Legends Awaken

The morning after the Gilda incident I woke up in the lounge chair with an empty wine bottle at my feet as someone knocked on the door. I reached over an opened it the best I could without moving.

Applebloom walking through the door was not who I was excepting.

“Mornin'! How are you doing Mister Hunter, you ready to go on your secret mission?” I rubbed my eyes as she talked and gave her a look of confusion when we both finished.

“Huh, how do you know about that? I only told a few pe..., ponies about that, and you weren't one of them,” I told her as a leaned back into the chair.

“I heard my big sis talkin' 'bout it with Granny and Big Mac last night! So what are ya going to be doin' for Princess Celestia! I'm beating it's goin' to be super awesome,” she explained as she bounced around my small room with excess energy.

Narrowing my eyes for several reasons but mostly to think of a valid answer, I then remembered a good one.

“I can neither confirm nor deny any mission I may or may not have been assigned by the crown,” I told her with a flat tone and neutral face. Her face fell before she walked up to me looking at the ground.

“THAT'S SO COOL,” she yelled at me with excitement, “I'm goin' to tell Applejack,” she wrapped up with before dashing out of my room. I let out a groan as I stood up and left the room.

As I walked out of the room I noticed the sun was starting to come up, I didn't think anything of it. I did my normal morning routine before going back into my room.

After gearing up and packing my rack sack I locked the room and left to look for one of the Apple family, which I didn't have to look far. Granny Smith was on the porch in a rocking chair. I told her I'd be gone a week maybe give or take a day and left her the key.

I also left instructions that Applejack should tell Twilight if an emergency came up that needed my assistance to set off magically bursts off over Ponyville for me to see but don't except an instant response.

Turning I left and started my trek back into the Everfree Forest. I figured I could spend the next week inside of it and not have any problems. As I walked to the edge of the forest I figured I'd make camp for a night, maybe two, at the Castle of Nightmare Moon and give it a closer look before exploring.

I spent the journey in silence unlike last time but took longer since I didn't have a guide, in the end I still made it to the castle.

Before I got out of the tree line I slowed down and brought my rifle to the ready. Making as little noise as possibly I got into a position still in the forest that gave me a look at the castle.

It was at the time I realized I needed to invest in a pair of binoculars or a small portable telescope because my sight was limited. I fight a sigh down as I dropped to a knee and brought my rifle up to look down the iron sights.

I don't know if it actually changes anything but to me it seems to make things a bit clearer to see. On my third look over the ruins I saw something.

I saw a small trail of smoke raising into the sky. I couldn't see the actually fire as it was to far into the ruins. I lowered the rifle to relax my arms as I thought. I took it that the smoke was from a fire that had been used the night before or had been used to cook a meal. That didn't give me enough to make a clear choice on what to do.

I started to move but stopped when I remembered that I hadn't check the sky. From where I was I scanned over the sky twice and after seeing it looked clear brought the rifle back up and started creeping closer to where I thought the fire was.

I took my time moving from what little shadows there where deeper into the ruins doing my best to keep the noise to a minimal more then likely taking longer then I needed. I guess that maybe an hour an a half passed before I heard the first voice.

I stopped and pressed myself up against a wall. I couldn't make anything out but I did get some information. Someone was in the ruins with me and more then one body.

I quickly thought about what to do. I could move back into the forest and wait for them to leave before coming back in. I could hide nearby, wait for night then move to either take them or slip past in move into the ruins. Another option I had was to move and ambush them before moving in. Plus, I could move to a different location to get a better look at the area I thought the fire and voice was located. The last option I could think off was to announce myself see who they were and then decide what to do.

I clenched my teeth as I thought what to do. I didn't have enough to make any real choice, well maybe I did but I like to have more information.

I whispered fuck it to myself and started the slow move closer in. More time passed as I moved in and so far I was able to make out three voices and maybe a forth. For a reason I was able to tell the voices suddenly stopped and nothing was said.

Once again I pressed up against the stones and waited. As I did I looked over the area around me and above me to see if maybe I had been found out. After what I guess to be fifteen minutes with nothing happening I started moving around.

After a half hour I was able to get to a position to see where the smoke had been coming from and the voices. I found a pegasus and unicorn sleeping on bed rolls near the smoldering fire. I saw four more bed rolls laid out around the fire pit. Along one of the nearby walls I saw some crates stacked and saddle bags, among them I saw weapons and armor, at that I gripped my rifle tighter.

Skipping looking closer at the weapons I moved my eyes to look closer at the armor, when I did I relaxed.

I saw the armor belonged to the Guard. I saw sets for both the Solar and Lunar Guard. They must be here looking into the ruins for clues to the culprits to what I found when I first came here, or that's the first thing that popped in my head that made sense.

Then another thought popped into my head and a wicked grin spread on my face. I slowly and quietly stood and moved into the camp.

Moving over to the crates I sat myself  among them hiding myself leaning up against the wall, now all I had to do was wait.

Luckily I didn't have to wait long before a Luna Guard pegasus and Solar Guard unicorn walked into the camp. Neither saw me as they moved without talking to sit on what I guessed was their bed roles. Lady Luck must have been in on this with me since they both sat with their backs towards me.

