Arc Angel

You know, there's a lot of stuff in this world I'm afraid of. Creatures ranging from Manticores to dragons and all things inbetween, Nightspring, thorns on roses and snakes, things like that. Oh, and spiders. Fuck spiders. But if there is one thing that I fear above all else, one thing that I am terrified most of in the entire world. I have decided it must be Captain Shining Armour right now at this very moment. He's glaring at me with an intensity that rivals even the sun. If looks could kill, I would be beyond dead right now. I'd be a charred, smoking mess on the floor that somepony would have to clean up. He looked like he was about to put me through a mulcher one hoof at a time, or slowly pour boiling oil on me. Hell, I'd even go so far as to say that he'd slowly peel the skin and bone away from my heart and roast it on a spit right now he looks that. Freaking. Angry.

That being said, whilst I'm terrified of him, I'm not scared about the outcome of this meeting.

I have done nothing wrong, and even if he imprisons me for a few days for questioning, which is standard protocol, I'm going to get away clean, simply because there's nothing there for me to be punished for. Alright, maybe I was a little aggressive when she wanted to talk to me, but it's a touchy subject and I really didn't want to talk about it. I didn't try to kill her. I'm sure she's a very nice mare. And if I'd taken the time to talk to her I'm sure she'd prove to be very eager to help ponies out. But I didn't, and she was still in perfect health (if a little shocked) when I left. So pinning this to me would be counterproductive.

"Arc. I have called you here as your superior officer to answer several question I have for you concerning the attempt upon the life of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Will you cooperate?"

I nodded once, sitting at attention before him. We're in his private office, and Spring and her colleague were outside the door. The look of barely disguised lust as the pair had been about to step out he gave her told me I really wanted to be out there when she shut him down, but I was in here, and they out there.

"Yes sir, I will cooperate fully and completely without difficulty sir!" I pelted out. Sometimes being a guard is so bloody boring. I hesitate for a moment before asking quietly, "Is... Is the princess okay?"

He seems surprised at my question and for a moment his dementedly furious air faded, before being replaced again just as quickly as it had faded.

"The princess, I'm told, will make a full recovery."

I suppressed my relieved smile. I may have gotten off on the wrong hoof with her, but that doesn't mean I hated the mare. She had been exceedingly gentle in her questions.

"That is excellent news sir," I said quietly in return. It is excellent news indeed. We lost one alicorn for a thousand years, we don't need to permanently lose another one. Shining cleared his throat.

"That's not why you're here. You are here because you were the last one to be seen leaving Cadance's room and, by eyewitness reports and confirmation from your own patrol partner, you were particularly angry as you left."

I swallowed heavily and nodded.

"Sir," I said respectfully, "If you would allow me to explain my position and reason that I was upset, perhaps I may clear some things up about what has been believed about my less than dignified departure from The Princess' room."

Shining narrowed his eyes at me and for a moment I was scared he was going to hit me or something similar, but he nodded his head sharply and I took a deep, calming breath.

"I was called to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's room mid shift," I said cautiously, "I was confused, but not unwilling to follow these orders. Upon arriving, The Princess requested I enter the room. I did so, however she told me I was being too stiff and that, until she said so, my duty shift was postponed. I freely admit I hesitated before following her order. Once I was seated and at ease, she began to talk to me about my private life sir. She told me she'd noticed a certain... attraction I had for a coworker of mine. I told her that I didn't want to talk about it. She persisted and I got angry. I may have said things that should not have been said sir and that may be considered disrespectful, but I swear to you I left with my helmet and did not pursue the matter further."

Again, Shining peered at me intensely. This was definitely outside of my comfort zone. I joined the guard to help ponies, certainly not to harm them. And there was no way I'd ever harm a princess. But of course, as the nature of an investigation is, everypony, even those who seem completely innocent, must be questioned if they have a possible connection to the scene or event. So I certainly didn't blame the Cap for doing what he was, or is, doing. I stood at attention, as any good guard should, even under duress. Although I think it was more to stop my knees from shaking.

