//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Well That Escalated Quickly 
// Story: Royal Bodyguard: Fire and Ice 
// by Jasper77W 
//------------------------------//

Author: Sorry to all that actually liked this story. Was unexpected, as the story barely has a storyline. Just me, writing whatever comes to mind- and that can be very slow at times. This chapter is pretty rushed... But I'll try up the quality back to normal standards in future chapters. 



"Oh buck... Thanks Hal, if it weren't for you we wouldn't have- EEK!!" Blaze jumped away from Halcyon's right arm, which was slowly forming a puddle of blood in the grass. He backed away from it, constantly rubbing his eyes and not believing what he was seeing. 
"Halcyon!" he yelled, but he could potentially be miles away from their last location. "Oh, god..." he slumped down under a tree, his back pressing into the rough surface of the trunk. He felt sick, both emotionally and physically. He couldn't help but blame himself for what happened- if only he could've been more useful...
The guilt alone was enough to make him whimper. 
"Oh Halcyon... What have I done..." he buried his face in his hooves. It made his heart ache, thinking that Halcyon may be slaughtered by now. He quickly shook it off- nothing is certain yet.
He started climbing the tree behind him, just to see if he could get a clear view of where they were.
Stay military, Blaze- He told himself. Need to keep calm if you want to get Hal outta there.
He finally reached the top, shielding his eyes from the bright sun. By now either Canterlot or Ponyville should have noticed that the train had gone missing- as it was supposed to reach Canterlot at five in the morning. From what he could tell of the sun, it was more or less ten in the morning- five hours since scheduled arrival. 
He has no idea where Halcyon teleported him- but he could judge just about where he was. 
Thick smoke was still evident in the air from the train wreck- and from the looks of it, it wasn't really far away. Canterlot was in the distance, so Halcyon should be somewhere between the two.
"Stay put..." Blaze said, his horn glowing. He decided to teleport in- since he'll have a low chance of finding Hal in time if he were to make it on hoof. 
The world flashed, and he was in the middle of the clearing they were in a second ago. 
"There he is!" a diamond dog yelled.
"Huh." Blaze was surprised by the precision of his estimate. Casting that surprise aside, he drew his burning sword.
"Blaze- damnit Blaze! You bucking idiot! I didn't sacrifice my arm so you could just come back and get killed!" Halcyon yelled angrily, tied to a tree and her wound bleeding freely and blood dripping down the tree trunk. She looked down, gritting her teeth. Tears drifted down her cheeks as a frustrated frown found its way onto her face. "I... I just wanted to see you alright. Why would you disobey that wish?" she looked up, her expression sending needles through Blaze's heart. 
"You know, I hate it when I lose something." Blaze's eyes were shielded away under the shadow of his mane. "That gutting feeling. I hate it. I can accidentally drop ten cents down a drain and kick myself for it. You think I could live on normally if I knew I could've done something to save you?" he looked up, eyes unwavering.
"Blaze..." Halcyon looked away- What more is there to say?
"I'm doing this for the both of us. Not just you, not just me." Blaze turned the blade on its side, the orange metal catching a glint of sunlight. "This is one fight I won't be losing."
"Touching." the head diamond dog said dryly, tilting his head to one side and causing his neck to crack loudly. "Get him. Then we can slowly burn the two of them to death together and get their heads..."
"My head's staying on my shoulders." Blaze said. "And so is Hal's." he added.
The earth beneath his hooves suddenly lifted, a diamond dog leaping out with claws flashing. Blaze rolled back, the sword stabbed into the ground to stop him from tumbling too far.
He pulled it out, swinging it around at the dog's head. As expected, he blocked the sword with a claw. Blaze kicked down- stallions might not have razor sharp claws, but you don't want to get anywhere near those legs and hooves. 
His hoof cracked down onto the dog's leg, shattering the bone inside. The flesh on the outside was torn apart as it cracked into a ninety-degree angle, blood splattering onto the grass. 
The diamond dog yelped in pain, crumbling down, giving Blaze a clean cut at his neck. The screaming was abruptly cut short, gurgling to a stop.
"I'm still a royal guard. And I will carry out my duties-" Blaze's horn glowed, the sword burning a bright orange. "As the fury of Equestria." 
