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#Post#: 1759--------------------------------------------------
Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Blossom Gale Date: March 15, 2014, 12:21 am
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The steady march of two sets of hooves echoed down the hallway.
Plates of armour rubbed against each other during the
synchronized march that was taking place in the high-ceiling
hallways, creating an effect that sounded as though there were
many coming down the hallway, yet there were only two. This was
a hallway that these two had traveled down before, on so many
occasions that they may have lost count, and being Royal Guards,
they knew every single path through this castle like it was
their own home as much as that of the Royal Family. Just down
the hallway were the large double doors that led to Princess
Celestia's chambers, a door that they had both guarded with
their lives since they both had graduated from basic training,
staying as a team, and as a force to be reckoned with on any
field of battle.
There was something a little different this time around though.
Normally, they would be coming down this hallway at a much later
time on this day, and this change most certainly reflected on
the mare carrying the flagged guisarme. She looked forward with
a grave and serious expression on her face. There was no joking
to be had, as per usual, but if it were possible to become even
more stoic and serious, she would be wearing a look that could
make statues tremble in fear. This was not the same guard shift
that Blossom nor Bastion were being called to on their
day-to-day basis. No, Princess Celestia - the princess herself -
had asked for the two of them specifically. This must have been
for a task so important that it had to be entrusted to her
finest, and such a task must have been of the utmost importance.
They approached the current guards who blocked the doors,
standing at attention as Blossom announced their names and
purpose for their arrival, even before the guards asked. As per
norm with Blossom, of course. "Blossom Gale and Bastion, Knights
of Aurora Noctem, reporting as per the Princess' request." The
leftmost guard nodded before leaving to announce that the two of
them had arrived, and in that time Blossom turned to look at
Bastion, offering him a quizzical look before she asked, "What
do you think this is going to be, Bastille?"
#Post#: 1788--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Bastion Date: March 17, 2014, 10:51 pm
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In contrast to Blossom's lack of expression, Bastion wore an
excited grin on his face as he marched beside her, body shaking
a bit in giddy excitement. He was looking forward to seeing to
whatever the princess had in mind for them, especially since
they hadn't often been called forth like this very often.
Whatever it was, though, he was just glad that he was finally
going to be doing something other than guarding a door--whatever
that 'something' was. Just grinning childishly to himself,
Bastion remained silent as Blossom greeted the guards on duty,
nodding slightly to their colleagues before looking over to
Blossom when she spoke up and asked him what he thought what
this was about. "I dunno, Salmon. Maybe it's a dangerous
criminal that we've gotta track down and take back into custody?
Or... some dragons that are making problems? Or there's somepony
important we've gotta escort? I dunno, but I'm excited.
Hopefully after this we'll start getting more posts other than
'door guarding'."
#Post#: 1823--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Thunderclap Date: March 21, 2014, 11:12 am
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"We could absolutely take it on!" The voice of a pegasus coming
down the hall enthusiastically ensured, said pony hovering over
another as they went and both wearing their own sets of armor,
one gold and the other silver, and nearly energetically tumbling
about in the air. "And think of the adventure! The story! The
praise from the science and magic studying communities!"
"And they'd reward us hopefully with some kind of scientifically
or magical stain remover I'd hope," the unicorn of the two
replied sarcastically, clearly not very supportive of the idea
his partner was sharing as his boots clicked against the floor
at a steady pace, "I'd hate to go into a dry cleaners or some
such and ask somepony if they could please 'get this ugly spot
of 'adventure' out of my cuirass' for me. I doubt that there's
much new that can be learned from slaying a gelatinous mound of
magic, anyway. Besides, don't they have a number of those things
in a cage somewhere for study already? If I recall, they're the
land equivalent of a deep sea bottom feeder, so they survive on
whatever junk is on the ground around them, so they're not hard
to take care of. What's with you and jelly monsters lately?"
"It doesn't need to be a jelly monster," the pegasus clarified,
stomach grumbling a little and serving as a possible clue for
why his protection of Equestria was continuing to be very
dessert based, "a giant frowny ice cream scoop would also do
fine. Oh, the dangers I face to protect the average pony..."
Coming up on their destination, it being the chambers of their
boss, the pegasus landed and trotted a bit closer before
noticing another pair of guards seeming to be waiting to enter
themselves. "Now look," he said back at the unicorn guard with a
gesture over towards the others present, "a line! I told you we
should have skipped that sterilizing thing-"
"Stabalizing." A correction slipped in by the unicorn.
"-for that whatchamacallit... On the verge of exploding...
