The last few weeks were the worst I have ever experienced physically. Every night I go to bed, my hoofs soar from running and my mind weakened from the amount of magic I use to just to keep up in combat maneuvers. Don’t even get me started on those. During the last combat exercise, I was put on the defending side and was told to follow the rules to the letter. I had been promoted to Corporal last week and I was taking fairly well considering I was under the command of the knuckle head known as Sergeant first class Brutus, fitting. And since I blasted him with lighting, he throws me in the middle of the battlefield on my own as bait. I took it as permission to both fuck off and do what ever I liked. I did exactly that.

As the Attacking formation started approaching I looked out towards the fortress that Brutus was “defending” and see the unicorns lining the wall launching stun spells at the advancing army commanded by Sergeant Brand Fire. I see his line of unicorns launching counter spells even faster then Brutus’. More ponies on the wall fall as the attacking army advances. I know that I wont be able to take on the army myself, but if anything I could force their attention away from the wall and towards me.

I ready myself, trying to conger up the lightning spell I had used a few weeks ago. Once again, I fell the jolt of pure voltage shoot through me and out my horn, this time mush weaker. The bolt landed right in front of the formation and suddenly, more than half of the fire was directed to me. I retreated back into the woods, rewarded with the sounds off a good number of soldiers heading my way. ‘Just like school.’ I think to myself.

I jump up into the trees and wait for the large squad of soldiers running through the tree line. I levitate a pinecone up and look for where they will break into the clearing I was hiding in. There were twelve soldiers charging through the forest shouting for the stallion that fired a hostile spell in their direction. And from the sound of things, Firebrand was behind them breaking from formation. Three of the soldiers were unicorns and the rest were earth ponies. Easy pickings. The shoot the pinecone off behind them and telekinetically rustle the bushes to their sides.

“Ambush!” one of the unicorns shouted as they went into a defensive circle. Even easier, I could use one spell and trick them all. My horn glows dark blue as I cast a little dark magic on them.

I can see into their minds, hear what they hear and see what they see. It was bright in the midday. Time to dim the lights. Everything got darker. The wind gently wisps past their ears making a light whistle. Boring, quiet down and let the sounds of their minds take over. Not too much or they’ll go insane. I just need to open it up enough to scare them and to discombobulate the rest of the army long enough for a counterattack. Most of them hear the rustling of the bushes and some were seeing dark red eyes staring back at them as they scanned the bushes. I could feel their heart rates rise. They were already paranoid from the thought of an ambush and now they were hearing things from the darkest pits of their minds. Now for the fun part.

A mighty roar blares in their ears causing most of them jumped and three of them shout and run before the rest of them saw their worst fear. Two of them saw an ursa major, four of them saw a Manticore and the rest saw some kind of black deformed pony with solid blue eyes. The other nine broke out in full gallop out of the clearing. I smile and jump down from the tree I was perched in and watch them run back to the army. I follow far behind and stop at the tree line to watch the show. They run head long into the troops and topple most of the front line of unicorns.

I see Firebrand shout back to his troops and the second that happened, a stun spell hits him right in the head and the entire line fell apart. The twelve ponies that had tried to attack me were still shouting in fear of the monsters they thought were behind them. As the line on the wall opened full fire again. The “attacking” army suddenly began to either fall or run for their lives. With a smirk, I start trotting back to the defense wall. As a bunch of ponies started cheering I hear Brutus shouting in victory. Even though I wanted to try and burst his bubble, I thought it best to just let it go and allow him to bask in the “glory” that was his victory.

A week later, graduation. The Academy was far more than I had expected. It would be hard, but not to the point where it was going to be near impossible to stand at attention as Commander Armor gave us the a full shpeel of how joining the royal guard was the best thing we ever could have become. We had to work up until the last day to keep from losing all the points that we needed to pass. I was beyond exhausted. I had been up everyday since last month learning new spells. Teleportation is still difficult and all I can do is go at least three yards in any direction. Most other spells weren’t as bad. Though it wasn’t recommended, I learned how to summon fire and invade dreams. That was what caused me to lose so much sleep. Storm Cloud has some very messed up dreams.

After the ceremony, we were all thrown onto a train and taken to the castle for our reception. The Princesses themselves were in attendance. It was the first time I had ever seen Luna up close. Her mane flowed midnight blue with stars sparkling through it. It stunned me, was that she was no taller than I was. Celestia sat upon her throne while her sister mulled about the crowd. I wasn’t sure what to think. She looked like any other pony. Granted the wings and horn made it easier to identify her as not being like any other pony. I turn my attention away from her and start looking around the party for my parents. It didn’t take long. They were the only two dark colored unicorns here.

“Oh my Celestia! You look so hansom!” she said putting her hoofs on my face and pulling me down to her level.

“Ma’.” I whisper pushing her hoofs from my face.

“Lay off the boy. He can’t lean over with that tie without choking to death. How you been son? Haven’t gotten a letter from you since you arrived.”

“Sorry dad. More or less a twenty-four hour shift around here.” I replied rubbing my hoof on the back of my neck.

“Well, we’re proud of you kid. You’re going to make a fine soldier.” he said patting me on the back.

“Well, if it isn’t the talk of the street.” I hear Lea’s voice.

I turn to meet her and see her in a stunning red dress. “Nice to see you too Lea.”

“Hey Nexus.” she said hugging me. “Nice to see you’re in one piece.”

“Thanks. Mirrors here?”

