“Looking good, Shadow,” Shade said approvingly, “Just a few more pointers: The straps of your breastplate are a bit tight, it's generally frowned upon to pick your nose with your spear, and when I said that you should salute with your right hoof, I meant your front right hoof. That looked quite impressive though, didn't know you were that flexible.”
Shadow was still fiddling about with the unfamiliar gear to try and make the armor fit more comfortably. “I don't know if being a soldier is something you can absorb through a crash course. Do you really think this is a good idea, Shade?”
“Oh, it's not. It's a horrible idea,” Shade said bluntly, “But you've been getting service pay for almost a year now. That means you have to be a member of the Night Guard, otherwise both of us are frauds, and we are going to get very closely acquainted with a cushy little dungeon cell. You could say that I'm retroactively making honest ponies out of us.” She straightened his helmet and smirked at him. “Besides, I sincerely doubt that this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.”
Shadow suddenly seemed rather downcast and looked away from her. “Shade, I'm really sorry I messed up so badly. I didn't mean to get you and the others into trouble.”
“I know, Shadow,” said Shade, “I'm sorry too, about being so short with you. And the bit where I almost drowned you, that was slightly over the line. Now, I'm not saying you didn't mess up, because boy, did you ever, but it's not like we would have passed with flying colors if that hadn't happened.” She rapped her hoof against his helmet and grinned. “Buck up, soldier. During inspection, you're supposed to look angry, not gloomy.” Shadow nodded eagerly, and began to scowl at the empty air in front of him. “Atta boy.”
Shade walked down the row of bat ponies that had gathered on the small clearing in front of the palace doors. Despite having, in some cases, not worn it for years, the members of the Night Guard had donned their armor with speed and precision, and at first glance, their posture was the very picture of stoic discipline. But to Swift Shade's trained eye, it was obvious that there was much to improve on. A hoof that was slightly out of line, a pauldron that was a little bit askew, or a greave that had not been polished properly. Small things by themselves, and most of them were fixed easily enough on the spot, but it still told her that the Guard would need some time to get back into its old form.
When Shade reached Starlit Sky, she gave the medic a questioning look. Like all the others, Sky sat very straight, with her spear resting lightly on her right shoulder, but unlike the others, she had a very conspicuous black eye that Shade did not remember from earlier.
“Whatcha got there, Sky?” Shade asked and pointed at the bruised area.
“Nothing much. Little lovers quarrel, so to speak,” Sky said.
Shade's eyes went wide with surprise, and she let out a quick snort. “That skinny little chick gave you a shiner? What for?”
The topic seemed to make Starlit Sky very uncomfortable. “Well, after the meeting earlier, I just wanted to clear the air with her. Talk for a bit, make sure she has a place to stay, that sort of thing. I caught her trying to take some 'souvenirs' from the palace. Didn't really feel like talking anymore after that, and she wasn't too thrilled about being thrown out on her butt.”
Shade grinned. “I guess she looks a lot worse then?”
“Nah, I didn't hit her,” said Sky, “What would that have proven? She’s a civvy, Shade, of course I could have stomped her if I wanted to, but...” Sky paused, and after a brief moment of silence, she shrugged. “Just wouldn't have felt right.”
Swift Shade stopped grinning and reached out to put a hoof on Sky's shoulder. “Look, Sky, I'm sorry things ended like that.”
“No, you're not,” Sky said with a chuckle, “You hated her.”
“I absolutely did, and I think you're well rid of her,” Shade confirmed, “But you are my friend, and she was important to you. So when I say that I'm sorry, I really mean it.”
Sky smiled at her. “Honestly, this has been a long time coming. The timing sucks, but I guess it always does with these things.”
Shade leaned closer to give Sky a brief hug. “If there's anything you need, just ask.”
“That's sweet of you,” Sky said as she returned the hug, “But my rebound relationships never last long, and I'm happy with the way things are between us now.”
Shade laughed. “Aww, darn. Here I thought this was my chance to play a friendly match for the home team to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Hey, don't cop out now! Just kiss already!” someone called to Shade's right.
“Do wing-ups until I say you can stop, Shadow,” Shade deadpanned without looking in the speaker's direction.
“Yes, ma'am,” came the stallion's meek response, quickly followed by the quiet clanking of armor and a continuing stream of strained groans and huffs.
“Seriously, thank you, Shade,” Sky said, “But I'll be fine. Let's worry about getting this thing here over with, I'll have plenty of time to mope later.”
Shade nodded, and after one last reassuring pat on Sky's shoulder, she quickly finished up her inspection of the remaining soldiers, then joined Dusk Chaser, who stood in front of the row of ponies with his back turned, staring towards the horizon. Shade checked the position of the sun. It was almost time.
“Anything yet?” she asked Dusk.
He shook his head. ”No, but shouldn't be long now.”
They sat next to each other in the grass for a minute or two, until Shade saw a faint golden glimmer just above the canopy of the surrounding forest that quickly refined itself into the distinct shape of a pegasus-drawn chariot.
“Here goes nothing,” Shade mumbled, and then rose to her hooves and called a quick command to the others. “Attention!” She heard metallic clatter and the clanging of armored heels snapping together behind her.
