Liberty for All

The little pony sat in the mud, raising a hand to rub away the tears streaming from her golden eyes.

She was a poor thing. Too shy to make her own friends. Kneecaps always tinted with dirt and always with a bandage covering a scrape or cut. There was little which could make her happy. But on this dreary day, everything changed.

The bullies who had shoved her down were scurrying away, fleeing from the edges of the kindergarten playground.

A hand reached down towards her.

“Are you ok? They’re gone now. Those meanies won’t bother you anymore.”

The sobbing pony, her golden mane and white coat caked with muck, looked up to the kind voice.

A filly looked back, about her own age, wearing a purple shirt. Her seafoam coat and teal mane and eyes were unfamiliar. She was covered in bruises from the brawl only moments earlier, though they did not seem to bother her.

Crying softly still, the pony in the mud could not reach for her hand.

“Th-they… They called me blank flank. It’s not my fault that I don’t have one yet…”

The kind filly quickly knelt beside her, holding her shoulder.

“It’s ok. I don’t have my cutie mark either. You’re not the only one.”

The pony in the mud perked up, wiping her runny nose. “Really?”

“Yup! What’s your name?”

“My… My name’s Chorus.” She said.

“My name’s Sea Shell,” The kind filly replied with a grin, “But you can call me Shelly! Now c’mon. Let’s get you to the nurse.”

Shelly grabbed hold of Chorus’ hands and pulled her up, not caring about the mud splattering onto her fur. Chorus kept eyeing Shelly’s bruises, which outnumbered her own.

“What about you? Aren’t you hurting?”

“Nah, I’m ok. Those bullies weren’t so tough.”

“Wow… You’re much stronger than I am.”

Shelly giggled. “I can teach you how to be stronger! My Mommy and Daddy teach me.”

“Ok,” Chorus said, cheering up, “Does… Does that make us friends?”

“It sure does! And just you wait. I bet we will be best of friends forever!”

Chorus smiled like she had never smiled before.

That little pony in the mud… was me.

And that was the day I met my best friend.

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The two-seated sailboat floated beside the pier, bobbing with the gentle waves while moored in place. Baltimare’s vast piers were places I had come to known for much of my early years. They were a popular hangout with most kids like me. Though I never went to the more crowded sections.

Staring at my feet dangling just above the bay water, I waited for my friend to show. We had planned on taking the sailboat out into the bay, stopping at the float which was anchored in the middle of the swimming lanes.

The pattering of bare feet on the wooden boards caught my attention.

“You’re late again, Shelly!” I exclaimed with a smile.

“I’m fashionably late, thank you very much. It still counts as being on time.”

“That’s what you said the last day before summer break. Mrs. Peach didn’t seem to think so.”

“Ehh shaddup,” Shelly smirked, hopping into the sailboat, “Now come on! Let’s get sailing!”

I got up from the ledge, moving to untie our humble vessel’s moorings. The purple sail was all set to take on the wind.

“Shouldn’t you be out collecting shells on the beach with that new cutie mark of yours?” I joked.

“I can do that anytime, but just because I have a sea shell and a wave on my butt doesn’t mean that’s all I can do. My mark probably means I’ll be a treasure hunter! Like in the Daring Do books!”

“Yeah! That’d be so cool! I wish I get a cutie mark like that soon.”

“Don’t worry, you definitely will. We’re both ten, which means if I have mine, then you’ll get yours before the end of the year!”

Shelly’s enthusiasm made me smile. As she finished undoing the last knot, she pushed us away from the pier as I took control of the wind vane’s axis. The winds in the bay gave us a nudge as we began to ride the gales.

“Who do you think will be at the float today?” Shelly asked, sitting just to the side of the sail’s support.

I kept my eyes on the sail. “Maybe Breezy will be there. Though hopefully… some… some of the colts will be there.

“Pfft. I don’t care about ogling any colts.”

“Really? You did last year.”

“Well, that was last year.” Shelly added. Even though we were just out of grade school, we were a bit too young to really understand our own attractions. This was the earliest point in time I could remember when Shelly lost her interest in colts.

I stood to ponder Shelly’s words for but a second before picking up a distant sound. Turning away from the sail, I covered my eyes from the sun and gazed out over the bay.

The sounds were splashes coming from a stallion in the water, crying for help.

“Shelly!” I spouted, already turning hard on the sail pylon, steering our craft in the direction of the struggling pony.

“I see him! How’re we gonna save him though? This boat won’t hold three ponies and stay up!”

The winds suddenly picked up, giving a boost of speed to out sailboat’s course. I guided the craft and kept it balanced until we were within a few feet of the stallion.

