//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Dark Knights // Story: Valor is Magic // by NotSoSubtle //------------------------------// Dark Knights Nova Drive, commander of the Night Guard, hovered an aerial vigil over the battered city that was her home. She had been born and raised in Cloudsdale. Her old house was mere trotting distance from the Fliers’ Academy, not that she had ever just walked there. Flight had been her life, her love, and her obsession in those days. Once her proudest moment, Nova had been one of the youngest ponies to win the Young Flier’s Competition in the stadium just below her. Ahead to the north she saw the weather factory, where she had gotten her first real job handling the arrival of water reserves. It was there she had opened the letter from the Wonderbolts, accepting her application to training camp. That was a lifetime ago. Nova looked down at the city, comparing what she saw to her memories, distant as they seemed. The once pristine blues and whites were tarnished with grey ash and red embers. There were holes in the cityscape where she remembered buildings used to be, now little more than piles of masonry. She drank the sights of the wounded and besieged city. None of them moved her. Colonel Nova Drive had no tears for the city below. And, to her, it was only proper. Three years ago, she had hovered in almost this exact place and said her inner goodbyes to Cloudsdale and its pegasi. At the time, she had imagined she would never return. Cloudsdale was no longer her home. The ponies here had rejected her, all but cast her out. Much had changed. She closed her eyes and allowed herself a tiny smile. She had found a new home—a place to belong—with ponies that cared about her and needed her. Nova had new friends, a new family. She had the Night Order. She had Her. Nova may have been raised on Cloudsdale, but it wasn’t hers anymore, at least not as it used to be. Nova belonged to the moon, bought and paid for by the glorious mercy of the Princess of the Night. “Art thou occupied, Colonel?” called a voice from behind her. Vapor Trail had returned early. “Slightly, but ‘tis nothing of consequence.” She faced him. “Is all made ready, Lieutenant?” “Yes, Colonel.” The younger stallion nodded. “We have commandeered a makeshift barracks just a floor below our princess’s new quarters. Corporal Sonnet was most pleased with the space, and is seeing to its conversion even now.” “And the other?” “The color sergeant has secured a space in the stadium, as was ordered by thee. He eagerly awaits thy return.” He thought about it. “Perhaps not eagerly.” Nova nodded once, punctuating it with a grunt. Were there a demonstration team for stern, humorless ponies, Hardtack would be the captain. “It would be most unlike the warhorse.” Vapor opened his mouth to speak, and thoughtfully closed it again. He was the newest recruit of the officers in the guard, and least accustomed to the traditional speech. Nova allowed him the time. “The lodging proved the more difficult of thy orders. I hope thou might possess a taste for the candy of cotton.” “Oh?” He grinned. “T’was a concession stand for the confection but yesterday. There are many stores of the mix, and the gins can be powered by unicorn magics instead of the utilities of power.” He licked his lips. “But such a resource should not be wasted without thought.” Nova allowed herself a crack of a smile. “Perhaps we should secure the stores as a ration, awarded to squads for meritous service.” Vapor’s ears drooped. “Of course, sir. It would be a fine use of the boon.” Nova laughed openly. “Do not wear thy face so long, lieutenant. Ahead there shall be many ways to prove thyself. This may be the beginning of a glorious new tradition!” The stallion’s frown evaporated, replaced by a guise of contemplation. “I had not considered.” “In any event, ’tis a concern for later. Return to the barracks. By my order, all Luna’s chosen are to don their armor and assemble by the stadium gate but for those of the royal escort. I shall go ahead, and shall see thee there. Thou art dismissed.” Vapor saluted. “Sir!” Nova watched the stallion depart and was almost overcome with joy. Here above ashes of her old home, her wait was over. She was ready. The Order was ready. Nova would finally prove her worth to her Princess. As she descended to the stadium, her thoughts were an alloy of considerations for the days ahead and daydreams of death