“Probably hitting on some mare.”

“Sounds ‘bout right.”

“You’d think so.” Mirrors said from behind me.

I shake my head with a smile and turn to him. “Nice to see you too Smokey.”

“Nice monkey suit.” he chuckles.

“Pot calling the kettle black.”

“Who’s the pot and who’s the kettle?” Storm says trotting up to us.

“Sup Storm.”

“Who’s this?” Mirrors asks.

“Smoke n’ Mirrors, meet my friend, Storm Cloud.” I say waving a hoof over to the Pegasus.

“Nice to meet ya.” Lea said with a smile that showed obvious interest.

“I feel threatened here.” Mirrors said sarcastically. “I thought I was your best friend man?”

“Oh, cut the water works Smokey. No one could replace the, weirdness, that is you.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”

“Look yall, not that I haven’t missed yall for the past two months, but I need a little breathing room. I’m going to get something to drink. Find a place to sit and I‘ll be with ya in a while.”

I could tell that they were a little disappointed. Only one out of all of them has seen me everyday for the past two months and now I was telling them to wait a few more minutes. I feel kind of bad, but also a little thirsty. At the buffet table, lines of sweets, sours and vegetables lined the full length of the royal dining hall; in-between, were several punch bowls of all colors filled to the brim. The table was overrun by ponies at the start of the banquet, but now only a few muttered about. I move up to a bowl filled with a dark blue liquid and levitate the ladle from the bowl. Careful not to spill the drink on the beautiful table cloth that went the entire length of the table, I pored it into the closest glass.

I take the glass in a magic field and bring it to my lips. It tasted of sweet, freshly juiced, black cherries. Satisfied, I turn quickly to find where my friends and family were seated only to run into somepony, dropping the glass and spilling it on the pony I hit.

“Sorry ‘bout that.” I say holding my breath and leaning down to try and get the cup in my teeth.

“’Tis not a bother to me.” a smooth, very regal voice tells me.

My eyes drifted up to see a light blue shoe near the glass and a darker blue hoof within it. ‘Oh crap!’

“Your Highness-Majesty-Princess!” I shout quickly as I straighten back up with Princess Luna standing in front of me. The punch that was previously in my glass had spilled onto her neck and chest. “I-I didn’t see you behind me! I am so sorry. I-I’ll get a napkin.”

“That shall not be necessary.” she said calmly levitating a napkin over to her and whipping the black cherry punch from her chest. “’T’was only an accident…” she paused reading the name tag on my chest. “Corporal Nexus.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you Princess Luna. I wish I hadn’t been such a cluts.”

“T’was not an issue.” now she was looking me over and I saw her gaze stop at my cutie mark. “I haven’t seen that symbol for a thousand years. How did it come to thee?”

I look back making sure that she was talking about the mark and not something I had knocked off the table. “It’s a long story your Highness.”

“The night is still young Corporal Nexus. I would be very interested to hear thy story.”

“Okay.” I tell her the briefest synopsis I can of how I found my talent and how much I have improved.

“That is a very interesting story my dear. Would it trouble you if I asked where is thy family?”

“Not at all. They’re right over…” I scan for a moment before spotting Mirror with a massive plate of food. “There.”

“Do you think they would mind my intruding?”

“Not at all Princess.”

The second we approached the table my father stood at attention and my mother bowed. She waved them off and Mirrors, being the massive kiss flank that he is, pulled up a chair for her.

“You two must be his parents.” she said looking towards them. “He’s quite special.”

“We know.” Mother began. “I was a little afraid of him learning such dark magic at a young age, but his father had done the same thing at his age. Though he never reached the skill level of Lunarus.”

“Mother.” I say sternly.

“Lunarus? Is that thy name?”

“Yes your Highness. I prefer Lunar or Nexus though.”

“You should be proud of thy name. The greatest general of the Armada was named Lunarus.”

“I know your Highness, but I prefer being called Lunar or Nexus.”

“Very well. Who are your friends?”

I pointed a hoof at each as I rattled off their names and what they did.

“So, Storm Cloud, is thou in Nexus’ unit?” Luna asked.

“We don’t know yet your Majesty. We haven’t received our deployment assignments yet.”

“Well, I shall be sure to-”

“Corporal Cloud! Corporal Nexus!” shouted Sergeant Firebrand.

“Sir!” we say in unison as we stand up.

“I have your assignments.”

‘That was fast.’

“You both will be deployed to the Frozen North outpost in the Crystal Mountains. Pack your things you leave in the morning.”

I feel a wave of disappointment roll over me for a moment.

“Excuse me, Sergeant.” Luna said standing up from the table.

“Your Highness. You shouldn’t be wasting your time with these two. They barely made it through basic.”

“How long would it take for thee to place them into my personal guard?”

“For you, tomorrow. For them, two weeks.”

“Then it be for me. Have them report to the throne room on the morrow.”

“Yes your Majesty.” Firebrand said with obvious resentment to the order.

As he walked away, I sat back down with Storm.

“You didn’t have to do that Princess.”

“’Tis what I wish. Thou seems capable.”

“Thank you Princess.”

“No kidding.” Storm said still watching Firebrand trotting away.

“Now you know how I became a part of the guard. Anything else you need to know Commander Armor before my question is answered.”

“You aren’t asking any until I say you can. Tell me where you got your injury.” he said pointing to my legs.

“That isn’t for a very long time Commander.”

“Then paraphrase.”

“Fine.”