//------------------------------//
// A Guard's Tale: Part One 
// Story: Obsessions 
// by Derpyx0 
//------------------------------//

Blaze suppressed a groan as he watched Redheart walk away. What was with that mare? She acted as if she were better than the rest of the world, and it annoyed the hell out of him. The only reason he let her push him around like that was so he could get this story out of her. Sadly, being a citizen of Equestria, they couldn't force the story out of her. It had to come from her freedom of speech. Plus, if he was a jerk to her, she would report him. And... well, let's just say Blaze didn't need any more infractions at the moment. He was walking on thin ice as it was with his boss. If he did anything, anything to screw this up, he would be fired. And Blaze needed the money. Not that he got much. Contrary to some beliefs, minor ranks in the guard like him don't get paid a whole lot. Maybe about 500 bits a week, which was barely enough to cover his rent. He must have had the tiniest apartment ever, and he still had to pay 200 bits a month for the ratty piece of crap. 

On top of that, Blaze had to pay for food, his bills (electricity, health care, etc.) and his addiction. Blaze sighed at the thought of it. He became addicted to alcohol. It was pretty bad. If he didn't have at least one bottle a night, he would become depressed an unresponsive. He would be in a different world, and that didn't help his 16 hour shifts. Blaze growled, a scowl creeping its way onto his face. It wasn't his fault he was addicted. It wasn't his fault he was depressed as all hell. It wasn't his fault he had a crappy job. And it wasn't his fault he was always angry, depressed, and.... lonely. Though he never admitted this to himself, Blaze was lonely. Ever since Her, things had gone downhill. 

Blaze shook his head. He couldn't think about that now. He didn't want to stress himself out before his meeting with his boss. As long as he wasn't drunk or stressed out, this meeting should go well. After every visit with Redheart, Blaze was supposed to give a full report to is boss about what he had learned, and what action they had to take at that point. It all seemed very, very silly to Blaze. So, one pony died mysteriously. How many times has that happened? Who says she didn't commit suicide? The Guard didn't know what had killed her, so why was she so special? Why was Lyra Heartstrings so important? The more Blaze thought about it, the more confused he got. The Guard wasn't bored. They had a changeling threat to deal with. So why would they be wasting all their time on one pony?

Surely there was something they weren't telling him. It's not like this hasn't happened before. The Guard had withheld information from Blaze in the past. Sure, some things were classified, but Blaze thought he deserved to know why this case was so important, when there were much more important things going on. Maybe it had something to do with Redheart saying that he had to hear the whole story so she wouldn't judge Lyra's actions harshly. Speaking of Redheart, she wasn't making this investigation any easier. She kept giving Blaze bits and pieces of the story. It seemed like she's not actually telling him the story at all!  Blaze knew he was on a schedule here, but surely she could tell a freaking story in one hour!

Blaze jumped as his hoof hit his cabinet. "Shit," he muttered, rubbing his hurt hoof. He didn't even realize he had gotten home! He must have been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he just naturally did his routine. After concluding that he didn't need ice for his hoof, Blaze stared at the cabinet he had been reaching for. He recognized it immediately. Its beautiful oak designs, swirling down the cabinet like a waterfall. Blaze knew this cabinet all too well. It was his liquor cabinet. He was about to open it, when he looked at the rusty, brown clock hanging on his moth-eaten wall. It read 3:30. "Shit!" Blaze yelled as he raced out the door, putting his armor on as he ran. When he reached the castle, he was out of breath. 

One of the guards on watch asked him what his business was there. Since it was protocol, Blaze answered. "I'm"-huff-"here to see"-wheeze-"Captain"-gasp-"Lance." The guard nodded.

"You must be Blaze, his 4:00?" Blaze could only nod in response as he tried to catch his breath.

"Very well, come in." The gate to the castle opened slowly, allowing him entrance. He made my way to Captain Lance's office, which was in the west wing of the Princess' castle. At exactly 4:00, Blaze knocked on the Captain's door. 

"Come in," was the Captain's only response to the knock. The door creaked open slowly, revealing the Captain sitting at his large desk. "So, what do you have for me today, Blaze?" the Captain asked, his voice mono toned.

"Well sir, she was as cryptic as always," Blaze began.