Who Dares Wins

It’s kind of odd, when I got up this morning, the sun hadn’t even rose yet, and the train still hadn’t arrived at Canterlot. Guess it goes to show just how much that bastard’s short-lived rule screwed up everything. In fact, when I got up, I saw outside the window a bridge that I had known had been there for years being reconstructed. On the bright side, less than half an hour after that we were arriving at Canterlot, and as soon as I got off, it took me a moment to recognize my home city. The city walls still stood, but almost all the buildings had been rebuilt, with the only building to rival the castle being the Parliament building. As I walked through the city, I saw the usual sights that were seen before, businesses, stands, and the like. But I also saw several new buildings that had labeled on them different titles: “Equestrian Department of the Sun and Moon”, “Equestrian Department of the Interior”, for example. The city seemed different, and at one point, much to my own embarrassment, I actually became lost. But, after getting some directions from a food vendor, I finally arrived at the Parliament building. It is a very interesting building to look at, it is large, yet it feels humbling, like those who work inside are not any more important than the ones outside. As I walked inside, I saw a variety of different ponies, some were in business attire, others looked like they worked on a farm. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, in fact, it slightly ticked me off to see the businessponies, who seemed just as surprised to see me. In the line of ponies, I saw a familiar face, Babs Seed, Apple Bloom’s cousin. She waved, and I waved back, but I was called over by a receptionist.

“Do you have an appointment with one of the legislators?” The receptionist asked, looking skeptical of my presence here.

“I’m Phalanx Spear, I received a letter yesterday that said I was supposed to come here from Ponyville for some briefing.” I told them, and they looked at a list.

“Phalanx Spear... Phalanx Spear...” They muttered, their hoof going down the sheet of paper. I would have rolled my eyes, but that would not have been a particularly appropriate gesture at the time. “Oh! You’re Corporal Phalanx Spear, the Parliament wasn’t expecting you this early!”

I nodded, resisting the urge to sarcastically say, “Uh huh, and?”

“Please, follow the guard to the hall.” The receptionist said, gesturing to a guard who had walked out of the door. I smiled a little as I recognized it as Harthan, a former fellow Royal Guard. He smiled as he gestured to follow him, and as the door shut, he looked over.

“How are you, Phalanx, I haven’t seen you for awhile.” He asked, seeming genuinely curious.

“Alright, I just wish I knew why I was called out here.” I replied, and he chuckled.

“It’s odd, I usually know what the Parliament is going to be doing each day, but they’ve been abnormally secretive about you.” He told me, and I looked at him.

“How so?” I asked.

“They have refused to even tell us guards what the briefing is about entirely, save that it is important.” He replied, and he stopped in front of a doorway. “But, I’m getting ahead of myself, go on in, they’re expecting you.”

I heeded his word, and went through the seemingly small doorway, which surprisingly led into a large chamber, filled with at least a hundred desks all facing towards the center, where I was. It made me feel a little on edge, and when a stallion spoke up, it served to only enhance the feeling. “Corporal Phalanx Spear?” The stallion asked.

“Yes.” I answered, trying not to immediately ask why I was here. Apple Bloom might have been able to get away with that, but I sure as hay wasn’t.

“Former Royal Guard, husband of Apple Bloom?” The stallion asked.

“Yes.” I replied once again, trying not to sound annoyed.

“Corporal Phalanx Spear, I suppose you are wondering why you were called here, am I correct?” A mare asked.

“That is correct.” I replied.

“Corporal Spear, as of April 19th, the Parliament has authorized the formation of the 103rd Royal Equestrian Company, code-named ‘Special Equestrian Service’.” A stallion informed me.

“With respect, how does this involve me? I retired from service six months ago.” I asked, wondering what they were thinking.

“Corporal Spear, this information is classified, and none of this briefing is to leave this room, barring your wife, whom we know can be trusted.” A stallion told me plainly. “The SES is a special task force that is being formed for covert and high-risk operations.”

“I thought that was the Royal Guard’s duty.” I said, starting to have an inkling of where they were headed with this.

“The Royal Guard has their hands full making sure all the departments, the castle, and this building are secure. This task force is being formed so we have a strike force that is able to be put into action at a moment’s notice.” A mare told me, on her desk there was a plaque that said “Surprise”.

“What we’re asking you to do, Corporal Spear, is to train and lead this task force, as your tactical capabilities have been quite clearly noted.” The first stallion said.

“I did retire, you realize. I do not wish to have any more involvement with the military. And besides, I am not leaving Ponyville to train a company in Canterlot.” I replied, getting annoyed, and I didn’t care that it was showing.

“Corporal Spear, first of all, the training is not going to take place in Canterlot. We are having it trained in Ponyville, as the secrecy of the force would be easily compromised in such a high-population area.” Surprise told me, taking her glasses off, I realized she looked like Pinkie Pie, except instead of a pink coat it was white, and her mane was a blonde. She also was a pegasus. “And Corporal Spear, as implied before, you are the prime candidate for this job, and from what we understand, you have been looking for something to do in Ponyville.”

I resisted scowling at her giving a logical argument, because the fact was, there was no reason not to do this. I would be out of the limelight, and I could help train some soldiers that it sounded like Equestria might need. “I also am twelve years of age.” I replied, and the first stallion smiled.

“That doesn’t matter, Corporal Spear, we believe you are fit for the task.” The stallion told me, “In addition, you will have access to anything you need, and will be sent dossiers of the SES candidates. Lastly, you will be promoted to Captain, for official purposes.”

As much as I wanted to say no, I knew that if I came back and told Apple Bloom what I was called here for, she would be saying I should have done the complete opposite and accepted the job. Because of that, I said the thing I didn’t want to say, “Fine, I’ll do it. I know a good location for the training grounds anyways.”

“And where might that be, pray tell?” Surprise asked.

“Lake Starpool, it’s near the Everfree Forest, and is in a relatively hidden location.” I informed them.

“Good, we’ll send you back with a team of engineers and supplies, the sooner we get this company trained the better.” Surprise responded. I looked at her, waiting for anything else. “That is all, Captain, you are dismissed.” She said, smiling.

Anyways, almost eerily fast, when I returned to the train station, there were a whole bunch of ponies waiting for me. “Captain Spear?” A stallion asked. I nodded, and got on the train. Before anything else, I have to remember to talk to Apple Bloom. She’s definitely going to be interested in this. See you tomorrow.