William found himself in a very confusing spot. He couldn’t remember what was happening moments ago, but now he was in some kind of stone-walled room. There were tapestries that were shrouded in shadows and a fireplace allowing illumination; the only source of light. At least that was so until another figure appeared.
“William?” The being asked, a golden light shining from all around her, “What is this? Is this something Luna is doing?”
“I am sorry, but Luna cannot make it. She is in a deep sleep due to over-exerting herself,” A male voice called out and stepped out of the shadows. The form soon took on a golden magical aura, the same color as Princess Celestia, “Your majesty, I wish to convey that I am truly sorry I have failed in Project Dawn,” he bowed his head in sorrow.
Princess Celestia only smiled, and to William’s bewilderment, he saw a wing move and lift the head of one of her guards up, “You have not failed. If anything, you have allowed myself and Luna to prepare for any more human incursions into the lands of Equestria,” She looked at him a little more sternly, “But I doubt you are here to apologize for this.”
The guard only nodded his head and regained his composure, “Of course, your highness,” as he turned to one of the tapestries. It seemed to have the shadows burn away revealing a small quaint village. The name on the bottom was written in Equestrian, but William could read it. ‘SUNNY TOWN’ was written in Equestrian capital letters. The room seemed to drop in temperature.
“What of this, Knight Light?” Celestia spoke, “That was sealed away shortly after Nightmare Moon’s banishment to the moon.”
Knight Light only nodded his head and replied, his voice a little hoarse as if scared to speak the next words. “I- I was transported to the land of Nightmares with the other mages, who accepted and embraced the Nightmare’s gift. I was able to flee, but due to the magical influx and the teleportation of one human,” he spoke the next part as a professional soldier, “Sunny Town broke its seal and is re-emerging in the Everfree Forest as we speak. I give it four days before they can launch any attacks upon the surrounding countryside and any of the towns closer to the forest.”
The change that overcame Celestia was stark, but short. William saw a look of dread, horror, and fear. She quickly returned to her normal stoic look, an action which became easy for her due to the amount of practice she had, “Why get William involved?”
Knight Light only smiled, “Because you can alter the magic of his weapon. It was designed to plant seeds of nightmares, but I know how you are. I was protected by your magic, hence my more ‘golden’ glow, your highness,” his eyes flicked to William. Seemingly in this dream world, he knew he had said that, for his benefit and not Celestia's. Still, he remained silent while Knight Light continued speaking after he paused.
“You can change it so that it attacks Nightmares; so you can use him to start really hurting them and not risk the Elements protecting any other ponies and to keep the world safe from the threat of an eternal nightmare,” he sighed and looked up suddenly, “I am sorry Princess, but my time grows short. I shall leave you and the human a final gift in his rucksack in the morning; something personal to show that he can be trusted.”
Knight Light closed his eyes and suddenly the room began to glow brighter and brighter, overtaking all other sights save for two: Celestia and William. She looked at him blankly before she too faded from the white light. Moments later, William’s eyes opened in shock and he realized that it was just after dawn. The sun was already rising and as he adjusted to the light, he saw another figure leaning against one of the walls. A stallion with dark armor, pupils like those of a reptile, no, of a dragon, and bat-like wings. It was the stallion from before, seemingly waiting for William to wake up.
“Welcome back to the living,” he paused at the sound of his door opening rather forcefully. There in her royal regalia was Princess Celestia. She gave the Lunar Guard a single look which commanded him to leave the room.
She turned and closed the door after him, locking it and placing a golden shine over the door, and the curtains to the balcony. Only then did she relax a smidge and looked at William. “What happens here,” she began, “is not to be mentioned to anypony. Not even my sister.” she seemed cross with the human, “Get out of bed, and open your rucksack. I need to see what Knight Light left you.”
William only blinked and nodded his head as he got out of bed, wearing the ACU undershirt and some boxers. He was a little embarrassed at having to be underdressed, but Celestia’s tone of voice showed that he was to do these actions right away. He walked to the wardrobe and opened it up, pulling his rucksack out and placing it on the ground. He slowly reached in with both hands so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He felt the metal components, but he was a little confused. It felt like a different weapon. He sighed and pulled it out of the rucksack, turning it vertically. The scary part to him was that he didn’t know which end was pointing up.
