FSE

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Fierce Charge woke to a soft nudge at his side. When his eyes opened fully the purple face of the mare Twilight Sparkle came into focus. He took in her features in that small moment and came to the conclusion that although not a pony of notable beauty, she was not far off. Her style of hair and attractive color pattern were something one could admire, but just as easily overlook. If he were to court a mare, she had the look of some pony he would consider asking out for a trot. She was very unlike her teacher, Celestia, and Luna...

Fi shook himself out of his reverie and stood up on the bed he had been provided on the train. The morning sun was shining through the windows of the compartment, which surprised him because it shouldn't have taken so long to reach Ponyville. It was possibly three hours by train if the ponies pulling were well rested and properly fed. He sauntered over to the small privy and relieved himself, then freshened up before returning to the compartment. He rejoined Twilight who had taken a seat on the bed opposite his. She had a large leather bound book floating in front of her with the help of her magic, which had a very unique purple hue. He took a moment to allow her time to relax before he bombarded her with his questions. The book she was ready was titled "The Life and Times of the Common Canterlot Guard Pony." The title puzzled him, but he began to find it amusing, and soon enough he was laughing out loud from his place on his own bunk.

Twilight took notice of his laughter and smiled softly before tilting her head and asking, "And what, may I ask, is so funny?"

"Forgive me, I just found the title of your reading material oddly amusing." Fi replied.

"Oh, is it strange? I found this in the library at Canterlot and I thought it would be interesting to read up more on your type."

"What exactly do you mean my 'type'?" Fi asked with mock accusation.

"I, uhm, well..." Twilight replied while stuttering; she had clearly assumed he was truthfully accusing her of being a bigot.

"Relax Miss Sparkle, I was only joking." Fi assured her with a casual wave of his hoof.

"Oh, well, all right then." Twilight said, a blush obvious on her face, and then she added, "Do you have any questions Captain? You seemed a bit put off when you first woke."

"Firstly Miss Sparkle..." Fi said before he was cut off by Twilight giggling and raising a hoof"

"Please, don't be so formal, you can call me Twilight or Twi. And don't go being so uptight with any pony in Ponyville either. Oh! There is one exception; a pony named Rarity will almost insist that you call her Miss Rarity until she gets to know you better, which she may attempt soon after you settle in. She is a sucker for ponies in positions of power or authority. She will be testing you right away however; she had a bad experience with Prince Blueblood and hasn't been so easily enamored since." Twilight instructed while Fi listened intently.

Fi had grown a love, almost lust, for information since he had begun his training. Knowing one's surroundings is the greatest thing a Captain can hope to grasp. That's what his teachers had told him, and he held it close to his heart. Just from the small comment Twilight had made he understood many things. First off he now understood that the ponies of Ponyville were a relatively laid back group, very unlike the almost snobbish denizens of Canterlot. He also learned of a potential threat to his image in this "Rarity" pony. In a perfect world Fi would be open to relationships with the ponies around him without fear. He knew better than that, and understood that one false move would challenge his ability to lead properly and the media ponies would eat it up. He noted the case of Royal Guard Captain Shining Armor. For a month, during the honey moon they spent in the Crystal Empire, the media ponies published a miniseries in the papers about Shining Armor's lack of diligence in the face of the imposter changeling queen. Fi would have to conduct himself with honor at all times, no matter what.

"All right Twilight, I was wondering why it's taken so long for our train to arrive. I expected a nap, not an entire night's sleep." Fi finally responded; his contemplation had taken a moment and it was clear that Twilight had grown wary.

"Last night a stray thunderstorm escaped the Pegasi in Cloudsdale and for safety we were informed to stop and gather the ponies inside. The storm broke apart and spread and it took nearly an hour to round it back up." She replied while she absently placed her large book into one of her saddle bags which were draped on a hook by her bed.

"That's very odd. Cloudsdale ponies are experts at what they do. Are you telling me they actually lost control of their weather?"

"It's not that odd. Strange weather accidents happen all the time so close to the Everfree Forest." She replied casually; clearly she had been living in close proximity to the forest so long that it was of little concern to her. Fi adamantly disagreed.

"I would appreciate any literature you have on the forest's history and layout, if it isn't too much of a burden." Fi respectfully, albeit eagerly, requested.

"Of course Captain, the library in Ponyville is at your disposal, as it is to any pony interested in learning. I'll have Spike sort out a few books when we get there."

"Who is... what is Spike?" Fi asked, confused.

"Oh he is a baby dragon, and my personal assistant."

