//------------------------------//
// Part One 
// Story: Ponies at Arms 
// by GearheartHound 
//------------------------------//


Ponies at  Arms

By: GearheartHound



In every city and town in every world of the multiverse, there are those brave men and women who go out every day to try and keep the streets safe. Who put themselves in the line of fire so ordinary citizens don't have to. They do this not for glory or for personal gain; they do not seek out greatness. But every now and then, a terrible threat arises and those valiant few who stand between us and the dark, have greatness thrust upon them and they become... Heroes...

Sergeant Shrike fell from the sky and hit the cobblestones hard. With the breath knocked out of her she simply rolled painfully to a stop, looking over her shoulder in the direction she came. Her armour sagged on her frame from the powerful kick to her side. It never fit properly at the best of times, now it's dented and missing rivets which is coming out of my pay... she grumped and tried to struggle to her hooves. Ahead of her the oversized stallion took a few more steps before taking up a fighting stance.
“You have got to be kidding me...” She mumbled below her breath as the midnight blue stallion charged headlong towards her. She back-winged and pulled herself up at the last moment, kicking out with her back hooves to catch the stallion in the side. Shrike wasn't a frail mare; nopony who could rise to the rank of sergeant in any branch of the guard was a frail mare.
Her right hoof struck his rib and the left struck his shoulder, she felt the bones beneath her blow give and the stallion bellowed in rage before stumbling to a halt and turning to face her again. The evidence of the fight hung over every bit of his body. Hoof prints and spreading bruises were all overshadowed by his eyes which shone out with a malevolent green glow. The stallion limped a little with his broken shoulder but still pawed at the cobbles and made ready to charge anew.
“Why won't you just give up!?” Shrike yelled at the stallion, settling back to her hooves with her wings at their fullest extent from utter frustration. “You've got broken ribs... you shouldn't even be able to stand on that leg! Just give up so I can lock you up and go have a pint!” The crazed stallion still dug at the cobbled street with his hooves and made ready to charge. So wrapped up in his rage that he didn't notice the hulking shape easing up behind him.
In a swift motion, Constable Boulder, the largest pony on the force, used his full weight to pin the stallion to a wall. Shrike let out a sigh of relief and fumbled with her belt to grab her set of manacles. “What kept you, ya big lump?” She swiftly shackled the struggling pony as the glow in his eyes began to fade.
“I was just making sure Trusty was OK, Sarge...” Came the deep but soft reply. The sergeant sighed again. Boulder was a nice stallion, nearly to a fault. “He's fine... just a knock on the head.”
“Haul this guy back to the cells and get the doctor to have a look at him... I’m going to go get Star and Jammy. I know, I know.” She held up a hoof to silence the inevitable question. “It's their day off... but frankly I don't care... this is the third one of these this week and I’m getting tired of having my flanks trampled into the cobbles. I say we get some real help, write the castle if we have to.”
Sergeant Shrike turned and nudged her helmet off, letting her stone grey mane fall back into place. Without further ceremony she made her way towards the homes of her officers.


Sergeant Shrike looked around the room at her squad. The loyal servants of law and order in Equestria, the bold and the brave. She sighed and took a sip out of her coffee cup, savouring the hot bitter blend as it ran down her throat and brought a little feeling back into her limbs. Her eyes fell on each of her team in turn.
Corporal Trusty Spirit, the pale green unicorn, had been been her friend the longest. She could always count on Trusty to come through when the chips were down and to brew up a truly awful pot of the lifesaving coffee he was known for. Fittingly that particular talent which was represented in his cutie mark, a battered tin cup nearly overflowing with steaming brown liquid.
Constable Boulder. Calling him large was an understatement, but the big blue stallion had a heart as big as he was. He joined the guard to help ponies and didn't like to exercise his immense size or strength but when he did, the criminals noticed. A trio of heavy stones adorned his flank and, as was to be expected, he was solid as a rock. Unshakable, unbreakable, reliable and quiet. 
Constable Jammy. The unassuming purple unicorn had a pair of cookies on his flank and a smile always on his lips. Everypony always called him Jammy, so much so that none could recall his real name. His special talent was baking cookies which honestly didn't say much. The stallion had survived countless collapses, fires, explosions, robberies. He had sustained more wounds in the line of duty than any pony in guard history. He always seemed to be able to pick himself up and carry on regardless.
Lance Constable Shooting Star, brash and headstrong, Shrike almost didn't hire the sandy colored pegasus but the mare had demanded a job, insisting that justice needed to be served and she was just the pony to dish it out. She reminded Shrike of another mare who had dared to join the town guard many years before, so she gave the pegasus a badge and wasn't disappointed.
She smiled to herself as her eyes traveled around the room and back to the cup in front of her. Misfits the whole lot of them, the bits and pieces that the palace guard had no use for, but honestly a finer bunch of ponies would be hard to find. Despite everything that failed to impress about her squad,She figured she owed somepony a debt of gratitude and counted herself a lucky mare. 
“OK you lot... we had another rampaging stallion this morning.” The pale grey pegasus pulled a report across the duty desk and read it aloud. “At a quarter past ten this morning a stallion kicked down the door of the bakery on Trottingham Road. He had green eyes that appeared to be glowing was nearly frothing at the mouth. He assaulted the owner, stole several baked goods and was in the process of eating them when  Corporal Trusty and Constable Boulder showed up.” She nodded to both stallions, looking up from the report, the former having a strip of bandage around his forehead. She smirked a little, “Dumb luck really, they decided to take an early lunch.”
“Yeah just my luck, Sarge...” Trusty chuckled and tapped his bandage.
Shrike gave him a sympathetic smile and continued with the report. “The stallion put up a fight, assaulting and incapacitating one officer before the chase ensued. I happened to be on patrol at the time and took the stallion into custody with the help of Constable Boulder. He's in the cells now, Dr Greenfields checked him over.” Shrike took another sip of coffee and closed the report. “That stallion was able to unleash a kick that knocked out a helmeted guard, he was still ready to fight with broken ribs and a shattered shoulder. Not to mention a few deep tissue bruises. Any one of those would put any one of us down for a while and he just kept raging.”
“Is it a potion again?” Shooting Star piped up, a grim look on her face.
“We're having his blood scanned, but yes... glowing eyes, thinking he's the biggest, strongest stallion in the world, ignoring injuries... sounds an awful lot like a potion to me, if only we knew which one we might know how to combat it... ” Shrike rubbed her forehead a little. The potions were something new in recent years. Designer drugs being cooked up by some shadowy back alley alchemists. The typical potions weren't all that harmful for the most part. Most of the time a pony on a potion high would just sit quietly and watch all the pretty colours. These new potions, on the other hoof, were terrifying. They gave ponies great strength and stamina, impossible resistance to injury and a deep need to beat the living daylights out of anything that got in their way.
Reports were coming in about similar incidents in some other cities and towns but there was no rhyme or reason to them. Average ponies from all walks of life, and all of those affected refused to comment after the potion had run its course. It was a nightmare for the guards. Anypony on the street could just turn around and kick his neighbour's head in, there was no pattern at all and nopony was talking.
“I know I promised you all a few days rest on and off but honestly... I can't rest well knowing my town could become a riot zone overnight. It takes almost all of us to bring down one of these crazed ponies. So from now on we take days off on a rota... one day off while everypony else is on shift...” There was a groan from the guards which Shrike silenced quickly. “And furthermore! Even if you're off, you hear the bell, you come running...” Shrike gave a harried smile and the guards calmed down a little. “You all are like family to me... and I want you all to start acting like it... we're all in this mess together. Now get out there and keep the peace.”
There were softly muttered comments as the guards filed out, all except Trusty who stepped up and refilled the sergeant's cup. “Like family, Sarge?” He raised an eyebrow and Shrike thumped her forehead against the table.
“You just shut up! I just pulled an all night shift and got my flank kicked around by some stallion on a magic high. I’m short staffed and stressed...” Shrike looked up to see her corporal's face turn up in a smile. “You stop that... stop that right this instant.” Shrike tried to keep the humour out of her voice as Trusty still smiled wider. “I don't care if it's a way to beat stress... the answer is and always will be no!”
“Your loss then, Shrike...” He said softly and leaned in to give his old friend a quick nuzzle which she returned. “I'll go check with the doc and see if the results are in, then you can go to the doc and get checked out... I see you favouring your back left.”
“You know I outrank you right?” Shrike spoke up with a soft smile still on her lips.
“Thought we were supposed to be looking out for each other like family, Sarge?” Trusty turned and trotted out of the office, leaving a laughing grey pegasus sitting at the desk getting into her second cup of coffee.

Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and bearer of the mantle of the sun, sat regarding the scroll hovering before her. The script was careful but carried real force. The pen had sputtered here and there and the paper was graced by what appeared to be a ring stain from a coffee cup. It was a source of amusement for her, the mannerisms her ponies had adopted over the centuries, and the letter before her was a sterling example. She read more from the paper and the various stains than from the words her pony had taken the time to inform her of.
“It seems like there are a great number of these... incidents... in Trottingham. More than anywhere else. The sergeant in command of the guard there is requesting help with the situation.” Celestia spoke softly and took another sip of her tea.
“We could send a detachment?” Her sister, Luna supplied, looking up from her book on modern Equestrian law and trying to stifle a yawn.
“I believe I have a better notion...” Celestia looked over at the clock on the wall and smiled. “It's not his nap time, perfect.”
“Your faithful student' and her friends?” Luna raised an eyebrow as Celestia retrieved her pen and parchment. “Don't you put too much faith in her abilities? I won't deny her power, but wouldn't a military solution be faster?”
“Faster, yes, but I've learned in all these long years not to exercise force unless absolutely necessary.” She began to write before looking over at Luna. “Besides, it's been awhile since I've sent Twilight on some insane quest to the far corners of common sense.”
Luna just rolled her eyes and got back to her reading as the princess sent the letter off to her student in a puff of magic. Luna smiled, “A thousand years of rule and you still haven't changed...”


Sergeant Shrike stood at the front of her guards. They looked more orderly now than they had in a long while. The 'one size fits nopony in particular' plate armour they wore was neat and there were at least a few attempts to bang out the dents and buff the rust off. Though each suit bore a crystal below the throat, the uniform spells had long ago worn out. Each had their unique coat and mane color shining through proudly.
“OK, everypony... Celestia's troubleshooter and her entourage should be arriving soon. Be on your best behaviour... that includes you, Star.” The dusty pegasus snorted a little in frustration but Shrike chose to ignore her protests. She looked around the public square and then to the horizon where the sky carriage approached.
“Permission to speak freely, Sergeant?” Came the voice of Trusty behind her, the unicorn for once standing at attention.
“Granted.” She answered without even turning her head, eyes fixed on the gleaming white coats and sparkling armour of the royal guards who pulled the transport.
“What have you heard about this... troubleshooter?” Trusty looked past his boss to the approaching shape and Shrike gave a little shrug.
“Some top of her class unicorn, she had something to do with Nightmare Moon and that mess at the Grand Galloping Gala. You know as much as I do Trusty, but Celestia assured me that she is the best.” Shrike took a breath to steady her nerves and put on her finest look of 'stone-faced official no-nonsense guards everywhere.' Without even the slightest fanfare, the carriage landed and a purple unicorn stepped out.
What took Shrike first was how young the mare was, her youthful fascination showed on her face as she smiled and trotted closer. As the purple unicorn was about to extend a friendly hoof, Shrike noticed from the corner of her eye as an orange mare in a cowpony hat left the semi covered flying vehicle. “Hello, I’m Twilight Sparkle and this is my friend Applejack and...” She paused and looked behind her for a moment before gazing up at the sky.
A blue blur was rocketing towards the town square at speed. Before Shrike could react, a savage wind whipped at her back and her fellow guard pegasus took flight to intercept. In all her years Shrike hadn't witnessed a dogfight quite so fast or quite that brief. Blows were exchanged at speed, the ringing clang of hooves hitting plate armour peeled like a bell over the street.
“Lance Constable!” Shrike snapped loudly and the fight stopped in a perfect tableau before separating begrudgingly. Shooting Star landed with a thump, panting hard from the effort of her flight, her armour looked disheveled, covered in newly acquired dents  and it now hung oddly. She struggled up to attention as the other mare landed, her mane and tail were almost obnoxiously loud with every color of the rainbow. Twilight Sparkle sighed gently and indicated to the glaring blue pegasus. “And this is Rainbow Dash. We're here to help you with your rogue alchemist.”
Shrike shot a glare at her lance constable who didn't shy back, but only averted her eyes. “Glad to hear it...” She spoke slowly and turned back to the purple unicorn before her. “Constables Boulder and Jammy will get your bags to your rooms at the inn, not much to look at but it's got nice beds. If you three would like to come with me we can head back to the yard and I'll fill you in with what's been going on.”
Twilight gave a nod of approval before the remaining guards turned and headed back towards the guardhouse just off the main square. “It's a very nice town you have here, miss...?” Twilight asked with a smile before she heard a cough from the pale green unicorn beside her.
Shrike twitched a little, “It's Sergeant... Sergeant Shrike... and thank you. We try to keep the streets safe as we can. Not so easy a job these days.” She pointed with a wing over to the west.“Ever since they found coal in the hills near here, the town has been getting bigger and bigger.”
“Yeah, makes me wish I became a carpenter instead of a guard.” Trusty spoke up before nodding to the newcomers. “Name's, Trusty Spirit, Corporal Trusty if you please, and I'd be the sergeant's right hoof pony.” He nodded over his shoulder “And the sour grape in the back is Constable Shooting Star.” Star snorted but said nothing more in response.
“Pleased ta meetcha, Corporal... Sergeant... Constable.” Applejack nodded to each in turn and looked around the buildings. “It's a nice break from Ponyville, bein' in a real workin' town.”
Rainbow Dash was silent as was Shooting Star, the pair did nothing but exchange glares. Shrike decided to have a word with her constable when the newcomers had been settled in for the evening. Without further ceremony the trio of Ponyville's ponies were led into the Trottingham guardhouse, and they got down to the business of the potion problem.

