> Rocinante and the Return of Chivalry
>  by Charliemane
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Most Unusual Weather
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Sassaflash stared intently at the single pink cloud in the sky from the ground. Even though it was her day off, Sassaflash was very curious what exactly this lone cloud was and why it was out here all by itself. When it came to the weather, she may not be as fast as Rainbow Dash or as skilled as Cloud Chaser, but she could name and identify every type of cloud produced in Equestria. Every one, that is, except this one.

Finally she couldn't take it anymore and took flight. She had to get a closer look if she was going to learn anything about this strange cloud, however as she drew closer to it, it began moving away all on its own. Sassaflash went from surprised to perplexed as she attempted to catch the fleeing cloud, however it proved to be far too fast for her and soon she began to lose hope as the distance between her and her target grew. Before long, all she could think about was what she would tell the weather team when they asked her where their cloud went, but before she lost sight of it help arrived in the form of Rainbow Dash.

The multicolored pegasus had been taking it easy in the skies. She had just begun to lazily pull up into a slow climb when suddenly the pink cloud raced by her, knocking her into a small spin before continuing off into the distance. Rainbow Dash didn't even notice the panting Sassaflash trailing behind her as she raced after the rogue cloud in a rage. 

“Come back here you!”

When she caught it, she had expected the rogue cloud to dissipate into the sky on impact, but instead it was like a glue, sticking all over her. Thankfully her wings weren't caught in the sticky mess and she hovered for a moment to examine what was stuck to her.

Despite how far behind she was, Sassaflash could clearly see that Rainbow Dash was also confused by the unusual cloud. She had hoped that maybe Rainbow would know more about today's weather and why such a thing was floating out over town. But before she could get too close, several more clouds raced in front of her from seemingly out of nowhere. Sassaflash rolled hard to her left to avoid getting hit, but there were too many of them for her to dodge. 

One of the clouds softly collided with Sassaflash on her left side, its sticky material gluing her wing to her body. As she spiraled out of control, Sassaflash forced herself to breathe as she struggled to keep aloft with only her right wing, but it was hopeless. She was losing altitude too quickly. Seeing no other option, Sassaflash bit into the strange substance in an effort rip it off of her wing. She wasn't certain what she expected as far as taste was concerned, though she certainly wasn't expecting the flavor she was met with.

“It's sweet...like...cotton candy?”

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Sassaflash resumed licking and biting at her wing. She didn't have time to think about how or why clouds of cotton candy were soaring across Ponyville. She had to get free, and fast.

Finally her wing ripped free from her side with a jolt. Though the cotton candy took some of her coat with it, Sassaflash didn't even notice the pain as she desperately pulled up as hard as she could to keep from crashing. Skimming the ground with just a length of grass to spare, Sassaflash pulled up into a bush and then tumbled through it and into the side of Carousel Boutique. It was a hard impact and landing, but it was still one that she could walk away from, once the world quit spinning around her.

“My goodness darling! Are you alright?”

Sassaflash blinked her eyes a few times to pull them back into focus as she looked up to see the concerned figures of Rarity and Sweetie Belle standing over her. Nodding weakly, Sassaflash struggled to get off the ground as the two sisters helped her up.

“Yes... yes I think so.”

Rarity looked at her with a clear concern in her eyes as she looked over the wounded pegasus.

“We watched you fly into the wall. It looked terrible, are you sure you're alright?”

Sassaflash nodded again and looked to the sky, Rainbow Dash was already pursuing one of the cotton candy clouds out of town towards Sweet Apple Acres, and pursuing her was an entire sky of clouds raining chocolate milk. The sheer absurdity of what she was witnessing made Sassaflash feel light headed as she leaned back against the wall.

“Y-Yes. I'm fine, but I think the Apple family might be in for a storm...”

Sweetie Belle looked up as the chocolate milk began to rain down around them.

“Chocolate milk? Miss Sassaflash, what's going on?”

Sassaflash slumped to the ground and shook her head.

“I have no idea anymore...”

No sooner had she sat on the ground, then Rarity began swiftly pushing her towards the door, obviously eager to get inside.

“Well darling, you can't just stand out here in the rain...or the chocolate...milk... Anyways, come inside dear.”

Sassaflash turned her head towards the town hall where several pegasus ponies were already scrambling to get control of the weather, but her head was still spinning, which made even low level flying a bad idea. Sweetie Belle helped her inside and to a couch while Rarity used her magic to grab her matching umbrella and raincoat.

“I really should get out and see how Applejack is doing. I can't imagine chocolate is good for the soil. Sweetie Belle? Be a dear and make sure Miss Sassaflash is comfortable while she recovers.”

“Really I'm fine. Don't trouble yourself over me.”

As Sassaflash started to rise from the couch Rarity shook her head and motioned for her to lay back down.

“Nonsense, it's no trouble at all and we certainly can't let you go flying about when you clearly need some rest.”

Sassaflash wasn't sure what Rarity meant until she looked down and noticed that despite her sitting on the couch, she still seemed to be wobbling quite a bit. Perhaps she had landed harder than she thought. As Sweetie Belle half pulled her down on the couch, Rarity began for the door.

“Besides, you can watch Sweetie Belle for me while I go help Applejack.”

Sweetie Belle, clearly annoyed that what she thought was her new responsibility was in fact an excuse for her to have a foalsittter, gave her sister a disgruntled look.

“Hey!”

“Now Sweetie Belle, if Miss Sassaflash isn't any better when I get back, we'll call Nurse Redheart. Until then, just...help her relax won't you?”

Rarity put on her best smile as the turned and walked outside. As the door closed, Sweetie Belle placed her fore-hooves on the couch and lifted herself up on her hind legs so she could remove some of the height difference between her and her patient.

“Can I get you anything Miss Sassaflash?”

“No, thank you Sweetie Belle. I'm fine really.”

“Are you sure?”

As Sweetie Belle looked up at her with imploring eyes, Sassaflash uncomfortably looked around.

“Well... perhaps a glass of water would be nice...”

Sweetie Belle immediately smiled and bounced off towards the kitchen, saying something about a cutie mark crusader bedside nurse, but Sassaflash didn't even notice as she looked out the window towards the train station. She couldn't stay here too long. Her cousin was supposed to be coming into town today and the thought of what he might make of this weather more than slightly alarmed her.

As Sassaflash drank the water that Sweetie Belle brought, she noticed that the young filly was suddenly preoccupied with her flank. After checking herself on both sides, Sweetie Belle sighed and sat on the floor with a depressed look on her face. The two sat in silence for only a moment before Sassaflash realized that she couldn't keep her curiosity in check any longer.

“Is...something wrong?”

“No... I just haven't got my cutie mark yet.”	

Sassaflash smirked as she remembered how eager she had been to get hers.

“Don't worry, it'll come when it's time.”

Sweetie Belle looked up at her with an annoyed expression as she puffed her cheeks out.

“That's what everypony says, but it feels like I've been waiting forever!”

Leaning forward, Sassaflash patted the filly on the head.

“I know a pony who had to wait much longer than you have to get his.”

Sweetie Belle's eye lit up at the idea of learning about some other pony who had to wait for their cutie mark and, more importantly, how they got it.

“Who?”

“My cousin, Rocinante, was a full fledged stallion with a successful business of his own before his cutie mark came to him.”

Sweetie Belle's face went from intrigue to horror.

“I don't want to wait that long!”

Immediately regretting telling Sweetie Belle about her cousin's cutie mark, Sassaflash forced a grin as she scratched her chin and tried to think of a way to calm the poor young filly down.

“What I mean is, it's important to be patient. Rocinante was far too impatient in waiting for his and it made him miserable. In fact, his impatience might have even prevented him from getting his cutie mark sooner. But once he got it, it made all the difference in the world to him. Believe me, it will be worth the wait.”

Sweetie Belle's horror dissipated as Sassaflash reached the part of the story that she was most interested in.

“How did he find his cutie mark?”

Sassaflash looked to the clock to check the time before she turned to look out the window.

“He's actually supposed to be coming into town today. If you want you can ask him about it. I'm sure he, of all ponies, would understand what you're going through.”

Sweetie Belle suddenly perked up, her voice almost squeaking in response.

“Can I?”

Sassaflash quickly smiled and nodded, but the filly's sudden enthusiasm and energy made her wonder if Rocinante would truly appreciate what she had signed him up for.
> The Game Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Princess Luna stared intently at the jungle in front of her and sighed. She was fairly certain that Sir Rocinante had described Appleloosa as a barren and dry environment. Taking another look at her map, Luna kicked the ground in frustration. Perhaps she should have asked Sir Rocinante to come with her after all. Though just the thought of all the taunting she would have received from her sister about traveling with a “colt friend” would have been more than she could bear.

Still, the road had been lonelier than she had expected. After all of the time she had spent alone in exile, Princess Luna thought that simply wandering down the roads would be easy. Of course she had met a few ponies here and there along the road, though she hadn't made any friends to speak of. Now, as she traveled from place to place, town to town, she felt her heart getting a bit heavy with loneliness. She wouldn't admit it to anypony, but she was getting eager just for somepony to talk to.