As the chariot drew closer, and several armored figures flanking it on both sides became visible, Shade turned her head slightly towards Dusk Chaser. “Hey, Dusk. Just a quick question, were you serious about the thing with the broom closet?”
Dusk smirked and continued to stare straight ahead. “You’d better believe it.”
Once the chariot had come close enough that the ponies standing on the ground could see its occupants, Dusk and Shade glanced at each other in confusion, but remained standing in their rigid military posture. Just a short while later, the opulent chariot and its pegasus escort landed on the ground before them, and the two ponies that had traveled in it stepped down on the grass.
The smaller one was a unicorn stallion with a white coat and a blue mane and tail, wearing the armor of a captain of the Royal Guard. The second pony was an very tall and slender alicorn with a pristine white coat, and a cutie mark in the shape of a shining sun. Her mane and tail were a long, flowing mass of multicolored hair, with several broad streaks in various shades of blue, green, and pink. It also seemed to be in constant motion, as if moved by a gentle breeze nopony else could feel.
Dusk and Shade kneeled respectfully when the Princess of the Sun approached them. “Your Royal Highness,” Shade said. “The Night Guard is deeply honored by your presence.”
Princess Celestia gifted her with a kind smile and inclined her head slightly towards her. “Captain Swift Shade, I presume?” Still smiling, she then looked at Dusk and repeated the small gesture. “And you must be Lieutenant Dusk Chaser. Thank you for welcoming me here, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She nodded her head towards the unicorn standing at her side. “This is Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard in Canterlot.” The stallion greeted Dusk with a nod and Shade with a salute, and both of them saluted him in turn.
This was the first time Swift Shade had seen Princess Celestia in the flesh, and she was not really what Shade had expected. Her demeanor was certainly regal, but also a lot more cordial than Shade would have guessed. However, being this close to her was a somewhat odd sensation. Far from unpleasant, but still odd. Even though it was late afternoon and they were all standing in the shadow of the mountain, Shade felt comfortably warm, like the sun was shining on her coat, and while every movement Celestia made was very graceful and calm, Shade felt a subtle, but constant stirring of energy around the alicorn.
Shade jumped when she was hit by the realization that she had been blatantly staring at Celestia for several seconds, and quickly scrambled for something to say so she could fill the awkward silence. “Forgive my boldness, your Highness, but I was under the impression that Princess Luna would be with you.”
“Oh, there is no reason to be concerned,” Celestia said, “My sister will be joining us soon. However, it has been a very long time since I was last here. So while we wait, would you be kind enough to give me a brief tour of the palace, Captain Swift Shade?”
Shade could feel her heart starting to beat faster, and she suddenly felt cold, despite the pleasant warmth that seemed to radiate off Celestia. “Of course, your Highness,” she said, hoping that the princess wouldn't notice the slight tremble in her voice, and gestured towards the open palace doors. “If you would follow me.”
Shade was extremely nervous, but apart from that, she didn't know how she should feel. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on where Celestia and Luna respectively ranked on the ‘draconian punishment’ scale of rulership. Maybe Celestia would be just a bit more merciful, and could later be a calming influence on her sister. At this moment, Shade regretted never having paid close attention in history class back in school. Whether or not things like drawing and quartering had been an integral part of the Equestrian legal system a thousand or so years ago suddenly seemed like very relevant information.
If Celestia sensed Shade's nervousness, she certainly didn't let it show. “Thank you. I will try not to take up too much of your time,” she said, her tone still as amiable as before.
“I'll be back shortly, lieutenant,” Shade said to Dusk, and he responded with a quick salute. When Shade walked past the row of bat ponies towards the entrance of the palace, she noticed that Shadow Charger was still busy doing wing-ups. She stopped in front of him, and for a few moments, all she did was stare at him flabbergasted.
Chasm Diver, the stallion standing next to Shadow, was trying very hard not to burst out laughing. “You didn't tell him to stop, Sha... ma'am.”
Shade looked at him, then back at Shadow. “Huh. I have to admit, I'm impressed. Still got a few more in you, Shadow?”
Shadow was wheezing like a tea kettle, and his eyes seemed ready to pop out of his skull. “No.”
“Well then,” Shade said, and for a short while, pity and morbid curiosity about how far he would take this wrestled for supremacy inside her head. Curiosity won by a large margin. “Carry on.”
Shade noticed Celestia giving her an inquisitive look. “Disciplinary action,” she answered the unspoken question.
Shining Armor shot a glance towards the panting Shadow and whistled. “Seems like you run a tight ship here.”
Swift Shade sighed. “You might want to suspend your judgment on that.”
* * *
Celestia remained perfectly calm and poised when she walked into the ballroom, but Shining Armor grimaced and raised a hoof to his nose. The hall had been cleared out, and there was actually not a single piece of trash or clutter remaining in it, but the floor was still pretty filthy in places, and the smell was anything but pleasant.
“What exactly happened here?” Celestia asked, and winced when a few of her tail hairs stuck to the floor and were pulled out when she walked on.
“Lots of things,” Shade said, “We used this room for... recreational purposes, and I'm afraid it will take some time to clean it up properly. I am very sorry, your Highness.”
By now, Princess Celestia had strolled up to the stereo system. “I really don't remember this being here.”
