Some time later, the four of us left the Hayflower, and Apollo, Eagle Eye, and Sure Shot went off to walk around Canterlot, while I made my way back to the castle. I didn’t know why, but perhaps I could ask Ironmane or one of the princesses what I should do during this time. I was under-packed and unprepared for a wait that could turn into days or weeks, so perhaps they could lend me guidance.
I had just stepped into the main foyer of the castle when a voice I recognized well rang out.
“Hello again, Sir Dave.”
It was Princess Luna. She looked even more careworn than before, but she still smiled at the sight of me, which was very welcome. I approached her and bowed.
“Hello, Princess Luna,” I said. “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”
“No, no, my young friend,” Luna said. “I hope you will forgive me for my less-than-warm appearance during the meeting. My mind is still wrought with turmoil over the Crystal Empire.”
“I understand, Your Highness,” I said. “You’re worried about Twilight too, then?”
“Certainly,” said Luna. “But I am most worried for the Empire itself. Its magic is very powerful, and I dread it falling into the wrong hooves, as it did when Sombra took it over. My sister places immense trust in Twilight Sparkle, and I do not wish to contradict her, but I still dread the consequences if she should fail her task.”
“Please don’t say that, Your Highness,” I said, uneasily, feeling a painful twinge in my stomach. The last thing I wanted was to think about Twilight failing this ‘test’.
“I apologize, Sir Dave. Was there something you needed?”
“Huh? Oh, right! I wanted to find you, Princess Celestia, or Minister Ironmane and ask where I should stay while we wait for news.”
“Oh, that can be easily arranged,” said Luna. “Minister Ironmane is making plans with my sister to arrange a suite appropriate to accommodate Gilli Brutus.”
“Gilli Brutus?” I asked, perplexed.
“He is a high-ranking member of the draconic hierarchy, as he is fond of telling us,” said Luna, a touch of dryness in her voice. “In any case, we can easily grant you a suite here, as we did when you arrived to be appointed as a member of the council.”
“That would be wonderful, Your Highness,” I said, gratefully, “but I feel unprepared all the same. I only have one change of clothes with me, since I didn’t know how long I would be here.”
“Oh, yes,” said Luna. “Humans are rather fixated on physical modesty, are they not? I recall hearing my sister talk about the interview you conducted with Twilight Sparkle months ago.”
“Yes, Princess,” I said.
“Well, we could appoint our royal tailors to make you a few suits of clothes during your stay. If you wouldn’t mind lending them your spare garments, I guarantee they can make you suitable articles in their likeness.”
“Well, I suppose,” I said, unsure.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want more clothes. It was just, it felt uncomfortable entrusting my undergarments to strangers. I’d gotten used to Rarity reproducing them, but this? Still, I guess we all had to make due with what was available in certain circumstances, so I drew out my folded change of clothing from my saddlebag, which was still hung over my shoulder like a mailbag.
“Very good,” said Luna, before raising her voice. “Guard!”
A pegasus guard appeared swiftly, bowing his head respectfully to Princess Luna.
“You called, Your Highness?” he asked.
“Have these clothes delivered to Haber and Dasher, and request that they make at least three sets similar in make,” said Luna, levitating the clothes to the guard. “When they have finished, have them report to me or my sister, and we will arrange their delivery to Sir Dave’s suite. They shall be paid handsomely for this project.”
“As you request, Your Highness,” said the guard.
He tucked the clothes under his wing, bowed to Luna again, then took his leave.
“Thank you very much, Princess,” I said.
“It is nothing, Sir Dave,” said Luna. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must go and get some rest, but I shall have somepony escort you. Guard!”
At this second command, an Earth pony guard appeared and bowed.
“Please take Sir Dave to the suite he occupied when he first came to Canterlot.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” said the guard.
“Until we meet again, Sir Dave,” said Luna.
“Goodbye, Your Highness,” I said.
“Oh, by the way,” she added, turning back to look at me with another smile, “thank you kindly for the pillow at Hearth’s Warming. It’s wonderful.”
“You’re very welcome, Princess,” I said. “And thank you for the book.”
Luna was about to leave, when a sudden idea came to me.
“Princess!” I said, abruptly.
She turned to look at me curiously.
