Darkness. Warm, cozy, darkness. That was where I found myself when I awoke. My head was foggy. It was similar to the feeling I got when I had one hard cider too many. I was nestled up against a warm, soft mare. Although I didn’t remember Crystal having a wing. It certainly felt like I was wedged between a body and a wing.
I yawned and stretched out. Where was I? This didn’t feel like home, but it was familiar. Where had I been last? A party. That explained the cider feeling. Parties often led to that sort of thing. Especially housewarming parties. That was it! This didn’t feel like home because it was our new house.
That still didn’t explain the wing, though. I squirmed a bit and buried my muzzle into the mare’s side. My nose wiggled. She didn’t smell like Crystal, either. In fact, she smelled a lot like—
“Silent Knight, are you awake?” Princess Luna whispered.
“Yes,” I replied, more confused than ever. “Where are we?”
The princess shifted slightly in the darkness. Her horn burst into a pale light that seemed blinding at first. Another cider side effect. It took a moment before my eyes adjusted and I could see her face. Her expression was off. “In the palace, of course,” her voice was full of concern.
“Why are we in the palace?”
Her forehoof came to rest on my head. “Are you well? I realize you had some drinks again last night, but not enough for this. Are you still blocking out what happened?”
What happened? What did that mean? I barely remembered anything from the night before. A thrown cupcake, a small pony face off, and… a knock at the door? “What do you mean, blocking out?”
Princess Luna looped her foreleg around my form and pulled me in tighter. “I’ll send for a doctor and Dream Pop. I have humored you long enough.”
I set my forelegs against the crazed alicorn and pushed back a bit. “Princess, what are you talking about?”
“Silent Knight, I know this is hard for you. We were foolish to agree to your insistence that you take on this assignment, but Shining Armor and I thought you’d be best suited. Now, if you intend to carry out your duty, you need to be well. If not… well, perhaps it isn’t too late.”
What assignment? What had I insisted on? My heart started to pound. What had happened? “I don’t understand. Luna, what are you saying?”
The alicorn took a deep breath and clung to me as if she’d never let go. “We have allowed the drinking and this fantasy for the last few days out of respect for you. I had hoped you’d not make me say these words, but I see no choice.
“What do you last remember, presuming you do indeed have some memory loss? Tell me so I may start there.”
“I remember last night!” I said, feeling the desperation creeping into my own voice. “We were all at the housewarming party. It was fun. Everypony was having fun.”
“And then?” She asked.
“And then I woke up here!”
The alicorn stroked the back of my mane. “Nay, Silent Knight. That was three days ago. Everypony was having fun until the messenger from Central Command arrived. Do you not remember that?”
No? Yes? Was there a knock at the door? Yes, that seemed right, but there was still nothing after that. “And?”
Princess Luna shifted. “And that messenger was there to warn the House Guards. Lightning Hammer had escaped his prison and killed over twenty guards in doing so. His escape through Canterlot led to the deaths of nearly that many civilians, too.”
My apologies for interrupting, sir, but there is been an incident. We must speak with Captain Day.
Vague flashes of a pony in armor entered my mind. Then ponies moving to action. “I… What? That isn’t right, is it?” We had scrambled. I remembered that, too. Rather suddenly, but it was a washed-out memory. A notion, even.
“It is not right, but it is correct. He managed to escape Alicorn Spire altogether in the end despite your and Shining Armor’s efforts…” Her voice trailed and I felt a tear hit my muzzle as she leaned into me.
“You’re not telling me something,” I whispered.
“How can I! How can I say these words?”
Fear. It hit me hard. She’d started crying after explaining the carnage. Losing so many ponies was atrocious, but there was more. Something closer to home. I could sort of recall it now. An argument? “Luna, please?”
Go? You’re going to go?!
“Silent… I’m so sorry. Please… how can you ask me to do this?” Her grip on me tightened. “In the heat of the moment, while you and the other guards were planning to go after Lightning Hammer… she couldn’t handle it. You chasing after such a killer.”
She? She who? Crystal? Why wasn’t I at home with my wife? What was going on? My head spun. “Where’s Crystal? Luna, where is she?” I demanded.
The alicorn’s grip crushed me and I felt more tears fall. “She left you. It was too much Silent… the train, Alastair, the war… Crystal just couldn’t do it again.”
