The sound of heavy boots hit the marble floor as he strode in a quick pace to reach his destination. The hallway he traversed was empty for the most part, save for the few Ponies that were either leaving the castle, or returning to their lodging here within it's walls. Some took notice of the dark clad man that made the loud foot falls, others tried to hide their gaze, or simply look away. Those that did take notice of him saw a man, a human man.  

   A stern angular face that was framed by hair much longer than most Ponies would allow their own manes to grow. It was razor straight, reaching down just below the mid of his back, and cut to an even length on all sides. Almost touching the ground was a plain black long coat, light weight in it's construction, so that the back would wisp and whip as it caught the smallest wind of his movements. The boots that struck the ground were of manticore make. The thick hide came just below his knees, while plating for the scorpion tail covered the front of each garment in a tight articulated fashion. His shoulder and chest wear was the thing that stood out most to those that saw. A black heavy cloth, covered in light weight scorched black steel plates that were bound together by a series of chain mail links. All of this settled on a frame slender and tall. Then, he adorned the reason some took notice of him, and others turned their heads. Etched into the right shoulder plate was the symbol of his position, the reason for his haste in this hour. It was the crescent moon. It was the insignia of Princess Luna's Dark Guard.

   He cared little for the those that looked at him. Their over sized eyes gave him no threat, as he could easily see any of their intentions. It was those that chose not to look at him. This made him gain a small smile over his thin lips. He enjoyed the fact that those that averted their gaze were either scared of his presence, or afraid of his duties, and the Ponies he associated with. In either case, they feared him in some way, and this gave him joy. The small grin was quickly washed away however. He saw one pony coming his way that was not only going to look at him, she was going to talk to him as well. He did not enjoy this ones company, he enjoyed few of any Ponies company for that matter. She would try to make him late, she knew that he detested being tardy. As he feared her large eyes make contact with him, though he was trying not to meet her gaze. It was to late however, she saw him. The mare began to make a quick step to intercept his path. Her long pink mane and tail bouncing as she did. Her pure white coat catching glimmers of moon light, showing off the three symbols on her flank that gave her name.

   "Well Shannon Nyx! How wonderful to see you again! How are you?" Her voice was chipper, as always. There was however, a slight hint of a smug tone. Something that wasn't uncommon for the Ponies raised here in the capital. It was a sign of their breeding, education and upbringing. Shannon gave a quick sigh through his nose, while unnoticeably clenching his jaw.

   "Fleur De Lis," Shannon said as he nodded his head in the slightest along with saying her name. "I am fine as always. Thank you for asking. Excuse me." He nodded his head again, then made several quick steps to try to put some distance between her and him. Fleur De Lis wasn't letting him escape that quickly though. To many times had he ducked her, avoided her. He would even to go as far as to not 'remember' any of the social invite cards she had personally made for him, something she had gone through quite the trouble of learning how to do.

   "Shannon!" she called out. This time her voice was a little more pouty than before. Shannon sighed once more before spinning on his heels to address her again. This time he would try to drop a hint to the overly popular mare. Maybe she would get the gist of where he needed to be.

   "How may a member of the Royal Dark Guard be of assistance?" he spoke with a more formal tone. De Lis only laughed as she came trotting up to him, getting a little close for his liking.

   "Now Shannon. I think we are a little more well acquainted than that. Don't you think?" She turned her head slightly to the side as she spoke, fluttering her eyelashes. Shannon said nothing in turn. He only stood there waiting for a chance to dismiss the conversation. "Shannon. How long has it been now? How long have you been here in Equestria?" Shannon blinked for a moment as he looked up for a second, then back to the mare.

   "I believe it has been over a year and a half now." He could if he wanted to recall the exact date to the minute if he wanted to. Though he preferred to not think about the day he came here. It was the day that he failed. The day that insidious doctor got the drop on him with that infernal machine.

   "Oh my!" the mare shouted with a mild whinny. "A whole year and a half? Shannon, I am insulted. How many times have I invited you to our little social gatherings?" Shannon just slowly shook his head.

   "I am afraid I did not keep count." This made Fleur De Lis smirk. Surely he was not so cruel to just disregard all of her beautifully crafted hoof made invitations.