Luna sighed as she stared at the map by herself. She had to admit that being lost might also be added to her list of problems. Putting away the map, Luna spread her wings and began to rise in the air, hoping of spotting any signs of civilization.

Soaring over the treetops of the jungle, the nagging thought rolled back into her mind. Perhaps she should swing by Ponyville to ask the knight-errant and his squire to join her. True, her sister would probably make a joke or two at her expense, but they almost certainly knew the kingdom better than her at this point and surely she could take some refuge behind that excuse.

Luna again weighed turning around in the back of her mind as she searched for smoke or clearings that would be the mark of a town or village. Banking left, she suddenly realized that she hadn't actually met Sassaflash before. It was a thought that made Princess Luna smile. Sir Rocinante was certainly an interesting character, she could only imagine what his squire was like.

Off in the distance Luna spotted what appeared to be a clearing near a river. While it almost certainly wasn't the Appleloosa she had been searching for, the ponies there would at least be able to get her back onto the map. As she leveled her wings and began coasting towards the clearing a few shadows passed over her.

Luna frowned. It had been good flying weather all day and now it looked as though that was about to change. Checking the weather above her, Luna looked up just as a pink cloud floated by and she froze instantly. It had been ages since she had seen that kind of cloud, but she hadn't ever forgotten what caused them. Angling her large wings in sync with her tail, Luna glided up to the cloud and carefully examined it. It was made of cotton candy and while that may have confused most ponies, she knew exactly what that meant. It meant that she had to get back to Canterlot immediately.





“Sister!”

Princess Celestia almost jumped in surprise. She swiftly turned to look over from the window towards the familiar voice. Luna's eyes were clearly concerned as she briefly dismissed the guard that had shown her the way and walked in from the hall.

“Luna?”

“What is happening? Thy kingdom is covered in a blanket of chaos and the foul weather is reminiscent of the ancient villain we sealed away ages ago.”

Princess Celestia closed her eyes and nodded as she motioned out the window towards the garden maze. Luna walked up to the window where Celestia had previously been observing the labyrinth. The maze was larger and darker than Luna remembered it and it gave off a strange aura that made her more than uncomfortable. Seeing that Luna had already noticed the aura emanating from the garden, Celestia walked up next to her and explained the situation.

“Our seal on Discord has faded and broken.”

Luna immediately turned from the window to her sister. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

“Broken? How? Sister, wherefore didst thou not send for me?”

“I did not send for you because we cannot wield the Elements of Harmony anymore. That was why the seal failed. When we...”

Celestia paused for a moment and bit her lip. The memory was over a thousand years behind them, yet it was still painful. Luna wore a pitying smile as she placed a hoof on her sister's shoulder. She had long since learned that she wasn't the only one to suffer from the past.

The two stood in silence for a minute, their eyes locked in a wordless conversation. Finally Celestia smiled before closing her eyes, taking a more serious expression, and the two turned back to the garden below them.

“We cannot be the ones to stop Discord now.”

“Then who?”

“Twilight Sparkle and her friends are the ponies we must place our hopes in now. Unfortunately Discord has hidden the Elements. Twilight is looking for them in the gardens now.”

Luna's eyes darted from the gardens to her sister.

“Is there truly nothing that we can do?”

Celestia shook her head in frustration before looking back to Luna.

“We can provide some support, but directly we would only get in the way. No, this is Twilight's test and she can do this.”

Luna nodded and the two again looked back towards the garden. While she may have had some doubts about Twilight's ability to handle Discord, it was the waiting that Luna found made her the most uncomfortable. Each second ticked by with agonizing slowness. Soon Luna began pacing back and forth to the window while her sister remained steadfast. Celestia wanted to say something that would get her sister to stop pacing, but she knew there was nothing save for Twilight's victory that could calm her now.

Suddenly the garden maze vanished and Luna raced back to the window.

“Have they recovered the Elements?”

Celestia said nothing as she glared at the grounds outside, watching Discord appear over her little ponies. Clearly things were not going well. Rainbow Dash was missing and everypony else, except for Twilight, was a faded color. Luna gritted her teeth and spread her wings, eager to launch into battle, but Celestia stopped her.

“Wait Luna, There is still hope, Twilight's color remains. He has not gotten to her yet.”

“We cannot sit by so idly sister! Thy pupil is on the cusp of defeat.”

“Twilight can do this. She can restore the others with her Element as long as she does not lose hope. Once they have the Elements of Harmony, Discord will fall.”

“And should they fail?”

Celestia remained silent while the wave of pink clouds flew over the gardens, dropping their unusual precipitation. Finally she turned from the window and began walking down the hall.

“There isn't anything we can do directly now. If we go into battle we will escalate the conflict from one of Discord's games to one of our fights. We needed the Elements of Harmony to defeat Discord last time, without them we cannot win.”

Luna puffed up as she folded her wings and looked down on where the gardens used to be.

“So we must send thy subjects forward like pawns into Discord's unruly game?”

Celestia could only remain silent as she looked to Ponyville from the window. As terrible of an analogy as it was, Discord had won the first match and the game was only beginning.
> Enter The Knight of the Restored Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The bell above the door rang sweetly as Sweetie Belle led the way out of the weather and back into Carousel Boutique. Although Sassaflash had long since recovered from her impact, Rarity still hadn't come back from Sweet Apple Acres. Despite how much she wanted to leave Sweetie Belle inside during the outlandish and unpredictable weather, Sassaflash had to pick up Rocinante at the train station, so she had little choice but to take Sweetie Belle with her.

Of course Sweetie Belle had been more than interested in meeting Sassaflash's knight-errant cousin and Rocinante was eager to make the acquaintance of a crusader, even if he did misunderstand what Sweetie Belle and her friends did at first. 

At the train station he was quick to sympathize with the crusaders' eagerness to find their cutie marks and had the skies not been pouring chocolate milk on them, they would have had a fun time journeying back to the Boutique. As it had turned out, chocolate milk rain may have been fun to catch out of the sky, but it soon left them sticky and uncomfortable once they had been soaked for a while.

Sassaflash had hoped to borrow Rarity's shower while they were trapped in the Boutique, however the tap water was instead tap lemonade, leaving them all no choice but to remain covered in a light layer of sticky chocolate. With no end to the rain in sight, Sassaflash turned to her cousin as he was looking out of the window into Ponyville.

“I've never seen weather like this. What do you think could be causing it?”

Rocinante rolled his eyes towards the clouds as though he were searching for the answer above them. Then, giving up, Rocinante shrugged his shoulders and looked back at his squire.

“To be honest, dear cousin, I had rather hoped that your profession would lend itself unto a greater knowledge regarding this most unruly weather...”

Rocinante's voice trailed off as they were both taken off guard, not only by the sudden clearing of the weather, but also by the fact that several buildings outside were now levitating in the air.

“Clearly my dear Sassa, this has gotten out of hoof and is no longer a matter solely for the weather ponies of the land. No, there can no longer be any shred of a doubt that there is a great evil at work here and now. Once again, the fair ponies of Equestria look upon us to rectify this disorderly matter in the name of justice, virtue, and valor!”

As Rocinante rose from the couch and straightened the battered Helmet of Marebrino upon his head, Sassaflash shifted uncomfortably, looked outside and then back to an increasingly concerned Sweetie Belle.

“Wait, cousin we can't just leave Sweetie Belle behind. I promised Rarity that I would watch over her while she went to Sweet Apple Acres to help Applejack...”

Sassaflash's voice trailed as she thought about how long she and Sweetie Belle had been waiting. It had been more than a few hours since Rarity had left them in each others' care. Had something gone wrong? As the concerns finally began to raise up in her mind, Sassaflash began to worry, but Sweetie Belle nervously spoke up before she could voice any of her doubts.

“Umm... I know we were supposed to wait for Rarity to come back, but... It's been a really really long time for Rarity to be gone... Maybe we could go by Applejack's...”

Rocinante swiftly trotted over to her and patted her head as the thunder cracked and the clouds drizzled a bit more milk onto the ground.

“Of course dear filly! For what manner of knight would abandon the cries of so innocent a foal?”

While Sweetie Belle seemed eager to go, Sassaflash turned a bit pale at the idea of bringing a filly along with them. Rocinante's adventures were, more often than not, dangerous. However she was also beginning to worry about Rarity. It was unlike her to just leave her sister behind for so long with no explanation and they certainly couldn't just leave Sweetie Belle behind while they looked for her.

“Hold on... I'm going to leave a note here in case she comes back while we're gone. I would hate for her to worry if she came back and we weren't here.”

“Clever plan my dear Sassa. Now let us journey forth! Adventure awaits!”

Tacking the note to the inside of the door, the trio headed out into the now chaotic Ponyville. They had not gone far when suddenly the bright afternoon sun leapt below the horizon and was replaced by the moon. Sassaflash and Sweetie Belle stopped to examine what had happened while Rocinante continued to press on.