inflicted to the enemies of Luna’s night. It would be glorious. But first, she mused, we shall make an impression. The Cloudsdale stadium was packed. No. That is unfair. Nova had seen it packed before, as a filly. This far and away surpassed what she remembered of her youth. Both the stadium and grounds were crammed far beyond capacity. Had the Equestrian Air Marshall Service been around to care, there would have been Tartarus to pay, but with the griffin horde so near nopony paid any mind to mere fire safety regulations. With unicorns and pegasi on watch in all directions, the structure had become the heart of the city’s defense. The stadium was no longer a monument to the pegasi sports, but a bastion for the defense of all Equestria. Yet, being the only truly secure building left in the clouds meant that everything that could be done here was being done here. Much like the cotton candy stall the guard had secured earlier, every surface was being put to use as barracks, armory, mess, hospital, or anything else the defenders needed. Ponies on hoof could hardly escape the dense herd of busy pastel equines. The cramped conditions were compounded by the ever-swelling numbers of wingless ponies being shuttled up to the city by chariot. The stadium center had been filled in for the benefit of the flightless, where many mingled almost shoulder to shoulder except for a small empty island in the very middle. Ponies of earth and magic, here amongst the clouds; nopony ever would have thought it before today, and she had met the pony who had made it possible. The thought of it made Nova’s heart leap, but it was the sight of the ponies before her that made it soar. Ahead, two rows of armored ponies filed out from the visiting team’s gate. They trotted easily instead of marched, but their orderly, wordless movement suggested a deep-rooted discipline all its own. Their dark, matching armor and coats were of royal colors, though of a princess few had yet justly recognized for her greatness and mercy. Even clad in armor and uniform in color by way of illusion magic, it was still quite easy to tell them apart. The spells did nothing to hide differences in build or stature. Slightly more than half had wings; most of the rest had horns. Still they moved as one pony, quiet in step as a night’s breeze. The Night Order Royal Guard was coming. Nova’s eyes searched the stands before her, taking stock without breaking her stance. Even among the busy ponies in the stadium, heads were starting to turn. They had come to attend their own business, but were about to witness a show all the same. She suppressed a smile. The pony with her had doubts. “Colonel, art thou quite certain this is needed?” Vapor asked carefully. “It is time for Equestria to see the greatness of our Princess. It is time for them to know her guard.” Nova turned a harsh gaze to the officer. “And if thou had concerns, it is too late to voice them now.” “I have no doubts about the display. Just,” he flattened his ears. “Is it not too soon for such a farewell? And in front of all these ponies.” “Gone is gone,” Nova almost growled. “And there will likely not be time again.” He mumbled something Nova couldn’t hear. She had no time for it anyway. The night guard drew closer. They were calm, precise, wearing fearsome armors laden with midnight enchantments both benign and insidious. And most of all, quiet. Nopony spoke as Color Sergeant Hardtack ordered the company to halt and right face with mere gestures of ears and tail, every one of them suddenly turning to face their officers with a silent pivot. Hardtack stepped forward and saluted. Nova turned her head to Vapor, who correctly interpreted it as an order. He in turn looked to Hardtack. “Color sergeant?” The big grey earth pony clicked his hooves and saluted. “Sir!” Nova knew him to be naturally dough-colored under the magic of his armor, but the illusion better brought out his hard blue eyes. One of the few ponies of the reformed guard to have been career military prior to Luna’s call, he was not one to be trifled with. Vapor nodded with honest respect. “Call the role, if you please.” “Sir.” Hardtack spun to face the formation. “’Tention!” Every pony before him stood straight, shifting right until their hooves touched. The resulting clack reverberated through the stadium, drawing more eyes. Nova fought to suppress another grin. Hardtack must have enlisted one of the unicorns in the unit to