//------------------------------// // Chapter 33: Calm Before the Storm // Story: Never Lucky // by Ferris the 1st //------------------------------// I found Martial rallying several ponies for a war council in one of the larger rooms available to us. Located near her office in the barracks, the halls around it were a flurry of activity as I saw guards scrambling to get their gear. I was honestly surprised by the sheer number of ponies filling the place; I didn't know there were that many guards in Canterlot. On first glance, our makeshift war room looked like it had been an archive of some kind, as the walls held shelves of old looking scrolls and tomes. A large, round table sat in the middle of the room and Martial was seated there along with a number of veteran looking guardsponies in full armor. A unicorn among their number was projecting an image of Canterlot on the wooden surface before them while Martial explained the situation to them. I walked in on the tail end of her explanation, “...and we don't know how or where Sunslayer is going to strike. What we do know is that his target is Princess Celestia, so increasing guard presence in and around the palace is paramount.” “A nice theory,” cut in a guard to her left in a gravelly voice, “but if this weapon is as powerful as you say, I doubt that a hooffull of guards are going to be able to stand against him. We should evacuate Princess Celestia from the city and-” “Her highness won't abandon her ponies, no matter what,” interjected a voice from behind me as Dawn appeared from seemingly nowhere, “she's made that very clear. I've informed her of the situation and she is adamant about not failing her subjects again.” “Foalishness!” cried another guard. “Mind your tongue, whelp,” shouted a zealous elder, “Princess Celestia has seen more of conflict than you could imagine! Say something like that again and I'll tan your hide!” That comment didn't help as the group devolved into an argument. I couldn't help but ponder Echo's words about how Luna saw modern ponies as skittish while these “veterans” squabbled like foals. In the end, a sharp crack silenced them as Martial struck her hoof against the table, “Enough! It is not our duty to question the motives of the princesses! Our duty is to protect not only them but our home as well. We are the proud guardians of Equestria and far too often have we failed to safeguard the ponies that rely on us both day and night!” The thestral stood, pacing around the table as she continued, “I don't know about you ponies, but when I joined the guard, I made a solemn oath! I swore that if a threat came to these shores, I would be there to hold the line against fire, claw, and death! Look at yourselves! You've become lax!” A series of grumbles met her remark, but she silenced them with a hiss, “when Chrysalis came, what were we doing? Grumbling about extra shifts and not keeping our eyes open! When Tirek came, what did we do? We tucked our tails and stood frozen in fear! But, you know what? Perhaps those were beyond us and we were not prepared.” Her eyes bore into the ponies around her and I could see why ponies would flock to her. She gestured toward the image on the table, “This is not some alicorn level threat. This is one gryphon who has become too big for his feathers and thinks he can rule the world. Well guess what, there is always some fool who wants to rule the world! But they are fools because they won't succeed. The changelings tried twice to break us and failed. We survived the antics of Discord himself! When Sunslayer shows his beak around here, he will not find an easily broken city!” She paused, lifting a hoof to the sky, “He will find a legion of ponies who find themselves in the position to do their sworn duty! He will find an unwavering wall of defense and a hail of blades to halt his advance! No matter what Sunslayer has to throw at us, he will find only failure at our hooves, because we... WE ARE THE ROYAL GUARD!” Probably one of the more spontaneous speeches I'd ever heard, but it got the job done. The ponies around her and even some passing by in the hall were standing or sitting a little taller and a round of “ooh-rah's” rushed around the table. Even I was feeling a bit more roused to battle... a little. Talk turned towards an increase in patrols and strategic placements of troops throughout the city. I actually found it odd that Sunslayer was giving us so much time to prepare or maybe he just figured that Martial wasn't going to be able to make it back in time to warn them. I was brought out of my musings when Dawn Breeze hip-checked me and motioned me to follow her. Confused, I followed her as she lead me away from the war room and into quieter areas. Once we were out of the ear shot of the armored forms, she