//------------------------------// // The Sun is Another Star // Story: Launching the Last Star // by The Real Darkness //------------------------------// The day of had arrived, it was still morning, before the sun rose. Arctus stared at the custom made armor that Plated Shell had finished a few days before, made to reflect the lands and precious ideals of Aeternia. It's main colors were white and orange, it was not meant for field use, but it had some functionality to it. The ornamental armor was meant to cover over his usual linens and leathers completely, but to also keep him cool and not as sweltering as its design would lead some to believe. He picked up one of the new faux leather boots, looking over the black sheen with care before putting them on, they ended just under his knee. Arctus next placed two halves of a greave over his calf and shin, Plated Shell had involved magic that used an internal locking mechanism to bind the two together. The armor was a shiny white metal alloy of some kind with streaks of copper and iron mixed together to create the idea of a magma flow. The vambraces he put on along with coutours and rerebraces had the same scheme to them. He could see his reflection dimly in a window, already looking like a decorated warrior for a ceremony than a Scout. There were still many pieces to fit on, thanks to Plated Shell's magic knowledge, it was far easier to equip everything, even the countless obsidian trims. Arctus next picked up the cuirass, it had a central part jutting out from the chest, a remnant of functionality to redirect thrusts away from the body. The white metal fit on easily enough, leaving slots for the tassets to hang from. The back was rather bare in terms of decorations as it was expected Arctus would wear the cape given to him by his spouse to be. The front of the cuirass held a very elaborate and large symbol. Obsidian had been delicately made and attached to the cuirass to display the eight volcanoes around the central sacred volcano, lines draw from the top concave curves of the mountains that lead to depicted stars in the sky. Aeternia's symbol. Pauldrons came on next, they had the same copper and iron streaks, but the circular plates held a blued edge, a different trim than the rest that would go onto his armor. The tassets followed, being placed as segmented rectangles that flexed with their design, each rectangle already had the black shiny volcanic glass outlined on them. The tassets fell over his front, sides, and back. Almost the last piece to go on, were the countless enchanted trims that attached to the edges of the poleyn over his knees and coutours over his elbows to signify the special forging techniques used by Aeternia that Arctus kept dear to himself. Arctus picked up gauntlets, slotting the white metal with faux leather interior over each of his hands, he looked to the final piece that lay on his desk, a completely blue piece of steel, meant to jut from the sides and back of his neck as if to frame his face. He carefully picked it up and held it behind his head to his neck. Plated Shell's enchantment came alive and it magnetized to his cuirass. The Master Scout looked incredible in his full metal ensemble, but far more noisy than he had ever been moving around. the sun began to rise over the horizon and project light over the city, shining into the window and reflecting off the plates of metal he now wore. There were only two weapons he would take with him today, he hid his hunting knife onto his tigh, overtop chain chausses, but underneath the tassets he had put on. He picked his spear up, looking at the stand where the armor would go afterward. "At least it was made to be flexible...even enchanted to be so," his words attested to the mastery of Plated Shell and the plateau of orders he would have when ponies saw his decorated armor. He attached the cape to himself before slotting his spear into its holster, making his way to the balcony doors and opening them to step outside. Canterlot was already filling with ponies, some were well dressed, others not, it was evident who would be participating in what parts of the ceremony. Arctus could see unicorn mages center together on rooftops of the more tourist dedicated sector. They would create an isolated area for anypony who didn't wish to hear the rabble of the late day and night. Silver Spike was already home from his month of being sent to monitor the situation in the South, Strong Stitch would not go out there until after the ceremony. "This is stupid," Arctus heard a voice outside his bedroom door before it opened, "yep, stupid. Of course, you'd be awake," Savus strolled in, heading to the balcony, "you're a Scout, never been late for anything in your entire life." Asarele screeched, having been woken up from his intrusion and she immediately stretched atop the tower, standing from the glass window built into the ceiling and taking flight toward the Everfree. "Suppose I woke her up, does she always fly-," Savus stopped speaking as he looked to Arctus, "not a single godsdamned soldier, Scout, warrior...not even I got to wear armor that nice." "You'd be more at home in it than me. My training is demanding I strip and put on less noisy clothing." "Are you complaining?" "I'm not, it's an instinct built into me, Savus." He laughed, "you know it doesn't start for two or three more hours, right?" "I wanted to get comfortable wearing this." He cleared his throat, "do you plan on doing the black glass vow?" Arctus nodded, "yes, I had Plated Shell fetch a bucket and the small moulds. The necklaces are prepped as well." "I wonder how they'll react to that tradition," Savus commented, "I heard that Plated Shell will be working on Stitch's weapon after today." "I left them some of my blood, bottled, for Shell to use. I'm eager to see if Scout Stitch has the same abilities with her weapon as Silver has with his." "I believe they'll be different. I was surprised to hear that Bakta recognized Silver Spike as a genuine Scout," Savus started, "you be careful, Arctus. They're not built like we are, they're not raised