• Published 1st Nov 2011
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Stories in Stone, Luna's Royal Guard. - TDR



The Gardens of Canterlot contain more than their fair share of stories. And more creatures than just Discord.

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Paint it Black

Stories in Stone
Luna's Royal Guard
By TDR



Paint it Black

“So let me get this straight, all that's been going on the last couple times you've taken a look into that sword, are epic battles and inner turmoil and drama stuff , and your complaining? Sounds pretty awesome to me.”

“Well there is more to it than that Rainbow, it has been rather …. informative and confusing at the same time.”

“ So sorta like that whole Crystalline Head thing in Daring Do? That was exciting and confusing and rather crappy.”

“No, that book was written while the author was on drugs, she apologized for it in the following book.”

“Drugs?”

“Skiing accident, she wrote the entire book while on pain killers. Just read the afterward in the next book. She claims the entire thing should be looked at as a extended dream sequence, and promises never to mention it again so long as the hate mail stops.”

“Oops.... I sent a few of those letters myself.”

Twilight closes the book she had, glancing to her friend stretched out on a bean bag chair. Ever since Rainbow Dash's hospital stay she had been showing up more and more to the library. Of course having forty some volumes of Daring Do on hoof was more than enough to keep the pegasus' interest, not to mention all the spin offs of the series. It did mean that she was available to let Twilight study the sword more now though. Twilight had not seen Fluttershy in a good while and Pinkie well.... if the parade last week was any indication Pinkie was fine, just busy. Rarity had a whole building to rebuild after the damage that Big Mac and Cheerilee had done to Carousel Boutique. Thankfully the rumors of those two had been squashed rather easily. Oddly it seemed more than a few ponies were willing to ignore that the pair of them might not be single. Seems they both had a following of ponies that would like to have been their special some pony.

“So you where going to stop researching that thing, even now that you got this far?”

“I had not planned on it really, it was just kind of scary last time.”

“Its been over a week and you have not so much as asked any pony to come by to watch out for you.”

“I have had Spike keep an eye on me, though he has been busy with his own stuff lately, particularly since the Mayor found out he can send messages directly to the Princess.”

Twilight winces wondering how soon Spike would be run out of the mayors office. Likely about the time the Princess started getting annoyed with the Mayor.

“Well I'm here tonight, go ahead and get back to it.”

“That was the plan..... though I do have a question for you before I start.”

“Oh? Shoot.”

“Is something going on between you and AJ lately?”

Rainbow falls out of the bean bag chair her wings straightening out in surprise. She scrambles back into the chair making a grab for her book.

“Wha, What are you talking about?!?”

“Well I was wondering if you were still mad about the Cider thing. I mean she never saved you any even though you two are friends, then there was the whole thing with the rodeo. I thought you two might be mad at each other again. I never see you two together for very long any more, and you used to hang out all the time.”

“Oh, is that all, well we still do, hang out and stuff, but yah know... stuff happens there's nothing going on or anything, we just don't hang out as much …... cause of … stuff.”

“Well OK if you say so, I was just worried you two were mad at each other again.”

“Nope, no far from it …. any way get on with your thing so I can read.”

“Alright , I feel better now. I was a little worried about you two for a bit there.”

“Yeah sure.....”

Dash climbs back onto the bean bag picking her book back up and trying to find the page she lost. Twilight smiles, pulling the blade from the box and resting it on the table as she preps the rest of the spell to go. She was glad there was nothing going on although rainbow did seem a little defensive. She mutters lightly to herself letting the spell take hold.

The stars swirl around her as she slips into the comfortable void of the spell. Her eyes fall on the windows of the blade shards, or what were the windows now. The jagged edged panels of glass were gone and the windows now look like the crystals that had formed when the six had awoken the Elements of Harmony. The only thing that remained the same was the larger sharp edged one that was the Waning Moon's, the others all looked like cutie marks.

She opts again to use Jer'rahd's window, figuring that he always seemed to be in the middle of everything anyway.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
“RHEDE TAKE THE NEXT HALL AND FLANK HER!”

“GOT IT JER!!”

“BLEU GET OUTSIDE AND KEEP HER FROM GETTING OUT A WINDOW MOVE!”

“RIGHT BOSS!”

The trio splits up with Jer'rahd thundering down the hall of Canterlot castle. Rhede and Bleu both split off for their tasks. He was barely keeping up with her and only the occasionally startled or shoved aside servant gave a clue where his target was running. This was getting out of hoof and he was not going to allow it to go on any longer.

“You are not getting away.”


========================================================== [Three days ago]


“So what now?”

“What do you mean? We beat the bad guy and rescued the Princess, what else is there Boss.”

“He means Bleu that this dragon was not the one who ordered the attack. A draconic god or not the black dragons are not in charge of Cindervale or their forces.”

“Scuse me for not knowing about a culture that's only ever tried to kill me.”

“Its fine Bleu, I know your not as stuck in the politics as everyone else. What the two of them are beating around the bush about, is that there is a red dragon in control of all this. Likely from the Flame Party if the information was correct. The dragons name is Silver Claw, he is the son of Forgescale. Unfortunately other than those little bits of information, we don't know anything else.”

“I have another question though Princess.”

“What is that Starfall?”

“How do we get out of this armor.... I mean its comfortable and all, but I would rather not live in it.”

“I really have no clue, when I first used the Elements, they all turned into simple silver crowns. I have been wearing the Element of Magic since, painted of course to hide it. Both Tia and myself agreed I would likely be the best to protect it, though I do not think she expected this.”

Luna sighs shivering a little at the thought.

