Sapphire arrived at Starswirl’s lab pretty early. She still wore her mechanimagic wings and slowly opened the door. “Hello?” she said.
“Why you’re the young unicorn who decided to fly.” Starswirl said. “I have to say, of all the levitation spells I’ve seen, none are as unique as yours.” he added.
“Oh, hi! Umm, I was told that I can find Zecora’s spirit potions here?” Sapphire said nervously.
“Hmm, definitely Badland manners, how about an introduction?” Starswirl said slightly annoyed.
“Excuse me?” Sapphire said as steam built up in her from anger.
“An introduction dear. No matter, I know who you are, Sapphire Spark.” Starswirl said quickly, setting aside the matter as he felt it trivial. “Yes, the potions are stored here, why do you need them?” he asked.
Sapphire paused, biting her tongue, and refrained from bursting out with her first thoughts. “I am tasked to go to the burial grounds to investigate reports of ancient spirits lurking around.” She said fully relying on her guard bearing from making a mountain out of a molehill.
“Ah yes, Cherry Tune’s mission. Right this way.” Starswirl said. “Here are 12 vials, two for each of you.” he said, moving the vials from the shelf over to Sapphire.
“There’s seven of us. If it’s two each shouldn’t we get fourteen?” Sapphire asked, genuinely curious.
“Seven? Hmm, that’s strange.” Starswirl said, scratching his beard. “Who else is going?” he asked.
“Umm…. Sugar Cloud…?” Sapphire replied. She was confused by the question but Sugar Cloud was the only odd one out of the group. She wasn’t part of the guard and was never attached to the guard in any way. From this disconnect, she thought that Sugar Cloud was the answer he was looking for.
“Moonlet is the seventh.” Starswirl said to himself, completely ignoring Sapphires answer and distractedly handing her the other two extra bottles of potion. “Very interesting.” He mumbled to himself.
“... umm… thanks old timer…” Sapphire said awkwardly.
“Oh yes, you’re welcome.” Starswirl said, quickly flipping through his book.
Sapphire walks outside and takes off engaging her wings. She drops down at the train station right next to Cherry Tune. “That was weird.” Sapphire said, her wings releasing magic aura in a small burst as they shut down.
“Not really, looked like a perfect landing to me!” Cherry said.
“No not the flight, the old pony in Starswirl’s workshop.” Sapphire said.
Sunny, Promenade, Sugar, and Cherry look at her confused. “You mean Starswirl the Bearded?” Sugar said.
“Was that who that was? And how do you know?” Sapphire asked.
“A fun magician unicorn introduced me to him when I was looking for more magic techniques for my pastries!” Sugar said. “He wasn’t amused and pretty much hinted that my magic was a waste of unicorn power. Luckily Trixie and Starlight defended me.” she added.
“Well he made me uncomfortable. He knew who I was before I even told him and he seemed shocked that Moonlet was coming with us to the Burial Grounds and not you Sugar Cloud.” Sapphire said.
“Well I kinda let him know about your talent to at least earn some report with him… that only made him doubt mine magic and made him more curious about your magic….” Sugar said bumbed out.
Sunny ears perked up to Sapphire mentioning Starswirl’s interest in Moonlet. “Why’d he want to know about Moonlet?” Sunny asked.
“I don’t know, but he started flipping through a bunch of books before I awkwardly just walked out.” Sapphire said. “Speaking of, I got the potions. Where is everyone?” she asked, handing out the vials.
Promenade grabbed the potions levitating from Sapphire's magic and placed it in her bag saying, “Moonlet and Nightfall went ahead of us last night. He wanted to set up some supply from his store at the train station between the Burial Grounds and she offered to help.”
“Well we better get going too. It’s already almost noon and the next train on that route isn’t for another four hours.” Sunny said.
“Right!” the remaining four said as the train started pulling out of the station.
“Welp.” Cherry said.
“Perhaps the next one then?” Promenade replied.
“Ugh…” Sunny huffed, placing her hoof in her face. “Guess we’ll be there by tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll send Moonlet an emberight letting her know we’ll be late.” Sugar said.
