The Story of a Royal Guard: A Shield Contingency [OUTDATED/CANCELLED]

It was difficult getting up this morning, and the only thing that seemed to work was remembering how hungry I still was. I ate a large breakfast, strapped on my sword and walked outside. Sunny day, Ponyville as usual, nothing interesting going on. It was a Sunday, I didn’t have to go back to work until tomorrow. Sometimes having hundreds of options sucks.

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” said a voice above and behind me.

I looked back, and sunbathing on my roof was, unfortunately, Discord in shades. Why was it always him? Why wasn’t there somepony nice sunbathing on my roof every once in a while?

“What are you doing here, Discord?” I asked with a sigh.

He poofed beside me. “What do you mean? It’s my day off too you know. I go where I please. And I did say I’d be back last night, didn’t I?”

“Yeah… but why spend your time talking to me? Aren’t I just a little too boring for you?”

Discord let out a guffaw. “Boring? Of course not! Though maybe a little overbearing, as all of you Royal Guard types tend to be. So, how did the date with Summer go? Tell me everything.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you have to know, it went just fine, even without you.”

“And? What, no details?”

“I don’t have to report every detail of my life to you. I outrank you, remember?”

Discord scoffed. “Well, the legal documentation is rather vague on that part.” He snapped and out popped a long form of paperwork. “Article one, section one, paragraph six.”

I facehoofed. “I don’t care about the documentation. I’d just prefer that I can have a nice, normal day to myself without any spirits of chaos following me around.”

The document disappeared. “You wound me, Lieutenant! Don’t you remember that I was reformed? I’ve changed! I’m not the same evil spirit of chaos I once was.” He poofed in front of me on his knees. “Please, let me make it up to you, like a good friend should. Can I get you anything? Anywhere you want to go?”

“No, not really. I was only planning on going to Canterlot-”

“Done!”

Snap.

Next thing I knew I was at the Canterlot train station.

“My payment to you, Lieutenant! Now remember, you owe me! Ahahahaha!”

And with that Discord disappeared with his laughter.

Owe him? I didn’t even ask for anything. Ugh. I still didn’t know what to do for today. Perhaps I should just make a couple rounds on the walls and see how the guards are doing. Or I could go find Summer. The library was closed today so she wouldn’t be working.

Really my mind had been spinning ever since last night. I didn’t sleep well. It was the first time I’ve ever gone to bed and felt like something was missing. Like there was something I didn’t wrap up during the day, and if I left it be something terrible might happen. I still needed to talk to Summer about some plans.

No… not yet actually. Princess Luna, that’s who I needed to talk to. I still remember that horrible nightmare I had back in the forest. I want to learn what she meant about choosing.

I trotted my way through Canterlot, greeting any Royal Guards along the way. Some were giving me odd looks, though I couldn’t guess why. I ran into Lieutenant Arden Arrow near the castle, surprisingly on duty.

“Hey, good morning, Sword Shield,” he said. “You here to relieve me of duty or something? Please say yes.”

I cracked a smile. “Unfortunately not. I’m looking for Princess Luna, you know if she’s awake?”

“Ah, ponyfeathers. Yeah, pretty sure she is. You can always ask Princess Celestia. Oh by the way, congratulations on last night.”

I tilted my head. “Uh, what about last night?”

He chuckled. “Well, word spreads pretty quick among the Royal Guard. Let’s just say we’re all very happy for you.”

“Happy for me? It was only a date.”

“Oh, that’s all? Oh well, we’re still happy for you. The Captain is particularly glad you’ve made a friend. I just wanna say we’re all glad to have you back, we’ve been pretty worried the last couple weeks. The walls didn’t feel the same without you.”

“Thanks, I’m glad to be back too. Won’t be back on duty full time until tomorrow though, and I might actually take my time off when I have it. Anyway, I’ll see you later Arden.”

He nodded and gave a quick salute. “Have a nice day, Sir!”

I made it the rest of the way to the castle and entered the throne room where Celestia sat alone looking at some papers. She noticed me and lowered the papers. I bowed.

“Good morning, Princess Celestia,” I said. “Is there any chance that Princess Luna is around? I’ve been meaning to speak with her.”

“Good morning, Swordulan,” she said. “Yes, she’s in the dining room I believe. Go on ahead.”

“Thank you.”

I made my way through the hall and found the dining room with Luna staring angrily at an empty plate.

“Princess Luna?” I said.

