Stride stays put, making him scarce or at the least, little now. He heard from outside the familiar sound of hooves on Marble floor. He takes note that it moves slowly, making sure not to make much sound, as its arrival was very secret, when in fact he and his visitor have known about this rendezvous for such a time.

Still, Stride could not help but feel his body stiff on his bed, his body tense and his breathing shallow, as if waiting for something to happen. Sure enough the door creaks slowly, but surely open. It wasn’t a very audible creak. If you listen closely, the door made a near silent squeak. As one of his doors open, his memory could not help but turn back to his time, with Moon and how they grew closer, his fellows and that unfortunate event that occurred while in training.

_____

Stride groans, the trumpets to awake them all was annoying, and his body now ached hard, the toll of sleeping on the floor. He lifts his stiff body up, bones cracking inside, as if getting back into place, but the pain still surged throughout his body. As he did so, their trainer, Corporal Plane Sight saw him on the floor. “Up and at them Soldier!” He shouted some at him but flinched when he saw that there was an occupant on his bed. The bat pony mare, moon groans awake as she looks to her side, seeing the trainer of their week and down, at Stride who was trying to get up.

“What is this?!” The Corporal shouted some as Stride got onto his hooves and so did Moon, yet both sported a blush, hearing the chuckles and snickers of both sides of recruits. “Did you two share a bed?!” Corporal said with a slight distaste about it as having relationships, in the start of training was a bad decision.

Stride, quickly took his stance, trying to forge the pain as the misunderstanding rendered Moon to blush and so did he. “No, Sir! I offered my bunk to Moon as there were not enough for all of us, sir!” Stride said, his voice toned confidently and with enough stiffness as the Corporal look at them both squinting. He could see that Stride was serious, Moon was somewhat Blushing but kept a solid stance herself. “Then why did you ponies not request an additional bunk?” He asked them both as he now saw the broken top bunk, the wiring missing from it.

It was then that Moon took her chance to respond, to try and quell their training officer. “Sir! I have made an outburst last night regarding this matter. We did not request such a thing as it was late, we were all reeling in from fatigue and we were stressed, sir!” She responded, her tone moving with emphasis and fluctuating responses. The Corporal snorted once as he relaxes some.

“Alright then. Soldiers, get your flanks outside now. All bat ponies, you all have the day to sleep as we allow you to switch between sleep and train at a daily interval.” He said as he marched his way out. Stride’s fellow trainees groan as they saw the smirks on the bat ponies, but he could not help but look at Moon. “You do know I could have answered him?” Stride said as he feels the ache in his body resurface, making his groan some.

“I know, but I really haven’t thanked you for letting me on your bunk…” Moon said while blushing as she heard how she said it, making her look away. “But know this, I’ll return the favor, in one form or the other.” She told him a toothy smile on her face as her white fangs show. Stride could not help but grin as he took his leave, seeing the bat ponies give him, ‘You lucky stallion!’ looks and gestures. He could not help but shake his head as he moves outside, the morning sun burning his eyes a bit as he and his fellow recruits were outside. And again, they were split up to train specifically on their strengths and their weaknesses.

Stride was an excellent trainee at that time and sure enough a big chunk of news came to them when the afternoon came. “A wedding?” “Really? At this time and age?” “Do you think it’s Princess Celestia?” “What? I heard it was one of us being married.” are the hush and the comments, many of them Royal Guards passing by as they send their own gossip about. Stride could not help but snicker to the idea they do this when mares do so on a daily basis.

The day moved nearly uneventful, until the official announcement was made. All the Royal guards and the current trainees were moved into the courtyard as up above a white unicorn with a dark blue mane with a sky blue streak stood, his armor, excluding his helmet, showing his rank. It was none other than Shining Armor, the newly promoted Captain of the Guard just Last week.

