Some time to calm down
Celestia trotted happily to the Library. Having made up some sort of agreement with the Spartan meant not only would she be able to finally take that load off her conscience but also extended an opportunity to fix the strained relation with Twilight. Lately she has been witnessing Celestia in rather unfortunate situations where she revealed less than dignifying behavior. She guessed it was only natural for her to begin to see Celestia as more of an equal than rather the immaculate pinnacle of perfection most of her subjects thought her to be. Who knows, maybe if things worked right Twilight, Luna, and her could probably enjoy doing more casual things like fighting Timberwolves in the Everfree Forest or seeing who can survive the cockatrice’s stare the longest! It has been a while after all, who knows what young ponies do for fun this days.
Yep, it was definitely going to be good to finally have another alicorn to keep her company. Somepony to rule the land as she and her sister guided her into becoming an efficient Princess of the Land and be able to take over their duties as both she and her sister went off on a much needed vacation. What a great plan. Of course she first has to have her coronation ceremony though, and hopefully the Spartan would accept to follow through with Twilight’s protection. Things had gone awry after all but it was possible to fix things up as long as certain measures were taken. Celestia would need to play her cards right and manage up to the smallest detail.
Celestia was so engrossed in her thoughts that she had barely noticed the Castle library before almost slamming into its doors. Guards would usually be there to open them for her but it seems that the castle was running very low on guards as of late. She would need to speak to Silent about it as she couldn’t be having a coronation ceremony with all the guards hospitalized. Celestia opened the doors and walked into the library expecting to see her prized student right by her usual library corner and encased in a book fort of her own creation. The book fort was there but her student wasn’t, she turned to the librarian to enquire her student’s whereabouts.
“Good morning Tender Composure, is there any way you could help me find my student Twilight Sparkle?” Celestia asked warmly.
Tender bowed before the princess and then replied, “Of course your highness, Miss Sparkle has been here since dawn. It was when those terrifying noises came from outside the castle that she decided to investigate. When she came back and I inquired about them she said something about something being ridiculous and needing something to eat. If I were to guess Miss Sparkle would be located in the Royal kitchens your Highness.”
“That was rather informative Miss Composure, have a nice day,” Celestia said before making to leave. She was almost out before Tender called out to her, “Princess Celestia?”
Celestia looked back, smiling warmly at her before asking, “Yes Miss Composure?”
“Well I just wanted to ask if there was something going on in the castle, you know with those absolutely terrifying noises anypony would think we were under attack. And, well, your white coat is kind of singed,” Tender Composure pointed to a dark hair on her back where Luna’s lightning had graced.
“Oh don’t worry about it my little pony; it is as my student says. Just some ridiculous set of events,” Celestia replied and with that she left the library.
Once outside she immediately searched for a mirror or something that could be used as such and found an overly polished window of the castle. She saw herself in a rather uncouth light as she was worse for wear than Miss Composure told her initially. Her mane was a mess (it even flowed erratically), her usually pristine white coat had dirty smudges and singes all over, and a few small bruises where beginning to show up from the whole ordeal.
‘How did I not notice this before?’ Celestia thought before her horn lit up and her coat began shimmering as well as her mane getting straightened out and groomed. It was an efficient little trick she had come up a few centuries ago in situations where the land was more prone to accidents and she needed to look well to address her subjects.
‘Now where was I? Oh yes! Twilight!’ Celestia thought as she made her way towards the kitchen. She would take the time to figure out how to break the recent events to her student. She wondered what Twilight was thinking at that moment.
The Spartan pummeled through the barricade the guards had made as per protocol and had a steady path towards the kitchen. The guards had been yelling and jumping at him trying to worthlessly grapple him to the ground. The guards that intercepted seemed to consist of only earth ponies and pegasi though which meant their threat was of low priority.
The Spartan moved without effort through the halls as the guards shot their spears and what not at him. From time to time he had to duck or sidestep tackled attempts but all in all they really didn’t hinder his movement by much, his shield would only light up from time to time with a few well-placed punches and kicks but they weren’t consistent enough to drain the shield enough for it to collapse. The Spartan had a repeated experience as he walked with multiple guards latched onto him with the stupid hope that they might stop him, if they had brought some of those unicorns they might have stood a chance at making him take them seriously. Maybe even if they worked together and attacked at the same time, but they were disorganized and most didn’t think much before attacking blindly. If this is how their inside military worked he was frightened to think how incompetent the other creatures of the land were if this was the biggest kingdom.