“Unfortunately it seemed he had more interest in me than what I was wearing. Still that worked out....”


The group hug had broken up quickly and the others had distanced themselves from the Princess to give her a bit of air. Bleu had wandered off to dig through the rubble for anything edible, her logic was a dragon god would have some impressive gem snacks some where. Jer'rahd had stayed where he was near the Princess though he gave her a bit of distance as well, keeping an eye out for anything else. The others trot over to recover their gear, Jer'rahd simply floating his sword over.

Velkorn pauses digging in her bags looking to Luna as if to say something though stops at the sound of wing beats and turns her eyes skyward. A lone Guard pegasus drifts down from the broken skylight his eyes looking over the armored ponies curiously though he seems on the verge of bolting outright as well. Bleu sits up from the rubble and the Pony flaps his wings hard darting up towards the skylight again.

“Solider stand down and report!”

The Guard falters a bit though clears the sky light before gingerly poking his head back over the edge of it as Jer'rahd trots fully into his view.

“What...... General Kaisur.?!? Is that you sir? What what happened?”

“Yes, my sword and armor not clue enough? What happened here is need to know and you don't need to. Now then, whats the situation with the battle?”

“Sorry Sir, its over Sir. After the light came from the castle the surviving dragons flew off. The trolls all were turned to stone and any one we could find was shattered. The few other beasts around acted some what confused and tried to flee. The biggest issue are the dragon halves sir.

“Why?”

“Well the ones that were not killed are acting like foals sir, none of them have the slightest idea of whats going on any more, some are not even able to speak clearly or even walk properly, its … confusing sir. The main thing was we were sent to find you, there are scouting parties all over the castle looking for you. Sir, if I might ask who the mare is accompanying you she is rather intimidating......”

He gestures to the dark armored form of the Princess and Jer'rahd chuckles, Luna snorts annoyed that she is not being recognized.

“This is Princess Luna when shes pissed off Solider... I suspect it might be good if you apologized. “

Rhede barely hides a snicker and Bleu does not bother to hide it which just seems to aggravate the Princess more.

“Sir are you sure she doesn't look anything like......”

“DO YOU DOUBT YOUR SUPERIORS FOAL? OR DO YOU JUST ENJOY STABLE SHOVELING DUTY?!”

The pegasus winces and drops back down from the skylight to the ground into a deep bow the moment he lands. Starfall shakes her head at that walking over and smacking him in the back of the head.

“You had the right of it to be suspicious, just don't be rude. You would be dead now if you were mistaken.”

Jer'rahd chuckles a bit.

“Go let every other pony know the situation, I expect General Mustang to be here shortly to yell at Rhede.”

“Sure throw me under the cart.”

The Pegasus nods and takes off again zipping out through the sky light. Rhede pulls the book out of his bag going through the notes, whistling a bit.

“I wish I knew more medical stuff cause this looks like it might be impressive.”

“Give it to Velkorn she would know.”

“ Maybe Jer. Hey, Velkorn you learn to read dragon yet?”

She shakes her head and Rhede sighs shoving the book back into a bag. Bleu picks up a rather large chunk of crystal that had rolled under a fallen section of wall when the statue fell over.

“Hey Princess, I found another chunk of the dragon. Want to smash it too?”

Bleu holds up a fairly sizable chunk of oddly shaped black crystal. Velkorn tilts her head looking at it moving a bit closer to make sure.

“Well now that is a interesting part, it seems the beast did indeed have a heart.”

Luna raises her head looking over to Velkorn, then Bleu, who now looks the chunk of rock over as if trying to see how it was a heart.

“It doesn't look anything like a heart.”

“All the drawings ponies make of a heart, do not look anything like the real body part.”

======================
[Present day]

“Starfall whats the situation?”

“I've got this wing sealed, so long as she doesn't go out a window we should be OK. The Princess has been moved away from the situation, the Royal Guard are guiding all the servants and guests out of this wing and Velkorn is keeping an eye on them to make sure she doesn't try to sneak out that way.”

“Good, Help Bleu cover the windows Rhede should be pushing her towards the end of the wing tell Bleu to barricade the doors there.”

“On it.”

=================================================== [Three days ago]


Luna had Velkorn take the heart to put in her bags, Jer'rahd managed to figure out a way to remove the armor. It had been rather simple too, a little more than a tap of his hoof against the gem on his chest and the armor folded up into itself leaving a necklace of the same coloration of the armor with the gem still set into it. Rhede had curiously poked Starfall's chest to see if the armor would strip from her and was belted across the room after it failed to work.

“OK, this armor is really good, I didn't even feel that! Plus now we know some one else cannot take it off.”

“You want me to find a way to hit you so you will feel it Rhede?”

The others play around with the armor a bit before all but Luna Simply leave it off in order to be recognized by the Guard when they return.

“The question is why did we all get armor and Luna just got a new hair doo?”

“I am afraid I do not know Bleu, the armor is a new thing, though my sister was surprised that my use of the Element to seal Discord was a crown. When she wielded it before it was little more than a bracelet.”

“So the armor changes per its use or per its wielders?”

“My sister would likely know more, although it may reflect the very nature of the Element of magic, It has the power to change the world at a whim, but with out the other elements it is nothing......”

“KAISUR, PELT, WHERE THE BUCK ARE YOU TWO HIDING!!!!”

At the sound of Mustangs bellowing, both Rhede and Jer'rahd put their armor back on.

“I would ask that none of you mention what has happened between the dragon and myself.”

“I swear it is not something we will tell any one about, but I would ask that I am allowed to check you out.”