“These are strange happenings indeed. No doubt this must be the fiendish machinations of some terrible magic wielding unicorn bent on the destruction of all order and harmony! But fear not my friends! For I, Rocinante will-”

Rocinante's words were cut off as he suddenly slipped and planted his face firmly into the road beneath him. Sweetie Belle attempted to use her unicorn magic to create a light, but just as the orb of pink light began to appear on her horn, the moon disappeared and the now broad daylight revealed everything as Sassaflash slipped and slid by Sweetie Belle and into her rising cousin.

As they struggled to get back up on their hooves, Sassaflash shook her head in a vain effort to get the smell of lye out of her nose.

“Soap? W-What happened to the road?”

Rocinante spat out the soapy taste from his mouth and attempted again to slowly rise.

“What manner of madness is this? Does the accursed foe dare to make a mockery out of the forces of justice?! Come Sassa! My dear Sweetie Belle! We must make haste to rectify this at once!”

Once his hooves seemed to be firmly planted, Rocinante set out for Sweet Apple Acres and immediately the sun disappeared into night. Both Sweetie Belle and Sassaflash could hear the sound of Rocinante thumping and splashing in the darkness before finally the light returned, revealing the knight-errant, covered in soap suds, lying on his back and looking toward the sky.

“Let us make haste... with all due caution.”
> The Princesses' Gambit
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Both of the Princesses looked with dread at the telescope's magical projection of the situation unfolding in Ponyville. Twilight had found the Elements of Harmony, but she hadn't restored her friends back to their true selves and in her anger and haste she hadn't even bothered to find Rainbow Dash before confronting Discord outside the Ponyville Library.

The result was, as both Princesses feared, disastrous. Not only had the magical power of the Elements failed, now Twilight and her friends were breaking apart, each one going their own way in anger. As Fluttershy tripped Spike, Luna looked to Celestia.

“What now sister? Thy Elements of Harmony have failed and our foe grows stronger with each passing hour. If we are to strike, we must strike now, before his abominable chaos spreads beyond Ponyville to the rest of Equestria.”

As Twilight began to turn a shade of gray, Celestia closed her eyes in disappointment and turned from the projection. Finally looking up, she could see that Luna had already sent the guards to fetch their ancient armor.

Celestia's mind raced for options. Was this it? Was this how it was going to end? Despite Luna's determination and their combined power, they couldn't defeat Discord without the Elements. 

As the guards entered the room with their armor, Celestia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had to restore the Elements to their full power—no, she had to restore Twilight and her friends to their true selves. She had to remind them of what they had learned.

Suddenly Celestia's eyes shot open. That was it, to remind Twilight of who she was, who her friends were, and what they meant to each other, she had to remind Twilight of the lessons she had learned. As Luna fastened her breastplate in place, Celestia placed a hoof upon her shoulder.

“Sister wait. Give Twilight one more chance.”

Looking from the armor back to her sister, Luna raised an eyebrow incredulously.

“Prithee Sister how? We have not the time to dally any longer! Twilight Sparkle has failed and the longer we delay, the more difficult our task becomes!”

“If I can remind Twilight who she is and what her friends mean to her she can restore the Elements and stop Discord.”

Luna claimed her black gorget from the armor rack and rolled it towards her sister.

“And how dost thou intend to reach young Twilight Sparkle? For surely any attempt at direct contact will result in the escalation of force that thou dost fear so much.”

Celestia fell silent for a moment. Luna was right. How could she reach Twilight without talking to her directly? She felt her heart racing as her eyes searched the room for any sort of hint until at last a soft, almost inaudible sound reached her ears from from a bookcase across the room. 

A scroll, perhaps a budget report or some other official business, teetering on the edge of the shelf for sometime, had finally lost its balance and had fallen to the floor, its wrinkled paper only making a small patter on the marble floor. However in the silent room, with all eyes on Celestia, the tiniest noise sparked the greatest idea in her head.

Twilight had been sending her scrolls and reports about the lessons she had learned on friendship ever since she had moved to Ponyville over a year ago. Each one filled not only with the practical life lesson that she had discovered, but also filled with an almost tangible joy that came from experiencing these new lessons with her friends. What better way to remind Twilight of her friendships than with her own words?

“If I can just send Twilight's letters back to her, I know she will turn this all around.”

“Surely you jest Sister? For surely Discord will notice thy magic and interfere.”

Celestia nodded as the two turned back to the magical image in front of them. 

“The magic required to send a single letter is not that noticeable.”

“Doth thou truly believe that thou shalt be able to revert thy pupil's mind with but a single letter?”

Celestia's smile began to fade as Luna continued.

“Thy pupil is renowned for her ability to read and comprehend, however her mind is distraught and we do not possess such time as would be required for thee to write a letter capable of reverting her mind to a tranquil state.”

“No, I can use her own letters, her own words that she wrote will have more impact. I'll send her some of those.”

“Now thou needs to send how many letters? One may not be noticeable, but it will also not suffice. Prithee, what quantity shall be required?”

Celestia gritted her teeth as Luna's points painfully sank in. She would need to either find a way to buy time to write a single letter, or she would need to stream as many letters as she could through Spike before Discord could stop them.

As though she had heard her sister's thoughts, Luna raised an eyebrow and looked back from her sister to the armor rack.

“And who knows what manner of evil Discord might wreak upon thy pupil should he discover thy letters and decide not to stop them, but to contort them unto his own twisted design?”

Celestia's thoughts now ground to a complete halt. Exasperated, she looked up to her sister.

“So this is it then? We have no choice but to fight.”

To her surprise, Luna shook her head.

“What thou art in need of most is something to prevent our foe from discovering the urgent messages that thou doth intend to send. Something that could occupy his short attention span long enough for thee to warn Twilight Sparkle and restore her to who she truly is.”

“A distraction.”

Luna nodded her head. They needed a distraction, but what could they use? Celestia again searched her mind for any idea that could help.

“A full on assault from the Royal Guard would be too suspicious and far too costly...”

“Not to mention that they should take far too long to arrive. Nay Sister, we need something smaller, something akin to an individual pony or two. Perhaps a single letter could slip by unnoticed to one of the town-watch at Ponyville? Perhaps they could derive some manner of distraction.”

Celestia nodded, though inside she still had her doubts. The local police at Ponyville were no doubt running in circles trying to keep their town in some semblance of order. Would she even be able to reach any of them?

Using her magic to swing the telescope around, Celestia scanned the town in a vain attempt to find anypony else who might be able to help. She had just about given up hope when she spotted Applejack walking past a familiar looking pony with a crooked lance and a battered basin upon his head. Instantly Celestia's eyes went wide and she turned to the guards to fetch a messenger.

Luna however, seemed at a loss at why her sister's smile grew wider and wider.

“Sister? Prithee, what hast thou seen?”

“Little Sister, look. Rocinante is in Ponyville right now. He could do it, he could help us.”

Luna looked at the image. There he was, alongside a pegasus pony that Luna could only assume was his squire, and a little filly. All three of them were talking to Applejack and, although she could not hear what was being said, the trio were clearly disturbed by what Applejack was telling them. But Luna wasn't as interested in what was happening in Ponyville as much as she was interested in finding a reason for why they needed somepony else.

“Sister... Rocinante is hardly...”

As Luna searched for words, 	Celestia's smile slowly began to fade. Although she knew Rocinante would be more than willing to charge headfirst into danger, she also knew that asking him to draw off Discord would be no different from telling him to get hurt. Yet despite these concerns, she could also see that Rocinante was the only pony who was conspicuous enough to draw Discord's attention and keep it.

Celestia also knew that even though Luna didn't consider Rocinante her protégé, she had still given him a title and no doubt cared for him just as much as Celestia cared for Twilight. Taking a deep breath, Celestia looked to her sister. She hadn't been too eager to send Twilight with her friends and the Elements of Harmony to confront Discord and she could easily tell that Luna was already more than opposed to sending in only Rocinante and his squire, despite the distraction being her idea.

“Luna, I know this is dangerous, but...”

Luna dismissed the guards and pushed the armor rack out from between them, but she said nothing as she thought carefully about the situation. Seeing that Luna was waiting for her to continue, Celestia looked back towards the town below them.

“But we both agreed that we need the Elements to stop Discord. And we both agreed that we need to keep Discord's eyes away from Twilight, for just a few moments, to keep her from losing them. You know Rocinante is the best equipped for this task.”

Luna suddenly began shaking her head. 

“We cannot be so rash as to command a single earth pony to attack a creature so powerful as Discord!”

“Sister, I would not tell him to attack.”

“But that is what he would do is it not? He would think of no other recourse!”

Celestia's eyes narrowed as they remain fixed on Ponyville. Her sister was right. There was no chance Rocinante would think of anything else when asked to distract Discord. In the silence, Luna continued.

“I doubt that Sir Rocinante would even consider that there could be a difference between distract and destroy in this hour. Nay, he would no doubt commit himself fully to a course he could not keep, even unto his own undoing.”

Celestia closed her eyes as she heaved a sigh. Luna was probably right, but what choice did they have? Without a distraction, Celestia wouldn't be able to push Twilight in the right direction.

“I know it's dangerous, but we need him to do this, we need him to confront Discord.”

