The Orphan: The Great Changeling War
Shield stood at attention in the line of recruits. He had been living in the castle for the past year and a half. It had been kind of difficult to adjust from living on the streets, but he had managed. And now that he was old enough, he had joined the junior guard. Even when he had been living on the streets it had been his dream to be in the guard. To run into the battle under the Equestrian banner. To protect the crown and all of Equestria. But as a pony living on the street he wasn’t eligible to join. Only ponies that came from wealthier families could join the ranks. And only those who excelled in combat and tactics could join the ranks of the elite like Captain Shining Armor or Commander Point. But after he had been adopted by the Princess, he realized it was his chance. Though Celestia didn’t like the idea, she hadn’t protested, too much. A tall blue stallion in a set of shimmering gold armor walked in front of the recruits.
“Alright recruits, listen up. you’re here to learn how to fight, survive, and eventually join the ranks of the guard. Think of it as a boot camp of sorts. The skills that you learn here could mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.” He yelled in a voice rough from years of shouting orders. “Look to the colt next to you.” He ordered. Shield looked to the colt next to him, a pale orange cot with a blue streaked mane. “This will be your partner in your time here. You will train together, eat together, learn together and kick flank together.” He said. He opened his mouth to shout some more but his radio crackled to life.
“Sergeant, you’re needed in the mess hall.” A voce on the other end said. A clatter could be heard in the background. The sergeant sighed heavily.
“I’ll be back in a few moments. Take this time to get to know your partner better.” He said walking off. He was grumbling something inaudible about recruits. Shield turned to the orange colt next to him.
“Name’s Shield.” He said holding out a hoof.
“Flash, Flash Sentry.” He said grasping Shield’s hoof. “Shield, hmm, I know that name from somewhere.”
“Celestia’s adopted son.” Shield said. He didn’t like to tell people that he was the princess’s son. He didn’t want to be treated like royalty with ponies bending over backwards to do something for him. Flashes jaw hung open and looked as if it might fall off.
“C-Celestia’s adopted son. No way! So you live in the castle. You’ve met the Captain.” He said excitedly. Shield sighed.
“Yes, i’ve met Shining Armor. He’s part of the reason that i’m here today.” Shield said. “But i’m actually a very boring pony.”
“I think we’re gonna be great friends anyway.” Flash said slapping him on the back.
Shield’s eyes flew open.
“Hey Shield, we gotta go.” He heard a familiar voice say.
“I’m up, i’m up.” He said sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “What time is it Flash?”
“Oh three hundred.” He said.
“Crap. When is the raid again?” shield asked standing up and picking up his armor.
“In, five minutes.” Flash said glancing at his watch. Shield groaned and popped his neck while putting the simmering steel armor. He checked the sights on his crossbow and slid his sword into its scabbard and clipped it to his belt as well as the dagger in the folds of his armor.
“I could never get used to seeing you in armor.” Flash said.
“I hate this stuff, but I owe my life to it.” He said looking down at the large dent where he had been hit by a magic bolt that would have killed him for sure. He had vowed to find whoever made this armor and thank them after he was released from duty. He walked out of the tent where the two highest ranking field commanders, Flash and himself, into the center of the campsite that him and a few other raiders were camping. All of the raiders stood at attention, all except one. At the end of the line was a smaller stallion that was trembling and his knees were slightly bent as if he was trying to hide.
“Private Simmons, come here for a moment.” Shield said stepping back into his tent. The private jumped at the mention of his name and followed Shield inside the tent. “Private, is there something wrong?” Shield said. He was known for being one of the most compassionate officers and liked to know each of his soldiers as best he could do. It made them all like brothers, and their unit was called just that. They were officially the 24th Raiding division but they were called the brothers by every other unit that knew of them or had worked with them in the past.
“Well C-Commander it- it’s just pre raid jitters. Thats all.” The private said.
“Simmons, it’s more than that. I know this is your first raid, but i will promise you that you’ll come out of it just fine.” Shield said. He nodded towards the door and the private exited the tent. Shield followed him out. Flash was waiting by the entrance. “Keep an eye on him.” He whispered to his friend. Flash nodded and fell into the ranks. He was only a rank below Shield but he treated himself like any other soldier.
“Alright brothers, as you know, we’re leading a raid on a small changeling hive a mile to the north. Corporal. I want you to take your pegasi and draw the fire of the archers. I trust that I don’t need to tell you how to fly.” Shield said pointing to a dark blue pegasus.
