Brony Recon: Eyes of Chronos

Skyblaze’s POV

”I don’t understand...”

“While I can’t keep track of every dreaming pony in Equestria, Celestia had asked me to keep special watch on the six of you when you arrived from your world. In the last few months, you have never had a dream that I had sensed.”

“But if it’s not a dream, then what is it? What’s been keeping me up at night? Luna, is there something wrong with me?”

“I do not know, Skyblaze. This is something that requires more research on my part. Whatever you see while you sleep, it is not a dream. Not one in my jurisdiction, anyway.”

“Under your jurisdiction? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I am not the only High Immortal that can influence mortal dreams, Sky. I am just the only one in this world.”

<<

“Hello? Sir Skyblaze?”

“Huh?” I jerked myself out of my thoughts to look back at Inkwell. The unicorn mare was looking at me in concern. “Sorry... I get distracted easily.”

Inkwell gave me a frown. “Am I being a bore?” she asked. “My stories probably aren’t exciting enough for you and what you do in the Guard...”

“No! No, that’s not it at all!” I exclaimed defensively, nearly knocking my coffee off the cast-iron park table. As far as dates went, this wasn’t on the top of my hit list. “Your story was very interesting! It’s just... I have a lot on my mind, is all... my talk with the Princess was very thought-provoking.”

The unicorn huffed, picking up her coffee. “Yeah, right...” she said, sipping her coffee.

There was a few moments of silence between us, enough to make it awkward. Frantically, I scoured my mind for something to say to her that would bring her back to the table. Let’s see... something I haven’t used on her yet... eyes? No, that was the very first thing I did. That’s what I always do. Her coat is very well-kempt, but that’s not exactly a romantic complement. Flanks? NOOOhohoho that’s creepy as hell! Mane? Oh! It’s in a different style! Use that!

“Your mane looks good when you wear it down like that,” I observed. “It feels more relaxed, less professional and... kinda moves in a very free way.”

Inkwell’s hoof went to her mane, brushing down some of the layered hair. “You like it?” she asked, a tone of surprise in her voice. “I just had it styled a few days ago... some noble friends of mine were a little on the fence about it.”

“That’s nobility for you; never satisfied,” I blurted out without thinking. It took a lot of willpower not to facehoof at that point. I just insulted her friends. Buck me.

To my surprise, Inkwell offered a small giggle. “Yes, well...” She sipped her coffee contemplatively. “I don’t really take their word with much weight. ‘On the fence’ for them is close to godliness for me.”

I chuckled inwardly. “Like cleanliness?”

Inwell nodded, giggling again. “Sure.”

<<

By the time I was making my way back to the barracks for earlymorn exercises, I felt absolutely drained. Between waiting for Luna outside the war room, my talk with the Princess about my dreams that weren’t dreams, and my date with Inkwell, my body felt ready to collapse and my hooves ached something fierce. Forget flying; the last thing I need is sore wings before arial combat exercises.

As I trotted along the Canterlot streets toward the outskirts, I pondered over my discussion with Luna. Not the only High Immortal that can influence dreams... I thought back to Luna’s words, biting my bottom lip. What other alicorn can make dreams? Certainly not Twilight or Cadance. Maybe Shining Armor has some kinda dreamwalker thing. I puffed out my cheeks frustratedly. If not Luna, maybe Celestia? Who knows what other stuff she can do besides move the sun.

I paused in my stride as I recalled something else. Luna said that she’s the only one on this world... Blinking, I looked up at the sky. Are there more alicorns in another realm somewhere? An image of the pale alicorn from my visions flashed through my mind. Who is he? Why is he doing this to me?

“Markus?”

“EEP!” I jumped into the air and latched onto an overhead lamppost. I was so deep in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice the approaching pony until he was two feet from my face and calling to me. Getting over my jitters, I looked down from my perched to see the bemused emerald face of Kind Greetings staring up at me. “Ben!” I called down, climbing off the post and fluttering to the ground. “Schist, dude. Give me a heart attack, why don’t you?”

“It was your fault for not even seeing me coming,” the Ambassador of Earth smirked back. “You should be more careful. If someone saw a simple earth pony like me spook a Night Guard like you- especially one with the illusion on -it would bring the Guard’s reputation into question.”

“Yeah, well... I was just thinking deeply,” I countered weakly. “Did you need something or were you just looking for somepony to jump-scare?”

Ben nodded. “I was looking for you, actually. Princess Luna sent me to make sure you were alright... for some reason." He peered at my curiously. "Are you sure you two are just friends? Because I think she shows a little more than concern for you.”

"NO!" I exclaimed, leaning back on my haunches and throwing my hooves up in flustered exasperation. "Why does everypony assume we're together!? We're JUST FRIENDS!"

Ben raised an eyebrow at my juvenile outburst.

"Sorry..." I apologized, settling back down. "It's been a long day for me." Gathering myself back up, I smirked at Ben. "Besides, even if we were- and we're NOT -it would be a little more than suspicious if two bronies were dating either Princess, am I right?"

With a small laugh, Ben looked down at the golden engagement ring, engraved with the symbol of the sun on his hoof with a nostalgic smile. We were all shocked out of our heads when Celestia and Kind Greetings announced their engagement. It was a surprise to every one of our friends, aside from Luna and I of course. The two of us had our suspicions that Ben and Celestia were doing a little more than collaborative paperwork in their time together alone, and guessed that Ben had gained a little more than Celestia’s trust during their diplomatic talks.

