Twilight was frantically pacing in the hallway when she bumped directly into Hesperos. Who had finally found her. She immediately bombarded him with questions regarding his meeting with Celestia, ending with a desperate, almost manic need to know where she was at now. A soft, awkward clearing of the solar alicorn’s throat succinctly answered the question. Twilight leaned to see past the rubricae to see her mentor standing there awkwardly, eyes switching between Twilight and Hesperos.
Twilight quickly broke from her brief stupor to zip over to Celestia, who looked pointedly at Hesperos for a moment. Twilight looked to him as well, and he dipped his helm momentarily before departing the hall. Twilight looked back to Celestia, who sighed for a moment before placing a hoof to the smaller alicorn’s side.
She simply told Twilight the impression she had gotten and what she felt on the matter of the astartes remaining in Equestria. Though she still harbored serious concerns, she had not gotten the impression that he possessed ill intent towards their subjects. She would allow him to remain, for now, but wanted to ensure that he would be both frequently observed for any signs of trouble and vetted by those of great character. Twilight did not have to think about who she was referring to.
After Celestia had departed, Twilight sought out Hesperos and laid things out for him. He would spend his time with each of her friends so that he might become more accepted within Ponyville, and thus Equestria, as well as have his character assessed by the best judges of such available.
Hesperos agreed that this was a useful solution, and asked where they would begin.
That was when Pinkie Pie burst in with a concussive burst and shower of confetti and subjected them to a typical string of nearly unintelligible gibberish that could be summarized with one statement.
Hesperos would be getting a party.
Hesperos was sat upon his throne in the study, and if he could have adopted a flat, unamused expression, he would have. As it was, he had assumed a slouching posture wholly unheard of among astartes, Imperial or otherwise. Twilight was, he hoped, wrapping up her dissertation on the acceptable behaviors and appropriate courtesies he would be expected to exhibit at the upcoming party, which would also serve to debut the plan Celestia had laid before them.
After several hours of agonizingly detailed restrictions and guidance, she finally released him. He waited for her to flee the room upon discovering her tardiness for an appointment with the mayor in a flash of magical discharge before slowly releasing his death grip on the armrests of his throne. Small marble chips bounced away with the ring of stone on crystal as he stood and ran through the Enumerations, the mental structures and exercises bringing his psyche fully back under his control. Even for a scholar as curious and patient as he, his humors had never gotten quite so out of balance so quickly as when subjected to one of the purple alicorn’s neurotic episodes. He could hardly lay blame at the hooves of the solar ruler for this particular tribulation, but he would certainly recall the overwhelming effect her approval, or lack thereof, influenced Twilight’s behavior.
Regardless, the instructions Twilight had left with him were clear. With a well defined objective, he could act with clarity. As he reached the castle doors however, he paused. He had already stored his sword in a secure location, as they had agreed it was unnecessary for a party. Beyond the implication of bearing a weapon, he hardly expected anything to be remotely threatening. Should such even manage to appear, he sincerely doubted it would even require the blade.
However, he was thankful he had been briefed on the… eccentricities of the party host. Twilight had spent quite a bit of time emphasizing that the party cannon can not be anticipated and would likely appear at either the most or least opportune moment. He had sworn his restraint, employing his discipline to suppress normal battle responses to the discharging of cannons. He appreciated the more diplomatic nature of his Legion, as it was likely the only reason he had not been destroyed upon less than pleasant first contact.
Thankfully, her departure left ample time to prepare himself mentally for the inevitable barrage of tests upon his restraint and patience. His thankfully limited experiences with the pony known as Pinkie Pie had ensured he was at least aware of her unique nature and mannerisms. While her casual ignorance of causality was reminiscent of some daemons Hesperos had encountered in his time, her demeanor and personality were as diametrically opposed to his own as any could be.
In short, the approaching appointment may very well be the greatest test of will he may ever encounter in his unholy existence.