Chapter I - Through the Mirror

It was a shock when the first human in centuries stepped through the mirror.

It was long thought that such worlds dominated by them had faded away, either through time or devastation by war or famine. One world was only available for three days before closing for thirty moons. Another showed them a starving people, but there were so many they could not help them all and stopped going there after a while, bringing back only some relics to study.

The last one they tried had but one man sitting on a stone. He answered a few of their questions, then lay down and closed his eyes as though they fell asleep. But he told them his world had been devastated by nuclear poisoning and he was going to die no matter what they did, and to get out before they did, too. It took months for the guard to overcome their slight poisoning once they returned.

Since then, it had been hundreds of years. The last to step through the portal and return was Twilight Sparkle, but Princess Celestia had given up hope in bringing humans to Equestria. They were left with nothing but relics of previous worlds, attempting to piece together the remnants of a fractured history that no longer applied to the multiple worlds through the mirror.

While thoughts of such always remained in the back of her mind, Celestia never acted on them. She went about her work governing Equestria as usual, helped by Princess Luna in administering the ponies, examining legislature, reviewing the budget, and examining court cases that ascended to their judgment. After so long a time, she nearly forgot the mirror and its properties, despite the fact that it stood mere feet away from her throne and offices.

But one day, very early in the morning, Celestia got up and brought up the sun as was her usual fashion. She had just settled down in the throne room and was getting ready to hear another long case for travel to the griffon kingdom when Princess Luna walked swiftly into the throne room.

‘Ah, sister, thou art awake,’ Princess Luna said. She bowed out of respect.

Princess Celestia bowed in return. ‘My sister. How has the night passed?’

‘Well, I’ve just come from the hospital wing,’ Princess Luna replied, rising from her bow. There was a note of urgency and her voice was hushed as though she didn’t want anyone else to hear. ‘I waited until we were clear to tell you, but we have a visitor from the mirror.’

Princess Celestia gasped. She looked to the guards on either side.

‘Do not let anyone enter the throne room,’ she said firmly. ‘I will be gone on urgent business. If anyone comes asking for me, tell them it was a matter of security.’

The guards nodded and went to the door. Princess Celestia followed Princess Luna out the door and into the secluded hospital wing and saw the human lying on one of their beds, its eyes closed and an automatic breathing machine hooked up to its face and an IV hooked to its arm.

The human was a fair-skinned male with dark brown hair and what appeared to be a light tan. His clothes sat off to the side and were tattered and blackened around the edges; they had been placed off to the side and replaced with one of the larger hospital gowns to cover him in. He appeared badly damaged, bandages over small red circles in multiple places and breathing slowly as though he was badly injured or comatose.

Princess Luna walked over to a small tray. ‘He was brought in at two o’clock this morning,’ she said. ‘He had multiple small circular wounds and would not respond. We brought him and took him to surgery, where the doctors extracted numerous metal shards and closed his wounds.’ She picked up one of them with her magic and levitated it over to Princess Celestia.

‘A bullet,’ Celestia said upon inspection. ‘It is fired from something called a “gun” by a controlled explosion. Rockets out of the gun’s barrel at over 350 meters-per-second; one well-aimed shot would kill a pony.’

‘How did this human survive?’ Princess Luna asked. ‘Unless he is hardier or stronger, but that does not seem likely.’

‘Luck. They did not shoot him at any of the vital organs – the heart, brain, lungs, or spine. One or two well-placed shots and he would have died. But we won’t know what happened until he wakes up. Hopefully he will be able to speak our language.’

Princess Celestia returned to her normal duties, but urged afterwards that the hospital staff send her updates personally on the human’s progress.

Slowly, the human recovered. Over the course of the next few days, Princess Celestia received numerous updates from the hospital about an increase in his manual breathing, heart rate, and a return to his normal skin color, a more caramel-brown color than they had first expected. The doctors’ attended to him well and made sure that he was well-taken care of; Celestia added to their knowledge by sending them some of her own “books” she had written on human anatomy and biology, and the two head doctors and some of the nurses reviewed the books in their spare time for treatment of him as he woke up and for after-care. She also sent a few models of a human body to designer Hoity Toity to make clothes – shirts, pants, boxers, socks, shoes and jackets – for the human to wear, made of cotton and linen and polyester.

Princess Celestia herself came to see him in the hospital when a nurse reported he had woken up nearly four days later. She cancelled her appointments and immediately headed down to the large, open-air wing and saw the human shuffling around in his bed. Two nurses removed the automatic breathing machine and they all waited with bated breath for him to finally stir.

The first thing they saw when his deep blue eyes opened was fear. It took four nurses to restrain him, each pinning his arms and legs so that he could not flail about and hurt himself or others. Celestia walked calmly over to the edge of the bed.

‘Get off of me!’ he shouted. ‘What is this place!? Where am I!? Let me go!’

‘Calm down,’ Princess Celestia said gently though the human still struggled against his bonds. ‘Your questions will be answered shortly. But first, where did you come from?’

The human looked at Princess Celestia with a look of shock on his face. ‘What the hell… a talking horse!? I must be going mad!’

‘You are not mad,’ Celestia replied, relieved she understood him. ‘There’s a mirror through which you came. You appeared here with burn marks and wounds that we extracted pieces of metal from.’

The human calmed down. ‘Did you say ‘burn marks’? I certainly remember those. And metal… gunshot wounds, probably.’ He looked himself over but only found clean skin, though some of it was whiter than the rest. ‘Well, that’s a better sight than I’m used to seeing.’

‘What happened?’ Celestia asked him. ‘Please. I will answer your questions about this place shortly, but I need information.’

The human examined Celestia with intent, and she him. All he had on was a pair of black boxers and a hospital gown, and maybe stood a foot higher than she did though was just under her while sitting on the bed.

‘It’s all a bit strange,’ the human replied, ‘but you haven’t hurt me yet. Matter of fact, I’m in better shape than I’ve been for a while. I suppose you can’t be all that bad.’

‘Where I come from,’ the human began, ‘there are many large cities. All of them are surrounded by stone walls so large that if you stood on top of the tallest buildings you still wouldn’t be able to see outside of them. There are many large buildings, then farmlands, then the walls themselves. We could never leave the walls because everywhere else has been bombed and is mostly uninhabitable.’

‘What about the gunshot wounds and the burn marks?’ Princess Celestia interjected calmly. ‘And what happened to you, that you came here?’

‘Well, there’s been a war going on for I don’t know how many years with another city, hence all the bombing. Well, that’s what they told us. I don’t believe them and protested against the war constantly. So, as punishment, they burned down my house to flush me out, shot me with their guns, then I guess they might have thrown me here supposing whatever was here would finish me off. That is the price I pay for being a learned man, I suppose.’

‘Have they done it before?’

‘Oh, yes. Everyone wants to protest, but few have the guts to. No one quite knew where they were sending us.’

The human looked around him. Everywhere he looked were beings that stood on four legs instead of two, all with coats of different colors and signs on their flanks. Not another looked like he did.

‘…has anyone else come through here?’

‘I’m afraid you’re the first one.’

‘Can I see where you found me?’

‘In a short while, once you’ve recovered. You’ve come a long way, but you still have a while to go; your wounds must be healed and you need to recover your strength. You’ve been out cold for five days.’

The human nodded. ‘Fair enough. You’ve been kind to me thus far. I trust you to take care of me.’

Over the next few more days, Princess Celestia made frequent trips to the hospital wing herself to interview the human. His name was Douglas – he couldn’t remember his last name – and he was twenty-five years old. He had completed his education and had undergone special training as a technician that worked on a sort of inter-dimensional gate that was similar to the mirror but powered by electricity.

But he did not like the idea of being cooped up in the one city against his will. He might not have travelled anywhere if he knew what was outside, but suspected his government did not want the people to know what actually lay outside, and read books that assumed that things did exist outside of the city walls. And so they punished him for insubordination and conspiracy to overthrow the government. They burned his house with him inside it; when he ran out to save himself, they shot at him and threw him through the gate with all intention to leave him to die.

It had been a stroke of luck he landed in Equestria. But Douglas, normally talkative, asked for privacy when Princess Celestia told him he was the only human that had appeared there in a long time. She gave it to him, and only came back when a nurse requested that he wanted to see her again.

By the time Douglas requested to see Princess Celestia again, he had been awake for nearly four days and had spent a little over a week in Equestria. They had fed him a modified diet and included small portions of meat when they could get it – old chickens that had no more use, pigs who were old and blind and essentially invalid – and he recovered slowly and became accustomed to the more vegetarian diet.

On his fourth day he was ready to walk again, and Hoity Toity’s clothing had come in. When Princess Celestia returned to see Douglas, she brought the clothes with her and had him try them all on in a private room. When Douglas was satisfied and confirmed that all the clothes fit, he traded out his hospital gown and put on a full set of clothes before returning to Princess Celestia.

‘Are they all to your liking?’ Princess Celestia said. ‘I hope they are neither too tight, too long, nor too hot.’

‘They are clean and fit well,’ Douglas said, pleased. ‘They are a bit loose at the moment, but I expect to fill them out as I recover a little more.’

‘Very well. Now, when you first woke up, you asked to see the mirror. If the hospital declares you fit to be released and you have mostly recovered, I will take you to see it.’

‘If you do not mind,’ Douglas said politely. ‘Now, I do have the question of what happens next? I do not think I should head back home, but I do not belong here.’

‘You will be given a home to live in under guard,’ Princess Celestia said. ‘Meanwhile, we shall look at a few tests of your cognitive skills and physical abilities. You shall be sent to classes that teach you about Equestrian history and government and you shall become nationalized and free to choose the job you desire.’

‘Thank you,’ Douglas said. ‘Then, if you don’t mind, may I see the mirror?’

Escorted by a pair of guards on either side, both in gold armor and holding spears, and Princess Celestia in front of him, Douglas was led to the mirror. He walked around it and nodded in interest, stroking the patch of hair on his chin and occasionally scratching his thin moustache. He rapped against the side of it with his fists and put an ear to the metal surface.

‘Yeah, this is the one they talk about. Fascinating… is it magic or technology? I remember working on attempts like this that ran with electricity. That was a long time ago, before the war really started.’

‘Perhaps where you come from it is different. Here it is magic, as electricity of any sort is not connected.’

‘Well, perhaps there could be some way to adjust the frequency to return home.’

Princess Celestia stared at him in disbelief. ‘You want to go back? They burned you and shot you and you want to go back?’

‘Why not? My work was not done. I do believe there was no actual war and no pretense for it.’

‘If it goes to your world, you are free to go.’

Douglas touched the mirror and watched as the surface rippled at his touch.

‘However, if it goes anywhere else, I should recommend returning. There are other worlds in worse condition than yours.’

Douglas shrugged and walked through.

For a few moments, Princess Celestia and the two guards stayed put. The hall with the mirror was quiet and still for a long time. A few guards passed wordlessly by the hall as though Celestia and the guards were not occupying it. Princess Celestia bid the guards leave, saying she would call for them when needed. The two bowed and left, turning opposite the other pair of guards that had passed. The sun passed through and created long shadows on the mirror and the sky turned to a bright orange.

The mirror suddenly rippled and Douglas returned. His face was pale and his eyes were wide and bloodshot. His hands shook at his side and his legs looked weak, and his mouth looked like there were tinges of vomit on it.

‘Was that your home?’ Princess Celestia asked, concerned. ‘Or somewhere else?’

‘Completely different,’ he said, voice hollow. ‘But I think I know where I was supposed to go.’

‘What was it like?’

‘Desolate. Barren. As torn apart as our own, only without the walls and the city. And a giant pit not far out of the mirror, filled with… with…’ His voice trailed off.

‘You don’t have to continue,’ Princess Celestia said warmly. ‘You may stay here. You’ll be safe.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Very well,’ he responded, his voice gaining back some of his initial vitality. ‘I thought about trying again, but I don’t think I should like to. Not if that’s where I very well could have ended up.’

Princess Celestia nodded. ‘Well, then... welcome to your new home, Douglas. May life treat you more favorably here than it did wherever you came from.’

Douglas adapted well to life in Equestria.

He lived in the shadows of Canterlot Castle and was allowed to roam the streets as he pleased though noted he was almost always followed by a guard. He was given a small apartment with his own bedroom, a functioning bathroom, a sitting room, and a kitchen, and soon filled it with books. He went to school and took classes on Equestrian history, government, biology, and pony anatomy. By the time of his first winter, Douglas had scored a 3.75 GPA at his university classes and successfully passed the test to become an Equestrian citizen.

All of this was at first done very quietly. Princess Celestia did not make a big deal about the human roaming around the streets, thinking that it was better if she didn’t call attention to it. Douglas was polite and civil and his teachers provided good reports about his schooling, and she thought that the ponies would respond favorably to him.

They did not.

By the time a month rolled around, Douglas had actually been hit once because a pony did not quite know how to respond about him. He’d tried to make a good first impression, but got bucked when he tried to explain himself. Thankfully the buck was imprecise and he wasn’t damaged more than a couple of hoofprints on his stomach and a few bruises along with them. But Princess Celestia did not take the event lightly, and quickly released a statement on Equestrian radio detailing Douglas’ arrival and her acceptance of him.

At three months, Douglas was the victim of an assault. He’d been walking home from university in the evening and was attacked by a pony in the street. Someone called the guard and the guard helped Douglas out and eventually arrested the perpetrator. Princess Celestia started having guards follow around Douglas more closely to make sure no one tried to attack him again, which unnerved Douglas but he felt safer knowing it was more for his protection; he was at least still free to go wherever he wanted.

But things went worse from there; while it was accepted by eyewitnesses that Douglas was the victim, Douglas had given the pony quite a beating in return. Stories began to emerge that had long been laid to rest, stories of humans as monsters with strange paws and long claws and red eyes and dark skin and gnashing teeth. By the end of the semester at University, Douglas went from being attacked to being avoided, and the guards were sometimes called on reports of a monster that were mostly just Douglas trying to buy something at the local market or picking up a sheaf of paper for his classes.

When Douglas went to take his citizenship test, Princess Celestia almost didn’t look at his test and considered just giving it to him outright. But according to the proctors he passed with flying colors.

When this occurred, Princess Luna invited Douglas in to go into a career discussion meeting to see what Douglas wanted to do and where he wanted to live.

‘Why is Princess Celestia not doing this?’ Douglas asked.

‘My sister is currently preoccupied with an important international meeting with Saddle Arabia,’ Princess Luna said. ‘While I have not taken as direct an approach, I have been helping to watch and monitor your studies and living conditions.’

‘Very well, then,’ Douglas responded. ‘So why have I been called in here, exactly?’

‘I presume you have gotten the notification you passed your citizenship test?’

‘Yes. Official citizen of Equestria, and now allowed to open a bank account, get an ID, and a passport if I wanted to for travel across Equestria and to friendly nations.’

‘That is correct. But now that you are a citizen, we must decide what you are to do here to become a productive member of society. Therefore, this is a meeting where we shall look at your vocational interests and see what you want to do. I suppose I ought to ask if you have any ideas about what you would want to do?’

‘Well, I was a technician, but I would not like to return to that just yet. I would like to distance myself from my former circumstances and, if possible, return something to you for helping me as much as you have.’

‘Well, there are a few routes you could take.’ Princess Luna pulled out a list from a stack of papers she had with her. ‘Based on your cognitive and physical ability tests, we have found a small assortment of jobs that would fit your particular set of skills. We can start from here, but if you have any other interests, we can see what you would need to do to get to that point.’

Princess Luna handed Douglas the list and went through and answered questions about any of the jobs he had. Some of them were simpler technical jobs that needed a bit more specific training and he’d be ready to go, like electrician or radio software engineer. Some were a bit more advanced and required schooling, like psychologist or a computer engineer or even a nurse. Some were jobs he could almost jump into right away, like secretary or general office worker or paymaster.

‘I want to join the Guard,’ Douglas said after a moment of deliberation.

Princess Luna was mildly flabbergasted. “Royal Guard” was not one of the options on the list. ‘Whatever for?’ she asked.

‘I can’t stand an office, I don’t want to do something similar to what I’d been doing before I went through the gate, and I want to give my services to those that helped me when I needed it most. If possible, a position in the Guard would satisfy all of those.’

Having an insight into Douglas’ dreams, Princess Luna admitted inwardly there was some logic in what he said. Things that could have been defined as “nightmares” looked like things out of a dystopian novel, and Princess Luna had to remind herself that those things for Douglas were not fiction. “Royal Guard” was about the farthest away from everything he once went through and hated. Except...

‘...you would become what hurt you?’ Princess Luna asked. ‘I assume it was some equivalent of our Royal Guard that attacked you and threw you here.’

‘Very true. But your Guards are honorable, kind, steadfast, loyal, and compassionate, and you as leaders are fair, just, and just as compassionate and welcoming. In other words, the exact opposite of everything the military back home was.’

Princess Luna was somewhat flattered by this. But reason must be seen. ‘It won’t be easy,’ she advised him. ‘You will have to go through extensive physical training and weapons training. You’ll have to learn about laws, about various orders and commands, and you will be pushed to your limit.’

‘I am willing,’ Douglas said. ‘I admittedly think I need the order and discipline, if not merely used to it due to where I come from. But again, I rather think your Guard will be a much more positive influence.’

Princess Luna shrugged her shoulders. ‘Very well. I shall see if I can’t get you into Iron Shield’s boot camp. You’ll undergo a month or two of training. If you pass, we’ll see where you go from there. If you fail, we shall have this meeting again and you will have to pick a new career.’

‘Fair enough,’ Douglas said. ‘I will do as you say.’

Once the winter holidays were over and the new year had begun, Douglas went to a boot camp on the grounds of Canterlot Castle’s barracks. Douglas was part of a new group of twenty recruits who slept together, ate together, and exercised together, and were all led by Iron Shield, a stout grey pegasus with sharp green eyes.

Douglas was made a set of bronze armor and began his grueling training under the watchful eye of Iron Shield and the occasional check-up by Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. At first Douglas struggled trying to keep up with the endurance and speed of the ponies. But soon his stamina grew to equal his companions, and through his exercises he gained power and agility far beyond what the ponies could hope to master. By the end of a month, Douglas passed with high marks on everything but speed, but even Iron Shield admitted in his final reports that Douglas was a force to be reckoned with and the morals to match.

So Douglas was allowed to join the Royal Guard. He was given a set of gold armor befitting his service to Princess Celestia, and a spear was made to fit his height and weight. A ceremony was made to welcome the four new guards that joined the special Royal Guard, and Douglas was among them, as he swore to protect the Princesses from any threat and to serve Equestria faithfully and with integrity.

By the time the spring came around, a new schedule had started; Douglas spent his days in the Royal Guard working a morning and early afternoon shift, and attended classes at the University in the evenings, studying law for the Guard, advanced world history, and mathematics. He excelled at both and soon began to earn a steady pay, and after two months he found himself out of the care of Princess Celestia and Luna, able to take care of himself and purchase everything he needed.

Actually getting what he needed became harder.

While Princess Celestia initially viewed adding Douglas to the guard as something that would show her good faith in him and that Douglas was to be trusted, the citizens of Canterlot did not take it that way. Douglas was taunted even further and some ponies wondered aloud why their Princesses tried to tame and arm the monster that was now in their midst.

He became barred from the store and had to order everything by mail. He could not get into study groups at the University or hardly get tutors because word about his origins became twisted and distorted. He even had to move to a small house closer to the Castle because the other tenants in his apartment became scared at having him live among them, despite the fact that Douglas kept to his own business and never bothered anyone.

Douglas knew the others viewed him as a monster; it had been so long since Equestria had seen a human they had fallen into the realms of myth and legend. Douglas heard the stories of thieves who came in and kidnapped foals to be used as slaves, stories of those who were hunched over and filled with sharp teeth and ate others, stories of men and women who desired nothing more than power.

Funnily enough, he agreed with more than one of them. He just never applied them towards himself.

Chapter II - Transfer

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Douglas kept getting pelted with insults for a long time.

When the semester came to a close, Princess Celestia decided she’d had enough. She let the grades come in – this time a 4.00 GPA despite his difficulties – and discussed things with Princess Luna and sent off letters abroad. After a week of correspondence, she had made up her mind.

One day while sitting at home, Douglas was surprised to receive an invitation by Guard escort to the castle to meet with Princess Celestia and Luna. Douglas, wondering what was the matter, dressed himself in decent clothing and followed the Guard into Canterlot Castle and into the throne room where Celestia and Luna held court.

Douglas approached the throne and kneeled down before the Princesses. ‘Princess Celestia and Luna’, he said. ‘Honor and justice to the Sun and Moon that guide and protect Equestria.’

Princess Celestia merely smiled; it was the formal salute from a Royal Guard but Douglas said it rather prettily. Princess Luna bowed her head in return and smiled in thanks. ‘Stand up, Douglas,’ she said. ‘You are welcome in our court.’

Douglas stood up and faced the princesses. ‘Why have you called me in here?’ Douglas asked. ‘Have I done anything wrong?’

‘Not at all,’ Princess Celestia said. ‘Rather the contrary. Princess Luna tells me you’ve been excelling in your studies.’

‘As a matter of fact,’ Princess Luna added, ‘your grades are giving our University high acclaim and your work in the guard is admirable.’

‘But we have heard of your problems with the general populace, of them calling you names and defining you as a “monster” from legend,’ Princess Celestia continued. ‘Firstly, we would like to apologize for such and wish we ought to have stepped in sooner. But we would also like to present to you an opportunity, one that we think might serve you well.’

‘What is it, your highnesses?’ Douglas asked.

‘There is a place up north called the Crystal Empire,’ Princess Celestia replied. ‘It is run by a Prince D’Amore Temporus, who also manages their own branch of our University.’

‘Prince D’Amore Temporus? Now that’s a mouthful and much more elaborate than most of your names tend to be. But for what reasons have you to send me up there?’

‘There are more specialties available at the Crystal Empire branch,’ Princess Luna replied. ‘It is an old school with knowledgeable professors, and we wish to have someone up there who can help restore its credit.’

‘It’s failing?’

Princess Luna shook her head. ‘No. But your continued studies and high grades would allow an extra boost of our funding for it.’

‘I should also like to add in the mirror is being taken there,’ Princess Celestia spoke up. ‘If you so desire, you will be taken up there along with it. Your grades would be transferred, as would your position in the guard and place in the barracks. You would lose nothing.’

Douglas rubbed his chin in thought. ‘While I have no interest in the mirror, perhaps a place that does not call me names would serve as a good change of pace. Very well. So long as I am able to continue my work and studies up there, I would be willing to move to this Crystal Empire.’

Princess Celestia nodded. ‘I shall begin making the arrangements. You shall move in a month. A few boxes will be sent around for you to pack up your things and a copy of your transcripts shall be sent to the Crystal Empire’s University.’

And so the arrangements were made. Douglas said goodbye to his companions in the guard and, when the month was over, was put on a train and sent north to the Crystal Empire and towards his new life.

Douglas thought the Crystal Empire was among the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

He initially thought it drab and uninviting as the train went through snowfields. The journey went slow as the train had to constantly back up and charge into large drifts seemingly every few feet, and workers had to get out and dig out the train and plow before it could start again.

But soon the snowstorms subsided and turned into simple fields of white. Then the snow fields suddenly began to fade from white to a bright green and it seemed to Douglas that even the grass and the foliage was made from shimmering crystal. Everything seemed to glow and shine from the sun reflecting off it, from the houses to the giant, dark-blue crystal tower that loomed in the distance.

As they approached the town, the train slowed down. The houses were made of multi-colored stone that still shone though the effect was muted compared to the surrounding fields. The pavement was a deep purple-grey, and it seemed all roads led to the massive central tower with four thick, circular legs that extended into towering spires with crystal minarets, all shining a brilliant blue that nearly melded with the sky. Not far away was a large crystalline dome surrounded with flags and bearing the images of a sun, a moon, and a large heart made of crystal.

Even the ponies seemed to be made of crystal. Those who were particularly happy appeared to be cut as though from multi-colored rock though they flowed as flesh and bone. Others didn’t have the cut rock look, but were still brightly colored and occasionally sparkled in direct sunlight; Douglas was blinded looking at a particularly bright gold pony with an ice-blue mane that shone so brilliantly it dazzled him.

Eventually, the train came to a complete stop; they were on one edge of the giant dome that Douglas had seen as they came through the city. Douglas came out with his bronze armor and filtered into the streets with the other two guards. A porter came along and brought his bags over from the baggage car and a note from Princess Celestia.

Another guard approached. This one appeared to be of the same muted purple as the pavement, and was decorated in a suit of armor made from a fine blue metal. ‘Douglas,’ he said as the human approached. ‘You have been expected. Prince D’Amore Temporus wishes to meet with you in the crystal palace. Follow me.’

Douglas nodded and took his bags from the porter, along with the other two guards. He followed the guard to the base of one of the large legs at the bottom of the tower, seeing the ponies waving to him as he passed. They weren’t as afraid of him as the ponies in Canterlot were, perhaps having never heard the stories that came from their brethren down south.

Douglas entered the leg with the guard and onto a platform. The guard tapped a button and soon Douglas felt the entire floor begin to rise, nearly catching him off balance. The lift rose a good twenty feet before a set of doors appeared in front of them and opened, retreating into the walls. Douglas and the other guards followed the crystal guard out of the lift and into a large hall that appeared to be the first thing not made of crystal that Douglas had seen since entering.

The crystal guard turned to the other two royal guard. ‘You may return. Tell Princess Celestia that Douglas has arrived safely.’

The two white guards in bronze armor nodded and returned back into the lift. The doors closed and Douglas was left alone with the guard. The guard motioned for Douglas to continue following and he did, footsteps echoing in the grand hall in which he entered. A purple flag with a snowflake design surrounded in swirling patterns of ice blue hung over an archway that led into a large circular hall. The guard led Douglas up a staircase that ascended on either side of the room to a small balcony to a door made of wood; it seemed so plain compared to the rest of the place.

‘Prince D’Amore’s seat is through here,’ the guard said. ‘Be on your best behavior at all times. Address him as ‘Your Majesty’, listen carefully to whatever he says, and respond when appropriate.’

The guard knocked three times. He waited for a second as though listening for a response, but none came. Even so, the guard opened the door and motioned for Douglas to enter. Douglas shifted the position of his bags and walked into the room.

The throne room was much smaller than the one in Canterlot Castle; perhaps a mere thirty feet separated Douglas from the back end of the room where two chairs sat, both a brilliant blue crystal and covered with red cushions. Two doors stood, one on either side of the room that created a T-shape with the hall that Douglas had entered in. Both were closed.

‘Set your things down on the table by the door,’ came a light, refined male voice from one of the doors. ‘I shall be out shortly. And take off your armor.’

Douglas was startled, yet did as the voice asked. He placed his three bags that he carried with him on the stone table and unbuckled his chest plate, as well as his arm and leg guards, removed his boots and helmet, and arranged them neatly on the table next to his things, leaving him in a blue shirt with buttons and a collar and a pair of black pants. He pulled a pair of black boots out of his bags and put them on to replace the boots he had taken off before standing a few feet away from the chairs.

A few moments later, one of the doors opened. From the door came a rather bright pink male alicorn. His mane was in shades of purple, pink, and orange, while his wings ended in purple tips. A small orange goatee and something of a moustache accented his face, while his flank had a cutie mark of a crystal heart supported by an ornate gold design.

Douglas was dumbfounded. ‘…are you Prince D’Amore Temporus?’ he asked.

‘I am,’ the alicorn replied simply.

Douglas immediately regained himself and knelt down in front of the alicorn. ‘Your Majesty,’ he said, bowing his head.

Prince D’Amore Temporus nodded as he approached Douglas in the middle of the room. ‘Get up,’ he ordered, and the human did as he asked. ‘So you are Douglas, the transfer from Canterlot. Tell me, why did you accept the offer to come here?’

Douglas rose back to both feet. This alicorn was slightly taller than Princess Celestia was, likely by virtue of being a male rather than a female. ‘Your Majesty, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna asked me. I agreed and left because I was teased back in Canterlot and wished for a change of pace, in addition to lend my talents and mind to your service and to the betterment of the University up here.’

The alicorn nodded again and smiled gently. ‘You do not need to call me “Your Majesty” or use such elaborate language here,’ he said gently and in something of a melodic tone. ‘I wish to be on the same level as my subjects and not just seen as their ruler.’

Douglas nodded. ‘How do you wish for me to address you, then?’ he asked. ‘If you’ll pardon me, “Prince D’Amore Temporus” is quite a mouthful.’

‘I am perfectly fine with calling me “Tempo” or “Prince Tempo”,’ the alicorn responded. ‘Easier for you to say, while making things relatively informal for me, don’t you agree?’

Douglas nodded again.

‘You should note that your time up here will be quite different from your previous position down below’, Prince Tempo said. ‘The Crystal Empire has been hidden by magic for a thousand years, and as such few of whatever legends you’ve heard below have come here. We have our own set, our own history, and you will learn those in time at the University. Perhaps your time up here shall be more to your liking. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, Prince Tempo,’ Douglas said.

‘The Crystal Empire runs off of love. Therefore, it is in our benefit to make sure that we not only display that love to those who are among our closest companions, but to those who are outsiders among us. You will find that love can do strange, yet powerful things here and can be a driving force behind many of our actions. It is my hope that you will experience those same forces and work well in conjunction with our own Guard.’

‘Of course, Prince Tempo,’ Douglas said. But something about love doing “strange, yet powerful things” that somewhat unnerved him. It seemed like the Crystal Empire might almost run on a completely different set of rules from main Equestria. But he decided to go along with it and hope it wasn’t too different.

Prince Tempo sat down on one of the thrones. ‘I suppose I should give you a little information then, eh? As before, you shall have your guard duties in the day and have the evening for classes. Unlike back in Canterlot, the barracks are among the ponies and not here within the castle. The university is merely a block away from the barracks, within easy walking distance. Class selection for the next semester will take place in two months. So long as you maintain your status in the guard and your grades in school, your university days shall be paid for.’

Douglas bowed again. ‘Thank you very much, Prince Tempo. I promise you I shall keep my status and my grades high.’

‘I expect nothing less,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘For now, you are excused. Please wait in the hall for a guard to take you to the barracks. Take your bags, but leave the armor; a new one shall be created for you from their measurements.’

Douglas bowed a third time and quietly left the throne room and went onto the balcony. He descended the staircase and went back to the hall from whence he entered, sitting on a bench he saw as he waited for the guard to arrive.

He was not kept waiting long. A white unicorn mare with an electric blue mane and a shield with star for a cutie mark entered the great hall from the lift. Douglas rose from the bench and saluted her.

‘You are the guard?’ he asked.

‘Captain of the Guard, to be specific,’ the unicorn corrected him. ‘The name’s Gleaming Shield, and I’ve been assigned by Princess Celestia as the head of the guard up here. You’re Douglas?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Come on, then. We’ll be heading off to the barracks.’

They entered the lift and Gleaming Shield pressed a button to go down. It wasn’t long before the two were out in the streets again and walking down one of six large streets that cross the main city.

‘It should be warned that the Crystal Empire is not as much known for crime as it is for creatures prowling in from the snow,’ Gleaming Shield said. ‘Wolves are a primary issue for us as they like to come in and hide in alleys. Of course, protecting the prince is a priority, as well.’

‘Where have I been assigned?’

‘That’s up to Prince Tempo. He’ll be sending the order down likely by tonight, along with a set of armor for you. We’ll give you a day to settle in and meet with some of the other members of the barracks, but after that you’re on our schedule.’

‘Yes, ma’am. I am ready and able to serve.’

‘Good show. You seem the type to follow orders well. It’ll be nice having another guard up here.’

Douglas and Gleaming Shield soon arrived at the barracks, a series of rectangular grey buildings with a light blue tinge arranged in a U-shape. The main building at the back was four stories high, while the other two were half that height. Gleaming Shield led Douglas into the main building and pulled a piece of paper out from a small tray on the wall just inside the main glass doors. She examined the paper for a minute before setting it back and continuing onwards.

Douglas was led to the second floor and towards a small room. It had a single bed in a metal frame and a plain wooden writing desk with oil lamp. A small bookshelf stood off to the side of the desk, and a dresser stood at the far edge under a window that looked out over the Crystal Empire.

‘This is your room,’ Gleaming Shield said. ‘A schedule of important times is listed on the wall. Dinner will be served in an hour. Is there anything else you need?’

‘Where are the showers? It’s been a long trip.’

Gleaming Shield nodded. ‘End of the hall on either side. Soap and towels are provided.’

‘Thank you.’

‘It’s a little late for you to go to the cafeteria tonight, but a plate of food shall be brought up from the kitchens for dinner. You’ll join the others for breakfast in the morning. For now, you can do whatever you’d like tonight.’

‘Thank you, Captain. I will not let you down.’

‘That’s the spirit,’ Gleaming Shield said proudly. ‘Good night, Lieutenant.’ And she left him alone to unpack his things.

In the morning, Douglas got up and went early to the showers. He took a far stall and cleaned himself off with a rough soap and cleansed himself with a smoother one before dressing and heading down to the main cafeteria for breakfast.

Despite the early hour, the cafeteria on the main floor was already heavily populated with a line of ponies gathering breakfast. The hall was abuzz with laughter and excitement, forming into little groups around the tables and talking amongst themselves while they ate and drank. The whole atmosphere seemed to be one of socialization and relaxation, enjoying a few more moments at ease before they set off for work.

Douglas went and got himself a full plate of eggs, toast, fresh fruit, milk, and orange juice before going and finding a spot at a table in a corner, hiding himself and waiting to see what happened when the other ponies started to notice him. He thought it better that they make the first move, especially since he looked different, and wanted to make sure they knew he wasn’t a threat to them.

But mere seconds after Douglas sat down, the feeling dissipated. One had caught sight of him and went silent, and soon the entire room was looking at Douglas and not one of them was speaking anymore. For a long while the only sound that came was the clink of Douglas’ fork on the plate, and soon the other Guard began to murmur amongst themselves as Douglas ate.

‘What is this monster that walks on two legs?’ said a pale blue earth pony with hard blue eyes.

‘He looks like a minotaur,’ said one of his companions. ‘But he’s only got hair on his head and he hasn’t got any horns.’

‘I hear it’s called a “human”,’ said a third. ‘Princess Celestia’s apparently been searching for them using the mirror that was brought here.’

‘Cor! He looks ugly, doesn’t he?’ said the first. ‘Rather pale and skinny and hardly any meat on his bones, not to mention his paws look a bit weak.’

‘Let’s see how he does against a pack of timber wolves,’ said the third. ‘They’ll tear him to shreds.’

‘Or what about a snow golem like what entered last week?’ piped up a fourth. ‘Took three of us to subdue him; let’s see if he can do better.’

‘He actually looks like he belongs in a zoo,’ said the second. ‘Maybe that’s why they brought him here: put him on display in the botanical gardens.’

‘Ah, what does it matter anyway? Let’s just have the citizens deal with him. They’ll cause more pain than anything if he gets a taste of their hooves.’

‘I heard he came from down south. What made him come up here?’

‘Perhaps Celestia and Luna got tired of him prowling around and didn’t feel safe,’ the first one said.

‘Oh, sure. That’s why he was in the guard. To keep an eye on him.’

‘How long has it been since humans were last here? Hundreds of years or something?’

‘Yeah. Last one tried to bite the Princess. I heard his teeth were all pointy like that of a shark.’

‘Perhaps it’s best we leave him to the wolves,’ said the first. ‘Seems the best for all of us.’

Douglas, now finished eating, threw away his trash and put away his plates and utensils, and left the cafeteria before any more could be said, though he thought he heard them laughing as he left.

Douglas’ schedule the first week until Prince Tempo decided his position was not much. He spent a few hours under an older captain learning about laws and history that were different in the Crystal Empire before lunch, then headed to a unit led by Gleaming Shield for drills. He practiced with various weapons until dinner, did an hour of training, and was free to do whatever he wanted for the rest of the evening.

For the first day, he managed to find a few guards who weren’t scared of him, and though he wouldn’t say he made any friends, he at least got a few to understand who he was and that he was not a threat. He also stayed away from the earth pony and his companions who had teased him and felt much better that not all of them thought him strange or a monster.

According to Gleaming Shield, when asked, the pale blue earth pony was named Storm Shield. He’d been with the Guard for a few years and had been on patrol the whole time. He had generally good conduct and was in-line for a promotion.

‘Based on your conduct and record down in Canterlot,’ Gleaming Shield added, ‘you’re due for one sometime soon, too.’

Douglas felt better and thanked Gleaming Shield for her time.

But his hopes were dashed the next day. At lunch, Storm Shield came up to him and asked him where he came from.

‘I transferred here from Canterlot Castle,’ Douglas said. ‘I’ve been a member of the guard for about six months now.’

