//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 Adjustments... somewhere else 
// Story: The Three Knight Errant 
// by Ebony Gryphon 
//------------------------------//

Three weeks later
Celestia raised the sun, Luna raised the moon, and business in the Diarchs palace went by without much of a hitch. The captain and her comrade returned, and gave up trying to keep the ever energized Aduros away from Luna. As for the alicorn, she was more or less over her completely justified rage, and had settled in the time tested manner a technique taught not only in equines, but in humans as well, passed down from mother to daughter for generations.

Namely being passive aggressive.

After finding out her subtle insults, and at times direct threats, did nothing to deter the human, she had settled into a stubborn silence, ignoring the cheerful greetings of her new servant. Time and again he playfully needled her, or asked her a question, and getting no response, would smile and merely shrug, which was maddening enough that Luna was surprised she hadn't ground her teeth to stubs. But, despite his numerous flaws, she did like him. When she listened to her Captain and him discuss differing stygian and human philosophies, she could tell that despite the initial dust up, he was growing on her as well. But she was also dealing with guilt. Again, her anger was justified, and she felt no remorse for that, but in the two weeks, Aduros had adjusted his sleep to hers, and for the most part stuck next to her. Surely he could spend his evenings elsewhere, and have more then Vacil to talk too. And since she never asked...

Luna sat in her usual regal posture, eyes skimming the bill she held aloft, quill making underlines and dashes across it. Looking up, she saw Vacil giving a very dirty look to the lounging human on the opposite side of the steps.

"Stand up, you lazy thing! Your not only in the presence of her highness, but in the Night court."

Not moving an inch from his seat upon the bottom step, he rolled his eyes. 

"Oh please. There's no one here now, and even if there were, my posture wouldn't do me any good honey."

Visibly fuming, she spat back 'That's another thing! That's Captain, you... you...' she suddenly let forth a series of high pitched squeaks and chirps. Look at her sternly, Aduros replied, "I can understand Stygian now, you know." The captain blinked, a slight blush being seen through her fur. Seeing this, he suddenly grinned. "Really Vacil, such things shouldnt come from such a pretty face such as yours." Blush deepening to the point of being permanent, the hapless mare sputtered at the flattering words, and with harumph, she turned from the infuriating creature, muttering about lost causes. Suppressing a giggle, she spoke for the first time to Aduros since their first encounter.

"Aduros?"

He looked up at her, and hmmed in response. Looking at him sternly, she chided "Don't antagonize poor Vacil. She has done much for me, and has my eternal gratitude." 

With a slight motion of his hand, and a "Yes Luna." he turned his head to the window, admiring the night. Seeing the annoyed eyes of her captain, she mouthed an apology with a shrug of her wings. Turning her head back, Vacil muttered darkly again about lost causes, adding a few more curses in her peoples tongue, earning a chuckle from the lounging male. Finishing the adjustments, she sighed, and said to a maid on the side of the court doors 'Well, i guess we've put this off long enough. Send in Blueblood.' Bowing, the servant opened the doors, and after a rush of words, stood aside as he entered. His strides long and even, as though practiced, echoed slightly in the wide room, his eyes a similar to that of Aduros and Talios, his mane somewhat like their hair as well. Stopping the customary five feet, he bowed, and at the behest of his aunt rose again, smiling warmly.

"Its very nice to see you again Aunty."

Luna smiled back, and said "Of course my dear. Its always wonderful to see you as you are, not as you behave when surrounded by nobility. But surely this isn't a social call, so what can i do for you?"

sighing sadly, his smile faded. "Aunty... I know you know I've spoken to both Cadence and Aunty Celestia. They wont listen to reason. Surely theirs something you can do?"

Looking at her nephew with the same stern look she had given Aduros moments, she said 'Blueblood, the matter is closed. I know you do not approve of Shining s bloodline you've voiced your opposition, and i know you only...' suddenly her voice was cut off as her nephew sneezed, and muttered a hasty apology. 

"Not at all nephew. Catching a cold?"

For the first time Aduros spoke up, earning a giggle from Luna. "Maybe a pretty young thing is talking about you right now."

Looking at the human a moment, the stallion gave an appreciative chuckle, then turned backed to his aunt. Smiling now, she said "I know you only speak out of concern, but Cadence made her choice." The stallion looked down, scuffing his hoof on the floor. Seeing this, she giggled again.

"Or perhaps nephew you pine for fair young maiden, but her fair beau..." at this the prince gasped, and shook his head vehemently, then seeing his aunts face, laughed himself.

