22. Move Forwards
Rain struck and bounced off my armor as I stood in the muddy field. Black clouds had long since blocked out the sun. How long ago that had happened I wasn’t sure, but it must have been hours. For all I knew, it was the middle of the night, and all I knew was I didn’t care.
I picked up the pace, trotting faster. It was a bad idea to stay where I was. The oozing terrain clung to my hoofguards, pulling against me as I moved. The effort it took was slowly wearing me out.
From behind, I heard them again. Loud, cackling mares and the sound of hooves galloping closer. They were coming and I was in no shape to defend myself.
It was a struggle to move on, but I did. There was a stone rise ahead. If I could reach it, my hooves would be free of the strangling mud. Then I could escape.
Little knight, little knight, your coat's so bright.
With little warning, the heavy rain shifted from falling straight down to battering my face. It smelled of iron and stung my eyes. Without being able to see clearly where I was going, my forehooves slipped and I fell face first into the muck. As I scrambled to get up, one of my hoofguards came free, revealing my blood-caked hoof.
Crippled knight, crippled knight, soul as black as night.
“No!” I howled, pushing myself up and galloping forwards.
Thunderous hooffalls drew closer and closer from the rear, filling my ears and causing them to ring. I looked over my shoulder and started to panic.
Two onyx mares were gaining on me, their wispy, pale manes trailing freely in the wind. Flames spilled from their vacant, blind eyes, but somehow I knew they were looking at me.
Wherever they stepped, fire erupted, their hooves blazing. All I could do was struggle while it seemed clear that the bloody rain and mud were no challenge for them. They both lit their horns and lowered their heads to aim at me.
Evil knight, evil knight, how many bled?
A tendril of flame sprang from each of their horns and wrapped around my hindlegs, burning them mercilessly. I bucked and struggled but I couldn’t break their grasp. As I screamed in pain and terror, they dragged me towards them.
“Let go! Let me go!”
They pulled me closer and closer until I was near enough to hear them clearly. “Do not fear, little knight, soon you’ll be like us. Serve the Night Mares.”
With what little energy I had left, I rolled over on my back and swung at the nearest mare. My hoof caught her right in the muzzle. Pain exploded along it from the force of the blow, but when my vision cleared, the mare hadn’t even budged.
Dread knight, dread knight, you'll serve until you're dead!
Slowly, my dragoon helmet floated towards me.
“Please… don’t…”
As the helmet started to slide into place, lightning arched through the sky, illuminating the whole field.
The mares’ heads quickly shot up, looking in the direction of the rise I’d tried to reach. I struggled to turn that way, too, but it was difficult with the helmet halfway on. At least until it was ripped free by some kind of white bird.
“Be gone!”
“Silent! Silent!”
“No!” I struggled against the tendrils holding my hooves. They’d somehow gotten to my shoulders.
“Silent, wake up! You’re screaming.”
I pushed away from the tendrils. This time they came off easily. Then I fell.
Crystal’s head appeared over me. “Silent, are you okay? Are you awake?”
Crystal? Why was she here? Where was I? This looked like the floor of my old bedroom. I glanced at my hooves. They were clean. I wasn’t in armor. My heart was racing. “Night Mares.”
“Yes, yes, you had a nightmare.”
“No, Night Mares.”
“Okay, you had nightmares. It’s okay, Silent, you don’t look hurt. Why don’t you climb back into bed? I’ll pet your mane.”
That was a tempting offer but the floor also seemed like a fairly good place to stay. I wonder if this was why Tumble had slept under the bed.
Crystal reached her hoof down to me. I took it. It was warm. It was comforting. Carefully, I climbed back into bed and she stroked my mane. “We should go see Luna.”
“Okay,” I whispered, half suspecting I already had.
“You’ll be okay. Tumble got through it, you will, too.”
“Okay.”
Thunder Tumble hadn’t done what I had, but I’d just have to trust Crystal. If I couldn’t trust her, I couldn’t trust anypony.
