Chapter 54
It wasn't long before the actual meeting ended. As it did, I found myself pacing about the vacant corridor, empty except for the burly guard ponies, possibly agitated at this insecure human walking back and forth between them biting at his nails.
What I knew was actually fifteen minutes felt so much longer. In that time, I gave up the idea of trying to reason myself into Princess Celestia's orders, deeming it no more than futile. Plus, I feared that the goddess would find an annoyance in a whiny foreigner.
Nobody likes a whiner. I remember my father feeding me that ageless saying countless times, as I did just that in my childhood.
My mind turned to another point of concern; the possibility- no, probability- of the imminent danger Twilight was about to put her and her friends in. I had close to nothing in my knowledge about the Griffons. Besides the fact that they were half bird and half lion, I knew nothing of their origins, history or the like. It never came to my attention, and thus left it to be found by my curiosity in the future. Who knew I would have needed such information so soon? I doubted anypony but Twilight and Rainbow Dash knew more about their neighbouring species than their friends, but Dash's could be questionable, and I could bet that none of them had actually been to this place called Avia before, and especially now on the brink of war. In fact, the whole idea was beginning to sound stupid!
Her highness was right. This plan sounded crazy. It was ironic how it took me to be kicked out of the room and the idea for me to realize this.
At that moment, the doors swung open from the inside, relieving me of my impatience. I waited by the side as the occupants of the room gradually left. First was Rook, exiting as if nothing had changed with a convicted skyward gaze. He briefly acknowledged me before darting back off into the air. And something told me that whatever training we had planned was cancelled.
Next to leave was the Prince and his wife. Both Shining Armour and Princess Cadence appeared to have something new to add to their list of worries. They raised their heads as I approached them.
"We need to return to the Crystal Empire immediately, my ponies will be worried." Cadence showed no remorse in this statement.
"Sorry, buddy." Shining Armour said, attempting to show sympathy towards me.
"Don't be." I responded, hoping I didn't sound cold, "You two have nothing to be sorry for in this."
With that, the young rulers of their own empire walked less than enthusiastically down the long corridor.
The third one to come from the meeting was the Goddess of the Night. Princess Luna looked more distressed than the others, bowing her head that was so unlike her regal status. Perhaps she was just frustrated with all the recklessness and the lack of following protocol around her. I could never tell in the w exchanges we shared in those momentary glances. This one was no different, and she took to the sky without a word.
The next to come out was Steelheart. He kept this constant small frown, even as he glanced at me for a second. As he did, I gave him a look of... well, I wasn't very sure myself. I felt like I was betrayed by him, yet jealous that he was the one helping the Mane Six, along with a little pent-up hatred that I had towards him for giving me a hard time in Canterlot.
And without much thought, my mouth blurted what my mind wanted to keep in a second ago.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"And this should bother me how?"
My response was in the heat of the moment. It was a decision that I hadn't even decided upon yet, but I spat it out.
"It means that I don't care about the crap you put up for me. If it were my decision, I would have gone! Not you! I'd disobey your orders in a heartbeat."
The last sentence must have really got to him, because before I knew it, my collarbone was shoved to a wall.
"Who do you think you are, Human?!" said the knight, with an agitated grimace. "You think this is fun? You think this is adventure? Think clearly, human! There is no place for children like you. Because where we're going, it is no playground. It's a war zone. And you? You're a self obsessed, inexperienced, unskilled being!" He brought his face close, staring hateful daggers at me. "So why do you do it, Human? Why would you do it? Do you enjoy playing the Hero? Or do you do it because it's the right thing to do?"
"B-B-Because that's the right thing to do!" I stammered the first answer that came to my mind.
"That's the answer you've been taught! From foalhood to stories of fantasy, you've always been told to do the right thing." His voice quietened down, for there were still ponies in discussion in the Center, "Think it over, human. Maybe you don't know the answer now, but you will know it eventually. Deep down, do you really really do it for the sake of it?"
Keeping that hateful stare on me, he back away. However, his mood softened back to normal, or at least his type of normal.
"I must prepare for our departure. My platoon shall be ready by dawn next sunrise." With a single flap of his wings, he was gone.
I refused to be daunted by his condescending view of me, but his question still lingered, even as I peered in to see the last two subjects in the Triple C. Twilight and Princess Celestia were conversing along in the center of the room. No doubt Celestia was giving Twilight advice for the coming journey. There always was. I found it a shame that I wasn't able to catch this one, seeing as I probably heard all the others she had received.
I kept my patience, allowing the Princess to conclude with her favourite student. I watched as Twilight bowed her head as Princess Celestia walked away. I was by the door, which made it very hard to avoid eye contact with the regal alicorn. I thought it better to not converse with the Princess. However, although I tried to stay out of her way, she made eye contact unavoidable. This was because she had intentionally stopped right at the door, taking the time her daylight allowed to convey something silently to me.
