(Prologue/Teaser) Duty Calls
An orange hue covered the sky signaling the days end across Equestria. Many royal guard ponies could be seen across the country side patrolling on orders of their superiors. Following the Crystal Empire’s reemergence into Equestria, more ponies were recruited to the royal guard to cover the extra ground now under the rule of the kingdom. The day was the beginning of winter for Equestria which would signal for the shifts of the guards to change. Two night guards who had never spoke before were headed to the office of assignments in the east wing of the castle. The first is a Pegasus that is a Lieutenant of the Night Guard whose name is Verdant Star. Verdant was a tall mare with long silver mane that flows unkempt to her shoulder lengths. Her coat was a deep dark green that seemed almost black in the right light. Her partner was a unicorn by the name of Shiver who was a rookie to the guard that joined in the last quarter of the regimen. She was always called by a singular name that went with her icy features. She had a long white mane that freely flew with the wind. Her coat was a frosty blue that shone in the moonlight. The two haven’t had any prior contact before now where they would get their first assignment as a team.
The assignment officer sat behind his desk at the Office of Assignment in the east wing of the castle awaiting his next appointment. He was focused on papers that had been strewn across his desk as he worked when he heard a voice call through the miniature speaker on the left side of his desk.
“Sir, we have two guards who need assignment.” A mares voice came through the box sounding raspy with a static sound signaling the end of her talking.
"Send them in.” The officer said back quickly pressing a button with his magic.
He began shuffling the papers into a neat stack until he heard the door handle wiggle which brought his attention front and center onto the two mares that stood in the door way. One he was familiar with as Lieutenant Star, a veteran of the Night Guard, but the other didn’t ring a bell. She seemed to have a timid look of fear on her face as she stood in the shadow of the lieutenant ready to back out at any moment.
“Good evening lieutenant, how may I help you?” the officer spoke quickly not breaking his stare from the two.
“Sir, here for assignment, sir.” Verdant spoke quickly and to the point as she was a mare of action, not words.
“I see, what about your shadow here?” The officer said nonchalantly as he gestured to left where the mystery mare stood.
Shiver shuffled in place with an awkward forced smile on her face. She moved forward no longer in the shadow of the lieutenant to her right.
“I’m Private Shiver, sir. I'm here for assignment.” Shiver said with obvious nervousness laced into her response.
“I see, well you two are in luck, an easy quadrant is still open, but that should be no problem. You two will be working together for this quarter. Your assignment is to monitor the night activity of the Crystal Mountains. There were reports we have been receiving of some voices being heard, but I think it’s all a bunch of crap. You two will report any findings directly to the commanding officer since this was an assignment marked with royal authority to be carried out. I have no clue why its royal business, but it is best not to argue with superiors. Are we understood ladies?”
“Yes sir.” They echoed to the officer whom had a smile on his face.
“Alright ladies, dismissed.” The officer said with a authoritative voice motioning with a hoof to the door.
Without a word the two proceeded out of the office of assignments and back into the grand halls of the castle. The clack of hooves echoed off of the pearly white marble floors of the east wing of the castle. Lieutenant Star was leading the way to the launch pad only stopping for moments at a time. Shiver on the other hand was looking left and right as she mindlessly followed her superior to the east gate. The halls walls were adorned with red velvet tapestries and murals of Celestia as well as other significant figures that she noticed from history. Shiver started to name the figures on the wall until they came to a corner in the hall. The figure in the paining before them was one she’s never seen.
“Please hold on a second, I’ve never seen this person in history before.” Shiver said turning to the tall Pegasus leading her about.
Without responding Verdant turned to see who Shiver was staring at before she responded. Verdant observed the detailed painting on the wall; it looked like a unicorn stallion in his young twenties who was sideways facing the audience of the painting. His mane was a frosty blue much like Shivers, his coat was bleach white with a tail that was a mix of his coat and mane; a frosty blue streak that ran down the stallions fluffy tail. His eyes were a deep grey with a serious demeanor depicted in the painting. Only one discerning feature was shown in his cutie mark that was an orb of energy with what seemed like a broken lock over it.
“I have no idea what his name is, but the plate for the painting says he was Luna’s first student.” Verdant said matter-of-factly.
“Oh well, he lived over a thousand years ago anyway.” Shiver responded with a giggle at what she said. “We better get a move on. We don’t want to be late for patrol on the first night.” Shiver said with a sigh following shortly after.
Verdant nodded in agreement and continued down the hall towards the gate with Shiver in tow. Before long the two night guards arrived at the jeweled outer gate of the east wing of the castle. They passed through the gate with a salute to the solar watch who were ending their last shifts of their quarters. The launch pad was in sight of the two after passing though the plated gold gates which caused the two to pick up their paces to a steady trot until they arrived. Every team consisted of a Unicorn and Pegasus for watch and the earth ponies were given stationary guard duty at the castle. The watch teams would have a carriage for the unicorn passenger to scan from as they flew by through their assigned areas. Verdant was hooked onto a carriage that was the same as all the others; white with gold trim signaling royal authority. The station jockey signaled for Shiver to step in and gave the ok to Verdant for launch into their segment of the nights run.
“All clear lieutenant!” the voice of the jockey rang as he shouted into Verdant’s ear earning a nasty look from her.
“I’m ready lieutenant Star!” Shiver squeaked to her partner who started to take off earning a quick shrill of excitement from the young unicorn.