Left me! “What!” I gasped, pushing against her, trying to get free. “Don’t be crazy! How dare you even suggest that. Let me go. Let me go now! I’m going home.”
Princess Luna did as I asked. I frantically scrambled to my hooves and started stumbling through the dark room, bumping into furniture and knocking things over as I tried to get out. Then I couldn’t move anymore. She’d caught me in her magic. “Silent, wait! What are you going to say? What are you going to do! You can’t just crash in on her. She is deeply hurt.”
I thrashed about in her magical grasp. “I’m going to tell her I love her and that I’m sorry! We’re going to be in love!”
“What about Lightning Hammer?” the princess asked.
I stopped for a moment, filled with confusion. “What about him?”
“You volunteered to lead the team to find and secure him. You served with him longest and know him better than anypony else. Silent, we can’t let him roam free. He’s far too dangerous. So many lives have been lost and so many other ponies are now at risk.”
My jaw went slack. “What? Who cares! I need to get to Crystal.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll… I’ll find somepony else. Just… Silent, she asked you not to come. I don’t want you going alone,” the princess said hurriedly before rising to her hooves and wiping her eyes.
Without another word, she brightened her horn, illuminating her bedroom. While I was still trapped in her magic, she levitated me to the door and opened it. Looking out to the house guards just beyond, she said, “Inform Captain Day that the major is awake.”
“Yes, Princess,” one of them said before rushing off.
I squirmed more in the magical grasp, trying to make sense of what was happening. My head was spinning. The memory was vague, but I did remember fighting with Crystal before we stormed out into the night. She’d been furious and heartbroken all at once.
“I don’t need a chaperon. Please, let me go. I have to get home to my wife.”
The princess shook her head, her face pained. “You’ve been drunk for three days. I’m not letting you go alone. Sunny is your friend and she has… it. You’ll need it if you want to win Crystal back.”
“Stop being cryptic!” I shouted. That resulted in a nervous jostling of a guard outside.
Miley Hooves poked her head nervously around the edge of the doorway. “Is everything alright, Princess?”
“Yes, Sergeant, eyes forwards,” the princess ordered.
The little mare squeaked and did so.
“Her ring, Silent. What else would it be! She took it off and gave it back. You wouldn’t take it, so she gave it to Sunny before you two left with Shining Armor.”
That wasn’t true! It was a lie. Crystal would never… ever…
I can’t do this again! I can’t, Silent! He’s a killer! Midnight Snow died to save Princess Luna. If you are going after him, you have to do it knowing I won’t be waiting for you.
I shivered as if a chill had hit my heart directly. Had she said that? I could hear it but I couldn’t picture her face.
Princess Luna levitated me back to her and wrapped her forelegs around me. Her embrace was like a vice. While she may have meant to be comforting, it was all the more painful. “I’m so sorry that this is happening. I wish it could be any other way.”
“It will be fine. We’ll talk. It will be fine. We will be fine,” I said as I sorted through the disjointed memories of the party.
We can talk about this when I get home. These ponies need me right now.
What a stupid thing to say to an upset mare. Why would I say that?
Just go, Silent. You were always going to, anyway.
I winced. The princess felt it and loosened her grasp slightly. “Sorry,” she whispered.
“Me, too…”
The clearing of a throat caught our attention. Sunny approached us slowly, concern on her face. “He’s finally sober?”
“Yes,” the princess said before I could open my mouth. “And demanding to go speak to Crystal.”
Sunny sucked in a breath. “We suspected he would.” Her attention shifted to me. “I’m not sure that is such a great idea right now, Silent. She was really upset.”
“I don’t care, I’ll apologize. I’ll tell her I won’t leave again. I need to go home. Princess Luna won’t let me go unless you go. She says you have the ring. You can’t have her ring. She’d never give it up.”
The mare reached back into her saddlebag and pulled it out. My stomach dropped and I felt a bit ill. It was true. Sunny had Crystal’s ring. She’d never taken that ring off in anger. She’d never give it up.
“Please let me go, I need to go home,” I said to the princess.
Sunny held up a hoof. “That’s fine, but not alone. You just sobered up after a three-day bender. You’re upset, you’re sad, you’re not yourself. You can’t just go storming in there.”
I squirmed in Princess Luna’s grasp. She didn’t let go. “I am just going to talk to her.”