Without even answering Shelly, I left the control and dove into the water, swimming through the water and reaching the stallion. I wrapped one arm around his waist and kicked with all my might, bringing him slowly over to the sailboat. I struggled to push the stallion up while treading in the water, but luckily Shelly came to help, effortlessly pulling the stallion onto the sail boat.

As the young stallion wheezed while lying in the boat, I held onto the rim, panting loudly from my burst of speed. Shelly tended to our new passenger.

“Are you ok? What happened?”

“I think so...” said the stallion, a teenager. “I slipped off of the platform of my friend’s yacht over there. I can’t swim, and I’m prone to panic attacks. Thank Celestia for you two. You saved me!”

“Thank Chorus,” replied Shelly, “She’s the one who saw you. And the one who gave you her seat.”

“We should get you to shore.” I affirmed abashed. Shelly took hold of the sail pylon, steering us towards the pier. We went a bit slower with me paddling along, but we made it in only a few minutes.

I lifted herself onto the pier after Shelly and the stallion went ashore. I shook my head to throw off some of the water from my mane, only to find Shelly staring at my waist.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Shelly pointed to my hip, absolutely stunned.

“Cutie mark!!”

Immediately as the words left her mouth, I spun my head down, seeing a cutie mark on my hip.

Shelly and I let loose a cheerful squeal.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”

“I got my cutie mark! It’s a gust of wind! I think!”

“What does that mean?!”

“I don’t know! I don’t care! It’s a Cutie mark! I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad!!”

Shelly and I held each other’s hands while jumping up and down, smiling so gleefully that we felt brighter than even the Sun itself.

My best friend looked me in the eyes.

“See? I told you! Best friends ‘til the end!”

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It was so early in the morning that the Sun had yet to show itself. This was a good thing.

Anytime I think of this, I always have a strange memory from when I was much younger. My parents told me so many stories about the Sun, and I loved hearing about them. One day, I tried to look closer at the Sun. Let’s just say that I never did that again. Shelly never let that go.

I was more than excited for this day, though. Seventeen years old and I felt like I was a five year old getting ice cream for the first time.

Princess Celestia was my idol. I always wanted to go to bed early at night just so my parents could tell me more bedtime stories about her. How she came to rule Equestria, and all that she did to keep us safe. If I could get the chance to meet her, even to just say ‘hello’… I’d likely die happy.

Princess Celestia meant a lot to me. That’s why this day was so important.

The Sun was on the cusp of the horizon, waiting to be called upon. Not a single cloud was hanging in the sky. Baltimare’s weather teams made sure that this day was the perfect day for the biggest event of the year.

The Summer Sun Celebration. Baltimare was the lucky city chosen this year to host the Princess’s arrival.

I thought getting up this early would have helped me in getting a close spot to the Princess. Instead… We were running from the angriest group of seagulls I had ever seen.

“FIN! WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Shelly yelled as we ran for our lives down the street.

“It may have something to do with a cinnamon roll! That I may have tried to steal!” Fin replied in between his panting.

“YOU IDIOT!”

We dashed around a corner, kiting the flock of furious seagulls behind us. Fin lagged behind.

“Keep going! I’ll guide them away! Remember meeee!”

Making a sharp turn into a separate alleyway, Fin ran out of sight, bringing the angry seagulls with him. Their squawking faded off.

Shelly’s brother Fin was a nice guy. But I hoped the gulls would chase him to the ends of Equestria for this flop in our plan. Even then, I couldn’t help but beam from the thrill as my chest heaved from the long sprint.

Shelly and I stopped at the end of the alley and arrived at main street, blocked by the massive crowd of ponies already there for the precession. The huge mass of ponies, of all colors and all ages, was almost impossible to find our way through.

“We’re never gonna get anywhere in this crowd.” I breathed.

Shelly quickly looked around, breaking into a cunning grin as she spotted a solution to our problem.

“There! That lamp post!”

“What about it?”

“We can use it to get you a view! You can climb it!”

I stuttered uncontrollably.

“W-what?? I can’t, but… w-what about you?”

“This isn’t about me, Chorus! It’s about you getting to see your role model in a once in a lifetime chance!”

“It’s not really once in a lifetime though! The precession will come again another year! If I climb that thing it will definitely be a once in my life ending thing!!” I replied. I was shaking just at the thought of being so high up.

“No time to say no! Come on!”

With Shelly’s help, I managed to climb up to the rim of the light, hanging on to the top of the post for dear life as the precession made its way by. A sea of color cheering from both sides of the cordoned off street. Rows of golden-clad royal guards adorned with bright purple cloaks marched just below.

