Silver Steelhooves’ eyes were latched upon my own, grey orbs fraught with a potent mixture of fear and apprehension. It was not unwarranted – I had an inkling that some within the guard corps possessed some suspicion of my being, and I hadn’t done much to assuage them otherwise, besides befriend one of their diarchs.
“You shan’t worry, Captain,” I spoke clearly, deliberately – I did not want to appear threatening. “If Celestia commands you so, then I am sure that she has told you to keep an eye on me.”
Steelhooves’ ears flattened upon his skull, his silver mane tossing about. I only now noticed that it was braided long. An interesting note. “How did you know?”
“Guards watching me in the night, keeping tabs on my existence. Never a moment’s rest, without some manner of watchman nearby. You didn’t think I would notice?” I turned, taking in the rest of the captain’s office. A pot sat in the corner, a large, green plant rising from the dirt. “It all comes to a head when your princess herself calls to meet me for a luncheon.”
The stallion fidgeted slightly – in all honesty, it was rather unbefitting of a guard of his rank and stature. “And so we have – nothing to it. I’d rather you got to the point, Roland. My men are waiting for me.”
I chuckled, turning back towards the guard captain. “Then so be it. Like I said, Captain – I’ve a proposition. I’d like for you to gather a small host of guards, strong of heart and ken of war.”
“What for?” he asked. I groaned internally – Captain Steelhooves was awfully nosy.
“A contingency. Hunters of one, adherents of devotion.”
Steelhooves scowled, shaking his head. “And what makes you think I’d do that for you? You haven’t given me a reason.”
“I would rather not, Captain, but you are right,” I relented, nodding. “I’m afraid dark days await ahead for Equestria, and there will come a time when friends must be cut down, for the greater good.”
“What are you saying?” Silver Steelhooves was confused, greatly so. I could not blame him, yet I could not tell him more than I had to. “You’re being very cryptic, Roland.”
Sighing, I shook my head and closed my eyes. “I’m saying, Silver Steelhooves, that these guards of yours will kill me, should the worst come to pass.” His eyes widened, both in confusion and great fear. “So, find these guards of yours, and give me their dossiers. And, by all that is holy, do not tell Luna.”
“Why?” His suspicion returned, albeit blunted by the implications of what I had said.
“She will attempt to block his maneuver, for our friendship’s sake,” I responded, looking away. “But, if you value this life of yours, and all you hold dear, then you will not tell her.” I turned to leave, opening the door.
“If not for me, then for the well-being of Equestria.”
I departed him then, the faint scent of citrine perfume following me out of the stallion’s office. I only hoped that Steelhooves would fulfill my requests, lest my plans come to ruin.
I had returned to my quarters by the next morning, the first step of my preparations finished. I had only a few more things to attend to in this contingency of mine, yet I knew that I was only running of mere suspicion – inklings of a great horror, whispers of a foul darkness, and dreams of a most unpleasant end.
Suffice to say, they were more akin to nightmares than simple dreams.
Yet, those next steps were to wait, until further days ahead. I needed to take things slowly, and work my way through the palace like a serpent in a wooded bog. If Luna, and perhaps Celestia, caught wind of my actions, I was sure all pleasantry would be thrown aside, replaced with the gnashing of teeth and spirited words barren of reason.
Several necessities were in order, that I might survive in the coming days. Some mortar and pestle was to be acquired, and the tools needed to brew the concoctions I needed. Perhaps some bugs, here and there, of a most dark kind – Watchers depended upon such medicine, to aid in their journeys, and I was most fortunate that some of the Acolytes had seen fit to teach me such arts.
And yet, all Undead required a home – a resting place, a hearth. This room of mine, that Luna had given unto me, was not home – it was not warm, though the fireplace crackled with a roaring blaze, and it was not a light in the dark, despite its proximity to the bright sun in the sky.
I looked around the room, taking in the sights. I hadn’t touched much of it – I wasn’t quite comfortable with it, despite my lies that I indeed called it my home. Many of the shelves and cabinets had gathered dust upon their oak, and though one closet had been disturbed quite recently, the others lay unused.
My sword and dagger sat upon a table in the middle – I realized, now, that I hadn’t much use of them in Canterlot, and it had been a few days since they had last found a place in my hands. I knew that, given recent events and revelations, I would eventually need to use them.
Not now, however. Not now.
I was pulled from my thoughts by a knock upon my door. Rising to my feet, I approached the white door and opened it. I was greeted by a friendly, familiar face.
“Luna!” I exclaimed, a smile stretching across my lips. “It’s good to see you here, and so early, too! What is the occasion?”
The princess of the moon giggled, rolling her eyes. “Oh, yes, I’m not used to waking so early, but certain circumstances provide that I awake at an hour similar to most ponies.” She stood to the side, and behind her was another pony, small like the rest. She had a shining, pearly white coat, and a brilliantly violet mane that was, quite obviously, very well kept.
A strange look was about the new pony, and her eyes betrayed a degree of uneasiness about her. “This is Rarity!” Luna beckoned the pony to take a step forwards, smiling. “She is… a friend?”
Luna looked down at Rarity with some degree of uncertainty, a hopeful look in her eyes. The mare, although visibly nervous, nodded her head. “Oh, oh yes! Of course, princess!” she coughed out, her gaze wandering between myself and Luna. “Anything for you and Princess Celestia!”
The princess sighed, although Rarity seemed not to catch that little detail. “Thank you, Rarity. Like I said, I’d like for you to meet Roland of Astora – a good friend of mine.” Luna extended a hoof out towards me, and Rarity took a step forwards, giving a small curtsy.
