Luna dominated the sword, only losing a spare few matches now that she was used to her armor and had practiced in it. The Joust was where she thrived the most, though. She won all but one match, and that was to a draw with a man that met each of her lances with an equal. Finally, though, the match to determine the tournament champion was Steine.
“Do well Steine, I’ll unseat you I will. If you manage to best me here then I’ll forget about last night.” Luna said to him before they went to their sides.
“You don’t scare me, Wench. I fear the Princess and the Princess alone.” The man growled as he slid down his visor and went to his side. The match started rather evenly, both of them breaking a lance on each others breastplates. One thing became certain, though. Steine was good, but he wasn’t raised to be a knight, he was just a noble with an unusually high amount of skill.
“It’s over, isn’t it?” Rarity asked when she handed Luna her next lance.
“He sits high and tall on his horse, too high. Let’s see how tall he is on the ground.” Luna replied with a smile. Steine made a mistake a lot of Knights made and tried to find a blind spot on her left side. She rolled her shoulder and deflected his lance, her planting into the dead center of his helmet. The angled visor cause the blunted tip to slide down, but it caught on the collar of his armor and shattered against his neck. He went limp and blood sprayed slightly from the visor, but before anyone could freak out he ripped the thing off and spat blood, it was from his mouth and not his neck. He sort of slid off of his saddle and hit the ground, gasping for air.
“Is...he ok?” Fluttershy asked.
“Winded, it would have taken a stronger hit to do any real damage.” Luna said.
“How many have you unseated now, Sir Rose?” Celestia called from her place in the stands.
“That makes two, four if you count the last one.” Luna replied, pulling her arming cap off and loosening her breastplate as he climbed off of Brynhildur.
“Then where are the five horses you’ve won?” The Princess asked, now walking down the stairs of the stands towards her.
“I sell them back to their owners for a small price, I have no need for more horses and I don’t want to ruin most knights. I don’t even want Steine’s even to sell back, let him keep it.” Luna answered, sighing in relief as Rarity pulled the breastplate off and she slumped a little. “One of the previous blows bent something slightly and it became hard to breathe. I trust you’ll figure it out.” She continued to Rarity. Rarity looked at the thing and tossed it to Spike, who immediately started looking it over, and proceeded to start loosening the greaves.
“So, my Champion. Shall we prepare for Banquet?” Twilight ask, following directly behind Celestia.
“I need to bathe and get some mead in me first, but yes I do think we shall.” Luna replied, smiling and catching the girl around the waist as she walked over.
“I’ve made a matching pair of outfits for the two of you, I assume they’ll fit you quite nicely. They’re in your tent Darling.” Rarity started. “We’ll get your armor fixed up and then the rest of us are going to a little soiree we and the teams of some of the more sporting knights are putting together. Don’t expect to leave in the morning, the drink is going to flow freely.” She continued.
“I planned to stay an extra day or two anyways, enjoy a new town. Shall we then, Love?” Luna said. Twilight nodded and they started walking.
“I must make my leave of Trottingham, I’ll take this time now to say my farewells.” Celestia said, stopping them quickly. Twilight hugged her and she clasped Luna’s hand. “I won’t be able to attend the rest of the preliminaries as I need to be in Canterlot preparing and being busy for the actual thing on top of my normal duties I’ve been taking a break from. I’ll look into your Father and your family, but I expect I won’t have many answers for a long while as I will be quite busy.” She explained.
“I got a length of leave from the academy so I can travel with you for the rest of the preliminaries. You know when we finally get to Canterlot I’ll be knocking on your chambers the second I get there, I’ll bring Luna along as well I suppose.” Twilight said, finishing with a little grin.
“I expect nothing less. Farewell.” Celestia said. They all nodded to each other and the Princess turned towards the stadium’s exit and left.
---
“What’s the matter?” Twilight asked as the two of them relaxed in a hot spring to bathe, just outside of the city. The rest of the team, even Spike, had joined them and they were all enjoying the peace and quiet after the hectic day. Luna looked conflicted, though.
“There’s something I have to tell you, something I’ve known since I was young. I’m glad we’re all here, it means I only have to say it once.” She said after a moment. They all gave her their attention.
“I had no idea my father was Vincent Rose, I thought he was merely my guardian. What I do know ,and have known, is who my mother was.” Luna started. They all gave her interested looks, Twilight looking happy.
“Do you know if she’s still alive?” Twilight asked.
“She isn’t, I must ask all of you to promise me this secret stays secret and does not leave here. It’s the reason I have this scar and was sent away with my Father…” Luna said. Everyone gained a more serious look.
“We promise on our lives.” They all agreed.
“The king died almost directly after the contraception of Princess Celestia. When she was born the Queen’s grief lifted, and not long after she had another lover…” Luna started. Everyone’s faces registered surprise. “That lover was my father, I am the Queen’s second born.” She finished. They all stared at her. Twilight was the first to speak.
