Shining Armor and I continued to roam around the castle as he explained to me where specific places were located. He gave me a brief explanation as to what I would be doing as Princess Luna's personal guard. To put it short, all I would do was stand by the door, inside of her bed chambers.

"Hey Shining Armor, I've always wanted to know this", I asked.

"Know about what?" He asked.

"Do all of the guards in the castle have to act like a freaking expressionless brick wall?" I askedd.

"*Chuckle* Yes, but you don't see me doing that. Most of the guards just adopted this. It's not a requirement, unless you feel as if you want to be a brick wall", Shining said as we turned around the corner.

"Okay, don't need to be a brick wall and all I'll be doing is stand in Luna's room?" I asked again.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it", Shining said as he looked up to think of anything he might have missed.

Asking what questions I had thought of, we continued to walk down the hall. Shining Armor and I were at the very bottom level of the castle, he had wanted to show me where the guards ate. Of course, the Princesses and the guards, maids, and butlers that worked in the castle would eat in a separate area of the castle. Shining had also pointed out that since I'll be in Luna's room for most of the day, I would most likely be eating in her room, if Luna was okay with it, that is. As we made another turn, I bumped into a large floating wooden cage, inside was a dark skinned creature that had the body shape of a pony. It had wings, but not like those of what pegasi have, its wings were more like that of insect wings, its legs had several large holes that went to the other side.

It's eyes were a pearly greenish color and it had two short pure white fangs. The creature did not have a mane of any kind, but it had spikes in place of a mane, if it were to have one in the first place. The creature spun around in its cage and looked at me. Seeing me, it let out a horrific screech and rammed itself against the side of the cage, threatening to burst out of its imprisonment. Inching my way away from the strange creature, I turned to look at Shining Armor, who was showing no signs of fear. Years of practice?

"Shining armor, what the heck is that?" I asked as I stared at the creature as it stared back, snarling at me.

"That... is a Changeling", Shining Armor sighed as he nudged me aside.

"What's a Changeling?" I asked as I looked at the creature as two unicorn guards levitated it forward with their magic.

"A Changeling is a creature that can change into anypony, hence its name", Shining Armor frowed as he looked on, too.

The Changeling within the cage became engulfed in green flames as it morphed into the unicorn in front of it. Then it changed again, into a maid that was walking past them, the maid pony let out a 'eep' as she trotted away quickly.

"But why would something like that be in Canterlot?" I asked, turning to Shining.

"*Sigh* There has been an increase in Changeling activity. Several have broken into Canterlot and have taken the places of several ponies that have gone missing. Soon, there might be a war between the Changelings and the pony race", Shining continued to frown as he turned and began to walk down the hall the Changeling had came down.

"A war? But why would it be brought into the castle?" I asked.

"We don't know why or how they're getting into Canterlot, or if they've invaded Ponyville. The Changeling was brought here to be interrogated, hopefully we'll be able to get some information out of it, it can speak our language that is", Shining Armor huffed as we walked up a short flight of stairs.

I just noticed that as we walked down halls and made our way up flights of stairs, every maid, butler, and the occasional guards, would nod slightly at me.

"Hey, Shining. Why does everypony... nod at me?" I asked, curious as to why they would do that.

"Well, since you're Luna's personal guard, you have a really high rank amongst others in the castle. Your position is just a few ranks below mine. Your title gives you a bit of respect from everypony", Shining Armor explained as we walked down the hall.

"Oh, I don't really like it though. Feels weird when everypony does that", I chuckled as we reached an indent in the hall.

"Not much you can do about it, but either acknowledge them or just ignore them", Shining said as he entered the indent, which lead to a spiraling staircase.

After what seemed to be an hour, we finally reached the top of the stairs. The stairs had lead us to the top of a tower that looked over the city, the view was breath taking.

"Okay, if you take this path and make a left, you'll see a set of stairs. Take the one heading up, it will take you to Luna's room", Shining Armor said as he turned around and began to walk down the stairs.

"Got it, thanks", I called out to him.

"No problem. Just go in her room and stand there, remember to knock... and don't be a brick wall", Shining Armor laughed from the staircase.

"Brick wall, no. Remember to knock, got it", I mumbled to myself as I walked along the path.

The path was just a stone walkway that lead to another tower, to be frank about it, it was more of a bridge. Did Princess Luna really have to walk this way every time when she wanted to go back to her room? Shining did say that there were a set of stairs that lead down, there must have been more stairs leading elsewhere. I swear, this castle is a freaking maze. As I entered the second tower, I indeed saw that there were several stairs. It was as if the insides of each tower was a branch system of stairs. Making my way up the stairs that lead up, I noticed that there were no longer any maids, but only the usual guards I saw in the castle. But as I reached the top of the stairs, I noticed that there were guards dressed in dark armor, similar to mines, but they all wore matching armor. Two guards stood at the very top of the stairs.

Noticing my slightly different armor, they nodded to each other before they pulled their spears away and allowed me to pass. Walking past them, I continued down the hall. All the guards were no longer wearing the usual armor that I say, but they were now dressed in dark armor, like the two I saw back at the staircase. Most likely because they were more of Luna's guards that served under her. I continued down the hall a little more until I noticed twin towering wooden doors. Remembering what Shining Armor had told me, I reached up to knock on the door. Before I could, I heard somepony clear their throat. Turning around, I noticed it was Princess Luna.