“Aye sir.” The pegasus said saluting his commander.
“I want the unicorns with me on the ground and Flash, you provide overwatch. We don’t start until I give the signal and remember, brothers to the end.” Shield said quoting the inscription on his helmet. The full saying went “Brothers to the end unto hell swallow us,” but the end was kind of creepy so he left that part out. He nodded to the pegasi and they all spread their wings and took to the night sky. Shield noticed flash looking up at them with longing in his eyes. Shield put a hoof on his friend’s shoulder.
“It’ll heal, one of these days.” Shield said. Flash sighed and looked to the ground.
“That’s what the doctors say.” Shield put his helmet on and started trotting down the dirt path. Normally he would have chosen to teleport but with Flash not being able to fly he couldn’t.
The changeling hive was coming into view over the horizon and Shield could feel himself getting antsy. The feeling every soldier got before a battle or raid. They were referred to as pre-raid jitters and they were often considered a good thing. It was good to be nervous, kept you focused but if the fear was paralyzing, it could end horribly.
They reached to top of the hill that overlooked the hive. A perfect place to set up over watch. “Flash, up in the tree. Keep us covered and don’t let the archers actually hit the pegasi.” Shield whispered. Flash nodded and pulled himself up high into the tree. Shield scanned the trees until he noticed the pegasi who were looking directly at him, awaiting the signal to begin the attack. Shield took a deep breath and peered down into the valley. Outside the hive there were no guards which puzzled him. Also, on the roof of the hive, there weren't any archers posted. It was very strange for there not to be any changelings visible. But the raid had to go down tonight and he couldn’t wait much longer. He held up a hoof and saw the pegasi spread their wings and prepare to take off. Then he saw it. Outside of the valley was a guard wearing similar armor as his. And another guard, and another and another. The hive was surrounded by guards, pony guards. But that could only mean that the hive was already taken, and by ponies.
Shield motioned to the pegasi to join up with the rest of them. Within few seconds the pegasi were gathered with the unicorn. “What’s going on Commander. I thought that we were supposed to take that hive?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. Me, you and Flash are going down there to find out what the buck is going on.” The commander said. Flash dropped down from the tree with his crossbow slung across his back. “ The rest of you stay here. If you see any trouble, start shooting.” He said to the remaining unicorns and pegasi. shield and the other two ponies stood up out of their cover and were immediately spotted.
A blinding white spotlight shone on them and Shield had to put a hoof up to keep from going blind. He noticed on the edge of his vision that two ponies in armor resembling his own were rushing towards him.
“My name is Commander Shield and I wish to speak to your commanding officer.” He said to the ponies. They both bowed their heads.
“Of course Commander. Though i’m gonna have to ask that you party stay behind.” They said.
“Of course.” Shield said. Flash looked like he was about to protest but Shield stopped him.
“But Shield, what if they’re changelings?” Flash called out after him.
“Then give the princesses my regards.” He called back and followed the two ponies into the hive.
The hive on the outside wasn’t much to look at. Nothing too impressive about a giant black egg popping up out of the ground, but the inside was something else. The walls were covered in a clear crystal that glowed a soft green, illuminating the hive. The massive ceiling looked like they could reach up forever. But the most amazing thing in the hive was the energy crystal that stood tall in the center of the hive.
Every hive had an energy crystal that tied every changeling that was born in that hive to that energy crystal. If they had run out of love to feed on, they could come back to their hive and feed off of the energy crystal for a short while. But if the energy crystal was destroyed, every changeling that was tied to it would die instantly. He knew because he had had to destroy a couple in his time.
The hive was amazing to look at but he didn’t get too much of a chance. The two guards that were leading him turned right and ascended up a flight of stairs that probably lead to the throne room where operations would be set up for the time being.
They ascended the flight of stairs and pushed open two massive, black doors. Inside was, as Shield had guessed, the throne room. Inside were several ponies in armor resembling his own pouring over maps and a few who appeared to be wounded lying in bed rolls along the length of the room. “Commander on deck!” One of the ponies who had led him here shouted. His voice rang through the room. The ponies studying the maps stood at attention. All except one soldier in a set of gold armor who was making his way to Shield.
“Shining Armor, it’s been a long time.” Shield said walking up to his superior.
