//------------------------------// // Roles and Promises // Story: Operation Shield // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// "Are you absolutely sure you're not interested in joining us, Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor asks Stratocumulus as the two of them escort Princess Luna to the planning meeting of the Guard Oubliettes and Ogres Club. "With all due respect, sir, that kind of game does not appeal to me." Stratocumulus replies. "I've had to keep telling that to the other Pegasus Lieutenant who seems so eager to recruit me into this venture." "Lieutenant Aldebaran? Well, he has very personal reasons for joining in this endeavour. I would explain them to you, Lieutenant, but I'm sure the Princess would rather hear about it firsthoof." Shining Armor explains. "Indeed we do." Princess Luna states. "An officer of the Guard devoted as he is to service at night was a rarity in the time before our exile, let alone the present day. The Lieutenant Captain informed us he is the longest serving officer currently on the Canterlot night shift." "There have always been a few Lieutenants serving in the night shift to help the newer Guards learn the drill around the castle, but they generally opt to transfer to a different shift first chance they get. Aldebaran proved to be one of the few exceptions, so he knows the night shift better than any Guard in Canterlot. He's been kept so busy with training and assisting those shuffled into the night shift that it's only now has he had enough free time to do something like this." Shining Armor explains both to Stratocumulus and Princess Luna. "Well, I wish him the best of luck. Lieutenant Captain Aten really seems to hate on him for some reason, despite the fact that they're both pegasi and from the same Academy class." Stratocumulus comments. "I don't know what Aten's deal is, but he's definitely not right in the head." Shining seriously states, his face having a grim look. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A FEW MINUTES LATER... "Her Highness is approaching!" Lieutenant Stratocumulus shouts into the small room in which the planning meeting would take place. This was protocol for royal escorts, as it gave warning for any Lower Class Guards, who were forbidden by regulation (barring special exemptions) to be in the same room as a princess, to clear out as quickly as they could. The warning was entirely unnecessary in this case, however, as there were no Lower Classes present in the meeting room. Besides Princess Luna and Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, the Oubliettes and Ogres Club would have four other members, all of which were present in the room currently. One was the aforementioned Lieutenant Aldebaran, a pegasus stallion of dark orange coat, snow white mane and deep green eyes. Two others were Gaffer, a unicorn stallion with a distinctive "painted" coat, and 8-Bit, a pegasus stallion with a brownish-grey coat - both of them were old friends of Shining Armor who followed him into Guard service and were now afternoon shift Upper Classes. Rounding out the roster was Guard Upper Class Buck Withers, a night-shifter earth pony with a very distinctive jawline and purple-grey coat, styling himself as a "repentant jerk jock" and having joined the club to reconcile with Shining and his friends. Princess Luna and Shining Armor enter the room side-by-side, causing the other stallions already inside to line up and salute at attention. Lieutenant Stratocumulus takes leave to his regular duties while Shining gives a quick look over of the other stallions, which were required to wear their Guard armor as they were technically on-duty while in the meeting. "At ease." Shining finally says, prompting a shift of stance and relieved sigh among the other stallions. "We have already been introduced to the Upper Class Buck Withers, so we shall proceed straight to the Lieutenant Captain's two old friends." Luna states. "The unicorn is Gaffer, the pegasus is 8-Bit. Both are Upper Classes in the afternoon shift currently." Shining Armor explains as his two old friends step forward, both of them giving a brief bow before returning to the upright position. "We greet thee both most eagerly. It is of great benefit to you both to have befriended such a noble and virtuous stallion as the Lieutenant Captain." Luna gracefully speaks to the two stallions. "We are just excited to roleplay with the princess of the night." Gaffer replies, and 8-Bit nods with a huge grin in affirmation. "I only wish Gizmo was here, then it would be like the old days." 8-Bit adds after a moment. "I actually got a letter from him a few weeks after Twily moved into Ponyville." Shining Armor comments. "He lives there now, didn't go into the service but he does have a trading stall in their main square. He sees Twily around sometimes, and goes to the library she lives in now. He's also tried to get a Oubliettes and Ogres club started in Ponyville, but so far Twily's the only one that's been interested." "We hope that will soon change. It is royal responsibility to be the starter of fashions." Princess Luna states. "I think the word Your Majesty is looking for is 'trendsetter'." Shining Armor suggests as the other stallions suppress chuckles at Luna's archaic vocabulary. "Trend...setter." Luna slowly repeats, chewing on the word as if it was an unfamiliar food. Again, chuckles have to be suppressed at the facial expressions Luna makes as she ponders the new word. