02 - Reporting In
Returning to base after a successful mission
"State your business!"
"None of yours," Green River snorted at the muscle bound Clydesdale of an Earth pony who guarded the front gate of the city.
"At ease, colts," Blue Shield spoke sternly as the stallions eyeballed each other defiantly. A flexing of his will forced the guard to face him and he reported in formal order. "Midnight Horns ... we are returning on crown business."
"Right," the guard snorted as his eyes looked challengingly along Blue Shield's worn armor. "You're out of regulation ... sergeant."_ _ The rank had been added almost like a curse word and it drew angry rumbles from the Tick-Tock twins.
"Field work is dirty business, corporal," Blue Shield spoke pointedly, reminding the gate guard of his lesser rank. "You would know that if you ever got away from garrison duty."
The great stallion gritted his teeth and faced off with the slightly smaller sergeant. Blue Shield was large by unicorn standards, but this muscle-bound brute was powerful enough to flatten him in a fair fight. Fortunately, this was the military ... and he would not allow this to degenerate into a common brawl.
"Corporal," he finally spoke in a bored tone, "I'm not interested in this tree watering contest. Either let us in, or go get the commander of the watch."
"Hmph," the earth pony guard snorted, "you're clear to pass."
The five unicorns passed through the gate and into the street beyond, but that was not the end of it.
"Buckin' ground pounder," Green River cursed once the guards were out of ear-shot.
"River," Blue Shield spoke sternly.
"Sergeant," River continued unabated, "that colt was downright insubordinate! Why did you put up with him?"
"For the same reason I put up with you," the squad leader explained. "Everypony has their place in Her Majesty's Queendom and it is not up to us to judge."
"But-"
"That's enough, corporal," Blue Shield said as the fatigue colored his words, "we've survived ... let it be."
Green River clenched his jaw but did not speak another word as they moved through the busy streets. Canterlot was bustling with the activity which the nation's capital always enjoyed. The five of them moved with the crowds and drew only an occasional curious look from those who chose to notice. Likely they only notice the fact that we're worn ... lacking the typical spit and polish of the garrison.
The squad used one of the side entrances to get into the castle-proper and then reported to the debriefing area where they would be expected to report. From there the squad let their rumps hit the stone while their sergeant sent a messenger to spread word of their return.
"Attention!" Blue Shield called out and his colts snapped straight. The unicorn which entered the briefing room was as white as the sergeant with a blue stripped mane that fell loosely out of regulation. The sergeant's eyes hardened at the captain's casual swagger but he saluted crisply as was proper. "Midnight Horns reporting as ordered, sir!"
"At-ease, sergeant," Captain Shining Armor spoke in a tone that said he was uncomfortable with Blue Shield's level of formality. "Report."
"Mission accomplished, sir," the sergeant spoke with a crisp but less enthusiastic level. The glow of green magic drew a startlingly brilliant crystal forth from the pouch which River had been wearing and it floated forward until the sergeant took it in his dark blue grip. "The Dragon's Eye has been liberated, sir. The previous owner was evaded. No casualties to report."
"Good," the captain nodded as he stared at the crystal for a moment. "The princess will be pleased."
Which one? The sergeant wondered without speaking. _The true princess we serve, the false princess you serve, or the frightening one who has returned from our nightmares to reign on high? _ "Yes, sir."
"Your squad has done a good job, sergeant," the captain said with a smile that was too brilliant. "You should get some R&R."
"As you say, sir," the sergeant responded.
"Yeah," the captain said uncomfortably. "Dismissed."
_Don't let me catch your meal ticket wearing my team's hard fought goods. _ "Sir," the sergeant said with a formal salute which his captain returned with a smirk that boiled the subordinate's blood. Shining Armor withdrew and the Midnight Horns returned to the barracks area where they had been bedding down for many months since their group was activated. As a unit the squad shed their armor and collapsed into heap of unsteady bodies who longed for food and rest.
"Survived another mission," Tick said with a weary smile.
"Time for some food," Green River spoke next.
"Or a bath," Tock added.
"Yes," Shade spoke quietly as he tossed open his hoof-locker and drew out a towel and some toiletries.
"Scrub down first," Blue Shield ordered, "eat second."
"Awe ... sergeant," Green River whined.
"That's not an order," Shield said with a smile, "just something you should do before a mare kicks you in the teeth."
"That only happened once!" River stated emphatically.
"And most ponies would have learned their lesson by now," Tock snorted.
"River is not most ponies," Tick snarked with a grin.
"You know it," River shot back smugly.
"Sergeant Blue Shield?" The words came from the still breaking voice of a trainee who had not yet taken his vows.
"Hey," Green River snorted, "no earth ponies in our bay!"
"Stow it, River," the sergeant shot sternly as his command tone returned to his body. He then moved over to where the colt stood with wide-eyed concern. "Report."
"The Princess wishes to speak with you, sir," the colt squeaked.
"Sergeant," River blustered.
"Sergeant," the colt corrected himself.
"Now?" Sergeant Blue Shield asked heavily.