‘Six months?’ Storm Shield replied. ‘So you are a green. You know what they make greens do?’

Douglas had a feeling he knew where it was going and found himself quickly irritated by the pony. ‘Well, I’d been placed on regular duty patrolling the castle the whole time,’ he said.

‘First off, you have to treat us older guards with respect,’ Storm Shield said condescendingly. ‘Secondly, we get to decide what you do. It’s called “hazing”.’

‘I’m aware of what that is,’ Douglas said sarcastically.

‘Hey!’ Storm Shield barked. ‘Remember what I said about respect? You have to answer me with “yes, sir”.’

‘Um... no, I don’t,’ Douglas said. ‘I’m assigned to Gleaming Shield’s squadron right now, so as yet you’re not my commander.’

‘It ain’t about who’s commander or not. You’re new here. So, I expect to see my armor polished by the time I’m done with dinner, alright?’

Douglas tried to ignore him.

But when dinner rolled around, Douglas barely sat down when Storm Shield came back over.

‘Hey, green!’ he said. ‘You got my armor cleaned?’

‘I think you’re wearing it,’ Douglas said. Which was true; Storm Shield had on a faded purple set of armor. ‘So unless you’d like me to dunk your whole body into the armor polisher, I don’t think there’s much I can do.’

‘Well, then, why don’t you get the armor polisher and a rag and clean it off while I’m eating?’

‘Because I am eating before I do my mandatory training.’

Storm Shield bashed a hoof on the table so hard that the whole thing shook and some of Douglas’ meal fell over the sides of the plate onto the table. Douglas also noticed his iced tea and water he’d gotten for a drink were also all over Storm Shield’s armor. Unfortunately for him, Storm Shield noticed this, too.

‘Would you look at that?’ he grinned. ‘It appears that your drink has spilled on my armor. So, green why don’t you go and get the rag and clean it off?’

Douglas was in no mood and tried to ignore him, but that didn’t work. Storm Shield “tapped” Douglas, but the tap was as hard as a buck and he suddenly spit water and food everywhere. He was forced to get up to get a paper towel and clean himself off anyways. He sulked off, grumbling at Storm Shield and his companions laughing at him.

But as he was sulking off he ran into a pink wall and fell backwards, causing the laughter to continue for a while longer only to end in a dead stop. Douglas looked up and saw that Prince Tempo was standing in front of the napkins.

‘Looking for one of these?’ he asked. He held out a rag to Douglas in his light-blue magic.

At first, Douglas didn’t care if it was the prince. He just wanted to shout and rage and cry all at once. But before he could do any of those things, Prince Tempo had walked past him.

‘Let me take care of that,’ he said.

Douglas stood himself up and immediately started spitting out a whole range of ‘Oh, you don’t have to do it I could have just picked up a few towels and cleaned it myself please really it’s not a huge problem...’ But by the time he’d broken his astonishment and gotten back to the table the prince had already cleaned up the table.

Storm Shield watched quietly as Prince Tempo looked at the rag in his magic. He inspected it for a while, turning it around and examining the contents of the rag, before twisting it up like he was going to wring it out.

The towel launched out with a snap. Storm Shield wasn’t even hit, but the mess suddenly was all over him and he was drenched in gravy, iced tea, and water.

‘I advise you not to do that again,’ Prince Tempo said firmly. And before Storm Shield could offer a response, he walked out of the cafeteria.

Storm Shield could do nothing but growl at Douglas and leave him alone.

For a long while, Storm Shield didn’t do anything else. But as the week went on, Douglas noticed that more and more of the other ponies started to avoid him. Storm Shield must have had a lot of influence among the guard because every time another pony tried to talk to Douglas he’d glare at them and they wouldn’t even try. The only time he was able to talk with others at all was during the drills or studying in class.

But once they were sure that Douglas was alone, they approached him again. He found himself in a training center, and immediately found a guard – a smooth purple armament with a slip normally for a hoof as protection on the ground and armor, but easily adapted to his hand much like a shield – and began working on a punching and kicking a sandbag suspended from the ceiling. It wasn’t long before the group of stallions that had been jeering at him had entered the training center themselves, headed by Storm Shield. They found Douglas still working on the bag, causing it to barely move.

‘Oh, look. It’s the two-legged monster,’ cried Storm Shield. ‘Hey, what are you doing? Go back to the Everfree!’ His companions laughed at the remark.

Douglas tried to ignore him, but couldn’t when one of them nudged him with a hoof and caused him to stumble, causing the others to laugh again.

‘What do you want?’ Douglas asked.

‘Ah, it speaks Equish!’ Storm Shield remarked. He went up to Douglas. ‘What say me and you have a little sparring match? First to pin their opponent on the mat for five seconds without successfully fighting back wins.’

Douglas was slowly becoming infuriated and felt his pride was at stake. ‘Alright. Me and you.’

Douglas took off his shirt and the crystal stallion put on a set of hoofguards for himself. The two went onto a rectangular mat with a circle in the middle and stood across from each other on the outside of the circle. Douglas put his fists up and prepared himself.

‘Three… two… one… go!’

Douglas barely had time to respond. Storm Shield quickly hit his shoulder and knocked him over. The others groaned and laughed at Douglas, but he pulled himself back up. It wasn’t long before the stallion lashed out again and put a hoof on Douglas, who in his rage feebly smacked at the stallion’s hoof while trying to regain his breath.

Five seconds passed like one.

‘Alright, I’ll go easy on you,’ the stallion said. ‘How about best two out of three. Give you another chance, right?’

Douglas nodded and got himself back up. The two retook their positions.

‘Three… two… one… go!’

Once again, the stallion lashed out and hit Douglas in the shoulder. Douglas was rocked backwards with a feeling of pain and didn’t even get up. The stallion came over to him and put his hoof on Douglas’ chest and pushed down.

‘I knew you were weak, but I didn’t know it was that bad!’

That did it. Douglas was now red with rage. He grabbed onto the stallion’s hoof in a death grip so that when the stallion realized what was happening he couldn’t pull it away. Twisting as hard and as fast as he could, Douglas pulled the hoof out from under the guard. The stallion flipped over and landed on his side, the wind knocked out of him. His companions gasped as Douglas stood upright.

‘You think I’m weak?’ Douglas said darkly as the stallion started to pull himself to his feet. ‘Well, have you ever taken a piece of metal to the shoulder at three hundred meters per second? How about five of those? And how about taking them after receiving second-degree burns? When you’ve survived that, tell me that I’m weak.’

Douglas lashed out with his foot and slammed it against the side of the crystal stallion. The force sent the pony flying backwards and made him roll off the mat. His companions had to help him up, and he was looking almost with terror at Douglas, the smug smile gone from his face.

‘The stories weren’t kidding,’ Storm Shield said. ‘You are a monster. You aren’t normal if your scrawny little figure was able to hit that hard.’

‘I’d rather be a monster than one of you,’ Douglas said. ‘I’d like to know I’m not normal instead of appearing so.’

The stallion tried to launch himself at Douglas with a roar, but his companions held him back. Douglas put up his fists and prepared himself for an attack.

‘Stop it!’ came a booming voice. ‘All of you!’

The stallion stopped squirming and Douglas put his fists down. All of them whirled in the direction of the training center entrance and looked over at the source of the voice. Almost immediately all of them bowed down.

‘Prince Tempo!’

Prince D’Amore Temporus walked up to the group. He examined each of the stallions followed by Douglas with careful scrutiny for a few moments before speaking.

‘Storm Shield,’ Tempo called out.

‘…your majesty?’ he said meekly.

‘I don’t think the guard has trained you to fight with your fellow guard.’ Tempo’s voice was stern and reproachful. ‘I don’t care what he looks like; Douglas is your compatriot and you would do well to work with him.’

‘Yes, your majesty.’ Storm Shield lowered his head in shame.

Tempo then turned to Douglas. ‘Douglas,’ he called out.

‘…your majesty.’ Douglas remained with his head lowered.

‘Your skill in combat is excellent, but put that fighting to the field and not to your fellow guard members.’ Tempo’s voice was still reproachful but no so harsh as it was to Storm Shield. ‘And if you are having problems, consult one of the superiors about their behavior instead of dealing revenge yourself.’

‘Yes, your majesty.’

Prince Tempo sighed. ‘I was going to give you your assignment sheet today, Douglas, but it shall have to wait until tomorrow morning while I make some adjustments.’

Douglas nodded, refusing to lift his head.

‘Now, head back to the main building and go to your rooms. If this happens again, Storm Shield, I will make that a mark on your record.’

‘Yes, Prince Tempo,’ the stallions and Douglas said, then returned to the main hall.

Chapter III - Meeting with the Crystal Prince

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Douglas lay awake in bed most of the night thinking.

His biggest problems right now were facing potential punishment from both Captain Gleaming Shield and Prince Tempo. He’d been caught fighting within a week of his arrival, and who knew what that meant for his position among the guard? Not to mention the fact that Princess Celestia had arranged for him to come up and had likely given good reports about him, and now those reports were about to be shattered in a matter of days.

But he soon decided that whatever punishment came his way he would take in stride – he could always find another position and place to live somewhere if it came to that – and turned his thoughts to Storm Shield. To think he could escape the ridicule of Canterlot by transferring! Instead, all he found was a place where they didn’t just mock him but used physical humiliation as well. Douglas felt that ruined his pride more than any stallion underestimating him and beating him in combat could ever do.

By the time the morning came, he was depressed enough he’d considered sending mail to Princess Luna saying he’d welcome the career discussion meeting again and looking at a general office worker or paymaster position. He dragged himself out of bed and headed over to the showers, mercifully empty of other ponies, and washed himself off and made his way down to the cafeteria to get some breakfast and think it through.

The cafeteria was once again filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation, but this time there was no silence that greeted his arrival or looking his direction. In fact, most turned away and kept from looking in his direction too long. Some even flinched or jumped backwards as though he might pounce on them.

Douglas decided the ridicule was worse than being avoided. At least if they spoke to him he could confront them. But now it was all in body language, something which could be attributed to an unconscious reaction rather than conscious thought, even if it was the latter that caused it. Douglas got into the breakfast like with the others and tried to mind his own business like nothing was wrong.

By the time he’d nearly gotten to the head of the line, Gleaming Shield had entered, wearing a light blue metal breastplate and hoofguards, armor of the elite Crystal Guard, and was looking around. As soon as she’s spotted Douglas she trotted over to him.

‘I would like to speak to you in my office, Lieutenant,’ she said, firm but calm.

Douglas looked around. ‘...right now?’

‘Preferably.’ Her tone became softer. ‘Though, if you wish to eat, we can do so after breakfast.’

Douglas looked around. He didn’t want to be reminded of the others avoiding him, and so when Gleaming Shield turned to leave he followed her in step. As he left, he saw Storm Shield looking in his direction and laughing, sure he was about to get in trouble; Douglas was pretty sure of that himself.

Douglas followed Gleaming Shield up to the fourth floor of the building and over to an open door with a sapphire-colored plaque reading “Captain of the Crystal Guard”. In the door was a simple wooden desk, pictures of former captains, and three symbols for the princesses and the prince, the crystal heart in the center and easily the largest of the three.

Gleaming Shield went around the desk and sat down on a pillow facing Douglas before motioning for Douglas to sit on the pillow opposite her. Douglas sat and crossed his legs before looking solemnly at Gleaming Shield.

‘I heard there was a fight in the training center last night,’ Gleaming Shield said calmly. ‘Please explain what happened.’

Douglas gulped even though his mouth felt dry. ‘I went to the training center after dinner to do my mandatory workout. I did the same thing back in Canterlot anyways so it didn’t really bother me. However, a few stallions lead by Storm Shield came in and started mocking me, which they have been doing for the past week. They said I was a monster, then challenged me to a fight while continuing to mock me.’

‘And what happened during the fight?’

‘Storm Shield knocked me over once, let me get back up, then knocked me over again. Then when he tried knocking me over for a third time, I grabbed his hoof to throw him off me and kicked him to push him away.’

Gleaming Shield nodded and went silent in thought for a moment.

Douglas didn’t move. Despite her more petite figure than most of the Guard downstairs, Douglas could see the muscles in her legs and was well aware of the magic of unicorns that made her still a formidable fighter. He hoped he wouldn’t startle her and cause her to lash out.

After a while, Gleaming Shield spoke. ‘It’s a more likely story than what I received from Storm Shield himself late last night.’

Douglas allowed himself to take a deep sigh almost out of relief. ‘Storm Shield came in, Captain?’

‘Said he went into the training room last night for a while. You were on one side and he on the other, but when you saw him, you ran at him and kicked him hard.’

Douglas shrugged. ‘I still have a bruise on my chest if you want to see it as proof.’

‘I don’t need any proof. Prince Tempo himself came in this morning and told me what happened when I mentioned the incident to him.’

‘...he did come there, ma’am. Storm Shield was ready to launch himself at me. I put up my fists in case he did, but the Prince came in and stopped it cold.’

‘Prince Tempo said you had fought well, but your methods were... unorthodox. What say you to that?’

‘I might have been more vicious than was necessary for the fight. But I suppose I was blinded by anger.’

Gleaming Shield placed her hooves on the desk. ‘Fighting is a good way to release energy, but not a way to take out anger. Anger will cloud your thoughts and make you act rashly. Perhaps try things on a dummy if you need to take out anger.’

‘Beg your pardon, but that’s what I had been doing before Storm Shield and his companions provoked me and challenged me.’

Gleaming Shield exhaled loudly. She was silent for a few moments more, not looking at Douglas directly but at her desk or the floor. ‘Has he bothered you at all today?’

‘I had barely gotten to the cafeteria where he was when you pulled me out. I don’t think there’s exactly been enough time for him to do much of anything.’

Gleaming Shield nodded thoughtfully. ‘Prince Tempo sent a new order as to your position and hours.’

‘A new order, ma’am?’

‘The prince said he deemed it necessary. You were originally to go on street patrol for a few weeks and then see if you were to start night patrol.’

‘I would like that, ma’am.’

‘Why?’

The answer shamed Douglas before he even said it, and he lowered his head in shame. ‘Because that way I could show the others I’m capable.’

Gleaming Shield allowed a small smile on her face. ‘We know you’re capable. That’s why you have the rank you do. But the guard isn’t for showing off. It is about protecting the populace and maintaining their safety.’

Douglas nodded.

‘That being said, the prince’s orders are that you are assigned to palace guard duty.’

Douglas looked up, now fully at attention. ‘P-Palace guard?’

‘Did you work in the palace guard in Canterlot?’

‘Yes, I did. That was my former position; not directly overseeing the princesses, but the palace grounds.’

‘Then you will have a lot to learn. However, His Majesty manages all that himself. You have orders to meet him this morning in the palace. Breakfast will be served there.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Right, then. Go on, leave your things here for now, and follow Gilded Armor to the Prince’s palace. It’s possible you report to Prince Tempo from now on instead of me.’

Douglas nodded then got up and left the room. He left his things in his room and followed one of the guard assigned to take him to the Crystal Palace. Douglas walked through the streets of early morning with nothing but a black collared shirt and white undershirt, another pair of dark blue jeans and his black boots, feeling underdressed for yet another meeting with the Prince.

Instead of following him into the palace, the Guard escorting him saluted Douglas and left him at the entry to the lift, leaving Douglas alone in the mostly empty streets. Douglas walked into the lift on his own and pushed the button for the main hall, noticing a hole placed just above the button. The platform rose and Douglas endured a few seconds of silence until the lift stopped and the doors opened onto the main entry hall of the palace.

The muted purple Earth pony Guard with light blue armor that had met him at the station when he first arrived was waiting for him inside the entry hall. ‘Douglas?’ he asked. ‘Come with me; Prince Tempo is waiting for you.’

Douglas followed the Guard into the next chamber and up the steps to the throne room. He knocked the three times once again, then opened the door without waiting for a reply but did not go in. He motioned for Douglas to enter, who walked slowly into the room, then closed the door behind him and walked away, leaving Douglas standing at one end of the hall.

The hall was mostly silent. Prince Tempo was sitting on one of the crystalline thrones on the other side of the room reading a small book aloud. Douglas at first thought that Prince Tempo was speaking complete and utter nonsense. The more he listened, however, the more it did start to sound like a language, but one that Douglas knew none of.

‘Vires amicitiae et virtutis amor. Fortitudo duce cum virtute et pietate ductus est. Ita principem locum obtinet, et discant homines sperent in eo omnino.’*

The Prince looked up from his book and stared at Douglas, who had not taken a step further since entering the room and still stood by the door unsure of what to do. The alicorn smiled.

‘You asked to come in,’ he said evenly, ‘so why didn’t you enter?’

‘Uh... actually you called me in here, I think. And when I came here you were reading and I thought I had disturbed something.’ He was silent for a moment and Prince Tempo was beginning to open his mouth to speak when he realized he’d forgotten something. ‘Your Majesty,’ he said quickly.

Prince Tempo stopped himself short and laughed. ‘I thought I said you didn’t need to call me “Your Majesty”,’ he said calmly. He closed the book and set it on one of the “arms” of the throne. ‘I was simply passing the time anyways.’

Curiosity took over fear and confusion and Douglas pointed to the book. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what is that book you were reading from? I understood none of it.’

‘It was a manifesto written in the old Equish and created by a philosopher long ago on how to rule,’ Prince Tempo said.

‘So it was not some sort of black magic?’

Prince Tempo looked at Douglas curiously. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I thought it was an incantation of sorts. I did not recognize the language.’

Prince Tempo nodded thoughtfully. ‘You will learn some of it eventually. But first, I did call you in here and I wish to discuss a few things with you.’

Prince Tempo walked down the steps and over to the door on the right side of the throne room. Douglas followed him and was led to a circular room with a tray of coffee and biscuits with butter on a table between two plush armchairs, one pink and one red. Prince Tempo sat in the pink armchair and motioned with a hoof for Douglas, somewhat confused, to sit in the other one.

‘I figured it would possibly be more comfortable this way,’ Prince Tempo said as Douglas sat down.

Douglas didn’t know how this exactly made things more comfortable figuratively, looking at the reclining figure of the pink alicorn across the table from him, though the chair was of fine quality.

‘Now, what do you think of the Crystal Empire so far?’ Prince Tempo asked.

Douglas was caught off-guard by the question. He’d expected a sort of job interview or information about a department transfer or something. ‘Oh. Well, um, it’s rather beautiful. But I’ve been in the barracks most of the time so I don’t really know.’

‘Understandable,’ Prince Tempo said calmly. He levitated the cup of coffee closest to him and took a sip of it. ‘I hope you shall become better acquainted with it in the following weeks and come to accept it as your home. You’ll be out walking the streets often with your job. How do you like your coffee?’

Once more, Douglas was taken off guard by the question. He was used to the formal meetings of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna; Prince Tempo was being rather more casual than he had expected. ‘A little milk and sugar, I guess. I don’t normally like the taste. But, I would like to ask you about my—’

‘We’ll get to that in a moment,’ Prince Tempo said patiently as he poured a little milk and two scoops of sugar into Douglas’ coffee and stirred it while taking a sip of his own. ‘But first, help yourself to a biscuit and tell me why you decided to join the Guard.’

How much the Prince knew about his past that he revealed to Celestia, Douglas didn’t know. ‘I was rescued from a world beyond the mirror by Princess Celestia and her guard,’ he said. ‘Conditions were... not good for me back home, and I came here.’

‘The letter from Princess Celestia didn’t sound like that decision was of your own volition,’ Prince Tempo said.

The whole time they had been speaking, Prince Tempo had kept a warm and ingratiating smile on his face and his purple eyes never left Douglas. Douglas became unnerved by the near unblinking stare and the relative casualness he talked about such things. ‘No, it was not,’ Douglas said. ‘I was nearly dead. But Princess Celestia and the Guard rescued me and helped restore me to health. When it came time for me to get a job here after my citizenship test, I chose to return the favor and join the Guard.’

‘A noble decision,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘And one that seems well-chosen; Princess Celestia and Luna sent up positive reports of your loyalty, integrity, and demeanor.’

His voice was smooth and soft, definitely masculine but at the same time warm and inviting. Douglas was not sure, but felt quite certain that Prince Tempo probably wasn’t going to punish him. He relaxed a little and picked up a buttermilk biscuit sitting on the table and took a sip of his coffee.

‘Why did you decide to take me on up here?’ Douglas asked, deciding to throw a question back. ‘As you may have guessed from Storm Shield, my appearance hasn’t exactly been... well-received.’

‘Princess Celestia says the citizens down there called you a “monster”, yes? I’ve heard the legends, yes, long before Storm Shield was even born. But she also said you were quiet yet kind, fearful yet loyal, hesitant yet tenacious, and solemn yet intelligent and eloquent. Your University grades and your reports from fellow guard members confirmed that.’

‘But why pick me? Why not someone else from down below in Canterlot?’

Prince Tempo stared at Douglas for a minute before a smirk came on his face. ‘You needed the change. You needed to get away. You needed the new start. I was willing to offer that.’

Douglas was unsure of what to think. Prince Tempo sensed his hesitation.

‘You lack something most have: a cutie mark,’ he continued. ‘A cutie mark shows what a pony’s talent is. Once a pony finds their talent, their calling, they are mostly content with their lot in life. Oh, of course, they are subject to jealousies, greed, disputes, and the like. But, on the whole, they’re a happy folk and easy to please once within their element. But you don’t have that certainty.’

‘But how does that relate to your decision?’ Douglas pressed the issue.

‘No other guard would be searching for another position,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘They would be content where they are. But you... as Prince of a place that runs on love and safety and comfort, powered by the Crystal Heart, it would not be fair if I were to take someone else instead of you and give them the chance at the life they want over you, and leave you stuck in a position where you may be content but your circumstances prevent you from ever fully realizing that.’

It was... a strange logic. But Douglas could see the reasoning behind it. Prince Tempo didn’t do it for personal gain even though that was a certain benefit if the University got funding, but because he actually genuinely cared about everyone that dwelt in the Crystal Empire.

‘Which, I suppose, brings us to the subject of your transfer,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘I am extending a job opportunity to you to work not as a mere Guard anymore, but part of the elite Guard that is responsible for me personally: a Palace Guard and escort to the Prince.’

Douglas nearly spat out his coffee. He managed to gulp it down, and managed to make his whole mouth feel dry as a result. ‘...you what?’ he squeaked out.

‘Is that not to your liking?’

‘But again, why?’

‘Based on your previous reports, you have the discipline and order for a Palace Guard.’ Prince Tempo took a calm sip of his coffee and smiled at Douglas again while holding out his left front hoof with a flourish. ‘I recently lost a Guard due to one retiring, and I need to fill the position.’ He repeated the gesture with the right front hoof. ‘You need to get out of the barracks before you’re devoured alive by politics and irrational ponies. It sounds like a win-win situation to me.’ He calmly and smugly put his hooves back in place on the chair.

The offer was near irresistible. Douglas would get away from Storm Shield and whoever else would treat him like that, and he would get to be part of the prestigious and elite Palace Guard as a personal guard to the Prince. Moreover, being close to the Prince, he would likely be treated with respect instead of fear and have a good-paying job.

‘All I need is your acceptance,’ Prince Tempo said silkily. ‘You say “yes”, you undergo a mild psychological examination and you are clear for service. You would live here in the palace in a special dormitory with the other guards, be assigned time on-duty and off-duty leisure time, and receive expert medical care. But the choice is yours; either you stay here and serve me as my Guard, or you go back to the barracks and deal with the likes of Storm Shield.’

Douglas felt his palms sweating. He wanted to say “yes”, but something about the gleam in Prince Tempo’s eye made him feel uneasy. But he only hesitated a moment.

‘...of course,’ he said. ‘I... I want to be a Palace Guard.’

Prince Tempo grinned. ‘Excellent! Follow me; we have delayed breakfast just a bit, but nothing too major.’

Douglas moved out of the way as the rather large alicorn – he came up to Douglas’ chin as opposed to Celestia and Luna who barely made his neck – walked through the door and out onto the balcony. Douglas followed him out and down the staircase, but they went through the door underneath the balcony and immediately found themselves in a large dining room with large bowls of food.

‘Please, sit.’

Douglas looked around. There must have been thirteen chairs. ‘Where?’

‘Anywhere you want.’

Douglas felt the prince watching him as he selected his chair. There were six chairs on either side of the table, but one chair sat at the head. Douglas thought about sitting in the prince’s chair, but restrained himself. Instead, he sat at the farthest chair from the head on the right hand side.

Once Douglas had chosen his seat, Prince Tempo picked up the chair from the head of the table in his blue aura and placed it on the opposite side and sat down in it so that he was sitting next to Douglas.

‘…what was that for?’ Douglas asked, rather confused by the display.

‘The psychological examination: a simple character assessment. You passed.’

That didn’t clear up any of the questions Douglas had in his head. ‘But how?’

‘There are six chairs on either side. Each represents a rank. Meanwhile, there is the chair at the head of the table. That represents my seat, the seat of power and leadership.’

‘But how does this relate to character?’

‘I cannot have a guard be cocky enough to think he belongs in the head, nor one rebellious enough to sit on the left side.’

That made some sense, but Douglas decided not to question any further.

A few other guards came out from the door to the hall with the staircase. ‘Are you done with the assessment, Prince?’ their leader, the muted purple earth pony from before, said.

‘Yes. You are all free to join us.’

Eleven other guards – six female and five male; four unicorns, four pegasi, and three earth ponies – came into the room. Each sat down at the table in no particular order, and settled themselves down to eat, picking and choosing from the various items available. Douglas would have started serving himself if Prince Tempo didn’t tap his hoof on the table four times and immediately gained the attention of the other guards.

‘Attention, members of the Royal Guard. I would like to introduce our newest member. Please welcome Douglas to your ranks.’

The eleven ponies raised a hoof and put it to their foreheads. They all looked at Douglas and chanted as one: ‘Welcome to your new family. We are your new brothers and sisters. We shall stand firm together in the companionship of common purpose.’

A smile appeared on the alicorn’s face. ‘Excellent display,’ he said. He turned to Douglas and motioned for him to serve himself, continuing solely to him. ‘As they have said, we are like family. We are each other’s brothers and sisters. I find that when my guard are close companions they perform their job better and communication increases.’

As breakfast went on and servers brought out large trays with serving spoons, Prince Tempo introduced the other members of the Guard to Douglas. The only one he could remember right away was Crystal Barrier, the muted purple pony he’d met at the train station. Once all had been introduced, they were welcomed to eat breakfast.

Douglas looked around the table, then over to the Crystal Prince. No one was scared of him. No one was afraid of him. He talked with some of the ponies nearby, including Crystal Barrier and a red-colored mare named Ruby Rose and learned a little about their backgrounds and reasons for joining the Guard, which were similar to his in the “wanting to return service via duty to Equestria” part.

And once, when he looked towards Prince D’Amore Temporus, he saw him lift his glass and give him a conspiratorial smile and wink in his direction. And Douglas began to wonder if there wasn’t a further reason for accepting him as a new Palace Guard, one that the Prince had neglected to mention.

When breakfast was done and the guards were all heading back to their posts, Prince Tempo motioned for Douglas to follow him once again. Douglas followed him out and back into the throne room, half expecting to go back to the tea room. But instead of going to the tea room they had been before, the Prince took a left and went to the other door.

This room looked more like a war room, with an elaborate desk, shelves of books on either side, and plenty of seating for visitors or meetings. Behind Prince Tempo stood the three symbols of the sun, moon, and crystal heart marks of the three rulers of Equestria, with the crystal heart the largest much like in Gleaming Shield’s office at the barracks. A large window overlooked one of the main roads of the Crystal Empire and let in plenty of natural sunlight, now up and somewhere out of vision of the window.

Prince Tempo went around behind the desk and bid Douglas to sit across from him once again. Douglas picked a seat that would more or less fit his height and sat down in it. Prince Tempo shuffled through a few papers and arranged himself so that he was leaning on his hooves slightly over the desk.

‘Before we begin,’ the prince said, ‘I was wondering what the circumstances of the fight in the training center were.’

Douglas gulped. ‘They mocked me. They wounded my pride. They said nasty things about me because I was human. I couldn’t take it anymore.’

Prince Tempo nodded. ‘So, why did you fight? What reason did you accept the challenge?’

‘Out of anger, and of revenge.’

The alicorn gazed intently at Douglas. Douglas found it uncomfortable, and felt as though the prince was staring into his soul and peering what whatever he found in there. Douglas didn’t know himself what lay in there, making it even more uncomfortable.

‘Is there anything else you have these feelings towards? Perhaps where you came from?’

The gentle manner in which Prince Tempo was speaking made it even more unnerving to Douglas. ‘Perhaps,’ he said guardedly. ‘Perhaps… I should like to go back and show them how I’ve become, maybe use my skills to fight back.’

‘And what would that give you?’

‘A sense of peace. Of knowing I did what I could.’

Prince Tempo got up from behind the desk. ‘There’s something I would like to show you.’

Douglas followed the alicorn through the halls back to the lift to the entrance. But this time Douglas watched as the alicorn bowed his head and shoved his horn into the hole above the button. The alicorn’s horn glowed and the lift started to rise even more. Douglas braced himself as the lift went higher and higher until it eventually stopped and the doors opened.

Douglas was led into a large, long hallway. On the other side of the lift entrance was a set of stairs, while doors populated hall until it ended in a large double door made of crystal. Prince Tempo led Douglas to the double doors and opened it to reveal a large room filled with the deep blue crystal and a familiar object in the center.

‘The mirror…’ Douglas said. ‘I remembered it being transferred here.’

Prince Tempo nodded. ‘It was placed here for safekeeping. The Crystal Empire is more heavily guarded than Canterlot is. Princess Celestia chose to move it, I chose to shelter it.’

‘But… why are you bringing me here?’

‘If you wish to go back, you may step through.’

Douglas looked from Prince Tempo to the mirror, then back to Tempo. ‘Just… right now?’

‘Of course.’

The calmness in the alicorn’s voice set Douglas on edge. ‘You can’t guarantee me returning to where I came from.’

‘No, I cannot.’

‘Then, why do you offer this to me? Is this punishment for something I’ve done?’

‘No. But you’ve already seen what happens to people in your place, I’ve heard.’

Douglas flashed back to the barren wasteland and the pit filled with burned bodies torn apart by gunfire. He nearly vomited where he stood.

‘Is that worth getting revenge? To be cast away like they were?’

‘I will not be cast away…’

‘But with training in the University, you can set the frequency to go back. You can return and become like a ghost, like one brought back from the dead. You have the power to change it. To show them they are flawed. Would that not be worth it?’

‘You wish for me to leave?’

‘No. I simply want you to consider the consequences.’

Despite his awe at the mirror, Douglas was soon wracked with hatred upon seeing it.

‘Take me away from this thing!’ he cried out. ‘I don’t want to be reminded of what I’ve seen! Of what could have happened to me!’

He fell onto the floor and covered his head with his hands. ‘My hatred burns ever more at them for what I’ve seen, and yet I do not wish to end up like that! I have already suffered too much. …perhaps it’s better that I go back, that I shall not have to endure the pain again.’ And he wept.

It was a strange thing to Douglas that he was crying. Not that he had not cried before, but of what he was crying about. This place he had entered, with all the problems he had encountered, was still better than there. He did not cry for the fact that he could not go back without being killed, but because he did not want to. His thoughts of revenge felt futile as he stared and remembered what they had done to his kin, and he found himself mourning his lack of strength and will to fight, a far cry from what had been done the previous evening.

A hoof fell gently on Douglas’ shoulder. He looked up to see the Prince sitting on the floor much like a cat, one of his front hooves gently patting his shoulder. The Prince smiled at him.

Douglas whimpered and his face fell back to the floor. ‘I am nothing but a refugee without a place to call home.’

Prince Tempo placed a hoof to Douglas’ chin. He gently raised Douglas’ head up, and soon the rest of his body followed until he was kneeling on the floor facing the Prince. ‘You have a home,’ the alicorn said soothingly. ‘And you have a family now.’

Prince Tempo placed a hoof around Douglas, who fell forward into the alicorn’s embrace. It wasn’t long before Douglas felt something soft and feathery surround his back, pulling him closer to the alicorn. The pink coat was soft and Douglas resisted pulling away, merely leaning on the alicorn’s chest as he tried to calm himself down.

‘“Vires amicitiae”.’

The words stunned Douglas out of his reverie. ‘…what?’

‘“Vires amicitiae”,’ Tempo repeated, his voice soft and slow. ‘‘With friendship comes strength’. I know you feel week, but give us another chance. Perhaps you can make some connections here, and your strength shall return.’

Douglas nodded. ‘I can try.’

Prince Tempo released his wings from around Douglas and let him go. Douglas stood upright and brushed himself off, smoothing the wrinkles from his shirt.

‘I will have to tell Gleaming Shield that another change is taking place,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘You are to stay here with the other members of the Royal Palace Guard, and you will be among the entourage that joins me in going around the city and being among the populace.’

Douglas nodded. ‘If I may ask what brought about this change, your majesty?’

Prince Tempo turned slightly so that Douglas could see his side. ‘Do you see my cutie mark?’

Douglas nodded. The bright blue crystal heart and gold adornments were not so easily missed.

‘Celestia commandeers the sun. Luna commandeers the moon. I am in charge of love. A strange talent, to be sure, but it is through a kind of love – platonic love – that keeps everything in harmony, from the sun and the moon to simple bonds between two ponies.’ Tempo straightened himself out. ‘I sense it’s been a while since you had that bond.’

Douglas said nothing. But when the Prince offered him another hug, he accepted it immediately.

Chapter IV - The Elite Palace Guard

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After their discussion in the mirror room, Prince Tempo led Douglas out of the room and back to the lift. They made their way back down to the main part of the palace and into the room with the staircase leading up to the balcony that marked the entrance to Prince Tempo’s throne room.

But instead of going up the stairs, Prince Tempo went underneath the balcony to a little door that Douglas hadn’t paid much attention to before. In here were three more doors, one leading off in each direction.

‘These are the Guard Quarters,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘In here you will find your rooms and a common room for off-duty guards, a bathing area, and an armory. First, your armor is ready, so we shall go to the armory and make sure it fits.’

Prince Tempo went forward to the door on the far side; Douglas followed close behind, intrigued, as they entered the room. There were twelve large cubbies with glass doors sitting along the edges of the room. Most seemed to have a stand to hold armor, but Douglas’ had an appropriately-made spear, sword, and a large kite shield with the insignia of the Crystal Empire, along with a modified stand with his armor sitting inside of it.

It was a beautiful armor set. It was the same light-blue armor of the rest of the Crystal Guard with small amethysts and intricate patterns on the breast and legs. Douglas pulled out each part individually and tested them all on at once and found that the crystal, much like the ponies themselves, was both hard as a rock yet flexible, barely moving when he tapped it with his knuckle but easily responding to his every movement.

‘Does anything need adjusting?’ Prince Tempo asked.

‘It all fits wonderfully,’ Douglas said. ‘But I would feel bad about tarnishing it; it looks so beautiful and yet delicate.’

‘They are magically reinforced crystal,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘The only thing harder would be diamond. And servants come in to clean the armor at night; they are very careful about their job. No need to worry about tarnishing.’

Douglas walked around the room, testing the armor out, and found it easy to walk in. It felt lighter than his Canterlot Palace Guard armor, as well.

‘You can put it away, for now,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘You won’t start until tomorrow. I’ll show you a few more areas of the palace and you’ll be free for the rest of the day.’

Douglas was shown the Prince’s throne room and his office once again, in addition to a majority of the rooms on the next floor up where the mirror room was. There were rooms with accountants, merchants, large filing cabinets, maps, and all manner of offices and secretaries. This was the main floor for the business of the Crystal Empire; the hub of trading, management, and finance. But Douglas was not going to be working there.

‘I am at first putting you on personal duty,’ Prince Tempo said as they returned to the first floor. ‘That is, you shall be attending to me and whatever I decide to do. What I do differs from day to day, so don’t worry about what you will have to do. You will have your spear or sword and shield and follow me around whatever you do.’

‘That is a bit close for me being so new,’ Douglas said. ‘Won’t that bring up some suspicion from the people? They would see a new face that is quite clearly different from others; I have only been here a week and spent almost all of that in the guard barracks.’

‘I will approach that subject in due course,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘Your reason is logical and your fear legitimate, but I promise you the citizens will not hurt one hair on your head.’

Douglas was not entirely convinced.

Prince Tempo led Douglas back into the door under the balcony and to the Guard Quarters, but this time led him to the right door. He opened it and showed him the bathing facilities, much the same as the barracks but somewhat cleaner, before heading back out and across the hall to the common room.

The common room looked like a large living room with couches and tables and counters with pots of coffee and tea, and had six more rooms leading off of it. Three ponies were inside the room, and they all stood to attention as Prince Tempo entered the room.

