The one with the name Darkness,
will assist the one named after sparkles,
to help his destined true mare desire,
the one who's named after fire.

Faint stirred in his bed, troubled with nightmares of his past. He dreamt of the old alicorn prophetess Princess Faust, and how she was a family friend...and how she died. He awoke suddenly, silently, wide-eyed.

“Celestia, damn these memories...Curse them all!” He shouted into the darkness of his room. He wished he could disperse these dreadful memories of friendship, pain, and loss.

Faint sighed, and slid out of bed. He couldn’t take the feeling of claustrophobia of his small room, and pulled his window curtains apart. The early morning sunshine beamed directly into his pupils, temporarily blinding him. Faint backed away, and blinked a few times. When he could finally see, he looked out into the small but beautiful town of Ponyville. He found it to be surprisingly busy. Faint then turned and checked his clock.

“Ah, crap. Eleven thirty, and my brain still no function right...Hehe...” He giggled at his own bad Equestrian, caused by his lack of time awake and sense of actual humor. Faint trotted over to his dresser, and grabbed his sunglasses, watch, and necklace with a full black moon charm. He put his necklace and his sunglasses around his neck, and his watch onto his right front hoof.

“Damn...I look like shit,” Faint stated after noticing his image in his mirror, “I should try to fix that.” He went to go open his door, and at this time his roommate blasted open his door, sending Faint into his bed.

“Good morning everypony! Time to WAKE UP!”

“Celestia damn you,Shadow Breeze! You’re always up so friggen’ early, and you wake me up an-”

“And you know you need it anyway, what with you staying up so late for your job. Even still, I’m helpful.”

“Yeah, well...Er...Thanks, Shadow..” Faint sighed in defeat. He could never, in a million years, argue with his logical friend and roommate. Shadow was just too damn smart at times. He was also Faint’s first real friend, being his step-brother and all.

“Anytime, bro. Anytime. Now, for today: What do you have planned? I’m just gonna roam, so...”

“Eh, I dunno yet. I’ll just go with the flow, y’know? Throw caution to wind, and all that...”

“Oh, I see. Well, I’m gonna head off- Also, you got a letter in the mail. It’s the blue envelope on the coffee table. See ya later!”

“Yeah, okay, see ya later.” Faint followed Shadow out of his room, closing the door behind him. Shadow took off, and Faint went to check out the blue envelope as he plopped down on their couch in the living room.

“Addressed to Faint A. Darkness, blah blah blah, from...Princess Luna, Canterlot Royal Castle? Wait a minute!” His heart began to race, as the letter went on.

“I, Princess Luna, personally invite you, Faint Abril Darkness, to become a member of my Royal Guard. If you would like to accept, or if you have any questions, come to the Royal Canterlot Castle. signed, Princess Luna.” Faint’s body stopped working. His mind got cloudy, his movements slow and clumsy. He reread the letter, to check and make sure he got it right.

“My Celestia...Princess Luna invited ME to join her Royal Night Guard! I can be like Shadow now! Yes!” Faint did what his name implied: He fainted on the couch.

~A few minutes Later~

"Faint? Faaaaaint? You home?" Shadow walked inside, looking around for his step brother. He found him, Passed out on their couch.

"Faint, wake up!" He shook Faint, and he jumped up.

"Huh? Ohey, Shadow! Check this out!" Faint held the letter practically in Shadow's face, who took it, and read it.

"Woah, Congrats, dude! I guess you'll be joining me on my squad then, because one of my guys just...passed away...Even still, this is awesome."

"Yeah, I know! This means I can be close to Princess Luna, and get to know her, and- I mean, I'll be able to protect...princess Luna..."

"...Rrrriiiighhht. Anyway, you know you'll have to take this seriously. No dickin' around, when you're on-duty."

"Sir, yes sir." Faint and shadow laughed, and Faint stood up. "Alright, well...I guess I should go tell her that I accept! I'll see you in a bit, Shadow!"

"Alright, stay safe, and DO NOT be or act stupid around the princess'! I know how you are."

