Starting Things Out
Prologue: Starting Things Out
The tranquil presence of silence entered a dimly lit room with pulled curtains and closed windows as Luna and the Canterlot Council of Representatives gathered around the roundtable to discuss tactics on how to capture one of the most wanted griffins in Equestria.
“We can’t just stand idly by while griffins and our citizens alike are being murdered by her!” Luna’s hoof slammed down on the wooden table, rocking the table to its core.
“Marching into Griffonia would be suicide, since we signed that peace treaty that forbids anypony from even setting hoof there,” Candlewick freed the classified documents from its sealed folder prison, holding last year’s treaty for all eyes to see.
> Official Equestria Treaty Documentation ©
The King of Griffonia and Princess Celestia have agreed to set guidelines and borders that prevent both countries from interacting with each other, neither griffins nor ponies are allowed to trade, intrude, or engage in any activities that could cause a huge rise in conflict. To better both countries, we have sworn to no longer waging war between our two countries.
Sincerely,
Equestrian Treaty Department
“Says it here in black and white. Sorry Princess Luna, we can and will not become involved in frivolous games that could endanger our safety. Meeting adjourned,” Gable hit the wooden surface of the table with his gavel, each member along with Luna left the board room.
The gentle night breeze whispered through Canterlot, a tall figure moved through the shadows painted across the capital, catching the attention of a Royal Guard scanning the area holding a flashlight under his wing. He turned the corner, keeping his eyes peeled for anything out of place. She kept herself low to the ground, sneaking up quietly behind the guard and rolled a claw under his chin before tightly grasping his head, twisting it around to the side.
“Better safe than sorry,” Marina ripped a wanted poster, showing her face publicly on the front with a reward of five thousand bits for her capture. Retreating back to the shadows, she took off to the skies above and across the border between Equestria and Griffonia.
Loud screams of panic assaulted her eardrums as she stepped out of the bedroom into the castle’s main hallway in nothing but a dark blue robe and matching slippers on each hoof. “This is too early for th-”
No words to describe the horror that was dead at her hooves, she squeezed through guards crowding around one of their own, deceased from severe damage to his neck and brain. “Somepony tell me what is going and I want to know now!” The guards quickly turned when they recognized who was behind them, respectfully bowing before her.
“Your highness, Sharp Staff was murdered earlier this morning after you finished lowering the moon. It seems that his neck was snapped and the culprit left behind claw marks, so the other than Ursa Majors and other creatures, the one responsible would have to be…”
“A griffin. Not only did they violate their own treaty, they decide to take one of our own. It’s time to take action before more extreme measures are taken, I wish to not be disturbed,” She walked down the corridor to the Lunar Guard hangout.
Luna didn’t lose a step as she made her way down the flight of stairs. Over to her right, she could make out the sound of ponies banging cider mugs together and cheering loud enough to wake Celestia out of her sleep. The packed Nocturnal Tavern was the hot spot for all thestrals to spend their nights off duty drinking or partaking in activities like throwing darts and drinking games, it took a lot of convincing to add this section of the castle below the hallway.
“I won again, drink up!” Night Watch tossed a sour lemon inside the fizzy cider mug, sliding it over to Monsoon sitting at her table. She took great pleasure in watching this as Monsoon chugged the entire mug before slamming it down.
“Too easy. It wasn’t even that sour,” Monsoon’s lips puckered up and his tongue licked away at the apple cider fizz under his muzzle, glaring over at Night Watch falling off her stool in a fit of laughter. “You are so lucky I’m too drunk to pummel you to the ground right now or else I’d have a dead corpse on my hooves.”
“Says the guy who couldn’t even handle a jalapeno stuffed daffodil sandwich with extra swiss cheese.” Night Watch rolled off her back up on her feet, still snickering at Monsoon, “Where are Mountain Mist and Starsung?”
Cheers erupted from the crowd of guards hearing the broadcast announcer tally up the final score between Canterlot’s very own Guardians against their rivals, the Manehattan Brawlers in the finals of the Super Hoofball Championship. “The final score is: Canterlot Guardians - 45 and Manehattan Brawlers - 15, here are your new Super Hoofball Champions, the Canterlot Guardians!”
