Lieutenant Rook learned quick. Far quicker than any lieutenant I'd seen. Within a month he was up to speed and acting every bit like the officer Princess Luna’s House Guard had sorely lacked. Instead of adding an extra layer of complexity, he helped streamline our operations.
We formed a very effective partnership. Everything was running so smoothly that Princess Luna’s House Guard was earning a reputation that rivaled its sister unit. With the lieutenant assuming so many of the administrative duties, I was able to spend more time training our guards. It was excellent.
The downside to our arrangement was that I saw the captain a whole lot less. Shining Armor made it clear that he had no desire to meddle with a unit that had a capable officer and unit sergeant. We were largely left to our own devices. I missed our mentoring sessions, but it was good to know he had faith in us.
I had relieved Harvest Moon on Hearts and Hooves Day. As I stood guard in Miley Hooves’s stead, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. It hadn’t been that long since I had last been there myself but, in some ways, it felt like a lifetime. Make no mistake, being a unit sergeant was wonderful, but there was a familiar simplicity to standing guard.
“Silent Knight, thou lookest most pleased this evening. Thou art not upset to be filling in for other ponies on thy day off?” Princess Luna asked me.
I shook my head. “Not at all, Princess. In fact, I was reminiscing. It wasn’t too terribly long ago that I was standing here myself and look how far I’ve come. Standing guard has a purity to it. Perhaps I’m a strange pony, but no matter how high I might climb, I don’t think I’ll ever mind standing watch over you.”
Princess Luna smiled at me. “That is certainly a flattering sentiment. Perhaps Lady Cadence was right and thou hast come here for a date.”
Softly, I cleared my throat. “Lady Cadence has some interesting ideas about regulations, Princess. At any rate, if my desire to protect you is an indication of affection, then consider me most affectionate.”
The princess rose from her seat and crossed the chambers to where I stood. Looking down at me, she smiled. “Then I will consider thee most affectionate and loyal. Thou art a rare gem, Silent Knight. I believe myself lucky to have thee at my side.”
“That is high praise, Princess. Being called a rare gem in the long litany of ponies that must have come and gone before me is very flattering. Perhaps I’ll linger in your memory for a while once I’m gone.”
Princess Luna’s ear flicked and she peered at me. “A while? Pony philosophers may claim that a lifetime is but an instant to an alicorn, but they imagine so as outsiders looking in. Allow me to assure thee that they are wrong. I was painfully aware of the lifetimes that passed me by while I was banished.
“Thy life is not the brief, unremarkable candle flame that they would have thee believe. No, thou and the ponies I’ve called friends over my life are more special to me than thou might be aware.
“Time may pass differently for us, but where our lives intersect, it is memorable. I have come to know many ponies and I often see them in their foals. Then I see them in the foals of those foals, and so on. Just as I see past lives within thee.”
She set a hoof on my shoulder. “It is time we share a secret, Silent Knight.”
“A secret?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied before looking past me and tapping my armor where it rested over my cutie mark. “I am certain I knew thine ancestors over a thousand years ago. Thou mayest find it hard to believe, but I remember them as well as I remember yesterday. They were good and honorable ponies that chose to sleep during the day so that they could be with me at night.
“So strongly were they bonded to me that they foresaw my fall. Thy matriarch warned me, but I was too foolish and proud to listen. My youth and the lack of a mentor made me reckless and jealous. Thy forebearers were not enough. I wanted as many ponies to love me as loved my sister. I saw her as competition.”
The princess lifted the helmet from my head and lightly touched my tufted ears. They were pretty unique as far as ponies went; only my father and I had them as far as I knew. “Ponies looked a bit different back then.”
Her eyes lost focus and vacantly glanced into the past as if she were reliving a moment. “One final time, thy matriarch did plead and she swore an oath that as long as I remained true, her family line would be my protectors and companions. There is no doubt in my mind that thou art of that line.”
I blinked and asked, “Princess? Are you saying I was fated to be your guard?”
Princess Luna shook her head. “Fated? Certainly not. Ponies have free will. Guided? Perhaps… but thy cutie mark shows our bond. Thy flank is not the first to bear that crescent moon nor do I suspect it will be the last. The ponies I seek are also of thine ancestor’s line. That is why it must be thee to do this work.”
