that the Princess is going to enjoy the opportunity to talk with a pony who seems more interested in what goes on in her head than the internal rumblings of the court.
>Despite the impromptu grilling you suffered through earlier, the knot in your stomach has subsided enough that feel like you can eat something.  As you much away on a chunk of pineapple, you let your eyes drift back to the other unicorn in the room.  Fleur seems to have taken a distinct interest in how animated Fancy and Cadence are have become, her lip twitching ever so slightly, though she doesn’t say anything.  As the meal wears on, her frustration becomes more and more pronounced, until she finally gives a weighty sigh and tosses her mane between the two powerful ponies, cutting their conversation short.
>“Fancy, dear, I believe I have had quite enough for this evening.  Pardon my abrupt exit, Princess, but a mare does need her beauty sleep.  Ciao.”
>Leaning over, she presses her lips against Fancy’s cheek before high stepping her way out of the dining room, sending her backside bouncing with each step.  You catch Cirrus gaping at her retreating rump and give him an obvious disapproving look.  He doesn’t need to know that you were struggling with not staring yourself.
>As the meal winds down, you settle in and wait for Cadence and Fancy Pants to finish their conversation, though there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.  Moreover, the more that they talk, the less comfortable you feel.  That familiar laugh, the sparkle in her eyes as the two exchange stories of their experiences across the entirety of Equestria, it’s beginning to unnerve you, since you aren’t the target of her affections.  At last, you’ve had enough yourself, and give her a gentle nudge.
“I hate to interrupt, Princess, but we really should be getting back to the castle.”
>Cadence pauses for a moment, then puffs out her cheeks and turns towards you.  Her eyes are drooping a little, the look a mixture of childish irritation, exhaustion, and a little too much alcohol.
>“But, I don’t wanna.”
>Okay, it’s definitely time to be hitting the road.  Smiling wider, you give her a gentle push, just enough to get her wobbling in her seat.  Cadence squeaks and grabs onto your arm with her hooves, her eyes wide and flitting about as she tries to figure out what just happened.  In the interim, you turn to Fancy Pants and bow your head ever so slightly.
“Thank you very much for having us over tonight, Fancy Pants.  It was quite the experience, one I’m sure all of us won’t soon forget.”
>The two ravenous winged ponies give small groans of agreement, though they certainly don’t look the part of on duty guards any more.  Slouched over in their cushions, the bloated ponies begin to rock side to side in their seats, before landing on the ground with unsteady hooves.  Still star-struck, Cirrus is quick to nod and chime in his approval.
>“Oh yes, quite an experience.  Thank you, ever so much, Mister Pants.”
>Ugh, why doesn’t he just offer to kiss the ground Fancy walks on?  Not that the unicorn pony is bad, per say, but every moment spent here is another that you feel out of place.  You sigh and lift yourself from your seat, helping the Princess down onto the ground afterwards.  She weaves in place, still unsteady on her hooves, but is at least sober enough to fix you with a glare.
>“Your hands are sticky.  Please go wash them before we head back.”
>Gritting your teeth, you give her leg a squeeze before hissing right back.
“Maybe if ponies learned to use forks, this wouldn’t be an issue.”
>Cocking her head to the side, Cadence fixes you with a strange frown, as though she were unable to follow your line of thinking.  Not wanting to upset the intoxicated Princess any further, you give Fancy Pants a forced smile.
“How might I get to the washroom?”
>“Walk down the hall and take a right.  I’ll see the rest of your group to the door, if that’s all right?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
>Grinning, you wave and hurry down the hall.  The sooner that you get Cadence out of here, the sooner…
>The sooner what?  She’ll be away from Fancy Pants, a pony of comparable class and rank who legitimately seems interested in what she has to say about her life?  Who the Princess spends her time with isn’t your concern, unless it specifically puts her in danger.  And what are you doing acting like a possessive boyfriend anyway, getting upset with her over the fact that you’ve got sticky fingers?
“Ugh.”
>Shaking your head, you duck into the washroom and take care of cleaning your hands.  As you scrub the remnants of the sticky fruit juice off your fingers, a gentle voice calls out from around the corner.
>“Guardspony Attendant Anonymous, correct?”
>It takes a moment to match the voice to a face, but when you do, you smile.  Once again paying attention to your hands, you answer back.
“I thought that you said you were tired and needed your beauty sleep?”