Before Shade could do anything to stop her, Celestia's horn flashed with golden light, and the speakers picked up the song exactly where they had paused it yesterday. For what had to be no less than half a minute, Celestia simply stood in front of the device, her expression unreadable, while the heavy rhythm literally sent ripples through her mane. Then her horn flashed again, and the music subsided.
“How disappointing,” Celestia said as she turned around and started walking towards the door. Shining Armor followed, and Swift Shade hurried after them.
“I understand, your Highness,” Shade said quietly.
“Well, I suppose there is no accounting for taste,” said Celestia, “Personally, I think Ms. Scratch's earlier works show promise, but are still somewhat underwhelming. She really needed a few years to fully grow into her own style.”
Shade abruptly stopped, and she felt as if she had just walked into a brick wall. Then she jumped and flapped her wings to quickly catch up with Celestia and Shining Armor.
“Uhh... we do have her recent records as well,” she said.
Celestia nodded. “I see. Perhaps there is hope for you yet.”
* * *
Swift Shade and Celestia flew just under the ceiling of the flooded hallway, occasionally swaying left or right to dodge a chandelier. Shade was feeling a little bad for Shining Armor, who had to wade through the dirty water instead. In addition, he was still a little dusty from when one of the damaged chandeliers had decided the doubtful look Shining Armor had given it was more than it could handle, and almost crashed on his head in retaliation.
“I have a question, if I may?” said Celestia.
Shade bit her lower lip. “It's about the water, isn't it?”
For a brief moment, she thought that she could see the slightest hint of an amused smirk tug at the corners of Celestia's mouth. “However did you guess?”
“Gut feeling. Would you believe me if I told you that we were trying to set up a permanent sea pony embassy?” Shade asked.
That actually drew a little chuckle from the princess. “Would you expect me to?”
“Not really, no,” Shade admitted, “Seeing how you are the ruler of our nation, it would actually scare me a bit if you were that gullible. The sad thing is, it's actually not a whole lot dumber than the real reason...”
* * *
Shining Armor and Celestia were sitting in the music room and exchanged worried looks with each other.
“Are you quite sure you don't need assistance, Swift Shade?” Celestia asked insistently.
Swift Shade unclenched her jaw from around the leg of the giant spider she was wrestling with, and spat out a mouthful of yellow ichor before she answered. “It's all right, your Highness. I got this.” Being able to move around more freely now, the spider thrashed and jumped to try and throw Swift Shade off its back, and Shade used her wings to slap at its eyes and disorient it. “I thought we had cleared these guys out, but this one must have hidden somewhere. Don't worry though, it's as good as gone.” Then she quickly found another weak spot in the beast's carapace that she could sink her teeth in, and started stomping on its head with both her hind legs.
Celestia reacted with a somewhat tentative nod. “If you say so.”
* * *
The only sounds in the giant bathroom were the bubbling of the pools and the babble of the artificial waterfall. Shining Armor, Princess Celestia and Swift Shade were sitting in one of the larger tubs, and it seemed like none of them really knew what kind of talk was appropriate in this situation. Their various articles of clothing were lying on the edge of the pool, except for Celestia's crown, which was still resting on her head. Shade was stirring the water in front of her with a hoof, staring very intently at the swirls it created. Celestia feinted interest in one of the nearby marble statues, and Shining Armor was just sitting in the water with his eyes fixed on the opposing wall, looking exceedingly uncomfortable.
“This is very nice,” Celestia said after what seemed like an eternity. The silence that followed this short sentence was even more awkward than the one that had preceded it. Finally, the princess asked Shade the question that had been hanging in the air for a while. “Now, as pleasant as this may be, I still would like to know: Why exactly did you insist we do this?”
“Two reasons,” Shade said, “First, after what you've seen in here, I thought it would be best to end the tour like this. I have a theory that nopony can stay mad about anything after sitting in this tub for a few minutes. Second, even if my theory turns out to be wrong, and you throw me in the deepest, darkest dungeon you can find, I wanted to have at least one more go at this thing.”
“Ah, I see,” said Celestia. Like before, her tone was calm and pleasant and didn't give away anything about what she thought. “Now, I am not saying that it is or isn't so, but if I had decided that you should be punished, do you really think this would be enough to placate me?”
Shade's shoulders slumped, and she sunk deeper into the water until everything below her nostrils was submerged. She looked up at Celestia for a few seconds, and then raised her head a little higher above the surface so she could speak. “Uh... hey, you should totally try spreading your wings, your Highness.”
Celestia let out a little sigh that could have meant a thousand different things, but, maybe because she was feeling generous, she still followed Shade's suggestion. For about two seconds, the princess lost control of her carefully guarded facial expression, her mouth dropping slightly open, and her pink eyes going wide with astonishment.
The Princess of the Sun cleared her throat. “Shining Armor? Would you be kind enough to remind me to dig up the construction plans for this place? I think they should still be buried in the archives somewhere.”
Shining armor nodded. “I'll make a note of that, your Highness,” he said tersely.
* * *
“Stars Above, I don't believe this,” Swift Shade mumbled when she walked out of the palace and saw Shadow Charger still in the process of doing wing-ups.
