//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: My Little Pony: Lights and Shadows - Part I // by OmegaTale //------------------------------// Twilight continued to pace around the Map Table as Spike sat comfortably in his small throne. Tension was filling the room, and the princess’ anxiety was not helping it go away. Spike groaned and sat up, saying, “Will ya stop pacing already Twilight?” As if snapping her out from a trance, Twilight paused, and then walked to her throne beside him. “Sorry Spike, I guess this whole ordeal has me a bit on edge.” “Well isn’t that the understatement of the century.” Spike scoffed. “This is no laughing matter,” Twilight said, sounding a bit stressed. “I’ve never had to organize a guard detail before, and there were practically no books in the library that could help.” The small dragon looked over at her, an amused expression on his face. “Guard detail?” he chuckled. “It’s just one guard, and he was hoof picked by Princess Celestia, I’m sure he’ll know what he’s doing.” Twilight looked over at him and nodded. She closed her eyes, raised her hoof and took a deep breath. “You’re probably right Spike, it’s just….” “Hey Twilight!” a voice interrupted her. The two turned to see Rainbow Dash swing open the doors and trot inside, followed by Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. “We just heard the news, are your guards here yet?” Rainbow asked excitedly. “No, not yet.” Twilight replied, giving an apologetic nod to Spike. “He is supposed to arrive soon though.” Applejack’s eye brow lifted. “He? You mean only one is coming?” Twilight nodded. “Princess Celestia knows that I am not too fond of having multiple guards, so she picked one to do the job instead.” “What’s he like darling?” Rarity asked. “I’m not sure.” Twilight said, resting her hooves up on the table. “Celestia said he was one of the guards at my coronation, but I’ve never actually met him before.” Fluttershy trotted up beside her. “Are you alright Twilight, you look very distressed.” Twilight tried for a smile, but it didn’t last long. “I know Princess Celestia is looking out for us after what happened with Queen Chrysalis returning, but I’m just so nervous about having other ponies ready to give their lives for me.” “What are you talking about?” Rainbow asked. “Don’t you think you’ll feel better knowing somepony is always looking to protect you?” It took a moment for an answer to process. “I suppose it will a little.” Twilight replied. “Of course it will!” Rainbow exclaimed. Rarity walked to her throne and sat down. “But why are we waiting for him here? Shouldn’t we greet him at the train station?” “He isn’t coming by train, the princesses asked him to fly here so he could arrive faster.” Spike answered for her. “So he’s a pegasus!? Sweet!” Rainbow shouted with enthusiasm. “What in tarnation’s got you so excited Rainbow?” Applejack asked. Rainbow performed a quick flip in the air. “I’m hoping he’s got some crazy flying skills! If he was hoof picked by Celestia, it had to have been because he’s awesome!” Applejack rolled her eyes. “He’s coming here to be a royal guard RD, not race you and show you a few moves. How many times have you ever gotten a royal guard to move a hoof out of place when guarding the princesses?” Twilight looked around, asking, “Hey, where is Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy just sat down in her throne, and replied, “The moment we heard you were having guests she ran off to Sugarcube Corner to bake a cake for them.” A knock on the castle door momentarily silenced the throne room. “Oh that must be him!” Rainbow shouted, “Come on! Let’s go!” Rainbow zipped out of the room as the five ponies and small dragon followed her to the door. Twilight took another deep breath and then opened the door with her magic. The pegasus wore traditional Canterlot Royal Guard armor, with his helmet off and under his left hoof. Underneath the armor, his coat was dark gray and he had a fiery blue colored mane and tail. He had dark purple eyes like Twilight, and stood much like a guard would when on duty. “Hello there, welcome to Ponyville.” Twilight said politely. “You must be-” “Starfall!?” Rainbow interrupted Twilight. “Hey Rainbow,” the pegasus replied. “Long time no see.” Rainbow Dash flew down and gave Starfall a quick hug, leaving everypony else pretty confused. Rainbow turned to them and said, “Guys, this is Starfall Blitz! He was a guard posted at the Wonderbolt Academy while I was in training there.” “Well how do ya like that?” Applejack chuckled. “I reckon you two must’ve hit it off real well to recognize each other that fast.” Twilight stepped aside, raising her hoof in towards the hall. “Come on in and make yourself comfortable Starfall.” The ponies all trotted back into the castle with Twilight and her new guard at the center leading the way. They all made their way into the living area just down the hall and got comfortable on the couches and chairs. “So Starfall,” Twilight began. “Tell us a little about yourself.” “Yes Princess,” Starfall began. “You can just call me Twilight,” she stopped him. “I know you came here to be a royal guard, but I would like it so we become friends rather than just a princess and her guard.” Starfall was a bit surprised, but his bold expression softened at hearing that, as if he was relieved. “Oh, alright then.” He corrected himself. “Well, I was born and raised at Rainbow Falls. One year when I was still just a colt, I was finally able to meet Princess Celestia for the first time. Seeing her guards and the way they were ready to lay down their lives to protect her made me want to become one.” “Is that when you got your cutie mark?” Fluttershy asked. Starfall smiled. “Yes, yes it was. As soon as I was old enough, I left for Canterlot to become a royal guard.” “Well ain’t that