Six of the newest princesses sat around one of the tables in the back of Sugarcube Corner's front room. The resident princesses of Ponyville had started to make it a habit of meeting up like this when they could before starting their days so they could keep up with any going ons that they each had. Currently Aegis Flare was missing, but they had come to expect her presence to be unpredictable due to her lifestyle. So when she walked into the building with both of her wings bandaged they were noticeably surprised.
“Flare! What happened to you!?” Fluttershy rushed over to the orange alicorn who just waved her off with a sigh.
“It's just the result of my own stupidity and forgetting about some of the basic needs of a thestral. It turns out that an alicorn healing factor isn't quite enough to prevent rot-wing. I can't believe that I forgot how often my dad oiled his wings to prevent injury.” Aegis Flare flopped down into a seat with the others as she shook her head. Fluttershy lifted up one of the bandages before letting out a gasp at seeing the cracked skin below, some of it leaking blood.
“My goodness! How could you not have noticed that this was happening before?! Damage like this couldn't have happened over night!” Glancing back at her pushy cousin she frowned in thought.
“Actually, that is exactly what happened. As far as I can tell the damage just built up so much that my body could no longer keep up. I never even put much thought into any habits I might have to change in taking care of my body until now.” She may have said more, but a loud rumbling sound interrupted her and drew everyone's attention. All eyes focused on Rarity who was a deep red from her blushing as she sank down in her seat in embarrassment.
“Oh my, I am so sorry for that. I don't know why but I am feeling so hungry, and maybe a tad bit faint.” A few eyebrows rose at her words, while Twilight's vision drifted down to the alabaster mare's plate which wasn't even a quarter of the size of the others.
“Rarity, please tell me that you haven't been starving yourself since our ascension.” Rarity's lack of response was enough of an answer for her causing her to rub a hoof at her temple. “Ugh, didn't you know that alicorns have a much higher metabolism!? Why do you think Princess Celestia can keep up with Pinkie Pie's eating habits without putting on any weight? Actually, that should have been the first clue that Pinkie could have become an alicorn.” As Twilight looked over at the pink mare thoughtfully, Rainbow Dash was busy examining the wings of her friends closely.
“Eesh, also what have you been putting on your wings Rarity? You can't be using harsh perfumes like that or else you can damage the feathers making it hard to fly. Yours aren't much better Applejack, is that mud I see at the base of some of your feathers?” With the problems actually being pointed out, the alicorn's started doing a once-over of their bodies in in the end, only Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie didn't have any obvious issues, though Twilight's issue was more with her hooves being a bit overgrown due to her lack of using them or getting them filed down like the others.
“Huh, ah didn't know that there was so much ta deal with these extra parts. Ah only thought that they just needed to be washed off like normal. But how is it that Rainbow Dash isn't having any problems.” All eyes turned to the former pegasus who started to feel uncomfortable from the attention before Aegis Flare snorted.
“She probably got help from Aloe or Lotus.” Most of them looked at her in confusion, though Rainbow Dash looked over in shock as she tried to spout out denials, much to the bat-winged mare's amusement. “What? You though that you were sneaky by going to the spa at the very end of the day when almost nobody is around? Besides, do you really think that you could sneak by these ears?”
“Rrrrealy? So tell me again how only lame, uncool ponies go to the spa?” As Rarity started teasing Rainbow Dash about her decisions, the others shook their heads while Pinkie Pie brought in a large platter of pancakes, with extra servings for Rarity.
“Well now that Flare is here, Does anypony have anything the rest of us should know, or have any plans?” They were silent in thought for a moment, before the last princess to arrive raised her hoof.
“Actually, I was wondering if you ever finished that magic detector that you were trying to build.” Twilight's ears perked up at the question and she clapped her hooves together in excitement.
“Yes, actually. Or at least as much as I could with the samples that you brought me but it wouldn't be that hard to add the data from any new sources that you find. Why do you ask?” Aegis Flare lifted a hoof and waved it in a so-so manner.
“Well I could use a bunch of them as part of the Black Guard's basic equipment, but just one would be useful for now. I have a list of potential candidates and I could use something to confirm any magic that some of them supposedly have. Well, that and it would be useful if Applejack joined me when meeting with some of these beings.” The farm mare looked confused at her friend requesting her presence to meet with a bunch of criminals.
“Why would ya want me ta go with ya? Ah don't see how ah could be any help putting together a group of spies and murderers.” In response the darker orange mare just smirked at her.
“I just could use your honest opinion on them, and if I read one of these right then you might have some personal interest in one of these.” Applejack frowned in confused as she slowly nodded in agreement to join her friend on her trip.
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“Please be careful in there princess. While she hasn't done anything while in here, you didn't see what happened to that mare when she got her claws on her.” Aegis Flare rolled her eyes at the warning, having seen the real paperwork detailing what had happened, but still nodded. The guardstallion moved to open the outer door, which she quietly entered through, before he joined Applejack at the observation room.
Inside the room, Aegis Flare sat in the shadows around the door as she watched the female gryphon that appeared to be preforming a dance in the room. The gryphon was a pure black, with a raven front half and panther rear half, and after a few moments of watching the princess realized that she was in fact going through fight forms for some kind of sword and only made it look like a dance.
“You know. It is rather rude to hide in the shadows and spy on someone you know. It is rather obvious that there is another in the room when the door opens and closes that quietly.” Aegis Flare smirked as she tried to place the gryphoness' accent before speaking up.
