//------------------------------//
// Desperate Times 
// Story: Nocturna Eternal 
// by Sleep Sonata 
//------------------------------//

	I never imagined being Captain of the Nighthawks would be as thankless as it was. We were tasked with providing security for all of the Princess’s castles, and yet we were denied the funds to increase our ranks. The stallions we did have were at their breaking point. I’d been asked by countless hawks if there was a new shipment of rations that day, since the stores were almost depleted. Every time they asked, I reassured them there was, and that the quartermaster was on the case. Every time I said that, I was a liar. I had no idea when or if we were getting more rations. What food there was needed to go out to feed the city, but more farms were failing every day. We all knew it, but nopony would say it; Nocturna was dying. 
One night, as I poured over the deployment orders, I heard a rapping at the door. I ushered them in, and an old friend of mine, Lieutenant Comet, came in. “Comet? I haven’t seen you in ages! How have you been?”
I got a better look at him as I stood up, and realized he didn’t need to answer. He appeared gaunt. He’d lost so much weight, he didn’t fit into his armor anymore. Still, he smiled, working hard to conceal the pain I knew he had. 
“Crow, I’m so glad you’re looking healthy. I just transferred here from the southern castles, since there’s not much left to guard there.”
“Well, make no mistake, we have our hooves full here. Did you get assigned to a post?”
“Actually, I’m assigned as your XO. My first act is to let you know that Princess Starry Night has requested an audience with you." 
The Princess very rarely calls for meeting with the guard. That duty was usually left to Lord of the Castle, though he hasn’t been seen since his trip to the coast. I guess the Princess hadn’t any other liaisons. “Very well. I shall go at once. Thank you, Lieutenant.” 
We rendered our salutes, and I left him to tend to the rest of the paper work. Thank the stars I didn’t have to that on my own.
When I reached the throne room, I was surprised to find only a single Nighthawk guarding the door. I should have been furious, but I restrained myself. “Stallion, why are you the only Nighthawk guarding the throne room?”
He appeared intimidated by my tone, though he kept his bearing. “Sir, my partner was called off to patrol the eastern wall, as per your orders.”
I did remember, signing those orders, but I hadn’t expected stallions to be taken from the throne room of all places. Our ranks were thinner than I thought. “As you were.”
Inside, I saw the Princess simply starring out the window. Nopony else was around, it was just her and her thoughts. I took a bow before addressing her. “Your majesty, you requested an audience with me?”
She whipped her head towards me as if startled, though it took her a second to compose herself. I must have caught her dreaming. “Captain, yes I did. I was hoping you could shed some light on a few things for me.”
“Anything, Princess. What is it you wish to know.”
“I’ve been told that more Nighthawks have been recalled here to the capital, leaving fields in the south unprotected.”
“Yes, Princess. Those were my orders.”
“But that leaves ponies unprotected. How they can farm and protect themselves from the predators from the forrest?”
I didn’t realize how in the dark she was. It was the Internal Affairs Minister’s duty to inform the Princess on such matters. “Your Majesty, the farmers have been resettled father north, as well as the guards. They reported that their fields were barren, so it was reasoned that they would be more productive helping the remaining farms.”
“Has it increased food production?”
“It’s too soon to tell. What stallions we have left are tied up at the coast. It benefits to have a smaller territory to maintain.”
Her ears perked when I mentioned the coast. Her expression was one of surprise. “What’s happening at the coast?”
I was honestly surprised she hadn’t heard of the situation, though it was my duty now to inform her. “With the current famine, ponies are flooding to the coast, acting on rumors that there could be a land at the end of the sea. They’re trying to row out in handmade canoes, barely big enough for two. Everypony who’s gone out have never come back.”
The Princess was aghast. She could not believe her citizens had been driven to such desperation. “What can we do? This is getting out of control.”
I could see she was getting upset. I had never heard of a princess crying, but she was on the verge of tears. “Princess, I can keep order in anyway I can, but we need a plan for ending this famine, lest the ponies begin to turn on the monarchy.”
I hadn’t made a dent in her sorrow. She merely stumbled off to her chambers, the door closing slowly behind her. If the population had seen what I had just seen, there would be revolts for sure.
Outside the throne room, there was a crowd of nobility waiting for there turn. These were the one group I would gladly bring bad news to. “Your Lordships, the Princess had retired to her chambers. She will call for you once she is ready.”
One of the group, Lord Umbra, stepped forward. “Actually Captain, we would like an audience with you.”
I hated having to deal with nobility. Their sense of entitlement always made me agitated. I had to start off as a private to get to my position. They simply had to be born. “What is it you wish to talk about?”
He seemed about as pleased to speak with me I was with him, though we both maintain our manners as well as we could. “Princess Starry Night doesn’t normally speak with the Nighthawk Captain herself. What exactly did you say to her?”
How they’d found out about my audience with the princess, I didn’t know. I wasn’t about to let a noble demand information from me. “I’m afraid I’m not a liberty to discuss that. The princess trusts me with her confidence.”
“I’m sure she does.” His condescending tone was beginning to get the better of me. I could feel my frown turn into a scowl. “Just know this; this nation has a longstanding tradition of a separate and subservient military. I hope you are prepared to honor that tradition.”
“Of course, your lordship.” My contempt came through in my voice, though I didn’t care. I’d said what I needed to, and that sent them on their way. 
As I walked back to my office, thoughts were swirling in my head. If had said them out loud, I would have been cast out as a traitor. I felt that Nocturna was in peril, and that Princess Starry Night couldn’t save us. She was our natural ruler, but she needed to be guided to the right decisions. The nobles obviously had their own preservation in mind, and only added to the nations troubles. I had to work my way closer to the princess, and guide her on the right path. I just needed to find out what that path was.