nice.” Applejack added. Something came to Starfall’s attention, and he glanced around the room. “Excuse me Prin… I mean, Twilight. Is Starlight Glimmer here? I was told the Changeling Queen Chrysalis made a direct threat on her when last they met.” “She is currently out with her friend Trixie,” Twilight managed to say without twitching. “And should return before this evening.” Rarity eyed Starfall’s armor. “Pardon me, but aren’t you just dreadfully tired of wearing all of that metal all day long?” Starfall rolled his shoulder about. “It can get pretty tiring sometimes, but I promise it won’t affect how well I perform my tasks.” Twilight smiled, lifting her hoof a bit. “I can show you to your room if you want to take it off; you will have a new set of armor arriving in a few days from the Crystal Empire specially designed by Princess Cadence and my brother Shining Armor.” The pegasus looked to Twilight as if she were about to say she was joking. “Really? I can take it off? But Princess Celestia said-” “I told you Starfall,” Twilight stopped him again. “I want us to be friends, and if your armor is taxing on you to wear at all times, then you can take it off whenever you want.” A big smile covered Starfall’s face. “I would like that.” Twilight stood, “Then follow me, I’ll show you to your room.” Starfall and Twilight both stood and walked off into the hallway as everypony else chatted. “So tell us about him Rainbow,” Rarity prodded her. “You have obviously gotten to know him already.” “He’s pretty awesome if I do say so myself,” Rainbow chuckled, sitting back on the couch. “He’s not like other guards that just stare off into space; sometimes when he was off work he flew around with me and Spitfire just for fun.” “He certainly is more enjoyable to be around,” Fluttershy admitted. “Sometimes I find royal guards a little scary and intimidating, but he is just so polite.” The opposite door to the room burst open and Pinkie Pie jumped in holding a large, chocolate cake with tons of frosting and sprinkles, immediately singing. “Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! A fine welcome to you! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! I say how do you-” She stopped when she realized there were no guests in the room. “Shoot!” The room Twilight set up for Starfall was large and tidy, much like the other guest rooms. Only this one was closer to the stairwell leading to her own chambers, since Twilight knew he would likely want to be able to get to her quickly in case of an emergency. It had all the necessities to fulfill a living space, and it even had its own small balcony outside the window. Starfall was already feeling better knowing he could be more of himself rather than another silent guard, but seeing his own room being this big and nice….it made him feel important, which was a feeling he greatly appreciated. “Wow…” he said, looking all around as he walked into the room. “You are too kind Twilight, I get this entire chamber to myself?” Hearing such gratitude put Twilight at ease much more. “I know it seems like a bit much, but you are going to be my first royal guard after all.” Starfall turned around. “It is an honor to have been chosen for the task.” He assured her. “And if it helps you for me to be less like the guards of Canterlot, then I will try my best to do so.” “I appreciate that.” Twilight said with a smile. As Starfall began to remove his armor, Twilight got her first glimpse of his cutie mark. At first, she was going to compliment how nice it looked, but she stopped herself. After taking a moment to process it, she asked, “Starfall?” He stopped in the process of setting his hoof-guards down on a table and looked to her. “Your cutie mark, does it have….?” “The same star from yours?” he finished for her. “Yes, it does.” His cutie mark was a meteor that had a fiery blue trail coming off behind it, and where the meteor itself would be, was the same star from Twilight’s cutie mark, only it was purple instead. “Princess Celestia informed me on the day of your coronation in Canterlot. She told me that the day I got it was the day after you got yours, and that I was destined to protect you one day.” Twilight was at loss for words. This was more proof to her discovery that cutie marks were more than just symbols representing a pony’s talents, and that they sometimes intertwined destinies together. “And if it is my destiny to protect you, then I will not let you down.” Starfall promised. Just as he turned back to the table to set down his last hoof-guard, he trotted back over to her. “Shall we return to the others?” Upon returning to the living room, Starfall got his required “Welcome to Ponyville” song from Pinkie and they all had a slice of cake. As they sat, Starfall got to discussing with Twilight the parameters of his tasks in the castle when the door opened. Starlight Glimmer and Trixie came trotting inside. “I’m back Twilight.” Starlight said with a smile. “I see everypony is…” she stopped when she spotted the new pegasus. “Oh, hello.” “Starlight, this is Starfall Blitz. He has just arrived from Canterlot to be my first royal guard.” Twilight gestured her hoof to him. “He was also sent to be your guard as well.” Starlight was a little confused. “My guard?” she asked. “Come now Twilight, I don’t need a guard.” “I am afraid Princess Celestia believes you do.” Twilight replied. Before Starlight could protest, Starfall said, “I promise I won’t be a bother to you, my primary mandate is to protect Prin….I mean, Twilight.” There was still a bit of resistance in Starlight’s eyes, but she swallowed her argument for now. “Alright fine; I guess having a guard after the whole changeling ordeal isn’t so bad of an idea.” “Ahem…” Trixie said, forcing her way into the conversation. “The Great and Powerful Trixie would like to know when