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// Deleted Entry from 13-MR-1204 
// Story: Property of the Crystal Empire 
// by TheMessenger 
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Editor's note: to be omitted from final publication.



*


Last night. What a damned disaster.

We made another campfire, hoping to draw out our enemy like flies to a candy. Nothing happened, and dinner was another solemn affair. We ate with our spears to our sides, and besides a little small talk and the cackling of burning wood, all was quiet.

First watch rotation began, and I found a cloud to perch on. I kept myself awake by outlining this entry in my head, oblivious to what was about to happen.

It was a couple of hours into the night when I heard the alarm, a loud cymbal crash followed by the cry of a miniature flugelhorn. Like a high diver, I threw myself over the edge, ignoring the chilling air that cut through my coat. My wings directed and slowed my descent, and I hit the snowy ground running, stopping only to try and wretch my sword free from its frozen sheath. 

By the time I finally ready the weapon, all the other guards were already in position, forming a circle around the intruder. Strangely, however, not a single guard tried closing the distance. Spears were lowered but not thrust. Swords were held but not swung. Friendly sniper support was worryingly missing.

Tick was the closest, so I approached him. He said nothing, only moving to the side to make room for me and gestured to the spectacle in the center.

Shining Armor stood over Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, his heavy hooves falling upon her body over and over again. Both were screaming, the Princess begging for her husband to stop, and the Guard-Captain angrily demanding her to revert to her natural form. "Fool me once," I heard him say in between murderous threats. Even as she grew quiet, the Guard-Captain continued his brutal assault. 

Was the Princess truly the changeling queen in disguise? I believe every one of us wanted to believe so. The alternative, that the Guard-Captain was trying to beat the mare he swore to love to death with his own hooves, was unthinkable, nightmarish.

We should have done something, anything, but we, royal guards sworn to protect the princesses, just stood there and watched, petrified, just hoping that the pink fur would turn to black chitin. It was Captain Ironhoof that finally took charge, giving us the command to separate the two before the princess, lookalike or genuine, expired. Shining Armor put up a fight, warning us to stay away and growling angrily at we who left our backs exposed to the broken mare in the snow.

Shimmer was with Ironhoof as he and one of his guards approached. The closest guards hovered their blades over the 'princess' as Shimmer's horn began to glow. If the light grew darker, it was a changeling in disguise. If the light became a lighter color, it was not.

The light became pink, a light color. Shimmer confirmed her identity. Shining Armor, who had been struggling the entire time, grew limp and collapsed, supported only by his subordinates that had been holding him back.

Captain Ironhoof's lieutenant immediately produced a first aid pack and began to treat Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's wounds. We set up a tent to shelter Her Majesty as we tried to reduce the swellings, soften the bruises, clean and bandage the cuts. Though every guard is train in basic first aid, none of us were qualified medics, and our inexperience lead to some disagreements. Eventually, Ironhoof forced most of us out of the tent, as the crowd of worried guards only served to create a suffocating environment. Only the captain, one of the Guard-Captain's lieutenant, and Shimmer remained with the princess.

The rest of the night was a bit of a blur. I remember trying to take charge, trying to reestablish some sense of order, to set guards in position and assign shifts. There was a fire, I think, to boil rags and serve tea. The ashes are fresh, yes, there was a fire. It was chaos, I remember, trying to keep everything under control. 

I think I fell asleep. That would explain why I can't seem to recall everything, but I feel so tired. Did I get any sleep? I can't say.

We're currently waiting for a status report on the princess. Guards forgot their assignments, or just plain ignored me, and waited at the front of the tent. Occasionally, Shining Armor's lieutenant would step out, request some supplies, then retreat before any questions could be asked.

The Guard-Captain looks horrible. His eyes are blood red, and his coat is completely ragged. He sits away from rest of the camp, stealing a peek at the tent his wife now laid in before covering his face with his hooves. Nopony dares approach him, but I don't know how much longer I can keep up this whole leader act. It's pretty obvious I don't have the same air of command Shining Armor carries, or even Captain Ironhoof. I hope he can pull himself together.


*