MLP:FIM: Crystal Curse

When the monarchy was formed, the kingdom was still in its early stages. Upon frozen lands, bickering was constant between the three pony groups as they fought over who would lay claim to the vast expanse of lands we know to this very day. There were the land ponies: the most common throughout the realm and perhaps the most hardworking of all three, the pegasi: ponies with the natural ability to fly majestically through the skies as they searched high and low for their true calling and of course there was the unicorns: the most diplomatic of ponies yet even they could not resist the temptation of boasting about how the land was rightfully theirs.

After an encounter with the spirits of hatred, all three groups decided to live alongside one another in a balance of harmony and the kingdom of Equestria was formed. This became the basis for the celebration of Hearth Warming. However, there were some who did not support such a decision. Deep in the frozen north, there was an empire known as the Crystal Empire which was ruled by a vicious, unrelenting tyrant of a king by the name of King Sombra. This arrogant pitiless unicorn despised the others for their peaceful ways and so he wasted no time in trying to take control of this new kingdom.

Elsewhere, while not a threat until they invaded Canterlot during the wedding of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, the changelings led by their deviant queen: Chrysalis silently plotted their own takeover of the great realm and all those within. However, none of these fearsome foes could overcome the will of those who lived in Equestria and they were promptly defeated, King Sombra by the two rulers Celestia and Luna and Chrysalis by the combined efforts of the rulers, Cadance and Shining Armor and of course, the Mane Six.

Chrysalis and her army were sent flying into parts unknown while the Crystal Empire, as a consequence of King Sombra's defeat, promptly vanished leaving behind only ruins of its former self. However, all was not lost for the fallen lands. Rumors abound of others who escaped the fate of the empire by seeking asylum within the dark, dank depths of the EverFree forest, never to be heard from again... well, assuming the Empire does not re-appear unexpectedly.

Duskshy made his way to the castle gates, flanked by two of Celestia's royal guard. The two of them nodded to the captain as he walked through the gates, nodding back to them with a smile. As he left, the two guards wondered what a flower was doing resting in the captain's armor. "A flower, I wonder where he got that from?" Pondered one of them. "Beats me" Replied the other "Best guess is that he's brought it for you know who during the inspection this morning" he continued, and with that, the two had started to laugh hysterically until they realized what they just said. "Argh, the inspection!" cried the two in unison as they ran after the captain.

Around the castle, guard ponies and work ponies who had gained access to the castle for preparation were busy finishing final touches for the new year. as Dusk approached the throne room, he was greeted by the warm smiles of his fellow guard ponies under his command. "Captain Duskshy, you made it at last!" they cheered in unison. Dusk looked up at the smiles of his brothers in arms and smiled gently back. "Thank you gentle colts" replied Duskshy, "I hope i'm not late...". "of course not" Replied one of the guard ponies. "In fact you're actually quite early". Duskshy breathed a silent sigh of relief at the thought of actually being early.

As the clock struck eleven o'clock, the guardponies from all over Canterlot assembled within the main hall in each of the two groups alongside the recruits who had formed their own group as they would've had the corporal been there. Among the guards who had entered was Opal Beam. Opal walked alongside his group of Celestia's Guards and stood in front of them in his place as leader. Opal turned his head to see DuskShy at the front of his own group and nodded towards him. Dusk turned to see Opal nodding at him and nodded back, signifying that this was the time to move into the throne room.

"Squad, Squad..Shun!" cried both captains and the three groups quickly stood up, raising their heads up high proudly and assuredly. Both captains nodded to each other again and began another command.

"By the center, in column of route, quick MARCH!" they commanded in unison and without hesitation, the three groups marched behind their commanders with the recruit group following behind the two others as they followed them into the throne room. As they walked into the throne room, the captains turned left and right respectively of each other, allowing the recruits to squeeze into the gap that had been made when the others moved into the flanks of the room.

As marched, many guard ponies looked up to gaze at the finished throne room and noticed how well it had been decorated. The walls were lined with banners draped over them, each one beheld the face of either Princess Celestia or Luna proving just how benevolent the two really were. The roof had banners hanging from them as well, each one holding a different image of the different victories the kingdom had over its enemies and the floor was covered in carpets from corner to corner. On one side of the carpet had the insignia of Celestia's cutie mark while the other side had Luna's.

All three groups halted in front of the steps leading to the throne and re-formed themselves in accordance to which side had which cutie mark. In front of them, the two princesses sat atop the stairs discussing their own plans for the evening. All three groups stood there quietly as they did so, waiting for one more captain to appear. No sooner as they had finished forming ranks and rows did the doors of the throne room swing open and the commander in-chief appeared: Captain Shining Armor. Armor walked into the throne room and marched himself to the front of the squads and the back of the stairs and faced the princess who by that time had finished their discussion.