‘At ease,’ Tempo said, and the ponies slackened their posture but only slightly. ‘Which room has the extra bed?’

‘Ruby Rose,’ answered a stallion. ‘Her other bunk isn’t taken.’

‘Thank you. You may resume whatever you were doing previously. I have no need of you at the moment.’

The ponies nodded and proceeded to ignore the prince as though he wasn’t even in the room. Douglas followed the Prince to a room in the corner of the back wall and opened it. The room contained two beds with crystalline frames above the ground, each with a small area underneath it with a writing desk, a bookcase, and a dresser. One of them had the desk filled with flowery items as well as pieces of jewelry, while the other was blank.

‘That will be your bunk,’ Prince Tempo said, motioning to the clean one. ‘I have already sent a porter to collect your things from the barracks in the town. They’ll be here by this evening.’

Prince Tempo led Douglas back out of the room and back to the office just off the throne room, where once again they sat on either side of the desk. For the next two hours, Prince Tempo gave Douglas a schedule of events and a list of duties while serving the Crystal Empire. Breakfast was served punctually at eight fifteen every morning, and would finish at about nine. For the next two hours, the prince would be in his office while Douglas was to stand guard outside.

Once eleven hit, whatever Prince Tempo wanted to do, Douglas would go with him and keep watch. These things included going out among the populace, attending to duties in his throne room, maintaining upkeep of the Crystal Empire, and even standing guard outside his chambers. He had one free day per week – a Saturday – and a small paycheck, but it was tax-free and his medical was completely covered.

‘Are there others?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Others with whom I will be doings these tasks with? Twelve guards seems a little small for protecting royalty such as yourself.’

‘You are among the elite guard. Those are the ponies who I trust the most, aside from a special Night Guard who watches over the castle at night courtesy of Princess Luna.’

‘Yes, sir. I assume the other members of the guard come from the barracks, then.’

‘You are correct. There will be more than just the twelve of you when I am among the crowds, but the others are for crowd control and general guarding while you twelve are the actual guards for me.’

‘Understood. Is there anything else?’

‘I may talk with you every once in a while. During those times, you may drop all formalities. I like to be connected with my guards; they perform better and I can be there for them if they have problems. However, if I need to issue a direct order, you are expected to return to attention.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘There are also certain ceremonial procedures, but they will be detailed in due course as the protocol depends on what ceremony it is.’

Douglas remained at attention.

‘For now, I think that is all. Dinner is served at seven. You are free to roam about the main floor or to consult me in the throne room or my office if there’s anything you need. I would recommend heading back to the common room and getting acquainted with your fellow guards. Perhaps they will be…’

Douglas raised an eyebrow. ‘Is there a particular reason you trailed off there, sir?’

Tempo shook his head. ‘It’s nothing. You may leave now.’

Douglas bowed and backed out of the room. He left the throne room and headed down to the common room where the three ponies were. Two of them appeared to be playing a card game, while the other was the muted purple pony from earlier, wearing glasses and reading a book on a couch. This one reading a book placed a bookmark in it and stood up from the couch before walking over to Douglas.

‘Pleasure to meet you,’ he said, voice rougher around the edges than most others Douglas had heard. ‘The name’s Crystal Barrier. I’m the most senior member here; we met at breakfast this morning but I don’t believe we spoke properly. We heard about the fight down in the barracks and apologize for what happened.’

Douglas saluted him. ‘Pleasure to meet you as well, sir. Name’s Douglas. And you don’t have to be sorry about it; it wasn’t your fault.’

‘No, but it’s improper behavior and a shame to the name of the guard and the Crystal Empire that that’s how you should be treated.’

‘Well, thank you for being a more pleasant source.’

Crystal Barrier bowed. ‘If there’s anything you need, let me know. I’m one of the older members and kind of like a father to some of the stallions and mares here and am willing to help you out. Those two over there are Sapphire and Emerald Green.’ He motioned to the deep blue stallion and his bright green partner playing cards. ‘They’re quiet but sensible and actually quite sweet once you get to know them, and they know their way around this place better than anyone.’

The two stallions waved a hoof in Douglas’ direction, but didn’t look at him, before resuming their card game as though nothing had happened.

‘Is there anything else?’

‘Not particularly. I think I just need to lie down for a little. It’s been a long day.’

‘Right. It’s about four thirty now, so I’ll wake you up at five thirty for dinner if you’re still asleep.’

‘Thanks. And you can let me know if my stuff comes in; Prince Tempo said he would be getting a porter to bring it from the barracks in the city.’

‘Will do.’

Douglas shook the hoof of Crystal Barrier, who proceeded to return to the couch and his book. Things were looking up, and as he climbed into his bunk and laid down on the soft mattress and felt the warmth of the blanket, he couldn’t help but smile at his newfound turn of luck.

For the next week, Douglas quickly became acquainted with the running of the Crystal Palace and the duties of the Royal Guard of the Crystal Empire.

Every morning at seven, he would be woken up by Ruby Rose, the red crystal pegasus he shared his dorm with, and they would head out to the common room. Crystal Barrier or another Guard would have made coffee and a lightly-sweetened black tea to drink already, and Douglas would occasionally drink a cup before going with Crystal Barrier to the armory to pick up his armor and a weapon – Douglas’ preferred weapon became the sword easily and often sheathed at his side, a long but sturdy metal blade with a blue-ish sheen.

By seven-thirty, he would be with Crystal Barrier accepting and marking off the ten regular Guards from the barracks that would provide additional assistance inside the castle. Crystal Barrier quickly realized that Douglas’ hands and fingers, while to him a little odd, were rather useful in holding a clipboard, shuffling through papers, and writing things down with a pen or pencil.

Once the ten guards for the day shift were inside, Douglas and Crystal Barrier would go inside and join the others for breakfast at eight, handing the clipboard with the names marked to Prince Tempo. A full breakfast would be had before Douglas joined Crystal Barrier again for a run through of the palace. Douglas would again have a clipboard and they would go about the castle and looking at any of the offices to see if there was any problems the ponies within were having, which Douglas would write down.

At lunchtime, Douglas would go and hand the clipboard over to Prince Tempo once again, this time likely in his offices, before heading out and joining Ruby Rose in patrol of the town. Frequently they would cross paths with Sapphire and Emerald Green also on their route. Douglas didn’t have to take a clipboard this time, but took his shield and walked throughout the city. He hardly needed the shield but took it anyway, and it was light enough like the rest of the armor he didn’t mind the weight.

While he was out, Ruby Rose took him to see the various sights around the town, stopping twice for quick bites to eat before resuming patrol. It wasn’t necessarily part of the patrol, but she would point out various things as they passed. She showed him the Museum of Equestrian Natural History, the botanical gardens, and a large and fancy market that had all sorts of different art and book stores. She took him by the train station and showed him the arena where the Equestria Games were scheduled to take place sometime in the next year, and showed him the acres of farmland that grew around the edges of the city, well-within the protective barriers that kept out the snow.

Ruby Rose and Crystal Barrier were also good with the history of the Crystal Empire. Ruby Rose would provide bits and pieces about when certain buildings were put up or established, many of which were done in the past few years though some seemed like hundreds of years ago. If Ruby Rose didn’t know what happened, Crystal Barrier would more than likely to be able to fill in the gaps. But if Crystal Barrier didn’t know, Douglas figured either the Prince would or it wasn’t necessary to know.

In the evening, Douglas would return to the palace, and at six-thirty he would once again be at the entrance of the Palace with Crystal Barrier and monitoring the exit of the ten day guards and the entrance of Princess Luna’s Night Guard, fourteen ponies with bat-like wings and slit-eyes that Crystal Barrier referred to as “thestrals”. At seven, once the last of the guard had entered, Douglas would once again take the clipboard to Prince Tempo in his office and they would go with the other Guards to dinner.

‘Tomorrow will be your first day off,’ Prince Tempo said one day when Douglas handed him the clipboard. ‘Then, the next day, you will start guarding me personally for a while.’

Douglas bowed formally, still in his armor. ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

Prince Tempo laughed softly and with amusement. ‘You can drop the formal tone, you know. Technically, you’re done for the day. Dinner will be a more relaxed atmosphere.’

‘Royalty such as yourself should be given the respect they deserve,’ Douglas said as Prince Tempo looked over the clipboard. ‘And considering what you have done for me, I ought to be a little gracious for your position.’

Prince Tempo smiled warmly at him before motioning to the chair across his desk. ‘I assume you are getting along well with the other guards?’

‘Very much so,’ Douglas replied, sitting down at the implied command.

‘No fighting, no name-calling, no fear and avoidance?’

‘None. They’re a rather friendly bunch. It feels like the first time in a while I haven’t been antagonized since coming here.’

‘That is good to hear. You’re finally getting a break, as was Princess Celestia’s intention when she sent you up here. As I said before “Vires amicitiae” – with friendship comes strength; your friendship with the Guard here have already strengthened you and helped you to recover.’

‘Well, mostly. I’m still a little nervous around them, but so far they’ve done nothing to warrant that fear. But count that as me living twenty-six years either in fear of being bombarded with complaints, fear, and physical threats, and not as your Guard doing anything.’

Prince Tempo’s smile slowly changed into something of a smirk, something Douglas hardly noticed until it was plastered plainly on his face. ‘I should hope they wouldn’t even think of such things,’ he said silkily. ‘But if you ever feel scared or afraid, or the other guards are antagonizing you whether from here or from the barracks, let me know.’

‘...of course, Your Maje—I mean, Prince Tempo,’ Douglas said, caught off guard by the expression on the Prince’s face.

‘Very good,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘Now, why don’t we join the others for dinner?’

Douglas sat as far away as he could from the Prince at dinner. He ended up selecting a middle seat where Prince Tempo could not place his seat closer to him like he’d done before.

After dinner was done, Douglas would go into the armory with the other guards before convening in the Common Room to relax and play games. At first, Douglas was content to go into his dorm and lay on his bed with a book. But on the first evening Ruby Rose poked her head into their dorm and saw him reading, and asked him one simple question.

‘You want to learn how to play baccarat?’ There was a slight Prench accent on the word “baccarat”.

Douglas, who had never been asked to join anything while in Equestria, was dumbstruck. ‘...what?’

‘It’s a card game,’ Ruby Rose said. ‘You can bet, but we don’t. We just play.’

Douglas, still confused, put a bookmark in his book and sat up. ‘...why?’ he asked, curious but tentative.

‘It’s fun,’ Ruby Rose said simply. ‘It’s how we relax. Crystal Barrier’s dealing soon but we wanted to see if you wanted to play.’ She motioned out the door with her head. ‘You wanna play?’

Douglas nodded, got out of bed, and walked with Ruby Rose to a large circular table in the center of the room where Crystal Barrier, Sapphire, Emerald Green, and another purple pegasus were sitting with cards in front of them. There were two spare seats, one Douglas assumed was for Ruby Rose, the other...

‘Come on and sit with us, Douglas!’ Sapphire, a brilliant blue earth pony mare, said.

It was then that Douglas came to his senses and realized this was actually happening. Someone was inviting him to do something. A smile came onto his face as he came over to the table and sat down next to a small pile of chips. Someone, Douglas didn’t see who, slipped him a bottle of cold root beer with the cap already popped off. He sipped it and liked the sweet flavor and fizzy feel.

‘You ever play any card games before?’ Emerald Green, a bright green stallion, asked him.

‘No, never,’ Douglas said. ‘Where I came from before, we didn’t exactly have any games.’

‘This one is easy to learn,’ Crystal Barrier said. ‘You’ll pick it up in no time.’

Crystal Barrier turned to Ruby Rose. He took two decks he’d shuffled together and dealt her two cards face down and dealt himself two face down. Ruby Rose looked at her cards and shook her head, placing down three chips. Crystal Barrier looked at his own cards, took a card and placed it face up – a three – before adding three chips of his own.

Ruby Rose picked up her cards and turned them over. She had two eights, giving her sixteen. Crystal Barrier flipped his two face-down cards over to reveal another three and a nine, giving him a total of fifteen. Crystal Barrier pushed his chips over to Ruby Rose, placed the five cards in a discard pile, then moved over to Douglas.

‘Baccarat is simple enough,’ he said, dealing the cards. ‘You’re trying to get a total of nine. You add up the numbers on the cards and get your total. If it’s two digits, you only take the last one, so getting another card may make you go lower in certain circumstances.’

Douglas looked at his cards. He had a ten and a seven. That was seventeen, so... he had seven points. ‘What do I do if I like my total?’

‘How sure are you it’ll work?’ Crystal Barrier said. ‘The way we play, you place in one to five chips depending on how confident you are it’ll work. Or you can ask for another card and then bet.’

Douglas placed in four chips. Crystal Barrier took some from his own stash and, after looking at his cards, placed in four chips of his own. Then they flipped their cards; Douglas had his seventeen and thus seven, and Crystal Barrier had a nine and a seven, making sixteen and thus six. Douglas won five more chips and added them to his pile as play moved on to Emerald Green.

Emerald looked at his two, then asked for another card. Crystal Barrier gave him a four, and Emerald felt confident enough he placed in five chips. Crystal Barrier looked at his own, smirked, then added five chips himself.

When they revealed the cards, Emerald Green flipped over a jack and a five; combined with his four given to him, he had nine. Crystal Barrier flipped over his own cards and had an ace and a seven, giving him eight. But Crystal Barrier won the chips.

‘Wait, how come Emerald didn’t win?’ Douglas asked. ‘He had the higher total.’

‘I have a “natural” eight,’ Crystal Barrier replied. ‘He had nine, but he had to ask for a card to get it. I have a natural eight, so I win.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘I assume cases of a tie,’ Crystal Barrier said. ‘Somepony gets eight, somepony else draws eight, the pony who had it naturally should get the win. But that doesn’t explain totals of zero to seven.’ Crystal Barrier shrugged. ‘It’s a simple enough game, though, and most often that doesn’t happen.’

Douglas came in second place for the evening after Emerald Green. He’d had quite a fun evening talking with the other ponies, who were more interested in what he liked and his hobbies than they were what he looked like or where he came from. He’d gone through two hours of play and three root beers before finally feeling like he needed a break and to rest for an early morning.

As the evenings wore on, the games rotated. Sometimes they’d play more baccarat, but sometimes they showed him poker or blackjack, or brought out game boards and played chess and checkers. Having had fun the first time and thrilled by the idea, Douglas kept coming out to play whenever they invited him. He learned the games quick and wanted to play frequently, and there was always at least two ponies who would be perfectly happy to indulge him.

At the end of the week, Douglas had learned most of the games the ponies had showed him. Ruby Rose had also taught him how to play Solitaire, and he spent the first part of his day off playing round after round of Solitaire. He also found a local newspaper and found the crossword, and did that for a few hours.

There was also a strange electronic box; when a disc was placed inside, it acted similar to the computers he worked with back home but instead of walls of texts there were flashing lights, strangely cheerful music compared to beeps and whirs, and a strange pad with joystick replaced the keyboard. His hands easily grabbed the joystick and he found himself maneuvering a little pony around an obstacle course.

The longer he played, the harder the course became, and the more tight the controls and reactions needed to be, but there was something infectious about it. At first it made him giggle with strange delight, but as the course became harder he found himself enjoying the mastery of the course more than the bright colors or the cheerful music coming from the television.

Emerald Green, one of the first back to the dorms before dinner, explained to Douglas he had played a video game for the first time.

‘I want one,’ Douglas said enthusiastically.

‘They’re expensive,’ Emerald said. ‘The console alone is worth nearly two hundred bits, and the games for it can range from twenty to forty bits each. A small library of titles may be worth six hundred bits or more.’

Douglas calculated the amount in his head. ‘...so nearly a thousand bits for a small television, the console, and a few games. Heck, that’s a few paycheck’s worth.’

‘Save up, though,’ Emerald said. ‘Don’t forget what happens after you finish here; you’ll need to think about buying a house or apartment somewhere and living expenses. But you should have enough for one for yourself.’

And so Douglas became friends with the members of the Crystal Palace Guard. He found them easy to talk to, eager for his friendship, and lively companions. He was quite eager to listen and share in their jokes and games, and they were eager to add him into their group.

Which meant the only problem Douglas had was the trepidation of serving the Prince directly for the first time the next day. Unsure of what would happen to him, he went to bed early and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Chapter V - Enigma

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That night, Douglas was plagued with nightmares.

He was standing guard in the Crystal Empire, watching over the Prince’s office while he did work. Suddenly the guards from the barracks were throwing firebombs into the room and the Crystal Palace was going up in flames. But when Douglas opened the door to save the Prince he was suddenly not in his room, though the whole room was on fire.

Douglas ran out the throne room, down the balcony, and into the next room, where a large window opened up onto the streets of the Crystal Empire. He tried the elevator but the controls must have been fried or the magic had gone out of it. And so he had no other choice but to jump out the window. It was a twenty foot drop at least and possibly more, but there was no other way out.

Douglas took a flying leap and vaulted through the open window. Air whooshed by him as he dropped down for what seemed like ages before falling with a hard thump on the central hub surrounded by a bunch of soldiers, ponies from the Guard headed by Storm Shield and with Prince Tempo standing on the other side watching impassively.

The first spear hit his hand and pierced right through it. Another went through his foot, another his leg, another his arm, another his side. The spears went up and down, stabbing and poking at him but careful to make sure he could never escape and never get up. Douglas tried fighting them off but nothing worked. And suddenly they grabbed him and took him back to the elevator and dragged him back inside, Douglas too weak to fight back as the elevator, now fixed, went back up to the main administration floor.

They took Douglas down a hall and stood at the entrance of the mirror. Someone asked him to plead his case. Douglas coughed and tried to ask what he did wrong. But they only said he was guilty of conspiracy and sedition.

Prince Tempo appeared behind them as the guards suddenly threw him into the swirling vortex of the mirror, and he fell down, down, down...

Douglas opened his eyes before he crashed on the floor of the dormitory, instinctively putting his hands and arms out to soften the blow. He hit the floor with a thump and a grunt and spent a few moments unmoving and sore. It was dark; Douglas guessed it was either very early morning or very late at night, and it took him a few moments before his eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings. The bedroom door was opened a crack and a small ray of light came through it. Ruby Rose, apparently undisturbed by the proceedings, murmured something about cinnamon rolls and rolled over without ever waking up.

Once Douglas had gotten his bearings, he tested his limbs to make sure nothing was damaged. Everything moved and the worst he felt was a small pain in his arms from hitting the ground; even his head seemed to have come out okay. He was only in boxers and he could see his whole body was free of scars except for one small place on his shoulder where a bullet had gone through. He felt the area, no longer scarring really except for being whiter than the rest of his otherwise bronzed body.

After the nightmare, Douglas had no intention of going back to sleep. He picked himself off the floor and went over to the dresser that had been added for him to put his clothes in and dressed himself in a usual pair of pants and shirt before slowly walking out of the dormitory.

In the Common Room, a small light was on over the counter where the coffee and tea were being made; the coffee slowly dripped into a large pot and the water for tea was simmering but not quite boiling or steaming. He could hear someone in the showers across the hall, presumably Crystal Barrier. A clock on the wall read five forty in the morning; he’d been asleep for a little over six hours.

Douglas looked around. Despite sounds of movement, no pony was around. He walked out of the Common Room, wondering if he’d get in trouble for wandering around the castle, and headed out the door to the room with the staircase. Six hours was good enough for tonight.

A light shone vaguely off in the distance through the door leading to the Crystal Palace’s entrance hall. He passed no one and no one came out as he walked over to the open window looking out over the Crystal Empire. A slight, cool breeze blew and occasionally ruffled his short hair. No sign of fire, and no sign of the Guard from the barracks. Everything was quiet and still.

Douglas leaned with his arms on the edge of the window, the bottom of which came just up to his chest. He could see the barracks in the distance, and hardly any lights were on there. A block closer to the Palace stood a large cluster of buildings and a giant library, the Crystal Empire’s University.

So it was all just a dream, Douglas thought. The Crystal Palace isn’t being attacked, and I’m a member of the Elite Palace Guard. But why? Prince Tempo said it was because I was foreign and because he could watch over me...

But the more Douglas thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Sure, he was a foreigner. But why would the Prince want him in the Palace Guard if he was a foreigner? Sure, he could protect him like he did that one day in the training room in the barracks, but he also wasn’t sure if the Prince trusted him despite what he had done and the positive reports from Princess Celestia and Luna back in Canterlot.

And there was that look in the Prince’s eyes. It always seemed to come up whenever Douglas was talking with Prince D’Amore Temporus; a sort of gleam that looked like he was planning or crafting something. Despite his casual demeanor and relaxed conversation, Douglas was sure that the Prince was smarter than he believed, the gears of his mind constantly moving and the synapses constantly firing. But what was he thinking of...?

‘It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?’

Douglas whipped around at the sound of the voice, but saw no one there. He looked around wildly for a little before he saw Prince Tempo standing at the entrance of the lift. How he managed to get there without him noticing, Douglas did not now and he gasped in surprise at him. But upon realizing who it was, he took a few breaths and sighed.

‘I’m sorry,’ Prince Tempo said apologetically. ‘Did I startle you?’

‘No. Well, kind of. Actually, yes. I didn’t know you were standing there.’ Douglas began to take a knee and bow.

‘Wait. You don’t need to take a knee.’

Douglas stood up straight in surprise. ‘But... your majesty...’

Prince Tempo held up a hoof and Douglas fell silent. ‘Please. I don’t want any formalities. Not yet, anyways. It’s still quite early and you’re off duty. Rather, I wish to speak with you... normally.’ He motioned to the wide window. ‘May I join you?’

Douglas shrugged and looked out the window. He didn’t know if he necessarily wanted to talk to the Prince, but he certainly wasn’t going to deny him. He tried to shove some of the thoughts he had earlier and sat silently, deciding to wait for the Prince to make the first move.

Prince Tempo walked over to where Douglas was standing and sat down on his haunches next to him, looking out the window. ‘It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?’ he repeated.

Douglas shrugged again. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ he admitted.

Tempo looked over to Douglas. ‘Where was it like? Where you came from?’

Douglas thought about it for a long time.

‘...I’m sorry. Do you not want to talk about it? We can talk about something else if that bothers you.’

‘No, no, I’m just thinking.’ Douglas sighed, not looking towards the alicorn. ‘There was grey stone wall all the way around. The city was made of grey stone and a deep brown wood they called oak, though I never actually saw an oak tree until I walked through a park back in Canterlot. The only spots of color were in the flowers of fruit trees and the vines, but they were only around until the fruit had grown in their place.’

Douglas could see Prince Tempo nod out of the corner of his eye. ‘Must be a shock to see so much color.’

‘I’ve gotten used to it, being here for almost a year now,’ Douglas said. ‘But I still find myself averting my eyes from some things. Even you. You’re a bright pink, brighter than most I have seen.’

Prince Tempo laughed easily. ‘I’ve been told pink is a calming color for some. Perhaps you should look at me and see if it helps.’

Douglas didn’t realize he’d tensed up until now. Or maybe he had when Tempo first walked in and it hadn’t fully worn off yet. But he didn’t look at the alicorn. ‘I wouldn’t know,’ he said, acting like he hadn’t heard the other comment. ‘I’ve only been seeing real color for about a year now. I haven’t had the time to gauge its effects.’

Prince Tempo hummed thoughtfully. ‘What about your life back there? What was it like?’

Douglas closed his eyes and thought for a while. It was easy to remember; the times he spent working in a laboratory at a large computer, the stoic existence of getting up and going to work monitored no matter what he did, the secret meetings and tunnels beneath the city where the few people who believed the government was lying held meetings and educated themselves, trying to figure out the mystery of what lay hidden behind the wall.

But he didn’t tell Tempo. Something stopped him. He opened his eyes and looked at the Prince. ‘Why do you want to know?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Forgive me if I’m intruding,’ Tempo said humbly. ‘No one really knows what you’re like. Princess Celestia’s talked endlessly about humans, but no one’s ever really seen one until you came along. I figured if I knew, I may be able to help you.’

‘Help me with what?’ Douglas said.

‘Your fits,’ Tempo said. ‘Of anger... and of restlessness.’

Douglas had the odd feeling that the Prince knew he had woken up from a nightmare. Maybe not known specifically, but he probably could guess why Douglas was awake so early. ‘I’m not sure I know myself,’ he said, turning back towards the window and looking out at the shrinking shadows. ‘I will say back in Canterlot and at home I wasn’t so prone to violent outbursts.’

Prince Tempo remained silent for a long while. Douglas almost thought the Prince had left until he spoke up. ‘Perhaps it was fear.’

‘Fear?’ He had a point, but... ‘I shouldn’t be afraid. I’ve been among you for a year.’

‘Perhaps a fear of being mistreated. Or of being in a similar situation as what brought you here.’

Douglas was pretty sure that Prince Tempo could read minds. He wondered if all unicorns had that ability, or if it was just Tempo due to being a powerful alicorn. ‘It’s possible,’ he said, deciding to give Tempo something. ‘Can’t really say for sure.’

‘Fear is a deep-seated thing,’ Prince Tempo said sagely. ‘It sits and hides in the darkest places of our mind. If we’re not careful, it can rise back to the surface. It will leave but not on it’s own; you must take the steps to force it out.’

Douglas suddenly felt shameful for not telling the Prince about his nightmare. But not enough to tell him. He wanted to wait until a better moment, one when the Prince may be a little more open and not putting this odd pressure on him.

He must have been silent for a long while, because Tempo spoke up again to break the silence. The alicorn looked out the window and sighed happily. ‘This is my favorite time in the morning,’ he said. ‘Watching the sun rise on the horizon. It really brings the colors out of the crystal.’

It did; the crystal shown multiple hues and covered all portions of the rainbow. But Douglas merely nodded and thought about both why the Prince wasn’t mad at him for being up early and why he wanted to talk with him.

‘So,’ Tempo started up again when he realized a response wasn’t coming out of Douglas, ‘your first day being an escort to a Prince. Are you nervous?’

Douglas nodded again. ‘A little,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve never been an escort. I only did palace patrol back in Canterlot.’

‘It’s not too complicated,’ Tempo replied. ‘I won’t have any official meetings today, so it’ll be easy going. Almost like easing you into the job.’

This relieved Douglas immensely. ‘At least there’s that,’ he said. ‘I was half afraid there would be a ceremony today and I’ve hardly even started.’

‘Unless someone has told me something I don’t know,’ Tempo laughed good-naturedly, ‘there’s nothing I can think of happening today. I might stroll around town for lunch, though, but no ceremonies.’

‘...and I would have to join you for that?’

‘Exactly.’

Douglas put a hand to his head and scratched it for a moment. ‘...your majesty?’ he said.

‘I’ve told you before,’ Tempo said warmly. ‘Call me by my name.’

‘Prince Tempo...’ Douglas began again.

‘Without the formality...’ Tempo gently chided.

‘Tempo,’ Douglas said. He waited for the Prince to say something else, but only saw him looking at him expectantly. ‘...why did you make me a palace guard?’

Tempo looked at him curiously, though with a gentle smile. ‘I thought I told you already. To watch you because you were foreign.’ He trotted off to a nearby bench and sat next to it.

‘But why?’ Douglas asked, following the alicorn as he moved. ‘Why would you place me, whom even you considered I need to be watched because I am foreign, as your closest guard.’

‘Because I wanted to.’ Tempo said it with an amused smile as though it was a simple fact of life. As though the reason was plain to see and he couldn’t understand for the life of him how Douglas couldn’t.

‘That’s... not much of an explanation.’

‘I suppose it isn’t, is it? Fair enough. I am interested in you. I wish to know about you myself. I simply believe that, with the counter in the training center, you were provoked. You weren’t normal.’

‘I’m not normal,’ Douglas replied, in a far calmer voice than he himself expected. ‘I stand on two legs. I don’t have hooves. I don’t have hair all over me, and it’s not in wacky colors. I’m taller but skinnier, and yet I have enough power to overthrow a pony in combat. I don’t know what you’re thinking of, but by your standards I’m clearly not normal. By your standards... I am a monster.’

Tempo motioned for Douglas to sit down on the bench next to him. Douglas walked over, still not wishing to disobey royalty, and sat next to the Prince. It was only when Douglas was sitting next to him and they were staring eye to eye that Tempo spoke.

‘To us, it isn’t, sure,’ Tempo said softly as though trying not to scare Douglas. ‘But we don’t know. For you, it may be normal. And gathering from what information Princess Celestia and Luna gave me before your transfer, that wasn’t what you were like for them. Perhaps it was just off to a bad start.’

‘How?’ Douglas felt himself choking up. ‘How can you look at me, knowing what I did, and say that?’

‘There was a look I recognized in your face after I showed you the mirror. It was one of loss. Of loneliness. When I placed my hoof around you, you did not retreat but instead drew closer, as though you had been deprived of something.’

‘But how does that relate to making me a palace guard?’

‘“Vires amicitiae”. With friendship comes strength.’ Tempo looked at Douglas with a smile that seemed to embrace him fully. ‘Perhaps what you needed was someone to reach out to. Someone to relate your problems to. It doesn’t have to be someone who responds; it could be as simple as a listening ear.’

Douglas thought about this for a moment, trying to process what he had been told. ‘So, you brought me here because you were interested in my species. And you made me a guard because you wanted to be friends with me.’

‘Well, that’s skipping over a few important details about you, but in a nutshell, yes.’

Douglas looked at the prince’s eyes. The purple eyes had a sincere look about them as they looked at Douglas.

No, not at him.

Further than that.

Douglas had a feeling the prince’s eyes could see into his soul. Yet unlike the previous day, this thought did not bring about fear. Matter of fact, there was a sense of peace. At least here, someone seemed to genuinely care for him and his well-being and didn’t want to mock him. Yes, he could tell him.

‘...can I tell you something?’ Douglas asked.

‘Anything,’ Tempo said soothingly.

‘...I was out here early because I had a nightmare. About being attacked like I was before I came through the gate, but by the ponies in the barracks.’

‘I promise you that no harm will come to you,’ Tempo said. ‘No one will harm you, no one will tease you, no one will maltreat you, so long as I am around. And if you ever have a problem, either with the citizens or the Guard from the barracks or the other Palace Guards, tell me, and I will set things straight.’

Douglas smiled. ‘I... I’m sorry if that was awkward.’

‘That wasn’t awkward at all,’ Tempo said warmly. ‘You simply spoke your mind. And you are not a monster; you merely look at the world from a different perspective, one we hadn’t considered before.’

Tempo leaned towards Douglas and surprised him by closing his eyes and giving him a gentle nuzzle on the forehead. It was a gentle, steady motion on his forehead and Douglas felt a warmth spread over him despite the cool breeze. When Tempo leaned away, he had a playful look on his face, and giggled at the sight of Douglas’ dumbfounded expression, trying to understand what exactly happened.

Tempo stood up and sighed. ‘Well, it’s about half an hour until breakfast,’ he said. ‘Take a shower if you wish, then put on your armor and meet with the others in the dining hall.’

The Prince ruffled his wings a bit and stretched his neck a bit with a satisfied moan. ‘It was nice having this little chat with you,’ he said as he started to walk out of the room. ‘I hope to have more like it in the future.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Oh... okay...’ he said, still not quite sure what happened.

He made his way to the showers where the other ponies were already getting ready themselves. He went into an empty stall and sat under the hot water for a while before washing.

‘Hey,’ Emerald Green called over from one stall over. ‘Douglas. Everything okay? You were up early.’

‘Yeah,’ Douglas called back. ‘Just nervous. First day doing escort duty for the Prince.’

‘Ah, so you’re the replacement,’ he said. ‘I had it last until not long ago. Expect a lot of walking through the town and a lot of talking. He’s a friendly sort.’

‘So I’ve gathered,’ Douglas said, getting soap from a dispenser.

He was in the middle of washing his hair when a thought entered his brain that stopped him in his tracks.

When Prince Tempo called him over to the bench, he had not started talking until they had locked eyes. The entire time they had been talking his eyes had never left the Prince’s, almost as though he’d been drawn to them. It was only when Tempo himself got up and moved his eyes away from Douglas’ that he had finally been able to look away.

Douglas would have contemplated this route further if not for a piece of soap crawling down to his eye. ‘Ow!’ He ran his eye under the water, washed it out, and rubbed his eye dry until he could see again.

At this point, he also realized he probably was late for breakfast. He finished washing and dried himself off, just finishing getting dressed as the last pony walked out of the showers. He quickly put on a belt and joined the others in the armory, pushing the thought of Tempo and his eyes out of his head for the time being.

Chapter VI - 'Vires amicitiae'

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When breakfast was over, Prince Tempo instructed Douglas to follow him out of the breakfast hall. They went to the throne room and over to where the Prince’s office was and Douglas was instructed to remain outside.

‘First day on the job, so be ready for... well, anything. This part’s simple enough. This door will remain closed unless you knock and say someone wants to see me or I open it up to ask you something. For now, I want you to stand outside and keep watch. If someone knocks on the door of the throne room, answer it to see who it is, have them wait outside, and let me know. Understand?’

‘Yes, Prince Tempo,’ Douglas said.

‘Good. Do you have any questions?’

‘What if they say they have an appointment with you and want to come in immediately?’

‘You still need to make them wait and come and retrieve me. Better to have the extra procedures than to have someone who doesn’t belong, right?’

Douglas nodded.

‘Very good. I’ll only be an hour, then we’ll head out. I just need to do some quick paperwork.’

Douglas nodded and took a position outside the door with his sword and shield. Prince Tempo closed the door connecting the throne room and the office and the Palace became silent except for the occasional sound of a pony’s hoofsteps passing by the door on the balcony.

Douglas didn’t mind the quiet. After the hectic schedule and constant moving around of the past few days, he was grateful for what may as well have been a break. He still needed to be alert, of course, but for the most part guarding the prince in his office was a relatively simple job. He was left alone with his thoughts.

First were his new quarters. He liked them; they were fancier than most others he’d lived in. He may have been paired with a roommate, but he liked Ruby Rose and he had enough of his own space he had some feelings of privacy. The common room appeared to be a good enough place for socializing and mingling with the other guard members, plus there were quite a few of the ponies in the Guard who were friendly.

And then there was the Crystal Palace itself. It was strange and exotic in its structure and build of entirely crystal, but it fascinated him. The colors of light often changed the way the stone looked, from deep blue in the afternoons to an almost purple in the evenings and a fiery orange tint in the morning.

But what Douglas found more and more fascinating was the Crystal Prince himself. D’Amore Temporus asked and seemed to know a lot about him, but Douglas seemed to realize he didn’t know anything about him besides his cutie mark, talent, position, and that he wanted to be his friend. The Crystal Prince had kept himself elusive, even mysterious towards him. Even now, as he sat outside the door to his office, he realized he had no idea what went on inside.

Why did he even need a personal guard? The Crystal Palace seemed to be well-fortified, and the room was not so easily reached. Was it so that he could not be disturbed? That seemed likely, but it was possible few ever did disturb him.

Was there something in there he didn’t want anyone to see? Douglas wished he could open the door and look into there, but had a feeling that would give him a stern reprimanding, and he didn’t want that now that he was sure he was on the Prince’s good side.

Douglas was brought back to the mystery of what happened that morning. There was no doubt in his mind he was on the Prince’s good side, that was for sure; Prince Tempo had almost never spoken out against him barring the one time in the training center and even that had a compliment in it. And then there was the meeting that morning where the Prince was sweet-tempered, good-natured, and willing to talk about rather personal things with an understanding and even accepting air. But still Douglas wondered why the Prince would take a vested interest in him.

As a matter of fact, he could pin down the beginning to a specific incident on day one. Prince Tempo had said ‘You will find that love can do strange, yet powerful things here and can be a driving force behind many of our actions.’ And... right at the end... a smirk and a strange, mischievous look in his eye. Almost like he’d made a joke to himself, and Douglas was sure it was directed at him.

He’d seen that mischievous look more since then. It was there when Tempo had flicked the dirty rag at Storm Shield. It was there over tea the morning when he was offered the job at the Crystal Palace. It had been there when Prince Tempo locked eyes with him that morning, had been there when he had stared into the handsome face and found himself unable to look away.

But what did the Prince mean to do? What could he do, exactly? Prince Tempo, his actions, and his words... while Douglas suspected they all had some sort of degree of truth in them, he wondered if there were not underlying reasons for his actions. Including placing him as his personal Guard.

Before he could entertain his thought process any longer, there came a knock on the door of the throne room.

Adjusting the grip of the shield in his hand, Douglas walked over to the door and opened it. Standing at the entrance was Gleaming Shield, dressed in full armor.

‘Captain Gleaming Shield,’ Douglas said, saluting.

‘Lieutenant Douglas,’ Gleaming Shield saluted in return. ‘Is there anyone speaking with Prince Tempo at the moment?’

