Squad Z

Chapters

First the Worst
Second Not Much Better
Third The Change

First the Worst

This is it! the white pegasus thought to himself. For the past five seasons, I’ve been working my flank off; to the bone. The ceremony of being enlisted into the Royal Guard is today. This stallion’s name is Serus Starz. He has a short blonde mane and a blue tail. He’s always ahead of his team when it came to training. He earned his cutie mark from inspiration. It contained two adjacent wings with a silver sword shining down the middle.

His father was a Royal Guard under the command of Captain Shining Armor. A few years after his enlistment, his father was considered KIA during the war against the dragons. Neither his body nor his ashes were recovered by his comrades, never giving Serus’ father a proper funeral.

Serus continued looking up into the sky. Father, I thank you for watching over me for all these years. He lined up along with the rest of the graduates, and they waited until their trainer arrives to debrief them and turn them over to Shining Armor, the Captain of the Royal Guard. Within a few moments, doors crashed wide open, as their trainer entered the room with a scowling look on his face.

“Alright listen up, you maggots!” He shouted to the team. “The years of hard work, guts, and sweat has led all you foals up to this day. Right up until Shining Armor gives you your positions, you’re all still mine. I want you foals to stand up on that stage, keep your head up high, and, by Celestia’s holy name, do remember to recite the motto once your name is called. No pony wants to be an ass to himself in front of a crowd.” He continued to lecture the group for about a few minutes until they heard the music begin playing behind two large doors, which led to the stage. “Colts, I’m proud to have fresh recruits like you,” he announced to everypony and then gave the order. “Let’s begin, Graduates. Move your flanks out those doors in a single file line, on the double.”

The team then galloped out the door to see a large cheering crowd calling out to them as they approached the stage. They could see the commander waiting for them on the stage as they lined up. Shining Armor raised his hoof and motioned the families to quiet down; they did so. He casted a spell on himself to make his voice be heard throughout the stadium and began.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the sixty-seventh graduation of the Royal Guard. For many seasons, these tough stallions have faced countless exercises that tested their bodies and minds to their limits. And now, they have passed their requirements to be one of us. I will call up the names of our grads and they will make their pledge to the Royal Guard and receive their uniform.”

Serus waited in silence as the Captain called up names one at a time. He waited for Storm Shower’s name to be called up because he knew that he’d be next. “Private Storm Shower,” Shining called out. This is it! I’m next... “Private Fire Flare.” Serus’ heart stopped almost immediately, watching the stallion next to him moved forward. He was more confused than anypony as some of the graduates cocked their heads. Serus remained still as each and every stallion after him was called up.

I-I don’t understand. he thought to himself as he shook his head. Why wasn’t I called up? Did he skip my name or something? I couldn’t have failed; I passed everything my trainer threw at me with flying colors. So what’s going on?

Shining Armor was finished with his list and congratulated the stallions for their hard work. The ceremony was over and the Captain left the stadium. A bunch of stallions approached Serus, “Woah that was rough dude. What happened, Serus?”

Rage filled the mind of the white Pegasus as he answered the group, “I don’t know guys, but I’m going to give the Captain a piece of my mind.” He stretched out his wings and with a hard flap, he took to the skies like a jet and soared to the Captain’s office.

A few minutes later, Serus Starz arrived in front of Shining Armor’s office and bashed at the door. “I demand answers, Captain! Open the door!” he ordered. In no time, the door immediately opened. He quickly entered and sat down on an unoccupied seat in front of the unicorn. “Why wasn’t my name called out during the ceremony? I know I didn’t fail training.”

“Calm down, Private Serus,” Shining responded. “You’re right, you didn’t fail.”

“Then why didn’t I receive the title I worked so hard for?”

“You’re being reassigned, Serus.” The captain pulled out a letter and gave it to the stallion. “By orders of both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.”
Captain Shining Armor was leading Serus down the barracks courtyard, and a series of buildings and stadiums. “I still don’t understand, Captain. Why am I being reassigned to a different squadron?” he asked his commanding officer while looking at the letter with the stamps of both princesses.

“Because this squadron has too little soldiers in its arsenal,” Shining answered. “Since it just opened up,” he added. “Don’t worry; you’re going to love this group. They come from very separate backgrounds.” He finally stopped in front of a building with the letter ‘Z’ etched on the side.

“Um I know I haven’t been the Royal Guard, but isn’t that supposed to be a number?” Serus asked cocking his head. He knew that they’ve arrived at the barracks that he’s going to stay in, but all barracks are supposed to numbered, not lettered.

“You can imagine it as a stylish ‘2’ if you want, but it’s a ‘Z’.” Shining lit up his horn and opened the giant doors. “Private Serus Starz, congratulations and welcome to Squad Z.”

The barracks was crammed with a lot of stuff, but the first thing that stood out was a Griffon and Night Guard, playing cards on a small table. “This is it?” he asked.

“Yup.”

“Where are the rest of them?”

“Wait, there’s going to be more of us?” the Night Guard asked gleefully.

“Of course! Here’s the more of you,” Shining Armor replied tapping on the ‘suppose-to-be’ Royal Guard’s shoulder. “Filly and griffon, allow me to introduce you to your new teammate, Serus Starz. Serus, this is Griselda,” he mentioned gesturing toward the griffon. “That is Aknow Twist. So, I guess I can leave you guys alone. You have a lot of catching up to do.” With that, Shining Armor made his toward the door.

Just as Shining reached his hoof to open the door, the golden-maned Pegasus jumped in his way. “Hold on a minute!” he reached his hoof out in front of him to make his Captain stop in his tracks. “So, not only am I stuck with a Night Guard and a Griffon, but I am also stuck with a bunch of girls!?”

“Hey!” Aknow interjected. “That’s really offensive.”

“Does it look like I give a hoof right now!?”

“Well, you smell funny,” Griselda finally entered the conversation before downing her drink whole.

Speechless, Serus turns back to the unicorn. “Captain, please tell me that you’re yanking my hoof right now; I beg you.”

“I’m sorry, Serus,” Shining said, walking around the Pegasus. “This comes from both of the Princesses. You know I can’t disobey an order signed by them. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” He slowly closed the door on the three, leaving the room in an awkward atmosphere.

Pulling a chair, the griffon motioned Serus toward it. “Come sit down, new guy. We are starting a new hand, and a new round of hard cider.”

Defeated, the white Pegasus sighed and joined their game of cards and cider. “I guess I’m stuck here,” he groaned. “So what’re your stories?”

“I am stuck doing community service for stealing and destruction of property,” Griselda started. “I have been stealing for about 5 years now. Do you know how long my sentence is?”

“5 years?” Serus guessed, but the griffon shook her head.

“I am stuck doing this stuff for 10 years.”

“Harsh.”

“It’s better than going to griffon prison. We make you ponies look like a bunch of foals when comparing our prisons.” She gulped her cider in one smooth motion.

“How long have you been here so far?” the blonde pony questioned.

“We have been here for about a week.”

“Ouch.”

“I don’t need your sympathy.”

“I wasn’t being sympathetic.”

“Good because I will crush you under my talons if you ever are.” After that she broke her wooden mug with her sharp claws. Fragments of wood flew in various directions.

“Griselda,” the Night Guard whined. “I just bought that… again.”

“Then just steal one from the people next door.”

“There is no next door,” Serus replied annoyed by the idea.

“Then go and make one, buy a mug, place it in the house of our soon-to-be next door neighbors, and steal it.” The griffon explained this idea using the cards as place holders.

“Why would I go steal something that I already bought in the first place?” the Royal Guard asked.

“I don’t know,” she said in a sarcastic voice. “You are the crazy one stealing a mug you already bought.”

“Coming from a thief, that doesn't even phase me,” Serus cooed.

“Coming from a ‘Royal Guard reject’, that’s pretty cocky,” Griselda shot back with a malicious grin.

“Ooh,” Aknow gasped, covering her mouth. “She got you there.”

In anger, Serus was about to buck the griffon in her face, but instead he violently gulped down his beverage and stormed off. “I’m going to bed.”

