> Trial of The Champion
>  by Laarsgaard
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Journey To the Tournament
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The train chugged along merrily if somewhat slowed by its massive amount of cargo. It was not often this train was called on and it was even less often when the route it was on was used. It was packed to the brim with members of the Sun Guard: Princess Celestia’s guardians over herself and the city of Canterlot.

Every seat was stuffed with guards and armor was stashed all about, packed tidily away above and below the seats. Excitement was thick in the air as the Sun Guard was headed to an event that most only got to witness once in their elongated lives. This car held specifically pegasus squads as the guard was still partially segregated and exclusive only to pegasus and unicorns.

Waller stared out the window as his superiors swapped stories. The noise was all in the background for him as the sun’s warm rays came in through window, falling across his charcoal colored coat and wings.

“I’ve been named champion before and became tournament champion on top of that!” proclaimed the squad’s oldest officer ‘Chief’ Iron Shod. The old pegasus was from Scoltland and his accent had not changed in his hundred plus years of service in Canterlot. 

Chief was an ‘old hoof’ amongst the Sun Guard and his wisdom and stories were always welcome even by the higher ups. His graying coat and ridiculous moustache were always a point of pride with the Chief, as he would spend hours on end combing and grooming his moustache alone, which had reached astounding length and extravagance. He was twirling it as he waited for his companion’s rebuttal.

“Yeah, yeah keep spouting that same story, old bones. It happened so long ago you’re the only one who remembers, so how do I know you didn’t make it up?” asked Lieutenant Twitch. The lieutenant was rather young for his rank but he was considered something of a special circumstance and his memory was selectively dodgy when it came to his personal history. All Waller had ever learned from the other pegasus was that he was originally from some little mountain town near Galloping Gorge and that was it. There wasn’t even any information on why his name was Twitch or why his coat seemed to have stopped midway in changing color from black to white along the length of his body.

“It happened lad, and don’t you forget it!” Chief wagged a hoof at Twitch narrowing his eye.

“Sure it happened, and the rookie here managed to take down a manticore on his own,” Twitch said pointing at Trench Hopper, the squads newest member.

Trench Hopper had been a farm pony when he was young before he left home to join the Guard, an odd occupation for a pegasus family. He had already acquired his cutie mark by then but it was forgotten long ago. There were no cutie marks in the Guard. One gave up their individuality once they were inducted into training.

Trench seemed offended by Twitch’s comment.

“I swear by Celestia I killed that thing!” he exclaimed loudly. “Ask my brothers, they saw the whole thing.” 

Twitch laughed at the rookie, “The day I believe that, green hooves, is the day that Chief cuts his moustache.”

Chief started to chuckle at the lieutenant's comment. “Calm down boy, the lieutenant is just pushing your buttons," the old stallion said.

For all of his knowledge and strength Trench Hopper was still quite young to be a member of the Sun Guard. But he had earned it as they all had through the several months of training, adding plenty of bright pink scars on his pristine, cream colored coat.

Trench quieted back down beginning to fall into a sulk. Twitch often teased the greenhorn about how he had no tolerance for alcohol, and had a tendency to tell stories. The two had spent far too much time drinking and every time it fell to Waller and Chief to babysit the two to make sure that a black armored disciplinary officer didn't find them, send them off to Section, and either be whipped half to death or kicked out of Canterlot with their uniforms stripped and their names besmirched.

Twitch turned to Waller.

“What do you think Wall? Could green hooves here have beaten a manticore on his own bare-hooved?” Twitch asked, shuffling his wings as he shifted his body to sit more comfortably on the bench.

Waller sat up some and turned to face Chief and Twitch who were sitting across from him and the rookie.

“Well,” Waller began sizing up Trench, “it’s possible if the manticore was already dying, horribly disfigured, or he dropped a huge boulder on it.” Waller smiled at the rookie. “In summary, no, Trench here couldn’t beat his way out of a wet paper sack.”

Trench sneered at Waller while Twitch and Chief laughed aloud.

“Don’t look so down boy. We are, after all, headed to the Trial,” Chief raised his eyebrows excitedly as he twirled his massive moustache.

“What is this trial thing?” Trench asked perking up his ears. His curiosity was piqued. Twitch and Waller smiled. The rookie had just made a grievous mistake. Chief grinned sadistically and rubbed his hooves together like a tyrant who had just raised taxes on his citizens.

“Well since you asked so kindly I guess I’ll tell you,” Chief scooted forward on his cushion, cleared his throat and shook out his forelegs as if preparing to have a hoof wrestling match.

“Some few thousand years ago,” the old stallion began. “The two princesses took the land from Discord in a quite wondrous battle if the depictions on the walls of the palace are to be believed. Now the land was at peace finally and our sovereigns were quite the patient and complacent ponies. They took residence in the Everfree Forest. I’ve seen the ruins myself and the building would have been quite fantastic, if it was to be restored, but most ponies try and avoid those dark woods as much as possible,” while giving his narration Chief was switching his gaze between his squad mates each rather enthralled even though Waller and Twitch had each heard this story several times before.

“Now the two ruled over the land for a thousand years until Princess Luna, bless her, became jealous,” Chief looked at the greenhorn. “Now I trust you’re familiar with the tale of Nightmare Moon then?” Trench nodded without speaking still hooked on Chief's words.

“Good,” Chief nodded and went on. “Now the sisters battled it out for some time in a frightening display of power and destruction, but our beloved Celestia won out in the end and she ended up having to banish her own kin to the moon to sit and think on what she had done.

“Now Nightmare Moon isn’t exactly one to ask forgiveness, so she sat and waited for a thousand years. Now while her sister sat there doing nothing Celestia formed the beginnings of our wonderful little group.” Chief reached under the seat and pulled his helmet and showed Trench the Sun Guard insignia.

“The first of the Sun Guard were Alicorns just like the princesses but the species has sadly died out over the years. But still they were founded on our one defining principle,” all three of the older pegasus ponies stood up as one and began to recite.

“I pledge my living being to defend Equestria from all enemies, be they foreign or domestic, be they my own kin or tyrant. I pledge my life to my princess. May she spend it well and may my comrades sing me to the afterlife when my duty ends and my soul leaves my flesh.”

Trench was shocked at how the whole car had stood and recited the pledge as one and he had not. The rookie was embarrassed and deserved to be as he had missed the opportunity to be with his fellows. They all sat back down and Chief cleared his throat once again.

“To defend our princess and above all defend Equestria even if it’s from the princess, which I pray will never come. Now Celestia also formed another regiment of guard known as the Moon Guard. You may question what they did or what purpose they served. I do as well, as the only records we have was of them having been formed and not what they were for.

“Now the Moon Guard have been around just as long as we have and we came to know of their presence soon enough but they aren’t ponies like we are.”

Trench raised an eyebrow. “What kind of pony are they then?” the rookie asked leaning forward on the edge of his seat in anticipation.

“They’re thestrals boy,” Chief said with a smile knowing what question was coming next.

“What are those?” the greenhorn asked.

“They’re pegasi like all of us here, but instead of feathers they got bat wings all leathery and whatnot,” Chief answered. Trench remained silent but his eyes went wide with amazement.

“See thestrals are night creatures and are quite sensitive to the moon. The princess used them to help try and predict if or when Nightmare Moon would return and if she did the land was going to be covered in night eternal.

“After a few hundred years we began to mingle and an idea was struck. We, being stallions, all enjoy competing amongst each other so our forefathers, with the permission from the princess, began the first of what we call the Trial of the Champion. The Trial was to take place in a neutral location away from the city and an arena was built on that spot. They took five champions from us and five from the moonies and put them into a magical arena with full kit and let them go after each other, no holds barred.

“Now ten guards trained for combat fully kitted out with weapons and armor are going to tear each other apart and the princess knew this, so she cast a magical barrier spell over the whole arena that prevents a soul from leaving the flesh no matter how damaged the owner. It’s a very powerful spell that only she and her sister can cast and maintain. We’ve had a much weaker version placed over us that can be permanently maintained. It doesn’t prevent death but it does make our flesh incredibly resilient to attacks and keeps us going for quite a while longer than average ponies.” Trench nodded indicating understanding. The talk of the resilience spell made Waller think of the changeling invasion. He had been considered a greenhorn then and had even earned some respect and a medal for a heroic action during the fighting.

“Now at the end the only pony standing was one of our own by the name of Lucem Defensoris. Quite the odd name I know, but it was a few hundred years ago. Now Lucem was named the first champion of the tournament and therefore the Sun Guard, to help add some meat to the Trial, introduced another event into the tournament. It didn’t hold any standing on the outcome of the actual Trial but it was fun. So the tradition was born that the previous year’s champion would introduce a new event to the tournament until the tournament evolved into a week-long event that we know now.