He was happy to find the buttstock being the end pointing up, and not the barrel. He slowly pulled it up and found a black coated weapon with an ammo pouch, but on the round ACU pouch that hung underneath the receiver. William could see that it was loaded with a belt already. He also saw the marks of Celestia and Luna were inscribed on the ACU camo. He placed the weapon on the stone floor and spoke as if recalling a memory. It also helped that the weapon’s field manual was tied around the barrel, still in its plastic wrapping. “This is an M249 Machine Gun,” he sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
“This room is sealed, so you may vent if you feel the need,” Celestia spoke calmly. She didn’t bat an eye as William actually screamed at the ceiling. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Celestia could read his body language. At the moment, there was nothing but a raw release of emotions.
Soon the yelling turned to words, “Why can’t you leave well enough alone? I didn’t want this. Is this fate? Irony? I don’t want a SAW, I have enough firepower to harm enough ponies as it is. Why!?” He let out one last wail, then slumped down and remained silent. He showed that he really was a cadet; a cadet who was in way over his head being the only human representative in Equestria.
Celestia only smiled as if this was something she had dealt with many times in her past. “Now, do you feel better?” William only nodded his head slightly, looking a little nervous at the outburst, regardless of whether or not Celestia was content with it, “Good, shall we get you dressed in your ACU’s and have you conduct a morning PT inspection of my guards?” She asked as she took the weapon in her magic, “I believe I shall spend my morning reviewing this weapon and the magic my guard Knight Light cast on the weapons’ ammunition. I shall return it to you later, but hopefully this will allow me to give it a good use now that we both know they are poisonous in more ways than one,” She lowered her magic force field around the bedroom door and left. Her horseshoes leaving a distinct click-clack sound on the polished stone floor. William slowly rose and went to open his wardrobe. He quickly pulled his ACU’s and boots and got dressed. It was then that he wished he had his own Physical Training uniform.
The human was quick to get ready. Once the last boot was laced and the shoe laces were tucked inside, he got up from sitting on the cushioned crate and followed Princess Celestia out the door. He followed the alicorn as she lead him through stone hallways and down a wide stone staircases to a part of the castle that he never saw on the show. Upon reflection, the sight before him began to make sense; a courtyard, in which what had to be the princess’ Royal Guards were exercising.
William could see what he considered was a battalion in strength in the courtyard. He slowly also realized that this courtyard was connected to a two-story brick building with thick walls and a tiled roof, topped with a few turrets around the edges.
He figured these towers were where pegasi and unicorns would launch spears or other weapons from. He was impressed with the defenses of this building which was within the castle, making him realize that the castle was designed - at least in his mind - so that guards could retreat from the front lines while still maintaining the defensive control of the castle. Amazed by the sight, William didn’t notice when Celestia had left him all alone watching the un-armored guards doing many different things, all of which were pushing some of their limits. He could see some pegasus guards flying around in the sky, while others ran around the ramparts of the inner courtyard, and the unicorns lifting rocks of differing sizes. William had seen everything from wing-ups, to using wings to pull their bodies up over poles, amongst other things. Some had what looked to be parachutes harnessed to their backs. All of this, while looking busy was very coordinated and like any physical training, those inside the training knew what was going on.
He saw that the Unicorns were not just picking up the heavy rocks, but that they were working on a set routine as well, most likely flexing and building what he assumed was their magical tensile strength. He could also see some of the other unicorns running around the ramparts with a few pegasi.
William felt like he had come in at the end, for only twenty minutes later a whistle was blown and the multi-colored ponies were moving back into a huge formation. The sun was now fully up and many of the guards were looking tired, but were all smiling and talking to one another, or at least patting a fellow guard on the back for a job well done.
William was too far away, but he could tell that their commands were being followed, however he heard nothing, most likely due to soundproofing spells. He only saw controlled movements as the ponies left, some going back into the barracks and others heading through some gates. He was on a tower rampart watching all of this in mild wonderment.
He turned around upon hearing one of the heavy doors opening and only widened his eyes at what he saw. It was a creature of many different limbs and body parts from many different animals.
“Oh,” the voice spoke, and he was shocked at how similar it was to a certain actor back from his own world, “So you are the new creature that Luna has been keeping in her tower. I must say, she was the fun one of the two, but then that dreadful business of going insane and what not - not my doing - rather dreadful if she won. I wouldn’t have had any ponies to have fun with,” He blinked and looked at the human with a tilt of his head, “You seem rather scared of me. Why is that?” he asked as he leaned down and looked right into William’s eyes, “Hmm...” He recoiled as if hitting something before frowning a little bit, “Nightmare taint, no wonder they’re keeping you within the castle grounds. Tsk tsk. No matter, I guess I should introduce myself. I am Discord, God of Chaos.” he spoke snapping his tail as he bowed low, his clothing revealing himself to be a Four Star General with a lot of ribbons and Medals on his chest.
