Chapter 1 - A reason, as good as any
He was in line right after the snow-white, black maned earthpony mare, who caught his eye on the main road. They were standing with about 30 other ponies at the entrance of the Castle of the Two Sisters.
Summer Smiles, the pegasus stallion with the grey coat and the light-blue mane, had only had eyes for the mare with the grey-black snowflake cutie mark, so he had no idea what they were queuing for.
“Hopefully it is some kind of free giveaway,” thought Smiles. "You don't want to stand here for a chance to sneak a peek at the princesses or something similar."
The alicorn sisters ruled Equestria for some time now, Celestia governing the day, Luna the night, but since their victory over Discord, spirit of Chaos, respect had turned into reverence.
In the eyes of the normal pony, they ascended from powerful, benevolent ponies to goddesses walking the earth.
In Summer Smiles’ eyes, that was all good and fine, but he just did not feel inclined to worship them, and especially to stand in line for a chance to do that.
He tried to look past the other ponies to the front of the line, hoping for a clue. But all he could make out was the closed main gate.
Maybe if his mind had not been so occupied with the mare in front of him, he would have known what he was queuing for. For now, he decided that standing behind a cute mare and coming up with a pick-up line had priority.
Just as he had decided to try his luck with a nonchalant ‘Well, looks we’ll be here for a while’ and a smile, the line started moving and Summers felt he was back at square one, maybe even worse off.
Once they reached the end of the line, he would have no excuse to stay that close behind her. “Vanilla.” He finally decided what she smelled like. “Dammit. Summer. Focus!”
While his mind raced, the line was mercilessly moving forward, only one pony was between them and the castle’s main gate. “You’re quickly running out of options here, Summer. Go for the obvious, even if it seems desperate, it’ll at least be honest. Just turn to her and tell her you find her attractive and ask for her - ”
“Name?” the deep voice of the guardpony interrupted his reflection. It took him a moment to realize the question had not been directed at him, but at the mare in front of him instead.
She moved her lips but he could not make out a single word of what she said. The guard apparently had the same problem. “I am sorry, I didn't quite catch that.”
“I said, my name is Shadow Chill, sir.” Her voice was low, a bit raspy and she seemed to become even quieter every other word. Her body stiffened a bit and her expression was of embarrassment while she talked, radiating how uncomfortable she was with her own voice.
Summer Smiles absolutely loved it. Her voice resonated within every fiber of his being and left a lingering echo of emotions in his body. “Calm Down, Summer! You’re getting too infatuated with a strange, mysterious, beautiful - Focus! You don’t know her, don’t create an image of her in your mind, she can’t possibly live up to. Remember the Sky Dancer Fiasco. And more importantly, she doesn't know you! Don’t be a creep, Summer.”
Occupied with his own thoughts, he just missed the rest of Shadow Chill’s conversation with the guard and was only aware when she left a hoofprint on the form the guard presented to her. She went across the court towards a side entrance and Summer followed her until two guards blocked his path.
“Not so fast, Hotshot.” The third guard’s voice came from behind him. “You’ll get in soon enough. First, I need your name.” Summer Smiles quickly turned towards the guard.
“Summer Smiles.” The guard nodded and wrote it down.
“Occupation?” he asked, looking at him past the form.
“Travelling minstrel,” Summer stated, side-glancing at the court out of fear that he lost track of Shadow Chill.
“I’ve never heard that before. What does a travelling minstrel do?” The guard looked at him inquisitively.
“Most of the time I answer that question.” Summer graced him with his best smile. “Other times, I entertain with wit, song and dance. Mostly wit.” He furrowed his brow. “And I travel a lot, hence a traveling minstrel.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” The other two guards were nodding their heads in understanding, while the one in front of him turned the form around. “It takes all kinds of ponies. Hoofprint.”
“Sure.” Summer pressed his hoof onto the magic parchment, leaving an imprint infused with his magic, the only official and almost unforgeable authentication. “So, where do I go now?” Summer hoped he could coax some information out of the guard, but the guard just pointed across the court with a hoof. There, Summer saw Shadow Chill disappear through a door frame, and decided to follow.
He managed to clear about half the courtyard, before crashing into another pony and knocking her to the ground. She looked young, barely out of school and her tawny coat was only visible at the neckline of a guard uniform, which was at least one size too big. Her unicorn horn was also smaller, sticking only a bit out of her short, flame-red mane.
“I’m sorry, little girl, I wasn't looking. Where are your parents?” Summer smiled at her, while offering her a hoof to help her up. The unicorn filly rose her head up to him with a look Summer could not interpret. “I am really sorry for knocking you over. Please don’t cry.”
