//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 - Haze on the Horizon 
// Story: Night Reigns 
// by tursi 
//------------------------------//

"Aw man, aren't you even going to try it out?"

"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt. We need to know if it is what you say it is."

Stratosphere did a loop in place. "Righteous! Aw, man! I can't believe I'm going to see the Alicorn Amulet in practice!"

Captain Sterling lifted the amulet to his neck and wrapped the straps around behind, his magic deftly locking the fastener.

It was as if the entire world went white-hot. He could barely see, and there was an incredible heat to go with it. He could feel his magic leaking from his eye sockets as he surged and overloaded, and his hooves went to his throat, trying to rip the amulet free.

"THIS IS SO RADICAL!!" shouted the pegasus. "I can't believe I'm watching this!"

Captain Sterling fell to his knees. It felt as though his life was draining out at an alarming rate as it fed the magical surge, and he could barely hold up his head. "Make… it… stop!" he begged.

"Sorry dude! I can't do magic! The book did say something about burning out, but man, you look AMAZING!"

"No! I… can't!" The entire world went white, and even sound began to distort as he felt the cool marble floor against his cheek, a sharp contrast to the flame against his throat.

"Oh, dude! This was so amazing! Thanks, Captain! My life is complete now! Um… bummer about it burning you out and all…"

The kickback from the pegasus in his dream blasting back into the sky woke the Captain, and he panted softly, checking his throat to ensure that he was not actually wearing anything there.

After a few moments, he rose and went to his kitchen for a drink of water. His home was small and sparse, but immaculately neat and organized. He had little need for a home full of possessions; he was deployed to help in other cities far too often to be worth it.

His mind drifted back to the dream… it was clearly about the Alicorn Amulet. He considered his decision to withhold it from Nightmare Moon and now believed that to have been a mistake. He was no expert in magical artifacts but if it was even a fraction as powerful as Stratosphere had suggested, then it needed to be destroyed. His hoof rubbed his throat gently as that thought was cemented in his mind.

Several hours later he found himself face-to-face with a green unicorn wearing square-lensed glasses and a thin black mane combed over the front of his head.

"What do you mean I can't see her?" he asked for the sixth time.

"Do you have an appointment?" asked Crossed Tees.

"I don't need an appointment," repeated Captain Sterling. "I'm the Captain of the Guard."

"Every pony needs an appointment," repeated Crossed. "I've already offered to put you on the advanced schedule for next month's court. Without rules and order we're little better than the wild frontier."

Sterling Honor frowned and put his muzzle right up against the minister's muzzle. He spoke slowly and very deliberately. "You will find the Queen and tell her that I need to speak with her, or I will draft you into the guard just so that I can charge you with insubordination and show you what rules and regulations are really all about. Now, where is she?"

Crossed Tees swallowed nervously, mentally checking off the laws regarding the guard, and decided that the Captain might not actually be bluffing.

"I'm… she…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "She's indisposed."

Captain Sterling was at the limit of his patience and spoke through a tightly clenched jaw. "Which means what, exactly?"

"Well… you see… she… she didn't show up for the 8AM daily schedule review." His voice dropped even lower. "No pony knows where she is."

Captain Sterling's head drew back in surprise, his pupils shrinking. "What?! And you didn't think that the Captain of the Guard should know that the Queen is missing?"

Crossed drew himself up, and frowned. "We didn't want to create a panic or destabilize the government! We must maintain order at all costs."

Captain Sterling paused just long enough to narrow his eyes. "I loathe you," he stated. Then he turned and galloped off to find his sergeant. He exited the castle corridors and ran across the parade square, which was quiet this morning. As he turned towards the offices on the other side, he was forced to draw to a quick stop by Ulfrid blocking his path.

"Ah, Captain Sterling Honor," he greeted. "I was looking for you!"

"You were?" Sterling's eyes narrowed.

Ulfrid nodded. "Indeed. No doubt you are aware that the Princess was absent this morning from her meeting with the ministers?"

"Yes, I was briefed on the Queen's absence. I was about to organize a search for information."

Ulfrid smiled. "That will not be necessary, Captain. She is well, you needn't trouble yourself."

Sterling Honor shook his head. "It is my duty to trouble myself. Where has she gone?"

"I am not at liberty to share that information."

"When will she return?"

"I'm afraid I cannot share that either."

The Captain frowned. "You are putting me in a difficult situation. You are requiring me to take at your word that her unexpected absence is not a concern for the guard, but without telling me anything of where she has gone or for how long."

Ulfrid dipped his head in recognition. "Indeed, that is what I am asking of you."

"I suppose that you will be in charge during her absence?"

The wolf shook his head. "That should not be necessary."

"I think as a matter of security that I should still know where she is!"

"Nay, Captain, and that will be all." With the simple dismissal, Ulfrid turned and walked off. Captain Sterling stared after him for a moment, then turned and marched smartly back to his office.

Once safely behind the closed door, however, his frustration reached a peak. He slammed a hoof against his desk and glowered in the direction of his closed door.

"Security is my responsibility," he snapped. "Even the wolf has no right to withhold information from me!"

Again he found himself looking up at the portrait of Nightmare Moon, gazing longingly into her slitted eyes.

"It would be enough to know for certain that this is how you want it, Ma'am," he thought. "Did you truly not trust me with this information? Or is he hiding something? I just wish I knew for sure!"

He gazed around the immaculate office slowly, finally stopping on the safe in the corner of the room. It was there he had locked up the Alicorn Amulet for safe-keeping. His hoof unconsciously went to his throat as he considered it.

"I could know for certain… a scrying spell of that level wouldn't need that much power."

His mind ran circles around the idea.

"But it's certainly dangerous… it would be foolish to take such a risk without cause. No, I should see it destroyed. We must have a magic expert somewhere in the court who would know how."

He paused again with his eyes locked on the safe, considering what he knew and what he didn't know.

"What if the wolf really is attempting a takeover? He's just a wolf, right? But if he's just a wolf… where is the Queen? Did he somehow overcome her?"

After a few more minutes of consideration, he turned from the desk and strode to Sergeant Impulse's office. The amulet made a fine backup plan but right now, he needed information.

"Sergeant Impulse!" he announced as he entered. The Sergeant's office was a stark contrast to his own, with paperwork strewn randomly across the desk and stacked untidily on the shelves along the wall.

Sergeant Impulse stood rapidly at attention and saluted, which Captain Sterling returned smartly. Up close the Sergeant's shaved mane looked almost laughable, but he withheld his amusement.

"Sir! What can I do for you, Sir?"

Captain Sterling nodded as he replied. "At ease, Sergeant. Is Corporal Stratosphere still in the city?"

"Yes, Sir. He wasn't due to deploy until tomorrow night, Sir."

"Send him to my office, and deploy somepony else in his place. Tell nopony else. I have a classified mission that I need him to undertake immediately."

Sergeant Impulse looked a little concerned. "Is everything okay, Sir?"

Captain Sterling nodded. "I think so, but I just need a little recon. It will only take a few days. Send him to my office."

Sergeant Impulse saluted again, "Yes Sir! He will be there within the hour."

"Thank you, Sergeant."

Captain Sterling walked back to his office, considering what he was doing. A little reconnaissance wasn't treason. After all, it was a matter of national security.