Luna looked at her sister incredulously. Though she kept her poise, Celestia noticed Luna's volume had started increasing.

“Didst thou not say unto me that without the Elements of Harmony Discord cannot be bested? Didst thou not say unto me that such a confrontation would escalate the affair to a degree far greater than what we desired?!”

“Sister-”

“Nay! If thou art so certain that two full alicorns are unable to confront him, then how couldst thou send forth a single earth pony to such a hazardous task?!”

“Discord would fight us with all that he has, but Rocinante would be like a game to him. He wouldn't use his full power.”

Luna stamped the balcony in anger as she cut off her sister.

“He is not your pawn, Sister!”

Luna had hoped Celestia would back down and realize that she wouldn't let this happen. But instead Celestia stamped the balcony herself and stared straight into Luna's eyes.

“No, but he is your knight!”

Luna gritted her teeth, however her reply was stopped as the door slowly opened and the messenger poked his head into the room. He had heard the fighting from outside, but he had also been told the matter was urgent.

Taking the brief moment of silence as an opportunity, Celestia leaned in and whispered to her sister.

“Twilight needs him. We need him. Equestria needs him. You know this.”

Luna looked to her sister and whispered back.

“Tia... How could I ask such a dangerous thing of any of our little ponies? Especially one who would so eagerly follow such hopeless orders?”

“He's the only one who can do this. We both know that.”

Luna stared at the ground for a moment. She regretted ever coming up with the idea for a distraction. She really didn't want to send anypony against Discord, but without the Elements under their control, she knew her sister was right. With a heavy heart, Luna looked to her sister, then to the messenger, and lastly towards Ponyville.

“Courier, I write a letter to Sir Rocinante of La Manecha, who is currently in Ponyville.”
> The Lady of the Boulder
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Sweetie Belle's eyes darted around the town as she led the trio in a desperate search.

“How could she have gotten lost? She goes to Sweet Apple Acres so often!”

Rocinante looked up to where Sassaflash was flying above them, scanning the area for any sign of Rarity. Applejack had been less than helpful in telling them about the situation, but both Rocinante and Sassaflash knew that there was no pony more honest than Applejack, and if she had said that she had not seen Rarity at Sweet Apple Acres, or anywhere for that matter, then it must be true.

“Take heart dear filly. For the lay of the land has been altered greatly. Perhaps the countless moving landmarks have disoriented her. However, though Lady Rarity may have lost her way, there is no reason to believe that any harm has befallen her.”

Though Sweetie Belle couldn't see her above them, Sassaflash nodded in agreement. It wasn't inconceivable that Rarity had gotten lost, but for some strange reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that Applejack had been hiding something from them.

That feeling was quickly lost when she noticed a pony carrying a large boulder in the distance. Sassaflash couldn't believe Rarity would be carrying something so heavy around while the town was in utter chaos, but there was no mistaking her vibrant mane, even if it seemed a little off color.

Sassaflash quickly dove down and landed in front of the group.

“I found her! This way!”

The sudden light that came into Sweetie Belle's eye immediately made all of the trouble of the day worthwhile to Sassaflash as the little filly bounced in the air after her at full speed.

“Rarity!”

Sweetie Belle's voice squeaked with joy as she caught site of her sister. As she raced to embrace her, Rocinante trotted up to where his cousin had landed.

“Remarkable job, my dear Sassa. Once again, through our valiant efforts, the cause of...”

Rocinante's words trailed off as he and Sassaflash both became distracted by the strange display in front of them. Though Sweetie Belle ran to her sister eagerly, Rarity positioned herself between her sister and the boulder that she had been carrying. She wore a dark, grim expression on her face and when Sweetie Belle leapt to embrace her, Rarity batted her away. 

It wasn't a particularly violent display, but every time Sweetie Belle tried to approach her, Rarity forcefully pushed her back. Sassaflash and Rocinante exchanged confused glances before at last Sweetie Belle screamed at her sister with tears in her eyes.

“Rarity?! What are you doing?!”

Her voice was clearly distraught as her squeaking tone carried across the checkered ground. Seeing that something was obviously wrong, Sassaflash and her cousin quickly approached them, though before either one of them could say anything, Rarity glared furiously at them and pointed an accusing hoof.

“You! I should have known you would be behind this! You may have thought that I had let my guard down after you wounded yourself, but I'm on to your tricks! It was all a ploy to get close to me and steal Tom!”

Sassaflash stood there, her mouth agape, as Sweetie Belle pleaded with her sister.

“Rarity! Please stop!”

“You! To think that my own sister would plot behind my back! You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady!”

“Rarity!”

It seemed that Rarity didn't even notice the tears coming out of her sister's eyes as Rocinante slowly approached.

“Lady Rarity, please, be reasonable. The young-”

Rarity snorted as she first looked at Rocinante and then turned to face Sassaflash.

“So! You brought your muscle with you did you?! Well! Try it, just try it you ruffians!”

Both Rocinante and Sassaflash were so stunned by the accusations and Rarity's violent display that neither one could react before Sweetie Belle screamed at the top of her lungs and ran back into what was left of town.

“I can't believe you! I hate you!”

Still stunned by what just happened, Sassaflash looked to Sweetie Belle, then to her cousin, and lastly to Rarity. Rarity's posture hadn't changed at all as she maintained some form of fighting stance and waited for their attack. 

Shaking her head in disgust, Sassaflash spread her wings and flew after Rocinante, who had already started racing after the filly. They were surprisingly fast for ponies who were stuck on the ground, still Sassaflash would have been able to keep up easily with them had it not been for a sudden storm of apple pies falling from the ground into the sky.

As each pie raced by her head, Sassaflash rolled to the right and searched for a landing spot. This “weather” was far too confusing and disorienting for her to risk flying in any longer. For a moment, she thought that she had lost both Sweetie Belle and Rocinante, but Sweetie Belle's sobs and her cousin's voice could be heard around the corner of a building that was, surprisingly, still on the ground.

“B-But why? Why would she say that?”

“There, there my dear filly. Do not be distraught. Your sister...”

Rocinante paused as he searched for words, but Sweetie Belle swiftly interrupted him.

“I hate my sister! I... I'll just leave and be gone and then that will...”

Sweetie Belle's volume dropped off as she began to choke up.

“Now now, dear Sweetie Belle, your sister is your own and there is nothing that can, nor should, ever change that. Your sister surely loves you. These are strange and confusing times indeed, I would not be surprised at all if there were some sinister being behind your sister's most unusual actions.”

Sassaflash walked around the corner as Rocinante patted Sweetie Belle on the head.

“I think he's right too, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle looked up and the expression on her face nearly broke Sassaflash's heart as the young filly's eyes begged for any kind of explanation. 

“I've known your sister for quite a while. There's no doubt she loves you. She may fuss and fidget a lot, but I've never heard her say a bad word about you to anypony.”

Sweetie Belle nodded as Sassaflash continued.

“We've all seen a lot of strange things today, To be honest, after what we've seen, I wouldn't even be surprised if that wasn't actually your sister.”

Alarmed, Rocinante looked up so fast that his helmet fell over his eyes. Lifting the helmet back into place, Rocinante scanned the area for anypony who might be listening in.

“Perhaps a doppelganger? Or some treacherous spell?”

Sweetie Belle looked at both of them. Despite how even she would have considered what they were saying to be utter nonsense, the shock of her sister's actions left her willing to believe anything.

“Who? Who would do something like this?”

As though it were waiting for that very line, the sound of a scroll hitting the ground behind them reached their ears. Rocinante looked to his cousin and then to the scroll lying on the earth. 

Uncertain as to where the letter came from, Rocinante rose, leaving Sweetie Belle with Sassaflash, who embraced the confused and teary eyed filly as Rocinante read the letter. There was a terrifying silence as no pony said anything until at last Rocinante rolled the scroll back up and passed it to his squire. He closed his eyes for moment as he contemplated what the letter meant, and then, almost as quickly as he had closed them, his eyes shot open with a wild and eager look inside of them.

“I see... It would appear that at last we now have a name to go with our most treacherous and ignoble villain. Sassa! We must prepare for battle at once!”

Sassaflash looked from Sweetie Belle, who was now terrified, to her cousin, who was now invigorated by the news they had received.

“Wh-What? What is it? What did  the letter say?”

“The villain of lore, the foul serpent draconequus, Discord, has escaped from his imprisonment and now rains torment and chaos upon these fair lands. No doubt, young Sweetie Belle, that this wretched creature is the source of the misery that now surrounds us and befuddles your fair sister, but fear not! For now he has aroused the anger of the very epitome of virtue and valor and by my lance, with the blessings of our magnanimous crowns, I will avenge these grievous wrongs and strike the vile creature in the name of justice!”

Sassaflash was in shock as both she and Sweetie Belle stood up.

“W-Who sent this?! Who told you this?”

“This note was penned by none other than Princess Luna herself. Her Royal Highness has noted that the Noble Princess Celestia's finest champions have engaged the enemy, however they have met with grave misfortune and now need time to recover before they may attempt a final confrontation. Her Noble Grace asks that I, Sir Rocinante of La Manecha, Knight of the Restored Moon, go forth and bar the path of evil until such a time that Her Most Royal Highness, Princess Celestia, can reorganize her champions.”

