Chapter 7
Spa.
Lance, Shining and Midnight dragged themselves in to their room and let out a sigh as they flopped on their beds completely exhausted.
“My everything hurts.” Midnight said with a groan. Lance let out a groan and stared up towards the mattress above him.
“So Midnight, where are you going to go for your three week vacation?” He asked.
“No idea. Anywhere but here, or home.” She said with a grunt.
“Why don’t you want to go home?”
“Let’s just say that my parents weren’t really....supportive of me becoming a guard.” She said with a groan.
“Yeah, mine were the same way when I told them.” He said with a sigh.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m the only stallion in the whole family who’s left the farm.” He said as the bat mare poked her head out from over the side.
“So why’d you leave?”
“We had a bad harvest and we might have lost everything unless we came into some serious money. The guard was my only option.”
“So that’s where all your money goes?” Midnight asked as she hopped down on the other edge of the bed.
“Yup. What about you? Why didn’t your folks approve?” The bat mare’s blue eyes shrank at the memory of her parents.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She said in a low tone as she hopped off the bed.
“What? C’mon give me something to work with here Nighty.” The stallion teased. The bat mare looked at the stallion with blank expression on her face. Before Lance could react the mare pounced on him. Using her hooves she pinned his front hooves to either edge of the bed. Lance gulped and looked up at the mare who had a look that could kill a manticore on her face.
“You. Are. So. De-” She was cut off as a small wave of pain rippled through her body. Her front hooves slipped and she fell face first. Lance opened his eyes to see a pair of crystal blue spliced eyes. He felt the mare’s nose press against his. Lance felt his face turn red as they stood frozen in time.
“Well, I was hoping to find you here.” The white stallion tilted his head back to see a familiar black unicorn stallion standing in the door way with a smug grin spread across his face. “Maybe I’ll come back in five.....ten minutes pending.” The two trainees immediately got to their hooves.
“It wasn’t what it looked like sir.” Lance quickly said.
“Sure it wasn’t.” He said with a chuckle. The bat mare let out a groan and flew up to her bunk. The General laughed and looked back at Lance who was trying to hide his blush.
“You wanted to talk with us sir?” Shining said with a gulp.
“Just Lance specifically.” The General said as he looked at the stallion.
“What about?”
“I’ll tell you over lunch.” He said as he started to walk down the hallway. Lance looked at the other two ponies and gulped. The white stallion hurried after the officer while Shining pulled out a quill and parchment.
“What are you doing?” Midnight asked as she turned on her side to look at the stallion.
“Just writing a letter.”
“To who?”
“Does it matter?” He said in a rough tone. The mare rolled her eyes as she turned over. There was another knock on the door. Shining got to his hooves and answered it to see a bright red unicorn mare with a purple mane. The mare felt her face blush brightly at the sight of the young trainee. “Can I help you?”
“Y-yeah, is Midnight here?” She asked as the bat mare perked up and looked at the mare.
“Hey Comet, what’s up?”
“Some of the girls and I were gonna hit the town, wanna come along?” Midnight was taken back by the offer and looked at Shining who gave her a shrug.
“Um....sure.” She said as she trotted down the hall with the red Unicorn. Shining let out a sigh of comfort as he closed the door and sat back down at his desk with the quill wrapped in a magical aura.
“Alone at last.” Shining said as he started to write down on the parchment.
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“So where are we going?” Lance asked as he and the dark stallion made their way through the streets of Canterlot.
“Theres a bar not to far from here. I could use a drink.” Bronze said with a smile. Lance reluctantly followed the officer to a wooden tavern. The interior was mahogany and had a nice finish to it. The General took a seat in a booth across from the recruit. “I looked through the test results from todays exercises today.”
“Something wrong sir?”
“Okay first off, drop that sir shit. We’re not at the castle or on duty.”
“Sorry si-....Bronze.”
“Much better.” He said as a waitress came by and handed them each a menu and a glass of water. “ I was reviewing your test scores today.” The white stallion looked at the officer with a nervous look in his eye. “Your strength is superb is good, stamina is even better.” Lance felt a ray of pride come from inside as the stallion said the words. “However, your combat spell are shaky. Worse in the class.” Lance bit his lip at the comment. He knew that if it was one thing he struggled with it was the combat spells. Even the basic ones were difficult to cast.
“Sorry, I’ve spent hours practicing them, but every time I try I get magic backlash.” He said with a sigh. Bronze held up his hoof and waved the waitress over.
“Can you get us two glasses of Applejack Daniels?”
“Sure thing.” The mare said as she trotted away from the guards.
“I’ve talked it over with Celestia and the other members of the brass, we all agree that we can’t have a guard that isn’t able to use some form of combat spell.” Lance could feel panic welling up inside of him. The money his family depended on to keep their farm afloat through the winter. Lance dug deep and kept his cool.
