//------------------------------// // Common Era Chapter Twenty-three/MLP Season Four Chapter Three: Twilight’s Kingdom Part One, Twilight’s Lesson in Humanity // Story: Return Of The Lunar Knight: A Sharp Sword's Knight // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Common Era Chapter Twenty-three/MLP Season Four Chapter Three: Twilight’s Kingdom Part One, Twilight’s Lesson in Humanity Masao and his group continued to search for any sign of Tirek, whom seemed to have vanished off the map, for several months until they were forced home due to not having enough food to continue their search. “Ser Masao, why are we heading to the Crystal Empire?” “Besides the fact we are closer to them?” argued one of the bat ponies who was tired of the traveling everywhere that caught Masao’s eye, everywhere they went there were signs that the fugitive had been there, but no sign of here he might have went… “I simply figured that you would want to meet up with Celestia and Luna and catch a ride back with them” said Masao calmly, but in truth he was furious, no matter how he tried he couldn’t find the damnable centaur! - - - “Seems like only yesterday I was saving this place from being totally destroyed. Hey, you guys remember that?” asked Spike and Rainbow dash grumbled about how the young dragon had mentioned it several times on the train ride up to the Crystal Empire. “Yes, and we never hear a peep out of you about your exploits.” Rarity answered sarcastically though she did sneak a glance at the purple dragon, at times the dragon acted so much older than he appeared, at others he acted like a child. “Heh, point taken.” “I'm glad you all wanted to come, but I don't think it's gonna be—MASAO!” said Twilight as the human managed to walk onto the path from somewhere past her field of vision. “Ah, Twilight!” said Masao with a smile as he walked up to her only for a dark blue blur to topple him over as Luna nuzzled him lovingly. “Thou art here!” as Luna ruined her image Sharp Sword ran up panting and came to a stop and frowned at the human. “So you finally show yourself, and you!” said Sharp Sword as she rounded on the bat ponies that staggered into the area, the chariot having been worn out over a month prior. “Yes sir?” asked the female bat pony her armor tarnished as much as her fellows “You four left without checking with me! YOUR CAPTAIN!” shouted the angry unicorn as Masao managed to break free of Luna who was now sitting on the ground pouting much to Celestia’s embarrassment as she lighted upon the ground beside them. “Well… This is awkward, I know I told you I was taking a few of the Lunar Guard with me when I left.” said Masao and Sharp Sword glared at him for a moment before the glare softened into a look of longing, longing to leap into his arms just as her soon to be herd sister did. When Masao motioned for her to do so she did exactly that, she lept straight into Masao’s arms and nuzzled him lovingly. “I missed you” said Sharp Sword before she pressed her lips to his, long enough that it was endearing, but short enough that it was not awkward for onlookers. “Masao, my love, you have a double wedding to plan, I never got to marry you before I died the first time, and now you have the princess pining for you.” “I suppose…” “Suppose? My dear friend, Masao, you are not getting cold feet, are you?” asked Celestia as the dignitaries from Saddlerabia made their way down the path led by a grimacing Cadence. as she gave a slight motion for the group to hurry up with their visit as not to keep the dignitaries waiting. “I think we need to put this on hold, I apologize for taking up your time Celestia. Luna, please, you are a princess, not—” “I know what I am, Ser Masao now begone, I need to greet these ponies in peace” said an annoyed Princess Luna which made Masao grin. “Good I’ll see you in a bit” - - - “Your highness. Thank you for understanding our desire to keep the number of those privy to these confidential discussions to a minimum.” said the Duke and Masao scoffed leaning on the wall while Twilight bowed. “No one asked for your opinion you beast, I am surprised that the princesses even let you live in their borders let—” “I am a knight of the realm, and engaged to the lunar princess, and a dark mage, insulting me is the last thing you should do, duke.” “It is also very rude to be insulting one of my teachers like that!” argued Twilight as her eyes took a slight green hue for a moment but at look from Masao and she got complete control of herself. “Hmph!” grunted the duke before leaving with his wife and Masao just glared at their backs as the elder princesses walked out. “Luna, I am not one to get involved in politics, but I think I should be present next time you treat with