Civil War

“I’m really sorry about this,” Wallflower said as I watched her and Sunbeam staring at their training pony dummies. “How are you today? Must be kinda sad to be tossed into a closet after ponies are done beating you up.”

“Hey!” Bon Bon shouted as I glanced at the cream colored mare with blue and pink curls. “Quit making love to the thing and hit it!”

I’ll admit, I had a grudging respect for the Earth Pony mare. She was intriguingly enough well trained in hoof to hoof combat. How, I have no clue but I presumed either former royal guard or took safety courses.

“Y-yes Instructor Bon Bon!” Wallflower shouted hastily as she punched the dummy. Bon Bon gave a satisfied nod as she approached me and blew her whistle.

“Sunbeam! Focus on the moving target. Shoot it, don’t stare at it!” Bon Bon shouted and glared at the yellow unicorn. Sunbeam nodded hastily as she shot of yellow beams of magic and shattered the wooden targets behind the dummy.

“I never would have pegged you as a Guard instructor,” I said as I watched the two newbies training as Spitfire and Aria fought.

“Oh I’m just an outside pony. I have a history with this lifestyle so to speak,” Bon Bon chuckled as she drank from a water bottle. “The bits are nice to say the least. Helps when the store is a bit slow. Especially with Hearths Warming coming up.”

“Mhm.”

“What does Spitfire have planned for Wallflower?” Bon Bon asked curiously as we watched the small mare get smacked by the dummy accidentally and stumble backwards. “She’s small and isn’t necessarily the strongest.”

“I agree. She wants her to learn how to spy. Wallflower is scarily good at blending in. And I thought I was an expert at espionage.”

“What do you mean?”

“The fact that Golden Harvest and Spike are in a secret relationship and he sneaks out of the castle every other night to be with her. Big Mac had been arrested when he was a colt for public intoxication. Berry Punch pressed charges recently against her ex in Manhattan and demanded child support. Berry Blast has a thing for a stallion from Canterlot, Blitz is dating a stallion from Cloudsdale. Thunderlane and Sour Sweet are in a secret relationship,” I answered casually as I kept an eye on the other ponies.

“Wow,” Bon Bon said in awe. “Good on Spike. Golden has been lonely for a while. I mean it’s just her and Noi. Written Script had a bit of a health problem before he died. She must have decided she was ready for a relationship. Why Spike though?”

“Who knows?” I shrugged. “If I find out, I’ll let you know. She and Spike got busy the other night if you get my meaning.”

“No way,” Bon Bon smirked. “So that’s why Silver Speed was watching Noi the other night. Did you hear that Silver Speed was debating on joining the guard? Silver Spoons sister.”

“Interesting. I don’t know either of them.”

“Silver Speed is a nice mare. She and Shoeshine work together in a business they own. Rumor has it Shoeshine might apply. They do have a bit of a criminal past allegedly.”

“Oh interesting.”

That could be a bit of decent blackmail material if I was into such activities. I preferred to leave that to Indigo. She had a surprisingly good talent when it came to blackmailing others to things to benefit the Crown or the Guard.

“Alright I’m gonna get back to training these two. You can keep watching.”

“That was the plan.”

“Where you from?” I asked casually as Wallflower and I trotted down the castle corridors. It was the middle of the night and the other Guards were asleep. Wallflower and I were pulling the night shift.

“Ivy Ridge. Small town on the other side of Equestria, near the Equestrian Yak border. You?”

“Palm City.”

“Really?” Wallflower asked with a small smile.

“No,” I said as Wallflowers smile faded. “If you want a future in espionage, you’re going to know when to lie. But sometimes, the truth is better than the lie. Sprinkle some truth into your fake background. Where you’re from, who you dated as a filly. The like. I’m actually from Fairview, up near Cloudsdale.”

“Is that the truth?” Wallflower asked with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged and glanced back at the mare.

“That’s for you to decide. My special talent is reading ponies. Body language, subtle shifts in their tone or facial expressions. I can read their feelings. You’re afraid. But afraid of what?”

Wallflower opened her mouth as I held up a hoof to stop her. I pointed with my hoof at the black shadow standing down the hall.

“Do you see that?” I asked quietly as Wallflower nodded. I adjusted my helmet and nodded for her to follow me. We quietly snuck down the hall and I gripped my spear. “Freeze! Don’t move or you’ll be taken down.”

The mare froze after she spun around. I glared at a pink unicorn as she glared back.

“It’s been nice meeting you but I have better things to do. Like reporting back.”

I threw my spear aside and swung a hoof at the mare, slamming into her jaw as she staggered back, levitating Wallflower and slamming us together.

Wallflower groaned as I pushed myself up. I used my wings to propel me forward as I tackled the mare and we went rolling across the floor. The cloak was ripped aside in the fall and I took in her light white mane and blossom cutie mark.

“The castle is off limits at this time of night. State your business,” I said coldly and pressed a hoof against her chest to pin her down.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” The mare spat and glared at me as Wallflower joined my side. “Thanks for the fighting class, but you’re old and slow.” Seriously? I’m only twenty eight. That isn’t old.

Her horn glowed as a white light blinded Wallflower and myself. As soon as I could see again, the mare was gone.

“Where did she go?” Wallflower asked as she rubbed her eyes. I picked up my spear and leaned it against the wall as I groaned.

“I don’t know. Come on, we have to alert the others.”

We nodded at each other before galloping down the hall.