“Hiyah!” the pegaus cried and lashed out with his wooden spear, his earth pony opponent parrying with his wooden sword, knocking it to the side before moving in, countering the attack with one of his own.
“They are good.” I commented, putting a hoof on the low railing on the balcony overlooking the guard's training courtyards. It was one of the bigger outer courtyards of the castle, just inside the outermost wall.
Shining Armor shook his head. “Barely acceptable.” he said, disagreeing. “See Rolling Thunder's stance? It's too high and his wings are too far back for proper balance.”
I frowned slightly at that before I shrugged as the pegasus flapped his wings once, driving himself back out of the way of a sword swipe. “I guess I have to bow to your superior knowledge there. My knowledge about pegasus martial arts and stances is limited to being beaten over the head with a stick by one.”
That got a chuckle from the other unicorn. “I have seen pegasus recruits in the middle of training with less knowledge than that, so it's not too bad. What do you think of Silent Leaf?”
Tilting my head, I watched the earth pony swing his sword as he ducked under a spear strike, barely avoiding it and knocking it out of the way.
“I think that we unicorns have it easy.” I finally commented. “Our ability to hold a weapon without using up a hoof or our mouth is a great advantage. It also gives us longer range, even discounting our ability to use other spells and shields.”
Shining Armor nodded slowly. “We all have advantages and disadvantages. How long can you keep fighting?”
Shifting position from having my hoof on the railing, I put it back on the floor of the balcony before I answered. “Half an hour maybe, without breaks. Depends on if I have to keep casting and shielding or if I'm holding a sword. Maybe a bit longer if I really push it or can pace myself.”
That earned me a surprised look. “That's pretty good for somepony not in the guard. You really should have signed up. Anyway, an earth pony like Silent Leaf there? He could keep that kind of exercise up all day, have a meal, sleep a couple of hours and then do it all over again. A pegasus might not have that kind of stamina, but they can keep going a lot longer than any unicorn I know other than possibly my sister. They are also faster and unless you can teleport, they have a significant mobility advantage.”
...All very good points.
Unicorns might be able to do flashy stuff, but he had a very good point. There was a lot of stuff that we simply couldn't do.
There was a reason that before unification, the other two tribes were not defeated by the unicorns despite magic being so versatile.
“If a Unicorn went up against a trained earth pony, unless you can finish it quickly, your best bet would be to run away.”
Shining nodded. “Unless you want him to grind you down, yeah. Because he will. And you'd better be able to hide as well or set up a ambush because he will be faster than you in the long term and will be able to run for a lot longer than you can. Unless you can pull off a long-range teleport, that is.”
I bet it's even worse against a pegasus. I mean, I do usually manage to match Thunder Cloud, but that was before he went off to basic training and even when I did manage to win, it was always a close thing.
Bloody hell, even with the training from Luna, I bet he would stomp me into the ground now. Tire me out and then simply smack me down.
“...Does it even help to do physical training?”
Shining smirked. “Oh yeah. There is a reason we demand unicorns and pegasi both to keep up with earth ponies during training. The faster and stronger you are, the easier things get in general. Doesn't affect magical ability much, but it certainly doesn't hurt.”
“...That's it, I'm taking up jogging.” I grumbled, watching the earth pony, Silent Leaf, finally managing to get in a smack on the pegasus wing, slowing him down enough to tackle and pin him down.
That was probably a good idea in any case. I hadn't noticed if I'd put on some weight, but with the castle food being as good as it was, it was bound to happen. Staying fit was never a bad thing.
“Never a bad idea.” he agreed with a nod. “Come on, the Pathfinder should be open by now.”
Nodding, I followed along from the spot overlooking the training yard as we made out way out of the castle towards one of the taverns closest to the castle, one frequently visited by guardponies.
It was run by a retired one as well, an earth pony with a short white beard. Trail Blazer. Old or not, he still looked like he could snap somepony in half.