“You… , “ started the filly, her voice higher pitched than Summer would have expected. “You…, loudmouthed, clumsy, insensible, winged clutz!” Summer took a step back. “Don’t you back away from me, Mister 'Where are your parents?' I'll let you know that, just because I am a bit short for my age, and they had no uniform my size, you have no right to belittle me like that. Can’t you watch where you are going?”
“Yes, - I mean, no - usually -” Summer took a deep breath. “Hi, I am Summer Smiles, and I’m sorry, I crashed into you Miss…?”
“Bells, recruit Winter Bells.” She looked up at him and Summer saw that, despite her stature, her eyes were those of a grown pony - and an angry one. “And I am not done with you, not in the -.” She stopped mid sentence, looking directly into his eyes.“How do you do that?”
“How do I do what?” asked Summer, knowing quite well what Bells meant. He just could not resist teasing the filly in front of him. “You should think of her as a mare, though. She seems to have quite the temper and you know the limits of your gift.”
Summer wondered shortly if other ponies also had a voice in their head commenting on their actions.
“I don’t feel as angry at you anymore,“ explained Winter. “I mean, I’m still upset, but I kind of feel like you’re honestly sorry, and I should give you a second chance.” She looked away and Summer saw the hint of a blush. “I even feel good about thinking like that.”
“Oh, that.” Summer rounded Winter Bells so he could look at her face again. “It is my special talent, a Summer Suns Smile.” Not breaking eye contact, he turned to the side to show her his Cutie Mark, a bright yellow sun with a happy smile. “Ponies I smile my special smile at tend to feel better about themselves , in turn feel better about me. It helps.”
“That sounds awfully convenient,” said Bells, forcefully averting her gaze and tensing up. “Even manipulative.”
“I probably made it sound more effective than it is,” Summer replied. “Most of the time it just takes the edge out of a situation. It allows for a fresh start, though.” He extended a hoof. “Hi, my name is Summer Smiles. I’m a travelling minstrel and I am very sorry for bumping into you like that. I should have paid more attention.”
Winter hesitated a moment before shaking his hoof. “Yes, you should have. My name is Winter Bells, I’m a recruit in the royal guard.” She raised her blue-violet eyes and connected them with Summer’s hazel-brown eyes. To his own surprise, Summer realized how intimidated he felt, despite her having to look up to him. “Apology accepted.” She broke the eye contact and glanced past him at the sky. “It’s getting late. I should hurry, I want a good place for the meet.” She rushed past him, and turned around. “See you later, recruit Smiles.”
Summer followed her across the court with his eyes. “Quite an energetic little pony. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. Wait, did she just call you-” “I am not a recruit!” Summer called after her, but she was already out of earshot. He decided to let the matter rest and turned towards his initial destination.
“Maybe you just joined the guard? You’ve pulled crazier stunts!” the little voice in his head relentlessly reminded him . “Joining the guard, just because you couldn’t resist to chase a cute dock, that really would qualify as,” - Summer pulled the door open, stepping into an armory.
“Horsefeathers.”
“Language, Hotshot.” Behind the counter a dark grey earthpony locked her sapphire-blue eyes on him. Her violet mane was done into a tight bun and she placed a pair of rimmed spectacles onto her nose. “You’re a size M?” She leaned towards him, eyes squinting.
“A size L more likely. You’re not on regular weather patrol, I guess?” Summer smirked at her comment.
“Don’t worry, Hotshot, you’ll easily lose those extra pounds during training.”
“Seriously, what’s with Hotshot?” asked Summer, coming closer to the counter. “You’re the second pony to address me like that. My name’s Summer Smiles.”
The earthpony was genuinely surprised. “You never heard of Lieutenant Hotshot?” she blinked, apparently holding out for a reaction. “The only pegasus to ever score a hit on Discord and get away with it, in a way?” She studied Summer for a reaction.
“You really haven’t heard about her. That’s a first. Almost every pegasus joining wants to be the next Hotshot.” She laughed. It was a pleasant, melodic sound.
“Well, I don’t. Let’s say, -” Summer tried to link a rank to her uniforms insignia. “Sergeant, somepony has second thoughts about joining, what should I - that pony do?” He hit her with a full power Summer Sun Smile, just to be sure.
“That pony being more of a lover than a fighter, I’d guess?” She leaned a bit closer, looking at him over her glasses’ rim.
“You got that right, Sergeant.” He winked at her for added effect.