“All Royal Guards and trainees are to be vigilant and prepared for anything.” He spoke, his voice near booming as he kept his speech going. “We are warned of an imminent threat at the coming days, so I ask you all to stay alert and be ready.” He said and sure enough his horn glows a faint pink and a large surge of magic shot through. Many of the Guards watched as a barrier started to build itself and with it encasing the whole of Canterlot in a protective barrier.

Many of them were in awe, yes, even stride as magic of this kind of caliber required a massive reserve of magic and energy from a pony. They look on but return their gaze to the Captain as he resumes. “Until the situation has been averted, this barrier shall stay up, dismissed!” He said as he moves along inside the barrier. Again, the Guards were started to mumble and murmur about the events. Stride, being himself shrugs it off for a while as he sees the pinkish barrier shine strong.

He could hear from the others about this turn of events. “A wedding was planned and now this?” “Odds are it is related to the wedding, it’s too much of a coincidence…” and many more continued but they had their own training to do and the wrap up only made them more tense as it is. The day ended with more murmurs and gossip in their meal time but this did not really interest Stride anymore than needed. As he made his way to his bunk ready to get some shut eye, he saw that it was still occupied by a certain bat pony mare.

He could not help but sigh but flinch back up, seeing Moon open her eyes, her golden eyes, showing such a glow even to the lit room. “What was all that noise?” She said, a bit groggy. She perked up seeing Stride. “It was the Captain announcing very weird news about danger lurking nearby.” He said, sounding less impressed about the warning as it is. Moon nods some as she rises from her bed. “Well he sure woke me up with that fritz of magic casting… it was annoying…” She said as she got off the bunk and with it stretching herself.

As she did so, Stride had a very open view of her slender and very well proportioned plot… He gave himself a mental slap in the face as he close his eyes, sighs first and soon composes himself back with a snort, only to open his eyes to a slit golden yellow. He flinches and moves back, caught in surprise by the mare who smiles on. “Hehe, can’t believe you flinch so easily…” She mused as Corporal Plane sight enters. “Okay, Bat Ponies, outside, your trainer Shadow Step is going to give you your shortened training regiment.” He said and looks at Stride’s group. “Then rest, get some sleep…” He said as he leaves our sleeping quarters.

“Well, I’m going!” Moon said with a smile, a very wide smile, even as she went out, she kept looking back at Stride. Stride could not help but feel that she might have attached herself with him… But he shakes his head, removing those thoughts. “I don’t need this…” He told himself but his buddies kept snickering about the whole scene. Clearly, getting the only mare to notice you in their group was not left unnoticed. He groans and grumbles as he lies down and tries his best to sleep.

The following week was uneventful, training with and without the bat ponies, him and Moon sharing the bed, whether he gets on the floor or not, the bunk bed still not replaced, which Stride’s back complained constantly. But then little details seem to be appearing at odd intervals. This was not unnoticed by Stride as he looks to all the ponies, the guards that seem to constantly patrol the castle, the increase in perimeter guards and also the odd activities of their appointed Captain.

“Guys, have you heard, Shining Armors still having some annoying headaches.” Said one of his buddies and sure enough they chatted about until Corporal Plane Sight went and told them all to put a lock on their mouths. That can be done with a conjuring spell that he knows how to use greatly. Stride and the rest of their unit soon was back in training, nothing out of the ordinary, though the bat ponies had the day off, which was spent resting within the living quarters for the rest of the day.

They all continue to practice while they hear the wedding event from up above them. “Well, it sure is nice we get an after party-party.” Commented one of his friends, enticing a chuckle from them all as they were still trainees, but part of the Royal Guard who, unfortunately, had to protect the castle and Canterlot before they get to do anything. They were all busy with the training that they did not notice the increasing buzzing noise.

Their attention was soon taken as they heard gasps and screams from the city, and the blackening of the sky. “What in Celestia’s name?” Their Corporal said as they all look up. Their eyes went wide, their pupils surely shrunk as they saw the mass, the numbers of the danger that they did not notice until now. The barrier their Captain had conjured now shook violently as if it was actually fragile all this time. “Get your weapons now!!!” Corporal Plane Sight said as he dashed to the nearest weapon rack, spears were their most trained weapon but some short swords were around.

