I saw her, the day I came to the caste. One one of the white ivory towers, standing in an anger window. I saw nothing but her outline, but her animate mane, incredible stature, her broad wings were enough for me to know her. I don't know what she was doing, glancing out that window, doubtless is was a mundane moment for her. Celestia was likely just walking one place to another as part of some random task, one of hundreds of thousands of average days she spent in the halls of the palace. For me however, just that passing glance of one of the most thrilling experiences of my life up until that point. Five years spent tooling around the mountains chasing bandits and smugglers, eating stale hard tack, sleeping on rocks, nursing spear wounds and marching days at a time in wether perpetually to hot or too cold . . .all this was worth it just be be assigned to the castle, just to be as close as I could to the most beautiful and caring pony in all the world. That once glance of her silhouette , a glance that lasted les than a second, filled me with so much joy that every moment of suffering was worth it, even if I never saw her again.
Of course, I would see her again, so in hindsight staring at that window during a sparring session with Obsidian, one of the royal line breakers, and the largest mare I've ever met, was kind of stupid. Her instructions were to give me a beating that would break me in and welcome me to the ranks of the Royal guard, but not send me to the infirmary. As soon as I'd turned to catch a fleeting glimpse of the princess, she took the opportunity to deliver a kick to my jaw that slapped my teeth together and put stars in my eyes. I really should have been paying attention Obsidian, It was my luck she preferred the kick to smacking me again with the wooden sword she held in her mouth. Despite the ringing in my ears from the blow I turned myself back towards the massive earth pony, preparing my attack. Even though this was unofficially an excuse to beat up the greenhorn I was expected to at east put up a fight.
The rest of the Royal guards stood about stomping their hooves, rudely encouraging my to strike back. Even though I knew every attack I would make would result in Obsidian once more demonstrating how little I know about one on one combat, I dove in again to strike futilely at the mountain of a mare, who countered by pushing the dull tip of her sword into my throat, causing me to hack and cough. The crowd laughed and once more shouted for me to strike back, but I was having trouble drawing a breath. I felt my hooves go out from under me as I was tripped, and In a second I was being pushed to the ground as Obsidian used her sizable rump to pin me, siting on my back and raising her hooves in triumph. I don't think I could have moved her with a bulldozer.
In truth, I never stood a chance. I had fought larger opponents before Obsidian, stronger ones too. She was however far, far more skilled than me. I was a Pegasus, I was supposed to be faster than an Earth pony twice my size but that was not the case. I Managed to only get one blow in, a swift strike against Obsidian's jaw, it felt like I hit a stone column and she showed not reaction to the blow. The rest of the Royal guard, shouting and cheering and chanting. I was surprised to her them chanting my name and not Obsidian's. The big mare lifted me, setting me on her shoulders, it caused every bruise I just received to radiate dull pain but I was nonetheless flattered as the guards welcomed me.
"Now you're one of us, Windjammer!"
"Way to go!"
"Welcome to the guard!"
Part of me wanted to sit down and collect myself (Mainly the part that just had a merciless beating) but it was hard not to feel like I achieved something great that day. Obsidian set me back down on my hooves, looking deep into my eyes with a gentle smile on her face. Her coat was jet black like her name, her almond eyes an icy blue. She didn't say anything, she didn't have to, she raised a hoof to indicate a swelling welt on her jaw, as if I was the best compliment she could offer me. I managed to hit her once for the thirty times she struck me and that was supposed to be some kind of achievement. She gave me a wink, and I shrugged apologetically.
"Sir," I said, doing my best to stand up strait.
"At ease, Sargent Windjammer." Ruckus said. "You did surprisingly well. Most stallions cower in a ball when faced with Obsidian here,"
"I saw an opening and I took it," I explained. "It was pure luck though, Obsidan is an amazing fighter. ."
Obsidian blushed in response, then smiled giving me a playful shove that almost put me back in the dirt.
"Now that we have you broken in, I'm glad to welcome you to the Royal guard."
