Guardian Chap 33

by ~Sunjian54

The Equestrian Guardian

Chap 33

David was jarred from his sleep by the sudden shaking and clattering of the train. He opened his eyes to see that it was dark out, and all around him his soldiers were fast asleep. He quietly made his way to the front of the train, only to find that they had reached the Manehattan railway platform.

"Well… timing may have been off, but at least we're here." He said as he hopped off the train and walked toward the stallions that had been the engine for the entire trip. "I wanted to thank you guys personally for pulling my army all the way here." He said as the stallions unhitched themselves and climbed up onto the platform. "Tweren't nothing." A gray stallion said. "Anything to give Braeburn and his friends a hand."

"Well either way thanks a lot." David said shaking his hoof. As he did however David noticed the time on his watch. "5:00AM… That's weird." He said mumbling to himself. "What is?" The stallion asked. "Well… back home on Earth, cities like this should be bustling and moving around five in the morning… but this place is wayyyyyy to quiet." He said looking out toward the city. David was right. The city was lit up and lights were flashing everywhere, but there wasn't a pony to be seen.

"I'm gonna go take a look around." David said as he jumped off the platform and landed on the cobblestone street below. "If my men wake up, tell them I'll be back around 8." He said to the stallions as he walked deeper into the city. As he began to walk through the quiet city, fear began to creep into his mind. He felt like the buildings were all staring and laughing at him. His paranoia kept climbing, every shadow looked like Nightmare Sol, and every sound was a horrible laugh that pierced his heart. As the shadows grew closer however… he began to sing. The song that he decided would ring out whenever his army marched.

"Open the gates and seize the day… Don't be afraid and don't delay…Nothing can break us; no one can make us, give our rights away… Arise and seize… the…. DAYYYYYYYYY!!!!"

His voice reverberated throughout the entire alley where he was walking. Wherever he went his song followed and it drove the shadows away.

"Now is the time to seize the day! Send up the call and join the brave! Wrongs will be righted, ponies united, let us seize the day!" As he sang he didn't notice ponies beginning to emerge from their homes and apartments. They all watched in silence as this strange creature sang and danced a song of defiance to Nightmare Sol.

"Friends to the end we'll seize the day, raise up the torch and Light the way!! Strong and Defiant, we'll slay the giant, let us seize the DAY!!" As he continued to sing, David noticed the ponies and knew immediately what was wrong. (They're all scared of Nightmare Sol… Well I can fix that!!) He thought as he launched himself into the next verse of the song.

"Neighbor to Neighbor…. Stallion to son… ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE!!!!!!" The song reverberated through the dead city. Slowly ponies began to emerge from hiding and clapped along with David. Some even jumped in and began to dance the steps to the song, and throughout all of this David kept singing only this time… they joined in.

"Open the gates and seize the day! (Open the gates and seize the day!) Don't be afraid and don't delay! (Don't be afraid and don't delay!) Nothing can break us!! (No one will make us!!) GIVE OUR RIGHTS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

On the last verse the entire group around David joined in and sang his song of courage and defiance. He looked around as the ponies all cheered in happiness; some even wept tears of joy. He raised his hand for silence. "Thank you all. I've never felt more confident in my entire life. I swear that I will slay Nightmare Sol and free everyone!!!!!" His speech was greeted by cheers of happiness and hoof stomps. "But I need your help…" The crowd suddenly grew quiet. "I can't fight her alone. I need soldiers, warriors, somepony's who aren't afraid to say ENOUGH and stand up for what's right! So I ask you… Will you open the gates and seize the day with me?" He said reaching out his hand for someone to take it.

The crowd slowly backed away… their fear was stronger than David's courage. As he watched them turn and leave David began to wonder if he really was a lost cause. Then suddenly he felt someone touch his hand. He picked up his head to see a chestnut brown pony with an hourglass cutie mark and a bowtie around his neck. "I'll help you out. Every good soldier needs a doctor right?" The stallion said smiling. "Thank you… but I need more…" But as David spoke he was shocked to see ponies walk toward him all putting their hooves on his hand. First 10, then 30, then 70, and the number kept rising until as far as David could see… there were manes and tails trying to get to him. "I never said I was alone now did I?" The chestnut pony said smiling.

"These stallions… are brave souls who want to see Equestria free of the tyrant sitting on the throne. They've just been waiting for a leader." The pony said waving his hoof to show David the multitude of ponies who believed in him. "They've all been waiting for me…" David whispered as tears began to form in his eyes. "That's right. Now then… If you would take that road there until you see a sign that says Blank Canvas that would be great." The chestnut stallion said. "Wait why?" David asked confused. "Well… I have a feeling you'll find some very helpful friends there. Trust me… I'm a Doctor." The stallion said as he led his group toward the railroad platform.

