In the Service of the Princess

by 621Chopsuey

Ponyville Outbound

I couldn’t sleep.

Normally I’d be out like a light. I always found the rhythmic clickety-clack of the wheels soothing, a lullaby of chugging that never failed to lull me to sleep on these extensive train rides. That—and the clean up assignment we had in Ponyville was enough—should have been enough to send me to dreamland for good few hours. And yet, here I was, wide awake and unable to sink into the depths of sleep.

Maybe I was restless. I preferred to be up and about. Sitting or standing around for an extended period of time was enough to make me crazy. I’d rather walk around and actually do something, like patrol the grand halls of the Crystal Castle, instead of sit behind a desk with loads of paperwork. That’s why I enjoyed patrols during my tenure with Canterlot’s Twelfth Precinct. Better than sitting for hours on a train with nothing to do. Yeah, that was it. I just needed to get on my hooves for a while.

From my seat, I scanned the coach. Unlike modern Equestrian locomotives, lighting for Crystal Empire bullet trains was provided by six lightstones symmetrically embedded where the roof met the wall. As it was past nightfall, the lightstones had automatically adjusted themselves to a dimmer setting, enough to give off a warm gentle glow to the room, but not so bright that passengers wouldn’t be able to get any sleep. It was also adequate enough for night watch to remain vigilant, and by proxy, enough for me to see who was in dreamland and who wasn’t.

Amethyst Stone was situated in the row across the aisle. He was engrossed in a novel depicting a pair of pale hooves presenting an apple on the cover. It was one introduced to him by his niece last week, and ever since Amethyst had been been reading it like it was his day job. I shook my head, amused. How could he find some cheesy romance between a pony and a thestral enthralling? There were better love stories out there with more substance.

The princess was fast asleep in the seat across from me, looking ragged and worse for wear, her steady breathing fogging up the window thanks to her head leaning against it. I cracked a lopsided smile at how cute she looked. Captain Armor certainly was a lucky guy to wake up every morning to the sight of his wife sleeping soundly. And Her Highness certainly deserved a good night’s rest after today.

“Can’t sleep?” asked a watchpony standing guard, a green crystal stallion by the name of Emerald Ray.

“Not really, no.” I told him. “I dunno why. Guess I’m just restless and need to get up on my hooves.”

Ray softly chuckled. “Train rides tend to do that.”

“Heh, no kidding.” I turned around behind me to see nopony watching the door leading to the locomotive. There were supposed to be two on duty. I turned back to the watchpony, curious as to where his counterpart had gone off to. “Where’d Windlancer go?”

“She’s in the can.”

“Ah.” Long train rides tended to have that effect, too. It’s the primary reason guardponies work in pairs.

I took a look past Ray at the rear door. Beyond that was culinary car. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t eaten anything since before we departed Ponyville. My stomach grumbled in response to that train of thought. Maybe a trip to the kitchen would help, too. “I am kinda hungry. You want anything?”

“No thanks, I’m good.”

“You sure?” I pressed. “I can sneak you a teacake or three.” There were some foods reserved only for the princess, and teacakes were one of them. That didn’t stop any of us from copping a morsel if we had the chance. With all the cinnamon and fruit topping piled on each bite-sized pastry, they were that good.

The green crystal pony pulled out a small plastic bag tucked in his breastplate. Lo and behold, there were a few teacakes nestled inside. “Already earned my quota.”

“Okay.” I replied with an amused smile. “I’ll be back in a few.” I quietly slid out of my seat, taking care to be stealthy and not wake up the princess. Cadance had had a rather stressful day, so it was preferable not to disturb her. Reverting Ponyville into its previous condition in the wake of a dark-magic related crisis was no picnic.

We weren’t exactly there to witness the Bearer of Generosity crank her generousness up to eleven with inspiration manifestation magic, but judging the accounts from the townsponies, it had been a harrowing experience. By the time the Guard had arrived to take over the situation, Ponyville looked like a neighborhood subdivision in the Crystal Empire. Cottages and businesses were crystallized, the roads were paved with gold brick, every square inch of that quaint little town was remade in the Bearer of Generosity’s ideal image of beauty and perfection.

That had included clothing, too. I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Not after seeing First Base traumatized by the foal’s sailor suit that spontaneously materialized on him. Poor kid.

Since the mess was caused by dark magic, manually ripping away at the remnants was not an option; it required a princess’s touch. Or three. Even with their combined magical prowess, the workload for Princesses Cadance, Luna, and Twilight was taxing. Tatzlwurms were one thing, but a undoing the effects of power-crazed fashionista’s beautification spree? That was a whole other level of insanity.

See, that was a downside of the Crystal Guard; it didn’t exactly get much action in the Empire ever since Sombra had been blown to smithereens, and I was bummed we didn’t get any of the criminal scum or big-scary-monster kind of problems to deal with. Which is rather ironic. Us guardponies are supposed to get stuck with the icky jobs while the royals hang back in safety, not the other way around.

Oh well, as they say, life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.

I exited the coach and entered the dimly lit culinary car. The dining area remained much the same as the other cars in being crystalline inside and out and possessing a bunch of booths like one would find at a diner, but catered more towards the one percent. As if the crystalline interior, warmly lit with varying hues of yellow and orange instead of blue, purple, and pink, didn’t do enough of a job of that.