“Do you think...do you think you could ask your sister to send Twilight and the others a message from me, via Spike? Some words of encouragement, you know?”
Luna gazed at me for a few seconds, then smiled gently.
“Of course I will,” she said. “Goodbye then, Sir Dave.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
With that, the two of us parted, the guard leading me off down a corridor. Well, my clothing issue was put at ease, but my worries about my friends hadn’t been abated that much, even with my words of encouragement. It could be said they had actually increased, hearing Luna talk about Twilight possibly failing. I couldn’t help wondering if being the princess in charge of the night had something to do with such pessimism.
***
Despite my earlier visits to Canterlot, I had definitely not accomplished even half of everything there was to do in this royal capital. However, at present, there was nothing I even wanted to do. I barely even had an appetite for lunch or dinner throughout that day, being so sick with agitation. For two or three days, when I wasn’t shut up in my room or the library, I either wandered the streets aimlessly, not even seriously taking in the sights, or lay on my bed in a stupor of listless malaise. Not even Daring Do could take my mind off of the girls and the Empire, and when not even Daring Do could distract me, then we had a problem.
I could have borne all of this if I had a familiar face to spend the time with. I’d enjoyed Canterlot so much more because Twilight, Rainbow, and Moonlight had been with me, but now I was alone and without direction. I’d endeavored to try and spot my fellow council members, but for whatever reason, I saw neither hide nor hair of any of them. They must have been busy with their own affairs and their own speeches to prepare. I would have been glad to even catch sight of Octavia, but she was nowhere to be found on the streets, either.
I felt utterly isolated. If I’d just been able to see the girls and Spike one last time, to wish them goodbye and good luck, but no, I’d missed my chance. All I could do was send them belated words of encouragement. They were gone, and I didn’t know when I’d be able to see them again. I hadn’t felt this crushed since I first realized I was far from home and unable to reach my family, but this time, there was no Pinkie to comfort me, none of her warm hugs or nuzzles to soothe my emotional aches. This had to be the one of the worst days of my life here in Equestria.
***
Two days after the meeting, I was sitting at a table in the Canterlot library, a piece of parchment spread out before me, and a bottle of ink and quill beside that. I was trying desperately to bully my brain into thinking up a proper speech to give to Ponyville. With my inner turmoil, however, the words just didn’t want to come. The worst thing about writer’s block was having it when you were on a time limit, even if a due date hadn’t been set yet, and that was even worse. The Empire could be saved by tomorrow and I’d have nothing to present!
“‘My fellow Ponyvillians, four score and a thousand years ago’...No, no, that’s too corny. Er…‘Mares, stallions, foals, lend me your ears’...No, no…‘When, in the course of pony events, it becomes necessary to’...Gah! Knock it off, Dave! That’s just plagiarism!”
“Something wrong, David?”
I looked up. Cornelius was walking slowly over to my table, a book held under one leg. I must have shouted that pretty loud.
“Hello, Cornelius. Was I disturbing you?”
“No, no, my dear boy. I’m afraid my hearing isn’t always what it used to be these days. You look troubled, though. Anything I can help you with?”
“Maybe you can,” I said, gloomily. “I haven’t got a clue what I’m supposed to say to Ponyville about the Crystal Empire. I’ve never written a speech before, and I don’t know if I can start now. Even remembering old speeches from famous people doesn’t help. Besides, I’ve got too much on my mind.”
My head felt heavy and sore as I said this, and I stared dismally at the stubbornly blank piece of paper sitting before me. After a few moments of silence, Cornelius said,
“Now, now, let’s have none of that. You’re hardly the first who has had writer’s anxiety, and you won’t be the last. Think about it, boy. Think about what this means. This speech will impact hundreds, possibly even tens of hundreds of ponies back where you come from.”
“And that’s the problem!” I said. “How can I write knowing it’ll be judged by-”
“Don’t worry about how others will judge it,” said Cornelius, an edge of impatience in his voice. “If every writer in the world waited in their homes for universal popularity, nearly all of them would be reclusive hermits, stuck hunched over their typewriters and quills. I myself have had my theories and perspectives challenged by other historians. I believe in what I write, but that does not mean everypony else will, and I’ve come to accept that. Think about how you yourself would put it into words, boy. I take it the ponies of Ponyville are your friends?”
