//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Memoir of the Changeling Incursion by Quill Scrivener 
// by Adorned ungulate 
//------------------------------//



Celestia's Sun glinted off the pink-purple magical dome as I glanced out the royal library windows during an idle moment. He could manage it several hours a day now. It had been a busy morning (chrysanthemum day), the duel responsibilities of wedding arrangements and wartime edicts taxed my skills. I was glad for a moments peace. 

"Scrivener, give this list to the librarian please." My princess floated a scrap of parchment. She nearly looked comical sitting at a reading table just a bit too small for her. Good thing she has a surfeit of regal poise. 

"Yes, mistress... Wouldn't Twilight Sparkle be a more appropriate research partner?"

"Mmm? Doubtless so."

A fact bubbled up to the surface. I fetched a list off the table. "Come to think of it, I haven't received a confirmation letter from Spike."

"Not surprising. We haven't invited her yet. You should be aware of that more than anypony."

"Surely her parents sent one." Was there some sort of tragic rift in her family I wasn't are of? My heart sank for her. 

"I told her family she was on an important mission and was not to be troubled until further notice."

Sputtering commenced. "My lady!"

She looked up from her spread of books. "Do you not remember the one time I had to intervene in her affairs? To break up a riot she caused because she had no topic for her weekly friendship letter? Worried sick that I'd send her back to 'magic kindergarten'? What about breaking into these very halls on some imagined crisis? Luckily we had our purple-scaled agent in place to warn us."

"But this is a family matter, her brother-"

"Yes and also a royal security matter. Can you imagine 
Miss Sparkle helping us now, her to-be betrothed brother in mortal danger from unknown and unseen foes? She'd be running around with ten different too-do lists barking like a rabid diamond dog."

I could indeed visualize her panic but still felt her absence. 

Celestia returned to her notes. "Twilight Sparkle and her legendarily paranoia has a part to play. I excel at plots spanning decades but my young protege thinks well on her hooves, under deadlines. But not just yet... Attend to my list. Now."

I gulped, knowing I had made a misstep against my morals. Duty above all.

"And Scrivener," she halted my walk of shame. "I reprieve you this once because you have daughters of your own influencing your emotions. Do not question my judgement again."

"Yes, your highness..."


The afternoon found me with Brodie for company. The ending of our practice sessions corresponded to the Trottingham concept of tea time so we made it our ritual. To my surprise he hid a curly short-cropped mane the color of slate, giving him an incongruently boyish air. Not surprising was his cutie mark matching his name, a round helmet favored amongst his people. 

"Sum'pms bothering you today." It was a statement made while studying his steaming mug. 

"I am that transparent?"

"You came in all quiet-like, sparred with more élan than ever, an now y'er spent but brooding again. I suss what's on my fellow's mind. It's what'll make me an officer one day. No out wit it."

"I questioned Celestia's judgement today. She was cross."

"Hmgh, as she has right to be."

I chuckled. "Is that supposed to be supportive?"

"Well then, what about her bein' cross bothered you, specific-like."

"Personal reasons. My family places great stress on duty."

"There you go. You've got duty all turned 'round wrong."

I squinted at him. "What do you mean?"

"Me own family serves proudly best way they know. But to me duty is what I am, not who I am. When I'm on guard I am my duty. Mere instrument of will. But then shift's over, I take me helm off." He slapped his cutie mark with the flat or his hoof. "I'm me own pony. Right now you got a crisis to deal with. Be attentive, be on duty. When this wedding's all over set it down for a while. Don't flog yourself o'er what happened. But don't forget it either. You have the princesses' trust you've got ta keep it."

"You think she still does?"

"Cor, mare. Of course she does! You're still here. We're dealin' with an enemy who either has a perfect disguise or can turn anypony's loyalty. She couldn't trust 'er own guard till we pulled our inspection trick. Had to wake me up in the middle of the night, miles away, put onto the red eye to the Capitol. She needed somepony not yet compromised an from the outside. Now she's got a silly pink magic fishbowl on the whole city. You, you were in at the start and she'll keep you to the death o'it. Because she trusts you complete. Be honored, Scrivener an honor that trust in kind. In calmer times she'll need folk like you to offer opinions, question her judgement when appropriate."

I hid a smile behind my mug. "That's a lot to think over. You are astonishingly astute for a guard."

He grunted. "What you think we do all day? Exhausted me tolerance for talking 'bout mare flank first year. Never read the great thinkers but when on point half me mind's attentive on what's 'round me and the other's thinking big thoughts."

"So, personally be dutiful but don't take it personally."

"Rather simple way to put it, yeah." He drained his last. "Speaking of, been a pleasure but must get back. See you on the morrow."

Thanks to Brodie once I left for home, finally, I was able to laugh with my daughter and husband and be fully off the clock. There was much to do tomorrow with Princess Cadence arriving. But that was tomorrow.