Knight of Solas

Chapter 2

Spectre of the Gala

Fire knight galloped as fast as could to get to the train station, as it was the fastest way to get to Canterlot.

   “I have to get to that train, I can’t allow Chrysalis carry out this…assassination of Celestia” he mused while he galloped, furiously through Ponyville under the cover of dark. He then spotted something from the corner of his eye and slowed to a gentle trot and read an advertisement emblazoned in big red and yellow lettering: covering the whole pane of glass in a shop window. It read. **CANTERLOT CELEBRATION** BE THE FIRST PONY TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS You attended The CANTERLOT Celebration for this THE WEEKEND.

TICKETS on sale now OPEN from 9:00 to 10:30.

“Oh! Great its just hit 10, damn my luck!” he cursed under his breathy as came away from the shop, running to the train station. A thought then suddenly crossed his mind; he knew he couldn’t enter Canterlot without dressing appropriately, anypony who were worth his or hers hay would be dressed in rich silks, feathers and suits, peering at himself he considered entering Canterlot with his black cloak was, most certainly, a no no.

He racked his mind, for an answer to his dilemma. The clock on the old tower to his right seemed to be mocking him; the big hand jumped another minute. Celestia’s life was hanging by a thread; the supreme ruler of Equestria was depending on him, Equestria was relying on him, the hand of the great-clock jumped another notch, he looked up and down the street to try to find a solution

“Oh…Come on, where can I get rich pony clothes” he looked around to no avail, however he realised, how could he have been so stupid, It was staring him in the face all this wasted time. He should have thought about it after he killed those Changelings

“Rarities shop of course” he said triumphantly,

galloping towards the shop hastily. He presumed the door was locked so using his magic he spiralled his head horn around the keyhole, to open the door

“Come on… just a few more pins” The door pins then clicked and swung open.

He looked around for Rarity but gathered that she was already at the party and stepped inside. Fire Knight knew that little mare from times he had spent in Ponyville wouldn’t miss a Royal party for the world.

He then walked in,  the room was dark and deserted it was clear now that nopony was home. He went to the nearest clothes rack and rummaged through them, looking for something that suited him and the party of course

   “Ah this will fit nicely” smiling as picked from the row a nice Black Tuxedo with bow tie.

After he got dressed; his cloak over the tuxedo, he went inside his inside pocket to find a small pouch of gold he then placed the bits on the counter for Rarity. Even if he was a Knight he still lived by his good morals.

He brusquely made his way outside and shut door behind him, locking it again.

He then made it his utmost priority to get that train, Stop Chrysalis and save Celestia.

The train station was now in sight, he was going to make it but that theory drastically changed, as he heard the sound of a low pitch whistle…like a train

“Oh no you don’t!” he uttered from under his fast paced breath, forcing all the energy he could muster to his hooves to go as fast as they could. The train was now leaving the station and was now picking up worrying speed the train conductor shouting

   “Last train to Canterlot!” he was now on the platform running beside the train and ahead of him was a nearby bridge. The train was accelerating and Fire Knight was loosing ground with it, he then made the decision run up the bridge, making him level with the escaping train and made one massive jump towards the train’s roof.

   CRASH! He landed on the last carriage, gaining a firm hold on the roof of the train.

   “Phew” wiping his forehead

“That was close”

   Fire Knight was now keeping very low on the train’s roof, his cloak uncontrollably flapping in the icy cold wind. The train itself moved incredibly fast, this must have been due to the driver wanting to get some hard earned rest after a hard days work or the fact he was on top made it seem fast he presumed. The journey to Canterlot taken not so long as he thought as Fire Knight heard the conductor bellow

   “LAST STOP CANTERLOT!” However Fire Knight wasn’t out of the blue yet as he looked up to see the entrance for the train to Canterlot pass under; this made security tighter since this allowed guards to easily scan the train for any hitchhikers that could be aboard. He spotted two royal guards standing at opposite ends of the archway, so, to avoid detection he went fully flat on the train roof; pinning his cloak down with all four of his hooves so the guards wouldn’t see him, he waited cautiously for a few worrying moments, the train continued and to his relief he passed through the archway undetected.

