Dealing with the crowds was no small task. An hour after what should have been dawn was concern. By noon, however, it approached pandemonium. The Guard discussed martial law, and Shining Armor (Lieutenant Shining Armor, I reminded myself firmly) argued that citizens should be advised to remain in their homes until the princess resolved matters with the sun, but that ordering them to do so would only turn the pandemonium into panic. Even the older leadership agreed with this assessment, and I was quite proud to see that he was growing into a worthy mate for the princess. Worthier, I suppose. Maybe I should start pushing him towards that-No, no, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor could work that out themselves. Order, I was picking up on the princess's habits. Soon I'd start making her goods-transportation charts.
Of course, some ponies refused to be advised of anything, and an ever-growing number began to fill the courtyards as the not-day wore on. Princess Cadance, it seemed, was trying and largely failing to move the moon or sun; if she managed to adjust one of the heavenly bodies, the other seemed to follow it. The closest she could accomplish would be an eternal eclipse, which would probably do more to frighten ponies than reassure them. Worse, touching the sun left her nearly grieving, though she swore there was neither exhaustion nor pain involved, apparently just an unmentioned side effect of the spell.
Still, it was both relief and concern when the sun popped into the sky quite without warning and settled into a reasonable position. At first, ponies worried that it was simply going to fly off into... wherever, the sky, I supposed, and Cadance was able to reassure them that both heavenly bodies had resumed their proper places, and that everything would be fine. I had intended to doff my armor immediately, but so many ponies continued to require reassurance. The thestrals had tried to establish that things would be fine, even without the sun, but their efforts had proven... less appreciated. Mothchaser had a blackened eye from a panicky young colt who apparently mistook her for Nightmare Moon, and had in fact called the rest of the overworked Night Guard 'an army of Nightmare Moons.'
One would think ponies would be able to keep their own legends straight. How could there be multiple Nightmare Moons if there was only one moon? I digress. Most of the thestrals set about returning to their homes, but with Mothchaser's injury, she claimed she'd prefer not to worry her family by showing up with a swollen eye and instead asked my assistance with getting her to the bat-pony barracks, which... I realized I had never actually seen.
Assisting Mothchaser to her quarters led to a great deal of stumbling, and eventually I had to resort to her softly murmured directions; their barracks was, to my great shock, below ours, in one mostly sealed-off section of the caverns beneath Canterlot, accessible through a secret door in one of the walls. More concerning, the passageways were almost completely black, even to my own eyes. She took strange pleasure through her pain as she whispered directions to me, and I soon found myself in a rather spacious room she had claimed all for herself. She offered to let me stay until someone else came to see me out, but I promised that I could retrace my steps without fail; she should focus on rest.
It pleases me that she was disappointed. I could understand; surely she expected that I would eventually be talked into allowing her to return to work, but I was confident rest was all she sorely needed. Thankfully she had not been concussed, and seemed entirely aware beyond her minor injuries and being briefly dazed at the strike.
Unfortunately, when I exited, I strolled almost right into the Princess's procession. I blinked rapidly at the bright light, bowing low. "Your Highness."
Celestia's words were cheerful, but I had known her long enough to recognize tension in her voice. "Idol Hooves, to what do I owe the pleasure? Have you been working?"
"Only until the sun came up, your Highness," I responded. "It is my day off."
"Your... day... off." She repeated, flatly. "Your day, as in the time between dawn and dusk, or your day, as in the twenty four hours designated as the Summer Sun Celebration?"
I hesitated. "...The... former, your Majesty?"
She brightened. "Well then, Corporal Idol Hooves, you've missed the introduction of my dear sister Luna, returned to us after so many years." She beckoned to her side, and I blinked, taking in the small blue alicorn beside her. Purpleish, maybe? I still hadn't adjusted to the light.
I bowed again. "Your Highness, it is a true honor. I apologize for missing your introduction, I swear it will not happen again. I will serve more faithfully in the future." The smaller alicorn blinked, staring at me as if I'd grown a second horn. Something stuck in my head, and I winced, looking towards Princess Celestia. "...Corporal, your Highness?" Perhaps this course of action could still be reversed.