Obviously I'd already been officially welcomed in, had my security screening, interviews, tests, and received my sun steel armor and had my coat powdered to a brilliant white. I was already an official Royal guard assigned to Helios duty, being one of 160 mares and stallions who were the personal bodyguards of Princess Celestia. This little initiation of a new recruit getting a sound beating was just a tradition. It was humbling to know I wasn't the best fighter in the unit, that's likely why the tradition existed. If had any undue pride before my sparring match, it was gone now.
"All right guards, you got work so get back to it!" Ruckus shouted. "Windjammer, grab your bags and come with me."
I didn't have a chance to grab my bags, I felt the weight of them drop onto my back, Obsidian having set them on My freshly bruised body. She give me a smile as she turned to leave, her equally black tail swishing back and forth as she sauntered off.
"I think you impressed her," Ruckus said in passing as he trotted toward the barracks.
I followed the stallion as we headed for the barracks, a nondescript stone structure built into the wall that surrounded the castle. If you didn't know where the barracks were, you probably wouldn't spot them, they were hidden behind a few short bushy trees but as we pushed though the undergrowth I was surprised a the size of the casually hidden building. It was larger than the house I grew up in, a few guards stood outside, practicing with their spears pausing to give Ruckus a casual salute as we passed.
"This is #3 barracks, we have four in the castle." Ruckus explained, "Let me give you the tour."
The Lieutenant pushed open the large wooden door, leading into a large stone floored room were several guards sat In worn wooden chairs, polishing their armor, sharpening swords, a few simply reading or conversing. A burn board posted forms for leave requests and other bulletins. Somepony was trying to organize a chess tournament, another was looking to sell an old sharpening stone.
"This is the day room," Ruckus explained, waving a hoof. "If you're on duty but don't have a station just chill here and wait for an assignment, the lockers are along the wall, stow your gear an uniforms in there."
We passed the day room, where at the head of a long hallway there was a window in the wall leading into an office. Inside was a brilliant blue unicorn with white hair typing at a typewriter, never looking up from his work as they typed.
"This is Albedo, we cal him Al. He's company clerk, he handles your paycheck and the your mail." Ruckus explained, "And through here is my office, come on in Sergeant."
I passed into Lieutenant Ruckus' office, a fairly spartan stone room with a single high window, it that would resemble a dungeon if not for Ruckus's desk, an equestrian flag and a rough-hewn wooden desk. There was a yellowed photo of him with Captain shining armor, the two smiling about something doubtless long forgotten. He motioned for me to sit, taking a moment as I did to produce a scroll that I knew was my background report.
"So, you served in the Saddle Arabian legion?" He asked.
"Yes sir."
"Rough outfit. Equestrian ex-patriots don't get the good assignments there,"
"No sir, they don't make it easy on us."
"Anypony with at least two years relevant service can apply for the Royal guard, but we usually don't get ponies that lived abroad. What made you come back?"
I considered my answer, I had nothing to hide but I didn't want to seem disrespectful. "I still consider Equestria my home and Celestia my princess." I finally said.
"You were eligible for Equestrian Militia service, why sign up with the Legion?" Ruckus asked.
"My family is Indentured to the Tajir," I explained, "I had to work for them, so I chose to serve them in the legion instead of the oil fields. It's hard to get tar out of your coat, you see."
Ruckus laughed, "Well, I guess that makes sense. The reason I vetted you ahead of the other applicants is because you saw action. Militia ponies don't usually see any combat, most are just ponies who want to wear a nice uniform and Mach in parades. Your service record seems more like it was about helping people, and protecting those that can't protect themselves. I think you'll do well here."
"Thank you sir."
"One last question, and this is just personal curiosity. Totally off the record."
"Of course sir,"
"There was a protest in Sandia, during one of Princess Celestia's visits. One of the protesters were holding a banner with a particularly unflattering slogan against her Majesty. It's recorded that you broke the perimeter, got into an argument with the stallion and then began to beat him with the sign. He wasn't seriously injured and there were no charges, but it's the only demerit on your record. This didn't disqualify you, but it does seem a bit out of character."
"Sir, I thought that was cleared,"
"I know Windjammer I'm just interested to hear your explanation face to face instead of reading it in a report."
