Night Shade never forgot the day her father never came home. There was a knock at the door late that morning waking her mother. Getting up from her bed she walked to the door and opened it to see Shining Armor and a member of each night and day guards the night guard was second in command Dark Shadow she didn't recognize the Day guard.
"What is this about where is Night Veil." She asked looked at them. Shining Armor seemed to wince but Dark Shadow stepped forward and looked to her.
"Im sorry Black Flower." He said pulling out a battered helm of the guard she knew who belonged to. Her knees trembled as they gave out from under her and standing behind her was Night Shade tears brining as her mother's cries of anguish cut through them like a knife. Shining Armor was trying his best not to cry.
"Night Veil was an amazing stallion…and I was honoured to call him my friend. If there is anything I may do." He said as Night Shade walked beside her mother and placed her wing over her mother as she buried her head into her daughter's neck. Night Shade's lower lip trembled as tears streaked her cheeks.
"How…how did he." She asked trying hard for her voice not to break.
"It was a Changeling Raiding party they seem to be encroaching on our borders." Dark Shadow said looking at the young filly.
"The attack was sudden and quick but your father put up a valiant fight saving his small patrol of 10 only losing three including his own life. 7 Stallions and mares owe him a debt of gratitude for saving their lives." He placed his hoof on her head.
"Your Father was …" he was going to try and comfort them but Night Shade looked at him defiantly.
"He IS the best stallion you will ever know and he is still with me…I will join the guard…and avenge my father's death." She said harshly drawing mixed glances from Shining Armor and Dark Shadow, the fire in her eyes showed a determination what would not be dimmed by time or distance to her goal.
Three Years later.
Black Flower walked upstairs and opened the door to see Night Shade now a Young mare coming into her own now putting on her guard academy uniform.
"It suits you just as it did him." She said walked beside her. Night Shade looked at her reflection then her father's battered helmet, and back to her mother.
"I have to do this." She said again. Her mother looked at her with trepidation but nodded then pulled a strap making it fit into place perfectly. Flo smiled at her daughter in the mirror, something that she hadn't done often since he passed. Night Shade smiled unsure then picked up her father's helmet and placed it on her head, it now fit her like it fit him. Her blue eyes looked at the scars on the left side and steeled herself.
"I will write mom… and keep the care packages coming." she smiled as she nuzzled her mother lovingly. Black Flower hugged her close not wanting to let her go but knew it was what he would have wanted. She escorted Night Shade to the train where it would take her to Canterlot. With one last goodbye and a crushing hug that left Night Shade almost breathless. Boarding the train she left everything she knew and loved venturing into a world she didn't know but wanted to defend which was odd, she did not blame anyone for her father's death but she had heard nothing from Princess Luna. It angered her only slightly but then again she understood a simple captain of the guard was easily replaceable, He thought of that began to boil and fester an anger that has burned inside her for years.
The train ride was slower than if she were to fly, but they arrived in Canterlot during the early morning. The sun was Beginning to crest over the east as she stepped from the train being greeted by 3 Vanguard of the moon stallions who barked orders at the group arriving. She hadn't realized but she wasn't alone as several other bat pegasi stepped out from other cars in academy guard uniforms.
"Get in Line! Prepare for roll call!" he boomed, a jet black Stallion ordered the cadets who were clumsy and slow to form a two lines standing at attention Night Shade's eyes became steely and did not move as several of the new recruits fidgeted and shifted from hoof to hoof uneasily.
"Star, Dusk." He bellowed.
"H-here." Came a unsure voice.
"Never say here it is from now on Yes Vanguard Do you all understand!" he shouted walking up and down the ranks.
"Y-yes Vanguard." Came a mixture of voices.
"I SAID DO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND!`` he shouted.
``Yes Vanguard!`` they all said. He continued down the list of names
"Bow, Dust." He shouted.
"Yes Vanguard!" A dark grey mare said loudly
"Club, Orion." He said next.
"Yes Vanguard." the dark chocolate stallion said in response to his name. The last name on the list slowed the Vanguard. But then he barked looking up for the name to the voice.