☾
The sun had barely risen when Crystal and I trotted through the main gates of the palace complex. I didn’t recognize any of the guards at the entry points, but they all seemed to know me.
So many of them had shaken my hoof after patting me on the back. It was weird. Nopony had so much as bothered to check if I still had an active pass. They all just waved us through. The security was lax. What if the gryphons attacked?
Attack the palace? Really? I guess that was a pretty stupid notion. Things were different here. The guards here didn’t get attacked. They didn’t have to look out for ambushes. They just had to keep the citizens out of secured areas.
There were less guards than normal, though. We’d always had more when I was here. Had they sent so many to Nordanver that other units were understaffed? Why weren’t there guards at all the interior doors off the main rotunda?
“Are you nervous?” Crystal whispered as we trotted down the central palace hall.
“Huh?”
“You look nervous.”
Did I? “Oh… just assessing for threats.”
Crystal stopped. I took four more steps before stopping too and looking back at her.
“Silent, there aren’t any threats here. You’re not going to… to…”
“What? To do what?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Nevermind, it was just an odd thing to say. There aren’t any threats here. Come on.”
From the core of the palace, we made the turn into Princess Luna’s wing. It was larger than I remembered. Perhaps a third round of renovations?
When we got to the first checkpoint manned by the House Guard, I was pleased to see a familiar face: Div.
Surprise and shock crossed that face before it shifted to a big grin. “I’d heard you were back, sir, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”
“Me, too,” I chuckled. Although I was only half kidding. “Can I see the princess?”
He looked down at his clipboard and asked with practiced care, “Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Ah, well that sucks for the next pony that does. I think you still know the way?”
“I sure hope so.” I took two steps forwards but Div reached a hoof to lightly touch my chest.
“Sir… I apologize. You can go, but we do a little more checking these days. It’s not personal.”
My head tilted. “No problem, but what do you mean?”
Div cleared his throat. “You’re in uniform, so I just need to pat you down for small weapons and then look under your wings. Mrs. Wishes, you’re fine, I can see you’re not armed.”
He didn’t start. He just looked at me, waiting. An appreciated show of respect. The sad thing was, as odd as it made me feel, I respected it. I’d almost brought a dagger with me. Habit.
I nodded at him firmly. “Do your duty, Div.” I lifted both of my wings and stood still while he checked me over. He was diligent as he looked under each wing, taking care with the ruined one. Then he started patting my uniform in various spots. The last bit of the check was more of a hug. Actually, it was a hug disguised as a pat down. That was okay, too.
“You’re set, sir. I hope when you’re done you’ll consider stopping by the squad room? There are a lot of ponies here that would like to see you in a less formal setting.”
“That would be nice. We’ll catch up then,” I replied before trotting into the area of the palace that was designated for Princess Luna. All in all, the designers had kept the décor of the palace the same: tall columns, stained glass windows, white stone. The accents just heavily relied on blue, purple, and evening themes.
By comparison, Princess Celestia’s wing was predominantly colored gold and blue. It was a nice contrast but I’d always preferred being in Princess Luna’s wing. Of course, I was also incredibly biased.
As we walked down the hall towards the princess’s quarters, all of the House Guards stood to attention. That was perfectly normal, but when they did it now there was an extra level of polish and respect. Most of these ponies I’d known for my whole career and to their credit, they all kept their positions.
That didn’t stop Harvest Moon and Cloud Lance from grinning widely when we approached the large set of double doors that marked Princess Luna’s private office.
“Sir,” they both said with a polite nod of the head.
“We’re here to see the princess. Though I’ve been invited back to the squad room later,” I replied.
Harvest smiled. “Yes, sir, that sounds good.”
He knocked twice, waited a second, and then opened the doors. “Princess, Mrs. Wishes and Major Knight to see you.”
“Send them in!” the princess called excitedly.
“After you,” Crystal said teasingly.
