FSE

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With time comes change both great and small. Grass grows. Flowers bloom. Children mature. Elders pass. Foals are born. And homes are built. Such was the fate of the home of the Imperial Guard Force that was newly established in Equestria. As was predicted by the most wise of all ponies, the Princess Celestia, it took the master builders a mere month to construct the three tiered tower on the outskirts of Ponyville. To protect the farmland of Ponyville the tower had been built so that the shadows it cast would fall onto unused grasslands. Behind the tower a railroad had been extended to a loading platform where both passengers and heavy cargo could be unloaded. The structure itself was built mostly out of limestone with marble used for decorative patterns around the windows, doors, steps and floors. On the first floor the tower had two finely crafted extensions built into either the left or right side. To the right were the kitchens and mess hall for ponies stationed in the tower to eat without having to crowd the local venues. To the left were a barracks and armory equipped to house and gear up at least fifty ponies at any given time. On the roof of the barracks, which were at least fifty yards long, was a landing area for Pegasus guards to use at their leisure, along with a door that lead into the main shaft of the tower.

The second floor of the tower, besides being a higher altitude entrance for flyers, housed special sleeping chambers for high profile guests. There were three rooms, all well stocked and spacious. In the outer wall of the second floor were several small windows, built high and narrow to protect guards inside from attacks of many types. The stairs around the outer wall continued up to the third floor which had four halls leading to the center of the tower where they crossed. At the end of each hall was a large arch leading out to a small balcony, each with a beautiful, and strategic, view of the four main directions of the world. The balcony facing north was slightly larger than the other three because of the four the princesses would most likely land there if they saw fit to visit. The spaces between the halls were filled with four separate rooms; three with doors engraved with a picture of that rooms intended purpose.

The first of the four rooms had a book with a scroll crossed over it and placed nearby an ink bottle with a quill set in its depths all engraved on the door. That room was the records room where the books, scrolls, writing supplies, maps, etc would be kept. The second door was engraved with the picture of a pouch of bits along with loose parchment. That room would be for accounting and book keeping. Every establishment needs a well managed system of income and spending, even a guard outpost. The third door had the Imperial Guard Forces coat of arms set on the door rather than an engraving. The coat of arms was a kite shield with a set of wings extending from the two sides, each wing being one of the two princesses: one larger and white, the other smaller and midnight blue. A single spear was placed behind the shield with the pointed tip pointed up as if to salute the heavens. In that room was where mission planning and meetings with the princesses would be held. The final of the four doors had an engraving of set of wings that extended from a round shield which had a cutie mark carved into its center: a spear with flames upon the point and lines waving behind it to give the impression of an extraordinary thrust. This room was the personal bed chamber of the Imperial Guard Captain, Fierce Charge.

In one month this fantastic structure had been built using powerful magic, strong wings and steady hooves. No pony involved would rest until the structure had been built, and after that long month passed it had indeed been completed. Every pony gave a cheer as the last nail was forced into place, and the grand opening of the tower had been scheduled on the last Saturday of the month. During the building of the tower many ponies from the nearby town had come to watch, offer assistance or sell their food to the hungry builders. The sweet, irresistible apples of the local orchard had become a particular favorite of the visiting Canterlot builders who all agreed to visit weekly so that they could restock their pantries with those apples. Due to their time spent in town during the night or their days off, the builders and planners would shop and mingle, and business boomed in town. One particular business that took off was a small, but grand tailor shop where the Canterlot ponies would purchase dresses and suits to send back home. A thrill for the Pegasus ponies of the builders' guild that worked the project came when Rainbow Dash spent a day practicing her aerial acrobatics to the north east of the tower. Some speculate that her appearance was planned so that she could show off her moves, while others say that she was legitimately practicing, but nonetheless the spectators got very little done that day.

The mare Twilight Sparkle visited daily on the pretence of writing out reports on progress to the princess who she said was her mentor, but the pony foreman swore that her real reason for snooping about was to study the spells the builders used to purify the stone, set it in place, produce the mortar, and other such activities. The pony foreman had only one problem with the locals, and that was one particular pony that he would have to keep an eye open for. She was reported to be very pink, very hyper, very random and highly problematic. Half way through the project, about the second week in, they had to replace an entire wall because of a prank that went out of control involving an exploding cake. The one last job the pony foreman had taken on was trying to find the pony responsible for keeping the fauna away from the project. He had wanted to thank him or her, but no matter how long he looked he never found them.