“Far too long.” The white stallion said. His blue streaked mane had streaks of gray in a few places and he looked tired.
“With all do respect Captain, what are you doing here?” Shield asked remembering his place. Shining was one of the few ponies that could call themselves his superior and for good reason. A year before Shield had become an actual member of the guard, Shining had played a key role in the griffon war.
“New orders. You and the rest of the raiders are to report back to Canterlot for a week before joining the rest of the military on the frontlines.” He said pulling a letter out of the chink in his armor.
“Why would they send us to the front lines? That’s not how my stallions were trained.” Shield asked taking the letter and opening it.
“They think that it’s the breaking point. They asked for you and your stallions by name.” He said as Shield read the letter.
“When you say breaking point you mean,” Shield started.
“I mean you could be back home by Hearths Warming Eve.”
“Who’s they?” Shield asked. It wasn’t easy for him to wrap his head around all of this.
“The war council, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight in particular.” Shining said with a grin.
“Your sister asked for me by name?” Shield said folding up the letter.
“She brought you up.” He said laughing quietly.
“Well, I think me and my stallions should get on our way to Canterlot. They’re gonna want to see their families.” Shield said. Shining nodded.
“Alright Commander. I’ll see you on the front lines.” He said. Shield brought up his arm in a salute but Shining wrapped him in a bear hug. Shield managed to break away from the spine crushing hug without being crushed. “Stay safe.” He said with a salute. Shield returned it and trotted out of the throne room.
Flash waited where Shield had told him with the rest of the raiders. His crossbow trained on the entrance of the hive. If shield came out of there with something chasing him, he would put a few bolts in it.
Shield trotted out of the hive and up the hill to where the raiders were encamped for now. Shield parted the bushes and trotted into the clearing where the ponies were waiting expectantly.
“New orders.” He said handing the note to Flash. “We are to report back to Canterlot before shipping out to the front.” Shield said to his troops. At the mention of the front he received several questioning gazes.
“The front, sir?”
“The front. I know you boys aren’t trained to fight on battlefields, but the council thinks we can do this. They think that we’re the weight to tip the scale.” Shield said. The raiders looked at him a confident smile adorned every one of their faces.
After two days of hiking through the wilds of Equestria, Canterlot castle came into view on the cliff face. “About half a days walk left.” Flash said to himself. He picked up the pace a little to catch up with Shield who had taken point.
“So, the front lines.” He said. Shield turned to him.
“Yeah, that’s gonna be a change.” Shield said.
“You don’t sound very confident.” The pegasus said.
“I’m not. When we raid, we have the element of surprise, but on the front lines, we’re vulnerable.” He said. Flash nodded and went silent for a while.
As the sun climbed up in the sky, they walked up the road to Canterlot. At the gates stood the day guards who raised their spears to meet the raiders.
“Halt, state your business.” One of the guards said.
“Commander Shield and company reporting for new orders.” Shield said handing him the note. THe guard read it and turned to his partner.
“Go tell the princess that the Twenty Fourth Raiders Division have reported in.” He said. His partner saluted him and Shield before running through the gates. “Commander, report to the princess immediately.” Shield nodded and walked through the gates, his raiders followed him.
As they walked through the streets, ponies came out of their shops to watch the raiders go by. After the raiders had been established after the griffon wars, they had quickly become famous and revered among the civilians. The only ponies that approached them were the families of the raiders. Most of them had wives and foals which is why Shield did his best to keep them safe. As their families came to claim them, they left the ranks and joined their families on the sidewalks. As they approached the castle, Flash and Shield were the only ones left on the streets.
“Go see your mom, I’m sure she wants to see you.” Shield said reading Flash’s mind. Flash smiled at him and trotted off in the direction of the hospital where his sick mother would be.
Shield greeted the guards at the gates of the palace and walked past them. He hadn’t seen his mother in about a year and before he even got to the gate, Celestia burst through the doors of the palace and ran to him.
“Shield! I missed you so much!” Celestia said wrapping him up in a hug.
“Can’t... breath.” He gasped. Celestia released him with an embarrassed smile.
“I missed you too mother.” He said after he caught his breath.
“Come inside. I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to.” She said leading him inside the castle. He followed her into the private sitting room and sat down on a leather armchair across from his mother.
“Why are me and my raiders being sent to the frontlines?” He asked immediately. Celestia sighed, not wanting to talk about the war right now.
