//------------------------------// // Chapter 25: The Castle in the Everfree: The Armory // Story: The Centurion Project // by TheEighthDayofNight //------------------------------// Journal Entry Day 750 I wish water was easier to find. Everything is poison, and I mean everything. Plants are dead, some cities are untouchable because of the radiation, even years after they got nuked. I’m just lucky we were out in the middle of nowhere, not that it helped anyone else because there’s still plenty of houses that are mostly untouched. Wish I could go swimming though. Unfortunately, there isn’t any water big enough to swim in without growing a tail or something. I kinda want to try drawing for fun, but I don’t know if I should save my journal pages. Who knows though? I doodle sometimes in my old history books, but there isn’t a lot of space. Elias regretted many of the decisions that he had made in his life, and this one was notable amongst them as he tried to swim against the weight of his armor. Only discarding his helmet and shield was not a wise decision, and he likely should have taken the time to strip fully, but when he saw the body of water, his mind snapped and demanded that he had to jump in. It felt like a primal urge, like he would die if he wasn’t in the water immediately. Elias would have laughed if he had any air in his lungs. ‘Stupid monkey brain,’ he thought. ‘Now I’m going to die because I dived in without thinking. Like an idiot.’ As he felt magic seize the back of his armor and wrench him upward toward the sunlight, Elias remembered the brief set of events that led to him diving into the small lake dressed in full armor. After the appointment with Rubber Glove, one other doctor had been dismissed, with all of his colleagues shaming him out the door. As it turned out, most of the group consisted of mares, a solid four out of the six, and both of the stallions had come up with the same blunt force solution for Elias’ emotional issues. Since they had been observing the session with Glove, the mares immediately turned on their squirrely associate, and the pegasus was sent back to Cloudsdale with the threat of a revoked medical license. The remaining psychologists had then begged Luna for a face-to-face meeting, in which they apologized profusely to Elias, Book Binder, and Night Flash. They re-affirmed that they were only trying to find appropriate solutions, and that they would not rest until they had helped him find mental peace. Luna had monitored their actions closely, keeping the doctors under a strong truth spell as they all spoke. After that, Luna thought it best to put Elias back on a half guard shift to get him back into the normal swing of things. He had been welcomed back with open arms by a select group of ponies, but since it included all of his friends, as well as ponies that were normally friendly toward him, like Nightshade and Midnight Chaser, Elias found that he was comfortable with the cautious glares he received once more. What the general guards thought didn’t matter to him one bit, as long as he had his friends, he could cope. He had also had his first Royal Guard training course, and Elias had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the physical portion felt extremely rewarding as Chaser pushed him to his physical limits, primarily through a lot of running and push-ups, but also via the occasional wrestling ambush by the pegasus. Sure, he got yelled at by Book Binder for coming to dinner with a black eye and a busted lip, but Chaser did too, so he counted it as a win. The other side of training was strange, however. Since he didn’t have magic, Bloody Bandage had to teach him the manual way to perform an assortment of tasks that Royal Guards were expected to know. Some; like diagnosing and treating an injury, were simple enough, they would just require practice to make his life saving decisions fast enough. Others, like detecting illusions, were beyond Elias. The unicorn had told him there were little things to watch for when looking for magical fakes, but Elias always failed to spot them, and had to rely on guessing to pick out the illusions. The strategy earned him several scoldings, followed by another mountain of physical punishment as Chaser lived up to his name, pursuing Elias round and round the training area, yelling in his ear the entire time. Ignoring his minor failures, both Midnight Chaser and Bloody Bandage had commended him on his opening performance, and the pair had left together to craft a schedule that they would follow to work on Elias’ trouble spots, while also not letting his good areas fall into disrepair. By the end of the week, things felt almost normal, and Elias felt that he had successfully caged the animal White Shine had let loose. The news got even better when Luna announced a brief two-day venture to her old castle. The party she assembled just happened to consist of everyone he liked as well, with Bloody Bandage acting as the group healer, while Scarlet, Book Binder, Night Flash, and Nightshade came as the guard detail for Luna. Elias thought it a bit odd that he was listed as “Personal Bodyguard” for Luna, when everyone else was just listed as “Guard” on the order, but he attributed it to the princess wanting to keep a close eye on him. They had left Canterlot early in the afternoon, teleported across the miles in an instant by Luna. The teleport was surprisingly tame compared to the one during the exercise, and Elias was able to hold down his breakfast as they prepared to set to work establishing a base camp outside the castle. Something had caught Elias’ eye instantly however, and the crystal-clear blue waters of the lake invited him like a siren song. Elias coughed and hacked as he was dangled upside down. Three ponies glared at him in obvious anger, though Elias was mildly surprised that Luna was one of them. She let Elias flop onto the beach, where Book Binder proceeded to jump on top of him with a towel in her magic, wiping him down as she glared daggers at the human, daring him to move. Night Flash quickly joined in, though he did less drying than he did aggressive snuggling and pinning. Luna frowned at him as she let the two ponies work. “Do you care to explain your actions Guardsman? Without a word to anyone you sprinted into a deep body of water with full armor and proceeded to nearly drown. Was that your intention?” Elias smiled weakly at her. “If you’ll believe me, the answer is no. It’s just been forever since I’ve been for a swim and the water just… sparked something. I felt like a kid at the swimming pool for a second.” He sighed and laid back. “Sorry Princess, I didn’t think.” He frowned and his eyebrows furrowed. “Been doing that a lot lately. I have no idea why. It’s like…” He paused. “I don’t know. I seem to get more… urges? I don’t know. My instincts are suddenly going haywire and I have no idea why.” Luna tilted her head. “Could it have something to do with the Royal Assessment and the subsequent fight with White Shine? The reports were very clear that you seemed like a different person.” Elias shrugged, wincing as Night Flash danced across his chest to snuggle his left arm. “It hasn’t happened in the past. I’ve never had split personalities, and I don’t see how one little beating, nasty it might have been, could suddenly cause me to act a fool.” He scowled, then shook his head. “I’ll get it under control Princess. Sorry for making an ass of myself.” Elias hissed as Book Binder smacked the back of his head with her armored hoof. “You should be sorry, making me worry like that.” The unicorn then did her best to wrap around his head, but huffed in aggravation when she couldn’t find an angle that allowed her chest fluff past her armor. It gave Elias a moment to breathe, and when she continued to be unsuccessful, he stood up, giving her a quick scratch under the chin as he cast about for his discarded shield and