Sparking a Fyre

And so the flint was struck, and the small ember of Golden's life was born into a flame, growing and changing with the moment.Sparking a Fyre
[Chapter Two: Arrival]

Shining Armor led Golden Fyre and Quick Sylver to the massive workshop that had been set up in the lower levels of Canterlot castle.  There they were joined by a weary Princess Luna and a fresh and chipper Princess Celestia.  The two blacksmiths were scared out of their wits, but they managed to bow before the two regal sisters.

"Rise, my little ponies, you have nothing to be afraid of" Celestia said to the frightened two, her calm and motherly voice had a visible effect on them, as they both look up to her with grateful eyes.  "You two were hoof picked by Shining Armor when I suggested that he find a personal guard and companion for Cadence, as you two know, they are both becoming involved in the ruling of Equestria, with Luna and myself, and most our subjects have been more than eager to have another Princess and Prince..." She explained, then her voice went grave "But there are some who resent this change, and they have made threats on both Shining Armor and Cadence, and they have both been doing very well under the stress, but sometimes everypony needs a friend or two to help them along, you two have the choice to become Princess Cadence's personal guard and assistant, and will be given the proper training, as well as keep your careers in making Royal Guard Armor, if you wish to not become involved with the Royalty, which is understandable, we will not hold it against you, and you will be allowed to remain here in the castle and continue your metalworking business, un-hindered by any major Royal interference." She finished, looking down to the two ponies, who had both been listening intently.

Golden Fyre spoke up after conferring with Quick Sylver.  "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Price Shining Armor, we would be honored to become part of the Royal Staff, and we would love to be able to continue our metalworking here in the castle." He looked directly at Princess Celestia, his eyes shrank just a little as she loomed over him, but relaxed as she sighed and smiled down at him.

"Magnificent, Princess Cadence is tied up in the courts right now, and she apologizes for not being able to meet you at the moment, but we arranged a room for you two near her chambers."  She spoke warmly, looking to her tired sister for a brief moment  "Luna, would you mind showing Miss Sylver to her room?" She then turned to face Golden Fyre and Shining Armor.  "Come, Golden Fyre, we will get you set up in basic guard training, then I would like to hear about the armor design you sent Shining Armor a few weeks ago, it sounds intriguing...."  He voice trailed off as they walked down the marble floored  hallway.

"FIFTY MORE PUSHUPS, PRIVATE FYRE!" Shouted the drill drill instructor, getting a grim nod in response from Fyre, the drill instructor decided to sit on Golden Fyre's back while he did them.  "You are one strong pony, Private Fyre!"  The drill instructor told him, while lounging on his back.

"I get asked to serve for a Princess...not exactly what I had in mind..." Fyre thought to himself, covered in sweat, but still going strong.  Princess Celestia had to rush to the Courtroom, already behind schedule, and promised to have the materials needed for Fyre's special armor project sent to the workshop.  In the meantime, he was instructed to go through a series of tests and drills with this...creature...that was his drill instructor.  Sergeant Payne was his name, and that's how he was instructed to address him.  The drill instructor knew full well who he was torturing, and that he was probably going to receive some kind of demeaning revenge later on, but he had to do his job, and making sure Princess Cadence got the absolute best pony they could give here was probably written in the fine print somewhere.

Sergeant Payne hopped off Fyre's back and gave him a simple set of instructions.  "Okay, you're obviously a very fit pony, and I'm amazed at what you were able to do, most guards cracked after the first two sets, but now for the real test, I want you to stand at attention, just as you would be if you were guarding a doorway, until I tell you to stop, am I understood, Private Fyre?!?" He barked

"Crystal Clear, sir!" said as he snapped to attention, not so much as moving a muscle.  "This is going to be a very long day..." He thought to himself as Sergeant Payne walked off, heading in the direction of his next victim.

Quick Sylver plopped down onto the plush bed in her new room, thinking to herself.  "This place is massive!"  "Why, I could fit our entire old house in this room alone!"  She was astonished at how lavish and rich everything was as she walked into the bathroom and took everything in.  Various bath salts and soaps were lined up in gold and crystal cabinets, the floor was a beautiful polished white marble.  Everything spoke absolute luxury, and she wasn't going to waste an opportunity to overdo everything she possibly could.  She started a bath running and chose the best smelling items to go in it,  if she was going to meet Princess Cadence, she wanted to make a good impression.  Twenty minutes later Sylver was out of the bubbly mountain of her tub and styling her hair.  "I guess next time I won't put so much bubblebath in there!" she thought, giggling at the thought of the bubble mountain that had buried her.  She brushed her teeth until they were as white as her mane, then she gathered up her things and headed out to the royal dining hall to meet her new employer, hoping she looked pretty enough.

