Guard Tiara: The Grand Guard Games

"So how are you feeling?" Dinky asked.

"Like I got my ass kicked," Diamond Tiara answered. Sucking a deep breath through her nose, she hocked up and spat out a ball of snot and clotted blood. "It was a stupid idea to get in a fight like that. Especially with her."

"Well... at least you didn't lose," Dinky said with a grin.

"I don't really considered 'draw due to double knock-out' a real win," Diamond huffed out.

"I guess you're not as hard headed as some ponies say then."

"Oh, har har, Dinky. You're just hilarious."

"I know," Dinky replied with a giggle.

Diamond Tiara let out a snort, which made her nostrils itch. She sucked in another breath to hock up and spit more blood and snot. This time it was not as black as the last one. She must have gotten most of the clots out by now. True, spitting was not supposed to be lady-like behavior, but then, nearly having her nose broken going against her rival in semi-illegal underground fight club was in no way lady-like either.

And neither was breaking a mare's jaw. The memory of being told that brought a grin to Diamond's face.

"I'm here! I'm here!"

The sound of Rumble shouting broke Diamond Tiara out of her thoughts and drew her attention. The pegasus stallion came in for a landing nearby. His wings gave a flap as he turned his momentum into a short trot, coming to a full stop in front of the pair.

"And where did you disappear to?" Diamond asked.

With a grin, Rumble opened one of his saddle bags, reached into it, and pulled out a pink box with a white snowflake on the lid. Lifting the top, he revealed the apple fritter inside to Diamond Tiara.

"I went to Snow Sugar's Sweets to pick this up for you," he said as he held it out. "Figured you would want this to feel a little better about last night. 'specially since you still have all of your teeth."

Grinning herself, Diamond Tiara took a hold of the treat gave it a big bite. The fried bread, the apples, the cinnamon and the powdered sugar all mixed and danced across her tongue. It tasted so good, Diamond Tiara gave a little moan.

"By the way," Rumble continued, "Snow Sugar asked about you. It seemed like she was disappointed that you weren't coming in this morning." He grinned. "I think she likes you."

"Oooh," Dinky said. "Does somepony have a crush on Diamond?"

"Oh come on," Diamond said, rolling her eyes. "We're not foals in school anymore. A crush is no big deal. Besides, it doesn't matter. You know that I'm in love with Apple Bloom." She then took another bite of her fritter.

"Uh... Diamond?" Rumble asked. "Would... you care to repeat that?"

Turning her attention to him and Dinky, Diamond Tiara found the pair of them staring at her with confusion and curiosity.

"I said 'you know I'm in a relationship with Apple Bloom,'" Diamond Tiara said. "You know that. Why?"

Dinky and Rumble glanced at each other for a moment. One of Dinky's ears flickered.

"We... thought we might have misheard you," Dinky answered. "You... were a little muffled by the mouthful of fritter is all."

For her part, Diamond Tiara was skeptical of their answer. From the look on their faces, they were definitely hiding something. Still, it was probably nothing important.

Finishing the rest of her fritter, she turned away from the pair and resumed walking. Soon the other two started to follow after her, making their way through the city. They made their way along the streets that cold morning (which it was safe to guess was pretty much what it was like there every morning), heading toward the temporary guard command center. As they went, other ponies joined them. Some they recognized from their own squadron, while others were members of different guard units that had also been volunteered into helping watch the city in the current situation.

Inside the building, they all continued on, heading toward a single large auditorium. Moving forward, they filed into rows, facing toward a raised stage. There was a faint sound of conversation as some of those already waiting chatted gently among themselves.

The conversations all ceased when Prince Consort Shining Armor stepped onto the stage.

"As you all have been told," Shining Armor called out loud enough for all to hear, "your representatives have agreed to have you assist the crystal guard in keeping the city, its citizens, and visiting individuals safe while The Grand Guard Games are occurring. For those of you wondering, this is due to the fact that in the past two nights, there have been attacks."

The words "two nights," and "attacks" echoed through Diamond Tiara's mind, blocking out the rest of Shining Armor's words. That meant that at least one other attack happened last night. There possibly could have been others, even on the same night she had first found out, which were reported after she had left their meeting. How many had been attacked? What happened to them?

Getting back up, Diamond Tiara started making her way toward an open walkway.

"Where are you going?" Dinky called after her (as much as one could while whispering).

"I need to find out exactly what happened," she answered, continuing to walk. Reaching the cleared path, she moved as fast as she could up the path without running (or having the freshly re-opened wound in her leg hurt too badly). Leaving the auditorium, she scanned the halls to see if there was a being there that could help her. Not seeing any, she started down one of the halls.

