Sun Stone felt her gray, dusty hooves saunter over the chilling pathway. The sun was setting just about now, causing the air to become cold and wintery. Although the chilling wind was a disadvantage, making her shiver even with her fur coat, this was the place to get away from all the trouble Equestria has advanced to. Not one pony had encountered her, to her surprise, but was still cautious, for a lunar guard could be lurking in the still dark shadows...waiting to pounce.
That reminded her, when was the last time she had gone on a patrol and have seen something interesting? It's been a few moons ago since she had encountered a lunar solider, and she could remember it vividly. She had recognized her as the Luna's deputy. She had a light gray coat, just like hers, and she had the most ever light yellow shade of a mane she had ever seen, shining brightly in the moonlight. She also had observed the bubbles as her cutie mark. She did not wish to battle the pegasus, before anything would get bloody. But she knew from her mentors that lunar soldiers have too much triumph to handle, and ended up with nothing but a mere scratch behind her neck before someone else took charge and drove that mare out.
She could never understand how things have gotten how the way they are present. Just when she was a young filly, nothing special, a regular earth pony, Ponyville was normal. The birds sang pridefully in the morning, and the moon glowed ever so softly in the silent night. Everything was in perfect harmony...the two alicorn sisters, the Elements of Harmony, and Equestria's boundaries were secured.
Until everything changed.
Celestia and Luna, the two alicorns who raised the glorious bright sun, and the peaceful quiet moon, had just split apart. Sun had heard stories that Luna had felt jealous and bitter again, and had resorted to rise up against Celestia, calling her a 'tyrant,' 'liar', and 'fool'. She formed was is labeled the "New Lunar Republic", the army rising up to bring eternal night to Equestria.
Celestia soon took notice of this, while the republic was growing in population. Celestia had seen enough of her sister's bitterness, and decided to raise an army of her own. Those ponies who were loyal to Celestia stayed in Canterlot, forming the 'Solar Empire'.
Thus, began the war of Equestria. Not only had Celestia and Luna split apart, but The Crystal Empire and the Changeling Army has created their own borders as well.
At least she could come here to slaken the stress and anxieties of being a Solar guard. All the dawn and night patrols, the risk of intruders, and the thought of making sure a whole clan was safe and secure from their enemies. She's had decent training, all the assessments including exploring the borders, battle moves, all the basic elements to achieving a spot in the guard portion. But she was an early riser, just started a few moons ago.
"Sun Stone," a familiar voice said behind her. She turned around to face her mentor, Twilight Sparkle. She was lucky to have the Princess of Friendship herself by her side, very well experienced with magical and physical defenses, and has traveled to almost every part of Equestria. How she had gotten such a wise mentor?
When she was a few years old, developed enough to bare and understand the harsh environment around her, however, she was struggling with her early training. Twilight Sparkle usually did not look down at the more gifted and talented fillies and colts, but rather the ones who struggle and need a helping hoof. Sun Stone would never had thought that THE Twilight Sparkle would look down on her, just an ordinary earth pony. She would assume that Twilight would help those who can at least fly or use any magic at all.
It was that day that Twilight saw the struggling filly, muddy and dusty all over, and even her mane a little mangled. Twilight looked at the helpless earth pony, struggling to push over a slightly heavy boulder. A little bigger than a pebble, but not too much to handle. But, she was just a filly, so it would most likely be heavy to carry to the young and resilient mare.
After about five minutes of watching the gray filly struggle, the poor mare gave up, and let her hooves fall to the ground pitifully. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'll never be a solar guard if I don't have any strength at all!" She cried.
Twilight couldn't bare to see the filly cry sorrowfully, nopony could. She paced slowly to confront the gray pony.
"Well, you'll certainly never have confidence if you say things like that," she said sympatheticly.
"T-Twilight!" The filly cried. "I...I'm so sorry! Look, I know I wasn't supposed to leave the main training area, but I was just trying to strengthen up! Oh please Twilight, don't tell! I'm sorryI'msorryI'mso-"
"Relax," Twiight whispered. "You're in no trouble at all. And don't worry, I won't tell anypony."
"B-but..."
"It's okay. What's your name?"
The filly paused for a moment, locking eyes with Twilight.
"Sun Stone."
"What a beautiful name for a future solar guard!" Twilight exclaimed in a polite manner. "Follow me, I know the way back where we won't pass any lunar territory."