   "Well. All will be forgiven," she started as she got even closer to his face with her muzzle. "If you would be a gentleman. And simply escort me to where I am going." Shannon couldn't help but take a step back, it was this that started to anger him to a degree. He didn't like being pushed, and he knew that she thought he wouldn't do anything about it because of her gender or social status. "It is a small after party. Just a few stallions. Just a few mares. But all of them would just be delighted to see you make a, brief appearance." He could of swore she just looked him up and down while making that last statement. "You know. You being such an exotic creature. You really should use it to gain more than what you have." Her eyes narrowed to show off the eye liner and mascara she was wearing. "You really would be surprised of all the things you could, get."

   "However an exotic creature I am," Shannon began with a much lower tone than before, as his patience was on it's last leg. "I can tell you that I am not a social one." His fingers rapped at the side of his coat. He could feel the handle of one of his axes. "I am though, a creature of habit. Would you like to know what one of those habits are, my dear? I would very much like to show you two habits I have." A long narrow grin came to Shannon's face as he now started to push back at her. Fleur De Lis felt something was off now. She didn't like his tone. She surely didn't like the look in his eyes, the twist on his lips. He turned very frightening in just a blink of an eye. Although in a way, something about it excited her. Nothing she had felt before made her feel so scared. She was just about to say something. A new voice however broke the tension from down the hall.

   "Nyx!" a raspy voice rang out. Shannon knew who it belonged to before he even turned to look. A tall slender unicorn mare, just a bit shorter than Fleur De Lis and others of her size. Her coat was pitch black while her mane and tail was a silvery blue, and styled so that it was spiked straight back. Her eyes was something of an oddity. Her right was a dim green, while the left was as red as blood. On her flank was her cutie mark. A solid green right half of the eight pointed compass. This was Chaotica, one of Shannon's troop mates. "Let's go!" she called out again. "We're already late!"

   Shannon silently thanked the Night and the Moon for his partners intervention. He took quick advantage of Chaotica's beckon as he turned his head again to face Fleur De Lis. "Another time," he simply stated as he spun around and made his way towards the black coated mare waiting for him at the end of the hallway he should have been down minutes ago.

   "You're welcome," Chaotica mouthed silently. Shannon paid her taunt no mind as he turned the corner, his long black coat almost smacking her as he passed. Chaotica stood there for a moment, she stared over at Fleur De Lis, who was in turn shooting her a mean looking glare. The black unicorn gave a silent scoff as she turned her nose up in the air, then chased after Shannon. "Wow! That was painful to watch!" Chaotica said as she caught up to Shannon, coming to set her pace at his side.

   "I assure you," Shannon said as he cracked his neck from side to side. "The pain, was entirely mine." Then Shannon looked down at his cohort with a raised eyebrow. "And just how long were you spying on that whole ordeal?"

"Oh, long enough to know you needed help. But not long enough to see you blow your top!" Chaotica laughed knowing that this would get a rise out of him.

   " I do not, blow my top, as it were," Shannon retorted, making the unicorn mare laugh out again.

   "Oh whatever! I could almost hear you grinding your teeth from where I was standing." Shannon had nothing to say to this. He kept walking in a quick stride towards the massive gold lined and hinged doors that were at the very end of this hall. Chaotica wasn't satisfied though. She couldn't start her night half the time unless she got Shannon worked up. She had been with him since the day he had arrived in Equestria. It was her that found him on the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. It was her that took him under her wing, showed him the ropes. She even got him his first position in the Dark Guard. Though he needed little convincing to do that. Shannon changed when he was around the Princess.

   Chaotica quickly stepped in front of him, and turned around. Now she was walking backwards, looking him right in the face. "So?" she asked with wide odd eyes.

   "So, what?" Shannon sighed. Planning to run the unicorn over if she stopped.

   "You know. You and Fleur De Lis. She's really into you. You accepted going out on a date yet?"

   Shannon took a deep breath while his face contorted in a look of annoyance. "Absolutely not!" he barked as he picked up his pace. The mare was quick on her hooves and kept pace, even backwards.

   "Well I really don't see what the problem is. Fleur De Lis is one of the most sought after, and courted mares in all of Canterlot. Probably even in all the cities of Equestria as far as I know. I think you would be flattered."

   "Consider me, unimpressed," Shannon quietly stated as his attention was starting to become more and more focused on the doors they were approaching.

   "Yeah well. She's impressed with you. She's been pestering you since almost the day you got here. A mare like her. She always gets what she wants." This actually made Shannon stop right before the doors. Then sigh again quickly through his nose.

