Chapter One/Introduction
Guard Duty... - by SlayerHewkii
Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, it is the property of Hasbro.
Chapter One/Introduction
Morning rays peeked over the horizon as Canterlot Castle slowly lit up, glowing as the sun's rays bounced off the off-white granit castle standing over Canterlot itself.
If one were to travel to one of the most secluded parts of the castle, beyond locked doors and chained gates, they may have witnessed a particularly quiet, though strange, scene, considering the nature of its occupant.
A pony of dark grey coat and bright yellow, serpent-like eyes, donned in his midnight-blue armour, stood before a gargantuan, pitch black set of double-doors. He stood facing away from the entrance, his eyes sweeping left and right, then back again, watching for any unusual activity.
His long ears, slightly tufted at the ends, flicked in perfect synchronization with his irises, listening intently for sounds. The only things he could pick up, though, were the creaky floorboards under his metal-shod hooves, and the soft chirping of a cricket at a nearby window.
Suddenly, something clicked in his right ear, a quick, sharp sound, followed by another, beating a steady rhythm in his ears.
The guardspony slightly flicked his head to the right, allowing him the view of the right hallway, where he perceived the unknown sound to be originating from.
The clicking, now forming into the familiar clopping of booted hooves, continuing at a steady pace, also rose in volume, higher and higher, until somepony rounded the corner.
"Hey, Edgey, what's up?" A fellow Night Guard, clad in the same shining dark armour, waved a bat-like wing to the standing guard, smiling warmly in his greeting.
'Edgey', or Black Edge, as he was formally known, couldn't help but smile at his cheery friend, and nodded his own greeting in return with his gruff voice. "Evening, Flame."
Flame, trotting at a brisk pace to stop beside the guard, buffed the eye-piece on his chest with his hoof. "Well, I'm here to relieve ya’, so you could just head on back to the barracks." He gave him a friendly nudge in the side. “C'mon, soldier, get a move on."
With a curt nod, Black Edge, with a tired sigh, started off at a light jog. "Thanks, Flame." He called back quietly, so as to not disturb anypony in the vicinity.
Rounding the corner, Edge quickened the pace, recalling easily the winding route through the halls to find the barracks.
Ten minutes and a flight of stairs later, Black Edge found himself at the old wooden door, and slowly pushed it open into the dimly-lighted expanse of the Night Guard barracks.
Home, sweet home, Edge idly thought, making his way over to his bed, the lower bunk of a set, and set to work on removing his armour, dragging out the wooden trunk stored under his bed, storing his equipment with practiced efficiency.
After setting the large suit, saddle and helmet in the chest, he slid it back under, effectively ending his work for the day. With a heavy sigh, he fell upon the bed, wrapping himself in the thin, but warm blanket, falling into a restful sleep.
/~|~\
"Alright everypony, up-and-at-them, you've got new orders today!" A deep voice forced Black Edge from his dreamless sleep, and he slowly rose in response, rubbing his eyes wearily.
He quickly regained his sight, and looked over to the massive Night Guard standing in the doorway of the barracks.
"Morning to you, too, sir." Edge drawled, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He let out a great yawn, stretching his forelegs in the air.
After a quick inspection and buffing of his armour, Black Edge stood in front of his bunk, along with his bunkmate, Ebony Flame, presently suited in his armour, both standing at erect attention.
Every guard stood in the same pose, waiting for their orders as their commander walked down the barracks, checking the Night Guards' equipment for any signs of mistreatment or uncleanliness.
Commander slowly trotted by Edge and Flame, before suddenly rounding on the latter. "Mind telling me what that is, son?" The officer flicked a hoof at the decorative reptilian eye on Flame's chest-piece with a look of disgust.
Flame arched an eyebrow, before looking down to his chest. Out of the corner of his eye, Edge followed his gaze, until finding a particular bright-yellow streak going down the middle.
Oh, not again Black Edge thought, along with a mental face-hoof.
Ebony Flame, looking back up to the superior officer, kept a completely straight face. "I think its mustard, sir"
The resulting silence was deafening.
Commander let out an explosive sigh. "Whew, good, I thought you may have urinated yourself again."
