Night vision already had Enough of this assignment.
High up in the mountains, it was cold, snow everywhere, and this Winter Gear must have weighed a ton! With these, he could not fly, but even if the Wintergear didnt weigh him down, there also was the fact it was fricking cold. The sensitive membrane of his wings would just freeze and snap, he was sure of it.
And the worst of all: he was alone! The other three of his Squad had to return becouse this Stupid unicorn newbie slipped and broke his Leg and Ribs. And of course the both others insisted on going with him.
As if they could just walk away from this post!
The Yaks were aggressive once more and no pony could say if they were not for real attack this time.
Even if Night was sure he wouldn't even see an Army of them pass him, of course currently, there was a snowstorm.

"Just perfect..." he mutters to himself, "Lucky me..."

Somewhere here should be the place where he was supposed to stay until another group would come to relive him. Probably Tomorrow.
Ah there it was, right in front of him.
A bit faster and he would be in a warm shack.

"Finally warm up on a good fire, take a poor meal and..." His Hoof sank deeper than expected. and he was facing down a steep cliff, but something had stopped his fall.
"Not so fast, Greenhorn!" a voice said, and by the sound of it, it was a Stallion with something in his snouth. As night looked back, he could see, it was his tail in the snout of a Pegasus. This pegasus pulled him back onto the path and signed.

"That was close, '' the begasus said. As night looked at him, he could see a similar style Equipment, but it looked outdated.
"ummm... yes thank you for saving me from this fall." night looked over the edge. The fall would have been painful and probably deadly.
"Eh, no problem, I was around anyway. Let's head inside. It's cold.'' The Pegasus pointed a Wing over to the Shack and moved on.

The first thing Nightvision did inside the Shak was remove all of his Wintergear and hung it to the fireplace. The Pegasus had made the fire in the time that Night needed to follow him into the room.
Now he was laying down his winter outfit as well and revealed some sort of Uniform. One not used in a long time.

"Sir... may i ask, what are you doing here?" Night Asked carefully, course rank insignias showed him one rank above him. And until he could confirm or denie the genuentcy of the Rank, he would act like it's true.

"Hmm? oh i am Stationed here. My Assignment is a bit Older, thou..." the pegasus smiled and sat down, pointing his Hoof on a Cabinet: "You find there some Food. If I had known someone would give me company tonight, I would have waited with the Meal till you arrived."

Night was unsure, and decided to not let this stranger out of the corner of his Eye. Still he was hungry after the hike, and he looked into the cabinet.
It was Filled with good food, from fresh apples to different kinds of Salate and even some Insect based meals. Night was surprised, and took one of the cans with a mix of Fruits and insects out. "Huh... didn't know this outpost has something for batponies as well in store."
"Glad you like what you see." The Pegasus said smiling and sat down on a window facing the Border: "Warm up, get a good rest, I'll keep the first watch."

Night happly did this. The Food was actually pretty good for canned food, and the Stranger did hold guard. And for a Shack, this place was quite warm and cozy.
And he wasn't alone.
"Say... shouldend you not arrive with a few more at your side?" asked the Pegasus and got a Gituarre from next to him.

'huh i could swear there was nothing a moment before...

Night seemed confused as the Stranger started to play a few notes, then he shook his head and answered: "oh yes... right... the others. Well one of our group did injure himself. Broke his leg and probably his ribs. We were only four to begin with and they decided to turn around and bring him to a medical Team ASAP. I for my part went on and well, here i am."

The Pegasus chuckled at this and mutterd: "Stupid filly..."

"What? i am not a Filly!! and i am not Stupid! I have been a Member of the Night Guard since I was old enough to enlist!" Night was angry at that comment.

"Yet, here you are, separated from your troops, close to enemy territory, no backup for what, 12 hours? if i would not be here, you would be alone, and would keep watch the whole time. This Outpost is not that important to risk your life for it, Son." The pegasus played while talking a melody. Night recognized it.
it was a Song about coming home after a War, only to find everything burning and lost.
Night did know that feeling.

"Yeah... probably... but i can do this!" night defended himself, sat down in another chair to watch the outside.
it was Dark, but he as a bat could see very well in the darkness of night.

"Sure you can..." The pegasus laughed, and looked out into the blackness. "I am glad you are here."

This surprised Night, and he turned to the Pegasus, but did not make his question audible.
The pegasus smiled back at him and started to whistle to the song he was playing.
Strange... but Okay. If this old pegasus didn't want to tell him anything he was fine with that.
The Storm outside got weaker and finally, it got clear.
Perfect for night to keep the other side of the valley in his eyes.

"What a beautiful night..." the pegasus said and looked up, "Princess Luna outdid herself again."
"Princes... Sir, Princess Luna retired a few years ago." Night was confusing.
"Oh did she? Good for her. I wish i could..." he yawned, "Well i take a nap. Enjoy the shift, and tell me if you see something."
"Sure..." This stranger became stranger by the minute.