“Are… Are you sure?” She asked. Luna nodded.
“The seers saw Darkness in me on my birth, and according to my father mistook it for evil. They were afraid that when we were grown I would incite civil war, though they foresaw nothing. They tried to kill me with a poison that burns the flesh, and my mother tasked my father with my safety and gave us safe passage to the borders for my protection. I still don’t know my crest, but I know my family.” Luna explained.
“The moon, with her shroud of darkness, will come and take her place on the throne…” Twilight said lowly.
“Even Zecora thought that was shite… Even if you are the Queen’s Daughter, you don’t want the throne do you?” Rarity asked. Twilight and Luna locked eyes for a moment.
“Of course not, far too boring and too much work.” She said, trying to diffuse the situation. They all chuckled lightly, even Twilight smiled, but she still kept her gaze. She wanted something more.
“I wouldn’t dream of dethroning Celestia, I like her. She’s my sister, and even if I had stayed to become Princess as well I would rather share a throne than run things all by my lonesome.” Luna said. The spring became silent save for the sound of the running water, Spike was the one who finally broke it.
“Maybe they misinterpreted the prediction, it happens all the time. They make assumptions based on what they see all the time and make half-assed prophecies. I think Luna is obviously the one it’s about, but you don’t want the throne and I trust you were telling the truth. We’ll have to ask Zecora, I hear she’s in Trottingham right now for some special materials she can’t get in the Everfree.” The Draconian suggested.
“I would very much like to speak to her.” Luna said. They all seemed to loosen up then. Twilight leaned on her shoulder.
“Well, Celestia’s sister or not I still love you and as long as you mean her no ill will I don’t see why anything should change.” The girl said. Luna grinned wide and pulled her close, only to be surprised when the whole group came in for a group hug.
“We didn’t become friends with no Princess named Luna, we made friends with the Knight.” Applejack said. They all agreed and Luna could have died happy there.
“Well I’ve gotta go get ready, winner of the bow needs to be at Banquet. You should all get ready too, Dash you should get Tank looking as best he can too.” Spitfire said, climbing out of the warm pool.
“I suppose I should go and finish tending to your armor after getting that dent out.” Spike said.
“We’ll help.” Rarity said as she, Spike and Belle climbed out as well.
“I’ll go and make sure all of the horses are doing ok.” Fluttershy said, already out.
“I got invited to help make dessert for the banquet, gotta run!” Pinkie exclaimed, practically bouncing out of the water.
“We should probably go get ready too, I have a feeling Rarity tried extra hard for the outfits she made this time.” Twilight said.
Turns out she really did, it played to Luna’s position as the knight very well. Luna never thought a Tunic and Trousers could be made to look so elegant. It fit her form, and showed it off just a little bit, perfectly and it was incredibly comfortable. They went well with her gauntlets as well, as she still loved wearing them normally. They were a sort of midnight black, not quite pitch black but nearly there with a bit of grey mixed in. Twilight’s gown was even more elegant and more of a Twilight black, quite fitting.
“Good evening, Lady and Knight. I’ve heard you have been seeking my company.” A heavily accented voice said from behind them a little ways through the feast. They turned to see a woman in slightly rugged gowns, it was Zecora.
“Zecora, good to see you. We actually have something we need to discuss in private, if you don’t mind.” Twilight said. Zecora made an ‘after you’ motion and they excused themselves from the table and found an empty room.
“What is it you wish to ask, my friends?” She asked.
“It’s about the prophecy you told us about.” Twilight replied. Zecora gave them a knowing glance. She looked at Luna and looked her over for a moment before speaking.
“It is tem jumping to conclusions, it always has been. It’s why I rarely attend the Seers’ Court. The vision was of a figure with the symbol of a moon shrouded in darkness standing behind the throne. I felt no malice in the moon-clad figure, and there was a blazing light coming from the throne. I am just an attendee, though, I have no say in interpreting the visions into prophecies.” Zecora explained.
“The spot behind the throne like you describe is the spot the Queen’s Hand stood. Solaire’s was your Father, Luna. Celestia doesn’t have one.” Twilight said.
“I would definitely like to serve as Celestia’s best Knight over taking the throne any day.” Luna agreed.
“So your name is Luna. I felt your presence as the one in the vision when you first entered Ponyville, though this is the first time we meet. I am glad to have done so, especially if it helps.” Zecora said, offering a hand. They shook hands and nodded to each other.
“You have been a great help, Zecora, thank you.” Twilight said. The Alchemist nodded and left without a word, closing the door behind her.
“I’m glad I decided to take it to you instead of letting you all find out through Celestia when she finds out. I’d tell her too, but a message would be intercepted by a Seer most definitely.” Luna said.
“Celestia never paid much mind to the prophecies, she made her own presumptions with their visions. When she does find out, I’ll stand by your side.” Twilight said. Luna smiled and kissed her, earning a tiny giggle, before they rejoined the feast.