Stride made a dash to get a spear, handling it with his hooves. Many of the Royal Guards took their position; the Guards at the city were galloping back to the castle. It was strange, but many of them knew somepony in the castle was really the source of the problem, in fact, it was Shining Armor’s barrier, so it must mean, something bad was happening inside. They all knew it, and somehow, they all knew there was a fight coming.

The Barrier shook and shake, cracks forming, fragments falling as if the glass done of magic was weakening at a fast pace. The black forms, insects in their eyes, black all over, an empty blue of their eyes, some with green and a whole many of them had green torsos. But what greatly made them noticeable were the many holes on their legs. The Guards huddles together, keeping themselves in a defensive stance. Sure enough, the cracks grew too big, the holes continue to grow and sure enough, the barrier fell.

The mass of black insects bear down on them. The sound of buzzing was annoying to their ears. They came in swarms, flying buzzing and even landing. Many of the insects got down on their level; others were flying about, taking down many other guards who were not in formation. Stride, in all his life, felt himself fear, their numbers large, nearly large enough to cover Canterlot. “Steady!” The Corporal shouted for them as the other Royal Guards at distances were having their own problem.

A lot of them started to keep them safe but the most anyone can say was. “We should have gotten armor for this.” Which made them, the trainees, do a collective sigh which only fueled the insects to smile wider. As they did so, they can hear the panic outside the walls, the other guards moving about in their attempt to keep still. It was unsettling, very unsettling. Here they were huddled in a defensive circle, unicorns, horns glowing, Pegasi, wings flapping slowly but prepared as they fly up above their group and the Earth ponies, keeping to the ground, their strength an asset in the fight.

Before anyone can give themselves an order, the insects’ horns glow and within moments, they all changed within the circle of green flames and there stood a number of them looking like them. Gasping and not grasping the situation, the fakes took this moment to charge which caused their group to scatter in the confusion of who is who. Stride was no exception as he saw the many of his buddies shout grunt and even try bucking anyone. Spears were gone from their hooves from the initial push as they careened back.

Stride was bucking anything near him, his horn glowing a bright crimson as he fired his spell, intent on getting anypony, who ever. Sure he can hear many of his buddies and many of them were out of his sight. With grunts and heart pumping tire, he found himself at a door towards the castle. He moves inside closing it, and moving a chair to lock it temporarily. HE was taking deep and long breaths, taking himself some time to recover. That was when he notices the hallway.

“The Lunar Guard!!!” He shouted some as he quickly made his way to their sleeping quarters. “Everypony wake up!!!” He said as he moves to Moon as if she would listen to him. With a groan from the mare he shook her fast which made the mare angrier now. “What is it!?” She said as she hissed at him, her eyes sending daggers at him. But right now Stride cannot really pay that kind of attention to her. “Moon, I know I woke you up, but you need to wake the rest of the bat ponies!” He said.

“Why should I?” She said, her tone a mix of glad he’s talking to her and a mix of anger that he woke her up in a rush. “Changelings!” He said as he looks at the door, hearing the buzz moving about. “What? Them? Please they are just made up creatures to scare-” Before she could finish the door bursts open as a group of three changelings appeared. Stride, in his near panic and frustration hit all three with one blast. “Not just Foals but even grown Ponies!!!” He shouted as the rest of the bat ponies in the room awoke with the door being open, the buzzing noises and the fact that Stride was shouting.

Moon, in all her haste got to her feet. “All of you wake up!” She said, even growling at the rest of her kind as she moves to see in the corridor. What she saw was a mass of black insects flying in swarms outside from the door Stride came from. “We have Changelings! All of you get up I’ll wake the rest of them!” She said as she flapped her wings and flew out. Stride gallops after her, moving beside her. “I’ll take the west Wing! You take the East!” He shouted to her as he gallops. With the turn coming up, they soon split up.

