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That evening while Applebloom and Princess Luna enjoyed sundaes in the Dream Realm of my Equestria Dreamscape

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someone else had a close call.

Corporal Trotter/Drone 992 yawned as he walked down a palace hallway and finished another of his duties that evening. He knew yawning in public was not in the best form for a member of the Royal Guard, but he was exhausted from his rotating schedule.

Admittedly some of his torturous scheduling was his own fault. He'd asked for some evening shifts in exchange for a few day shifts off. This way he could conduct further research into the assignment his Queen had given him. Also he had wanted to do some evening shifts so he could determined the readiness of the evening guard details and the night staff. At the moment his developing plan involved making the switch of Princess Cadence with his Queen in the evening.

However some genius in scheduling had given him a day shift and then a night shift in the same 24 hour period. At least he only a couple of hours left before his marathon was over. Unfortunately he had a couple hours of planning work awaiting him at his apartment when he got back. At least he had tomorrow's day shift off.

Although it was 11pm the main hallways of the palace far from vacant. With the return of the Princess of the Moon the Royal Palace had taken on much more the feeling of being a 24 hour institution. It wasn't as crowded as during the day but it still there was a steady traffic of ponies moving about and performing their duties.

Through Trotter's sleep deprived haze he was aware of three approaching mares. Three mares who always made him uneasy when he was close to them for their reputation was formidable. Coming toward him were some Celestia's most successful field operatives. The core of her so-called Mares-in-Waiting. Phoenix, Quick Silver, and Bloodfeather. They were talking with each other as they walked. They looked like they were off-duty but as was typical of her personality the unicorn Phoenix was wearing those strange goggles with the swirling iridescent glass lens that only special ponies assigned to the Crown got. The capabilities of those goggles were carefully guarded Royal secrets, but Trotter's queen had assured him that they were incapable of detecting a properly disguised changeling.

Trotter had been in their presence before, but his heart always beat a little faster when they were nearby. Especially Phoenix. If half the rumors he'd heard about her were true then she was a terrifying opponent who let nothing stop her from fulfilling her duties.

As they passed by Phoenix looked at him and he felt an ever slight tingle as the magic from the goggles wash over him. Then it was gone and they passed him in the hallway. He'd gone a couple more strides when suddenly the unicorn mare spoke up.

"Excuse me Corporal. Can I have a word with you?"

Trotter froze in place. If his heart had been beating faster before it was now trying to escape from his body. Slowly he turned around. The three mares were staring at him. Bloodfeather had a curious look on her face. Quick Silver wore her usual bored expression.

Phoenix on the other hand had a scowl on her face as she slowly approached him. The changeling felt the unicorn's goggles sweep over him several times as the mare triggered different modes of observation. The mare came to a halt about two feet in front of him. For a couple of seconds she said nothing. Then in her normally raspy voice she addressed him.

"Trotter's your name isn't it? You've been with the Royal Guard for only a short while. Am I correct?"

Yes m'am." Technically the Mares-in-Waiting were not part of the army, or any military branch, but they were all treated as having the honorary rank of captain by all ponies in uniform. "I was transferred in with last batch of new applicants."

The mare grunted and started walking slowly around him. Instinctively Trotter went to attention. He looked straight ahead at her two other team members. Bloodfeather had a slight look of confusion, but she'd learn from experience that Phoenix actions usually had a reason to them. Quick Silver for her part just continued to stare at him with her signature expression of indifference. Phoenix came around and once again stopped in front of him this time only about a foot away from the stallion. For several seconds nopony spoke then Quick Silver spoke up.

"Phoenix. Is there something about Corporal Trotter you wish to share with us?"

The unicorn's horn flared and she lifted the goggles from her eyes. Trotter had never really paid much attention to them, but now they were his entire world. Icy eyes of pale carmine red seemed to be boring holes into him. Still the unicorn mare said nothing.

"Uh Phoenix. If you're looking for a date I can give you some pointers on how to meet stallions, because this isn't the way to do it" Bloodfeather said with a slight chuckle in her voice.

Quick Silver came up alongside Phoenix and stared silently at the stallion. Trotter found her stare almost as disturbing. The damn mare never seemed to blink enough. Finally after what seemed like an eternity the earth pony spoke with her normal deadpan voice.

"Phoenix. What is bothering you about the corporal here?"

"Something about him doesn't seem right." Growled Phoenix.

"Um! Uh I don't understand what you mean m'am!" Trotter's heart felt like it was going to explode. He'd undergone medical exams, detection spells, screenings by command staff and nopony had detected anything amiss with him. Now all of the sudden possibly the most dangerous pony in Equestria was suspicious of him.

Quick Silver stared at Trotter. "Can you be more specific Phoenix?"

Phoenix leaned forward until her muzzle was almost touching Trotter's. Her eyes never left his. The changeling could see himself reflected in them. But beyond them it was as if he was staring between the bars at the gates of Tartarus. He could almost feel an aura of violence, and death radiating from her. Finally Phoenix spoke in a low growl.

"He's got a weird vibe to him and he's making the hair in my mane scratchy!"

"Um I could recommend a shampoo that might help with that!" Trotter said in a desperate voice.

Phoenix suddenly leaned forward and started rubbing her face and muzzle against Trotter's. Normally the changeling knew this was a sign of affection amongst ponies. However this felt like he was a mouse that a cat had caught and was now licking before it devoured it. Finally she pulled back and glared at him.

"And he smells funny!" She grumbled.

Bloodfeather was still several feet back but was watching all this intently. She laughed sarcastically. "Not surprising Phoenix. He's sweating like crazy, and if you keep this up the poor guy is probably going to lose control of his bowels here in the hallway. Besides smelling funny do we have a reason for detaining him any further?"

Phoenix stared at Trotter's face intently then her eyes settled on scab on his face. Place wear his new helmet strap had rubbed his jaw raw causing a little bleeding a couple of days ago. Without asking she reached out with telekinesis at tore it off. The stallion flinched but didn't move from his place. After a couple of seconds a small spot of crimson blood appeared. Phoenix leaned forward, extended her tongue and licked it up. She swished it around in her mouth and then spat it out on floor. She stared at the now trembling stallion. Finally she spoke.

"No Bloodfeather. I've got no other reason for detaining him." Her stare never left the stallion. "Sorry for delaying you corporal. You may go about your business. Good night."

"Thank, thank you m'am!" Trotter said with a trembling voice. Then he turned around and continued on his way. He could feel Phoenix gaze upon him until he finally turned corner. At first bathroom he could find, the changeling threw up the contents of his dinner.

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Posted previously at: 2019-01-20T10:08:18