In the cold fall sky of Equestria, en route to Ponyville, is a cadre of Luna’s Night Guard
In the cloaked transport pulled by equally camouflaged Night Watch pegasi, Captain Nightshade sat in the bumpy darkness. The Night Watch ponies checked and rechecked their heavy combat pastries, sticky candy apple bombs, and medical supplies.
A young trooper, about to take a bite from a small pie, was stopped by an old sergeant. "You think they're just pies? Don't underestimate these little darlings. The bottom is lined with lead pellets, and the filling is pretty vile. One shot to the face and you are overwhelmed by the smell of strong spices. You get any in your eye, and you’re looking at some major eye irritation, and, Luna help you, if you swallow any, you’ll be puking so fast you won’t have time to open your mouth. Still want a bite, junior?"
The turbulence was worse than usual. The sound of the air rushing past was loud, almost deafening. The long cylinder was being pulled at breakneck speeds by some of the fastest flyers in the Watch, blessed with a huge magical boost by Her Majesty herself. An enchanted rope, the only light source in their confines, painted the cabin a deep crimson light.
Broken Shield, her trusted lieutenant, yelled hoarsely above the noise. “So, Cap, what are these Paladins like? I heard the top guy is some kind of mutant Diamond Dog. Kinda weird to have one of those buggers trusted with anything.”
“Actually, the head Paladin is something called a human. They don’t look anything like Dogs. Here, take a look.” She pulled a black and white picture from her saddlebag. It was labelled, ‘Alex Roberts, human, Paladin Of Redemption, Your Friend’. “He’s ugly as Discord and makes a Dog look like that high society nag, Fleur de Lis. Pass it on when you’re done.”
The armoured lieutenant nodded in agreement. “You can say that again. Still, could be worse.”
Nightshade chuckled, “I don’t see how. But, he’s a Paladin, and that makes up for his looks.”
“Yeah, but what did he do? I mean, he hasn’t been here long enough to have a history, has he?”
“He made his history on his third day in Equestria. Turns out he gallops, he doesn’t trot, into burning buildings to save kids.”
Broken Shield’s muttered words were lost in the roar of the cabin, “Son of a nag.” He spoke a little louder, “You said he’s the head Paladin. How many more are there?”
“The Princess briefed me. Sorry to say there’s only one more right now, Beatrix Lulamoon, alias The Great And Powerful Trixie.” She pulled a second picture, this time of Beatrix. Broken Shield gave an appreciative whistle. “She’s a showmare, knows how to fight, and at her lowest point, she gave a pony a reason to live, even though she didn’t think she had one herself. She's also a level-three unicorn. And before you ask, yeah, it’s the same one who helped out those guys with ITS.”
“Beauty and the beast, eh Cap?”
The Captain’s eyes narrowed. She stood, and her horn glowed, amplifying her voice, “I don’t care how ugly his outside is or how much of a wet dream she is. The Princess trusts them both. That means they’re both Night Watch. We protect those who can’t and redeem those who need it. That’s all that matters.”
As one, the ponies lining the walls of the cabin shouted, “Oorah!”
i.imgur.com/4oAYWpx.gif
While this is a nice gesture and all, I would've advised leaving it buried under the rubble for a couple of months. Why? Build up the anticipation. So it's sweeter in the end. Not like cookies. The longer you cook them for, they shittier they taste. But when you get them just right... mmmmm. Cookies...
I digressed so much.
I was just wondering when to expect more of this.
As said by one of the Night Guard, oorah, Go thestrals,
Glad to hear that this is updating. I've been worried about this story considering the previous semi-regular updates. Keep those chapters coming!
I'll be in New York maybe at the airport, perfect for waiting
This wouldn't happen to be a crossover with the book 'Jumper' now would it? If so I will totally love it. If not, or if it's with the movie... Meh. Might look at it later.
I....I...I Remember this...I REMEMBER THIS!
Dear god, this story was buried so deep in my favorites that I totally forgot about it. Glad to see that it's still alive...
3371434 Good to see another fan of Gould's book here. No, this has no connection with his "Jumper" series or that tangentially-related movie (bleh). The protagonist here has no teleporting powers. He's simply been getting kicked from one universe to another at random intervals (anywhere from hours to years) and under no volition of his own. Equestria is simply the latest place he's landed, and it's looking (so far) like he'll be here for a few decades at the least before his next jump (though I fully expect the author to throw a wrench in that clockwork at some point).
This story earned upvote many,many months ago, and honestly, I thought it to have died like so many masterpieces do. Left to collect dust in a bin of other unfinished works.
I am, yet again, pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong by this sites writers.
3372231 I agree with you on both statements.
Thaaaaaaaank you!
i was confused there either going to kill them or protect them?........................
that's actually one of the best explanations I've heard of for the pies; couple that with my head-cannon that shaky relations with the buffaloes prevents actual weapons from being used and the whole Appaloosa thing makes more sense.
It's alive IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE
I have not slept in 2 days burning though your work on this but for some reason I have had this feeling I have read it b4 yeas ago(like b4 mlp was ever made )(have the same feeling with the fan fic asylum) but I know this can simple not be true(mostly because if its true then I have a lot more problems in my life then I think(ground hogs day anyone?) its more likely that you have built a world with a vary nice flow of events that my mind is able to grasp what mite happen in later chapters(on a subconscious level at least) thus leaving me to have a unsettling case of deja'vu (once I have come to the point in the story my subconscious have figured would happen) any way I like this story odd feeling of having read this b4 aside just wanted to thank you for your work and hope to read more in the future
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Nope. Two separate people. Derpy Hooves (Now Mrs Derpy Hooves) is the beloved mail mare, ifa little clumsy due to her eye problem . Dityz Hooves is her cousin, and a little dim. They don't get along.
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No set time/date. But when I do a rewrite, it will be a complete rewrite, taking everything I've learned on 180k+ words and redoing it right. It will be the same basic story, but different enough to be worth the reread. Like Battlestar Galactica 1978 vs 2004, but with less hand cam pegasus fights.
3385380 thanks now I know and knowing is half the battle(yes I went there shut up lol)
Well just my luck I start reading in the middle of a huge cliffhanger.
Variable time differential.... yay.
The difference between the rewritten first chapter and the other first few chapters is striking...I definitely like the rewrite work you've done so far. Not sure if you're just downplaying the "MLP is a show" aspect or removing it entirely; but having MLP as a show and MLP as a world collide has always seemed a bit odd to me. The laptop also seems odd... "syncing" time across dimensions has always been hand-waved in sci-fi whenever I've seen the concept, and never adequately explained... but it seems that concept is here to stay, and it looks like with the last chapter it's more important than ever to the story now.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next part of the story. :)
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When i one day have time to do the rewrite, it will be a real rewrite, worth reading even if you've read the original.
As far as the laptop goes, my reasoned scientific answer is... it was made by Reed Richards. All other arguments are invalid. I've tried to use it sparingly. Basically, it's only useful to freak Alex out.
I find it funny my username for almost all my socials, NightShade, was used, but I’m not mad! Very funny coincidence!