ARTIST NOTE:
 
Captain Halberd was an ambitious soldier. It was one thing to get into the Canterlot Guard, but to be a Royal Guard, to be in the palace itself… It was one of the happiest day of his life. He often fantasized about his time there, of blocking the blade of a wicked assassin coming for the Queen, only to run the traitor through himself. He had thought these dreams would come a reality when he was assigned to be one of the personal guards of the royal family.
 
Unfortunately for Halberd, it wasn’t the Queen he was assigned to.“Up! Up!” The blue filly demanded, holding her arms up with a wide, excited smile plastered on her face. Halberd did not particularly like kids. Or adults. Or most people in general, really. He was professional, precise, driven. Being a plaything for some spoiled brat just because she wore a tiara… He straitened his face. He had sworn an oath of loyalty to crown and country. He would do what he was told, even if that meant carrying his charge around like some fleabitten mule.
 
With the stoic attitude the Guard demanded more often than it deserved, he bent down, allowing the alicorn to climb on. She happily did, placing her legs in the crook of his arms. Without waiting for her to tell him to, he stood up, nearly knocking her off balance. Not that he particularly cared. She didn’t seem to notice fortunately, and only ordered him on. Grudgingly he marched on, following her directions.
 
He was slightly horrified to find himself being lead to the main hall of the palace. His assignment and its ‘details’ was hardly a secret among the local barracks (Frankly, anything that involved the captain spread like wildfire among the ranks. He hadn’t made much of an effort to make himself popular). Still, proving the rumors true wasn’t high on his agenda. He was a soldier, dammit! Not a babysitter.
 
With as straight a face as he could muster, he marched out, trying not to look Private Who Cares in the eye. He could ignore him - or her, Halberd didn’t care.
 
What he could not ignore was the stallion striding down the center.
 
General Shining Steel, in the flesh. Halberd gulped. It was hard not to respect the general, especially after seeing him in action. He never fled the front line. Halberd had seen him fight at the Raid of Thunderhill, watched him charge into the fray at the Treason of Summer, fought in the middle of a Changeling swarm by his side, the bugs’ spilled ichor nearly drowning them both. To see him here and with that pink-haired brat at his side…
 
The general smiled at him. That charming grin that never faded, no matter how many years passed or what new scars graced his visage. “Taking your duties seriously, I see Captain.”
 
It took what will was left in Halberd to force a smile back at him. Thankfully, whatever other wit Steel had at his expense was pushed aside byt the princess. Almost identically to her sister, she demanded to be given a ride, tugging at the general’s sleeve.
 
Unlike Halberd however, General Steel wrapper his arm around Celestia’s legs, swinging her over her back as she squealed in delight. As the disgustingly elaborate crown slipped off her perfect little head, the general caught it, slipping it over his cracked horn.
 
“Well look at that! I guess I’m king now. Hail me!”
 
“No! You’re not the king! Give it back!”
 
“I suppose you’re right. I guess I’m a princess now.”
 
“No you’re not!”
 
For the first time all day, Halberd genuinely smiled. It was a subtle smile. A wicked smile.
 
Maybe, he thought, that wasn’t such a bad idea…