The kitchen area, however, remained as such only on the outside, while its innards were entirely modernized. State-of-the-art stove, refrigerator, you name it, it was all there. Cooking techniques and sanitation standards have changed a lot over the course of a thousand years, and royalty deserved only the finest in appliances. Though personally, nothing beat a good old fashioned ice box and thundercloud stove.

Grinning devilishly and wringing my hooves with the naughtiness of a foal about to sneak a cookie from the jar, I opened the fridge and peered through its contents. It revealed mostly an assortment of basic ingredients like eggs and milk at the bottom shelves, a platter of ripe vegetables and several drinks on the upper shelves, and most of all, a disturbing lack of teacakes. Not a straggling little morsel that fell off the plate. In fact, there was nothing dessert-y at all in the fridge. Not even waffles or a jar of blackberry topping.

I frowned. So much for that venture. With a roll of the eyes, I decided to go with a bottle of apple juice and a couple of celery sticks. Not what I wanted, but at least they were healthy alternatives.

The fridge door closed noiselessly once I acquired my less-than-satisfying midnight snack. I never expected anything to be behind it, let alone a vampiric pony lurching it’s head at me with an evil hiss. It--she--fixed her sight on me with piercing yellow eyes, baring sharp white fangs in a malicious grin that would send anypony high-tailing away.

I totally didn’t squeal like a little filly, nor did I by cling to the one of the dangling lightstones for dear life and try to stay as far away from that wretched thing as possible. If this was payback for that thought about Amethyst’s book, I sure as hay was paying back.

The demonic mare burst into a fit of giggles that was oddly cute, not distorted. “Gotcha.” she said with a pleased smile, taking off her helmet. In an instant the purple-armored facade shimmered away, leaving behind a young, blue-eyed unicorn in red armor. “You know, for a bonafide bodyguard, you sure are high-strung.”

Ladies and gentlecolts, presenting First Lieutenant Star Kicker of the Lunar Guard. Expert in tracking magic, platoon commander, and up-an-coming prankster extraordinaire.

“What the hay, Star?!” I shot with a glare. My heart was still racing faster than my sister with a tailwind. “You spook me like that, yeah I’m gonna be high-strung!”

The young Kicker’s smile grew prouder at my words. “So I got you good this time. Am I right, fly boy?” She took a bite out of one of the celery sticks that, along with the apple juice, she caught in her magical grip.

“I about had a feathering heart attack!”

Star swallowed her morsel. “Then I’d call that mission accomplished.” Her proud grin met my annoyed pout, and it held for several long moments.

Star was known as much for her pranking pastime as her magical skills through the ranks of the Royal Guard. Time and time again somepony had to deal with simple pranks like a hoof in warm water or a telescope that left two black eyes. Then there were the wackier ones, like meddling with a suit of armor’s enchantments to change the color from standard gold to a hot pink.

I shivered at that particular memory. That was one way of platonically saying Happy Hearts and Hooves.

Honestly, it annoyed the living Tartarus out of me whenever Star and I worked together and I fell for another one of her pranks. But every time, after the initial shock, it was useless to not find it positively hilarious. With that said, Star’s smile grew infectious, and I couldn’t help but match her expression. And then we laughed in the ambiance of a prank well played between friends.

“Okay, you got me.” I conceded. They really were funny in the end. It was times like these I was envious of Star’s pranking ability. Sure, I did manage to pull off a few good ones myself, but in the end, she was better at execution than I was. Ironic, considering we shared a place in the same career field. Still, I was never one to back down from a challenge. No matter how many times I was outpranked by Star, I was ready to make a comeback. “You’d better be careful. Next time when I get you, you better be wearing your brown pants.”

“Not if I get you first. Again,” The young Kicker countered with confidence.

“How about a wager on that, then? Make it more interesting.”

Star gave me a skeptical look, then snerked. “Scare me before I scare you a second time? I wouldn’t bet on it, Flash. You’re talking to the best prankster in the Royal Guard.”

“Then what do you call the last time you visited your sister? Busted?” I wasn’t there in Ponyville to witness it myself, but word from the grapevine told of a prank war between Star and her sister Storm during her visit. Nothing unusual when it came to their sibling rivalry, except it dragged a few unfortunate ponies into the mix, namely Princess Twilight. It lasted a couple days and Luna knows how many outrageous pranks, but it didn’t end well for Team Star.

Just more evidence to show she was as equally vulnerable to the ways of the prankster as anypony else. “I can totally pull one off faster than you can say bazinga.”

“Very funny.” Star rolled her eyes. “And your confidence act would look more convincing if you weren’t hanging from the ceiling like a pussy cat.”

I looked down at myself and realized I was still doing just that. I was surprised the lightstone was even able to support my weight plus the armor. Then again, it and its counterpart were thoroughly embedded into the ceiling like any crystalline stalactite, so that surprise was probably moot. Regardless, I was pretty embarrassed in my current position and, as any stallion would do to preserve a shred of his masculinity, tried to shrug it off. Or at least deny Star the pleasure of hearing me label myself a...pussy cat

“Whatever you say, Snoopy.” I said with a deceptive shrug, then gracefully fluttered to the ground. “So, you up for it?”

