Eventide
by Nom deCheval
(as suggested by mikemeiers)
The stars were just winking into existence for the evening. He could see them appearing, fading through the dying sunlight to come to life for themselves. The colors were muted, hidden by the cascade of the sunset, but he already knew what most of them by heart. Red and blue, yellow and white. Each one with their own character. Every one a work of art.
“Lieutenant?” The word was calm, but surprisingly forceful. He shook himself back, his eyes dancing around to finally fall on the the owner of the voice.
“Princess Celestia! F--forgive me, Your Majesty,” he stammered slightly as he bowed to the majestic alicorn. His voice was deep and rough, belaying the lean, athletic build of the dull-gray pegasus.
“You seemed to be a little lost for a moment,” she said easily. “Again. I don’t think you’ve heard a word that I’ve said in the past few minutes.”
“My apologies, Princess.” He bowed deeply again.
She walked along past him, pausing for a moment to look back. Her eyes conveyed her message clearly, and he rushed up to walk alongside the Princess. The pair walked into their own elongated shadows, heading towards the chambers that housed the Sun Goddess through the night.
“How long have you served with me, Eventide?” she asked him.
“It will be five years next month, Princess,” he answered clearly.
“And are you happy?” she asked.
“It is an honor to serve you, Princess. I don’t know how anypony could be here and not be happy,” he answered.
“Ah, you see, that is my exact point. For almost five years you have been a member of my Royal Guard, and for the last year you have been part of my personal entourage, correct?” she asked.
“Yes, Princess,” he answered.
They reached a massive pair of golden doors, a familiar relief sculpture of a stylized sun decorating each of them.
“Then why is it that you still won’t give me an honest, direct answer?” She smiled.
“I--I beg your pardon?” He blinked repeatedly.
Taking a deep breath, Celestia’s horn came to life, her door opening gracefully. She stepped into her quarters, Eventide watching her go. With a slight turn of her head, the doors began to close. “Sleep well tonight, Eventide. I will speak with you tomorrow.”
Bowing his head, Eventide waited until the door clicked shut. Standing upright, he let his eyes wander, hoping an explanation as to what just happened would fly into view. Stepping back down the hallway, he nodded passingly at the blue-armored Night Guard that were taking their posts around the castle, and made his way to his quarters.
* * * * * * *
The persistent knocking brought him out of the bathroom while still drying his mane. His shouts were only there to try to stop the unrelenting guest while he trotted towards the door.
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” He grabbed the door and opened it inward, just barely far enough before the other pony came barreling into the room.
“‘Tide! Man, we gotta go. Put on some gear. Anything with the royal seal on it.” The earth pony that stood there with wild eyes could barely keep his hooves still.
“Royal gear? What’s wrong? Is there...” His voice trailed off as he stared at the toothy grin that beamed from his friend’s face. He brought a hoof up and rubbed it across his face with a sigh. “What’s her name?”
“THEIR names. Three mares. Not two, but three. You know what that means? That means one of us is gonna have an amazing time tonight!” He almost bounced in place.
Chestnut brown with a grey mane, he had piercing blue eyes that always seemed to charm the ladies. Eventide met Merry Andrew when they both started at the Academy, and the two became quick friends. And shortly after that, Andrew was no longer in the Academy--not every pony is meant to make it into the Guard, after all. Surprisingly, their friendship survived.
“I thought you were dating somepony. What was her name?” Eventide shut the door and stepped back into his rather modest apartment, stepping around his friend carefully. “Flower Basket?”
“Flower Bundle. Yeah, that didn’t work out. Broke if off yesterday. Anyway, get dressed and let’s get going!” Andrew urged.
“Wow, good to see that you took time to get over the heartbreak,” Eventide laughed.
“I’m drowning my sorrows. And I hope to absolute suffocate a little later, if you don’t mind,” he persisted. “And these three are from out of town, and they think that the ponies in the Royal Guard are absolutely sexy. So, no pun intended here, I need you to be my wingman. Please?” He brought two hooves up and held them together in front of him.
“I just got out of the shower,” Eventide stated, again rubbing the towel against his mane. “I haven’t had dinner, and I’ve spent all day in uniform.”
