Canterlot
Guards weren't supposed to smile, but Lucky Break couldn't help himself. The banquet hall was a cheerful storm of well-wishes and flurries of tinsel, full of ponies rushing back and forth to prepare for one of the castle's most anticipated events. In the center of the room a coordinated group of ponies worked to erect a large fir tree. Another eager troupe waited a respectful distance away, sifting through boxes overflowing with decorations. Princess Celestia swept easily through the working ponies, exchanging softly-spoken comments and compliments, while her sister Luna trudged silently behind.
From his post beside the hall's entrance, Lucky allowed himself a small stretch, his webbed, leathery wings spreading wide before folding compactly against his silver armor. He looked to his partner, standing on the other side of the door, who was wearing a neutral expression that bordered on boredom.
"C'mon, Comet. How can you look like such a sourpuss when everyone here is in such a good mood?"
Comet snorted softly, his slitted eyes sliding over to Lucky. "Figures you'd get into all of this sappy stuff."
Lucky shrugged, his smile growing a little wider. "Hey, everyone's enjoying themselves, my family's coming into town, and it's Hearth's Warming in two days. Why shouldn't I be in a good mood?"
"Sunkisser." Comet turned his gaze back to the room, a nearly-suppressed smirk on his face.
"Hey, call it what you want."
The nyctan soldiers straightened up to attention as the two princesses turned towards them, falling into place half a step behind as they strode into the corridor. Celestia walked with an easy confidence, radiating a calm tranquility that matched her sun, while Luna walked at a more deliberate pace, calmness layered over a barely concealed storming wrath.
Luna shook her head. "'Tis great folly, Sister. They suckle like foals at their mother's teat. Why dost thou indulge them so?"
"Now, now, Luna. Our little ponies work hard all year long. They deserve some recognition."
The younger alicorn snorted and turned her head away. "Be that as it may, thou knowest as I do this holiday is naught but a farce. 'Tis a foal's bedtime story, full of empty words and less sense."
"Time changes all, dear, especially stories. We know this better than most."
"An it please thee, thou summoned me not to discuss a… revelry. My time is limited, Sister. I have much work to attend, work thou did assign me."
Celestia and Luna stepped into a small waiting room, where Luna's attendant waited. He quickly bowed and joined the small procession into Luna's office, where Comet and Lucky once again took up their positions on either side of the door. As Luna moved to her seat behind the desk, she made a half-hearted gesture to another chair in front. The attendant slipped off to the side of the room, waiting at the ready.
Celestia settled easily into the offered seat. "Of course. I only wanted to discuss—"
"The budget proposals." Luna lifted a thick red folder from her desk. "I did review them this past fortnight."
"Ah, excellent. Have you reviewed the environmental impact studies?"
Luna snorted and opened the folder. "Aye. And the budget forecasts, the economic projections, employment reports; naught has escaped my scrutiny. If you will recall, I did run this country by your side, once. I am not… 'new', to use the vernacular."
Celestia's pervasive smile faltered for a brief moment. "I know, Luna. But a lot has changed. It's not like how it was when we were younger."
A heavy frown creased Luna's brow as she shuffled the papers back and forth on her desk, studying them aimlessly. "If I need assistance, I will ask for it. I need not to be mothered."
"Luna, I'm only trying to help you acclimate—"
"Is't so? Or dost thou simply wish that I do everything in thine own way?"
A tired wariness crept into Celestia's voice. "That isn't fair. I trust you to make decisions for Equestria, but I would be remiss in not ensuring that you were adjusting to the modern style of governance."
Luna snorted again but opened the folder and laid its contents out on her desk. "Very well. This first proposal—"
A knock sounded from the door, and Luna looked up. "Enter."
A young mare with a pale pink coat stuck her head through the door. "Your Majesty? I have your soup."
"Come forth.”
The servant girl scuttled forward, a large, silver tray balanced on her back. She carefully slid it onto the desk and then stepped back with a bow. "Do you require anything else, Princess?"
"I suppose this means you won't be joining me for dinner today," commented Celestia.
Luna lifted the cover from the soup, and leaned in to examine it. "Even I cannot conjure more hours in a day, despite my mastery of the heavens." She slammed her hoof into the desk with a sharp crack. "Wench! We demand an explanation!"
The mare flinched and shrank backwards. "Y-your Highness? Is there—"
Luna shoved the soup into the mare's face. It sloshed onto the carpet, and the attendant resignedly summoned a towel. "What manner of insult is this?"
"S-soup?" The mare shied away from a stray splash. "Lentil soup, Princess."
Luna slammed the bowl into the floor. It exploded in a shower of noodles and porcelain. She stood in one swift motion, knocking her chair back to the floor.
The fuming alicorn stormed around the desk, bearing down on the cowering mare. "We did demand a lentil stew. Are the ponies of this time possessed of such simple wit that base instructions are beyond their ken?"
Lucky shot his partner another sidelong glance and silently mouthed, ‘Lentil stew?’
Comet just gave another shrug and a small shake of his head. Lucky frowned and glanced to Celestia. The princess was still seated, her face a mask of quiet concentration as she studied the desk, although the faintest turn of an ear betrayed her interest.
The mare stumbled back. A thick drawl escaped her mouth before she corrected it. "Ah don't reckon— I mean, I don't know what happened, Princess. Th-they told me t-to—"
"Silence! Lame excuses will’st not mollify thine incompetence!"
A scowl pushed its way up Lucky's throat and he stomped it down. Something flicked at his foreleg and he glanced over to see Comet gesturing silently upwards with his chin.
He looked down at himself and realized he was crouched, his muscles tight and tense. He quickly stood back up and tried to relax, to return to a neutral but observant state.
His teeth ground together as he kept watching.
