//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: To Guard Equestria // by BleepBloop2 //------------------------------// Celestia looked down at the sleeping form of Twilight Sparkle. Today was her first day as the Princess personal student, and while it wouldn’t start for another few hours, Celestia was very much looking forward to having a student again. It had been... it had been three hundred years since she last taught somepony personally. She hadn't realised it had been so long. But she wasn’t here to watch a filly sleep. No, she was here because she had a problem, and the source of that problem was also here. Twilight had been given the standard psychological entrance exam; an impossible task. And then she went ahead and did it. And then she kept on going and did even more impossible things. Not content with simply hatching a dragon egg, she had proceeded to summon something. And that ‘something’ was the source of her problem. It was glaring at her from the bed opposite Twilight’s. They had both been quarantined when she had realised what had happened. Twilight had accepted that, probably just happy she wasn’t being punished. But it hadn’t been as docile. It had fought against the guards trying to restrain it, injuring one badly enough to require treatment and gave another a black eye. She knew that was only because they hadn’t expected something so small or thin to attack armoured guards. But it was still a problem. It had attacked guards. It was obviously violent. But that was understandable. It had been ripped from its home only to find itself in a collapsing tower. It had even saved Twilight and the hatchling. She turned from Twilight and went over to it’s bed. She lifted the clipboard hanging from the end and raised it to eye level. No doctor had known what it was, but a few working together had managed to cobble together a hopefully decent assessment. As limited as their knowledge of it was, anything was useful. What they knew so far was that it is bipedal, likely of ape or monkey descent, and omnivorous. It was male, and was apparently young. There was a note saying it had panicked when they checked that. The notes also went on to say that it seemed to need clothing for warmth. It was also intelligent. At least, it had seemed to be speaking. It had apparently assigned names to the doctors checking it over. When it saw Twilight was down here as well, it seemed curious about her, and when she got up and walked about it had smiled. Or bared its teeth. A few more, shorter notes, detailing the injuries it had when admitted. Some burns, some bruises and two broken bones. One of them was an old break that had never quite healed right. A few old scars. It was also noted that it had been filthy and stank. It had insisted on cleaning itself, and seemed to know to avoid getting bandages wet. While it seemed happier to be clean, it had insisted on keeping the rags it had been wearing when it had arrived. There were a few more notes, but those seemed to mention things of little import. It couldn’t sit still for long, it was a little jumpy, it had watched everything going on around it. All understandable, given the situation. In fact, the only thing not understandable, was it. She could still sweep this under the rug. Have a few of the more trusted guards disappear it, tell everyone it must have been a temporary summon, and never mention it again. She placed the clipboard back where it belonged and looked at the thing in front of her. It looked back up at her. It glared at her. It had been almost a thousand years - nine hundred and eighty eight, to be precise - since somepony, or even something, had glared at her. And this, this colt, for want of a better word, had just arrived, had to know she was important from the way everypony bowed when she walked in the room. And he glared at her. It had been so very, very long since she had been seen as anything less than a goddess, as an ideal to be aspired to, but never reached. And this young thing glared up at her with it’s small, dark eyes, as if daring her to do it. No, she would not do that. It had been ripped from it’s home. She would not take it’s life from it as well. She would also have to stop referring to him as ‘it’. But what to do with it, with him? She usually gave her students an assistant of some kind, to help with the increased workload of both their normal studies and the extra ones she assigned. And, of course, to make sure they actually spoke to somepony other than her. She was going to assign the dragon hatchling, but it would be years before it was old enough to help. Yes, this would be better. She would have to figure out what to do about the dragon. Perhaps giver her two assistants? Or raise it in the castle? It would need thinking about. She turned her attention back to the thing in the bed. His face was inches from hers. Only a very long life kept her from flinching. How had he managed to sneak up on her? He should have been tied down! Then she saw the straps. They had been done up, he must have slipped out of them. He was standing on the bed, looking her dead in the eye. One of his arms moved slowly, reaching up to the side of her head. He stopped near her ethereal mane, the colours shimmering, as if blowing in a breeze that wasn’t there. Gently, very gently, he stroked her mane, his small hand barely touching her. After a single stroke, his hand dropped back to it’s side. “You’re real, aren’t you.” Celestia was too stunned to respond. Only twice in her life had she