Just a warning that the Speech between Nigel and Horizon contains some errors like repetion of the word 'and'. This is to represent Horizon's young age.

______________________________________________________________________________-

The group arrived at the city outskirts with a few hours of daylight to spare; having made good time once they had finished their lunch break. They were currently standing on the side of what Nigel assumed was the main road, the path wide and cobbled with stone. Part of the terms that Nigel had settled on with Celestia was that the group would have to remain as one while in the city and they would also have to be escorted by some of the local guards.

No military forces had yet to make an appearance with only a few passing groups of ponies entering the city via the road, the travellers leaving with haste as soon as they noticed the changelings and humans. Nigel had begun to get impatient; the Commander perched upon an outcropping of rock with Horizon snoozing in his lap, the foal wrapped in a cloak of blue linen as the discovery of his presence would no doubt cause problems for the group. Nigel’s sensors picked up two objects concealed in a bush a few hundred meters down the road, the signatures matching those of Royal Guard Pegasi. He informed his troops of the observers, ordering them to act as if they had not spotted the equines while maintaining their vigilance.

The changelings and humans all settled down to await the arrival of the pony forces, the changelings seizing the opportunity to grab some rest while the humans watched every approach with their rifles at the ready in case the ponies attempted anything.

________________________________________________________________________________

“What do we do Sir? They’re just sitting there doing nothing.” Corporal Wind Slash asked her officer, Sergeant Updraft.
Updraft’s eyes narrowed as the Pegasus mare voiced her observation, his gazed locked on the bipedal creatures.
“Is that what you think Corporal? Look a little closer at the bipeds and tell me if you notice anything.”

Wind Slash peered out of the bush the two guards had concealed themselves in “They look in other directions every so often and the largest one, the leader I think” the ponies glanced at the biped in question, the black clad giant tapping its feet against the rock it was occupying “keeps on glancing at the city.”

“Not quite, Corporal” Updraft replied “the normal bipeds have their movements perfectly timed, see how at least one has vision on every approach at any time. What information does that give us?”
The mare looked more closely, observing the black creatures.

“They are obviously soldiers of some kind although they only seem to have those strange clubs and I think a few knives. If they create any trouble a full squad should be able to take them” the Corporal replied confidently.

“Guess again Corporal, those aren’t clubs they’re carrying, I was told by Lieutenant Storm that those sticks are some kind of projectile weapon that fires invisible arrows that explode.”

Wind Slash gave her superior a dismissive glance.

“Yeah right, ‘invisible arrows’ I’m not a rookie Sarge” she snorted.

“Don’t tell me that, I’m only going off at what the LT said and I also heard from two other Sergeants that when Celestia met the bipedal leader” the Sergeant pointed a hoof at the large biped “they were attacked by a bunch of Diamond Dogs, about twenty of the mutts.”

“What happened?” inquired Wind Slash, the bipeds and changelings forgotten as she looked at Updraft.

“The dogs charged the lone biped Leader who was out in the open by itself and two seconds later,” the Corporal leaned in closer as her sergeant paused, “every single Diamond dog was on the ground in pools of their own blood.”

The Corporal shuddered “They killed twenty Diamond Dogs in two seconds?” she asked.

“Not exactly, apparently the leader walked over as if nothing had happened and he finished them off, none were spared” Sergeant Updraft replied.

“By Celestia…” Wind Slash whispered as she once again looked out at the Biped Leader.

“What sort of Monster can be that cruel?”

____________________________________________________________________________

“Nigel, why are we sitting outside the city instead of in it?” Horizon asked after he had awoken, rubbing his eyes with his hooves.

“We have to wait for some guards to come and get us so we can go into the city Horizon.”

“Oh” the colt replied, looking up at Nigel “but why do we need guards? You and Mister Boland and Mister Stevens and Mister Smith and Mister Murray are all really good at fighting.”

‘How do I explain this?’ thought Nigel as he patted the foal on the head.

“Well you see Horizon; the guards aren’t going to be with us for our protection.”

“They’re not?” the colt asked “Then why do we need guards?”

“Well… you see Horizon, to normal ponies we look scary and mean so we’re going to have some guards so that ponies aren’t as scared of us.”

Horizon thought about Nigel’s response before he let out a yawn, laying his head back down on his fore-legs as Nigel scratched the colt’s head.

“I guess that makes sense,” Horizon replied “I was scared of you when I first saw you Nigel, but I now know that you’re really nice, so I’m sure all of the other ponies will like you as well.”

“Thanks Horizon” Nigel responded, a smile hidden under his helmet as the foal once again drifted off to sleep.

‘Unfortunately I don’t think it’s going to work out that way’ he thought to himself as he glanced at his sensor readout, three more signatures making their way to the bush concealing the two pony guards.

__________________________________________________________________________

“Sergeant Updraft! Privates Tornado, Gust and Feathers reporting to assist you as per orders from the Lieutenant!”