By the time they had returned, the sun was shining brightly. This was the Solar Empire after all, the sun shined a few hours more than normal, unlike the New Lunar Republic, when the moon was risen long before dusk, because they lived in darker areas.
When Sun Stone was just about to run to her usual spot to sit when Celestia was about to speak, Twilight stopped her by placing her hoof around her shoulder.
"Come with me," Twilight cooed. "I think Celestia needs to see you."
Sun Stone nodded, and followed Twilight calmly, but she was nervous on the inside. Anxiety lunged at her stomach, just thinking of the things Princess Celestia would do to her if she was known about her sneaking off earlier. Still, she trusted Princess Twilight that she would cover for her.
They both had reached the tall slab where Princess Celestia would speak to the whole empire once every full moon, when night had finally come. It was surely the middle of the night, telling from the moon straight in the sky, but the sun would rise in a couple of hours. Each star shone brightly in the sky, reflecting their beautiful and smooth light on all the ponies.
"See that over there?" Twilight commanded Sun Stone, pointing to the direction of the crowded ponies together. "Those are all the different types of ponies you see in the Solar Empire."
Sun Stone only looked confused, showing a hollow face.
"Over there are where the guards sit," Twilight lectured, making sure to take the time to explain carefully, but quickly at the same time, for Celestia would soon arrive. "Guards protect our kingdom from intruders and make sure that our borders are secure, and sometimes are ordered to search for anypony that has gone missing."
Twilight then glanced over to a group of mostly female ponies then the last group, but still some stallions in the mix. Sun Stone followed her glance, and noticed a few grass-looking pieces, looking a little like spices, and some flowers, as well.
"Who are those ponies?" She asked curiously.
"Those are the healers," Twilight carried on. "They don't usually come out of their homes from all the ponies they have to heal from battles, but they mentor some young ponies that may go outside the main area to find some herbs for them, sometimes even sneaking through lunar territory!"
"Um, what are herbs?"
"Why, they are the different types of plants used to heal ponies from injury or sicknesses. Some diseases spread around winter, so the healers work very hard to cure the sick ponies, that's why you never see them in winter!"
"Healers must be scaredy-cats," Sun Stone thought to herself. "Good thing I'm gonna be a guard!"
When Twilight was just going to speak again, the crowd of ponies suddenly grew quiet, and silence reigned. The silence broke when there was a faint sound of footsteps coming from behind. Princess Celestia, who was gracefully trotting to greet the empire, smiled as her white fur shined alluringly in the bright glow of the moon. She greeted her subjects with a small nod, and began to speak.
"My loyal citizens of the Solar Empire," She declared pridefully. "It is very good to see you all again. What wonderful loyal ponies you are."
Twilight sauntered slowly to Princess Celestia, then bowed briefly. She opened her mouth to speak.
"Princess Celestia," Twilight announced. "Earlier today, I saw a filly outside our main ground, and I think you may want to speak with her,"
Twilight backed away behind Sun Stone, and Celestia walked over to her. Standing over her, tall and fair, Celestia put on a soft smile. However, Sun Stone was anxious of what the Princess would say; Twilight had broken her promise of not telling anyone.
You said you wouldn't tell!
"Hello there, little filly," Celestia spoke softly. "And who might you be?"
Sun Stone paused for a few moments, narrowing her eyes to the large crowd.
Everyone was watching her. And to make it worse, the Princess was waiting, too, so she blurted out the words as fast as she could.
"Sun Stone."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sun Stone, no need to be nervous," She reassured. "I see that Twilight Sparkle had found you outside the main ground. Do not worry, I know my faithful student only looks down upon the less gifted, and she was doing nothing more then trying to help you."
A wave of relief washed over Sun Stone, now more relaxed then she was before. The Princess was not mad, nor surprised, but sounded quite delighted to meet her. But, what was she going to do with her now?
"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia carried on. "Do you believe any young filly can grow and strengthen their abilities with guidance and love?"
Sun Stone recognized those exact words. This was the ceremony where a filly gets assigned to a mentor.
Twilight is going to mentor me!
"I do, your highness," Twilight responded, while bowing.
"Then I ask you to do a very important assignment for me," Celestia continued."Twilight Sparkle, from this moment on, you shall mentor this young filly, until she has grown into a great member of our empire."