It was Friday morning in Equestria and the sun was rising slowly and casting long shadows across the land. Every pony began to stir from their beds and begin the day. The scent of fresh bread would waft through the air as bakeries came to life. Song birds would greet the sun with a chorus of tweets and chirps. We zoom in on one particular pony, Fierce Charge, sleeping soundly in his bed, the alarm on his bedside table getting dangerously close to going off. The sun had barely entered his room when the ringing began. He made a sound that resembled what one would imagine a zombie sounded like when it had a hangover. With a huff he turned over in his bed and smashed a hard hoof right into the small clock, injuring it beyond repair this time. As he heaved himself out of his bed he realized what he had done and swore loudly; that clock was the tenth one he had been through. He peered around the half lit bedroom he slept in and gave a small sigh. It had been two days since the movers had picked up what little he had owned and shipped it south to the tower in Ponyville. All that was left in his home were the few trinkets he could easily pack in his saddle bags; that number of trinkets had just gone down by one.

After a short trip to the privy to freshen up he returned to the bedroom feeling clean, empty and ready to tackle the day. After packing the few belongings he wouldn't trust with any pony other than himself he left his home for the last time. He felt sad to be going, but he was determined to fulfill his duty to the kingdom and his beloved princesses. He left his home using the stairs that led from his upper dwelling to the street below for one last use of the stairs he had so long thought of with disdain. Once on the street below Fierce Charge was met by two city guards, earth ponies with coats and manes much like his used to be. Their grey faces were stern and disciplined and when he looked them both in the eye they merely nodded to acknowledge him. This small act surprised Fi, because only a month ago they might not have even seen him exit his home. When he made to move they stepped to attention and followed without need of order or request. Fi gave a small sigh; he had forgotten the princesses were planning to assign him guards after he had been proclaimed Imperial Guard Captain the day before when he passed his final test. He remembered the test fondly...

~Twenty four hours before~

Fi had just arrived at the training grounds outside the barracks at the castle. An hour before he awoke startled by a magically teleported letter appearing at his bedside in the smoke of a small explosion. It had been sealed with wax and the mark on the seal was that of Princess Celestia's stamp. He read the note at once and was taken aback by a sudden call to arms at the castle itself. Supposedly they had been surprise attacked by a large force of those ancient, blood sucking changelings from underground. After seeing the entrance Malvagio had made on their last encounter Fi was convinced this attack was legit. He donned his old guard armor that he had yet to check back in and took off right away to the castle, ready for battle. It took only moments to arrive at the castle due to the ungodly hour of the attack. He was angered to see smoke lines in the sky leading up from the training grounds, so he doubled his speed using a fast moving updraft to gain altitude.

When he was over the fields he cursed. At least two dozen of the oversized pony vampires were doing battle with only a dozen pony guards, both royal and castle guards. Fi could see the Pegasus ponies using flight to perform hit and run attacks on the grounded monsters, but without coordination they did little damage over time. Earth ponies were fighting hoof to hoof against their attackers, but the inflated pony creatures were at least twice as strong, so they gained no ground. The royal guard ponies with their shining white coats and golden armor attempted to use their magic to cast offensive spells at the brutes from afar, but the royal guard is primarily a defensive unit, so their shield magic and disruptive spells were of little help. He dove down through the smoke clouds rising from the small craters left by spells and upon landing made sure to catch a beast in the head with his left back hoof.

"Who is in charge here?!" Fi called out over the crash of body slamming body and the occasional hum of a spell.

"Imperial Guard Captain, thank Celestia you are here! We are all that's left of our unit, sir!" A palace guard pony called out as he pressed his shoulder into an attacker a few feet away.

"Damn it all, this would happen on the best day of my career wouldn't it?!" Fi growled before cursing the sky, "Every pony to me, defensive phalanx formation!"

On his command the guards pulled back to the center of the field, using Fierce Charge as a central point to surround in a small square. Each earth pony, six in all, searched their surroundings for spears that had been discarded during the chaos. The second layer of the phalanx was composed of the four remaining unicorns, their white coats smeared with mud but their steely resolve unshaken. Together their magic formed a white dome of protection over their group while everyone positioned themselves. Fi was impressed with their work; several of the beasts outside charged the dome, but did nothing more than risk breaking their sinister noses. The remaining Pegasus ponies flew high enough to hear orders but were out of range of the teeth and claws of their enemies. Once the guard had successfully positioned themselves around their new leader the dome reformed into a more conventional set of floating kite shields that surrounded the group and held back the beasts.