Twilight sat with wide eyes at the end of the explanation. “So it turns a pony crazy? I've never heard of anything quite like this. Usually an alchemical substance doesn't do much more than heal a few wounds or make a pony feel less tired.”
“You can't be tellin' me that coffee is an alchemical substance.” Trusty took this opportunity to interject as he approached with a pot of his guardhouse special brew.
“Not now, Trusty...” Shrike sighed and accepted her cup. “And it does a little more than turn a pony crazy. I've seen ponies keep fighting with broken ribs, broken legs... one poor sod will walk with a limp the rest of his life if the cast ever comes off.  There isn't much you can offer in the way of an explanation? I know Ponyville hasn't had an incident yet but this should at least be headlines in a few newspapers by now.”
“Ponyville is always behind the times.” Rainbow Dash sat near an open window, adopting an air of unconcerned disinterest while at the same time staying as far away from Shooting Star as she could.
Shrike stood and turned to look at the flag hanging on the wall of the small briefing room. The old material collecting dust. It had been a fixture in the guardhouse long before Shrike had joined. It was probably an antique by now. Shrike began speaking, almost to herself, “There is some pony or some thing out there brewing up a potion that turns mild-mannered citizens into unstoppable combat monsters. Sowing seeds of utter chaos and making my life miserable. I asked Celestia for help and she sent you three... so by Her will I am going to make use of you.” She thumped her hoof on the table and turned back to the assemble ponies, the light of inspiration in her eyes. “Applejack, you said you're a farmer?”
Applejack nodded, “A farmer through and through, Sergeant.”
“Then you're no stranger to hard work and long hours?” Applejack nodded. “Good! Head out with Boulder and Jammy starting tomorrow morning. We need a good strong pair of hooves if we get another mad pony crashing through my town. Find the Special Constable a badge, Trusty.” Applejack beamed with a little pride at the mention of a badge.
“Miss Dash, Constable Star... I don't care how much you dislike each other... you are both going to put it behind you and do your job... two pairs of eyes in the sky is a lot better than one. Tomorrow morning I'd like to see you both acting like adults.” Shrike turned and regarded both pegasai, Star nodded and Dash mumbled an agreement. “Sorry? I didn't catch that?” Shrike didn't like flexing her rank but her effort was rewarded by a more definite chorus of 'Yes, Sergeant.' “Good, Trusty make that two badges, oh and one for Miss Sparkle as well, you can meet me here come morning. Now... I've been on duty since this time last night so I’m going home... we start first thing in the morning.”
The ponies got up to leave, except Twilight who stayed at the table, “If its alright with you, Sergeant, I'd like to study the case files on these incidents.” Shrike raised an eyebrow and Twilight gave a meek smile in response. “I tend to keep late hours... and studying books and papers is really what I do best.”
“Alright, everything is on my desk here.” She pointed to the stack of papers. “Keep the lamp on out front and if anything comes up at all, ring the big bell on the second floor. We'll come running.” Shrike gave the purple unicorn an encouraging pat on the shoulder before finally trotting to the locker room to relieve her tired frame of her armour.
She didn't walk so much as stumble home, the sun already dipping low in the sky, the gas lamps along the sidewalk had already been lit. The long hours were beginning to get to her. She longed for the days when she was settling disputes between neighbors and trying to locate lost pets. She was nearly at the small townhouse she called home when she heard a familiar voice from behind her. Slowly she turned her soft green eyes to the stallion who had followed her.
“Nice night, huh Shrike?” Trusty smiled and Shrike shook her head, the stallion had even made a bit of an effort with his usually unruly blue mane.
“Not tonight, Trusty I’m really too tired for your games...” She sighed and turned back towards her waiting front door when she felt a gentle tug on her tail followed by the comforting feeling of a body pressed to her side. Despite herself her wings trembled a little.
“You had me worried earlier... you know that right?” He whispered in her ear and Shrike trembled slightly. “Facing down a crazed stallion by yourself. You could have had the stuffing knocked out of you... or worse...”
“Trusty... I’m a guard... that comes with the job...” Shrike pulled back a little before Trusty could sway her emotions further. “And stop this! Dammit Trusty I’m your superior officer!” Shrike took a step further back and looked into the eyes of her second in command.
“And you're my friend, Shrike... it's just you and me left from the old days. Ever since the old sergeant retired and moved to Celestia knows where...” Trusty wasn't phased, taking a deep breath he continued. “We're not kids anymore... you can't take a beating like Star or Jammy can... one more broken bone and you'll be behind a desk for the rest of your career. We need to start living while we still can...”
Shrike looked down and squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She wanted desperately to just say yes, to accept what was offered time and time again with a smile. She felt a tear beginning to form at the edge of her eye. “NO!” She snapped, stamping her hoof for emphasis, “I am not getting neck deep in a relationship with anypony, much less one I’m working with... so... so just... keep your hooves to yourself!” 
Trusty's gaze fell, he gave a slow nod. “If you say so, Sarge...” Shrike felt the familiar pang in  her chest as the green unicorn turned and slowly trotted away. She watched him go until he rounded a corner and slipped from sight. She felt like crying, she always felt that way whenever Trusty made his little proposals. It seemed like it was every other week that she was turning the persistent unicorn down. Ever since they had joined the guard together, she knew that Trusty loved her.  The problem was for Shrike that the job always came before her own wants and needs, so much so she didn't even like to entertain the thought of Trusty as more than a dear friend and a fellow guardpony. Her thoughts wandered for just a moment, she shook here head violently dispelling them. She couldn't get involved. If she got involved it would cloud her judgment. What if she needed to send him on a dangerous assignment? What if he didn't come home? How much damage could that do to her already high-strung nerves?
“It's for the best...” Shrike mumbled, climbing the stairs to her home. “... For the best...” She spoke softly again as she slipped into the cold lonely rooms that were her life outside her job. Without even putting a meal together, she slumped into her bed and curled up trying not to stare at the empty space beside her as she gave up the struggle to stay awake and let sleep take her.
-
-
It was a cool but sunny morning as was to be expected with the fast approach of fall. The sun had crested the horizon a few hours before but what was strikingly odd was the silence, the all consuming lack of activity. No birds sang, no ponies went about their morning routines. Everypony was indoors and for good reason.
The clatter of steel-shod hooves sent up sparks along the cobblestones as a gangly red stallion charged mercilessly after a pair of purple unicorns. His eyes glowed an unnatural shade of venomous green and his breath came in clouds of steam despite the sun's warmth.
“So you have any fancy tricks in your bag, Miss Sparkle?” Constable Jammy managed to huff out the request, despite the burning feeling in his chest signifying that he was well out of breath.
“Nothing works! He just plowed through my best barrier spells!” Twilight wailed as she tried her hardest to pick up speed. “I don't know any combat spells... I’m a scholar not a battle mage!”
“And I doubt poofing a big cookie in his way is gonna do much to stop him... so that's my magic out too.” Jammy looked back over his shoulder and grinned. “We do have a few friends on their way it looks like.”
“Oh thank Celestia!” Twilight hazarded a glance backwards. She could see the cowgirl pony swinging her lasso ready for the take-down. As the rope looped around the stallion's neck, the unicorns slowed their charge. The rope snapped taut and strained before Applejack skidded along the cobblestones and winced as the loop of rope was nearly torn from her teeth.
Constable Boulder approached the struggling stallion while Applejack held him as solidly as she could manage. “Even tha' big bull back home ain't this strong!” She shouted past a mouthful of rope, Twilight thought she heard a good curse in there too.
“You hang back and watch him, Miss Sparkle... collect your information while he's still under the effects of that potion.” Jammy spoke as calmly as he could and trotted closer as Boulder narrowly avoided taking a solid buck in the face.
The guards closed in as best they could and Applejack used her hard won strength to start to coil the rope. The next several seconds passed like an eternity as the stallion jerked back hard, staggering the farmpony. He swung himself around and lashed out with both back legs catching the big constable in the side. While Boulder was wincing and stumbling slightly, the stallion jerked his head again and nearly knocked AJ prone, right in the range of his vicious kick.
The mad stallion lashed out with both back hooves but they never connected with the orange farmpony. Instead they caved in the armoured barding along Jammy's side. By the time the purple unicorn guard had hit the cobbles the mad stallion was sandwiched between the street and the bulk of the largest pony on the force.
“Jammy!” Twilight and Applejack cried in unison and rushed to the fallen stallion's side.
Slowly his eyes flickered open and he grinned. “Two lovely mares standin' over me? Must be heaven then.” Slowly he struggled up to the careful prodding of both mares. “See that... good old armour! Never let me down yet.”
“You are one lucky stallion.” Applejack tipped her hat as Jammy wobbled to his hooves.
“That's why they call me Jammy. I've gotten in more jams and gotten more wounds in the call of duty than any other guard in history and still standin' at the end of it.” He grinned and both mares smiled in mild appreciation of his sturdy nature.
“Uhh... if it's not too much trouble... could you bring that rope over here, Applejack?” The deep voice of Boulder, interspersed with his heavy breathing from the strain of holding a crazed stallion down, shook the others from their momentary respite. Within a few moments they had the red stallion bound solidly though he still struggled and frothed at the mouth.
“I've never seen anything quite like this,” Twilight ran a dose of magical power over the struggling pony, scanning his form for anything out of the ordinary. “His body is in overdrive... it's not magical... somepony has turned this stallion's own body against him.” The more Twilight scanned him the more the stallion's thrashing began to slow until finally he let out a groan.
“Ooooh... my head...” The previously hostile stallion tried to get up only to notice the bulk of the guard atop him and the surrounding accompaniment of ponies with badges. “Ooh.... umm... I surrender?” He offered a weak grin.

“So he started talking?” Shrike rushed through the streets with Twilight leading the way back to the cells. “And he seemed honestly confused?”
Twilight gave a nod in affirmative and held the door open for the sergeant. “He's also not as large or heavy as the others who were affected. It doesn't fit the pattern.”
“Did he tell you his name? Any information at all?” Shrike felt the rush of excitement, they were making progress, making sense of the whole situation, it was a lead and Celestia only knows they needed on right now.
“He said he's a crate hauler from warehouse thirteen. He didn't want to give his name because he's afraid you're going to send him to prison.” Twilight was stumbling a little to catch up to the sergeant who was all but sprinting at this point in anticipation of finally getting somewhere with this case.
Shrike grinned and nearly ran into the guardhouse and down the stairs to the cells. “We'll see if I can't get him to be a little more helpful.” Shrike stepped into the gloomy shadows and stood before the cell which contained the quivering shape of the red stallion. He's barely old enough to hold down a job, Shrike thought with a sigh before looking over to the small duty desk where Trusty sat pouring a cup of coffee.
“He's all safe and sound, Sergeant. Just thought I'd fix him up a nice cup of something warm.” Trusty floated a steaming cup before him as he approached.
Shrike looked at the tin cup and chuckled. “I thought we agreed we wouldn't torture the prisoners anymore, Trusty.”
The green stallion laughed and set the cup back down on the table. “Quite right, sergeant. No torture in this dungeon.”
Shrike turned her eyes reluctantly away from the stallion before her and back to the cell where the young stallion looked up and Shrike sighed. “You're Clayton Sands... you live three doors down from me. You still live with your mum.”
“Oh , please don't tell my mum.” The stallion in the cell wailed, holding his head in his hooves. Shrike saw Twilight bite her lip and look sadly down at the young stallion who sniffled loudly and continued “I don't know what happened... I just got so angry and when the guards showed up I wanted to fight all of them.”
Shrike sighed and nodded to Trust who unlocked the cell and let the sergeant sit down beside the shaking stallion. “You nearly did, Clay.” She closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at the red stallion with concern. “Clay, no offense, but you're as dumb as a sack of bricks but honest as anything... biggest thing you've ever been in a cell for was celebrating a little too loud on your eighteenth birthday. How in Celestia's name could you do what you did?”
“I dunno, Sarge...” He whimpered. “I never did anything wrong... well... occasionally grabbing a bottle of cherry soda if the boss isn't in. they got boxes and boxes... they won't miss a little bottle will they?” He smiled faintly and Shrike just sighed.
“You're a good lad, Clay... still dumb as a sack of bricks but a good lad...” Shrike looked up at Twilight and the purple unicorn gave a little smile. “You collected your data, Miss Sparkle?”
“I have more than enough information based on the residual potion in his system, I even think I can purge it from a source if I have the time.” She beamed and Shrike nodded,she was always thrown by scientific ponies.
“Alright then.” She looked back to Trusty who was sipping his brew with his trademark grin. “Trusty, get Clay tidied up and let him go home to his mum, if she asks just tell her he had an accident. Then we're all heading out to the Rotten Apple for a couple rounds of cider and a bite to eat. If that's alright with you and your friends, Miss Sparkle?” Shrike turned to Twilight and the purple unicorn smiled.
“Well I don't normally drink but I don't think there will be any objections.” Shrike nodded to Twilight and the pair made their way up into the guardhouse.