"You look absolutely beautiful!" Exclaimed a very happy Princess Cadence, making Sylver radiate with joy.  "I'm very glad they found somepony who was willing to help, especially one who is so very pretty."  Cadence smiled as Sylver nearly exploded out of happiness.

"Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou your Highness!"  Sylver said in one long, unbroken scentence.  "Ahem...er...I mean thank you, it's an honor to work for somebody so caring and compasionate." Sylver stated in a much more professional manner, making Cadence giggle.

"Please, Sylver, just call me Cadence when we're by ourselves, honestly I don't know how Luna and Celestia can handle having absolutly everything and everypony at their disposal, totally willing to serve, it's like eveypony is deathly afraid of them, like they'll get sent to the moon or something!" The young princess whispered in her new assistant's ear, making her have to stifle a giggle.  "So tell me about Golden Fyre!" The princess playfully bugged Sylver about it.  "I've been told he's a very capable, you're a very lucky mare!" He jested, making Sylver's grey face turn a light pink.

"Oh, we aren't together like that, just kind of a mutual businesspony thing." She smiled awkwardly, hoping it was enough to convince the princess's keen abilities with all matters involving love.

The pink alicorn knew that her assistant had feelings for her companion, anypony with eyes could see that, but she decided to not push that little matter, instead, she turned to the subject of his training.  "So, which drill sergeant did he get assigned too?" She inquired.

"Oh, I think it was somepony named 'Sergeant Payne', I heard a couple of guards talking about it." Sylver replied, turning to the tray of food that had been set down in front of her.  Apparently somebody already told the kitchen her favorite.

Princess Cadence paled a little at the mention of Payne's name.  "May Celestia have mercy on his soul..." She muttered under her breath, thankfully her new friend was entranced by a plate of food.  "Oh, he's a great pony, I'm sure he'll be in perfect condition to serve as a guard by tonight!" She said cheerfully, looking over to the opposite end of the room, eyeing the Guard who walked in.  "Oh, how convenient" She thought to herself, watching Sergeant Payne get a milkshake from the kitchen, before he noticed the Princess glaring at him.  "I thought you were training Mr. Fyre, Sergeant." She said, her voice having gone from kind and gentle to something sharp and commanding.

"I am." Came the simple reply from the lazy sergeant.  You could have cut the tension mounting in the air with a butter knife.

"Oh you are?" The princess inquired.  "And what exactly are you doing to train him, whilst you drink a milkshake?" She kept up her glare.

"He's outside, standing at attention, has been for a good hour!" He replied, taking a long slurp from his milkshake.  "He's one tough pony, I'll give him that, but I'll bet my bits that he's collapsed or gotten distracted by now."

Cadence simply sighed and shooed him off as she turned back to Sylver and began discussing her daily schedule, with her grey little friend taking diligent notes.

Golden Fyre stared directly ahead as Sergeant Payne poked and prodded him, looking for any sign that he something had been disturbed, and much to Payne's dismay, he couldn't find anything.

"Not a hair out of place..." Sergeant Payne muttered, watching Celestia's sun slowly descend on the Horizon, casting long shadows across the ground.  "Well I'll be darned, you're probably the toughest pony I've ever tested, and I'm glad to have the honor to introduce you into the Guard, Private Fyre!"  Sergeant Payne gave him a salute, then announced in a commanding voice.  "Equestrian Royal Guard Private Golden Fyre, I hereby announce that you are a full fledge member of the Royal Guard, and state that you are qualified for your duties as Captain of Princess Cadence's personal Royal Guard squad, dismissed!"  At that, Fyre turned from his blank stare and eyed his former tormentor, gave a salute, and said the two most shocking words Sergeant Payne had ever heard.

"Thank you."

Celestia sighed.  It had been a long day, and she had to cut into her sleeping time for a brief meeting with her sister, Shining Armor, Cadence, and the their two new staff members.  Luna, on the other hand, seemed as happy and excited as Celestia felt that morning.

"Oh sister, it is so great to have somepony else to share the burden of ruling with!"  Luna exclaimed, trotting happily to the room where they had requested the meeting.  "And I heard even Sergeant Payne couldn't break the new guard's patience!" She added, "Shining Armor was right when he requested him for Cadence, oh, we can hardly contain ourselves!" Stop stopped her babbling as she caught herself starting to use the 'royal we' again.  Smiling sheepishly at her sister, they walked into the room to see that everypony else had gathered, all but Luna seemed exhausted, especially the newly appointed Captain Fyre, who was now decked out in the respective, albeit slightly outdated, armor.

Celestia spoke up. "Well, everypony, I'm glad to see you all had a good start to your new lives here in the Castle, but tomorrow starts the real challenge..."