//------------------------------// // Well, I should keep my big mouth shut. // Story: The Light's Chosen (Archived Version) // by The Warrior Of Darkness //------------------------------// A Month passed by since Skye had nearly been pulled back into his memories, made to live the hell that he himself came up with. He dutifully kept his mouth shut, and never engaged in one of Princess Luna's games again. To the outside, he was a guard, another spear for the Princesses uses, but since that, he had found no motivation to do anything else, so he stuck to either training, or reading books of Equestria's ecology, hoping to keep the pressing issues out of his mind. Skye turned another page in a book that he had been recommended by Nightingale, Equestrian Ecology and How it Affects Magic. The book had surprisingly been interesting, showing him ways magic blended with the environment, similar to how Primals infect their environments. However, his mind was elsewhere; the outburst of darkness a month ago was not a coincidence, he had been absorbing darkness in varying amounts, to purge it with his innate light. It had been a slow and tedious amount of work, but he had successfully lowered it down. The darkness had been flowing from Princess Luna, it drifting off, unnoticeable from her, but he could see it clear as day, and had begun the process of removal. Normally, he would have considered just outright telling her, but she had been relatively cold to him, falling into her royal mask, and while he did not understand why, he assumed it had something to do with Princess Celestia. It had been no where near better with her, considering when she did speak to him, they were probing questions, ones that pertained to his biology, and his magics. He kept the details vague, not wanting to tell her the full range, in hopes that it would quell her desires. It at least worked a bit, and she did not bring it up again. His guard duties, were going... for lack of a better word swimmingly. Captain Nightshade had really seemed to soften up to him, they often shared stories from their adventurers. She often spoke about her childhood, while he spoke about random adventures he often had with the Scions. "Ahem. Guardsman Pendragon, your required in the throne room" This was spoken by a guard that Skye didn't recognize, they wore black armor that signified the Lunar Guard, so it must be a guard he just hadn't become familiar with, so he stood up, and made his way to the shelf that held the book. After doing so, he turned around, shifting his aether to the energies of the dragoon, and he took up the manifestation of the soul crystal, taking on it's form. Scaled armor, quickly replaced clothing, a helmet covering his eyes. The guard then proceeded to move towards the library's entrance, Skye following close behind. It didn't take them long to reach the room, and when it was opened, it revealed many guards that wore armor similar to his captain's. He assumed that they were captains as well, and he then saw a white unicorn with varying degrees of blue as his hair. This one wore purple regalia armor, the sides marked with gold. It was bulky, and reminded him much like the armor of Paladins. Hopefully he did not have their sense of humor, which meant 'fun' was to throw themselves into as many enemies as possible. While Skye was assessing the newcomers, he did not notice that all eyes shifted to him, he expected it considering his attire but he was sure that by now everyone had come to know that their was a being that was not native to their world. As he came to, he finally noticed the staring, so thinking quickly, he grabbed his polearm, keeping it parallel in front of himself, while standing up straight. "Guardsman Pendragon, reporting for duty!" He had learned that this was the easiest way to get ponies that did not know him to settle down with the shifting, showing that he was a guard, not a threat. It was at this moment that Princess Celestia made her voice known. "At ease, guardsman. You were brought here along with the captains of both the Lunar Guard and the Solar Guard to be briefed on upcoming plans that will be occurring soon. Captain Shining Armor?" The floor was turned over to the unicorn that he now knew the name of. 'Shining Armor? Bit much on the nose ain't it?' Skye thought as he tuned in to the unicorn. "As you may or may not know, In the next upcoming months I will be getting married to Princess Cadence, here in Canterlot Castle. We've also become aware that the castle has been threatened by an unknown party, and so it is advised that guard activity be increased at the start of the new year." Shining began to continue, but was interrupted. "And so what does this have to do with me?" All heads quickly turned to Skye, as he raised the question. "I'm just a simple guard, this could've been told to me by my captain." He looked towards Nightshade, who was giving him a look of death. He would've backed down, but he had become use to her glares, noting that they weren't more serious than an angry chocobo. "If it all the same to you-" "How dare you interrupt