Finally Can We Go

I watched as Chad stepped sadly through the door with drooping shoulders and carrying a box of what looked like desk supplies and knick-Knacks. "Him" I yelled quickly stepping away from Shining Armour and going over to Chad who seemed to shrink away in fear as I put an arm around him. I want this... absolutely... brilliant, well not brilliant pony but umm I want Chad to come along" I choked out trying not to show emotion in the terribly constructed lie.

Shining Amour stared at me dumbfounded. "You want Chad, the worst pony on the guard to help protecting the Princess"? "Yes I do actually" I said. Chad was looking really confused and dizzy at everything and I worried that he was going to pass out... again. "I'm not even on the watch anymore" he said in a dull haze as he began hyper ventilating.

Shining Armour of course leapt at this fault stating "exactly this is why Chad cannot go; besides it would be a stupid choice". I looked at Chad and saw to be honest a weak willed, no backbone and general feeble pony that should really serve drinks or mend clothes like most Earth ponies get the lame jobs. However something was nagging at the back of my mind, the fact that a weak pony wouldn't surprise me with a knife in the back and his cutie mark which showed what looked a compass surrounded by the sun which was a symbol or something that was important in my time but I couldn't quite put my hoof on it.

"You said anypony in the room and I choose Chad here so if our don't like take it up with one of the Princesses" I told him as I gave Chad a hefty smack on the back which woke him out of his daze and brought him back to reality.

"But I don't..." began Chad but I cut him off before he could say something that might cause him to either pass out or in some way scare him away. "Chad shut up and I'll make it worth your while" I whispered in his ear whilst Shining Armour was waving out his men. Chad sobered up from his fearful and giddy state and nodded slowly but stopped as Shining Armour came over with a very large, unhappy mean face and stared at me and then at Chad with extremely furious eyes.

"Go and suit up for a long journey now Chad" he said dangerously low. Chad quickly wriggled away from us at astonishing speed for a dazed pony and ran off. Shining Armour looked at me now with slits for eyes. "You show up with wacky explanations, impossible technologies and insult and humiliate my men with pathetic tests!" he said putting a hoof on my chest and poking me. "To be honest Celestia was who I swore to protect when I took my oath but Luna is Celestia's sister which equally extends to her and they may buy your story of protecting her and saving the future of all ponykind but there is darkness in you somewhere and secrets in such plenty that you could fill rooms full of them, when these things are shown you will get what you deserve" he said giving me one last poke and striding away and out the door with the rest of his men.

I followed him with my eyes as he left and for a short while I though on what he had said before Red piped up "he's just a bit paranoid, a lot like you actually at times". I rubbed my eyes and tiredly walked through the other door and back out into the hallway. "I'm going to go to the kitchens and get fresh supplies then finally the throne room and set off" I told Red.
"Well it's about time to" she huffed.

I put down a riding smile as I strolled towards the kitchen trying very hard to keep these confusing emotions at bay. It was so easy before to be emotionless but once experienced with them it's almost impossible to not want to give into them.

I shook these emotional thoughts from my head as the kitchens appeared and I quickly entered. I grabbed a sack and filled it with lots of vegetables and fruit (much to the head chef's annoyance) and quickly left, heading for the main throne room as quickly as possible.

My legs still to felt sore but I brushed away my annoyance and quickly pushed the doors open to see the room deserted save for Luna who was waiting in the dark room which was usually vibrant and lit with full lighting. "Asimov" said Luna seeming to brighten for a moment before she settled back into a neutral expression as I quickly walked up to them both.

"Ok everything is done and tied down here, Shining Armour mentioned taking a guard along for the trip as well?" asked Luna. I looked at her bright eyes and answered "I was unhappy about it but I picked the finest soldier in Equestria". Luna looked down at me (well she was still taller than be slightly) "besides yourself"? "Besides myself" I responded failing to hold in a chuckle. This brought a slight smile to her face which faded as a large clatter could be heard behind us and Chad was sprawled on the floor with his armour stuck in the long red carpet which led up to the thrones.

"Err… sorry" he apologised in a voice similar to the yellow and pink haired Pegasus I remembered from nearly a month ago. Chad quickly untangled himself and clanked over in his golden armour to our little group who for the most part were staring in shock at both him and me.

"You chose…" began Luna but I beat her to the end interjecting "the finest warrior in Equestria". Princess Celestia looked at me and stated "I have a nephew who cuts himself with a butter knife who could do a better job at protecting Luna than Chad here… no offence Chad". Chad looked down at his feat at being called the worst guard in the world. I looked at him and back at Celestia "by the time I'm finished with him his skills will be compared to Shining Armour".

