Chapters Dusk could only assume it was morning even though there was only darkness leaking in through the poorly covered up windows. Thunder and lightning was accompanied by heavy rain. Apparently this storm was supposed to last 3 or 4 days. He wasn't too excited about that. Mainly cause a guard from the Broken Shield was staying with him. Sure, he may have been nice to her last night, but that's because something in him told him to. And if there was one thing he actually obeyed, it was the voices in his head. Dusk was in the kitchen, heating up his wood stove to prepare some food for himself and his guest. He did tell himself he wanted to get to know her while she was here, so he thought he'd make some good ol' breakfast in bed.
He cracked some eggs onto a pan, and tossed some strips of haybacon on the side. The usual start to his day. He grabbed some oj from his magically cooled cooler he got awhile back and filled up a glass. He hadn't used the cooler in awhile, but now was the perfect time to break it out. Grabbing a tray, Dusk put the glass of oj on one side, and a plate on the other. Once he finished cooking up the breakfast, he scraped it onto to plate and dropped the still hot pan in the sink before turning down the stove to let it go out in its own.
"Well... Here we go..." Dusk said, picking up and balancing the tray onto his back. Trotting out of the kitchen and to the hallway, he listened for a moment. Hearing nothing but the howling wind and rain outside. He took that as a sign that Crystal was still asleep. Dusk trotted down the hall and pushed the door to his room open. And sure enough, the guest was tucked up and snug in the bed.
"Uhm... Hey, Crystal?" Dusk said, trying to wake her. After no response he slid the tray off his back and onto the nightstand. "Hey, I made you breakfast. I'll just.. Leave it here." He said turning around before being stopped by a voice.
"Wait," Crystal said, rolling over to face Dusk with tired eyes. "I thought about what went down last night... Why did you decide to be nice? You were kinda quick to accepting me being here..." Crystal sat up and looked to the food in front of her. "And you didn't have to make me food."
"Well even though I kinda hate you guys, it still isn't right to leave somepony stranded in a storm. And even though, again, I hate you guys, I think some company could be nice. So I'm not gonna just starve you." Dusk answered, about to trot or of the room.
"Well thank you. And thanks for letting me sleep in here. It was nice to sleep in a real bed again."
"No problem. I'll be in the living room when your done in here." Dusk said turn trotting out into the hall and into the main open room.
It was a little chilly, so Dusk tossed a few logs and kindling into the fireplace before lighting a match and tossing it in. It took a second, but a flame slowly started burning through the little wooden shavings as it got to the logs and began igniting them. Dusk hopped onto the couch and layed back to relax.
"I hope today's going to be a good day." Dusk mumbled, closing his eyes and losing himself in thought."Did I lie to Crystal? I'm not even sure why I'm really trying to be nice aside from not making an enemy. There's just something about her that I like, but just can't place my hoof on it... Maybe it's because our parents are gone cause of the Shield? I'm not sure..." Dusk was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the mare sneaking up on him who had already finished her breakfast.
"Dusk? Can I ask you about something? I'd understand if you don't want to but... It's something else I've been thinking about."
Dusk was shook out of his thoughts and simply said, "Uh, sure."
"Well... Do you have any other family? My mom was the only one that was still actually around, but Corporal Onyx Armor is as I said before pretty much like a dad to me. And, well... I guess what I'm trying to say is that you've got that same lonely vibe coming off you."
Dusk sighed and thought for a moment, before speaking up.
Crystal was unsure of what to say. Well she knew what she wanted to say, but just didn't want to offend Dusk. "Wow. I'm sorry, I didn't know you had it that rough. My mom was single and I was adopted so I didn't know anypony else, but your story is so much worse. But know something's on my mind... I've only just now realized your surname is Everfree. The mayor's last name is the same. Are you two related?" Crystal asked.
Dusk groaned then put his face in his hooves. "Don't remind me. He's my grandfather on my moms side. He doesn't exactly hate me, but he doesn't love me either. It's kinda half and half, you know?" Granted, his grandfather was nice from time to time, but he still mostly ran by the unicorns only rules set in place by his parents and the parents of his parents.