“The war is pretty much a draw as of right now. Both sides are evenly matched, neither side having much of an advantage over the other in terms of conventional warfare. So the war council had this theory that if we sent over some of the raiders to the front lines, we might be able to tip the scales in our favor.” Celestia said.
“But that doesn’t explain why you need me and my raiders to go. THere are 53 other raider divisions, why do you need us?” Shield asked. He never was one for frontal confrontation. He was the strategist, the kind of stallion that liked to undermine his enemies, not smack them across the face. That’s why he was a raider.
“Because you’re the best.” She said simply. “I don’t like sending you to the front lines where you’re most likely to be killed. I didn’t like the idea of you joining the guard to begin with, but this is what Equestria needs.” She said. Shield nodded to that. The fate of Equestria depended on this war and he wouldn’t deny that him and his soldiers were the best raiders there were.
“I hear Twilight was the one that brought me up to the war council.” Shield said changing the subject to one Celestia would rather talk about.
“And who told you this?” She asked him. Shield raised an eyebrow at his mother. “Shining, right. Yes she did bring you up to the war cou-” Celestia was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Come in.” She said unlocking to door with her magic.
“Sorry to bother you princess, but I was wondering if you could help me with this sp-” Twilight said walking in but she stopped when she noticed the pony sitting across from her teacher. “Shield!” She exclaimed forgetting that the princess was there, ran over to him and gave him a hug. “It’s been years.” She said pulling away from the commander. Shield cleared his throat and jerked his head towards the princess. Twilight looked to the princess, the blush showing on her cheeks. “Heh, sorry princess.” She said picking back up her book.
“Oh, you two go and catch up. I’ll talk to Shield later.” Celestia said with a chuckle. Twilight looked as if she was about to explode of happiness as she ran out of the room to put her stuff in her quarters. “You should probably go put your armor and equipment in your quarters as well.” Celestia said. Shield nodded and gave his mother a hug before exiting her private quarters. “Oh, what I wouldnt give to be young again.” Celestia reminisced happily about her earlier years.
Shield opened the door to his old quarters from when he had still been stationed as a guard and not a raider. It brought back so many memories, happy memories. He removed his chest piece and boots and placed them on the armor rack. As he unstrapped one of the gauntlets, the blade popped out and nicked his nose. “Horsefeathers.” He cursed as he tugged on the strap and pulled the gauntlet off.
He went over to the old mirror and examined his nose where the blade had cut him. From the looks of it, it was very shallow and had already stopped bleeding. “It’ll be fine by morning.” He said to himself. There was a knock at the door followed by the frantic shuffling of hooves. Shield pulled the door open to an excited looking Twilight. “You ready to go?” She asked him.
“Sure.” Shield said stepping into the hallway and closing his door behind him. They trotted out of the castle and through the courtyard into the city. As the sun yielded, Luna’s moon took over the sky with the stars as its companion. “Same place as always?” Shield asked as they trotted through the streets.
“Same place.” She said smiling. She hadn’t talked with Breeze since before she went to Ponyville. Any time that he was back in Canterlot, she was away and never got to see him. But now that she was a princess, she could come to Canterlot more often and she had been lucky enough to run into Shield.
They trotted through the park. A place they had loved being every day of their foal hood and still enjoyed today. Shield stopped in front of a tall oak tree that grew on the side of the path.
“Remember that one time when you dared me to climb up to the top of that tree?” Shield started.
“And right before you got to the top an eagle flew in and pecked you on the head and you fell right here.” Twilight said walking over to where he had fallen out of the tree years ago.
“It’s kind of creepy that you still remember that.”
“I remember a lot of things from when we were foals. Like this.” She said. Her horn flared and she picked him up with her magic. “Remember when I couldn’t do that?”
“Ha Ha, very funny.” Shield said crossing his hooves. “You can do better.” He said. She gave him a devious smirk and set him back on the ground. Her horn flared, a bit more intensely this time, and his body separated from his head, but without any pain. She spun his head around and placed it back on his body, backwards. “I never realized I had such a wonderful flank.” He said jokingly. Twilight busted out laughing and spun his head back around to face her.”MY turn.” He said.
His horn glowed and her cutie mark disappeared. “Hey, put it back.” She said. Shield laughed and replaced her cutie mark with that of Rainbowdash’s. “Ahh, what the? How did you?” She stuttered.