“Thank you very much for the tour, Swift Shade,” Celestia said when she stepped through the doors behind her. Then the princess turned her head and looked towards the horizon. “And we finished just in time. Luna will be here shortly.”
Shade followed Celestia's gaze, but she could not see anything that would have hinted at the imminent arrival of the Princess of the Night. On the other hoof, given how little she actually knew about the exact nature of Celestia's capabilities, that didn't really have to mean anything.
”I imagine you want to speak a few words with your subordinates,” Celestia said, “This is an important moment for the Night Guard. A lot of things are about to change for all of you.” Then she slowly walked away with Shining Armor and sat down next to her chariot.
Perhaps Swift Shade was simply feeling a little paranoid at this point, but she didn't know what to make of that last sentence.
Shade walked over to Shadow Charger and stared at him for a while. “You can stop, Shadow,” she then said.
He collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. “Thanks, Shade.”
Shade tapped a hoof against her chin thoughtfully. “You are blindly following instructions with absolutely no regard for your own limitations and well-being.” She grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “I think we'll make a soldier out of you yet.”
By now, Dusk Chaser had joined them. “There was a pretty beat-up, angry-looking spider running past us earlier. I hope you had an opportunity to impress the princess just a little, we need all the bonus points we can get,” he said with slight smirk, but it quickly faded. “But seriously, how'd it go?”
Shade glance over at Celestia. The princess was sitting in the grass, her eyes fixed on the horizon, still wearing that serene ghost of a smile that she had displayed almost the entire time since she had arrived.
“I honestly don't know,” Swift Shade admitted, “I really wouldn't want to play poker with her, that's for sure.”
Dusk Chaser looked past her and squinted his eyes. Then he pointed in the direction the princess was looking. “Well, I guess we'll find out if her sister is as composed as she is.”
Shade turned her head and saw the golden glimmer of another chariot on the horizon. “I don't want to be a Negative Nancy, but I don't think composed types are in the habit of turning into folklore boogiemares and getting banished for a thousand years.”
Shade wasn't outright frightened, but the thought of meeting Luna, the Princess Luna, was still somewhat unsettling. In the olden days, bat ponies used to have a very strong connection to the Court of Night and Princess Luna in particular. Even to this day, they still remembered the Princess of the Night for things other than her fall and banishment, which was more than could be said about most of Equestria's society. But what they had were tales and legends from over a millennium ago. Shade was about to meet this pony personally, and that was another matter altogether.
Luna's chariot was pulled and escorted by pegasus guards, like Celestia's had been, and they landed on the clearing soon after Dusk Chaser had spotted them. Princess Luna stepped off the chariot. Swift Shade stared at her. The Princess of the Night exchanged a quick welcome with her sister, and then walked up to the assembled bat ponies. Swift Shade continued to stare. By now, Luna was standing in front of her, and she had to tilt her head back a little to look Swift Shade in the eye.
She was a whole lot shorter than Swift Shade had expected.
Shade suddenly realized that she was supposed to kneel, and almost made a belly flop in her haste to do just that. “Your Highness. The Night Guard is at your disposal.” She paused for a moment, and then added, “Welcome back.”
“We thank thee, Captain Swift Shade,” Luna said. Shade got the impression that the princess was trying to make her voice sound very loud and imposing, and a slightly annoyed frown formed on Luna's forehead when her words came out a little squeaky instead. “We should like to address our Guard. Lead the way, captain.”
Shade nodded and rose to her hooves. “Of course, your Highness.”
Swift Shade had expected Luna to make some kind of long-winded speech, as most ponies in positions of authority were fond of doing in situations such as this, but the princess surprised her when she approached each member of the Guard individually instead. Luna took her time to converse with them and ask them questions, never for longer than a few minutes, but Shade still noticed that the princess was well informed about their service history, and seemed genuinely interested in learning more.
Shade utilized the time to take a closer look at Luna. Except for the obvious fact that she was an alicorn, she looked like a fairly ordinary pony in her early teens, with cyan colored eyes, a dark blue coat, and a light-blue tail and mane. Even her cutie mark in the shape of a crescent moon could have meant all kinds of things. However, Shade sensed something very much like what she felt around Celestia. It was a lot fainter, but the spark of power was undeniably there.
Luna had just finished talking with Chasm Diver. “You have questions about our appearance,” she said with a glance towards Shade.
Shade jumped and stammered, “I... would not presume to ask, Princess Luna.”
“T'is simple enough. At present, we are in a transitory state. Upon our return...” Luna paused, and for a moment, Shade thought she saw a shadow pass over her features. “Suffice it to say, we almost repeated old mistakes. Thankfully, the newly awakened Elements of Harmony kept us from causing any more harm to our subjects. Our power was shattered, and it left us weakened, but in time, our strength will return, and we shall take up our duties as the Princess of the Night once more.”
“I see,” Shade said. Then she quietly added, “I'm sorry.”
Luna seemed a bit confused. “For what, pray tell?”
“Just, you know. That you had to go through all that,” Shade answered, “I don't know what it feels like to, eh, have your power shattered, but it doesn't sound enjoyable. I guess all I'm trying to say is, I wish your return home could have been more pleasant.”
Luna tried her best to sound nonchalant. “We brought this on ourselves. And if it means that we are free and sane once more, it is a small price to pay.” More quietly, she added, “But the sentiment is appreciated, Swift Shade.”
