The light from candle flickered as I gathered a few belongings, sliding on my armor and strapping my swords to my back. My pale blue Unicorn magic, the same color as my eyes illuminated the dark corner where I kept my cloak. Before I exited, I checked myself in the mirror. There was no reason to walk outside, looking like a mess. My light grey body, smaller than most ponies my age, contrasted with my dark grey mane and tail. My cutie mark, of two crossed magical swords wasn’t normally visible under the armor and cloak, but I had the designed sewn on the outside of my cloak.
Turning to my table, I skimmed the letter that was there one last time.
Dear Dust Storm,
There’s a matter of very great importance I must speak to you of. Please come as soon as you can after receiving this letter. Please meet me at the center of the Canterlot Castle Gardens. I cannot explain any more than I have already in this letter.
From,
Luna
Wondering what Luna could possibly want at this hour, I exited my room, locking the door behind me. For some reason, I began thinking of what happened that day.
***
“Be cautious.” Luna warned her guards. “There’s been a large increase in the number of Timberwolves. We have to make sure that they don’t pose a direct threat to Ponyville and its surroundings.”
“Of course, Princess.” The two guards answered, staying on either side of her.
They walked in silence for some time, before they heard rustling in the bushes. One by one, a group of Timberwolves walked out of the dark forest.
“Stay behind-“ the first guard was cut off as a Timberwolf struck him with a massive paw, crumpling his armor as if it were nothing more than an old tin can. He slammed against a tree, slumping to the ground, unconscious.
“Eclipse!” his friend shouted, moving into a defensive position. He drew his battleaxe, swinging at the Timberwolf that struck his friend.
With a snarl, it bit into the axe and swung its head around, flinging the Lunar Guard into the brambles. He struggled to get up, but another Timberwolf smashed him into the ground again.
Luna backed up a little, drawing her own sword, biting her lower lip. She counted at least eight of them. She knew that there was far too many for her to deal with, even with her magic. The wolves circled around her, nasty smirks on their faces.
A flash of light attracted everyone’s attention. A tiny Unicorn, no more than six years of age, leapt down on top of the Timberwolves, stabbing his horn into the base of its neck, a Blaze spell erupting through the Timberwolf.
Its allies howled with rage, charging at him. The Unicorn gave the now-firewood a quick buck, shattering it into tiny shards of charcoal, before striking the ground, a whirlwind of magic blasting along the forest floor. Dust swirled up into the air, obscuring the Wolve’s senses. Luna could hear more magic spells being used, and when the dirt cloud cleared, the Timberwolves lay in charred scraps, no chance of reanimation not a single bit of the black magic that formed them remaining. His flank was glimmering, and when the glimmer faded, two crossed, sparkling swords could be seen. His cutie mark. The Unicorn looked up from one of the piles of burnt wood, regarding Luna with an odd eye.
It was strange. The eye was cold on the outside, but behind it, Luna could sense something else. Pain.
“You saved us. Thank you.” Luna managed to say, bowing her head.
He didn’t answer, looking over at her guards, who were starting to regain consciousness. Thankfully, they weren’t badly hurt.
“Do you have a name?” Luna asked, trying to press some words out of him.
“Name?” Despite his size and tone, his speech had an air of maturity around it. He looked away. Luna noticed he kept his distance from the other ponies, as if afraid of them. She slowly walked over to him and reached out with a hoof. He leapt back as if she were about to strike him, eyes wild and hostile.
“Easy.” She said softly. “I won’t hurt you.”
He was silent some more, before getting out of his defensive stance.
“Your name. You don’t have one?” she asked again, being sure to stay back.
“Not one that I wish to remember.” He answered, beginning to walk away.
“Wait!” she called out after him. The small little unicorn paused, turning his head to look back at her. “How would…. You like to join the Royal Guard? What you demonstrated just now, that was amazing. We could use a pony of your skills.” It was true. There had been a low number of Guards with the skills that the Royal Division required.
“Me? A Royal Guard?” he asked, now fully facing her. “Then you are...”
“Yes. My name is Princess Luna.” Luna answered his question before he could finish.
He gave a short bow, looking back up at her. “I don’t work well with others.” He shook his head, backing away.
“Well… what are you doing here, anyway?” Luna asked. “Isn’t your family worried about you?”
His eyes grew cold once more. “Family?” he asked. “They’re probably just upset that their favorite punching bag is gone.”
Luna understood his pain now. She took a step towards him, extending a hoof. “Then come with me. I’ll show you what family is supposed to be. The Royal Guard is the place for you.”
He looked at her hoof uncertainly, taking a step forwards.
“Come on now, Dust Storm. Come with us.” She said, nodding at her guards, who now were getting up. “It’s okay, he’s on our side.” She said to them as they looked over at the gray Unicorn.
“Dust…Storm?” he asked hesitantly.
“Yes. Dust Storm. I thought that would be a good name for you.” She gave him a smile.
Dust Storm hesitated, then put his hoof on top of hers, returning the smile. “Very well. I pledge my service.”
***
Ever since then, I had been in the Guard, as a Combat Technician, and an Arcane Researcher. I did not know what the status of my former family was, but I had a family now with the Guard and the Royal Family.
A little warmed by these thoughts, I now noticed that I was just about to reach the Canterlot Garden Centre. I heard the voices of other ponies as I pushed aside a set of vines.
There were a couple of other ponies there along with a certain creature, made up of many different animals. He turned to me and smiled a sly little grin. “Glad to see you could make it with the others. Well? How was it? I got Luna’s writing style pretty well, didn’t I?”
I groaned. “Discord.”