Chapter Ten
-War Room-
Things weren't going quite what anypony expected them to. Both branches were arguing about how Canterlot will be defended, whether or not both branches should remain, or if they should spread out all over Equestria, in case the threat was a decoy. But one thing was for sure to Sun Guard, something is off about Shining Armor, even Nighting Gale noticed it.
The normally attentive young Captain seemed confused, dazed. That had the mare a bit concerned, while the stallion had different ideas at what may be wrong with him. They were snapped out of such thoughts, when Night Breeze spoke over everypony. "Regardless of whether the threat is a decoy is fake or what branch does what… We have to ensure that Canterlot is properly defended."
"Not to sound like I am arguing with you, Captain Breeze, but we cannot leave the rest of Equestria undefended, while we bulk up Canterlot's defenses." Star Shine added, both Night Claw and Heavy Hoof nodding in agreement. "Whether we split both branches up for it, or one branch remains while the other expands… We must keep our citizens in mind."
Now was Barricade's turn to put her input in. "We can still respond, if both branches remain here." She started, looking at the other Captains. "Both the Celestial and Lunar Guard Air Corps can respond a mass the very moment something happens, plus there is the Wonderbolts stationed near Cloudsdale."
Both groups began to argue their points again, barely any of the Captains agreeing with the others. It started to get old, and giving Nighting Gale a headache. To silence everypony, the mare slammed the butt of her moon crested lance on to the stone floor, the sound echoing around the entire room. "Enough, already! This bickering is getting us nowhere, and fast. We will use half of both branches to protect Canterlot, keep the rest in reserve. We will also have Captain Armor put up a barrier, with Captain Shine in support." She instructed, the Captains listening to her. "All units will be on High Alert, even those who got off the Night Shift." Nighting Gale looked to Sun Guard. "Are you in agreement, High General Sun Guard?"
Sun Guard gave a simple nod, signifying that he agreed with his partner's strategy. "Well then, since both High Generals are in agreement, their strategy will be implemented." Celestia stood up, causing the Captains to stand. "I also agree with High General Gale. Keeping half of both branches in reserve will allow us to have a proper response force, in case something was to happen, and Captain Barricade was right to mention the Wonderbolts as a back-up response force."
"Princess, if I may?" Barricade spoke up, earning a nod from the Sun Princess. "Where is Princess Luna, by chance? Is it not customary for her to be attending this meeting and the wedding?" Nighting Gale looked towards the empty, moon crested, throne.
"My sister…" Celestia gave a longing sigh. "Has left the castle, to better understand our subjects. Alone, despite the protests from both myself and High General Gale." The Captains nodded, understanding about how hard it is to convince the Moon Princess out of her decisions. "She will return two days after the wedding."
The Captains nodded, as Nighting Gale stepped forward. "If there are no other pressing matters?" The mare looked around, all six Captains shaking their heads. "Then this Emergency Meeting is adjourned." With that, the Captains took their leave, while Nighitng Gale noticed Sun Guard just staring at Shining Armor… She could feel the suspicious gaze coming from the silent guardian, especially when the Captain became somewhat dizzy. "Something wrong, partner?" She asked, walking up to the towering stallion.
Sun Guard just kept watching, his eyes narrowing on to Shining Armor. For a bit, it seemed like he didn't hear the bat pony. Though, when he shook his head, and looked down at her, the idea faded. The stallion motioned towards the door, like he was asking if she wanted to leave.
"Yeah, I could really go for a warm shower, along with seeing to my lance and armor." She noted, causing the stallion to tilt his head. "Hey, a Royal Wedding is coming up. I have the feeling Princess Celestia will want to flaunt us around like we were the jewels of the Royal Guard." Nighting Gale gave him a teasing, fanged, smirk. "Not all of us have a butler, you know… We gotta find time to preform maintenance on our arms and armor."
The senior honor guard shook his head, at the teasing, while he walked towards the exit… A giggling Nighting Gale in hoof.
-Nighting Gale's Quarters-
Both of the mare's arms and armor were actually glistening within the light. It had taken her nearly three hours to get them to look presentable, and worthy of her station. Now, Nighting Gale was taking a well-deserved shower. Something that didn't come often, as she would have liked.
