It was right before Luna was supposed to raise the moon that Metiphus meet up with Flash to discuss his trustworthiness with Celestia. He had his coat and sword on, but opted to leave his gun in his room. He would be receiving the other later that night. Met took off his hat and sighed; Flash was a bit late, and Celestia was due to lower the sun in about 20 minutes. He may be good with his head, but he sure is lousy when it comes to time. Almost immediately Met heard the loud falls of metal boots on the marble floors of the castle. Met looked up to see Flash turning the corner, jogging towards him. He was sweating, and it looked like he just a heavy work out in.
“S-sorry…drill today was harsh…” Met nodded and put his hat back on. He walked up to the door with Flash next to him. He muttered a few words and the stink disappeared as well as his sweat.
“What is that language you use?”
“Some call it Elfish, others the Ancient Language. My teacher referred to it as the latter, so as do I.” Flash nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. Met then turned back to the door. It was a large double door made from birch, and it had the sun inscribed in it, which was gilded with gold. It was about twice the height of Metiphus, and was nearly 3 inches thick. Met knocked loudly on the stubborn doors, and at once the seemingly heavy doors opened to revile Celestia’s chambers. It was a large semi-circle with a circular bed in the middle. On the right side of the room was a balcony leading out to a view of the entire city of Canterlot as well as beyond. On the other was a large mahogany dresser with a mirror inlaid with gold hanging above it. The room’s floor was dominated by a large woolen mural with the sun and the moon crest on it. The rug itself was hug, but the fabric stitching was so small and precise that one would think it took decades to make, and so it had. A desk was next to the dresser, filled with scrolls and other letters of importance from ambassadors and members of the higher counsel that ruled alongside Celestia and Luna. They weren’t omnipotent rulers after all.
Double doors lead off to a spacious bathroom. Neither Met nor Flash could see it as the doors to it were closed. Celestia sat at her desk with a set of reading glasses on a small smile in her face from seeing Met. She wore a light night gown with and looked as if she was about to go to bed before they entered. She nodded to the both of them and got up, walking to Metiphus and hugging him. Flash looked over at the two a bit shocked. Met had said they were friends, but he had never seen the princess this candid with anypony before. They broke the hug and Celestia looked at them both; first to Flash, then back to Metiphus.
“I am glad you were able to come Flash; I’m sure you have some questions as to who and what our guest here is.” Flash nodded, and blurted out the first thing that raced to his mind.
“Is what he said about Princess Luna true?” The two looked at one another then back at Met, and Celestia nodded.
“We don’t know why, but she has forgotten him. Whether this was some effect of the time lapse or Nightmare Moon interfering with her mind, neither of us knows.” Flash nodded, and went quiet once again. Met raised an eye brow at him.
“Is that really all you were curious about? My life with Luna’s?” Flash looked up surprised, then paled and shook his head.
“Oh no, no no no…It was just sort of the first thing that came to mind.” Met frowned and shuffled his feet.
“So…you really are a human...who rides dragons?” Celestia confirmed this.
“And speaks some ancient language that also seems to be connected with magic?” A nod from both. Flash sighed and looked around him, breaking his bearing and pacing a bit. This seemed to be a causal meeting, so he felt no need for any bearing as of now.
“Where’s your dragon?” At this Met lite up and walked towards Flash. He clapped him on the shoulder and brought him out towards the balcony. He extended his arm and pointed towards a large mountain past the small village of Ponyville; if Flash remembered correctly, there had been a dragon staying there a week or two ago.
“He is staying there for now; tonight he will come and join me. I went ahead just to make sure we didn’t give all of you soldiers a good fright when Durgomoth came by. He really is a nice dragon; his coloring doesn’t show his personality at all really.” Flash raised an eye brow at Met began to laugh.
“Dur is midnight black, almost obsidian with a bright sheen to his scales. Some claim to have seen stars in the deep blackness of them. But most are intimidated to say the least when they first see him.” Flash nodded, and then another question came to mind.
“So what is my part in all this?” Met looked at him then back at Celestia.
“With her majesty’s permission, I will have you as my eyes and ears among the guard. You will be the only one I can trust, and from what I saw in your mind, you are trustworthy enough for this task.”
“But why?” Celestia began to look uneasy at this, but she nodded to Metiphus.
“A while ago before you came, Princess Celestia told me of some…rumors going around; rumors that there would be an uprising among the guard against Princess Luna. Some still believe her to be evil it would seem.” Flash Sentry stood there stunned. Never had he thought something like this would come about. The Guards sole purpose was to protect the rulers of Equestria. How could anyone think that something like this would be a good idea?
“I…I haven’t heard anything like that. At all. Nothing about… a revolt, or anything!” Met nodded and walked to Celestia.
“They seem to know who to trust and not to then, that is if there is anything behind these rumors. This is what I need you to do though. Since I am a ‘guest’ of the princesses I can’t be seen with the guards. I can’t do what I would normally do, which would be to protect the princesses from any threat. I need to be by their side if something happens to keep them safe. Without being seen of course.” Flash nodded. It seemed to make sense, at least from what he knew.
“All right…I’m in….on one condition.” Met looked surprised, but he was willing to cooperate.
“All right, name it. I’ll do whatever I can to see that it’s done.” Flash nodded and thought about how to word this. He didn’t know if it was exactly something you could ask for, but he had said anything he could do. It couldn’t hurt to ask.
“Take me with you; where ever you come from. I want to ride dragons and learn the things you know.” Metiphus smiled and nodded his head, something sparkling in his eyes.
“I knew it. Eragon had always said he wanted to try to recruit a pony. Very well, we shall see if any dragons will choose you as their rider.” Flash stepped forward and shook his hand, but still looked a tad bit confused. Met smiled and knew why.
“Dragons choose their riders, not the other way around. My teacher’s dragon didn’t hatch for a hundred years till she found him. Dragons can be forced to hatch of course, but it requires strong magic, and a cruel mind.” Celestia smiled and joined the two. She brought them together in a hug before breaking it and walking to the balcony.
“It is time to lower the sun and raise the moon.” Met smiled and joined her on the balcony. He stood next to her, his hat tipped back, a smirk on his face.
“This never gets old. I missed this believe it or not. You and your sister, breaking every law of science we thought true. I guess it was you all along.” Celestia laughed and nodded, raising her arms towards the sky as a heavenly light began to surround her. On the tower opposite of her, Metiphus could see Luna doing the same as she rose to moon to it correct position as the sun was lowered as well. The stars came out, and the wonders of the night sky took over once again. Everything was quiet and peaceful, the night showing it true beauty. Then a loud roar was heard in the distance, and Met clutched his stomach laughing at some un heard joke. He wiped away a tear and clapped Flash on the shoulder.
“Durgomoth sends his regards Tia, and can’t wait to see if your guards are as good as they used to be. Come, we have another to introduce to you Flash.” And so the trio walked out of the castle towards the great blackness that road through the sky towards them.