//------------------------------// // Prologue: Pegasus Mare in Canterlot Castle // Story: Trade Wind: Royal Tutor // by BlackBonitaCherry //------------------------------// Luna did not know what to think when a Guard interrupted her and Tia’s dinner to inform them of a ‘Trade Wind’ waking up. Or the fact that her sister immediately put down the cake she’d been eyeing, packed away the food, and ordered the guard not to let anyone follow after them before taking her down a secret passage in the pantry. The passage itself was ‌roomy, and allowed her to walk next to her sister who was going at a rather fast pace down the spiraling stairs, the only lights from a bioluminescent crystal in the ceiling. “Who is this Trade Wind sister?” in the four days since her return they had introduced her to a lot of ponies and non-ponies and she’d been working on catching up on a thousand years of events. But Trade Wind was never brought up, “She’s someone I hope you get along with, and she was the one who suggested the speech therapist you’ve been talking to,” Luna blinked, following her sister down another corner and trying not to yelp when they were suddenly sliding down. “We see, and does she also have something to do with you not being present for my return?” her sister paused in enjoying the slide, and Luna huffed, “I do hope you realize I did not forget everything I did as Nightmare Moon, you might have had Equestria fooled with Mi Amore Cadenza disguised as you,” even her possessed self had been in a rage over it, “But I sensed you using your Blessing, you know, the one you said you never wanted to resort to, including against me,” every one was also under the impression she was responsible for the night lasting longer than it should. But the fact was that Celestia was on the other side of Equus using her sun for whatever battle she was at. Nightmare Moon was very close to forgetting about the Elements of Harmony and seeing what her sister found more important. The slide entered a rainbow-lit hall, different colored gems with runes carved into them catching her eye and she made a mental note to look at them later as they came to the end. Flaring her wings to prevent herself from crashing, she caught up with her sister who was deep in thought  After a moment, Celestia sighed, “She wasn’t responsible, but she and a few others were present, and do not think I didn’t consider your return important. I wanted to be there, someone however thought it would be the perfect time to take advantage,” the corridor suddenly became uncomfortably warm and she cleared her throat, snapping her sister who coughed, the fire on her mane going out, an embarrassed blush on her face, “Anyways, they are rather regretting their ill-timing, and Twilight Sparkle and her new friends managed to wield the Elements of Harmony to free you,” yes, Luna meant to ask about that. “About the Element-” “Oh we’re here!” Celestia interrupted, a smile forming as she pushed open an onyx door with the phases of the moon on it, ignoring Luna’s glare as they found themselves in what appeared to be an infirmary. There were at least ten different beds, all but two had their curtains thrown open, and at least four of the beds were occupied.  On the first bed was a griffin with hawk features and a lion’s body, bandages around his midriff and left hind leg. He was purring under the ministrations of a pale white Nocturne who was using the fingers on the edge of his wings to run back and forth on the griffin’s neck. The Nocturne himself had a hoof in a sling and a neck brace but didn’t seem to have any trouble helping the injured griffin relax. He had even pushed his cot right against the other one and was lying sideways to avoid turning his neck. Turning away with red cheeks, Luna caught sight of the third cot, a blue female dragon lying back with both her legs supported and one of the horns on her head broken off. She was reading a comic with dragons printed on the front but glanced at them with red eyes and nodded before turning another page. “Princess Ember,” Celestia’s greeting stopped Luna from bristling at the lack of address, as did the white wing touching her own, and when she saw the wiring around the dragon’s muzzle and realized she must’ve broken it and thus was unable to talk. The fourth bed had a green pegasus with a pale yellow mane, bandages around his head, and one of his wings bandaged while the other, Luna’s eyes widened, was not a pegasus wing at all, but one made of metal with sharp dark blue edges ending in very sharp points curving inward. His Cutie Mark was one she recognized as a Yin-Yang symbol though with different colors. The outside of the Mark a golden brown with the left side an olive green, an orange feather in the middle, while the other side was gold with green clouds. He was fast asleep and her sister seemed sad at the sight of him, stopping by his cot and staring at the fake wing.  