“All right.” Star said with a calculating smile as she deposited my snack on the counter. “What are the stakes?”

“If I beat you to the punch, not a word about having a thing for Princess Twilight once we arrive at the Empire.”

She arched a brow, confused. “I was expecting something a little more extreme.”

“You know how much that annoys me and I know how much you enjoy teasing me about it. It’d be nice to not hear anything about that damned rumor for a while, you know?” Rumors have a tendency to spread like wildfire amongst the ranks of the Royal Guard. Some of the most notorious were that I had a crush for Princess Twilight, and that Cadance had used that as a reason to bump me up the ranks.

Firstly, there was no such crush. She just happened to bump into me a couple of times during her first summit, nothing more. Positive the same thing happens to other guardponies and I’m not the only one. Yeah, Princess Twilight was cute, a good singer, even adorkable, but I didn’t see her in that way.

Secondly, the promotion to First Lieutenant was through merit, not through favoritism on Cadance’s part. Otherwise the black operation attempting to uncover a mole prior to the Royal Wedding would've been rendered a moot point for promotion, wouldn't it?

“Okay. If that’s what you want.” Star conceded with a nod. “Now if I win, you have to eat meat. A nice thick, juicy slice of meat.” She paused in thought and quickly added for measure, “Oh, and you have to eat the whole thing, too. Not half, not a third, not one bite; all of it. Keeping it down once you’ve swallowed it all is optional, though.”

Probably should have thought this wager through before going along with it. I mentally slapped myself. Damn my impulsive nature.

Ingesting meat wasn’t unheard of in equine society. In fact, it was common to hunt as a means of survival before the unification of the three tribes over a thousand years ago. More so for the pegasi than the others. However, since the widespread application of agriculture in the following years, it’s been accepted less and less to the point of where anypony who got caught going carnivorous nowadays descended into social deviancy.

Except for oddballs like those of the Long Patrol; everypony in that branch of the military ate it as part of an initiation ritual. For some it’s the one time, while the rest acquire a taste for the stuff. Star’s sister and my dad were examples of veterans who fell into the latter category. Uncle Descent was in on the omnivorous diet too, though he could thank the cuisine in Freeport for that.

Personally, the thought of trying meat to see how it would taste arose once or twice. It does look appealing and even possesses a pleasant aroma, but bringing myself to go through with that line of thinking never panned out. Underlying doubts about being different held me back every time. Amazing how social norms can affect one’s way of thinking.

“Dear Goddess, anything but that,” I said anxiously.

Star took great pleasure in my reaction; her growing grin was testament to it. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

“I’d rather eat a durian.”

“Sheesh, Flash, you’re stubborn as a mule. You know how destructive that fruit is to a pony’s digestive system.” Undaunted, she prodded at my chest. “Allow me to put it this way: you might enjoy this indulgence and not risk suffering an hour on the porcelain throne if you take it, compared to shitting your guts out with certainty thanks to a spiked fruit. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?”

True, there was that possibility. Not like I had a choice in the matter anyways. I set up a trap meant for her and I walked right into it. Only option now was to wait for Star to spring it first. I let out a resigned sigh. “Okay, fine. Deal’s a deal.” I held out my hoof, to which Star shook with gusto.

Satisfied with the set stakes, the young Kicker turned around, opened the fridge and rummaged through what scarce contents it held, “So, what are you doing up?” she asked, genuinely curious.

I shrugged. “Can’t sleep. I figured walking around a bit and getting a bite to eat would help. Looks like that plan failed.” I chuckled. “Anyway, since I’m up, might as well report in for Blue Shift. All members are accounted for and guarding Her Highness in the coach. Amethyst is off the clock.”

“Excellent.” She then let out a defeated sigh and pulled away from the fridge empty-hooved, shaking her head in disappointment. “Scratch that, not excellent. We’re out of teacakes.”

“Yeah, I noticed. I think Ray snagged the last of them earlier.”

“Just my luck.”

“Just have to be quicker next time.” I teased before returning to the subject at hoof. “Everything in ship shape for Black Shift?”

Star put on an air of professionalism. “Present and accounted for. One standing guard on the back platform, the other patrolling her post in the Princess’ car, one off duty, and yours truly is checking in on her subordinates.”

“And Princess Luna?”

“Dream-hopping.”

My head tilted, curious. “Really? I figured she’d be beat after the clean up op.”

“Her Highness insisted otherwise.” Star put on her best impression of Princess Luna, and a rather convincing one at that. “As the Princess of the Night, ‘tis my royal duty to gaze over the dreams of my subjects. Thy reprieve comes second to theirs and still it shall be.”

“No wonder she’s popular with the kids. She’s quite the role model.” Princess Luna was strong, wise, and intuitive, traits which have grown stronger since rising from the ashes of her past, and she certainly made it a priority to put others before herself, too. If she was willing to sacrifice a day of rest for the pleasant dreams of colts and fillies alike, then Her Lunar Highness was a winner in my book. Yeah, Cadance may be the princess I swore an oath to protect and sacrifice life and limb for if need be, but Luna will always be my princess.

