The way to the throne room always made Rumble feel small and insignificant.
He deadpanned.
Smaller and more insignificant then he already was.
The gray and black colt slowly made his way down the elongated hallway, the shear magnificence of the walkway lost on the contemplating colt. His mind too busy concentrating on his teacher and mentor, the Queen of Equestria, who had summoned him. Though he was busy studying hard (Or as hard as a colt burying his face within a book) he was grateful for the brake, havening been up almost all of last night. Still it was the perfect time to tell her what he had found.
After a rather detailed lesson on Equestrian History from a very overzealous pony with a hourglass cutiemark, something very, very odd caught his eye. It was a small mention, barely noticeable if one was not paying attention, yet his keen eyes had saw it.
“On the thousandth year…on a given day…The two shall return to take everything away…”
The colt let the words slip from his mouth, the oddity of the passage making him uneasy.
What did it mean by that anyway? That was way too creepy to just be some normal text book dribble. The young stallion thought to himself.
He had tried to get an audience with the princess almost all week, but due to what he has deemed long ago, ‘Rumble Luck’, he had not been able to see her.
What’s the point in being her personal student if I can’t see her whenever I want? The colt thought sourly before hanging his head down. Well…She is running a whole country after all; she can’t be everywhere at once. And with the Sunrise Celebration, coming she’s even more hectic than usual. As he spoke his anger deflated somewhat.
The brief calm boiled in to indignation as anger rose up within him againOf coarse, that doesn’t mean that the nobles had to block my way each and every time. Bucking jerks.
He couldn't help but glower as memories of the nobles, particularly one bulky, white, unicorn playboy, who seemed to have it out for him, and has stopped at nothing to make his life as depressing as possible, crept into his mind.
It wasn’t just Blueblood…No…wait…Blue “Balls”! yeah. Blue-balls. It wasn’t just Blue-balls that rubbed him the wrong way. Many of the nobles objected to him even being near the princess, let alone letting a lowly common pegasus becoming the her apprentice. Heck, most of the objections came from the stuck-up, snobby, rude unicorns that dominated the court.
He paused.
Somewhere in his mind, his contemplation had made him rethink calling Blueblood Blue-balls for some reason.
With a heavy sigh, he pushed is way forward down the beautiful hallway towards the large double doors that stood imposeingly in front of himself. With another sigh and a surge of determination, he pushed at the doors, opening one just enough for the colt to slip through.
“-Is what I purpose Queen Sparkle.” Rumble raised an eyebrow, catching the tail end of a conversation.
"That voice..." He hissed under his breath, knowing exactly who’s heavy Canterlot inflections that tone belonged to. Blueblood turned around as the click of the door opening behind him reverberated across the room, his yellow mane barely moveing as the overused hold spray did its work.
“Colt? What are you doing here?” The white stallion said, barely hiding the distain in his tone of voice as he narrowed his eyes at the approaching colt. "Can't you see that there is an important meeting going on here?"
“I invited him of coarse.” The sound of the Queen's voice rung steadfastly, yet kindly, towards Rumbles defence. Her pure lavender fur and glowing, swirling mane, sparkling gently within the light of the room as she shifted position within her throne. “I have taken what you had suggested to heart Duke Blueblood and will ponder what I will do with the information.” She looked towards Rumble, a bit of a gentle smile forming on her face. “Now if you will excuse me, I have some business I must discuss with my most faithful student.”
Duke Blueblood growled low but bowed deeply, quickly turning on his hoof to make his way out the throne room. As he passed Rumble, a look of intense annoyance crossed his features.Rumble snap of his tail after the stallion an all to smug smile apparent on his face.
“Stupid jerk…” Rumble muttered under his breath before a cough from the Qheen caused him to look her way. Her eyes were closed and her head held up high as she sat regally within the seat of her throne, golden crown resting comfortably upon the head.
“Is everypony out of the room Sir Rumble?” She would ask in a gentle but commanding tone.
