A guards Life: The Lunar Core

Chapter III

The next night, the cadets were given access to the armory for not only weapons and their shield attachments to their armor; but to collect other supplies as well: traveling supplies, like camping gear, rope and basic tools;  Of course, now that everypony had a chance to collect their share, they set their gear aside with their names on them for the various ventures outside the castle.

In Midnight Star's case, he took his share of the supplies as well picking up his standard issue weapons;  his melee weapon of choice was an Eagle claw War hammer picked for the diversity of uses in combat.  Next was his ranged weapon, now, unlike most would think bows and crossbows were the only weapons of choice, gun powder weaponry and/or modern weaponry was available for guard ponies to utilize in defense of the kingdom; So he chose an M1 Carbine for it's compact size and moderate magazine capacity, as well the short to mid range power it packed in a fight.  However, Midnight didn't feel the need to carry both weapons for his first assignment tonight.

Once he and his new partner were ready, like the rest of the cadet guards, they were assigned to a guard post for the night.

"Cadets Midnight Star and Petal Blow," Their Captain addressed them as they were heading out of the barracks, "You two will be stationed at the doors of the Castle library."  Midnight felt a little cheated that they were given such a simple post, yet, he concluded that it would be better to start off easy.  Soo, no complaints came from him.

"Yes, sir, sounds like a quiet night for us." Petal spoke for the two with a nod though she didn't see the quick smirk on their captain's face before he spoke again, "A quiet night indeed, good night and good luck guards."

After a short detour later, the guard cadets found themselves standing at the doors of the Canterlot Library.  The halls were well lit for visitors, about a half hour into their shift, a tour group of school foals, led by their teacher came down the halls, noisily. "Right this way folks." Midnight smiled to the guests as he and petal blow opened the doors for the school foals. As they filed in the two cadets could not but notice the children wondering off in separate directions.

"Don't wonder to far," their teacher called out to them, "And stay close to a friend." she then turned to the cadets, "Thank you kindly." she then looked at them again before she could go inside, "Say, you're wearing cadet armor." she observed. "Yes, ma'am, we're both new here." Midnight bowed lightly.

"In fact its our first night," Petal Added cheerfully; "Oh good, it's wonderful to see some new faces around here, I wish only the best for you." she smiled sweetly before vanishing into the library. The teacher was not the only pony to comment to the cadets among the few words of encouragement passed to them, one retired guard had exchanged words with the two before heading out.

Soon, while the late night visitors began to leave, a visitor came running around the corner, she saw the cadets.  "Oh good, found some pony, please need help with something."  she spoke to the both of them.  "What's the problem ma'am?" Midnight asked.

"My child, she wondered out into the garden and I can't find her, I need one of you to come help me."  The two looked at each other before petal raised a hoof, "I'll go with you," she stepped forward, "It might wont be easy just to tell you now," she warned walking with the mare, "With it getting dark it'll be harder to find any pony out there."

The mare thanked the guard before they vanished down a hall, Midnight felt that he should of stayed put but, he was also told that he shouldn't leave his post for nothing unless there was somepony else to hold his position.  However, that changed when the teacher emerged, she looked frazzled with her glasses askew, "Guard, oh thank Celestia, I need your help." she gasped,

"Ma'am, calm down," Midnight raised a hoof to her, "Now, what is the trouble?"

"I didn't realize the time and I had to gather my class, three of my children are still somewhere in the library." she looked behind her to some noise in the open door, "Can you help me?" she asked hopefully.

Midnight looked down the hallway Petal blow had went with the mare, then looked back to the teacher, "Of course, I'll do what I can to help get your children back to your group, I'm pretty sure their families are probably worried about their foals." Midnight, though reluctant, went with the teacher.

"Now, to find those-" When he entered the library, he looked at the massiveness of the library; three stories of shelves of books for the general public, a fourth sectioned off for adults only.  Midnight's eyes only widened at the sheer size of each floor, "-kids." he drifted off before being pulled back to reality, "I'll wait here with my class." the teacher spoke returning to her class of six students.