helmet. Luna levitated them over, her eyes searching Elias’ as their gazes met. The alicorn was clearly looking for something abnormal, but Elias had nothing for her. The urge to go to the water, as suddenly as it had come, had vanished, and he felt normal; calm. He took the helmet, plopping it atop one of his pilla as he turned away silently, walking toward the stack of gear that the ponies had insisted on bringing. Why they weren’t simply using sleeping bags and the castle for cover, Elias didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to argue since Luna had magically transported it all. He snatched his well-weathered ruck from the stack of gear, and moved off to a copse of trees near the shoreline. Laying his weapons against one of the trees, Elias undid the top flap of his ruck and removed the large tarp he had gotten from the castle quartermaster. The pony had given him a strange look when he had asked for the piece of cloth when everyone else was asking for a tent, but Elias knew what he wanted. A lesson he learned quickly was to never carry something that couldn’t be used in at least five ways, and unfortunately, a tent fit that description. The tarp was lighter and took up less space anyway, so after fetching the bundle of rope from his ruck, Elias set to work, breaking off some of the smaller tree branches to use as tent stakes for his lean-to. It took his well-practiced hands less than a minute to get set up, and Elias quickly moved to the second part. After covering the dirt with a healthy bed of leaves, Elias moved to the edge of the water with knife in hand, locating and cutting away enough reeds to make a sleeping pad. He would need to let the reeds dry before he laid down his sleeping bag, but with the sun still shining, it wouldn’t be much longer than an hour before his bed was ready. Elias stretched tall as he looked to the ponies, all with tents in various states of completion, all of whom were staring at him as if he had grown a third eye. Elias yawned and scratched his chin. “What?” he asked Book Binder, who just so happened to be the closest. The unicorn glared at him. “What do you mean what? Where is your tent Elias?” Elias took a step to the side and gestured toward his lean-to. Book Binder gave him a deadpan look. “Elias you know full well that that little thing isn’t a tent. Maybe a pretend tent that foals use during the day, but not something that ponies actually sleep in.” Elias shrugged. “Good thing I’m not a pony then, isn’t it? That,” he said, pointing at his lean-to, “is all the tent I’ve ever needed. It’s light, easy to maintain, and keeps the rain off. Can’t ask for anything better in a tent.” Book Binder rolled her eyes and huffed loudly. She didn’t say anything else as she continued helping Night Flash put up their shared tent. Elias stretched again as he watched the ponies work for a moment, then he stripped off his wrist guards, as well as his cuirass. He rolled his shoulders to limber them up, and reached for his shield. He then tossed his helmet onto his reed bed as he strapped the rectangular shield on his back. Feeling lighter and ultimately refreshed from his near drowning experience, Elias moved quickly to the supply pile, snatching up a shovel as he set to work. First, he moved toward the treeline, digging a shallow trench for a bathroom. Once he was satisfied that it was wide enough, he moved back toward the lake. Here he dug another hole, keeping it wide but shallow as he scanned about for sizable stones. Once the hole was good enough to fit his needs, Elias circled it with half a dozen broad, flat stones, acting as a wall between the soon-to-be firepit and the grass of their camp. Once he finished digging the pits, Elias moved back to the supply pile, stacking the large crates into manageable stacks. For some reason, Luna had decided that they needed a weeks’ worth of food, as well as a fully functioning stove for their two-night trip. While he wasn’t complaining about the excess, Elias wondered who she expected to cook it all. His skill ended at a campfire and a frying pan, where just about anything could be burned into edibleness. Especially the fuzzier foods. It wasn’t moldy if the mold was on fire. It was well after sunset before Elias, with the help of Night Flash and Scarlet Shield, finished stacking the crates in their appropriate piles. Nightshade fired up the stove, and she and Book Binder began prepping dinner while Bloody Bandage stood watch, glaring stoically into the dark of the woods. While the pair of ponies cooked, Elias began to collect firewood. As he returned to his fire pit with another stack of branches and logs, Book Binder gave him a curious look. “What’s all that for Elias?” Elias balanced the weighty branches on one arm as he crouched down and began building a teepee. “Warmth, light, the usual. I’d say cooking as well,” he glanced over his shoulder at the large set of burners, “but apparently it isn’t needed.” Nightshade rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how somebody like you can be so sheltered Bright, but I’m going to guess you’ve never had to use the extra features your armor is enchanted with.” Elias sighed as he dropped the bundle onto the ground and drew his lighter from a pouch on his belt, using his knife to create a bed of wood shavings to light the fire with. “Don’t have magic Captain. Can’t say that enough.” He grabbed some dry grass as well, creating a fine bed of tinder. Elias quickly showered the bed with sparks, and as it began to light, he broke the twigs from his branch pile, slowly building the fire until it would burn through larger logs. Orange light filtered dimly across the clearing just as the moon rose and Luna exited from her tent. She blinked as she stared into the flames for a moment, then she looked to Elias who was still crouched beside it. “A camp tradition of yours Guardsman?” Elias shrugged. “Can’t use magic for everything. Maybe you all are fine at night, but for me, it gets dark, chilly, and nasty when the beasts come out to play. The fire should keep them away for a little while though.” Luna scoffed. “Guardsman, as long as I am here, the beasts of the Everfree wouldn’t dare attack our camp. They can smell an alicorn, and they know what they will face should they challenge me. As for the cold, I am more than sure Guardsponies Book Binder and Night Flash would have little issue sharing their tent with you.” Elias snapped another branch in two as he poked at the fire, ensuring that the logs wouldn’t collapse when they burned through. “You’re probably right Princess, but then Book Binder would use it like leverage. She already has far too much blackmail against me, I can’t well throw fuel at that fire.” The green unicorn snorted and shook her head. “Elias, you full well know that I would never try to blackmail you. The fact that you would think that of me is, quite frankly, insulting.” Elias looked up from the fire and met her eyes. “You’re telling me there isn’t some sort of party or event on your calendar that you want me to come with you, that we both know that I won’t go to? You won’t at least make the attempt of forcing me to go by using some kind of leverage?” Book Binder opened her mouth to deny the accusation, but then she frowned in thought, staring at the pot of boiling soup. She sighed and shook her head. “Dang it Elias, if you weren’t my baby boy I would be mad that you’re clever enough to think about that kind of thing. Nothing is happening really soon, but still. There’s bound to be something that I want you to come to.” Elias spread his hands in victory at his proven point, then he looked back to the fire, giving it a few more pokes before he got to his feet. As he started to crack his collection of wood into more manageable pieces, Nightshade called for dinner. Elias continued to work for a moment, waiting while everyone lined up to get their servings. Only after everyone