   "Look. Where I am from. I did not like women of Fleur De Lis's attitude and spoiled behavior. So why would I like a pure white, unicorn version of those same women?"

   "So what kind of Ponies do you like?" Chaotica asked as she stepped out of the way as Shannon reached for the doors.

   "None!" Shannon scowled at her through clenched teeth, and a low growl as he looked down at her while pushing the heavy doors open at the same time. Then quickly stepping past her.

   Chaotica got a tooth filled grin across her muzzle as she looked at his back. 'Buttons pushed.' She thought to herself as she then entered the room.

*****

   The room that Shannon and Chaotica stepped into was huge to say the least. A wide open space with towering stain glass windows that portrayed many significant events in Equestria's long history. The walk towards the back of the hall was almost as long as the time it took the two to get here. The sounds of her hooves, and his boots were muffled now. Due to a long and luxurious carpet that ran from the front of the double doors, all the way back to where Shannon saw five Ponies in all.

   The first to notice the two enter was Chaotica's twin sister Chaosia. An exact mirror of her sister in every way. Save for the fact that her red eye was on the the left. As for her cutie mark, it was the left side of the eight pointed compass. The second in the group was a large unicorn stallion who was called Moon Burn. His mane was long and straight, colored in a cascading fashion from grey to pitch black, with a tail to match that was long enough to almost sweep the ground. His eyes were a piercing ice blue, the shade you might see of a clear frozen lake. Standing next to him was another unicorn stallion, Shadow Vein he was called. He was much smaller than the rest there. Standing nearly to Moon Burn's shoulders, and only half the mass. His mane and tail were pearl white, and while their true length was uncertain due to the fact that the young unicorn had every strand of both mane and tail is a series of braids, that accented his bright orange eyes. This was Shannon's troop, four unicorns, one human. Shannon often thought it was either planned, or a coincidence that they were all unicorns. However, as far as the 'Dark Ponies' went. Most of them were either Earth Ponies or unicorns. The rarest of the castes were the bat winged, snaked eyed pegasus. They were used for other purposes, and had an entire myth built around them altogether.

   The other two Ponies were hard to miss in a crowd, alicorns they were called. Superbly magical creatures that shared all the aspects of the three types of ponies. The first thing Shannon noticed was the ruler of the Day, the Sun Goddess, Celestia. Her slender frame, ethereal mane and tail, along with her soft features did not hide the narrowed eyed glare she gave Shannon as he approached. She didn't trust him, that was all to apparent. Not since he arrived in her lands, and even more so when he rejected her offer to join the Royal Guard after finding out about his extensive military training.

   Then there was the reason he decided to remain here in Equestria. The reason he refused any help from Equestria's top mages and magic users. The Divine Goddess of the Night, his Worship, Princess Luna. She stood as regal as one could possibly be in his eyes. Her dark coat shimmered as it reflected stray beams of moon light that cast themselves through the windows. Seemingly aiming right at her, wanting to make her shine. Her long and haunting mane and tail flapped and lashed about, as if some unknown wind was grabbing a hold, and making it dance. Her eyes, those cyan cold eyes, they struck him, and he felt empowered. As if from her, he could pull the power to crush mountains with his bare hands.

   From the time he was born, and could draw upon memory. Shannon dismissed the presence of God, of any god for that matter. He found it comical how the unknowing masses would huddle together in a cheaply made shantey in the middle of nowhere. Or even still, an over extravagant eye sore that towered over all other buildings to prove how much better it was than the rest. There they would toss empty, and selfish prayers to something, some unknowable thing that would in turn cast down blessings to all that saw it as the supreme authority on everything. For this Shannon was proud that he had faith in nothing, until the night her saw her. A true Goddess, master of the Shadows, the Night, the very Moon itself was her's to control and no other. With but a thought she could reap the very visions of those within her ever expanding realm. To see one's dreams, their nightmares. Such powers to him were all to worthy of his devotion. The only thing he wished was that he was present when his Dark Angel had returned from her thousand year exile. To look upon Nightmare Moon was a dream he had. He would have stood by her side, and made sure that she was now the true ruler of Equestria. This however, was just a dream he had.

