MLP:FIM: Crystal Curse

A year had passed since Nightmare Moon had been defeated and peace was brought back to the serene lands of Equestria. However, with a year passed and the next one fast approaching, it would be understandable for there to be a mad rush to prepare for the new year. Down in the village, the residents were making preparations for celebrations to be held in the honor of their benevolent rulers: Celestia and Luna. Meanwhile, up in Canterlot, there was an even madder rush to prepare for a separate celebration to be held by the residents there. It was a magnificent, sunny day without a cloud to be seen (thanks to the pegasi of cloudsdale), the sun shone on the land with a tenacious ferocity making sure its rays were felt by everypony and everything around and the sky glowed a magnificent light blue color.

As the sun shone, the guard-ponies busied themselves with every task that has been lain before them to make sure the celebrations were near perfect, neither Luna's honor guard nor Celestia's talked to one another as they were too busy to take notice of them and they all got on with their main duties... all except one. Down in Canterlot's town center lain a guard-pony who was still asleep amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle of the others guard-ponies. This one in particular continued to sleep despite the amount of noise and chatter around him and did not stir even as the noise grew louder. The sun shone down on his jet black skin and warmed it as he tossed and turned on the floor close to the town square fountain.

As he slept, another guard-pony named Opal Beam had appeared next to him and tried to stir the content guard-pony from his sleep. "Captain, captain Duskshy, wake up sleepy head its time to prepare for the celebrations" breathed Opal as he nudged his friend. Dusk still did not stir from his sleep and just simply turned away leaving Opal flustered at his ignorance "Oh my various ponies... WAKE UP!!". Duskshy jumped and woke up. He turned to face Opal and blinked once... before promptly falling back to sleep. "Oh for Celestia's sake" asserted the now angered white pearl Pegasus. Turning to leave his friend to sleep he noticed the fountain full to the brim with crystal clear water and that had given him an idea.

"You there" pointed Opal to one of the guard-ponies sweeping the alleyways of the town. One of them had perked his head up to see Opal and responded by saluting with his hand to the side of his head. "Yes captain, what can I do for you" inquired the now still guard-pony. "At ease soldier, now listen, can you do me a small favor?" replied Captain Opal. "I would like you to do some heavy lifting for me uh with my help of course" continued Opal. The guard-pony turned to see Duskshy who was still sleeping despite encouragement from Opal, turned back to Opal and nodded gently.

The two of them walked up to where Dusk was sleeping so contently and held him up over their heads and even then he did not stir. "Alright soldier, on the count of three, we are going to throw our sleeping beauty into the fountain" whispered Opal. The guard-pony with him raised his eyes in shock. "But captain..." began the now deeply disturbed guard-pony. "One..." began Opal. At one both guard-ponies started to swing Dusk's body towards the fountain. "Maybe there is another way" continued the other guard-pony "Two..." by two the swinging was getting faster and harder pushing Dusk's body towards the coolness of the fountain's water.

"THREE!!" shouted Opal as they both let go of the poor captain's body into the fountain "But we still have the inspection this morning!!" bellowed the guard-pony who was now in a state of shock of what he just did. "Oh, I forgot about that" laughed Opal as Dusk fell into the fountain. Water rushed down the captain's body as he was consumed by the rush of water. His reaction was instantaneous as he leaped out of the fountain and landed head first on the floor of the street. He was now shivering from the cold water that is now all over him and turned to face Opal who was laughing hysterically at his misfortune and the guard-pony who was now in tears and visibly shaking.

"Don't do that again!!" barked Duskshy in the loudest voice he could which was only a small whisper. Opal could not hear him over the hardness of his laughter as he tried to pick and compose himself. By then all the other guard-ponies in the streets along with the residents had burst into laughter as well. Dusk looked all around and bowed his head in embarrassment, his cheeks had shone a rosy pink and his dark blue tail was between his legs as he tried to cope with all the laughter. Opal turned to look at the other ponies in the town "Alright everyone, back to work, nothing to see here" commanded Opal and turned back round to his friend who was still shaking in water.

"Now then, its about time you woke up, you do realize what day it is don't you? questioned Opal. Dusk sat on his hindquarters and stroked his chin with one hoof in thought. He realized what day it was and stood back, his eyes widening as he spoke "Happy New Year" replied Dusk to Opal. "Let's see, from the looks of it, we are getting ready for celebrations tonight and... oh we have an inspection don't we?" wondered Dusk. "That's right" answered Captain Opal and promptly turned to walk nonchalantly away from Dusk "If I were you, I'd hurry because it won't be long before we do have to go for our inspection so hurry up" mused Opal and he promptly hurried back to the castle to get ready.

Dusk walked over to the guard-pony who had helped his friend throw him in the fountain and noticed he was still crying hysterically at the thought of such a barbaric act he performed. "Please don't punish me, I was just following orders, oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, I swear, I didn't mean it" cried the despairing guard-pony. Dusk looked at him, smiled gently and put one hoof on the guard-pony's shoulder "There, there" started Duskshy "That was very brave and uh kind of you to wake me up on such a glorious day and especially since we have an inspection this morning" continued Dusk. The guard-pony stopped crying and looked up at the Captain in disbelief "h,huh?" he asked softly.

Dusk turned to leave the guard-pony when he had remembered something else. "Oh, and uh in the future if I am asleep and do not want to be disturbed unless its something really important..." he began, by then he was only a couple of seconds away before turning back to the bewildered guard-pony and putting his face close to the other's "You don't throw me in a fountain full of cold water or anything else stupid!!" Dusk screamed, his voice grew unusually loud even for him his face had grown darker and his eyes were set alight in a cartoonish fashion. Tears welled in the unfortunate guard-pony's eyes again and he started to cry even louder than before prompting other ponies to stare in fear.

Dusk turned away from him and walked off through the town leaving the entire town center in a state of silence while the other guard-pony continued to cry leaving others to console him.