The White Tail

Walking out the front doors, Sparks looked at his lifelong friend and asked, “High Tower, why does it feel like you set that up?”

“I have noooo idea what you are talking about, Sparky.” He replied in a sing-song voice.

“Sure you don’t.  By the way, how did you get into the palace and get past all of the guards?”

High Tower couldn’t help but smile, and with a skip in his trot, he said, “Oh, it was easy; I just gave them cake!”

-Later in the castle at 6:58 pm-

“Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!” High Tower kept saying over and over as two lunar guards led both of them to Luna’s quarters.

He happily said, “The first thing I am going to do is give her a big ‘ol hug!”

“Yeah, that attitude definitely needs to be restrained…” thought Sparks.

The guards stopped at the bottom of the stairs to Luna’s tower as a butler greeted them with a nod.

“This way gentlecolts; her majesty is waiting.” The guards started to follow them but the butler added, “That will be all. Her majesty said that you two are welcome to have the night off.”

Both of the guards glanced at each other in confusion, but didn’t complain as Sparks and High Tower followed the butler up the stairs.

“So, what has Princess Luna been up to, mister…?” High Tower couldn’t help but ask as his curiosity overtook him.

“My name is Bond, Stars Bond.” He then added, “But you can just call me Bond.”

Sparks couldn’t help but feel like he heard the name before, but it didn’t matter now. As they continued to climb up the long-winded stairs, Luna was engrossed with her own hobby.

“Hmm, thou do not belong there.” Luna thought out loud as she moved a star that had somehow moved out of its place. “That’s better.” Luna smiled, staring at the night sky from her balcony, the stars formed in the shape of a rose.

There was a knock on her door. “Come in.” Luna said, not knowing what was about to happen, when a blur of red fur flew in and tackled her.

“HIGH TOWER, GET OFF HER THIS INSTANT!”

Luna had no idea what was going on, and the only thing that she realized was that a red smiling pegasus pony had tackled her. She also noticed that some other pony was standing near the door; who was he, the Dwarf Star Guard that she had requested?

The young Pegasus that had tackled her gave her a hug and kept repeating, “Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!”

She quickly used her magic try pry him off, and dangled him in front of her.

“DOST THOU NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF RESTRAINT?!?” Her Canterlot voice was in use now…oh dear.

“You’re on your own now friend.” Stars Bond said with a farewell and wisely made his way out of Luna’s quarters.

Face-hoofing Sparks could only say, “I am terribly sorry your Highness, but he has really wanted to meet you for a long time; he’s practically your biggest fan.”

Princess Luna stared at the smiling red Pegasus, despite the fact he was being held against his will in the air, but he didn’t care at this point.

“Our biggest…fan?” High Tower nodded very fast at this; Sparks could only hope that he wouldn’t tackle her again. “Well, that would explain the few things that had just happened, but please be sure to restrain yourself.”

High Tower nodded more slowly this time, disappointed that he could not hug her. She lowered him down to the floor and released him.

Recovering from the sudden burst, Luna looked over to Sparks and asked, “So thou the one from the Dwarf Star regiment, correct?”

Sparks cleared his throat and replied, “Yes your highness, although I am merely a private.”

“It dost not matter that ye are a mere green horn, from a regiment of that sort.” Sparks appreciated the compliment although not used to this kind of speaking. High Tower couldn’t stop himself from doing one more thing.

“Can I have your autograph?”

Luna looked back at hopeful red Pegasus, puzzled.

Shaking her head, she continued, “Anyway, what art thou names?”

“My name is Sparks, and your biggest fan over there is my good friend High Tower.”

Luna nodded, approving of these names, not that she needed to anyway, and asked, “So our sister has told ye that thou must listen to our orders, correct?”

“That is one hundred percent correct, your Highness.”

While the other two ponies were talking, High Tower had taken the opportunity to sneak behind Luna, but it was to no avail as he was picked up again.

“Do please restrain your friend…High Tower is it?”

“Oh my gosh, she said my name, she said my name Sparky!” High Tower was in a heavenly state of mind right now…that is until Luna finally gave him a stare. He stood at perfect attention right then and there as Sparks watched on in awe.

“That should hold him in place; so energetic!” Thought Luna. “Are ye two ready to take your first orders?” The two friends nodded in unison.

“Well, lend thy ears to us.” She walked over to a bookshelf near the balcony doors, where she was just adjusting the positions of her beautiful stars. Using her magic, she brought out a dusty book bearing a Pony and a Deer on the front.

“Your first order is to fetch a certain Pony for me…”

-Market Center of Celeston, twenty minutes after Luna’s predicament-

Seaponeh yawned a little bit, still a little tired from the coconut gathering, as he escorted Mayflower into the center of the market place carrying a bag with his cutie mark on it.

Nopony can never be too careful when in this place. The usual ruckus was underway but one thing nagged at him; he had not seen a single Lunar Guard walking around since last night.

“Hmmm… they must still be out hunting that creature.” Seaponeh thought to himself.

“Oh, Sea, look at this!” Mayflower pointed at an intricate necklace made out of purple seashells.

