//------------------------------// // Training - Part 3 // Story: Lunar Guard: Red Dawn // by RedDawn //------------------------------// "Black Feather, we have chosen you, to be a part of an elite group of Guards. Will you accept?" My eyes widened. My rational side had no idea how to react to this. However, my cynical side knew exactly what to say. "What would this group do? What would it entail?" "You would be part of a group assigned to various towns and villages to act like normal ponies during peacetime, but an independent unit during wartime. Your duties would be assassination, espionage and covert ops. You would be given a codename that you would go by, and only certain ponies would know your actual name." My eyes narrowed. This sounded like a setup to me, but I was curious. "What would happen if I said no?" "This event would be wiped from your mind and you would be taken off of our list." No way. My mind was my only sanctuary left untouched. No way were they getting in. "Since I have no intention of letting anypony near my mind any time soon, I'm gonna have to accept. What's my codename?" "Your codename is Red Dawn. You need to talk to your friend, News Runner. He is also a part of the group. He was the pony who suggested you. Tell him, 'The Dawn has risen.' He will know what you mean. If he trusts you, he will tell you his real name." This surprised me. I knew there was more than he was letting on about him, but I didn't expect this. He was good. Nodding, I trotted back to the barracks and saw News waiting outside for me. Remembering what the mysterious ponies had said, I trotted up and said, "The Dawn has risen." He relaxed, and pulled me aside. "Who, other than me have you told your name to?" "Other than you, just the pony who gave me my armor." "That's okay, then. She is a part of us, so you're okay. Now then, as for me, my real name is Moon Chaser. It's nice to meet you." "My name is Red Dawn. It's nice to meet you too." Introductions aside, we walked back in to the barracks and went to bed. By now, it was 5 am. I didn't realize just how easy my first night had been... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 hours later... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "ALRIGHT, YOU LAZY LUMPS OF COW CRAP! GET UP! TIME FOR TRAINING!" I, like yesterday, was already up. But, unlike yesterday, Shadow and Moon were also up. Everyone else was startled into waking by Corporal Phalanx's shout via the megaphone he had pulled out of nowhere(1). I frowned, trying to figure out how he had done that, then shook my head, dismissing it until later to puzzle out. Beside me, Moon was quietly sniggering. I looked at him and he said, "Pathetic. Just... Pathetic. They could never serve Princess Twilight like that, nevermind Princess Luna." I frowned again. That sounded awfully like snobbery. I nudged him and replied, "Hey, don't put them down because they aren't the best of the best like us. They can get better." "Maybe, but they'll never be as good as me." Just egotism. I sighed and turned back to the sergeant. "ALRIGHT, FOALS, LISTEN UP! SOME OF YOU SACKS OF FAT ARE MOVING ON TO ADVANCED TRAINING! RED DAWN, NEWS RUNNER AND SHADOW SIGHT, GATHER YOUR THINGS AND FOLLOW CORPORAL PHALANX. AS FOR THE REST OF YOU, GET TO THE TRACK! I WANT 2 LAPS, NOW!" We did as we were bid. We were led to a low barrack building, and when we entered, we could see that there were other ponies bunked there. A few minutes later, the officer that led me to the building where I discovered News' secret came in. "My name is Nightshade. I'm sure some of you have been wondering why you're all here. You're here because you have the right qualities, skills and attitude to be part of an elite group of Guards. Do any of you have any questions?" One of the Bat Ponies stepped forward. "Yeah. What would we be doing?" "You would be a part of the general population during peacetime, stationed in towns and small cities. During wartime, your duties would be espionage, assassination and covert ops. Anypony else?" One of the Unicorns stepped forward. She had a pale pink coat and purple/turquoise striped mane(2). "Why did you let a halfbreed join us? All it'll do is kill us in our sleep." "Then why hasn't she already? She's been here 2 days already. She's had that opportunity twice and yet she hasn't. Why, Starlight Glimmer?" Everypony turned to look at the new speaker, News. He had stepped forward whilst the Starlight had been talking. Starlight's eyes widened when News said her name. As he replied, Nightshade started taking off her armor(3). Glancing at her, I gasped. She was a halfbreed too(4)!