>Fleur huffs, but makes no move to reveal herself to you.
>“All things considered, if I got any more sleep, ponies would stop and stare at me every time I walk down the street.”
>You can almost hear the unicorn pony toss her hair.
>“Not that they are not already.”
“That’s all well and good, but why don’t you get to the point.  I’ve got to meet the Princess and head back to the castle.”
>Cutting off the water, you shake your hands into the wash basin.  Fleur is quick to respond to your disinterested tone.
>“Which is why I would like to speak with you.  I believe it would be in the best interest of everyone if you kept the Princess from seeing my Fancy again.”
“That sounds suspiciously like a threat, Miss de Lis.”
>The posh pony goes silent.  You allow yourself a victorious smile, but as you’re drying your hands, she speaks again.
>“Not so much a threat, Anonymous, my comment was simply a warning.  Though you might think yourself clever avoiding detection today, there are those who are always watching.  Given what I have seen tonight, you would do well to keep the Princess in a place where you can actually keep her safe, rather than leaving her free as a leaf on the breeze.”
>Your shoulders tense up at that jab to your competence.  Rushing into the hall, you scour the hall for some sign of the flighty unicorn, but are unable to catch sight of her.  Scratching the top of your head, you curse your luck and hurry down to the front door.
>She’s half right.  Though there was only one incident today, there’s no way for you to know if a pony in town harbors malicious intent towards the Princesses.  It really would be safer for you to just keep Cadence in the castle from now on.  But, could you really bring yourself to do that to her?  And what does it matter to a trophy mare what the Princess does anyway?  As you approach your group, you see an excited, slightly more sober, pink pony waving at you.
>“Anonymous!  Anonymous!  Guess what?”
>No, there’s no way you could stand to see that pleasant attitude slip away in the humdrum daily life the castle offered.  Jogging up to her, you offer the Princess a smile and give a nod to the flying ponies.  They bob their heads in return, and take to the skies.  With your attention fully focused on Cadence, you grin.
“What’s that, Princess.”
>Her eyes sparkle with excitement as she grabs your hand with her hooves, giving it an enthusiastic shake.
>“Fancy invited me to a little soirée that he’s throwing in a few days!  Isn’t that exciting?”
>A false smile crosses your lips as you try to come up with a way to tell her that attending is impossible.  But seeing her gush at the possibility of meeting other ponies, it’s heartbreaking to think of crushing that right now.  Sighing, you give Fancy Pants a small nod.
“Yes, it’s very exciting.  Thank you very much for thinking of the Princess.”
>“Think nothing of it.  You are invited as well, of course.  I am sure many of my guests would be dying to meet an individual as fascinating as you.”
“O-of course.  Well, goodnight!”
>Offering a half-hearted wave, you place your hand on the back of Cadence’s neck, and pull the hood of her cloak back over her head.  There’s a gentle sound of protest, but the Princess trots along easily enough once you begin guiding her towards the castle, still a little wobbly in the legs.
>The walk home passes in relative silence.  You’re nearly at the hidden door you used this morning when Cadence stops abruptly, giving you a nudge into a vacant alley.  Rolling your eyes, you walk down the narrow street, listening as the Princess enters behind you.  When you’re a good distance into the alley, you stop and she does the same, uncovering her head as you turn to face her.
>“Anonymous, is something wrong?”
>Her cheeks are still obviously flushed with the lingering effects of the alcohol, and while it doesn’t stand out against her coat very well, the subtle touches of pink serve as a wonderful accent.  Cadence’s breathing is somewhat labored and her eyes slightly unfocused.  Seeing her in this state, you can’t help but smile.
“I can’t say that anything’s wrong with me when I consider the state you’re in.  How much did you drink anyway?”
>Cheeks reddening further, the Princess looks away and spares you a gentle laugh.
>“I suppose that I lost count.  But we aren’t talking about me, we’re talking about you!”
>The Princess’ eyes turn back to you, lids fluttering as she collects herself.
>“You were so quiet on the way back and you’ve seemed uncomfortable all evening.”
>In an instant, her eyes light up and she scoots closer to you, a wide grin splitting her face.
>“You have a secret, don’t you?”
>An uncomfortable squirm makes its presence known at the base of your spine, before twisting and turning up your back to the base of your neck.  Giving a visible shudder, you try and shake off the image and focus on the Princess but judging from her suddenly intense stare, your reaction did little more than cement her previous suppositions.