Rocinante nodded as if to confirm his own thoughts.

“Though I dare say that I shall do far better than a mere delaying action! Far better indeed! We must go into battle dear Sassa and tear the accursed foe asunder!”

Sassaflash felt her knees buckle as she reopened the scroll to read the letter herself. They had been in danger many times before and had often gone out into the world looking for trouble, but this time felt different. This time they knew who their enemy was beforehand, and that evidently he was strong enough to best Princess Celestia's champions, the Elements of Harmony.

This sudden call to battle was certainly unexpected and Sweetie Belle's suddenly resolute face surprised Sassaflash even more. 

“Sir Rocinante... did... did Discord do this to Rarity?”

“I can think of no other villain whose wickedness would stretch so far.”

“Then... Then could I help you beat him?”

Rocinante smiled and motioned for her to come up to where he and Sassaflash were standing.

“Though the villain is mine to defeat alone, I would gladly accept your noble assistance in the preparation for my coming victory.”

Sassaflash stared at her cousin.

“Cousin! We cannot take her anywhere near the action! It's far too dangerous!”

Sweetie Belle's head began to drop, but Rocinante shook his head and raised hers back up.

“I will not arm the foal, but what manner of knight would I be if I were to bar the path of one who wants to avenge, nay, to save her own kin? I cannot stop one who desires justice, but fear not. Though her assistance will be of great aid to our cause, as a noncombatant she will be spared, alongside you, the gruesome risks of combat.”

Sassaflash shook her head. There would be no reasoning with the knight-errant now. The best she could do was keep Sweetie Belle as far from the actual action as she could.
> Enter The Knight of the White Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Discord cackled as Twilight Sparkle, her spirit completely broken, withdrew into the library to pack her things. Victory was his at last. Without the Elements of Harmony to stop him, Celestia and Luna could only watch and despair at their inability to stop him. 

With a broad grin stretching across his face, Discord looked towards Canterlot as he began walking to his new throne in the center of town. He almost wanted to thank Celestia personally for letting him have such an easy time since his escape. She and her sister had not even lifted a hoof to stop him and now it was too late. 

“Oh Celestia, I really expected more from you. Maybe I should see how you'll react when I have a little... fun in Canterlot...”

Discord's voice trailed off. He felt some magic in the air, just a small burst, flying towards the library. Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn, perhaps this magic was just some packing spell that had gone awry in her anger, but it felt familiar, like Celestia's. Though he was confident in his victory, it couldn't hurt to keep a careful eye out for a while. No sooner had he thought the words when suddenly a voice called Discord's attention to the strangest party in front of him.

“Hear me now, oh villain I am here to chastise,
for your dastardly evil is through!
Prepare yourself for your ultimate demise, 
for a knight now challenges you!

I am I, Rocinante! The Pony of La Manecha! 

My Princess has given me a boon!
Now I stand here before you,
prepared to oppose you,
as Knight of the Restored Moon!”

All thoughts of stray spells and familiar magics were lost as even Discord was stunned at the unexpected display in front of him. There, leading a small group of ponies, was an earth pony, his eyes on fire with a naive determination, standing there wearing rusted and broken armor, wielding a pathetic looking lance, and on top of his head was what Discord could only surmise as some form of half-destroyed bowl

Discord couldn't even begin to look at the other ponies in this absurd little party before he burst out laughing so hard than he fell over on his side. As he gasped for air and held his sides, Sassaflash walked up next to her cousin.

“Ummm... what was that?”

Rocinante, trying his best not to notice his snickering opponent, sighed as he asked his cousin.

“What was what?”

“That thing you just said, what was that? Where did the speaking in verse come from?”

Hearing the confusion already erupting within the party without his intervention, Discord laughed even harder. With another sigh, Rocinante turned to face his cousin.

“My dear Sassa, there will come a day when countless ponies, zebras, griffons, and all manner of apt creatures will read of our valorous exploits. When that beautiful day arrives at last, they will know of our deeds, hear of our virtue, and read of our words. My dear Sassa, it is of great importance that we properly demonstrate that we are not only chivalrous, virtuous, and courageous, but also graceful, noble, and elegant.”

Sassaflash nodded. Her cousin always had a very matter-of-fact answer to such questions, but she wasn't certain that he wasn't just making them up as he went along. 

Slipping in between them, Sweetie Belle looked at the laughing Discord.

“Did he change Rarity?”

Rocinante nodded as he straightened the Helmet of Marebrino on top of his head.

“The one and only foe capable of such madness is indeed right here before us, apparently driven so by fear that he has become like the wretched hyena, given unto laughter that he might cover his fear.”

At last Discord caught his breath and regained his composure. It was hard to believe that this bit of chaos wasn't actually caused by him, however the silver moon on the knight-errant's chest and his self proclaimed title, made it rather evident that if Twilight Sparkle was Celestia's best, then this must be Luna's. It was hard not to chuckle as he spoke, but Discord still tried to move forward.

“And who... who might you be?”

Rocinante again stepped forward from the group.

“As I mentioned before, I am Rocinante of La Manecha, Knight of the Restored Moon, sent to vanquish you in the name of justice, virtue, and valor!”

Discord again doubled over laughing.

“I'm... I'm sorry, it's just the way... the way you say that, it sounds so... so serious!”

The knight-errant stamped the ground in irritation as he waited for Discord to finish, but before he could say anything Discord slid next to him and resumed.

“I must say this is a real treat. Where in the wide world did they find you?”

“La Mane-”

“Yes, yes, La Manecha.”

Discord flapped his wings excitedly a few times before he slid like a snake through the group, looking each pony in the eye as he examined them.

“I mean look at you! One terrified pegasus, one unicorn filly, and one rust covered earth pony? You look like the characters out of some poorly written storybook!”

As the conversation went back and forth between the two, Sassaflash found herself getting more and more anxious. Rocinante was not one who would typically converse with his opponents, but Discord just wasn't giving him any opportunity to tilt his lance honorably as he laughed and floated in circles around the group and the irritation on Rocinante's brow was becoming more and more obvious. 

Sweetie Belle was also getting impatient. As Discord verbally danced around another challenge issued by Rocinante, she shouted at the playful draconequus.

“Change back my sister! Change back Rarity!”

Discord stopped for a brief moment before smiling broadly and picking up the young filly in his arms. He lifted her high in the air, as though they could see Rarity from here, and together they both looked towards the Carousel Boutique.

“I haven't changed your sister at all! I've only helped her to see who she really is, without all the worry about rules of society and such.”

Sweetie Belle squirmed in Discord's arms as she wrenched her neck around to face Discord.

“That's not true! Rarity is kind and generous!”

“Oh little filly, you'll learn that all ponies keep deep inside them their true personality that so longs to be free, but can't because, 'What would everypony else think?' It's something I've come to set you all free from. Now Rarity can be who she truly is! Concerned about what she truly cares about and not worrying about maintaining images for everypony to see.”

As Sweetie Belle struggled to break loose from Discord's grip, he leaned in and whispered into her ear.

“Think about it, has your sister ever lost her temper with you about her precious gems before?”

Sweetie Belle suddenly stopped struggling, her eyes wide with recollection. There had been a number of times when she had played with Rarity's gems, or tried to use one or two in one of her own projects, and Rarity would get outraged with her. Now Sweetie Belle began to wonder, was this truly who her sister was?

As tears began to flow out of her eyes, Discord's began to change colors, but before he could drain Sweetie Belle of her color, Rocinante stomped the ground so hard that the rocks around him shook.

“Discord! I am your opponent! I shall be the one you face this day! Put her down!”

The smile on Discord's face faded as he dropped the still colored, but confused Sweetie Belle into Sassaflash's hooves. However the smile soon returned as he spun around and teleported next to the knight-errant.

“And what about you Sir Rocinante? Already pointing your lance at an unarmed opponent?”

Rocinante stopped moving for a moment as his eyes fell on his lance that had been subconsciously tilted to where Discord was standing. Swiftly pulling the lance up into a neutral position, Rocinante turned and stepped back from Discord, but the draconequus pursued.

“Hardly a fitting act for a 'noble' knight, don't you think? Pointing your weapon at me? Shouting all the time? You seem to be quite the spitting image of what a knight shouldn't be.”

“Enough of this and your poisonous lies you brooding viper! I am a knight-errant dispatched to put an end to your treacherous deeds once and for all! If you have but even an inkling of courage in your serpentine body, I demand that you stand and face me this very instant!”

Despite Rocinante's voice sounding the same, Sassaflash felt a dark fear hit her stomach like a kick from an earth pony. The fire in Rocinante's eyes was no longer an innocent and eager flame. It had instead become a fire of rage, something uncontrolled and reckless.

With a smirk and a shrug of his shoulder's Discord teleported a distance away. When he reappeared he was equipped with a lance of his own and gleaming armor. On his chest, mirroring Rocinante's silver crescent moon, sat a pale white, full moon emblem and his voice seemed to take on a quality similar to Rocinante's as he spoke 

“Hardly poisonous lies Sir Rocinante.”