“... So that's how I got the four hundredth and twenty eighth wound in the line of duty. Still can't look at a banana without cringing.” Jammy finished his story and Twilight burst out laughing. She was red in the face as was AJ. Dash, on the other hoof was not. She and Star sat as far apart as possible trying not to look like they were having a good time. The head chef tonight was cooking up a storm and was turning out some rather spectacular vittles which were snatched up eagerly by all assembled.
The scene before her made Shrike smile. She had had her doubts about the mares from Ponyville but they were doing a good job of fitting in. She looked up towards the ceiling and let the warmth of the cider in her stomach and the laughter of her friends, both old and new, work to make her a rather happy mare.
“Sergeant Shrike?” The question, in the friendly drawl of the orange farmpony, roused Shrike from her momentary reprieve, “Is it true that Constable Jammy has more wounds ta his credit than any other guard in Equestria?” All eyes turned to her and she took a sip from her mug.
“It's true... he's got a commendation from Celestia's Lord Captain Drussard somewhere...” Jammy blushed modestly and scuffed his hoof on the floor a little. “Lucky sod hasn't even taken a day off for a cold since he signed on.” Shrike commented chuckling.
“Yeah Jammy,” Boulder rumbled with a chuckle and nudged the unicorn's shoulder. “You sure you're a unicorn and not just an earth pony with a bump on your head?”
The ponies descended into another laughing fit as Shrike finished off her drink and stood slowly. “If you lads... and ladies, don't mind... I could use a fresh pint.” Since nopony protested she made her way to the bar and set her pewter mug down for the barkeep to refill with the sparkling amber elixir he was famed for. Shrike pondered for a moment whether the apple farm Applejack worked on was the same one that the barkeep got his cider apples from. Just as she was about to turn and ask, she felt the familiar weight against her other side accompanied by a soft chuckle.
“Ever remember when we were that young, Shrike.” Trusty spoke softly, depositing his empty mug beside shrike's. The sergeant sighed and leaned a little against Trusty's side.
“Full of energy, ready to go... the old sergeant could barely keep track of us... tearing across town after sneak thieves or breaking up bar fights.” Shrike reminisced and blushed bright when Trusty gave a soft nuzzle just below her ear. “Hooves to yourself, Trusty! Bloody hell, it's cute when we're alone but not with the rest of them watching!” She snapped in a hoarse whisper and turned to look at the green unicorn.
Trusty just sighed and grabbed his full mug in the gentle grasp of his telekinesis. “Sorry, boss... must have been the drink... won't happen again...”
Shrike bit her lip as he turned and trotted back to the conversation. The pang of guilt and heartache slowly slipped into her again and she sighed, grabbing the now full mug and trotting to join the rest of them, just catching the end of one of Applejack's stories.
“... and then she said 'oatmeal?! Are you crazy!?'” Guards and special constables alike burst out in laughter and Shrike let the hurt fade away again. Even the pair of sour grapes, Dash and Star, joined in the laughter, forgetting their animosity for a moment. Shrike tried hard to put on a smile while ponies wiped tears of laughter out of their eyes and enjoyed the drink as well as the good company.
-
-
Constable Shooting Star tried to avoid looking at the special constable who was matching her pace off her left wing. It had been a tense and awful morning from the moment that the puffed up loud pegasus had showed up for her second guard patrol wearing her shiny new badge around her neck. Everything about that pegasus just grated on Star's nerves.
“So did ya see Twilight this morning, Man that pony was some kinda hungover.” Rainbow Dash laughed as she flew and Star sighed, looking over the buildings as she flew. The laughter died away and once again the calm sound of air currents overtook both pegasai.
“So what's the deal with those bells you guys have on your saddlebags?” Rainbow Dash's voice again broke the delicate calm with its coltish tone.
“Enchanted bells. We each have one and there's the big one at the guardhouse. If any one of them is rung, they all ring. If you hear the bell ringing then you drop everything and go.” Star supplied, trying to scan over the streets below for anything out of the ordinary.
“That's cool, call of duty stuff and all that.” Rainbow Dash floated leisurely through the air and Star sighed, trying to concentrate. “So, get into many high speed chases... or death defying stunts?” Dash piped up again and Star tried to ignore her.
“Giving me the silent treatment... I get it... you're just intimidated by being in my awesome presence.” Dash grinned and Star stopped mid-flight.
“You... you irritating... OK look... I’m a guard,” Star began, jabbing Dash in the chest. “I had to fight my folks and my friends who wanted me to become a weather pony like my mum just to get considered for recruitment. I demanded the job from the sergeant and she gave me the chance... and I haven't disappointed her. I've fought on rooftops in the rain. Moonlit chases through back alleys after armed thieves. And just the other week we managed to bring in one of those rogues, one of the Shadowbolts, who I happened to chase down all on my lonesome. I don't know why Celestia sent you here to help... just what can you do, Rainbow Dash?”
Dash back-winged like she had been struck, setting her jaw in determination. “You're talking to Rainbow Dash. I’m one of the living holders of the Elements of Harmony! We beat Nightmare Moon without breaking a sweat. I’m the only pony alive to break the sound barrier. And I saved the lives of three Wonderbolts, not to mention my friend and carried them to safety. Oh yeah, and won the Best Young Flyer competition in the process. You need something done and I do it! That's what I can do!”
Shooting Star grinned and held out a hoof. “Not too shabby... sorry for thinking you were  some frilly pony but you gotta admit... your mane is kinda flashy.”
Dash laughed and bumped hooves. “Can't help the way you're made. They broke the mold when this filly was born.” She jerked her hoof in the direction of her chest and grinned wider, earning a chuckle from the constable.
Shooting Star was about to ask how she could have managed to break the sound barrier without being ripped to shreds when a familiar and very sobering noise caught her attention. The bell on her side was ringing.


“This way!” Applejack dashed ahead, and the two armoured guards followed close, hooves pounding on the cobblestones as the cloaked figure ducked from one alleyway to another, evading them with strange and worrying ease.
“AJ! Hang on a tic...” Applejack skidded to a halt and looked back as Jammy and Boulder slowed down to join her. “It's a blind alleyway... no way out... let one of us go first. If it's a unicorn with a crossbow, we stand a better chance at not getting speared.”
Applejack gave a nod and Boulder trotted around the corner slowly, followed by the lithe purple unicorn. Applejack slipped in third. It was a dark alleyway, shielded over the top by the houses on both sides, despite the time of day it was dark within. There was the sound of movement far ahead and the pair of guards gulped.
It was Jammy who trotted forward and cleared his throat. “Hello... Hello cloaked stranger.” He began. “Come out now... we're guards...”
Applejack slipped down beside the guard and gave a little nod which he returned. “By order of tha Princess, come out of there this instant!” The cowgirl pony bellowed loudly and there was an answering ”EEP” from in the shadows.
“A-Applejack? What are you doing here?” The shadows parted slightly and a cloaked figure blinked its soft blue eyes at the two guards and the familiar farmpony. A curl of striking pink mane poking out from under the hood. A box of cupcakes rested at her hooves.
“What am I doing here? What the hay are you doing here?” Applejack turned to the guards and sighed. “False alarm... it's a friend of mine. But that still doesn't excuse why she's sittin' in a dark alley in a cloak and hood.”
Pinkie fidgeted and looked down at her hooves for a moment before she let out a sigh and went back to grinning. “Aww ya caught me! I snuck away from Ponyville for the Big Baking Expo tomorrow and well... I just had to get some of these world famous cupcakes early. They're so good you can't possibly eat just one... but they're so luxurious and expensive... I just couldn't be seen anywhere eating them so I tried to find someplace private and ya caught me.”
“Is this normal behaviour for your friend?” Jammy looked between the pink pony and the town's newest special constable.
Applejack sighed and nodded. “Yup...”