The laughter that followed was just as deafening as the silence.
After a slight beratement for mistreatment of his equipment, the Commander returned to checking the rest of the Night Guards, eventually coming back to the front of the barracks.
"Now" the commander started, "as I said earlier, you have new orders today, along with a surprise for anypony who's unlucky enough." He let his gaze flicker to Ebony Flame for a moment.
"Every one of you will receive their orders in the form of a cheap slip of paper," He waited for someone to laugh at the joke, but every guard remained quiet. They knew it was just a ruse to get somepony to slip up and get in trouble.
With a huff, the Commander continued. "As you leave, I'll hand you your assignment, so you can get straight to work, so no lollygagging!" And with that, the commander turned on his heel and exited through the door.
Chat-time was immediately incepted, and Edge took the time to ask Flame about himself.
"So, kid, how have you been doing?" Black Edge started, double-checking his armour for any scuffs he may have missed.
Flame perked up at the question. "Oh, uh, it's all good man, I mean, no different than it's usually been."
"Mhmm" Edge nodded, locating a stray scuff along the side of his helmet, "What about that unicorn mare you've been seeing? How are you doing with her?"
An instant smile appeared on Flame's face. "Oh, my marefriend? Yeah, things are going great with her! She's such a great mare; you should meet her one day."
Edge made a friendly smile in response, and nodded a simple agreement.
Ebony Flame was, to say, the fun-loving type of colt, always cracking jokes in good nature, even if some ponies didn't find it too appropriate, considering his line of work. He was always so up-beat, though being a guard restricted most of his activities.
Black Edge, on the other hoof, was a normally tight-lipped stallion, usually speaking only when needed. A silent personality, laced with certain strictness in the presence of the 'lollygaggers', the term the commander now so commonly used.
After a quick cleaning in the gaps of his armour, Edge bid Flame goodbye, and made his way to the barracks door.
He was also known to be a gentle stallion, often choosing to help around the barracks, sometimes with assignments that weren't his own if he had the chance. He had a high boiling point, and was known for letting the new recruits make their mistakes, often lending a helping hoof to them, too. Although, as some of the younger Cadets argued, there was a fine line between being nice and being shy.
As Black Edge pushed open the door, he immediately had a slip of paper handed to him. "Had a feeling you would be the first one." the commander smiled cheekily. "Just one problem..."
Edge instantly snapped his head in the officer's direction, "What is it, sir?"
The larger stallion wearily sighed. "Looks like you're the... unlucky one." The officer placed a reassuring hoof on Edge's shoulder.
"Good luck, mate, she's real feisty."
Edge arched an eyebrow, but, nevertheless, continued on his way through the hall. By the way the commander had spoken to Edge; he had surmised that he had probably been paired with a new recruit.
Shouldn't be that much of a problem, he thought, just gotta show them the ropes...
Reaching the top of the stairs, Edge took the time to read the assignment, spreading it on the ground with his hooves, It read:
Dear Black Edge, Night Guard,
You are to be paired with the new recruit, Stark Shadows, and are to be guarding the entrance to the Lunar Wing, from the time of o'twelve-hundred to o'twenty-hundred.
Signed,
Commander Bleak Falls
P.S. - Be careful, she's a real energetic gal, but I know you can put up with it. Good luck, soldier.
Yet another eyebrow was raised in a quizzical manner. Edge was getting a sense of foreboding, as if this luck was really going to be necessary.
Folding the slip, he stored it in a chest compartment, setting off to the Lunar Wing. He knew it was already eleven o'clock, but it couldn't hurt to be early, if not punctual.
/~|~\
Black Edge tapped his hoof up and down repeatedly, waiting for this 'Stark Shadows' that was supposed to be at the post. It was already twelve-fifteen, and he didn't want anypony under his watch getting into trouble on their first day, even if it was only by showing up late.
Come on, where the hay is this mare? Hurry up... thought Black Edge, looking around the hall he was guarding.
Clip-clop, clip-clop...
"Oh thank Luna..." Edge muttered under his breath, “Finally here..." Edge straightened his helmet, and then stood up as straight as possible, looking straight forward.