The train was coming to a halt, so before it could be inspected, he jumped off its roof and landed into the shadow of a nearby alleyway. He disappeared like a ghost and no matter how hard you looked, Fire knight was like a ghost, one with the shadows that lay around him and when he came out of the darkness he was in his pristine black tuxedo his cloak folded up upon his back

  “Ahh this should look believable, just hope this works”

He said fixing his bowtie with a small grin; walking beside the train to where 2 guards were standing with sharpened spears and generic golden royal guard armour, more for ceremonial use then actual combat he thought

   “Greetings sir to Canterlot if wish to get tickets they are over by that ticket counter over there” one proud looking guard said pointing a steady hoof to where they were

   “If you have already bought the tickets the royal palace is at the end of this red carpet” replied his comrade pointing to a velvet red carpet.

   “Thanks gentle colts” he replied politely, walking on towards the ticket counter, which to his convenience was just to the left side of where those guards stood.

   Dwelling inside was a grim looking pony illuminated by what looked to be candlelight. Fire Knight trotted towards the stand built-in to the hovel, hoping they hadn’t all sold out. He rang the ornate bell on the purple velvet counter and waited for the pony that dwelled inside.

   “Sorry were sold out of tickets” explained the colt sharply who sat miserly counting his towers of gold bits next to a dying candle

“Just go home, its not like it’s the end of the world” Stupid miser he thought, if it wasn’t the end of the world, it was definitely the beginning of it.

He walked away disappointed and started walking up the thick already trampled looking red carpet, he sighed for a moment then collected his thoughts, he wasn’t going to give up that easily and besides he couldn’t anyway. He had to find an alternative way inside Canterlot with or without the ticket and that place was locked down tight, its design was made to be impossible to breach but either way he had to get in, one way or another. He followed the red carpet rather hurriedly as time was now against him, he couldn’t afford to waste anymore. After he trotted on a few more hoof steps he finally reached where he wanted to be. At the end was exactly what the guards said, in all its glory was Canterlot palace, abolish with decorations, tall spires and ornate glass windows, truly a sight to behold.

   “Ahh now that’s a towering achievement” said an old, weary voice from behind him

   “Huh oh yes certainly” Fire Knight replied, jumping slightly

“You here for the gala”

   “Yes you could say that” the old colt replied

   “What you mean by that?”

“I used to be a royal guard here, I used to stand guard by the throne where Celestia sat” Fire Knight frowned, from the colts tired out voice he could assume that he must have lost the title over something rather…disheartening, weather it be he just wasn’t cut out for it, lost somepony or just got beaten by somepony else, society can be cruel like that he thought.

   “Must have been a honour, guarding Celestia”

   “Yes it was until one day I was told that I was too old too work”

The old stallion explained.

Age was what caught up to him but in Fire Knights point of view experience was what proved a colt’s worth, not his age; he let the poor, old stallion continue

“So instead of moving up my rank they just told me to pack my bags and go home”

   “It seems even in a happy world like equestria bad things still seem to happen”

   “Yeah I suppose so”

“Oh sorry, where are my maners, I forgot to introduce myself”

There was no point to keep his name away from this old mare

“My names Fire Knight”

“Sharp spear” they said merrily shaking hooves

Sharp spear was a dull grey pony with white hair who obviously seen better days well… in his younger days that is

“We best get inside before they shut the doors you coming” Fire Knight however couldn’t, he had to get inside so he replied

   “I just some time outside for a while but you on inside”

   “Okay see you at the party” and Sharp spear walked down the street to where the doors to the party must have been.

Fire knight examined the castle in great detail up and down for any possible entrances like a open window or unguarded passageway but it was as he thought, guards everywhere, and all windows and doors locked and closed. He exhaled rather loudly as he turned to head to the entrance to Canterlot gardens, pacing quite quickly to where he thought the entrance ought to have been but yet another obstacle stood in his way.