The ground around him broke apart, diamond dogs crawling out. He jumped back, a dog's claws falling short. He stabbed the sword down into his paw, anchoring the dog to the ground. 
He turned around, slamming a hoof into another dog's wrist, sending the strike under his arm. He brought his arm down, clamping the dog by the wrist; the claw uselessly trying to grab at Blaze.
He swung a hoof into the dog's face, but still didn't let go. Blood and spittle flew off, and Blaze struck again. The diamond dog tried to block it, but Blaze's hoof found its way into his ribs. He felt the bone crack under the force, and twisted. He heard a loud crack behind him as he twisted the dog's arm, then let go and kicked backwards. The battered and near-dead diamond dog tumbled across the grass, finally resting on the ground and close to pieces. 
Blaze kicked a back hoof into the diamond dog he anchored to the ground earlier, cracking its head back and tearing the adam's apple apart. He yanked the sword out, turning around to face the third diamond dog.
Blaze threw the sword like a javelin, sending it slicing through the air. The diamond dog stepped to the side, the sword flying past. Taking the opportunity that Blaze has been disarmed, it lunged.
There was a bright flash, and the sword was in Blaze's hooves again. The sword was enchanted like Halcyon's bow, and the owners could summon the weapons any time they wanted. 
The diamond dog fell for the trap, and ran straight through the blade. Blaze heard two separate thuds behind him as the body fell to the ground, and didn't bother looking back. 
The last diamond dog leaped out of the ground, and Blaze blocked the strike with his arm guard, attached to the armor. He pushed the dog away, backing off and trailing the sword behind him. 
The diamond dog lunged forward, an outstretched claw reaching out before him. Blaze aimed the tip of the sword directly at the palm, and stabbed forth. The sword slid through the dog's claw, then its momentum carried its head into the tip as well. The sword slid into its skull and halved its brain, and its claw made a dull thud as it hit the hilt of the sword. Blaze yanked it out, the dead diamond dog crumpling down onto the floor.
"As I would've thought." the head diamond dog said in his deep voice, narrowing his eyes. "Guess I have to join the battle, aye."
"I'll force you to if you don't anyway." Blaze said, flicking the blood off the sword.
The diamond dog lunged forward, and Blaze sliced the sword right down between his eyes- but it didn't go through his skull.
"Takes a bit more for metal to cut metal." the diamond dog said, grinning and forcing the sword away. 
Blaze backed away, his horn glowing and his sword catching fire. He whipped it around, slicing it straight at the dog's neck. Once again, it only just cut into his skin. However, the flames set his fur on fire, and Blaze pulled away. 
The diamond dog fell into a crouching position as the fire continued to burn away at his flesh, but made no effort to put it out.
"What is he...?" Halcyon stared wide eyed as the dog stood back up again, practically a skeleton on fire. 
Then the flames ran out of flesh to burn, and faded away. Through the smoke, the skeleton of the diamond dog stepped through the flames that were eating away at the grass. It was no ordinary skeleton- it had glowing red eyes, and the body was made of metal. Through closer inspection, Blaze could see hydraulics, motors, and various other mechanics. It was a robot.
"Interesting." Blaze tilted his head to one side.
The robot lunged forward, tackling Blaze to the ground. Blaze pressed the sword forward into the robot's neck, and it barked and bit at him, the metallic teeth inches away from his nose.
"Mate, I ain't kissing you before I kiss Hal over there." he said, shoving the robot away. It tumbled onto the ground, but rolled and got back up again. 
Blaze darted forward, sliding under a claw that would've torn his face off. He flipped back up, jamming the sword through the mess of hydraulics.
The robot looked at the sword, growled, and swiped a claw at Blaze. 
Blaze leaned to the right, the claw scratching three deep cuts into his face. He fell back, startled. The robot leaped into the air, then came back down again; metal teeth clunking against each other. There was a flash, and Blaze stabbed the sword right through a crack in the robot's skull, the blade going all the way through and the hilt clunking against its metal head.
Then Blaze was hit in the side by a huge claw, tearing through his skin. He tumbled across the grassy clearing, before his back cracked against a tree trunk. He fell onto the floor with a thud, his armor absorbing most of the impact. Blood leaked out of a wound in his side where the armor failed to protect, and he moaned.