It was a lot to take in. Did I have an instinctual knowledge of my obligation that motivated me to step forward all that time ago? Had the princess recognized my cutie mark and assumed that I was oathbound to her? Was I necessary to find the ponies she sought and did that cause her to treat me differently?
No… that was not like Princess Luna. She treated the other ponies that protected her just as well. Besides, her motivations didn’t matter; fate or not, I was honored to protect her.
My eyes rose and met hers. “I am proud to be sworn to you if it is so, and honored that you’ll remember me when I’m gone. To be honest, I don’t know where I’d be without you, but I know that right now I would be far lonelier. I’m lucky to be close to you.”
Princess Luna looped a hoof around me. “Thou art a good pony and a fine companion, Silent Knight. Make no mistake: thou matterest to me and I shall always remember our time together.”
My rigid stance fell away and I returned the hug tighter than I probably should have. Being told you matter by anypony is wonderful. Having an alicorn say it is indescribable. It simply can’t be put into words. In that moment it was something I had needed and the loneliness I had been feeling lifted.
It was also in that moment I knew that I'd do anything to protect the princess. Go to any lengths, walk through any fire, and do whatever it took to ensure her safety. Just like the oath demanded.
“Thank you,” I whispered as we held each other.
It dawned on me that I’d probably never see Princess Luna in the same light again. We’d shared a moment, however brief, where we were just ponies. She had generously given me a glimpse into what it was like to be her.
There is a lot of literature available on alicorns and, if I know anything, I know that most of it is just guesses. How many books are there by mortal ponies trying to make sense of a concept they cannot understand? My favorite quote was that alicorns are just regular ponies with sufficiently powerful magic.
Alicorns are ponies, too, without question. They make mistakes, feel emotions, and care about their fellow ponies. There is more to them than that: a power beyond unicorn magic. That isn’t something I understand but the one thing I do know, however, is that when you need them they are there. When you’re sad and alone, they will be with you.
They are hardly regular ponies. In my eyes, I came to view alicorns as living goddesses and I was proud to have the opportunity to protect one.
☾
The lieutenant relieved me a few hours later and I decided to head home. Princess Luna wasn’t going to be awake too much longer and games aren’t always fun with only two ponies. I also had a lot to think about. My father’s cutie mark did not contain a moon and yet, at the same time, Princess Luna was trapped for the vast majority of his life. Was my family’s oath excused while she was Nightmare Moon?
It was something I was still pondering when I reached my room. My attention immediately shifted after the door opened. There was no way what I was seeing was actually real. Winterspear and Iridescence were together on the bed… kissing. So much so it took them a moment to notice I had arrived.
“Oh!” Winterspear gasped as she pushed Iridescence aside. “Silent Knight, wait—”
I took a few steps inside and took my helmet off. My teeth clenched and I had to remind myself to keep my cool. Iridescence opened her mouth and I lifted a hoof. “If you’ll excuse us, I’d like a word with my sister.”
She got the message and trotted out in a hurry. I shut the door a bit harder than I had intended, and when it slammed, Winterspear flinched. I wasn’t sure what to say. In fact, I didn’t have anything to say that wouldn’t be regretted later. In an instant, I had gone from calm to furious. Too angry to be rational, so I turned and reached for the door handle. It was best if I just left.
Winterspear pleaded, “Wait, Silent Knight, please let me explain!”
Pausing, I replied cooly, “Explain.”
“I kept it a secret because I didn’t want to hurt you. I was afraid you’d get angry and send me away and, when it started, if it had ever been a choice between you and her, it would have been you.”
“And this is better?”
“No! Of course not, but there was another reason I didn’t say anything!” She sighed. “I didn’t think it would last. You didn’t see it, but I did. She’d look at you with regret. I thought she just wanted me because I was the next closest pony, her second place prize.”
I frowned and stamped a hoof. “Why would you let her do that to you? You deserve better!” My feelings switched just like that, from anger at my sister to confusion and concern for her.
Winterspear’s ears fell and she lowered her head. “Caramel Mint hurt me really badly. I asked her to marry me and she left me on the spot. She said we were barely a fling. I was just a pony to have a good time with. I never told you… I didn’t want to seem so pathetic. When Iridescence showed interest in me… any interest…”
Tears fell from her eyes. “I just didn’t want to be alone anymore, Silent Knight. Even if I only had her for a little while.”
Moving quickly, I pulled my sister into a tight embrace. “Silly pony,” I whispered softly.