What confused Luna was the fact the stallion was asleep and not awake as the Guard said. “Is this not Trade Wind?” Luna’s whisper caught the attention of the others and there was a yelp from the white Nocturne who fell out of his bed and was struggling to his hooves, trying to bow to her while the griffin’s eyes shot open and upon seeing the Nocturne, tried leaning down to help him.  A golden glow enveloped them both and the Nocturne was safely put back on the cot while the griffin was forced to stay on his own. “No need for bowing,” her sister stated, but the Nocturne didn’t look convinced, staring at her with wide awed eyes that made her a bit uncomfortable, realizing she was still in her small state. He didn’t seem to care though. A Nocturne in a nurse’s outfit came out from one of the curtained-off beds, bowing to them and holding a clipboard in one of her wings. “Trade Wind is here your Highness,” she removed the curtain and Luna had to pause at the sight. The mare’s wounds didn’t seem that serious, but that was not what she was staring at. It was the fact the mare was trying to sneak out the window above her bed that got her attention. As well as the mare’s appearance.  A chuckle caught her off guard, as did Celestia’s next sentence, “I will tell your sisters of you escaping the hospital wing, again,” the pegasus stiffened, slowing turning towards them, dark blue eyes meeting her own before the mare sighed, wind surrounding her form and carrying her back to the bed. “Your a Wind user,” Luna stated, surprised, getting a nod as Trade Wind tried to find a comfortable position but winced, and she saw the bandages around her barrel as well as both her wings. “Yes, my name is Trade Wind, your Highness, I would bow but,” she gestured to herself, and Luna blinked. “Oh, that’s fine, why were you trying to leave the care of the Hospital Wing?” that got a sheepish smile. “I don’t suppose you can forget seeing me do that?” she shook her head at the same time as Celestia, making the younger mare bow her head, “Right, um, did you need something, Celestia?” Luna’s mouth dropped open. “You dare address our sister without an address?” her voice rose a little, echoing throughout the room but the foolish mare just blinked. “Kind of hard to treat her with formality after eight years of her and my master riling each other up and getting into petty arguments and challenges,” “And who is your master?” Luna demanded, getting a raised eyebrow and confused expression. “Wait, you haven’t run into Master Po yet?” ‘Po?’ Luna thought about the name, brow furrowing, before whirling on her sister who was looking away from her with red cheeks. “That green lizard,” ‘hey’ the blue dragon cried indignantly, “took on a pony apprentice? You’ve been fighting with him,” “It’s not fighting,” Celestia said weakly, “And this is not why I brought you down here,” she did not want to pursue the subject and Luna glowered at her for a moment before turning back to the mare. “Be that as it may, you should be addressing your rulers with the proper address,” the mare smiled. “Of course Princess Luna, your Highness?” she directed the last part to Celestia who coughed. “Right, well, as you can see the Elements of Harmony were successful,” Trade nodded, and Luna was surprised to see the relief on the mare’s expression, wondering about it before her sister continued, “Twilight is currently getting situated in Ponyville along with the others, and I have arranged for her to send study friendship while there and to send me letters,” this wasn’t news to Luna, but why did the pegasus have to hear about it? “And the Elements of Harmony are in the castle?” Trade Wind asked, tilting her head, ear flicking, appearing as if she was listening to something none of them could hear. “Yes, and I advise against going on the third floor if you wish for the usual not to happen,” this conversation was raising more and more questions. “Alright, and?” the both of them looked at the taller alicorn who had a secretive smile on her face. “The Elements themselves were found in our old Castle, and it has occurred to me that I do not remember what else is in that place. If you recall an incident from, I want to say three years ago, that castle has quite a few artifacts that had been left unattended, and I’d rather no one else take advantage of the ruins,” Trade Wind froze at the word ruins, a look of dread appearing on her face. “Uh, Princ-” to Luna’s shock, her sister interrupted her, a bright smile on her face, “Which is why I would like to hire you and your expertise in restoring the castle, with Luna’s input of course,” ‘wait for hers?!’ “The castle will be hers to do with as she wishes, and I expect it to be finished by the time the Grand Galloping Gala comes around,” the mare was pale now. “S-so you want me to go to Ponyville?” she asked in a tone of resignation, but Celestia shook her head. “I wish for you to make your headquarters here in Canterlot so that you can tutor my sister in between the restoration project,” there was a moment of silence broken by choking and an annoyed sigh from the nurse before she went to slap the griffin on the back, a grape shooting out of his mouth and hitting the only dragon in the room on the forehead. “Sister/Princess?!” both her and Trade Wind shouted/asked in disbelief, and Luna raised a hoof, the mare going silent as she glared at Celestia, all of them ignoring the dragon who had taken a the grape and thrown it right back at the griffin, hitting him in the eye. “Sister, I am perfectly fine studying on my own,” she insisted, “I do not understand why I would need to get a tutor,” Trade Wind didn’t voice her objection, and her older sister eyed them, still smiling. “That’s not what I want her to tutor you in, and Trade Wind, while I understand your misgivings about going to Ponyville, I can think of no one but you to fulfill the duty. I am aware of your graduation and recent events being fresh, but I also know that you enjoy restoring ruins,” a groggy voice cut in, “Just accept it North, you were planning on restoring the castle anyways, now you’ll have permission,” the green pegasus was sitting upon his bed, swaying from side to side and looking like he was having trouble focusing on them. The griffin shook his head, looking a mix of amused and concerned as he watched him. “Dude, it’s Trade now,” the injured Nocturne’s sentence was met with a ‘hm?’ before the stallion looked down at himself with a frown, patting his bed as if he was searching for something. “Sword, where’s sword,” he raised his hoof only for his head to lean forward, a snore escaping before he snapped awake and sleepily said, “Sujing,” hoof still raised as the sounds of clattering made everyone duck before a sword flew out of nowhere, smacking into the stallion’s face and knocking him onto his back, out cold. The sword fell down on the cat right next to the stallion and there were a few snickers from the other cots before North sighed. “Well, he’s right, I had it planned, just a few years from now, when I had the money,” Celestia laughed. “Oh, well, I’m glad to save you the trouble of buying the castle like you did with certain other landmarks,” she sounded really amused, “I’ll arrange for a blank check to use for all the funds, and I do expect you to hire some ponies in Ponyville, some of your fellow University graduates are there after all,” a tied up scroll appeared which she set next to the pegasus. “Feel free to use this when you finally leave the Hospital Wing, with Nurse Lumen’s permission of course,” the Nocturne sniffed, giving the mare a stern glare that had her wilting on her bed.  Having said all she wanted, she turned to the other pegasus who was still out could and sighed, “When Zephyr Breeze is awake and aware, please send notice,” and then they were leaving, Luna glancing back at the patients once more before the door slammed shut behind them.  ---------------------------------- “Someone’s going to be busy,” Trade Wind’s ears flattened against her head at the teasing tone, and she huffed at the griffin, “Shut it Reed, you and Ghost aren’t getting out of this,” she warned, shooting a glare at Ember who had her own amused expression, “Ready to put your glass blowing skills to the test,” the amused expression melted. The dragon raised her claws to sign, looking annoyed at her own wired jaw. “I actually want to return to the Dragon Lands, I can send Gar-” she cut herself off, “Shoot, sorry Wind,” Trade Wind forced a smile on her face, trying to ignore the tightening in her chest. “Ah, Garble stated not to involve him in any future projects, kind of took himself off the list for future endeavors,” among other things, which No- Trade did not want to think about. Ember rubbed her head, wincing at the feel of the broken horn before signing again. “Right, I can make a trip to get some of that special volcanic sand, though what would we need glass for? New windows?” Trade thought about it. “I’ll do a run through first and get back to you guys in a month, everyone’s energy and wounds should