"Yes, sir."
"Sergeant!" Green River spat irritably.
"Sergeant," the colt spoke with a flush.
The silence between them created a tension as Blue Shield took a deep breath and then refastened his straps with his magic. A series of clicks and snaps straightened his armor and the helm of his rank floated back into place. "Lead on cadet."
"Yes, sir ... er ... sergeant."
The walk through the halls of the castle was a somber affair in which neither spoke. The young colt obviously wanted to ask questions, get advice, and listen to old war stories, but Blue Shield was just too tired for such things. The mission had been an all-night affair and his muscles ached from the march out, the action at the mountain, and the march back. More than anything he wanted to strip bare, scrub himself raw, devour something hot, and then collapse into bed. But all of that would have to wait ... duty called.
Stairs carried the pair up into one of the many towers and the climb caused his already exhausted muscles to scream in further protest. The sergeant's fears were confirmed as they passed multiple rooms which could have been appropriate to brief any of the princesses. Around and around they circled, climbing all the way to the top before entering the observation tower.
"Here, sir-eh-geant," the young guide said as he corrected himself in mid breath. "The princess will meet you here!"
The colt fled before the sergeant could ask any questions and Sergeant Blue Shield let out a deep breath as he let his eyes fall upon the closed door. Several deep breaths allowed him a moment of rest as he fought the urge to sag. _If I relax now, I will not be able to tense back up again. Report now ... rest later. _ Shoulders squared, and he scrunched up his face to draw blood upward. Then, he relaxed and knocked one hoof upon the sturdy wood door.
"Enter," a voice on the other side spoke and the sergeant's blood went cold.
No ... no ... not her ... not ... The door opened when he hoofed the latch and he pushed it inward carefully. Inside, the tower was open to the sky and the beams of high-noon passed through stained glass to smear color into odd patterns on the floor. The formerly banished Nightmare Moon stood regally before him, hair flowing ethereally to one side yet still sparkling with the stars of the midnight sky. Celestia preserve me.
"Come in, sergeant," Princess Luna ordered and he obeyed. "It is ... a beautiful day," she said awkwardly.
"Yes, princess," Blue Shield spoke from where he knelt in submission.
"You may rise," Luna told him, and his eyes caught a glint of something shiny, surrounded by magic the color of midnight.
So similar to my own ... and yet ...
"Dost thou understand the power of yon crystal?" she spoke as her words slipped back into the accent of the ancient Canterlot Royalty.
"No, princess."
"The Dragon's Eye grants the masters of a realm the power to gaze upon any part of their territory with efficiency," the princess explained. "Dragon's know of intruders and royalty can watch our domains with a simple glance."
This will allow you to spy on your sister and her subjects, Blue Shield thought as he began calculating the odds of taking on Nightmare Moon.
"For days we have felt something wrong within our territory," Luna continued. "Now we have seen it ... and there is much to do before events unfold too far."
The glow of her magic lifted a dozen large stones out of the floor of the chamber and then more of her magic lifted several sizable pieces of furniture with the same effort which Blue Shield would have used to lift a towel to himself from across the room. The stones then settled solidly back into the floor and the furniture rested atop it. A round table with a crystal ball sat in its center and two plush chairs landed upon either side.
Blue Shield sat upon the offered chair, after the princess took her place across from him, and then he gazed at several rune stones which surrounded the larger sphere. Several of the stones had been retrieved by his team over the past several weeks and some of them appeared to have been collected by other teams. Of course, he thought as his mind clicked several bits of information into place, Midnight Horns sound like something she would adopt as her own. Just like the Shadow Bolts and the Dark Hooves are her creatures too. One squad from each race ... her black-ops teams ... and who knows what type of missions the others are doing for her.
"This piece completes the spell," Princess Luna continued, "and we hath already discovered a great danger from beyond the Everfree Forest." The darkness of her horn lit the crystal sphere and it danced with colors until clearing to show the forest floor. A gathering of huts appeared in her viewing and the odd assortments of foreign artifacts were scattered here and there.
"This danger hath taken much of our attention, but our sister is not yet convinced. Yet thine actions have granted new insight which can no longer be ignored. New precautions will be taken and this place shall be made safe. Thy actions have brought safety to thy home ..." the princess then hesitated as if trying to remember something important. When she spoke again, she had cut away from her thickening accent and managed to sound a little more modern in her speech. "I ... want you ... to travel to this location and investigate what happened to these villagers."
Of course you do, Blue Shield thought bitterly and he took a deep breath to steady himself before speaking. "As my princess commands ... but with all due respect ... my stallions have not slept or eaten in a day." That's it ... don't let her see weakness ... this is for the rest of the squad and not me. "They require rest if they are to retain their efficiency."
"Of course," the princess nodded. "We ... I shall still require some more time with this new knowledge to determine the best action. Take your rest, sergeant, but keep alert. We shall call thee before long."
"As my princess commands," Blue Shield spoke with a reverent bow that was as much sagging fatigue as it was humility. "Midnight Horns shall glide through the night at thy command."