“Well it would have been rude to interrupt with how busy you looked. Though I must say that from what I saw you may be exactly what I'm looking for.” The gryphoness paused before turning with a quirked eyebrow to look into the shadows.
“Indeed? Well I hate to disappoint you but I doubt you have the power to free me, even if I cared to leave. After all those years of hunting down the cloven hoofed mare to avenge my father there as nothing left for me out there.” The princess' smile only grew as she pulled out a bundle of papers and tosses them across the cell towards the gryphoness.
“Oh it's not like you had a choice about staying here. Those happen to be release orders as well as a royal pardon for all those supposed crimes you are charged of. All this is, is a job offer for when your release is finalized in a couple days, along with a multitude of others from this prison. It turns out that there are still laws on the book regarding deaths during an honor duel so you should never have even been put in here.” As the gryphon's eyes widened as she read through the paperwork, the princess turned back to the door.
“The details of the offer are on the bottom, so you have a couple days to come to a final decision. But I'm sure that you'll accept it as I doubt you'd want to let others go through what you did and it will be the perfect job to do so.” As she turned to the door she lit up her horn to opening it, allowing the gryphoness to see both her wings and horn. Nothing was said, but she looked thoughtful as the princess left the room to join her companion.
“So what do you think, Applejack?” The farmer princess frowned in thought as she looked through the glass into the cell.
“Ah think that she is very dangerous. Are ya sure that ya want her ta be a part of your group? She has already killed once and could do so again.” Aegis Flare nodded as she looked at her list for the next target.
“That's actually what I'm looking for. I need beings that are willing to kill if needed as well as being highly skilled and from what I hear Grainne Hillstalker there is one of the best swordsfighters in Equestria, if not the world. That's not all I'm looking for, but it's the bare minimum since that will be at least enough to clean up monsters in dangerous area around populated areas, like the Everfree Forest.” Applejack frowned as they moved along to the next cell, but still looked thoughtful as she knew how dangerous the borders of the Everfree were. They traveled through the prison, occasionally stopping to check out some of the prisoners and pass out a few more pardons, before they came to the next prisoner of note.
“Hoowee, he is a big one. He makes Big Mac look tiny in comparison.” Aegis Flare nodded to her friend as she looked over the stallion through the window. The stallion was easily as tall as Princess Luna, and maybe even equal to Celestia, with much the same build as Big Mac. But instead of the red coloring of their fellow Ponyvillian, he was a deep blue color with a brown mane and tail. At the moment he lay on his back in his cot looking seemingly asleep. “What did he even do ta be put in here?”
“Do you want the real reason or the one actually given?” While she knew the question was rhetorical, Applejack still gave her a deadpan glare as she proceeded to give her both of them. “What the reports say is that he was captured outside of an orphanage after killing everyone inside of it.” She paused as Applejack let out a gasp of horror and shot a look over at the giant stallion. “What really happened was that he was ordered to clear out the building but when he found out just what was inside he refused and almost killed his employer. Because of that he had to watch as the rest of the thugs with them were sent in to slaughter them all while he took all the blame.” Applejack looked through the window at the stallion with sympathy.
“That is just plain wrong. I can't believe that somepony would do that ta another like that. Ya got ta respect somepony that will stand up for themselves though, even if they are violent about it. Ah'll admit that there are times ah have gotten violent, though I've been trying ta hold back after becoming an alicorn since mah control isn't what it used ta be.” Aegis Flare nods as she had noticed some of those same issues herself after their change, having accidentally damaged a few doors in her home.
Looking back into the room the two noticed the stallion moving as if he was awake and the still bandaged princess took that time to enter. She kept quiet as she could as she had done all the previous times as a test to see how aware the various ponies and non-ponies were. After sitting for a couple minutes with no response she was about to speak up when the stallion finally spoke from his bed.
“The guards said nothing about visitors. Is there a reason why you are here ma'am?” The princess was taken aback a moment at how deep the stallion's voice was, as well as how slowly he spoke, but quickly recovered.
“I'm here to speak to you about an incident involving you and an orphanage a couple years back.” The mention of the incident caused the stallion's head to rise from where it lay so that he could look at her innocently.
“That wasn't me. I would never do anything do harm a child and I was not involved in that... attack.” Aegis Flare's eyebrow rose a bit at his pause, but ignored it for the moment.
“Actually, that is why I am here. Information has come out proving your innocence, and once everything has been cleared you will be free to go. That's the first reason why I am here, the second is so that I can offer you a job, I could use a stallion of your talents on the outside.” Like before, she brought out a packet of papers and passed them over to the stallion. The stallion squinted at the words as he read through them slowly, that or barely understood the words, before he eventually set the packet down.
“I guess I could follow you. It's not like I have anything better to do, and it would be nice to feel the sun on my.. hide.” The stallion stretched out his hooves, causing the wall to crack as one of them impacts it, as the princess looks at him closely.
“I didn't expect you to answer me already, but it's nice to hear one. Still you should take some time to look over everything thoroughly before you actually... decide.” With a grin, the princess left the room to the sound of the stallions deep laughter as she joined up with her friend.
“Well he certainly looked like a nice fellow. Seems ta be a bit slow though.” Aegis Flare smirked at Applejack as she glanced through the window at the stallion who was now studying the papers she had left.
