“So…why are we here?” one Florian asked when they stopped.
“You better keep your mouths shut,” Shining Armor said.
“What are you gonna do? Really?” one Florian asked him. The other looked to the left and saw someone he knew was in Auflorsung only a week ago. He cut the binds on his wrists and other limbs with his energy blade and went to have a talk with her. The guards were either too afraid or otherwise unwilling to stop him.
“You look...familiar,” the Florian said as he approached Princess Luna.
She immediately turned and looked at him, taking another look to see if he was Jolterix or not. “Well, I was just in Auflorsung not too long ago,” she said, “And forgive my sister, this trouble with Discordia has her extremely anxious, and she’s just trying to protect everyone. She isn’t really this tyrannical.”
“I understand,” the Florian replied, “But is there something you can do to speed this along; make her friendlier?”
“I can try,” Luna said, “I know your race isn’t here to enslave us.”
When Luna completed that sentence, the other Florian called over, “Yolter, come here, this guy things he can win in a duel.”
“Thank you,” Yolter said to Luna and he walked over to the other. Luna stared at him, his name bared some similarities to “Jolterix,” but it was too different as well.
Yolter made his way to his friend and inquired what Shining Armor was trying to say. “What goes, Tenner?” He accidentally spoke a Florian sentence using Equestrian words, but he knew Tenner would understand what he wanted.
“Without your armor, you’re nothing,” Shining Armor told them, “Luna told us of your country; how your military has essentially died. I bet in an unarmed fight or even one with swords you wouldn’t stand a chance against an Equestrian, or even a Crystalline.”
The Florians looked at each other and laughed. “Well Luna hasn’t told you the whole story, then. Our military is as good now as it has ever been. You carry way too much confidence, boy,” one of them said. Shining Armor clearly didn’t know that Florians were extremely skilled in unarmed combat, as was demonstrated with Luna in a Florian arena. He also didn’t understand why they would call him “boy” when they seemed to be youthful, even though Shining had very little to go on. He didn’t know Florians were immortals; no one in Equestria did, save for Luna.
“If Celestia doesn’t execute you herself, then we’ll each have a little time in the arena,” Shining said.
“Then I hope you’re satisfied with your life,” one of the Florians said, “because that sounds very much like a death wish.” They each figured that since they were receiving no respect from Equestrian leaders, beginning with the attempted assassinations, they would give none back.
“Florians,” a voice called. It was Celestia’s. “My sister has informed me of your value here in Equestria. We will house you in this castle while we figure out what to do with you. Now, you all must be hungry, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes in the dining hall.” She left her throne and walked to the Florians. “You will remove your helmets,” she said getting close to both their ears, “And if you refuse, I know many…exotic ways to make you more submissive.” She smiled slyly at them and she turned around to follow the others.
“Sorry about her,” Luna said. She obviously didn’t hear what Celestia had said, “She’s just anxious about Discordia. Follow me, I will show you to your rooms.” She led the Florians down several hallways until they reached a specific door. “This will be your room,” she pointed at Tenner, then walked backwards until she was adjacent to another door, “And this will be yours,” she pointed at Yolter.
“Alright,” Yolter said. He walked forward and opened the door to his room as Tenner did with his. Luna followed Yolter into his room. It was opulent and spacious: a large four-poster bed sat elevated on a few steps and there were several large windows and a door that led to a balcony. “This is very nice,” Yolter said, “Thank you.”
“It’s no problem,” Luna said as she removed her mask, hoping the Florian would do the same.
“I can’t take mine off,” he said seemingly reading her mind, “Not yet.”
“Why?” Luna asked.
“It’s just…it’s not the right time yet,” he said.
“What are you doing in Equestria, then?” Luna asked.
“That can’t be said, either,” he told her, “Otherwise it would ruin it.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Luna said.
“Good,” he replied, “The less you understand, the better. Trust me.”
“Fine,” Luna said. She had trusted a Florian before, and it benefitted her; she saw no reason not to trust one again. She also knew she couldn’t forcefully take a Florian’s helmet off; it had to be the Florian that did it himself. “We should get to the dining room; let’s not keep your hostess waiting.” She was sure they would unwittingly remove their helmets for dinner so that they could eat. She led both Florians to the dining area where they sat down at a long table, and were immediately waited on by castle servants. They were given many delicious foods: steak, corn, chicken, and many other Equestrian delicacies.
