//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Citizen/Soldier // Story: Skyfall // by Dusk Quill //------------------------------//         “I feel ridiculous…”         “But you look ravishing,” Sharp Shot purred in a jesting seductive fashion.         Behind him, Fleethoof could hear a few ponies stifling their snickers. In front of him stood a full-length mirror. His reflection stared back at him with a look of shock, disgrace, and disappointment, like even he was silently judging himself. A slim beige suit jacket covered his torso, and a black tie hung around his neck beneath the collar of a white linen shirt. He felt… proper, and classy. Proper felt wrong. Classy felt wrong. He wasn’t used to this sort of image.         “You look so uncomfortable,” said Blue Shield, coughing back a laugh badly.         “We pegasi don’t usually have very many occasions to dress up, unlike you unicorns,” said Valiant, reclining in his chair beside the fitting rooms.         Fleethoof sighed. “This is never going to work…”         “I think you look stunning,” Cadance said happily, coming around the corner and looking the stallion over. “Very Gentlecolt’s Quarterly. You’re just missing one detail…”         Cadance approached him. Carefully, she affixed the Ambassador’s insignia to his lapel. The small gold emblem glistened in the light. Cadance nodded approvingly, and Cupcake applauded loudly.         “Very good, Captain!” the bulky pony cheered enthusiastically. “You look like real important politics pony now.”         Fleethoof looked back into the mirror. Perhaps he could pull this off with a little effort. He did look official now.         “Okay, everypony. Time to go,” said Cadance, ushering Skyfall Team out towards the door. “We can’t have you hanging around us with all these guns. It’ll look too suspicious. Just… wait around the bazaar or something.”         “You might have just signed our death warrants by sending our security away,” Fleethoof remarked, glancing at the princess through the mirror's reflection.         “Oh, you weren’t about to send them away yourself?”         “No, I was. It protects my cover. I just wanted to see why you were doing it.”         A light laugh came from the alicorn as she returned to his side. He looked over himself in the mirror again, nodding slowly.         “Yes, this will do.”         The tailor came around to the pony again, taking a couple quick final measurements. “Everything fits well, yes?”         Fleethoof nodded. “Very well.”         “Excellent, sir! Is there any more I can do for you?”         “Yes, we’ll take another suit in navy, and another shirt,” Cadance said, leading the tailor away to discuss business and pay.         Fleethoof adjusted his lapel, and then stepped out of the tailor’s shop. The light linen fabrics of his suit were very welcomed in the hot sun. He dropped his sunglasses over his eyes again, lingering by the door to wait for Cadance. Valiant stood beside the door as well. He couldn’t see the rest of Skyfall Team. They must have found cover somewhere.         “You all have contact, right?” he spoke sideways to Valiant.         The pony nodded. “Yes, sir. Everypony but you.”         “I can’t wear my headset in public. Too conspicuous. Got my gun?”         Valiant reached back into one of his saddlebags. He pulled Fleethoof’s pistol out and handed it to his officer. Fleethoof checked to make sure a round was in the chamber before stashing the gun in the shoulder holster, concealed inside his jacket. He felt better to be armed again.         “Keep a twenty-five meter distance minimum from us at all times unless engaging anypony,” Fleethoof said in careful instruction, looking around the crowd in the grand bazaar. “Maintain a low profile and keep us in sight. Other than that, it’s all up to you, Sergeant.”         “You can count on us, Captain.”         “I do.”         Cadance stepped out of the tailor’s, smiling at Fleethoof and nudging him gently. “All set! Your new clothes are being delivered to the hotel. Now let’s go check out the rest of the bazaar. I want to take in the culture and see what else they’re selling while we’re here, Ambassador!”         “As you wish, your majesty,” Fleethoof replied with a smile, and the two ponies trotted off side-by-side, blending into the crowd.         Most of the bazaar was made up of stalls and stands in four large plazas. Open-air shops covered by awnings surrounded the perimeter, with only a few actual internal buildings making up the forum. Horses, ponies, and a few other creatures milled about the area. Fleethoof saw a few zebras, a rarity to see anywhere other than the southern lands. A bulky blue minotaur was arguing loudly with a shop owner over some trivial dilemma. Saddle Arabia was truly a foreign country of blended cultures.         