She looked at me and back to the plate. “Greetings, Swordulan Thunder Shield. Is there something you need?”

“I wanted to speak with you. Mind if I sit?”

She motioned to a chair across the table. “Please. I am still deciding what to eat for breakfast, so I have plenty of time to talk. When you get to be this old such decisions become paramount.”

“I see.” I sat down across from her. “From what I understand you’re able to go into pony’s dreams to speak with them, right?”

Luna nodded. “Yes, I do so whenever there is somepony in need of my help.”

“Well, I had a nightmare a couple days ago and you were there, but I wasn’t sure if you really were.”

She tapped her chin. “Hmm, I do not recall being in any of your dreams the past few days. Do you remember what happened in the nightmare?”

“Parts of it. I was flying around Equestria. Ponyville, Canterlot, Manehatten. Different doors kept rushing up to my face. I went in one and suddenly I was here in the castle, but it was filled with changelings. They saw me and began changing into ponies I knew. I saw you and the other Princesses with them and wearing armor. Everyone began hissing at me, and when I tried to run I only ran into more changelings. Eventually another door appeared and you were behind it, the real you I thought. You said that I needed to choose, to move forward or something like that. ‘You must choose’ is what you kept saying, but I didn’t know what I had to choose. Then it ended with me being swallowed by my sword.”

Luna stared at me wide-eyed. “Truly, that sounds terrifying. I was not there, otherwise I would have remembered.”

“Do you think it means anything?”

“I am unsure, especially since there were no obvious decisions to choose from in the dream. Perhaps there is something you must choose from that you don’t know about, or perhaps you have already chosen without knowing.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. I feel different than I did a couple days ago, but it seems like hardly anything’s changed.”

Luna nodded. “Sometimes the world outside us does not change, but who we are inside and our perceptions of the world does. Perhaps that is why your cutie mark has reappeared. Perhaps the choice you made was who you wanted to be. Do you believe you are the stallion you are meant to be?”

I looked down and stared at the floor for a moment. Do I believe I am who I’m supposed to be? I’ve barely begun to figure out who I really am. I am a Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, yes, but I have to be so much more than that. What makes a pony who they are?

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’ve usually been so busy focusing on my job to figure that out. What makes somepony who they are?”

“I don’t think I can perfectly answer that,” said Luna. “However, I think that who a pony truly is comes down to friendship.”

“Friendship? But that seems so one-dimensional.”

“Friendship is more than just what it seems, Swordulan. It’s about honesty, loyalty, generosity, kindness, laughter and magic.”

“Those are all the Elements of Harmony.”

Luna smiled. “Indeed. The Elements have always been the greatest friends, and they go far down in history. Further than even I remember. But I believe there is one more thing to friendship, far more important than the Elements. It is love. Love is what truly holds the world together, and has always held ponies together.”

I took a deep breath. “Hmm. I don’t remember if I’ve really felt what love is.”

“I believe everypony has felt it at some point in their lives, but it can often be clouded by other emotions. What are the emotions you’ve had most in your life?”

I thought for a moment and frowned. “Doubt, I think. I’ve never been sure of what the future might bring beyond my daily routines as a guard. Things have been changing so much now, and I feel so... insecure about it. I’ve faced off against some of the most powerful beings in Equestria without a hint of fear, but outside of that… life and all… I just don’t know. I’m afraid. Ponyfeathers, I’m sorry Luna, I don’t know why I’m acting up like this.”

She nodded. “It’s alright, I understand. I think this time of change for you is good, and if you persevere through it you’ll come out better than ever. Don’t make the mistake I did in disregarding what you already have. If you accept darkness into your heart and forget all the values of love and friendship it will transform you into a monster, just as what it did to me.”

I sighed. “I know, I need to be more careful with my emotions.”

“No, you need to let them out more often. Having feelings is not wrong, and it is good to let them out. But do not let them build up inside and control you, or they will destroy you utterly.”

“Okay. Thank you, Luna, I’ll do my best to follow your advice.” I stood up and pushed my chair back. “I’ve got some things to get to, so I’ll see you later.”

“Goodbye, Swordulan. And good luck. Hmm… this has all put me in the mood for chocolate cake.”

“No, Luna, you know better than that!” said Celestia’s echoing voice.

Luna groaned. “Sister, please!”

*

I headed for Summer’s house. Slightly nervous, but I pushed whatever pessimistic thoughts I had to the back of my mind. I was almost there when a guard stopped me.