“So,” Celestia began starting the conversation, “You Florians never told us your names.”
“Mine is Tenner,” he said.
“And mine is Yolter,” he added.
“Well, Tenner and Yolter,” Celestia replied, “You also have not stated your business in Equestria.”
“We can’t,” Yolter replied, “If you knew, it would defeat the purpose of us being here. Our deepest apologies.”
“Then why should we not lock you up in our dungeon until you told us?” Celestia asked them with force in her voice.
“Because it would be easier for us to escape than for you to jail us,” Tenner replied.
“Celestia, they’re not lying. Placing them in the dungeon would be a waste of our time,” Luna told her sister.
“Luna, I thank you for your advice, but I wonder just how far your knowledge of Florians really goes; having spent only two days in the country,” Celestia remarked.
“She wouldn’t lie to you,” Yolter said, “She’s your sister, who also wants what’s best for your shared subjects. Plus, she’s been there; you have not.”
“Very well,” Celestia said, “But I must say: I find it…confusing that your country would refuse military aid, but two of you arrive in our country and you won’t state your business.”
“You must trust us,” Yolter said, “We are not here to bring harm to your people, even if we do not find what we are looking for.”
“And what are you looking for?” the princess without a military uniform asked. This was the first time either Florian got a good look at her. She was fairly tall, about Luna’s height and build, with several colors in her hair: pink, yellow and purple. Her voice was soothing and gentle, so much that it seemed love radiated from it.
“If we told you, we would find what we hope for, but we would not find what we are looking for,” Tenner replied.
“Well, enough talk,” Celestia interrupted, seeing the conversation going nowhere, “Why don’t we eat. I’m sure you two are very hungry.” She looked at the Florians hoping that would cause them to remove their helmets.
“We appreciate the offerings,” Yolter said.
“But we aren’t hungry,” Tenner finished his sentence. This was a lie: they were both very hungry and desperate to eat anything on the table. Yolter stared at the wine even, and he hated alcohol, but still so desperate for its sweet quench. Tenner looked at his steak, he loved steak, but he could not remove his helmet and relish the meat’s sating abilities. This was some of the most intense torcher either Florian had experienced.
“Surely you must be,” Celestia said, “Wouldn’t you two feel awful if such delicious food had to go to waste?”
“Sister, I think they’re really not hungry,” Luna said as she remembered a detail of her trip to Auflorsung. It had seemed like nothing at the time, but now it meant so much: Jolterix hadn’t eaten the entire time she was with him, save for a small bowl of ice cream. “When I was in Auflorsung, my guide didn’t eat anything. It’s not too farfetched to assume they don’t eat anything either. Perhaps Florians simply don’t eat like we do?”
“Listen to the woman, Celestia,” Yolter thought.
“Let us leave,” Tenner thought to himself.
“Perhaps,” Celestia said. You both appear to not eat anything. Would anyone mind if the Florians left the table?”
“No,” Shining said actually happy at the idea.
“I don’t mind,” the civilian princess said.
“They may leave,” Luna said. Her word carried much more weight than Shining’s and Cadance’s.
“Very well,” Celestia said, “The Florians may leave the table, but only if you are going back to your rooms.”
“Not a problem,” Tenner replied. He and Yolter stood up and smuggled some food back to their rooms underneath their robes.
After about an hour at dinner, Luna and Celestia went to the Florians’ rooms to check on them even though they were under constant guard. They picked a door and knocked; Tenner opened the door, but didn’t allow Celestia in. Yolter did the same. They both wore their helmets and robes, but it was likely they had removed their armor during their time by themselves.
“Yes?” Yolter asked Luna.
“I’m just here to make sure you’re both fine,” Luna said to him.
“Very well,” he replied, “Is that all?”
“Well,” Luna thought for a moment, “Florians still play games right?”
“That we do,” he said.
“Good, would you like to play something more traditional than your videogames?” she asked him.
