“Run they’re onto us!” The night was still, save for the crisp, cool autumn breeze, a breeze that was made heavy by the mist it contained. The breeze and the copious amounts of adrenaline coursing in and out of every vein of the two dark, mysterious, hooded figures is what powered them to continue their drive through the night.
“Get ‘em!” One of the three riders barked out to the other two, realizing his opportunity to strike and capture the elusive figure that had been the bane of his existence since it showed up years earlier. Remembering all the trouble this silhouette had caused only fueled the anger inside the guard into a raging inferno.
“Almost there, 100 feet, 75, 50, 25, get ready. NOW!” the two hooded figures dropped straight into a nonexistent chasm, successfully throwing the guards of their scents.
“Damn, he got away, I swear one of these days I'll get that bastard!” the infuriated guard said seeing that there was now no way to continue his pursuit after the figures any farther.
"Hey, wake up," the red haired boy tried in vain to wake his sleeping friend who had just waved him off for a third time this morning.
"I'm serious. They said they'd be doing rounds in ten minutes, and you know what happens if you're not awake by then," the brown haired boy down finally started to get out of the bed he occupied because even though he valued sleep he was more afraid of what would happen if they found him asleep. As was usual the sun had just begun to rise and greet the land beneath it. Usually when he found himself awake this early he would just and see the pure beauty that was dawn's arrival, but sadly he couldn't stay to see the celestial orb blanket the land below it with its warm, brilliant rays.
"So how did you sleep last night Geoff," the brown haired man asked as he turned his head away from the window the sun would peak through.
"One of my better night’s sleep compared to this past week. How about you James, you sleep any better," Geoff said with a contented smile stretched across his face.
"Sadly I can't say I've had the pleasure you've had, I just keep having those strange dreams. You know the one last week where I was telling someone to stay hidden out of sight while we're bunkered down in a cave, well this one seems so similar with the two of us on scooters running from three guards on horses," James said as he finished washing off his face.
James had met Geoff not long after he had started working at the castle, and ever since then they had only grown closer. They were the perfect example of Yin and Yang, where Geoff was fun loving to a fault but very quiet when it came to his views, James always managed to keep his feet on the ground yet was never hesitant to state his opinion, even in full blown defiance. However both were known by the castle staff for their many misadventures together.
"Hey we better get going before they realize we aren't there," Geoff said realizing how much time they had left. James however was already two steps ahead of him having already gathered his stuff and heading out the door.
Even though the walk to their work station only took three of the five minutes they had left, something in James told him that this wasn't going to be a normal day. Finally, with two minutes spared they walked into the hot, humid hellhole, with fire-breathing beasts that required constant monitoring by well-seasoned veterans, that was the castle's bakery. The slightly cramped room was, as always, filled with the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread as well as the delightful tune that was common place next to the sounds of the work environment.
Quickly, and without a second thought, James and Geoff got to work kneading, forming, and placing the dough onto trays to be placed in the ovens to bake. This was the routine that they had adopted as part of their life, Geoff was perfectly content with it but, whenever he could find time to protest openly, James felt the routine repetitious and boring.
"So, did you hear about last night's sighting of Black Spector? I hear that the guards are planning to double the number of people patrolling at night," Geoff said in an attempt to end the awkward silence that was forming in the air.
The Black Spector was a living legend. He would randomly appear in the dead of night, jump from rooftop to rooftop, and help those in need. No one knew who he was, why he did it, or when he would appear, but when he did everyone knew about it. However, not everyone liked him. Many of the guards truly hated him just because he always managed to evade them.
"Huh, I thought after the incident a few months ago he would have packed up and left town. Guess I was wrong, can you pass the flour?"
"Here. Listen, I dunno why he's back but he is."
On that comment the conversation moved on to more casual things. For a while they talked about a few more current events, switching then to upcoming events, and finally settling on the topic of joining the military when they were old enough. They were just starting to get into their long running debate when they heard the whistle telling them the workday was over sound. It was this sound that told them to stop what they were doing and see the chief baker about who would stay for the overnight shift, a shift that involved the pair chosen to finish baking the bread made that day; keep the ovens going; clean the floors, tables, workstations, and all of the equipment; and take inventory. The overnight was a lot of work, but those that worked it would always get the next day off due because of it. Who worked it was decided by a lottery, everyone would pull a straw and the two that got the shortest were would work it. Tonight the workers were James and Geoff, both of whom wanted to do it tonight anyways. They went immediately to the storage closet and pulled out lanterns. They then went back to their work, lighting the lanterns before the last person to leave turned out the lights. The overnight shift had started.
The night fell over the land as it did every night but this night seemed to be different to James somehow. Usually the night would arrive by way of Manehatten with the moon rising directly behind it. Tonight, however, the moon rose over the plains that span out towards Fillydelphia. To most this had no meaning, but to James this merely aroused his suspicions.
