Strider

I was in the Canterlot City Guard Precinct doing some paperwork, really I was just writing letters to cousins, but I made it look like paperwork. My three brothers were sitting near me. Work in the city guard was boring, it was quiet in the city. I was happy with that. For the most part Thasus, Orion, and Atlas seemed content with it as well. Although lately they were quiet and sported a frown on there faces rather than a smile. Atlas let out a heavy sigh. I looked up at him and Thasus and Orion were giving him the "not yet" look.

"Okay I know that look. What aren't you telling me?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Its nothing." Atlas said.

"Crabapples! You three are hiding something from me and I want to know what it is." I demanded.

They all looked at each other, "Nose Goes!" Thasus blurted. Atlas and Thasus put there hooves to there nose while Orion lagged behind.

"I hate you guys." Orion said bitterly at losing.

"We know you mean 'Love'." Atlas smiled cheerfully.

He rolled his eyes, "Brother we need to talk about-" Orion started.

"Your four!" The Staff Sergeant pointed at us, we shot up and went to attention. "We've received complaints from just outside of Canterlot. Someone is being overly disruptive and somewhat dangerous, go get whoever they are to quiet down." He slammed the door as he disappeared back into his office.

We wasted no time getting out of the Precinct an on the road outside of Canterlot. After we got out on the road some we slowed our run to a walk. Their was something not being said between my brothers and I. Thasus, Orion, and Atlas were triplets. They each had a black coat with dark red going up their legs, dark red mane & tail that ended in black tips, and the bright red eye color. Only difference between them other than cutie mark was that Thasus was a Unicorn, Atlas was an Earth Pony, and Orion was a Pegasus. Orion had the dark red primaries on his wings.

I myself was near opposite in color to Orion. White, fire red on the primaries of my wings and coming up my legs. That same fire red was the color of my mane but the tips faded to white like my coat. My Cutie Mark was of a Shield and crossed flaming double swords. What threw everypony off was that my eye color was a deep blue.

"There is something you're all not telling me." I said breaking the silence.

They all looked at each other, "Its about time we told you since it's happening sooner rather than later." Orion started.

"What?" I asked.

"The three of us are leaving Canterlot."

"WHAT? You can't be serious." I protested.

"Atlas and Thasus are transferring into the Equestrian Army, to different postings. I'm joining the Navy, to be a Wonderbolt." Orion said looking to the ground, "We were going to tell you soon. But then our paperwork went though. We leave next month."

"If your leaving next month, I take it you have your orders?"

"We do. I'm headed to the 501st Garrison south of the badlands in the Forest of Leota." Thasus informed me.

"I'm going to the 99th in Manehatten. I'm hoping to become a Commando." Atlas said avoiding eye contact.

"So you all decided to leave without me?"

"Brother we've been together since you were born. I know being our half-brother has put a strain on you. Not that you noticed, but you've become calculating, cold even. You are not the same pony that we grew up with." The four of us stopped on the road, "We feel that being separated and on our own will do us all some good and let us grow. I know you've mentioned joining the Palace Guard on multiple occasions. Perhaps its time you applied?" Atlas explained.

"I'll think about it. But it doesn't change the fact that you should have told me this sooner." I said blankly.

BOOM

"When we get back to our room well talk more, but right now we seem to have a situation."

We continued along the road to investigate the noise. We came to a large decrepit barn that looked like it should have burned down long ago. As we got closer we could hear a pony inside making a fuss over something.

"Hello? Sir!? We have received complaints about noise in the area. We need you to keep it down!" Thasus yelled from our place outside.

I looked at Atlas to see him confused, "Something wrong?" I asked.

"Does anypony else find it strange that there are no houses nearby?" Atlas said gesturing to the surrounding area.

We all looked and sure enough there was hardly a house in sight. When we turned to bring our attention back to the barn a bronze colored unicorn stallion surged out of the barn in panic.

"RUN AWAY!" He shouted in fear.

We peered inside and there was a large metal contraption overheating and sending off bolts of energy. We ran after the bronze pony. Orion and I took to the skies and picked Thasus and Atlas up in the process. We flew hard and fast to catch up with the bronze pony at the road.

The shock wave knocked the wind out of me and sent all of us falling down behind the road. The debris from the barn flew over us just as the fire did. We all sat there waiting for the rumbling and ringing in our ears to subside. I finally looked over the road to see the damage. There wasn't much fire left burning. Orion flew off to find a cloud with enough water to put out the remaining flames.