"Got it, How many are still out there?" Midnight asked while still gawking at the seemingly endless cavern  of shelves and books.  "Three, One earth colt, a unicorn filly and a Pegasus filly," the teacher described as she too looked on at this cave of knowledge, "They were all last seen on the second floor and do be careful guard, they can be mischievous."

The cadet smiled proudly, "Be at ease ma'am, it won't be nothing I can handle!" he boasted before a passing librarian brought a hoof up to her lips, Shhhh!

"Sorry."  Midnight proceeded into the library, quietly.  When he had fallen out of ear shot of the group, "Think he has any idea about the three?" asked one of the students, "Nnnope." The teacher replied nonchalantly shaking her head.

Midnight got lost a couple of times until he remembered the map of the library posted through out the floors, just encase fools like him would get lost.  Venturing to the second floor, Midnight began to look around for the children.  "Where are ya little shits?" He grumbled quietly as he weaved and turned around book shelves upon book shelves.

He stopped to ask a few patrons if they had seen any of the foals running around, nothing till- "Oh yeah, seen the filly unciron run that way and to the left."

"Thank you, sir."

He fallowed the directions but still couldn't find the little colt, “Damn it, where are you?” he quietly asked aloud before taking another turn through the maze of book shelves.  However, as he made another random left, he caught sight of the filly taking off down an isle then vanished around the corner.

“Piss...” Midnight hurried down the isle, he looked both ways once at the end.  A few mineuts had passed when Midnight finally caught sight of the filly, well, her rump vanishing around some book shelves. “hold it!” he called out before a SHHHH! came from somewhere close by. “Sorry!” he quietly apologized before hurrying down the isles.

Making a random left, he spotted the unicorn standing at the opposite end of the book shelf isle.

“Hey, Hold it right-”

“Catch!” the filly jerked her head to the side while Midnight looked up to some noise and failed to move out from under an avalanche of books that must have been held up by the unicorn's magic.  There weren't that many, well, not enough to bury Midnight alive with, but enough to stop the cadet in his tracks.  Doffing books from his body, a final book fell on his helmet with the pages still open. only one word filled his vision as it slid down:

NOOB! was stenciled on the pages.

“That, rotten, little brat.” he twitched as the book fell to the floor. He got up to run after her with only the filly's giggles was all he needed to follow her. It was with difficulty to keep up, he forgot how it was like to run with out a suit of armor to weigh him down. Midnight cursed as he dodged another book trap, this time it was a rain of books from both sides of the isle as they tumbled, or more accurately yanked, from their shelves.

“Do try to keep up guardy!” mocked the filly as her giggles faded off to midnight's right.

“I'll do more than that...” he growled as he turned around, however, as he tried to hurry back down the isle he tripped into the pile of books.  A peep of a yelp followed by a quick tumble he crashed into a patron, well, her cart of books.

“What in Celestia's mane?!” she recoiled as she saw a night guard knock the cart over, spilling it's contents over him as well the floor.  When the dust settled, he lifted his head up from an open book, he looked down at what buried his face when, “wha-?” the few pictures on both pages resembled various rutting positions. “Oh, is this your-.” he clapped the book closed seconds before the earth pony mare yanked the book from his hoof, “-Believe that is mine!” she snapped, a tint of blush flashed across her face as she collected her questionable books off the floor.

“Sorry about that ma'am.” He said apologetically before taking off down the isle, his helmet hid the blush that covered his blue coated face.  “Like wise.” was the reply from behind him.

After that little set back, Midnight had to re-track the filly from where he had last heard her to wherever she might be now.  Which, to his surprise, didn't take long. He saw the bight colored filly from far away as she stood outside another row of shelves, her horn glowing; obviously she didn't notice him as she must have been busy setting up another trap.

Midnight pondered on who would have to come through here to clean this up as well disarm whatever traps this little brat as well whatever hoofywork done around this cave of wonders.

“Oh no you don't.” He whispered as he weaved through a couple of rows of book shelves.

It didn't take him long to sneak up closer to the isle the filly was working hard in, Midnight was glad that she was taking her time to set this battery of traps. She took a rope end in her mouth, let alone where she got the rope in the first place. Her horn glowed keeping the net suspended while she tried to tie the rope off to set the trap.