“Now not too long ago Nightmare Moon returned and all of the thestrals felt her through their weird moon connection. Neither of you were inducted yet,” Chief pointed at Trench and Waller. “But both the lieutenant and I were in the city when Canterlot was attacked by the moonies while Nightmare Moon was being dealt with by the Elements of Harmony. The attack was rather brutal and a lot of good stallions died that day on both sides. Celestia was there and she was a sight to behold. Magic flew about her like a vortex of light and death, thestrals fell to her like wheat before a scythe. It was indeed a terrible and beautiful thing to behold.

“We had to battle on through the night which lasted the length of a whole day, and what a bloody night it was,” Chief’s eyes glazed over as he remembered the fighting in the city. Twitch had a far away gaze as well. Waller had heard of the ‘thousand yard stare’ before and Twitch and Chief both had it.

“But after so long the sun came back to us and Celestia had disappeared in a flash of light, to where we didn’t know, but the thestrals had laid down their arms suddenly and without question. We immediately took the remainder forces into custody without any more bloodshed. The fight seemed to just have drained from them. I later found out that it was the instant Nightmare Moon had been returned to Princess Luna.” Chief turned his gaze out the window. “I only wish it had come sooner.”

“Damn moonies,” Twitch growled. Chief shot him a glance.

“It was never directly their fault, Twitch,” the old stallion said.

“Doesn’t matter, they still were responsible for the attack, just because of the damned moon,” Twitch shook his head. “It’s inexcusable Chief.” Chief sighed out of his nose. He’d heard this from the lieutenant a hundred times, always whenever the Moon Guard was mentioned.

“Just remember that they are still our brothers-in-arms no matter what,” Chief stated twirling his moustache.

“Well said Chief,” said Celestia coming up behind him. As one all of the guards up and down the car leapt to their feet and saluted the princess. Celestia chuckled. Inside Waller was cursing her ability to sneak up on ponies like some specter.

“At ease,” she said aloud. All of the guards relaxed visibly, still looking straight ahead as their training took over. Waller was still cursing the princess inside his mind. “Chief I need to speak with you on my recommendations for this year,” Celestia told the old stallion.

“Aye, your grace,” Chief answered. Waller had never heard the princess call any of the guards by their nicknames except Chief or Twitch. She had always addressed him as Waller and never by 'Wall', like his squad mates used jokingly when talking to him.

Celestia began walking from the car and Chief moved ahead of her on instinct: old habits die hard.

The princess left the car and the tension unwound almost audibly. Waller sat down heavily and chuckled dryly. Twitch joined in while Trench just sat there looking confused.

“Why are you laughing?” Trench asked. Twitch sat forward as the laughter began to spread to the rest of the car.

“Celestia strikes again!” Twitch cackled out. Trench was still confused.

“What do you mean?” the poor rookie asked. Waller couldn’t help but laugh at Trench now. Twitch was almost in tears.

“She’s been pulling that crap for years she’ll get you one way or another,” the lieutenant inhaled deeply holding his ribs. It was obviously the first that the greenhorn had experienced with Celestia’s uncanny ability to catch anyone off guard or make them look foolish at anytime, anywhere. Waller had yet to experience it on a one-to-one level but Twitch was a favorite target of the princess.

“Don’t worry, green hooves, she’ll get you when you’re on your own someday. And when that day comes you come tell me, and I’ll tell you all the times she’s gotten me over a mug,” said Twitch wiping tear away from his eye but still laughing.

The laughter was beginning to die down and the general excitement of the tournament was growing. Trench continued to sit there and was generally confused as to what happened and why it was funny. Twitch, seeing the look of confusion on the rookie’s face smiled widely at him.

“Don’t worry green hooves, she’ll get you some day and then it’ll all make sense,” Twitch told him. Trench looked lost but remained quiet. From up the car Chief entered with a small smile on his face. The old stallion plunked himself down on his seat smiling still.

“What are smiling about, old bones?” the lieutenant pestered. Chief chuckled merrily.

“Oh just the princess’ recommendation is all,” Chief commented looking out the window.

“Well,” Twitch began. “Spill it, we’re waiting. Everypony knows that whoever Celestia recommends gets chosen,” again Chief just chuckled.

“You’re not going to believe this,” he told his comrades. By now the whole train car was quiet so they could hear Chief speak. “She wants Wall.”

There was a pause then the car exploded with cheers and cries of dismay. Comrades reached over their seats to pat Waller on the back while others stood to yell their congratulations down the whole length of the car and some stood up to decry Waller and speak about how the princess had chosen unfairly.

A few cars up Celestia sat sipping tea with the other three princesses. Twilight perked up an ear as she heard an uproar coming from a few cars back.

"What was that?" Twilight looked to Celestia.

"Oh just the guards," Celestia smiled into her tea. Every one hundred years she looked forward to the one true display of emotion from her guardians even if it was one wild outburst of fraternal exchange.

Back in the guard's car Waller sat back bewildered. He had been recommended by Celestia to be champion this year, but why?

Twitch furrowed his brow.

“Why would she choose Wall here? He’s barely just lost his rookie status.” Twitch pointed to his squad mate.
“The changeling invasion,” Chief explained. “Remember at the barricade? That’s why she wants him.” Twitch nodded his understanding.

“That was quite the day,” the lieutenant said as the memory flashed in his mind. “Quite the day.”

The mental images that were scarred onto Waller’s mind came to fore of his thoughts. Broken bones and blood on both sides as he held the line as best he could with a broken wing and half of his face smashed in. He had only truly defended the line for upwards of a minute against a few enemies but he had still been alone and it had felt like an eternity struggling against what seemed like an eternal see of black chitinous fiends. Waller had to strike hard and fast against the oncoming enemies. His spear had broken hours ago and he had been using his bare hooves and whatever he could pick up from the ground to use as a weapon be it bone or steel.

Then Chief had shown up with Twitch and two others in tow. The fight had been short and brutal with the changelings taking down the two unknown members of the pegasus squad with them in a show of tenacity and resilience that bordered on zealotry. They died all the same though, screaming out in those bone chilling squeals as they fell to pegasus’s steel.

“What happened?” Trench questioned leaning forward in his seat. He had heard of the fight which was counted amongst the guards most courageous actions that day but had been overshadowed by the royalty’s efforts, but the guards still remembered the triumphs of their own and, so it seemed, did Celestia.

“If you wish to know then ask him,” Chief pointed to Waller. “Otherwise we don’t speak of it, it’s a sensitive subject.” Twitch nodded in agreement with Chief's statement staring at Waller.

“So Wall, you’re going to be champion this year then eh? You excited?” Twitch smirked at his companion. Waller shook his head.

“Not in the slightest.” Waller replied to his squad mate. Chief laughed.

“Don’t worry lad, I’ll help you out. Did you know I was champion before?” Chief asked a devilish smile upon his face as he twirled his moustache. Twitch groaned loudly.

“Can it, geezer!” he commanded the old stallion. Chief laughed again and looked to Twitch.

“Whenever I hear words such as yours lieutenant, it warms my heart. Now my first go was quite exhilarating and frightening,” Chief began his story as he always had. Twitch groaned again and hit his head on the window as mumbled something inaudible through his teeth.

“Wait,” Trench spoke up cutting Chief off mid-story. The rest of the squad stared at him waiting for something like holy doctrine to spit from his mouth for interrupting the old stallion when he was on about his glory days. “Celestia said recommendations, who’s the other one?” the rookie asked. Twitch pulled his head from the window and looked at Chief.

“The kid is right, who is it?” Twitch moved his face uncomfortably close to Chief’s.

“Who do you think it is?” Chief asked back. The lieutenant rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“Brutus,” Twitch said putting a hoof under his chin and glaring out the window. “Always fucking Brutus.”

“Watch your mouth!” Chief scolded. “But you’re right, it is Brutus.” Up and down the car sighs of exasperation and even more anger could be heard at the announcement. Waller himself was none too pleased but once again the greenhorn showed his ignorance by speaking.

“Who?” Trench looked across at the officer curiously. Twitch moved his dagger-like gaze to the rookie like he had just suggested they commit treason.

“Brutus,” Twitch stated through clenched teeth. “He is quite possibly the biggest dickhead to have ever enlisted and that’s saying something compared to Rotten Tooth some two hundred years ago.

“Who?” Trench asked again. Twitch sighed out of his nose and looked at Chief as if asking him something. Chief nodded his consent. Twitch leaned in closer to the rookie. Trench leaned in as if the lieutenant was going to say something important. Instead he was awarded with a backhoof across his face.

