Chapter 27: I’ll drink to that
Chapter 27: I’ll drink to that
The moon rose and the stars were beginning to appear in the sky when the three ponies were able to see their destination.
In the distance, surrounded by green meadows and flower beds, with stood the fortified capital of Equestria, place of Royal Castle, residence of the Royal Pony Sisters, and home to Cory and Starry.
The three ponies flew above the tiled rooftops of the city and headed straight for the castle. Two Knights opened the main gate and as they landed servants flocked to them to help them remove their armors.
Now free from the metal clothing, they walked through the stone and marble corridors and headed for their dining room. Slate just pulled back the part of the suit that covered his head.
With the armors off them their body altering magics faded. Their coats, tails and mane returned to their normal colors. When starry’s armor was removed, his wings were taken with it, while one of Cory’s returned to her normal pegasus form, while the other remained the same.
“Why do you insist on wearing that even when you are at home?” Slate asked Starry, but he did not reply. Turning towards Cory he could see the mare sigh.
Two guards stood in attention as they walked by and as they entered the room dinner was just being brought in. Cucumber salad with black-eyed pea, freshly baked bread, various cheeses and wine, all were being brought in by servants and placed at one end of the table, the closest to the fireplace in which a large fire burned.
Aside from the roaring fire, a pair grand chandeliers hang above the twelve-pony dining table, and tens of large, wall mounted candles lit up the room marble room. Starry sat at the end of the table, his back to the fireplace while Cory took the place to his right.
“Starry, I think I got the short end of the stick,” Slate said taking his seat to Starry’s left.
“You get to live in the capital, your every need being taken care of by an army of servants, and lets not forget a lovely wife. What more can a stallion ask for? All you need is the sound of little hooves, and your life would be perfect.”
“About that...” Cory said as both stallions turned towards her.
“When did you found out?” Slate asked, while Starry just stood there and stared at Cory, his mouth held ajar. The spell that created his mane vanishing, leaving his scarr covered scalp exposed.
“The physician told me this morning, but I guess you could say I knew for a while.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Slate wanted to know what she was trying to say.
“Well about a month ago while I was visiting Luna, her friend... You know the one, the dark-grey, blue maned unicorn that alway seems to be by her side.”
“You mean Blue Blume?” Slate asked.
“Yes Blublu, that’s the one. So about a month ago while I was visiting Luna, Blublu congratulated me. When I asked for what she just smiled and told me I will find out soon.”
“Do you think she knew?”
“I don’t know, maybe.”
“I still want to name him.”
“Him?” Cory asked. “How do you know it will be a colt?”
“Call it intuition,” Slate said holding out his wineglass as a servant filled it. “To your and the foals health.” The two clinked their glasses while Starry stood there stupefied.
“I think you broke him,” he said looking at Starry and taking a sip of wine from his glass, Cory let out a short laugh.
“I really hope...” he paused as he noticed something hanging above the fireplace. “He still has that?!”
Above the fireplace a silvery-blue sword hanged, the blade glowing softly. It’s hilt was long. Long enough that no one would have thought that it was made for a pony to wield. The grip was crimson, with light blue metallic rings, and a pommel of the same colour. Despite its long grip its cross-guard was short and thick, and it seemed to have a second cross-guard, two metallic spikes pointing away from the wielder. The blade was thick and about three times the size of the hilt.
“Luna told him to have it destroyed!” Slate yelled, slamming his hoof in the table.
“I know!” Cory replied.
“Then why is hanging on the wall?!”
“Because I couldn’t destroy it,” Starry finally talked, the sudden shouting waking him up.
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?!” Slate asked.
“Couldn’t!” Starry yelled at him, his ethereal mane reappeared, bursting out of his head. “And I don’t want to talk about it any further. Got it, Captain?”
“You’re honestly pulling rank on me?! Really?”
“Yes, I am!”
“Calm down!” Cory yelled at them. “The both of you!”
They both stood down and continued eating their dinner, and not a word was spoken between Slate and Starry for about ten more months, when a little purple foal with a bright yellow mane and tail, brought the two friends back together.
Just as he asked, Slate got to name the foal, and the little unicorn filly would bear the name Petal “Nightie” Nightshade. Daughter of Guildmaster Starry Night and Special Operation Expert Cory Rivea of the Knight of Night, niece of Captain Slate Fogtome of the Shadowbolts, and niece of Princess Luna Equestris, Diarc of Equestria.