Updraft and Wind Slash whipped around, the arrival of the new guards having gone unnoticed by the pair. With alarm Updraft stared at the Privates, the three Pegasi standing to attention in the middle of the road while they were saluting.

“What are you idiots doing!? Now the bipeds know that we are here!” Updraft snarled angrily.

Two of the guards flinched back, the two Stallions reeling at their chastisement. The third guard craned her neck to the side, spotting the bipedal Leader, the large creature looking right at the newcomers.

“Hello!” she yelled out as she waved a golden-clad hoof in the biped’s direction, the leader responding by waving a claw back. All of the other guards looked at the mare with dumbfounded expressions.

“Private, just what in Tartarus do you think you’re doing!?” Sergeant Updraft yelled, the private sheepishly lowering her hoof as she looked at the ground.

“I was waving at the creature Sergeant” she replied softly.

”Why? Why would you wave at a creature like that, especially when the Corporal and I are trying to conduct critical intelligence works?” The Private did not respond, all of the guards staring at Updraft in fear. The Sergeant continued his lecture “I’m ashamed of you Private, that sort of behaviour is the reason why the Canterlot branch won’t give us the time of day, let alone acknowledge…”

Sergeant Updraft trailed off as he noticed the terror-filled eyes of his subordinates, their stares not directed at him but at something behind him…

“Excuse me Sir, I apologise for interrupting your little chat but we’ve been waiting here for hours, can you please hurry it up a little bit?”

Updraft turned to face the electronic voice, revealing the horrifying form of the bipedal leader. The Sergeant struggled to maintain his gruff composure in the presence of the creature, the biped seemingly three times as tall as him.

“I will get to you when I am ready, please return to the rest of your companions.”

“Why?” questioned the biped “do you want to go back into your bush and watch us again, like you were for the last three hours?”

“O-of course not!” stuttered Updraft, the pony thrown by the revelation that the biped knew of the two guards presence the entire time “It’s just for… safety reasons.”

“Nice try, but I work in Government” the biped replied “that excuse is so over-used I’ve grown immune to it. Now if you’re done procrastinating it’s getting late and I’m tired, and when I get tired…” the biped reached down and picked up a hefty rock, the stone as large as Updraft’s head.

“I get mad” the biped finished, crushing the rock in its armoured fist like it was nothing. The guard ponies watched as the remaining bits of stone fell to the ground, utterly pulverised by the biped. Sergeant Updraft gulped nervously as looked back up at the skull-shaped head of the biped.

“I’m sure that we can find a Inn that would accept you right away, if you fetch the rest of your group we can move immediately” the Sergeant quickly spouted.

“Great!” exclaimed the biped with joy evident in its voice. It reached down to its waist with a claw, withdrawing a golden Bit from a hidden compartment. It placed the coin on the top of Updraft’s muzzle, the pony Sergeant too afraid to move. The biped then stood still for a few moments, as silent as a statue.

Within a minute the group of bipeds and changelings had all assembled behind their leader, the changelings watching the guards cautiously while the biped soldiers merely stood at attention, their expressionless faces revealing nothing. Updraft noted that one of the bipeds held a bundle of blue cloth, the object shifting occasionally in the creature’s arms.
“Lead the way pony” the bipedal leader said, “I have lots of sight-seeing planned tomorrow so the sooner we can rest the happier I will be.”

The sergeant nodded hastily as he turned and began to trot towards the city, the other four Pegasi following with speed. Nigel chuckled under his helmet as he signalled for the group to follow the ponies, the changelings and humans entering the city where they would no doubt have many marvellous adventures.

___________________________________________________________________________-

“While we’re not short of rooms, due to your unique size I don’t think any of our beds will be large enough for you.”

Nigel smiled down at the Innkeeper as the light-yellow mare informed him of her concerns. The Inn wasn’t too fancy, the wooden building having seen better days. It had been chosen as it was the most run-down Inn in the city, Sergeant Updraft reasoning that the owner would be more likely to house a bunch of murderous creatures and dishonest changelings. This had proven correct, the Innkeeper’s initial un-easiness had eased once Nigel had produced a hefty bag of coins, the currency having been ‘liberated’ from the Equestrians that had been held captive back at the Hive.

“That’s not a concern for us, as long as our three quadrupled companions have a bed then that will be fine” Nigel replied, his helmet cradled under his right arm.

The mare shifted her weight from side to side nervously at the mention of the changelings.

“Are you certain they won’t feed on anypony while they’re in the city?”

“I’m quite sure, we’ve managed to find another way for them to feed, you and your employees have nothing to worry about.”

The mare let out a sigh of relief at Nigel’s response “that’s good to hear,” she looked up at Nigel “but what about you…?”

