//------------------------------// // Chapter Four: Coronation Banquet, Part Two // Story: Actions and Reactions: Saving Twilight Sparkle // by Lord of Flies //------------------------------// Canterlot April 15, 4E 2010 Imperial Palace, Banquet Room, 18:50 Dawn Shrike shuddered slightly as she stood in the Banquet Room of the Imperial Palace. She’d never seen so many nobles in one place before, even though she was of noble birth herself. Her automail wings twitched slightly, as she saw the towering form of the Captain-General of the Royal Guard pass by her, the stallion glancing down at the much smaller mare. He looked back up and continued walking, and ended up standing next to the four Princesses. Scanning over the four mares, Shrike froze as red text appeared in her vision as she looked at Princess Twilight. “No,” Shrike whispered, “it can’t be.” ************ Long Stride, Praetorian Guard Lieutenant and personal bodyguard of Princess Twilight, stood five paces behind his charge. His face, hidden behind his eagle-faced helmet, betrayed no emotion. A longitudinal crest of crimson sat proudly atop his helmet, as a cloak of the same color draped over his shoulders touched the floor. The rest of his body was covered in magnificently ornate Stormwinds Praetorian Armor. He silently observed as Captain-General Shining Armor exchanged words with the Princesses. “So, Twily,” the stallion asked his younger sister, “how are you enjoying the Banquet?” “It’s pretty good,” the mare responded, “surprisingly.” “Yep, I agree. It can get pretty boring around the nobles. Don’t tell them I said that, though.” Princess Cadence reached out an arm and grabbed the stallion. Stride couldn’t tell, but she most likely had a mischievous smile on her face, judging from Shining Armor’s face. She brought her head close to his and whispered something in her husband’s ear. The stallion seemed to seize up, processing the statement. He glanced at the mare, and sighed. He whispered something, which could have been, “Fine.”, but Stride couldn’t tell very well. The two left. Princess Luna, face nigh always hidden behind that steel mask, smiled, and commented, watching the couple leave, “Cadence has such a high libido.” “Well, dear sister,” the High Princess replied, “she does get it from you.” Luna huffed in offense. She then chuckled, and nodded in agreement. “But, we love her anyway.” “That we do.” A smaller pony, a pegasus, approached the trio. Night Legion Commander Dread Wing, Lieutenant Stride thought. Coming up to roughly Stride’s shoulders, the pegasus commanded respect, and rightfully so. A pair of maroon eyes made him stand out against the backdrop of other ponies. A mane of silver hair sat on his head, reaching down to his shoulders. Dark green fur coated the stallion. Dread Wing said nothing, but offered Princess Luna a glass of wine. “Thank you, Commander,” Princess Luna said. She removed her mask to take a sip of the wine, lifting the glass to her lips and smiling slightly. The mask was quickly replaced, once again making the Night Princess an enigma. Long Stride sighed, slightly. It was going to be a long night. ************ “Twilight!” Twilight looked down at the voice. It was her mother, Star Sparkle. “Mom!” Twilight spoke, visibly perking up at seeing her mother, “I’ve missed you!” “I’ve missed you, too, my little filly.” “Who’s grown to be not so little,” a male voice commented. “Night Light!” Star snapped, “Really?!” The stallion nodded, a smile forming on his face. “But, we love her all the same.” “That we do,” agreed Star. “But that’s not why we’re here.” “Indeed,” Celestia agreed, and gestured to Twilight, “We’re here to support her.” Night Light’s face suddenly lit up. “Right! Right. I had something to give you…” He quickly dug through his pockets, looking for something. A large smile crossed his face as he found what he was looking for. Night Light raised his hand up so Twilight, and the other Princesses, could see his gift. A pendant made from platinum with gold engravings. Twilight noted that her father was having some difficulty in holding it due to its size. Not wanting the pendant to end up bouncing off the floor like the last time she’d had a gift like this given to her, she reached out and grabbed the pendant. Noticing a button on the side of the pendant, Twilight depressed it, and the front of the pendant popped open. Inside the pendant was a group picture of her friends and family at Shining Armor’s birthday party last fall. Covering her mouth, Twilight released a gasp. A disheartened look spread across Night Light’s face, replacing the