Seeing that she had her attention was focused on the trap, Midnight took the chance to sneak around the shelves, when he peeked around the corner, he could see the filly backing up while keeping eye contact on the trap.  He took this moment to look up at what she had set up-oh sweet Luna, what  is that?!

Midnight's eyes widen in shock as he noticed that this trap was more like death in a net. The shevles on both sides of this isle were completely empty. This little filly was really busy; Time to end this.  Midnight crept around the corner then up behind the filly.

As she backed up to him; one, two, three! He grabbed her at waist and hoisted her off the ground, “Gotcha!”

“Halp!” she squeaked; both ponies were interrupted by a librarian poking her head through the empty book shelves, “SHHHHH!” was all she emitted with a shaking hoof before disappearing into the shelves.

Blinking, Midnight's focus was drawn back to the squirming filly now in his hooves. “Let me go!” she fretted as she tried to pull the earth pony's hooves off of him. “I don't think so, now, stop or I will drag you back to your teacher kickin' and screamin'” Midnight waited while the flailing child finally let her self slack in his grasp.

“Fiiine.” she groaned.

“Good, now-” he set her down, who only turned around sadden staring at his hooves. “-Tell me, where are the rest of your friends?” he was stern with her, trying to put on a air of authority over the filly who only looked up at him with a raised brow trying not to crack a smile at the cadet.

Taking a deep breath, “Well, Let, me see,” the unicorn filly mused perking back up, “I can tell you where they are, however,” she looked at the bit pouch hanging from his belt. Midnight was suddenly reminded how pampered and spoiled the foals were in the upper parts of this city. Like parents like children.

“It'll cost you, how much do you have?” she asked slyly, but her expression faded when she looked up at the deadpan gaze of the cadet.

Midnight Star was not amused.

“Nice try little lady,” he stared her down, the look on the little mare's face was that of elegant shock; “Now, back to your teacher.” he pointed a hoof towards the lobby a floor below, “Don't get any ideas-” he leaned closer at the filly, “-I will be watching!”

she regained her posture after almost cowering under his demeanor, “Tch, fine, I see how you like to do things the haard way.” she turned around to trot away, with her nose up and tail raised like a little baroness making her way to the grand gala ball.

After the child had dropped out of ear shot, “pampered little prat.” he grumbled before he carefully walked on, avoiding the trip wire to the book trap.

Once at the railing of the floor, he looked around, scanning the floors for any foal movement. However, his ears twitched when he heard what sounded like a tiny puff of wind, “huh-?” he then felt the rather hard impact of something that knocked his helmet askew.

Blinking in surprise, he looked up to see the small blur of somepony vanishing in the third floor. “The Tartarus was-” he reached up to feel something wet slide down his helmet, “-that...” he pulled the spit wad off his helmet then flicked it aside.

After adjusting his helmet, “First books, now spit wads.” he murmured as he waded his way towards the stairs leading up to the third floor, “Whats next? Random crazy shit only Daring Do would come up with?” he was getting annoyed with these troublesome foals, however, he should feel sort of better that he at least caught one of them.

Once he had made it to the third floor, with the up most caution of course, he looked around to find no pony up here.  It would figure though, with the hour waning well into the night, Possibly towards midnight, that there would be hardly no patrons up here. Unless you can count the young couple dashing off into the secluded parts of this little library, a bold but romantic act of defiance to stay in the castle during the after hours.

Getting lost in images of him and a mystery mare doing something like that, something struck the side of his head knocking his helmet off, the sound of the metal helm clanging against the polished flooring echoed, a distant SHHHHH! was the sudden reply.  Cursing himself for getting lost in a far fetched fantasy, Midnight reached down to collect his helmet when he saw the book that had struck him.

DWEEB! was written in pink highlight ink across the covers.

“Seriously,” he stood staring down at the book, “What do these little foals have against-” his thought was interrupted by what felt like a bee sting across his face. Recoiling, he bumped against the railing when he herd giggling from somewhere close by.

