The Unicorn Temple presented itself as a tranquil refuge in the city. When I flew towards it, I could see the gardens, river, and buildings over the walls, but I was always compelled to land outside the large red door. There wasn’t a barrier; I just somehow knew to do that. That was a magic I had yet to understand. Not that I really understood any magic at all.
I knocked on the door three times and waited patiently. The temple guards were a mixed bag when it came to the act of answering the door. Sometimes I had to wait. Other times a pony was nearby. On some occasions, the exemplar was waiting for me. I just never knew what to expect.
Today’s wait wasn’t long. A familiar temple guard opened the door and looked out at me. “Silent Knight, welcome.”
“Thank you. Is the exemplar available?”
He nodded. “She is. You’ll find her in the barracks. You know the way?”
“I do, thank you,” I replied before slipping into the grounds and making my way up the main path. The barracks were just beyond the interior perimeter wall, sunken into the ground so that it barely clashed with the aesthetic of the gardens.
The path sloped down into the earth and ended in the face of a hewn stone entrance. Grassy knolls on each side rose to the height of the building and almost fully obscured it. The final touch to complete the odd architecture were windows on the roof to better let light in.
I let myself in and headed to Ferrel’s suite. The door was closed so I knocked on it, and from within, the exemplar called, “Come in, Silent Knight.”
So much for no visions today. I sighed as I pushed the door open. “Hello, Exemplar.”
She was sitting on one of her pillows without her armor on. That still weirded me out. “It is nice to see you. You’ve come with a purpose?”
“I have.”
“Of great significance?”
I nodded slowly. “I like to think so?”
“We’re going to battle?”
“In a manner of speaking. I’m getting married soon and would like it very much if you attended the wedding.”
The exemplar’s head tilted and, after a long pause, she replied, “I did not foresee this.”
My ear flicked. “My wedding?”
“Being invited. Perhaps I’m getting rusty in my old age.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “You look as young as I am. So, will you come?”
Her blue eyes found mine and she asked, “Will there be cake, wine, and dancing?”
“Yes.”
“Will there be alicorns and unicorns?”
“All of the former and a lot of the latter.”
“Will there be monsters of incredible power?”
“Ye—Wait, no. Is something going to happen at my wedding?” I asked, concern suddenly filling my chest.
Exemplar Ferrel shook her head and then smiled. It was unnerving. “No. Well, actually, I don’t know. I suspect not. Tranquil has been encouraging me to jest more. In addition to speaking more modernly. I wasn’t sure you’d noticed.”
My breathing calmed down. She was just kidding. She didn’t need to kid anymore. She needed to never kid again. “I see. Well, I wish you luck with that.” I cleared my throat. “So… will you come?”
“I will, though I shudder to think what my gift will do while I’m surrounded by so many ponies. May I wear a dress?”
“Of course!”
She lightly clapped her hooves together. “Glorious.”
I set an invitation in front of her. “I look forwards to seeing you there.” As I turned to leave, her magic took hold of my hoof.
“We have more to discuss,” she said, the smile falling and her usual vacant look returning.
No, we didn’t. I shook my hoof to try to free it of her magical grip. “About Tranquil?”
“About you. Have you continued your studies?”
I shifted. “Which studies?”
“The path to knighthood. Have you continued to tread it?”
I had indeed. Even though I wouldn’t be guarding Princess Luna directly, I hadn’t given up on learning from Marshal Moonglaive. In fact, I’d incorporated a lot of the physical activities from the books into my usual workouts. His knowledge of the species of our world, though centuries outdated, still provided valuable insight.
I slowly nodded. “Yes, why?”
“It is necessary. You are ready to see.”
“See?” I asked in confusion.
On the shelves to my left, one of the white crystals illuminated in the exemplar’s magic and floated its way between us. “You are ready to see a memory.”
What was she on about? It was a rock. I’d seen a million like it in Runic’s back room. Maybe not cut as perfectly as this one, but still.
Golden magic stretched from the unicorn’s horn. When the energy hit the crystal, it illuminated, and light burst forth.
I blinked as the light got brighter and brighter. “What’s going on?” I asked, trying to take a step back towards the door. Her magic held onto my hoof and prevented me from moving.
“Fear not, Silent Knight, it is a vision only. No harm can come from it. Trust me.”
That was easy for her to say. Everything went white, even with my eyes shut. There was simply no way to block it out as I felt myself slip away. No movement, no sound, no sight. It was all gone.
I became aware of my hooves moving slowly along a plush purple carpet. Even under my steely grey hoofguards, I could feel it give way and knew it was extremely soft. My head turned towards the pony next to me.
It was a younger stallion with a white coat, a light blue mane, tall fuzzy ears, and draconic wings. He wore ancient armor, the sort that was in the museums and history books. It was clear to me that he was nervous.
“Before we cross the threshold, you’ll need a moment to compose yourself,” I said in a voice not my own, in an old form of Equestrian I shouldn’t understand so clearly.
The stallion looked at me and frowned. “I’m sorry, High Marshal. I have never met the Mentor before. I don’t understand how or why she would call upon me.”