Pfft... On the verge of making us late maybe..."
"You're the ones who insisted we stop for hot cocoa on the way
back."
"The body of a royal guard is like a well oiled machine, Mana,"
the winged stallion said in a tone that made it sound like he
was talking to a young foal new to the world, "and every machine
needs fuel. I needed my cocoa fix. Canterlot needed my cocoa
fix. No. Equestria needed my cocoa fix." Returning from inside
the Princess' chambers to pass a message onto the original pair
of waiting guards, the stallion who'd left caught sight of the
new arrivals, him rolling his eyes at the following wave of a
hoof and simple "Hey, Dirk!" From the pegasus as he turned right
back around to announce them to his princess as well.
Having no other choice but to wait for word of their arrival to
reach the sun princess, Mana opted to simply stand patiently to
the side while his partner, very much the opposite, just trotted
closer to the other waiting guards with a smile. "So, how many
years in the dungeon do you two think you're gonna get? I'm
putting a few bits down on a dozen or so for myself. Life for
the other guy." He said with a jerk of his head back at Mana.
#Post#: 1833--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Blossom Gale Date: March 21, 2014, 11:13 pm
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"I hope so too. As important of a post the one we take is, I
can't help but crave a little more action." Even as they waited
patiently, Blossom could not help but continue wondering what
was going to be asked of them. Bastion did pose a few good
thoughts, but then again, it was a few of many possible things,
and there was no way that Blossom could possibly be prepared for
all of them. All she had to do was remember that she had to keep
herself composed while in front of the princess. Act with
authority, professionalism, and absolution, have the best
intentions of the Royal Sisters in mind with every action taken.
Her concentration came to a screeching halt when she heard the
sounds of two voices echoing through the halls, one more
composed than the other. These two must have been lost or
something, she didn't even think that the castle was open for
tours this week. She turned her head, and at the sight of their
own armour, Blossom let out a heavy and exasperated sigh,
turning to face forward once more, her annoyance pretty clear.
They were guards alright, and they were making so much idle
chatter. Blossom couldn't even stop herself from eavesdropping
at this point, not when sound practically amplified itself in
the vaulted ceiling. What were they talking about? Being late
for a cup of hot cocoa? Oh the nerve... Blossom closed her eyes
and slowly ground her teeth together in an attempt to keep
herself from ranting at them about the concept of
professionalism. If they were here for the same reasons that
Bastion and Blossom were here, surely they knew that being late
to see the princess was quite possibly the greatest showing of
disrespect?
She leaned towards Bastion, asking quietly, "Do you know these
two, Bastille? I have not seen them on our shifts before, nor
have I heard them." If her father were here, he would have
definitely given them what for. As her mind reached for all
manner of justice that could be sought against these two, the
louder one approached them, much to her chagrin. After he asked
them how much time they would be getting in the dungeon, Blossom
rolled her eyes and quickly mumbled to herself, "Si je devais ne
pas professionnel comme vous, j'espère que d'être jeté dans le
cachot pour le reste de ma vie... If we were to be arrested and
thrown into the dungeon, we would be escorted by other armed
guards, not coming here alone." Her tone was as flat as her
expression, "The princess has summoned us for an important task,
one that does not require a... fix of hot chocolate, as you find
yourself coming to terms with. Are you two being summoned as
well?"
#Post#: 1835--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Bastion Date: March 22, 2014, 7:58 am
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"Yeah... Action sure would be nice," Bastion agreed quietly,
almost idly as he stared forward at the door, grin still spread
on his lips and body shaking every now and then from excitement.
He did all he could to keep himself composed, to be
professional, but he was doing a fairly poor job. He was being
quiet, at least; he just couldn't wait to see what was in mind
for Aurora Noctem. Then, as he heard voices from the hall behind
him, Bastion turned his gaze over his shoulder to see who it
was, only to lower his head to Blossom a bit when she asked if
he knew the two ponies in question. "I don't really recall their
names, but I think those are some of Celestia's personal
guard..." he said quietly, also a little off-put by the hot
chocolate comments. "I've heard some of the other guards talk
about them a bit." He then fell silent as they approached, the
large unicorn just quietly flicking his gaze between the two new
guards as Blossom responded, his grin long-gone. With nothing to
add, he stayed silent like that, just awkwardly standing and
waiting, his hoof scuffing the ground beneath him every so
often.
#Post#: 1848--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Thunderclap Date: March 23, 2014, 10:25 am
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"That sounds like life. Yup, definitely life. Mana! You're going
to have a cell mate!" Thunder informed his partner with a glance
back over his shoulder towards the unicorn, "she doesn't take
too kindly to casual joking around while on the job either.