Admittedly that may or may not be biased because of family lineage. I’m not saying our family was a cult of current generation Chargers who were lunar fanatics or anything like that, but when it came to Princess Luna, we held her in high regard and showered her with the utmost respect. Hay, we probably adored her more than Celestia. Uncle Descent certainly did. Mom even more so, even back in the day when it was just Celestia raising the sun and the moon. For one, she would always have me, Lightning, and later Fi, kneel at our bedroom window every night and pray for Luna’s moon to watch over with its ethereal light.

I mentally chuckled. I think I just admitted to being a Luna worshipper after attempting to deny it. Maybe I should stop deluding myself further and transfer to Luna’s escort instead of sticking with Cadance’s to complete the image. Maybe have Star put a good word in, too. With the fanaticism stemming from Mom’s side of the family, it seemed more than fitting to serve under the Princess of the Moon herself. Just so long as she doesn’t go dark side again and embark on a body-jacking spree with me. I already had to deal with something similar with a certain bug queen once, and that was by no means a pleasant experience I wanted to endure a second time.

“Yeah, she is.” Star’s warm tone spoke of fondness and respect. I had to wonder what secret sides she’d seen of Princess Luna, who always seemed rather distant in public. It had to be for more than just her services to Her Highness prior to the changeling attack on Canterlot.

A dull thump resounded from the ceiling, prompting our heads and ears to perk up at the sound. Several more followed the first in quick succession and traveled down the length of the car. The next few moments were tensely spent in silence awaiting any further disturbances, but none followed.

“What the hay was that?” I asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

Our attention warily returned to the ceiling. I wanted to say the cacophony was caused by intruders, but I banished the possibility of a malevolent presence to the back of my mind. If anything that was anxiety and a quickness to make assumptions getting the best of me. There had to be another catalyst, a rational one. The only answer I could think of was a few loose branches or stones. The train had to be passing through the eastern mountains about now. Incidents like that were not uncommon; falling debris were bound to happen during a rainstorm when the earth softened up enough and the wind blew at torrential levels. That was the best I could think of.

I was about to get my hooves dirty--er, wet--regardless. Which I didn’t mind; I enjoyed getting dirty. It was our duty as Royal Guards to assess potential threats and neutralize them, in this case scouting out the roof for obstacles living and inanimate. Be it a few twigs, then I’d just have to warn the others of the conditions the weather created and practice caution from then on out. On the other hoof, if it turned out to be something more dangerous...well, lets just say it'd be in for a world of hurt.

“Whatever it is, I’m gonna check it out.” I told her as I opened the doors separating the kitchen from the dining area. “In the meantime, Star, sit tight and have the others on standby in case things go wrong.”

“Got it.” she replied from behind. “And be careful.”

I looked back to my friend with a soft smile. “I will.” Passing through the doors, I went to the other side of the warmly lit dining area and to the door leading back to the coach. I opened it, letting in a breeze that sent my feathers afluff. Geez, that was chilly! Fortunately, the armor’s insulation enchantment began to activate in response to the sudden chill. In no time I felt more cozy than a cucumber in a parka.

I took a readying breath, eager to do more than stretch out my wings for a topside inspection. Sentry goin’ up. With that, I flew out the door and up to the car’s rooftop where I could get a full sense of the weather outside. And it was a complete mess out there. The first thing I noticed was how dark it was. The moon was blocked out by dark clouds, already reducing visibility considerably. Added on top of that was the thick mist cutting down my range of vision down to maybe a few meters or so ahead. Pity the armor lacked a sufficient night vision enhancement. That was a feature often reserved for the Lunar Guard or night watch.

At least the heavy duty lightstones embedded in the edges of the roof helped improve the situation. Living in a region of the world prone to blinding blizzards, these were a mandatory element in the train’s design. Thanks to their piercing illumination, I could see the train was passing through a forest. Okay, so a few falling tree limbs as culprits behind the sounds we heard was becoming more plausible than the alternative of something worse. Good news, but still we were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. If anything went wrong, help would not arrive for a long while.

For the icing on the cake, the light rain also made the metal roof slippery. Not too slippery if were a torrential storm, but regardless it wasn’t something to take lightly. Thankfully guard armor was enchanted to counteract that hazard; one magnet spell and it was like walking on dry land.

Squinting against the beleaguering weather, I scanned as best as I could for the debris and/or potential intruders. The latter shouldn’t have been difficult; there were only so many places a pony could hide atop a train, even with the thick mist and the darkness of the night serving as favorable methods of cover. Unless an invisibility spell was in play and the intruders were practically trotting right past me. I couldn’t help cracking a smile at the image of one of them making stupid faces in the midst of my obliviousness.

That smile faded quickly as I continued the thorough search. When nothing turned up, I grunted in annoyance. Maybe this was all just a false alarm. It could have been a couple of branches falling and striking the roof, not a hostile force. Yeah, nothing instead of something was the better outcome, but I was kind of hoping for a little action. Princess Cadance was right: life in the Crystal Empire was wonderful but predictable. The Crystal Express was by no means excluded from that observation.