I held her gaze, afraid in doing otherwise. And in that moment, it was hard to read whether she was gazing down at me in disapproval, pity, or just utter annoyance. It left me feeling even more insecure about my presence in Canterlot, and whether I had asked for more than they obliged.
I wiped the cold sweat from my brow as the princess passed, eager to hear about the situation from a more willing pony.
Twilight still stood unmoving, but her previously optimistic facade had diminished. Her shoulders sagged and her mane drooped, which I found hid the distressed expression she wore.
"Suddenly, this doesn't feel like a very good idea." She fiddled with the trivial fabric of the carpet.
"Heading out to an unknown area half-heartedly?" I knelt down, ruffling her mane down her neck, "That sounds like someone you knew not too long ago."
At least that rid her face of her frown. My little joke of an attempt at showing empathy seemed to work.
"Your circumstances were different." The small purple unicorn brushed off the hand, allowing the corners of her mouth to turn up, "And this time, nobody has done anything brash!"
"Me? Brash?" I retorted with feigned grief, "Twilight, you-!"
"Might know you too well?"
"... I wasn't brash. I took risks."
"There are lot more risks this time..." She turned to the door, an indecisive look shrouded her face.
"Why? It can't be something you haven't handled before, right?" I reasoned, catching up to the troubled lavender pony, "Come one, you've gone through a lot worse than this!"
She gave no answer, nor looked my way.
"Oh no... don't tell me that there's some unspeakable evil thing where you're going, is there?" Of course, I meant this as a joke.
But the reply she gave made me think of the alternative.
"Keith," her expression went from troubled to grim, "there will come times when a line has to be drawn between what we do for our friends, and what we do as our duties." She ended sorrowfully, "I'm sorry, Keith, but now is one of those times."
That sentence struck me as a declaration of my non-involvement. But above all, it just made me even more worried for the Mane Six's sake. A part of me wanted to blurt out right there and then that if I wasn't there to watch over them, then I didn't want them to go at all. But I knew how foolish and selfish that was, and I kept silent, respecting Twilight's decision. We had already persuaded Princess Celestia to let her go. It wasn't worth arguing over it again.
"We leave tomorrow morning. That way, we can maximize the time we take to get there. With luck, we'll be there in two days..." I watched her drone on out the tall double doors, not caring whether or not I followed.
That day, I was asked many hard-hitting questions that really made me ponder what I was doing, and for who I really stood for. Being the only one left in the room, I thought about who I really was. Not to myself, but to the ponies around me. Did I really have an inflated impression of my own presence on the ponies I met here? Was I being selfish and an annoyance to others when I almost constantly received the attention of them? And lastly, what was I really in it for? The thrill? The attention? Or did I just enjoy the fact that possibly no other human being had the chance to play the hero like me? These questions only seemed to arise now, in the most dire situation, and it truly disturbed me that I could barely answer any of them honestly, even to myself.
Steelheart was right... I don't know what I stand for...
The morning of the departure was a relatively dark one, in more ways than one.
And for good reason; with the whole water crisis sinking into Equestria's ponies, Celestia took extra care to raise the sun as slowly as she could, possibly delaying full daylight for a few hours. And when it was out, she took it a step further to make it less bright and hot. One could even look towards the rich orange circle that hung delicately in the sky. And because of this, Equestria's weather was positively cool. With any luck, nopony would be getting thirsty so easily.
Not many were there to see us off. The Royal Guards that were on high alert when we first arrived had decreased in numbers, with only a few patches of them patrolling the station, systematically changing their day and night shifts at this hour. They were not to be confused with Steelheart's platoon, which boasted ponies of different skills and physique, or so he said. Our dear friend, Trotter, was there, who claimed he barely had the chance to see his old classmate of Celestia's Academy of Gifted Unicorns off. Surprisingly, Princess Luna made herself present. That in itself was a rarity, if you'd pardon the pun. I thought that maybe she was just standing in for her sister. Princess Celestia herself wasn't present, having placed her celestial duties above the others. It was understandable, but it felt like somepony was missing.
And of course, the Mane Six were preparing to depart as well. They held their own conversation by the mound of Rarity's luggage which she called 'light packing'. I learned that they had talked the entire ordeal over the day before, and they unanimously agreed on the decision. Although it was expected of the Elements of Harmony, they all shared their own doubts, or in Pinkie Pie's case, excitement over the coming adventure.
"Aw hay, Ah've never been across the water before." Applejack was neutral to the whole affair, "Equestria is already a pretty big place as it is."