“So you fell for it too, huh?” The farm mare looked at her in confusion as she continued. “He's much smarter than he appears, and it makes many underestimate him, much like your brother. Didn't you notice how he was ending his end of the conversation with something that rhymed with what I last said? Granted it certainly doesn't fit with his name of Brute Squad.” Applejack sputtered a bit on hearing his name.
“Brute Squad!? Is that his name or title? He certainly can fill that job all by himself.” Her friend chuckled as she began to move off to the next cell.
“It's his name, and if you think that's impressive, you should see his mother. The picture of her in his file has her barely coming up to his stomach in height. We should hurry up here though as there is one place we need to go to after finishing here, and I think you will want to see who we are meeting there.” Shaking her head, the stetson-wearing alicorn looked at the retreating form of her friend with a frown before quickly following her to the next being that they were in the prison to visit.
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“So who are we meeting at a mental hospital? Ah'm not sure how helpful anypony we find here would be with your Black Guard or why ah'd be interested in them.” Applejack looked warily at the sterile looking building that her friend was leading her towards. The bat-winged mare said nothing, but quietly led the way to the front desk to wait for the secretary. After giving the waiting bell a tap, a voice rang out from a nearby doorway before a red-maned, white unicorn was seen coming through it.
“Oh! You are here sooner than expected, your highnesses. Actually there were those saying that it was all a joke as why would a princess want to see that... thing. I'll let the doctor know you are here.” The mare left, leaving the two princesses alone to look at each other in confusion. It wasn't long until she returned to lead them towards their destination. Soon they reached a heavily sealed room with a stallion standing outside of it who greeted them.
“Your highness, this is a surprise, though we didn't expect you to have any interest in... Well, you'll see for yourself. You see I inherited the the problem from the previous doctor who went mad. He probably already was long before the incident, especially to have let that thing name herself. It's procedure now that no personnel are to be near the room when it is opened, so we shall leave you to whatever it is you are doing.” The doctor and secretary quickly retreated from the area, leaving the two princesses to watch them leave. Aegis Flare frowned as she could almost feel the fear coming from the retreating pair before she turned back to the door.
“Just what did you bring me here to see?” The darker orange mare frowned as she looked at the door before pulling a small machine out of her pack and started fiddling with it.
“I'm starting to wonder myself. From what I was told, there should be a little filly in there. No name was given, but her parents? Well that is were it gets interesting. You see her father... Is Manifest Destiny.” Applejack's eyes narrowed when she heard this before frowning.
“Just what hasn't that stallion done? Even abandoning family now? But who is the mother?” This question caused Aegis Flare to frown as she turned away slightly from her friend.
“That... is where I think you would be interested. You see her name was Tender Apple, and she died giving birth to this filly and apparently she wasn't willing in the first place.” Hearing this, Applejack's anger flared as she knew that name and hadn't heard from her in years.
“The rest of the family had wondered what happened ta her. But none of us expected anything like this. Ah hope that Princess Celestia locks him away for good as if ah ever see him... Well let's just say it won't be pretty. But why is the filly here?” Aegis Flare's frown deepened as she looked at the mechanism she was holding as the gem embedded in it flickered between black and red.
“The notes I have didn't give much information, but if I'm reading this right it appears there is some sort of necromantic magic in there. It seems to be something new as it can't identify it exactly, but it must explain the odd reports that were with my information.” Her friend's eyes widened in horror at hearing this before her head whipped around to stare at the door wide-eyed. Aegis Flare ignored her reaction as she reached for the door to open it, and when she finished they were surprised to see what they found.
“Yay! New ponies! Look mommy! New ponies have come to play with me!” Inside the room was a plum colored unicorn filly with a black mane that appeared to be half the age of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, yet Aegis Flare knew she was supposed to be at least as old as them. Her flank was still blank, but what was oddest was the earth pony skull she had in her hooves that she was talking to. As she entered the room, Aegis Flare could feel some kind of pressure, but it quickly vanished as soon as Applejack followed her in.
“Hello, little one. I am Princess Aegis Flare, and this is Princess Applejack. We were wondering if we could speak with you for a while.” The filly gasped as her eyes lit up and she turned to look to her side.
“Did you hear that mommy!? They're princess! I always wanted to meet one! Are you here to play with me?” The two princesses looked at each other until Applejack warily nodded.
“Actually, I would like to talk with your mother if that is all right with you. But your cousin here would love to play with you for a while.” The filly's eyes lit up even brighter as she stared bouncing around the farm mare who led her over to a chest of toys she saw in the corner of the room.
“Com on little one, let's see what ya have in here. Uh, what should ah call ya anyways?” The filly grinned at the older mare before belting out an answer.
“Deathbringer!” The filly looked back towards the skull with a glare. “Mommy, no! Mr Doctor let me choose a name, I don't want to use something silly like that!” Applejack stopped for a second before tossing a glare back at her fellow princess before she sighed and continued to the toybox. Aegis Flare watched them for a few second before she sighed as well and turned to where she saw the filly looking earlier.
“You can show yourself now. I promise that nothing will happen to you or her.” She waited for a few moments before a spectral figure slowly faded into view. Her colors were grayed out, yet she could barely make out the apple-themed cutie mark but few other details as the ghostly mare was mostly transparent and even her bones were visible.
“Huh, a guardian wraith? That really explains a lot of the reports I found about your daughter. In fact the Black Guard could really use her talents.” On hearing the name of the organization, the wraith flinched away in terror, but quickly moved to interpose her form between the princess and her daughter. Seeing her reaction, Aegis Flare raised in hooves in a placating gesture.
