A Skyrate Tale: Servant Betrayed

Author's Notes: Hey everyone who's reading this, this is my first story on Fimfiction...errr first story ever to be exact. The Skyrates idea and characters in this story aren't solely mine but belong to friends who have given me permission to use them. Now on to the story!

Chapter 1

Best Day Ever or Worst?

Lanterns were put out and all was quiet through out all of Canterlot on this night. The moon was unusually bright with what seemed like new constellations surrounding it. The positioning of the stars of said constellations made the shapes of two Lunar Guards, one on each side of the moon, and one that made a shape similar to that of an Alicorn above the moon.  Such constellations hadn't been seen in Equestria for over a thousand years.

In simple words, the night was absolutely beautiful.

Canterlot was no less spectacular that night either. Rows of pale yellow lights were aligned on the sides of the main steet in the city and solid black cloud pillars were arranged around the courtyard in front of the castle. Two rows of Lunar Guards stood on the street, their weapons drawn and held to create an archway that lead to a stage. Upon the stadium were various banners that represented Equestria, Canterlot and of course the Lunar Guard themselves.

Upon the stage were the royal pony sisters. Their manes and tails billowed in a nonexistant wind.

"Sister, are you sure that all of this is needed for tonight? It seems a bit over the top even for you." Celestia asked in a low tone so none of the gathered ponies would hear her.  It wasn't really a serious question, she knew why Luna had gone out of her way for this night.

Luna stood there staring off into her glorious night, not watching particularly anything. "Because our loyal subject and friend deserves such! She has worked hard for what she has gained tonight and we shalt reward such hard work." The dark alicorn turned to her older sister and smiled awkwardly. While she had long since stopped using the royal 'we' it still snuck up on her when she was excited. "Nova has been our friend since our first Nightmare Night and I really want to show her my appreciation"

The Princess could still remember the night she had met the mare for the first time. Nova had wrapped herself in a blanket and hid in a small candy basket that was left on her chariot. It had been quite a surprise to find the filly in the candy basket, she wasn't even sure she would've discovered her if Nova had not fallen asleep and started snoring lightly.  What had surprised the princess even more was that Nova had decided to stay the week with her, after gaining her parents approval of course.

Celestia simply nodded her head in agreement with her sister. "Yes, she has come quite the distance from when she served on Jack's ship as a navigator."

Luna was about to respond to her sisters comment when the night was interrupted by the loud sound of trumpets. One of them she would note was off key. "And now it starts!"

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Somewhere in the night, a pony wearing a dark cloak stood upon a rooftop and waited for his chance at the Princesses. "Soon...Equestria will belong to it's true leaders...." The only thing that was visible on him was his glowing eyes. "And soon.. you will pay as well, Nova."

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A lone brown mare stood at the beginning of the long line of Lunar Guards pacing back and forth. A few stars could still be seen where the guard armor covered her cutiemark. "Come on, where are they?! They said they'd be here to walk down the aisle with me."

The guards nearest her snickered at the panicked mare. "Nova calm down, don't get your coat dirty. There is quite a turn out, they might be having trouble getting in." A guard with a deep voice told her. She sheepishly took a look at her forelegs and her hoofs. Her coat was still a clean chocolate brown and her hooves were still shiny black. Then she processed the rest of what he said.

Turning on the guard. "Calm down? I am calm, Buckshot. I'm...I'm just...I'm just restless is all." It was obviously a lie and more guards joined in with laughter. Ok.. I am panicking so what? I'm allowed to panic! She thought to herself as a group of voices started caling her name.

"Nova! Nova! We're here!" Two panting ponies emerged from down the darkened street.  One was a white stallion with black sock like markings on his legs and a potion vial as a cutiemark.  It was her father. The other however looked like something from a fantasy novel, with his green fabric skin and button eyes. This doll was her best friend Patches. It was he who spoke first.

"Dearest Nova! We are here and we blame the Professor for our lateness to your special day!" The doll jumped off of the Professor's back and onto hers. "We have missed you while you were training to be one of our Lulu's guards" Patches nuzzled the back of her neck.

The Professor sighed and looked exhausted. "Sorry hun, but you know how the nobles are." On a closer look it looked like her dad had been pummeled on the way, the thought of him fighting his way through a crowd brought a smile to her lips. "Plus Patches wanted to get you something special. " On that note the doll put a crescent moon shaped hair pin in her mane.

Rolling her eyes at how the two acted Nova would let out a long sigh. "I just want this over, why did Luna have to make this such a big deal?" The question wasn't posed to anypony in particularly, but knowing Patches he would say something.

