"Ponies, on the whole, prefer a pretty lie to a painful truth." - Glorious Words, 'Lies'
It was just over one hundred years ago that my great-grandfather died, and this was how it happened.
It was the day of the Grand Galloping Gala, and as usual, the first chills of winter were beginning. In one of the inner halls, apart from the ballroom, sat seven ponies. Old friends, for the most part - unified through their shared experience. For they were all soldiers, or to be more precise, leaders of soldiers.
There were seven of them, so the story goes, talking about past campaigns, or training methods, or old enemies. They were an even mix - Persistence was an earth pony, my own ancestor Oblige was a unicorn, just as I am, Falx was a pegasus, Guisarme another earth pony, Ahlspeiss another unicorn, Spetum another pegasus and the last officer, and the seventh pony, another unicorn called Starlight Charmer.
It so happens that in the middle of a quiet break in the talk, Starlight Charmer decided to speak up.
"You are all warriors, and teachers of warriors. So what, then, is the greatest virtue a warrior may possess?" she asked, looking to each in turn.
Persistense was the first to answer, the scarred brown earth pony general. "Strength!" he declared. "For a weak warrior is useless in and out of battle."
There was some nodding, before Falx spoke to counter him. "No, it is courage," said the pegasus mare. "For a fearful warrior's strength only helps them to flee." Most of the room nodded at this.
Then Spetum spoke up, the youngest pony present. "Resourcefulness, I think. For a pony who does not think cannot use his strength or his courage."
It was then that Oblige spoke up. "Loyalty." The room turned to him, picking at some of the hors d'oeuvres. "For if a warrior is not loyal, all his virtues serve your enemy." The room nodded, but - of course - it was Guisarme who was the last.
"Pah, what would you know of loyalty?" he said. There was some laughter at this - never wise to laugh at one of my house.
"Very well, let's put it to the test," said Oblige, smiling as he walked up to Guisarme. I don't think he'd have been reckoned much up against him - for my ancestor was quite a short pony, and Guisarme...
"One of my ponies is worth a thousand of yours," said Guisarme as he looked down at Oblige, who nodded.
"Perhaps in battle, my friend, but not here in our gracious Princess' winter dance." He moved around the room. "Who is willing to test their ponies against my own?"
"What will be the test?" asked Spetum.
"Loyalty, of course," Oblige replied. "Is that not the highest of all virtues?"
"My ponies' loyalty is unconditional," said Falx stonily.
"So I hear," said Oblige. Perhaps it is just me reading in to it - but I think his voice would have had a hint of sarcasm by now. "But are you willing to put it to the test?"
"I am," said Guisarme.
"As am I," said Spetum.
"I as well," said Ahlspeiss.
"I will join your test," said Persistense.
Falx, of course, had begun to suspect something by now (quite rightly, as it turned out), and did not speak.
"Do not hestitate too much longer, Falx," said Oblige. "Else we might have to call your courage into account as well."
"My ponies have nothing to prove," Falx said.
Oblige nodded to her. "Very well. I had only heard that your ponies lived by their actions... not their words."
"Yes," said Falx with a nod.
"Very well. Let us see if your soldier's actions live up to your words."
Falx remained silent for a moment, before nodding and saying curtly "Very well."
"Excellent!" said Oblige, clearing aside the room and lining up the other generals against the wall facing the door. "Then here is our contest. We will each call our bodyguard into the room. Then we will give them a command."
"What command will that be?" asked Starlight Charmer.
Oblige smiles here. "I will demonstrate with my own bodyguard, Otik. Then, each of you will follow suit. The bodyguard who hesitates or questions the command will be disqualified. Are we in agreement?" The others nodded, with Falx nodding last. "Very well. Let the game begin!"
He turned to Starlight Charmer. "My Lady, would you be so kind as to call Otik into the room?" She nodded, and went outside of the room to fetch the pegasus mare.
As she came back in, Otik in tow, Oblige turned and smiled at Starlight Charmer. Otik knelt before Oblige, awaiting her master's wishes.
"Otik," he said.
"My lord?"
"Kill me."
The pegasus mare did not pause. "Yes, my lord."
Her sword swept out of the scabbard before anypony could react, and stabbed through his chest in an instant. Before they could stop her, she had drawn it back, and fell on it, killing herself.
That is what it means to be loyal. That is the lesson drilled into us from our birth. Loyalty - to family, to the Princess, to Equestria - is everything. We must be willing to kill - or die - at a moment's notice.
That does not mean that we welcome death. But it means that we do not hide from it.
What else can I tell you? My mane is blond, and my coat is white. My cutie mark is of a compass - this stuff you already know. I have told you what the most important virtue is. I have told you of my great-grandfather's death. Am I young? Yes! Am I a swordspony? Yes! Neither of these is important at this juncture. Am I a good pony?
Come, let me show you my works, and you may judge that for yourself.