“You need to stay quiet,” Twitch scolded so angrily steam could almost be seen coming out of his ears. “You don’t know who Brutus is because he’s a unicorn. Normally they’re good ponies but he is the spawn of Discord himself without all the funny parts thrown in, and you should know who Rotten Tooth is considering he’s the only idiot to ever join the regiment to ever try and commit treason. His name wasn’t even really Rotten Tooth, bur his breath smelled like shit all of the time so they called him that. Celestia found him out, of all ponies, and had him publicly executed in a rather excruciating manner.” Twitch folded his legs across his chest and settled back into his seat.

“I knew you weren’t the brightest Trench but come on,” Twitch looked at the rookie disapprovingly as Trench rubbed the growing bruise on his cheek.

“Sorry,” Trench mumbled.

“Don’t be sorry just don’t do it again.” Twitch growled.

Trench was about to speak his confusion again but Waller stopped him.

“Don’t speak, just stop, and Twitch might not hit you again,” he informed Trench. The greenhorn sat back and began to sulk again still rubbing his face.

The four of them sat in silence while the other guards in the train car continued to discuss the two recommendations for the year. It was looking to be quite the odd combination.

Waller thought about the tournament. He had heard a lot of stories from old stallions about the last tournament and he knew what it entailed but actually being in the tournament was something different. Anypony was allowed to compete in the events leading up to the trial but those were events that had no bearing on the final outcome. Some of the events had sounded fun especially some of the ones that allowed the competitors to beat each other to a pulp which helps sort out some of the bad blood that hung between the two old groups.

This year was different though.

“Chief,” Waller began.

“Aye lad?” Chief raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t there supposed to be those two new groups this year?”  Waller asked. Chief nodded but Twitch spoke before Chief could.

“We’ll be joined by the L.O.P. and the Bitch Brigade this year,” Twitch chuckled. “And before the rookie asks, L.O.P. is short for Legion of Pussies,” Twitch laughed again and Chief gave the lieutenant a sidelong glance. “And the Bitch Brigade is really the Witch Brigade. Princess Cadence’s Legion of the Heart was made when her and the old captain moved to the Crystal Empire. It's just a stupid name, whoever came up with L.O.P. was a genius," Twitch cackled again. "The Witch Brigade is Princess Twilight’s new forces that she put together not too long after her coronation.

“Unlike us who only takes in pegasus and unicorns the Legion takes earth ponies too and crystal ponies. The Witch Brigade however, only takes female unicorns, crystal or otherwise.”

All three of his squad mates stared at Twitch in amazement.

“What?” he asked getting defensive. He pointed a hoof at Chief. “Chief isn’t the only one around here who knows things about the guard!”

Waller raised an eyebrow at Twitch.

“Don’t give me that look Wall.” Twitch pointed his hoof at Waller.

“Calm down boy, we were all just a tad surprised is all.” The old stallion assuaged the lieutenant. Twitch didn’t answer. He just crossed his forelegs and began to sulk. Chief knew how to cheer up the lieutenant though.

“You did forget one of the nicknames for the Witches,” Chief smiled mischievously. A small smile crept across Twitch’s face.

“Y.M.B.s,” Twitch said quietly.

“Aye lad, Y.M.B.s,” Chief laughed. Waller looked to Chief with a questioning look upon his face.

“Young Magic Bitches,” Twitch said with a laugh. “And how young they are,” Twitch unfolded his forelegs and sat forward. “Have you seen them around the palace rookie?” Twitch looked at Trench who had remained quiet throughout the exchange. The greenhorn nodded with a dumb smile plastered across his face.

“Yeah I’ve seen ‘em,” Trench said still smiling.

“Ha!” Twitch said. “There’s this one, she’s one of the older girls ya know, still young though. But she has this plot, ooh!” Twitch said shaking his hooves in excitement. “What I wouldn’t do to give that thing a slap.” Twitch had a faraway look on his face as he, no doubt, imagined the female unicorn performing unseemly acts upon him for the sake of him being such a great guard and exhibiting all the characteristics of a good, strong stallion any self-respecting mare would throw themselves at legs splayed and begging for it like she was in heat.

Waller himself had eyed a particular mare from the Witch Brigade. Her name was Spectacle Shadow and she was indeed quite the spectacle to look at. Waller had spoken with her on a few occasions and she came across as quite competent if somewhat polite. Her physical features were nothing to blink an eye at either considering she was one of the most physically attractive mares Waller had ever laid his eyes on and he would be lying if he hadn’t imagined her in a less than professional manner.

Like the mind reader he was Twitch smiled at Waller.

“And don’t thing I haven’t noticed you looking at that one girl,” Twitch put a hoof to his chin. “What was her name again?” he asked aloud. Twitch turned to Chief. “What was her name Chief? I know you know, come on.”

Chief chuckled at Twitch. “Spectacle.” Chief grinned widely at Waller. “Sorry Wall, but I couldn’t resist.” 

“Har, har,” Waller sneered at the old stallion. Twitch was just beginning though.

“Now if only you could convince this Spectacle just to come back to the barracks and you might just become a real stallion,” Twitch leered at Waller. “And maybe she could show us all a good time then!” Twitch laughed aloud. Waller lunged at Twitch across the small gap and swung. Chief moved faster than any of them could see and blocked the strike from landing moments before Twitch was sent into a deep sleep.

“Calm down Wall, geeze,” Twitch commented pushing himself up the seat trying to get away from the angry guard. Waller felt forelegs come up from behind him holding him back from putting a hoof into Twitch's forehead.

“He was just joking with you lad, you should know better than to let the lieutenant to get to you.” Chief said pushing Waller back into his seat. “Rookie, could you lend a hoof before we’re down a lieutenant.”

Trench reached up and pulled Waller back down and between the three stallions they managed to push Waller back to his chair. Twitch slid back into his seat.

“Hey Wall,” Twitch held up his hooves defensively. “Sorry if I pissed you off brother, I was just making a joke, you know.”

“Wrong joke,” Waller growled as he was released from his comrade's grips.

“I see that,” Twitch answered. Waller didn’t respond just went back to looking out the window.

Chief turned his gaze out the window as well and smiled.

“Uniform lads, we’re here,” the old stallion commanded as he pulled his cuirass and helmet out from under the seat.

Throughout the car the sounds of clinking armor sounded as the guards began to don their armor. Waller pulled his helmet on and felt the comfortable familiarity of the weight settle on his head.

“Good thing we’re finally here,” Twitch harrumphed. “I was getting bored.”

The doors along the train car slammed open and orders began to be issued.

“Come on lads, let’s form up,” Chief commanded.

The pegasus squad filed out alongside their comrades out onto the platform where a black armored disciplinary officer stood with a clipboard held before him with his magic. The officer looked up.

“Go to the right Chief,” he ordered.

“Aye,” Chief answered with a quick salute and led his squad off of the platform. The four of them walked down the short cement steps.

“There it is lads,” Chief said looking out over the city.

“Welcome to the Pit,” the old stallion cackled.
> Champions, Wagers and A City of Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pit. Quite the ugly name for such a beautiful looking city. The Sun Guard formed up into serried ranks on the grassy outskirts of the town. Waller could hear cheers and calls coming from the streets from the citizens, seemingly excited by the appearance of the golden-armored guardians.

“Is it always like this?” Waller leaned over and whispered to Chief. The old stallion chuckled.

“You’ll see, lad,” Chief promised.

“Quiet there!” the purple armored commander yelled. Waller straightened visibly, mulling over a mental checklist for a parade march.

“On me!” the same officer yelled again. “One, two!” The whole guard stepped as one and began their march into the streets of the city.

The road that the Sun Guard followed was well paved and maintained, showing the care its citizens held for the city. They began to pass farms and homesteads with a few ponies on each side of all ages. The older ponies waved and cheered while the young wore imitation armor made of cardboard or waved flags with the Sun Guard insignia on it. As they marched deeper into the city the crowds began to grow in size and diversity.

As the guards came into the city proper the buildings turned from smaller residences and wooden shops into massive homes and complexes and elegant and impressive stores, taverns, and inns. Each building was a personality unto itself, most built of various colors of stone and showing off the unique flare and personality of its owner. The streets were paved with light gray cobblestones that resounded beautifully as the Sun Guard marched in time along the road.

The streets were manic with all of the cheering and fanfare of the civilian ponies, every scream and every whoop in celebration of the coming of the Sun Guard and its counterparts. Some ponies were literally screaming their excitement to the heavens at the arrival of the armored stallions; the ponies could barely contain themselves.

