//------------------------------// // Entries 21 - 28 // Story: Memoirs of A Guard // by TheWingman //------------------------------// Monday, June 12th, 1013 ESY Today marks the first day of my career as part of the royal guard. To say that I was excited would be putting it lightly. Finally, apart from the occasional political engagement, I can devote my life to a great purpose and embrace my dreams. Heh, never thought that I would come a long way from being an orphan to a warrior prince in the span of my life. I was nervous but I knew that my mother is and would always be proud of me. My life for Equestria, its people, the crown, and my mother. As I would expect, it would be a slow day for us with the typical patrol duties, making sure the streets were safe. But, I had all my friends from boot camp with me. In fact, we were our own squad with Redwell leading us. The others were expecting me to be the leader just because I’m the crown prince but Redwell earned it. I can see this being as something that his daughter, Meadow Sunshine, can look on with great pride. Even at the end of the day, as I hang up my armor for the night, I would look towards the night sky as I think back on all that happened. For some ponies, happiness seemed like a thing too out of reach for them. I once thought of myself in that position, being unable to break free. Now, as I ponder my good fortune, I pray that those like me would find their own happiness, their own spark of hope. Wednesday, June 14th, 1013 ESY Hmmm, well, today turned out to be rather interesting and eventful. The four of us was summoned to settle a dispute between two stallions at a tavern. Apparently, it was over some mare with one stallion getting upset at the other for sleeping with her, who I gathered to be his wife. Both were intoxicated and it didn’t take long before the inevitable brawl erupted. When one of them got physical with me, I knocked him out with the blunt end of my spear. Though we were able to pacify them enough to cart them off, one of them lost a tooth. Not gonna look good on the poor bastard. After that, and a few forms to fill out, we were called in to escort some retired business stallion around town. He looked to be very old, couldn’t tell how old he was. The only reason why I think he needed us is not only was he wealthy enough to outright hire us for our services, he needed somepony to keep him safe from either enemies or aid him, considering his own failing health. Felt odd that we could be outright hired for just about anything. From what I gathered about him, his name was Harlock. Call me odd, but there was an underlying aura of malice about him. I’m honestly unsure why he would carry himself that way. He seemed polite enough to us for a rich businesspony. Lastly, because we need to keep public relations in good standing, we did a little event at a school in Ponyville. Being assisted by Cheerilee, we hung out with all the foals that day while entertaining them, talking to them, and answering any questions their young minds had. Though we’re a military and police force, the foals of Equestria need a symbol to look up to, one of strength and hope. Just the looks on their faces reminded me of myself all those years ago. I pray they would all live happy lives. Thursday, June 22nd, 1013 ESY Well, chalk up a passing remark from a civilian to get me in a philosophical mood. As I was on break from work and enjoying lunch, my ears caught a few passing remarks from a trio of stallions that think the guard is a privileged class, slamming that we’re the only way to hold office or vote. Really now? I swear I’ve heard that popular misconception ad nauseam that I can recite them word for word. Contrary to what is commonly said, the military isn’t the only route to citizenship. For starters, when one refers to ‘service to the kingdom’, they leave out a lot of facts. Sure, serving in the guard is one way but there are other ways. Volunteering to do anything in the service of the crown and the nation for a few years will net anypony or creature within our borders citizenship. Also, never do we discriminate against civilians… ever. To be honest, apart from a few tiny differences, everypony isn’t treated differently. With this system, those who want to take up leadership roles must understand to make the welfare of Equestria their personal responsibility. It’s been that way since Equestria’s founding and it’s been effective thus far. All this talk about the political machinations of my mother’s country has got my head spinning like mad. That and the incident with that asshat Darius turned me off from politics. Yet, I’m the crown prince and I sometimes have to act in an official capacity for the sake of the throne. Above all, I am a royal guard, sworn to defend Equestria and the crown. I’ve chosen this path of my own accord and I dedicate my life to it. Saturday, July 1st, 1013 ESY For my squad, our assignment for today came from my mother herself. Today, we were to escort some filly on her birthday around town. To my surprise, she is my mother’s dearest student at her school for gifted unicorns. Heh, chalk it up to my mother being both a ruler and a teacher. If she sees something in her, she must be particularly gifted. Then again, my mother sees potential in those under her wings. This filly goes by the name of Twilight Sparkle, a lavender unicorn with stripped hair. To say that she was a bookworm would be a grave understatement. Her hunger for and devotion to knowledge was something to behold. Yet, she was very mild mannered. Hell, she’s even the younger sister of our