   “Oh great” he thought out loud

A rabble of a queue of 12 smartly dressed ponies rambling and arguing to get in

   “How long is it going to take to get in here!” Fire Knight heard from the line

   “Make way commoners for I am prince blue blood” Fire Knight then turned his head sharply towards him, It was the prince himself or at least what he thought he was, Prince Blue blood Celestias nephew, Fire Knight couldn’t hide the fact that this so called prince he heard about was a stallion, who to the very least, didn’t deserve the title he was given, In Fire Knights eyes he was no more then a overly pruned colt who thought himself higher then others, it seemed the title didn’t match the pony atoll. Fire knight got back to what was happening around himself; walking closer to the queue

   “Why should we, we’ve waited longer then you” spat a stressed pony

   “Why…because I’m a part of the royal family and I have a VIP invitation to see Celestia” bragged prince blue blood

   “Show off” commented Fire Knight who spoke a bit louder then he should of and watched prince blue blood turn around to see the culprit, Fire Knight

   “Um excuse me” he replied hoping that his title of prince would make the pony that stood in front, fear him

   “Pardon?” Fire knight said wittily pretending that he didn’t say anything

“Oh wait your Celestia’s nephew; why sir it’s an honour?” He continued, obviously lying about it being an honour: actually being quite far from it. Fire Knight bowed to this so-called prince, merely pretending to be courteous to Blue Blood and to his luck the oblivious prince obviously was buying it and put a hoof to his chest: clearing his throat.

   “Yes I am…why” he proudly said. Fire Knight stood upright

then taking out a single sheet of paper and pen with his magic asked

   “Well I have a friend who is an admirer and was wandering if…” Blue Blood looked at the pen and paper, clueless on what to do next, Fire Knight still hovering the two was thinking, he couldn’t be that thick to not know what he was asking,

   “Oh…yes you can have a autograph, at a price of course” he given Fire Knight a unpleasant snigger his hoof held out ready to take the cash

   “How much?” Fire Knight grunted

   “20 bits” He smiled smugly. Fire Knight hated the fact he was paying 20 bits for a stupid autograph,

   “Okay, here you go” Blue Blood miserly looked at the pouch of gold bits, but this only left Blue bloods other senses clouded as Fire Knight, when no pony was looking, secretly with his magic pulled from his pocket the VIP Invitation from the off guard prince Blue Blood

“Thank you”

   “Ok commoner I have royal business to attend to” and strut inside forgetting about the entire thing, course he didn’t need an invitation, he was a prince after all.

After a long an agonising wait in the queue it was now Fire Knights turn to hoof in his invitation

   “You must be an important pony to have that invitation”

Said the doorpony wearing a black suit and shades to go with it

   “Well you could say that” Fire Knight replied to the colt who eyes at him suspiciously, Fire Knight remaining calm in response

   “All right you can go in, this door pony job’s given me a headache” grunted the stallion wearily rubbing his forehead as Fire Knight walked past him.

He was in, and now in the luxurious Canterlot gardens where he seen groups of chatty and wealthy ponies everywhere, speaking about how well there jobs were going and other aspects of there rich and royal lives, the possibility that Chrysalis was one of these ponies would be very high, possibly trying to blend in amongst the crowds, so Fire Knight trotted around the place doing his best to look for Celestia but more importantly his priority target Chrysalis.

Chrysalis was in the party, disguised as one of the ponies no doubt and after the Canterlot wedding incident; well the guards were doubled and put on high alert ever since it even happened. Whatever Chrysalis was doing she was doing it good, however though Chrysalis was a master at these undercover operations such as this she was not the only pony with such covert skills. Fire Knight was taught in the arts of assassination and stealth in his shadow corps years and was skills in which he was rightly feared and famed for. During those years he was taught one key thing, you must know your enemy to defeat your enemy and Fire Knight knew his enemies very well.

Chrysalis, the queen of the changelings, a mistress of shape shifting and an expert at copying a ponies personality and appearance almost identical to the pony she was imitating, but she had only one flaw, the only thing that brought her down was her impatient thinking but besides that weakness, she was quite the impressive Changeling but against a Shadow corps soldier? This was one pony she weren’t going to fool, he was going to find her sooner or later.