"Good work ponies! Unicorns, allow only two of those creatures to reach us at a time! Earth ponies, use your weapons to keep them back from our casters and slay the brutes! Pegasi, report if the enemy moves to flank our position and do not allow any of them to leap over our barrier!" Fi ordered as his voice boomed over the dull roar of the beasts that were slamming themselves into the floating pink, blue and golden shields.

At his word the earth ponies readied their spears and held them steady while two of the shields shrunk to allow two of the massive monsters to pass their defensive line. Like scared deer the bastards leapt into the midst of the ponies' ranks and were easily skewered on the ends of their long spears. Fi gave a great cheer, but it was more for moral than a sense of victory. There were still a far too many monsters around them to convince him it was time to warm up the hearth. He watched as a few of the monsters took flight using their greasy, black feathered wings to try and glide above the boundary. Before they flew three feet they were cast back to the ground by the golden clad hooves of the pegasi ponies flying in the air. From then on the battle took a slow repetitive rhythm. The ponies would take one or two of them out while pushing their position deeper into the ranks of their attackers. The pegasi would fly and report enemy movements that the grounded ponies could not see. The hearty earth ponies would push back the offending monsters with strength and endurance. The unicorns would keep up their impressive magical barrier to aid in controlling the flow of battle. All the while Fierce Charge would issue commands concerning when to push forward, when to pull back, when to change positions and when to take a unique course of action. One such instance of "unique action" involved bringing to life a set of discarded spears on the ground and having them fly at the enemy as if they were jet propelled.

Over time the tide of the battle changed and the ponies grew bold in their actions. Fi would reprimand any reckless behavior by replacing the pony with a fresh guard from the rear lines. When no more than five of the beasts remained Fi gave the order for the shields to be brought down completely. As soon as the protection was removed the monsters made a fast break for their spear line. The earth ponies held together strong and kept them at bay while the pegasi flew down and flanked the creatures. Fierce Charge felled the last monster with a quick stomp of his hoof to its throat before the guard erupted into a loud roar of cheers and stomping hooves. Suddenly they were all blinded by a shimmering light that fell on them from the clouds above. When the light faded each pony looked up and was startled to find her majesty Princess Celestia gliding down gracefully on her beautiful wings. Fi called an immediate attention and each guard stood tall and disciplined to greet their princess.

"That was a very impressive display of leadership and bravery Captain. You passed the test with flying colors." The princess said as she displayed her most warm and proud smile to her guards.

"The test, milady? This was my test? But these beasts are real, this battle was real..." Fi said disbelievingly, but as he spoke the beasts' bodies evaporated into clouds of magical dust.

~Present~

Fi looked back on his triumph with pleasure and pride. He had never been in a position of leadership before that day. Yes, he had spent the month learning under the tutelage of Shining Armor and his various support staff, but that had been his first real practice, or so he thought. To him it didn't matter that the monsters his men had defeated were specters. The blood they shed was real enough. The wounds they suffered were real enough. The unity they experienced was real enough. Celestia and Luna both gave speeches to Canterlot citizens commending his assets and assuring them that he was more than capable of taking up his new post as captain of the imperial guard. He was later briefed on what to expect on arriving at the tower outside Ponyville. Several of the locals had volunteered to give their support to the guard stationed there. It was heartening to know that the local ponies didn't resent the placement of such a bulky and foreign structure on their land.

When Fi stopped he was standing just outside the shop owned by the Tarts. He could smell the familiar scent of cherry and cream cheese in the breeze blowing by and oddly a tear formed in his eye. He gave his guards an order to stay put then he left them to enter the shop. He was glad to see the front as well stocked and welcoming as he remembered it before. Sweets of all kinds, both big and small, were out on shelves, display tables and cooling racks. A few candy baskets from Hearts and Hooves day were set on clearance in the window display up front under the repaired silk curtains. Having heard the bell of the door Mr. Tart entered the shop from the kitchen wearing his businessman's smile and a chef's hat on his head.

"Welcome to Sweet and Sour! How can I...? Well hello there young pony!" Mr. Tart cried as he galloped around the counter to greet Fi.

They shared a small nuzzle before separating, "Hello Mr. Tart, I came by to check on you and the missus."

"Oh we're fine, my neck's all healed up and the missus was barely scratched, but you would know that better than I would you hero!" Mr. Tart replied before giving Fi a small nudge with his hoof.

"Is that the voice of the new captain I hear?" A voice said from the back.

"Sure is dear, come say hello!" Mr. Tart replied to the voice.