"So... Technically, judging by this towns trend of only electing family to run it, you'd be next in line? Right?" Crystal questioned. If that was the case, he'd probably declare war against the Broken Shield whenever he was elected the next mayor. Assuming the Shield would still be around by then.
"Yeah. He talked to me about taking up his job awhile ago. He did make me the Deputy Mayor, even though I really don't care about it... Anyways, enough about me. Tell me about you."
"What do you wanna know?"
"Anything." Dusk said, looking over towards Crystal like he was ready for a story.
"Well..." She began, "When I joined the Broken Shield, they told me exactly how they functioned. It was all the same as when they were the Equus Shield. Everypony got their normal pays, anypony could enlist if they wanted to, they were open to all kinds of ponies. They were even considering to open it up to griffons and zebras.
"There has to be some reason why they're against us, right? They were the leading military force for such a long time." Dusk more or less thought out loud.
"From what recruits were told upon joining, they were mainly against the princesses because of some experiment they were conducting under covers." Crystal explained, before continuing. "When they asked the Equus Shield, for help, they refused. Apparently what the princesses wanted was so bad that it lead to them publicly executing all the higher ranked soldiers to avoid them from turning on the Shield because of their pledged loyalty to royalty."
Dusk just stared. Was she really serious? "So what you're trying to say is that they became the bad guys to stop Princess Celestia from whatever she was doing?"
"Yeah. Why do you think we haven't completely ransacked this town? Why would we have tried to be nice and help you all out while allowing you to go about you're every day lives?" Crystal already knee she said to much. If anypony found out she spilled the beans on the Broken Shield, she'd surely be imprisoned. Or killed.
"This all runs waaay deeper then I thought... But... If you knew why they were doing what they're doing, why do you still hate them? Aside from the reason you started hating them in the first place?"
"Look, I've said to much. Whether I stay with the Shield or I leave, I'll be wiped out by a firing squad if any of the other guards find out I said anything." Crystal said, getting up off the couch and trotting to the front door. "I should go. I can't stay here."
"But the storm-" Dusk was in the middle of speaking before being cut off by a loud bang outside. Crystal opened the door a crack to investigate. A tree had fallen. Directly in front of the door. Great, now Crystal was stuck.
"...Nevermind..." She said.
-Meanwhile in the Canterlot Castle-
A Royal Guard scurried into the throne room holding a scroll with his magic. He bowed down and said, "Princesses! We've located the Broken Shield's whereabouts." He opened up the scroll and read what was written, "They've taken up residence in a small town called Everville in one of the forests to the far east."
"Good." Celestia said, "Get you're best guards, we're going."
"But Princess, there is a very dangerous storm surrounding the entire area. If we sent squads, it'll take hours to get through the harsh conditions."
"Then so be it." The princess said, rising from her throne. "We have to put a stop to the Broken Shield immediately."
"So... What do you we do now? I don't really want to talk about what we've been talking about anymore." Crystal said, laying back on the leather couch, listening to the fireplace crackle and snap.
"I don't really know. Maybe we can like, play some sort of game?" Dusk suggested.
"A game? I'm not a filly. I'm not playing tag."
"No, like something we'd have fun with. Like... Umm... Yeah nevermind, I got nothing."
Crystal thought for a good minute, then spoke up "I have an idea. Depends if you're up for it."
"Whatcha got?" Dusk asked, looking over to her.
"It's a little game a lot of the Privates play, though I never really joined in. Mainly because the end result was always the same."
"What do you mean? What happens?"
"Well," She said, "Whoever wins chooses whoever they want to have as a personal... Assistant? For a week. Normally their 'assistant' would be used for some late night fun. If you know what I mean by that."
"So to put it blatantly... The winner chooses a sex slave for a whole week?" Dusk said, pretty much unphased by this.
"Pretty much, yeah. I'm not interested in that stuff though. I would only play to get somepony to run my errands and take my extra shifts." She explained, "But chances are I'd probably lose, so I never play. But I watch them play a lot."
"Well then sign me up. How do you play?" Dusk asked, scooching closer to Crystal.
"Huh? You actually want to do this?"
"If it'll pass time, then yeah. If I win I probably won't do anything with it anyways. So why not?"
