Seven stitches and several hours later, Gosling could feel the sun rising, even though he was far from any window. Luna’s mangled armor had sliced him wide open, cutting his shoulder almost to the bone. Luna never once said what had done so much damage, she never revealed what the night patrol had battled.
Whatever it was, Luna’s armor had been so damaged that it had to be cut away from her, and parts of her armor appeared to be melted, as if by acid. Her wounds were grievous. Gosling stayed with her as she was being sewn up and treated.
But now, with the coming dawn, he had a job to do. He had to face the day. He was covered with dried blood, both his own and Luna’s. The Princess of the Night was yawning and she looked sleepy as the dawn creeped into their part of the world.
Gosling’s relief had already shown up, and now, it was time to go.
As he headed for the door, he heard Luna’s voice and it stopped him in his tracks. “Private Gosling…”
He stood and waited, his ears quivering. “Thank you, Private Gosling. You helped me without humiliating me. For that, I am grateful. I dost apologise for your shoulder. Had I known...”
Turning his head, Gosling looked over his shoulder. “Think nothing of it. Just a flesh wound, really, nothing compared to what you and the others had to go through. It was my pleasure to have served you, Princess Luna.”
“Gosling…”
Ears erect, he waited, wondering what Luna had to say.
“You are free to go.”
Sighing, Gosling’s ears drooped. That wasn’t what he was expecting to hear. He didn’t know what he expected, but it wasn’t that. He felt disappointed and let down. Not knowing what else to say or do, he left.
Now showered and ready for work, Gosling entered into Raven’s office, knowing he was late, but he had a good excuse. He didn’t expect to be in trouble. Raven’s office was a whirlwind of activity. He wore no armor, knowing that he didn’t need it. He had come in ready to deal with the night dispatches, ready to work at the telegraph bench. Something told him that would not be happening, at least not right away.
The office was filled with assistants and members of the signal corps. The room was filled with a dull roar of sound as everypony present spoke to one another in excited, stressful voices. Gosling stood in the door, not certain of what to do, or what was going on.
“Private Gosling,” a unicorn mare said as she turned to face him so she could address him. “My name is Daisy Doily and I am one of Raven’s assistants. She is busy at the moment. There is going to be a major press release at eight o’clock.”
“Oh?” Gosling’s eyebrow raised in curiousity.
Daisy Doily nodded and her bobbed mane bounced around in a manner most fetching. “Skyfire Flash is going to make a full confession to the press and you are expected to be there, in armor, as Private Gosling.”
Stunned, Gosling’s mouth fell open. “What? She’s here?”
“Yes.” Daisy Doily nodded.
“She’s here and nopony told me?” Gosling shook his head and fought the rising urge to become angry. He took a deep breath—anger had no place here. Daisy Doily had done nothing wrong. It was important to keep his cool. He tried to remember what he had learned in his command courses. His brain failed him, he could remember nothing that would apply to this situation, but his anger fizzled out because of his moment of distraction.
“The confession is only the beginning. Nobilem Atrium Equorum will be called together for the first time in almost two hundred years—”
“What… wait, please, forgive me, but slow down… what was that you just said?” Gosling gave Daisy Doily an apologetic smile and hoped that he would be forgiven for being rude.
“The Royal Court of Equestria… the high court of the land.” Daisy Doily looked up at Gosling. “It means it is a case tried by royalty. At least one alicorn will be sitting as one of the judges. Don’t know who yet.”
Stunned, woozy from pain and painkillers, Gosling staggered backwards as though he had been struck. He felt his stomach begin tying itself into knots. Bitter bile seared the back of Gosling’s tongue. He smacked his lips as the taste of acid filled his mouth. In a gritty whisper, he asked, “Is that really necessary?”
“She has committed a crime against the Royal Family, has committed various crimes of conspiracy, and charges of treason are being considered.” Daisy Doily blinked. “Any acts perpetrated against the Crown have to be treated seriously. There are no slaps on the muzzle.”
Shaking his head, Gosling found he had no words to say.
“She accepted a considerable sum of money with the intent of defrauding the Royal Family. She’s pregnant, and she planned to tell the press that the foal is yours—”
“What?” Gosling felt his blood run cold. The icy chill that started at his dock and crept up his spine was so cold that it made his whole body shudder with a violent tremble. He felt his pelt along his spine prickle and quiver, causing his hair to stand up.