Unless she just can't tell when someone is joking. As for the
hot chocolate thing, there's still hope. The Princess might just
offer you some, who knows?"
"One of the reasons why stopping for it was silly." Mana chimed
in just as Thunder decided to move on with no further chocolate,
be it hot, room temperature or cold, related comments. For the
moment.
"Were we actually seriously summoned?" The pegasus asked of his
partner, "I thought we were just stopping by to report and say
hi? I didn't know we were actually coming by for a thing."
"You were there when the messenger told us, Thunder. You were
just too busy with skeeball at the time. Yes, the Princess
wanted to see us. Would be hard showing up late for something
that wasn't an actual appointment."
"Well, gosh, now I might actually be going to the dungeon... Or
being forced to work Broken Bit for the week... Or made to
answer to her sister..." Thunder listed off the possibilities,
the last one obviously carrying a tone that made it note seem as
bad as the others while Mana just rolled his eyes.
Returning, once again from speaking with his Princess, the
guard, or possibly "Dirk" if Thunder was to be believed, stepped
back out into the hall, him nodding to all four of the waiting
guards before saying, "The Princess will see you now. All of
you. Try not to break anything." A brief narrowing of his eyes
at the pegasus of the four made it clear who he was referring
to. Mana wasted no time in standing up and heading inside while
Thunder took a second to pause next to the guard on his way by
to reply with, "Jeez, still holding that over my head? I already
apologized. I could still argue that you should have known that
glass was a silly choice of material for a sword to carry
anyway, but..." That would go nowhere. Shrugging it off, Thunder
glanced at the other two guards before following his partner
inside, Mana already having taken a position near by the
Princess who was sitting at a small table with several scrolls
laid out over it, and the aged silver coated and wavy gray maned
unicorn stallion she was speaking with, the pony wearing some
kind of robe as they carried on with the conversation Mana
hadn't had enough time yet to figure out the subject of as he
quietly stood at attention waiting to be addressed.
A well dressed blue mare with a neatly styled brown mane,
hurriedly scribbling away on a notepad as the other two ponies
spoke, took a break in the conversation as an opportunity to
flash a quick smile and give a small wave to the two arriving
ponies she knew before pushing up her glasses and returning to
her scribbling. Thunder and Mana both returned the smile,
Thunders being larger since Mana was trying to be more stony in
appearance now that he was in the presence of the Princess, as
the pegasus came in and took a spot similar to how Mana had,
both guards now waiting for the other two and for Celestia to
address them.
#Post#: 1869--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Blossom Gale Date: March 25, 2014, 3:08 am
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Blossom rolled her eyes at the comment that she didn't take too
kindly to joking around while on the job. Of course she didn't,
this was a serious job with serious ramifications should she
fail to do this job. Guarding the life of royalty was nothing to
joke around with, and most definitely not something to simply
brush off and ignore just for being busy with 'skeeball'. What
is a 'skeeball' anyway? Some sort of street sport that is played
with a ball? The ball would imply that a ball is used, but never
in her attempts to master the Equestrian language had she heard
the prefix 'skee'. Regardless of what the thing was, it would
not be important enough to forget a summons from the princess.
Nevertheless, the deeper into the careless ways she went with
Thunderclap, the more she was relieved and grateful that she was
stuck with and trained with Bastion; at least he took his job
seriously.
As they were ushered in, Blossom looked around the room,
spotting the table that the princess sat at before standing at
attention. "Your Highness," she stated firmly, tapping her hoof
on the ground as she snapped up straight in a show of pride and
discipline, such a show of respect that her father had always
told her to give to her superiors. Not wanting to break her
shining example of discipline, she stood and waited for the
princess to ask them to be seated, only taking a seat when given
permission to.
#Post#: 1870--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Bastion Date: March 25, 2014, 3:56 am
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Eventually, Bastion just turned his gaze away from Thunderclap
and to the door in front of him, a light frown on his face. Like
Blossom, it didn't sit well with him to have another member of
the guard treating his career so lightly. The royal guard were
supposed to be shining role models for Equestrian citizens; the
steadfast, fearless knights that could be counted on in times of
need; the steel wall that kept the Princesses from harm. Not to
mention, he worked his flank off to prove what he was worth, and
to get where he was. To see someone somepony like Thunderclap
making their job look like a mockery, especially when he kept
the Princess waiting... He felt his stomach churn at that
thought, a sensation that had never meant good things for him
before. It was almost enough to make him angry... But he knew
better than that. The frown from before was replaced by a steely
expression, one that could almost match Blossom's.
