I was moving down on the main street of Canterlot. There were coffee shops, boutiques, jewelry stores and a lot of other markets in each side of the street. At the morning, I got a new assignment from the captain and luckily, I won't be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza personal guard anymore. Everypony in the royal guard want to be a personal guard to one of the princesses. Theoretically one of the best jobs and you can get know better with the princesses but when you guard Princess Cadence it's different
She is harsh, unfriendly and not even try to speak with anypony. She is the Princess of Love but in these two days I didn't see any sigh of it. Yesterday she met the thestrals delegacy and that was a complete disaster. She wasn't polite with them and they always asked them about the fangs, the wings and she thought they are a background creatures. We didn't know what is mean by that but in the end Princess Celestia had to stop her. I already feel sorry for the two new guard next to her.
Yesterday was the big announcement about the Lunar Ponies to the civilians and the press. Actually, it went better than I thought. They asked few question about their past but they answered all of them happily. Dark Song wanted to see more about Canterlot so White Lance gave her a tour in the city. The other thestrals went to try our coffee shops. I thought they have coffee shops back in Oakhaven but Dark said they don't have coffee and this is new to them.
The other thing which was new to them, the train. Dark traveled with that to Ponyville but the others was scared from it when they saw it first. It's weird because when I was in Oakhaven it was looked like Canterlot and they had our currency back there and almost everything. Okay they didn't have any vehicle but they have to saw it once if they stole our technology.
Anyway, my new role is to get control of the southern outpost. It was one of the most important and farthest outpost in the city because that's where the train comes in to the Canterlot train station. What I recall from the reports, the situation there is chaotic. I don't know what suppose that mean but I hope nothing too bad.
"Hey Monsoon."
"Hi.“ two voices greeted me from my back. I turned around and it was Dark Song and White Lance.
"Hello. What are you doing?"
"White Lance guiding me through the city again." - said Dark
"I see. I thought you on duty today."
"No, I swapped my duty with a private so I have a free day today."
"The problem is you just met your superior White Lance. Besides you have to speak with me first when you swap your day with another guard."
He looked down, gulped and back to me. - "Sir can we talk in privately?"
"Sure"
"I go and look what I can buy in that shop. - "Dark Song said and went to a boutique.
"So?" - I looked back to White.
"Why did you do that Monsoon?"
"You can't just swap your duty any time when you want. This is your damn job and you know the rules."
"I know I just ...." - he looked down again. - "I like to speak with her and she needs help in the city."
I closed my eyes and sighed - "Look I see you want to befriend with Dark Song and I'm happy about it but don't forget you have a job and responsibilities." - he nodded - "I will give you this day off. I know you very well dude so don't screw this up." - I smiled to him
"I won't and before I forget Corporal Sandy Blaze searching for you."
"Who?"
"The pony who was on the expedition with us and got injured. Thanks again Monsoon but I must go now. Bye." - he flew down on the street. That conversation was weird and unexpected.
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I arrived at the outpost after an hour walking. The outpost itself was a U-shaped building with one tower in each side of it. It was a massive and huge construction and it's older than most of the buildings in Canterlot. As I approached the I didn't see any guardspony at the entrances. I hope they will have a good explanation for that.
I went inside and they were right about this place. Some of them were sleeping and some of them gambled. They didn't even notice I came inside. One of the private's stopped in front of me. He glared at me and after a few moments gasped.
"Everypony get up!" - he shouted through the outpost. They jumped up from the beds and ran to front of me.
I shook my head and facehoofed - "Attention ponies!" - They stood two rows in line. - "Where is the First Sergeant?" - they looked each others or elsewhere. - "I ask again. Where is the First Sergeant?"
One of them stood out from the line. - "We don't know Sir."
"Name and rank?"
"Corporal Flaring Rocket Sir." - he was brown coated pegasus with green mane.
"Look Corporal I'm a very patient pony but if you won't find him about ten minutes, you and your squad will regret the day when enlisted to the guard."
"Sir yes sir!" - He ran away with three others.
"I will be in the office while the rest of you will clean up this mess." - I went to the sergeants office which was a mess too. Well maybe this is worst then guarding a princess.
"Knock, knock"- I hope they found it. - "Can I come in Sir?"
"Yes." - A yellow coated unicorn appeared in the door. - "What can I do for you?"
"My name is Corporal Sandy Blade Sir. I got my new assignment today morning from Lieutenant Mighty Strike." - she handled a paper to me.
"You are the unicorn who badly wounded back in there. You are very lucky Corporal."
"Yes, and I'm on light duty Sir. My new role is-"
"Communication Officer? What in the Equestria does that mean." - I quickly read it through the paper but that was new. Of course, I just saw that weird saddlebag on her.
"Sir I would like to introduce you the latest military development the Unicorn Communication Device or in shorter the UCD."
I looked to her in confusion. - "And how does it work?"
"It's a two-way communicator which based on how Princess Celestia and Miss Twilight Sparkle mailing between each other."
"With a dragon and magic. I don't see any of them in your device. So?"