William blinked and ground his teeth, ignoring the question that flared in his head of how he knew what a four star general looked like; not to mention he didn’t know what was going on. He knew Discord had struck a nerve which made the God of Chaos laugh at the expression on William’s face. It didn’t last long before he couched and a spout of butterflies erupted out of his mouth. When William could see again, he saw Discord back to his normal self, “Now then,” he also was holding a scroll, “I am to bring you to Celestia for a breakfast, where you will try some of the cross-over pony foods while she tells you what she found. Also, love the uniform. Very vibrant and chaotic patterns.” He complimented before snapping his eagle claws together and the two vanished in a flash of white light.
William was blinded by the light before he could see, but he heard voices. One he recognized as Princess Celestia, but the other two were not familiar at all. He was trying hard to get his sight back, only to realize that he was not recovering; all he could see was pure white.
“Discord,” A rather stern tone of voice came from Princess Celestia, “What did you do to him?” There was concern in the voice.
“Why, my dear Princess Celestia, I only blinded him from your beauty and brightness,” His voice dripping with sarcasm, “I only thought it wise that he not see your other guests as well.”
Celestia’s sounded very unamused, “Give him back his sight. It would only be a matter of time before he met these two. I am actually shocked that he did not meet them already,” There was that sound effect again -- the sound of something being snapped and suddenly he could see.
He smiled at the sight; it was similar to the room he had been in the day before, only it was in the motif of the sun and not the moon. At the table sat three ponies -- Princess Celestia, a grey Pegasus with a yellow mane and tail, and an earth pony with a light brown coloration and a dark brown mane and tail. He didn’t think much about it until he realized that the earth pony was looking at him directly and a little funny.
The grey pegasus looked at William as well before smiling brightly, “I like him, Doctor. He looks nice.” William just blinked as something clicked and slide into place.
“I concur, Derpy, but why would we have a human military man? I thought for sure Earth would send a scientist first or...” he trailed off quickly and couched into a hoof. “Hello Earth human, I am the Doctor.”
William blinked before he finally spoke, “Uh, William Howard, victim to the Nightmares, and... currently trapped here in Equestria for the time being.”
Derpy only smiled sadly. “Don’t worry, I am sure you can make great friends, The Doctor did and he is always running around being chased by things,”
The Doctor only nodded his head, “Of course, and I wouldn’t be able to without the help of your brilliant mind there,” He smiled and seemed to not notice the slight blush on Derpy’s face, “Anyway,” The Doctor continued, “You mentioned the Nightmares. The same Nightmares as in those being that can take control of one’s body and make you a prisoner in one’s own body? Or are you talking about those things that plague your mind and are all make-believe and what not?”
William shivered and lowered his eyes. “The first one, but you should know that because you visited me while on the moon and...” William paused and shook his head. The memories were horrifying. The Nightmare had tried to steal the TARDIS, or at least to posses the Doctor.
Derpy looked at the Doctor and William, “Wait, you were on the moon too? I thought the Doctor and I were the only ones that visited the moon while...” She shivered at the memories.
The Doctor was looking at William. “Not really, Derpy. If what I can understand, Derpy, take a look at our guest,”
Derpy looked at William with one eye and then the other and then gasped. “Doctor, Luna’s magic is in his head.”
“Of course it is,” the Doctor replied, “After all, if I can deduce, Luna saved you from the Nightmare that was attacking you, correct?”
William only nodded, allowing the Doctor to continue, “See, Derpy? She left some evidence. Why, if you looked at Luna, I bet you would see whatever it is that humans leave behind in other folks brains,” The Doctor however grew silent and looked at William, “What are you planning to do now?”
William gulped a little. “Uh, eat breakfast, go back up to my room, see what the Lunar Guard wants, and be ready for a meeting with Princess Celestia at two in the afternoon.”
“Excellent. Well, I don’t want to keep you waiting. I think we shall meet each other again, or rather, you will meet us again,”
Derpy only nodded, “Yep, and don’t get scared if I run away from you. Nice to see you in your real form,” She smiled and followed the Doctor out of the doors with a happy grin. William watched them leave before looking at Celestia.
Celestia only spoke once they were gone, “They mean no harm to you, though it makes me wonder if your world knows of time travel or a blue box?”
William looked at Celestia, “The same way we know of your kingdom,” That one sentence silenced Celestia as she pondered what was the implications.
“Was he also a pony?” She finally asked again.
“Nope, he looked like I did but different like every human being looks different from one another,” he shook his head, “It’s complicated,” he finally answered Princess Celestia.