joyful smile he’d had just moments earlier, and he looked down, ears folding back against his head in sadness. A blur of movement and Night Light found himself in a bone-crushing hug. “T-Twilight,” he choked out, a pained smile on his face, “you’re crushing me…” His eldest daughter released her father from the hug, the stallion fell to his knees, and raised a hand to ward off any of the ponies nearby coming to his aid. He rose to his feet and smiled wide. “I’m glad you like it! You have no idea how hard it was to get a pendant-locket combo made for your size!” This statement earned him a slap to the back of the head, courtesy of his wife. Night Light chuckled nervously and shrugged, rubbing the back of his head. Celestia leaned over and whispered something into her sister’s ear. Luna sighed, and nodded. “I must excuse myself,” she said, “Celestia has asked that I… mingle… with the nobles.” “I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Twilight replied. She then remembered the Grand Galloping Galas that she’d been to and frowned. “Nevermind,” she corrected herself, sighing. “Nobles are a pain…” Luna nodded in agreement, turned and left, walking toward a group of nobles. Celestia excused herself, and made her way toward another group of nobles. This left Twilight with her parents, and Long Stride, the Praetorian that Celestia assigned to protect her. Star smiled, excused herself, and moved toward a third group of nobles. A yak of average height towered over Night Light, causing the stallion to smile and turned around. “Timur! Oh, it’s been ages! How are you?” Timur slapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder, which drew little reaction. “Good, my friend! Good! And you?” “Excellent. After all, it’s not everyday that one of your kids becomes an alicorn.” Timur looked over at Twilight and his smile grew larger. “Oh, Twilight! Hello! It has been a long time since I last saw you! And how you’ve grown!” Twilight walked over and gave the yak a hug, and said, “Uncle Timur*! I’ve missed you!” The yak laughed, “As have I! You’re a princess now?” Twilight nodded, “Yes! This is banquet’s really just a ceremony to make my ascension official. Even though it has been for about a month. But, between you and me, I think this is just to appease the nobles. They’re real pains in the neck.” “I agree,” Timur said, as the two broke off their hug, and continued, “just like the politicians back home.” “So, Timur,” Night Light began, adopting a serious face, “come, we have much to discuss. In private.” Timur nodded, smiling slightly. “See you later, Twilight,” he said, “maybe we can talk more later.” “Of course.” Twilight watched as Timur and her father left to discuss whatever they needed to discuss. She turned around to face Long Stride, the Praetorian assigned to protect her. The Praetorian, silently watching from five paces, tilted his head to the right, slightly. A frown formed on her face, and she sighed She stated, “I hate my brother sometimes.” “Why’s that, mi’lady?” “He’s overprotective. Any stallion that’s tried to have a relationship with me’s been scared off by my brother.” “Oh, I see. I’m not afraid of him, though. I report directly to Princess Celestia and the Praetor.” A mischievous smile formed on her face. Long Stride, realizing that the smile meant trouble, internally facepalmed. ************ “Damocles!” The unicorn snapped his head up from the table and glared at his older brother. He greeted his brother with a growl, “What do you want, Marius?” The blonde haired unicorn smiled. “I just came to say hello.” “Hello. Now leave.” “No. You can’t make me.” Damocles rested his head back on the table and sighed in agreement, “Yes. I know.” “Anyway, stand up.” Blueblood encouraged, putting a large smile on his face, “Come on. Up, up. There we go! Good boy!” Now standing, Damocles looked at his brother and stared at him. “I’m up, I’m up. Now what?” Always one for theatrics, Blueblood spread his arms wide, and asked, “How do you like the Banquet?” Damocles shrugged, drawing an unamused look from Blueblood. “Just like all the other social events that have nobles attending. Though this is the first time I’ve seen all of the Princesses together in one place, you’ve got that.” Blueblood opened his mouth to reply, but noticed a blur of movement out of the corner of his eye. “Who was that?” “Star Sparkle,” Damocles stated, “Princess Twilight’s mother. We need to follow her.” Not one to doubt his brother’s intuition, Blueblood nodded, and followed Damocles out of the banquet room. *Not her actual uncle, mind you. Night Light isn’t half-yak.