"We found out some of the crystal has an own constant resonation. If you charge it with magic it could send out signals in a given frequency. So, we need two unicorns in each side to receive and send the signals and charge the crystals to start to resonate. In the left side of the saddlebag has the crystals and the other side has the tuner, the speaker and the communicator."
"Tuner?"
"The tuner helps to adjust to receive a direct signal. I give the magic and I play as an anntena to recive anything from the other side."
"I see. Can we try it?"
"Yes. The captain is waiting us on the channel two." - I stood right side of the saddlebag. Sandy charged her horn and the device came alive. - "Spin the tuner to the second channel sir." - I touched the tuner and span to the channel number two. - "You have to push down the button on the communicator to start to speak on it but when you finished don't keep on pushing because you won't here and receive anything from the other side."
I get down the microphone which looked like a rock and heavy as a rock. I pushed the button which was on the top of it. - "Hello, it's the southern outpost. We got the UCD and this is just a test - "After that it was silence. I wasn't keep pushing the button and I started to worry about I did something wrong.
"It's good to hear you Monsoon. Can you hear me clearly?"
It was Shining Armor. I waited for a few second before I spoke again. - "Yes Sir."
"Good. How are you doing down there?"
"Well it's a catastrophe but I can manage it. This thing is amazing. It's much easier to communicate like that. Why we just get it now?"
"Yes, it's definitely easier. Princess Celestia didn't want to any surprises on the wedding so she released the UDC today and sent every outpost and airships with a communication officer. Anything to report?"
"No Sir nothing at all."
"Then I must go now. Don't forget, tomorrow will be the royal tryouts. Captain Shining Armor over and out."
"Dammit, I forget it that will be tomorrow." -Suddenly the office door open and revealed the corporal and the sergeant. The sergeant was a mess too and he was drunk. - "I hope that's not what I'm seeing right now."
"Sir he said he had a day off today so he went to the tavern and .... enjoyed himself."
I sighed - "You know what sergeant, continue your free day but I want to see you tomorrow on duty because I will have a day off. Understood?" - He nodded and tried to salute. "Dismissed." - they left the room. Then I turned to Sandy. - "Welcome to my squad Sandy."
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A few hours later Dark Song, Twilight and White Lance was in my office.
"I don't understand. Why do you fight with each other in an arena?"
"Eh....Monsoon?" - White looked to me for anwsers.
"It's a tradition. We fight for champion title and they want to figure out who is the best faction in the military but who don't want to see a good fight between soldiers in the arena? Of course, most of the ponies makes bets on us."
"Really?" - I nodded - "What's the rules?"
"They choose three officers in each military faction. Firstly, they do the duels then they do three team battles. Each duels or battles consists three rounds. The only way you can win the round if you make three clean hits on your opponent." - answered Twilight faster than me. - "If I was correct." - She looked to me for some agreement. I just nodded.
"Do you know who are the opponents from the other military faction?"
"No but the last few similar tryouts won by the E.U.P. But you are here because I assume you got some news for me."
"Yes, I analyzed and try to find something in the royal archives about the Lumen. I figured out why they couldn't use it a thousand years ago. Because General Master Crescent broke into four pieces. Unfortunately, I didn't find any pictures or paintings from the original Lumen." - Twilight explained.
"So we don't know where to find the other pieces."
"I didn't say that. We have riddle which can be a lead."
"A riddle? Great."
"Luna noctu vagantur longius mordeam." - Dark Song said. It doesn't sound like a riddle. The only word I understood was luna.
"And what does that mean in our language?" - asked White
"Roam too far at night and the moon might bite."
"Well in that case it could be anywhere." - I tried to think about it for a moment. Where could the moon bite you?
"Yeah that' where we stucked on the reaserch. I wrote down every possible places in my book." - She handled a book to me. There were a thousand of places in it.
"It's not too much just whole Equestria."
"And the Griffin Kingdom."
"We don't have enough resources to cover a whole operation for this. You have to narrow down the number of places."
I looked around in the room. Twilight tries to do what I suggested. Dark tried to figure it out with White but no results. He was the only pony I allowed in this mission beacause I trust him the most from my team.
So the question is where the moon can bite you. Or does that even possible? Hmm it can't be there.... or can it? That's a stupid idea but maybe I'm right. - "I think I figured it out." - they looked to me. - "Maybe it's Princess Luna's bedchamber in the Castle of The Two Sisters."
"It could be but how did you figure out."
"The only dangerous place at night where the moon can bite is the original place where everything started a thousand years ago."
"So, when we go there?"
"We can go there just after the wedding. I think that's all so White enjoy the rest of your day off and Twilight has to organize a wedding." - Twilight just nodded and left the room with Dark. White was still standing in front of me. - "Yes?"
"Do you want to hang out with us tonight?"
"What? With who?"
"Me, the squad, Dark and one of her thestral friend. I asked Twilight too and she agreed."
"Well I have day off tomorrow but you will be on duty."
"Yeah but a little fun never hurt. Besides we haven't drink anything together since we came home and I changed my duty again."
I sigh - "You know what I don't care. You have to learn some responsibility White." - He grinned. - "And stop that grinning."
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"You're an alcoholic pony Monsoon." - said Twilight.
"Why? I drank once on duty and it was a wage." - I said it defensively.