else had gotten food did he move to the stove, scooping himself a bowl of the bean soup the ponies had made. He snorted while he snatched up a roll. Despite their mockery, the ponies flocked like flies to a lantern, sitting around the campfire in a circle as they relaxed and chatted. Elias plopped down between Book Binder and Luna. The unicorn smiled at him for a moment before she and Bloody Bandage continued their quiet conversation. Elias didn’t bother with a spoon as he ate; he simply drank the hot soup, ignoring the burning sensation he felt on his tongue. Finishing the meal the fastest, he used the bread rolls to clean his bowl out, leaving it without any obvious trace of food as he popped the soggy bread in his mouth. Luna gave him a funny look as she watched him eat, then cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “As you all know, this expedition of ours is intended to identify and recover any dangerous artifacts that may have been left in my old castle. I do not wish for anything to fall into the wrong hooves simply because of negligence.” She looked to Nightshade. “Captain, you and Guardsponies Book Binder and Night Flash will be responsible for protecting our camp and preparing the equipment we shall need for our complete search tomorrow. Royal Guardspony Bandage, Guardsman Bright, and I shall conduct a short scouting mission tonight to see if we can locate any undestroyed areas of note.” She rose to her feet, levitating her bowl back near the stove. A glance to his left saw Bloody Bandage doing the same. Elias gave a short sigh before he got up, setting his bowl down as he took the canteen from his belt, taking a quick swig of water as Bloody Bandage put her helmet on. The unicorn moved to stand beside Luna, so Elias did the same. Luna cocked her head as she looked at him. “Do you not wish to take your armor Guardsman?” Elias shrugged and scratched at his ear. “If we’re just scouting then it will be easier without it. I can stay quieter and move faster. Besides, it’s not like I’m leaving my shield behind.” Luna looked like she wanted to argue the point, but she decided to remain silent as she turned away, leading them through the forest on a path she seemed to know well. It took them a few minutes, but the tall grey walls of the Castle of the Two Sisters came into view. Bathed in moonlight, it made an intimidating sight. Though it was in a state of heavy disrepair, the walls and towers were still daunting to look at, and Elias could only smile as a slight shiver of irrational nervousness raced up his spine. He almost wished the ponies would walk faster so that they could get closer to the structure sooner. Luna took her time, however, and from the look on her face, Elias could tell that seeing her old home in such a state was painful for her. Unfortunately, he had a hard time relating to that feeling. After years of picking through decayed, dead buildings, Elias had become numb to the sight, and as they crossed the frayed rope bridge that led to the castle, his eyes began flicking around, searching for anything that looked slightly less faded or unbroken. He imagined once they were inside his scavenger instincts would return in full, and it drove his excitement up just a little more. The front doors were already blown wide open as they walked up the stone steps, and Elias could see that time had not been gentle to the exposed interior. Much like the dozens of government buildings he had plundered, everything was in tatters. What had been a rug or carpet of some kind was in barely recognizable tatters, its color diluted by years of exposure to the elements. What spots of carpet did exist were coated with black mold, making them remnants look like little more than pockets of moss. The walls were adorned with tattered banners that were all stained black and green with water damage, the previous emblazonment destroyed after centuries of rain. It had been dry for the past couple days, otherwise Elias wouldn’t have been surprised to see water dripping from the broken in skylights and windows. Luna let out a deep sigh as she stared at her old castle. “It was not always like this,” she absently noted, “not just the damage, but the emptiness. It is far too quiet in a place that was meant to act as the center of Equestria, and even though it was abandoned, it didn't have to end up in ruin. I wish ‘Tia had taken better care of this place, no matter what battles we fought here.” Elias shrugged as he wandered down the left wall, running his fingers along the flagstones that supported the decaying roof. “I wouldn’t think about it too hard Princess. Dwelling on the past won’t allow you to move forward. If it bothers you so much though, fix it up. If nothing else, it would make an interesting historical attraction.” His fingers caught briefly on a deep furrow in the stone. “Either way, just thinking won’t do you any good. Act or forget. Otherwise it will continue to bother you.” Elias stopped as his toes bumped against a worn set of stairs, leading up to a series of dark hallways. He scratched at his forehead as he glanced back, finding Luna staring at him with a curious look on her face. She didn’t say anything, just stared, so Elias went back to investigating the room. The ceilings were tall, with great holes marring the stonework. Moonlight was plentiful as it seeped through both the walls and the ceiling, and Elias imagined that even without the light from Luna and Bandage’s horns, he could see relatively clearly. He briefly wondered what the place looked like in its prime. He had never seen a castle before coming to Equestria, and the ruin looked far more impressive than anything Canterlot had to offer. A small part of his mind briefly hoped that Luna would act on his words and restore the castle, at least somewhat. He imagined it would be a sight to see. The alicorn moved softly to the stairs, sighing again as she stared up. “Royal Guardspony Bandage, you shall remain here. Return to camp to find help should Guardsman Bright and I not return within the hour.” As Bloody Bandage saluted, Luna moved forward. Elias followed behind her, his eyes scanning every square inch as he began appraising, looking for signs of still intact doors. They went to the left first, walking down a long, dark corridor. Elias quickly noticed that outside of the main area, the building was much more intact. No light entered the hallway they walked down, and were it not from the light of Luna’s horn, he would have needed to leave the castle to make a torch. The soft blue glow was enough to see by, however, and Luna led the way silently, her steps measured and slow as she looked at the barren hallway with what looked to Elias like regret. They passed a few closed doors, but Luna seemed to have a path in her mind, so he remained quietly as they walked, making silent notes of interesting doorways that he would like to explore further when they returned. It blindsided him when Luna asked; “What were your parents like Guardsman?” The suddenness of the question nearly caused Elias to trip, and he had to use a hand to balance himself before he could begin to process an answer. “I would think you know them better than I do Princess,” Elias responded as he tried to avoid the actual question. “They’ve been your guards for years after all.” Luna snorted. “I think we both know that I was not speaking of Book Binder and Night Flash, but let us discuss them anyway. Answer me truthfully; have you actually accepted them as your parents, via their offer or even within your own mind?” Elias sighed and shook his head, his left eye twitching as he tried to distract himself with the blue lit walls. “No,” he replied honestly. “It’s not their fault; they’re great ponies, wonderful fantastic ponies really. But that’s the problem. The two of them are just the best kind of people and I…” he chuckled weakly. “I am definitely not. The more I see them