Fire Knight decided it be best to find where Celestia was first hoof as this offered a better opportunity of Chrysalis exposing herself. The well-dressed stallion walked up towards a trio of ponies who both talked about the palaces architecture and history. The two ponies noticed the colt walk up to them and turned to greet the new arrival

   “Sorry to disturb you, but its something urgent” he said to a black suited pony with a gold monocle

   “What is it?” he replied with a posh, upper class-accent

   “Do you know where Celestia might be, I was meant to attend but it appears time got ahead of me?” Fire Knight explained, the pony thought for a while as Fire Knight anxiously looked at the pocket watch that hung from his pocket, the pony then quickly raised a hoof and said

   “Ahh yes now I remember Celestia must be touring around the castle with those VIP guests of hers, I think they’re heading towards the throne room, you should head there”

   “Much obliged sir, thank you” Fire Knight politely replied to the two well-dressed colts and then left them both trotting up towards a stone bridge which crossed stream, which he presumed, lead to the throne room.

“There it is, Canterlot’s throne room, but where’s…” Fire Knight was cut off as he heard the ensemble of ever-growing hoof steps coming from somewhere to his left side.

As he was about to continue walking over the bridge he seen Celestia, it was absolutely imperative that Celestia couldn’t see him mostly because of his appearance, himself being taller then Celestia would raise the suspicion that he wasn’t just a normal pony and his cover would most certainly be blown.

“Ah crap!” Fire Knight cursed under his breath as he quickly jumped out of sight under the cover of the bridge and waited for them to pass over, toward the throne room. He waited under the cover of the bridge and could feel the cold water that passed through his hooves rather uncomfortably soaking the cuffs of his tuxedo, but he had to stay silent so done his best to ignore it, these materialistic things were  un-important compared to some ponies life being in jeopardy. He could hear their hooves walking atop the bridge passing over to the other side as a wise female voice spoke kindly to them

   “Now we are heading to the throne room where I speak to my other subjects about Equestria and other politics like keeping everything under control and keeping the peace of Equestria, now I’m sorry but we cant go in because I am slightly busy, I have some work to attend to so please make your way back to the party and have a wonderful evening everypony” Fire Knight assumed this must have been Celestia talking to the ponies above and while she did, he crept sneakily across to the other side of the stream while remaining under the shadow of the bridge, keeping silent.

With some difficulty he reached the other side unnoticed. He slowly peeked his head up looking from behind could see the other ponies walking back to canter lot gardens, he turned his head back to the thrown room door and watched Celestia walk in however Fire Knight noticed one dull brown pony standing a few meters from 2 guards and the throne room door, this was odd he thought and so he continued watching the mare keeping vigilant of his surroundings.

   “Excuse me, is there a problem” wandered the 2 royal guards who where standing either side of the elaborate doors

   “Yes, there is a problem”

The mare then paused and equally so did the guards

   “So…what is it?” The mare began to chuckle; the guards confused why she was.

   “The problem well the problem is …you” A veil of green magical light enrobed the mare blinding both Fire Knight and the 2 oblivious guards, Fire Knight forced his head to turn back and seen 2 bolts of green potent looking magic hit the two guards rendering them unconcoius, when the green light vanished, it wasn’t a pony standing there but a Changling, Queen Chrysalis.

   “Told you there was a problem” she chuckled to herself as she looked down at the 2 guardsmen who she had just taken care of. She then shape shifted into a identical match of the royal guard that lay on the floor; this being her ticket to get into the throne room and eventually Celestia, she looked back to the unconscious bodies on the floor behind her and turned back to them. With her telekinetic magic she started moving them behind a bush; out of sight to all but her, Fire Knight eyed at her behaviour raising a eyebrow as she walked back to the entrance to the throne room and slowly but carefully opened it. Fire Knight had to admit, to have gotten this far without having being discovered was something that made him quite impressed but the moment he thought about what he just said made him think deeper, was this truly her, obviously it was because she was standing right there but all the actions she done her behaviour it seemed all to well thought out for a changeling to have devised but more like the mind of a Drocha warrior. Fire Knight stopped pandering on his thoughts and jumped from his spot at the bank.