“—with the intent to gain hush money from the Royal Family to avoid scandal.”
The room began spinning around Gosling and he heard a rushing sound in his ears, it was like being in hurricane force winds. He felt pressure behind his eyes and his mouth went dry, then flooded with saliva, and then went dry again. He felt his stomach bucking around inside of him like a bronco beset with bees.
A cold sweat dribbled down Gosling’s sides and for a second, he was certain that he was going to throw up all over Daisy Doily. He bolted from the room, taking off at a run, and took off for the nearest bathroom, not knowing if he would make it.
Cursing his armor, Gosling wanted to take it off. For some reason, it didn’t feel right. It pinched into his body and was uncomfortable. His helmet felt too small. He couldn’t stop sweating and there was a bad taste in his mouth that he couldn’t get rid of, no matter how much he brushed his teeth or swished with mouthwash.
This was going to be a miserable day. He had been having a lot of miserable days as of late. Sullen, out of sorts, he rounded the corner and headed for the press hall. He hated that room. He hated the press. Well, not all of the press. He liked Seville.
Then, he saw her. She loomed large and white. A look of worry was upon her face. Gosling could see pain in her eyes. Thinking nothing of himself, he rushed to her side. He gazed up and saw her looking down at him. Something about her eyes made it difficult for him to breathe, or perhaps it was his helmet strap tightening around his throat as he looked up.
“Heart’s Dearest,” Gosling said to Celestia.
“Gosling… how are you holding up? I’m sorry that we did not get a chance to speak last night. You were in bed.” Lowering her head, Celestia touched noses with Gosling, bumping his snoot with her own. “I heard about what you did for Luna.” As Celestia spoke, her lips brushed up against Gosling’s.
“I’m not doing well,” Gosling said, admitting the truth, even though he was hesitant to do so. Tilting his head to one side, he surprised Celestia with a kiss, latching on to her lips with his own.
“Gosling, there is so much going on. I don’t even know where to begin. You should have been told about not leaving the palace without an escort. I feel that Luna and I were responsible for that breach of protocol, because we left without an escort. We were a bad example. An officer was supposed to come and inform you… he failed in his duties and is now being disciplined.” Celestia’s ears dropped. “Gosling, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you are going to be disciplined as well.”
“For what?” Gosling asked. “For leaving?”
“For threatening Sergeant Shamrock,” Celestia replied in a low whisper, “I don’t know everything that happened, but there are witnesses that heard you do it. Gosling, darling, you must learn to watch what you say. Everything you say and do will be met with scrutiny.”
“He flirted with my mother,” Gosling said as his feathers fluffed out. “Right in front of me! He’s lucky that I didn’t floor him!” Gosling took a deep breath and felt a hot flush in his cheeks. “Not that I could. I’ve watched Shamrock lay twenty ponies flat in an open brawl and he wasn’t even breathing hard when he was done. Not even the dust sticks to him.”
“Gosling, darling, you have a very pretty mother. If I might be honest, your mother has it going on.”
Flummoxed, Gosling stared up at Celestia in a state of dumbfounded stupification.
“Your response needs work. Remember Gosling, poker face. Raven is trying to teach you. You need to listen to her, or she is going to twist those adorable little ears of yours right off, and then I will be left with nothing to whisper my secrets into.”
His face contorted into a sour scowl and he looked down at the floor, staring down at his own hooves. He could feel Celestia breathing on him. He hoped that she wasn’t too disappointed. He snorted and could feel the back of his throat burning, a painful tickle that wasn’t going away.
“You must hurry, Gosling. You need to be going. Present yourself well.” Celestia kissed Gosling on the white spot between his ears. “Remember, everything you do is under scrutiny. Poker face. Be the good little pony that I know you can be.”
“I’ll do my best,” Gosling promised as he looked back up at Celestia.
The room was hot with bodies. Far too many ponies were crammed into a small space. Flashbulbs popped every few seconds. Gosling surveyed the scene. He saw Skyfire Flash and his heart sank. She looked terrified beyond reason, her eyes were red, bloodshot, and she was weeping. Her frightened eyes darted from one direction to another with each shout and each flash of a camera. Gosling realised that the press was going to eat her alive.
Skyfire’s mother was sitting in the corner, with her back facing the press, he could see that she was sobbing. She had her face covered with her wings and with each pop of a flashbulb she cringed as if being struck. Beside her, Skyfire’s father glared at his daughter and Gosling could not read his expression. Anger? Hatred? It was impossible to tell.