"Well Sir, the sign was seditious,"
"That's not illegal Windjammer, the princess Decriminalized sedition decades ago. Ponies are free to express themselves even if it's offensive."
"I'm aware sir, but It angered me personally. I love my Princess. . . " I realized what I said, and collected myself. "It was a lapse of judgement with no excuse, It will not happen again."
Ruckus smiled, as if he'd gotten all the information he needed from me. "Sergeant, we all love our princess but at the risk of sounding disrespectful, she's a big girl and can take a little disrespect from the populous. You will see ponies who don't like Celestia, some who don't like Luna. We can't let that kind of thing bug us, as long as they don't try to hurt the princess we have to remain professional. Now this happened years ago, but don't think I didn't notice you getting distracted during your match with Obsidian."
"How. . ."
"I've served the princess for 20 years, I know she'd be in that window."
"She's so beautiful," I said, "Even just her outline in that window."
"Her Majesty is possibly one of the most beautiful creatures in this world, just don't think of her as anything but somepony you need to serve and protect."
"Of course sir." I replied, with what I hoped sounded like conviction.
Ruckus slid a sheet of paper across his desk with a small key, "Okay, you're in dorm 34, and here's your duty schedule."
I looked at the key Puzzled, "Why does my Dorm have a locking door?" I asked. "Isn't it the dorm Cheif that has the keys for everyone?"
Ruckus laughed, "Windjammer, this isn't the infantry, we all get our own rooms. No head upstairs, drop your gear, you're still on duty."
"Yes sir," I said with a salute.
It took me a few tries to find my room, as a couple of the numbers were obscured by name plates some of the guards had hung on their doors. To my surprise I noticed Obsidian's name on one of the doors, just down the hall from mine. I finally found my new room, It was sizable and fairly roomy. It probably felt more roomy than it was, due to no furnishings inside but a rough wooden crate under a simple bed and a rough table. In every other station I'd been in in my military career, a room like this would be quarters for four men at the least. In the mountains of the bridle range I was lucky to have a soft spot on the ground, devoid of rocks. Here I was now, with a room with two tall windows overlooking the Palace courtyard and to my astonishment my own small bathroom with showers. I've honestly paid for hotel rooms that were not as nice as that room.
I pulled out a picture of my father from the saddlebag, a weathered, yellowing pic of him with me mother and me, just a foal at the time. We had just stepped off the train in Kaleel, ready to start a new life together in Saddle Arabia. My father had just gotten a new job with the Tajir, running pipe in an oil field. It was going to be a new life for us all, and even though it all went terribly wrong with 12 hours of working for cruel overseers. Hovels of wood and cardboard that were to cold and night and too hot during the day, little food, little water, but my father and mother always made me feel loved and wanted. Life wasn't easy down there, It still wasn't. With any luck I would help be able to pay off their debts, and set them free as I was now. I set the picture in the window sill, thinking I'd have to get a frame for it not that there was a place to display it.
Through the window I could see the palace, it's towers and ramparts lifting into the sky, agains the setting sun. Tomorrow, as was tradition, I was going to be presented to her. I was going to stand in her presence, and swear my fealty. Every guard did it, but I knew it would be different for me. The princes was more than a princess to me, and I would not just be swearing an oath, I would be declaring my love. So many years I spent in the desert, so much time being treated as an animal in the oilfields, on the battlefield, now I would be more than that. I would be a stallion, in the service of a Goddess.
"Hi, Neighbor." A small, quiet voice said from the door.
I turned, seeing Obsidian shyly peeking in my door, her face as dark a the shadows around it but her Icy blue eyes standing out.
"Hey, How's your jaw?" I asked.
Obsidian grinned shyly. "Still aches," She said rubbing it. "How is your. . .everything?"
I couldn't help but laugh at that, "Nothing's broken,"
"Good," Obsidian said, smiling.
I felt as if the mare had run out of things to say, as she just stood and smiled shyly. I decided to help her out and break the silence.
"So, any tips for meeting the princess tomorrow?" I asked,
Obsidian tapped her hoof to her chin, really contemplating the question, then her eyes widened as she came up with something.
