//------------------------------// // The Letter // Story: Semper Pie // by deathtap //------------------------------// "Twilight!" a voice shouted, followed by a series of aggressive knocking. "Twilight! Open up!" Twilight shifted in her bed and groaned. She looked outside her window and found that it was still dark. She yawned and stretched her body out, taking extra care that her wings did not hit the table-side lamp this time. It had taken a few days to get used to the new appendages and she still could not believe it. She was a Princess. A Princess that lived in a small town and in a library for that matter. Apart from her new guards, of which two were now stationed outside her front door, things were pretty normal. Twilight's guards were a lot less rigid than the ones at the Royal Palace that protected the Princesses Celestia and Luna because she had insisted that they be more... pony. She did not want to seem impersonal or unapproachable because it felt awkward having these 'living-statues' follow her around. If she was going to have guards follow her around, at least they could be slightly normal. "Wait a minute," Twilight muttered to herself. She had guards outside her door. Surely they wouldn't allow somepony to wake her up this early unless it was an emergency. "Twilight! Spike! Open the door!" the voice from outside shouted again. "Coming..." Came a tired groan from the baby dragon. By the time Twilight reached the center of the library (with her teleportation spell), the door was open and in walked in a clearly flustered Shining Armor. He spotted Twilight and flashed her a smile. "BBBFF!" Twilight exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" "Well, hello to you too, sis." Shining had visibly relaxed when he entered. Twilight blushed and mentally smacked herself, "You know what I mean. How's Cadence? How's the Crystal Empire? How are you?" "I'm fine. Cadence is fine. Everything's fine..." "But...?" Twilight prompted. Shining shook his head, "Twilight. There's a very, very, very, very important pony coming to Ponyville in two days. It is very, very, very, very important that you present this town in as professional a manner as possible. Even more so than what you did for Princess Celestia." "More important than the Princess?" Twilight asked raising an eyebrow in doubt. How could anypony be more important than the Celestia? "I never said that. I just said that this particular pony is... particular." "Who is this super-special pony?" "Semper Pie." "Who?" "Semper Pie!" Shining shouted, a mix of admiration, awe, fear and a little fan-boyism was evident in his voice. The two guards outside Twilight's door suddenly began to whisper excitedly to each other. "Sorry, I don't know who that is, Shining." At that the guards' mouths literally dropped to the floor. "How can you not know Semper Pie! The most amazing soldier to have ever served with Her Majesty's Corps? He's the best of the best of the best! Every soldier, guard, sailor and airpony from here to Canterlot to Saddle Arabia and back knows him! The most decorated soldier in the history of... ever!" Twilight blinked blankly at her brother. "What is Princess Celestia teaching you?" "I'm learning about the magic of friendship, thank you very much," Twilight replied stiffly. "Sorry, Twilight. I meant no disrespect, but Semper is returning from a tour of duty. He was out west ensuring that the dragons didn't encroach into Equestria." "Oh? He was fighting the dragons? How many ponies were with him?" "None. He's alone. Always alone." Shining sighed, "Look, everypony knows that Semper is a legend. And what's more he has asked me to deliver this letter to somepony here in Ponyville." "And you are hoof-delivering it? You? The Captain of the Royal Guard?" Twilight tilted her head to one side a mischievous smirk on her lips, "One that is now under the command of his wife?" Shining blushed a little at that. While he knew his sister meant it more in jest, it still felt strange that it was pointed out. Not that Cadence would ever deliberately order him about, but in truth he would have to obey if she ever did give him a direct order. Luckily they were birds of a feather, and they completely trusted one another. "Even if I wasn't, I would still do this for him." Shining smiled at Twilight, "Also, it's good excuse to see my sister." Twilight didn't buy it. "So, this Semper wants to see me?" Shining shook his head, "No. That's the thing. When I was told that this letter needed to be delivered here, I thought it was for you, but..." He took out the letter and placed it into Twilight's hoof. "To Pinkie Pie?" Twilight was instantly confused. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Pie? Semper Pie? It can't be..." "That's what I thought. I know Semper and his exploits. I know what he's done where he's been. But he never, ever talks about his family. I didn't even know he had a family... until I got this from him..." "Sometimes the last names of ponies are the same, Shining. Let's not jump to conclusions now..." "Easier said than done," Shining muttered just as Fluttershy's rooster crowed as Celestia's sun began to rise. "But you explain why this living legend of a stallion wants to see the Element of Laughter? I've met Semper, and he's... well... he's..." "He's what?" "Let me put it this way. Remember once I was stationed near Hoofington? Well, that's where I first met Semper, and it was just after a mission. I mean, he took down an Ursa Major on his own. Nopony helped!" "Wow. He must be a strong unicorn..." Twilight said, amazed by this claim. Shining shook his head. "A strong pegasus?" Again, shining shook his head. "A strong... earth pony? Wait. How did he beat an Ursa Major without any magic or wings?" "Now that's a story. Do we have time?" Twilight nodded, "Pinkie will be busy baking at the moment so she won't listen to us. That's just the kind of pony she is." Shining was about to say something, but Twilight's answer cut him off. "After the breakfast rush we'll go see her. Spike! Can we get some breakfast?" The dragon nodded, "Sure thing, Twilight. What would you like, Shining?" "A cup of coffee, if you don't mind, Spike." The dragon walked off. Shining looked at his sister, "Now... about Semper Pie..."