"Let it never be said I don't carry out my promises. And as I understand it, you've earned it." Warmth radiated from Celestia, though for the life of me I could not guess why.
Her smaller sister (and she was significantly smaller... Celestia's nutritionist was likely to have an aneurysm) smiled nervously, as if seeking approval. I saluted sharply, realized I was supposed to be off duty, and decided that the damage was already done, and that if anything, I had just confirmed my acceptance of my new position. So be it, there was more to report. "If I may be so bold, your Highness, the Night Guard should be commended for going above and beyond their duty. They did not call off their shifts until the sun arose, and most were forced to seek shelter immediately. I fear they will have also been absent for the return of Princess Luna."
"Night Guard?"
I almost didn't hear the voice, and I certainly did not expect something so timid from the sister of Celestia who had so terrified the populace in her day.
"Yes, your Majesty. The Night Guard protects ponies during the night so they may rest, while the Day Guard handles most affairs throughout the day. I tend to pull both. I enjoy the contrast."
Whatever I said was clearly wrong and I regretted it instantly when the smaller alicorn's eyes shimmered. "Ponies... want to experience the night...?"
An alabaster wing stretched over Princess Luna protectively. "Much has changed in your absence, dear sister. Ponies realized soon after your absence how much you did to defend them, and hastened to establish a force to ensure that they could continue to keep their families safe. And, interestingly enough, it's led them to be less afraid of the night."
Luna surreptitiously wiped her eyes in her own wing, but nodded. "You will have to explain when the royal guard stopped being merely a position of honor..." She seemed to stumble slightly, but that was absurd. Goddesses did not stumble. Her wings stretched and she tried to hold back a yawn.
Celestia smiled, though this seemed a bit forced. Luna did not seem to catch it. "Other matters, but that can all wait. I've tried to keep your room as you left it, but... I also felt you would have liked certain parts of it to be updated. Come, sister. You should rest. You have been gone so many years... it will be more than one afternoon for you to see it all."
"You may have a point, Celestia. I do seem to be out of sorts. All feels... Surreal. 'Tis like a dream yet unmade..."
A pony oddity. It had taken me years to distinguish that ponies had strange visions in the night, sometimes assigning meaning to them. And, of course, they also used the term to describe hopes for the future.
I took that as tacit permission to leave and bowed again. "Forgive me, your Highness. I have kept you from your rest too long already. Good evening to you, Princess Celestia. Princess Luna, I look forward to serving in the future."
"And I, all of you," the moon princess responded, formally. It had an air of tradition to it, and I was flattered to be so included.
Topaz swatted me with a newspaper again. "-sun never comes up and you go straight into danger! And you leave me a note?!"
"You are aware that doesn't hurt?" I verified, cautiously. Topaz's worry was plain, and truthfully I appreciated it.
"It makes me feel better! 'Gone to work. Nightmare Moon may be returned' and you don't even wake me up?!" A band of hair escaped the professional bun she had taken to wearing.
It was strange. Topaz changing her look upon being inducted to professorship had troubled me, but it was very appropriate for her new position. Still... I found that seeing the old Topaz breaking free of this imposed restriction pleased me immensely.
"I also opined that you should exercise caution. It is my duty to take unsafe action, not yours."
"The university is better protected than anywhere other than the castle." Her wingtips poked the bun, and I knew that my attention had been noted. "And what's this about Nightmare Moon?"
"That had been meant as a joke. But... she has actually returned. Not what I expected, to be honest, but it is not my place to judge, only to obey and protect."
"You're going to serve Nightmare Moon?!"
After Topaz finished hyperventilating and I had explained that all was well between Princess Celestia and her reformed sister, of course she focused on entirely the wrong event of the story.
"A promotion! Good for you! Cady and I had a bet going. She was going to cheat; going to have Shining tell you he was turning down his captaincy if you didn't accept. I honestly thought you'd never go for it unless someone ordered you to." She grinned, buffing a hoof on her chest. "Well. Someone more important than me, anyways."