together, and interacting with anyone else, I just think about how having me nearby is just holding them back. I’m a burden on their lives, even if nobody besides me is willing to admit that.” He sighed again and glanced over at Luna. “Am I safe in assuming this conversation will stay between us?” Luna nodded. “If that is your wish Guardsman, I will not speak a word of this to anyone else. Even your observers shall be deaf to your words.” Elias nodded and looked away, thumbing at the line of his chin. “I love them both,” he continued. “But to admit that they are “mom and dad” is… hard. Very hard. So hard that doing so may either kill me, or drive them away, and the more I see them, the more unsure I am about which is worse.” Luna sighed. “You are still suffering from your self-worth issues I see.” Elias snorted dismissively. “It’s not about self-worth, it’s about learning from the past. Everyone knows what I’m like, and part of me is terrified that the Elias that beat the hell from White Shine is lurking far too close to the person that loves Night Flash and Book Binder. If the two ever found a way to mix…” “You fear you can hurt them, directly or indirectly,” Luna said. “I understand Guardsman, and while I believe that such a fear is baseless, especially given that your attack on White Shine was in defense of one of your adoptive parents, I shall not push the point. You will figure your feelings out with time, I know it.” Elias felt grateful for her willingness to drop the subject as they turned a corner and Luna began carefully searching the hall for something. Having her stare at him was a bit unnerving, especially when he was being soft and talking about his inner thoughts. The center voice in his brain was bitterly grumbling about the breach in both safety and privacy, but Elias ignored it. He hadn’t been too specific yet, and he had revealed nothing about his history. He stopped short of chastising the voice of being paranoid however, and he took a mental step back to make sure that he was being paranoid enough. All of his silent efforts would only work if he kept quiet. Spilling his guts to the first pony that asked wouldn't do him, or them any good. Luna remained silent as she continued scanning the hallway, her green eyes searching carefully. Elias moved forward, brushing past her as he scanned the hallway for anything hidden that might lead somewhere of importance. False walls, covered floors, unopened doors; Elias scanned for them all, keeping his hand along the wall as he felt for hidden triggers. Luna found something first, nudging Elias in the back with her wing as she stared carefully at a torch sconce. “If I remember correctly, this should lead us directly to either the armory, or my sister’s room,” Luna said. “Or it’s a trap, but I am certain that that is not the case.” Elias snorted. “Just mentioning the fact that it could be a trap makes it a trap, and if it’s a trap, I would recommend not pulling it.” Luna scoffed at him. “Nonsense Guardsman, I am fairly certain I remember where the traps are in my castle.” She tilted her head for a moment, inspecting the scone with her magic before she smiled, took a step back, then pressed down on it. The floor dropped from beneath their feet. Elias managed to wrap a few fingers around the edge of the sudden hole in the floor, and he attempted to grab Luna with the other hand. He didn’t anticipate how heavy the alicorn would be, nor was he prepared when she started flapping wildly with her wings, battering away his hand, as well as disturbing his tenuous grip on the floor. They fell like stones, with Elias somehow hitting the ground first, just before a large alicorn landed on top of his chest, crushing the air from his lungs. Instinctively, Elias planted a hand on Luna’s shoulder and shoved her off, doing his best to breathe through his throughly bruised lungs Luna huffed loudly as she got to her feet. Dusting herself off, she offered him a white hot glare. “You do not shove your Princess Guardsman! I could have you court-martialed for that.” Elias stared at her for a second, then coughed as he rolled over, pushing himself up. “Then maybe next time when I say it’s a trap, you’ll listen and realize that it’s a trap Princess. Besides, I did my best to catch you, but you flailed around like you just had a few hundred spiders dropped into your fur. What followed was just natural reactions to the circumstances you put us in.” Luna growled and opened her mouth to yell at him, but a loud click drew their attention upward. Looking up, they helplessly watched the floor they had fallen through seal closed. Luna lit her horn to stop it, then groaned loudly when her attempt failed. “Of course the trap door is made from null stone. Curse my clever defensive designs and well thought out planning!” Elias squinted in the low light, quickly spotting a torch sitting dusty and unused in another torch scone. He felt around the edges the scone for any hollow areas while Luna continued to ramble at the ceiling. Tuning the alicorn out, Elias carefully lifted the torch from the scone, and when nothing happened, he pulled his lighter from his belt. He lit the torch quickly, his lighter catching it aflame with an easy flick. The flickering orange light of the torch mixed with the blues that lit up the walls via Luna's horn. The ceiling was short, clearly designed for a species of much shorter stature, and Elias found that his hair brushed it easily, with the stone pressing down lightly as he stretched to his full height. Elias assumed a minor slouch as he turned around, quickly tuning back into Luna’s continued rambling at the trap door. He cleared his throat loudly. “Princess…” He went ignored as Luna shook her head at the closed trap. “And another thing, why is there a trap door in the middle of a random hallway? Why not in the entryway where it might actually stop invaders?” “Princess I don’t think that…” “I will find out who designed this wretched contraption. They will pay with a lifetime of castle improvements.” “If the stories about you are true, they’re probably already dead…” Elias muttered. “Then their family line shall pay!” Luna declared as she growled at the ceiling. “I shall make them pay, then I shall return to destroy this infernal mechanism that dares to spite me!” Elias sighed loudly as she took a breath to continue. He had an idea of what to do, but he knew that it would get him in trouble. As he set the plan in motion, he comforted himself with the knowledge that it would grant him a moment of quiet at the very least. He tapped Luna on the shoulder, and as she turned, he used his thumb and middle finger to flick her on the nose. The alicorn started at the painful thwap, and she went cross-eyed as she stared at her muzzle, wiggling it to erase the sensation his flick had left behind. Her eyes then focused on Elias, burning with intense anger. She opened her mouth to shout, but stopped as her nose wriggled again, and she sneezed in what Elias could only describe as the most adorable noise he had ever heard. The sneeze was so dainty and soft, and her pout as she rubbed her nose did nothing to help. He grinned widely at Luna, who glared daggers back. “This is not funny Guardsman! Rest assured that I…!” She sneezed again, and Elias had to cover his mouth to hold back his laughter. Whatever punishment she could come up with, it was worth it. Nothing could counter the result of his nose flick. Luna’s pout returned in full. “Cease your laughter at once!” Luna said. When Elias didn’t, she whined softly. “Guardsman, I am the princess of the night and you will fear my-…” She sneezed for a third time, and Elias briefly wished he had a camera. He needed something to record the whole experiences; the noise, her face, especially the way her muzzle kept scrunching up as she tried to stop sneezing. The dust in the room only made things worse as she sneezed again. It was easily