The mare was backpedaling faster now, but Luna was keeping pace with firm, deliberate steps. "Th-they just gave me the tray, Princess! I didn't know it was wrong. P-please, let me—"
Luna towered over the mare as she stared down, her disdainful gaze burning into the other pony's head. "Simpering simpleton! No excuses shall stay our hoof."
The serving girl stumbled back and fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she bowed her head. "P-please, I-I'll do anything—"
The scowl pushed its way out of Lucky's throat, and the pegasus found his wings flexing, itching for flight.
"Your Majesty," said the steward hesitantly, "perhaps—"
Luna shot him a baleful glare, and the attendant quickly bowed his head and fell silent. The alicorn snorted and turned her attention back to the mare. "Cease thy incessant whimpering, thou motley-minded—"
Lucky released the tension from his legs and leapt forward, clearing the gap with a couple of wingbeats. He slid into place between Luna and the servant, spreading his wings wide to shield the younger pony. "That's enough!"
Luna's eyes widened in surprise, but quickly settled back into a smoldering stare. "Stand thee down."
Lucky met Luna's stare with a defiant one. "Not a chance."
"Thou wouldst refuse a direct order from thy princess?"
"All I see is a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum."
The already hushed room froze, the helpless spectators tensing as they awaited the next retort.
Alicorn and pegasus stared each other down, neither flinching. Luna's silver-shod forehoof twitched before it flew into motion with a fierce backhoofed strike.
A twitch pulled at Lucky’s cheek. He jerked his head back, and Luna's hoof swooshed harmlessly past his face, the air currents tickling at his nose. Luna overbalanced from the force of her unresisted blow but quickly caught herself.
She bared her teeth and slammed her hoof into the ground, her horn alighting with furious blue energy. "Disrespectful cur! How Celestia tolerated your presence—"
"Luna." Celestia's voice was quiet but unyielding.
Luna jerked her head back to where the older alicorn sat. Celestia did not speak further, but Luna snorted contemptuously. "Very well. As thou wish’st." The magic from her horn sputtered out as she quickly strode to her seat. "Quit the room, all of ye. We have matters to discuss."
The attendant quickly shuffled out the door, carrying a soggy towel and still-dripping ceramic fragments in his magic. Lucky turned to the cowering mare and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Miss?" he said softly. "Let's get you out of here."
The serving girl’s head snapped up, and she shrank away as she made eye contact. "P-please don't throw me in the dungeon. I swear I'll fix it!"
"I'm just going to escort you someplace where you can calm down. Are your quarters close?"
The mare turned and fled into the corridor, tail tucked between her legs.
Lucky signed and stepped into the corridor. Luna's magic snatched the door and slammed it shut behind him.
A sharp rap on his helmet drew Lucky's attention. He turned to see Comet's irritated glare.
"Mother's mane, Lucky! What in Tartarus were you thinking?"
"Come on, Comet. You saw how Luna was treating that poor girl. What was I supposed to do?"
"I… I don't know, okay?" Comet quickly shook his head. "But it wasn't that. You shouldn’t have called her a spoiled brat."
Lucky gave Comet a flat stare. "Yeah, next time I'll just ask the immortal princess 'Oh, pretty please, mightn't you be nicer to the poor girl?’ Come on, that wouldn't have stopped her." Lucky rolled his eyes and took up his post beside the door.
"I know, I know." Comet settled into place on the opposite side. "I'm just saying you should be more respectful, you know? Considering who she is."
"Respect is earned, Comet, not given. Besides, none of the stories say anything about a brat that throws tantrums. And forget about me doing something— Why didn't Celestia do anything? She was sitting right there the whole damn time."
Comet shrugged. "Beats me. Maybe that's just how they were a thousand years ago."
Lucky snorted. "Celestia never lets any of the nobles get away with that kind of stuff. At least, not right in front of her."
* * * * * * *
The rest of the night had been uneventful. Luna hadn't strayed from her office for the rest of his shift, and he gladly gave up his post to a pair of royal guards sometime near dawn.
The day's sleep hadn't been particularly restful, but that was nothing a hearty breakfast wouldn't fix.
The cafe's patio was small and quiet, just the way Lucky liked it. The moon wasn't up yet, the last hour of the day casting the sky a warm orange. In the nearby street, passing ponies provided a soft background accompaniment of happy voices and hooves.
"… and then she threw everyone out of the room."
Lucky slumped back in his chair, resting his cheek against a forehoof.
Across the table sat Fleeting Glimpse, one of Lucky's oldest friends. The unicorn stallion was of a slight build, with a neatly-trimmed mane and a silky black coat. A pair of spectacles perched on the edge of his muzzle, and behind them his eyes—slitted like Lucky's own—glittered a soft blue in the pre-dusk light.
"What happened next?" asked Glimpse. A notebook and pencil hovered in the air next to him, scribbling away. The unicorn leaned over his plate to take a careful bite at a forkful of spaghetti.
Lucky gobbled down a bite of oatmeal before answering. "Nothing, really. Lily kinda chewed me out a bit, but I don't think I'm going to get in any real trouble for this. Still…"
"Still what?"
Lucky shrugged helplessly. "I dunno. Comet seems like he wants to buy into the stories."
Glimpse folded the notebook shut and carefully set it on the table. "And you don't approve?"
"It's not that I disapprove…" Lucky gestured helplessly with a hoof. "But I have a hard time matching Luna to any sort of 'kind and lovely maiden.'"
"Those aren't the only stories of her that survived, you know."
"Yeah, but they're the ones most of us focus on."
"True. However, it is difficult to trace the origin of many of these stories, especially in the early days. And don't forget, stories have a way of changing as they're retold." Glimpse lifted a breadstick with his magic and snapped it in half, taking a bite out of one end.