“My name’s Sergeant Vera Dûn, but most ponies call me Sarge Vera.” She leaned back while keeping her eyes on Summer. “Well, recruit Smiles, the pony in question would be in quite a bind. Once he declared his intention of quitting, he’d be put under house-arrest in the barracks until a full investigation into the matter is concluded. That process could take weeks, maybe months. And in the eyes of the public, he would be seen as a flighty individual at best, and a Chaos Lover at worst.” Summer Smiles swallowed hard.
Even after four years, Discord’s reign was still fresh in Equestria’s memory and ponies did not react favorably to any mention of chaos, and being regarded as a Chaos Lover was a guarantee for a tough, unhappy and short life.
“Or he could just stay in basic training and take solace in the fact that only the top 10% will be asked to join the royal guard. It’s an exclusive club.” She placed a neatly folded uniform on the counter. “And I bet he would look quite dashing in uniform.”
“Thank you for answering my completely hypothetical question, Sarge Vera.” Summer pulled the uniform towards him, it was light green in color and rather soft to the touch.
“Any time, recruit Smiles. And you should be more careful with that smile of yours, unless you intend to deliver on its promise.” Summer hid his blush behind the uniform. “The official meeting is in the main hall in 20, recruit. So get changed and get going.” Summer could just nod, carrying the uniform in his mouth.
Vera’s melodic laugh accompanied Summer into the changing room, and he felt the warmth of his blush creep to his ears. “That was awesome! Well she was, you made a foal out of yourself.”
Summer tried to ignore the voice, concentrating on getting dressed. “Sarge Vera was right, though, you’re a size L now. Good thing ponies usually don’t wear clothes.”
He checked himself in the mirror, the uniform fit well and he had to admit the color accentuated his hazel-brown eyes. He waited until the blush subsided and then left through another door leading back into the courtyard.
Summer looked around until he caught sight of other ponies in recruit uniforms heading towards an archway and decided to follow. The two unicorn colts were amicably chatting with each other, so Summer just followed a few steps behind, content that he had a few more seconds to think.
“As if you’d actually get some thinking down.” Summer ignored the voice with ease, it has been his constant companion ever since he remembered. He considered all aspects of his new life, at least for the next few months during the basic training. “Oh yes, you look dashing in uniform, and yes, maybe the time will help you lose a few pounds and get all that needed training done. Can’t you see, you’re already trying to put a positive spin on things. It doesn't help you if you do not learn.”
As soon as Summer passed the Archway, he was looking at the great hall, which actually was the throne room, and it was packed. Even though he quickly spotted Shadow Chill, he decided to just stay in back, with the other late-comers. No need to seek her out immediately, they had months of training ahead of them.
“Well, not the whole lesson anyways. I guess Sky Dancer left an impression, among other things.”
“So, why did you join?” asked the light blue unicorn in front of him his dark brown neighbor.
“Well, usually the royal guard positions are reserved for members of few noble families. But this year, there was an open call and I answered. It’s a prestigious position. What about you?”
The blue unicorn hesitated a moment, before answering in a low voice. “My filly friend really likes colts in uniform.”
After a long silent pause the brown one started laughing, the other unicorn sports a perplexed look before bursting into laughter himself.
“I admit it is kinda silly. I can’t think of a sillier reason to join up.”
“Oh, but I can.”
Author's Note
Fully edited chapter.
Special Thanks to my editors, Caro and Sarah.
Chapter 2 - Nothing to lose, everything to prove
Laughter? Winter Bells was furious. How does anypony dare to laugh, or gossip in these most regal and sacred of halls?
Her application to the royal guard had become a series of embarrassments.
First, she had to produce a birth certificate to prove her age.
Secondly, even in two days time, nopony seemed to be capable to organize a uniform that actually fit her.
Thirdly, that pegasus stallion, Summer Smiles, knocked into her and made her arrive late for the meet, which led to her stuck in the middle of the mass of recruits, unable to see much further than the ponies around her.
Damn that pony and his happy-go-lucky smile to Tartarus!, she thought, shifting to find a gap to look through. The fact that she was at least two heads smaller than the ponies around her did not help. Graah, I can’t find it in me to be properly mad at him. Stupid sexy smile! Winter lowered her head in resignation.
Something cool gently touched Winter’s neck and a moment later she was lifted up and standing on the back of a snow-white earth pony mare with a black mane. “Why, in the name of diarchy, did you do that?” Winter asked.
“You looked desolated and in need of higher vantage point.” The earth pony’s voice was low, raspy and lacked in emotion. Her bright ice-blue eyes, locked on Winter Bells, were as cold.
“Still, you could have asked before lifting me up.” Winter averted her gaze. “It surprised me.”
“Shall I put you down?” The white mare asked, her voice making Winter shiver.