Everypony in the crowd clapped their hooves, and Sun Stone could not believe what she had just heard. Princess Twilight was going to mentor her!
"You are all dismissed, and get some good rest." Celestia announced. Soon the crowd had stumbled away to where they belong in their small caves dug into the ravine that protected the empire's main ground.
After Sun Stone and Twilight walked to the place where Sun Stone sleeps, Twilight spoke to her before she had gone into her den to rest.
"You were amazing today," Twilight commented. "I hope we get to know each other well!"
"Me too," Sun Stone spoke tiredly. She yawned a little afterwards. "See you in the morning for training?"
"It's settled then."
Sun Stone proceeded into her den, and slowly drifted of the sleep.
"Well, are you just going to stand there daydreaming all night, or come return to main ground to rest in your den? You don't have a night patrol until tomorrow night."
Sun Stone snapped back to reality with a jolt, and her sherbet-colored mane was in the way of her yellow eyes, only noticing now that Twilight was glancing sternly and waiting for a response.
"Oh, uh...yes," She said, stuttering a little. "Sorry, I was daydreaming. You know how I am!"
"Alright. Let's head back to the empire."
As the sun started rising itself away from the sky, fading away all the stars, Sun Stone and Twilight had just returned to the empire's territory. They both were exhausted, after expecting to still see the moon in the middle of the sky to sleep for the rest the night. Sun Stone's hooves were weary, and she had the urge to prostrate right there where she was walking. If they went to crawl back in their sleeping areas right then, they would get caught, and somepony would order them to get to their assignments for the day. Not to mention, even less sleep tonight from the fact she has a night patrol.
"Sorry if we can't get some rest," Twilight suddenly spoke, causing Sun Stone to flinch from the sudden sound after minutes of mere silence. "But, I suppose we could...talk a little before the others wake up?"
Sun Stone nodded. "Twilight...." She asked.
"What was Equestria like....before this all happened?
Twilight went silent for a few moments, while Sun Stone took notice of the glimmer of grief in her eyes. She could tell she missed her past life.
"It was...definitely different," she answered. "You were born approximately two moons before this started a few years ago, but you weren't old enough to remember it before the Solar Empire formed."
Sun Stone felt a pang of sympathy for her mentor, just thinking of all those friends she might have had, and had separated from each other.
"I...I had very many friends, too," Twilight continued. "But, Applejack is the only one I have left, with Starlight Glimmer, who I don't see much anymore. Rainbow Dash and Rarity have moved to the New Lunar Republic, but why in Celestia's name would they do that?"
"I...I'm so sorry Twilight," Sun Stone whispered. "I had no idea that some of your friends would go on the opposite side of you."
"Well, I think I know why," Twilight chuckled. "Rainbow Dash was suddenly complaining about how many clouds she has to clear in the daytime, and the sky was completely clear in the night, so she was just a little overworked at that time. As for Rarity, she's always enjoyed the bright stars with more interest than ever since we've gone to that meteor shower five years ago!"
"Five?" Sun Stone asked out of the blue. "How could the Elements of Harmony just spread apart after five years?"
"I have no idea, really," Twilight responded, a slight bitterness in her voice. "To think that all those friends I've loved, expect for one has fled from me for their own desires."
"Oh, I'm so sorry Twilight..."
"Oh, and as for Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, they've just....run away somehow. I don't know where exactly, but I'm sure they didn't choose a side at all."
"They sure sounded like good allies," Sun Stone thought. "It's such a shame they all left her."
She was pulled out from her thoughts as they heard the faintest hoofsteps like the scratch of a wasp on a window. The ponies for the morning's dawn border patrol emerged from their dens, stretching and blinking away sleep slowly. Sun Stone slipped back into her den before any of them noticed, before they could take some of her precious rest. She was exhausted.
As she curled up in the moss patch bedding in her den, the last thing she heard were hoofsteps and the quiet voice of Celestia, before she drifted off and dreamt.
Sun Stone's dreams were filled with confusion and bewilderment. She was walking through the border grounds between the Solar and Lunar territories, and the dawn air was chilly and filled with fog. Three other ponies were surrounding her, walking along the dusty trail between the trees. The dirty footpath was scattered with pebbles and rocks, as the rough skin scratched her hooves just barely.
With a jolt, the earth suddenly shook violently, and a wide hole submerged from the dirt, and she hang on to the nearest branch. She was gasping for oxygen, her heart racing and pounding in her chest.