‘No. I suspect he is in his office. Do you wish to speak with him?’

‘Yes. Let him know I wish to see how you seem to be adjusting to the Palace, as well as a few other matters with the Guard.’

‘Yes, ma’am. Please wait out here and I’ll notify the Prince.’

Gleaming Shield nodded and Douglas closed the door. He walked across the throne room and knocked on the door. Prince Tempo opened it moments later.

‘Captain Gleaming Shield is here to see you, sir,’ Douglas said officially. ‘She wishes to discuss matters involving my adjustment as well as general Guard information.’

Prince Tempo nodded. ‘Thank you, Douglas. Send her in.’

Douglas nodded. Prince Tempo kept the door open as he walked across the throne room and opened the door, noticing Gleaming Shield waiting patiently outside.

‘Prince Tempo will see you in his office.’

Gleaming Shield nodded as Douglas closed the door. ‘Good boy. Already you are acting professionally and fit for the position.’

‘Don’t get too excited,’ Douglas responded quietly as they walked to the office. ‘It’s still my first day as escort.’

‘Escort?’ Gleaming Shield asked, looking at him in surprise. ‘I didn’t expect he’d put you as escort.’

‘Neither did I,’ Douglas agreed.

They reached the office and Douglas knocked three times before he showed the mare in. ‘Captain Gleaming Shield,’ he said.

Prince Tempo smiled. ‘Thank you. I’m afraid I cannot have you stay in the room at this time, Douglas. Please wait outside for just a moment until we’re done.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Douglas said. He bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him and resumed his position.

But Douglas was inwardly questioning the decision. Why did Prince Tempo not want him in the room despite the fact they were talking about him? If Gleaming Shield wished to know about him, Douglas could provide a personal testimony. He could talk about the ponies were treating him nicely, how Prince Tempo had assigned him to be his personal guard, how he felt nervous about it but how the prince wanted to be his frie—

There was a loud banging from inside the room. Gleaming Shield sounded as though she was shouting angrily, but he could not figure out what it was. Douglas drew his sword from the scabbard, whirled around towards the door, and opened it.

‘What’s going on!?’ Douglas shouted, assuming a defensive stance.

In the silence that followed, Douglas examined the situation. Prince Tempo was sitting calmly on his side of the desk though he held a stern expression towards Gleaming Shield. The unicorn mare, on the other hand, had both of her hooves on the desk and had been glaring at Prince Tempo. At the sound of Douglas’ shouting, however, she slowly turned around to face the human.

‘I appreciate your quick response,’ Prince Tempo said calmly. ‘However, there is nothing to be afraid of. Please, go back outside the room. I will call you in when I need you.’

‘No,’ Gleaming Shield said firmly. ‘Let him stay. I wish to hear his opinion on the matter himself.’

Prince Tempo shrugged. ‘If that is what you wish. Douglas, come here for a second.’

Douglas was trembling, but he sheathed his sword and followed orders. He walked around the desk and faced Prince Tempo. However, Tempo didn’t speak but motioned him to look towards Gleaming Shield. He did so and paid attention to her completely.

Once she saw that she had Douglas’ attention, Gleaming Shield started to speak. ‘Prince Tempo wishes to have you as his personal guard?’

Douglas turned to Prince Tempo, who didn’t look back. ‘Yes,’ he said, turning his head back to the mare, ‘that is what he proposed.’

Gleaming Shield seemed unsure of the response. ‘What do you think of being the personal guard to the prince?’

Douglas shrugged. ‘I wonder why he made the choice as to me, but at the moment I dare not question it.’

Gleaming Shield turned to Prince Tempo, who looked at Douglas, who remained focused on Gleaming Shield. ‘Has he given you any reason?’

‘Two of them,’ Douglas said.

‘In detail, please.’

‘He said he wished to keep an eye on me due to me being strange and foreign. By the same interest he took an interest in me and wished to know more about me and where I came from.’

Gleaming Shield looked between Prince Tempo and Douglas for a while. ‘Nothing else?’

‘Well, he wished to be my friend.’

Gleaming Shield nodded and set himself down. ‘You believe him to be capable for the position?’

‘He appears to be willing to serve,’ Prince Tempo said calmly as he returned his gaze to Gleaming Shield. ‘And if he fights like he does when I saw the fight in the training center, I would say I have a very capable assistant.’

Gleaming Shield responded quicker than Douglas could. ‘You saw the whole fight? You just told me you saw one and broke it up.’

‘From beginning to end. It was almost a normal sparring match, but I was afraid it would come to more damaging blows, and so I stopped it.’

‘And you didn’t tell me this!? I only learned about it from Storm Shield. Why did you keep that from me?’

‘I decided not to concern you in the matter,’ Prince Tempo said matter-of-factly. ‘I was able to put a stop to it and I take it that another such incident did not happen.’

‘No, sir, it didn’t,’ Douglas said. ‘Then again, I cannot tell if it was because you intervened or because you pulled me out before it could happen again.’

‘I do not wish for it to happen again,’ Prince Tempo said quietly but darkly. ‘Princess Celestia would have my hide if I did.’

Gleaming Shield’s expression softened, but not by much. ‘So, you are okay with being Prince Tempo’s personal guard?’

‘My earlier sentiments remain.’

Gleaming Shield nodded. ‘Unless you have any more comments to add, I think I’ve asked all I’ve needed to.’

‘He asked to be my friend,’ Douglas said without knowing quite why he was saying it. ‘It has been a long time since anyone has asked that of me, even since before I came here.’

Gleaming Shield looked at him thoughtfully.

Prince Tempo bowed to Douglas. ‘You are excused, Douglas. I shall be done with Captain Gleaming Shield shortly, at which point we will head downstairs for lunch. Please wait outside until we are done.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ Douglas said. He bowed and left the room.

Douglas heard no more of the conversation between Gleaming Shield and Prince Tempo within the prince’s office. More questions came into his head. What was Gleaming Shield so angry about? Why was she against him being Prince Tempo’s personal guard? Why did Prince Tempo keep his knowledge of the fight hidden from his own captain, who was supposed to know those things?

The meeting lasted for at least fifteen more minutes before Gleaming Shield exited. Douglas walked alongside her to the entrance of the throne room and opened the door for her.

‘What do you think of it here, Douglas?’ Gleaming Shield asked.

Douglas shrugged. ‘I have been treated fairly and kindly by all those here. It is a welcome change, but we shall see what things fate has in store for me.’

Gleaming Shield nodded. She turned to Douglas and spoke in a hushed voice. ‘I may not be your commander anymore, but if you have any problems – any at all, whether they are about the guard or the palace or your job or even the prince – you may come and see me.’

‘Why are you so concerned?’ Douglas asked.

Gleaming Shield tried to smile. ‘No reason. It’s just because Princess Celestia sent a note for me to look out for you, too, likely assuming you stayed in the barracks. Being that I would have been your boss if this had not happened, I only wish to let you know that option is available.’

Douglas nodded. ‘I shall keep that in mind. Thank you, Captain.’

‘You’re welcome, Lieutenant,’ Gleaming Shield replied. Then she turned and descended the staircase from the throne room.

Douglas closed the door of the throne room and returned to the open office door. Prince Tempo was still sitting at his desk, but he appeared to be doing nothing.

‘Is there anything else you need, sir?’

Prince Tempo shook his head and smiled. ‘No, Douglas. I apologize if you were put under pressure.’

‘It’s fine,’ Douglas said. ‘If I may have the favor, may I speak my mind?’

‘You may.’

‘I was wondering why I was not invited in to give personal testimony to Gleaming Shield about my stay here.’

Prince Tempo nodded. ‘I was not sure which order she wished to speak in. I’m afraid to say it was the issue of your stay first.’

‘May I ask what problem Gleaming Shield had? Or is that information I am not entitled to?’

‘You are a recent edition to the Crystal Palace Guard – remarkably so – and she was a bit concerned about placing you so close to me within so short a time.’

‘It’s a question that has passed my mind as well, sir.’

Prince Tempo nodded. ‘Perhaps later, I will tell you. For now, I am done with what business I needed to complete today. Come.’ He stood up from behind his desk and walked around. ‘I have to meet with a few ponies up on the next floor about finances, trade, and other things. I apologize if they bore you, but we’ll have lunch and go for a walk around town later today. Sound good?’

‘Of course,’ Douglas said. ‘Whatever you say.’

None of the sessions were boring even though Douglas knew next to nothing about what happened in most of the meetings and understood none of the jargon. Douglas found Prince Tempo to be meticulous but to-the-point in his discussions, which helped keep things moving along.

At the beginning of each session Prince Tempo greeted each of the ponies personally and introduced them all to Douglas. He explained Douglas’ position and qualifications and made sure they all approved of him before moving on and asking the first to present the days’ business.

Each seemed to understand the Prince’s need to be swift but meticulous. They always handed out at least five pages’ worth of notes and charts detailing what happened but immediately launched into explanations of the highlights of the notes and any issues that needed specific handling. Prince Tempo was not a swift speaker, waiting until he was sure the others had finished their portion before speaking himself, but always getting exactly to the questions he wanted and never circling an issue.

He had little patience for those who circled around the issue, as well. If anyone tried to circle around an issue or didn’t know quite how to phrase it, the Prince would immediately interject with either what they were trying to get to or a repeating of his question until they would give him a direct answer.

Even so, there was a lot of business to be done. The Prince spent nearly an hour with every office and would not leave until all the business he had to or wanted to get done was done and there was no more questions. It amused Douglas how, in the office of finance, Prince Tempo had sat around for five minutes in complete silence, with the finance department heads staring at him awkwardly, until one of them had the gall to ask him a question... the exact one he’d been waiting for. It was only after the question was asked that Prince Tempo finally stood up and bade them farewell.

After nearly three hours of meetings and going through the departments one by one, Prince Tempo walked into the hall, stretched himself, ruffled his feathers, and asked Douglas if he had any particular ideas about lunch.

‘...no?’

‘Right, you really haven’t been around here before, have you? Come on, you’re coming with me to lunch. I know an excellent place we can sit down.’

‘...shouldn’t I be guarding you in some manner?’

‘I’m pretty sure you’re not an automaton, though correct me if I’m wrong and a circuit breaks or a spring comes loose.’ He let out a loud and jovial laugh at his own joke. ‘Come on, it’ll only be an hour and you need to eat, too.’

Douglas realized his stomach was feeling a little empty. He had no choice but to follow Prince Tempo as he trotted jauntily down the hall, almost with a bounce in his step, towards the lift that led to the main city of the Crystal Empire.

The sun almost blinded him coming out onto the streets; it wasn’t particularly dark inside the Palace, but for some reason the brightness and the colors surprised him. Everything seemed brighter and more vibrant as Prince Tempo led him gaily down one of the main spokes and towards a market section, decorated in festive manner with flags waving around and streamers all over the place.

The Prince chose an open-air café and chose a table without waiting to be seated. But as soon as they sat down a waiter was at their side and taking their order. Douglas, sitting around uneasily, barely noticed when the waiter asked him for his order.

‘...what?’ Douglas asked.

‘What do you want to drink, sir?’ the waiter repeated.

‘Oh, uh... I-I don’t know. What is it? Uh... I mean what do you have?’

‘How about a fruit tea or a glass of water?’ Tempo suggested.

‘...let’s go with that.’

Tempo picked up his menu. ‘What are you interested in?’ he asked. ‘I’m don’t know if I want the grilled eggplant sandwich with chips or the large salad with vinaigrette dressing.’

Douglas didn’t say anything in return. He looked at the menu and avoided Tempo’s eyes for as long as he could. He surprised himself by getting a fish filet sandwich – he had not expected meat of any kind – with a fruit salad as a side. It came with a small slice of pie as a dessert, and he got a slice of apple pie.

When the meals were ordered, drinks arrived and their menus were taken away. Tempo tried asking him what he got, and Douglas answered the simplest way he could before looking around.

It amused Douglas – for reasons he couldn’t even understand – how there was miles of clear skies and fields of grasses that abruptly turned to snow. Perhaps in how similar it was to his home: a large circle where everyone lived and worked, surrounded by a barrier that appeared to isolate them from the rest of the world.

But here, everyone was happy. Foals ran freely through the streets playing games of pretend and chase games. The adult mares and stallions conversed happily in the markets and squares. The stalls were filled with wonderful, ripe fruits and luscious greens, not to mention the smells of freshly-baked goods that permeated the air.

Tempo took a sip of his pink lemonade and sighed. ‘So, what do you think of our city so far? I know this is isn’t your first time really getting a good look at it, but you are still new here.’

‘It is quite beautiful,’ Douglas allowed himself to reply. ‘The residents appear happy, the streets and homes are well-maintained. I’m quite impressed.’

‘I wager you’ve never really had the chance to enjoy yourself like this.’

‘You’d be correct.’ Douglas allowed something of a smirk to come onto his face. ‘Much less doing so with a prince.’

Tempo laughed. ‘It certainly isn’t a normal thing for me either,’ he admitted. ‘However, considering you are my personal guard, I would like for you to feel comfortable around me. Expect things like this to happen often.’

Douglas allowed himself a laugh. ‘This job just keeps getting more benefits to it. First medical, now social. Pretty soon, you’ll be finding me a partner, no?’

They both laughed over that one.

‘Actually,’ Tempo admitted when he calmed down, ‘there are quite a few married pairs within the guard.’

‘Really?’ Douglas said, now with genuine interest.

‘Yeah. A few years of going out on patrol together tends to strengthen the bonds between them. Some of our strongest warriors are those that have been fighting together for years and eventually get married.’

‘Do they ever settle down?’

‘Oh, the mare usually will,’ Tempo said. He took a sip of his lemonade before continuing. ‘Once they start having foals. The stallion will serve another year or so then retire honorably. Go back to University, get another job that’s quieter.’

‘Sounds like you’ve got things made.’

Tempo leaned a hoof on the table and rested his head on it. ‘Did you ever have a partner back home?’ he asked curiously.

Douglas sighed. ‘I had a female friend for a few years. Her name was Angela. A head shorter than I was, blonde hair, sweetest laugh you ever heard, even sweeter since she hardly ever let it out.’

‘What did she do?’

‘She worked as a government secretary. I met with her frequently because I was working on the mirror as a technician. She was allowed outside the bounds because it was a low-level job, and we met up frequently.’

‘You said she was a friend of yours. Would you have married her?’

Douglas thought about it, twirling the spoon around in his hand. ‘I don’t think I had thought about that yet. We dated, though, or at least what could count as dates. Dinner at each other’s houses. Taking walks through the city.’

‘Did she have a hand in your punishment?’

‘No.’ Douglas sighed and his face turned into a frown. ‘Matter of fact, she was killed before I was. Right in front of me, too.’

Tempo looked at Douglas with deep sympathy. ‘I am terribly sorry.’

‘Oh, don’t be. It was the government’s fault. Suspected her of treason.’

Tempo nodded. ‘You seem to have dealt with that whole experience very well.’

The food came. Douglas’ fish filet was lightly browned and had an excellent honey mustard sauce. ‘Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve really got to thinking about her. Life has been so hectic since entering the Guard, you know?’

Tempo hummed in agreement. ‘Yes, the guard can be very stressful. I don’t think they perform as well under stress, though.’

‘Oh, no,’ Douglas said. ‘I remember giving myself a shock because my supervisors wanted me to hurry up. I was under so much pressure and stress I passed my hand in between an open circuit and ‘boom!’ I was taken to the medics for that one, but I turned out alright.’

Tempo stifled a giggle. ‘Do you like your fruit salad?’ Tempo asked him.

‘It’s delicious,’ Douglas said. ‘The berries are quite juicy and flavorful in particular.’

‘They’re crystal berries. Light, sweet, and refreshing, and hoofpicked from the fields around town. They’re always in plentiful supply.’

‘Do you grow the rest of them here?’

‘The climate is good for apples, but the bananas and mangoes we have to bring in from orchards and plantations down where it’s warmer.’

Douglas looked around him. The sky was clear and shone a bright blue, the crystal of the Crystal Palace seeming to fade into the sky. ‘Seems like nice temperate weather to me.’

‘This is the warmest it will get all year,’ Tempo replied. ‘It cools down after about two months.’

‘Ah, so the temperature doesn’t get warm enough for those.’

‘Correct. Still, the growers we order from take care of their produce. It’s still fresh as though it’s picked off the tree.’

‘Sure tastes like it,’ Douglas said, taking another bite of his salad.

And without really expecting to and despite his initial misgivings, Douglas found himself warming up to the Prince. He was friendlier and easier to talk to than he expected, and there was something about his voice and actions that made Douglas feel comfortable being around him and speaking to him. As they walked around town the rest of the day, Douglas listened intently to the Prince as he spoke about the Crystal Empire and its history as though from the mouth of a scholar.

Sure, he still wasn’t quite sure as to how to react to him sometimes, but overall he liked the energetic and sweet temperament of the alicorn. He spoke to him genuinely and seemed to care about him no less than he did any other of his subjects, perhaps even more. He made sure Douglas was comfortable and liked his new job, made sure the others were treating him okay, and seemed to delight in even the simplest of Douglas’ awe and amazement at the history and the way he told him things. But when Douglas spoke about his own home, he listened with intent at the stories Douglas told, expressing sympathy and horror at all the right places.

‘That’s quite a tale,’ Tempo said as they returned to the base of the Crystal Palace at the end of the day. ‘But consider this: that chapter of your life is over, and a new one has begun.’ He smirked, and that mischievous gleam came back into his eye. ‘Let’s make this ending a happy one, shall we?’

And, for once, Douglas agreed with him wholeheartedly.

Chapter VII - Flight of Fancy

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A week passed. Douglas had now been in the Crystal Empire for a month, under the service of the Elite Palace Guard for a week, and an escort to Prince D’Amore Temporus for a week.

Douglas was enjoying his new job. And, what’s more, the nightmare hadn’t returned. Douglas assumed that the long days with Prince Tempo were part of the reason; Tempo worked constantly even when it seemed like he wasn’t, and was rather keen on including Douglas in whatever he did. So Douglas never actually stood around except for the first hour when he was in his office, and even then Douglas’ mind never actually went back to the nightmare for a long time.

There was one day when Prince Tempo stayed in the office for longer than usual. When the hour mark passed and Prince Tempo showed no sign of coming out, Douglas wondered if something had happened and he needed help. Douglas waited a minute or two longer before knocking on the door three times as was the custom.

‘Enter, Douglas,’ Prince Tempo said.

Douglas opened the door and looked at the Prince. He showed no signs of being ready to go with papers all over his desk and a fountain pen in his blue magic. He appeared to be writing notes on something and was in the middle of something.

‘...do you have any meetings today, your majesty?’ Douglas asked.

‘Actually, I’ve made sure to get everything done yesterday and cancelled my appointments today,’ he said. ‘I’ve forgotten to tell you I’ve made an appointment for you at ten o’clock at the University to select your classes. We’ll be going there when I’m done.’

The University! Amidst the roller coaster of a month, Douglas had nearly forgotten. ‘Oh!’ he exclaimed. ‘What time were you thinking of going, then?’

‘I think we’ll leave at nine-thirty,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘Maybe earlier, depending on how long it takes for me to finish looking over this proposed tax reduction.’

‘Very well.’

Prince Tempo smiled at him. ‘Thank you for checking in on me, though.’

Douglas nodded, then quietly closed the door.

The University! Douglas had quite nearly forgotten it indeed. He had no idea what he wanted to do with himself when he graduated or what he wanted to pursue. He’d spent a year going over the absolute basics but had no idea where he wanted to go after that. Perhaps he could spend another year clearing out the basic requirements before getting into the meat of things.

Douglas pondered his options and found a solution that fit with his plans: a basic literature class, sociology, psychology, and an introduction to chemistry class. The schedule would fit most of the remaining basic requirements and allow him to move on to advanced classes when he finished this semester. He wondered what he would have to do to make that fit with his Guard schedule and how open the Prince would be to it.

When the Prince came out of his office, Douglas told him of his plans. The Prince listened to him thoughtfully, and once more Douglas could almost see the gears turning rapidly in his mind, examining the various situations and possibilities.

‘That could work,’ he said. ‘One may be an evening class, but the others could fit into one of the weekend schedules. We’ll have to talk with Track Record at the Student Planning Offices and see what happens, but I see it fitting.’

‘But for now,’ Tempo continued, ‘I’ll take you to the University itself and we’ll speak with a counselor. The campus is old and so are the professors, but you’d be hard pressed to find a subject and education route we don’t have available.’

Douglas and Tempo walked under the legs of the Crystal Palace and along the street towards the guard barracks and the University. During which time, Douglas was surprised to see how much the ponies seemed to adore Prince D’Amore Temporus. Foals came up to and hugged him, and he would give them a hug in return, after which they’d go giddy and run in circles. Mares and stallions alike greeted him with waving and cheerful shouts, which Tempo returned regally yet personally.

‘You are very approachable for a prince,’ Douglas said when they had left a large crowd of admirers behind.

‘I’ll take it that’s a lot coming from you,’ Tempo commented.

‘Very. But it’s true. I mean, none of the ponies are afraid of you, and you’re probably the closest pony to me.’

‘That is saying a lot since you were with Princess Celestia and Luna for a year.’

‘Yeah, but they’re more benevolent bosses. They didn’t actually try being my friend.’

‘Well, you certainly aren’t a monster. You’ve actually been quite pleasant company.’

They arrived at the University and went to the main offices. They met up with Douglas’ assigned counselor, a wizened brown pony with a grey mane and beard and sharp green eyes named Forward Thinker, who took Douglas on a tour of the University, which seemed to take up two whole blocks of the city. When they had finished the tour, they went to the Student Planning Offices and had a meeting with Track Record, and together they reviewed Douglas’ transcript.

Douglas told the counselor and Track Record of his plans for the semester and his hope to finish out his courses. Only one problem came with his plan: he needed one more math course, a Nutrition course or a physical activity class, and an art class. It would have to be taken in two semesters. But they went over his schedule and looked at what Tempo would allow to be taken out – flexible but no more than two whole days away a week – and settled on a schedule around the weekends: Nutrition on Friday evenings, the sociology class on Saturday mornings, and the psychology class and the literature class on Sundays. Each class met one time for two and a half to three hours, left enough of a break for meals, and didn’t overwork him in conjunction with the Guard. Douglas thought it a fine compromise.

By the time they were done, it was already almost noon. Prince Tempo stretched his wings again and asked Douglas once again what he thought about lunch.

‘Can we do it somewhere quiet?’ he asked. ‘I’m not sure I like the crowds.’

‘Don’t like being stared at?’ Tempo asked. He giggled. ‘Of course. I know a place not too far from here that would do nicely.’

They walked over a few spokes and came to a small restaurant with a Neighponese theme. A waiter quickly secured a table and they were sat down at a table near the window overlooking the street. Douglas ordered a tea and water and Tempo ordered the same thing and they sat in silence for a moment.

After a while, a question appeared in Douglas’ mind. ‘How come you need a personal guard? It seems like the town adores you and I can’t imagine any threats.’

‘You’ve heard about the Changelings and King Sombra in your history classes, correct?’

Douglas thought back. ‘Yes. The Changelings are shapeshifters that feed on love by draining love energy out of creatures. And King Sombra was the tyrant ruler of the Crystal Empire before you took over the throne.’

‘Correct. You see, because of my position, I have been attacked by Changelings once. I spent some time with Gleaming Shield back in Canterlot and we became very close. Nothing happened between us, though; I found myself interested in her as a friend but not as a long-time partner. But because of that I was attacked and captured by Queen Chrysalis. If it wasn’t for the quick thinking of Twilight Sparkle, Gleaming Shield would have remained a thrall of the Changeling queen and I would have been stuck in the caves below Canterlot.’

Douglas was surprised. He knew there was some dark figures and times in Equestrian history, but he hadn’t figured it would have been so dangerous now. It all looked so happy...

‘As for King Sombra, Gleaming Shield came up with me when the Crystal Empire reappeared a few years ago, but with it came the tyrant King. He enslaved the ponies before, and we spent all our energy defending it from him again. But for Princess Celestia’s quick thinking and sending Twilight Sparkle, her prized student and expert in magic, up here to help me again, we wouldn’t have been able to hold off his attack.’

‘Wow...’ Douglas said. ‘I remember reading about King Sombra and how he damaged and hid the Crystal Heart. We only barely went over the events leading to the return, as it was new enough it wasn’t in our textbooks.’

‘It has only been a few years,’ Prince Tempo said again. ‘We haven’t been around much. But the Crystal Heart is important. You could say it’s the keystone of Equestrian civilization, what inspires friendships across the kingdom.’

‘So, small as you might be, your protection and that of the Crystal Heart at the base of the Palace is a key strategic move.’

‘Correct. Admittedly, most of the problems we have tend to be down south and concern Princess Celestia and her domains more often than not. Things have been pretty peaceful up here, and it is my sincerest hope they stay that way.’

A waiter brought their drinks and took their order. Douglas got a sweet teriyaki chow mein with vegetables and something that apparently smelled and tasted like chicken. Prince Tempo told him it was called “soy” and served as something of a rich protein substitute, and proceeded to order the same thing. Whether it was out of convenience or him actually liking it, Douglas didn’t know.

‘Do you ever go down there?’

‘On occasion. If there are more important matters that Princess Celestia wishes to talk to me about, things that concern the Crystal Empire or trade agreements with other nations and the like, she writes me and I head down there for about two or three weeks until the matter is sorted out. I make a few house calls to former colleagues and friends, and head back when my business is done.’

‘Busy?’

‘Yes. But I like to combine business with pleasure, and as hectic as it may seem I enjoy myself down in main Equestria.’

‘Are you due for a trip soon?’

‘A yearly summit takes place when your next semester is done. I’ll expect you and a few other of the Palace Guard to come with me then. But that is still four months out and it takes not much planning to get there, so I won’t worry you with the details yet. Suffice it to say that I’ll give you the information a month before we go and everything will have already been arranged.’

‘So what did you do before the Crystal Empire reappeared?’

‘I managed internal affairs: trade agreements between cities, immigration and emigration, education, and environmental issues. I think trade and education matters transferred to Princess Celestia and environmental issues and immigration and emigration went to Princess Luna.’

‘They since have smaller Directors that manage those departments,’ Douglas said. ‘Though, if there is an issue with any one of them, they do go to Princess Celestia or Luna depending on the department.’

‘That would not surprise me,’ Prince Tempo mused. ‘It’s easier to have a series of underlings to manage the small stuff and bring the bigger ones to you. But the Crystal Empire is small enough – only our main city and three or four small villages that technically fall in the territory – that I don’t mind wading through the small stuff. It’s harder when the population is bigger, though.’

The waiter arrived with two steaming bowls of orange noodles in a sweet brown sauce with vegetables and soy pieces, along with a small ball of white rice. Douglas was pleased to find the soy in his meal tasted like a mixture of chicken and pork but slightly more flavorful and was quite content to slowly eat his meal with a fork, savoring every bite. Prince Tempo used a set of wooden utensils he called “chopsticks”, which he held like the fountain pen and slowly grabbed bites of food by pinching them and bringing them to his mouth.

Douglas tried using the chopsticks. He failed miserably and managed to only grab and keep hold of one noodle every time. He quickly went back to the fork, but Tempo said it was likely he was getting on the right track. But he didn’t know.

Over lunch, Prince Tempo talked more about various exploits he’d been through. There was a story of a strange creature called a draconequus named Discord faking sickness and Prince Tempo and Twilight Sparkle nearly getting eaten by a Tatzlworm. There was a story of the last Equestria Games where Twilight and her friends had tried making a good impression to choose the Crystal Empire for the site of the Games only to find out who they thought was the Games Inspector was a random tourist, and a case where young dragon named Spike saved the Games when a cloud turned to a block of ice by flaming it.

Douglas could hardly believe what he was hearing; it all sounded so outlandish to him. Then again, he thought, I am sitting talking to a pink horse with a unicorn horn and wings, so who am I to say what’s outlandish and what’s not?

And so he laughed and enjoyed himself at every flourish the Prince placed on his stories. He enjoyed hearing about them, and was glad he was able to hear more about the Prince and not just focused on him and who he was and his background.

When lunch was over, they walked back to the Crystal Palace, still laughing and joking about Prince Tempo’s stories of Discord that apparently happened after a reformation, though he was still a sort of demi-god of Chaos and unpredictable at best.

‘How come we’re going back already?’ Douglas said as he noticed they were heading towards the Palace. ‘Do you have a meeting you’re remembering?’

‘No. Actually, I wanted to show you something.’

They approached the leg of the Crystal Palace that had the lift. But instead of pressing the button for the floor they wanted, Prince Tempo took his horn and placed it into the hole above the button. His horn glowed with magic and the glow soon spread to the lift controls. The lift slowly started to rise and Prince Tempo took his horn out of the hole.

‘What exactly do you want to show me?’ Douglas asked curiously.

‘Wait and see,’ Tempo said. ‘I promise you’ll enjoy it.’

The lift kept rising, even past what Douglas thought was the floor with the mirror on it. The door opened into a small hallway with a skylight but no window. The entrance to the staircase was on the other side, and a double door made from the crystal sat in the center. Tempo walked forwards and stopped at the door.

‘It should be noted I hardly let anyone in here but my personal escort,’ Tempo said.

The doors opened and Tempo walked in. Douglas followed behind him warily, entering the room behind him and feeling a slight rush of breeze as the doors closed behind him.

The room was a large, circular thing with three windows – one in each direction apart from the door – and a large skylight that allowed the light to flood the room. At one side, under one of the windows, was a large four-poster bed with deep pink drapes and a soft red and white blanket. On another side stood an ornately-carved desk with a mirror. Hidden off to one side was a door that led into a large shower and bath.

‘Your room?’ Douglas questioned. ‘But, why did you bring me here?’

Tempo went to the window directly across from the door and opened it; it was not a window but a glass door leading onto a balcony. Tempo turned around and motioned for Douglas to come over.

Douglas hesitantly obeyed. He approached the prince, then walked out and onto the balcony with him.

It was quite the sight. They were standing almost seven stories up from the ground floor, the ponies almost seeming like ants as they scurried about below them. The sun caught the crystal buildings and pathways and foliage so that they all glimmered and shone with a brilliant sheen, a rainbow of colors reflected on the side of the Crystal Palace. From here, Douglas could see the large dome where the train had stopped at a station, surrounded by flags from all the provinces of Equestria. He could even see beyond the city itself, to the grassy fields that extended out in all directions, and even to the snow fields beyond that.

‘This view is amazing.’

Tempo took Douglas’ shield in his aura and set it down inside the room. ‘Want to get an even better view of it?’

Douglas looked around. ‘How is that possible? I mean, this is the prime seat in the house for viewing the city.’

Tempo took off his golden breastplate and sidled up to Douglas. The mischievous smirk and twinkle was back in his eye.

‘I have wings...’

Douglas looked to the balcony, then back to the Prince. Tempo ruffled his wings and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

‘...hell no.’

‘Aw, come on!’ Prince Tempo went into what looked like a play bow. ‘It’ll be fun. And you’ll get to have the sensation of flight.’

‘You have a twisted sense of “fun”. And I’m not entirely sure that’s the safest thing. What if I fall off, especially at this height?’

‘It’ll be alright. Take off your breastpiece and climb on.’

‘I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.’

Prince Tempo smirked. ‘That’s an order, Lieutenant.’

Damn you and your orders, Douglas thought.

But he unbuckled his breastpiece and set it next to his spear before hoisting a leg over Tempo. He adjusted his legs until they were behind Tempo’s wings and leaned forward, taking hold of the alicorn’s neck.

‘Are you ready?’ Tempo called.

‘Nope.’

‘Too bad!’ Tempo shouted. He gave a whoop and started flapping his wings.

Douglas saw the ground begin to shrink away and held on tighter to Tempo’s neck. Tempo didn’t seem to care; he started flying higher and higher until they were high enough to clear the rail.

‘Hold on, Douglas!’

‘This is absurd!’

Douglas’ cry didn’t matter. Tempo was rocketing forward over the balcony railing and down towards the streets below, hooting and hollering as they went.

Douglas felt himself slide forward and closer to the alicorn’s neck, screaming as they plummeted towards the ground. He clung with arms and legs to the pink alicorn as Tempo pulled out of his dive and did a barrel roll up into the sky, laughing and hollering the whole way. He gave a large, swooping turn and straightened himself out until he was slicing through the air like a bullet, screaming under and through the legs of the Crystal Palace. Tempo’s course continued in a large humpback through one of the main roads of the main city, and soon he was doing a large banking turn out into the grassy fields.

Tempo’s body evened out and only occasionally rocked with the flapping of his wings. ‘Let go and hold out your arms!’ Tempo called.

‘I’m gonna fall if I do that!’ Douglas shouted, already winded and his voice hoarse from screaming, half figuring adrenaline was the only thing keeping him going.

‘Trust me!’ Tempo said. ‘You won’t fall. I won’t let you.’

Carefully, Douglas unhooked his arms from their death grip around the alicorn’s neck. Even more carefully, he let himself sit up completely straight. It wasn’t long before his arms were spread out to the sides. Tempo was still rocketing through the air and the window was blowing through his hair and whipping through his clothes, but there was something about the experience that Douglas kept doing it.

He felt exhilarated. He felt alive. He felt free.

Tempo began to slowly ascend upwards. It was just enough to create a feeling of weightlessness in Douglas, and he began to feel as though he was actually flying. His medium-length hair whipped around behind him as though it didn’t dare touch his head, the wind tore through his clothes and he could feel it in his bones.

He could hear himself whooping and hooting and hollering. ‘This is amazing!’ he shouted over the rushing wind, feeling a grin become plastered on his face. ‘This is unbelievable!’

The alicorn simply looked at him with a knowing smile.

Tempo peaked and went down again in a long, fast swoop. Douglas almost grabbed on with his hands, but Tempo’s easy banking kept him on balance. Tempo continued in a long S-shape that went back through the legs of the Crystal Palace before gliding around to the fields again.

‘Grab on,’ Tempo called back. ‘I’m gonna bring us back to the balcony.’

Douglas grabbed on and held on for dear life.

Once his arms were secure, Tempo rocketed towards the base of the Crystal Palace. With a long curve that just barely passed over the ground, he began to soar straight upwards. Douglas felt his legs give way and he started dangling as Tempo shot up seventy-five feet.

‘My legs aren’t on anymore!’ Douglas shouted in panic.

‘We’re almost there,’ Tempo said. ‘I’m not gonna let you fall.’

Despite his reassurances, Douglas felt his hands slipping. They had almost cleared the balcony and came in for landing when Douglas slipped. Tempo was just high enough he cleared the railing and started falling to the ground.

He didn’t even make it past the balcony before the alicorn caught him. Tempo had done a lightning quick one-eighty back around and had caught Douglas in his hooves. Wings flapping and his front hooves holding Douglas fast to his chest, Tempo eased Douglas’ speed and brought him back up and over the railing, setting him gently down on the balcony.

‘Douglas!’ Tempo called. ‘Are you okay?’

Douglas shook and trembled. He tried answering, but he vomited all over the balcony.

‘Oh, Celestia!’ Tempo said, terrified.

‘I’m sorry about the mess,’ Douglas managed to spit out.

‘No, it’s not that. Don’t you go passing out on me.’

‘Tempo…’ Douglas said weakly. ‘That was amazing.’

Douglas faintly heard the sound of magic. A blue aura surrounded him and he felt himself being gently lifted off the ground. Tempo’s words began to fade, despite their increasing volume and panic. Soon, the alicorn himself was merely a pink blob and Douglas was laid down on a red surface.

The pink blob was heading towards the door. Douglas tried reaching for it, but it was gone. He felt his strength give way and collapsed into darkness.

Off in the distance was the sound of running water and a ringing in his ears. A slight humming came from the same direction, barely over the sound of water. That soon shut off and the humming remained. It wasn’t long before hoofsteps took the place of the water.

Douglas tried calling out, but could barely moan.

The surface underneath him moved slightly, and he could feel something warm and soft and feathery touch his back and cover him.

‘Shh…’ came a quiet, soothing voice, barely over the ringing. ‘You’re still weak.’

Douglas tried moving. Nothing wanted to respond.

‘Not bad holding out for nearly 7 G’s,’ Tempo’s voice came through clearer. ‘The doctor’s said you’ll be okay.’

Douglas tried to voice his approval, but even that failed him.

He then noticed the soft surface. It didn’t take long for him to realize he must have been on Tempo’s bed in his suite. They had gone for that flight, but as soon as Douglas came back he must have vomited and lost consciousness.

Douglas wondered if that would be considered embarrassing.

Finally, there came movement. His fingers started to obey him. He reached out, but since his arm couldn’t move, he only grasped the blanket.

