//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 : Hubris in the eye of the Beholder // Story: Shifting Equilibriums // by kugetsu //------------------------------// "Thou denial is denied." Princess Luna stated nonchalantly. There were many reactions spread across the long table. Princess Celestia just stared, mouth agape, at her sister. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor along with Twilight in turn stared at Princess Celestia. Fluttershy and Rarity seemed to find something very interesting about the tablecloth as Applejack seemed to prep a hasty retreat if the standoff turned sour. Rainbow Dash held an triumphant grin towards Sentinel until he pointed towards something across from her. Turning, Rainbow's grin was perfectly replicated by Pinkie who decided to just stare at her as she slowly sunk underneath the table cloth, causing Rainbow to freak out and look underneath as well. Sentinel might of held the most lackluster expression of them all. It was the look you give when someone stands next to you and comments "Is it just me or is the sun bigger today?". While only Princess was in the know of Luna and Sentinel having spent the most time together in the dream scape, no one or pony knew truly how much, as time flows at different intervals there. One might even say that Luna and Sentinel had developed quite the friendship. One of kinship, caring, understanding... ...of what the raised middle finger on Sentinel's hand actually means. "We shall come across this table Sentinel!" Luna yelled as she slammed both hooves on the table, flaring her wings. "You know I appreciate the thoughts behind the idea Luna," Sentinel directs towards Luna as still holding his hand pose, "But of anypony here you know most of all why I said no." He concludes as Rainbow is pulled under the table. "And it is stupid." Luna states as she scrunches her muzzle, "Even more so than thy habit of trying to do nice things in secret." "In secret?" Shining Armor inquires. "I wouldn't pay Woona any mind, Shining Armor," Sentinel says, causing Luna to narrow her eyes as she applies more pressure to her hooves on the table, "She's under some misconceptions is all." "Woona?" Cadance asks, somewhat forming a playful grin, causing Luna to to let her jaw drop in embarassment. "Sentinel!" Rarity exclaimed, "That is no proper way to address Princess Luna!" "Sentinel and Luna have become quite the pair actually." Celestia states, entirely forgetting what she meant and what she implied were up for serious debate, and reactions. Innocence meter is pointing at 63% in the positive. "Princess Luna and Sentinel are together?!" Twilight yelled in surprise, causing somepony to slam their head under the table along with a muffled giggle. "What? No!" Luna was quick to interject, "Thy relationship with Sentinel is strictly..." "Dreamy?" Sentinel puts his two cents in, being quite amused at how the tables are turned and off himself. "Oh!" Rarity said, placing a hoof over her muzzle, "oh my." "Sentinel!!!" Luna screams out with enough blush to actually start showing. "Well I am happy for both of you!" Fluttershy beams. "You better be treatin our Princess Luna like she deserves," Applejack says as she points a hoof at Sentinel. "He's only drove her to exhaustion in the beginning," Celestia casually notes. Innocence meter is reading 13%. Betrayal! Had the Sun literally rose and back handed the moon out of the sky you would be hard pressed to surpass the look of shock, embarassment, and utter betrayal on Luna's face as she stared at her sister. "But after getting used to it," Celestia slowly adds, "They can go all night without complications." Meter : -23% ...and surpassed, it has. "Tia told me about you painting the night sky mural in my bed chambers!!!" Luna, desperate for straws, just tripped as she tried to throw her sister under the bus, going along for the ride. After an epic battle, three words emerged victorious for most of the ponies at the table, the guards stationed nearby, and the entire cooking staff. Painting, bed chambers. "What?" Sentinel questioned as he looked over towards Celestia who was getting the deer in the headlight look. "I thought we had an understanding Celestia." Sentinel said as he looked at her. "I may have lapsed under pressure." Celestia admitted with some guilt, "But because of you I was exhausted!" Twilight and the others all took in deep gasps as the sound of porcelain shattering echoed from the kitchen. "I don't know whether to congratulate you," Shining said as he stared at Sentinel, "Or attack you." "Shining Armor this isn't something to congratulate." Celestia said with a disapproving look. "Can...can we maybe change the..." Fluttershy whispered, obviously put off a bit by the revelations. "The first time he made Luna cry." Celestia revealed, with the innocence meter twirling in confusion. Applejack, having sensed no outright lie, was slowly starting to even feel herself a tad embarrassed no matter how tough and down to earth she was. She could only nod her head yes as the blush grew when Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy looked at her for confirmation. Meanwhile; Under the Table. "Darnit Pinkie," Rainbow growled in frustration. "I'm telling you something important is going on up there." Pinkie, having put her second X with a marker in her mouth on the marble flooring, made some clucking noises. "Screw it. It's most likely just some stupid egghead stuff," Rainbow surmised, "You're going down Pinkie!" -------------------------------------------------------------- All four bearers including Cadance sent Sentinel, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, very disapproving looks. "Oh...." Shining started to say, already getting a nod from Cadance on what was going to be the needed tough talk. "So the same thing happened to you too." Shining