“A good many of them, yes,” I said.
“Well, then, write as if you were addressing all of them. They will understand. A good friend knows you speak from the heart about important matters, and a good speech is not just a product of the mind, but of the heart, as well.”
I sat in silence, staring into the wrinkled, wise face of this old donkey. He really did know his stuff about this kind of thing.
“And if you’re still troubled about Miss Sparkle and her friends,” he went on, “think of the effort they’re putting in to preserve the Empire. Don’t let their endeavors be in vain, boy. Do it for them!”
He tapped the table emphatically with his hoof at these words, then, with a nod of his head and a small smile, he moved on. I watched him disappear behind the shelves, then looked down at my blank piece of paper. What would I say, if I were addressing my friends back home? What would Moonlight, the Hooves’, the Apples, the Crusaders, Lyra, Bon Bon, my bowling pals...what would they expect me to say at a time like this?
As if a voice in my head was guiding me, I picked up my quill, dipped it in the ink, and started to write. It wasn’t quite a speech, more of a rough draft, but it was a start.
“‘My friends, we are on the brink of an event of astronomical proportions. It is my duty, honor, and privilege, to inform you all...’”
***
My bed was comfortable, but I was far from feeling so. As I lay beneath the covers, I tossed and turned, unable to settle on a satisfactory position. My mind was in a whirlwind of anxiety and torment, poisoning my very dreams.
One night, the day after I’d spoken to Cornelius in the library, I dreamt that I was standing before a city made of solid crystal, much like the Emerald City of Oz. The sun shone down on its glistening polished surfaces, dazzling my eyes. Then, all of a sudden, the skies clouded over, turning black and murky. A giant dark horse appeared, and began sucking the whole empire into its mouth.
“NO!”
I sat up, panting, my forehead bathed in sweat. My heart was thudding like mad beneath my pajamas. Why hadn’t Princess Luna saved me from that nightmare like she had the times before? Well, perhaps even she couldn’t see every dream at once, governing the whole night and all, or she was busy with anti-Sombra research of her own. Still, there was no way I could go back to sleep now. Without even knowing where I was going, I’d gotten up, shuffled to the door, and walked out into the castle hallway. Maybe a nocturnal wander would clear my head and tire me enough to go back to bed, but would I be able to, with this Empire business constantly on my mind?
I didn’t know how long I walked, but eventually, I heard a faint sound, like the rushing of wings. Then, all of a sudden, I felt as if my eyes were dazzled by a burst of sunlight. When it had subsided, I looked up to see a bird sitting on the nearest windowsill. It was large and thin, with vibrant red and orange plumage, making it look like a living flame more than anything. It cooed softly as it looked down at me with its yellow eyes.
“Hello there,” I said. “Where did you come from?”
I reached out a hand, tentatively, and it lowered its head toward me, allowing me to pet it. Its feathers were very warm.
“You’re a phoenix, aren’t you?” I asked. “So that’s how they look when they grow up.”
“David? Is that you?”
I froze. I knew that voice.
Sure enough, Princess Celestia came striding into view, her mane and tail flowing behind her like the aurora borealis. With a flutter of wings, the phoenix flew from the window and settled atop her back. Knees shivering, I bowed hastily.
“Y-Your Highness,” I stammered. “Forgive me, but I didn’t think you’d be up at this hour. I didn’t wake you with my pacing, did I?”
“Not at all,” said Celestia, kindly. “I just woke up myself and realized Philomena had wandered off.”
“Philomena?” I asked. “Is that your phoenix?”
“That’s right. Say hello, Philomena.”
The phoenix gave a majestic, though soft, caw.
“She’s a beautiful bird,” I said.
“Thank you,” said Celestia, before she took on a tone of light, almost motherly, concern. “Is everything all right? You seem a bit out of sorts.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness,” I muttered. “I just couldn’t sleep. I’m worried about Twilight and the others in the Crystal Empire.”
“I understand,” said Celestia, sympathetically. “I did send your words of encouragement along, but I realize it must be difficult for you, waiting to hear back from them. It hasn’t been easy for myself, either. However, I have complete faith in Twilight. She will not fail to do her part.”