amplify the sound in some manner. Nova knew which pony would be getting the first meritous ration of cotton candy. The color sergeant withdrew a small scroll from under his armor, and began to read. “Astro Turf?” Astro clicked his hooves. “Here, Sir!” Hardtack eyed him. Astro Turf might have been the only pony in the unit larger and stronger than the sergeant, but still he withered slightly under his gaze. “Just sir, thank you.” “Sorry, sir.” “Quite all right.” The sergeant harrumphed. “Aurora?” A mare in the front row flapped her wings. “Sir!” “Blue Moon?” There was no answer. “Blue Moon.” Standing at the far end of the line, a lanky mare pegasus took a half step forward. Barely old enough to buy her own cider and certainly youthful enough to be doubted for it, Sonnet had nonetheless proven herself a talented organizer and been promoted to corporal. The little pony handled most of the unit’s paperwork, and though her talents were a much-needed blessing to the young and growing Night Order, she had much to learn of soldiering. She raised her chin and announced, “H-honor duty, sir,” with passable decorum (aside from the stutter) and stepped back into formation. The sergeant nodded and made a note on the scroll. It did not matter that the night guard had a presentation to make. Their highest duty was Her protection. Ponies on that duty were excused from all other functions until relieved of that post. On every day before today, that had meant a pair at all times. Today, Equestria was at war. The royal escort would be doubled until Equestria’s inevitable victory over the griffin interlopers. Currently, Nova had sent her best to keep vigil over their beloved princess, including her executive officer. Nova’s eyes gleamed with pride as she made a silent accounting. The two rows before her were composed of fourteen of the finest enlisted ponies in all Equestria. The color sergeant, Nova and Vapor Trail made seventeen. Four more were on primary duty, ensuring the safety of their princess. Wait, that was only twenty one. Her smile faded into confusion. They were one short. Who could be… Right. With Silver Mist gone, the proper count was twenty one, not twenty two. She would have loved this, Nova thought with a sad smile. Nova and Silver had been the founding members of the reactivated Night Order. The two mares had become friends as they rebuilt the Order from the ground up, though at times Nova had found the unicorn’s bubbly optimism hard on the nerves. While Nova had the experience to take responsibility for the unit’s operations and tactics, Silver had become the unit’s historian. She had spent hours of her off duty time in the Canterlot archives, finding what she could about the Old Guard, making copies, and sharing her findings at mess. On Mondays it had become unwritten tradition that a story be told, either of the Old Guard or a new initiate, and she would be the one to tell it. We need not frown over misdeeds of days past, Silver Mist had once said with her uplifting smile. We are Luna’s chosen; we are Night Order. So hold thy heads high, and be not ashamed. Nova may have made a unit out of them, but Silver Mist had made them a family. “Colonel?” The faint whisper brought the mare to the present. Vapor’s eyes settled on her with worry. “Art thou unwell?” “Nay,” she replied softly, blinking away the speck in her eye. “T’was merely the splendor that got the better of me. Pay it no mind.” Vapor twitched a nearly invisible nod, but still watched her with concern. Hardtack carried on, paying no mind to the exchange if he was aware of it all. “Firebat?” A unicorn stallion in the second row lifted his chin. A faint wisp of fire flickered up along his horn, tracing its spiral ridges as it rose. When it reached the top, it flared like a torch. He grinned and let the fire go out. “Need a light?” There were some laughs and chuckles from onlookers, and even a few of the guard seemed to be fighting back smiles. The sergeant didn’t miss a beat. “No comedians please. Firebat?” The unicorn’s smile flickered, but didn’t disappear. “Sir.” Hardtack nodded once, and made another mark on the scroll. “Gamma Ray?” Gamma lifted his chin, fierce fire of pride in his eyes. “Sir!” The unicorn was eager, as usual. Vapor discreetly cleared his throat. Nova eyed him, and he twitched his ear to indicate something behind her. She turned her head enough to see. There, a ways off to her left and in a high row in the