one of the best things he had ever seen, and yet it was such a small motion. Luna, noticing his unwavering smile, plopped down and continued to pout as she rubbed at her nose to ward off more sneezing. Her green eyes tried to bore into his as she stared at him. “This is not funny Guardsman. I should have you punished for striking my muzzle in such a manner.” Elias shrugged. “Maybe, but there is no punishment on my earth or yours that can make me forget that Princess Luna sneezes like a newborn kitten. If it makes you feel any better, it makes you look positively adorable.” Luna huffed loudly. “I am a princess of Equestria, Guardsman, not some neighborhood cat.” She ran a hoof through her hair and sat up, trying to look prim and proper. “I am meant to be beautiful and respected, not soft and meek.” Elias rolled his eyes and turned his back on the alicorn, using the light of the torch to look forward. He quickly noticed how uncharacteristically unfocused he was being. Making jokes after falling down a hole to who knows where? It was unlike him, and despite the amusement he took from Luna’s continued adorable sneezing, Elias did his best to narrow his vision, limiting his senses to only what was in front of him, rather than behind. He switched the torch from his right hand to his left, then let his right hand drift toward the hilt of his gladius. “Do you have any idea what used to be in this trap?” Elias asked quietly, keeping his voice low to help him better listen. Luna continued rubbing at her nose as her eyes found their way to the back of his head, no doubt trying to bore a hole in his skull. “If memory serves it was an empty box that guards could travel in and out of in case of an intruder. It gave the illusion that guards were anywhere and everywhere at once. It is why I am so irritated that the interior is lined with nullstone!” she shouted up at the ceiling. Elias glanced over his shoulder at her, then sighed and shook his head. “Princess, I would recommend looking forward, not back. You’ll never get anything done if all you do is get angry at the past.” Luna snorted dismissively as she got to her feet. “That’s rich coming from you Guardsman. Are you not the one who refuses to address your past?” Elias shrugged and faced forward again, taking a cautious step in case the alicorn was misremembering. “I may refuse to think about it, but I keep moving forward Princess. My past stays there and for good reason. I just wish that sometimes I could forget it all; to lift the weight of all those memories from my shoulders, then nothing could stop me.” Elias shook his head as a sudden bout of melancholy tried to worm into his thoughts. He took another step forward, and when Luna didn’t say anything, he began to lead the way, pushing forward in silence while the alicorn thought about his words. The small hallway they were in lasted only a few dozen steps before it came to an end at a sealed door. Elias motioned for Luna to stay back, then he built up momentum at a run, hitting it at full force with his shoulder. The wooden portal splintered under his charge, and Elias tumbled forward as his momentum carried him into an abandoned guard room. Thick dust covered the furniture, and like everywhere else they had been, the carpets and tapestries were starting to rot. Elias briefly noticed emblems similar to the Lunar Guard symbols, but he thought nothing of it until Luna walked into the room and gasped softly. “I… I remember this place,” she said softly, her green eyes searching the room as she walked around slowly. Elias remained quiet as she lifted her hoof to touch the tapestries, gazing at them fondly before her eyes wandered on. “I used to gamble with my guards in this room,” she said breathlessly. “Every morning, it was the first thing I did. I could have gone to sleep or eaten breakfast, but I came here. They were some of the only ponies that ever complimented my night sky. It was the one place I could truly relax.” “You know where we are then?” Elias asked leadingly. He could understand relishing fond memories, but they needed to move and find a way out. He didn’t feel like listening to Book Binder’s scolding’s about getting lost. Luna sighed and nodded. “Indeed I do. I apologize Guardsman. It has been awhile since I have been in my castle and some memories are coming back.” “It’s fine Princess,” Elias replied. “I understand remembering, but I would again recommend not dwelling on it. The past is unchangeable, focus on the future.” It was a bit repetitious, but Luna gave him a look of agreement as she straightened, her eyes locking on the door. “Wise words Guardsman. Let us continue. The armory is near; let us see if it is intact, then we shall return to camp for the night. I want Guardspony Binder to map our progress for the areas where my memory has failed me.” She used her magic to unlock a hidden door behind one of the tattered tapestries, and then she led the way again, her blue aura clashing with the orange of Elias’ torch. They fell to silence as they walked, with Luna occasionally pausing to stare at something she recognized before they pushed onward. Elias kept his eyes low, looking for the tell-tale signs of more traps or false doors. He spotted few, and the doors he did see were ignored as Luna led the way to the armory. It was clear when they arrived. Wide doors made of blue and gold steel blocked the entrance to the armory, and a large lock in the shape of a crescent moon sealed the handles of the doors. Luna sighed as she briefly touched the doors with her hooves. “My sister and I used to come here every afternoon,” she said longingly. “I would wake up early so that we could fight together before the day ended, and she was always early, eager to cross swords. No matter how her tiring her day was, she was always here.” “Are you two not close now?” Elias asked, putting his back to the door as he swept the darkness. “You seem like a regular family whenever you’re together.” Luna gave a slow nod and lit up her horn, her magic coursing through the lock's mechanisms. “Indeed we are, and I am grateful that Celestia was so eager to forgive and forget my transgressions as Nightmare Moon. It 'tis not the same though, and sometimes I wonder if my return was a further burden on my sister’s mind. The matters of the state weigh heavy on her always, and we so rarely have time to relax together. But perhaps that is my fault, despite the emptiness of my court, I never make time for her.” She sighed as the door clicked and began to open. “Our relationship is of no import right now. What is is this place..." Looking to the dusty, cracked walls around them, her ears pinned themselves to the sides of her head. "Perhaps I was not ready to come here.” Elias did his best not to shrug off her concerns, and instead moved to stand beside the alicorn, doing his best to act as a bolstering presence. “Maybe, but you’re here now. Let’s find what we came here to find.” Luna stared silently into the darkness of the armory, then straightened and gave a single nod before leading the way forward. Elias followed right behind her and he glanced around as they entered the armory. Squinting in an attempt to see in the low light, he used his torchlight to try and notice anything of note. Dark, empty shelves stared back, likely long plundered of anything valuable. “Speaking of, what are we here to find?” Elias asked. “You were vague when we were gathering our supplies.” Luna seemed to wander aimlessly through the armory, sighing as she opened a few crates filled with rotted cloth. “We are looking for a set of alicorn armor, designed for me, or at least for Nightmare Moon.” “I thought Nightmare Moon was destroyed?” Elias replied, pushing back a rotted curtain. A thick silvery set of armor stared back, its helmet towering over Elias’ head. The stand was a good foot taller than he was, and though it was extremely bulky looking, the armor also