"Ok... Well if you're sure." Crystal thought back to how it's played. "One pony tells a true story with some made up bits, and everypony else has to determine what they are." As crystal explained, Dusk took a mental note of what she was saying. "You keep going till somepony manages to either guess all the false parts, or if they give up. Basically, for every one thing you guess, you get one point. And there are 3 rounds. Who ever has the most points wins." She finally finished explaining.
"Aaand.... What if there's a tie?" Dusk asked.
"The two victors play a real risk round of would you rather until one of them surrenders."
Dusk sat there for a second, trying to make sense of all the rules to this little 'game'. "Um... I think I get it? Can you go first just so I get an idea on how the story part works?" He asked.
"Sure! So, My story starts like this..."
To be continued?
Author's Note
This chapter and the next will build up some story before the more interesting things happen. I've probably already lost your interest, but if not, nice.
Author's Note
Right! So! If there is anyone who still reads my stories, I'm sorry for being gone for so long! Assuming there's even anyone reading this. I've just been busy, but I'm trying to get back in the swing of things, so yeah. Here's a quick little chapter for you for now. I am very tired so there WILL be some errors, and I'll fix them... eventually... So yeah, I do hope you enjoy, and that stories aren't already going to die off.
Just Friends
"So, what you're meaning to tell me is that Onyx tripped on a banana peel while marching somewhere? Did he get laughed at? I couldn't imagine being in front of hundreds of ponies and slipping on a conveniently placed banana..."
Crystal chuckled a little bit before saying, "Actually the only ponies that laughed was me and Amber, the commander of our division. You should've seen his face! He was so embarrassed but it was still funny. Commander Amber actually ending up admitting that she had somepony place the peel under his hoof. She was all serious and stuff, but she had an odd thing for pranking her friends while on duty." Crystal explained, sitting across from an amused Dusk.
"You know, aside from the whole 'enemy of equestria' thing, being apart of the Broken Shield doesn't sound half bad." Dusk pointed out, taking a sip of the tea he had just brewed.
"Hey, we're ponies too! We're just... Working for a different cause..."
The two ponies sit in silence for a few minutes, occasionally sipping on their tea. Everything was quiet and peaceful, until... CRACK! "Ahh!" Crystal yelped out, startled. Thunder cracked through the sky, which do to the silence beforehoof, startled Crystal quite a bit. Dusk couldn't help but laugh at her for that.
"Hey! It isn't funny! what if... what if a tree fell down on a house or something? Somepony could be hurt!" Crystal exclaimed, still a little shaken.
"If that happened, We'd know by now. Besides-" Dusk began, before cutting himself off. "Hey, do you feel that?" He asked, curiosly."
"What? Feel what?"
"There's a cold breeze... coming from down the hall." Dusk asked. Concerned, he gets up and tots towards the hallway.
"Wait! What if something got in through a window?" Crystal asked, getting up and cautiously following behind.
"Like what? The windows are all locked and boarded up."
"What if... Like, a bear got in or something?"
"A bear? Are you serious? you're the soldier, why do you sound scared..." Dusk half asked, half said.
"Shut it and see if it's a bear or not!" Crystal exclaimed, pushing Dusk ahead a few steps.
"Sheesh... Somepony nees to grow some..."
"Oh for Celestia's Sake just do it before I use my command on you! I did win that game we played yesterday!"
"You'd waste it on that? Why not something fun like... I don't know, making me dance on the table for 7 hours?"
"Just GO!" Crystal shouted likely gaining the attention of whatever may or may not be in the next room.
"Fine, whatever..." Dusk said, trotting down the hall and investigating the source of the cold breeze. it was coming from his bedroom...
Opening the door slowly, he's greeted by heavy rain almost instantly soaking him. A damn tree DID fall! And it hit his house! Luckily his closet wasn't blocked though, so he could at least get his valuables out of there before they're ruined.
"Dammit!" He exclaimed, obviously angry. "Crystal, I hope you're ok with sharing the couch because neither of us are sleeping in here!" He said, turning back and looking down the hall at Crystal. As he closed the door to try to stop all the heat from escaping, He failed to notice something... Silent movement in the shadows...
"Share? Why? Is there a bear in there!?"