"Shade, Night." He said less explosively
"Yes Vanguard!" She said loudly. The Jet black stallion walked to her and inspected her.
"Night what is wrong with your helmet." He said collecting himself.
"Nothing is wrong Vanguard!" she said keeping her gaze forward.
"There is damage done to your helmet what did you do?!" he ordered an explanation.
"This helmet belonged to my father who fell in battle and I carry it to remember him." She said without stopping.
"How very heartfelt. Remove that helmet it is not yours! You have to earn your strips, we of the Vanguard do not earn our place by someone else's deeds but by the ones we do ourselves!" he shouted.
"And that goes for all of you here, whomever you knew or know in the Vanguard counts for squat now you only have each other and that is all you will get. Night!" he then shouted
"Yes Vanguard!" she said quickly choking back her anger at being put on the spot. Removing her helmet and tucking it under her arm.
"Keep your helmet with you but get a new one, you are not to wear your father's helmet till I deem you worthy! Do I make myself clear!" he said staring down at the young mare.
"Yes Vanguard!" she acknowledged
"OK all of you cadets are to take whatever belongings you have brought with you be begin in-routine follow Vanguard Helon." He ordered as he turned to talk more secretly with the other stallion who had a dark red tint to his fur and wings.
"Follow me and don't fall behind." Vanguard Helon ordered and no pony argued. Night Shade walked in the group and the mare, the one called Dust Bow was beside her.
"Hi I'm Dust Bow." The dark grey mare introduced.
"Night Shade." she said.
"Are you ok Vanguard was kind of mean." She said being trying to comfort her.
"No need to be concerned. They do it to weed out the weak ones." She said as a dark chocolate stallion walked up beside Dust Bow.
"They don't joke around here eh?" he said nudging Dust.
"What did you expect, my uncle said that they were going to be on us like moss on a rock as soon as we got off the train." She said. Ne nodded chuckling
" He was right." He said then looked to Night Shade.
"Names Orion Club. Your already in the Vanguards sights would hate to be you." He said to her.
"Its no matter to me I will graduate and get into the Vanguard." She said without any hint of doubt. Orion and Dust looked at each other. They group entered the academy and was up to attention in the main hall and filed in one by one to do their paperwork and files. When all was done they were taken to their barracks as the sun was high in the sky making them shield their eyes from the intensity most had never been in daylight including Night Shade. When they walked into their barracks it was co-ed so stallions and mars were in the same sleeping areas which made some of the mare uncomfortable to say the least but there was a curtain for a section where the mares would sleep during the day. The bunk beds were stacked 3 up high. Night Shade put her father helmet on the middle bunk as Dust Bow plased her things on the bottom and then a third mare took to flight and placed her saddle bags on the top bunk then landed beside them.
"Hi bunk mates I'm Silent Shimmer." She said holding out a hoof in a gesture of good will. Night Shade looked away and went to her locker that was in between two others. Dust Bow shook her hoof and smiled apologetically
"Dust Bow, this is Night Sade hope we become good friends." She said. Silent Shimmer looked at Night Shade and looked unimpressed but shrugged.
"Let's get through this academy together." She agreed.
"Everypony in front of your Racks now!" came a booming voice and everypony quickly stood at attention in front of the beds. The jet black Vanguard from the train station walked into the barracks and soon was eyeing everypony as he marched down the barracks.
"Welcome to your first day. We Vanguard operate on one kind of time not Princess Luna's or Princess Celestia's but the Vanguards time! I do not care if you are tired you will follow the directions of the Vanguards who direct you. And as your welcoming gift to Luna's guard academy Get out and give me 10 laps around the field now!" he bellowed and all of the ponies exited the barracks and onto the field as some of the cadets began to use their wings.
"IF I SEE ANYPONY USE THEIR WINGS I WILL GARENTEE YOU DON'T EAT DINNER!" he yelled as he followed the last pony out onto the field. Night Shade looked to Dust Bow and Orion Club who was staying beside her along with Silent Shimmer. Night pulled back allowing other to get ahead of her she came beside Silent Shimmer who looked to her and she smiled a small smile back as they began their first day in the academy.