//------------------------------//
// Chapter II: The First Petitioner 
// Story: The Changeling Trials 
// by PastCat 
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The next evening, Luna read the note her assistant had left before taking her preplanned evening off: 

Luna, it read, I found this while looking through the older petitions earlier. Perhaps it would be an appropriate place to begin? ~Eclipse. 

Curious, Luna examined the attached document. The first thing that attracted her notice was the quality of the paper. It was the stiff, pale blue stock with a magical watermark that contained the insignia of the night division of the Frontier Guard used by officers of that unit. The Frontier Guard was a holdover from the wilder days in Equestria’s history when border incursions were frequent and clashes with griffons and nomadic bands of roving bison or camels a regular occurrence. These days were more peaceful, but the Frontier Guard remained as an outlet for more adventurous ponies to serve their kingdom. On the page, the insignia of the night division showed the crest of the Lunar Guard, a silver crest of a crescent moon. A note stated pompously that it was “From the desk of Commander Star Skimmer” and had an address that listed a location near the mountainous northern border of Equestria. Luna felt proud and nostalgic knowing that at least this remnant of her ancient army structure had endured and remained intact after her centuries of banishment. The Frontier Guard had been a sort of sanctuary for bat ponies and ebon unicorns after her attempted coup. Luna let herself stay lost in thought for a few minutes before turning her attention to the letter’s contents.

To Her Majesty, Princess Luna,
I wish to thank you for your devotion to the night-born and humbly request that you consider my query regarding the amnesty of a young changeling recently brought to Canterlot by the Royal Guard. She goes by the name of Rough Diamond and is black with silver wings and crest in her natural state. When in pony form she wears the appearance of a black bat pony with a silver mane and tail and a cutie mark of a single white diamond on a spear shaft. Di has been an unofficial member of our regiment for three years, ever since a patrol found her as a foal in the foothills of the Drake’s Spine Mountains. 

She was raised within our troop and those of us who care for her deeply also know how to ensure that she is well-fed and happy. She is an excellent comrade in battle and a benevolent trickster in camp and has come to be a sort of mascot for the lot of us. The troops rally around her name as if she were a princess or other high officer! Because we are concerned for her well-being, we humbly request that Rough Diamond be returned to her post with the regiment. Since her absence, morale has dropped to a level far below normal. 

Should you wish to verify this with a present member of our regiment, I can endeavor to send someone on detached duty in a few weeks. However, if you are willing to speak to a former member, one of my sergeants, Gray Wing, was honorably discharged due to battle injuries. He and his wife retired to the Canterlot area last summer. I have written to him and his address is listed below. Thank you for your consideration of this matter, your highness.

~Star Skimmer, Commanding Officer, Night Division, Frontier Guard, North

Enclosed with the letter, Luna found the aforementioned address as well as a photograph. The photo showed a crowd of ponies in frontier guard uniforms clustered around two figures. One was a dark changeling with light markings and bright eyes who grinned straight at the camera. The troops around her looked happy, proud, and very cocky. All wore the dark purple armor of the Lunar Guard but were armed with the crossbows favored on the frontier. The most prominent of these was the other central figure, a tough- looking tall stallion with an old-fashioned crested helmet with more in common to the armor of ancient Pegasopolis than the modern guard. That fierce impression was somewhat spoiled by the way he smiled down at the changeling, much like a proud grandfather would do over a particularly precocious first grandchild. Luna admired the image before flipping the photo over to read the note on the back. The Night Frontiersponies: Note the diamond within our roughness! Luna chuckled. Frontier guards had a reputation for rowdy fun and a wicked sense of humor. She was startled out of her contemplation when a servant tapped on the door frame to remind her that Night Court was scheduled to begin. Before the session started, Luna sent a note to Gray Wings’ address via courier inviting the retired sergeant to meet with her about Diamond. By the end of Night Court, a trivial one as such things went, she had received an answer. Sergeant Gray Wings would arrive an hour past midnight.

At one a.m. sharp, a Lunar Guard led a stallion and his companion into the audience chamber. Luna studied the newcomers. The stallion was large for a bat pony, with a straight-spined military dignity that was counteracted by a glint in his green eye that belied a wry sense of humor. The cause of his discharge was quite apparent, as his left eye was covered with a patch and his left wing bound to a splint that suggested a wound had not healed right. The most attractive thing about the charcoal gray stallion was his attitude. He swaggered with a boldness that only a cinematic pirate could aspire to. His tufted ears were in constant motion, as if to take in any unexpected action and confront it. 

The mare who accompanied him had a decidedly different air about her. Luna recognized it as similar to that which Twilight Sparkle occasionally had with her sister when Celestia was feeling fractious. The mare looked at the Gray Wings’ swagger with a look that said something akin to “I know you and respect you, but by Faust, do you have to act like that in public?” The mare was a pegasus the color of butter, but with the stallion’s dark gray mane and tail. Like the stallion she too had tufted ears, though her wings were feathered. 

“I greet you, Sergeant Gray Wings, and…?” Luna began. 

“My daughter, Sandstone,” the stallion replied, “but please, I prefer to be called Sarge.” Sandstone rolled her eyes. 

“Ah, yes, quite.” Luna said regaining her composure. Faust, she thought, I’d forgotten how awkward these private audiences were. The stallion rescued her from her awkward silence. 

“I heard through the grape vine that you were in charge of the shifties. When I heard that Rough Diamond had gotten caught up in all that I thought I would give the little scamp a wing. Faust knows she is no danger to Equestria. Old Skimmer is probably itching to have her back on patrol. No one is better at noticing border crossers.” 

Luna blinked. No one had spoken so directly to her since her return except for Celestia. It was surprisingly refreshing. From his attitude, Sergeant Gray Wings considered her as a sort of comrade. That warmed her heart. 

“Indeed, Sarge,” the princess of the night said, chuckling. “Of course, would you be willing to answer a few questions about Rough Diamond and her… exploits with the Frontier Guard?” 
“Absolutely, your majesty. Fire at will!” The stallion replied, shifting into a seated position. He turned to his daughter. “You might as well sit and listen too, you whippersnapper. This will take a while and you haven't heard some of these stories.” The mare rolled her eyes. Luna winked at her as Sandstone took a seat next to her father. 

“Very well. Let us begin. Can you tell me how Rough Diamond became attached to the regiment?” Luna asked.

“Certainly.” The bat pony replied. “It all started in the winter…”