David shook his head in amazement at what had happened and followed the street the "Doctor" had pointed out. Sure enough he came across a small building with the title (BLANK CANVAS ART) printed above it. As he began to open the door however there was a loud crash from inside. "NO, NO, NO!! None of these will do!!" A voice said. David entered the shop to find it destroyed. It looked like a bomb had gone off. There was beautiful artwork of Princess Celestia and Luna all over the walls, but other than that nothing creative. (What am I, an art critic? I can't draw to save my life.) David thought as he walked up to the wooden counter of the shop.

"Uh… Hello?" He said calling out to anyone who might be there. "Just a minute!" Came a reply from behind a door that David guessed led into the artist's painting area. A white pony with 3 overlappiing spheres of color (red, blue, and yellow) for a cutie mark. Walked out of the room and approached David at the counter. "Welcome to Blank Canvas Art. I'm Primary Colors, what can I do for you?" On closer inspection David noticed the stallion wore a blue and red sweater, had blond hair, and wore glasses. "Uh… well I'm not here to buy artwork per-say." He started.

Primary groaned; "Then why may I ask, are you here?" He said. "Hey don't get all smart flank on me." David said annoyed. "I'm sorry… I just… we're outta work okay. We don't have any customers and no customers means no money." The Earth pony sighed. As his head fell to the counter however he noticed David's insignia on his armor. "Y-Y-You're the G-Guardian..?" He stuttered. David nodded. "BLANK CANVAS GET OUT HERE!!!!" Primary screamed at the top of his lungs. Immediately another white earth pony, this one with streaks of red, yellow, and blue as his cutie mark burst through the door. "What!!??" He shouted as he rubbed his head. As Blank Canvas approached, David noticed that he had light brown fur and had bright blue eyes. "This is the Guardian sir!" Primary said waving his hooves in the air. "So it is…" Canvas said eyeing David up and down.

"If you'll come with me Guardian, I'll find you something you might like." He said waving David to come to the back room with him. As David entered the back room he was awestruck by the majesty of what he saw. Flags and banners hung from the walls, paintings and portraits dotted certain sections of the room. What caught David's eye however was a large beautiful silver flag with a half moon, half sun circle in the middle of it, with a gold banner running horizontally through both.  "That was one of my worst designs…" Canvas said. David thought differently. "I'll make you two a deal. You need money right?" Both stallions nodded. "Well… I'm leading an army to free Eqeustria from Nightmare Sol. If you make me more of those flags…" He said pointing at the giant flag that he loved. "Then when the war is over I'll pull some strings and get you both money AND a job inside the royal castle. How's that sound?" Both stallions blinked and shook their heads in amazement. "Go along with your army?" Canvas repeated.

"Yep, and that means you'll also get to see more Equestria for your artwork. Both of the young stallions looked at each other and then shook David's hand. "DEAL!!" They both said. As they finished however there was a large explosion next door. "DANG IT TECHNIA!!" Primary shouted. David shook his head. "I'll go check that noise out. You two get everything you'll need to make those flags and whatever other supplies you need. PACK LIGHT! Room is something we don't have." David instructed as he exited the art shop and ran next door. He opened the door only to be hit by a blast of smoke which caused him to cough and made his eyes burn. "SORRY ABOUT THE SMOKE!!!" Came a female voice from inside. "I'll take care of it –oof!" David staggered as something bumped into him.

Using his wind powers David blew the smoke away to reveal a dark grey pony with green eyes and a red tail sitting on the floor rubbing her head. "Sorry… I was just doing… some…" The unicorn stopped when she saw David offering her his hand. "Are you okay?" He asked helping her up. "Yeah I'm fine." She said readjusting her goggles. "I'm Technia." She said smiling. "David Arman. Guardian of Equestria." "YOU'RE THE GUARDIAN!!!?? OH MY CELESTIA!!!! I KNEW IT!! I KNEW YOU'D COME!!!" She said jumping around her store which was covered in paper lying about.

"I'm a weapons designer. I design gear for the Equestrian Army." She said as she used her magic to lay out blow torches, hammers and other building items. "SO… what can I do for you?" She said propping her face up on both of her front hooves. David smiled. "Actually Technia… I think… it's what can I do for you." He said pointing at her.

Meanwhile… "I have to say… I'm impressed with the Guardian's effort." Nightmare Sol chuckled as she sipped her tea. "However… it won't be long before I open the Gates of Darkness, and when I do…" She said as she sat her cup down, Trixie right beside her. "Nopony will be able to stop my new reign." "What will happen to the Guardian, Empress?" Trixie asked laughing at the picture of David shaking hands with Technia inside the crystal sphere. "Simple Trixie… I'll make an example of him." Next Chapter: Chapter 34 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 56 Minutes