>So, what to do?  You could tell her about what happened in the bathroom.  Then you could tell her about the suspicions that someone living inside the castle is trying to undermine the capabilities of the Royal Guard, possibly even the Royal Family.  After that, she might like to hear about how this excursion was part of an elaborate excuse to do some data gathering.  Heck, then you could broach the subject of why you were so adamant about leaving when Fancy Pants started getting to close to her too.
“Not at all.”
>You can’t do any of those things, they’d just spill out one after another, and then where would you be?  Though Fancy Pants might like to believe otherwise, you’re just a grunt with a classy title and rank that were given to you by a sheer stroke of luck.  There’s no need to burden the Princess with these matters.
>“I don’t believe you.”
>Every muscle in your body clenches at that flat declaration. Cadence’s eyes, once full of warmth, have hardened and are now utterly unforgiving.  Puffing herself up a little, she strides closer and places a hoof on your stomach.  It’s not her usual gentle touch, but firm and unforgiving.
>“You’re holding something back.  What’s so important that you can’t be up front with me?  Is it my cousin?  Did something happen while we were apart?  You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”
>In seconds, her expression has shifted to one of outright concern.  For a moment, you bend.
“I just-”
>There’s hope in those eyes.  Your heart twists in your chest as you avert your gaze.
“I-I just told you that there’s nothing wrong!”
>Again, Cadence goes cold.  Her hoof presses into your stomach, enough that you have to shift your weight onto your heels to keep yourself from falling over backwards.  Huffing, she pulls her limb away and stomps indignantly on the street.
>“You are a terrible liar.”
“Princess, please,”
>It’s plainly obvious that she goes rigid at the mention of her title as it rolls off your tongue, but you’ve already started the ball in motion and are forced to finish your sentence.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
>Closing her eyes, Cadence lets out a heavy breath and finally nods her head.
>“Very well.  Let us head back to the castle.”
>With that, the Princess turns on her hooves and slides her cloak back into place.  She moves at a rather brisk pace, clearly not wanting the conversation to continue.  Still, you jog along a step or so behind her, stewing in the silence.  After entering through the wall and reaching the green, you give a large stretch and smile up at the sky.
“It’s good to be back, isn’t it?”
>Nothing.  Not even a sigh of discontent.  Gritting your teeth, you smile and try again.
“Well, would you like to head back to your room, or is there something else you’d like to do first.”
>Another bout of silence.  However, just as you’re about to speak again, Cadence begins walking towards the castle.  As you move after her, she calls over her shoulder.
>“That’s quite all right, Guardspony, I can reach my room on my own.  It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
>She doesn’t even bother to look back at you as she says it.  Ouch.  Unable to come up with a witty retort, you fall silent and simply watch her disappear into the castle.  Closing your eyes, you quietly curse yourself for being such an idiot, even if Cadence has no business sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.  All too late, an idea dawns on you that has you covering your eyes with the palms of your hands.
“Why couldn’t you just make something up, idiot?”
>“Trouble in paradise?”
>The flutter of leathery wings echoes in your ears as Stardust settles onto the ground.  You give an exasperated sigh and shrug your shoulders, finally pulling your hands from your face.  The bat pony gives you a wry, teasing smile, showcasing one of her fangs as she does.
>“That’s what I thought.”
“You know, we could have avoided all of this if you had actually been patrolling the perimeter, you know.  Lark wouldn’t have flown off to find you, and then he would have been there to stop Cirrus from dragging out the collision with Fancy Pants.”
>Now it’s Stardust’s turn to shrug, offering you nothing more than a smile, a cocked eyebrow, and two eyes that are practically glimmering with excitement.
“I hope you’re going to say it was worth it.”
>She nods, chuckling.
>“Oh yeah, I’ve got some big news.”
>Kneeling on the ground, you put yourself within a few inches of her face.  Stardust gives a conspiratorial left to right glance, then leans in and whispers.
>“Apparently, there have been rumors of ponies who get stationed out in the wilderness going off the reservation, especially closer to the badlands.”
“So what, they get bored and decide to abandon their posts?”
>Stardust shakes her head, grinning wider as she explains.
>“Nothing so simple, see, when we take our oath to be a member of the Royal Guard, we’re bound to serve until the end of our service.  Since no one wants to get on the bad side of the Royal Family, nobody leaves until their contract is up.”