"Ah, hey, Princess Luna", I said as I bowed, the two guards by the two towering doors bowed too.

"Dark Eclipse, for what purpose does thou feel the need to be in front of our room?" Luna asked, walking past me.

"I'm your personal guard, right?" I asked, as the two guards stood up and opened the door for her.

"Oh, we have forgotten about that. Please, do come inside", Luna said as she stepped inside the room.

Getting up from my bowed position, I followed her in. The room was dimly lit as long dark curtains were laid across the windows. Luna walked over to her bed and sat down, pulling out a book from a shelf across the room, she began to read it. Remembering what Shining had told me, I stayed by the door and stood there. The sound of Luna flipping through pages and the clock ticking was all that could be heard throughout the room. I have to admit, this job wasn't what I was thinking it would be.

"We can sense thy uneasy feelings, is something the matter?" Luna asked, not looking away from her book.

"... I'm going to be honest about this... this is pretty boring", I said as Luna giggled.

"Of course, what did thou think a job as a Princess' guard would be like?" Luna giggled as she set her book down.

"I thought there would be.. you know, fighting, action, anything that could make this job eventful", I sighed as I tipped my helmet up.

"Thou has heard of the Changeling problem, no?" Luna asked, I nodded.

"Well, if a Changeling attacks us, thou will be able to have some fun?" Luna said.

"Hmm, I guess you've got a point there... still, pretty boring", I said.

Luna nodded as she picked her book back up and began to read it. Looking over at her, I noticed the cover of the book.

'The Tale of the Lost Prince', the cover read, a picture of a Prince and what seemed to be a common mare was on the cover, they were kissing.

'Love... will I even be able to find somepony to love if I'm going to be guarding her everyday of the hour?' I thought.

"Princess, if you don't mind me asking. How many hours will I be stationed her as your guard?" I asked.

"Hmm, thou will be stationed her for the time when thou is awake", she said, my jaw dropped open.

"Ugh, I knew it", I grumbled as I face hoofed.

"Hmm, is something wrong?" Luna asked again, turning to me without lowering her book.

"If I'm here all day for the rest of my youth, I'll never be able to find a special somepony", I sighed.

I didn't notice as Luna smiled.

"Meh, not like I'll be able to support us, if I did find somepony. I'll be sending my pay from this job, to my parents", I smiled as I let out a sigh.

"Hmm, thou thinks of others, but does not think of thyself?" Luna asked,closing her book and turning to look at me.

"Heh, mom always said I should think of myself sometimes, but I enjoy helping others who need it", I smiled.

*P.O.V. Change: Luna*

I couldn't believe it! Eclipse was single! It should have been obvious to me when my sister had asked him what kind of mares he was into, but I just had to make sure of it. Should I say that I like him? Yes... now would be the perfect time, today's the day I tell Eclipse how I feel about hi. As I got up from my bed, a light knock came from my door and the door slowly opened afterwards.

"Oh, hey, Shining", Eclipse as he looked towards the open door.

"Hey, no time to chat. Your highness, your sister has requested that you and Eclipse are to meet with her in the throne room", Shining Armor said sternly before bowing slightly and walking out the door.

"Our sister? What could she need?" I mumbled to myself annoyingly as Eclipse stretched and then turned to me.

"Well, better not keep her waiting, right?" Eclipse smiled as he opened the door with his magic.

"Yes, thou is right", I sighed as I walked away from my bed and towards the open the door.

Eclipse closed the door behind us as we both stepped out of the door. I waited by Eclipse' side, he wasn't moving an inch.

"Why has thou stopped walking?" Luna asked.

"... Shining Armor never showed me how to get to the throne room when he was giving me a tour", he laughed awkwardly.

"It is okay, we shall take the lead", I said as I walked down the hall.

We progressed through the halls and took the flight of stairs to another area, which branched off to several other paths. Taking the second path to the right, we walked through the doorway and walked across the bridge like pathway. After several minutes of going through halls and other corridors, we finally reached the entrance to the throne room. The two guards stationed outside opened the door and Eclipse and I walked in. Inside, at the far end of the room was my sister, sitting on her throne.

"Thou has asked for us, sister?" I asked as Eclipse bowed.

"Yes, we've just received a rather detailed report from an anonymous source, stating that there is a small camp of Changelings, hiding in the Everfree Forest. The report also states that they have three captives with them", my sister said as she read off a rather tattered piece of parchment.

"And you would like us to go and check it out... or just me?" Eclipse asked as he took off his helmet.

"No, I would like you and my sister to be accompanied with Shining Armor, along with several of his elite soldiers to carry out a rescue mission", my sister said as she rolled up the piece of paper and it glowed a pure white before disappearing.

"Okay, when do you want us to leave?" Eclipse asked.

"Yes, this will be mainly a rescue mission", my sister said.

"I know this is a bit much for your first mission, but I'm confident with your level of magic that you'll be able to complete this mission", she said.