A sort of warmth flowed into me as she said these words. It was as if her faith in Twilight was somehow flowing into me as well. It felt...comforting, as though her voice actually held the power to assuage doubt and fear.
“Actually,” said Celestia, “I’m feeling in the mood for a little midnight snack. Would you care to join me?”
“J-Join you, Princess?” I asked, surprised.
“Certainly. A little cake and cocoa might do you some good. It always does for me.”
It didn’t seem wise to say ‘no’ to a princess when she was making a polite offer, and I was still far from sleepy, so what else was there to say?
“I’d be grateful for the honor, Your Majesty,” I said, bowing again.
“Wonderful,” said Celestia, smiling. “Follow me, then.”
Still slightly dumbfounded, I followed the princess as she walked down the hall, Philomena perched majestically between her shoulders, like a kind of sentinel.
***
It would be hard to describe my feelings at this odd turn of events: sitting down to a slice of cake and cup of hot cocoa with Princess Celestia. How many other, er, common folk had the privilege of saying they also enjoyed such an honor?
Celestia herself seemed perfectly unabashed about the whole situation, acting as if the two of us had been friends for years and were just sitting down to afternoon tea. Philomena sat by, nibbling at a bowl of bird seed. As for me, my thoughts were torn between my inexplicable fortune at sitting with Celestia, and the deliciousness of the food. The cocoa had a delicious, creamy flavor that I’d never tasted before, and the cake was so soft that it seemed to just melt away into delectable nothingness in my mouth. She really had it good if her pantry provided food like this. My enjoyment seemed to make itself plain on my face, as Celestia looked at me and giggled softly.
“It’s called cloud cake,” she said. “Only pegasi are able to bake it, but it’s a delicacy anypony can enjoy once completed. It’s the perfect pick-me-up after a hard day.”
“I’ll say,” I said. “This stuff’s amazing!”
I clapped a hand over my mouth hastily.
“Er, whoops. Sorry, Your Highness, I didn’t mean to shout.”
“It’s quite all right,” said Celestia. “I live with Luna, after all.”
“I was just reminded,” I said. “Dolly Tribune from the Ponyville Express told me you were fond of cake.”
“Did she now?” asked Celestia, pleasantly. “Yes, she was rather amused about it when I, *ahem*, ‘let it slip’. I’m very pleased to see that her writing has improved much since that story about you, David.”
“Ah, yes,” I said, with a sort of half-hearted laugh. “I still remember that. What I find interesting, though, is how you let her get away with it. I would have thought, as Equestria’s ruler, you wouldn’t tolerate jokes made about you.”
“I knew she was just having a little fun,” said Celestia. “And really, I want my subjects to know that I enjoy what they enjoy. Just because I’m a princess does not make me any less of a pony. I still love sweets as much as the next pony, and take my frustrations out on the bathroom scale when it doesn’t give me the answer I want.”
I was sipping cocoa when she said this, and very nearly spit it back out from laughter. As I wiped my face with a napkin, I had a brief mental image of Celestia, in a bathrobe, stamping on a bathroom scale with both front hooves. Still, it was hard to believe she was ever dissatisfied with her weight; she looked so lean, so regal.
“So, tell me about you, David,” Celestia went on. “How are things faring in Ponyville?”
“Very well, thanks,” I said. “Ponyville’s really started to feel like home, thanks to all the friends I’ve made there. Only…”
I paused. Remembering my old home made it difficult to want to go on. Celestia, however, looked like she understood.
“Only you still desire to know what goes on in your old home,” she finished.
“...Yes, Your Highness,” I muttered. “I know Twilight said she’s been looking for the right time to perform the spell, so I’m putting my trust in her for that. It’s difficult, but she and the others are making the whole thing bearable.”
Celestia smiled. However, being reminded of my world, the human world, reminded me of something else: the reason I had wanted to see Celestia in the first place. The trouble was, I couldn’t find the voice to speak it. All I could do was finish my piece of cake, enjoying every mouthful of it, and drink the last of my cocoa. When it looked like Celestia was finishing, however, the urge struck me harder than ever, and I had to ask.
“Princess?”
“Hmm?”
“There’s...there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, something that was on my mind before I was summoned to the castle.”
“Yes?”