One thing was for certain, whatever relationship Skyfire had with her parents was never going to be the same. Nothing in her life would ever be the same, just like nothing in his life would ever be the same. No matter what either of them did, neither of them could ever go back to having a normal life. Thinking of this, Gosling pitied her.
He felt like weeping himself. As much as he hated her, she didn’t deserve this. Nopony deserved this. He looked and saw Blueblood. He looked tired and worn out. Gosling suspected that Blueblood had been awake all night. He certainly looked that way.
Rooted where he stood, Gosling came to a slow understanding. He couldn’t deal with this. He could not stand here and watch as this happened. He just couldn’t. He felt no love for Skyfire, not after what she had done, he was still sorting out just how much he hated her with lots of therapy and seeing a counselor.
This was wrong. Gosling felt his stomach twisting into knots inside of him. Skyfire was going to confess everything she had done and the press were going to rip her to shreds. Afterwards, her life wouldn’t be worth anything. He couldn’t watch this happen. He started to feel sick again and his sinuses burned as he tried to swallow an acidic belch.
“I’ll not be part of this,” Gosling said in a creaky voice. Before anypony could say anything or even react, he was gone, having turned tail and galloped out of the door.
Hooves clattering over the marble floors, Gosling ran away, no longer caring, consequences be damned. He slipped and skittered as he went around corners. He thought about fleeing Canterlot. He thought about going AWOL. This place brought out the worst in ponies. A part of him hated this place. He thought about Skyfire—her life was ending—at least he had the gilded cage to look forward to. He would be a pretty bird in an even prettier cage.
He knew that if he wanted, he could call this off. He could leave. His life would be ended as well. He would be the pony who ran away when it got tough. He had ran away from home when things got tough there. He had no idea where to go or where to run. He loved Celestia, but he wasn’t sure if he could keep doing this. Maybe he didn’t have what it took to keep playing this game.
He came to a skidding, screeching halt on the marble floors and almost smacked into Luna. Her face was swollen and she was covered in bandages. She limped with each step. One wing was in a sling. Some of the bandages were stained crimson. She looked sleepy and in pain.
He stood there, panting, not knowing what to say.
“Private Gosling… what art thou doing?” Luna asked.
“I couldn’t... face it,” Gosling replied, panting.
“This… trollop... the filly that did you wrong… the spoiled little strumpet that sought to besmirch your good name…” Luna paused, blinked, swallowed, and then continued, “She who wanted to do you harm… to do Us harm, she who wanted to cause Us suffering, and you run away?”
“I can’t watch her life end…” Gosling sucked in wind and shook his head as he fought the urge to throw up. “I can’t. She’s a bad pony, she’s awful… but I… I just can’t!”
“And if somepony was to smear the honour of mine sister or I, you would just walk away? Do we mean so little to you?” Luna’s tone was as icy as the void of space. “I had thought you a better pony.”
“She’s just a stupid filly! She doesn’t deserve this!” Gosling snapped. He watched Luna’s head jerk back.
“She deserves this and worse! And you shame us all by running away! Fie on you, wastrel, thou lack even base courage to deal with thine enemies!”
Something inside of Gosling boiled over. Instead of throwing up, he exploded. “LOOK HERE, LITTLE MISS HIGH AND MIGHTY! IT’S THAT KIND OF HAUGHTY ATTITUDE THAT MAKES PONIES AFRAID OF YOU AND NOT WANT YOU AROUND!”
“How dare you speak to me in such a tone!” Luna barked in a voice thick with pain.
“That right there! This is why ponies love your sister but are scared enough to piss around you!” Gosling’s lip curled back into a snarl.
“Silence thine disrespectful mouth this instant!” Luna demanded.
“You know what? You can take that long princessly horn of yours—”
“Silence!”
“—and you can stick it up your own ass—”
“Silence!”
“—and you can go and f—”
“SILENCE!”
“ —k yourself! Go back into the dark of the night where you belong, you nightmare!”
Gosling did not see the wounded look of agony on Luna’s face as he bolted away. He ran as though Tartarus had spilled open behind him. After building up speed, he took off, flying indoors, swooping through the hallway in an almost blind state as tears burned his eyes and blurred his vision.
Over the beating of his own wings, he did not hear the sound of Luna weeping.