Change Comes With Sacrifice

"Captain? Wake up, sir. Captain Blazing Shield?!"

Blaze woke from his nap, aggrivated at the pestering voice. "Kid, why must you always be the one who wakes me from my rest?"

Storm Breaker stood, perfectly, at attention. You could still tell that it hadn't been long since he had joined the ranks of the Royal Guard. Blaze knew he shouldn't really be giving the kid a hard time. After all, the kid did a really good job at whatever you asked him to do. Scored top of his graduating class. When Storm arrived at the Crystal Palace, Blaze was given the task of being his mentor. With Blaze's teachings, the kid quickly adapted to being his apprentice

"Sorry sir. Prince Shining Armor has requested your presence as soon as possible. Princess Cadence will also be attending, sir. I don't know what it's for." Storm Breaker saluted Blazing Shield, who only laughed at the formality.

"Relax, kid. We've been working together too long. You know you don't have to do that for me when it's just the two of us," Blaze chuckled. The kid really did try hard at everything he did. "So, both the Prince and the Princess want to talk with me. I wonder what this could be about. Come on, kid. Let's not keep them waiting," Blaze said as he lifted himself off the ground.

Blazing Shield's build was smaller than most of the Royal Guard. Not by much, but still a noticable height difference. Even Storm Breaker stood taller that Blaze. But, in the twelve years that he had been a guard, everypony knew not to let his size fool them. When Blaze had still been a guard at Canterlot Castle, a Hydra had been sighted heading towards Ponyville. Princess Celestia instantly sent a squad of guards to stop it from reaching the town, Blaze being one of the chosen. In the heat of battle, Blaze had flown high up into the sky before diving straight towards the Hydra below. With his massive Claymore, Blaze sliced straight through the Hydra's body, splitting it in half.Whenever other guards saw that massive blade, they knew the stallion it belonged to.

Storm, following close behind Blaze, felt eyes follow them as they walked down the hall. "Sir, it feels like we are being watched."

"We are, kid. Something tells me that whatever this meeting is about has earned us some unwanted attention. We're here. Now would be a good time to use formalities, kid." Blaze looked at the two guards who protected the door to the throne room. Both saluted before opening the large doors and letting the two walk in.

Two rows of Canterlot guards made a path leading to the thrones where Cadence and Shining Armor sat with smiles on their faces. Blaze and Storm made their way between the two rows of guards. "To what great honor is it that you request us here, your highnesses?" Blaze asked as he bowed, Storm doing the same.

Both Cadence and Shining Armor chuckled. "There's no need to bow before us, teacher." Shining Armor replied, walking to his former mentor.

When Shining Armor had first joined the Royal Guard, Blazing Shield had been the sergeant in charge of his platoon. Looking back, Blaze wasn't surprised how Shining had become captain of the Royal Guard. Shining Armor far succeeded Blaze's expectations during training, exercising and studying every day and night, taking care of all his commrades, even graduating at the top of his class. It brought a smile to Blaze's face seeing his former student now lead the entire guard as Prince of the Crystal Empire.

"It's good to see you again, Shining. You've gone far since the time you were my student," Blaze playfully punched Shining in the shoulder. "But always remember who trained you."

Shining Armor chuckled at his teacher's gesture, returning the punch. "You'll always be my teacher. I see the years haven't changed you one bit."

"Just a few scars here and there, nothing major," Blaze chuckled, looking to Princess Cadence as she walked towards them. "You sure know how to pick them, Princess. If he ever gives you problems, let me know and I'll be sure to give him a swift kick in the rear."

Cadence laughed at the thought. "I'll keep that in mind. Guess that means you should behave, Shining," Cadenced giggled.

"Be careful, Storm Breaker. Blaze can be a bit on the crazy side at times," Shining joked, pointing and Storm's mentor.

Storm began to stand at attention before Blaze placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Relax, kid. You're practically family, so you can just talk."

Storm took in a deep breath, releasing all the stress as he exhaled. "I'll keep the advice in mind, your highness."

Shining smiled at Storm, "Please, since we both trained under this stallion, you can refer to me as Shining".

Cadence also smiled at Storm, "And you may call me Cadence. Blazing Shield has always been like family to us. So it would only feel right to address you as family as well".

Storm's heart felt very light, taking in the heavy words. He would never have thought this would ever happen. Storm felt his legs start to shake under his weight

"Don't pass out on me, kid. I know it's a lot for you to take in, but it'll be okay," Blaze said, regaining his composure for the question at hand. "So, what was it you needed us for?"

Shining Armor cleared his throat, "As you know, we have recently crowned a new princess".

Blaze thought back, "Ah, Princess Twilight Sparkle. If I remember correctly, she's your sister and she was also foalsat, as a child, by Cadence".

Shining chuckled at his friends knowledge. "I can see you've gathered your information quite well. Yes, this is all true. Though she is a princess, my sister refuses to have her own group of guards with her in Ponyville. But, we have gotten her to agree to having two guards."

"And that would be us?" Blaze looked questionably at his former stuent. "Something's happened that's got the two of you worried. Am I wrong?"

"You are not wrong," Cadence stepped forward. "But it's not just us. Princesses Luna and Celestia also believe the security is needed. Not only for Twilight, but for the other Elements as well."

"I won't question the worry the both of you have for your family, but I must ask two questions. Why us and who is it we are protecting her from?" Blaze wanted to know what it was they were facing before jumping blindly into this mission.

"That's the problem, we don't know what force we are facing. For the past few nights, Luna has seen horrible visions from an evil entity. From what she's seen, this force plans to kill Twilight and steal her magic," Cadence shuddered at the thought.

Blaze understood why they would be so worried. When Princess Luna has visions, they're usually always right. "Okay, I understand why you would request guards to watch over Twilight. But, the question still stands. Why us?"

"Celestia requested it be you two. The combat record you two hold is quite impressive. And the Princesses still remember you from when you were stationed in Canterlot," Shining Armor nodded towards two nearby guards who stepped forward, wielding both Storm's and Blaze's equipment. The armor was different though?

"What happened to our original set of armor?" Storm questioned.

"The two of you will no longer wear Crystal Empire armor. To better improve your performance, we have specially modified the Equestrian Guard armor with a lighter metal that is both tougher and more flexible," Shining levatated the two sets of armor to their new owners.

They both slid the new armor on, testing how it felt. "Wow! It feels weightless!" Storm said excitedly, jumping around.

"Yes, it does. And my wings don't feel restricted anymore," Blaze explained, waving his wings happily.

Both Shining Armor and Cadence smiled. "We're glad you like them," Shining levitated their weapons in front of them.

Blaze threw his claymore on his back, feeling only the weight of the claymore.

Storm hooked his sword to his armor, brushing the dust off it's golden guard.

Blaze looked back to Shining and Cadence, "When do we head for Ponyville?"

"My sister should be here any second now," Shining Armor explained, hearing the doors open. "Ah there she is."

Before Blaze knew it, a purple haired mare had darted past him and had tackled Shining Armor in a barrage of laughter.

Storm looked puzzled. "So this is the new Princess?"

Blaze gave a little chuckle, "It would seem so. Storm, meet your new princess: Princess Twilight Sparkle."