//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The New Job // by RayneTheSkunk //------------------------------// “You called for me, Twilight?” Gallus gave the barest of bows before resting his eyes upon Twilight Sparkle’s throne. His armor shimmered in the prismatic light of the stained-glass. “Please just call me Twi— wait.” The queen snapped out of her practiced introduction. Once her brain had caught up to reality, she leaned back against her throne and belted a sigh of freedom. “You have no idea how much I’m used to saying that. Everycreature comes in here with ‘my queen’ that, and ‘your highness’ this, ugh!” “I do. I stand outside your door every day, your highness.” Gallus smirked, and he held that smirk until the look of disdain on Twilight’s face was to his satisfaction. “May I ask what I was called for, exactly?” “You’re being relieved of your duties as captain of the guard!” “Hold up. What?” His pupils shrunk into pin pricks. “Because there’s a new job I have for you!” She cheered! “What!?” “Twilight.” Spike elbowed Twilight’s shoulder “I think you want to explain what it is you have in mind for him before he breaks down.” “Phshh, can’t I mess with him back a little? Gallus, you okay over there?” “Just a bit razzled.” He coughed. “I’m fine, didn’t panic about my livelihood at all.” “Good, you’re not getting fired, but I do have a request for you. I would like you to accompany Luster Dawn to Ponyville as her bodyguard for the duration of her stay. This would mean giving up your station as Captain, but your pay as a royal guard will remain the same.” “Somehow this feels more like an order than a request. Isn’t there anyone else for the job? Not gonna lie, I kinda like being in charge here. I’ve done a lot for this position—the airship battles, the Griffonstone insurgency, aiding in the defeat of Lendys.” Spike rolled his eyes. “And the whole way through the ranks, you put the bare minimum into training, and snoozed on the job.” “But I get results, and my paperwork is always perfect!” A shiver ran downTwilight’s wings “It is some of the most immaculately signed and filed paperwork I’ve ever seen, Spike. Gallus, I mean no disrespect to your position, in fact, its precisely because of how much you’ve done for Equestria that I want you for this. I may not have been there for all of it, but I’ve watched you grow into a fine soldier, and an even better symbol of friendship. You’re the best creature I could ever think of for the job.” “I’m the best possible creature for any job, but why is it a job that needs to be done anyway? Equestria’s not at war with anyone, Luster’s not a noble or from a rich family, and last I checked there's not exactly a whole lot of political assassinations going on. Shouldn’t she be fine?” “She should.” She grimaced. “But you know what Ponyville is like.” Spike smirked. “You remember how many times you almost died in one semester in Ponyville, Gallus” “Only,.” He drew a blank as he resorted to counting his feathers. “Twelve, and that's cause we couldn’t stop ourselves from messing around with ancient spells or caves under the school. Most the time. If she’s smart, she won’t need a guard.” “Twilight got herself turned to stone on her third month living there, almost eaten by a hydra on her second. Oh, there was the time everything got half-eaten by parasprites!” “And you both miraculously survived without bodyguards,” Gallus said with a cheerful smile, a riveting swing of his arm before deflating into a level deadpan. “I’d prefer to keep my position.” “We survived because we all looked out for each other.” Twilight tapped her hoof to her heart. “Listen, Luster is, well...” “She’s a lot like you were.” Spike chuckled. A faint blush shined on Twilight's face along with a small grin. Her wing fanning at him brushing his comment aside. “A little too much.” Twilight approached Gallus. There was a quite tink she touched his armored chest. “I’ll be honest, I don’t think I would have made it anywhere without Spike by my side. I’m not just asking you to be her guard. I want someone to look out for her, and I respect you enough to know you aren't going to be any creature’s assistant, and don’t think she needs an assistant, but she needs someone dependable who can watch over her. Someone who understands friendship, and I can’t imagine anyone better than someone who also sparked the element of magic.” The pondering clicks of Gallus talon against his beak was the only sound in the room. It echoed like the sting of a ticking clock. “I’ll do it” “Oh my goodness thank you. You don't know—” “If you double my salary” “You can’t be serious. We already pay you handsomely.” “Triple!” “Gallus, you’re dismissed.” Gallus later got a note that his pay absolutely, under no circumstances, was receiving any increases of any sort, but he would get free housing for the job. There was a second note, signed by Spike. A small illustration of Spike sat in the corner of the page with a speech bubble. Any further attempts to haggle your pay will result in your immediate termination. I can do that, I swear. Respect the hustle though.