Then she reached Shadow Charger. She looked at him. He looked at her. Luna frowned and glanced down the row of ponies, like she was taking inventory of her troops.
“He's a new hire,” Shade said quickly.
“Shadow Charger, your Highness,” Shadow added.
Luna studied him very closely. “He is suitable?”
“Really good at following orders,” said Shade, “Just don't let him do any independent thinking while he's on duty.”
Luna seemed not entirely convinced, but she nodded. “Very well, captain. I shall trust your judgment on this.”
Shade gulped.
Then Luna turned to Celestia. “We are satisfied with the condition of the Night Guard, sister. If their military records are any indication, they will serve us with honor and dedication. Now, we should like to visit the memorial. Maybe afterwards, a brief stroll through our palace could be arranged.”
Shade could already feel beads of sweat form on her forehead, but then something about what Luna had said caught her attention. Maybe she was grasping at straws, but ‘brief stroll’ almost made the whole thing sound like an afterthought instead of a proper inspection.
Before she could think about it any longer, Celesta said, “Of course, Luna. Let us go and do what you came here for.” The next few sentences of the Sun Princess made Shade's mouth drop open. “But maybe you should wait a little longer to tour the palace. It has been nearly abandoned for a very long time, and when you first see it after all these years, I would like it to be the way you remember it.” She smiled at her sister. “Give me two more weeks, and it will be properly prepared for you to spend a couple of days here. Actually, I think I could spare some time to accompany you, if you wish.”
Luna beamed at Celestia. “Really? I would...” She quickly cleared her throat and tried to rein in her enthusiasm. “That would be lovely, sister. Thank you.” Then she looked at Shade and hesitated. “But if you and the rest of the Guard had anything prepared for this day, we would hate to let your efforts go to waste.”
Shade finally remembered to close her mouth and shook her head. “I'm afraid we didn't, your Highness. I'm sorry,” she said hoarsely.
“Do not concern yourself,” Luna reassured her, “We know that our visit was announced quite hastily.” She was quiet for a few seconds, and looked towards the palace gates. “We wanted to come here as soon as we were able to. There is something we need to do. You may accompany us, Captain Swift Shade.”
* * *
Swift Shade, Celestia, and Luna strode through the dimly-lit corridor of the memorial. Fortunately, they didn't have to pass through any of the less presentable looking parts of the palace to get here. Since the three of them had entered the palace, not a single word had been exchanged between them.
Shade tried hard not to stare, but she still felt her eyes wander towards Luna every other step. The princess glanced at the white marble tiles as they passed them, and every now and then, one of her wings unfurled, and the tips of her feathers brushed tenderly over a particular name or sentence that was cut into the stone.
When they had reached a particular tile, Luna stopped abruptly and turned towards it. Shade saw that it was the tile that she had seen earlier today, the one with the word traitor written on it.
Luna sat down and stared at the single word that had been hastily etched into the white marble. Her jaw muscles tensed up, and she pressed her lips together until they were only a thin line on her muzzle. For a moment, Shade though she saw a wet shimmer in the corners of Luna's eyes, but before she could be certain, the princess pinched her eyes shut and lowered her head almost to the floor. She remained like that for several minutes, and the utter stillness of the gloomy tunnel felt as oppressive to Shade as a physical weight pushing down on her shoulders.
Finally, Luna took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and gave the scornful word one last angry stare. Then her horn flashed with a bright silver light, and the section of the tile where the word stood simply dissolved into dust.
Luna nodded, like she was satisfied with the result. Then her horn began to glow again, and a small orb of light blinked into existence on the stone surface underneath the newly created hole. Luna's eyes narrowed, like she was concentrating very hard on something, and the glowing orb began to move over the marble with a quiet hissing noise, forming letters, words and sentences in its path.
Shade's eyes became as big as saucers. She stared at the writing Luna was creating right now, then looked over at the identical writing on the other tiles.
It took Luna only about a minute to finish. By the end, she looked very tired, but something told Shade that using her magic had nothing to do with it. She rose back to her hooves, and looked at the other two ponies in the hall.
“It is done.” She was making an effort to talk in a calm and measured voice, but it still came out shaky and quiet. “We will...” Her voice cracked at the second word, and she cleared her throat. “We...” It happened again, even earlier this time. Luna slowly sat back down. Her eyes were wide and clearly glistening with tears now, and she looked up at her sister. “Tia...”
Celestia was at her side in less than a heartbeat, pulled Luna into an embrace with her front legs, and then gently folded her white wings around her. Luna's entire body was shaken by loud sobs now, and she nestled her tear-stained face into the larger pony’s chest.
“They must have hated me!” she managed to say after a while.
Celestia pulled Luna even closer, and Shade noticed how different the white alicorn looked all of a sudden. The poise and composure she had so perfectly maintained until now had been dropped within the blink of an eye, and Celestia made no effort to conceal the emotional turmoil that was reflected on her face. It took Shade a few seconds to fully understand the reason, and realize that right now, she wasn't looking at Princess Celestia, a ruler with countless responsibilities and just as many appearances to uphold. Just a pony who hated to see her sister in pain.