Ponies leaned out windows cheering and throwing homemade confetti. Young foals marched along the sidewalks in time with the guards, trying to be just like their heroes. Young mares called out bawdy comments and catcalls. Most flaunted their bodies trying to catch an eye of a strong young stallion that might make a good husband, or just provide a night of desperate passion.

Overhead the Wonderbolts flew by leaving vapor trails in shapes and patterns. The best display was when they formed pictures of each regiment’s insignia at varying speeds, flipping from the Sun Guard’s sun to the Legion’s flaming heart to the crescent moon of the Moon Guard in a matter of seconds.

From shops and storefronts ponies came out hawking their wares as the cheapest and best in the city. The tavern keepers cheered on their cider, claiming to have the best recipe, the lowest prices per mug and discounts to guardsponies even, all of them holding up brimming mugs as the guards marched by.

Waller was astounded by the turnout and his heart filled with pride as they marched on to the center of the city where a massive stage had been erected in front of the true pit, which made up the city square where the final events of the week would take place. He could just make out the forms of the four princesses standing on top of it as the Sun Guard came down a series of streets. When Waller could see down an alley into the next street over he could make out midnight blue armor and leathery wings heading the same direction.

The Sun Guard came to a halt in front of the massive stage. On the right side came the Moon Guard, resplendent and intimidating in their blue armor. Each thestral had menacing yellow eyes that stared straight ahead, focused and deadly in their intent. On the left came the Legion of the Heart wearing their gleaming, purple and gold armor with an air of pride and fearlessness, each crystal pony shining brightly beneath and only adding to the already impressive display. Beyond the legion in marched the smallest of the four regiments, the Witch Brigade. Each young unicorn mare was ensconced in a thick robe swirling with crimson and black patterns. All in all, the martial display was enough to burn any city, destroy any settlement, or annihilate any foe from the planet’s surface.

On the stage stood the four princesses, each garbed in their most illustrious and elaborate dress. Celestia stood to the fore, a microphone before her, flanked immediately by her sister and her former protégé and further flanked by Cadence and her husband. Celestia and Luna were speaking to each other quietly as the general hubbub died down to a dull roar as the townsfolk filed in behind the guards, prepared to hear Celestia.

The white alicorn tapped on the microphone to test it and then lifted it magically from the stand.

“Welcome one and all to the Trial of the Champion!” Celestia said with a massive smile on her face. There came a cheer from the crowd and the guard regiments as well. “We have gathered here again to celebrate the creation of mine and my sister’s guardians!” Again another cheer sounded, this time from only the Sun and Moon Guard.

“As always we welcome last tournament’s champion first: Princess Luna’s Moon Guard!” Celestia announced. There was a massive cheer from the moonies as Luna hoisted the massive trophy into the air, waving it about with pride.

“And as always, my illustrious Sun Guard!” Celestia shouted excitedly. Waller whooped into the air as Chief whistled and Twitch insulted the other guard regiments loudly. The excited guards calmed down as Celestia went on.

“And this year I’d like to welcome two new competitors to the competition. First Princess Cadence’s Legion of the Heart!” the purple armored legionnaires erupted into cheers and whoops, showing their pride. “And last but certainly not least, Princess Twilight’s Witch Brigade!” there was a moment of silence and then the air exploded as fireworks and light displays burst forth into the air from the horns of the unicorns in an impressive display of magical manipulation. The crowd of citizens shouted and yelled excitedly at the show.

“Excellent, most excellent!” Celestia said as she began to move about the stage.

“Now this year we’ve had to adjust the rules to allow for the addition of the new combatants,” the sun princess went on. “This year we’ll only have two champions from each group as opposed to five. Now all of you should have received your recommendations so now I’d like to invite the commanding officers from each regiment to announce the champions this year.”

There was a small stir from each group as the officers in question moved to the stage. The purple-armored commander from the Sun Guard, Fire Starter, moved up the steps first to stand next to Celestia. The Moon Guard and the Witch Brigade sent up two each, both groups heading to flank their respective princess. The Legion was last onto the stage with three officers. The leading of which had a helmet with a massive and rather ridiculous plume on his helmet that nearly doubled his height.

Commander Fire Starter stepped forward, his armor shined in the sunlight.

“This year we have both a unicorn and pegasus champion. First is Brutus from squad Gratus,” the Sun Guard cheered once again, more from the unicorns than the pegasi. “The next is Cave Waller from squad Shrike,” this time the pegasi were heard as they cheered Waller on. “Champions come forth!” the commander ordered. Waller stepped forward as his comrades moved aside to let him pass. Pats on the back and words of support came from all sides as he passed until he came to the stage. His heart raced in his chest as he moved to stand next to the commander. On the other side of the officer stood Brutus, a hulking piece of fearsome unicorn prowess. The unicorn’s coat rippled and pulsed as he moved from the sheer amount of muscle he boasted. As the three stood at the back of the stage, Brutus leaned over to Waller.
“Don’t fuck this up for me,” he growled through his teeth. Waller ignored the bigger pony and continued to watch as the thestrals stepped forward.

The thestrals moved as one being, staying in step and even breathing in unison. Their wings flexed as the pair stepped up to the microphone.

Both were identical in almost every way except for the bars on the side of their helmets, which denoted rank. Their armor was midnight blue and trimmed in silver and their helmet plumes mimicked the form and substance of their wings. One odd thing Waller noticed was the presence of two slits on either side of the thestrals’ necks.
The officer with more bars spoke for the pair.

“This year we are honored to announce Brothers Spark and Torch are to represent us and our Mistress of the Night in this year’s events,” the two bowed to the crowd as the Moon Guard cheered as one.

"Hail Spark, hail Torch!” they cried out. As one the group parted to allow a pair to move up to the stage. The two came to join their officers and princess on stage. Waller could now tell the two pairs apart but as to distinguish whom from whom he still felt lost. The new pair’s coats were considerably darker with hints of graying around their temples, but other than that the new pair looked identical as well. The four guards bowed to Luna respectfully and then moved to stand behind her.
The Legion officer stepped up next, his massive plume waving about and making him look out of place and foolish instead of regal. He seemed rather pompous and looked down his snout at all of the other groups present as if thinking he was above them all instead of their equal.

“I call forth Trooper Brakus and Sergeant Fyrthing,” the officer called out, waving his sparkling hoof as if the troops stood before him. The two legionnaires came to the stage as their fellows cheered them on. Their coats sparkled underneath their purple and gold armor. Waller could see why somepony would underestimate the legion, as they were less than intimidating to look at. The three stepped back to Cadence’s side to make way as Princess Twilight stepped forward flanked by her two guardians with a big smile on her face. Even the other princesses looked confusedly at Twilight as she moved up to the microphone.

“I would like to have Sister Nocturne and Sister Aurora to please come up to the stage,” the mares made their voices heard as the two of their number levitated into the air and hovered their way to the stage to stand next to their princess. The witches stood back from the microphone as Celestia stepped up again and spoke:
“Guardians, these are your champions!”

Another eruption of screaming and whooping came from all of the ponies present. The champions each stood, magnificent and proud in their colors as they represented their respective fellows. Waller looked out at the crowd and spotted Twitch going berserk where he stood, insulting all of the other ponies, even his own comrades around him loudly with some rather lewd and impressive gestures. He was quite unaware of the black-armored officer standing a few rows behind him, taking note of his actions.

The raucous applause took several minutes to die down as Celestia beckoned the champions forward to the edge of the stage. She paced behind the eight of them as she spoke again: “Tomorrow the first of the events will begin. You will all be given a schedule when you report into your places of stay. Now I know that you are all excited to be out and about in the town. Just be safe and do not terrorize the townsfolk. You are guards, after all.” There was a burst of polite laughter from the gathered warriors at the princess’ joke. “Now go out and have fun!” she ordered setting the microphone back onto the stand.

There was one last cheer from the guards as the four princesses and Shining Armor disappeared in a burst of brilliant radiance, teleported away to somewhere safe where they could watch the town and their guardians without intruding.
Waller stepped from the stage and was about to head back to his squad when Brutus caught up to him and stopped him.
“I’m serious Waller,” the massive unicorn stuck a hoof into Waller’s shoulder. “Do not fuck this up for me. I will not lose to a bunch of mares and moonies because of you,” Waller couldn’t focus on Brutus was saying because of the massive scar over the unicorn’s right eye. Waller was entranced by the huge pink divide in Brutus’ skull and wondered what exactly put it there. Before Brutus could go on Chief stepped up beside the unicorn.