“It’s an honor to meet a friend of the princess,” Rarity said, giving an uneasy smile.
I smiled a toothy grin, inclining my head a tad bit. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Rarity.” Best that I address her discomfort now. “I hope you aren’t too taken aback by my… likeness?”
The mare’s cheeks flushed a deep red – she was, most definitely, a pony of some class. “No, no! It’s not that, I just…” Rarity giggled nervously, looking away. “I must say, that when Luna had said there was somepony she wanted me to meet, I did presume he would be a pony.”
Ah, yes. That would be the case, wouldn’t it? “Well, no need to worry, Miss Rarity,” I waved my hand, taking a step towards the unicorn. She flinched ever so slightly, but I ignored that. “There aren’t too many of my kind in Equestria. And a friend to Luna is a friend to myself.”
I held out a hand, and Rarity grasped it with a hoof of her own. Rarity’s grip was light, gentle - I had grown accustomed to the strange features of ponies’ hooves in Equestria, yet would never truly understand them and their similarity to my own hands.
As well as their proportionate dissimilarity to the hooves of the horses I had known in the past.
Setting those thoughts aside, I stepped back, motioning for my guests to enter the room. “Come, come in! I’m sure you didn’t come all the way here simply to introduce us.”
Luna shook her head. “I’m afraid we still have to get Rarity settled in, Roland – I still haven’t even told you why she’s here, after all.”
“Then, by all means, tell me,” I said, holding a hand up. “I’ve some time.”
“Rarity is here under my patronage,” Luna explained, smiling down at the pony in question. “I met her down in Ponyville, a few months ago.”
Rarity grinned, her eyes closed. “Oh, yes. During Nightmare Night – it was a very fun time, if I recall correctly.”
“Really now?” I asked, receiving a pair of nods. “You’ll have to tell me the story sometime, Luna. It seems you’re keeping things from me.”
I gave the princess a sly look, narrowing my eyes. Luna gave a soft little laugh, rolling her eyes. “Maybe later, Roland. Anyways, my friendship with you has inspired me.”
“Hm?” I was surprised, taken aback – what could I have possibly inspired her to do?
“Friends, Roland – I could use some more of them,” Luna explained. Rarity shifted on her hooves beside her, looking a tad bit uncomfortable. “Rarity is here to help me with that. I needed some advice on holding a ball in the palace, before I ask Tia herself, and a new dress might not hurt, either.”
I nodded in understanding. “I see.” Turning to Rarity, I raised a brow. “And you are staying here, under the Princess’s patronage, Miss Rarity?”
She nodded in response. “Correct. I’m staying in another tower,” Rarity said, pointing some distance away. True to her words, another tower sat where her hoof pointed, nearly identical to my own. “My friends will be visiting in a few days, but that’s for a different reason.”
“Oh?” I queried, looking back at Luna. She shook her head. “I see. Perhaps I should visit sometime? The more friends the merrier, I have always said.”
Rarity looked surprised, taking a step back. “Oh! Um, of course!” she stuttered out. “Anytime!”
I shrugged – it was clear that Rarity was not quite comfortable with me yet. “Well, like I said, it’s been a pleasure, Miss Rarity. I look forwards to meeting the rest of your friends soon.”
“Likewise, Ser Roland,” Rarity said, turning around. “Shall we go now, Princess?”
Luna nodded, making to leave. Before they could depart, however, I cleared my throat.
“Luna?” She turned, a brow raised as she looked at me. “May I speak to you for a moment? In private?” I motioned into my room, holding a hand out.
Slowly, the princess nodded. “Rarity? Fetch a servant, and have them bring you to your room. I’ll be there shortly.”
Not waiting for an answer, Luna followed me into the tower, closing the door behind her. I stood silently for a few moments, unsure how to broach the subject I wanted to talk about.
“Roland?” Luna asked, taking a step forwards. “What did you want to talk about?”
I took a deep breath, looking down. “Are you free tonight, Luna?”
She nodded, clearly a bit uneasy. “Yes, I am. Roland, what’s wrong?” Luna tilted her head. “Is something the matter?”
“No, no, I am fine,” I reassured her. “But, something has come to my attention. I spoke with your sister yesterday, and something she said…”
“Celestia?” Luna asked, her ears pricking forwards. “What did she want to speak to you about?”
I shook my head, placing a hand firmly upon the princess’s shoulders. “Nothing important, don’t worry. But, we talked, and I realized that I needed to speak with you about something.” I gave her a little scratch. “I’ll come visit later. No stories, though – not tonight.”
“Then what are we to talk about?” Luna was confused, her eyes betraying some small degree of fear and apprehension. “Roland?”
“Our friendship, Luna.” I answered plainly, smiling down at her. “I felt we need to clear and air, clarify a few matters of importance. We may have been hasty, and I want to make sure our friendship isn’t merely a hastily crafted shell of stories and tales.”
My words evidently did nothing to assuage Luna of her confusion, but when she made to speak, I placed a finger upon her lips. “Shh. We’ll talk later – I’m sure you’re very busy right now.”
It was clear that Luna wanted to know more, but did not press the subject further. I was glad, for that – doubt still gnawed at my insides, lying dormant since my conversation with Princess Celestia the day before, but I still hoped.
I simply hoped that Luna and I could make sense of our friendship, and make sure that it was not simply a case of kindred spirits latching onto each other out of some manner of desperation.