"Help, please!" She gasped. It was then she only realized in front of her the color of her fur, which was a dusty brown, the same stallion she had saw at the break of dawn.
I'm seeing through Dustfoot's eyes!
Without looking back, Sun Stone rushed through the dirt path, searching and smelling for any familiar sight or aroma of Dustfoot and the other three on the patrol. Thoughts of doubt spun around her head, thinking of the outcome if she failed to reach them. The path seemed almost endless, only that same, blonde line that traveled through the thick trees.
Then, she heard a familiar voice calling for help.
Dustfoot!
She picked up speed on all fours, finally reaching the four ponies, witnessing Dustfoot hanging on for his life against the deep sinkhole. He had not the ability to fly nor lift himself at will, and the other three were no hope, for the hole was too deep for anypony to even walk near to.
Sun Stone took caution as she walked near the leaf pile surrounding the ditch, being careful not to slip. She stretched out her hoof to Dustfoot, grabbing his hoof, almost falling down. Dustfoot kept squirming, trying to hold on, but he only slipped more. She finally gained a firm grip on his hoof and pulled him up safely, away from the trench. He was gasping still, but he relaxed eventually.
"T-thank you..." Dustfoot muttered under his breath. "How did you know I was in danger?"
"No need to explain," Sun Stone replied nervously, slightly flushing her cheeks. She would rather spare them for a ridiculous story about a dream of seeing through somepony else's eyes. "Let's go back to main ground."
The moon was covered with a few scattered clouds, but its light still filled the starry sky with pride. Sun Stone was finishing her last piece of her meal, swallowing the tiny blackbird some hunting patrols caughten earlier, thank Celestia. She haven't a full dinner since two sunrises ago, as the weather was slowly getting colder and the tiny rodents huddled in their burrows for their winter slumber. She gulped down the rest, before trotting over to Mist Glider, the navy pegusus leading the patrol, and Dusk, a unicorn who was an old friend of hers. She sat beside the mint green unicorn, waiting for the other ponies to arrive.
"Alright," Dusk blurted out suddenly. "Where were you this morning before traveling back here? Celestia was anxious enough to almost send out a search party." She sat on her haunches waiting for an answer.
"Erm..." Sun Stone uttered nervously. She yet again did not want to waste her time over a ridiculous story over a dream. But just how did she see through his sight? It had to be impossible. Still, she trusted that her ally would understand anything she had to speak to her, even if it's about some folly nonsense.
"You're not going to consider truthful of what I'm going to recall," Sun Stone said in a hushed whisper, her voice getting gradually quieter so nopony could hear her. "But...I rushed off in the woods to rescue Dustfoot from a hole..."
"So?" Dusk questioned, a slight humor in her voice. "Where's the folly in saving a pony about to slip?"
"I...could see through his sight in a dream."
Dusk blinked for a moment, looking quite dumbfounded, and her ears were twitching slightly as if they were astonished as well.
"You...could see through his eyes?"
"I'm not sure how."
Just as they finished their conversation, the rest of the ponies on the night patrol surfaced from the deep mouth of the shadows, two make earth ponies, Rock and Wind, joined in, their ruffled gray pelts glittered like diamonds in the dim moonlight.
"We shall move onto the dirt path," Mist Glider demanded, pointing her tail toward the pebble-dotted pathway. "Then move close to the Lunar borders, but take caution to never take even a hoofstep into their territory."
The other four ponies obeyed, swiftly padding over to the dirt path among the grassy forest, silently moving into the shadows. Before moonhigh, they had reached the most important boundary between the two clans: the border between the Solar Empire and the New Lunar Republic.
"Scatter," Mist Glider ordered sharply. "Make sure there are no traces of scents of Lunar ponies."
Sun Stone trotted off to a grotty patch of dried rain next to a small shrub. She used her muzzle to try to pick up any scent of a Lunar patrol, or any Lunar pony at all. Their usual spoor of one of the nocturnal ponies remained of the scent of dirt, musk, and blood, for the equines were rough with their mentoring a little too much, and their allies fought with each other, only to remain at least one scar on the horse either from training, or fighting the Solar Empire.
She could promptly pick up a recognizable smell, as she heard a scuffling in the bush behind her.
Lunar patrol.