"Parade, to the front, SALUTE!!" Barked Shining Armor as Celestria and Luna approached them. All three groups put their right hooves to the front of their foreheads except for Captain Duskshy who had placed his at his right temple. After three seconds had passed, the three groups finished their salute and stood back to attention. Celestria and Luna looked at each other in pride of their subjects before them before looking back at the squads and nodding at Shining Armor who nodded back and marched to the back of the throne room while the princesses began their inspection. As Princess Luna passed her squad of guard ponies, she smiled towards Duskshy and he smiled back.

"Hello Captain, How are you today?" asked Luna to Dusk as he removed his smile. "I am fine, your majesty... as always" replied Dusk. "That is good to hear Captain, however I feel like you try too hard to be a good role model, relax a bit, you'll feel better I assure you" Luna continued. Dusk nodded in reply. "Thank you, your majesty but my role here is to make sure that all safe within these walls, I cannot compromise my job here". Luna giggled at his response and smiled even greatly. "Oh Captain, always looking out for my safety but you must promise me that you will go easy this year... pretty please?" She pleaded gently.

"Well... oh alright, just for you your majesty" Dusk promised and nodded to her in agreement. "Thank you Captain, now if you don't mi... oh, what is this?" Luna asked pointing her hoof at the flower nestled in Duskshy's armor. Dusk looked down at his flower and smiled. "This, your majesty? why uh I brought it for you, I hope you don't mind" he replied. "Oh captain it's just lovely, thank you" Luna mused as she took the flower from him and placed it in her mane. The princess, without warning, kissed DuskShy on the cheek and he bowed his head in embarrassment blushing all the while. "Now as I was saying, I'll just continue with the inspection" said Luna.

The inspection had lasted an hour before the princesses had finished with the squads and they walked back to the throne nodding to Shining Armor who nodded back to them, signifying that the inspection had ended. Shining Armor walked back to the front of the squads and nodded to the captains who nodded back to him and they in turn turned to their squads and the recruits and nodded to them and they of course nodded back. "Parade, officer on parade, DISMISS!!" barked Shining Armour and the two captains in perfect unison as they had practiced.

And with that all the guardponies in the room saluted and left in an orderly fashion. Soon the throne room became almost empty save for the two princesses and Shining Armor. The main hall however became packed with all the guardponies and the recruits and they all discussed with perfect silence the plans for tonight's celebration. Duskshy left his group and went to find Opal who had just left his group. Both immediately found each other and hugged each other in pride. "We did it, we survived yet another inspection, how cool is that!" laughed Opal to Dusk. "I know, I thought I would never survive in there, if only it weren't for the..." Dusk began "The flower, yeah I saw that too... nice going lover colt" replied Opal.

Dusk widened his eyes at the joke and began to laugh as well. It was no secret that Duskshy had a crush on the princess he was supposed to protect and he knew that everypony in Canterlot knew. The two captains turned to leave the main hall when the doors of the throne room swung open once again and Shining Armor appeared and motioned for the two captains to follow him back into the throne room when he spotted them. Both captains nodded to each other and followed him in. Both princesses awaited patiently in the middle of the throne room for the two captains as they walked in. Both captains bowed in front of them and saluted as they held their heads back up.

"I have brought them as you have ordered" acknowledged Shining Armor. Both princesses nodded gently and motioned for him to leave them. Shining Armor nodded back and without another word, he left the throne room. The captains were alone with the princesses and they stood there waiting for the princesses to speak. "Now as you know, the new year brings about change in many of us" began Celestia. "As for Canterlot, we expect for there to be a lot happening over the next couple of weeks or so" continued Luna. "And as such we expect greater deeds from the pair of you".

Both captains looked at each other and nodded in agreement. "However, due to your continued acts of loyalty, we have decided that in order to relieve the stress of the new year, we are giving you a holiday" Celestia announced to them. Almost immediately, both captains widened their eyes at the revelation and they could not hold back a smile any longer. Both captains immediately started to jump for joy at the news that they were finally getting a week off to take a well earned rest.

"For your holiday..." began Luna as soon as the captains had calmed down. "We are sending you to ponyville for a week to make new friends and to generally enjoy yourselves" she continued "However..." Began Celestia.

"We would very much like to ask you a big favor, we would like you to visit a student of mine... the only student of mine: Twilight Sparkle and check that she is doing her studies, can we trust you to do this for me?" implored Celestia. Both captains looked at each other again and nodded calmly in agreement. "Perfect, we would like you to prepare for travel for this afternoon, you can leave as soon as you're ready" continued Luna. Both captains nodded yet again and promptly without a word as well, they left the throne room. Both princesses breathed a sigh of relief as the captains left the room and began to discuss their next course of action.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do my sister, they are barely ready for this sort of test" mused Luna to her sister. Celestia nodded in agreement but had shaken her head at the same time. "I know little one but they must learn that fate has this in mind, this will surely decide the fate of all of Equestria and perhaps... those of a different kingdom" replied Celestia. Luna's eyes widened as she realized just what she was suggesting. "But big sister, you don't mean...?" Luna began. Celestia nodded twice. "I'm afraid so, we must abide our time until they have completed their task... our new heroes of the realm...".