With another wicked grin on my face I started my slow crouched walked over to the pegasus and as I did I took the knife off my chest in my right hand. Soon I was behind an unsuspecting guard as I crept my left hand move out to grab his face.

Without a sound and with the speed of an asp my hand snapped out and grab his face by his muzzle covering his month as I moved my the knife to bring to his throat an as I pulled him back his legs kicked out and wings flared.

By the time he realized what was going on and was able to react I had the blade against his throat and the noise he made alerted the other guards.

The Solar unicorn was the first to react as he stood and spun to face me, the two sleeping guards snapped awake and were starting to struggle to get out of their blankets as the pegasus I had taken went limp as I pulled him into my chest as I stayed crouched.

“My, my, what to do, what to do...,” I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear me with a dark and evil tone slowly. The pegasus I was holding tried to turn his head to get a better look at me when he heard my voice, while the unicorn to my right started to gather magical energy.

By the time the two former sleeping guards were on their feet the pegasus I had raised and was moving his hooves at the others to stop them.

After a minute of no one moving or speaking I let go of my hostage as I stood up. The three guards I hadn't touched didn't do anything while my former hostage ran a hoof over his throat before letting out a humorless chuckle.

“If he really wanted to and had tried all four of us would be corpses right now,” the pegasus spoke with a gruff voice that sounded familiar.

“You one of the guard that took Ponyville,” I asked with a level voice as I put the knife away.

“Yes sir I am.”

“Gotta say, I was excepting more from the Guard,” I returned as I moved to sit down next to the pegasus.

“Stand down, you three. There's no threat... is there sir,” he told the others before turning to face me.

“No, not unless one of you want there to be,” I added as I sat down next to him which he gave a grunt of no.

“We can't let this, this, thing get away with this act against the guard,” screamed out the unicorn that had walked in with my ex-hostage as he pointed a hoof at me, “Even if it's a Lunar Guard.”

“Colt, even if you were to try and stop him now I'm confident he would leave the four of us in growing pools of blood even if we were able to harm him,” the pegasus sternly returned as he glared at the unicorn, “Isn't that right sir.”

I turned my head to look at the two before I answered.

“Yeah, it is. I would drop anyone of you that tried to restrain me... violently,” I told everyone present flatly as I stared at the unicorn.

“I highly doubt that sir! There are four of us and only one of him and we are members of the Royal Guard! We are the best of the best... well... some of us,” the unicorn animatedly told everyone before looking over to the other Solar Guard unicorn with a cruel smile which the two Luna Guard pegasus gave angry frowns and wing shuffles.

“You will stand down. You will listen to my orders. Do you understand,” the gruff voiced pegasus told the unicorn as he walked to stand in front of him with his wings flared out to appear threatening. The other pegasus seemed to move to away from the unicorn near him as he opened his wings.

I was starting to see some unspoken hostility existed between the two houses an I decided to intervene. I stood up and moved my hands to take my rifle in my hands.

“If a fight does breaks out I just want everyone to know only one house present will be left standing or neither an it all rest on what I decide,” I spoke with a neutral tone as I flipped the safety off on the rifle and raised it slightly not realizing they didn't know what I had done.

“And from what little I've seen... I think I know which side I'm on... So, are we going to make something of it,” I coolly told the unicorn as I shifted my feet for a better stance and leaving the threat in the air.

I saw the unicorn in front of me shift his eyes over to the other with what I took as fear before he spoke.

“Well, it seems the lower guards have support from another reject. Let's go somewhere else Spark,” the unicorn in front of me said before walking off with the other in tow. Everyone left stood quietly for a several seconds.

I moved to sit back down along with the pegasus across from me while the other moved to grab a saddlebag.

“Eh, it alright if I try and get some more sleep? I still have the next night watch right,” the pegasus asked as he looked at this disheveled sleeping spot.

“Yeah, it's OK, but we'll still be talking about this incident later,” was his answer after dropping the saddlebag was dropped, with a simple nod the pegasus moved to get back to sleep.

The other opened up his saddlebag and started looking in it for something.

“Sir, what brings you here? I haven't received any scrolls or messengers saying that you would be out here,” he asked as he somehow held out three scrolls. “Or am I not cleared to know about it?”

I shook my head before speaking, “I don't know about what you're cleared for and I'm out here to get away from farm work mostly.” The pegasus gave a gruff chuckle before putting the scrolls back into the saddlebag.

“Sir, you decided to come into this forest to mostly get away from farm work,” he asked with skepticism as he sat down. “Sir, you'll have to forgive me for not believing you.”

“Hey, I can't do anything about that,” I gave back with a shrug of  my shoulders.

“Whatever reason brought you out here is yours, and more then likely the Throne, who I'm to ask, ah sir,” he returned rubbing his throat again.

“Sir, I have to ask, why attack us,” he asked with concern and confusion turning to look at me. I let out a sigh as I shrugged my shoulders.

“I was bored, have a bent sense of humor, and at times a demented fuck,” I let him know casually with a half shrug as I turned my head to look at him.

Pure disbelief was clear on his face as he processed and understand what I told him.