She cried on my shoulder. “I love her, Silent Knight, and I think she actually loves me. I’ve wanted to tell you but I didn’t know how… but if us being together is too much to bear, I’ll break it off. I will right now. I won’t lose my only brother.”
I shook my head and stroked down her back. “Silly pony,” I repeated. “If she makes you happy, I think I can be happy for you. What she and I had was fine, but we work better as friends. No more secrets though, okay? I’m a big stallion. I can take it.”
Winterspear quickly nodded, wiping her eyes. “I promise. No more lies. I need to go get her—”
Stepping back from my sister, I said sternly, “No. She and I need to have words.”
My sister lifted a hoof to protest, saw my look, and lowered it. How could I have been so blind? I turned and left the room intent on finding Iridescence.
I didn’t have to try too hard because she was waiting outside. I’ll give her credit: she wasn’t a coward. She had not run away a second time. I stalked over to her and looked her over. She looked back, deep shame in her eyes.
“Dot was confused about me being a stallion,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Mare potion?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Not something you normally do?”
“Yes.”
“If you hurt my sister, we’re done. If you’re just playing with her because we’re not together, I’ll never forgive you. Ever. Iridescence, I swear I’ll make your life a living nightmare. She isn’t a second place ribbon. Am I perfectly clear?”
Iridescence looked me in the eye and said, “Crystal clear. I promise it isn’t about you. I’m not going to stand here and swear that it will work out, because life doesn’t work that way. Look at what happened with us. I will swear that it isn’t about you, though. What she and I have would have happened with or without you. Is that good enough?”
“I’m a big enough stallion to know that is as good a promise as one can give in the matters of the heart.” I leaned in close and Iridescence stiffened, prepared to take a verbal blow. I whispered, “Be good to her. Her last mare was cruel and broke her heart. She is in love with you.”
She nodded, swallowed, and asked softly, “We’re… okay then?”
“Celestia, no. Not at all, but for her sake I’m going to walk away.”
I left Iridescence there. She looked stunned and I felt like I needed a drink. Sometimes it is tough being the bigger pony.
☾
It seems like the Spearhead Tavern was not a popular location late on Hearts and Hooves Day. I had the whole bar to myself while I sat, drinking cider.
“Rough night?”
I turned to find the captain at my shoulder. “I couldn’t even begin to explain,” I said and then tilted my head. “Didn’t you have a special evening planned with Lady Cadence tonight?”
Shining Armor sat down next to me and ordered a round for the both of us. “I did. Something really great actually. Dinner, a play, and such. Midway through the play I was summoned on royal business. Cadence took it gracefully but I’m sure she is long asleep by now. I’ll have to make it up to her tomorrow. What’s on your mind?”
“I don’t understand mares,” I explained simply.
“Said every stallion that ever lived,” the captain finished for me. “What specifically this time?”
I wasn’t sure I should say. Was this private? Looking over to the captain, I shrugged. Why not? He had never seemed to judge anything before. “I caught Iridescence and Winterspear together.”
“Oh. By Celestia,” he started and put down bits for more cider. “That is not what I was expecting. How’re you handling that?”
“I was quite angry at first, then I felt bad for Winterspear and my desire to protect her kicked in. Right now, I would very much like to punch something. I’m so confused… Do all mares like other mares?”
The captain shook his head. “I don’t think so, otherwise society might fall apart. No foals and all that. Some ponies like both, though. I guess Iridescence does.”
“Why my sister? Is it because of me? Or is it really unrelated? This is just so confusing,” I replied before I drained my mug and picked up the newly arrived one.
“I’m sure it is,” he mused over his mug. “So what now?”
I shrugged. “The career thing is working out pretty well. I figure I’ll just keep that up. Plus, I’ve got good friends. Maybe that is enough.”
Shining Armor frowned and said, “Don’t say that. If you wall yourself off, you may miss something you’ll regret missing later in life.”
That was certainly easy for him to say. He was married to a unicorn that almost rivaled the princesses in beauty. I thought about that and sighed. He was also right, though. Sometimes I hate when he does that. “Yeah… yeah…”
“Good,” Shining Armor replied before patting me on the back. “Now, unless you have any other plans, I’d like to rant a while about the work-related idiocy that interrupted my evening. Would that be fine?”
