"Shield...we could have taken a blimp or something…?"
*Flap.* *Flap.* *Flap.*
"Shield? I know you're strong, but do you have any idea how heavy I am carrying all this stuff…?" Chryla sighed.
"It’s." *flap.*
"All." *flap.*
"Good." *flap.*
She sighed as Shield vigorously flapped upwards to the cloudy city. He huffed and puffed his way up past the cloud cover. The City of Cloudsdale shone a bright white as they reached the gate of the city. Pegasi floated past them in each directions, in and out of the city. Shield flapped his way to the gate at a slow pace.
"You are NOT carrying me the whole time we're here." Chryla scolded.
"I know that. There is a guy here that has things for earth pony visitors." *Flap.* *Flap.*
"Where exactly is his place?"
"Just a little ways into town." Shield smiled.
Chryla sighed and looked forward as they flapped along.
"Hey, you look like you could use some help!" a voice from above chimed.
Shield looked up, "Actually we're almost to our destination, but thanks!"
"Aww, quit being so modest!" the voice laughed a little. Just then a rainbow streak zipped past Chryla. She yipped out in suprise, then looked around.
"Shield, something grabbed our stuff!"
"No worries I got it." a cyan colored pegasus with the rainbow in her mane hovered in front of them, flying on her back carrying everything that Chryla just was.
"Wow. That was fast." Shield wasn't strained anymore. He carried Chryla with ease closer to the visitor's center.
"Yup! I'm the fastest flyer in Equestria! Name's Rainbow Dash, I saw you guys fly up here and noticed your royal armor."
"Well we appreciate your help Miss Dash.'" Chryla smiled.
"Eh, no big deal. But why are you and your military bud here?" she questioned.
"Were on a trip to find a pegasus that lives here. Celestia wanted us to escort them back to Canterlot." Shield explained.
"Oh I see, a search and rescue mission?!" Dash did a little loop.
"Uh...what? That's not what he said." Chryla tilted her head.
"I know you guys have to keep your ACTUAL mission secret." Dash grinned.
"This...IS our actual mission." Chryla raised an eyebrow.
"Suuuurreee." Dash laughed.
She landed on the mat outside the door to the visitors center and opened the door, "You'll be able to stand in here" Shield set her down, and landed himself. He cringed a little as he tucked his wings in.
"I told you I was heavy." Chryla turned her nose up a little.
"You hush." Shield punched her shoulder lightly.
"I don't know if its the same as the last time you've been here, but the earth pony boots are over there." Dash pointed to as deck opposite of them.
"Thanks, I'll grab a pair real quick." Shield trotted off.
There was a few moments of silence between Dash and Chryla.
"So...uh..." Chryla started, "Thanks for the help again."
"Sheesh, I already said no problem. Its the least I can do, considering you guys have a secret mission to do." Dash nudged her.
"We don't..." Chryla started.
"Hey..." Dash hovered in front of her face, looking into her eyes.
Chryla's eyes grew a little, "Wh-what?"
Dash squinted and studied Chryla's eyes. Chryla's heart rate rose a little. "She can't tell just by looking at me can she?" the nervous changeling thought.
Moments ticked by.
"You have pretty eyes...but I think I've seen that color before,...I just can't remember where." Dash backed off.
"Oh. Thanks." Chryla breathed a silent gasp of relief.
"Here you go, Carefree." Shield was back, carrying four boots by the laces. They had wings painted on them, and a magical blue aura surrounded them. Shield put them on the floor, and Chryla stepped into them. They magically tightened to a good size as Chryla trotted in place with them on. "They carry a magic charge that will allow you to walk on the clouds. They run out after a while, so let me know if you start to sink a little." Shield explained.
"Yeah, cuz you'll fall through otherwise." Dash commented.
Chryla gulped, "I'll be sure to tell you."
They left the visitors center, and it took Chryla a few seconds to get used to the plush of the clouds as they walked along. "Agh..this is scary." she frowned.
"Don't worry, if you fall, me or your studly 'guard' will rescue you. I'll trail behind to give him a chance to scoop you up first though." Dash said a matter-of-factually.
Shield's face got a little red, "Oh...we...uh. Thanks."
"Wait, are you two not a thing? Coulda' fooled me." she shrugged.
Chryla and Shield blushed, but it was Chryla who spoke this time. "We are just co-workers, and happen to be friends too." she said as professionally as she could.
"Right. Co-agents. Sorry." Dash grinned coyly.