Then, finally, the guard returned and ushered them inside,
earning a quiet, relieved sigh as he went inside with Blossom.
Once inside, his gaze immediately found its way to Celestia,
making Bastion once more admire just how beautiful their
princess was. It was an unconventional beauty--one borne more
from elegance, mystery, confidence, and power. It was always
something that he couldn't help but marvel at, but this time it
wasn't something he could let distract him. Instead, he focused
on saluting Princess Celestia in unison with Blossom, his stance
just as straight and proud as hers. "Your Majesty," he said in
time with Blossom before continuing with, "Aurora Noctem
reporting for duty; ready and eager to serve," his voice as
confident and proud as his stance. His gaze then moved briefly
to both the grey maned stallion and the green maned mare that
were in the room as well before returning his full attention to
Celestia, waiting to hear why she had called them there.
#Post#: 1892--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Princess Celestia Date: March 27, 2014, 11:21 am
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"But just think about it!" The robed stallion urged the Princess
with a weathered voice, hooves gesturing this way and that as he
displayed plenty of youthful body language in an attempt to get
his point across, "a mage taking his last breaths on his death
bed could pass along everything to an apprentice! A royal
messenger could pass along entire documents worth of
information! This could even eliminate the very need for schools
in our society! Every young colt and filly could receive the
best forms of education in every field of study, leaving no
direction left for them, or all of us, except forward into
greater discoveries! Who knows what we could accomplish if we
were all thinking on that high of a level together?"
"Need I remind why it was left behind in the first place?"
Celestia gently interjected before the stallion could lose
himself to his fantasies and ideas again, "The sacking of
Swayback? It would have never happened had Whisper not gotten
her hooves on it. You understand how much of a pain this will
going to be for you if we actually take it out and bring it
here?"
"Yes, yes," the stallion answered with a dismissive wave of his
hoof, "heavy security, all kinds of hush hush security nonsense,
being limited to brief visits on the weekends, and having the
constant possibility of having all the work done on it go up in
flames at the drop of a cheap hat hang over me every second I'm
near it. No need to remind me, Princess, my memory still works
fine despite the jokes. This simply is too great a chance to
possibly-" he was interrupted by the sound of a pair of guards
announcing themselves, the stallion flicking his eyes towards
them before immediately continuing, "to possibly ignore, and-"
another interruption from the guards, this one irritating the
older pony and actually getting his attention.
"Yes. Hello! We see and hear you. It's hard not to notice four
guards clanking into the room." The unicorn snapped, both Mana
and Thunder just kinda averting their gazes, both having known
how he was and would have warned the other two guards about him
had they known he had been lying in wait to bite a few heads off
within the room. "Do you want some kind of commendation for
managing not to tip over and pin yourselves to the ground
beneath the weight of your plate? I swear, back in MY day the
grunts around here knew to only speak when spoken to! And-"
"Gleam, there's no need for that," Celestia sternly cut the now
grumpy pony off, though didn't appear to be all that surprised
or even upset with him for going off the way he did, the
Princess knowing that that was just how he was these days.
"Besides, these are the guards I sent for to help you with
this." She smiled at the new arrivals, nodding for them to
relax, "unless you honestly thought I expected you to go out
there and bring it back yourself? You might still be able to
chew somepony out with the vigor and energy of our fiercest
drill instructors, but I don't think that would help you much
should any creepy crawlies stumble upon you before your nap."
She teased with a light smirk.
"Ha! You make outlandish assumptions!" The stallion responded,
the small jab bouncing off of him as though it were a dull arrow
against the annoyingly loud armor of the guards that nopony else
ever seemed to be bothered by, "Within me still burns a spirit
that can only be matched by a young hot blooded colt trying to
win the affections of a mare! I could bring down a hydra if I
needed to! And its flood to see that this is getting the
necessary security it deserves." He moved on, point having been
made in his book as he looked over the four guards present.
"Actually, not quite," Celestia corrected, nodding for Thunder
and Mana to split from the group and stand more off to the side
with her, "I want to keep this relatively quiet, and having an
obvious squad of soldiers deploy to a small town would probably
cause a slight ruckus and encourage rumors among the ponies
living there. Two would be noticed but brushed off as a simple
check up after the usual weekly events that seem to go ok down
there. Mana, Thunder, stand over here with me please. This
assignment isn't for you, but I want you to listen in all the
same in case something happens and you're needed to assist."
