//------------------------------// // The Thestrals // Story: The Luna Shift // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// "The Thestrals" were the quasi-formal designation for the small group of bat-ponies that served in the Canterlot division of the E.U.P. Guard. Little was known of them, at least partly because of the general reclusiveness of the species. The upper ranks of the Guard said very little about them either to their subordinates or the general public, and all Princess Celestia ever said about them was that they existed for a reason and that they should be left alone. It didn't help the bat-pony "neighborhood" of Canterlot was built in the mountain itself instead of on the side of it, at the entrance to an abandoned mining complex that snaked into the mountain - the same one Cadance would later find herself trapped in. The general history of "The Thestrals" was sketchy at best. Although the bat-pony tribes joined the Equestrian union after its founding, they remained in their secluded cave colonies and were not inclined to mingle with any of the other pony races. Their first significant appearance in the history books was the foundation of a small squad within the early forms of the E.U.P. Guard, expressly created by Princess Luna to serve as her personal guards and chariot-pullers. After Luna turned into "Nightmare Moon" and was exiled, Celestia used them for similar purposes when she was about at night, but phased out that use after she moved her residence and the center of governance to Canterlot. Princess Celestia did not formally disband the squadron or bar bat-ponies from continued service opportunities however, and gradually the original concept morphed into a broader concept within the framework of the Royal Guard called "The Thestrals". Because membership of this group was closed to any that weren't bat-ponies, little was known about this group other than that they were very ceremonial and did "strange things", particularly around the times of the Summer Sun Celebration and Nightmare Night. A variety of labels were thrown at them, most of them unflattering and contemptuous, but all official attempts to suppress their activities were quickly blocked by Celestia for unclear reasons. As such, the other ponies of the Guard had learned to tolerate their presence, even if unflattering rumors about who they were and what they did ran rampant throughout the Guard ranks. In the days leading up to the Summer Sun Celebration, there were several cryptic messages passed about the night-shift of the Guard by this organization of "the year of prophecy" and that everypony "should be prepared for the consequences". These messages were generally shrugged off (or even laughed off) as simply "those crazy bat-ponies" overreacting to the millennial anniversary of Luna's exile, but after the prophesied events came true the previous general position of doubt rapidly began to change - one of the general topics of public discussion of recent days was about whether "The Thestrals" were as crazy as everypony assumed them to be. Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor and Princess Luna had yet to meet "The Thestrals" face-to-face, even though they were under Shining's authority now. Celestia had shuffled this group into Shining's new night-shift command during the reorganization following Luna's arrival in Canterlot, with Captain Gibraltar more-or-less recreating the original special-purpose squadron as a result. Shining had also been sent a stamped notice by "The Keeper of the Compact" - the title of the group's leader - telling that they were "anxious" to meet both himself and Princess Luna once Shining Armor had formally assumed command of the night shift. It was to this meeting Shining Armor and Luna were going to now... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Lieutenant Captain and Princess of the night were escorted by a pair of pegasi - less likely to draw unwanted attention than unicorns or earth ponies - to the agreed meeting place, a small building built over a natural cave in Canterlot's mountain rumored to be the meeting place of "The Thestrals". Instead of gleaming white stone, the building was constructed of darker materials and decorated according to a taste most ponies considered "macabre" - Princess Luna noted it seemed "oddly like" the quarters of her old guard force. Two bat pony stallions guarded the door into the building, black-colored pikes with extra spikes sticking out sideways from the main point crossed to bar the door. Shining Armor was intimidated ever so slightly by the piercing yellow eyes and dark purple armor, complete with blue cat's-eye jewel where the star normally was on regular armor, of the bat pony guards. A deep voice comes from one of the guards: "What business have you at the House of the Thestrals?" "We are Princess Luna, ruler of the night and sister to Princess Celestia, and we demand audience with the Keeper of the Compact!" Luna forcefully replies, using the "royal we" in her speech. "Whom else shall be entering with you, Your Highness?" the guard now asks. "The unicorn beside us - Shining Armor, Lieutenant Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, commanding officer of the night shift and brother of the bearer of the Element of Magic." Luna confidently answers, again using the "royal we" to refer to herself. "Proceed. The Keeper is waiting." the guard answers, him and his partner standing the pikes upright so that Shining Armor and Princess Luna can pass unimpeded. Shining Armor steps ahead of Luna and telekinetically pulls the door into the building open. Luna, appreciative of this courtesy, gives a nod and a tweak of a smile as she proceeds through the door. Shining follows her in behind her, and as soon as he is in the dimly-lit building the guards push the door closed behind them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It did not take long to adjust to the darkness inside, lit only by beams of moonlight coming from high slit windows in the front wall and torches spaced out to outline the walls. Very little could be clearly seen of the building's interior, but the sound of hooves could be heard echoing off the walls. "So the Princess of the Night arrives in the House of the Thestrals." speaks a deep baritone voice - similar to Big Macintosh's but gruffer. The speaker is not immediately visible. "Art thou the Keeper of the Compact?" Princess Luna asks. "Your Highness can see for yourself." the voice states. Mere moments later, a blue flame flares from a cauldron, causing Shining and Luna to wince at the sudden change of light levels. When their eyes adjust again, Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor and Princess Luna see bat ponies illuminated by the light of the blue flames, standing at attention