Most entrepreneurs tried to catch the attention of the wandering princess and diplomat with expensive looking jewelry, fine fragrances, and bizarre trinkets. Cadance would stop by a few carts, looking over things ranging from small charms of luck to turquoise necklaces and foreign books.         “Isn’t it exciting to be away from home? To be out in the world, seeing everything there is to see? It’s beautiful, wouldn’t you agree?” Cadance asked as she examined some of the alien trinkets on a table, not receiving a response. “Envoy? Hello?”         Cadance turned around. Fleethoof was no longer beside her. He had moved a couple of tables down, sunglasses perched on his head as he examined a blacksmith’s booth. He lifted a couple of knives, and then a sword. The princess rolled her eyes and sighed. Colts…         “And you can just sell these on the streets to anypony?” Fleethoof asked in disbelief, drawing the sword from its scabbard at the smith’s nod. “This is incredible!”         Princess Cadance came up behind the awe-struck pony studying the blade in his grasp. “Okay, Ambassador, put the sword down.”         “But look at this craftsmanship!”         The sword was tugged from his hoof in a light blue aura. Cadance gently lowered the sword to the table again with her magic, and then began to push the pony away from the table. He stuttered in protest for a bit longer, the blacksmith laughing all the while.         “A diplomat buying weapons. That isn’t suspicious at all,” Cadance said satirically, laughing to herself. “You’re a danger to your own cover!”         “I can have a little fun while working,” retorted a rejected Fleethoof, lowering his sunglasses over his eyes again. “I’m not used to seeing swords and weapons so readily available to the population. It isn’t like that in Equestria.”         “It may soon be.”         “What?” Cadance’s words caught the captain off guard.         “After the end of the war with the griffons, my aunts began discussions with Shining Armor about making weapons available to the public for self-defense,” Cadance explained, the two ponies walking leisurely through the marketplace. “Aunt Celestia feared giving ponies such dangerous instruments of war, but it was becoming apparent that they had a useful purpose. Ponies have the right to defend themselves from harm.”         “I suppose that does make sense, but I’m afraid it will make ponies more violent. We’re having a hard enough time dealing with our enemies now, and the princesses want to arm them?”         “Guns don’t make a pony violent,” said Princess Cadance. “They are merely means to an end, the same as a paintbrush does not make a pony an artist.”         Fleethoof pursed his lips tightly, mulling the thought over. The ethics and philosophy behind the entire notion was debatable. There was a vast majority of honest ponies that could make use of weapons—but it was that small percentage that still concerned him. He’d seen enough death dealt by civilians the past few weeks.         He glanced up over the rim of his tinted glasses, up at the sky. It was already late afternoon. The sun was beginning to head for the western horizon. He glanced around the bazaar casually as they walked along, looking out for his team. He couldn’t see anypony. Excellent. They were blending in perfectly.         “Oooh! Envoy, look!”         Glancing up at Cadance’s outcry, he followed her pointing hoof to a blue and burgundy tent pitched in the bazaar. A sign out front advertised the space as the business of a fortuneteller. He cast a skeptical glance at the princess, cocking an eyebrow curiously. “Really, Cadance? Really?”         “What? Don’t you believe in psychics?” She was teasing him again with her good-natured grin. “Let’s go. I want to see how real they are.”         “Princess Cadance, I don’t really think—” But Cadance had already taken off towards the tent.         Heaving a sigh, Fleethoof looked around for his team once more before following her into the tent. He hoped they still had a visual on them, otherwise they might be in trouble. The inside of the tent was exponentially cooler, and dark. Golden baubles hung from chains and jingled in midair as they stepped inside. Other symbols and totems lined the walls.         A circular table was set up inside, draped in a shimmering purple cloth. A mare sat facing towards them, shuffling a deck of cards. A crystal ball sat at the edge of the table. Everything screamed of ancient magics and looked like a psychic sideshow.         “Come in, my friends. Salam,” the horse greeted in a velvety voice that reflected her age and wisdom. She waved her hooves to a set of chairs on the opposite side of the table. “Make yourselves comfortable. You are used to much greater luxury though, are you not?”         “Indeed we are,” Cadance said, giving a wide, excited smile to Fleethoof. “She knew that right off the bat.”         “That’s because I just walked in with a new hundred bit suit and you’re famous,” retorted the skeptical pony, wandering around the tent to study the odd tchotchkes.         “Please, have a seat, your majesty,” the psychic said, smiling warmly as the princess sat down at the table. “I do not need my abilities to tell me that your friend is a disbeliever in the otherworldly and supernatural.”         “Don’t mind him. He’s just being a sourpuss,” said Cadance, shooting a sideways glance to her obviously bored companion.         “What may I offer you this day, your majesty? It is not often that I have royalty grace me with their presence.”         “I just wanted to see what a psychic was like. I’ve never been to one before.”         “And you wanted to test my abilities while you were here for the prince’s ball, yes?”         Cadance looked back at Fleethoof with that wide grin again, practically gushing. He sighed and rolled his eyes, hanging his sunglasses from the collar of this shirt.         “She reads the newspaper.” Fleethoof's counterpoint made logical sense. “Try again, ma’am.”         The horse set the deck of cards aside and took Cadance’s hooves in hers. She stared into the princess’ eyes deeply. Fleethoof watched the scene from the sidelines, tensed up, keeping his eyes open for anything suspicious.         “You are a beautiful soul, your majesty,” said the medium. “You have experienced great love and joy in your long life. But you have also known strife and sorrow.”         Fleethoof faked a cough. “Fishing…”         “You have two great joys in your life now,” the psychic stated, looking to Fleethoof as she spoke. “Two ponies very dear to your heart. One is this pony with you today.”         Cadance nodded, looking back with a smile at Fleethoof as well. “Yes, Ambassador Envoy and I have been good friends for a while.”         “Your heart is grieved with worry though for these ponies. You fear their loss, and you fear their loss will be abrupt. You cherish their lives far greater than anypony else’s.”         Fleethoof cocked his head slightly. Cadance feared that his death would be untimely? He certainly was in the right line of work for that. But wait, the psychic had said that. He huffed and crossed his hooves across his chest. He refused to buy into any of this. But still… he was posing as a diplomat. How dangerous was his career that Cadance would fear an ambassador’s expedited death?         “I sense a great love for these ponies dwelling within your heart and soul. But I also sense confusion and indecision. Ah, it is inspiring to see such love and devotion still alive in the world,” the mare murmured, releasing Cadance’s hooves after a moment. “Would you like to see into your future, your majesty?”         Cadance nodded her head vigorously, eyes bright and mirthful. “Yes please!”         “Oh please…”         “Envoy, hush! Please, continue.”         The mare moved the crystal ball, situating it in the center of the table. She rubbed a hoof across it once, and then set her hooves on either side of it. Fleethoof was surprised by the lack of smoke and mirrors behind her tricks. Instead of doing the expected flailing hooves around the orb, she sat still, gazing intently into the crystal sphere. She was a talented actress.         “I see trials before you, your majesty… You will be tested, in mind, body, and spirit. Your involvement with what you love will put you through danger, but it will reward you with the greatest love of all.”         Both Cadance and Fleethoof listened intently. “And what reward is that?”         “I see a stallion in your future… He is tall, strong… A fire of valor and patriotism burns in his eyes. I see a flag… a military background… His heart is strong, and his spirit is enduring… I sense that you know this stallion now… He is close to your heart already…”         “Can you tell me what he looks like?” asked Cadance eagerly, leaning closer across the table. “Who is he?”         “Forgive me, your majesty. The orb only shows brief glimpses, and they are vague. The future is never set in stone. But I will see what I can do…” The psychic returned to stared intently at the ball. “I see a single color coat… Hues of the same color run through his mane… He has blue eyes, as striking and untamed as the ocean…”         Fleethoof rocked idly back and forth on his hooves, staring at the ground. He only moved again when he heard Princess Cadance turn in her chair, staring at him. He didn’t understand why—until he replayed everything the clairvoyant had just said in his head. Single color coat. Mane of hues from one color. Blue eyes.         Oh, you’ve got to be shitting me…         “You’re not going to believe this nonsense, are you?” Fleethoof asked, desperate to break the sudden awkward tension he felt.         