//------------------------------// // Episode 3: Fresh Start of a Nightmare - Part One // Story: All is for my Princess // by Hoppa_21 //------------------------------// ~Episode 3: Fresh Start of a Nightmare~ “What do you mean the Princess can’t go to Canterlot?! This is an outrage!” I protested rather loudly at one of the stationed solar guards with which I started a conversation in order to get the Princess to a more safe location. However, things didn’t seem to go quite as planned. “It’s just like I said,” the generic guard droned on, seemingly not very interested in the very conversation he was holding or in the importance this had for the safety of the TRUE Princess, as he continued to sit leaned back on his chair behind his desk in the guards barracks of Ponyville, while reading newspaper to boot! “Political riots are going on in the Canterlot Noble Houses. Many quite loudly protest to give a being former known as Nightmare Moon any political power. Not to mention to let her live that close to them. Especially Prince Blueblood is a strong advocate as well as the leader of this movement and so she can’t go to Canterlot Castle until this is all sorted out.” I simply bared my fangs in rage at this display. The urge to pummel this insolent droning guard into the ground growing ever stronger. “When it really is like that we simply will have to live in the old castle in the Everfree!” I declared annoyed and the guard put the newspaper down and snorted condescendingly. “The Princess as well as you are confined to Ponyville. If you try to leave we will have to detain you both in a cell.” As if to emphasize this point he gripped the handle of his sword. My fur bristled at that and I was about to jump over the desk and directly at this throat at the threat against the Princess as well against the way she was treated by this scum that couldn’t hold his own against a hydra. I remember quite well that this big shot here was the first to fall against the beast. It makes one wonder how he got the command over the guard in this little town. But then again, all guards were equally incompetent. They could have pulled straws with the same result. Anyway, as I was about to pounce a hand on my withers made me halt my actions. I looked to the Princess who seemed equally unhappy by this as she shot the guard a small glare. “We see. We will take our leave then.” She then stood up to leave. Fluttershy, who was standing nearby followed her out too, looking rather sad at what had just transpired. I followed out too after giving the guard another short death glare. Things didn’t get better in the corridor that let us outside as some guards were openly glaring at us, while I simply fledged my teeth at them, making them step back as I took the lead to bring the Princess outside. It seemed that the guards weren’t all that happy that we had to save their collective plots. Well, at least most of them. There was this one guard that gave us an apologetic smile. The one the Princess saved as far as my nose can tell. Might be double agent material for later on if he can be whipped in shape. We then finally stepped out of the musty barracks as a fresh breeze rustled our coats. It was quite refreshing and helped to get us calmer once again. Well, at least a bit. “Art thou alright?” the Princess asked as we distanced ourselves from this disgrace that are the Ponyville Guard Barracks. “I’m fine,” I immediately replied, but the Princess cut me off as she walked directly into my path. “Fenrich. We can see thine aggression. Actually tis a matter that worries us greatly. Thou art not acting like this normally. Thou art far more level-headed. Doth the regression of power and age hath an effect on thine mind as well?” “I appreciate your concern my Princess, but I am quite well,” I said before shuddering and correcting myself, “Maybe a bit miffed at this insolent guards, as well as still feeling humiliated with this weak form, but this is nothing you need to concern yourself with. It is more important for you now to gain power again and with that,” I said as I presented my furry foreleg to her, “to drink my blood.” The princess licked her lips unconsciously but recoiled a second later and backed away. “I can’t! I made a promise to our sister to never drink blood again!” Yes, this was also a new issue that I found out. After Princess Luna got over telling me her new endeavors she also saw it a good opportunity to tell me how the Sun Witch locked a large part of her powers by prohibiting her to drink blood. The Princess of course promised it since my life was in danger back then at the castle then I lost consciousness. I guess I already had a feeling that today was going to look rather bleak after that revelation at the breakfast table. It would greatly impair plans as well as the Princesses future performances against threats, which I of course tried to point out to her at this very moment. “But Princess! How will you be able to protect yourself here or