“I spoke of you to her. You are a diligent knight that will be most effective in what she has in mind.”
Our path took us to a small doorway. “We’ll enter from the side. Understand what an honor it is to be on the balcony with her.”
“I do, sir, I truly do. I am terrified.”
My hoof reached out and settled on the stallion’s shoulder. “You’ll do fine, Nimbus Knight. Just be sure you pay attention.”
“Yes, High Marshal,” he replied.
After a single knock, I pushed the door open and led the way through it. From my right, a nox guard announced, “High Marshal Moonglaive and Sir Nimbus Knight.”
My eyes fell upon the somewhat familiar surroundings. We were in an old-style keep, standing on a balcony. Towards the back of it was a large throne and a stained-glass window. Standing before both was an alicorn: Nocturna.
I strode up to her with a confidence I did not feel. Her aura washed over me and was palpable. It demanded respect and I gave it. Not only did I bow, but I laid myself at her hooves, as did Nimbus Knight. Then I rose; he didn’t.
“My lady,” I said, “this is the knight of which we spoke. I believe he is the one that is best suited for your quest.”
The great alicorn turned her eyes down upon the young knight. They were as black as the midnight sky and shone with the wisdom of centuries of experience. “He does look promising.” I’d heard her voice clearly. It was powerful and humbling and had carried even though her lips had not moved.
“Yes, my lady,” I replied.
Nimbus Knight didn’t speak. Not that I blamed him. I’d ran away from a mere visage of Nocturna. Seeing the actual pony was doubly intimidating.
She drew her head up and gazed down at us, her mane flowing and shifting around her in gentle waves. “Nimbus Knight. We have become aware of a growing darkness. Ponies that would turn from the light of the true moon and sun to the darkness between the stars and in the shadows are becoming greater in number. This could be tolerated if they were mundane in their beliefs, but this profane magic they use is destructive and deadly. You have seen it for yourself.”
Nimbus nodded. “Yes, my lady, I have.”
“You will seek out the cultists that practice this dark magic and try to convince them to return to the light. If they do not do so, you will destroy them. This I command, and so shall it be.” Her voice echoed in my mind. The certainty, the power. If she had any hesitation or reservation about destroying ponies, I’d have never guessed it.
“Yes, my lady,” Nimbus replied with resolve.
“Then go. Return these ponies to the light or send them off to meet it in the next world.”
Nimbus Knight slowly rose and together we left the presence of the alicorn. Once the door closed behind us he started to tremble.
I set a hoof on his breastplate. “It will pass. Don’t fight it. Our bodies aren’t accustomed to being so close to that much power. There is no shame in it.”
Nimbus nodded and then looked down. “She wants me to kill ponies. We don’t kill ponies, High Marshal. We slay the monsters that prey upon them.”
“Yes, I know. That is why I selected you. Many knights would follow these orders blindly and without thought. You’ll make the effort to turn them back and, if they don’t, I know you’ll do what you have to. Nimbus, you’re going to have to slay some of them. The darkness takes them and preys upon their faults. Most cannot recover from it and are better off in the next world.”
The nox pegasus nodded weakly. “I understand, sir. I shall do as I’m ordered.”
“Very good. Keep me appraised of your progress. Speak of this to nopony. I am here if you need me.”
“Yes, sir. It shall be done.”
My vision started to fade. The world dropped out from under me again and all feeling disappeared. After a moment of darkness, I found myself in the exemplar’s room, staring at her.
“What… what just happened?”
“You have seen a memory of High Marshal Moonglaive,” the exemplar said as she levitated the crystal back to her shelf.
“How? Why do you have this?” I sputtered, shifting back from her and against the door. My hooves were working again. They were my hooves, my body. My chest was heaving.
“Ancient magic lost to most ponies and guarded by the temple. Important memories given by ponies to temple priestesses for safe keeping. All temple priests and guards know how to view them, though it can be dangerous to do so. The High Marshal gave this memory to us long, long ago and it has been kept until it was necessary to share.”
“It was necessary to share now?” I asked, my breathing starting to slow down as I got my wits about me.
“Of course. Do you not see?”
Quickly, I shook my head. “No! I’m not an ancient unicorn that knows too much!”
“Oh,” she said softly. “Perhaps it was too soon. My apologies, but it is something you must see. It will be important.”
I just nodded, finding some composure. My eyes shifted to the shelf where the crystal had landed and I caught sight of the black ones. She’d called them bad memories before. What horrors could they contain? “Okay… I’m going to go. Please attend the wedding and try not to bring any crystals or anything of that nature. Alright?”
“Agreed,” Exemplar Ferrel replied.
“Good day,” I said before hurrying out the door. There was a reason I got nervous every time I came here. This was it.
☾
Princess Luna waved her hoof in front of my eyes. “Silent Knight, are you alright? You’ve been sitting here for twenty minutes and you haven’t said a word.”
Willowy Tempest looked up from her desk. “That isn’t exactly abnormal for him, Princess.”
I ignored her and said to the princess, “I went to speak with Exemplar Ferrel. It was unnerving. Which is usual.”
The princess lowered her hoof and nodded. “To invite her to the wedding? Is everything going to be alright there?”
