//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Farewell to Twilight // Story: Allegiance // by Just a tree //------------------------------// Shining Armor trotted through the castle courtyard, feeling a little awkward that he wasn’t wearing his armor. Normally, he’d be on duty right now, which meant he would have his helmet and plates on from sunrise to sunset. It was routine, but today was different. Today, he was going to see his sister. Twilight Sparkle was Princess Celestia’s personal protégé, and the pony he was closest with in all of Equestria. She was a little shut-in, but that didn’t matter: Shining Armor always had time for the sweetest little sister ever. Yesterday, she had sent him a letter saying that she was going to Ponyville. This was a little surprising, since he knew Twilight would never leave her books to go to a small urban town like that without a good reason. However, she had explained that Princess Celestia had asked her to help with the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration there. Shining Armor was going to see her off and wish her luck. He reached Twilight’s ivory tower and quickly trotted up the spiraling stairs to her study. His knock was answered by a small purple dragon. “Hello, Spike.” “Hi, Shining Armor! I wasn’t expecting you today, we were just about to leave!” He turned and shouted into the study. “Twilight! Shining Armor is here!” Twilight was just on the second level of the study. She poked her head over the edge and looked down to see her brother standing at the door. “Shiny!” She rushed down the stairs and hugged her brother. “I’m so glad you could make it! I wanted to see you before we left!” Shining Armor chuckled. “I’m always here for you, Twily. You don’t think I’d let you go galloping off somewhere without saying goodbye first, right?” He glanced around Twilight’s study and saw the usual tidiness of Spike’s organization, although he suspected the second floor might show more signs of Twilight’s constant reading. “Spike said you were about to leave?” Twilight nodded, formal as ever. “Yes, the Princess has arranged for the Royal Guard to take us to Ponyville. We’re supposed to report to the chariot deck soon.” Shining Armor raised his eyebrows. He knew a few pegasi who had chariot duty. “We should get going then. I’ll walk with you.” With a warm smile, Twilight said, “That’d be great! I think we’re ready here, let’s go!” Spike made sure he had his scroll and quill, then they left Twilight’s study. As they walked across the courtyard towards the castle, Shining Armor glanced at his sister with a little brotherly pride. “So Twily, you’re getting pretty important, huh? I don’t think the Princess chooses just anypony to help her with the Summer Sun Celebration.” “She trusts me completely,” Twilight said, but something in her voice told Shining Armor she wasn’t so sure about that. He frowned. “What is it, Twily? You know you can tell me.” “I just said, she trusts me completely!” Twilight acted hurt, as if she was just stating the obvious, but Shining Armor’s look of concern was too genuine. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” “You shouldn’t have to.” “Alright.” Twilight sighed. “I guess I am getting pretty important … Princess Celestia has been teaching me all about ancient unicorn conjurers. She even says that one day, I might be as great as them. So, I started reading about history, to learn more about ponies like that.” Shining Armor thought about it for a second. “That sounds pretty good, so what’s wrong?” Twilight continued explaining. “Yesterday, I was reading about two sisters who raised the sun and the moon, like Princess Celestia does now. Ponies didn’t respect the younger sister, so she grew jealous of the older one. She became a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon!” She had been making sense until that last sentence. Nightmare Moon? What did that have to do with anything? “Twily, it’s a little early for Nightmare Moon stories, don’t you think? Nightmare Night isn’t for a few months.” Twilight stomped her hooves, frustrated that not even her B.B.B.F.F. understood. “No no no, this isn’t just a scary story! I found this in my library, Predictions and Prophesies! It wouldn’t be in my library if it wasn’t true!” Shining Armor looked at Spike, who shrugged. Apparently he hadn’t had any luck figuring out what Twilight meant either. There was no choice but to humor her. Twilight should have known better than to think an old ponies’ tale was true. She had to have a reason. “So, you’re saying that Nightmare Moon is real? What does Princess Celestia think?” “Uh, she, um …” Spike answered helpfully, “The Princess told her to ‘stop reading those dusty old books!’” “I was getting to that,” Twilight said, annoyed. “So, she doesn’t believe you, then.” That was no surprise, considering the claim, but it was still disappointing. Shining Armor could see why Twilight was upset, now, even if he didn’t know why she insisted that Nightmare Moon was important. “I – I guess not …” “Then, I mean, why do you believe more in your books than you do in Princess Celestia?” Twilight paused. That was a good question. If Shining Armor didn’t understand, he at least tried to. “Princess Celestia