Lucky snorted, an ear flicking in Glimpse's direction as he turned to watch the street.
"Did I say something funny?"
"Not really." Lucky shook his head. "It's just that Celestia said something about the Hearth's Warming stories changing last night."
"I see. Is that what's bothering you?"
"What makes you think something is bothering me?"
Glimpse cleared his threat, and his voice took on a faint lecturing tone. "First, you've hardly eaten anything. Second, you're wearing your thinking face. Third, and most importantly, Hearth's Warming is in two days."
Lucky shifted in his seat, an all-too familiar restless unease creeping into his muscles and pushing him to take flight. Instead he turned to Glimpse. "Sorry. Just thinking about some stuff."
"Is it related to Princess Luna?"
"Sort of… I'm thinking of leaving the Guard."
Glimpse studied his friend with a neutral, thoughtful expression. He finally asked, "Because of last night?"
"Well, not just last night." Lucky picked up a lukewarm mug of hot chocolate, trying not to make a face as he chugged it down. "It's just… I want to help ponies, not play babysitter to spoiled nobles, you know? I can't help but wonder…" He trailed off.
"If your path lies elsewhere?" supplied Glimpse.
"Something like that."
"'They also serve who stand and wait.'"
Lucky swirled the remains of his cup around. "Waiting's not really my style."
Glimpse watched the pegasus with a small smile. "No, it's not."
Lucky caught sight of Glimpse's smile and frowned. "Something funny?"
"Just remembering a certain colt that took on twenty other colts in a fight once."
Rolling his eyes, Lucky couldn't keep a grin from his face. "Come on, there were only like six of them."
"Not how Lily and Comet tell it." Glimpse's smile grew a little wider.
"I kind of wish they'd stop blowing that story out of proportion."
"Stories change, remember?"
Lucky leaned forward, pointing his mug at the unicorn. "You're a historian. Don't you know the value of primary sources?"
Glimpse burst into a surprised laugh, raising his glass up. "Touché."
The two cups clinked together quietly, and Lucky leaned back into his seat. "Anyway. Enough about my problems. How are you doing? You went back to Manehattan for the Solstice, right?"
"I did. I invited Peppy to come along, as well."
"Oh yeah? What'd your folks think of him?"
"Peppy and my father spent the entire night arguing about photokinetic fields and their properties."
Lucky winced sympathetically. "Sorry to hear it went badly."
"On the contrary," said Glimpse as he dabbed at his muzzle with a napkin, trying to hide a happy, unabashed smile. "I think my father was quite impressed."
"Nice. That's not easy to do."
Glimpse shook his head. "No it is not."
"What about the cultural center exhibit you were working on?"
"I'm glad you asked." Glimpse lifted up his notebook and slipped out a small envelope, floating it over to Lucky. "I spoke with Gordon, and even though the exhibit won't open until after New Year's, it's complete enough that we can do an advance tour. I got passes for your entire family."
"I guess I’ll have to save Slip’s for later,” Lucky said as he put the envelope away. “He’s staying in Cloudsdale to help his professor with a research project. They had some funding dry up or something.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Lucky. I know you were looking forward to having everyone together.”
Lucky waved off Glimpse’s sympathies. “I’ll be fine. It’s a good opportunity for him, and he said in his letter he’d try to swing by in a few weeks.”
They continued eating in silence as the sun slowly sank below the horizon. Street lamps flared to life, swirling balls of magical lighting ensuring the ponies would stay out late into the night.
“Hey, sis, look!”
“Wh-what?”
Two pairs of eyes peered from behind the hedges separating the patio from the street. Lucky slowly leaned forward towards his friend, keeping the watching eyes in the edge of his sight. “Don’t look now, but I think we have some fans.”
Glimpse neatly folded his napkin and placed it on the table. “Please don’t make a fuss about it.”
“It’s a batpony!”
“A-are you sure?”
Lucky sat up and stretched, pointedly spreading his wings out as wide as he could. “Since when do I make a big deal of anything?”
Glimpse arched a single eyebrow at Lucky.
“Do you think all the stories are true?”
“I hope not! Those stories are scary.”
Lucky did his best to hide a smirk as he lazily swept his gaze down the street. The two children quickly vanished behind the hedge. He slipped out of his chair and crouched low behind the hedge.
“Lucky…”
“Ssh. Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.”
Lucky slowly crept towards the two foals, turning an ear to listen in.
“I hear that batponies can turn into real bats! And they have big fangs that can suck your blood out and turn you into one too!”
“That’s vampires!”
“Where do you think all the vampire stories come from?”
“I don’t know… Miss Daisy doesn’t think any of that is true.”
“It totally is. You know what else they have?”
Lucky leaned up over the hedge, and in a quiet, raspy voice whispered, “They have excellent hearing.”
Both foals, a colt and a filly with matching bright red manes, leapt to their hooves and spun around.
“We’re sorry mister!” shouted the colt. He shrank back, his eyes wide.
The filly scrabbled backwards, hooves slipping over the cobblestones. She clutched a doll in her hooves. “Please don’t eat us!”
“Eat you?” Lucky laughed. With a leap and a flap of his wings, he sailed over the hedge and landed on the other side of the foals. “Tempting, but I've already had my breakfast. Wanna know what it was?”
The foals spun around again, backing up against the hedge.
“Wh-what?” asked the colt.
Lucky lowered himself to the ground and slowly crept closer. “Oh, I don’t know if I should tell you two. You might not be able to handle it.”
“I-is it b-b-blood?” asked the filly.
“Oh, it’s a big…”
Lucky took another step closer.
“…steaming…”
He lowered himself down to stare the two foals in the eye.
