//------------------------------// // Chapter 34 // Story: Eclipse // by Hiver //------------------------------// “Sorry for slipping away like that,” I said as we walked along the top of the Canterlot wall. Swift smiled, “Don’t worry about it. Minuette said family trouble?” I sighed, “Yeah,” before I nodded, “All solved now though.” He nodded, “Sometimes the safest thing to do is just to leave for a bit. Let everypony involved calm down.” “Got that right.” We walked in silence for a while before I frowned, “Say, what’s up with Cloud? I checked his place earlier and somepony else lived there now. DId he move?” Swift laughed and nodded, “He did. The dumbass got his tail transferred!” I blinked at him, “What, where?” “Got too good at what he was doing, got transferred to scout training in Las Pegasus as an instructor!” I grinned, “Cloud as an instructor? Save the guard!” Swift grinned, “I know what you mean.” “...He is really good at what he does though,” I then admitted, “Good for him. It does come with a raise, right?” “Yep. Trainer positions always do. Because you have to deal with trainees.” “Or nobody would do them,” I agreed. Swift nodded, “Ponies are idiots. You’d be surprised how dumb soldiers can be, especially when bored.” “Well, I have heard stories,” I admitted, “I guess some things are the same no matter which species.” “So they are, your highness.” I rolled my eyes and shot him a look, “Oh please.” “Well,” he said and shrugged, “Considering I’m on duty and you are a royal alicorn, I remember something in the rule book about it being required.” I grumbled and stopped, looking out over the view from the wall and the empty space outside, stretching all the way out to the horizon. I could see Ponyville in the distance in the light of the rising sun. Swift stopped and stood next to me, one hoof raised and resting on the battlements as if he was posing. Why wou- I rolled my eyes again, speaking with a low voice I knew wouldn’t carry, “Come on, dude. You have two mares already.” “Not my fault you’re being followed by a pair of complete babes,” he answered in the same quiet tone, “We’re not all alicorns, I have to not look bad next to you. I’m representing the entire Night Guard here.” I tried not to grin. Well, he wasn’t wrong, Shade and Leaf were both really attractive. They kept to a respectful distance, but they followed me as we walked. “Not my fault,” I told him quietly, “I may be able to slip my guards at times in Nocturnis, but if I tried it anywhere else Moon Glow would tie a weight to my tail.” Swift looked amused, “As she should,” he agreed before he returned his voice to normal volume, “Did Princess Luna talk to you about the plans yet?” “Plans?” I asked, “What plans?” “Oh. Apparently not.” I glowered at him, “What plans!?” Swift grinned, “An outpost for Night and Solar guards in Nocturnis. Survival training as well as difficult terrain.” I frowned at that, “Oh really?” He hesitated slightly, “...Nopony really told you?” “They did not,” I said with a small frown, looking out over the lands below again. If Swift knew about it, it was likely pretty far into planning already. “When was this planned for?” I asked, looking at him again. “...Look, I only heard rumors and only because I’m likely getting assigned to it because of my previous experience in Nocturnis and the jungle,” he admitted, “At least another couple of months before it’s announced.” I raised an eyebrow at that. Going with the regular timeframe for that sort of thing, that would make it ponies starting to arrive in six months or so. On one hoof, a combined Night and Solar guard outpost in town would bring in quite a lot of ponies with bits to pour into the local economy. It would be a real boost for us. On the other, the perception from my ponies would be a… well, the optics were horrible. It might be possible to spin it, especially if leaning into the economic angle, but this could very easily make quite a lot of ponies very unhappy. Buck, if things went bad enough my ponies might treat them like an occupying force! …But bits. A lot of bits. Soldiers got paid and they literally would have nowhere else to spend them than in Nocturnis. Swift seemed content in keeping quiet and letting me think. Lot’s of bits. A training compound/outpost was likely hundreds of ponies at the very least. Hundred times what a even a private guards pony made, even ignoring bits put away for savings, bills, sent to family and such… We’re talking many thousands of bits a month at the very least. Bucking damn it, despite the drawbacks… and there would be definite upset ponies by this… it was a lot of bits into the money pouches of my ponies. But even then it would be a really, really hard sell. “Thanks for letting me know,” I told him, “I’m sure something can be arranged, but I have to discuss matters with Luna and Celestia. I’m sure it has just been missed with the practice trip.” Swift nodded, “Yes sir.”