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Description
A lone knight walked through an empty street of Canterlot a lantern attached to his armour to light the way on the dark knight. Late night patrols through Canterlot were always peaceful and uneventful and tonight was no different. Nothing more than the sound of the light rain tapping on the ground around him and his hooves on the cold wet stone beneath to keep him company. His warm breath could be seen as it met the cold air. Ahead a small glow approached Valiant, a fellow knight of Celestia's army.

“Valiant Blade how fares the patrol.” the knight asked.

“Quiet.” Valiant answered bluntly.

“A stallion of many words aren't you. You should head back to the barracks I'm on duty now.” the knight stated with a light smile.

Valiant nodded in acknowledgement, saying no words only walking off to the barracks. He looked back briefly to see the flickering light disappear as the knight turned a corner. Arriving at the barrack doors he paused and looked toward a building across the street, a tavern. Two lights illuminated the front of the tavern, keeping the sign lit for ponies to read.

“The Gilded Oak.” It read.

He pushed the door open with his magic, his horn glowing with an aqua aura. Wandering inside he found the place as empty as the street outside. In the corner sat a pegasus a mug in hoof and his head lying on the table in a puddle of drool as he slept. Valiant walked up to the bar counter and removed his helmet, his short blonde mane soaked from the rain dripped water onto the stone floor.

“Evening Valiant... or should I say morning,” the bartender yawned. The brown stallion came in from his bedroom in the back, his black mane a mess from his sleep.

“The usual, Bubbles.” Valiant said. He rubbed a foreleg down his face wiping the water from his grey coat.

“Shouldn't you get some rest. You've been in here every night this month and you have early morning duties to attend to every morning.” Bubbles commented.

“Just pour the drink.” Valiant sighed.

“Come on, this isn't a healthy way to live. You need to sleep.” Bubbles said. He poured the golden sparkling liquid into the mug, frothing as it filled.

“I'm fine.” Valiant said levitating the mug and taking a sip of the drink.

“You're going to work yourself to the grave at this rate.” Bubbles said, concerned for his health. Valiant paused from drinking looking down at the bar counter, a thoughtful stare in his eyes. A small moment passed before he took another gulp from the mug.

“Look, Bubbles. I appreciate the concern, but don't worry about it okay.” Valiant said, his expression had softened but still a frown remained.

“You enjoy that drink alright, it's on the house.” Bubbles said, he gave out a small yawn before returning to his room. The sleepy stallion was half way to his room when the tavern door swung open with a mighty bang, the sudden and loud sound made him launch to his room in fear. He poked his head out to see a rough looking stallion stomp inside. He was very buff and tall, much bigger than your average stallion. His charcoal coloured coat had visible cuts and scraps and his white mane was cut and styled as a mohawk. With a menacing grin on his face he slammed his hoof on the bar counter.

“Hey, barkeep. Give me your strongest drink!” the stallion yelled.

“Keep it down.” Valiant said authoritatively.

“Make me!” the stallion snarled. He soon changed his tone when he found a blade made of pure magic levitating mere inches from his neck. He dared not swallow, fearing the blade may cut him.

“Leave now, don't make this harder than it has to be.” Valiant ordered. The stallion backed away from the bar and toward the door.

“I'll be back.” the stallion said nervously, with those words he turned and bolted out the door.

“Thanks.” Bubbles said a deep sigh of relief, thankful that the brute left without making any trouble or causing any serious damage.

“You're welcome” Valiant said. He finished his drink and headed back out into the rain. He crossed the road to the barracks and hung his armour and helmet up on his rack. A short yawn escaped him before he laid down on his bed. In a couple of hours he'd be back up to do courtyard guarding duties.

He laid in his bed looking at the stone ceiling only the sound of rain could be heard, having flashbacks to nightmares he had no wish in reliving. The faces of his fallen brothers and sisters-in-arms, the innocents that he failed to save. He could barely close his eyes without one of his hellish memories playing back through his mind. Though the changeling invasion was one of these nightmares, there was one memory that caused him the most pain and in his sleep he relived the moment over and over again. He thrashed about in his sleep, a cold sweat dripping down him. He grunted as if he was fighting, his horn bright as his magic coursed through him. Peering through the window in the pitch black of the night, two sharp yellow eyes watched him, their eyes filled with sadness at the sight. With a blink the sound of wings could be heard flapping in a long strong beats as they flew away.

Within the throne room the tired princess, Celestia, walked the hall with a elderly white unicorn. He was dressed in white overalls and wore a face mask of matching colour, his mane was short and grey. A clipboard levitated in front of him as he spoke with her.