"My wife," Began Shining ominously, "Has been assaulted by somepony, Arc, and you were the last to be seen leaving her room. I hope you understand why I say I must detain you for several days as of today whilst we question a few other ponies. This is not some petty crime, Guardspony, this is a serious offense and I will find out who has done it and when I do, I will make sure they wish they'd never been born into this world. If I find out you're lying to me and it was one of my own ponies that harmed her, I will come for you and I will do so baying for your blood, do you understand me?"

I gulped heavily. Even though I knew I'd done nothing wrong, his words, his expression and the tone of his voice alone was enough to chill me to my core. I knew he was intense, but this was borderline obsessive and psychotic. Or, that's what I think. I nodded slowly.

"I understand completely sir. I may not understand your grief, but I understand your intentions and reasons."

"Good," He replied curtly, "Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to bind your magic and put you in a holding cell under armed guard. Armed because you are one of us and are therefore capable of fighting efficiently. You will be held until such a time as I believe that we are clear that you either did or did not do the crime, in which I will call you and the charges will be leveled."

A sudden crash from outside the door made me spin around, searching for my magic out of trained habit. I looked over my shoulder to Shining and he nodded to me. Turning back, I walked cautiously over to the door and opened it. The first thing I noticed was the unconscious body of Nightspring's companion, a small amount of drool on the floor under his muzzle and a large bruise already forming between his eyes. Nightspring was glaring at him angrily and more than a little disgustedly. Shining walked over and she stood at attention instantly, saluting him smartly.

"What in the blazes is going on out here!?" He demanded forcefully. I've never known the Captain to swear.

"Self Defense sir!" Nightspring spoke back, "My colleague believed he could out macho me sir in an attempt at a risque activity and I knocked him a little against the door sir. I don't believe he'll die from it sir."

Shining looked dully at the stallion drooling onto the marble floor and sighed.

"Nightspring, you've been here before for beating up the other guards, when will you learn?"

He raised a hoof as she went to speak.

"But, considering the circumstances, I'll accept your report and send you on your way. Unless you want to be the armed guard for Arc in his time in a holding cell."

She looked at me and i gulped. I'm in no position to protest or suggest my guards. She shook her head with a sigh.

"No sir, I'm a friend of his and therefore cannot be trusted around his cell sir... it'd be against protocol."

I felt my heart sink as Shining sighed and I let my head hang.

"Alright then. You can go then Spring, try not to knock anypony else out though alright?"

"I'll try sir!" Came her answer before she trotted away, no doubt to put Belladonna away. I heard rather than saw Shining turn back to me, the edge creeping back into his voice.

"Now then. Let's get this over with."

~*~

I did exactly what I said I would. I cooperated quietly and without fuss. I was led down to the dungeon level of Canterlot Castle and took the momentary sickness and dizziness that came from have your magic bound all in stride. I was going to be down here for a few days anyway, so I might as well get used to it now. The cell they have me in is small. There's a bed in the corner and it has flowery bed sheets that look newer than the other cells. They've got me in solitary, not because I'm dangerous, but for my own protection really. If they get another prisoner, they may try to attack me simply because of what I am. I was pronounced 'temporarily relieved' of duty, which is to say they're not sure if I'm fired yet or not. It's all just a waste of bloody time.

Come to think of it, this bed isn't too bad, but the sheets are scratchy. Colourful, sure. But scratchy. The two guarding me consist of a pegasus and a unicorn. The pegasus seemed to thing like Spring did, because he had a pair of wingblades on. A wingblade is a sheathe of metal that goes around the main muscle and bone of the wing. The leading edge is sharp and the entire thing is made up of multiple parts so the pegasus can still fly with it, albeit with special training. They're a deadly weapon if maintained, and this stallion obviously knew how to look after his weaponry. The other is a unicorn mare. She's got a pair of what looks like scimitars at her side. How she got a hold of two weapons is beyond me, since I'd only ever seen somepony have one weapon at any given time. Mind you, she looked like she could handle them both. Oh, and just to clarify, Wingblades come in pairs and are considered one weapon per pair. They're both wearing the golden armour of the day guards.

It's rare you see any Knights down here.

Apparently, according to the rumours, The prince ended up down here for some reason or other back before he was who he was. They also say he escaped. Some say he slaughtered his way out, some say he sneaked out, others still say he simply vanished. Whatever the case, the rumours say he was here and he escaped. Not that I have any plans to escape. There's no need. Anyway, since then apparently he didn't let his guards stand in the dungeon. I don't really understand why, even if the rumours are true. Guards are still important, especially to guard dungeons.