said as he looked at Sentinel while Cadance's jaw dropped. "Shining...!" Cadance let forth a stern growl generally reserved for married couples in the privacy of their home. Twilight, however the educated bookworm, knew exactly how to respond. She put her hooves over her drooped ears, closed her eyes, and hummed something about Smarty Pants. Fluttershy, however, was beat red and stuttering while Rarity was just giving the stink eye back and forth between Sentinel and Shining. Applejack just plopped her hat onto the table, signaling that she was done, and reserved herself to being fully entertained. "Regardless..." Sentinel said loud enough to attract everypony's attention to himself as both Pinkie and Rainbow climb back into their seating, "I want it known here and now that I both acknowledge and most importantly appreciate the gesture to try and relieve such a burden placed on me." "Then lets..." Princess Celestia begins to say. "But," Sentinel interrupts, causing Luna to downcast her eyes. "Everypony, and one, is the sum of all of their experiences both good and bad." Sentinel continues with holding his open hand towards the ponies, "I would be telling a lie to try and hide that I'm not worried or that I simply don't care." "Yet I've always fought for every inch of my life since I can remember. I've always had the odds stacked against me, and not once did I feel ashamed of who I was or what was placed on my plate." Sentinels tries to emphasize. "To be honest I've been rather worried about myself, and of losing myself, in your world. I know that not that long in the past turmoil riddled the land and essentially we walk on an apocalypse that happened so that everypony here today could live without constant fear." He stated, getting slightly widened eyes of all who knew the meaning to the word, but gently closed eyes of the two whom understood it. "But I need that fear, to breath." Sentinel said, getting utterly confused stares. "I may be afraid of dying, but I am more worried of failing to make the choice that means the most to me." He closes his hand. "And in order to do that, I need to be afraid." "I know your world has it's own set of dangers. I know ponies have enemies in and out of your lands. I know this because I know what it's like to be hunted." Sentinel elaborates, noting that that Celestia and Luna's eyes slightly narrow. "What a strange way to word that Sentinel" Celestia whispers in a not too thrilled tone, "...what are you hiding." "So while I would never ask any of you to walk with me on this and will hold no ills against any who decide to walk away," Sentinel says, noticing shocked expressions at him accepting their abandonment, "I just ask that you neither take it away from me." "I..." Sentinel begins to speak once more, "I need this." "But why...?" Fluttershy almost pleads, "I don't understand why..." she says looking at him with watery eyes. "And that, Fluttershy." Sentinel says before turning to leave, "Is something that I am truly thankful for." "Sentinel." Luna calls out. "Tomorrow we have a ceremony for celebration before the large city wide one in two days." Sentinel merely stops, at the doorway. "We wish to see you there." Luna gently adds, "Miss Rarity has spent a great deal of time on some attire for thee." "I will show tomorrow." Sentinel casually replies. "...and the next day?" Cadance interjects. "Sure." Sentinel replies once more before leaving. "I...um..." Rarity mumbles out, still a little rattled by Sentinel's declaration, "I better go and prepare two suits..." "He lied." Applejack said, rather toneless, as she stared at the doorway Sentinel left through. "About all the things he said about needing to be afraid?" Fluttershy asked, rather hopeful even if it was for a lie. "He meant every single word of that sugarcube," Applejack confirmed, getting worried expressions from all. "Then what did he lie about?" Twilight inquired. "About coming to the big celebration." Applejack muttered, "He has no intentions." Rainbow furrowed her brow as she also stared at the doorway Sentinel left through. "Why would he come to the small one and not the big one?" Pinkie asked loudly, "The bigger one is more fun!" The answer was never given as Princess Celestia abruptly stood up and walked out the double doorway behind her. She said not a single word to anypony, even Princess Luna, who even herself looked somewhat surprised at what he sister had done just as dinner was finally being served. Not much else was said throughout dinner. Later that night "Tia?" Luna called out towards the balcony of Princess Celestia's chambers. "I'm out here Luna." Celestia replied back, not moving as she just kept staring out into the valley below. "May we ask what might be on thou's mind?" Luna gently asked as she trotted up to and beside her sister. "Sentinel, Obviously." Celestia stated, "How are..." "Riled up and very worried about trying to understand what they can't." Luna solemnly said back. "I/We think it is best to increase security for the next few days." Both princesses said at the same time, earning a small one eye stare from each onto the other, "We/Thee don't want something/someone to get in/out." This in turn had both of them give a full on stare, and had it been in any other context, at the very least giggling. However in place of silliness the last statement from both caused even more distress. "Luna..." Celestia asked, "Why would Sentinel try and get out?" "In order to prevent something from getting in." Luna said back in a very serious tone. "But..." Celestia was about to question, but was interrupted by Luna lifting her foreleg to touch along the front right shoulder of Celestia, silently requesting for her to let he continue speaking. "We are the haven, Tia." Luna calmly stated as Celestia slowly let her eyes peer downwards, before bringing them back up. "And