"Don't kiss her hoof," She stated. "Really, don't. She doesn't like that,"
"Do ponies really do that? With the princess?!"
Obsidian laughed and nodded, her laugh was light and quiet, I found I liked it.
"Wow, Talk about forward,"
We shared a laugh, and she touched a hoof to my shoulder and without another word trotted back down the hall to the stairs.
----*----
"Chest out! Eyes forward! Chin up! Back strait!" Sonambula shouted, the unicorn slamming the butt of his spear into the ground with each work.
The Trim brown unicorn marched up and down the line, inspecting a row of Pegasus and Earth pony guards stood in a perfect line behind me.
"Morning Blast!" Sonambula shouted, "Your tail is twitching,"
"Sorry sir," the blue Pegasus replied.
"You Stand stoic, Silent, motionless a possible!" Sonambula said, "Fillies and Colts, this is a royal presentation! Are we going to be sloppy on Windjammer's big day?"
"NO SERGEANT!" The guards chorused in unison.
"You are going to be Stoic, Silent, March in perfect Lock step, is that correct?"
"YES SERGEANT!"
Sonambula smiled and nodded. "Okay, Windjammer. Now, we've marched in. What now?"
I thought, "I. . .bow and present my sword?" I ventured.
Sonambula shook his head, "So, you skip greeting her majesty?"
"Oh, so I bow, address her majesty then present my sword."
Sonambula nodded, "Correct. Now let's see it!"
I bowed as gracefully as I knew how, holding my sword high and saying, "Your Majesty,"
Sonambula made a face like he smelled something rotten, "Guard, how was that?"
"WEAK! WEAK! WEAK!" They chanted.
Sonambula sighed, "First, bow faster. You're not a figure skater. Second, don't hold your sword like it's dead fish, and the Princess is NOT
hard of hearing, address her a bit quieter. Try it Again!"
I complied, taking that into consideration, this time Sonambula giving me a smirk.
"Guards! How was that!"
"SOLID!" The guards shouted, all giving a fist pump in perfect unison.
"Better Windjammer. Have to memorized the Oath?"
Little did he know I had this oath memorized when I was a Colt. "My Princess, Monarch of the sun, ruler of Equestria, I offer you my sword and my life to you, to serve you and protect you, to stand by you, to speak of you with reverence, and to stand against all your enemies until I meet a glorious end in your service."
"Obsidian!!" Sonambula shouted as I finished, "Eyes forward young filly!"
I turned to See Obsidian turn her head forward forward, a shallow smile on her lips. Sonambula approached her,
"Line Breaker Obsidian is there something here that amuses you?"
Obsidian shook her head.
"Eyes forward, face neutral, is that clear Line Breaker?"
Obsidian Nodded.
"Good! If You and Blast mess up this presentation you are going to be on dish washing duty until your hooves get pruned. Is that clear?"
"Yes Sergeant!" Blast said,
We practiced the short ceremony twice more. I marched at the forefront of the armored ponies, bowed and said the oath. Sonambula only correcting a few more minor infractions, Four-speed was twitching his nose, Starshine almost dropped her spear, but by the end we seemed to Satisfy Sonambula.
"Good work guard, we'll go though this one more time tomorrow morning." Sonambula shouted,"No stow your gear and get some chow."
I wasn't wearing full armor, but my dress uniform, the showy red and blue outfit worn only on formal occasions. I removed the shirt and slipped it onto the hangar, trotting toward my locker in the day room, the other ponies were removing their armor and stowing it I their lockers.
"Put the hangar under the seam or it'll wrinkle," I heard a meek voice say in my ear. I realized it was Obsidian, stooping to speak softly into my ear.
"Thanks," I said, adjusting the shirt on the Hangar.
Again Obsidian left before I could ask a follow up, heading to her room for reasons unknown to me. I slipped by the day room before I headed to lunch, walking to the window, seeing Albedo still working at his typewriter in his crowded office, pausing to take a bite a leafy salad.
"Al?" I asked.
"Yes Sergeant?" He said around a mouthful of fresh spinach.