"That is not how it went. And... corporal." I admitted with shame.
Topaz blinked, tilting her head, clearly trying to recall rank. "What's wrong with corporal?"
I sighed. "I have been promoted as punishment, Topaz. Not reward."
"Oh, horseapples. They don't promote people as punishment. Cady says they've been pushing you to accept for years now, and finally you didn't get a choice. If you weren't wanted, they give you terrible jobs or kick you out. Face it, Idol, you're the best pony for the job."
"But I am not a pony," I reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah, we know. But look. More rank means more work, which means more pay and more you can do to help ponies. What's wrong with all that?"
I hesitated. "I should not be telling ponies what to do."
She turned and began trotting away, continuing the conversation over her shoulder. "Well newsflash, you've been doing that for ten years. Congratulations, Idol, you were good at it and they want you to do it more. And it's cause for celebration. When's the last time we saw a musical?" She grinned through the rail to her upstairs balcony at me as she ascended.
I blushed, horrified. Of course I remembered that, it had been over the top. Plays, dancing, I could stand. But singing? It was... a glorification of pony emotional output. Anypony could sing. Anypony would sing. At very least when ponies danced in public, it was usually choreographed in some fashion or practice... but a pony could just decide to sing and others might join in. Topaz herself had sung along with the musical. I had been unable to meet her eyes for days. She'd delighted in the whole thing, and had even gotten me to try to belt out a marching cadence for her. I had made two lines before shame overwhelmed me and I stuttered to a halt.
Still. She said I was pretty good.
Regardless! "Perhaps just a play. I do not think I can do a musical...!"
I could hear her rustling upstairs. "Ohhhh, fine. A nice, safe, normal play. 'Mareio and Luigetta 2, the Lost Lovers' is playing. How about that?"
I did enjoy a good sequel... "I thought we already saw that?"
"No, no, they thought the original was a bit too free-spirited for Canterlot. There's a musical number, but only one. Think it'll be okay?" She trotted back down the stairs, and I may have stared. Her dress was emerald green, cut with gold embroidery. It did not match her coat, but somehow highlighted it. Her mane was freed of the bun entirely, hastily arranged but still every bit the Topaz from the day I'd met her. Older, perhaps, but just as intense and incredible. The ladybug necklace I purchased her all those years ago dangled and bounced as she made her way back to my level. "What do you think? Cadance insisted."
I shoved my emotions aside and smiled, offering her my hoof. "I think it suits you perfectly. To the play, then?"
That was quick.
Do these fast updates more often. It's awesome.
Also, it looks like I'll have to take back my comment for last chapter. All aboard the Idol/Topaz ship!
If comments are your food pellets new chapters are our banquets.
All in a day's work, right Idol? I wonder how he'll handle Discord.
"Our couch has grown legs and run away. Will pick another one up after work."
Felt there would have been more... something with NMM's return going on, but still, a nice chapter.
I've stopped following the majority of mlp works on my list, but I keep reading this story as it updates because something about our hapless changeling protagonist just tickles my fancy. Thanks for sticking to this!
I was so happy when I saw a new chapter in my feed. I love this story your work is awsome
Was that a fog horn? Is there a ship coming into the harbor?
The play's the thing to catch the conscience of the bug-thing...
You could of made the chapter 100,000 words and I would of said it was to short.
Poor Idol missed his chance to make out with a bat pony.
"Mareio and Luigetta 2, the Lost Lovers" Pffffhahahahaha!
8653260 Well, you have an entire *castle* full of panicked ponies, running around screaming, "Another alicorn! She was Nightmare Moon! What if she doesn't like the sun! Will the entire government of Equestria collapse! Is there yet *another* alicorn out there?"
Then you have Idol Hooves, who will greet her in the evening as if she's been in the castle for centuries, escort her to events, and ensure her every need (not that way, you perverts!) is taken care of.
Guess who's going to be Luna's favorite guard....
Now it's time to see who is more formal, Luna or Idol.