“This is why you should never bet on the Manehattan Brawlers, Nighty. Now pay up,” Monsoon brushed his straight blonde mane back, holding a hoof out for his payment, “Mountain and Starsung are on top of the night tower training, improving on their sniping skills.”
“You win this round, Monsoon,” Night kissed the bracelet of shark teeth around her neck that she believed to be good luck, chucking a dart straight into the bullseye target’s center of four hundred points. Grabbing a hoof full of bits into a pile, dropping each bit in Monsoon’s woven bag, which he tied the rope tightly around the bag.
“We should go see them after this,” Monsoon stuck his tongue out, hopping around like a giddy colt on Hearths Warming Eve morning. His eyes followed their leader and founder of the Night Guard clear her throat, the whole room stopped what they were doing to give Luna their full undivided attention.
“Attention, my loyal guards, attention. Earlier this morning, one of the Royal Guards was murdered by a griffin and we speculate that the murderer is the most notorious griffin on the Most Wanted List in Equestria, Marina. Though, the king in Griffonia swore to my sister that their citizens and our own would not violate the peace treaty. I am deeply disgusted that one of their own would fly across the border dividing both Griffonia and Equestria to commit this crime.” Luna’s head swayed up and down, looking up at her tears and to her concerned guards, “Which is why, we will be going by air to Griffonia, find Marina and put her on trial for her crimes.”
“She is known for the most confirmed kills in the history of Griffonia, most notably in Blackperch Creag. I’m going to need a squad comprised of the best of the best in the Lunar Guard, the names are listed as followed: Night Watch, Monsoon, Mountain Mist, Starsung, and the newest addition to the Lunar Guards’ elite squadron, Scootaloo.”
All eyes were on a young mare sinking her fangs into a ripe mango, sucking the mango dry of its sweet vibrant juices. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“That will be all, carry on with your revelry. As for my selected squad of ponies, follow me.” Luna walked out of the tavern, her squad followed behind her out the swinging wooden doors.
“Princess Luna, forgive us but we have to go get Mountain Mist and Starsung really quick.” Night Watch brought up, trotting with Monsoon up the hallway stairs.
“Okay but please hurry, meet us once you locate them.” Leading Scootaloo down the hallway to her private quarters, she turned the doorknob that was enveloped in her magical aura and opened the door. “Quickly, we have no time to waste!”
A shot rang out in the night sky above the night tower adjacent to the training area where two guards practiced their sniping on moving targets. The bullet tore through a red bullseye and clanged against the stone wall dividing both training areas of the two guard divisions. Mountain Mist threw her right forehoof in the air, dumping the empty magazine into a pile of used bullets next to Starsung’s hoof.
“Woo hoo, that felt good. Star, pass me another magazine if you would be so kind.” Mountain pulled back on the sniper’s metal bolt, tilting the sniper down to line up her sights.
“I didn’t think we should share my interest in target practice. Really wish Night and Monsoon would join us, but they missed out tonight.” Starsung dragged out a set of ammunition, passing a sniper magazine over to Mountain Mist.
She slid the bullet out of the ammunition box, popped it inside the sniper and pulled the metal bolt all the way back. Taking a deep breath looking into the sniper’s scope, her right eye wandered over to her fellow guard. “Let’s have a little wager. If I make this shot, you owe me a nice full body massage after last night’s training.”
“But if I win, you’ll be wearing a sexy maid outfit as my new maid. Deal?” Starsung imagined Mountain Mist in a maid outfit dusting his romance novels and serving him breakfast in bed. He snapped out of his fantasy, holding out his light grey hoof out to her as Mountain gave a quick shake before shaking her head.
“It’s so on! Looks like I’ll be getting a nice massage tomorrow,” Mountain regained her focus on the moving bullseye target of a griffon, her mouth wide open and took another calm breath of fresh air. A bullet flew out the sniper’s barrel, smashing the griffin’s head into a million pieces. “Well would you look at that, I won!”