looked strangely humanesque. He held back the curtain and looked to Luna. “Princess, what’s this about? Did you have giant humans you haven’t told me about?” Luna snorted and shook her head as she crossed the room to approach the armor. “Nay Guardsman, this was for a minotaur clan chief I persuaded to join my rebellion. The histories are very cut and dry concerning Nightmare Moon, but in truth, she was borne of many years of festering hate and jealousy, and I schemed frequently to build my forces to do battle with my sister. It took a carefully crafted alliance to contest the throne, and only after months of battle was my sister able to ambush me and send me to the moon with the Elements.” Elias glanced back to the armor. “Then why is this here? You’d figure it would go back with whatever minotaur was supposed to use it.” “Supposed to indeed," Luna agreed. "The cow turned his back on me when he learned that his clan would be used in combat against Celestia. I put a lance of moonlight through his chest for the betrayal.” Luna scoffed and turned away from the armor. “I was under some sort of impression that betrayal mattered, as hypocritical as that is. In truth, I was nearly mad with jealousy, and things like logic held little sway. He no more deserved to die then I deserved to rule Equestria alone. Perhaps when we return with a larger group, we can have it smelted down to make a plate or some such.” Elias could feel the tension in the subject, so he let the curtain drop and he moved away, letting his eyes comb the dark armory once more. “So,” Elias said, changing the subject, “this armor of yours, what’s so special about it that we need to come here?” “It is made from a rare meteorite that only passes Equus once every five thousand years,” Luna replied as she rolled a carpet up, scanning the floor for any signs of a trap door. “The cluster last appeared two decades before my banishment, and it took everything ‘Tia and I had to bring down one of the massive stones. Fortunately, it contained enough ore to create two sets of armor, one for each princess.” She sighed as she brushed past a banner bearing her cutie mark. “It was pure luck that I was wearing a duplicate lunar steel set when I confronted my sister that final time, otherwise it would have been destroyed by the Elements, and she would have the only set.” Elias caught a glint of something in his torch, and he bent over, looking under another empty armor stand. “I’m assuming the material makes it stronger than your average steel?” Elias asked, covering his mouth to avoid inhaling dust. There was definitely something under it, and if he stretched, he could probably reach it. Elias set his torch somewhere it wouldn't catch anything on fire, then flattened onto his belly. Reaching beneath the armor stand, he grasped at the glinting object. It was just out of reach... Luna didn’t notice his struggles as she made her way down the left wall of the armory, searching the various vacant compartments. “It is stronger in every way, and it amplifies any enchantments put on it,” Luna replied. “The material is tougher than even dragon scales, and it never wears or fades. If it is damaged, simple spells can mend it completely. Most important however, is the amplification it gives to alicorn magic. Any words whispered about Celestia and I being goddesses would come true with that armor, and if we ever faced the most dire of straights, we could bind the armor to our skin, forming a second, nigh invulnerable skin. It is a most powerful tool, and it is one I am loathe to leave unaccounted for.” Elias grunted in reply as his middle finger snagged the strap of the leather the object was tied to. He pulled it from beneath the armor stand and held it up to the torch light, blowing the dust off as he watched the small crescent spin in his grip. It sparkled like a star as it twirled, illuminating the room easily. It was almost as if it were amplifying the torchlight. Elias glanced over to Luna, who was staring back at him in shock. “I guess this little thing doesn’t compare to god armor huh?” Elias said with a grin. Luna pounced on the man, her nose a finger length away from his as she shouted in obvious excitement. She snatched the necklace from his grip and squealed happily. “You found my pendant! It was the first thing ‘Tia gave me when we became alicorns! I thought it lost years ago!” She was quick to put the necklace around her neck, and she rubbed it affectionately into her chest fluff with a brilliant smile gracing her muzzle. In an instant, the alicorn returned to hugging him, and Elias flushed red as she hugged him tightly around his neck. “Thank you, Guardsman; I did not even consider the possibility that I would ever find this, and I just know that ‘Tia will love seeing it back. It has been centuries since either of us have seen it.” She paused to take a breath, then made things more awkward by nuzzling his chest. Elias didn’t dare move. Maybe he could try to wiggle free? No, her hooves were like a vice, somehow getting between his shield and his back as she crushed his chest with her grip. “I cannot tell you in words how happy this makes me Guardsman,” Luna said breathlessly. “My sister and I have mended much of our relationship to the way it was before, but perhaps this will bridge the final gap I have always felt was missing. Thank you.” She pulled back from the hug and stared down at him with her vibrantly green eyes and a wide smile. “Tell me Guardsman, is there any way I can repay you? Were it not for your careful eyes, I may never have found my pendant.” “You could get off my chest,” Elias wheezed. When she was hugging him, the weight was distributed fairly evenly, but sitting back, she was crushing his chest under her weight and he was having difficulty drawing breath. Luna looked down at him curiously, then leaped back with a startled yelp. Unfortunately, that yelp was accompanied with a mighty flap of her wings, and the mostly settled dust rushed into the air, making things worse as the dust descended like a cloud on Elias’ face. It got everywhere in a split second, blinding him, making it harder to breathe, and filling his mouth with the taste of grit, all in one fell swoop. He heard Luna yelp again as she said an apology. A gust of wind then blindsided Elias, and it became easier to breathe. He rubbed his dust caked eyes, and cracked them open to see an apologetic looking Luna with her horn alight. She smiled sheepishly at him, and Elias quickly noticed that she was completely clean, while he was covered in dust. He shot a glare at the alicorn. “I apologize,” she said. “I seem to have gotten overexcited.” “You think?” Elias replied while he tried to brush himself off. The dust clung to him like glue, and after failing to clean any of it off his hands, Elias just settled for being filthy. He shot a glare at Luna, who only smiled back. “I have already apologized Guardsman, but I shall say this; if you need anything, feel free to ask. This pendant means a great deal to me, and I am overjoyed to have it back.” Elias snorted, pressing his thumb to one of his nostrils as he tried to clear it of dust and snot. “I’ll think on that. As for right now, I think we should finish up, then find our way back to camp, yes?” Luna nodded in agreement, and Elias let her lead the way. ***** Elias sighed and rolled his shoulder. The limb had started hurting after the third door, but now that they were on the sixth, he was getting mad. He channeled that base level fury and let out a shout as he raced at the door, slamming into at full tilt. The wooden portal shattered and slammed into the wall, sending a cloud of dust into the air for him to choke on. Again. Elias doubled over and hacked as he tried to clear the dust from his lungs while Luna walked into the side room, casting about for her armor. The entrance to the armory had sealed behind them, and they were without a key to