When Dash and Shooting Star arrived, Pinkie was thoroughly interrogated. Shrike rolled her eyes through every fast paced and sugar dipped moment of it, staring down at the careful notes that Twilight had made about the similarities between the crimes and crime scenes. The three new special constables had proven themselves enthusiastic and capable if only a little inexperienced. The streets had been quiet since yesterday which more than helped after the struggle with their past few days.
“I’ve been so wrapped up in this whole potion mess that I forgot the Baking Expo was tomorrow... well that's just wonderful...” Shrike thumped her forehead on the table nearly upsetting her hundredth cup of coffee.
“Potion? What potion?” Pinkie Pie blinked innocently at the assembled ponies and Twilight cleared her throat to explain.
“It's an elixir which imparts great strength and stamina to a pony by inhibiting their pain receptors as well as causing the body to produce vast quantities of adrenaline and other...” She trailed off as Pinkie  blinked in confusion at the purple unicorn. Twilight sighed. “It makes a pony very crazy and very angry and want to break things.”
“Oooooh that sounds super not fun!” Pinkie looked very shocked “Imagine if somepony got some of that nasty potion into the food or the drinks tomorrow? You'd have a whole town full of crazy, angry ponies who wanna break stuff.” The response was bubbly and high pitched but slowly every eye in the room turned towards Pinkie Pie who blinked. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“Could it be that easy, Sarge?” Trusty looked back to Shrike who was beginning to grow pale.
“It would be complete bloody chaos... we'd have dead ponies on our hooves if it got that out of control... riots... bloodshed...” Shrike shook her head fast and slammed both hooves on the table. “Alright... worst case scenario time, chums.”
The ranks, including Pinkie Pie and three special constables stood at attention. Shrike's heart beat faster in her chest as she settled down in thought. “You lot split into teams... two ponies per, that's going to have to include you Miss Pie, nopony goes out alone, and I’m sorry ladies but I want one guard with each of you civilians. Get to the warehouses and to the main bakers for the event, dig your noses everywhere you can and see if anything has been tampered with.”
“What are you going to be up to, Sarge?” Trusty couldn't hide the note of concern in his voice as the conversation grew serious.
“I am going to get to the Mayor's office and then the Post. If I work fast I can have a message off to the royal guard in Canterlot before the mail pegasus leaves with the daily delivery. Now hurry the lot of you! Kick over rocks! Stir up trouble and remember, we don't have a clue who could be behind this.”
The guards and recent recruits raced out of the guardhouse leaving the sergeant sitting at her desk alone. She stared into her cup of coffee and shook her head slowly, choking back her regrets before she got down to the serious business at hoof.
The trot to the mayor's office was a sobering one. Shrike tried hard to keep a calm head as visions of the streets and houses in flames danced like perverse pageantry before her eyes. Shrike was a mare who loved the town she had grown up in. she knew every street and every back alleyway. Despite the recent expansion making it a town of hundreds now, it was still home to her. The thought of her world churning into chaos and bloodshed pained her on a very personal level.
She stopped for a moment and looked out over the festival square. There were workers neatly chalking lines on the cobblestones to mark the locations of vendors and other stalls which would be set up soon for the festivities. The centerpiece of the square stood proudly atop a marble pedestal. A life-sized statue of Princess Celestia which had been commissioned for the town's centennial celebration before Shrike was born. Seeing the image of the princess standing proudly, silent guardian and centerpiece of Equestrian life sent a little spark of hope to Shrike's otherwise battered and cynical heart.
Wasting no more time she climbed the stairs and knocked politely on the door to the mayor's third floor office. “It's open... please do come in, Sergeant.” The mayor spoke in his usual calm tone.
The sergeant opened the door and stepped inside, removing her helmet and hanging it on a hook on her saddlebag. “Sir.” She stood at attention. The mayor stood before the large picture window overlooking the square as he often did.
“I couldn't help but see you in the square. Everything proceeding nicely for the festival tomorrow I trust?” He turned and flashed a smile which was cheerful and ever so slightly unsettling. There was always something unsettling about the stallion.
“Actually... that is why I’m here, Sir.” Shrike began, though the mayor's smile didn't waiver in the slightest. “We have a... hunch that some of the refreshments for the festival have been tampered with.”
Now the smile fled the mayor's face. “You can't be serious, Sergeant... however could you have come to this information?” He stepped away from the window and sat before his desk, shuffling papers.
“It's still mostly a hunch...” Shrike set her brain in motion, filling in little blanks as best she could. “We brought in a young stallion who was under the influence of a potion but he didn't fit the bill of the rest of the ones we had brought in under the influence of the potion. He was... well to be honest... laughably thin and none too bright. He babbled on and on about not knowing what he was doing whereas the other potion users we apprehended were stone faced and silent about it. He said he worked at storage warehouse thirteen which holds some of the goods for the festival, at least so I’m told. One of our special constables from Ponyville just sort of suggested that if the food or drinks were tampered with then the situation would be out of control.”
“That is quite the theory, Sergeant. I do appreciate being kept in the loop about this horrible situation but if you will excuse me,” He was rising from his desk once more and trotting towards Shrike, motioning for her to leave the room. “I do have many, many concerns on my plate at the moment. There is a town to govern and a festival to organize.”
“That's just it, Sir.” Shrike stopped and looked  into the eyes of the mayor, the eyes that still made her uneasy. “We need to stop the festival until we can be sure that it's safe... the public could be in danger.” The sergeant stood her ground and a small twitch caught at the edge of the mayor's cheerful smile.
“Now, now, Sergeant Shrike, there is no reason to panic. You said yourself that this is only a hunch, a theory. If we were to close down the festival for every single hunch or theory or bad feeling, then it would never go forward. It is tomorrow or never I am afraid Our weather service has a series of overcast days and rain planned for all next week, I can practically see the storm clouds on the horizon. The public is simply dying for the festival to go ahead and we must keep the needs of the common ponies above our own.” Shrike found herself being shoved from the office. “Now if you please, Sergeant. I am a very busy stallion and I simply must get my paperwork done.”
Shrike blinked as the door was closed in her face. She was so shocked she only stood blinking dumbly for a moment before she turned and slammed her hoof against the wall in frustration, leaving a small dent in the plaster. Again she had been brushed off, again a door had been closed in her face. “Not bloody fair...” She mumbled as she stormed down the stairs. The bitter cynicism taking hold in her heart again “Bet he would have listened if I was a stallion... or a bloody captain...” Shrike ignored the workponies in the square and made her way back to the guardhouse, desperately wishing she had a cup of Trusty's coffee to drown her anger. Shrike, to full of loathing and pent up anger to care where she was going, walked right past the post office without a second glance