“And yet we’ve got Guardsponies deserting once they’re outside of Equestria proper?”
>“Not just member of the Guard, but ponies who are out there to develop the wild lands into something hospitable to ponies.  And there’s more to it than that, because lots of the ponies that do desert end up raiding the forts and outposts that they’re supposed to be serving.  They fight like possessed creatures, either evading capture or…”
>Pausing, the batpony takes a distinct interest in the ground, drawing a small circle in the grass with her hoof.  You take that as a cue that the issue is somewhat uncomfortable for the off-black mare to talk about and decide to cut in.
“No one’s been able to question them as to why they’re turning on the other ponies then, I suppose?”
>Stardust only responds with a shake of her head.  Well, so much for a lead that you could actually use.  If all the information is outside of Equestria, there’s no way for you to get your hands on it.  It’s probably best to call off the investigation now and stop wasting time worrying about secret conflicts brewing just below the political surface.  There’s a quick clack from Stardust’s tongue that snaps you out of your thoughts.  The pony is once again smiling broadly.
>“But, the most interesting thing is how my source came to get this information. The past few nights, one of the Gryphon Delegates has been down at the bar, plying ponies with food and wine.”
>You snap your fingers and chuckle at the batpony.  In the end, she’d come through, just like she said she would.
“So there is a connection, but it sounds like they’re just as far behind the eight-ball as we are.  We can’t prove that they’re responsible for what’s going on in the Badlands, but from all the poking and prodding they’re doing, it might be a good idea to shift our attention onto them.”
>“That’s all well and good, Anonymous, but we’re only two Guards.  There’s no way for us to keep an eye on all the gryphons in the castle during all hours of the day.  You’ve got the Princess to attend to, I’ve got guard duty and we both have to sleep sometime.”
>Stardust does have a point.  Scowling, you rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, trying to come up with a solution.  Thankfully, it comes rather quickly.  Glory, stallion about town that he is, can be your eyes and ears within the city.  You grin, but before you can offer the solution, there’s the sound of a throat being cleared off to your left.  Stardust squeaks in surprise, lifting off the ground an inch or so as you twist to face the eavesdropper.  Guardspony Meadowlark offers a smile, waving his hoof.
>“Sorry for interrupting, but I couldn’t help overhearing!”
>As your brain clicks back into place, you let out a relieved sigh and drop your backside onto the grass.
“Jeez, Lark, warn a guy before you start skulking around like that.”
>“What are you doing here?  Are you spying on us?”
>There’s an obvious tone of discomfort in Stardust’s voice as it escapes through her bared teeth.  The look of surprise on her face has quickly contorted to a serious scowl.  Meadowlark sighs and shifts his weight from his left side to his right.
>“N-not intentionally.  It’s just, before we met up in town, I saw you outside of the Wildflower, talking to one of the owners.”
>Giving a small groan, the batpony beside you brings her hooves to her face and shakes her head.  You can’t help but laugh a little as Lark unwittingly sells out her source.
“It seems to me like someone needs to work on maintaining low visibility.”
>Shooting you a vicious glare, Stardust huffs in frustration before turning away.  Still squirming, the brown pegasus continues.
>“I didn’t think you’d break protocol just to tie one off in the middle of the day, but just to be sure, I landed in an alley and tried to listen in on what you were saying.”
>There’s a lengthy pause as Lark looks between you and the batpony, as though expecting you to spill the beans before he clues you in on exactly how much he knows.  When you don’t speak up, he takes an uncertain step forward, though his eyes gleam with a steely determination.
>“While I’m still a little sketchy on the details, it’s got to do with the Captain, right?”
>Well, the cat’s out of the bag now.  Suppressing a growl, you huff and puff a little as you scratch at the back of your head.  Stardust doesn’t seem to want to be very forthcoming with information, so after another ten seconds of silence, you nod your head.
“Yeah, it does.”
>“Anonymous!  You can’t seriously be thinking of bringing him into this investigation!”
>The grey-black mare whirls on you, baring her teeth in aggravation.  All you can do is offer a gentle shrug before turning back to the inquisitive pony.
“As far as we can tell there’s something going on in the Badlands that has the Captain riled up enough to go check it out himself, with the permission of Princess Celestia.  I noticed some suspicious activity at dinner a few nights ago from the Gryphon Delegation, so Stardust and I decided to look into it.”
>“And it turns out that the gryphons are involved?”