“What is this?”

Discord grinned as he twisted and turned to show off his new outfit.

“You seemed to be the type of pony that wished to do things properly. So I thought I would face you as such.”

Straightening his armor again, Discord gave a cordial bow that was anything but serious.

“Knight of the Restored Moon, I would like you to meet the Knight of the White Moon.”

Rocinante gritted his teeth.

“You claim to be a knight?”

Again, Discord laughed, much to Rocinante's irritation.

“I have just as much claim as you do Sir Knight.”

“I have the backing of my lady, Princess Luna of Canterlot! I am a proper knight!”

“Oh, just her? I have the backing of some greater lady somewhere I'm sure, no doubt far more fair and inconceivably wiser than Lady Luna.”

“You lie!”

“Do not.”

“D-Do...Do too!”

“Do not.”

Rocinante stuttered for a moment, trying to avoid descending into the childish argument as Discord laughed resumed.

“Then let us prove my claim like they did in the legends of yore hmm? After all, a joust is what you wanted wasn't it? If you win, then I'll return Ponyville to normal and go in peace, but if I win, you must swear that my lady of the White Moon is both wiser and more fair than your 'Restored' Moon.”

For the first time since their conversation began, Rocinante smiled.

“If I win, you must also confess that my lady, Princess Luna of Canterlot is the fairest and  wisest in all of the land, certainly more so than your White Moon.”

There was a sudden fire in Discord's eyes, as though he had Rocinante already right where he wanted him.

“So it's a deal. If you win, I will confess Lady Luna to be the fairest and wisest in the land and, of course, relinquish my control over Ponyville and retire in peace. However if I should be the victor this day, then not only must you renounce your lady, but you must also retire from here and leave me to do what I will with Ponyville.”

From the sidelines, Sassaflash wanted to run with everything she had, she wanted to fly away, she wanted to do anything but stay here for this. She couldn't tell what, but something was very wrong. Next to her, Sweetie Belle leaned as far forward as she could past Sassaflash's hoof that blocked her way. She had faith that Rocinante was going to win and she wanted to see him beat Discord and make him change everything back.

Rocinante, the smile still wide across his face, snorted and pawed at the ground.

“Under these terms, Knight of the White Moon, I hereby accept your challenge and am prepared to meet you in battle. Prepare yourself!”

Discord's smile disappeared as his face became hidden by his helmet's visor.

“I am ready Sir Knight! Prepare yourself!”

Sassaflash put a hoof to her chest as she tried to keep her breathing calm. This was the sort of confrontation that she knew her cousin had been searching for ever since his battle with Nightmare Moon had been taken out from underneath him. Yet even though she had wanted him to find the victory he had been searching for, she couldn't help but notice her chest felt heavy as a small breeze blew by. 

Then, as though it were an unspoken starting signal, the sudden stillness in the air triggered the attack. Rocinante began charging towards his opponent and Discord remained stationary, waiting for his enemy to come. Soon Rocinante reached full speed and lowered his lance.

He still had about half of the distance remaining when suddenly Discord struck.

In the blink of an eye, Discord flew through the air, his serpentine body coiling in a spiral as he slammed his lance into Rocinante's armor with a terrifying crack, throwing the knight-errant back onto the ground with deep rumbling thud.

Sweetie Belle sat there in complete shock. The knight-errant that she had looked up to, that she had believed would save her sister, lay on the ground, beaten in a single blow.

Sassaflash was perfectly still as she watched her cousin slam into the ground, throwing up torn grass and chocolate-soaked mud as he slid back from the blow. She didn't even notice her breath had stopped as she waited for him to get back up. He always got back up. That was one of his favorite sayings, how if a knight fell he would rise again and again, but Rocinante wasn't getting back up.

Before she even knew what she was doing, she was running to her cousin's side.

“Rocinante!”

She was almost to him when Discord appeared out of nowhere in front of her.

“Now now, remember, this is a duel between the two of us, and we are not done yet.”

Though Discord was clearly smiling behind his helmet, his voice carried a dark tone with it that stopped everypony in their tracks. Sassaflash went pale at the terrifying presence in front of her. It wasn't even conceivable in her mind that this could be the same creature who was joking around so lightheartedly earlier. Everypony stayed back while Discord strode triumphantly towards his fallen foe.

Rocinante lay on the ground, quite well alive, but unable to move after being hit so hard. He gasped for air and even breathing hurt as every inch of his body burned in pain. Struggling to get back up, Rocinante lifted his head right into the tip of Discord's waiting lance. As the weapon rested on the end of the knight-errant's nose, Discord smiled, raised his visor, and looked up towards Canterlot where he was certain the Princesses would be watching.

“It would appear that you are vanquished, Sir Knight. Now as per our agreement, you must confess that my lady is both the fairest and wisest in the land or suffer the consequences.”

Sassaflash held her breath as her heart broke for her cousin. She knew nothing could be more painful for him than to say such a thing. Rocinante, with his eyes narrowed on the lance, held his breath and then allowed his head to fall back onto the ground.

“Then... then you must do your worst.”

Time seemed to stop as his words echoed across the empty field. Discord's concentrated stare towards the castle was broken as he turned to face the knight-errant on the ground. Even his voice seemed to go back to normal as he looked inquisitively at Rocinante.

“You... You won't do it?”

Rocinante winced with each exhale, but he still managed to shake his head.

“I would...I would rather disappear, off of even the most obscure pages of history and legend themselves, than to renounce my lady. As per our agreement...you may do...what you must to finish this fight. It will be remembered that I...that I have never...nor will ever...say anything except that Her Most Noble Grace, Luna of Canterlot, is the fairest...and wisest lady in all of the land.”

Twice in one day, Discord was stunned by this strange earth pony, but he wouldn't let that stop him.

“Do my worst, hmm?”

Discord looked back up towards Canterlot with a twisted smile, and then turned and pressed his face right in front of Rocinante's.

“Then perhaps I should show you what you've really been doing all this time.”

As the two locked eyes, Discord's began turning various colors and, for a time, Rocinante's did as well until his color seemed to fade into a depressed and grayish tone. Then suddenly Discord was through and he disappeared, reappearing over by an upside down tree, examining the pink clouds above them with both his armor and his lance gone.

“Alright, I'm done.”

The moment the words were out of his mouth Sassaflash ran to her cousin.

“Cousin! Rocinante! Please! Please be okay!”

The moment she reached him, Rocinante bolted upright, seemingly forgetting about his pain. His eyes were wide and they appeared completely terrified as they darted around the scene looking for somepony when at last he noticed his cousin next to him. Embracing Sassaflash tightly, Rocinante struggled to hold back his tears as he again started looking around.

“Sassaflash! Oh thank goodness you're okay!”

Sassaflash froze. She couldn't pin what it was exactly that made her mane stand on end, but she knew something was terribly wrong.

“R-Rocinante?”

“Where is Sweetie Belle?! Is she alright?”

Sassaflash looked behind herself to see that Discord was gone and Sweetie Belle was running up to meet them.

“Yes, yes everypony's okay. Rocinante, are you alright?”

With his fears now put to rest, Rocinante's smile turned to a contorted frown, not from his pain that had reawakened, but from his own humiliation.

“I am so so sorry I dragged you all into this. What was I even thinking?!”

Rocinante suddenly reached up, grabbed hold of the helmet on his head and cast it aside with such a rage that it bounced and skipped along the ground before sliding to a halt. Though his anger was clearly directed at himself, Sassaflash felt as though he had just slapped her. The helmet of Marebrino was one of Rocinante's most treasured possessions. Everypony stood in silence, waiting for Rocinante to explain what had happened.

“Sassaflash, Sweetie Belle, I...”

Rocinante flinched as he tried to get up but couldn't.

“I'm such an idiot. I should go, we need to get out of here.”

As though he was suddenly aware of what he was wearing, Rocinante began struggling with his armor in an attempt to cast it away. A few of the brittle old straps broke as he finally was able to rip the rusted armor off and cast it to his side with a look of disgust on his face.

In Sassaflash's eyes, he looked ill, but it was this sudden change of character that terrified her. 

Behind them, Sweetie Belle, who looked pale with fright at what she was witnessing, looked to Sassaflash for advice. As she helped the defeated and broken Rocinante to his hooves, Sassaflash turned her head toward the filly.

“Sweetie Belle, do you still want to help us?”

Though she had tried her best to keep her tone neutral, there was a definite plea in Sassaflash's voice. She didn't just want Sweetie Belle's help, she needed it.

Sweetie Belle quickly nodded and Sassaflash, with a clear look of relief in her eyes, breathed a light sigh. 

“Thank you. I need you to gather up the armor and the lance, but especially the helmet, and carry them all to my place.”

Rocinante looked over his shoulder towards the gear strewn about on the field.

“Leave it. It's all garbage. I don't want to ever see it again...”