"Blaze!" Halcyon cried worriedly, then groaned as the rough texture of the tree she was tied to brushed against her bare flesh wound. 
"I'm fine..." Blaze stumbled up, trying to catch his breath. "Keep yourself alive." 
"I assure you I won't die before you do." Halcyon said, flinching again at the pain. 
"That's very... Reassuring." Blaze said, swinging the sword in a wide arch to meet the robot's claw.
The metallic clang of the impact echoed loudly around the silent forest, startling birds and sending them flying away. 
A stream of fire shot from Blaze's outstretched front hoof, but the robot was unaffected by it. It leaped right through, skidding to a halt on the dirt. 
Halcyon looked down at the ropes binding her while the battle raged on between Blaze and the robot diamond dog.
Her horn glowed, and her bow appeared in her mouth. Not much for cutting, but at least something. She started rubbing the sharp end of the bow against the ropes, slowly cutting her way through them. 
"Blaze! Get me free!" she growled. The bow wasn't doing much. 
"This guy ain't giving me a chance!" Blaze yelled back, blocking a claw inches away from his face with his sword.
"Taken care of." a new voice said, the authority in that voice making both royal guards turn.
A dark bat pony cut Halcyon free with a small throwing knife. She was wearing the royal night guard armor, the sides lined with pockets filled with throwing knives of all sorts. 
"Captain Nightshade of the Night Guards." the bat pony introduced herself.
"Welcome to the fray captain." Blaze said, kicking the robot away.
Blink Nightshade whipped out a throwing knife from her side pocket, flinging it across the clearing, past Blaze's face; and into the robot's mouth. There was a soft beep, and an EMP detonated from the knife. The robot's wires fizzed out, and it collapsed to the ground.
"Correct equipment is essential." Nightshade said, attending to Halcyon's wound.
Blaze blinked. Everything just happened so fast- he still wasn't sure what had happened. Of course, both royal bodyguards have seen Captain Nightshade before when she was standing guard next to Princess Luna- and they had heard of her special abilities. 
"Captain- we owe you a big one." Blaze saluted.
"Get yourself sorted soldier." Nightshade said, tying a bandage onto Halcyon's wound. She whimpered at the pain, but gritted her teeth together. "Clean those wounds. You don't need an emergency bandage, but we'll be back at Canterlot headquarters immediately."
"How did you find us..?" Halcyon asked.
"You bastards woke me up." Nightshade said, helping Halcyon up. 
"Sorry captain!" Blaze said, although of course he didn't mean it. Thank goodness they woke her up, if he were honest with himself.
"No worries. Was having a bad dream anyway." Nightshade chuckled. "Don't know how the annoying kid from junior high found his way into my brain again, but the next time he does I'll be sure to kick him out." 
They all chuckled at that, Halcyon a little painfully. Blaze gasped when his arm accidentally brushed against his flesh wound.
"You two sure earned some rest. Won't be on duty for a while, you two." Nightshade said, laying a hoof on Blaze's shoulder.  
"Er... Thank you...? Sir?" Blaze raised an eyebrow.
"This your first time teleporting with me?" Nightshade asked.
"Afraid so, Captain." Halcyon groaned.
"Hope you guys didn't have too much for breakfast then." Nightshade said, and blinked. The world flashed, and the forest was gone. Blaze and Halcyon were just glad that this was over- that they could finally be home. After all the hardship and bloodshed... It was impossible to say no to a little rest.

*

Two months later, Halcyon's hospital ward.

"Well. It's almost coming back." Halcyon said, looking down at her new arm.
"Not really no." Blaze said.
Halcyon flapped the flimsy little arm around in the tub full of gooey medical liquids, and Blaze clutched his stomach and mouth. It was pale white, not the majestic light blue of Halcyon's skin. It was almost see-through too, which made it much more disgusting.
"Don't worry. It'll be in another month." Halcyon said.
"I'm not touching that thing, for pony's sake." Blaze said.
"Oh?" Halcyon narrowed her eyes, splashing Blaze with the liquid.
Blaze squealed, tipping back in his chair and falling on the ground. They both started laughing, giggling sillily and enjoying each other's company.