"A baby dragon is your... assistant? Forgive me but, isn't that a bit ridiculous?"

"Not at all, Spike has been my trusted assistant since the moment he could walk. He may be a bit lazy at times, and his gem cravings tend to get him into trouble, but he is the kindest, sweetest, most helpful pony you could ever meet, even if he is a dragon. And if you meant specifically since I work in a library then... I can't argue that his head colds have cost me a few very fine books." Twilight said in a reminiscent tone.

Fi gave a soft chuckle at that. He imagined the sniffling little devil doing his utmost to keep himself busy and working, and then suddenly sneezing on the book he had worked so hard to find, burning it to a pile of ashes. He had never been very fond of dragons, but he didn't look on them with utter disdain either, and if he were going to visit the town often he would need to acquit himself with the idea of being around one quickly. Twilight had already proven to be a very friendly and open individual for someone who had spent so much time with the princess; time among nobles was often the gateway drug that led to snootiness and snobbery. Twilight was kind, funny, cooperative, and seemed eager to become accustomed to his presence; the latter relieved him a bit when he thought of spending the day around her.

The remainder of the ride was spent in comforting silence. Fi spent his idle time watching the landscape pass by. The grass and trees along the track sped by so fast they appeared as mere blurs in his vision. The distant mountains moved by at a much slower rate due to the miles between them and the train. Across from him Twilight spent much of her time with her snout buried inside the book that she had put away during their conversation. Fi caught sight of her peeking over her book at him several times, and when he would meet her eyes with his she would shrink back down, which amused the winged stallion immensely. With time the first glimpses of Ponyville were visible over the horizon. Fi watched the view for a moment before his eyes grew wide and he gasped. There, not far off from the peaceful town of Ponyville stood the proud new guard tower: a white monolith of power and authority. It was there that he would now call home, there that he would stand watch over Equestria as the princesses do, and there that he would make a stand against whatever great threat was looming underground.

Instead of veering toward the local train station in town, the train took a wide turn around the edge of the town and eventually stopped behind the looming structure that was the guard tower. Fi stepped out onto the hard wooden platform and took in his surroundings. On either end of the platform were ramps made for carts or trolleys. At the far end, opposite the train, the platform led to a large gate built into a high arch that led directly into the rear of the tower. All that was beyond the gate was currently a mystery to Fi because the tower had yet to be opened, so none of the candles or torches were lit, and any magically powered lights would be left off until they were needed. The platform was clear of any clutter, but there were small traces of old messes that had been hastily removed, including a pile of saw dust, a crumbled stone block, and a lost hammer that some unfortunate pony must have misplaced.

Twilight joined him a moment later once she had gathered all her belongings and triple checked her bag. As soon as she was off, the train gave a cry before it was pulled away by the running team. Fi watched the engine slide away on its belly like a metal slug before he turned back to Twilight. She had already walked off toward the ramp opposite the direction the train had come from. When he caught up with the purple mare, he noticed that there was a dirt trail leading from the foot of the ramp, around towards the town.

"Welcome to Ponyville. I know that compared to Canterlot this place may seem small, but the ponies here are amazingly charming and you will soon lose yourself in their warm hearts and generous hospitality. We have everything a pony could need, including a spa located in the shopping district... not that I assume you would ever go to a spa, heh." Twilight said and added the last comment hastily when she noticed the look on Fierce Charge's face.

"I suppose... any pony can appreciate a nice sauna or bubble bath after a long day on duty... But I regret I will have no time for such frivolous things as Captain." Fi replied, feeling bad for giving her the impression that he was offended, but adding the last bit to make his view of spas crystal clear.

"You had better keep that a secret around here. If Rarity were to hear, she would drag you by your tail and insist you submit to a proper scrubbing and primping." Twilight commented with a giggle.

"This Rarity... twice now you have commented on her behavior. She seems like a very over bearing pony. How do you deal with her?"

"No one 'deals' with Rarity, to the contrary she is quite popular. Of the ponies that live here she is the most generous pony you will ever meet. She once sacrificed her tail to end the lament of a giant serpent that had lost half of his mustache. That's why she is the wielder of the Element of Generosity."

"The what?" Fi asked, feeling more curious than ever before.

"You don't know? Well I suppose it has been a long while since we last used the Elements. Do you remember the time when Equestria was, for lack of a better word, attacked by the monster Discord?"