“What, why Velkorn?”

“Something bad happened to you, I want to make sure he did not do more too.”

“Alright, but not now.”

“I knew I would have to wait, just make sure it is not done too late. Keeping mind it is not just you, others have suffered this fate too.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Luna shivers as part of the wall is suddenly knocked down and a very pissed off looking General Mustang flanked by a smirking General Shower and a impassive Ruin storm into the room.

“PELT WHAT THE BUCK YOU LYING SACK OF SHIT!!”

“I did no such thing General, I told you exactly where, the Princess was supposed to be and lo and behold she was right where I said she would be.”

“YOU …. YOU.....”

“See now that is funny. Congrats Pelt you finally made my father in law at a loss for words. So whats with the new duds any way ….wait is that Princess Luna?

“It is, Sir.”

General Shower bows her head a bit as Mustang Sputters and Ruin remains as he was, looking bored.

“I gather everything went well on your end, Sir?”

“More or less seems Ruin here jumped the gun and didn't bother waiting for a signal and just hit the Castle as soon as he got there, most of the draconic forces wound up where he was by the end of it.”

“They were all weak, none even came close to giving me what I seek.”

“Yeah yeah, least Kaisur waited till I struck like he was supposed to, that was rather fun, not often I can just cut loose like that. I take from the Princess there you managed to do fairly well. I guess the new clothes have something to do with that light show that knocked all the half breeds out of the sky too. Still wish you Let Starfall come with me, but it seems to have panned out.”

“It worked out well. And Starfall is a member of Luna's Guard above anything else, Sir. Her being here with us enabled our victory. What happened to Three Bear?”

“That little bear of his ate to much and has a belly ache, hes taking care of it so the parents don't freak out.”

“Enough with the witless banter. Princess are you alright?”

“As well as to be expected after my captivity General.”

“So what is the plan now?”

“No different than before we move on to crush Cindervale.”

Jer'rahd sighs, General Shower looks and Mustang winces a little.

“What? What is it?”

“We have full recall orders from Princess Celestia in the event of this mission being a success Princess.”

“She is not in control of the Guard, she cannot do that.”

“She took control when you were missing, she gave the order then and will not allow us to do anything else until you come back home and discuss it with her.”

“What can she even do to stop us?”

“Cut off supplies for one, recall all the equipment we have. The cannons and shield stones are only considered on loan from her school. “

“This is ridiculous.”

“I agree Princess, but in this situation we have to listen to your sister. “

“No, If she will not allow our advance then we will hold here instead. I shall return to Canterlot myself and deal with her.”

Rhede ponders and shakes his head a little earning him a glare from Jer'rahd and Luna.

“This might not be a bad idea to return home Princess, all these troops have been through hell, might be nice to let them relax a bit and have some leave before we launch a big invasion.”

“It would be easier to keep them here and ready to go Rhede.”

“It's just a suggestion Jer.”

“Well Princess?”

The armor fades from Princess Luna returning her to her normal form though she looks much more ragged then any of them have ever seen her, her fur and hair matted with blood, dirt, and grime from her captivity. Only the white gold crown on her head remained unblemished, her eyes seemed to burn with a inner fire as well.

“Fine, secure these locations strip them of everything and set up a prison for the captives. I want these places picked clean and destroyed completely before any one falls back, by the time that is done we should be ready to launch an offensive. Cindervale will fall.”

=========================================

“Rhede where is she?”

“Got her cornered in the main ballroom though shes barricaded herself inside.”

“Like that will stop me.”

Armor forms around Jer'rahd as he charges towards the door to the ball room, gaining speed down the long hall.

===========================================

[Two days ago]


Bleu straightens up yawning a bit as she looks down at the Guards that surround the courtyard she had landed in. She had yet to remove her armor on this flight and had just landed where she wanted ignoring the few attacks sent her way as they bounced off her armor. Once she was on the ground she was nearly swarmed until Princess Luna and the others hopped off her back ordering a stand down. Once the Guard relaxed some she shrunk down to her small dragonling size, rather surprised the armor changed too and hopped onto Jer'rahd's back for the rest of the trip.

“So think she is going to tackle you again Luna?”

“Most likely Jer'rahd.”

“That why you put your armor back on?”

“That and I am more comfortable in this at the moment.”

“I can under stand that.”

“So what are you gonna do with your old armor boss?”

“Keep it of course, never know when I will no longer be able to wear this. Why get rid of something useful, besides it was a gift.”

Luna glances back at that as the others inch away from the Princess a little expecting at any time for Celestia to tackle her. They enter Princess Celestia's study to find the Princess sitting on the other side of a table some what stretched out sipping tea. Her face had the remnants of a hoof print shaped bruise on it still, but other wise she seemed fine though not as hyper as expected. Rhede winces a little at the sight of the mark though only Jer'rahd and Starfall knew where she got it.

“Hello sister.”

“Good to see you back Lulu... though I have my doubts this is what you really wanted to do.”

“Clearly.”

“You must understand our position on this, The Griffons, Diamond dogs and Zebra's have all informed us that if we take any stance against Cindervale because of this they will get involved. It seems they believe the dragons claims it was only a splinter group of one party that attacked. The nation as a whole claims nothing to do with it .”

“That is a massive bunch of manure Princess, and doing what I do I can tell that.”

“I am quite aware of that Rhede, it is the aid the other nations will give to the dragons if we attack that is the issue. Although it does seem that I chose the bearers correctly after all. “

“Don't change the subject Tia.”

“There is not anything I can do but change the subject. We can hold our own against any of these forces, but not all at once. The dragons planned for their defeat rather well.”