A light red pony came sauntering from the kitchen: Mrs. Cherry Tart. Her light red coat was pleasing to the eye and matched well with the deeper red of her mane and tail. She was a bit older, but it only showed in her lightly sunken amber eyes. She still possessed the form, grace and bearing of a young Canterlot mare in every step she took. She had on a hair net and apron that was already stained with a bit of red syrup. Her warm smile gave Fi a feeling or both joy and embarrassment when he realized that she may have noticed his eyes roaming over her. He had no intention of visualizing the elder pony in any romantic or sensual instance, but it was still uncomfortable to be caught peeking. Whether she thought he was acting uncouth or not she showed no sign of disapproval and when she was upon him she too shared a small but affectionate nuzzle with the stallion.

"If it isn't my savior come to visit our humble shop. It's good to see you again Fi. I had heard you were gravely wounded when you came to rescue the captured ponies. I spent most of the time until I heard word of your arrival back in Canterlot worrying that we had let you speed off to your death. We are forever in your debt Fi." Mrs. Tart said with a voice like silk. Many of the local children and even some ponies Fi's age can remember the times they were foal sat by Mrs. Tart; she told the best bed time stories.

"You both owe me nothing. I am honored that I was able to repay the many years of kindness you have shown the community by rescuing you from those vicious things. If you insist on repaying a debt that you are not obligated to pay, then you can give me a discount on those amazing Cherry Cheese Tarts you make." Fi replied to her with as kind a smile as his disciplined body could muster.

"Your money isn't good here kiddo. You don't pay a dime for our goods, understand?" Mr. Tart piped in with a mock fatherly tone.

"Mr. Tart that really isn't necessary..."

"We insist Fi. A tart is worth five bits. A cake is worth ten. A life... that is truly priceless. If you cannot see the value in your deed, then at least say yes to please a couple of stubborn old ponies." Mrs. Tart said with another of her warm smiles and Fi had no choice but to concede.

Fierce Charge left the warm shop and waved back at the couple inside before he took off down the street again with his guards in tow. They had insisted not only on not allowing him to pay, but also that he take a sampling of every item they had in stock that day, including one of their heavily laden Hearts and Hooves baskets. His saddle bags were then too heavy for him to fly with, so he decided to walk the rest of the way up town towards the castle. Fi passed by many ponies along his path. The parents were out walking their foals to school. The guards were reporting for duty around the city. The nobles were preparing for a long day of shopping. One would hardly believe that a month ago the city had suffered a great loss. Perhaps it was the way of ponies to focus not on the sadness of the world, but to move on and keep trotting. Fi admired the spirit of his people and his pride in knowing he would soon be protecting many of them swelled. Once they had reached the palace gates his guards excused themselves from his company and left him to enter the castle alone.

Fi made his way passed the lush gardens where a few ponies could be seen tending the emerald green grass and dazzling flowers. He had always favored the rose over all other flowers, but if he had ever been asked on the subject he would respectfully decline answering. Enjoying flowers never seemed like a very guard like thing to do, and one must always consider the image one wishes to portray. Once beyond the gardens he was inside the entrance hall of the castle. Many guards nearby saluted him, and many more did likewise when he passed by them on his way to the throne room. Once outside the large oak doors leading into the throne room his stomach gave a small lurch. Was he truly ready to take command of others and protect the entire country? As he stood there fretting over himself he was unaware of the set of clopping hooves making their way up behind him. So when one of those hooves fell on his shoulder he gave a start and his entire mane was sent up into a shock induced Mohawk. Light giggling filled his ears before he turned to see the gentle face of Princess Luna looking upon him with glee.

"F-forgive me, princess... I must have been distracted." Fi pleaded with his head hung low.

"We do not need to be apologized to, Fierce Charge. We understand what it feels like to have our mind consumed." Luna replied while she lifted a hoof to his chin and forced his gaze to be once more upon her beautiful turquoise eyes.

Fi practically melted. He never quite understood how some ponies could still fear her. Yes, Luna had once been corrupted by some form of evil that had transformed her into the vicious, vile, evil Nightmare Moon. Now, Luna was a graceful, kind and compassionate princess that every pony ought to love and admire. That was all she wanted from her people to start with, a little love. Ponies are a stubborn lot however, and there are still many who fear she will eat them or some other such superstitious nonsense. One perk to being a guard in the castle was having the chance to see the princesses when they were out of the public eye. He had learned that beyond the perfect, clean and overall uptight Celestia was a young, wild and fun loving pony. She was known to be a bit messy, a bit loud and also a bit wild when fast paced music was on. Luna of course was the complete opposite, seeing as the two sisters were quite literally "night and day."