“Humans” answered Nigel “and don’t worry about us, we have all the food we need in our suits” he tapped his chest plate with a glove as he said this.

“Oh, I thought that was your skin, sorry.” the mare chuckled as she blushed a little.

Nigel laughed along with her “it’s okay, almost everyone we’ve met has assumed that so no offence taken Miss…?”

“Warm Hearth” Nigel extended a hand, grasping Warm Hearth’s offered hoof and shaking it, the mare staring in wonder as his armoured fingers clutched her limb.

“Nigel Chalmers, pleased to make your acquaintance”

“You’re much nicer then I first assumed Mister Chalmers, your appearance is quite…”

“Intimidating?” Nigel provided, Warm Hearth nodding in response. “I’ll admit that the armour does make us appear quite monstrous but that is it’s intended purpose” Nigel held up his helmet, the mare gulping at the sight of the morbid headwear. Nigel began to polish one of the red eye lens with a cloth as he continued. “It’s a pre-requisite of our profession to look the way we do, much like how your guard forces all seem to have the same colour scheme."

“That makes sense I suppose” Hearth replied “Though I have to admit that I much prefer gold and blue compared to black with skulls.”

“Eh, can’t win them all” responded Nigel with a shrug.

“Well, I already asked my daughter. Spring Clean to attend to your companions in the bar, would you like to join them?” Warm Hearth asked as she moved from the desk, the brown-maned mare heading towards the bar-room door.

“That would probably be for the best, who knows how much trouble Stevens is causing at the moment,” Nigel answered as he followed the mare, various sounds of merriment emanating from the adjacent room.

_____________________________________________________________________________

“So then I said ‘How da like these apples?’ and then I shot the guy in the face! Oh yeah, that made my day!”

Stevens laughter went unaccompanied, the pony guards too shocked to comment while it was old news for the three other wraiths sitting at the table. Nestor and Mirror were nursing two glasses of cider at a neighbouring table while Reflection and Jacobs were sitting at the corner table by themselves, both with glasses of alcohol in hand and hoof. Sergeant Updraft had left earlier claiming that he had paperwork to finish, leaving the other four Pegasi to watch the humans and changelings. Horizon had been put to bed up in the Commander’s room, the colt falling asleep as soon as he was placed under the covers.

Stevens lifted the bottle of whisky he held to his lips, taking a large swig before continuing “Well fine, no-one laugh along with me then. I might as well go and join the lovebirds over there.”

Everyone in the room looked over towards the pair Stevens had pointed at, Reflection and Jacobs too caught up in each other to notice the attention they were receiving. Steven took another drink before continuing his rant.

“At least Jacobs knows how to relax, you guys are all a bunch of squares. I mean, sure every female we’ve seen on this planet walks on four legs but we got to live a little you know, grab life by the balls and squeeze till they pop.”

As he said this the Corporal winked at Wind Slash, the mare blushing hard as she adverted her gaze, the pony taking another sip of her cider. Sergeant Boland let out a sigh through his helmet speakers.

“Corporal Stevens, while the Commander did order us to enjoy ourselves while we had the time I believe that he would be most displeased with how liberal you have been with your conduct.”

Stevens snorted, finishing the bottle he held before replying.

“I doubt that, I’m for one surprised that he hasn’t already tried to seduce every female that moves. That man changes the sheets more than a maid that works in a five-hundred room hotel.”

Stevens reached for another bottle on the table before he suddenly found himself staring at the ceiling with a metal boot planted on his chest.

“Care to repeat that Corporal, I don’t believe that everyone heard that hilarious joke.”

Stevens craned his head back, his eyes meeting those of the Commander.

Nigel stared down at his subordinate, Warm Hearth watching the scene with worry from her position at the Commander’s side.

“What I said Sir was that, um…” Stevens said as he struggled to think of a reply that wouldn’t result in execution “that you are one of the most well-learned practitioners of the finer areas of romance.”

Stevens began to sweat when he received no response from Chalmers, the Commander’s hand tapping the butt of one of his holstered pistols. The entire room, including Reflection and Jacobs who had broken out of their trance at the spectacle watched the confrontation, wary of the potential action the Commander appeared to be considering.
Nigel’s frown quickly morphed into a wide grin, the Commander lifting his boot off Stevens chest.

“You’re lucky that I’m in a good mood and that you chose your words very wisely Corporal, it would have been unfortunate if Miss Warm Hearth here would have ended up having to clean the contents of your skull off her barroom floor.”

“Yes Sir, it won’t happen again Sir” acknowledged Stevens, the Corporal righting himself and his seat before once again reaching for the bottle of whisky.

“Maybe you should cut back Stevens,” cautioned the Commander as he sat down at the table. “You don’t want to go and make a fool of yourself again do you?”

“I’ll be fine” dismissed Stevens with a wave of his hand, taking another swig of whisky as he continued.

“What’s the worst that can happen?”