I took a deep breath. For some reason, my stomach was quivering with nerves. That was okay, nerves were okay. I drew myself up to my full height and walked through the door.
Princess Luna was standing in the center of the room, staring my way. She looked relatively the same as the last time I’d seen her… though probably a little taller? Perhaps she’d grown more in power.
Her teal eyes looked wiser and, in a way, sadder. Even though it was clear she was elated, I could sense there was a weariness surrounding her. She took two steps towards me. “Little stallion.”
“Hello, Princess,” I replied as professionally as I could. This felt awkward. We’d been apart for so long and I hadn’t left on the best of terms. I’d made some pretty poor decisions. We’d also made some poor ones together. Then she took responsibility for them all.
She took a few more steps towards me. My hooves took me a few towards her. Then, before I knew it, they hurried the rest of the way so I could wrap my forelegs around her in a tight embrace. Whatever confused feelings that were between us before didn’t seem to matter.
The princess seemed ill content to just hold me similarly. Her large, elegant wings enveloped my whole body as she crushed me against her chest. “You’re home,” she whispered.
I nodded eagerly, rubbing my cheek against her coat. I’d missed her so much. I’d been a fool to ever leave her Guard. This is where I should have been: at home with my wife and my princess. My wife… oh. “Luna.”
“Hmm?” she asked as she nuzzled between my ears.
“Crystal is here, too.”
“Hmm?” The grand alicorn’s head lifted and she chimed, “Oh! Crystal Wishes, my apologies. I… um… Yes, well, I recognize that he is your husband, but for the moment I claim royal privilege.”
From over my shoulder and outside the wings, I heard Crystal start to giggle. “Well, far be it from me to stand between the Princess of the Night and her Knight.”
Princess Luna huffed. “That is a work of fiction and you know it! My love for Silent Knight is strictly platonic.”
“And you wonder where I received my inspiration, my dear Princess?”
My ears perked up. Since when had Crystal gotten so comfortable with the princess? “There is plenty of me to go around,” I said, muffled against Luna’s chest.
Princess Luna nodded and held me a bit tighter. “Your point is made. If you’d have a seat but for a moment, I would very much like to hold my knight a bit longer.”
Crystal cheerfully replied, “Of course, Princess.”
The princess’s attention turned back to me. “You have been processed? Sessions set up, professionals arranged? We have invested heavily in the care of soldiers returning.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“And you will go see them.”
That was more of a statement than a question. “Yes, Princess.”
“And you will return to Canterlot permanently?”
Would I? Didn’t I have a job protecting the governor? Probably not, actually. That wasn’t a post you could leave open two years. “I’ll need a job.”
“In time. I will see to it you are stationed in Canterlot once you decide what you want to do.”
Idly, I nosed at her chest, thinking about that concept. “Isn’t that an abuse of power?”
“A small one and Minister Sombra knows of my fondness for you. He’ll concede to my demands. After all, he is m—”
From somewhere behind me, there was a thunderous crash. It was the sound of doors being slammed open followed by armored ponies colliding. Perhaps in the reverse order? I stiffened in surprise and Princess Luna’s wings went up. “What is the meaning of thi— oh.” She grinned a bit.
I turned around to find Miley Hooves laying just inside the door, all four of her legs splayed out. Sunny Day was piled on top of her, similarly off her hooves. Mountain Stone, for whatever reason, was on top of them both, eyes closed.
“Sergeant, if you don’t get off of me this instant, I swear I’ll transfer you so far north of the Crystal Empire you’ll be able to make ice cubes by crying!” Sunny gasped. Her yellow coat, fiery orange mane, and golden armor stood out against the dark coats and armor of my previous subordinates so that I could actually tell where she was in the heap.
“All due respect, ma’am, if you don’t get off my bladder, this floor is going to turn into a slip and slide,” Miley squealed while flailing her hooves.
Mountain just grunted and slowly rolled off to the side, landing with a thump. He still looked dazed.