“I don't mean it like that, whatever you might have heard about how the group acts. I'm trying to rebuild it in the way that my parents described it to me. 'The Black Guard is a home for those that society has abandoned. The unwanted, the downtrodden, or those that just don't belong, the Black Guard shall always have a place that they will be accepted.' There is was so much more to it than what most hear about. Sure it has its hoof in assassinations and spying, but everything it does is to protect Equestria.” The princess looks into the eyes of the wraith, and through them to her daughter.
“You know that with what she can do that many will be terrified of her. The Black Guard can give her a place to learn and be safe, and unless she chooses otherwise won't be required to go out and do anything dangerous. Even if she does she won't be alone and will have some of the best protecting her from harm. I can tell that she is special as few necromancers have undead of any kind following them willingly, especially before they know their special talents.” The wraith calms down at the explanation, and looks questioningly around the room. The princess isn't sure what she meant exactly, but she had a pretty good guess as she saw flickers of disgust on the mare's face.
“Yes, that means she won't be staying here any more. The facilities are still being renovated, but everything should be ready in another week or so to move her out of here. Even if she doesn't do anything for the Black Guard, she will at least have a safe place to grow and learn until she can fend for herself.” The mare looks back towards her daughter before turning her gaze back to the princess and pointing to herself.
“This would be so much easier if you could talk. But I know that takes a lot of skill to allow that. And yes, you are welcome there as well. A child should never be separated from those they love.” The wraith flinched back at the emotion in the princess' voice as there had been little in it before. Even though she was dead, it didn't mean that she had lost her sense of empathy for others hardships. With a soundless sight the mare turned towards her daughter and mouthed something to her, which drew her attention away from the dead cockroaches she was making dance for Applejack, much to her disgust.
“Really, mommy!? I can finally go out and see what is outside of the hospital!? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” As the filly bounced around the room the wraith rolled her eyes and turned once more to the princess with a pointed glare. Aegis Flare didn't have to guess what the wraith was trying to say as she recognized the look as one her own mother used to give others when she left them in charge of her. With a nod to the wraith, she slowly backed out of the room with Applejack following quickly behind her.
“There is still much to prepare until then, so we will leave you so we can finish the last few details. We hope will see you again once everything has been finalized.” Once the door closed Applejack let out a sigh of relief as she shuddered at what she had just seen.
“That filly is just plain creepy.” She paused for a moment to look back towards the closed door before sighing once again, this time in resignation. “But she really is family. Ah didn't want ta believe it when ya told me, but that really was Auntie Tender. She looked just like ah remember her... Well, except for the whole see through bone thing.” Applejack shakes her head sadly as she ponders just what she was going to tell the rest of her family regarding the odd pair. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running hooves causing her to look up and see the doctor racing towards them.
“Your highnesses! You're all right! Please tell me that she didn't somehow get that skull back in there again? Every time that thing is near the filly odd things happen. We've tried locking it away but she always seems to somehow get it back.” He sighs as he glares towards the door. “Just how many are we going to lose this time trying to get it away from her.” The two princesses frown at the doctor's tone before Aegis Flare stepped forwards.
“That won't be necessary. In fact we shall be taking over the care of, let's just call her D for now, her. Within the coming week we shall be relocating her into the new Black Guard compound that is being refurbished.” The doctor looked as if he was about to argue, but on hearing of the Black Guard's involvement he shrank away in fear.
“Um, well, if you think that is for the best then I don't see how I can stop you. But why would the Black Guard be involved in something like this?” The two princesses looked at each other for a moment before Applejack smirked.
“Let's just say that it is a family issue and leave it at that.”
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Aegis Flare looked over the gathered potential recruits for the Black Guard and smiled sadly as her thoughts drifted to her parents and if they would be proud of what she was doing. With a sigh she turned to Princess Luna to see how she was reacting. “So what do you think?” The elder princess took a moment to formulate her answer as she looked over the gathered beings.
“It reminds me much of when I first began the order all those years ago. It's a shame that my sister shut it down during my absence. But tell me, are you sure about including non-ponies in the Black Guard? As I recall there were rules in place preventing the entrance of outside races.” Her gaze drifted from the many ponies to the smaller group in their midst, consisting of a gryphon, a minotaur, a diamond dog, and even a sheep. She blinked a couple times before focusing her gaze on a small filly riding atop the back of a giant of a stallion the was next to the gryphon. Aegis Flare noticed where her gave was focused and smiled lightly.
“I'm sure. In fact my parents used to complain about how difficult it was to get things done in some areas because other races weren't allowed. It's probably why the chose a changeling as their agent since he could pass as a pony and the other races. The filly isn't joining, but she will be living in the compound with them. There aren't many places that a budding necromancer can live in relative peace after all.” Luna's head whipped around to stare at her in shock at hearing of the filly's abilities. The orange mare shook her head sadly as she looked over to the stallion carrying her.
“The giant and the gryphoness heard her story and have taken a liking to her innocent personality so have taken it upon themselves to watch over her. She has her own room to play in, but she seems to prefer staying with them. Her mother seems to approve at least, now if that friend would get back to me then she can start learning to control her powers instead of it being all instinct.” Luna frowned as she stared down at the filly, but could sense nothing malicious coming from her despite being in control of such a dark power. Shaking her head she turned towards the other princess that was with them.