“S, sir... Sir, you made us think we were going to die... be, because you were bored,” he got out standing up and flaring his wings again with a tone that was the opposite of polite conversation.

“A, and then you act so causally? What's wrong with you,” he yelled out causing the other guard to pop up.

“According to my paperwork, nothing... I'm perfectly normal,” I gave deadpan with another half shrug. He went from infuriated to perplexed as he now tried to process that an a glance at the other guard showed the same.

They gave an awkward silence while they attempted and after a minute they gave one.

“Wha?”

“Sir...? Wha, how... I, I...,” the standing pegasus gave with narrowed eyes darting in confusion as his wings drooped and I smiled in amusement and gave a mirthless chuckle.

“You can't be normal,” he screamed pointing a hoof at me after a second, my response of laughing didn't make the situation better.

“There has to be something wrong with you! No pony acts like that... or this! You have to have a problem! There's no other explanation!” I gave another chuckle.

“Ah, yeah, there is. There's one word in your last rant that will clarify aaall this, think about which one,” with a knowing smirk. The pegasus narrowed his eyes as he thought for several minutes.

“Sir... it's pony... right, sir,” he asked as he shifted his wings.

“Ding, ding, ding! That's right, the word that clears all this up is pony. Do I look like a pony,” I gave him with a wave of my hand over myself.

“No, I actually don't know what you are as a matter of fact, ah Sir,” he told me with a nervous look, “but I guess that would explain a whole lot because you are not a pony and wouldn't act like one,” he finished his thought with as he sat back down with confusion still in his voice. Before he could speak again I did trying to change the topic.

“What's up with all the Siring? Why not use my name and on the topic of names what yours?”

“Sir, the way I look at it you report directly to the Princesses and I interpret that to mean you're several or even dozens of levels higher in the chain of command then I am and there for of higher importance and rank making you a superior. As a result of that I'm required to address you by your rank or sir.  As for who I am, it's Sargent Silent Lighting of her Majesty's Lunar Guard,” he let me know as he looked around at the area near the entrance to the castle.

“It's good to finally know your name Sargent and to properly meet you, without any crowns or twisted jokes involved,” I offered him along with my hand, which he took without hesitation and shook.

“Even more on my end but I still don't believe your humor is normal for your people.”

“Eh, for the vast majority of'em you're right but among some circles it's normal and encouraged, and please I'd rather not try and explain it at the moment,” I gave up with holding a hand up.

“Alright, I'll let it go for now but I do want to hear who would find what you did normal in the future.”

“Alright, maybe and totally not on topic and to change the subject, you out here to look into what I found when I first came out,” I quickly ask shifting topics.

“Yes sir, we've been here since the night you reported the scene to Princess Celestia. After informing Princess Luna they put together this small detachment to investigate the area for additional information,” he confirmed pointing back at the entrance to inside the castle, “Sir, I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate that we haven't found anything outside of the first report.”

“To me, unfortunate. It takes a special type of pony crazy to do what was down there,” I offered to him my option, which he gave a nod.

“Sir, I'll agree on the crazy but not on it being unfortunate,” he gave with a sigh rubbing his eyes with the tips of wings and I gave a shrug in disagreement.

“Going back a little, you mean to tell me in this entire castle you haven't found anything that might be tied in? I find that unlikely, I mean everyone makes mistakes or simply forgets something.”

“The entire room has been searched top to bottom several times with nothing found Sir,” he explained before a small pause, “What do you mean the rest of the castle and why would we search the rest of it?”

It was now my turn to be confused before I faced palmed and gave a groan.

“You honestly didn't think to check any place else?”

“Ah, No Sir,” came the embarrassed reply as he turned his head down and glanced at me. “But why would we? Everything that happened was in the one spot.” I tilted my head to the side as I looked him over as I thought.

“Ah, I think I can say for sure that it would take a good deal of time to prepare, setup, and conduct the... I'll say spell. While that was happening there could have been some place where those involved waited, resting, plan, or whatever and it wouldn't be in the room to avoid mistakes. It would be in the area to minimize travel, exposure, and any other delays,” I laid out for him with a tone a instructor might give. Lighting took in what I said and nodded in agreement.

“I'm starting to see what you're saying Sir, but where would we start,” he gave before asking with a wave off a hoof over the area. It took a second for me to remember that I thought I saw something in one of the towers.

“I got a place where we can start. Come on, follow me,” I told him as I stood and afterwards I took off my rucksack and tossed it over to the crates.

“It may take a few tries to make it there but we're going to check out on of the towers. I thought I saw something in one of the towers when we were coming here.”

“Why do I have to follow you? Can't I just fly there Sir,” Lighting asked as he fell in step beside me.

“Sure you can but do you want to risk coming across the bastards that brought you out here,” I asked him as we walked into the castle interior.

“Ah, no Sir, I wouldn't want to meet them alone without anypony else with me but what are we going to do if we do come across somepony? Shouldn't we get the other guards and take a look Sir,” he asked as he shifted his wings against his armor.

“Well to answer the first question we'll apply violence to resolve the problem and reapply as needed. For the second question, probably but I'm impatient and confident in my ability to apply violence, does that answer your questions,” I gave up with a shifting of my armor with my shoulders.