It took them time, as Stride and Moon had to fend a few Changelings of their own, waking the rest of the Lunar Guard and the bat pony trainees. Sure that that was everypony; they all flew out, with one galloping out, to meet with the opposition. They all stare down at the mass of insects that were still moving and flying about. In the distance, screams of terror and fright still linger as the remainder of the Royal guard gather. Many wounded and others now being placed in cocoons that hang from the trees, the castle walls, all in plain sight to show what they are capable off.

With a growl from most of the Lunar Guard there was a sudden pause, the calm before the storm. The changelings were smiling as they found that even with reinforcements they can still win. But for Stride and the rest of the guards, they still had hope to outlast them so. Then, as if an invisible and mute horn, did the battle start. Both sides charged at one another. Stride galloping with the remainder of the Royal Guards as Pegasi and bat Ponies flew over them.

In a flash of the battle, there were hooves connecting to bodies, magic striking anyone, head rammed against many. It was a pile of battle as black met white and purple. The battle was quick to escalate as Stride did his best not to hit a fellow Guard. It was hard, there were changelings everywhere, it was surreal. He looked right, his hoof raised to hit a changeling in the face. He points his horn beside his friend, striking it down unconscious.

He was so busy with the fight that he was getting into the zone, as he wanted to say and that was when he heard her. He heard Moon shout in pain, distress. Somewhere, deep in Stride, something snapped. For the short time he had been with Moon, letting her sleep in his bunk bed, for the many times they both looked at each other, the many times they blush being called a couple, it finally made him realize something deep down in his heart. “Get away from her!!!” He said, in his tone of rage, his heart pounding with rage, blood boiling inside of him. He gallops, head lowered as he kept a barrier in front of him, turning it into a ramming weapon.

As he races through the mass of battle, he finally saw Moon down on her side, no other Guard near her as she looks desperately around, three changelings about ready to strike. The sight made him find strength through his anger as he plowed down one of the three, the second he took down with a hoof and the last he shot with his magic. He looks down at Moon, seeing her in tears as he lowers down to tend to her. “Are you hurt?” He said as he looks at her form.

She nods a bit and tries to move her one foreleg. “They bit me there…” She said with worry in her tone. “I can’t feel it…” She added. Her one statement made him angry but he stayed close to her, body trying to ease up with her, his heart pounding this time, not with adrenaline from battle, not from rage from the worry, but with calm, as he felt like there was a tinkle of hope raining down on his small form. He can feel the magic starting to light up, brighten up and even shine. “Everything will be fine. I’m here…” He said as he looks at her. She returns his answer with a smile and with a slight flinch.

The battle somewhat stopped as a building power moved and surged ready to burst. “What is that?” Moon asked to no one, but Stride can only stare up into the bright magical energy that was about to explode. “Some good news?” He joked half-heartedly as the power erupted, the wave cascading the whole area and with it, the changelings, screeching, screaming and even gasping as they were thrown with the magic acting like a power field, forcing them to careen over Canterlot and soon over the horizon.

As the power soon fades did the Royal Guards, both who were captured and those who were still in the battle field, and the Lunar guards cheered in victory though there was a sinking feeling of dread and negative in the area.
The day after the wedding of Princess Cadence, the Niece of Princess Celestia, and their own Captain Shining Armor, clean up was in order, repair work was done to the city and the castle. While many were still frightened about the whole ordeal, the Royal Guards are the ones who have been affected the most. In a miraculous turn of events, no one was killed from the ordeal, nor were there changeling husks anywhere.

The unfortunate thing about today was that many of the Canterlot populace had given negative responses to the actions of the Guard. Though many still say it was for safety to keep them, the Royal Guard was clearly humiliated from this ordeal. Shining Armor was not around to hear this but many of the Royal Guards, some Lunar Guards had resigned the moment the clean ups, the repairs and even the medical treatments were done.