"Your one to talk Aunty... lucky girl you are, new stallion in the herd and all...' at those words, Aduros suddenly shot up, causing everyone to jump slightly. Eyes locked with that of Blueblood, he snarled 'What did you say?"

Shocked for a millesecond by the sudden change, Blueblood quickly collected himself, and hmmmphed indignantly

"I fail, guard, to see how anything i say to my kin is any of your business."

Face hardening to harshness, eyes blazing, the human walked forward purposefully, and before anyone could do anything slapped the prince hard enough to be audible, voice lowly rumbling "You worthless.... shit canister...'

Rubbing the struck spot with hoof, wincing not in pain and shock, the stallions eyes blazed back, and shouted as his horn lit up, "You dare! You fucking peasant!" Before he could launch a spell, of even another curse, Aduros smacked him hard again, this time across the horn. Luna winced the second before her nephew collapsed, crying in agony, tears now leaking from the pain. Bending over, Aduros curled his fingers around the equines throat, and with a up until then unseen strength, lifted the stallion up into the air, choking  of his air while he hinds legs kicked helplessly. Squeezing the windpipe tight, Aduros growled out "You..." before chucking the prince hard against one wall. Bouncing off leaving a scuff mark where he hit, Blueblood whimpered softly as the human drew close, fist clenched.

All this happened in the space between the space of a few seconds. Luna,  initially stunned by the actions she didn't even know he could do, broke from her paralysis, and leaping from her throne, horn charged, teleported Aduros into what she hoped was an empty cell. Eyes wide with concern, she hurried over, and nuzzled a now weeping prince. Looking up, he whispered "What did i do?"

.....

Aduros fumed and raged horribly for a few minutes, acrimonious over his denied vengeance. That... thing, that.... Blueblood, dared to say such a thing to his master, his Luna. Unforgivable! Still breathing hard, he notice a piece of paper in his still clenched fist, which was scrawled with lunas writing "We'll talk later."

Seeing the words, his shoulders slumped, and he sat on the bench bolted to the stone wall, head in his hands. He knew he failed, and his heart twisted with guilt over disappointing the princess. He didn't know how long he sat like that, but he didn't takes hands away when there was a flash, and a very angry equine at the door of his cell.

Luna opened her mouth, more angry then she was when they first met, intending to unleash damnation on the human, but paused when she saw his slumped form. Closing her mouth, she only gazed at him a moment, tongue tied, mouth working, until he said "I'm sorry, princess."

Luna was floored, even more then she was a few minutes ago. She assumed that Aduros was never sorry for anything he did. He may have faked an apology now and again to appease the raged of a pair of certain annoyed females who tired of his antics, but real remorse... sighing, she shook her, and said softly 'Why Aduros?'

`	Standing up, he turned his back to her, shoulders now shaking with rage. 
"What he said. I know of Cadence, and the guards speak nothing but praise about Sir Shining Armor. Too imply that... you and he...' at this his words choked off. 

Ok, now Luna was the definition of floored. What was said was... damn it!

Face hoofing, her mind brought back discussions she'd overheard between Aduros and Vacil about human customs, and she shouted "That's it? That's what upset you?" 

Spinning back, he gasped, "Luna, you mean...' stopping his speech with a raised foreleg, she closed her eyes for a moment. Then opening them, look now of understanding.

"Talios, what have you noticed the predominant difference between humans and equines?" 	And seeing the deadpan upon his face, she rolled her eyes. "Ok, 	I'm going to just move this along then.... Its birthrates!"

Seeing the confused look, she tsked somewhat in the style of her sister. "I cant believe you didn't notice! I know you don't get out much, but really." Seeing the confusion still prevalent, she sighed. "Aduros, from what I've heard, human male and human female numbers are about the same right? With equines, the ratio is about three to four mares to every stallion.' as she talked, Aduros confused look turned to one of understanding slowly 'Now, seeing that, its not uncommon for a stallion to have many mares to...' at that, her explanation was stopped as Aduros face palmed, groaning.

Pulling his hand away, he slumped back to his seat. "Now i really feel like shit." Giggling, Luna nodded approvingly.

"As well you should."

Suddenly Aduros asked "So you and him never..." and the alicorn blushed, shouting "Aduros!" Holding up his hands, he said "Just curious." Seeing this, she looked down, she scuffed her hoof against the floor, blue furred lip pouting, "Poor boy always seemed afraid of me...' then suddenly glaring at the human who let out a snicker, she snarled "You wanna stay in that cell?" His grin turned to unusually soft smile, and crossing his arms, he said "If i may be so bold, i think anyone who turned you down would be a damn fool." Blush deepening, the now completely exhausted mare turned and walked away, ignoring the pleas of Aduros.