The Guardian

I stood with my arms out as a mare wrapped a tape measure around my waist and made happy humming sounds.

“You certainly are a fine specimen Mr Rowe.”

I roll my eyes. “And for the fifth time Miss Stitch, I'm taken.”

The mare sighs. “Yes I know but you can't help me for trying.” The mare winks at me.

I chuckle. “So how much is the outfit going to cost?”

The mare waves a hoof. “I have orders to collect any fee incurred from the crown.”

I sigh. “The princess' orders I presume?”

The mare smiles. “Of course. I will have your outfit ready by this evening.”

I nod. “Thank you Velvet Stitch, now I have to find a way to burn a some hours.” I rub my chin.

“You could try the Tavern on Galvern Street. I hear it's got human friendly food and drink.” Velvet states. “You might find a fellow human there, I hear she visits the place frequently.”

I nod. “Thanks Velvet, see you later.” I say giving her a wave.

“Bye Mr Rowe and remember I'm single!” Velvet shouts as I leave the royal clothes makers.

“That mare.” I say before heading for the castle Atrium.

I reach the Atrium and spot Celestia talking to some guards and they look worried. I quickly stride up and bow.

“Princess? Is everything alright?” I ask.

“Oh Kenny, I'm not sure. I have received word that one of our small towns to the west has gone silent.” Celestia starts to pace. “I don't know the details but a trade caravan stopping in Canterlot has reported the town as empty.”

“Empty?” I ask a little confused.

Celestia nods. “Yes, Empty. The stallion said when he passed the town it was very quiet and stopped to check. He then went on to state no pony was in it, the streets were empty. I have ordered two squads of royal guard to go and investigate.”

“Do they need any back up?” I ask.

Celestia smiles and shakes her head. “No they'll be fine.” I notice Celestia raise an eyebrow. “Eager to get out again?”

I sigh. “It's nice here but I'm getting bored Princess. I know Star Trail will kick my ass for saying this but I need to do something, anything.”

Celestia taps her chin. “Very well, get what you need and I'll send you along as an observer. Under the statement you're learning about our country and how our military conducts operations.”

I bow my head. “Thank you Celestia. I just hope Star understands.”

Celestia nods. “She will and don't worry she'll be safe till you come back.”

“I should get my gear.” I say and turn away. “I take it the guards will be at the mustering ground?”

“Yes, be safe Kenny.” Celestia says making a scroll appear with her magic.

I make my way out of the castle and to the mustering ground. I touch my pistols under my jacket. I smiled. It felt good to have them on me again. I notice two squads of guards standing by two carriages. I walk up to the guard that has the most elaborate armour and salute.

The guard salutes back. “Guardian Kenny?”

I nod. “That's me. I take it Princess Celestia has sent down word of me joining you?”

“Yes she has stated you are joining us as an observer on our mission.” The guard smirks. “You just wanted to get out and do something didn't you?”

I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, I was going insane doing nothing and this mission will help me see more of Equestria too.”

The guard nods. “My guards and I know what you Guardians are capable of but the princess has made if clear you are under my command while on mission.”

I hold up a hand. “I know and I have no quarrels with it. This is your country.”

“Glad to hear it now lets get seated and we can find out about this town.” The guard goes to enter the nearest carriage before looking back. “Oh and I'm Captain Broad Light by the way.”

I nod. “Nice to meet you Captain.”

The Captain nods and turns his gaze to the Pegasi hooking to the front of the carriage. “OK privates, lift off when ready.”

I sit down next to a unicorn mare as the carriage jerks before taking off. The mare gives me a side glance and a nod as the carriage banks upward and heads north east from the castle.

I sat in silence with my eyes closed. I wasn't meditating but I was preparing myself for the mission at hand. I open my eyes as the captain begins to speak.

“OK, we are two minutes out. The mission is simple, find out what happened to the town and locate it's inhabitants.” The captain looks out the front of the carriage. “Circle the town once then land outside the town.” The Captain brings his head back in. “OK everypony I want last gear checks. I'm not sure what we are going to encounter.”

I reach into my jacket and pull out my pistols. I pull out their magazines and nod before sliding them back in. I check my holsters to make sure they are secure and tight to my body. I stop when I feel like in being watched and glance up at the mare next to me. I notice a look in her eyes and realize she was the only one that had no partner to check her gear.

“Need a check buddy?” I ask with a smile.

“I-I could do with double check yes.” The mare replies.

“No Problem.” I state and give her armour a check. I make sure her armour is sitting right and her straps are nice and tight but not constricting. “You're good.”

The mare nods. “Thank you.”

I go to ask the mare her name but the carriage dips and the captain speaks up again.

“OK guards when we land we'll break up into small groups. Due to Guardian Kenny being here it puts us at odd numbers so Sunny Haze your going to be his partner.”

The mare next to me salutes. “Y-Yes sir.”

“Good. You don't have any complaints Mr Kenny?” The Captain asks me.

I shake my head. “No sir.”

The captain nods just as our carriage lands with a bump. “OK guards lets disembark.”

I stand and follow the guards out. I give the area we landed a quick glance and spot the town not to far away. I turn when the mare from before walks up to stand beside me. I give her a smile which she returns with a light blush.

“Guardian Kenny?”

I turn to see the captain walking up to me. “Captain.” I reply with a salute.

“You and Sunny are to take the north end of town. The area contains the storage facilities for the towns harvests aswell as the towns sorting building. Sunny will be in charge.”

I nod. “Understood sir.”

The captain nods. “Good, we will meet back here in two hours if we don't find anything.”

“How do we contact you if we find something?” I ask.

“Sunny Haze knows a spell that she can launch to signal the rest of us, but only if it warranted.” The Captain replies.

“Understood Captain.” I say as the captain nods and walks away. I turn to Sunny next to me. “Shall we?” I say gesturing to the town. Sunny nods and turns leading the way to our search area.

I pressed myself to the building wall one of my pistols in my hand. Sunny was across from me holding up her sword in her magic. I glance her way and she gestures with a hoof for me to check the small storage building I was pressed against. I give her a nod and move towards the main door. I notice the door has a handle and I reach for it. I turn the handle and the door clicks as it comes away from the frame.

I look to Sunny and she was watching from her place nearby. I turn my gaze back to the door and raise my pistol. I slowly push open the door and enter the storage shed. My eyes quickly take in the room and my pistol follows my eyes sight. I walk in to find the storage shed filled partially with boxes stamped with a symbol of a flower. I check one of the boxes and it was bound for Canterlot.

“Anything?”

I stand holstering my pistol. “No, just crates stamped for delivery.” I take another look around and sigh. “We've been at this for nearly an hour Sunny. I have bad feeling about this place.”

“Is that your training talking?” Sunny asks.

I sigh again. “Maybe. I'm not sure. I just have a feeling this won't end well.”

Sunny nods. “I feel something to but we have a couple of buildings left one being the main warehouse they use to sort the flower they cultivate here.”

I frown. “What exactly is this flower they harvest?”

“It a flower that only seems to grow well in this area. The flower can be ground down to form salves. They sell the salves to hospitals as a magical alternative to speed up healing.”

“Wow, that sounds like quite the flower.” I reply.

Sunny nods. “It makes the town prosperous.”

“Could also be a reason why the towns missing.” I state.

Sunny gasps. “You think someone would take an entire town to take the flower?”

I nod. “It's possible. Question is though who would have the power to do this?”

“That's the question isn't it?” Sunny replies heading back out.

I pull out my pistol again. “OK lets go see what the last buildings are hiding.”