"Yeah yeah, whatever, I got it!" Faint opened the door and started to gallop out of their apartment building. When he was outside, he took off with great haste, towards the Royal Canterlot Castle, where Princess Luna awaited his answer. He grinned wide, and pulled off a barrel roll as he exclaimed his excitement and joy.

"Woo! She asked ME to join her guard! Hell yeah!" Faint pushed himself to go faster, and as he finally began to slow down to land in front of the castle, he felt his wings begin to hurt, and he quickly landed. He rubbed his wings, and folded them back up, before he began to trot towards the castle entrance. He ran of his hooves through his mane, taking deep breaths all the while, and felt the butterflies begin to stir in his stomach.

He approached the two entrance guards, and they stepped in his path, stopping him momentarily. "Halt, state your name and business within the castle." Faint swallowed the saliva in his mouth, before trying to speak.

"I am Faint L. Darkness, requested to be seen by princess Luna herself." he pulled out the letter from his (body?) pocket (still no idea on how they do that...) and showed it to them. They snorted in response, and let him pass. He smiled again, and power-trotted into the throne room, where Luna had said she would be. As she said, she was indeed there, on her throne. As was her sister, Celestia. Luna was the first to welcome Faint, as he looked around the giant room.

"Welcome, Faint Darkness, to the Royal Canterlot Castle. Has thou-I mean, have you thought about our question, in the letter we-I sent you?"

"Uh...I men, yes! Yes, I did. And my answer is that I accept your invitation to join your private Night Guard, Princess Luna."

"Great! You shall start training immediately! Miss Spitfire! Would you start his training at this time?" Faint didn't even notice Spitfire, of the Wonderbolts, was even there. He jumped when he saw her, trot up and kneel beside him.

Wait...She's in Luna's guard? What?

"Sister," Princess Celestia began, "Did you not forget something? Our guest here, has not even moved his belongings into his quarters...Nor has he been shown to his quarters."

"Oh...you are right, 'Tia. Faint Darkness, you will start your training tomorrow. for now, go collect your belongings from your home, and miss Spitfire will accompany you, and when you both return, she shall show you her quarters. Are we all clear?"

"Yes ma'am." Spitfire nodded, and began to leave the room.

"Oh! Yes, princess! Right away!" Faint also left the room, hurrying to catch up to Spitfire. When he did finally catch her, she was waiting outside.

"Alright recruit, the princess requested that I come with you, to get your stuff and come back. Let's hurry up and get this over with."

"Alright..but uh, I was wondering...You're a wonderbolt, right?" She nodded. "So then, why are you here, going to train me?"

"Because, recruit, the princess asked me to personally train you. She likes your record, as do I, and she wants you to be in the best shape possible to be on her guard."

"Does she do this for all the recruits?"

"As far as I know, no. I've only been requested to train you, so far. Now, let's move it!" I nodded, and took off with Spitfire close behind. As we flew, so many questions began to pop into my head.

If I have to go get my stuff, why didn't Shadow? Why does he still live in Ponyville, if we're supposed to stay in Canterlot somewhere? Why did Luna asked Spitfire of the WONDERBOLTS to train me in flying better? Faint sighed, knowing he'd have to wait to get some answers, but then he figured that he would ask Shadow while he was packing his stuff about some of these things. He checked behind him, and Spitfire was still there, but she looked...bored. Faint thought about it, and deduced that they were going to slow for her, so Faint started to really fly. He sped up, knowingly tiring himself out, as they flew. Spitifre noticed this, and smirked.

She decided it would be time to show the recruit a thing about flying fast. She started to go her full speed, nearly instantly passing Faint, who's jaw dropped. He shook his head, and tried his darnedest to catch up, but of course, he was way too slow. Eventually, they landed in front of Faint's apartment building, with him panting and out of breath while Spitfire looked perfectly fine.