‘Shh…’ Tempo said soothing and reassuringly, taking a hoof and gently stroking his hair. ‘You need to rest. That took a lot of energy out of you.’

There was a faint sound in the background. The sound of a unicorn doing magic. Douglas wondered for a moment if there was a pegasus in the room, but remembered an alicorn had a horn of a unicorn and the wings of a pegasus.

Something stroked his hair. It was a strange feeling, to be petted as one might pet a dog or cat, but it was strangely calming. Douglas relaxed his grip on the blanket and tried voicing something again. It didn’t work.

‘You’re okay. You’re safe.’

Safe? Oh, yeah, Douglas thought. I nearly fell from the railing. Thank god he caught me.

But how long had he been out? There was no sound in the room except for a bird chirping outside. Once Tempo had climbed next to him on the bed – a rather awkward predicament, Douglas thought – that had been the last of the hoofsteps. So the doctor’s had already come and gone… but when?

‘You’ve been out for nearly an hour. The doctor’s left about fifteen minutes ago.’

Douglas felt himself go cold. How had Tempo known he was wondering that? Sure, it might have been one of those things that it was obligatory to mention, but it seemed odd how he pointed that out about when he was thinking that.

But then there came a warm feeling again. Douglas let himself fall into the fog that was beginning to overtake him again. His body finally responded to movement and he tried turning himself from his chest to his side.

‘It’s okay.’ Tempo’s calm voice was surprisingly clear though the humming of magic was fading. ‘Just relax. You’ll probably be sick if you move too much too fast.’

Douglas stopped trying to move. He just lay there on the bed, feeling Tempo’s wing over him like a blanket and Tempo’s hoof gently stroking him. He felt his eyes open, but everything was still formless blobs. A giant slab of pink dominated his vision, while red covered him from below.

Tempo continued calmly speaking to him, but Douglas couldn’t make out what he was saying. He felt sluggish and slow to respond. His vision was back but still unclear. He moved his head and found that two purple orbs were looking back at him, but he couldn’t make out the rest of Tempo’s head except for a multi-colored blob on his head where his mane should be.

A warmth entered Douglas’ soul as he stared. There was something strangely intimate about the prince’s gestures, but Douglas found himself not minding them one bit. Douglas closed his eyes; he almost wanted to sleep here for a while, the soft, warm bed and Tempo’s gentle, soothing murmur slowly coaxing him to a more relaxed state.

He’d never felt like this before. Not even around Angela.

Douglas’ mind halted, then raced along at breakneck speed. Where had that thought come from? Why was he comparing Tempo to Angela? Why after this time was he even thinking of Angela again? He had talked with Tempo about her, but that was nearly a week ago. Why was he suddenly remembering about life before passing through the gate?

And suddenly those thoughts halted. Tempo’s eyes looked almost sad and reproachful.

‘Are you okay?’ Tempo’s voice came out of the haze. ‘Is everything alright?’

Douglas’ vision started to clear. The blue aura surrounding the horn faded away. Within seconds, Douglas was off the bed and backed away from the prince. Tempo had been stretched out alongside where Douglas had been lying on the bed. A single wing, the one that had covered Douglas, was up and Tempo was looking like Douglas had hit him.

‘What’s going on?’ Tempo asked. ‘Why are you so afraid?’

‘No…’ Douglas said. ‘I… I shouldn’t.’

‘Shouldn’t what?’

‘I…’ Douglas sputtered out. ‘I c-can’t… I c-c-can’t do this…’

‘Do what?’

Douglas felt his eyes get blurry and wet. He couldn’t bear to even look at the prince, and covered his eyes with his arm. ‘I don’t know…’ he said.

Tempo got up off the bed. He reached out a hoof to Douglas. ‘Come here…’ he said.

‘No!’ Douglas jumped backwards. ‘Stay away!’

‘Douglas!’ Tempo said. ‘Calm down! It’s okay! You blacked out and lost consciousness after coming back from the flight. The doctors said you needed to rest.’

Douglas was panting furiously, but eventually he calmed down. Tempo hazarded coming a little closer, but Douglas was now calm enough he accepted the alicorn’s hoof around him. ‘I’m sorry,’ Tempo said. ‘It was my fault.’

Douglas said noting. He simply let his quivering body slow down and eventually go still. Once again he felt something inside his soul warm and eventually he was completely calm.

Tempo let go. ‘Now, are you alright?’

Douglas nodded.

‘Do you feel sick?’

Douglas shook his head.

‘Alright. Come. Sit.’ Tempo motioned to the bed.

Douglas came and sat down over on the bed.

‘So,’ Tempo said. ‘Aside from the passing out, what was it like having a taste of flight?’

Douglas thought back. The haze had completely cleared. ‘It was exhilarating. I felt free and alive. I don’t know if my stomach could handle it again, but that was a one-of-a-kind experience.’

Tempo smiled at him. ‘I’m glad you liked it. I probably got a bit carried away.’

‘It’s alright.’ Douglas nodded and looked at the floor. ‘It was fun. If nothing else, I’ll always remember that feeling.’

Tempo gave a warm, approving smile to Douglas. ‘Glad to have you on board. Lieutenant,’ he added with a wink.

Chapter VIII - Change of Heart

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Despite the high note they ended their last conversation on, Douglas did not speak to the Prince informally for quite some time.

Over the next few days, Prince Tempo stayed in his office for two hours instead of one, then met with some of the departments before and after lunch, and only walked around town for an hour or so before dinner. While Douglas accompanied the Prince throughout the day – referring to him as ‘Prince D’Amore Temporus’ or ‘the Prince’ while on-duty – there were no times like before with private luncheons and casual conversations.

Douglas, for the most part, did not encourage the Prince talking to him. For the most part, he considered that Prince Tempo was quite busy and that affairs of the country and the upcoming summit in Canterlot mattered more. Douglas was completely fine with this. He still wasn’t quite sure what happened that afternoon in the Prince’s room, but he admitted to himself it was something he wasn’t entirely keen on experiencing again.

He had not told the other Guard about Angela. He trusted the Prince to keep this information to himself, perhaps telling Princess Celestia and Luna but never taking it outside the walls of the room. He occasionally told simple stories of the world beyond the Gate – what he originally did, what life was like – but nothing too personal had been told to them.

It was this fact, Douglas considered, that made the events that happened in Prince Tempo’s room all the stranger. It was odd enough that Prince Tempo had been... rather intimate with him, lying next to him and stroking his hair and covering him with a wing. But to think he had been snapped out of a haze by thinking about his old life was almost preposterous. He had mild suspicion the other Guards would think him weak if thinking about his past life made him scared of the Prince, or that he was as close to the Prince as he’d been.

The others eventually asked him as he knew they would. When they asked why the medic had to be called up to the Prince’s room, Douglas said it had been a longer day than most and he’d had a small spell of dehydration combined with heat sickness. It satisfied them and he went about his business thankful they didn’t spend too much more time on it.

Only one wasn’t satisfied: the former escort, Emerald Green.

The green crystal pegasus first approached him about the issue one night after dinner. Douglas had finished early and was sitting out in the entry hall enjoying the cool evening air. Douglas was sitting on the bench where he’d talked with the Prince when Emerald Green entered the hall.

‘Douglas!’ Emerald called out to him.

Douglas turned around at the sound and noticed him peeking out from the entrance to the next room. ‘Hey, Emerald. You need something?’

‘We were looking for you and wondered where you went. Me and the other guys were going to start up an Appleoosan Hold’Em game. You interested?’

Douglas shrugged and looked out the window. ‘Maybe I’ll come in and watch. I’m not really interested in playing right now.’

Emerald Green trotted over from the door and hopped on the bench next to Douglas. He was small but bulky, appropriate for a pegasus, but he barely met Douglas at eye level when sitting next to him. ‘Something wrong?’ he asked, showing obvious concern. ‘You still feeling sick or whatever it was from a few days ago?’

Douglas shook his head. ‘No, I’m fine. I was just... thinking.’

‘Whatcha thinking about?’

‘How I got here. I would have just been in the barracks I think if it weren’t for that other stallion. Storm Shield, or whatever his name was. Just seems a little weird I’m already a Palace Guard.’

Emerald Green thought about it for a moment. ‘Huh. Yeah, it isn’t often we get a newbie up here who ascends to Palace Guard as quick as you did. Most are here for two or three years before that happens. You having any problems with the job?’

‘No. Well, maybe some, if you don’t mind me asking with you being the former escort and all. Prince Tempo’s a little... strange sometimes.’

‘Ah, it’s about the Prince, is it?’ Emerald said knowingly. ‘Yeah, he’s a weird one sometimes. But he’s got quite the brain in there. I’d say he’s one of the smartest ponies I know.’

‘I’d wager so, with all his department meetings. But even then it seems like only a fraction.’

‘Hmm...’ Emerald Green stroked his chin with a hoof. ‘Well, give me an example of what you mean.’

‘It just... it just seems like there’s a lot of stuff I don’t know about what goes on up here that he’s keeping from me. Like, deliberately so.’

‘You mean like what qualified you for your position?’

‘Yeah!’ Douglas exclaimed. ‘Why am I already in a Palace Guard position and his escort? And what was with that weird seating test he did on my first day?’

‘That was weird, wasn’t it?’ Emerald Green laughed. ‘It’s been too long; I forgot what happened with mine. I’m here, so I guess I made the right choice somewhere along the line.’

Douglas looked out the window again.

‘So,’ Emerald Green said. ‘You’ve only been here a month or two. Aside from his weird testing, what do you think of our Prince so far?’

Douglas thought about it for a moment. ‘Well, he’s rather kind and friendly. He seems concerned about me and the rest of you as well. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone pay close attention to me as he has. But I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.’

‘Hm… I’d have to agree with you on most points. I’m sure he has his reasons, but if he doesn’t want anypony to know, he won’t let them. And when he does, it won’t make sense until later.’

‘So you think his whole kind and friendly demeanor is a public persona?’

Emerald Green seemed taken aback. ‘What the heck you talking about? I think he lives and breathes it more than any other pony can follow it. It’s like it consumes his very being. He likes everyone, and everyone likes him. With his cutie mark, if he found someone he likes, he’ll make sure that nothing pushes them away.’

‘That dedicated, huh?’

‘Oh, yeah. Pity his life is so long; the only one that would really suit him is another alicorn who’d last as long as he will. Alas, he’s something of a romantic.’

Douglas thought about it. ‘Yeah, I can see that. You ever see any of that when you were with him?’

‘Oh, yeah, all the time. Pay attention and you see he occasionally flirts with ponies, but only very specific ones. He knows everypony around here, and is especially good at seeing of someone is single or in a relationship. He flirts with anypony he perceives as single. And, with his magic, he’d know who is or not. He’s reasonable about it and seems to set limits on it, though.’

Douglas looked around awkwardly. ‘...did he... ever flirt with you?’

‘A few times. Then he noticed I was interested in Sapphire and backed off. I’ve never felt uncomfortable around him, though. He was playful without being invasive. But listen to any stories about Prince Blueblood down south and whoo! He makes Prince Tempo look like a prude.’

Douglas thought about it and bit his lip. ‘What do you think would push him away?’

‘War. Death. Scorn, even. I don’t know; probably only the ends of the world would keep him from what he wants. He seems like the type to be easily hurt emotionally. Stable, but if he makes connections and they decide they want to break apart from him, he might not take it very well.’

Douglas looked away from Emerald Green to the ornate ceiling then back down. ‘Are you ever afraid of him, thinking like that?’

‘Not really. He seems a reasonable sort. When I tell him I’m done with the Palace Guard because I’m getting old and want to spend the rest of my days with my foals, he’d probably let me go and do my thing.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Are you thinking of retiring yet?’

Emerald Green smirked. ‘I’m young compared to some of the others here. I would like to propose to Sapphire, but she probably would want to stay on a few more years herself.’

Douglas chuckled.

‘Look, you ever have any questions about our Prince, come to me or Crystal Barrier,’ Emerald Green said. ‘We’ll make sure you’re in good hooves and get some answers. Now, wanna come and join?’

Douglas nodded and followed Emerald Green to the common room.

Two days later, Douglas was once again up early.

No nightmares came to him that night, which made him surprised when he woke up and was suddenly wide awake and alert as though he’d catapulted out of one. It was a surprise to be asleep then suddenly bang! awake without any real cause. But when he tried to go back to sleep, he found himself unable to.

Douglas sighed. He heaved himself quietly out of bed and dressed before entering the common room. The only light on was the one above the coffee, which wasn’t even on yet, and no one was in the showers. Douglas had seen Crystal Barrier make coffee before and started the machine up, deciding he’d have a cup if he couldn’t sleep anyways. A clock on the wall read four fifteen; the sun likely wasn’t even up yet.

Douglas wondered what the matter was. It was a free day today, a day to do whatever he wanted. He wasn’t due for Guard duty, and classes didn’t start until next week. The books had come in last night and were sitting in a package underneath his desk, not quite unwrapped yet aside from a quick peek to make sure everything had come in.

Douglas waited until the coffee brewed and pulled out a mug. He made himself a cup of coffee with creamer and sugar and sipped it for a while in the silent common room. Not wanting to wake anyone up, he refused to play games or turn on the television to see if anything was on.

But the silence of the room unnerved him and he decided he needed to do something while he was awake. He crept quietly over to the counter, put his mug in the sink, and headed for the door. The door slid easily and quietly open and he was in the main hall of the Crystal Palace again.

A thestral was outside wandering the halls. He looked over to Douglas for a moment and walked over to him. He examined him for a moment.

‘Lieutenant Douglas,’ the batpony said.

‘Morning, Lieutenant Echo,’ Douglas replied. ‘I promise I’m not doing anything illegal. I just wanted to go look out the window.’

‘Surprises me the Prince hasn’t put one in the common room,’ Echo said easily. ‘Alright, you’re clear. Just don’t cause a ruckus.’

‘Thanks,’ Douglas said. ‘I’ll probably only be thirty minutes or so.’

Echo nodded and went on his way. He was one of the easier-going thestrals and rarely cared about anyone from the Guard poking around at night; apparently it was common for two of the younger Guard to go poking around the kitchens for food late at night and was used to the Guard walking around. Douglas was rather decent by comparison to him.

The hall was dark and expansive. The normally blue crystal had taken on a very dark purple hue and the ceiling faded into black. Douglas wondered if he was supposed to be walking around at this hour, but he figured it would be okay. The Prince had told him he was allowed to wander the first floor, and Echo was well aware of him.

Douglas didn’t wander very far. The moonlight came through the large window in the entry hall. Douglas walked quietly over to the bench where he had been before and sat down on it, enjoying the cool air and peace and quiet of the night. Echo passed by, saw him sitting there, but passed on and continued on his duty; Douglas heard him enter open the door, enter the throne room, and the hall passed into silence.

Douglas wasn’t even sure why he was up as early as he was. Normally he would sleep soundly until about seven thirty, when he would shower and have himself a cup of coffee with creamer and sugar before joining the others for breakfast. Ever since he had arrived in the Crystal Empire, however, Douglas had been waking up earlier and earlier. Four fifteen was unheard of.

But what caused his restlessness Douglas knew not. It had been a few days since he had spoken with Prince D’Amore Temporus, and his fear of the Prince and what had happened – even though he still didn’t know what exactly happened – had begun to subside. He didn’t like being bullied, but that had pretty much disappeared when he entered the service of the Palace Guard. And the Prince’s own actions were almost excused from his mind, feeling that Prince Tempo probably just wanted someone close to talk to and hadn’t had that for a while since coming to the Crystal Empire.

Was it perhaps that he was thinking of home? How different things were here when he compared it to there! Even with a strict schedule, there was a sense of freedom. He went to University and studied what he pleased. Once he left University, he could pick a job he wanted. If he ever wanted to leave the Crystal Empire…

A thought occurred to him. He’d barely been in the crystalline city for a month and a half, if he remembered correctly. And yet the thought of leaving this place already repulsed him. Douglas thought about it. He had friends, a good job, good prospects at the University. These were things that he’d never had before, that he had found here.

Something else told Douglas he was merely rationalizing it. But he ignored it.

‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were nocturnal.’

Douglas looked towards the lift but nothing was there. Across the hall from the lift was a set of stairs, so Douglas looked there next. While unexpected, the face he saw no longer surprised him.

‘D’Amore Temporus,’ Douglas acknowledged respectfully. ‘Pardon my late night musings.’

‘I won’t,’ Tempo said seriously. His quivering lips betrayed his actual feelings before his words did, and it wasn’t long before he’d broken into a warm smile. ‘I will pardon your early morning musings, however.’

Douglas felt himself chuckle but wasn’t sure if it actually came from him. ‘You are also awake early, your majesty. Is something bothering you, too?’

If Tempo had registered the formalities, he didn’t pay attention to it. He walked up to Douglas. ‘This,’ he said, pointing a hoof to his chest and tapping it a few times, ‘tells me when something’s not right.’

Douglas looked towards the moon for a second and exhaled loudly. ‘I assume it’s about me.’

‘Perhaps.’ Tempo yawned and sat next to the bench, much like he had before. ‘Unless this is rather more common for you than I think.’

Douglas sighed and stared at the floor. ‘I’m not quite sure what it is, to be honest. I’ve certainly had more sleepless nights here than I did back in Canterlot.’

‘What do you think it was?’

‘First I thought it was fear. Then came bullying. But, last I could remember, it was home.’

‘Any idea what it could be now?’

‘No.’

‘...what do you think of when you mean “home”?’

‘...that could be some of it. I don’t know what “home” is, anymore. I’ve changed living spaces four times in the last two years. Who knows if suddenly things change and I move off again.’

Tempo nodded and looked out at the moon. Douglas looked over and found himself thinking the Prince looked quite handsome, the way the moonlight fell on his light pink features and lit up his deep purple eyes. The expression was somber and dignified.

‘A teacher of mine once told me that if I were to pour out my heart,’ Prince Tempo said, ‘eventually someone would pick it up and give it back to me.’

The rather open-endedness of the statement intrigued Douglas and he wondered where the Prince would go. ‘What did your teacher mean?’

‘Someone out there, whatever my problem, would listen. And, when the time is right, someone with the same problem would find me.’ He turned towards Douglas. ‘Perhaps that is what home is: a place where someone will listen to your problems and respond in kind.’

Douglas folded his hands and messed with his fingers. He wasn’t quite ready to go over his own problems right now. ‘...did you ever find out what your problem was?’

Tempo’s smile faded as he looked back towards the moon. ‘I think I did. But I’ve had so many listen but never respond.’

Douglas decided it was a personal issue and kept silent.

‘You once told me about Angela,’ Tempo said. ‘What was it that made you remember her after this time? It’s been a year now, and it sounded to me like you hadn’t thought about that for a while.’

Douglas shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Perhaps... perhaps because I was feeling lonely.’

‘Why is that? You have a few friends in the Guard. They like you and are happy you are with them.’

‘I don’t know. It might have been the thing about couples meeting each other in the Guard. I guess I started thinking about where I’ve been lately, and how I never really had anyone like that here I could really confide in.’

Tempo looked over to Douglas and smiled. Douglas looked back and saw it was serene and contained no mischievous gleam in his eye. ‘Have you been thinking of anyone lately?’

‘Well, no, not really. I don’t know if I would. It’d be weird if I got together with a pony, you know?’

‘Relationships don’t have to be like that,’ Tempo said sagely. ‘A good relationship isn’t based on who you’re attracted to. You could be attracted to a supermodel and find her personally wouldn’t be a good fit with yours. To me, relationships are about who you mesh well with. Who has your interests in mind? Who has your similar character? Who truly cares about you as much as you care about them? That, to me, is what a relationship should be based on.’

Douglas averted his eyes and thought about what the Prince meant.

Tempo rose up from his seat next to the bench. ‘Come with me. We can go and watch the sunrise.’

‘Where at?’ Douglas asked, dreading the answer.

‘My room, of course.’

Douglas sighed and followed Tempo to the lift, grateful he would spare him from the long spiraling staircase going to the top. Tempo inserted his horn, the lift moved quietly up, and soon they were in the dark hallway leading to Tempo’s room with not much more than the alicorn’s magic for light.

Tempo’s room was a little lighter; already light was appearing on the distant horizon, and Tempo had a small reading lamp on one of his nightstands turned on. Tempo crossed the room ahead of Douglas, took a blanket from nearby, and motioned for Douglas to follow him over.

Douglas obeyed, crossing the floor to the cool balcony and letting himself inches away from the Prince, who draped the blanket around Douglas. He was thankful for the extra layer, though noticed sitting down he was merely level with the Prince’s chest. He suddenly felt awkward and focused his attention forwards.

The first light began to stretch on the horizon, turning the sky from a deep blue to a brilliant orange. Douglas had never actually been able to see the sun rise before, and he thought it to be a wonderful experience, even if it was up much earlier than he was used to. It was rather beautiful to be able to see the sun slowly come up over the horizon, to see the land fade gentle from darkness into light.

Douglas shivered. It was cold sitting here nearly eighty feet above the ground. The blanket suddenly felt thin like it was hardly there and a breeze blew around and snuck into the blanket. Douglas pulled the blanket around him, trying to keep the warmth in.

‘Are you cold?’ Tempo asked.

‘A little.’

Tempo scooted over next to Douglas and wrapped a wing around him. Douglas almost protested it, but the warmth from the Prince’s body was trapped in the thick feathers of the wing and already he felt better. Despite the strangeness, Douglas let himself lean over a little and rest his head on the alicorn’s shoulder.

‘What do you think?’ Tempo asked. ‘Of the sunrise?’

‘It’s beautiful,’ Douglas said. ‘I... I’m not quite sure what to say.’

Tempo laughed warmly, though Douglas barely felt it. ‘You don’t have to say anything.’

The two sat and watched the sun for a while. The light started to touch the crystal houses below, and covered each one in multiple hues. Not only that, they sent the light up to the balcony and momentarily dazzled Douglas with rainbows of color on the side of the brightening Palace.

‘It’s almost time to go down to breakfast, isn’t it?’ Douglas asked.

Tempo stayed silent for a moment. Douglas looked up and could tell he was thinking, his face focused intently on a point in the distance. ‘We can stay up here for a while longer. It is your day off, after all.’

‘What about you? Don’t you have things to do?’

‘I allot myself plenty of time to do what I need to do,’ Prince Tempo responded easily. ‘Whether that takes place now or later is not my concern right now.’

Douglas said nothing in response.

It was a strange feeling. His nervousness had gone away. In its place was a different feeling. His heart felt lighter. His body relaxed. His breathing became slow and even. He liked being here with Tempo.

With Tempo… Douglas’ mind lingered on that phrase a bit. He wasn’t sure what to feel about it. And yet… there was something that felt like peace, contentment. Like a part of his soul that he’d been missing for years was filled.

‘Are you okay?’ Tempo asked.

‘What do you mean?’

Before Tempo even asked it, Douglas realized it. His voice strained to come out. He noticed the drops, the small wet spots on his pants. Douglas thought about getting up, about leaving.

‘You’re crying.’

It was hardly anything right now, but Douglas could not deny it. His eyes were wet and his vision was blurred. He raised up a hand and delicately touched his cheek and felt the wet trails down the side of his face. Something came to him.

‘I’m lonely,’ he said. ‘I am surrounded by ponies that care for me... and yet I feel alone.’

A soft weight rested itself on his head. Tempo’s head was on top of his own. He could feel the soft patch of yellow fade into the shorter pink coat through his head of hair.

It was a simple gesture. Yet Douglas thought he would break down. Unlike before, when he had wept in front of the mirror, this one seemed to have no provocation at all. He only barely managed to hold it in, quivering. A hoof reached around him, now forming a circle with the wing on the other side, which was held gently against his back.

‘You are not alone,’ Tempo whispered softly into his ear.

It was then that Douglas understood what the Prince had meant, and the floodgates broke. He brought his knees up and tried to hide in them.

‘I… I’ve been so alone…’ Douglas choked out, muffled by the blanket and his pants. ‘I’ve been around so many… but none have reached out. None have spared me more than a glance. I am like a shadow among them, present but always unobserved; out of sight, out of mind.’

‘You are not a shadow,’ Tempo whispered. ‘You are bright and shining like Celestia’s sun.’

‘But how does the sun know it’s shining if it casts no shadow?’

‘Because the darkness recedes.’ Tempo gently nuzzled Douglas’ forehead. ‘Light does not always mean shadow. Light can mean the absence of dark. There is darkness around who you are or what you are supposed to be, but I myself have seen nothing but light.’

Tempo lifted his head off Douglas. Douglas looked up and stared into the handsome face of the alicorn. He wore a warm, gentle smile and his purple eyes shone as bright as the sun. Douglas’ heart jumped at the sight, and his soul felt strangely yet somehow comfortably at peace.

Douglas opened his mouth to speak, to say something to the alicorn. His thoughts were scrambled and unclear even to him, yet he wanted to express something he was feeling, but which one it was he didn’t know. But he felt Tempo’s hoof leave his front, and before he could say anything, the hoof was over his mouth and he closed it. It was almost a relief that he didn’t have to speak.

‘Later,’ the alicorn said softly. ‘It’s time to go down to breakfast.’

Douglas blinked. The sun was already completely over the horizon and was rising further in the sky. Sitting there with the prince, he had somehow lost track of time. It wasn’t late, but it certainly wasn’t the early morning sunrise they had been watching. He looked around at the balcony as though confused, then turned around to see Tempo leaving the room. The alicorn looked back at him.

‘Coming?’

Douglas nodded and ran after Tempo to keep up.

Chapter IX - The Invitation

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After breakfast, Douglas managed to go back to sleep for a while longer. Ruby Rose was out on duty and the only other Guard off duty was Emerald Green reading a book, so the Common Room was quiet and there was little to do. But Douglas was tired and worn out from his early morning, and so he crawled back into bed at close to nine and quickly fell asleep.

Douglas slept peacefully and without fuss. He awoke just in time to hear Emerald Green saying lunch was being served in the dining hall and followed him out. Douglas ate a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich on honey wheat bread with a salad and potato chips. The meal revitalized him and he felt better, and decided to head out on the town. He headed over to the lift, got checked off by a guard keeping track of ponies coming in and out, and headed down and outside to the main city.

The sun was bright and there was a fresh smell in the air that made Douglas feel good. For a long time he merely wandered about the city and took in the sights, enjoying the first day where he wasn’t accompanied by another Guard or the Prince. Even better, the ponies were friendly and seemed comfortable around him; some even waved and said “hello” to him as he passed by.

After a while, Douglas finally made his way to the Bank of Equestria in the Crystal Empire. He went over and withdrew a few bits and put them in a coin purse he kept around his belt. He’d saved up quite a lot recently with his schooling paid by the Guard and he spending no money of his own, and so decided today was going to be a day spent entirely on himself. Douglas left the bank with a spring in his step and emerged into the Crystal Empire feeling quite pleased with himself.

His first stop was a coffee shop where he bought a hot coffee with caramel and a fruit parfait The shopkeeper was initially astounded, apparently having never seen Douglas before, but became very pleased when Douglas gave him an extra two bits as tip. Douglas sat in the sun and sipped his coffee and ate the parfait, both a good combination of creamy, sweet, and tart, before placing another bit as tip and heading out onto the town.

His next stop was the marketplace with the café he had eaten at with Tempo on his first day of being an escort. He found the local bookstore and headed inside, being surrounded by hundreds of shelves with thousands of titles. He went around and selected two books – one of the esteemed Daring Do series and a novel about an old church that intrigued him enough he decided to get it on a whim. He bought the two books and threw in an extra bit for both just because he could.

He then found a local sweet shop and found himself among a bunch of chocolates, candies, and other sweets. He bought himself a dozen chocolate chip cookies, a few caramels with vanilla cream twisted into them, and some semi-sweet chocolate hard candy with colored and flavored shells. He didn’t pay any extra this time but left happily with another bag in his hands.

His final stop for the day was a botanical gardens that was advertising a gala happening the next weekend. The fourth annual “Crystal Empire Museum and Gardens Dinner and Fundraiser” was taking place next Saturday, and as such the gardens would be closed that evening. But that didn’t matter to Douglas and he spent a good hour walking through the gardens, going through a butterfly house and an aviary, before heading out and heading back towards the Crystal Palace.

His lighthearted mood continued as he was hailed by Crystal Barrier coming in off the lift.

‘You’re certainly in brighter spirits than I’ve seen from you,’ the muted purple pony said.

‘I’ve never felt such freedom before,’ Douglas said elatedly. ‘I went around so many places and got a few things for myself. I went to a bookstore, a sweet shop, a coffee shop and the botani—’

‘Well, I’m glad you had a good time,’ Crystal Barrier interrupted before Douglas could continue much further. ‘However, it seems the Prince himself is looking for you.’

That caught Douglas’ attention and he stopped right where he was. ‘Prince Tempo?’ he asked. ‘What does he want with me? I’m supposed to have the day off.’

‘From what I’ve heard, it’s not work-related. It was written rather informally, but didn’t say anything other than he wants to see you in his suite.’

Douglas nodded. It was unexpected, sure, but nothing he couldn’t handle. His day was going well for him thus far. ‘Did it say a time?’

‘Whenever you got back, I think. There was no time written on it. I think Emerald Green put it on your desk.’

Douglas nodded again. ‘Right. I’ll just set this stuff in the area under my bunk and be up right away. Um... do I have to take the stairs or can I use the lift?’

‘You might have to take the stairs. The lift much beyond our floor is accessible only with the Prince’s magic, so it’s a pain to access without it.’

‘Any idea what it’s about?’

‘I’ve only heard what Emerald Green has told me; I haven’t read the letter myself and Emerald wasn’t willing to open it either.’

‘Alright. I’ll see you at dinner.

Douglas waved to Crystal Barrier and headed for his room. Emerald Green wasn’t there, probably out enjoying his own day off, but the letter was where Crystal Barrier said it would be. Douglas set his stuff down on the dresser and opened up the letter, sealed in an envelope and stamped with the Prince’s royal seal.

He didn’t have to go through all that for a simple communication, Douglas thought as he opened and read the letter.

Douglas: Can you come up to my suite whenever you’re available? I have something to discuss with you. Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble; actually, it should be rather fun.

The note was written in a deep pink pen with a sharp, clean print. The Prince’s full signature of “Prince D’Amore Temporus” was written with a noticeable flourish.

Deciding to play along with whatever was going on, Douglas headed back out of the common room and Guard quarters and headed over the staircase. He felt so invigorated by his day off and felt good from his walk that he bounded up the stairs two at a time, arriving at the top with ease.

Once at the top floor, he saw Sapphire and Ruby Rose standing guard over the Prince’s chambers. He walked cheerfully down the hall and knocked three times on the large double doors to the Prince’s private room.

‘Who is it?’ the Prince asked.

‘It’s Douglas,’ Douglas called inside. ‘You sent the note asking to see me?’

‘Come in,’ came the Prince’s voice.

Douglas opened the door and walked in, closing it behind him. He saw Prince Tempo sitting at his vanity, a brush in his aura and currently pulling it through his mane. It was wet as though he had recently dunked his head into a bucket of water.

‘Come over here, Douglas,’ the Prince said.

‘I’m sorry for running late, your majesty,’ Douglas said. ‘I was enjoying myself.’

‘I have no doubt of that,’ Tempo said, sounding quite pleased. ‘Where did you go?’

Douglas walked closer to the Prince. ‘I walked to the bank and took out some bits, then went to a bookstore, a sweet shop, a coffee shop, and the botanical gardens. I bought a few books and some sweets and was just returning it to my bunk when I got your summons.’

‘Sounds like an exciting afternoon,’ Tempo said. He set down the brush and picked up a small comb, which he started running through the bits of his moustache and goatee. ‘Funny coincidence you should mention the botanical gardens, though.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I have been requested to make an appearance at an event there.’

Douglas thought about it for a moment. ‘I saw a sign for a dinner and fundraiser for the museum and botanical gardens. Is that what event you’re referring to?’

‘Actually, yes. They hold an annual dinner party to raise money since it’s all non-profit and customer donations. It is a formal event, attracting the biggest names and the biggest money in the Crystal Empire, and even from Manehattan, Vanhoover, and Canterlot.’

‘Let me guess: you would like me to go with you to this event.’

‘You’re quicker to the result than I intended to be, but yes, that is the gist of it.’

‘Forgive me,’ Douglas said as Tempo put down his comb. ‘I shall wait for further comment until you have finished explaining.’

‘Thank you.’

Tempo got up from the vanity and trotted over to the bed. He got up on it and laid himself down with his front hooves extended and his back hooves pulled in, wings tucked to the side in a rather reserved and restrained position. He looked like an alert dog.

‘To be quite frank, with few exceptions, such galas are boring to me. It is only for those in the elite crowd, and to find a member of that group who simultaneously has money and is interesting enough to talk about something besides that money is rare.’

‘If the elite are so boring, why are they invited?’

‘Traditional reasons, plus that’s where they get most of their large donors. I am obliged to appear every year. I do love the museum and its curator, though, and they gladly get my donation. But once I talk with the curator after the dinner, I am more than happy to vacate the premises. Otherwise I get swarmed by ponies either asking me for donations for other things, partners on business ventures, and other reasons.’

‘You normally have a guard with you, I assume?’

‘A guard, yes. Certainly makes things easier when you’re stopped by a group of nobles that wish only to speak about their money. A simple nudge and an order of “the Prince has other business to attend to” and they’re pacified.’

‘Seems like I’ll be getting my first formal event, then. Have you called me up here to educate me on how to act for one of these events? It’ll be my first as your escort.’

‘In a sense, yes.’

The mischievous smirk was back on his face and the gleam was back in his eye. The joy and exuberance that Douglas initially had was starting to slowly vanish in expectation of what was coming. There was yet one last hope.

‘...do you need me to get my armor?’ Douglas ventured.

‘You’ll not be needing armor for this.’

Douglas bit his lip. That could only mean...

‘You see, Douglas, I wish for you to go as my guest.’

Douglas felt his mouth go dry and his palms sweat. He stood there for a moment, mouth open, trying to make sense of what happened. When he finally spoke, his words came out in a jumble and he couldn’t even finish his sentences.

‘Your Majesty, you can’t possibly be suggesting... why are you even thinking... how could you possibly even...’

‘It’s simple,’ Tempo said, seeming to understand the unfinished question. ‘I rather like you and get bored at this event. You need to get out among the ponies.’

‘Your logic is commendable, but... in essence, you want me as your... shall we say, “partner”? I mean, why else would you want me going as not a member of the Guard?’

Tempo’s eyes seemed to brighten at the suggestion. ‘Well, that’s the word I was looking for earlier. Yes, I want you as my partner for this event. No guarding this time; that event shall be secured by the Guard from the barracks. I have signed up for “Prince Tempo, one plus one”, and you are going to be my “plus one”.’

Douglas stole a glance at the vanity mirror and noticed the color had drained from his face. He slowly recalled what Emerald Green had told him a little more than a week ago.

‘It should be noted I will have to get you fitted right away,’ Tempo continued, seemingly unaware of Douglas’ lack of color. ‘I have an expert in clothing design here today and previous communications with Princess Celestia have given me your dimensions and a suitable outline for your body. You shall be made a vest, pant, and shoe combination that will work for any formal event up here, to be finished the night before the gala.’

Douglas’ mouth was frozen.

‘Of course,’ Tempo continued, sounding quite unperturbed by Douglas’ unmoving figure. ‘I will have to retrieve an answer from you now so that he will have time to create this ensemble.’

Douglas’ mind was racing. Oh my god, he thought. What do I do, what do I do, what do I do? I kind of want to go and it does sound like a nice evening out and I kind of actually like the Prince, but if it’s going the direction I think it is, I almost don’t want to spur him on any further.

Douglas wished he had a coin. The odds of “to go” or “to not go” were fairly evenly split. His mouth opened but he said nothing for a long while. He saw the Prince looking at him anxiously, his smile faded and replaced with an anxious look.

‘Well...?’

‘I’ll go.’ The words were out of Douglas’ mouth so quickly he had no time to stop them.

Tempo’s smile returned and he looked eagerly and expectedly at Douglas. ‘...I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that. What did you say?’

Despite having something of a chance to stop it, Douglas decided to go through with it, even though he had half a mind the Prince was simply relishing in his answer at this stage. ‘I said I would go,’ he repeated slowly.

Tempo suddenly sprung off the bed and started prancing around the room. ‘Excellent!’ I shall have the designer come up right away; we must make sure your measurements are still the same since leaving Canterlot. Oh, thank you thank you thank you!’

Douglas gulped, but weathered it out all the same as the Prince set word with Ruby Rose to send up the designer. He did kind of like seeing the Prince happy and excited as he was, and he eventually reasoned with himself that the Prince was a harmless enough fellow and rather kind to him and he shouldn’t worry too much about what could happen at such an event.