Disappointed with the minimal level of excitement on the trip thus far, I slipped a hoof to my ear and activated the communications crystal embedded within. The crystal earbud was a creation of Star’s that recently saw the light of day after much trial and error. It combined sound and dream magic for instantaneous communication between the wearers by creating a telepathic link of sorts between them. Not like a hive mind, but something similar. The earbuds were difficult to make primarily because of the complex spellcasting involved, so they only saw limited use in her unit and select others, mine included.

Nifty little gadget made by a brilliant young mare. If Star was up to it, I’d do more than buy her that drink I still owed her.

Sentry to Kicker, I contacted, No debris to report here and no baddies either. Looks like whatever hit the roof is gone now. Still suggesting we exercise caution until the train enters northern territory.

Roger that. A brief silence followed before she added, And you can buy me that drink after we RTB.

Woops. That was the disadvantage of the crystal earbud. Any thought was an audible thought once two wearers established an active link. You had to make sure your mind didn’t wander during conversation, otherwise you risk spilling beans you didn’t want spilt in the first place. That included the can of beans that contained a crush for the first lieutenant. But that’s all it was. A crush. We would be forever nothing more than friends. Besides, Star was with somepony she loved very much. As her friend, I will remain on the sidelines for the sake of their enduring happiness.

Crap. I did it again, didn’t I?

You sure did.

With an escaping nervous chuckle, I replied, Will comply. The link went mute after that. Things were going to get awkward later.

I turned to head back inside and finish up that snack before crashing back in the coach. That’s when I ended up face to face with a mysterious figure. Military training took over and I leapt back into a defensive crouch, wingblades spread wide. The figure turned out to be a pony, a unicorn mare to be precise judging from the horn and build. She wore a set of night vision goggles with lenses that glowed a vivid green and a black stealth suit that covered its form in its entirety, leaving the pony’s appearance beneath to imagination.

It was unnerving, like staring at a specter creeping upon those who trespassed the lands it haunted.

“Hello there.” she greeted casually as if we were familiars.

Well, there went the ghostly image. Still, I didn’t budge. “Who are you?”

“Come now.” Her voice was on the deeper side, but did nothing to deter the playful tone she possessed. “It’s only proper to show courtesy to the passengers.”

“Kind of hard to offer courtesy when that passenger is an uninvited guest.” I quipped dryly. “Now I’ll ask you again: who are you and why are you here?

It was nigh impossible to hear over the wind, but she definitely gave an annoyed sighed. “Such a gentlecolt,” the mystery mare said with laced sarcasm. “Fine. If that’s how you will be. First, I am Ponente. As for my purpose, I am on business.”

“Don’t suppose that business involves fixing a leaky roof, does it, Ponente?” I shot back.

She made a sound of amusement. “Not exactly, sweetie.” Ponente lowered her head and entered a wide-legged attack stance. Her horn began to glow a white hue, prompting me to flap my wings and dive forward like a lance at her before she could fire off a spell. A split second later, a blinding flurry of snow and she was gone.

She teleported?! I thought as I made contact with the roof. Not many unicorns were high enough on the scale to be capable of teleportation magic, medium-based or otherwise. Only Alphas and uber-high level Betas had that ability, and ponies like them weren’t exactly a dime a dozen.

I saw the edge of the train car approaching as I skidded and backpedaled a few times to avoid falling off. The magnetic enchantments on the gauntlets were effective when the wearer was stationary or moving at a steady pace. Dynamic actions like diving, however, reduced its effectiveness considerably. At least I had a lot of roof to work with and managed to skid to a stop at the very edge of the car. Anything less and it would’ve been game over.

“Too slow!” Ponente shouted over the rushing wind. I whirled around to see her in the same stance as before, this time a ring of dagger-sized icicles slowly rotating around her. And they were steadily growing in size, thanks to the rain. Fantastic. She was about to go all stabbity-stabbity with icicles and had a limitless supply of moisture to work with in addition to her high-level magic.

I had to warn somepony of the intruder, that way we could initiate emergency protocol and have the security detail lock down the coach. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the option of abandoning my role as foalsitter to our interloper. Which meant the only chance at warning anypony of danger was getting Star’s attention. Somehow.

I mentally smacked myself. Of course, the earbuds! My hoof moved to my ear to establish a link with Star… and was halted by a rattling ding and the cringeworthy sound of metal against shrieking metal. Suddenly, my mane grew heavier, cold, and damp. It took a few moments for my brain to grind back into gear and realize Ponente shot off my helmet. And she was about to fire off another round.

I made an attempt to avoid getting skewered as Ponente launched an icicle. However, she launched it ahead of me, forcing myself to flap backwards to dodge it. Unfortunately, Ponente expected the maneuver, having sent another icicle to intercept the retreat. Too late for me to react, for it nicked the back of my head.

My heart skipped a beat. I gingerly felt what was definitely a bald spot where the icicle grazed me. That was too close.

Okay, I really had to contact Star now. A hoof felt for the bud, but felt nothing obtrusive embedded in the cavity. Crap. It must had been jostled loose with that potshot. Fantastic. How was I supposed to warn the detail now without a communications device?