   Celestia broke her gaze away from Shannon, then leaned over to whisper something in her younger sister's ear. This made Luna give a small nod, then she lovingly nuzzled her sibling. The white alicorn stepped off the platform where she and Luna were standing, and made her way towards the doors. Each of the black coated Ponies in the room gave a sign of respect to the Sun Princess, either with a kind word, or a deep bow. Shannon however, simply walked past her. Only giving a slow small nod in acknowledgment that she was leaving. His outward mood changed dramatically though as he reached the single step to the stage where Luna stood. He averted his eyes down to the floor, then dropped to both his knees, where he came to a rest in a meditative pose. "My Worship," he started with a deep tone. "Gift to me your words. So that I may make them my will."

   It had been over a year now, and Luna still felt as if she would blush every time Shannon addressed her in such a formal fashion. She would look to the other Ponies in her Dark Guard, and see them trying to stifle a giggle. Or a look resembling a small jealousy that they didn't address her in the same way. Even more still that they did not feel the reverence that Shannon did when was in his Goddesses presence. None the less, it still felt good in a way to be shown the same kind of aberration that she had become accustomed to all the those many years ago, before her exile.

   "Rise, Shannon, please," the dark alicorn said in a supple, and warming tone. As soon as she finished her command, Shannon seemingly floated to his feet, with nothing more than his own leg muscles to power him. There he stood, a blank face empty of emotion or goals. Like a puppet waiting to be moved by it's master. "Tonight I will be continuing the trade negotiations that have been held over the past few weeks by my sister, Celestia." As Luna spoke, she stepped off of the stage where she was, and started to move down the carpeted area towards the doors. In her wake the other ponies moved to her sides, and flank in concert of the Princesses' stride. Shannon without surprise to the rest of his partners, being at the front most of the group. "The Minotaur delegates have proven a challenge even to her great wisdom. I only hope that I may be able to perform as well as she has while she rests."

   The unicorns in the group knew that they did not have to respond, as Shannon was already quick with his words of encouragement. "They are a primal, and primitive race my Worship. Their most wise I doubt would be able to match wits with your centuries of knowledge and experiences." After Shannon was done speaking. Shadow Vein quickly leaned over to Chaosia who was stepping beside him.

   "I think he just called her old!" he whispered quickly before returning to his original position. The unicorn mare did little to respond. Save for a closed eye head shake, accompanied with a small smile.

   "Thank you, Shannon, again for your kind words," Luna said while looking back the human, almost catching Shadow Vein mutter his little joke to Chaosia. "While it is true they seem a bit more primal than us Ponies. I assure you. Their ambassadors are masters of negotiations when in the conference hall." By this time the group had reached the doors, which were being opened by Luna's magic. She did not walk through them though. She turned to face her guard with a stern look across her muzzle. "This is why everything must be kept in order these next few nights." With this she turned back around and exited the room. "I will be managing the Moon, and the Sun. Plus dealing with the talks across the negotiation table." With her next statement, she let her head hang a little low. "Some of my responsibilities will become, laxed." Luna looked back at her faithful troop once more. "I will be relying on my great dark guard to insure that all things in Canterlot, perhaps even all of Equestria remain calm and peaceful while the minotaurs are our guests."

   Shannon was about to speak. However, Moon Burn was quicker this time with a prompt response. Which in a way made him grin ever so slightly. Getting in a word edge wise while Shannon was there had become rather difficult since he had joined the Guard. "I assure you, Princess. We will not fail you, in any of the tasks you give us." Moon Burn could almost feel the heat from Shannon's glare as he finished, and it was almost impossible to not look in the human's direction.

   "I know you will," Luna began, herself not privy to the one sided staring match behind her. "Sometimes I feel bad. The Royal Guard is vast in it's numbers. While the amount of dark ponies in the world can be counted with ease. And yet, you are expected to maintain the same amount of law and order they do."

   "I believe the phrase: quality over quantity would apply to such a situation, my Worship," Shannon said, making all the troop brandish a long smile, along with a swelling sense of pride. It was true that the occurrence of a dark pony being born was a rare event. Even still, the troops that did exist in Luna's Dark Guard often took a large amount of satisfaction in the knowledge that while their numbers were dismal compared to Celestia's day time trotting Royal Guard. They still were able to handle any situation that befell to them with equal skill and resolve.

"Indeed it does Shannon. Indeed it does," Luna answered as the Ponies came to the corridor that would lead Luna to the conference hall that held the Minotaurs. Luna stopped, then turned to address her followers. "Moon Burn. You will be joining me within the hall."