"I heard I can have some of my pay sent to a family,"
"Sure," Albedo said, floating a new sheet into the typewriter "Form A-13, Third party pay transfer. Who are you sending it to?"
"He's my father, named Mainsail,"
"Location?" Albedo said as he typed,
"Kaleel in Saddle Arabia, send it to the Post office in Mariposa."
Al Stopped typing, "Isn't that a Ghetto?"
"It's were I grew up," I said without emotion.
"It's a dangerous area, are you sure he'll get it?"
"My Parents know how to deal with pickpockets and gangs." I said,
Albedo nodded, typing in the address. "How much do you want to send them? I can make it a percentage or a flat amount."
"Send all of it." I said.
"What?" Albedo said, eyes wide.
"I get three meals a day and a place to sleep, I got a little savings for anything else I might need."
"Are you sure you don't want to keep a few bits?"
"My parents need this money a lot more than me."
Albedo Shrugged, "They're your bits."
He held the form in the window, and not knowing how to sign my name I stamped my hoof on it, which Albedo was satisfied with. He nodded to me unceremoniously and returned to his work and I mad my way to the mess hall.
The Mess hall was shared with all the barracks, it was in the North wing of the palace proper, and connected to the castle's kitchen and food stores. It wasn't opulent but was modestly decorated with banners and flags, the tables weren't the long banquet tables with bench seats I expended, but small round tables with room enough for four. Also, instead of a long lines with soldiers waiting for bowls of gruel I was surprised to find servant ponies carrying trays of food as if we were in a restaurant instead of a mess hall. There was even a few musicians, two ponies playing guitars, filling the hall with gentle unobtrusive music. It was almost absurd how well treated the Royal guard was, it was no surprise there were literally thousands of ponies vying for 160 spots, only a tiny fraction ever making it in.
I trotted through the room, trying to find a place to sit, being that It was late there seemed to be no tables available, until I saw Obsidian siting alone a table near the back of the room, in a dark corner where the torches on the wall cast little light. in the shadows the white of her eyes and he icy blue stood out against the rest of her fur she poked at a plate of pasta, oblivious to my presence. Aside from Blast and Four speed I hadn't spoken to anypony but her. Made sense to sit with Obsidian, so I did.
Before my rump hit the chair a turquoise mare in a servant's robe approached, silently setting down a plate of pasta identical to Obsidian's, and a wooden mug of something, that I soon found to be blackberry juice. I wondered if the servant had been following me through the room waiting for me to sit, she would have made a good scout because I had no idea she was there.
Obsidian looked at me, as if surprised Anypony would be willing to sit with her.
"Wouldn't you like to sit with your friends?" She asked quietly, wiping sauce from her mouth with a cloth napkin.
"I'd Like to think I am," I said with a smile.
"No pony every sits with me," Obsidian said,
"I'm sorry, if I don't mean to impose. . ."
"No, not at all." Obsidian said nervously, "It's okay,"
"How's the pasta?" I asked.
Obsidian shrugged, "Dinner on Thursday is always Pasta. . .I like Mondays, potato salad with butter bread."
I tried the Pasta, it wasn't terrible but fairly bland.
"So you were in the Legion," She asked.
"Yep."
"I heard you had to win a hundred battled before they let you leave."
I grinned, "No, that's just a rumor. In truth you just have to win enough battles to Impress the Tajir. I've only been in a few myself. Were you in the Militia?"
"No, ROTC." Obsidian said. "I went to college on a buck ball scholarship, that didn't work out but I did well enough in drill school to get into the guard. I mean. . .it also helped I'm big for a mare."
"Well you are a natural, I've never fought anyone as skilled as you."
Obsidian blushed, meekly turning her face aside, smiling meekly. I felt myself smile, and I wasn't sure why. The Musicians had changed their song, and my ears twitched as I recognized the song.
"Las Pegasus Serenade," I said to myself,
Obsidian's eyes widened, "You know Raindog?"
I grinned, "Yeah,"
Obsidian gigged, "I taught the servants this song. I love Raindog, he's one of the best jazz ponies of all time,"
"Well, some credit should go to Clydesdale Davis." I stated, "But yes. I used to have a little travel record player that I took with me everywhere, whenever we stopped I'd play whatever I could get my hooves on. I had two, very old, very scratched up Raindog albums, but I eventually had to trade them for food. In the Legion you have to fee yourself most of the time."
