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// The Royal Guard 
// Story: Metalwing 
// by SprocketProductions 
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After weeks of training, our superior officer, Dead Center, his name was, had us ready as a fully prepared squad. We were fully educated on battle and were ready to take on anything, at least that's how we felt. In reality, we would've been the laughingstock of the force if we were to go into bettle immediately. I didn't want to, but I had learned the names of all four of my colleagues and grown to know them well.

Dead Center was our superior officer, his rank was Staff Sergeant. He was much calmer and more down to earth than most in the same rank. He was far more understanding of mistakes and flaws despite how he acted toward us at times. He showed actual care for our well being and would actually order us to take breaks if he noticed too much fatigue.

Lighting Strike was my equal, a soldier like me. He was caring and enthusiastic, and he had the determination  to make the team great. He would help us even if we didn't mean it, and he never left anypony behind. He encouraged us all to keep pushing forward no matter what happened, including Dead.

Malana Pastel was the medic. She was shy at first, but we helped her out there and she became outgoing and kind. She would save a patient at any cost and wouldn't stop until she was forcefully pulled away. She had a lot of kindness, but not a lot of nerve. She would need us to keep a close eye on her to make sure she feels safe if worst came to worst.

Twig was our unfortunately named strategist. He was smart, outgoing, and would be surprisingly formidable if it came down to it. He had a keen eye for detail, making him very reliable for hatching plans. He knew basic knowledge of bladed weapons and firearms, making him have a defense to attacks.

Lastly, I was a soldier like Lightning Strike. I cared about my friends, despite the type of pony I was. I was conflicted and didn't even know myself fully yet. Judging by the others, I was the weakest link. I was the one that would hold them back.

Miraculously, we did well enough in the testing after training that we became a fully fledged squad before any other that year. We were just in time to attend the Summer Sun Celebration at Canterlot Castle. We would be guarding Princess Celestia. Twig started drawing out plans late the night before. We all tried to stay awake for them all, but one by one, we all layed our heads on the table and passed out. I remembered being the last one to fall asleep aside from Twig. I blinked numerous times, trying to keep awake, but each time my eyes would stay closed for a little bit longer until I finally passed out from exhaustion.

The next morning I woke up alongside Twig, who had dark spots under his eyes. Had he stayed up all night long planning for this? I didn't care as long as he could do his job properly. We all dawned our armor, strapping on our detailed metal plates with different designs signifying our ranks. We trotted to the briefing room where Dead told us what was going on and Twig told us what to do if anything went wrong, paraphrasing his intricate plans.

We hung out drinking some apple cider for most of the day until it came time to guard the princess. I hadn't realized how unusual it was for me in particular to think of her as our princess. I wasn't sure if I even liked the queen who birthed me anymore. It was dark and dreary in the hive, but here, it was light, and for the most part cheery. I enjoyed having a peaceful role model in the form of a princess and in fact began to prefer it over a controlling queen.

We stood tall at the base of the stairs in the castle when the sun was to be risen. Nothing happened for a moment. I looked at Dead for a moment, curious. He shrugged at me, obviously not knowing what was happening either. All five of us turned around, looking out the large opened stained glass window only seeing the night sky and the moon through it. Suddenly the mare in the moon disappeared. The crowd started whispering nervously to each other. I narrowed my eyes, knowing something was up when a black pony with a starry flowing mane and tail and blue armor materialized in the place Celestia was supposed to be.

"The night shall last forever!!!" The tall mare proclaimed.

Twig looked at us, "You know what to do! Protect the civilians! Lightning, Metal! Grab a few families and meet back with us!"

I nodded and spotted a few families together in the crowd. I pushed through and escorted them out of the castle after making sure everypony they came with was there. I had a large group with me, a good chunk of the attendees of the event. We slipped into a side exit of the room. I guided them through corridors as I looked from room to room for the princess. I paused for a second. I could feel the love in between the family members. It was love driven by fear, but I could feed on it, and I would be satisfied for a long while.

I pushed my disgusting thought out of my head. I may have been a changeling, but ponies had taught me morals, and feeding off of innocent terrified ponies was wrong. I vowed to never follow Queen Chrysalis again. I would not bend to her will, and I would fight my disgusting thoughts of feeding off of other ponies' love. I would find somepony love that would accept me and it would be her love and hers alone that I would use for sustenance. Besides, with normal pony food, the creature I had fed off of when I hatched would be enough to keep me alive for a few years, if a little uncomfortably.

I kept darting between doors to try and find the princess, but she was nowhere to be found. I lead the large group of ponies outside the castle where I met up with the others. We questioned the families, making absolute sure that they hadn't left anypony behind. We all knew that this was going to be a long first assignment.