he is the Sentinel." Luna continued, "Thou will not remain and involve a haven. Thou will seek it out instead." "That's silly!" Celestia said, lightly raising her voice, "We are his friends!". Celestia stated, failing to see the very faint smile that for a small moment appeared on Luna's muzzle. "If he goes out there then he will be running blind like we were when those demons invaded." Luna, keeping her foreleg touching her sister, let her eyes soften "We can take the Sentinel out of Tartarus, but we can't take the Sentinel out of thou. All thy can do is choose the course thy takes, like thou is about to. When Sentinel said thou needed it, thou meant that thy needed to be afraid in order to have the strength to choose, to meet the threat, alone." Luna elaborated, "Less thou risks temptation of a shield, ourselves and our ponies, by becoming one of us." "But while I can personally attest to his ability, Sentinel isn't as strong and you or I Luna." Celestia tried to argue. "We know this, as does Sentinel." Luna replied. "Then I refuse to allow my friend to throw himself into needless danger!" Celestia yelled, starting to get frustrated, "I didn't go through all that I have just to let somepony else worry about another..." Celestia pauses as she realizes something ironically damning to her own argument, "...scar". Elsewhere at the same time; The bearers, along with Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor, were all centered in one of the larger guest rooms as they were trying to make sense of what happened earlier, and what they were all going to do about it. Shining and Twilight appeared to be off to one corner of the room in an argument as the others were almost all on or around one of the beds. "I say we all go at him at once." Rainbow challenged, "Maybe even zap him with the elements again!" "We want to help him darling," Rarity chided, "Not..zap him." "Besides," Cadance interjected, "The elements won't do anything to change him if he is in harmony with himself." "I refuse to believe..." Rainbow started to say, before they all quieted down when Twilight and Shining's argument got louder. "That makes no sense Shining," Twilight yelled at her brother as she lifted a foreleg, "You make no sense!" "By no means do I have the same experience that Sentinel does," Shining declared, "But I've at least experienced enough in my life in the military and then Captain to understand what he meant by needing to be afraid!" He yelled right back. "Horse apples!" Twilight yelled even louder, "Being afraid makes you make the wrong decisions because you're not thinking clearly! If that's the case then we need to do everything we can to make him see things our way!" "That's the point Twily!" Shining tried to explain, "Who wants to be hurt? Nopony! You heard him when he explained in there, he's afraid and worried. That means he'd be more inclined to error on the side of precaution, and stray into safety rather than action." "Are..." Twilight growls, "Are you even listening to yourself right now?!" "All he's trying to do is face everything forward, not turned around running away." Shining tries to calm down as he states. "More like he's trying to take AJ's plaque for most stubborn pony in Equestria!" Rainbow yelled over. "Hey!" Applejack directs to Rainbow Dash. "Wouldn't it be so more practical to do it side by side with his friends?" Twilight ignores Rainbow and argues towards Shining. "Rather than keeping himself isolated as he watches us from the outside?!" "It's not us that he's trying to face Twily..." Shining further calms down, while coming at a new angle. "Then what..." Twilight starts to ask. "He said he was being hunted." Pinkie said, being situated between everypony in the room so all heard her. She was messing with some kind of party device, her hair wasn't as puffy as before but neither was it straight like some had worried. "When he said that he knew we had enemies he specifically mentioned inside and out." Shining explains, "Then he mentioned how somepony like himself, how he grew up, knows what it's like to be hunted." Twilight gasps, "We got to warn the princesses!" "They already know Twilight." Cadance says while laying down on the bed, not even bothering to look up at anypony, but knew regardless that she had all attention on her for further elaboration. "Why do you think Princess Celestia left like she did?" Cadance finally said, looking up at everypony. "She wasn't angry. She was distraught." Cadance makes sure to look everypony in the eye at least once, "She may be the Solar Princess, but even Celestia isn't immune to considering somepony, or perhaps someone, a close friend." "...and the worst part..." Cadance continues, "Is that she had no idea something was hunting him". "But if she knows now, then Sentinel's got nothing to worry about," Applejack said, "Especially if Princess Celestia considers him a close friend like you say, and I can tell you honestly believe that." "He was saying goodbye." Pinkie, once again, said while messing with her little device. Sensing something was wrong, Fluttershy went over and sat on her haunches next to her pink friend and silently watched and waited, in case. "What do you mean goodbye?" Rainbow questioned, "I never heard him say goodbye!" she said sounding frustrated. Rarity, for all her ladylike demeanor, was starting to have somewhat of a trouble keeping her needle straight in her magical grasp as she continued to make a second suit for Sentinel. She, however, kept one ear pivoted to hear all details. "I do not believe for even a second that Sentinel would of let something accidentally slip." Shining said across the room, "So the only explanation is that he was telling us goodbye, in his own way, and maybe hoping we'd only figure it out later." "That was why Princess Celestia was so upset then..." Twilight put it all