For his part, Rumble looked one way, and then the other, and then upwards before smiling brightly. “Yes Queen Twilight. I do believe we are truly alone.”
The Lavender Queen instantly slumped before sighing deeply. “Geez, that pony really should get out the thing shoved up his butt. To say such things about the changelings, and openly too. We just got on good terms with them. We don’t need to start in international incident.”
Rumble frowned, the hairs on the back of his neck sticking up. “Did he say something bad about the Changeling Kingdom?” He asked.
Twilight shook her head before smiling down at her rowdy student. “Not per-say no, but like I mentioned, he is openly against them joining our nation. In fact its the same with the griffins and dear folk as well.” She paused, before her eyes widened in realization. “Wait…are you worried about the kingdom…or a certain little changeling princess?”
Rumble blushed brightly before scowling at the Princess. “It’s not like that! I mean…I…She’s just a friend. You said it yourself. Friends are the most important part thing to a pony.”
Twilight smiled innocently, her wings unfolding from behind her back. “I did indeed. You are learning your lessons quite well I see. Still... matters about your love life can wait.” She held out her hooves to the young stallion. “Your Teacher would like a hug.”
"Fine..."Rumble blushed and rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile forming on his face. He wrapped his hooves around her frame, her soft warm fur pressing against his own, the smell of lavender assaulting his seances. “It’s been quite a few weeks so I’ll give ya one. It’s not gonna become a habit ya know?”
"I'll keep that in mind." Twilight cooed as she ruffled Rumble’s mane. “And I am sorry I've been away for so long. The Zebra’s problems with the Southern Diamond Dogs lasted longer than I expected. I do hope no pony gave you a hard time.”
“Not at all my Queen.” He assured, both trying to pacify her and move remove her hoof to stop her from mussing up his mane. When he glanced up he beheld a stern look crossing Twilights features. He looked away before finally replying “Well…No more than usual…” He lamented.
Twilight shook her head. “Rumble, I told you to come to me if things happen.”
“Nothing happened though. Besides I can handle myself. If they get rough then they'll know the extent of my training first hoof.”
"Always quick to violence you are..." Twilight sighed before smiling again. “Now then, as to why you are here.” She levitated a scroll towards Rumble. “I have an important job for you my little colt. I need you to oversee the preparations of the Sun Rising Celebration that is to be held in Ponyville.”
“What!?" Rumble blanched. "Really?! Are you sure?”
“Of course I am sure." She said before clapping her hooves together happily, a rolled up scroll appearing beside her in a puff of purple magic. "This check list I made for you says so right there. Look see. 'Rumble goes to Canterlot'. I have a cart waiting to take you there in the main launching hall. And since you will be there overnight you will be staying with the town Librarian until tomorrow morning.”
Rumble blinked before looking away “No. Thats not it. I mean…Well…I-I mean…Are you sure you want me to do it?” He asked uncertainly.
“Of coarse I do.” She said proudly. “I have the upmost confidence in your abilities.”
“Mom...” Rumble said with a pout, his tone taking a more pitiful turn. “Remember the Gala two years ago?”
Twilight had pull all of her willpower to keep the flood of laughter from busting from her mouth. “Yes I do. It was the most interesting Gala I had ever intended in my entire life. I know General Pie had the most fun out of it to be sure.”
“Aside from you and Pinkie, everypony else hated me for it!” he said, throwing up his hooves.
“No. As I recall not every pony hated it.” She said tapping her chin. “Actually, now that I think about it, it was almost like you planned that party just for Princess Chrysa-“
“Well would you look at the time!!” He grabbed the scroll in his mouth and quickly made his way to the door. “A party to plan! Ponies to see! Goodbye Princess!” He called out before disappearing through the doorway, the gentle sound of Twilight's laughter following after him. As he flew down the hall way, something in the back of his mind began to itch, as if he had forgotten something important.
~
Deep within the sun and the moon, unbeknownst to all but a few, something dark began to stir.