ever been as surprised as she was right now. It hadn’t sounded like a question, but the fact that he had spoken at all made that irrelevant. And she had understood it, but the doctors hadn’t. Eventually, he blinked, the first time she had seen him do so, and looked away. He turned and walked across the bed. When he reached the top, he lay down, curled up into a ball and began to quietly cry. Celestia left him to his tears. As the door closed behind her, she heard the clip-clop of little hooves on marble. A minute or so after they stopped, and so did the tears. A year later Princess Celestia looked over her desk at Prof. Sharp Quill, teacher at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. On the desk were two sets of report cards, one with the name ‘Twilight Sparkle’ written in Sharp Quill’s neat hornwriting’. Twilight’s report card was, quite honestly, perfect. Perfect grades, perfect attendance, perfect attitude, perfect behaviour. She had already started correcting the curriculum, something the professors had raised a hue and cry about at first, but stopped when Twilight begun apologizing profusely and crying. The other report card was... not as good. The name on it was ‘Michael’. His less than stellar grades were excusable, considering his circumstances. The fact he had passed at all was amazing. And his attendance was as perfect as it could be. His teachers had described him as quiet, willing to listen and happy to learn. But. There had been a problem, early in the year, with bullies. Apparently, some of the foals of the richer families had thought he was a pet of Twilight’s, and offered to buy him. The situation had ended with a pair of the foals requiring a visit to Canterlot General Hospital, where they received a total of twenty three stitches and a cast. According to one teaching assistant who had seen the start of it, the foals had started pressuring Twilight into selling her ‘pet’, when Michael snapped. To her credit, Twilight was horrified by the display. Celestia was horrified by the display. By the doctor’s estimates, Michael was at roughly the same stage in his life as colts Twilight’s age, and with his word that his species lived to around eighty or one hundred years, he was the same age as Twilight. The idea a child could do something so violent, and then act like nothing had happened shocked the Princess like little else could. It hadn’t ended there, of course. The families of the injured foals had begun trying to get Michael imprisoned, or banished, or banished and then imprisoned in the place he had been banished to. She honestly had no idea where the last one had come from. The foals themselves, while reluctant to confront Michael, had instead taken to spreading rumours about Twilight and him. The fact that Twilight had gone through her first heat shortly after the rumour began, and had been seen chasing Michael through the castle halls, hadn’t helped. The poor boy had barely managed to outrun her, and when he finally got away he had vanished for two weeks, coming back filthy, bruised and with an escort of guards. How he had managed to stay hidden was a mystery, considering that he was a head taller than most ponies, and looked like a thin, almost hairless Diamond Dog. There had been rumours of something that looked like him being seen around Little Griffonia, but nothing had ever come of it. Celestia looked up from the report cards when Sharp Quill cleared her throat. “Are you pleased, Your Majesty?” the professor asked. “Of course. Twilight’s is nothing short of amazing, and Michael’s is, well, understandable. What classes would you recommend they take next year?” “Well, Your Highness, Twilight could probably take them all, if she wanted to. So, it boils down to what she wants to do. I would recommend that she take less courses, and focus on them. The practical magic and magical theory courses, along with history and astronomy. Something to get her outside the classroom would be wonderful, but I doubt she would go for it,” she said, tapping her chin with a hoof. “Not that I mean anything by that, Princess,” she added, realising what she had said. “It is fine, Sharp Quill. Truth be told, I agree with you,” Celestia confided. “Twilight spends far too much time indoors. But we can discuss that later. What of Michael?” Sharp Quill tapped the relevant report card. “I don’t think his future is in academia, Your Highness. He is intelligent, and he can work hard, but I truly think he only does it for Twilight.” Celestia frowned slightly, thinking quickly. “The Guard, perhaps?” “I do not think that is wise,” Sharp Quill said. She spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. “Michael... does not like you. I don’t think he would do well in your Guard.” That would be troublesome. The Royal Guard were her strongest supporters, some of them being just shy of fanatical. “I could have him assigned to guard Twilight. If I make it known that will be his post, then the Captain will make sure he is treated the same as any other recruit. As much as possible, at least.” “That makes sense, Your Highness. I don’t think they would be happy separated either. So, with that in mind, magical theory would be a good idea, along with history. And perhaps physics, with practical applications in the later years. Does that sound good to you, Princess?” “It does, yes. It matches well with what the Guard Captains throughout the years have asked for in recruits,” Celestia said, thoughtfully. “Of course, there is still the chance he