together, "If she showed it in front of us, then she would be going against Sentinel's wishes, so she just left?" she conceded, sounding sadder as each word came out. "Well I don't know about ya'll but I don't think anything be dumb enough to try and get into Canterlot." Applejack surmised, "Especially during the big celebration." "He's gonna jet." Rainbow said, not thinking of how wrong it came out. "Rainbow!" Rarity called out, "Of all the ponies, you've been the most adamant of his character! How could you accuse him of..." "Hey I didn't say he was running from it!" Rainbow yelled right back, "I meant he's gonna run towards it!" Everypony save for Cadance, whose tiny smile at being glad that the impression Sentinel's left was truly being seen by some, just stared at Rainbow in either confusion or dismay, who proceeded to growl in frustration. "Hellooooo?" Rainbow points towards the door behind her, "Sentinel was saying goodbye right? Then," Rainbow points towards Applejack, "AJ said that he was telling the truth so that means he honestly feels something is hunting him." and then jabs at Applejack again, "But she also said that he was lying about coming to the second city wide celebration." "So that means..." Twilight tried to say it for Rainbow, who deadpanned. "That means that he's planning to leave and go fight whatever it is that's coming after him tomorrow night after the smaller ceremony." Rainbow explained, "So all we gotta do is watch him like a hawk and not let him out of our sights!" she beamed. Underneath Canterlot While sleep came rather difficult for some, for one it never came at all. It wasn't like he couldn't use it. Quite the contrary, in fact. He really needed it. But after his less than splendid reunion with the ten equines that he basically made a pact with on his first night here, he wouldn't be in the right mind to get any anyhow. However bothered he was as he thought back on what all he had said and done at the dining room hall, what bothered him even more was how he felt his hand had a mind of it's own as he painted. As he finally finished, he had the only magical orb for sunlight held in the hand without the brush. Almost like an firefly, he would flick the orb on, and then off after a few seconds, and repeat. Over, and over, and over. "I refuse to believe that I've fallen so far that I'd let my own mind make up such..." Sinclair finally growled out, "lies". ----------------------------------------------------------- The Following Day, Start of the Formal Ceremony in Canterlot Castle. Standing at a double doorway entrance, Sentinel took pause. He was wearing a rather sleek suit that had taken on the same color schemes that his plate armor had. His long dirty blonde hair was neatly brushed and then put into a ponytail, much to the snickering of some of the maids and guards that Sentinel had become good friend's with during his 3 month stay. "This... is small?!" Sentinel asked no one, as he saw hundreds of ponies gathered in one of the largest ball rooms that the castle had, which up to this point, he wasn't even aware existed in the first place. "Sentinel!!" waved a mare in a rather styled evening gown, trying to get his attention. While it took a moment due to always seeing the mare in a maid's outfit, Sentinel finally recognized the mare as Fancy Demoiselle. Walking over, he noticed that at the table Fancy was sitting at there were two other ponies that he'd never seen before. One, the stallion, had a blue mane and mustache, and strange a monocle. The other, another mare, seemed to be almost the exact same as Fancy, but and even more fancy makeup than Rarity. "Sentinel!" Fancy trotted over as she gave Sentinel a hug, much to his discomfort as he still hated being touched. "It's good to see you Fancy," Sentinel responded, "and who might these two be?" "Oh!" Fancy pepped up before looking embarrassed, "Sentinel, please meet my parents. Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis." Sentinel shook both Fancy Pants and Fleur's hoofs as he looked them both straight in the eye, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both. Fancy here says quite a bit about you both," Sentinel said, "Good things". He made sure to add. "The pleasure is ours, my good sir" Fancy Pants replied, with Fleur giving a genuine smile, before they gestured to Sentinel to have a set at their table so that they could have a proper conversation, which he accepted. "I've been telling Father and Mother about all the trouble you get into at the castle," Demoiselle said, grinning. "Have you now," Sentinel commented, quirking an eyebrow. "Do they know..." "About my beautiful, hardworking, and talented foal checking that blowhard into a wall?" Fleur beams with pride more with each word, until scowling almost into a growl once she reaches blueblood's nickname. "Yeah..." Sentinel confirms, checking the corner of his vision to notice Demoiselle is blushing quite a bit at being called a foal. "She also told us of another tale." Fancy Pants went on to elaborate, "About a little black foal that rushed in when that...scoundrel... tried to strike my lovely daughter." Fancy pants continued looking at Sentinel, as Demoiselle was sitting there with her mouth agape from shock. "You wouldn't know where this little foal could be found so that I may shake his hoof?" "Well I am not..." Sentinel tried to coverup. Fancy Pants leans in closer to Sentinel, "Or would hand be more appropriate?" he says in a whisper, winking. "Daddy!" Demoiselle yells as low as she can. "Fancy, it's okay." Sentinel confirms, "I would say that the foal in question wouldn't require verbal recognition." "How about friendship?" Both Fancy Pants and Fleur say at the same time, eliciting a facehoof from Demoiselle. "I would say..." Sentinel began to say, "that he would accept." "Good good." Fancy Pants nodded, along