“It does Sir but it doesn't exactly make me feel comfortable about how you would take care of the problem. Why would you go with violence, if you don't mind me asking Sir,” Lighting told me as we walked down a hallway.

“Not only do my people have a long unimaginable, by pony standards, history which I share, more imaginable, it's kinda our default response to something. Not really a clear or deep and meaningful answer but it has a acceptable track record and should work for now.”

“I don't know if I should be impressed or depressed by that Sir.”

“There is always both,” I returned as I saw a pile of rubble in the hallway we were in before turning around.

“Are you this difficult to talk to and understand all the time sir,” Lighting asked as we turned into a new hallway.

“Yeah, probably. You'll have to ask the sisters for confirmation though, I don't think I should have final say on the matter,” I told him looking at him with a stupid grin on my face.

“I'll have to try and remember to do that Sir,” he gave with a chuckle as we continued to walk.

After what I would say was fifteen or twenty minutes of searching we found a staircase that looked like it would us to where I thought I had seen something.

We slowly and quietly made our way up the stairs with me taking point. As we made out way up I felt my heart beating harder and faster with each step. New found strength started to flow through me as the world around me started to slow to my senses.

At the door to the room where I thought I saw something I stopped and attempted to destroy it with thoughts of pure hate, I thought it was justified since it was made for  your average pony while the the stairs up were made for someone my size. I fight down a growl as I clenched my teeth.

I waved Lighting up and mimed him kicking the door down and me moving through. Unfortunately it took several tries for him to understand what I wanted to happen but he got it. We both shifted around to get in position before nodded we were ready.

I brought the rifle up and as silently as possibly and with my non firing hand held up three finger and gave one final nod.

I started to drop my fingers slowly and when the last fell Lighting kicked the door open with a loud crack and shower of splinters from the blow. I moved as fast as I could form a kneeling position into the room yelling with anger and authority.

“ROYAL GUARD, ON THE GROUND, ON THE GROUND NOW!”

Lighting was behind me and inside in seconds, where we both found the room empty of bodies, however it wasn't as empty as it should have been.

As I stood back up I looked over the room and saw that it had been recently used and not as abandoned as the guard thought.

I saw six bed rolls on the floor to the left of the room against the standing wall while opposite of it near the partially collapse wall where two low chairs to look out and observe the approach to the castle and the courtyards, passageways, walls, and such below.

Near the bedrolls I saw two open crates and a third that was closed with a pried off lid along with several saddlebags. There wasn't any garbage in the room but there was a brunt out fire pit near the chairs that I suspected was used for warmth, light, and trash.

“Looks like I wasn't as being simply paranoid, I was being paranoid and right,” I told myself as I walked over to the crates as Lighting looked over the bed rolls.

“You're not paranoid if you're right Sir,” he quipped as he turned over a bed roll and I quickly turned to look at him in surprise.

“You're damn right and might I add I'm surprised at that. I wouldn't think you would see that,” I gave him as I pulled of the lid to the crate.

“Sir, I wasn't always in the guard and I did learn a couple things before hoof,” he shot back with pride and humor which I gave a chuckle to as I pulled the lid off and tossed it aside.

Inside I saw some type of cloth bundles, glass containers, books, and scrolls. A quick look into the other two crates and saw basic packages of food, water, bottles, and weather gear. I picked up a book at random and turned to face Lighting.

“Hey, take a look at this,” I told him holding out the book, “you got any ideas on it,” I asked him before he came over and took it from me. As he looked through it I picked up a scroll and opened it to look though.

As I tried to read it none of the writings made any sense to me and only caused my eyes and head to hurt while the diagrams caused nothing to happen. I let go with my left hand so I could rub my eyes and dropped the other with the scroll.

“I can't make any of this out but I think it involves magic... I think the Princesses need to see this,” Lighting told me with worry and concern in his voice as he handed the book back. I looked at him with puzzlement and took the book.

“Didn't we just scare off two unicorns that use magic? Why not just have them look at this stuff? It would be a lot quicker,” I asked dropping the scroll back into the crate to look through the book.

“Yes Sir we did, but I don't like those two and don't have any trust in them. I've never really trusted the Solar Guard but those two just rub me wrong,” I was informed as I looked through the book and got the same results as the scroll.

“I'm not going to give them any kind of access to these materials Sir... unless you order me Sir,” he started with concern moving to contempt. I narrowed my eyes in confusion and angry as I looked him over and thought.

“I'm not entirely sure where I fall in the chain of command... so I'm not going to be giving any orders, I'll differ to you on this Sarge,” I finally gave with a shrug with a rub of the back of my neck after tossing the book in the crate.

My answer seemed to take Silent Lighting by surprise which made me confused.

“Ah, did I saw something stupid again?”

“No you didn't say anything stupid. I'm perplexed that you're listening to me, I'm just a Sargent, no pony that makes more then me listens to what I have to say. Are you messing with me or are you really going to follow my recommendation... ah, Sir...,” Lighting told me with a look and tone of suspicious and contempt before it jumped to a look of surprise when he realized he hadn't properly addressed me.

I stared at him for several seconds to let him sweat or whatever it is ponies do before I started to give a dry laugh as I did I patted him on the shoulder.