I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves, then said,
“...I wanted to ask you about the humans of the past, the ones who visited Equestria long before me.”
I looked at Celestia. She didn’t react as if I’d just dropped a bombshell. She didn’t look shocked, worried, or angry, just faintly curious, as if she wanted me to go on.
“I was using the history book you and Princess Luna gave me for Hearth’s Warming -thanks very much for it, by the way, very useful -, and it was talking about a colony across the sea that was a major trading partner for Equestria, like with transporting domesticated orthros to them as pets.”
Celestia nodded knowingly, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was proud of me for doing my homework.
“Well, I didn’t think much about it at first,” I went on, “until I was in Cloudsdale recently. An old pegasus professor mentioned the humans of the past, about how you and they enjoyed a long-lasting friendship...how it ended and they went back home across the seas.”
Celestia still said nothing, but I couldn’t help noting a hint of sadness in those rose-pink eyes of hers.
“So...I know it must be impudent of me to ask, Your Highness, but...I’d like to know what happened. I’m not saying it just because I feel like I deserve to know it, but because it’s an unsolved mystery in my head that won’t go away until I know the truth. I’ll understand, however, if you don’t think it’s right for me to know.”
I waited on tenterhooks for Celestia to speak again. Her expression was still vague and unreadable, but finally, she closed her eyes and gave a small sigh.
“You had asked me this question before, David,” she said, “when we first met. At the time, I was worried that you wouldn’t be ready for the truth, especially when you had spent such little time in Equestria. However, I can sense much change in you since we last met. You have truly taken the interests of this land and its citizens into consideration, heart and soul. I see no reason why, now, you should not know the truth. I will tell you what happened, so that you may understand.”
I felt my heart jump into my throat. She was actually going to tell me? I was finally going to know? What would happen when I did know, though?
“Come,” she said, standing up. “I know the proper place to discuss such matters.”
Numbly, I stood up with her. Philomena turned to look at her mistress.
“You don’t need to wait up for me, Philomena,” she said. “I’ll be along eventually.”
Philomena gave a soft coo, spread her wings, and took flight, soaring out the kitchen door. Celestia trotted out after her, and I took up the rear.
***
Celestia and I kept walking until we left the castle interior entirely, and came out onto the courtyard. The air was cool, smelling of earth and grass, and the moon, bright and full, hung in the sky, suspended in a pitch-black ocean of stars. As always, Luna had made a beautiful night sky.
Celestia said nothing as we walked on, until we came into a section dominated by stone statues. The area was softly lit by the moon and some firefly lanterns, casting these statues into soft, slightly eerie relief. One depicted three happy ponies balanced atop each other, and another showed a mare proudly carrying a real flag. I could also see a pegasus archer, a pony surrounded by a winding scroll, and another blowing a trumpet.
In the very center, however, stood a statue that made me jump in shock. The creature it depicted looked like a serpentine dragon, but with the hodgepodge of limbs, wings, and horns it possessed, it looked like it had been constructed from several different statues, though it didn’t look like any patchwork had been done on it at all: no cracks, grooves, or anything. The creature’s expression was one of terror, as if frozen in the middle of witnessing something utterly horrifying. Yet, somehow, despite the oddity of it, it looked...familiar.
“Princess,” I said, tentatively, “isn’t this a statue of...Discord?”
“It is indeed,” said Celestia, calmly.
“But...who crafted it?” I asked. “Was Discord known for being easily scared?”
“No,” said Celestia, in a tone of grave irony, “Discord crafted this himself: a fine punishment for his arrogance.”
Celestia’s choice of words puzzled me, but then, I remembered Twilight telling me that when they fought back against Discord and defeated him, he was...turned back to stone.
A cold chill descended down my esophagus.
“Princess…are you saying that that statue...is Discord?”
“It is, but don’t worry,” said Celestia. “As long as the spell of the Elements holds, while Twilight and her friends wield them, that is, Discord cannot break free.”
“Oh. Good,” I said, relieved. “So, he can’t just. you know, pop out and start messing with ponies again?”
“He can’t even raise an eyebrow,” said Celestia. “Oh, wait!” she said, suddenly, looking surprised. “I think he just blinked!”
“What?!” I shouted, looking up into that frozen face, my heart going wild.
