The Northern Guard

Northern Tundra, MAC Platform Crash Site
Cloud Runner

I was staring out over the crater that the MAC platform had left in the landscape, frowning under my helmet. Earlier Cosmo had said he didn’t think I’m stable. With a moment to pause, I can’t help but think he might be onto something. Within a week I went from the dutiful son to judge, jury and executioner. Hell, I was going to school to be a teacher damnit!

“Cloud, you alright?” Asked Cosmo.

“I’m fine.” I said, the helmet on the armor making my voice sound scratchy and giving it an electronic quality.

“You sure? You’ve been a bit quiet.”

“Cosmo, we were wandering around a pile of scrap and got jumped by some trigger happy mercs.”

Cosmo sighed. I’ll bet he was rolling his eyes under his helmet. “Don, where’s our ride?”

I watched as the Pelican skidded to a halt on the icy ground behind us. “Right there.” Answered the human as he climbed up the extended ramp.

I grabbed the seat at the back of the cabin next to the door, leaned my head back and nodded off. I don’t know how long I slept, but Cosmo was knocking me on the helmet when I finally woke up. “What?”

“We’re back.” Cosmo walked down off the Pelican and onto the roof of his building. Groaning, I got out of my seat and followed Palmer over to the stairs down to the loft.

Halsey was standing at the counter when we walked in, finishing a mug of coffee. “I take it everything went well?”

I watched Cosmo toss his helmet on the counter and grab a beer out of the fridge. “Do you really want to know?” Cosmo popped the tin cap of the bottle and took a quick swig.

“It must have been interesting enough if Captain Sentry dropped off a package for you.” She replied, picking up a manila envelope off the counter and handing it to Cosmo.

Cosmo put down his beer and pulled the papers out, laying them out on the counter and studying them. “No known relatives, eh?” he muttered. He flipped through to the last page and frowned. “Yah, not happening.” He tossed the papers back on the counter and abandoned his beer.

“What’s not happening?” I asked, following Cosmo into the armory.

“Remember that kid I brought back?” He asked. I nodded, remembering the exhausted filly that he had wrapped around his kneck. “Well it looks like she doesn’t have any known living relatives. And Captain Sentry, in his infinite wisdom, is having her put in an orphanage.”

“You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

“I had to rip that girl away from her dead parents.” He said. “But that's beyond the point. I really don't like this country's foster care system. So I’m gonna go get her.” He tossed his jacket and body armor on the stand before grabbing a freshly washed polo out of a dresser he kept next to the armor.

“So where are you going to keep this kid?” Asked Palmer, having walked in on the tail end of our conversation. “You don’t an infinite amount of space.”

“You’re right. It just so happens I own the whole building.” He rebutted, grabbing a black sport coat. “I’ll probably be back some time tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.”

With a pop, Cosmo teleported away, leaving me and Palmer alone in the armory. “So what now?”

Palmer pulled her chest plate off and hung it on its rack. “I’m calling it a day.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Canterlot Castle, the Following Morning
Cosmo

Did I ever mention how much I hate coming to Canterlot? Way too many snobs per square mile, not enough common sense. Granted that number had shrunk after half the city fell off the mountain, but what the hell would I know?

“Cosmo, what brings you out here?”

Damn, Flash already found me. Can’t get away with ignoring him now, “Where’s the girl?”

“Still sleeping.” Answered Flash. “You want to see her before she heads out?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “And let her end up in foster care? How about no.” I brushed past him towards the throne room.

“And what the hell are you going to do?” Asked Flash.

I tried to ignore him. Don’t get me wrong, Flash isn’t a bad pony. But ever since I first met him… Let’s just say that all the blood and gore he’s dealt with stripped him of his innocence… And it made him into a huge prick. I brushed past another pair of guards and walked up to the throne room door before said prick got in my way.

“You mind telling me what you’re planning?”

“How about you wait and see.” I brushed past him again and into the throne room. Celestia was on the throne, listening to a spiel from some red unicorn. Sounded like something about some human. It almost sounded important… Almost. “Celestia!”

The two turned to look at me. The unicorn furrowed his brow. “We’re a bit busy here.”

“Then get in line.” I growled. “Celestia, I need a favor.”

I heard the princess sigh up on her throne. “I take it that no won’t be a sufficient answer?”

I ignored her. “The filly that Captain Sentry brought back. I want her released into my custody.” Celestia seemed to stare me down once I finished. “Well? Does it sound like I’m giving you an option?”

“Sounds like you plan on taking young Archer even if I said no.”

“Damn straight!” I stared up at the Princess and glowered at her. “Well?”

Celestia sighed again. “Captain Sentry, take Cosmo to see Archer and square away the paperwork.” Huh... Got that one hook, line and sinker. There's absolutely no way that this could come back to bite me in the ass later... Damn it, I think I just jinxed myself.

“Yes ma’am.” As Flash led me out of the throne room, I kept thinking back to when I found Archer. I doubt she’d recognize me without my gear on… As Flash stopped before a door a few minutes later and swung it open, I finally had my game plan together.