Fi immediately felt like an idiot. Of course he remembered that mess. He was only just accepted into the guard academy. He woke one morning to the sound of rain on the shutters of the window by his bunk. When he looked out expecting to see a very dismal day he was shocked to see the sky covered in hot pink clouds. When he let some of the rain touch his tongue he nearly fell backwards on his rump; it had been chocolate! It was all thanks to six very extraordinary ponies that the day had been saved, but because of his duties cleaning up the mess he was unable to attend the thank you ceremony that was held. He had wanted to meet them very badly, just to get a glimpse of those who had fixed such a total disaster.

"If she holds the Element of Generosity, then do the other Element holders live nearby?" Fi asked.

"Yes they do Captain, and one of them is me. The others are my best friends and they all live right here in Ponyville."

Fi stopped dead in his tracks. Could she be fibbing, or was she truly a wielder of one of the legendary Elements of Harmony? This Unicorn was student to the ruler of Equestria, why would she lie? If it was true... Fi looked upon the mare with a new perspective, one full of respect and awe. Her fur took on a new sheen he hadn't seen before, and when she stopped to look back at him he noticed a glow in her eyes. She radiated with what he assumed was some sort of inner power, but was more likely his wild imagination at work. He noticed the flick of her tail favored the left side more than the right, and a slight twitch in her right flank gave the impression of a past injury, possibly a simple broken bone. He took in the shape and colors of her cutie mark, and noted the similarity between hers and Shining Armor's. His new found curiosity could have taken hours to fully sate, but he was interrupted by the audible clearing of the mare's throat. His embarrassment was evident on his long face, but the words to apologize never came.

"Are you quite finished with your... examination Captain?" Twilight asked, her tone stern, but her eyes showed hints of amusement.

"I believe I am Twilight, let's move on. Please tell me of the others." Fi requested reluctantly, believing for a fleeting second that she may refuse him.

"I can do one better, let's move on to checking the opening ceremony's preparations, they are all involved in one way or another." Twilight offered proudly; she clearly admired her friends in ways Fi was unfamiliar.

Twilight led Fierce Charge around the tower and its ground floor buildings towards the village. Between the times he had woken up and their arrival in Ponyville at least a half hour had passed. By then the streets were alive with activity. Colts and fillies were galloping toward the school house. Elders were out for their morning trot. Many ponies were on their way to get started on their daily errands. Fi watched all this with a sense of disbelief; there was hardly any clutter! He was far too used to flying over the streets of Canterlot so that he could avoid the heavy traffic below. Here in Ponyville the road was nice and spacious and the ponies seemed friendly and left plenty of space for others to pass if they were in a hurry. Twilight must have seen the look on his face because she stopped and smiled at him softly.

"I am guessing that you aren't used to such an enormous crowd?" She said sarcastically.

"Very funny... this seems like such a quiet place. I have no idea how I will be able to sleep without the noise."

"You'll get used to it, but I have to warn you, do not underestimate this quiet little village; a lot tends to happen around here. When you least expect it the sky could end up falling." Twilight said before trotting off while Fi called out in protest hoping she was jesting.

Before heading directly into town Twilight led Fi down a different path that wove through trees and bushes towards the tree line of the Everfree Forest. Fi almost thought that the forest was their destination until he noticed a small cottage built on a hill that overlooked the forest. As they walked closer and closer, Fi couldn't help but take note of all the fauna scurrying about the site. Squirrels climbed in and out of the windows of the upper floor. Bunnies bounced to and fro along the path leading to the front door. There were even a few small garden snakes slithering out from a den located in the thick grass outside the cottage. When they reached the door to the cottage Twilight gave it a few soft knocks with her hoof. A great crash, followed by several smaller crashes, could be heard from the inside and Twilight winced instinctively.

"Are you alright Fluttershy?" Twilight cried when the crashing ceased.

"I-I'm o-okay..." A small voice from within called back, "I-I'll be right t-there..."

Twilight and Fi stood waiting by the door for a few moments as whatever mess inside was seen to. Fi idly let his hooves dig gently at the dirt while Twilight brought a clipboard and quill out of her saddle bags. As she worked through the papers, checking this and that off, Fi watched her magic glow and envied her a bit. He had always envied Unicorns because of their talent with magic. He would never sacrifice his beautiful wings for a horn, but he wouldn't mind being able to conjure up shields like the horned guards back home. His idle thoughts had left him staring at the mare once more, and to bring him out of his reverie Twilight set the feathered end of her quill to his nose. Fi sneezed loudly and nearly toppled over, which Twilight found utterly amusing. Just as he had finished rubbing his snout and cleaning his hoof in the dirt the door opened ever so slightly.