That sounded like a good plan to me. I had nowhere to be and it would be a good distraction. Plus, I wanted to know what was so important that they had to go pull the captain out of a play. “By all means, sir. Anything to take my mind off the idea of my sister and my ex being together.”
Shining Armor shifted on the stool, waved at the bartender, and then gestured for more cider as he said to me, “You’re probably going to need another. My thing isn’t nearly good enough to distract from that.”
I'm a little confused by the reference to the 'Mare potion'. I understand Irid. is bi, and probably brought home other mares. I also understand Silent was doused in the potion earlier and became a mare, all be it briefly...
I don't much understand Dot making mention of it though unless Irid. uses it or something... but... she's a natural mare right?
I'm gonna be honest- I guessed Winterspear and Iridescence would be a thing, but I didn't know it already was. Great Chapter!
5678308 Each line was a reference to a past "clue" not so much a complete thought. Iridescence kept the "mare potion" after Silent Knight's mishap. Presumably to use on him again. Dot was confused that her sister was with a Stallion. Each separate incidents =D
Silent Knight is as tough as nails to have handled that as well as he did.
I love your story plain and simple. The story shows a realistic progression of character evolution over time with a well paced plot-line. And it touches on and explores several aspects of every day life such as love, duty, work as well as handling such aspects in a very real manner. You finish it off by throwing curve balls and bits of history and insight where it's appropriate. Plus it's not too over the top. See you Monday
5678339 Silent Knight role
be this when they were couple?
Well my opinion of Iridescence has gone waaaaaaay down. Cant wait for bat pony's!!!!!!!
Called it. I still can't believe that I missed the thing with the polymorph potion....
In other news, I found errors: In the section where Luna is talking to Silent Knight, the ends of the paragraphs shouldn't have quotation marks on them since the same person is speaking immediately at the beginning of the next paragraph. The other is this line right here:
That "is" should be an "art".
Other than that, my comment from the last chapter stands. I'm still not convinced that legit bat ponies are a thing, and Shining questioning Silent on what he does on his off time like that worries me.
I knew it! I had a suspicion those two were together. wow. I can't wait for the next chapter. Thanks for the update, and you are forgiven that this chapter is two weeks late.
And then it happened.
5678344 He handled the moment well for sure. We'll see how he does going forward!
5678433 Very much appreciated and indeed! Next up on Monday. March is going to be a BIG month for Memoirs.
5678436 I laughed when I saw the link! More or less Iridescence is strongly into females. Silent Knight was an anomaly.
5678438 One thing that concerned me when I charted out the plot for the story was that fans might not forgive her. We'll see!
5678466 Good catch on the is/art. As far as the quotes you're 100% correct but it is an intentional error on my part. I know the rule I just disagree with it ;)
5678510 ^_^ Thank ya!
5678571 It did!
So I was reading along, and it was all... huh, Silent's getting over it pretty quick. I was kind of hoping that this reveal (which I totally saw coming, by the by) was going to have at least a bit of lasting repercussion, but...
... Oh. Huh. Well. I guess that's what I asked for. But now I'm not sure how to feel! My friendshipping is in danger!
Also... you put out another story for this universe, huh. It's not enough to have me hooked on one story, you've got to use it to get me into another? And does it end there, or do you wait in the wings to smack me with even more? Memoirs was just the bait for your evil scheme to steal my life and my freedom, wasn't it? Wasn't it?
Sigh... I'll go read it. Just throwing myself into the jaws of the beast. Damn but you've got me in your trap good.
5678844 And all the drama... of no... it's not okay.
Damn I should've seen that one coming...Ah well. I can understand how he felt though upon seeing Iri and Winter together. And props for Iri not running away like a little bitch. She has improved a bit. On another note, I think SK being of thestral lineage is freaking cool. That explains his ears in all those pictures of him. I am very curious as to how this will turn out. Hopefully the thestrals haven't totally disappeard.
Hmmmmm... Wouldn't Silent have to stop being Luna's house guard if they become involved? Y'know, for the same reason that Silent couldn't date Iridescence when he was her superior.
Shining and Silent are drinking buddies? I forsee much bro-ness, and I approve.
5679281 They occasionally get out and about together. With a respectable distance.
5679280 Dating the pony you protect is a big no-no, yes.
5678918 A little more reveal for sure. More in the future of course ;D
5678854 I do what I do ;D Hopefully you'll enjoy the story as much as this one. It is something very different for me though. It will tie in though and expand the world. Of course I can't promise that those two are it!
