My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
'Chevalier'
Chapter 9: Mark of the Warrior
Ponies earn their cutie marks by doing something that they are skilled at. My skills lay on the battlefield. With no more battles to fight, I learn to find peace among those that I have learned to call my friends. I looked up at the new window. It showed a hippogriff and a griffon embracing each other as sisters with two swords at our hooves and paws with two armies with lowered lances, "Countess, may I have a moment of your time?" asked Princess Luna, I nodded and walked with her through the halls of Cantorlot.
I looked up at the new stain glass window in the halls where the accomplishments of Twilight's friends have been cast in the vibrant colors of the windows, "So all will know there is one among them that can stop a battle before swords can clash," said Princess Luna, "by the way, how did you earn your cutie mark, Countess?" asked the alicorn,
"Not all cutie marks come with happiness, mine did not, mine came when the strength of my own kind was at stake," I said looking out at the beautiful night that cloaked the land, "I was a squire at the time, and I was chosen to be the heir to my clan, my time in battle came when King Sombra invaded the Westland Kingdom, village by village fell to his power or bent to his will, but there were some who resisted, the Clan of Faucon was one of those, and on the Plains of Oakwood, we fought for our very existence,"
"I recall the Battle of Oakwood, those were indeed dark times," said Princess Luna, "the bloodiest battle in the history of Equestria, the great alliance of Griffons and Hippogriffs, no royal guard can match them for bravery, rumor has it that if you visit the battlefield at night, you will hear the screams of the dead where they fell in battle,"
"They were dark times for all of Equestria, pony...griffon...and hippogriff alike," I replied, me heart began to feel heavy as I continued the tale.
"You could hear arrows cut through the cold winter air as they felled the charging Crystal Empire forces, swords clashing and steel cutting through armor, flesh and bone, my mother attacked King Sombra seeing victory was in sight, he stopped and held her neck with his magic, I watched in horror as he used a spell and my mother burst into black flames, it was then when all hope had faded, I took up her sword, and slashed King Sombra across his face, that's why he wore the armor, so nopony would see the wound,"
"In my sadness, I knew that my mother would have wanted for me to live on in her memory as her ashes flew with her spirit in Oakwood, my mother lives on in the armor that I wear and the sword at my side, I apologize for turning down your offer to command your Royal Guard, my reason being words my mother said to me before battle,"
"Be without fear in the face of your enemies.
Be brave and upright that everypony may love thee.
Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your doom.
Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."
"That was how I earned my cutie mark," I concluded to the Princess, "to this day, the crossed swords and the heater shield still have their place on my flanks, and will be until my time comes, I am a keeper of an Element of Harmony, I know my element carries great moral responsibility," Princess Luna nodded to my words, "being raised by my mother has made me wise to others, she told me to be strong of heart, be courageous in battle, and be a beckon of justice where there is oppression," I explained to her.
"Your mother must have been very wise," said Princess Luna, "I know she made the right decision to chose you to be the heir of the House of Faucon,"
"I sorrow for your loss, Countess, but Sombra is no more, you have a chance to leave your past behind you, and look toward a brighter future," stated Princess Luna. I know she is right, and it was time to move on as constable of Ponyville. And yet with all the friends I have made, I felt there was something missing in my life. I am not sure what.
I get this feeling though when I look at Princess Luna. I feel relaxed and calm among her, and not on my guard when I am at the market watching out for thieves or trying to sort out problems and scuffles, "My cutie mark is what I remember my mother by, the same goes for my sword and my armor," Luna nodded in understanding at my story.
"Where there is day there must be night, and where there is life there is death, one cannot exist without the other, that is just the natural circle of life," Princess Luna explained, I nodded in agreement, there was just something unworldly about Luna. Her wisdom is undeniable as is her beauty. As she was going to retire for the evening, she looked back at me and smiled lightly, "is something wrong, Countess? You seem not like yourself," said Luna. I shook my head to get back to reality, and then lightly sighed.
I unsheathed my sword, and handed it to Princess Luna. Using her magic, she held in the blade in levitation and examined the blade herself, "A beautiful blade, to think that such craftsponyship can go into something so beautiful, and yet it purpose is to take lives rather than give birth, but by the blade, sometimes that is how kingdoms are born,"
"No, it is nothing of concern, Your Majesty," I said, and noticed the darkness of Luna's night and took back my mother's sword, "it is getting late now, I best make my leave,"
"Then I bid you good night," said Princess Luna, and I made my leave of Cantorlot to go back to Ponyville for supper and some much needed rest,
As I flew out and left the palace, I found calmness in the sleeping village. I could not help but look up at the moon in the night sky from my window. In a funny way, it is at these times in the evening where I can eat meat with my supper. No, I do not eat ponies, but as I am half-griffon, I eat meat to keep up my strength. Foods like smoked sausages, chicken marsala, and other food items I tend to keep away from the ponyfolk. Ponyfolk tend to get uncomfortable around those that eat meat. I am an omnivore.
The gala is nearing. Yet I look back on when I first met Princess Luna when she and Princess Celestia summoned me from the Westland. I saw in her eyes a warmth, one of care, more than just friendship. It was the very same look mother gave me when I did well in training, and helped out others in need when we walked through the kingdom.
What is this feeling that I feel? This feeling that I had never felt before. It is warm and soothing. I felt it when Princess Luna looked at me at the ceremony in Cantorlot a few days ago. I want to leave it alone, but it does not seem to want to leave. Yet it feels so warm and gentle. When the gala comes around, I will ask her to dance and let her know of my feelings. Princess Luna is very smart, it makes wonder if she already knows about me? There is no need to deny it now. I can't. I am in love with Princess Luna.