"Eek!" The pony inside cried before slamming the door shut again.

"Fluttershy it's ok! This is the new Captain we were told about! He's a friend."

Fi tilted his head as the door opened slowly once more. At first he saw the face of a blonde coated pony mare, and then her full pink mane came into view. He would have taken a moment to admire her, except he noticed there were tears in her eyes and her face was full of a mixture of fear and embarrassment. Seeing such a strong, negative emotional display shocked Fi and caused him to fold back his ears. His saddened look must have touched the yellow pony, because she almost immediately forsook her unhappy grimace for a warm smile and uplifted eyes.

"I'm sorry I worried you like that. I can sometimes be a little scared of new things..." Fluttershy said so softly that Fi nearly didn't hear her.

Fierce Charge stood back up straight and regained his composure. He then stuck out his hoof in greeting, "It's quite alright Miss Fluttershy. I suppose I can look a bit..." He said before trailing off; Fluttershy had ducked and covered when he offered his hoof, as if she believed he was attempting to hit her.

Twilight quickly brought her hoof out and gently pushed his back down, "Well Fluttershy... how are the doves? Will they be ready for the ceremony this afternoon?"

"Y-yes they will, everyone f-flew in early this morning to take part." Fluttershy replied from her spot near the ground. Her voice, which was already soft, was muffled by the ground being so close to her mouth.

Fi regretted that his offer of friendship had frightened the mare so badly, "Thank you for making sure to help make today as special as it can be Fluttershy. I really appreciate it."

Both mares looked at him, Twilight already smiling, and Fluttershy slowly smiling before she stood up to her full height. She gave the ground a soft kick making a tiny bit of dust drift up in the breeze, "You're welcome Captain, sorry for reacting like I did."

As they made their way back down the path toward the main body of the village Twilight gave Fi a sideways glance before speaking, "So, you aren't as uptight as I was expecting Captain. It was nice of you to thank her so warmly. Fluttershy suffers from... constant fear of everything, including social interaction. She usually takes a few weeks to really get used to a new pony, so give her some time and continue to be as charming as you were just then."

Fi listened and nodded his agreement with most of what she said, but when he heard her call him charming he looked at her. He didn't know for sure, especially considering the purple hue of her coat, but he thought he saw the tiniest hint of a blush. Fi had spent very little time around mares, due to his line of work. He wasn't used to the subtle flirting and suggestive nature of a mare's movements, but he wasn't entirely oblivious either. He forsook pursuing her about her comment for the sake of first impressions, but he would be on guard for similar comments from her and other mares he met in future.

"Was she a holder of one of the Elements?" Fi asked in an attempt to both change the subject and learn more about the ponies she introduced him to.

"Yes, she is holder of the Element of Kindness. As you saw she is very quick to show kindness, even to some pony who scares her."

Fi looked back the way they had come at the cottage in the distance and he had to agree that Fluttershy did give off an aura of great kindness. He vowed then to show her as much kindness in return, if she would ever allow him to get close enough to do so.

They trotted down the main street of town past small shops selling supplies, foods, and specialty items. They stopped in front of a large stage that had been set up just outside the town hall. On the stage stood a pony with a coat of pure white. Her mane and tail were a deep purple and styled in the most elegant curls Fi had ever laid eyes upon. For a fleeting moment he thought for sure that a mare of Canterlot had come to help with decorating the stage, but he had no knowledge of this beauty's name. When she turned to face Fi and Twilight she made sure to flick her mane in the perfect way so that the sun shining down on her cascaded across her face in a dazzling light show of twinkling stars across her mane and white face. She gave Fi a very swift look, as if she desired he not notice her wandering eyes, before she trotted over to the edge of the stage and leapt down to join them. She shared a brief nuzzle with Twilight before speaking.

"Twilight, darling, it's so good to see you back here in Ponyville. I trust your trip was pleasant both to and from Canterlot, hm?" The white mare asked.

"Hey Rarity, it's good to be back. The trip was fun. I spent some time in the library there looking for some good books. Big brother Shining Armor was there so I got to spend time with him..." Twilight began to say but drifted off when she noticed Rarity had moved in close to Fi's face giving him her "I can see us together" look. She sighed audibly behind Rarity.

"You wouldn't happen to be the dashing new Captain that we have heard so much about, would you?" Rarity asked Fi as she gazed into his eyes through half closed lids to show off the length and curl of her eye lashes.