The warm water slowly washed away the soap on her coat and mane, making Nighting Gale's mane shine like light blue ice. Her coat seemed heavy, with all the water seeping into it. All the while, she looked up towards the shower's nozzle, with a pleased smile on her muzzle and both eyes closed. She loved doing this, whenever there was a chance, and enjoyed every second of it.
"I think that's enough." Nighting Gale thought, slowly turning the shower off. "I wonder if this new scented shampoo will be too much for Sun Guard." The mare sighed, shaking her head a bit. "Can't believe I bought this stuff, doubt he would even notice." The mare stood in the shower, soaking wet and water dripping from her body. "Why am I even trying to get his attention, anyways? He could get Princess Celestia, for crying out loud! Why settle with a regular, a bat pony at that, mare?"
Her face filled with self-imposed disappointment, but brightened up when Silver Flash asked. "Would you like a towel, Lady Gale?" And a hoof handed a towel into the shower.
Nighting Gale happily took the towel, with her wing, and started to dry herself off. "Thanks, Mr. Flash! Now I don't have to worry about getting the floor wet, and possibly slipping." She chirped, drying her mane off… Suddenly freezing, eyes wide, as she realizes what it was that she had just said. "M-Mr. Flash!?" She shrieked, covering herself up, while turning to face the smirking old butler. "H-How did you get in here, and why are you in my bathroom while I am taking a shower!?"
"You left the door unlocked, Lady Gale." He answered, the mare blushing at the forgotten fact. "As for why I am here? It is about the chat we had, which needs to be finished."
"C-Couldn't it have waited until after I got out of the shower?" Nighting Gale asked, making sure the Lunar Guard towel was wrapped around her body.
He politely shook his head. "I am afraid not, Lady Gale." Silver Flash then walked back into her quarters, and sat down into a chair. "This is something we need to speak about."
The mare walked out, making sure she was dry first, before pulling a chair up. "You do realize that Canterlot was just threatened, and that the entire Royal Guard is on high alert, right?" She asked him, with a raised brow.
"I do, but this is also important… After all." Silver Flash suddenly gained a serious look. "You have a deep rooted fear, that needs to be faced." Nighting Gale frowned, and looked down at her hooves. "Now, tell me, why do you fear being weak?"
"W-Well…" She started, her eyes staying on her hooves, shifting a bit. "I-It happened when I was a filly."
-Twenty Years Ago-
"Come on, Night!" Filly Nighting Gale shouted, giggling as she flew through the forest. "We're going to be late for dinner!"
The colt flew over his giggling sister, and quickly grabbed hold of her. "Then we better fly faster!" Night Claw laughed, putting the filly on to his back. "Hang on, Gale!" Once she was holding on to his neck, tightly, he shot off!
Nighting Gale couldn't contain her excitement, as she was carried through the forest. Despite the many obstacles being tightly knitted together, Night Claw was able to maneuver around them. The filly always enjoyed it, when her older brother flew, especially when he carried her on his back. Even though he had to be more careful, the colt was still able to fly at a high rate of speed.
When a small cabin came into view, Night Claw started to slow his speed down, aiming for the cabin's front porch. "Record time!" The two shouted, as he landed on to the porch. The colt lowered his body down, and allowed the filly off of his back.
"Not quite, little ones." A strong voice said, causing the two to see a bat pony stallion at the front door. His coat was midnight blue, with amber eyes and an icy blue mane. "Two seconds off your best, Night Claw." He laughed.
"Dad/Daddy!" The two foals shouted, leaping up and hugging the older stallion. This caused him to laugh more, hugging the two back. "Moon Blitz! Kids! Time for dinner!" A mare called out.
"Coming, honey!" Moon Blitz said, looking down at the foals. "You heard your mother, kids, time for dinner." The stallion herded the two foals inside of the cabin. Their laughing caused a bat pony mare, whose coat was gray and had a black mane with gray eyes, to walk out from the kitchen. "Seems like they had a lot of fun, Star Gaze."
The mare giggled, as her husband shut the door. "Seems like it, Moon." She walked up, and nuzzled Moon Blitz, before looking at the two foals. "Now, go wash up, little ones. Then, we can eat."
"Ok, mum/mummy!" The two said, together, before rushing off to wash up. The foals racing each other, and attempted to rush in before the other… Only for them to reach it at the same time. "I win! No you didn't, I did!" They said, laughing, before walking over to the sink.