unlock it from the inside. When Luna cast a spell to locate an alternate exit, she had also managed to detect a magic presence that she believed was her armor. Generally. The only location she would give him was that it was deeper in the armory, so Elias had to set to work, shifting long unused furniture and kicking down doors so that she could try to pinpoint it. A task that she kept missing the mark on, endlessly prodding him to kick another door down so that she could scan the side rooms. Why there were so many, and why they were all locked was a mystery to him, but kicking down doors was better than talking about anyone's feelings, so Elias went about his task in silence, releasing his building frustration on each new door he was thrown at. Elias ran a hand through his sweaty hair, and leaned against a wall as he took a canteen from his belt, quickly unscrewing the top. “Anything here Princess?” he asked, already knowing the answer as her horn dimmed. “Nay Guardsman, the armor is not here.” Luna scowled. “I know not why I am to detect it, yet remain unable to locate it. I kept it hidden away yes, but it was here! I know I left it here.” Elias stared at the dark ceiling as he took a large drink of water. He offered the canteen to Luna, who looked at it with distaste and shook her head. Elias shrugged and slipped it back onto its belt. “Are you sure you’re the only one who could open the armory door?” Elias asked. Luna shook her head. “Well, no, but ‘Tia would have had no reason to come through my armory. At the time we kept our guard forces separate, and her armory was larger even then. Besides, we found both my pendant, and my cowardly general’s armor here. Why would she leave these things behind?” Elias scratched the back of his head and stared at the floor. He had already put the pieces together. The armor wasn’t in the castle, it was likely in Canterlot. “The necklace was under an armor stand and you didn’t notice when you walked by,” Elias said. “And the armor was made for a general who, by your own admission, you executed for cowardice. Why would your sister take that? No, she took the one thing she wanted to make sure nobody else would have, and took it home. Where I am sure it’s sitting even now. I think I’m safe in assuming you didn’t ask her about it before we left?” Luna scoffed and waved a hoof at the man as she scoured the room for evidence; likely trying to prove him wrong. “Of course I didn’t. I do not need to go to my sister for everything, my elder she may be. This is where I left my armor, and this is where it must lie!” Elias groaned. “Princess, please for the sake of my sanity send a letter to her asking about the armor. I’m willing to bet an entire year’s worth of complaint free hugs and therapy sessions that she has it. Fuck, three years; easily.” Luna’s eyes lit up, though whether that was at the bet itself, or the prospect of getting him in a room with more of the psychologists, he didn’t know. She straightened and summoned a quill and scroll, quickly scribbling out the query before sending it off with a flash of light. She smiled smugly as she sat down. “You will be spending an awful lot of time with my doctors now Guardsman. I will be sure to inform Guardspony Flash about his complaint free hugs upon our return to camp as well. This will be a most profitable night.” Elias thumbed his nose and nodded. “Sure Princess, whatever you say.” They waited in blissful silence for a full minute before Luna piped up, asking a question that seemed designed to drive him mad. “On my question earlier Guardsman, your parents, what were they like? I know nothing about your biological family, and I wish to learn about your origins to determine if there is unresolved trauma concerning them.” Elias snorted and smiled without humor. “Then let me save you the trouble Princess, because there is definitely unresolved trauma concerning my family, and I know for a certainty that it will remain that way for a very long time. It is not easy to get over what I had to do to them.” An odd look flashed over Luna’s face, one that Elias almost didn’t notice, but her calm mask returned, and she nodded in agreement; something that surprised him greatly. “I understand Guardsman, I do not wish to know about how they passed, but rather what they were like in life. What were they like? What did they do?” There was the normal prying. Elias let out a long sigh. “What’s there to say? Dad was a game warden; Mom stayed at home and took care of us kids. She fed, cleaned, taught, and loved us.” Elias winced as his heart panged with a sense of loss. “She was far too good of a person to deal with her lot in life, but she always had a smile, right to the bitter end. I see far too much of her in Book Binder sometimes. It’s why I get antsy about the whole “trial parenthood” thing. Too many bad memories.” Luna nodded as she listened intently. “And your father? What was he like?” “Oh, that’s easy,” Elias said with a shrug. “He was a bastard like me. Mean, restless, dissatisfied with what he got from life. He always took it out on the wrong people, and it took the end of the world to make him act like a man, despite the fact that he was no better than a dog.” Luna frowned and cocked her head. “You can’t mean that Guardsman. Book Binder gave me the impression that you respected your father, despite his failings.” Elias’ eyes flicked up from the floor, with his left eye twitching as his anger rose. “Then she lied to your Princess, or maybe I haven’t conveyed my feelings about my father properly. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever look up to the man that treated me like I wasn’t wanted. I will never think a positive thought about the man who came home from the bar every night, spending far too much money for nothing in return, and who then beat the one woman who showed me more love in an afternoon than that worthless fuck gave me in a lifetime, simply because she wouldn’t let him strike me or my sisters.” Elias snorted and shook his head. “Not that it helped. He always got the whole family involved; it was part of his little power trip to show how unhappy he was with his life. I just wish he’d killed himself rather than making me do it. Then I wouldn’t have had to break my back burying his sorry ass.” Anger simmered in his mind, but Elias used a method Book Binder had begun teaching him. He took a long breath, followed by three short ones, using the manual nature of the motion to cool his mind. It mostly worked, and Elias crossed his arms as he stared at the floor, keeping his voice low and calm as he finished. “He taught me useful skills, how to hunt, how to start a fire, but that coward didn’t teach me a damn thing about being a man. How could he? You can’t teach what you don’t know.” Luna sighed, drawing his eyes up. The alicorn looked sympathetic as she said; “My apologies Guardsman. I should have known better than to press on the subject when you dodged my questioning earlier. What is done is done however, and I must ask; do you feel any closure letting this anger out? Or does it continue to burn at your mind?” Elias shrugged. “For him, he’s never on my mind. I get irritated, mad maybe, but never angry. He isn’t worth my anger. I didn’t grieve him then, and I don’t pay him mind now. The only word I will say in his favor is that he taught me how to be cruel, and he was an expert on the subject.” “And your mother?” Luna asked, trying to shift the focus of the conversation away. “Your sisters?” Elias shrugged again. “I miss them, but I’m smart enough to know that they wouldn’t even look at me like I am now. I think it’s better that they died early, and my only wish was this it was faster.” Luna frowned again. Elias could tell that she wasn’t happy with his words, but what did she know? She hadn’t had to live through hell, didn’t know what it took to do so. He couldn’t be angry at her ignorance though, and he let his