"That would be me. My name is Fierce Charge, newly appointed Captain of the Imperial Guard. If I am not mistaken you must be Miss Rarity. Twilight Sparkle has mentioned you on more than one occasion." Fi said as he held out his hoof to her so that is was upturned.

Rarity gracefully placed her dainty hoof upon Fi's as she turned her head in mock modesty. Fi brought her hoof up to a reasonable height before leaning down the remaining distance and placing his lips just above her hoof on the coronet. Rarity let out a very excited giggle which she attempted to muffle, but was unsuccessful. Fi returned her hoof to her so that she could place it gently back to the ground. When he stood to his full height he noticed that despite her obvious attempts to hide it he could clearly see a deep blush on her cheeks. Seeing her blush gave Fi a sense of satisfaction. Though he was new to interacting with such feminine ponies, he was quickly becoming very cunning with his words and actions.

"Anyway Rarity... how are the decorations coming along?" Twilight asked in an attempt to bring her friend out of her romance induced stupor.

"Oh they're just fine Twilight. I won't be revealing my work until it is show time, but you can rest assured that the ceremony will be the pinnacle of fabulocity!" Rarity announced as she leapt back onto the stage and struck a very fashionable pose. Both Twilight and Fierce Charge were left speechless.

"That's exactly the reaction I was hoping for. Now you two go on, shoo, let Rarity do what Rarity does best." Rarity ordered before she trotted back off to work.

"She's too proud to admit it, but you impressed her." Twilight said as they made their way down the street towards the farmlands just outside of town.

"I was simply trying to make a good first impression on a pony that I knew was a little eccentric. If she was impressed then I will look at it as a bonus." Fi replied with a grin which elicited a giggle from the purple mare.

It took only fifteen minutes of brisk trotting to reach the farmlands. If he read the sign correctly they were named Sweet Apple Acres. He had heard of their famous Zap-apple Jam, so he was eager to learn more about his new neighbors. Walking among the apple trees was heavenly. The area had an earthy scent to it, but the breeze that blew by would be thick with the sweet scent of apples. The mix gave him a sense of health and he knew he could be happy living in such a place if he hadn't been so keen to the life of a guard. When the large barn came into view Fi distinctly heard the sound of loud banging or pounding. At first he assumed a minor repair was being made after the stray storms of the night before, but he saw no trace of lumber or repair tools near the barn. It wasn't until he looked to his left into the thickness of the trees when he found out what it was.

Among the tall, proud apple trees stood a mare. She was the same height as Twilight and her other friends, and her coat was a very attractive orange hue. Her blonde mane and tail were tied in very neat, and suitably named, pony tails. On top of her proud Earth pony head she wore a brown Stetson hat which suited her exceptionally well. On close examination of her body it was clear to Fi that this mare was no push over. Her flanks were solid muscle and her chest and legs were not much different. Her cutie mark, a trio of apples, was a clear indication of her identity as a member of the Apple family. When Fi and Twilight had made it to the barn the mare among the trees took notice of them and gave them a wave with her hat. Twilight waved back, and then she and Fi winced as the new mare slammed her hind hooves into the nearest apple tree so hard that the apples fell from the branches like waterfalls of giant red marbles.

Once every apple had fallen into one of the three buckets near the tree's base the new mare made her way over to them. When she stopped she took off her hat and wiped her brow, then she replaced the hat on her head and smiled happily at the pair.

"Well howdy there Twilight. This here the new Captain of that there tower over yonder?" the orange mare asked in her one of a kind drawl.

"Sure is Applejack." Twilight replied with a kind smile.

"In that case put'er there partner. Name's Applejack." Applejack said as she held out a hoof to Fi.

Fierce Charge understood that unlike the previous two ponies he had met, this mare was less sophisticated, more open, and extremely friendly. She gave off the feeling of someone who could be relied on, so he was more than happy to accept her hoof and shake in greeting.

"Good to meet you Applejack. My name's Fierce Charge, but you can call me Fi. That goes for you too Twilight. Only my guards will have to use my title or my full name." Fi replied while both mares nodded their approval and agreement.

"We got all the apples bucked that we need fer tonight's big ol' feast. You're gonna love our Apple family recipes Fi. We got ever'thing from Apple Crisp to Apple Cider prepared for the feast. Just waitin' on ol' Granny Smith ter finish up gatherin them there ingredients for the Apple Cake we're makin and we'll be all set." Applejack said with a proud smile, her nose lifted up a bit higher than it ought to be, but the gesture was only amusing to Fi, because he knew that her cockiness was well backed up.