Star’s head popped out from the lip of the roof. Huh. Speak of the devil. “You alright up here? The link went dead just now.” A trio of icicles answered by threateningly embedding themselves mere inches in front of her. Star let out a startled “Eep!” and dropped back into the car.

I fixed a heated glare at Ponente. She responded with an unsettling, toothy grin that grew from ear to ear. The fact I couldn’t see any of her face beyond her mouth made it all the more disturbing. I shivered, and it definitely wasn’t from the storm. This chick was a cold, faceless combatant. “Seriously, you better quit it.” I warned, trying to hide that lingering fear. “You’re dealing with a hoof-picked member of the elite Crystal Guard."

For added measure, more for confidence than showing off, I flexed my wings to show off the wingblades. "I'm also in the top five of my grad class for wingblade combat.”

“You think you have the upper hoof because of a pair of wingblades?” Ponente shot back, taking a few steady steps forward.

“Yes. Yes, I do.” I answered simply. I would’ve applied lance combat as part of the intimidation tactic. Too bad it was left nestled away back in coach with Blue Shift. There was no reason to bring it along for topside inspection if the main concern was loose tree limbs. Though I regret that now, knowing full well that was not the case.

However, that didn’t mean I was totally helpless without it. Like I said to Ponente, I was in the top five--third to be exact--of my graduating class at West Hoof for wingblade combat. Needless to say I had immense confidence in my abilities with wingblades, even preferred them over a lance. So long as the weather didn’t further complicate the situation, utilizing them efficiently should be no problem.

“Just because you are skilled with them does not guarantee victory. Only a fool trusts her life to a weapon.”

“How about I give you a demonstration to prove you wrong. Blades versus magic.” I flared out my wings again, displaying the bronze segments and curvaceous gleaming blades. More likely than not this wasn’t going to end well, but I wasn’t all too concerned about it. So long as I held off Ponente and bought enough time for emergency protocols to be initiated, that’s all that mattered.

Ponente’s grin regressed to curled lips as she kept going. “Try me.”

I obliged her with a smirk, pleased she was up to the challenge. I charged at the her again, this time keeping my footing in check. I didn’t need another close call to give Ponente an advantage. Or worse, a lethal misstep that left minced pegasus along the rail line. The black-suited unicorn unleashed another onslaught of icicles. Instead of dodging them by moving left or right, I dropped and allowed my momentum to propel me forward along the slickened roof.

Ponente responded by conjuring a wall of ice to impede my slide. I reacted quickly, twisting my body and bringing myself up to my hooves to deliver a swift strike to the obstruction. The blade cleaved through the centimeter-thick wall like a hot knife through butter, but there was nopony behind it. I cursed under my breath. Of course, it was a distraction on top of a defensive tactic. Cheap, but effective.

I turned and hastily searched for my quarry. I took notice of the mist slowly dissipating in favor of heavier rainfall. That improved visibility a bit. Not by much, but at least I didn’t have to solely rely on her night vision goggles to spot Ponente, thank Goddess. Anything to make this job easier was a blessing.

A blur of motion by the edge of the roof caught my attention, followed by two orbs of green emerging from the darkness. Ponente’s head emerged from the lip and, with a lady-like wave meant to provoke, slipped inside the car with the slinky gracefulness of a cat. Damn it, that wasn’t good. Not good at all. For all I knew, the only pony in the car below was Star. She could totally take care of herself, no doubt about it--I have the scars from the Chrysalis goose chase to show as proof--but this Ponente character was a force to be reckoned with.

I made my way over to the edge, dropped down below, and slipped into the car after my quarry. Immediately noted was the lack of lighting in the kitchen. The lightstones must have been shattered. Combined with the howling wind and dull thud of rainfall from outside, it was as if I descended into the darkness of a foreign jungle. Now all it needed were a few barking baboons to complete the vibe.

Anxiety kick-started the pumping of adrenaline in my system. My breathing fell into short, barely audible steady breaths. Soon, all sounds became focused and amplified. I had become aware, cautious, and on my toes, toes that slowly guided me around the perimeter of the culinary car. In this environment, Ponente had to be hiding in wait, a predator preparing for the perfect moment to pounce on her prey.
I had every intention of not falling victim to her attack, whenever it came.

“Into the darkness the hero dove, for the mare he desperately strove, yet little did he know in due time her life would not be his, but mine.” Ponente’s words echoed throughout the car as if she was some omnipresent spirit. I whirled around left and right looking for her, but she remained hidden within the darkened kitchen. I felt more unsettled than I was ten seconds ago.

“So you’re a poet now.”

“When living in a community where that manner of speech is the norm, rhyming couplets eventually become second nature.”

“I’m guessing you’re not a native-born Zebrican.”

“Your guess is correct. Most of my adolescence was spent in Zebrica, yes, but I am not of zebra blood. My family were foreigners on a research expedition.” A yawning silence followed, then she added with deliberate provocation, “But that is all I will tell you.”

A sudden weight slammed into my side, the next thing I knew I was tumbling into the wall. There was enough force behind the blow to bring a throbbing pain to the back of my head. Even in the darkness, I could sense my vision fade in and out. Something coarse and flexible snaked up my side in the stuporous state, steadily wrapping around my wings and tightening like a constrictor. The sudden in decline in oxygen intake forced out pained wheezes and I began to vainly struggle.