Rocinante hung his head as Sassaflash helped him stay up and the two began walking towards Sassaflash's home. As they walked, Sassaflash turned and nodded to Sweetie Belle, who immediately began collecting the discarded pieces of armor.
> Checkmate
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was all Princess Celestia could do, just to keep her sister from flying off of the balcony, once Discord looked up towards the castle and right into the eyes of the telescope and the Princesses who were watching it. Discord wasn't just attacking the knight-errant, he was aiming at the two sisters as well.

Neither of them could hear what Discord was saying as his lance rested on Rocinante's nose, but Discord was careful to mouth his words very clearly so that they could read his lips. And though she couldn't tell what words Rocinante spoke in response, by his actions Princess Luna knew exactly what he said.

With a violent and renewed anger, Luna pressed against her sister who was barring the way out.

“Tia! Let me go! I must get down there!”

“Luna get a hold of yourself! That's just what Discord wants you to do!”

“We sent him there! I sent him there! His suffering is now for my sake! I shall not permit that wretch to add such insults on top of my knight's injuries!”

As Luna tried to force her way past her, Celestia grabbed hold of her sister in a desperate bid to stop her from attacking Discord head on, just like her knight had.

“Luna!”

Celestia held on to her sister with with all of her might as Luna ignored her and tried to flap her wings. Despite Celestia's interference, she was beginning to get enough lift to raise the two of them slightly off of the floor.

“Luna! Cease this foalishness before thy anger brings about the undoing of the very thing thy Knight of the Restored Moon fought to achieve!”

Celestia's sudden use of the old Canterlot voice knocked Luna off balance. Then, as though the fighting spirit suddenly left her, Luna's wings slowly stopped flapping and she looked to her sister with eyes that were both frightened and confused.

“Sister...”

“Luna, look.”

Celestia put a wing over her sister and pulled her into an embrace as she pointed to the projected image just as Sassaflash helped her cousin up.

“He will be alright, Luna. He will be fine.”

Luna forced herself to nod as the telescope swung elsewhere.

“Was he... Was Sir Rocinante successful? How many of Twilight Sparkle's letters wert thou able to send? Did thy pupil understand the meaning of thy messages?”

Celestia nodded. On the projection ahead of them, Luna saw a restored Twilight Sparkle and her friends racing to catch a still grayed-out Rainbow Dash and though Celestia smiled, her heart was heavy.

“Because of Rocinante's intervention, I was able to send all of Twilight's letters back to her without Discord noticing or interfering and before long, Twilight and the Elements of Harmony will defeat him. Sister...I know what I asked you to do was...”

Celestia paused as she looked for words to express how sorry she was for what happened, but Luna shook her head.

“Do not be sorrowful, dear Sister. Indeed thou didst not risk my knight anymore than thou didst risk thine own pupil. And thou were indeed correct. The task had to be done. Thy rule over Equestria has indeed been long and prosperous because thou art able to discern when personal feelings must be cast aside for the greater good. I was in the wrong.”

Celestia held on to her sister a little tighter.

“It is never wrong to care for any little pony in our kingdom.”

Luna nodded, but avoided Celestia's eyes.

“I...I understand, but I am still unable to put such personal feelings behind me when the kingdom is in need of decisive leadership...as thou can.”

Celestia searched for words until Luna suddenly looked into her sister's eyes with a teary eyed smile on her face.

“Alas, clearly we are in need of more time to roam in this, our noble land of Equestria, before we are able to return to thy side.”

Celestia smiled as her sister brightened up. She had a feeling she knew where her sister was going with this line of thought as she continued.

“Though after our previous difficulties upon the road, we have found that perhaps we should not travel alone. Thus, after Discord hath been bested and his damage undone, we shall need to find a guide who knows the lands better than ourselves and brave enough to protect a princess from any threat should the need arise.”

Celestia gave a lighthearted laugh as the two looked back to the projection. Twilight and her friends were already challenging Discord, who clearly was unaware of what had happened while he was busy with Rocinante. As the Elements of Harmony began to light up and their power began to grow, Luna sighed.

“'Tis a pity indeed that we are not the ones down there with the Elements.”

Celestia nodded as a great rainbow leapt from Twilight Sparkle and her friends and arced high into the air.

“I know. But some things must be passed to the next generation.”

As Ponyville became bathed in light, Celestia finally let herself breathe again with a sigh. It was over. They had won. Before long the light had dimmed and Luna looked to her sister with a smile.

“All should be well now, yes?”

“Yes, Everything Discord has done, even to Sir Rocinante, is undone.”
> To Restore the Knight of the Restored Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preparations inside the castle were moving at a furious pace. Banners were being hung and the room cleared for all of the ponies who would be attending the ceremony and attendants rushed back and forth, readying the castle to honor Twilight and her friends. Of course neither of the Princesses had forgotten how Rocinante had contributed and Luna was eager to send a messenger to invite Rocinante and his company to be honored as well. 

Luna lifted back the curtain and examined the new stained glass window behind it. She wished that there could have been room on the pane for her champion and his accomplishments, but it was Twilight's victory in the end that won the day. 

With a shrug of her shoulders, Luna let the curtain fall back over the window and walked to the stage to review her role in the ceremony. This would be her first time presiding over anything with her sister since she came back from the moon.

As she shuffled the notes with her magic and quietly spoke the words in her mind, the door to the ballroom quickly, yet quietly, opened. Luna smiled as she looked up, but when she saw the exasperated face of her messenger, the smile immediately fell away. Though he was clearly tired and carrying bad news, the messenger kept his voice down so as to avoid concerning anypony else within earshot.

“Princess Luna, Lady Sassaflash requests your help.”

“What is it? What is wrong?”

“Sir Rocinante has not improved since the fall of Discord. His squire, Lady Sassaflash, wished to know if there was anything you could do to help him.”

Luna nodded, her face suddenly very firm.

“Find my sis- Find Princess Celestia and inform her of-”

Luna stopped her words when she noticed Celestia entering the ballroom with a guilty smile on her face as she took another bite from a pilfered slice of cake. Much like her sister's, Celestia's smile faded quickly as Luna walked swiftly to her side.

“Sister, I must go to Ponyville. There has been a problem with Sir Rocinante's recovery.”

Celestia's eyes widened a bit in surprise, but soon went to a ponderous expression.

“He did not return to normal after-?”

Luna shook her head.

“He has not. 'Twas my intent to use a memory spell, not unlike the sort used by Twilight Sparkle. Perhaps that shall restore the Knight-errant to his former self.”

Luna looked to her sister for some reaction, but Celestia only shook her head.

“The Elements of Harmony should have removed any magical effects Discord had placed on him.”

“Then wherefore doth he remain in such a state?”

Celestia shook her head again as she looked at the carpet beneath them.

“Discord's spell changes a pony's character by playing off of a minor concern or misconception in the pony's mind. But if Discord managed to trigger some innate fear or trait within Rocinante's heart with this spell, then perhaps that is why he hasn't recovered.”

“But what sort of fear could Rocinante possibly hide within himself?”

Celestia slowly began walking towards the ballroom door, leading her sister on her way.

“What Rocinante does is not easy for anypony. Many of our little ponies think him mad for his pursuit of such fantastical and long gone ideas, but he presses on all the same, regardless of how silly he sometimes looks. I suspect that even in a mind as determined to make these ideals come to life as Rocinante's, there is still a natural fear. A fear that he has only made a fool of himself and anypony with him during his adventures.”

“Sister that is preposterous. Sir Rocinante has done naught but good-”

Celestia cut her sister off with a raised hoof.

“I know, Little Sister. Which is why you must go and show him the good he has done. Leave the ceremony to me.”

Luna nodded and walked briskly to the door. As she exited, she stopped and poked her head back into the ballroom.

“Thank you, Sister.”



Inside Sassaflash's house, the grayed-out Rocinante lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Though his wounds had been cared for by a doctor, he still felt quite sore from the battle with Discord. But despite the physical aliments that he had, Sassaflash noticed that it wasn't his injuries that were the problem, it was his spirit. Every time Sassaflash even remotely mentioned his role as a knight-errant, Rocinante would blush, apologize, and try to change the subject.

When a knock came at the door, Sassaflash swiftly got up to answer it. She had hoped Princess Luna would send help quickly, but when she opened the door, there stood Sweetie Belle, her mane done up nicely in preparation to attend the ceremony honoring her sister and her friends.

“Is... Is Sir Rocinante better?”

Sassaflash shook her head and stepped aside to let Sweetie Belle in.

“Nothing has changed.”

“Why? What did Discord do?”

Sassaflash shook her head again. Her voice was low as she looked towards Rocinante's room.

“I don't know... I don't know.”

“Will he ever get better?”

“I don't know...”

Both ponies hung their heads as they thought about the situation. After a long moment in silence, the two walked into the room. Sweetie Belle propped herself up with her forelegs on the edge of the bed and looked at the tired earth pony.

“Sir Rocinante?”

Rocinante slowly turned to face her. He seemed to smile at the sight of her, yet the smile didn't last long as he spoke with a weak and feeble voice.

“It's just mister....no...no...please, Sweetie Belle, just call me Rocinante.”

“Oh...umm...Rocinante...I just wanted to say thank you for helping my sister.”

Rocinante shook his head as he looked at the little filly.