“So, if you wear it for a little while longer, you might be lucky enough to have it pulled off of your body,” Andrew suggested.
Eventide snorted.
“Come on...” Andrew begged. “Two of them are unicorns, and you know how wild those mares can get. And the other is a damn-fine-looking pegasus. Right up your alley.”
Eventide let out another sigh. “You aren’t going to be happy if I don’t go, are you?”
“Hey, I don’t think you are going to be happy if you don’t go,” Andrew said.
Eventide moved over to his closet, tossing the towel down on the bench next to it. The door to the closet was open, and he reached inside casually, pulling out a pair of harnesses, each capped with the Celestia’s crest where the straps crossed.
“So,” he asked with a smile, “white or gold?”
Andrew’s eyes lit up like fireworks.
* * * * * * *
She sat at her desk, a sole candle flickering on its corner.
It was a common belief that Celestia faded into slumber at night along with her sun, setting into her bed only to rise at the next dawn. In truth, she hadn’t needed to sleep for centuries. Assuming the role of caring for both sun and moon had required her to learn the true limits of her own considerable constitution. With her lunar duties removed, she no longer needed to stay up all night, but if she chose to it was no issue.
A golden glow surrounded both her horn and a stack of papers that rested in front of her, floating them up near her face. At the same time, her magic brought a cup up to her lips, letting her sip the tannic contents leisurely.
Paging through the papers one after another, she casually read over them, her face calm and even. A page at a time, they floated before her, and then made their way to her desk, turned face down.
Another figure moved in the umbra of the light, darting in and out of shadow as she flitted about the room.
“Were you able to find what I was asking for?” Celestia asked, her eyes never leaving the pages.
“Yes, Princess.” The mare moved into the light of the candle. A unicorn, her coat was white, though not as alabaster as that of Celestia. At first glance, it appeared that the mare had no cutie mark at all--until the light shifted against her. A white cutie mark, slightly more pale than her own coat, shined in dim candlelight. It looked like a mirror. “Here you are.”
The mare’s horn lit and pulled something from a bag that rested against her flank. It floated over to be set gently upon Celestia’s desk.
“Thank you, Luster,” Celestia answered with a gentle smile.
The mare bowed and turned to walk away, only to be stopped a moment later.
“Tell me,” Celestia began, “have you met him?”
“Whom, Princess?” she replied.
“You know who I’m talking about,” Celestia chuckled. “You are an excellent hoofmaiden, which means that you do your very best to know exactly what I’m doing at any moment.”
She stood there silently for a moment. “Only in passing, Princess,” Luster finally answered. “I really couldn’t tell you anything about him.”
“It’s surprising how little I actually know about him, myself,” Celestia stated. “I see him every day, talk with him often, and yet have not taken the time to learn about him.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself, Princess.” Luster turned and took a step back towards Celestia. “You deal with hundreds of ponies every day. You simply don’t have the time to learn everything about them.”
“They have the time to care for me,” she answered, “the least that I can do is to try to know more about them.”
“Why are you so focused on this tonight, Princess?” Luster moved up to stand beside her. “What has this pony done to make you so focused?”
“I have my reasons, Luster,” Celestia replied in a soothing tone. “Does it bother you?”
“Of course not,” she answered, pulling her head back with a slight shake. “I just... It is my duty to make sure that you are comfortable, Princess, that is all.”
“Well, if it concerns you so much, then sit and join me.” Celestia spread open her wing, inviting Luster to come closer. “Two ponies can go though this quicker than one, after all.”
Luster bowed her head with a smile. “I would be honored.”
* * * * * * *
“I...I can’t believe it,” Andrew said slowly, his head shaking slowly.
“It’s not that big a deal,” Eventide stated.
“Not a big deal?” He looked over at his friend. “Not a big deal?! All three of them left with the same stallion! All three!”
With a deep thud, Andrew dropped his head to the table, jostling the cider that he still held in his hoof. He slid it over closer to his muzzle, pouring a little off the side and into his mouth.
“Well, you don’t know why they left with him,” Eventide stated.
“Oh, I know why,” he replied. “I know exactly why.”