"Thank you and your family so much for all your hard work Applejack. I had honestly been a bit wary of the reception our guard post would receive. It's not only going to be an honor protecting the town and your farms, it appears it will be a pleasure too." Fi said with a gentlemanly bow of his head and a lift of his hoof to his chest.

"Aww shucks partner, don't go all sappy on this here mare. I ain't so easy ter charm." Applejack replied with a grin, but her voice betrayed subtle hints of embarrassment.

"Well we won't take up any more of your time Applejack; I still need to go see to Pinkie and Rainbow." Twilight piped in.

"Alright then you two. Don't be a stranger there Fi; any pony is welcome to stop by Sweet Apple Acres so long as they're willing to lend a hoof. AIN'T THAT RIGHT BIG MAC?!" Applejack cried out loudly causing both Fi and Twilight to jump.

From a distant hill top in the orchard the trio could see a large muscular stallion come into view. His deep orange hued coat was clearly visible in contrast to the distant blue sky. He stopped walking for a moment, the cart behind him coming to a halt as well, and then on the wind a single word drifted to them,

"Eeyup."

Twilight and Fi walked down the road away from Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack waving happily after them. Once Fi knew they were out of earshot and eyesight, he turned to Twilight and spoke,

"Well that was interesting."

Twilight giggled cheerfully at his words before replying, "The Apples are a very unique family around here, but they are the most trustworthy ponies in Equestria. Applejack holds the power of the Element of Honesty after all."

"A branch of their family founded the town of Apple Loosa, correct?"

"Yes they did, and as far as we can tell from the post we receive from them they are doing quite well."

"That's good to hear. They are awful far out there, but they will be under our protection as well. We'll be leaving no settlement to fend for its self, no matter what the odds may be, and no matter how far we have to travel." Fi said proudly.

"Fascinating... is that part of your code or what?" Twilight asked curiously.

"No... it's my attempt at sounding responsible... and maybe a little cool." Fi replied with a small chuckle.

"If you ever decide to write a list of codes for your guards to follow I can assist you. I am very proficient with organization."

"I have noticed that. You nearly always have a list of to-dos and you are vigilant with your checklists. I won't be distracting you from your work at the library, but I will seek you out if I need help. You and your friends, though you each have a strange mannerism or another, are kind and very dependable. I'm glad Ponyville was selected as the location of the new headquarters." Fi admitted to Twilight.

She gave him an appreciative smile before she went on leading Fi through the village. They spent some time wandering through the streets, searching for some pony that Fi didn't know. Twilight had almost given up hope of ever finding the pony, until a pink blur caught their attention down the road.

"There she is. I was wondering if we would find her before the party." Twilight said with a wide smile.

"Find w..." Fi started before he was slammed by a wall of pink.

He had been tackled onto his back with his legs stuck in the air, the front two bent close to his chest near his neck guard where the summoning charm for his armor was set. When he dared open his eyes he was face to face with a very pink pony. Her cheery smile and large eyes were both pleasant and a bit creepy. Atop her head was a mound of cotton candy-like mane hair, and her tail, which was brushing against his, felt much the same. Her front hooves were placed firmly on the ground on either side of him, effectively pinning him down unless he saw fit to use force, which he was not willing to do against such an innocent looking pony.

"Pinkie Pie, get off the Captain please..." Twilight pleaded helplessly with a soft chuckle.

"Captain? Oh, do you own a big ship? Are you a pirate? Do you like booty?" The mare named Pinkie Pie asked Fi with a giggle.

"Excuse me...?" Fi asked.

"Pinkie, this is the Guard Captain you are planning the big party for, remember?" Twilight said slowly for emphasis.

"Oh, the Guard Captain hehe, how silly of me. I assumed you meant he was a nautical captain. Oh, he might have been a team captain too! Ohh, a tug-of-war team captain! But I don't see any team jersey..." She gasped, "Oh the Captain from the party you say?! I gotta go!"

With that Pinkie Pie shot off like her hooves were jet propelled. Fierce Charge got back up onto his hooves before he sighed and used his wings to bat the dust from his back. When next he looked up he couldn't see any trace of pink in any direction. Clearly the Earth pony had some form of mental disorder, but in a way it matched her look. He may have been put off by her initial appearance and the proceeding conversation, but he had a good feeling about the party. If any pony were going to host a good party it would be a wild spirited mare like her. Once he was properly cleaned, and his mane re-sheveled, he turned his attention back to Twilight. She wore a very embarrassed look on her lovely equine face. Fi thought it was unbecoming of her, so he forced a smile and spoke cheerfully.