Sunny scrambled off of Miley and brushed herself off. “Well… pardon us, Princess. We were just listening outside the door. I mean looking for trouble outside the door. We were outside the door.”
Princess Luna finally let me go but rested her hoof on my back when I turned to face the calamity that used to be crack house guards. “I see. And while you were outside the door, what happened?”
Miley pointed an accusatory hoof at Sunny, “She tried to push me out of the way so she could look through the key hole.”
Sunny gasped, “Traitor! Insubordination!”
The little brown mare scrambled up onto her hooves and glared at Sunny. “Pushy, bossy officer!”
Mountain groaned a little and slowly got up. He settled himself between the mares and waved at me. “Welcome back, sir.”
“Thank you, Mountain.”
Miley was already scrambling over the big, grey stallion, trying to get at Sunny before turning to me. “Oh, right! Hi, Silent Knight!”
“Hi, Miley.”
Sunny trotted right over, peering at me curiously. “Azurite said you were home. I said she was full of cake. I guess I owe her an apology… and, coincidentally, a cake. We had a bet.” Her eyes narrowed briefly and she idly swatted over my head a moment before looping her hooves around me.
“Hey! How come she gets to hug him first?” Miley cried before coming over and hugging me, too, pressing her side against Sunny as if trying to edge her out.
Sunny wiggled back, also bumping Miley. It was nice to be loved, but at the moment the kind of love was a bit overwhelming and certainly confusing. Friend mares should not be wiggling up against me.
It was about that time that I realized somepony was giggling uncontrollably. Through the various hugs I looked over to see my beautiful wife holding her belly. I started to chuckle. This was ridiculous. Ridiculous and perfect.
I looped a hoof around each of them and said, “It is nice to see you both. Now that your careers are over, we’ll be able to spend more time together.”
Miley poked at my nose. “Princess Luna wouldn’t fire me! Right, Princess?”
“Probably not.”
“See, proba— Hey!”
Princess Luna softly laughed and finally shifted back up onto her hooves. She made her way over to sit next to Crystal and sighed. “Well, it is good that some things can get back to normal.”
“Is this normal?” I asked.
Sunny leaned back and nodded. “Uh, yeah. The palace has been a little weird without you. And don’t get me started on when Azurite was over there. Literally nothing happened. Every day was just… bland. Soarin and I just… like… exercised and went to work.”
Miley nodded. “Totally bland. I didn’t even break anything. Runic stopped blowing things up. All he ever does is work on making stronger and stronger armor.”
“Isn’t it being peaceful a good thing?”
“No!” the mares said in unison.
“It’s been so dark and dull…” Sunny complained.
Mile agreed, “Yup! Nothing fun. Just… you know, war. Now you’re back, though! Things will be great. Maybe stuff will happen.”
Mountain Stone grunted in agreement.
Princess Luna cleared her throat. “Let us hope the stuff, as you say, is mundane and harmless. Such as dying my coat golden. Now, as I believe I am still co-ruler of this kingdom, I’d like for everypony that isn’t Silent Knight and Crystal Wishes to leave for a bit. We have some catching up to do. Then I’ll send them out to play, schedules permitting.”
“Oh! Of course, Princess, sorry, Princess,” Miley squeaked before backing up. She bumped into Mountain who started backing up, too.
“See ya later, Silent!” Sunny chirped before trotting out, shutting the doors with her magic.
From the other side, it sounded like somepony knocked over a suit of armor. I just shrugged and went over to the seating area. I settled on the couch opposite of the mares.
The princess smiled and looked at me. “If it wasn’t obvious, you were missed. I haven’t seen them act so foolishly in a while. It was heartening.”
“That is good. I think. That was about as unprofessional as it gets. Still, I’ll go see them all when we’re caught up and I’m done with all of my appointments for today. I have appointments every day now.”