With a pair of nods, both of the guards spoken too gave nods and
did as they were told, the two walking over towards and settling
next to the mare who continued to scribble everything down.
"These are the two who will be carrying out the task," Celestia
clarified, turning her attention to the remaining ponies in the
line up to introduce them, "Blossom Gale and Bastion, two
members of my personal guard. Guards, this is Instructor Gleam
of my School for Gifted Unicorns, one of the oldest members of
the faculty there who doubles as one of my more respected court
mages when he can."
"They look soft," Gleam criticized, narrowing his watery yellow
eyes at the pair of guards, "probably not much experience in
doing anything actually important. And only two? You're the one
constantly going on and on about security and you are only going
to send two ponies to retrieve it?"
"Right now its existence is only known to a hooful of ponies. We
have a chance at keeping it that way should we proceed with
caution. As I said, sending a full battalion to pick it up would
draw everypony's eye and interest while only two could slip in
and out without much notice. We spoke of this already. Unless
you forgot?"
Gleam grunted, the unicorn of course viewing this assignment as
being the most important thing that could possibly be going on
in the entire country right now for the sole reason that he was
involved in it and because it was important to him, "I'll defer
to your judgment then, Princess, but I do feel this may be a
mistake. You two!" He turned his attention to the ponies who
would soon be doing his bidding, "How well do you handle tasks
that don't involve walking up and down a hallway for hours on
end? I trust you stumble only twice a day? Any more than two and
it would just be silly. Have you ever actually served your
country, or have you only played soldier with sticks in the
fields?" Thunder, from his place next to Mana and the scribbling
mare, just rolled his eyes and gave a small and silent gesture
of his hooves as if to say 'just play along'.
#Post#: 1900--------------------------------------------------
Re: Float Like a Parasprite, Sting Like a Manticore
By: Blossom Gale Date: March 28, 2014, 4:46 pm
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Blossom was a little taken aback by the loud old pony who, for
some reason started to go off on both Blossom and Bastion.
Giving a quick glance over to Mana and Thunder, only to see them
avert their gazes, wasn't much help in figuring out if this
individual was known to them, so instead, Blossom did the one
thing that was beat into her from a young age by both her father
and her basic training. She kept her gaze forward, stern and
cold as per usual. If she was going to show weakness, it would
not be to some old wheeze box that had been wound too tight this
morning. Even though she was externally silent, in her mind, a
turmoil of comebacks and explanations worded to make him seem
the lesser being flew around. No, but I don't expect you will be
getting a commendation for knowing the difference between plate
mail and scale mail anytime soon. and Unlike you, we are trained
to fight in this armour. Any falling will be yours.
Thankfully, the Princess cut off the ear sodomy at its source,
and with that, Blossom had some time to cool off, shifting a
little in her place as she readjusted the grip she had on her
guisarme that held the standard of the Royal Sisters upon it,
once more reminding herself that she was in the presence of
royalty and she would conduct herself as such. There was a new
wave of curiosity though, as Mana and Thunder were ordered to
separate from their little lineup. This was an assignment that
Blossom and Bastion would have to be undertaking themselves with
Mana and Thunder as their backup. This was strange considering
normal operations required a full squad, but then again, the
Princess' logic was sound, and a pair of guards were a lot less
likely to cause a commotion in any populated settlement.
After the Instructor and Aurora Noctem were introduced to each
other, Blossom could finally put a name to the face. Instructor
Gleam, of the Gifted School of Unicorns. Now wasn't that a title
is she ever heard of one. It still didn't alleviate her dislike
of him. He was at best a politician, and nothing more. All of
her inner fury came right back, though, as soon as he said that
they probably never did anything important. Ignorant fool. Was
his perception of duty so askew that he could not even see the
fundamental importance of guarding the leader of the lands? When
he approached the two of them, the slew of disrespect continued
to pour from his mouth like drool. When it was her turn to
respond however, she kept her gaze turned forward absolutely,
not once wavering, just as she did when she guarded the
princess, and said stoically, "Sir, our experiences include
graduating at the top of our military training regime both
individually and as a team, Aurora Noctem, including
commendations of 'Undefeated in Arena'. Our deployments include
Equestria's outlying territory and settlements, and our duties
include keeping the peace within the Canterlot, escorting VIPs,
and other vital tasks," that you have just deemed unimportant,
you ignorant swine, "such as guarding the Royal Sisters with our
own lives while they are most vulnerable," with a proud smile,
she tapped the bottom of her guisarme lightly on the floor,
letting the standard that hung from it wave lightly before
finishing with a resolute, "sir!"
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