“I do not like this at all.”

“Understandable, may I continue, and please sit.”

They all seemed reluctant though eventually every one did save Luna and Jer'rahd, both of whom also remained armored, likely to mask how pissed off they were.

“Do you know how I knew I had chosen correctly this time?”

“Rather curious on that especially after out failures Princess.”

“Well Starfall, it was when you all remained with my sister despite failing, you still sought to remain her friend and friends with each other. At first I thought it was just a nice gesture, but then you told me about the visions.”

“Yeah we failed big time with those.”

“No Bleu, you did not, I have been studying the Elements of Harmony since I first wielded them, and doing so twice in my life time has given me a bit of insight. The tests were not tests. They were the questions for the test which is everything that happened after. After all the horror you saw Bleu you could still laugh. Likely the bearer of Honesty flat out told you what to do Starfall. He always was a bit bull headed. I am not sure for either of the rest of you, but does this sound similar?”

Velkorn mutters something about failing to kill compassion and Rhede grumbles something about sacrifice. Jer'rahd snorts in annoyance.

“Nothing I have done or seen is even remotely close to what happened in my test. What was done there is not even something I would even consider doing.”

“Well I am curious now General Kaisur.”

“You are going to have to remain that way Celestia.”

Rhede looks a bit leery, knowing what Jer'rahd saw, though he says nothing

“Hmm fine then, It is none of my business I suppose, not now at least, as the Elements have accepted you, though armor is new. Does it come off or are you both stuck in it? Because honestly, you both look rather terrifying in all that black. How do you even brush your mane now Lulu?”

Jer'rahd shakes his head as Bleu snickers a bit. Luna sighs letting the armor reform back into the crown planing to say something else though was cut off by a sudden blur of motion as the white alicorn leaps from the other side of the table and tackles her sister in a hug with a speed that made even Starfall blink in surprise.

“Yay, Lulu's safe.... ewww.... and smelly, you need a bath sister...”

“Get off of me Tia!”

==============================================

The door explodes inward though Jer'rahd is caught before he even clears the debris and flung back out the door nearly colliding with Rhede. He lands hard, armored hooves digging into the floor tile rearing up the mozac. He surges forward again struggling against the force trying to lift him away. Rhede moves in and is caught as well, though both magic fields drop as Starfall bursts in a window and Bleu takes out a wall.

The group advances on the form in the corner as Velkorn gallops into the room coming up behind them.

“I would ask that you stop trying to run now.”

“Seriously this is getting old, at least throw some pies or something.”

“Bleu!”

“What I’m hungry?”

================================================

“Boss you should get a bath too, all that fighting and being dead cannot be good for your odor.”

Jer'rahd glances back from the balcony smirking a bit before turning his gaze up to the sky again. Bleu grumbles and moves over leaning against the railing as well looking up.

“So you saw her too huh?”

“I did Bleu.”

“So what did she tell you?”

“She was leaving, and could not watch over us forever, she asked me to move on and she said she told you the same..”

“Close enough. Not easy too do though.”

“I know.”

“Really you seemed alright with Scarlet.”

“Yes well, rebound I suppose. And look what happened to me for it.”

“Good point. So you believe that star stuff you were spouting?”

“Her's is gone now. So yes.”

“Gone?”

“Three Bear claims the buffalo legend is that the stars are souls of those who have yet to move on from the world into another life or the next world. Most often they still have things they wish to do or have to do before they move on. Only the important souls burn bright enough to be seen. I found her star before the battle. She watched over us then, but it looks like she has moved on now. I suppose we should as well. Hmmmm, that is a interesting thought.”

“Whats that boss?”

“Whether she came back or moved on. How did she like it here Bleu. I heard a bit of her life from the time we had, but that was mostly about you and her work with the ESO. The only bits I learned of her life were slips or when she responded to something from me. Would she have a reason to come back here?”

“Shitty parents, a crappy life, high stress, and that deal with the asshole. She considered the meetings she snuck off to with you as a high point in that life boss, because you didn't care who she was, past what she was willing to tell you.”

“Delightful I was a high point and I got her killed.”

“No boss, she would have done that show with or without you being there. She loved singing more than anything, because you were there and of what we did it gave her song a purpose greater than simple entertainment, her final song saved lives and stalled the war long enough for us to be ready for it. She did not die in vain, and she died doing what she loved.”

“Heh, I suppose, she had plenty of good things to say about you as well Bleu. I think you were a reason she kept going too.”

“And you wonder why I was so devoted.”

“No I don't wonder.”

“She did tell us to move on.”

“Kinda hard to do knowing she was watching us.”

“Yeah, damned dead mare friends, prolly watching and judging your performance with whoever you get with after ward.”

“Yeah, that makes me comfortable. Thank you for that Bleu.”

“I still miss her.”

“I do as well. Come on, lets see if there’s anything to eat. I've got guard duty tonight after Starfall.”

“Really not planing to leave her alone again are we?”

“Rhede, Velkorn, and I have taken rooms near hers. I figure you need a bigger bed now any way. Starfall still has her daughter to go back to.”

“Yeah, maybe the royal pantry has some gems..... the ones I brought with me are going stale.”

“They do that?”

=====================================================


The group stands around the huddled form backed into a corner, Jer'rahd lets his armor return to the necklace taking a step closer and getting growled at.

“You make us go through all this for something you promised to do, why Princess?”

Luna turns her head but remains backed into a corner.

“Well?”

“I... Don't want any one touching me I don't want to know.”

“Too bad.”

“Jer, seriously?”