Nightshade turned out to be more than just a bat-winged pony after all- she could teleport just by blinking. And if it weren't for her, the both of them would probably be dead by now. In fact, even she barely made it back in time. Halcyon had lost so much blood that the teleportation process nearly killed her, but it was their only option anyway. After that the hospital immediately took her to the emergency room while Blaze was left with a few bandages- a sacrifice he was more than willing to make. He'd rather be left in pain for an hour or so than have Halcyon do it. Nightshade mysteriously disappeared after that, leaving them to themselves. The wait for an answer from the doctor was grueling, and the pain in Blaze's wounds didn't help. But eventually he was greeted by an unconscious Halcyon, an oxygen mask over her face. The doctor assured Blaze she was fine, just recovering from severe blood loss.
Nightshade came back to visit an hour later.
"Glad to see you guys getting along fine." she said as she entered the hospital room, just in time to see Halcyon splash Blaze with the gooey liquid.
"Terribly sorry sir-" Blaze tried to get up, but slipped on the floor and fell back down again.
"Don't even try to explain it." Nightshade sighed. 
Both Blaze and Halcyon blushed- not the best impression to make to a superior leader.
"Anyway. I have a request for you two." Nightshade continued.
"Sir..?" Blaze raised an eyebrow. He still had his bandages on, the wound was healed- but there were some rib fractures that required fixing as well. Halcyon wasn't even fully recovered at all yet, and was still in bed. 
"Don't worry. Doesn't concern you straight away." Nightshade said.
"Sir." Blaze said, indicating for Nightshade to go on.
"After much investigation, we have found the associates that hired the diamond dogs with diamonds. Well, all we have is one name, after we identified the dogs with DNA tests. Valkyrie Miase. This name mean anything to you?" 
"No, sir. Not familiar." Halcyon said.
"Please, private. Drop the formalities." Nightshade waved irritably.
"Yes, Sir- I mean-" 
"Never mind." Nightshade said. "But the contract said specifically to assassinate the two of you."
"That's... Nice...." Blaze said slowly.
"We made the assumption that somepony didn't want the Princess's royal bodyguards around..." Nightshade said, turning away and facing the window. "We're keeping the princesses indoors until you two recover. We can't afford replacements, since the two of you should've remained secret." she lowered her head. "We're afraid there might be a traitor in the royal military that sold you two out, that's why we can't draw in anypony to replace you two in the mean time."
"The princess is being targeted?" Blaze raised an eyebrow. "Who would be stupid enough to do that?"
"No. The question should be who is powerful enough to take that risk." Nightshade said, weighing the information in her head. 
"So we have to protect the princess, like we always do." Blaze said.
"Correct." Nightshade said. "And, I'm thinking of promoting the both of you."
"We... Quite recently got promoted... Sir... Not as to say we are not thrilled, of course. We are much honored." Blaze said cheerily, however suppressing his joy and showing next to nothing on the outside. 
"The rank won't be publicly recognized, and bears a lot of responsibility." Nightshade warned. 
"We worked in the Secret Service. I think we know what it's like." Halcyon noted.
"Very well. Instead of defending Equestria, you'll be defending this universe." 
There was a long pause as Blaze and Halcyon's eyebrows raised so high they disappeared behind their manes. 
"Er... Funny joke..? Sir...?" Blaze didn't really know what to say.
"No joke." Nightshade said, irritated. "I have been informed by an ancient AI of the existence of an organization that constantly defends the universe from change." 
"I guess Doctor Whooves is in trouble..." Blaze muttered.
"No. In fact, the Doctor is responsible for correcting the timeline in this particular case. But yes, should he not be operating under our restraints he could be." Nightshade said, turning back around to face the pair. "I have also been informed to choose several other guardians. I, myself, am one of them chosen by the AI. Now I would very much like it should you two join... But think carefully. It's a big decision." 
"I'm still not sure what we do..." Halcyon said.
"We are all talented ponies. This organization intends to use these talents to good. We don't specifically fight crime- we fight to keep the universe as it is." Nightshade said.
Blaze paused for a moment, looking down at the ground. "Sorry sir... We don't think we're really up to the task." he said, and Halcyon nodded.
"I'll give you two time." Nightshade said, opening the window and hopping onto the edge. "Maybe the coming events may clear your minds." she said, and with a bright flash was gone; leaving Blaze and Halcyon to baffle over the offer.
"Well, that escalated quickly." Blaze said, shrugging.