Shade didn't know what to do with herself. She wasn't supposed to see this, she had no right to intrude on such a personal and emotional moment. But Luna looked so hurt and vulnerable. The Night Guard was supposed to stand at her side, to support her and protect her, and even though Swift Shade couldn’t think of anything to do in this situation, turning around and walking away would have just felt wrong.
“They never hated you, Luna,” Celestia whispered, but Luna shook her head violently.
“You're just saying that! How couldn't they!? They tried everything to help me, and I didn't listen to them. I hurt them so bad, and I never got to tell them that I'm sorry.”
Celestia loosened her embrace a little, so she could put a hoof under Luna's chin and lift her head up to look her in the eye. “Listen to me, Luna. Everything they did, they did for you. They missed you, and for a time, they were angry at you. But they never hated you. Please, Luna. Please believe that.”
Luna silently opened and closed her mouth a couple of times. Then she simply nodded, and huddled back against her sister. They remained like that for a few more minutes. Shade saw how Luna's tears dried up, then her breathing slowed down, and finally she pulled away from Celestia and stood back up. For a moment, it almost seemed like Celestia was hesitant to let go of her.
Luna walked up to Swift Shade, and her voice was a lot more steady now. “We are sorry that you had to see this, captain. We did not anticipate that coming here would be such a strain on our emotions. Had we known, we would not have put you in this position.”
Shade shook her head. “Not at all, your Highness. I'm the one who should apologize. I didn't mean to intrude.”
Luna gave her a tired smile. “T'is not as if you had much choice in the matter. Guards to royalty are made privy to much sensitive and personal knowledge about their rulers, be it intentional or otherwise. Still. I shall endeavor to make situations such as this the exception rather than the rule.” In little more than a whisper, as if mostly talking to herself, she added, “Losing control of my emotions is ill-advised for me.” Then she turned back to Celestia. “If it is all right with you, sister, I should like to return to Canterlot. Today has been liberating, but also quite taxing.” To Swift Shade, she said, “I imagine you and the rest of the Night Guard will need a bit more time to prepare, ere you can join me in the capital. I hope to see you before long.”
Luna started to leave, and Swift Shade watched her slowly walk away. But following a sudden impulse, she called after her. “Princess Luna?”
Luna stopped and looked at her. “Yes?”
The same heavy silence as before flooded the tunnel, as Shade struggled to find the right words. Even when she finally opened her mouth, she didn't know if it was the right thing to say, just that it was the only thing she could think to say at that moment. “I just want you to know that we will join you as soon as we are able. Soon, the Night Guard will be at your side again, your Highness. As it should be.”
Princess Luna held her fixed with her cyan eyes for several seconds. Then she nodded slowly. “Thank you, Swift Shade. I... hearing that truly means a great deal to me,” she said softly.
Then she left. Shade stared after her until the princess disappeared into the darkness further down the tunnel, and then she stood up and slowly walked towards the marble tile to read Luna's inscription.
There are a great many things a ruler can demand from those who serve her. Friendship is not one of them, yet sometimes, we are fortunate enough to earn it.
A friend might say things you do not wish to hear. A friend will try to make you see reason when your mind is clouded by darkness. And a friend will stand up to you, when they see that you have chosen a path that inevitably leads to your destruction.
You were my friends. I am sorry that I did not listen.
Shade read those words several times. Then she looked down the corridor, at all the white marble tiles that she could see, and thought about all the other ones set into the walls of the gloomy tunnel. So many of them them filled with names and stories, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them. Just contemplating it made Shade's head spin.
“She wrote all of this,” she whispered, and barely noticed it when Celestia walked up beside her.
“Yes,” the princess said, “There is something you need to understand, Swift Shade. When I still shared the rule with Luna, the roles we had in our nation's government were equally important to ensure our subjects’ happiness and well-being. But my own responsibilities were always the more public ones. Luna never had as much open contact with the ponies of Equestria as I did, and as a result, she was very close with the ponies who served her personally. The Night Guard in particular.”
Shade frowned. Celestia sounded apologetic, almost guilt-ridden, but she couldn't imagine why that would be the case. Then she started to understand.
“This is why we are still here,” she said, “Not just us, I mean. The Night Guard in general. This is why you never disbanded it during all those years.”
Celestia remained silent for a long time, and Shade almost thought she wouldn't answer. “It was selfish of me,” she finally said. “Disbanding the Guard and sealing this place until Luna would return would have been the right thing to do. Acting as I did instead benefited no one. But the palace and the Guard had meant so much to Luna, and I missed her terribly, Swift Shade. I know that it was foolish, but just thinking about taking those things away felt like I was losing yet another part of her.” She sighed. “I know I put you and your comrades into a difficult position. That is also why I chose to be a bit more lenient towards your transgressions than I might have been otherwise.”
Swift Shade stared down at her hooves. “Yeah. Thanks for that, by the way. It was really nice of you to cover for us, your Highness.”
The princess smiled mischievously. “I wouldn't say I covered for you. Everything I said to Luna was absolutely true. I want this place to resemble the fond memories she has of it, and I fully intend to make good on my offer to spend time with her. Getting you out of trouble was merely a side benefit.”
“I see,” said Shade, “And here I thought my plan with the pool might have actually worked.”