Not just her voice makes me feel cold. It feels like I’m standing too close to an icy mountain river.
Winter raised her eyes to the front.
“No. I can really see more now, so thanks, I guess. I’m Winter Bells.” She looked down at the mare’s head again, who too had turned towards the front, speaking only to her black mane.
“It is my pleasure, Winter Bells. I’m Shadow Chills.” Winter had to concentrate to hear her against the noises around them.
She was not the only one feeling the chills, considering how everypony gave Shadow Chill ample space. After a few moments, her body got used to it though.
“You usually this - cool?” she asked, trying to distribute her weight evenly on Shadow’s back.
“You usually this - small?” replied the earth pony mare, tilting her head only an inch in Winter’s direction.
“I get it, touchy subject, sorry I asked.” Winter calmed, finally satisfied with her position atop Shadow Chill.
Is that stupid sexy stallions Summer Sun’s Smile still having its effect on me? I don’t remember being so mellow. Winter closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Everything will be fine, I’m sure.
A brown coated earth pony stallion, clad in the classic golden lined white armor of the Guard, stood in front of the two empty thrones, looking down at the mass of recruits below, his gaze focused and intense.
That must be marshal of the Royal Guard Steel Heart, the first earth pony to hold this position. He looks a lot older than in the paintings,thought Winter.
“Ponies of Equestria. Recruits! The princesses…” Steel Heart stopped and waited for the chattering and murmuring of the crowd to subside. After a while he straightened his back, took a deep breath and exclaimed at the top of his voice.
“RECRUITS! CEASE YOUR INANE PRATTLING OR I SHALL MAKE SURE THAT, BY THE END OF THE DAY, THE ONLY REASON YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTHS IS TO GASP FOR AIR! DID I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” The crowd of recruits was stunned silent. Winter Bells also cowered and lowered her head to look at the ground.
“I ASKED, DID I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!”
“Yes,” was the answer of the crowd. Winter wondered if the other recruits felt like her right now.
“YES, WHO?”
“Yes, Sir!” echoed through the crowd, quicker this time.
“THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH, marshal. WE CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE,” boomed princess Celestia’s voice from her throne. Apparently, the white alicorn had chosen a more subtle way of appearing than her usual teleport flash. At her right sat her sister, the dark blue alicorn Luna.
While marshal Steel Heart’s voice is impressive, no other pony masters the Royal Canterlot Voice like our Princess of the Sun. Maybe her sister, Luna, mused Winter.
The unicorn nobles used the voice to assure that they would be heard when addressing their subjects.
When the alicorn princesses came into power, they agreed to use the traditional Royal Canterlot voice as one of many concessions to the unicorn nobles of Canterlot.
Nopony expected their Royal Canterlot Voice to be so uniquely powerful.
The ponies in the first two rows of recruits were struggling to keep themselves from being blown away.
"WE ARE PROUD, THAT SO MANY OF OUR LITTLE PONIES ANSWERED OUR CALL AND WANT TO JOIN OUR ROYAL GUARD," Celestia continued. "EVEN THOUGH FEW OF YOU WILL EVENTUALLY BE CHOSEN, EACH OF YOU IS CLOSE TO OUR AND OUR DEAR SISTERS' HEART!" Luna nodded at Celestia’s words, her eyes half closed. She clearly struggled to stay awake.
I guess this is the middle of her sleeping cycle. I'm still glad she came for this event. Ponies rarely get to see princess Luna, it makes this event even more special.
Something moved at the upper right edge of her field of vision and Winter turned her head towards it. A familiar light grey pegasus was standing, in three metres height, on two hooves behind a column, his head turned towards the far wall of the throne room.
Summer Smiles! What is he doing there? Winter wondered and tried to follow his eyes. Is there something wrong with ... The wall! I just saw something moving along the wall.Winter concentrated hard and cast a basic true sight spell. Three pony shaped figures emerged from the wall as the spell cleared her mind from the cast illusion.
Three pegasi in dark blue outfits snuck along the wall, wearing matching masks with only their eyes visible. All three were looking at the princesses, the small steel daggers in their mouths speaking of their ill intentions.
"Do you see them?" Winter whispered into Shadow Chill's ear, while changing the spell to include her.
Meanwhile Celestia continued her speech.
" - AS EARTH PONIES, PEGASI AND UNICORNS STAND UNITED AND RALLY BENEATH SUN AND MOON, SO ARE OUR HEARTS FILLED WITH JOY AND PRIDE -"
Shadow Chill answered, but Winter did not understand a word. After a pause she nodded at Winter, who glanced up at the wall crawling pegasi. They were almost in pouncing distance to the princesses.