"you tried recruit, but you're not fast enough to take me on yet. Trust me. Now, hurry up, so we can get out of here." Faint nodded, and went into his apartment. He heard some noises, which calmed down when he walked down his and Shadow's room hallway. He went into his room as Shadow came out of his. Faint started to pack up his stuff, taking note of how he had nearly nothing. He threw his stuff into his black saddlebags, and that's when Shadow started to talk from Faint's doorway.

"Hey bro, how'd it go?"

"Good...Hey, can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Sure."

"Okay...How come you don't live somewhere in Canterlot, like I will be? How come you still live here?"

"Well, Princess Luna only calls upon me when in dire situations...don't forget, I have been in the guard for years now. I did once live at the Guard Dorms at the castle. I also don't live there anymore because of a...different reason. I will soon be leaving the guard anyway."

"What?! Why is that?!"

"Well," Shadow blushed. Even though Faint couldn't see if through Shadow's black fur, he could tell he was. Shadow rubbed the back of his neck and continued. "I'm sorta...gonna get married soon, and start a family, so I wouldn't be able to be of much use anyway..."

"WHAT?! You're getting married? To who! And when?!" Faint put on his saddlebags, and started to leave his room, still looking at Shadow.

"Well, I'm getting married to this wonderful mare...Her name is Fluttershy. She's cute, and soft-spoken, and great, and-"

"Okay, I get it!"

"-And we're getting married in a week. I'll be moving out of here, and going to go live with her. "

"Wow. Well then. What about the house? Gonna sell it?"

"you forget that we don't own this place. It's an apartment. Somepony else'll move into here. I'll make sure to get your furniture too. I'm gonna have a friend help me, his name's Big Macintosh."

"Uh-huh. Just..don't break my stuff, okay?" Faint trotted into the living room, where Spitfire waited on the couch. She stood up when she saw him, and started to leave the place.

"Yeah, sure, we won't! Fluttershy lives in a cottage, near the edge of town. Make sure to visit, bro."

"'Course. I'll...see you...whenever, I guess."

"Right." The did a quick bro-hug, and Faint left, following Spitfire. Meanwhile, Shadow went back to his room to resume what was in motion. He opened the door, and smirked.

"Get ready, baby. We ain't done yet." He slowly closed the door behind him, as the pink maned and yellow-furred pony smiled on his bed.

"O-Okay."

~Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle Entrance:~

"Alright...Let's get you to your dorm room, and then we'll start your training. Follow me, recruit!"

"Yes ma'am." Faint followed Spitfire as she said, looking around the castle as he did. He saw all kinds of pony workers, from cleaners to cookers and guards. Minutes later, Faint dropped his saddlebags on his new cot in the dorms, as Spitfire explained some ground rules.

"Yes, recruit, if you were wondering: The dorms are not gender-separated. that is why I'm here. Even still, there is too be no inappropriate contact with the mares in this guard. Understand, recruit?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good. Another thing: when I'm done training you, I'll leave, and you're trainer for physical strength will replace me. Instead of learning how to fly better, you'll learn how to fight. After that, you have a more school-like teacher, who will help you with all the guidelines on being in this guard, as well as other important things that have to do with your brain. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good! Now show some hustle, because we only have around four or five more hours of daylight. Let's get to work!"

"Yes ma'am." Faint smiled, and followed her outside, where Spitfire taught him about aerodynamics, and how to fly longer without getting tired.

By the end of the day, Faint could last another whole minute of flying at his top speed, and pull off tight turns and last-second evades. They re-entered the castle after the sun had barely set, and headed for the dorm room, where Faint found out he had three roommates total:

There was Spitfire, surprisingly, a 'good' changeling pony who soon became one of Faint's best friends who is named Moon Aegis, and another mare pegasus who's name is 'Frosty Winds' who apparently already knew Spitfire. As the ponies all sat on their cots in the dorm room, Faint thought about something.

This may be the strangest group of ponies I've ever known...This is gonna be so awesome because of that! He smiled.

"G'night everypony."

"Good night," they all responded back, and the lights switched off.

Author's Note

This took so damn long..but now it's here! Let me say, this is gonna be wild! I hope everypony likes it.
I await your feedback.

~F.A.D.