The mare’s gaze snapped up to him so fast, it almost knocked him back in shock. “Have a seat, my friend. If you doubt my talents, put them to the test.”         Fleethoof didn’t reply. He simply stared for a moment, refusing to move. Cadance kept staring at him. He was trapped. There was no way he could get out of this with his ego intact.         “Fine…” he muttered, reluctantly taking a seat beside the princess. “But I’m telling you, this is all a load of bull— hey!”         He recoiled slightly as the mare suddenly grabbed his hooves on the table. She was staring into his eyes, her gaze so deep in made him feel comfortable. It felt like she was prying right into the depths of his mind and reading his soul. It was unnerving, but he couldn’t move his body.         “Oh, such fire within you, stallion… Your body aches for action. You have duties, but they are not that of a diplomat,” she said with such certainty, it made his heart drop in his chest. “I see conflict within you… You are deceiving yourself, in nearly every regard. This is not who you are.”         “I’m afraid you’re wrong,” Fleethoof said, trying to keep his cover whole. “I’m an ambassador. I’ve been keeping the peace between nations for years.”         “Ah, you say your words with such conviction, but I can see the truth in your soul… I see combat, and fighting, and death. So much death… You have been through a great ordeal, and you have accomplished so much… I see medals, and badges… You either are or were military… Captain, correct? I see uniforms, the likes of which I am unfamiliar with… Six ponies cloaked in the shadows… And pride, so much pride and patriotism for your home…”         Fleethoof could barely breathe. His blood ran cold in his veins. This was all too creepy for his liking. He didn’t respond, not exactly sure what sort of response was even fitting in a situation like this. The mare smirked, clearly satisfied with his silence.         “You are a brave and powerful soul, stallion… But this is not who you are now… You are a warrior, not a liaison. You are still fighting—always fighting… But the fire burns for more than blood and brotherhood… I feel passion in you, and desire you refuse to acknowledge.”         “That’s enough,” snapped Fleethoof, pulling his hooves back and placing them firmly under the table, out of her reach. “Do my future.”         “As you wish,” the psychic said calmly, turning to the crystal ball for a few minutes. “I see the six ponies in shadow still… This is who you are. This is your reality. They will be your existence for a long period of time. I see the princess, clear as day… She shall play a large role in your future. Another pony, somepony very close to you… And I see blood. So much blood staining your future…”         Fleethoof glanced over at Cadance. She looked absolutely enthralled in everything this horse was saying. He had to admit, it had shaken his nerves up a bit as well.         “But I do see that passion, stronger than ever… It burns relentlessly within you… I see great expectations and great triumphs in store for you, pony of war… But I also see sorrow, and loss, and devastation… You are like a great storm. Breathtaking, unstoppable, and deadly. Anypony close to you is always at risk of being swept away. Your future is less certain than the princess’, always shrouded in the veil of possibility, both blessed and tragic…”         “I think we’ve heard enough of this.” Fleethoof stood up abruptly, dropping the required amount of bits for her services on the table. “Thank you. Come on, Cadance. Let’s go.”         Princess Cadance stood up, bidding farewell to the mare. The two didn’t make it three steps towards the door before they were stopped.         “Pegasus, may I see you for a moment longer?” the psychic called back.         The two stopped in their tracks. Fleethoof caught sight of Cadance’s confused look, but nodded. She stepped outside as he returned to the table, sitting down impatiently. He didn't like leaving Cadance unattended.         “Make it quick.”         “I see great danger in your future, Captain Fleethoof…”         His wings rustled slightly in agitation. “What did you just say?”         “There is greatness, and heroism, and hunger, and love, but beyond that, there is a certainty that you have dreaded all along,” she continued, heedless of his question. “You fear death, but you know your life will be claimed by your duty. And it will be, Captain—eventually.”         “Nopony lives forever, and you don't scare me. Now tell me how you know my name.”         “I see stone as black as night, standing beside a restless gray sea… Blood of the pure and the evil shall be spilled there… Surrounded by rainbows and light…”         “Enough of the cryptic metaphors. How do you know my name? Who are you?” Fleethoof asked angrily, his temper boiling over the edge.         “But this is not for some time. You fear the coming storm now, Captain. A danger threatens to claim what you cherish. That is why you are here. And they will not disappoint you… They will come to collect when you most expect it…”         “Stop, just stop! Who are you? Are you working with The Sword? Are you after Cadance?! Tell me now, or so help me…!”         The mare simply sat there and smiled calmly. “I am a friend, Fleethoof. I use my special talent for good alone. You do not need to fear me.”         There was a tense silence between them for a while. Fleethoof stared down with the psychic for a moment longer. He turned on his hooves and headed for the exit.         “Take care of your wing, my child. You will need it yet,” she yelled after him. “And follow your heart. It shall never lead you astray. Ma’a salama.”         Stepping out into the sunlight nearly blinded Fleethoof. He quickly replaced his sunglasses on his face, breathing heavier as he tried to calm himself again. His forehead felt clammy, and his body tingled with the anxiety he felt. Cadance stood beside the tent, smiling when she saw him emerge.         “See? Wasn’t that fun?” she said with nothing short of excited glee. “She knew so much nopony else could.”         “Yeah, that’s for sure,” he muttered, feeling his wing ache a little as his feathers rustled.         “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would get to you like that,” Cadance said in apology. She cast a sheepish smile to him. “Are you okay? You look pretty shaken up.”         “I’ll be fine. Come on, let’s kill the rest of this daylight and get as far away from Madame Creepy as we can.”         The voices of the guards hunting through the sewers echoed around the dank, dark tunnels. From the shadows, Night Shade trotted briskly back towards his base. A scowl contorted his features. They were getting closer—too close for comfort. Something had to be done about them, just to keep them looking in circles a little while longer.         He stepped back into the underground cave. The area had been completely transformed, with small kegs of gunpowder set into the walls on all sides. Ponies were running charges and wires between the kegs, setting the trap. It was almost done, but they still had work to do. Shade grabbed three rifles from a table and whistled loudly. He beckoned three of his followers over, distributing the weapons out amongst them one at a time.         “My brothers, our efforts are almost complete. Unfortunately, those insistent guards are getting on our flanks,” he said. “I need you to take the plunge for everypony. Go out to the marketplace and… stir things up a bit. Draw the Guard back to the surface. Put them on the defensive for a little while. Can you handle this?”         “It shall be done, boss!” one replied staunchly, chambering a round in his gun.         “Perfect! Go, take the northern tunnel out and make your way around. And remember, take as many as you can. For liberty!”         “For liberty!” the ponies chanted in response before rushing out of the cave.         His trademark grin spread across Night Shade’s lips. That should keep Shining Armor busy for a little while…         Shining Armor paced anxiously back and forth across the wet cobblestones. Rain fell across Canterlot, and a flash of lightning lit up the market square. Guards rushed to and fro through the makeshift base. Orders and reports were exchanged in short, rapid conversations. Ponies darted down the manholes into the sewers, replacing the weary soldiers who were reemerging.         It had been a couple of days since the search had narrowed down to the city. Only two Sword members had been found fleeing through outlying towns. The rest still had to be within the city limits, plotting their next attack. The net was steadily tightening around the radical group, but the process of searching the entire sewer network was still too slow and arduous for the captain’s liking.         He ran a hoof nervously through his mane, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. He had to keep cool under pressure. If any of his soldiers saw him beginning to lose his confidence, then they’d suspect something was wrong. But there was no need to worry. He had The Sword trapped like rats down in the sewer system. It was only a matter of time before they were either found or surfaced on their own—and when they did, he’d be ready to act.         “Any news?” Shining Armor asked one of the acting lieutenants.         The pony shook his head, pursing his lips together. “Negative, sir. Nothing but empty sewer, again. That clears the entire south district.”         “Shit…”         “But it does narrow down the playing field. That’s some good news.”         “I suppose it is. We’re going to find them.”         “I have no doubt of that, sir.”         