It was a small guest bedroom. Archer was curled up at the head of the bed, ignoring that I came into the room. “Hey there. You must be Archer.” She still ignored me as I sat down on the bed next to her. “How are you feeling?”

“What does it matter to you?” She whispered.

“Because I’ve lost my parents too.”

Archer finally turned to face me. I could tell from the stains on her cheeks that she had been crying. “Really?”

I nodded. “I was five when my parents died. We were visiting Dodge City at the time. We got stopped by a group of Griffins who started demanding their money…” Is it just me, or am I starting to have trouble seeing? Wiping my eyes confirmed it; I was starting to cry. Just got to keep a lid on it for a little while longer. “My father was a proud stallion and told them no… I really don’t remember much else, everything just moved too fast. By the time I realized what was going on, I was watching my parents lying in a puddle of their own blood.” Alright, can’t keep this up much longer. “So…” I choked up for a minute. “I do know how you feel. And I’m not about to sit on the sidelines when I can try to help you.”

Maybe it’s just me, but feeling Archer wrap her arms around my chest felt somewhat rewarding. “So what do you plan on doing?”

“The stallion that took you out of Marcy’s was a friend of mine. He said you could use a place to stay…”

“So you’ll be taking me with you?” I nodded, Archer tearing up the whole time. “Thank you.”

I think we just sat there for half an hour before we walked out of the bedroom. Archer had a small bag, here clothes from yesterday packed inside. As I walked past Flash, he handed me the signed and notarized paperwork approving my guardianship over Archer. Hell, he even had a Warthog ready at the palace gate, keys in the ignition and everything.

“Feel free to hold onto that.” Said Flash as he followed me out the door.

“Thanks.”

As I helped Archer climb into the passenger’s seat, Flash pulled me aside. “Dooley and his team recovered her parent’s bodies this morning. We’re doing autopsies to confirm the cause of death now. Once they’re done, we’ll set up a private burial outside Vanhoover for them.” He whispered.

I nodded and walked around the Warthog, hopping into the driver’s seat. “Then I guess we’ll be in touch.” I threw the vehicle and drive and idled down the driveway towards the main road off the mountain.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft, Six Hours Later
Cloud Runner

Alright, it’s official; I’m bored! Earlier Palmer had insisted I help her repaint that armor that Cosmo loaned her. Guess she didn’t like the black and gold… Had to go with her silver and red. That took about two hours, but Palmer kicked me out of the armory once she was done so she could pull apart some rifles in peace. And don’t even get me started on Halsey! I was actually glad when a knock came at the door. “Finally, something to do!” I groaned. As I approached the door, I saw it shaking back and forth. “What the hell?”

I had to duck pretty damn quick as the door was blown inward off its hinges. I didn’t have much of a chance to do anything before somepony introduced his boot to my face and knocked me back. “Well, looks like the Ranger has some new pets…”

I looked up at a cream-furred stallion standing over me with a pistol at his side. “Who the hell are you?”

“Stalemate?!?!” I looked to the doorframe. Cosmo was standing there, shielding a filly from the stallion.

“Just getting home now, aren’t we Ranger?”

I went to get up before the stallion planted his foot into my chest and kept me on the ground. “You have something of mine.” As the pressure on my chest grew, I reached into my back pocket and grabbed a wrench I had slipped there. “I want it back.”

“Archer, stay behind me.” Growled Cosmo. He spread his stance and raised his fists. “You’re not taking Palmer.”

“I’ll second that.” I said. I whipped the wrench at Stalemate’s head, knocking him off his balance long enough for me to push his boot off me and scramble to my feet. I spread my own feet and held my fists up. “The way I see it you have two options. Either turn around and leave in one piece, or you leave on a stretcher.”

“I’d recommend taking your pick.” Came Palmer’s voice from behind me. I watched Cosmo’s brow furrow. In my peripheral vision, I caught the silver glint of the new paint on Palmer’s armor. She had the helmet trimmed down, and a blue visor covering the open sections of the helmet. “What’ll it be?”

Stalemate chuckled like the arrogant bastard he was quickly proving himself to be. “I’ll take the third option.” Stalemate’s hands started to glow before he stepped towards Palmer and delivered a punch right into her chestplate, sending her flying across the loft sparking the whole way with arcs of red magic. Cosmo leaped onto his back only to be pulled over and hit across the jaw.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft
Cosmo

Damn, that hurt! I massaged my jaw for a brief moment before I dove under a swing of Stalemate’s right arm. Peering past him, I saw Halsey had slipped by through the kitchen and was moving away down the hall with Archer. “That the best you got?” My horn started to glow bright blue. Stalemate motioned for me to come at him and I unleashed a bolt of magic straight at his face. In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting the bastard to grab that bolt and throw it back at me.

As I slid across the loft and landed in a heap next to Palmer, Cloud ran to our defense, placing himself between the two of us and Stalemate. “You’ve still got me to deal with.” That fight didn’t last long as Stalemate smacked both sides of Cloud’s head and tossing him into the kitchen. I could hear him grunt as he hit the fridge and fell to the ground.

“Really, is this the best you could do?” Joked Stalemate. “One of my science projects and some kid? I thought that the Ranger himself would be far better prepared.”