“Very well. Come, eat some food before your meeting with the Lunar Guard. Also, it was very simple to reverse the spells in your weapons. You are now wielding the magic of Equestria and not Nightmares,” Celestia spoke with a smile, “Though in a way, you will be wielding some of my magic. Protect my dear sister; I think she will understand.”
William only looked at Celestia and realized that he was seeing a bit of a big sister moment. Celestia wanted to protect Luna, even though Celestia would never fully understand what happened that night, that terrible night when those mages tricked him into stepping into that circle. The horrors, having to hear that blasted voice all the time, twisting her memories and planning for the destruction of the kingdom.
William blinked suddenly at the touch of a wing on his back and a look of concern on Celestia’s face, “Are you,” she paused, “Feeling homesick?”
William blinked but found the action rather natural. He flung himself at Celestia’s neck and hugged it, “I am so sorry, Tia,” he hiccupped, “I let my pride blind me to what was important, we almost had you imprisoned as we were by another Nightmare.” the human broke down as a few of the servants came out with food only to stop and stare before quickly bowing out and swearing each other to never speak of what they saw.
Celestia was taken aback by the sudden breakdown but realized that this was like having Luna in the castle all over again for those first few months. She shivered at the thought of having a surrogate brother in a way, but still, she had to deal with this, “William,” her horn glowed softly and cast a calming spell on William. It worked rather well as William blinked and pulled back quickly.
“Oh, uh,” He shivered, “That was not fun. I- I almost,” He shivered only to see Celestia nod her head and hear a bell ring, “I am so sorry,” he was beet red in embarrassment.
“Do not be. I am sure that if we do not perform a balance spell, I will have my sister moan about some lost moment of your world,” She saw the door to the kitchen open and her staff come out with some food, “I would like you to try something that I know your digestive system can take. We call it a Guard Cookie, but they like to call them ‘blocks’. It is a meal we serve in the military to feed our troops. It will feed a pony for a day in one sitting, even if there's a battle.”
William blinked, “Uh, thank you,” He didn’t know what to say, but noticed that Celestia was not speaking of more sensitive matters for the moment in front of her staff, “I would like to try that. If it works, I think we might have a means that will keep me alive when my MRE’s deplete.”
Celestia sipped at her tea and turned away, smiling at the comment as if enjoying a little hidden secret before going back to a straight face and looked back at William, “Indeed. Tell me, what would you think if we could allow you a means to travel our countryside without a problem?”
William blinked and looked at Celestia, “Well, that would be interesting.” he admitted as a plate was placed with a inch-thick block of food. It looked like an oversize granola bar to his mind. Still, he was focused on what Celestia had asked him, “What do you have in mind?”
The alicorn only smiled, a smile that almost triggered another memory, but he was able to repress all but the knowledge of what it meant, “You’re not going to tell me.”
Celestia almost choked on her tea before she realized just who he had been interacting with. Once again she was a tad miffed at her sister, giving an alien such a personal look into the ruling government. She still smiled in a way that would unnerve even Luna, “Not now, but you will learn about it at Night Court tonight. That is, if you can handle sitting through afternoon Day Court and all of Night Court.”
William only blinked and nodded his head as he picked up the Guard Cookie and began to eat it, finding it not as hard as he feared, he had bought a novelty item at a Western fort. He had eaten hardtack, and as long as he had lived since then, he had never found an edible substance harder than the slice he got. He found that the Guard Cookie was, as he thought, not as hard as hardtack, but it was tasty nonetheless.
The meal lasted for just a few minutes, and then Celestia moved to stand up and walk to the door, “I shall escort you back to your quarters,” She stopped and looked around the room, “But first, I think I will prevent any more outbursts, especially for the Griffin Diplomates later today. Stand still now.”
William blinked and stood tall and straight, moving to the stance of military attention. Celestia walked right into his line of sight and smiled before her horn glowed a gold color and then touched it to his head. It felt pleasant, then the heat he felt in his head grew ever hotter and more painful. He stood still and waited, but it got worse and worse, until his knees finally buckled and he slumped onto the floor as he hands went up to his head as he grunted in pain.
William looked up in confusion as his eyes watered only to see Celestia’s face showing a pure look of shock, “I-” She stammered, blinked and shook her head. “This was not the reaction I had hoped for,” He shook his head, a look of worry, “Your memories were not taken, but given,” She frowned, “A memory freely given from an Alicorn can only be taken by the same Alicorn,” She was speaking to herself in shock as the gears in her mind began turning, “Luna gave you memories of her time as a Nightmare...” She blinked and her eyes widened, “Of course,” She looked at William and her horn glowed again.