“We just spent two hours causing a complete riot to lock down an entire section of the castle so we could prevent others from knowing what happened to you. Just because you decided to run the moment Velkorn showed up to check you out. So forgive me if I am a little pissed.”

“You have no idea.....”

“No I don't, because only my mind was raped and completely bucked with, that’s not exactly as easy to check out as anything physical.”

“If my fear of this is such a small thing for you to understand perhaps I should throw you in the nearest lake to that you might experience it again for your self....”

“Luna Seriously?”

Jer'rahd closes his eyes even the thought sending a shudder racing through his body. Luna bit her bottom lip realizing the threat she said.

“Fine....”

“What?”

“I said fine, if throwing me into water is something that you claim is as terrifying as what you are going through, and if that makes it easier for you to get it over with then go ahead and throw me. Just send Bleu along as well to fish me out so I don't drown. You need to do this, if nothing else then to check to see if we are going to have to figure out how to explain why you look like your carrying a foal in a few months or less depending on what he gave you.”

“I had not …....... fine..... just …... “

“Just what? I said we are here for your Princess and we will not let anything happen to you we can help. But you are going to have to let us do that, we will have a hard time helping you if you fight us every step of the way.”

“Alright, I am sorry.”

“Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Velkorn and Starfall, you trashed her new medical room in the escape and pulled Starfall from her daughter. I don't do anything else out side these walls so you didn’t take me from anything. Now if there’s nothing else, I need to go explain why I thought a drill would be a good idea at random to your sister and Mustang.“

Jer'rahd turns heading out stepping over the rubble leaving the others with the Princess.

“I think boss is having a bad day.”

“Bleu Seriously?”

“Shut up Rhede.”

=============================================

Mustang pants glaring at Jer'rahd who simply stood there letting the General raise hell about what went on this afternoon. He had started close to two hours ago.

“Half assed panic button pushing idiot. Did this even prove a damned thing?”

“Canterlot is not ready for an attack, Sir”

“WE KNEW THAT!!”

“The test simply proves it, Sir.”

“GAH you will tell me if you plan to do anything like this again!!”

“Of course Sir, unless we are testing you as well.”

“GRAHH, why you.....”

“That is enough General, I wish to talk to Kaisur alone Please leave.”

“But...... yes Princess.”


Mustang glares at Jer'rahd who remains impassive from the glare before storming out, leaving Jer'rahd with Princess Celestia. The Sun Goddess takes a sip of tea and motions a wing for Jer'rahd to sit.

“No thank you, I prefer to stand.”

“It was not a offer General Kaisur. Sit down you are making me nervous like that .”

Jer'rahd sighs moving to take a seat across from the Princess, his eyes remaining on Celestia as if expecting something.

“Why were you chasing my sister through the castle today?”

He winces a bit though it figures she would have found out something.

“It is not my business to tell you.”

“I could always make you tell me what you know.”

“You could, I have no doubt about that, but that likely would limit the chance Princess Luna might tell you herself, plus I doubt I would be very effective as a Element Bearer afterward.”

“ I knew you were good at keeping secrets General, I simply did not expect you to keep them from me.”

“I appreciate all the help you have given Celestia, but my loyalty between you two is to your sister first.”

“Admirable I suppose. Allow me to tell you a story General, and like most things I tell you I would ask you keep it a secret.”

“Unless it becomes a threat or is needed to be revealed for the good of Equestria.”

“Like your friends new weapons? Yes, I suppose that one could not be avoided if you wished to rescue Luna. This one should have no bearing on anything like that, but it shall help you understand my point of view.”

“I find it odd that you would trust me with any thing.”

“You have proven yourself to be trustworthy on more than one occasion. You are up front and open on nearly everything except what you are told to keep to yourself, so the fact your hiding something worries me. Now for the little tale.”

Celestia sets down her tea cup and shifts on the pillow. Her delaying was making him nervous and she seemed to notice and enjoy it. Right before telling her to get on with it, she started.

“At some point or another in the lives of any Alicorn, we become a bearer of an Element, or are in contact with the bearers, closely in contact. I personally have wielded Magic, Loyalty, and Compassion in my years. This is the second time my sister has wielded Magic. Magic is the strongest, with magic one can rip the world apart and rebuild it anew. It is also the weakest as it is useless without the others. Trust, love, and friendship are needed to bring out that power. And if those three things fail, is one the worst of things can happen.”

“Your sister mentioned that about magic.”

“Good to see she remembers something I tell her.”

Jer'rahd raises an eyebrow not seeing a point to this so far, but like Rhede every time he was told anything Celestia tended to go all the way around her flank with her left hoof to reach her right.

“You asked before about Aviana. She wielded the elements as well, Magic and then Compassion, at least three times that she told me of. When I first met her the world was in great turmoil and strife. Equestria had just formed and was already ripe with external problems and monsters. I was embroiled in many of these personally with my friends of the time. We had gleaned her interest as well as her sisters.”

Celestia sighs at that.

“It has been long enough that I have forgotten the name of Aviana's older sister. No matter, we were sent out to acquire the Elements, a rather powerful monster had been terrorizing Equestria and conventional magic and forces were not working against it. There were no legends of them then, no tales to tell us what they were or how to use them. But in those days like now one simply does not say no to a goddess, no matter who you may be. We ventured forth and found them using them to defeat the creature. After the battle Aviana's sister vanished and I was asked to take her place at Aviana's side. I accepted of course, but that is not the point of this. When we destroyed the monster we also freed another creature that had been trapped inside the beast, a dracoinus. He offered no fight or a hint of what he was, simply he wished to speak with Aviana. While he was a strange creature, he was not any threat we could determine and we were rather full of ourselves after beating the monster. Aviana's face lit up like the sun when she saw him, it was still perhaps the most glorious thing I have ever seen. Aviana knew him, he was her Element of Laughter, and he was long thought dead. “

“You're talking about Discord.”

