//------------------------------// // Book 5: Night Whisper // Story: Writing Future Pages // by River Road //------------------------------// “And this is Night Whisper. He will be your personal guard during your stay in Canterlot.” Princess Luna extended her wing towards a corner of the room and a young Thestral – a batpony in the armor of the Night Guard – stepped out of the shadows. He gave a curt bow and stood at attention, unmoving. Future Pages, a dark brown earth pony stallion with the silver-grey mane raised an eyebrow. “A personal guard? Princess, I don’t think that will be necessary.” The Princess nodded. “Indeed, it most likely won’t be. Night Whisper has just finished his training, and he will be assigned easy missions for now. He will follow you around, make sure you are safe and help you with your work. Of course, all that is only if you don’t mind. Pages looked him over for a moment and nodded. “I don’t mind at all. It might make my work a little easier, and it should certainly prove interesting.” “Then it’s decided. You are hereby dismissed, both of you.” Luna made a small gesture and the guard gave another quick bow, then turned to walk outside. “Thank you once again for your time, Princess.” Pages bowed as well and turned to follow the guard. ~~~~~ “So, you are a Night Guard…” Pages glanced over to the guard who trotted right next to him like a shadow. The Thestral had barely said anything since they had left Luna’s office together. Even now he only nodded. “And I am your first assignment?” Pages probed. “That is correct, Ser.” Pages watched him for a few seconds before he made one last attempt. “That must be quite exciting for you.” “My personal feelings are not of importance. My duty is to protect you and assist you with your work.” Pages sighed. “Do you even know what I do as work?” Night Whisper raised an eyebrow, but quickly resumed his stoic expression. “I was told that you are a writer. A novelist.” “That is not entirely wrong, but it is a rather simplistic explanation.” Pages smirked and stopped to look at his guard. “I write down the stories of ponies. All ponies that I come across, if I can, including ponies like you. So relax a little.” The thestral stopped as well and raised an eyebrow, but didn’t react aside from that. Pages frowned. “I’m serious here, I can’t write about you if you don’t show any emotions.” No reaction. The earth pony scratched his head. “Uhm… At ease, soldier?” The guard sighed and relaxed a little. “I’m sorry, I… Well, I didn’t want to take any chances on my first assignment.” Pages smiled. “It’s understandable. But it would really help me more if we could just talk normally. For example, what made you join the Night Guard, and in such a difficult position no less?” Night Whisper shrugged. “Most ponies in my family are in the Guard. Of course, that’s not the only reason, but it was a big part of the decision. I guess we’re just destined to protect others.” Pages nodded, scribbling a few things into a notebook. “There are a few families in Canterlot who are in the guard, aren’t there… Do you have any goals for your career? Getting into the Princesses’ personal guard, maybe?” “Not really… I mean, it would be great to guard Princess Luna someday, but I don’t set my hopes to high. All I want is to guard ponies who need a guard, for whatever reason.” Pages chuckled and put his notebook away again. “You’re already setting your hopes pretty high with that, especially in this city…” He trailed off and blinked, then leaned a little closer to look at Night Whisper. The thestral backed away just an inch, nervously looking back at the earth pony. “Is… something wrong?” “Hmm?” Pages pulled back away, shaking his head. “Oh, no no no… It was nothing.” He chuckled and gave Night Whisper a smile before turning around again. “Come on, let’s not dawdle any longer.” The earth pony started to walk again, waving a hoof and not looking back as he shouted, “And don’t worry about your career… I have a good feeling.” Night Whisper stared after him for a few seconds before he realized that he was supposed to guard him. He shook his head and dashed after the writer to catch up.