“Princess Twilight, what are your opinions on...? Huh, where did she go?” Looking around, Aegis Flare groaned as she spotted her on the other side of the gathering surrounded by levitated scrolls.
“She appears to be occupied with the one that was supposed to be showing some of what they will be learning. I guess it was too much to hope that she would be able to ignore the only known friendly changeling and not bug him for information on his kind. I guess that means that all of that will have to be pushed back for now.” The night princess chuckled as she had gotten to know some of the quirks of the new princesses and had seen the lavender alicorn's thirst for knowledge herself a few times. Shaking her head, Aegis Flare stepped up to the front of the crowd.
“Welcome everyone, to the Black Guard entry program. You have all been selected as being some of the best at what you do as well as having skills that don't fit anywhere else. Whatever you were before this doesn't matter, all that matters is what you can do.” She paused a moment to catch her breath, which allowed the lone minotaur to interrupt her.
“Excuse me, your highness. I am Heavy Arm, and I have to ask, why is little sheep here? My homeland borders their country and they are not all that impressive.” While she hadn't memorized everything yet, the princes vaguely remembered something from her information sheets but before she could reach for them to verify anything the diamond dog stepped forward. Many of those present snickered at the pink poodle type canine, but he ignored them all with practiced ease.
“I can answer that, good sir. I am known as Swanky, and this is my wife Sheep and...” He paused as the sheep, with the rather unimaginative name, nudged her companion who leaned down so she could whisper to him. With a smile the diamond dog straightened up before continuing. “Ahh, it would appear that my wife wishes to know if you would like to join her in a dance.” The minotaur's eyes widened for a moment in panic as a seemed to recognize the phrasing before he waved his hands and slowly backed away.
“No thanks! Forget that I even asked.” Most of those present were curious as to why a large minotaur would back away in fear from a tiny sheep, but only one was dumb enough to take it as a challenge.
“A dance sounds fun, so how about it little sheepy?” Luna facehoofed as her current escort, Corporal Steel Wall, stepped forward to challenge the sheep who just smiled shyly as an area was cleared for them.
“He's a good soldier, but why can't he think before he acts?” The orange mare shook her head sadly to Luna's quiet question as she fumbled through her folders looking for the one detailing Sheep. Before she could find it the 'dance' had started, with the corporal smirking as the sheep reared up to her rear hooves and started making heavy steps. Between those steps she would occasionally kick a rear hoof up to smack it with her front hooves, causing a cacophony of clopping and slapping sounds. The crowd started to chuckle, but that soon cut off as out of nowhere the sheep slapped the earth pony across the face, stunning him in shock, before backing away without interrupting her dance.
What happened next could only be described as a slaughter as the impact angered the pony, yet no matter what he could do he just could not catch the sheep. When he tried to charge her, she somehow ended up behind him to give him a boot to the rear. When he tried to retreat he was met with more slaps to the face. Even standing in place trying to defend himself ended up with her rapidly circling him as she prodded at any opening she found. Soon the corporal was left whimpering on the ground as the sheep pranced back to her husband who swept her up onto his shoulder.
“Well I hope you have all learned a lesson from this. You are all here for a reason and it would behoove you to not underestimate anyone, no matter how innocent they look.” Aegis Flare pointed her hoof towards the filly, whom was still atop Brute Squad, as she spoke to the empty air excitedly. There were many gasps as the filly's mother slowly faded into view to give a creepy grin at them all before she faded once again. By that time the orange princess had found what she was looking for.
“Well with that demonstration of Baavarian Slap Dancing out of the way, and the other one distracted, it is time to show you some of the tools you will need to familiarize yourself with in this job.” She pulled out a small badge containing a large gem in its center. “Firstly is this, what is probably your most important tool. All those that are accepted in the end will get one of these badges that will be bound to them. It will act as a locator beacon as well as an emergency signal in case something happens to you. There are more features being added which will all be listed in your manuals at the same time you receive this. Currently it's a bit too... wordy and we are working to cut it down a bit.” She glanced over at what appeared to be a stool at first, but was instead the manual written by Twilight detailing every little thing about the tools that would be given to the graduates. With a sigh she pulled out the next item and continued.
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“So are you sure this is going to work? I've never even heard of something like this being possible.” Aegis Flare looked over towards Luna from her cot as the night princess prepared her own bed for the night. The deep blue alicorn just smiled knowingly as she lay her head down.
“As the guardian of dreams, there are many things at my disposal that few know of, and much of what I know has been forgotten by modern ponies. So being the expert, what do you think the answer will be?” The other princess could only roll her eyes and shake her head at Luna's playful tone, though she had to admit she had a point.
“Well either way, this has got to be one of the strangest ways of testing how good someone is in an unexpected situation. And since it will be a dream then it won't matter how dangerous it gets.” Princess Luna nods to her fellow princess as she closes her eyes. After a moment the younger mare joined her as they slowly drift off into the world of dreams.
After what felt like moments, The orange alicorn jerked back to awareness to find that she was no longer in the room the two were sharing for the night. Instead she found herself in the center of a field of stars with nothing supporting her. Princess Luna had warned her how disorienting the experience could be at first, but the reality was much worse than she expected.
“Ahh, there you are. I was wondering when you would be here to join me.” Aegis Flare turned her head to find Luna fading into existence next to her. Seeing the princess just appear like that was slightly unsettling, but she was able to center herself quickly once again.