“Maybe not as much as I thought originally, but something about their attitude definitely doesn’t sit right.  They can’t claim responsibility, but they might try to capitalize on the situation.”
>Meadowlark gives a nod and then looks between the two of you.  A shallow grin slides across his face as he sits himself down.
>“I want in.”
>“Not happening!”
>The batpony is airborne again, hovering in front of your face.  Crossing her hooves in front of her face, Stardust gives a violent shake of her head before pointing to the pegasus.
>“No, no way, this is you and me.  We’re a pair, not a trio!”
>You’re doing a fantastic job with the ladies tonight, Anonymous, defiantly batting a thousand in regards to how they perceive you.  Sliding your arms across your chest, you scowl at Stardust and fix her with a rather cautious glare.
“Weren’t you just complaining about how we couldn’t keep an eye on the motions of the Delegates?  Now you’re saying that we shouldn’t take on any additional help?”
>“But…”
“This has grown beyond just the two of us, Star.  If you want to find out what those bird-brains are up to, then we’re going to need to bring in additional resources.  With the two of you in the castle, and the City Guard in Canterlot-”
>“Now you want to bring those losers into the fold too?  You can’t be serious.”
>The hairs on the back of your neck bristle at her offhand comment.  The City Guards might not be as impressive as the Royal Guard, but that didn’t mean they were less important.
“Hey!  Up until a little while ago, I was one of those losers!  Despite what you might think, there are some good ponies in the City Guard.  But, at the same time you’re right, the more people we tell, the more likely it is that we won’t be able to keep a lid on things.”
>Stardust settles down a little at that.  Puffing out her cheeks, she lands on the ground and scuffs some dirt in your direction.
“I was just thinking, if I got in touch with one of my buddies who’s still in the City Guard, he could help us keep tabs on the Delegates when they go out into Canterlot.”
>“I still think it’s a bad idea.  But if you’re going to insist on telling this klutz”
>Jerking her hoof towards Meadowlark, Stardust rolls her eyes and huffs in frustration.
>“and some pony in the City Guard, maybe you might clue in the Princess too.  It really stinks when you find out that someone you trust is keeping you in the dark on a matter that directly involves you.”
>Star’s sticking her snout where it doesn’t belong.  Letting out a frustrated huff, you turn your body to the side, making it clear that you weren’t interested in hearing what the batpony thought in regards to the Princess.  Even still, you can’t stop the slight tremor in your voice.
“That, that’s ridiculous, Princess Cadence has nothing to do with our investigation.”
>“…I figure she’s got at least two reasons to care.  Anyway, I’ve decided we’re going to take tomorrow off from training.  After being up all day, the only thing I’m going to want to do is hang around the barracks until I go back on duty.”
>With an uninterested shrug, Stardust takes flight and joins up with her patrol squad.  Lark saddles up next to you, offering an apologetic grin.  The two of you sit in silence for a minute and change, a mutual understanding of frustration passing from you to him, while he tried to comfort you with his presence.  At last, you reach up and ruffle his mane, managing a quiet smile.
“Thanks for having my back in this whole mess, Meadowlark.”
>“Hey, don’t act like I’m only doing this out of the goodness of my heart.  You’re my ticket to bigger and better things.”
“I suppose so.”
>Still, when you scratch him behind the ear, he gives a satisfied sigh and drops his head against your arm.  The two of you lapse back into silence, watching as the stars take their places in Luna’s luminous heaven.
>Late that night, you collapse in your bed.  Your mind is still troubled by the encounters you had this evening, but considering the new information that you have, perhaps it was for the best.  As you rest your chin on your pillow, your thoughts drift back to Cadence.
“She was pretty upset.”
>Certainly she had every reason to be.  Frankly, you weren’t being a good friend, even if you were trying to keep her out of trouble.  Star was right, the Princess did have a vested interest in what was going on with the delegates, especially since it concerned Shining Armor.  Regardless of how you felt about the Guard Captain, keeping Cadence abreast of the situation as it develops was probably in your best interest.
>Maybe you could even glean some more information from the pink pony regarding what was going on in the negotiations.  She might be able to provide you with something that Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, or heck, even Prince Blueblood, anything that might have slipped out in casual conversation.
“Tomorrow.”
>You’ll set everything right tomorrow.  Closing your eyes, you wait for sleep to come, hoping that it will be a little more restful than the past week has been.