with Fleur who just smiled. "How dare you show your muzzle around here, you horse!" yelled some blowhard deep in the crowd. Various yelling can be heard, and many gasps that seemed to spread from an unseen focal point about midway into the ball room. Sentinel, knowing whose voice the one who first yelled was, openly signed before looking up. What he noticed was Demoiselle sitting in her chair, muzzle down and eyes halfway closed, as the word horse most likely brought back a painful memory. Fancy Pants and Fleur, on the other hand, looked quite ready to scrap, if ponies did that sort of thing, as they got up and made body contact with their daughter. "If you would excuse me," Sentinel said to the family of three, as he stood up and walked towards the noise. At the center of the noise was a group of 5 ponies, 1 stallion and four mares, all in rather colorful and well made clothing. Obviously, behavior aside, they were dressed to impress and to have quite the night save for one mare who had part of her dress ripped off her. The stallion seemed to be grinding his hoof into the fabric on the floor as the mares started yelling. "Don't you call one of my friends a horse you piece of crap!" Yelled Rainbow Dash in a rather pretty dress. "Now rainbow!" yelled Applejack as she tried to hold rainbow back, "Something like him ain't worth it." "Yeah!" explained Pinkie, "Why don't you go something else you mean mr.meanie pants!" "Now.. girls..," a rather teary eyed Rarity said, "Lets move on..." "Thats right," called Blueblood in a very condescending tone, "Go back to your ugly little town for ugly mares who can barely keep a few ugly stallions around for breeding more ugly hicks." Blueblood says before swishing his crystal clear champagne around. How many ponies does it take to hold back a raging Applejack? Three still wouldn't be enough. "That's IT!" Applejack screamed as she turned around, taking a champagne glass of cheery red wine on her brown stetson. Or that is the last thing she saw coming at her head when something white seemed to jump up and cradle her vision away. "How fitting," canted Blueblood as he began to chuckle at the sight of the bright red stained face of Rarity who was standing on her hind legs as she had used her upper body and head to shield Applejack's hat. Rarity just slowly slid off Applejack, who gasped when she saw her friend's stained face, as Rainbow and Pinkie shot over to get between Blueblood and Rarity. "I...wish to leave..." Rarity whispered. Blueblood, seeing another moment of what he felt was weakness, was about to throw another insult when Twilight and Fluttershy came galloping through the gathered crowd, gasping once they reached Rarity and the others. Naturally, like the other 3, they started checking Rarity to see if she was okay, making sure to note the tears, smears, and tear along her gown. But before Twilight and Fluttershy could do more than give Blueblood one of their hardest scowls, Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadance along with Prince Shining arrived at the scene. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna especially grabbed all attention when they slowly stepped between Blueblood and the bearers, facing the bearers. "Element of Generosity," Luna directed towards Rarity, "We witness thou's act in protecting something very dear to Honesty at the cost of thy own dignity." Luna proceeded to lean closer, "A true testament to one's generosity it was." Rarity, showing a little blush on the side not stained, "Thank you, Princess Luna." "I wish to know what transpired leading up this," Celestia paused to lower her tone, "assault on one of my subjects." "These..." Blueblood began to say, "backwater harlots," causing not only the bearers but the princesses and prince Shining to furrow their brow, "started harassing me when I was stating the truth." "And what truth would that be?" Shining almost growled. "That it was a mistake to use the Elements to save Sentinel." Blueblood states with a sneer, causing the bearer's scowls to become even more rigid, along with Shining and Cadance. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna looked at each other, silently deciding on their course of action while Demoiselle screamed something from way back in the crowd. "Rotten blowhard!!!" yelled Demoiselle over the crowd. "What?!" Blueblood sharply turned his head towards the direction the insult came from, only to catch something out of the corner of his eye as his eyesight quickly shifted. Slowly, as he shifted back, he finally caught himself in the direct gaze of Sentinel. "Ahhh!!" Blueblood shrieked, "What are you doing here?!" Everypony near looked where Blueblood shrieked and then yelled. "Sentinel!...Dude!...TinTin!!...Sentinel!!...Sentinel!" the voices of five of the six bearers all rang out, in either surprise or some form of glee at seeing Sentinel actually coming. However Sentinel's immediate attention was towards a a pink furred pink who just gave what should of been an even wider smile, but he settled for the smaller one. "Oh my!" Rarity then trotted over, passing Blueblood like he wasn't even there, "This is absolutely stunning!" she said as she proceeded to trot around Sentinel as everypony near him backwards up a bit. "I'm a bit surprised that you remembered the color scheme of my armor." Sentinel said as he let his eyes follow the circling pony whenever she came into view, noting how focused she was now. "Yes, yes..." Rarity said into a muttering whisper, "The cuffs are just a tad too short I see," She then used her magical grasp to grab Sentinel's forearm and lift, turning it as she did. "This wouldn't of happened if you'd just let me dress you for this!" "C'mon Rarity," Applejack said, "Give the fella some room." She said as she trotted over, passing Blueblood like he wasn't even there, "Besides" she then