Love his excuse to Celestia about working. What he didn't realize was that it was only a matter of time before she caught him out and gave him a promotion. He also didn't catch Moonchaser's interest. I will forever be entertained by Idol's obliviousness. And go Topaz! Perhaps one day you can write about the musical, a brief side story.
I wish I could give this story another thumbs up.
8653257
And/or Discord's magic will make his disguise drop and everypony will assume Discord did it to him. XD Or something equally weird or hilarious.
Good heavens, I'd forgotten all about that! And I'd meant to mention it in the last chapter! Ten years? Topaz has gone an entire decade with this crazy, kooky, not-romance? And Cady has let it go this long?! How did Honey let it go this long?
If there's one thing I'm not happy about, it's that one of two things has likely happened:
1, there was a time skip but Topaz's and Idol's "relationship" was on hold the entire time, waiting for the story to pick back up
2, their relationship progressed and we didn't get to see it forming!
(Or, 3, they gave up on it- No. That can't have happened.)
(woah, deja vu...)
Alright, post time skip shenanigans shall commence.
Huh... I wonder if it will take the Royal Wedding to make Idol Hooves act completely (or the closest we can get) as a normal Pony. He seems to be slipping into less formal ways, but he still reminds himself of "Order"...
8653304
It seems more likely that everyone just assumes they're very, very odd and have an "arrangement" of one sort or another. We all know that jumping to conclusions and assuming that everyone else also knows and is just playing along like you are is what ponies do best!
8653283
As a joke, it does it's level best to amuse.
I can never get enough Idol. He's my favorite so very very much
8653304
Well, Cadance cannot get a read on Idol, nor his relationships with others (it all appears to flow into him). Everyone thinks they are swingers, which keeps up the excuse of Idol having relationships with everything that moves. Cadance even claimed to respect and want to study that relationship style, not correct it.
A new chapter for the new year! I I loved seeing how Idol interacted with Princess Luna. Keep up the excellent work!
The thing I love the most about this story is how Idol always finds a way to feel bad about doing a good thing. He's just so innocently naive, and at the same time incredibly smart and a good person at heart. It really makes me smile because it reminds me of autism (not in a bad way), someone who is lost to social clues and has strange ways of acting that no-one else understands, yet he tries to be the nicest and most dutiful he can be and succeeds in his new life despite the challenges he faces. Someone blind to half the world yet working and succeeding in making the world better for all those around them despite the trouble involved.
8653260
It would have been funny to see him encounter her for the first time. "Oh no, another alicorn, who's orders do I follow!?"
But, alas, it was his day off
I'm very much looking forward to seeing Idol interact with Princess Luna... so I guess he will have the attention of three alicorn princesses now.
I still hope to see more of him interacting with Twilight, but seeing how she didn't even stay in contact with her own brother and parents for near two seasons...
...They still aren't an item, are they. *sighs* Ah, well. Hope Idol gets around to dating Topaz eventually. Probably won't until Cadence intervenes.
Yay another update! And so quick!
Idol met Luna and I loved their interaction but I was kind off dissapointed that he didn't have a huge reaction like he had when he saw Celestia for the first time. Or Cadence for that mater, I mean, it's a new Alicorn! Idol always reacted funny when he 'felt' a new alicorn.
I guess Luna is kind of tired and subdued right now so she must not emit a lot of mojo. And Idol must have developped some resistance to such meeting after being in the vinicy of Celestia and Cadance.
And Idol and Topaz, so glad to see their relationships having developped so well along the years. It also reflect Idol growth too! He used to not have many personal opinion on pony apparence, but with Topaz, he dont like her mane in a bun and prefer them free. The old Idol wouldn't have made a case of such things. And he was pleased that she was worried for him. Awww. Their relationship is maturing slowly but surely.
Now I wanna see is, the reaction when he and Shining are told the parts Twilight had to play in Luna return!
Yeah, Idol Hooves isn't going to come up with anything to 1-Up that idea in that short a time.
If the main OCs in this story were voiced, what would they sound like?
8653487
I think Idol would be a bit like Data from Star Trek. He maintains his neutrality well enough to outsiders.
