//------------------------------// // Absolution // Story: Buck Nothing // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// As Guard Lower Class Buck Withers stepped onto the brightly-lit stage ("talk about your symbolism", he thought to himself), he felt a surprising confidence and a fire within him - though not the same fire that had propelled his revenge. That fire had been extinguished forever, but Buck found it had been replaced by something that could drive him forward as much. As he walks, he gives meek looks in the direction of Princess Celestia, Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, and the celebrity Terry Broadshanks. Buck turns to the podium, forehooves up and the speech papers put in place, and clears his throat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The array of celebrity and athletic figures before Buck was stunning, and he felt the nerves beginning to strike again. They were all waiting to hear what he had to say, supposedly on Terry Broadshank. At the moment of truth, Buck felt the newly-ignited fire within helping push back the nerves, and slowly he begins his speech: "Hello to... to you all gathered here tonight to celebrate the lifetime achievements of Terry Broadshank. His career in professional polo is... one of the greatest in the modern history of the sport and certainly worthy of celebration and awards. That's... that's not the main reason I'm speaking tonight though." At this point, the crowd in front of him - as well as Shining Armor and Terry Broadshanks to his left - exchange confused glances across tables. It seems only Princess Celestia is unfazed, although nopony could tell whether it was from her centuries of practice or one of her many complex plans unfolding as she hoped it would... "I was... instructed to speak about another stallion instead." Buck continues. "I won't say his name, but you may already know who he is. He is a far better stallion than I will ever be, and if anypony thinks I will be a willing instrument in the slander of a good stallion's name then they can go buck themselves! I am Buck Withers, Guard Lower Class, member of service of Equestrian Royal Guard, and I am not a traitor to the Kingdom of Equestria!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A short speech, but very much to the point it was trying to make. The puzzlement among the crowd continues over what to make of it exactly, until a single regular pattern of stomping of forehooves breaks through the confused buzz. All eyes, including Buck's, turn in amazement to see it is Terry Broadshanks himself giving the clapping equivalent as a grin lights up his face! After a moment of silence, both Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee stand up and join in the stomping beat. This produces a cascade until the hall itself rumbles with the equivalent of a standing ovation for Buck Withers. All the Guard Lower Class can do is stare in stunned silence at the audience in front of him as the stomping continues for a good number of seconds. The only ones not joining in are Princess Celestia, who seems content to observe the scene with a satisfied smile, and a very confused Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, who notices two pegasi in the very back of the hall try to slip out in the midst of the rumbling din. The door guards block their way, the pegasi try to force their way past the door guards, and a scuffle starts that ends up going out of sight of Shining's view on the stage. "Excuse me, Your Majesty." Shining whispers into Celestia's ear as he turns to slip out backstage to see what was going on. Once out of sight, he runs into... "Captain?! What...?" Shining exclaims in surprise at seeing who's in front of him. "Shh!" Captain Gibraltar replies, having apparently arrived backstage after Buck had went on. "Something was planned, and I think Buck was supposed to be in the center of it. You saw the two pegasi at the very back of the hall try to bail?" "Yes sir." Shining Armor replies. "We're trying to get them under control now. As soon as we can get some more information out of them, we'll figure out what exactly they were up to and how Buck figured into all this. Celestia can take care of the rest herself, you come with me." "Yes sir." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Five or six minutes pass. The award ceremony continues as planned with Celestia and Terry Broadshank alone. Buck Withers has returned backstage alone, wondering exactly what he had done on that stage and where "Magnum" was - Buck hadn't even seen him come backstage after finishing his speech! Because the ceremony was still going on, there wasn't much Buck could do beside sit and puzzle out what had happened. That changes when he hears barked orders coming from the entry into the backstage. Although not specifically addressed to him, it's enough to bolt him back up on his hooves and standing at attention. He also hears the sounds of something heavy being dragged through the hallways. Buck snaps into a salute out of reflex as Captain Gibraltar and Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor enter the backstage area side-by-side, moving at a doubletime march and stopping, still side-by-side, in front of the too-obviously unnerved earth pony stallion. "It's good to see you haven't left, Lower Class. There's some ponies I need you to identify for me." Captain Gibraltar comments, leaving Buck more uneasy than before. "Bring in the prisoners!" Shining Armor shouts after turning to look backwards, indicating an order meant for some guards that are currently out of Buck's sight. The two senior officers part away, and Buck sees