That was fun. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Oooo scandalous with his sister and iridescence. But i digress. It was a nice chapter, And it was nice to see some back-story about how there is a crescent moon on his mark and why he was compelled to volunteer to be one of Luna's guards. I could see them as a brother/sister sorta relationship in my opinion.
5678339 >< how did I miss that?
Isn't Cadence an alicorn?
5680358
In this AU, Cadance is a unicorn for reasons of extreme plot significance that haven't been explained yet.
5678844
Then it's a good thing I'm not your editor, lol. There are a lot of grammar rules that can be given leeway in fiction writing, but ones that impact the clarity of the writing are not on that list for me. I would ninja-fix those so hard. >.<
On other news, I saw that little quip you put in at the end when Silent asked if all mares are into other mares, and I swear, if Velvet and Crystal really are in lesbians with each other and you've been trolling me this whole time with all the shipping hints there I will be so mad at you. This is not the one time for Silent to actually be right about something like that. He already had his moment when he noticed Miley and Runic, he doesn't get another success like that until he puts more ranks in sense motive.
Also, I've changed my shipping goggles from looking at Crystal to Velvet. It's still up in the air, cause Velvet hasn't had much interaction with Silent yet, and he definitely has his eyes on Crystal, but I saw what Crystal was doing when the two of them took him out to lunch. She was totally playing the wingmare there. Velvet's got her eyes on him and Crystal is trying to help her succeed.
5680358 For this particular AU Cadence is a unicorn. It is crucial to the plot but the reasoning has not yet been revealed.
5679870 Happens to us all!
5680530 5680663
Huh. I must have missed that. Still an excellent story so far.
Iridescence... no, just no, she was cool at first, but, wow, that's just, mean, I can't, no....
I still ship Iridescent Knight
I wouldn't mind the Lunar Knight ship, as long as he's a douchbag to Iridescence
great story (you've got me making ship names...), I dislike Iridescence though (as stated above)
now I'm gonna go pretend like I don't actually care about the fictional pony story...
5680663
I wonder if part of the reason for Knight's anger is the possibility that she might have used him to hide her
sexuality ? If so bad, bad girl Iridescent .
5681183
Nah, I don't think you need to worry about that. The way she acted around him was too genuine. She really is his friend and she really cares about him, just not physically.
Just finished catching up.
Incredible story. Those down voters have no idea about good literature. Yes everyone has there own taste but still. Amazing character development as well as plot. It's not rushed and flows exceedingly smoothly from one chapter to the next. I know that it is about Silent's time in the guard, but I am getting the feeling that that is not the actual overarch.
Love the transition between serious and comedic. The comedic parts literally made me LOL, verging on ROFL.
Totally saw the IridescencexWinterspear ship coming a mile away.
If I may be so bold, my own story is in the infant stage, but I know that Avid wouldn't mind appearing here at some point.
Can't wait to see what happens next.
If you keep the LunaKnight ship you end up marrying th3m in the next chapter.
WinterspearXIrid. Nice. Predicted.
5681183 That is certainly a valid notion. It wasn't my intent in this case but I could absolutely see having done it that way. The intent was more that Iridescence was trying something different. Seeing her with his sister really blind-sided Silent Knight.
5681611 I'm glad you're caught up! Thank you kindly for all of the praise and thoughts. It really is appreciated =D I'm really happy the story is to your liking! I do actually do cameos when they make sense so it isn't an impossibility. It largely depends on the OC and who has all asked (I try to be fair to everyone). More importantly though it has to serve the story in some way. Feel free to write me a note sometime to let me know what you had in mind.
5681622 I don't think there will be a wedding in Monday's chapter ;)
5681738 Oh, wow - your here? Good. I just started writing something. Something-something. You want to pre-read? I just have... 19 words.
yea, nee aj now.
You can hope. I personaloy like weddings. There always a see of vodka!
There we go, Silent really is descended from ponies that served Luna a thousand years ago, and they looked different than he does, too. It's seeming pretty likely that he's got some batpony blood as was theorized by someone in the comments a few chapters ago.
Oh snap, now it's out in the open.
Dang, that conversation with Winterspear was really kind of sad. So much self doubt. Good on Silent for controlling himself and not saying anything he might regret to his sister or to his friend.