like we are." "I have no intention of handing more power into their hooves, we've seen what Aeternia has done with strength as we conquered all," the Master Scout answered, "are you staying for the celebration?" "Applejack said I could, not much work to be done on the farm when I'm there, she's also present, brought the whole Apply family down." "Well, not the whole Apple family, not that many ponies could fit into Canterlot," he laughed. Arctus was quiet, staring at the horizon. "Something on your mind?" Savus tried to shake him. "Can't help but think of what the next threat could possibly be." "I know Princess Celestia bestowed you the title of Protector, but take your mind away from that for just a moment." "A Storm brews past that horizon," Arctus knew more than he let on, "and I don't like watching it grow." "You'll get your time for action again, hell, I'll even duel you whenever you need to satisfy your want for battle." He shook his head at Savus, "no, not that," he pointed, "I feel it, it's coming, it's growing, and it's going to be insatiable." Savus shrugged, "just get it out of your head for today and tonight. Princess might be giving you something else to think about for an entire week," he laughed, walking to the door, "you still got just under two hours," and he left. Asarele had gone out hunting in the Everfree Forest. He couldn't keep up with the amount she ate, but he did notice just how much her abilities reminded him of her mother. He peered to the sky, seeing a very faint pink dot present. One of them was watching this day. It made him antsy. His door opened again, "oh, good, you're ready." "Welcome back, Silver Spike. I do expect your report after this," Arctus spoke up, watching preparations for the reception around the city near completion. "Thank you, Master Arctus. Your armor...is that battle functional?" "For a soldier, not for the duties of a Scout," he answered. "I see." "Savus had already checked on me." Silver nodded, trotting out of the door and leaving Arctus to his thoughts. Not only did he have the wedding and reception to look forward to, Lohey's words last night came to his mind. "I'll have a couple barrels of magma sheets around the city, but I'm saving one for you. Consider it paying my debt for getting me away from that grave defiling asshole." Another knock on his door. "Enter." It was Cadence and Shining Armor who both came in. "And I thought my dress uniform looked good," the captain immediately commented, "nice to know I'm still second rate around here," he laughed. "Still the first to me," Cadence chimed in, "good morning, Arctus." "Good morning, Cadence." "Nervous? You know I'm the Princess of Love, I came by in case you needed last minute counseling." He smirked, turning around to look at the two, "nervous? Never," he was adept at carrying that facade. "I heard of your dance at the Gala from Shiny," she mentioned, "shame I didn't see it, but we're glad to assist you in having an Aeternian factor to your wedding." "You killed the ego of every noble pony that night save for Fancy Pants," Shining Armor laughed, "what I would do to see it again!" Arctus smiled, "it's only an hour and I've been sitting here trying to ruminate and prepare myself," he forced a laugh, "I should get to this altar myself, I can't inhale the air I've never tasted to prepare," he shut his balcony doors and walked out of his chambers with the couple. "So, how much did that armor cost?" Shining prompted. "Not as much as Plated Shell should have asked me for." "Maybe I'll have him commission my next weapon." "He'll be busy with Scout Stitch's after the wedding, Shining. He's going to be buried in orders." "I can wait." They went quiet as they trotted along. "Good luck, Arctus," Cadence took a different turn. "Make sure you show us what an Aeternian celebration looks like afterward," Shining bowed to him. The Master Scout stood at the doors to the throne room, the ceremony would shortly begin. Guards stood in triple number in the small waiting room. He drew his spear out, raising the head close to his eyes and peering at the blue hue. He wondered if he had ever lost the edge of a Scout while his spear maintained its own. This was the one item, object, prized possesion that followed him everywhere he went with an unchanging form. A constant in a sea of change. The biggest wave yet stood towering above him. Wave? No, plain. This was a plain of change, this was no challenge to see through. His war trauma-ed mind could cause some strange ideas to surface. His fingers tightened around the spear before he holstered it away and he gently opened one of the throne room doors, heaving it and shutting it behind him. An ocean of ponies was present in the sectioned off throne room. Not allowing for any moment to stand and look, he walked to the higher platform where Celestia held court from and he stepped up to it, looking at who the ordained officiator must be, a simple earth pony, who shared a smile with him before setting his hoof atop a box on a small table next to him, opening it to reveal the glass, necklace, and small steel needle and rod along with a thick, but small steel box for mixing. Arctus smiled, everything in its place. He had quite a couple of minutes to wait and all eyes were on him with many jaws open, the expected face were among the crowd, but Luna was oddly missing. Plated Shell had received the best advertisement campaign a pony could ask for. There were some whispers going about soon after. Arctus looked to the balcony behind the through room and Plated Shell was present with a smile, wearing a lot of heat protection. It must have been freshly pulled from the flow and freshly arrived. Soon after, trumpets sounded loudly followed by one toll of a bell. But no music, Celestia had mentioned there would be music, yet none was playing and the throne room doors creaked open in a blue magic glow. There was Luna, right next to-. Celestia Celestia Stars above, she was stunning. She opted to not even wear any of her usual gold regalia, instead encapsulated by a white dress with yellow threading