"I have a plan. Will you help?" another nod from Shadow Chill was the answer. "Okay, when I say the word, throw me towards the princesses, then rush to the front yourself," whispered Winter and weaved two spells together.
Everybody else was focused on the princesses, including the pegasi assassins. Winter waited for them to stop and crouch closer to the wall, in preparation for their assault.
"NOW!" Winter's shout interrupted the princess' speech and drew attention.
Even more so when, in one fluid movement, Shadow bucked her up, slid back under her, grabbed her by the hindlegs, whirled her around and launched her in the direction of the princesses.
Winter looked directly at Luna and Celestia. Both alicorns' horns were glowing with magical energy, She could feel a spell forming around her, and in that moment she released her spell.
With a violet flash, Winter disappeared and rematerialised between the two thrones, with lowered head and glowing horn facing the three pegasi assassins.
At the same moment they pounced. The one on her right was tackled by Summer Smiles, who blindsided the assassin and quickly pinned him to the ground.
The other two crashed into Winter's barrier spell, or rather sunk into it. Since her spell was using sonic waves to increase air density in a certain radius in front of her, they managed to come closer until their impact force equaled her barrier's resistance.
The middle one came close enough for Winter to reach out and touch his nose. His clear blue eyes were locked on Winter with a cold and determined gaze. Winter doubled her efforts, pumping every bit of magical energy available to her into the spell. The pegasus flapped his wings pushing harder against Winter's spell.
In the left corner of her eyes, Winter saw the third pegasus moving, stepping around her spell, with a smile on the face.
‘By strengthening the spell, I focused it's effect into a tighter cone.’ She kept her eyes trained on the assassin in front of her, trying to broaden the spells effect, No sell! I can't modify the effect without the middle one breaking through.
Maybe that is what I ought to do?
Winter Bells took a deep breath, ducked and extinguished her spell, ready to ram the pegasus in front of her. As she pushed herself off the ground, she felt a cold chill pass over her back. She caught a glimpse of Shadow Chill jumping over her towards the left assassin and Summer Smiles wrestling with the one on her right. She steeled her mind for the impact.
“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Luna’s Royal Canterlot Voice was very impressive, especially this close.
Winter opened her eyes, being suspended in the air just centimeters away from the Pegasus in front of her. Neither of them moved a limb, they only blinked, looking into each other’s eyes.
Not only Winter and the pegasus were frozen in the middle of the movement in the very spot they were. All six ponies between the thrones hovered, glistering with the faint blue aura of the spell they were under.
‘I’ve heard of this spell, perfect suspension without harming the target. I didn’t know there was somepony, besides Starswirl the Bearded, capable of casting it upon multiple targets.’ Winter felt the spell taking up any excess energy, holding them all in a state of equilibrium.
“MARSHAL, WE DEMAND AN EXPLANATION! THESE THREE POTENTIAL ASSASSINS ARE PART OF THY GUARD. WE RECOGNISE HOTSHOT, CARNIVAL GALE AND SNOWY WIND.”
“THEIR WEAPONS ARE MADE OF WOOD AND PAINTED TO LOOK THE PART. WHAT PURPOSE HATH THOU IN MIND FOR THIS SPECTACLE?” Luna turned to Steel Heart with an inquisitive look, and the marshal of the guard shrinked visible under the alicorn’s gaze.
“It was intended as demonstration for the recruits, your highness, -” Steel Heart explained. “We wanted to show them that a guard’s duty is more than the representative or logistic function the average pony is aware of, but that there is always the possibility of a threat to your highnesses.”
“WHY HAS NOPONY INFORMED US OF THIS - DEMONSTRATION -, STEEL HEART?” Celestia asked. “OR DID YOU KNOW, SISTER?”
“I HAD NO IDEA. HAD I BUT SUSPECTED, I WOULD HAVE DISCOURAGED ANY SUCH DISPLAY. PONIES COULD HAVE BEEN HURT, ”- Luna narrowed her eyes at the marshal, - “ESPECIALLY IF WE HAD FELT US OR OUR SISTER THREATENED BY THY DEMONSTRATION, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HELD BACK.”
Marshal Steel Heart managed to keep his composure under the moon princess’ gaze.
“I have absolute faith in my ponies and their ability to take a lot of punishment if necessary. Now if your highness would be so kind as to release my lieutenants and the recruits from under your spell? I would be most grateful for that.”
Winter Bells heard a smirk, followed by laughter, Luna the princess of the moon was laughing heartily and Celestia joined her.