   “Danm I cant use the front door!” he cursed yet again

“Nice one Chryssi” he chuckled coldly as he looked around for yet another idea. He turned his vision to one of the royal guards sticking out of the of the bush. he walked towards the unconscious golden armoured body of the colt who had been unluckily beaten by the queens potent magic.

He thought hastily, as the sands of time were starting to run thin. An idea then suddenly popped into his head

“Wait…I can use the front door, I’ll just do what I done to get into Canterlot gardens” he began using his magic to levitate the stallions royal armour and replacing it with his Tuxedo. Fire Knight used yet another disguise this time as a royal guard, well just a fairly tall one at that but at least his coat was white same as theirs.

“I think my luck is changing” he said as he carefully opened the two gargantuan doors entering into the throne room.

Guards were posted at each of the tall-corrugated pillars and banners and the colours of both Celestia and Luna hung from above the marble looking ceiling and reflected below on the glistening marble floor. He carefully started walk past the guardsmen, his helmet being his only chance of keeping discrete, in a funny way he wish he were a changeling, this entire thing would be a hell of a lot easier, that was Chrysalis’s advantage him. He got to the middle of the room, noticing the guards pupils looking away and losing interest of the arrival, which eased the tension he felt as he continued walking to one of the unguarded pillars.

From what he could see from behind of Chrysalis, she was walking up to the left side of the throne, watching her ever so vigilantly. There the queen stood, standing guard with a small but malevolent grin on her face covered by the shadow of her helmet. Fire Knight walked up to the pillar which to his luck, stood to the left flank of the queen and the throne, Fire Knight eyed at her with the urge to jump in and blow her cover right at that moment, but refrained from the thought as he noticed the 10 other guards in the room, if he got her now he doubted even she wouldn’t change back to her true form and grabbing her in the form she was in: he knew, as did Chrysalis it would look like he’s attacking a Royal Guard as a Royal Guard, not a smart move atoll, no…patience was the key here and so there he stood, waiting in the shadow  of the column, ready to take down his target, tracing back to what his teacher told him…Expect everything, doubt nothing, let your enemy make the first move but be ready to redirect it at them.

Half a minute past of watching the queen standing beside the beautiful golden throne and it wasn’t before long that he could hear the hard sound of hoof steps coming into the room. 8 Council members walked in dressed in robes with a print of Celestias and Lunas cutie marks entered and along side them, was Celestia. Chrysalis grinned at her bitter enemy and moved back carefully preparing to do her part as they all sat down around Celestia who was sitting quite proudly on her thrown.

   “Right now, lets begin” Celestia said courteously to her subjects before her as they all got out quills and paper ready to write and chat about the matters of Equestria. As they did this, Chrysalis backed away from Celestia a little bit more, she still didn’t have a clean shot and since everypony, apart from Fire Knight who kept a hawk like eye on her, was distracted speaking to each other she started to raise her horn at a totally oblivious Celestia, the green magic started to grow and charge itself for a killing blow, Chrysalis eyes then flickered a unusually red, something that Fire Knight recognised somehow but now was not the time as he watched her then change back to her former self; she started to chuckle madly. Fire Knight had seen enough and from the shadow of his post he jumped with great agility towards her. He knocked her over and nearly got impaled by a mangled horn but luckily thrown her off target. The magic shot against a wall the impact making a small crack: desecrating the smooth surface. Chrysalis stared at him with red slits for eyes and bared teeth turning back to her target ready to fire yet another magical potent bolt of magic so before she could he stood up holding her by the horn.

