As I flew, I found my thoughts drifting towards my destination. I had heard about the various areas under Celestia's rule, due to conversations with the few travelers who visited Maretonia, and from what I heard, life in Ponyville is much different than it is in Maretonia. It was the kind of place where almost everypony was comfortable with each other, where making friends could be as simple as introducing yourself and striking up a conversation, and a friendless pony was almost unheard of. From what I had heard, it was a very calm and self-sufficient community, where anyone was welcome and all lived in peace.
Life in Maretonia was very different indeed. Ponies were rarely openly hostile or even cold towards each other, but all the same, it felt as if true friendship was not a very common thing. While everypony was civil towards each other, most ponies kept only a small circle of friends, while interactions with ponies outside of those groups were… shallow, for lack of a better word.
Ugh, I feel like I'm just rambling on in circles. Really, while all that I feel about Maretonia is true, perhaps part of the reason I felt this way because I have no true friends myself. And it's not as though I don't want to have friends, either. I have people I interact with on a friendly level, to be sure, but there's no one in Maretonia who I truly resonate with. It's hard to explain what I mean, but I just fell like there's something missing…
Suddenly my introspection was interrupted as I felt a tingling sensation on my sides. I glanced back and my eyes widened in surprise. My wings were quickly dissolving into particles of loose magic. While I knew my spell would wear off, I thought it would have lasted longer than it did. Maybe those Timberwolves weakened my magic when they nicked my horn. It doesn't matter why, I've got to get to the ground, now! I dove to the ground as fast as I could, and my wings finally gave out when I was about 5 feet off the ground.
I managed to land safely, and broke off into a trot, determined to reach Canterlot as fast as possible, and from there take the train to Ponyville. Judging from the position of the moon, I had been flying for about three hours. Wow, I can't believe how fast that time seemed to pass. I guess I was in deeper thought than I realized.
Even going at a pace that would leave me exhausted by the time I reached Canterlot, it would take another two or three hours to reach Canterlot, and from there at least two hours on the train to Ponyville. Guess I'd better be about it…
After what seemed like a neverending run, I finally arrived at the gates of Canterlot, actually having to walk right by the train tracks for the last bit of the journey, as the only way in or out, by ground at least, was through a small guard outpost the tracks passed through. As I approached, I was confronted by a couple of royal guards, armed with spears.
"Halt! Who goes there? Few come to Canterlot on hoof, and fewer still in the middle of the night. State your purpose!" one of the guards stated boldly, leveling his spear in my direction.
"Please…" I asked, panting with exhaustion. "I simply need to board a train to Ponyville. I swear I have no ill intentions. I must get to Ponyville to see Princess Celestia, it is an emergency!"
"Hmmm." The guard seemed to consider my words, and I noticed that he looked different from the other guards, having a stronger build, as well as more elaborate armor, a white coat, and a two-toned blue mane. "Alright, I believe you. It's obvious you have travelled a long way, you look exhausted. But first, I must know: are you armed at all?"
I sighed, knowing I had to be honest, but hoping the truth wouldn't damage my credibility. "Yes, I carry a sword in my vest pocket, kept under a compression spell for convenience, but it is only for protection of myself and others, I would never-"
The guard held up a hoof to forestall my explanation as he approached me. I grew a little worried until he spoke again. "No need to explain, your honesty says enough to me." He directed a smirk towards me. "My weapon detection spell would have told me if you had lied, so it's good that you didn't." He held out a hoof towards me. "My name is Shining Armor, Captain of Celestia's Royal Guard."
My eyes widened in surprise as I shook his hoof. "My name is Story Edge, but I go by Edge. I had no idea I was speaking to the captain himself, though I suppose that explains the different appearance."
Shining Armor chuckled slightly as he turned and gestured down the path with his head, growing serious. "Follow me to the train station. You can tell me more about this emergency."