"She seemed nice." Fi said, a little forced, but not altogether untrue.

Twilight let out a small breath and immediately wore a look of relief on her face, which was quickly replaced by her usual smile, "She is a very nice pony, though a bit overzealous about making friends with new ponies. Until she is positive you are her friend you can expect her to pop in unexpectedly... and often. But she is perfectly harmless heh..."

"I understand, and I will do my best to be patient with her. As long as she is a loyal friend I will be glad to call her one." Fi assured her.

"If it's loyalty you want, there is one pony I am sure you will be glad to meet. Don't get me wrong, we are all loyal friends to one another, but Rainbow Dash is the manifestation of loyalty."

This is the moment Fi had been secretly dreading. Rainbow Dash was famous for two things: the Sonic Rainboom, and her competitive spirit. Perhaps dreading is too powerful a word for how he truly felt. He had heard from several ponies during his training that Rainbow Dash had issued a challenge to the mystery pony who had passed through Cloudsdale airspace the day before Hearts and Hooves Day. He had no way of knowing if it was him or not at first, but then descriptions of the mystery pony appeared in the paper. Immediately Shining Armor scolded him for putting on such a spectacle, and he forbade Fi from venturing out to accept the challenge, a punishment he was glad to accept contrary to his teachers' beliefs. Now was the moment of truth. Rainbow would either: recognize him and issue another challenge on the spot, or she would see him as a complete stranger and greet him as any other. He pleaded with the ponies above that it would be the latter.

Fi noticed Twilight was still talking to him so he forsook his thoughts for the time being so that he could listen, "...if I am judging the skies correctly Rainbow has been napping again, so keep your eyes open for her in the trees or on extra puffed up clouds..."

"Is she... blue?" Fi asked as he gazed off into the distance at a blue blob lounging in a tree down the road.

"Good eye Fi, that'll be her all right. Come on." Twilight urged as she took off at a gallop to close the distance quickly.

Fi followed after her galloping briskly to the tree. As they drew closer to the sleeping Pegasus he could see her trademark tail and mane, so soft and wavy and full of color. She was a rare beauty without even having to try very hard. Her days spent working her wings doing aerial acrobatics had left her body toned to perfection: a true athlete. Twilight called out her name a couple time hoping to rouse the slumbering equine to no avail. She then attempted to toss small pebbles up into the tree to stir the Pegasus from her sleep, but she wasn't successful with even getting the stones high enough to reach Rainbow's height. When she had exhausted all reasonable ideas Twilight conceded that she would have to play a little dirty, so she focused her magic to levitate a large boulder nearby. Up and up the boulder rose into the air, until it was at a height of possibly three feet. When Twilight released the spell the massive rock crashed to the ground, shaking everything violently.

Fierce Charge watched Rainbow Dash roll ever so slowly, possibly due to the rush of adrenaline he felt. Then it happened, she rolled clear off her perch and fell quickly to the ground. A half second was all that would pass before she suffered a possibly deadly injury. He didn't think, he didn't plan, he just acted... With a great heave Fi rushed forward, and with the help of his wings and strong legs, he slid into place beneath Rainbow just in time to catch her gently on his back. The sudden fall had woken the mare and her scream ended when she felt the strong back of the stallion beneath her. She had closed her eyes when she expected to crash, but she soon opened them to see the silver coated stallion looking back at her with concern. Her eyes scanned his strong face for a moment before she noticed the flame-like hues of his mane, then she scowled and leapt off his back quickly to hover in the air a foot from the ground.

"It's you! You're the Meteor!" Rainbow cried while pointing an accusing hoof at him.

Fierce Charge face hoofed, but did so a bit too hard without meaning to which blurred his vision for a moment.

"The what?" Fi asked once he regained his composure.

"The Meteor! The Pegasus who put on that amazing show outside Cloudsdale! I remember the color of your mane and tail blazing a trail in the sky! I dunno who you think you are rookie, but I am the only show pony in this corner of Equestria!"

"Rainbow, calm down!" Twilight cried, "He isn't The Meteor!"

"He might not call himself that, but the Pegasi in Cloudsdale nicknamed him that when he wouldn't show his face. Remember I waited three weeks for him to stop being a wimp and face me in a fly-off?" Rainbow said angrily.

"Rainbow relax, he didn't come because he was forbidden to respond to you." Twilight said in an as-a-matter-of-factly tone.

"Oh yeah? Such a wuss that he needs mommy's permission to do anything?"

"More like responsible for upholding my oath to the princesses and obeying the commands of my former leader and mentor." Fi finally said in his defense.