...But nothing had changed at all.
“Gotcha,” said Celestia, smirking.
She’d just been playing with me.
“Very...amusing, Your Highness,” I said, trying to sound calm, though my hand was plastered over my heart. “I can see I was right in sending you a basket of practical jokes.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Celestia. “Thank you very much for it. It was a very sweet, and welcome, gesture.”
“It was my pleasure,” I said.
“But come, David, we have much to discuss,” said Celestia, sounding more business-like.
“Er, right,” I said, my attention re-grabbed.
Celestia led me away from the statue of Discord, which I still couldn’t help glancing back at over my shoulder, out of paranoia.
“Don’t blink…” I muttered.
We came up to a long, low bench. She seated herself upon this, and I sat beside her. Celestia ran one gold-clad hoof across her smooth temple in thought.
“The only trouble lies in where to begin. When you have lived as long as I have, David, the years begin to blend together in some places. I hope you understand.”
“Er, yes, Your Highness,” I said, though I could never imagine living for more than 1,000 years, let alone being able to remember even a fraction of it.
“It happened in the years following Luna’s banishment. During that time, as I managed the affairs of two princesses at once, I began to become more acquainted with our neighbors across the sea. They were an important trading partner with us, as you said, and were a clever, resourceful race, despite having no means of producing magic themselves.
“I suppose it was that which drew their attention to us: the presence of a land which was home to ponies who could speak, fly, and use magic. They had no such creatures back where they came from, so they were understandably awed when we were introduced to one another. I had become acquainted with each of their kings and queens as the years went on, and I will admit we got on favorably. They were deeply interested in the workings of Equestrian society and how our magic worked, and I was more than happy to assist them in whatever I could. However, I could only do so much, both in the limits of my magic, and in the limits of my conscience.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“I mean that one without magic should not rely on it to solve all of their problems,” said Celestia. “It leads them into becoming too reliant, too dependant on it, and often leads to irrational or unpleasant behavior when depending on it for too long, like the effects of a substance addiction.”
“I see,” I said.
“I did not wish for them to solely rely on magic to cure all of their ills, but I fear that even as restrained as I made myself in that regard, it may still have been too much…”
A shadow passed over Celestia’s face as she closed her eyes for a moment, then re-opened them.
“It was during a meeting with their most recent leader at the time. He was, perhaps, more abrasive and hot-tempered than those before him, but I could still sense his dedication to his kinsmen, his desire to protect them. It seemed they were on the threshold of a great battle with another nation, one they had been having difficulties with for some time. Past attempts to pacify them had proved unprofitable, and so war seemed the only option for them. He came to me with a request: to use my magic and that of the unicorns to their advantage, to punish this enemy of theirs, and to smite them, if it comes to that.”
“Smite?” I repeated, aghast. “He wanted you to kill them??”
She nodded gravely.
“Of course, I would not condone such a horrid request. I told him that I would not expose my subjects to it, and that magic was not meant as a weapon or a quick-fix. I’m afraid he grew angry with me, saying that we were selfish, hoarding magic for ourselves, and that it should be shared with those who needed it. I again told him I would not allow it to be used as a tool of war and slaughter, but he would not listen. Then, he…”
Celestia paused, and a flicker of pain ran across her beautiful face. Was it me...or was there a hint of tears in her eyes?
“What?” I asked, afraid of what she was going to say. “What did he do?”
Celestia took a deep breath, then continued,
“He...attempted to make me obey him, as ‘a horse should obey its master’, he said.”
It was if someone had reached into my skull, grabbed my brain, and squeezed it like a Mad Ball. At the same time, I felt like the breath had been punched right out of me. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“He...he what?” I asked, horrified and angry at the same time.
“He said that I was just another steed, and that he would make me his mount, that he would ride me into battle, into victory. I was shocked, of course, unable to believe he was saying such things. And then, he...pulled out a whip. And he...”
No.
That was...no!
“He didn’t…” I said, barely able to keep my anger in check. “Tell me he didn’t…”
“He did,” said Celestia. “He was quite irascible in his fury. He was willing to harm me if I didn’t give him ‘what was rightfully his’, as he put it...I had no choice. I ordered my guards to restrain him and remove him from my sight. And that was the last I had ever heard from the humans across the sea."