"I understand, but is this source reliable?" Eclipse asked.

"I do not fully know, but there have been reports of missing ponies from within Canterlot and one pony from Ponyville has also be reported missing. These are the only pieces of evidence that may prove this source to be true", my sister stated.

"Okay", Eclipse said as he picked his helmet back up and placed it on his head.

The door opened and in walked Shining Armor, followed by several guards in somewhat different armor than of the guards that roamed freely throughout the castle.

"Princess Celestia, I have finished gathering up my troops. We are ready to leave at any moment", Shining said with a serious look upon his face.

"Excellent, depart when you have all gathered what you may need for this mission", Celestia said.

"Once you've done that, please tell me and I'll teleport you a far distance from the suspected location of the Changeling camp", my sister said.

"My men and I are ready, are you two ready?" Shining asked Eclipse and I.

"I've got everything I need", Eclipse said, tapping his helmet.

"We do not require anything for the mission, we are ready", I said as I nodded to my sister who in turn nodded back.

My sisters horn glowed and we vanished from the throne room. Reappearing at the outskirts of the Everfree Forest.

"Alright, fall in", Shining Armor commanded his troops.

They all lined up and awaited their orders.

"Remember, this is strictly a rescue mission, do not engage the enemy unless absolute necessary, understood?" Shining said.

"Yes, Sir!" They said in unison.

"Okay", Shining nodded as his horn glowed and a rolled up piece of paper appeared in front of him.

Unrolling it, I saw that the piece of paper was a map of the part of the Everfree Forest that we would be entering.

*P.O.V Change: Eclipse*

I couldn't believe it, I was being sent on a mission when I wasn't even working as Luna's guard for more than 24 hours. None the less, this was exhilarating. Shining Armor took the lead as his guards surrounded Luna as we moved forward, I had been ordered to take the rear. In case any Changelings were hiding amongst the plant life and were planning a sneak attack. As Shining Armor's eyes darted from the map to his surroundings, he made sure that we were heading the right way. After several minutes of walking, our surroundings slowly changed from plant life to blobs of green goo, dripping from the branches and coating the tree trunks. A clearing came into view a little ahead of where we were, Shining Armor quickly swept his hoof behind him, signaling for us to move away.

Doing so, we all stepped into the bushes and stuck our bodies close to the ground. Looking over at Luna, who laid besides me, I saw that she now had mud on her coat, but didn't seem to care. She must be taking this mission seriously and not about looking like a Princess. My ears perked up as I heard buzzing above us. Several dark forms flew over us and towards the clearing. Using my magic, I moved a few leaves out of my line of sight and peered through. Luna and a guard peered through the hole I had made and watched as the dark forms landed in the clearing. In the clearing was a large flat stone, one of the dark forms, now clearing visible by the light, was a Changeling, walked over to the large flat stone and drove his front legs under one corner of it and began to lift it up.

The large stone went up as it lifted the large stone. The group of Changelings all leaped into the hole that the stone had been covering. The Changeling that held the stone up, quickly looked around its surroundings and then leaped into the hole, the stone slammed back over the hole, blocking the entrance. The guard next to me lifted his head slightly and clicked his tongue, the others all rose at once and began to step out of the bushes and towards the stone.

"Okay, this is where the map says the camp is... it should be underground", Shining Armor said as the map glowed and then disappeared.

"This is not good, if they've set up what we only think is a camp, underground. This could prove a great danger to the residents of Ponyville", Luna said as she looked around.

"Yes, for them to set up a base of operations underground, could only mean that they wish to remain hidden, or...", Shining Armor said softly, as his face hardened.

"Or a new Queen has been born and moved to this location", Luna finished.

"A new Queen? Is this bad?" I asked.

"Yes, Changeling Queens are very territorial, but they stay off the others land. Still, two Queens ruling over the Everfree Forest could prove a greater problem than having to deal with one, if a war is to arise", Luna said.

"If this is the hive of a new Changeling Queen, there shouldn't be many Changelings that have been hatched, we should be able to get in and out with the captives quickly", Shining Armor said as he motioned for two of the guards to go over to the rock.

One of them lowered his head and his horn glowed, the rock glowed slightly and then stopped. Turning to the other guard, they both began to lift the rock up, it slowly inches up. How could of only one Changeling be able to lift it with ease? Rolling my eyes, I walked over and placed my hoofs beneath the rock. Inhaling, I pulled up, the rock moved up as if the entire squad Shining had brought along, was lifting it at once.

"You guys go in, I'll hold this up", I said, my breathing began to shake.

The two guards looked at each other uneasily, but quickly complied. Peering into the hole, one of them motioned them the okay to go in. The unicorns of the group used their magic to slowly ease themselves into the hole slowly, while as the pegasi leaped over the hole and opened their wings. They slowly began to descend. Shining and Luna both followed what the unicorns did and went into the hole. Looking behind me, I saw no more guards. Shifting my position, I dropped myself into the hole, using my magic to soften the rocks landing to prevent any noises to alert the Changelings within the hive.


Here's Chapter 9, hope you guys like this one. It's going to get eventful during the next two chapters :D.

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