//------------------------------// // 14: Modulation // Story: The Rhythm of Love // by lockheed //------------------------------// “Mister Swing, may we have a word with you?” I lowered my baton, causing the band to stop playing, and turned around to see Princess Luna standing there. I quickly bowed to her, though her tone indicated that she was not at all pleased. She indicated for me to rise and to follow her. As I followed her through the halls of the palace, not a word was spoken by either of us. Finally, we arrived at her chambers where she led me inside. “Lieutenant, we’d like to have a word about your actions the other night.” This got a raised eyebrow from me as her magic locked the doors to her chambers. “You know, such brutality has not been seen since the days of your grandfather and the Zebrica Conflict. Not even the zebras drove hot nails into the hooves of their enemies.” I suddenly felt my stomach twist as she seemed to tower in front of me. “Would you care to explain your actions? Or if you like, we can skip the formalities and we can just have you thrown in the palace dungeon immediately.” I swallowed hard. I’d seen the dungeons and they made Alcoltraz Prison look like a resort. “Your highness, I should like a chance to explain my actions.” She sat down and waved a hoof for me to begin. “Your highness, I acted out in retaliation for actions committed against my coltfriend, Test Tube. Mister Beaker had intentionally spilled acid onto Test Tube, causing injury and potential disfigurement to his skin. Mister Beaker did so simply because of my coltfriend being homosexual. Test had not made any threatening action towards Mister Beaker so the attack was unwarranted and completely out of malice towards his sexual preferences.” Luna’s expression remained that of anger but her eyes seemed to show that her anger was starting to somewhat dissipate as I explained my actions. “Your highness, you should also realize that as a Guard, we have sworn to protect not just yourself and your sister, but the citizens of Equestria as well. I have also sworn to myself that I will not let anypony, regardless of who they are. And while I should have turned the case into the proper authorities, I instead made the foolish move of playing judge, jury, and executioner. I am willing to accept whatever punishment you have deemed fit for me but I do hope that you will take my motive into consideration.” I told her as I kneeled before her. Luna stood silent for almost a full minute before she began to speak. “Mister Rhythm, while we are appalled at your actions, we do understand the motive. You will be stripped of your rank and demoted to private. You should consider yourself lucky that we consider you a friend of ours. We’ll be sure to keep this all under wraps and create a cover story for your demotion. Dismissed.” I thanked her before leaving her chambers. Once I was out into the corridor, I breathed a sigh of relief. They say it pays to have friends in high places; and certainly if that friend co-holds the highest position in the nation. And considering I could’ve been imprisoned for life and even tortured for my actions, a demotion was but a slap on the hoof. You see, one of the few things I keep hidden from the world is that, as a colt, I was declared a sociopath. Now, don’t get that confused with a psychopath because they’re actually two different things. A psychopath will kill you and feel nothing while a sociopath will know what they’re doing is wrong and not care. You can pass one of us on the street or talk with us at a party and you would never know. We can be introverted or extremely charismatic and outgoing. We don’t usually care for other ponies, but when we do, we will go so far as to kill anypony who hurts them. I knew that was no excuse for my actions, but in my mind what I’d done was fair retaliation. Though, I honestly don’t believe I’m a sociopath if you want the truth. I think it was a misdiagnosis. “Swing!” I turned and looked to see Drum Cadence, one of the band members, galloping towards me. “What did the Princess want?” She asked me as she skidded to a stop on my left side. “Oh. Well, she demoted me to private. Other than that, not much.” I replied and began trotting again as if it was nothing of significance. “Wait, you got knocked down to private?!” She shouted as she jumped in front of me. “Yes. Do you mind? I kind of want to go home now.” Stepping around her, I removed my uniform tunic and dropped it to the floor before making my way out of the palace. The walk home was silent, most ponies in Canterlot still being at work that time of afternoon. When I got home, I sat down in my chair and watched the clock on the mantle of the fireplace. With my attention focused on the clock and its rhythmic ticking, I didn’t even notice the kids arrive after school or even when Test arrived home from work. My attention was only broken away from the clock when I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I turned my head to see Test standing by my chair with a worried look on his face. “Are you alright?” He asked me. I thought for a moment before nodding my head and standing up. “Just tired. I’m going to bed.” I told him with a weak smile. “Bed? It’s only six.” Now he seemed really worried. “Just a long day at work. Lot of stuff on my mind.” I replied as I made my way to the bedroom, Test following me close behind. “Like what?” Test questioned as he shut