said, "Stallion's as sharp as a brand new axe if you ask me." Sentinel began to open his mouth, maybe to thank or retort the compliment, before he was interrupted. "Is that..." Rainbow jumped up and then flew over towards Sentinel, passing overhead of something formerly known as Blueblood, before she stopped a few feet from Sentinel's face. She proceeded to do two quick swoops around him, before opening her mouth. "Rainbow." Sentinel stopped her by speaking, "If you pass on making fun of my hair, I will do the same on your mane." Sentinel compromised while giving Rainbow a raised brow of his own. Rainbow hovered for a few seconds before lifting her foreleg, "Deal." she said as Sentinel took an awkward few moments before lifting his un-magically grasped arm to bump his fist to her hoof. Whether it was a pony or the wind, a small gasp of air was heard right before Fluttershy came trotting over, passing by some pony with a blonde mane without a name. She honestly seemed like she was walking in a cloud from no noise coming from her hooves as she came over, to a halt just in front of Sentinel, looking up as Sentinel looked down. "...hello." Fluttershy said with softness. "Hello." Sentinel replied, unable to replicate the same tone level even remotely. "You look nice." Fluttershy mentioned as she lifted one foreleg up off the ground. "Thank you," Sentinel replied, "And you look very pretty in that nature themed gown". But before Fluttershy could reply, or try to hide, Pinkie shot up behind her, scaring the ever living crap out of Fluttershy and about everypony else nearby. "What did you do to your mane TinTin!" Pinkie yelled as she helped Fluttershy who was holding a hoof to her chest by rubbing one on her back, "It looks funny..." she finished with tilting her head. "This is a style of hair from my people," Sentinel stated, "Called a ponytail." Realizing his mistake a moment too late, he looked straight ahead to the hovering Rainbow snickering like a fool. Trotting over after hearing something about Sentinel's people, Twilight could of sworn she passed something resembling a pony but she paid it no mind. "What was that about your people?" She asked. "Don't look like any kind of pony tail I've ever seen..." Applejack commented. Rarity however, seemed to let go of Sentinel's forearm swiftly. Then, borderline brutally, snatched Sentinel's ponytail in her magical grasp pulling it along with Sentinel who had to let his right knee give out to stay standing, down for closer inspection. "Rarity!" Fluttershy gasped out, "Careful not to hurt him!" "Ideaa!" Rarity exclaimed as put a little too much into her magical grasp while at the very same time doing a yank. She opened her eyes when she suddenly felt no tension, and noticed the majority of the ponytail was hanging in front of her. "Ahhhh!" yelled a surprised Rarity along with the other bearers, while Sentinel returned to his straight and rather rigid posture without making a sound. Tears started brimming in Rarity's eyes as she realized what she had just done, the night's stress leaving her with little reserve otherwise. "Oh Sentinel I am..." Rarity cried out as the tears started to fall, only to be shocked out of her impending moment, by laughter. Everypony gathered around were utterly shocked to hear Sentinel, for the very first time ever, laughing. It wasn't a hysterical laugh, but a hearty one regardless as he looked straight up to the ceiling of the ball room as nopony made a sound. Even Pinkie Pie, who would naturally be all giddy over hearing such laughter, was put into a stupor. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor almost galloped over after seeing what transpired, one somewhat concerned while the other was wearing a rather goofy grin. "Sentinel?" Shining asked, somewhat concerned, along with everypony else. "I can't believe it!" Cadance yelled in glee, causing shining and the bearers and even the princesses behind them to look at her like she was the next one to lose sanity. "What?!" Twilight asked with great concern, "Oh now what if its a calming effect?!" Twilight started to freak out, having said that, making the others who knew what a calming effect was to worry even more, especially Rarity. "He's just a little happy." Cadance said, genuinely smiling. "This... is the first time I've felt natural joy or happiness from him." Cadance said, gently wiping what might of been a tear from her left eye. "I've been so worried." "I...." Twilight began, "Don't know how to take that..." Twilight looked down and then back up, "Natural?" Just as it began, Sentinel suddenly stopped laughing and caught his breath, returning the same old Sentinel that day in and day out he'd been like since the first time they've all met him. If it wasn't for Cadance, they'd of been relieved, but when they watched her smile turn into what could only be described as sadness they too suddenly shifted to a different type of concern. "That was rather..." Sentinel said, searching for the right word, "memorable." "My dear Sentinel," Rarity pleaded, "What can I ever do to make it up to you?" "You already did." Sentinel replied, waving his hand as to wave off any worry. But worried they were, even if it wasn't over something that can easily be grown back. They had all heard the laughter, and it was genuine. However Cadance showing such emotion over seeing Sentinel display just some laughter, and to say it was the first time she senses natural joy or happiness from him was not going to just disappear like the laughter did. However, while all of this excitement was going on, two royal princesses were standing back watching. Internal monologue of Princess Celestia "Damn that Blueblood. If I had my way I would have him cleaning the sewers of Canterlot but then I'd be no better than him." she thought, "Oh no, he noticed Sentinel..." but was surprised