Celestia laughed, a warm and melodic sound that almost seemed to brighten up the hallway. “Oh, it certainly didn't hurt.”
* * *
Swift Shade and Dusk Chaser were sitting outside on the grass. Luna had already left, and Celestia and Shining Armor were about to follow her.
“So what will happen now that Princess Luna is back, your Highness?” Dusk asked.
“A great many things,” Celestia said vaguely, “But regarding the Night Guard, you will return to serving my sister. Arrangements to accommodate you in Canterlot have already been made.”
“That is good to hear,” Dusk said. “And about –“ he pointed in the direction of the palace “– you know?”
“That will not just go away, of course,” said Celestia, “I fully expect you to pay for the cleaning and repairs, and for anything that was damaged or destroyed.”
That gave Shade some pause. She tried to estimate the value of some of the things that had been damaged or destroyed just during the last two days, but quickly gave up. “So, we're basically talking about a life-long pay cut for all of us?”
“Unless you plan on living longer than even me, I suppose that's what it amounts to, yes,” Celestia confirmed.
Shade grimaced, but knew better than to object. “I guess that's only fair.”
Celestia thoughtfully knit her brows and rubbed a hoof against her chin. “Perhaps a month or four in the salt mines would be appropriate as well.”
Dusk and Shade glanced at each other with a hint of panic in their eyes, and their ears flattened themselves against their skulls.
“She isn't serious,” Shining Armor said flatly, “We don't even have those anymore.”
Celestia gave him a slightly annoyed look. “What a dreadful spoilsport you can be.” Then she turned back to the two bat ponies. “What I will insist on, however, is to test your capabilities. My sister is very dear to me, Captain Swift Shade. I will accept nothing less than the best for her. One month from now, you will have to prove yourselves in a mock battle against the Canterlot Royal Guard, and if Luna or I are not satisfied with your performance, there will be replacements.”
Shade showed off a cocky smirk and saluted. This she could deal with. “We will not disappoint, your Highness.”
“I'm looking forward to it,” said Shining Armor. “I expect you to bring your A game. I certainly intend to.” He looked Swift Shade up and down. “Can't say I've ever seen one of you in action. I don't expect you'd give me any tips?”
Shade bared her sharp canines in a predatory grin. “Watch the teeth.”
“Yeah, that sounds reasonable,” Shining armor said with a chuckle.
Then he and Celestia stepped into the chariot, and the pegasi guards took off. Glittering in the gentle, orange light of the setting sun, the golden vehicle swiftly sped away over the slowly swaying sea of green that surrounded the mountain.
“'Watch the teeth?'” Dusk said when the princess and her entourage were out of earshot. “Isn't that what your last coltfriend always told you?”
“Shut up, Dusk. I really don't feel like talking about your dad right now.”
“Touché, ma'am.”
They grinned at each other, and then strolled back over to the others.
“I suppose that went a lot better than expected,” Starlit Sky said when they arrived.
“It did,” Shade agreed, “They'll still cut our pay, though.”
Sky frowned. “For how long?”
“Depends,” Dusk said, “How long are you planning to live?”
“Oh,” said Sky, “Well, that sucks.”
Shade pointed a hoof at her. “Hey! Don't you dare complain, missy! Earlier today, we didn't know for sure if we might get clapped in irons around this time.”
“Good point,” Sky had to admit. “So what now? Are we off to Canterlot?”
“Pretty soon,” Shade confirmed. “Celestia will order a cleaning crew to tidy the place up. They should be here the day after tomorrow. We'll hoof over the keys, and then skedaddle before they realize what they're in for. But don't expect Canterlot to be cushy, guys. Starting now, easy times are over. Next month, we're up against the Royal Guard to show what we're made of.”
Most of the other Night Guard members seemed rather eager at the prospect. Most of them.
“Are you serious?!” Shadow Charger called, “Come on, I've been a soldier for one day, and you expect me to go up against the Royal Guard next month?”
Shade quickly hurried to the worried stallion's side and put a leg around his shoulder. “Hey, Shadow. Buddy. You are part of the team now. We need you. Besides, you heard what Luna said to me, right? She said that she trusts my judgment.” She grinned at him. “My reputation is hinging on this now. Like it or not, you have to be a soldier. And not just any soldier, but one of the best.”
“In a month?” Shadow asked, bewildered.
“All just a matter of training, Shadow,” Shade said, “And train we will. Believe me, after I am done with you, you’ll be ready to go hoof-to-hoof and wing-to-wing with any member of the Royal Guard.” She shrugged. “Or you'll be dead. One of the two.”
Shadow simply stared at her. “Well, that's just swell.”
Shade nodded. “Isn't it? Now, to start, I'd say you fly ten rounds around the base of the mountain.” She reached up and pulled Shadow's helmet over his eyes. “There. That way you'll get some echolocation training as well.”
“Please remind me why I'm doing this,” Shadow said.
Shade's tone became a lot more serious. “Because you have the chance to better yourself, Shadow. An opportunity to push the limits of what you thought you were capable of, and achieve something that you never thought you could. And because if you don't, you will owe the state of Equestria an absolutely stupid amount of money.”
Shadow didn't look entirely convinced until Shade brought up the last point. “Right. There's that.”