"Luny knows how much you have dreamed of becoming one of her precious Night Guards and wants to give you a special day to honor you achieving this dream." Patches felt quite content with his reasoning before he jumped off of Nova and landed with a squeak. "Nova, why are you not in the Night Guard form?"

The doll was right about her dream, of course. Nova had been looking forward to this day ever since she had managed to join the Lunar Guard training camp. Luna was so surprised when a servant delivered the news to her, it had even prompted a visit from her. Said visit had ended with the drill sergeant covered in mud and her running twenty laps around the camp grounds but it was totally worth it. Her starry eyes seemed to unfocus as she slipped into a walk down memory lane.

"Nova, why aren't you in proper form?" The doll asked again, firmly breaking her out of her brief stupor.

Putting her hoof to her head she would begin to rub her temple. Slightly irritated and surprised that Patches didn't know why she wasn't in her Night Guard form. "Didn't you eat the royal guard training books I sent you?" The doll stepped back and looked sheepish. "I guess you didn't eat them...um...okay"  Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. "The enchantments that change a pony into their guard form, such as the white pegasus guards and grey unicorn ponies, are contained in the armor's helmet." Motioning to herself. "Do you see a helmet? No. Because Princess Luna wants to award it to me personally...which is why I'm nervous."

Normally she wouldn't be nervous in front of Luna since she was used to visiting the Princess on a weekly basis. This however was different. It wasn't like when she was a filly and was awarded the best fliers medal from Princess Celestia, nope this was far more personal.

Shaking her head and sighing, Nova turned to look down the street to where Princess Luna and Celestia were standing. She could tell they were speaking, but couldn't hear them over the sound of the crowd of ponies. "Must you always blame-" Her words cut off as trumpets sounded the beginning of the ceremony. "Time to go."

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The sound of trumpets blared throughout the streets of Canterlot, signaling the beginning of the ceremony and the end of the Princesses. The cloak clad began to move along the roof tops, making his way towards his kill zone.  "How ironic, they're adding another guard to their number only to have the one they guard die in front of them" The stallion laughed as a beam of light went over the crowd and lighting him up only for a brief moment.  Had anypony been watching the roofs they would've spotted him that instant, lucky for him they weren't.

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Princess Luna and Celestia stood proudly above Nova as she climbed the stage to take her vows. Luna looked so proud of her little Nova, she had indeed deserved to be here.

"Nova Starlight, tonight we are honored to induct you as the mare to be allowed to enter the brotherhood that is the Lunar guard.  You have shown great skill and prowess in your ability to defend and uphold the peace in Equestria." In a lower voice Luna would add. "You're even a skilled astronomer." It was a prerequisite to join the Lunar Guard, but she was still happy to know her friend had taken the time to learn about her wondrous night.

Nova blushed and bowed before the Princess of the Night. "Thank you Princess, I am not worthy of such praise."

"Nova, please rise. You have more than earned the right to stand before your Princess.  Now please recite your-" The Princess was cut off as a gasp went through the crowd. "WHO DARES TO DISRUPT THIS CEREMONY! Luna shouted in the royal voice and accidently blew Nova off the stage. In a small voice "Sorry Nova"

Walking down the aisle appeared a pony with a cloak on. "Good evening Princess, have I interrupted something?" The stallion grinned as he threw back his hood. Another gasp went through the crowd as they took in the looks of the intruder. His white coat looked to be matted with dried blood around his eyes and down his neck and several skulls hung around his neck. Standing over the fallen mare the stallion would grin. "Hello Nova love...nice to see you where you belong finally."

Nova gasped as she realized who this was. "Broken Shield.. what are you?" She was abruptly cut off when he slammed his hoof into her face, making her cry out.

"Shush now, the adults need to talk." Broken Shield's horn took on a sickly red glow as he turned his head towards the Princesses. "Goodbye Princesses, you won't be missed... ALL HAIL THE TRUE BLOODED RULERS!" He shouted as a bolt of energy shot from his horn and towards the Princesses.

Broken Shield laughed maniacally as he dropped to the the ground, dead.

Dozens of guards had by this point scrambled up to the stage and surrounded the fallen pony. One valiant guard jumped in front of the sickly red blast of energy, taking the full brunt of it and being turned to ash on the spot.

Somewhere out in the crowd a noble shouted out. "Guards, take the traitor Nova to the deepest prison!" Following the orders before the Princesses could react, they hauled Nova away.