“Yes, although that is not what he went by then. He had long since developed a crush on Aviana, he actively had sought to seek a way to extend his life though spent far too much of it asleep, he had been successful. While Aviana was thrilled to see her friend she in no way returned his affections. While clearly saddened by this he was content to remain with us, I had to admit he was amusing, and as my friends died of old age he and Aviana were the only constants in my life. Aviana often remained at the castle sending us out to recover things, his knowledge put him in the great library more often than not researching something for her. However his frustration at her indifference to his attentions wore on him until he snapped one day. He used some spell and had his way with her, before fleeing the castle.”

Jer'rahd finally saw where this was going but did not bother to stop her.

“At that time I did not have the code I follow now and I sought to end him for taking advantage of her and ruining my complacency. I did not find him until he resurfaced decades later and began the Discordian war. I did not cease my search for him in all that time. I found traces and hints of him that I followed leaving a blood soaked path across the world. When I did find him I could do nothing for how well he had prepared for me. I fled returning to Canterlot and gathered an army. The war was Luna's trial in fire, and she handled herself perfectly, my sister and I ended Discords reign sealing him in stone with the Elements. She with Magic, I with Loyalty. Aviana gave her powers up after that, choosing to live on her own, as a pony and die as one. She never seemed to come to terms with what happened to her with Discord. Luna was furious at what her friends had done as well, running off with the elements including mine. So at the time I could not even try and comfort Aviana and by the time Luna was settled she had passed on.”

Celestia takes a sip of tea.

“Luna has yet to forgive them completely, considering they died in those temples and left her alone, I cannot say I blame her. I expect your test is different, with what Starfall said it is clear their spirits were still there. I was the last wielder of Loyalty and I never met the pony that managed to steal that one. Your test might not have been a vision, but simply something literal like Starfall's.”

“Why tell me this?”

“Because I was once called the bloody ghost, when I hunted Discord for what he did to Aviana. My fur was so stained with blood that it was pink for a century. I have heard the reports and I can put two and two together Jer'rahd. I understand what must have happened to Luna. And I assure you I am also quite aware of what all of you want to do, and if it were not for the other races I would agree with it in a moment and even go so far as to aid you in wiping Cindervale off the face of the world.”

Her eyes burned as she stared at Jer'rahd, he had seen her anger before and this was beyond that, she was trapped in the webs of politics so deeply the frustration would have driven a lesser pony mad by now.

“............ I believe you Celestia. But your sister needs to tell you herself what transpired, it is not my place.”

“I understand Jer'rahd. But I ask that you understand that I am not halting the war because I am desperate for peace, I am halting it because we have little choice otherwise, we cannot fight a war on all fronts and survive.”

“I know, we do not have the power for it. But it still does not sit well with me, with any of us.”

“Just help my sister understand it, and keep her from doing anything we will all regret.”

“I will do my best.”

“That is all I could hope for. Though there is one more thing.”

“And what is that?”

“There will be a parade through Canterlot to celebrate the return of the troops, and once again General Mustang is letting you handle the speech.”

“Oh for bucks sake.”

“Language General.”

=========================================

“Wait wait what ? No that cannot be right are they serious?”

“Yes, They are serious Mr. Pelt.”

Rhede smacks his head against the desk and the paper he had been reading, the loud thunk of his head hitting the desk repeatedly the only sound in the office for a few moments. While the work was lighter since Jer'rahd was back doing his own paper work, Mustang had stopped sending him anything, and he fired all the old staff, it was what he still received from Princess Celestia sometimes. It was all diplomatic nonsense.

“The dragons want us to pay for all the supply wagons that were destroyed, claiming they were on a peaceful mission to aid Equestria? They attack us and demand to be repaid for it? Buck no.”

“Not a fan of dragons I take Mr. Pelt?”

“I have one I tolerate and she still bugs the crap out of me, all the others I’ve met have tried to kill me. So yeah I have a bit of issue. Besides this is crap here any way.”

“Didn't the Griffons try the same thing after the War of the North?”

“ Good eye, yeah they did and we are going to handle this the same way. Take a letter, inform them we will be happy to pay the seven hundred thousand bits they demand for their wagons, just as soon as they pay the several billions of bits required to rebuild the great wall and compensate the civilians that were forced to evacuate from their political maneuver. Such an act would be a gesture of good will from the dragon empire and be a great step forward to smooth over any lingering hostilities between our lands.”

He smirks as the unicorn assistant jots all this down to fine tune later, Brass Candle was a rather rare find, she was good at her job and attractive. Pity she was married and thus off Rhede's target list.

“That's not going to go over well.”

“No, but send a copy of both letters to the Griffons, Diamond Dogs, and the Zebra leaders. We are keeping this in the open and making the dragons look as bad as possible to the other nations.”

“Yes Mr. Pelt.”

===================================================

Jer'rahd shifts a little in the hall way, yawning lightly. He remains in his armor standing as still as a statue outside the Princess's door. Starfall had gone home hours ago and he had long since gone past bored and into light catnaps while standing at Luna's door. He had long ago figured out how to sleep standing up and the armor just made it that much easier. If this situation was anything else he would not even risk these naps, but in the middle of Canterlot by the royal chambers surrounded everywhere by the Royal Guard,this was more of a precaution and a desire to not let Luna be alone any more if she did not want it. It was less guard duty and more sticking close to a friend who was having some issues. He was some what upset over the crushed daydreams he had occasionally of wooing the Princess some how, but then he never expected anything to come out of those thoughts any way.

