At the Gala.....

"Attention Ma-.... ponies! My name, as you might know, is Six. However, because of my new 'advancement' in the Equestrian Guard ranks, you will address me as sir, General, or Noble Six. And when I address you, your reply will always have sir in the beginning and at the end of your sentence. Is that clear?!"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"Good! Now, line up!" Six couldn't help but crack a smile under his helmet. Because of what Celestia had asked him to do, he wanted to have permission to whip the Guard up to UNSC quality, even though that was a long shot. "Get in line already! I've seen more organization in a Swedish orgy!" After that very explicit insult, the guards finally got in line. Six started walking down the line, another insult coming to mind. "If I expected anything of you, it should be how to stand there doing nothing. It's what you do at the castle anyways!" Then he heard it, a snicker. Just what he was expecting. He marched to the offending pony. "Is something funny?" Six's emotionless visor reflecting the unicorn in front of him, but the words he said giving away his feeling towards him. The pony straightened up, and cleared his throat.

"Sir, nothing at all sir."

"How tall are you?"

"Sir, 4' 9" sir."

"Really? I didn't know the piled shit that high!" Six stood straight up, and pointed away from the line. "Get out of line."

"Excuse me sir?"

"You heard me! Out of line! Your out! Go home!" The pony lowered his head, and walked off. Six looked back at the line, minus one member. "It took you five minutes for one of you to get kicked out of my army. You know what that means? Five miles!" Six waved a pointed hand over the rest of the ponies. "You will be put through a UNSC boot camp for two days! Any pony who does not complete it, will be evicted from the army! Now, About face!" The ponies followed the order. "Five miles, march!"

"Well..... I'll be honest, I'm surprised." Celestia couldn't believe this was her old royal guard. The soldiers now seemed more muscular, more...... solid, for lack of a better word. And in two days? Almost unbelievable. "But some guards are missing."

"Yes. They are no longer involved in this army."

"Wait, you... kicked them out?"

"Yes." Celestia gave him a questioning look. "You said I had full control. Their lucky that I tweaked the rules a bit from a standard UNSC camp. Those who didn't finish, or had a problem with my authority, were evicted."

Celestia sighed. "I did give you control, but still." She waved a hoof over the line of improved soldiers. "I didn't expect this."

"The best I could do."

"I guess that's what I wanted. Have you come up with a plan?"

"We've already devised strategy and tactics. Even an evacuation route." Another look. "Just in-case. If the Gala does come under attack, we need to evacuate the civilians, then get you, Luna, and the Element bearers to the bunker. Hopefully, no surprises..."

----------------------------(Night of the Gala)---------------------------------

Six sighed. His post next to Celestia as a personal guard was, uneventful, to say the least. He slightly expected this, and didn't want his talent as Drill Sargent to go to waste. 'Well...... that's not entirely true.' he thought, as the next noble stiff approached Celestia. Though the new and improved guard might not see any action, he did drastically change them, hopefully for a while. The guard positioned at the line to reach Celestia pulled Six from his trance.

"Noble Six, Celestia is now free to roam and mingle for an hour before her opening speech for the Gala performers."

"Excellent. Celestia, if you will." Six motioned out with his arm.

"Thank you." She gave a curtness nod to Six, then the guard. However, when said guard was out of earshot. "You don't have to follow me around like some child, Six. You can move around."

"Like I would want to be around any of these stuck-up, slicked out, nose turning, snobs."

"Yes, I tire of their constant vexatious babble towards me." She put a hoof to her chest and her best snobby voice, "Celestia, make the sunset pretty, oh Celestia, make sure this afternoon isn't too warm, oh Celestia, will you marry me? Pertinacious braggarts."

Six couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Look at you using big words and shit..." She gave him an unamused look before heading to a crowd of ponies calling her over. Being left alone for the moment, Six found a table with soldiers posted on each side. It was the princesses and the Element bearers' table, and he saw the six girls sitting. Walking over, he noticed Rainbow avoiding his singular visor gaze. "Hey girls, enjoying the party?"

"I think Soarin is callin' me." Rainbow took off from the table in a direction that was not towards Soarin.

"Huh, wonder whats got her feathers twisted." Applejack stated, knowing Rainbow just lied.

'I probably did the twisting.' Six thought. "Hmm, I don't know. So!" Six looked away from where Rainbow flew off to. "Are you girls enjoying the Gala?"

"Oh, heavens Yes!" Rarity exclaimed. "With Blueblood away on, *ahem!* 'diplomatic services', the Gala is much more enjoyable!"

"Yeah, I'm glad he's gone too." Six commented. "My encounters with him has always ended with me wanting to rip out his throat."

"Please do."

"RARITY!" The remanding girls exclaimed.

"Wow, holding a grudge much?" They had told him about their previous Gala 'experience'. Needless to say, laughter was had from the Spartan.

"I am the Element of Generosity, not forgiveness."

A sly smile came on Six's, though they couldn't see it. "...But you must forgive freely..." Rarity's face went disgust from the mention of Blueblood, to completely blank.

"...Touche." Laughter came forth from the table.

After a few minutes of talking, Six started to actually enjoy himself. His guard was never let down, but company with the five eased him a bit. When a soldier started to approach his table, along with a very worried face on, Six's mind went back to what he was waiting and preparing for. Excusing himself for a moment, he approached the guard.

After snapping a salute, the guard spoke. "General. I have important information for you."

"It better be good. I was starting to enjoy myself."

"A returning group of airborne pegasi spotted movement towards the northeast of the castle, in the everfree forest. Upon further investigation........" the unicorn took in a breath. "It's the griffons, sir." Six lowered his head. A threat to the nation he was currently with was made. Protocol dictates action.

"Alert the other guards. We are in evacuation protocol. I will alert the populous. And bring me the escort team that Sharp made from the princesses and the bearers." With a salute, the guard walked away. Six walked towards the ponies providing the background music for the party. With a swift jerk of his wrist, he signaled for them to cut off. When done so, he jumped up on stage.

"May I have your attention mares and gentlecolts!" Six's loud voice caused all chatter to cease and gained all attention from the room, along with Celestia. "I have just receive word that a large griffon force is approaching the castle. In this event, we must perceive it as a threat. With that in mind, we are now evacuating you to a secure bunker until this threat is handled. Thank you for your cooperation." With his speech finished, murmurs erupted as guards escorted the ponies out of the room. Celestia and Luna, followed by the (now) six girls, pushed through the crowd and walked up on stage.

"Is the army gathered?" Celestia inquired.

"They are inside the barracks waiting for orders. I must depart when your escort is here. You eight are to be taken to a separate bunker, unknown by most of the guard. For precautions." Six nodded to the five soldiers that Sharp had recommended. "I must leave." He went to move before Celestia stopped him.

"Six!" He turned back around. "Be careful." He gave a nod to them, their faces littered with worry.

Author's Note

I'm building up to it, don't worry.