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// Twilight's Coronation 
// Story: The Guard And His Sword 
// by Himntor 
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I awoke the moment the sun shone fully across Equestria. My usual morning routine began, rubbing the dust out of my eyes, grabbing a glass of water and a carrot to eat while I strapped on my armor. Then I stopped. There was something different about today. What was it?
Oh yeah, I was on a break. I sat down and looked at my sword, levitating it into my hooves and feeling the cold metal. I never really held the thing to take a good look at it, always having worn it around me like a belt or using levitation. It captivated me in some way, though that was not surprising with how precious it was. Equestrian steel and gold made in the best forge Canterlot had to offer, and the crystals holding the enchantment, perhaps as ancient as the Crystal Heart itself. Those crystals were like eyes, forever watching, unblinking. No living creature would ever win a staring contest against them.
The sound of commotion outside snapped me out of my trance. I shaped the sword around my waist and went outside, finding the town alive with the talk of the coronation in Canterlot that everypony was preparing to go to.
Coronation? What coronation?
The answer came as I made my way through town. I was barraged with variations of “Did you hear that Twilight’s getting a coronation?” or “Twilight Sparkle is being coronated as a new Princess! Aren’t you excited?” from everypony I came across. All over again I couldn’t believe it. I had nearly forgotten everything from the day before. Last night really had happened. It was all so surreal.
Well, I might as well go to Canterlot like everypony else.
Rather than flying there on my sword, I cast a sight spell on it and launched it towards Canterlot at ludicrous speed. I’m pretty sure there was a sonic boom. Once overhead the city, I brought it down to the royal barracks, locked onto its position, and teleported myself next to it.
This thing was ridiculous. Less than five minutes to travel from Ponyville to Canterlot. Absolutely ridiculous. And now that I think about it, I could have done it in less than five seconds simply by teleporting the sword where I wanted and immediately teleported to it, though it would be riskier because I wouldn’t know if there might be somepony where I’m teleporting it to, not to mention teleporting weapons within city limits is frowned upon.
What a terrifying sword. Thank Celestia it resisted other pony’s magic.
Everything around the barracks was in a frenzy. Guards were constantly trotting around, all preparing for the coronation. Captain Morningstar stood outside the barracks doors, issuing orders to the other Lieutenants and Officers. Sweat was pouring down the side of his face, and I swear he was trying to avoid looking at me. Probably because he knew I could help, but he couldn’t order me to.
I could help, and I probably should, but I’m not going to. I’m not going to disappoint Princess Luna. Instead, I’m going to check my locker in the barracks if there’s any important letters or paperwork, and then I—wait a second, there’s a letter of personal invitation to Twilight’s coronation in here.
What the buck.
Me? Really? Why? I was just a Lieutenant. I guess I was a once-considered-to-become-Captain too, but I didn’t seem notable enough for such an occasion. Maybe Twilight or Celestia considered me close or important enough to invite? I don’t see how that could be.
“Hey Arden,” I said as the Lieutenant came in, “did any of the Lieutenants get a personal invitation to the coronation?”
Arden raised an eyebrow and began checking his own locker. “A personal invitation? Not that I know of. We’re all too busy coordinating things to be part of the audience.”
I scratched my head. “So not even the Captain got one?”
Arden shrugged. “You’d have to ask him.”
I promptly did so, and he gave a quick no, so that answered that. Which meant I must’ve been the only Royal Guard in Canterlot to receive a personal invitation. How strange. I suppose there could be multiple reasons why, or the culmination of all the reasons, yet I still felt like I was an odd pick. Oh well, guess I was going. No reason not to.
Before the coronation began, I spent the time watching what seemed like all of Equestria gather into the castle courtyard. When the time came, I went inside the castle and presented my invitation and went into the room where everyone else had gathered. It was the same room that Cadance’s and Shining Armor’s wedding had been held. I stood at the very back, almost in the same spot I stood before Chrysalis appeared. A sense of déjà-vu overcame me, though I heavily doubted anything would go wrong.
Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and all of Twilight’s friends stood at the front, and once everyone was in place and ready, Celestia began.
"We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion. My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, has done many extraordinary things since she's lived in Ponyville. She even helped reunite me with my sister, Princess Luna. But today, Twilight Sparkle did something extraordinary. She created new magic, proving without a doubt that she is ready to be crowned Equestria's newest princess. Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present for the very first time, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
Wait, that was what she did to become a Princess? Created new magic? Whoa…
The doors opened and everyone turned to see the new Princess. Twilight Sparkle entered, dressed in an amazing white outfit, fit for a queen. A choir followed her, singing to behold the new Princess Twilight. Even some of the Royal Guards were part of it. Everyone looked at her in awe as she came forward and was crowned with one of the Elements of Harmony. I could see Shining Armor near the front with a few tears in his eyes.
I was probably the only one in the room who didn’t share the sentiment. This was merely the natural way of things—Twilight gets everything she ever wanted while I lose all I have. No big deal.
Ponyfeathers. I can’t take this anymore.
I teleported my sword above the castle and made sure it was shaped correctly before teleporting onto it. As I looked at the unbelievably massive crowd, Twilight came onto the balcony and addressed them.
“A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which is something I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!”
Luckiest pony in Equestria. What a nail on the head. I couldn’t think of a better description. Who knew that you could become a Princess by sheer luck? I wish I had half as much as her.
There was a flash of light beside me, and I looked over to it with a sigh.
“What do you want, Discord?” I wonder why I hadn’t seen him earlier. Surely he was as important as I was to receive a personal invitation.
