//------------------------------// // Love and Peace // Story: The Three Guards // by BarbarianBrony //------------------------------// Time in itself is a very relative thing. For some it seems there is never enough, while to others there is always too much of it. The festival had reached its conclusion, and for many it was a sad sight, one that will be missed terribly. The calm streets finally returned to Canterlot, and what was once a fun filled area now resumed its dull and lackluster appearances. Finally, I can get back to some sense of normality in my life. Ace will quit trying to hook me up with any mare that was not already taken. He just does not understand that I want more than a simple rut. Buckler sighed as he trotted towards the nightclub Syn Trotters. He stopped several yards away from the club as he eyed the giant stallion of a bouncer and the crowded line that led up to him. Great now I have to wait forever, or I just could skip visiting her altogether. Buckler mused as he looked at neon blue sign; unfortunately the bouncer spotted him and called him over. “You Buckler?” he asked in deep bass voice once Buckler got close enough. “Yeah, how did you know?” Buckler replied as he trotted up to the neon green Stallion. “Boss is waiting for you. Take these.” He grunted as he put three blue glow sticks around the slightly smaller stallion’s neck. “She said she would find you on her break and to enjoy your drinks on the house.” “Umm…ok then I guess. Thank you…Sorry, what is your name?” “Big Bass.” He said as he opened the door for Buckler. “Enjoy your time here at Syn Trotters.” He called over his shoulder as Buckler walked into the club. Once inside Buckler looked around and saw what looked to be an old jazz lounge redone into a club. The large stage had stairs leading up to it for ponies to dance around the tower that had been built to house the DJ and their equipment. It was like one of the guard towers keeping the DJ out of harm’s way but still allowing them to see everything that was going on. It still had the large circular booths to allow those who wanted to rest and drink to do so without compromising the need for dance space. Lights flashed all across the club almost in rhythm to the music. On stage there was at least thirty ponies dancing and enjoying the pounding bass pouring out of nowhere. Buckler took it all in and went over to the bar, which was behind a wall of sound proof glass. “Evening there, Mr. VIP, what can I get you to drown yerself in?” the buttercup yellow unicorn mare tending the bar asked cheerfully. She smiled as she gestured to all the bottles behind her. “How did you know I was a VIP?” Buckler asked as he took in the vastness of her selections. “Blue glow sticks mark VIPs, while green mark those who have can drink, and red marks the minors who cannot drink. Blue ones also come in ranks so we know what you are allowed to have access to and how important you are. You, my cute little stallion, are a Grade Three which means you are of the utmost importance. Second one in Syn’s history as a matter of fact.” She informed him. “If you see anything you like let me know and I will whip it up for you.” She winked and sauntered off to take care of a mare who was waving her down for a drink. Buckler watched her go enjoying the view before he remembered that he should be focusing on what he wanted to drink over enjoying the nice view of her plot. He looked at the rows of bottles recognizing a few and decided on a nice whiskey to have a whiskey sour made out of. He looked back her and saw her making three drinks while easily holding a conversation with her customer. He looked her cutie mark and saw a red tulip which made him give pause; somepony who has a flower for a cutie mark serves drinks, which was strange. He snapped back to attention as he saw her now standing in front of him again. “Know what you are hankering for?” she asked smiling brightly. “Well your name would be a lovely start” Buckler said without thinking. He facehooved after realizing what he said. She laughed gently, “My name is Red Tulip, but my friends just call me Tulip.” Buckler just sat there looking at her happily. Her laugh was softer than silk. “Can I have a whiskey sour then? Made with 10 year old Hickory Pressed whiskey, triple shot please.” “Triple shot for a first drink? Either you are a pro or something is bothering you.” She said as she started to make his drink. “Second one,” he said as she set his drink in front of him. Tulip raised her eyebrow and motioned him to continue. “I have to meet my sister and she hasn’t seen me in six years and I never know how she is going to react. She was against me going into the guard but I knew where I belonged and I went against her wishes…” “Which I knew was going to happen no matter how hard I tried to convince you otherwise.” A voice sounded out from behind Buckler which made his blood freeze, before turning he quickly downed his drink. “H-hey there sis...” he said with a pseudo grin plastered on his face. She quickly trotted over to him and raised her hoof rapidly; Buckler flinched knowing what was about to happen. Vinyl however did not strike him instead she pulled him into a tight hug. With tears slowly falling from behind her signature shades, she held onto him not wanting to let him go. Once his shock had worn off he embraced her as well. Eventually they broke of the deeply needed reunion hug. After she had regained her composure she looked him square in the eyes which was hard considering he was a head taller than her. She beckoned him closer to her, as Buckler bent down she slugged him right in the jaw. “That was for not writing in THREE years, you stupid little hoof sucker, worried me half to death! Of all the STUPID things you have done...running off to join the guard without so much as a SINGLE word to me. You COULD HAVE died or something! If you ever do something like this to me EVER again, I WILL rip your bucking wings off you GOT me!?” After every raised tone in her voice she jabbed him hard in the chest. Anger flowed off of