“Now I may be generous enough to enlighten you more.” Her voice sounded much closer, practically in front of me, but I couldn’t see the glow from her goggles nor her horn. She had to be using a cloaking spell, it was the only explanation for remaining invisible despite her luminous assets. “That is, depending if chance prefers you to emerge from this alive. But only if you have the strength and skills to survive.”

“Then how about letting me out of this rope?” I gasped through the disorienting haze. “You want a real fight? Then set me loose.” The bonds slackened, but only just and remained taught around my wings and midsection. At least I could breathe easier and start thinking straight again. “Thanks, but that’s not what I asked for.“

Ponente responded with a laugh laced with mockery that emanated from throughout the room, leaving her location more ambiguous than before. It gradually became apparent Ponente was was toying with me, using the near pitch-black darkness and her magic to her advantage and unsettle her prey. “In the wilderness of nature, you play by its rules. Those who adapt leave while it ends the fools,” the foreign unicorn’s voice rang out in rhyme once again, “Fight back in the darkness of night if you wish for your star to remain alight!”

I quickly got up to my hooves, heart thumping rapidly in my chest. It didn’t take a genius to figure Ponente had full reign of the car, meaning I had to play by her rules as she made them. Which was to pretty much fight blind while handicapped wingless and bladeless against strikes with a chance of ice. Or hail, if Ponente decided to get brutal.

This wasn’t going to be easy, I told myself as I hastily rummaged through the kitchen in search of a means of defense. There had to be a way of getting an edge over her. Yeah, a broken bottle or something will help, but only for a short time until I regained use of my wings again. It was pathetic. A pegasus was essentially naked and vulnerable without wings.

I shook my head to disperse the depressing thought. No. Focus on finding something to fight back with.

Rummaging through a lower cabinet, my hoof brushed against something hard and phallus-like, then something circular farther back. Was that what I thought it was? I gripped it, pulled it out, and felt the rest of the object in question. A grin creased my lips.

A frying pan.

Oh yes. I was going to have fun with this. Now if only the place were lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree--

I grunted in surprise as I felt myself dragged on my back across the floor by some unseen force. Whether it was hooves or magic, it was impossible to tell in the darkness. Once stopped, Ponente’s masked face came down from above, the eerie glow of her goggles paired with that disturbing grin again hovering over my face like a specter, sending chills up my spine.

Primal survival instinct took over, my hooves aiming to grab and/or damage Ponente’s goggles. If she didn’t have them she’d be as blind as I was in this lightless pit in Tartarus. Then I might have a chance in at least putting distance between us and warning the detail. Easier said than done as Ponente managed to put up an admirable struggle in our game of hoofticuffs. Then she decided to play dirty--when did she even play clean to begin with?--by freezing my forelegs to my sides with her magic and effectively restricting whatever remaining free movement I possessed in them.

I gulped audibly, trapped beneath Ponente and at the mercy of her cryomancy, unable to do anything because of the taut grip fear had on my soul. Society stereotypes guardponies as equines who never let emotion get the best of them. If only they spent a day in our horseshoes could they understand we were still vulnerable even with our training and magically enhanced equipment.

Equipment that was useless now. No helmet, no crystal earbud, bound wings, pinned limbs...I was practically isolated and naked. It was a tough situation that left me with few options of retaliation, beyond headbutting Ponente or kicking her underside. On second thought, scratch the headbutting; mine still throbbed painfully from that earlier hit. I guess it’s a shot to Ponente’s abdomen then. Or her groin, if I’m lucky. But even she had to be expecting that, too. If I made a move for either, she would quickly counteract. I was at her mercy unless I came up with some other way to break from Ponente’s hold. Either way, time was running out fast.

They say life flashes before one’s eyes in moments of near-death or intense threat. Sometimes it’s a pleasant experience, sometimes it’s not. As I lay there, I experienced flashback after flashback, though I couldn't help but feel particularly drawn to one of my early days at West Hoof.

---

“Keep in mind, just ‘cause Blondie and Ginger over there are a couple of cutie pies don’t mean they can’t handle themselves.”

I rolled my eyes, brushing off the foreleg Shephard Pie had around my shoulder. “Thanks for the advice, Shephard, but we are at the most prestigious military academy in the country. It’s mandatory for everypony here to handle themselves.”

The earth pony broke out an amused chuckle. “Oh, we both know that. The question is can you handle one of them?”

Before I could question what he implied by that, Shephard spun me around and shoved me towards the two mares. A wave of nervousness rushed over me as I watched Kicker and Airheart discuss who would be the one to take on Shephard’s challenge. What the hay did I get myself into? All I did was make an off-hoofed comment on who makes the better fighter. Shephard making a show of it was the last thing I expected him to do.

Yet here we were.

“You just gonna stand there all day or are we doing this thing?”

I shook my head, realizing I must have been staring off. Kicker had taken the initiative to step up and was readying herself for the match with some stretches, all the while gazing at me knowingly as if she were witnessing my inner conflict clear as day.