The designer, a white unicorn stallion with a purple mane, entered and started maneuvering measuring tape up and down his figure. Douglas was made to twirl around and pose in various positions so that the designer could get a feel for his body and how it was shaped, all while the measuring tape was wound around him in various parts of his body.

By the time it was over, Douglas was more exhausted than he’d been after walking through the crystal city. The last thing he heard Tempo tell him was he’d be finishing his duties at four thirty on Saturday to prepare himself for the event.

Douglas returned down via the lift.

Emerald Green was in the common room when he returned.

‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost,’ he said. ‘What was with the summons?’

‘...I’m going to the gala with Prince Tempo,’ Douglas said. ‘I’m going to the gala on Saturday with Prince Tempo,’ he repeated, more to try and convince himself it was all just a dream.

Emerald Green went from alert to questioning to looking like he was about to have an existential breakdown. ‘Oh my Celestia...’ he said quietly to the point where Douglas could barely hear him. ‘He really means it...’

Douglas could think of little to say over the whole of the next week. It was as though his brain was trying to catch up with what happened in the Prince’s suite on his day off.

It did not help that the Prince was out of his office more than he was in. He seemed particularly chatty, as well, talking all about the more interesting ponies that went to the Gala, his personal histories with them, and what they did for a living. Douglas sat by and listened placidly, not really paying attention and not really wanting to say anything.

A somewhat embarrassing incident happened on Wednesday of that week. Prince Tempo had been trying to talk to him for three days straight, and while spending time in his suite in the evening Tempo had finally gone up to Douglas and addressed him directly.

‘You’ve been rather more silent than usual,’ he said. ‘Are you concerned about the gala?’

Douglas merely nodded.

Prince Tempo motioned to the bed. ‘Sit down,’ he said calmly. ‘You look weak.’

Douglas sat down on the bed. Prince Tempo went over to the bathroom, took out a small glass, and filled it with water. He took the glass of water and brought it over to Douglas. Douglas took it thankfully and sipped it slowly.

‘What’s the matter?’ Prince Tempo asked. ‘You look like you’re going to faint at any moment.’

‘I’m fine,’ Douglas said. ‘It’s just I’ve never been to something like this before.’

It was somewhat truthful but a bad cover. Prince Tempo saw right through it. ‘...you’re wondering if you should try and back out, aren’t you?’

Douglas felt his mouth go dry. Prince Tempo took the glass, filled it again, and returned it to Douglas, who slowly sipped it again.

‘If you’re feeling conflicted,’ Tempo said as he was drinking, ‘I want you to tell me. Especially if it has to do with me or this gala.’

Douglas finished the glass of water and set the empty glass aside. ‘I... I don’t know. I don’t know if I really want to go to this gala. It sounds like it could be interesting and fun and I’d learn more about the culture up here, but I don’t know about... going as your guest. As your partner.’

Prince Tempo suddenly laughed. ‘What are you thinking of?’

Douglas wondered if he should tell Tempo what Emerald Green had said. He decided to hint at it. ‘Well, we’re close and I consider you a friend, but I’m not sure if going informally and not as a Guard is the right way to do it.’

Prince Tempo laughed again. ‘Well, if that was it, why didn’t you say so earlier? Douglas, Douglas, Douglas, I don’t want you to go as a Guard because I want you to go as a friend. You’re the first I’ve really cared about that happening for a while.’

Douglas was confused. ‘...why me?’

‘You severely underestimate yourself, you’re insecure, and you’re afraid of things. But I think you’re stronger, smarter, and sweeter than you give yourself credit for. I want to spend an evening with you as a friend to let that out.’

‘...why can’t we just talk about it like we tend to do on the shift anyways?’

‘There is a certain level of seriousness I want in my Guard. You have it; among other things, your training down in Canterlot has brought to you a certain level of stoicism and vigilance that works well as a Guard. But I want an evening where that is stripped down. I want to know you as a person, not you under the veil of the Guard.’

‘But does it have to be the gala? Why not an evening out somewhere? Not that I’d have said yes to that, but you seem to be starting big.’

‘I have thought about it. But I have sensed from our previous conversations you would put up this resistance that you’re showing now. Such a personal and intimate setting would not do. But a larger event wherein you would not just be with me but seeing and meeting other ponies would be, somewhat paradoxically, better for you.’

Douglas avoided the Prince’s eyes.

‘...but why are you afraid?’

‘...because I don’t know how serious you are. About... about all this.’ Douglas placed his head in his hands. ‘I still don’t even know why I’m part of your Guard in the first place.’

‘You are part of my Guard because you have the qualifications for it. You have the training scores from the Guard down in Canterlot, the experience and personality doing so for Princess Celestia, and your psychological profile was clean and clear if a little problematic from being bullied down south. But I took you out of the barracks because I wanted to help you.’

Douglas looked over to Prince Tempo. He had a warm, soothing smile on his face again and his eyes looked at him almost tenderly.

‘It’s like I said on your first day,’ Prince Tempo continued. ‘Love is a strange but powerful and driving force here that can do many strange things. That could include helping to heal old wounds.’

‘...so you’re my psychologist now?’

‘I believe the correct term would be a “psychiatrist”, but no. But it’s also like I told you one of those mornings you were up early, sometimes you need a friend to help you out. To listen.’

It wasn’t quite what Douglas expected, but he did feel a bit better about going to the gala. The color had returned to his face, too, and when Prince Tempo asked for a hug from him, he gave it to him without too much fuss.

That was one thing Douglas had to admit about the Prince: he was pretty sweet-tempered.

Chapter X - 'Virtutis amor'

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On Saturday at four-fifteen, Douglas had only done three hours of work.

He’d gone to his first literature class in the morning, and was thankful that it was only syllabus instruction, reading a simple story and answering questions, and being assigned an essay project to be due at the end of the month. The class itself seemed easy enough, but his thoughts were preoccupied by the coming evening with Prince Tempo.

By the time he’d returned and had suited up in his armor, the Prince was waiting for him in the main hall. The Prince had already finished his time in his office and had done all the discussions with his advisors that he needed to. They left the Crystal Palace and went for a walk around town, with Prince Tempo doing all he could to reassure Douglas that the evening was going to be fine, and ate a light lunch so that their appetite would not be spoiled. Though Douglas’ worry returned when they went to try on his clothes for that evening; everything was fine, but they would be delivered to the Palace later on.

At four-fifteen, Douglas was excused to take off his armor and was given a key on a silver chain to use in the lift. The key mimicked the shape of the Prince’s horn and was apparently imbued with his magic. Douglas was to use it any time he wanted to see the Prince, and was one of only three who was given carte blanche to call on the Prince directly.

‘Who are the other two?’ Douglas asked before they parted.

‘Gleaming Shield and Crystal Barrier,’ Prince Tempo replied. ‘The two most senior and highest-leveled of the Guard, those who may need to call on me quickly. You are not exactly high-level nor senior, but you are a special case.’

Douglas wondered just how much of a “special case” he was exactly.

Even so, Douglas returned to the Guard quarters and took off his armor. He stepped into the shower and made sure to scrub himself off as clean as he could manage with the soap available in the showers and picked out a clean but simple set of clothes to wear up to the Prince’s room.

No one was available in the common room, not even Crystal Barrier or Emerald Green. Douglas wished someone was, even if it was someone like Sapphire that he didn’t talk much to, just to get a load off his chest. Instead he braced himself, went to the lift, and put the key in the hole above the button.

The key glowed and pulsed with magic and the lift began to rise. Douglas took the key out of the hole and placed it on his neck and under his shirt as the lift rose all the way up to the top floor and the Prince’s suite.

The top hallway was quiet and lonely except for a single guard: Emerald Green. He stood quietly by and only moved to see Douglas walking slowly down the hall. He scanned Douglas up and down and gulped. He looked like he was about to speak when Douglas pulled the key out from under his shirt, and all he could do afterwards was let out a noiseless sigh.

Douglas stood at the door for a long time without knocking. ‘...what do I do?’ he asked quietly.

Emerald Green stayed silent, but bit at Douglas’ pant leg.

‘...I don’t want to either,’ Douglas admitted. ‘I don’t want to disrespect him, either, though.’

Emerald Green let go of the pants. ‘He’s not a bad sort,’ he said. ‘Just... just see what you feel and take that into account before how he feels.’

Douglas nodded. Emerald Green resumed his position, and Douglas knocked on the door.

‘Come in,’ the Prince said.

Douglas sighed. ‘Wish me luck, Emerald,’ he said, and opened the door.

The Prince was seated at the vanity similar to how he had been a week ago when he extended the invitation to Douglas. His mane was wet once again and he appeared to be trying to remove the knots from it with a comb.

Tempo looked over at Douglas when he entered the room and scanned him. ‘Your clothes came in just before you arrived.’

‘Where are they?’

‘They’re lying on the bed. However, before you put them on, I need you to use the shower first.’ He motioned towards the bathroom.

Douglas was confused. ‘I thought you meant for me to shower beforehand, so I did so in the Guard common bathroom.’

‘The soaps down there are to clean and moisturize,’ Tempo said. ‘The basics. Then again, a Guard needs relatively little concern for appearance. The soaps up here will give your hair an extra sheen, remove all the dead skin, clear out any pores, add extra moisture to the skin, and finally add a little scent.’

‘All of that is necessary?’

‘Not really,’ Tempo admitted. ‘But the high class seems to enjoy it.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Towel and washcloth?’

‘In there already.’

‘...can you please not come in until I’m done and have some semblance of dress on?’

‘If that’s what you need, I’ll give it to you.’

Douglas nodded and headed off for the bathroom.

The bathroom floor was made of a standard beige tile, but the faucet, sink bowl, and shower seemed to be gilded and something that resembled a toilet was more silver. The counter was granite and the various cabinets around the room were a deep pink.

Douglas undressed himself and stepped into the shower, closing the curtain behind him. He eased the water on until it was pleasantly warm and in a soft yet steady shower and examined the soaps laid out. A light blue opaque bottle was labeled for hair shampoo and conditioner, a light green opaque bottle with little black flecks advertised removal of dead skin. A third bottle colored with a pink translucent liquid was for moisturizing and cleaning.

Sensing time was of the essence, Douglas immediately started washing his hair again with the light blue bottle, followed by the green bottle. The black flecks scraped at his skin and he felt as though the entire outer layer of his skin was being torn off. The light pink bottle smelled of ambrosia, lavender, and roses, and immediately soothed his raw skin as soon as he started to cover himself with it.

By the time his shower was done, the soap rinsed off and down the drain, Douglas could not deny a transformation had taken place. His skin was brighter and cleaner than it had been in weeks, and much smoother when he ran a hand over it. Any impurity had been scraped away and his skin looked almost new. His hair, when he inspected the bathroom mirror was a remarkably clean chocolate brown with a sheen that made it the color of caramel when the light hit it just right.

After taking some time to inspect himself, Douglas took the large towel that had been laid out for him and dried himself off completely. Douglas put his underwear back on before leaving the bathroom and wrapped the towel around his waist as he approached Tempo, who was looking at him up and down.

‘There,’ Tempo said. ‘Much better. Now, before we actually get you into your clothes, come sit down here.’

Douglas sat down in front of the vanity on a stool that Tempo had brought out. The pink alicorn got to work first with a sharp yet delicate knife, scraping away at the unrestrained hair that was beginning to grow on his chin and letting it fall into a basin in Douglas’ lap. Tempo continued this all around his chin, taking off the soul patch that was beginning to grow under his mouth, and shaved off just enough around the mouth to keep a moustache but not enough so that it was drooping around his lips.

‘Certainly takes a lot of work to prepare for these high class events,’ Douglas commented as Tempo started brushing his hair back.

‘Oh, it’s still not as bad for us as it is with the mares,’ Tempo said, taking the razor and cutting just enough off some of the hair that reached Douglas’ shoulders and making a line along the middle of his neck. ‘I’ve seen some mares take a week of preparation and two hours on the day off an event just to get themselves ready.’

‘And for both of us it’s going to take somewhere around an hour.’

Tempo nodded, brushing back Douglas’ bangs a bit before letting one or two fall in front of his face in little wisps. ‘That’s about right.’

When Tempo was done with him, Douglas looked clean shaven and his hair was neatly brushed back and against his head cut with a small line in the middle of his neck and just the slightest hint of bangs. It was more cleaning than Douglas had ever done to himself before.

‘Go try on your clothes,’ Tempo said. ‘I still have a few things I need to do with my mane.’

Douglas nodded and walked over to the large four-poster bed. Laid out across it where a pair of black dress pants, a plain white shirt, a collared button-up blue shirt, a black vest, a pair of black socks and a pair of leather shoes with black laces. Douglas took off his towel and quickly put on the pants, followed by the white shirt and the collared blue shirt both tucked into his pants, followed by the vest, then putting on the socks and shoes. The whole thing felt stiff at first, but it was very breathable and soon allowed him a large range of movement while remaining relatively wrinkle-free.

By the time Douglas had finished dressing himself, so had the Prince. He wore a white shirt with collars that covered his front half and his front hooves and frills that came from the collar. Over that was a red shirt with a V-neck that allowed some of the white to show through along with the frills and had gold outlines around each of the openings. His mane was almost straight, but his bangs were in similar wisps that delicately framed his face while the ends of his mane rested on his shoulders in small curls, and his tail ended in much the same way.

‘I dare say you’re ready for your first formal event,’ Tempo said, looking up and down at Douglas. ‘There’s just one thing…’

Tempo went back over to his vanity and levitated out two small groups of flowers held together by a pin. Tempo pinned on Douglas a single, thornless, full-budded coral rose surrounded by blue primroses, while Tempo had graced himself with a similar thornless lavender-colored rose surrounded by deep blue violets and a single bud of lavender.*

‘It doesn’t quite match, does it?’ Douglas commented.

‘High society cares not for what matches,’ Tempo said. ‘If there’s something to be seen in a choice that says something about the personality of the pony, that’s what they will see.’

‘Very well, then. You seem to know these things better than I do.’

Tempo nodded slowly, then motioned to the door with his hoof. ‘Shall we?’

Douglas nodded. ‘You have ready our reservation, then?’

‘I have already told them weeks in advance to have one for me plus one extra. Lately it’s been a Guard, but tonight it’s you.’

‘Not much difference, then. Exception being that I’m carrying a rose and not a spear.’

‘And you might actually speak.’

Douglas remained silent as they went into the lift and went all the way down until they were in the crystal city itself. The sun was low on the horizon and the sky was painted in brilliant yellows that faded into oranges, pinks, and purples as the sky slowly darkened. Douglas walked side-by-side with Prince Tempo down a street painted in gold hues from the sun towards the botanical gardens at the edge of town.

The botanical gardens were a series of large beige domes connected by glass and crystal walkways that allowed for an open view of the sky. Douglas and Prince Tempo entered one of the domes and passed through towards a gate leading to a large square with a fountain and a small classical set playing light, easy-listening music. Ponies were walking around and mingling as they approached a stallion smartly dressed in a tuxedo standing at a small pedestal near the gate.

‘Welcome to the Fourth Annual Crystal Empire Museum and Gardens Dinner and Fundraiser,’ the stallion said in a refined tone. He looked over Prince Tempo approvingly, then cast a somewhat confused glance towards Douglas. ‘May I have your name, sirs?’

‘Prince D’Amore Temporus, invited here by the museum curator Ancient Treasure. And this is my guest: my personal escort and Guard Douglas. Listed as “Prince D’Amore, one plus one”.’

The stallion nodded and looked down at the stack of papers on his pedestal. On the first page, he scrolled his hoof through a list of complicated names, then returned to the top. ‘Just as you said, sir,’ he said, back to the affable but refined tone. ‘You have a table reserved with the Curator himself. I’ll have an attendant come over to sit you down if you would like.’

‘Please.’

A young colt soon came over to the pedestal and led Douglas and the Prince under an archway of thorny rose bushes and into one of the large glass structures to a table that had four seats around it, placed in sets of two, in a quiet area of the garden along with twenty or so other tables with guards from the barracks in intervals around the perimeter. Douglas and Tempo each sat themselves in one of the chairs and were soon treated to a large loaf of warm bread and two small cups of butter.

Douglas finally had a chance to look around at his surroundings. The tables were covered in white cloth, and each place setting had a smaller plate, along with two forks on one side and a knife and spoon on a folded cloth napkin on the other. To the left was a small glass filled with ice water, while on the right side of the plate was a half-sized wine glass.

The local foliage was gently covered in strings of lights, while oil lamps had been set around the dining area and the dance floor where the orchestra was set up. The sky gradually darkened as Douglas took in the scene and soon the sun went down and left merely the lights from the botanical gardens on. Larger lighting structures provided sweeping lights over the majority of the walking paths, but the smaller lights over the rose bushes and candles set on the tables provided a more intimate atmosphere for the dining area.

A unicorn came around to the tables and filled the wine glass with a sparkling liquid. Douglas tasted it and found it had a sharp taste at first, but quickly mellowed out and became sweet.

‘It’s a sweet chardonnay,’ Tempo said. ‘It’s rather common for cleansing the palate between courses.’

‘Never was one for alcohol,’ Douglas said, setting the glass as far away from him as his hand could reach. ‘It’s sweeter than most, but there’s still that sting at the end of it.’

Tempo took a sip of his own glass. ‘I’ve heard it’s an acquired taste.’

‘Perhaps,’ Douglas said as he took a slice from the loaf. He spread some butter on it and took a bite; it was still warm and soft.

It wasn’t long before a grey, earth pony stallion with a spikey yellow mane and the picture of an old vase for a cutie mark came up to the table. He wore a fine black dress suit and a white collar with red tie around his neck, along with a gold badge pinned on the right side of his chest and a pair of glasses held around his ears by a pair of silver chains. As he approached, Tempo got up and extended a hoof towards him.

‘D’Amore Temporus, my prince!’ the stallion remarked boisterously as he shook the hoof of the alicorn. ‘It’s good to see you here tonight.’

‘It’s my pleasure to come out, Ancient Treasure,’ Tempo responded, bowing politely to the stallion. ‘Is the wife at home this evening?’

‘Alas, yes,’ the stallion said, taking one of the seats next to Douglas and across from Tempo though focusing solely on the Prince. ‘Came down with a cold yesterday evening, so she just decided to rest. Absolutely heartbroken over missing the gala, though.’

‘I would imagine so. Send her my condolences and if things get worse come and tell me.’

‘As soon as you said that last time, she got cured. I tell you what, it’s a stroke of luck, as though the infection’s afraid of you.’

‘I am a Prince. If need be, I can send a whole army after it.’

The two laughed for a little while, then settled down once the other stallion’s wine glass had been filled. The alicorn and the stallion took a sip of their wine glasses and toasted each other as though Douglas was not even in the equation. Douglas raised his water glass and took a sip of it, hoping it remained that way.

‘Ah,’ the stallion responded to a comment from Tempo, catching sight of Douglas and adjusting his glasses. ‘And who might this fellow be?’

Luck be damned, Douglas thought. It’s as though everyone can read my mind around here.

‘Forgive me,’ Tempo said, ‘I’ve forgotten to introduce him. Ancient Treasure, this is Douglas, the new Palace Guard I’ve assigned as my escort. Came up from Canterlot not even two weeks ago. Douglas, this is Ancient Treasure, the curator of the Natural History Museum.’

‘So, what are you, exactly?’ Ancient Treasure said as he examined Douglas. ‘You look like an ape but you’re not as hairy.’

‘I’m a human,’ Douglas said.

Ancient Treasure nearly dropped his glasses. ‘By Celestia’s sun!’ he exclaimed. ‘A human! I’d only heard of you in myth and legend before.’ He adjusted his glasses. ‘Certainly don’t have the sharp teeth or the red eyes I’ve heard about.’

‘Now, now,’ Tempo said before Douglas could respond. ‘I think he’s heard enough of those already. Despite his looks he’s actually quite formidable, but in reality he’s rather nice and even-tempered.’

Ancient Treasure looked again at Douglas, then laughed. ‘Well, his eyes aren’t red, but his cheeks certainly are. Drank too much wine already?’

‘I’m not a fan of alcohol, sir,’ Douglas said politely, trying to cover up his embarrassment. ‘I’ve only had one sip. Perhaps it’s been too long since I last had it.’

‘Wish I could say the same thing,’ Ancient Treasure said remorsefully. ‘By the end of this gala, I’ll have had more drinks than one should have in a week.’

‘Boredom or do you like the taste?’

‘Boredom at first, but it eventually goes to where I don’t mind the taste.’

Douglas hummed thoughtfully.

‘So, what do you think about being the prince’s consort?’

‘Consort?’ Douglas replied, mystified by this new terminology and half waiting for Tempo to step in. But he didn’t; Tempo merely smiled politely at the situation and seemed to deliberately took a bite of bread and chewed it so slowly such that he was too preoccupied to interrupt. ‘I’m not his consort. I’m an escort.’

‘Well, you’re dressed like a consort,’ Ancient Treasure remarked.

‘The Prince wished for someone who was a slight bit more amicable than a normal Guard.’

‘Ah, that explains it,’ Ancient Treasure leaned back in his chair as large plates of salad began to be served to the tables, except for his position. ‘The other Guards are too stoic?’

‘No. They take their job too seriously.’ Tempo nudged Douglas’ elbow slightly. ‘This one included. Figured since he was new I’d give him an early night off and show him around, especially considering there may be a few more of these events in his future.’

Hopefully next time I’ll be in armor, Douglas thought though he gave no sign of his irritation.

‘Well, I need to speak with some of the other guests,’ Ancient Treasure said. ‘I’ll be back shortly. Enjoy yourselves.’ He waved, got up from his seat with a bow to Tempo, and walked off.

Tempo poked Douglas’ arm playfully. ‘Lighten up a little,’ he said. ‘It’s all in good fun. And these types won’t say anything too offensive anyways.’

But Douglas’ mind was stuck on one thing. ‘What is a “consort”, and why didn’t you correct him?’

‘Ah, that’s what it was. It’s simply another term for partner. Nothing to be afraid of.’

‘Then what did he mean we’re dressed like it?’

‘My friend the curator likes to use fancy terms. Unfortunately, he doesn’t use the right term all the time. He means well and is one of the few interesting ones here, however.’

Douglas nodded and took another bite of his salad, though didn’t believe Tempo at all.

‘What do you think of it so far?’ Tempo said, noticing Douglas’ irritation and switching topics. ‘Rather a simple affair, isn’t it?’

‘We haven’t been here long,’ Douglas commented in a resigned manner. ‘We have the whole night ahead of us.’

‘So we do. Alas, thus is the exciting life of a Prince that so many dream of.’

Despite his belief that Tempo wasn’t telling him everything, Douglas had to respect Tempo for countering sarcasm with sarcasm. He actually grinned at the remark. ‘Ah, yes. The pre-written speeches, the scores of nobles wishing to talk about their accomplishments for the right of higher power…’

‘Oh, and don’t forget the fact that the Guard are stoic as hell,’ Tempo continued. ‘It’s just like Elysium itself, isn’t it?’

Even though the last comment was an intentional jab at his own position, Douglas couldn’t help but laugh at the false adoration that Tempo had.

Tempo himself was still grinning. ‘There we go!’ he exclaimed. ‘That’s better! You can take a joke!’

Douglas sighed and calmed down. ‘It must be kind of sad, though. No one really knows that about your position, I suppose.’

‘No,’ Tempo admitted, his mouth smiling through his voice had tinges of melancholy in it. ‘They need their Prince to be strong, and thus I give that to them.’

Douglas looked at the Prince, his handsome face smiling at him though with a touch of melancholy in the eyes and the weak smile. ‘So, what is there to do?’ he asked.

‘About being a Prince? Not much I’m afraid.’

‘No. Here.’

Tempo opened his mouth like he wanted to speak, and for the first time Douglas had seen appeared to be caught off-guard. He suddenly smiled and giggled awkwardly. ‘Oh, you meant that. Well, the main course will be up shortly, followed by dessert. Afterwards, it’s mingling by the classical set or walking around the gardens.’

Douglas nodded as the main course came. It tasted like meat, though Tempo referred to it as ‘soy’. Still, with the garnish they put on it and the side of garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus brushed with olive oil, it tasted quite nicely. Ancient Treasure came and ate with them and talked with Tempo a little more, but as soon as his course was over, he left again.

Dessert was a slice of chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream. Douglas and Tempo ate their portions as the sound of classical music floated through the dome where they were eating. The sound of birds singing came from the nearby aviary, and the night shone with the light of the moon and the speckled canvas of stars.

‘It actually is a beautiful night out tonight,’ Tempo said.

Douglas looked up. A cool breeze passed through the warmer air of the dome, and he saw the night in full force, sprinkled with stars of innumerable shapes and formations. ‘It certainly is.’

‘Look, I know I’ve been a little hard on you,’ Tempo said. ‘I mean, putting you in the spotlight with the curator, the jab at your position, pointing out your temper and all that. Even since coming here and bringing you to the Palace Guard.’

Douglas found himself feeling sorry for the Prince. He felt his expression soften, but he didn’t say anything.

‘I was just wondering if you could perhaps forgive me for all that and let’s start tonight on a new page. Perhaps a…’ Tempo shyly averted his eyes momentarily and some tinges of red appeared on his otherwise pink face. ‘…perhaps as escort and friend?’

Why not? Douglas thought. It was quite a harmless gesture. ‘I guess that could work out.’

Tempo’s smile brightened. ‘Really?’

‘Sure.’ Douglas took the last bite of his chocolate cake and set his hand on his knee. ‘I mean, you are the one pony who I’ve gotten close to at all in my time here. And you actually seem to care for me not just as a boss but… for who I am.’

Tempo’s gaze softened. ‘That’s all I’ve ever seen you for.’

‘Well, then I’m glad we got the fight out of the way early.’

Tempo laughed, but he was soon back to simply smiling at Douglas; rather sweetly, too. ‘And yet that was the only time I saw that. Every other time, you’ve been friendly if reserved and sweet if afraid to show it.’

‘I haven’t really found anyone I could do that with.’

Prince Tempo placed a hoof on his hand. ‘You’ve done it with me.’

The only thing Douglas could think of was: So I have. But neither did he admit that nor say anything of the sort. He did feel his face get hot and let Prince Tempo keep his hoof on his hand for a moment. He almost pulled his hand away, but Tempo released it first and set his hoof down.

‘Well, now that that awkward moment is over,’ Tempo laughed as he broke the silence that had fallen between them, ‘what say we head over to the classical music performing on the terrace? I still have to meet with one or two others and we can always enjoy the concert they put on in the meantime.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Alright. They’ll just come and pick up the plates?’

‘Yes. They take care of the cleaning here. That way, we can just enjoy ourselves.’

Tempo and Douglas got up and started walking out of the dome with the tables. A few attendants started rushing to clean the table of the dinner mess. The two walked through the archway of roses, Douglas thinking about how the evening had gone surprisingly well so far in the light of all that happened.

It was as they were passing under the archway of roses that Tempo tripped and stumbled. It may have been a loose stone on the pathway, or even a tile that was tilted up just slightly to create a step. Either way, Tempo was initially walking straight along the path before whatever it was caught him off guard and he was stumbling and leaning towards the bushes.

‘Oh, no you don’t!’

Quick as he could, Douglas wrapped his arms around the Prince and heaved backwards. Tempo’s mane got caught in the thorns and created a slightly disheveled look about his mane – one that had not detracted from his still regal appearance, Douglas thought – but within moments after his near fall Prince D’Amore Temporus was standing on his feet again.

‘Are you alright?’ Douglas asked, releasing his grip and looking the alicorn over for any marks.

Tempo surveyed his body over. ‘I am,’ he said. ‘Not a scratch on me.’ Tempo put a hoof around Douglas. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ Douglas said, returning the hug with a single arm. ‘Matter of life and death you Princes always seem to get yourself into.’

‘Glad to know I had a knight in shining armor,’ Tempo whispered, less sarcasm in his voice than was in Douglas’.

‘Well, since you’re good, shall we continue?’

Tempo nodded and they made their way to the dance floor. Douglas noted the couples currently on the floor were all standing on their back legs, one hoof at their partner’s ribs while the other was extended out. The partners stepped around the dance floor in little two, three, and four step movements amid the background of the classical music playing on a simple stage.

Prince Tempo quickly found one of the ponies he’d been searching for and carefully maneuvered he and Douglas through the crowds to where he was standing next to the five-piece classical set. He talked over a few things that Douglas barely caught before he tapped Douglas on the shoulder.

‘It’s hotter than I thought,’ he said. ‘Let’s head over to the drinks. I’d like a glass of water.’

Douglas agreed and they headed over to a place where a small bar had been set up. Tempo and Douglas ordered a glass of water each and sat at the stools, watching the dancers on the stage for a while. They sat and watched for a few songs, enjoying the music and talking about Douglas’ first class at the University and his previous studies for a while before the band took a short break.

‘What say we join them?’

Douglas looked over to Tempo. ‘I believe I agreed to come as your guest.’

‘Ah, but this dance requires a partner.’

‘I am your escort.’

‘“Partner” was your term for this situation,’ Tempo said smugly.

Douglas groaned.

The other ponies gave the two awkward glances as Douglas and Tempo went out onto the center of the dance floor as the musicians prepared to play again. Tempo brought himself up enough to have Douglas rest a hand on his ribs just under his wings and met with Douglas’ hand extended out from his body. Tempo put a hoof on Douglas’ ribs, though extended it around his ribs towards his back as though for extra balance.

‘How do you manage to do that?’ Douglas said to the prince, now just above eye-level with him.

‘So long as four legs are on the ground,’ Tempo replied with a grin, ‘it doesn’t matter which four are touching. Now, follow my lead.’

The band picked up again with a cello and plucking violin. Tempo started counting off ‘One two three, one two three…’ over and over again as he took steps around the dance floor. The ponies tried to look away nervously as Tempo and Douglas started making movements around the dance floor. Douglas had to constantly look down at his feet to make sure he was okay.

‘You’re doing wonderfully,’ Tempo said.

A slight humming came from somewhere just out of Douglas’ vision, but it was soon tempered by the swelling of the classical orchestra playing. Tempo had stopped counting off and just let them go in a simple little circle in the center of the dance floor. Every once in a while, Tempo would lead them through a twirl and they’d be back to doing their simple little steps. Douglas found it remarkably easy to keep time with the Prince as they went through the relatively simple pattern.

‘So what tenant in your manifesto does this fall under?’ Douglas asked, slightly sarcastic.

Tempo’s response, however, was completely serious. ‘“Virtutis amor”. With love comes power. Ah, and here is a love of music.’ A few moments later, after looking up and down Douglas while they waltzed, the mischievous grin on his face… ‘…and of fine art.’

Douglas gulped slightly as he caught the innuendo. ‘I suppose there is some merit to this gala after all,’ Douglas said dryly. ‘So is it normally your standard to dance with your Guard? Another part of the qualifications?’

‘On rare occasions if they’re shy. You’re not supposed to be emotionless; you’re merely supposed to be focused.’

‘I think I’ve done plenty of emoting over the last few weeks.’

‘Mostly surprise and irrational fear, yes. But... I find myself enjoying your company, rather more given the circumstances.’

Douglas looked up at Tempo. He found himself staring into the gentle gaze of the purple eyes set into the handsome face, and noticed how easily the waltz came to him. Tempo started taking him in longer steps, but Douglas matched them with ease, finding the four-beat rhythm easily under the guidance of the alicorn.

‘For example, the sky is beautiful and clear, the night air is cool and calming and filled with the scent of the gardens. The food is excellent, and the music is just the type for a calm, clear night like this… ’

As the Prince spoke, Douglas felt a strange tingle go down his back. The voice of the Prince was soothing and calming as it had been on occasion, but there was something else in that voice. Something that came out a little more than the other times.

‘…you care not for the others?’ Douglas asked hopefully.

…hope? Did hope really belong there? But why would he be hopeful? Of wha—

‘No,’ Tempo answered in a gentle voice that only he could hear, leaning his head against the side of Douglas’. ‘I have what I want right here.’

Douglas felt his face get hot. And yet he couldn’t stop himself from reciprocating the gesture of the Prince. The orchestra continued its light piece, Douglas and Tempo kept swaying and stepping in time with the music, and gradually the other ponies stopped giving them awkward looks.

For once, Douglas could agree with the Prince. For some reason that he couldn’t quite understand, he was where he wanted to be. The music continued to flow around them as though it was only playing for them, and despite the constant moving they had been doing for over three minutes, Douglas felt relaxed and peaceful as opposed to tired and worn out.

Douglas closed his eyes as he and the Prince continued their waltz. A strange calm had descended over him as he heard Tempo whisper into his ear. ‘You’re doing wonderfully. I’m surprised you told me you’ve never danced before.’

‘I haven’t,’ Douglas said. After a while, he added on, ‘I’ve never had a reason to.’

Tempo sighed and nuzzled his cheek. ‘I suppose I can feel the same way,’ he replied. ‘I’ve never had much reason to dance before myself.’

‘I would have thought you would have had some reason to dance before.’

‘Remember those things we joked about earlier? They’re valid complaints.’

‘Apologies for laughing at your misery, then.’

‘Don’t be. It felt good to get that off my chest.’ In a low voice, so low that Douglas could barely hear it even though it was whispered almost into his ear, ‘My teacher was right.’ But before Douglas could process what he meant, Tempo’s voice had risen again. ‘And you have been more receptive than others to it.’

‘You have been more receptive of me than others have,’ Douglas said. ‘I suppose that means I’m returning the favor.’

‘You already have a thousand times over,’ Tempo said, once again causing a tingle to go down Douglas’ back like goosebumps.

A warmth entered Douglas’ chest. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he felt happier and more comfortable at that moment than he had felt in years. He felt a single tear roll down his cheek and couldn’t help but smiling as he and the Prince continued dancing. It felt almost like flying, Douglas mused, except without leaving the ground. There was the sense of being alive, the sense of freedom, and some strange sense of intimacy and secrecy that only he knew because the alicorn had shown him.

Where that last thought came from, he knew not. But he didn’t care.

When the song was over, the band took a break to the sound of polite hoof-stomping – and applauding from Douglas. The humming had stopped, as well, but the tingle in his back was still there long after they had left the botanical gardens and set off for the Palace.

The sky was clear and the streets were quiet even though it wasn’t that late. A few ponies were out but otherwise the city was as calm as the weather. A few restaurants and shops were open late and Douglas could see them still serving some final few customers, but others were closing down. Douglas wondered what time it was and how long he had been at the gala.

All the same, the experience hadn’t bothered him in the slightest. They talked all the way back and Douglas found himself quite comfortable with the Prince and somewhat amused that was the case. It helped that Tempo was telling him stories of some rather strange and funny things that had happened to some of the otherwise more boring ponies.

They went into the lift and headed up all the way to Tempo’s suite where Douglas’ normal clothes were still lying on the bed. Douglas was to change out of his nicer clothes in the bathroom and back into his plain clothes; the nicer ones would either be stored in Tempo’s room until he needed or wanted them again, but first Tempo would send them to the clothier to clean them properly.

Douglas went into the bathroom, changed into his plain clothes, and splashed a little water on his face to get rid of some sweat from the cluster of warmth in the gala. He came out and saw that Tempo had already removed all of his own clothes and put them away in a fine-looking wardrobe.

‘That’s it?’ Douglas asked.

‘That’s it,’ Tempo confirmed. ‘I hope you had a good time.’

‘I did,’ Douglas said. He nodded a few times. ‘I... I had more fun than I expected to.’

Prince Tempo, finished hanging up his clothes, turned around and smiled at him appreciatively.

Douglas stood there for a while, not sure of what to say. He figured it best to politely excuse himself and let the Prince rest after a late night, though he wasn’t sure how late he stayed up or what he did in his free time. ‘Well, I suppose I’d... I should head back to the Guard quarters. I have school and I don’t know how early you get up normally, so...’ Douglas coughed. ‘Thank you... again.’

Douglas walked over to the door and put his hand on the knob.

‘Douglas.’

Douglas turned back around before he could open the door. Tempo walked over to him, crossing one of his front hooves over the other and his head slightly lowered as though bashful.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘For coming with me.’ He nuzzled under Douglas’ chin. ‘You’ve made a normally boring and unimpressive night worth it.’

Douglas smiled. ‘You’re welcome.’ He let out a hoarse laugh, likely from the late hour. ‘Anytime, I guess? Preferably as a Guard, but I suppose if you wanted to—’

But Douglas was silenced by the Prince’s face suddenly moving until it was right up next to him. Then, the Prince’s muzzle slowly touched his mouth. He felt the soft fur of the Prince’s muzzle and felt a hoof slowly come up towards his side.

Douglas was at first shocked, then fumbled for the doorknob. The door exploded outwards and Douglas fell over backwards and left the Prince looking absolutely shocked.