“Which is why you’re kicking me out of the guard?” Lance managed to force out.
“Kick you out? Where did you get that idea from?” The General said with a laugh. “I’m not kicking you out son, I’m gonna train you.” Lance blinked twice at the dark stallion.
“I think my ears are still recovering from the artillery exercise because it sounded like you wanted to train me.” Lance said as he scratched his ear.
“No, you heard right.” The officer said as their drinks arrived.
“Why me sir?” The officer frowned at him. “Why me Bronze? I thought that you’d want a genius like Shining.”
“Oh please, everypony knows that Shining is a prodigy. A once in a millennium guard. He doesn’t need any help. You on the other hoof are just an average pony.” Lance felt his pride take a critical hit from the words. “Not to mention that you and I are alike in that department.”
“Huh?”
“I sucked at combat spells. Still do.” He said as he sipped his glass.
“But, you’re a guard legend! A General for Celestia’s sake. How could you become a General and stink at combat spells?” Lance said in confusion.
“There’s only one way your gonna find out.” Bronze grinned as he raised his glass in his hoof. Lance picked up his glass and clinked it against the dark stallion’s. “I’m warning you; if you think the training you’re in now is hard, then just wait till I get my hooves on ya.” He said with a wicked grin on his face.
“This is gonna hurt, isn’t it?”
“Welcome to my world.” Bronze said as he slammed his drink back.
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Midnight and Comet were walking down the street with two other mares from the guard. One was a teal Pegasus mare with a dark blue mane, while the other was a light green Unicorn with a bright yellow mane and tail. The group stopped in front of a bright pink building and smiled at one another. Midnight’s sense of smell kicked in and smelt a large amount of perfume coming from the building.
“Where are we?” Midnight asked.
“The spa of course.” Comet said with a smile.
“No thanks Ivy. I’d rather- HEY!” Midnight yelled as the mare levitated her off the ground and the group walked into the shop. The bat mare tried to run away but found that she was stuck in the magical aura. The four mares were greeted by a light orange Unicorn mare.
“Ah hello Comet. I see you brought the girls along as well.”
“Yeah, just add Midnight to the tab.” She said as she looked at the suspended bat mare who hung her head in defeat.
“Splendid, right this way.” The orange mare said as she led the group of mares to a hot tub. Midnight kept her head lowered and muttered under her breath.
“Oh don’t be such a downer. You might actually enjoy this.”
“Doubtful.” She spat out. The group of mares got into the hot tub and let out a sigh.of comfort. Even Midnight was pleased with the feeling of the water jets hitting her aching wings. “I stand corrected.” She said with a sigh. The mares conversed with one another while Midnight remained silent. The green mare nudged Comet who nodded.
“So Midnight, what’s it like rooming with the two hottest stallions in the guard?” Comet asked as Midnight looked at her in confusion.
“Lance and Shining?”
“Duh!” Ivy said as she rolled her eyes.
“What I’d give to have those two for just five minutes.” The teal Pegasus said as her wings stood on end.
“Um Misty, your wings are showing.” Ivy said as she pointed to her friend’s appendages.
“Sue me. He’s hot!” The mare said with a blush. “So tell us! What’s it like?” Midnight gulped and never really gave their appearances any thought.
“They’re.....nice. Can’t really complain. Shining writes these letters that he never tells us about and Lance.....frankly I don’t know much about him other than he’s from an orange farm in Missourneigh.” She said with a shrug. Ivy giggled at the words.
“I hear that they grow them ‘big’ down south.” The green mare said.
“Oh behave!” Comet said in a flat tone.
“What? I can’t have dreams?”
“What about that coltfriend you had back in Manehattan?” The Pegasus asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“So? Does that mean I can’t have a little fun?” She said as she waggled her eyebrows. Midnight couldn’t explain it, but a small bit of rage welled within her.
“I’m pretty sure that Lance is too innocent for what your thinking of.” Midnight said as she rolled her eyes.
“Oh come in Midnight, you have to admit that they’re kind of cute.” Comet said with a smile. Midnight bit her lip as her mind went back to the incident that occurred between herself and the white stallion.
“Nope.” She said in a flat tone.
“Are you not into stallions?”
“NO! I just don’t find either of them that good looking.” She lied.
“You’re lying! Lance has got to be the strongest stallion I’ve ever met. He’s huge!”
“Probably because he’s half earth pony.” Midnight clarified. The mare let out a sigh and got out of the bath. “See you girls later I got to get back to the barracks.” She said as she walked away from the mares. The three trainee’s looked at one another and shrugged.
The bat mare made her way out of the salon and back out onto the streets of Canterlot. The mare rolled the thoughts around in her head as she trotted down the cobble stone road. She looked out her peripheral vision to see several ponies looking at her in shock and disgust.
Right. These ponies always judge on how you look.
What about Lance?