the bedroom door behind us, both of us sitting down on the bed. “Before I say anything, do you swear that you won’t get mad?” He nodded yes but before I continued, he opened his mouth to speak. “Does it have anything to do with why Beaker resigned?” I nodded, my guilt taking full hold. “What did you do?” “I sorta tied him up and drove hot nails into his forehooves.” My confession didn’t go without a reaction and Test scrunched up his face a little. “I suppose it’s not the worst thing you could’ve done. I mean, it’s not like you killed him and baked his flesh into cupcakes or something.” I was surprised he was so calm. “But that’s still not the proper response. My pain will pass and the scar will be covered; but he may well not be able to walk normal again.” Tears stung my eyes as I thought about what I’d done. “Now look, while it’s not what you should’ve done, you feel sorry for it don’t you?” I nodded that I did, though somewhere in the back of my mind, a tiny part of me still tried to say he’d deserved it. “Good. There’s nothing you can do about it now though is there?” Shaking my head, I looked up at him as he pulled me into a hug. “Now, I’m not saying that what you did was the right thing. No, I’m not saying that at all but by Celestia; you did what I was half tempted to do myself. Now, is there anything else that needs discussion?” He asked me. “I’m going to resign my post tomorrow.” I stated as I leaned back and out of his embrace. “I’ve been knocked down to private. Princess Luna found out about my actions. She nearly threw me in the palace dungeons, which quite honestly, I don’t deserve any less.” Hopping down from the bed, I began pacing as I typically do during times of stress. “I’ve been disgraced. My honor has been stained and it has been at my own hoof. Perhaps I should volunteer for the infantry branch of the Guard. Might get some of my honor back.” “Swing.” I stopped where I was as it was rare for Test to use my first name. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea? I mean, yes you were demoted and you may be somewhat disgraced but are you certain that this is the right course of action?” “Resigning?” Luna asked as I stood at attention in front of the desk in her small palace office. I nodded that it was correct, the letter in front of her being physical evidence of it. “Well, we must say that we am slightly surprised, Mister Rhythm. And you want infantry? That assignment can land you anywhere in Equestria. Not to mention it’d require quite a bit of moving around from base to base. If you’d rather, we can get you on our staff here at the palace. Far nicer job and wouldn’t mean moving around.” “You would put me on your staff to keep me from moving?” I asked her as she got up and walked around to lean back on the front of the desk. “Tartarus no! We’re doing this for Test!” She told me with a smile which got me to grin a little. “Honestly, you seem to be one of the few ponies besides our sister that just treats us as another pony and not a princess. It is a welcomed change.” “Well, the way I see it, we’re all going to die at some point and then we’re all equal so why should it be any different when we’re all living? As for the job on your staff, I will be pleased to join. However, I should like to choose the officer who will be taking over my post as bandleader.” “Here are the reports from the Las Pegasus Lunar Guard that you requested.” I said as I set a black folder on Luna’s desk. It’d been three weeks since I’d started on her staff, which thankfully came with a promotion from private to corporal. “Thank you, corporal. We’ll look those over.” I bowed my head and was about to leave when Luna stopped me. “Also, Corporal Drum Cadence has been asking for you. She didn’t say why though.” “Thank you, your highness. I’ll track her down.” I walked out of her office, shutting the door behind me, and went back over to my desk which was right in front of Luna’s office. Nice thing about the job of clerk, you can come and go as you please and just say it’s ‘official business’. I stuck a post-it note to my desk saying I would be back later and began wandering the corridors of the palace looking for Drum Cadence. Finally, I found her in the mess hall for the Lunar Guards. “Cadence.” She looked up and smiled at me. With a wave of her hoof, she invited me to sit across from her at the lunch table. “So, you were looking for me?” “Yeah, I was.” Her dark grey fur began to take on a red tint as she rubbed the back of her neck. “I’ve heard rumors about her highness and I was hoping that you, being her friend and all, would be able to answer them for me?” “I’ll try to but keep in mind that I need to respect the Princess’s privacy as well.” I told her as I loosened my black tie and undid the top button on my midnight blue shirt. “Alright well, um…I’ve heard that her highness has been in relationships with mares.” Her ears folded back against her head and her leathery wings fluttered a bit as she shifted in her spot. “And, if that’s true…could you maybe see about my chances about a date with her?” I was surprised to say the least. The mare, who when she was under my command, had never showed any signs of being interested in other mares. “I didn’t know you swing that way, Cady.” I replied. “Homosexuality is still highly frowned upon in bat pony culture. I know my parents are proud that I’m in the Lunar Guard and that I’m serving the Princess of the Night. But