“…bowl…”
The two foals pressed their backs against the hedge, their hooves trying to find purchase on the smooth stone.
“Of oatmeal,” came Glimpse’s voice. He had circled around the hedge, and was watching Lucky with a reproachful stare.
The two foals flinched, throwing their hooves over their faces. Lucky sat back with a shake of his head. “I was going to say oatmeal.”
“I’m sure,” said Glimpse dryly.
The colt lowered his hooves first and looked up at the stallion. “Did… Did you say oatmeal?”
“Yep!” said Lucky brightly. “With cinnamon.”
“Just regular oatmeal? Nothing weird or funny in it?”
“Well…” He drew out the word as he pretended to think. “There might be some honey and brown sugar in there too.”
“I bet your cup has blood in it!”
“Nope. Hot chocolate.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Believe it or not, we’re normal ponies. We just look a little different, that’s all.”
The filly slowly pulled away from the wall. “So… Do you got fangs?”
Lucky opened his mouth wide and ran his tongue over his teeth. “Ee? O ang.”
The colt stepped carefully up to Lucky, scrutinizing his coat. “Do you burn in sunlight?”
“Nope.”
“Allergic to garlic?”
“I like it on my pasta.”
“See in the dark?”
“Yep.”
“Cool.” The colt prodded at the membrane on Lucky’s wing. “Can you fly even though you don’t got feathers?”
Lucky laughed and gave his wings a few slow flaps. “Oh, you’d better believe I can fly.”
“Show us! I wanted to see the Wonderbolts, but they’re busy training.”
The pegasus quickly glanced around. There were still plenty of ponies on the streets, but the sky immediately above was clear. “Well, I need to get to work soon, but I can probably get one trick in.”
The filly stared up at Glimpse, who was sitting up straight, cloak pulled around himself.
“Are you a batpony too?”
Glimpse smiled softly. “Actually, the proper term is Nycta. I’m a nyctan unicorn.”
The filly hugged her doll tighter. “How come you look so scary?”
“Ah, well…” Glimpse glanced over to his friend.
Lucky smiled and leaned down. “Let me ask you this. Have you ever asked your mom and dad to check under the bed for monsters?”
The filly nodded.
“Well, we’re the guys that help your parents make sure there aren’t any monsters. We look like this so the monsters are more scared of us than we are of them.”
“Oh, okay.” The filly shuffled her hooves on the ground. “Um… Miss Daisy wants to know if you ever get to look normal.”
Glimpse and Lucky shared another brief look. Lucky reached out to pat the filly’s head. “Equestria needs a lot of protecting, kid.”
“Ruby Star! Ruby Sweet! I told you two not to run off!”
A pale pink mare ran up and scooped the foals into her forelegs. “I told you two not to run off! Canterlot is too big and too easy to get lost in.”
“Mooom!” said Star, trying to push out of the mare’s grasp. “Leggo! This one was about to do something cool!”
“None of that, mister. You two are coming with me right now. I don’t want you two talking to-” The mare looked at Lucky and Glimpse and then quickly looked away. “I don’t want you two bothering strangers.” She released the foals and natched the colt’s ear in her teeth, dragging him away.
A large red stallion, tall as he was wide, stepped up. “Mighty sorry about the kids. Could’ve sworn we raised them better’n to gawk at strangers.”
“It’s not a problem,” said Glimpse. “It happens every now and again.”
“No harm done. Have a good night." Lucky nodded to the stallion.
The stallion nodded. “Thank you kindly. You two have a pleasant night.” He turned and trotted down the street.
Lucky checked the sky. “I need to go report in. You gonna be at court tonight?”
Glimpse nodded. “Of course. It should be an interesting night.”
"I'm sure it'll be something. Tell me how it goes later." Lucky tossed his saddlebags on his back and took off into the slowly darkening sky.
* * * * * * *
The briefing room was only half full when Lucky arrived. Bulletin postings and pictures filled the walls, overflowing and overlapping each other. A podium stood at the front of the room, underneath a silver plaque engraved with the Night Guard's motto: Per Acerbus Noctis, Contegimus.
The other guards slowly filling the room were all fellow Nyctans, although the Night Guard counted the rare meran pony and gryphon among their number.
Lucky tossed himself into a chair, fidgeting with the fit of his armor. A moment later Comet sat silently next to him, carefully avoiding meeting Lucky's eyes.
"Hey," said Lucky to nobody in particular.
"Hey," replied Comet, also to nobody in particular.
"So… last night—"
Comet raised a hoof to cut Lucky off. "Don't, okay? It's fine, and I get why you did what you did, and I kind of agree with you a little, so…"
"Oh, good. 'Cause I was gonna say that I understand where you're coming from, even if I don't totally agree with it, so… yeah."
"'Kay." Comet suddenly slugged Lucky's shoulder. "Sunkisser."
Lucky grinned and immediately returned the blow. "I'm only half-sunkisser on my dad's side."
"You keep saying that, but I swear I can see the feathers growing out of your wings." Comet laughed as he ducked under another playful blow.
"Yeah, yeah," said Lucky with an exaggerated eyeroll. "But tell me… who's got the record on the training course right now?"
Comet nickered softly, wings flicking open. "I do. Two twenty-five."
Lucky tapped his chin. "Well, last I checked, two twenty-four was less than two twenty-five."
Comet took a swipe at Lucky, but the latter just leaned out of the way. "Damn you. You know how hard it was to get to two twenty-five to begin with?"
"Hey, it's not like it was easy for me either." Lucky poked Comet's side. "Not bad for a sunkisser though, eh?"
Comet shoved Lucky's hoof away and slumped forward onto the table. "Geeze. And I just set that record too."
"New goal to work for, right?" Lucky bit down on a strap running underneath his chest, giving it a quick tug.
