The Busy Night.
When they arrived at the tree which the locals referred to as the library Shield was surprised. It was a treehouse alright, with several branches forming balconies and various windows expelling light. He began studying the outside, it looked very defendable despite being susceptible to fire. Most balconies offered some sort of sniping point, and some even went as far as being perfect for gunning down unsuspecting foes.
"So why are we at a library? Are you gonna pick up some books?" Asked Shield Heart.
"No silly, I live here." Exclaimed Twilight Sparkle as she climbed down from the ATV's backseat.
Shield stood dumbfounded. He knew that she loved studying, but this was overkill in his book. He wondered how she could live all by herself. Then he thought of himself, a man who could live alone for months and not give a damn, and dropped the complain. She is really well off for being just a student.
"Stop staring, it only makes you look like a stalker." Said Shining as he slapped his friend's back.
"Is it really smart to live inside a tree?" Asked Shield.
"It's no different from living under a thatched roof." Answered Twilight.
Shield thought for a moment, opened his mouth and then closed it. He lacked a proper argument, both structures were just as flammable. And a tree offered the plus of giving free firewood.
Suddenly his mind activated the memories from the Collective Unconcious. He remembered Loki, the attack on Canterlot and the other scenes from a plausible future. A future he had to stop. On a whim, he withdrew Maggie and faced Shining.
"I know it's not much, but take Maggie as a wedding present." He handed the musket.
Shining just stared at him as he grabbed the weapon. "Are you sure Shield? Maggie has been through a lot of stuff with you, it doesn't feel right for me to take it."
"Don't worry about me. Maggie has served her term with me and you need some protection. Things will be going south, and you will need something to keep the monsters at bay. You know what?" Shield began undoing his belt, removed Arby and handed it to the Azure Captain. "Take Arby also, I know you're good with swords and this should help in case something gets too close."
"You know Cadence won't let me keep anything dangerous, so why bother?"
"These are wedding gifts, you can't refuse a gift so you might as well use it."
Shining grabbed the weapons, and slung Maggie to his back. He grabbed the sword and took a good look at it.
"Isn't this your symbol of office?"
"Most people think it is, but actually my symbol is this thing right here." Said Shield as he pulled out a silver watch from inside his coat. It looked very well conserved, with only a few scratches in the front.
"I don't know what to say, besides thank you." Said Shining.
"Don't thank me yet. Wait until those two save your life, then we'll talk."
"I hope I never have to use them."
"Neither do I Shiny, but these are tough times. You never know."
"Alright, now I really must go. Cadence said that she had a surprise waiting and she'll be mad if I keep her waiting." Said the Captain as he turned on his vehicle.
"Then what are you still doing here? Go!"
Without further invitation the azure-haired man disappeared.
Twilight began walking toward the treehouse. "Are you coming?" Se asked.
"Yeah, sure." Responded the commissioner. He felt lighter without his weapons, but he knew Shining needed them more than him. And anyways, Gun Nut would probably bring suitable replacements.
Inside the rosewood door he stumbled upon a quaint library. It certainly didn't boast the size of either Canterlot or Vanhoover, but he was sure the whole point was the ambiance. Being inside a tree meant that the temperature would always be regulated, even without artificial temperature systems.
The library had several sofas, seats and cushions. To the back he saw a door, which he guessed were the living quarters.
"Do you live alone?" He broke out.
"Not really, Spike is usually here. But he left for Canterlot for a special errand. He should be back tomorrow."
"Who's Spike?"
"He's my Drake assistant."
"Why do you have a Drake assistant?"
"I hatched him, so now I take care of him while he helps me."
"So where shall I establish myself?" He digressed.
"I don't know, where do you want to? I would offer you Spike's room, but the bed is probably too small for you."
"It's fine, I'll just take this couch over here." He said as he threw his backpack into the largest couch in the library. He unstrapped the large roll from under his backpack. He unfolded it to reveal a blue sleeping bag.