Weird.

Anyway. Oh, hey, I haven't told you guys about Prince Defender. Jeez, sorry about that.

The Prince is large, really large. Rumour has it he was the first of the true Night guards. There's been ceremonial night guards since Luna returned, but they only donned the armour for a few hours at a time at maximum. Apparently, he was the first and he was the leader. He's a white alicorn, like Celestia, but his mane and tail flows like molten gold. His horn is long and proud, like all alicorns. I think he sharpens it for potential combat use, I'm not sure. He has as much power as Celestia and Luna, but I don't think he quite understands how to deal with it all. See, again rumour has it was used to be a pegasus who pledged himself to Luna. I'm not sure how that'd work, but I'm not about to question the ligitimacy of a freaking rumour. Apparently, Princess Luna was stolen away and a heap of her guards killed, leaving only Defender and a brave pegasus guard. He was, according to rumour, framed and locked away. He escaped, and then made his way through some of the deadliest terrain in Equestria to save his missing princess.

Here's where it gets ridiculous.

So, he finds the princess after fighting through a veritable army of cultists and discovers she's reverted to her jealous self, Nightmare Moon. May I remind you that Nightmare Moon DOES. NOT. EXIST.
.
Jeez, a silly old mare's tale if I ever saw one. Stupid.

Right. Anyway, apparently he had to fight off demons to get to her, and that one actually wounded him so that he could never fly again, which is pure rubbish since I've seen him flying around the castle at night. According to this, the creature got the upper hoof before Luna stepped in (Miraculously as herself again, go figure!) and killed him by making him explode or some silly rubbish.

Apparently he went into her room soon after and resigned, then came out without a scratch on him and with wings in perfect condition.

Can you believe the bullshit I had to sit through to hear a featherbrained story like that?

Demons. Pffft, stupid. There's no such thing as demons. Demons, Alencar, the underworld. there's not such thing as any of them as far as I'm concerned. The only goddesses I worship sit upon the thrones of Equestria and that's how it's going to stay, mark my words. I'm a pony of little faith, but I deem Celestia and Luna as the godesses, Prince Defender is a bit of a long shot, I'm not sure where to put him, but I'll figure it out.

A clatter interrupted my thoughts and I looked over to the door. They'd unlocked it and placed a tray of food down. To my surprise, the pony now looking at the floor, wings sagging slightly and Belladonna strapped tightly to her back was Nightspring.

"Spring?" I asked incredulously, "What're you doing here?"

She looked up at me and I saw a flicker of annoyance.

"Bringing you something to eat you idiot, what does it look like?" She demanded heatedly and it made me smile.

She was okay. And that made me feel a whole lot better. She flushed slightly and looked away.

"The guys told me you were sorely missed for dinner," She said stiffly, "I think they're missing their teasing dummy."

I chuckled at that. They would pass on such a message for me.

"Tell them don't worry, I'll be back with them in no time, it's just a routine investigation."

A saw a small smile on her face as she answered quietly.

"I'd like that," She said softly before looking at me with a smile, "I think I'd like the attention not on me anymore. I like attention, but this is a little too much for me. So don't think it's because you're anything special, coz you're not, you're a bookworm and a nerd and you read too much, but at least you don't ogle my flank or make puppy eyes at me."

She smirked as I blushed and averted my eyes and I heard her giggle.

"Wait, yes you do. You just try not to."

Another soft giggle and I heard the sound of rustling feathers as she took a step back.

"I'll see you soon then Arc. I pulled some strings to deliver this today, so I'm afraid I can't see you again until you get out, alright? But I..."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"I managed to wheedle something special out of Silver Stake for you, so you owe me."

I laughed softly and nodded my head. Silver Stake was the chef, and she was the only one who called him by name.

"Yeah, I'll make it up to you sometime."

She blushed and smiled. This was weird, I'd never seen her act like this.

"Make it up to me over dinner when you get out then."

At my wide eyes, she bristled, flushing brighter.

"Only as friends! Completely platonic! Don't get any stupid ideas!"

I grinned and winked at her playfully, knowing full well I'd pay for it later.

"No promises~"