Somewhere in the Morning, The sun was creeping over the hills, Night let out a quiet yawn. The night was uneventful.
"morning." Pegasus said, "Thought you woke me up for switching."
"I was about to, but i got lost in thoughts i guess." Night smiled a bit, "But i keep my Eyes open.

The Pegasus raised an eyebrow, pointed out the window.
night followed his Hoof and gasped. There was a Yak! and this Yak was moving towards them.
Night grabbed his spear and a Crossbow from his gear and got in position with it.
He would shoot if the Yak got any closer.
And the Yak did.
Just as he was pushing the trigger down, the pegasus raised his Wing and blocked the Shot.
"ARGH! This Hurts!" he screamed, and the Bolt stuck in his wing.
"What? Why did you do this!" Night was already reloading.
"Just LOOK!" The Pegasus pointed his Wing towards the Yak.

It was a Young Yak, and it was looking around like... it was lost.
Sure enough, another Yak ran towards the younger Yak and now in comparison, the older Yak was like a mountain to the other. He screamed at the Child, pointing at the Shack where night was in and pulled the Young Yak back, still scolding it.

Night's leg where heavy and he just fell down on his haunches, didn't believe he almost...
"I almost shot a Child..." he mutters to himself.
"Yes you almost killed that child! And then? This would be a reason for a full scale War! Think you idiot! Damned!" The pegasus started to secure the bolt so it could not move,
"You are injured! I'm going to get some help! Just stay here!" night bolted out of the Door, didn't listen to the Pegasus as he was shouting something after him.
He Jumped and extended his wings, not feeling the cold air.

'I can't believe it.... I nearly shot a Child because I wanted blood! I wanted to fulfill my Duties and nearly killed an innocent.... and I injured another Pony! how could i do this? I... huh?
Night looked back to the Shack. There should be smoke coming out of the chimney but there was none. He flew back to look inside. His gear was there, exactly how he let it lay there, but it was freezing cold. The windows were broken, Snow covering the floor where he could get in, the fireplace cold, the cabinet was empty, and the Gitarre which was standing in the corner missed a few Sides.
Carefull, he went in.
Sure enough nopony was here. The Blood on the floor was old, but this was impossible. He had shot the Pegasus into the wing just moments ago. He got his Gear, put it back on.
And just in this moment, he noticed something else.
The Pegasus, he never told his name. He didn't have a name on his Uniform. only a Rank.
"SARGE!" he yelled outside the door, "Where are you?" He looked around. No Hoofprints besides his own.
"What the Hay is going on?" muttered Night to himself and looked around.

There! something glitter in the Snow a bit towards the north.
He would have to move near the borders.
Hopefully the Yaks would spare his life just like he did.
slowly he moved towards the glittering place in the snow. No arrows, no bolts, no spears were flying at him.
Sure enough he reached the place, and fresh Hoofprints told him it was the place where the Yaks were standing. And something was sticking out of the snow.
Carefully he dug in it, for reasons he could not really explain. Curiosity at most.

After a few minutes he could make out a Speartip, then the shaft, and then... a Hoof.
A hoof in a familiar Color. Soon enough he got the Body freed of snow and it was the Pegasus he just had Met! but... this Pegasus was frozen for at least a couple of Years!
"What the Hay..." muttered Night and got his Dog Tags.

Sergeant Honor Shield
22.Airborne Cavallari
Royal Guard

besides that, he found a Letter, which he opened

To Glimmering Shield
my beloved Daughter.
I probably face my End and I just can Hope you read this letter one day.
I was a Fool. I thought I could hold this post alone till the others arrive.
I should have waited for the others, but I didn't. I saved a Yak today, and I know, nopony will ever know this, except you, but I could not let her die in the Cold. I gave her shelter in my Shack, food, and a place to rest. In the Morning i escorted her back, but an avalanche caught us and one of the Yak Soldiers who was coming to intercept us. The Air is running out, and I can't free myself. I just hope the Yaks did make it out.

Your Loving Dad, Honor.

PS.: To the one who finds this: Please, i beg you, stay safe, bring this letter to my daughter.

And there was a Date. Around 10 years ago.
A Chill ran down Nights Spine and he turned around, running as fast as he could, the letter in his Saddleback.

"You think your Daughter gets the letter now?" a Yak asked a Pegasus, both sitting on a Mountain high above, watching the batpony run away.
"I sure hope so. She has waited Long enough for my Letter." said Honor Shield chuckling
"Are you going to rest now?" the Yak smiled
"I don't think so. Your Daughter has not returned to you, am I right?" Honor looked up, "As long as this has not happened I will guard our Grave. This i swear."
The Yak laughed and hit him on the Back: "Wish all Ponies were like you, friend!"
"I wish all Yaks were like you, Brother. See you soon." Both got up and walked, first over the snow, then over the edge of the cliff, then slowly down, Honor the Shack which restored itself in the moment he walked in, and the Yak towards a similar Shack, on the other side, where the same happens.

Author's Note

This Song was inspiration for the Story

Hope you like it