//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: The Arrival (Well, almost) 
// Story: The Celestial Lands: Book 1 
// by LunarLife 
//------------------------------//

	Storm was quite shocked at the moment.  He didn't show it in front of the princess, but he was shocked.  He had never been intrusted with important missions, let alone one like this.  He was starting the conversion.  The Lunar Republic would rise, and he was starting it.  No, shocked wasn't the right word.  Apprehensive, he told himself, yeah, that was the word.  He was the only guard that was headed backwards, since Luna had called for all hands on deck, but he was excluded.  He needed to get prepared.  Luna had given him a huge bag of bits to start off with, along with giving him a small weekly allowence, until he got a job there.  He was going there to bring it to the Republic, but Luna had told him that he was to get situated there and become a familiar face in the crowd.  That would get more people to follow him.  Storm realized that he probably had a really smug look on his face, so he replaced it with a light smile.  Luna trusted him.

After a quick change of appearance, now that his armor was off, Storm packed his things.  He realized that he wouldn't be bringing much, since he had been in the guard from quite a young age.  It was the only place he had left, since his parents had abandoned him, and he never liked talking about it.  Luna had put an enchantment on his armor to shrink it so that it could fit in the bag, but it would return to normal once being pulled out.  They had thought about having him carry one of the new prototype "guns," but it had been disproved as they were too new to pony kind.  Storm finished packing his things and threw the saddle bag over his back.  The rest of his crew was finishing preparing, so he decided to brief them of his situation.  They all nodded in understanding and wished him luck.  He hoped he didn't need it.

The walk across Canterlot didn`t seem too long, at least to Storm it wasn't.  Most ponies were in there homes, so nopony could see Storm mumbling to himself about that good reason to start with Ponyville, maybe because it was small?  He shook it off as he neared the train station, where he purchased his ticket and got on the train, which was surprisingly well timed.
*****

Solarstreak quietly walked through the deserted streets of Canterlot, save the lunar guards here and there, trying not to be seen.  Surprisingly he had been able to slip past the guards at the front gate.  He had a brown duster on, with the hood covering his face, and a small knife tucked into it.  All the other solar guards had been asleep, so that wasn't a problem.  He was perhaps the only solar guard who knew of Luna's plans with her republic, and he had to get at least one answer.  He was lost in thought when he turned a corner and was caught off guard at a small squad of three lunar guards.  He quickly rounded back behind the corner and peeked out the side.  The guard that looked to head the group had turned to the other two.  He said something to them and pointed east.  The other two guards nodded and walked off.  Now was Solar's chance.  He tip-toed, as quietly as he could, towards the guard, who was looking the other way.  He slowly raised to his hind legs and quickly snatched the guard by his shoulder and head, pinning him against the wall.

"Wha- unhand me fool!" the guard said, clearly surprised.  Solar magically grasped the knife from under his duster and took a quick swipe at the stallion's forehoof.  He tried to reach for it but was pinned be Solar.

"Here's how this is gonna work:" Solar commanded, "I'm going to ask questions, and you're going to give me answers."  Solar held the tip of the knife in between the guard's eye, who gulped.  "Now, first things first, Luna is planning rebellion, correct?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Wrong."  Solar dug the blade into the guard's shoulder, pulling it to the side and letting the stream of blood flow out, while simultaneously removing his chest armor.  He was met with a cry of pain.  "Now, who was the pony Luna sent to Ponyville?"

"I know of no such thing."  Solar twisted the knife to its side and sliced the very end of his hoof off.  "Arghhh!  It was Stormlight!"

"Mhmm, and his rank?"

"He's a general.  There, that's all I know!"  Solar tilted his head back, and his hood fell off.

"Uh-oh, you've seen me.  We can't have anypony knowing who I am."  He smirked and the guard's eyes widened.  Solar flipped over the body to its back and the guard whimpered for a moment.  He grasped each of the guard's wings with his aura and started pulling.  The guard started to cry in pain, as he was immobile.  Solar kept pulling until he heard a sickening noise and both of the wings came apart from the guard's back, the bone still attached and covered in blood and pieces of muscle, and threw them aside.  He flipped the body back over and noticed the guard's eyes were covered in tears.  He grabbed its head and smashed it against the wall as he heard a crack and the guard's body went limp.  He then proceeded to dig the knife into the guard's chest and pull down, splitting the stomach, and pulled it back up.  He finished by impaling the knife into the guard's face and left it there as lakes of blood pooled around the guard's leaking body.  Solar got up and dusted himself as he pulled his hood back on, starting to make his way towards wherever he was going.