probably knows best, but I know what I read is true. Nightmare Moon was defeated by the Elements of Harmony, and I know the Elements of Harmony are real.” That set Shining Armor back. How could books be more trustworthy than the Princess? There wasn’t much else he could say, but he couldn’t just dismiss Twilight. He had to find out more. “Alright, if Nightmare Moon is real, isn’t she trapped in the moon?” “The prophecy says that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape.” Shining Armor thought about it and started to connect the dots. “The thousandth year … this year is the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration. The celebration is held on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.” “Exactly!” Twilight clapped her hooves. Shining Armor understood! “You think Nightmare Moon is going to break free tomorrow.” “Yes!” Shining Armor looked at his little sister. She had explained herself perfectly, but there still wasn’t any way that she was right. What could he say? “Well … we have to trust Princess Celestia, right? If it does happen, she’ll know what to do.” Twilight rejected the idea immediately. The princess usually did know what was best, but she didn’t think anything was going to happen! “Nightmare Moon used to be a princess. She might have just as much magical power as Celestia does! The elements of harmony are the only way to stop her!” She just walked for a moment, at a temporary dead end, then thought of an idea. “You understand! You’re a Royal Guard! Maybe she’ll listen to you!” Shining Armor shook his head in denial. “Oh, hey, now you’re overestimating me. I’m just a lieutenant, I don’t spend much time with the Princess at all. She probably only knows me because I’m your brother.” “Oh.” Twilight’s face fell in disappointment. “A … lieutenant? I thought you were a sergeant.” “I got promoted a couple months ago, remember? I report directly to the Captain, now, and he reports to Princess Celestia.” “Oh, right.” They were at the foot of the steps up to the deck where the chariots were. As they started their way up, she asked, “Can you at least try to convince the Princess?” That was a tall order, but he couldn’t just say no. “Sure, but if she doesn’t believe you, I don’t stand a chance.” “We have to try, or Nightmare Moon will bring about nighttime eternal!” “Well, we’ve got a little bit of time before then.” Shining Armor spotted the two pegasi who would be pulling the chariot. He felt bad about it, but he hoped Twilight wouldn’t talk about Nightmare Moon when other ponies could hear her. He didn’t want them to think Twilight was delusional, even if the guards wouldn’t say anything. “I forgot to ask, did you tell Mom and Dad you’re going to Ponyville?” Twilight was a little annoyed at the change in topic, but Shining Armor was right to ask about their parents. “Of course, I went home for dinner yesterday. They wish I could be in Canterlot, but they’re proud, you know, since I’m helping out with the Summer Sun Celebration. They said if I see you I should ask when your next leave is.” Shining Armor frowned. “I was planning to take my leave for the Summer Sun Celebration, since I haven’t gone on leave since my promotion. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn’t tell Mom and Dad. I guess I still could, but now you’re going to be in Ponyville.” He glanced at Twilight fondly. “My little sis is most of why I would go on leave anyway.” Twilight blushed, touched by how much her brother cared, even if he could be a little sappy sometimes. As they approached the chariot, the two guards posted there saluted. Shining Armor saluted back. “At ease. I’m just saying goodbye to my sister.” The two stallions nodded. Shining Armor turned back towards Twilight. “This is it then, huh? You’re off to become a great pony, help the Princess, and maybe save Equestria?” Twilight pouted. “This isn’t a joke, Shiny!” “I’m serious!” Shining Armor put on a hurt expression. Twilight scrutinized him for a second. Somewhat placated, and feeling guilty for not believing her brother, she said, “Alright, then … yeah. I’ll write letters to the Princess from Ponyville and you can try to talk to her here.” Shining Armor nodded. “I’ll try.” To Spike, he said, “Twily’s got a lot of responsibilities, huh?” Spike rolled his eyes. “Ugh, tell me about it.” Shining Armor chuckled at the long-suffering tone of Spike’s voice. “Take care of her, Spike!” Despite the trouble he would undoubtedly go through, the baby dragon stood up straight and saluted, like the Guards had. “You got it, Shining Armor!” Keeping his face serious, Shining Armor returned the salute. After another hug, Twilight stepped into the chariot. Spike hopped in after her. As the Guards started to pull away, Shining Armor said one last thing, “Good luck!” She waved goodbye, and then the chariot was airborne. He kept watching as they swooped through the air and turned towards the little town by the Everfree Forest. When they were just a golden speck in the sky, he finally looked away, towards the castle which he helped to guard. He had planned to return to duty after this, but Corporal Fizzy could handle the squad for a little longer. It was time to keep his promise. He had to talk to Princess Celestia.