"We aren't-"
"Miss Dash," Shield cut Chryla off, "We appreciate your enthusiasm, but we are really just here to escort somepony to Canterlot."
"Oh. Okay. That's cool I guess. Hope you find your guy." Dash sighed a little, "Later." a smile flashed before she bolted off.
Chryla puffed out her cheeks, "Hmph. She's nosy..."
Shield smiled, "Fun though, the pony were looking for lives up this street." he pointed ahead.
They walked casually along, in a semi-awkward silence. Dash's comment flustered Shield, but he didn't see a reason it should. They met less than a month ago, and shes a completely different species anyway.
Chryla spoke up, "So, what's this pony's name?"
Shield smiled, "Shadow Luxurious, or just Shadow for short."
"Do you know her?"
"Shes' my best friend, hopefully still."
"Oh! Is she the friend you mentioned earlier? And what do you mean hopefully?" Chryla tilted her head.
"Yeah, she's the one, but I haven't seen her since I was a young colt." Shield sighed, "She could be completely different..."
"I can't say anything to reassure you...but I hope she's just as you remember..." Chryla smiled a little sympathetically.
"Hey, you know more than you give yourself credit. You had friends right?"
Chryla looked down, "Yeah, I guess..."
Shield tightened his lips. "Shit...I brought up a bad subject." he thought to himself. "Oh, I'm sorry if I-" he started.
"Just...I don't want to talk about it right now." Chryla cut him off.
Shield's ears drooped and they kept walking in silence.
Their path lead them to a sketchy part of town, like someplace you wouldn't want to be in at night. But luckily, there was still sunlight to light there way, although the light didn't show much. There were only a few old homes and ponies rarely walked past them on their way.
Suddenly, something whipped behind them, but they turned and saw nothing. They continued to walk.
"Are you sure this is the right place? Chryla asked, a little nervous.
"Pretty sure." Shield answered.
"How do we know where to look?" she looked around. Shield didn't answer.
Singing broke this new silence, muffled by the building's walls that was just ahead.
"Right there." Shield smiled, pointing towards the building.
Chryla knocked on the door, the song stopped in response. The door creaked ajar, but no where near open.
"Yes? Who's there?" the pony inside quietly quizzed.
"Ahem," Shield started, " 'Shield, I'll be the princess of the night again, you can be the guard!' " Shield mocked a mare's voice.
The door flew open, "Shield!!" a sky blue pegasus flew out of her house and tackled Shield into a hug. She had a messy red and black mane and tail with a yellow-gold, four pointed star for a cutie mark. She also had gold rings on each of her hooves. "It's been so long! How have you been? Is that royal armor? Why are you here? How did you find me?!" words flew out of her mouth at the speed of a sonic rainboom.
"Easy Shadow!" Shield pulled out of the hug, "It has been too long, but please one question at a time."
"Okay okay...uh...why are you here?" she shook herself.
"Celestia sent us to get you for a new...project she's starting." Shield smiled.
"Oh..."
"You don't sound too excited."
"I'm..." she shook her head again, "never mind, so I take it you are a royal guard now?" her voice got happy again.
"Yeah...I'm a captain now."
"Whoa, you're a captain!? That's awesome!"
"Yes it is." Shield looked back at Chryla, "This is one of the members of the new project, my new friend Carefree."
Chryla nodded and smiled, "Nice to meet you."
Shadow did the same, "Likewise."
"I'd love to catch up, but we can do that on the way to Canterlot." Shield smiled with a little false hope.
"Shield...I don't know if I should go." Shadow looked down at her rings.
"Well, why not?"
"I have no idea what this project is, or what it's for. And I'm not exactly one for Canterlot..." she looked back up at Shield.
"Bah, you know me. I haven't explained everything yet." Shield lightened the air.
"Oh, well alrighty then. Come on in." Shadow lead them inside her house. Chryla started to follow, but something caught her eye around the corner of the house. She did a double-take, but it was gone. She slowly walked back in while still looking around. Shadow started to serve iced tea.
Shield explained everything over his tea, how Celestia appointed him the lead of the recruitment.
"I see...So a task force? Like the Power Ponies?" Shadow sipped her tea.
"You still subscribe to the Double P's?" Shield grinned.
"Haven't missed an issue." Shadow stated.
Shield grinned. "Good, me neither."
"Although, I am a little interested in those...blue hedgehog comics too."
"Power Ponies?" Chryla spoke.