"Yeah, yeah. So your family's coming into town, right?"
"Yep. They all get in by train tomorrow."
"Is Slippy coming too?"
Lucky stopped his adjustment to look at Comet. "He was, but I got a letter from him this morning. Why?"
"Oh, no reason." Comet grinned broadly. "Just been working on my double thunderhead, that's all."
"Good luck with that. Slippy said in a letter he figured out how to make a triple."
Comet stared at Lucky in disbelief. "No way. That's supposed to be almost impossible."
“Almost impossible is still a little possible."
"Yesh. You know, even if he's a giant bookworm, that's still kind of impressive."
"Tell me about it."
"Everybody settle down!" barked Sergeant Lily as she stepped into the briefing room. The soldiers quickly found their seats, and Lily took her place at the podium.
Lily’s pale white coat stood out amongst the dark pelts of her fellow Nycta, but the similarity to her namesake ended there. She’d dished out more than her fair share of bloody noses in her foalhood, and even now her wiry frame belied the extent of her earth pony strength.
"Alright. We've all got a long night ahead of us so I'll keep this brief. Her Highness Princess Luna is holding her first session of court tonight. She hasn't made a public appearance in the six months since her return, so we're expecting a large turnout. I want everyone alert. All the higher-ups are watching how we handle this, so don't screw it up. Am I clear?"
A chorus of "Yes, Sarge" filled the room.
"Good. I'm coordinating with another squad to provide exterior security. Lucky, Comet, you two are on escort duty again. You're also on board to escort Luna to the castle festival tomorrow morning. Be here at ten hundred sharp and make sure your armor is spotless." She leaned forward and fixed a steely gaze on the two pegasi. "Understood?"
Both pegasi promptly sat up straight. "Understood, Sarge!"
Lily nodded and turned her attention to the rest of the room. "Good. Our cousins from the north will be unfamiliar with the lay of the land. Many of them will have certain expectations of the princess. If you deal with any of them directly, be courteous. You all have your assignments. Get your tails in gear."
The soldiers started filtering out of the room. Comet slipped out of his chair, but Lucky remained seated.
"Lucky, come on. We've gotta get going."
"Yeah, I know. Just give me a sec."
"For what? We've gotta report in."
The room emptied quickly, and Lucky approached Lily, who had turned to a large map on the wall. "Hey, Sarge?"
Lily kept studying the map. "What is it?"
"Are you sure putting us back with Luna after last night is such a great idea?"
Lilly snagged a pin from the map in her teeth and adjusted it. "Honestly? Not at all. But tonight's too important." She turned to face Lucky. "There's a lot of people watching me to make sure this goes off without a hitch. If something unexpected happens with Luna tonight, I need someone who can adapt quickly. That's you two."
"Geeze, no pressure or anything."
"Hey." Lily knocked on the top of Lucky's helmet, forcing it down over his eyes. "I'm counting on you."
"Hey!" Lucky pulled at the helmet, popping it free from his head. "Since when did you start counting on me for stuff?"
"We aren't kids anymore. Now get going."
Lucky threw up a brief salute, and then the two pegasi quickly departed.
* * * * * * *
Lucky and Comet rushed purposefully down a hidden hallway, part of a labyrinthine network that formed the lifeblood of Canterlot Castle. Servants, chefs, and messengers all flowed past and around them as they neared the kitchens, a blast of warm air flooding the hallway as a cart rushed out, followed by a frantic server.
“Why is it we always get the daytime assignments?” groused Comet as he side-stepped the food-laden cart.
“Oh, that’s easy. I put our names on the sign-up sheet.”
Comet gave Lucky a suspicious glare. “That better be a joke.”
Lucky smiled sheepishly as he ducked under a series of levitating dinner plates. “Well, mostly. They asked if I wanted to be part of the procession. I didn’t think they’d assign it to you without asking first, sorry.”
Comet snickered softly. “Hearth’s Warming parties and festivals. What’s next, caroling?”
“Oh, definitely. I also knit you a scarf, and I wrote a letter to Celestia asking for presents.” Lucky rolled his eyes. “Come on, it’ll only be for a few hours, and you’ve been up longer before.”
“Yeah, yeah. I just wish they’d spread the ‘fun’ around a little more.”
Both guards fell silent as they reached their destination, a plain and unmarked door. They both took a moment to check and straighten their armor, then silently stepped through.
They emerged into the princess’ personal dining room, and silently took up their posts on either side of the main entrance. Their armor, more than being just a form of protection, was a uniform: nobody paid attention to a guard just going about his duty. Around the periphery of the room other ponies went unnoticed, servants ferrying trays and dishes back and forth.
The dining room was ornate in the castle's typical style, and dominated by a long banquet table. The sisters sat at each end, with an array of dishes before them: For Celestia, a salad and wine goblet. For Luna, a steaming cup of coffee and several selections of fruit.
"Sister, the new year brings the delegation from yonder gryphon lands, does it not?" mused Luna.
"That's right." Celestia dabbed softly at her muzzle with a napkin. "Just some treaty renewals and the like. Our relationship with the Gryphon Empire has been stable in recent years, thankfully."
"I did study the historical records. An it please thee, I wish to offer mine aid.”
"Of course," said Celestia almost immediately. "I would be delighted to have your help. I think that arranging the delegation's welcome reception and banquet would be an excellent way to introduce yourself and begin building a rapport."
Luna's spoon halted its ascent, and Luna's voice took on a measured tone. "Appreciate though I do the offer, I had hoped to play something of a more… integral role in the process."