“Well isn’t that just a wonderful sight, the lads all getting along and helping each other out,” the old stallion set a hoof on Brutus’ shoulder. The unicorn shrugged off Chief’s touch and stalked away without another word. Waller shook himself from his daze.

“Thanks,” he told the officer as he watched Brutus disappear into the crowd.

“Don’t worry about it, lad,” Chief commented scanning the crowd as well.

“Where are the other two?” Waller asked as the crowd around them began to flow into the city.

“Well Twitch is being given quite the talking to at the moment, and Trench is sitting by his side like the good little minion he’s becoming,” Chief answered still scanning the crowd.

“Who are you looking for?” Waller asked.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite shiny?” a deep bass asked behind the two. Waller turned to see a pair of thestrals approaching through the still thinning crowd of armored stallions. The pair was young and heavily muscled, their wings shifted and flexed over their dark pelts as they moved and their yellow eyes scanned about ever alert for danger, almost identical in every way except for a scar across the chin of the one standing on the left.

“Ho, ho, look at you two! Don’t even have the proper respect to address an officer, you uncultured moonies!” Chief said indignantly, as he stepped up to meet the two Moon Guards. After a moment of staring each other down the three of them burst into laughter.

“How you doin’ you old bag of bones?” the thestral standing to the right embraced Chief.

“Oh not too bad, slowing a bit with my age, but I’m still spry enough to tie you into a knot and don’t you forget it!” Chief pointed a hoof into the moony’s face. “And Rime, how are you faring these days, boy?” Chief turned to the other and embraced him as well.

“I am well Chief. Frost and I were wondering if you would enjoy taking a drink with us, and your champion as well,” the thestral named Rime, his face having only the smallest hint of a smile looked to Waller.

"Of course he’ll come! Waller is quite the amiable chap after all!” Chief said cheerily. “But first we need to sort out the troublemakers,” the two thestrals nodded in understanding as their neck slits opened up. Waller could make out the faintest whisper of a sound as Chief headed back to where they could now see Twitch with his head bowed and his ears flattened against his skull in shame as he was chastised. A few feet away Trench stood at attention, waiting for an order from somepony to tell him to move.

“…and that’s the end of it!” the officer shouted down at Twitch. “Am I clear Lieutenant?” 

“Aye, sir,” Twitch answered.

“Good, now be off, and if I hear of you causing anymore trouble you’re off to Section,” with that the disciplinary officer turned and moved off to follow his comrades to invade the nearest tavern and drink it dry. Chief chuckled aloud.

“Well, considering what you said, I’d say you got off pretty light, lad,” Chief said as he moved up to Twitch.

“Fuck that guy,” Twitch commented as he removed his helmet. The lieutenant turned around and froze as he saw the two members of the Moon Guard standing near him.

“Greetings,” Rime offered as he extended a hoof.

“Yeah, hi,” Twitch said replacing his helmet. “Come on rookie let’s go find a place to have a drink.

“We were about to go find a place to sit ourselves, we would be honored if you joined us,” Rime said, setting his hoof back onto the cobbles.

“No, that’s fine, thank you, the rookie and I were going to check in anyway and find our room,” Twitch stepped over to Trench. “Come on green hooves, move it,” Twitch ordered.

“But I want to hang out with the moonies!” Trench cried indignantly.

“Move!” Twitch shouted practically shoving the rookie down the street.

“Before you bolt,” Chief said casually, “do not get yourselves in trouble.” Chief held up a hoof under Twitch’s nose. “I mean it lieutenant, I will not have you embarrass me again, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, old bones,” Twitch smirked. “Best behavior.” and with that he and Trench went off into the city.

“You know he’s going to wind up in trouble, right?” Waller asked watching them go.

“I didn’t get where I am today, lad, without knowing the minds and intents of my subordinates,” Chief turned his gaze. “Speaking of which…” He moved over to a lone legionnaire standing in the midst of the empty square looking lost.

“Hail there!” Chief waved a hoof as they approached the lone guard. “You look lost, boy. Where’s your commanding officer?” the stallion looked to be rather young with a sparkling blue coat that shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

“That’s just the thing, sir. I was separated from my unit during the press as everypony headed into town. I’m lost,” he confessed looking down in shame. Waller and the thestrals pair moved up behind Chief.

“Come with us, lad. We’re headed for a drink. And don’t call me ‘sir,’” Chief smiled warmly. “Most ponies just call me Chief,” the young guard smiled.

“The name’s Stone. It’s an honor to meet you, Chief,” Stone stuck out a hoof and Chief shook it vigorously.

“This here’s Wall. He may have been named champion this year, but don’t worry. He’s a nice pony,” Chief pointed to Waller and then to the stallions next to them. “And these two moonies here, are Frost and his brother Rime,” both bowed to the legion trooper in respect. Waller took note that the scar belonged to Rime.

“How about that drink, Chief?” Waller asked, turning to head into the city.

“A good plan, lad,” Chief smiled and followed the champion with the thestrals and the legionnaire in tow.





“Well this is exciting,” Twilight said as she merrily skipped to through the flat to the coffee table that was covered with tea and baked sweets. The other three princesses came behind her.

“Oh the Trial is always the most exciting time of the century,” Celestia said happily as she lifted a teacup and saucer from the table and took a sip. Luna stepped up next to her sister and bit into a tiny coffee cake.

“I’m excited too,” Cadence said as she picked through the food, trying to find some particular favorite.

“That’s good to hear,” Celestia said as she took another bite of cake. “Now this week is going to be a fun one. Tomorrow we’re going to have the first events which will be jousting and dueling and the like.”

“But this year, we’ve added some new rules. In some of the duels we’ve had to put certain limitations, like pegasi on thestral only, only magic users, and no magic, no flying. In the past these limitations were somewhat pointless, but now, they will make things very fun indeed,” Luna smiled.

“The day after we slow down a bit with other events such as a relays, magical creation competitions such as growing and molding magic, my favorite of which is a competition to explode a series of large, colored glass bubbles and manipulate the shards to fall into various patterns. It’s such a beautiful event,” Celestia sighed as old memories came back.

“Before we used to have the guards compete against themselves, now there’s enough that we can have quite the diverse competition,” Luna commented.

“Well, I hope your boys are ready to get beaten by my girls,” Twilight said. It was rather unlike her to speak so callously.
“Before we go on, Twilight Sparkle, I have a question,” Luna said setting down her cake. Twilight looked to Luna. “Why did you speak for your guardians?” the Moon Princess asked.

“Oh,” Twilight said wiping her mouth free of crumbs. “Well.” Twilight looked at Celestia. “You said to have the commanding officers to come up and speak. Well I am the Witch Brigade’s commanding officer.” 

The other princesses looked at her with confusion.

“Why?” Cadence asked.

“Well,” Twilight said taking a sip of tea. “It has to deal with why they’re all mares and unicorns. I feel that, firstly, mares are better for this role than stallions. I want the girls to bond with each other, which will help them act as one and know each other’s minds. Secondly, I wish to bond with my guardians as well. If I can be part of them and help them do their job, it makes them stronger in the end.”

"Hmm,” Celestia thought. “Interesting. I was wondering about the mares, but you seem so confident, care to make this more interesting?” Celestia smiled mischievously.

“What did you have in mind, dear sister,” Luna smiled back at her sister.

“Oh, just a friendly wager,” Celestia smiled slyly.

“What did you have in mind?" Cadence asked, leaning over the table.

“The loser, whoever has both of their champions knocked out of the final event first, has to present the award to the winner and,” Celestia paused, “they have to announce that the winner is the best princess from now until the end of time.”
Celestia looked at the other three princesses.

“I’m in,” Cadence said.

“Me too!” Twilight declared.

Luna smiled. “Easiest wager I’ve ever won,” she said. The four put their hooves in the center of the table and sealed the wager.

“You’re a witness to this, dear husband,” Cadence said as she pointed to Shining Armor and turning her head. Shining smiled broadly, though no one was sure why.





Wooden mugs hit the table, each filled to the brim with bright, golden cider that smelled deliciously of apples and a hint of alcohol. The bar they had chosen was a rather unique venue, three sides were open to the warm night air, the bar taking up one side with a set of stairs that led up to the inn above.

The tables were filled with primarily Moon Guard with a sprinkling of older Sun Guard members and one squad from the Legion. Waller laughed aloud as Chief and the two moonies swapped stories.

Chief raised his mug, “To our friends, no matter the colors they wear on their backs and to the Trial that brings us together.”

“Here, here,” the stallions around the table chorused and drained their mugs. A new round was set down and Chief threw several bits onto the waitress’s tray.

“So tell me, boys, what have the illustrious moonies been up to since you were last rotated through the caverns?” Chief asked the two Moon Guards.

