The Black Nightmare

Canterlot, Royal Castle

3:00 pm

1 years before Nightmare Moon's return

It was impossible to describe what kind of feelings came from that face.

Or, at least, from what was once a face.

His head was covered with bandages and gauze, leaving only holes for eyes and mouth. His eyes, once brown, were a hodgepodge of gray and red. They moved slowly, looking the surrounding environment, as a prey which is moving carefully, fearing ambushes, or as a predator who prepares a deathtrap for his prey.

Through the holes for the eyes and the mouth, it was possible to see what was left of his skin: only a tissue of purplish burning flesh.

He had personally selected his clothes to cover as much as possible of his battered body:

He was wearing jeans and heavy boots on his legs and feet. The abdomen was protected by a turtleneck sweater, located itself behind a bulletproof vest. It was easy to note the presence of bullet holes on that protective clothing.

On both sides of his belt there was an holster, and in each holster there was an handgun: a Desert Eagle full loaded with .44 Magnum bullets.

The choice of his weapon was ironical: in fact, the Desert Eagle was able of making, with the right kind of bullets and a good shot, terrible injuries to anyone lucky enough to be in front of the barrel.

Of course that weapon had some disadvantage: the weight and the size made it very inaccurate in the hands of someone inexperienced.

Obviously that was not a problem for him.

He walked slowly toward the desk, but stopped in the middle of the room.

His attention was caught by the book on the floor.

“I agree” he said still looking at the tome “ this book is completely useless.”

The young man smiled.

“There is no possibility that I could see you elegant dress, isn't it Jackal?”

“And why should I dress myself as a penguin?” he replied “She wants to see you, not me!”

As he said this, he sat down on the chair in front of him, and his attention was caught again by something else.

“Are you nervous ?” he asked.

The young man was taken aback by the unusual question.

“Why do you ask me that?” he said, clearly trying to avoid the question.

“Because” he replied without stopping to look at the glass in his hand “The last time I saw you drink alcohol, we were near Hong Kong, surrounded by two chinese divisions.”

Alexander realized he could not hide anything to someone who had been under his command for so long.

“Alright” he sighed with a bit of fun “You got me! Actually I am a bit agitated.”

“For the meeting ?” Jackal asked.

“For the meeting” he answered.

But when he heard the answer ,he jumped up from his chair, loudly banging his hands on the desk, with a face that expressed irritation and a bit of fun.

“What?! Seriously?! I have never see you worried about something, even when you led the 10th Mechanized Brigade near Mount Narodnaia and you retook the airports from the 2nd Guards Tank Division ! Even when you were put in command of the peacekeeping task force in Lybia and you annihilated in one month the rebel army!  Even when you..”

“Jackal!”

He interrupted the speech with a single word. Now he was the one irritated.

Jackal immediately understood that he had gone a little too far.

Although he was his friend , he was after all his superior.

“I mean” he said, trying to justified himself “ You are Alexander Russel! The youngest lieutenant colonel in the ECA military history, the one who led operations all over the world and now you are telling me that you are agitated... for a diplomatic meeting ?”

“Yes, it is” he replied quietly “Now, if you don't mind, i would like to finally drink my scotch.”

And once he had said this, he drank in one gulp the contents of his glass.

But now, the room has became too quiet.

The silence was unbearable for Alexander. After all his liutenant was trying to converse just to ease tension, but he was too nervous to understand that.

Now he needed something to discuss, and suddenly an idea came to him.

He drummed his fingers for a little on the table and then he started:

“How much time before the meeting ?” he asked.

Instead of checking the time, Jackal just indicate the large clock attached to the wall behind himself with his thumb.

“Let me say” he said smiling “That was not good as idea.”

Well, I made a fool of myself, but at least now we have started again to talk he though.

“Anyway” he said, turning to the clock “It seems we have still five minute. But I must say that clock does not fit with the room. ”

Alexander looked around and he had to admit that his lieutenent was right after all.