"I... what?" Rainbow said, confused.

"I'm actually named Fierce Charge; I am the newly appointed Imperial Guard Force Captain. I am commander of the guard who will be charged with the welfare of all ponies everywhere within Equestria and the Crystal Empire." Fi stated with humble dignity, not wanting to sound boastful.

Rainbow Dash allowed her altitude to lower until she was on her hooves on the ground. She stood level with Twilight, but about a half head shorter than Fi, though she gave no impression she found this a disadvantage. Her hooves tread lightly on the grass encompassing the tree she had once been lazing about in as she made her way over to him. Knowing that a Captain must never show fear in the face of any foe, Fi refused to give her ground even if she were to charge him right there. Twilight looked on with bated breath, dreading the outcome of their meeting. When Rainbow was mere inches from touching noses with Fi he began to plot his next move should she attack. His thoughts were cut short when he suddenly felt the warm caress of soft equine lips kissing his.

Fi was at a loss. He had been taught to block a charge. He had been taught how to stun a blocker. He had been taught to charge a stunner. The hell in Equestria was he supposed to do to a kisser? His mind raced in the small moment that passed. He knew that his body was in defense mode so he dared not make a move. He knew that the sensation on his lips was growing increasingly... pleasant. And he knew that a moment ago this pony was verbally offending him. He was utterly clueless. As his logical brain went on with its insane pondering storm, his stallion brain took matters into its own hands. Er, tendrils? Rainbow Dash felt the lips she had decided to test begin to respond in kind, and what was supposed to be a tactical attack against the enemy slowly became a shared sensual experience for both ponies. Fi's lips caressed Rainbow's as hers did his, and soon the uncouth sounds of flesh on flesh filled the air. Before the moment progressed any further than either of them was willing to go, Rainbow reluctantly parted her lips from his.

"Hmm, touché Captain, touché..." Rainbow said as she gave her light blue lips a slow lick, tasting the subtle flavor of the stallion before her.

Fi shuddered silently before looking up at Rainbow, "That was very... interesting."

Off to the side stood Twilight, her face frozen in a look of shock and awe. It was quite obvious that not only was she unfamiliar with such public displays of affection, she had never seen her friend commit such a display of affection before, ever. Rainbow Dash walked casually over to her Unicorn friend and gently pushed her drooping bottom jaw back into its proper place, effectively waking the stupefied mare. Fi and Rainbow watched Twilight shake from head to toe, and together laughed heartily when her hair became disheveled.

"What was that all about Rainbow?" Twilight finally asked as she used a brush from her bag to fix her hair, the glow of her magic evident on the floating tool.

"I was testing his resolve. Just like the royal guards who escort Princess Celestia around, he stood his ground no matter what. I like that..." Rainbow said, almost suggestively.

"I hope you try to restrain yourself in the future. What if Celestia had seen? What if a ponirazzi had been out here? You two would have a lot to explain." Twilight scolded while Rainbow scoffed.

"Like I care what some paper pony says about me. Rainbow Dash doesn't need the approval of some pony when it comes to her social life." She replied while she trotted off a few feet, "I'll get those clouds cleared up now for the ceremony. Keep those lips warmed up Captain; I'm not quite done with you just yet."

Twilight called out a few more berating remarks after the blue Pegasus, but she had already vanished into the sky. The only thing visible from where they stood was the dazzling rainbow trail she left in her wake. Twilight let out a very audible sigh before she faced Fi again. He felt like he would be scolded for his actions. Twilight was kind, but she was also very responsible and knew her rights from her wrongs. He hung his head low, ready to accept his reprimand.

"I'm terribly sorry about Rainbow Dash; she is a loyal friend but... very irresponsible and impulsive. I hope you can forgive her for that." Twilight pleaded, her voice laced with hope.

"I... she... yes, I will gladly forgive her for her actions. In all honesty, she was my first kiss." Fi confessed feeling like a naïve colt.

Twilight gave the sky a small glance and, if Fi was any judge of features, a quick glare before looking back at Fi with a warm smile, "Thank you Fi. You've shown me that this community has nothing to fear from the guard who will soon be living among us. Let's get back to the tower; you need to rest and clean up for the ceremony this afternoon."

Fi and Twilight turned back toward the village and set off at a brisk trot. As they went, Fi got the oddest sensation in the pit of his stomach. He normally would have forsaken worrying, thinking it was hunger or anxiety. After all he had been through recently, Fi knew that his subtle precognition could not, would not be ignored.