Starsung groaned, banging his head against the rail on the tower. “I bet that was rigged, you cheated!”
“Aw Starry, you don’t have to be a sore loser.” Mountain tickled him under his chin, finishing up the silly act and held her sniper down to the ladder. “Anypony down there?”
Night Watch climbed up the ladder as Monsoon followed behind her. She moved the sniper pointed at her down, “Princess Luna has an urgent matter that she needs us to attend. Also, you missed me beat Monsoon at darts and that I bet on the Manehattan Brawlers to win tonight, biggest mistake of my life.” She rolled her eyes at Monsoon scowling at her, filled with embarrassment from losing at darts, especially to her.
“That’s nothing! Starsung owes this lucky gal a nice full body massage, anyway let’s get going.” Mountain nudged Starsung in the ribs before climbing down the ladder.
The four guards knocked on Luna’s door as they were pulled into the room without any time to react, the door slamming behind them. “We’re glad you four could join us. I hope that Mountain Mist and Starsung were informed of what our plan is regarding the wanted outlaw, Marina. Since we can’t simply just infiltrate Griffonia and search for her on the ground, I propose that we go by air.”
Looking at each other in complete silence, puzzled to hear what Luna had to say next, Scootaloo raised her hoof high. “Princess Luna, how are we even going to get in the air without Marina or the other griffins detecting us?”
“Allow me to show you,” Luna dimmed the light switch to its lowest setting as the bedroom was shrouded in darkness, she stood where her mirror was located, sending a concentrated stream of magic into the moon-shaped pendant above the mirror. The outline of the pendant glowed under clear moonlight, her mirror reclined back into the wall as an opening appeared down a flight of stone stairs.
“ Princess Luna, what is even down there?” Scootaloo dropped a small stone down the stairs, continuously bouncing until only one loud thud was heard.
“I assure you, Scootaloo, there is no danger down there. This is a secret passageway that I have hidden from my sister, a retired airship that hasn’t been used since the Elements of Harmony brought me back,” Luna’s body shuddered from the nightmares of Nightmare Moon, wishing to forget that remnant of her past.
The Corona Horizon stood proudly above the stone ceiling, long metal chain links supporting the flagship’s weight. Big, bold golden letters spelled out ‘E.D.F.’ and one golden phoenix emblazoned across the massive blimp, jumper cables attached from the lower deck all the way up to the blimp. Formerly the flagship of the Equestrian Royal Guards, this ancient and formidable vessel has been retrofitted with fighter hangars and Dragonfire howitzers, fighter planes, also traditional weapons used by the Royal and Lunar Guards.
“Whoa, that is one big ship!” Starsung marveled at Corona Horizon’s exterior, imagining what the inside of the ship looks like. He and the other guards were standing at the dock below the mighty vessel.
“I know right. Let’s hope there are some rooms or comfortable living conditions for some good ol’ fashioned relaxation,” Monsoon pulled the lever closest to him as the ship lowered down to the cool waters beneath. I know I’ll catch one of these guys off guard with a prank.
They all turned to Monsoon, he looked at his breastplate that showed the Lunar Guards’ royal insignia.
“This mission is of the utmost importance, and I hope that all of you will take it seriously, relaxation will not be a priority. We’ll start out with a tour so all of you can get familiar and acquainted, because you will be living together in this ship until your mission is completed.”
Her loyal guards did not utter a word after she was finished, Luna frowned down at them, each guard averting their eyes. “For now, we adventure on forward!”
Luna and her guards walked along the lower deck and walkway, opening the door to the inside of the ship. The ship’s main helm held a flat metal mechanism that automatically triggered the ship to move only by voice activation, magical usage, and manually pressing a hoof in the centerpiece. Over to her left and right, were the kitchen and rows of rooms that would accommodate to their liking. “This is the main room where you will monitor the skies, fuel your nourishment needs, and get to know one another. Unfortunately, I won’t be joining you on your journey to Griffonia as I can’t just leave my sister alone to do all of my royal duties.”
“Aww, but I bet Equestria could survive without-” Night Watch mumbled through Mountain Mist hushing her up.