The room was originally decorated with a very stylish wardrobe and a table of oak. The walls were mostly white, but the appointments were of gold and very elaborate. The bed, though it was not extraordinarily embellished, was tremely soft, much more than he was used to.

Now it would be difficult to imagine that as a guest bedroom.

Part of the paintings and decorations were removed, because in his opinion they were a distraction. The vacuum on the wall was replaced with a military map of the globe.

The same fate had been up to the table, replaced with a more simple desk.

Speaking of the desk, it was completely covered with papers, books, notes and any other type of waste paper. He wanted to place a small store in the room, but unfortunately his request was refused.

But what was absolutely unwatchable was the big gray clock placed on the wall. It made the room unpresentable, itself already very messy.

He was definitely in need of a new place to turn into his office.

While thinking this, the door suddenly opened.

What came out was not as scary as Jackal.

He was young, but a little older than Alexander. From his skin color and features was easy to deduce that it came from Asia. More precisely from Japan. He was dressed in a very tidy and precise way, with a sleek uniform and a pair of glasses. His hair was short and neat, and his gaze was determined.

He took a few steps into the room and then said something very simple and very important.

“Sir, It's time.”

When Jackal heard that voice, he turned swiftly toward the door.

He was very surprised to see him, but soon the surprise vanished, giving way to an irrepressible laugh.

“Well, this is exactly what i meant when I was talking about penguins!” he said trying to articulate words.

Both ignore him and try to focus on more important things.

“Where is the ambassador?” Alexander asked.

“He is downstairs, sir, and he is waiting for you.” he answered rapidly.

He did not wait for either the answer, and immediately rushed out the door, but before going out he left a last order to his two lieutenant: “Try not to kill each other while I am out.”

“A coffe, sir ?” the pony-butler asked.

“No, thank you.” he replied annoyed.

That was probably the third time that he refuses something to drink. Nervous and impatient, he sank even further in his chair.

But then he looked first right and then left along the hallway, and realized that his presence was beginning to attract the attention of those who were around him.

Actually there was not a lot of people ponies: there were two soldiers of the Royal Guard for each side of the hallway and at some distance from them a group of smartly dressed ponies were talking to each other. He could not hear their arguments, but could be deduced from the looks he threw him, which was the subject of discussion the elegant man who was going to meet the current ruler of the kingdom.

While he was deep in thought, the appearance of a young man dressed in uniform as an officer brought him back sharply to reality.

He jumped up, furrowed his brow, and he used the voice for which he was known in diplomatic environment.

“Here you are!”

His powerful and authoritative voice put an end to any talk among the courtiers and brought their attention on him.

After moments of silence, Alexander tried to catch his breath as to justify his slight delay.

“I... I am sorry Mr. Birk. But ... I must say ... t-that this castle is ... a labyrinth.”

“I DON'T CARE what your excuses are!” he interrupted him brusquely “We have no time to waste. Come on!”

Once said this, he motioned to follow him with his muscular hand. They passed the two guards at the door without too many hitches and  proceed through the maze of rooms and corridors that made up the castle.

Alexander had always had some guidance, but this time chose to be guided by the sturdy figure of Reginald Birk.

When one imagines an ambassador, he thinks of him as an individual looking thin and with polite manner, as is required for a man in his position.

Instead he was powerfully built, and not particularly high. His face was clean-shaven but his also a little tough. A pair of brown eyes and short hair helped to give him an intimidating expression.

But he was a man with many talents, including that of being able to negotiate effectively with someone not very friendly.

His career had been intense but always uphill, and he was holding the office of ambassador of the United Nations in the Equestria Kingdoom.

As they descended the stairs Reginald was recalling to Alexander which attitudes to keep and which to avoid in such circumstances, but when he turned the corner he stopped and seemed to be paralyzed by something.

They both stopped in a long corridor which borders the garden. Large windows filtered the light well and could also be opened, giving access to the balconies that overlooked the garden.