"Hey, can you help me with this bag of flour? “Geoff said snapping James out of his spaced out state.
"Yeah, I'm coming," he responded. He walked over and helped get the bag on the work table on which they were making the dough. They had been making dough since the shift began (nearly three hours ago) and were almost finished.
"How many more do we have left to make? “Geoff inquired.
"We have two left then we can start baking them, “James said finishing off another piece of dough. "Now we have only one left. You do the last one while I get the ovens ready."
Getting the ovens ready to bake was one of the jobs that forced the night shift to require two people. It was also one of the hardest jobs on the shift. Getting the ovens ready meant shoveling coal into the fire boxes, managing the fires in the fire boxes, and keeping the ovens from getting too hot. All of this took huge levels of concentration and a constant watch in order for them to heat up to the right temperature.
James and Geoff had decided before the start of the shift that James would be responsible for getting the ovens ready. To James, this was just another job, but he would do it none the less.
The ovens didn't take that long to heat up, and once they did, James and Geoff relaxed and started talking. The conversation skipped from subject to subject but it finally ended back up on the subject of the war.
"Do you really think I'd care about the fighting," James stated defending his decision to join the military if the war broke out.
"But why? Is it really worth dying over? “Geoff responded.
"Yes! If I die in the fighting I die a relative no one; if I die here I still die a relative no one. I at least want to make a difference with my death. "
"Okay, but there are other ways to make a difference besides joining the military."
"Shh."
"Sorry for stating the truth but..."
"Be quiet, I think there's someone over by the work table." James then proceeded towards the table on which they had made the dough on earlier and now was the spot designated for cooling the freshly cooked bread. He looked around it and, upon seeing no sign of a person being there, retuned to where he had been sitting with Geoff.
"Everything okay?"
"I think so. I could have sworn I heard someone over there. It's probably just the lack of sleep making me here thing. Anyways, I know that there are other things I could do but I feel that if someone attacks you or your country you should fight back." It was at that precise moment that there was a loud series of metallic clangs and clatters as various tons and pans hit the floor. By reflex James jumped to his feet snatching the shovel he had next to him for shoveling the coal. Geoff also leaped to his feet, albeit a tad slower than James, and grabbed the rolling pen that he had carried over from the work table. They both looked at each other and without speaking came up with a plan.
They approached the table, James heading straight towards it and Geoff arcing around in a broad circle as to outflank whoever was behind it. As soon as James got within earshot of the table he heard a faint, harsh whisper asking for stillness and silence. James motioned for Geoff to hold back for a bit while he looked to see what was going on behind the table. Fluidly, quickly, and silently James pulled himself on to the table and peered over the far edge. To his shock and annoyance he saw a pink headed, tanned skinned girl and a dark blue haired, pale skinned girl sitting on the floor with their backs to the side of the table. James lifted himself off the table and motioned for Geoff to come over to the table.
"What are you two doing here," James said with an annoyed tone. The sound of his voice made both of them jump out of their skins and go stiff. "Well are you going to answer me or just sit there?"
"W-we were hungry s-so we decided t-to come down here and g-get a snack," stammered the pink headed figure, the face of whom was quickly turning a very bright shade of red.
"Get up," James said with a very irritated tone. Both of the girls slowly rose to their feet. Geoff, upon seeing who was behind the table, quickened his pace towards the table.
"Now, care to explain to my why you thought it was a good idea to come down here for a snack in the middle of the night?"
"Simple. We do it just about every night," the blue haired one stated in a matter of fact tone. This response was met by an elbow to the chest from the pink haired girl.
"Shut up."
"Why should I Celestia? It's not like it's gonna make much of a difference now."
"Luna, they know that we snuck down tonight but they didn't need to know that we do this on a regular basis."
"Excuse me interrupting your argument princesses but it's not like I didn't already know that you sneak down here."
"And how do you know that?" Celestia asked with a sassy tone in her voice.
"You two may be very adept in magic and politics but masters of stealth and deception you aren't. I'd walk by here on nights I can't sleep and either hear your voices or see you move," James chuckled.
"So let me guess, you’re going to tell about our nightly trips down here," Celestia said with a sharp glare.
"What and lose any chance of having someone else's company on nights like this? Heck no! I was actually just going to pretend this never happened," James responded while flashing a grin.
"Anyways," Geoff, who had fallen silent through all of this, said, "James, we need to get back to work. Princesses, if you want anything to snack on we have some of yesterday's bread over there."
James followed Geoff back to his post with a little bit of a strut in his gait.
James and Geoff continued the routine of baking bread. About an hour later James asked, "Hey Geoff, I'm gonna go grab some more coal from the storehouse. I'll be back in a bit."
"Okay, just try to be back as fast as you can." On that note, James took his leave of absence.