“-Never mind,” he replaced his helmet on his head, a red mark grew across his muzzle, “These little punks are going down!” he spoke with determination before turning towards the book shelves, off in the distance, he eyed the duo take off in a puff of dust down a set of isles. “Halt in the name of Sisters!” he called out; a librarian emerged from around a row of book shelves. She was about to shush him when- “Can it sister, I'm workin' here!” he stuffed a random booklet in her mouth as he ran by.  He missed the perplexed look on her face when she stood there with the packet of printed paper in her mouth.

Once he made it to the other side, his chest heaved from the gallop. Scanning around, he caught sight of the pegasus filly turning the corner in a flap of wings, “Hurry, he's coming!” she announced. Midnight didn't comment as he tore off down the isle; however, as he tore around the corner, something caught his eye, no, literally, something had struck him square in the eye.

He yelped in pain as his earth pony strength carried the momentum into a barricade of books.

When he finally came to a stop under the wreckage of books, he herd the foals laugh at him. “Loser,” the earth pony colt mocked, “You can't-” a hoof shot out from the pile,

“-Catch you?” midnight's hoof grasped the clumsy colt as he squeaked in surprise as the cadet held on to the flailing foal.

“Run!” the colt cried, “Save your self!”

“Let him go!” the Pegasus took a shot at the cadet with her spit wad straw, the shot only went splat against his armor as the cadet's blue eyes glared at the filly who could only manage a “Nnna-nope!” she turned with a rather impressive flex of her wings that propelled her far into the air, she flew up into the floating book cases suspended by passive levitation magic devices.

Emerging from the books, he lifted the colt off the ground. “Put me down!” he snapped. The cadet simply stood his ground till the colt stopped flailing about; the colt may have been an earth pony like him, but the cadet was twice a strong compared to the little ball of muscle trying in vain to break free.

“Dooh, alright...” the colt went limp, “You win.” Midnight gently set the colt down, “Game is over little one,” Midnight looked towards the lobby far down below, “Get back down stairs and stay with your teacher.”

“Yes, sir...” the little pony wondered away towards the stairs.

“Now,” he turned towards the floating book cases, “two down, one-” as he turned his gaze upward a blink of white pinged against helmet.  As the spit wad slid down the nasal cover of his helmet, “- To go.” wiping the wad off, he took off through the floor book cases to locate one of the ladders leading up to the floating book cases.

When he finally came to one, he gauged the height of it. “Oh Boy...” he awed. Shaking the nervousness off, “I can do this, I, can do this.” he breathed before he started to climb up.  Midnight ran the phrase Don't look down, through his head as he placed one hoof after another up the ladder.

His eyes scanned around to catch a rather surprised Pegasus filly before she flew up around another book case, hiding in plain sight of course.

“HEY,” Midnight called, “Why, don't you fly back down to the floor before, somepony gets hurt!” He paused mid climb to glance back down, “Or I get hurt for that matter.” he mumbled before hearing, “IN a million years pal!” from above.

“Huh?” he looked back up to only brace for another facebook which had the word

DWEEP! printed on the pages; he dropped the book as it thump on the ground below.

“You sorry little brat, get your sorry flank back here now!”

“Such language!” the filly's voice harassed followed by an audible puff.

“So says you, you little-” he was interrupted by something hitting his other eye. The shock almost made him let go of the ladder but he held on for dear life.  He gently pulled the spit wad out of his eye, he felt the eye lids almost swell shut.

“Grrreat.” he grumbled before he came close to one of the floating book cases.

“What now guard?” she asked from behind another book case, “Can't really fly after me, now can you?”

“Don't remind me!” He then saw the cream colored filly pop up to shoot another spit wad at him. He slight of handed a book to use as a shield before he chucked the book back, “Catch this kid!”

“Whoa!” she dipped back down out of sight; to midnight's amazement, he watched the thrown book hit a shelf of books causing a small row of books to fall. “Hey, hey! Not cool colt, not cool!” her young voice snapped.  Midnight watched as the filly fluttered back towards the third floor.

“Finally...” he gapsed before climbing back down.