“Hay aren’t you going to listen to my story?” the grey coated mare asked.

“I’m not in the mood, Aknow.”

He continued towards the bunk room, but was stopped by Aknow’s hoof. “Hold on, I had to listen to everypony else’s story and no pony has heard mine yet. So, you are going to sit your flank down and listen to my story.”

“Fine, I’ll listen to your story,” he groaned as he took a seat.

“Now let me tell you a story,” she began as the white unicorn took his seat at the table. “I started off as a little filly, and I had a mother and father. We lived in a nice village just south of Cloudsdale, and it had the largest amount of cocky stallions Luna could find. Anyways, I was walking to school one day, and I found a jawbreaker on the ground…”

“Wait a minute,” Serus interrupted. “Where, in Celestia’s name, does a jawbreaker relate to the topic we were discussing?”

“It doesn’t.”

“Then why are you talking about a jawbreaker? The story is supposed to be about how you came to be a Lunar Guard.”

“Sorry, I forgot what the subject was, so I thought of a different story that I knew we could all enjoy.” Serus commenced the facehoofing shortly after, and Aknow started over but with the right story. “It really isn’t much on why I became a night guard, really. When I was young it was a lifelong dream of mine to serve, and meet, Princess Luna. From that point on, I worked my way up to where I am right now, and I became a lunar guard for this squadron. I didn’t get to see Princess Luna yet, though, but I had the best conversation with the lunar guard captain.”

Finishing the story, the dark mare made her way over to the fridge and grabbed each of them a drink. She tossed the drink over her head in the table’s general direction. Miraculously, the drinks fell restfully on the table without a chip to their exterior shell. She trotted her way back to the table holding a bag of various sweets.

“Well, aren’t you two successful,” Griselda chuckled. She grabbed a hand-full of candy and threw it into her mouth. Using the drink, she washed down the food before she got the taste of sugar in her mouth.

Sersus took a sip out of his drink and trotted off. “Well I’m off to bed, girls. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Wait!” Aknow exclaimed getting out of her seat. “Aren’t you going to stay up with us?”

“No way, I’m not a nocturnal like you. Besides, I have to get up first thing in the morning to do morning practice. Then I have to go see if Captain Shining Armor has any missions for us.” He took off into an unoccupied room and collapsed on the bed. The other pony and griffon continued to talk throughout the night until the morning sun reached its way across the horizon.

Second Not Much Better

Today seems like it’s going to be a good day for Serus. It’s going to be Squad Z’s first mission on the field today. He looked out the window and watched the bright sun being lifted into the sky by Princess Celestia’s magic. Beautiful, nimbus clouds pulled in by the Pegasi from Cloudsdale. It seems like everything’s going to turn out fine for Squad Z.

Serus heard glass shattering down stairs, breaking his gaze off the sunrise. He cautiously went downstairs to investigate the source and finds Griselda trying to get herself a glass of water. Instead, the glass slipped out of her claws and shatters into a million pieces below. Griselda cursed to herself and reached for another one; again, shattering another glass.

“By the stars, Griselda,” Serus bellowed in shock, “what are you doing?”

“Can’t you tell I am getting a drink,” the griffon replied with a sense of annoyance in her voice.

“Can’t you already tell that you’re unable to even hold a single glass? You've broken four cups already,” he complained as he grabbed a broom from the nearest closet.

“Well, you could go buy some new ones.”

“Does it look like this squad is made of money?”

“You get paid more than me.”

“I’m surprised you’re getting paid at all.”

“I’m not,” she chuckled.

Serus groaned and face-hoofed himself. He began to sweep up the mess of shards scattered around the floor. “Just go lay down and let me get you some water,” he commanded.

“Ah don’t hafta lissen to you. Ah…Ah don’t…Ahh… water.” Her words slurred as the knocked up griffon fell into an unconscious state; she ended up shattering yet another glass cup.

The white unicorn groaned as he dropped the broom and went over to Griselda’s aid. The griffon was too heavy for him to lift so he grabbed her by the tail and pulled her out of the kitchen and into, what he thought was the living room. It took a lot of his strength to pull her onto the couch.

After Serus finished cleaning up the mess Griselda made, he went back upstairs in search for Aknow. He knocked on the Aknow-labeled door covered in various star consultations, but gets no response. “Aknow, it’s time to wake up so the team can get their first job.”

No response was given.

“I’m coming in,” he announced, slowly opening the door. He sighed seeing the night pony passed out on her bed. Taking in a deep breath before he shouting in her ear, “WAKE UP, AKNOW!”

“Five more minutes,” she mumbled.

“It’s freaking time to wake up. I don’t want our team to be late on their first day.”

She continued snoring. Serus rolled his eyes and flips the entire bed. Aknow stood up in utter rage.

“What the hay did you do that for?” she shouted.

“You didn't wake up when I told you to,” he lashed back getting heated up in the moment. “It’s time to get our first mission as a team.”

“Well, why didn't you just open a bag of chips in front of me?”

“Why would I do that?” Serus bewilderingly asked losing track of the conversation.

“Because then I would wake up, and I wouldn't have to worry about opening the bag myself.”

Serus face-hoofs himself; this left a red mark pasted onto his forehead. “I don’t know whether to call that stupid or just... plain weird. Well, put on your armor, we have to go.”

Getting dressed, with a nice grooming of her mane, Aknow was ready to tackle the day and began to make her way down stairs. She met up with Serus, who waited at the base of the stairs. She jumped over him to see what he was doing, but only found him staring over at a vacant couch laying directly under the window displaying a earthy view of their backyard.

“Wh-where.. what.. ho-..” he stuttered confused by the missing link to this portrait: the hungover feather friend.

“She’s over there,” his teammate motioned her head towards the luckily-still-breathing griffon that lied in her nest soundlessly. They both made their way to the front of her bed tripping over a couple instruments, and stepping on some broken glass, along the way. “Look at her sleeping like a foal,” Aknow squeaked in bliss of the violent vigilante that showed signs of enjoyable slumber.

“That’s great and all, but we need to muster in ten minutes. You can think that we won’t wake her up right now, but I don’t intend to be late on our first day. So help me wake her up,” he finished while they took a gander around the room, which didn't have that much in it surprisingly.

Griselda continued to sleep in peace without being disturbed to recent noises. Aknow began to think really hard about the other times she has been with her. Like a light bulb turning on, she ran outside of the room without mentioning her intentions to Serus. He remained standing wondering what it was that the pegasus was thinking of doing, and it frightened him even more when their grandfather’s hand progressively closed the gap between it and the base of its face. Time flew by before Aknow returned with a can of whip cream in her possession.

“Here we go,” the Lunar Guard announce face plastered with mischievous intent. “I know how to wake her up.”

“What are you doing with-” It took a second for him to gather the information in his mind. “Oh, heavens Celestia, no,” he begged dramatically leaning against the wall unable to carry himself further.

“Yup! I am going to spray it onto her claw and make her slap herself in the face.”

“Don’t do that, she’ll kill you if you tried.”

“Don’t worry, she likes it; she does it to me all the time,” she assured Serus, which made him roll his eyes instead.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake, if she gets pissed over this, which she would, then you better not blame it on me.”

Silently flying her way over the sleeping, yet deadly, griffon, Aknow prepared the whip cream to get lathered onto Griselda’s claw. Coating her claw with its fluffy, damp structure, the night guard began to place her tail over her ally’s nose; she swayed her hips back and forth lightly brushing her tail enough to cause Griselda’s natural instincts to kick in. Quickly taking charge of the situation while she believed her prey was off guard, her claw descended upon her face.Sounds of a cracking whip, corroded the barracks, and the cream flew off in various directions, one of which coming close to hitting a poster of what was assumed to be her favorite singer.

Aknow had trouble restraining herself from laughing, but Serus, on the other hand, slowly backed up to avoid any projectiles that might have been thrown or claws that would begin to swing.

“Goooood morning, Gris,” Aknow sang with a cheery smile. “It’s time to get up because we have our first mission.”