Celestia and all the other ponies in the room then finally turned round and seen Chrysalis being held by the head horn valiantly by Fire Knight. She twisted and turned, reared and kicked, furiously moving everywhere trying to break free from the hold; Fire Knight refusing to let her go. Every pony including Celestia gasped as they watched the scene before them. Chrysalis now going berserk and let go one of her now fully charged bolts of magic, it hit Fire Knights left side of his cheek; his helm being blown off by the blast leaving a nasty cut; trickling with blood and green sparks emitting from it. Fire Knight let out a small cry of pain but this however didn’t affect his stubborn hold on her, if anything it just made him all the more angry. Fire Knight had enough; with great strength he pulled her up, forcing her up against a nearby marble column with Chrysalis still struggling under his grip.

   “YEILD! ITS OVER! YEILD!” he roared but after a closer look at Chrysalis he noticed her eyes were filled with a recognisable blood lust to kill Celestia; her eyes flickering red. She started Sprawling everywhere trying to get free, punching with her hooves at his chest.

“I SAID…YEILD!” Fire Knight said one last time. Chrysalis gaze turned to his and in doing so she strangely stopped struggling weakly dropping her flailing hooves as what she then saw, was terrifying beyond belief, Fire Knights eyes were now replaced with two burning pits of gouging red hot fire; his pupils turned to a pair of blood red slits its white background now black as night and Chrysalis was now staring directly into the centre of its hellish inferno. As Fire Knight stared Chrysalis did the same, it was as though she couldn’t turn away from it, it was like he was looking into her very soul.

“Get…out” he uttered his voice sounding dark and eerily deeper then it was before.

   Something then emitted from Chrysalis’s body, a black and red smoke which then burned away and evaporated from existence. Chrysalis eyes turned back to the way they were and Fire Knights eyes too had done the same. She immediately fell unconscious and before she could hit the floor Fire Knight quickly went under her, gently holding her in his hooves. He placed her carefully on the floor before turning slowly round to face the ponies from behind him. Celestias mouth was still gaped wide open but then regained herself as Fire Knights gaze landed on her, she had too say something

   “I don’t know who you are or what you just did, but…you saved me” she said graciously

   “Not just you” Fire Knight replied looking to the unconscious Chrysalis;  Celestia doing the same.

   “Right that’s it, I’m calling the guards to get rid of her once and for all!” said an impatient advisor amongst the crowd of astonished ponies.

   “NO!” protested Fire Knight who walked in front of her unconscious body in a protective manner

   “If any pony to do the job, let me get rid of her for you!” he walked over too Chrysalis and with some difficulty placed her on his back ready to walk out of the throne room and leave what felt was becoming a dangerous situation

   “WAIT! I didn’t say I was going to get the guards!” Celestia explained but Fire Knight continued to pace rather quickly to the exit as the two gurardponies both made a X shape with their spears, blocking his way out

“PLEASE! I don’t understand” Fire Knight then stopped and slowly turned his head round avoiding eye to eye contact with the princess. Celestia needed to know something and from this little stunt by what ever it was that was inside the changeling queen was something all to familiar, worrying for both him and from the expression on her face Celestia as well. Fire Knight thought for a moment then considered it would be best to tell Celestia what was going on

   “You promise you wont call the guards on me or her”

   “Yes” said Celestia releuctantly as Fire Knight turned round to face her and her subjects

   “Tell both your guards and your subjects to leave the room, then I’ll talk” Fire Knight said eyeing at guards who eyed back at Fire Knight with fear and distrust. The council then started to bicker and argue

   “You must refer to leader of Equestria by her full royal name” said one amongst these politicians and what was becoming a waste of time another said following on from his acquaintance

   “And you cant order Celestia around like that either” Fire Knight didn’t like the way they all spoke at him as though he was somepony bellow them, but truthfully it was the vanity in their voices that made Fire Knights blood boil

   “Tell me this, what gives you the right to order somepony around and if so, give me one good reason why I should follow somepony as vain as yourself, as for Celestia she didn’t seem effected by what i just said so if you are truly loyal to her then I suggest you do the same” this made all of them stop for while and were now all surprised on how this pony was acting so rebellious against their superior, but really it was how rebellious he was acting towards them, selfish ponies he thought.

   “Please all of you go outside, ill be fine” Celestia demanded to all the ponies in the room. Her words were absolute and without question, they all, including guards went outside of the thrown room leaving Chrysalis, Celestia and the Fire Knight to sit and discuss the mater at hoof.