William winced in fear at the glow but found the pain in his head was ebbing away, and he was able to think clearly now. Celestia, with her magic, helped William up to his feet, “I am sorry, but I was wrong in some of my opinions of the memories you have,” She smiled, “Luna gave you those memories so as to give you better resolve to help fight the Nightmares.”
William looked at Celestia, “But I gave her full control of my mind so she could beat it back,” William’s voice had confusion and fear in it, “I didn’t mean to fight over Luna,”
Celestia laughed a little, “Oh but you had to fight, it was your mind. Yes, you gave Luna the helm, but you still had to let her through all your checkpoints and security codes of the mind to let her purge it. Her giving those memories to you, which you only had pure intentions for, were the reasons why letting her pilot for a while was a good thing. Also, I made sure that any memories that might surface, I changed so that you would dream them, and not speak them. At least for today.” She looked at the doors. “I really do not want you falling into another ‘Luna episode’. I think would be a good name to call them.”
William only nodded his head, and he followed Celestia to his tower room, the trip done in silence as both human and co-ruler of a nation were in their own thoughts, at least till Celestia reached the more private living areas of the two ruling Ponies. It was then that she began to speak to William again.
William stood before his door as he listened to the descending hoof steps of the Royal Princess and her royal horseshoes as she returned to start the Day Court. He checked his watched which he had reconfigured to the time of local Equestrian time. It was now Nine in the Morning, and according to Celestia, the Day Court started at nine-thirty, went till twelve-thirty, with a thirty minute lunch by the Princess, and then it picked up again at one, going till six in the evening. After that, She would have meetings with her staff and Deputies. Then it was dinner at eight, and Luna taking over Night Court at nine-thirty. From eight to nine, was an hour that the two Princesses would have to themselves and be sisters. Nine-thirty till Midnight was Night Court, and then Luna would deal with any late night letters, and any military situations that would or could pop up during the night. Celestia left it at that, as she put it, after Midnight Luna’s schedule was a mystery to even her, and she respected her sisters privacy. Something she didn’t do before the Thousand years.
With this thoughts William opened the door to his room, and looking to the left, noting the door to the restroom in the tower, the Castle he learned had indoor plumbing which interested him. He also found that the door to the restroom was ajar and heard sounds coming from it.
William becoming on edge and with alertness slipped into the room, leaving the door as is. Since the voices, while muffled, were not acting like they knew that anyone had entered the main room. He thought to himself as he slipped his combat knife from his leg, anypony, the proper term was anypony. His mind was fearing the worst, so with a deep breath he touched the ajar door and with a yell yanked it open, brandishing his knife.
Only to find himself enveloped in a dark red field of magic and slammed to the roof of the bathroom as his knife was yanked from his hand. His eyes right away focusing on the Unicorn that was keeping him in check. The Unicorn had on the Armor of a Night Guard, the horn and the fur were a light dull grey blue night like color, while the eyes were red in color. Next to the Unicorn was another Unicorn looking exactly the same, both had finned ridges for a mane and the tails were both a lighter color as the main coat. The Armor had that scale like look that wrapped around the what he now realized was the iconic dragonic eye that was over the chest of all Lunar Guards it appeared. He could see that the other unicorn was glaring and had built up a charge of magic, but upon seeing who had startled them. The unicorn let the magic go and the other one slowly let the magic go that was surrounding William, and he floated to the ground, the one holding him even flipped him so he was standing on his feet.
As soon as his feet were on the ground the red magic glow was gone, and the two Unicorns looked at him. “So,” the one of the left spoke, the voice sounding very much like a male. “You are the one that is going to be brought into the guard.” He gave William a look. “Never had one of another military branch join the group, let alone, a one of a kind creature.” He looked back to his partner. “Remind me to file a petition to the Princess to have this clause removed. I would rather make them Honorary members of the guard, Otherwise we will have more cases like the Element holders.”
The second looked back at the other and sniffed. “It’ll be your neck on the line, I am not going to risk the Lunar Sword’s anger with any more of those petitions. You can clean the latrines on your own.” The other Unicorn he heard was male as well.
They seemed to stare before coming to an unspoken agreement if the sudden sharp nods were to say anything. They both looked at William. The one of the left spoke again. “I am Battlemage Lieutenant Moonshade.”
With a clearing of the throat the one of the right spoke. “I am Battlemage Captain Night.” He looked at William. “Rank and name.” He spoke.