Leaving no room for silence to creep its way back in, Griselda jumped in front of the prankster and half-scared pegasus and roared, which caused a cup that sat on her nightstand to shatter before their eyes. She grabbed a bottle that laid close to her feet, surprisingly still in one piece, and threw it into the ponies’ direction; it shatter against the wall right next to another poster signed by the singer the portrait displayed.

“Who did that!?” she bellowed stomping her talons and cracking the earth beneath her. If Serus didn't have his life flashing before his eyes at the moment, he would have commented the strength she possessed shook the ground beneath him. “I swear, if none of you speak up, I will cut open your bodies, rip out your eyes, eat them, and play hopscotch in your chest cavities!”

The moment after, the room was overtaken by the silence as they waited for Griselda to regain her breath. Both ponies blinked expecting more to come, but the griffon simply rested her hind quarters on the ground. Serus looked at Aknow, wondering whether or not to say anything knowing their partner was seconds from turning them into filly cheese steaks.

“See, I told you so,” Aknow pointed out casually.

The Captain paced around his office growing very impatient for the last squad to arrive for their first mission. Squad Z finally entered his office looking like they barely escaped a ferocious war.

“Where in Equestria have you been?” Shining Armor roared. “You three were supposed to be here-” he took this time to look at the clock to finish what he was getting across, “Forty minutes ago.”

“Apologies, Captain,” Serus answered, lowering his head. “Some of us have a different sleeping schedule than everypony else.”

“No excuses! You of all ponies should know that punctuality is strictly exercised in your field of command.” Shining Armor began to lecture them, “What happens if you show up late to your post?” Aknow went to answer his rhetorical question, but Serus glared at her with a stern look. Their captain continued ignoring the faces being pass about the office, “Your post will become unmanned, and this give the enemy the potential of attacking us! What you did just now, you just caused Canterlot to fall into the hands of those that wanted to take it; you just put the Princesses in great danger.”

Guilt coursed through Serus’s veins, and he became lightheaded from the realization of his failures. Pressure build itself on his knees, forcing him to falter, but he used the strength he had to stand his ground. Aknow seemed to have already taken his words to heart after the mention of the Princesses; she could barely look straight at Shining or anyone for that matter. Griselda, however, didn't seem to care about anything he was telling them.

Shining shook his head in disappointment. “You guys need to exercise being to your muster times fifteen minutes early. I expect you to show up the next time as such, or I will have to take measures to ensure you guys are punctual.”

“Yes, Captain. I understand,” Serus responded attempting more to assure himself than his own captain.

The Captain sighed before rubbing his temples and continuing, “There may be a few of you, but this mission only needs teamwork from the three of you. You will be assigned to help with the construction workers building an HQ just outside of Ponyville. This is very important, but I’m sure you will all be able to handle this. Head on over to Ponyville in search for Mayor Mare, so she can instruct you on where and how to build it. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir!” They all shouted in unison, some more enthusiastic than others.

Ending on that note, the squad left his office and came face-to-face with a group of Royal Guards. They were very well acquainted with Serus, for they have been his friends ever since the start of basic training.

“Hey Serus,” the grey unicorn said. “It sucks to hear what happened to you.”

“Doesn't matter, at least I’m working for the Princess anyways.”

“We also heard you got positioned in Squad Z: The Group of Rejects.”

The group behind him giggled at the comment and nudged each other around.

“They are not rejects,” Serus argued, stomping his hoof on the ground. “We were carefully selected by both of the Princesses, so our flaws would be blanked out,” he muttered unsure whether he could even believe the words he said.

The group of Royal Guards burst into laughter, and none of Squad Z was happy about it.

“Wait, are you sticking up for these freaks?” He questioned.

“Squad rule 41: Always stick up and protect your team. It’s my job.”

“Okay, whatever you say. At least you make the squad of freaks complete: a half-witted Lunar Guard, a juvenile griffon, and a Royal Guard reject. I guess you do belong in this squad because you all have something in common.”

The group laughed at as they clapped hooves with each other and made their leave. Heart-broken, Serus drowned in his own sorrow; he never thought the people he knew the most would turn out to be so brutal and stab him in the back with such callous smiles on their faces.

He winked back his tears and spread out his wings. “Let’s go, girls,” he called out to his squad behind him. “We have a building to make.”

They ascended into the air and made their way towards Ponyville where they must complete their first mission.

The train ride to Ponyville was spent with the sound of the rattling train passing through the air, which was mixed with malaise feelings, between the half-beaten squad. Griselda slept soundlessly on her seat as blood rushed to her talon that hung off and lower than the rest of her body. Almost thinking she was inspecting the delicacy and well-sown rug that encased the metal flooring, Aknow dared not look up at her fellow friends knowing their faces would just put her further under the train. Serus was studiously carving words into the scroll pressed against the glass; it gave him glances of the scenery as it ran through various vibrant colors, and once in a while, when he took his mind slightly off his letter, the scene would lighten his mood bit by bit.

Aknow heard the quill furiously writing and decided to take her eyes off the floor to absorb in her surroundings. She focused her attention to the source of the sound she was hearing. The mare slowly lifted herself from her seat, her blue wings batting her behind the white pony without making a sound, and she watched him for a few seconds before breaking him out of his trance.

“Hey, boss-” Aknow began, but couldn't finish before Serus jumped out of his chair and swiped his head around to face the pony unaware to his senses.

“Sweet Celestia, Twist, when did-”

“What are you writing?” she asked over him; her overall being looked slightly disturbed about something unknown to Serus.

Despite wanting to ask his partner what was wrong, he sighed, “I am writing a letter to my family.” His looked quickly dropped to one with a sense of loneliness. “I haven’t really gotten the chance to send them a letter since I got into basic training, and the mailing system was atrocious.”

He continued writing, but his motions were less briskly as he put some of his focus on the mare behind him expecting her to continue attempting to talk to him. For a while, she simply took a glimpse around and noticed Serus’s carefully treated mane, which she assumed fit the regulations of the Canterlot guards. This made her giggle a little bit, but Serus didn't care too much to ask her what was on her mind.

After letting the silence settle in for a little bit, Aknow asked, “What is your family like?” Serus looked back at the gleam-eyed night guard, but he gave her a scornful look of discomfort. “I bet they are really proud of you,” she attempted to ease him in.

To the mare’s delight, her blonde friend set his letter down and turned to face her; he expressed she has his undivided attention.

“I have a family of four,” he began, and Aknow focused all of her attention on his story. “My mother, father and older brother, but none of them could really make it to my graduation, thankfully, because they were too busy with their own problems. However, I am sure they are glad that I at least made it into some squadron, and I will do my best so that I can help support them… well, more my mother than the other two,” he murmured under his breath, but Aknow heard it clear as day.

“Why don’t you want to support your dad and brother?” she wondered the moment he stopped talking.

“I’d rather not talk about it...”

The mare was a bit irritated that the stallion that talks all high and mighty about what it’s like being in a squad doesn't even open up the basic details of his life to their members. In the end, she only stood back up and walked her way back to her seat while Serus watched her with his head cocked.

Finally sitting down, she replied to his previous comment, “Fine, forget rule seventeen. For such a lawful pony, you forget your own rules,” muttering to herself but at a tone in which could carry itself to Serus’s ears.

Before he got the chance to interject, a happy, orange-haired pony opened the door to their trolley, and she pushed forward a cart filled with many decadent treats. The scent of the food it held, swayed its way across the room and filled the sleeping griffon’s senses; it overloaded her brain with all of its snacks from its perfectly-baked cookies to its heavenly-roasted peanuts. The choices ran through her mind for what seemed long enough to tired anypony before she came to a conclusion.

Yellow eyes revealed themselves to a seemingly unfamiliar surrounding at first before directing its center of attention to the cart, and as she shot her way up to her feet, she called out pointing to the mare, “Serus! Get this pony to give me roasted peanuts!”