“...So I turn the burner down when it turns golden brown? Well that explains the fires then.” Jammy chuckled while Pinkie Pie bounced beside him as they walked towards the warehouse district.
“Once all this crazy stuff is done, you're gonna have to bake me a batch of your double chocolatey chip caramel cookies, they sound super duper awesome.” The pink party pony said as she paused before the door to storage warehouse number thirteen. Jammy levitated the key into place and unlocked the double doors. Pinkie nudged it open with her rump which earned a nervous chuckle from the gangly unicorn.
“It would be a pleasure, Miss Pie. Alright then, last warehouse for the day.” Jammy's horn sparkled to life, casting a gentle glow around the crates of sarsaparilla and other bottled sodas which were neatly stacked along the walls. “Hmm... looks like all we've got here are the drinks for tomorrow...” The flickering light of his horn cast long shadows through the stacks of crates before illuminating the figure who stood in the long hooded red cloak.
“Meddling little guards, a pity, I had hoped to escape today without spilling any blood... personally.” Slowly the figure turned and flashed a predatory smile that gleamed white in the shadows of his hood,  Pinkie Pie shuddered. Jammy took a step between his pink charge and the cloaked stallion.
“Nopony is getting hurt today... except maybe you if you resist arrest.” The purple unicorn kept his eyes plastered to those of the cloaked pony, speaking softly. “Pinkie Pie, grab the bell on my belt and ring it.” The pink pony gave a nod and drew closer, looking over at Jammy for the hanging bell. Jammy felt a gentle tug and for a moment he turned his eyes down to his pink friend.
In that instant it was over. Pinkie Pie's eyes widened and she flopped back onto her haunches, looking up at the cloaked figure. The pink pony reached up and touched her cheek, in the pale light which crept in through the high windows she saw the stark contrast between her pearly pink coat and the ruby red drips of blood which had splattered there. Her blue eyes drifted up again and took in the scene. The solid spike of steel which had been strapped neatly to the assailant's fore-hoof had embedded itself past Jammy's armour. The purple unicorn still had a look of shock on his face which slowly faded as the light fled from his eyes and he slumped to the warehouse floor.
“A pity..” The cloaked stranger said simply as he wiped the blood from his blade and set it back in position, hidden away.
“You..... killed him.” Pinkie sputtered out softly, her eyes overflowing in tears as she stared, eyes fixed, at her newest friend who lay in a slowly spreading pool of his own blood.
“Of course I did, my dear. I told you I would. It wasn't unnecessarily painful if that is any small consolation.” The stallion adjusted the hang of his hood and sat down, well away from the pool of blood. “You look like a bright young lady... do you want to know why I am doing this? The potions and the monsters?”
Pinkie had never felt terror like this before, never before had she seen life snuffed out in an instant before her. Her mane and tail had deflated and now hung limp over her, her usually colourful tones had become muted. Her senses drank in the sharp metallic tones of blood. She trembled and gulped before nodding.
“I am doing this for you... well for all ponies really... to free you all from the shackles of the monarchy... I must first prove that they are powerless to stop this loss of life.” The stallion paused and shook his head sadly as Pinkie began to tremble and cry. “Oh my dear... my apologies... this is far above your head isn't it... very well... but I can not have you following me.”
As he slowly stood the fear flowed back through Pinkie's form, her eyes grew wide and she shook her head quickly. Her voice barely came out as a squeak as the stallion reached below his cloak and slipped some gleaming metal onto his fore-hoof. “No, no my dear... no sense in denying it... it is time to sleep, little pony...” He wound a hoof back and smiled warmly down at the pink pony. Pinkie slammed her eyes shut tight awaiting the end of everything she had known, instead she felt the impact against her temple and then everything went black, she slumped to the floor in a heap. The cloaked assassin let the brass horseshoe drop from his hoof to clatter to the floor beside the dead guard and the unconscious filly before he put on his finest smile and slipped away into the shadows of dusk.


Shrike sat at the table with the other guards and the new special constables. Nopony spoke , the only sound was that of mugs being lifted and their contents being swallowed. There was the faint smell of cider in the air, Shrike would never normally allow for drinking in the guardhouse, but today was different, today was a dark day. For a moment her eyes lifted and she watched while the pink pony was carefully led away by Rainbow Dash, she had begun crying again and the Rainbow-haired mare had insisted she seek some rest.
“Still can't believe it... I mean... guards leave because they retire... but... never like this...” Trusty looked down into the swirling contents of his cup and gave a shudder. “Not since Comet and that was an accident... night patrol in the rain... lightning ran right through him...”
“It t'ain't right...” The orange earth pony spoke up. “Ponies don't kill ponies! It's tha biggest law in all Equestria... passed down by the lips a Celestia herself.” Applejack tipped back the rest of her cup and looked around at the assembled ponies.
“When I find that pony... I swear... I’m gonna-” Shooting Star began, wringing her hooves together before Shrike stamped a hoof on the table solidly to cut her off. Star's mug jumped from the impact, turned once on it's end and clattered to the table spilling it's contents where it fell.
“You'll what? Kill him too? Two wrongs don't make a right, Star.” Shrike leaned back a little and looked up at the ceiling before letting out a sigh. “We are out of our depth. Brass horseshoes are one thing, we get thugs with them from time to time but hoof blades are barred by royal decree. This is the work of a trained and well funded psychopath. We're just four guards and four young mares... we aren't trained to deal with this... and the mayor wouldn't even stop the festival. We're a bloody joke to these ponies.” Shrike cleared her throat when she realized that everypony was staring at her. “Look... being a guard only works because we... we sort of magic a little policepony in everypony's heads... that says 'If you do bad things, you're in trouble.' as long as we can keep up that illusion we are invincible. The second some crazy idiot realizes that a guard, taken unawares, dies the same as any other pony... the spell is broken and we're nothing but a social club with fancy steel clothes.”
“You can't be giving up...” Twilight Sparkle spoke up for the first time since they had found Pinkie Pie unconscious and Jammy far worse.
“Miss Sparkle...” Shrike sighed, “We aren't soldiers... we're guards... we keep the peace not fight monsters. It's taken all we have to hold them back one at a time. I can't imagine the chaos it would cause if there was a whole town full of rampaging monsters. I can't ask anypony to stand on those streets tomorrow, it's a death sentence.”
“We gotta fight, Sarge...” The soft voice of the large stallion to her left cut through her frustrated haze, she turned her eyes up to Boulder. “Jammy was my friend... my only friend... I say we fight like he would have wanted us to.”
Shrike looked around the table at the assembled ponies, each nodding in steely resolve before her eyes fell on Trusty who only grinned. “Let's do this one for Jammy, eh Sarge?” The green unicorn reached a hoof out and gently laid it atop her own. All Shrike could do was grin.
“You're all mad... brave as anything, but bloody mad..  Alright... we call this a night here and now... I want everypony to get a good night's rest and be up and awake before dawn. We meet here and get kitted out properly.” There was a round of nods and Shrike downed the last of her drink. “Alright then... you're all on leave until morning... use the time while you can... might not get another chance.”
The guards and ponies left to go about their business. Despite how awful her night had begun, she felt proud. She was leading again, she had a cause to fight for and she felt the fire in her blood like she had all those years ago when she first joined. She could almost picture the old sergeant passing over her shiny new badge. How it filled her with pride to hold the little copper shield in her hoof and look over the inscription 'To Protect and Serve'. It was the biggest turning point in her life, when she went from being Shrike the part time weatherpony to Shrike the guard.
She slipped out of the guardhouse and was about to head back home when Trusty stepped out from behind a waiting wagon and gave Shrike a sad smile. “Sergeant... before you say anything, I know you told me to keep my hooves to myself... more than once...”He began and Shrike bit her lip gently. “But you don't expect us all to make it out... you're expecting it to be our last stand...”
“Trusty... we have to be realistic... this is more than we can handle on our own. We need to be ready for the fact that we might not be coming home tomorrow night... this could be the end of it...” Shrike spoke softly as Trusty took another careful step closer and put up a hoof to silence her.
“Look... if it is the end... if we're not going to make it... then... I need you to know how I feel...” Shrike's heart began to beat faster as Trusty stepped close before her and rested a hoof softly on her cheek. “It's not just flirting, Shrike... it never was... I loved you from the moment I saw you in the recruiting line... and if I’m gonna die tomorrow I want you to know that I still love you... all these years later... in spite of all the times you've shot me down.”
Shrike couldn't hold it back any longer. She had always known how he felt but to hear the words, to watch as he laid his heart bare to her was too much. She cried, silently but unashamedly, letting her emotions run free for the first time in a long time. “I'm sorry...” She whispered.
Trusty gave a nod and took a step back, looking over his shoulder. “I suppose I should let you be... I've said my piece...” He stopped when he felt a soft tug on his tail followed by the gentle pressure of a warm body pressing against his side.
“I'd like your company tonight...” Shrike whispered, not believing the words had come from her own mouth. “If it's going to be my last night alive... I think I should let this handsome stallion know that I feel for him what he feels for me... all these years later... I just hope he forgives me.”
Both mare and stallion turned, looking into each others eyes for only a moment more before they pressed close for a kiss, a kiss that had been a long time coming.