It might have been a tear that fell down Andrew’s cheek, or it might have been a bit of the cider that sloshed its way there. Eventide presumed the latter. Everypony else at the bar seemed to be oblivious to the nigh-world-ending catastrophe that befell Andrew that evening. Stallions and mares sat and drank, bar-mares bringing them another round in the cacophonous din of joy--or at least the pursuit of joy.
“Cheer up!” Eventide urged. “Have you looked around this place? It’s packed. You should have no problem finding a mare tonight.”
“A mare. That’s the problem. The singular nature of your statement,” he lamented.
“Yeah, okay.” Looking around the room, Eventide tried to find anything to bring his friend back. He tried to work extra enthusiasm in his voice when he spotted a pair of ponies. “Well, there’s always the Butter twins...”
Rising up slowly, Andrew stared blankly at his friend. Turning his head slightly, Eventide smiled an obnoxiously wide grin, his eyes open wide.
“The Butter twins?” Andrew’s voice was as blank as his face. “The same Butter twins that have been in here every week for the past two years? The same ones that have rejected me every single time--to the point where they put up a hoof when they see me walking towards them and shake their heads--for the past two years? Those Butter twins?”
“Well, tonight might be different?” Eventide suggested.
Andrew nodded. “It was. There were ponies--three gorgeous mares--that were here, and I missed my chance.” He paused and narrowed his eyes at his friend. “No, we missed our chance.”
“I think you had it right the first time,” Eventide said.
“There you go again...” Andrew lifted his cider up and took a deep drink.
“There I go again what? What are you talking about?” he asked.
He lowered his mug and dragged the back of his hoof across his mouth. “I mean that every time we go out anymore you basically ignore all the mares around. What’s wrong? Are these ladies not good enough for you now that you’re working for the Princess?”
“No!” Eventide recoiled and Andrew’s eyes shot wide. “I mean, no, it’s not that. Not even close.” His voice lowered to a mumble. “Pretty much the opposite, in fact.”
“You boys doing okay?” They looked up at the bar-mare who had trotted up to the table. An earth-pony with radiant green eyes and a deep golden mane over a bronze coat.
“Hey, Dawn,” Andrew addressed her by name. “What do you think of Eventide? Is he a good looking stallion?”
“Uh, well, I’m seeing somepony right now...” she answered slowly.
“No, no, nothing like that,” Andrew stated, gesturing over to his friend. “I mean in general. As a mare, talking about a stallion, do you think that he’s a good looking guy?”
She smiled and nodded confidently. “Oh, yeah. Definitely. I hear mares talking about him all the time. And the voice thing is really kinda sexy, too.” She looked over at Eventide. “You should get out there and play the field a little more.”
“Thank you!” Andrew clapped his hoof on the table. “And yes, I would like another cider, please.”
“No problem, hon,” she answered, and then looked at Eventide. “You want anything?”
“Not right now, thanks,” he answered politely.
She trotted off, stopping at another nearby table to check on those guests, Andrew watching her walk away with interest.
A quick snap of his head brought his attention back to Eventide. “See! She thinks that you’re good looking, so that’s not the problem. So why are you acting all...not interested?”
“Because I’m not?” he answered.
“See! See, that’s my point!” Andrew’s forelegs flew about wildly, causing several others to step away carefully. “Why not? You’ve got a lot going for you!”
“Not enough,” he answered. “Not for her.”
Andrew’s forelegs stopped in mid whirl. His eyes stared at this friend, and then he quickly pulled himself in tight and leaned forward.
“Her? Woah, woah, woah,” Andrew leaned in closer. “Her who? Who’s her? I don’t know about a her.”
“Nothing,” he muttered, turning his head away. “No pony. Forget I said anything.”
“Oh no,” Andrew’s eyes lit up, “you don’t get off that easy. Who is this mare? I need a name, or a least a very detailed description, preferably with rather overt innuendo. What have you got going on, buddy? You hooked up with her?”
“What? No!” Eventide shot back. “No, not at all. She...she doesn’t even know I like her.”
“Well, tell her! Go up and say ‘hi, wanna go get a drink?’” Andrew pulled back and wiggled his head as he spoke with a swagger. “Or even just say something like ‘it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Eventide.’ What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Ha!” he blurted out in response. “That’s...well, a lot could happen, I suppose.”