   Moon Burn quickly bowed his head in acknowledgement. "I will announce that you will arrive shortly my Princess." As he finished speaking, the unicorn quickly made haste to the doors at the end or the narrow hall.

   "Shannon. Please take Shadow Vein with you and patrol the east to south east burroughs. Our young new recruit needs time to flatten his hooves I believe." A gentle smile came over Luna's lips as she spoke to the youngest of the troop. The expression was not shared on the humans face however. He simply bowed deeply while saying the words that the others of the troop began calling; Shannon's Oath.

   "Your words are my will, my Divinity." As always. Luna responded with a seemingly humbled smile while nodding in return. Shannon quickly did an about face while looking down at the braided mane of his now partner. Gesturing to him to follow.

   "Chaosia, Chaotica." Luna continued as Shannon and Shadow Vein were leaving in a quick stride. The twin unicorns perked up their ears in earnest, waiting for their orders. "You, as always will be my eyes and ears. Take to the shadows. The places others fear to look. Report to me when and if you discover anything that my be of interest. Especially if you think it might have an impact on our guests." The two sisters bowed in tandem.

   "Yes Princess." They said at the same time. Their voices so close to the other, it sounded as if only one spoke. Then their horns began to glow a deep dark purple. There in a small flash the two Ponies quickly became two wisping clouds of dense black smoke. The apparitions quickly started to dance and whirl around one another as they flew down the same direction as Shannon and Shadow vein. The one that was once Chaotica made several fast laps around the human. Sounds could be heard as she did so. Sounds that could only be to the tune of laughter. Though in this form, any noise that was made was as if it was coming from an endless chasm, that only these two could reach. The two haunts bounced and traversed in hallways, before flying out the window. Of all the Ponies abilities that Shannon had come to see while he had been on this world, It was those two that impressed him the most. The power to become as of mist, to be able to become a spectre fog. To be able to squeeze, and shape ones self to enter any structure you pleased. Shannon many times thought how easy some of his contracts on Earth would have been if he could perform such a trick.

   Princess Luna let out a sigh of contentment as she saw the prized troop of her guard leave to perform their duties. She was most proud of Shannon however. She wasn't sure on how humans conducted themselves on Earth. In all this time whenever she brought up the subject to the man he simply gave quick and short answers. Telling her that his jobs on his home world were mere trivial matters, and were better forgotten so not to bore her. More often than not changing the subject back to her. He himself wanting to hear about how she ruled in the nights long before her exile. She would do so with little enthusiasm. As telling those tales were just precursors to the time she became Nightmare Moon. Even to this day, it saddened her, what she became. Though Shannon held on to every word as if it was going to be the last story he ever heard. Never the less, the Night Princess was sure that whatever Shannon did in his previous life. He was a master at it, and probably more than appreciated, and very much missed.

   Moon Burn's horn began to glow a dull pale grey as his magic grasped a hold of the doors handles. He opened them slowly, reveling the Moon Princess standing there waiting. Even before the rooms doors were completely opened, she made her way to the front of the room. Where a smaller version of the main throne had been constructed for her to rest upon during the many talks to come. "Proud guests of the great Minotaur Tribal Nations," Moon Burn started as he closed the door behind his Princess. "May I present. Princess Celestia's younger sister. The Mistress of the Moon. Goddess of the Night and everything within it's folds. The Divine, Princess Luna." As the male unicorn finished his announcement. He quickly took his place, standing at Luna's side as she took her seat.

   The Princess gave her announcer a small quick nod, then looked over the long table that was seating more than a dozen Minotaur land holders, business owners and Chieftains. "Thank you for waiting," she started. Her voice now was lower. It had a more commanding tone to it than what she would normally use. Even her eyes narrowed to an amount that showed off the very light purple eye lids that were accented by the mares long eye lashes. "I apologize once again for my sister having to hand these talks over to me. However, the Sun must always set. And my sister is the Sun. But do not worry. I assure you though, the Moon can shine just as bright. Even in the darkest of times." The Moon Goddess quickly surveyed the room in search for any descension amongst the crowd. As she had heard that some of the Minotaurs here thought that her being the younger of the two alicorns. They might be able to augment some of the already settled issues. She was going to make sure that they all knew that she was a Monolith. One they could not dare to move. "Now," she said as she settled in her throne. "Where were we?"

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