//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Rise of Shadow Force 
// by Thunderblast 
//------------------------------//

One brisk, breezy night in the Royal capital city of Canterlot, very few ponies still made their way about town at the late hour. Most were in bed, warm under their blankets and slumbering the night away with Princess Luna herself guarding their dreams. The moon hung high in the pitch black of the night, surrounded by the meager white stars that made up the rest of the sky in every direction. 

That night, not everyone in the city was asleep. At the Palace, many members of the Royal and Lunar guard kept their watch up in the massive halls, as well as outside the sleeping Sun princess' chamber. As they did, one armored unicorn walked slowly through the lantern-lit halls, his destination set for the office of the Lunar Guard captain. The white unicorn stepped up to a wooden door and knocked delicately. 

"It is open," said a deep, stern voice from inside.

The unicorn's horn glowed in a light pink aura, and he took the horseshoe-shaped handle in a magical grip, then pushing the door open and walking through, and stopping halfway inside. The white unicorn raised his hoof to his head in a salute, staring forward at attention to a light brown pegasus wearing navy blue armor who stood up from his polished wooden desk and saluted back.

"Captain Star," the unicorn lowered his hoof and stepped further inside, shutting the door quietly with his magic.

"Captain Armor," the brown pegasus lowered his hoof as well and seated himself at the desk. "Have a seat, what is it you need?"

"You know why I am here," Shining Armor seated himself on a red pillow across the fine wooden desk, he eyed the pegasus with a blank expression.

The pegasus glanced up to the unicorn, staring him back. "I see. Its that time, isn't it?" He pulled open a drawer with a hoof, then picked up a piece of cloth, and a small bottle of polish. He dipped the cloth into the bottle, then wiped it on the light blue serpent eye emblem on his armor.

"I am afraid so. But, I know who I would like...and you do too," the white unicorn replied.

The pegasus stopped polishing the armor on his chest and looked back up to the unicorn with an eyebrow raised. "I do not follow, captain."

"Yes you do. We made this decision a while ago, so, I'd appreciate if you would stop the act, Fallen Star."

Fallen stayed still, then slowly put away the bottle of polish and the cloth, then put his hooves together on the desk and leaned closer. "Very well. Do we know where he is?"

"He still resides in Ponyville," Shining Armor levitated a closed folder, then set it on the desk gently.

"And, what else do we know about him?" Fallen asked, looking over the folder as Shining Armor opened it.

"He works for security at the town's hospital now. I know he said he would return when he felt it was necessary, but we need him now. The Shadow guard can't stay without a captain for much longer."

"I agree," Fallen Star stopped, adjusting himself in his seat. "Although, don't you think it would be a bit ... expensive ... to recruit and train him this time of year? Many of our trainers are on holiday leave."

"I will do it myself, and you can help too. We can teach him everything we know. He isn't the best soldier we have, but he's up there. He deserves this promotion more than anything, and he's been on the docket for it for six months. We've never in the history of the Royal and Lunar guard kept somepony on the waiting list for promotion for this long," Shining Armor replied, watching as Fallen Star read through some of the paperwork in the folder, then holding a small picture in his hoof.

"Hmm... I still do not know, do you actually think he is ready?" Fallen glanced back up to the white unicorn sitting across from him.

Shining Armor nodded twice. "He's been more than ready for years, my friend. He is completely capable of leading his own team of highly trained soldiers on missions."