“What Night Watch is trying to say, Equestria could survive but at the same time it can’t without you. So you can trust us completely on this mission, ouch!” Mountain rubbed the red mark on her left foreleg that Night Watch’s fangs left, snarling at her underhoofed tactic, who was smiling after.
“Absolutely, we will get the job done your highness.” Monsoon leaped over the couch, landing softly on the cushions. Stretching his forelegs and hooves out across the arms of the couch, coughed out some air to catch his breath as Starsung plopped down on his stomach. “Star.”
“Yeah?” Starsung’s flank pressed down harder on his stomach. He relished in messing with Monsoon just to push his buttons, testing to see how he would react.
“Get your fat flank off of me!” Monsoon pushed his stomach up as Starsung flew off him down to the floor, rubbing his flank, and pulled him off the couch.
“Anyway, we got this.” Scootaloo whipped out a pair of shades and played it cool, looking up at Luna chuckling.
“Completely under control, hmm? Okay, just to let you know there is a training room, hot tubs and pool in the swimming area, and bunk beds for all of you to sleep together in. If anything goes awry or you need help, send me a letter and I’ll be here post haste.” Luna pulled the lever to the window panel, flying through the open panel.
Night Watch clapped her hooves together, a smug grin edged across her face. “First things first, someone has to be the leader around here since a group can’t just blindly go into battle without direction. I’ll appoint myself as leader.”
Mountain Mist cut her off, giving Night the faraway look in her eye. “With all due respect, Night, why would you think we need a leader especially someone like you?”
Night Watch scoffed at her response, brushing it off like it meant nothing. “Ha-ha, you must be joking. Could there be anyone more qualified than me?”
“Leaders have to prove and show that they can lead others. You can’t just automatically say that you are the leader, or is that too much for you to handle,” She stepped in front of Night Watch, looking into each others’ eyes.
“Pushing my buttons can only lead a pony so far,” Night Watch reeled her hoof back, she hesitated to deliver the elbow.
“Which is why I want to prove that I belong here. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Mountain closed one eye with a seductive look in the other eye, half of her eyelid shut looking up at the brash guard.
Night crossed her forelegs with her eyebrow raised, pointing over to Scootaloo. “Show Scootaloo the ropes, then come and talk to me because once she is ready I’ll be testing her in the training room.”
“You got it, then it will show you that both of us can hang around with the best around.” Mountain jumped next to Scootaloo, not taking her eyes off of Night Watch.
“We’ll see. Until then, I’ll be taking a nap.” Night Watch turned the corner and started walking into the room filled with bunk beds.
“Well that escalated quickly,” Monsoon sipped the fizzy cream soda, his back sinking lower on the velvet couch. “This is probably a bad time so I’ll just sit here and watch the skies,” He watched the skies carefully as the panels opened wide, basking in the clear white light that was followed by the bright stars sparkling.
Monsoon always enjoyed watching the stars that he wished upon them for hope to guide him in the right direction. To follow in the steps that his brothers left behind, he promised to never give up when things looked rough. A virtual map showing the location of the airship and every inch of Equestria levitated over the control panel of the main helm, he jumped out of his seat as the computer generated voice started to talk.
“Welcome to the Corona Horizon Automated Control Center, how may I help you?” the deep voice projected, Monsoon jumped out of his seat clutching his chest.
Now I know I drank way too much cream soda, starting to see things. Monsoon let out a hearty laugh before he moved his hoof across the map, scrolling down the list of locations from Vanhoover to Neigh York. “Are there any performances tomorrow night?”
“Trixie Lulamoon will be performing at the annual Firefly Festival in Vanhoover. Please, set the waypoint of the map to your destination.”
His grey hoof attached the destination waypoint directly on Vanhoover. “And away we go. I hope that will be the only thing needed,” Howling winds opened flags above the blimp as Monsoon pressed down hard on the main control, the airship was guided to the next destination by the thrusters, he felt compressed as the intense speed knocked him over the chair and into the wall.
“Sweet Celestia help me, this is going to be a long trip!” Monsoon’s back slammed into the wall, groaning at the intense pain.