“Oh, so my shell necklace got your attention, eh sweetie?” asked the salesmare.

“Huh, she sells sea shells by the sea shore…” Seaponeh thought to himself, laughing at the coincidence of such things. Looking at the price, he prayed to both Celestia and Luna that she did not want it.

“Can you get this for me, Sea? My birthday’s coming up!” Seaponeh winced a little, making sure she didn’t notice. Silently asking Celestia and Luna why he had to pay thirty coins for a seashell necklace, he brought out the bits and paid for the necklace. After the old mare thanked them in and they had walked away, Mayflower quickly put on the expensively priced necklace, and Sea hoped it was worth it.

“Aw, doesn’t it look cute on me big brother~?”

“Adorable.” Was all Seaponeh could say.

“Be honest with me, does it look cute?” Seaponeh decided to stop and take a good look this time, if only to make her stop asking.

“Cuter than a wittle filly!” Seaponeh said with enthusiasm.

Mayflower giggled a little bit and asked, “Really? That’s all you had to…” she trailed off as they both suddenly heard an explosion from the opposite side of the market place.

Everypony froze in shock, but after a few seconds another explosion followed the first, sending everypony into action.

“Mayflower, RUN! NOW!”

Both of them began to run away, trying to get away as far as they could until an explosion shot up in front of them, engulfing three ponies in flames.

Mayflower screamed as the ponies were instantly turned into charred corpses.

“Sea! Help me!” Mayflower hugged up against him burying her face into his chest. Seaponeh looked around the market place and realized that nearly the entire area was in flames.

“Get on my back…we’re getting out of here.” Mayflower quickly jumped onto his back as the explosions continued, burning the unfortunate ones as they were engulfed in flames. They started to run to the closest building when laughter was heard from the market place.

Looking into the fire-covered market, Seaponeh saw an outline of a figure unknown to him. What freaked him out was that it was laughing at the death of others and the chaos that ensued from the explosions. He suspected that this was the individual responsible for the explosions. A glow emanated from the figure’s head, and a black streak shot out from it and killed five other ponies.

“Sweet Celestia…” Seaponeh quickly got into the building with the terrified Mayflower on his back. It was a wonder he wasn’t in a state of shock himself. There were a couple of terrified families huddling under some tables in the back. They all stared at him in fear as they ran inside.

“Everypony alright?” Seaponeh asked, and the families nodded, glad to be alive. “We’re under attack, we need to get out of here and call for help.”

The owner, a black stallion with a mild build, spoke up.

“There was a telegram but it’s destroyed along with the mail house.”

“Sea…” Mayflower muttered, still clinging to his back.

“Is there nothing else to use to call for help?”  Seaponeh asked, knowing that they needed to get help.

The owner hesitated and replied, “There is one over at Doctor Clover’s clinic, but that is across town, son; you won’t be able to make it!”

“Uncle Clover…” Seaponeh thought, he hoped the old stallion was alright.

“Then that’s where I am going.  Mayflower…” She looked over his shoulder, terrified but listening. “I need you to go with these families for me, ok?

”

She shook her head and quickly replied, “I’m not going anywhere without you! You know I can run fast!”

“That doesn’t mean anything now. Just do this for me please?” another explosion went off, making everyone freeze in fear.

“I’ll go with you.” a dark yellow stallion said as he got out from under one of the tables.

Smiling, Seaponeh looked at Mayflower and said, “See? We Celestonians don’t quit easily! Now, go with them and get our family out of here, I’ll meet with you later.”

Mayflower slowly but surely eased up, and jumped to the floor. Before she went with the families, Mayflower hugged Sea with all her might, and said with tears in her eyes, “Be careful, big bro!”

“You know I will be.”

“The back door leads to a dirt road; everypony can get out safely from there.” The owner mentioned.

“Well then,” said the yellow stallion as another explosion went off, “We should probably get going.”

With that they cautiously opened the door and stepped outside.

Seaponeh asked the stallion, “What’s your name?”

“The name is Gold.” the stallion added, “as in Golden Heart.  And you?”

“It’s Seaponeh.”

“…Seaponeh?”

“Long story…”

“Ah ok” Gold nodded, deciding to leave the subject alone.

“Well Gold, we better get to Doctor Clover’s clinic now, ready?”

Gold nodded. They quickly ran across the street as explosions went off in the distance.

“It must’ve moved ahead…” Seaponeh thought out loud. Looking at each other, they nodded and ran across to another building again, and they kept doing this until they hit the corner that the clinic was on.

“Sweet Luna…” said Gold as they approached the blackened building. The front door was completely destroyed, with the remains scattered along the main lobby. Seaponeh’s hairs instantly went up from seeing how slim the chances were that Uncle Clover had survived. Then suddenly, they heard a loud cough coming from somewhere within the Clinic.

“Uncle Clover; I’m coming!” Yelled Seaponeh as he darted inside, followed closely by Gold.

As they entered the clinic, Gold muttered, “Oh, Sweet Celestia, buck me sideways…”