Author's Note

I apologize for the shortness of this chapter but I just wanted to save the actual introduction into Ponyville for the next chapter. So while this chapter is short I'll try to make the next one 4000+ words. So as you read I'll keep sending you all those positive vibes .

A journeys start

Chapter 5

As the sun rose the ten humans were awoken from their slumbers by guards sent to them by the Princesses to bring them to breakfast. After being awoken all the humans briskly went to the dinging hall to eat their last meal in the crystal empire before traveling via train ride to Equestria. When the ten humans arrived at the dining hall they were surprised to see that everypony else had already arrived and were eating, confusing the humans as they had arrived at the dinging hall before them the previous day. "Good morning," the humans greeted, some saying their greeting in other ways but the meaning staying the same.

"Good morning to you as well, we hope that your sleep was more comfortable last night since we fixed your bed problem," Princess Gleaming shield said, referring to how the ponies had lengthened the humans beds by combining two beds together and connecting them by the foots of the two beds. All the humans nodded in appreciation, no longer as aggravated after a good nights sleep unlike before. "now that you are all here, we would like to ask some questions about your battle yesterday," she continued, speaking of the humans fight with Sombra where they were able to beat him without casualty.

"It was a hard fought battle, but it seems even Sombra isn't immune to electricity," Nate said smiling as he held out a hand that danced with electricity.

"Then twas luck you beat him at all," Princess Luna said, getting a glare from most of the humans but a confused look from the three who had fought Sombra personally.

"Care to elaborate Princess," Paddie said as he eyed Luna carefully in the hopes of deciphering what she meant.

"Had it not been for Sombra's lack of knowledge of your abilities, twould not have been so easy to beat him," Princess Luna answered, making the humans think over what she meant. The seven of the group who had fought the construct thought about how easy it really was to fight them, as they seemed to just crumble under their attacks, at least that's how it went for James and Jacob C but is still wasn't hard for the others to fight them. But as for the three who fought Sombra they thought back to the battle and realized what Princess Luna meant, throughout their entire battle Sombra didn't seem to be tired at all, and had it not been for him letting down his guard then the battle may have turned out very differently.

"Regardless we still would have held out long enough for the guard to arrive," TJ said as he looked at Princess Luna, who just shook her head slowly.

"Had Sombra not let down his guard, thee may very well not have been here today," She said, looking strait at the three. To the credit of the three they didn't outwardly react, though they could tell, deep down, that what she said was true.

"Sister, let's not talk about such depressing matters know, let us instead talk about where you humans plan to live in Equestria," Princess Celestia, moving the conversation away from the possible deaths of the humans and onto the subject of the humans living arrangements.

"We were thinking of settling down in Ponyville, and maybe trying to colonize the everfree forest," Nate said, surprising the ponies that they would think of colonizing a place as dangerous as the everfree forest.

"Art though sure, doth thee know of the dangers that lie in wait in the everfree?" Princess Luna asked, worried about the humans choice and if they knew how dangerous the forest was.

"We don't plan to do it just yet, but it is still an option," Larry said, finishing up his breakfast of pancakes and pushing his plate away.

"Yes, well I do approve of your idea to go to Ponyville, and if you don't mind I would like to request a favor of you all," Princes Celestia said, confusing the ten humans as to what the solar Princess could want from them. "I would appreciate it if you would join the royal guard and work in Ponyville as such to help defend it from the monsters of the everfree," Princess Celestia explained, stumping the humans as they did not expect that kind of favor.

"Give us a moment to talk it over your highness," Nate said motioning for the others to join him the hall.

"Take all the time you need," She answered as she watched the humans close the door behind them.

"What do you all think?" Nate asked as he looked at everyone else.

"I think we should do it," TJ started, "I mean we did just win a battle against an evil tyrant, how hard could being a guard be compared to that," he finished honestly believing that it would be extremely easy.

"Well the everfree has monsters like manticores, hydras, cockatrices, timber wolves, and more," Paddie explained, listing off some of the creatures that called the everfree home. "and Ponyville happens to be extremely close to the everfree," he continued.