"Comic book super heroes. Remind me to show you in Canterlot." Shield smiled.
"So, what's your place on the team Carefree?" Shadow looked at her.
Chryla looked at Shield with wide eyes. Shield nodded.
"I'm just Shield's assistant right now...but I'm not actually a pony." her voice quivered, "Please stay calm."
Shadow raised an eyebrow and frowned a tad. Chryla changed out of her disguise, and Shadow's eyes widened. She looked at Shield, then to Chryla, then back at Shield, but this suprise didn't last long. "Never thought I'd see you team up with one of them Shield, but I've seen weirder shit in the past. Welcome to Equestria as..an ally this time." she bowed.
"So, you're not-"
The shattering window startled all of them, Chryla quickly changing back as something hit her hard. Shield rolled backward and flailed his wings out, ready to spring.
"You lied to me changeling!" Rainbow Dash had Chryla pinned to the floor.
"Agh..." Chryla held her chest with a front hoof and wide eyes. Shield sprung towards the cyan daredevil, aiming to get her a safe distance away from Chryla. Dash saw it coming and ducked, readying her hind legs for a buck that would probably break bone. Shield sailed right into the kick's effective zone, and Dash lashed out.
"Gotchaaah?" Dash's tensity turned to confusion when Shield maneuvered his hooves around her hind legs.
There was a hearty thud, followed by a slightly smaller one when dash finally hit the floor a couple feet away.
"Are you alright Chryla?" Shield worriedly spoke near her face.
"We should probably get to Canterlot..." Chryla coughed.
Shield frowned, and worry decided to sneak into his mind.
"Rainbow Dash." Shadow walked towards the cyan pony now shakily standing up.
"What?" she spat.
"You broke my window."
"She's a changeling!"
"He's a royal guard."
"What if he's a rogue?"
"Trust me, he's not." Shadow sighed.
"I want an explanation!" Dash's nostrils flared, with a hoof stamped into the floor.
"Miss Dash, we don't have time to explain." Shield huffed.
"You better find time!" Dash readied herself for another pounce.
Chryla coughed again, a deep and chest rattling cough.
"Fine! We are agents, sent by Celestia! Were on a task force meant to bring peace." Shield growled.
"I don't believe you!"
"Said the pony who was at our necks about the same exact thing earlier!" Shield answered. Dash leapt after them again.
This time, Shadow took her down from the side. "Dash! Shield is a long time friend of mine, I trust him!" She snarled.
"But...changeling?!" Dash squirmed under Shadow.
"Shield, once I deal with Dash here, I'll meet up with you in Canterlot."
"Fair enough," Shield turned to Chryla, "You doing alright...?"
"Canterlot...please..." Chryla trembled with the words.
Shield lifted her gently off the ground with his front legs, and flapped his way out of Shadow's place.
"The changling is getting away!" Dash struggled more.
"Dash. Chill."
*Flap.* *Flap.* *Flap.*
*Cough.* Chryla spat out some blood.
"She hit you hard, hmm?" Chryla hardly payed attention to where she was, and was jolted back to reality when shield spoke.
She could only grunt in response. Shield's grip held her tight as they flew towards Canterlot. The pain in her chest was clouding her thoughts.
"He's really warm...and strong..." was all she could think about.
The flight only lasted a tad bit longer, and was greeted by royal guard staff when he landed in front of the castle.
"Sir Shield!"
"I need a medic, solider!"
"Right away, sir." The blue unicorn whistled, and a stretcher was produced a few moments later.
"We'll get her to the infirmary right away."
"She'll be fine, Princess, she just needs some rest." The medic pony removed his mask to speak to Luna.
"Very good, doctor. Remember, speak to no one."
"As you wish." The medic bowed and returned to his busywork.
Shield fidgeted.
"Relax captain. She got the wind knocked out of her and bit her tongue.” Luna turned to walk off.
“Right..sorry.” Shield shook himself.
“I’d be more worried about the rainbow one telling Twilight Sparkle.”
"Oh shit!" Shield grimaced.
“I can already say that the rainbow one is on her way to Twilight as we speak.” Luna started walking away, “Celestia and I will deal with the matter, but we do want you to be in attendance too.”
Shield bowed, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Shield stood back up when Luna was gone. "I really hope this hasn't blown our whole operation. We still don’t know what our real purpose is. The anticipation is the worst." Shield thought deeply. "We’ll just have to wait until Twilight gets here."