"For the love of- NO! A tree fell down and screwed my room. Seriously, what's wrong with you?" Dusk asked, now a little more concerned then angry about the situation.
"I don't know... I'm just a little paranoid... I... I know more about this storm then I'd want to..." Crystal said, trotting back to the couch where its actually comfy and warm. "I'm just afraid that what I've been told might actually be true...
"What are you talking about? Is there something I should know?" Dusk questioned, looking his room door and trotting out to the living room with Crystal.
"Amber, the Commander of the shield said something about one of Equestria's foes. She never specified which one, but she believed that the storm was being generated by some evil magic... But we weren't sure why. I've just been feeling kinda... Paranoid that that could be true..." She explained, curling up on the couch.
"Ok... Well... If that is the case, that door is locked, so nothing's getting in... But... Why did you think it was a bear-"
"I just don't like bears! I got chased up a tree by one as a filly!"
"-right...Well, we have that spear of yours by the front door so we have some protection from whatever this 'foe' may be." Dusk said trotting to the door and picking up said spear, then trotting to the couch with it.
"Well I'd fell safer if... You could cuddle me..." Crystal muttered.
"If I could what?"
"If you could cuddle me."
"You're gonna have to speak u-"
"CAN YOU CUDDLE ME!...Please..." Crystal sure was embarrassed, but hey, you can't deny a paranoid mare's request for cuddles! Besides, Seeing as a cold breeze was now forever coming from Dusk's wrecked room, a little extra warmth was a nice thought.
"Uhm. Well, If you're just saying that so I don't have to sleep on the floor, I appreciate it but I can manage on the floor. Again, thanks for the off-"
"I command you to cuddle me. Right now."
"Really..? You're wasting it on that?" Dusk asked, not amused. Besides, he wasn't exactly comfortable with getting all cozy on a couch with a mare he met only a few days prior.
"Please? I'll... I'll make breakfast fro you tomorrow!" Crystal suggested, waiting for the right response with hopeful eyes.
"I already know what'll happen if I argue with you, so whatever, fine." Dusk said, climbing up onto the couch with Crystal. There wasn't much room, but they'd make it work. Dusk wiggled his way behind Crystal for optimal cuddles. Hesitantly, he wrapped his hooves around the blanket-bundled mare in front of him. Sure, it did feel a little awkward for the both of them...Yet, it felt... right. like it was meant to be.
"you're the kind of friend I've always wanted dusk." Crystal whispered, almost immediately dozing off after saying it.
"Right... friend... just friend..." Dusk said to himself, following Crystal to the dreamworld.
All the while a silent click came from down the hallway. The bedroom door slowly creaked open, and a shadowy figure slipped through the door, closing and locking it as if nothing ever happened...
...To Be Continued...
Author's Note
So yeah... I doubt anyone reads anything I do still, but I'm going to keep trying to write regardless.
Very fast paced chapter, I know.
Bug Problems
"Don't take your eyes off that corner!" Crystal warned, nudging Dusk while atop the sofa.
"No, you keep watching! I need to get the rest of the food and water so we don't have to leave this spot!" Dusk exclaimed, scooting closer to the kitchen.
This morning, Crystal say what she described as a pony sized bug flee to and hid in a dark corner by the front door. So, the fortified the oversized fire place and turned it into a hidey hole with a sofa door. Neither of them wanted to deal with a pony sized bug, so they decided to play defensive instead.
Dusk made it to the kitchen and stocked up on what he could before heading back to Fort Fireplace.
It didn't take long for Dusk to understand what was going on.
"Oohhh a changeling... Thats what she meant by pony sized bug..." Dusk whispered to himself.
Both Crystal's were sitting directly beside each other, completely identical.
Left crystal pointed an accusatory hoof at right crystal and said, "That's the fact one!"
"What? No! You are!" Right crystal exclaimed.
"No way! You're fake!" Left crystal shot back.
"Liar! I'm me! Don't trust this thing!" Right crystal warned dusk.
"I would never lie! You're the liar!" Left crystal shouted.
"Stop." Dusk said, calmy.
"No, get this thing out of here!" Right crystal yelled.