Luna spent much time alone during the night. Her task of moving the moon across the sky was a tremendous responsibility, but it left her with little socializing time, since at night most ponies were tucked away in bed. It was this fact that may have led to her corruption so many years ago, but that's all speculation to the ponies of today. Beyond her duties in the tower Luna spent much time in the library at night. She would study the history texts until all hours, breaking only to check the progress of her nights. Fi remembered watching her one evening with interest as she quietly read her books in the lower level studying area just outside the Repository. As was the usual Fi went unnoticed by the dark hued pony princess, as he was by every pony, but he took his time to admire her. He much preferred the darker princess to her pastel sister, but he would never have the courage to admit it to any pony, especially Celestia or Luna.

Fi quickly smoothed his mane down to its natural forward spiked style before he stood straighter than he ought to, "You're too kind your highness. Am I late or are you?"

"We're afraid that we are late, not you. Shall we enter together?" Luna suggested with a wave of her black shoed hoof.

Fi gave her a quick nod and then chivalrously opened the large door to allow her unbarred entry to the throne room. She took leave of his company for a moment to enter the robust throne room. On her way past Fi barely noticed what might very well have been a blush upon her cheeks, but he dismissed it as his imagination taking off without him. He followed after her once the last bit of her starry tail had passed the threshold and once again the pair was side by side. The throne room was very long and very wide. Elegant columns lined the path that was set with a very fine red carpet with gold embroidery and borders. The high walls led up to an even higher arched ceiling, and on every section of wall were beautiful stained glass images of historical events in Equestria history. Near the rear of the cavernous room were Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, and her student Twilight Sparkle, the purple mare he found out would be escorting him to Ponyville. A small contingent of guards that had been hoof picked by the Royal Guard Captain himself was also present. These ponies stood on either side of the carpet at attention. None wore their armor or dye because the uniform had yet to be picked for them.

"Welcome Fierce Charge, and you too my tardy little sister, please join us." Celestia said with a smile and slight amusement in her voice.

Fi and Luna both hurried forward to take their places. Fi stopped near the base of the steps leading up to the thrones and stood tall and proud. Luna took her place beside her sister and looked at Fi fondly, before looking away and this time Fi knew it was indeed a blush that graced her angled cheeks. Celestia allowed them both a moment to adjust and settle before speaking softly but with authority.

"I, Princess Celestia of Equestria, proudly announce that on this day the first generation of the Imperial Guard Forces have been selected and shall now take their oaths."

Shining Armor marched proudly to the front of the guard present in the hall. Each pony turned to face the throne and their former captain. When he spoke his usual charm was forsook and replaced by one of pure authority and strength. It was clear to all ponies present that this was to be a very solemn moment for every pony involved.

"Fierce Charge, former palace guard of Canterlot, I speak now directly to you. You have been chosen to command the Imperial Guard. Through your leadership and courage you will be charged with protecting both the ponies under your command and every pony in this kingdom, as well as our allies of the Crystal Empire. Do you understand and accept your duty?" Shining Armor concluded while all eyes shifted to the silver pony with the blazing flame hair and the flying spear cutie mark.

"I, Fierce Charge, former palace guard of Canterlot, understand and accept the duties I have been presented, and swear on my honor as a pony and my love for the princesses that I shall never flag or fail. I will perform each and every duty with honor and pride, for Equestria." Fi announced with his own equally strong and authoritative voice. Thunderous hoof stomps sounded behind him as the other guards applauded him.

Shining Armor stepped to the side as Princess Celestia stepped forward to the edge of the upper most step, "I, Princess Celestia, with the power vested in me by the proud citizens of Equestria, hereby grant you, Fierce Charge, the title of Imperial Guard Captain, and place in your hooves all the rights and privileges and responsibilities of a Captain of the Equestrian Military."

As she ended her missive she closed her eyes and her long, regal horn began to glow brightly like the sun itself. Princess Luna joined in afterward and combined her magic with her sister's. Third to join was the purple mare Twilight Sparkle, and at that point the magic in the hall created a maelstrom that gave many of the guards cause to kneel to keep their balance. Shining Armor was the final horned pony to summon forth his magic and at this point the light in the hall became so intense that many shielded their eyes with their hooves. Fi was startled when the air around him began to move so violently, but then as the power grew he could sense that he was standing in the eye of the magical hurricane. A rainbow of intense magic surrounded him like a cocoon. Inside his cocoon he could feel his body lifted into the air. His legs spread of their own accord. His head lifted without a single muscle tensing. He felt compelled to panic, but the beauty and warmth of the magic around him stilled his racing heart and kept him from screaming in fear.