“Indeed you do, and you’ll be keeping them or Radiant Orchid will hunt you down. Along those lines of adjusting to your new life, where will you and Crystal be living during this time of transition?”
Crystal looked up and smiled, “In his old quarters. Winterspear pretty much stays with Iridescence and Dot.”
Princess Luna lightly set her hoof on her chin. “Is that really fitting for an Army major and a famous author?”
Army major? Not for long. I cleared my throat. “I’m… I’m not going to stay in the Army. As soon as I finish my recovery program and it is time for my next assignment, I’m going to use my right of return back to the Guard… or retire if for some reason I can’t.”
The princess and Crystal both looked at me in shock. Silence fell over the room. Awkward, uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Princess Luna nodded. “I understand. Forgive me for assuming you’d stay with the Army. You’re still a major, however, and she is still a famous author. There must be quarters fitting for your station in life. Plus, now that you’re back you’ll, perhaps, want foals?”
Crystal’s cheeks flushed and I sputtered, “I just got back!”
Luna pumped a forehoof across her chest. “No time like the present! You’ll need a bigger home for the foals to roam around in. Especially the pegasus ones. Perhaps you should come live in the palace?”
I held up my hooves. “No, nope, no thank you! I really appreciate that offer, but I think Crystal and I need a little space.”
Luna shook her head. “No, that is what I just explained, you need more space.”
Crystal giggled. “Well…”
The alicorn and I looked at her.
“Well, what?” I asked.
“There is this house I’ve kind of been looking at… it is really cute. I mean, it was really cute. It needs a lot of work, but I kept finding myself walking by it, thinking about when you’d come home. We should all go see it!”
Princess Luna nodded. “Yes, we should go see it! Right now.”
My brow raised. “Princess, don’t you have duties to attend to? A kingdom to help run? Appointments you expect me to attend?”
The alicorn frowned and poked her lips out. “Now I remember what it is really like having you here. Fine, we’ll go see it later.”
“Later is good,” Crystal replied, giggling behind a hoof.
That purchased me a moment’s reprieve. House hunting with the princess sounded overwhelming. The fact that Crystal was house hunting was overwhelming.
With a quick glance up at the princess’s clock, I realized it was almost ten already! That meant it was time to officially start day one of my reintegration. “Okay, well, I need to go. I have therapy soon and if I’m late, Mindful Soul will be upset. Can I leave Crystal here so you can fill her head with ideas that will all probably end horribly for me?”
Princess Luna got up, nuzzled my cheek, and nodded. “There was never any other possibility.”
“Lovely.” I kissed my wife goodbye and looked to the princess. “Thank you for stopping my nightmare last night.”
Her ear flicked in confusion. “Stopping your nightmare? I cannot take credit for that. Long ago, you asked me to protect others instead of you. Were you to be freed of it, it was not my doing.”
“Oh… well… thanks anyway.” I trotted on my way. Being back was weird. Really, really weird. First, life was on hold, and now everypony just wanted me to get back to it. Back to it as if I’d been living it for the last two years. That felt like a huge order. Hopefully Mindful could help me with that.
A bit of a silly ending but I've been eager to put a bit more comedy in. Getting back to the old SK/Luna misunderstandings! Of course there was that dream though! Have fun parsing that!
If you are enjoying this story, please consider taking a look at Crystal and my's website QuillnBlade.com for extra content such as mini stories, an Ask Us form to submit questions, responses to said questions, and special rewards for the awesome folks who support our Patreon.
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I really want Princess Luna to go house hunting with Silent & Crystal now, lol.
Ok, that had me almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Love the Luna and SK dynamic. Almost like a doting mother embarrassing her son in front of the girlfriend.
How odd that Luma hasn't mentioned the dragons that shifted the war's direction.
...
...
What was she about to say?
another good chapter, Well done.
7423341 I don't know, but my shipper senses are tingling.
7423369...
...
...
NOOOOO!
I missed this so much!! This is the SK we all know and love!