"Thing?! I'm a pony, you're the thing!" Left crystal yelled back.
"Both of you stop." Dusk said once again.
At this point, both crystal's were just going back and forth at each other. Roughly two minutes passed and Dusk had enough.
"SHUT UP!" He exclaimed, shutting them both up and grabbing their attention. "One of you is fake, and the other is real! And If I have to, I'll beat you both down to find the fake! So show yourself and save the trouble!"
Both crystal look at each other, then at Dusk. And then with a sigh, right Crystal transformed into a changeling.
"Ha! Told you!" The Real Crystal exclaimed, to which the changeling and just stared blankly at her. "Oh, right... Um, sorry..."
"Out." Dusk simply said, looking back at the changeling and pointing towards the front door. He really couldn't be bothered to freak out because of a changeling.
The changeling looked at the door, then back at Dusk. Silence.
"Get. Out." Dusk repeated.
"No" The changeling said in a quiet voice. "Please don't make me"
"This is my house, and you're a changeling. Leave."
"But I... It's too windy for me." The changeling said. By the voice, it could be assumed this changeling was a mare, but Dusk didn't really like the idea of checking. He just wanted it out.
And then Crystal spoke up. "You let stay..."
"...You're not a changeling." Dusk said.
"So? Changeling or not, nopony should be outside."
"I agree." The changeling agreed.
Dusk was too tired and frankly, some more company didn't sound too bad. Crystal was starting to drive him up the wall.
"...I can't believe this... Fine." Dusk said giving in. Again, he was too tired. "Do anything changeling-y though, and you're gone."
The changeling silently nodded and thanked dusk before curling up on the couch. It was obviously tired too.
Dusk was simply tired. That was made obvious by him just up and passing out right there and then. He wasn't a morning pony.
A few hours later, Dusk woke up to chitter chatter from across the room. "Crystal?" he groaned, "Is that you?"
Getting up, Dusk began looking around but saw nopony. But then, BAM!
"Ha, we got him!" A voice exclaimed. Crystal's voice...
"Crystal? Get off me!" Dusk shouted, grumpily.
And with that, Crystal (and another pony) got off him and let him get to his hooves.
Turning around, he seen Crystal and the changeling. "What was that for?" He questioned.
"I'm learning how to hunt ponies! I really didn't have anything else to do, and Azure seems nice enough." Crystal explained.
"Azure?" Dusk asked.
"That's me." The changeling said, "I'm Azure."
"Right. Well don't do that again. I'm really not in the mood."
A loud crack of thunder shook through the house and Azure jumped like a cat with a yelp, which kind of was amusing to Dusk.
"I hate thunder." Azure said, shaking.
"Don't be mean to Azure like you were to me when we met... I need some lunch so I'm gonna go make something." Crystal said, trotting off leaving Dusk and Azure alone in the living room.
"So..." Dusk began. "Why did you come here and not somewhere else for shelter?"
"Well I can handle the wind and rain, no problem. But its just the thunder I wanted to get away from... And this was the only place." Azure explained. "I'm sorry for just breaki-" Thunder cracked through the sky again, once again causing Azure to yelp but this time diving underneath Dusk, as if hoping to hide from it.
He didn't want to admit it, but it was kind of funny and cute. Maybe he'd get used to this.
"S-sorry" Azure said, getting to her holey hooves.
"It's fine. Everypony is scared of something."
"What are you scared of?" Azure asks, curiously.
"...Caring..." Dusk says simply.
"What... do you mean?" Azure wonders.
"Everypony I've ever showed any care towards always ended up leaving me behind and alone..." Dusk didn't know why he told a changeling that, but it just felt right.
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that... But I can also relate..." Azure says, losing her cheery tone Dusk never noticed till it was gone.
"How exactly? Aren't changeling all apart of some big hivemind or something?" Dusk questioned.
"Well, sort of... I was different though. When I was born, I wasn't apart of it. Everypony knew and didn't really care. It was when I refused to go around hurting innocent ponies when they all got mad and threw me out... Away from my family." Azure explained, a tear forming in the corner of her blue pupil less eye. "They didn't want me anymore..."
He felt bad for azure. A lone changeling in a world of creatures that hate them. He couldn't imagine how that felt. So, he did the only thing he could that he knew usually cheered other up.