“I know the feeling dude, those higher up do have a bad habit of not listening to those that actually know what the fuck is going on right,” I told him as I nodded and walked over and to the opening in the wall.

“So how are we going to let Sun Butt and Loon know about all this,” I asked as sat down on one of the mini chairs. Lighting gave a snort as he tried to kill the laughter followed by a few dry coughs.

“I've never heard anypony talk about Princess Celestia so casual with a straight face and I'm not sure what you mean when you refer to Princess Luna but I guess it's something like with her sister and I want to say you shouldn't either,” Lighting started to lecture me before pausing and letting and a sigh before continuing.

“However, I got a odd feeling there's more to all of it that I don't know but I am going to ask that you don't talk about the Princesses like that in front of the others Sir,” he finished with a shuffle of his wings and I gave a half nod which he took as a yes.

“I can get Valiant Dive to fly a letter to Princess Celestia when he's suppose to be on patrol. It will take his entire patrol slot but if he's fast enough and doesn't run into any problems he should make it to deliver a report to her before she starts holding court and then be teleported back nearby to avoid being late reporting back. Then to explain why he's so exhausted he can so he spent the last patrol doing sprints to work on his speed, that should cover everything,” Lighting started talking out loud as he stared into the burnt out fire pit rubbing his wings against his armor.

“You know the weirdest part about what you just did was to me? Rubbing your wings against your armor,” I blurted out giving him a flat look before giving a half shrug, “As for your idea sounds solid to me, I don't see any flaws but there always is,” I added before letting out a sigh and standing up to stand next to him as Lighting just gave me another puzzled look.

“So I take it I get to write up the report since you aren't in possession of fingers,” I ask with some angry and boredom to my voice.

“That would work Sir, it would be quicker and I think harder to read if Dive gets intercepted since I take it you don't write in modern equestrian,” I hadn't thought about that last part until Lighting brought it up and was a great point that I would have to remember and I think he saw my surprise but choose not to speak on it.

“Alright then, help me dig through these crates and stuff to find writing material.”

As we look I didn't saw anything but Lighting seemed to mumble to himself about everything he found for several minutes before he gave a groan after he dropped something wooden to the stone floor. I moved over to see what he had found.

As I got next to him he spoke up.

“By the Moon, what kind of deviant brings a case of Jolly Fires' Rum to...,” he started moaning before I saw what he was dealing with. I gave grunt of approval as I reached in to grab the case, which was only missing one of the six bottles. Lighting looked at me with brows knitted in confusion as he spoke.

“Ah, Sir? What are you doing?”

“First answer, my kind of deviant, second answer, confiscating this case in the name of the crown, because reasons,” again Lighting seemed puzzled by my comments as I placed the crate on one of the chairs.

“Anything else in there worth me taking in the name of the crown,” I asked before he could comment as I took a bottle to look at, slowly turning it. For a minute he didn't saw anything and just stood there.

“Eh,” was his brilliant answer as he gave blank blink as I took the cap off the bottle I was holding. Lighting didn't reply he just turned around and started to look back through the crate he got the rum from. I took a sip from the bottle as I walked back to the crate I was looking through.

After a few more minutes of looking Lighting found what we were looking for in a saddlebag. As he passed the material to me he gave a disapproval look as he looked at the bottle I was holding but didn't say anything.

What up, Sunny McBoring Flank?

Two guesses who this is, you should only need one and if not, shame on you. Me and Sarge found some shit left by the ponies that did that thing. We need to take about dumb asses.

With a quick look we didn't find anything that points to where to go next maybe with a closer look.

We found the stuff nearby nothing physically big in the loot and we don't know what like three quarters of the stuff we found is, you or maybe some other minions of yours might know.

If you want to know what we found, well I'm to lazy to write it down so meh.

Well that's about all I got for the moment I have an interrogation.

The Great and Powerful (Your Guess)

P.S. I know a pony that likes to yell that out.

P.P.S Send minions to collect this shit.

P.P.P.S.

To the Princess of the Sun and Equestria, Celestia,

This report is to inform you of the progress made in the investigation of the [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] by members of both the Solar Guard and Lunar Guard.

After members of the Solar Guard and Lunar Guard completed the initial investigation of the [REDACTED], discovered by Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] on [REDACTED], after being cleared by [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], [REDACTED] was discovered, after several additional investigations [REDACTED] information was uncovered.

After Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] arrived at the [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] and made contact with Lunar Guard Sargent [REDACTED] the investigation area was expanded.

Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] provided intelligence that indicated a [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] should be investigated. Sargent [REDACTED] and Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] proceeded to the supplied site.

After entry into [REDACTED] was preformed and the sweep and clear preformed [REDACTED] hostiles were found.

Sargent [REDACTED] and Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] found a [REDACTED]of those possibly involved with the [REDACTED] stated above.

At the site [REDACTED] [REDACTED] were present, giving a approximate minimal number involved, near a burnt out [REDACTED]. This indicates that [REDACTED] was used for an [REDACTED]. In addition, [REDACTED] were located at the site, [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], along with [REDACTED].

Sargent [REDACTED] and Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] proceeded to [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] in order to found additional intelligence, [REDACTED] of immediate value.