commanding officer, Shining Armor. Looks like her family is somewhat connected with my mother in quite a few ways. When it came time for her birthday party, the four of us, complete strangers to Twilight’s family, were allowed to join in the celebration. Just seeing Captain Armor interacting with his sister reminded me of what could’ve been. Though I was an orphan, I oft times yearn for a brother or sister so I wouldn’t feel like I’m the only one. But in the end, I don’t think that would be possible. I’ll be happy with what I got and as far as I’m concerned, I’m alright with it. Friday, July 6th, 1013 ESY As I write this, I still feel myself shaking like a leaf. It all started when I was out by myself on a break tonight. With all the latest threats of another impending changeling incursion, many of us, including me and my friends had to pull a night shift to keep security tight. With all the increasing threats to the kingdom, paranoia was at an all-time high and I find it hard to blame them. Yet, the changelings weren’t the only threat. Those jealous of Celestia’s occupancy of the throne would make enemies on the homefront. As I walked through the halls, my ears picked up a shift in the wind. Any trained soldier dedicated to the crown would know that as a sign that something was up. Just as I turned the corner, I didn’t even get to blink before a hooded figure got the drop on me, knocking me to the floor. His face was veiled in a pitch black and I couldn’t make out his identity. The moment I saw something shiny in his hooves was when I knew I was in trouble. Barely keeping his knife at bay, I had to act quickly or I would find it jammed in my throat. Headbutting him, I quickly deflected his knife and delivered a fatal blow. It didn’t take long for my fellow guards to arrive and assess the situation and found me shaking with blood on my face. Somehow, an assassin managed to slip by our defenses and… if they went for my mother… I hate to fathom what could’ve happened. It was also the first time I had to kill anypony for any reason. I feel all shaken up but I have to stay strong for everypony… for Equestria. But yeesh, that assassin was woefully undisciplined. Wednesday, July 18th, 1013 ESY I have to say that this new place up in Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner was it, is starting to become my new favorite place. Tasty pastries, drinks, and very personable staff, I can see that place becoming popular in short order. Mr. and Mrs. Cake are a bunch of good fellows and I can tell they have a huge passion for what they do. Their newest employee… I’ve never seen such a living embodiment of unbridled joy in my life. Pinkie Pie, she looked like a pony who’s had too much sugar and started bouncing up and down the walls. Her joy and happiness is something to be respected as she takes just as much pride in her work as her employers. My guess is that she equates doing a good job and making others happy as being a source of her joy. If optimism ever had a name and physical form, Pinkie Pie would fit those bills without a doubt. Tuesday, August 7th, 1013 ESY Drill and ceremony, drill and ceremony, the ever so quintessential part of our occupation is always drill and ceremony. Since today marks the ascension of Celestia and Luna to the throne, which is called Cosmos Day, we’re to do a routine for the onlookers before the festivities begin. For the past week, Shining Armor has been running us near ragged to get us all ready. For a stallion who is hard as nails, he clearly takes great pride in our success. Channeling my earlier experiences and my refined training, our whole group and I gave 110% into our performance. Almost as if our minds were as one, we never went out of sync. I hate to imagine what kind of punishment Captain Armor would’ve slapped us with over the slightest misstep. I did not, I repeat, did not want to clean the damn latrines again. I had to suppress a lot of gaging that day. After all that song and dance was done, we were free to join the celebrations. I first thought about joining my mother’s side but I decided to hang out with my squad. All we did was drink, chatted away while spitting the occasional bit of humor. Even beyond our time at camp, our bonds remained just as strong. My mother once told me that friendship is magic, that it’s one of the tenets of our nation. Could this be it? Friday, August 10th, 1013 ESY Again, it was that damned dream again that’s been plaguing me for years. First, the hooded figure stabs the mare to death, the stallion fights but get slashed in the throat, then the flames began to rise. Only this time, the identity of the mare was now known to me. Her name was Vanilla Swirl. As she died, I saw a stream of tears running down her eyes. I know that she was crying for her husband but also for somepony else. Who? That was when I heard some humming, the first time I’ve heard it in the dreams. It sounded serene, soft, gentle... motherly with an ounce of love and care thrown in. I couldn’t tell who’s voice it was but it strangely sounded familiar to me. It’s as if I’ve heard it before but I don’t remember. I really need to start piecing all this together because I’m starting to see a pattern here. Never thought I might be playing detective like that. Tomorrow, I’m going to ask Celestia about this. If anyone has information as to who those ponies were, it’d be her. Yet, every time I confront her about these occurrences, she always seemed to dodge them by either saying she was either busy or something. The way she does it… it’s rather suspicious of her. Does she know something about them?