“Yes, and I believe yes. She didn’t seem to indicate anything would occur at my wedding. Which is good.”
Willowy mumbled, “Nothing had better happen, I worked hard on this event.”
Princess Luna looked over at her assistant briefly before turning back to me. “Why unnerving, then?”
I hesitated. “I think she showed me something that happened in the past. It was like she took me along for a ride on one of her visions.”
The princess’s head tilted. “Oh? That sounds like very powerful magic. Although, from her, I suppose I should not be surprised. What did you see?”
My eyes flicked to Willowy and then back to the alicorn. “I think I saw one of my ancestors and his meeting with Nocturna. There were some other things too, but I was kind of… confused. Confused and out of my depth.” I shook my head. “We can talk about it later.”
Willowy muttered something under her breath.
Princess Luna nodded. “Of course. There is other business on my mind. King Kronson has sent another letter strongly urging us to assist in the location of his grandson. He does not feel as if King Ranald is taking him seriously.”
I snorted. “And he thinks we’ll take him seriously?”
“He still does not know that we know that Captain Alastair is his grandson. We have not broached this topic and Celestia does not wish to. We have no proof that he acted on orders but there is a logic to the fact he would have. Him or someone in his kingdom.”
That was for sure. Pampered nobles did not normally go in for abduction. Not that he was trying to abduct the princess, anyway. It was an assassination attempt. “Yes, agreed.”
“I suppose we’ll need to draft another cryptic letter that we’ll discuss the situation with King Ranald. That is most non-committal. Willow, start working on that for me, please.”
She nodded and set to doing just that. “Of course, Princess.”
I wandered over to the princess’s display cabinet and started looking at all of the little pony miniatures she’d painted. There was one for every house guard and, for some reason, Willowy. I’d always liked my figure. It was never far from Princess Luna’s.
“Is there something on your mind, Silent Knight?” the princess called.
“Yes, I like your miniatures. You’re the best painter I’ve seen. Far and wide better than Runic and me.”
She snorted. “Well, I thank you for saying so, but I can manipulate the brush with my magic. The two of you rely on your hooves and mouths. I would hardly consider that a fair competition.”
“Be that as it may, you’re still an amazing painter.”
The princess got up and came over. “Thank you. But what is really on your mind?”
It was time to break the news to the princess. It wasn’t just an idea. Now it was real. “I accepted a position.”
“Oh,” she replied softly.
“Yeah. It isn’t as good as House Guard commander, but… you know… I had to.”
She didn’t meet my eyes as she nodded. “Of course. Is it in the palace?”
My ears pinned back. “It is in a palace, yes.”
“But not this one.”
I shook my head. “Governor Cadence needs an officer to run her security detail.”
Princess Luna softly chuckled. It was a little forced. “I see. Shining Armor sought to steal you from me?”
Steal me? No. “He is the second pony in the world I’d want to work for. You being the first, of course.”
“Then stay,” she replied before ducking her head to look me in the eyes. “Stay and we’ll work something out. I’ll find some job for you. Military aide or something. Somepony else can be my bodyguard and you can be… something.”
I smiled and took my helmet off. “I’ll be your something, huh? Luna, are you afraid I’m going to stop being your bodyguard or stop being your friend? I’m never going to stop being your friend, and if you ever need me, I’ll be here. I can’t just let you create some sort of position for me, though. That isn’t fair to anypony and I’d feel… uh…” How to put it?
“Like a gold-digging, nepotistic mooch?” Willowy put in.
Right, she was still in the room. “Yes, like that.”
Princess Luna sighed and grumbled, “But I won’t see you as much.”
“But when we do see each other, it will be special. I’m not going to be that far away. It isn’t even a day’s train ride and I fly fast. We can still have an occasional game night, you have an excuse to come visit the Crystal Empire, and in a few years, I’ll be looking for a new command here.”
“Unless you get as attached to Lady Cadence as much as you’re attached to me,” the princess put in lightheartedly.
I nuzzled my cheek with hers. “When it comes to family, I’m as attached to you as I am to my own blood. Surely you don’t think the Lady of Love could compare to the Princess of the Night in my heart?”
She started to smile. “I don’t, but please don’t tell my sister I said that about my niece.”
“I won’t. Unless I need you to cooperate with something.”
“Be careful, little stallion,” the princess retorted before straightening up.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I would still prefer for you to be here every day, but I’m certain we can make this work. You are still keeping to our agreement?”
That was true. “Of course, Princess. I’ll be here until after the honeymoon. We do need you to make a decision on who will replace me, though.”
She peered at me. “Isn’t that Vice Colonel Glamour’s decision?”
“Yes, but I’ve vetted a few candidates and whoever you pick she’ll go with. You may as well get an officer you like instead of another Lieutenant Haze.”
Softly, she chuckled. “This is true.” Her tone was even. Not excited, not sad. Just even and guarded. “Bring me the files again. I suppose it is time I accept my fate and look them over.”
“Yes, Princess.”
It hit me right then: we were actually going to pick a replacement. There was actually going to be another pony doing my job. That was going to be hard… but at least it was the right thing to do.