Holy... didn't see that one coming.
But on a side note, I love how you work Shining and Silent together as friends/confidents. I think that just fits in so well with how I imagine Shining Armour. This writing is too good!
Just curious... Do you ever intend on getting Slient into a relationship at all? Just curious... wait, I said that twice...
I'm now reading the comment section. Was I the only one who didn't see IriSpear coming? Wow.
Much stupid. Such wow
dogeforall.biz/images/loader_loaded.png
So much awesome. I pre-read for another author, and keep trying to get him to read this. I know he'll love it as much as I do.
I like the ear tufts. That's a great detail, and very well done. You're very good at giving us a detail today, and making it suddenly important in a month. Rather than surprising us with a detail that should have been there all along as soon as it's relevant. A trick not everyone is good at, but you pull it off very well.
So, where do I sign up to join the Crystal Wishes/Silent Knight Shipping Fan Club? Cause, come on. She's still after her knight in shining armor, and, well, he's a knight in shining armor with a big romantic streak.
Holy fuck, I did it, I caught up... Yay!
5683668 Alright! Welcome to all of the latest in all things Memiors!
5683293 Thank you for all of the praise, it is truly appreciated! I'm not sure where each ship headquarters is but I'm sure we can find the one for Silent Wishes ;D
5683227 I'm glad you're enjoying the story! I don't want to spoil anything for readers but I'll say this: Silent Knight is the protagonist in a romance tagged story and good things come to ponies that are patient. =D
5682638 To be honest that scene always gets me a bit. It is tough to read how deeply Winterspear was wounded. I'm proud of how it all came out.
5681744 That made me laugh ;D
I feel really bad for Silent Knight... and not just because the thing between Iridescence and Winterspear. There is nothing worse than getting to feel really good (Luna) and then something happening to completely reverse the entire day (Irispear)
5681744 That's cool and all, but what does it have to do with this?
5684466
You're right! Silent Wishes is great. Or Crystal Knight. But what about that Romance tag, hmm? So Silent is the protagonist. He also just had a terrible experience with a mare who dumped him out of the blue, then started snogging his sister, right in front of him. He's also been developing a very, very close kinship with his Captain, so much so that the pair of them are sitting in a bar all alone on Hearts and Hooves Day, as I recall. One can only imagine.
Uhh. Is Cadance not an alicorn in this timeline? Or is Silent dense enough to not know the facts or hear how the changeling invasion do?
Love your story! Keep up the good work <3
5688668 Thank you very much! I'm really glad to have you along.
5688581 She very much is not. Cadence is a unicorn for a reason that has not yet been revealed.
5688940
Wait, what? WHAT?! So, is she a Princess or not?
Wait wait wait... Then how does Chrysalis' invasion make sense at all? How does anything of the future gonna make sense?!
I DEMAND YOU FIX REALITY RIGHT NOW!
5688991 She is currently "Lady Cadence." There are currently only two mentioned princesses and two alicorns.
Cadence is a unicorn and still has her love magic so Chrysalis tapped into that. Basically it went the same way as the show. Just with unicorns.
Although fun thought. When/if I do the Crystal Empire it is going to be hilarious when/if Shining Armor tosses her off the balcony.
5689014
I doubt her magic will be enough to shield the empire, though. Bear in mind that Alicorn Cadance *barely* kept Sombra at bay.
Explain to me how Twilight and Cadance escaped the Crystal Caverns. I dare you. I double dare you.
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121027072812/mlp/images/a/ac/Twilight_Cadance_flying_S2E26.png
5689021 In the show, sure. This is AU though ;)
As to how they escaped: images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/22100000/Rarity-With-Wings-rarity-the-unicorn-22124994-850-930.jpg
5689041
*glares at you, slamming a button on his giant evil chair*
I'll get you yet, inspector!
aww, but i wanted to hear the rant!
the bit with luna was very interesting... i wonder just how many ponies were serving luna back in the night.
i saw the iriXspear coming, but it didn't make it any easier to take. and wow, caramel mint is a btch! i'd only inflict that sort of suffering on my worst enemies.
YES!! finally, somepony who allows the explanation! that gets me annoyed at so many characters when they don't allow explanations. would it be so hard to wait a minute and get a much better grasp on the situation?
no kidding.
thoroughly enjoyable chapter, and i'm looking forward to seeing how miley and runic's date turned out.