Considering what was happening, at least one of the princesses should be nearby. If not, then at least some of the commanding officers should be around. Certainly some of the officers would know more about what happened, and might be willing to fill her in.

"Private Tiara!"

The shout stopped Diamond Tiara's searching. Turning toward the sound, she shifted to stand at full attention and gave a salute.

After returning the salute, Commander Serena asked, "what...happened to you?"

"I fell down the stairs, ma'am," Diamond Tiara responded.

"...fell... down... the stairs?" Serena repeated, raising an eyebrow and studying Diamond Tiara closely.

"Yes, ma'am."

Diamond Tiara continued to stand there at attention, as Commander Serena stared at her. It was the familiar look that Diamond had seen before, the look of an authority figure seeking indications if somepony was being deceptive. Seeing it on her commander's face, Diamond had to resist the urge to smile. Deceiving others -- teachers, parents, adults, pretty much any sort of authority in foalhood -- had been something she had become quite practiced at when she was young. It was the best way to get away with misbehavior and possibly get others into trouble. She was willing to bet she was still very competent at it.

Perhaps she should try playing poker with some of the others, just to test it out and keep her skill sharp.

"I actually 'fell down the stairs' a few times myself when I was young," Commander Serena stated. "Made quite a few bits out of it too. I suppose there's no trouble as long as any others who 'fell down the stairs' with you were there by their own choice. Now, what are you doing out here and not at the conference with the others?"

"Permission to speak freely, Commander?"

"Very well," Commander Serena said with a nod.

"Prince Shining Armor said that there were multiple attacks over the past few nights," Diamond Tiara explained. "Yesterday morning, I was at one of the sights where one of the attacks happened."

"Yes," Serena stated. "The first known victim. The one that claimed to have been attacked by King Sombra."

"Yes ma'am. And I was hoping that I could find somepony that could tell me about the other victims."

"Victim," Commander Serena said. "Only one other... so far. It was similar to the previous: a lone pony attacked in the pre-dawn hours of this morning. Also like the previous, the attacker was not seen. However, in this case, the victim claims that they were attacked by a crystal wolf. Are you aware of what those are?"

"They are supposed to be an equivalent to Timber Wolves in The Everfree Forest, ma'am," Diamond Tiara answered. "Animate crystals primarily in the shape of a large wolf."

"Correct. However, no paw pads were found in the area, and there was no signs of physical injury. Now, get back to the conference."

"Yes ma'am," Diamond said, giving another salute. Turning away from the commander, she started back toward the auditorium.

"Tiara," Commander Serena called out. "Before you go: hypothetically, if the 'stairs' you fell down were -- say -- another pony, how badly would they have been damaged by your 'fall?'"

Diamond Tiara considered the question for a moment. She could figure out what it was that Commander Serena was trying to ask in not too roundabout a way. The question was how to answer.

"I can't actually say since I don't remember reaching the bottom of the stairs," Diamond Tiara finally answered. "But, if -- hypothetically -- some others had been there and seen what happened, they might say that I damaged the stairs as much as they did me."

"Well then, I guess we're going to have to see about some extra training when we get back to Ponyville," Serena stated. "After all, if somepony is going to 'fall down the stairs,' they should at least reach the bottom still standing. Dismissed." She then turned from Diamond Tiara and started walking away.

Diamond watch her commander a moment before turning and continuing toward the auditorium doors. As she walked, she considered what she had been told and what had been implied. First, there had been another attack. Second, that her commander knew about the underground fighting.

On the first matter, she went through what little she now knew. It was the second attack in as many days, it also happened early this morning, and the victim claimed to be attacked by a crystal wolf. With the first point, although it supposedly was not enough to indicate an actual pattern yet, it was something to take note of. If it was the start of one, then that would mean there will be another. If that was the case, then the fact it happened in the same time and similar circumstances would mean that it would happen in the pre-dawn hours of tomorrow, and the target would most likely be alone. The third -- that the victim claimed it was a crystal wolf -- would mean that it was not King Sombra after all (unless he somehow managed to get crystal wolves to serve him, which was not a possibility Diamond Tiara wanted to consider). So the upside was that it was not the return of the former tyrant, which would put some ponies at ease, but it led to two new questions: if it's not Sombra, then what is it; and how do they stop whatever it is?

The other matter was that Commander Serena knew about the fighting, if not the fight club itself. Did that mean that there was one in Ponyville? How many knew about it? Maybe she could find a pony who was involved on it when she got back. Not necessarily to participate, but she possibly pick something up from watching.

But that would have to wait until she returned. Which would be either after the games or when they figured out what was happening and how to stop it. For now, the first matter was also first priority. Something was attacking ponies -- just ponies so far -- and as a guard, it was her job to help keep ponies safe. As long as she was in The Empire, she was going to do her best for that to happen.