At NIghtfall’s shop, Moonlet activated the emberlight to receive Sugar’s message. “Looks like they missed the train again. Sugar said they won’t be here until morning.” Moonlet said. She moved a box from the top shelf of Nightfall’s storage room. “Is this the one?” She asked.
Nightfall walked over pushing a large hay bale down the hall. “That looks like it.” he said. He riffled through the contents and pulled out a lock box. “Thank Celestia for this. I can’t believe I trusted those goons to run my shop.” He added.
“How much did they get away with?” Moonlet asked.
“Thankfully not much. It’s not the bits I care about. It’s that this shop is the only supply shop the outpost has between deliveries. They hurt the community and I allowed it to happen.” Nightfall said.
“Nonsense, you couldn’t have known they would loot the shop after a few weeks.” Moonlet said. “Besides, I’m sure you can build it back up and be supporting the guard at the outpost in no time.” she added.
“Maybe…. It was far easier as a part time job in between seasons. But now the outpost has grown, this shop really needs to be open full time. I can’t do that on my own with my duties.” Nightfall said.
“Ugh! Do you ever think about anything else other than your duties?” Moonlet frowned.
Nightfall returned the frown and said, “It’s why I joined. To protect Equestria, to protect those who struggle protecting themselves. Who else is going to do it if I don’t?”
“You act like there’s no other creature who shares your devotion to protecting others.” Moonlet says.
“Is there?” Nightfall asked.
Moonlet scowled even harder saying, “Of course there are jerk! Me, Cherry, Sunny! You think we can’t protect Equestria or something?” she growled.
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Nightfall said with sincerity. “It’s just…” he paused.
“It’s just what?” Moonlet prodded.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of the guard. The old stories of heroes battling fierce opponents, the respect and admiration from the public just by wearing the armor. The resources to protect those you care for.” Nightfall said.
“And who do you care for? You’re always so caught up with being by the books, never letting yourself look out for you. It’s always duty and the code of guard. When does the code of guard allow you to be you?” Moonlet says.
Nightfall contemplated the questions while he opened the lock box and counted through the bits. He thought about all his friends he met by joining. He thought about how he’d never had met them if he hadn’t joined. He wondered, would they think less of him if he left and worked on his shop, or if he’d still even be in contact with them. The guard already made it difficult to stay in touch with old friends but it also made it possible for him to ever even meet them.
“Nightfall.” Moonlet said, hesitating to put her hoof on his shoulder. He looks over and she quickly draws back.
“Yes Moon?” Nightfall replied.
“Nothing, let’s get this shop in running order!” she said.
The two work diligently through the afternoon well into the evening. After Nightfall’s supposed partners took what valuables they could find it also happened that wilderness krept in and trashed the place in the absence of any creature to care for the store.
Nightfall had made dinner with what few supplies remained and they sat at the front counter to enjoy a hearty vegetable soup. While Nightfall sipped on his meal he counted through the bits from the lockbox Moonlet found earlier. Moonlet had not much else to do but eat her supper and steal glances of Nightfall while he was distracted by the coin.
Nightfall, none the wiser, looked over at Moonlet and asked out of the blue, “What would it take for you to leave the guard?”
She looked at him with her ocean eyes, drops of moonlight glinting from the open window. She knew exactly what it would take but she only said. “I don’t know.”
He looked back at the lock box saying “Yeah, me either.” He shut the box lid and stood up oddly chipper. “Alright, just about five thousand bits. Should be more than enough to purchase supply from the next train stop tomorrow.” He looked over at Moonlet. “It’s pretty late. Do you want to try and make it to the post or crash out on the bunks in the back?” he asked.
“Eh… let’s just crash here. The others are expecting to meet us here anyway. No use walking thirty minutes to the camp just to walk back in the morning.” Moonlet said.
“Alrighty then, I’ll get some clean sheets and linens. There are a few cots in the back as well so plenty of room.” Nightfall said. He grabs the bedding and playfully throws a pillow at Moonlet. She smiles and throws it back. They set up their cots, Nightfall first at the back corner, and Moonlet set up next to his between him and the door closer to them of the two door room. They settle in and knock out cold.