The walk to the construction site was almost as dead as the train ride. Nopony dared to look at each other or speak to one another; they were all irritated at this point. Aknow started to slowly fall behind before she came to a total stop in the middle of the mildly business town ponies trying to get to their homes or work. Serus probably would have continued onward forever if Griselda didn't catch his attention. With a loud cough, he looked at her, and she motioned her head to the spaced-out pegasus before walking onward leaving them behind.

“What’s up?” he asked trotting to her side, but she didn't pay any mind to him as she remained lost in deep thought. “Aknow!” he tapped her on the head, and she immediately came back to reality.

“I-I was thinking..” she started the second she grasped her bearings and put forth enough focus to answer the blonde stallion, “m-maybe we could grab a snack before heading to the s-site.”

“What do you mean? We just had a snack on the train,” he backfired with a sense of annoyance. “We aren't going to take another break anytime soon, and I would like to finish this job quickly. The faster it is done, the happier the captain will be, and we could use a bit of his happiness on our side.”

With that, he continued forward as if trying to influence her to keep moving. The grey pegasus hesitated a little, but reluctantly, she ran to catch up with him.

Upon arrival, they found Griselda talking to an late-aged mare wearing glasses. They walked along side her hearing only the last bit of the conversation.

“We plan on finishing up within a five hour time period,” the mare stated, “and it would be very much grateful if you could help out or even just watch for the safety of everypony.”

“No problem, Mayor,” Griselda respectfully replied waving off to her as she parted. Griselda turned to face her colleagues and filled them in, “That was Mayor Mare, and she wants Serus helping with the construction on the outside of the building. Aknow, you are wanted to help with the construction on the interior portion of the building, and I will be walking around making sure these ponies don’t get hurt because they don’t know how to carry some objects.”

Aknow interjected, “Maybe I c-could work on the outside- you know- well… because it w-would be easier… since I can fly.”

The other two comrades looked at her puzzled by what she was trying to say, and Serus simply flapped his wings to express that he is more than capable of flying himself.

The mare went to argue, but Serus voiced his words first, “Don’t complain about where you work, and just get the job done.”

They separated to their working posts before Aknow could get the chance to talk back. She stood there alone, legs trembling as memories flooded her mind, and a grimace look sketched its way onto her face.

With a trembling, raspy voice, mouth dry of any saliva, she whispered to herself the only word that she could muster, “B-but…”

Working hard, aside from his intention to have the construct work over with, Serus was covering all corners of his assignment, and he would always stop his own work to help the other ponies that were struggling. He was forgetting his idea to finish the job quickly, and his mind took on a new persona: to ensure the building finishes without anypony getting hurt no matter how long they sat there working. He became engrossed in his job; however, the same could not be said the same as his colleagues, and when he noticed their problems, it would only irritate him for their lack of commitment.

Griselda’s job as safety watch only lasted not much longer than five minutes before sleep took over her desires, and it placed her on top of a stack of beams, which she happily conformed into something similar to a bed. She was the least committed member of the group being she only joined because they said it would get her out of jail; because of this, she has taken in the mind set ‘she is only there to be out of jail, so why should she put forth the effort when she gets the same without it’. Serus yearns to the Princesses that she would get punished for her mistakes, but he was also busy looking at his other disappointing member that was working inside.

Aknow, unlike their feather friend, was working, but her pace and workload doesn't come close to equating to Serus’s efforts. Went almost immediately from carrying beams and heavy objects to more simplistic items such as plaster, Aknow would lose her strength and will to carry these tools into the building for other ponies. This caused her mentality to falter as she exponentially lost the courage to leave the near eight story building and re-enter on a continuous whim. Every second that passed, every moment she left the building to grab more supplies, she took longer looking at the building before mustering the power to return; this got to the point where she would take ten minute breaks every five minutes.

Serus wouldn’t have minded this unprofessional behavior, but it has been three hours since they started working; they have done very little within this time. It was also bad that their behavior only progressed as it grew closer to sun fall, so Serus decided that he needed to take charge of his team before it gets worse.

Serus prioritized his attention to the griffon first being her job is very important for all of the worker’s safety. He flew his way to the top of the pile of beams and settled himself in front of her as she lay spread out across her back; the noise she made as she was sleep was dreadful enough to get the animals of the forest packing. Serus kicked her until she woke up and gave him her undivided attention.

“Could to at least look like you are doing your job?” the pegasus scolded, but the griffon simply shrugged it off.

“I am doing my job,” she replied.

“You have been sleeping since we started working, and you need to patrol around the building checking for any signs of mishaps. Your laziness is turni-”

“Shh, wait,” Griselda interrupted sitting up as she scanned the scene. “Did you hear that?”

Serus stood quiet for a moment to listen for what she heard, but he responded, “I don’t hear anything.”

“Exactly. There is no screams, no moans, and no complaints. Why? Because everyone is safe. Unless there is a dire emergency that arises, don’t attempt to wake me up, or I will break your wings and kick you off of this mountain,” she threatened as she walked closer to Serus and getting close to his face before he was inches from falling of the edge. “Got it?”

Despite the blonde pony’s desire to talk back and stand his ground, he didn't want to cause a commotion that will attempt to put his team at risk of a bad review. He jumped off edge backwards and started flapping his wings; he glared back at the griffon for a moment before breaking eye contact.

“Fine,” he spat before flying off back to the building to see his other colleague he needed to convince.

He landed himself in front of the entrance to the interior portion of the site. At the same time as he went to talk into the build, an earth pony wielding a large abundance of materials needed for his work; there was enough to put Equestria’s strongest pony in exhaustion, and this pony looked like he was struggling.

“Excuse me, sir,” Serus called out the this tan pony causing him to turn really fast; some of the beams, which was mixed in with the miscellaneous stuff he was carrying, collided forcibly with the beams that were already placed up inside the build supporting its weight. The sound, as loud as a large metal bell, rung its way through the building and caused part of the building to shake in the process. This sensation carried its way all the way to the third floor, where Aknow hesitantly walked around taking supplies to various other working ponies. The very slightest sense of these vibrations cause the night pony to freeze with a bad taste in the back of her throat. She immediately dropped all of the equipment she was carrying and dashed her way downstairs.

“Whoa!” Serus yelped running to the pony’s side and bearing some of the weight. “Be careful, sir. This is a lot of stuff to be carrying at once, and it would bother me to see you get hurt.”

“Don’t worry, Sunny,” the elderly stallion rejected, “I carry this much all the time, and it has yet to fail me.”

“Okay, just for my sake, maybe you could carry a less so I can sleep peacefully tonight.”

The earth pony gave him a smile before walking off with his over-sized load to the floor he needed to get to. Serus was left alone as he watched the stallion disappear up the stairs; he thought very much about the help of that pony and hoped he wasn't pushing himself too hard. Serus was lost in thought for a second, before and unbeknownst voice entered his ear. It sounded very much like a pony biting down on a potato chip, except it was deeper and carried a tiny echo through the empty floor. The voice was later followed by something that could be mistake as a pony dragging their foot across the floor.

Serus immediately started to look around for the source of the noise he heard, but he was interrupted when he noticed a familiar pegasus running in his direction; however, Serus was ready to keep her from going any further. The white pony jumped straight in her way causing her to crashing into him. Being as tall as he was over her, he was able to stand his ground without falling over, but Aknow didn't show similar results, who fell hard on her rump.

“H-hey!” the bewildered mare stutter as she went to massage her soar flank.

“Hey,” Serus repeated back to grasp her attention, which was successful. He continued, “What are you doing?”

“W-we-well… um- you see- i-i was j-just..” she attempted to say, but Serus grew impatient with what he thought was stalling.

“You have already taken a break, five minutes ago to be exact. You need to stop slacking off. I know this may be boring, but that doesn't not excuse that you shouldn't lead by example.”

“But.. but… w-well.. could we- um- switch?” she attempted to ask with pleads dancing in her eyes, but her stallion colleague disregarded them.

“So that I have little visibility over you and the stupid griffon that isn't doing her job either? I don’t think so! I need to stay outside, so I can make sure you ponies are doing your job, which you aren't doing.”