His ears perk as the door behind him creeks open, a faint glimmer of light seen from a errant strand of the Princess's hair blowing out of the partially opened door.

“General?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“I am sorry about earlier today, both the running and the threat.”

“I said you did not need to apologize to me.”

“I believe I do, I promised you I would let Velkorn check me out and I tried to break that promise.”

“You were scared. I understand that. I suppose you are better now?”

“Considering that there will be no half breed born of me from this, I am doing much better.”

“That's good, because I am horrible at babysitting. Ask Maw about that sometime. Fox and Wolf pretty much galloped all over me.”

“Hehe....”

“So... that was not your first I hope.”

He shuts his eyes really wanting to slap himself in the face for that, stupid tired brain getting away from him.

“Wha.... you have absolutely no tact General.”

“I am well aware of that Princess, I grew up with Rhede after all.”

“Even he would not ask something so personal.”

“Likely right, then again he has surprised me before.”

“No.”

“No, he has there was the time....”

“No General, I mean that was not my first, thousands of years boredom does bring opportunities to find diversions, while I am not as promiscuous as my sister can be I am not inexperienced. The question is why do you ask?”

Quick excuse, quick excuse, ahh, got it.

“Something Starfall brought up, and that I saw in the reports of the others that were rescued. The mares
who had this as their first were traumatized to the point that no pony can even get near some of them now. It was how you acted earlier, that made me think of it. I simply wondered how much I needed to be on my tippy hooves on certain things.”

“All things considered, and aside from your rather blunt method of questioning,and overly sarcastic nature, you are fine as you are General. There is nothing wrong with you other wise..... aside from the disregard you seem to have for keeping your mane and tail in any sort of neat order.”

“They are clean and I keep them short for purposes of fighting. Besides, my tail and mane match the rest of me, I am not a pretty pony.”

“Gen...... Jer'rahd, may I trust you enough to tell you something.”

“That will be up to you if you can trust me enough or not. I have given you my life on more than one occasion. Literally once or so I am told.”

“Though that has been your duty.....”

“I think I have progressed a bit further than just doing this out of duty Luna. I have meant it even time I have called you a friend. So have the others, I had hoped you were doing the same, particularly considering we all have these impressive new clothes to show for it.”

“Friendship does not mean absolute trust Jer'rahd.”

“It does to me, if I can trust a pony with my life, I can trust them with anything.”

“Straight forward as always.”

“So what is it you were going to tell me?”

“Do you recall the books we recovered from our first trip into the Darklands?”

“Yes, I also am aware Celestia is not happy you have been reading them.”

“That cannot be helped. I have found quite a few useful things in them. Including something which I will need every ones help with.”

“What is it?”

“A ritual, one that should grant whoever uses it a great deal of power, something we need now. I plan to use it and stop anyone from ever attacking us again.”

“It is from one of Discord's books, that sounds like something dangerous to the pony who uses it.”

“It may be, though I have used other spells from the book with no ill effects, I have reason to think this would do the same.”

“Why didn't Discord use it then, or why did you not use it before?”

“Discord may have used it, he was far stronger than he should have been, he was only beaten by the Elements of Harmony wielded by two goddesses. As for why I have not used it, I just found the last of the materials. The ritual is complex and I would need some one to protect me when I am casting it.”

“I will do what ever you wish Luna, but for now it may be better to wait. It sounds like something to use as a last resort, there are still plenty of options open to us right now, with luck perhaps your sister might be right about the peace working this time.”

“Do you actually believe that Jer'rahd?”

“No.”

===================================

The thunder of hooves was nearly deafening and he would have it no other way. A fully decorated chariot in the center of the formation of the 42nd had been set aside form him to ride in. Two Guard ponies stood ready to march down the streets of Canterlot to the central park, pulling the gaudy monstrosity he was to ride in. He glared at the parade coordinators and and sent several Guard's to the medical wing and another set to acquire a few more chariots. There were not many wounded from the 42nd but if they were able he was going to find a way to make sure they got the recognition from this as nonsense as well. The Guards returned with perhaps a good thirty wounded ponies in a series of carts, He let the coordinators decorate the things as best they could before he ordered the march , hooking himself up to one of the wagons as well and pulling a group of the most wounded along with him in the parade.

He was easy enough to tell apart from the normal Guard. The armor granted to him by the Element of Loyalty looked nothing like any of the armor the others wore as their dress uniforms. He did not take the lead of the formation as he was supposed to but marched along with the rest of his troops maintaining the formation.


Ponies lined the street cheering the troops marching down the road along with him. A wing of Pegasus flew over the road trailing smoke in the colors of Equestria's flag. And that little showing was all General Shower had to do, damn lucky mare. He had to give a speech and then listen to several hours of nobles trying to boost their own importance by giving speeches to the gathered troops and the on lookers. The only thing about this that he was proud of was every single pony that joined him in that last assault all three hundred and seventeen of them was marching or riding in this parade along side of him. The blessings of Celestia had been such that nothing thrown against them did more than moderately injure a few of them. There was nothing he could do for the hundreds that would not return home again, but to have accomplished so much with so few fallen was unheard of in any other war Equestria had been in. The media once more had a field day as all the other Generals did their best to lump all the blame or credit on him. There had not been a pony more well known, or thought a hero in history, and he hated every second of it.