“And you’ll let me go with you?” Sunny asked.
“Yes! Let go, please!”
“Swear it,” Princess Luna said.
“I swear Sunny can come with me! Please let me go, now!”
The princess did so and I started trotting towards the door. She called after me but I didn’t hear whatever it was she said. How could I? I had to get home. I had to make Crystal understand. I had to swear to her that I’d be good.
No more running off after bad ponies in the night. I’d do whatever she wanted. Quit the Guard? Fine. Live at home? Fine. Make her copies? Fine.
Sunny was at my side, hurrying with me. “What’s the plan?” she asked.
“She’ll understand,” I said. She would, right?
“Okay… not your best plan.”
When we left the palace and got out into the courtyard, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I leapt into the sky and started flying as fast as I could.
“Silent Knight! You stop! You swore!” Sunny shouted after me before starting to gallop in the direction of my house. It was mere seconds before her voice was lost in the wind.
There was no time for oaths when it came to the loss of the love of your life. If they wanted somepony to stay with me, they should have sent a pegasus. It was a short flight for me. Why would I gallop through all of those streets? Time was of the essence.
When I arrived, our new home looked dark. All of the curtains were drawn and there was no evidence of light within. In a panic, I almost crashed into the door as I landed. My hoof found the handle. Locked. I jiggled it a few times. Locked. Why was it locked? Why would she lock the door?
“Crystal! Crystal, it’s me, please open the door!” I shouted, knocking with a hoof.
The only reply was maddening silence. I perked my ear and set it against the solid wood of the door. Perhaps I could hear a peep or rustle inside. In reality, all I could hear was the throbbing of my heart.
“Crystal, please!” I shouted.
Still there was nothing. Nothing at all. She had to be home. It was dark out. What time was it? Morning? Night? Who cared. I took a few steps back, looking around the front of the house.
Out of the corner of my eye I caught the subtle motion of one of the curtains. Somepony had peeked out. She was home. I stepped forwards and banged on the door with my hoof. “I know you’re home. Please, let me in. I need to talk to you. I need to explain.”
“Go away, Silent, she doesn’t want to talk to you,” came Velvet’s voice from the other side of the door.
Velvet couldn’t be trusted. What had she said to me at the party? ‘I’m starting to forgive you for hurting Crystal, but I know you are going to screw up again.’ “Velvet, open this door! If she doesn’t want to talk to me, she can tell me herself,” I replied, anger flaring into my voice.
The sound of galloping hooves approaching momentarily caught my attention. I turned to see Sunny moving as fast as possible. She leapt over the small fence and skidded to a halt beside me. Her chest was heaving as she tried to catch her breath. “Together,” she panted. “Said, together.”
I banged my hoof on the door again. “Velvet open this door right now or so help me, I’ll buck it down.”
“No, can’t,” Sunny wheezed.
“Can,” I said sternly. “Velvet, one!” I turned my back to the door and planted my forelegs. “Two!”
“Fine!” Velvet shouted back before practically ripping the door open. “Come in, you stupid, thick-headed, stubborn, jerk of a stallion.”
Without another word, I turned and brushed past her into the living room. Crystal was huddled on a sitting pillow. She was cocooned in a blanket that had been pulled up to cover half of her head. With the wrinkles in it she almost looked like a caterpillar. A really sad caterpillar.
Winterspear and Iridescence were at her side, looking at me with concern. My sister trotted towards me, putting herself between me and my wife. “Silent, I think you need to go. This isn’t the time.”
I reached out a hoof to push her out of the way. She caught it and squeezed it tightly. It gave me pause. We met eyes. Hers were filled with sorrow. She just shook her head.
“Crystal… please,” I said softly as I stood to my full height to look over Winterspear.
Iridescence set a hoof on Crystal’s back and stroked. “Silent, you’ve done enough, perhaps you should go?”
“I can’t, not unless she tells me to,” I said firmly. Everypony else was meddling. This was my wife. My marriage. My love.
Crystal took a deep breath and stood from the pillow. It was a weary motion. When our eyes met, hers were red and puffy. The way they got when she’d been crying a lot. “Silent, please leave.”
The words cut me deeper than anything that happened to me during the war. My nose twitched as I tried to keep my composure. “I won’t go. I told Luna I’d not go after Lightning Hammer. I swear. Just… please… give me another chance.”