stands, Nova saw what had Vapor’s attention. Three seated ponies stood out amongst the rest of those in the stands, all watching the display on the stadium floor just as she looked up to them. The trio exchanged glances and words, donned in armor and all with the same whitewashed coat. “Day guards,” Nova spat under her breath. “Yes.” Vapor’s words were quiet enough Nova had to turn her ears and tilt her head. “Is Celestia come as well?” “Certainly not. She is still unwell.” “Well enough to raise the sun, but true.” Then he gave quiet voice to Nova’s own worry. “Could she doubt us?” She ground her teeth. “She is not our princess.” “T’is not a no,” the lieutenant mumbled. Nova glared at him. His ears drooped, and he nodded in capitulation of the subject. She considered. Day guards had come, and stood apart from their beloved sun princess. That was no small thing. Still, there were too many possibilities. Some she could understand, but if it was as Vapor had suggested… “I shall treat with them.” Vapor blinked. “Sir?” “We must ascertain their purpose, lieutenant. And ‘tis not a duty easily delegated.” She considered. “Stay with the guard. Thou shall handle relations with the public after the ceremony.” Vapor opened his mouth to protest as Nova finished her thought. “Unless thou would rather exchange words with those who rejected thee.” He blinked and closed his mouth again. The roll had carried on through the distraction. “Moonseed?” A dower earth pony mare lifted her chin. “Sir.” Hardtack made the mark. “Nightshade?” “Sir,” came the empty answer of the unicorn in almost the same tone and pitch as the previous mare. A few nearby ponies flicked their ears, but there was no deception; Nightshade and Moonseed were twin sisters from the outskirts of Stalliongrad. Nova had little understanding of this ‘goth’ movement in which they took part, but they were capable soldiers and medics so she paid it little mind. The roll was nearing the end. “Sonnet?” The mare lifted her chin, a quiver in her lip. “Sir.” She knew what was coming, the poor filly. They all did, but it would be hardest on her. Nova had made her intentions clear to the guard when giving her orders concerning this display. It was true that the first of these was so that they might become known to the defenders of the city. The night guard was a fearsome sight, as intended, but it was time to use that image as a boon for Equestria’s spirits. If Princess Luna had brought these terrifying ponies to fight by their side, Nova had reasoned, surely the sight of them displayed in ranks would bring hope to the defenders. The other reason was far less joyous. The Night Order had taken its first casualty the previous night, and it was time to wish that pony a fond farewell. Nova watched Sonnet as Hardtack called out the final names. When only one remained, intentionally held for last, Hardtack took a deep breath. “Silver Mist?” Nova could see several ponies blinking in the rows, including Vapor Trail by her side. Sonnet sniffled. The color sergeant looked up, and tried again. “Silver Mist?” He waited. “Corporal Silver Mist?” At this last call, Sonnet stepped forward, her eyes moist. “Silver Mist cannot answer the roll, Sir.” Vapor took a half step and pivoted to face his commanding officer. “Sir, Corporal Sonnet reports that Silver Mist cannot answer the roll.” Nova faced Sonnet. “For what reason?” The mare’s voice quivered as she offered a salute. “Sir! Silver Mist has gone to guard the stars.” “She will be missed.” Nova looked to Hardtack. “Strike her name from the rolls.” A quiver ran through the guard. Little twitches of emotion became more apparent even though they remained at attention. Their silence had spread beyond the guard ponies to the onlookers. Some removed their hats. It was a time for words. Nova took to the sky, hovering at shoulder height that she might be better seen and heard. “One of our own has gone ahead of us into the sky. No pony alive knew better what it meant—what it means—to be of the Night Order than Silver Mist. Indeed, t’was she who taught most us how. But Silver Mist also spoke that, just as our Princess Luna and the Moon are eternal, so too is our Order. Her name may be struck from the roll, but it goes on to the annals of the Guard, with names like Adventus and Cleitus the Black, beside such ponies she would not feel ashamed. Thus she led by example, thus she shall be remembered.” There were a few sounds of