Frost took a sip. “We had to go up and clear out some gangs in the top of Noc’tren,” he said. 

Rime nodded in agreement, “Bloody work, but it helps purify the city for our Lady.”

“Is it really getting that bad?” Chief asked the two. Frost stayed silent as he sipped from his mug again.

“Our home has indeed become infested with scum, all of them outsiders,” Rime said, his voice heavy with sorrow. “It’s the price we pay for the sins of our brothers on the day of our Lady’s return.” 

“Do you mean the day the Moon Guard attacked Canterlot?” Waller asked leaning forward as his curiosity got the better of him.

“Aye,” Frost said looking down at his mug. “It was a brutal day.” 

The pair looked at each other and Waller watched as the slits in their necks opened up and the two froze solid in their movement. Waller caught the very slightest hint of a sound. The slits closed up and they both leaned forward at the same moment in what Waller considered an eerie manner.

“I hear it was a bloody day in Canterlot as well,” Frost said.

“It was,” Chief answered.

“What happened?” Stone asked. Frost and the two Sun Guard members looked at him while Rime took another swig of his mug.

“Several years ago, the day that Nightmare Moon was returned to our beloved Mistress of the Night, we were all subjected to a strong mental attack. We are not magic beings, but the moon calls to us even during the day. The night of the Lady’s return, our Mistress, in the guise of Nightmare Moon, took hold of our minds and ordered us to attack and dominate all who were not our own.

“The brothers in the city attacked the Sun Guard and Mistress’ sister. In Noc’tren, the whole city stopped as one and we turned on the outsiders, brutally killing and capturing all of them.”

The table fell silent as the information at Rime’s words.

“But we’ve all had our hardships these past few years,” Rime went on. “The changelings.” He looked at Chief. “I know you still live, obviously, but how did you fare in the battle?”

Chief chuckled. “I fared well enough, we had a Wall after all,” Chief winked at his squad mate.

“I’ve heard the prince speak of it,” Stone commented over the rim of his mug.

Waller looked at the shining legionnaire. “What did you hear?”

“Not much, he only remembers when he and the princess cast the changeling queen, Chrysalis, out through the window,” Stone told them. “Other than that I know nothing.”

“It was a day alright,” Waller commented. “I never thought I’d see a day like it in my life. I know what I signed on for but that day…” Waller sighed. “It was brutal and it was bloody and I wish I had never seen it.” 

Chief set a hoof on Waller’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry we could not be there,” Frost said looking at Waller.

“Would’ve been a bit different if more of you lot had been there,” Chief said.

“Another round please,” Frost asked a passing waitress. She nodded her blonde head and smiled amiably, turning to head to the bar. Frost watched her go, the invasion of Canterlot forgotten for a moment.

“Leave it brother,” Rime told his partner, setting a hoof on his shoulder. “It’s not our territory.”

Waller felt his ire rise at the moony’s comment.

“Whose territory is it then?” he asked angrily. Rime didn’t answer as the waitress returned swiftly and placed the mugs on the tables and took the empty mugs.

“Thanks, lass,” Chief threw another several bits onto her tray and winked at her. She blushed and quickly left to go back to the bar. Again, Frost watched her go, his eyes on her soft looking backside. Her hips swayed as if she was putting a little more into her stride to attract a bit of attention.

Frost lifted his mug and was about to take a sip when a note fell off of the bottom of his mug. He picked up the note and unfolded it his eyes moved back and forth and a smirk came to his face. Rime glared at his partner. As Frost read the note, his and Rime’s wings began to extend.

“Well?” Waller asked impatiently, expecting an answer to his previous question.

“Looks like Rime here was wrong,” Frost folded the note back up and looked to the bar at the fawn colored waitress. 

“You didn’t answer my question,” Waller said leaning forward, his anger getting the better of him.

Chief set a hoof on Waller’s shoulder. “Leave it, lad, it’s a moony thing.”

Waller sat back and drank from his mug. Rime looked at him.

“Life is different in Noc’tren,” Rime said taking a drink. “We do not treat mares as ponies. They are treasured above all else since there are so few. To see one in such a lowly position.” Rime shook his head. “One’s status is dictated by their occupation. We as guards of the Mistress are held in the highest esteem where servants such as her,” he nodded his head at the waitress, “would be considered a common slave.” Rime sipped from his mug again. 

Frost looked at Waller. “This is why I keep him around,” Frost took a sip. “He keeps the old ways and I keep the new.”

Waller felt surprised. “You practice slavery in Noc’tren?” he asked Rime.

Rime shook his head. “Not directly. Indentured servitude is common amongst debtors and the lower classes who live in the highest portions of the city. Only the strongest of our order is sent into the highest levels to deal with the criminals and gangs that are running rampant amidst the rebels and outsiders of our beloved city,” the Moon Guard tipped his mug back and drained it. 

“Why have I never seen you or any other Moon Guard in Canterlot?” Waller questioned. 

“We are reclusive,” Rime answered as the same waitress returned to bring them another round. Chief place another few bits on her tray as she picked up the empty mugs. The waitress walked away and Frost’s eyes were once again locked on her backside. The slits on the side of his neck opened for a moment. Rime’s head whipped about, staring daggers at his partner. 

“Leave me out of it Frost,” Rime growled through his teeth. The slits opened again and Waller once again felt the faintest whisper brush by his ears. Rime’s neck opened as well. Frost turned his gaze to his partner as both of their throats began to twitch about. 

Waller leaned over to Chief. “What’s happening?” he asked his superior. 

“They’re speaking to each other, boy. It’s another moony thing,” Chief took a sip from his mug as Rime’s face began to contort with rage. Frost, strangely, remained calm as he stared at his partner. 

“Just do it then!” Rime hissed closing his neck slits back up. Waller looked about the room and could see every thestral head looking at their table. His heart began to pound as he readied for a fight. 

Don’t worry, lad,” Chief set a hoof on Waller’s shoulder. “They aren’t looking at us.” The waitress walked by, her tray empty.

Frost broke his partners gaze to turn and reach up, pulling the mare into his lap. She squeaked in surprise but smiled as Frost began to whisper in her ear. The waitress giggled and put a hoof to her mouth as she blushed in embarrassment. Frost released her smoothly. The waitress stood back up and briskly walked back to the bar where one of her serving friends came over to swap a quick word about the thestral’s actions.

“You know the rules, brother,” Rime said staring into the distance over Waller’s head. There was a hint of danger in his voice. 

“It’s the Trial, Rime. We’re supposed to have a bit of fun,” Frost looked at Rime indignantly. Rime didn’t respond to Frost’s comment. 

“What rules?” Waller looked to Frost. Chief put a hoof up to his mouth as cider spat out in surprise. The other four shot away from the table. Two waitresses dashed forward with washrags held at the ready and began to wipe the tables down. 
Chief began coughing. Waller patted Chief on the back, helping his friend. Chief reached up and grabbed Waller by the collar. 

“Never ask about the rules, lad. They aren’t the most sensitive lot if you hadn’t noticed,” Chief coughed again as Waller sat back down in his seat. Chief scooted back up.

“You okay, Chief?” Stone asked.

“I’m fine, boy,” Chief waved the crystal pony off and coughed one last time to clear his chest.
Another round of drinks was set on the table by a different waitress. Chief put another bunch of bits on the tray.

“Why do you keep tipping?” Waller asked his officer.

“I got tons of coin, Wall, it’s just sitting about in the bank gathering dust, might as well give it those who need it,” Chief explained.

“I believe you asked about our rules, Waller?” Rime asked. Chief tensed up again.

“Do not worry, Chief, I will not begrudge curiosity,” Rime pulled his seat closer to the table as Frost scooted out and got up to leave. Rime’s head shifted so fast Waller heard his vertebrae snap.

“My brother is going to get himself killed,” Rime sighed. He took a long pull, draining the rest of his cider. A small droplet dripped from the mug and ran down his chin. Rime set the mug down and wiped the line from his face.

They all watched as Frost went over to the waitress pulled her close and whispered something in her ear. She giggled and blushed again. Frost turned to leave and the waitress went to the bar and placed her tray on the top, giving some explanation Waller could not make out. She turned and quickly wove her way through the crowded bar and stepped out onto the street.

“How do you mean?” Stone asked, moving his gaze back to Rime.

“We have many rules and laws, especially for those of us who are guardians to the Lady,” Rime drank from his mug again and set it down. “We hold ourselves to a standard that, by most, is considered barbaric and harsh.