two Guard Upper Class bat ponies enter the backstage area, each one dragging a captive pegasus stallion. The pegasi in question had had their legs tied together as well as their wings tied down to their bodies, which also meant they were suffering the extra indignity of being dragged on their backs. Both pegasi gave Buck looks that could've killed, if looks actually could do that for real. "Do you know about these pegasi?" the Captain bluntly asks Buck, gesturing to the captive pegasi as he speaks. "Yes sir, but with all due respect I don't understand how you knew about what was going on." Buck replies, confusion in his tone. "Lieutenant Stratocumulus informed me." the Captain begins in replied explanation. "When he saw your name as a speaker for the event, he informed me that the Agents of Chaos might've been planning a strike that night. I don't know how he knew about the connection between you and the Lieutenant Captain to make that guess, but against an enemy like them one can't be too careful. Thanks to the extra guards I told the Lieutenant Captain to post, their little plot never stood a chance." "I... see, sir." Buck replies, blinking as he wonders what is going to happen to him now. "A nasty thing it was too! We found these pictures in a saddlebag one of the pegasi was carrying." the Captain continues, using his magic to pull out of his own saddlebag a series of instant-development photos (ala "Polaroids" in the human world) showing both Shining Armor and Princess Luna, both of them wearing clothing in an attempt to disguise their appearance, at some kind of nightclub. "For the record, it should be stated that what is shown in those photos was from a trip previously approved by Princess Celestia and I was simply to help keep Princess Luna from doing something she shouldn't have done, such as have a few too many drinks. There was nothing more or less about it, and photos are not supposed to be permitted inside the club." Shining Armor interjects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "And getting that on the record is very important. These are now evidence in a criminal investigation as is the speech you were given and need to be retained by myself until further notice." Captain Gibraltar continues as the batponies, apparently acting on previously given orders, drag the captive pegasi out of the backstage area. "Oh, yes sir, here..." Buck numbly states as he pulls out the speech he was supposed to have given and holds it out for Captain Gibraltar to take, which is done by his unicorn magic. "Thank you. The only real question I had was whether you would cooperate or not and whether I would have to arrest and court-martial you too." the Captain replies in a casual tone as he stows the papers in his saddlebag. The Captain breaks into a smile before continuing, magically pulling a gleaming rank bar out of the saddlebag: "Instead I have something better for you. Congratulations, you've officially been promoted to Guard Upper Class serving in the Canterlot Luna Shift, effective immediately." Buck Withers can only watch in silent astonishment as a proud Captain Gibraltar magically pins the rank bar above the single one Buck is already wearing, indicating the promotion from the single bar Lower Class rank to the double bar Upper Class rank. Shining Armor lets out a smirk at Buck's astonishment - for one of the few times in his life, Buck Withers is absolutely speechless. "Sir, I'm... I'm not sure what to say right now." Buck finally manages to get out, his face showing his overwhelmed feelings at the moment. "You don't need to say anything, Buck. You've proven tonight you've turned a major corner in your life since our days together in Canterlot Academy. And for that, I salute you." Shining Armor replies, giving a salute in Buck's direction as he speaks. "Canterlot Academy... a concerned classmate..." Buck Withers says quietly as he looks back at Shining Armor saluting him, and the shy smile that spreads across Shining's face when he hears those words tells Buck everything he needs to know - his previous revelation was actually true! "But sir... why? After all I did to you and your friends, not to mention Princess Cadance..." Buck continues as confusion and more than a little shame sweep over his expression, causing a break in eye contact and Buck to look awkwardly down at his shod forehooves. "I think you would benefit greatly from a little heart-to-heart conversation with Princess Luna." Shining answers with a broader smile. "I agree with the Lieutenant Captain. You should have a talk with her." adds in a regal female voice that comes from behind where Buck is standing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Captain Gibraltar and Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor can see the speaker of the last words, but now-Guard Upper Class Buck Withers cannot, so naturally he turns around to see who is speaking... "Your Majesty always knows how to make a good entrance." Captain Gibraltar states as Princess Celestia walks in the expected stately manner into the backstage area. Buck fully turns around and backs away in the direction of his senior officers, whatever good feelings he had had now being replaced with dread of confronting Princess Celestia again. Gibraltar and Shining Armor give bowed heads as Celestia stands before them, but Buck Withers drops into full prostration - not only unnecessary but awkward in the full Guard armor he is wearing. Celestia doesn't comment, but simply looks down, waiting for what Buck is going to do or say next. "Your Majesty, I have not been a good Equestrian or a good member of your Royal Guard." Buck begins confessing, mostly