"Well... Crystal and I are here for you." Dusk said, falling through with his plan by pulling Azure into a big ol' hug.
Azure was confused and unsure at first, but quickly accepted the offer of comfort. Within seconds Azure was silently crying, though the hug did help a fair bit.
"I'm sorry for asking and... Making you sad." Dusk apologised, still very much feeling sorry for her.
Dusk was more then ready for the hug to end, but Azure just kept hanging on.
"Look who's getting along." Crystal says announcing her presence. "Maybe a little too well."
Before either of them got to protest, Crystal set three plates down onto the coffee table. "I thought you'd both be hungry, so I make you both lunch too."
Azure finally let go off Dusk and trotted over the the plates of food, to which Dusk followed.
"Thanks." Dusk said, sitting down on the couch where the two mares were no located. "What did you even make?" He asked as he examined the plate of food in front of him.
"Whatever I could with a little bit of everything we have. Hope you like it." Crystal answered.
"Whatever it is it's good." Azure said, who had already completely devoured everything on the plate.
"You're done it already? Jeez..." Dusk says, taking a bite of the meal. Funny that. It WAS really good.
Many, many hours later
"Wait. Only one of us can sleep on the couch. The inflatable mattress is big enough for two of us so... Who's going where?" Dusk questions, realising this new predicament.
"Dibs on the couch!" Crystal says, hopping onto the couch and under the warm blanket.
"That's not how it works! We have to decide eh-"
"Dibs is dibs! International rule! Besides, you've shared with me before, so why not share with the new mare?" Crystal jokes, getting comfy on the couch.
"Wording it like that makes me sound like a creep... Anyways, you're the one that asked to share!" Dusk shoots back.
"Did I though?"
"Of cour-"
Now it was Azure's turn to be annoyed. "Shush! Dusk, we can share. The mattress is big enough, I don't mind."
"Ugh, fine. I won't even try to argue..." And with that, he laid down on one side of the mattress while Azure took up the other side. The candles were out and the fireplace was lit, but it was still cold for Dusk considering he only had a sheet. That he had to share with Azure.
Roughly an hour and a half passed and Dusk still laid awake, cold.
"D-d-dusk? Ar-are you awake?" A shakey voice asked.
Looking behind him, he say a shivering Azure staring at him with pleading eyes. "I'm re-really c-old"
And that was his queue... She looked freezing, and he kinda liked her so he wouldn't let her freeze. It also didn't help that she didn't have fur.
Flipping around, Dusk grabbing Azure, who was cold to the touch, and pulled her close to him hoping to help warm her up.
Azure was surprised but unsure about this, but she was already warming so she gladly latched onto him to keep warm. Back in the hive, it took thousands of others to be this warm. But here with Dusk? It only tool seconds to get warmer then that..
She was so happy she chose here to take shelter. Crystal and Dusk were the only ones who were nice to her.
And right now? Especially Dusk...
To Be Continued
Author's Note
This chapter flies by and the pacing of events is a little quick, but that's because I don't know how to start off stories that well. But the next chapter and the many others I plan to have after this one will work a lot better. That is, if anyone likes this.
Welcome to Everville
The night was cold, wind howling through the thick trees. A storm has been brewing for quite some time now and the residents of Everville had been preparing. Even though they were under the reign of the Broken Shield, the good guys gone bad, they got everything they needed. They lived their lives normally and had even gotten extra supplies from their new government. Windows were sealed and boarded up, doors locked and blocked, and everypony had all the lanterns and candles they'd need to get through the upcoming storm. All this was done by the Broken Shield, as they wanted to protect their new subjects, as well as build a good relationship with them. So, they sent out an order to their best troops to assist the townsponies to prep for the horrible next few nights to come. Except for one pony. One pony who refused their help. Dusk Everfree. And no, he has nothing to do with the similarly named Everfree Forest. Dusk was a quiet pony. He grew up loving the Broken Shield, formerly the Equus Shield. But they went corrupt and fought against those they swore to protect. And that was something Dusk now hated about them. He got everything ready himself without help from the several guards that had tried before. Yes, he was reported to the head of the evil organization, but he simply nodded him off as 'a non believer'. The headstallion simply said that he'd come to his senses. Eventually.