"Luna, please understand, this is integral, the banquet in particular. There are many dietary concerns to be taken into account, and even beyond that there are several important mealtime traditions the gryphons wish to have observed—"
The spoon fell into the bowl with a heavy clank. "All work to be carried out by ones learned in those disciplines!" Luna leaned forward, pounding a hoof into the table. "I would deal with them in a manner which befits my station."
Celestia took a deep breath, deliberately setting aside her fork. "As you say, Luna, the negotiations proper will involve the hard work of many trained in that discipline, so honestly there won't be much—"
"Fie! Thine own self will be ever-present at the talks, as is always so. Thou wilt capitulate to the petty concerns of mewling fledglings, as thou has done all these long years."
Celestia's wings bristled for a moment but she set them firmly against her back. "It's not that simple." Celestia's smile slowly left her face, giving way to a tight frown. "But the gryphons have long memories, and I can't change a thousand years of reputation in a single night or six months. I am doing my best to help you establish yourself, but it takes time."
Celestia's voice was quiet but strained. Both alicorns stared at each other, one accusatory, one pleading. All the servants had slowed to a halt as the argument unfolded.
Finally, Luna bowed her head and slumped back into her seat. "Pray pardon, Sister. Mine impatience hath bested me once more. It is only my wish to—"
"I know," said Celestia softly. "But please believe me, I am doing everything I can."
Luna avoided Celestia's gaze, staring at her bowl as she stirred it listlessly. "Scarcely could I believe otherwise."
Celestia nodded to her steward, who cleared her throat and motioned to the other servants to carry on. The soft murmur of ponies at work quietly returned to the room, and Celestia lifted her goblet to take a long drought.
Celestia smiled, projecting her warmth once again. "So, your first court session is tonight."
“Certes, Sister.” Luna lifted up a pear to nibble on it. With a flicker of blue magic, she summoned a sheaf of papers in front of her and began to study them.
“If you need any assistance, I would—”
“I thank thee,” said Luna quickly, “but thine offer of assistance is unneeded. I have made certain that this night’s preparations are complete.”
The edge of Celestia’s smile frayed again the tiniest amount. “Oh, of course you have. I didn’t mean to—”
Luna wrenched her gaze up from her papers. “Nay!” She shook her head slightly. “That is to say, I spake poorly. Thine offer was unnecessary, but not unwelcome.” She shuffled the papers aimlessly.
Suddenly the younger alicorn stood, papers held close. “By your leave, Sister. I must make ready.”
Celestia studied Luna carefully, heavy thoughts weighing down her features before she slowly nodded. “Of course. You don’t need my permission. I hope your court session goes well.”
Luna nodded curtly. “Spirits keep thee, Sister.” She turned and strode quickly away from her mostly-uneaten meal, approaching the door. Lucky and Comet quickly snapped to attention.
Luna drew short of the door, and silently turned a critical eye on Lucky. The pegasus did his best to keep looking forward, but the weight of Luna's attention was palpable.
After a moment of inspection, Luna snorted and looked back to the door. "We leave."
The two guards quickly opened the doors and fell half a step behind Luna as she exited into the hallway.
Lucky cast one quick glance behind him as they trotted into the castles. Servants were already clearing Luna’s place at the table. Celestia’s steward was talking, addressing the princess, but Celestia herself was staring at Luna’s empty seat, barely attentive to her advisor’s words.
The door swung shut before Lucky could make out anything more and he faced forward, lost in his own thoughts as the small procession made its way to the Night Court.
Manehattan, Some Years Ago
Corney Island was a whirlwind of colors and sounds. Bright lights danced and twirled on roller coasters and ferris wheels, glowing brighter in the waning moments of sunset. Laughter and merry music provided a cheerful backdrop, while the salty ocean air enhanced the tantalizing aroma of carnival food. Corney Island was abuzz with life and activity, and it wasn’t slowing down now that night was falling.
“Awww, c’mon, Mom! Do I hafta?” Lucky stared up pleadingly at his parents. Crowds slowly flowed past the family, but he paid them no mind.
“Lucky, dear, it’s just for a little while,” said Evengale with her customary patience. She was a slender mare, her deep purple coat drinking the dying sunlight while her eyes glittered. “You know how hard it is for all of us to schedule our time together.”
“It’s good for you two to spend more time together,” added Jetstream. Unlike Lucky and Evengale, the stallion was a meran pegasus—a daypony. Wide-chested and solidly built, his bright white coat stood out in the fading light of day.
Lucky huffed. “But Mom, I can’t even take him on the roller coasters! I’ll be stuck doing all the baby rides.”
“I’m not a baby!” shouted a small, pale blue colt. Slipstream glared up at Lucky with bright orange eyes. His still-developing wings twitched at his sides.
“You don’t even have a cutie mark yet. That makes you a baby. And you’re a scaredy-cat too.”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
“Boys,” said Gale quietly.
The two colts stopped in mid-shout and sheepishly turned to face their mother.
Gale smiled. “Now then. Lucky, could you please watch Slip for a little bit? Your father and I would like to spend some time together before he takes Slip home. You’ll have the rest of the night to do whatever you want with your friends, okay?”
Lucky scruffed a forehoof over the wooden planks of the boardwalk. “Yeah, I guess.”
“And Slip,” continued the mare, “don’t be too much of a burden on your brother. We took you on your favorite rides already, so why don’t you two try to find things you can both enjoy?”
“Okay, Mom!” said Slip eagerly.
* * * * * * *
“There’s no such thing as a sonic rainboom,” insisted Lucky as he leaned over the table, drawing a sip from his cup.
Three friends and one younger brother sat at a small table situated on a boardwalk overlooking the beach. Half-empty cups and food containers covered the table, and the smell of hay fries hung in the air.
“There was the sighting of an unscheduled rainbow in the sky that day,” said Glimpse. A notebook and pencil levitated beside him, suspended in a blue aura.