"I have everything he ever recorded," Obsidian said in a harsh whisper, as if she were telling me a great secret. "I even found the bootleg
album he recorded, Warm Cider and Cold Mares,"
"I only heard Rumors about that," I said, "They didn't press a lot of those,"
Obsidian said up proudly, "It was not easy to find."
"Man, All I had was 'Trotting with the Blues' and 'Bit and Bridle," I said "I'd LOVE to hear the rest."
"You should come by my room!" Obsidian offered a bit more loudly than she intended, juggling by how she shrank back, as if she'd just said something terrible. "I mean, if you want to listen to a few songs, but I'm sure your probably planning to hit the NCO club with the guys,"
"No, that would be great," I said, "I don't like to drink, and I'd rather see you."
I had no idea why I said that, It was as if my mouth shot the words out without even consideration. I realized Obsidian was just as surprised as I was, the offer was made and accepted and now it seemed neither of us had much of a choice. I figured spending time with a new friend, would be better than staring at the blank walls in my bare quarters.
----*----
The last thing the Helios guard does in a day is pass the guard duties of the castle to the Nocturne guard, Princess Luna's force of Bat-ponies and battle mages. All on-duty personnel were expected to at least observe, but I knew on some evenings I would be expected to participate in this hallowed ceremony. It was simple, there was a trumpet blast and Shining Armor handed over a banner to Captain Willow, captain of the Nocturne guard. A few members of the public watched the ceremony, mostly tourists who snapped pictures and cheered. When the sun was below the horizon now and all members of the Helios guard were done for the night. As I headed back to the barracks Morning Bast and Four-speed trotted up behind me.
"Hey my man, we're headed to the NCO Club, get a few drinks," Four speed said.
"We can play a few rounds of pool," Blast offered.
"Thanks, but I was going to Hang out with Obsidian and listen to some records."
"Obsidian?" Blast asked.
"Yeah, turns out she has some Raindog records I always wanted to hear,"
The two Pegasi glanced at each other with curios looks,
"Where did you hear that?" Four Speed asked.
I wrinkled a brow, "She told me, how else would I hear it?"
The two seemed dumbfounded, Blast was the first to manage to speak.
"Dude, Obsidian never talks. . ."
"To anypony," Four Speed added.
"She talked to me," I stated plainly.
The two were still confused, but shrugged it off.
"Well, you'll have to let us buy you a drink sometime," Blast said, giving me a hoof bump.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't Do," Four speed said with a grin,
"You'd do just about anything," Blast shot back, prompting the pair to laugh as they left.
I ran by the quartermaster exchange, using a few bits from my savings to buy a jug of Ginger ale and a box of bonbons, having promised myself that once I was free of the legion I'd celebrate with some sweets. The idea of sharing them with Obsidian that night made far more sense than enjoying them alone. I made my way back to the barracks, stowed my weapons and armor and showered briefly, washing the powder out of coat, returning it to its normal shade of deep rusty red. I crossed the hall to Obsidian's room where she answered the door, welcoming me with a nod.
Obsidian's room was identical to mine, but with no windows since it was on the other side of the hall and faced into the palace's outer wall. Unlike my room, which was bare, Obsidian had hung banners and lanterns on the wall, a few framed pictures of what I assumed to be her family, and large wooden shelf filled with books and old records that gave the room the pleasant, musty smell of a an old library. Obsidian herself, who had been wearing partial armor and a tunic since I first met her, now was just wearing a ribbon in her shadowy black tail. She didn't carry herself like a solder while at home, and despite still be taller than me, looked just like the girl next door with her long styled mane and shapely form. I felt odd that I neglected to take off my own tunic when off duty, so I hung it on a hook near the door as I entered.
"You're red," Obsidian observed, realizing I'd washed the white from my coat.
"Yeah, that powder is kind of itchy."
"I hear you get used to it." She said.
I set down the ginger ale of chocolates on an coffee table near her old sofa.