The Spartan had made quite the progress and finally saw the doors to the dining area, it would be impossible to be serviced or eat in piece with a bunch of ponies endlessly trying to harm him. The Spartan stopped dead in his tracks as the guards seemed to separate from him in apprehension of his sudden stop. They anticipated his next move, expecting a full out attack on them, some gave out a prayer for the sun to protect them. The stories of the bipedal behemoth and what he was capable of doing were upright unnerving, not to talk about the state of their fellow guards currently in the infirmary. The palpable silence was unbearable as beads of sweat began to roll down the heads of some of the guards. Some of them gripped their spears tightly as they imagined the worst case scenario and before they knew it the Spartan acted.
Some of the guards instinctively flinched and backpedalled while others braced themselves. Strange where the ones who actually stood their ground and waited for the inevitable fight. Of course none of them were able to fully comprehend what had happened as the Spartan launched himself forward with an incredible speed leaving them all behind. The only guards that received any fight at all where the ones in front of the Spartan, as they were rashly thrown to the sides. It took them a while to come out of their stupor but when they did all they saw was the door to the dining room being closed.
The guards jumped to action and pursued him, slamming into the doors at full strength only to be thrown backward. The doors were sealed tight and the Spartan had somehow barricaded inside within record time.
Inside the dining room everything was at peace. A few nobles or castle staff where there for breakfast as well as a certain purple alicorn. It didn’t last though as the doors to the dining hall were all but ripped from their hinges as the Spartan raced inside and without further notice began piling up tables and what not against the doors in an impromptu barricade. The few guards that were stationed inside and those who were eating breakfast jumped at the Spartan before the soldier turned and with a few well-placed hits they fell unconscious. He unceremoniously grabbed their bodies and placed them on the barricade as well.
The whole Dining room and kitchen was in chaos as nobles and maids screamed in panic and backed against a corner in the room. The Spartan turned to look at the ensuing destruction and shrugged as he went directly towards the purple alicorn.
“SILENT! What is the meaning of this!?” Twilight yelled as she rose from her seat and walked towards the super soldier, “Not one morning in Canterlot after I find out you are alive and you’re already causing trouble! Do your people know nothing of restraint or social etiquette!?”
All the ponies seemed in shock at how the small little alicorn had seemingly stood up and given a verbal lashing to the metallic demon. She would surely be destroyed where she stood as well as getting her soul ripped out of her and serving as the demon’s breakfast.
‘Maybe if you ponies would shut the hell up and leave me in peace for a while we wouldn’t clash so much Sparkles,’ the Spartan thought as he extended his arm in invitation towards Twilight.
“What are you playing at?” Twilight asked at the hand before abruptly being picked up by the Spartan, “W-what are you doing Silent!? Put me down this instant!” she yelled in surprise.
The Spartan went towards the Royal dining table where he gently placed Twilight down and promptly motioned her to sit. As she did he took to sitting on the other side as he gracefully moved with a patience and smoothness that simply felt wrong to him. Twilight was confused at the whole ordeal.
“Uh, Thank you?” she said.
‘I can be well mannered too Miss Sparkle if the occasion requires it,’ the Spartan thought, wishing she could hear him.
The waiter shakily moved up to both of them and asked for their choice of breakfast. A simple order of oats with tea for Twilight as well as an order of scrambled eggs and water for the Spartan. Without a second thought the waiter all but ran away from the ‘guests’ towards the kitchen as silence reigned. Not even the ponies from the other dining room made a squeak.
“Listen umm, Silent, I feel like I should apologize for everything that’s happened. Maybe if I had informed the Princess of what had happened faster I might have been able to avoid this whole mess. You wouldn’t have ended up wherever you did and about 45% of the castle’s guards wouldn’t be assigned to bed rest,” Twilight said with a downtrodden demeanor.