when she noticed all of the bearers calling out to Sentinel. She then watched as each one went over to greet him, as he did the same back, taking away all of the negative air without any effort. "They truly do care for you Sentinel. I've come to accept that you were most likely facing the end, and tried to rise up in defiance for your people in a valiant last stand only to come out alone. I know, from personal experience, how having to make that kind of choice can make the most painful of scars..." She talked to herself, "But you don't have to fight alone anymore you idiot!" she thinks as she narrows her eyes in frustration, "Oh who am I kidding..." her eyes soften, "I'm still the same way myself.". "Wait is he... is he laughing?!" she mentally yelled, "This isn't one of your forced laughs...wait what is that in Rarity's magic...Is that his hair?!" Celestia's eyes widen, "Why in blue hell is he genuinely laughing about Rarity tearing off his hair?!" she then raises her brow, "Maybe if I go over there and...oh I cant do that can I." she shifts her eyes towards Luna, "That leave Luna all alone standing here." "Well then I will just wait for them to come to us, and then we will deal with my.." she grits her teeth, "nephew, properly". Internal monologue of Princess Luna "How the buck is this imbecile even our nephew?!" Luna narrows her eyes, "Had to of been because of some bureaucratic horsecrap!" she narrows her eyes even more, "When we locate the legal documents," her eyes then flare fully open, "Burn them we shall!", she relaxes her eyes, "Then no more prince Blueblood". Luna then notices Sentinel as all of the bearers flock over, in one form or another, to greet him as he does the same in return. "Sentinel..." she looks sternly at him, "At first I thought of you as just some stupid stubborn stallion." she then looks down, "Yet through you I've found a kindred spirit in the pains that we both bare, even if not truly cast from the same mold." she looks back up, "But now I know you as just a stupid stallion!" she jerks her head in a nod, "A wonderfully nice, and painfully scarred, stupid stallion." "What a strange style of..." Luna's eyes widen, "She broke it off!" Luna eyes then widen even more, "Sentinel, laughs?" tilting her head slightly, "I have never heard you laugh so, memory or not." Her eyes soften, "As long as I never have to hear you weep again so, I will accept any other," they then close, "...you stupid stallion." "Argh!" Luna narrowed her eyes again, "Why must we stand here and not over there?" Luna huffs, "The fun is there!" huffs again, "But if we go then we would leave Tia here alone..." Luna finally concedes to her fate, sighing. "Now they shall burn even harder!" Back to the reality "Such trash..." Blueblood muttered, but just loud enough for the bearers and royalty nearby to all hear. When what should of been the start of yet another screaming match, it would be Sentinel who would finally say something that would even shock captain blowhard into utter silence, not just willed. "I'm sorry." Sentinel said to Blueblood, but not like a question or in a sneer, but perhaps one of the most sincerely gentle tones that anypony has heard him speak in, save for Princess Celestia when he approached her about Princess Luna. It was even enough for Rainbow to fall, softly, back down to the floor. "I'm sorry that in such paradise," Sentinel looks around, "you've come to hate yourself so much that you'd do everything within your power to bring any around you not only down, but below, where you yourself feel trapped." Blueblood, quite unsure of what exactly he was feeling right then and there, tried to speak but couldn't find the words. "You and me," Sentinel pointed at Blueblood and then himself, "are not that much different." There were so many gasps that you'd think they thought something would steal all the air. "Have you gone mad!?" Applejack yelled in anger, "You and him ain't nothing alike!" "Hubris." Was all Sentinel replied. "Hub-what now?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Hubris," Twilight spoke for the answer, "It basically means excessive, and often out of touch with reality, self worth and ambition." Twilight explained, getting some nodding concerning Blueblood, but more bewildered expressions when it came to Sentinel. "It also often ends in self destruction," Princess Celestia said across the ball room in a tone that seemed to come from understanding, and not just learning, the word. Once this was said, those who've been in the know about more recent developments flashed with context and then worry. "But Sentinel isn't excessive in anything!" Fluttershy said, which coming from any other pony or in any other context could of very easily been considered an insult to Sentinel, but he took none. "I..." clearly still rattled from someone like Sentinel telling him he was sorry, started what would of most likely been highly evasive banter, but before he could get past the first syllable... "Nineteen years ago..." Sentinel softly spoke, "There was a man who was the same as us, Blueblood. He was a scientist on the bleeding edge of his field of genetic engineering after the invasion had been waging for five long years. We were losing, and for the first time extinction was not a matter of if, but when." It was then that Sentinel did something that nopony ever considered. He let one knee fall as he held his forearm over the other with one hand grasping the wrist of the forearm across the knee. This put him roughly eye to eye, both literally and an attempt metaphorically, with Blueblood. "Humans had no chance against something like the demons that came through the red portals. The only way to combat something that seemed to warp the rules that we thought held out universe together was to try and do the same. In an desperate attempt to try and save our race