He was not sure how, but some how news his death, and rebirth had hit the media. As well as the capture and rescue of Princess Luna. Novels and stories were already starting to pop up each with his epic tale captured in them. Bleu had purchased one and laughed her flank off for hours before letting him know what was so funny. The book was a clop fiction with him as the virile hero of yore breeding every willing female from Camp Geode to Cindervale. It was like they thought he was Rhede. He had spent the next few hours chasing Bleu as she read from it while he kept trying to set the book on fire.

The war was not over, None of the Guard though that it was. The general Populace and the nobles likely thought so , and were the only ones. The attack on the border was repelled and now Equestria was safe, even the papers screamed out that the war was won, the fighting over. Complete bull shit.

The parade finally came to a stop at the park, the Guards gathering before a massive stage set up in the center, thousands of ponies were already there waiting for the speeches and watching the crowds. His gaze was drawn to a foal struggling against his mother trying to rush out into the soldiers to his father. A earth pony Sergeant smiled risking a wave at the little foal before dropping back into a stance of attention. This was going to go on for three hours?

He slips free of the Harness letting another Guard take his place in case they had to move again, and moved out of the formation. He ignored the line of nobles who moved to greet him as he headed to the stage. These were some of the better ones, nobles who had done their best to help with the refugees or the war effort itself and likely did not deserve to be ignored though he had a purpose now. He knew he was supposed to sit through some retelling of the Guard's history, but he got all of that in basic and if he wanted to know more there was a library in Canterlot. He was then to be introduced and then allowed to give his speech, he marched towards the podium completely ignoring the ponies trying to guide him to his seat.


For a brief moment the one who was preparing the historical speech seemed like he was going to argue about Jer'rahd being up there. Jer'rahd's horn glowed lightly and one clasp very noticeably popped open on his scabbard. The other unicorn paled and backed away quickly.

Jer'rahd looks out over the crowd waiting for the voices and cheers to die down before he begins. He let the armor return into the necklace standing there in a simple dress uniform with only his rank shown. Every eye in the crowd and the Guard was on him again and he hated it, this much attention was not something he wanted. And yet it always seemed to come to him.

“AT EASE.”

The gathered Guard relaxed a bit and the few shouts and cheers still going died down.

“When I was told I was to be in this parade I was not happy, then I was told I would be along side the brave ponies who helped drive off those that dared threaten our land and I was thrilled. All this, all the glamor all the media all the pomp and ceremony. Not a one of you cares a bit for this do you. Well neither do I.”

He lifts a rather massive stack of papers off the podium with his magic flicking through the papers before flinging the whole stack back over his head to crash to the stage.

“I was supposed to give that as a speech, then it would followed by hours more of the same, if you want to read the speech check your library later, cause I am not reading it. This war is not over, and do not believe a single pony that tells you other wise. This is just the lull, and since I have no idea how long it will last I will not be the pony that keeps you away from your families a moment longer than I need to. Go enjoy yourselves. You have earned this rest, shows over, GUARD!! DISMISSED!!”

The roar of the soldiers present was almost drown out by the stampede of hooves as the families held at bay charged forward to greet their loved ones. He smiled softly turning back to look to the nobles. Some of them seemed annoyed at what he did, but the majority simply smiled and nodded, a few tossing their speeches into the pile with his and wandering off with a laugh. Perhaps there was hope for some of them yet.

========================================

Jer'rahd chuckles as Bleu goes into a rather detailed description of some of the nobles faces after his speech earlier. The group of them were finally doing what he had wanted to do the whole time they had been gone. They were all gathered in Star cloud’s bar, and he was about to drink his IQ lower again.

Luna reluctantly joined them as did Starfall as neither truly wished to come but pressure from the others had them at least show up in the closed bar. Particularly since Jer'rahd was buying.

Starcloud set the first round of Rainboom Shots on the table before them and went off to get the second round. Jer'rahd smiles and picks up the shot lifting it in the air and knocking it back, he then proceeds to keep going back and crash to the floor the shot glass skittering away from him. Velkorn drops her drink rushing over to check on him as the others panic for a moment.

The zebra blinks, poking the unconscious stallion curiously before checking his eyes. She smirks suddenly, and starts to laugh falling over holding her own sides as she seems to lose it. The others stare a moment, their gazes switching between the laughing Zebra and the comatose unicorn before Velkorn manages to finally control herself enough to speak.

“He is fine, there is no mistake, he simply had more than he could take.”

“One rainboom? Jer drinks about nine of those just to get buzzed.”

“While before that might have been true, it is not any longer thanks to Bleu.”

“Wait! What did I do?”

“All the Gems you broke on his head, when they could not heal his body they healed other things instead.”

“Other things?”

“His liver and guts are like new, it seems he lost his tolerance for booze all thanks to you.”

“Oh buck, boss is gonna kill me when he wakes up.”


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Twilight comes back to herself with the loud snores of Rainbow Dash filling the library.


Honestly she was starting to spend more time sleeping here than at home. Of course it was rather nice that she had gotten into books as much as she had, but still, the snoring made it hard to sleep sometimes.

She sighs floating a spare blanket over her friend while she jots down notes. She finally puts the sword and her materials away and douses the lights. With that roaring coming out of Rainbow there was no way she was going to get any more work done. Still it was nice to have the company, for all they annoyed her at times, they all were her friends. She could not even imagine how Celestia and Luna dealt with outliving every pony they knew. Perhaps that was why her teacher always seemed so aloof and why the choice of whether or not to free the five was weighing so heavily on the moon Goddess.

Something to consider later, or just ask about when she had time with either of the Princesses.

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