“Lieutenant Shield, Sir?” he said, saluting me.

“Yes, what’s up?” I asked, returning the salute.

“Uh, there’s somepony waiting to see you at the barracks. A miss Dawn, Sir.”

“Oh. Right, thank you. I’ll head there right away. As you were.”

He nodded. “Yes, Sir!”

That was surprising. She was looking for me. I can’t recall the last time somepony besides Shining Armor was looking for me specifically. I trotted on to the barracks a little faster than usual. Nearly bumped into others a couple times, but a minute later I was there. Summer was standing outside the barracks staring at the two guards who stood silently still at the entrance, most likely making faces. As I approached she turned around and smiled.

“Swordulan! I’ve been waiting here for nearly half an hour, and these fellows still haven’t moved an inch,” she said. “How in Equestria do they do it?”

I smiled and stepped up to the guards. “Lots of training. Here, watch this.”

I leaned in towards one of the guard’s faces and stared hard, closing one eye and squinting with the other. Neither flinched. I slowly pulled back and opened both my eyes wide.

“But can you handle if your superior officer is being silly?” I asked.

The guards glanced at each other.

“You’ll not get us this time, Sir,” said one.

“Won’t catch us alive, Sir,” said the other.

I nodded. “Good, but next time buckle your saddle armor correctly.”

The guards panicked and quickly looked back, finding their saddle buckled just fine. They grumbled and sighed.

“Ponyfeathers. Third time, Sir. Well played.”

I turned around with a chuckle. “Always a pleasure. Uh, anyways, it’s nice to see you, Summer. I was a bit surprised to hear you were looking for me.”

We began walking through Canterlot aimlessly.

“It’s nice to see you too,” said Summer. “I wanted to say thank you for bringing me home last night and that I had a great time.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. “You’re welcome I guess... wait, no, not I guess. Ugh!” Facehoof. “Sorry, you’re welcome. Not like I would’ve just left you there. Glad you enjoyed it. Um, is that all?”

She looked at me confusedly. “Are you feeling okay?”

I nodded and put on a smile. “Yeah, I am… just fine. Why?”

“You just seem a bit uncomfortable. I don’t want you to feel like you’ve got to behave a certain way around me. Just be yourself.”

I looked away. “I’m not uncomfortable or trying to behave a certain way, I’m just a bit…” It’s good to let feelings out, it’s good to let feelings out. Nothing’s wrong with having feelings. “Frustrated.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I’m okay, really. Hmph… alright, that’s not totally true. I’ve been dealing with a lot lately and honestly I’m not very good at talking to others about it. I never learned how to properly talk to others outside of official stuff.”

She laughed. “What? There’s no proper way to talk to others. That’s silly. You just talk and they’ll listen. Come on, just forget about the frustrating stuff for a little bit. I wanted to talk to you about possible future plans. Your offer to go to the Crystal Empire still stands, right?”

I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. “Right, yes. Tickets to the Equestria Games. I could even take you there sooner if you’d like.”

Her eyes sparkled. “How soon do you think?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know. Pick a date.”

“What about next weekend?”

I nodded. “Alright, done. Train to Crystal Empire Friday late afternoon, you can meet Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, we’ll get castle accommodations and stay Friday and Saturday night and come back Sunday afternoon.”

She gaped. “Can you really do that?”

“I’ll have to check with my Captain if I can go, but it should be fine. Other than that I’m good friends with Shining Armor and Cadance. I’m sure they’d be happy to let us stay a couple days.”

“That sounds perfect! I’ll be home and ready Friday at four o'clock.”

*

“No,” said Captain Morningstar, neatly stacking a pile of paperwork on his desk.

“What? Why not?” I asked desperately.

“I need you here for basic evaluation. There’s a lot of new recruits that are going to be sent across Equestria, and I need your good eyes.”

I groaned. “Can’t Spotter take my place for that?”

“Nope.”

I planted my face into the desk. “Why… do you hate me… so much?”

“But I suppose I can make an exception. Just this once.”

“Huh?”

“I’m messing with you. I know you need this, so you’re good to go. But I don’t want to be seeing this happening all over the place, and I expect some extra hard work this week.”

I jumped from my seat. “Yes! Anything you say, Captain, and it’ll get done!”

He sighed. “Good. Say hello to Shining Armor for me. Dismissed.”

I saluted. “Yes, Sir!”

I trotted triumphantly out the barracks and carelessly threw my sword into the air. “Yes!”