I followed Shining Armor, calling upon what little strength I had left at this point. It may be a little selfish, but I hope the train ride is a long one. I need a nap badly… "Honestly, I don't know what the emergency is exactly, but back at my homeland, I encountered some… strange Timberwolves. It's hard to explain, but they were very dangerous, and I'm sure they were the result of a serious imbalance in Equestria's natural magic. An imbalance like that could never be a good thing, as far as I know," I explained.
"I see," Shining Armor replied with a concerned frown. "I would offer to come with you, but if there truly is a threat to Equestria, I may be needed here all the more. I will have to trust you to warn the Princess of this."
"Of course. You cannot simply abandon your duty. I only hope that my absence does not put my home in danger," I said with a sigh.
"For what it's worth, I think your home would likely be in worse danger if you didn't warn Celestia. I'm sure she will be able to handle the situation," Shining Armor assured, just as we reached the Canterlot train station.
"Board this train," Shining Armor said, pointing towards the train that was facing out of the city. "I'll get one of the guards right away to drive the train, as the conductor is asleep at this hour."
"Thank you very much for your assistance, Captain Armor," I said tiredly.
Shining Armor chuckled. "Just Shining or Shining Armor is fine." His face shifted to a concerned one. "Are you sure you're alright to travel? Frankly, you look terrible, like you've been running for hours or something."
"Honestly, I have been running for hours." His eyes widened a little as I said this. "I'll rest during the train ride though, and I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Alright, then. I'll be right back." With that, Shining Armor ran off towards the city, and I boarded the train.
A couple minutes later, Shining returned with a guard by his side, who immediately boarded the front of the train to get it underway. Meanwhile, Shining addressed me one more time. "You have my sincere thanks for your efforts in protecting Equestria, Edge."
I shook my head in dismissal. "Don't worry about it. I couldn't simply stand by while Equestria is in danger, whatever the situation."
Shining Armor smiled at this, and held out his hoof to shake mine again. "It was good to meet you, Edge. Your sort of dedication is just the kind of thing we look for in the best of Celestia's Guard." I smiled and nodded in appreciation as I shook his hoof. Just then, the train started, almost ready to depart.
"Oh, hey!" Shining exclaimed. "If it's not too much to ask, after you've spoken with Celestia about the problem, if you happen to run across a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle, please give her this for me." He held out a rolled up scroll, which I took.
"Alright, I will. What does she look like?" I asked.
"She has a purple coat, and her cutie mark looks a lot like the star on my mark," Shining explained, gesturing to his cutie mark, which was a shield with a magenta six-pointed star in front of it, and three smaller stars above it. "Twilight is my sister, and the letter is something I wrote when I was last away from Canterlot. I never had the chance to send it, and just after I got back, Twilight left for Ponyville to help organize the Summer Sun Celebration, and I didn't deliver it then, either. I don't know for sure how long she'll be gone, and I can't mail it to her there currently."
A moment later, the train began its journey, slowly picking up speed, as I addressed Shining Armor one more time. "Alright, I'll do my best to see that it is delivered. If I cannot, I will at least return the letter to you."
"Thank you! And all speed be with you on your journey!" he exclaimed, waving farewell.
With that, the train left the station and began its journey to Ponyville in earnest. I quickly felt even more tired than before, due to the rhythm of the train running over the tracks. I really hope I make it to Celestia in time. I really need to rest now though, or I may not even make it off the train when I get to Ponyville.
With that, I found a comfortable seat to lay on for a short, rejuvenating nap, hoping to wake both at Ponyville and ready to take on whatever comes my way, rather than being dead tired like I am now.
A/N: Alright, Edge is finally almost to Ponyville! Next chapter, the story will start to merge with canon events. I'm trying to do my best to make this story interesting and make it more than just a novelization of episodes you've all probably seen, while still staying alongside the original storyline. I think I'll be able to do so, especially once things really get rolling.
Also, thanks to bluecatcinema for reviewing! This story hasn't gotten much in the way of views or feedback yet, so I appreciate any that I get.
Next chapter in a day or two!