and with bat wings flared open. Shining Armor counted about 18 bat ponies, most of them stallions in guard armor but also a few mares obviously more suited for "civilian" service - grooming and other close attendance jobs. All the stallions wear the two stacked bars of a Guard Upper Class. Directly in front of the flaming cauldron, his features in deep shadow except for eyes with bright red pupils, is another bat pony stallion wearing the star of a Guard Lieutenant. Since he is the only one with this insignia, Shining and Luna both immediately assume he is the leader of the group. He paces back and forth, the flaming cauldron between him and the two others observing. He speaks as he paces, in the same voice that had spoken in the darkness before: "I am Lieutenant Vesper, leader of the Thestrals and current Keeper of the Compact. For a thousand years this group, this organization called 'The Thestrals', has kept the compact made with Princess Celestia as she reigned alone over Equestria. It was foretold that in my generation the thousand years of exile would come to end and the Princess of the Night would return. And like Princess Celestia we held vigil that the one with the spark would save us all from night eternal." "Thou must mean Twilight Sparkle. The new holder of the Element of Magic." Luna states, as if trying to clarify what the bat pony Lieutenant was saying. "Indeed, in that filly our hopes were fulfilled as well as Princess Celestia's." Vesper continues, now standing directly facing Princess Luna and Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor. "For a thousand years we have maintained our compact with Princess Celestia through adversity and misunderstanding and mockery. The compact to keep alive the tales of the REAL Princess Luna. The tales of how the Princess of the Night used the Elements of Harmony with her sister to defend against all threats - against the agent of chaos, against the dark king of the north, against the demons locked away in Tartarus, and many more besides!" Vesper pauses for just a moment, tossing something into the flaming cauldron to change the flames from blue to red. The other bat ponies arrayed behind him salute, and then Vesper continues: "Our watching and waiting is now complete with your presence in this place, Princess Luna. We will serve you now in the way our ancestors did all those centuries ago." "And what of the Lieutenant Captain?" Princess Luna asks, pointing with a forehoof to Shining Armor. "Our loyalty is to him as well." Lieutenant Vesper answers. "Beloved of princesses, blood of heroes, he will not fall even though many seek this to happen. We have seen the dangers - envy, lust, pride - from an enemy within, and soon he will attack. We will stand by this brother of a heroine against all who conspire to take what he has earned." Unseen in the red firelight, Shining blushed ever so slightly - he wasn't 100% comfortable with being described the way he was. One of the things he said to those that praised him too highly was "Don't look for superheroes outside of comic books - all you'll find instead are ponies just like yourself." "All we ask is that we have opportunity to prove ourselves loyal servants and subjects - to be allowed to come out of the shadows we have been forced to hide in for the past thousand years." Vesper concludes. "Certainly, but do you have proof of your sincerity? How can we know we can trust what you say?" Lieutenant Shining Armor challenges. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Princess can read the Compact for herself." Vesper answers, again throwing something in the cauldron that removes the red color from the flames and causes them to assume a typical campfire-like appearance. He then turns around and commands the bat ponies arrayed behind him to split into two groups. When the bat ponies move aside, they turn to face the row that opened up in the middle, saluting again. At the end of the row is a gold-plated podium, on which is attached by chain an elaborately decorated book - both Shining and Luna can see small gems and gold leaf set in the front cover. "It's a good thing Twily never found out about this book!" Shining exclaims to himself as he and Princess Luna stare in wonderment down the row at the podium. "I invite the princess to browse the calligraphy of the Compact and see that it speaks the truth of the ancient events!" Vesper exclaims. Princess Luna looks over at Shining, who gives a shrug in response. Luna then slowly walks past both the cauldron and Vesper, Shining cautiously following behind her. The two walk down the row and Luna stops in front of the podium, which fortunately has a step up that allows her to read the book without having to stand on her hind legs due to her shorter height. Luna's horn glows with light blue magic, and the book's cover slowly opens. Shining only gazes indirectly at the scene, out of respect for what might be very sensitive material written inside the book. Nevertheless, he can see Luna giving slow nods as the pages are carefully turned by magic. Finally, Luna closes the book and gives her verdict: "It speaks truly, although only in the broadest sense - many details are incorrect. Nevertheless, it is enough to establish that we can trust thee." (As later revealed, the records of the book - apparently dictated by Celestia herself - were distorted versions of Celestia's and Luna's battles with old foes that Shining, his younger sister and his younger sister's friends would face themselves in the near future.) "Then what do you order, Your Highness?" Lieutenant Vesper asks, a question echoed by the other bat ponies arrayed within the building. "Do nothing to earn our distrust. Stand with the Lieutenant Captain in the battles yet to be fought. Help us." "We will do as Her Majesty Princess Luna dictates." the bat-pony assembly repeats as one voice. "Good. I will be issuing more specific assignments within the next few days." Shining Armor states. "In as far as Princess Celestia is comfortable, you may tell of the Compact to the Equestrian public. Your enemies aren't the fellow members of the Royal Guard, but prejudice, ignorance and apathy. Fight them, and you will be vindicated in the day of reckoning!" "Yes sir, Lieutenant Captain of the Night!" the assembly states again as one voice, all members saluting Shining Armor now. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was thus that the Thestrals, the bat-pony component of the Royal Guard, fulfilled their thousand-year promise to Princess Celestia. But their work was not finished, merely just beginning. With many forces arrayed against them and others who would stand to protect Princess Luna, a war within the Guard - the forces that would build Luna up against those that would tear her down - was ready to begin...