I actually liked the place. I wasn't much for drinking, but I liked the atmosphere in here. There was a big fireplace roaring in the middle of the room which was a nice change from outside and it smelled like bread, cider and smoke.
Talking and laughter was all around.
“Ah, I'm going to miss this place. “ Shining Armor said as the door closed behind us, closing out the cold of winter.
Unwrapping my scarf, I took in the scent of the place. Oh, the stew smelled like it just finished. Awesome timing.
It was the normal evening crowd seemed like they were here. The place was about half full, the majority seemed to be off duty guardponies. Most of the rest were mares.
“When do you head out?” I asked as we made our way to the bar.
Shining sighed. “We head to the Crystal Empire three days after the new year.”
“Hey, think of it like this. You get your entire new guard regiment.” I said as I picked up the mug of hot cider, taking a sip.
Oh fuck yeah, this is perfect on a cold day like today.
It didn't seem to cheer him up, however. “I would be the highest ranking officer in the Crystal Kingdom. A lot of my duties would likely be paperwork... I'll be lucky if I can keep on top of my own training, yet alone the troops. That will be the task of the sergeants.”
“So delegate? You will be the boss, right? Put the routine paperwork on your subordinates.”
“There is only so much that can be delegated. Especially at first, I'll need to get a handle of the situation and my new command first.” Shining sighed, reaching for his own cider. “I can delegate more later, but the first six months will be bad.”
So, so glad I didn't join the guard.
So a lil chat on battle tactics and then it's off to the empire for our resident Mr Shiny.
Okay. I just know that Luna fans pretty much gather together and assault me with rusty wooden spoons (yeah, exactly that :) but I think that Luna unfit for ruling. She lack patience, big time and easy to anger. Especially so if we go by comics continuity.
PS. In comics there is no "Night Court". Luna and her Lunar Guards spending time hunting creatures of the dark and generally kicking ass of everything that don't need Elements to defeat.
6818959 (Sound of a drawer opening.). Do go on. (Rusty wooden rummaging.)
6818959 Oh, no mate. We no longer use those primitive tool.
We use this:
orig15.deviantart.net/318d/f/2011/085/f/b/c_20a_ghost_rifle_by_cydel-d3cjl4o.jpg
And I'm current;y having you in the scope.
6816038 Ooooooh Myyyyyyyy
6818989
That it, really. She lack patience, she quick to anger and have tendency to "do first, think second". Like this whole Ponyvile Nightmare Night shtick. "So... You don't want to do it my way? THEN I CHANCEL IT COMPLETELY!".
In one of the comics she even tried to rule Equestria for a day and barely able to handle it, even with help of personal Celestia assistant. She don't have patience for paper work (and Celestia handle insane amounts of documents), she barely able to bear some jury court cases (tried to imitate Solomon :) and then use some nobles as a living chess pieces out of boredom :).
I think that Luna still not completely in adulthood, really.
6819047 (rummage, rummage) well I suppose (rummage, nope too small.). That she did miss out (not rusty enough). On a thousand years of cultural change. (That's a spork.).
One would expect (knife...no they aren't all out hating.). A degree of transitionary period. (That's a ladle). In the later episodes she does seem to come into her own a bit more. (Theirs a good one!)
6818991 so much more efficient
Think about the bright side Shining! Is not like you are being shipped of to the middle of nowhere surrounded by a ice wasteland all around...
... oh wait... yeah forget it.
Nice chapter, good work.
6819059
Oh, and one small thing. There is some possibility that Twilight get her obsession with checklists and planing from Celestia :). In comics Celestia day planned up to seconds :).
6819112 Eh...I'm pretty sure comic is "optional canon". It is not canon, yet, it is canon.
So...I would only accept characteristics that I think is fitting with the show canon.
*click* *click* *click* Huh? Forgot to reload...And I forgot to bring spare...bullets. Damn.
I'm gonna go get some.
But, yeah...She is still a bit childish and out of time...So...Give her some time...The sisters have an eternity.