And there she was. In the very center of the rolling float with the golden throne. Princess Celestia.

She sat and waved to the adoring crowds with a pleasant smile, so motherly and sage-like. No story could capture her brilliance in person. And even atop the most precarious of perches, I felt blessed just to be able to see her.

CREEAAK

“…Oh no….”

The lamp post suddenly shuddered at the base, the chilling screech of its metal causing me to tighten my grip. The ground began to approach me as the pole bent forward like a drawbridge.

“CRRAAAAAPP!!”

I screamed in terror as the snapping pole landed right in the middle of the precession, throwing me into the column of guards. They did little to cushion me, their armor serving as my hard and painful pillows.

Nothing felt broken, but I hadn’t felt as hurt and embarrassed like that ever before. The crowds watching gasped, many falling silent.

As some of the guards beneath me shoved me aside, the rest of the column looked on while some guards leapt to defend the Princess’ float, thinking there was some kind of attack.

A pegasus mare, a captain based on her differing armor, quickly approached me.

“We don’t need a stupid kid interrupting the Princess’ procession. Let’s go.” The stern captain said as she clamped down on my arm, lifting me up while barking orders at another guard to escort me away. It would be better than having the entire crowd keep staring at me.

That’s when she spoke.

“Hold one moment, captain.”

Lifting herself from the throne, Princess Celestia descended the steps of the float and stood before me. I bowed my head as quickly as the captain did, only lifting it when the Princess gave permission.

“I can only assume you were on top of that lamp post to get a better view of the procession.” Said the Princess. Her mane flowed beautifully with the sunlight.

“Y-y-yes. Y-you’re, uhm… Uh… I look up to you.”

Princess Celestia giggled gingerly.

“Well, it seemed as though you were looking down at me for a moment there.” She smiled.

I was a jabbering mess. Princess Celestia just giggled at me. This was better than anything. Ever.

“Nevertheless, you should be more careful. You could have been seriously hurt. And I would not want a pony to be hurt during a visit of mine. You are…?”

“C-Chorus. My name’s Chorus.”

“Chorus. Will you promise to be more careful the next time you need a better view?”

“Y-yes! I promise.”

“Good. Thank you. Captain?”

“Yes, Princess.” The mare said.

“Please escort Chorus off the street. With respect, if you will.”

“Of course.”

Princess Celestia waved goodbye to me as I was given escort to the side of the street. The procession was soon back underway, proceeding as if nothing had obstructed it. The onlookers resumed their usual cheering as Shelly came to get me.

“Chorus! You ok? By the Sun, you got to talk to the Princess!”

“I… I… Talked… Princess Celestia. I…”

I had passed out seconds later, A huge grin stuck on my lips.

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I thought back to the life I had lived in Baltimare. All of the adventures, fun with family and friends, and all that I had learned. It would all come to this point. A decision that would change my life.

Now, nineteen and still growing, I was ready. Ready to dedicate the next three years of my life to train and become one of Princess Celestia’s royal guards.

This was it. I was finally doing it. Pledging myself to protect Princess Celestia. To repay her for all of her kindness and wisdom in ruling Equestria, and for keeping us all safe.

The line in front of the recruiting officer’s stand wasn’t too long. I was all signed up before I knew it, toting my signed form which dictated the date and place to go for my training. I was so excited, that I didn’t see the familiar mare standing right in front of me.

“Careful there! You’re going to have to have better awareness if you’re going to make it in the royal guard.”

“Shelly?” I gasped, “You didn’t…”

Proudly, with one hand on her hip, she held up her signed form, still fresh with the purple ink of the certification stamp. We both wildly grinned, as though we had gotten our cutie marks all over again.

“Why’d you decide to join? I thought you were going into oceanography!”

“I had a change of heart. Figured that it might be more fun to learn what it was like to be a part of the guard. Your folks were ok with it?” Shelly asked.

“Mom and Dad took it well. They’ll miss me… and I’ll miss them. But I think they will worry less once I let them know you’ll be with me.”

Shelly wrapped me in a warm embrace. We smiled and laughed with glee, the bond we shared the strongest thing we knew.

“Royal guards ‘til the end, eh?” Shelly grinned.

“Just because we’re stepping into a new stage of our lives doesn’t mean you can go and change up our motto.” I replied, smirking.

“Alright. Then how about… The best mare I’ve ever known, and the closest of ponies, until the end.”

I smiled, reaching to hold Shelly’s hand. “Until the end.”