//------------------------------// // Chapter 25 - Revelations to Relations // Story: In the Royal Guard // by J8ck78 //------------------------------// David didn't really know what else to say upon discovering this. he knew sometimes cutie marks were late in showing up, but this was ridiculous! This Unicorn was at least near her 20's, and she still didn't have it. he looked at her in shock mouth open near the ground. Starlight was expecting him to laugh like all the others did, make fun of her, or just kick her out for having what she didn't on her flank. As he began to speak, she prepared for the worst. "Well then. I'd keep the armor on there Starlight. Less of a embarrassment. Just say I said so." "Wait, you're not going to say anything about it? No joke, mess with me, mock me in front of everyone?" "Why would I do that?" asked David as if Starlight had grown three new heads, "I may not be the nicest guy you'd ever meet, but I'd have to be some kind of evil to make fun of something like that at this age. You'll get yours soon Starlight. Who knows, the Guard may be just what you need." Starlight still hung her head in shame. Many had said that to her in one form or another, each time they were wrong. Before she knew it, she was being helped up by two wings and a hoof. She looked to see David giving her a reassuring smile as she got to her feet. "If not, well, the armor does a good job of hiding it." Starlight smiled at this herself, no one had ever told her that and for once she felt welcome. "What's your's?" she asked "Pitchfork and a sword. My name is David! I'm not all that impressive! Anyway, You're room is still your cell, but Captain Shadow had it upgraded somewhat. More comfortable I guess." With that he walked away whistling some catchy tune to himself. Starlight covered her blank flank the best she could with her armor, and headed to where her cell and room were. As she stepped inside the other Guards stood there and when they noticed who she was snickered a little. Starlight hung her head once again and tried to hurry along. Both Guards looked at each other confused and went back to guarding. She walked as fast as she could towards her cell trying to toe the line between getting there as inconspicuous as possible, and as fast as possible. Turning a corner she could see it, the door to her room. She picked up speed to get in there but just as she was about to enter, she was stopped as a magic barrier surrounded her. She tried her hardest to break it, but even her own magic failed to break it. The barrier carried her back through the halls until she was upside down and face to face to Charger, Crescent, and Flower. "Hello." she said nervously "Hi." said Crescent "Uh, can you put me down please?" asked Starlight meekly "You going to run away?" asked Charger "......Yes." she said "Then I'm not letting you down." said Flower Charger walked around her looking her over at her armor and snorted. "I had to pass a rigorous physical entry exam to get in." he said "Same here." said Crescent "Even me." said Flower, "not to mention weeks of training." "And yet, some random Unicorn off the street gets a free pass in on conscription?" asked Crescent "Not to mention the only reason she got that is because she embarrassed the Guard and got three of them in major trouble." said Flower "That three being us!" "It looked like you had things pretty well handled! I didn't want to make the scene any larger than it was." The three looked at her unimpressed as Starlight smiled nervously as she hung upside down. "We got in so much trouble because of you!" said Charger looking her in the eyes "Alright what's going on!" came a voice from afar "Lieutenant Spirit, sir!" said Charger The three Guards went to attention, Flower lowering the barrier around Starlight, who fell to the floor with a plop. "Sorry." said Flower "Alright, enough of this business. You three did not get into that punishment because of her, you got in trouble because you acted in rash and probably scared her away! I say you got off easy!" "Yes sir." said the three They didn't think of it that way. Starting the fight was what got them in trouble, not protecting her. Spirit snorted in their direction and turned to Starlight who was covering her eyes trying to hide. "And you Recruit! Running away and hiding from your problems wont solve them! trust me, I know." said Spirit, "Now to your posts! Dismissed!" He walked off and the four went their separate ways. Starlight returned to her room and closed the door as the three Guards headed to their post. Spirit looked on and laughed. "I love my job." said Spirit "LIEUTENANT!" came the shrill yell of Captain Shadow Ice shot down Spirits spine as he turned around and galloped toward the Captain wondering why he even had this job.