Storm

--------------------------------------------- 6 Years Later; 1048 AB ---------------------------------------------

        Galloping hoofsteps could be heard ringing through the castle halls as the Royal Guards’ armor came into repeated contact with the smooth flagstones of the courtyard. These past few years had been hectic, what with the possible threat from North Griffonia. Guards rushed to their posts, which were far more numerous than before. Guards were in such high demand, in fact, that they had to recruit less… fortunate ponies.

        One of these ponies was a familiar blonde-maned, grey-coated pegasus mare. Her eyes were a piercing gold in color, and she had applied for the Solar Guard as soon as she heard that they were looking for recruits. She was actually far more intelligent than most ponies thought she was, she just had a… different sense of humor and was slightly clumsier, due to her lazy eye.

        Today though, she could tell she was going to prove to everypony that she could do anything as well as they could, if not better. Her mouth set in a thin line of determination, she trotted into the large room where all the Royal Guards were gathering. She took a place near the front of the gathering. Just as the last few guards trotted into the room, it grew quiet. Both Princesses stood on a balcony at the front of the room.

        First, Princess Celestia stepped up to the podium to speak. “Solar and Lunar guards! I’m almost certain you’re curious as to why we had you gather here!” Celestia called out over the gathering of guards. A slight buzz of conversation soon followed, every guard in the room having their own speculations as to what this could be about, though most had something to do with the stolen map.

        Princess Luna stepped forward to continue from where her sister left off. The Lunar Guards silenced themselves as soon as she became visible. The Solar Guards continued talking for a few more moments, before finally realising that they were holding up this meeting’s progress. They quieted down and turned their attention to the Princess before them.

        “Indeed, your curiosity is well-founded. I’m sure you all remember what happened six years ago?” She paused and her silence was greeted with a murmur of mutual assent. She continued, “It is for a reason related to the incident six years ago that we have called you here.” She stepped back and motioned for Celestia to address the Guards once more.

        She cleared her throat quietly before speaking. “We have found more evidence leading us to the conclusion that the Northern Griffons are indeed preparing for war. Spies sent into the heart of Griffon territory managed to report in before they were discovered. I’m afraid we have not seen hide nor hair of them since.” This sent yet another buzz of excited conversation around the room, before it was silenced by Celestia raising a hoof.

        “I understand how you may jump to conclusions as to what this means, but I will tell you now. We are not going to war. We are going to fortify our borders, just in case they attack, but we will not launch an assault ourselves.” Another short buzz of conversation. This time the Princesses allowed it to die out on it’s own.

        The Princess of the night stepped forward, using a tone just above the Royal Canterlot voice,"I propose we gather more troops, and strengthen our army, but we shall do so secretly, because if the Griffonians attack, we would like them to be underprepared, so that we may catch them off guard!" This, sent ripples of agreement through the crowd of Lunar guards, but was greeted with murmurs of disapproval in the crowd of Solar guards, who all seemed to have their minds located around the area of brutal force.

        "No! That would be foolish! They too have spies!" Shouted one brave Solar warrior from that crowd, for denying a Princess was an act worthy of punishment, "We shall let them know that we are preparing for battle, and scare them so that they fight with no faith that they will win!" At this, the Solar guards cheered, vowing to avenge their own kin and yelling cries of hate to the Griffonians. The Lunar guards however, growled silently about all of the flaws in the plan of this Solar warrior.

        Celestia, simply raised herself ever so slightly, and gazed at the whole of the crowd that stood in front of her. This was enough the make the hall in which they were gathered in, fall deathly silent, as all ponies realised the happenings of the past few seconds. In the crowd, singled out, was a blonde-maned pegasus, a light grey in colour, with a patch across her eye. She did not shudder, nor challenge, instead, she stood still, her golden armour gleaming in the sunlight that was pouring in through the windows.

        The Sun goddess leaned forward, and looked at the Pegasus straight in the eye, “Private Derpy Hooves, what business do you have insulting my sister by referring to her plan as what one would call, ‘foolish’?” if the Princess was angry, she showed no sign of it, and it was clear that this was not a rhetorical question.

        “None, Your Highness, I apologize,” Derpy saluted before trying her best to be as close to the floor as physically possible.

        “I’m sure you understand what the standard punishment is for speaking against a Princess?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.

        “Yes, Your Highness.”

        “Well then, you’ll either be thrilled or even more upset when I tell you the alternate punishment that I have devised. But first, I must discuss it with my sister. Wait here, all of you, while we conference in private.” As she finished speaking, she turned around and walked through the double doors just behind the balcony. Minutes seemed to pass like hours for the guards gathered in that hall, and maybe they did.

        Finally, the two sisters reemerged from behind the double doors. Luna rose her hoof to show the gathered guards that she was about to speak. She immediately had everypony’s attention. With little to no hesitation, she began.