From Celestia's expression I could tell she doubted that hey highly but nodded in a silent acceptance of my judgement.

"Ok make your last goodbyes now as I warn you we may be gone for many months, try maintains the image that Luna is still here" I said knowing it wouldn't do much good if a trained assassin came along.

Luna suddenly glazed over in tears and hugged Celestia as if she'd never see her again saying "oh Tia please stay safe until I return". "I will sister but your safety is more important… I don't want to lose you again" she said as silent fears streamed down her face.

Chad seemed to start sniffling as well which made me roll my eyes as I turned to him and gave him the bag full of food stating "eat any and I'll cut you open and get it back"!

Chad turned white and his eyes opened as wide as dinner plates at my threat which I wasn't really serious about but he quickly turned to the two Princesses' and respectively found the strength to how as his mouth seemed to be glued shut in fear.

Luna looked up at me and said "ready" to which I nodded back and reassured her with a warm smile before I could stop myself. She smiled back but I could tell it was half hearted and sad.

"Asimov" said Celestia. I looked back respectfully but impatient to be on the way. "Yes you highness"? "I impart to you a gift so that you may be known as something that has not been in the courts for centuries". I actually turned around now and looked at her now curiosity taking hold of me.

"This" she said, pulling a large piece of wavy and silk like cloth from one side of the room with her magic and moving it over until it plopped down into my hands. "This is the cloak of champions, it is century's old and protected by many spells now unknown to even me, but it should be about indestructible to anything common like fire or blades".

I unfurled the cloak and saw the Equestrian coat of arms covering it with a dark blue background. "But why" I asked in confusion. "You have fought bravely in protection of your rulers so we have given you the title of out champion which is by all accounts a great honour" said Luna in a very royal accent.

I took off my backpack and tied the cloak around my neck, pulling the coal down over my face which cast it mostly in shadow. "How do I look?" I asked. "Like a really tired pony" blurted out Chad and as I looked in as nearby mirror I could see that my recent lack of sleep was indeed starting to show, making me look really tired with bags under my eyes and very thin red tendrils covering the milky whiteness of both eyes.

"Yes we'll we all don't have the luxury if sleep Chad, now fall in behind Luna" I ordered to which he hastily replied. "Thank you both I now shall open up the hidden passage behind both thrones and we shall sneak out of Canterlot through the old sewage system" I announced strolling over to the thrones and pressing be hidden panels underneath them in order.

Celestia looked puzzled as she said "I don't even remember putting those in there". "I think it was around 900 or so sister" said Luna as she and Chad stepped closer to me. I stepped back to them and watched as the thrones moved back to expose a small metal slide which would lead into the sewage systems.

"What is it with you and sewers?" asked Luna. "Yes they do seem to be popping up a lot more often don't they" I chuckled as I started to climb down the ladder.

Luna and then Chad followed after and Celestia gave on last goodbye before the panel closed shit again and plunged alums all into darkness.

I don't know If Luna squeaked or Chad squeaked but I'd guess it was likely Chad. "Ok down this large pipe" I said telling them also to walk quickly.

"Finally" sighed Red as we descended upon the first leg of our journey.

"Oh hooray, medieval toxic waste… joy" remarked Luna as she stepped down from the ladder and felt squelching slime around her feet. Chad didn't do so well and when the sewer plunged into darkness he fell off the ladder face first into the slime.

I quickly hauled him out in case he'd passed out again but he just seemed to be on the verge of tears at his treatment today. "Chad if you lose it here I swear!" I threatened him quietly so Luna couldn't hear. He brushed himself down and just closed his eyes tight.

Suddenly the passageway was filled with bright blue light as Luna lit the passageway with her magic. "So where are we going now" she said with a nice smile on her face. I stared at her for a few minutes before shaking my head and responding "north, we head north for a couple of mile until we emerge in a buried dunker in the Everfree forest". "I think I remember it now, it was installed just as me and my sister came to power" said Luna.

I nodded as I walked down the small pipe and sewer system and asked "was it supposed to be an escape route in case Canterlot ever came under attack"? "Yes but we only needed it once a long time ago and it was just a small rebellion which only made it as far as the castle gates" explained Luna.