As quickly as the spell weaving had begun is just how quickly it ended. In a flash of blinding light the winds ceased and the magic dissipated. The cocoon of rainbow light melted away slowly into what resembled the falling of cherry blossom petals. Fi opened his eyes for what felt like the first time in an hour. He felt a bit more constricted than before, but no heavier. He then looked down and was startled to find himself in a full suit of proper armor. Atop his head was a helm made of silver metal. It shined like ice and on the forehead was set a stone of pure garnet in the shape of a five pointed star. His mane was allowed to flow out of the top much like the normal guard helms, which was always a relief for ponies with longer manes. He then looked down at his chest where a new vest of thick protective armor was worn. It had a smooth back plate for his saddle bags to latch on. The underbelly and chest were made in the shape of a dragon's stomach, so that it folded down in layers of thick, round scale-like plates. Each super smooth layer overlapped the next so that it created the perfect defense from piercing and slashing attacks. On his wings were a set of super flexible armor attachments. When his wings were folded they would create an extra layer of protection for his sides. When his wings were flared they transformed his wings into the sharpest blades in Equestria. Armor similar to that on his chest and underbelly could be felt on his flanks, and when he looked back to examine them they were indeed just as spectacular, and he spotted his cutie mark set into the flank plates on both sides with very finely carved gemstones of matching colors.

Fi felt the need to burst out with awe like a foal and cheer at how amazingly cool he felt in his new armor. When he looked at the faces of the other guards around him he could tell that they too were impressed with the craftsmanship of his new suit. He then looked back up at the four ponies responsible for the armor and they all appeared exhausted, but pleased with the outcome. After a moment or so of reprieve the four horned ponies regained composure and their cheery smiles returned.

"I need hardly ask, considering the look on your face, but do you approve of your new uniform, my dear Captain?" Celestia asked with a hint of amusement.

"I don't have the words your majesty. I am honored that you all put so much into it. I will wear it with pride as I take my new station."

"You need say nothing more then. Your armor is a very new prototype that we thought would be perfect for you. Take this." Celestia said before she weaved yet another spell with the beautiful light of her horn. When the light faded a small sunburst exploded near Fi's chest, nonviolently of course. When he looked down he found a badge similar to those of the royal guard with a single teal star. His was much different, it was silver like his armor, and in the center of the badge was the coat of arms of the imperial guard painted under clear, cut diamonds. The diamond gave the paint beneath a shine like he had never seen before and it only filled him with more pride, "That badge is enchanted with a simple spell that will allow you to summon your armor to you, and back to their place in your bed chamber on demand. I cannot expect you or the ponies under you to be in armor at all times, nor would the ponies of Ponyville appreciate the sound of heavy metal clanking in their town. We will distribute these enchanted badges to your armory so that your ponies will be able to gather their arms no matter when or where. As protectors of the entire country you must be watchful at all times."

"I will issue them as soon as my unit is gathered in the tower and I will begin training them in proper use as soon as possible milady." Fi assured his princess while he bowed his head slightly.

"Ahem, for now Imperial Guard Captain, I believe you ought to take your place up here and say a few words to your ponies. You must also swear them in under a new oath to you and your new position. Do you need time?" Shining Armor said to Fi. Fi gave the idea a moment's thought before shaking his head. He strode up to the upper step of the throne room and turned. Celestia took her place in the throne to watch.

"I am... new to this. A month ago I was a mere palace guard stationed in the basement of the library. Now, still with the taste of dust on my tongue and the scent of parchment in my nose, I am captain of the Imperial Guard Forces. This new station is sure to be a heavy burden on my shoulders. No one pony could ever possibly believe him/herself capable of taking on such a title alone... and that is why I need you. You are my strength. You are my stamina. You are my blood. From this moment on we are not ponies of the guard. We are now a family, bonded by duty and honor, and the strength of these bonds will see us through any and all obstacles in our way to a peaceful, and safe, Equestria. So I will be strong when you are weak. I will give you breath when you have none. My heart will beat when yours gives out. We are family, we are one... we are the Imperial Guard Force!" Fi called out, his voice ringing in the long chamber. When his voice ceased it was followed by thunderous applause of hooves on the cold stone floor. He then recited an oath that each pony repeated as one.