be recovered by then,” she would need to get herself settled in Canterlot anyways, maybe in that new apartment building built in StarDusk Town? Then it would be a matter of recruiting specialists in Canterlot and arranging letters to those she knew would be interested in working for the project. Ember nodded, before frowning, “Right, my mind is a bit foggy, whose doing the Nightwing Festival this year?” Ghost Pepper raised his non-injured hoof. “The Nocturne tribe is, we’re hosting it in those caverns in the West near the University, you know, the one under the ocean? They should be sending out envelopes any day now, and it’s going to be far better than the previous ones,” he boasted, North threw a wadded up paper at him. “There’s only been two so far,” she pointed out dryly, “And the last one went pretty well,” Ember rolled her eyes. “Yeah, compared to the first Festival anyways, I’m still surprised they agreed to keep it running,” Trade shuddered at the memories. It was going to be quite a while before they let the griffins throw the Festival, again. “Me too,” she spotted her saddle bag across the hospital wing and it shot towards her, coming to a stop and spilling over, an empty scroll rolling out along with one of her never-ending quills. “Show-off,” Zephyr muttered but when she glanced up his eyes were still closed. Shaking her head, the pegasus started writing, mind whirling with the recent conversation and the dread building up inside of her. So much for going back to the Temple, or her lighthouse.  These past eight years had gone by so slowly she feared the time for Nightmare Moon’s return would never come. She feared the Elements of Harmony not being formed to defeat the corrupted alicorn. But they put those fears to rest, and now all she had to worry about were upcoming threats to Equestria. Threats she was unable to help with for various reasons that she could not say to anyone. Not even her sisters. No doubt they were still upset about not being allowed to visit anyone in the Hospital Wing, but Princess Celestia wanted to keep recent events under lock and key.  She was even gracious enough to leave a letter by her bed for her to read so that she didn’t panic upon waking up. At least Trade Wind no longer had to worry about Lyra and Pinkie Pie guilt tripping her into going to Ponyville. No, wait, she still had to avoid them. And Rainbow Dash. And Twilight Sparkle. Though the latter two for very different reasons. The only relief she could find was the fact that Rainbow Dash managed to still be the Element of Loyalty despite everything that has happened. Now hopefully the Mane Six could still have the same closeness they had in the show. Even if Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash did not become pranking buddies, her pink sister would at least make an effort to get along with the Wonderbolts fan. Right? Not like she could interfere anyway, she was going to do her job and avoid everyone as much as she can. Because if she didn’t, a certain dragon is going to die. Speaking of, the Wind swirled and formed a heart and she paled as a pink Alicorn burst into the room, narrowing in on her. “Reed and Ghost Pepper eloped after graduation and Zephyr was their officiant,” she blurted out, the alicorn actually stopping in her approach, head turning slowly on the couple that blanched, Reed shooting her a betrayed glance while Ghost gulped. “H-hey Professor Amore,” the Nocturne greeted shakily, “What’s up?” smoke emitted from her nostrils, horn flaring. “You eloped?!” her enraged tone followed Trade Wind as she left the guys to their punishment, slipping out through the window as Nurse Lumen got distracted from the scene. Serves them right for not inviting anyone to their wedding. Trade Wind was still miffed that they chose Zephyr over her as the officiant. They’re the reason she got the license ever since she saw them making out in one of the school’s many closets. Oh well, she’ll keep it renewed. Maybe the Alicorn of Love would make them do another wedding, and Trade Wind would definitely throw her name in as the officiant. “TRADE WIND!” or the Alicorn would realize she escaped and go after her. Luckily for her, she knew every inch of this place, and she soon found herself out in the fresh air near a stadium that had a closed sign hanging from it. Oh right, it’s evening, she’ll need to hide somewhere till Cadance gave up searching for her. Which is not going to happen anytime soon. As she searched for a place to stay for the night, Trade Wind thought about Ponyville and wondered how much she missed canon wise. What episode were they on anyways? It’s only been four days, right?