“Perhaps, what have you got in mind?”
Luna looked into his room and saw a chess set on the table in the corner. “Do Florians know how to play chess?”
Yolter turned around and saw what she was looking at. “Of course we do,” he said, “But it’s been a while, and I might not be as good as I once was.”
“Oh that’s alright,” Luna said, “I can go easy if you want.”
“No, no,” Yolter replied as he walked over to the chess table, “Please, try your hardest.”
Luna sat down across from him and placed her chin on her hand in thought; her hand was covered in a blue gauntlet. She still wore her blue military uniform as well as an obsidian crown with a diamond encrusted in the shape of a crescent moon. Two silver earrings sat in her lower ears; the same color as stars. Her hair flowed in some nonexistent breeze: it seemed to hold the stars and looked a lot like a nebula that Yolter had taken an interest in recently. Her solid blue eyes stared at him intensely. He knew he had an advantage because he could see her face, but she couldn’t see his.
“Well?” she asked.
Yolter came back to reality. “What?” he asked realizing he had become too caught up with examining Luna. “She’s definitely a twelve,” he thought silently even though Tenner was the one who usually rated women, not Yolter.
“Aren’t you going to make the first move?”
“Oh, sure, unless you want it?”
“No, it’s for the guest,” she said with a grin of anticipation.
“Then,” he began and paused as he ran his hand over the board, “I will do this.” He moved a piece forward.
“Alright,” Luna said. She picked up a piece and moved it with her hand. Yolter responded by placing another pawn. Luna used her magic to move a pawn and Yolter raised his gaze from the board to her.
“Really?” he asked her.
“What?” she replied with confusion.
“Florians win wars without magic,” he said, “I would expect Equestria to do the same. Chess is just a simulated war.” He stood up and leaned over the board as he picked up all of his and Luna’s pieces. He places many pieces by the board and some on the board. Mostly his remained on the board, but he left a few of Luna’s as well as her king. She noticed he had placed the pieces in a checkmate position, favoring him.
“What, do Florians move over the land and move countries as well?” she asked him in a teasing manner.
“No, but since you used magic, I just figured you were going to play lazily,” he said, “This is how the game would have finished.”
“Impossible,” Luna thought then said, “And how would you know that?”
“Well I’m sure you know Florians are always very intelligent,” he explained, “My IQ is one hundred forty seven. But that was the last time I checked: several centuries ago. Of course it’s gone up since then, probably to around two hundred twenty or so. Go on, go through the game and see if this is where we would have ended up.” He sat down and patiently awaited Luna.
“That’s impossible,” she said when she realized he was correct, “How could you have known that?”
“Well remember: I got my immortality at a young age before my brain power stopped increasing. It’s been one thousand one hundred nineteen years since then, so my brain is very powerful right now,” he explained.
Luna gawked at him, completely surprised at how he knew exactly how she was going to play the game. “There’s got to be something more,” she said.
“Well I’ve seen you fight; you’re pretty aggressive,” he said, “I was in the arena that day,” he quickly said.
“I didn’t see anyone else besides Jolterix and me,” Luna said.
“There weren’t many people, I came in towards the end when you two you fighting with swords,” he said as he replaced the chess pieces back to normal and looked into the hallway. Celestia and Tenner walked past, Tenner was still in his clothes and helmet. “I think your sister might know Tenner,” Yolter said.
“What makes you say that?” Luna asked.
“She and Tenner just walked past,” he said, “Plus I know very well he had some relation with an influential woman from this country.”
“When was that? Florians haven’t been here in a long time,” Luna said.
“It was...uhh…probably something like uh nine hundred and…seventy years?”
“That would explain why I don’t remember any Florians in the palace,” Luna said as she recalled her banishment to the moon, “I was on the moon then.”
“The moon?” Yolter asked surprised, “How’d you get up there?”
“Magic.”
“Of course, I should have guessed,” Yolter said. “Unfortunately, Auflorsung hasn’t quite reached that point of leaving the planet; we haven’t set foot on the moon yet.”
“But you’ve got that cannon that rips apart our ‘indestructible’ airships?”
“We do, you know it?”
“I felt its effects.”