“The city we live in is named Noc’tren, an ancient word our Mistress taught us when she came to find us, her dark children. The city has two halves,” Rime sliced through the air with a hoof. “The top half resides on the surface, we do not use it during the day, the sun is not kind to my brothers and me, but we as guardians have grown used to its touch in a manner of speaking.

“But the real city, the one where my brothers and I stalk through the alleys, where night reigns eternal and my Lady lives, her home resides at the very bottom, down in the darkest reaches of my city. Only in the dark will you find our children and or merchants.” Rime looked down into his mug. The cider was dwindling and another round would be needed soon.
“But recently, outsiders have come to my city. They have begged my Lady to live in my city and now they make trouble for us.”

“I have said that mares are rare in Noc’tren that is an understatement as mares are almost non-existent. We are so overcrowded with stallions we leave our male infants out in the cold to die at times. And now these outsiders come and try to take our mares from us,” he leaned back and put his hooves together in his lap.

“We are only allowed to mate with the mares of our city. Any other is considered an unnecessary spreading of seed. Those who do otherwise are put up for treason and are executed. We do this because our race is rare as it is, and our genes are recessive,” he extended his wings, displaying the dark leather for all.

“Our forefathers were found in the beginnings of our city, before we carved it out and added the buildings above the earth. They were even more divergent than my brothers and I are now. Each was larger with a massive wingspan, eyes as pale as pearls and fangs, long and brutal,” he opened his jaws to show his teeth which were pointed and curved.

“Frost was correct in saying that I keep the old ways. He and I are young for our position and part of a new generation that does not stay in the shadows. There are many like him and me. He does not care for the old ways and traditions, where I keep them alive,” Rime sighed again.

“Soon enough, though, they might die and it weighs upon my heart. If the old ways die our rules go as well and then our race may go with it.”

“And I thought my life was hard,” Stone commented.

Rime raised an eyebrow. “I am curious as to the origins of the so colorfully called L.O.P. Have you seen your sovereign take on the form of a brutish and angry deity? Have you seen those you call brother die trying to root out those who do not belong in your city? Do you only step into the open air after the moon has come out because the sun burns against your coat?” Rime stared at Stone, uncaring of the crystal pony’s hardships.

“I watched as my queen was slaughtered on the balcony above my head, her blood had dripped down onto my face.” Stone stared into his mug. “I had been part of the resistance that had only lasted a few months. The officer with the massive helmet, the one that makes him look like an ass? That’s my direct superior, his name’s Steel Fission. He was the face of the rebellion, not the brains,” Stone laughed. “Oh no, that guy is far too incompetent to even have the job he does now.”

Stone drained his mug and slammed it down onto the table. “The king had these things… I don’t know what to call them. They were these black crystal beasts, some were the size of train cars and others were smaller than spiders and they would dig under your skin,” Stone shuddered at the thought of the creatures.

“So we rebelled. We did whatever we could against him and his beasts. We poisoned water supplies, collapsed mine heads, we did everything imaginable and still we didn’t manage to do anything. Then he caught us. It was only a matter of time until he did.

“Commander Fission, though," Stone laughed. “That guy couldn’t command his way out of a wet paper sack. Anyway, Sombra found us and when he did he had every officer except for Commander Fission executed, brutally. The Commander had to stand right next to the chopping block as the blade came down. By the time it was all over he was covered from head to hoof in blood and brains,” Stone shook his head in disgust.

“Sombra locked him away in the dungeon and tortured him,” Stone smirked awkwardly and he scoffed. “I can… I can still hear his screams. After Sombra found us, those of us who weren’t officers he put in shackles alongside the rest of those who couldn’t escape.

“We toiled for years under Sombra’s rule. Just working and dying, not from old age, but from malnutrition and dehydration. I watched some of my best friends die working for that king.

“But one day there was this flash in the sky. There were explosions and bursts of light coming from the palace. Walls exploded outward and shards of crystal flew through the air. Then Sombra sailed through one of the windows followed by two ponies who flew out after him, each shining as brilliantly as the sun,” Stone was looking up as if seeing the sight again.
“Then, as the king fell, he cast a spell. It encompassed all of us, the whole city, and we were whisked away, away to the north.

“The Frozen North,” Stone put his hooves on the table and rested his chin on them. “It never stopped snowing, the wind never died down, and it never got any warmer. We were stuck in that snow for years. Then, suddenly, the king came back, now as he was but as this black mass.” Stone sat up and spread his hooves, trying to back up his exaggeration.
“Then these two ponies showed up. One claimed she was a princess, she looked just like the old queen and it was like looking into the past, before Sombra, and it gave me hope.

“She put a massive shield over the city. It banished the cold and kept the king out of the city. Then more ponies showed up. Princess Twilight and her friends, it was before she was made a princess though.

“They put on a fair for us, just like the old days before the king. Then the shield fell and the Crystal Heart was missing. Then the king was coming, flooding his way into the city. We panicked, we didn’t know what to do and then he was there again, standing above us all and riding some black, crystal spire into the sky. I looked up and I could see the Crystal Heart, falling through the air, falling straight at the king, and then suddenly, the princess was flying through the sky and she had the Heart!” Stone sat up suddenly with his hooves outstretched.

“She put the Heart in its place and we powered it up, just like we had before the king had come. The power shot through us all, and smashed into the king, and then he just, exploded,” Stone threw up his hooves dramatically. 

“Amazing,” Rime commented, honestly interested in Stone’s narration. Waller’s jaw was hanging open in shock. Chief’s eyebrows were nearly over the top of his forehead.

"Quite the tale, lad, quite the tale,” the old officer said.

“Born of rebellion and tempered in the ice of the Frozen North,” Rime drank from his mug. “You have earned my respect.”
“Hey Chief!” a drunken outburst speared through the crowded bar. Chief and Waller whipped their heads around, each instantly recognized the voice.

“Oh no,” Waller said as he watched Twitch and Trench stumble into the bar. 
> A Word About A Princess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two drunken pegasi stumbled into the bar laughing at each other and all those around them. The rookie ran into a waitress and sent her tray and drinks flying.

"I'm s-s-sssory," Trench managed to slur out as he stumbled away sideways.

The waitress glared daggers at the young guard but could do little about it. The two continued to make their slow and destructive way towards the table. Waller began to stand to grab the two when Chief put a hoof on his shoulder.

"Leave them, lad, with any luck they'll pass out on the floor," Chief stared at his two squad mates. Chief turned out to be less than prophetic as the Lieutenant and the rookie finally made it to the table."Hee, hee," Twitch giggled as he sat down heavily in Frost's vacant seat. Trench twirled about slowly and nabbed an empty seat from a nearby table and sat as well. As soon as Trench sat his head hit the table and he began to snore. Waller sighed inwardly. It wasn't the youngest one he was worried about. Waller looked at Twitch who was still giggling.

"Tell us Lieutenant," Rime said between drinks. "What's so funny as to have you in such hysterics?"

Twitch looked at the big thestral and collapsed forward onto the table laughing raucously.

"I think-" Twitch inhaled deeply and wiped a tear away from his eye. "I think I figured out why ponies started calling you guys moonies," Twitch laughed harder and slammed his hoof on the table.

"Oh," Rime raised an eyebrow over the rim of his mug. "Please, share with us."

"Okay, okay," Twitch calmed down a bit with an over exaggerated exhale. Waller put a hoof over his nose so he wouldn't have to smell Twitch's alcohol infused breath. "You guys got the nickname moonies because Luna," Twitch snorted. "Because Luna has a big ass!" Twitch shouted. The lieutenant nearly fell over laughing at his own joke. Waller looked at Rime who had frozen mid-drink to stare at Twitch with an impressive and frightening combination of surprise and rage. Waller could see his neck slits were wide open and that hint of noise was back, something hear and unheard at the same time. Waller looked over his shoulder to see every thestral head turned once again to stare at their table.

Twitch was laughing drunkenly, nearly throwing himself from his seat. He wiped a tear from his eye and leaned over the table. He inhaled deeply and brought his gaze up to stare around at his squad mates.

"What?" He asked, utter confusion plastered across his face.

The mug exploded into splinters and cider as it was smashed across the side of Twitch's head. The lieutenant fell to the ground unconscious. Behind him Frost was breathing heavily anger grew more and more uncontrollable.

Waller stood and looked on in shock as Frost's enraged breathing was the only thing heard. Chief sat frozen in his seat, his eyes moving quickly between the two brothers. Rime slowly rose from his seat and reached out to Frost.
"Don't touch me," Frost snarled at his fellow as he swatted the hoof away.

"It's not him touching you that you should be worried about," the threat drifted out from behind the Moon Guard.
Rime and Frost turned in unison to see three gold armored stallions standing behind them, he was the color of a rainy morning and as drunk as he could possibly be.