The others... hmm. I've never thought a lot about it. What does everyone else think?
8653472
If he does I would jump on it.
Ooooo, updaters! Whoo!
Nicely done, and Idol once again is just *adorably* epic.
8653523
8653472
You are both monsters. +5 points each
Beautiful. I always look forward to updates.
Surprise, fools!
Which princess? Cadance or Celestia?
*Halo Announcer* “Untouchable!”
Shortly after the regular military was decommissioned, most likely.
True Companions
8653516
When I occasionally read his lines aloud for fun, I, too, draw inspiration from Data.
Whenever I imagine Topaz’s voice I hear Misty from Pokémon. Not in terms of speech pattern or anything like that, just sound. Which, now that I think about it, is rather ironic.
Mothchaser appears to be a bit of a Veronica to Topaz’s Betty, so choose accordingly.
8653441
The perfect spy.
So this chapter came out pretty fast compared to other chapters, having been posted a little over a week after the previous one. Is this change of pace temporary or can we hope it's a more permanent feature?
i'm always surprised by how my interest in this story never wanes and my love for it only increases. the best part about this i think is seeing idol start realizing and understanding emotions, maybe he'll discover romance next? *hint hint nudge nudge*
anyways heres some author comment food pellets, to grow big and strong to write strong and big words
Have a pellet
Also I can't express how much I love this story. Thank you for writing!
Yes! Take it all, take all the food pellets! Best year already. WHOOOOO!
8653434
If the Princesses are pranksters as depicted elsewhere, we may yet get the chance.
8653635
I’m not. The author is a comedic genius who seamlessly integrates his unique and charming OCs into canon without rehashing more of it than is necessary to place where everything is chronologically.
I think I say this nearly every chapter but...
Oh Idol, never change.
Waaaait....is he referring to those shipping who-should-be-paired-with-who charts I see the especially shippy do?
That was not why she was disappointed. Which reminds me...it amuses me, perhaps more than before, that in the--what was it--nine years he's been around now, no one has figured out that his "mythic exploits" are completely exaggerated, and that he as of yet still remains unaware that he holds such a reputation. You'd think one side or the other would've caught on by now, realized something about all of that didn't add up. But the fact that it hasn't...well...like I said, it amuses me to no end.
I'm starting to suspect that she was hoping Idol wouldn't actually make (entirely) good on his day off as he was supposed to...
An update so soon? Sweet!
I'm really curious where this is going to go now. Will Idol be another nearly anonymous guard under Luna? Will he develop some sort of friendship or personal connection? I could see Luna trying to be proper and distant, but I can also see her asking her guards in private for advice, or at least social changes. With Idol.. well he's been around, right? He'll probably bend over backwards to be respectful, at least.
Also, poor Mothchaser. All she wanted was some TLC and Idol's still clueless. I'm fairly sure that by now he's one of Cadance's long term projects. (Are herds a thing here? I don't think so.. ) And on that thought, the pinkest princess probably considers him a friend by now, though what he thinks is a shot in the dark.
8653723
Darn, I didn't catch on quite fast enough. These puns, colt.
I think Celestia already expects Idol to be in the frontlines of duty when it calls to some extent
In the absence of the ability to once more upvote and follow this story, please accept this comment of immense appreciation of this story.
it's so good aaaa
EEEEEEEEeeeeeee!!!!
2 updates in a week!
No. Idol must embrace the emotion-filled art form that is the musical! Then he would become virtually unstoppable! A god among changelings!
Hehehe, anyway, thanks for the chapter!
I still insist that Mothchaser is best Thestral! Also, WOO FOR LUNA!!! Also also, today we mourn the loss of Private Idol Hooves. He will be remembered with fondness, as Corporal Idol Hooves shall carry the memory of our dearly departed Private Idol Hooves to the galloping hilarity that is a future with more musical numbers.
Also also also, when do we get to see Idol catch a conversation between Mothchaser and Topaz? I can hear the humor bubbling in what counts as that organ I call my heart!
8653298
/emote in bad Scottish accent
There can only be one!