‘Oh my god!’ Tempo exclaimed. ‘Douglas, are you alright?’

Douglas did not respond. He shook his head as though in a daze before slowly getting up.

The Prince took a hesitant step towards him.

‘Douglas?’ he asked tentatively. ‘What happened? What’s the matter?’

But Douglas stepped backwards again. He then took another step, another step, then another step, his pace getting faster and faster the farther he got from the Prince. Before Tempo could say another word through his shock, Douglas had reached the staircase and was bolting down towards the Guard quarters on the first floor, not caring how much noise he made or how much of a disturbance he was causing.

Douglas flew into the Guard quarters and into the common room. But before any of the other Guard could ask what happened, Douglas tore through to his bedroom and had hid himself under the covers of his bed.

He was awake for a long time afterwards, trying to wipe off the spot on his mouth where Tempo had kissed him.

Chapter XI - Ancient History

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Douglas was very thankful he did not have Guard duty the next day.

He slipped out before breakfast and made his way quickly to the University where he went to the cafeteria and bought himself breakfast. He studied in the library until it was time for class, and remained at the University for lunch. He did not come back home until late in the afternoon.

He half expected a note from the Prince or an order to see him or even the Prince himself standing in the lobby wanting to talk to him about his rebuff. But nothing came and Douglas went to the Guard common room and did homework until the others started coming in and getting ready for dinner.

Tempo was not present at dinner.

Douglas asked around and found that Ruby Rose had been on escort duty with Douglas’ day off. He went over and asked how Prince Tempo was doing.

‘He seemed a bit moody,’ Ruby said. ‘He only did office work before heading up to his suite. He asked for no one to disturb him except if it was you, Gleaming Shield, or Crystal Barrier. In that order.’

‘What did he do in there?’

‘I don’t think he did anything. I couldn’t hear anything inside the room, and usually you can hear his hoofsteps wandering around every once in a while. It’s almost like he just sat. The only thing I heard was “You are excused for the day, Ruby. Go ahead and join the others for dinner.” I don’t think he’s gonna join us.’

That evening in the Guard common room, things proceeded as normal but at a more subdued pace. Every once in a while they shot a look of confusion towards Douglas. Douglas knew they were waiting on him to explain what happened that caused him to come bolting into the common room, but he didn’t say a word.

Thankfully, aside from the looks, no one pressed the issue and Douglas, tired, was able to go to sleep that night.

But the thoughts of the Prince wouldn’t leave him alone.

The nightmares returned, this time with him in the Prince’s suite with Tempo saying Douglas had to lay with him otherwise he couldn’t stay. Douglas tried declining, tried explaining he couldn’t with the different biologies, but Tempo refused the explanation. His eyes burned like fire and suddenly the whole room was aflame and the only way out was the window.

Douglas jumped out the window but forgot there was an eighty foot drop. He leapt over the side anyways, only to see the Prince jumping over after him. Douglas felt spears being thrown at him again as he fell even though nothing came at him and the only trace he saw of them was the bleeding holes down his arms and sides and chest. He fell down, down, down...

But he didn’t hit the ground. The entirety of the Crystal Empire suddenly became a giant portal and he fell down into it, feeling the pull and the pain of being pulled to another world. Down he fell, down into blackness...

But the Prince’s magic had suddenly enveloped him and he was being pulled out and back towards the Prince. No matter how hard the force of the gate pulled at him, the strength of the Prince’s magic was stronger and Douglas was lifted up from the blackness and towards the Prince, no longer looking at him with flame in his eyes but a commanding yet benevolent presence.

You don’t belong there anymore, the Prince said in his dream. You belong with me.

Douglas woke up the next morning in a cold sweat.

He dressed and went off to breakfast with the other Guards like normal. But once again the Prince did not show up at breakfast, and there was much discussion among the Guard; no strange warning had been given, no reports of medics going up to the Prince’s suite, and the Night Guard all exited without any reports of suspicious activity. Prince D’Amore Temporus had been awake since early that morning, and had simply requested privacy.

After breakfast, Douglas prepared himself and checked out the most likely room befitting his schedule as of late. But Prince Tempo wasn’t in his office, and a quick check of the next floor revealed that none of the advisers had seen the Prince at all that morning. Which meant Douglas was supposed to go up to the suite.

Douglas used the key he’d been given and rose to the top floor in the lift. He walked over to the double crystal doors leading to the suite and found them open. He knocked on the door three times with a free hand.

‘Who is it?’ Prince Tempo asked quietly.

‘Douglas, your majesty,’ Douglas responded. ‘I’m here for escort duty.’

There was a long silence before the Prince answered. ‘Come in.’

The Prince was sitting on the balcony looking over the Crystal Empire. His back was to Douglas and he was very still, even his mane didn’t move despite the cooler air from outside. Douglas decided to position himself over by the door and listen in case anyone came to call on the Prince.

It was an odd fact that the Prince did not move while he sat. To Douglas, it had seemed like he had constantly been moving. Today he was as still as a statue. He sat completely forward, his ears perked up and facing forward. Even his tail, wrapped around him, was unmoving. It was mildly unsettling and Douglas wondered what could have caused it.

Of course, he had his suspicions, but he couldn’t be too sure that was what caused it. Tempo had gone and kissed him and he ran away without waiting for explanation. But surely if the Prince had wanted to explain, he would have struck up a conversation with Douglas even the following morning. Yet the Prince had kept a far away look in his eye and Douglas had gone to being stoic like any other guard.

Even so, Douglas did feel bad for the Prince. It had been a lovely evening at the botanical gardens. And for it all to crumble at the mere gesture that could have been entirely innocent was probably a bit much on Douglas’ part.

After a few hours of standing in place, Douglas shifted a little bit. Even the sound of his armor didn’t seem to disturb the Prince. Douglas decided to see if something was the matter himself.

‘Do you need something to eat, your majesty?’ Douglas asked.

Prince Tempo’s ear flicked. ‘No.’

‘How long has it been since you ate?’

‘I have not been neglectful, if that’s what you were wondering.’ The Prince’s voice was dark and hurt. ‘I ate this morning. But I did not wish to eat down there.’

‘Are you sick?’

‘No.’

‘...are you going to go downstairs?’

‘Eventually.’

Any further questioning was useless. Prince Tempo did not say another word in response to any of Douglas’ questions. He didn’t move either. The only movement that came from the Prince was the occasional levitation of a glass to get a drink of water. Even then, Douglas soon realized he probably had the room memorized enough that he didn’t even need to twitch to command it with his magic. There would be a sip of water and the room would fall back into silence.

Sometime in the evening, Tempo finally spoke. ‘You may go down to dinner, Douglas.’

‘...are you going to come down tonight?’

‘No.’

It occurred to Douglas that the Prince was choking and holding something back. He had a feeling that if the Prince said any more he’d burst out crying or potentially violent. ‘...do you want me to inform the cooks?’

There was a long silence. One word came from the Prince, and it sounded strained. ‘Please.’

Douglas quickly but quietly left the room and headed down in the lift. He went to the dining room and found the offshoot to the kitchens before delivering the notice that the Prince would take dinner in his room tonight.

The Guard common room was quiet that night after dinner. It was unheard of for most of them to have the Prince shut up for so long in his room. He’d always come down to breakfast and dinner and laugh and talk with the Guard at the beginning and end of the day. The fact that he was going on three days without speaking to anyone was surprising.

Everyone went to bed early. Douglas wished they didn’t, especially when he had the nightmare again, only this time there was a twinge of desperation in the Prince’s pleas to stay with him.

Douglas ate a quick and rudimentary breakfast before rushing himself up to the Prince’s suite. Once again he knocked and informed the Prince he was there, and once more the Prince let him come in. He was sitting on the balcony again as though he had not moved the whole night, though Douglas saw with some relief the bed seemed to be messy and unmade as though he’d recently removed himself from it. His mane was also slightly disheveled as though he’d slept on it.

Douglas took up his position by the door again and waited silently. He thought about starting a conversation but if the Prince was in much the same predicament as the previous afternoon of being on the verge of an outburst, he decided to stay quiet.

But Douglas soon moved his position from by the door to the entrance of the balcony. No one would be looking for the Prince, so Douglas was not worried about anyone coming by; if anyone did, he would hear them knocking or calling inside. He hardly moved and the Prince remained still as he approached and did not even turn around to acknowledge him.

Douglas was almost surprised when the Prince suddenly heaved a huge sigh.

‘...was it something I said?’ the Prince asked.

Douglas was both relieved that the Prince was actually speaking and yet unsure of how to respond. It was clear that Tempo was talking to him, but he wasn’t sure if he was waiting for a response.

‘I only wished to reach out. Not to push you away.’

Douglas remained silent. There was a slight tinge of melancholy in the Prince’s voice that made him feel bad for running away as he did on the night of the gala.

Tempo sighed again. ‘I meant it all,’ he choked. ‘Every last word. But was it too much too fast? Or was it simply the fact I said it?’

Douglas decided he had to interject at some point. ‘It was nothing you said, sir,’ he said.

Tempo stood up and turned around. Despite the brightness of his fur, he looked oddly dark as he turned into the shadow of the Crystal Palace to face Douglas. ‘...then why did you run?’

Douglas felt a tingle go up and down his spine. ‘Because you kissed me, sir.’

Tempo’s eyes narrowed and he looked like he was glaring at him. ‘Have you never been kissed before?’

Douglas looked around awkwardly for a moment before meeting the Prince’s eyes again. ‘Especially not in the way you did it, sir.’

‘Stop calling me “sir”!’ Tempo suddenly shouted, causing Douglas to jump and drop his shield with a clang. When Tempo continued, his voice was lower but still spitting and angry. ‘I don’t want any formalities out of you anymore while. No “sir”, no “your majesty”, no “Prince”. None of it.’

‘...what about in public?’

‘Even in public.’ The purple eyes seemed almost black in the shadow, sclera indistinguishable from pupil. ‘I don’t want you as just another Guard. I don’t care if you will stand out because you’re human. I don’t want you to become just another face in the crowd.’

‘Then what do you want me to be?’ Douglas asked. ‘I’m already your escort and lately I’ve been your friend. What more do you want me to be?’

Tempo opened his mouth a little but no sound came out. He merely let out a sigh and turned back around so he was facing away from the suite. ‘I want you to understand.’

‘You haven’t been very forthright,’ Douglas said. ‘You dodge the issue every time I ask; whatever reasons you have for putting me in this position are never clear. I won’t understand what you want me to understand unless you tell me!’

‘I have been!’ Tempo roared, ears flattening. ‘But you... every single time I did something I thought would bring you out further... you recoiled.’

‘I’m not used to this!’ Douglas retorted. ‘When I decided to take up the position of a Palace Guard, I had no idea that I would be taken on a flight of a city, eating private lunches, or being asked to attend a gala not as a Guard but as a-a-a partner! That’s not what happened in Canterlot, and it’s not what I expected from getting the position up here. So forgive me when I wonder what the hell is going on.’

‘Think about it, for Celestia’s sake!’ Tempo said, whirling back around and glaring at Douglas again.

Before Tempo could say any more, there was a knock at the door.

Tempo looked over to Douglas, who was still standing looking at the prince. ‘Well?’ Tempo said expectantly. ‘Why don’t you go answer it? Since you’re my Guard, after all.’

Douglas had the feeling Tempo’s words had a bit more venom in them than usual and gave him a disapproving look. The look caused Tempo’s entire face to suddenly droop before turning back around and giving a sniff. Douglas didn’t care for what the Prince thought of his look and turned around to walk to the door without saying another word.

Crystal Barrier was at the door. He saluted Douglas.

‘Afternoon, sir,’ he said. ‘There is a Gleaming Shield here.’

Douglas turned around to tell Tempo, but Crystal Barrier spoke up. ‘It’s not for the Prince, sir.’

Tempo’s ears perked up and Douglas turned back towards Barrier. ‘…then who is it for?’

‘You,’ Barrier replied. ‘Gleaming Shield wishes to speak with you in private, sir.’

Douglas turned around to Tempo, who had by now turned around to listen to the conversation in progress.

‘Douglas,’ he called, ‘you may go meet with Gleaming Shield. Return here when finished. Crystal Barrier, I need you to stand outside the door and let no one in until Douglas returns.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Crystal Barrier opened the door for Douglas before closing it and standing in the center of the double doors. Douglas stood in the hallway momentarily.

‘Where is she?’

‘Down in the main hall,’ Barrier responded. ‘You can use the lift to go down.’

Douglas nodded and entered the lift, pressing the down button. The lift slowly went down from the top floor of the palace and opened up to let Douglas into the main hall. As Crystal Barrier had said, the white unicorn with the electric blue mane was in the hall, looking out a window.

‘Douglas,’ she said. ‘It’s good to see you again, Lieutenant.’

‘Pleasure, Miss Shield.’ Douglas saluted.

Gleaming Shield saluted back, calm and composed, but as soon as her hoof went down she immediately turned to an almost panicked state. ‘Douglas, there are some things I need to speak with you about. Is there anywhere we can talk without anyone hearing?’

‘Perhaps the throne room. Prince Tempo is currently in his suite, so it is likely open.’

‘Very well. Let’s go.’

Gleaming Shield followed Douglas as they went into the next hall and up the stairs to enter the throne room. As Douglas suspected, it was unlocked and completely empty. Douglas opened the door for the unicorn and looked around for anyone watching them before shutting the door and locking it.

Gleaming Shield spoke in hushed voices. ‘How are you doing with Tempo thus far?’

‘He’s been a bit moody ever since we went to a gala at the botanical gardens,’ Douglas responded in an equally hushed tone. ‘I dare say the gala wore him out.’

Gleaming Shield nodded. ‘Look, I’ve received some word about what happened at that gala. I had ponies posted among the guests watching over the events.’

‘I saw a few when we were at the tables. But what do you mean when you say you received word about what happened?’

‘Princess Celestia sent a note personally to me saying that I watch over you. I need you to tell me what Prince Tempo told you that night; I heard some things from some plain-clothes ponies who were gauging reactions and want to see how it compares.’

Douglas thought back. ‘Well, he complained about the realities of being a Prince and how it wasn’t so glamorous. He told me he came for the gala simply to speak with the curator of the museum, to eat, and then leave. He also told me about how he was happy to have someone who wasn’t as stoic as the usual guard.’

‘There is a reason most of the guard are stoic,’ Gleaming Shield said. ‘They try not to draw attention to themselves.’

‘Have I been drawing too much attention to myself?’ Douglas asked. ‘Are you implying I should be stripped of my position?’

‘No. I’m thinking of seeing about transferring you back to my command because Tempo himself has drawn attention to you.’

‘Do they hate me?’

‘On the contrary. They think you’re more than just his guard. And yet it’s the happiest they’ve seen their prince and they can’t complain.’

‘So what’s so wrong about me being his friend?’

‘There was nothing odd to you about Tempo’s behavior?’

‘What do you mean? We simply ate, went to the dance floor, waltzed for one five-minute song, enjoyed the music for a while, then left.’

‘I had a guard report Tempo as nuzzling you and maintaining within a relatively short distance the entire time. He thought it strange, but as the evening wore on, more and more ponies thought it was more than a simple escort.’

Douglas suddenly froze. ‘You mean... it was possible Ancient Treasure meant it when he called me the Prince’s “consort”?’

‘Someone called you a “consort”? I almost want to laugh, except that’s quite a far way to go for someone who’s been here barely two months. And Ancient Treasure isn’t the only one; word has already spread amongst the ponies and some are talking like it’s final.’

‘Hold on a second. I don’t even know what a “consort” is.’

‘It means they think you are partners with the Prince.’

It took a minute to process. ‘No. Absolutely not. I am not like that. I probably found myself a little lost in the moment since Tempo’s been one of the first to treat me kindly around here, but it’s not like that.’

‘That’s why I want to transfer you. This behavior from the Prince is strange if he’s grown attached to you that quickly. And if others are catching on, it may not be long before something happens and the Prince acts on this. I dread to think what he may do.’

‘What do you wish to do?’

‘I will inform Tempo that there is unrest within the community about him having a human Guard within the Palace, that they still believe the stories about humans being cannibals and monsters. With any luck, I will then convince him to transfer you back over to the guard, where the citizens will feel safer from more of us available to… subdue you if necessary.’

‘You make me sound bad. I almost don’t mind Tempo compared to that.’

‘I don’t want to stoop to that level, either,’ Gleaming Shield said. ‘I will be coming around to speak with Prince Tempo in a few days’ time, and hopefully that argument will be enough to convince him to bring you back.’

‘But what if the Guard still hate me?’

‘I have made them swear an oath that whoever lays a hoof on you with malicious intent will be punished severely. The only one I’d be worried about is Storm Shield, but he’s received a warning for starting a fight and it’s demotion the next time he acts out.’

Douglas nodded. ‘If it’s what you think it’s best, then do it. I don’t know what I want, really, but right now I’m open to anything if it means getting away from him.’

‘Is he mad at you?’

‘Not really. He’s more moody. Angry one minute, pensive the next, crying another, that sort of thing.’

Gleaming Shield nodded. ‘Good luck, Douglas, and hopefully I will be able to do something about Tempo’s rather abnormal behavior.’

Douglas escorted Gleaming Shield out of the throne room and back to the main hall. They saluted again without saying a word and Gleaming Shield left the main hall via the lift. Douglas, meanwhile, walked all the way up the stairs to the top floor, where Crystal Barrier was still sitting.

‘Our meeting is over,’ Douglas said to him. ‘You may leave.’

‘I have not heard a sound from him,’ Crystal Barrier responded. ‘You’d do well to make sure he’s alright. I fear he may skip dinner again tonight if this continues.’

‘I will try.’

The two saluted and Crystal Barrier left. Douglas opened the door to see the Prince back to sitting still as a statue on the balcony.

‘I have returned.’ Douglas almost said ‘sir’, but halted himself after remembering Tempo’s outburst.

Tempo’s ears perked up. ‘What did my Captain need with you?’

‘She merely wanted to see how I was doing,’ Douglas responded as he walked closer to Tempo. ‘I was supposed to be her charge, after all.’

Tempo nodded. ‘You had no troubles?’

‘No. She asked me a few questions then left.’

Tempo nodded again.

Douglas scratched the back of his head. ‘Are you alright? You’ve been sitting there for the last couple of days.’

‘I’ve been thinking,’ Tempo said. ‘I feel the only way I can process things at the moment is by sitting completely still. Not having to move a muscle, I can then concentrate on my thoughts.’

‘What have you been thinking about lately?’

Tempo was silent and still for a long time. Douglas half wondered if he’d returned to his previous state of melancholy until he spoke up again. ‘...why are you afraid?’

Douglas wasn’t quite sure if he heard the Prince correctly. ‘...excuse me?’ he said.

‘Why is it that, every time I try to reach out to you, you shrink away? Are you afraid of me?’

Douglas thought about it. But before he could respond, the Prince spoke up again.

‘No,’ Tempo mused. ‘It’s not me. It’s not who I am. It’s what I could do to you, isn’t it?’ He turned around and faced Douglas again, his face looking lighter but searching him intensely. ‘Be honest with me, Douglas: what are you afraid of?’

Douglas remembered his nightmare and wondered if he should tell the Prince about it. ‘You... you’re rather forward,’ he said. ‘I... I often wonder why you place me so highly. Not because I am insecure about myself, but because I don’t understand your reasons’

Tempo nodded. ‘Is that the source of your dreams?’

Douglas was about to ask how Tempo knew, but realized he’d already told him about one. He probably assumed that there were more where that came from. ‘My nightmares are more about reliving the circumstances that threw me through the gate. But lately, whoever did it to me before is replaced by you.’

Tempo looked at him without speaking for a long time and Douglas wondered if he felt the same reaction as he had to some of Tempo’s announcements: the feeling of being punched in the gut. But after a while Tempo’s reaction changed and Douglas realized it had hit him somewhere else, and harder; Tempo’s eyes suddenly widened and his mouth dropped slightly in horror.

‘No... Douglas, why...’ But his words were fractured and he couldn’t even get a full sentence out.

Douglas felt he’d better explain. ‘A few nights ago, I had a dream where you were forcing me to lay with you and I said no. Because I said no, you charged me with conspiracy and sedition and threw me off the side of the tower. I was struck with spears and eventually fell into the gate again.’

Tempo’s eyes were glistening. ‘Douglas... I would never do any of that to you. I wouldn’t harm you, I wouldn’t exile you, and I certainly would not force you to do something like that.’

‘Why not? You kissed me on the night of the gala.’ Douglas found his voice steadily rising as he continued. ‘I thought we were just going as friends, but then you do... that... and suddenly the entire Crystal Empire is thinking of me as your consort!’

Tempo looked shocked enough to keep from crying. ‘...so not just Ancient Treasure?’

‘According to Gleaming Shield, rumors have been spreading around since the night of the gala when we danced.’

‘Douglas, let me make myself perfectly clear: you are not my “consort”. And you want to know why?’ Tempo put his hoof on his heart again. ‘I can feel it. You wouldn’t want it. You want companionship, but I wouldn’t even cross that boundary to “consort” with you because I already know you wouldn’t accept it.’

‘That still doesn’t explained why you kissed me.’

‘I know your relational fears. But I thought something simple like that, showing you I cared for you, would be okay. If it isn’t then the fault is mine and I should have realized that before.’

Douglas sighed. ‘Look, I like you. But where I come from, a kiss is reserved for... well, people who might be close to considering “consort” position. Lovers. But because of our differing species – me being human and you being pony – I don’t think I could ever go that far. There are cultural differences that I still don’t have squared away and don’t think I ever will, and that is one of them.’

Tempo, flustered, shrugged his shoulders weakly. ‘Then, wh-what would you want me to do to show you I care?’

‘Speak with me. Tell me you care. Maybe a hug every once in a while; I can take that and that happened back where I came from. But no kisses, no dances, no dressing me up and taking me to private events all the time.’

Tempo nodded. His ears fell and soon his head followed, looking at the ground in disappointment. He sniffed and wiped his nose with a hoof. Douglas figured he had probably been silently crying for a while now but didn’t feel as guilty about it as he did before.

After a long while of sitting like this, Tempo finally stood up again. He looked around the room, then walked over to the vanity and looked himself over; at the bags under his eyes, at his disheveled mane, at the eyes that were slightly red. ‘I want to go walking around the town tomorrow, Douglas. I’m sick of sitting here and doing nothing.’

Douglas nodded. ‘As a guard?’

‘As a guard, and as a friend. I need to see Ancient Treasure to drop off my donation to the Museum. But, as I think you would like it, I will show you around as well.’

‘If that is what you want,’ Douglas said, ‘then I will join you. As your escort, and as a friend.’

Tempo closed his eyes and Douglas saw a small, melancholic smile form on his face. ‘Thank you for giving me that, at least.’

It occurred to Douglas that the day Tempo finally left the palace again was the first day it wasn’t sunny and warm. A northern breeze blew in clouds that covered the sky and turned it a mild grey. According to Tempo, they wouldn’t bring in any rain or snow, which was a good thing, but it would turn the weather colder for a little while.

Thankfully for Douglas, it had not been Tempo’s idea to walk around the city all day. Instead, he decided to take Douglas to the Museum of Natural History that had hosted the gala at the gardens. Tempo and an accountant had already accounted in the budget for a donation of fifty thousand bits to the museum for research and preservation but had yet to deliver it. And, since Douglas had not been there, it seemed a prime location to spend an otherwise cold afternoon.

The museum was wide, tall, and airy and colored in warm browns and golds, though the floor was the same crystalline blue as the Palace. Tempo first went through to a small desk towards the back of the museum and spoke with an attendant, who immediately ran off through a door behind the desk into what Douglas assumed was the museum’s research department. A few minutes later, Ancient Treasure appeared from the door and started talking with Tempo at the desk, pushing up the glasses that were sliding down his nose.

‘I’ve come to deliver your donation,’ Tempo said, pulling out a check in the sum of 50,000 bits.

Ancient Treasure inspected the check. ‘You remain the highest donor our museum has had all these years,’ he said thankfully, taking the check in a light yellow aura. ‘It’s no wonder the people appreciate your service for the Crystal Empire.’

‘Well, it’s simply a matter of keeping those under my rule not only well fed, but happy and educated. A strong mind is as important as a strong body.’

Douglas had a slight feeling that wasn’t exactly part of his ‘manifesto.’ But considering no one was complaining, it at least held some truth and he wasn’t going to bother Tempo about it.

‘I agree, I agree.’ Ancient Treasure nodded his head sagely. ‘It’s always important for young foals and adult mares and stallions alike to understand the importance of education.’

‘Perhaps Douglas here will be a researcher,’ Tempo said, turning to Douglas. ‘I take it he will be attempting a biology and chemistry course sometime soon at the University.’

‘Anything to get me away from technology and physics,’ Douglas said. ‘I’m ready to be done with those.’

‘Bad career choice?’ Ancient Treasure asked.

‘Poor career choice, yes,’ Douglas said simply. ‘Also, I rather like biology and chemistry more.’

‘Ah! Well you’d be right at home in our research department, then.’

‘Douglas was actually transferred here to the Crystal Empire because he had excellent grades, enough to boost our funding from Canterlot. He used to be in Canterlot, but we’re glad – and the University will be as well – that he made the decision to transfer here.’

‘A sort of guard scholarship, then?’ Ancient Treasure replied with interest as he pushed his glasses up his nose. ‘Well, we have extra benefits for those who served in the guard. It will be an excellent choice if you were to come and work with us.’

‘Thank you very much, sir. The offer is appreciated. I should like to work in a museum once I get a degree.’

‘A history, chemistry, or natural science degree ought to serve you well,’ Ancient Treasure smiled at Douglas. He then turned to Tempo. ‘So, how have things been going since the gala?’

‘A bit rocky,’ Tempo said. ‘I wager the late night plus the socializing of the event probably wore us down a bit.’

‘Oh, I know the feeling. The wife always is bothering me for a day or two afterwards whenever we have an event at our house, but she cools down in the end. And by the way, she completely recovered the morning after the gala. What do you think of that?’

‘Seems like my threat worked once again. I said I would send an army and it vanished.’

The two laughed and Douglas hazarded a smile.

‘Well, I shall leave you two be for now,’ Ancient Treasure said. ‘Oh, but I will let the guards know to give you early access to our newest wing! One of our archaeologists found some ruins about fifty miles out and brought back some rare and interesting pieces. You’ll be glad to know they’re set up, but we’re waiting for the official opening for the beginning of next week.’

‘Oh, well, thank you for the invitation. Douglas and I shall go and perhaps give some feedback on the arrangement of the exhibits.’

‘Your comments are always welcome, my Prince,’ Ancient Treasure replied. ‘Good bye for now, and thank you again for the donation.’ And he retreated back into the door behind the desk with a bow, and the attendant returned as though the curator had never been there, wishing them a pleasant visit.

They did not proceed to check the new wing immediately. Rather, Tempo took them all over the museum. They went to large halls containing mammals that had died of natural causes, been restored and stuffed and placed into positions in dioramas that simulated their natural habitat and read the placards with information. They went to a hall filled with gemstones and minerals with information about size and quality, as well as formation. They explored halls filled with birds in more simulations that allowed them to walk through as though observing in the wild. And they went to a humid building that contained live reptiles and amphibians from lizards to frogs to snakes (Douglas appeared afraid of the snakes for no particular reason, so they avoided those).

After a while, they stopped at a café for refreshments. Douglas found they sold iced coffee and bought one, while Tempo had himself a fruit slush drink – ‘They don’t make these in the palace as often as they should,’ he said – and they sat themselves down on a terrace just outside the museum café for a rest.

‘Rather a wonderful place,’ Douglas said. ‘I think I will take up the curator’s offer once I’ve gotten my degree.’

‘Ancient Treasure is a wonderful friend of mine and an excellent scholar,’ Tempo replied. ‘The museum is in good hands. One of his sons looks to be in good shape to take it over once he’s retired, but he’s young and strong and I don’t see him leaving any time soon.’

‘Also, fifty thousand bits seems to be a lot of money,’ Douglas remarked. ‘Back where I came from, fifty thousand bits would hardly cover the expense to build a house.’

‘Perhaps with the war the cost of things was higher,’ Tempo said. ‘Inflation would have increased the rates. Equestria has enjoyed years of peace and thus things don’t need to be so high priced.’

‘All the better,’ Douglas said. He sipped his coffee. ‘I have come from a place where there is too much fighting. Perhaps I am not used to it considering a choice to go into the guard, but I do enjoy this peace.’

‘I would rather have a guard in peacetime just in case than an army in war because it’s needed,’ Tempo commented.

‘Seems you hardly ever go to war.’

‘More than you’d think, and more than I’d like to. We still have our enemies, but for the most part such conflicts are arranged more often through talking than through fighting.’ Tempo sipped his slushie. ‘But let’s not concern ourselves with such depressing matters. This is about us getting back on solid ground and enjoying an afternoon.’

Douglas nodded. ‘So, what do we have left?’

‘I believe all that remains is the new wing that Ancient Treasure mentioned,’ Tempo said.

‘Do you know what it contains?’

‘No. Once Ancient Treasure gets into a piece of work, he loses himself in it and never tells a soul until he’s absolutely sure he’s finished. If it won’t open until next week, he won’t actually say a thing until next week.’

‘Sounds like a stallion devoted to his work.’

‘Which is precisely why I like him and donate money here. It’s used productively as opposed to private finances.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Certainly have made a fine use of it.’

Once finished with their drinks, they made their way to the newest wing. It was a small addition to the museum that was blocked by a series of closed double doors and a series of guards standing in front of the doors. Tempo made his way up to him.

‘I am Prince D’Amore Temporus, friend of the curator, Ancient Treasure,’ Tempo told the guards. ‘He said that me and my escort were free to check out the new wing of the museum.’

The guards nodded and stepped aside. One stepped forward and unlocked the doubled doors. ‘It’s not finished quite yet,’ the guards said. ‘The curator may have one more change before it’s final.’

Tempo and Douglas stepped in. The room was dark, save for small lights scattered around and illuminating various objects. Douglas, used to the brighter lights of the main museum, found himself stumbling about in the darkness as the guard closed the door behind him and couldn’t see a thing.

‘Perfect…’ Tempo said. ‘Just perfect…’

‘What is? I can’t see a thing.’

‘Close your eyes and count to ten. It will help adjust to the light.’

Douglas did as Tempo asked. When he opened his eyes, the dim lights in the exhibits and the grey sunlight coming from outside were perfect for viewing the dim room. Douglas carefully walked forwards as Tempo jauntily stepped into the room.

Douglas looked around. There were odd things scattered around the room. There was a glass case with deep purple velvet that held little green pieces of cloth with various numbers on them. Another, similar case held three pieces of paper with faded and yellowed parchment. Another contained what looked like an old coat of arms with an eagle holding an olive branch and a pair of arrows. Douglas tried to read the placards, but there wasn’t enough light to see.

But soon there was a strange piece of metal. It was mostly green with a faded silver outline and large lettering, about three feet wide by two feet high. It read “New York City City Limits. Population 13,478,291. Elev 22.”

Douglas stared at it in fascination, but he wasn’t sure what it was. He turned around, eventually looking to see Tempo staring at the pieces of green cloth.

‘What are all these?’ he asked. ‘I’ve never seen anything like them.’

‘They are the relics of an old civilization,’ Tempo said. ‘One that lived and dominated this land for nearly seven hundred years. But one day the climate changed. The seas rose, the land shrunk, and the atmosphere changed. The place became inhabitable, and they all died out.’

‘But what were they?’

Tempo motioned to another exhibit on the other side of the room. It was a skeleton, bipedal and standing almost as tall as Douglas had been. It had quite a normal set of teeth and had rather normal proportions other than it standing higher than the ponies were.

‘This place was built on the ruins of a continent once known as North America,’ Tempo said. ‘It used to be covered with your kind.’

‘But how am I able to live here if the atmosphere changed to kill my kind out?’

‘We ponies changed it back. It became inhabitable again. We replanted the fields, repopulated the forest, and eventually reconquered the untamed wilderness and ruins you left in your wake.’

Douglas stared at the skeleton, the street sign, the pieces of cloth and the parchment. ‘All of this was once created by… by people like me?’

‘Millions of them,’ Tempo said. He pointed to the number on the sign. ‘That number right there was just in one city. And there were hundreds of thousands of cities across this continent. Now? Triple that is how many ponies exist in Equestria at this minute. Our numbers are growing, but it is expected we’ll never match what humans once did.’

Douglas continued staring at the sign.

‘That’s why Celestia was so interested in me when I arrived.’

Tempo nodded. ‘It’s been centuries since a human ever set foot here.’

‘Are there more?’

‘You are the first in ages,’ Tempo said. ‘Celestia and now Luna have kept watch for centuries, but there have been no signs of them.’

Douglas continued staring at the exhibits around him. ‘…then how was I in some other dimension?’

‘I don’t know. Perhaps the fates placed you there for a reason that you made history by coming here, even if it was by happy accident. But perhaps it’s appropriate for me to say: welcome home, where you belong.’

Douglas did not know what to say.

It was not for several minutes did Douglas move, and then it was only to fall to his knees on the floor of the museum wing.

After a few minutes more, he stood up. ‘Let us go. I cannot stand to see this anymore. I am not comfortable here.’

Prince Tempo nodded and they exited the wing. The guards locked the room behind them as they left, and they returned to the palace. Tempo returned to his suite and Douglas left in the direction of the Guard common room, presumably to shower.

But suddenly, mere minutes before he went down to dinner, the Prince’s door flew open and Crystal Barrier was standing at the door panting. Tempo whirled around at him in shock. ‘Crystal Barrier!’ Tempo exclaimed. ‘What’s the matter!?’

Crystal Barrier’s next words were frantic, and sparked in Tempo all the horrors he’d ever imagined.

‘Douglas is gone!’

Chapter XII - Between Two Worlds

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Tempo was almost surprised he didn’t immediately go into a hysterical panic at Crystal Barrier’s proclamation. He took a few deep breaths and carefully measured the possibilities. ‘You are sure?’ he asked as calmly as he could.

‘One of the Guards saw him go into the armor room and left before he did’ Crystal Barrier explained. ‘When we all sat down to dinner, he wasn’t there with us. We checked all the usual positions and all over the first floor, but he wasn’t anywhere.’

‘Have you checked the entire castle? Douglas has a key; he can access any floor he wants.’

‘We have not checked the second and third floors.’

‘Take the rest of the Guard and search those floors. I’ll follow behind shortly.’

‘Yes, your majesty.’

‘Check every room and every hall. We need to find Douglas, especially if he’s thinking about leaving the Crystal Empire.’

Crystal Barrier looked even more shocked than he did upon entering the room. ‘What... wh-why would he even be thinking of that?’

‘I don’t know. But go, and quickly.’

Crystal Barrier nodded and ran out of the room. Tempo himself unfurled his wings and shot out of the suite into the night sky. He quickly flew out and over the city streets until he’d reached the edge of the town. He circled the town three times, searching down each and every street until he was sure he couldn’t see Douglas.

The worry returned to Prince Tempo as he flew back towards the Palace. He dove for the base of the Palace and entered the lift; he went up past the first floor and went to the second where he saw the Guard working, combing over each and every room for Douglas.

‘Crystal Barrier,’ Tempo called out, walking down the hall. ‘How are things going?’

‘We’ve searched almost every room on this floor,’ Crystal Barrier replied as he approached Tempo. ‘Some of us have started searching the third floor, as well, but nothing’s come up.’

‘Stay here with me, Emerald Green, and Sapphire. Tell the rest of the Guard to go to the third floor.’

‘Yes, your majesty.’

Tempo began searching all the rooms himself. He searched under desks, within cabinets, behind doors, everywhere he could think of within each and every room. The evening went on and on and on as Tempo and the Guard searched every room in the Palace.

Finally, as the clock neared midnight, a shout came up from Emerald.

‘Prince Tempo!’ he called out. ‘Prince Tempo, come here!’

Tempo went out of the room he was in and galloped down to where he heard Emerald’s cries coming from. He wasn’t surprised when he finally found Emerald in the mirror room, pointing to the mirror. Horror crossed Tempo’s face. He’s gone into the mirror... He tried to go back...

Tempo was thankful when he heard the snoring coming from behind the mirror before he had a chance to react. He merely whispered an aside to Crystal Barrier telling him to get the rest of the Guard and tell them that Douglas was safe and sound within the Palace hiding in the mirror room. Crystal Barrier nodded and galloped off.

Tempo walked quietly around the mirror and looked at Douglas sprawled out on the floor behind the mirror. He was asleep on the floor of the room with the mirror portal in it, just behind the mirror so that no one had seem him previously. He must have been kneeling at some point, as he had slumped forward still partially bent over with his arms extended out on his sides.