“Well this wouldn't be possible without whatever you did to that room. Otherwise, who knows how long it would take for me to start dreaming, then for you to pull me here. Still, words do not do this place justice.” The orange mare stared around the place in wonder while Luna smiled at her words and expression. After giving the younger princess a moment to look around, the elder waved her hoof and a scattering of stars flew up to in front of them before they formed into a multitude of screens, each showing one of the various Black Guard hopefuls.
“We might as well begin now. Time may flow differently here, but we still do not have time to waste. Do you know where it is you wish to send them for this test?” The orange mare nods as she mentally goes over everything she had seen in the Everfree Forest and constructed a mental map of a section of it. Luna uses her magic to take that map and used it to create a dream realm of which they would send the applicants into.
“Hmm, interesting choice. I had heard of how diverse the Everfree had become, but I never expected it to have this much variety to it.” The two look over a virtual map of the chosen testing area, with hazards lit up in varying colors, before finally pronouncing it complete. Before they could start the test though, they were interrupted by a crunching sound which drew their attention off to the side.
“Pinkie? Fluttershy? What are you two doing here? How are you two here?” The buttery alicorn just whimpered in confusion as she looked around at the unfamiliar area.
“Um, I'm not sure. Last thing I remember was going to sleep. I was having such a nice dream too, then I found myself here.” Heads turned to the pink pony that was munching on popcorn, where she got it they refrained from asking.
“What? You expected me to miss such a great show? And Fluttershy always wanted to see the creatures you described in the Everfree and this is the perfect chance for her without having to travel through the dark and dangerous forest for days.” Aegis Flare frowned hearing this, though the excited look she saw on Fluttershy's face kept her from speaking up. Looking to Luna she found her looking back questioningly to which she only shrugged.
“Oh my. You mean that we can see some of the cute and cuddly creatures of the Everfree?” The former pegasus quickly moved to take a seat next to her cousin in front of the magical screens to watch the coming show. Once they all settled down, Luna looked around one more time before her horn lit up and the Black Guard applicants began to awaken within the crafted dream.
The various beings slowly awoke to their new surroundings before looking around in confusion. The each soon found a set of equipments that they were all familiar with, along with a message crystal that told them what was going on.
“Prospective Members of the Black Guard,
For this test your mission is simple.
Survive.
Those that make it out will be one step closer to being accepted.
Those that don't... Well let us say that things will be getting much harder from here on out.”
Reactions were mixed from the awakening group. Some were panicked, some frozen and shock, a couple just shrugged it off before heading out, and a couple of them actually seemed joyful about the situation, one of which caught Fluttershy's eye.
“You even have a filly out there in such a dangerous place!?” The orange alicorn winced at her cousin's louder than normal tone before shooting a glare at Luna.
“That would be Deathbringer, the resident necromancer of the compound who shouldn't even be a part of this.” Princess Luna just rolled her eyes at the glare before pointing a hoof at the screen.
“Oh, do not be like that. When she heard about it she kept begging to be included on it. Besides, it looks lie she is having fun.” Looking back at the screen they found the filly pulling at a claw reaching out of the ground which soon revealed a skeletal bear. Soon she had a small menagerie of unique animals with her which she bounced around and played with as they marched through the forest.
“Oh, um, well I guess if she is having fun it can't be all that bad.” Fluttershy sounded unsure of herself, more than usual, but she kept an eye on that screen just to be safe, though what she saw made her want to run and hide.
“You know, she is kind of like Fluttershy in a way since she talks to all those super creepy dead things just like how Fluttershy talks with all her super cute animal friends though actually it's kind of sad how she only had the dead to keep her company but at least now she has a great big new family to watch over her.” The other alicorns glance at Pinkie for a moment in shock at how deep of an observation she just made, though when they focused on the screens once again the buttery alicorn's eyes had softened a bit,
By this point the other members of the test had started to reach the various obstacles scattered around the area, though some were more successful than others. The first to die, due to being impaled by the forelimbs of a giant spider, was a brown coated, brown maned stallion. While he seemed very bland and generic, he had one feature that stood out to those looking at him, his blank flank. Seeing his death, Fluttershy buried her head under her wings in terror. When she heard him screaming as the recorded message played again she peeked out and gave a sigh of relief at seeing the he was still alive, though back at the start again.
“Ooh, look! A snake pony!” Eyes turned to a pair of screens that had the inhabitants coming upon a creature with the upper half of a pony, but the lower half of a snake. Aegis Flare's attention focused as she noticed that the two figures were both prospects she had her eye on, Brute Squad and Grainne Hillstalker.
“Well this is interesting. I wonder how these two are going to handle this challenge. Nagas are not something that just anyone can deal with.” Luna's head turned to look at her in shock before she looked more closely at the creature in question.
“Where did you manage to find a naga? I had thought the last of them had been banished to Tartarus centuries ago due to their violent nature.” The orange mare smirked as she leaned back a bit and reached for a hoofful of popcorn that Pinkie offered.
“You'd be surprised at what is out there in hiding in the dark corners of the world. And Tartarus was always meant to seal in the evil of the world, but what happens when something that doesn't belong finds its way inside? A good many happen to live in a town out near the edge of Equestria that is supposedly led by a gargoyle of all things. I've heard that you were familiar with him.” Luna's eyes widened in recognition, but choked back her question as she glanced at the other two before making a note to talk with the other princess later. For now the reactions of the duo facing the naga were a more immediate concern.