risen irritation slip away as he took long breaths. She didn’t know and wouldn’t know. He had answered her questions well enough, and anything else she might ask was superficial at best. Easy to deflect or answer succinctly. Luna let out a final sigh and she slowly shook her head. “Let us speak of this no further today Guardsman. I do not wish to sour the mood more than it has already become. Do you have anything you wish to speak to me about, or would you like to wait in silence while we wait for my sister’s reply?” Elias scratched his head, then twitched nervously as a bit of mild embarrassment rose in his mind. He had no idea where the thought came from, but he knew why it came. Despite the sudden downturn in their conversation, and despite the ache in his shoulder, he had been having a relatively good time. Certainly a more adventurous time than usual, and he knew one pony was solely responsible. He knew what he should say to express his gratitude, but giving thanks wasn't something he did often. Doing so felt… awkward. It was as if admitting gratefulness was to also admit weakness. Still, not admitting it made him look like an ass. Elias took a deep breath and just did it in one go, damning the consequences. “I wanted to say thank you Princess,” Elias blurted. “Despite what’s happen, this has been the most fun I’ve had in a while, and I’ve enjoyed searching the castle with you.” He then leaned back against the wall and waited silently for the alicorn to begin her mockery. He waited in silence for a good minute before looking up. His blue eyes met her green ones, and Elias twitched nervously as she smiled brightly at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Elias snapped. His tone shift didn’t impact the alicorn’s smile. “Thank you Guardsman. I had worried that our journey was marred by our detours, but hearing your appreciation is most welcome. Should the need arise, would you like to return here again?” Elias shrugged. “Not here specifically, but if you wanted to take a look through a different part of the castle, I wouldn’t say no. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t get out much.” Luna rolled her eyes. “And who’s fault is that Guardsman? I am more than sure that Guardspony Binder would be willing to take you places if you so wished it.” Elias shrugged again and his eyes fell to the floor as he tried to avoid thinking about the unicorn. Dark thoughts, brought to the forefront by their conversation touched his mind, and Elias had to focus to not let them consume his mind. Luckily for the both of them, a letter popped into existence next to Luna’s head, and she grinned widely as she snatched it from the air. She unrolled the scroll with a flourish. “Let us see who is correct, Guardsman. I hope you enjoy cuddles.” Her eyes combed down the scroll, and Elias found momentary joy in watching her face shift from happiness to denial in a heartbeat. Her horn lit up and the scroll caught fire. Elias raised an eyebrow as it fell to ash, then smirked as a second scroll popped into view. Luna twitched as she caught and unrolled that one as well. She groaned loudly and hit herself in the face with a hoof. The alicorn then looked to Elias’ grinning face, and she leapt to her feet. “Do not mock my plight Guardsman! You arranged this! You are a spy in my guard force! Reporting my actions to my sister!” She stomped up to him, grabbing his tunic as she began searching him up and down. “Where is it Guardsman? Where is the attunement crystal ‘Tia is using to listen, hm?” She abandoned her efforts to instead glare at him, pressing her snout against his nose. “How Guardsman? How did you tell her without my knowledge?” “Tell her what?” Elias replied with a calm smile. “I haven’t spoken to Princess Celestia since the trial.” Luna growled and jabbed her hoof at the letter in her hoof as she shoved it in his face. “This! There is no way she could know!” Elias blinked as he tried to read the words in the low light, but as he managed, his smile grew. Dear Luna, I know that you have no doubt destroyed my previous letter in irritation, so I send this second letter to deliver the key you shall need to escape the armory you have no doubt locked yourself inside of. As to whomever is stuck with my sister, I apologize for your wild goose chase. I removed everything of value in the armories when I left for Canterlot, and only the library and Luna’s bedroom remain untouched, with powerful runes to prolong their longevity. Though I cannot grant access to Luna’s old personal quarters, the library is free for your use. Take what you wish as payment for following my sister’s mad scheme’s. As for you Luna, I really wish you would ask me about these things more often. I could save you so much trouble (and we would get a chance to catch up! I miss our snuggling sessions so much, and I wish that we could talk to each other mo-…) Elias stopped reading as the letter began growing personal. He cleared his throat as Luna backed away. “Princess I would recommend reading the bottom portion of the letter.” Luna scowled at him. “And how do you know I didn’t already read the entire thing?” Elias rubbed his eyes and did his best to hide a grin. “Alright then Moony, I hope you and your 'Sunny' have a good talk when we get back to Canterlot.” Luna stared at him in horror, then flipped the letter over, scanning the words quickly. Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and she looked at him with fear. “Please Guardsman, you cannot speak of this,” she whispered. “I did not know ‘Tia spoke of our old fillyhood names. I will do anything, give you any reward, please speak to nobody of this.” Elias snorted. “That’s two favors from a Princess in one evening. I think my odds might be changing.” He smiled at the alicorn. “My lips are sealed Princess, just remember that I have leverage now. I could rule the world with my knowledge.” Luna scoffed. “It is not that valuable Guardsman; merely of minor embarrassment.” Elias nodded in false agreement. “You’re probably right. It should be fine to tell Captain Nightshade then. She’s trustworthy enough, right?” Luna hit him like a club to the chest, slamming him into the wall as she looked at him with pleading eyes. “ANYONE BUT NIGHTSHADE! THAT MARE WILL RUIN ME IF SHE FINDS OUT!” Luna bellowed. Elias tried to cover his ears as they rang with the force of a hundred hammers, all banging away at his brain. “Alright alright fine fine!” Elias shouted back. “I won’t tell, just quit yelling in my damn ears!” Luna blinked at him, then backed away sheepishly as Elias opened his jaw, trying to make his ear drums pop. He shot a glare at her as he massaged his battered ears. “Really? That bad huh? Had to make me deaf?” Luna looked away in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed red. “The good Captain is a close friend, and she will tease me relentlessly if she found that I ever went by “Moony”. I would need something of equal value on her, but there is nothing! She is very plain, and her history is much simpler than my own. I cannot compete with such… such slander!” She looked like she was going to shout again, so Elias waved her down. “Fine Princess, just don’t yell at me anymore, that shit hurts.” Unable to recover all of his hearing, he waved at the room around them. “Can we leave now? I think I’m done with this little adventure for now.” “Not a word to Nightshade?” “I already said I wouldn’t and that you owe me. Don’t worry Moony, I won’t tell.” Luna sighed, and rubbed at her forehead. “I suppose I deserve that. Very well, let us depart Guardsman.” She huffed as her horn lit up. "I will have to question 'Tia about her meddling here. I can still feel a magical presence in the armory, yet it seems to move as we do!" Elias pointed to the pendant around her neck. "What's your necklace made from Princess?" Luna glanced downward, then groaned loudly as they vanished from the dark halls.