The [REDACTED] of the [REDACTED] were [REDACTED] by the [REDACTED] personal on scene, however Sargent [REDACTED] indicated that [REDACTED] were of a [REDACTED] nature. In addition, all [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] on site were [REDACTED]*.

Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] request immediately [REDACTED] of all [REDACTED] on scene for [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] by [REDACTED] or [REDACTED]. Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] request reports [REDACTED].

In addition, Agent of the Throne [REDACTED] request [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] with [REDACTED].

In addition, a [REDACTED] has been [REDACTED] to explain [REDACTED] when returning to [REDACTED].

In conclusion, it is respectfully requested that [REDACTED] the size used to deliver [REDACTED] to initial insertion [REDACTED] be used to [REDACTED] material [REDACTED].

*The [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] caused [REDACTED] to [REDACTED], [REDACTED] stated [REDACTED].

Very Respectfully,

[REDACTED]

By the time I finished writing out the formal part of the report to Celestia almost an hour an hour had past and my brain was tired from getting the damn thing right the first time. I didn't trust blotting out any mistakes, words, groups of words, or anything else since I had a feeling magic could be used to lift the extra ink of the paper to find what I had originally written.

In the end I though I got the overall picture of what needed to happen across to Celestia and gave enough to confuse and peak the interest of anyone else. While I was writing and drinking Lighting stood over watch near the hole.

“Damn, finally finish. Hey, Sarge it's ready to be sent to Cantorlot,” I blurted out standing up with scroll in one hand and bottle in the other before walking over to him.

He took the scroll and looked it over becoming confused and shaking his head. He gave one final glance at the scroll before rolling it up.

“The only thing I know for certain about this is you seemed to use the same word over and over again. I'll fly back down to the camp site and get Private Dive on his way,” he informed me stuffing the scroll under his armor. Before he took I told him to bring back my rack sack.

I sat back down on one of the chairs and continued my interrogation of the rum. After taking a long draw from it I let out a long heavy sigh rubbing my eyes. I sat for several minutes and just stared past the burnt wood and ash.

I gave a few quick blinks to get the blank look of my face before standing up and moving to lean against the bricks forming the hole in the wall. I look over the ground below of me when I heard a rush of displaced air. I saw Valiant Dive heading off in what I guess was the direction of Cantorlot.

I turned my gaze to the guard camp site and saw Lighting with the two unicorn asses from earlier along with an additional Lunar Guard unicorn and Solar Guard pegasus. Lighting had my ruck sack on his back and looked like he was trying to get away.

This went on for a bit before I saw Lighting shout at the two unicorns and they took a step back letting Lighting pass. With a powerful beat of his wings he took off but in the wrong direction before he disappeared from sight.

After I lost sight of him I look back down at the camp site and saw the guards left behind split into their respected house, well more like the lone Lunar Guard walked to what I guess was his saddlebag and took a book out of it and going to his bed roll.

After watching for a minute I shrugged and took another sip of rum before sitting back down. Soon I heard wing beats and hooves hitting stone. When I looked at the source I saw Lighting had returned and was taking off my ruck sack.

“Sir, here's your saddlebag, may I ask why you needed me to bring it,” Lighting inquired.

“Well, I guess you could call it a saddlebag,” I started out with with a scratch at my face, “It's going to be easier to explain I got nearly half a dozen bottles of rum out of here then that crate over there,” I finished pointing to the crate in question.

He gave uhm of understanding as I moved to stuff the crate's contents into the ruck sack, which only took a minimal amount of effort.

“So what where those two day uni's asses giving you problems about,” I asked sitting against the wall near the edge of the hole.

“They were demanding to explain where I had was and where you are Sir. They also wanting to know what I gave Private Dive before sending him on patrol. They seem to have a problem understanding that the Sargent in charge of this detail is Lunar Guard,” he explained to me as he moved to sit in one of the chairs.

“I'm guessing you told them in summary to piss off, you're in charge, that they shouldn't be questioning your actions,” I asked as I swirled the bottle before offering it to the Sargent.

“Yes Sir and no thank you Sir, I'm still on detail I can't be drinking,” was his quick reply holding a hoof up.

“Hey, no big. I completely understand, technical I'm not suppose to drinking either but who's going to stop me,” I informed him with a sly smile before raising the bottle in a mock toast and taking a drink.

“I think the Princesses Sir, but I get the feeling you really don't care about that,” he gave with humor in his tone before giving a gruff chuckle.

“Yep, but you didn't touch on the quote unquote problem of a Lunar Guard being in charge. Why would that be a problem,” I asked without using air quotes but still swirling the bottle while Lighting gave a deep sigh.

“The Solar Guards believe that one of them should be charge since they have over a thousand years of unbroken service to Princess Celestia, while Princess Luna's guard has only been active for a few weeks now since being taken out of reserve status,” Lighting sat and explained to me with a tone a teacher would use with students.

“Career Lunar Guard are rare, active more so. When we were reactivated with the return of our Princess, we were completely ill prepare. We lacked numbers, experience, material, and support and were forced to take what some believe,” he paused and gave an uncomfortable shift in his sit along with his wings, “to be uncultured,” he said with with venom, “and unnecessary.”