"That's my brother you just assaulted, moonie," the speaker was a standing slightly abreast of the other two as he spoke, spitting the last word out like a curse.

Frost's rage had cooled some, but his eyes moved quickly, analysing the threat before him.
"And he insulted my Mistress and my brothers," Rime spoke before his brother could.
"Fuck you, and your mistress," the Sun Guard slurred.

"How dare you!" Chief rose to his hooves as his face contorted with anger.
"Stay out of this you old relic," the belligerent Sun Guard looked at Chief with one eye closed, too drunk to see straight.
"Let's all calm down," Stone stood from the table as well. "We've all said things that we regret so let's just turn and leave before we do something we regret," he grinned sheepishly.

"Oh shut the fuck up, you damn legionnaires," the drunken unicorn growled. "No traditions, no honor, you just show up and think you're as good as the rest of us, you and the damn Bitch Brigade," he stumbled a bit as he spoke and Rime struck.

The thestral didn't have to hit him hard for the idiot to go down, but Rime hit him hard anyway, his quiet rage fueling the strike of his hoof.

The strike caught everypony off guard but the inebriated wheels turned and the two cohorts lurched forward.
Frost struck next, putting the stallion on the right down hard, while Rime doged the remaining Sun Guard and let him tumble bodily into the table behind him.

The table broke apart and the mugs of cold cider flew everywhere, splashing the sticky liquid across several pony's coats, including the still unconscious Trench who had sat back in his chair to find a more comfortable sleeping position.

The final crash was the last nail in the coffin. Young Sun Guard members from the street poured in swinging as the older officers tried to get away from the Moon Guard who all rose as one to engage the incoming troublemakers.
Tables and chairs began to fly as hooves and curses crashed across snouts and bones.

Waller grabbed Chief and headed for the bar to find cover as splintered wood crashed around him.
A thestral swung for his head but was stopped cold as Chief put a hoof into the assaulters chin.
"Grab the fool!" Chief ordered. Waller turned about and spotted the bruised Lieutenant on the ground, covered in spilt alcohol.

Waller took a few quick steps and grabbed his squad mate and turned to run as the chaos grew into a hurricane. Chief made it through the fighting guards to the bar and called to Waller who was still dragging Twitch behind him.
Waller ducked another swing and paused for a moment. He cocked back and threw the officer behind the bar and recoiled to swing on his attacker, dropping the Moon Guard to the floor.

Waller flared his wings and propelled himself over the bar. A flying chair struck him from behind, slamming him into the back wall behind the bar, smashing several bottles of expensive stock and cutting his body in several places.
"You okay, lad?" Chief reached a hoof out and pulled Waller up next to the bar.

"Where is Stone?" Waller yelled over the noise.

Chief pushed himself up to look over the bar.

The fighting was  growing more and more intense as furniture had run out and it was down to bare hooves and bad blood.

Packs of Sun Guard troops were bearing down on thestral pairs and the grey and midnight stallions broke stranded Sun Guard bones and left their wounded opponents screaming on the floor.
Stone stood in the middle of the brawl unmoving and unflinching next to the still seated Trench who still snoozed away lazily in his chair, unharmed.

Chief dropped back down and chuckled.

Waller raised and eyebrow in question.

Chief shook his head. "Lad, you wouldn't believe eben if you saw it."

"What in the name of Celestia is going on in here!" The steely voice cut through the rabble like hot steel through ice.
Sudden silence fell over the bar as every guard who was still standing came to attention.

A people armored officer stepped in off the street with a look of stoic disappointment on his face. His plumed helm nearly reached the ceiling as he walked through the destruction to stand in front of Stone.

"Trooper Stone," the officers tone was thick with anger.

"Aye, sir," Stone answered, still standing at attention.

"What are you doing in here when you should be with your unit?" Commander Fission looked Stone up and down as Trench snored aloud.

Fission looked at Trench angrily as if the rookie's snoring was insulting to his very being.
"Instead you are with these guards, causing trouble and breaking things," Fission's voice rose as anger filled him.
"It's not his fault, sir," Chief stood from behind the bar.

"Oh, I know, shiny," Fission snarled as he turned to look at Chief.

"But he is here with you and your fellow troopers, trading blows with ponies who he should not be, considering he should not be here in the first place!" Fission roared at Chief.

"How did he manage to get here in the first place?" Another voice came wafted through the room.
Three more officers walked through into the bar from the open night, one in purple and the other two in midnight blue.
Every pony in the establishment saluted and came to even more rigid attention.

Waller stood up and lifted Twitch from the floor to the bar with solid 'thud'."Figures," Commander Started picked his way through the stallions and broken wood to stand in front of the Lieutenant's sleeping form.

He raised a hoof and slapped Twitch across the face, causing Twitch to sit up in a start and fall of the bar.
"Sir," he forced out as he tried to come to his feet but only managed to fall back over.

"It's always you Twitch, it's always you fucking up my good day," The commander snorted in derision.

"Fission, you should lay off of your stallion there, he had nothing to do with," Starter turned about. "In fact I would like to thank him because it looks like he stood by my foolish trooper whilst he slept in the midst of, what appears to be, quite the brawl." Fission looked at the two Moon Guard officers. "Crush, Break, what do you think?"
The Moon Guard officers walked amidst the wreckage looking over their own members.

"It seems our brothers were not on their best behavior," one of them spoke. "Aye, Crush," I'd say the brothers may have been provoked, however." The other officer spoke.

"Indeed they were brother Break," Starter looked back to Twitch.
"Waller," Starter commanded.

Waller saluted again. "Aye, sir."

"Twitch cause this?"
"Aye, sir."

"Fucking figures."

Starter looked to Fission. "My ponies are responsible yours is not, lighten up, we're at the Trial."
Starter started walking out of the bar both Break and Crush followed. The Moon Guard's neck slits opened and the faintest whisper of sound wafted through the air and every thestral in the bar stiffened as they received their orders.

"Oh, and, Wall," Fire Starter stopped and called over his shoulder.
"Bring me that idiot tomorrow morning, I've got an idea of what I want to do for punishment."
With that the three officers walked out while commander Fission fumed in silence.


"Go to your bunk, trooper," Fission said quietly. Stone nodded and quickly left the bar.

Fission glared about the bar one last time before following his fellow legionnaire.

With that the tension lessened considerably as everypony relaxed.

"Every Sun Guard is to stay and help clean this place," Chief ordered. He turned to see a cowering barmaid a few feet away. "Miss," he reached under his armor and pulled an enormous sack of bits and dropped them in front of her.

"This should take care of the damages, if not, tell your boss to come find me, my name's Chief." He smiled at her and winked, his giant moustache drooping lazily down.

Waller lifted Twitch from the ground and made way for the exit. Twitch moaned in pain.

"Shut up," Waller commanded.

"Blergh," Twitch moaned again.

Waller stepped onto the cobblestone road and turned left.

"Where is our room, Twitch?" Waller demanded.

"West side," Twitch slurred. "211, at the Flamed Crown."

Waller nodded and began to walk.

A large crowd had already begun to disperse as the fight had ended.

Waller dragged Twitch along the street and turned west down an alley. At the other end Waller could see two ponies approaching them, wearing dark clothing.

"Well, well," a female voice lofted through the cool night air.

"Oh shit," Twitch tried to push himself up but stumbled over his hooves. "Is her," he loudly whispered at Waller.

Waller ignored Twitch and came to a stop in front of the two Witch Brigade mares walking towards him. His heart leapt into his throat when he realized that one of them was Spectacle Shadow and the other was her superior Mist Drifter.
"Hello, sisters," Waller drew himself up to attention as best as he could.

"He-" Twitch tried to greet them but instead fell from Waller's grasp as vomit rocketed from his mouth.

All three of the other ponies stepped back from the Lieutenant as he puked again.

Sister Drifter pulled a face as Twitch evacuated his stomach.

"Sorry about this," Waller said as he looked on in disgust.

"Um," Spectacle looked up at him in confusion. "Maybe we'll run into each other sometime later," she looked away and hurried off. Sister Shimmer looked at Twitch again before following the younger witch.





"That's the guy?" Sister Drifter asked her younger counterpart.

"Yes, mother," Spectacle replied quietly.

"He's cute," Drifter looked over her shoulder at Waller who was trying to pull Twitch along without touching any of the vomit on the ground.

"I can see why you like him, but I think his friend is cuter, only, when he's not throwing up."

Spectacle giggled quietly.

"What's got you so happy?" Drifter looked at Spectacle.

"Oh, nothing, mother. Just happy to see Waller again is all."