“Yeah, and most of it good,” Andrew waggled his eyebrows. “So...tell me about her. What’s she like? What got you interested? Where did you meet her?”
“Work,” he answered without thinking. “She’s...amazing. She’s like walking perfection. And...I don’t even know how to describe her. Being in her presence is something indescribable. She radiates such poise and grace that you can’t help but feel humble near her. And I always know when she’s coming near, too. I swear to you that I can smell her before I see her. Not a perfume or anything like that, she just...she’s just that amazing.”
“Damn,” Andrew whispered. “You’ve got it bad.”
“I know,” he lowered his head. “And the worst part is that I can’t ever do anything about it. It’s not my position to even suggest such a thing. The closest I get is in my dreams, when I spend time talking with her and just being near her. When I wake up, I can almost feel her mane wafting across my face, ethereal and tantalizing.”
Andrew stared at him, and the longer that he continued to stare the wider his eyes grew. “Holy crap!” he shouted, then spun his head around seeing how many ponies noticed his outburst, and then pulled himself back closer to his friend. “Holy crap! You’re talking about the Princess, aren’t you? Holy crap!”
“I told you that she was out of my reach,” Eventide sighed.
“There’s out of your reach and then there’s...out of your freakin’ reach! What the hell are you thinking?” Andrew whispered loudly.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I tell myself that all the time. So far, it hasn’t really messed me up. Well, not too badly,” he stated.
“Not too badly? Oh no, you haven’t done anything have you?” Andrew asked.
“Just fantasize,” he answered.
“Fantasized? Right there? With her nearby?” Andrew prodded.
“Yeah...”
A hoof came up and covered Andrew’s face for a moment. He took it away and immediately put it to his mug of cider, draining the contents in a long draught. He set empty down and looked across the table.
“Okay, look, I know she’s pretty spectacular, but you can’t go after Princess Celestia. Not only is she your boss, but she’s...well, Princess Celestia! She kinda rules all of Equestria last time I looked!” Andrew’s voice went up louder than he intended, but no pony seemed to notice.
Eventide just stared at him, twisting his head slightly as he considered his friend’s words. “Princess Celestia? What makes you think that I was talking about her?”
Andrew blinked.
“I brought you your refill of cider, hon.” Dawn came to the table.
* * * * * * *
“Wow. That’s rough,” Luster whispered.
“You’re talking about his throat, aren’t you?” Celestia asked.
“Huh?” She looked up at the alicorn, her eyes blinking. “I--I didn’t realize that I said anything out loud.”
“It’s all right, Luster, it is a bit of a surprise. I only found out about it myself a little earlier today.” Celestia stood from her desk, craning her neck back and spreading her wings. A soft groan escaped her throat and she began to walk about the room, making her way to the window.
The moon glared down upon her as Celestia stared up at it. The glow from the orb cast a silvery sheen on her coat.
“Families are a mixed blessing,” Celestia said soberly. “There is nothing greater than knowing there is somepony out there who will always be there for you and always care for you--until they don’t. At which point they becomes your worse nightmare.” She turned to look at Luster. “His parents were very important to him. What happened was a tragedy.”
“You say that almost as though they did it to him on purpose. From what I read the father sliced his throat with the backswing of his sword while fighting the attackers,” she answered.
“Of course it was an accident,” Celestia said with a calm patience in her voice. “They were actually trying to protect him. He knows that, I’m sure, but losing your parents at the same time that you almost lose your voice...” She took a deep breath. “I’m glad that Marshall Steelhoof found him.”
“Found him? From what I was reading, Eventide went to him. Was it the other way around?” Luster stared over at the glowing shape of the Princess, her form outlined in the moonlight.
“You don’t have to be the one that makes the journey to be the one that finds something,” Celestia stated.
“Didn’t his father serve in the Guard as well? Wasn’t the Marshall an old friend?” she asked.
“From what I’ve heard and read, yes. I didn’t know Marshall Steelhoof very well. His duties kept him away from the castle most of the time,” Celestia answered.
“And Eventide went with him? Once the Marshall, well, for lack of a better word, adopted him?” Luster asked.