your people in the fu-“ but I was cut off by her. “NO! A promise is a promise! It cannot be undone! The fastest way to lose someone’s trust who is dear to thou is to break a promise!” “FOREVER!” screamed a pink blob that suddenly appeared behind us from a hedge, surprising us greatly. Fluttershy herself also let out a characteristic ‘eep’ as her muscles tense and she fell rather comically sideways. I again didn’t notice her which didn’t help my mood. But at least she was civilized enough to offer cat’s tongues as an apology gift. She did it so that there won’t be a ‘frowny FenFen’ as she put it. I took the gift regardless with a huff since she would only bother me if I didn’t. …And also since I needed some endorphins in my system right now. I mean if today continued like this I would need any non-impairing substance I can get, meaning alcohol was not an option as not to harm my performance and to protect the Princess from certain harm. Just let’s recap this days events for now, so that you might see why I might be a bit moody. I just found out that A: The Princess can’t go to Canterlot for protection, B: She was forbidden by her lovely sister to drink blood, weakening her greatly, and making her open for any further assassination attempts, C: Is confined and therefore forced to stay in Ponyville like a criminal, not to mention the towns rather small and incompetent guard. To say my mood was rather dampened despite the endorphin the cat’s tongues provided would be like saying water is wet, or that Sun Witch is a bitch. A cake-gorging one whose plot is too fat to pass through any normal doors, but only the ones provided in her castle. Yes, the castle belongs completely to Celestia even though the property a thousand years ago was Luna’s. She simply was cheated out of it after her banishment and treated like a death case, making Celestia inherit it. And even though her sister is back Luna won’t be seeing Celestia signing over her property back to her, neither will the law that would normally give her back this property find use since Celestia has immunity, meaning she could kill me on the open street without fearing any repercussions. The only reason she didn’t actually do it were her sister and the Element of Kindness. I’m ranting now, aren’t I? I guess the simple thought of this Sun Witch is driving me mad with rage. Not to mention the worry of how to protect the Princess if my options are so scarcely limited. Maybe this physically reversed ‘age’ is really having an effect on me? It doesn’t matter. Luckily I have a contingency plan for this. Two, to be honest, but one of said plans is involving a strange little item and could backfire, so I won’t hold my breath on it. Contingency plan number one will therefore first be used, before I actually try out this new item. “Anyway, I already have plans to improve on our situation Princess,” I started as she gave me a curious look, as well as a smile, “This plan being a meeting that might interest you.” “Oh? A meeting with whom?” she wondered. “Why spoil the surprise?” I asked mysteriously as I led the way. The Princess didn’t seem to mind the secrecy and came along, just as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. The walk to Whitetail Woods didn’t take long and went without much incident. At least if you didn’t count the frightened stares we received after our little demonstration of yesterday. It was still early, so there weren’t that many ponies on their way, making it not that much of a strain on the Princess as she tried her best to ignore it. I was confident however that the surprise might turn her mood, or like Pinkie would say: ‘Turn that frown upside down.’ As we reached the edge of Whitetail Woods I stopped, holding a paw up signaling the Princess of the ponies to wait for a moment as I opened my pocket dimension inventory and scooped through it. Once I found the item I needed I clicked on it and a ‘Red Phone’ appeared. I quickly dialed the number needed with my claws, before waiting. It was quickly answered by a female as well as casual voice. “Yeah?” “It’s time to move forward,” I simply said, and the voice answered back in understanding. “Understood,” she said before hanging up and I put the phone back into my inventory. After that instantly two forms shot out of the shadows landing swiftly, but rather softly on the ground before me and the Princess with a bow. Luna’s eyes quickly widened as she recognized them as thestrals. However, before she could take in any more the guard captain I assigned spoke up. “Hey there-“ she casually started to greet us as she lifted her head to meet us, only to interrupt herself as her cheeks suddenly puffed out as her whole body shook with mirth. Of course she didn’t manage to hold her composure as it broke only seconds later and she started to roll on the ground with boisterous laughter. ‘I don’t know why I expected anything other from her,’ I thought with a groan as her loud laughter continued to fill the air.