The silvery light of predawn shone off the early morning dew making the town glisten like it was fashioned from crystal. In the town square stood four guards and four young mares. The fillies from Ponyville having accepted a few pieces of armour that had fit more or less,  though everypony looked unprepared for the consequences of the day.
The workponies were already setting up for the Baking Expo amid the sound of carefully poised orders of the stallion in charge. Shrike turned to look at her ragtag squad and grinned. “Alright... all of you ponies stick with me. I need to give the mayor one more chance to close down the festival before we do it for him.”
Shrike turned back and took a breath to steady herself before trotting towards where the mayor stood issuing orders about what stalls or vendors would be set up where. He looked neat and tidy as always, prim and proper. Shrike cleared her throat and put on her no nonsense face once more. “Mr Mayor?”
The stallion looked over and rolled his eyes. “Oh not this again... Sergeant Shrike... we can not stop the festivities because of this circumstantial evidence so if you would please get out of the way.” He turned back towards the workponies.
Pinkie Pie froze, scratching her chin, she whisperedto Twilight. “That sounds familiar... I don't know where I heard that voice before.” Twilight tried to nudge Pinkie Pie and get her to be quiet while Shrike said her piece.
“Mr. Mayor!” Shrike said with force, the mayor turned with exaggerated slowness to face her once again, “We have strong reason to believe that the refreshments have been tainted by the potion which has been affecting select ponies in town these past few weeks. It is in the best interest of safety that we halt the proceedings until we can be sure it is safe.” Shrike puffed up her chest as much as she was able, the mayor rolled his eyes again.
“Sergeant... I appreciate your interest in public safety.. Goodness knows we are grateful to you and your squad for rounding up these isolated cases of madness, but I am afraid I must ask you to step down. I am relieving you of duty for the remainder of the festival.” Shrike's jaw fell and the assembled ponies stifled a gasp of shock. “This festival is for the benefit of all ponies, Sergeant.” The mayor smiled warmly.
Pinkie Pie froze up again and nudged Twilight more urgently. “I know I've heard that voice before, Twilight this is important!” The purple unicorn looked at Pinkie Pie and then back to the mayor with a bit of annoyance.
“I... I can't let you do that, Sir... I have a duty to perform...” Shrike stuttered, one hoof reaching up to touch where her badge hung.
“So we are at an impasse...” The mayor sighed gently “As a duly appointed representative of the city I am hereby terminating your service with us. Your badge please Miss Shrike?” The mayor put out her hoof expectantly. Shrike reluctantly unclasped her badge and looked down at the tarnished brass and the inscription which had filled her with pride and duty. Squeezing her eyes shut tight she passed it over to the Mayor. “Thank you Miss Shrike, really such a pity .” The mayor trotted away shaking his head and making a tsking sound, leaving a bewildered Shrike staring at her hooves.
The guards turned to their leader and Pinkie Pie gasped loudly, grabbing the nearest pony, who just happened to be Twilight, and whispering harshly in her ear. “It's him... I’m positive... I know his voice... it was him!”
Shrike rounded on Pinkie Pie and looked deep into her eyes. She looked for any hint of falsehood but found none, all doubt was washed clean as Pinkie opened her mouth and spoke nine soft words. “It was him, the pony who killed my friend.”
Rage began to boil up in the ex-sergeant, she looked back towards the mayor as he trotted away and then up to the sky. The weather team had left a partly cloudy day to help ease the warmth of the sun for the festival goers. With a grin a plan began to form. “You lot... I’m not in charge anymore... but I’ll be damned if I’m letting this bastard get away with whatever he's planning.” She turned her gaze to the rest of her friends and each gave a nod in turn. “Alright then... Dash and Star... get up there and smash as many clouds together as you can, pull them in from wherever you can and make sure they're full of  rain. I want this festival spirit drowned before it starts. If any weatherpony tries to stop you then flash them your badge and tell them to get indoors or better yet, tell them to lend a hoof.”
The two pegasus ponies saluted and took to the air at speed, Shrike's grin turned to the rest of her team. “Now... we've got plenty of help here... six ponies against one middle aged stallion, even if he's trained and armed the odds are on our side. We're going to find the mayor and put a stop to this.” There was a chorus of agreement and Shrike reared up before turning and charging in the direction of the mayor's office.
The office door caved inward under the force of Applejack's hooves, soon the ponies stood in the spacious room staring at the stallion as he pulled the last buckle in place and examined the heavy iron blades which sat ready to spring at any moment. “Ah... Miss Shrike... I had hoped you would all join me... that's why I let that little pink pony live, I thought it only a matter of time before she recognized me.” Pinkie Pie snarled in anger as Twilight placed herself between her and the mayor as he continued. “As servants of the general populace you should appreciate what I am trying to accomplish.”
“Wiping out a whole town? What good could that possibly serve?” If Shrike hadn't been fighting mad before, she certainly was now. The guards spread out gradually as she pawed at the floor and let her wings spread to their fullest extent.
Shrike stopped her advance when the mayor laughed, deep and resonating. He paused to wipe a tear away from his eye before turning his icy grin on the grey pegasus. “Oh my dear... one town? No, no, no, most certainly not. This is just a test... the true target is Canterlot itself. Dear Celestia's city will be in flames. Her guards helpless to stop the carnage and all eyes will turn to her.” His grin turned much darker. “ 'Why could you do nothing?' 'Why don't you stop this?' 'Why would you let this happen?' They will all plead in the streets and finally they will all see what I have seen from the beginning, that the monarchy has outlived its usefulness. That Celestia is nothing more than a greedy fat creature, gorging herself on our praise and adoration.”
It took a quick grab from Applejack to stop Twilight from rushing in to beat the mayor senseless with her own hooves. He only chuckled. “When she has been stripped of her crown by her beloved public... Then shall responsible government step in to ensure a fairly run Equestria.”
“No government run by you could be 'fair, we will put a stop to this, right here... right now.” Shrike narrowed her eyes and took another step closer. “This is your last chance... end this now. There are six of us and only one of you.”
All humour fled from the mayor's face, he set his jaw with a grim kind of glee, for the briefest moment, his eyes blazed green. “Then perhaps you should have drafted more recruits...” Faster than anypony had any business moving, he lunged. Shrike barely had enough time to shift her body to the side. Her eyes flashed back to his position but he was moving again. He struck Twilight and Pinkie Pie like swatting flies and the pair of mares sailed through the air and struck a bookcase solidly. They were soon joined by a green unicorn as Trusty was flung like a discarded rag doll to land amidst them in a heap. Shrike could hear the cries of the purple mare as she tried to stand on what must certainly have been a broken leg.
Boulder reared onto his hind legs and brought both fore-hooves down using every ounce of his strength but the unnaturally fast pony was already in motion, already dodging and delivering a staggering kick to the blue stallion's midsection. Applejack had slightly more luck as her back hooves lashed out with, what must have been, years of practiced skill. There was a crunch as hoof met flesh. The mayor staggered back as Applejack sagged and landed solidly on her stomach. The grim visage of pain gripped her features as she dragged herself further from touch. For a brief moment there was a glimmer of armor below the mayor's clothing. Any guard could tell you how painful it is to buck steel.
Spurned on by the damage to his friends, Boulder swung again and this time his hooves did connect with force, the psychopath was sent back several steps. His grin had not wavered though, Shrike could see his breath was slightly laboured. The ex-sergeant crouched and sprang hard, driving her fore-hooves with every ounce of strength she had. She connected with his shoulder and could feel the damage being done though admittedly to herself as well.
The next sound sent a chill down her spine, she back-winged as hard as she could manage. The metallic click of a blade slotting into place filled the air before he swung. She could feel as the tip gouged a slim line in her armour but she was in the clear in time. The mayor received another punishing blow from the blue stallion but this time Boulder wasn't prepared to dodge. The arc of the blade carried it downward and bit deeply into his shoulder.
He bellowed in pain and staggered backwards, landing firmly against the wall. The mayor stood panting, still grinning and carefully wiping the blood from his blade. Shrike grit her teeth and dropped back onto her hooves. “There is no way anypony could be that fast or that strong... you dosed yourself didn't you?”
“But of course...” He grinned and took a step closer to the pegasus. “What would be the point of having a potion to empower ponies... without perfecting it for my own uses. No madness or foaming rage, simply the power to topple goddesses.” He lunged forward again. It was a split second maneuver and Shrike didn't have the option to dodge. She reared onto her hind legs and struck out with a hoof. Her blow was perfectly on target gouging viciously into his eye.
Her smugness at injuring her opponent was short-lived as she let out a gasp and shuddered. A quick glance down told her that a heavy blade was puncturing her armour and had imbedded itself in her side.
Both opponents stumbled away for a brief moment, Shrike gasping for breath as the pain seared through her. It was worse than she had experienced in all her long years. She forced herself to breathe, trusting the adrenaline in her system to carry her through till the end. She felt so very out of breath.
The monstrous pony before her shook the stars out of his eyes and looked at the former guardsmare with a half grin. His left eye already beginning to swell closed. “That would be a collapsed lung... rather hard to breathe isn't it... but sadly, not fatal....” He advanced and Shrike noticed his slight limp, their punishing blows were having an effect. Or maybe his potion was fading... She shifted away, trying to weigh her options. “I am afraid this is the end... you have given me nothing but trouble and I will not shed a tear for your passing.”
“I won't let you... hurt any more ponies.” Shrike breathed, spotting her chance and grinning just a little. “This is my town... and my friends. You made the biggest mistake of your life when you brought this hell to my doorstep... but I only have one thing to ask.”
He smiled sweetly and settled onto his haunches for a moment. “And what would that be my dear?” Shrike grinned wider.
“Can you fly?” Before he could react she dug in her hooves and plowed into the stunned pony at speed, using everything her wings could give her to propel her and the mayor towards the large window overlooking the square. He had no purchase in the open air, all he could do was struggle as the glass shattered and the pair plummeted from the third story.
Shrike felt a titanic tug at the last moment and she stopped nearly dead in midair as the other pony sailed onwards. She watched with a grin as he landed, stomach up, onto the bronze statue of Princess Celestia standing proudly on the marble pedestal in the center of town. He had only a moment to muse about his position as he looked down to the metal monarch's life-sized horn which now jutted in its entirety from his chest. He chuckled a moment more and slipped out of existence.
Shrike felt the burning in her side and the world beginning to grow dark. She was sure she had lost a lot of blood and the persistent pelting of the rain wasn't doing much to staunch the flow running down over her flank. She looked down to the cobblestones and mused about why she wasn't falling but the gentle floating of unicorn magic was easing her back towards the window before she could ponder it for long. She turned her tired eyes and saw a green unicorn, helmet missing, with his scruffy blue mane swaying in the breeze. It was the last thing she saw before her various body parts lined up and cashed their cheques. Not caring about her dignity at the moment, she passed out cold.