The Spartan simply raised a hand to stop her and gave her a thumbs up before doing something he didn’t think he would be doing for anyone ever. He raised his helmet just enough so Twilight would be able to see the small smile he had. The tension between both of them seemed to disappear into the air as Twilight smiled at him.
“Silent! Are you smiling!?” she exclaimed in surprise before the Spartan once more pressed his helmet down.
‘These ponies are really getting to me. I don’t think that ridiculous pet name they gave me is that annoying anymore,’ the Spartan thought before he mulled it over, ‘Nope there it is; whole unadulterated hatred ready to be unleashed at the smallest excuse.’
The waiter came and dropped off the dishes with food before running away for cover. As Twilight looked at him and all the other ponies as if finally realizing the whole mess that seemed to surround the Spartan.
“It seems like you left quite the impression last time you were here right? Hehe,” Twilight said, trying to bring some humor and ease the tension of the situation, “I mean could you really expect any less, you sort of decimated the forces that stood before you and left a path of destruction and misery behind yourself. I think the least you could do is apologize.”
‘They treated me like a murderer without more evidence than rumors passed from mouth to mouth before your shiny little Princess thought it a good idea to send me into orbit,’ the Spartan thought before he said, “No.”
“Oh come on, can’t you at least try? It sure would help ease tensions. All the staff is frightened of you and the guards are barely sleeping with the extra shifts they had to get. Blueblood is in a full body cast, and well some of the halls are going through ‘remodeling’. Not counting whatever you did with Celestia this morning, and my brother the Prince of the Crystal Empire having broken ribs because of you,” Twilight said.
‘Your brother stood in my way, Blueblood is lucky that I decided to use him as an impromptu shield rather than my new punch bag, Celestia had ordered a special package of my fist to her face the second she sent me airborne, and the castle is inevitable collateral damage,’ the Spartan thought as he sighed and simply began to eat his food.
“Can you at least make the effort to seem concerned?” Twilight asked, narrowing her eyes.
The Spartan shrugged as Twilight now sighed dejectedly, “You’re unbelievable you know that?”
“Yes,” the Spartan said.
“Well at least you are capable of basic responses, how far have you advanced in our language?” Twilight asked.
“Yes,” the Spartan said while smirking from inside his helmet, he indeed had a larger range of vocal expressions now than he did when he first started but it didn’t mean that the ponies had to know. Besides, seeing the purple alicorn getting ruffled up was fun.
Twilight was about to ask another question before a muffled voice came from outside the dining area.
“What is the meaning of this?” said the voice that was no doubt Celestia before the door began glowing in a magical grasp. The doors groaned as they pushed against the multiple objects and ponies placed in the barricade before they stopped pushing and instead where pulled back as they were ripped from the hinges.
Celestia looked unamused at the dining room where a tornado must’ve passed through before the nobles poured out on a stampede. The guards behind Celestia recovered the bodies of the knocked out guards before making to apprehend the Spartan. It was only at Celestia’s extended wing that they stopped.
“Silent, I do not understand how you bring chaos and destruction to every single room you step in. But I warn you, one more offense and you’ll find yourself once more in your dungeon cell restrained up to the neck,” Celestia said before turning to her guard, “Lightning Spear, please make sure that Silent Warrior has received a Royal pardon as of this moment and that any attempts to apprehend him will result in punishment. We can’t afford having more guards sent to the infirmary, the nurses are already working overtime as it is.”
The guard nodded before he and the other guards took the injured and left, though not without leaving two guards behind. Celestia’s horn glowed once more and every single piece of furniture re-arranged itself leaving the dining room in pristine condition. She approached the table where the Spartan and Twilight sat and joined them.
“Good morning Twilight, please allow me to apologize for the events you witnessed this morning. I should have known better than let my emotions take control of my actions. Could you ever forgive me?” Celestia asked.
“Of course Princess, I would never be able to stay mad at you. Especially when talking about Silent here. I’ve known him long enough to know he has a way to push everypony’s buttons,” Twilight replied as both she and her mentor nuzzled in reconciliation.
