//------------------------------//
// A Kingdom Burns 
// Story: Foster Guard 
// by Cmdr Brohoof 
//------------------------------//

	A hooded white unicorn colt was running through a dark forest occasionally stopping to check if he was being followed. After looping around a few times to throw any pursuers he came to a rickety dock where another hooded colt was standing nervously glancing around his surroundings.
The colt from the woods approached cautiously until the pony by the dock noticed him.

"May the sun rise," The colt by the dock spoke.
"and may the moon continue to glow,"  The tired colt said shifting his heavy load on his back.
"I was afraid you wouldn't make it Captain," The dock colt said as he lowered his hood. His golden helmet reflected the light from a nearby lantern.
"Almost didn't," Captain Valor said with a sigh of relief as he walked past the colt down to the dock.
"Everything's ready you have enough supplies for a week or two if you're really careful," the junior guard informed him.
Captain Valor carefully placed his bags in the bottom of the boat then stepped in himself.
"How was it back at the castle?" The young guard asked.
"We've lost the castle when I left the we still held the road out of the city," Valor sounded grim.
"The king and queen?"
Valor shook his head from side to side.
"I better get back see if I can be any use," The young guard turned to leave.
"Good luck," Valor called as he pushed off from the dock.
"You'll need more luck than me," the young guard said as he disappeared into the woods where Valor had come from.
Valor hoped he would see the guard again but he doubted he ever would. He felt ashamed that he didn't even ask his name.
As the dock disappeared from sight his bags shuffled and let out a whimper. Valor opened the flap and revealed two small babies swaddled in blankets. Valor picked up the one wrapped in white and rocked her gently 
"Shhhhh little princess its alright you're safe," Valor placed her back in the saddle bag next to her snoozing sister.
The night passed quietly as the water floated the boat down stream. Valor was going over his last conversation with  the king.


King Solar summoned him to the royal chambers and was told to tell no one of his summons. As captain of the guard he had free roam of the castle so being somewhere that was off limits to others was normal for him. Valor knocked on the door to the kings chambers and waited to be given permission to enter.
"Come in," A commanding voice said. Valor recognized it immediately as his king.
King Solar was standing at the foot of his bed watching the queen as she sat with the two princesses nuzzling them to sleep.
"You called for me your majesty," Valor bowed as he approached the royal family.
"Valor you've been my Captain of the Guard for how long now?"
"Five years now," Valor rose and stood by the door.
"In your  years of experience how do you feel about the threat that approaches us now?"
Valor knew too well what threat the King spoke of. At first there were disappearances all over the kingdom but no one could piece them together. There were no connections in the missing ponies. Ponies of all ages and types were being taken by someone or something.
Other kingdoms finally confessed that they too were having the same problem dragons, gryphons, dogs , even wildlife numbers had decreased. Finally the source of the disappearances became known. A warlock had been taking citizens and using his dark magic to bend those he took to his will. Few had the willpower to attack their friends and family.

With his army of completely loyal subjects he began to attack kingdoms around him. He claimed them for his own sending refugees fleeing to the borderlands and coastal regions. Finally his army approached the ponies kingdom.
"We've faced threats before this...villain will be defeated like all the others," Valor said confidently .
"I wish I had your optimism captain," The king said as he moved to look out the window at the busy streets below. The kings horn began to glow as the sun began to set.
"You've never had a family have you?" the King asked.
"No," Valor answered.
"No children, no wife, not even a special somepony?" The queen spoke up for the first time.
"No your highness," Valor felt awkward answering their strange questions.
The king looked to the queen she nodded then he turned to Valor.
"Captain Valor I have a special duty for you. When the day arrives that we face the warlock's army. If the battle turns for the worst I want you to take the princesses away to safety till the day comes they are ready for the burden of ruling,"
Valor stood with his mouth wide open.
"Your highness I'm honored that you've chosen me for such and undertaking but I believe that one of the married guards or even one of the servants would be better suited to..." Valor began before the king interrupted him.
"The queen and I  have talked about this. A pony with a family of their own would place the safety of their family over others no matter how high born. I can't blame them for that. We need someone completely faithful to the crown and no other loyalties. I will not command you to do this captain the choice is yours. I ask you not as your king but as a concerned father," The king went back to watching his sleeping fillies.
Valor jolted awake rocking the boat as he did. It was still night as red glow hung in the sky. Behind him his home was burning and his comrades fighting for their lives as he fled to safety .