William looked at them and was about to speak a long winded explanation before remembering that the two Princesses had told him to just go with the rank the Nightmares had given him. At least for the moment. “Cadet Captain William Howard.” he spoke moving to attention.
They nodded to themselves. “Very well.” They turned back to face William. “If you would come to the main part of your quarters, we shall begin with some simple tasks, and give you a list of assignments. which for the moment is to just be on guard with the rest of us for the first half of the shift.” Moonshade spoke as he trotted past William back into his room. Night followed after Moonshade and William had not choice but to really follow them. It was going to be a long day, one that if he was banking on Celestia knowing this, he wouldn’t be hungry till dinner, he idly wondered if he would be eating in the Lunar Guard’s mess hall.
“First thing,” Night began, “We are the Lunar Guard, we are a more elite group within the Night Guard, which is similar to the Solar Guard. We recruit, the two of us, from the Royal Guard. The Solar Guard has their own unit like us. They are called the Solar Legion.”
Moonshade spoke. “With that said, within the Lunar guard, we have an even smaller group, these are in charge of Luna’s personal protection, safety, and if needed during Night Court, or during any trips she might take.”
The two smiled. “In fact only those of that group are allowed to wear this armor, while all armor makes us look alike.” they blinked their red eyes with the black Dragonic slit. “We have different armor for the Lunar Guard.” Night picked up. “Their armor while making them look like us, are more like the Royal Guard, with the gold armor, only they have a more whitish grey armor to look like the moon.”
Moonshade took over as they switched in explanations. “Now as for the part you will be working with.” here the two looked disgruntled. “It has been decided that due to your... unique situation, that you will be placed in our group. We are the Moonbeam Division.” Moonshade was not happy sounded, but he still had a gleeful tone as he said the next part. “So if you end up having a Nightmare taking you over, we will be able to destroy it quickly and without having to track you down.”
William surprised himself with how calm he felt at hearing that, but he did smile a little. “As a saying in my world goes: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” He smiled at the small joke at his expense, but he realized the smile unnerved the two, as such his smile faded and his face turned to a more flat lined look. “Sorry, but still, if you must know I am just as uncomfortable about this. I am, well, I am from another world. If I ever get back, how will they react that I was conscripted into another military, and guarded their co-ruler?” he closed his eyes. “But I understand why. I faced what is your world’s most dangerous foes, and now, you need to watch me. So this is a perfect place, after all Luna can just seal me up if needed.”
The two looked shocked. “What? but, how did you?” They stopped and shook their heads. he was getting a small idea.
“You are twins aren't you?” He smiled their small daggers they were giving him was enough. “Still, if you do not know how or why I know, I guess you don’t need to know, so I will say no more. Just as I know you have secrets you will not tell me. So shall I.”
William inwardly smiled as he saw the two others smile. Moonshade spoke with a slight smirk. “So you are loyal to your nation, with what we have been hearing it sounded like you were going to sell it out to us for an easy life.”
They both cowered as William flew to his feet with his face a bit of anger in it. “I would never do such a thing.” he voice boomed. “How can.” he took a breath to try and calm himself. “I would never, I never was trained, so I don’t know what to say and not say, I mean even things I know about as just a citizen could changed your thinking and,” he paused and sat down and sighed as he closed his eyes as a wave of homesickness passed over him.
After five minutes, the three members of the Moonbeam Division began again with their discussion and two teaching one about what he needed to do for the upcoming night shift.
Meanwhile in the upper regions of the Lunar Tower. Princess Luna slept in a large four poster princess bed with dark blue curtains and canopy, which to only her eyes had seen the bottom of the canopy, the part that faced her eyes. On it, stitched into it with glittering threads that her sister had made and kept safe for her return was the night sky, with every star and constellation. She was happy to have this, as it made her feel safe.
She yawned and blinked as her inner clock told her it was midday, she was still trying to clear her thoughts. She however blinked and found that her silk pillow was wet, it took a moment to understand why and she knew, she remembered, it was the reason why she woke up. She slowly got out of bed and moved to her journal. Or rather the one of the bottom of a stack of two journals. With magic she levitated it to her and using a quill pen she began to write the dream she had, or rather as she suspected, A memory from William, a sad and frightening one to her mind. Her eyes flicking to her desk and a small wooden cylinder that was sealed for the moment. She would get to that after she finished writing. She looked at her mental clock and knew that William would be on his way now to meet with her sister and the Griffin ambassadors for their two in the afternoon meeting. She paused before returning to writing in the journal.