   Fire Knight let out a breath of relief and placed Queen Chrysalis with careful hooves on a nearby bench and using his magic levitated a chair to sit by her. Chrysalis stirred moving her body into a better resting position, Fire Knight sighed placing a distressed looking hoof over his tired eyes. Celestia curiously watched him as she came away from her beautiful throne; walking over to him

   “Are you going to tell me now who are you and what are you doing here?” there was a long silence as the ambient sound of the throne room invaded their thoughts until he spoke.

   “Okay…just be sure not tell any pony else this, not even Twilight otherwise you’ll find a lot more assassins like Chrysalis coming for you” Fire Knight seriously warned her as this was actually would be the case. If she blabbed on about what she was about to tell her the Drocha would find out and same for the merciless Sealgairi brotherhood. Taking a deep breath and turning his head to Celestia he first began with his name and his occupation

“My name is Fire Knight, and I am both a Golden Warrior and a knight of Solas, my duty has forever been too protect the good and eradicate the evil from this world, the reason I came here was because I heard news from 2 Changeling messengers that Chrysalis was sent here, to Canterlot to assassinate you, this however was thankfully stopped, for the time being that is” Fire knight explained and as he did he placed a hoof to where Chrysalis shot that vile bolt at him, Celestia seen where Chrysalis left the bloody gash that had a tint of green in the wound, she grimaced at the horrid sight

“Ha, she got me good, amazing what 4 thousand years can do to you” Fire knight said with a fake chuckle pulling away at the wound drawing more blood, then using a spell he stopped the bleeding with it,

“That should stop the bleeding, ow” he winced little in pain then turned back to Chrysalis.

   “Wait a second, does that mean your immortal, living that long?” Celestia inferred, 4 thousand years! How can a pony live that long, it was time that even rivalled her own, probably matching Discords going back to the ancient times to when her mother and farther were still alive From this statement, she was sure that Fire Knight wasn’t just a pony but something more,

   “Well to be honest i'm not so sure myself, but i dont see immortality as something to be smiled upon” he explained

“As for the 4 thousand years well, I fought the Drorcha, Celestia I’m not expecting you too understand much of this but” he paused to take another breath, Celestia listening very carefully to what he had to say

“The Drocha are what I fight against and me and my order are the guard against it and those who live in it, including Chrysalis, to perceiver, to protect that was the motto and that’s exactly what I intend to do”

   “Just one more thing Fire Knight” Celestia asked, Fire Knight turned his head to her and nodded

“I was wandering what happened to Chrysalis and well” she stuttered a little as she herself was still coming to terms with what she seen.

“What was that thing you did when your eyes set on fire” Fire Knight put a hoof to his fore head tiredly

   “Well that is a different matter all together” he sighed as this other part about him, well wasn’t something he quite often didn’t speak about and fir good reason

“Well, I suppose it wont hurt to say this as well; it’s a curse I have that is known as the mortem stare or more commonly referred to as the death stare, it’s a magical ability that cannot be taught it can only be given, it grants the user the power to look into the mind of a pony, once a pony is under its control it then allows me to control them make them think things but in this case eradicate that evil that lurked inside of her” Fire Knight said with slight anger but calmed himself

   “So that’s why it happened to Chrysalis” Celestia assumed since from her point of view what could be more evil then that war mongering changeling

   “Not exactly, in fact I should told you this first, did you see a black and red mist come out of her body and also see her eyes flicker a red colour?”

   “Yes I did” Celestia wandered currioursly on why it was important to know this until Fire Knight given her the answer

   “Well, that was the demon inside of her”

   “She had a demon inside of her?” gasped the princess bewildered by the fact that this was all true, a demon? Surely not one from Tarturas but she couldn’t help but realise this could be the case as it were where they lived and belonged.

