//------------------------------// // One // Story: Civil War // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Aria I hate my life. Nothing is actually wrong with it, unless you want to count Spitfire and the other Royal Guards riding my ass during my months of training. Shit is ridiculous. Waking up at ungodly hours, having Spitfire get up in my face constantly. She’s lucky I haven’t swung on her yet. Don’t even get me started on the God awful food, the uncomfortable beds and the hours of walking or standing still. I’m still surprised Twilight personally requested me to be one of her few Royal Guards. “You know you don’t have to stand there at all times right?” Twilight asked as she startled me out of my musing. She flipped the page of her book as she sat on her chair in the library. “It makes me uncomfortable, Aria.” “Can’t,” I answered even though I desperately wanted to. Months of getting chewed out for disobeying orders made me secretly regret all the times I never listened to Adagio tell me to calm down. “Sunset would get after me and I think she is getting tired of me getting in trouble.” “True,” Twilight giggled as she looked at me. “Why did you agree to join the Guard? Didn’t really seem like the thing you’d be into.” “Why not?” I commented as I glanced at the other guard in the room. She was standing scarily still as I examined her mulberry mane and turquoise coat. She had a sun hidden behind a cloud for a cutie mark. Not that I could tell through her purple armor. I only know because I see her without it on at the barracks. “Good reason as any,” Twilight shrugged as she stood up. “You want a glass of water?” “No thanks,” I said as the unicorn guard gasped quietly and glared at me. “The Princess offered you a glass of water. Don’t be rude,” the mare chided as I glared back. “It’s okay Sunny Flare,” Twilight reassured her as Sunny opened the door with her magic. “Aria is my friend, I’m dating her sister and she has every right to turn me down or say when she disagrees. It’s not rude to have opinions.” “Yes Princess,” Sunny muttered as she relaxed her glare. “Are you still doing that speech about allowing the changelings into Equestria? Not that I’m against it but it’s dangerous. Somepony put a bounty on your head after all.” “Kiss ass,” I muttered under my breath. “Yes I am. I am not afraid and I will continue to do this until everypony accepts the changelings,” Twilight said adamantly as we followed her down the hall. “Nothing will stop me. You are both dismissed. Is that the uh term?” “Yeah it is,” I grinned as I trotted ahead at a more eager speed. “Thanks Twilight. Don’t forget to treat my sister right tonight after your date if you know what I mean. And don’t forget the sound proof spell.” Sunny gasped as Twilight turned red and sputtered incoherent words. I gave a grin as I disappeared up the stairs with Sunny behind me. I love teasing Twilight. “You know, that was rude right?” I rolled my eyes and gagged a bit. I hate strick rule followers. I tossed my purple helmet off and watched it bounce under my bunk. Twilight was practically obsessed with purple so my armor was her purple coat color and her cutie mark emblazoned on the front with my own cutie mark on each side of the flank armor. I flopped down on my bed as Blitz gave me a sympathetic look over her book. “That bad, huh?” Blitz asked as she closed her book after sticking a book mark to keep her spot. I glanced over at the jet black pegasus and her smokey grey mane. She had a light blue star on her flank. “Yeah,” I admitted as I stretched out on my bunk. Sunny Flare was widely regarded as the worst guard to be partnered with. At least Lemon Zest was fun to be around. “Who is assigned with her next?” “Me,” Sour Sweet raised a hoof from her bed. Her, Lemon and I were the only Earth Ponies in the castle assigned to Twilight. “Because I love, love, love spending time with an annoying mare!” We all collectively snickered as I struggled to get the rest of my armor off. Berry Blast stood and approached me with a large grin that made me uncomfortable. “Want help?” The twin unicorn sister of Blitz asked eagerly. I sighed and nodded as she started levitating my armor off and hung it up properly along with the helmet that rolled under my bed. “Thanks,” I grumbled as I fell backwards on my bed. Thank the stars Twilight insisted we got real beds. And yes, she insisted on them being bunk beds for some unknown reason. Indigo Zap snored from her bed as the pegasus above me dropped a hoof over the edge. It was slightly weird to know two versions of everyone here except Blitz, Berry Blast and Glimmer Shine. We all glanced at the door as Sunny Flare trotted in and started levitating her armor off, meticulously hanging it up. “Princess Twilight has requested our presence in her room. She wants us to bring pillows and blankets,” Sunny announced as she faced us. “Okay Private,” Lemon snickered as she rolled her pillow and blanket up. “Remember, I technically outrank you.” “You’re a private first class!” Sunny exclaimed and narrowed her eyes. “Not that much of outranking. Aria has more of a rank. Why she got temporary put in charge, I’ll never know.” “Because I’m a bad bitch,” I proclaimed with a grin as everyone except Sunny and Sugarcoat laughed. At least Sugarcoat wore a faint smile as the unicorn levitated her sleep wear on her back. “And maybe she likes me more.” “I doubt that it’s it,” Sunny muttered as I kicked the bed above me with my forelegs. “Indigo, wake up!” I shouted as the pegasus rolled off the edge of the bed. “TwiTwi needs us.” “Princess Twilight!” Sunny corrected as an annoyed Indigo groaned and glared at her from her spot on the floor. “Shut it, Sunny!” I rolled my eyes as I trotted out the door. May the gods have mercy on me.