Shining Armor heaved a sigh and ran his hoof through his tousled mane again. “Okay, let’s send a fresh team down to begin searching the east network near the castle, so we—”         “Hey! You three! Stop right there!”         Bang! Bang! Bang!         Gunfire suddenly opened up across the plaza. Shining’s head snapped upward as soon as the shots were fired, watching two of his guards drop to the ground. Panic ensued almost immediately. Some ponies began to return fire at the three individuals who had darted behind a few stalls for cover as civilians cleared the vicinity.         Armed ponies attacking the Guard. It had to be The Sword.         The retaliation of the Guard was swift and relentless. Gunfire slammed into the wooden stands at a nonstop rate, splintering the wood to pieces. A pony stood up from the other side, firing off a blind shot before two rounds smacked wetly into his chest, and he collapsed across the surface.         Shining Armor grabbed the nearest rifle he could find with his magic, trotting briskly across the market to get a better vantage point. A guard had begun to sneak around the side of the stands, but no sooner had he stepped around the side, then a duo of bullets flew into his face and neck from their assailants. Three guards had been killed now. Shining had had enough.         He slowly walked up to the stands as the guards continued to lay down suppressive fire. One of the two remaining hostiles quickly stood up, taking aim at the nearest guard. He never got the shot off. Shining fired from the hip, the bullet hitting the pony in his side. The pony screamed in pain and spiraled to the ground.         In a fit of rage, the final pony stood up to avenge his friends. Shining was already taking aim before the pony got to his hooves. His bullet found its mark in the pony’s left eye. Three more bullets from other soldiers hit the pony in his torso, the body spasming as it fell to the cold ground. Two guards accompanied Shining Armor as he approached the stand.         From the other side, he could hear the grunts and cries of a pony in pain. He quickly side-stepped around the corner, weapon aimed at the three bodies on the ground. The pony he had wounded lay bleeding out at his hooves, a hoof pressed futilely against his stomach to slow the blood. He glared up at the Captain of the Guard, choking and gasping for breath.         “Hold,” Shining Armor ordered the guards, setting his rifle down and crouching beside the fallen pony. “Hey. Listen to me. Where is The Sword hiding?”         The pony choked again, clenching his jaw shut tightly. His eyes were stubborn. He wasn’t going to say anything. Shining sighed and shook his head once.         “Look, you’re going to die unless you help me out,” he said bluntly. “I don’t want to see you die if you’re just confused and swept up in all this. Help me, and we can help you. Please.”         “Death to the alicorns…” the pony growled out in agony, his hoof reaching for the nearest rifle.         A single shot was fired. Shining Armor flinched back as the blowback stained his white coat red. One of the guards struck and finally killed the pony, his body slumping against his fallen comrade’s. He sighed heavily and stood up again, doing his best to wipe the blood off his fur. There went one possible lead...         “Captain Armor! What happened?”         “Was that them, sir?”         “What do we do now?”         “Calm down, everypony,” Shining Armor barked out, silencing the crowd of soldiers. “The Sword is getting reckless. They’re lashing out. That means we’re getting close. Now move!”         The guards took off in an instant, rushing about the camp and grabbing as many weapons as they could. Shining Armor shoved a fresh magazine into his rifle as he headed down the road.         “They’re moving above ground now. Secure the city, keep the tunnels locked down. Let’s make sure they don’t have anywhere else to run.”         “You never did tell me why your team was assigned to protect me, you know.”         Cadance’s words caught the idle Fleethoof's attention, tearing his focus away from the nighttime skyline of Nadira. The two ponies sat out on the balcony, beneath the jasmine canopy, staring out at the night. The city was quiet, save for the sounds of a few music clubs somewhere in another distant district. It was so peaceful.         “No, I suppose I didn’t…” Fleethoof said, taking a sip from his glass of wine. It tasted like fresh grapes and strawberries, a flavor he imagined summer itself would possess were it a drink.         “You promised me later,” said Cadance. Fleethoof didn’t respond right away. “It’s later.”         He sighed and loosened the tie around his neck. Cadance was clever. She was not going to let this go. Undoing the tie around his neck, Fleethoof set it aside on the nearest table and unfastened the first couple buttons of his shirt, opening it up a little to the warm night air.         “I did promise…” he said, conceding to her point. He leaned up against the balustrade and stared out at the city. “The princesses were attacked inside Canterlot Castle. They were unharmed, but several guards were killed.”         “What? How? What sort of ponies would attack my aunts?”         “Extremists. A group called The Double-Edged Sword has been politically terrorizing Canterlot for a few months now. I’ve only just started getting involved in the search for them, but they’re making their moves a lot more brashly now.”         Cadance paused for a moment. “You said ‘search for them’. Do you not know where they are?”         Another pause, this time on Fleethoof’s part. His mouth hung open, debating whether to give a reassuring lie or a worrying truth.         “No, we don’t. We have a general idea of where they are, but we have no specifics right now,” he explained, his voice husky and low. “Shining Armor is leading the investigation in Canterlot, and he’s getting close. But because of how nearly successful they were, my team was tasked with looking after your safety.”         “But why only six ponies instead of my guards?” asked the princess, still not able to piece that mystery together. “I don’t mean to offend you, Fleethoof, but why your group instead of a larger group of actual soldiers?”         Fleethoof couldn’t keep the proud grin off his face, taking another sip of wine and replying, “Because we’re better than them.”         Princess Cadance cocked her head. “What do you mean?”         A knock at the door interrupted any response he had been about to give. Both ponies turned to face the doors. Skyfall Team was supposed to be keeping an eye outside. Whoever it was must have had a good reason if they had gotten past unscathed. Cadance trotted over to the door, opening it cautiously as Fleethoof slipped a hoof into his jacket, gently grasping the grip of his pistol.         “Oh my gosh!” Cadance exclaimed, swinging the door open wide. “Please, come in!”         Fleethoof glanced over his shoulder as a tall white horse with an oily black mane sauntered proudly into the room. He wore the traditional purple velvet saddle of royalty, and the silver jewel-encrusted crown atop his head marked his significance. That explained him getting past Skyfall.         “Ambassador, I’d like you to meet Crown Prince Malik ibn-Alavi, ruler of Saddle Arabia, and our most gracious host.”         Fleethoof smiled and bowed before the royal. “It is an honor, your highness. My name is Ambassador Envoy, liaison for the Court of Canterlot.”         “Yes, I had heard of your arrival with Princess Cadenza, Ambassador,” Prince Malik said, his voice inviting and as smooth as silk. “I must admit, I have not heard of you before now.”         “I try to keep a low profile,” Fleethoof lied casually, being as taciturn as he could be. “I became a diplomat for the foreign affairs, not the fame.”         Malik nodded, then turned to Cadance, his expression visibly brightening. “It is most delightful to see you again, Princess Cadenza. I wanted to see how you were settling in to your accommodations.”         “We’re both enjoying them very much, your grace. Thank you.” Cadance was as tactful and polite as ever. Fleethoof could see why she was sent on every diplomatic mission under the sun.         “I must say, you are looking lovely as ever, my dear.”         And now Fleethoof saw the other reason Cadance was sent on every diplomatic issue. He fought the swell of unfamiliar jealousy he suddenly felt.         “I trust you were still planning on attending my ball tomorrow evening, yes?” the prince asked suavely, grinning as charmingly as he could at the princess.         “Yes, you can expect both of us to be in attendance,” said Cadance with a smile.         Malik’s expression dropped a little, much to the captain’s amusement. “Ah, both of you? Excellent. I had not been aware the ambassador had received an invitation.”         “It’s Envoy, and as the princess' liaison, I did. Consider me Princess Cadance's ‘plus one’,” Fleethoof quipped, smiling as placidly as possible.         “I see.” The prince was obviously less than thrilled. “How wonderful.”         “I aim to please.”         Cadance stepped in between the two of them, cutting in before either said something more than passive aggressive biting. “We’ll be there tomorrow, your grace. You can count on it.”         “Excellent! I await our next encounter, my fair lady,” Malik purred, making his way to the door with Cadance. “Laila sa'eda wa ahlaam ladida. Sweet dreams, princess.”         “Tosbeho 'ala khair. Good night, Prince Malik.” Cadance shut the door behind the prince.         Fleethoof groaned softly and stepped back out onto the balcony, slipping out of his jacket and tossing it with his gun across a wicker chair. “What a blowhard…”         A soft giggle made his ear flick around. “Did the prince rub you the wrong way?”         “Did you not notice, ‘my fair lady’?” he asked, sarcasm heavy in his voice, unbuttoning his shirt. The less he had to wear the stuffy attire, the better.         “Don’t let him get to you,” she said, taking a seat outside with the stallion. “Prince Malik is a notorious playcolt and flirt, but his suave style only gets him so far.”         He scoffed a little. “And I suppose you never swoon for his cunning linguistics?”         “I prefer a heart of gold to a silver tongue.”         A little smirk crossed Fleethoof’s face. He had never felt so put off as he did when he saw Malik openly flirting with Cadance, and he couldn’t explain why. He had no reason to feel threatened. It was a ridiculous notion. All his training was obviously making him jumpy and untrusting of anypony else.         "I didn't know you knew Arabic," Fleethoof said, still surprised by the princess' linguistic skills.         "I have to know the local dialect, if I'm going to be traveling to regions frequently. Now, I believe you were saying something about you and the Guard?”         Fuck…         “I just pride my team on being better than the best,” Fleethoof said, trying to play humble.         “Uh huh…” She wasn’t buying it. “And all the equipment you have?”         “Standard equipment now. Nothing special about it,” he lied.         “But my guards didn’t have anything like you do.”         Fleethoof chuckled softly. “You’ve been gone for some time, Cadance.”         “I have had a change of guards… twice.”         Fuck again…         He gave a sideways glance at the mare reclined in her seat. She was staring him down, studying him, waiting for him to break.         “You can convince the leader of a country that you’re somepony you’re not, but you can’t tell a simple lie to me?” she asked, raising a brow curiously.         “I don’t like lying to you…” That was an honest answer.         “Then don’t.”         His hooves pressed hard against the balustrade. She did have to be told at some point. No better time than the present.         “My team is called Skyfall. We’re a special group of ponies trained for operations that threaten Equestria—situations that the Guard couldn’t or shouldn’t handle. We deal indirectly, and as far as everypony knows, we don’t exist.”         Cadance was quiet, so he took it as a signal to continue.         “We work with Luna and do what we must to protect the nation and the royal family. That’s why we’re here for you. Your guards simply weren’t capable of protecting you from what we know is coming.”         “What is coming exactly?” asked Cadance.         “Some very dangerous ponies…”         “The ones that went after my aunts?”         Fleethoof nodded. Silence took them. Finally, Cadance stood up and approached him, leaning against the stone balustrade next to Fleethoof.         “Do you think I’m in danger?”         Her question was simple, but was far from easy to answer. Fleethoof felt his chest tighten, looking at the princess. Her eyes were seeking, searching his for comfort. A gentle smile took his face.         “Not as long as I’m here.”         Cadance smiled as well. Fleethoof looked down at his own hooves for a moment, and then back out over the city. A warm breeze ran across the two ponies, filling the air with the light scent of night-blooming jasmine.         “I never noticed this before…” Cadance mused.         He had been about to ask her what she was talking about when he felt a delicate hoof on his chest. He jumped slightly, turning quickly to face her. She was inspecting the thin white scar running across his chest, tracing the permanent line in his skin and fur with an idle hoof.         “Oh, yeah. That… I’ve had it for a little while now…” he said, smiling awkwardly.         Her eyes met his again. His face went hot. “The war…?”         A nod. Cadance looked down at his old injury again. “What happened?”         “A griffon and I exchanged our definitions of ‘mercy’.” He laughed softly, though there was clearly no humor in his statement.         Cadance was quiet. Pensive. Fleethoof left her to her thoughts, unable to focus on anything else while she was examining him. The sensation of her hoof running left to right across his skin like she were reading a line in a book stole every other thought and action away from him. Not that there was a whole lot more to focus on. Skyfall Team was watching the halls. He’d been guarding Cadance’s room every night since they arrived.           “You’re still such a mystery to me, Fleethoof,” Cadance said with a soft laugh. “There’s so much to you that I don’t know.”         “Spend more time with me, and pretty soon I won’t be so unknown to you.”         He grinned casually. The princess smiled back. “I think I might just have to do that when we get back home…”