“B-but.. you don’t underst-”

“No, I do understand,” he interjected stomping his hoof on the grow; Aknow shrunk in his rage. “You simply want to slack off more and avoid doing a lot of work, but that is not going to happen! I want my team to be hard working and diligent, and you and feather brains out there are neither of those things! What is wrong with you two that you don’t want to do a little work!? Where is your commitment to your job!?”

A still silence passed through the air. Aknow stayed silent for a little bit so she could regain her composure before speaking again.

“C-can we take this outside, please?” she attempted to ask again.

She was rejected again with, “No, we are settling this here and now!”

“But I can’t stay here!” she argued back, her fear creating anger.

“Why can’t you stay here?”

“Because I can’t!”

“That isn't a good enough answer, Aknow!”

Their argument pressed on between the two pegasi, and a crowd began to form hearing the commotion. Griselda, waking up from her slumber, heard them from their position, and she looked up to see if she could spot them. Her vision was covered by the crowd of ponies that encircled the fighting teammates. She tried to listen more intently on the conversation, but her hearing caught a rather unpleasant sound.

This sound was similar to the one that Serus heard, but the sound continued to go on until she eventually heard a snap. After a second of decipher what it was she heard, only one option came to mind, and the griffon’s spine began to shiver. Without giving it a second thought, Griselda was up in the air, and dashing for the disaster that was soon to unfold.

Unlike the griffon, the ponies near the incident couldn't hear anything over the shouts of the feud they were focused on. As this was going on, the previously broken beam became incapable of bearing the weight of everything above it. It’s structure began to break down before it eventually broke off. The beam, in which stood in the middle of a crowd of ponies began to fall, and it only became notice by a pony at the last second.

“Look out!” a stallion yelled over the shouting for everypony to hear.

As if instinctively knowing what he was referring to, all the ponies turned their attention towards the falling beam and moved out of its crushing way. It fell to the ground shattering shards of its anatomy across the ground, and this lead everypony to remain dead silent; however, this was the worst decision for all of them to make.

The ceiling of the building under their position began to break down under pressure; it chipped away piece by piece, and the cracks grew larger until it reached beyond the area covered by frightened ponies. This fear only spread further as the ceiling slowly started to cave in. They remained petrified, denying what they wanted to be a deception to their eyes, but it was as real as the griffon that crashed landed in front of the entrance.

“Everypony out, now!” she roared to the audience with prestigious motivational fear.

Reality came back to everypony, and they all began to rush their way towards the door. Some would push their way over other in order to get how, leaving people to get trampled, but luckily there were some that would help their victimized ponies to their feet and out of the collapsing building.

Serus, doing what he could, helped get everypony out of the building before leaving himself. As he started head out himself, he noticed Griselda shouting at him, but he wasn't able to make out her words over the shrieks and sobs of the citizens. She began pointing into the direction of the building, and it hit him with non-opposing force- out of all the ponies that ran out. He turned around quickly to find Aknow remaining steady under the close to falling ceiling.

“Aknow!” he called out to her but wasn't sure she heard him, for she remained still not moving or looking in his direction; she only looked up at a ceiling.

Eyes dilated passed a healthy rate, memories filled the night guard’s mind, and it drowned out all of her senses. All sound escaped her ears, deafening her, and her vision began to blur and revitalized into a seen that was only familiar to her.

Demons surrounding her and consuming everything it touched; it would become plagued black and reeked of denatured compounds. It’s work even became visible to ponies as it create a black shadow that engulfed entire hallways of the apartment complex. Its presence only stressed the body of this tiny pegasus filly making her sweat under its force and grow weak with each passing second. Yet, the grey-coated filly remained in place focused on the older mare that held on to her.

She saw the mother’s mouth moving, but couldn't make out what she was saying. She would drag this filly around the death-filled building looking in every room. What is she doing? the filly thought as she surveyed the area watching the demons drop from the sky closing more of their possible exits, but the mother didn't not care for she was busied with her search.

She eventually turned around and faced the filly, and the filly showed her the same respect. Tears covered the mare’s face as she spoke softly to the young pony, but she still couldn't make out the things she was trying to say to her. Her thoughts cut short when she noticed the demons that circled above them almost teasing them. Without warning, the creatures of chaos descended upon them, and her vision went black.

“Mommy?”

Everything that was happening right now: ponies running from the falling building, Griselda keeping them at bay, and Serus calling out to his night walking member; this all didn't matter anymore. Silence and terror halted the whole town, everypony bewildered and frightened to react, as the voice of a banshee sang its tunes; Aknow screamed horrifically no pony, but nonetheless screamed as her body lost strength to hold her fast and the rain began to fall from her pores. The wails that escaped this pony’s snout seemed god-strikingly impossible, yet she cried her heart out with a single breath silencing all, including the falling debris of the collapsing building, leaving only her voice to be her; her voice to be recognized.

“Make it stop! Make it stop,” She repeated.

Serus simply stared, unwilling to move as the mare’s wails continued on; this voice he heard became more frightening than being threatened with death by Griselda. His hooves began to quiver, his mind drawing a blank, and the only thing that seemed to be functioning right were his eyes: they showed what was truly happening to this distressing pony. He would always attempt to move himself forward, but her cries deafened his sense of bravery and held him steady. He has never been in a situation like this in his life when someone he was supposed to care for was on the verge of death’s row. It was only then he realized her fear and let it pick at his mind.

Why didn't she say anything? he asked himself. Why wouldn't she tell one of us she was scared the building might collapse?

The idea tempted his brain to think and look back at everything he missed. The train ride, when she came to understand his family; the walk towards the site, her hesitation to move forward; her requests to always work somewhere outside. She has been telling him for the longest time now, but he was simply pushing her away and making her work against her fears. It wasn't that she didn't tell him… it was because he didn't listen.

The sudden breeze sent a fraction of realism guide its way across the Royal Guard’s spine and bring him back from his trackless world. Focusing back to the matter at hand, the ceiling broke apart and starting making its way back to the earth and through the shaken pony.

I can make it. Serus believed extend his wings. With both his hooves and wings, he push himself forward, and he blasted his way back to the building reaching out to Aknow. I will make it!

Coming close to being crushed along with his comrade, Serus pulled through, scoping the mare up under his wing. They tumbled their way across the floor while Serus protected Aknow. Unable to slow down, the other side of the build, still supported with no tension on its side, held a wall that respectfully acted as their stop sign. The two ponies crashed forcefully into the wall, but Serus, keeping his friend from harm, got the brunt of the damage; he hit the wall back first causing his body to follow through the arch and smack his head into the wall as well. With that, the white pegasus fell into a deep sleep.

It was silent; there were no screams, cries, fights… nothing. Nothing made itself known to Serus’s half-woken state, except for a cold splatter that touched and stung his face.

Slowly opening his eyes, he was greeted with a blur of an object that hung over him. He could quite make out what it was or what was happening; to be fair, he couldn't think at all as his previous incident dazed him. He yearned to discover what this thing was the stung his face and lingered above him as he was too weak to figure it out himself. Then, a voice rang his ears.

“Mommy,” the voice of what he thought was a foal began to speak and slightly pressed against him with its nose. “Wake up.”

This only confused him more. He put every ounce of energy he had left to focus on who it was, and his vision, become a little better, focused on a mare with hair almost as blue as a night sky. Tears fell gracefully from her cheeks, which were puffy and red. It was Aknow, but her voice, once again, seemed different from what it actually was.

“Mommy,” she repeated. “I found Daddy… He was cold and wouldn't answer me… Mommy?”

Aknow.. Serus fell back into unconsciousness only hearing but the one question she wanted to ask.

“Is Daddy… dead?”

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait for an update. Since I graduated High School, and stuff, a lot has happened, and it hindered me from working on this story. However now, my work has settled down a bit, and I wanted to do you guys the favor and get at least this story finished up. I will try to post the next chapter sooner than two weeks past because I do have work five days a week. Just don't put too much like... faith into the every two week update, but it will be updated nonetheless. Thank you for those that are still following this story and like it. All criticism is very much appreciated, and I look forward to writing more for you guys.