The Throne Room was silent as the Griffon Delegation stood on the level ground in front of the two tiered ramp leading up to the Royal Throne of Equestria. Princess Celestia was standing on the small landing between the two ramps, preferring this spot when dealing with the Griffons. She looked at the Delegates and the Ambassador who took the lead of the small group. Celestia noticed they all had on their ceremonial sword sheaths, the swords most likely with the guards at the front entrance.
“Why are we waiting?” The Ambassador asked after another minute of them sitting there and waiting. “Surely we can begin now.”
Celestia only looked at the Griffons. “Seeing as you wished to discuss the reasoning for a visitor of the Equestrian Crown, I felt that we should wait for his appearance.”
“This is a matter of national security and you wish to bring,” he was cut off as a door from the side of the throne opened and out stepped William in a very clean looking ACU uniform. He was also wearing a skullcap helmet with three black circles in a sideways row. All of them touching. The human moved to stand off to the side of the door in an area that the Griffons recognized were for Royal Guards during the open courts.
Celestia looked at William and opened one wing. “William Howard, Cadet Captain in the United States Officer Training Program, please step forward and join this discussion.”
As William approached the Griffon’s all gave him looks of bewilderment and one seemed to rear back as if slapped. This Griffon with a look from the Ambassador spoke. “You dare have a Cadet? A fledgling officer be present in these proceedings? Where is your General?” this question was directed not to Celestia but William. “Where is your Military commanders and higher ups? I will not speak nor have a Fledging be making a fool of his nation.”
William looked at the Griffon and didn’t back down. It might have helped that the two Moonbeam Division members had found him a pistol holster for his Rugar, so he had that now with his K-Bar. “I am it.” He responded clearly. “There is no General, no Field Marshall, nor Sky General for me to report to.” he saw the look of a small respect at naming their highest commanding officer’s title. “When I came to this land. I am it. I have no politicians, no Generals, no lower soldiers, It is only I. I am defacto the full fledge representative of my nation, our military, our civilians, and every other human being on my planet.”
The Griffons gaffed. “Sure, you are just saying that because the Equestrian Crown is telling you to say that.”
William seemed to gather height is he raised his head. “You think I like that? I have training, but nothing for this. I am no Diplomat, so I worry about what I can and cannot say. I have little practical training, all my training is just that, training, no real world experience outside of the laps and training programs.” He took a breath. “My nations government would be having a fit if they knew what and where I was, I am, a citizen, the most unrefined in the dirt person you could find. I read books, I follow my nations politics, I debate with friends, and not really good friends. I argue, I get mad. I have lost my temper, and above all. I am one to call BS when I see it.”
The Griffon Ambassador chuckled. “Honest. Yes I can see you are not a trained diplomat. We wouldn’t admit so many weaknesses. However seeing that you are here, something just have pulled you here.” His eyes hardened. “What was it? Was it a misfired master spell that the Alicorns were perfecting? Or did Celestia’s little pet student mess up from a break down.”
Celestia glared at the Griffon. “I assure you, that Twilight Sparkle would never deal with such dangerous spells unless in a Canterlot University test chamber inside the castle, the type of spell that would have brought the human here would be considered dangerous.”
William spoke again. “Sirs, if it was a misfire, they would have fixed the problem and I would not be here standing here before all of you.” He glared at them, “I am here, and that is it.” he looked at all the Griffons and at Celestia. “I was informed that you wanted me present, yet from when I walked in, you were not wanting me present.” His question was left unsaid, which was it.
The head ambassador looked at William. “I, Proud Beak do hereby with his blessings from the Emperor of the Griffon Empire request that you come visit our nation.”
William looked at the ambassador and chuckled. “Is that all?” he got a nod. “Then I will decline, but for these reasons on which you shall relay back to your Emperor.” he took a breath. “First, I am still getting acclimated to the nations and territories, so for the most part I will be staying near Canterlot for the foreseeable future. Second, I am not yet up for long distance traveling.”
Celestia spoke up. “Third,” her eyes narrowed as she spoke the next line firmly. “He is currently a mark from the Black Suns.” The Griffons blinked and opened their beaks in shock or to protest, but they didn’t as Celestia continued. “As such, there are only a few military that can protect him, and even fewer that can mask him to their spells. If he leaves this castle, he will bring destruction upon any nation that tries to house him, as they will refuse any but themselves to learn his secrets and allegiance.”
The youngest Griffon clicked a claw and the Ambassador clicked his beak, it seemed to be an unspoken mode of asking permission. The youngest spoke. “Are you trying to scare us with fairy tales? You're saying that this mythical group of dark magic users are out to take this human and make them theirs.”
