> Soldiers of the Night > by Flutterbat276 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: A New Recruit > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I trotted along the streets of Canterlot early one rainy April day. April seventeenth to be exact. It didn't matter to me whether it was raining or not, the day was perfect! I was accepted to be interviewed by Shining Armor to sign up for the Royal Guard Reserves of the Royal Sisters (RGRRS). My purpley-grey mane was soaked, my grey coat similar. My amber eyes beamed with excitement nonetheless. As I trotted, I got a few waves and hellos from some of the locals. I was one of the few pegasi in Canterlot, but that didn't matter. I was quite popular. The only mare to sign up for the reserves, and succeed! I went from a low life blank flank, to a high class RGRRS member in a day! "You must be Midnight, correct?" "Yes, sir!" I said with great confidence. "Well, seeing as how you are the only-" Shining started to say, being cut off by an enraged voice, followed by the sound of a large breaking sound. "RRRRRRRAAAGH!!!! Stupid boss! Thou shall not best the princess of the night!" Luna screamed in rage as she levitated a new controller out of a pile of them and through the broken one in a larger pile of messy wires and broken plastic casings. "Luna, we have a new reserve coming in, so could you keep your rage down, please?!" Shining Armor said, closing Luna's gamer room door. "Shining Armor, I cannot contain my feelings of anger! I must beat this final boss!" she yelled back. "Ugh...just try!" "What's that all about?" "Nothing serious. Just Luna being Luna..." Shining said without a care. It was as if this was normal for Luna. "Alriiight...if you say so..." I said. "Now, come along Ms. Wing. Interviewing room to the right," Shining Armor said to me. "Okay sir!" I said. > Chapter Two: I'm a WHAT!? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Take a seat Midnight!" Shining said. I did as instructed and sat on a rather comfortable burgundy couch that sat in front of the laminated oak wood desk. "Tell me about yourself Miss," Shining said. "Well, I'm Midnight Wing, a big royal guard enthusiast and, hopefully, future member?" "I love the enthusiasm! Keep going," he said, writing things on a notepad. "I'm thirty two years old, a part time employee at McTia's across town, along with a job at the care center working with disabled colts and fillies across Canterlot," I said, embarrassed to say my part time job in fear that it'd mean that my chances would be diminished. "Alright...okay...now, one last question, if we declined your offer to be a Royal Guard, would you take another opening of any spot available elsewhere in the castle?" The question left me pondering. I responded about a minute later saying, "Well, any job for the royals would be better than none, right?" A chuckle escaped the stallion's mouth. I laughed with him before he gave me his card. The semi-familiar Crystal Alliance symbol stretched across the top, the text "Princess Mi-Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor" we're scrawled below it in a professional Calibri font. Underneath was a number for means of contact. I assumed it was to call for information on the acceptance or denial forms. "Call me for any questions regarding your Lunar training and there's a number on the back for Luna and General Nightlight on the back," Shining Armor said. I turned the card to see a hoof (or magic) written text of two separate phone numbers, each labeled accordingly. "W-wait a minute! I signed up for Celestia's guard, not Luna's! There must've been a mixup!" I said, trying to stay professional, but my efforts didn't show in my voice. "No, you agreed that you'd take up any opportunity to work with the royals, now go off to initiation while I page Luna. She should teleport you in right away," Shining said, hitting the call button on an intercom. "I knew you looked like a Lunar Guard member as soon as I saw you!" Luna squealed. Her friends had left the game she was playing, which she had lingered on before quitting. "But, I signed up for the Royal Guard, not Lunar!" I retorted. "Nonsense, now, do you wish to be a guard or not?" Luna inquired. To be honest, Lunar Guard wasn't something I was familiar with, but it's better than nothing, right? "Sure, I guess..." I said reluctantly. "GREAT!" Luna shrieked, elated. "Now,hold still while I commends your initiation!" I stood still as a rock, only to be encased in a blue aura, followed by a wave of intense and overwhelming pain. I hissed in utter shock and pain as it continued, then everything went black in an instant. I had entered unconsciousness. > Chapter Three: My New Style > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Miss Midnight? Wake up! Initiation is complete!" Luna's voice boomed in my ears as I came to. I stood up groggily, Luna staring at me, beaming in delight. "I only remember pain...that was initiation?" I asked, rubbing my unusually scraggly mane. I had on shiny new hoof covers and as I saw my face in the reflective armor, I shrieked. Did I really just see...FANGS!? "What the buck did you do, Luna!?" I asked looking at the rest of me. I looked in a mirror and saw my wings were no longer feathers, but instead, stretches of skin sprawled between thin, yet strong, bones. My eyes were slits and I had abnormally furry ears and long fangs. My chest plate had the crescent moon on its blue metallic plating. I looked like a creature from a horror movie just took over my body, leaving me as a mere shell of the pony I was before! I was scared for my life. "You are now a Lunar Guard!" Luna squeaked. Her optimistic tone stayed in tact as I was becoming both worried and angered by the sudden changes to not only my appearance, but my lifestyle!