Okay, just play it cool. Couldn’t let her know how nervous I was. “Y-yeah, just loosening up.” I performed a few squats before assuming a low position. "You ready for this?"

"I'm all yours, Sentry." she answered with a sly smile.

I rushed at the cadet, intending to grapple her and bring her to the ground quickly. When I reached Kicker, however, she gripped one of my outstretched forelegs and pulled me close. So close our faces were barely a hoof apart. I could smell the faint traces of lavender emanating from her and--

Her lips pecked mine, and time slowed to a crawl. It was quick and out of nowhere like lightning, and I could do nothing other than just stare dumbfoundedly into her purple eyes with mine of blue while she smiled slyly in satisfaction. As a guy, I couldn’t help but find myself unable to tear aware from such a lovely face. It was as if some invisible force kept me drawn to those beautiful orbs and alluring smile. Was this what it felt like to be in one of those romance novels Mom loves to read?

The moment didn’t last very long, however. One moment we were sort of locked in a grapple, the next the world spun madly and the all the breath in my lungs was gone. Kicker had fallen back, dragging me along with the forelegs she had in her grip, and used the momentum of the fall to flip us over and pin me to the ground. Painfully.

The small crowd of cadets who gathered for the impromptu challenge laughed at its results, some finding it the funniest damn thing they ever saw. My ears fell back in response. Most. Embarrassing. Thing. Ever.

---

Huh. That day at West Hoof certainly had its moments. Not only did it lead to an intense night with the cute cloudy-butt who flipped me, but I also met the smartass who I would end up best buds with.

It also left behind a seed that ultimately grew into craziest idea ever. I inwardly grinned as wide as I did the day following that hot night. Maybe I wasn’t so helpless after all. If that sort of ingenuity worked for Cloud, it could work for me. Yeah, it was a crazy idea, but maybe just crazy enough to save my neck. And hey, Ponente’s muzzle was right there. Opportunity was practically screaming at me to take a gander at it.

Well, here goes nothing.

With an impish smile paired with a boost of confidence, I arched my neck forward as best as I could and pressed my lips against Ponente’s. I even managed to slip in some tongue after a little prodding. I pulled back to observe the results. As hoped, she failed to react other than freeze up and have her eyes nearly pop out of her sockets. At least, I think they did behind those goggles of hers.

Wow...it worked, I thought with a mixture of surprise and accomplishment.

Then came the buck to the groin, followed by a very high-pitched cry. Sweet bucking Celestia on a spit roast, that hurt like Tartarus!

Without breaking stride, Ponente magically ripped me from my frozen bonds, then thrusted me through the dining room doors. I instinctively made a move to spread my wings and halt myself, only to remember my wings were still bound by rope. Crap, I thought as I unceremoniously crashed and tumbled into the floor.

Ponente strode through the doors and discarded her goggles. Her balaclava soon followed without grace. Beneath was a white-maned mare whose gray eyes coldly glared daggers as sharp as the icicles she was so proficient with. Her nerves were obviously struck. “When choosing your powers, do not take what is ours,” she growled.

A weak laugh escaped. “It was worth a try.” I snarked with a strained grin. Decent, but the cadet was a much better kisser.

Beads of sweat began to form in my attempt to steadily get back to my hooves. It was nauseating, thanks to that kick to Little Bradley. Nowhere near the intended results, but at least I was still alive and out of Ponente’s grip.

Speaking of, I reached out for the frying pan I found earlier and gripped it as if it were a lifeline. It was miraculous I somehow managed to hold on to the utensil after being tossed through a door like a ragdoll. Fate must’ve decided to give me a break and turn the tables in our favor. That rose my spirits. I had a greater chance of surviving and getting help now that I was armed. Better, if I could undo the ropes. We may be in well-lit area now, but Ponente still had her magic while my wings remained bound and useless. I could try shifting them and use the wingblades to cut through, but that would take time, and I doubt Ponente would give me that luxury.

And where was Star? Surely she remembered we have an intruder on our hooves. Maybe there were more of these goons on the train and she and the others were tied up with them. That would make sense. It would also explain the cacophony of thumping on the roof from earlier. It helped piece things together, but it didn’t help raise my spirits about the situation.

I shook my head. No use focusing on the negative. I had to focus on the here and now. We were in danger and we had to do everything in our power to put an end to what these mercs had planned for the princess, lethal force included.

Steeling my resolve, I crouched low as if to pounce, frying pan in mouth.

It was time to end this.

End of Part 1

Author's Note:

Up next: Shocking revelations and shaken loyalties.

I want to give a big thanks to Chengar Qordath, Comma-Kazie, Web of Hope, Ponibus, Rodinga, Dusk Watch, Swiftest Shadow, Poptard, and Equestrian Scholar for their patience and time.

Note: This story has no relation to "Another Life" other than borrowing characters.

Comments

[comicfan616]

I'm enjoying this, so far. Keep it up.

[Web of Hope]

Here's hoping this is more productive than it's prequel...

[621Chopsuey]

6119205 And hopefully better than "Another Life".

[punzil504]

“I’d rather eat a durian.”

I see what you did there.

Cloud Kicker used Sweet Kiss on Flash Sentry. Flash Sentry is confused. He hurt himself in his confusion.