Eclipse

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."