“I know I’ve been making rather strong mistakes here and there but believe me when I promise not to repeat them. I will be the role model you need to look at now that you are going to become a princess of Equestria, if you ever have questions or doubts please come to me,” Celestia said in the warm moment both were having as the Spartan gagged a little from the display.
“Or me!” Luna yelled between them. At some point she had snuck into the room as if expecting to find the perfect moment to ruin everything.
Both Princess Celestia and Twilight recoiled back as they were startled by the Princess of the Night.
“Luna!? What are you doing here?” Princess Celestia asked, still a little startled.
“Oh you know I was just coming down from the training grounds after I passed out for some reason and recalled about the translation spell!” Luna said with glee.
“Wait! Translation spell? As in the translation that will allow us to finally have a fluent conversation with Silent Warrior!?” Twilight asked, her eyes filled with stars.
“That’s the one! I think I managed to complete it! All I need to do is test it now,” Luna said as she pointed at the Spartan who looked quizzically at them, “Now stay still Silent, you might feel a small pinch,” she said as her horn glowed as both Princess Celestia and Twilight waited in anticipation.
The Spartan stood still as Luna’s horn glowed brighter and brighter until it was near blinding to look at. That was until an enormous blast of power struck the Spartan right in the chest and slammed him through the wall, and the one behind that one, and the other four behind that one.
“LUNA!? WHAT IN TARTARUS WAS THAT FOR!?” Celestia asked as she turned to her sister just in time to see Luna’s horn turn in her direction before she too got blasted through several walls. Twilight stared fearfully at Luna in shock of what had just happened.
“THAT’LL TEACH BOTH OF YOU TO NEVER INSERT YOUR DRIBBLE SOAKED EXTREMITIES INTO MY EARS AGAIN!!!” Luna yelled with the RCV whilst raising her hoof in a threating gesture. She promptly asked the waiter for two grilled cheese sandwiches.
“Luna? May I ask what just happened?” Twilight asked, unnerved.
“Oh don’t worry Twilight Sparkle; I was just extracting my just vengeance from mine sister and Silent Warrior,” Luna said as she took the tea that has been set for the Spartan and sipped from it
“So the whole translation spell being finished was a lie?” Twilight asked.
“Absolutely not, it’s just the opportunity presented itself in a rather perfect way. So I took it, I still have to test it though. As soon as Silent comes back I’ll be able to finally test it,” Luna said before the waiter arrived with her food.
Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle as she looked at both of the holes before strangely enough both the Spartan and Princess Celestia re-entered the room though the doorway. They didn’t say anything as they both sat down, and watched Luna enjoy her breakfast. Celestia took to asking for a serving of pancakes from the waiter and the Spartan asked for some more tea.
“I must say Tia, your personal waiter is a lot more resilient than I thought,” Luna said at the pony that still seemed to be shaking.
“It’s not his first rodeo Luna, and it won’t be his last,” Celestia said as a plate of pancakes was placed in front of her.
“We’ll good to know. How about we now try for real if the spell works huh?” Luna asked as her horn glowed once more and before anypony present could react she shot a beam of light at the Spartan which promptly made him collapse back in his chair. All the ponies gasped at the reaction, even Princess Luna as she didn’t expect this.
They rose from their seats and rushed to the Spartan as fast as they could, “Silent Warrior are you alright!?” Twilight asked, quite seemingly distressed.
“Yes Silent Warrior, can you hear us!?” Luna said.
“Dear Faust Luna what did you do!?” Celestia asked.
“I did the spell just as I said I would! I didn’t mean to kill him!” Luna said.
“Maybe he isn’t dead, just unconscious!” Twilight said.
“Oh? And how would you go about confirming this Twilight Sparkle?” Luna asked.
“Maybe we can take his helmet off and see if he is breathing?” Twilight asked.
“That sound like a good idea,” Celestia said.
“Great!” Luna said as the three alicorns just stared at the form of the seemingly dead Spartan.
“Well?” Celestia asked Luna.
“Well, what?” Luna asked.
“Aren’t you going to check?” Celestia asked.
“What!? Why me!?” Luna yelled.
“Hey! You kill it you bring it back!” Celestia said.
“Princess Celestia is right Princess Luna, since you were the one who shot him at least you should be the one to check if he is alright,” Twilight said, ignoring the childishness of both of her rulers.