This was a mighty blow to the Guard as evident to the many frowns there were. Regardless of those who left, many of the Lunar guards still find it proper to leave a last report concerning the whole event. The superiors, who were present still, with the exception of Shining Armor, saw that many of the reports described Stride and Moon. This got their attention immediately and the two were summoned for some questioning, but was postponed further due to Private Moon being injured.

In the infirmary, many of the guards have been released from their medical treatments, others resigning on the spot or after being treated. Stride, took his time visiting Moon. As it turned out, the changelings had fangs that really can match a bat pony’s. He kept a smile on his face as he trotted over to Moon, who was resting at her bed, leg inside a cast.

Stride could not help but stare into the mare. Sure they started off rough, his back in constant pain and his mind making second meanings with the many nicknames his buddies and the bat ponies in their quarters about them both. Strange enough, he could not help but smile about it. Moon was sleeping, silently and peacefully when Stride arrived. He looked at her, finding her form cute and beautiful against the rays of sunlight, in contrast to her deep violet coat and night blue mane.

He could not help but smile as he stares at her. His body relaxed and calmed, relieved even as he watches over her. The medical staff did not question him nor hinder him from visiting Moon as they heard the reports and rumor and saw the two fitting the descriptions, but then they also saw how cute they were together.

Stride looks one, his smile plastered into his face as he kept looking at Moon. His heart skipping a beat or two but he did not mind. “So… this is how it is…” He started to think to himself. “You fell in love with a bat pony… Wow, love, you sure are something and Random even.” He thought, chuckling lightly. “Who knew, the mare that I’d get to fall for is the one I offer my bunk to. Sounds cliché but worth it.” He ended as Moon started to stir. She groans a bit as he opens her golden yellow eyes, the slits of her eyes looking deeply into the orange stallion.

There was a pause, the air silent, no such breeze between them. There were so many things to say to one another but then, there was not much time. Stride kept smiling as he looks at her, until he speaks up, “Hey…” He said, acknowledging her. Moon could not help but smile back at him, looking softly at him. “Hey…” She said with a smile, a toothy grin on her face.

After the whole ordeal, nearly half the Guards were gone, many were of the Royal Guards, and some were the Lunar Guards themselves. Few of the trainees remain from all of this. The days past and surely, once Moon was out, they were called in to be questioned, not about being part of the coup or the fact of their insubordination but about something else. “Private Stride and Moon, you both have acted against your trainers and the command of a superior officer in the crisis that occurred days ago. You both have gone and disobeyed orders when the enemy arrived.” a stern looking Pegasi Pony said, Warrant Officer Wing Strike.

He looked at them both, seeing the looks of their faces, though stoic at the moment; still gave slight twitches and blinks from the two ponies. “Now, As a superior officer I must punish you both for such irresponsible behavior. But, I will not.” He continued, seeing the two give a wide eyed response before returning to normal. “Due to the reports of many of the Guards, at the least, the Lunar Guards, you both have shown up to wake up said guards in the dire need. For that, I shall skip your punishment and return you both with a promotion…” He said, his face not contorting to smile or frown as he gave his more neutral look to them both. The two ponies look at one another as they heard him…

____________

The door finally finished creaking, the sound, thought very much little, finished with the door clicking shut as the form, in the darkness, stood. He could not see who it was but then, the only indication from where he lay was the golden glowing eyes that shine in the darkness, against such little light.

The eyes shone brightly, showing concern, a softness of the heart, but deep down, there was a predatory look, a sharp and very lust-filled look. The sight made him shiver, as if the eyes can see past his mortal body and look right into his heart, knowing full well what he wanted. His heart was racing, his body mature and ready, as he looks at his visitor of the past nights.

That was then it started to move… her hooves clopping against the floor…

Author's Note

Another chapter, great. Well, seems no one is interested, might as well finish this for the sake of having something about a Lunar Guard and a Royal Guard.

Anyway, Anyone who does read, please leave a comment, whether positive or negative.
I also know I have a problem with tenses, so before anyone starts, I have Dyslexia..