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ah well, we are still learning the vocabulary of the times we have found ourselves in." Luna finally says to the assembled stallions, which seems to be admission enough that her recovery is still very much a work in progress. "But what of you, Lieutenant? We have been told you have been kept occupied in training and mentoring for the expanded night shift, which is why you have not been able to join in any activities with myself or the Lieutenant Captain?" Luna continues after a moment, turning toward Lieutenant Aldebaran. "That is correct, Your Majesty." the pegasus Lieutenant replies. "As I'm sure your sister has made you aware, your arrival in Canterlot necessitated a dramatic and sudden expansion of the night shift. As the seniormost officer present on the shift before the expansion took place, I was obligated by Captain Gibraltar to conduct the training of the new Lieutenants for the adjustment period. The activities of the Agents of Chaos additionally caused turnover that compounded the problems." "We see." Princess Luna affirms. "But you are an exception to the general rule of those serving on the night shift during our time of exile. You have stayed there almost your entire Guard career to date while most of your fellow officers transfer to other shifts eagerly. We are curious as to why this is, Lieutenant." "Well, Your Majesty, this is something very personal to me, you understand. My grandfather is Emerald Wishes, one of those that believed like the Thestrals did even though he was an earth pony." Lieutenant Aldebaran explains. Princess Luna gives the pegasus Lieutenant a look that mixes surprise and skepticism, then looks over at Shining Armor with a confused look. Shining just smiles back at Luna's confusion. "Trust me Your Majesty, I wasn't inclined to believe him either, but I looked up his service record." Shining Armor graciously replies. "Two generations ago, there was an earth pony stallion named Emerald Wishes who raised quite a ruckus to Princess Celestia about your return. Petitions, rallies, formal meetings... you name it, he did it! Celestia never really punished him or made any effort to suppress his actions. It makes sense now, but of course then it was a complete mystery." "Of course, of course it would have been." Luna comments, nodding with a curious look on her face as she gives Aldebaran a better look over. "He married a mare named Winter Blossom, and their colt - the Lieutenant's father - was one of the lead figures on the night shift for most of his Guard career. Doubtless the Lieutenant intended to follow in those hoofsteps, but circumstances have placed him otherwise." Shining Armor adds. "... And what of the elder stallions?" Luna asks after a moment, to nopony in particular. "My father retired from the service a few years ago." Aldebaran answers. "My grandparents... they are still alive, but in frail health considering their age. I got a letter from them saying that Emerald Wishes was dancing like a little colt when he heard the news of the triumph of the Element Bearers. That does not change the fact, Your Majesty, that they may not be much longer for this world." "And you would like us to visit them while they are still alive?" Luna asks, picking up on what the Lieutenant was implying. "Yes, Your Majesty. It is only right my grandfather see his hopes fulfilled with his own eyes before they close forever." Aldebaran quietly answers, his expression changing to an almost pleading look. For the first time since entering the room, Luna breaks into a smile of her own before her next words: "We will visit them, we promise Lieutenant. It is only right we should do so, for their sake." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEANWHILE, AT 'FORT CHAOS'... "Agent P2, we will go over the checklist one more time before departing for Ponyville." "Affirmative, P1." "Disguises?" "Check." "Bribe money?" "Check." "Plan B chloroform?" "Check." "Firebombs?" "Check." "Disassembly and destruction kit?" "... Oof, heavy!" "Then I say we're ready to undertake some sabotage!" "Check!... Ugh, a little help here?"