Dutifully Yours

Dutifully Yours

By: JusticeSnake

Edited by: maskedferret & Luminous Lead

Book 1

Chapter I: Clegmane the Steadfast

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The dark unicorn clicked the glass display case closed. His Equestrian armour, saddle, spear, helm and all sat safely behind the cabinet’s reflective pane. Resting atop of the oak that framed his old guard outfit was a heavy brass plaque inscribed with his name and honorific. Sir Clegmane the Steadfast. He waited, trying to dredge up some of the old pride he had felt when he first received the plaque. Nothing. The words were just that: words. Empty and hollow. Just like his lonely home. Just like his lonely heart. He narrowed his eyes at the meaningless plaque and turned his back to the battle cabinet. Shifting his weight forward and gritting his teeth, Clegmane commanded his powerful legs to lash out. He urged them to demolish this waste of space, this relic from a bygone era.

Splintered wood, shattered glass and clattering steel was what he expected to hear. Instead, the only sound that found his ears was his escaping breath, shuddering from exasperation. Like his pride, his legs had failed to rise to the occasion. With an empty sigh the bulky stallion released tension in his shoulders and turned once more to face his legacy. As he had done so many times before, Clegmane inspected his armour.

Rigorous training had been the birth of this habit, to preserve his equipment was to preserve his life. In a life or death situation faulty equipment could hinder movement or even injure the wearer. Broken armour was worse than no armour at all. However, that was in the past. Today it was more a matter of remembrance, of gazing into the past and looking into the eyes of the stallion he had once been. He wondered, if indeed it could be done, what that stallion would see in his eyes. Would he think him a lesser pony, one no longer able to compete with the best of the best? It was possible. Then again perhaps the younger eyes would not fill with disdain at the stallion he had become, perhaps they would catch and rest upon the new sash that adorned the steel-plated saddle. Deep pine green and of the softest felt, the sash surrounded the golden armour like a tropical snake, bearing the weight of many years. Golden thread woven through the fabric sparkled in the high noon sun, twisting into an old guard motto,

Resting but not Retired.

One never truly left the Guard. Not really. There was always a chance that he could be called back to help train the new recruits, or to assists in a managerial capacity. Maybe even active duty if it was a war to fight. It wasn’t too likely though, for these were peaceful times. Stories of how the dragon invasion of Canterlot had failed catastrophically, an army a thousand strong routed in moments and with no casualties, certainly made it clear that Equestria was not a nation to be trifled with. The guard would have no need for the aging stallion. His only connection with them now was his not-so-insignificant pension, with which he had put into repairing his aging abode. Looking about his empty house, he wasn’t sure why he had bothered. Without a heart this empty house was just a big box of expensive, albeit well maintained, firewood. This was Oignon Downs: a sturdy house, build by the proud family who tended the nearby fields of onions. Their mastery of the vegetable-growing craft had matched their competence with building homes, for this homestead had withstood many a fierce storm that lashed forth from the wild Pintocific. Clegmane nodded how years of neglect had barely worn the old home down. Still, his presence in this vacant space felt unsettling to him, to say the least. He snorted dismissively.

A large coffin to hide me away, and a funeral pyre to send me off. It was a shame that pyres had gone out of style, but great big burning stacks of wood had lont been deemed environmentally unfriendly, not to mention dangerous in a city made of similar materials. Still, it would have been fitting, Clegmane had always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory, performing a great sacred task that would be remembered long after he had passed on to whatever afterlife awaited him. Wherever Vidalia waited for him. He hadn’t wanted it to end like this, an aging warhorse sitting all alone in a dusty house. Another green caught his stern brown eyes and they softened. That’s right, I’m not completely alone. Ambling over to the window overlooking the sea, he lowered his gaze to the only other living thing in the building.

A home within a home, tall green stalks rose from rich black earth; the potted plant being the only one of it’s kind to survive. He inhaled gently filling his lungs with their fragrance. Green onions. His favourite. There had been other plants, other flowers, but one by one they had withered and dried from neglect, cut off from his love. The onions would have shared the same fate in his apathy but for one thing: they had been Her favourite, too.

