The train back to Canterlot was a quiet one. A stallion in his position never could be too careful. His guards were placed in the front and back doors of the train cart he was riding in, nothing but his thoughts and the sounds the wheels moving along the tracks. He looks out the window, seeing the presence of Canterlot in all its glory. All he does is sigh, closing the book he was reading with his magic, and levitating it into his saddle bag. A stallion dressed in blue-gray armor trots in, stopping in place upon seeing he made eye contact with the sitting pony.
“Apologizes, Admiral, I hope I wasn’t disturbing you.”
He was a tall thin stallion, fur shared the same color as the guard’s armor. HIs dark blue suit held tightly to his chest, a silver sash rested over it, with a metallic military emblem on the center. His mane was quite bizarre. A shade of sky blue, as well as a light green along the ends of it. But the most noticeable thing was the red shard of crystal covering his right eye. His purpled left gazing over at the guard, his awkward frown indicating his inferiority to a superior official. The stallion never cared for ranks. His soldiers never fought for such a thing, neither did he.
“Calm yourself, there’s no need to feel frightened.”
He stands from his seat, his white horn glowing in a light blue aura, levitating a glass of water to the guard.
“The heat is quite an issue, today. There’s no reason to deprive yourself just for my sake.”
The guard extends his hoof, grabbing the glass, a small smile forming.
“Most kind of you, Admiral. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem, really. Now then, I suppose you came in here to alert me of something?”
After taking a long drink, the relieved guard nods in agreement.
“Yes sir, we’ll be approaching the station shortly. I believe we have about ten minutes. With your permission, I could have a carriage waiting for you by the time we arrive.”
“That won’t be necessary, soldier. My arrival to the capital doesn’t require such attention. We are here solely on official business, not to cause any commotion with the locals.”
The admiral remembers the last time he arrived in Canterlot. Ever since his promotion, the higher class wanted to pick his brain. Mares wouldn’t stop following him, stallions offered him invites to parties. None of that mattered to him, all he ever wanted was to keep the ponies safe, no matter how annoying he found them to be. If not by the orders of Celestia herself, the admiral wouldn’t even be on this train. There was still so much needed to be done back on the East Coast. The train had slowly drawn to a stop, as the stallion trots for the door, opened by the two guards on the other side of it.
“Was your time on the train well, Admiral Arche?”
He forms a small smile.
“It was, now then, on to the castle I suppose.”
Not two seconds after stepping off the train is Arche met by another guard. But this one was different, armor shaded in gold. He was from the castle.
“Admiral Arche, welcome back to Canterlot. I am to escort you to her majesty as soon as you’re ready.”
He sighs, looking around at the ponies staring at him. Arche then noticed the carriage not far from the main gate of the station.
“I require no special care, soldier, yet I thank you anyway.”
“Apologizes, Admiral, the princess alerted me of how you don’t require service, but she exclaimed that this was a matter of great importance.”
“I see…..well we shouldn’t keep her waiting then.”
As the carriage slowly made its way up to the castle, Arche took the time to glimpse at a few more pages of his book he was reading on the train. The guard sitting across from him gazed over at the cover of the book, “Mythical beings and hunters of Equestria.”
“You like to hunt, Admiral?”
“Hmm? Oh the book, well….you could say that. My men and I have been dealing with a rather disturbing issue in the Eastern region of Equestria. Mainly in Baltimare, disgusting vermin…prefer to cloak themselves, then strike when poor ponies lower their guard.”
“Vermin?”
Arche remained silent, before closing the book and lowering it back into his bag.
“It doesn’t matter, whatever plagued their homes no longer is an issue. My soldiers easily eradicated the problem.”
“Oh…well, I understand. Sir, looks like we’ve arrived.”
Arche made his way inside alone, Celestia’s guards whispering among themselves as he trotted past them. He soon made his way to the large throne room. There sat the ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia.
“Admiral Arche, it is good to see you again. How was your trip?”
“Smooth, your majesty, and I’m more than ready to head back once matters are handled here.”
She smirks, standing from her chair and walking over to the stallion.
“Why such the hurry? According to the reports you’ve sent me, the changeling threat in the East is no longer a danger to any pony.”
“That may be true, Princess, but its only a matter of time before the changelings regroup and began spawning all over once again. Even at my level of skill, there could always be a changeling that slips its way past me.”
She raises her hoof, stroking Arche’s mane.
“Tell me, when was the last time you got any sleep, Arche? Or visited your niece in Ponyville?”
“Princess, sleep is not something I can allow. Every second is vital to me. As for my niece, she is of no major concern to me at the moment. Last I heard she was doing well with her performance gig. Forgive me, your majesty, but there must’ve been something more vital to discuss than my personal matters?”
She smiles, levitating a small strip of paper over to Arche.
“What is this?”
“Just read it.”
He glanced over at the writing, then at a picture of a young stallion with a white coat and blue mane. Next to him was a pink Alicorn, who had her wings wrapped around him.
“This is a wedding invite…..for your niece, Princess Cadence…and Shining Armor? Wait….not THAT Shining Armor?”
Celestia smirks, trotting closer to the surprised Arche.
“As in the Shining Armor you taught at the Academy? Your…what was it you called him? Ah, yes, your ‘ace’ student?”
Arche frowns, annoyed as Celestia chuckles.
“This is beyond you, princess, to trick me like this.”
“Oh Arche, stop being such a grump. There was no way you’d come this far if I simply sent a letter about him.”
Arche sighs, making his way for the exit.
“It was nice catching up with you, Princess, but I have important work to be done back at my base.”
With the nod of her head, the doors close, the sound of a lock making Arche’s mane stand.
“Arche, I sent you to the East to fight the changelings. You and your men more than kept your word. Consider this the start of your retirement.”
“Princess….I don’t really feel comfortable about this.”
She smirks, trotting over to him and wraps one of her wings around him.
“Arche…..for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve fought hard to keep Equestria safe. You don’t need to be as magical and powerful as I am to sense when some pony is suffering. Let go of the past, and look to the future. A future where you don’t have to fight anymore.”
There is a silence, as Arche looks over down at his uniform. The metallic emblem shining in the light.
“It’s….It’s all I’ve ever known. The things I’ve done…seen….no pony can just stop.”
He looks up at Celestia, symbol of Equestria, he a servant to her royalty, but for as long as the Alicorn has known him, she thought of him as something more. Though he, himself, never could say it, Celestia saw Arche as a true friend, and she knew he felt the same. Arche sighs, looking back at Shining’s invitation.
“He never sent me one. No doubt he still has issues towards me since our last encounter.”
“There’s always a chance to start a new. Consider this your final order, Admiral.”
He forms a small smile, bowing to her.
“If its as you command, your majesty."