//------------------------------// // Chapter13: Shield of the Night // Story: The Red Knight // by PhantomBulwark //------------------------------// The shock of having her sentence changed was nothing compared to finding out that her friends would be with her. When Luna had finished with her, Sunset was led to the stables. She was pounced on before she even made it through the door. “Sunny!” Pinkie cheered, “We’ve been waiting for ages.” “I- wh- what are you all doing here?” Applejack snorted, she finished pulling on the chest plate she’d been securing as Sunset entered. “Didn’t they tell ya, we’re goin with ya. We’re part of yer company.” “That’s right,” piped Flash, “if you’re off to fight then so are we.” “I’m happy to know how much I mean to you, all of you- but this- this is madness. This isn’t just jousts or tournaments like before. This is war!” Rainbow Dash pushed past the others. She was draped in the same blue-ish black armor as the rest, and beneath a midnight colored hood her eyes had a terrifying intensity. “You think we aren’t aware of the risk? We were prepared to die fighting today, what difference does it make if it’s today or tomorrow?” Cowed, Sunset nodded. “Sorry, and um… thank you.” Dash nodded, turning and shoving aside some other tunics and picking up a bow, intricately carved and dyed the same blue as everything else. “I suggest everyone grab a few weapons each, we’re headed for hell.” The process of picking and choosing what items to bring was long but eased by a promise from Captain Bulwark that a wagon would be provided. When they were finished, the Captain pulled Sunset aside. “I’ll give you a rundown of how this will go.” Bulwark said, slumping onto an old barrel. “There is a prison in Stalliongrad that we will visit. Any prisoner whose crimes are less than capital will be permitted to volunteer to fight in exchange for their freedom. We will train for three weeks in Stalliongrad, there I will teach you how to command a legion. You, in turn, will train your volunteers to fight. And when the last week is out, we will depart to the front line.” “You’ll be with us there too?” The Captain smiled, “the High Commander has a great deal of faith in you. I will be there for the first week, after that… you’re on your own. You will assign a messenger and they will keep us updated.” “She doesn’t think we’ll run?” “You didn’t before, you won’t now…” He smiled and got to his feet, “besides, there will be legions of Celestial guards behind you and hordes of Changelings in front. Where would you run to?” The morning dawned on them all in a guest room of Luna’s mansion. It was the best sleep Sunset could ever remember. Luna came to see them off, and as they prepared to ride with Bulwark and Sunset at the head, she smiled. “I wish you all the luck in the world.” Sunset chanced a smile back, “I have faith that I will see you again my lady,” she bowed as best she could before wheeling her horse around. She spurred the great black stallion forward, “Yah!” And they darted off, the others falling in behind her. They kept up a fierce pace. Captain Bulwark, for all his kindness, was a stern leader and did not allow them more than one stop per day and the ride to Stalliongrad was long. Three days they rode with haste before the small city was within their sight and Sunset was back in the place of her birth. They rested in a green grove, just outside the city and many people watched them from a distance. Some passersby whispered, others wondered aloud at their arrival. The apparent presence of soldiers wearing Luna’s colors drew attention, especially since Celestia’s banners were far more common these days. When the fourth day of their journey began, Sunset left the others to train and plan as she followed Bulwark into the city proper. She had no memory of her home town, save for the scars she carried from the fire. The market bustled with people but fell oddly silent as they passed through. Many people she saw were looking at her as if they had seen a ghost. Doing her best to ignore the attention, she kept her gaze ahead at the towering stone that made up the prison of Stalliongrad. Bulwark approached the guard at the great wooden door of the fortress and thrust out a letter with Luna’s seal. The guard eyed them both before opening it. “Guardsmen of Stalliongrad,” he read aloud. “By order of High Commander Luna, Commander of the armies of Equestria, and Princess of the Night the bearer of this letter shall be presented with all prisoners…” he fell silent as he read further. His head snapped up, “The High Commander would reinstate the Dark Regiment? She would fill her army with criminals and beggars?” “The High Commander’s word is law,” Sunset snapped, “Who are you to question the Princess of Darkness?” The guard took a startled step back, “and who might you be, my lady?” Captain Bulwark stepped forward, a dark look in his eye. “Take care how you speak to this one, guardsmen. I may be the Princess of Darkness’s red right hand… but this, this is her shield. I present Sunset Shimmer, General of the Dark Regiment, and Shield of the Night.” The guard stepped back and after a moment, bowed. “I will fetch you those prisoners who fit your requirements.”