that sprouted from the neck of it, the edges were almost transparent in their lace design. Silver metal of her cutiemark adorned the chest of the dress, the fabric was perfectly woven and textured, not a single thread out of place despite the embroidery on it. She was wearing no normal gold crown either, but a gold wire traced around her head with the leaves of vines made in the same precious metal, but white and purple flowers wrapped around it. He peered closer at the petals and stems of her golden floral crown. He knew them, those were flowers that grew in volcanic regions, a touch she must have demanded just for the ceremony. Despite how beautiful her adornments were, it was clear she wore it and it highlighted her as she trotted up, Luna in her usual regalia alongside her. Her sister was the most qualified to lead her on and she took into the crowd attending while Celestia continued up to the platform, meeting his gaze with the same astonishment at his ensemble that he was experiencing for her. "Before I lead in traditional Equestrian marriages, Master Arctus has requested to speak and commit a vow. Plated Shell, if you would," the leader of the ceremony spoke and the smith came down from the balcony, towing a thick steel bucket. Arctus picked a needle up from the box and took a gauntlet off, setting it aside. He pricked himself, setting the needle down and holding a finger over the tiny steel box, blood dripped into it white he grabbed the steel rod and mixed it about in the bucket Shell held. He pulled a small glob of magma from it and let it run down the steel rod and fall into the steel box. Shell moves back to the balcony where he left the remaining magma and removed his heat protection. Arctus began mixing the small amount of blood in with the magma, placing the box into a shallow but wide pan of water on the table where the magma immediately cooled and hardened to reveal the obsidian it solidified into. Arctus jabbed it hard with the steel rod and it shattered into sharp pieces, he collected them gently with forceps from the box, placing it into a glass vial that he then corked and sealed with adhesive before threading a necklace. "A black glass vow," he spoke, holding the necklace up in front of Celestia, "a piece of me is with you, hardened, ready. I will come when called. I will do when necessary. I will stand when you ask," he reached over, hooking the necklace behind Celestia's neck, the glass vial hung onto her chest, the alicorn lifted a hoof up, gently holding the glass, looking at the shiny obsidian within. There were no whispers in the silent throne room. The Princess of the Day continued to look on at it before lifting her head to meet Arctus' warm smile, "I will fight for us," that was not a vow to Equestria or the its subjects, that was the last part of the black glass vow to her as a spouse, to fight for their love and union. She brought a hoof to her muzzle, beating back the urge to let the water fall from her eyes. Arctus nodded to the officiator and he opened his mouth, "Ponies of Equestria, we are witnessing the union of these two, Princess Celestia and Master Scout Arctus," he had been given quite the specific instuction, "Princess Celestia, you have prepared vows," he prompted. "Yes," she spoke in a soft smooth voice, having tamed her emotions, "Arctus," she addressed him and her tone faltered, "when I first spoke to you, I gave you the same thought as I would a threat, but you have carefully served our nation's needs and shown me the pony that I am behind the Princess," she kept a warm smile, closing her eyes, "I'm free to use jokes, to frown, to show fear, to laugh like a filly, and more around you." She inhaled, "and I've shared many days and nights learning about you and seeing the soft soul within you. You've give me a life I had thought to be barred from. I will always be with you, ready for whenever you need my help. I'll support you in all the ways you need even in the ways you don't ask me for. I will tend to you as my equal, the way you have for me." Tend to him, support him, that's something she'd always done for him since he first got involved with Equestrian life. Gave him a place to rest, sleep, recover. A place to seek out new weapons and tools. A place to call a new home beyond just a room. She had given him everything he had not been born with. Everything his inner self desired. His smiled wide, closing his own eyes, letting tears bead up just to fall down his cheeks. He felt his hand move and opened his eyes to see her take off his gauntlet with her magic, placing a ring over his index finger, "so I will point the way right beside you, wherever you may be." It was the simplest gold band, a single, tiny purple gemstone set into it. The gem matched that of her crown. "You can talk to me whenever and wherever you may need my comfort or advice." Celestia would stand at his side no matter what the path he walked lay in wait with. That's family. "Well, go on," the officiator prompted again very informally. Both of them embraced, arms around one, hooves around the other and the held each other close. The tight hug alone was enough before they both moved for a deep kiss. Hooves erupted in stamping through the entire throne room soon after and continued even after they parted. Arctus grabbed his gauntlet off the table, holding it in his left hand and placing his bare right hand on Celestia's opposite side, pulling her close to him ad they began to leave the castle together. "If you do put your thoughts and prayers into that obsidian, I'll hear them on the wind." "And if you speak into that ring, I'll listen from my crown." They both smiled, peering at each other in the corner of their eyes, "you know...for this kind of reception, you don't have to have a dress." "Then you can peel out of that armor," music had been going ever since they left the pedestal, but both of them were too distracted by each other to pay any attention to the notes or even what song. "It grew on me," he smirked as they exited the castle and a cheer erupted from the courtyards and then the city.