   “Yes she did, it must have met her when she was blown away after cadence and shinning armour defeated her last time, it probably given her the promise of hopes and dreams that she could rule over Equestria, but only if she allowed herself to become one with the daemonic entity, she must have been under its control waiting and plotting for the opportune moment to strike”

   “So she did it seems” Celestia turning to Chrysalis on one of her royal wooden benches, stirring

   “Yes but I don’t think it was intentionally but either way she was greatly deceived, all it wanted was to kill you then its host and knew that if it seceded it then…well… the world would be in chaos, the Changeling kingdom would think that Canterlot killed their queen and declare war on Eqeustria same for Equestria itself and the world would just be in chaos and it would rip itself apart, as for the demon inside of her well its goal was to make all that happen, I denied it that chance” Fire Knight said in a vicious tone

   “So how did you get rid of it?”

   “As I said before it eradicates evil so the stare burned away the demon and so returned back to its master, whoever that might be” they didn’t speak then for a long while but they still sat around chrysalis ever vigilant for signs of her coming back into consciousness, if she woke up she wouldn’t be pleased to see herself in Cantrerlot and especially seeing her bitter enemy, Celestia, again.

Fire Knight sat motionless; to Celestia it was apparent that Fire Knight was deep in thought about something; his gaze fixed on the unconscious Chrysalis who lay on the bench. He then put a hoof to his fore head and let out a deep tired breath

   “Can you do me a favour Celestia?” Fire Knight uttered, not facing the princess who peered inquisitively

   “What is it?”

   “I have to get the crystal empire and warn shinning armour and Cadence, its possible that another assassin like Chrysalis is after them as well” Fire Knight explained his tone getting more serious with every word; then facing Celestia again said

“Can you look after Chrysalis while I’m gone?” Celestia jumped eyes wide, what a preposterous idea, keeping the Changling queen here in her palace, why, it was outrageous, she thought

   “BUT… I…” she stuttered looking for words

   “Please, I know you two are the bitterest of enemies but I have no other pony to turn to, I suppose your the only pony I can trust, just look after her until I return that’s all I’m asking, ill take her off your hooves when I come back okay” Celestia paused for a while then sighed, this pony did save her life after all

   “Okay… but what do I tell her?” she questioned her saviour

   “Just tell her the truth; don’t tell her who I am, only my name but nothing about me, its imperative that you follow what I’ve just said” he told her firmly.

   Fire Knight then came away from his chair and walked to one of the nearby stain glass windows, he stared aimlessly at the beauty of glass window, with a serious look on his face, it had the picture of a royal guard in the glass and at that he put a hoof to his chin. Celestia wanderd, what he was so interesting about this specific stained window in her throne room, its was just a royal guard and so went over to investigate

   “I need too look at the royal guard before I leave” he spoke outloud

   “Why?” Celestia asked

   “The royal guard need to be told by me in pony of what they are likely to expect and what to do should the time come when they are called in for action” Celestia then thought a little before coming to one conclusion

   “Ok then I understand that Canterlot needs a better defensive formation” the tired Celestia said

   “You need to bring up the sun in a few hours Chrysalis should be awake by…” Fire Knight stopped speaking as he sensed another pony was in the room

   “Uh princess who is….WHA!” it was twilight sparkle eyes wide and mouth open in shock as she seen Fire Knight the pony she given those books to and who escaped her in ponyville. She then trailed her vision to the figure behind him, her face contorted and then jumped back and charged her horn Fire Knight could see it on her face that she still had a hatred towards Chrysalis even after the Canterlot wedding, Fire Knight then quickly grabbed her horn and thrown her off target

   “Enough princess Sparkle! Look I know you still have a hate for the Queen but killing her would make the circumstances ever more worse” Fire Knight spoke sternly to Twilight, she then calmed herself, Fire Knight let go looking at twilight in disappointment of what she intended to do to Chrysalis; kill her in cold blood

   “Who are you, I demand to know!” Twilight said angrily due to fire knight grabbing her head horn like that

   “Look I don’t have time for explanations, Celestia will tell you” Fire Knight said rather hurriedly as he made sure he had everything he needed on him ready to leave the castle to see the royal guard and get to the crystal empire. He then made his way to the door and walked out back into Canterlot gardens.