        “I agree with my sister’s alternate punishment, and I have added my own condition to it. I shall let her announce the punishment.” With that, Luna stepped back, making room for Celestia to step forward.

        “The punishment for this sort of thing would normally be announced in private, but I feel that it needs to be announced publicly.” She paused, waiting until she was certain everypony in the room was listening intently. “Private Derpy Hooves, your punishment is this: You are to be sent on a reconnaissance mission. My original idea was to send you alone, but my sister is more gracious than I am and has added that herself, as well as four of her guards, are going to accompany you.

        “Your companions are sitting in the crowd as we speak. As I speak your names, would you please step forward.” It wasn’t actually a request, she just made it sound like one. “Steel Shadow, Captain in the Hunters and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Lunar Guard.” The dark gray thestral, or batpony, stepped forward and turned to face the gathered guards.

        “Spearhead, First Lieutenant in the Lunar Guard and a Sergeant in the Hunters.” The unicorn, also dark gray, stepped up and stood beside Steel Shadow. There was a pause before Celestia called the next two names. The Solar Guards began calling out for the next two names, whereas the Lunar Guards stayed silent, although it was fairly obvious that they were anxious to see if they would get chosen. The adventures that Steel Shadow’s squads went on were legendary, and anyone who was in one of his squads at anytime was respected by the other guards.

        “Helix and Firebrand, both Corporals in the Hunters. Those are the four that will be joining you.”As the four soldiers whose names she had callen gathered below, they began their familiar ritual, as they were a squad together six years ago, and they also make up the leadership body of the Hunters, a small group of bounty hunters who take on jobs that the normal everyday Guard wouldn’t.

        Seeing how familiar with each other the four who were chosen were being caused some of the Solar Guards to wear masks of jealousy. Most of the guards, however, surged forward to congratulate the four on being chosen to be part of such a prestigious mission. Shortly after, the congratulations were finished, and the guards noticed that Luna was raising a hoof for silence.

        As soon as she had everypony’s attention, as well as nearly total silence, she began speaking, “Congratulations to the four of you for being chosen to go on this mission with myself and Private Derpy Hooves. With so many superior officers to keep her in line, the mission should go smoothly,” She paused to glare discreetly at Derpy before continuing, “Our mission will begin the day after tomorrow. I would appreciate it if all five of you would take a double shift tonight. Except Firebrand and Helix. They are exempt from taking shifts at all, due to the fact that they’re not officially part of the guard. They are free to keep watch with the others, though.”

        Celestia stepped forward as soon as Luna finished speaking and stepped back. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we still have other business to attend to.” The meeting progressed slowly from there. Tactics were discussed, as well as changes to the rotation schedule. Increased and intensified training was also discussed, but ultimately got discarded.

        Finally, the meeting was nearing it’s end. It had taken many hours, and the guards were anxious to get back to work, but almost every topic had been fully covered. The only one that hadn’t been covered was the guard circumstances for the most recently coronated Princess. Discussions were currently under way.

        “She’s your student, and I respect that, but she is capable of protecting herself!” That was Luna. The two sisters had been going back and forth over this topic for some minutes.

        “I understand that, but like you said, she’s my student, and I am her mentor! It is the mentor’s duty to protect their students.” Celestia retorted calmly.

        “That may be so, but Twilight is a Princess in her own right now! There’s not much point in trying to protect somepony who’s more powerful than our best guards.”

        “You bring up a good point, sister. I shall think about it. In the meantime, that will be all. Dismissed!” Celestia replied, turning to address the guards when she spoke the two final sentences. The guards all saluted and turned to walk out of the hall. As soon as she was satisfied the guards were indeed returning to their posts, she turned once more and left through the double doors. Luna hesitated, searching for one of the many guards in the room. Finally, she found who she was looking for, and just before he walked out the door, too.

        “Lieutenant Colonel Steel Shadow, would you mind waiting for a moment? I have something that I must give you.” Steel Shadow saluted and waited until the last guard filed out before flying up to the balcony.

        “What is it, Your Highness?” He asked with a salute.

        “Steel, I allow all of my guards to call me Luna, you know that. No formalities necessary.”

        “Sorry, Luna, I’m just used to being formal.”

        “I understand, Steel. But that’s not the reason I singled you out. Come, walk with me awhile. I’ll fill you in on the way.”

        “Yes, Luna. I will follow you. So, what’s so important that it couldn’t have waited?” Steel asked as they began walking down the long corridor on the other side of the double doors.

        “I must give you something, as I said before. Here,” Luna replied, turning off the main corridor and walking into a side room. Steel went to follow, but Luna reappeared momentarily. “Here, take these and keep them safe. We don’t know what might happen to them otherwise.”

“Yes, Luna. Your wish is my command, Mistress of the Night.” Steel took the plans he was given, which actually appeared to be the blueprints for a new weapon, and he slid them carefully into the saddlebags he wore at all times.

“Good, now-” Luna was interrupted by a large boom rippling through the castle. “What was that?”