So far while he talked I sat quietly and sipped my rum.

“We reactivated everypony that had been in the Lunar Guard but was no longer in active status. Every discharge was declared void and former guards to report to Cantorlot for service. We had ponies with Honorable, dishonorable, medical, and administration discharges being forced back into armor to attempt to fulfill our rapidly growing duties. Most voiced their displeasure in what was happening but kept in professional but some weren't,” he added before rolling his wings.

“Most of the problems as you probably know come form those dishonorable discharged, they were never really fit for service but we've always been short on everything and take what we find,” he told me before pausing and giving me a worried look before he spoke again.

“A few were pulled from various jail, prison, and police cells were they were found,” another uncomfortable pause.

“While we pulled the former guards out we saw a chance to grow our ranks. We offered the others in cells a chance to serve the Princess of the Night in exchange for reduced sentences. This caused an out raged in the Solar Court and Guard,” Lighting told me looking at me with a hint of fear and shame on his face as he waited for me to respond.

“I got no problem with what the Lunar Guard has done or is doing. My own people have done the same in the past and present when similar situations happen with almost identical results. I've got questions but I'll wait to ask you may answer them,” I informed him with some empathy before drinking again.

“Both saw our actions as unbecoming of a Guard but they refuse to see the position we are in. They see us as a Guard of the unfit, unworthy, and criminals unfit to serve our Princess or wear the armor of the Guard. The nobles and Solar Guard are trying to strip us of our power and ability by chipping away at what little we have,” Lighting explained with anger seeping into his voice.

“The Lunar guard is use to it they've been doing it for a thousand years but now they're more aggressive about it. Also, now they're spreading rumors and lies about us and our Princess,” Lighting added with more anger seemingly getting ready to go on an angry rant.

“We've been doing our best to keep her out off this, she had enough problems adjusting to the present day and reconnecting with her beloved sister. We just want to serve her with honor and courage to show our commitment to her, we're not trying to take over the Solar Guard or anything,” he told me with remorse and despair in his voice surprising me since I was expecting a rant.

While I didn't tell him he managed to answer a few of my questions but I left that alone for the moment, since I didn't really know how to respond at that moment.

“To be honest I don't know what to tell you. I've never had to deal with the problems that any Guard house have to face. I generally work alone or with small groups independent of the Guard,” I let Lighting know which caused his wings to slump slightly.

“However, it sounds like you are doing what the Lunar Guard was meant to do, serve Luna. Personally, I think you're doing a better job then the Solar Guard since you're doing it with so many problems, short comings, and restrictions,” I told the seemingly becoming depressed Sargent.

“Try taking it in stride, remind the Solar Guard and nobles how bad ass the Lunar Guard is even with everything going on and keeping up with their counterparts,” my voice carrying pride and angry in it as I stood up to stand over him.

“In the end it will be the Lunar Guard that is vindicated in their actions,” I told him with a sagely and confident voice as I put my free hand on his shoulder. My words seemed to bring a new energy to the guardspony as he gave a simply nod before speaking.

“Thank you Sir, you've given me somethings to think about and talk to the others about,” he gave with a small smirk before I moved back to my spot on the wall.

“Yeah, yeah, enough of this heart warming stuff. It's not really my thing,” I gave with a wave of the bottle in a playful dismissive manner and tone. He gave a laugh at it while nodding.

“Of course Sir. So what do we talk about instead while we wait for Princess Celestia to respond,” he simply asked.

“Well, I do have some more questions on what's going on with the Guard Houses, Cantorlot, and Luna,” I told him while I shifted to get comfortable.

“I may not be able to answer all your questions Sir.”

“I'll take whatever you got.”

With that I started to inquire about the topics I had brought up several more, some related other not so much. Among the questions we talked a bit about topics that dealt with them to help fill in knowledge I was missing. We stopped a handful of times to move around, get water, or whatever.

This went on for about four hours by my estimate and was about late afternoon when Lighting caught sight of something approaching in the sky.

I took cover on the left side of the hole using what was left of the wall as cover as I used part of the wall to rest the rifle on while Lighting moved to the right side to take cover. I adjusted to look down the sights to look at the approaching object.

“I can't make anything out, you,” I asked Lighting keeping the sights at the object.

“No Sir, it's m

still to far out.”

“Damn. You see what's his name come back yet? Shouldn't he be back by now? I haven't, you?”

“No Sir I have not and yes he should be back by now through the Princess,” Lighting answered with some worry in his voice narrowing his eyes at the objects.

“Double damn. You know anyway to inquire at the ident of who's approaching and it better be quick,” I asked adjusting by hands on the rifle sparing a quick glance at Lighting.

“Yes Sir I do standby,” he quickly snapped off before rolling out of cover and dropping over the side. I didn't move to track him.

“On over watch,” I yelled out to him as he disappeared from sight hoping he would understand what I was telling him.

After what was more then likely a minute but felt like several I saw three red burst appear in my field of vision causing me to grip my weapon tighter. I took in that the unicorns had used their magic for the burst in some type of visual comms.

After several seconds three burst appeared in the sky, green, yellow, green. However, I didn't know what they meant so couldn't tell if it was a good or bad sign.