Lucky shook his head. “That could’ve been anything from a rainbow spill to a prank. Besides, nopony our age has the wingpower to do a sonic boom. Forget doing this rainboom thing.”
“Comet can!” said Lily with a wide grin. She reached out to pluck a hay fry from Lucky’s basket. Despite putting down most of the food that night, she was still fit and trim.
“What’s a rainboom?” asked Slip, peering over the edge of the table. An empty ice cream cup sat in front of him.
Lucky gestured with his hooves. “It’s like a sonic boom but it makes a rainbow explosion or something. It isn’t real, because nopony can do something like that.”
“Oh. Can I have another ice cream?”
“I already bought you one. And Dad’s taking you home soon, so no.” Lucky grunted and leaned back in his chair. “Anyway. Comet did one. Once. And he sprained a wing and had to be grounded for a week. It’s still not a real trick.”
“Well, I’ve actually been doing some research on that…” said Glimpse. The notebook flipped open and turned to present a page of scribbled notes. “The last purported sighting was two hundred and fifty years ago, in a small town—”
Lily and Lucky groaned in unison.
“Glimpse, buddy, it’s summer. You don’t need to do any book reports,” said the pegasus.
“Taking notes is not the same as doing a book report.” Glimpse carefully pushed an empty plate aside, and set his notebook down. “Besides, if you took better notes your grades would improve. Yours too, Lily.”
“There’s more to life than just studying, Glimpse,” countered the filly. “Like having fun!”
“I happen to enjoy reading, thankyouvery—”
“Guys, guys,” interrupted Lucky. “Let’s focus on something important. Like the triathlon.”
Glimpse shook his head. “Lucky, the triathlon is six months away. They haven’t even started taking sign-ups. Isn’t it a bit early to start worrying about that?”
“Yeah, and we’ve got that in the bag, anyway.” Lily reached into Lucky’s basket, found it empty, and frowned.
“Six months is plenty of time to start training. And you,” said Lucky with a nod in Glimpse’s direction, “can look at past triathlons and see if we can get an idea of what they might do this year. And we can all keep an ear out if we hear any news on this year’s route.”
“Of course I’d be glad to do that, but still… Six months is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Look, next year, we’re all going our separate ways.” Lucky leaned in close over the table. “I’m heading to Cloudsdale, you’re heading to Canterlot, and Lily is heading up north. That means that this year has to be our best year ever. We gotta give it a hundred and ten percent, and absolutely wow everypony with what we can do. And the pinnacle of this year has to be the triathlon. Everypony’s watching, and getting first place is gonna be a great way to get noticed.”
Lucky held his hoof out over the table. “Who’s with me?”
Lily slapped her hoof on top of his. “Hay yeah!”
They both looked to Glimpse, who was watching Lucky with a quiet, amused smile.
“Pinnacle, huh?”
Lucky grinned and shrugged. “Hey, I do study sometimes, you know.”
Glimpse shook his head with a smile and placed his hoof on top of the other two. “Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore.”
Slip climbed up onto the table and put his hoof in. “Yeah!”
Lucky groaned and gently pushed the smaller pegasus back into his seat. “Butt out, Slip. This is grown-up business.”
“I’m not a baby!”
“I didn’t say baby. I said grown-up. Now be quiet.”
Slip slumped into his chair and crossed his forelegs over his chest. “No fair. You guys get to do all the cool stuff like go to school and stay up late.”
“Being awake at night doesn’t count as staying up late.”
“You’re starting school this year, aren’t you Slip?” asked Glimpse. “Where are you going?”
Slip looked up and nodded. “Yeah! Mom said I’m going to Manehattan Academy. I can’t wait to start!”
“That’s a very good school. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot.”
“Yeah, but I wanna go to school with you guys.”
Lucky sipped from his cup, draining it dry with a loud slurping noise. “You’d just fall asleep all the time.” He looked at his cup and gave it a small shake. “Guess I need a refill.”
Glimpse quickly stood up. “I’ll get it! Want more hay fries?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Lily held up her cup. “Mind getting me one too?”
Three cups lifted up, encased in the glow of Glimpse’s magic. “Got it.” He quickly trotted away.
“So,” said Lucky as he leaned back in his chair. “My dad’s been teaching me this new move that’s pretty cool. Still working on it, but I can’t wait to try it out on you.”
“Can’t wait to see it. Wanna do some sparring this weekend?” Lily blew a puff of air upwards to knock a stray hair from her mane away from her eyes. “We should get Glimpse to join us. He needs to get out of the books a little more.”
“Yeah, we can ask him when he gets back. He’s right though. We should probably try to do better with our grades. I mean, it can’t hurt, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“’Sides, we’ve got the best tutor around.”
“I guess.”
Slip piped up. "Hey, Lily! Guess what?"
"What's up, squirt?"
"Mommy was teaching me how to make rain clouds today! It's really cool. I wanted to do lightning clouds but she said it was too dangerous."
Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it is. Tell me all about it."
"Okay!" Slip pointed out at the ocean. "First, you gotta get some water, like from a lake and stuff, and then…"
"Lucky," hissed Lily under her breath. "That was sarcasm."
Lucky leaned over to whisper back, "Just let him get it out of his system."
After several minutes of lecturing Lily laid her head on the table. “Where’s Glimpse? It’s taking him forever.”
“He probably just got caught in a long line.”
“Watch where you’re going, snakeeye!”
Two pairs of ears perked up, and as one Lily and Lucky turned their heads to look down the boardwalk. Glimpse was surrounded by four pegasi. A tray wrapped in his magic floated beside him.
Slip leaned up on the table, peering over. “What’s going on?”
Lucky slipped out of his chair. “Not now.”