"Well, my dear Applejack, one should always be open to new experiences." Rarity articulated, thoroughly looking over the array of warm clothing she had hastily packed, "Oh I do hope I brought enough, scarfs! Thank Celestia I had the mind to make a few purchases in Canterlot!"
"A few?" All Rainbow Dash had with her was a pair of flight goggles, which was something nopony else had thought of.
"Well... enough, I suppose."
"Well, good luck lugging that pile of junk around!" the cyan pegasus pulled her aviation eyewear down, letting it hang loosely around her neck, "There ain't gonna be any hotels where we're going!"
"There won't?"
"Um... Rarity," Fluttershy quietly interjected, "You do know that we'll most likely be camping, right?"
"We'll be WHAT?!"
As Rarity began to frantically rearrange her mobile wardrobe, Twilight took the time to go over the route for the fourth time. All the while, Pinkie Pie went on and on about how excited she was about representing Equestria as ambassadors, and whether or not Griffons liked parties.
I watched it all from a distance. I leaned against the wall two-toned wall of the train station, watching the scene unfold. I also found it unnerving that Luna did the same. Nonetheless, I had my own train to catch. A different and more colourful one that head back to the quaint little village of Ponyville.
I took note of the train the entire group was taking. It wasn't the Friendship Express, that was certain. It looked quite the opposite. A cold iron beast that was void of colour, and therefore joy, as far as I could tell. It looked more like a bunker rather than a train, but it served its purpose. No doubt, Rarity would be whining-... no... complaining all the way down to Fillydelphia's harbour.
Then came the time that I dreaded since yesterday.
A uniformed stallion bestrode a like-dressed colt, both of which I deduced were the train's engineers and drivers.
"All special passengers aboard the Iron Horse!" One hollered.
At that command, the Knight commanded his troops to attention, filing them neatly into two of the locomotive's three carriages.
I decided that I didn't want to say goodbye to the knight. I might have done so if Rook was present, but the comrade had a duty to toughen the rest of Equestria's defenses under the Prince. So I took the time to approach the Mane Six, to unwillingly say goodbye to them.
"And when you get back, I want to hear all about it, Twilight." Trotter shook his fellow student's hoof energetically. He didn't seem to care at all about the dangers ahead. "You and your friends have a good trip now!" The six of them replied that they would happily oblige as he made way for me to give my farewells.
"Trotter, I'm glad we could meet again! Your apartment is gathering dust back in Ponyville."
"Oh, I'll return sooner than you think! Take care, chap." With that, he pulled up his Scholar's hood and cantered back into town.
I went up to each of them, one by one, kneeling down to say something different to all of them.
Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty.
"You ready for this?" I extended a fist.
"Aren't I always?" She bumped the bottom of her hoof against mine, grinning that same cocky grin.
"Don't get yourself killed out there."
"Duh! I don't want the world missing me!"
Applejack, Element of Honesty.
"Good luck, AJ." I flicked up her cowboy hat, revealing her bright green eyes, "You'll have a better chance buckin' beaks than apples where you're going."
"Well, Ah sure hope Ah I don't hafto." We locked arms for one masculine moment.
"And don't let Rainbow Dash get too cocky."
"Darn right Ah won't."
Rarity, Element of Generosity.
"It may not be the pleasantest of stays," I tried to show empathy, "but if everything turns out right, you'll be needing to look sharp when you see the King."
"Oh, I do hope so, darling!" She pulled me into a hug, pulling air-kisses on both sides of my face, "Is there anything you would like from Avia?"
"I don't think you'll get that kind of chance..."
Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter.
"How's it going, Pinkie?"
"I'm so excited I could burst!"
I thought I saw her frame expand for a moment.
"That's nice, Pinkie." I held her ecstatic face in my hands, forcing her to look me in the eyes, "Listen, if you get back home safely, you can throw a nice big party in Ponyville."
"Gee, that'd be super duper, Keithy! I-"
"But. You must promise me that you will bring all your friends back safely, understand?"
"Okie dokie lokie!"
"Pinkie Promise?"
She raised her hoof and performed the gestures, "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
Twilight, Element of Magic.
"Take care, Twilight." I stroked the unicorn's neck. "Get back home as soon as the problem solved, alright?"
"I'm sorry you can't come, Keith. But there's some things that we, as the Elements, have to do."
"I understand." I held no grudge against what she told me yesterday. How could I? Being the logical pony that she was, she was right. "You're that pony that keeps these ponies together. Don't let them down, okay?"
"I won't. I promise."
And lastly, Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness. She didn't need to tell me what she was feeling at this point. I already knew.
"How are you feeling, Flutters?" I asked softly.
"I-I'm fine. We won't be gone long and-"
"Seriously."
"I'M SCARED!" She excalimed rather quietly before throwing herself at the nearest huggable thing, namely me.