When Silent tried to hit a mare in his nightmare, for a moment, I thought Crystal might got hurt. Luckily, it was just me being too pessimistic. I'll try not to think of more possibilities of what Luna might have said about Sombra. I have enough possible sentences in mind already and some of them sound silly. I'll wait patiently for the truth to be revealed in the near future, hopefully.
7423369
I thought she was going to say "my brother".
And the nightmares arrive. Hopefully SK terms his therapist about it, but I fear that he might brush it aside like a typical stallion. It's clear that the helmet embodies Dread Knight in his mind, but who are the Night Mares? Perhaps that Chekhov's Gun from the previous story is finally being fired?
:smooths his mane: Hello there...
:shocked: Your Majesty!
Very, very nice chapter. It came with a certain calmness, despite the horrid dreams. As always, looking forward for more!
The beginning of the chapter worried me there for a bit. But I'm so glad to see that Silent has Crystal.
I very much enjoyed the meeting with Luna. It is so nice to see that Silent still has his sense of humor and that he is welcome.
7423369
As are mine. Silent missed out on a lot and that means we'll be playing catch up with him. This is one of those things.
7423426
I was afraid of the same thing, too, so you aren't the only one.
Eeèeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best. Chapters. Ever. My arms are flailing a little from all the emotion.
I call The Crystal that Crystal got from PW
how much i waited for the SK&Luna reunion
Dred Knight
and now the night mares
So glad that they're going to stay in Canterlot. Crystal Empire didn't feel right.
7423320 Seconded. Once Luna disavowed helping out it was time to consider the white bird, which does lend itself to either Celestia or somepony aligned with her. It'll be interesting to see what happens when these Night Mares return; but do try to remember Silent, you have a lot of good ponies you can rely on. Probably more than most people could every hope to have, so don't be afraid to let them help you.
Aw ths is nice and now we wonder..
7423320
I was wondering this myself. Who is the white bird dreamwalker?
It seems like I can't wipe this smile off my face! He's home and everyone missed him and Luna is ridiculous and ugh! I love it so much.
Luna and Crystal, yeah your screwed SK, get use to it.
... out of curiosity, Anzel, have you a birthday coming up?
I ask for purely academic reasons, of course. I most certainly am not planning to suddenly show up at your place of employment, carrying roses and wearing a sequined tuxedo, announcing that I was there to carry you away. Not even if Crystal thinks that would be the best thing ever.
Especially if Crystal thinks that would be the best thing ever.
I just had a thought, that's all.
Well, that was a fun chapter
Definitely got a smile outta me. That's so Div. You really do write him well.
There are a lot of ponies here that would like to see Silent Knight back as the head of the house guard, but I have a feeling 'moving forward' won't mean going back to the past. Not to mention the history...and I don't think his wing problems would stop him from doing his duty to the utmost.
Hmm. looks at number of times he's said okay.
Oh.
... not helping the coming back feelings. Then again, as Willy Wonka once said. 'You have to go forwards to go back. Better press on.'
Well! She finally admits in front of Silent that that book was based on him and Luna. I don't think he realizes that, exactly. When it clicks, though...
THIS! All of this! Especially the bet with Azu and Sunny! And Miley!
*ahem*
Yeah, that was good. Needed some of that.
If there's anything I've learned in over eight months of married life, it's that
foalsbabies, I mean, come up a lot.These chapters need to be 3x as long and come out 3x as often.
I've missed these type of interactions began Silent and Luna, Silent and his former house guards, and especially Silent and Crystal. After all the dark war chapters, some light heartened fun was needed.
Hmn. PTSD nightmare, or actual dark magic corruption? Or both? Given the form and name that dark magic corrupted Luna took, this feels very much like it could be something deeper.
Huh.
Big gold star to Crystal for that idea.
Interesting. I wonder if this is just on account of the war, or if something happened to trigger it.
Hugs are a good thing, I approve.