the duke” “Dare I ask what brought this on?” asked Celestia and Twilight gave a slight glare at the Solar Diarch, “What is wrong my dear Twilight?” “The duke found it appropriate to insult Masao, calling him nothing more than a beast and how—no nevermind” said Twilight interrupting herself as Luna glared down the direction the dignitaries had left. “I will not play party with such a rude stallion again, if he thinks he can insult my mate and get away with—” “Luna, I will get my on revenge in the form of messing with him during the diplomatic meetings, as your mate, I am telling you, let me deal with it, besides a pair of fresh eyes on a lot of the issues you deal with” “I am telling you both no, as a sister and as a friend” said Celestia - - - “I just dunno what I—” “If you are worried about what your crown means, don’t. You’ll find out soon enough, my dear dear student. Now you and I have something to talk about.” said Masao as he interrupted her self-defeating comment. “Yes?” asked Twilight her nervousness obvious to anyone who dared to look. “I noticed you channelling dark magic earlier when we were talking to the duke, I told you dark magic is not a plaything, it is dangerous, I use it heavily, because that is the only magic I can use. You however have access to a far greater repertoire of magic!” said Masao with no little amount of anger. “He was insulting you! It was wrong! How can anypony call themselves civilized if they are insulting people based on the way they look?” Masao stared at her surprised at her comment, but then again she did not know much about humanity. “I have been insulted by the way I look by several of the ponies of Equestria, I have also seen my own kind insult other humans based on the color of their skin or their religion” “Th-that can’t be true! You are one of the most—” “Most what? Kind? Far from it, I am tolerant to a point. I am not kind, not by a long shot.” - - - “‘Is he friend or is he foe?’, the pony wonders. I can assure you... I am no friend. I am Lord Tirek, and I will take what should have been mine long ago.” - - - Masao dropped the bottle he was holding as Luna rushed out of the room, the combined sound of the bottle clattering to the floor and the doors slamming open startled Sharp Sword awake and she glanced at Masao who was gritting his teeth a snarl on his face. “Masao? Wha—” “Tirek!” he snarled causing Sharp Sword to leap back out of bed, she had heard him explain before why he was so set on finding Tirek before and now she knew he had failed, and that he as furious. - - - “I've just had the most terrible dream.” said Celestia as she stared at her sister whom had burst into the room. “Why do you think I'm here? You know as well as I that this was not a dream, but a vision.” said Luna, no longer did she speak in the archaic tongue. “Then we haven't much time. The stronger he becomes, the more we are all in danger.” - - - “Princesses” said Sharp Sword as she walked in with Masao at her heels a look of grim determination on his face they had just informed Twilight that they were sending Discord to take care of Tirek, “Ser Masao has a message to give you.” “What is wrong love?” asked Luna and Masao gave her a sad look. “After this incident is dealt with I will not know what is going to happen, for lack of better terms these are that last two episodes I saw before I came here” “Last two episodes? You make it sound like our lives were nothing but a show before now” said Twilight and Masao grimaced but nodded. “It was, back when I lived on Terra. In fact it centered around your life, Twilight, I have spent more time with Luna than the show did in all four years I had watched it before…” “Are—” started Luna “I fell in love with you Luna long before I got here, but I was determined not to force a relationship, that you needed friendship far more than I needed a relationship with you, and before I got here, I never heard of a pony called Evening Star, or even Sharp Sword.” As Masao continued to explain about their lives being a show where he was from Twilight snuck out she had to see a tree about a box… - - - “As in Discord Discord?” asked Applejack as they discussed Celestia’s decision as Twilight seemed to be packing in the Library. Of course Fluttershy defended the draconequus much to the annoyment of her friends. - - - “So what is going to happen, and don’t tell me that you can’t tell us, we will play by the rules and let it happen, but I want to know.” said Cadence and Masao sighed before looking out the window and was quiet for a bit. “Maso—” “Discord is going to betray you and aid Tirek, and then he is going to try and succeed in getting all the magic in Equestria, except for your magic which will be in the hooves of Twilight…”