because he figures if he doesn't say it now he won't get another good chance to say it in the future. "I have been disrespectful of the status of the alicorns as princesses over Equestria. I have harbored resentment and desires for revenge against a much better stallion than I am or will be. I considered the offers of traitors and those seeking to unleash chaos. I have sinned greatly, and the only thing I can do is beg Your Majesty for forgiveness." Celestia just smiles as she gives her reply: "As the Lieutenant Captain has already said, you've proven you have changed from the old days. As is the case with my own sister, who had committed far greater crimes against me than you could ever do, your repentance is additional proof of this change. And as with her, I will hold those crimes against you no more. Instead, I want you to prove to me you are worthy of the rank and armor you wear." "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty." Buck quietly replies as he rises from his prostration. Everypony around him can see his face with a few tears of joyous relief trickling down it. Guard Upper Class Buck Withers is free and delivered from his past jerk jock self, and he can feel both the freedom and release of social tension inside him. For the first time since arriving in Canterlot, he dares to smile. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A FEW MINUTES LATER... Except for Buck Withers, the backstage area is vacant. Outside, the quiet sounds of the award dinner winding down, guests getting ready to leave and engaging in speculative chatter about the events of the night. Buck has the picture "Magnum" gave him previously out again, studying it in puzzlement. "What's that you got there?" Buck hears Shining Armor's voice ask from beside him as Shining enters the backstage area again. "Oh, pardon sir, I was given this picture by the other speaker tonight, but I have no idea where he went..." Buck replies, looking over at Shining briefly before returning his gaze to the picture. "Magnum? He told me he had to leave right after he gave his speech in order to catch the overnight train out of Canterlot." Shining Armor begins to explain. "You were so nervous you must not have seen him leave. I'm sure he would've been proud of what you did, though." "I still don't understand why he gave me this picture, sir. There's something familiar about it, but I can't place what it is..." Buck says as he continues his puzzled study of the photograph. "You mean the little filly with the curls like Cadance's?" Shining asks. "No, the older one with the deep purple mane. I've seen her before, somewhere, but I can't remember where..." Buck answers, trailing off in his confusion. "Magnum gave me a different copy of the same picture and I recognized the filly too." Shining comments, magically pulling out a photograph from inside his armor to let Buck see. "You probably wondered why an oddly-dressed hoofball coach was asked by Princess Celestia to speak at this event, and that filly is one of the reasons why." Shining pauses for a moment to be sure he has Buck's full attention before continuing on: "You probably have seen that filly in some news dispatch somewhere. Her name is Rarity, she's one of my sister's new friends in Ponyville. She became the new bearer of the Element of Generosity. She helped my sister save Princess Luna." "So Magnum is...?" Buck asks, his eyes briefly going wide in shock. "Rarity's father. That's why he wanted you to have this." Shining finishes, a confident and sincere smile forming on his face. "Princess Celestia does not do these things without reason. Fathers can have more of an impact on us, the younger generation, than we often realize. And it doesn't have to be the stallion you grew up calling your father - it can be any father of a foal." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buck blinks in silence for a moment, then it "clicks" in his mind. Magnum had modeled and instilled generosity in his own filly, the same virtue that had helped in the salvation of Princess Luna. Celestia had wanted him there to let his virtue, reflective of the magic of friendship, help negate the bad example of Buck's own father and the other influences that would otherwise have led him down a very dark and scary path. There were ponies that had his back the whole time, and he never realized it up into that point! "I can see it in your eyes, you understand now." Shining Armor speaks again, the smile remaining on his face. "Your father never modeled the magic of friendship like mine did for me and my sister, or Magnum did for Rarity. You grew up in darkness - that was not something any of us could've understood at the time." "I think you're right, sir." Buck quietly replies. "Nopony knew about what my father was doing behind everypony's back until I entered university. What's the saying... 'A planted appleseed can only grow apples'?" "Exactly. But we're not trees condemned to produce one kind of fruit for the rest of our lives. We can change with help from others, for better or worse." "Yeah... yeah, you're right sir!" Buck exclaims, daring to smile again. Once shackled by his desire for revenge, he now was walking a free stallion. "I think you've got it now, Buck. Anyway, you'd better report to the Lieutenant, your exemption is going to end in a few minutes!" Shining cheerfully chides. "Yes sir! Thank you sir!" Buck exclaims again with a salute, afterward briskly turning around and exiting the backstage area. Shining Armor simply watches him leave, not able to keep the grin off his face. The friendship magic was thick in the air, and he knew it had won another victory...