Shade slapped him on the shoulder. “Chin up, Shadow. Soldiering is a good life. I think you'll learn to like it. Besides, I hear mares dig the uniform.”
“They do indeed,” Dusk confirmed.
“Yep. Big time,” Chasm Diver said.
Starlit Sky nodded. “Totally.”
“You better not be pulling my wing here,” Shadow mumbled before he took off.
The other members of the Night Guard strolled back into the palace with no particular hurry. Shade stopped at the door and looked up past the mountainside. The sun had almost set at this point, and the shadows around her were slowly starting to melt into each other.
“You know, I think I'll really miss this place.”
Shade tore her eyes away from the mountain and looked at Starlit Sky, who stood at her side and rested her right front hoof on the richly ornamented palace door.
“I won't,” Shade said, “Not really. Despite everything, I had some good times here, but that had nothing to do with the palace.”
“I think the palace helped,” Sky said.
“All right, maybe a little,” Shade admitted. “Still, what really made the time I spent here bearable was you guys. And you're not going anywhere.”
Sky chuckled. “You're not getting all emotional on me again, are you? I've had quite enough of that today.”
“Just trying to build up some sympathy credit,” said Shade, “I think we need some time to really get back in shape, and I will have to be an officer during the next few weeks. Not gonna lie, it won't be pretty. I can be a real diamond dog of the female persuasion when I have to be.”
“Don't worry about it, Shade. I know how it goes,” Sky said, “So, you want to get the others and hit the dance floor?” Shade gave her a look of utter horror, and Sky laughed. “Kidding. I know, party's over. See you tomorrow, Shade.”
Shade let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah. See you.”
Swift Shade spent a few more minutes staring at the sky, waiting for the stars to slowly light up in the vaulting blackness above, and the silver disk of the moon to start peeking over the forest canopy, before she went inside as well.
* * *
“Are you sure you'll be fine on your own?” Dusk Chaser asked.
Swift Shade rolled her eyes. “It's one day, Dusk, and all I have to do is wait for the cleaning crew and then give them the keys. I think I'll manage.”
Dusk shrugged. “All right then. Still don't really get why you think we should leave early, though. Are you afraid we might break anything else?”
“Good thinking on your part, but no,” Shade said, “I just think you should be in Canterlot as soon as possible. Take care of Princess Luna, all right?”
“Take care of her?” Dusk asked, frowning. “Is she in danger?”
Shade shook her head. “No. I just think having you guys around would help her.” For a few seconds, she was uncertain whether or not she should say something. But Dusk was her second in command, one of her best friends, and Shade knew that she could trust him. “I think she's pretty lonely right now, Dusk. It must be really hard for her, to get thrown back into the world after a thousand years. She doesn't know any of us, not personally, but she knows the Night Guard, and I really think she needs some constants in her life right now. Something familiar.”
“I see,” Dusk said, “In that case, don't worry. We will do our best so she's comfortable. All part of the job.”
“Thanks, Dusk,” Shade said, “Now, let me see them off.”
The two of them joined the other members of the Guard, who were sitting at the edge of the woods, a few paces away from the palace door.
“All right, kids. You behave yourselves now,” Shade called, and then pointed at Dusk Chaser. “If daddy tells me that you've been acting up while I wasn't there, mommy will be very upset with you.” A chorus of chuckles and wisecracks answered her, and Shade had to grin as well. “Now then,” she said to Dusk, “Everypony packed a lunch and gone potty?”
Dusk put on a pair of dark aviator goggles, so his sensitive eyes would be shielded from the light of the sun while he flew. “They better, we're only making planned stops,” he called loud enough that everyone on the clearing could hear him.
Shade nodded. “Shadow?”
“I put some rocks in his bags, and he'll be flying circles around our formation while we travel,” Dusk said.
Shadow Charger's ears perked up, and his eyes jumped to the saddlebags that were lying on the grass before him. “Oh, come on!”
“Perfect,” Shade said, “All right then. Fly, my pretties! Fly!”
She punctuated her order with a bout of sinister cackling. Dusk smirked, gave her a quick salute, and then lifted himself off the ground with two powerful strokes of his wings. The other members of the Night Guard passed Shade by and repeated the gesture before they swung themselves into the air. Even Shadow Charger gave her a proper salute, and Shade had to admit that he handled the additional weight quite well during takeoff.
Shade watched them fall into formation in the air, and then fly towards the horizon. She looked after them until they disappeared behind the treetops, and only then did she turn around and walk back into the palace. While she slowly strode through its winding hallways and corridors, completely alone, she realized for the first time how huge the place was, and she was glad that she would not spend a lot of time here by herself.
She was thinking how she could pass the hours in a meaningful way. She could go to her room and read a book. Or she could at least try to clean up some of the mess before tomorrow.
Then she walked past the bathroom.
Shade stopped and glanced over her shoulder. Or...
No. She should spend the time she had left here doing something productive, at least this once.
Then again, hadn't Sky told her that she never found out how many water jets one of those pools had? Wouldn't that be incredible useful information to possess?
“Ah, screw it,” Shade finally said and stormed into the bathroom. A few seconds later, a loud splash could be heard in the hallway, followed by a long, content sigh.