“What choice did he have? He had no other family, and the Marshall was willing to care for him,” Celestia replied. “No wonder he fit into the Guard so easily. He spent most of his life traveling with them.”
“It didn’t hurt that Marshall Steelhoof recommended him,” Luster said.
“No. No it did not,” Celestia nodded.
“Is that how he became a lieutenant at such a young age?”
Stepping back over to the table, Celestia levitated another book over in front of her. A particularly large tome with a black binding. “No. He did that himself. He works hard and earned everything he’s achieved.”
“Then he’s where he’s supposed to be?” Luster asked.
Celestia set the book down, opening it about a third of the way in to an illustrated spread of Canterlot Castle.
“I didn’t say that,” she answered.
* * * * * * *
He slipped on the harness, pulling it tight with his teeth and spreading out his wings to make sure they were clear of anything that might bind them. Everything was in place and all was as it was supposed to be.
He moved to the sink, and proceeded to wash his dishes from breakfast. Only a couple of small things, as always.
Another perfectly normal day.
Then a knock came upon his door.
The dishes went down on the counter gently, and he stepped over to answer the door. Another member of the Royal Guard was waiting for him. A younger earth pony mare of low rank, carrying a satchel on her side. She saluted the moment he opened the door.
“Good morning, sir!” she announced. “I have a message for you.”
He saluted back. “A message? From who?”
“Princess Celestia, sir,” she answered, reaching back to retrieve the message from the satchel with her mouth.
“The Princess? What is this about?” he asked, taking it from her.
“No idea, sir. I was just told to bring it to you,” she answered.
“Oh, well, thank you.” He nodded, she saluted and departed.
The message in hoof, he went to his cot, sat down and started to read.
* * * * * * *
He stepped into the throne room as he had a thousand times before, only his hooves hesitated with each step this time. Sitting on her throne, a beam of light cascading down onto her from some unseen opening, sat Celestia. The gold of her crown and regalia glittered in the brilliant light of her sun.
The note he received was direct and terse, telling him to report immediately. Right away his feathers ruffled out and ears fell flat. Every bone in his body told him to prepare for the worst. And there was no more time to prepare.
“Ah, Eventide,” Celestia saw him before he was five steps into the room. “Come here.”
Raising his head, Eventide trotted forward until he stood directly before the Princess, and then promptly saluted. Nodding in acknowledgement, Celestia smiled down at him.
“Thank you for responding so quickly,” she said. “Your punctuality is to be commended.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said.
“You’re dismissed,” she said flatly.
Eventide turned his head slowly, first to the left and then the right, before finally settling back to Celestia on her throne. “I beg your pardon, ma’am? You brought me here just to send me back to my room?”
“No. No, of course not,” she laughed. “That would be pointless.”
He let out the breath he suddenly realized he had been holding.
“I mean that you are dismissed from The Royal Guard,” she explained.
Suddenly the world around Eventide warped, narrowing and concentrating down to a single point of reference, Princess Celestia, standing far off in the distance. She had moved away from him dramatically, appearing now as nothing more than a small, brilliant point of light. Her words, however echoed around him again and again.
“What?” he said mindlessly.
“I said that you have been dismissed from The Royal Guard. Your time and service is appreciated,” Celestia stated, “but no longer needed.”
He shook his head and the tunnel collapsed. The sound echoed around his ears for a while still.
“I...don’t understand. Your kicking me out of The Guard?” His voice wandered.
“Terminating your service, yes,” Celestia answered.
He shook his head again, trying to find a way to dislodge the confusion.
“What...what did I do? This doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “Explain it.”
“Explain it?” Celestia raised the eyebrow above her sole exposed eye. “I am unaccustomed to taking orders from my own guards, but since this probably does seem sudden, I will indulge you.”
The Princess rose up from the throne and walked down towards Eventide. He had seen her stand and walk countless times before, but never like this. She towered over him, her head high and her wings stretched far above her. He suddenly felt insignificant.
“I expect my personal guard to be alter and attentive, aware at all times of what I am doing and where I am going. They need to be focused and centered on my duties as a Princess of Equestria, and respectful of my position. It has been painfully obvious to me that you have not felt the need for vigilance around me for some time. As such, I have weighed the options and decided to remove you from your position in my service.” She moved to stand directly over Eventide, who found himself stepping back reflexively. “Is that clear enough for you, Lieutenant?”