As the mare Night Guard appeared around the corner, Edge took in her features. She was only slightly shorter than Edge himself, with the same tough exterior as any other Night Guard in the castle, except she seemed less... reserved. She swayed her hips as she pranced to Edge, smiling widely, bright yellow eyes running over Edge himself.
"Ahem," Black Edge cleared his throat, "I take it that you're Stark Shadows?"
The mare's smile reached even wider. "Yeah, that's me! So, you're Black Edge?"
"Uh-huh," Edge nodded, "You should take your place over there." He flicked his head to the right.
With a crisp salute, the mare trotted to his right, standing straight and looking ahead. She became silent, watching the halls along with Edge.
Edge smiled to himself, Well, I guess this isn't so bad, though it makes me wonder about that whole thing with the luck...
"I threw a wish in the well, don't ask me, I'll never tell,"
What?
"What?" Edge responded to the strange speak. He turned to face Shadows.
The recruit was bobbing her head to an unheard beat, eyes closed with a small smile.
"I'd looked to you, you as it fell and now you're in my way,"
"Recruit, what are you doing?"
Edge's question was left unheeded, though, as the mare continued to sing.
"I'd trade my soul for a wish, pennies and dimes for a kiss,
I wasn't looking for this, but now you're in my way.
You're stare was holding, ripped suit, coat was showing,
Hot night, wind was blowing, where do you think you're going, baby?"
Black Edge watched on in bemusement as the mare started swaying from side to side, still singing her song, though, he had to say, it was fairly good singing. He only now noticed the small white wire running from under her chest plate, splitting in two to either side of her head, disappearing under her helmet.
“Hey, I just met you,
and this is crazy,
but here's my address,
so write to me maybe?”
"Ugh," Edge was getting tired of the singing. He quickly trotted over to Shadows, and tapped her shoulder with a hoof.
This seemed to shake her out of her little trance, as she immediately stopped dancing and opened her eyes. Seeing Edge in such close proximity, the mare yelped and jumped up a bit, before settling down. She reached under her chest plate, and Edge heard something click.
"Hey," Shadows perked up again, "ya need something, big boy?"
"Yeah, what w-" Edge suddenly realized exactly what Shadows had said. "Wait... did you... just..." he stammered, staring at her, while she winked at him.
"Did you just make an inappropriate compliment towards me?" he finished asking, staring at her with a slightly flushed expression.
The recruit giggled, waving a hoof to the slightly horrified Night Guard. "Oh, only if you want to think of it that way..." She batted her eyelashes at him.
Edge simply facehoofed, hard.
/~|~\
Flame let loose with a ruckus of laughter as Edge told his story of how he had a new bump on his head, tearing up and rolling in his bunk above Edge's. Edge himself was busy removing his armour, grimacing as he spoke.
"... and then she did that eyelash-trick, you know the one I mean... She was awfully forward, about it, too..." He shivered at the thought.
"You know, I just wish that kids these days would be more mature, or at least act mature. It's a bit aggravating, really." Black Edge shut the storage chest, sliding it under his bunk. He let out a drawn breath.
"I'm actually tired right now, so I think I'll turn out."
"Hmm, alright, Edgey..." Flame responded, turning in his bunk.
The barracks were always dim, so it would be easy to wake and sleep for the Night Guards, as their line of work called for late waking and early resting.
"Have a good morning, Flame." Edge told his friend, and received a yawn in response.
A few seconds later, he could hear Flame speaking. "Maybe I should tell that Stark mare about your nickname..."
...
"Buck you, Flame, Buck you"
Flames just let out a small laugh.
/~|~\
Author's Notes: Well, hello there! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! This is a joint operation between me and the author RainbowMissile97. An idea by me, from much help by him. You could say that I am Black Edge and RainbowMissile97 is Ebony Flame. Insertish, I know. Hope ya'll liked it! Rate, comment, and subscr- wait, sorry. Just the first two. Thanks!
Big thanks to...
RainbowMissile97 - Co-Writer/Pre-Reader/Editor
Mazamis - Editor