He wouldn’t be interested in a mare like me.
You never know, plus he is kinda cute.
NO! I can’t.....I just....can’t.
This isn’t the Shadowlands and I doubt Lance would do that. The mare let out a groan and continued to make her way through the city streets. The mare’s ear twitched and heard sounds of a scuffle. She looked down a dark alley and saw a stallion with his hoof over a mare’s mouth. The mare had tears running down her face and tried to break free from the stallion’s grip. Midnight’s eyes shrank and hurried down the alley.
“HEY! What the buck is going on here?” She yelled. The stallion looked at the bat mare with a frown. The mare managed to wiggler his hoof away from her mouth.
“Please help me!” She yelled. Before the stallion could react Midnight spread her wings and launched herself at the stallion. Midnight pulled up and kicked the stallion in the face with her back right hoof. The stallion let go of the mare and fell on his back. Midnight didn’t waste any energy as she lumped on top of the stallion and started caving his head in with her hoof.
Midnight let loose a barrage of punched up and down the stallion’s body. She felt his bones crack and teeth shatter from her hooves. After the tenth punch, Midnight stopped the assault and let out a heavy sigh. Her right hoof was covered in blood and the stallion’s face was all but pulverized. She got off the stallion and trotted over to the mare who was shaking in the corner.
“Are you okay?” Midnight asked.
“Y-yes. Thank you.” The mare said before running off. Midnight looked at the beaten stallion who groaned in pain. The bat mare looked down at her blood stained hooves and bucked a trash can while letting out an anger filled shout. The mare took flight and flew back towards the castle. The mare flew up to her room and opened the widow to see Lance in his bed, rolling in hysterical laughter.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” She asked as she flew into the room.
“Oh Midnight! You’ve gotta see this!” He said as the stallion’s horn glowed. A small rectangle showing Shining and a small Unicorn filly chatting in a yard.
“C’mon BBBFF. Please?” The filly whined.
“Only you and Cadence can do that.” He said with a smile. The filly stared at the white stallion with puppy dog eyes. The large stallion let out a sigh and hung his head in defeat. “Only for you Twily.” The small filly smiled while making a squee sound. The two crouched down so that their eyes were level and started to chant.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two said in unison. Midnight’s right eye twitched as she saw the spectacle before bursting out in laughter. The two rolled on their backs with their heads across from one another.
“My ribs!” Midnight said through the laughs.
“Am I glad my sisters never made me do that!” Lance said as he took a few deep breaths. The stallion then noticed the bat mare’s bloody hoof. “What happened to your hoof?” He asked with concern in his voice.
“I got into a fight.”
“You’re bleeding!” He said as he held up her hoof.
“That’s the other guy’s.” She said in a flat tone. Lance gulped and looked at the mare in surprise.
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“Mind giving me my hoof back?” She said as she looked down at his hooves holding her own.
“Sorry!” He said as he let go and tried to hide his blush.
“Where did you even see him doing that?” She asked with a giggle.
“Okay, so I was walking back from the bar after talking with General Bronze. When I heard Shining complaining about something. I looked over a fence and the rest is history.” He said with a smile. “So what did you do?” He asked as he looked at the bat mare.
“Oh...I just....went around town.” She tried to lie.
“Nighty, don’t lie to me.” He said in a teasing tone. The bat mare blushed at the name.
“Promise not to laugh?” She asked. The stallion gave her a reassuring nod. “I..went to the spa.” She said with a gulp. Lance struggled to keep his mouth shut from the mare’s words. “Don’t. You. Dare.” She said in an icy tone.
“That’s just-” The mare got in a pouncing position. “A-
“Don’t say it!”
“-Dor-”
“I’m warning you!”
“-A-”
“Shut up!”
“-Ble! Adorable!” He said with a laugh. The bat mare’s face turned crimson and jumped on the stallion and bore holes through his eyes.
“You are gonna pay!” She said as she pressed her forehead against his.
“Jeez, are you two at it again?” The two looked up to see Shining standing in the doorway shaking his head. The two ponies on the floor then started laughing as the memory of the dance came back to them. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh nothing, BBBFF!” Lance yelled through the laughter. Shining’s eyes shrank at the words and rushed over to him. Shining grabbed him by his shoulders and stood him upright.
“WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?” Shining yelled.
“I have to say that was an interesting dance you did.” Midnight said with a laugh. Shining’s face turned pale at the words. Lance’s horn glowed and the recording played. Shining felt the color from his face and a bit of his pride drain away.
“Who else did you show?” He asked as he let Lance go.
“Just Midnight. I swear.” Lance said with a smile.
“Oh don’t be so down Shiny. We’re not gonna show any pony else in the guard.” She said with a giggle.
“You guys are never gonna let me live this down are you?” Shining said in a defeated tone.
“Nope.” Lance said with a smug grin.