agreement from the guard and a couple nodding heads. Nova steeled her voice. “Sine luce.” “Sine timore!” finished the host of night guards, the words echoing in the stadium. Thus it came to pass that the Night Order Royal Guard said goodbye to their first loss in over a thousand years. “I hereby grant the guard a ninety minute furlough,” Nova decreed. “The guard will reconvene in the barracks at 1130. Dismissed.” The guard dispersed to enjoy the last bit of free time they could expect in the near future, and many were immediately swept up in crowds of curious ponies. Hoofshakes were exchanged and questions were asked of the dark-clad ponies that had come to the aid of the beleaguered defenders. So too were condolences offered; many a pony in the clouds had been touched by loss the previous day. Few things bond creatures together as quickly as the shared experience of pain or loss. On that day in Cloudsdale it was something all ponies had in abundance, and every pony of the Order knew something of ashes. Nova did not join them. It was enough to see the order mingle, welcomed by those their princess bade them to protect. She darted skyward, eyes peeled for day guards as she circled the stadium. She had a question that needed an answer. The day guards were gone, or at least not where Vapor had first spotted them. Were they still in the stands, it would have been a small matter to find them again. They were not. Nor were they on the upper levels. She was beginning to fear a need to land and search the building floor by floor when a white pony on the stadium grounds caught her eye. She almost missed him without his helmet, but as she turned to make her approach she got a good look at his face. This stallion was no whitewashed day guard mook. None of the guesses she had come up with for day guards being in Cloudsdale fit anymore, except for the one that angered her most. She ground her teeth. He was standing in line for some kind of lunch table, seemingly left out for general use by the defenders. She landed behind him. The short line he was in moved forward, and Colonel Daybreak reached up to grab himself a plate. Either he hadn’t noticed her, or paid her no mind. “Day guard!” she announced as her hooves settled. A handful of nearby ponies jumped at her tone, but not him. “I would have words with thee.” He dropped a hooffull of hay fries on his plate, ignoring her. The mare behind him in line looked back and forth, clearly wondering how much peril she might be in shortly. Nova pointed a hoof and spread her wings. “Day guard, I would speak with thee now.” “I remember,” he said with a tired sigh, building a pair of sandwiches, “when every pony just called us royal guards. Seemed so much simpler.” He nodded to the plate stack. “Grab a plate.” The small knot of ponies behind Daybreak took two sudden steps back to make room in line. Nova smiled at the pony behind him before returning her attention to the white stallion. “Nay, I have not come for sustenance. Thou shall answer my queries or—” “I’ve been awake since sunrise yesterday and I’m too tired to argue.” He shoved his plate at her chest. “If you have time to talk, you have time to eat.” When she took it, he grabbed another plate and turned back to the table. Nova inspected the plate’s contents: Two sandwiches, one PBJ and the other dandelion, with a generous helping of hay fries. She poked the fries with a hoof. “It’s all cold.” He gestured to a nearby table with a wing. “Hot chocolate and tea.” “No coffee?” He glared at her like she was a barbarian. She scrunched her lips. “Fine, I’ll get it. What do you drink?” “Not chocolate.” She turned and headed for the drink table and poured two cups of hot tea. Nova knew little of the varieties of the drink, but there was only one kind anyway. She guessed it to be green tea, though to her all teas were equally lacking in that they were all equally not black coffee. “Colonel Drive!” Nova turned to face the sudden call from a timid voice behind her just as Sonnet landed gently. She was breathing hard, apparently from hasty flight. “Sir, I’m glad I found you.” Her face brightened. “Oh, and tea! May I…?” “’Tis what it is there for,” Nova replied, looking past her to Daybreak. “Is all well with the guard?” “Oh, yes sir, the guard is fine,” she said with a smile, then reconsidered. “Well, considering. I guess we had become accustomed to ponies shying from us. It was nice to be welcomed, for a change.” Nova