“Oh really? And how about you Twilight Sparkle? He is your guard after all,” defended Luna.
“Was my guard remember?” Twilight said.
“Actually Twilight I was thinking maybe you could take him back?” Celestia asked.
“Princess is this really the time to talk about him returning to my home in Ponyville? After all he has done over there not withstanding?” Twilight asked.
“Twilight Sparkle I order you to remove Silent Warrior’s helmet and check for life,” Luna said.
“LUNA! Don’t you use your title against my student like that!” Celestia said with indignation, “Twilight Sparkle I order you to ignore Princess Luna’s order.”
“Oh real mature sister! So this is how it’s going to be huh!? It’s one thousand years in the past all over again!” Luna yelled.
“Luna! I… I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry, it just that-“ Celestia said before being interrupted by Twilight.
“ENOUGH! I’LL TAKE THE DAMN HELMET OFF!” Twilight yelled, quiet annoyed at the whole ongoing discussion.
Both Luna and Celestia smiled a little as they hoof bumped in secret.
Twilight slowly and cautiously reached with her hooves towards the metallic helmet before grasping it firmly. Slowly and gently the helmet began to come off and she once more saw the Spartan’s mouth before suddenly and unexpectedly one of his arms reached up and pushed the Helmet down and another grabbed her hooves.
“Si aprecias tu vida, suelta mi casco este minuto exacto.” (If you value your life, let go of my helmet this exact minute.) The Spartan said as all the alicorns jumped away, startled by the suddenly alive and speaking human.
“Silent your alive!” Twilight yelled.
“Claro que estoy vivo! Porque jodidos no lo estaria!? Y porque jodidos me disparaste otra vez!?” (Of course I’m alive! Why the fuck wouldn’t I be!? And why the fuck did you shoot me again!?) The Spartan yelled.
“What is he saying?” Celestia asked.
“I don’t know although it seems like another language though. Maybe I’m getting closer?” Luna asked.
“Como que no me entienden? De que chingados hablan? Y porque… PORQUE ESTOY HABLANDO EN ESPAÑOL!?” (What do you mean you don’t understand? What the hell are you talking about? And why…WHY AM I SPEAKING IN SPANISH!?) The Spartan yelled in fury.
Princess Luna shot at him once more hitting him squarely in the helmet.
“Hvad fanden!” (What the hell!) The Spartan yelled.
“He is still speaking in tongues!” Celestia yelled, “Blast him again!”
Another shot to the face and the Spartan began to stand up.
“Ik ben,” (I’m)
Another shot.
“nagpapatuloy,” (going)
Another shot.
“zu töten,” (to kill)
Another shot.
This time instead of a language the Spartan returned once more to its growls as he lunged at Princess Luna and grabbed her horn, “NO!” he yelled.
“OKAY FINE I’LL STOP!” Luna said before the Spartan let her go.
The Spartan walked back up to the table and sat down before drinking some tea.
“I thought you said you had it finished,” Celestia said.
“I thought so to sister, it seems to be a lot more difficult than I originally thought,” Luna said.
“Princess Luna, is there any possibility this could have any sort of negative concequences?” Twilight asked.
“Of course not Twilight Sparkle! I’m just poking and prodding a totally mysterious alien brain with my magic,” Luna said rather sure of herself.
In that instant the Spartan smashed face first into the table. The three alicorns gasped at this but seemingly relaxed at the snores coming from the Spartan as it lay sleeping.
“I might have been a tad obtrusive though,” Luna said sheepishly as Twilight went near the Spartan.
“I think it would be good to take him to his room so he can rest,” Twilight said.
“What a great idea, and maybe then we can discuss you and him going back to Ponyville Twilight,” Celestia said as her horn flared up and the Spartan was lifted, “Dear Faust, I didn’t remember him being this heavy a second ago!” Celestia said with strain.
“Maybe because three alicorns and the ex-captain of the royal guard helped you sister. I might as well help you now too,” Luna said as her horn flared too and the lower half of him glowed blue while the top of him glowed yellow.
The three alicorns made their way through the doorway with the Spartan in tow and began their trek to his room.