Lovely reunion, and a very important one for the overall series. I'm curious about how the Luna and Crystal friendship develops into something so comfortable, presumably that'll be covered in Hopes.
Luna X Sombra, calling it now.
Lewd.
Hah!
Good reaction from Crystal to all of this.
Ahh, so back to the guard for Silent (assuming it works out, and with multiple top level government officials pushing for it, that seems like a safe assumption). Ooo, and a house for him in Crystal in Canterlot, also a good plan.
Now that's a recipe for disaster assuming my opening thoughts on the chapter are correct. Now is exactly when Silent needs a little alicorn nightmare policing, there are too many mysteries in play.
7423341
After all he is my son? Ok, i guess we have a suspect for who killed the other alicorns?
So...
...wasn't the entire point of visiting Luna to discuss the nightmares - a-HEM, Night Mares?
I'm, ummm... What?
I sure hope Sunny, of all ponies, can keep the ball rolling. 'Cause Princesses know somepony needs to.
I get the feeling that Nocturnia is not as gone as previously thought
I guess now Crystal will take Silent house hunting
This nightmare is really interesting. I wonder what Luna was saying about Sombra
7423813 I would pay to see that.
7424819 Huh, I didn't even take that as a shipping comment in waiting, I thought she was going to say "minister of foreign relations" which I thought we was. Yay for shipping!
7423813
I would love to see a picture of that.
Yes Anzel you succeeded in the comedy, I loved it! A very natural tone shift from the tense beginning towards the funny later. I love your Luna
7423369
Thinking about it, she might have been about to say something else. Like my heir. Dun dun DUN!
Now, shipping popped into my head first, too. But I mulled over it and have decided this is a perfectly acceptable interpretation.
“Sergeant, if you don’t get off of me this instant, I swear I’ll transfer you so far north of the Crystal Empire you’ll be able to make ice cubes by crying!” Sunny gasped. Her yellow coat, fiery orange mane, and golden armor stood out against the dark coats and armor of my previous subordinates so that I could actually tell where she was in the heap.
“All due respect, ma’am, if you don’t get off my bladder, this floor is going to turn into a slip and slide,” Miley squealed while flailing her hooves.
Mountain just grunted and slowly rolled off to the side, landing with a thump. He still looked dazed.
Sunny scrambled off of Miley and brushed herself off. “Well… pardon us, Princess. We were just listening outside the door. I mean looking for trouble outside the door. We were outside the door.”
ROFL.
Though I do have to ask why the initial commotion that was their entrance didn't send Silent on edge, like it seemed to do with Luna. After all, he is still recovering from his trip to a warzone.
Miley Hooves is definitely one of my favorite characters, definitely number 3 on the list. Still trying to figure out who are the two above her, besides Crystal Wishes and Silent Knight of course.
Hmmmm how very interesting. :P
Why would Silent Knight, of all ponies, just look past the fact that it was not Princess Luna that stopped his nightmare?! That just means that there is somepony else that can enter dreams, or he has one he'll of a fucked up head that makes fake Lunas on demand....
Honestly I just don't know what to say about this...
7426885 Just a couple of thoughts off the cuff: Because he has been gone for two years and got swept up in the emotions of seeing the Princess? He was distracted by his friends playing the fool? Because just because the princess doesn't interrupt a dream that doesn't necessarily mean it had to be someone in the dream?
7426391 I like to think so. Had to plant a few seeds!
7426079 I love Miley too. Second smallest pony!
7425985 I'm glad you enjoyed that ^_^ I loved writing it. As far as the why... it is mostly context. When it happened he was literally wrapped up in an alicorns embrace. Perhaps that was particularly soothing that the sound of ponies falling over wouldn't necessarily resemble the noises of a battle?
7424918 I've got to have the comedy where appropriate! The palace was almost always a place of silliness.
7424819 I don't want this to turn into "Frank" so I'll say definitively that she was going to say my minister/subordinate/etc. A completely mundane thought. There were lots of seeds of secrets in the chapter but that wasn't one.