A heartbeat later, the spell dissipated and Winter dropped straight to the ground. Both princesses hadn’t stopped laughing, and the guards, recruits and fake pegasi assassins exchanged confused glances. Celestia was the first to speak again.
“Oh, marshal... “ - she hesitated, snickered and continued, - “WE BELIEVE WE SPEAK FOR OUR SISTER AND US BY DECLARING THOU HAST PROVEN TO US ONCE AGAIN THE WISDOM IN MAKING YOU MARSHAL OF OUR GUARD. SEE THAT ANY WOUNDED ARE TENDED TO AND THAT THE THREE BRAVE,” - Celestia smirked, - “RECRUITS, WHO CAME TO OUR RESCUE ARE REWARDED.”
She turned towards the hall and exclaimed, “WE DECLARE THIS MEET OVER!” with a flash of bright light, both princesses had disappeared.
Marshal Steel Heart turned towards the six ponies scrambling to their feet between the thrones.
“Well, that was a demonstration all right, now I am going to keep an eye on you three, being able to face off against Hotshot and her wing ponies takes some skill.”
“They just got us by surprise, sir.” interceded Hotshot, the middle pegasus, apparently a mare, Winter would not have guessed.
“All the more blame onto you lieutenant, for letting three recruits take you by surprise.” Steel Heart tilted his head to the right. “Or would you disagree, lieutenant?”
“No, Sir.” Hotshot and the other two pegasi straightened and stood upright, raising the right hoof to the head in salute.
“Good. Dismissed, lieutenant.” Steel Heart smiled warmly. “Now to you, recruits. You made quite the impression today. But lieutenant Hotshot and any other guard pony you three showed up today is going to make your life - interesting - from now on.”
“With all due respect to the lieutenant, but I am going to become a guard pony, no matter the opposition. So I say, let them try!” Winter Bells said defiantly. Behind her, Summer Smiles and Shadow Chill sighed in unison.
Marshal Steel Heart laughed. “That is the fighting spirit, kiddo. When the day comes, I’ll gladly be the one to swear you in.” He turned towards the gathered mass of recruits. “Get a good night’s sleep, tomorrow with the first ray of the sun you will be distributed to your training groups. Everypony dismissed.”
Winter turned towards the other two. “That was…” Summer raised an eyebrow and gave her a warm smile, Shadow tilted her head to the left and allowed her mane to fall over one eye. “Thank you, both of you. Is what I wanted to say.”
Summer saluted sloppily, “Anytime, recruit Bells. Just try to avoid involving me in future endeavors, please?”
Shadow turned towards Summer. “ She didn’t involve you. You were the first to go after the assassins. You involved us, in a way.”
Winter nodded. “That is correct, Shadow Chills.”
Summer turned towards Shadow. “By the way, my name’s Summer Smiles. I had the pleasure of running into recruit Bells in the courtyard.”
Shadow turned towards him. “Hi.” and looked back at Winter Bells. “We should get going, I still need a bunk bed.”
Summer turned away muttering, “Sleeping arrangements, I almost forgot. I got to go! Ponies to see, things to do. Until tomorrow!” He vanished into the crowd of recruits leaving.
“There are two beds free in the barracks I am staying. my bunk-neighbors,” - Winter hesitated, glancing aside, - “didn’t like the atmosphere.” With a crooked smile, she looked up at Shadow.
Shadow just nodded. “Sounds okay. Lead the way, please.”
She’s cool, literally. Hopefully we will be assigned to the same training group, we’ll work great together. Winter mused, skipping the steps down to the main hall.
Only guard ponies and a few recruits were left. Shadow Chill followed her, and once she caught up, Winter felt the cold envelop her, but she quickly adapted to it.
“Don’t you have any luggage, Shadow Chill?”
“Shadow suffices. No, I don’t own much,” answered Shadow Chill, keeping two steps behind Winter as they passed the archway into the court. They followed the bulk of recruits to the right, towards the castle’s east wing. Winter caught a glimpse of summer heading out the main gate, probably for luggage.
In the east wing the halls and rooms had been refurbished with bunkbeds. By now all 400 beds were occupied. Considering the fact that Equestria barely had 20.000 ponies living in it, with Manehatten with a population of 4.000 as the biggest city, that was a quite respectable number of recruits.
Winter head towards the room she spent the last two nights in, her bed was closest to the entrance, the top bunk and the beds next to hers where empty. “I got to warn you, though. I get to bed early, and earlier out of it. I exercise a lot and apparently,” she hesitated and blushed, - “I talk in my sleep.”
Shadow silently turned her head to face Winter and said: “That’s okay, I sleep like a dead. And I also get up early mornings, maybe we’ll do exercises together?”