Valor carefully stood in the boat and removed his hood and cloak. Beneath the cloak he wore the golden armor of the royal guard.  He undid the armor and placed in on the bow of the boat with a push the armor disappeared into the dark water. He tossed each of his golden shoes overboard not thinking about how long it took him to earn his rank and position. Finally he removed his helmet he looked at his reflection and ran is hoof over the crest of the guard and royal family. He decided he would at least keep one memento of his old life and if any one asked he could say he found it. It looked less obvious than a full set.

The sun was peeking of the horizon when Valor heard the motor of another boat coming up river toward him. Some followed the warlock voluntary Valor was hoping whoever was coming was friendly or at least against the warlock. A tug boat putted around the rivers bend. A small stream of steam was coming from the boat as it approached him. Valor eyed it carefully he could see a pony on deck at the bow staring up river toward him. The figure on deck disappeared into the cabin and reappeared with another figure along side them. Once he got closer he could see two ponies staring at him. 

"Hello there!" An older colt yelled as he waved his hooves in the air. "Are you alright?"
Valor debated on ignoring them and hoping they would just let him float on by.
"Can you hear me?!" the colt asked.
Suddenly the princesses started bawling at the loud noises. Valor quickly retrieved them  and tried to settle them down.
"Oh they have little uns. Never heard of the warlock taking babies," A female voice spoke up over the crying.
"I don't want any trouble just trying to get somewhere safe," Valor shouted which caused the princesses to start crying again.
After a few minutes of hushing the babies Valor pulled along the large boat and was helped aboard by middle aged but strong colt. He kept the princess tucked into his saddle bag.
Valor glanced around the boat deck which was clean but looked as if it has seen alot of wear over the years.
"I say what are you doing out here with two young uns like that?" the reddish earth pony asked who was the male voice from earlier.
"Just trying to get away from the city," Valor answered truthfully.
"So the capital was attacked?" A pink unicorn who looked about the same age as the colt asked.
"Yes I...we just barely made it out,"
"I see," the earth pony said grimly.
"Oh we haven't introduced ourselves I'm Pearl and this is Rusty," Pearl said as Rusty nodded and grinned.
"I'm S..Silver," Valor lied still not sure if he trust the two yet and by using his real name wouldn't be a good start when he was trying to remain hidden.
"And what about these two bits?" Rusty asked as Luna poked her head out of the saddle bag.
"Oh Sunny is the white one and and Star Light is the blue one," Valor said using names the King and Queen had picked.
"Oh they are just the sweetest looking little things," Pearl said as Celestia nudged against her sister to see what was going on.
Rusty made a face at the little princesses which caused them to giggle playfully. 
Valor learned that Pearl and Rusty were husband and wife and ran a shipping company. They were in the process of bringing supplies to the capital but had been delayed by a storm. 
"That storm probably saved out lives," Rusty said as he tossed an anchor over the side bringing the boat to a halt. "If we had been on schedule we would have been in the capital."
"The whole city is lost?" Pearl asked Valor again.
"Yes the guard was holding what they could to give citizens time to flee," 
"The king and queen?" Rusty asked.
"They were in the palace when it fell...at least that's what I heard," Valor was trying to give only information a refugee would know.
The three were sitting quietly when Celestia began to whimper while Valor was holding her.
"Whats wrong?" Valor asked looking down at her.
"That sounds like a hungry cry too me. Do you have any milk for them?" Pearl asked as she gestured to hold her.
"Yes in the boat," Valor continued to hold the princesses close as he pulled another bag from the boat in his mouth and dropped it on the deck. Valor fumbled with the two fillies and the bag until Pearl stopped him.
"I promise I won't drop them I've held my share of babies never dropped a one," Pearl reached out again. Valor passed her Celestia and pushed the bag with powdered milk and bottles toward her.
"Powdered milk this wont do for these little ones Rusty we still have some fresh milk?"
"I think so," Rusty disappeared into the cabin and returned with a glass bottle of real milk.
Pearl filled a bottle and passed it to Valor for Luna than began to give Celestia hers. Celestia sucked on the bottle eagerly.
"Ah careful Silver don't hold it like that," Pearl said in a motherly tone. Luna coughed slightly as Valor adjusted the bottle.
"I assume their mother used to feed them...." Pearl stopped when she realized that there mother wasn't there.
"Yes," Valor said.
"I'm sorry Silver I didn't..." Pearl apologized.
"No no its alright I'm not their father," 
Rusty and Pearl looked at him oddly.
"I'm...I'm their uncle their mother and father didn't make it," Valor said.
"Oh you poor dear," Pearl kissed Celestias forehead.
"What are you going to do now?" Rusty asked.
"I honestly don't know," Valor was going over the kings instructions. The king and queen didn't  want to know where Valor was taking the princesses in case the warlock somehow learned it from them if he captured them.
"Rusty you know where we can take them," Pearl said looking down sadly at the princess she held.
Valor looked at them wondering what they were talking about.
"I reckon your trustworthy Silver," Rusty began. Valor winced slightly when Rusty called him trustworthy as he used his fake name.
"There is an island off the coast where refugees have hidden. We occasionally take supplies to them in turn we get a safe place in case this all went south," Rusty explained.
"I thought you only brought supplies to the capital?" Valor asked.
"Well mostly no pony ever noticed when a little bit is missing here and there," Rusty said sheepishly.
The guard in Valor was upset but knew there was no point in getting angry.
"This village we would be safe there?"
Pearl nodded.
"They are very secretive,"