frowned. “So, nothing is the matter?” “Not really.” She looked to her cup. “I was just wondering if—” Nova saw Daybreak finishing up at the table. “Now is not the best of times, Sonnet. Thy colonel is busy with important matters.” Her smile only widened. “What can I do to help?” Be someplace else, Nova thought with a frown. “I think it would be best if thou would—” Daybreak arrived before she could finish. “Colonel Drive, if you were expecting others I could have prepared a third plate.” “Oh, Colonel Daybreak sir!” Sonnet bumbled her way through a salute that only really served to embarrass her commanding officer. Still, the undisciplined pegasus was no fool. “I wouldn’t have guessed day guards would be here.” Nova introduced him to her subordinate and the trio headed for the cloud’s edge, away from the thickest crowds and chatting as they walked. “You weren’t the only one surprised,” he agreed, “but here we are.” He gave the little pegasus a visual once over. “Forgive me, but you don’t strike me as the soldiering type. Where in Equestria did they find you, corporal?” Sonnet blushed. “Fillydelpha, sir.” Daybreak cracked a slight smile. “I see it on you. And you sound educated, too.” “Uh, not really.” Then she added with a sad mumble. “I never finished university.” He grunted. “Still, you’re a learned pony with no military background. I’m curious; what in Celestia’s sky made you decide to become a night guard?” The spindly pegasus narrowed her eyes at the stallion and her warmth diminished, replaced with a hint of steel. “I serve the Princess of Mercy.” Sonnet had just earned herself some cotton candy later. Daybreak shook his head. “Always the same answer.” He popped some hay fries, chewing with a thoughtful look as they walked. “Indeed.” Nova glared at him. “It is always the truth.” Sonnet nodded with uncharacteristic seriousness. Daybreak just chewed. A few moments passed quietly between them, until they found a place clear enough for the three of them to sit mostly out of the way of busy ponies. Sonnet warmed up again and struck up some friendly conversation. They talked about nothing for a while. It was infuriating, but Nova restrained herself and didn’t kick anypony. It killed any appetite Nova might have had, and she finally surrendered her entire plate to Sonnet, who enjoyed it with thanks. “Colonel Nova Drive,” Daybreak said without inflection. “I was unaware that you lost a pony yesterday. You both have my condolences.” “I thank thee. She was taken before her time, and her death most unjust.” Sonnet smiled meekly, and put down her sandwich. “Silver had a way about her. She could talk to thee about anything, anything at all, and all that while the pressures of the world were set aside and thy problems were brought into focus. She told stories.” She beamed, clearly remembering those occasions. “Stories she found in the archives, of the old guard, of true bat ponies who stood vigil over our princess, slaying evil ponies and dragons alike in her name. She made them come alive, gave their stories meaning. And then she would take what she learned of one of the new night guard to write stories, and…” Sonnet let out a sad little choke. “She made us sound just as important.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Losses are always hard, but it sounds like Silver was especially well loved. They are always the most difficult.” “Oh! That reminds me.” Sonnet swirled her drink, addressing Nova. “Sir, ‘tis Monday. I wished to know if thou would be telling the story at mess this night.” What? Nova choked on her tea, and had to pound her chest with a hoof to recover. Sonnet blushed. “I thought that Silver would have liked that, as she and thee were founding members. Oh, you could even tell your story! I don’t think Silver ever told that one.” “Certainly not,” Nova said, recovering. “I doubt we shall have a proper mess again for many moons. More to the point, speeches and stores were her talent, not mine. Her stewardship shall have to remain vacant ‘till the proper pony is found.” Sonnet’s wide eyes turned skyward. “Raaare…” “Of course such ponies are rare, and among them Silver was one of a kind. Still, we have need of a dedicated historian.” Nova considered. “A proper name was never given to her position. Sonnet, perhaps thy days in univer—” The little mare pointed a hoof over Nova’s shoulder. “Raaarity?” Nova turned, coming face to face with a sight she never would have