She went up to the bed and started to undo her uniform buttons. “It’s been a long day, I’d like to catch some sleep now, tomorrow is not going to be shorter.”
“You’re probably right, If you need anything, I packed extra brushes, soap and beauty products. I’m not only going to excel in training, I’ll do my best to look fabulous doing so.”
Winter grinned, Shadow hesitated a moment, tilted her head and exclaimed: “You’re funny.”
Winter just nodded and started rummaging in the chest at the foot of her bed, producing a light-blue nightgown. “Well, glad I amuse you. Now if I am finally getting a uniform my size, I’d be overjoyed. I suppose you don’t know how to sew?” Shadow Chill shaked her head. “Well, It would have been too much of a coincidence. I’ll be taking top bunk!”
“Okay,” replied Shadow and laid herself into the lower bed. “Good Night, Winter Bells.”
“Good Night, Shadow Chill.”
The next morning, Winter awoke to a slight chill, opening her eyes and looked up from the thin blue layer of ice on her blanket to Shadow Chill, at the top step, looking directly into her ice blue eyes.
“Good morning?” she asked hesitatingly.
“Good Morning. You have a deep sleep, but no talking, this night. Ready for some morning exercise?” Shadow Chill didn’t blink once during talking.
“I guess, How long have you been there watching me sleep?” Winter inquired.
“An hour, maybe one and half. I didn’t want to wake you and I had nothing to do. How about we’d start with a simple jog, nothing that makes you sweat, so you’d look your best?” Shadow descended the stairs of the bunk bed, waiting at the foot.
Winter took the nightgown off, stashing it in her box. “Next time, just wake me, watching me sleep is a bit creepy,” Winter said, stretching her hooves. “Shall we?” she turned to the door.
Shadow just nodded.
The castle’s courtyard was empty except for a few guards and they only glanced briefly at the two ponies. Winter turned to her right and jogged along the inner wall. Shadow trotted next to her.
Is she that much bigger, she’s barely walking fast. Winter sped up, almost dashing after a right turn. Shadow fell behind, for a heartbeat, a moment later she caught up, jogging next to Winter.
That can’t just be the difference in size. I thought I was in good shape, - but she, - she makes me look like an amateur. Winter slowed down to a jog and Shadow kept trotting at her side. “Are you used to running?”
Shadow kept looking forward and nodded,"I haven't done anything else for years, never for long in one place before... I moved on." Her voice betrayed little emotion, but she sped up her step, gaining a lead of a good metre.
"Yeah, I guess after the whole reign of chaos, ponies don't act too friendly towards us anormals." Winter had to run in order to keep up with Shadow. "They call us Chaos Kissed, as if it was some kind of divine blessing. Not that we asked for it, but because of it, we remind them off their fears and suffering and they distrust us for it." Shadow stopped and looked quizzically at her.
"Don't look at me like that, I am not just short for my age. I am young for my years, the last ten years my body barely aged a month. Nopony knows if I stay young forever, or if I just don’t age and die a little filly.”
She sighed, passed Shadow and trotted on. “Nopony wants to examine it closer, or try to cure it, they don’t want their precious pony magic exposed to the chaos running through me.” Winter turned her head, trotting on along the inner court wall. Shadow nodded with a solemn expression and followed.
They were well into their tenth lap, when the first recruits arrived in the courtyard. Winter Bells decided to finish the lap, caught up to Shadow Chill, who had been in the lead the last three laps and whispered, “And pretty please, next time wake me up, the thought of someone staring at me while I sleep creeps me out.” Shadow did not answer and looked at the ground, following Winter to the rest of the gathered ponies.
The courtyard was filling gradually until five to six, when ponies started pouring out of the east wing, the last few stragglers arriving just in time for marshal Steel Heart’s speech.
“Recruits, the instructors will arrive shortly and call out names! When you hear your name, you will leave the group and gather behind the instructor! Pay attention! The instructors are advised to repeat a name only twice! Should the pony not react or not be present, disciplinary action will be taken! Did I make myself clear?”
“Sir, yes Sir!” answered 300 ponies at the top of their lungs.
"The instructor will be your guide and companion, your father, mother, teacher and confidant all neatly packed into one pony!" once more the marshal let his gaze wander over the gathered ponies.
"They deserve your obedience, loyalty and respect! You don't have to like them, but you will listen! You will learn! And you will allow these ponies to shape you into fine guardians of Equestria!"
A group of royal guards in classic white-gold uniforms entered the courtyard. Winter recognised Lieutenant Hotshot and Sergeant Vera Dûn. The Sergeant was the only earth pony in the group and most of them were unicorns, their light coat colors indicated their heritages.