All was going well for Dusk during his nap after a long day of placing candles and readying food and water. Until a knock at the door awoke him. "Ugh... What do they want now?!" he asked in his head. "Probably some last second attempt at 'helping' me." he thought.KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Wha..." was all dusk could say before seeing that the mare was in fact a guard for the Broken Shield.
"Don't ever assault a guard! I could have you arrested for that!" The mare shouted, glaring at dusk who was currently upside down.
"You are invading my home! I'm defending myself!" Dusk shouted back.
"Oh please, anypony could've seen that punch coming and managed to dodge it." The mare said. "And besides, I have the right to be here. This town and all its inhabitants belong to The Broken Shield!" She said, saluting at the drop of the name.
"I really don't care. This is MY home, and MY home only!" Dusk exclaimed, stumbling to his hooves.
"Look, guy, the storm hit sooner the we thought and the closest barracks for us guards is on the other side of town. I'll be blown away before I even get half way." The mare said, looking around the dimly lit living room.
The living room was pretty empty and boring. A fireplace, sofa and table was all that could be seen. On the far side of the room was two hallways. One to a kitchen, and the other to a bunch of doors. It was a small one floor house.
"I REALLY don't care! Bunk with somepony else!" Dusk shot back, now on his hooves, but keeping his distance.
"Everypony else is boarded in. That and they have direct orders to not remove their barricading for the next few days. You, as stubborn and rude towards us as you are, were you only one I could come to to find shelter." The mare explained.
"Hmph! Whatever... I'll be nice this time BUT you're outta here as soon as the coast is clear. Got it? But the second you try something funny you're outta here!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. My name's Crystal Rain by the way. Lancepesade Crystal Rain." Crystal said.
"Lancepe-whatnow? You trying to cast a spell on me or something?"
"No. Lancepesade. It means I'm a corporals assistant. Its a rank a Private can get if a corporal decides they fit the roll as their secretary, essentially." Crystal explained.
"Ah... So you're a Private?" Dusk asked.
"Yeah, Private 1st Class before I was selected by Corporal Onyx Armor."
"Monthly pay?"
"Just about 2,000... Why?"
"Trying to make conversation instead of thinking about how much I fuckin' hate you." Dusk said simply.
"Right... Well," Crystal began, as she took off her helmet, "Do you mind if I take this stuff off? It gets real hot an uncomfortable."
"Sure." Dusk said, plopping down on the couch while looking away from Crystal Rain.
"Thanks." She said back, stripping herself of all the armor and tossing in to the side. "I don't think I caught your name. What was it again?"
"Dusk Go-FUCK-Yourself. The fuck in all caps."
"I understand you hate me and the Broken Shield, but tone it back a bit! Please!" She snapped back, obviously not happy with his attitude.
"Whatever... It's Dusk Everfree..." Dusk said, grabbing a book off the coffee table and flipping to the book mark.
Crystal trotted over to the couch. She hesitated, before deciding to take the risk and sat down on the other end. She had just invading the home of some stallion that hates what she was a part of. Though she couldn't blame him.
"So... The weather, huh?" She said, trying to spark conversation. But Dusk didn't respond. "I see you're reading a book about..." She looked at the cover, "...About the Equus Shield... Oh..."
Dusk shifted around to hide the title, while still facing away.
"Those books sold out years ago... I'm guessing you had it before the change?" Crystal asked. Dusk still didn't reply. "You know... I used to look up to the Shield... Then they changed. But even though all the bad they did tainted my view of them, I also remembered all the good they did too. I-"
"Just shut up! Don't try to play mind games on me! You lot are evil and all deserve to parish!" Dusk yelled out with a shaky tone, now clenching the book hard enough to almost rip right through it. Though Crystal couldn't see, Dusk had tears forming in his eyes. He normally always got sad while reading the book about the now corrupt hero's he looked up to.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up..." Crystal said, now averting her eyes away from the stallion and the book. While looking around, she seen a picture. Dusk was in it. He looked a lot younger and was standing by the side of a taller stallion in the armor a sergeant would wear. The stallion looked a lot like the little Dusk. If Crystal had to guess, it was his dad... Thats when Crystal realised exactly why Dusk hated them so much... "Dusk... I'm sorry... I didn't know..."