I struggled to get to my feet, leaning against the wall to support my weight. Since when did some earth pony have magic fists? Better yet, where can I get some? “That’s one hell of an improvement Stalemate.” I groaned. Palmer was getting to her feet behind me, brushing off her armor. “I can do better.” Running forward, I ducked past Stalemate before swinging my boot into the side of his knee and delivering a punch to the back of his neck.

He started to spin around when Palmer ran forward, swing wide as she past and catching the right side of his face. He started to turn with the hit, giving me the opportunity to grab him and throw him over my shoulder into the wall that I had used as my stand. “You good?” Asked Palmer.

“I’ll live.” I charged at Stalemate, hitting the wall when he popped out of existence and slammed my head into the wall when he reappeared behind me. Damnit, since when could an earth pony teleport? I heard Palmer groan following a resounding thud of skin on metal. Turning to face Stalemate, I was blasted back into the wall with the same red magic he had used on Palmer.

“Well this was a wash.” Said Stalemate as he wiped his knuckles clean of blood. “But you’ve been sufficiently bloodied, that much is certain. Good luck holding back the tide.”

I watched Stalemate flash out of the room, leaving Palmer sliding down the wall next to the armory, while Cloud limped into the parlor. “What the hell just happened?” Asked Cloud.

“Take a wild guess.” I groaned as I struggled to my feet. Looking to the door, I saw Halsey leading Archer into the apartment. “You two OK?”

“A bit shaken, but we’re fine.”

Archer walked up to me and buried her head in my chest for a moment before looking up at me. “What did he mean about the tide?”

“I don’t know.” I said. “But something tells me I have to go to work.” I struggled over into the armory and made it to my armor stand. Next to it were some stimpacks, and I quickly injected one. Almost immediately I felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I managed to pull on my body armor before Archer walked up to me with my helmet.

“I thought you said a friend told you about me?” She asked, starting to tear up.

“Did you think I was talking about me?” I joked. “Captain Sentry told me where you were headed. Suffice to say, I don’t have a high regard for the foster care system in this country.”

She looked down at my helmet, tracing her small fingers over the air intake on the front of the faceplate. “Then why lie?”

I sighed. Damn kids and their flawless logic… “Part of me isn’t comfortable with the type of pony I am… If it means anything, I wasn’t expecting to come home to a mosh pit.”

Archer reached up and pulled my helmet down on my head. “Just promise that you’ll come back.”

I smiled under the mask as I pulled on my long coat. “Consider it a pinkie promise.”

Palmer stood in my way at the armory door. Off to the side stood Cloud, helmet to the Tempest armor under his arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“You heard Stalemate, didn’t you?” I said. “We need to find out what he meant by holding back the-”

“Maybe he means the mob coming down the street?” Asked Halsey. We joined her at the window and spotted the large group advancing down the way towards the building.

I hit the zoom on my helmet and examined the crowd. “They’re unarmed…”

“That supposed to make us feel better?” Asked Cloud.

I frowned and studied the group, catching sight of a blue unicorn staying off to the side. “I’ll be back.” I charged up my horn and teleported from the loft down in front of the group. “Anything I can do to help you folks?”

“We’re here to help!” Yelled somepony from the back of the crowd.

“Why my friend means to say is that we want to help. You helped save our asses back in Centre Park, but even you can’t be everywhere Ranger.” Wait, they aren't here to kill me? Can I get off this roller coaster yet?

I jarred my thumb to the building behind me. “Front door is open. Go on in and make yourselves at home, I’ve got plenty of beds to spare.” I stayed in my place while the small crowd walked to the building and clicked on my radio. “Cloud, they’re on our side. Make sure they get set up in the bedrooms downstairs.”

“What bedrooms?”

“I own the building, remember?” I shook my head and approached the blue mare who stayed to the side and watched. “Miss, are you alright?”

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

I had to think back… Wait, Las Pegasus! “Trixie, right?”

She nodded. “It’s been while.”

I nodded. I haven’t seen Trixie since I brought her to the hospital after she was caught in the crossfire during the attack in Las Pegasus roughly two years ago. “So what brings you up north?”

Trixie fidgeted for a moment. “I was hoping to find you Cosmo.” Wait, how the hell does she know my name? “Twilight told me your name, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

I groaned. “There’s no such thing as secrets these days…” I saw Trixie shudder a bit in the cold night breeze. Maybe it’s the chivalry, but I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. “You still didn’t say why you came.”

“Did you miss the trashed city?” She asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I want to help.”

“You do realize I can’t just-”

ROARRR!!!

“What the hell?” I turned out to face the bay and felt the blood draining from my face as waves started splashing up onto the shore. Standing above us was a pale white dragon snorting fire. “You know what Trixie? Of course you can help.”

“Do you really want me to start now?” She asked.

I shrugged. “We’ve all got to start somewhere Trixie.” I checked the revolver I grabbed, loading in the hand loaded match rounds I kept in my ammo pouch. “Now are you ready for your first lesson?”

I saw a shield shimmer to live in front of us. “Maybe?”

I nodded and cocked back the revolver’s hammer. “Then let’s get stared with lesson one. Staying alive.”