“I've compiled a list of suitable guards to under take this task and... I bought you the papers I have on the stallion you requested. Though it is not my place to advise you, I must insist that any thoughts of sending this guard on the task is unwise.” The elderly stallion expressed.

“You have been a long trusted and loyal friend Healing Herb, I always take your advice to heart. May I please see the papers on our stallion in question?” Celestia asked.

“Of course, Princess. As you request.” Herb said passing the clipboard to her. She flipped through the pages her eyes darting from left to right as she read all his notes.

“Tell me more of your analysis of this one.” Celestia said, looking over the paper with interest.

“Well, most of what I have analysed is written on the paper. But from my tests and sessions with him, I have found him to be unstable and a danger to himself. There is no question in his loyalty or his heart to serve as a guard. However he is obviously having trouble dealing with events in his past and this stress is weakening him physically and emotionally. Which is why I have also suggested in my notes that he needs psychological help and that it may be best to either suspend him from duty or dismiss him.” Herb answered.

“If that is what you suggest, then I shall take necessary action. Tomorrow I want you to do a new analysis and I will talk with him.” Celestia affirmed.

“As you wish, I shall call him into my clinic tomorrow.” Herb said, bowing as he closed his sentence.

After another restless night he awoke with rays of sunshine warming his face as they beamed through the window. Many pegasus could be seen in the sky clearing the clouds and pushing them to the east. He climbed out of bed with a short yawn, his joints cracking with a long stretch. As he began to gear up in his armour for the day ahead his ear began to twitch, without a second thought he spun around knocking something to the ground. His horn erupted with magic as a blade formed ready to strike at whatever had sneaked up on him. Underneath his hooves a fellow guard was pinned down, he rid of his blade and sighed.

“You should know not to approach me like that.” Valiant stated, helping the guard up from the ground.

“Apologies, I assumed you'd hear my approach. Metal tapping on stone is not a sound that you would miss.” the guard commented.

“My mind was elsewhere.” Valiant said, angry with his lapse in awareness. “Why are you here?” he continued.

“The royal physician has asked for you. He would not say any more than you must go to him immediately.” The guard explained. Valiant said not a word and nodded, leaving his room and the roughed up guard alone.

“What more does this physician want with me. Hasn't he run enough tests on me. Claiming to understand the pain of these nightmarish memories. He knows nothing of it!” Valiant thought to himself.

Description
A lone knight walked through an empty street of Canterlot a lantern attached to his armour to light the way on the dark knight. Late night patrols through Canterlot were always peaceful and uneventful and tonight was no different. Nothing more than the sound of the light rain tapping on the ground around him and his hooves on the cold wet stone beneath to keep him company. His warm breath could be seen as it met the cold air. Ahead a small glow approached Valiant, a fellow knight of Celestia's army.

“Valiant Blade how fares the patrol.” the knight asked.

“Quiet.” Valiant answered bluntly.

“A stallion of many words aren't you. You should head back to the barracks I'm on duty now.” the knight stated with a light smile.

Valiant nodded in acknowledgement, saying no words only walking off to the barracks. He looked back briefly to see the flickering light disappear as the knight turned a corner. Arriving at the barrack doors he paused and looked toward a building across the street, a tavern. Two lights illuminated the front of the tavern, keeping the sign lit for ponies to read.

“The Gilded Oak.” It read.

He pushed the door open with his magic, his horn glowing with an aqua aura. Wandering inside he found the place as empty as the street outside. In the corner sat a pegasus a mug in hoof and his head lying on the table in a puddle of drool as he slept. Valiant walked up to the bar counter and removed his helmet, his short blonde mane soaked from the rain dripped water onto the stone floor.

“Evening Valiant... or should I say morning,” the bartender yawned. The brown stallion came in from his bedroom in the back, his black mane a mess from his sleep.

“The usual, Bubbles.” Valiant said. He rubbed a foreleg down his face wiping the water from his grey coat.

“Shouldn't you get some rest. You've been in here every night this month and you have early morning duties to attend to every morning.” Bubbles commented.

“Just pour the drink.” Valiant sighed.

“Come on, this isn't a healthy way to live. You need to sleep.” Bubbles said. He poured the golden sparkling liquid into the mug, frothing as it filled.

“I'm fine.” Valiant said levitating the mug and taking a sip of the drink.

“You're going to work yourself to the grave at this rate.” Bubbles said, concerned for his health. Valiant paused from drinking looking down at the bar counter, a thoughtful stare in his eyes. A small moment passed before he took another gulp from the mug.

“Look, Bubbles. I appreciate the concern, but don't worry about it okay.” Valiant said, his expression had softened but still a frown remained.