"Don't be, Shy." I comforted, "If you're brave enough to save empires and entire kingdoms, you're brave enough to do this."
"W-Why can't you coming along?"
"Yeah! Why not?" Rainbow Dash spurred, joined by the rest of the six, "You're a tough guy, you can handle yourself!"
"Yeah! Especially since you've got you-know-what."
"You know why I can't, Dash." I broke out of Fluttershy's crushing embrace, "You all know. I'm no Element of Harmony, I'm no soldier in their eyes, heck, I still barely know how to take care of my own house in Ponyville." I turned to Twilight, "Yesterday, after the meeting with Celestia, Twilight told me that there would come a time that a line had to be drawn between our friends and duties. Unfortunately, that time is now."
They seemed to understand, but a few of them didn't like it. Twilight appeared to be proud that I shared her thoughts from the day before. Perhaps I understood what she actually meant.
My round of farewells were over. Behind me, I saw the shadow of Luna's sleek dark body and mane approaching. I bowed away as she approached the six, who all bowed for her highness.
"I bid thee well, my royal subjects," she raised her head, portraying as little emotion as she could. The little emotion that she showed appeared to be a troubled ones, "Today, you not only depart as the Elements of Harmony, but representatives of our kingdom. As Ambassadors of Equestria. And on behalf of my sister, niece and I, I wish all of you the best of luck."
Next, she did something rather peculiar for her; she proceeded to place her horn gently on each of the Mane Six's shoulders. This action came off as something familiar; something Princess Celestia did to me before.
"Last call for the Iron Horse!!"
"Godspeed, my little ponies." Her tone softened as the formalities passed, "Time is of the essence, now more than ever."
"You can count on us, Princess!" Twilight was followed by a quick cheer from the rest of her friends, all of which began to file into the train. I could swear I heard Rarity express her disgust when she went in.
The Iron Horse came to life. It's engine coughed and spat from the lack of use, and the wheels groaned as it ran off its layer of built-up grime. It hissed as the front engines dual lights sprang up like eyes, and it slowly pulled itself forward like a groggy snake. The voices of the Mane Six could not battle the sounds of the locomotive, but their hooves waved through the small openings in the military carriage.
And just like that, they were gone.
I did not know when they would return, nor did I know the state of which they would return in. I merely looked down the line, hoping that their business would be over by next week. But even I knew that was an optimistic view.
I was left standing uncomfortably close the the Goddess of the Moon, who followed my gaze likewise down the tracks, which would eventually go downhill and towards the harbour. Her face held a blank expression as her mane glittered beautifully in the sunrise that looked like sunset. We shared the silence of the now much emptier station.
I had a few minutes before the regular train back to Ponyville would pull up, her majesty stood unmoving as I went to the wall to grab my only luggage. I returned to her side, following her gaze towards the rising sun.
It was then that I became aware of how Luna had once been in my position. Long ago, she had believed that she was unwanted, when in fact, she played a bigger role in the balance than she had thought. Even goddesses had to learn lessons, albeit by paying a heavy price.
With that thought in mind, I decided to try to talk to her.
"I sure hope they come back safely, you highness."
"As do I, Conway."
A pause, only to be interrupted by the ring of a bell somewhere in Canterlot.
"Your highness, did you agree with your sister's decision?"
"I beg thee pardon?"
"When she said I shouldn't go. Did you agree?"
Another pause. This time, it was the rumbling of the coming Friendship Express that filled it.
"I believe my sister makes the decisions that are best for Equestria."
I found that to be a rather evasive answer from a Princess, but I left it at that. I had a train to catch.
"All aboard the Friendship Express!"
The train hissed to a stop, producing much less noise than the previous monster of a train. A better sight too. I picked up my only bag, thinking over the items I had packed and feeling for the sword and crossbow on my back. Before I boarded, I gave the last biggest bow to the Princess of the Night.
"Thank you and your sister for having me. Thank the staff that cared for me, and thank Rook for having taught me as much as he could in such little time. It was truly an honour, you majesty." I then turned without waiting for a response and boarded the train for Ponyville.
"Conway."
I turned to this unexpected call, partly in fear of whatever she may went of me.
"Ultimately, my sister made decisions that she regretted. Nevertheless, they benefitted this kingdom for the better. It is in the same way you may make a decision which you may deem the wrong decision, but it may lead to an opportunity that makes it the better one."
Everypony had boarded. The train was just about to leave the station.
"Thank you for your advice, your highness, but there are no more decisions I have to make. What else can I do?"
At this point, the conductor urgently ushered me away from the door, slamming it shut before the Princess could respond. However, as the train pulled out of the and groaned off into the rising sun, I made out the words a smiling goddess mouthed.
Do what you think is right.