imagined. A winged, white unicorn approached, but she was no alicorn. This was certainly a unicorn blessed by magic, and what glorious magic it was. She would easily admit having no special interest or eye for things artistic, the way the mare’s butterfly-like wings shown in the morning light was no small wonder to behold. Nova Drive gasped when the she recognized the pony. An Element, here? And not a pegasus! “Pardon me, royal guards,” the unicorn asked, coming near, “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I am in need of assistance.” “Lady Rarity of Generosity!” Sonnet bowed, gaping. Rarity beamed at the corporal’s proper reception, but Nova knew it to be a forgiving guise and motioned for Sonnet to stand. “Nay, Sonnet. I learned this day that the Elements do not wish for such honors, and prefer to be spoken to as friends. Twilight Sparkle decreed it thus on the honor of the moon.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” Sonnet rose. Nova considered. It couldn’t hurt to be sure. “Unless Rarity of Generosity would prefer otherwise.” Rarity’s wings drooped. “No, I suppose Twilight would know best in this case.” Daybreak smiled, clearly enjoying something without letting on as to what. Rarity noticed him. “Colonel?” She blinked in surprise. “How wonderful to see a familiar face. I didn’t recognize you without your helm.” “It happens more often than you might think.” He gestured to the other mares. “Rarity, may I present to you Colonel Nova Drive of Princess Luna’s guard, and Corporal Sonnet of the same.” “Another colonel? And of Luna’s guard!” Rarity smiled. “It seems I’ve stumbled on just the ponies I need.” Nova frowned. “Thou hast met each other?” “Oh my, yes.” Rarity pawed a hoof at the air. “Colonel Daybreak was a guest speaker at a party hosted by a dear friend of mine.” “Always a pleasure to see Fancy Pants,” Daybreak agreed. “I must confess though, Corporal Sonnet, was it?” Rarity asked. “I’m a bit confused. Nopony else here seems to recognize me. Have we met?” Sonnet bushed. “Oh no, we haven’t. I’ve seen thee here before.” Daybreak frowned. “Here?” “Yes.” Sonnet pointed a hoof at the stadium. “Well, over there.” Rarity gasped. “You mean you saw my first set of wings?” she asked gleefully. Sonnet squeaked through a broad smile. “If it weren’t for them burning up and the sonic rainboom, you would have won Best Young Flier for sure. If you had brought that coat and hat though, you would have won anyway!” After this, Nova quickly lost track of the conversation. Rarity’s excitement quickly began to overlap with Sonnet’s fanfillying behavior until Nova’s head swam. There was excited prancing, several more squeaks and a something that might be described as ‘wahaha.’ While Sonnet and Rarity chattered away, Daybreak leaned close to Nova. “Princess Celestia ordered Record High, Sunstroke, and I to Cloudsdale as a special detachment,” he mumbled quietly. “We don’t like it any more than you do.” Nova raised an eyebrow. “How did thou guess what I wished to know?” He glowered at her. “You don’t like me, and I don’t like you. You wanted to talk. It wasn’t that hard.” He had a point there. “But three officers? For what purpose?” “We fought the Immortals yesterday.” “Who?” “Khan Cyrus’s personal legion. Reports are they came here. We are to share everything we know of them with the local chain of command.” She tilted her head, doubting him. “I cannot imagine Celestia sending roy—” “Princess Celestia has a vast love for her subjects, and wants to end this situation as quickly as possible, with as little bloodshed as possible,” Daybreak interjected. Then after a pause and a disgruntled slouch, he added, “And it was Director Petronel’s suggestion.” Oh. That explained quite a bit. The Day and Night Order may not have agreed about much, but they had similar opinions about the new director of intelligence. Even Silver Mist had avoided him, and she could talk with almost anypony. “That is understandable.” Nova looked away. “And unpleasant, to be away from thy princess.” “It is my duty to serve,” he intoned quietly. She felt her face sour. “Phooey,” she spat. “Duty is just an easy excuse to do what others expect of thee. ‘Tis not the honorable endeavor thou believes.” “So you have said, colonel.” he shot back. “At least we do not enlist ponies so that they can pay off gambling debts.” Nova Drive snarled. “’Tis not that kind of debt we owe our princess!” “Not even Astro