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The naga and the giant stared at each other from across the clearing. Neither one moved a muscle, but while the naga was in an aggressively defensive posture the large stallion just looked casual. Eventually cracks started to appear in the serpentine pony's posture before she let out a hiss of frustration. “Well are you going to attack me or not? That's what you ponies always do whenever you find me!”
“Why would I do that? You have done nothing to me. It just wouldn't be neighborly.” The naga's face just froze in shock for a moment before she started chuckling. Those chuckles soon turned into full on laughter as she rocked side to side atop her snakey appendage.
“Oh now that's a good one! I haven't had a laugh like that in a while. Why should I believe that you won't attack me as soon as I let my guard down? Ponies always run or fight when faced with something they see as a monster, and I don't see you running.” Brute Squad just tilted his head in confusion.
“I don't see a monster, just an odd looking pony. I know what it is like to be mistaken for a monster.” The naga froze once again and actually looked seriously at the stallion and noticed his unusual size. She had seen some large stallions in her time, yet few of them could hold a candle to him. Slowly the naga's posture relaxed, though she was still cautious.
“I can honestly see that, but what brings a giant among ponies out here?” The stallion explained everything to her and she looked thoughtful as she considered everything. When he finished, the naga considered him once more before sighing. “Fine, if all you are trying to do is get out of her then I can show you the way. It wouldn't do to let one of the few friendly ponies die.”
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The naga looked up at the point of the sword pointed down at her as she breathed heavily. She had fought fiercely, yet not once could she land a blow on the gryphoness while that blade had managed to pierce through her defenses effortlessly. No normal blade should have been able to wound her, yet just from the quality she was seeing alone that sword was something special. Suddenly the blade was removed from her face, and to her shock the gryphoness began to walk away from her.
“H-h-hey, wait! Aren't you going to finish me off!?” Grainne paused in her tracks before she glanced back towards the downed naga as she sheathed her blade.
“So you can speak, as I thought. Well then I must thank you for such a wonderful spar. I also must apologize for what damage I have caused as I have gotten rusty over the years. I hope that we can meet again in the future to spar once again.” The naga just watched in shock as the raven/panther hybrid walked away before her laughter began ringing out into the forest.
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Princess Luna frowned as she watched how the two dealt with the naga. She still couldn't believe that there were still some out in the world, yet seeing the interactions in the dream she could understand why they would stay hidden. While Pinkie and Aegis Flare were watching along with her, Fluttershy was peeking over her wings at the unlucky brown stallion as he once again ran into trouble to be torn apart by a flock of birds.
“Those two are really shaping up rather well. She's a bit fight happy, but knows how to hold back. On the other side he, despite first impressions, is a deep thinker that is always careful in whatever he does. I think they'll be perfect for the role of Joint-Captains once everything is settled.” Aegis Flare looked over to Luna to see her nodding before she pointed to another screen.
“True, they do compliment each other well. Yet that one may be a bit more problematic.” Looking at the indicated screen the orange mare saw that the unicorn mare inhabiting it as she cackled madly while using her magic to swing a swarm of daggers around at anything that came close to her, covering the forest in a rain of blood.
“Yes, that could be an issue. She probably won't be a good choice for a diplomatic role.” Frowning for a moment, her attention was soon pulled away as Pinkie Pie let out a sound of delight.
“Look, Fluttershy! This time he found a large group of bunnies! Maybe this time he found a safe path.” The shy alicorn peeked at the screen once again before she let out a gasp at seeing the creatures, though it was a combination of wonder and horror.
“Those aren't bunnies, those are bloodsucking chupabunnies! I've always heard about them but never thought I'd see them. In small numbers they are shy creatures, but with that many together...” Fluttershy let out a gasp as the stallion was swarmed by the creatures and he was soon nothing but a husk before being sent back to start once again. The four mares watched as the starting scene began once again, but this time the stallion broke down crying.
“Oh dear, it appears that he may not be cut out for this. Who is that stallion?” Aegis Flare frowned at Luna's question as he had high hopes for him after what she had read.
“His name is Dies Horribly, and I thought he would have gotten further. Before being framed as a leader, he was surrounded by four of the most dangerous bandit gangs on the border with the gryphon kingdoms. The scouts of the Equestrian Military said they found him ducking and dodging all kinds of attacks as the four groups tried to kill him. And before that there were reports of him being seen getting chased by a large variety of monsters over the years.” The princess of the night did a double take on hearing the stallions name.
“Wait, Dies Horribly!? What kind of parent would name their foal that!?” The orange mare just shrugged as she turned back to the magical screens.
“Who knows? Still, I was expecting more from him. I guess we should pull him out before he suffers any more mental damage.” Before Luna could answer a quiet voice spoke up.
“Um, do you think that maybe I could speak with him first?” All eyes turned to Fluttershy as she looked at the crying stallion with worry. Peering at the mare for a moment, the three turned to each other questioningly before the bat-winged alicorn shrugged, leaving the decision up to Luna. With a sigh the princess slowly nodded before Fluttershy disappeared from view, reappearing moments later next to the stallion.
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Fluttershy was dazed for a moment as her surroundings changed without warning before she looked around the forest she found herself in. The sound of crying soon drew her attention to the stallion curled up at her hooves.