Celestia did not finish or even start before William spoke up. “They are as real as I am, as real as this knife.” He pulled his K-Bar out and held the hilt showing the knife. “I fought their master, or one of their masters in my own head the very night I came here, so DON’T YOU DARE!” he paused and lowered his voice. “Don’t you dare, even try to tell me that they are fairy tales to scare little kids.” His eyes flamed with rage and the pain of fresh battle wounds that the more experienced Griffon saw right away.
The younger Griffon reared onto his hind paws. “You dare to swear such a thing upon your personal weapon?” He blinked and looked at the human. “I do not know what you know of us, but even I know that saying what you have with your weapon is a mighty big oath.” He looked at him. “Are you willing to continue? To stand by what you have said on your word upon your weapon?”
William looked right at the Griffon. “As a Human and as my greatest weapon is our tenacity and ability to think of new inventive ways of winning in the midst of a battle, yes. Yes I do say that what I have seen and dealt with is real. For I had to use my greatest weapon, my intellect to defeat the Nightmare Master.”
Those two words that title seemed to hush the room. The Griffon’s all looked at William wided eyed. It was the Ambassador who spoke softly now. “You, that name. that is a very hushed name in our kingdom.” He looked at William. “Only one other has the gumption to even dare speak that name with the tone you have, and she...” He looked at Celestia. “I had hoped you would be more, open to our ways then your sister, she would have thrown us out. For she made it known by letters last night before she rose her moon that she would not even take my questions on the human.” he looked at William. “I understand now, and in a way, I wish I did not push.”
The other Griffons were dumbstruck, even the one that had taken to arguing with William. He just was blinking as if trying to restart his mind. “You,” his face suddenly went to one of rage. “How dare you, do you even know what those words mean?” It seemed that the hot blooded youth of passion had erupted now. “You dare use those words, those words that are, what do you know of this Nightmares?”
William didn’t even backstep or rear back, he only leaned forward and looked right back at the Griffon. “Only that the Nightmares still see some of the Griffons, those touched by the black wings to be their vanguards from when they rallied against Nightmare Moon after her forced retreat from Celestia.” His words were backhand effect to the Griffon and it was only then that he noticed that the youth had a trailing edge of black feathers, however it didn’t cause much remorse. He looked at the Youth. “I can hold my own, and I did, I will make sure to never force a nightmare to collect on any debts in this land.” He flipped his knife and accidently cut himself in trying to sheath it. But to the Griffons, it just looked like he had cut himself on purpose upon issuing a promise that he truly meant to live up to to his best abilities.
That one moment, while an accident to William and a purposeful action in the eyes of the Griffons, seemed to calm the harsh mood in the room and the Griffons smiled as they looked at William. “We will hold you to your words human.” The Ambassador spoke before making a screech and the group of Griffons turned and left the throne room.
William sighed and looked at Celestia who just blinked, then smiled. “I must say that you handled that rather well, but I am afraid you left me with little to say.” She looked at the Griffons leaving, “But I think it was not really them wishing to see me poster, but the new military officer, to the Griffons the Military means a lot, and what you just did there, while stuttering and far from a perfect military diplomacy exchange in Griffon eyes, they know each Military is different.” She looked at William. “Congratulations, if you keep this up, Your United States will have two nations that will be willing to trade with it.” She paused. “When the time comes.”
William smiled before winching as he finally felt pain and looked down at the wound in his hand. “Shoot.” he yelped. “That isn’t good.” Before he could try to get as something to stop the bleeding he felt his hand go warm as a golden aura surrounded the hand. “Princess?”
“Call me Celestia for the moment.” She muttered softly, “I am sorry you hurt your hands but do not worry, as from when I healed your broken nose. I know magic can heal you.” She smiled as she let his hand go and he saw his hand was healed with a tiny scar along where the knife had cut himself.
He looked at Celestia, who only shrugged with her wings. “The Griffons will expect you to have a scare from your promise, so I left a scar, also as a reminder to be more careful with your tools of your trade.”
Celestia looked up into the ceiling and smiled. “I think I shall dismiss you and continue with my day, you may take a nap, or explore the castle barracks.” She looked down at him. “But remember you cannot leave the castle itself, and be ready for Luna’s court tonight. Be early, as she likes her guards milling around their areas doing nothing then racing to get to their posts.” She smiled and William was shocked that she had told her a small way to get more on Luna’s good side, then again he mused, he was going to be working closely with Luna so that was a good thing. William saluted Celestia, turned around in an about face and left through the door he came through.