From hell, to you, and back again,
Soto Konoha, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman

Third The Change

Author's Note

Well, I came out with this quicker than I thought. I guess it's because I don't have an editor to send it to and wait for... Um, yeah, so I have to proof read it myself, which isn't always good. If you can, please tell me what you didn't like about the chapter, so I can fix it for the future chapters if possible. Thank you and enjoy! Chapter 4- expect by next weekend!

From hell, to you, and back again,
Soto Konoha, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman

Third The Change

I’m an idiot, aren’t I? I mean, she tried many times to tell me, and I blew her off like a leaf resting on my snout. She even referenced one of the Royal Guard’s codes: Rule 17, get to know your squad. How did she know our rules anyways? No, stop, I am going off topic. I probably won’t gain her respect back after that stupid incident, or it will be really hard to at least. Growing up, I always wanted to be the leader of my own squad, be the ‘big shot’ that gives the commands, and be the pony that everypony can look towards for help. Now that I am grown up, and I got this chance to lead this group to something that would have been successful… I honestly didn’t think it would be this hard.

For the past hour, Serus’s eyes have been open, and his body and mind was fully aware of where it was and what situation it was in; however, the pegasus refused to do anything more than to think… reflect. Even though he knew he should let some pony know that he is awake, to assure them that he was okay, he wanted to take this time to himself and just go over everything by himself. He wanted to plan his next moves and predict the possible outcome of this failure before bring the rest in to pick at his mind; he wants to be prepared this time.

Pondering over the different outcomes to come of this, laying on his side in the gurney that he has been in for what seems like 2 days as far as the calendar says; on the other hand, he could still be delirious from his head injury and think that it says Sunday instead of Saturday. He wasn’t going to think about it too much since it would only make his head hurt more than it already does.

Aside from figuring out the day of the week, he tried to figure out what is going to happen to their team. He knows that they won’t kick him out so easily from just a simple hit on the head… or will they? Serus shook away his pessimistic thinking and return to the problems at hand. He is aware that, in time… sometime, he has to talk to Aknow and properly apologize to her. He needs to talk to Griselda, for sure, about her problems, but that will be last since he knows the griffon will just ignore him. He also figured that he needs to report to the Captain about the mission and its blow-up failure. He has a lot of jobs he needs to do.

Figuring that is all that he needed to handle, along with the steady reminder to apologize to Mayor Mare, he took another glance at the clock. Another hour has passed he thought moving his focus towards the calendar. Saturday… okay, good, it has only been a day.

The slightly distorted pony slowly sat himself up in his seat to take a gander around the room, and to no surprise, he was in fact in a hospital. It was not a hospital in Canterlot though, so he must still be in Ponyville. Trying to scoot further up in his seat and adjust from his uncomfortable position, he was stopped by the grey pegasus’s head that was nestled across his hind legs. He stared quietly at the sleeping pony without the faintest bit of expression to be found.

“What did I do to deserve this treatment?” He quietly asked himself, or so he thought before a reply shot out of the corner of the room.

“What? Was saving her not enough to quench your regrets?” Griselda shot back at him and drank another hard cider. She dropped it as she finished it, and it rolled slowly off the table to join the ten or eleven bottles that were still intact on the ground below. “Did you think that… I don’t know, the little girl would just hate you forever because you weren’t smart for a day to listen to her. You are sa-”

“Sweet Celestia, Griselda,” Serus intervened. “Drink some water at least before you die of alcohol poisoning. I hope you didn’t use my money to buy all those; I don’t think I can even afford it.”

Griselda gave him a ‘really?’ stare, which sent the pegasus quite the confusion before continuing on with what she was saying.

“You are sadly mistaken, kid. She will forgive you,” she threw the last bottle sitting alone on the table. “Now don’t leave us hanging. These were her treat, and she drank the majority of them… Seven to be exact, and that was supposed to be my fifth. Hope you have low alcohol tolerance because she wanted us to be drunk together.”

The feather friend got up from her seat and slowly walked for the door. Using her wing to push it aside, she stood there for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Captain Shining Armor will be here in two hours,” she notified without turning back. “That should be enough time for you to fix your ‘A’ and ‘B’ conversation, and I will just ‘C’ my way out.”

With no warning, Griselda slammed the door behind her. This woke Aknow up in a shock, and she quickly scanned the area for the source of disturbance until she realized that Serus was awake and waiting for her to notice.

“Boss...”

“Aknow…”

Aknow took a seat adjacent to Serus while he scooted to give her room. She gave her thanks upon sitting, and then an awkward silence grew between them. Serus had what he wanted to say planned out, but it all left him the moment he realized they were alone. Nerves struck, Serus simply sat there thinking of another way to start off the conversation. The stallion never had this much trouble talking to anyone before, even stallions, but for some reason his mind kept him saying what he thought was right. It is not good enough would always sit in the back of his head; luckily, Aknow saved him the trouble of starting the conversation.

“How’s your head?” she ask no louder than a whisper.

“It okay, I think… I just have a bit of a headache right now.”

The grey pegasus giggled a little, “I have a headache, too, but it probably isn’t as bad as yours.”

“Yeah…”

Silence continued, and Serus shifted around in his spot in discomfort to the lack of talking there was in the room. This is harder than I thought Serus thought to himself, blowing a piece of hair aside as it fell into his line of vision.

Coming with a bit of shock, Aknow shot her head to look at him, and he leaned away from the active mare unsure of what she was about to say. Waiting, expecting her to say something important that could change their friendship forever. A smile, that was all she gave him; a weakly put on smile with all the effort she could put into it. Serus, bewildered, just continued to stare at her with a cocked head. To his mental health, the mare decided to start the pep talk.

“Hello, my name is Aknow Twist,” she stated only confusing Serus more than he already was, which didn’t help his mental health in anyway that he thought it would, but the grey pegasus spun her hoof in circles as if expressing to him to follow along.

“Um.. Hi?” he more asked looking for a response if he was playing along, and she smiled. “My name is Serus Starz.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Serus, and I hope we can get along as a team. I had a few things that I thought you should know about me, so you have a better understanding as to my personality and how I function around other bystanders.”

Serus was a bit surprised by the mare’s formality and change of tone. It was almost like he was talking to another pony. He snapped back into the conversation trying to figure out what to say next to continue the conversation.

“Uh-well… what is it that you wanted to tell me?”

“You see-” Aknow drew a blank and paused a moment to gather the topics she wanted to throw out into the pot. “I am very spontaneous and random, and I like being that way because, sometimes, I believe set plans or pre-scheduled activities can be boring. I see taking life as it hits you to be a very thrilling experience and can prepare you for unexpected discrepancies.”

At this point, the astonished leader couldn’t believe so much that the mare he first met was anything like this. Aknow surprised him with her variating word choices and calm, very well professional posture. It didn’t stop there though, for Aknow had many things she wanted to get off her chest.

“I am not really a big fan of drinking; I only do it to make Griselda happy. My favorite food is pasta, I graduated my schooling period three years early...” That explains it. “I am apparently recorded as the youngest Lunar Guard in all of Equestria by two days, my favorite color is purple-” Her list goes on and on from the name of her first pet all the way down to the hospital she was born in before coming to the last one on her list that grasp the stallion’s attention. “And I am an orphan.”

Pressure built up in Serus’s chest almost leaving him gasping for air; a chill slowly, deeply ran down his spine giving him great agony. Now he wanted to know about what happened. Serus sucked in his gut and followed along.

“I’m sorry to hear that. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your parents?”

Aknow gave out a heavy sigh and slowly leaned herself against Serus until her head laid itself on his shoulder. She sat still for a minute before sighing once more. Serus felt her heated tears freeze his coat where it landed, and the frost only spread further with each tear. She did not whimper, she did not scream, but she simply let the tears flow from her eyes.

“When I was a filly, our house was set ablaze along with 15 others’ homes. Both of my parents died in that accident… from the house collapsing on them.”