“You enjoy that drink alright, it's on the house.” Bubbles said, he gave out a small yawn before returning to his room. The sleepy stallion was half way to his room when the tavern door swung open with a mighty bang, the sudden and loud sound made him launch to his room in fear. He poked his head out to see a rough looking stallion stomp inside. He was very buff and tall, much bigger than your average stallion. His charcoal coloured coat had visible cuts and scraps and his white mane was cut and styled as a mohawk. With a menacing grin on his face he slammed his hoof on the bar counter.

“Hey, barkeep. Give me your strongest drink!” the stallion yelled.

“Keep it down.” Valiant said authoritatively.

“Make me!” the stallion snarled. He soon changed his tone when he found a blade made of pure magic levitating mere inches from his neck. He dared not swallow, fearing the blade may cut him.

“Leave now, don't make this harder than it has to be.” Valiant ordered. The stallion backed away from the bar and toward the door.

“I'll be back.” the stallion said nervously, with those words he turned and bolted out the door.

“Thanks.” Bubbles said a deep sigh of relief, thankful that the brute left without making any trouble or causing any serious damage.

“You're welcome” Valiant said. He finished his drink and headed back out into the rain. He crossed the road to the barracks and hung his armour and helmet up on his rack. A short yawn escaped him before he laid down on his bed. In a couple of hours he'd be back up to do courtyard guarding duties.

He laid in his bed looking at the stone ceiling only the sound of rain could be heard, having flashbacks to nightmares he had no wish in reliving. The faces of his fallen brothers and sisters-in-arms, the innocents that he failed to save. He could barely close his eyes without one of his hellish memories playing back through his mind. Though the changeling invasion was one of these nightmares, there was one memory that caused him the most pain and in his sleep he relived the moment over and over again. He thrashed about in his sleep, a cold sweat dripping down him. He grunted as if he was fighting, his horn bright as his magic coursed through him. Peering through the window in the pitch black of the night, two sharp yellow eyes watched him, their eyes filled with sadness at the sight. With a blink the sound of wings could be heard flapping in a long strong beats as they flew away.

Within the throne room the tired princess, Celestia, walked the hall with a elderly white unicorn. He was dressed in white overalls and wore a face mask of matching colour, his mane was short and grey. A clipboard levitated in front of him as he spoke with her.

“I've compiled a list of suitable guards to under take this task and... I bought you the papers I have on the stallion you requested. Though it is not my place to advise you, I must insist that any thoughts of sending this guard on the task is unwise.” The elderly stallion expressed.

“You have been a long trusted and loyal friend Healing Herb, I always take your advice to heart. May I please see the papers on our stallion in question?” Celestia asked.

“Of course, Princess. As you request.” Herb said passing the clipboard to her. She flipped through the pages her eyes darting from left to right as she read all his notes.

“Tell me more of your analysis of this one.” Celestia said, looking over the paper with interest.

“Well, most of what I have analysed is written on the paper. But from my tests and sessions with him, I have found him to be unstable and a danger to himself. There is no question in his loyalty or his heart to serve as a guard. However he is obviously having trouble dealing with events in his past and this stress is weakening him physically and emotionally. Which is why I have also suggested in my notes that he needs psychological help and that it may be best to either suspend him from duty or dismiss him.” Herb answered.

“If that is what you suggest, then I shall take necessary action. Tomorrow I want you to do a new analysis and I will talk with him.” Celestia affirmed.

“As you wish, I shall call him into my clinic tomorrow.” Herb said, bowing as he closed his sentence.

After another restless night he awoke with rays of sunshine warming his face as they beamed through the window. Many pegasus could be seen in the sky clearing the clouds and pushing them to the east. He climbed out of bed with a short yawn, his joints cracking with a long stretch. As he began to gear up in his armour for the day ahead his ear began to twitch, without a second thought he spun around knocking something to the ground. His horn erupted with magic as a blade formed ready to strike at whatever had sneaked up on him. Underneath his hooves a fellow guard was pinned down, he rid of his blade and sighed.

“You should know not to approach me like that.” Valiant stated, helping the guard up from the ground.

“Apologies, I assumed you'd hear my approach. Metal tapping on stone is not a sound that you would miss.” the guard commented.

“My mind was elsewhere.” Valiant said, angry with his lapse in awareness. “Why are you here?” he continued.

“The royal physician has asked for you. He would not say any more than you must go to him immediately.” The guard explained. Valiant said not a word and nodded, leaving his room and the roughed up guard alone.

“What more does this physician want with me. Hasn't he run enough tests on me. Claiming to understand the pain of these nightmarish memories. He knows nothing of it!” Valiant thought to himself.