On one of these balconies a massive figure stood on four legs, equipped with beak and feathers. These colored his body of brown and his head of gray.

Clearly it was a griffon, but as Alexander had never seen him, the ambassador recognized him immediately.

“Dammit!” he whispered to the young officer “He is Griffonia's ambassador!”

Alexander immediately understood what the problem was.

“We had already given to him our apologies for having sunk by mistake one of his country's cargo, right?” the officer asked.

“Yes, but that is not the problem” he answered “The problem will be when he finds out that I was here and I have not met him .”

The ambassador straightened his jacket and joined him in stride, not before giving him a final advise: “Stay here and do not make trouble while I'm gone.”

He saw him get to the ambassador, greet him, and start a conversation. He wondered what they could talk about, but soon he stopped thinking about it.

Politics and diplomacy weren't particularly interesting for him.

Maybe that was why he had chosen that job.

While he was there he began to observe the environment: the castle was undoubtedly gorgeous and, despite the considerable size, it was still well maintained.

The same could be said of the garden: very few gardens in Europe could boast of such beauty and such an extension.

In addition to large hedgerows, trees of all kinds, artificial streams and decorative statues, there was a colossal labyrinth of plants and green hedges. There was enough space to build another castle.

It would have been nice to visit, but would probably be difficult to get out.

“Excuse me... ”

The young officer whirled around and he found himself in front of three ponies.

But they were not normal ponies; they were members of the Royal Guards.

Actually he had read something about them in a relation made by his military advisers. And for a time it seemed that they had the right view.

They were fairly easy to identify: apart from the golden armor and helmet, they didn't came often out from the city, and when they did, it was only to escort the Princess.

But his attention was captured mainly by the stallion who was the head of the small group.

First of all he was a unicorn, what was unusual, since the majority of the other guards were earth-ponies.

His mane was mostly blue, as the tail, and his cutiemark was a shield.

Alexander had never understood this aspect about cutiemarks. In reality none of the other officers had understood what exactly those symbols were.

For now worth the explanation given by some scientists: they were an indication of the talent or ability of each pony, even if they did not understand if they were simple tattoos or, as had been suggested and no one had given credit to it, symbols that ''appeared''.

Although in this case it indicated his occupation and not his talent.

Worthy of attention was also his armor: instead of the usual golden one, his color was purple, with only gold trimmings.

This clearly means that he was more important than a soldier. Perhaps a senior officer.

“Are you the Colonel Alexander Russel ?” he asked

“Actually“ he answered “I'm just a lieutenant colonel. But the second part of the question was correct so: Yes, I am.”

“In that case, nice to meet you, sir.”  he said, taking off his helmet “Let me introduce myself: I am Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Guard.”

“My pleasure, Captain. It's good to meet a colleague here.” he replied.

Shining was taken aback by that affirmation.“ Colleague, sir?“

“I don't care the someone's provenance” he said “Until he wears a military uniform I will consider him as one of my colleague.”

Maybe he is not as the other slav... he stopped his thought just in time.

He had received the orders from the Pricess: that term was no longer allowed to be used. Especially in this kind of situation.

“Thank you, sir. I suppose you are going to meet the Princess, is it correct?” he asked.

“Well, I ...”

He did not have time to finish the sentence. As had happened before, he was interrupted by the firm voice of Reginald Birk.

“I see you have met the Captain Armour.” he said, reaching him “It's good. After all you will have to work with him henceforth.”

Alexander smiled, but it was a little upset with him.

He had the bad habit of interfering with the speech of others. But that it was his job.

“Captain” the ambassador asked “Can you please tell us where the Princess is ?”

“She is drinking tea in the garden, as she always does at this time.” he answered without esitation.

“Thank you, Captain.” Then he turned to the young officer “Hurry up Alex, we're late!”

“What are you thinking about?” the ambassadors asked.

They had just moved into a circular hall with a domed ceiling and now they were waiting for one of the secretaries communicated their presence to the Princess. At that point they would be introduced in the garden.