Aknow seemed calm about it, but Serus could feel that she was putting a lot of strength into these words without breaking down. Serus wanted to stop, but at the same time, he want to know more. He didn’t want to press too much onto her already dreadful situation, so he only wanted to ask Aknow one more question.

“How did you survive, Aknow?” he asked and pet her mane to comfort her.

“I don’t remember,” she answered. “The last thing I ever remember is when the house is collapsing on my mom and me, but then I would wake up from my dreams.”

Serus wasn’t sure how to think, or even process, her traumatic incident. The pain in his chest only grew the less he didn’t hear her voice; her cries. Being just a filly- no- being anypony to have experienced such a tragedy and being unable to recall it was undaunting to the stallion. How? he told himself many times, his mind unable to fit a word yet into its empty spaces, or was it that his mind wanted to know everything about ‘how’?

The pressure became unbearable, and his body started to shiver. The sound of his hooves clacking together became very prominent, and his breathing was very expressive; he felt himself having a panic attack. Yet, his worries were put at ease when he felt the comfort of Aknow’s body gently pressing itself against his back. Instantly, the pain disappeared and was replaced with tranquility.

“It’s okay, Boss,” she whispered mildly into his heart. “And I’m sorry I can’t cry so you can comfort me.” Her words, they told him everything he thought of to himself almost as if she read his mind. The tears that never stopped falling, now fell sluggishly onto his back as she spoke once again, “The whines I once had for my mom- my dad- I have lost them long ago, so don’t feel like you aren’t making me feel better because you are. You definitely changed my mood and made my gentle days.”

Her embrace never leaving, grew warmer with each tear; they first froze his entire being, but now, they soothe this mind with fragile feelings. With that, silence returned to the room and filled its presence for both to notice. Serus breaking the embrace himself and turning around to face the mare in her emerald eyes. He took a deep, but quiet, breathe then shared his life to the one he believed he couldn’t match up to.

“Well, I am a very lawful pony, even when I was just a little colt. My father has always been apart of the Royal Guards, and he applied their beliefs to the household.”

Serus sat there trying to remember his father, but many years has past and could not think of even the simplest detail about his father. The only thing that is left for him to remember his father by was his journal of his adventures.

Serus continued, “I lived with my father, mother, and brother…. and my father passed away.”

The blonde pegasus, himself, shed a tear.

“Are you crying?” Aknow teased a bit.

“I’m not crying. It’s just… liquid pride.”

Unable to control herself much further, Aknow bursted into a rain of laughter falling straight to the floor. Serus, obviously embarrassed, sat still on the bed flushed waiting for her to control herself.

“Are you finished?” Serus asked impatiently. “It is rude to laugh at someone that is trying to tell you their life story.”

Aknow pulled herself together and replied back, “Sorry, Boss. Didn’t mean to be rude, but liquid pride? That is something I would say.”

“Well I am glad you feel better, but you should also take into account ot-”

Serus was halted by another generous and heart-filled hug from his fellow comrade. Her fore hooves reach around him and held strong, unbreakable to anything that would want to separate their friendship.

“Thanks, Boss, for listening to me, and I am sorry for what your family is going through.” The last part of her sentence questioned him, but she soon clarified. “I did a little research on everypony in our group, and so I know what happened to your father and your brother.” She broke her hug and looked at him, her smile shined fluorescently into his mind. “I’m glad we got to talk, Boss. You should have a talk like this with Gris. She may be mean, but she is really nice, too; you just gotta suck up your ‘liquid pride’.”

The mare gave Serus a straight face for a little bit, but he was well aware of what she was waiting for him to do. Slowly bring his hoof in the air, he brought it towards his face lightly, reenacting a facehoof. Both members laughed cheerfully as they enjoyed each other’s company until their Captain showed up.

Despite the intention of them trying to be quiet, the knocks on the hospital door echoed across the room, grabbing the attention of the now present Squad Z members, who were all playing a game of cards with one another. Waiting for quietly for a bit, the griffon made her way towards the door and opened it slowly revealing Shining Armor waiting patiently for a response. He tilted slightly forward gesturing his request to enter the room, and the griffon responded by opening the door further giving him room to walk in.

“I am glad to see you are alright, Serus,” the unicorn breathed. “I haven’t been to Ponyville in a long time, so I wasn’t aware of how long the travel was; sorry for showing up late.”

“Your presence is very my flattering, Sir, but for just a stallion that only took a wall head on, literally, that is too much worry for somepony like me.”

“I take care of all my squads and showing you guys that I really care for your health and success, it was only right of me to see you personally,” he countered, making the team shrug in agreement to his notion. He added, “Besides, there is some important things I wanted to go over with you ponies… and griffon.”

Shining Armor pulled himself a chair with his magic and sat down pulling forth a folder of documents from the saddle bag the hung off of his right shoulder. He opened the file, which showed a debrief document of their previous mission, and it contained a current newspaper in regards to Serus’s sudden hospital visit and the falling of the construction site. Where were a couple of other miscellaneous material inside the folder, including a photograph of somepony, but the face couldn’t be depicted from the range and light setting they were positioned in. The Captain clearly his throat and took a deep breath.

“So before we go over everything, Serus,” he directed his attention towards Serus for a second, “I need to know if you are capable of continuing on as fit for full duty, or do you need to take a couple days as sick in quarters? The hospital recommends that you take the SIQ, but ultimately it is your decision whether you are feeling up to it or not.”

The blonde pegasus puffed his chest out a pinch and nodded, “Yes, Sir. I feel better than ever.” Serus was prepared for whatever his boss planned to throw at them, for better or worse.

Shining Armor gave his future successors a smirk, “Okay, then I will cut straight to the point. First, I would like to go over your previous mission. From how it is, this mission was a bust, and it is your first failure; however, it will not be your last. Despite being a failure, you guys did manage to pull through at the last moment and only suffer one casualty.” He stopped and looked around to see if there were any questions; none. He continued on, “Due to the reports I have received from Mayor Mare and several Ponyville citizens, I got a general understand as to what happen. Along the way here, I thought really hard about what to do for the predicament, and I came to the conclusion. Serus, unfortunately for you… I am revoking your position as the leader of this team away from you.”

“What!?” Aknow blurted out flying out of her chair.

“I understand, Sir,” Serus replied ignoring his teammate’s outburst, but it only caused her to say it once more.

“What!? But- but- Sir-” her retaliation was seized by Serus’s own hoof.

“It’s okay, Aknow. I saw this coming, and I know it’s for the best. Let us just hear what the Captain has to say,” he finished giving her a warm smile.

Aknow couldn’t argue, and she followed the orders as she sat quietly, bowing towards Shining to continue, which he did, “Understanding how you pony, and griffon, much rather him be your leader over yourselves- getting this from our conversation when you two joined- I came to the conclusion to add a new member to your team.”

All of their attentions were captured by the moment he said new. They stared intently at their Captain, who slowly leaned back as they leaned forward. Before he could fall out of his chair, he shooed the curious bunch back into their own chairs. He took a deep breath and dropped the photograph in front of them enveloped in magic. All their faces churned with confusion; they were unsure what to think of when they saw the picture. They looked at eachother for a second reading their thoughts before coming with a solid understand as to what to say.

For the team, Serus spoke once more, “Sir… this… this is a zebra.”

Shining Armor stared at them blankly before sarcastically stating, “Oh, sorry. For a second, I thought it was a Sea Pony.”

Griselda interjected, “But, Captain, you are going to turn our squad of freaks into… well, an even bigger squad of freaks?”

“Hey!” their boss whined taking offense to that, “Don’t think of it as that. Instead, think of your team as unique.” The team wanted to tell him all of their opinions, but Shining threw his hoof in the air, instantly silencing all noise. “His name is Zalis and-”

“Salad?” Aknow giggled.

“No, Zalis. Za-lee. Anyways, he is coming all the way from his home country to join your squad to bring forth his experiences. He was the leader of his village and has lead them through life for a little over ten years. Being this, I figured he would make do as your squad’s leader.”