she will be receiving a royal guard as well. I was a vital part of that brave incursion into the Changeling Hive, and I am likely no less a target than Starlight.” Now before Twilight could protest, Starfall said, “If you will be staying in the castle, I imagine you will be just as safe as Twilight and-” “No, no, no, no-” Twilight tried interrupting him. “Excellent!” Trixie celebrated by lifting her hoof into the air. “Trixie will get unpacked immediately! Thank you ever so much, Princess Twilight.” She said with a wicked smile, earning an involuntary twitch from the princess’ eye. As Trixie trotted out to her wagon, Twilight turned her gaze to Starfall, who had just figured out that there was tension between the two. As it began to get late, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all went home. Rainbow Dash eventually returned home after making sure a race was scheduled for her and Starfall on the following day. Just as Fluttershy was getting ready to leave, Starfall trotted over to her. “It is rather dark outside, would you like me to accompany you home?” “Oh, that sounds wonderful.” Fluttershy replied as the two walked to the door. With Trixie and Spike having already gone to sleep, Twilight and Starlight sat in the library reading books. After a reading silence for a few minutes, Starlight spoke out. “So, how do you think this whole thing will go?” she asked. Twilight used her magic to put her book down as she sighed. “To be honest, I think it will work out. This morning I was certain this wasn’t going to work and that we don’t need a guard, but after meeting with him and hearing everything I have, I think we just might need him around more than we thought.” “He certainly does stand out from the usual royal guard type.” Starlight admitted, sitting her own book down. “But do you think maybe this position of his will just be temporary?” “I don’t think so,” Twilight said, sitting up. “Even when this whole threat from Queen Chrysalis passes by, I think I may grow to enjoy having him around. First and foremost, he is going to be our friend just as much he is our guard.” Starlight looked down at her book and sat back on the couch, lost in thought. Dusk settled over Ponyville as Fluttershy and Starfall walked on the east road to the edge of the Everfree Forest. “Have you ever been to Ponyville before?” Fluttershy asked him. “Just once,” Starfall replied reluctantly. “I didn’t stay long enough to enjoy myself though.” “Did you get the chance to see the town before coming to the castle?” Fluttershy asked, the two of them crossing the bridge leading along the forest. Starfall glanced at the dark forest for a moment before replying. “No,” he said, turning back to her. “Princess Celestia asked for me to be by Twilight’s side as quickly as possible, I flew straight to the castle from Canterlot.” Starfall had never met such a calm, quiet pegasus before. He had grown up alongside trouble-making pegusi, so it was nice to know one could be so kind. “Do you….think I made a good first impression?” Starfall asked in a somewhat unsteady voice. Fluttershy offered a smile, saying, “Oh most definitely, but you shouldn’t be too nervous.” The other pegasus looked to her with his head slightly stooped. “Was it that obvious?” “Oh, yes.” Fluttershy offered up some wisdom. “You know, before I met Twilight, I was shy and afraid almost all the time.” That made Starfall feel better. “She was nervous too you know?” “She….she was?” Starfall found it hard to believe; the alicorn who had saved Equestria so many times over, nervous like him. “But of course.” The cottage came in sight. “Twilight is still a pony like you and me. Whenever she is faced with a task she is unfamiliar with, it tests her confidence. Meeting you, her first royal guard, it made her just as nervous as you were, perhaps even more. Friendship is about working through hard times together, and between the two of you, I would say you having nothing to worry about.” Starfall turned and looked forward, he mind taking in this new perspective. He looked over at her, saying, “You know, I wish I would have had a friend like you growing up in Rainbow Falls.” Fluttershy blushed and giggled a little as they crossed the small bridge leading to her front door. “Thank you for walking me home, it was very nice of you.” “Anytime.” Starfall replied, opening the door for her. She walked inside and he closed the door behind her, taking flight back to the castle. A maelstrom of thoughts swirled about in Starfall’s head during his return flight. He had been so humbled, so happy, and so anxious by the chance to guard Princess Twilight that he never thought about what it must have been like for her. She had never had royal guards; she refused the offer twice before by Princess Celestia. It must have been difficult to accept the third proposal that was made. Starfall also wondered about Twilight’s friends; were they all this wise and understanding? He knew Rainbow well enough to know her loyalty was unquestionable, but he was genuinely looking forward to getting to know them all. He also had meant what he said; he wished he knew ponies like them when he grew up. Entering the castle after his flight back, Starfall found his way to the library, where Twilight and Starlight remained reading. Twilight looked up from her book and smiled. “Starlight and I tend to read a little before getting some sleep. We can work out the details of your position tomorrow, why don’t you get some sleep, you must be tired.” The pegasus looked around, and focused on the aisle beside him, grabbing out a book. “I think I’ll read for a bit, if that’s alright with you two.” Starlight lowered the book a little, giving him an impressed look. “Find a good spot then, night guard.” She chuckled. They all shared a laugh as Starfall sat down across from them.