New Equestria

"My Queen."

Twilius turned to Dead Star. His hooves scattered as he stopped to bow to her.

"What is it, knight?"

Dead Star inhaled, and began to speak.

"The patrol was scouting the town as usual. However, a crazy white mare with a light pink mane tackled one of the guards, saying that he killed her husband. She ended up stabbing him to death, we drowned her later."

Twilius looked on, her rage slowly building. Have these filthy vermin forgotten that she was their ruler!? She exhaled hastily.

"...No matter. Go to town and get a colt to take his place. Unicorn, blank flank. Do you understand?"

Dead Star bowed. "Yes, my Queen." He quietly sunk out of the room, making no sound.

The patrol's hooves trotted among the road.

The ponies by them cowered in fear as they shot them side glances. One step out of place would end up with the common folk getting punished. The patrol, however, were only interested in a mare by the shop.

"Just one bit." The pony passed a stallion a rotten apple, which he took hastily and ran off, his eyes becoming giant as he spotted the royal guards.The mare turned to them, her eyes just as wide. She put on a nervous smile and began speaking in a shaky voice. "H-hello, sirs."

"You are Missus Redheart, yes?"

"Yes, s-sirs."

"We understand you have a young Unicorn colt. We have come to take him as a Royal Guard."

Redheart's eyes grew wider, her voice becoming shrill.

"...No...No, no, no! His father died, we lost all our money, and we have been doing bad enough! Please, he's all I have left!"

The guard stared with cold eyes. "Whip her."

Her eyes continued to grow large, as two guards came out with a young, pale-white coat.

"What are you doing!? MOM!" He shouted in a pubescent voice.

"Congratulation, young colt, you are going to become our new royal guard."

The colt stared, and let out a scream.

The guard payed no attention.

"My Queen!"

Dead Star trotted into the room, two more following carrying the young colt, his eyes red from crying. Twilius turned around and grinned, her sharp teeth showing.

"Ah, our new guard. Drop him here."  The two guard plopped him down in front of her. "Hello, there. Do you know who I am?" She said in a quiet, gentle voice tangled with an icy whisper.

The colt stared at her and took a deep breath. "You are Queen Twilius, our-" The colt had to stop himself from saying "Vile and cruel"-"Amazing, wise leader."

Twilius smiled, still staring at the colt. "What did your mother call you?"

"...I...I was called Last Magic by my mother, I think it was because I'm a Unicorn like my dad, and my mom is a Earth Pony..."

Twilius looked at the Guards, then at the colt. "By this day forward, your name shall be Knighting Gale. You will be taught in the ways of the Royal Guards."

The colt stared at her in surprise.

"Dead Star, you will be his mentor. I expect no mistakes."

"Yes, my Queen. Come, Knighting Gale."

He trotted out of the room, gesturing to the door to Knighting Gale. The colt looked to the Queen, then to Dead Star. He quickly followed him. Only one word floated in his mind.

Why?