“When will we get to meet this Zalis, Sir?” Serus questioned pushing the photo back into the folder once everypony had a general understanding of what their new commander would look like.

“As soon as we are done with this brief, which will be over soon after I give you your next assignment.” Shining flipped a page over in the folder holding yet another photo, but it was a unicorn. Under this photo visibly laid a few other pictures, and a document under these with lines crossed out in black. “For the past week, this unicorn, Petsy Tamer, has disappeared after stealing several gems and a variety of exotic creatures.” He threw out the photos as they spread themselves out containing, as their Captain said, many exotic beasts: hydra, manticore, giant mantis; there were about seven or eight of these pictures. “We ha-”

“Sir,” Serus interrupted, “I am sorry but… shouldn’t a- well- more qualified squadron handle this situation. If I am understanding the situation right, Petsy could possibly use these beasts to her advantage to escape, or worse, dispose of us.”

“Good question, as I was about to explain that. We have sent several squads in attempts to capture her, but they have all returned failing. So, we have been left no choice but to send you ponies, and griffon, to handle the situation.” Serus went to speak, but Shining talked over him. “We understand that you don’t think you will show different results, but from what we see, you can. Serus, you were given a different training method in basic as our experiment to see if it was more effective than our current training we are teaching the Royal Guards. Along with that, and the rest of your group of different customs, we are hoping you could confuse our target, where she has understanding of our current fighting patterns and formations.” Shining looked at the clock that rested above Serus’s bed. “That’s not a good place to put a clock. Anyways, I do not have the time to commune much further about your mission; you know your job and you know what you need to do. Get Petsy Tamer and bring her back to Canterlot along with all of the exotic animals. If you have further questions, ask your leader since he has all the information.”

Shining Armor swept up all the material and placed in back in the folder. Putting it back in his satchel, the Captain quickly made his way to the door and out with Serus quickly to follow. Upon leaving, the pegasus immediately spotted the zebra sitting quietly outside by the large window displaying a nice view of Ponyville. The striped pony stared out of the window watching the activity of everyday life until he felt somepony rustling his coat. He looked behind him to find Serus staring at him as the Royal Guard made his way by him. With a quick glance, and a bit of eye contact, the zebra waved at Serus with a warm smile; Serus continued to catch up with his Captain.

Checking the clocks along the way out, a worried face was pasted onto Shining Armor as he picked up his pace to only be quickly stopped by the recruit that followed behind him.

“Sir!” Serus called out, and the unicorn came to a quick halt.

“Serus, I-”

“I know, Captain,” Serus interrupted, “but this will only take two seconds. I respectfully request that if Griselda is to further partake in missions with this squad that she respectfully gets paid for her hard work.”

“S-Serus,” Shining stuttered trying to find words to say for the sudden offer. “You know who she is, right?”

“Yes, sir” the pegasus continued to push his answers across, “I know very well, now, who she is, what she has done, and for what reason.”

The quick change of pace was more than Serus wanted to handle just waking up from butting heads with a wall- as well as his long talk with Aknow- but it was something that need to be taken care of while the chance was still before him. The battle with his mind to fall asleep from the information that nearly overloaded his brain, or to continue on working his mind to take in this last bit of information that he desired to gather, was very absurd; he could feel his head pulsating with each thought. Inspite of this torture, he found himself obligated to follow his code and push forth the last bit to bring him together with his squad.

Serus doesn’t remember when, or how long, Griselda has been in front of him, sitting ever so silently for the white pegasus to speak; she must have came around the moment Aknow left to grab more drinks once Serus finished his cider. It all happened faster than Serus was expecting, and now the griffon waits for him to recollect and get on with the ‘important’ discussion he needed with her. Serus knew he had to act quicker than that, or she would lose interest within seconds; in fact, he is surprised that she even agreed to have this conversation in the first place.

Griselda raised her brow, when she observed her leader leading himself through some breathing exercises. She figured that she would have to start the conversation in order to get anything out of this pony, but he collected himself in time to put out the first words.

“Why are you a part of this squad?” he went straight to the point. “What did you do that lead you into a squad working for the law.”

“An offer,” she simply stated at first, but then she continued. “They pretty much gave me a deal to work here, and they would rid my brother of all his charges.”

“Charges?”

“Yeah, the eldest brother in our family got in trouble with the law, and I attacked them so he could run away. That is pretty much the reason why I am here.”

“I don’t understand, sorry. What about all the other crimes you have committed?” Serus pressed on hoping she would continue talking, and she did to his satisfaction.

“They were all minor acts of stealing food and stuff, nothing big,” the griffon shrugged off and leaned further back in her chair. “My family was poor, and my brothers and sisters were hungry. So I stole food to feed them. Since we didn’t really have parents taking care of us, I was left alone to care for my seven brothers and sisters. One of my brothers, catching on to what I was doing, thought he could do the same thing and help. The dumbass got in trouble, and I didn’t want that following for life. So the dumbass me hit one of the cops and flew off giving him the chance to run, which they ended up finding him later anyways.”

“Wow, that was pretty stupid,” Serus pointed out, but she didn’t object.

“Yeah, it was,” Griselda uttered as she stared out the window for a long while.

She took in a breath of what she thought was fresh air to be denied that by the window, which stood in her way. Instinction kicked her claw forward in attempts to grasp what she wanted, but no matter how hard she imagined the middle man to disappear, it still existed to keep her grounded. She eventually forced her claw back to her side, balling it up with a slight sense of anger, and later dropping it as if letting free all her anger and sins.

Griselda looked at her leader and spoke, “Since the crime was committed in a pony district, we were lucky enough to avoid serious charges. They gave me the offer to work in a squad, and they were more than willing to clean out my record, and my brothers. As me, I didn’t want any of them making the same mistakes that I did and suffer the way I was, so I took the offer to help set my brother free. Yet, I am not getting paid, they aren’t making money, and I haven’t been able to talk to them since I joined. I don’t know what is going on or how they are surviving.”

For a second, Serus thought he heard the griffon whine for a moment, but she seems to be holding strong for something emotional.

“So, is that why you are still working, even though you say you don’t need to do anything? It’s to keep your family safe?”

“Pretty much,” Griselda only said. “I even fixed the mess we left behind.”

Becoming extremely confused, Serus sat and wondered what it was she was referring to. He eventually gave up for his head would let him think past questions.

“What mess?”

“The construction site. While you were unconscious and Aknow was crying her weak gut out over you, I went to the site and cleaned it up. I didn’t finish building it, but it is organized for when they get back to it.”

The two sat in the room alone, unsure what to do next. Serus was still baffled by what Griselda did by her; he thought what he did was well-worth effort, but Griselda was able to go beyond that. He wasn’t sure if somepony else helped her with the mess, but it didn’t matter since it was Griselda.

“But, why would you do something like that after you just told me you didn’t need to do anything?”

“Well,” she shifted for a moment finding the right words to use, “you could say it was the heat of the moment that made me say that. Why? I guess I was hoping they would eventually pay me if I did extra work, but it looks like I was wrong.”

Those were the last words she said before opening the door to a peeping grey pegasus, who stumbled her way in from the unexpected door opening.

Shining Armor wanted to think about it for a moment, taking in all of Serus’s reasoning, but when he checked his watch, his gave a grimace express. The stallion whipped his indigo hair as he checked his surroundings once more before taking a deep breath.

“Okay,” He eventually agreed after a seemingly hour wait. “I will get her paperwork updated, so she gets paid the respective amount for her family. I hope you know that if she messes this up, she will lose that privilege?”

“I am fully aware, and I will be sure she is as well, Sir.”

“Good, now I have to go because she is probably madder than she was twenty seconds ago.” In a quick haste, he left to go to a meeting, Serus thought. Unfortunately, the direction he rans said something different as the Captain trotted towards a large tree sitting in the middle of the town.

It did peak, Serus’s curiosity to wonder where exactly his Captain went that was so dire, but such personal matters were his own; also, there was somepony more important at the moment that the Royal Guard needed to talk to and understand: Zalis.