"... We also need those clash records Spike, not to mention the progress that the each faction is making in their desired crucible ranks, their weapon registration, control tactics..." Shining Armor kept rambling on about the different chores I needed to report about. I really wish I didn't have to run it all, but some pony had to do it. So why not a dragon. "Are you listening to me?" Shining asked.
"Yes, Shiny, I'm listening..." I answered.
"Don't call me that," Shining snapped, I guess he didn't like that. He continued to look through the pages, shooting looks at me occasionally.
"Yes?" I asked. But all I got from him was ignored. Typical.
"General has that lovers yearning sickness," Commander Spitfire stated, "He's a real piece of work when he's like this." Spitfire covered her mouth with her hoof, pretending that she secretly talking to me.
"Mind your own business," Shining said in a harsh tone.
"Cause you certainly mind everyone else's..." Shining seemed to bite his tongue at that statement. I think he was about to retort but stopped at the sight of Spitfire pouring over a map with focused eyes. But I knew she wasn't doing anything of the sort. She only pretended to look busy. She never wanted to be a vanguard. However, she accepted the position because she was used to leadership, and didn't want some other inexperienced hunter telling her what to do. It made me laugh sometimes.
"The faction's Lord Spike," Zecora addressed me, "Do they all cooperate, or retaliate one with another?"
That question was something I'd been wondering myself as of late. Sure, the future war cult, new monarchy, and dead orbit have always had their differences and rivalries. But when considering the concordant...
"It's nothing I can't handle," I told her, picking up the paperwork Shining had assigned me and began to take my leave. Before Shining called out to me one last time.
"Spike, we need to know if there's something up." Shining seemed to have sincerity in his voice. It took me by surprise a little. It was nice to hear that. But one look around the room and I could tell they all knew I was unnerved by something. But it shouldn't be a concern of theirs.
"I'm having new monarchy help me, don't worry," I saw Spitfire look back to her map, Zecora back to her books, and Shining nodded to me. He trusted me. And I was grateful for that. As the vanguard doors shut behind me, I spotted a group of guardians gearing up at the end of the hall. I set my paperwork on the coffee table behind my desk and walked over to greet them. All five addressed me with a salute, and I raised my claw to relax them. "At ease, guardians. What's the mission?"
"Anual patrol of the Hellmouth Lord Spike," Roseluck said proudly, speaking for her other guardians Lyra, Bonbon, Carrottop, and Golden Harvest. All of them were guardians that lead the front line fight with the hive, and they were a mean bunch. I wish I had their courage. The Hellmouth was never too much trouble for this group, I always worried that they'd not come back one day. But I was always being proved wrong since I became crucible handler.
"Good," I said, excited. "Bring me back a souvenir will you?" I asked Roseluck, and she promised with a nod. And then they took their leave. And I turned back to my desk to start my paperwork. But then I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Roseluck again, holding out a piece of paper in her mouth. "What's this?" I asked, taking it from her.
"It's an energy disturbance that we found during our last patrol on the Moon,"
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
"Give it to Pinkie or someone you trust with a spike of Darkness energy, we would check it out ourselves, but we're heading in an opposite direction of where that thing is."
"So what's the big deal?" I asked.
"The big deal is that we'd have to restock on supplies if we went for that energy reading, and we don't intend on being back for a few days, we're on the verge of something big." I didn't like the sound of that.
"Rose, you know what happens when you linger too long in the Hellmouth, right?"
"You go mad?" She answered, checking her saddle bag one more time, not really caring as to what I was getting at.
"Rose..." Roseluck looked up to me, head shaking at me, looking over my armor. Despite that fact that I didn't belong to any class of guardian, I took after the Titan's for their heavy armor and ideal for protection. Roseluck was a Warlock and obviously saw me differently than I saw her.
"You will never understand what it's like, Spike," Roseluck glared up at me, "Titans protect, Hunter's hunt, and we Warlocks... We deserve to know the secrets of this universe. And we will find them, even if it means certain death..." I raised my claw out to her, but she knocked it away, "In the end Spike, we'll all die, but the real question is, where will you die? I'd rather die knowing what the hive are planning, instead of waiting here for them to attack. Because if I stay safe here and learn nothing... It's the same as going mad."
I had no words for that. I lowered my claw to my side. "I'll be sure to get this to Pinkie..."
"Goodbye Spike," Roseluck said, turning back to her group and ascended the stairs. I heard them warp out, and I checked the time on my holo-book.
"Pinkie should be here soon, better go tell her about her new mission."