"I, a proud and noble pony of Equestria, swear to defend the ponies of our home, no matter the cost. I will be a beacon that lights the way to a safer tomorrow. In darkest night, I shall bring forth the light, and search out evil of all forms. My life, my blood, my heart... all this I sacrifice in the name of our loving princesses, Celestia and Luna. In the name of Equestria, I am now an Imperial Guard!"

_ _

Celestia had duties to attend to after the ceremony, as well as Shining Armor, so their goodbyes were short and sweet. Twilight had preparations to complete before her and Fi were to depart so she had assured him they would meet at the station platform later on. When the guards left to prepare themselves for their own individual departures Fi was left in the throne room with Princess Luna. Needless to say, Fi was pleased to be so alone after being forced to speak in front of a crowd, but when he noticed whom he was alone with he became instantly uncomfortable. Not the kind of uncomfortable one would feel accompanied by pure darkness or the sound of an unknown creature baying in the distance. It was the kind of uncomfortable one felt when in the presence of a pony that one had an incredible, yet secret, infatuation with. A "crush" is what a colt or filly would call it. Fi made to leave the throne room as if he had some important duty to see to or last minute shopping to do. He hadn't walked more than a few feet before he was joined by Luna, her graceful hoof steps muffled by the carpet beneath their hooves.

"That was quite a speech you gave back there. We couldn't tear our attention away from you, had we wished to try that is. Will you be leaving for your train immediately, or do you still have things you wish to do?" Luna asked as they trekked the length of the hall to the door.

Fi opened the door for her once again as he replied, "I was planning on getting a bite to eat before the long trip to Ponyville. I still cannot believe I am being forced to travel by train when I could fly there in a heartbeat."

"Relax captain. Our sister's student is going to accompany you to Ponyville and help you settle in. If you flew there she would arrive a day later and if there is one thing we have observed about Twilight Sparkle, it is that she has an obsession with scheduling and maintaining normalcy. A breach in what she perceives is the proper way of things could result in a severe breakdown of the poor mare's sanity."

"...And I am to be accompanied by this mare the entire ride to Ponyville?" Fi asked, feeling wary.

"And for the length of the day you arrive so that you can see to the grand opening preparations." Luna replied with a small smile of amusement.

Fierce Charge face hoofed.

By the time they were outside in the warm sun of the early afternoon Fi was feeling much better, and bolder. He stopped walking and took in a deep, slow breath before he turned to face the princess. He was a bit taken aback when he found her facing him expectantly. What was she waiting for? Surely she couldn't be waiting... Or was she? It didn't really matter to Fi, because whether she was or not, he was going to do it. He gathered his thoughts so that when he spoke he wouldn't sound like a pre-pubescent colt.

"Princess Luna, if you haven't any other engagements, would you care to join me for a light lunch?"

Her reply came only a moment after his inquiry, "I'd love to." She gave a blush when she realized how forward she had sounded.

"Hmm... 'I'd love to?' Not 'we'd'? Seems you have made a breakthrough your highness. Princess Celestia would be proud of you." Fi said with a mocking tone.

"We find you very amusing, Captain. We would be honored to... oh forget it. I would love to join you for lunch Fi." She replied with a smile and a giggle that gave Fi a warm sensation in his stomach.

They took to the city once they had found enough of the royal guards to form the standard royal escort. It made Fi feel a tad uneasy to be followed by so many white coated unicorns in their golden armor. Ponies would stop and stare and many would cower in fear, bowing so low that they might as well be part of the ground. Fi felt like berating their behavior, but he knew that their fears were in an odd way justified. After so long being an enemy of peace, Luna would need another one thousand years to prove that she was cleansed. Fi gave Luna a sideways glance and noticed her gaze had lowered to the ground. He knew nothing he would say could console her, so he let his path merge with hers so that he playfully collided with her side. She was shaken from her sullen reverie and then gave a soft giggle before bumping him back. The guards around them gave grieved looks each time the two ponies would bump; their need to stop all harm from coming to the princess was causing them physical pain.

When Fierce Charge and Luna finally found a small café in uptown to have lunch the owner was frantic as he drove his customers inside to make room for the esteemed guests out in the warm, sunny outdoor eating area. Luna pleaded with him to allow the customers to continue their meals in peace because there were plenty of tables, but it was in vain. Besides, most of the customers felt honored or took pleasure in sacrificing their seats to provide a more private scene for the princess. It never dawned on Fi before that moment just how solitary it was to be of royal blood. He knew Celestia suffered similar treatment on most of her public engagements. How would he react if other ponies shrunk away from him? How would he feel if they left his presence out of respect? The prospect was rather distressing, so he let it be for the time being.