"I lost ten bits on that day but that wasn't the first time." - said White Lance. We are in the tavern about an hour with my team which included White Lance, Sandy Blade, Ivory Night, Flaming Inferno and Frost Wing our new medic. Ivory has a light blue coated earth pony mare and Flaming was a red coated pegasus stallion. They were privates but not new in my team.
Actually, when was the expedition, they were on a vacation so I didn't want to send them a draft. This was just an expedition so they weren't so important to be in but they still blame me for that.
Next to me was Twilight and Dark and another thestral mare Ivy Night. She was shy at first but after a few drinks she started to speak with the others.
"Wage? Really? My apologies Monsoon. You're not just an alcoholic but you're a gambler too. How could you be a lieutenant with these traits?"
"Luck and charm?" - they all laughed on that. - "What?"
"I doubt that because I've know you for years." - said White
"And me too" - said Frost Wing. I knew him since the academy but in that time, he was a real doctor and not just a medic. When I saw him in the expedition group I was happy but both of us were busy back there so I can't even say to him a 'hello'. But when he hears I was looking for a medic to my squad he instantly sent his reassignment.
"Really how so?"
"I was a starter medic in the Canterlot academy when he came and fell on me."
Dark laughed on that - "Really? How?"
"Well sometimes you should see the signs when the floor is wet."
"It wasn't any sign there." - I said it.
"Yes, it was."
"I swear to Celestia, nothing was there."
"So, Monsoon how's that military squad system in the guard? Because you have your own team but I saw a lot more palace guards. Can you order them too or not?" - asked Ivy. She was the curious type for thestral pony.
"Yes of course I can order them but every lieutenant has the privilege to assembly his or her own squad. In a fight, they are the superior squad. That means-"
"That means we go to fight first in the battle and kick some flanks." - said Flaming
"Don't forget we could die first too."
"Thank you, Ivory." - I shot a glare at her and shook my head.
"And how built up a squad?"
"Six ponies and the minimum to have one unicorn, one pegasus and one earth-pony in it."
"Don't forget the medic." - said Frost.
"And your new communication officer" - Sandy said it after Frost
"You know not every squad can afford to medic or a UDC officer." - I said to them. - "But we are working on it and a different squad system too. But you have to be patient."
"Whats a UDC officer?" - asked Twilight
"Maybe another time she will be explain it but I heard enough from it." - I said it before Sandy
A few moments later I asked - "So Ivy what are you doing back at your home?"
"I'm a warrior." - I stared at her for a moment.
"What kind of warrior? I mean what's your role?"
"Would you be surprised if I say I'm in the lunar guard?" The Lunar Guard? I can't believe that's still exist after a thousand year. Okay I know I shouldn't be surprised at all on that but this is something that connects to us and with them.
"No way!" - shouted Sandy and most of my squad stared at her.
"Am I missing out something?" asked Twilight with a confused look
"How could you not know about the lunar guard?" - asked Flaming
"Flaming! Not everypony knows about the lunar guard and the solar guard. Be polite. said Ivory then she continued - " A thousand year ago the royal guard has two separate part. The Lunar Guard and the Solar Guard." -
"After Nightmare Moon banishment, a bloody civil war started between the two guards" - I said - "We don't exactly know who won the war but I guess the solar guard. The only thing we know is after the war they founded the E.U.P. and the Royal Guard" - I drank last of my cider. I signed to bartender for another round of ciders.
"So, the lunar guard is the same as the royal guard?"
"Hmmm" - she thought about it. - "Well it could be."
"How could she don't know? She is literally a bookworm." - Flaming whispered to Ivory but it was loud enough to I hear it. Ivory slammed on his ears. But that was a good questiom because his brother the captain of the guard.
"I said it again Flaming. Be polite."
"So, Ivy do you have any siblings?" - asked Frost.
"Yeah, I have seven brothers and three sisters."
"I have only one but that is enough for me" - I said and the ciders came out to our tables too.
"Are they working in the lunar guard too?"
She nodded and smiled - "It's a family business."
"Well we are lucky to have day off tomorrow." - I said
"Yes, indeed we are lucky. Eh.... Ivory what's wrong?" - asked White.
"Do you hear it?" - Ivory was looking the ceiling.
"What should I hear it exactly?"
"That's the thing, nothing." - I looked to her confused but she was right. It was too big silence in the tavern.
"Maybe it's late?"
"It's just ten pm."
"Eh..Guys I think we have some visitors." - said Frost.
Ten pony stood in the middle of the tavern and two of them locked the doors. They all wear grey cloak except one. She or he has a white cloak. I suppose that's the leader. My team stood up and lined in front of them.
We stood there for a few minutes and I broke the silence. - "May I ask who are you and why you locked the tavern doors?"
"We want to eradicate these monsters." - he pointed to Dark and Ivy. - "Step aside and we won't hurt you."
I shook my head - "Do you know who are we?"
"Lieutenant we know everything about you and your squad. The templars always know everything and I say it for the last time. Step aside."
I looked to White. - "Sir what's our chances?"
"Well eight drunken ponies and a Twilight Sparkle. We already won White." - Well I hope so