won’t go for it,” Sharp Quill pointed out. “I don’t think there is much chance of that.” Four years later “Form up!” Celestia watched the newest recruits train from her balcony. Her faithful student was next to her, looking between the railings, her eyes flicking between two figures below. One was a white unicorn with a mane that was three shades of blue. His cutie mark was a blue shield with a purple star in the centre, and he watched the new recruits with sharp eyes, ready to spot even the smallest mistake. The other was not a pony. He stood on two legs, head and shoulders above his fellow recruits, but despite this he was still thinner of limb and chest. He had pale skin, and his only hair was atop his head, a mess of dark brown. For the fifth time in twice as many minutes, Twilight asked her, “Are you sure he’ll be okay?” Celestia smiled at her students concern. “Yes, Twilight, I am sure. The most dangerous thing to happen in the first few months of training is sparring, and few of the recruits, if any, will know how to fight. Indeed, your friend may be the safest one down there; he knows how to fight ponies, they do not know how to fight him.” Twilight let out a sigh. “I’d be happier if he wasn’t doing any fighting at all.” The Princess and her student watched as the Captain of the Guard led the recruits through group exercises. There was the usual amount of stumbling and tripping over hooves as they learned what each command meant. Surprisingly, Michael took to this like a duck to water. Though, being bipedal, the various turns and maneuvers were somewhat easier for him than they were for quadrupeds like the ponies and griffons that made up the Guard. “Odds are that he won’t see any actual combat, Twilight. The last few decades have been remarkably peaceful. Quite possibly, the worst thing he will have to deal with will be annoyed nobles.” “Thats not too bad, I suppose,” the purple unicorn said. “I just wish he didn’t have to fight at all.” “I know, Twilight, and I understand. But this is his choice, so we have to support him.” “I know, Princess, and I will. But I barely see him now, and after training he’ll be sent away.” Celestia nodded, but said nothing. She lifted a wing and pulled Twilight into a hug. This next part would not be difficult. Twilight would not want a guard, to be sure, but Celestia was sure she wouldn’t mind if it was him. “Is there something you would like me to do about that, Twilight?” Celestia asked her. The little unicorn’s head shot up. “You could have him posted in Canterlot. I could see him everyday then.” “Like you see your brother everyday?” Twilight’s chagrined look told Celestia she was close. She had, at most, four years before everything had to be in place. It would make doing what she had to much easier if Twilight had a Guard nearby when she faced Her. Celestia pushed that train of thought from her mind. Time enough for that later. The other five were in place, in a town on the forest’s edge. No, focus. She looked down to see Twilight, deep in thought. Not an uncommon sight, to be sure, but it was usually directed at a book, not the sky. “He could guard me,” she said, quietly, at last. “And why would you need guarding? You are my student, yes, but if you have ever been in need of a guard, I have yet to hear of it.” She felt a touch of guilt as Twilight’s face dropped, but squashed it ruthlessly. “I, I could help you organise things?” Twilight half said, half asked. “I mean, I’m very good at organising, and I only two or three years left in my studies before I graduate. Maybe after that, I can help you.” Celestia allowed herself a small smile. Perfect. “I would like that very much, Twilight. For now, you keep your focus on your studies. I’m sure your brother will not object to you having a guard, at least. Especially not him.” Of course, Shining Armour already knew she was planning on having Michael guard Twilight. While he would be trained with Earth Ponies, he would have medical training beyond what most Guards received, as well as one or two other additional courses. The official line would be that his hands made such things more sanitary, or just made it possible, but the truth was the Guard Captain wanted the one guarding his sister to be as proficient as possible. Four years later Princess Celestia looked up from her desk when the door to her study opened. “You wanted to see me, Princess?” her faithful student asked. It was odd, but looking at her right now, Celestia could only just see the little filly she had taken on as her student. Oh, there were hints of her here and there, in the baby fat on the cheeks, in the curiosity in the eyes, but for the most part Twilight Sparkle had grown up. “I did, Twilight. As you know, in two days the Summer Sun Celebration is being held in Ponyville, a small town near the foot of Mount Canterlot. However, the pony I had going to make a final check has taken ill. I was hoping you would be willing to go in her stead.” “I’d be honoured, Princess. I’ll pack and leave right away!” Celestia turned and looked out the window. The sky was perfectly clear, the moon and stars shining with a gentle light. She turned back to Twilight. “It can wait until morning, I think. Everypony will be asleep now, so you would not be able to check on the preparations. Though you probably should pack now.” Twilight blushed at that, before bidding her a goodnight and leaving. The sight that warmed Celestia’s heart. Yes, her little student was all grown up. She just hoped it would be enough.