"You. . .didn't have to bring anything," Obsidian said as she selected a record off the shelf.
"These? " I said, holding up the chocolates and ginger ale. "I just didn't get any sweets in the legion so I'm just spoiling myself a bit. I'd love to share them with you."
Obsidian grabbed a mismatched pair of wooden cups, and I poured the ginger ale. She winded her record player, and soon the soft sound of jazz music filled the small room. Obsidian sat on her well-worn leather sofa, and finding no other place to sit I joined her. For a time we just quietly listened, the sound of music so familiar but brand new almost bringing tears to my eyes. We drank the ginger ale, munched on the sweet candies, saying nothing for a time.
"I talked with a few of the others," I said finally, in between songs. "They said you never talk to anypony,"
Obsidian shrugged, "Nothing to say most of the time." She said. "I like the quiet, my voice is just more noise."
"I like your voice," I said, matter of factly.
The big mare blushed, shifting to lean her big head against my chest. I felt my heart start to beat harder, a warmth build up inside me. She was big compared to me, compared to anyone really, but with Obsidian resting against me I felt comfortable, not crushed as I did when she sat on me that morning. Her mane was soft and layed across her shoulders like shimmering black silk. I was surprised a battle-hardened warrior like her was wearing some kind of perfume that was one of the sweetest things I ever smelled. I could see the value in silence now, and I held her as we joyfully said nothing for another song or two. I don't know exactly why, but it felt right. Strangely, it was Obsidian who finally spoke.
"Fact is, I never was good at making friends." Obsidian said quietly. "I've always been bigger than other ponies."
"Same with me." I admitted.
She turned to give me smirk.
"I don't mean, big." I explained "I mean, I'm half saddle-Arabian. I never really belonged anywhere, not there not here. We're both. . .different. I made a few friends but . . ."
"They never really understand you." Obsidian said.
"They just go though the motions, always move on in the end. They. . ."
"Just can't ignore that you're different." Obsidian said finishing my thought.
"Exactly." I agreed.
"I guess this kind of music just appeals to ponies like us."
"When I was in the Legion, this music kept me sane." I admitted. "I would be camped out in a fetid swamp surrounded by bugs, or in a burned out city with the fires still burning. . .starving, in pain, too tired to sleep. This music told stories about ponies going out on Saturday nights to bars, drinking bad beer and smoking cheap cigarettes, falling in love and having their hearts broken. It was like hearing about another world, where I could really live, not just . . .exist. I knew that if I could just get through one more day, eventually I'd get there."
I felt Obsidian shift her weight, turning her head to look up at me, and she blessed me with a gentle smile, her almond eyes bright against her deep black face.
"Well you're here now." She whispered, just loud enough to be heard over the music. "You made it Windjammer. Welcome to your happy ending."
I felt tears forming in my eyes, and I stroked Obsidian's mane as she gave out a contented sigh. It was strange, I had just met her that day but I felt as if I always knew her. Like we were two souls wandering the world only wanting for each other. Feeling her in my arms, being in this place, pledging my life to my princess . . .nothing in my life had ever felt so right. Lost in the moment, I ventured to sing along with a familiar song, as it came on the record player.
"I word nine to five, now it's Saturday night," I sang.
"Watch the carts go by, under he new moon's light," Obsidian continued.
"I caught the eye of a mare, too pretty to stand,"
We sung the next line together, in a perfect lack of harmony.
"If I had a bit for every broken heart, I'd be a rich man,"
We Laughed, neither of us could carry a tune to save our lives.
"We should probably leave that to Raindog," I said in a quiet voice.
"Yeah," Obsidian agreed.
Then, for no reason, and every reason at once . . I kissed her. She kissed me back. Her lips were soft, warm, and surprisingly gentle. It wasn't a long, passionate kiss, but there was more truth in that one tiny show of affection than any other before that, even the mares or stallions I had made love to in the past. Our time together wouldn't last, eventually the sun would rise and we'd be back on duty, but that was tomorrow. We still had half a jug of Ginger Ale, plenty of sweets and the record was still playing. For that night we just held one another, and all was well.