As the minutes passed I felt my body start to slide into a state ready for violence as the object grew larger. Where was Lighting, I needed information I what was going on. Soon I saw that the object was actually two, chariots in a line

As they approached I spared a quick glance off them to look for any signs of Lighting, I got nothing as I was no able to see the chariots in detail.

The one in front was smaller and was uncovered with bodies in it, the second was larger and covered with no current view into the back.

I kept my rifle pointed at the back of the open chariot knowing I could do the most damage there if needed.

By the time I could count the bodies in the chariot I was able to tell they looked like they belonged to the Solar Guard but I couldn't tell if they were legit.

By the time they started to drop altitude I still had no new information on what was going on and I gave one last look for Lighting or another Guard for an update only to fail.

I let out a long soft breath to steady my pounding heart and calm my nerves, the rum was both helping and hindering at the moment.

When the chariots touched down at the guard camp I verified my safety was still off and slide my finger onto the trigger. For a long second nothing happened then there was movement from the back of the covered chariot.

A Solar Guard got out of the back whose armor made him stand out. I interrupted that to mean he was a officer and followed him as we walked to the front of the forward chariot.

When he stopped I saw Lighting was standing at attention and saluting, I took this as a positive sign. It meant that Lighting know who this was and should be here, with that I let my shoulders slack but still kept my focus on the unicorn.

Without warning the unicorn suddenly hit Lighting in the face with a hoof and I reacted, I squeezed the trigger.

I heard the crack of the rifle and the felt recoil in my shoulder as I saw the unicorn slowly turn his head to look at the side of his barrel facing me before he dropped. As he did I shifted to fire at the back of the open chariot.

I gave another squeeze, more noise and recoil, the round hit low and hit the side of the chariot. I squeezed again, a crack and pressure, the round hits to the right of a Guard in the back of the chariot and I see heads turn to look at the impact.

As I lined up my next shot I vaguely heard a shout before the Guards exploded into a fury of activity.

The next pull of my finger, another crack and recoil, this time the round hits. The pegasus lands on his face and not on his hooves as a cloud of red mist and white feathers appears to his left as he jumped off the back of the chariot.

I adjust my grip as I shift, I see another pegasus fall over the first, while he tried to recover I stopped him. Another cloud appears as I catch a glimpse of an orange lit, I snap the rifle to the left looking for the source. I find it coming from a unicorn trying to cast a spell. I informed him of my displeasure.

Another pull back of my finger, a crank and recoil and the unicorn falls forward his horn no longer orange. I start to hear muffled noises coming from the guard camp but can't make any of them out.

When I long back at the open chariot I see it's empty, I open my left eye and look over the guard camp looking for a target, I only see Lighting, non-hostile, I kept looking.

Suddenly, the sky is filled with magically colored bolts, evaluation, blind firing, they don't know where I am.

Moving rifle back and forth I can't see any targets except the ones I already hit, I wait and as I do I see a lime green shield appear around the camp site. I gave three quick pulls to test it.

I see ripples flow across the surface of the bubble, it stopped my rounds, a standoff. I see Lighting is standing in the open wildly waving his hooves around and yelling, I just here muffled noises.

For several minutes I just stare at the shield and wait for a target of opportunity. I watch Solar Guards hesitatingly leave cover to pull back the fallen guard members either with muscle or magic into cover. Lighting is still standing in the open.

Suddenly the shield falls and Lighting dashes forward before the shield reappears behind him. He gives a look behind him before he slowly takes off starts flying. He's not a threat so I don't keep my attention on him, the threat is behind the shield. But why did they let him go?

After a minute a hear muffled noises coming from nearby, I can't make them out, I stay focused. Slowly I see a dark color appear in my vision and it's out of focus.

I quickly look at the color and focus, it's Lighting and it looks like he's talking. I take my focus off him and look back to the camp.

“What the fuck is going on,” I demanded with hostility and confusion, my voice sounds far off and garbled to me.

“...you the same thing,” I finally hear Lighting say with the same tone as he cautiously moves closer to me.

“Target One hit you declaring himself and those with him as hostile, I reacted by providing covering fire to allow you to take cover, you failed to. Target two and three were opportunities, target four was preparing a magic spell, I interrupted, you failed to fall back into cover. Shield appears, I tested its strength, too strong. Fell into over watch,” I quickly rattled off to him as I kept searching.

“... do that,” I picked up when he spoke again and I narrowed my eyes to figure out what he had said.

“You're an ally, one protects allies while defeating enemies,” I popped off while focusing on a shadow I saw moving near the edge of a wall.

“... doing that, but your enemies right now are allies,” Lighting muffled shouted out at me while pointing at both me and the camp.

“Invalid, allies do not strike allies, enemies hit allies,” I countered tightening my grip and narrowing my eyes again at the shadow.

“... down, I SAID STAND DOWN,” Lighting shouted out to me with desperation. I blinked several times before putting the rifle on safe then I turned my head and started to dry heave.

After several seconds with nothing coming up I stopped and spit the excess saliva over the side. With firing hand on rifle I used my free hand to help push myself to my feet.

“So, I guess we both have some explaining to do,” I dryly stated looking at Lighting who gave a grim nod.