“They can’t be true… right? I mean that would be wrong, right? There’s no way, the Captain would never do that.”
Two guards stood in the otherwise empty throne room. Court for the day was to start in an hours’ time, the guards were clearing and preparing the room for the arrival of Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire and Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard Shining Armor.
“You don’t think they’re true, right?” Star Lily, a white-coated unicorn guard says, speaking more to the empty room than her pegasus partner. The dark yellow pegasus closes his eyes as one of his wings rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“You seem pretty sure that they’re not, but you’re the one that keeps bringing them up. They’re just rumors. The more you talk about them the worse they get. And seriously, you talk about them way too much.” Rapid Thunder ends his response with an exasperated sigh.
“But you’ve seen them together, right?” Star Lily continues, ignoring her partners clear annoyance. “There’s something going on. Everypony has seen it. All of the guards, all of the maids and the other castle staff. Everypony.” She stamps her hoof to punctuate the last word.
One more sigh from the pegasus, this one a bit more forceful, is let out into the room. “So what? They’re from Canterlot. All that high society stuff, who knows what they get up to. Maybe its just how they act there. Either way its none of our business. They’re royals, they can do whatever they want. Besides have you personally seen any of this? Or are you just regurgitating what you’ve heard from around the castle? Just drop it, please.”
“Why would anypony make this up? If that sort of thing reached any of those three don’t you think that that somepony would be in a lot of trouble for lying like that? And really? You think that’s what happens in Canterlot? Siblings sharing kisses, late night rendezvous in each other’s rooms? Not to mention the Captain is married. What do you think the Princess thinks about all of this? Ohh poor Cadance.” A dejected look on Star Lily’s face is replaced with a surprised one as she hears her partner laugh.
“Cadance. The Princess of Love?” He says, in between laughs, “Look, if the rumors are true, and that’s a huge if, the Princess one hundred percent knows. And you know what? I bet she let it happen.” Rapid Thunder pauses seemingly surprised of what he said himself. “Love comes in a lot of forms and the Princess accepts all of them. I’m don’t know how you could not see that if you’ve been working for the Captain and the Princess for this long.”
Star Lily ponders her partners words for a moment. “Of course I see that. The Princess is amazing and accepting, but this is on a whole different level… right?” She stops, pondering to herself once again. “They do seem really happy together. All three of them. Hmmm.” With Star Lily finally in her own head, Rapid Thunder smiles as the empty room finally goes quiet again.
With a sudden burst of energy after a few minutes of silence Star Lily scoffs. “Ok but hold on. Haven’t you heard the latest rumors?” She pauses, waiting for the pegasus to respond. He responds with another loud sigh.
“Ohh sweet Celestia I thought we were done with this.”
“This is the craziest one of all, how could you not have heard it? All of the Princess’ maids are talking about it. They say that Twilight is pre—” Star Lily is interrupted by a door opening at the other end of the throne room followed by a familiar voice.
Shining Armor emerges from the open door followed by his sister Twilight Sparkle. “These rumors are getting out of hoof Shining Armor and you aren’t doing anything about them!” She shouts, before noticing the guards at the front of the throne room. The fur around her eyes is dark with tears. Twilight quickly turns around and in hushed tones continues her excited conversation with Shining armor. The guards quickly look away from the two.
“Please just drop it. The Captain and the Princesses know what they’re doing. Just do your job and let them live their lives.” The pegasus guard speaks quietly, hoping that his partner will follow along. “We can’t let them know that we’re part of perpetuating these rumors. What do you think he’d do to us if he knew we were saying these things about him and his sister?”
“But it’s all crazy and you just heard Twilight, didn’t you? If the Captain knows about them why isn’t he doing anything about it? If they’re not true than why not just squash them?”
“For the love of Celestia, be quiet Star! We’re supposed to be guarding this room, not gossiping like schoolpo—" He pauses mid-sentence, mouth agape. Star Lily follows his gaze to the throne and sees what stopped him so suddenly. A sight that confirms the rumors with little room for doubt. Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle in a passionate embrace, lips locked, both ponies oblivious to the world around them. That is until Shining Armor pulls away with a smile on his face and Twilight remembers where she is. She sees the guards, slack jawed, unable to look away. Twilight’s horn glows for just a second followed by a bright flash of light and a short concussive blast. Blinded and confused they guards are left to wonder, “did that really just happen?”