the scientist convinced himself that sacrifices had to be made. If not of him, then on others." At this point, having only Princess Luna and Princess Cadance in partially in the know, everypony else either stood on all fours or sat on their flanks. There was little doubt that what was being heard came from the heart of somepony, or someone, that for all intents and purposes would be the only one able to ever tell it. Plus, for a select few, they felt they needed to. "But to achieve what he wished to make, was the same as wanting to make oneself into the very status of an Alicorn." Sentinel said, knowing right then and there by Blueblood's facial reaction that it hit home so hard it hurt. "So he was trying to make..." Twilight gently asked, "super humans?". Her answer came in the form of a nod from Sentinel. "With each attempt came failure. With each failure came frustrations. With each new frustration came the need to convince himself that the sacrifices he was forcing on people, or ponies, was worth the cost. And in order to do that he had to convince himself all of the ponies he was killing to try and do this wasn't worth caring about." Sentinel gave pause when he heard gasps all around, along with some whimpering from behind him, as he dared not look back. "He finally came to the conclusion that just being human wasn't good enough." Sentinel stated, turning his resting hand palm up, "That would be the start of his attempts to splice human and demonic genetic material together." "Blueblood..." Sentinel genuinely inquired, "May I ask you a question, and in turn, you genuinely answer?" Blueblood slowly nodded never blinking his eyes, but still not entirely sure what the hay was going on. "When do you think we lose our innocence?" Sentinel asked. "What?" Blueblood asked, genuinely confused. "For a pony I guess, to simplify," Sentinel continued, "What age would you consider a pony going from being innocently ignorant of things such as consequence and say... actual morality?" "I...uh..." Blueblood fumbled, "Maybe a foal at the age of...five?" he answered, taking the question as one of knowledge. "Roughly the same for humans," Sentinel replied, "give or take." "So." Sentinel continued on, "Demons are in harmony with themselves, as it has been stated as to why the elements of harmony did not work as many hoped three months ago. While I cannot fully explain it, it is also true for their DNA, or genetic material. This meant that even when spliced the demonic DNA would violently attack and mutate in their own image and mannerism anything foreign." Twilight, along with the other bearers and princesses had, without making a noise, gotten even closer. Twilight seemed to be scribbling on a parchment while even Rainbow Dash seemed rather entranced by what was being said, even if alien to most of them either by lack of knowledge or context. However it wasn't until the last bit was mentioned, along with the question Sentinel had asked Blueblood, that the parchment fell to the floor, along with a few droplets of liquid. "To make 19 super humans, he murdered over 7000 foals between the ages of 4 and 6." Sentinel bluntly stated, looking dead into Blueblood's eyes to make sure the message had sunken in on what one's hubris can bring one to accomplish and destroy. "In the wake of his hubris he made nineteen living weapons that would never know anything but, henceforth. They would be constantly hunted by the demons who now saw them as flickering candles in the darkness because of what was infused into their very blood. The nineteen would banish themselves from the safety of the Havens, who even in the face of enraged assaults tried to harbor the foals, and eventually each other." Sentinel slightly furrowed his brow. "But the scientist achieved his legacy. To fuel his own ambitions he would even cast his very own son into the pits as one of the nineteen, as if not even his very own blood was any longer worth more than a stepping stone to his greatness in a dying world." "...monster..." somepony stuttered out, obviously through tears, behind Sentinel. Turning around he had to steel himself for in case that was directed personally at himself. He knew that as the last of his kind, and what was being said, that they might react... "How could that monster kill his own kind....kill so many little ones..." Fluttershy was stuttering out, her cheeks wet with tears and a running nose as she was being held by four other bearers who all bore tears and devastation on their faces. Sentinel noted that Cadance and Shining, who while the later looked like he was holding back, were embracing Twilight who was looking just as distraught as the other bearers. What happened next was something he had not prepared for... "Is that what you honestly believe I'm capable of...?" Blueblood seemed to genuinely ask, and maybe even care. "Yes." Sentinel replied bluntly but honestly, getting a rather hurt expression from Blueblood, "But we both know why..." Earning a shameful downplay in Blueblood's eyes, as Princess Celestia and Luna barely held their expressions neutral. "But..." Sentinel then added, getting the attention of Blueblood, "That does not mean that I consider you too far gone." Sentinel elaborated, "Otherwise, I wouldn't of dropped to one knee to try and help you." "Why?" Blueblood raised his voice, but not in anger, "I taunted you. Insulted you. I tried to kill you!" he yelled, earning gasped and angry glares that looked utterly horrible combined with all the tears. "Why the buck would you care!?" "Because..." Sentinel stands back up. "When 7000 became nineteen I wasn't given the choice," he then turned around and starts walking away. "But when nineteen became one, " He felt the hoofs trying to hold onto him, and the yelling of his name. "I was given the chance." He shuts the doors, leaving the ponies behind him.