A single picture frame leaned against the pot, edged worn from the attention it had received. The photograph therein was old and also worn with age, a natural sepia tone filling and fading what had once been a lifelike snapshot. A pair of immortally young faces smiled widely at Clegmane as he gently levitated the frame to eye level. One was that of a dark unicorn, youthful and unfettered by the ages looked sharply at the camera with a cocksure grin. His own face. The white Earth pony mare smiling next to him had a light green mane to complement bright amber eyes. Vidalia. His wife, long passed. Long, long ago…

Clenching his eyes closed he could still see her as she been on the night she died, her fair face wearing a courageous smile even as her body succumbed to the grip of her ruthless illness. He could still hear her words, pained yet tender, whispered in his ear.

‘My darling,' she whispered to him. 'Promise me one thing.'

“Anything,” he had whispered back.

“Be happy. Please be happy even without me.” Hooves, weak from months of being confined to bed, stroked the length of his face even as tears formed on her own. “I want to pass on knowing that your wonderful smile will grace the world, even after I’m gone.” He had tried to fight back his tears, to be brave for her, but the young soldier had known that not all battles could be won. His tears had run throughout the bitter night, and as dawn broke she left him, her soul spiriting away into the glorious sunrise.

Clegmane put the picture back down and sighed heavily. “I'm sorry my love… I’ve failed you.” He glanced back at his encased armour then back to the photograph. “I haven't known much joy since you left me behind. I had almost forgotten what a joy reading or planting is and that was the last time I honestly smiled.” Clegmane shook his head. I'm such a sad sack. What the hay am I doing here feeling sorry for myself for? ‘Lia wouldn’t have wanted this. He glanced out the window to the seaside city below, the streets were bustling with life and many ponies cantering about their day. His day, too he realised. He was still alive, still here. He could still make a difference, if not in Canterlot, then maybe in Seasaddle.

He stamped a hoof down, disturbing a not-so-insignificant layer of dust. Right then, eyes for ward soldier. Glancing quickly around the old house, Clegmane decided that he should at least add a new coat of paint to the main atrium. He might not have guests to entertain, but there was no reason that he couldn’t have a nice house for his own benefit. It was midday and he hoped the hardware shop still had Vidalia's favourite shades of green. Maybe he could leave the upper window open while he was out and let the dead air blow out of the house; it would probably do the old Onions some good too.

The door shut with a solid thunk behind him as he stepped out. So this was retirement, huh? Drowning in memories and shoring up the past with fresh paint?

'Be happy. Don't let your smile faded from the world.’ Right, he wondered, when had he last actually smiled? Images of bright violet eyes, a gleaming lavender coat and a sparkling Cutie Mark answered him.

“Hm,” he mumbled, “But that was so long ago and I highly doubt she would even bother with me by now. I don't even know why I even bothered to send her the letter in the first place, since she didn't even reply.” He sighed again as his home shrank behind him. “Besides, a beautiful young mare like Twilight Sparkle has duties as protégé to the Princess herself why would she even take the time for an old warhorse like me?” Clegmane grumbled. Regardless, pining over friendships forsaken wasn’t going to help his fulfill his promise to Vidalia. He turned his focus to the sunny day, so as to encourage brighter thoughts.

A warm breeze met his mane and swept across the tall grass that flanked him on each side. The steadily swaying sea of golden grass carried with it the scent of summer. With a deep breath, Clegmane could feel his tense muscles relaxing. Such warmth and rustic beauty were rarely seen amid the cold stone towers of Canterlot’s lofty heights.

You know, I actually could get used to this.

Despite the heat of the sun a chill ran down along spine, radiating to his extremities.

But I really wish I wasn’t used to that.

Years of standing post as captain of the guard had sharpened his senses towards navigating political intrigue, but what he was experiencing was the backbone of all guard training: vigilance. He was trained and had trained others to notice when things were out of place, when something was wrong.

And here something was very, very wrong.

Shadows suddenly cloaked him and the surrounding field, putting a chill in the air, vanished just as quickly. A deep and piercing keen sounded above, causing Clegmane to quickly glance upwards. He almost wished he hadn’t.

