Bodyguards of the Princesses

"So, this is Equestria?" remarked Tony Stark, as he looked out the window of the Friendship Express. "Certainly, doesn't look anything like home is."

"That's because you've never been there before," replied a female voice that belonged to his newly married wife, Julia Carpenter. "But at least being bodyguards to this kingdom's new leaders counts as a new beginning. Better yet, I'll be with you every step of the way, Tony."

Tony couldn't help but chuckle to himself at what his new wife just said. And he knew that she was right, it was a new beginning for them, for all of the Avengers. But, Tony also had to remember that it was also the first time since their Civil War that he was working with Steve Rogers, who sat across from him and Julia.

"Tony," said Steve, looking over at him. "You okay?"

"Uh, yeah," stammered Tony. "I'm fine, Steve. Just…a little nervous about this new job we're all taking."

"Why should you be nervous, Mr. Stark?" asked Peter Parker, Stark's protégé sitting next to Julia's daughter, Rachel. "I'm actually excited to be in Twilight Sparkle's school of friendship."

"As am I," added Rachel. "I'm kind of looking forward to being around other creatures instead of some of those classmates I despise."

"We're all looking forward to this new change, Tony," said Steve. "Everything that happened between us is in the past. Let's bury the past and move on, shall we?"

"I agree with Cap here," said Jim Rhodes, Tony and Julia's closest friend. "Equestria is supposed to be a kingdom that preaches love and friendship just as much as any place. After all, it's not every day we get to be among a country completely inhabited by ponies, let alone be the bodyguards to their leaders."

Soon, the train approached Canterlot Train Station and came to a stop.

"Canterlot," called the conductor. "Canterlot train station! Watch your step leaving the train!"

Getting up, the two factions of Avengers left the train and stepped onto the platform. No sooner did they step off were they met by a crowd of ponies who could only stand in awe of them.

"Why are they looking at us like that?" asked Scott Lang, a member of Steve's faction.

"Because they probably have never seen the likes of us before," answered Sam Wilson, another member of Steve's faction. "Just be yourself, Tic Tac and you'll do fine."

"If only my kids were here to see this," remarked another member of Steve's faction, Clint Barton. "Especially my daughter."

Soon, they were met by Flash Magnus, a pillar of Equestria and the newly minted Captain of the Royal Guard.

"You must be the new bodyguards?" he asked. "I'm Flash Magnus, pillar of Old Equestria and current Captain of the Royal Guard."

"We are," said Tony, extending a hand out to Flash, much to his confusion. "I'm Tony Stark, leader of the Avengers. Um, you don't shake hands?"

"They are ponies so I doubt that, Mr. Stark," remarked Peter.

…

Suddenly, Flash turned to see Celestia and Luna coming towards them.

"Company, salute!" he called and they formed two sets of lines as the two alicorn sisters along with Bruce and General Ross arrived. Out of respect, all the Avengers bowed to them.

"You can rise," chuckled Celestia, much to their surprise. "The formality kind of gets us down a bit."

"My sister and I would like to welcome you to Equestria," said Luna.

However, while the princesses were more than welcoming, Steve wasn't as keen on seeing General Ross present with them.

"What are you doing here?" asked Steve, remembering the man who treated him and his faction like criminals. "You're not here to arrest me and my faction are you?"

"Come on, Rogers," he whispered. "The government has given you and your team a pardon in the wake of Thanos' defeat. At least show some gratitude for it."

However, Bruce was more than welcoming to see his friends again and showed it by embracing Tony and the others.

"Good to see you, guys," he said, hugging both of them.

"Good to see you too, Bruce," replied Tony, patting his friend on the back. "Looks like you are enjoying your new role at S.M.I.L.E."

"Yeah, it's very interesting to say the least, but at least the pay is good and that I am doing some contributing to the benefit of Equestria. Besides, there is this one pony who has taken a liking to me."

"So, you say," laughed Tony. "Gotta to introduce me to her. What's her name?"

"Lyra Heartstrings. A new agent who just joined not too long ago."

…

Just then, the sounds of another commotion were heard as several guardsponies were ushering ponies to get out of the way as a chariot arrived on the scene and inside the chariot was a dark skinned male dressed in purple and black robes.

"I can't believe this," said Bucky Barnes, a childhood friend of Steve's and a member of his faction. "What's T'Challa doing here?"

"The same thing as you," replied Luna. "The King of Wakanda will also be a bodyguard to us."

"Uh, doesn't he have a kingdom to run?" asked Jim.

"Yes, but he was adamant on being a protector of us," answered Luna.

Stepping out of the chariot, T'Challa approached the two factions of Avengers, but not before bowing to the royal sisters. Despite the fact he was a king himself, T'Challa still wanted to show the respect of the sisters' status.

"Your highness," gasped Steve. "So, you're here as well?"

"I want to help protect the leaders of Equestria, Captain," he said. "Equestria is just as important as Wakanda."

"But, what about your subjects?" remarked Tony.

"M'Baku will oversee my daily duties. After all, he did a good job ruling Wakanda in my absence."

It took a moment for Tony to take in what he had just heard, but he ultimately accepted what T'Challa was trying to do.

…

Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor stood outside the spacecraft as a human male and his multi-creature companions stepped down onto the Crystal Empire's ground.

"They all look so different from one another," whispered Princess Cadence to Shining Armor. "Are you certain that they are qualified to be our bodyguards?"

"If your aunts say they are qualified, then they are qualified, Cadence," Shining Armor whispered back. "All that matters is that I don't let you fall victim to creatures like the Storm King."

"The Guardians of the Galaxy!" called a herald as the intergalactic heroes stood in front of the Crystal Empire's co-rulers.

"Welcome to the Crystal Empire," Cadence said to the group of multi-creatures. "I'm Princess Cadence and this is my husband and co-ruler, Shining Armor."

The human male bowed to them in respect much to the confusion of his companions, but all Princess Cadence could do was chuckle.

"You don't have to be so formal," she laughed.

"Are you sure about that?" asked the human male. "I mean, we've traveled to many kingdoms in the Galaxy and have had to show respect to them. Anyways, name's Pete, Pete Quill or Star-Lord, leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. These are my fellow guardians, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, Mantis and Groot."

"I am Groot," Groot said, much to Shining Armor's confusion as he walked over to the treelike humanoid.

"Uh, I know who you are," he replied, confusingly.

"That is all he says," advised Rocket to Shining Armor. "Don't worry, after a while, you'll start to understand him."

Shining Armor wasn't sure, but he was more than willing to give Groot and all the other Guardians the benefit of the doubt as to why they were here.

…

The bodyguards had arrived, but there was still plenty of introductory work to be done…