"Don't give me that! You're just trying t-"
"About your dad... I'm sorry... I know what happened to all those above recruit when the Shield went bad..." Crystal said. Now feeling a little sad herself.
"Wh-what? How do you know about that?" Dusk questioned. He removed the book from his gaze and seen where Crystal was looking. "Why would you care?!"
"Because... My mom was there... She was executed too." Crystal was now feeling low and sad herself. She had a feeling she'd get an earful from Dusk for bringing that up. But instead, Dusk said something in a quiet and what crystal assumed was supposed to be a comforting voice.
"I'm sorry... For yelling. And everything else... I didn't know that... That's horrible... But... Why would you JOIN them after that?"
"I made a promise to my family that I'd join up before all that... And the Rain Family always pulls through... Even in the worse conditions." Crystal explained, tears welling up in her eyes now to.
"How do you not hate them though?" Dusk questioned.
"Oh I do... But at the same time, I've always wanted to be one of the Shield... I felt so... Fulfilled when I joined even though they're now the enemy of Equestria.
Things between them got silent, and Dusk finally got a good proper look at the mare. She was an earth pony with a silvery coat with a long, tropical blue mane and tail. She had beautiful blue eyes you could just get lost in."How could such a beautiful mare end up rolling with a job she hates, but does it because of some silly promise? I feel... Kinda bad for her."
Meanwhile, Crystal looked over to Dusk, getting a good long look at him too. He was also an earth pony with an earthy brown coat and short, frizzled dark red mane and tail. He had mismatched eyes though, unlike he did in his younger photo. His left eye was green while his right eye was a lighter brown. She thought to herself, "Maybe I can make him not hate me..? We both hate the Broken Shield but then here I came wearing their armor! Please forgive me."
Crystal took a deep breath before speaking up, "Look... I'm sorry. After the storm passes I was gonna ask the corporal if he could lay me off of work... So I don't have to be another one of their soldiers... Maybe then we could... I don't know, be friends? I get that you don't want me here but when I'm off I'll make it up to you. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
Dusk sat there, staring while analysing what she said. He was considering the offer, assuming that she really would drop her association with the broken shield. She was kinda good looking too, and he'd love to get to know her if she wasn't one with the wrongdoers. "I mean I guess... But are you sure you could drop out that easily?"
"Normally no. But the Corporal is basically like the dad I never had. He hardly ever let's me out of his sight because he doesn't want me to get hurt," She began to explain, "so if I ask him I'm sure he'll see it as a way to keep me safe... That's also why he made me a Lancepesade." Crystal finished.
Dusk thought for a moment before saying, "...Ok then... I guess we can attempt being... Friends... when this all blows over... But I won't forgive you for being one of them till then!"
"Understood... It's pretty late by now... Maybe we should sleep? I'll take your couch..." Crystal said, laying down.
"No, you won't. You deserve compensation after all my yelling at you. And for trying to attack you. The beds down the hall and to the left." Dusk said, laying down on his side of the couch and blowing out the candle that was on the coffee table.
"I can't. It's YOUR house so YOU get YOUR bed."
"My house my rules. The new rule for the night is that you get the comfy bed and I get the uncomfy couch for being a dick. That's that and goodnight." Dusk said, closing his eyes and pretending to already be asleep to avoid any disagreement.
"But... Ugh fine... Thanks, I guess..." Crystal said, getting up and off the couch then trotting towards hallway to Dusk's room.
As Dusk heard his bedroom door open them close, he let out a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, "Tomorrow I'm gonna get her to like me. I want to at least try to be nice and take her word that she'll drop the whole Broken Shield thing. Then we'll be friends? Maybe? She seemed nice enough. Plus, I need some friends... I don't have any." He yawned then slowly drifted off to sleep.
Crystal Rain layed in the dark room. She'd been sleeping on rough cots forever now and it felt good to be in a real bed. With a cozy smile, she fell victim to the curse of sleep, slipping off into dream land.
To Be Continued?