Douglas didn’t wake up until the rumble of the other Guard coming towards the room caused the floor to shake and the hall to echo around him. He opened his eyes and groaned as he sat up, rubbing his head where he felt a slight soreness. It wasn’t until the last feelings of drowsiness had left him a short while later that he got up and walked around the mirror.

Douglas halted and froze in his tracks. Standing just inside the doorway was Prince Tempo, surrounded by the other eleven Palace Guards. All of them were looking at him with varying expressions; some confused, some excited, others relieved. Tempo himself seemed to have a mixture of all three and then some.

‘...is there something I’ve missed?’ Douglas asked.

‘Douglas!’ Prince Tempo suddenly shouted, causing Douglas and the rest of the Guards to jump. ‘Don’t ever make me scared like that again!’

‘Wait, wait, wait, what’s the matter?’

‘You weren’t at dinner this evening,’ Crystal Barrier said. ‘You went into the armor room and suddenly disappeared. No one knew where you went off to, and we thought you disappeared.’

‘We’ve been spending the last few hours scouring the Palace for you,’ Emerald Green added. ‘It’s nearly midnight.’

‘I almost considered calling the nurses to see if you were okay,’ Tempo said. ‘We found you just sprawled out on the floor here.’

‘I’m fine,’ Douglas said. ‘Really, I am. I came up here to think. It seemed the best place to do so since the main workers had clocked out and it was silent. I must have just fallen asleep on the floor.’

Nine of the guard were satisfied with the arrangement and walked off with comments of scouring the kitchens for food, seeing as dinner was now six hours late. Crystal Barrier, Emerald Green, and Tempo remained, all staring at Douglas and blocking his way out.

‘Guess we’d better go, huh?’ Douglas asked. ‘I don’t think I’ve eaten for a while either.’

‘Not until I know why you retreated here,’ Tempo said firmly. ‘You’ve scared me and the other Guard out of our wits.’

‘I told you already. I was thinking.’

‘But why this room?’ Crystal Barrier asked. ‘There’s a number of parlors on this floor and even spare or empty parlors on the first floor you could have chosen, and yet you came here.’

‘It was quiet and I was by myself. I must have chosen correctly if you’ve been searching for me long enough to have slept a few hours on the floor.’

‘Douglas, you had us all worried!’ Tempo cried out as though he was whining, glaring at Douglas. Douglas could see the slightest trace of tears in Tempo’s eyes again, guessing the stress of the last few days was finally hitting him hard. ‘Some of us thought you might have even gone out into the wastes!’

‘You mean into the snow?’ Douglas asked disbelievingly. ‘Look, I’ve had some weird thoughts lately, but nothing crazy enough to put my life in danger.’

Emerald Green turned towards Tempo. ‘He’s right, your majesty. I don’t think he’s the type to do that.’

‘I’m too grateful for the second chance I’ve gotten,’ Douglas commented. ‘I wouldn’t throw it away that easily.’

Tempo paused and seemed to consider this for a while before nodding. Douglas expected to be let go and to head off to dinner with the rest of the Guard, but Tempo suddenly spoke up again: ‘Can you two please leave me and Douglas alone for a minute? We’ll be down shortly.’

Crystal Barrier and Emerald Green nodded and bowed respectfully and left the room. Douglas remained standing next to the mirror and Tempo still stood in front of the door and stare at him, constantly checking him over as though still unsure if he really was okay like he said he was.

Douglas could see the handsome face was drooping, though wrinkles as though from stress still remained and his eyes seemed to barely stay open. He looked tiredly at Douglas, who could hear him breathing in deeply as though trying to compose himself. His earlier outbreak suggested via anger, but there was something else in the shimmering purple eyes, some fear or anxiety of his own.

For a long time, Douglas heard nothing from the Prince except for the sound of his breathing. He felt uncomfortable with the Prince just staring at him without any sign as to his emotion and longed to hide himself, even perhaps behind the mirror again. More than that, he wanted to go away from that room, yet he knew the prince would remain firm and unmoving.

After a while, Tempo sighed. ‘Why were you in this room? Of all the rooms in this palace, why here?’

Douglas shrugged. ‘If I do not belong here, then where do I belong?’

Tempo strained to speak. ‘But you do belong here,’ he pleaded. ‘You have friends. You have those that respect you. You have a life. A life that was not granted to you where you came from. And your kind were originally from here.’

Douglas shook his head. His voice was soft, but it echoed around the room. ‘Originally, perhaps. But now, I am the only one. There is no other here like me. I belong here no longer.’

Tempo looked from Douglas to the mirror, his first sign of movement for the past few minutes. ‘What were you thinking about?’

Douglas looked towards the mirror and ran a hand along the metallic surface, fingers tracing the red stones that graced the front. ‘What would happen if I were to just step through,’ he said. He touched the surface of the mirror, not passing through it but causing a rippling sensation on the translucent surface. ‘Where would I go, what would I be?’ He let his hand slide off the mirror. ‘And why can’t I bring myself to do it? It would be so easy to just... step through and see where I end up.’

Tempo’s expression was now one of shock. He took a tentative step forward towards Douglas. ‘Did you find any answers?’

‘No.’ Douglas looked over to Tempo. ‘Because while the other questions appeared in my mind, I don’t think I can answer those without solving the last of them.’

‘You want to leave… but something’s holding you back. But why do you want to leave?’

‘Perhaps I’ve never been comfortable here. Perhaps I’m sick of the strange looks. Perhaps… perhaps I still think of wanting to go back and show them what happened.’

Tempo’s face softened, but his voice hardened. ‘It does not do well to dwell on revenge, Douglas,’ he said. ‘There is a saying that someone looking for revenge must first dig two graves.’

‘Mine was already dug,’ Douglas replied, voice matching the prince’s. ‘I want to rise out and show them I’m not dead.’

Tempo looked with a sort of fear and repulsion at Douglas, the first time that particular expression had come from the handsome face. ‘Perhaps you really are a monster.’

‘Don’t you call me a “monster”!’ Douglas shouted. ‘You don’t know me! You’ve been trying to get me out of my shell for a while now, and I understand that. But don’t act like you know everything about me!’

‘Hear me out,’ the Prince said, taking a step backwards from Douglas. ‘I am sure that deep down you aren’t a monster. But, your old life… it has molded you into one. You hold on to grudges that perhaps they have long forgotten. You were a name on a page, and as soon as you were thrown through that mirror, you were erased.’

‘You talk as if I don’t exist,’ Douglas growled. ‘As though I’m nothing!’

‘I don’t think you do exist back there, anymore.’

Douglas looked at the mirror. ‘What would you know?’ he spat. ‘You sit in this palace and have mantras that emphasize friendship and love and happiness. You spend the majority of your time socializing with your citizens and displaying generosity and care.’

Douglas turned back to Tempo. He pulled off his shirt and let Tempo see his entire body, the cuts and scrapes and holes that still remained, watching with a sort of sick delight at the prince's revulsion. ‘But I came here with burns on my body and bullets through my chest and arms. Where I came from, things are a bit different. Where I once lived, things couldn’t be solved through kindness and becoming friends. It was solved through power.’

He walked to the front of the mirror and knelt down in front of it. ‘I have gained power in my time here. I have gone from a simple man who stood meekly down to one who now knows the truth. With this power, I could show them their entire system is nothing but a bunch of lies!’

Douglas felt his body slump forward and he put his hands out on the ground to support himself. ‘…so why can’t I? Why can’t I just go through that portal, go back to where I once came from, and do it? Is it because of not knowing where I’d go? Is it not knowing who I would become?’

Douglas shook his head. His previous ranting and the lateness of the hour had made him tired, and he found his voice rising to barely more than a whisper. ‘No. It is because something here is holding me back. Something that I cannot explain. I could step through that mirror right here and now… and yet for every step I would take, I would turn around and take that many steps back. And I would be no further from where I began.’

Tempo, who had been frozen and completely silent during Douglas’ tirade, finally found the strength to move again, taking a few steps towards Douglas. ‘What holds you back?’

‘I don’t know. But every time I pass this floor, I feel a pull. As though I get sick just thinking about it. I know not its source, nor its meaning.’ Douglas gathered his shirt, put it on him, and brought himself wearily to his feet. ‘And frankly, it feels like it takes too much strength to ponder it.’

Douglas turned around and saw the alicorn standing a few steps away from him. Whatever anger was in his eyes had vanished, and his expression matched the tiredness that Douglas felt. If he had been ready to burst out against Douglas before, it was as though all the fight that was in him had receded. He opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a sigh as he shook his head and let it fall wearily to face the ground.

Douglas, perhaps realizing that the alicorn was no longer in his way, walked around Tempo and down the hallway towards the staircase.

‘Douglas.’

Douglas turned around. The alicorn was walking towards him, but he stopped a few feet away as though he was still afraid to approach him.

‘I don’t claim to know everything about you,’ Prince Tempo said. ‘And I think that, if I were to try, I still wouldn’t know everything about you and who you are.’

‘Then why do you try?’ Douglas asked. ‘Why do you put so much effort into learning about me and who I am and what makes me tick?’

‘Because I can see you are torn,’ Tempo said. ‘And in more ways than one. You are torn in your mind whether to stay or go, torn in your soul whether you belong here or not, and torn in your heart whether or not to trust me.’

‘Quit the philosophy and get to the point.’

‘Remember what I told you the first day? I’ve been repeating it over and over again: Vires amicitiae et virtutis amor. With friendship comes strength, and with love comes power. You have gained strength again and gained power you didn’t have because you have been here and allowed yourself to open up. That is what I’ve been trying to do.’

Douglas eyed the Prince strangely. There was an odd sort of logic to what the Prince said, but he still didn’t like where he was going.

‘You’ve gone through some terrible things back there,’ Tempo said. ‘I don’t want you to go through that again. I don’t know the extent of which you faced, but I’m sure that if you go back there, you won’t be so lucky as you are.’

Douglas found it strange the Prince’s logic suddenly became so cold, but resigned himself to thinking the Prince had a point. ‘So, then... what do you expect me to do?’

‘You belong here,’ Tempo said. ‘For some reason, instead of falling into whatever pit you would have died in, you came here. You’ve been given a second chance at life. Take it. And let us try to help you realize you are in a better place than you were before.’

Douglas sighed and dropped his head.

‘Now, go ahead and go eat. You may take the time while I am in my office tomorrow morning to rest, if you wish.’

Douglas searched the eyes, but they said nothing. Neither did the expression on the Prince’s face.

‘Thank you,’ Douglas said, though not entirely enthusiastically nor entirely sure if he really was thankful.

He walked off down the stairs, leaving the Prince alone in the hallway.

Despite Tempo’s allowance for him to sleep late, Douglas got up along with all the other members of the Guard. As they got ready in the morning, they all expressed relief at seeing their friend and comrade back. Douglas exchanged weak replied, though they all excused him for the response due to the late night that no one had been expecting.

Douglas and Tempo had come down to dinner only ten minutes after the rest of the Guard. Everyone ate quietly and unhurriedly, then left for the rooms and immediately went to bed without the usual hubbub in the common room. Even Douglas managed to fall asleep soon after arrival, though he had an extra cup of coffee when they went off to breakfast.

The cooks brought extra coffee, eggs, and toast, and the Guard and Tempo all seemed to take more than normal. The normal pleasantries were dispensed and a few jobs talked over but hardly anyone seemed to be in the mood to talk. When it came time for everyone to take their posts, they all got up and left quietly until Douglas and Tempo were the only ones left.

Without a word, Douglas followed him and they headed out of the dining room and through the Palace to the throne room. Douglas assumed his position outside Tempo’s office, the alicorn went inside and shut the door, and the throne room fell into silence.

Douglas didn’t mind the quiet. He was tired from the events of the last few weeks, and it gave him a time to rest. He still needed to be alert, of course, but for the most part guarding the prince in his office was a relatively simple job. He was left alone with his thoughts.

It struck Douglas how remarkably similar to his first day that this day was. It wouldn’t have struck him on any other situation, but just as he had started to know the Crystal Prince he had become withdrawn. They may as well have been on the same terms as they had been on Douglas’ first day of Palace work.

There came a knock at the door. Adjusting the grip of the shield in his hand, Douglas walked over to the door and opened it. Standing at the entrance was Gleaming Shield, dressed in full armor.

‘Captain Gleaming Shield,’ Douglas said, saluting.

‘Lieutenant Douglas,’ Gleaming Shield saluted in return. ‘Is there anyone speaking with Prince Tempo at the moment?’

‘No. He’s currently alone in his office. Do you wish to speak with him?’

‘Yes.’ Gleaming Shield was silent for a moment, hoof tracing circles on the crystal floor. ‘I wish for it to be a private matter.

Douglas nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am. Please wait out here.’

Gleaming Shield nodded and Douglas closed the door. He walked across the throne room and knocked on the door. After waiting for a short while, he opened the door to see Tempo staring out the window.

‘Your Majesty,’ Douglas called gently. ‘Captain Gleaming Shield is here to see you, sir. She wishes to discuss matters involving my adjustment as well as general guard information.’

Tempo nodded. ‘Very well. Send her in. And Douglas?’

‘Yes…?’

Tempo turned around and smiled sadly. ‘No formalities.’

Douglas nodded; he’d forgotten about Tempo’s insistence of not using formal titles even at work. Tempo kept the door open as he walked across the throne room and opened the door.

‘Prince Tempo will see you in his office.’

Gleaming Shield nodded and followed Douglas across the throne room. She smiled plaintively. ‘Still maintaining your professionalism, I see.’

‘Don’t get too excited,’ Douglas responded quietly, having a vague sense of déjà vu. ‘This day is not over quite yet.’

Douglas walked into the room and showed the mare in. ‘Captain Gleaming Shield.’

Tempo turned around from his position at the window. ‘Do you wish to stay?’

Douglas shook his head. ‘She wished for it to be private. I will give her that privacy, if you wish.’

Tempo nodded, but didn’t say anything. Douglas left the room. The door shut behind him. The room returned to silence.

Not even Douglas’ thoughts spoke out in the quiet.

There was a loud banging from inside the room. Gleaming Shield sounded as though she was shouting angrily, but he could not figure out what it was. Douglas whirled around towards the door and opened it, spear at the ready. ‘What’s going on!?’ Douglas shouted, assuming a defensive stance.

Prince Tempo looked up from his glaring at Gleaming Shield, his mane appearing frazzled and wild. The mare herself appeared unperturbed, but Douglas could see the way her muscles were tensed as though ready to spring. Tempo took a few seconds of heavy breathing before he spoke.

‘I appreciate your quick response. Please, stay here. I want your input.’

Douglas shrugged. ‘I don’t think I can.’

‘Why?’ Tempo’s voice was stern but his eyes were pleading.

‘I can’t explain. I have no knowledge of the situation, but if it is what I think it might be, then I want no part of it.’

‘Let him leave,’ Gleaming Shield spoke up. ‘If you wish, you may bring him up to speed later.’

Douglas took a tentative step backwards before Tempo even gave his response. ‘Very well.’

Douglas nodded and beat a hasty retreat from the room, slamming the door before Tempo could change his mind.

Not that he felt that the Prince would change his own mind. Rather that the actions – the pleading of his voice, the way he looked so desperately at Douglas, a curiosity at the source of his frustrations – would change Douglas’ mind and require him to stay.

Douglas was surprised he didn’t leave the throne room, or even the Crystal Palace. Once he retreated from the room, he went right back to his position and stayed there.

What seemed like hours later, Gleaming Shield left the room. Douglas walked alongside her to the entrance of the throne room and opened the door for her.

Gleaming Shield looked back with something of a sad smile.

‘I tried,’ she said simply.

It was then that Douglas understood.

Chapter XIII - Beating Heart

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That afternoon, Douglas ended up spending most of his time in the Prince’s suite. Tempo had pulled that book with the manifesto out from his office and spent nearly an hour pacing back and forth across the room, mumbling furiously and with such intent that Douglas wanted to know what was said.

Not that he could have understood it if Tempo spoke aloud; it was written in that strange language that made no sense to him.

At a certain point in the book, Tempo paused and stopped as though he’d hit an invisible wall. His eyes lit up and any tiredness or stress that was left in his face vanished. He reread through the same point in the book, or at least it seemed that way to Douglas since he appeared to be mumbling a whole lot without turning the page.

He stopped again, and a more determined look suddenly crossed Tempo’s face; his eyebrows creased and he had a rather focused look in his eye. Tempo closed the book with a sense of finality before heading over to his vanity and putting it away.

‘What time is it?’ he asked, his first words spoken in hours.

Douglas looked over to a clock on the Prince’s nightstand. ‘Eleven-ish? It isn’t quite lunch yet, if that’s what you’re wondering.’

Tempo nodded. ‘Come; we’re going out. I have an errand I want to run before lunch.’

Douglas nodded, thankful at least that the Prince was starting to resume a normal schedule.

They went to the lift and went down to the city. They headed down one of the main spokes and arrived at a large restaurant colored a fine orange on the outside and contained a mixture of deep yellows and blues and brilliant purples. It had a quiet but welcoming atmosphere but it seemed relatively quiet.

Tempo tested the door. When he found it unlocked, he stepped inside, Douglas following him. A pony in a fancy vest was standing at a small pedestal and smiled at them as they entered. Douglas saw a few ponies scattered about and assumed this place was more well-known for lunch and dinner than it was for breakfast.

‘Table for two, your majesty?’ the maître-d asked.

‘Yes, but not tonight,’ Tempo said. ‘What day is it? Thursday?’

‘Yes, sir,’ the maître-d said. ‘If you wanted one I assure you I could make room.’

‘It’s not a matter of room,’ Tempo said. ‘It’s a matter of time. I want a reservation for Monday evening at seven o’clock.’

‘Of course, my Prince.’ The maître-d flipped a few pages and wrote something down in his notebook. ‘And, uh, do you have any preference as to where to sit?’

‘Main room with the classical set. Towards the wall, perhaps under the painting by Chiaroscuro. And don’t draw too much attention to it.’

‘Of course. Monday night at seven o’clock reserved. Do you want candlelight or the chandelier?’

Tempo took a look at Douglas almost as though he was asking for his opinion. But before Douglas could even say anything for or against – or against the whole thing, as his mind was currently leaning towards – he turned back around to face the maître-d.

‘Candlelight with dimmed chandelier.’

The maître-d penciled a few more things in his notebook. ‘Alright, your majesty, your reservation is set. We shall see you on Monday.’

‘Thank you.’

Tempo walked out and back into the main city, Douglas following him. Tempo didn’t speak until they were almost under the legs of the Crystal Palace, heading off towards the market spoke again.

‘Any preferences for lunch?’

Douglas shrugged. ‘Not particularly, no.’

‘Then we shall go to the café.’

They went to the same café and sat down right where they had the first time. Douglas ordered a glass of water and Tempo ordered a tea, the waiter came around and they ordered lunch – Douglas had a noodle soup and salad with toast – before leaving them alone in the sunshine.

‘I want to apologize,’ Tempo said.

Douglas shrugged. ‘For what?’ he asked.

‘I might have been a bit hard or overbearing,’ Tempo said. ‘That night in the mirror room, the last few times in my suite. Or all those other times where I’ve pushed you a little too hard, and I know there’s a lot of them.’

‘Look,’ Douglas replied. ‘I understand the general purpose of it. It’s just the methods were a bit strange. Again, it’s not something I’m used to.’

‘I know.’ Tempo smiled. ‘Again, I blame myself for not taking such things into account.’

Douglas shrugged and threw up his hands in a “oh well” gesture. ‘You could have asked.’

Tempo took a sip of his tea. ‘Would you have said “yes” in some of those situations?’

Douglas thought about it. ‘Some of them, given time. Like dancing at the gala.’

Tempo nodded in amusement. ‘Why is that?’

Douglas found himself chuckling despite himself. ‘Because I never had before. And I guess the evening was pretty nice, even if it was a little...’

Tempo smiled knowingly. ‘...a little forward.’ He chuckled as well now. ‘Quite an apt description of it. But now? If I had to admit that the dinner I arranged was for you to come along with me, what would you say?’

Douglas had his suspicions about the reservation, and to hear them confirmed nearly made him go pale again as though Tempo had immediately forgotten their last conversation. ‘You know I’m inclined to say “no”, right?’

‘Figured as much. But I want you to understand I mean for this dinner purely to make up for what I did; an apology, nothing more. You’ll work your normal time then meet me and then we’ll go out.’

‘That seems fair,’ Douglas said. ‘Dinner every once in a while to talk things over is fine. Just... just so long as it doesn’t become a frequent occurrence.’

Tempo smiled. ‘What say we make it two months after this time before the next time I invite you to dinner?’

Douglas looked around awkwardly. ‘Uh... how about four months?’

‘Three and you have a deal.’

There was a moment where they traded glares for a while trying to see if the other would budge in either direction. And then Douglas started cracking a smile, and Tempo followed afterwards, and by the time the waiter brought round their food, they were laughing heartily at one another.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday passed as normal as Douglas could want.

He went to school Friday evening and Saturday morning, guarded Tempo as he walked around on Saturday afternoon, and went to school all of Sunday. He settled himself into his classes and did his homework in his spare time, chatting and getting advice from the other Guard as he did so.

Douglas’ mood improved noticeably. Between easier and more casual conversations with the Prince and getting into school again, Douglas became easier to talk to and the Guard no longer asked about either the night at the mirror or Douglas’ time spent with Tempo. He even managed to balance his homework with playing cards with the others.

Monday morning provided little actual disturbance despite the ending being a little different for Douglas. He was fresh off a weekend of school and actually enjoyed the day “off” from the faster pace of University as he walked around the various departments and then going around town with Prince Tempo. They walked around for a few hours before returning to the Crystal Palace.

They were ascending to the top floor in the lift when Tempo asked Douglas what time it was.

‘By my guess, it’d be close to five. You said you had that reservation for seven?’

Tempo nodded as the lift reached the top floor. ‘Go down and put your armor away, then come up to my suite.’

Douglas bowed as the Prince exited, heading down to the main floor via the lift. Once back at the main floor, he placed his armor into the glass case where it belonged and placed his spear with the others. After which, he took the long staircase up to the top and back to the Prince’s suite.

When he returned, Tempo was at his vanity and Douglas noticed the formal attire he had worn out the night of the gala was out on the bed. Tempo motioned for the bathroom. ‘I’ll need you to shower again, but this time because the restaurant is somewhat fancy.’

It was much the same as before. Douglas turned the water until it was pleasantly warm, then stepped in. First came the rough green soap, then the pink soap for his body, then the blue soap for his hair. Douglas wasted no time, wondering if he could make the evening end quicker by speeding himself up.

He got out of the shower and dried off, leaving the towel around his waist as he went out to where the clothes were. He quickly jumped into the pants before Tempo could see him and placed on the shirt and vest soon afterwards. Tempo wore the same outfit he had during the gala, as well, though this time there was no boutonniere to pin to their jackets.

‘Lighten up, Douglas,’ Tempo said upon noticing the worry and trepidation come back to Douglas’ face. ‘Sometimes we need to do things just because it’s available to us.’

Douglas did not quite understand.

‘If there’s one thing that I don’t like about you, it’s that you must always question. Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes you just need to take things in stride.’ Tempo started to lead Douglas out of the room, prancing and taking rather graceful steps out into the hallway and towards the lift. ‘Release it. Let yourself be taken away.’

If Douglas didn’t know any better, he would have thought Tempo would burst into song right then and there.

It was then that Douglas found himself surrounded by a blue aura. The aura lifted him up and onto Tempo’s back, who was now turning around in the hallway despite being a few feet away from the lift. Douglas was set on his back and he instinctually grabbed onto Tempo’s neck, afraid of what would happen next.

‘Because sometimes life is a little more fun with a little spontaneity.’

Why didn’t I just jump off while I had the chance? Douglas thought.

Before Douglas could say anything in reply, Tempo started bolting down the hall and he had to grasp onto the Prince’s neck to avoid falling off. Tempo took a surprisingly agile turn around into the double doors of the suite and tore off for the balcony. The wind was already whipping Douglas’ hair as Tempo launched himself off the balcony and spread his wings.

But instead of rocketing towards the ground, Douglas felt their pace slow down and they began to gently sail down through the evening sky. Douglas saw the curve of the earth and the ponies below looking like miniatures as they went in a wide, swooping curve as they soared over the streets.

The alicorn didn’t even flap his wings. He simply lowered himself and tightened his wings as they glided past the palace, over the roofs of the crystalline city. Douglas felt the wind begin to pick up around him, and yet he released Tempo’s neck and pushed himself to sit upright. Despite the lack of response from the alicorn telling him to possibly hold on tighter, Douglas found himself able to sit on Tempo without fear, spreading his arms like he had done so many nights before.

Tempo evenly came out of his dive and began to soar upwards again. There was a moment where Douglas felt himself pushed into the alicorn’s back by the force pushing down on him, but Tempo had come out and started going through another even arc. Douglas found himself becoming weightless once again, feeling the wind coursing through his veins and finding himself grinning despite himself.

‘Afraid as I am,’ said Douglas, ‘I still have not felt a sensation quite like that of flight.’

Tempo turned around to face Douglas and smiled. ‘Do you trust me?’ he said. The alicorn had straightened himself out and was now flapping his wings, a still a fair fifty feet above ground.

For a moment, Douglas hesitated. But only for a moment. He nodded.

‘Don’t grab hold. I won’t let you fall.’

Tempo pointed himself upwards and took a few gentle flaps as they rose in height. They passed over the edge of the city and found themselves overlooking the plains, stained the orange of flowing wheat with the light of the evening sun. Douglas thought it awesome, the way they were looking over the entirety of the crystal city from such a vantage point that few ever saw for themselves.

Slowly, Tempo dived. He slowly pulled himself down, then went further and further and further. Douglas wanted to grab hold as they tilted down ten, twenty, thirty degrees, but he held his arms out and braced himself. Eventually they were speeding downwards at a fifty-degree angle, Tempo’s wings slightly folded inwards so that they were rocketing towards the ground.

It was almost like freefalling. Douglas felt the wind rushing past him, feeling a sense of dread as they practically fell towards the earth. And yet there was something in him that told him this was the single most thrilling thing he had done in his life. And as Tempo pulled out of his dive and gently arced upwards, there came the sound of a fearful yet excited laugh that filled him and surrounded him.

Tempo went around the entirety of the Crystal Palace in his arc before turning around when they were across from the balcony. He ever so gently began to drop into a glide once again, letting them soar under the legs of the palace before pulling into an even path down the main street, passing over the heads of ponies that turned to follow the prince slicing through the air above them.

Towards the end of the main road, Tempo tilted himself down again and gently lowered them to the ground, flapping his wings as they came close. Douglas felt himself gently pulled backwards as though Tempo was rearing before Tempo gracefully landed on the ground.

‘I should have done that with you the first day,’ Tempo said, ‘instead of making you black out with something that intense.’

‘But this time I wasn’t afraid,’ Douglas said, getting off Tempo and walking up so that he could see the Prince’s face, that handsome face… ‘It couldn’t have gotten worse.’ He smiled at Tempo. ‘You wouldn’t have let it.’

Tempo shook his head. ‘It’s always worst the first time. Not knowing what is going on. But after that, it just comes easier.’

Tempo had brought them to rest in front of the restaurant. Now there was the faint talking in the room without being too loud, and a four-piece band played lively classical music in the main room that whispered and pranced around the guests without disturbing any of them.

Tempo approached the front desk and towards a smiling pony in a tuxedo. ‘Hello, I have a reservation for tonight. It should be under “D’Amore Temporus”.’

The stallion looked down at his notepad for a second before nodding. ‘Table for two? You’re just on time, your majesty,’ he said easily. ‘Your table is ready. Please, follow me.’

Tempo and Douglas were taken to a corner of the main room. They were sat in comfortable wooden chairs with plush blue seats at a table with a clean white table cloth and a set of three gently flickering candles in the center. Two menus were presented to them before the maître-d retreated with a bow.

‘Please,’ Tempo said, ‘feel free to choose whatever suits your fancy.’

Douglas looked at the menu. ‘It’s pretty expensive,’ he said. ‘Eighteen bits for their entrée’s is a bit much.’

‘They cook everything to perfection,’ Tempo said. ‘It is hard to find better cooks anywhere in Equestria except for in Canterlot’s kitchen.’

‘Still, one of the places the guard talks about does good food for around seven bits.’

‘I personally enjoy this place,’ Tempo said, not seeming to mind Douglas. ‘I simply wanted to spend an evening out. I can afford it, and this place always has my patronage.’

By the time the waitress came around, Douglas had made up his mind. They started with a basket of small, almost bite-sized bread pieces made with cheese and garlic baked into them. Douglas soon ordered a noodle soup and light salad with balsamic dressing, a plate of marinated soy beef with diced russet potatoes and asparagus garnished with a light honey mustard demi-glaze, while Tempo ordered a vegetable chowder and a similar salad with soy chicken and rice pilaf with a side of a cheese-filled tomato in a light, sweet sauce and garnished with a side of crystal berries. The mare nodded politely as she took their order and bowed as she retreated.

‘You’ve chosen some of their best,’ Tempo said as the waitress mare left. ‘I have yet to find a place even in my travels across Equestria that can match the soy beef with the demi-glaze.’

‘You told me to pick whatever suited my fancy.’

‘And you did. That’s what matters.’

‘...still surprises me that this place would have a meat substitute.’

‘I find the taste is quite alright. It’s the guilt that’s the problem.’

The waitress soon came around with a basket of eight rolls and two bowls of soup. The bread was the softest that Douglas had eaten with the perfect amount of cheese and garlic, and his noodle soup was flavored with so many different herbs and spices it was hard to tell what was coming in strongest yet they all blended together expertly and filled his mouth with flavor.

‘So,’ Douglas said in between bites of his soup, ‘how did you expect to patch our grievances up over dinner?’

Tempo took a bite of his chowder and delicately padded his mouth with an available napkin. ‘Air your grievances at me,’ he said with something of an air of confidence. ‘I want to know what exactly I did wrong so I don’t make the same mistake again. I know the culture thing, but I want to know what specifically you had problems with.’

Douglas looked back in his memory. ‘Well, if we’re talking specific to me, there were two things,’ he said, but hesitated to continue.

Tempo nodded. ‘Well, what were they?’

‘There was the time you kissed me after that gala, and the time you took me to see the exhibit about… humans,’ he said in quiet voice, ‘…at the museum.’

‘Alright. Easy enough. What offended you about those two events?’

‘I’ll start with the museum because it was most recent. I just felt awkward because you showed me something that said I belonged, and yet it made me feel more alone because it reminded me I was the only one here like that.’

‘I simply wanted to remind you of your heritage,’ Tempo responded. ‘Perhaps Princess Celestia didn’t tell you that even though it is a part of our history that you were once here, that humans once ruled and that was why she wanted you here and took an interest in you.’

Douglas nodded. ‘Alright, but what about the kiss? Where I come from, kissing is a rather intimate gesture. So is most physical contact, for that matter. Matter of fact,’ he said, setting down his spoon in an empty bowl, ‘it’s usually reserved for when two people are… bonded together. And not typically done between two males, at that,’ he added.

‘Two explanations. One, this place is much less restrained about public displays of affection than your old home, I’d wager; a nuzzle between two ponies is quite common. Secondly, perhaps I felt that bond in that moment; I was caught up in the emotions of the gala.’

Douglas nodded and thought about it. Certainly emotions had run high that particular night. It appeared a satisfying explanation, but there seemed to be something behind it. Something that told him the prince wasn’t exactly—

‘You think I’m not telling the truth?’ Tempo commented. ‘It is as plain as the look on your face, the intent stare as though trying to analyze and break apart my words. Look at me, Douglas. Have I lied to you?’

‘Oh, I do not question the veracity. I question the intent. There’s no doubt in my mind you’ve been telling me the truth in some fashion at any point in time; it’s why or for what reason you tell me things that I have trouble figuring out.’

The waitress came around and took away the empty soup bowls. They were quickly replaced by another unicorn pony bringing around two salads, which they immediately began eating before Tempo responded.

‘I like you, Douglas. It has been a while since I could divulge my feelings into someone as I have you. I believe I remember telling you the joking we did about my job was my actual feelings on the position of Prince. But with you I find my spirit lighten. I have heard it said when someone finds a soul mate, they feel their heart jump. I felt it the morning of your first official day in the castle, where I found you staring at the window, that you were another lost soul with a missing piece.’

‘Now do not mistake me,’ Tempo continued, ‘as there are many meanings for soul mate. In the sense I mean, it is of someone who I could find myself with and feel at ease. Someone who I could drop this façade I have of being happy all the time. What good is a prince of love if he cannot find something or someone to love himself? Oh, it’s platonic only, but I still have found something that fulfills that part.’

Douglas looked around the room nervously, wondering if anyone else had heard the Prince’s impassioned speech. Yet he surprised that not a single other diner was looking in their direction. And yet it made him feel even more awkward about the situation. He felt his face get hot and he found himself failing to look straight at Tempo. He instead settled on looking at the base of his horn.

‘I… it’s been a while since anyone thought of me in that way,’ Douglas said. ‘I’m not quite sure what to think, or how to respond.’

Tempo smiled gently at him, and there was a lightness in that face that Douglas had seen only once or twice. It was, Douglas now recognized, a feeling of having found peace, a sign that Tempo was where he wanted to be. The only other times he had seen it were at the gala and during their first flight.

‘You don’t have to respond directly,’ Tempo said, his voice seemingly placing more emphasis on his words than he ever had while speaking in a quiet whisper that could barely be heard above the crowds. ‘Show me. Show me you feel at least something of the same. Your words have not always stated your true feelings, so let your actions speak for themselves, because they have been kinder to me than any pony.’

Their dinner came around. Douglas found himself more relaxed and took his time eating the soy beef and thinly-sliced potatoes in olive-oil and the demi-glaze. Him and Tempo exchanged a bite of their meals, each tasting the others plate. They talked about the little things and sometimes about nothing at all. Sometimes they looked at each other, and sometimes they would look around at the other patrons and Tempo would get them laughing doing various impressions of customers that came in or poked fun at their outfits.

No one bothered to speak up. No one dared speak up when the Prince was in the room, even more so when he was the one doing it.

Which was a fact that Douglas found amusing in and of itself in a different way.

After they had finished their dinner, Tempo and Douglas walked back to the palace. Tempo had offered to fly, but they were both feeling full enough they agreed that flying would quite probably make them sick. Despite this, it wasn’t that long before they were back at the palace, taking the lift back up all those stories to Tempo’s suite, where Tempo started to take off his formal clothes and encouraged Douglas to take off his own.

Douglas started changing out of his formal attire and had gotten back into his pants before Tempo came over and tapped him on the shoulder. Douglas turned around and looked at Tempo, noticing the handsome face staring at him with that look of peace and satisfaction.

‘Now that you are more aware of the conventions here,’ Tempo said, ‘perhaps you won’t run away this time.’

‘Run away from what?’ Douglas tried asking.

But before he could complete it, Tempo had come up and kissed him, once again on his lips.

Douglas was first frozen. He wasn’t sure what to do. The kiss was electric; he had felt quite happy and content as they walked back to the palace, but as Tempo’s lips touched his own, he felt something jolt him back into consciousness. Tempo’s eyes had closed as they touched his, but Douglas’ were wide open and questioning everything.

What was going on? Why did Tempo do this to him a second time? Why did he do it knowing that it had made Douglas feel uncomfortable last time? Why did he do it without waiting for him to put on a shirt and make himself feel more decent? ...why was it still going?

...

...why did he not mind it?

Show me. Show me you feel at least something of the same.

Tempo’s lips only broke contact for a moment, but in that moment Douglas found himself relaxing. He let his eyes close and reconnected with the Prince, allowing his arms to find their way up until his hands were resting on Tempo’s shoulders. He found himself sitting on the bed as Tempo’s warm body touched his, feeling the soft pink coat of the alicorn touch his chest. And for just a moment he felt he knew the peace and satisfaction that the alicorn seemed to know so well.

Douglas was not aware of when he returned to the common room. Yet when he returned, pants still intact and his shirt now on, he felt himself in a state of bliss as he climbed into his bed and fell asleep facing the deep blue crystal ceiling.

The Monster and the Crystal Prince

by Revenant Wings

Chapter I - Through the Mirror

Chapter II - Transfer

Chapter III - Meeting with the Crystal Prince

Chapter IV - The Elite Palace Guard

Chapter V - Enigma

Chapter VI - 'Vires amicitiae'

Chapter VII - Flight of Fancy

Chapter VIII - Change of Heart

Chapter IX - The Invitation

Chapter X - 'Virtutis amor'

Chapter XI - Ancient History

Chapter XII - Between Two Worlds

Chapter XIII - Beating Heart