“Sweetheart... hey... Shrike you need to wake up now.” The voice softly tugged the mare from her slumber and she blinked her eyes up at the stallion who leaned over her. His eyes sparkled happily and he leaned close to rest a warm kiss against her lips. “Hey... you were starting to worry us... again.”
Shrike blinked at the kiss and slowly took in her surroundings. She was home, resting in the warmth of her own bed with the gentle glow of the afternoon sunshine resting on her cheek. The only pony around was Trusty. “How long...” She managed to croak softly before struggling upright. In an instant she wished she had just stayed on her back. A lance of pain shot through her side and she snapped her eyes shut tight.
“Whoa whoa, easy now. You've only been out a few hours. You got a nice patch job from the doc but it's still going to be sore for a few weeks.” Trusty gave a little grin and slowly helped her into a more comfortable position. She couldn't help but notice the tears in his eyes.
Carefully she reached a hoof up to brush one away and he responded by clutching her hoof softly to kiss along it and mutter softly. “Damn glad you're awake... and damn glad this whole thing is over... heh... you did it...”
“Feels like I did...” Shrike groaned and shook her head before batting at the green unicorn. “And enough of that mush you great big softie...” Try as she might she couldn't hide the smirk on her lips. Slowly she snuggled back into the warmth of the bed and of the stallion at her side. “Mmm... so why do I need to get out of bed again?”
“Oh!” Trusty suddenly looked a little panicked. “ Princess Celestia is waiting in the festival square, she wants to give you a medal or something.”
Shrike blinked for a moment then leaned up and began to nibble softly on Trusty's ear. “Tell her I’m busy...” The green unicorn turned several shades more red and coughed gently.
“It's... it's not... I can't... not get you...” His resolve slipped slowly before he pulled his head away with a grin. “I gave you an order ma'am.”
“An order...?” Shrike replied flatly and Trusty grinned even wider.
“The mayor fired you... which means I’m the chief of police until we can find a replacement...” the stallion held a hoof to his chest smugly indicating her old badge clasped to it, “They found it on the mayor when they were, uh... extracting him.” Shrike sighed before wiggling away as much as the pain in her side would allow. Swallowing her pride and accepting the gentle help from her lover to get back onto her hooves.
Carefully the pair made their way to the door and once it was open Shrike had to blink at the bursts of colour which shone from every home and every archway. The whole town, or very nearly that, stood in the streets outside her home and each cheered as the grey guardsmare took  tentative steps down the stairs from her front door. The crowd parted and every mare and stallion bowed their head in appreciation as Shrike strode slowly towards the square.
Ponies who she had barely seen or had barely known clapped their hooves and said their congratulations and thanks. She was awestruck. With a few more stumbling steps she reached the town square and was quickly overwhelmed in a crowd of her friends. Every remaining guard as well as the four mares from Ponyville nearly suffocated the grey pegasus in a group hug.
“My little ponies, give the poor sergeant some room to breathe.” A nearly angelic voice cut through the clamour and slowly the group separated to look upon the Princess of ponykind in the flesh. Shrike tried to remember a time she had seen Princess Celestia in the flesh and found she couldn't. Doing the respectful thing, she bowed with a visible wince.
“Princess...” Shrike tried not to sound like she was in too much pain but failed miserably, Celestia stepped closer and carefully helped her stand once more.
“My brave little guard... there is no need to bow. Especially if it makes you suffer.” Celestia smiled and Shrike couldn't help but feel her spirits being lifted. The princess looked at the assembled heroes of the day and then back to Shrike. “So my faithful student tells me you are a true hero. A mare willing and able to win the day despite overwhelming odds... is this true?”
All Shrike could do was blush and cough nervously. “Just doing my job, Your Majesty...” She mumbled and Celestia chuckled.
“From what I recall of the code of guardponies, I did write it after all, is that you are meant to keep the peace and assist ponies in need... not leap out of windows and defeat monsters.” She looked back at the ponies from Ponyville and smiled.
New-found friends Dash and Star stood proudly side by side. Applejack stood between the impressive shape of Boulder and the grinning bundle of energy that was Pinkie Pie. Both learning hard lessons about the nature of life and the value of sacrifice. Twilight Sparkle who was using a little magical help to stand on her newly mended leg, had learned first hoof the deepest meaning of friendship. Celestia turned her eyes back to those of the mare before her.
“You have done a great thing here today, saving the lives of many ponies.” Celestia began speaking gently but paused when Shrike lowered her eyes.
“Not all ponies...” The former sergeant sighed. “We lost a good stallion... a brave stallion... and nothing can bring him back. We're not looking for glory or to have our names in the record book. We just want to do our job and be thanked for doing it...” Shrike couldn't help but see a little movement in Celestia's personal guard as the large pegasai looked back and forth between themselves.
Celestia looked to the sky as if deep in thought. “Then recognition you shall have...” Celestia raised her voice and the crowd fell silent in an instant while the living goddess spoke. “Ponies of Equestria, on this day I usher in a new holiday. A holiday to honour those brave mares and stallions who work tirelessly to keep your streets safe. For if they admit it or not, they are all heroes in their own right and on this day and every year hence, they will be honoured on this Day of Heroes!”
A cheer rose from the crowd and Shrike smiled just a little, looking back at her green stallion who could only shrug and maintain his usual grin. “And furthermore... I confer on you the rank of Captain, with all privileges and rites there afforded. And... if my memory serves me that would make you-” Celestia began but was cut off by a soft whisper from Shrike who looked wide eyed up at the princess.
“F-first... female captain in centuries...” The grin couldn't be wiped from her lips  as Celestia nodded.
The princess leaned close and whispered in her ear. “You deserve it.” Shrike did her best not to squeal like a schoolfilly as Princess Celestia waved her horn in the air and a shiny new badge with 'Captain' inscribed upon it swirled into existence. Celestia stood back up to her regal height and looked at the assembled townsponies and guards.
“Let the celebrations begin!” her words were nearly drowned out by another cheer which rose enthusiastically from the crowd. 
Shrike sat back as the food and newly purified drinks flowed and ponies of all ages danced in the streets. Some of Celestia's personal guards strode without their helmets on, laughing amongst themselves or enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
Twilight and the other fillies  from Ponyville sat around the princess, sharing stories about their brief time as guards. Shrike smirked, she had let them all keep the badges under the promise that if she needed them again, they would all come running.
Her attention was drawn away as a battered tin cup was set on the table beside her. She looked up to Trusty who snapped off a textbook salute. “Captain.” he couldn't stop himself from grinning.
“At ease...” She smirked in return and sipped her coffee. “Hmm... your coffee is still awful, Sergeant.”
“I love you too, Sweetheart.” He replied with a grin as always.


The End