Once they had been seated and their orders taken the owner left to personally see to their order. Luna ordered her guards to take positions further out, and once they were out of ear shot Luna gave a heavy sigh of relief, "It is so nice to be able to breathe again. You have no idea how hard it is to relax with those ponies up my tail. I understand why I must have guards at all times, but I long for a sense of freedom. I wish I had the courage to do what you did..."

"What I did princess?" Fi asked.

"That day you flew high and fast, leaving the city to pursue those monsters. You left without a word, without a plan... I could never, not after what happened the last time I defied my duties. I envy you Fi." She said and her voice was very serious, but soft and melancholy.

"I envy you your highness..." Fi admitted to her. He felt a sudden urge to confide in her, even if she reacted unkindly. Maybe he needed to know if she really was in need of help or if she was just fishing for compassion and pity.

Much to Fi's surprise Luna gave a start and when her eyes fell on his he could see her honest reaction: confusion and hope, however small the latter was.

"You envy me...? After seeing how I am feared and treated by the ponies around me you envy me? How could you?"

"Well princess, until I almost died, I was unknown by every pony around me. I kept watch over old books all day or night. You... are the younger princess of Equestria. You bring the beautiful nights that help our people sleep so soundly. You shepherd the moon across the sky and aid in the churning of the oceans to the south and far west. Everyone knows your name, and they acknowledge you where ever you go. Even if they show disdain or terror, you are known, and being known is a blessing that many take for granted." Fi replied as he poured every ounce of pain he had ever felt inside him out into the light like a writhing worm.

He felt guilt and regret fill his stomach as he knew he had spoken far out of turn, and so his head fell to the side where their gazes would never cross. Moments passed by like hours as he awaited her response. He wagered she would be utterly offended that he would try to compare her existence with his own. He pictured being abandoned there at the café while she stormed off, screaming with her old princess voice about his dishonorable behavior. He cursed his wild imagination for presenting such unappealing ideas. Just when he was about to formulate an apology to save his tail from some form of punishment he felt a hoof touch his chin gently. It drew his head around to look up again and into the beautiful eyes of the princess once again. In those two eyes he saw no anger or fury, but what he might have taken for joy, a small amount, but joy nonetheless.

"I noticed you Fi..." Luna said to him in a gentler voice than he had ever heard from her before.

"You noticed me?"

"I have known of you for a long time now Fi. I know how you admired me in the library when I studied there. I took notice of your eyes upon me the first night I retired to the lower level for my studies. I am used to being stared at, but you did not stare, you gazed, you absorbed, you contemplated... and it was heartening. I was so happy to be looked at less like a dangerous pony or royal princess, and more like a normal pony... I looked up your name in the guard roster. I made sure to study there during my nights only when you would be present. It started as a game. Then it... took flight and became an obsession. I knew nothing beyond your name and your eyes, but I was eager to be near you. You must think badly of me for toying with you."

Fierce Charge could hardly believe what he was hearing. Had she just confessed that she felt a small foalish crush for him? When she spoke of obsession she was being far too harsh on herself. He actually enjoyed the idea of Luna searching out his identity. He imagined her searching the large guard roster scroll for the time of night he'd been watching her. His musings didn't stop there. He imagined himself mustering the courage to speak to her if he were still just a palace guard who was admiring a pony from afar. He pictured himself seizing an opportunity to save the princess from some form of evil. He thought of her equine lips pressed tightly to his own in a passionate... hold! Had he dared to let his mind wander in such an uncouth direction regarding the princess?! Yes... yes he had.

"I do not think badly of you princess..." He began to say before she held a hoof up to give him pause.

"Stop Fi, we mustn't let this progress any further. This outing was a mistake, and... and we must return to the castle where our sister is probably waiting for our return. Fare thee well Captain." She concluded before she stood from her seat and galloped off, her guards in tow.

~

Fierce Charge looked back on the small ceremony with fondness. He felt a bit disappointed in his speech, and in the oath he had created, but the sparkle he saw in the eyes of each pony before him was moving. Perhaps he would be up to the challenge. He turned his attention to the window beside him. He was currently in a leisure car of a small train headed for Ponyville. For comfort, Fi had removed his armor manually once he had boarded the train because he had yet to register a set of return coordinates for his armor. The princess Celestia had assured him that the magic was simple, because it was only teleportation of non organic material. His blank stare was met with confusion from the princess who obviously spoke in such scientific terms often, so he decided to comfort himself with the idea that his princesses wouldn't give him a gift that was dangerous or unstable.

His princesses...

Luna...