She quickly darted over to the Solar patrol, but the Lunar pony flew on top of her, along with the other three Lunar Guards dominating the rest of the Solar ponies. Mist Glider tried to break free from the unicorn's grip, but the unicorn's magic held her wings and hooves down.
The last thing Sun Stone saw was a familiar gray pegusus before blacking out.
Sun Stone's vision was blurry, and she blinked away the drowsiness from her hazel eyes. She was tied down with a few loose ropes tightly, and many scents of blood and Lunar ponies filled her muzzle. She immediently knew where she had regained consciousness, she had been taken by a Lunar patrol, along with the other Solar ponies, when they were looking for any scent of the republic on their borders.
The other ponies slowly woken up, shocked to catch a glimpse of the New Lunar Republic's main ground, in a healer's den. Three ponies, who had taken them a few hours ago, had strolled up to them shortly after the others had woken up. Sun Stone had recognized the leading mare's appearance, as Luna's deputy.
"Looks like we've caught ourselves a couple of Sun-Lovers," the gray pegusus mumbled. "I just happened to pick up your scent when I was leading a patrol. The name's Ditzy."
All of a sudden, a blue mare with a rainbow-colored mane twitched and sat up on the dusty floor of the hollow cave, as if she had woken up from a nap. She looked quite gray in color, the color had lost their glow over the years. The pegasus looked old in age, covered with white scars all across her face and legs, with a leaf wrapped around her front left hoof, implying that her leg had grown lame and feeble. A white unicorn with a dark purple, cut mane stood over her, looking much younger than the injured blue pony.
"Rainbow Dash!" she yelled in an elegant accent in her voice. "I thought I had told you to keep sniffing the lavender, you poor dear. You've kept all the other elders awake half the night with your coughing, and your fever still hasn't decreased."
"Oh, Rarity," Ditzy interrupted, rolling her eyes. "Don't bother wasting your time explaining. All that old pony does is mope around reminiscing and babbling about to the young filles and colts, and stays in the elders' den complaining about the fleas in her mangy fur. And she still thinks she can go on fighting with that lame leg and that scratched ear, for she is deaf."
The other Lunar ponies scoffed at Ditzy's folly teasing.
"Where's the respect?" Sun Stone thought. "Do all the Lunar ponies just laugh at each other's disabilities?"
"I heard that!" Rainbow Dash spat back in an old, rasped voice. "My left leg might be lame, and my ear might be scarred and cut, but what do you young mares know about fighting for what's right? At least I saved Equestria with Twilight Sparkle all those years ago, and now I only have Rarity with me, and she's taking care of me well."
"Only if you would take your herbs!" Rarity shouted. The three Lunar mares only heard their laughter increasing.
"I shall not tolerate thy mockery of my injuries!" Dash shouted, ignoring Rarity's orders.
"You know Twilight Sparkle!" Sun Stone suddenly interrupted.
Big mistake.
Ditzy slowly paced over to her, with a displeasing look on her face, her golden eyes dull in the dark den.
"Listen," Ditzy whispered gravely. "I'll let your little patrol leave this place, but if you only tell Celestia that you were not sent here. If you make any move, we strike. Now, roll in some of Rarity's lavender to take the scent off of your bodies."
"Heavens to Luna, no!" Rarity protested sharply. "I have use for that lavender for Rainbow Dash to lower her fever and her whitecough."
"I not need any lavender," Dash spat back. "I'm fine! The whitecough is a desiese that goes away in two weeks!"
Rarity only snorted. "Stubborn old mare, be thankful for thee not gaining greencough during the winter! Roll in some garlic instead, ponies of Sun, and leave before Dash's nonsense rubs off on you!"
After the Solar ponies took the Lunar scent off of them, they silently paced back for the trail of where they started. It was the crack of dawn, and Sun Stone could notice Luna standing of a high, stone ledge, raising her head to the sky, and yelling loud enough to shake the entire forest.
"Are we not the free people?" Luna yelled. "For Celestia's tyrant slaves cannot compare to what I have made! We are creatures of thy night, never succumbing to thy foolish law of thy tyrant!"
Sun Stone heard the cheering fade as she ran back into the forest, anxious to tell Twilight the news about the Lunar Republic, assuming that the Lunar ponies were planning an ambush on the Solar Empire. The last words of Ditzy echoed around her mind.
Make any move, and we strike.
