Captain Aegis was just finishing adjusting his black bowtie when he heard a respectful knock on his door.
"Come" he uttered to his reflection.
"Captain, his Majisty wants to see you" The guard said through a head sized crack in the door.
"Thank you Timber" Ageis replied, both his and his reflections gaze not breaking from their counterparts bowties.
Timber took that as his cue to leave but was broght back to attention by his Captain speaking again.
"Timber" Aegisbegan expecting confirmation.
"Yes, sir?" Timber replied curiously through an even thinner crack.
"Congratulations on the foal." His gaze looked up to meet his in the reflection of the mirror. "You'll make a fine father."
"Um.... eh thank you sir." replied the guard somewhat unsure as he closed the door behind him.
Aegis turned his attention back to his neck ware.
"Blasted thing, I can never gat you straight can I?" he retorically asked the jet black accsesory.
"Oh well, that will do for now" he finished to himself, donning the rest of his attire consisting of armoure that could easily be mistaken fo a full piece suit complete with reinorced suit tails.
"Duty calls" he muttered to his equally ready reflection, filling some cliche in his head.
***
Commander Topaz was rechecking his auto bow for the fourth and final time of his daily morning ritual/habbit/obsession. The fame: aged oak/yew hybid cover, polished with a weather proof finish and fibre aluminium reinforcing rods. The stock: a adjustable worn brass counter weight system that would automatically ajdust its mass in response to his posture. The barrel: more brass but iron reinforced, spin system and plenty compatible wth every other attachment. The whole thing: his pride and joy. Hey some ponies had stuffed toys, others lucky charms, why couldn't he have an automatic high pressure weapon? Actually, it said a lot about his mindset, or maybe it didn't; he knew as much as the next pony about minds. That was why he was a commander in the military, not a physcatrist. His psychartirst farther would be so proud of that deduction.
A rapid knock brought Topaz back from his strange stupour.
"Helooooooooooooooooooo silent and broody pony, we have to do army stuff, you know cuz we're in he military?" came the sarky and (especially to Topaz) annoying voice of his fellow Commander At-Arms.
"We have been summonded" He continue in a spookyesque voice ignoring Topaz blanking him. "So chop chop!" he called through the door.
Topaz waited until he could here At-arms's hoof clops move down the hall before he actually even moved, maybe he thought that if he didn't move that At-arms would leave him alone, like a wasp or something he didn't really know.
He glided down from deliberatly high bunk almost cradling his ato bow before slinging it over his back with the premium leather strap and landing expertly on all four holes of his layed out armour which he efficiantly clipped to his body. His wings unhooked and slid into their armoured coverings by themselves while he fiished placing on his bandana. Most of his armour was made for felxiility and dexterity to conform to his role as a Sharpshooter and they gave more protection from the rain than they would from warg teeth but they were still very resiliant to burning and abrasion type damage rather than stabby or blunt force. He pranced quickly to the door not before knocking on another door inside beside his own aclove twice with out breaking his pace. The knock was practiced and meant more than it sounded to normal ponies, to the 16 strong squaran on the opposite side. His personal battalion of elite rangers and marksmen. It meant get up and be ready or combat in five minutes and await orders because your Commander is reciving his own.
***
Prince Terran looked at the assembled ponies in his briefing room. The four that stood before him represented his entire military. He couldn' be happier with how it looked. It had been a long time since he had a captain and commanders that had been asgood as the ones he sawbefore him. They all complemented each other well, all held the right values at the center of their being and each brought something unique to the role they served. Commander Opal Onyx, charasmatic head of the Muitions and Magic Division, kind Trottish unicorn with a large military heart that recived nothing but devotion and respect from her troops. Comander Topaz leader of the ranged division and founer of he elite Sharpshooter unit as well as the pioneer of ranged R and D leading to innovation in pony weaponary. What lies beneath a moody and unlikable demeanor is what the prince admired in him, a strong moral compass and compassion that accompanies it. Commander At-arms (a strange name that is a result of a lineage of soliders) head of the infantry and the joker of the group. Unparalelled resolve aside along with his friendly aura, he would occasionaly overstep his mark but always showed unfaltering respct in his comarades. And finally his Captain, called unorthadox by some. Aegis was born and bred in Trottingham over the pon in Equestria but found himself in the Caballa military. His unflapperble polite manner had mad him stand out in many ways, not all good but is was his selfless devotion and brilliant tactical mind that had cassd the prince to appoint him as head of every solider within his borders. He had repaid him with said devotion and an amazing track record ever since, one he had yet to Blight.
"Thank you for coming so swiftly as always." The prince began.
"Your all here for a rather unusual..... assignment." The prince continued, for lack of a better word.
The group sat around the table each displayed signs of mild confusion and/or interest.
"What is eaxactly is the 'assignment' my lord?" Aegis inquired with his voice reminescent of a butler as always.
"It consists of a good will visit." The prince said in a resrvd manner.
"I am afriad I need more details sire." Aegis replied, egging the Prince on as best he could.
"I will be venturing on a highly overdue visit to Equestria." He stated plainly, trying to keep his positive feelings out of his voice.
"Called it!" At-arms piped up, pointing a hoof at the prince.
"You owe me four bobs" he smiled still looking at the prince, his outstretched hoof pivoting round so that it was to his side and across the table.
The prince looked momentarily surpised and then amused while Aegis had spun round in his seat and was fixing both At-arms an Opel, the loser of the bet and the one who was being pointed at at by At-arms's hoof while chuckling nervously at Aegis death glare.
"This is an official meting between-" he began some anger present in his voice.
"It doesn't matter captain, deal your intended punishment out later." the prince interuppted, halve chuckling.
Aegis quickly calmed down and faced his prince again.
"If you so wish" he said defeat not detectable in his voice.
"Anyway, the visit is of course long overdue and my relatives are more angsty than ever that I visit, furthermore this coensides nicely with my own plans so we will all be going on an official ambassadorial visit to the kingdom of equestria." The prince announced.
Confusion now soley occupied each soliders face.
"But, sire" Opel said in her thick Trottish accent "are you sure that's a good idea? I meen no disrespect now, but I canne think we'll be capable of makin' the diplomatic spalsh your expectin' sire." she reasoned.
"Well, outright diplomacy is not the sole reason for my visit." the prince teased.
"Wellll, then what is?" At-arms inquired, glaring politly and turning his head away from the prince but keeping his gaze on him to signify reserved curiostiy.
"Due to recent events" the prince said becoming serious which everyone present matched "I have need of some of my sister's resources to help deal with the threat." he said solemly.
Everyone portrayed understanding in their manners.
"What resource could that possibly be my lord?" Aegis questioned.
"We are in need of the elements of harmony."