I listened intently, unknowingly clinging to every word she said. "Are we there yet" asked Chad in a very quiet voice and still looking a bit shaky. I looked him up and down and thought about shouting at him, but thought it not worth the hassle and answered "not far just about twenty more minutes marching pace". Chad seemed disappointed but kept it to himself which was good as I wasn't feeling like shouting at him again even though he (as was the rest of the Royal Guard) was a complete disgrace which was how I liked it for reasons I was about to reveal before a large problem came up.

"There's a cave in on this side" said Luna. I looked up, temporarily forgetting Chad. "Red if you please" I said. "Already done, it's about four metres thick but the stone is limestone so if we can just" she was cut-off as a surge of energy suddenly whammed into the blockage and the stones were completely totalled and smashed into fine granules. I looked back to see Luna coughing and shaking weak at the legs her horn glowing bright blue.

"Luna did you just do that?" I questioned her. She tiredly looked up at me and regained her composure "one must help in anyway one can"! "It's fantastic and saves lots of time but I would prefer it if you keep the magic minimal in case it comes to a real fight or we need to move fast".

Luna looked slightly trodden on and I couldn't help but make her feel a little better. "You also need to watch Chad, you nearly gave him a heart attack" which was kind of true, Chad was lying on his back completely stiff literally frozen in fear.

"Come on buddy" I said trying to sound friendly whilst mentally smacking myself at being nice to a pony I wanted to toughen up a hell of a lot more.

Chad looked at me fearfully and I saw in his eyes that he was generally afraid of everything. From Luna to the darkness but especially as I looked into his eyes... afraid of me. I thought back to all the training courses I'd gone through as had other ponies and they knew nothing but orders and war. But I had to be different if I wanted to toughen Chad who had know friendship and happiness his whole life... at least I thinks so anyway.

"Listen, just pull yourself together, you'll be ok alright" I told him, giving him a pat on the back. "That was very kind of you" remarked Luna as we started to walk again."Yes very... nice" said Red in a huff. I frowned hoping she could detect the shut up look I was displaying on my face.

We kept walking on in silence now, listening to the eerie sounds the old sewage tunnel seemed to give out. I looked down at my hooves and saw my newly added cape was getting dirty at the bottom and asked Luna "this thing can survive fires and other attacks yet can get dirty"? "Well maybe the enchanter didn't think about it when they cast the spell on it" she said in a huff similar to the one Red had displayed earlier. I blinked and asked "who enchanted it"? Luna looked across me with intense starry eyes, "I did".

It was my turn to stumble and I nearly lose my footing. "What"? "One thousand years ago or so I came up with the idea that a villager from every single village should be taken and pitted against each other in a two day battle royals and the three ponies who came out best would be trained and then fight to the death for the title of champion" she finished sounding a little nervous.

I looked at her and asked "you put ponies against each other to declare the champion"? She looked around nervously and stated "now it was a long… really long time ago and the world was still quite feral…"."Say no more your majesty, it is alright I come from a time of equal bloodshed to the rituals that may have gone on in your time" I told her.

She seemed relieved that she wasn't being judged but I still disliked the fact even though I perfectly understood the reason why it was done.

Suddenly I heard a large noise and I looked down and saw something startlingly horrific. "Chad, Luna hold up and turn around immediately" I said sternly as I stood on my back legs and put my hooves up to stop them from looking or going further.

Chad did as instructed but Luna had to be pushed in order to move. "But Asimov" she protested. "No buts Princess please turn around now" I told her. "I command you to let me see the problem" she ordered. "It is not for anypony to see" I said trying to hold her surprising strength back.

Suddenly I was lifted off my feet by Luna's darned handy magic (which she had promised five minutes ago to use sparingly) and Luna stepped forward with her mouth hanging open at what she saw.

Three ponies… at least that's what they might have looked like we're all mashed together in a bloody blob of dried blood and had expressions of extreme pain on their mismatched faces.

Luna looked on in horror at the ghastly scene and I sighed as she turned away with tears springing forth as she sobbed softly with her head facing away.

She put me down and I was about to go over and comfort her when suddenly Red said "Asimov take care of this". I looked at Luna and knew Red was sending me a message here telling me to stop feeling and get back to work for both my sanitise sake and the missions. However looking over at Luna I was heart torn at watching her cry and realised that even though she may have seen things before like this it didn't make it any easier for her.

"Ok" I said "I'll"….

Take a damn break, phew I mean come on boyo how about a seat and a nice dandelion sandwich…? …No… Oh well more for me. You know the drill…(at least the ones who regularly review do, just saying more people could review make the vote faster and more interesting here) just pick an option here.

Does he:
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Clear mess without a second glance