//------------------------------// // Between Dark and Dawn // Story: Guarded Emotions: The Final Season // by Alabenson //------------------------------// “So, you’re not going to be able to help us with the Royal Swanifying?” Twilight said. “Unfortuneately not. I’ve been called to appear before the Royal Council of Generals and as you’re unlikely to require my services as your bodyguard for the time being, I don’t have any valid reasons to not appear,” Moonwhisper said. “Oh, well, that makes sense. Wait, you’re not in any trouble, are you?” Twilight asked. “I sincerely doubt it. Aside from the fact that I haven’t committed any offenses that would merit disciplinary action, there are specific procedures for that sort of things. No, I suspect this is intended to be more of a debriefing on how the guard is planning to handle your promotion to the status of reining princess. In any event, I doubt that the meeting will last for the entire time we’ll be here, so I’ll check in to see how I can assist once it’s concluded.” After exchanging a brief kiss goodbye with Twilight, Moonwhisper quickly began making his way to the Canterlot Guard’s Headquarters. Finding the headquarters itself posed little difficulty. Moonwhisper had spent a great deal of time there during the period he had been stationed in Canterlot and he knew the route there by heart. In all his time in Canterlot, however, Moonwhisper had never set hoof in the meeting room where the ponies tasked with advising the princesses on military matters convened, at least until today. As Moonwhisper approached the door to the meeting room, he felt an almost nostalgic sense of nervousness creep over him. It had been years since Moonwhisper had been called to report to a guard who ranked as his superior officer. The princesses, while unquestionably his superiors, were still ultimately civilians, whereas the ponies behind that door were among the most legendary warhorses alive. “Well, don’t just sit there like some stubborn raincloud, get in here already!” a gruff voice called out from inside. Moonwhisper hurriedly obeyed the order and quickly entered the room. Upon entering, Moonwhisper found himself face-to-face with a portly, nearly-spherical pegasus stallion who sported a walrus mustache that seemed to be trying to devour the lower half of his face. Though he had never met the pegasus before, Moonwhisper recognized him as General Bomb Cyclone, the commander of the guard’s aerial divisions and, in his younger days, one of the greatest fliers the guard had ever produced. “Harumph, so you’re the colt who’s been guarding Princess Twilight, then?” Moonwhisper short ramrod straight to as he snapped to attention. “Sir, that is correct. Captain Moonwhisper of the Ponyville Garrison reporting as ordered, sir!” “Well, at least you sound like a proper solider. At ease, captain,” Bomb Cyclone said as he turned and waddled back to the table in the center of the room where several other ponies were already seated, all of whom Moonwhisper immediately recognized. Seated next to Bomb Cyclone was another older pegasus stallion, General Fire Whirl, who directly oversaw many of the individual garrison captains, including Moonwhisper himself. Sitting across the table from Bomb Cyclone and Fire Whirl were a pair of unicorns, a stern unicorn stallion and an elderly mare. The mare was General Shooting Star, while the stallion was General Comet Tail, the commander of Equestria’s magical defenses. Standing in front of all four generals at once, Moonwhisper felt somewhat awestruck. Each pony before him was a legend in their own right, having served as Equestria’s defenders for decades. “Ease off the colt, you old windbag. You’re not a drill sergeant and nopony here’s impressed with your ability to yell at subordinates,” Fire Whirl snapped as Bomb Cyclone clambered into his seat. “Living legends who apparently bicker amongst each other like a pack of schoolfoals,” Moonwhisper silently thought to himself as the seated ponies continued to argue. “There’s nothing wrong with displaying a little discipline, Fire Whirl,” Comet Tail interjected. “I daresay, if the guard was a little more focused we might not be in the figurative hole we’re currently trying to dig ourselves out of.” “I don’t want to hear it, Comet, and especially not from you!” Fire Whirl yelled as he slammed a hoof on the table. “For years you’ve been telling all of us to leave Canterlot to you, and look where that’s left us. You’re as useless as that idiot nephew of yours, Blue Bile or whatever his name is.” “Blue Blood,” Shooting Star said. “And I think it would be best if the three of you could stop blustering like a pack of colts. Just because none of the princesses are present doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be maintaining the dignity of our rank.” The other three generals looked thoroughly chastened by their peer as they slumped back into their chairs while mumbling in half-hearted agreement. “Now then, perhaps we can move on to the issue at hoof, name Princess Twilight’s impending ascension and what role Captain Moonwhisper will be playing going forward. Captain, may I assume that you are already familiar with the Council of General’s role in Equestria?” “Ma’am yes ma’am. The council is responsible for overseeing the conduct and effectiveness of the garrison captains as well as advising Princess Celestia on matters of military concern,” Moonwhisper replied immediately. “That’s correct, captain. We are, essentially, the key link between the princesses and the guard. That role requires maintaining a high degree of trust between ourselves and Princess Celestia, and once Princess Twilight takes the throne, we’ll need to ensure that she trusts our judgement as well,” Shooting Star. “And that’s where you come into the picture,” Fire Whirl added. “Since you enjoy, let’s call it ‘unique access’ to the princess, you’re the ideal candidate to smooth out the transition process.” “Sir, permission to speak freely, sir?” Moonwhisper said. “Granted.” “Thank you. To clarify, are you instructing me to utilize my relationship with Princess Twilight to serve as a liaison between her and the council?” Moonwhisper asked, the faint edge creeping into his voice speaking volumes about his thoughts on the matter. “Not exactly,” Bomb Cyclone replied. “You wouldn’t just be a liaison for the council. We’d like to promote you to the council itself.” “And before you even ask, no, this isn’t entirely because you’re bedding the princess, either,” Comet Tail added, earning irritated glares from his fellows. “Oh don’t look at me like that, we all know it’s true.” “Perhaps, but at least the rest of us have the good taste to not say it out loud like that,” Fire Whirl growled. “Anyway, your contributions to the Canterlot rumor mill aside, captain, this is a promotion that we all agree you’ve earned on your own merits. Now, nothing about his is official yet, we still need to present the formal recommendation to Princess Celestia and have her sign off on it. But, I can’t imagine there will be any issues on that account. For the moment, we’re just giving you some advance notice so you can prepare yourself.” “Though I can imagine preparing for this won’t be all that different than the preparations you’ve likely already been making,” Shooting Star added. “Well, captain, do you have anything to say? You’ve become awfully quiet all of a sudden.” “Ma’am, no ma’am. I understand the council’s reasoning and if this the best way for me to serve Princess Twilight and Equestria in general then there’s nothing else to discuss,” Moonwhisper replied. “Good,” Bomb Cyclone snorted. “I’ll say this much, you’ve got the right attitude. So, since you’re ready to serve however you need to, perhaps you can start by putting together an assessment of Captain Shining Armor’s ‘enhancements’ to Canterlot security. Nothing too extensive necessarily, but we’d be interested in what you think of his work. Before we worry about that, though, I think we should adjourn for the time being. This has been enough excitement for one day, and if I’m not mistaken Comet Tail has some business with his Royal Gooseification Committee.” “The Royal Swanifying Committee,” Comet Tail corrected. “And I trust Fancy Pants to work with Princess Twilight to ensure everything goes smoothly. After all, I’m sure he’ll be able to help her understand what needs to be done and why the committee is necessary.”