It was a sunny, but cold day in winter a few miles outside Cantorlot. Lieutenant Shield wall, leader of 4th squad of the Cantorlot royal guard, and his team was on patrol. Shield wall was a large stallion with a dark tan coat and a short brown mane. He loved his job as lieutenant of forth squad the best of the best and go to squad of Knight Captain Shining Armor, but days like today were his favorites, the cool air felt great against his coat, the patrols went smoothly but the biggest reason was a certain Pegasus. He didn’t know her name only that she was the most beautiful mare he had ever seen. She was part of the winter weather team; she had a white coat and a mane of light blue.
While out on patrol he would always check the sky for the mare of his dreams. His team has seen him checking the sky and asked "is there something coming from the sky, sir?" he would keep searching the sky for a few seconds more and reply "not today boys. It’s just the weather team." today was no different the squad moved down the same route scanning for any sign of trouble while Shield wall watched the skies. After a few miles he gave up and decided the weather team was working today. Kind of bummed out he tried not to show but the thought of not getting to see her made his mood worsen. One of the older squad members, Sword Chaser, noticed his mood and had to ask "Hey LT, what’s got ya down?" the young stallion jut looked at the sky. "LT? Lieutenant shield wall, sir?! SIR!?" he snapped out of his trance "what!? What is it? Trouble?" he asked as he looked for the danger. "No sir, you just stopped and had this look on your face like you just got bucked in the stallion hood sir" replied sword chaser "is everything ok?" Shield wall looked to the sky once more and replied "just looks like there’s no snow today". Confused sword chaser shook his head and they continued their patrol.
The patrol dragged on he tried to stay focused but it was hard she was on his mind, he tried to push her out he knew the dangers of not having a clear mind when on patrol. It was the beginning of winter so the diamond dogs that lived in the area were hibernating and any other threat would be heard and seen against the fresh snow but he knew that there were still a few roving diamond dogs looking for a place to sleep for the winter. His patrol kept moving scanning and hoping it would be an easy patrol, the more he tried to push her out the more she forced her way back into his thoughts. He shook his head to try and clear it. That didn't work he looked around a spotted a nearby stream "TEAM HALT!" he thundered "let's take a rest get some water and just relax" the squad sat down there gear, drank water and took a breather. Shield wall trotted to the stream took off his helmet and dunked his head in.
The shock of the icy water instantly cleared his head. He came up gasping eyes wide, his head was clear he looked around gasping and shaking his head "Buck that worked really well" he shook the water from his coat used his magic to pick up his helmet and trotted back to his men. He looked around at his men who ate there rations of bread and cheese as his stomach rumbled he remembered that he hadn't eaten that morning. His pack became incased in a metal colored aura, his magic, as he laid his pack down he thought of his mother and father,
they had met in high school and when his mother became pregnant with him his father dropped out of day school and worked two jobs and went to night school and his mother stay in school as long as she could but had to drop out before she could finish. After his birth his father joined the royal guards but only stayed in for four years and left and now owns his own company selling parts for the construction teams in both Ponyville and Cantorlot and his mother worked as a recruiter for rarity's fashion company, they were both doing really well. Then he thought to his younger brother. They never really liked the same things but they got along most of the time. He was working for their father until he could figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He really missed them, he took a bite of his apple and thought 'I should go see them this weekend, it’s been awhile'. He took another bite of his apple. "I should get them something and bring a second stomach mom likes to cook when I come and visit" he let his mind wonder. He finished his apple "alright! Pack up and let’s move out! We still got a good ten miles!" he shouted at his squad.
Five miles after the creek they came upon the canyon. Having gone though it hundreds of times he knew every turn and crack in the road but it being winter it was a very popular spot for the Diamond dogs to hibernate ,the rocks trap heat really well, causing the rocks to be unstable and easy to fall. "Walk carefully men, those blasted dog make this canyon unstable and prone to collapse." he said “keep your eyes peeled there still might be some stragglers". The patrol moved into the canyon. He was focused the tall brown walls push skyward which helped keep his mind off the beautiful mare. Pressing forward he searched every possible place for an ambush. Half way through and still nothing "alright we just might make it through this" he thought to himself.
He felt the tremor shake the ground he knew what was happening "HALT!" he shouted "FORM UP, MOVE!" the other stallions fell in to defensive formation. "Sword chaser!" he shouted again. "Yes sir?" the old stallion replayed "take Sharp eyes and tell me what you see" he ordered. The two guards took off ahead to find out what was causing the tremors. The minuets slowly ticked by, his men still in defensive formation, waited unmoving he saw their eyes filled with trust and Loyalty to him. "SQUAD, DEFENSE REST!" he barked. The squad shifted to more comfortable positions but still in the same spot eyes still scanning there sectors. "These are good men" he thought to himself. He looked up and saw a patch of sky and gentle wisps of snow from the top of the canyon.
He felt her image forcing its way into his mind. "NO!" he thought "I have to stay focused" he shook his head and look back to where he sent sword chaser and sharp eyes. "Sir, Movement!" shouted one of the stallions. "GET READY!" Shield wall ordered. Their swords and spears fell to the ready position. Shield wall warmed up his magic.
His cute mark was the Equestrian shield he earned it after he found out he could cast defensive spells better than any other stallion in training and almost as well as shining armor. He also figured out he could use defensive spells offensively, charging His horn for a stronger spell he and his squad waited, rushing around the corner came sharp eyes followed close by sword chaser and soon after rumbling. "AVALANCHE!" shouted sword chaser "MOVE" Right behind him was the source of the rumble, a giant white wall, flying at them with enough force to level a small forest Shield wall knew what he had to do he had to protect his men most had wives and foals back home, but not him all he had was an image of a mare he never met.
He moved to the front of the formation "EVERYONE RETREAT!" he barked over his shoulder "REGROUP AT THE MOUTH OF THE CANYON!” Squad four broke formation and bolted for the mouth all but the Lieutenant. His horn covered in the metal aura he didn't know how long he would be able to hold the wall but it would just need to be long enough to make sure the escaped. He focused all his thoughts on a solid wall and with a flash a giant metal gray wall appeared in front of him He braced as the avalanche smashed into the barrier. He grunted at the amount of force it had behind it. He shook his helmet off and gave another pulse of magic. His barrier was holding but the snow kept pushing like something was forcing it trying to get it to the mouth of the canyon. He couldn't falter now just a bit longer, another pulse of magic. He gave all he could he started to feel dizzy but remained focused just a few more seconds that's when he heard a very sharp loud crake.
He opened his eyes to find a lightning bolt pattern running across his barrier. Wide eyed he gave another pulse but to no avail. The crack grew and slivered off he knew he didn't have long but he had to try. He focused and focused then checked his barrier it was covered in cracks he couldn't hold it any longer his mind flashed to his mother and father as the barrier fell he closed his eyes and thought of the beautiful white mare. There was a roar as the snow began to fall around him he smiled hoping everyone got out and then there was silence.