Discord folded his arms. “Why must everypony assume I want something when I appear beside them? Is there some kind of look in my eyes that is just begging for attention?” He plucked one of his eyes out and pointed it at his other. “I can’t tell.”
“Fine then, don’t speak your mind.”
As I began to fly away Discord teleported in front of me, arms open wide.
“Why thank you, Lieutenant! I’ve been meaning to speak from the heart. Nopony but dear Fluttershy has ever given me a chance before. I’m just curious why you’re up here while everypony else is down there.”
“That’s none of your business. How did you know I was up here anyway?”
Discord teleported onto my sword as a miniaturized version of himself and tapped the large crystal. “I’m a master of tracking sources of magic, and Princess Celestia wants me to keep an eye on this sword of yours. She’s quite concerned.”
Not a surprise, I guess.
Discord poofed back in front of me. “Anywho, I just find it interesting that on Twilight’s big day, you of all ponies are reluctant to attend and cheer her on.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t see you attending.”
“Well I wasn’t invited, so of course it would be rude to crash the party. Unless you’re offering to. I’m sure it would be absolutely delightful. Twilight is sure to be surprised.”
Discord hadn’t been invited!? And yet I had!
“I don’t care for Twilight,” I blurted. “She says it like it is, she’s the ‘luckiest pony in all of Equestria.’ So she’s an Alicorn now, whatever. Doesn’t change anything. It’s not like she’s going to be assigned Royal Guards under her command, or get her own castle. Nothing will happen, life will go on. She solves all her problems, and more are heaped upon me.”
Discord poofed onto a conjured soft chair, now wearing a formal suit and writing on a notepad. “And how does that make you feel?”
I scoffed and turned away. “I don’t care.”
Discord clasped his claw and paw. “What sort of problems are heaped upon you? Failure to save Equestria? Inability to make friends? An enchanted conscious sword that might turn rogue on you at any moment? A father who only supported what he wanted you to be? Being overshadowed by a lucky mare and her friends?”
“All of the above, thank you for reminding me.”
“My pleasure. Now that everything is on the table, I can help you get over all your problems in an instant. It’s as easy as—” Poof!
He and the chair vanished.
“Gee, some help. I’ll just do the same thing with my problems. Oh wait, they’re not a physical thing capable of being teleported away.” I rolled my eyes.
I flew back to the royal barracks and stripped off my armor and put it away in my locker. No point in wearing it all day, really, especially since I wasn’t on duty. I was about to fly back to Ponyville when I saw Shining Armor and Justice heading for me.
“Hey Swordulan,” Shining Armor said. “Good to see you. Were you at the coronation?”
“Briefly,” I said. “It was getting too stuffy so I came here to put my armor away and get some air.”
“Are you on a break?”
I sighed. “Yes. By Princess Luna’s command. I don’t know what to do with my time.”
Shining Armor laughed. “You should visit us at the Crystal Empire. Tomorrow is game night with the Royal Guards and we could use a newcomer to tease.”
“I don’t know, I need to get some things done. Maybe another time.”
“Of course, no problem. Are you doing okay?”
I gave a halfhearted shrug. Was I doing okay? Not really. I wasn’t making any progress with this break, I was just waiting to go back to work. Not that it would solve my problems, and eventually my frustration would build up and I’d get put on another break, only to repeat the process of never getting anything done. Argh, I hated this. Why couldn’t I work and just be happy with that? Actually, who said I couldn’t? The only times that have really frustrated me were when I wasn’t working. Not only that, there was the imaginary pressure for me to make friends. I didn’t need friends! I was just a Royal Guard. This was all just ridiculous, it didn’t need to be happening.
Shining Armor and Justice looked at me wide-eyed.
“Swordulan, your shield just disappeared!” Shining Armor said.
I raised an eyebrow. “What shield? I don’t have a shield.” Had Discord just made them crazy?
“The one in your cutie mark,” Shining Armor said, pointing at my flank. “Don’t you remember your lost stars? The shield they surrounded just disappeared.”
I staggered back and looked at my flank. There was only the sword in my cutie mark, but it was all I ever had in my memory. I knew there were stars missing, but how could there have been a shield there too? Everything felt wrong. What was happening to me!?
“Swordulan, take it easy,” Justice said. “Breathe, Lieutenant.”
“Get away from me!” I said, jumping on my sword to fly away, but Shining Armor cast a shield spell around me.
“Swordulan, wait, we can help!” he said.
I teleported my sword out of the shield and then teleported myself back onto it, then with as much magic as I could harness, I burst away from Canterlot. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I didn’t care. As long as I was getting away from all this, good. Where should I go, though? I was heading east already. Manehattan? Yes, to Manehattan to get my father to undo the spell he cast on me. That was where I was going.
Instead of flying the rest of the way, I landed and shaped my sword into a ball and teleported it over Manehattan, then cast a sight spell on it, levitated it to the ground, and teleported myself beside it. I shaped it around my waist and headed for my parents’ apartment with a fire growing in my heart. I was ready for this to be done. I wasn’t going to let my father get away with this any longer.
I was at the door within ten minutes. With a deep breath, I raised my hoof and knocked.
The door opened to an unfamiliar mare. “Can I help you?”
“Who are you?” I asked. Did I get the wrong address? “Is Steadfast Shield here?”
I heard sobbing in the background, and the mare glanced back with a grimace. “No, I’m sorry to say that Steadfast passed away in Bronclyn Hospital two hours ago. Are you Swordulan, his son?”
I stared ahead, the fire extinguished. I saw my mom on the couch, sobbing. Passed away? Hospital? Two hours…
“What… what happened? How…?”
A wave of vertigo washed over me, my legs buckled, and I crashed to the ground.