her in waves. “Yes, ma’am.” he said wincing at all the fresh bruises as he flexed them checking for any major injuries. The only one that actually hurt was his jaw. At least her right hook has not gotten any better. “Now then little Buckie care to explain why you didn’t invite me to your graduation?” she demanded as she sat down beside him at the bar and looked at her bartender. “The usual, Tulip.” Tulip nodded as she moved away to make the drink. Buckler on the other hand looked terrified of what was about to come. “W-well, Vinyl, I did not think you would want to come since you were opposed to me joining the guard. So I did not send you an invite since I was worried you were going to be furious at me for joining and ignoring your wishes. I knew that joining the Guard was what I was going to do since I was a colt, but you were afraid of me getting hurt.” Buckler said as he avoided her looking at him. “I only wanted you to be safe, you were all I had left in this world. Losing you would kill me. I was mad at first and wanted to drag your sorry flank home, but a friend told me that if you constantly crowd a plant it can never blossom into what it should be; all things need space to grow and a light to follow to gain strength.” She sighed as she looked away from him, “It killed me to let you go but I knew I was just being selfish, so I decided to follow my own dream and built this club. Took me several years to finish and get enough people hired to keep her running, but it was well worth it.” “How did you afford this?” he asked worried as to what she had done to get that many bits. “I sold everything I had of value to get this place and rebuilt it by myself to what you see now. I sunk everything into it and hoped it would pay off in the end.” she said wistfully as she looked at all her hard work. “I am proud of you, sis.” “Thanks and I am proud of you as well, kiddo” she said pulling him into an embrace. Tulip cleared her throat and pointed at the clock above the bar. Vinyl looked up and saw what time it was “Sorry, Buckie, gotta go pump out some more tunes to keep the ponies happy.” “I got your drink down at the end of the bar, Vinyl” Tulip said as she trotted away to where she had left the drink. Vinyl nodded as she broke the embrace and said her goodbyes. Once Vinyl had reached where Tulip was waiting she was greeted by a slightly icy glare. “What’s wrong there Red?” she asked worried that someone had been rude to her again. “When are you going to tell him?” Tulip asked coldly. “Tell him what?” “You bucking know what!” she growled at her boss. Vinyl shifted nervously as she came into the full force of her friend’s fury. “I don’t know alright. How could I tell him after all these years? I don’t want him to be hurt.” Tulip softened as she saw Vinyl’s tears flowing again. She pulled the crying mare into a tight hug as she softly stroked her mane. “Shh...It will be alright, but he needs to know sooner rather than later.” She said softly into her friend’s ear. “Now go on; your rabid fans are waiting for you to lift their spirits.” Vinyl smiled and grabbed her drink. She quickly walked through a door beside the bar; soon the soundproof glass started vibrating again as the DJ cranked her bass as loud as it would go. Buckler sat and watched as the two mares talked. He realised that over the past six years they had both changed and grown into strong ponies that their parents would have been proud of. He remained lost in thought as Tulip pranced back to join him. “...nice isn’t it?” “I am sorry what?” Buckler muttered in embarrassment that he had not heard half of what she had been saying to him. Tulip smiled and repeated herself, “Her music is nice isn’t it?” “Oh...umm...honestly I never knew my sister was all that into music. She never showed any interest in it when I was a colt. We mostly only saw each other once I was out of school and she was always so tired after she got off work that she mostly just liked to talk about my day. She always looked after me and tried to help me whenever she could. She was the best sister I could have asked for; I wanted to make her proud and decided to join the Guard once I was old enough to show her what I had become thanks to her. I am glad that she now has this place though, I have not seen her smile so much in a very long time.” Buckler said smiling proudly as he watched Vinyl pump out beats. “She should be very proud of what you have become,” Tulip said smiling grandly. “Now what else can I get you, Mr. VIP?” “Nothing else, I want to keep a clear head so I can remember this night for a long time.” As the night progressed they talked about many things, from music to Canterlot gossip. They quickly became good friends and he found himself coming back to the club every night for the next week. Time moved very fast for Buckler as he spent time reconnecting with his sister and getting to know her workers. However, as the week reached it’s conclusion he was not able to come as much since he had to prepare for the Goddess of the Night’s return. He spent what little time he now had learning about etiquette from a thousand years ago and its strange customs. He and Ace worked hard training together so they could react without communicating. Ace also taught him what was expected of him as a guard while in court: where to stand, how to stand, and how to look for unseen dangers by observing ponies body language. As time went on Buckler realized his importance as one of the first in the reestablished Lunar Guards, but tomorrow he would be put to the test. Tomorrow is coming, but the night shall stay a little longer than planned. Giving birth to the Nightmare of old, and her fall which heralds the return of our Princess Luna. A/N Hey guys sorry it took so long. I have had a lot on my plate at work what with All Hallow's Eve coming up...yes we are getting ready for that since I work in candy at Wal*Mart. Also started working out 3 day a week and learning to make a chainmail shirt lol. Anyways I will try to get updates out more often now that I kinda have a balance again.