With a shake of her head, Crystal replied, “I can’t, Silent Knight. I can’t take you back. You’ve made that clear to me. When this happened, your first thought was to say yes and rush off towards danger.
“I thought I understood what it meant to be a guard’s wife, and maybe I did. You’re not a guard, though. You’re… a soldier? A knight? Some kind of chosen pony? It doesn’t matter. Your first inclination will always be to duty. So, go follow that inclination without me.”
“I…” The word was practically whimpered. She was leaving me.
Winterspear squeezed my hoof. “Sunny, why don’t you get Silent Knight out of here. Everypony needs to calm down.”
Sunny took my hoof from my sister’s and started tugging at it. “Come on, partner, let’s get out of here.”
My head hung. I let the golden mare drag me out by the hoof. What else could I do? Crystal said go. The worst part was, she was right. I’d always put her second. For my duty, that would have been one thing. I put her second for everything, though.
“I want a drink,” I muttered.
“No, no more drinking. Not on my watch. You’ve been drunk for three days and Princess Luna may give you some latitude on that, but I won’t. Now, if you want to go beat up a training dummy, we can do that. If you want to talk, we can do that, too. I’m even willing to have a make out session if you think it will help… but we’re not getting drunk.”
Make out session? She was making jokes right now? I looked up at her and glared. “What do I do now, Sunny? Huh? You’re cracking jokes and the best thing in my life is gone.”
Without missing a beat, Sunny poked me right in the chest, hard. It made me angry. “That wasn’t a joke. If you thought kissing me would help you, I’d do it. That’s because no matter what, I’m your partner. I get the Guard. I get you and no matter what, I’m here at your side from now on.
“What you do is suck it up and realize that maybe right now, everypony is just a little tense. Maybe she isn’t gone. Maybe this is just a fight. Maybe it is the end. That is a lot of ‘maybe’s, but I’ll tell you three facts.”
She tapped one forehoof to the other. “One, you don’t know the outcome of this yet and the Silent Knight I know isn’t some pathetic stallion that would give up so easily. Two, she may be the best thing in your life, but you have other great things in your life, so appreciate them.
“And three, as much as I love you, as much as I’m your friend, I’m also a royal guard. Right now, I have a killer on the loose near this city. He killed Midnight Snow. He killed multiple guards. He killed civilians. Now, you are the pony that knows him better than anypony else. I’m also loath to admit it, but you’re also the best warrior I’ve ever met.
“So, I want to ask you something, Major.” She poked me with the hoof again. “Are we going to stand around and deal with the problem we can’t fix right now that will obviously need some time, or are we going to do our duty and go after the bad guy? You tell me what we do now!”
Sunny was right. Why was she right? Turmoil was raging inside me. Grief, anger, and hopelessness. Yet, through all of that, my sense of duty was cutting through. The light in the storm.
There was hope, though. She was right about that. Crystal may forgive me. Arguing with her now wouldn’t help. We needed to cool off. I needed to just put one hoof in front of the other. But could I work like this? My head wouldn’t be in the game. May the alicorns help Lightning Hammer if I found him like this. It was his fault. All of it.
“We should get our pony… but I can’t be in command. I’m not fit.”
“Right. I’ll do it. You’ll be my adviser and muscle. We’ll get the bad pony and then we’ll work on your life. Deal?” Sunny asked as she offered me a hoof.
As dirty as it felt. As awful as it sounds. I felt a little relief and reached out to bump the hoof. Control what you can control, Silent. Find the target and… what? I knew what they’d want but he’d already been subdued once and now ponies were dead. Dragoons don’t take prisoners. “Deal.”
“Great. And the kiss?” she asked.
“No, thank you.”
“That’s kind of rude, but whatever. You don’t know what you’re missing. Come on, Major. We need to clean you up and get you into some armor. I’m sure the team is getting impatient.”
What did that mean? “Team?”
Sunny stopped and tilted her head. “Wow… you were seriously drunk. You gave the princess a list of names. Names you needed to get this done. Don’t you remember?”
I shook my head.
Sunny shrugged. “Alright, well, it doesn’t matter. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and in armor. We’ll meet everypony after and get started.”
Right, we’d get started. Another mission. Another fight. Another time where Silent Knight is needed to do the only thing he is good at. Thank you, Stratus Knight. You got exactly what you wanted.