Rusty and Valor emptied Valor's little boat and stored all the supplies in Rusty and Pearls tug. Pearl had taken over the care of the princesses Valor almost had their secret exposed when Pearl went to change Luna's diaper.  Valor knew that when she unwrapped her from her blanket she would see that Luna was no mere unicorn but actually an alicron.

"Thank you Pearl but I can take care of it I have to learn some time," Valor said as he quickly took Luna from her.
The rest of the trip was uneventful as the boat tugged into the open water.
"How far now?" Valor asked as he stood next to Rusty who was steering the boat through the choppy water.
"A few hours," Rusty glanced at a nearby chart.
"How did you find this place if its so secretive?"
"Pure luck I was sailing out one day and got caught in a awful storm. Ran aground on the island and was helped by the residents to get my boat back in ship shape," 

After a few more hours Rusty called Valor's attention to a speck on the horizon. Once closer Valor could see how easy it would be to hide here. It was the only land in sight. The island didn't seem very large with the exception of a large mountain on one side.
On the other side of the island they pulled into a bay that the mountain hide from view on approach. Valor stared across the water to a beach and finally a dock. From the dock there was a road that led further inland. A group of mixed residents met the boat as it pulled into dock.
Rusty tossed down a rope and a dog caught the other end and tied in to the dock. 
"You're a little ahead of schedule Rusty!" A elderly gryphon said as they disembarked.
"Things have changed back on the mainland I'm afraid," Rusty stepped onto the dock.
"I see," the gryphon said understanding almost immediately what he meant.
A few in the group of ponies, gryphons and dogs began to mummer as Valor stepped down onto the dock.
"Eh Rusty you know our rules about...visitors," The elder said 
"I know Talon but you see we couldn't just leave them," Rusty began to explain.
"Them?" Talon asked looking at Valor.
"My nieces and my self barely escaped the capital and after I told Rusty and his wife I was looking for someplace safe he said he knew where to take me. I understand your concern if its a problem please don't blame Rusty...."
"Its alright," the gryphon slowly made his way toward him "May I ask your name?"
"Silver," Valor felt bad lying to the new group but knew it would look suspicious if he changed his name suddenly with Pearl and Rusty there.
"Silver you and your nieces are welcome in our village. So long as you pull your weight of course. This island may look idyllic but don't let it fool you life out here isn't easy especially now that the mainland is now even more dangerous.
"I'll do my best," Valor said.