It was a bit useless but it was the procedure.

But since they had left the captain, Reginald had noticed that Alexander had become very quiet.

“Reginald” he started “Did you notice what kind of equipment those ponies was using ?”

The ambassador shook his head, so Alexander kept talking “ I will tell you what they were using: spears and armours! We are in the twentyth century, all armies in the world use rifles, tanks and aircrafts; even griffons have shown interest in our gunpowder and they would like to buy it! How can I keep the peace in a country where the equipment of his army dates back to the Middle Ages?”

He was strange sometime: often he seemed distracted and careless, but when the point came to military matters, he was revitalized and showed an uncommon liveliness.

“Well, maybe she will give you the answer. Because it's time.” he replied “But before we go, I have a last advise for you: DO NOT talk about her sister.”

This last warning left Alexander surprised: it just seems ridiculous to him . Of course unless she had tried to kill her.

“Are you kidding, right?” he said, smiling, believing in a joke.

The only answer he received was the expression on his face. The classic expression of a doctor before giving bad news to his patient.

No, i suppose that was not a joke he though.

They were finally allowed to pass and they went into the raised balcony overlooking the garden, where the Princess was waiting for them.

But what Alexander saw , was a figure that left him stunned for few second.

He had received many reports from intelligence agencies about her, many of which were now scattered on his desk. But no report could even try to describe her appearance.

She was pure white, while the long mane and long tail had a beautiful rainbow color.

She was slightly built, which made it high, though he already was, and a golden crown not too elaborate encircled his head.

Alexander though that if there was a way to describe an angel, she would be the perfect definition.

Both sat at the same table circular. The tea was immediately brought in an elegant silver teapot.

On the table there was a chocolate cake placed on a tray in the middle. The table was elegantly arranged with cutlery shiny and white plates.

But instead start talking, no one sitting at the table said something.

Reginald had said previously to Alexander to wait until she begin the speech, because otherwise it would have seemed a lack of respect.

And it seems that she was not going to start the conversation. From when they were sitting, she had not lifted his eyes from the newspaper leaning against the table, sipping sometimes tea from his small cup.

The young officer started to became impatience. He glaced to Reginald, but it seems he was confused too for the strange welcome.

On the other hand, he was curious to find out how much important could been a newspaper to make wait an ambassador and an officer.

Sudddently the answer came: she finally raised the head, wiped her lips and turned to them.

“Ambassador Reginald Birk” she said smiling “It's always a pleasure to meet you. I hope I did not keep you and your companion waiting too much.”

His companion?! I waited all this time and she defined me as ''his companion'' !? Alexander though.

It was a fortune that Birk was on the other side of the table, because otherwise the situation would degenerate quickly. He immediatly realized his intention and tried do disarm the ''bomb''.

“Of course not, Your Highness” he said, trying trying to be as friendly as possible.“ After all, I suppose that the news you were reading required all your attention.”

“So why don't you take a look?” she replied still smiling, levitating the newspaper and laying it in front of him.

He was taken aback by the unusual request.

This caught Alexander's attention attention and left him somewhat bewildered.

If she could take him by surprise with something so simple, she had to be a diplomatic much more skilled than her candid smile left leaked.

Birk, obviously, can not refuse such invitation and he took a look to the newspaper.

But suddenly he came out with an exclamation:

“What?! This is The Washington Post!!” he shouted with suprise.

“Of course it is.” she said quietly “Yours newspapers give me more information than your government and my secret service together.”

“You don't have a good intelligence?” Alexander asked for the first time.

The Princess turned to him “Of course not. My spies are good at their work, but not so good. I also prefer to concentrate their efforts to other objectives.”

After said this, she snorted loudly “Please forgive me. I didn't even asked your name before talking about work.”

Alexander was about to answer, but again Birk was much faster than him “Your Highness, please let me introduce to you Alexander Russel, Lieutenant Colonel of the ECA and commander of the new local section of the LRPF.”