"Well that didn't work." The bronze pony commented casually.

"What do you mean 'That didn't work'?" Thasus started yelling at the pony.

I was unsure if Thasus had noticed but the pony he was yelling at wasn't just bronze colored, he was actually made of Copper, Tin, Steel, and what looked like other metals. Under the metal plates I could see gears and pistons working to keep this mechanical pony moving. I found this pony highly intriguing. Through Thasus' yelling, the pony managed to agree to coming back to Canterlot so our Staff Sergeant could decide what to do with him.

☼

Then mechanical pony got off easy with just a minor fine and a warning. Apparently that barn was for his off sight experiments. The fact that he actually lives here in Canterlot is a little unsettling. After filling out the indecent reports I wen't on patrol through Canterlot on my own.

There was little activity on the streets since it was getting late. I was flying along the northern edge of Canterlot. I looked to the Palace that also held the Canterlot Command. Perhaps it was time to advance in my career as well. I banked toward the Guard entrance to the palace. Landing just outside. The Guards outside eyed me a second before letting me pass. I went in and started toward Captain Shining Armor's office. Getting there took some time since I kept passing Sergeants on the way there and had to stand at attention every time they passed. I finally found his office and knocked three times in rapid succession.

"Just a minute!" He yelled from behind the door. There were a few murmurs and giggles from behind the door.

When Celestia's niece Lady Cadence stepped out I went to a polite bow, "Please stand." She said as she passed, "You may go into his office now." The Pegasus mare left the hall with a spring in her step.

The Captain cleared his throat, "You can come in now!" The captain said from inside. I hurried inside and stood at attention. "At ease Private. How can I help you today?"

"Sir, I would apply for the Palace Guard, Sir." I said plane.

"What's your name?" He asked me.

"Private Flame Strider, Canterlot Guard. Sir." I answered him. He seemed to think about it for a minute.

"Flame Strider huh?  I seem to remember your name crossing my desk. Don't you have brothers?"

"Three Half-Brothers, Sir. There Triplets."

"Interesting. Mind if I ask why there not here asking to join the Palace Guard also?" He asked in what seemed like genuine curiosity.

"Thasus and Atlas are joining the Equestrian Army at different postings. Orion Is Joining the Equestrian Navy to be a Wonderbolt. Sir."

"When are they leaving?"

"End of the month."

"Just before the Summer Sun Celebration then. I'll tell you what i'll do, since there are a few open spots on my roster. I'll talk to your commanding officer, have a look at your scores, and all round see of you'll be a good fit here. I'll send you a letter before the end of the month informing you if I've approved your transfer. If I have, you'll be joining the Palace Guard the same time your Brothers leave. Does that sound good?"

"Yes Sir, Thank you Sir." I said.

"Dismissed." He said waving a hoof.

I saluted and then left his office.

☼

My shift was over and I was lying in the room I shared with my brothers in the city barracks. Typically there were only supposed to be two ponies to a room but Orion and I set up hammocks up higher to allow us to be in the same room as Thasus and Atlas. Soon enough they all walked in and immediately went to their sleeping spots. We sat there in silence. Probably because I was still tense about them not telling me.

After about an hour of silence I spoke up, "I spoke to Captain Armor."

All three sets of eyes were on me, "What did he say?" Atlas asked me.

"He said that he'd talk to the Lieutenant and consider my transfer." I answered.

They exchanged glances, "Strider, that's great! Your gonna be within the palace helping guard the princesses. That's something to celebrate." Thasus said excitedly.

"I haven't gotten the position yet, besides its the same job as this one except inside the Palace. It's not like i'm gonna be in Celestia's Personal Guard." I said picking up a book.

"But that is a mere stone's throw away from Personal Guard." Orion added.

"Still not what i'm applying for."

"You realize Captain Armor is known for doing more that what's needed. He likes to take newbies and build them up." Atlas made a fine point.

"But i'm not a newbie." I argued.

"In his eyes you are. Remember he is the youngest Guard to make captain AND get command of both the Palace Guard, and Celestia's Personal Guard."

"Yeah, we've been out of the Academy for less than a year. The Captain's been in the thick of it for a little more than six years now." Thasus added.

"Alright, alright! I get your points. Look its getting late and i'm sore from that explosion earlier. Can we call it a night? We have things to do tomorrow."

"Fine." They said in unison. We settled into our beds and Thasus turned off the light. This month was gonna drag by.