Turf?” “Gambling was a part of his story, yes,” she allowed, “but it is not his reason for joining the order.” “Of course not.” Daybreak huffed. “But put yourself in somepony else’s shoes, and look at this from the outside: Astro Turf is a farmer who gambled his family’s land away, Sonnet is a smart little pony who probably had a future wherever she went, Vapor Trail was dishonorably discharged from the royal guard before your princess found him, and I don’t think there’s a pegasus alive who hasn’t heard about you at the Wonderbolt training camp.” He stared at her. “You talk about being Princess Luna’s chosen. How in Equestria does she choose you? What do you owe her?” Nova set her jaw. “Some things are better left in the dark. Besides, thou would not understand, even if it were explained.” The silence dragged on between them, long enough for both to realize that Rarity and Sonnet had stopped talking. Rarity’s blinking gaze darted between the two colonels, but Sonnet’s eyes had gone hard. “No,” the little pegasus said to her colonel with a thoughtful nod. “He could not.” “So!” Nova faced the unicorn with her best forced smile. After the preparation that went into making sure the Night Order would be accepted by the citizens of Cloudsdale, the last thing they needed was to have an Element shying from them. “Thou spoke of a need when thou stumbled upon us. What can the Night Order do for thee, friend?” Rarity was only too happy to let things slide. “I was hoping to speak with the princess, to find out where I can be the most help to Equestria. So far nopony seems to know where I can find her.” Sonnet leapt. “Oh, we can help with that. We can take you to her!” Doubt crossed her face. “Colonel, we can take her to see our princess, right?” “Indeed we can,” Nova decreed with a smile, standing up. “And we shall.” “I don’t want to be any trouble,” the Lady of Generosity said. “Could one of you please be a dear and point me in her direction?” Sonnet pouted, but Colonel Nova Drive would not be denied a chance to aid the Elements of Harmony, no matter the task. “’Tis no trouble at all,” she assured them both, then was struck with an inspiration. “More so, it would seem to me that an Element should never be far from aid this close to such peril. Corporal Sonnet, I hereby charge thee to escort the Element of Generosity, until such time as another guard relieves thee of that post.” “Really?!” Sonnet squeed. Nova nodded. “So long as Rarity approves.” The unicorn seemed more excited about the honor than even Sonnet, though she adopted a modest tone. “It seems the matter is decided. Who am I to dispute a captain of the night?” “Then ‘tis settled. Sonnet, protect the Element of Generosity as though she were our princess.” Nova paused while Sonnet squeed again, this time with a little prance. “Together we shall escort her to Princess Luna posthaste.” Daybreak grunted doubtfully, finishing his hay fries. “I guess there’s safety in numbers. As long as you keep to the stadium and the grounds, you should be fine. I should get going too.” “We would not wish to keep thee from thy nap,” Nova shot sarcastically. He ignored her. “Rarity, it was good to see you safe and well. Please, stay out of harm’s way as much as possible. Princess Celestia thinks the world of you and the other bearers.” “I see.” Rarity blinked at him and turned back to Nova. “Are you sure this isn’t any trouble? I don’t want to keep you ponies from your meal.” “Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Sonnet said after swallowing the last of her sandwich. Nova smiled, happy to have a reason to leave Daybreak behind. “In fact, ‘tis our pleasure. Let us make haste.” Sonnet rushed to help her with her bags, and after a few more words they departed, leaving Daybreak to the remainder of his sandwich. Pushing though the seemingly endless herd, Rarity and Sonnet returned to their clamor over gossamer wings and winter fashion, while Nova repressed her wondering doubts about what part this unicorn could have played in the redemption of her princess. She smiled. It mattered little. The Elements had redeemed their princess and vanquished the great Discord. Now they were united with Princess Luna against a common foe. The Elements and the Night would stand as one, and the griffin hordes would suffer for their foolish brutality. Surely Nova Drive and the Order were the most blessed ponies in all Equestria, for they would be there to see it.