"Well if the show is anything to go by the job will be easy," Nate said as he thought back to the show, "the show never showed creatures leaving the everfree that often and it also shows that most ponies in Ponyville don't cause that much trouble," He continued as he went over the episodes that he had seen that showed only a few instances of real problems in Ponyville.

"Then are we going to do it?" Theo asked. Everyone looked at one another before nodding their heads, agreeing to take the job.

The group opened the doors to the dining hall and reentered while looking at the Princesses, "We will answer your request and be guards in Ponyville," Nate said as everyone sat down. Celestia smiled as she was glad the humans were accepting her request. They had shown an abnormal affinity for fighting when they had started the battle against Sombra and won, making her believe that they would be a good choice for defending Ponyville from the monsters of the everfree.

"Thank you, though I hope you don't mind if I send some of my guards to evaluate you all on your abilities," Celestia said looking around at the humans.

Before any of the humans could respond Rainbow Dash decided to butt in, "What the hay Princess, why do we need them to defend us when we can protect Ponyville without them,". The humans all looked at Rainbow Dash, mostly in annoyance. As Celestia was about to respond three things happened, one was that a beam of blue went by Rainbow Dash's head and impacted with the wall freezing it, the second was a lightning bolt going by her head and braking the wall behind her, and the last was a beam of black that went over her head and also blew up some more of the wall behind her.

Everyone looked at TJ, Nate, and Paddie after they had had their little display of power, "That's why," was all that TJ said as he went back to eating.

Rainbow Dash, not knowing when to quit, just decided to antagonize the three after their display, "I bet you wouldn't be so certain if you couldn't use magic," she said with a smug grin. TJ just smiled back, lifted his had up, and brought it down with enough force to shatter the table they were eating at.

"*sigh* I apologize for the broken table Princesses," Nate said as everypony looked at TJ with even more shock, surprised that he could break the crystal table without injury.

"It's okay, this may have been avoided if somepony hadn't been antagonizing him," Princess Cadence said, looking over to Rainbow Dash to emphasize her point. Rainbow Dash sat back down, her ears laid back as she gave a sheepish chuckle and rubbed the back of her head.

"Well with all of that done, how about we go get ready for our train ride," Princess Celestia said as everyone got up and left the room to prepare for the train ride.

*6 hours later, 12 AM, Canterlot station*

The train from the Crystal Empire pulled up to the station with a hiss and a loud sounding of its whistle, announcing its arrival to the guards stationed at the platform to receive the Princesses. The doors opened to the train as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna departed, leaving the rest of the group to continue the ride to Ponyville. Before the train could leave a group of 3 lunar guards and 3 solar guards boarded the train to go to Ponyville and act as trainers for the group of humans.

(colored text are telepathic messages, yellow is Celestia, Blue is Luna)

The train left while the two princesses headed to the castle with their group of ten guards in silence, except for the talk the two sisters were having via telepathy. "Sister, doth thou believe that the humans will be able to handle being protectors of Ponyville?" Luna asked, looking forward without changing her facial expression.

"I have never seen a race of creatures that show such and affinity for fighting as they have, I believe that that they will excel beyond what any of our guards are capable of," Celestia replied, doing the same as her sister and not moving physically what-so-ever.

"Doth thou question thine guards abilities sister?" Luna asked with a slightly mischievous grin.

"You know I'm not Lulu, but you also know that most ponies don't do well with the act of fighting, or taking a life for that matter, while these humans have shown they do not posses the same mindset," Celestia replied calmly, still keeping her outward appearance of a motherly smile.

The two stopped talking as they had finally arrived at the castle. Opening the front doors they both stepped inside, gave a short bow of the head to each other, and went their separate ways. Celestia went to the throne room to begin court while Luna went to her bedchambers to get some more sleep so she would be ready for night court. Both Princesses went on with their days wondering what was happening in Ponyville, and how were their subjects reacting to the presence of the humans.