“I heard about that,” Yolter said, “Some fleet came in that was blown down and landed somewhere in the mountains. There was one survivor, of course, the guy who came and looked didn’t examine very hard it seems.”
“Now that you bring it up, he didn’t” Luna said, “Wait, how did you know-”
“Plenty of time for idle chat later,” he interrupted her, “But now I have to attend to some business on my disc.”
“Very well,” Luna said. She lost her anger about being kicked out when she realized that Yolter needed to remove his disc to work with it. That meant he would have to remove his helmet and his combat skin, exposing who he was. She stood up and allowed Yolter to walk her out of the room and into the hallway. She saw the sun was setting to which she said, “I should go raise the moon.”
“Ah, yes” Yolter said playing her game of magic, “Time to make it daytime in Auflorsung. I will probably be going to bed as well.”
“Alright,” Luna said, “Have a good rest.”
“Thank you,” Yolter replied as he shut the door.
Luna immediately kneeled down to peer through the keyhole in the door. She saw Yolter walk to the curtains of the windows and close them. His robes dissolved and he was left in his combat skin and helmet. Next, his helmet fell off the back of his head and disappeared, and he reached onto his back and removed his disc. His combat skin dissolved as well leaving him in a pair of shorts and a light shirt. Luna adjusted herself to be more comfortable, causing her to remove her eye from the keyhole. When she looked back, Yolter was gone. Suddenly, an eye came into view, but it was too dark to tell its colors accurately. This surprised Luna enough to knock her back where she sat against the wall and looked up when the door opened. Yolter was back in his combat skin and his helmet was just locking into place.
“Is there something you need?” he asked as his robe appeared and draped itself over him.
“Uhh…no,” Luna said trying to stand up. Yolter extended his arm and helped her to her feet. “I was just-”
“Wanting to see if I brought back that thing you forgot in Auflorsung?” he asked her.
“What thing? What did I forget?” she replied.
Yolter went to his bed and pulled up a blue item. “You forgot this in Auflorsung. I figured I’d return it to you.”
Luna recognized the blue bra, and she immediately realized she had forgotten it at Jolterix’s house, but how could Yolter have gotten ahold of it? “How did you get that?”
“You left it at my place, remember?” Yolter’s helmet came off his head, exposing his face. His brown hair with blonde streaks and brown eyes with yellow pools was identical to Jolterix’s.
“Why are you going by a different name?” Luna asked him.
“I’m not really,” he said. “In Auflorsung, your “j” is pronounced like your “y,” so my name is pronounced “Yolterix,” there, but “Jolterix” here. I just used Equestrian grammar because I figured you’d recognize it better. Also, if you are good friends with someone, you rarely use all syllables in their name, so Tenner calls me “Yolter.”
Luna quickly hugged him and said, “You know you could’ve told me.”
“I guess,” he said hugging her back, “But then again we still wouldn’t have found what we were looking for.”
“Which is?”
“If Equestria is worth maintaining. If we told you why we were here, none of its leaders would have been honest with us, so we wouldn’t have found out for sure. You understand?”
“Yes, I do,” she said, “But why are you helping us without expecting anything in return?”
“Florians face extinction just like you. If Discordia annexed Equestria and the Crystal Empire, then Equestrians and Crystallines might become extinct. Plus it’s not like we can’t just fire off a couple Mesa shells and Discordia will continue.”
“But why you? You’re not in the military anymore.”
“Nope, but remember, I said that wasn’t the last you’d see of me. Also, Dezler figured I’d be the one to do it since I know you so well. Remember after your meeting with Dezler he and I spoke for a few minutes?”
“No, well vaguely.”
“He told me I was to escort you home, then find out if Equestria was worth protecting. He said I can go about it anyway I wanted to.”
“Oh, I remember that now, yeah. And one more thing,” Luna laughed, “Why are the lights on your clothes yellow instead of white?”
“They’re white if we’re in our own lands. They’re yellow if we’re in a foreign country,” he explained, “You didn’t put your disc on since you got back, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Just as well,” he said. “Oh yeah, don’t you have a moon to raise?”
“Oh, shoot, I nearly forgot,” Luna said.