7424812 Not if Luna doesn't first!
7424621 Oooh a bold theory! We'll find out ^_^
7424619 Div is good at the humors!
7424349 As stated above: Because he has been gone for two years and got swept up in the emotions of seeing the Princess? The overwhelming feeling of being back in the palace? Agreeing to move to Canterlot? What is one nightmare compared to that?
7424009
It could be! A very deep and dark plot. Or just bad dreams. We'll find out =D
Nope, nope, nope! This will not be my frank! She was going to say "my minister" or "my subordinate" basically just "He answers to me!" Look elsewhere for secrets Mr. Mister!
Well Sunny's there so... obviously.
Valid point. Although one less mystery now!
7423919 Me too! They play well off each other and I enjoy writing it. There shall be more!
7423878 If only ;D Quality takes time!
7423836
I'm glad you feel that way! I enjoy writing him.
Mwahahaha
The cake bit might turn into an Azubite. Seems fun to write.
BABIES
7423816 Thank you ^_^
7423813 Alas no, it is months away. It would be funny if you did show up! You'd have to get past security ;D
7423803 Mares rule the world.
7423790 Yes, the reunions have been so very sweet to write. I'm loving this transitional period :D
7423776 Only time will tell!
7423721 We have much to wonder about!
7423619 It is a silly play with silly ponies that shine!
7423591 A good reunion indeed! Lots of huggling and nuzzling. Affection overload!
7423589 The Crystal saved him from the Nightmare? Another bold prediction! :D
7423489 Flailing is very important. I like it a lot =D
7423488 Scary stuff for sure. Blood rain, Night Mares, doooooom.
7423473 Momma Luna wants foals! :D
7423452 Excellent questions to ask! Good catch on the helmet too.
7423426 Yeah that would have been rough stuff. The sombra thing was just mundane, I promise!
7426936 at least in Equestria
7426936
... was that a challenge? Are you challenging me?
More importantly, are you challenging the tuxedo? Why would you do that? Tuxedos are crazy! Have you ever seen a tuxedo split its own seams because someone bet it that it couldn't fit around a piano?
You don't forget something like that, man... you just don't forget....
7426936
It's not just him. Crystal is living with a night terror-prone spouse (it seems so much worse than a regular nightmare), so I expected her to at least push the issue. I suppose she can do it without him there. I hope she does.
I'll be honest that part of my reaction is likely that the Night Mares seemed like the best, in-our-face plot breakpoint, and then it was just dropped.
EDIT: I'm tickled pink that I teased Crystal about the lack of Miley now that Azurite is so prominent, and then you immediately release this chapter.
7427255 No plot is dropped until the
fat lady singsstory's marked complete!Crystal doesn't know the extent of his nightmare at all, and it is literally his first night back. Silent was swept up in the moment of seeing Luna, and Crystal doesn't have any real reason to treat it like a terrifying Night Mares nightmare, but an understandable nightmare. I think this is just a case of the reader being more knowledgeable than the characters + serial syndrome (where having to stop and wait for content makes things plot threads feel differently than being able to just read to the end)!
Why do i have a feeling Velvet is the source of that fanfiction?
I have to say there seems to be more about these Night Mares than them just being a night terror fuel. Sometimes the spirits of war linger and stay with the participants, but I have a feeling this may be a large part of the plot now. but the bigger question is.... who stopped them if it wasn't Luna? Mysterious Mysteries abound! This was a good chapter and i have a feeling Miley and Sunny both used Mountain as a battering ram. this was a good chapter!
Hopefully his therapy doesn't bring up anything too frightful...
Now I remember where I read about the Night Mares. It was a Xanth novel.
7427745 That's the thing about therapy. You are forced to face the worst things that you have ever done or had happen to you in order to move past them. It is terrifying, but it is eventually very helpful.