As soon as he uttered those four letters, the Princess's expression changed abruptly: her smile vanished, giving way to a mixture of seriousness and irritation.

Both were very surprised by this sudden change. Reginald tried to say something, but he didn't know what. It was as if that word was a blasphemy or something.

Alexander spoke trying to solve the situation “Actually, I am under the command of Colonel William White, who is my superior and the real commander of the local force. Besides, the entire area of the East Pacific is under the control of General Francis ''Irons...”

“So you are not the commander, is it correct?” she interrupted him. Now she seemed very curious.

“Well...technically no.” he answered.

“And can we speak freely?” she asked softly.

The question was strange, but not for him. The experience had taught him when someone said something like that, usually something important had to be discussed.

He turned to the ambassador and he saw him nodding his head. “Of course” he answered using the same tone of voice.

The Princess took a sip from her cup of tea “I have to say I don't like this situation. The simply presence of foreign military forces into the Equestria's borders has made my generals very nervous. I know perfectly that these conditions were imposed to all other countries,and I know that is the price to pay to pull my kingdom out from the international isolation. I just need one thing from you, Lieutenant.”

Alexander put his cup down on the table before answering  “What do you need?”

She took a long breath before answering, ignoring what would be his reaction “I need you to assure me and my generals that your troops do not commit any kind of abuse of authority against the civilian population for any reason. Alright?”

Alexander was not suprised for the request. After all, it was something that each leader had asked to his local LRPF's commander, and was a reasonable request.

“Yes” he simply answered “But I have two request”.

While she breathed a sigh of relief at the first response, hearing the last words she raised one of her well-kept eyebrows for the surprise, but  she quickly regained his composure.

“First, I want to be able to write a report on the efficiency of your army, and to re-equip them in case the result was negative.”

“What do you mean with ''re-equip them''?” the Pricess said, interrupting him.

“Oh, don't worry” he answered smiling “Nothing too heavy. Just some armored fighting vehicle ''Bradley'', some Phalanx CIWS and Patriot systems, some heavy mortars ...”

“Honestly, I don't think we need your equipment.” she said, interrupting him again “We aren't at war, and we don't want to be at war.”

“Your Highness, I know that, but this is just for having some psychological effects and PREVENT a war. I don't care if your troops will keep using spears or swords; I just want they appear as a modern army.”

This time she prefer to listen. Celestia knew he was right.

The last time she faced a human army, the losses were heavy for both sides: the magic shields worked but they didn't protected her soldiers from close combat.

She knew he was right, but she didn't know what was the good choice. Their weapons were differents; they were able to kill hundreds of soldiers with one simply button.

She took a few seconds to think and then replied “You have raised a good point. I don't know if my generals will be happy for this: I will talk with them and see what I can do. What was the second point?”.

“The second point is simple” he kept talking “I will need a new headquarters for me, my officers and troops”.

Again she took some seconds before answering, sipping her tea.

Alexander and Reginald too used this time to drink their tea.

Suddently the Princess' eyes brightened, she put down her cup and said Lieutenant, “I have the perfect location for your main base. Of course if you accept my conditions.”

“Your Highness, I have to say” he said smiling “They are perfects”.

“Perfect!” she exclaimed “Oh! And please call me simply Pricess Celestia” she said smiling.

Alexander felt there were somenthing strange in that smile: it was not like the usual smile of a politicians or a president in front of  the cameras and the voters. It was... honest?

When he finally returned into his room, Alexander was surprise to see the book,which used to be just one hour ago on the floor, now in the hands of his lieutenant.

“I though you had said that it was useless.” he said smiling

“Useless?” Jackal replied “Oh no! Actually it is very interesting. The best part is the last one.“ he said closing the book “When it ends.”

Meanwhile the asiatic officer has risen from his chair near the desk “How did it go, sir?”

“Better than I expected” he replied. Then he turned to Jackal “And we have a new headquarters.”

“Well” he said “It's time to get to work.”

Then he threw the book behind him.