“But what—”
“Not now!” Lucky shot Slip with a hard stare. “Stay down, and stay out of sight. I’m serious. I don’t want them to see you.”
“My apologies,” said Glimpse calmly. “I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
The leader, a colt with a storm-gray coat, gave Glimpse a small shove. “What if you’d gotten any of that junk on me? What would you do then?”
“I’d offer you a napkin and be on my way. Please step aside.” Glimpse attempted to maneuver past, but the colt moved to block him.
“You freaks think you can come in here and shove us around, is that it? We don’t need your kind in Manehattan.” Stormcrasher gave Glimpse a quick shove.
The unicorn stumbled back, lifting his tray up high. “I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
“Us ‘freaks’ might have something to say about that, Mudcrasher.” Lucky stepped with deliberate heaviness, the hollow sound of hoof on wood ringing out.
Lily stepped up beside him, slowly stretching. “We have a problem here, boys?”
The colt whipped around, and his friends all warily turned towards the new arrivals.
“That’s Stormcrasher, you buffoon—” His eyes widened in recognition, and then narrowed dangerously. “You. What are you doing here?”
“It’s a free country, Stormcrasher,” said Lucky. “Now leave my friend alone and get out of here.”
“As you say, it is a free country. So I can do what I wish.” Stormchaser snorted as he looked at the two nyctan children. “Besides, there’s four of us, and only three of you.”
Lucky made a show of slapping his cheek. “You outnumber us? Gosh, Lily. What do you think?”
Lily snorted and rolled her head against her shoulders, producing a loud crack. “I think all four of them together might make a decent warm-up.”
“Are you daft?” said Stormchaser with a scoff. “The earth pony thinks she can fight a pegasus.” His friends all snickered.
“Trust me. Underestimating Lily is a mistake you’ll only make once.” Lucky took a step forward and spread his wings. “Why don’t you save yourself the trouble and get out of here?”
Beside him, Lily stepped up and settled into a low crouch, her gaze focused on the leader.
“Hello, kids. You all having a good time?” said Jetstream, strolling up with Evengale at his side.
Stormcrasher and his friends all discreetly shifted away from Glimpse. The unicorn squeezed past, moving to stand next to his friends. Lucky folded his wings again, and next to him Lily relaxed, standing up and stretching.
“Yeah, Dad. Everything’s good.”
“Good.” Jet studied Stormcrasher appraisingly for a moment. “You’re Stormchaser’s boy, aren’t you?”
The colt’s voice was filled with forced politeness. “Yes, sir.”
“Mmm. Tell your father Jetstream said hi.”
Stormcrasher clenched his teeth. “I’ll be sure to do that. Excuse me. We’ve got to go.” He gave Lucky a disgusted stare, and then turned with an agitated flick of his tail. His friends quickly followed after him.
Jetstream watched the other colts depart. Gale looked her son over. “Are you all okay?”
Lucky shrugged. “Yeah. No big. Just some jerk. We could’ve handled them.”
“Peacefully, I hope, dear.”
“Pfft. We had ‘em right where we wanted them. They would’ve backed off any moment.”
Gale smiled knowingly. “Of course you did.”
“Mom! Dad! Lucky was gonna take on all those guys all by himself!” called Slip from the table.
“Hey, I was there too you know,” objected Lily as she walked back to the table.
“I hope you haven’t been too much trouble for Lucky, dear,” said Gale as she and Jetstream followed suit.
Glimpse moved to follow, but stopped to watch Lucky.
The pegasus was staring down the boardwalk, in the direction Stormchaser had left.
“You okay?”
Lucky shook his head and put up a hasty smile as he turned to face Glimpse. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
* * * * * * *
Lucky wasn’t fine. He sighed as he leaned on the ferry’s railing, watching the ocean waves pass underneath him. The mechanical ratcheting of the ferry along the submerged steel chain vibrated throughout the deck. The light and noise of Corney Island was already fading into the distance, and the ocean held nothing but silence.
The water was too choppy to reflect the stars, but it held the image of the moon, full and bright, and Lucky watched it contemplatively as the ferry shuttled along. He could have flown to the other shore in a quarter of the time, but he was with his friends; besides, his heart felt too heavy for flight at the moment.
Glimpse quietly stepped up beside him. “Hey. Are you okay?”
Lucky shrugged, resting his chin on the railing. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
The unicorn studied Lucky for a moment. “You’re wearing your thinking face. That means you’re not fine.”
“Hey, I might tease you about getting your nose out of your books, but I’ll have you know I do plenty of thinking.”
Glimpse chuckled softly. “You only think when something’s bugging you that you can’t solve by outwitting or outmuscling it.”
“It’s just this…” Lucky gesticulated aimlessly with a hoof. “The stupid thing with Stormchaser. What does he prove by picking on you?”
“I don’t know, Lucky. Maybe he’s scared of us.”
“Just because we look a little different?”
Glimpse sat besides Lucky, watching the rolling waves with a distant expression. “I wish I had a good answer for that.”
Lucky grunted in frustration and rapidly tapped a hoof against the deck’s railing. “I just… Ugh.” He glanced to his friend and playfully slugged the unicorn’s shoulder. “Hey, you okay though?”
Glimpse rested his head against the deck wall. A single hoof shuffled listlessly against the floor. “I’m fine, it’s just… I’m sorry you had to help me. Again.”
“Hey hey, none of that now.” Lucky threw a hoof over his friend’s shoulders. “We look out for our own, right?”
Glimpse looked into Lucky’s smiling face. He managed a small, hesitant smile before quickly ducking his head and looking away. “R-right.”
Lucky released his friend’s shoulders and took off towards the cabin. “C’mon. Let’s go find Lily. We’ve got planning to do.”