"So... Will you want that interview now?" He said as he laid his bed next to the couch.
Twilight paused for a moment before answering. "Maybe tomorrow morning, you must be exhausted and I wouldn't want to keep you from resting."
"Yeah, sleep is important. But do you know what's more important? Dinner!" He exclaimed as he led himself to the kitchen.
"You're still hungry?" She asked surprised. She saw him eat several cupcakes, enough to ruin her appetite.
He ignored her and began searching through the pantry, pulling out a box of cereal and a bowl. He gracefully served himself and returned the box back to its place. He went for the refrigerator and pulled put the milk. He helped himself and returned the carton back to its place.
Twilight rushed to grab a spoon, but he rejected it with a wave of his hand.
In the most impolite manner he slurped down the the contents in the bowl, not caring about the noise he was making. When he finished, which was rather quick, he placed his plate in the faucet and washed it.
He sighed "Nothing beats a quick and light dinner of Cadence O's!" He looked at Twilight' s confused face. "Oh, c'mon, don't tell me you've never had Cadence O's before!" She still showed confusion. "The honey oat cereal shaped like Os!" He grunted.
That's when the memory returned to Twilight. It was years since her time under her baby-sitter's care. At various moments when her parents would leave she would be fed the same cereal that the commissioner had. Whenever her five-year old self would refuse, Cadence would pull the trick of giving her the princess's own homemade cereal.
It worked until after she grew old enough to realize she was being fed the same thing. But by then the cereal had lost its original name.
"By the way, thanks for having me for tonight. I feared I would have to invade your shy friend's home. She probably would have had a heart attack by now, I'm not what you could call average." He said as he placed the bowl back in its place.
"I'm sure Fluttershy wouldn't mind having you. She may look delicate, but she can handle herself."
"I'm sure of that. But I know she would have suffered, I could see her terrified face as I told my story. She is one who can't stand much violence."
"Do you tend to profile the people you see?"
"Of course! I need to deduce how likely a person is to cause trouble, what kind of trouble would they cause and what weaknesses do they have. I always assume that people are up to no good, always."
"Everyone? Including Cadence and my brother?" She asked.
"Those two are safe from profiling because I know them. Just like my friends. I meant strangers. More than once have I been proven right when someone looks suspicious. I know your friend is safe, but I'm worried about her shyness. I fear she will freeze under extreme circumstances."
"She has more nerve than you give her credit for. But she is shy in most cases."
"Not someone I would like as an ally." He muttered to himself loud enough for the librarian to hear.
"She is a great friend! She also happens to be a very capable doctor, although she is better with animals than with people." She said defensively.
"I'm not saying she's a bad person, but for me an ally has to be able to cope in any given situation. Whether it be keeping calm in a firefight, a car chase or any other job." He replied. "That doesn't mean all my friends have to be murderous, cold hearted soldiers. Some are very peaceful in fact. Practically pacifists you could say." Twilight was giving him the I'm not believing you look.
"Goodnight, see you tomorrow." He concluded. Twilight simply looked at him and left. Scowling, he undid the straps in his weapon harness and dropped it next to his backpack. He searched inside for his pajamas and changed clothing. He thanked Celestia that he had brought he combat pajamas, the ones with a concealed holster in his back. He holstered Maria and extended his sleeping bag over the green sofa.
As he prepared himself for sleep he began thinking on what had just happened that day.
He had woken up from what he thought was a vision but hoped was a dream. In this projection he had been warned by a mysterious man that Boardor was planning an attack. Of all possible villains it had to be Ragnar, the closest thing the world had to an incarnation of evil.
But something didn't make sense. There was no possible way Boardor could amass an army large enough to plow through the Old Continent and still be able to cross the sea. Not after the Battle of Gallopfrey. It was too early. There must be something else, some hidden agent or organization engineering it.
He started combing through his memories, hoping to find the link. But it was useless, his brain was too tired to remember anything.