Shining Armor!" This came from one of the guards that had solar regalia. Skye gave him his full undivided attention. "You were ordered to be hear, so such your mouth and let the Captain of the Royal Guard speak!" The armored pegasus said. He was swiftly cut of by Shining by a wave of the hand. Shining turned to Skye, speaking in a stern voice. "While I do not appreciate being interrupted, the princesses asked that you be here. Guardsman Pendragon was it? You are an unknown to our lands and while you've made no active attempt to show aggression, ponies are still apprehensive about your presence." Shining finished. Skye let that soak for a moment as Shining went back to addressing the assembled captains. "So, you want me to what? Disappear for the day of the wedding or something?" He was quickly shot a glare by not only Nightshade but the other captain as well. Shining eyed him for a moment before speaking. "No, you've been invaluable as a guard here, and we have much to gain from your presence at the castle. Your armor would probably stop anypony from doing something drastic. We would like to place you as a personal guard, in the event that there is an attack, you would- "So, I'm a glorified bodyguard then why-" Skye was interrupted to the same captain marching up to him. His yellow eyes brightened in fury. "Shut it guardsman! You were brought here to be briefed! Not to talk back to your superiors. If you do not shut your mouth, I will do so for you!" He was quickly pulled back by Nightshade. "My apologies for my guardsman's insubordination Captain Bright-bend. I'll reprimand him immediately." She gave him a look that told him to come here, Skye complied. "What the buck are you doing? Stop talking and just listen! I have been lax on drilling you but it would seem that it's necessary!" the thestral screeched in hushed tones. She then gave him the same chilling look, before going back towards the group. The Captain known as Bright-bend looked very smug that he had been reprimanded, like a child that had been tattled on. Skye then and there decided to straight up knock the boiling pot that had been started over, and stomp on it's contents. "While I was advised to not continue with speaking I find myself wanting to talk even more. Sorry if this inconveniences you Bright-bend." He jested, mocking the captain by not adding his title. It was at this moment that the fight broke out, with the captain punching Skye in the side of his armored face, he immediately retaliated, his veins coming to a boil as they tensed up in anticipation of the impending fight. Skye slugged Bright right back, as he didn't waver as he took hold of the power of the monk, the armor changing and his face being reveled, a slight smirk to boot. Skye surged forward, wanting to get as many punches in before Bright had time to react, going low for a punch to the gut, only for Bright to block the oncoming attack, and retaliate with his own, smashing his head against Skye's. Skye quickly leapt back, checking to make sure that there was no visible wound, as he identified that there was only slight head trauma, he leapt back toward the pegasus, only to note that he had pulled a blade from no where. This only made him burn even more, wanting to be the one to show that blade's mean nothing in the wake of his fists. In his excitement, he didn't notice that the blade had pierced his face, it running down the left side of his face, before exiting. Skye quickly placed his fingers on the wound, knowing exactly what he'll find, the color of blood staining the gauntlets. Skye smiled, activating Fists of Wind, his accelerated movement bringing him closer to his target. With glee like a child, he activated Fist of Fire, as to increase the damage of the blow he was going to do. He was going to use a true strike, infusing the built up speed of his momentum, and the devastating power of the other ability. This was going to her Bright more than him, he slammed forward, ready to drive the fist into the captain's face, only for him to be sharply pulled back by Captain Nightshade, her voice clearing the smoke in his head. "What are you doing? You looked like you were trying to kill him! You were grinning and everything, had I not stopped you, you both would have been hurt or worse!" She stated, anger in her voice. Skye finally took notice of his position. He had been ready to not only pummel Bright but, he had wanted to teach him a lesson. That wouldn't have been one of humility. Skye took a look at Bright to see he was being pulled back as well, the magical aura of Shining Armor evident on him. He had to fix this, quickly, and so he tore himself out of Nightshade's grip, grabbing hold of the power of the White Mage, as soon as the staff was in his grasp he left off a powerful spell, Asylum, the field healing him and the captain, no noticeable scars left over, as he was rushed by the other captains. It looked like he had used too much energy up on fighting and healing, as he faded to consciousness, he took one last look at Captain Bright, to see that he was in much better shape than before. 'Good'.