“Basic duplication spell.” He said.
“Can I have my cutie mark back pwease?” She said with puppy eyes and a baby voice.
“How could I say no to that face.” He said. He removed the fake cutie mark and put her’s back on her flank.
“Thank you.” She said with a smile and started skipping down the trail.
After a few minutes of trotting down the trail they came to a small grassy patch with a perfect view of the stars. Twilight laid down on her back and Shield laid down next to her.
“I remember when we used to lay here for hours looking at the stars.” She said staring up at the stars.
“Those were the days. Back when we had no worries.” Shield said resting his head on hoof. He felt something tickle the fur on his chest. He looked down and saw a purple, feathered appendage lying on his chest. Next to him, Twilight looked at him with longing in her eyes.
“I missed you Shield.” She said.
“I missed you too Twilight, bu-” She cut him off with a long passionate kiss.
“Please Shield. I have a week before you go off again. Just, give me this. Please.” She said with pleading in her eyes. Inside, Shield looked into her eyes and felt something stirring inside him and against all his good sense he leaned over and kissed the princess. She rolled over on top of him and kissed him again, after that though, Shield couldn’t remember.
The next morning, Shield woke to a loud thundering bang that shook dut from the stones above his head. He smelled something, something like, smoke. The realization hit him as another blast rocked the castle and shook more dust from the stones above him. ‘We’re under attack!’ He thought. His battle instincts kicked in and he threw the covers off of himself and ran to his armor rack where the shiny armor stood, waiting for him. He reached out for the boots but stopped when he heard the clopping of hooves down the hallway, slowly getting closer. He heard a guards shout orders and then the sounds of blades clashing. He slid the bracers on and fastened them to his forelegs. He tested the blade and walked over to the door. His hoof firmly grasped the handle when a third blast shook the palace. He heard a tumble of rocks and stone outside his door. The muffled screams of ponies bled through the walls and into his ears. He pushed against the door but it wouldn’t budge. He tried it again with his shoulder and felt it give a little. He took a few steps back and prepared himself. He ran at the door and gave it a massive shove with his shoulder. The door gave and swung open, pushing the rock that had been baring his passage out of the way.
He coughed and held up a hoof to keep the dust from getting into his lungs.The tumble of rocks was just a few feet from his door. The battered bodies of guards and changelings alike lay under the crushing boulders. He jerked his head in the direction of a scream that emanated from down the hall. It turned from a scream into a gurgle and then ceased altogether. Shield shot the blades out of his bracers and proceeded down the corridor, trying not to breath in too much of the dust. A door hung ajar a few feet ahead of him. Shield peeked into the room and saw several ponies with their hooves above their heads cowering in front of a changeling. The bug-pony had a sword in the hole of his leg and held it to one of the pony’s throats.
Shield crept up behind the changeling without being noticed. He grabbed the changeling by his throat and cupped his mouth with a hoof. He fet him struggle but as he got weaker he jerked his head to the side, snapping his neck and ending his life. He dropped the body of the changeling on the ground as the ponies looked up at him. “Yesterday you were civilians. Today, you’re soldiers.” Shield said. He knelt down and started searching the changeling. In his small saddle sack was a crossbow and an assortment of sleep darts, incendiary darts and lethal barbed bolts. He took out the crossbow and set it down on the ground next to the bolts. “Do any of you have any military training?” Shield asked. One of the ponies raised his hoof tentatively.
“I-I do.” He said. Shield handed him the sword. And then handed the pony next to him the crossbow.
“You just point and shoot at anything bad.” He said. He turned to the last pony, a mare who looked at him with a determined look on her face. “You take this.” Shield said unstraping the bracer and handing it to her. She strapped it on immediately and flicked her hoof out. THe blade slid out of the bracer. “I see you know how to use it.” Shield said. The pony nodded and slid the blade into the bracer.
“Well everypony, I don’t know exactly what’s going on but there’s one thing that we must do.” He said taking a step back and nudging the body out of the changeling out of the way.
“And what is that?” The mare said.
“We have to get the princesses to safety and then we figure out what’s going on.” He said. “Follow me.” He poked his head out of the door and looked down the corridor.
“And who are you exactly?” He heard the mare ask. She was surprisingly calm in this situation.
“My name is Shield, Commander of the Royal Guard and leader of the 24th Raider division. Now come on.”