Nighting Gale continued to laugh, as Night Claw allowed her to be boasted up on his back. "What do you think mummy made, Night?" She asked, washing her hooves and wings.
"No idea, but knowing mum?" He smirked up at his baby sister. "I bet it'll be good." When she got off of his back, the colt nuzzled Nighting Gale. "It is your birth-?" An explosion cut him off, shaking the whole cabin, Night Claw covering the filly. "What in the name of Luna was that!?"
Nighting Gale hid under her brother, looking around. When they heard a buzz and a thud, her eyes went wide. "Mum! Dad!"
Before Night Claw knew it, the filly had shot out from underneath him. "Galely!" He shouted, chasing after his sister. "It's not safe!"
When he caught up to the filly, Night Claw stopped behind her… Seeing their hurt mother, standing over their father. He wasn't moving, nor breathing, and Star Gazer was glaring at a yellow unicorn stallion, his horn glowing. "M-Mummy?" Nighting Gale stuttered.
"Kids! You need to get out of here!" Star Gazer shouted, looking back at them. "Night Claw, get your sister, and-!"
The unicorn suddenly blasted her, sending the mare through the wall. "Mum/Mummy!" Both foals yelled, as the unicorn started to laugh and drew their attention.
"Oh yes, seems like your 'mummy' is in trouble." As the unicorn got closer, Night Claw quickly got between him and Night Gale. "Filthy bat ponies… Your putrid kind should just be purged from all of Equestria, for good." The unicorn's horn started to glow again, as his grin got wider. "Which is a mission I intend to do… One foal at a time."
The colt's eyes widen, their father had warned him about ponies like this… Dangerous, racists, psychopaths; hell bent n wiping bat ponies out! He narrowed his eyes, fighting the unicorn was not an option, right now. At the moment, there was only one choice for the future Lunar Captain.
"Not today!" Night Claw shouted, before grabbing his sister, by the back of her neck, and crashed through the window. "I'll get us out-?"
The colt slammed right into a barrier, causing both foals to crash into the ground. When they looked around, noticing their entire cabin had been surrounded by unicorns. Every one of them staring at the foals with disgust, and hate. "I think not, filth." They both looked back, as the yellow unicorn walking out and towards them, his horn glowing. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Night Claw quickly covered his sister, in an attempt to protect her. The filly closed her eyes, not wanting to watch it. "L-Luna… C-Celestia… Somepony, please, help!" Nighting Gale's mind screamed.
Just as her mind called out, a bright gold glow suddenly appeared within the forest. The golden glow caught everypony's attention, especially Nighting Gale's. Their jaws dropped, as a large figure appeared within the glow's center, and before they knew it…
More than half of the gathered unicorns were wiped out by a giant beam of gold light! Their forms slowly turning into shadows and then disappearing from where they stood. "W-What in Equestria!?" The yellow unicorn yelled, before a black cloaked pony, towering over the others, forced him away from the foals. The unicorn's eyes widening, as he saw inside the cloak's hood. "Oh, no…"
The foals had their attention pulled away, just as a group of Celestial Guard Ponies rushed in to deal with the other unicorns! Before they could see what happened, a cream colored pegasus mare blocked their view. "It's ok! Everything is going to be alright!" Lieutenant, at the time, Barriade comforted, as she laid down in front of them. "You're safe now, darlings." Her wings wrapped around the two foals, protectively, the mare looking back. "I got them, sir! I'll move out, once they're both ready to fly."
-Present Day, Nighting Gale's Quarters-
"Captain Barricade took us back to Cantelrot Castle, before taking us into her home." Nighting Gale said, Silver Flash slowly nodding at her story. "Never found out who that pony was, though I assumed it was Princess Celestia… No other pony had that much power, to my knowledge. And before you mention Captain Barricade calling someone sir, I saw the Unicorn Captain at the time, he was there with them as a commanding officer."
"But Princess Celestia does not have such a will to kill so many at once, without hesitation." Silver Flash noted, making the mare give him a confused look. "Think about it, Lady Gale. You do know somepony with such power, and has no problem with wiping out groups of ponies, and then engage another right after." Nighting Gale's eyes slowly widened, at his comment. "That's right, Lady Gale… The pony that rescued you, and your brother, that night?" He slowly smiled at her, his mustache rising up. "Was my lord."