It took him a lot longer to climb back down than it did to get up; however, when he finally made it, he felt something bite him on the plot, “Holy!” he hopped around from the spit wad striking him. That really didn't feel right at all...

When he turned around, he glared at the filly who's eyes widened as she took off down a row of books. “Its almost over midnight, lets end this.” Midnight said to himself as gave chase.

After running a maze of book cases and shelves, he was gaining on the filly.  Unlike earth ponies, Pegasi were not the fastest of runners. “Just stop now before the library closes!”

“Neva!!” she used her wings to slingshot her self over a barricade of books then into a bunker where she proceeded to unleash a barrage of spit wads at the cadet.  Midnight dove for the floor to crawl under the suppression fire.

As he stopped at the barricade, he remembered the shield attached to his armor, “Enough!” he sprang to his hooves to bring the shield down.  The impacts were light but weren't nothing to the shield.

He charged through the barricade, scattering books in every direction before closing the gap.

Once in range, he raised his shield to dive into the bunker, “Get over here!”

The filly yelped when the cadet crashed into the book bunker, “Gotcha!” he stood atop of the heap of books holding the filly by the scruff of her neck. Before he could admire the victory, a librarian appeared.

“ShHHHHHHHHH!” Both ponies blinked at the mare before she turned to walk away after an exaggerated “humph!”

“Sweet Luna, I can't even enjoy a victory today can I?”

“Nope!”

“Shush it you.”

The little filly shot a raspberry at Midnight as he set the foal down, “Now, lets go down stairs to get you home. Your parents are probably worried about you.”

“Well, Mom would be.” the Pegasus rolled her eyes.

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Nothinnnng,” she turned to walk back to the stairs, “Lets see how well you did today.”

“Saaay what?”

“Oh, you'll see.” she smiled gleefully

A few minuets later, the cadet and his captive came up to the librarian's desk, he stopped in mid step as the little filly trotted up to his Company commander and his Captain, “Wha-?” he blinked as the captain jotted a few notes down on a clip board.

“So, how well did he do?” he asked the Pegasus who took an extra minute to think.

“Ummmm, Well, he was very observant, he did loose his patience at one point but he kept his cool during the whole test.”

Wait, what? TEST?! his mind barked

“Um, test, sir?” Midnight finally approached the group, his brain was flipping a table at this point out of angry confusion.

“Yes Cadet, this whole search could have been a team effort between you and Petal Blow,” the captain explained as he tucked the clipboard under an arm.

“You understand that this will not be easy to pass every test that comes up cadet,” the company commander spoke up finally, “If you feel you can't handle it, inform us now,” after a short pause, Midnight didn't hesitate to think.

“Sir, this was nothing,” Midnight replied, “There isn't much I won't handle in the weeks to come and quitting is not one of my goals in becoming a guard.”

Both officers nodded in approval, “Very good cadet, Now, back to your post.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the guards turned to leave, they could hear the school foals praise and cheer their three brave participants in midnight’s test.

“Way to go guys!”

“You gave that newbie a run for his bits!”

“Even the C.M.C. Would be proud of your skills out there.”

The Pegasus floated above the small group, “ah, it was nothin'” she smiled broadly with hooves tucked behind her head, “Just did what we do best.”

“Of course, we could of done better if we weren't in the library.” the snobby unicorn admitted as she trotted over to her teacher.

“Next time, I'll bring my sling shot, then the next cadet would be in trouble then!” the Earth colt boasted buffing his little chest.

The rest of the praising came to a slow stop when the teacher finally got their attention.

“Alright children, we should be on our way, we have to let our guards get back to work.”

Midnight smiled to hear the cheerful foals filed out of the library, maybe this job will not be so bad after all. “Hey,” He looked to see the Pegasus had fluttered over to him, “You put up one heck of run.” she complemented bringing a hoof up to him.  Midnight couldn't help but take back the things he thought as well have spoken out of frustration towards her and her friends.  They were just doing what they were recruited to do.

“Sorry about the eyes though, didn't mean to get you that good.”

“Don't worry, just something to remember you by for a few days.” Midnight gave the filly a hoof bump.