6819112 ...hold out your hand.
6819156
According to one of IDW artists Hasbro consider comics canon as long it not contradict show canon. So... Yeah, it's canon and not canon simultaneously. Kinda like Schrodinger's cat, I guess? :)
I like them because they expand universe beyond Ponyvile and Mane Six.
6819157
Ugh. I fear what you planning to do with it...
6819201 Eh...some comics make our main characters out to be fucking pathetic and rage inducing...so yeah...If i feel it would fit then i will accept...
6819224
I could say same for show : ). Well, maybe not pathetic but rage inducing - definitely. Sometime I just want to slap Rarity and tell her not to be such a drama queen.
6819233 And in one I want to slap Twilight around for not doing her duty as a princess and treat criminal behaviour like it is supposed to be treated and using stupid rules and books as an excuse while her citizen suffered.
If Blank Page is royalty, maybe he should take lessons up from Luna on the Royal Canterlot Voice
6819047 bare in mind she had almost zero sleep
6819201 Nothing nefarious, just want to see.. THWACK!!!
6819391
As far as I can remember lack of sleep don't bother her till the end of the day. Then Celestia go to sleep after spend entire day in spa and Luna suddenly understand that she need to go on another night patrol. Without any sleep. IIRC in the end she drank so much coffee that she start to behave rather... crazy :).
Oh, and in the end she said that she prefer good old fighting with monsters over fighting with papers and bureaucrats :).
ok yep this story is defiantly worthy watching vary closely.
More
Mate... this gotta be the creamiest, and biggest 'slice' of life ever.
And it is freaking worth it!!
6819551 That was a fantastic issue, I think I agree with your point. Luna is kind of eager and impulsive, I agree with the comic interpretation that her job is pretty much dream-walking and monster-hunting, and the actual day-to-day running of Equestria is left to Celestia and her top team of bureaucrats. That said, if you're counting comics (like we both apparently do), don't forget at the beginning of "Reflections" that Luna managed to cover for Celestia for at least a week, and she did a fairly passable job.
Funnily enough, it's the opposite situation with Shining Armor. In most of the fanon he runs the military and leaves all the other ruling of the Crystal Empire to Cadance. However, in the comics we see him efficiently running the Private Cabinet and effectively managing all the different departments, which suggests that he and Cadance share the running of all aspects of government pretty evenly.
6819201
Hasbro does? That is a surprise given the times the comics are contradicting their own canon here and there... or introducing a BS law as a McGuffin for why the Mane 6 has to run around like a badly written "I Love Lucy"/"Gunsmoke" mashup, committing crimes worse than the badguy trying to defeat him, instead of Twilight Sparkle performing a magic smackdown. -AND the missing Apple Uncle that caused the whole kerfluffle was never found or resolved!
there is a reference somewhere here... Hmm...
6882699
But I just can't find a reference anywhere *coughponyfindercough*
6882699
Probs a reference to the variant of D&D 'Pathfinder' I don't play it myself but that's the only thing I can think of...
Pathfinder? I prefer Ogres and Oubliettes myself.
8207233
I prefer Dungeons, Dungeons, and more Dungeons presonally
9783784
Dungeons dungeons and more dungeons is FUN
6818959
How do you get rust on wood?
9816709
it's all well and good until probabilitor shows up and demands you best him in a game of chance
Health will be a desaster. Food will be short. Order will be chaotic and the entire population need therapy & education.
Education will be key for the Changelings integration.
They be in many respects a great addition to society.
Guard and police Ling that can sense danger for example.
Or therapy of mental patients.
Doctors and nurses as well teachers and orphanage personal.
Celestia has it so mutch worse, as princess she is theater director of the show, but it's the actors and other stage people that actually bring things to life and keep it running.
Preferably if you can pull off that long-range teleport on the earth pony rather than on yourself. Just need to move him a 100 yards or so should do the trick. straight up or straight down