“True, true,” he said, giving in. “It isn’t my place to turn you on her in the first place.”

“Thanks. It seems like everypony is dead set on getting us together. And I thought I was a shipper.” Laughing despite myself, I started along my way again. “It was nice seeing you, Benny. Now, I need to get back to the garrison. Sarge’ll have my royal-blue ass if I’m late by even a--”

“I’m afraid I wasn’t quite clear earlier when I said Luna had sent me,” Ben interrupted, halting me in my tracks. “She wanted to see you immediately. You have been excused from your duties by order of the Princess until further notice. ...and before you ask, no. I don’t know what she wants.”

Huh? “But... I don’t get it,” I confessed, rubbing my chin with a metal-clad hoof. “We just spoke earlier tonight. What could she have to say that she didn’t already.”

Ben shrugged dismissively. “Like I said, I don’t know what she wants,” said the ambassador with a matter-of-fact tone. “I would get moving if I were you.”

“Yes sir, Ambassador-Princeling!” I replied with a mock salute, spreading my wings and jetting into the air without waiting for the retort I knew was coming. With all haste, I rocketed toward the palace, no longer concerned about earlymorn exercises.

Instead, my concern lay heavy on what awaited me; on what Luna wanted with me that was so urgent.

<<

Night Guard Lance Corporal Greyhoof’s POV

Not everyone in our garrison was on leave for the night. Some, like myself, were on the patrol roster, which meant walking up and down the empty streets of Canterlot, on the lookout for suspicious activity. Though, as far as the Guard is concerned, ‘suspicious activity’ also included the occasional drunken disturbances or noise complaints. Not like we get much else around here. Not since the Aliyess Cultists stopped attacking after we found their hideaway in the crystal caverns.

As I patrolled past one of the many pubs on my route, I noticed Lucky Shot waving out the window at me. With a chuckle, I discretely waved back at my comrade. Emphasis on ‘discretely.’ We can’t have it getting out that the Night Guard are anything but ruthless and scary.

Never really liked that image myself, but I’ve come to like the respect I get from it. While the illusion keeps me anonymous, it sure freaks the hell out of anypony that might try to pull something on me. Like that one stallion- Cueball, I think it was -who hoofed over the money I wagered him over a game of billiards. I had won, of course, but the boy was adamant that I had cheated. I could still imagine his frightened face when he saw a bat-like Night Guard had been sent to collect. Priceless.

A flicker of movement from a nearby alley caught my eye. At first, I thought it was a trick of the light, but there were no lamps nearby to cause something like that. Keeping a watchful eye on the alley’s entrance, I gripped the hilt of my blade in a telekinetic grasp and approached, sliding the blade out of its sheath a few inches.

“Who’s there?” I barked, the illusion spell making my voice sound gruff and intimidating. “I am a Night Guard of Equestria, and I order you to show yourself!”

When nothing happened, I growled in my throat and stepped around the corner into the alley. Though it may have looked pitch dark to the normal pony, the enchantment on my armor granted me enough darkvision to see almost every detail. Despite my suspicions, the alley only seemed to contain several discarded empty barrels that once held some kind of alcoholic brew.

Cautiously I advanced into the alley, drawing my sword and holding it in front of me in a field of magic. Every so often, I would poke one of the barrels to frighten my prey out of hiding. “Come out, come out, wherever you are...” I chortled as I walked, trying to further intimidate my quarry. “Don’t worry... I won’t hurt you... much.”

“No, but WE will.”

Suddenly, I was tackled from behind by two heavy, powerful bodies. Likely earth ponies by their strength. We toppled over onto the ground in a heap, and my horn struck the cobblestone. The disruption in my magical field disoriented me, my sword clattering to the ground with no magic to hold it up. Before I could recover and react to the attack, my forelegs were seized by the two ponies that had tackled me. I was lifted up and spun around, powerful legs holding mine out to each side.

I struggled against them, but they were too strong for me to break away. My sword lay just a few feet away, but the hit on my horn prevented me from using magic for precious seconds. I was caught and helpless.

“Hush now,” cooed the voice from before. A dark unicorn mare approached us, lifting my blade up in her own magic. To my horror, I recognized the glow of slitted green eyes and the flowing black cloak. “Hold still. Darkness will take you soon enough.”

“Aliyess...” I growled, baring my fangs and glaring at the mare. But, despite my brave visage, I was panicking inside. If the Cult could infiltrate this deep into Canterlot without being detected, then there was a fatal breach in our security that could mean the fall of Canterlot to this evil. “Release me, scum!”

“Hmm... I think not,” the mare hummed, as if musing over the situation to herself. “Not when you have something we need, after all. Darkness be blessed, we couldn’t possibly just let you go.”

I hesitated in my thrashing, looking at the mare in confusion. “...what?”

“Your armor,” she clarified, smiling. “Very important to us, you see.”

My armor? What? I thought about it for a moment, thinking fast. It wasn’t much of a choice, really; either I hoof over my armor, or they most likely kill me. “Very well, you can have it,” I spat. “Take it and release me, worm.”

The Cultist clicked her tongue a few times, shaking her head. “I don’t think you understand, batty,” she chuckled. “If we let you go, you’d blab straight to your false goddess. We can’t have that happening, can we?” She leveled the blade at my throat, giving me a smile. “Give my regards to your ancestors.”

NOOO- The blade fell. I ceased knowing.