“The names True shot.” she introduced her self.

“Midnight Star,” the cadet replied with a weary smile; after all, the adrenalin was finally wearing down so he could feel the complaints through out his body. Just another byproduct of being a guard.

“Better get goin' before you get left behind.” Midnight pointed towards the vanishing class.

“Oh shoot, you're right!” she lifted her self off the ground, “Say, my mom has a shop in town, you should come by,” She explained to the cadet.

“Of course, when I am off duty i'll try to come by, what is the name of the place?”

“Hey, True shot, come on!”

The pegesus filly snapped a glance at the door, “Oh shoot! Well, better get goin'”

“Wai-where is-”  before midngiht could say another word, the filly took off in a flap an a bound towards and out the double doors, “Wait up for me guys!” she called after them.

“kids...” Midnight shook his head, he'll just have to find this place on his own later.

When the guards stepped outside the library, Midnight watched as a group of poines approach.  He noted his rather beat up Partner staggering back to her spot next to the library door.   “Holy Sun, what happened to you?!” Midnight looked petal Blow up an down as she plopped on her haunches, her dazed eyes stared into space.

“That, that little filly.” she wobbled, “Traps, brush, paint, explody bits, pit falls-” her words drifted away into inaudible nonsense.

“I, had no Idea my Daughter was that crafty!” the child's mother admitted right away as she turned to the test reocrder, who was finishing a note on the clip board.  “Either way, she did her job well,” the noncom noted as he glanced at the mother.

“It was fun tormenting the guard.” The amused child smiled broadly as she bobbled her head to a victory tune in her head.

“Indeed, we think It was, rather entertaining.” A familiar regal voice joined in, Midnight looked over to see Princess Luna standing slightly tall over the rest.  With trained politeness Midnight gave the princess a short bow, “Milady, did you oversee the test?” he asked standing up straight.

“Oh nay, I was merely about to Enter a dream when this poor dear fell before me,” The princess gestured to petal who only had a quiet groan of pain to reply with, “all due thanks to this little pony's cleverness.” she smiled to the little filly who almost pranced in giggling glee.

“If I may say though,” she looked to the company commander and Captain Pearly Shield, “She didn't really see the obvious traps, however the Cadet did express determination and will power towards finishing the test and catching the child and that itself is enough to pass.” The officers nodded, “Very well then, If her highness agrees that Cadet petal Blow passes, she passes.” It was wise not to argue with any of the royals.

“Good news Ser Glacial, now If thouest can excuse me, I shall return to tending the dream scape.” the Alicorn nodded to the guards who all bowed in return, “Your majesty.” They said respectfully.  petal Plow on the other hoof didn't even process the formalities as she simply thumped against the floor.  Luna chuckled at the exhausted cadet before taking her leave down the hall and out of sight.

The mother and her child bowed to the princess before taking their leave a minuet later.

“Cadets, You did very well,” Pearly shield turn to looked between the two, “You both took your first test in stride,” Midnight glanced at his partner before lifting her back onto her hooves, well, she leaned against him after a minuet of standing on her own.

“Tell you what, I'll pull some pony from somewhere else to take your place, you two are relived for tonight so you can rest for your real duties tomorrow night.”

“'Real duties', sir?” Midnight asked as Petal shook her head, recovering her sanity.

“Yes, Midnight, You'll be given your first real duty tomorrow night.”  Glacial Drop looked at the two with a cocked brow, he stayed silent while the captain spoke to the cadets.  One would only wonder what the commander was thinking.

“Cadets,” Pearly addressed the two, “Dismissed.”

“Thank you, sir.” Midnight then glanced to petal, “You going to be fine walkin' back?”

“Yeah, yeah, just mind the spuds...” She wasn't all there still midnight thought.

“Alright, lets go.” and the beaten duo limped back to the barracks. However, before they could leave, they both paused to hear a loud crash followed by a surprised shriek.  “I think the librarian found the Unicorn's book trap.”  Midnight commented.

“The wha-?” Petal looked back behind them as they both could hear inaudible cursing through the doors.

“Don't worry, lets get going.”