"Y-You don't mean..."
"I'm not sure, David. They never again sought an audience with me. Whether they succeeded or lost, no news of it reached my ears, though I requested it. I hoped that, with time to cool off on both sides, we might have a second talk, and try to reach a better understanding. My attempts to contact them were in vain. They seemed to want nothing more to do with Equestria, so I respected their wishes, albeit with a heavy heart. It pained me that it had come to this, but there was nothing I could do. Ever since then, all I've heard are vague rumors of sightings, none of which have been proven.
“Per the High Equestrian Council’s suggestions, we omitted the full details of that terrible day from further prints of Equestrian history, and decided that it should only be privy to those within the royal court. Luna was not present when it happened, and I am grateful for it; she didn’t deserve to witness her sister receiving such treatment, though she was very angry when she learned the truth. To the rest of Equestria, the humans and I simply had a disagreement and parting of the ways. We did not wish to cause a scene with the full story, I most of all. They shouldn’t have had to learn what they would have been used for in their hands.”
I...I couldn’t believe this. He had tried to make Celestia obey him...he’d tried to make her his steed...he’d threatened to whip her...The very thought of someone being so cruel, so thoughtless to someone as kind and gentle as Princess Celestia...It made me want to travel back in time, find this jerk, and punch him right in the face!
“He deserved it,” I finally said, almost in a growl. “To think he’d do something so despicable to you...it makes my blood boil, even if he was a human! It’s inexcusable!”
I looked up into Celestia’s face. Her expression seemed neutral, but there was still a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes.
“...Thank you, David,” she said, finally. “I appreciate your sympathy for me. Do not let your anger fester, however. He was desperate, and desperation leads to hasty, often misguided, decisions. The way he went about it was still wrong, but to err is mortal.”
I still felt angry about it, but she was right. It was only human to make mistakes, even if the mistake itself was...that. It still didn’t make it any less wrong.
“Is that why Iron- er, excuse me, Minister Ironmane distrusted me, Princess?” I asked. “Because he thought I was like that human?”
Celestia looked at me for a long time, calmly, steadily, then said,
“He feared you might be. You see, before he became Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ironmane served as a guard. He very nearly had a terrible accident on the battlefield, but I saved him at the last second. He has since pledged eternal gratitude towards me, promising to repay the favor as long as he lives. Naturally, when he assumed his title as Minister, he was told of what the leader of the humans had done to me all those years ago, and he, like you, was infuriated that someone would dare to show such disrespect towards me. When you came along, then, it was as if his worst suspicions were confirmed, and he wanted to be sure you weren’t in a position to cause me any harm.
“However, from what I had heard about you from Twilight, you were a kind, considerate soul, willing to live among the citizens of Ponyville for as long as was necessary, not at all like one who wanted to use magic for his own purposes. Also, from the transcript of the interview Twilight had sent me, it became apparent to me that you were not a descendant of the humans from across the sea, but from another world entirely. When Twilight requested an audience to situate you as a stipendiary, I felt I was willing to meet you in person, to see if you were truly trustworthy...and I was not disappointed. I am truly glad to have met you, David.”
She looked down at me with those tender, gentle eyes, and that kind, motherly smile of hers, and I felt my heart melt. Even though I was a human, a reminder of a dark time in her past, she trusted me. She trusted that I was nothing like the human who had threatened her, abused her...She had accepted me.
I didn’t know how it happened, but all of a sudden, my eyes wet but not running, I leant against her, as a companion might do with a close friend. She felt soft, comforting. It must have been extremely undignified to commit such an action on a royal personage, but my human weakness had forsaken me. I didn’t feel like Celestia was just a princess, but a pony, a friend.
Something warm enveloped me. Celestia had wrapped one of her forelegs and one of her wings around me in a gentle hug, pulling me closer to her side.
“Thank you,” I murmured, in a croaking voice. “Thank you, Celestia.”
“Discord, it’s impolite to eavesdrop,” said Celestia, casually.
I felt as if my heart was going to explode, it jumped so badly! I looked up, but Discord was still as motionless as ever. Celestia giggled beside me, her foreleg still clasped around me.
“Very amusing, Your Highness,” I muttered again, though I couldn’t help smiling this time.