“Oh dear, what's wrong?” The stallion jerked back in fear before looking up at the alicorn with his pitiful teary eyes. Seeing one of the princesses there with him, he promptly threw himself at her and started wailing as the alicorn wrapped her hooves around his crying form, trying to comfort him.
“Princess! Oh, it was so horrible! This nightmare just won't end! I just don't think I can fight it anymore! All these years of fighting it, but I just seemed destined to die horribly like everypony has always told me!” Fluttershy looked down at him as she listened to his words before she blinked at him blankly as her mind drifted back to her past. With a frown, she pushed the stallion away, causing him to look up at her in confused shock.
“Then why don't you just end it then?” The stallion's jaw dropped open in shock at her words while she continued. “You have lived through so much all these years, yet all it takes is a little dream to make you give up? How can someone so horrible at dying complain so much about being alive? Just waste whatever care your loved ones or friends spent on you all these years.” Before she could continue she once again disappeared from view as she was pulled from the stallion's dream.
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Fluttershy blinked as the area changed around her once again as she rejoined the other alicorns. Before she could regain herself she was grabbed by Pinkie Pie. “Just what were you thinking!? Why would you do something like that instead of being your usual kind self!?” The former-pegasus blushed as she ran her hoof through the space below her.
“Um, well... You remember Gilda, right?” Pinkie nodded as the other two watched on. “Well she wasn't always like that, at least without a good reason. Back in flight camp she made friends with Rainbow Dash but mostly ignored me. When she did say anything to me it was usually just to complain about my shyness. Yet, there was one time that...” The yellow alicorn took a deep breathe to center herself before continuing.
“It was shortly before I got my cutie mark that the bullying had gotten really bad and I found myself at the edge of Cloudsdale. One of my wings were bruised from what was done to me and I was just staring over the edge to the ground below. I found myself leaning over the edge when Gilda found me and pulled me back. She gave me much the same speech that I just did for him and it stuck with me ever since.” Her fellow Ponyvillians just stared at her in shock before shaking their heads and wrapping her up in a hug. Hearing Luna whistle in appreciation caused their heads to turn towards her.
“As cruel as that may have been it appears to have been exactly what he needed. Just look.” Looking back at the screen with the stallion they found that he had once again found the chupabunnies again, but this time had grabbed onto one of them in his hooves and was using it to pummel the others with. The entire time tears were pouring from his eyes yet his face was filled with determination. “You have the instincts for this Fluttershy, maybe in the future we can spend some time watching over the dreams of our ponies.”
Fluttershy just blushed at the praise before she rubbed her right hoof against her other foreleg. “Um, maybe. I really should apologize to him though when I see him since I may have been a tad harsh.”
The four settled down to watch the rest of the show as some of the beings began to complete the test. Once they had done so they were sent back to their own dreams while the princesses evaluated their efforts.
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The next morning Fluttershy made her way to Canterlot in search of the one stallion she had spoken with over the dream. Going to the Black Guard compound she was directed to a waiting room as a guard was sent out to hunt down the stallion's location and send him to her. The alicorn fluttered her wings in nervousness as she waited until a knock sounded at the door. Moments later Dies Horribly opened the door and peeked inside.
“Um, you asked for me your... highness?” He blinked a few times as he realized just who was waiting for him before he gasped and ran over to throw himself down into a bow at her hooves.
“Princess Fluttershy! I-i-i didn't know that you were the one that wanted to see me. May I ask why I am here?” Fluttershy blushed at the treatment she was receiving before she shook her head to try and clear it.
“Oh, um. I wanted to apologize to you for what I said.” The stallion looked up at her in confusion as she fidgeted. “Last night during your test I said some cruel things that I really shouldn't have. I also wanted to make sure if you were all right after what you went through.” The stallion looked confused for a moment before his eyes widened in realization that she was actually there for him the previous night. He raised his hooves up and waved them in front of himself.
“Oh no, there's no need to apologize. You helped me much more than you know. My family and friends always told me that things would be fine and tried to encourage me. You were the first pony to actually challenge me over what I was doing. I really was thinking too much about what may happen and not on actually living. In fact...” He turned to the side showing off his no longer blank flank. Upon his flank was an hourglass with most of the sand drained out the bottom with only a couple left at the top. The entire thing appeared to be frozen as icicles dangled off of the sides of it and the hole between top and bottom were was sealed.
“You were actually right, my name wasn't about how I would die, but about what I was horrible at. My special talent is my ability to cheat death and being horrible at dying.” The stallion actually looked proud about this leaving Fluttershy bemused. He wasn't quite done though as he pulled a sheathed dagger from his mane.
“There was something else I wanted to do as well.” The stallion knelt down once again in front of the princess as he held out the dagger. “Princess Fluttershy, I pledge my life to you and if you ever require my aid, just call me.” Fluttershy's eyes widened before her face turned a deep red at his act. She was about to try and refuse, but she quickly realized that this was just part of being a princess as she slowly reached a hoof out for the weapon. As she laid her hoof on it it shimmered with a rainbow hue the flickered in her eyes as well.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Within the chambers of the princess of the sun a maid relaxed on the sofa contained within with one of Celestia's special books. She knew she shouldn't be there, but she had been having a rough day and felt that she deserved the time to relax. Suddenly a wailing sound rang out from the room, sending her in a panic as she searched for the source of the siren. As she flailed around the room she came to the nightstand by the regent's bed and found in the top drawer a bright red gem that was flashing in time with the siren's song.