if they found out I’m into mares; I’d not only be disowned but very likely be attacked for it.” Her face took on a depressed expression as she explained it to me. “Well look, your secret is safe with me. As for the Princess, I can’t say anything on the matter but I’ll be in touch with you.” Standing up, I nodded to her before trotting back up to Luna’s office. The door to the office was ajar which prompted me to go over and knock on the doorframe. “Your highness, may I speak with you?” “Of course, Swing. Our door is always open for you.” Luna’s voice said as I stepped inside her office. “What would you like to speak we us about?” “Heh, well, it’s rather awkward. I found Drum Cadence.” I told her while I took a seat in front of her desk. “Ah, yes. Did you find out what she wished to discuss?” “Yes actually. She wished to discuss you.” I replied while shifting on the cushion. “She wished to discuss the possibility of her getting a date with you.” This made Luna freeze, the quill in her magic coming to a stop and a bit of ink beginning to pool where the quill met the paper. Slowly, her eyes began to look up at me over her reading glasses. Her magic released the quill and took hold of her glasses. She set her glasses aside on the desk and fully turned her attention to me. “A date? Corporal Drum Cadence wishes to have a date with us?” I nodded that she was correct which then got a reaction from Luna I’d never expected to see. She blushed. “Swing, could you perhaps page Corporal Cadence and get her up here?” I nodded that I would, a sly smirk crossing my face as I walked out to my desk. I pressed the button for the magic PA system. "Will Corporal Drum Cadence please report to Her Majesty Princess Luna's office?" Removing my hoof from the button, I stuck my head into Luna's office. "You want me to make some dinner reservations for you two?" "Not yet. we'd like to speak with her first." Luna replied as she removed her crown, making her look less royal and more dorky with just her glasses. I nodded and returned to my desk to fill out some paperwork until I heard the door to the small reception area open. Looking up, I saw Drum Cadence standing there nervously as she looked at the door to Luna's office. "Go right in. She's expecting you." She began to advance but I stopped her just short of the door. "Also, don't bow. It'll just make her feel awkward." She nodded to me and stepped into Luna's office, shutting the door behind her. When I heard the door lock, I immediately hurried over and placed my ear to the door. As I stood there listening to the conversation on the other side, I didn't notice somepony enter the reception room until Celestia's face was directly in front of mine. She gave a quick 'shh' as she pressed her ear to the door as well. We both listened in on Luna and Drum Cadence's conversation; a corporal and a princess standing there like kids listening to see where their parents hid the Hearths Warming gifts. It wasn't long before we heard the lock click and we both quickly hurried away from the door while trying to act natural. "Were you two listening in on our conversation?" Luna asked as her and Drum stepped out of the office. Celestia and I shook our heads innocently but Luna clearly didn't believe us as she walked Drum out into the corridor. A minute later she returned and Celestia looked at her with a huge smile. "So where're you taking her for dinner?" Celestia asked her. "We knew you were listening to our conversation with Drum Cadence!" Luna said as she pointed a hoof at her sister but then her mind was drawn back to the question at hoof. "We're not sure actually." "And what're you going to wear?" I questioned which then made Celestia and I look at each other. "Not to mention that if she goes out looking like herself she'll cause a riot. So we need clothes, a disguise, and dinner reservations." I then began looking at the schedule for the day. "Luna, you come up with a disguise, I'll make the reservations, and then Celestia and I will help you find something to wear. The schedule is clear until twelve thirty." Luna went into her office to create a disguise while I had Celestia teleport a dinner reservation to a nice Prench restaurant. As we sat there, a flash of light came from Luna's office and a minute later a midnight blue unicorn mare with a silver mane walked out. "So how do we look?" Luna asked us as she did a slow spin for us to see everything. "Um, your cutie mark." I said while pointing a hoof at her flanks. Her horn lit up and her real cutie mark was quickly hidden by a fake one of just a crescent moon without the black coloring around it like her real one. "Do you have an alias?" "No, we haven't thought that far yet." She admitted sheepishly. "Well, we'll just figure it out while we're picking out a dress for you tonight." Celestia said with a smile as we headed out and towards Luna's chambers. We walked in silence, all of us thinking of different names. While trotting, as was habit for me, I began humming the song Moonglow, which was the song Test and I always danced to. "I've got it!" I shouted, causing Luna and Celestia to stop next to me. "Moonglow. Your alias can be Moonglow. That way, you keep the moon in your name and it's got a nice ring to it." Luna thought about it for a moment before nodding her head. "What a nice name. How'd you come up with it?" Celestia asked as we started walking again. "Oh, it just danced into my head."