A New Day

Through Shining Armor's Eyes

"A changeling threat!"

  I was awoken by the sound of tapping on my window. First I get woken up by a messenger with attitude, then I'm told that another changeling queen was going to attack!

  I swear the pony who found about the thing will be kicked in the gut. Maybe twice.

"Yeah Mr. Amore."

"Armor."

"Hey, I'm not the one who married a princess. As far as I know, you take her name."

"Well then you don't know far enough. I can choose if I want to have Cadence's name. What I want now is the letter that told of this threat."

  The pegasus messenger, Flick Note, searched his bag for a bit until he found what I asked for.

"Here ya go, one letter sent to princess and a piece of silk."

"Silk?"

"Yeah, silk. Me being an expert on messages, I say them changelings use it for their writing. Looks worn, like two mangy dogs used it as a chew toy."

  I took the two in my magic. Flick was right, it did look like two dogs had all, but destroyed it.

"You may leave Flick Note."

"See ya later, Prince Amore."

  As he flew out the window, I sent a small electric shock towards the pegasus. "Yow!"

  Touchdown. I shut the window and moved to my desk. Brought back from my honeymoon for another changeling queen to lock my Cadence away.

  Not this time. I read the letter that was sent by Celestia's adviser. A changeling princess? Why didn't this princess get turned in to the guard?

  Ponyville. Maybe Lady Emerald is taking this....'princess' to Twilight. She would know how to handle it. But why take her family? Wait. Lady Emerald.

  Lady Emerald. She was the pony that Caden- Chrysalis invited personally. She is very important to the Princess. Ever since she came to Canterlot ten years ago.

  She came to her with three ponies. All were tired, looking like they traveled the entire country. She had a zebra, unicorn and pegasus.

  She told Celestia her husband and daughter were taken by a monster. She had a bundle around her neck, it kept moving. I was just a colt then.....

Canterlot Castle Ten Years ago

Today was my first day on training and I got sided with my mentor, Silver Arrow. He was the best archer in the earth pony guard. He never missed a shot.

We stood on each side of Celestia. She was walking through the gardens watching the birds fly around. She stopped in front of a clearing. Something was out there.

Silver moved quickly, silently he took his bow an arrow, aiming it in the direction of the figure. I stood and watched as the captain of the guard pulled back the arrow ready to fire.

"Wait."

I looked up to Celestia. She stared at the figure. It was hunched over, or from what I could tell behind the bush. She trotted into the clearing and I followed. Never leave the princess unattended unless told so.

Celestia went right up to the pony. It was a mare, a unicorn mare. She looked up to the Princess with green eyes. Then three ponies emerged from the bushes. Silver readied his bow.

Celestia and I watched as the ponies sat down next to the mare. Two of them were young colts, younger than me, looking like they just got out of foal hood. The other was a earth mare with strange markings on her.

The unicorn colt levitated a small bag in front of the crouching mare. He looked more worried than the pegasus colt. The marked mare stared at us. Her grey eyes never blinked.

"Hello there."

The Princess looked down at the unicorn mare. She reached to the mare when the pegasus moved in front. His green eyes were locked onto Celestia. Silver took aim.

"Silver Arrow do not fire. We have a unicorn who needs assistance. Please go and fetch the medic."

"Princess I cannot leave your side."

"Your partner will keep me safe, won't you?"

It took me a minute to realize was talking to me. I saluted her and stood at attention.She giggled at me.

"See. You are rubbing off on him."

Silver bowed and went to fetch the medic. I was left with Celestia and four strange ponies. I looked at the marked mare, she looked like she was almost my age. Maybe a bit older.

"What kind of pony are you?"

The mare pushed the pegasus away walking up to me.

"I'm not a pony. I'm a zebra. Is there a problem?"

"No, you just looked a little weird to me."

"Maybe you look weird to me."

"Maybe you...uh...you...."

I had nothing to say. No one spoke like that to me. Maybe Twily, but she was just a foal, so it's okay. The unicorn mare wasn't hunched over any more. The Princess saw this too.

She stood up and and placed a hoof on the pegasus. He stood up and sat again, next to the unicorn colt. They seemed so young to be guarding. Then again I'm in training right now.

The unicorn looked up to Celestia and spoke. She spoke of a monster and was chasing her family. She was with another family at the time.

They both ran for their lives from the monster. But one day it got them. Her foal and husband were taken. The pegasus and unicorn colts were brothers and the zebra was their adoptive sister.

She was their mother now. The monster got their parents too. It's so sad not having a mommy or daddy to keep you safe. There was a bundle around her neck and it moved.

Using a slight x-ray spell I tried to see the object, but nothing was there. It had stopped moving. I looked around the clearing, but nothing else was moving.

I felt my tail being tugged. Lifting it up I saw a brown baby pony hang on my tail with his mouth.

"Pinwheel!"

The baby was levitated to the unicorn mare. The Princess smiled at the mare.

"You don't need to worry, my little pony. Here in Canterlot you are safe."

The mare held the baby in her hooves, rocking him while he chewed on pieces of hair that he pulled from my tail.

"If it makes you more comfortable, I will send a search party to find this monster. You and your family can stay in the castle until you find a home."

The mare stood up placing the baby back in the bundle. She looked up to the Princess, her green eyes were filled with emotion.

"I, Lady Emerald of Manehatten, accept your offer."

"No need for formality. And I hope you enjoy your stay."

Lady Emerald smiled. She seemed more happy with each passing minute.

Ponyville Train Station

Through Emerald's Eyes

  The train ride was great. My broodlings got plenty of rest and while I read the local newspaper, I found a home for sale. It was near the edge of town, right by the Everfree forest.

  We climbed off the train and made our way there, met with the seller and now have a home away from home. It was  two stories and medium sized, not to bad.

  It had an attic, basement, kitchen, bath and four bedrooms. I separated my broodlings so that we could live efficiently. I took the attic.

  Nymph and Flutterwing would share the room next to the stairs leading to it. Tulip and Leaf were going to be right across. On the first floor, Locust and Wormwood got the one next to the bath.

  Cicada and Mantis would share the one in front of the basement door. They played it off like it was nothing, though their cheeks were bright green.

  Wormwood moved the plink jars to the basement, smiling ear to ear. He was going to have fun with this. I sat down on the carpet floor. It was soft.

  Just when I thought that I could relax. Ding, dong

  Groaning I disguised and opened the door.

"Hi, Emmy! Remember your good old friend Pinkie Pie!"