Celestia stopped, staring down at Eventide, her face calm, her demeanor not.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he answered slowly. “Thank you for explaining.” He swallowed back any arguments.
“Excellent,” Celestia smiled softly and turned to walk towards the door to the chamber. “You will assume your new position this evening. Report to Sargent Greaves at the guard house, he will give you instructions.”
“New position? I thought you were kicki...terminating my service with the Guard?” he asked.
“The Royal Guard, yes,” she answerd, “but I believe that you can still serve Equestria in the right role.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he answered, his voice low as he walked past the Princess to the door.
“Lieutenant, I believe you are forgetting something,” Celestia said.
Jerking his head up, Eventide spun around and saluted the Princess, who nodded in return.
“I will be keeping an eye on you, Eventide. Do not disappoint me in this new assignment,” Celestia said with authority.
“I won’t, Your Majesty,” he answered coldly.
With a sharp turn he exited the room, and the presence of the Sun Goddess.
* * * * * * *
“Sentry duty,” Eventide mumbled, stalking about the tower. A large, circular space with a center spire that rose another ten meters above the platform where he stood. “Solo sentry duty. Solo, middle watch sentry duty.”
His hooves clacked against the stone of the floor, and then echoed a few moments later off the face of the cliffside across from this section of the castle. He stared out at the rising wall of stone, trying to make out details in the dark.
“No pony ever comes here,” he muttered. “From the way Greaves was talking, no pony has been stationed here for years, either.” He shook his head. Then he froze, sensing something...familiar.
“Oh.”
The voice sounded surprised, and had the exact effect on him. He leapt up, his wings flying open and catching the air to turn him around above his post. As his eyes pinpointed the origin of the voice, they grew in size.
Almost lost in the shadows near the spire, her deep blue coat melding with the night, stood a mare. Lights glittered in her hair, stars twinkling as the mane danced in the darkness.
“I did not know that there was another pony here. I apologize.” Her voice was deep and rich.
“No, it...it’s okay. I was just assigned this post. A few hours ago, I mean. I...I’m sorry,” he stammered back.
“I see,” she answered slowly. “I have been coming here at night for some time. I thought it was an unoccupied. I will leave you.”
“No!” He landed on the tower. “I mean...you don’t have to leave. I...I can leave if you want me to.”
“That is very kind of you,” she stepped out from the shadow of the tower and he could see her eyes shining in the dim moonlight, “but will you not get in trouble for deserting your post?”
“I...maybe,” he answered, “but I’m sure they would understand. Given the circumstances.”
“No. You do not have to leave,” she stated. “Perhaps I will find another place. Though I find this location very soothing. Something about the way the sound reflects upon itself.”
“Yeah, I...I was just noticing that.” He stared at her.
“And also,” she stepped up beside him, “the cliff beyond serves as an excellent palate when I wish to work on the design for the night.”
She stood slightly taller than he, but without the weighty presence of Celestia. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words couldn’t find their way out.
“Working on parchment is too small and constraining,” she explained. “I must see the grandeur of the stars laid out in an appropriate scale.” She was staring at the distant cliff.
He followed her eyes, but saw nothing but a dark expanse. As though to explain, her horn surrounded with a dark glow, and an image appeared a meter in front of her, flying away towards the cliff and expanding with every passing second. By the time it found the cliff, it was massive.
“This is the only spire from where you can see that section of the cliff. I have been using it to paint my new design.” She turned to look at the pegasus, who was still transfixed by the new display of night. “Mayhap you could help me, sir? Does it look pleasant to you? I fear that at times I become too fixed on the details without seeing the image as a whole.”
“It’s beautiful,” he answered softly. He turned to look at her, finding the glow of her smile waiting for him. “I would be honored to help you.”
“Forgive me,” she said gently, “I have been most rude. I am Princess Luna. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir guard. Might I know your name?”
He looked in her eyes and all thoughts of fear and doubt were gone.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too,” he answered. “I’m Eventide.”
The End