spoke, “Lucky... Princess Celestia has asked you to attend her for the duration of this crisis.” I stared at her quietly for a long moment. “Uh... why?” I asked stupidly. “I don't know... she just seemed like she thought everything was going to be okay. Her exact words were 'if I have luck on my side, we'll be fine. Send Lucky Signs to me.' I... find myself agreeing for different reasons. You're not a soldier, Lucky, and this is very quickly bordering on a true battle.” I sputtered indignantly, wanting to argue on this point, but... I couldn't. Not honestly anyways. I'd proven multiple times how bad I was at fighting and there was no amount of luck that could change that. So why did being relegated to the position furthest from the possible fighting not sit well with me? Why was I so eager to put myself back in the blast zone of that weapon? Long story short, I found myself trotting my way after a guard that Dawn had tasked with taking me to Celestia. A call from the princess is not something you just turn down. It definitely left me with a series of questions. The kind that usually ended with “why me?” She had a castle full of guards far more capable, so why was the Sun Princess asking for me? I'd expected the guard to take me to the throne room, but instead, we made our way to the single largest staircase I'd ever seen in my life. I had to give it to the castle staff that didn't have wings; their cardio must be amazing! Thankfully, we stopped on a landing a while before the top and my escort knocked on a sturdy oaken door. Celestia's voice rang out, beckoning us to enter. Well, at least me anyways and I did. I found myself in a warm, welcoming room built in a circular shape. The usual vibrant whites and golds of the palace gave way to an earthy tone of tans and browns. To my left, a modest fireplace was placed and empty currently while on my right was a wall covered with different painting and photos of ponies. I recognized some of them from history classes, but not all of them. Across from me, the wall gave way to a massive window overlooking Canterlot. It was there that I found Celestia. She stood with her back to me, peering down on the capital with a blank expression. Closing the door behind me, I found myself making my way to her side and following her gaze down to the throngs of ponies wandering around, unaware of the danger pressing in around them. Watching them with her, a question sprang to my mind. “...Were you ever like them, your highness?” “A heavy question,” she said sadly, “and one I must answer with both a yes and a no. My sister and I were not always princesses, Lucky, and at one time we never thought we would be. In a time so long ago that it has become a fading memory, we too had our leaders that ensured that we would never face the threats of the world in fear... but times change...” I nodded. I knew all too well how things could change, rapidly or slowly, “Why did you ask for me, your highness?” I asked, changing the subject. She let out a long, slow sigh as she turned to face me. A haunted look filled her eyes and then she did something I wasn't expecting. Lighting her horn with golden magic, she lifted her crown from her head and set it a corner of the empty room. The rest of her regalia followed soon after and I bore witness to Princess Celestia without the burdens she'd carried for so long. “Fate has a very dry sense of humor, my little pony,” she murmured, “in one moment, you find yourself on top. The next, despite every advantage you have, despite all the power you can accumulate over years, you find your hooves tied.” She lowered herself gently to the floor, her eyes going back to the city below us. After a moment of silence, she began again, “My sister and I... we are the head of state and yet we are the least. The freedom our ponies enjoy is bought by the surrender of our own. Even though we willingly pay that price, it sometimes isn't enough...” Her head drooped and I saw her eyes glimmering with tears, “Sometimes, to ensure peace and harmony, I must order innocent lives forward into darkness and chaos. I never know who I will have to ask to make a sacrifice until the path is presented to me. The truth, Lucky, is that Sunslayer is coming. Many times have I tried to deny the path of fate and each time, it backfires upon me.” She shook her head, “I can only find one way for this to end well and to do that, I must ask you to make a sacrifice, Lucky... I must ask you to wait and when the time comes... I must ask you to give up yourself for the good of Equestria...” I was confused and opened my mouth to give life to my question. Just as I was finding my voice, a resounding BOOM filled the air. I tore my gaze from Celestia and looked out upon Canterlot. Looking down, I saw part of the city burn...