Something large and black, with wide leathery wings, a long spear-like tail and sharpened grasping claws glided above him. Clegmane instantly dove for cover under the tall grass and watched as the large black figure descended towards the seaside village below. With the bright flash, a ball of fire erupted from the beast's mouth and streaked toward the densely packed buildings of Seasaddle. With a loud crack, the tall wooden structures erupted into flame. Clegmane could then hear a crescendo of distant screams from terrified ponies that filled the air as the black beast circled for another pass.

A Dragon! Clegmane’s eyes widened with disbelief. They've returned!

Without a second’s hesitation the dark unicorn turned about-face and charged back into his old home. As he entered the main floor he wheeled around and swiftly bucked the nearby display case, promptly shattering it. No time for the greaves or saddle, but they probably wouldn’t stop dragonfire anyway. He swiftly hefted levitated his steel helmet and spear. From the wall, he unhinged his personal round shield and slung across his back. Suitably equipped, Clegmane took a deep breath to settle his nerve before bursting forth from it his aging fortress and galloping swiftly towards a city now wreathed in flame.

I hope I'm not too late.

From the distance, the Dragon's roar met his ears and Clegmane galloped faster.

Chaos. Infernal Chaos. Clegmane could not believe his own eyes as he entered the outskirts of Seasaddle. The cityscape before him was set ablaze while thick smoke drowned out the sun. Darkness enveloped the entrance to the seaside city. Clegmane came to a halt as he rounded a corner and almost rammed headfirst into a panic-driven pony.

"Run!" the mare screamed.

"Did you see it?" Clegmane asked. He could not get an answer, as the pony charged off toward the foothills. No sooner was the mare out of sight when a second pony careened around the same corner, followed by another, then another. Suddenly, a floor of panicked ponies overwhelmed Clegmane, as he was the only one who strove to get deeper into the city. The rest of Seasaddle's populace thought otherwise.

Maybe I have gone crazy, Clegmane chided himself as he pressed on, shouldering his way through the crowd. If the heat had not stifled him before, the rising inferno did now. Clegmane continued to wade through the fleeing residents until he found himself near a brick wall. He turned his head to see if he could spot the end on this flow. As he did so, a pair of wide, anxious eyes stared back at him. Another pony, a mare with a smudged orange coat and luminous magenta eyes stared at him. She too had pressed herself against the brick wall, perhaps in order to escape the crowd herself. Clegmane could not be sure. Despite the inferno, despite the panic and heat and suffocating smoke, she simply looked to him, curiosity laced with… something else in her eyes.

Finally, she asked, "Are you from the Royal Guard?" He simply nodded.

"Are you here to save us?"

He nodded again. "Or die trying." She was silent for a long moment before the crowd lessened.

"Are you looking for that black dragon?" She asked. Clegmane's eyes widened and he quickly nodded.

"You don't need to look far." She pointed up. Clegmane looked up.

A pair of glowing icy blue eyes met him. A great black figure, basking in the smoke clung to the brick wall several stories above. From its snout, more smoke poured and behind parting lips, dripping fags were barred. A soft hissing escaped its throat as it released one talon from the wall and behind to loosen the other three.

Slowly, Clegmane stepped back from the wall, beckoning the mare to him with his shield. She refused to move as tears welled up in her eyes. She was frozen with fear. "Come here, slowly, and get behind me." She still refused to move.

The dragon's talons loosened and it dropped from the wall above the paralyzed mare.

"Move. NOW!" Clegmane commanded with the golden glow of his horn. At once, the mare was levitated and tugged toward and behind him. The dragon's claws impacted and the ground beneath him broke. With a roar, the dragon swiped with its arm at him. Its black claws rebounded off of his shield with a deafening clang. As the beast recoiled for another strike Clegmane chanced a glance behind him to see if the mare was still safe. She was nowhere to be found.

He then returned his focus to the dragon as it lunged forward with its teeth set upon him. Clegmane leapt to the right and rolled out of the creature's path. Raising his shield up again, Clegmane readied his spear as the beast unfurled its great wings and lunged forward yet again.

Spear and claw at last, were met.