Great, we're about to get some stuck up, entitled, brown nosing noble as instructor. Fun! Winter glanced from one instructor to the other, unsure which one she would prefer. She finally settled on a pegasus with a light green coat. Okay, hooves crossed.
Hotshot and Vera kept close to marshal Steel Heart, the others positioned themselves around the recruits and the one on her far left began. "Rustkicker!"
"Sunshine!" added the one on his left.
More and more Names were called, more and more ponies lined up behind their instructors.
Lieutenant Hotshot and Sergeant Vera Dûn called no names, they just watched the recruits and occasionally whispered something into the marshal's ear, whereas he furrowed his brows and signed something to one of the instructors.
Half the recruits were distributed among the twelve instructors when Hotshot's voice sounded across the courtyard. "Recruit Summer Smiles, Recruit Winter Bells and Recruit Shadow Chills!"
It took Winter Bells a moment to realise her name had been called. Shadow Chills' cold muzzle at her flank made her aware that she took her time thinking it over and Summer was halfway to the lieutenant. She shivered and not from Shadow's cold touch.
It seems, I am being set up to eat my words from yesterday, Winter mused, her hooves automatically moving her towards Hotshot. Luckily I can eat a lot for my size. I'd better not say that out loud, it already sounds bad in my head.
She turned to Shadow Chill, who wore the same solemn expression as this morning, and the whole day they knew each other.
Well there is one cool mare, - Winter grinned at her own pun. - I wonder if she's inside as cool and composed as she's outside. I'll have the time to find out.
Hotshot called no other names and Winter believed them three were singled out for a special training, following yesterday's incident.
After an hour the other instructors were no longer calling up recruits, and the 300 recruits were distributed among thirteen groups. Actually fourteen, ten recruits still stood in the middle with befuddled looks.
Sergeant Vera broke the silence with:
"The rest of you sorry lot comes this way, you're part of group thirteen. Hopefully nopony here is superstitious?"
She paused, but nopony answered her question, considering it rhetorical.
"Now that everypony is in a group," exclaimed marshal Steel Heart, "your instructor will inform you of your training and class schedule. She is also responsible for your evaluation and any disciplinary actions, should the need arise. Everypony is in capable hands, -" He cast a final, appraising look at the recruits. " - and I look forward to see your growth during the first test in three weeks time." Steel Heart turned around and left towards the main hall.
"Guess I'm stuck with you lot," Hotshot's voice was a deep alt, matching her lean and sturdy build. "I'm not going to sugarcoat this for you, I'm a harsh mistress. I expect each and every one of you to excel. I don't care for your feelings, gender or heritage. I got the Sarge for that," - Sergeant Dûn and her exchanged a knowing glance. - "You're all green in my eyes and I will assume you will get lost on the way to the little filly's room without Sarge holding your hand unless proven wrong."
She paused.
"Any questions up to this point?"
"What about addressing the buffalo in the room, or courtyard?" It was Summer Smiles asking the question. "This group wasn't created like the others and everypony in it knows it. All of us us are very special snowflakes and there isn't one like us in the other groups. I'd bet my first wage on that." He stomped his right front hoof down, had raised high to meet the lieutenants eye.
"Normally you're not to speak unless spoken to. But I'll let it slide, this one time!" Hotshot replied coolly. She unfolded her wings, spread them and waited.
Winter stared at her, perplexed at first, then she realized, Hotshot's wings gleamed like gems because they were gems, every single feather was a fine cut sapphire, connected to metallic wing bones that seamless disappeared in her body.
"Without the enchantments on my insignia, they'd make a sound with every move. I should not be able to sneak up on anypony ever again." Hotshot explained.
Winter turned to Sergeant Dûn, who had taken her glasses off, revealing two blood red eyes. Yellow ripples traveled from the pin-sized pupils to the eye's edges. It made Winter nauseous and she was glad that Vera quickly put the glasses back on.
"The way I see it, " continued Hotshot. "We are truly, very special snowflakes. We carry the marks of great conflict, as constant reminder that in the end harmony and the pony way of life prevailed. And each of you joining the guard, willing to protect your fellow pony, even if she'd rather keep you at a leg's distance, is another slap in Discord's face!" She folded her wings again and Winter couldn't help herself but think of the motion as mechanical.
"I made it my mission to make you into the best guard ponies you can be. You've got nothing to lose."
Winter smiled at Hotshot's words and closed her eyes. Her thoughts wandered back to Canterlot, her parents and her little sister, who in the last years had outgrown Winter by at least two heads.
Nothing to lose, but everything to prove.