“I didn't do anything. You should be thanking somepony else. Rather, I should be apologizing to you. I'm sorry I dragged you along some madpony's delusion.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head.

“No, it was fun. You let me help. Everypony else would have told me to go home.”

“A responsible adult should have. What I did was very dangerous. I should not have placed you and my cousin, or even myself, in such danger.”

Sassaflash began to say something, but was cut off by another knock at the door. Swiftly rising, Sassaflash went to the door to find Princess Luna on the other side. Even though she had asked for Princess Luna's help, Sassaflash gasped in surprise and quickly bowed low.

“Y-Your Highness, thank you so much for coming.”

“Thou art Lady Sassaflash, art thou not?”

“Yes, yes Your Noble Highness.”

“Then thou hast no need to fear of me. For thy cousin has earned a place of respect for both himself and for thee in my eyes.”

Sassaflash nodded, but remained bowed. After the two stood awkwardly for a moment, Luna leaned forward and whispered.

“May I enter thy home?”

Sassaflash nearly jumped backwards to clear the way.

“Y-Yes of course. My cousin, Rocinante, is right this way.”

As they neared the doorway, Sweetie Belle emerged with a glum look on her face. But when she noticed Princess Luna walking towards her, her eyes lit up.

“Can you help Sir Rocinante?”

Luna smiled. She had always preferred conversing with foals because they had not yet been taught to treat her with such overbearing reverence.

“I will do what I can.”

Entering the room, Luna saw Rocinante staring at the ceiling. He seemed so intent on staring at the blank slate above him that he didn't even notice that she had come into the room before she cleared her throat.

“Rocinante?”

Rocinante turned his head to face her, and his face paled even more as he recognized her.

“P-Princess, I am so so sorry to have ever claimed to do anything in your name without permi-”

Luna raised a hoof to cut him off, but before she could say anything, she looked down to see that Rocinante was attempting to get out of bed so that he could bow down before her. Even though she knew what to expect, it still pained her heart to see the Knight of the Restored Moon, Sir Rocinante of La Manecha, reduced to simply Rocinante, who feared her like everypony else. With a simple wave of her hoof, Luna motioned for him to stop and he swiftly obeyed.

“Prithee Rocinante, tell me, wherefore dost thou despise what thou hast done so?”

Rocinante would only barely make eye contact with Luna before his eyes darted down to the ground.

“Highness, I am an embarrassment to my family, my name, and all who know me.”

“Why?”

“All I have done is humiliate myself and endanger others.”

“Nay, Sir-”

Luna stopped when she saw Rocinante flinch at the mentioning of his previously self-proclaimed title, but she swiftly resumed before he could change the subject.

“Rocinante, dost thou truly believe that thou hast had no impact for the cause of goodness upon thy world? Hast thou forgotten what thou hast done for me?”

Rocinante's eyes suddenly looked up into hers, as if some memory was trying to resurface in his mind, and he looked at her inquisitively.

“I... I helped you? But... how?”

Luna swiftly nodded.

“Thou didst speak unto me and thy words rang deep into my heart and changed how I viewed all around me.”

Rocinante looked completely perplexed as Luna looked at him, waiting for some response.

“Perhaps...I didn't imagine...all of it...”

Luna nodded as Sassaflash and Sweetie Belle perked up. This was the most Rocinante had talked about his time as a knight-errant since his defeat. Rocinante looked at her with a foal-like curiosity as he leaned in a bit closer.

“Please forgive me Princess, I don't...I don't remember... What did I say? What could I have said that would have done such a thing?”

Luna smiled a weak smile as she looked over and pulled close to her the battered brass basin that everypony in the room, even Rocinante, recognized immediately as the famed Helmet of Marebrino. At the sight of the helmet, Rocinante looked away, but Luna called his attention back to her.

“When I was at my lowest, thou came to me and spoke of how my past actions were unimportant compared to my heart.”

Rocinante was silent as Luna continued.

“Before I could inquire as to thine intentions or meaning, thou didst say that thou were but only acting as 'a true and virtuous knight would.' Thou prayed that I would see how cheaply forgiveness could come. Dost thou remember?”

Luna noticed that Rocinante had not flinched or turned away at the mentioning of the word knight, even if he was still silent. Not waiting for a response, Luna breathed a small sigh and began to smile as she placed the helmet upon her head.

“For thou hadst, with all of thy heart and with thy one and only wish, taken thy helmet upon thy head and wished for my betterment, much as I, Princess Luna of Canterlot, now wish that you, Rocinante, would truly remember what thou hast done and be restored to the true knight-errant that thou art!”

Feeling a few tears beginning to well up in her eyes, Princess Luna closed them as she held the helmet to her head.

“For that, which was done with all thy heart, truly moved me more than anything that anypony had ever done for me since my return. Indeed, thou didst in fact restore thy Princess of the Moon and obtain thy title.”

Breathing another sigh, Luna looked back up at Rocinante. The room fell into silence as he stared into her sincere eyes and everypony was leaning forward when Rocinante slowly began to stumble through his memory.

“At the Gala...”

Luna nodded quickly.

“Yes, you said I was...”

“You were free...your destiny...was...your own.”

Everypony's eyes grew brighter. Luna nearly bounced from where she knelt at his bedside.

“Yes! And I made thee my Noble-”

“Champion of the Night!”

His words were suddenly stronger and more confident. Everypony suddenly felt their hearts leap as though a great weight had been lifted off of them. Luna didn't even stop to wipe the tears from her eyes before embracing Rocinante. She hadn't noticed the color coming back into his body until she pulled away and saw the burning fire rekindled in his eyes.

“Sir Knight thou dost remember!”

Rocinante looked startled, as though he had just noticed who he was speaking with.

“Noble Highness! Fear not! Though the enemy has bested my lance in combat once, I shall not be so easily dissuaded! I shall rise and face the foe again! Sassa! I need my lance! I need my armor! I cannot allow these tears within her Noble Grace's eyes to go forth unanswered!”

Rocinante began to rise, but Luna, with a tearful smile across her face, motioned for him to lay back down.

“Noble knight, thy battle is won, the day is ours. Take thy well earned rest.”

Rocinante shook his head and attempted to worm his way past the hooves that barred his path.

“How can I rest when evil remains at large! Though he may have struck me down, never fret, for each time a knight-errant is knocked unto the ground, he shall rise again and again and evil shall be undone!”

Luna couldn't help but laugh as she gently, yet more forcefully, pushed her wounded knight back down.

“Prithee good Sir Knight! Didst thou not hear me? Thy fight has been won, the day is ours! The villain Discord has been bested at the hands of my sister's champions.”

Rocinante seemed rather disappointed as he allowed himself to be lowered back onto his mattress.

“Then...I must concede that the villain has indeed bested me.”

“'Tis not so! Sir Rocinante, thy orders were but only to delay the fiend until the Elements of Harmony could be restored, for they are the only force capable of dealing with the dark magic the villain Discord applied against thee and my sister's champions. But thou, noble knight, in spite of this, stood thy ground when no other pony could. Despite all of the might that the forces of darkness could align against thee, thou stood firm and weathered the storm for far longer than anypony could rightfully expect of thee, and because of this, our day has been won. Thy noble lance, powerful though it may be, could not defeat the enemy, by thy courage and thy heart were never outmatched, and though thy body was battered for our sake, thou didst indeed endure long enough to cause the villain to overlook the snare placed around him by my sister and her champions. Though the final fight was theirs to win, it could not have been won without thee. Thus we find ourselves in thy debt.”

Rocinante remained motionless as he lay in his bed.

“Sir Rocinante?”

Rocinante gave no response, causing Sassaflash to rise from her seat rapidly.

“Cousin! Are you okay?!”

A loud snore that possibly rattled some of Sassaflash's windows came in response and all three ponies suppressed a giggle.

“It would seem that the efforts of the day have at last caught up with thee, noble knight. Take thy rest, for thou hast earned it.”

Sassaflash smiled as they all got up and left the room to let the knight-errant sleep. And as they entered her living room, Sassaflash bowed low to the Princess.

“Thank you, your Highness. I'm sure you had much to do after Discord's defeat. Thank you for coming to help us.”

“I should be thanking thee, noble Sassaflash, for all that I have said is truth. Thou and thy knight stood firm in the face of an impossible task, and Equestria is saved because of it.”

Luna paused for a brief moment before continuing.

“I know not when Sir Rocinante fell asleep in my words, and I wish to make certain that my knight is aware of his true success. May I stay here for a while? At least until he awakens?”

“O-Of course Your Highness! My home is yours for as long as you want!”

Princess Luna smiled at the blushing pegasus as she thought about her words. She had already made up her mind about what to do with regards to resuming her journeys now that Discord had been dealt with and she was hopeful that the knight and squire would be receptive to the idea, even if it was originally her sister's.

“Thank you, noble Sassaflash. I have much I wish to discuss with thee and Sir Rocinante upon his awakening. For I have been speaking with my sister on the value of touring the realm before I return to my courtly duties, but as thou canst no doubt imagine, I cannot travel without a proper guard...”